bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neighborhood deprivation, built environment, and childhood obesity in the city of Oslo
Authors: Coutinho Sílvia R. , Andersen Oddbjørn Klomsten , Lien Nanna , Gebremariam Mekdes K.
Published: November 2022

Background
Even though the social and built environment characteristics of neighborhoods have been studied as potential determinants of social inequalities in obesity among adults, fewer studies have focused on children. Our first aim was to investigate whether there were differences in the food and physical activity environments between different neighborhood deprivation levels in the city of Oslo. We also explored whether there was an association between overweight/obesity prevalence among adolescents and i. neighborhood deprivation levels and ii. food and physical activity environments of the neighborhoods they live in.
Methods
We conducted a food and physical activity environment mapping (using ArcGIS Pro) in all neighborhoods of Oslo, which were defined by administrative boundaries (sub-districts). The neighborhood deprivation score was calculated based on the percentage of households living in poverty, unemployment in the neighborhood, and residents with low education. A cross-sectional study including 802 seventh graders from 28 primary schools in Oslo residing in 75 out of 97 sub-districts in Oslo was also performed. MANCOVA and partial correlations were ran to compare the built environment distribution between different neighborhood deprivation levels, and multilevel logistic regression analyses were used to explore the effect of neighborhood deprivation and the food and physical activity environments on childhood overweight/obesity.
Results
We found that deprived neighborhoods had greater availability of fast food restaurants and fewer indoor recreational facilities compared to low-deprived neighborhoods. Additionally, we observed that the residential neighborhoods of the children with overweight/obesity had greater availability of grocery and convenience stores when compared to the residential neighborhoods of the children without overweight/obesity. Children living in deprived neighborhoods had a two-fold higher odds (95% CI = 1.1–3.8) to have overweight/obesity compared to children living in low-deprived neighborhoods, regardless of participants' ethnicity and parental education. However, the built environment did not determine the relationship between neighborhood deprivation and children’s overweight/obesity.
Conclusions
The neighborhoods in Oslo with higher deprivation levels had more obesogenic characteristics than the low-deprived neighborhoods. Children living in high-deprived neighborhoods were more likely to have overweight/obesity than their counterparts from low-deprived neighborhoods. Thus, preventive measures targeting children from low-deprived neighborhoods should be put in place in order to reduce incidence of overweight/obesity.
An IoT System for managing machine tool spindles in operation
Authors: Bachim Thyago , Martens Mauro Luiz , Gonçalves Rodrigo Franco , Bizarrias Flavio Santino , Machado Marcio Cardoso
Published: November 2022

With the development of production processes over the last decades, machine tools have evolved, and in everyday life today it is impossible not to visualize the new facilities arising from technological developments, such as IoT (Internet of Things) systems. Because they are so relevant, they have become a competitive differential in all markets and will not be different in the transformation industry or in its operational areas. Estimating when any machine will fail beforehand is fundamental to maximizing the company's results and consequently minimizing operating costs. In this sense, this research aimed to develop an IoT system for the online management of machine tool spindles in operation and to provide reliable data for maintenance management in the context of Industry 4.0 (I4.0). The development of the system took place through the Design Science Research (DSR) methodology. Thus, with the systematic review of the literature, the artifact/theoretical system of the method type for online monitoring of spindles in operation was developed, and its implementation was demonstrated and validated via a case study with participant observation in an automotive industry. The main contributions of the research are the artifact/system developed and validated and the associated predictive maintenance method. With the artifact, the normal behavior of the spindles in operation is demonstrated, contributing both to the academy field and to the practice in the industry, in the sense of advancing knowledge and preventing catastrophic failures in machine tools.
Prevalence of early postpartum depression and associated risk factors among selected women in southern Malawi: a nested observational study
Authors: Moya Ernest , Mzembe Glory , Mwambinga Mphatso , Truwah Zinenani , Harding Rebecca , Ataide Ricardo , Larson Leila M , Fisher Jane , Braat Sabine , Pasricha Sant-Rayn , Mwangi Martin N , Phiri Kamija S
Published: November 2022

