bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental investigation on the expansive characteristics of Gansu clay-sulfate rocks in China subjected to confined compression and cyclic drying-wetting
Authors: Cheng Shufan , Zeng Yawu , Ye Yang , Gao Rui
Published: September 2022

Gansu clay-sulfate rock is a special red-bed rock that formed in an evaporation environment with strong oxidation. Due to the high content of hydrophilic minerals (including clay mineral, sulfate, and carbonate), tunnel in clay-sulfate rock stratum has a potential risk of large expansive deformation after the erosion of groundwater. In this study, a loadable cyclic drying-wetting instrument was designed to simulate the occurrence of the surrounding rock mass of a tunnel experiencing a periodic change in groundwater level. Firstly, a series of drying-wetting cycle tests with different normal pressure were carried on to obtain the expansion regulation of clay-sulfate rock. Then, computed tomography (CT) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) tests were carried on to explain the corresponding mechanism in mesoscopic. The test results show that large expansive deformation was generated in the first water immersion and only part of the deformation can be recovered during the later drying process. During the 2–5 cycles, expansion-shrink deformation is much less than in the first cycle, and the volume of the sample tends to be constant. Meanwhile, the degeneration of the clay-sulfate rock was observed in the first cycle by the CT and SEM test. Then the mesostructure of the sample is stable during the 2–5 cycle. It indicates the clay rock, in large part, degenerated to clay soil during the first drying-wetting cycle. Structural degradation and hydration of anhydrite is the main source of irreversible expansive deformation. Moreover, normal stress and confined restraint can reduce or even eliminate the expansive deformation, however, cannot avoid the degeneration of mesostructure. The shear strength of Gansu clay-sulfate rock also decreased after the first drying-wetting cycle, which manifested as the attenuation in both cohesion and internal friction angle.
KDM6 demethylases integrate DNA repair gene regulation and loss of KDM6A sensitizes human acute myeloid leukemia to PARP and BCL2 inhibition
Authors: Boila Liberalis Debraj , Ghosh Subhadeep , Bandyopadhyay Subham , Lin Liqing , Murison Alexander , Zeng Andy , Shaikh Wasim , Bhowmik Satyaki , Muddineni Siva Sai Naga Anurag , Biswas Mayukh , Sinha Sayantani , Chatterjee Shankha Subhra , Mbong Nathan , Gan Olga , Bose Anwesha , Chakraborty Sayan , Arruda Andrea , Kennedy James , Mitchell Amanda , Lechman Eric , Banerjee Debasis , Milyavsky Michael , Minden Mark , Dick John , Sengupta Amitava
Published: September 2022

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous, aggressive malignancy with dismal prognosis and with limited availability of targeted therapies. Epigenetic deregulation contributes to AML pathogenesis. KDM6 proteins are histone-3-lysine-27-demethylases that play context-dependent roles in AML. We inform that KDM6-demethylase function critically regulates DNA-damage-repair-(DDR) gene expression in AML. Mechanistically, KDM6 expression is regulated by genotoxic stress, with deficiency of KDM6A-(UTX) and KDM6B-(JMJD3) impairing DDR transcriptional activation and compromising repair potential. Acquired KDM6A loss-of-function mutations are implicated in chemoresistance, although a significant percentage of relapsed-AML has upregulated KDM6A. Olaparib treatment reduced engraftment of KDM6A-mutant-AML-patient-derived-xenografts, highlighting synthetic lethality using Poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase-(PARP)-inhibition. Crucially, a higher KDM6A expression is correlated with venetoclax tolerance. Loss of KDM6A increased mitochondrial activity, BCL2 expression, and sensitized AML cells to venetoclax. Additionally, BCL2A1 associates with venetoclax resistance, and KDM6A loss was accompanied with a downregulated BCL2A1. Corroborating these results, dual targeting of PARP and BCL2 was superior to PARP or BCL2 inhibitor monotherapy in inducing AML apoptosis, and primary AML cells carrying KDM6A-domain-mutations were even more sensitive to the combination. Together, our study illustrates a mechanistic rationale in support for a novel combination therapy for AML based on subtype-heterogeneity, and establishes KDM6A as a molecular regulator for determining therapeutic efficacy.
Delay in healthcare seeking and associated factors among caregivers of children aged 2-59 months with pneumonia in public health facilities ofNekemte city, Western Ethiopia, 2022
Authors: Temsesgen Dereje , Wordofa Berhanu , Tesfaye Tewodros , Etafa Werku
Published: September 2022

