bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inconstitucionalidade das leis e regimes normativos complexos: possibilidades de atuação da advocacia pública em matéria de políticas públicas
Authors: Leal Roger Stiefelmann
Published: January 2022

Em geral, o desenvolvimento das políticas públicas é atividade amparada em complexa estrutura normativa. Envolve disposições normativas presentes em distintos diplomas, que se articulam de modo interdependente e coordenado. Diversos de seus preceitos projetam-se em outros, conferindo-lhes racionalidade e coerência. Cumpre, portanto, perceber quais as repercussões de eventual inconstitucionalidade de uma dessas disposições sobre o restante do regime normativo que sustenta a política pública. A proximidade das unidades da advocacia pública com a estruturação normativa das políticas públicas pode propiciar a adequada percepção dessas repercussões, permitindo o uso de alternativas relevantes em sua atuação no domínio do controle de constitucionalidade.
A cláusula geral do erro administrativo e o dever de precaução
Authors: Leal Fernando
Published: January 2022

Neste trabalho argumenta-se que as recentes inclinações pragmáticas no direito administrativo criam desafios teóricos, dogmáticos, metodológicos e institucionais para o funcionamento do Estado Administrativo. O reconhecimento de um espaço de acomodação do erro do administrador público e a sua possível compatibilidade com o dever de precaução é tema que passa por cada uma daquelas quatro dimensões. Colocá-los em equilíbrio requer a superação da associação entre precaução e proibição, na medida em que ela é anticientífica, conduz à onipotência de órgãos de controle e refratária ao erro.
A vinculatividade dos precedentes e a sua extensão à Administração Pública
Authors: Madureira Claudio Penedo
Published: January 2022

O objetivo deste trabalho é demonstrar, com base em elementos jurídico-normativos, que a vinculatividade dos precedentes também é extensível à Administração Pública, dada a incidência do princípio processual da boa-fé (CPC-2015, art. 5º), do dever que têm as partes de não litigarem contrariamente ao Direito (CPC-2015, art. 77, II) e dos princípios administrativos da legalidade e da eficiência (CRFB, art. 37, caput).
As forças que mudarão a administração pública pós-covid: transparência 2.0; blockchain e smart contracts
Authors: Nóbrega Marcos , Heinen Juliano
Published: January 2022

O presente artigo tem como objetivo analisar as principais transformações que demandarão uma nova postura da Administração Pública diante do atual cenário perpetrado pela pandemia do COVID-19. Os acontecimentos imprevisíveis que repercutem em diversas nações necessitam, por certo, de novos comportamentos do Poder Público, com o propósito de permitir uma melhor adaptação que o setor social e econômico irão requerer dos gestores públicos. Temas como o futuro da relação entre o Estado e a sociedade, principalmente, por meio de instrumentos digitais que tornam as interações cada vez mais instantâneas e transparentes; a estruturação das tecnologias e quais serão as prognoses da sua implementação pela Administração Pública; bem como a ordenação administrativa no pós-crise serão importantes assuntos analisados ao decorrer da pesquisa. Para tanto, adotou-se o método de abordagem dedutivo e exploratório, como forma de debater o tema a partir de premissas teórico-dogmáticas que fundamentam as conclusões fixadas.
Como o Tribunal de Contas da União tem se comportado ao longo da Constituição de 1988?
Authors: Cabral Flávio Garcia
Published: January 2022

O artigo investiga a atuação do Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU) ao longo da vigência da Constituição Federal de 1988. Com a advento da Constituição, o Tribunal adquiriu um rol amplo de competências, porém a forma por meio da qual a Corte se comportou ao longo desses 32 anos, no que concerne a questões políticas, ao exercício de suas atribuições e aos limites de suas atuações se mostrou variado. Para a realização do artigo, utiliza-se o método de abordagem indutivo, possuindo natureza descritiva e exploratória quanto aos fins e bibliográfica em relação aos meios. Assim, apurou-se uma primeira fase (1988 até meados da década de 90) na qual o TCU ainda possuía fortes vinculações políticas e era desconhecido da sociedade e com pouca atuação efetiva; uma segunda fase (de meados dos anos 90 e início dos anos 2000 até por volta do início dos anos 2010), na qual a Corte se aprimorou tecnicamente, tendo uma atuação ordinária bem consolidada e com inovações tecnológicas, começando a se destacar perante a sociedade pelas suas fiscalizações e combate ao desperdício do dinheiro público; uma terceira fase (de meados dos anos 2010 até hoje), na qual o TCU busca assumir um protagonismo no cenário político brasileiro, atuando, por diversas vezes, com excessos. O risco dessa atuação ativista é justamente a Corte sofrer futuramente represálias, por meio de medidas que visem a reduzir suas competências e prerrogativas.
Efficacy and Applications of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Analyses in Total Joint Arthroplasty
Authors: Polce Evan M. , Kunze Kyle N. , Dooley Matthew S. , Piuzzi Nicolas S. , Boettner Friedrich , Sculco Peter K.
Published: January 2022

Update

This article was updated on August 23, 2022. Specifically, a new table (Table S4) was added to the Appendix.

An erratum has been published: J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2022 Oct 5;104(19):e87.

