bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
i-MoMCARE – Innovative Mobile Technology for Maternal and Child Health Care in Cambodia: study protocol of a cluster randomized controlled trial
Authors: Saing Chan Hang , Ung Mengieng , Suy Sovanthida , Oy Sreymom , Dary Chhavarath , Yam Esabelle Lo Yan , Chhorn Sophea , Nagashima-Hayashi Michiko , Khuon Dyna , Mam Sovatha , Kim Rattana , Saphonn Vonthanak , Yi Siyan
Published: May 2023

Background
The government of Cambodia established the village health support groups (VHSGs) in 2003 to facilitate primary healthcare activities, including maternal and child health (MCH) services. However, VHSGs face several challenges that hinder them from performing optimally, including a lack of regular structured training and remuneration and limited and inconsistent support and supervision from the health centers. This implementation research aims to develop, implement, and evaluate a digital health intervention to improve the performance of VHSGs through better support and supervision and increase the MCH service coverage in rural Cambodia.
Methods
i-MoMCARE, a two-arm cluster randomized controlled trial, will be conducted between 2022 and 2025. Five operational districts have been randomized to an intervention arm and the other five operational districts to the control arm. The intervention will last for 24 months. Around 200 VHSGs in the intervention arm will be equipped with a mobile application as a job aid and 20 health center staff with a web interface to improve support and supervision of VHSGs. The potential beneficiaries will include pregnant women, mothers, and children under two years old. We will measure the outcomes at baseline and endline. The primary outcomes will consist of a composite MCH index constructed from maternal and newborn care indicators, child immunization, and treatment of under-two children. Secondary outcomes will include coverage of selected MCH services. We will conduct the intention-to-treat and per-protocol analyses. We will conduct qualitative interviews with selected beneficiaries and stakeholders to evaluate the intervention’s acceptability, feasibility, and scalability. We will also conduct a cost-effective analysis using decision-analytic modeling incorporating a societal perspective that explores different time horizons, intervention effects, and when scaled up to the national level.
Discussion
i-MoMCARE is expected to increase MCH service access and coverage in rural Cambodia. It will contribute to advancing digital health use in primary healthcare interventions, which remains in its infancy in the country. Furthermore, the study findings will be a valuable addition to a growing body of literature on the effectiveness and feasibility of mHealth to improve coverage of MCH services in rural low- and middle-income country settings.
Trial registration:
ClinicalTrial.Gov, NCT05639595. Registered 06 December 2022, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05639595
The efficacy and safety of pharmacological treatments in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a network meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Beibei , Zhao Jikai , Li Zhi , Xia Lin , Yu Liming
Published: May 2023

Background
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common inherited heart disease and the first to identify its genetic basis. Currently, there are no specific drugs for patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), and attempts have been made to evaluate whether various drugs are beneficial for the treatment of HCM.
Methods
Web of Science, PubMed, and Embase databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were systematically searched from inception to March 10, 2023. A network meta-analysis with a Bayesian framework with Aggregate Data Drug Information System (ADDIS, version 1.16.8) was conducted to assess the clinical outcomes of pharmacological interventions. The odds ratio (OR) was employed for the dichotomous effects, and the mean difference (MD) was used for the continuous effects, both of which were featured with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results A total of 8 trials were included, including 899 patients. We found that the incidence of palpitations for ranolazine was lower than that for mavacamten (0.00 (0.00, 0.45)) and placebo (0.00 (0.00, 0.33)). The incidence of palpitations for trimetazidine was higher than that for ranolazine (2.22e + 13 (343.85, 3.81e + 32)). The incidence of headache for trimetazidine was higher than that for ranolazine (390457.40 (1.53, 5.2e + 16)).
Conclusion
In addition to trimetazidine, HCM patients had the lowest incidence of syncope, but it was more likely to cause dizziness. All other drugs are safe to use. Ranolazine might have the lowest incidence of palpitations and headache.
Systematic review registration
PROSPERO CRD42023398778.
MicroRNA-15a-5p suppresses hypoxia-induced tumor growth and chemoresistance in bladder cancer by binding to eIF5A2
Authors: Yang Jinsong , Xiang Haoyi , Cheng Mengjing , Jiang Xue , Chen Ying , Zheng Lingyan , Yan Senxiang , Zhang Shufen , Chen Wei , Chen Dajin
Published: May 2023

Background
In various malignant tumors (including bladder cancer) poor prognosis is associated with hypoxia and therapeutic resistance. Evidence indicates that in bladder cancer, microRNAs (miRNAs) have vital functions in acquired drug resistance. However, the involvement of miRNAs in hypoxia-mediated bladder cancer doxorubicin (Dox) resistance is unknown. Herein, we showed that hypoxia and Dox treatment downregulated miR-15a-5p expression.
Methods and Results
Using UM-UC-3 and J82 bladder cancer cell lines, and in vivo mouse models of bladder cancer, we confirmed that miR-15a-5p arrests tumor cell growth and Dox resistance in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we determined the interaction between miR-15a-5p and eukaryotic translation initiation factor 5A-2 (eIF5A2) using dual luciferase reporters and quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays. We also showed that an miR-15a-5p agomir repressed EIF5A2 expression in bladder cancer cells, thereby inhibiting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) induced by Dox or hypoxia. Moreover, ectopic expression of miR-15a-5p abrogated eIF5A2-mediated Dox resistance in bladder cancer cells. Collectively, these data indicated that hypoxia promotes tumor growth and chemoresistance through the HIF-1α/miR-15a-5p/eIFTA2/EMT pathway.
Conclusion
This new finding not only has implications for improving our understanding of the Dox resistance process during bladder cancer progression, but also indicated that the miR-15a-5p agomir is a promising tool to prevent Dox resistance in patients with bladder cancer.
Can We Develop a More Targeted Approach to Mitigating Seismic Risk?
Authors: Zhang Zhenguo , Xin Danhua , Chen Bo , Wenzel Friedemann , Li Yilong , Chen Xiaofei
Published: May 2023

