bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Phase 1 clinical trial for intravenous administration of mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord and placenta in patients with moderate COVID-19 virus pneumonia: Results of Stage 1 of the study
Authors: Kulkarni Pooja , Sharma Alok , Kulkarni Rohit , Sane Hemangi , Awad N.T. , Bopardikar Abhijit , Joshi Anagha , Baweja Sujata , Joshi Mohan , Vishwanathan Chandra , Gokulchandran Nandini , Badhe Prerna , Khan Mazhar , Paranjape Amruta , MK Arjun 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background: Mesenchymal stem cells can serve as a therapeutic option for COVID-19. Their immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties can regulate the exaggerated inflammatory response and promote recovery of lung damage.Methods: Phase-1, single-centre open-label, prospective clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous administration of mesenchymal stem cells derived from umbilical cord and placenta in moderate COVID-19. The study was done in 2 stages with total 20 patients. Herein, the results of stage 1 including first 10 patients receiving 100 million cells on day 1 and 4 with a follow up of 6 months have been discussed. Results: No adverse events were recorded immediately after the administration of MSCs or on follow up. There was no deterioration observed in clinical, laboratory and radiological parameters. All symptoms of the study group resolved within 10 days. Levels of inflammatory biomarkers such as NLR, CRP, IL 6, ferritin and D-dimer improved in all patients after intervention along with improved oxygenation demonstrated by improvement in the SpO2 / FiO2 ratio and PaO2 / FiO2 ratio. None of the patients progressed to severe stage. 9 out of 10 patients were discharged within 9 days of their admission. Improvements were noted in chest x-ray and chest CT scan scores at day 7 in most patients. No post-covid fibrosis was observed on chest CT 28 days after intervention and Chest X ray after 6 months of the intervention.Conclusion: Administration of 100 million mesenchymal stem cells in combination with standard treatment was found to be safe and resulted in prevention of the cytokine storm, halting of the disease progression and acceleration of recovery in moderate COVID-19.Trial registration: Clinical Trial Registry- India (CTRI), CTRI/2020/08/027043. Registered on 09/08/2020 http://www.ctri.nic.in/Clinicaltrials/pdf_generate.php?trialid=43175&EncHid=&modid=&compid=%27,%2743175det%27
Assessment of Community Health Workers Activities in Zambézia Province, Mozambique
Authors: Salomão Cristolde Atanasio , Sawadogo-Lewis Talata , Cane Réka Maulide , Júnior António , Stone Briana , Sambo Júlia , Diaz Michael R , Padama Fernando , Rodrigues Humberto , Roberton Timothy , Sabonete Acácio 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Introduction: Mozambique’s Community Health Worker (CHW) or Agentes Polivalentes Elementares in Portuguese (APE) in Mozambique was reinitiated in 2010 after an unsuccessful first attempt decades prior. Years after this reinitialization, the Ministry of Health of Mozambique (MoH) and other interested parties sought to understand how the implementation of APEs interventions is progressing. Given its low coverage of many health intervention, the province of Zambézia was of specific interest.Methodology: We carried out a cross-sectional study in six districts of the Province of Zambézia, namely: Ile, Inhassunge, Milange, Mocubela, Mulevala and Pebane. We designed a questionnaire based on government plans, APE training material, and best practices for the implementation of CHW programs found in the literature. We conducted descriptive analysis to summarize the different components of the APEs program according to responses.Results: A total of 144 APEs were interviewed, of which 67% were male, 63% aged between 18 to 39 years, 60% had a first cycle of education and 46% had worked as APEs for 5 or more years. While 91% reported having received training after their initial training, only 19% had received training in the past 3 months. Only 48% of APEs replenished their kits every month, and stock-outs of medications ranged from 19% to 92%, with expired medication being found for 5-13% of the medications. Although the quality of supervision appears high with APEs reporting service delivery observation (88%), discussion of work performance (81%) and work-related problems (91%), checking of supplies (90%), review of records (93%), and praise (92%) during their last supervision, only 59% of our sample reported having had their last meeting with their supervisor less than 1 month ago.Conclusions: While there have been some successes in this renewed implementation, challenges persist around ensuring the proper implementation of the program as it is designed. Additionally, a review of the program to match the current realities of field (e.g., increased population per APE, increase of the stipends) is becoming increasingly necessary.
CCL3 aggravates intestinal tissue damage in NEC by promoting macrophage chemotaxis and M1 macrophage polarization.
