bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DEFECTIVE KERNEL1 regulates cellulose synthesis and affects primary cell wall mechanics
Authors: Novaković Lazar , Yakubov Gleb E. , Ma Yingxuan , Bacic Antony , Blank Kerstin G. , Sampathkumar Arun , Johnson Kim L.
Published: March 2023

The cell wall is one of the defining features of plants, controlling cell shape, regulating growth dynamics and hydraulic conductivity, as well as mediating plants interactions with both the external and internal environments. Here we report that a putative mechanosensitive Cys-protease DEFECTIVE KERNEL1 (DEK1) influences the mechanical properties of primary cell walls and regulation of cellulose synthesis. Our results indicate that DEK1 is an important regulator of cellulose synthesis in epidermal tissue of Arabidopsis thaliana cotyledons during early post-embryonic development. DEK1 is involved in regulation of cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs) by modifying their biosynthetic properties, possibly through interactions with various cellulose synthase regulatory proteins. Mechanical properties of the primary cell wall are altered in DEK1 modulated lines with DEK1 affecting both cell wall stiffness and the thickness of the cellulose microfibril bundles in epidermal cell walls of cotyledons.
Changes in work/sleep patterns due to the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with psychological distress among Japanese workers
Authors: Tondokoro Tsukumi , Nakata Akinori , Tateishi Seiichiro , Mafune Kosuke , Tsuji Mayumi , Ando Hajime , Odagami Kiminori , Matsugaki Ryutaro , Fujino Yoshihisa
Published: March 2023

Objectives

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly impacted working life quality. This study investigated whether changes in work/sleep patterns due to the pandemic are related to poor psychological status among Japanese workers during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (December 2020). We hypothesized that workers who experienced drastic changes in working hours and sleep duration would be at an increased risk of psychological distress.

Methods

A cross-sectional self-administered Internet survey was conducted that included questions regarding socio-demographics, lifestyle, health, and occupational background and conditions. Multivariable logistic regression models were utilized to examine the association between psychological distress and a combination of changes in working hours and sleep duration.

Results

Among 25,762 workers, decreased work hours and decreased sleep duration presented 2.59 times higher odds of psychological distress (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.05–3.28) compared to those who had no changes in work hours combined with unchanged sleep duration (reference group). Increased work hours and decreased sleep duration were associated with 1.98 times higher odds of psychological distress (95% CI = 1.64–2.39).

Conclusion

Our observations confirmed that decreased sleep duration could be a key factor for psychological distress, irrespective of working hours. Interestingly, workers with a combination of decreased work hours and sleep duration posed the highest risk of psychological distress. Decreased work hours accompanied by financial difficulties in the early stage of the pandemic may have caused decreased sleep duration, resulting in a high prevalence of psychological distress. Our study underlined the importance of sleep management in maintaining workers’ mental health, moreover, the need to consider situations and conditions of other daily tasks, such as work hours, for better sleep management.
Exploring psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder
Authors: Brett Jonathan , Knock Elizabeth , Korthuis P. Todd , Liknaitzky Paul , Murnane Kevin S. , Nicholas Christopher R. , Patterson James C. , Stauffer Christopher S.
Published: March 2023

Methamphetamine use disorder is a chronic relapsing condition associated with substantial mental, physical, and social harms and increasing rates of mortality. Contingency management and psychotherapy interventions are the mainstays of treatment but are modestly effective with high relapse rates, while pharmacological treatments have shown little to no efficacy. Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy is emerging as a promising treatment for a range of difficult-to-treat conditions, including substance use disorders; however, no studies have yet been published looking at psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy in the treatment of methamphetamine use disorder. Here we review the rationale for psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy as a potential treatment for this indication, and describe practical considerations based on our early experience designing and implementing four separate clinical trials of psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for methamphetamine use disorder.
Duration of forensic psychiatric care and subsequent criminal recidivism in individuals sentenced in Sweden between 2009 and 2019
Authors: Sivak Lenka , Forsman Jonas , Masterman Thomas
Published: March 2023

Background

The duration of forensic psychiatric care is in Sweden not determined at the time of sentencing; instead, offenders are regularly evaluated, often with regard to risk of criminal recidivism. The length and justifiability of such a sanction have been greatly debated; however, previous estimates of treatment duration based on datasets delimited to discharged patients—have provided an uncertain groundwork for these deliberations. The aim of this study was to use a more suitable approach to calculate average duration of forensic psychiatric care and to examine the relationship between length of treatment and subsequent recidivism after discharge.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study focused on offenders sentenced to forensic psychiatric care in Sweden between 2009 and 2019 and registered in the Swedish National Forensic Psychiatric Register (n = 2064), with a follow-up period until May 2020. We used Kaplan–Meier estimator to calculate and visualize treatment duration including analyses comparing levels of relevant variables, and then evaluated criminal recidivism in patients discharged from treatment between 2009 and 2019 (n = 640), after stratification for the same variables and dichotomization by treatment duration.