Background:

There has been a considerable increase in total joint arthroplasty (TJA) research using machine learning (ML). Therefore, the purposes of this study were to synthesize the applications and efficacies of ML reported in the TJA literature, and to assess the methodological quality of these studies.

Methods:

PubMed, OVID/MEDLINE, and Cochrane libraries were queried in January 2021 for articles regarding the use of ML in TJA. Study demographics, topic, primary and secondary outcomes, ML model development and testing, and model presentation and validation were recorded. The TRIPOD (Transparent Reporting of a Multivariable Prediction Model for Individual Prognosis or Diagnosis) guidelines were used to assess the methodological quality.

Results:

Fifty-five studies were identified: 31 investigated clinical outcomes and resource utilization; 11, activity and motion surveillance; 10, imaging detection; and 3, natural language processing. For studies reporting the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), the median AUC (and range) was 0.80 (0.60 to 0.97) among 26 clinical outcome studies, 0.99 (0.83 to 1.00) among 6 imaging-based studies, and 0.88 (0.76 to 0.98) among 3 activity and motion surveillance studies. Twelve studies compared ML to logistic regression, with 9 (75%) reporting that ML was superior. The average number of TRIPOD guidelines met was 11.5 (range: 5 to 18), with 38 (69%) meeting greater than half of the criteria. Presentation and explanation of the full model for individual predictions and assessments of model calibration were poorly reported (<30%).

Conclusions:

The performance of ML models was good to excellent when applied to a wide variety of clinically relevant outcomes in TJA. However, reporting of certain key methodological and model presentation criteria was inadequate. Despite the recent surge in TJA literature utilizing ML, the lack of consistent adherence to reporting guidelines needs to be addressed to bridge the gap between model development and clinical implementation.
How soul could be the form of body? An Aristotelian-Scholastic approach to the question of the metaphysical nature of the human person
Authors:   N.N. Burdenko Voronezh State Medical University, Gasparov Igor G.
Published: January 2022

The article is devoted to the ontological aspect of the problem of personal identity. In contemporary analytical metaphysics this problem is traditionally stated as the ques­tion: What am I? The standard alternatives for solving this question (the Neolockean Psychological View, Parfit’s theory, Cartesian dualism and animalism) are considered and it is shown that all of them, with the exception of Cartesian dualism, face a common fun­damental difficulty in accounting for the determinacy of our identity. We thus find our­selves confronted by an unattractive dilemma: either abandon the idea of a determinate identity of the human person or accept Cartesian dualism. It is further shown that the con­temporary debate overlooks (without sufficient reasons) the Aristotelian-Scholastic ap­proach to the understanding of the human person as a unity of soul and body. It is demon­strated that this approach has good potential for solving the problem of the indeterminacy of the identity of the human person.
Detection of Breast Cancer Related Gene Polymorphisms By a New Modified PCR-RAPD-PCR Technique
Authors: Allami Zainab Zamil gataa , Dragh Maytham A
Published: January 2022

Breast cancer is one of the most aggressive cancers with high estimated mortality worldwide; many studies around the world have involved polymorphisms in drug resistance genes, tumor suppressor genes, estrogen receptor genes, and regulatory genes related to the development and prognosis of breast cancers. It is worth noting that this study was the first to include these genes as PCR templates to determine the relationship between their polymorphisms and breast cancer incidence using RAPD of amplified genes. The study was designed first to evaluate the association of ABCG2, ABCB1 and BRCA1 gene polymorphisms in addition to miRNA-152 and ER-a using the RAPD technique with breast cancer incidence in women in Maysan, Province and then to employ those genes in the future as biomarkers in breast cancer prediction and diagnosis. This study included 100 patients with breast cancer and 30 healthy control women, and then all samples were amplified by conventional PCR with specific F and R primers for ABCG2, ABCB1, BRCA1, ER-α, and miRNA-152 genes. Then, the best PCR product (20) was chosen as the template for the RAPD technique. The results revealed that all RAPD primers showed polymorphisms with higher values in patient samples, and revealed several mutations in patient samples. Our study proved the relationship between genetic polymorphisms of breast cancer related genes and a higher incidence of cancer. The results of the statistical analysis by using Chi-square showed that there were no significant differences in the types of bands of the ABCG2, ABCB1, BRCA1 between the patient sample and the control sample, at the probability level of P >0.05, and significant differences in the types of bands of the ER-α, and mi-RNA 152 between the patient sample and the control sample, at the probability level of P <0.05. The current study recommends employing these results for future prediction and diagnosis of breast cancers.
Facile synthesis of CoOOH@MXene to Activate Peroxymonosulfate for Efficient Degradation of Sulfamethoxazole: Performance and Mechanism Investigation
Authors: Xia Xinjing , Deng Lin , Yang Lingfang , Shi Zhou
Published: January 2022