Background:Pneumonia is an infectious disease that is the predominant cause of death among under-five children (U5C) in low- and middle-income countries. It is the second leading cause of death in Ethiopia. Delay in healthcare seeking is one of the contributing factors to pneumonia-associated mortality. There is a limitation to the study aimed at identifying health-seeking behavior and risk factors in the Western part of Ethiopia. The study aims to identify the level of delay in healthcare seeking and associated factors among caregivers of U5C in public health facilities in Nekemte city, Western Ethiopia.
Methods: A health facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st March to 5th April 2022 using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire from 410 caregivers of children aged 2–59 months. We used a Systematic sampling technique for collecting the data. Data were entered into Epi Data version 4.6.06 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Binary logistic regression was used to identify the associated factors of delay in healthcare seeking at a p-value < 0.05 using a 95 % confidence interval (CI).
Results: A proportion of delay in healthcare seeking was 62.2%.Rural residence (AOR= 2.77, 95% CI: 2.48-5.17), child aged ≥12months (AOR: 5.4; 95 %CI: 4.17-7.20), family’s
monthly income of less than 1000 ETB (AOR: 6.11, 95% CI: 2.16-17.26, p=0.001), not using health insurance (AOR: 8.93; 95 %CI: 5.43-14.68), use of self-medication (AOR: 10.97; 95% CI: 1.85-65.3), poor knowledge (AOR: 4.63; 95% CI: 1.35-15.9), perceiving illness as mild (AOR:14.97; 95% CI: 9.76-22.9) and no previous admission history (AOR: 2.85; 95 % CI 1.77-4.56).
Conclusion: The study emphasizes that caregivers' delays in healthcare seeking are high. Creating caregivers' awareness or providing adequate health education to develop early healthcare seeking behavior and encouraging caregivers to use health insurance is essential.
SWAT model application for sediment yield modeling and parameters analysis in Wadi K’sob (Northeast of Algeria)
Authors: Maref Noureddine , Baahmed Djelloul , Bemmoussat Kader , Mahfoud Zakaria
Published: September 2022

A comprehension of the erosion processes and sediment transport in the watershed is essential for the sustainable management of the water resources and soil fertility.
In this study, the Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model was applied to demonstrate its ability to modeling the suspended sediment transport in the Wadi K’sob basin (Northeast of Algeria). The data used to set up the SWAT model are the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), land use, soil types and weather data.
The calibration was carried out using daily sediment yield data corresponding to two (2) periods( 10/10/2006 to 06/17/2007 and 10/29/2012 to 10/22/2013) and validation was performed using two (2) other periods (06/18/2007 to 11/19/2007 and 10/23/2013 to 09/13/2014) of daily sediment yield. R-SWAT code was used for calibration process and sensitivity analysis. The performance of the SWAT model was evaluated by the Nash–Sutcliffe criterion (NSE) and coefficient of determination (R2).
The results obtained after calibration oscillating between good and satisfactory where (NSE = 0.67 and R2 = 0.73) in the first calibration period and (NSE = 0.65 b and R2 = 0.67) in the second period. For validation, the performance of the SWAT model was very good (NSE = 0.78 and R2 = 0.79) in the first period while in the second period the prediction of the model was satisfactory (NSE = 0.52 and R2 = 0.54).
In addition, the validation process revealed that some parameters are stable and related on watershed characteristics while other unstable parameters depend on soil properties especially soil permeability and soil erodibility.
Does intercropping of legumes with oilseeds modify mycorrhizal colonisation?
Authors: Dowling Alyce , Roberts Penny , Zhou Yi , Denton Matt
Published: September 2022

Background and Aims Legume-oilseed intercrops are increasingly grown in mechanised agricultural systems for their improved nutrient use efficiency. However, the mechanisms that underpin this advantage are not well known. This study aimed to investigate the effect of intercropping and species mixture on the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) colonisation of oilseed and legume crops, and subsequent effects on crop phosphorus nutrition.
Methods We sampled legume-oilseed intercrops in field experiments and measured the level of AMF root colonisation and shoot phosphorus. Additionally, we grew legume-oilseed intercrops in the glasshouse using AMF-inoculated ( Rhizophagus irregularis ) and mock-inoculated treatments. Measurements included mycorrhizal colonisation, root and shoot biomass, and shoot phosphorus.
Results Mycorrhizal colonisation and the subsequent effect on phosphorus nutrition was host plant dependent. Lentil was the most mycorrhizal plant, followed by linseed, chickpea, and then canola. Only in lentil in the glasshouse was there a correlation between mycorrhizal colonisation and shoot phosphorus (R = 0.79, p<0.001). Intercropping reduced mycorrhizal colonisation of lentil in the glasshouse but not in the field; intercropping did not affect AMF colonisation in any other species. The interaction between intercropping and AMF had a limited effect on crop growth and shoot phosphorus, while intercropping alone increased canola shoot phosphorus.
Conclusion The role of AMF in the growth and phosphorus nutrition of legume-oilseed intercropping systems appears host specific, and lacks a “one size fits all” solution. Research should be directed towards host plant-AMF specificity, and field studies using diverse soil P profiles.
Giving and receiving thanks: A mixed methods pilot study of a gratitude intervention for palliative patients and their carers
Authors: Bernard Mathieu , Poncin Emmanuelle , Bovet Emilie , Tamches Emmanuel , Cantin Boris , Pralong Josiane , Borasio Gian Domenico
Published: September 2022