The recent high death tolls caused by large earthquakes are a further indication that earthquakes remain one of the most destructive natural disasters in the world and can seriously threaten the achievement of sustainable development goals. To effectively reduce the existing seismic risk, the limited available mitigation resources should be allocated to areas where the potential risk is most severe. However, such areas are typically uncertain and difficult to locate. Here, we propose a strategy to delineate regional high seismic risk zones at a fine resolution and with high confidence. Our analyses reveal that the delineated zone accounts for only ~7% of the regional land area but for ~85% of the total financial loss. We recommend that seismic risk mitigation measures be prioritized in such high-risk zones, especially for densely populated cities in seismically active areas, to better meet the disaster risk reduction targets in the Sendai Framework.
Significant cocoon emission and photosphere duration stretching in GRB 211211A: a burst from a neutron star - black hole merger
Authors: Meng Yan-Zhi , Wang Xiangyu , Liu Zi-Ke
Published: May 2023

The radiation mechanism (thermal photosphere
or magnetic synchrotron) and the progenitor of gamma-ray burst (GRB) are under hot debate. Recently discovered, the prompt long-duration (~ 10 s, normally from the collapse of massive stars) property of GRB 211211A strongly conflicts with
its association with a kilonova (normally from the merger of two compact objects, NS-NS, NS-BH, or NS-WD, duration ≤ 2 s). In this paper, we find the probability photosphere model with a structured jet can satisfactorily explain this peculiar long duration, through the duration stretching effect (~ 3 times) on the intrinsic longer (~ 3 s) duration of NS-BH (neutron star and black hole) merger, the observed empirical 2SBPL spectrum (with soft low-energy index α of ~ -1) and its evolution. Also, much evidence of the NS-BH merger origin is found, especially the well fit of the afterglow-subtracted optical-NIR light curves by the significant thermal cocoon emission and the sole thermal "red" kilonova component. Finally, a convincing new explanation for the X-ray afterglow plateau is revealed.
Endodontic management of fusion with a complex root canal anatomy in mandibular posterior teeth
Authors: Xu Laijun , Zhang Jianying , Wang Xiangzhu
Published: May 2023

Objective
To report a developmental-related tooth that the mandibular first molar fused to the second molar with seven canals and treated with a conservative option.
Methods
CBCT images were used for analyzing the complex morphoanatomy in coronal and root canal systems. The tooth was isolated with a rubber dam and seven canal orifices were identified. Root canal treatment under a microscope was carried out.
Results
The tooth was diagnosed as an anomalous fused mandibular molar with chronic apical periodontitis and the root canal treatment was successful.
Conclusions
We reported a rare case of fusion involving permanent mandibular molars and CBCT is a critical aid in efficiently diagnosing and understanding such an anatomically abnormal tooth.
Clinical Relevance
This study suggests CBCT analysis is important for understanding the abnormal structure and guiding for treating such a malformed tooth before operation. This study also provides a rare and interesting case for endodontics.
Estimating efficacy of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine for HIV prevention in cisgender women with partial adherence.
Authors: Stansfield Sarah , Donnell Deborah , Boily Marie-Calude , Mitchell Kate , Anderson Peter , Delany-Moretlwe Sinead , Bekker Linda-Gail , Mgodi Nyaradzo , Celum Connie , Dimitrov Dobromir , Moore Mia
Published: May 2023

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) with daily oral tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) is effective for HIV prevention. The adherence-efficacy relationship in men and transgender women who have sex with men (MSM/TGW) has been established by measuring tenofovir diphosphate concentrations (TFV-DP) in cases and controls. We calculate this adherence-efficacy curve for cisgender women using HIV incidence and plasma tenofovir concentrations from three trials (FEMPrEP, VOICE, and Partners PrEP). We impute TFV-DP concentrations from plasma tenofovir quantification using data from HIV Prevention Trials Network 082, which collected both adherence measures. We estimate two, four, or seven pills per week is associated with reductions in HIV incidence of 59% (95% credible interval 30% - 96%), 84% (95% CI: 52% - 100%), and 96% (95% CI: 73% - 100%), respectively. High adherence confers high protection in cisgender women, similar to MSM/TGW, and partial adherence confers only slightly lower protection.
Modification of rice husk with ultrasound-assisted Inorganic treatment and application in the catalytic hydrolysis of NaBH4
Authors: Ababaii Mohammad Amin , Gilani Neda , Pasikhani Javad Vahabzadeh
Published: May 2023