Background
The birth of a child should be a time of celebration. However, for many women, childbirth represents a time of great vulnerability to becoming mentally unwell, a neglected maternal morbidity. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of early postpartum depression (PPD) and its associated risk factors among women giving birth at health facilities in southern Malawi. Identifying women vulnerable to PPD will help clinicians provide appropriately targeted interventions before discharge from the maternity ward.
Method
We conducted a nested cross-sectional study. Women were screened for early PPD using a locally validated Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS) as they were discharged from the maternity ward. The prevalence of moderate or severe (EPDS ≥ 6) and severe (EPDS ≥ 9) PPD was determined, including 95% confidence intervals (CI). Data on maternal age, education and marital status, income source, religion, gravidity, and HIV status, among others, were collected during the second trimester of pregnancy, and obstetric and infant characteristics during childbirth were examined as potential risk factors for early PPD using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.
Results
Data contributed by 636 women were analysed. Of these women, 9.6% (95% CI; 7.4–12.1%) had moderate to severe early PPD using an EPDS cut-off of ≥ 6, and 3.3% (95% CI; 2.1–5.0%) had severe early PPD using an EPDS cut-off of ≥ 9. Multivariable analyses indicated that maternal anaemia at birth (aOR; 2.65, CI; 1.49–4.71, p-value; 0.001) was associated with increased risk for moderate and/or severe early PPD, while live birth outcome (aOR; 0.15, 95% CI; 0.04–0.54, p-value; 0.004), being single compared to divorced/widowed (aOR; 0.09, 95% CI; 0.02–0.55, p-value; 0.009), and lower education level (aOR; 0.36, 95% CI; 0.20–0.65, p-value; 0.001) were associated with decreased risk. Being HIV positive (aOR; 2.88, 95% CI; 1.08–7.67, p-value; 0.035) was associated with severe PPD only.
Conclusion
The prevalence of early PPD was slightly lower in our selected sample compared to previous reports in Malawi and was associated with maternal anaemia at birth, non-live birth, being divorced/widowed and HIV-positive status. Therefore, health workers should screen for depressive symptoms in women who are at increased risk as they are discharged from the maternity ward for early identification and treatment.
A case study of electronic waste recycling using interval-valued Fermatean fuzzy Hamacher aggregation operators
Authors: Luqman Anam , Shahzadi Gulfam
Published: November 2022

The utilization of electrical and electronics equipments (EEEs) in waste recycling has become a paramount for various countries. The waste electrical and electronics equipment (WEEE) recy-clers own a crucial position in the environmental growth of a country as they help to minimize the carbon emissions during the recycling of WEEE in most ecofriendly way. Therefore, the selection and assessment of an appropriate WEEE recycling partner has become a most important part of DM (decision-making) applications. The collusion of numerous quantitative and qualitative factors makes the recycling partner selection problem, a multifaced and significant decision for the managerial experts. The main objective of this work is to propose MADM (multi-attribute decision-making) techniques to evaluate the WEEE recycling partners under interval-valued Fermatean fuzzy (IVFF) information. In this regard, certain Hamacher AOs (aggregation operators) are proposed in order to develop the required DM method. These AOs include Hamacher ordered, weighted geometric, ordered weighted geometric, generalized Einstein weighted, generalized Einstein ordered weighted, generalized Einstein weighted geometric, etc. Then, these averaging operators are utilized to come up with a MADM techniques under IVFF environment. Furthermore, the constructed technique is applied to a case study in China in order to incorporate with the e-waste recycling partner selection problem. Moreover, a brief comparison of the proposed with is presented with various existing techniques to manifest the productivity and coherence of the proposed model. Finally, the accuracy and consistency of results shows that the proposed technique is fully compatible and applicable in order to handle any MADM problem.
Increased Enteric Neural Crest Cell Differentiation After Transplantation Into Aganglionic Mouse Gut
Authors: Nakazawa-Tanaka Nana , Fujiwara Naho , Miyahara Katsumi , Akazawa Chihiro , Urao Masahiko , Yamataka Atsuyuki
Published: November 2022

Purpose
In recent years, many studies have made considerable progress in the development of stem cell-based therapies for Hirschsprung’s disease (HD). However, the question of whether enteric neural crest-derived cells (ENCCs) that are transplanted into aganglionic gut can migrate, proliferate and differentiate in a normal manner remains unanswered. Thus, we designed this study to compare the behavior of ENCCs transplanted into the aganglionic gut of endothelin receptor B knockout (Ednrb-KO) mice versus wild-type (WT) mice.
Methods
ENCCs were isolated from the fetal guts of Sox10 transgenic mice, in which ENCCs were labeled with an enhanced green fluorescent protein, Venus, on embryonic day 18.5 (E18.5). Neurospheres were generated and transplanted into the aganglionic region of either Ednrb-KO mice gut, or WT mice gut that had not yet been colonized, on E12.5. Time-lapse imaging of the transplanted ENCCs was performed after 24h, 48h and 72h of culture. Neuronal differentiation was evaluated using whole-mount immunohistochemistry.
Results
Sox10-positive ENCCs were seen to successfully migrate into the myenteric region of the aganglionic gut following transplantation in both the Ednrb-KO and WT mice. The ratio of Tuj1-positive/Sox10-positive cells was significantly increased after 72h of culture compared to 24h in the Ednrb-KO mice, which suggests that the transplanted ENCCs differentiated over time. In addition, at the 72h timepoint, neuronal differentiation of transplanted ENCC in the aganglionic gut of Ednrb-KO mice was significantly increased compared to that of WT mice.
Conclusions
The results of our study demonstrated that transplanted ENCCs migrated into the myenteric region of aganglionic recipient gut in mice. The increased neuronal differentiation of transplanted ENCC in Endrb-KO mice gut suggests that the microenvironment of this region affects ENCC behavior following transplantation. Further research to explore the characteristics of this microenvironment will improve the potential of developing cell therapy to treat HD patients.
Treatment compliance among adult cervical cancer patients receiving care at Uganda Cancer Institute, Uganda: a retrospective data review
Authors: Najjemba Josephine Irene , Ndagire Regina , Mulamira Pius , Kibudde Solomon , Lwanira Catherine Nassozi
Published: November 2022

