bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selective Colorimetric Detection of Mercury(II) using Silver Nanoparticles-Chitosan
Authors: Avissa Monica , Alauhdin Mohammad
Published: April 2022

Contamination of the environment by hazardous metal ions has been a major environmental issue for the past several decades. Among several hazardous metals, mercury ion (Hg(II)) is of particular concern as its compounds are extremely toxic. Hence, developing detection methods for traces of Hg(II) ions in aquatic systems is critical for mercury pollution mitigation. One method that can be used to monitor Hg(II) in aquatic systems is colorimetry-based method which is simple, rapid, and low-cost, yet selective and sensitive. The method can be conducted by applying the Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance phenomenon of metal nanoparticles, such as silver nanoparticles. There are non-Hg(II) ions in the aquatic environment that can interfere the measurements. Thus, a selective method is needed to obtain a valid measurement result. Here, we introduced silver nanoparticles-chitosan (AgNPs-Ch) synthesized by chemical reduction as a selective probe of Hg(II) in an aqueous solution. The AgNPs-Ch was synthesized from silver nitrate at 80°C using trisodium citrate and chitosan as reducing agent and stabilizer, respectively. The synthesized nanoparticles were spherical with an average size below 15.0 nm. Moreover, the AgNPs-Ch was selective for Hg(II) with a linearity of 0.9556 in the concentration range of 1 - 5 ppm and was able to detect the ion down to 1.33 ppm.
How Accurate are WorldPop-Global-Unconstrained Gridded Population Data at the Cell-Level?: A Simulation Analysis in Urban Namibia
Authors: Thomson Dana R. , Leasure Douglas R. , Bird Tomas , Tzavidis Nikos , Tatem Andrew J.
Published: April 2022

Disaggregated population counts are needed to calculate health, economic, and development indicators in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), especially in settings of rapid urbanisation. Censuses are often outdated and inaccurate in LMIC settings, and rarely disaggregated at fine geographic scale. Modelled gridded population datasets derived from census data have become widely used by development researchers and practitioners. These datasets are evaluated for accuracy at the spatial scale of the input data which is often much courser (e.g. administrative units) than the neighbourhood or cell-level scale of many applications. We simulate a realistic "true" 2016 population in Khomas, Namibia, a majority urban region, and introduce realistic levels of outdatedness (over 15 years) and inaccuracy in slum, non-slum, and rural areas. We aggregate these simulated realistic populations by census and administrative boundaries (to mimic census data), and generate 32 gridded population datasets that are typical of a LMIC setting using WorldPop-Global-Unconstrained gridded population approach. We evaluate the cell-level accuracy of these simulated datasets using the original "true" population as a reference. In our simulation, we found large cell-level errors, particularly in slum cells, driven by the use of average population densities in large areal units to determine cell-level population densities. Age, accuracy, and aggregation of the input data also played a role in these errors. We suggest incorporating finer-scale training data into gridded population models generally, and WorldPop-Global-Unconstrained in particular (e.g., from routine household surveys or slum community population counts), and use of new building footprint datasets as a covariate to improve cell-level accuracy. It is important to measure accuracy of gridded population datasets at spatial scales more consistent with how the data are being applied, especially if they are to be used for monitoring key development indicators at neighbourhood scales with relevance to small dense deprived areas within larger administrative units.
Ecological Traits and Trophic Plasticity in the Greater Pipefish Syngnathus acus in NW Iberian Peninsula
Authors: Planas Miquel
Published: April 2022

The great pipefish Syngnathus acus is one of the most representative European syngnathid, being highly associated with seagrass and macroalgal beds. Surprisingly, the ecology of this ovoviviparous marine fish has received scanty attention. The population inhabiting three sites on Cíes Archipelago (Atlantic Islands National Park, NW Spain) was monitored in 2017-2018 for spatial and temporal changes in abundances, reproduction traits, trophic niche occupancy and dietary regimes across reproduction states through an isotopic (δ13C and δ15N) approach. Abundances were highly variable across seasons and sites, decreasing significantly from mid-autumn. The population consisted almost exclusively of large adults that migrate by the end of the breeding season, which extended from mid-spring to summer. Operational sex ratios suggest that the species is sex-role reversed. S. acus is a secondary consumer (Trophic position= 3.36 ± 0.05) preferring amphipods but displaying annual and seasonal dietary plasticity. Mature fish were less selective than immatures (especially females) with a higher preference for amphipods (36-68%) in the former. The second most preferred prey were carideans, copepods or isopods, depending on the year and reproduction state. Overall, the wider trophic niches in females and immature specimens compared to males and mature fish would indicate a higher variability in both the use of prey resources and/or their origin. The present study highlights the trophic plasticity and unique features of S. acus population in Cíes Archipelago, especially regarding the outstanding size of the fish and the exceptional occurrence of breeders.
Do Written Responses to Open-Ended Questions on Fourth-Grade Formative Assessments in Mathematics Help Predict Scores on End-of-Year Standardized Tests?
Authors: Urrutia Felipe , Araya Roberto
Published: April 2022