Rice husk is a massive byproduct of the agricultural sector, but less effort has been paid for its recycling. In this study, ultrasound-assisted inorganic treatment with HNO3, H2SO4, and H2O2 was adopted to modify rice husk as a biomass catalyst. The activity of produced biomass catalyst was assessed in hydrogen production through the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride in an alkaline solution. The characterization of as-prepared biomass catalysts revealed that HNO3 was an efficient agent to protonate the surface of rice husk and make active sites available for the hydrolysis reactions. In addition, ultrasound-assisted HNO3 treatment caused a constructive effect on the structural property of rice husk and increased the surface area from 1.9 m2.gr− 1 to 17 m2.gr− 1 and pore volume from 0.45 cm3.gr− 1 to 3.9 cm3.gr− 1. According to optimum synthesizing conditions (45 wt% HNO3 and 10 min ultrasonication), ARH-N45-10 could produce 745 ml.gr− 1 hydrogen from the alkaline solution of NaBH4 at ambient conditions. Based on the kinetic study, the catalytic hydrolysis of NaBH4 by modified rice husk followed first-order kinetic concerning the NaBH4 per fixed NaOH ratio. Moreover, the thermodynamic analysis indicated that hydrolysis of NaBH4 and formation of hydrogen on the modified rice husk is an endothermic and spontaneous reaction, where the hydrogen generated at 55˚C (5280 ml.gr− 1) was seven times more than that at ambient temperature and also activation energy was calculated 57.68 kJ.mol− 1 from Arrhenius plot.
Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Medical Students’ Work Culture: A Mixed Method Study
Authors: Mouchabac Stéphane , Adrien Vladimir , Diot Thomas , Renaud Marie-Christine , Carrié Alain , Bourla Alexis , Ferreri Florian
Published: May 2023

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic brought about profound social changes that affected students worldwide. These changes had both psychological and economic consequences, and also led to the adoption of new teaching methods. The present study examined the pandemic’s impact on French medical students’ perceptions of their profession.
Methods: A questionnaire study based on the vignette methodology was conducted among third-year medical students. It included questions about their perceptions of the medical profession, their motivation, and their sense of belonging to the profession.
Results: 352 students responded to the survey . The pandemic had both a positive and a negative impact on students’ perceptions of the medical profession. Cluster analysis using a k-means algorithm and principal component analysis revealed three clusters of students with different perceptions of the medical profession. The first cluster, which represented the majority of students, corresponded to a relatively positive perception of the profession that was reinforced during the pandemic. In the second cluster, students’ perceptions were reinforced still further, and particular importance was attached to field experience. Students in the third cluster had the most negative perceptions, having been shaken the most by the pandemic, and they attached little importance to field experience.
Conclusions: The analysis highlighted the importance of students being able to adapt and draw on a range of resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. This underscores the need for work cultures that support adaptability and coping. Overall, the pandemic had a profound and far-reaching impact on medical students in France, but these effects were not uniform. Further research is needed to understand its long-term effects on students' perceptions of the medical profession and to identify interventions that could support students in the aftermath of this difficult period.
Use of a Novel Digital Intervention to Reduce Delirium Associated Agitation: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: REYNOLDS STEVE , Nicholas Michelle , Wittmann Jessica
Published: May 2023

Background: We aimed to determine if a novel digital therapeutic intervention could reduce agitation and unscheduled medication use in an adult delirious acute care population.

Methods: Delirious participants were randomly allocated (1:1) to receive standard of care plus a single 4-hour exposure to the digital intervention “MindfulGarden”, which uses a screen-based delivery to display a nature landscape with dynamic adjustment of screen content in response to movement and sound or standard of care only.

Findings: Between March 2021 and January 2022, 73 participants were enrolled with 70 completing the trial protocol and included in the final analysis with a mean age of 61 years and 68% being male (35 intervention, 35 control). Mean RASS was significantly lower across the 4-hour study period in the intervention arm 0·3 (0·85) vs 0·9 (0·93), p=0·01.

Interpretation: Exposure to a nature-based dynamic digital intervention showed benefits in agitation reduction.
Hydrodynamics and effect of velocity on particle filtration due to bridging in water-saturated porous media using CFD-DEM simulations
Authors: Sun Dan
Published: May 2023

Particle bridging owing to the confinement of the pore structure affects the transport and retention of particles in porous media. Particle motion driven by gravities were well investigated, whose filtration is mainly affected by the ratio of the particle diameter to the pore throat size of the medium. However, particles whose motions are driven by the fluid is essential to be investigated for particle separation from the carrying fluid. In this study, the motion of particles was driven by the liquid when passing through a water-saturated porous medium. The fluid–particle flow in a porous medium was modeled using computational fluid dynamics–discrete element method. The motion of particles in the slurry was traced in the porous medium, which enabled particle clogging to be directly precited by the interaction between the particles and pore surfaces by assessing the exact location of each particle. The pressure and flow field of the liquid were investigated, and the variation in flow path owing to particle clogging was predicted. The hydrodynamic study also showed that the Stokes number and particle concentration determined the particle clogging at the pore throats of the porous medium. Increasing the fluid velocity of particles such that the Stokes number was almost equal to 1 increased the separation efficiency of particles. Further increasing the fluid velocity reduced the residence time, which reduced the separation efficiency of the particles.
Racial, Regional disparities of in-hospital mortality among patients with 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Evidence from NIS sample in 2020
Authors: Kim Sun Jung , Medina Mar , Park Jeong-Hui , Chang Jongwha
Published: May 2023

