bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The LifeStories project: Empowering voices and avoiding harm—Ethics protocol of a long-term follow-up study of individuals placed in infant care institutions in Switzerland
Authors: Lannen Patricia , Bombach Clara , Sticca Fabio , Simoni Heidi , Jenni Oskar G.
Published: November 2022

Little empirical data exist to guide ethical decisions when conducting research with vulnerable populations. The current study assesses a protocol designed to mitigate risks in a population-based cohort of 246 individuals placed in care institutions as infants in a non-selective 60-year follow-up. In total, 116 (47%) individuals chose to participate, of whom 53 (55%) reported positive effects of participation such as the opportunity to fill some gaps in their life stories, to better deal with their past, and to understand previous family dynamics. Only three individuals (2.5%) explicitly reported negative short-term consequences such as feeling upset as a result of thinking about stressful times, but they nonetheless rated the usefulness of the study as high. For six participants (5%), psychological counseling sessions were initiated as a support measure. Our findings suggest that risk of harm can be managed with a rigorous ethics protocol when conducting research with a vulnerable cohort and therefore enable the voices of survivors to be heard. A step wise approach in which increasing amounts of information were presented at each step, clearly operationalized passive decline, and direct and consistent contact with highly trained staff were considered key to mitigating distress.
Pre- and post-COVID-19: The impact of the pandemic and stock market psychology on the growth and sustainability of consumer goods industries
Authors: Jan Naveed , Li Zeyun , Xiyu Liu , Farhan Basheer Muhammad , Tongkachok Korakod
Published: November 2022

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and stock market psychology on investor investment decisions in different business units operating in the Shandong stock market. The sample size of the study consists of 5,000 individuals from six different business units. The study used the event study statistical technique to analyze the market reaction to newly released information from the stock market perspective to assess whether the number of COVID-19 positive cases impacted it. With a Z score value of 40.345 and a P-value of 0.000, the Wilcoxon test indicated that stock prices before and after the pandemic were quite different. The test showed a positive relationship between the pandemic and the stock market. Further, the results indicated that COVID-19 and stock market psychology had a significant positive impact on investor investment decisions in cosmetic and beauty, consumer household, textiles and apparel, and consumer electronics industries; however, in the sporting and consumer appliance industries, it had an insignificant negative impact. This study serves to guide investors to make suitable changes in their stock market trading practices to counter these challenges to increase their required rate of return from their specific stock market investment. The findings have important insights for various stakeholders including governments, regulatory bodies, practitioners, academia, industry, and researchers.
Cyber victimization and well-being in adolescents: The sequential mediation role of forgiveness and coping with cyberbullying
Authors: Eroglu Yüksel , Peker Adem , Cengiz Serkan
Published: November 2022

Cyber victimization is an important problem among adolescents and it can have negative effects on well-being. However, efforts to increase the well-being of cyber victims have been increasing in recent years. It is important to uncover the underlying mechanisms that may affect the well-being of cyber victims. This study used the transactional model of stress and coping theory as a conceptual framework, and proposed that hope and coping strategies are sequential mediators for the effects of cyber-victimization on well-being. A total of 337 students aged between 14 and 19 participated in this research (Mage = 16.56). We used the Cyber Victimization Scale, the Forgiveness Scale for Adolescents, the Scale for Coping with Cyber Bullying, and the Well-Being Scale as data collection tools. Pearson Correlation was used to examine the relationships between cyber victimization, coping with cyberbullying, well-being and forgiveness. Afterward, measurement modeling was done using AMOS 22.0 and the PROCESS macro was used for hypothesis testing. The results show that there is a negative relationship between cyber victimization and forgiveness, coping with cyberbullying, and well-being. In addition, forgiveness and coping with cyberbullying was found to have a sequential mediating effect on the relationship between cyber victimization and well-being. The research results provide information on how to increase the well-being of adolescents experiencing cyber victimization.
Case report: Improving quality of care in Kazakhstan institutions
Authors: McCall Robert B. , Groark Christina J. , Jappar Akbota , Muhamedrahimov Rifkat J. , Palmov Oleg I. , Hawk Brandi N. , Chen Abigail P. , Spear Caitlin F. , Mason Larisa
Published: November 2022

This project is a community case study implemented by local professionals and caregivers to improve the quality of caregiving in two Kazakhstan institutions for infants and toddlers. Local professionals first received comprehensive training by an international team experienced in relevant research-based practices, and then the locals trained institutional staff. Over nearly 2 years, one institution progressively implemented changes in three wards and the other institution in one ward. The changes attempted to make the institution more family-like (e.g., smaller groups and fewer and more consistent caregivers) and caregivers behave more parent-like (e.g., more warm, sensitive, responsive interactions and relationships) without changing nutrition or medical care. Of the 45 children given some exposure to the emerging new wards, 11 experienced the fully revised wards for at least 4 months during their first 2 years of life. They displayed substantial increases in their physical growth, especially those entering in their first year of life, in contrast to the unchanging developmental patterns of 165 children who were reared in the two institutions before the ward changes were made. Physical growth is a commonly used standard of developmental well-being in institutions. Research shows it is sensitive to infants' psychosocial environment, and improvements in physical growth are related to children's cognitive and social-emotional development. Although this pilot community case study had only a few infants fully exposed to the complete ward changes and lacked characteristics of a research experiment, these results are consistent with children's developmental improvements reported in larger scientific studies of similar interventions. This project is an example of how some research-based practices are likely to be implemented in communities in the future. Specifically, it shows that local communities can successfully improve the rearing conditions within institutions, which improve the children's development, and may contribute to the success of their subsequent foster placement and adoption.
Negative symptoms in alcohol use disorder: A pilot study applying the two-factor model of negative symptoms to patients with alcohol use disorder
Authors: Buschner Maximilian , Dürsteler Kenneth M. , Fischli Gina , Hess Jelena , Kirschner Matthias , Kaiser Stefan , Herdener Marcus
Published: November 2022