: Predicting long-term student learning is a critical task for teachers and for educational data mining. However, most of the models do not consider two typical situations in real-life classrooms. The first is that teachers develop their own questions for formative assessment. Therefore, there are a huge number of possible questions, each of which is answered by only a few students. Second, formative assessment often involved open-ended questions that students answer in writing. These types of questions in formative assessment are highly valuable. However, analyzing the responses automatically can be a complex process. In this paper, we address these two challenges. We analyzed 621,575 answers to closed-ended questions and 16,618 answers to open-ended questions by 464 fourth-graders from 24 low-SES schools. We constructed a classifier to detect incoherent responses to open-ended mathematics questions. We then used it in a model to predict scores on an end-of-year national standardized test. We found that despite answering 36.4 times fewer open-ended questions than closed questions, including features of the students’ open responses in our model improved our prediction of their end-of-year test scores. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that a predictor of end-of-year test scores has been improved by using automatically detected features of answers to open-ended questions on formative assessments.
Sezgisel Algoritmalar Yardımıyla Ders Programı Optimizasyonu
Authors: YURTSAL Ahmet , KAYNAR Oğuz
Published: April 2022

Günümüzde çoğu eğitim kurumunda hazırlanan ders programı her dönem için yeniden yapılmaktadır. Bu işlemin her dönem tekrardan yapılması ve çoğu kurumda elle hazırlanıyor olması bu olayı zahmetli ve zaman alıcı bir iş haline getirmektedir. Bu çalışma için bir fakültenin gerçek verileri kullanılmış ve fakültenin bölümleri için uygun bir haftalık ders programı çizelgesi oluşturulmaya çalışılmıştır. Çalışmada problemin çözümü noktasında evrimsel hesaplama teknikleri olarak kabul edilen Genetik Algoritma, Parçacık Sürü Optimizasyonu ve Yapay Arı Kolonisi yöntemleri kullanılmış ve üç yöntem için de aynı veriler kullanılarak, mevcut yöntemlerin problemin çözümü üzerindeki performansları analiz edilmiştir. Çalışmada öğretim elemanı, öğrenci ve fakülte personelini memnun edecek şekilde bütün kısıtlar dikkate alınmıştır. Geliştirilen sistemde kullanılan yöntemlerin parametreleri üzerinde değişiklikler yapılarak algoritmalar optimize edilmiştir. Yapılan deneyler sonucunda elde edilen ders programları kontrol edilerek fakülte için uygun ders programları elde edildiği görülmüştür. Ayrıca kullanılan algoritmalar, çalışma zamanı ve çözüme yakınsama açısından değerlendirilerek performansları karşılaştırılmıştır.
Do in-service training materials for midwifery care providers in sub-Saharan Africa meet international competency standards? A scoping review 2000-2020
Authors: Welsh Joanne , Hounkpatin Hashim , Gross Mechthild M. , Hanson Claudia , Moller Ann-Beth
Published: April 2022

Background
Levels of maternal and neonatal mortality remain high in sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 66% of global maternal deaths occurring in this region. Many deaths are linked to poor quality of care, which in turn has been linked to gaps in pre-service training programmes for midwifery care providers. In-service training packages have been developed and implemented across sub-Saharan Africa in an attempt to overcome the shortfalls in pre-service training. This scoping review has aimed to summarize in-service training materials used in sub-Saharan Africa for midwifery care providers between 2000–2020 and mapped their content to the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) Essential Competencies for Midwifery Practice.
Methods
Searches were conducted for the years 2000–2020 in Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature, PubMed/MEDLINE, Social Science Citation Index, African Index Medicus and Google Scholar. A manual search of reference lists from identified studies and a search of grey literature from international organizations was also performed. Identified in-service training materials that were accessible freely on-line were mapped to the ICM Essential Competencies for midwifery practice.
Results
The database searches identified 1884 articles after removing duplicates. After applying exclusion criteria, 87 articles were identified for data extraction. During data extraction, a further 66 articles were excluded, leaving 21 articles to be included in the review. From these 21 articles, six different training materials were identified. The grey literature yielded 35 training materials, bringing the total number of in-service training materials that were reviewed to 41. Identified in-service training materials mainly focused on emergency obstetric care in a limited number of sub-Saharan Africa countries. Results also indicate that a significant number of in-service training materials are not readily and/or freely accessible. However, the content of in-service training materials largely met the ICM Essential Competencies, with gaps noted in the aspect of woman-centred care and shared decision making.
Conclusions
For in-service training materials to be successful in enhancing midwifery care providers’ competence, their content needs to expand to include antenatal and postnatal care, as well as basic intrapartum care. Furthermore, access to in-service training materials should be a global good.
Liver microbiota in healthy rats: the hidden inhabitants of hepatocytes
Authors: Sun Xiao Wei , Zhang Hua , Zhou Cai Yun , Gao Wen Min , Kou Xuan Xuan , Zhang Jian Gang
Published: April 2022