Authors: Yuan Xi , Liu Wei , Li Yue , Chen Kai , Li Hongdong , Yin Yibing , Chen Dapeng , Song Zhixin 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is a life-threatening inflammatory gastrointestinal disease in neonates, the mechanism of which is poorly elucidated. Intestinal mucosal barrier imbalance due to excessive inflammatory response is an important endogenous cause of NEC. Our study elucidates a novel mechanism of NEC development, in which CCL3 regulated the chemotaxis, polarization, and function of macrophages to promote NET progression. Our data show that CCL3 is highly expressed in the intestinal tissues of NEC patients and mice and induce macrophage infiltration. Transcriptome data from high-throughput sequencing showed that CCL3 strongly induced macrophages switch into a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Mechanistically, in vivo experiments confirmed that CCL3 induced M1 polarization of macrophages in NEC intestinal tissue, thereby aggravating inflammatory injury of intestinal tissue which can be reversed by anti-CCL3 treatment; in accordance, in vitro experiments showed that CCL3 could significantly enhance the expression of M1-related genes (e.g. iNOS, IRF5, CD86) in both peritoneal macrophages and bone marrow derived macrophages while inhibit the expression of M2-related genes (e.g. Arg-1, FIZZ1, YM1), which could also be reversed by anti-CCl3 treatment. Herein, our study has elucidated a novel mechanism of CCL3 involvement in the pathogenesis of NEC, in which the upregulated CCL3 expression exacerbated inflammatory intestinal damage via regulating macrophage chemotaxis and M1 phenotype polarization, suggesting that blocking CCL3 may be a potential strategy for effective intervention of NEC.
Regulation of the apoptosis/autophagy switch by propionic acid in ventromedial hypothalamus of rats with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Natrus Larysa , Osadchuk Yuliia , Lisakovska Olha , Roch Toralf , Babel Nina , Klys Yuliia , Labudzinskyi Dmytro , Chaikovsky Yuri 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The balance between autophagy and apoptosis in hypothalamus may be disrupted upon type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Since propionic acid (PA) exerts neuroprotective effects, the aim was to investigate its effects on apoptosis/autophagy switch in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) in a T2DM rat model. Therefore male Wistar rats were divided into untreated control rats and rats in which T2DM was induced. The untreated T2DM rats were compared to a group that received metformin, a group that received sodium salt of PA and a group that got PA+metformin. Western blotting, RT-PCR, transmission electron microscopy and immunohistochemical staining were from VMH tissue were performed.T2DM-induced apoptosis and mitoptosis, enlarged ER tubules/cisterns were observed in VMH, and accompanied by imbalance of pro- and anti-apoptotic factors. Elevation of pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase-3, decrease in autophagy marker LC3 and anti-apototic Bcl-xl were observed in VMH of T2DM rats. Metformin and PA partially improved VMH ultrastructural changes by reducing mitochondrial swelling and diminishing the number of apoptotic neurons. Metformin inhibited neuronal apoptosis, however caused reactive astrogliosis and accumulation of lipofuscin. Elevated number of autophagosomes was associated with LC3, Beclin-1 and Bcl-xl increase and decrease in Bax and caspase-3 in VMH of T2DM rats. PA switched cell fate from apoptosis to autophagy by elevating LC3 and Beclin-1 levels and increasing Bcl-xl that altogether may represent adaptive response to T2DM-induced apoptosis. PA+metformin administration lowered relative area of ER membranes/cisterns in VMH compared to untreated T2DM rats and metformin alone, and was balancing the ratio of pro-apoptotic, anti-apoptotic and autophagy markers.In conclusion, T2DM was associated with apoptosis activation leading to impairments in VMH. PA in combination with metformin may be effective against diabetes-induced cell death by switching apoptosis to autophagy in VMH.
The Weakening Relationship Between ENSO and the Following Summer East Asia-Pacific Teleconnection Since the Late 1990s
Authors: Wang Xiaojuan , Hu Zeng-Zhen , Hu Po , Ye Jintao , Feng Guolin 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The predictability and variability of extratropical climate are largely associated with tropical forcing through various teleconnections. The East Asia-Pacific/Pacific-Japan (EAP/PJ) teleconnection is one the most important factors affecting the summer climate in East Asia. In this work, we confirm the weakening relationship between the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the following summer EAP/PJ teleconnection after the late 1990s and diagnose the characteristics and possible causes with reanalysis and analysis data. The results show that compared with that during 1981-1998, ENSO is less conducive to the formation of anomalous anticyclones in the following summer in the Northwest Pacific and the northward-transmitted Rossby wave train from the Northwest Pacific during 2000-2017, resulting in a weaker summer EAP teleconnection. Meanwhile, variation of ENSO feature since 2000 with a suppressed variability leads to a weakened response in the tropical Indian Ocean in the spring and summer. The reduced sea surface temperature response in the tropical Indian Ocean suppresses the excitation of eastward-propagating Kelvin waves and declines the capacitor effect of the Indian Ocean, which are unfavorable for generating anomalies in the Northwest Pacific and motivate strong EAP teleconnection in meridional direction. Thus, the weakening relationship of ENSO-EAP after late 1990s is the result of the interactions of the suppressed ENSO variability and declined Indian Ocean capacitor effect.
A Database Design to Find New Organic Produce Using Latitudes and Soil Orders