Background: Because of the racial and regional inequalities regarding COVID-19, more research is required to deconstruct how the pandemic impacted different populations. This study explores differences in COVID-19 in-hospital mortality rates by patient and hospital factors. Hospital factors are differences in mortality by rurality level, region, and census division.
Methods: The latest 2020 United States NIS data was used to obtain a population-based estimate for patients with COVID-19. We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective data analysis on the NIS dataset. Sampling weights were used for all statistical analyses to represent nationwide in-hospital mortality of patients with COVID-19. We investigated how patients with COVID-19 and other characteristics, like region or race, are associated with in-hospital death using the multivariate survey logistic regression analysis. Additionally, we ran the models using census divisions to determine more specific regional mortality variance.
Results: Of 1,002,655 patients, 88.9% did not have an in-hospital death (n=178,369), and 11.1% died in-hospital (n=22,162). Among them, we used the weighted logistic regression results examining predictors of in-hospital death. Patients older than 70 were 10 times more likely to have an in-hospital death than patients younger than 40 (p<.001). Male patients were 37% more likely to have an in-hospital death than female patients (p<.001). Hispanic patients were 25% more likely to have in-hospital deaths than white patients (p<.001). In the sub-analysis, Hispanic patients in the 50-60, 60-70, and 70 age groups were 32%, 34%, and 24%, respectively, more likely to die in-hospital than white patients (p<.001).
Conclusion: Health disparities in the COVID-19 pandemic occurred across races and regions and must be addressed to prevent future deaths. Age and comorbidities like diabetes have a well-established link to increased disease severity, and we have linked both to higher mortality risk. Low-income patients had a significantly increased risk of in-hospital death starting at over 40 years old. In sum, Hispanic patients were at increased odds of mortality because of age and economics. Policy concerns should be raised to illuminate populations uniquely burdened by the COVID-19 pandemic to direct more significant research and funding to alleviate inequalities and mitigate future suffering.
Testing differences in physiological tolerance between invasive bullfrog tadpoles (Rana catesbeianus) and non-invasive green frogs (Rana clamitans)
Authors: VanDenBerg Evelyn , Jaynes Kyle , Shah Alisha
Published: May 2023

Physiological traits may play a key role in the establishment of non-native species in a new habitat. Still, there are few empirical studies that link physiological traits with invasion success. The American bullfrog, Rana catesbeianus, and the green frog, R. clamitans, are functionally and morphologically similar congeners that largely occupy the same native range in the eastern United States, but have drastically different invasion histories. Bullfrogs have established in much of the western United States, which is generally much hotter and drier than their native range. We hypothesized that intrinsic differences in heat and desiccation tolerance in the tadpole stage may explain the contrasting invasion histories of the two species. We tested this hypothesis by measuring critical thermal maximum (CTMAX), thermal acclimation capacity, and hydric stress tolerance in bullfrog and green frog tadpoles occurring in their native habitat. We found that species do not have intrinsic differences in thermal tolerance, but bullfrog tadpoles have slightly greater thermal acclimation capacity than green frogs. Green frogs are more sensitive to warmer temperatures but can withstand greater hydric stress. In addition to being stronger competitors, we surmise that other factors, such as rapid evolution of thermal tolerance or combinations of responses to novel abiotic and biotic conditions may ultimately predispose bullfrog tadpoles to successfully persist in hotter and drier habitats in the western U.S.
Fusobacterium is enriched on the surface and surrounding duodenal mucosa of ampullary carcinoma
Authors: Takada Yoshihisa , Yamamoto Kenta , Ishikawa Takuya , Yamao Kentaro , Mizutani Yasuyuki , Iida Tadashi , Maeda Keiko , Yamamura Takeshi , Furukawa Kazuhiro , Ohno Eizaburo , Nakamura Masanao , Honda Takashi , Kawashima Hiroki
Published: May 2023

Background and Aims:
In colorectal cancer, adenomas develop into carcinomas through the adenoma–carcinoma sequence, which may be triggered by intestinal adherent microbial communities, including Fusobacterium. In this study, we aimed to explore the microbiome in ampullary tumors and clarify its relevance.
Methods:
Seventeen patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography for ampullary tumors at Nagoya University Hospital from August 2020 to August 2021 were enrolled. The patients were divided into an adenoma group (n = 11) and a carcinoma group (n = 6). Ampullary samples were collected from the tumor surface (tumor samples, TSs) or surrounding normal duodenal mucosa (normal samples, NSs) via brush rubbing and then analyzed.
Results:
The Shannon α-diversity index was considerably higher in the carcinoma group than in the adenoma group. Fusobacterium, Leptotrichia, Methylorubrum, and Micrococcus were enriched in the TSs of the carcinoma group. The relative abundance of Fusobacteriummarkedly increased with tumor progression. Fusobacterium, Porphyromonas, Granulicatella, and Solobacterium were enriched in the NSs of the carcinoma group, whereas Bergeyella was enriched in those of the adenoma group.
Conclusions:
Patients with ampullary carcinoma have a greater abundance of Fusobacterium in the tumor and surrounding normal duodenal mucosa than patients with adenoma.
Research on Fast charge Battery Thermal Management System based on refrigerant direct cooling
Authors: Dai NaiChang , Long Jiangqi
Published: May 2023