Background
Psychological research examining the nature and workings of gratitude has burgeoned over the past two decades. However, few studies have considered gratitude in the palliative care context. Based on an exploratory study which found that gratitude was correlated with better quality of life and less psychological distress in palliative patients, we designed and piloted a gratitude intervention where palliative patients and a carer of their choice wrote and shared a gratitude letter with each other. The aims of this study are to establish the feasibility and acceptability of our gratitude intervention and provide a preliminary assessment of its effects.
Methods
This pilot intervention study adopted a mixed-methods, pre-post evaluation design. To assess the intervention’s effects, we employed quantitative questionnaires on quality of life, quality of relationship, psychological distress, and subjective burden, as well as semi-structured interviews. To assess feasibility, we considered patients and carers’ eligibility, participation and attrition rates, reasons for refusal to participate, appropriateness of intervention timeframe, modalities of participation, and barriers and facilitators. Acceptability was assessed through post-intervention satisfaction questionnaires.
Results
Thirty-nine participants completed the intervention. We did not find any statistically significant pre/post intervention changes for patients, but found significant decrease in psychological distress for carers in terms of depression (median = 3 at T0, 1.5 at T1, p = .034) and total score (median = 13 at T0, 7.5 at T1, p = .041). Qualitative analysis indicates that overall, the intervention had: (1) multiple positive outcomes for 11 participants, in the form of positive emotional, cognitive, and relational effects; (2) simple positive outcomes for 14 participants, who experienced emotional or cognitive effects; (3) no effect on two patients; and (4) negative emotional effects on two patients. Feasibility and acceptability indicators suggest that the intervention was well received by participants, and that it should adopt flexible modalities (e.g. writing or dictating a gratitude message) to ensure that it is feasible and adapted to individual needs and preferences.
Conclusions
Larger scale deployment and evaluation of the gratitude intervention, including a control group, is warranted in order to have a more reliable evaluation of its effectiveness in the palliative care setting.
Physical, mechanical and biological properties of composite bone cements containing silver-doped bioactive and antibacterial glass particles with different particles size
Authors: Miola Marta , Lucchetta Giovanni , Verné Enrica
Published: September 2022

In the present work, an antibacterial composite bone cement is designed introducing a bioactive and antibacterial glass into a commercial formulation. The effect of glass particles insertion on the curing parameters is evaluated; moreover, the influence of the glass particle size (< 20 µm or between 20 and 45 µm) on the glass dispersion, compressive and bending strength, bioactivity and antibacterial effect is estimated. The results evidence a delay in the polymerization kinetics of composite cements, which nevertheless comply with the requirements of the ISO standard. The morphological characterization evidence a good dispersion of the glass in the polymeric matrix and its exposition on the cement surface. The different glass grain size does not affect the composites bioactivity and compression strength; while a slight reduction on bending strength is observed for samples containing glass powders between 20 and 45 µm. The size of the glass particles also appears to have an effect on antibacterial properties, since the composites containing larger glass particles do not produce inhibition halo towards S. aureus strain. The obtained results demonstrate that, by carefully tailoring the glass amount and size, a multifunctional device for the artificial joints fixing, temporary prostheses or spinal surgery can be obtained.
Climate and Aridity Measures Relationships with Spectral Vegetation Indices across Desert Fringe Shrublands in the South-Eastern Mediterranean Basin
Authors: Shoshany Maxim , Mozhaeva Sofia
Published: September 2022

Mediterranean regions are hot spots of climate change, where the expected decrease in water resources threatens the sustainability of shrublands at their arid margins. Studying spectral vegetation indices relationships with rainfall and Potential Evapotranspiration (PET) changes across Mediterranean to arid transition zones is instrumental for developing methods for mapping and monitoring the effects of climate change on desert fringe shrublands. Here we examined relationships between 17 spectral vegetation indices (VIs) and four climate and aridity measures: rainfall, PET, Aridity Index (AI) and Water Deficit (WD) calculated at accumulation lags between 1 and 6 months. For this purpose, VIs for 38 sites (100x100 meters each) representing less disturbed areas were extracted from Sentinel 2A images for 3 years with high (2016), low (2017), and average (2018) annual rainfall. Most of the VIs had shown the highest correlation with the four climate and aridity measures at 2 months accumulation interval. While NDVI relationships with climate measures gained the widest use, our data suggest that indices combining NIR and SWIR bands better correlate climate parameters. AI is one of the leading annual measures of dryness worldwide, when calculating it monthly, WD was found to better represent the balance between precipitation and PET across the climate transition zone, and to be better correlated with VI’s. Relationships between NIR and SWIR VIs and Water Deficit may thus facilitate improvements in monitoring and mapping desert fringe shrublands responses to climate change if supported by similar results from wider areas.
Association of KIR2DL5, KIR2DS5, and KIR2DS1 allelic variation and Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Margolis David J. , Mitra Nandita , Hoffstad Ole J , BA Ronald Berna , Kim Brian S , Chopra Abha , Phillips Elizabeth J
Published: September 2022

Natural killer cells (NK) have been associated with the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis (AD). NK function is regulated by killer cell Ig-like receptor family (KIR) receptors that interact with HLA ligands. The goal of this study was to focus on allelic variation in genes KIR2DL5, KIR2DS5, and KIR2DS1 with respect to AD. This was a case-control study of individuals with (n = 313) and without (n = 176) AD. Associations were estimated using logistic regression. Evaluations included interactions between KIR and known HLA ligand pairs. The prevalence of KIR2DL5 was 52.5% (95% CI: 48.0,57.0), KIR2DS5 was 33.0% (28.8,37.3), and KIR2DS1 was 33.6% (29.4,38.0). When compared to those who did not have KIR2DL5, homozygote individuals for KIR2DL5*001:01 were more likely to have AD (OR: 2.16 (95% CI:1.31,3.53) p = 0.0023). The effect of KIR2DL5*001:01 was similar in Whites and Blacks. The alleles from the other KIR genes of interest were not associated with AD. There is no known HLA ligand for KIR2DL5. However, the effect of KIR2DL5*001:01 increases in the presence of HLA-B *-21TT leader sequence (2.46(1.37,4.41) p = 0.0025) and HLA-C2 ligand (2.07 (1.37,4.41, p = 0.000002). This is the first study to explore KIR allelic variation in AD. KIR2DL5*001:01 allele is independently associated with an increased risk of AD.
Comparing G-Computation, Propensity Score-Based Weighting, and Targeted Maximum Likelihood Estimation for Analyzing Externally Controlled Trials with Both Measured and Unmeasured Confounders: A Simulation Study
Authors: Ren Jinma , Cislo Paul , Cappelleri Joseph C. , Hlavacek P , DiBonaventura M
Published: September 2022