Background
Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers and a major cause of morbidity among women globally. Chemoradiation therapy is the preferred standard treatment for women with stage IB to IVA. However, the benefits of this treatment can only be achieved if patients adhere to the treatment guidelines. In this study, the proportion of compliance or adherence to chemo-radiation treatment among cervical cancer patients at Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI) was determined.
Methods
This was a cross-sectional study that reviewed data retrospectively for 196 cervical cancer patients who were prescribed to chemo-radiation therapy at UCI between November 2020 to May 2021, having been diagnosed with disease stage IB to IVA. Patient data and information on treatment uptake was obtained by review of the patient’s medical records. Treatment compliance was determined by calculating the number of participants who completed the prescribed treatment (definitive pelvic concurrent chemoradiation to 50 Gy external beam radiotherapy with weekly concurrent cisplatin followed by intracavitary brachytherapy 24 Gy in 3 fractions at 8 Gy once a week over 3 weeks). Associations between patient factors and treatment adherence were determined using logistic regression analysis. In all statistical tests, a P- value of < 0.05 was considered as significant.
Results
The proportion of patients who were administered with external beam radiation (EBRT), chemotherapy and brachytherapy were 82.6%, 52.04% and 66.2% respectively. However, only 23 of 196 patients (11.7%) were found to have adhered to the treatment plan by completion of all definitive pelvic concurrent chemoradiation to 50 Gy external beam radiotherapy (5 weeks) with weekly concurrent cisplatin (5 cycles) followed by intracavitary brachytherapy 24 Gy in 3 fractions at 8 Gy once a week over 3 weeks (3 sessions). There were no significant aassociations between patient factors and treatment adherence after multivariable analysis.
Conclusions
Treatment compliance was found in only 12% of the cohort participants. No association of patient factors with treatment compliance was found. Additional studies on treatment adherence with larger sample sizes are needed to confirm the associations.
Eddy correlation measurements to visualize CO 2 and water vapor concentrations and fluxes
Authors: Rytwo Giora , Eliyahou Dafna
Published: November 2022

Eddy correlation measures gas exchange between canopy and the overlying atmosphere by evaluating the correlation between fluctuations in the gas-of-interest’s mixing ratio and the vertical wind velocity and considered the most accurate approach for measuring gas fluxes, mostly carbon dioxide and water vapor under ideal homogeneous conditions. It has been used in micrometeorology for decades to quantify mass and energy transfer between urban, natural and agricultural ecosystems and the atmosphere. We assessed its application under various—homogeneous and non-homogeneous—conditions. Our study indicates that fluxes of CO2 and H2O correlate well with plants activity only when turbulent conditions are present, in open fields. At such conditions, direct measurements of concentration of those gases are not an accurate indicator for plants activity. On the other hand, in closed systems (e.g. greenhouses)- fluxes as measured by an eddy correlation system can't accurately be related to the state of the vegetation, but the fluctuations in the concentrations of CO2 and H2O directly correlate to the actual plants activity. Adapting conditions in greenhouses to limiting factors as temperature, increases CO2 sequestration by plants, and may increase productivity
Clinical study of collagen sponge combined with iRoot in apical barriers
Authors: Qin Han , Xu Hong-zhi , Gong Yong-qing
Published: November 2022

Background/Aim Placement of biocompatible material to obtain a good apical stop is one of the important factors that determine the success of apical barriers. The purpose of this study was to observe the clinical and radiographic outcomes of the apical plug performed using iRoot-BP, with or without collagen sponge in immature teeth with necrotic pulp, so as to provide theoretical basis for clinical application. Materials and Methods Forty-six immature teeth with necrotic pulps were included in this study. Teeth were equally divided and randomly assigned to two groups: sponge group (group KD) or control group (group NC). During apical barriers, apical plug performed with iRoot-BP or sponge + iRoot-BP followed by a permanent restoration. Blinded clinical and radiographic assessments were performed at baseline, immediate post-operative and after 3, 6 and 12 months, according to the pre-determined clinical and radiographic criteria. Results ①The evaluation results of apical lesion healing showed that 22 treated teeth in group KD (95.7%) and 21 treated teeth in group NC (91.3%) showed no clinical or radiographic signs of failure during the follow-up period (χ2 = 0.357, P = 0.55). ②The results of continuous root growth assessment showed that the root of affected teeth in group KD increased by 2 mm on average. There was statistically significant difference between group KD and group NC(P < 0.05). Conclusion Whether collagen sponge is added, iRoot-BP showed similar clinical and radiographic outcomes when used as apical barriers materials in the treatment of immature permanent teeth with necrotic pulps. However, the application of collagen sponge combined with iRoot-BP in apical barriers can promote root development of immature teeth, which is closer to the formation of normal root.
Designing Dispatching Rules via Novel Genetic Programming with Feature Selection in Dynamic Job-Shop Scheduling
Authors: Sitahong Adilanmu , Yuan Yiping , Li Ming , Ma Junyan , Ba Zhiyong , Lu Yongxin
Published: November 2022

