bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Daphne gnidium methanol leaf extract induces immune potential by activating monocytes and B-cells
Authors: Chaabane Fadwa , Poupot Mary , Fournié Jean Jacques , Sioud Fairouz , Chekir-Ghedira Leila 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Modulation of the immune response in order to treat immune-mediated diseases has become a more and more common approach. Increasingly, studies have been conducted to examine products from plants for their ability to strengthen host immune defenses. In the present work, we investigated the immunompdulatory potential of a methanol extract from Daphne gnidium leaves on immune cells. HPLC method was used for the tested extract analysis. PBMC was prepared from peripheral blood on a Ficoll-Paque density gradient and monocytes were purified from freshly prepared PBMC by negative selection using blocking agent and a mixture of biotinylated monoclonal antibodies. Proliferation of B lymphocytes and maturation of monocytes were studied by flow cytometry using appropriate anti body. Statistical significance was confirmed by t student test.The obtained results indicated that this extract activated B-cells and monocytes by enhancing the expression of CD19 and CD14, respectively. Further, methanol extract, as well as daphnetin and apigenin-7-glucoside, enhanced the expression of CD86 by the monocytes. In addition, CD64 and HLA-DR expression were also promoted after methanol extract treatment. Conclusion: These data provide the first evidence of the potential utility of these natural products as part of a therapeutic arsenal to treat some diseases by enhancing the host defense responses.
Sustainability planning, implementation, and assessment in cities: how can productivity enhance these processes?
Authors: Spiliotopoulou Maria , Roseland Mark 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
In this “urban century”, planetary realities and increased environmental and social awareness have led to significant international agreements and the recognition that local communities play a crucial role in successfully implementing long-term sustainability goals. Through two case studies in British Columbia, Canada, this research focused on how the concept, principles, and practices of holistic urban productivity can help address urban sustainability planning, implementation, and assessment processes. The research findings showed a range of challenges in urban sustainability such as the persistence on utilitarian approaches to resource management and community planning, the prioritization of short-term policies, a general resistance to systemic thinking, and various shortfalls in municipal capacity. These obstacles reflected the reality and complexity of urban sustainability processes and highlighted the need to redesign current decision-making. Addressing issues that transcend humanmade borders requires new configurations, non-hierarchical decision-making processes, and using local knowledge as a key guiding tool. Our recommendation is that cities embrace systems thinking in sustainability planning and implementation by focusing more on holistic evaluation of policy impact and finding synergies among policies and stakeholders in all sectors.
Rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) inhibit liver fibrosis by activating GSK3β and inhibiting the Wnt3a/β-catenin pathway
Authors: Liu Zhaoguo , Zhou Song , Zhang Ya , Zhao Ming 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) can effectively alleviate liver fibrosis, which is a pathological injury caused by various chronic liver diseases. This study aimed to investigate the anti-fibrosis role of BMSCs and illuminate the underlying mechanism of BMSCs on liver fibrosis in vitro and vivo.Methods: After the rat liver fibrosis models were induced by continuous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), BMSCs were administered for 4 weeks and the histopathological analysis and liver function tests were performed. HSC-T6 was stimulated by TGF-β1, the activation and proliferation of cells were detected by MTT, flow cytometry, western blotting and cellular immunofluorescence assays.Results: Our data demonstrated that BMSCs effectively reduced the accumulation of collagen, enhanced liver functionality and liver fibrosis in vivo. BMSCs increased sub G1 population in HSC-T6. In addition, co-cultured with BMSCs, the expression of α-SMA, collagen I, cyclin-D1, c-Myc in HSC-T6 were reduced, and activated phosphorylation of GSK3β. SB216763, an inhibitor of GSK3β, reversed the effect of BMSCs. It was also found the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was involved in HSC-T6 activation inhibition by BMSCs. Conclusions: Our data suggested that BMSCs treatment exerted antifibrotic effects via activating the expression of GSK3β and inhibiting the Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling pathway.
Influence of alkali treatment on the mechanical and morphological properties of cotton/bamboo fibers
Authors: Aruchamy karthik , D Jafrey Daniel James , S Sampath P , V Thirumurugan 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
The current study focuses on the creation of epoxy composites with cotton/bamboo woven fabric reinforcement. The effect of alkali treatment with varying (1, 2, and 3 wt. %) of NaOH on mechanical characteristics such as tensile, impact, flexural, compression, and interlaminar shear stress is explored and compared to those of the untreated cotton/bamboo fabric. The composites were made using a compression moulding process with four different fibre loadings (30, 35, 40, 45, and 50 wt. %). The mechanical characteristics of the composites were studied and their structure was evaluated by using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The cotton/bamboo/epoxy composite with 2wt. % NaOH at 45 wt. % fibre loading was found to have superior mechanical properties when compared to the others.