Results

The median duration of forensic psychiatric care was estimated to 89.7 months (95% CI 83.2–95.8). Treatment was longer in offenders who committed violent crimes, suffered from psychosis, or had a history of substance use disorder, and in offenders whose sentences included special court supervision. The cumulative incidence of recidivism in patients discharged from treatment was estimated to 13.5% at 12 months (95% CI 10.6–16.2) and 19.5% at 24 months (95% CI 16.0–22.8). Corresponding cumulative incidence of violent crime post discharge was 6.3% at 12 months (95% CI 4.3–8.3) and 9.9% at 24 months (95% CI 7.3–12.4). Among other findings, in patients without a history of substance use disorder and patients whose sentences did not include special court supervision, recidivism was significantly higher in those with a shorter treatment duration.

Conclusion

Using the entirety of a suitable, contemporary, prospectively enrolled cohort of mentally ill offenders, we were able to estimate—with greater accuracy than previous studies—the average duration of Swedish forensic psychiatric care and rate of subsequent criminal recidivism.
Comparison of anthropometric parameters and laboratory test results before and after the COVID-19 outbreak among Chinese children aged 3–18 years
Authors: Dong Wen-Hong , Gu Tian-Miao , Zhu Bing-Quan , Shen Ying , He Xin-Yu , Bai Guan-Nan , Shao Jie
Published: March 2023

Objective

To compare the physiological health of Chinese children around the COVID-19 lockdown.

Methods

We extracted data on children's anthropometric and laboratory parameters from May to November in both 2019 and 2020 from the Health Checkup Center, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China. Overall, 2162 children aged 3~18 years without comorbidities in 2019 and 2646 in 2020 were assessed. Mann Whitney U tests were used to compare differences between the above health indicators before and after COVID-19 outbreak. Quantile regression analyses adjusted for age, sex and body mass index (BMI) were also used in analysis. Chi-square tests and Fisher's exact tests were used for comparing differences of categorical variables.

Results

Compared with children examined in 2019 before the outbreak, children in 2020 had a higher median z score of BMI for age (−0.16 vs. −0.31), total cholesterol (TC, 4.34 vs. 4.16 mmol/L), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, 2.48 vs. 2.15 mmol/L), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, 1.45 vs. 1.43 mmol/L) and serum uric acid (290 vs. 282 μmol/L), and a lower hemoglobin (Hb, 134 vs. 133 g/L), triglycerides (TG, 0.70 vs. 0.78 mmol/L) and 25(OH)D (45.8 vs. 52.2 nmol/L), all P < 0.05. No differences were identified for waist height ratio, blood pressure and fasting glucose (both P > 0.05). However, in regression models after adjusting, BMI, TC, LDL-C, blood glucose and sUA were positively correlated with year; while Hb, TG and 25(OH)D were negatively correlated with year (all P < 0.05). Accordingly, children in 2020 had a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity (20.6 vs. 16.7%, P < 0.001), hypercholesterol (16.2%vs. 10.2%, P < 0.001), high LDL-C (10 vs. 2.9%, P < 0.001), hyperuricemia (18.9 vs.15.1%, P = 0.002), vitamin D deficiency (22.6 vs. 8.1%, P < 0.001) and a lower prevalence of high TG (4.3 vs. 2.8%, P = 0.018) compared with children in 2019.

Conclusion

In this real-world study, we found that long-term lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak might cause adverse impact on children's metabolic health, which might increase their future risk of cardiovascular diseases. Thus, parents, health professionals, educationists, and caregivers should pay more attention to children's dietary pattern and lifestyle, especially in this new normal against COVID-19.
Lifestyle factors in Black female breast cancer survivors—Descriptive results from an online pilot study
Authors: Connor Avonne E. , Dibble Kate E. , Visvanathan Kala
Published: March 2023

Background

Breast cancer (BC) research examining disparities in cancer survivorship and modifiable risk behaviors has been mostly cancer-specific, leaving relevant gaps in disparities research relating to other cancer survivorship outcomes, including cardiovascular disease (CVD). Maintaining healthy lifestyle behaviors is a critical component of successful cancer survivorship, where unhealthy behaviors may increase the risk for recurrence, second primary cancers, and incidence of new comorbid conditions, including CVD. The current study describes BC survivorship factors among an online pilot study of Black BC survivors in Maryland, with a focus on the burden of obesity, comorbidity, and behavioral factors associated with CVD risk.

Methods

Utilizing social media recruitment strategies and survivor networks, we recruited 100 Black female BC survivors to complete an online survey. Descriptive characteristics (demographic, clinical, and lifestyle factors) were analyzed in terms of frequencies, means, standard deviations (SD) overall and by county.

Results

The average ages at time of survey and at primary BC diagnosis were 58.6 years (SD = 10.1) and 49.1 years (SD = 10.2), respectively. More than half of the survivors reported having hypertension (51%); and while only 7% reported being obese at the time of BC diagnosis, 54% reported being obese at the time of survey which was on average 9 years post BC diagnosis. Only 28% of the survivors reported meeting weekly exercise recommendations. While 70% were never smokers, most ever smokers resided in Baltimore City/Baltimore County (n = 18 ever smokers).