Aiming at the problem of high battery heat generation during the super fast charging process of electric vehicle fast-charging power batteries, this study designs a fast-charging battery thermal management system based on the refrigerant direct cooling architecture. In order to use the refrigerant of refrigerant to cool the battery quickly. Firstly, the study constructs the heat generation model of the power battery, the calculation model of the battery thermal management system, and builds the experimental device. Secondly, theoretical simulations and experimental studies were conducted for low-temperature fast-charging and high-temperature fast-charging operating conditions. The experimental results show that the designed battery thermal management system has good cooling effect and temperature uniformity.
Disproportionate contributions of land cover and changes to ecosystem functions in Kazakhstan and Mongolia
Authors: Yuan Jing , Chen Jiquan
Published: May 2023

Land use and land cover change (LULCC) have profoundly altered land surface properties and ecosystem functions, including carbon and water production. We investigated the contribution of landscape composition to ecosystem function by examining how land cover and proportion affected gross primary production (GPP) and evapotranspiration (ET) at six macro-landscapes in Mongolia and Kazakhstan. We hypothesized that both ecosystem and landscape GPP and ET are disproportionate to their composition and, therefore, changes in land cover will have asymmetrical influences on landscape functions. We leveraged a computational-friendly linear downscaling approach to align the coarse spatial resolution of MODIS (500 m) with a fine-grain and localized land cover map developed from Landsat (30 m) for six provinces in countries where intensive LULCC occurred in recent decades. By establishing two metrics – function to composition ratio (F/C) and function to changes in composition change (ΔF/ΔC) – we tested our hypothesis and evaluated the impact of land cover change on ecosystem functions within and among the landscapes. Our results show three major themes. (1) The five land cover types have signature downscaled ET and GPP that appears to vary between the two countries as well as within each country. (2) F/C of ET and GPP of forests is statistically greater than 1 (i.e., over-contributing), whereas F/C of grasslands and croplands is close to or slightly less than 1 (i.e., under-contribution). F/C of barrens is clearly lower than 1 but greater than zero. Specifically, a unit of forest generates 1.085 unit of ET and 1.123 unit of GPP, a unit of grassland generates 0.993 unit of ET and GPP, and a unit of cropland produces 0.987 unit of ET and 0.983 unit of GPP. The divergent F/C values among the land cover classes supports the hypothesis that landscape function is disproportionate to its composition. (3) ΔET/ΔC and ΔGPP/ΔC of forests and croplands showed negative values, while grasslands and barrens showed positive values, indicating that converting a unit of forest to other land cover leads to a decrease in ET and GPP, while converting units of grassland or barren to other land cover classes will result in increased ET and GPP. This linear downscaling approach for calculating F/C and ΔF/ΔC is labor-saving and cost-effective for rapid assessment on the impact of land use land cover change on ecosystem functions.
Cascaded Fractional Order Automatic Generation Control of a PV-Reheat Thermal Power System Under a Comprehensive Nonlinearity Effect and Cyber Attack
Authors: Cavdar Bora , Sahin Erdinc , Sesli Erhan , Akyazi Omur , Nuroglu F. Mehmet
Published: May 2023

Integration of renewable energy systems to the existing power grid has become an inevitable issue all over the world. Besides its advantages, it brings serious problems such as system frequency and tie-line power fluctuations which may result in instability or undesired situations in a power system. On the other hand, cascaded controller structures have become so popular in the literature. Because they have more degree of freedom resulting in increased flexibility according to the non-cascaded ones. Within the above-given explanations, in this study, we aim to investigate the performances of cascaded fractional and integer order controllers TI-TD and PI-PD compared to the non-cascaded ones PID and TID controllers for a two area PV-Thermal reheat power system. The designed controllers are optimized by the Mayfly algorithm (MA) to minimize the integral of the time-weighted absolute error (ITAE) performance index. A detailed performance task is considered for the controllers. These are time domain analysis, robustness, random load change, progressive nonlinearities, and cyber attack issues. The nonlinearity analysis consists of governor dead band (GDB), generation rate constraints (GRC), boiler dynamics (BD), and time delay (TD). Also, two cyber-attack models called a resonance attack (ResA) and random attack (RndA) are applied to the controller systems. Simulation results show the superiority of the optimized and cascaded controllers, especially for TI-TD controller. The performance result of the controllers is also verified by comparing each other and some reported controllers in the literature.
Genome-wide characterization of WRKY genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis in Erigeron breviscapus
Authors: Song Wan-ling , Zhang Shuang-yan , Li Qi , Xiang Gui-sheng , Zhao Yan , Yang Sheng-chao , Fan Wei , Hao Bing , Guang-Hui Zhang
Published: May 2023