Objectives
To have confidence in one's interpretation of treatment effects assessed by comparing trial results to external controls, minimizing bias is a critical step. We sought to investigate different methods for causal inference in simulated data sets with measured and unmeasured confounders.
Methods
The simulated data included three types of outcomes (continuous, binary, and time-to-event), treatment assignment, two measured baseline confounders, and one unmeasured confounding factor. Three scenarios were set to create different intensities of confounding effect (e.g., small, medium and large for scenario 1 to 3, respectively) caused by the unmeasured confounder. The methods of g-computation (GC), inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW), overlap weighting (OW), standardized mortality/morbidity ratio (SMR), and targeted maximum likelihood estimation (TMLE) were used to estimate average treatment effects and reduce potential biases.
Results
The results with the greatest extent of biases were from the raw model that ignored all the potential confounders. In scenario 2, the unmeasured factor indirectly influenced the treatment assignment through a measured controlling factor and led to medium confounding. The methods of GC, IPTW, OW, SMR, and TMLE removed most of bias observed in average treatment effects for all three types of outcomes from the raw model. Similar results were found in scenario 1, but the results tended to be biased in scenario 3. GC had the best performance followed by OW.
Conclusions
The aforesaid methods can be used for causal inference in externally controlled studies when the unmeasured confounding is not large. GC and OW are the preferable approaches.
Ecological Response to Industrialisation Drivers in Africa
Authors: Aladejare Samson Adeniyi , Nyiputen Ishaku Rimantanung
Published: September 2022

More than ever, ecological conditions are fast deteriorating due to rising greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions are significantly propelled into the atmosphere by growth in specific human activities that also advance industrialisation. It is opined that these activities will further rise significantly in developing countries since industrialisation can lead to rapid economic modernisation. Consequently, this study examined Africa's long-term ecological response to these rising cogent industrialisation drivers, including manufacturing activities, resource wealth, urbanisation, income growth, globalisation, and human capital development. A panel analyses of 32 African countries was conducted between 1991 and 2019. Empirical inferences were derived through a battery of advance estimation techniques. They include second-generation panel unit root and cointegration tests, generalised estimating equation, generalised least squares mixed effect model, dynamic common correlated effect, Driscoll-Kraay, and the panel corrected standard error methods. These robust econometric techniques prevented methodological challenges in prior studies, such as heterogeneity, cross-sectional dependence, and heteroscedasticity. The study observed that an increase in manufacturing value-added, natural resources wealth, income growth, globalisation, and human capital diminishes ecological quality in Africa. However, urbanisation was found to be environmentally-enhancing. The study proposed relevant policy measures to mitigate environmental pollution from industrialisation drivers.
JEL Classification:N57, O13, O14.
Effect of co-treatment with mesenchymal stem cells and polyvinyl alcohol- coated selenium nanoparticles on rats with streptozotocin-induced Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Shahidi Siamak , Asl Sara Soleimani , Gholamigeravand Bahareh , Afshar Simin , Hashemi-Firouzi Nasrin , Samzadeh-Kermani Alireza , Majidi Mahsa , Amiri Kimia
Published: September 2022

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation is a potential strategy for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The stem cells have a short lifespan after transplantation in the recipient animals. Selenium nanoparticles facilitate drug treatment in brain diseases due to their size. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible therapeutic effect of co-treatment of MSCs with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)-coated selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) against streptozotocin (STZ)-mediated AD in rats.
Rats were assigned to five groups: control, Alz (STZ; 3 mg/kg, 10 μL, ICV), Alz+stem cell (ICV transplantation), Alz+SeNP (0.4 mg/kg, orally), and Alz+stem cell+SeNPs. ICV administration of STZ mimicked some aspects of AD in Alz groups. SeNPs were administrated for 30 days after STZ administration. The novel object recognition (NOR) and passive avoidance learning (PAL) tests were used to measure cognition and memory. Oxidative stress biomarkers, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and amyloid-beta plaques were assessed by biochemical analysis, ELISA kit, and Congo red staining, respectively.
The combined treatment of PVA-coated SeNPs and MSCs transplantation was more effective in increasing the memory reacquisition than the administration of SeNPs or MSCs alone. The stem cells and PVA-coated SeNPs together significantly increased the antioxidant capacity and reduced the amyloid-beta plaques.
It seems that co-treatment with PVA-coated SeNP with MSCs has a great neuroprotection effect against AD in animal models.
Prevalence, feeding practices, and factors associated with undernutrition among HIV-exposed uninfected children aged 6 to 18 months in Bushenyi district, western Uganda: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Kumbakulu Patrick Kumbowi , Ndeezi Grace , Egesa Walufu Ivan , Nakalema Gloria , Odoch Simon , Kambele Rachel Lokengama , Twesigemukama Sabinah , Daniel Asiimwe , Waibi William M. , Elmi Said Abdirashid , Nduwimana Martin
Published: September 2022