Conclusion

Our pilot study identified at-risk BC survivors in Maryland due to the high prevalence of CVD risk factors (hypertension, obesity, limited exercise). These pilot study methods will inform a future statewide multilevel prospective study to improve health behaviors among Black BC survivors.
The hard way from the Beveridge to the Bismarck model of health finance: Expectations and reality in Russia
Authors: Shishkin Sergey , Sheiman Igor
Published: March 2023

Most post-Soviet countries have introduced mandatory health insurance (MHI) systems which completely or partially replaced national health systems known as budgetary models. In Russia, an attempt was made to introduce a competitive MHI model with multiple health insurers. The current MHI system has, however, acquired an increasing number of features inherent in the previous budgetary model. This study analyzes the institutional characteristics and the outcomes of a new mixed model. A combination of two analytical approaches is used as follows: (1) considering three functions of the financing system (revenue collection, pooling funds, and purchasing healthcare) and (2) exploring three types of the model regulation (state, societal, and market). We analyze the types of regulation that are used to implement each of the three financial functions. The model has contributed to more sustainable health funding, its geographical equalization, and service delivery restructuring, while the implementation of its purchasing function has many unsolved problems. We highlight the dilemma of the further development of the model by (a) continuing to replace the remaining market and societal regulatory mechanisms with state regulations or (b) developing market mechanisms and thereby strengthening the impact of health insurers on the health system performance. Lessons for countries considering the transformation of their budgetary health finance model to the MHI model are presented.
Socio-demographic and environmental determinants of under-5 stunting in Rwanda: Evidence from a multisectoral study
Authors: Kalinda Chester , Phri Million , Qambayot Maria Albin , Ishimwe Marie Consolatrice Sage , Gebremariam Alemayehu , Bekele Abebe , Wong Rex
Published: March 2023

Child stunting is an important household, socio-economic, environmental and nutritional stress indicator. Nationally, 33% of children under 5 in Rwanda are stunted necessitating the need to identify factors perpetuating stunting for targeted interventions. Our study assessed the individual and community-level determinants of under-5 stunting essential for designing appropriate policy and program responses for addressing stunting in Rwanda. A cross-sectional study was conducted between September 6 and October 9, 2022, in five districts of Rwanda including, Kicukiro, Ngoma, Burera, Nyabihu and Nyanza. 2788 children and their caregivers were enrolled in the study and data on the individual level (child, caregiver/household characteristics), and community-level variables were collected. A multilevel logistic regression model was used to determine the influence of individual and community-level factors on stunting. The prevalence of stunting was 31.4% (95% CI: 29.5–33.1). Of this, 12.2% were severely stunted while 19.2% were moderately stunted. In addition, male gender, age above 11 months, child disability, more than six people in the household, having two children below the age of five, a child having diarrhea 1–2 weeks before the study, eating from own plate when feeding, toilet sharing, and open defecation increased the odds of childhood stunting. The full model accounted for 20% of the total variation in the odds of stunting. Socio-demographic and environmental factors are significant determinants of childhood stunting in Rwanda. Interventions to address under-five stunting should be tailored toward addressing individual factors at household levels to improve the nutritional status and early development of children.
“Own doctor” presence in a web-based lifestyle intervention for adults with obesity and hypertension: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Múzquiz-Barberá Pedro , Ruiz-Cortés Marta , Herrero Rocío , Vara María Dolores , Escrivá-Martínez Tamara , Baños Rosa María , Rodilla Enrique , Lisón Juan Francisco
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Online interventions have long been shown to be an effective means to promote a healthy lifestyle, thereby helping to control body weight and blood pressure figures. Likewise, using video modeling is also considered an effective way to guide patients through behavioral interventions. Nonetheless, to the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to analyze how the presence of patients' “own doctor” in the audiovisual content of a web-based lifestyle program (“Living Better”) aimed at promoting regular physical exercise and healthy eating behavior, compared with an “unknown doctor,” influences the outcomes of adults with obesity and hypertension.

Materials and methods

A total of 132 patients were randomly assigned either to the experimental (n = 70) or control (n = 62) group (“own doctor” or “unknown doctor”, respectively). The body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, number of antihypertensive drugs used, physical activity level, and quality of life was assessed and compared at baseline and post-intervention (12 weeks).

Results

The intention-to-treat analysis showed intragroup significant improvements in both groups in terms of the body mass index (control group: mean difference −0.3, 95% CI [−0.5, −0.1], p = 0.002; experimental group: −0.4 [−0.6, −0.2], p < 0.001) and systolic blood pressure (control group: −2.3 [−4.4, −0.2], p = 0.029; experimental group: −3.6 [−5.5, −1.6], p< 0.001). In addition, there were also significant improvements in the experimental group for the diastolic blood pressure (−2.5 [−3.7, −1.2], p < 0.001), physical activity (479 [9, 949], p = 0.046), and quality of life (5.2 [2.3, 8.2], p = 0.001). However, when comparing the experimental with the control group, no between-group significant differences were found in these variables.