Background and aims

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is characterized by a reduction in goal-directed behavior, with alcohol use taking precedence over other areas of life. These features in AUD resemble negative symptoms in schizophrenia, especially the reduction in motivation and pleasure (MAP). Given the clinical similarities of negative symptoms across diagnostic categories, it comes as a surprise that there are few investigations on negative symptoms in alcohol and other substance use disorders. To our knowledge, our study is the first to assess negative symptoms in AUD based on a two-factorial approach, and to investigate the interrelation of these dimensions with the severity of AUD, and alcohol craving.

Materials and methods

We examined a sample of 42 patients with AUD at the Psychiatric University Hospital in Zurich. Participants provided self-report and interview-based measures of the severity of AUD, negative symptoms, and alcohol craving. Finally, we used data from the electronic health records of the patients.

Results

Patients with AUD show negative symptoms to a similar extent as patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. We found a positive correlation between the extent of impairment within the MAP factor and overall severity of AUD. Furthermore, MAP negative symptoms were correlated with alcohol craving. In a linear regression, negative symptoms predicted alcohol craving whereas depression did not.

Negative symptoms as conceptualized for schizophrenia are prevalent in patients with AUD and associated with the severity of AUD. More specifically, severity of AUD correlates with diminished motivation and pleasure, highlighting the importance of disturbances in motivational functions in AUD. This is further supported by the correlation between negative symptoms and craving, a hallmark of AUD. Taken together, our findings suggest that negative symptoms might be a highly relevant but hitherto often neglected therapeutic target in AUD.
Agricultural youth injuries: An updated review of cases from U.S. news media reports, 2016–2021
Authors: Weichelt Bryan P. , Gorucu Serap , Burke Rick R. , Salzwedel Marsha A. , Murphy Dennis J. , Lee Barbara C.
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Fatal and non-fatal youth (ages 0–17) injuries in U.S. agriculture continue to be a significant public health concern. Despite sustained work and attention from federally supported research programming, we continue to observe an unacceptably high number of life-altering and life-ending traumatic injuries to youth in agricultural environments. Likewise, there is still a gap in stringent systematic agricultural injury and/or illness surveillance at the federal level. This paper will provide an updated review of child agricultural injuries from U.S. news media reports, expanding upon this author team's initial 2018 report.

Methods

Data collection from 2016 to 2021 occurred as part of the AgInjuryNews initiative, and data were coded according to the Farm and Agricultural Injury Classification (FAIC) system and the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System (OIICS). The AgInjuryNews system primarily contains news media reports. Categorical variables were analyzed and compared using a chi-square test. In addition, the Jonckheere-Terpstra test for trend was used to test the yearly change in the number of youth injuries.

Results

We observed a general decrease in agricultural injuries compared to the original 2015–2017 dataset. Younger children (<5 years-old) and males were more often injured and more fatally injured than older children and females, respectively. Males and older victims were more likely to suffer an occupational-related injury compared to females and younger victims, respectively. Vehicles remained a major source of injuries, with tractors comprising 28%, and ATVs/UTVs comprising 26% of all injuries. Roadway incidents involving tractors and UTVs were less often fatal compared to non-roadway incidents, while ATVs were more fatal on roadways.

Discussion

This updated review shows childhood agricultural injuries and fatalities continue to be a major public health concern within the US. It is unclear if the trend downward in injuries is due to reporting, data capture methods, or a true decrease in injuries. These data continue to be of interest to stakeholders in academia, public health, government, and private industry—user groups who regularly and consistently seek this type of information, often from multiple data sources, including as registered users on AgInjuryNews.org. These data identify emerging issues within the industry and further inform national and international planning committees' work.
Mortality benefits of reduction fine particulate matter in Vietnam, 2019
Authors: Nhung Nguyen Thi Trang , Duc Vu Tri , Ngoc Vo Duc , Dien Tran Minh , Hoang Le Tu , Ha Tran Thi Thuy , Khue Pham Minh , Truong Ngo Xuan , Thanh Nguyen Thi Nhat , Jegasothy Edward , Marks Guy B. , Morgan Geoffrey
Published: November 2022

Introduction and objectives

Studies assessing the health benefits of air pollution reduction in Vietnam are scarce. This study quantified the annual mortality burden due to PM2.5 pollution in Vietnam above the World Health Organization recommendation for community health (AQG: 5 μg/m3) and the proposed National Technical Regulation on Ambient Air Quality (proposed QCVN: 15 μg/m3).