Genetic Programming (GP) has been widely employed to create dispatching rules intelligently for production scheduling. The success of GP depends on a suitable terminal set of selected features. Specifically, techniques that consider feature selection in GP to enhance rule understandability for dynamic job shop scheduling (DJSS) have been successful. However, existing feature selection algorithms in GP focus more emphasis on obtaining more compact rules with fewer features than on improving effectiveness. This paper is the first attempt at combining a novel GP method, GP with dynamic diversity management, with feature selection to design effective and interpretable dispatching rules for DJSS. The idea of the novel GP method is to achieve a progressive transition from exploration to exploitation by relating the level of population diversity to the stopping criteria and elapsed duration. We hypothesize that diverse and promising individuals obtained from the novel GP method can guide the feature selection to design competitive rules. The proposed approach is compared with three GP-based algorithms and 20 benchmark rules in the different job shop conditions and scheduling objectives. Experiments show that the proposed approach greatly outperforms the compared methods in generating more interpretable and effective rules for the three objective functions.
Physical function and mental health trajectories in COVID-19 patients following invasive mechanical ventilation: a prospective observational study
Authors: Yamamoto Hiromasa , Tanaka Shinya , Kasugai Daisuke , Shimizu Miho , Tsuchikawa Yohei , Hori Yuto , Fugane Yuki , Inoue Takayuki , Nagaya Motoki , Omote Norihito , Higashi Michiko , Yamamoto Takanori , Jingushi Naruhiro , Numaguchi Atsushi , Goto Yukari , Nishida Yoshihiro
Published: November 2022

This prospective observational cohort study was performed to investigate the physical function and mental health trajectories of novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) after discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU). The study population consisted of 64 patients (median age, 60 years; 85.9% male; median IMV duration, 9 days). At ICU discharge, 28.1% of the patients had Medical Research Council (MRC) sum score <48 points, and prolonged IMV was significantly associated with lower MRC sum score and handgrip strength. Symptoms were similar between groups at ICU discharge, and the symptoms most commonly reported as moderate-to-severe were impaired well-being (52%), anxiety (43%), tiredness (41%), and depression (35%). Although muscle strength and mobility status were significantly improved after ICU discharge, Edmonton Symptom Assessment System score did not improve significantly in the prolonged IMV group. EuroQol five-dimension five-level summary index was significantly lower in the prolonged than short IMV group at 6 months after ICU discharge. We found substantial negative physical function and mental health consequences in the majority of surviving COVID-19 patients requiring IMV, with prolonged period of IMV showing greater negative effects not only immediately but also at 6 months after discharge from the ICU.
Pueraria lobate polysaccharides alleviate neonatal calf diarrhea by modulating gut microbiota and metabolites
Authors: Shen Liuhong , Shen Yu , Zhu Yingkun , You Liuchao , Zhang Yue , Su Zhetong , Peng Guangneng , Deng Junliang , Zuo Zhicai , Zhong Zhijun , Ren Zhihua , Zong Xiaolan , Yu Shumin , Cao Suizhong
Published: November 2022

Background
Neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD) is still one of the most critical diseases in calf rearing. Studies have shown that Pueraria lobata polysaccharides (PLP) have intense antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity and modulate gut microbiota. This randomized clinical trial aimed to investigate the effect of PLP on fecal score, inflammatory cytokines, antioxidant activity, fecal microbiota and metabolites in diarrheic calves.
Methods
12 neonatal calves (7–8 day ages and 45–55 kg weights) with fecal scores ≥ 2 were determined as diarrhea then orally administered PLP (400mg/kg BW) QD for five consecutive days. 12 age-matched healthy calves with a fecal score ≤ 1 were selected as the control group. Fecal samples and blood samples were collected from the rectum and tail of diarrheic calves (DS) and calves in the control group (HS) on the 0 d; then collected fecal samples and blood samples from diarrheic calves treated with PLP (TS) on the 7 d of the trial. Fecal or blood samples of these calves were analyzed in inflammatory cytokines, antioxidant activity, fecal microbiota and metabolites.
Results
Studies showed that treatment with PLP decreased the fecal score of diarrheal calves, serum concentrations of IL-1β, TNF-α, and malondialdehyde, and also elevated the level of superoxide dismutase. In addition, PLP treatment altered the gut microbiota, significantly increased the relative abundances of beneficial bacteria, including the phyla Bacteroidetes and Actinobacteria, the genus Collinsella, Megamonas and Bifidobacterium; decreased the relative abundances of pathogenetic or diarrhea related bacteria, such as Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, and Escherichia_Shigella. Moreover, PLP can increase the fecal concentrations of isobutyric acid, propionic acid, and pantothenate; lower the levels of PC (18:0/18:1(9Z)), arachidonic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid.
Conclusions
PLP perform the therapeutic activity via alleviating intestinal inflammation and regulating gut microbiota, avoiding further dysbiosis to restore the metabolism of gut microbiota, and finally promoting the recovery of diarrhea. The change further mitigated intestinal inflammation and oxidative damage in diarrheal calves.
Management of Complicated Choledochal Cyst in Children: Ultrasound-Guided Percutaneous External Drainage and Subsequent Definitive Operation
Authors: Yan Jiayu , Lv Chuankai , Zhang Dan , Zheng Mingkang , Peng Chunhui , Pang Wenbo , Chen Wei , Wang Siwei , Wang Xiaoman , Chen Yajun
Published: November 2022

