bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monodispersed AgNPs Synthesized from the Nanofactories of Theobroma cacao (Cocoa) Leaves and Pod Husk and Their Antimicrobial Activity
Authors: Efavi Johnson Kwame , Nyankson Emmanuel , Kyeremeh Kwaku , Manu Gloria Pokuaa , Asare Kingsford , Yeboah Nathaniel
Published: February 2022

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been synthesized from the more chemically rich and diverse cocoa pod; the synthesis of silver nanoparticles from cocoa leaves, which are less rich and have low diversity in bioactive molecules, is yet to be achieved. In this work, AgNPs produced using the extracts of the cocoa leaf (CL) and cocoa pods (CP) have been investigated and their antimicrobial activity against E. coli was evaluated. UV-visible absorption spectroscopy was used to examine the reduction of silver ions in solution and the surface plasmon resonance of AgNPs. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to further characterize the nanoparticles. The crystalline nature of AgNPs was confirmed by XRD, and the purity and presence of elemental silver were determined by EDX. CL-AgNPs were observed to have a surface plasmon resonance of 425 nm, while CP-AgNPs had a surface plasmon resonance of 440 nm. CL-AgNPs had a significantly higher purity than CP-AgNPs. With a shorter nucleation time, the intensity of the UV-Vis spectrum was always higher in the case of CL-AgNPs, indicating a larger population of bioactive molecules available for CL-AgNPs synthesis. FTIR confirmed the presence of phenolic compounds in the leaf and pod extract, implying that water-soluble polyphenolic and flavonoid chemicals are responsible for nanoparticle reduction, capping, and stability. AgNPs generated from CL and CP extracts are polydispersed, with particle sizes of 10–110 nm and 20–680 nm, respectively, according to DLS. The corresponding zeta potentials measured are −2.7 mV for CL-AgNPs and −0.93 mV for CP-AgNPs. The zeta potential values suggest that the particles have long-term stability. Furthermore, CL-AgNPs outperformed CP-AgNPs in terms of antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli. CL-AgNPs were found to have a maximal inhibitory zone of 21 mm.
Investigating a Class of Generalized Caputo-Type Fractional Integro-Differential Equations
Authors: Ali Saeed M. , Shatanawi Wasfi , Kassim Mohammed D. , Abdo Mohammed S. , Saleh S.
Published: February 2022

In this article, we prove some new uniqueness and Ulam-Hyers stability results of a nonlinear generalized fractional integro-differential equation in the frame of Caputo derivative involving a new kernel in terms of another function

ψ

. Our approach is based on Babenko’s technique, Banach’s fixed point theorem, and Banach’s space of absolutely continuous functions. The obtained results are demonstrated by constructing numerical examples.
Wireless Music Playing Buzzer Sensor-Assisted Music Tone Adaptive Control
Authors: Li Suipeng , Shen Dan
Published: February 2022

Aiming at the problem of adaptive change of auxiliary music tones, this paper proposes a MAC protocol with a common music tone listening/sleeping type based on a wireless music buzzer sensor. First of all, the new MAC protocol adopts network-wide synchronization, and all sensor nodes in the entire network use the same scheduling table, so that the entire network nodes enter the music tone listening period and the sleep period at the same time. Secondly, the node adaptively adjusts the duty cycle of the node according to the number of data packets in the sending queue, increases the node’s music tone listening time, reduces the end-to-end delay of data packets, and improves the throughput of the network. Then, the experiment adopts a new backoff strategy to adjust the contention window according to the backoff times and collision times of data packets sent by nodes in the last five working cycles, increase the backoff time of sending data packets under high network load, and reduce the appearance of data packets. We build four simulation experiments on the NS2 simulation platform: unassisted music tone adaptive network, single auxiliary music tone adaptive network, auxiliary music tone adaptive convergence network, and random deployment network, which will be based on the auxiliary music tone adaptive MAC protocol, and IEEE802.11 protocol and SMAC protocol are run in four simulation experiments, respectively, and the performance of the three protocols is analyzed according to the tracking files in the simulation experiment. The analysis results show that the simulation wireless sounding buzzer sensor network is adaptive to different auxiliary music tones and different topologies.
Hepatitis B Reactivation in Patients Treated with Direct-Acting Antivirals for Hepatitis C
Authors: Toka Bilal , Köksal Aydın Şeref , Dertli Ramazan , Şirin Göktuğ , Fidan Sami , Ülger Yakup , Harmandar Ferda , Yıldırım Abdullah Emre , Eminler Ahmet Tarik , Asil Mehmet , Kayar Yusuf , Bıyık Murat , Kuran Sedef , Uslan Mustafa Ihsan , Hülagü Sadettin
Published: February 2022