Using MXene as substrate, CoOOH@MXene with different mass content of CoOOH were prepared and used to active PMS for the sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation. The samples characterizations demonstrated the successful preparation of CoOOH@MXene. CoOOH@MXene possessed much higher BET surface area (183.82 m2/g) than CoOOH (85.36 m2/g) and MXene (6.89 m2/g) due to the good dispersibility of CoOOH particles on MXene. Due to its large surface area, 1.3CoOOH@MXene displayed the best catalytic performance for the degradation of SMX. With 0.2 g/L of 1.3CoOOH@MXene and 0.5 mM of PMS, 20 μM of SMX was completely eliminated in 10 min. The degradation followed pseudo-first-order kinetic model well, with rate constants of 0.33 min-1 and 0.054 min-1 for 1.3CoOOH@MXene and CoOOH. Influencing factors of initial pH, catalyst dosage, PMS concentration, SMX concentration and co-existing anions on SMX degradation were assessed systematically. Recycling tests verified the excellent reusability and stability of the catalyst. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance analysis substantiated that 1O2 played a leading role. Moreover, the intermediates were identified, and degradation pathways and activation mechanism of CoOOH@MXene for PMS were proposed. This work may highlight the application of MXene with transition metals in PMS activation.
The Effect of Writing Therapy Using Two Methods of Expressive Writing and Daily Activity Writing on Stress, Anxiety and Depression in Primiparous Pregnant Women; A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Mirmolaei Seyedeh Tahereh , khalili fatemeh , ranjbar hadi
Published: January 2022

Introduction: Depression, anxiety and stress during pregnancy are associated with detrimental effects on maternal and child health. Writing is a cheap and non-invasive treatment that can improve mental health. This study was aimed to compare the effect of writing in two ways of expressive writing and daily activity writing on stress, anxiety, and depression in pregnant women.Methods: This clinical trial study was performed on 102 primiparous women with a gestational age of 25-28 weeks referred to the of South Health center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The samples were divided into two intervention groups and one control group by block randomization sampling method. Research instruments included demographic questionnaires, Beck Depression Inventory, and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (Dass21). In the expressive writing group, women were asked to write their deepest feelings. In the daily activity writing group, daily activities were written without involving feelings and emotions. The control group received routine prenatal care. All three groups completed the DASS21 questionnaire before the intervention, four and eight weeks after the intervention. Data were analyzed using SPSS V21 software and ANOVA, Chi-square, and Fisher tests.Results: The variables of stress, anxiety, and depression were not statistically significant before the intervention in all 3 groups. The mean score of stress, anxiety, and depression in the two groups of expressive writing and daily activity writing was statistically significantly lower than the control group 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the intervention.Conclusion: According to the results of this study, writing can be recommended as a simple and low-cost method in reducing anxiety, stress, and depression in pregnant women during prenatal care.Trial registration: IRCT20170815035722N3. Registration date: 18-05-2019
Nodal Positive Breast Cancer and Its Regional Lymph Node Involvement
Authors: Männle Heidrun , Frank Matthias , Momm Felix , Siebers Jan Willem
Published: January 2022

Purpose: In breast cancer, the lymph node status is of prognostic importance. This study shows the distribution of lymph nodes metastases of node-positive breast cancer patients. Risk factors for lymph node metastases are described.Methods: 2095 patients with primary breast cancer were analyzed. Analysis included descriptive and statistical analysis.Results: The nodal stage was positive in 39.4% of all patients and negative in 60.6%. If the nodal stage was positive, only 1 lymph node was involved in 36% of the patients; more than 1 lymph node was involved in 64% of the patients. With an increasing number of lymph node metastases in level I, the probability of an involvement in level III also increases (F 437.845, p = .000). Other indicators are evidence of hemangiosis (F 247.728, p = .000) or lymphangiosis (F 167.368, P = .000). Despite <10 affected lymph nodes, 3.4% of the patients had nodal stage N3 due to level III involvement.Conclusion: Even with only a small number of lymph node metastases in level I higher lymphatic stations are often affected. The data cannot lead to a decision regarding an operation or radiation indication, but they can better substantiate the risk for certain therapy decisions.
Artificial Consortia of Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens HM618 and Bacillus Subtilis for Utilizing Food Waste to Synthetize Iturin A
Authors: Miao Chang-Hao , Wang Xiao-Feng , Qiao Bin , Xu Qiu-Man , Cao Chun-Yang , Cheng Jing Sheng
Published: January 2022

Food waste is a kind of biodegradable organic resource. It can be degraded into the small energy molecules for providing precursors to synthetize iturin A, which is a kind of lipopeptide with broad-spectrum antifungal activity for widely applying in biocontrol of the plant disease. However, the lower yield and higher cost during producing iturin A limit its application. In this study, the recombinants of Bacillus subtilis producing lipase and amylase were constructed to utilize food waste for producing iturin A under the consortium with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens HM618 produced iturin A and the engineering B. subtilis. The results showed that recombinant strain WB-A13 had the highest amylase activity of 23406.4 U/mL, and the lipase activity of WB-L01 was 57.5 U/mL. When HM618 was co-cultured with the engineering strain WB800N-AmyE or WB800N-Lip, the relatively highest yield of iturin A reached to 7.66 mg/L in co-cultured fermentation of consortium with HM618 and WB-A14, which was increased 32.9% compared to that of HM618 under pure culture. Under three-strains consortium containing HM618, WB-L02 and WB-A14, the yield of iturin A reached 8.13 mg/L, which was 38.8% higher than the control when the initial size OD600 of above three strains was 0.2, 0.15 and 0.15 respectively. Taken together, artificial consortium of B. amyloliquefaciens and the recombinant B. subtilis can better bioconvert food waste into iturin A, which provides a new strategy for the high-value utilization of food waste.
Effect of behavior change communication through health development army on optimal nutrition and health practice of pregnant women in Ambo district, Ethiopia: a cluster randomized controlled community trial
Authors: Gebremichael Mitsiwat Abebe , Lema Tefera Belachew
Published: January 2022

