bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Liquid-Assisted Electrospinning Three-Dimensional Polyacrylonitrile Nanofiber Crosslinked with Chitosan
Authors: Yang Xiaoli , Chen Xue , Zhao Jingyi , Lv Wenlu , Wu Qilu , Ren Huajian , Chen Chuntao , Sun Dongping
Published: December 2021

Electrospinning has become a popular nanotechnology for the fabrication of tissue engineering scaffolds, which can precisely regulate fiber diameter and microstructure. Herein, we have prepared a three-dimensional polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofiber by liquid-assisted electrospinning. The spacing between PAN nanofibers can reach to 15-20 μm, as the uniform internally connected pore structure can be formed, through the regulation of parameters. Furthermore, the chitosan attached to the as-prepared nanofibers gives the material antibacterial effect and increases its biocompatibility. Meanwhile, the special structure of chitosan also provides the possibility for further loading drugs in dressings in the future. This newly developed nanocomposite seems to be highly suitable for wound healing due to its unique properties of biodegradability, biocompatibility, and antimicrobial effectiveness.
Dynamics of the Exponential Population Growth System with Mixed Fractional Brownian Motion
Authors: Ma Weijun , Liu Wei , Zhu Quanxin , Shi Kaibo
Published: December 2021

This paper examines the dynamics of the exponential population growth system with mixed fractional Brownian motion. First, we establish some useful lemmas that provide powerful tools for studying the stochastic differential equations with mixed fractional Brownian motion. We offer some explicit expressions and numerical characteristics such as mathematical expectation and variance of the solutions of the exponential population growth system with mixed fractional Brownian motion. Second, we propose two sufficient and necessary conditions for the almost sure exponential stability and the kth moment exponential stability of the solution of the constant coefficient exponential population growth system with mixed fractional Brownian motion. Furthermore, we conduct some large deviation analysis of this mixed fractional population growth system. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first paper to investigate how the Hurst index affects the exponential stability and large deviations in the biological population system. It is interesting that the phenomenon of large deviations always occurs for addressed system when (1/2) < H < 1. Moreover, several numerical simulations are reported to show the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Influence of Steel Fiber on Durability Performance of Concrete under Freeze‐Thaw Cycles
Authors: Li Dong , Guo Qing , Liu Shi
Published: December 2021

To verify the steel fiber effect on durability properties of the concrete in cold regions, four types of steel fiber reinforced concrete were prepared, and the fiber dosage were 0, 20 kg, 40 kg, and 60 kg, respectively. The rapid freeze‐thaw test was adopted to evaluate the frost resistance durability, and the evaluation indexes of the mass loss and the residual dynamic modulus of elasticity (RDME) the samples were compared, respectively. The frost damage of the matrix regarding the different freeze‐thaw cycles (FTCs) was evaluated using the Weibull distribution. The capillary water absorption (CWA) experiments were also conducted corresponding to different freeze‐thaw cycles (FTCs). The results revealed that the mass loss was not an effective index for frost damage evaluation of macro‐steel fiber reinforced concrete. The FTCs corresponding to the loss of RDME to 60% were enhanced noticeably with the increase of fiber content. The relationship between the frost damage and the FTCs can be evaluated using the Weibull distribution. Compared with the PC, the frost resistance grade of the reinforced concrete with fiber dosage of 60 kg/m3 increased by 125%. After the frost action, the CWA capacity of concrete improved significantly, while, under the same FTCs, the CWA of the matrix decreased with the increment of macro‐steel fiber dosage. The steel fiber showed a strong positive influence on enhancing the durability performance of concrete in cold region.
Medicinal Plants Used in Ethnoveterinary Practices in Adea Berga District, Oromia Region of Ethiopia
Authors: Feyisa Megersa , Kassahun Addis , Giday Mirutse
Published: December 2021

In Ethiopia, locally available materials, mainly medicinal plants, are commonly utilized to manage livestock diseases. However, this practice is currently being threatened by several factors including loss of traditional knowledge and depletion of plant resources. This calls for an urgent need to document the ethnoveterinary knowledge in the country and conserve the associated medicinal plants. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to document traditional knowledge on use of medicinal plants in the Adea Berga district, Oromia region of Ethiopia, to manage livestock ailments. Ethnobotanical data were collected largely through semistructured interviews conducted with purposively selected traditional healers of the district. The study identified 59 medicinal plants used in ethnoveterinary practices in the district. The great majority (90.4%) of the medicinal plants were used in fresh forms, which were mainly administered orally. The majority (65.4%) of the medicinal plants were gathered from the wild. Data revealed that yoke sore (wound) had the highest informant consensus factor (ICF) value (1.00), followed by leech infestation (0.92) and endoparasite infections (0.90). The highest fidelity level (FL) (100%) and rank order priority (ROP) (100%) values were obtained for the plants Nicotiana tabacum, Malva parviflora, and Calpurnia aurea that were used to treat leech infestation, retained placenta, and snake poisoning, respectively. Priority for further pharmacological and phytochemical investigations needs to be given to the aforementioned three plants with the highest FL and ROP values as such values may indicate their higher potency against the respective ailments.
Identification of Candidate Target Genes and Immune Cells in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Xie Pengfeng , Wu Shichao , Guo Lijuan , Ren Jun , Cai Kaizhi , Zhou Mingyue , Liu Weiwei , Yang Sen
Published: December 2021