Background
HIV-exposed children are vulnerable to undernutrition. Understanding the prevalence and factors with undernutrition remains essential for developing effective strategies to reduce the impact of malnutrition among this vulnerable population.
Methods
This was a cross sectional, descriptive and analytical study to determine the prevalence, feeding practices, and factors associated with undernutrition among HIV-exposed uninfected children aged 6 to 18 months in Bushenyi District. The study involved 245 mother-child pairs attending four highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART) clinics. Data was collected from April to June 2021. Questionnaire interviews were used to obtain factors associated with undernutrition. A digital weighing scale, stadiometer and mid-upper-arm circumference (MUAC) tape were used for anthropometry. Undernutrition was defined by either a length-for-age or a weight-for-length or a weight-for-age below − 2 SD based on the 2006 World Health Organization growth standards. Data were entered and analysed using IBM SPSS 27.0 statistics for windows. The prevalence of undernutrition and indicators for feeding practices were determined as proportion, whereas binary logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with undernutrition. A p-value < 0.05 was considered for statistical significance at multivariable level.
Results
Of the 245 participants, 48(19.6%) had undernutrition. The prevalence of stunting, wasting and underweight was 11%, 5.3% and 6.5% respectively. Most study participants 176(71.8%) were initiated on breastfeeding during their first hour of life, and 185(75.5%) were exclusively breastfed for 6 months. However, 93(38%) of them did not receive an acceptable meal frequency and 188 (76.7%) did not have an acceptable dietary diversity score during the last 24 hours. Only 15(6.1%) continued breastfeeding after 1 year of age. The majority of mothers 162(66.1%) were advised on feeding practices. Low birthweight [p = 0,03; aOR 2.94(1.23–7.03)], history of illness in the past two weeks [p = 0,02; aOR 2.35(1.13–4.91)], maternal viral load of ≥ 1000 copies/µL [p = 0,03; aOR 3.12(1.10–8.89)], maternal undernutrition [p = 0,003; aOR 4.05(1.61–10.20)], and mixed feeding [p = 0,04; aOR 1.35(0.06–2.73)] were factors significantly associated with undernutrition.
Conclusion
The prevalence of undernutrition among HIV-exposed uninfected children was relatively high in this study. It demonstrates the need for routine nutritional assessment of HIV-exposed uninfected children.
Does Conversion of Sleeve Gastrectomy to One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass induce Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease?
Authors: Rayman Shlomi , Staierman Maor , Assaf Dan , Rachmuth Jacob , Carmeli Idan , Keidar Andrei
Published: September 2022

Purpose
Assess the subjective impact of GERD symptoms on patients undergoing revision from LSG to OAGB using the Diagnostic Questionnaire for GERD (DRQ) and the GERD-health related quality of life score (GERD-HRQL), prior to- and following conversion.
Methods
Patients undergoing revision from LSG to OAGB were prospectively followed between May 2015 and December 2020. Data retrieved included demographics, anthropometrics, previous bariatric history, time interval between LSG and OAGB, weight loss and co-morbidities. Pre- and post-OAGB DRQ and GERD-HRQL questionnaires were obtained. In case of sleeve dilatation, a partial gastrectomy was performed.
Results
During the study period, 37 patients underwent revision from LSG to OAGB. Mean age at LSG and pre-OAGB were 38 ± 11.74 and 46 ± 12.75, respectively. Median follow-up time was 21.5 months (range 3–65). DRQ and GERD-HRQL scores were obtained at a median of 14 months (range 3–51) between pre- and post-OAGB. Median RDQ score pre-OAGB vs post-OAGB was significantly reduced [30 (range 12–72) vs 14 (range 12–60), p = 0.007]. All 3 parts of the GERD- HRQL questionnaires were significantly reduced between pre-OAGB and post-OAGB: Symptoms (20; 62.5% vs 10; 31.3%, p = 0.012), overall score [15(0–39) vs 7(0–28), p = 0.04] and subjective improvement [10; 31% vs 20; 62.5%, p = 0.025).
Conclusion
Conversion of LSG to OAGB does not induce subjective GERD symptoms in a short-term follow up.
A low power injection-locked CDR using 28 nm FDSOI technology for burst-mode applications
Authors: Mao Yuqing , Charlon Yoann , Jacquemod Gilles , Leduc Yves
Published: September 2022

In this paper, a low-power Injection-Locked Clock and Data Recovery (ILCDR) using 28 nm FDSOI technology is presented. The back-gate auto-biasing of UTBB-FDSOI transistors allows us to create a QRO (Quadrature Ring Oscillator) reducing both size and power consumption. By injecting a digital signal into this circuit, we realize an Injection-Locked Oscillator (ILO) with low jitter. Thanks to the good performance of this oscillator, we can propose a low power ILCDR with low jitter and fast locking time for burst-mode applications. The main novelty consists in the implementation of a complementary QRO based on back-gate control using FDSOI technology in order to realize a simple and efficient ILCDR circuit. With a Pseudo-Random Binary Sequence (27 PRBS) at 868Mbps, the recovered clock jitter is 18.5 ps (1.6%UIp-p) and the recovered data jitter is 18.7 ps (1.6%UIp-p). With a 0.6 V power supply, the power consumption is 4.67 mA (2.8 mW). The estimated Chip size is around 6600 µm².
Unexpected self-lofting and dynamical confinement of volcanic plumes: the Raikoke 2019 case
Authors: Khaykin Sergey M. , de Laat A. T. Jos , Godin-Beekmann Sophie , Hauchecorne Alain , Ratynski Mathieu
Published: September 2022