Methodology

This study applied a health impact assessment methodology with the hazard risk function for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and lower respiratory infections (LRIs) in the Global Exposure Mortality Model (GEMM) to calculate attributable deaths, Years of Life lost, and Loss of Life expectancy at birth due to air pollution in the Vietnamese population above 25 years of age in 11 provinces. We obtained annual average PM2.5 concentrations for Vietnam in 2019 at a 3x3 km grid modeled using Mixed Linear regression and multi-data sources. Population and baseline mortality data were obtained from administrative data system in Vietnam. We reported the findings at both the provincial and smaller district levels.

Results

Annual PM2.5 concentrations in all studied provinces exceeded both the AQG and the proposed QCVN. The maximum annual number of attributable deaths in the studied provinces if they had complied with WHO air quality guidelines was in Ha Noi City, with 5,090 (95%CI: 4,253–5,888) attributable deaths. At the district level, the highest annual rate of attributable deaths if the WHO recommendation for community health had been met was 104.6 (95%CI: 87.0–121.5) attributable deaths per 100,000 population in Ly Nhan (Ha Nam province).

Conclusion

A much larger number of premature deaths in Vietnam could potentially be avoided by lowering the recommended air quality standard. These results highlight the need for effective clean air action plans by local authorities to reduce air pollution and improve community health.
The impact of mixed-cultural speech on the stereotypical perception of a virtual robot
Authors: Obremski David , Friedrich Paula , Haak Nora , Schaper Philipp , Lugrin Birgit
Published: November 2022

Despite the fact that mixed-cultural backgrounds become of increasing importance in our daily life, the representation of multiple cultural backgrounds in one entity is still rare in socially interactive agents (SIAs). This paper’s contribution is twofold. First, it provides a survey of research on mixed-cultured SIAs. Second, it presents a study investigating how mixed-cultural speech (in this case, non-native accent) influences how a virtual robot is perceived in terms of personality, warmth, competence and credibility. Participants with English or German respectively as their first language watched a video of a virtual robot speaking in either standard English or German-accented English. It was expected that the German-accented speech would be rated more positively by native German participants as well as elicit the German stereotypes credibility and conscientiousness for both German and English participants. Contrary to the expectations, German participants rated the virtual robot lower in terms of competence and credibility when it spoke with a German accent, whereas English participants perceived the virtual robot with a German accent as more credible compared to the version without an accent. Both the native English and native German listeners classified the virtual robot with a German accent as significantly more neurotic than the virtual robot speaking standard English. This work shows that by solely implementing a non-native accent in a virtual robot, stereotypes are partly transferred. It also shows that the implementation of a non-native accent leads to differences in the perception of the virtual robot.
Exploring turbulence from the Sun to the local interstellar medium: Current challenges and perspectives for future space missions
Authors: Fraternale Federico , Zhao Lingling , Pogorelov Nikolai V. , Sorriso-Valvo Luca , Redfield Seth , Zhang Ming , Ghanbari Keyvan , Florinski Vladimir , Chen Thomas Y.
Published: November 2022

Turbulence is ubiquitous in space plasmas. It is one of the most important subjects in heliospheric physics, as it plays a fundamental role in the solar wind—local interstellar medium interaction and in controlling energetic particle transport and acceleration processes. Understanding the properties of turbulence in various regions of the heliosphere with vastly different conditions can lead to answers to many unsolved questions opened up by observations of the magnetic field, plasma, pickup ions, energetic particles, radio and UV emissions, and so on. Several space missions have helped us gain preliminary knowledge on turbulence in the outer heliosphere and the very local interstellar medium. Among the past few missions, theVoyagershave paved the way for such investigations. This paper summarizes the open challenges and voices our support for the development of future missions dedicated to the study of turbulence throughout the heliosphere and beyond.
Critical pedagogy for food systems transformation: Identifying and addressing social-justice problems in food systems and society
Authors: Allen Patricia , Gillon Sean
Published: November 2022

Current crises in the food system have amplified and illuminated the need for urgent social change to increase equity and survivability. Global crises such as climate change, environmental degradation, and pandemics increasingly disrupt everyday lives and limit possibilities in the food system. However, the prevalence of these crises has not yet engendered commensurate rethinking on how to address these increasingly evident and desperate social problems. Food and food systems are at the core of survival and food systems issues are deeply intertwined with and inextricable from the structures and operating principles of society itself. Effective and equitable change requires new ways of thinking, ways that are different than those that led to the problems in the first place. This requires identifying, conceptualizing, and addressing social problems through critical inquiry that places social justice at the center in order to render visible and explicit the social injustices in problem causes and consequences, as well as transformative pathways toward social justice. One of the most important domains for this work is that of higher education, an arena in which crucial conceptual thinking can be supported. In this brief article we review why critical pedagogy should be a priority in higher education; discuss critical pedagogy for food systems equity; and illustrate how we apply critical pedagogy in the Food Systems and Society online Master of Science program at Oregon Health & Science University.
Sero – epidemiology of brucellosis in people and their livestock: A linked human – animal cross-sectional study in a pastoralist community in Kenya
Authors: Muema Josphat , Oboge Harriet , Mutono Nyamai , Makori Anita , Oyugi Julius , Bukania Zipporah , Njuguna Joseph , Jost Christine , Ogoti Brian , Omulo Sylvia , Thumbi S. M.
Published: November 2022