Conclusions

This study suggests that the presence of patients' “own doctor” in the audiovisual content of a web-based intervention, aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle among adults with obesity and hypertension, do not show significant additional benefits over the efficacy of e–counseling.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04426877. First Posted: 11/06/2020. https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04426877.
Research on the influence of patient cost-sharing on medical expenses and health outcomes: Taking patients with heart failure as an example
Authors: Zhang Huyang , Ning Ke , Wang Jinxi , Fang Hai
Published: March 2023

Objective

The objective of this study is to assess the impact of the changes in patient cost-sharing on the medical expenses and health outcomes of patients with heart failure in China.

Methods

The claim data of patients diagnosed with heart failure enrolled in the Urban Employees' Basic Medical Insurance (UEBMI) in the Zhejiang province, China, was used, covering the period from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2017. The impact of the policy change was estimated through the use of the difference-in-differences method and the event study method.

Results

A total of 6,766 patients and their electronic health insurance claim data were included in the baseline year of 2013. Following the change in the UEBMI reimbursement policies (policy change), a notable decrease was observed in the patient cost-sharing ratios, particularly in the copayment ratio within the policy. However, it did not result in a reduction of the out-of-pocket ratio, which remains a primary concern among patients. An increase was observed in annual outpatient medical expenses, while annual inpatient medical expenses decreased, leading to higher annual medical expenses in the treatment group in comparison to the control group. The effect of the UEBMI reimbursement policy change on health outcomes showed a reduction in the rehospitalization rate within 90 days; however, no significant impact was seen on the rehospitalization rate within 30 days.

Conclusion

The impact of the policy change on medical expenses and health outcomes was found to be modest. To effectively address the financial burden on patients, it is crucial for policymakers to adopt a comprehensive approach that considers all aspects of medical insurance policies, including reimbursement policies.
Global, regional, and national incidence and mortality of neonatal sepsis and other neonatal infections, 1990–2019
Authors: Li Jie , Shen Lin , Qian Kun
Published: March 2023

Background

Neonatal infections, especially neonatal sepsis, are one of the major causes of incidence and mortality in pediatrics. However, the global burden of neonatal sepsis and other neonatal infections (NSNIs) remains unclear.

Methods

From the 2019 global disease burden study, we collected annual incident cases, deaths, age-standardized incidence rates (ASIRs), and age-standardized deaths rates (ASDRs) of NSNIs in the past 30 years. Analysis indicators included the percentage of relative changes in incident cases and deaths, and the estimated annual percentage changes (EAPCs) of ASIRs and ASDRs. Correlations were assessed between the EAPCs of ASIRs and ASDRs and social evaluation indicators, including sociodemographic index (SDI) and universal health coverage index (UHCI).

Results

Globally, the number of incident cases of NSNIs grew by 12.79% per year, and the number of deaths dropped by 12.93% per year. During this period, global ASIR of NSNIs increased by 46% annually on average, while ASDR decreased by 53% annually on average. The ASIR and ASDR of female NSNIs were consistently lower than that of male NSNIs. The EAPC of female ASIR was 0.61, nearly twice that of male ASIR, and female ASIR was growing rapidly. The same declining trends of ASDR were noted in males and females. The ASIR of NSNIs in high-SDI regions grew by an average of 14% annually from 1990 to 2019. Except for high-SDI regions, the ASIRs of other 4 SDI regions maintained a rising trend at a high level, and were improved in the past 10 years. The ASDRs of all 5 SDI regions generally showed a downward trend. The region with the highest ASIR of NSNIs was Andean Latin America, and Western Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest mortality. We found a negative correlation between EAPCs of ASDRs and UHCI in 2019.

Conclusion

The global health situation was still not optimal. The incidence of NSNIs remained high, and continues to rise. The mortality of NSNIs has decreased, especially in the countries/territories with high UHCI. Therefore, it is crucial to improve the overall awareness and management of NSNIs, and take interventions for NSNIs worldwide.
Investigation of hydrometeorological influences on reservoir releases using explainable machine learning methods
Authors: Fan Ming , Zhang Lujun , Liu Siyan , Yang Tiantian , Lu Dan
Published: March 2023

Long short-term memory (LSTM) networks have demonstrated successful applications in accurately and efficiently predicting reservoir releases from hydrometeorological drivers including reservoir storage, inflow, precipitation, and temperature. However, due to its black-box nature and lack of process-based implementation, we are unsure whether LSTM makes good predictions for the right reasons. In this work, we use an explainable machine learning (ML) method, called SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), to evaluate the variable importance and variable-wise temporal importance in the LSTM model prediction. In application to 30 reservoirs over the Upper Colorado River Basin, United States, we show that LSTM can accurately predict the reservoir releases with NSE ≥ 0.69 for all the considered reservoirs despite of their diverse storage sizes, functionality, elevations, etc. Additionally, SHAP indicates that storage and inflow are more influential than precipitation and temperature. Moreover, the storage and inflow show a relatively long-term influence on the release up to 7 days and this influence decreases as the lag time increases for most reservoirs. These findings from SHAP are consistent with our physical understanding. However, in a few reservoirs, SHAP gives some temporal importances that are difficult to interpret from a hydrological point of view, probably because of its ignorance of the variable interactions. SHAP is a useful tool for black-box ML model explanations, but the hydrological processes inferred from its results should be interpreted cautiously. More investigations of SHAP and its applications in hydrological modeling is needed and will be pursued in our future study.
Super-resolution and uncertainty estimation from sparse sensors of dynamical physical systems
Authors: Collins Adam M. , Rivera-Casillas Peter , Dutta Sourav , Cecil Orie M. , Trautz Andrew C. , Farthing Matthew W.
Published: March 2023