The tumor and tissue microbiomes of human beings have recently been investigated. Gut permeability was known as a possible resource for the positive detection of tissue bacteria. Herein, we report that bacteria were detected in high abundance in the hepatocyte nucleus of healthy rats, and that they were shared with gut microbiota to an extent. We assessed male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats for the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene. After rats were sacrificed by blood drainage from the portal vein, we extracted total deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) from their ileal and colonic contents and liver tissues. The V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequenced using an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. Sequences were assigned taxonomically by the SILVA database. We also detected bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA) in situ using immunofluorescence (IF) and western blotting, and the 16S rRNA gene using fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH). In the livers of six rats, we detected 54,867.50 ± 6450.03 effective tags of the 16S rRNA gene and clustered them into 1003 kinds of operational taxonomic units (OTUs; 805.67 ± 70.14, 729–893). Individuals showed conservation of bacterial richness, abundance, and evenness. LPS and the 16S rRNA gene were detected in the nuclei of hepatocytes. The main function of the annotated bacteria was correlated with metabolism (79.92 ± 0.24%). Gram negativity was about 1.6 times higher than gram positivity, but aerobic and anaerobic phenotypes were nearly the same. Liver flora also showed high expression of mobile elements, biofilm formation, and stress tolerance, as well as potentially pathogenic phenotypes. Chemoheterotrophy, fermentation, and aerobic chemoheterotrophy were the main heterotrophic functions. Liver bacteria were shared with both the small and large intestines but showed significantly higher richness, evenness, and β-diversity than the small and large intestines (P < 0.05). Liver flora were hidden intracellular inhabitants in healthy rat livers and were shared with gut microbiota.
Dynamic and wear characteristics of self-lubricating bearing cage: effects of cage pocket shape
Authors: Gao Shuai , Han Qinkai , Zhou Ningning , Zhang Feibin , Yang Zhaohui , Chatterton Steven , Pennacchi Paolo
Published: April 2022

The frequent impulse collisions and wear between the ball and cage pocket not only affect the bearing stability but also significantly impact the deterioration of the bearing service life. A comprehensive dynamic model for analyzing the stability, skidding degree, ball-cage collision, wear distribution, and wear rate of four types of cage pocket is proposed. A series of tests of cage whirling conducted on self-lubricating bearing test bench using high-speed photographic technology have proven the accuracy of the model. It is found that the cage with a combination of circle and rectangle pockets has the highest stability. The circle pocket has a larger collision area and higher wear rate than rectangle and diamond pockets. The combined rectangle-diamond pocket has a better wear resistance.
Clinical Factors Affecting Depression in Patients with Painful Temporomandibular Disorders during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Lee Yeon-Hee , Auh Q-Schick
Published: April 2022

Aims: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a multifactorial condition associated with both physical and psychological factors. Stress has been known to trigger or worsens TMD. We aimed to investigate whether the novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic aggravates depression in patients with painful TMD, and the factors that affect their level of depression.Method: We included 112 patients with painful TMD (74 females, 38 males; mean age: 35.90±17.60 years; myalgia [n=38], arthralgia [n=43], mixed joint–muscle TMD pain [n=31]). TMD was diagnosed based on the Diagnostic Criteria for TMD Axis I. Physical pain intensity was recorded using the visual analog scale (VAS); psycho-emotional status (depression: Beck Depression Inventory [BDI], anxiety: Beck Anxiety Inventory [BAI], and generalized stress related to COVID19: Global Assessment of Recent Stress [GARS]) was investigated twice (before [BC] and after COVID-19 [AC]). Additionally, factors affecting BDI-AC were investigated.Results: BDI (p<0.001), BAI (p<0.001), GARS (p<0.001), and VAS (p<0.01) scores were significantly increased at AC than BC. The depression, anxiety, and stress levels were significantly positively correlated, and the AC and BC values of each factor showed a high correlation. In the mixed TMD group, BDI-AC was positively correlated with VAS-AC (p<0.001). In the multiple regression analysis, clenching habit was the strongest predictor of an increase in the BDI scores from moderate to severe, followed by psychological distress, muscle stiffness, female sex, BAI-AC, and TMJ sounds. Conclusion: COVID-19 has negatively affected the psycho-emotional state of patients with painful TMD, and several clinical factors, including female sex and clenching habits, have influenced depression.
Qualitative research on factors affecting nurse-patient relationship under the background of COVID-19
Authors: CAI Zhitong , JIANG Dengya , TANG Yunyun , JIN Xia , YU Qiuhua , ZHANG Ziyi , PENG Feng
Published: April 2022

Background
Nursing-patient conflict is a worldwide medical dispute problem. Over the years, nursing-patient conflict has not been effectively alleviated. However, the contradiction between medical staffs and COVID-19 patients of China has almost completely disappeared.
Objectives
To explore factors alleviating contradiction between nurses and COVID-19 patients, which might provide an efficient way to improve medical staffs and patients relationship.
Methods
Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with 10 nurses who personally cared for patients in COVID-19 from the Chongqing medical rescue team to Hubei province. The whole interview was videotaped and transcribed to word, which return to the interviewee within 24 hours to confirm. Data were analyzed using NVivo11 coding by more than two researchers.
Results
Economy, expectation, emotion, communication, and media are the main factors that alleviating contradiction between nurses and COVID-19 patients.
Conclusion
Under the influence of certain factors, there is a high probability that the conflict between nurses and patients can be alleviated under daily circumstances. Free medical care, emphasis on online communication, uniform and publicly publicized disease guideline pairs, positive health care provider coverage, and increased nurse-patient trust may be important factors in improving the nurse-patient relationship in COVID-19.Further population-based intervention studies in the five areas are recommended.
A multi-model framework to assess the role of R&D towards a decarbonized energy system
Authors: Nogueira Larissa P. Pupo , Longa Francesco Dalla , Reis Lara Aleluia , Drouet Laurent , Vrontisi Zoi , Fragkiadakis Kostas , Panos Evangelos , Zwaan Bob van der
Published: April 2022