Background The transcription factors of WRKY genes play essential roles in plant growth, stress responses, and metabolite biosynthesis. Erigeron breviscapus, a traditional Chinese herb, is abundant in flavonoids and has been used for centuries to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, the WRKY transcription factors that regulate flavonoid biosynthesis in E. breviscapus remain unknown.Results In this study, genome-wide characterization of WRKY genes in E. breviscapus was conducted to predict 75 EbWRKY transcription factors using phylogenetic, gene structure, and conserved motif analyses. In addition, the chromosomal location of each EbWRKY gene was analyzed. RNA sequencing showed that several EbWRKY genes transiently responded to exogenous abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), and gibberellin 3 (GA3) after 4h of treatment. In contrast, the expression of key structural genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis increased after 4h in GA3 treatment. However, the content of flavonoid metabolites in leaves significantly increased at 12h. The quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) results showed that the expression patterns of EbWRKY11, EbWRKY30, EbWRKY31, EbWRKY36, and EbWRKY44 transcription factors were similar to those of the 11 structural genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis.Conclusions This study provides comprehensive information on the regulatory control network of flavonoid accumulation mechanisms, which could contribute to improving the pharmaceutical value of E. breviscapus.
A participatory urban governance framework: the protection of urban ecosystems’ functions as a barometer for transitioning towards sustainability.
Authors: SIMON Sandrine
Published: May 2023

Research into ways of helping decision-makers to better integrate the notion of sustainability when designing strategies have focused on reforming the main economic indicators (such as GDP) since at least the 1990s. From greening the accounts, efforts progressively turned into creating ‘ecosystems accounts’. The dominant approach, developed by the United Nations, led to the creation of the System of Environmental and Economic Account - Ecosystem Experimental Accounts (SEEA EEA), ‘satellites’ to the main economic accounts. Although mainly used in industrialised countries, these are starting to be more widely used. This article focuses on the urgent need to make our cities (sometimes described as a microcosm of our economic systems) more sustainable and explores to what extent ecosystems accounts could help in this endeavour. However, it approaches the issue differently from what has been done so far in that it advocates considering the city itself as a socio-ecological-economic ecosystem, with its own environmental functions, whose protection will help to identify whether urban transitions are moving towards sustainability. In addition, it explores taking social considerations into account by making the use of the urban ecosystems framework presented here participatory. It thus shows how such a decision-making tool can be used iteratively to contribute to adaptive governance for urban transitions towards sustainability and highlights how such a framework can facilitate potential partnerships and make the economy more cooperative and circular. It concludes by suggesting a practical application focused on food security and demonstrates how this is strongly linked to urban resilience and sustainability.
Bacterial Species as Causative Agents Involved in Pistachios Dieback in Iran
Authors: Tavasoli Elham , Moradi Mohammad , Hasanzadeh Nader , Khodaygan Pejman , Probst Claudia
Published: May 2023

Die-back of pistachio (DBP) is a major disease affecting pistachio trees in Iran and has become a serious problem in Kerman province in recent years. In the current study, the role of bacteria as causal agents of DBP was investigated under laboratory and field conditions. Samples were collected from infected pistachio orchards in Kerman province from 2015 to 2016. The ability of bacterial isolates to produce disease and vascular colonization was studied through different inoculation methods. Identification of isolates was carried out using biochemical and physiological assays, amplification of 16SrDNA region combined with partial analyses of gyrA gene. A total of 281 bacterial isolates were obtained from infected trees from which 148 induced the hypersensitivity reaction on tobacco leaves. From those, 128 isolates were able to colonize vascular tissues in sub-bark inoculations of pistachio branches under laboratory conditions. In field experiments, 24 selected isolates were able to extend in vascular tissues of pistachio branches and twigs using sub-bark and apical inoculation methods, although disease severity varied. Staphylococcus pasteuri, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus sp., Acinetobacter radioresistens, Xanthomonas sp., Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens, Arthrobacter oxydans and Pseudomonas koreensis were identified to be involved in die-back of pistachio trees. The work presented here shows that a range of bacterial genera and species may be involved with the DBP, which may be used to improve the urgently needed management of the disease.
Growth performance and hematological parameters of broiler chickens fed gradually increasing levels of supplemental safflower seed
Authors: Rathaur Aman , Rai Dinesh Chandra , Prakash Ved
Published: May 2023

Fats and oils are used to enhance the palatability of feed, absorb fat-soluble vitamins, and pass digesta through the gastrointestinal tract of poultry. The goal of current study was to see how dietary supplementation of Safflower seed (SS) affected on the production and hematological parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 200 male chickens (7-day-old) were randomly distributed into 5 treatments with each 5 replicate pens of 8 chicks in a 42-day trial. Each group was randomly allocated to one of 5 dietary treatments: (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10%) SS, respectively. The experimental diets were formulated for starter (7 to 21 days) and finisher (22 to 42 days) phase. Result indicated that inclusion of SS in diet improved body weight and feed conversion ratio during 7 to 42 days (P < 0.05). The highest and lowest body weight were observed in 5% SS and 0% SS levels, respectively. The obtained results demonstrated a significantly (P < 0.01) increased content of RBC, HB, PCV, Lymphocytes, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and Platelets in the blood of broiler chickens fed with various levels of SS for five weeks. Findings suggest that, SS may use as natural energy source to increase growth performance and improve hematological parameters.
Study on the correlation between controlling nutritional status score and clinical biochemical indicators in patients with colorectal cancer
Authors: Wang Zhi , Yuan Jiayan , Zhao Sunyan , Huang Shijia , Wu Rong , Fei Fei
Published: May 2023