The goal of this study is to leverage emerging machine learning (ML) techniques to develop a framework for the global reconstruction of system variables from potentially scarce and noisy observations and to explore the epistemic uncertainty of these models. This work demonstrates the utility of exploiting the stochasticity of dropout and batch normalization schemes to infer uncertainty estimates of super-resolved field reconstruction from sparse sensor measurements. A Voronoi tessellation strategy is used to obtain a structured-grid representation from sensor observations, thus enabling the use of fully convolutional neural networks (FCNN) for global field estimation. An ensemble-based approach is developed using Monte-Carlo batch normalization (MCBN) and Monte-Carlo dropout (MCD) methods in order to perform approximate Bayesian inference over the neural network parameters, which facilitates the estimation of the epistemic uncertainty of predicted field values. We demonstrate these capabilities through numerical experiments that include sea-surface temperature, soil moisture, and incompressible near-surface flows over a wide range of parameterized flow configurations.
An update on the occurrence of flies (Diptera: Muscidae, Calliphoridae) and sucking lice (Phthiraptera: Anoplura) of veterinary importance in Malta: First record of Lucilia cuprina and Linognathus africanus
Authors: Hornok Sándor , Cini Bruno Andrea M. , Takács Nóra , Keve Gergő , Sándor Attila D. , Kontschán Jenő
Published: March 2023

To obtain new data on the species diversity, host associations and spatiotemporal occurrence of flies and blood-sucking lice of veterinary importance in Malta, ectoparasites were collected at cattle, sheep and goat, pig farms, as well as dog shelters, and in two places in the absence of domestic animals. The species were identified morphologically, but voucher specimens were also analyzed with molecular-phylogenetic methods following DNA extraction. Altogether 3,095 flies (Diptera: Muscidae, Calliphoridae) were collected at farms and kennels near domestic animals, as well as 37 blowflies (Calliphoridae) in rural and urban areas without animals nearby. Regarding Muscidae, the great majority of flies (n = 3,084) were identified as the common housefly (Musca domestica). Eight flies represented the stable fly (Stomoxys calcitrans). Three blowflies associated with dogs and small ruminants belonged to Lucilia cuprina. By contrast, all 37 blowflies collected without domestic animals nearby, were identified as Lucilia sericata. In addition, 22 sucking lice were collected from goats, and all belonged to Linognathus africanus. Molecular identification of 28 flies and four lice confirmed the above species. Considering the sex ratio of M. domestica among samples collected randomly at cattle farms, females predominated in the whole study period, but the abundance of males increased significantly toward the autumn. Stomoxys calcitrans was associated with cattle and dogs, whereas L. cuprina was found near small ruminants and dogs. To our knowledge, this is the first study including the molecular analysis of flies and lice of veterinary-medical importance from Malta. The most important finding of this study is the first evidence for the autochthonous occurrence of L. cuprina in Malta. The exclusive presence of L. cuprina at animal-keeping facilities in rural areas and association of L. sericata with urban areas void of livestock might reflect similar habitat preference of these species in Malta to what was reported in South Africa. Based on the sucking-louse burden in the examined goat herds, the situation in Malta was similar to northern Africa where the exclusive presence of L. africanus was reported, unlike toward the north in the Mediterranean Basin where populations of this species are mixed with Linognathus stenopsis.
COVID-19 Vaccination Refusal—Which Factors are Related in the Czech Republic, One of the Most Affected Countries in the World?
Authors: Zidkova Radka , Malinakova Klara , van Dijk Jitse P. , Tavel Peter
Published: March 2023

Objective: This study examined the willingness to get vaccinated and the factors influencing this attitude in extreme settings—in the Czech Republic (at the time of the survey, the third-worst affected country in the world).

Methods: We used national data from the general adult Czech population (N = 1,401) and measured attitudes towards vaccination, sociodemographic characteristics, government trust, knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines, personal characteristics, depression and anxiety.

Results: Respondents who were more likely to refuse the vaccine were: female, younger, living without a partner, self-employed or unemployed, living in a town, believers outside the church, and did not trust the government, obtained information about the vaccine from social media, were extroverts and depressed. Conversely, respondents who were less likely to refuse the vaccine were: pensioners, people with higher education, respondents with better real knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccines, those who obtained information about the vaccine from an expert and those who had higher scores in neuroticism.