Introduction: There is limited research about HBV reactivation (HBVr) due to direct-acting antivirals (DAA) for HCV and most are limited by short duration of follow-up, small sample size, and absence of baseline HBV DNA. We aimed to determine the incidence and clinical course of HBVr in HBsAg and/or anti-HBcIgG positive patients treated with DAA for HCV. Methods: Seven centers retrospectively analyzed their database on HCV patients treated with DAA between 2015 and 2019. Patients with HBV coinfection or resolved HBV infection were enrolled. Serum transaminases, HBsAg, HBeAg, and HBV DNA were followed every 4 weeks during DAA treatment and every 12 weeks 1 year after treatment. Entecavir or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate was started in case of HBVr. The development of HBVr, HBV flare, liver failure, and mortality were determined. Results: 852 patients received DAA treatment for HCV. Among them, 35 (4.1%) had HBV coinfection and 246 (28.9%) had resolved HBV infection. 257 patients (53.3% male, mean age: 63 ± 9) constituted the study group (29 with coinfection and 228 with resolved infection). Three patients with coinfection were HBV DNA positive. HBVr developed in 10 (34.5%) HBsAg positive patients, either during (n = 3) or 12–48 weeks after finishing DAA treatment. HBV flare and acute liver failure developed in 1 patient (3.4%), each. Two patients with resolved infection developed HBVr (0.87%) and one (0.44%) had HBV flare. Overall, none of the patients died or underwent liver transplantation due to HBVr. Conclusion: Patients with HBV/HCV coinfection have a high risk of HBVr after DAA treatment and should receive antiviral prophylaxis. Patients with resolved infection have a low risk of HBVr and can be monitored by serial ALT measurements.
Optimistic Attributional Style as a Predictor of Well-Being: Exploring the Mediating Roles of Gratitude and Savoring the Moment
Authors: Titova Grandchamp Victoria A. , Gordeeva Tamara O. , Sychev Oleg A.
Published: February 2022

Background. The construct of attributional style refers to the specific ways people explain events, both positive and negative. An optimistic attributional style (OAS) for negative events has been shown to be reliably associated with low rates of depression (Peterson et al., 1985; Sweeney et al., 1986; Hu et al., 2015). On the contrary, an optimistic attributional style for positive events is a separate phenomenon associated mainly with well-being, but these relationships remain underexplored. Objective. This study aimed to explore the predictive power of OAS-Positive, its relationships with subjective well-being, and possible personality mediators related to positive functioning. We hypothesized that the abilities to feel grateful and savor positive life events mediate the relationship between optimistic thinking about positive outcomes and subjective well-being. Design. A сross-sectional design was implemented. The participants were 271 adults from Moscow and Moscow Region (M age=32.42, SD=12.9). Results. The results of regression analysis showed that both life satisfaction and subjective happiness depended on gratitude, self-esteem, and dispositional optimism, but only happiness was predicted by savoring the moment. The results of structural equation modeling were consistent with the hypothesis since the structural model revealed that the effects of OAS-Positive on subjective well-being were fully mediated by gratitude and savoring the moment, as well as self-esteem and dispositional optimism. The mediated effects of OAS-Negative through self-esteem and gratitude were inconsistent, and its total indirect effect on subjective well-being was not significant. Conclusion. This research provides preliminary evidence that optimistic thinking about positive life events promotes subjective well-being through a system of positive psychological traits and attitudes which include gratitude and savoring the moment.
The Reception of Pistis Sophia and Gnosticism
Authors: Linjamaa Paul
Published: February 2022