Background: Pregnancy is such a critical phase in a woman's life, when mother's nutritional and health status at conception and throughout pregnancy plays a key role in determining her health and well-being, as well as that of her child. Therefore, the objective of the study was to investigate the effect of Behavior Change and Communication (BCC) through women development Army on optimal nutrition and health practices of pregnant women.Methods: A cluster randomized controlled community trial (CRCCT) with baseline and end line measurements using quantitative data collection methods was conducted in Ambo district among 750 pregnant women aged 18-49 years (375 of control and 375 of intervention groups). Of which endpoint data were collected from 372 and 372 pregnant women in the intervention and control clusters, respectively. Pretested semi structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The intervention was started in July, 2018 and data collection for end line was started in October, 2018.Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, bivariate and lastly multivariate binary logistic regressions analysis was used to control confounders. Statistical analyses were conducted primarily on intention-to-treat (ITT) basis and p value <0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.Result: The overall optimal nutrition and health practice among intervention group were 62.6%, while among control group were 39.0% (p<0.0001).Being in the intervention group, educational status, estimated time to reach health institution, knowledge about nutrition and health were found significantly associated with optimal nutrition and health practices in multivariable binary logistic regression analysis (p<0.05).Conclusions: Behavior change communication (BCC) through women development army is effective in improving optimal nutrition and health practices of pregnant women. Therefore, to improve optimal nutrition and health practices of pregnant women, BCC through health development Army is recommended.Trial registration: Pan African Clinical Trial Registry: unique identification number for the registry is (PACTR201805003366358).
Endothelial Leakiness Induced by Amyloid Protein Aggregation
Authors: Li Yuhuan , Ni Nengyi , Lee Myeongsang , Wei Wei , Andrikopoulos Nikolaos , Kakinen Aleksandr , Davis Thomas P , Song Yang , Ding Feng , Leong David , Ke Pu Chun
Published: January 2022

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a major cause of dementia debilitating the global ageing population. Current understanding of the AD pathophysiology implicates the aggregation of amyloid beta (Aβ) as causative to neurodegeneration, with tauopathies and neuroinflammation considered as other major culprits. Curiously, vascular endothelial barrier dysfunction is strongly associated with Aβ deposition and 80-90% AD subjects also experience cerebral amyloid angiopathy. Here we show amyloid proteins-induced endothelial leakiness (APEL) in human microvascular endothelial monolayers as well as in mouse cerebral vasculature. Using signaling pathway assays and discrete molecular dynamics, we revealed that the angiopathy first arose from a disruption to vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin junctions exposed to the nanoparticulates of Aβ oligomers and seeds, preceding the earlier implicated proinflammatory and pro-oxidative stressors to endothelial leakiness. These findings are analogous to nanomaterials-induced endothelial leakiness (NanoEL), a major phenomenon in nanomedicine depicting the paracellular transport of anionic inorganic nanoparticles in the vasculature. As APEL also occurred with the anionic seeds of pathogenic alpha synuclein and functional FapC bacterial amyloid, this study projects a general new paradigm for elucidating the vascular permeation, systemic spread, and cross-seeding of amyloid proteins that underlie the pathogeneses of AD, Parkinson’s, as well as a range of amyloid diseases.
Bioaccumulation of Metals by Algae From Acid Mine Drainage: A Case Study of Frongoch Mine (United Kingdom)
Authors: Du Tianhao , Bogush Anna , Edwards Paul , Stanley Peter , Lombardi Ana T. , Campos Luiza C.
Published: January 2022

Acid mine drainage (AMD) contains high concentrations of potentially toxic metals, which contaminates receiving watercourse. In Frongoch Mine (United Kingdom), it is unclear the distribution of metals on indigenous algae and whether these species of algae can accumulate metals. This study investigated the role of indigenous algae for metals removal from AMD and examined if metals can be adsorbed on the surface or/and bioaccumulated in algae. Sequential extraction procedure was applied for algae samples collected from AMD water to identify the forms in which metals are found in algae. Concentrations of Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd in algae were determined. AMD samples were found to have pH 3.5 to 6.9 and high concentrations of Zn (351 mg/L) and Pb (4.22 mg/L) that exceeded water quality standards. Algae Ulothrix sp. and Oedogonium sp. were the two main species in the Frongoch AMDs. Concentrations of metals in algae ranged from 0.007 to 51 mg/g and the bioconcentration factor of metals decreased in the following order: Fe>>Pb>>Cu>Cd>Zn. Zn, Cu and Cd were found to be adsorbed on algae surface and bioaccumulated in the algae while Pb and Fe mainly bioaccumulated in the algae. Indigenous algae can be considered as a biogeochemical barrier to bioaccumulate algae and as a bioremediation method. Also, indigenous algae could be used as a bioindicator for the assessment of water pollution at Frongoch Mine and other metal mines.
Examining the Short-Term Effect of Moderate Level Air Pollution on Multi-Department Outpatient Visits in Xi’an, China
Authors: Wang Qingnan , Chen Zhuo , Huang Wei , Kou Bo , Li Jingwei
Published: January 2022