Research and development (R&D) investments foster green innovation, which is key to decarbonize the energy system and attain long-term climate goals. In this paper, we link three integrated assessment models that possess a macroeconomic framework – WITCH, MERGE-ETL and GEM-E3 – with the bottom-up technology-rich energy system model TIAM-ECN, in order to quantitatively explore how investments in R&D can support deep decarbonization pathways. We take advantage of the endogenous technological learning feature of the first three models to derive R&D-induced capital cost reductions for strategic clusters of low-carbon technologies: solar energy, on- and offshore wind energy, carbon capture and storage, advanced fuels, and batteries for electric vehicles. We examine scenarios with different assumptions on CO2 mitigation and R&D policy. These assumptions are harmonized among our four models, and capital cost reductions driven by R&D are exogenously incorporated in TIAM-ECN, which enables a detailed assessment of the required energy transition. Our results show that the stringency of climate change mitigation policy remains the key factor influencing the diffusion of low-carbon technologies, while R&D can support mitigation goals and influence the contribution of different types of technologies. If implemented effectively and without worldwide barriers to knowledge spill-overs, R&D facilitates the deployment of mature technologies such as solar, wind, and electric vehicles, and enables lower overall energy system costs.
Association between the efficacy and immune-related adverse events of pembrolizumab and chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Kurokawa Kana , Mitsuishi Yoichiro , Shimada Naoko , Kawakami Yuta , Miura Keita , Miyawaki Taichi , Asao Tetsuhiko , Ko Ryo , Shukuya Takehito , Shibayama Rina , Nojiri Shuko , Takahashi Kazuhisa
Published: April 2022

BackgroundThe combination of immune-checkpoint inhibitors with chemotherapy has become the standard of treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. However, the association between therapeutic efficacy and the development of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) remains unclear in patients treated with combination therapy. We aimed to investigate the frequency of irAEs, and the association between therapeutic efficacy and the development of irAEs in patients with NSCLC. Materials and methodsWe retrospectively surveyed patients with chemo-naïve advanced NSCLC who received pembrolizumab plus platinum-based chemotherapy or pembrolizumab monotherapy at Juntendo University Hospital, Japan, between February 2017 and May 2021.ResultsAmong 148 patients (median [range] age, 68 (33–85) years; 107 men [72.3%] and 41 women [27.7%]), 74 each received pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy and pembrolizumab monotherapy. IrAEs were observed in 46 (62.2%) and 41 patients (55.4%) in the combination therapy and monotherapy group, respectively. Patients with irAEs showed significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) than those without irAEs in the combination therapy group (8.9 vs. 5.7 months; Hazard Ratio [HR], 0.53; 95% CI, 0.29–0.98; P = 0.041) and monotherapy group (11.7 vs. 5.0 months; HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.22–0.70; P = 0.001). In the multivariable analysis, development of irAEs was positively associated with PFS in both the groups (HR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.26–0.89; P = 0.019 and HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.21–0.68; P < 0.01). In the inverse probability of treatment weighting adjusted analysis, development of irAEs was significantly associated with combination therapy (OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.34–0.91; P = 0.019).ConclusionOur study demonstrated that the incidence of irAEs was associated with favorable efficacy in patients treated with pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy as well as pembrolizumab monotherapy. Also, the addition of chemotherapy to pembrolizumab significantly increased the incidence of irAEs.
Preoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation Improves Breast Conserving Surgery Rate but Not Local Disease Control in Breast Ductal Carcinoma in Situ Patients: A Propensity Score-matched Analysis with 742 Cases
Authors: Yang Yi , Zhang Xu , Zhu Xiaoping , Shen Kunwei , Zhu Juanying , Chen Xiaosong
Published: April 2022

Purpose: The role of preoperative evaluation by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) management remains controversial. The study aims to evaluate the associations between preoperative MRI examination and breast conserving surgery in DCIS patients. Methods: Patients with DCIS received surgery between Jan. 2009 and Jan.2021 in two breast centers were retrospectively included. Associations between preoperative MRI examination and clinicopathological characteristics, breast conserving surgery, and prognosis were evaluated after propensity score matching (PSM).Results: A total of 1351 patients were included. After PSM for age, family history of breast cancer, manifestation at diagnosis, lesion patterns, and nuclear grade, 742 patients were further analyzed. Patients with preoperative MRI examination were more likely to receive breast conserving surgery (BCS) than patients without MRI (28.6% vs. 19.1%; P=0.003). For 227 patients planning to receive BCS, initial negative surgical margin was similar between MRI and non-MRI cohorts (73.6% vs. 71.9%; P=0.485). In addition, there was no difference in the percentage of patients who received a secondary mastectomy between MRI and non-MRI cohorts (22.0% vs. 23.7%; P=0.433). In terms of prognosis, similar locoregional recurrence and breast cancer-related death were observed between MRI and non-MRI cohorts.Conclusion: Preoperative breast MRI examination was associated with a higher BCS rate in DCIS patients, but had no impact on disease outcome.
Standardization and Modelling of Storage Conditions for Hydro-Cooling of Mango (Mangifera Indica) Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Renu R. , Waghray Kavita , Reddy P Dinesh Sankar
Published: April 2022