Recent research has put in evidence the self-lofting capacity of smoke aerosols in the stratosphere and their self-confinement by persistent anticyclones, which prolongs their atmospheric residence time and radiative effects. By contrast, the volcanic aerosols - composed mostly of non-absorptive sulphuric acid droplets – were never reported to be subject of self-lofting nor of dynamical confinement. Here we use high-resolution satellite observations to show that the eruption of Raikoke volcano in June 2019 produced a long-lived stratospheric anticyclone containing 24% of the total erupted mass of sulphur dioxide. The anticyclone persisted for more than 3 months, circumnavigated the globe three times, and ascended diabatically to 27 km altitude throughradiative heating of volcanic ash contained by the plume. The mechanism of dynamical confinement has important implications for the planetary-scale transport of volcanic emissions, their stratospheric residence time, and atmospheric radiation balance. It also provides a challenge or “out of sample test” for weather and climate models that should be capable of reproducing similar structures.
Production of low-protein cocoa powder with enzyme-assisted hydrolysis
Authors: Cerit İnci , Mehdizade Könül , Avcı Ayşe , Demirkol Omca
Published: September 2022

Amino acid-related disorders are caused by a defect in the metabolic pathways of amino acid groups. These patients must follow a lifelong protein diet. The objective of this study was to produce a low-protein cocoa powder with enzymatic hydrolysis and precipitation method. Firstly, the solubility of cocoa powder was increased by heat and enzyme treatments (Amylase, Viscozyme and Alcalase). Then, protein level was decreased by isoelectric precipitation. According to obtained results, the solubility of cocoa powder rose from 28.61% to 50.69%. Protein content decreased by almost 40.00% and significant reductions in the amino acid profile were also provided; the highest ones were detected in methionine (100%), lysine (73.65%), leucine (53.64%), alanine (46.17%), and isoleucine (44.73%) levels. Low-protein cocoa powder had high phenolic content (25.10 mg/g GAE) and the changes in the antioxidant activities were not significant (p>0.05). Chocolate production has also been carried out successfully with the obtained cocoa powder.
Deep Learning performance in predicting dairy cows’ behaviour from a tri-axial accelerometer data
Authors: Balasso Paolo , Taccioli Cristian , Serva Lorenzo , Magrin Luisa , Andrighetto Igino , Marchesini Giorgio
Published: September 2022

The accurate detection of behavioural changes represents a promising method to early reveal the onset of diseases in dairy cows. This study assessed the performance of deep learning (DL) in classifying dairy cows’ behaviour from accelerometery data and compared the results with those of classical machine learning (ML). Twelve cows with a tri-axial accelerometer were observed for 136 ± 29 min each to detect 5 main behaviours. For each 8s time-interval 15 metrics were calculated obtaining a dataset of 211,720 observation units and 15 columns. The whole dataset was randomly split into training (80%) and testing (20%). An 8-layer Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) was made of 3 convolution, 1 dropout, 1 max-pooling, 1 flattening and 2 dense layers. The CNN accuracy, precision and sensitivity/recall were calculated and compared with the performance of classical ML. The CNN overall accuracy and F1-score were equal to 0.94. The precision, sensitivity/recall, and F1-score of single behaviours had the following ranges 0.88–0.99, 0.88–0.99 and 0.89–0.99, respectively. The CNN outperformed all classical ML algorithms. The CNN in our specific raising conditions showed an overall high performance in successfully predicting multiple behaviours using a single accelerometer. Further studies considering different breeds, housing conditions and sensors are warranted.
Discrimination of Loss of Excitation Fault in Synchronous Generators from Power Swing Using Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Hemavathi R. , Geethanjali M.
Published: September 2022

Amidst several faults in Synchronous generators, Loss of Excitation (LOE) is the most considerable fault since it affects both the generators and power network. The traditional protection method for LOE is based on impedance trajectory of the machine with negative offset mho relay. Meanwhile the traditional method experiences malfunctions and speed dip in LOE detection. This paper presents machine learning approach to detect LOE fault as well as classification logic to discriminate LOE fault from normal operating conditions and power swing conditions due to Line fault. This paper utilizes Hotelling’s-T2 statistical method to calculate Hotelling’s-T2 based Fault Indices (HT2 -FI) for LOE detection and Support Vector Machine (SVM) for classification. The time series data of electrical quantities such as Terminal voltage and Reactive Power of the generator are extracted from simulated Single Machine Infinite Bus test system and used as input data. This data is involved in calculation of HT2 –FI and in development of classification logic. The proposed method is simulated and verified for complete, partial LOE conditions and power swing conditions. Simulation outcomes depict the notable signs of the proposed method in LOE identification from power swing. Comparative assessment also reports that the method is capable of saving time in detecting LOE.
Bursting phenomenon created by bridge piers group in open channel flow
Authors: Ikani Nima , Pu Jaan H. , Taha Tarek , Hanmaiahgari Prashanth Reddy , Penna Nadia
Published: September 2022