Conclusion: This study thus offers a deeper understanding of the factors that might influence vaccine intention and subsequently the course of the COVID-19 pandemic.
GIS-Based Interactive Map to Improve Scheduling Beekeeping Activities
Authors: Kotovs Daniels , Zacepins Aleksejs
Published: March 2023

This research work presents a developed geographic information system-based interactive map application to support beekeeping activities. The interactive map includes various features such as flowering calendar, weather information, and information about plants, and has the option to link the hives with remote monitoring system data observation. Data about the actual plants and areas are taken from the Latvian geographic information system (GIS) provided by the Rural Support Service of Latvia. Plants flowering data are prepared manually, based on agronomy data and flowering simulation throughout the year the data are developed and presented to the beekeepers. The developed flowering simulation provides an overview of the flowering plants in a specific region and at a certain time. This information can be used in various ways, including usage by the migratory beekeepers for selection and planning of potential foraging locations, other agricultural specialists, and the general public for educational needs. Free software environment for statistical computing and graphics R was used for the development of the solution. The interactive map application can be extended by different models, additional factors and parameters can be implemented to increase its potential application. This work was conducted within the Horizon 2020 FET project HIVEOPOLIS (Nr. 824069).
Condensed Tannins Attributes: Potential Solution to Fescue Toxicosis?
Authors: Poudel Sanjok , Zeller Wayne E. , Fike John , Pent Gabriel
Published: March 2023

Tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceous (Schreb.) Dumort. nom. cons. Lolium arundinaceum (Schreb.) Darbysh.) toxicosis results from the consumption of alkaloids released by wild-type endophytes (Epichloe coenophiala) that live in symbiosis with the plant. Alkaloid consumption causes significant production and reproductive losses which cost the U.S. beef industry approximately $2 billion every year. Incorporating species that contain condensed tannins (CTs) into forage systems may be an effective strategy to reduce the effects of fescue toxicosis in livestock. It has been hypothesized that stable complexes formed between CTs and toxic alkaloids could help reduce their absorption through the gastrointestinal epithelia, thus reducing their toxic effects. However, it is not yet clear whether CTs are effective in reducing the effects of fescue toxicosis in grazing systems. A comprehensive literature search was carried out using Google Scholar to identify studies relevant to the research question, from which the cited articles were selected. This review covers the value and issues of tall fescue employed as useful forage, summarizes the impact endophyte-infected tall fescue can have on cattle, and sets out the current management strategies implemented to minimize fescue toxicosis. The review continues with a brief summary of tannin structure and the well-documented benefits that CT-containing forages can contribute to the productivity and sustainability of ruminant agriculture. Finally, a summary of the potential forage sources, mechanisms, and benefits of CTs in reducing the negative post-ingestion effects of fescue alkaloids in livestock is provided.
Impacts of Nigella sativa Inclusion during Gestation and Lactation on Ovarian Follicle Development, as Well as the Blood and Metabolic Profiles of Ardi Goats in Subtropics
Authors: Mohammed Abd El-Nasser , Al-Suwaiegh Shaker
Published: March 2023

The present study aimed to alleviate the negative effects of the peripartum and postpartum periods on the timing of ovarian follicle development, milk composition, as well as blood and metabolic profiles due to Nigella sativa (N. sativa) supplementation. Twenty-seven pregnant Ardi goats were classified using a randomized complete design into three groups: a control group and two N. sativa groups (10.0 and 20.0 g N. sativa seeds per kg diet). Productive and reproductive performances, in addition to blood and metabolic profiles, were investigated and compared using Duncan’s multiple test. N. sativa supplementation increased dry matter intake and body weight. Ruminal pH and total bacterial counts were increased versus a decreased total protozoal count due to N. sativa inclusion. Additionally, N. sativa supplementation increased the concentration of protein, lactose, solids not fat, fat, and ash in milk. Pulse rates were the lowest (p < 0.05) in the N. sativa group and the partial pressure of oxygen was the lowest in the control group. Red and white blood cells and their related parameters (hemoglobin, hematocrit, neutrophils, and lymphocytes) showed significant increases due to N. sativa inclusion. Total protein, albumin, globulin, glucose, and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium) values were higher (p < 0.05) in the N. sativa group. Lower concentrations of blood urea nitrogen were found in N. sativa groups compared to control one. In conclusion, N. sativa inclusion from 4 weeks prepartum to 4 weeks postpartum of Ardi goats modified productive and reproductive performances without any adverse effects on blood and metabolic profiles.
Detection of Resistance in Echinochloa spp. to Three Post-Emergence Herbicides (Penoxsulam, Metamifop, and Quinclorac) Used in China
Authors: Zhang Yangyang , Wu Miao , Bao Shuijing , Li Jiamin , Liu Dingrong , Dong Liyao , Li Jun
Published: March 2023