Background

Brucellosis is associated with massive livestock production losses and human morbidity worldwide. Efforts to control brucellosis among pastoralist communities are limited by scarce data on the prevalence and risk factors for exposure despite the high human-animal interactions in these communities. This study simultaneously assessed the seroprevalence of brucellosis and associated factors of exposure among pastoralists and their livestock in same households.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in pastoralist communities in Marsabit County – Kenya. A total of 1,074 women and 225 children participated and provided blood samples. Blood was also drawn from 1,876 goats, 322 sheep and 189 camels. Blood samples were collected to be screened for the presence of anti-Brucella IgG antibodies using indirect IgG Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kits. Further, Individual, household and herd-level epidemiological information were captured using a structured questionnaire. Group differences were compared using the Pearson's Chi-square test, and p-values < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Generalized mixed-effects multivariable logistic human and animal models using administrative ward as the random effect was used to determine variables correlated to the outcome.

Results

Household-level seropositivity was 12.7% (95% CI: 10.7–14.8). The individual human seroprevalence was 10.8% (9.1–12.6) with higher seroprevalence among women than children (12.4 vs. 3.1%, p < 0.001). Herd-level seroprevalence was 26.1% (23.7–28.7) and 19.2% (17.6–20.8) among individual animals. Goats had the highest seroprevalence 23.1% (21.2 – 25.1), followed by sheep 6.8% (4.3–10.2) and camels 1.1% (0.1–3.8). Goats and sheep had a higher risk of exposure OR = 3.8 (95% CI 2.4–6.7, p < 0.001) and 2.8 (1.2–5.6, p < 0.007), respectively relative to camels. Human and animal seroprevalence were significantly associated (OR = 1.8, [95%CI: 1.23–2.58], p = 0.002). Herd seroprevalence varied by household head education (OR = 2.45, [1.67–3.61, p < 0.001]) and herd size (1.01, [1.00–1.01], p < 0.001).

Conclusions

The current study showed evidence that brucellosis is endemic in this pastoralist setting and there is a significant association between animal and human brucellosis seropositivity at household level representing a potential occupational risk. Public health sensitization and sustained human and animal brucellosis screening are required.
Body Force Model Implementation of Transonic Rotor for Fan/Airframe Simulations
Authors: Magrini Andrea
Published: November 2022

Three-dimensional throughflow models represent a turbomachinery cascade via a force distribution without the need for detailed geometric modelling in the numerical solution, saving consistent computational resources. In this paper, we present the application of a body force method on an axial transonic fan implemented into an in-house tool for axisymmetric throughflow simulations. By a systematic comparison of local and integral quantities with a validated numerical solution, the capabilities and limitations of the model are discussed for different operating regimes. The implementation is first validated at the peak efficiency calibration point, providing a good duplication of blade flow variables and radial profiles. The design total pressure is matched with a 0.6% absolute difference and a slightly higher slope of the characteristic towards the stall. The isentropic efficiency curve is penalised after the choking mass flow rate calibration, presenting an absolute difference close to 2%, although with a consistent off-design trend. In general, the model provides a satisfactory representation of the flow field and the outflow spanwise distributions, with locally larger discrepancies near the endwalls. Finally, the method is applied to simulate the fan and outlet guide vanes installed into an isolated turbofan nacelle. The onset of intake stall at a high angle of attack is compared between the body force and a boundary conditions-based approaches, highlighting the importance of adopting fully coupled solution methods to study fan/airframe interaction problems.
On Critical Unicyclic Graphs with Cutwidth Four
Authors: Zhang Zhenkun , Lai Hongjian
Published: November 2022

The cutwidth minimization problem consists of finding an arrangement of the vertices of a graph G on a line Pn with n=|V(G)| vertices in such a way that the maximum number of overlapping edges (i.e., the congestion) is minimized. A graph G with a cutwidth of k is k-cutwidth critical if every proper subgraph of G has a cutwidth less than k and G is homeomorphically minimal. In this paper, we first verified some structural properties of k-cutwidth critical unicyclic graphs with k>1. We then mainly investigated the critical unicyclic graph set T with a cutwidth of four that contains fifty elements, and obtained a forbidden subgraph characterization of 3-cutwidth unicyclic graphs.
Addition of ROCK Inhibitors Alleviates Prostaglandin-Induced Inhibition of Adipogenesis in 3T3L-1 Spheroids
Authors: Ida Yosuke , Sato Tatsuya , Umetsu Araya , Watanabe Megumi , Furuhashi Masato , Hikage Fumihito , Ohguro Hiroshi
Published: November 2022