Background. The advance of new treatment strategies for more effective management of oral cancer requires identification of novel biological targets. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to identify novel biomarkers associated with oral tumorigenesis and prognostic signature by comparing gene expression profile of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). Methods. Four datasets including GSE25099, GSE30784, GSE37991, and GSE41613 were collected from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, Cox model analysis, identification of key genes, and Kaplan-Meier analysis were also performed. The xCell was utilized to analyze the infiltration levels of immune cells. Results. A total of 235 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found to be dysregulated in OSCC. These genes were mainly enriched in ECM receptor interaction and focal adhesion. Cox regression analysis identified 10 genes considered as key genes. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that low expression of SERPINE1 (also known as PAI-1), high expression of CD1C, and C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1 (CX3CR1) were associated with well prognostic status in OSCC patients. In addition, we constructed a 3-immune-cell signature (myeloid dendritic cell, T cell CD4+ central memory, and common myeloid progenitor) that may be used to predict the survival status of OSCC patients. Conclusion. Three key genes and 3-immune-cell signature were potential biomarkers for the prognosis of OSCC, and they may serve as potential targets for the treatment of OSCC patients.
Role of Biomarkers in the Integrated Management of Melanoma
Authors: Naik Piyu Parth
Published: December 2021

Melanoma, which is an aggressive skin cancer, is currently the fifth and seventh most common cancer in men and women, respectively. The American Cancer Society reported that approximately 106,110 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed in the United States in 2021, with 7,180 people dying from the disease. This information could facilitate the early detection of possible metastatic lesions and the development of novel therapeutic techniques for melanoma. Additionally, early detection of malignant melanoma remains an objective of melanoma research. Recently, melanoma treatment has substantially improved, given the availability of targeted treatments and immunotherapy. These developments have highlighted the significance of identifying biomarkers for prognosis and predicting therapy response. Biomarkers included tissue protein expression, circulating DNA detection, and genetic alterations in cancer cells. Improved diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers are becoming increasingly relevant in melanoma treatment, with the development of newer and more targeted treatments. Here, the author discusses the aspects of biomarkers in the real-time management of patients with melanoma.
[Retracted] Motion Capture Based on Intelligent Sensor in Snow and Ice Sports
Authors: Nian Qing , Liu Junyi
Published: December 2021

With the development of motion capture technology, it has become a reality to efficiently and quickly obtain realistic human motion information. Motion capture technology has been successfully applied in many fields such as sports competitions, animation games, and film and television production. This article is aimed at studying the application of motion capture technology based on smart sensors in ice and snow sports. Put forward the idea of applying smart sensor‐based motion capture technology to ice and snow sports. This article introduces in detail smart sensors, motion capture technology, and related content of ice and snow sports and conducts specific experiments on the application of smart sensor‐based motion capture technology in ice and snow sports. The experimental results show that motion capture based on smart sensor technology can help athletes improve their skills and tactics. At the same time, motion capture technology based on smart sensors is also loved by most coaches and athletes, and everyone’s satisfaction with this technology has reached more than 70%.
Evaluation of Physicothermal Properties of Solar Thermic Fluids Dispersed with Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes and Prediction of Data Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Sekhar K. Ch. , Surakasi Raviteja , Garip ilhan , Srujana S. , Kumar V. V. Prasanna , Begum Naziya
Published: December 2021

A review of multiwalled carbon nanotubes as solar thermic fluids and their thermophysical properties is done in this article. The basic fluids were ethylene glycol and water in ratios of 100 : 0, 90 : 10, and 80 : 20. To investigate how surface modification impacts thermophysical properties, three base fluids were combined with surfactant-assisted MWCNTs and oxidized MWCNTs in weight fractions of 0.125, 0.25, and 0.5 percent, respectively. It takes two months to check whether the dispersion stays constant. Thermal conductivity and viscosity measurement were done using heated discs and Anton Paar viscometers. Using oxidized MWCNTs to disperse, the base fluids increased thermal conductivity by 15% to 24%. Surfactant-assisted MWCNTs in nanofluids perform worse than oxidized MWCNTs. The dynamic viscosity of nanofluids is higher than that of basic fluids between 50 and 70°C. During a mathematical computation, all of the MWCNT weight fractions and ethylene glycol volume percentages are included. The correlation may be a good fit for the experimental data within limits. The characteristics are forecasted using feed-forward backpropagation. In this research, buried layer neurons and factors are examined.
Inhibition of Growth of Colon Tumors and Proliferation of HT‐29 Cells by Warburgia ugandensis Extract through Mediating G0/G1 Cell Cycle Arrest, Cell Apoptosis, and Intracellular ROS Generation
Authors: Zhang Yongli , Chen Guilin , Zhuang Xiaocui , Guo Mingquan
Published: December 2021