Purpose The controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score is an important tool for predicting the prognosis of colorectal cancer (CRC), but its effectiveness is relatively insufficient. This study aims to screen more effective clinical indicators as supplements to the CONUT scoring system and improve the predictive value of CRC prognosis.
Methods Retrospective collection of clinical information from all CRC patients in our unit from 2014 to 2020, and calculation of CONUT scores based on serum albumin, lymphocyte, and total cholesterol levels. Divide the included patients into three groups: the normal nutrition group (0-1), the mild malnutrition group (2-4), and the moderate to severe malnutrition group (5-12). Evaluate the correlation between CONUT score and baseline characteristics and clinical indicators.
Results This study ultimately included 5014 CRC patients. The higher the values of neutrophil (NE), monocyte (MC), eosinophil (EOS), alkaline phase, lactate dehydrogenase, carboxylic antigen in patients, as well as the lower the values of white blood cell (WBC), basil (BAS), hemoglobin, total protein, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL), aspartate transaminase, blood urea nitrogen in patients, all indicate poorer nutritional status, with statistical significance (P<0.05). The indicators significantly correlated with the CONUT score all reflect immune nutritional status, including WBC (OR=0.036, P=000), NE (OR=30.815, P=0.000), MC (OR=41.388, P=0.000), EOS (OR=27.577, P=0.000), BAS (OR=0.006, P=0.046), and LDL (OR=0.319, P=0.000).
Conclusion WBC, NE, MC, EOS, BAS, and LDL may be used as supplementary indicators in the CONUT scoring system to more effectively predict the clinical prognosis of CRC patients.
Adverse Childhood Experiences and living in the socially deprived areas in adulthood: A cross-sectional study of the nationwide data in Japan
Authors: Sasaki Natsu , Tabuchi Takahiro , Fujiwara Takeo , Nishi Daisuke
Published: May 2023

Objectives: This study aimed to examine whether having adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) was associated with living in a deprived area in adulthood.
Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted by using nationwide data in 2022 of the Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS). Participants were community dwelling people 18 years or older. ACEs were assessed by Japanese version of 15-items ACE measurement tool (ACE-J). Living condition was measured by Area Deprived Index (ADI) and Densely Inhabited District (DID) based on zip code. Multivariable logistic regression to analyze the associations between ADI and ACE 4+ was conducted, controlling for individual-level factors, such as age, sex, marital status, and education, as an additional analysis.
Results: The total of 27,967 participants were included in the analysis. The prevalence of emotional neglect, childhood poverty, and school bullying were 34.5%, 21.9%, 20.0%, respectively. More than 70.1% of the population had one or more ACE(s). The number of ACEs was associated with significantly higher risk of living in deprived area in the adulthood (p<0.001). ACEs were not associated with living in density area. The association between ADI and ACEs 4+ was non-significant after controlling the individual-level factors.
Conclusion: People with higher number of ACEs tend to live in deprived areas in adulthood. Policy makers in highly deprived areas can apply the trauma-informed approach for the community care and support, which is critical to mitigating deficit perspectives and facilitating comprehensive support for those who experience ACEs.
Anatomy of thermal unrest at a hydrothermal system: Case study of the 2021-2022 crisis at Vulcano
Authors: Bonnétat Sophie Pailot - , Rafflin Victoria , Harris Andrew , Diliberto Iole Serena , Ganci Gaetana , Cappello Annalisa , Boudoire Guillaume , Bilotta Guiseppe , Grassa Fausto , Gattuso Alessandro , Ramsey Michael
Published: May 2023

Hydrothermal systems can generate phreatic and/or phreatomagmatic explosions with little warning. Understanding the temporal and spatial evolution of geophysical and geochemical signals at hydrothermal systems is crucial for detecting precursors to unrest and to inform on hazard. Thermal signatures of such systems are poorly defined because data records are often too short or punctual compared to activity timescales, which can be decadal. La Fossa system of Vulcano has been monitored since the 1980s and entered a period of unrest in 2021. We assessed the thermal signature using ground- and satellite-based data with temporal and spatial scales ranging from minutes to days. While continuously-recording stations provided continuous but point-based measurements, fumarole field vent surveys and ASTER and VIIRS images allowed lower temporal resolution but synoptic records to be built. By integrating this multi-resolution data set, precursory signals to the unrest could retrospectively be placed ranging from February to June 2021. Intensity of unrest increased during summer 2021, with an onset over a few days in September 2021. By September, seismic, CO2, SO2 and geochemical metrics also indicated unrest, leading Civil Protection to raise the alert level to yellow on October 1. Heat flux, having been 4 MW in May 2019, peaked at 90 MW in September, and increased to 120 MW by March 2022. This ranked Vulcano as one of the highest intensity hydrothermal systems like Reykjanes, well ahead of Yellowstone and Nysiros We thus convolved our thermal data sets with all other monitoring data to validate a Vulcano Unrest Index (VUI) that can be potentially applied to any hydrothermal system. The VUI highlighted four stages of unrest, none of which were clear in any single data set: baseline, precursory, onset and unrest. Onset was characterized by sudden release of fluids, likely caused by failure of sealed zones that had become pressurized during the precursory phase that began possibly as early as February 2021. Unrest has been ongoing for more than 18 months, and may continue for several more years. Our understanding of this system behavior has been due to hindsight, but demonstrates how multiparametric surveys can track and forecast unrest.
Effect of zinc ions on the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes
Authors: Miguel Willian Moreira , Freitas-Marchi Bruna Letícia , Reigado Gustavo Roncoli , Santos Jeniffer Farias dos , Chambergo Felipe Santiago , Nunes Viviane
Published: May 2023