To elucidate the additive effects of the ROCK inhibitors (ROCK-i), ripasudil (Rip) and Y27632 on bimatoprost acid (BIM-A), a prostaglandin analog (PG), on adipose tissue, two- and three-dimensional (2D or 3D) cultures of 3T3-L1 cells, the most well characterized cells in the field of lipid research, were used. The cells were subjected to a variety of analyses including lipid staining, real-time cellular metabolic analysis, the mRNA expressions of genes related to adipogenesis and extracellular matrices (ECMs) as well as the sizes and physical properties of the 3D spheroids by a micro-squeezer. BIM-A induced strong inhibitory effects on most of the adipogenesis-related changes in the 2D and 3D cultured 3T3-L1 cells, including (1) the enlargement and softening of the 3D spheroids, (2) a dramatic enhancement in lipid staining and the expression of adipogenesis-related genes, and (3) a decrease in mitochondrial and glycolytic metabolic function. By adding ROCK-i to the BIM-A, most of these BIM-A-induced effects were cancelled. The collective findings reported herein suggest that ROCK-i eliminated the PG-induced suppression of adipogenesis in the 3T3-L1 cells, accompanied by the formation of enlarged 3D spheroids. Such effects of adding ROCK-i to a PG in preadipocytes on cellular properties appear to be associated with the suppression of PG-induced adverse effects, and provide additional insight into our understanding of lipid-related research.
The Effect of Arch Stiffness on the Foot–Ankle Temporal Kinematics during Gait Termination: A Statistical Nonparametric Mapping Study
Authors: Cen Xuanzhen , Yu Peimin , Song Yang , Sárosi József , Mao Zhuqing , Bíró István , Gu Yaodong
Published: November 2022

This study compares foot–ankle temporal kinematics characteristics during planned and unplanned gait termination (PGT and UGT) in subjects with different arch stiffnesses (ASs) based on the statistical nonparametric mapping (SnPM) method. By measuring three-dimensional arch morphological parameters under different loading conditions, 28 healthy male subjects were classified and participated in gait termination (GT) tests to collect metatarsophalangeal (MTP) and ankle-joint kinematics data. The two-way repeated-measures ANOVA using SnPM was employed to assess the impacts of AS on foot–ankle kinematics during PGT and UGT. Our results show that joint angles (MTP and ankle joints) were altered owing to AS and GT factors. The flexible arches hahadve periods of significantly greater MTP and ankle joint angles than those of stiff arches during the stance phase of GT, whereas subjects exhibited significantly smaller ankle and MTP joint angles during UGT. These results add additional insights into the morphological arch biomechanical function, and the comprehensive compensatory adjustment of lower-limb joints during gait stopping caused by unplanned stimulation.
Boron- and Boric Acid-Treated Titanium Implant Surfaces in Sheep Tibia: A Histologic, Histomorphometric and Mechanical Study
Authors: Ayşeşek Nazlı , Arısan Volkan , Balcıoğlu Nilüfer , Erol Ayşe , Kuruoğlu Furkan , Tekkeşin Merva , Ersanlı Selim
Published: November 2022

The aim of this study was to compare the topographical, chemical and osseointegration characteristics of sandblasting and acid-etching (SLA) surfaces and dental implants treated by boron compounds. Titanium (Ti) disks (n = 20) were modified using boron (B) and boric acid (H3BO3) and then compared with the conventional SLA surface via surface topographic characterizations. Dental implants (3.5 mm in diameter and 8 mm in length) with the experimental surfaces (n = 96) were inserted into the tibias of six sheep, which were left to heal for 3 and 7 weeks. Histologic, histomorphometric (bone–implant contact (BIC%)) and mechanical tests (removal torque value (RTV)) were performed. The boron-coated surface (BC group) was smoother (Rz: 4.51 μm ± 0.13) than the SLA (5.86 μm ± 0.80) and the SLA-B (5.75 μm ± 0.64) groups (p = 0.033). After 3 weeks, the highest mean RTV was found in the SLA group (37 N/cm ± 2.87), and the difference compared with the BC group (30 N/cm ± 2.60) was statistically significant (p = 0.004). After 7 weeks, the mean RTV was >80 N/cm in all groups; the highest was measured in the H3BO3-treated (BS) group (89 N/cm ± 1.53) (p < 0.0001). No statistically significant differences were found in the BIC%s during both healing periods between the groups. H3BO3 seems to be a promising medium for dental implant osseointegration.
Influence of Rigid–Elastic Artery Wall of Carotid and Coronary Stenosis on Hemodynamics
Authors: Albadawi Muhamed , Abuouf Yasser , Elsagheer Samir , Sekiguchi Hidetoshi , Ookawara Shinichi , Ahmed Mahmoud
Published: November 2022