In this study, rapid resistance in-season quick (RISQ) tests were developed for detecting the resistance in Echinochloa spp. to penoxsulam, metamifop, and quinclorac, which are widely used in rice fields to control E. spp. biotypes. Seedlings in 1–2 leaf stages from nine biotypes of E. crusgalli, E. crusgalli var. zelayensis, and E. glabrescens, with different susceptibility to the three herbicides tested, were transplanted to plates containing nutrient agar and different rates of herbicides. The survival rates were recorded at 8 days after treatment when no more new roots emerged for all the treatments. By comparing the results from RISQ tests and whole-plant pot bioassays statistically, discrimination rates could be determined to distinguish resistant plants from susceptible plants. For penoxsulam, metamifop, and quinclorac, the discrimination rates were 0.3, 0.6, and 2.4 µmol/L, respectively. Two additional biotypes of E. crusgalli collected in rice fields were used to confirm the validation of the RISQ test and the obtained results by the RISQ test were consistent with that of the whole-plant pot bioassay. Therefore, the developed RISQ test would be a possible alternative method to determine the susceptibility of E. spp. to certain herbicides.
Myco-Nanofabrication of Silver Nanoparticles by Penicillium brasilianum NP5 and Their Antimicrobial, Photoprotective and Anticancer Effect on MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cell Line
Authors: Rudrappa Muthuraj , Kumar Raju Suresh , Nagaraja Shashiraj Kareyellappa , Hiremath Halaswamy , Gunagambhire Pooja Vidyasagar , Almansour Abdulrahman I. , Perumal Karthikeyan , Nayaka Sreenivasa
Published: March 2023

Currently, the exploration of fungal organisms for novel metabolite production and its pharmacological applications is much appreciated in the biomedical field. In the present study, the fungal strains were isolated from soil of unexplored Yellapura regions. The potent isolate NP5 was selected based on preliminary screening and identified as Penicillium brasilianum NP5 through morphological, microscopic, and molecular characterizations. Synthesis of silver nanoparticles from P. brasilianum was confirmed by the color change of the reaction mixture and UV-visible surface plasmon resonance (SPR) spectra of 420 nm. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed the functional groups involved in synthesis. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis showed aggregation of the NPs, with sizes ranged from 10 to 60 nm, an average particle size of 25.32 nm, and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.40. The crystalline nature and silver as the major element in NP5-AgNPs was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis. The negative value −15.3 mV in Zeta potential exhibited good stability, and thermostability was recorded by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). NP5-AgNPs showed good antimicrobial activity on selected human pathogens in a concentration-dependent manner. The MTT assay showed concentration-dependent anticancer activity with an IC50 of 41.93 µg/mL on the MDA-MB-231 cell line. Further, apoptotic study was carried out by flow cytometry to observe the rate of apoptosis. The calculated sun protection factor (SPF) value confirms good photoprotection capacity. From the results obtained, NP5-AgNPs can be used in the pharmaceutical field after successful in vitro clinical studies.
Tyndallized Bacteria Preferentially Induce Human Macrophage M1 Polarization: An Effect Useful to Balance Allergic Immune Responses and to Control Infections
Authors: Di Vincenzo Serena , Ferraro Maria , Taverna Simona , Malizia Velia , Buscetta Marco , Cipollina Chiara , Lazzara Valentina , Pinto Paola , Bassano Marco , La Grutta Stefania , Pace Elisabetta
Published: March 2023

Macrophage polarization is a dynamic process through which macrophages acquire specific features whose extremes are represented by M1 and M2 polarization. Interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, IL-12 and IL-8 belong to M1 macrophages while transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β belongs to M2 cytokines. M2 polarization prevalence is observed in allergic diseases. Tyndallization is a thermal process able to inactivate microorganisms and to allow their use for chronic respiratory disease treatment via immune response modulation. The present study explores the effects of a blend of tyndallized bacteria (TB) on macrophage polarization. THP-1-derived macrophages were exposed to different concentrations of TB (106, 5 × 106, 107, 5 × 107, 108 CFU/mL) and then cell viability and TB phagocytosis, and IL-8, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12 and TGF-β1 gene expression and release were assessed. TB were tolerated, phagocyted and able to increase IL-8, IL-1β and IL-6 gene expression and release IL-12 gene expression, as well as decrease TGF-β1 gene expression and release. The effects on IL-8, IL-6 and TGF-β1 release were confirmed in human monocyte-derived macrophages (hMDMs) exposed to TB. In conclusion, TB promote M1 polarization, and this mechanism might have valuable potential in controlling allergic diseases and infections, possibly preventing disease exacerbations.
Design of Quadruple Offset Butterfly Valve Used in Power Plants
Authors: Qi Haonan , Kwak Hyoseo , Park Gunyoung , Kim Beomgyu , Kim Chul
Published: March 2023

The elliptical disc is a specific characteristic of a triple offset butterfly valve (TOBV), but the structure of the elliptical disc leads to a non-uniform distribution of contact at the closing position with non-uniform wear. On the other hand, the continuous processing of elliptical sections to finish the entire disc contour is expensive compared to the processing of a circular section. In the present study, to improve the above disadvantages of an elliptical disc, an elliptic cone function was established to describe the quadruple butterfly valve (QOBV) disc shape, which has a circular section disc. In addition, some designs of a fixed thickness (7 mm) laminated seal for good sealing were proved. Sealing performance simulations were carried out using the thermal–structural coupling analysis. The best design of the QOBV showed that the maximum contact pressure was 37.2% lower than the TOBV using the seven-way laminated seal layers (thickness of A240–316 stainless and graphite was 1.3 mm and 0.6 mm, respectively). Compared to TOBV, the QOBV disc operation during the opening and closing process was faster and smoother. The disc can be applied widely to various industrial fields, engine exhaust systems, and turbine and power plants under severe environments.
Transpilers: A Systematic Mapping Review of Their Usage in Research and Industry
Authors: Bastidas Fuertes Andrés , Pérez María , Meza Hormaza Jaime
Published: March 2023