This article surveys the reception of the Gnostic text Pistis Sophia in esoteric milieus in nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Europe. The first part of the article contains an overview of the text and scholarship on it. Then follows a study of the reception of Pistis Sophia in a broader array of esoteric circles. It becomes clear that the text was hailed as an example of ancient and great spiritual wisdom, although seldom discussed in detail theologically. Next, this is compared to the academic reception at the same time where it was, as previous scholars have made clear, discarded due to what was understood as a discrepancy with “Gnostic” characteristics. This article shows that Pistis Sophia was not discarded in esoteric circles but rather read in light of already established esoteric trajectories, for example Blavatsky’s, Krumm-Heller’s, or Papus’ particular spiritual evolutionary perspectives. Lastly, it is argued that the understanding of Gnosticisms that both these receptions reflect is still very much active today: academics and esoteric groups are guided by similar trajectories vis-à-vis Gnosticism, seeing it as a representative of a “universal religious essence” associated with progressive attitudes (for example regarding sex and gender), which allows/forces them to renegotiate the ancient sources themselves.
A revision of Lanonia (Arecaceae, Coryphoideae, Livistoninae)
Authors: HENDERSON ANDREW , DỰNG NGUYỄN QUỐC
Published: February 2022

A revision of Lanonia was carried out based on morphological data. Two hundred and eighteen herbarium specimens were examined and scored for 30 quantitative and 24 qualitative variables. Application of the Phylogenetic Species Concept to 13 preliminary species of Lanonia resulted in recognition of 19 phylogenetic species. Of these, six are recognized as new (L. honbaensis, L. honheoensis, L. kontumensis, L. montana, L. nuichuaensis, L. tenuisecta). Nomenclature, descriptions, and distribution maps are provided for all species. Images of the type specimens of all new species are provided as well as images of most qualitative variables.
Expanding the occurrence of Euryhalinema (Leptolyngbyaceae, Cyanobacteria) to the Atlantic Ocean and description of E. epiphyticum sp. nov. on the Brazilian coast
Authors: LOUREIRO DE ARAÚJO VALTER , FERREIRA DOS SANTOS MÁRCIO , SELBACH SCHNADELBACH ALESSANDRA , DE CASTRO NUNES JOSÉ MARCOS , DE FÁTIMA FIORE MARLI , AGUIAR CAIRES TAIARA
Published: February 2022

Two Leptolyngbya-like cyanobacterial strains were isolated from two marine benthic environments on the Brazilian coast. These strains were cultured and characterized based on their morphology, molecular, and ultrastructural data. The two taxa were identified mainly by 16S rRNA gene phylogeny and 16S-23S ITS secondary structures since their morphology is similar to members of Leptolyngbya senso lato. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that our strains belong to Euryhalinema genus (Leptolyngbyaceae), with one strain close to type species E. mangrovii AP9F (MK402979), and the other described as a new species, E. epiphyticum sp. nov. Morphologically, both strains form green mats, had trichomes without sheath, and their thylakoid disposition is the same as described for Leptolyngbyaceae. The secondary structures Box B and D1-D1’ of the internal transcribed spacer (16S–23S ITS) also corroborated our proposal of the new species E. epiphyticum. These findings constitute the first description of a new-to-science species for this genus outside Indian marine environments. Also, it expands the knowledge on Euryhalinema systematic.
Graptopetalum trujilloi (Crassulaceae), a new haplostemonous and critically endangered species endemic to western Mexico: comments on taxa of subg. Glassia
Authors: VÁZQUEZ-GARCÍA J. ANTONIO , ROSALES-MARTÍNEZ C. SANTIAGO , ACEVEDO-ROSAS RAÚL
Published: February 2022