Objective: There is limited evidence concerning the association between air pollution and outpatient visits in moderately polluted areas. This paper investigates the effects of moderate level ambient air pollution on the number of outpatient visits associated with five categories of medical conditions. Methods: We analyzed a total of 1,340,791 outpatient visits for five medical departments (pediatrics, respiratory, ENT, cardiovascular, and orthopedics) in Xi’an from 2016 to 2018. A distributed non-linear model was used to analyze the associations and was fitted and stratified by age and season. Results: We found 𝑆𝑂2 had the largest effect on pediatrics visits (RR=1.105 (1.090, 1.121)). The relationships among 𝑃𝑀2.5 and 𝑂3 and ENT were more statistically significant in a heating season than those in a non-heating season. Meanwhile, 𝑃𝑀2.5, 𝑃𝑀10, and 𝑆𝑂2 had bigger impacts on ENT visits for people under 50 years. The results showed a strong association between 𝑂3 and cardiovascular outpatient visits in a non-heating season (RR=1.026 (1.020,1.032)). The results also showed that 𝑃𝑀10 was not significantly associated with respiratory outpatient visits, and every 10 𝜇𝑔/𝑚3 increase of 𝑆𝑂2 reduced the number of respiratory outpatient visits by 3%. We found 𝑃𝑀2.5 and 𝑁𝑂2 were significantly related to orthopedic outpatient visits for people under 60.Conclusion: Our findings indicated short-term exposure to air pollutants had varying associations with outpatient visits to four medical departments. We also proposed a new set of air pollution thresholds, which could help hospitals optimize outpatient resource allocation and the government determine appropriate air quality standards.
Fluctuating magnetic droplets immersed in a sea of quantum spin liquid
Authors: Zhu Zihao , Pan Binglin , Nie Linpeng , Ni Jiamin , Yang Yanxing , Chen Changsheng , Huang Yeyu , Cheng Erjian , Yu Yunjie , Hillier Adrian , Chen Xianhui , Wu Tao , Zhou Yi , Li Shiyan , Shu Lei
Published: January 2022

The search of quantum spin liquid (QSL), an exotic magnetic state with strongly-fluctuating and highly-entangled spins down to zero temperature, is a main theme in current condensed matter physics. However, there is no smoking-gun evidence for deconfined spinons in any QSL candidate so far. The disorders and competing exchange interactions may prevent the formation of an ideal QSL state on frustrated spin lattices. Here we report comprehensive and systematic measurements of the magnetic susceptibility, ultra-low temperature specific heat, muon spin relaxation (muSR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and thermal conductivity for NaYbSe2 single crystals, in which Yb3+ ions with effective spin-1/2 form a perfect triangular lattice. All these complementary techniques find no evidence of long-range magnetic order down to their respective base temperatures. Instead, specific heat, muSR and NMR measurements suggest the coexistence of quasi-static and dynamic spins in NaYbSe2. The scattering from these quasi-static spins may cause the absence of magnetic thermal conductivity. Thus, we propose a scenario of fluctuating ferrimagnetic droplets immersed in a sea of QSL. This may be quite common on the way pursuing an ideal QSL, and provides a brand-new platform to study how a QSL state survives impurities and coexists with other magnetically ordered states.
Application of Theories of The Policy Process In Sustainable Diet Research: A Systematic Review
Authors: Green Celia , Carey Gemma , Joyce Andrew
Published: January 2022

Background: Application of theories of the policy process are needed to help explain the dynamics of policy status and change. Methods: A systematic review of application of theories of the policy process to sustainable diet research was conducted.Results: The review identified that 296 papers presented ideas for sustainable diet policy but only 17 provided coverage of the process by which such policies could become enacted. The majority of papers in the field of sustainable diets were diet modelling studies which used quantitative methods to analyse the metrics of different diets. Many of these papers also included policy recommendations but these were made without any insights into the policy process. Studies which did include policy discussion were largely focused on the evaluation of past policies or analysis of potential policy options rather than focused on the policy process itself. Seventeen papers included discussion of some key influences on policy making that are routinely included as elements within theories of the policy process but did not specifically name or utilise a political science theory of the policy process. Most notably these elements were the influence of coalitions/networks, evidence use, narratives and framing, institutional and political system factors, and the importance of value and belief systems and socio-cultural norms.Conclusions: There is a significant research gap in the application of political science theories of the policy process to sustainable diet research. Given the lack of policy action in the area on a global scale there is an urgent need for more research applying robust policy process theories to help understand and explain the lack of action and suggest possible ways to increase attention and action on the issue from decision makers.
Effect of Gymnema Sylvestre Leaf Extract on Neurotoxicity Caused by Cisplatin in Male Albino Rats
Authors: Ibrahim Doaa S.
Published: January 2022