Micro-Nanoarchitectonics of Electroless Cu/Ni Composite Materials Based on Wood via Heat Treatment
Authors: Pan yanfei , Zhao Hongwei , Yun Lei , Chen Lidong , Yin Dingwen , Guo Qiang , Dai Mayin , Yu Xiaofang , Hao Yinan , Huang Jintian 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Prepare a sort of Wood-based EMI shielding materials can resist harsh electromagnetic wave environment had become a developing trend. The affect was differ from heat treatment temperatures on the wood-based composites was analyzed. The results showed that the surface roughness of metal coatings were 9.202 μm when the wood was electroless Ni and the heat treatment temperature was 120°C. When the wood was electroless Ni via 180°C heat treatment, the coatings thickness were 100.86 μm. EDS spectrums verifies the existence of Cu and Ni. The contact Angle of composite materials could reached 120.2°, and the hydrophobic property of wood was better. The average electromagnetic shielding efficiency of electroless 2Cu1Ni via 180°C heat treatment reached 91.40 dB in the frequency ranging from 300 KHz to 3.0 GHz, which verified that the composite material can shield 99.99% of the incident electromagnetic wave. The conductivity gradient structure can realize multi-dielectric interface loss and multiple reflection loss.
Numerical Simulation Of Heat Transfers Synergistic Performance Of He/S-CO2 Mixture Gas With The Heat Transfer Enhancement Structure On The First Wall Of Fusion Reactor
Authors: junyu Ji , Xiaoyu Wang , weibin Zhou , jun Gao , Wei Lu , delin Chu , Weihua Wang 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
As a new cooling medium, Helium/ Supercritical Carbon Dioxide (He / S-CO2) binary mixture gas can effectively improve the heat transfer capability. In this paper, the heat transfers synergistic performance of He / S-CO2 with fins structure were numerically simulated by ANSYS / CFD method. The results show that the pressure drop in the channel decreases gradually with the increase of volume fraction of S-CO2. Comparing with smooth channel, fin structure can significantly improve the intensity of convective heat transfer intensity, the average Nusselt number of flow channel with finger fins are increased by 80%. The heat transfer efficiency of He/S-CO2 binary mixture gas coupled with heat transfer enhancement structure (triangular fins) is increased by 310% at the condition of volume ratio of S-CO2 to He with 2:1. Further study on the optimized scheme of first wall (FW) of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) China Helium-Cooled Ceramic Breeder-Test Blanket Module (HCCB-TBM) show that triangular fins are placed on the inner surface of FW faced deuterium-tritium plasma, and the optimized distance between fin pitches is 7 ~ 10mm. The results can provide meaningful references for the cooling scheme design of the FW in ITER.
Formulation of a mapping formula to estimate well-being utility from the clinical subjective well-being scales
Authors: Koreki Akihiro , Nagaoka Maki , Ninomiya Akira , Mimura Masaru , Sado Mitsuhiro 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background: Cost-effective analysis is one of the most useful analyses for political decision-making in medicine under a limited budget. Although the data of the Investigating Choice Experiments Capability Measure for Adults (ICECAP-A) is sometimes essential for the measurement of cost effectiveness, such data is often lacking in most clinical trials. Therefore, a conversion formula (i.e. mapping) derived from the values of clinical assessment scales into utility is required.Methods: We used an internet survey where participants were asked to fill in four kinds of self-reported questionnaires (ICECAP-A, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS), Flourishing Scale (FS), and the Scale of Positive and Negative Experience (SPANE)). A beta regression was conducted with the utility assessed by ICECAP-A as a dependent variable.Results: We developed several mapping formulae depending on available questionnaires. These mapping formulae were well-validated in our validated sample. The models using more number of questionnaires tended to show better mapping.Conclusions: The mapping function of our formula was within the range of other reported mapping studies. We believe this formula is useful for cost effective analyses of several trials where utility data is lacking.Clinical Trials Registry identifier: UMIN:R000051079.
Preschool Children Accuracy in Eye-Tracker Controlled Computer-Based Preferential Looking Test
Authors: Angsana Natalia Christina , Jati Krisna Dwi Purnomo , Sakti Dhimas Hari , Mahayana Indra Tri 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Introduction & Objective:
Birth to the age of 3–5 y.o. is the critical period of visual acuity development in children. Preferential looking is an early eye examination to detect visual impairment in children and has been known as an objective test for children below 5 y.o. The purpose of this study was to examine the children’s accuracy in answering the computer-based preferential looking test.