Objective
The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the outcomes of the combination of ultrasound-guided percutaneous external drainage (US-PED) and subsequent definitive operation to manage complicated choledochal cyst in children.
Methods
This study included 6 children with choledochal cyst who underwent initial US-PED and subsequent cyst excision with Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy between January 2021 and September 2022. Patient characteristics, laboratory findings, imaging data, treatment details, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated.
Results
Mean age at presentation was 2.7 ± 2.2 (0.5–6.2) years, and 2 patients (2/6) were boys. Four patients (4/6) had a giant choledochal cyst with the widest diameter of ≥ 10 cm and underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous biliary drainage on admission or after conservative treatments. The other 2 patients (2/6) underwent ultrasound-guided percutaneous transhepatic cholangial drainage and percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage due to coagulopathy, respectively. Five patients (5/6) recovered well after US-PED and underwent the definitive operation, whereas 1 patient (1/6) had liver fibrosis confirmed by Fibroscan and ultimately underwent liver transplantation 2 months after US-PED. The mean time from US-PED to the definitive operation was 12 ± 9 (3–21) days. The average length of hospital stay was 24 ± 9 (16–31) days. No related complications of US-PED occurred during hospitalization. At 10.2 ± 6.8 (1.0–18.0) months follow-up, all patients had a normal liver function and US examination.
Conclusions
US-PED is technically feasible for choledochal cyst with giant cysts or coagulopathy in children, which can provide suitable conditions for subsequent definitive operation with a good overall prognosis.
Trial registration:
Retrospectively registered
In-situ-precipitation three-dimensional printing and photocatalytic applications of highly ordered interconnected submicron-scale pores in silver atomic cluster–silver chloride photocatalyst structures
Authors: Chen Guan-Chen , Huang Wei-Tse , Lee Po-Ching , Lin Ching-Bin
Published: November 2022

In this study, a silver atomic cluster(Ag@)/silver chloride photocatalyst structure with high porosity and a highly ordered interconnected three-dimensional (3D) porous network was prepared through a novel in-situ-precipitation 3D printing technique. Photocatalytic dye degradation and the sterilization of Escherichia coli under irradiation with visible light and ultraviolet light revealed that the photocatalyst structure had a strong degradation effect on the aqueous solutions of Orange II azo dye and methylene blue dye (both containing hydrogen peroxide) and that the kinetic properties were consistent with those of a pseudo-first-order kinetics. E. coli was sterilized within a short period, and the kinetics followed those of pseudo-first-order and hyperbolic kinetics. After five repetitions of dye degradation, the degradation rates of the Orange II azo and methylene blue dyes were maintained at approximately 89.8% and 88.2%, respectively, which indicated that the prepared photocatalyst structure had high durability and reliability.
Are silver nanoparticles the “silver bullet” to promote diterpene production in Stevia rebaudiana?
Authors: Andújar Ivan , González Marielys , García-Ramos Juan Carlos , Hajari Elliosha , Bogdanchikova Nina , Pestryakov Alexey , Concepción Oscar , Lorenzo José Carlos , Morgado Maritza Escalona
Published: November 2022

S. rebaudiana is a sought after sweetener because of its low-calorie properties. However, the supply of suitable quantities of high quality propagation material is limited by inefficient propagation methods using conventional strategies. In vitro techniques combined with nanotechnology tools offer an attractive alternative not only for improved propagation but also for the stimulation of secondary metabolites which represent the targeted sweetener product for this crop. This short report provides an evaluation of silver nanoparticles applied in temporary immersion bioreactors for the abovementioned purpose. Different levels of AgNPs were supplied (0.0–37.5 mg/L) and after 21 d of growth, morphological and biochemical indicators were evaluated. Silver nanoparticles at 25 and 37.5 mg/L decreased shoot multiplication rate, shoot length, and the number of nodes and leaves per shoot compared with the control while no adverse effect was found at the lower tested concentration (12.5 mg/L). Shoot fresh and dry weights also showed statistically significant differences. Regarding the biochemical phenotypes, chlorophyll a, carotenoids and soluble phenolics were increased in plants supplied with 25 mg/L AgNPs, with the latter two indicators suggesting oxidative stress. Interestingly, endogenous levels of diterpenes were significantly increased with the application of 12.5 mg/L AgNPs. It is suggested that AgNPs show potential to act as elicitors to promote the production of diterpenes in stevia but that further work is required to understand the balance between oxidative damage and secondary metabolite production and that optimization of the protocol is required to improve the propagation potential of this strategy.
Use of Tomato, Carrot, and Beetroot Powder as Fish Feed Additive and Their Effects on Growth, Carotenoid Deposition, Muscle Composition, and Palatability of Barbonymus Gonionotus (Silver Barb)
Authors: Hosen Md. Rony , Islam Md. Shahidul , Jaman Atik Uj , Hasan Shihab , Rahman Md. Mahabubur
Published: November 2022