Cardiovascular system abnormalities can result in serious health complications. By using the fluid–structure interaction (FSI) procedure, a comprehensive realistic approach can be employed to accurately investigate blood flow coupled with arterial wall response. The hemodynamics was investigated in both the coronary and carotid arteries based on the arterial wall response. The hemodynamics was estimated based on the numerical simulation of a comprehensive three-dimensional non-Newtonian blood flow model in elastic and rigid arteries. For stenotic right coronary artery (RCA), it was found that the maximum value of wall shear stress (WSS) for the FSI case is higher than the rigid wall. On the other hand, for the stenotic carotid artery (CA), it was found that the maximum value of WSS for the FSI case is lower than the rigid wall. Moreover, at the peak systole of the cardiac cycle (0.38 s), the maximum percentage of arterial wall deformation was found to be 1.9%. On the other hand, for the stenotic carotid artery, the maximum percentage of arterial wall deformation was found to be 0.46%. A comparison between FSI results and those obtained by rigid wall arteries is carried out. Findings indicate slight differences in results for large-diameter arteries such as the carotid artery. Accordingly, the rigid wall assumption is plausible in flow modeling for relatively large diameters such as the carotid artery. Additionally, the FSI approach is essential in flow modeling in small diameters.
Similar Characteristics of siRNAs of Plant Viruses Which Replicate in Plant and Fungal Hosts
Authors: Pang Tianxing , Peng Jianping , Bian Ruiling , Liu Yu , Zhang Dong , Andika Ida Bagus , Sun Liying
Published: November 2022

RNA silencing is a host innate antiviral mechanism which acts via the synthesis of viral-derived small interfering RNAs (vsiRNAs). We have previously reported the infection of phytopathogenic fungi by plant viruses such as cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Furthermore, fungal RNA silencing was shown to suppress plant virus accumulation, but the characteristics of plant vsiRNAs associated with the antiviral response in this nonconventional host remain unknown. Using high-throughput sequencing, we characterized vsiRNA profiles in two plant RNA virus–fungal host pathosystems: CMV infection in phytopathogenic fungus Rhizoctonia solani and TMV infection in phytopathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. The relative abundances of CMV and TMV siRNAs in the respective fungal hosts were much lower than those in the respective experimental plant hosts, Nicotiana benthamiana and Nicotiana tabacum. However, CMV and TMV siRNAs in fungi had similar characteristics to those in plants, particularly in their size distributions, proportion of plus and minus senses, and nucleotide preference for the 5′ termini of vsiRNAs. The abundance of TMV siRNAs largely decreased in F. graminearum mutants with a deletion in either dicer-like 1 (dcl1) or dcl2 genes which encode key proteins for the production of siRNAs and antiviral responses. However, deletion of both dcl1 and dcl2 restored TMV siRNA accumulation in F. graminearum, indicating the production of dcl-independent siRNAs with no antiviral function in the absence of the dcl1 and dcl2 genes. Our results suggest that fungal RNA silencing recognizes and processes the invading plant RNA virus genome in a similar way as in plants.
In Model, In Vitro and In Vivo Killing Efficacy of Antitumor Peptide RDP22 on MUG-Mel2, a Patient Derived Cell Line of an Aggressive Melanoma Metastasis
Authors: Wußmann Maximiliane , Groeber-Becker Florian , Riedl Sabrina , Alihodzic Dina , Padaric Daniel , Gerlitz Lisa , Stallinger Alexander , Liegl-Atzwanger Bernadette , Zweytick Dagmar , Rinner Beate
Published: November 2022

The host defense derived peptide was assessed in different model systems with increasing complexity employing the highly aggressive NRAS mutated melanoma metastases cell line MUG-Mel2. Amongst others, fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy, as well as cell death studies were applied for liposomal, 2D and 3D in vitro models including tumor spheroids without or within skin models and in vivo mouse xenografts. Summarized, MUG-Mel2 cells were shown to significantly expose the negatively charged lipid phosphatidylserine on their plasma membranes, showing they are successfully targeted by RDP22. The peptide was able to induce cell death in MUG-Mel2 2D and 3D cultures, where it was able to kill tumor cells even inside the core of tumor spheroids or inside a melanoma organotypic model. In vitro studies indicated cell death by apoptosis upon peptide treatment with an LC50 of 8.5 µM and seven-fold specificity for the melanoma cell line MUG-Mel2 over normal dermal fibroblasts. In vivo studies in mice xenografts revealed effective tumor regression upon intratumoral peptide injection, indicated by the strong clearance of pigmented tumor cells and tremendous reduction in tumor size and proliferation, which was determined histologically. The peptide RDP22 has clearly shown high potential against the melanoma cell line MUG-Mel2 in vitro and in vivo.
Vitamin D in the Treatment of Oral Lichen Planus: A Systematic Review
Authors: Saeed Shazina , Choudhury Priyadarshini , Ahmad Syed Ansar , Alam Tanveer , Panigrahi Rajat , Aziz Shahid , Kaleem Sultan Mohammed , Priyadarshini Smita R. , Sahoo Pradyumna Ku , Hasan Shamimul
Published: November 2022

Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chronic mucocutaneous condition that affects up to 2% of the general population, and typically presents with long-standing, non-responsive lesions, with episodes of exacerbation and remissions. The etiopathogenesis of OLP is still unclear, although, it has been postulated that it is most likely a T-cell-mediated condition of an unknown antigen. The treatment remains a challenge with no defined treatment strategy. Vitamin D has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties, along with its regulatory effect on keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation; thus, suggesting its possible role in the treatment of OLP. This systematic review aims to evaluate the therapeutic role of vitamin D in OLP treatment. We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, and Google scholar search engines for studies evaluating vitamin D as a treatment modality in OLP from January 2000 to August 2022. Articles were searched with the combination of Medical Subject Heading (MeSH) terms. A web platform for visualizing risk-of-bias assessment was used in this review, and descriptive statistics were calculated. Out of the seventeen retrieved studies, five articles meeting the inclusion criteria were considered in this systematic review. All the included studies demonstrated significant amelioration in the OLP symptoms in patients who were given vitamin D supplements as an adjuvant to the conventional steroid therapy and or placebo. This systematic review signifies the role of vitamin D as adjuvant therapy for OLP. However, more studies with larger sample size are required to validate these results.
Low-Energy Electron Generation for Biomolecular Damage Inquiry: Instrumentation and Methods
Authors: Alizadeh Elahe , Chakraborty Dipayan , Ptasińska Sylwia
Published: November 2022

Technological advancement has produced a variety of instruments and methods to generate electron beams that have greatly assisted in the extensive theoretical and experimental efforts devoted to investigating the effect of secondary electrons with energies approximately less than 100 eV, which are referred as low-energy electrons (LEEs). In the past two decades, LEE studies have focused on biomolecular systems, which mainly consist of DNA and proteins and their constituents as primary cellular targets of ionizing radiation. These studies have revealed that compared to other reactive species produced by high-energy radiation, LEEs have distinctive pathways and considerable efficiency in inducing lethal DNA lesions. The present work aims to briefly discuss the current state of LEE production technology and to motivate further studies and improvements of LEE generation techniques in relation to biological electron-driven processes associated with such medical applications as radiation therapy and cancer treatment.
Bird Assemblages in a Peri-Urban Landscape in Eastern India
Authors: Karjee Ratnesh , Palei Himanshu Shekhar , Konwar Abhijit , Gogoi Anshuman , Mishra Rabindra Kumar
Published: November 2022

Urbanization plays an important role in biodiversity loss across the globe due to natural habitat loss in the form of landscape conversion and habitat fragmentation on which species depend. To study the bird diversity in the peri-urban landscape, we surveyed four habitats—residential areas, cropland, water bodies, and sal forest; three seasons—monsoon, winter, and summer in Baripada, Odisha, India. We surveyed from February 2018 to January 2019 using point counts set along line transects; 8 transects were established with a replication of 18 each. During the survey, 6963 individuals of 117 bird species belonged to 48 families and 98 genera in the study area, whereas cropland showed rich avian diversity. Based on the non-parametric multidimensional scale (NMDS) and one-way ANOVA, bird richness and abundance differed significantly among the habitats. Cropland showed higher species richness than other habitats; however, water bodies showed more abundance than others. The similarity of bird assemblage was greater between residential areas and cropland than forest and water bodies based on similarity indices. Among seasons, we observed the highest bird species richness in winter and the highest similarity of species richness in monsoon and summer. In conclusion, our study reported that agricultural and degraded landscapes like cropland play important roles in conserving bird diversity in peri-urban landscapes. Our findings highlighted and identified the problems that affect the local biodiversity (e.g., birds) in the peri-urban landscape. It can assist the local government in urban planning and habitat management without affecting the local biodiversity, including birds.
Performance of Ordinary and Self-Compacting Concrete with Limestone after Freeze–Thaw Cycles
Authors: Gołaszewski Jacek , Gołaszewska Małgorzata , Cygan Grzegorz
Published: November 2022

Freeze–thaw resistance is a significant issue in the durability of concrete; however, it is not widely discussed in the context of limestone addition to concrete. The present study aims to compare the effect of the addition of different types of limestone powder on the frost resistance of ordinary and self-compacting concrete. Three types of limestone powder were added to concrete in an amount of 15% and 30% cement weight. Compositions with and without the air-entraining admixture were prepared in each instance. Research included tests of consistency, air content, air void distribution, compressive strength and freeze–thaw resistance after 100 and 200 freeze–thaw cycles. The obtained results indicate that in the case of both aerated and non-aerated concrete mixtures, weight loss and the decrease in strength after 100 freeze–thaw cycles did not exceed the allowable range. Concretes with limestone powder did not significantly differ in frost resistance from reference concretes. The type of limestone had an effect on the effectiveness of admixtures, as well as the compressive strength and freeze–thaw resistance of concretes without an air-entraining admixture.
Effects of Ca-Compounds on the Gases Formation Behavior during Molten Salts Thermal Treatment of Bio-Waste
Authors: He Jing , Zou Chan , Zhou Xuanzhi , Deng Yuting , Li Xi , Dong Lu , Hu Hongyun
Published: November 2022