Graptopetalum trujilloi (subg. Glassia, Crassulaceae), a new haplostemonous species from San Gabriel municipality, Jalisco, Mexico is described and illustrated. Its morphologically closest species is G. rosanevadoense. It differs from the latter in having a smaller habit, more numerous primary branches per inflorescence, larger mean flower density per 10 cm of the scape, fewer flowers per basal branch, smaller flower diameter, petals greenish with transversal inconspicuous red stripes, narrower petals, filaments greenish to distally reddish and carpels abaxially obtuse. A key to the haplostemonous species of Graptopetalum is provided and, according to IUCN criteria, the species was assessed as critically endangered (CR).
Investigation of the Texture Evolution and Superelastic Behavior During Annealing in a Ti–Zr–Nb–Sn Biomedical Shape Memory Alloy
Authors: Li Shuanglei , Rehman Izaz Ur , Choi Mi-Seon , Nam Tae-Hyun
Published: February 2022

Texture evolution and superelasticity of an annealed Ti–40Zr–8Nb–2Sn (at.%) shape memory alloy was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), electron back-scattered diffraction (EBSD), and tensile tests in this study. After severe cold rolling at room temperature, the
sheet was annealed between 773 and 1173 K. A single β phase was observed in the alloy specimens annealed between 873 and 1173 K. At 873 K, a microstructure with nonuniform β grains, grain sizes ranging from 0.3 to 19 μm, was observed, and the main texture
was identified to be {113}β 〈¯1 ¯21〉β. The {001}β 〈110〉β texture was formed at 973 K, and its intensity increased as the annealing temperature increased. At 1173 K, a very
strong {001}β 〈110〉 β texture was formed. Furthermore, the maximum intensity around the 〈012〉β direction was obtained in the rolling direction in the specimen annealed at 873 K. The maximum intensity around
the 〈110〉 β direction was obtained in the specimens annealed at 973– 1173 K, and it increased as the annealing temperature increased. A maximum recovery strain of 5.5% was achieved in the alloy specimen annealed at 1173 K, which was higher than those
in the specimens annealed at 873–1073 K. This is attributed to the strongest {001}β 〈110〉 β texture that developed at 1173 K as the grains grew after recrystallization.
Nano-Hydroxyapatite/Polyamide Can Repair and Reconstruct Spine by Accelerating Proliferation and Mineralization of Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Guan Zhengmao , Chen Fengmei , Zhang Yinquan
Published: February 2022

To determine the impact of nano-hydroxyapatite/polyamide (n-HA/PA) on proliferation and mineralization of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs). An optical microscope was used to determine the number of adhesive cells, CKK-8 for determining cell proliferation, ALP activity assay
along with ARS for evaluating mineralization, qRT-PCR for quantifying gene expression of osteopontin, osteonectin, collagen type I, DMP-1, lncRNA NEAT1, and miR-186, Western blotting for quantifying their protein, Starbase v.3.0 for forecasting binding sites of lncRNA NEAT1 with miR-186, and
dual-luciferase reporter gene assay for verifying the binding sites. The n-HA/PA group presented enhanced the proliferation of BMMSCs and ALP activities, increased calcium deposition strength and adhesive cells, upregulated osteopontin, osteonectin, collagen type I, and DMP-1 proteins and
NEAT1 expression and downregulated miR-186 than the control group not covered with n-HA/PA. Additionally, miR-186 is the downstream specific gene of lncRNA NEAT1. It can be seen from this, n-HA/PA can help repair and reconstruct the spine by accelerating the proliferation and mineralization
of BMMSCs.
Betulinic Acid-Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Hussein-Al-Ali Samer Hasan , Hussein Alali Sami Hasan , Al-Ani Raad , Alkrad Jamal Alyoussef , Abudoleh Suha Mujahed , Abdallah Abualassal Qais Ibrahim , Ayoub Rami , Hussein Mohd Zobir , Bullo Saifullah , Palanisamy Arulselvan
Published: February 2022