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of three plant-based dietary pigment sources on the growth, carotene deposition, muscle quality, and palatability of Barbonymus gonionotus. A 90-day feeding trial was conducted in twelve cages under four treatments and three replicates. A commercial feed was used as control (CF), where three other feeds were formulated by adding 2% tomato (TM), carrot (CR), and beetroot (BR) powder to the commercial feed. Fifteen B. gonionotus juveniles with average weight ranging from 75.31 ± 6.43g to 76.44 ± 6.51g were stocked in each cage and the experimental feeds were supplied at 5% of their body mass. Fish were sampled fortnightly and growth and feed utilization indices were estimated at the end of the trial. The highest mean weight gain (193.89 ± 12.31g) and specific growth rate (1.41 ± 0.08%) were found in CR while the lowest in CF (124.35 ± 9.20g and 1.07 ± 0.07%). No significant difference was found in the survival rate among the treatments. CR also showed the best feed conversion (1.59 ± 0.16), and protein efficiency ratio (3.07 ± 0.31) followed by TM, BR, and finally CF. Significantly higher carotenoid content was recorded in CR (4.31 ± 0.30mg/g) while the lowest was found in CF(0.29 ± 0.19mg/g). Results of proximate composition analysis of fish muscle showed no significant difference across the treatments. For the palatability test, a significantly higher organoleptic score was recorded in CR (25.54 ± 0.57) while the lowest was found in CF (19.52 ± 0.77). The study concludes that 2% carrot powder supplementation in feed is more suitable for enhancing the growth, flesh color, and palatability of B. gonionotus.
Trial Registration No.: RU-MSR1611067151
Diabetes-mediated elevated ferroptosis of endothelial cells accelerates blood- spinal cord barrier disruption in spinal cord injury rat
Authors: Wu Man , Zhang Susu , Zhao Jiaxin , Wu Xuejuan , Zhou Yongxiu , Du Anyu , Wang Beini , Cai Shufang , Zhou Mei , Xie Ling , Jiang Chang , Xiao Jian , Wu Yanqing
Published: November 2022

Diabetes significantly aggravates spinal cord injury (SCI). The pathological mechanisms underlying it were still unclear, particularly the role of diabetes on blood spinal cord barrier (BSCB) after SCI. Endothelial cells (ECs) are the important component of BSCB. Here, we built the type 1 diabetes (T1D) combined with SCI rat model and tried to elucidate the role of diabetes on ECs after SCI. We confirmed that SCI impairs the permeability of BSCB and then blocks the recovery of locomotor function of rat, more importantly, diabetes significantly exacerbates it. Diabetes obviously induced the elevated ferroptosis level of ECs in spinal cord after SCI. Ferrostatin-1(Fer-1, ferroptosis inhibitor) administration significantly suppressed the ferroptosis level of ECs, and subsequently reversed the adverse role of diabetes on BSCB permeability and locomotor function of SCI rat. Mechanistic studies further observed that diabetes significantly activates RAGE signaling in ECs and induces excessive oxidative stress with abundance of ROS and abnormal mitochondria function in vivo and in vitro. After SCI, Fer-1 treatment also ameliorated diabetes-induced excessive oxidative stress level of ECs in spinal cord. Additionally, the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were co-treated with high glucose, high lipid and H2O2 to mimic diabetes combined with SCI condition. The role of hyperglycemia on ferroptosis of ECs were also verified in vitro. In summary, diabetes significantly triggered the ferroptosis level of ECs via inducing elevated oxidative stress, and thus aggravated BSCB destruction of SCI rat, suggesting that ferroptosis will be a key target for the treatment of diabetes combined with SCI.
Contrasting prediction skill and predictability of precipitation between Meiyu and rainy season in North China in ECMWF
Authors: Wu Qiong , Zheng Zhihai , Li Lei , Wu Shanshan , Liu Yanan
Published: November 2022

The rainy season in the Yangtze River valley (called Meiyu ) and North China are the main stages with the northward advance of the East Asian summer monsoon. This study investigates the precipitation prediction skills between Meiyu and rainy season in North China using the S2S hindcast data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) during 2001–2019. The precipitation forecast skill in the Meiyu rainy season is higher than in the rainy season in North China. Moreover, the forecast skill in south of the Yangtze River is better during the Meiyu rainy season, while most areas show negative performance in the rainy season in North China. In the Meiyu rainy season, the single-blocking covering from east of the Lake Baikal to the Sea of Okhotsk in the Asian high latitude and the altitude anomaly over the low latitude ocean area have a significant influence on the precipitation, however, the model’s response to these two key areas is different. For the rainy season in North China, the 500 hPa height anomaly over northeast China has a significant impact on the precipitation in the observation, but this influence relationship disappeared in the model. The model biases are both in the circulation and its influence on precipitation. The precipitation forecast skill and their biases in the two rainy seasons are different. Specifically, during the Meiyu rainy season, the prediction skills of circulation in low latitudes are high, and the relationship between circulation and precipitation is also well captured. However, the prediction of circulation in high latitude circulation have less skillful. During the rainy season in North China, the prediction skills of the circulation in the key areas are relatively high, but the relationship between circulation in key areas and precipitation are not captured, or even the opposite. At the same time, it is noted that there are biases in the response of some circulations to the El Nino state in the previous spring at high latitudes in the model. To sum up, the decline in prediction skills with the northward advance of the East Asian summer monsoon indicated that the predictability in high latitudes play a key role.
The effect of a formulated feed on the body growth and gonads quality of purple sea urchin (Paracentrotus lividus) aquaculture produced
Authors: Araújo João , Loureiro Paulo , Candeias-Mendes Ana , Gamboa Ana , Bandarra Narcisa , Cardoso Carlos , Soares Florbela , Dias Jorge , Pousão-Ferreira Pedro
Published: November 2022