Bridge pier is a common feature in hydraulic structure. Its impact to the river usually occurs in group form rather than a single pier, so this challenging pier-group influence towards river hydraulics and turbulence needs to be explored. In this paper, the measurements were conducted using an Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) to study velocities in three dimensions (longitudinal, transversal, and vertical). Based on the experimental data, we have observed reversed depth-averaged velocity vector after each pier in the group of three-pier. The analysis has been conducted on the contribution of each bursting event to Reynolds shear stress (RSS) generation, in order to identify the critical bursting events and turbulence structures around the piers. In the upstream near-wake flow in the bed-wall layer, strong sweep and ejection events have been observed; while at downstream, sweeps were more dominant. The pattern of bursting changed in the outer layer of flow, where ejections were more dominant. Furthermore, the contribution fractional ratio to RSS variation at hole size H = 0 indicates that sweeps and ejections were significantly generated at the near wake-flow in upstream.
LncRNA CEBPA-DT promotes liver cancer metastasis through DDR2/β-catenin activation via interacting with hnRNPC
Authors: Cai Yunshi , Lyu Tao , Li Hui , Liu Chang , Xie Kunlin , Xu Lin , Li Wei , Liu Hu , Zhu Jiang , Lyu Yinghao , Feng Xuping , Lan Tian , Yang Jiayin , Wu Hong
Published: September 2022

Background Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the world’s third leading cause of cancer-related death; due to the fast growth and high prevalence of tumor recurrence, the prognosis of HCC patients remains dismal. Long non-coding RNA CEBPA-DT, a divergent transcript of the CCAAT Enhancer Binding Protein Alpha (CEBPA) gene, has been shown to participate in multiple tumor progression. However, no research has established its cancer-promoting mechanism in HCC yet. Methods CEBPA-DT was identified in human HCC tissues through RNA sequencing. The expression level of CEBPA-DT was assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. The biological effects of CEBPA-DT were evaluatedin vitroandin vivothrough gain or loss of function experiments. RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down assays were applied to investigate the downstream target of CEBPA-DT. Immunofluorescence, subcellular protein fractionation, western blot, and co-immunoprecipitation were performed to analyze the subcellular location of β-catenin and its interaction with Discoidin domain-containing receptor 2 (DDR2). Results CEBPA-DT was upregulated in human HCC tissues with postoperative distant metastasis and intimately related to the worse prognosis of HCC patients. Silencing of CEBPA-DT inhibited the growth, migration and invasion of hepatoma cellsin vitroandin vivo, while enhancement of CEBPA-DT played a contrasting role. Mechanistic investigations demonstrated that CEBPA-DT could bind to heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (hnRNPC), which facilitated cytoplasmic translocation of hnRNPC, enhanced the interaction between hnRNPC and DDR2 mRNA, subsequently promoted the expression of DDR2. Meanwhile, CEBPA-DT induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process through upregulation of Snail1 via facilitating nuclear translocation of β-catenin. Using DDR2 inhibitor, we revealed that the CEBPA-DT induced the interaction between DDR2 and β-catenin, thus promoting the nuclear translocation of β-catenin to activate transcription of Snail1, contributing to EMT and HCC metastasis. Conclusions Our results suggested that CEBPA-DT promoted HCC metastasis through DDR2/β-catenin mediated activation of Snail1 via interaction with hnRNPC, indicating that the CEBPA-DT-hnRNPC-DDR2/β-catenin axis may be used as a potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment.
Using crossed random-effects models to test the effects of None of the above and personality traits in multiple-choice items
Authors: Sanz Susana , García Carmen , Olmos Ricardo
Published: September 2022

Introduction: Including general options on items like None-of-the-above (NOTA) could lead to worse psychometric properties. Further, personality traits are related to academic performance and could influence NOTA effects. Therefore, this study aims to test the effects of NOTA by manipulating its appearance, its use as the correct option, or as a distractor considering the examinees’ personality traits.
Method: The sample consisted of 449 psychology students that answered a statistics concept inventory. A crossed random-effects model was conducted to model the probability of answering an item correctly depending on items and students’ covariates.
Results: The appearance of NOTA negatively affects the probability to answer correctly, and changes between examinees. Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Emotional Stability, and previous knowledge of statistics are also significant predictors.
Conclusions: The results point to increased items’ difficulty when NOTA is included, although not all the examinees seem to show the same behaviour when dealing with NOTA options.
Workflow for Phenotyping Sugar Beet Roots by Automated Evaluation of Cell Characteristics and Tissue Arrangement Using Digital Image Processing
Authors: Nause Nelia , Yamati Facundo Ramón Ispizua , Seidel Marion , Mahlein Anne-Katrin , Hoffmann Christa M.
Published: September 2022

Background
Cell characteristics, including cell type, size, shape, packing, cell-to-cell-adhesion, intercellular space, and cell wall thickness, influence the physical characteristics of plant tissues. Genotypic differences were found concerning damage susceptibility related to beet texture for sugar beet (Beta vulgaris). Sugar beet storage roots are characterized by heterogeneous tissue with several cambium rings surrounded by small-celled vascular tissue and big-celled sugar-storing parenchyma between the rings. This study presents a procedure for phenotyping heterogeneous tissues like beetroots by imaging.
Results
Ten Beta genotypes (nine sugar beet and one fodder beet) were included to establish a workflow for the automated histologic evaluation of cell characteristics and tissue arrangement using digital image processing written in the programming language R. The identification of cells has been validated by comparison with manual cell identification. Cells are reliably discriminated from intercellular spaces, and cells with similar morphological features are assigned to biological tissue types.
Conclusions
Genotypic differences in cell diameter and cell arrangement can straightforwardly be phenotyped by the presented workflow. The presented routine can further identify genotypic differences in cell diameter and cell arrangement during early growth stages and between sugar storage capabilities.
Dispersal and persistence traits inform long-term understory plant community change in encroached savannas
Authors: Ahler Sam J. , Ladwig Laura M. , Charton Katherine T. , Henn Jonathan J. , Damschen Ellen I.
Published: September 2022