Gymnema sylvestre (G. sylvestre), commonly known as gurmar, is famous for containing bioactive compounds which made it eligible for use as a medicinal plant. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of G. sylvestre leaf extract in improving the neurotoxic effect of cisplatin (CP). Five groups of rats (6 rats each) were divided into the control group, the gurmar group (administrated orally 100 mg/kg bw), the CP group (received a single intraperitoneal injection of 5 mg/kg bw), the CP + gurmar group, and the gurmar + CP group. After 12 days (the experiment period), the brains of rats were removed and stored to evaluate biochemical parameters. CP injection led to elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and apoptosis (caspases 8, 9, and12) and decreasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase and superoxide dismutase ) and neurotrophins (nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor) levels in brains of rats. On the other hand, administration of G. sylvestre leaf extract decreased MDA, NF-κB, TNF-α, and apoptosis levels and increased antioxidant enzymes activities and neurotrophins levels in the brains of rats injected by CP. This study demonstrated the ability of G. sylvestre leaf extract to counteract the neurotoxicity induced by CP through the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities shown by G. sylvestre leaf extract.
The Toxicity and Effecting Mechanism of Huan Nao Yi Cong Decoction: A Lipidomics Approach
Authors: Liang Xiaodong , Bian Yuejuan , Wang Xiaoxin , Zhang Shiming , Wang Zhiyong , Ma Lina , Li Yuling , Li Hao
Published: January 2022

Background: Huan Nao Yi Cong decoction (HYD) is a compound Chinese medicine with clinical application in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), by delaying its pathological progress.This work aimed to test whether HYD affects lipid metabolism by regulating the expression of metabolic enzymes, delaying the pathological process of AD and preventing hepatic damage caused by Polygonum multiflorum Radix Preparata (PMRP). Methods: The main components in HYD were determined by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC). Double transgenic APP/PS1 mice were administrated intragastric for 24w. At 8w, 16w, 24w, the hepatic injury and pathological changes in hippocampal C1 area of APP/PS1 double transgenic mice were investigated by assessment of serum biochemical parameters, histopathology and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) methods. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography in the form of Quanfirmation-Exactive Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Exactive MS/MS) was used to study changes in lipid metabolism in hepatic and brain tissues. Metabolic enzyme expression was assayed using immunohistochemistry, real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot. Results: Both Polygonum multiflorum Radix (PMR) and PMRP induced hepatic damage 8 weeks after administration. In contrast, HYD showed reduced hepatic injury as it regulated 31 hepatic injury-related biomarkers associated with phospholipid and sphingolipid metabolic pathways by tuning the expression of acid phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), phosphatidylphosphatase (PAP), and diacylglyceride acyltransferase2 (DGAT2). HYD also affected the expression of 32 AD biomarkers related to phospholipids and sphingomyelin metabolic pathways by regulating the expression of phospholipase D2 (PLD2), choline ethanolamine phosphotransferase (CEPT1), sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase1 (SMPD1), thereby improving the brain tissue pathological changes. Conclusion: Our research not only used lipidomics to analyze the toxicity-inducing mechanism of PMR and PMRP, but also showed that HYD administration in vivo alleviated hepatic damage compared to using PMR and PMRP alone and can improve the behavioral and pathological features of AD mice.
Trends in Groundwater Research Development in the South and Southeast Asian Countries: A 50-Years Bibliometric Analysis (1970-2020)
Authors: Gupta Meeta , Chinnasamy Pennan
Published: January 2022

Groundwater plays a pivotal role in sustaining the water needs of the population of South and Southeast Asia. However, long-term over-exploitation and unsustainable practices have caused groundwater depletion, and deterioration in many parts of the region, further impacting human health and ecosystem services. Thus, understanding the current groundwater research activities and identifying the issues is crucial for improving future studies. This study conducted a bibliometric analysis to evaluate the groundwater-related literature available for South and Southeast Asia from the Scopus database for the last 50 years (1970-2020). Of the total, this study identified 7,895 documents, representing 13% of the total global research productivity. India was the most productive country, followed by Pakistan and Malaysia. National Geophysical Research Institute, Anna University and Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur were the top three institutions with the highest number of groundwater-related publications. In international research collaboration, the United States and Japan were the two most collaborated countries with the South and Southeast Asian countries. Environmental Science, Earth and Planetary Sciences and Agricultural and Biological Sciences were the top three disciplines. The Environmental Earth Sciences journal published the highest number of groundwater-related publications in the study period. Research topic trends were observed through keyword analysis revealing increased outputs for groundwater quality, availability and suitability, recharge, and management. Our results provide valuable insights on groundwater issues that have received the most attention in South and Southeast Asia and identify the potential research topics and opportunities for researchers working in the groundwater domain.
Apolipoprotein L1 is Increased in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Post-mortem Brain but Not in Ante-mortem Cerebrospinal Fluid
Authors: Hok-A-Hin Yanaika Sylvana , Dijkstra Anke A , Rábano Alberto , Hoozemans Jeroen J , Castillo Lucia , Seelaar Harro , Swieten John C van , Pijnenburg Yolanda A.L. , Teunissen Charlotte E , Campo Marta Del
Published: January 2022