Bio-waste utilization is essential, and pyrolysis is a prominent way for its effective utilization. However, the gradual accumulation of ash compounds in the intermediate products probably affects the thermal conversion characteristics of bio-waste. In the present study, beech wood and disposable chopsticks were selected as bio-waste samples. The effects of typical ash components (Ca-compounds) on volatile formation behavior were investigated during the molten salts thermal treatment of bio-waste. Results demonstrated that about 80% mass of initial bio-waste was gasified into the volatiles at 300 °C. The introduction of Ca-compounds in the molten salts slightly decreased the total yield of gaseous products. More specifically, Ca2+ could improve the generation of CO2 and suppress the generation of other gases (CO, H2, and CH4), and this is accompanied by a reduction in the low heating value (LHV) of the gases. The possible reason is that Ca2+ might act on the -OH bonds, phenyl C-C bond, methoxy bond and carboxylic acid -COOH bonds of the bio-waste to promote CO2 release. In contrast, the introduction of CO32− and OH- tended to relieve the inhibition effect of Ca2+ on the generation of H-containing gases. Meanwhile, the introduction of Ca2+ can promote the conversion of bio-waste into liquid products as well as increase the saturation level of liquid products. Moreover, as a vital form of carbon storage, CO2 was found to be abundant in the pyrolysis gases from molten salts thermal treatment of bio-waste, and the concentration of CO2 was much higher than that of direct-combustion or co-combustion with coal. It’s a promising way for bio-waste energy conversion as well as synchronized CO2 capture by using molten salts thermal treatment, while the introduction of small amounts of Ca-compounds was found to have no significant effect on the change of CO2 concentration.
A Rapid Sintering Method for Cerium Nitride Pellet: A Uranium Mononitride Surrogate
Authors: Joyce Logan , Xie Yi
Published: November 2022

Uranium mononitride (UN) is a candidate fuel material for light water reactors with higher uranium (U) loading and thermal conductivity than uranium dioxide (UO2). However, the sintering of UN pellets is challenging as the UN powder particles oxidize rapidly at high temperatures unless the oxygen concentration is extremely low. Oxidation during sintering either reduces the relative density of the sintered UN pellet or disintegrates the sintered UN pellet to powder. To address this problem, the present work developed a rapid sintering method for producing highly densified UN surrogate pellets with minimal oxidation. Cerium nitride (CeN) is used as a surrogate for UN to reduce radiation hazards. With the custom-developed fast-heating system, the sintering process was completed within 150 s. The sintering atmosphere was flowing nitrogen (N2). The sintered CeN pellet density was 95% of the theoretical density (TD) or higher. The microstructure was uniform with a 10–25 µm grain size as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and contained trivial levels of oxides as demonstrated by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The resultant pellets indicate that the rapid sintering method is a promising method to make UN fuel pellets with equivalent or higher density to pellets made by conventional sintering methods, while also being more efficient in time and costs.
Motor Competence Assessment (MCA) Scoring Method
Authors: Rodrigues Luis Paulo , Luz Carlos , Cordovil Rita , Pombo André , Lopes Vitor P.
Published: November 2022

The Motor Competence Assessment (MCA) is a quantitative test battery that assesses motor competence across the whole lifespan. It is composed of three sub-scales: locomotor, stability, and manipulative, each of them assessed by two different objectively measured tests. The MCA construct validity for children and adolescents, having normative values from 3 to 23 years of age, and the configural invariance between age groups, were recently established. The aim of this study is to expand the MCA’s development and validation by defining the best and leanest method to score and classify MCA sub-scales and total score. One thousand participants from 3 to 22 years of age, randomly selected from the Portuguese database on MC, participated in the study. Three different procedures to calculate the sub-scales and total MCA values were tested according to alternative models. Results were compared to the reference method, and Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, Cronbach’s Alpha, and Bland–Altman statistics were used to describe agreement between the three methods. The analysis showed no substantial differences between the three methods. Reliability values were perfect (0.999 to 1.000) for all models, implying that all the methods were able to classify everyone in the same way. We recommend implementing the most economic and efficient algorithm, i.e., the configural model algorithm, averaging the percentile scores of the two tests to assess each MCA sub-scale and total scores.
Emotional Intelligence, Physical Activity Practice and Mediterranean Diet Adherence-An Explanatory Model in Elementary Education School Students
Authors: Melguizo-Ibáñez Eduardo , González-Valero Gabriel , Puertas-Molero Pilar , Alonso-Vargas José Manuel
Published: November 2022

Currently, there is a global concern with regard to the lifestyles of young people. This study aims to study the association between Mediterranean diet adherence, emotional intelligence and physical activity practice in teenagers in the last cycle of elementary education. In turn, this objective is divided into (a) developing an explanatory model of the practice of physical activity, Mediterranean diet adherence and emotional intelligence; and (b) developing a multi-group model according to the gender of the participants. A descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted in a sample of 293 elementary school students (M = 11.45; S.D = 0.31). The instruments used were an ad hoc socio-demographic questionnaire, the Trait Meta Mood Scale-24, the KIDMED questionnaire and the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children. The results show that males show a positive relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and emotional intelligence and between emotional intelligence and physical activity. In contrast, in the case of females, a negative relationship was observed between emotional intelligence and physical activity. In conclusion, it can be seen that gender plays a fundamental role in adolescence, being a key factor influencing an active and healthy lifestyle.