Authors: Komiya Ryoichi , Takahashi Katsuaki 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Organic agriculture has had a long history especially after the establishment of IFOAM in 1972. However, the organic land share is still 1.5% in the world. This article proposes a database design to find new organic produce according to latitudes and soil orders. As a result, we have completed the practical database which could be used by any organic producers around the world to find new produce in their farms.
Optimization of Surface Mechanical Process Parameters of Composite Materials Based on Industrial Engineering Technology
Authors: Luo Ying 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The so-called industrial engineering mainly refers to the large-scale industrial production and industrial economic system as the object of technological research, the purpose is to further optimize the industrial engineering production system, in order to better achieve and achieve the established goal of improving labor productivity and enterprise comprehensive benefits. However, the low surface activity of PBO fibers and poor adhesion between PBO fibers and resin matrix of composites lead to poor mechanical properties of composites, which restricts their practical application in composites. However, the current influences on the interaction of the parameters of the hot stamping process of LGFRP composites, the influence of material design parameters and strain rate effects on the mechanical properties and the stress concentration effects after opening and the design of the body structure have not yet been systematically studied and reported. Therefore, the material was further explored for the lightweight design of the electric vehicle battery pack and the anti-collision beam structure. Studies have shown that fiber reinforced resin-based composite materials have become an important trend in the lightweight technology of the automotive industry due to their unique lightweight effect.
Future Hydrological Drought Analysis Considering Agricultural Water Withdrawal Under SSP Scenarios
Authors: Kim Jin Hyuck , Sung Jang Hyun , Shahid Shamsuddin , Chung Eun Sung 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Hydrological drought is assessed through river flow, which depends on river runoff and water withdrawal. This study proposed a framework to project future hydrological droughts considering agricultural water withdrawal (AWW) for shared socioeconomic pathway (SSP) scenarios. The relationship between AWW and potential evapotranspiration (PET) was determined using a deep belief network (DBN) model and then applied to estimate future AWW using projections of the twelve global climate models (GCMs). 12 GCMs were bias-corrected using the quantile mapping method, climate variables were generated, and river flow was estimated using the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model. The standardized runoff index (SRI) was used to project the changes in hydrological drought characteristics. The results revealed a higher occurrence of severe droughts in the future. Droughts would be more frequent in the near future (2021-2060) than in the far future (2061-2100) and more severe when AWW is considered. Droughts would also be more severe for SSP5-8.5 than for SSP2-4.5. The study revealed that the increased PET due to rising temperatures is the primary cause of the increased drought frequency and severity. The AWW will accelerate the drought severities in the future in the Yeongsan River basin.
Mathematical Modeling for COVID-19 with Focus on Intervention Strategies and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis
Authors: Deng Yang , Zhao Yi 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
The development of appropriate mathematical models and realistic assessments of public health intervention strategies are of great significance to effectively combat the COVID-19 epidemic. In this paper, a novel COVID-19 epidemic model is devised based on the epidemiological states of the individuals and intervention strategies. Some dynamic behaviors of the model, such as forward and backward bifurcation, are analyzed. Specifically, we calibrate the model parameter values using actual COVID-19 data in Brazil by Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm such that we can study the effects of interventions on a practical case. Sensitivity analysis shows that non-pharmaceutical interventions are more effective than pharmaceutical interventions in the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak, and the interventions, namely home isolation, face-mask wearing and media publicity, can effectively reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. Based on the new epidemic model, we formulate an optimal control model for studying the control of COVID-19 and then present a cost-effectiveness analysis to unravel the cost and effectiveness of the combination of intervention strategies. The results show that, when taking both the economic cost and the control effectiveness into account, strategy 7 appears to be preferred in inhibiting the COVID-19 outbreak, followed by strategy 5 and strategy 4. By assessing the consequences of these interventions in the real case, we obtain the effective non-pharmaceutical interventions that provide some management implications of controlling COVID-19.
Logistic regression analysis of key markers of pre-thrombotic state screening in RSA patients
Authors: Liu Ning , Wang Chao , Liu Yu , Wang Ruijing , Zhang Yuhong , Zhang Ting , Tian Tingting , Liu Meimei 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Purpose