Warburgia ugandensis Sprague (W. ugandensis), widely distributed in Africa, is a traditional medicinal plant used for the treatment of various diseases including cancer. We intended to evaluate the anticolorectal cancer (CRC) activities of the crude extract from W. ugandensis (WUD) and reveal the underlying molecular mechanisms of its action. We found that WUD inhibited the proliferation of HT‐29 and HCT116 cells in a time‐ and dose‐dependent manner and induced intracellular ROS generation. The inhibitory effect of WUD on the proliferation of HT‐29 and HCT116 cells could be attenuated by NAC (a ROS scavenger) in a dose‐dependent manner. WUD induced G0/G1 phase arrest, down‐regulated the protein expression of Cyclin D1 via ROS accumulation in HT‐29 cells. In search of the molecular mechanism involved in WUD‐induced Cyclin D1 down‐regulation, it was found that WUD can suppress PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway in HT‐29 cells. Next, it was found that WUD also activated apoptosis, poly‐ADP ribose polymerase 1 (PARP1) cleavage and down‐regulated pro‐caspase 3 in HT‐29 and HCT116 cells. Besides, WUD decreased the growth of colon tumors in vivo in the xenograft mouse model. We demonstrated for the first time that ROS and their modulation in the corresponding intracellular signaling could play a significant role in the potential activity of WUD against CRC cells.
Changing Regional Inequality Patterns in Western China: A Case Study of Xinjiang
Authors: Qin Xianhong , Zou Hui , Wang Lei
Published: December 2021

Regional inequality in western China has been rarely examined and has risen as an important issue in the Chinese academic circle. This study, taking Xinjiang as a case, investigated regional inequality in Xinjiang since the 1990s. The results show that the interregional inequality became more prominent, while the overall regional disparities among counties and cities have experienced an inverted U‐shape path and have been mainly caused by the inequality of the intra‐north part of the province. Counties with high economic development levels were mainly located in northern Xinjiang and had a high probability of further moving economic levels. We further found that the regional development pattern in Xinjiang was significantly associated with spatial accessibility, followed by population density and urbanization factors. This paper deepens our understanding of the complex pattern and mechanism of regional inequality in western China, and local specific policies, therefore, are needed to solve the problem.
Wireless Networking‐Driven Healthcare Approaches in Combating COVID‐19
Authors: BasheeruddinAsdaq Syed Mohammed , Naveen N. Raghavendra , Gunturu Lakshmi Narasimha , Pamayyagari Kalpana , Abdullah Ibrahim , Sreeharsha Nagaraja , Imran Mohd , Alsalman Abdulkhaliq J. , Al Hawaj Maitham A. , Al mohaini Mohammed , Alsubaie Abdullah A. , Alanzi Khulod D. , Alanazi Maha S. , Alanazi Amani A.
Published: December 2021

Since its outbreak, the coronavirus (COVID‐19) pandemic has caused havoc on people’s lives. All activities were paused due to the virus’s spread across the continents. Researchers have been working hard to find new medication treatments for the COVID‐19 pandemic. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that safety and self‐measures play a major role in preventing the virus from spreading from one person to another. Wireless technology is playing a critical role in avoiding viral propagation. This technology mainly comprises of portable devices that assist self‐isolated patients in adhering to safe precautionary measures. Government officials are currently using wireless technologies to identify infected people at large gatherings. In this research, we gave an overview of wireless technologies that assisted the general public and healthcare professionals in maintaining effective healthcare services during COVID‐19. We also discussed the possible challenges faced by them for effective implementation in day‐to‐day life. In conclusion, wireless technologies are one of the best techniques in today’s age to effectively combat the pandemic.
Conformal Quad-Port UWB MIMO Antenna for Body-Worn Applications
Authors: Govindan Thennarasi , Palaniswamy Sandeep Kumar , Kanagasabai Malathi , Kumar Sachin , Rama Rao Thipparaju , Alsath Mohammed Gulam Nabi
Published: December 2021

A conformal four-port multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) antenna operating at 2.4 GHz and ultrawideband (UWB) is presented for wearable applications. The unit element of the MIMO antenna is a simple rectangular monopole with an impedance bandwidth of 8.9 GHz (3.1–12 GHz). In the monopole radiator, stubs are introduced to achieve 2.4 GHz resonance. Also, a defect is introduced in the ground plane to reduce backside radiation. The efficiency of the proposed antenna is greater than 95%, and its peak gain is 3.1 dBi. The MIMO antenna has an isolation of >20 dB, and the estimated specific absorption rate (SAR) values for 1 gm of tissue are below 1.6 W/Kg. The size of the four-port MIMO antenna is 1.38λ0 × 0.08λ0 × 0.014λ0.
Classification and Prediction of Software Incidents Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Ali Sikandar , Adeel Muhammad , Johar Sumaira , Zeeshan Muhammad , Baseer Samad , Irshad Azeem
Published: December 2021

An incident, in the perception of information technology, is an event that is not part of a normal process and disrupts operational procedure. This research work particularly focuses on software failure incidents. In any operational environment, software failure can put the quality and performance of services at risk. Many efforts are made to overcome this incident of software failure and to restore normal service as soon as possible. The main contribution of this study is software failure incidents classification and prediction using machine learning. In this study, an active learning approach is used to selectively label those data which is considered to be more informative to build models. Firstly, the sample with the highest randomness (entropy) is selected for labeling. Secondly, to classify the labeled observation into either failure or no failure classes, a binary classifier is used that predicts the target class label as failure or not. For classification, Support Vector Machine is used as a main classifier to classify the data. We derived our prediction models from the failure log files collected from the ECLIPSE software repository.
Blended Features Classification of Leaf‐Based Cucumber Disease Using Image Processing Techniques
Authors: Kainat Jaweria , Sajid Ullah Syed , Alharithi Fahd S. , Alroobaea Roobaea , Hussain Saddam , Nazir Shah
Published: December 2021