Background
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which there is hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation of keratinocytes. Since high levels of KLK7, an enzyme inhibited by zinc (Zn2+) ions, are present in psoriatic lesions, we have studied the effect of zinc ions in the viability of keratinocytes, as well as in the activity of KLK5 and KLK7 and in the expression of epidermal markers.
Methods and Results
The cells were cultured in the absence or presence of Zn2+ ions (5.0, 10 and 25 µM). Cell viability was evaluated by the MTT method after during 14 days. Cell death was evaluated by flow cytometry using propidium iodide. The activity of the KLK was evaluated on the hydrolysis of synthetic substrates. Expression of involucrin, filaggrin, cytokeratins (CK) 5, 10 and 14 was evaluated by quantitative PCR. Cell incubation with Zn2+ ions did not result in significant changes in cell viability. By MTT assay, it was observed that the cultures incubated with 10 and 25 µM Zn2+ ions showed a decrease in the number of viable cells in comparison to the control. Cells cultured for 1 day in the presence of 25 µM Zn2+ ions displayed a decrease in KLK7 activity. In the presence of Zn2+ ions, it was shown an increase in the expression of CK5, 10 and 14, involucrin and filaggrin.
Conclusions
These results have shown that zinc ions can affect the differentiation of HaCat cells, contributing for future therapeutic trials related to psoriasis based on the modulation of KLK activity.
Prevalence and correlates of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms among tornado-affected construction workers : a cross-sectional study.
Authors: Huang Yujie , Wu Taimin , Liu Lianzhong
Published: May 2023

Background
The 2021 Wuhan tornado outbreak caused significant physical and mental trauma to tornado-exposed construction workers. Our study aimed to investigate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms among tornado-exposed workers and to analyse the associated factors.
Methods
A total of 228 tornado-affected construction workers completed a cross-sectional survey. We used the basic information questionnaire, Essen Trauma Inventory, Generalised Anxiety Disorder-7, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Insomnia Severity Index to screen affected workers and analyse their correlates for possible PTSD, depression, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms using logistic regression.
Results
The prevalence rates of PTSD, depression, anxiety, and insomnia symptoms were 20.2, 30.7, 23.2, and 41.6%, respectively. Willingness to seek psychological help from workers was rarely reported (18.0%). Multiple logistic regression showed that PTSD symptoms were more likely to occur with physical injury (OR = 3.05, P = 0.006), severe damage to property (OR = 2.77, P = 0.005), and witnessing death (OR = 2.34, P = 0.046). Depressive symptoms were more likely to occur with physical injury (OR = 3.292, P = 0.000) and severe damage to property (OR = 1.911, P = 0.032). Anxiety symptoms were significantly associated with physical injury (OR = 4.116, P = 0.009). Insomnia symptoms were significantly associated with severe damage to property [OR = 2.077, P = 0.030) and hospital admission (OR = 3.307, P = 0.005).
Conclusions
After the tornado, several construction workers developed psychological problems. To mitigate the psychological trauma caused by disasters, more intensive psychological monitoring and essential mental intervention should be provided to victims who have experienced physical injury, property damage, hospitalisation, and witnessed deaths.
The Significance of Position in Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy
Authors: KÜÇÜKYANGÖZ MUSTAFA , Gücük Adnan
Published: May 2023

Purpose
Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PNL) can be performed in a number of different positions. Our aim was to evaluate the convenience and advantages of the supine position following the transition from the prone to the supine position.
Materials and Method
94 patients undergoing supine PNL (group 1) and 93 patients undergoing prone PNL (group 2) were retrospectively reviewed and included in the study. Patients who underwent mini-PNL (mPNL) were selected from group 1 and group 2 and divided into Group-1A supine mPNL patients (77) and Group-2A prone mPNL patients (53). Demographic characteristics, operative data and post-operative parameters were compared between these groups.
Results
The operation time was 74.4 ± 21.9 minutes (min) in group-1A and 79.2 ± 19.8 min in group-2A (p: 0.076). The median value of fluoroscopy time was 30 seconds (sec) in group-1A and 40 sec in group-2A (p: 0.003). In group 1A, 59 patients had no intraoperative double-J stent (DJS) insertion and 18 patients had DJS insertion, while in group 2A, 24 patients had no DJS insertion and 29 patients had DJS insertion (p: <0.001). mPNL was performed in 81.9% of patients in the supine position and 57% in the prone position. This difference was statistically significant (p:<0.001). No significant difference was found with regard to the success rate and the complications of mPNL.
Conclusions
Fluoroscopy time is shorter in the supine position. Moreover, the insertion rates of DJS are low. With increasing experience, we have found that our standard PNL (sPNL) rate is gradually decreasing and more mPNL is being performed.