Background: Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is a spectrum of heterogeneous disorders caused by frontal-temporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). FTLD is mainly characterized by brain protein aggregates of tau (FTLD-Tau) or TDP-43 (FTLD-TDP), however, the clinicopathological heterogeneity across the FTLD spectrum makes ante-mortem diagnosis of these pathological subtypes challenging. Our unbiased proteomics study showed increased Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) levels, a protein involved in lipid metabolism and transport, in CSF of FTD patients, which was more prominent in FTLD-Tau. We aimed to understand APOL1 expression in FTLD post-mortem brain tissue with defined pathology and to validate its potential as a CSF biomarker for FTD and its pathological subtypes.Methods: APOL1 levels were analyzed in the frontal cortex of FTLD (n = 62, including 23 FTLD-Tau and 29 FTLD-TDP) and non-demented controls (n = 18) by immunohistochemistry, western blot (WB), and a novel prototype ELISA. The association of APOL1 immunoreactivity with phosphorylated Tau (pTau) and TDP-43 (pTDP43) immunoreactivity was assessed. CSF APOL1 was analyzed in confirmed FTD patients (n = 27, including 12 FTLD-Tau and 15 FTLD-TDP) and controls (n = 15) using the same ELISA.Results: APOL1 levels were significantly increased in FTLD compared to controls as measured by immunohistochemistry (p < 0.001), WB (p < 0.001), and ELISA (p < 0.05), but no differences between the pathological subtypes were observed. APOL1 immunoreactivity was present in neuronal and glial cells. APOL1 immunoreactivity did not specifically co-localize with any of the main FTLD proteinopathies (pTau or pTDP43). CSF APOL1 levels were comparable between FTD patients and controls and between FTLD pathological subtypes. Conclusion: We show an upregulation of APOL1 in FTLD pathology irrespective of the subtypes, indicating a role of this novel protein in FTD pathophysiology. The APOL1 levels detected in brain tissue were not mirrored in the CSF, limiting its potential as a specific FTD biofluid-based biomarker using our current in-house immunoassay. Future research should explore the role of APOL1 downstream specific FTLD pathologies.
Ultrafast Interfacial Carrier Dynamics and Persistent Topological Surface States in VSe2/Bi2Se3 Van Der Waals Heterojunctions
Authors: Park Tae Gwan , Jeon Jae Ho , Chun Seung-Hyun , Lee Sunghun , Rotermund Fabian
Published: January 2022

Vanadium diselenide (VSe2) has recently been highlighted as an efficient 2D electrode owing to its extra-high conductivity, thickness-controllability, and van der Waals epitaxial contact. However, as the electrode, applications of VSe2 to various material systems are still lacking. Here, by employing ultrafast time-resolved spectroscopy, we study VSe2-thickness-dependent interfacial effects in heterostructures with topological insulator Bi2Se3 that is severely affected by contact with conventional 3D electrodes. Our results particularily show unaltered Dirac surface state of Bi2Se3 against forming junctions with VSe2, efficient ultrafast hot electron transfer from VSe2 to Bi2Se3 across the interface, significantly shortened metastable carrier lifetimes in Bi2Se3 due to dipole interactions enabling efficient current flow, and the electronic level shift (~tens meV) of bulk states of Bi2Se3 caused by interfacial interactions, which is ~10 times lower compared to conventional 3D electrodes, implying weak Fermi level pinning. Our observations confirm VSe2 as an ideal electrode for efficient Bi2Se3-based-applications with full utilization of topological insulator characteristics.
Shared mobility may limit vehicle lifetimes – implications for the carbon footprint
Authors: Morfeldt Johannes , Johansson Daniel
Published: January 2022

Car sharing and ride sharing will likely increase the annual vehicle driving distance, which in turn may accelerate passenger car retirement. In this study, we develop a semi-empirical lifetime-driving intensity model. We integrate our model with a carbon footprint estimation model, which assesses future decarbonization of global, European, and Swedish energy systems. We calibrate the lifetime-driving intensity model using Swedish vehicle retirement statistics, which suggest that driving intensity strongly impacts vehicle lifetimes. Our combined model shows that use-phase emissions depend on driving intensity, while manufacturing emissions are distributed over the cumulative driving distance. Hence, the carbon footprint depends on both the calendar age and cumulative driving distance of the vehicle. The results of our study also show that higher driving intensities generally result in lower carbon footprints. However, empty travel by shared autonomous vehicles, i.e., the additional distance traveled to pick up passengers, may cause carbon footprints to increase.
Suicide Decline and Improved Psychiatric Treatment Status: Longitudinal Survey of Suicides and Serious Suicide Attempters in Tokyo
Authors: Otaka Yasushi , Arakawa Ryosuke , Narishige Ryuichiro , Okubo Yoshiro , Tateno Amane
Published: January 2022