Existing plant leaf disease detection approaches are based on features of extracting algorithms. These algorithms have some limits in feature selection for the diseased portion, but they can be used in conjunction with other image processing methods. Diseases of a plant can be classified from their symptoms. We proposed a cucumber leaf recognition approach, consisting of five steps: preprocessing, normalization, features extraction, features fusion, and classification. Otsu’s thresholding is implemented in preprocessing and Tan–Triggs normalization is applied for normalizing the dataset. During the features extraction step, texture and shape features are extracted. In addition, increasing the instances improves some characteristics. Through a principal component analysis approach, serial feature fusion is employed to provide a feature score. Fused features can be classified through a support vector machine. The accuracy of the Fine KNN is 94.30%, which is higher than the previous work in past papers.
Treatment of Bilateral Endogenous Aspergillus Endophthalmitis with Multiple Intravitreal Voriconazole Injections with Good Visual Outcome
Authors: Aboobakar Inas F. , Ong Sally S. , Nti Akosua , Jiramongkolchai Kim , Arevalo J. Fernando
Published: December 2021

Endogenous endophthalmitis caused by Aspergillus species tends to be very aggressive, often leading to devastating visual outcomes. Historically, intravitreal amphotericin injections have played a central role in management, but with variable visual outcomes and a risk of toxicity. Limited reports suggest that use of intravitreal voriconazole is a safe and efficacious alternative, though these cases were treated with only few intravitreal injections. Here, we report a case of bilateral endogenous Aspergillus endophthalmitis treated with 8 intravitreal voriconazole injections in the right eye and 11 in the left eye with good best-corrected final visual outcome (20/50 right eye and 20/40 left eye).
Comparison of Morphological Similarities and Differences between Liquid-Based Cytology and Conventional Techniques of Serous Effusion Cytology Specimens
Authors: Baykus Nurhan , Özekinci Selver , Erdem Zeynep Betul , Vurgun Eren , Yildiz Fetin Rustu
Published: December 2021

Introduction: The aim of this study is to discover a fast and efficient method for the diagnosis of serous effusion cytology specimens by comparing the cytomorphological features of SurePath (SP) smears and smears prepared by cytospin. After the macroscopic features of the incoming material were recorded, it was divided into 2 for conventional technique (CT) and liquid-based technique. Cytospin was used for CT and SurePath for liquid-based technique in this study. Materials and Methods: 243 serous effusions (33 thoracentesis and 92 paracentesis fluids, 118 peritoneal lavage fluids) were investigated. After shaking the effusion gently, it was centrifuged for 5 min at 1,250 rpm for cytospin smear. SP smear was prepared according to the “BD PrepStain slide processor”. Two smears were prepared with these 2 methods and then stained with Papanicolaou. The smears were examined under a light microscope in terms of fixation, background, cellularity, nucleus, and structural features. All statistical analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS 17.0 software. For each microscopic feature, the χ2 test was used to assess the significance of the relationship between cytospin and SP, and level of agreement in between the methods was assessed using the kappa statistic. Results: A statistically significant difference was observed between the 2 methods in background (p < 0.001), cellularity (p < 0.001), nucleus features (p < 0.001), and structural features (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in fixation. Low level of agreement was observed with the kappa statistic in fixation, background, and cellularity. Moderate level of agreement was observed in the nucleus and structural feature groups with the kappa statistic. Discussion/Conclusion: Although there are advantages of liquid-based technique such as standardized fixation and cleaner background, since the cellular and background components required for morphological analysis and diagnosis are better preserved in cytospin, it is considered to be better to use liquid-based technique not alone but together with CT.
Surgical Treatment of Leg Length Discrepancy and Knee Flexion Contracture Associated with a Congenital Absence of Quadriceps
Authors: Holzer Elad , Moisan Philippe , Keshet Doron , Bernstein Mitchell
Published: December 2021

We report the case of an 18-year-old male with congenital absence of quadriceps and hypoplasia of the patella who presented with a significant leg length discrepancy (LLD) and knee flexion contracture. Surgical management was aimed toward lengthening the limb, stabilizing the joint, and correcting the knee flexion contracture. Correction of a significant congenital LLD and knee flexion contracture poses challenges due to long-standing altered biomechanics. These are rare conditions for which no accepted surgical algorithms exist. It is essential to anticipate the biomechanical consequences of limb lengthening and flexion contracture correction that might arise and plan comprehensive interventions accordingly.
Scientific Method in Late-Antique Paganism: The (Rational) Empiricism of al-Filāḥa l-nabaṭiyya (The Nabatean Agriculture)
Authors: van Dalen Elaine
Published: December 2021

The reputation of the late-antique or early Islamic al-Filāḥa l-nabaṭiyya (The Nabatean Agriculture) as an esoteric forgery has recently begun to shift and its value as a source for the study of early-Islamic or late-antique Near Eastern paganism has been restored. This article contributes to a further reinterpretation of the work by elucidating its value for the history of late-antique and early Islamic science. It argues that the work distinguishes between the epistemological categories of the rational and the marvelous and critically approaches both based on a rational empiricism which it shares with contemporary disciplines such as medicine and astrology. The concepts of experience (taǧriba) and reason (qiyās) are central to al-Filāḥa l-nabaṭiyya’s epistemology, and the work relies on observation and experiments, combined with methods of deductive and analogical reasoning to obtain applied botanical and agricultural knowledge. Al-Filāḥa l-nabaṭiyya also contains competing views regarding prophecy and astrological knowledge which are illustrative of epistemological debates within Pagan late-antique scholarship.
“They Call Them Antiḳa”. Ottoman Travellers in Italy and the Idea of Antiquities in the Early Tanzimat Period
Authors: Berardi Luca
Published: December 2021