Sea urchin gonads are a prized gorumet product in many areas of the globe, and wild populations are threatened by increasing demand, making this species a very desirable product in aquaculture. Due to the unique needs of each stage of the life cycle, a viable food protocol that seeks to satisfy each stage while optimizing production profitability is required. The objective of this work was to test a formulated feed for sea urchins, through the analysis of somatic growth, gonad development and their fatty acid profile. These results were compared with sea urchins fed natural food (Ulva spp.) At the end of the trial Paracentrotus lividus juveniles fed inert diet had higher total wet weight gain, total specific growth rate, and gonadosomatic index than those fed with macroalgae. In comparison to sea urchins fed fresh Ulva spp., inert diet showed lower feed conversion ratios and higher protein efficiency ratios. Fatty acid contents of the gonads of each treatment were found to be similar. The DHA levels in the gonads of sea-urchins fed the formulated feed, were significantly higher. It was possible to record the biosynthesis activity of some fatty acids such as 20:4 ω6, 16:4 ω3, and 20:3 ω3. It was found that the presence of some essential fatty acids, such as DHA and EPA, in the gonads is only dependent on the food profile. The addition of a DHA-rich ingredient in the formulated feed may have been preponderant in the constitution and development of the sea-urchins’ gonads.
Mechanical Power Increases in the Preterm Lung During the Respiratory Transition at Birth
Authors: Tingay David Gerald , Naidu Hannah , Tingay Hamish Duguid , Pereira-Fantini Prue M. , Kneyber Martin C.J. , Becher Tobias
Published: November 2022

Background
High mechanical power is a major contributor to lung injury and mortality in adults receiving mechanical ventilation. To date the role of mechanical power in neonatal lung injury is unknown. The aim of this study was to define the components of mechanical power in an established lamb model of preterm respiratory disease undergoing a standardised mechanical ventilationstrategy from birth during three distinctly different, but important, respiratory states with unique changes in lung mechanics.
Methods
19 preterm lambs supported with mechanical ventilation from birth to 90 min. During this period each lamb was exposed to 1) the respiratory transition to air-breathing from an entirely fluid-filled lung (rapid aeration and fall in resistance), 2) commencement of tidal ventilation (5.5-8.0 ml/kg) in an acutely surfactant-deficient state (low compliance) and 3) exogenous surfactant therapy (improved aeration and compliance). Total, tidal, resistive and elastic-dynamic mechanical power were calculated from the flow, pressure and volume signals for each inflation.
Results
All components of mechanical power increased during lung aeration from birth to 5 minutes, before again falling immediately after surfactant therapy. Before surfactant therapy tidal power contributed 70% of total mechanical power, and 53.7% after. The contribution of resistive power was greatest at birth, demonstrating the initial high respiratory system resistance at birth.
Conclusions
Mechanical power was able to define the mechanical events associated with preterm lung injury. This suggests that mechanical power may have an important, and unrecognised, role in neonatal lung injury and protection.
Eco-friendly and Recyclable Evaporator Based on Discarded Cigarette Filters for High-efficiency and Stable Solar Desalination
Authors: Gong Haoran , Chen Ze , Ge Can , Liu Yingcun , Li Wan , Le Pengtao , Xu Weilin , Xu Duo , Liu Keshuai
Published: November 2022

Solar steam generation is a promising technology to realize efficient and green desalination with a minimized carbon footprint. Discarded cigarette filters (CFs) cause significant harm to the environment but have good recycling potential for solar steam generation. In this study, an efficient thermally-positioned material (AC-CF), which uses renewable cellulose acetate CFs and an acetylene carbon black (AC) coating as an absorber, was developed for application as a solar steam generator. The AC-CF exhibited superhydrophilic characteristics and extensive solar absorption (approximately 100%). These properties enable the resulting AC-CF to exhibit rapid water transport and a strong photothermal conversion ability, with an outstanding evaporation rate of 1.81 kg·m-2·h-1 under 1 sun illumination. The evaporator can remove most impurities and dye molecules during outdoor operation. Subsequently, the AC-CF evaporator was dissolved and recycled using N, N-dimethylformamide, and the recycling method yielded good results. This method for preparing absorbers reduces manufacturing costs and guides the potential practical application of recycled polymer resources using discarded CFs.
Messaging Strategies of Ukraine and Russia on Telegram during the 2022 Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Authors: Ghasiya Piyush , Sasahara Kazutoshi
Published: November 2022