Background:Connecting individuals who need psychiatric treatment to adequate medical services has been a major strategy for suicide prevention in Japan. Investigating serious suicide attempters admitted to our Critical Care Medical Center (CCM), we aimed to investigate longitudinal changes of psychiatric treatment status in high-risk suicide individuals, and to explore the association between improvement of psychiatric treatment status and suicide decline.Methods:Subjects were enrolled from two periods, 2006 to 2011 and 2012 to 2017. We collected the data of 32,252 suicides in Tokyo from police reports and the data of 942 suicide attempters admitted to CCM from medical records. Data were collected by age and gender for the number of suicide completers, the number of suicide attempters, and the psychiatric treatment rates, respectively, every year.ANOVA and t-test were performed to examine whether there were differences between the two periods in the number of suicides and attempters. The difference by the two periods in the psychiatric treatment rate were examined using the chi-square test. Additionally, we analyzed the correlation between annual treatment rate and the number of suicide completers by Pearson’s correlation coefficients in subgroups which had changed their psychiatric treatment rate.Results:The number of suicide attempters in the age group 20-39 years decreased together with the number of suicides. Psychiatric treatment rates in male attempters aged 20-59 years improved significantly from 48.7% to 70.6% and this improvement was correlated with a decrease in suicides. However, psychiatric treatment rates in the elderly, which have the highest number of suicides in both genders, did not improve and remains low.Conclusions:The number of suicide attempters decreased together with suicides in Tokyo. Improvement of psychiatric treatment status in high-risk suicide male adults may have contributed to the reduction of suicides in Tokyo. However, the continuing low rate of psychiatric treatment in the elderly is a pressing issue for future suicide prevention.
Physiological and Biochemical Responses to Short-Term Cold Stimulation of Pak Choi Under Heat Stress
Authors: Yu Jing , Niu Qingliang , Weng Jinyang , Li Pengli , Huang Jinyang , Chang Liying
Published: January 2022

Heat stress has become a global concern which seriously affects the growth and production of crop as global warming progresses. Current cultivation techniques of protected horticulture can alleviate this problem, but it is expensive and ineffective. This study aims to use short-term cold stimulation to alleviate the stress response of pak choi under heat stress, and analyze the physiological and biochemical responses of pak choi to short-term cold stimulation, including photosynthetic system, plant antioxidant system, gas exchange capacity, Organic matter content, etc. This method can be used as an auxiliary measure to contribute to the development of protected horticulture in the future.
Tailoring Magnetic Exchange Interactions in Ferromagnet-Intercalated MnBi2Te4 Superlattices
Authors: Kou Xufeng , Chen Peng , Yao Qi , Sun Qiang , Grutter Alexander , Quarterman Patrick , Balakrishnan Purnima P. , Kinane Christy J. , Caruana Andrew J. , Langridge Sean , Cui Baoshan , Li Lun , Ji Yuchen , Zhang Yong , Liu Zhongkai , Zou Jin , Yu Guoqiang , Yang Yumeng
Published: January 2022

The intrinsic magnetic topological insulator MnBi2Te4 (MBT) has provided a platform for the successful realization of exotic quantum phenomena. To broaden the horizons of MBT-based material systems, we intercalate ferromagnetic MnTe layers to construct the [(MBT)(MnTe)m]N superlattices by molecular beam epitaxy. The effective incorporation of ferromagnetic spacers mediates the anti-ferromagnetic interlayer coupling among the MBT layers through the exchange spring effect at the MBT/MnTe hetero-interfaces. Moreover, the precise control of the MnTe thickness enables the modulation of relative strengths among the constituent magnetic orders, leading to tunable magnetoelectric responses, while the superlattice periodicity serves as an additional tuning parameter to tailor the spin configurations of the synthesized multi-layers. Our results demonstrate the advantages of superlattice engineering for optimizing the magnetic interactions in MBT-family systems, and the ferromagnet-intercalated strategy opens up new avenues in magnetic topological insulator structural design and spintronic applications.
Co-existence of Overweight/obesity and Stunting: It’s Prevalence and Associated Factors Among Under - Five Children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Authors: Ahmed Sindew , SEBSBIE ALEM , MINDA ABEBE
Published: January 2022

Background: Double burden of malnutrition is a global problem posing a serious public health challenge especially in low- and middle-income countries including Ethiopia, where high prevalence of under-nutrition continues to exist and overweight is increasing at an alarming rate. Although both under-nutrition and over-nutrition are investigated extensively in Ethiopia, evidences about double burden of malnutrition especially at individual level are very limited.Objective: To assess the prevalence of the co-existence of overweight/obesity and stunting and associated factors among under-five children in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Methods: Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to June, 2021 among 422 mothers to child pairs in Addis Ababa. Twenty nine (30%) of the health centers in Addis Ababa were selected to take part in the study using simple random sampling technique. The total sample size was allocated proportionally to each of the selected health centers based on their performances within six months prior to the study. Systematic random sampling method was used to select the study participants. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and hierarchical logistic regression model were used to characterize the study population and to identify factors that are associated with the outcome variable respectively. Odds ratio along with 95% CI were estimated to measure the strength of the association. Level of statistical significance was declared at p value less than 0.05.Results: The prevalence of the co-existence of overweight/obesity and stunting was 5.1% with 95% CI (2.9% - 7.1%). The hierarchical logistic regression analysis revealed that child age (6 -23 months) [(AOR = 2.86, 95% CI: (1.02 - 8.04)], maternal education status (non-educated) [(AOR = 4.98, 95% CI: (1.33 - 18.66)], maternal age during birth (≥ 28 years) [(AOR = 0.22, 95% CI: (0.06 - 0.79)] and child birth order (3+) [(AOR = 6.38, 95% CI: (1.03 - 39.7)] were significantly associated with the co-existence of overweight /obesity and stunting.Conclusion and recommendations: The study revealed that the prevalence of the co-existence of overweight/obesity and stunting is low in Ethiopia. However, local and national nutrition policies and programs should be tailored and implemented to simultaneously address both under-nutrition and over-nutrition.