During the nineteenth century, the Ottoman fashion of looking at archaeological relics, present in large quantities in the territories of the Empire, deeply changed. This paper examines the reports of three Ottoman travellers who visited European countries in the early Tanzimat period. They introduced a new conceptualization of antiquities that stemmed from the direct observation of ancient monuments and museums in Italian cities. My argument is that the experience of travelling in Italy was one of the factors that contributed to shaping the new perception of antiquities that was emerging among the Ottoman elite.
An Emblematic Case in the Kingdom of Iraq: the Jewish Commander in Charge of the Baghdad Arsenal, Yamen Yousef, from Integration in Nation-Building to Exclusion
Authors: Nissan Ephraim
Published: December 2021

This article illustrates aspects of modern Iraqi history, being concerned with the life and career of Yamen Yousef (Yāmēn Yūsif, Hebrew name: Yāmīn Ṣiyyōn [ben] Yōsēf [ben] Nissīm), an officer in the army of the Kingdom of Iraq, who was the commander in charge of the Baghdad Royal Arsenal in the 1930s, and earlier on had been one of the three young officers made to proclaim Iraq’s first king during the coronation ceremony. That up to the late 1930s he was commander in charge of the Baghdad Royal Arsenal is in retrospect surprising (and that late in that decade a false charge was made against him by the far right is unsurprising), in consideration of rising animosity towards his ethno-religious identity. This came to a breaking point when he resigned, thus reverting from the acquired status of a career in the service of the state, to private bourgeoisie: this was happening in the first decade of full independence, when Jewish civil servants were being dismissed in their droves, after having been co-opted into the process of nation-building, owing to their educational qualifications giving them for a while an advantage. This study contributes novel data and facets that enable a fairly novel, and certainly more nuanced view of intercommunal relations in Iraq from late Ottoman times throughout the Hashemite monarchy (and beyond).
Certain Women Directors: US Independent Filmmakers in the World
Authors: White Patricia
Published: December 2021

This article analyzes the work of Chloé Zhao and its reception in order to explore the role of female auteurs in 21st century world cinema. By comparing Zhao to Kelly Reichardt, another US director acclaimed internationally for distinctive works of US regional realism, the essay argues that US independent women directors critique American cultural hegemony and the global dominance of Hollywood both through the subject matter and formal structures of their films and through their positioning within the discourse of world cinema auteurism. After analyzing the authorial personae of both directors as constructed in their films and press reception, the essay offers close readings of Reichardt’s Certain Women and Zhao’s The Rider, both set in the US West, with specific attention to the perspectives of central Native American characters. The readings demonstrate how the filmmakers use realism to locate a singular, gendered authorial perspective on the world.
The Double-Edged ECtHR Lăcătuş Judgment on Criminalisation of Begging: Da Mihi Elimo Sinam Propter Amorem Dei
Authors: Ganty Sarah
Published: December 2021

Judgment: European Court of Human Rights, Lăcătuş v Switzerland 14065/15 (ECtHR, 19 January 2021), Judgment (Merits and Just Satisfaction)

Section of the Court: Chamber (Third Section)

Applicable Convention Rights: Article 8 echr (Right to respect for private and family life) – Violation

Primary Legal Issues: Did Switzerland violate Article 8 echr by imposing a fine and subsequent imprisonment for five days for non-payment on a poor and vulnerable Roma woman for unintrusive begging?

Link to Case: 
Taxonomic revision and morphological delimitation of Oxalis sect. Ripariae (Oxalidaceae)
Authors: NUERNBERG-SILVA ANELISE , FIASCHI PEDRO
Published: December 2021

Phylogenetic studies indicate that several infrageneric taxa in Oxalis require taxonomic updates to attain monophyly. In this contribution, we update the morphological delimitation of the South American Oxalis sect. Ripariae and provide a taxonomic revision of the currently accepted species. The sectional delimitation was carried out by comparing micro- and macromorphological features of Oxalis sect. Ripariae, O. sect. Corniculatae, and O. sect. Myriophyllum. These sections share yellow flowers and aerial stems. Glandular hairs and larger seeds with the surface longitudinally crested and with projections are exclusive to Oxalis sect. Ripariae. We accept 11 species in the section, including three previously placed in Oxalis sect. Corniculatae (i.e., O. eriocarpa, O. niederleinii, and O. refracta), but excluding O. serpens and O. subvillosa, which are moved to O. sect. Corniculatae. We also describe a new species (Oxalis lourteiginana), propose a new name and status for O. bifrons subsp. littoralis (now O. pampeana), the synonymization of O. irreperta with O. riparia, six second-step lectotypifications, and one epitypification. For each accepted species we provide a morphological description, illustrations, ecological and taxonomic information, conservation status following IUCN, and a geographic distribution map. Most species occur in southern Brazil, but the section is widespread also in Argentina, Uruguay, and eastern Paraguay. Six species are categorized as threatened and further three as near threatened. Besides, we provide an identification key for the taxa of the section.
Seseli salsugineum (Apiaceae), a new species from Central Anatolia, Turkey
Authors: DURAN AHMET , SAMIGULLIN TAHIR , LYSKOV DMITRY
Published: December 2021