The popularity of the instant messaging app Telegram in Ukraine and Russia
was strong even before the still-ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. However, since
24 February 2022 (when the Russian invasion began), it has seen huge increases in
subscribers and even become the primary communication and news source in Ukraine.
In this exploratory research, we analysed Telegram channels from both Ukraine
(@UkraineNow — the official channel of the Ukrainian government, and @V_Zelenskiy_
official — the official channel of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy) and
Russia (@rt_russian — the official channel of the news network RT) to discern the
content of posts during this invasion. Our analysis of 37,172 posts in total showed
that while @UkraineNow is particularly being used to communicate invasion-related
news, @rt_russian is working as merely an extension of RT, which is part of the
pro-Kremlin propaganda and disinformation ecosystem. However, Zelenskyy has opted
for a completely different approach: he has used his Telegram channel to encourage
Ukrainians and garner support from the World. The present conflict is at a critical
juncture, and our timely research seeks to determine how both countries’ governments
are utilizing Telegram as a weapon for the information war and what impact this has
on ground.
Ellagic acid increases implantation rates with its antifibrotic effect in the rat model of intrauterine adhesion
Authors: Saribas Gulistan Sanem , Dizakar Ozen Akarca , Ozogul Candan , Celik Ekin , Ergoren Mahmut Cerkez
Published: November 2022

Background: Intrauterine adhesions (IUA) are defined as the adhesion of opposing endometrial tissue with dense fibrous adhesive bands within the uterine cavity. With the increase in cesarean sections and endometrial surgical procedures, intrauterine adhesions have become a problem with increasing incidence and decreasing implantation. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of ellagic acid (EA), a phenolic compound, on fibrosis in IUA model rats. Another goal of the study was to increase endometrial receptivity with EA.
Methods and Results: The groups in the study were planned as control, DMSO, EA, IUA, IUA+DMSO, and IUA+EA, with 8 Sprague Dawley rats in each group. At the end of the experiment, the uterine tissues of the rats were removed. Histochemical staining was used to validate the IUA model and determine the degree of fibrosis. The levels of some fibrosis-related genes and proteins in the obtained uterine tissues were evaluated. In addition, implantation rates were determined. In our findings, it was observed that the fibrotic structure was decreased in the treated IUA+EA group compared to the IUA group, while fibrotic improvement was supported by down-regulation of TGFβ1 activity and up-regulation of BMP7 activity. The increase in the expression of the endometrial marker LIF with EA treatment was consistent with the increase in implantation rates with treatment.
Conclusions: As a result of the study, it can be said that EA applied as a treatment against IUA causes healing in uterine tissue by reducing fibrosis and increases implantation rates by increasing endometrial receptivity.
The “A” in the acronym: Visibilities of asexuality in news media
Authors: Webster Kyle
Published: November 2022

The absence of asexuality in media and popular culture suggests that it suffers from symbolic annihilation. Against this cultural absence of asexuality, advocacy groups have worked to increase the visibility and education of asexuality in media, and news and entertainment media have included asexuality in recent years. However, as elaborated by Tuchman (1978), the symbolic annihilation model suggests that when social groups are not omitted from representation, they are trivialized and condemned. To examine whether this symbolic annihilation model applies to media representations of asexuality, this study examined the context, frequency, and tones of references to asexuality in news stories published in 2020. The findings show that when it is referenced, it is largely minimized. However, in news media that references asexuality frequently instead of minimally, asexuality is depicted positively, indicating that trivialization and condemnation are not as present as the symbolic annihilation model would suggest.
Prevalence and associated risk factors for Salmonella enterica contamination of cow milk and cottage cheese Ethiopia
Authors: Bedassa Abdi , Nahusenay Henok , Asefa Zerihun , Sisay Tesfaye , Girmay Gebrerufael , Kovac Jasna , Vipham Jessie L. , Zewdu Ashagrie
Published: November 2022

Animal sourced foods, such as dairy products, are common sources of Salmonella enterica, a foodborne pathogen of increasing global concern, particularly in developing countries. In Ethiopia, most data on the prevalence of Salmonella in dairy products is highly varied and limited to a specific region or district. Furthermore, there is no data available on the risk factors for Salmonella contamination of cow milk and cottage cheese in Ethiopia. This study was therefore conducted to determine the presence of Salmonella throughout the Ethiopian dairy value chain and to identify risk factors for contamination with Salmonella. The study was carried out in three regions of Ethiopia, including Oromia, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples, and Amhara during a dry season. A total 912 samples were collected from milk producers, collectors, processors, and retailers. Samples were tested for Salmonella using the ISO 6579-1: 2008 method, followed by PCR confirmation. Concurrent with sample collection, a survey was administered to study participants to identify risk factors associated with Salmonella contamination. Salmonella contamination was highest in raw milk samples at the production (19.7%) and at milk collection (21.3%) levels. No significant difference in the prevalence of Salmonella contamination among regions was detected (p > 0.05). Regional differences were apparent for cottage cheese, with the highest prevalence being in Oromia (6.3%). Identified risk factors included the temperature of water used for cow udder washing, the practice of mixing milk lots, the type of milk container, use of refrigeration, and milk filtration. These identified factors can be leveraged to develop targeted intervention strategies aimed at reducing the prevalence of Salmonella in milk and cottage cheese in Ethiopia.