To screen the important markers of prethrombotic status (PTS) in patients with recurrent abortion (RSA) and establish a multi-factor Logistic regression model, and to predict the risk of PTS in patients with RSA, so as to provide evidence for the early clinical prevention and treatment of RSA.
Methods

A total of 193 patients with RSA who visited our hospital from December 2019 to May 2021 were selected as the case group and 131 normal pregnant women who visited our hospital during the same period as the control group. The age, body mass index (BMI) and PTS-related markers were compared between the two groups. Including coagulation factor V1691, prothrombin gene (FⅡ)20210, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1(PAI-1)675,methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR)677 and 1298, methionine synthase reductase (MTRR)66 gene locus polymorphism, homocysteine (HCY) level, protein C(PC) and protein S(PS) activity. The above markers were screened to establish a multi-factor Logistic regression model, and the predictive value of the model was assessed by ROC curve.
Results

Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed significant differences in BMI, PAI-1-675 and MTHFR677 between the two groups (P<0.05), indicating that BMI > 24, PAI-1(675) and MTHFR(677) locus polymorphisms were the high risk factors for RSA in women of childbearing age. The results of ROC curve evaluation model indicated that the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.664 (AUC > 0.5), suggesting that the prediction model was reliable.
Conclusion

The statistical model established by testing the high risk factors of BMI, PAI-1(675) and MTHFR(677) and applying multivariate Logistic regression and ROC curve analysis can effectively predict the prethrombotic state of patients with RSA.
Thermal-induced effects on the structural and photocatalytic properties of Nickel Oxide nanoparticles for Indigo Carmine dye removal
Authors: Abd-Elnaiem Alaa , Hakamy A. , Ibrahem Ibrahem A. , Ali Atif Mossad , Mohamed Walied A.A. , Zeid E. F. Abo 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
In this study, NiO nanoparticles were formed using the chemical precipitation method, and the calcination process induced structural parameters and optical bandgap. The research was carried out using a variety of techniques such as XRD, FTIR, and SEM. The XRD analysis reveals that the formed NiO crystallized in an fcc crystal structure, and that the calcination process influences the microstrain, dislocation density, and average surface area. The optical bandgap and crystal structure parameters are significantly affected by increasing the calcination temperature and/or time. The formation of a Ni–O stretching vibration mode is revealed by FTIR, and the broadness of the absorption band confirms that the NiO samples are nanocrystals. The morphology of the prepared NiO reveals the formation of spherical nanoparticles for samples calcined at 700 °C and dodecahedron-like shapes for samples calcined at 800 and 900 °C. Depending on the calcination temperature and time, the optical band gap ranged from 3.33 to 3.71 eV. The photocatalytic performance of NiO nanoparticles as catalysts for the degradation of indigo carmine (IC) dye is investigated under UV-visible irradiation for up to 3 h. The best degradation efficiency was found to be 76% for NiO calcined at 800 °C for 4 h, which revealed the smallest crystallite size of 19.13 nm, and the highest surface area of 47.02 m2/g. A mechanism for the degradation process was proposed, and the reaction rate constants for various NiO catalysts were estimated, with the maximum value of 4.51×10–3/min calculated for NiO calcined at 800 °C for 4 h.
A Tensor-based Bi-random Walks Model for Protein Function Prediction
Authors: Hu Sai , Zhang Zhihong , Xiong Huijun , Jiang Meiping , Luo Yingchun , Yan Wei , Zhao Bihai 
Published: January 2022

Abstract
Background:

The accurate characterization of protein functions is key to understanding life at the molecular level and has a huge impact on biomedicine and pharmaceuticals. Computationally predicting protein functions has been studied in the past decades. Plagued by noise and errors in protein-protein interaction networks, researchers have begun to focus on the fusion of multi-omics data in recent years. A data model that appropriately integrates network topologies with biological data and preserves their intrinsic characteristics is still a bottleneck and an aspirational goal for function prediction.
Results

We propose RWRT to accomplish protein function prediction by applying bi-random walks on the tensor. RWRT firstly constructs a functional similarity tensor by combining protein interaction networks with multi-omics data derived from domain annotation and protein complex information. After this, RWRT extends the bi-random walk algorithm from a two-dimensional matrix to the tensor for scoring functional similarity between proteins. Finally, RWRT filters out possible pretenders based on the concept of cohesiveness coefficient and annotated target proteins with functions of the remaining functional partners. Experimental results indicate that RWRT performs significantly better than the state-of-the-art methods and improves the area under the receiver-operating curve (AUROC) by no less than 18%.
Conclusions:

Functional similarity tensor offers us an alternative, in that it is a collection of networks sharing the same nodes; however, the edges belong to different categories or represent interactions of different natures. We demonstrate that tensor-based random walk model can not only discover more partners with similar functions, but also effectively free from the constraints of errors in protein interaction networks. We conclude that the performance of function prediction depends greatly on whether we can extract and exploit proper functional similarity information from protein correlations.