Perishable fruits such as Mango (Mangifera indica) should be cooled after harvest to increase their shelf life. The parameters which affect the cooling rate were identified as Cooling Medium temperature (8 ̊C,15 ̊C and 20 ̊C), Fruit Size (0.105m, 0.127m and 0.173 m) and Medium Flow Rate (8.33 ml/s, 16.66 ml/s and 25.0 ml/s) which effected shelf life of the produce. Optimum storage conditions for maximizing the shelf life were Cooling Medium temperature (8 ̊C), Fruit Size (0.105 m) and Cooling Medium Flow Rate (0.83 ml/s). Mango was stored for 32 days. Percentage Loss in Weight for control sample was 15% whereas for the cooled sample 2–11%. Total Soluble Solids increased about 8% for control but whereas for cooled Mango it was not more than 2–5%. Cooling time for different sized fruits was 25 min, 35min and 55 min respectively.
Algorithm Aversion and the Aversion to Counter-Normative Decision Procedures
Authors: Bogard Jonathan , Shu Suzanne
Published: April 2022

According to Norm Theory, decisions that turn out badly result in greater levels of regret if they stemmed from a non-normative decision. Algorithm Aversion (AA) holds that people penalize errors made by algorithms more than errors made by humans. Often, though, studies of AA have explored contexts in which utilizing algorithmic decision-making is unconventional, confounding these two psychological forces. Across five studies, we show that much of what appears as AA can instead be explained by an aversion to counter-normative decision procedures. We find that algorithms are excessively penalized to the extent that using an algorithm to make a forecast is uncommon for that particular domain. In fact, when algorithms are the common decision procedure, we reverse AA and observe a preference for algorithms. Using these insights, we can decompose apparent AA into a combination of an aversion to unconventional decision procedures and a residual aversion to algorithms themselves. Overwhelmingly, the larger effect seems to be an aversion to uncommon decision procedures. This investigation offers insight into the mechanism driving AA, explains why people are sometimes averse to algorithms and other times favor them, and suggests a strategy for increasing the utilization of algorithms to improve wellbeing.
Mechanism of the promotion of GEFS+ by the STAT3-mediated expression of interleukin-6
Authors: Jiang Xiaofeng , Wang Yun , Ling Yinjie , Yuan Chen
Published: April 2022

Genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus (GEFS+) is generally considered as an ion channelopathy. At present, there are few studies on inflammation associated with various types of epilepsy, and it remains unclear whether the inflammatory mechanism plays a key role in epilepsy. In order to explore the role of immune factor expression regulatory mechanism in the pathogenesis of GEFS+, the present study detected the expression level of relevant immune factors such as IL-6 in peripheral blood of GEFS + mice. The purpose of this study is to analyze and compare the effect of STAT3 expression and activation differences on GEFS + attack, and to clarify the relationship between various cytokines and GEFS + outbreak. It is expected to provide a theoretical basis for immunosuppressive therapy of GEFS + and a new way for its clinical treatment.
Protective effects of Nigella sativa Against Oxidative Stress and Cytotoxicity Induced by Smokeless Tobacco in an Allergic Asthma Model in Wistar Rats
Authors: Khaldi Taha , Chekchaki Narimene , Rouibah Zineb , Chouala Khadidja , Cheniti Houyem , Boumendjel Mahieddine , Taibi Faiza , Messarah Mahfoud , Boumendjel Amel
Published: April 2022

Purpose Studies carried out on the exposure to toxic metals from smokeless tobacco (ST) products and their health effects are limited compared to particulate metal inhalation toxicology. This study aimed to investigate the oxidative stress and cytotoxicity induced by smokeless tobacco (ST), in the context of asthmatic pathology. Furthermore, we explored the preventive and ameliorating effects of oral administration of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) at a dose of 4 mL/kg/day in rats.Results Our results showed that ST clearly intensifies the oxidative stress state induced by Ova-challenge in rat. This has been shown by augmenting lipid peroxidation, protein oxidation and by altering the non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidant status. Besides, ST impairs the liver enzymes ASAT, ALAT, ALP, total proteins and albumin. Moreover, aggravation of inflammation and oxidative stress was demonstrated by the histopathological responses observed especially in the liver. Conclusion Our data indicate that acute concurrent exposure to allergen and ST enhances cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. In contrast, NSO administration has shown the recovery of the biochemical parameters in the liver and kidney, restoration of the antioxidant status, reduction of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. Finally, NSO treatment improved the histopathological alterations in liver and kidney.
Disentangling arthropod and plant resources consumed by Orius spp. in peach and alfalfa crops by metagenomic analysis
Authors: Batuecas Iván , Alomar Oscar , Castañé Cristina , Piñol Josep , Gallardo-Montoya Lorena , Agusti Nuria
Published: April 2022