Transpilers refer to a special type of compilation that takes source code and translates it into target source code. This type of technique has been used for different types of implementations in scientific studies. A review of the research areas related to the use of transpilers allows the understanding of the direction in this branch of knowledge. The objective was to carry out an exhaustive and extended mapping of the usage and implementation of transpilers in research studies in the last 10 years. A systematic mapping review was carried out for answering the 5 research questions proposed. The PSALSAR method is used as a guide to the steps needed for the review. In total, from 1181 articles collected, 683 primary studies were selected, reviewed, and analyzed. Proposals from the industry were also analyzed. A new method for automatic data tabulation has been proposed for the mapping objective, using a relational database and SQL language. It was identified that the most common uses of transpilers are related to performance optimizations, parallel programming, embedded systems, compilers, testing, AI, graphics, and software development. In conclusion, it was possible to determine the extent and identification of research sub-areas and their impact on the usage of the transpilers. Future research could be considered about the usage of transpilers in transactional software, migration strategies for legacy systems, AI, math, multiplatform games and apps, automatic source code generation, and networking.
Quad-Band Uniformly Spaced Array Antenna Using Diverse Patch and Fractal Antennas
Authors: Kim Ilkyu , Kim Eunhee
Published: March 2023

Multi-band antennas have received significant interest because they can support multiple wireless communication services with a single antenna. However, an array antenna consisting of these element antennas can suffer from non-periodic arrangement due to the irregular sizes of the elements. In this paper, various shapes of patch antennas with fractal antennas are used to ensure the periodic arrangement of the array antenna, and antenna array incorporated with a feed network is proposed. Four different antenna arrays operating at 2.45/3.7/4.3/5.0 GHz are aggregated in an antenna with interleaved disposition of the different element antennas. It is observed that mutual couplings between two elements are sufficiently low, at less than −23 dB. Peak antenna gain ranging from 11.1 dBi to 14.4 dBi at the four different bands is obtained.
The Purification and Characterization of a Cutinase-like Enzyme with Activity on Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) from a Newly Isolated Bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia PRS8 at a Mesophilic Temperature
Authors: Din Salah Ud , Kalsoom  , Satti Sadia Mehmood , Uddin Salah , Mankar Smita V. , Ceylan Esma , Hasan Fariha , Khan Samiullah , Badshah Malik , Beldüz Ali Osman , Çanakçi Sabriye , Zhang Baozhong , Linares-Pastén Javier A. , Shah Aamer Ali
Published: March 2023

A polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-degrading bacterium identified as Stenotrophomonas maltophilia PRS8 was isolated from the soil of a landfill. The degradation of the PET bottle flakes and the PET prepared as a powder were assessed using live cells, an extracellular medium, or a purified cutinase-like enzyme. These treated polymers were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The depolymerization products, identified using HPLC and LC-MS, were terephthalic acid (TPA), mono(2-hydroxyethyl)-TPA (MHET), and bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-TPA (BHET). Several physicochemical factors were optimized for a better cutinase-like enzyme production by using unique single-factor and multi-factor statistical models (the Plackett–Burman design and the central composite design software). The enzyme was purified for homogeneity through column chromatography using Sephadex G-100 resin. The molecular weight of the enzyme was approximately 58 kDa. The specific activity on para nitrophenyl butyrate was estimated at 450.58 U/mg, with a purification of 6.39 times and a yield of 48.64%. The enzyme was stable at various temperatures (30–40 °C) and pH levels (8.0–10.0). The enzyme activity was significantly improved by the surfactants (Triton X-100 and Tween-40), organic solvent (formaldehyde), and metals (NiCl2 and Na2SO4). The extracellular medium containing the cutinase-type enzyme showed a depolymerization yield of the PET powder comparable to that of Idonella skaiensis IsPETase and significantly higher than that of Humicola insolens thermostable HiCut (HiC) cutinase. This study suggests that S. maltophilia PRS8 is able to degrade PET at a mesophilic temperature and could be further explored for the sustainable management of plastic waste.
Entangled Frequency-Tunable Microwave Photons in a Superconducting Circuit
Authors: Zhang Kaixuan , Cao Chunhai , Chen Jian , Wang Huabing , Sun Guozhu , Wu Peiheng
Published: March 2023

We propose a frequency-tunable source to emit entangled microwave photons on the platform of a superconducting circuit, in which two superconducting transmission-line resonators are coupled via a capacitor and one resonator is inserted with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) in the center. By pumping the circuit appropriately with an external coherent microwave signal through the SQUID, microwave photons are emitted in pairs out of the circuit. The entanglement between the two modes is demonstrated by numerically calculating the second-order coherence function and the logarithmic negativity of the output microwave signals. Due to the tunability of SQUID’s equivalent inductance, the frequencies of the entangled microwave photons can be tuned by an external flux bias in situ. Our proposal paves a new way for obtaining entangled frequency-tunable two-mode microwave photons.