Savanna plant communities are highly diverse, characterized by an open-canopy structure with a rich herbaceous understory, and maintained by frequent low-intensity fire and grazing. Due to habitat loss and fragmentation, savannas are globally threatened, with less than 1% of former oak savanna land cover found in the Midwestern United States remaining. In remnant oak savannas, loss of fire and grazing has led to woody encroachment and canopy closure over the past century with cascading consequences for the taxonomic composition of the understory community. Whether these taxonomic changes can be broadly predicted using species functional traits (morpho-physio-phenological characteristics that impact the fitness of a species) is a key question. We ask whether the impacts of woody encroachment on understory changes can be predicted from species’ abilities to persist (avoid extinction) and disperse (colonize new areas). Specifically, we pair persistence traits (e.g., clonality, belowground storage) and dispersal traits (e.g., seed mass, dispersal mode) with a rare 60 year dataset from oak savanna understories in Wisconsin, USA to understand how the representation of these traits has changed in the understory community over time. Over 60 years, savanna understory change was explained less by species persistence than dispersal abilities; small-seeded species reliant on unassisted dispersal and moderately clonal species experienced the greatest losses. These changes in functional composition are likely due to increased woody encroachment, which may impede propagule production and movement. Restoration efforts need to prioritize species that are dispersal limited and those that create fine fuels, which help maintain open fire-maintained open habitat savannas.
ARC/Arg3.1 expression in the lateral geniculate body of monocular form deprivation amblyopic kittens
Authors: Fan Haobo , Wang Ying , Zou Yunchun , Song Weiqi , Xie Juan , Tang Xiuping , Chen Siyu
Published: September 2022

Purpose
The present study compared the expression of activity-regulated cytoskeleton-associated (ARC/Arg3.1) in the lateral geniculate body between form deprivation amblyopia kittens and normal kittens to examine the significance of ARC/Arg3.1 in the lateral geniculate body in the pathogenesis of amblyopia.
Methods
Twenty kittens were randomly divided into experimental group (n = 10) and control group (n = 10). Black opaque covering cloth was used to cover the right eye of kittens in the experimental group. Pattern visual evoked potentials (PVEP) were detected weekly in all kittens. The expression of ARC/Arg3.1 gene was detected by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization, and apoptosis of lateral geniculate body cells was detected by TUNEL.
Results
PVEP detection showed that at the age of 5 and 7 weeks, the latency of P100 in the right eye of the experimental group was higher than that of the other three groups (P < 0.05), and the amplitude of P100 was lower than that of the other three groups (P < 0.05). The expression of ARC/Arg3.1 protein (P < 0.05) and mRNA (P < 0.05) in the lateral geniculate body of the experimental group was significantly lower than that of the control group. And the level of neuronal apoptosis in the experimental group was higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). The expression of ARC/Arg3.1 gene was negatively correlated with the apoptosis level of lateral geniculate body neurons.
Conclusions
The expression of ARC/Arg3.1 is associated with monocular form deprivation amblyopia and apoptosis of lateral geniculate body cells.
The differences in the post-liver transplant outcomes of patients with autoimmune hepatitis who present with overlapping autoimmune liver diseases
Authors: Lee David Uihwan , Ponder Reid , Lee Kijung , Fan Gregory Hongyuan , Chou Harrison , Urrunaga Nathalie Helen
Published: September 2022

Background
Patients with autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) may co-present with diagnostic features of primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) or primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Using a national transplant registry, the outcomes of patients with these presentations were compared.
Methods
The UNOS-STAR registry was used to select a study population of AIH liver transplant (LT) patients. Living and multi-organ transplant cases were excluded. Using the UNOS-registered diagnoses, the study population was subdivided into those with nonoverlapping AIH, those with AIH and PBC (AIH-PBC), and those with AIH and PSC (AIH-PSC). Specific endpoints included all-cause mortality, graft failure, and organ-system specific causes of death.
Results
There were 2048 entries included with 1927 having nonoverlapping AIH, 52 having PSC overlap, and 69 having PBC overlap. Patients with PBC overlap were more likely to have graft failure (aHR 3.53 95% CI 1.73–1.74), mortality secondary to general respiratory causes (aHR 3.55 95% CI 1.22–10.36), mortality secondary to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (aHR 18.07 95% CI 3.331–98.74), and recurrent disease (aHR 9.65 95% CI 1.82–51.15). Case incidence rates reflected these findings, expressed in events per 1000 person-years (For the PBC overlap and nonoverlapping AIH cases, respectively. Graft failure: 28.87 events vs. 9.15 events, mortality secondary to general respiratory causes: 12.83 deaths vs. 3.87 deaths, ARDS: 6.42 deaths vs. 0.43 deaths, recurrent disease: 6.42 deaths vs. 1.18 deaths). No increased risks were found in the cohort with PSC overlap.
Conclusion
Patients with PBC diagnostic overlap may have greater risks for respiratory-induced mortality compared to nonoverlapping AIH. Further investigations are warranted to confirm these results.