Methods
This research was conducted using a cross-sectional method. The subjects used were children aged 3–5 y.o. who were taken by convenience sampling technique in four urban kindergartens in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, and had met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The visual acuity measurement technique used was a preferential looking with hemispatial Gabor patch written in Python application. The eye tracker was used as a control. The analytical method used was descriptive analysis to determine the characteristics of the subject and the average accuracy of both eyes followed by the one-way ANOVA method to see the significance of differences in overall eye accuracy.
Results
Mean Lea’s Chart visual acuity (LogMAR) of the eye tracked group: 0.21 ± 0.14 and the no eye tracked group: 0.28 ± 0.13. The accuracy of the eye tracked group (n = 38 eyes) for the 3, 4, and 5 y.o. groups were: 81.14 ± 14.75, 75.98 ± 13.13, 81.00 ± 10.71, respectively (p = 0.459). Comparison between the eye tracked group and the no eye tracked group, the accuracy (n = 38 eyes) of eye tracked group: 78.90 ± 12.11 and no eye tracked group (n = 38 eyes): 86.21 ± 3,83 (p = 0.001).
Conclusions
The children’s accuracy when performing the preferential looking test was remarkable considering their early age. Therefore, this method is applicable to a basic examination to get objective visual acuity in preschool children.
e-Government in Europe. A Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Leogrande Angelo , Magaletti Nicola , Cosoli Gabriele , Massaro Alessandro 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
The following article analyzes the determinants of e-government in 28 European countries between 2016 and 2021. The DESI-Digital Economy and Society Index database was used. The econometric analysis involved the use of the Panel Data with Fixed Effects and Panel Data with Variable Effects methods. The results show that the value of “e-Government” is negatively associated with “Fast BB (NGA) coverage”, “Female ICT specialists”, “e-Invoices”, “Big data” and positively associated with “Open Data”, “e-Government Users”, “ICT for environmental sustainability”, “Artificial intelligence”, “Cloud”, “SMEs with at least a basic level of digital intensity”, “ICT Specialists”, “At least 1 Gbps take-up”, “At least 100 Mbps fixed BB take-up”, “Fixed Very High Capacity Network (VHCN) coverage”. A cluster analysis was carried out below using the unsupervised k-Means algorithm optimized with the Silhouette coefficient with the identification of 4 clusters. Finally, a comparison was made between eight different machine learning algorithms using "augmented data". The most efficient algorithm in predicting the value of e-government both in the historical series and with augmented data is the ANN-Artificial Neural Network.
Tranexamic acid reduces blood loss in primary total hip arthroplasty performed using the direct anterior approach: A one-center retrospective observational study
Authors: Zha Guo-Chun , Zhu Xian-Ren , Wang Lei , Li Hong-Wei 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background: It is still unknown whether tranexamic acid (TXA) is beneficial for the minimally invasive surgical approach to total hip arthroplasty (THA). The aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy and safety of intravenous TXA in primary THA via the direct anterior approach (DAA). Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on 70 patients with non-traumatic avascular necrosis of the femoral head who underwent THA via the DAA between October 2017 and October 2018. Patients were divided into two groups: TXA group (39 patients did receive 1.5g TXA intravenously) and control group (31 patients did not receive TXA). Patients were assessed by the operative time, postoperative hemoglobin (HB) drop, transfusion rate, postoperative length of hospital stays (LHS), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and Harris hip score (HHS).Results: The total blood loss, hidden blood loss, and postoperative HB drop in the TXA group were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of intraoperative blood loss, operative time, transfusion rate, postoperative LHS, HHS, and the incidence of DVT (p > 0.05). Conclusions: TXA may reduce perioperative blood loss without increasing complications in THA via the DAA.Level of Evidence: Level Ⅳ, therapeutic study.