Agricultural intensification is affecting the biological control of insect pests, an important component for sustainable crop production. To understand the changing patterns of insect abundance within an agroecosystem, it is necessary to disentangle the trophic interactions between species, and metabarcoding is an excellent alternative to show them. In the Ebro Basin (NE Iberian Peninsula), agricultural landscapes are composed by a mosaic of crops scattered with natural and semi-natural habitats, where the presence of Orius spp., used as biocontrol agents, is well known. In order to shed light about their predatory role in this area, a previously developed metabarcoding multi-primer method has been used to study the arthropod and plant most common resources consumed by some field collected Orius laevigatus, Orius majusculus and Orius niger, sampled at different dates in a peach and an alfalfa adjacent crops. Their high-throughput sequencing analysis showed the consumption of 15 arthropod and 12 plant taxa. Eight of them were consumed by O. laevigatus, six by O. majusculus and 23 by O. niger. Among the detected arthropods, other natural enemies were present, showing a certain degree of intraguild predation, as well as some vectors that cause zoonotic and plant diseases. Intraguild predation among Orius species has been demonstrated by developing a new added strategy in the bioinformatic analysis. Detected plant consumption indicates that Orius forages on some non-crop plant species, indicating the potential role of these plants in attracting or maintaining these predators in both crops in biological control strategies.
Mycorrhizal Communities and Their Effect on Tree Growth at a Post-Mining Site
Authors: Pawuluwage Supun Madhumadhawa , Marchand Philippe , Manzi Sophie , Roy Mélanie , Fenton Nicole J.
Published: April 2022

Purpose
Primary succession of vegetation in post-mining areas offers an opportunity to study how plant species and individuals interact in space and notably how biotic interactions such as mycorrhizal symbiosis contribute to the revegetalization of degraded environments. Our study aimed to characterize the taxonomical and spatial structure of mycorrhizal communities and determine how mycorrhizae affect seedling growth at a post-mining site.
Methods
Mycorrhizal fungal communities were identified from fine roots of tree seedlings in a mine tailings site in Quebec, Canada. We used next-generation DNA sequencing to determine mycorrhizal richness and abundance, and analyzed patterns of species sharing based on host plant species or distance. The influence of neighbourhood competition, mycorrhizal communities and soil nutrients on seedling growth were characterized.
Results
Fungal DNA was amplified from 40% of plant samples, and 474 fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified. Ectomycorrhizae were shared among all host species with no significant host specificity but were segregated at the scale of individual plants. The site was characterized by extremely low soil nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations and high arsenic levels. Growth of most host plants was not affected by neighbourhood competition, soil nitrogen, shoot biomass, mycorrhizal richness, mycorrhizal abundance, or sharing of mycorrhizae.
Conclusion
We found that plant-plant interactions, mycorrhizal networks and soil nutrients were not important factors determining plant growth at this site due to strong nutrient limitations and high As contamination. Considering the low specificity and low access to mycorrhizae in degraded environments, revegetalization projects could introduce mycorrhizae to boost seedling growth.
Proton-driven alternating access in a spinster transporter, an emerging family of broad-specificity efflux pumps
Authors: Dastvan Reza , Rasouli Ali , Dehghani-Ghahnaviyeh Sepehr , Gies Samantha , Tajkhorshid Emad
Published: April 2022

Spinster (Spns) lipid transporters are critical for transporting sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) across cellular membranes. In humans, Spns2 functions as the main S1P transporter in endothelial cells, making it a potential drug target for modulating S1P signaling. We employed an integrated approach in lipid membranes to identify unknown conformational states of a bacterial Spns from Hyphomonas neptunium (HnSpns) and to define its proton- and substrate-coupled conformational dynamics. Our systematic study reveals conserved residues critical for protonation steps and their regulation, and how sequential protonation of these proton switches coordinates the conformational transitions in the context of a noncanonical ligand-dependent alternating access. A conserved periplasmic salt bridge (Asp60TM2:Arg289TM7) keeps the transporter in a closed conformation, while proton-dependent conformational dynamics are significantly enhanced on the periplasmic side, providing a pathway for ligand exchange. Furthermore, our resistance assays reveal substrate polyspecificity and HnSpns multidrug resistance (MDR) activity that underscore the previously unknown role of Spns proteins in MDR, beyond their activity in sphingolipid transport and signaling.
Forced-air prewarming prevents hypothermia during living donor liver transplantation: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Oh Eun Jung , Han Sangbin , Lee Sooyeon , Choi Eun Ah , Ko Justin S. , Gwak Mi Sook , Kim Gaab Soo
Published: April 2022