A new species, Seseli salsugineum A.Duran & Lyskov (Apiaceae), is described from Lake Tuz Gölü area, Central Anatolia, Turkey. The new species is related to S. transcaucasicum and S. libanotis and differs in stem features (up to 200 cm tall and 5‒15 mm ⌀ vs. up to 80 cm tall and up to 6 mm ⌀ or up to 150 cm tall and 10‒20 mm ⌀), stem base pubescence (glabrous vs. densely pubescent or sometimes pubescent), leaf blades pubescence (glabrous with scabrid margin vs. entirely scabrid or glabrous), bracts 0.3‒0.8 mm wide, without membranous margin (vs. 1‒3 mm wide, with membranous margin), umbellules (tight, 5‒12 mm ⌀ vs. not tight 13‒15 mm ⌀ or 5‒6 mm ⌀), stylopodium depressed (not conical), mericarp ridges (finely ridged vs. distinctly ridged), fruit anatomy (vallecular vittae 3 vs. vallecular vittae solitary or 1‒2), habitat (salty marshes and salt steppes vs. grassy meadows, sparse forests, clearings in mountain forests, and subalpine meadows), and distributional range. In addition, S. salsugineum is recognized as a closely related to S. transcaucasicum and S. libanotis species by molecular analysis of nrITS/ETS.
Revisiting the circumscription of Chusquea anelythra (Poaceae–Bambusoideae–Bambuseae): lectotypification, redescription, geographic distribution, and conservation status
Authors: VIDAL KAIO VINICIUS DE A. , WELKER CASSIANO A. DORNELES , SILVA ALAÍSMA PEREIRA DA , SANTOS-GONÇALVES ANA PAULA , CLARK LYNN G. , OLIVEIRA REYJANE P.
Published: December 2021

With 193 described species, Chusquea is the most diverse bamboo genus in the Neotropical region. Brazil, with 48 accepted species and 44 of them endemic, is one of its major centers of diversity. Among the Brazilian species, C. anelythra was only superficially characterized in its original publication almost 200 years ago, without a clear definition of its type-material, description of culm leaves, or comments on its geographic distribution or related species. As the absence of such information has greatly complicated the taxonomic delimitation of C. anelythra, the major aim of this paper is to clarify the identity of this species based on fieldwork and herbarium investigation, providing an emended description, illustrations, and photos of this species. We also designate a lectotype for the name C. anelythra, and provide a morphological comparison with two similar members of the C. meyeriana informal group. Geographic distribution and conservation status are also updated for this species.
Anthoceros subtilis and A. telaganus (Anthocerotaceae): two new records for America from the hornwort flora of Mexico
Authors: IBARRA-MORALES ARIADNA
Published: December 2021

In a recent trip to southern Mexico, Anthoceros subtilis and A. telaganus were recorded for the first time in Mexico and the American continent. Several previous records of A. subtilis were from Asia and one from Africa, and A. telaganus is known only from Indonesia. The new range extension of these two species is reported and the species are described and illustrated.
                Mexican populations of A. subtilis are characterized by small brown spores (26–42 μm), similar ornamentation on proximal and distal spore surfaces with papillate to tuberculate projections. Anthoceros telaganus is characterized by larger black spores (32–53 μm) with a smooth strip along the trilete mark on the proximal surface. Molecular genetic sequencing is needed to test whether Asian and American populations of these morphologically similar but geographically disjunct taxa are conspecific.
Green Synthesis of NiO Nanoparticle Using Ziziphus Spina-Christi Leaves Extract for Photocatalytic Methylene Blue Dye Degradation
Authors: Alanazi Hamdah S. , Alotaibi Hanan , Al-Shehri Hamza S. , Alharthi Fahad A.
Published: December 2021

In this presented work, ziziphus spina-christi leaves extract assisted green synthesise approach was used to prepare the NiO nanoparticle for UV light driven photocatalytic methylene blue (MB) dye degradation. Various analytical characterizations were used to understand the crystalline,
structural, optical and morphological nature of the prepared nanoparticle. The prepared NiO nanoparticle have wide bandgap of 3.35 eV with average particle size of around 10–15 nm in range. Various environmental conditions and elemental trapping experiments were conducted to understand
the factors affecting the MB degradation and main active species for the redox reaction. Hence, we hope that this green synthesise NiO would pave a new way for photocatalytic preparation and their environmental remediation application.
Enhancing Performance of Broadband Photodetectors Based on Perovskite CsPbBr3 Nanocrystals/ZnO-Microwires Heterostructures
Authors: Li Haixia , Liu Bingyi , Lin Weiwei , Liu Yang , Wang Yu , Zhang Zhongyuan , Xiong Lun , Tao Jiayou
Published: December 2021