Clinical Practitioners’ Experiences of Psychological Treatment for Autistic Children and Adolescents with School Attendance Problems: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Melin Johanna , Jansson-Fröjmark Markus , Olsson Nora Choque 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
BackgroundSchool attendance problems (SAPs) are common among children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Currently, there is a lack of guidelines for treatment or interventions aimed at this group.AimThe aim of this study was to investigate clinical practitioners' experiences of psychological treatment for autistic children and adolescents with SAPs. The study focused on clinical practitioners’ views of favorable factors as well as barriers in the treatment and treatment outcome.MethodTwelve clinical practitioners were interviewed via in-depth interviews using a semi-structured question guide. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and initially independently coded by two coders. The interviews were analyzed according to thematic analysis.ResultsThe majority of the clinicians reported that it was common that children and adolescents with ASD at CAP had prolonged SAPs. A total of four themes and 22 sub-themes were identified in the analysis: the treatment situation; treatment goals at CAP; treatment interventions; and desired development. Insufficient adaptations in response to core impairment of ASD and lack of support in their daily life could be factors to the development of SAPs. Prolonged social isolation in combination with severe psychiatric comorbidities was reported as a treatment barrier. Also, insufficient collaboration between mental health care services, school and social services obstructed the return to school for this group of students. Favorable factors for positive treatment outcome were: early detection, accurate assessment and coordination between mental health care and schools and environmental adaptation at school as well as at home, parent support and sometimes change of school. Concerning useful therapeutic techniques, exposure from cognitive-behavioral treatment was reported.ConclusionChildren and adolescents with ASD with limited societal support tend to develop SAPs. Important factors that impact the outcome of treatment were the length of the absence from school and the severity of psychiatric comorbidities. Tailored and adapted interventions at school, parent support and mental health care are needed. Research about assessment and treatment for children and adolescents with ASD and SAPs is needed.
Endothelial Cells Induce Proliferation and Bone Morphogenic Protein Mediated Differentiation of Pdgfrα+ Human Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells to Astrocytes in Trans-Well Co-Culture
Authors: Dasgupta Asmita 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
CD140a /PDGFRα + human oligodendrocyte precursor cells (hOPCs) are demonstrated to have significant potential in cell therapy against demyelinating diseases. However, little is known about the contribution of human endothelial cells in the biology of PDGFRα + hOPCs in the stem cell niche. Hence trans-well co-culture technique with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) was adopted under proliferative or differentiating conditions to understand the role of endothelial cells in these processes within PDGFRα + hOPCs. In co-culture with HUVECs, under proliferative conditions, the hOPCs show increased proliferation and sphere formation. In contrast, under differentiating conditions, the hOPCs show increased differentiation to astrocytes, with a concomitant decrease in differentiation to oligodendrocytes, compared to no co-culture controls. Transcript assay for selected humoral factors in the hOPCs and HUVECs revealed bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs), endothelin1, growth arrest specific 6 (GAS6), and interleukin 6 (IL6) to be in higher abundance in HUVECs than hOPCs. Further, Noggin was tested and found to effectively attenuate HUVEC mediated astrocytic differentiation of CD140a /PDGFRα + fetal hOPCs, confirming the astrocytic differentiation of these hOPCs to be a BMP mediated process. Hence, the study concludes that human endothelial cells can induce increased proliferation and BMP mediated astrocytic differentiation of PDGFαR + hOPCs. Based on effect of noggin on differentiation outcome of PDGFRα + hOPC, it is conjectured that co-administering pharmacological inhibitors of BMP signaling along with PDGFRα + hOPC transplantation may make these cells more effective in remyelination therapy.
The effect of TGF-beta1 polymorphisms on pulmonary disease progression in patients with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Trojan Tobias , Alcazar Miguel Alejandre , Fink Gregor , Thomassen Jan Christoph , von Maessenhausen Maxine , Rietschel Ernst , Schneider Peter Matthias , Koningsbruggen-Rietschel Silke van 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background: Transforming Growth Factor-b1 (TGF-b1) is a genetic modifier in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TGF-b1 are associated with neutrophilic inflammation, lung fibrosis und loss of pulmonary function. Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between genetic TGF-b1 polymorphisms and pulmonary disease progression in CF patients. Furthermore, the effect of TGF-b1 polymorphisms on inflammatory cytokines in sputum were investigated. Methods: 56 CF-patients and 62 controls were genotyped for three relevant SNPs in their TGF-b1 sequence using the SNaPshot® technique. Individual “slopes” in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) for all patients were calculated by using documented lung function values of the previous five years. The status of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) infection was determined. Sputum concentrations of the protease elastase, the serine protease inhibitor elafin and the cytokines IL-1b, IL-8, IL-6, TNF-α were measured after a standardized sputum induction and processing. Results: The homozygous TT genotype at codon 10 was associated with a lower rate of chronic Pa infection (p<0.05). The heterozygous GC genotype at codon 25 was associated with lower lung function decline (p<0.05). Patients with homozygous TT genotype at the promotor SNP showed higher levels of TNF-α (p<0,05). Higher levels of TGF-b1 in plasma were associated with a more rapid FEV1 decline over five years (p<0.05). Conclusions: Our results suggest that polymorphisms in the TGF-b1 gene have an effect on lung function decline, Pa infection as well as levels of inflammatory cytokines. Genotyping these polymorphisms could potentially be used to identify CF patients with higher risk of disease progression. TGF-b1 inhibition could potentially be developed as a new therapeutic option to modulate CF lung disease.