Despite various intraoperative thermal strategies, core heat loss is considerable during liver transplantation and hypothermia is common. We tested whether forced-air pre-warming prevents intraoperative hypothermia for liver transplant recipients. Adult patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation were randomly assigned in either non-prewarming group (n=20) or prewarming group (n=20). Patients in prewarming group underwent 30-minute forced-air warming (set at temperature 43.0˚C) prior to anesthetic induction. Core temperature was measured in the pulmonary artery. The primary outcome was intraoperative hypothermia (<36.0˚C). The secondary outcomes included plasma lactate level after graft reperfusion. Intraoperative hypothermia risk was significantly lower in prewarming group than in non-prewarming group (60.0% vs. 95.0%, P=0.020). The duration of hypothermia was significantly shorter in prewarming group (60 [0, 221]min vs. 383 [108, 426]min, P=0.001). Hypothermia risk during the post-induction phase was significantly lower in prewarming group (20.0% in prewarming group vs. 85.0%, P<0.001). The plasma lactate level decreased during 3 hours after graft reperfusion in prewarming group while continuously increased in non-prewarming group (-0.19 [0.13, -0.48]mmol/L vs. 1.17 [3.31, 0.77]mmol/L, P=0.034). The 30-minute forced-air prewarming is an effective method to prevent intraoperative hypothermia with potential clinical benefits while mainly acting by decreasing the core heat loss immediately after anesthetic induction.
The M1 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor regulates the surface expression of the AMPA receptor subunit GluA2 via PICK1
Authors: Zhu Zengyan , Wang Wenjuan , Gu Chao , Wang Mei , Yan Yinghui
Published: April 2022

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) have been shown to play significant roles in the regulation of normal cognitive processes in the hippocampus, and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptors (AMPARs) are also involved in these processes. The alteration of AMPAR subunit composition changes the permeability of these ion channels. Our previous studies showed that M1 mAChR activation induced GluA1 insertion into the membrane and its delivery to synapses, facilitating improvements in hippocampus-dependent learning and memory. However, how M1 mAChRs affect the trafficking of GluA2 remains poorly understood. In this study, we found that activation of M1 mAChRs promoted endocytosis and decreased the postsynaptic localization of the AMPA receptor subunit GluA2 and that phosphorylation of GluA2 at Ser880 was increased by M1 mAChR activity. PICK1 was required for these processes and downstream of phosphorylation of GluA2, and the PICK1-GluA2 interaction was essential for M1 mAChR-mediated postsynaptic expression of GluA2. Taken together, our results show a functional correlation of M1 mAChRs with GluA2 and the role of PICK1 in their interplay.
Spatiotemporal-resolved protein networks profiling with photoactivation dependent proximity labeling
Authors: Zhai Yansheng , Huang Xiaoyan , Zhang Keren , Huang Yuchen , Cui Jingwei , Chiu Cookson , Zhong Weiye , Li Gang
Published: April 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Psitrum: An Open Source Simulator for Universal Quantum Computers
Authors: Alghadeer Mohammed , Aldawsari Eid , Selvarajan Raja , Alutaibi Khaled , Kais Sabre , Alharbi Fahhad H
Published: April 2022

Quantum computing is a radical new paradigm for a technology that is capable to revolutionize information processing. Simulators of universal quantum computer are important for understanding the basic principles and operations of the current noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) processors, and for building in future fault-tolerant quantum computers. In this work, we present simulation of universal quantum computers by introducing Psitrum – a universal gate-model quantum computer simulator implemented on classical hardware. The simulator allows to emulate and debug quantum algorithms in form of quantum circuits for many applications with the choice of adding variety of noise modules to simulate decoherence in quantum circuits. Psitrum allows to simulate all basic quantum operations and provides variety of visualization tools. The simulator allows to trace out all possible quantum states at each stage M of an N-qubit implemented quantum circuit. Psitrum software and source codes are freely available at: https://github.com/MoGhadeer/Psitrum.
The potential of organic fertilizer application on the production and bromatological composition of millet (Cenchrus americanu)
Authors: Raimundo Erikson Kadoshe de Morais , Zacharias Marina Barros , Borges Maria Teresa Mendes Ribeiro , Silva Janaina Della Torre da , Forti Victor Augusto
Published: April 2022

The production of millet has been increasing in Brazil, principally as a cover crop and for animal feeding. However, there is little information about the responses of millet crops to application of fertilizer, including organic fertilizers. The aim of this study was to quantify the agronomic features and the bromatological composition of millet following application of organic and inorganic fertilizers. The experiment was carried out in completely randomized blocks with 4 fertilizer treatments: cattle manure, poultry compost, chemical fertilizer and a Control, each with 4 replications. Plant height, stem diameter, number of tillers and leaves, number, length, diameter and mass of the panicle, 1,000-grain weight, plant dry matter yield, chlorophyll index and bromatological composition of grain and whole plant were evaluated. All treatments that received fertilizer, regardless of the source, showed better performance than the Control, but only cattle manure produced significant responses in DM yield (P<0.10). Fertilizer application did not affect the bromatological composition of millet plants and grains. Further studies are warranted on these soils to determine the justification for applying any fertilizer to millet crops, whether inorganic or organic.
A Prognostic Nomogram for Stage II/III Rectal Cancer Patients Treated with Neoadjuvant Chemoradiotherapy Followed by Surgical Resection
Authors: Lin Yanfei
Published: April 2022