A broadband photodetector response in the ultraviolet (UV)-to-green range (up to 530 nm) based on perovskite CsPbBr3 nanocrystals (NCs)/ZnO-microwires (MWs) heterostructures was realized via a convenient spin-coating method. Under UV light (365 nm) illumination, compared
with a bare-ZnO-MW-based photodetector, the CsPbBr3-NCs/ZnO-MWs-heterostructure-based photodetector exhibited a faster photoresponse (<0.1 s) and higher current responsivity (93.50 AW−1), external quantum efficiency (3399%), and detectivity (4.4 × 1010).
In addition, the photodetector based on CsPbBr3-NCs/ZnO-MWs heterostructures also exhibited a very fast photoresponse to green light (530 nm). These can be ascribed to the strong light-trapping ability of CsPbBr3 NCs and high charge-transfer efficiency at the CsPbBr3-NCs/ZnO-MWs-heterojunction
interface due to the built-in field, which facilitates the spatial separation of the photogenerated carriers. Therefore, this work will develop perovskite/ZnO nanomaterials as promising building blocks for broadband photodetectors and wider optoelectronic applications.
Paclitaxel-Containing Nano-Apoliposomes Attenuate the Growth and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Cisplatin-Resistant Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells
Authors: Cai Zhenxi
Published: December 2021

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, a type of malignant tumor of the head and neck region, has strong resistance to anticancer drugs, which seriously hinders clinical treatment. In this study, we investigated the effects of different concentrations of paclitaxel-containing nano-apoliposomes on
cisplatin (DDP)-resistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in vitro, referred to as CNE1/DDP and CNE2/DDP. Cell behaviors were then analyzed, including proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities. In addition, levels of proteins related to apoptosis and the epithelial-mesenchymal
transition (EMT) were analyzed using western blot assays and mRNA levels of EMT-related genes were measured using qRT-PCR. Our results demonstrated that paclitaxel-containing nano-apoliposomes decrease proliferation, migration, invasion, and EMT of CNE1/DDP and CNE2/DDP cells, demonstrating
their inhibitory effects on cisplatin-resistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells. This work demonstrates the potential value of paclitaxe-containing nano-apoliposomes in the clinical treatment of drug-resistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
Co-Doped ZnO Nano-Agglomerates as a Potential Scaffold for Non-Enzymatic Hydrogen Peroxide Sensing
Authors: Umar Ahmad , Kumar Ramesh , Kumar Rajesh , Ibrahim Ahmed A. , Alhamami Mohsen A. M. , Algadi Hassan , Chauhan Suvarcha , Chauhan M. S.
Published: December 2021

Co-doped ZnO nano-agglomerates were synthesized by a facile solution process. Several characterization techniques revealed the successful doping of the ZnO by Co ions. FESEM results showed the agglomeration of the Co-doped ZnO nanoparticles to form large-sized nano-agglomerates. The
diameters of the spherical nanoparticles and the agglomerates were not found to be uniform. The diameters of the nano-agglomerates ranged from ~25 nm–120 nm. XRD spectrum confirmed the Wurtzite hexagonal phase of ZnO in Co-doped ZnO nanoagglomerates. The average particle size for Co-doped
ZnO nano-agglomerates was 20.68 nm. The sensing parameters were examined by using Co-doped ZnO nano-agglomerates modified gold electrode through cyclic voltammetric and amperometric analysis. The sensitivity of 70.73 μAmM−1cm−2 and very low-detection
limit of 0.2 μM was observed for H2O2. The corresponding linear dynamic concentration range was 0.2–1633 μM. The excellent sensing activities of the Co-doped ZnO nano-agglomerates for H2O2 were attributed to the improved
intrinsic electric properties and increased inner defects density, particularly near the interface region.
Efficient Synthesis of Water-Soluble Magnetic Nanoparticles and Its Application in MRI in the Detection of Intracranial Aneurysm
Authors: Li Boya , Xiong Aihua , Yang Xiaotong , Yang Qiong , Liu Jing
Published: December 2021

Magnetic nanoparticles were used in medical images, which could further improve image clarity, while watersoluble nanoparticles put forward more new requirements for the biocompatibility of nanoparticles. This research adopted a simple and novel method to prepare water-soluble iron
oxide nanoparticles. First, transmission electron microscope (TEM) was used to analyze the size distribution of the prepared product; X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used to test the crystal structure of the prepared sample; the fast Fourier transform (FFT) spectrum was introduced to analyze the
structural properties of the nanoparticles; the nanoparticle aqueous solutions of different concentrations were designed, and the impact of water-soluble nanoparticles on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was examined with the nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer. At the same time, the prepared
water-soluble nanoparticle solution was used for high-resolution tumor wall imaging of patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysm (IA) to compare the imaging effect of the aneurysm wall before and after the introduction of nanoparticles. In the material characterization test of nanoparticles,
the prepared samples did not have certain iron oxide characteristic peaks, which means the synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles did not have a fixed crystal morphology. The samples tested by energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) also contained Fe, O, C and Na. The average particle size was
5.8 nm. It was found under high-resolution TEM that the particle mirror spacing was 0.48 nm, which was consistent with the 111-crystal plane of Fe3O4; The magnetic hysteresis loop test confirmed that when the concentration of nanoparticles increased, the solution would
form a magnetic fluid. When the concentration of aqueous solution of nanoparticles increased, the corresponding MRI signal would be significantly enhanced. It was used in the MR scan of patients with unruptured IA. Nanoparticle solution could increase the visibility of the aneurysm, and the
image quality of the aneurysm wall could be significantly enhanced.
Mechanism of Hydrogen Sulfide Drug-Loaded Nanoparticles Promoting the Repair of Spinal Cord Injury in Rats Through Mammalian Target of Rapamycin/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Liu Hongzhe , Tong Kai , Zhong Ziyi , Wang Gang
Published: December 2021