Background
The purpose of this study was to develop a nomogram incorporated on log odds of positive nodes (LODDS) for predicting the overall survival (OS) of stage II/III rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) followed by surgical resection.
Methods
The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was used to collect information on patients diagnosed stage II/III rectal cancer between 2010 and 2015 and treated with NCRT followed by surgical resection. The Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the independent prognostic factors. In this study, LODDS was employed instead of American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 7th N stage to determine lymph node status. Then a nomogram integrating independent prognostic factors was developed to predict the 24-, 36-, and 60-month overall survival. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and calibration curves were used to validate the nomogram. Furthermore, patients were stratified into three risk groups(high-, middle-, and low-risk) based on the total points obtained from the nomogram. And Kaplan-Meier curves were plotted to compare OS of the three groups.
Results
A total of 3,829 patients were included in the study. Race, sex, age, marital status, T stage, tumor grade, tumor size, LODDS, CEA level, and postoperative chemotherapy were identified as independent prognostic factors, based on which the prognostic nomogram was developed. The ROC curves and calibration curves showed good performance of the prognostic nomogram. The Kaplan-Meier curves showed that the three risk groups had significant differences in overall survival.
Conclusion
The LODDS-incorporated prognostic nomogram was developed and showed satisfactorily discriminative and stable ability, and it is expected to be a useful tool in developing individualized treatment strategies and follow-up protocols.
Assessment of thermal behavior and pyrolytic kinetics of selected agro-residues through thermogravimetric analysis
Authors: Gajera Bhautik Vinubhai , Sarma Anil Kumar , Jha Mithilesh Kumar
Published: April 2022

The physicochemical characteristics and kinetics of sugarcane bagasse (SCB) and black gram straw (BGS) have been studied using a thermogravimetric analyzer under nitrogen atmosphere at 20°C/min heating rates. The analysis showed that SCB has higher volatile matter (81.32 wt.%), lower ash (3.50 wt%), and moisture content (5.36 wt%) while significantly higher HHV (18.10 MJ/ kg). The TG and DTG curves displayed four significant zones mainly attributed to moisture removal, decomposition of hemicellulose and cellulose, and lignin, respectively. The Coats-Redfern model fitting method was used to determine the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the active pyrolysis zone. The activation energies of SCB and BGS were 88.74 and 96.74 kJ/mol, respectively. The following thermodynamic parameters were found: change in enthalpy is 83.65 and 92.14 kJ/mol, Gibbs free energy is 126.64 and 144.69 kJ/mol, and change in entropy is -73.29 and − 94.92 J/mol.K, for SCB and BGS, respectively. These physicochemical properties and kinetic parameters confirm that SCB and BGS are promising feedstocks for pyrolysis.
Health Preferences in Childhood Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): A Discrete Choice Experiment using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS2)
Authors: Durno Nicholas , Zormpas Evangelos , Schmid Ramona , Heisen Marieke , Hartl Kristina , Ethgen Olivier , Szilvasy Zsuzsanna , Friedel Evelyne , Wong Olivier , Charman Tony , Cáceres Antonia San José , Mühlbacher Axel , Hout Ben van , Brazier John , Stolk Elly
Published: April 2022

BackgroundIn childhood autism spectrum disorder (ASD), the Childhood Autism Rating Scale–2nd edition (CARS2) instrument is used for diagnosis and assessment of severity and change. Following a feasibility study, we conducted 2 discrete choice experiments (DCEs), each of which used caregivers and clinicians as proxies for autistic children, to assess preferences for CARS2-based attributes. MethodsCaregivers and clinicians from 5 European countries received an online DCE corresponding to either the standard or the high-functioning version of the CARS2. Participants completed 14 choice tasks with 2 hypothetical profiles composed of 13 attributes set at 4 varying levels. To reduce task complexity, the 2 profiles of each choice task had at least overlap in 7 attributes, i.e., attributes were set at the same level, and presented in a stacked layout. Multinomial, mixed and scale-adjusted logit models were used to estimate preference weights. Explorative anchoring to the EQ-5D-Y was undertaken and a rescaled set of DCE coefficients is provided. ResultsModels were fit separately for caregivers and clinicians in each experiment. The final models included 563 caregivers and 666 clinicians for the standard experiment, and 346 caregivers and 310 clinicians for the high-functioning one. Caregivers and clinicians, as expected, prioritized some of the same attributes but not all. For example, in the standard experiment, Verbal communication, Non-verbal communication, and Activity-level were highly important attributes to both groups, whilst Taste, smell, and touch response and use was more important to caregivers than it was to clinicians. In the high-functioning experiment, preferences for caregivers were highest for Thinking/cognitive integration skills, Verbal communication and Fear or anxiety. For clinicians, the most important attributes were Thinking/cognitive integration skills, Fear or anxiety and Social-emotional understanding. ConclusionCaregiver and clinician preferences indicated some disparity in what constitutes the greatest unmet need for autistic children. These findings can support clinicians and caregivers in creating mutual understanding and agreement on therapeutic goals, which can be very direct and near (e.g., Taste, smell, and touch response and use) or future-oriented and developmental (e.g., Relating to people).