To explore the effect of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) drug-loaded nanoparticles (H2S-NPs) on the mTOR/STAT3 signaling pathway in rats and its mechanism on repair of spinal cord injury (SCI), a new H2S-NP (G16MPG-ADT) was prepared and synthesized.
The rats were selected as the research objects to explore the mechanism of SCI repair. The G16MPG-ADT NPs were evaluated by average particle size (APS), dispersion coefficient (DC), drug loading content (DLC), drug loading efficacy (DLE), in vitro release (IV-R), and acute
toxicity (AT). It was found that G16MPG-ADT nanoparticles had a uniform particle size distribution with a unimodal distribution, with an average particle size of 186.5 nm and a dispersion coefficient of 0.129; within the concentration range of 8~56 μg/L, there was a good
linear relationship with the peak area; and the release rate of the nanoparticles within 16 h~32 h was higher than 50%. G16MPG-ADT NP injection treatment was performed on rats with SCI. Western blotting (WB) and immunofluorescence staining were adopted to analyze the expression
levels of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT3) protein and the growth of neurites. It was found that G16MPG-ADT can increase mTOR and STAT3 protein levels and promote nerve growth after SCI. Finally, the Basso, Beattie
and Bresnahan locomotor rating (BBB) score was to evaluate the recovery effect of rats after treatment. It was found that the recovery effect was excellent after G16MPG-ADT treatment. In summary, G16MPG-ADT has a good effect on SCI repair in rats and can be promoted in
the clinic.
Preparation of Let-7b Nanocomposite and Its Effect on the Level of Inflammatory Factors in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Purulent Meningitis
Authors: Shi Conghui , Wu Xinyu , Yu Yigang , Lu Wusheng , Fang Wenge , Shen Qingyin , Chen Guixi
Published: December 2021

This study was to explore the effect and mechanism of Let-7b nanocomposite on the expression of inflammatory factors in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of purulent meningitis. 45 patients with purulent meningitis (PM) were selected as observation group (group A), and 38 patients with
normal CSF without central nervous system diseases were selected as the control group (group B). The CSF of the two groups were collected to detect the inflammatory factors interleukin-8 (IL-8), macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α), matrix metalloproteinase
9 (MMP9), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and Let-7b level with the double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The Let-7b nanocomposite was prepared, and its morphology, particle size, and Zeta
potential were analyzed. In addition, the degradation kinetics, cytotoxicity, and phagocytic efficiency (PE) of Let-7b nanocapsules were detected. 36 healthy adult New Zealand (NZL) rabbits were randomly grouped into a control group (group C) (0.9% normal saline (NS)), a model group (Escherichia
coli (E. coli) modeling, group D), and a test group (E. coli modeling + Let-7b nanocapsules, group E), with 12 rabbits in each group. The changes of inflammatory factors in CSF of the three groups were detected and compared. It was found that the expression levels of IL-8 and IL-1
β in the group A were much higher than those in the group B (P < 0.01), and the MMP9 and TNF-α levels in the group B were much lower in contrast to the group A (P < 0.001). The expression of Let-7b in the group A was lower obviously in contrast
to the group B (P < 0.001). Let-7b nanocapsules were irregularly spherical, with an average particle size (APS) of 23.1 nm, a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.232, and the Zeta potential of around +15 mV. Let-7b nanocapsules showed obvious polymer shell absorption peaks at 1,015 cm-1,
1,228 cm-1, and 1,547 cm-1. The IL-8 and IL-1β levels of the group D were greatly different from those in the other two groups (P < 0.01). The levels of TNF-α and MMP9 in the group D were greatly different in contrast to the group C
(P < 0.001) and the group E (P < 0.01). It indicated that Let-7b nanocomposite could lower the expression levels of IL-8, IL-1β, MMP9, and TNF-α in the CSF of patients with purulent meningitis dramatically, which provides a reliable basis for immunotherapy
of purulent meningitis with Let-7b.
Spatial and Subannual Variability of the Antarctic Slope Current in an Eddying Ocean–Sea Ice Model
Authors: Huneke Wilma G. C. , Morrison Adele K. , Hogg Andrew McC.
Published: December 2021

The Antarctic Slope Current (ASC) circumnavigates the Antarctic continent following the continental slope and separating the waters on the continental shelf from the deeper offshore Southern Ocean. Water mass exchanges across the continental slope are critical for the global climate as they impact the global overturning circulation and the mass balance of the Antarctic ice sheet via basal melting. Despite the ASC’s global importance, little is known about its spatial and subannual variability, as direct measurements of the velocity field are sparse. Here, we describe the ASC in a global eddying ocean–sea ice model and reveal its large-scale spatial variability by characterizing the continental slope using three regimes: the surface-intensified ASC, the bottom-intensified ASC, and the reversed ASC. Each ASC regime corresponds to a distinct classification of the density field as previously introduced in the literature, suggesting that the velocity and density fields are governed by the same leading-order dynamics around the Antarctic continental slope. Only the surface-intensified ASC regime has a strong seasonality. However, large temporal variability at a range of other time scales occurs across all regimes, including frequent reversals of the current. We anticipate our description of the ASC’s spatial and subannual variability will be helpful to guide future studies of the ASC aiming to advance our understanding of the region’s response to a changing climate.