Betulinic acid (BETA) as an anticancer drug, was interacted with the surface of graphene oxide (GO) to form BETA-GO nanocomposites. The GO was prepared from graphite (Gr). The successfully produced nanocomposite was characterized using various techniques. The general interaction between
BETA and GO occurs through pi–pi stacking and hydrogen bonding, and therefore, the BETA may be slowly released from GO in pH 7.4 within 67 hours. The UV analysis showed that the loading is about 63.5 wt%. The TEM images for GO and BETA-GO nanocomposites show average particle sizes of
123 and 151 nm, respectively. In vitro biological systems, such as skin cancer cells (B16) and normal fibroblasts (3T3) were treated with different amounts of suspended solutions of BETA, GO, and BETA-GO for 72 hour. The BETA-GO nanocomposite showed inhibitory properties towards B16
cancer cell generation without affecting 3T3 normal cell generation. In conclusion, we display a modified GO with BETA system with an enhanced ability to kil B16 tumor cells with sustained release properties.
Preparation of Nanographene and Its Effect on the Correlation Between N-Terminal Pro Brain-Type Natriuretic Peptide, Peripheral Blood Copeptin Level and Cardiac Function Grading of Patients with Heart Failure
Authors: Xu Lei , Gai Luyue , Yang Fang , Wu Shuo
Published: February 2022

At present, biosensors based on nanomaterials are increasingly adopted in clinical detection of heart failure (HF) patients. This work aimed to analyze the correlation between N-terminal pro brain-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and copeptin (CPT) levels in order to study the grading
of heart function in patients with HF under the fluorescence platform built on nanographene. The and detection principle of of nanographene solution was prepared, and After its physical and chemical properties were tested, the nanographene solution was then used to detect the expression levels
of NT-proBNP and CPT in patients with heart failure. Seventy-two patients with heart failure who came to hospital were selected as the observation group, and another 50 healthy people with physical examination were selected as the control group. The results showed that the constructed nanographene
solution mixed with NT-proBNP didn’t exhibit fluorescence quenching. Therefore, it was feasible to detect NT-proBNP with nanographene solution. The test results obtained after the detection of different concentrations of nanographene showed that 20 μg/mL nanographene had the
best fluorescence quenching effect. The ROC curve of the constructed nanographene had improved specificity in judging heart failure and had better diagnostic performance. The levels of pro-brain natriuretic peptide and copeptin in patients with heart failure were obviously higher than those
in the observation group, and there was considerable difference between the two (P < 0.05). After correlation analysis, it was found that the levels of terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide and copeptin in patients with heart failure were positively correlated with the grade of
heart function in patients with heart failure. In summary, the nanographene solution used in this study can accurately detect the expression level of NT-proBNP in patients with heart failure, and the accuracy and efficiency of diagnosis were improved in patients with heart failure. Moreover,
the higher the grade of cardiac function in HF patients, the higher NT-proBNP and CPT levels, and there was positive correlation between cardiac function grade and NT-proBNP and CPT levels.
Preparation of Cu–Ni–Pt Nano-Cube and Its Application for the Detection of Nanobacteria on Influences of Flexible Ureteroscopy Lithotomy and Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy on Immune Function of Patients with Renal Calculus
Authors: Gu Xin , Jing Liwei , Wang Andi , Dai Yongqiang , Zhao Jianyong , Shao Chunyan
Published: February 2022

This work aimed to find a surgical method suitable for the clinical treatment of renal calculus, and to find a new type of nanomaterial suitable for the detection of nanobacteria. In this paper, Cu–Ni–Pt nano cube was preparation, then the combination of peptidoglycan and
Pt–Ni–Cu–NCs was verified. Through continuous surface treatment and continuous modification, an electrochemical biosensor for detecting the content of nanobacteria in the body of renal calculus patients was successfully constructed. 85 patients with renal calculus were d
Randomly divided into two groups, percutaneous nephrolithotomy group (PCNL group, 43 patients) and ureteroscope lithotomy (URL group, 42 patients). The venous blood was collected to test tumor necrosis factorα (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6),
and IL-8 levels. Flow cytometry was employed to detect CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocyte levels. A biosensor for the detection of nanobacteria was constructed based on peptidoglycan and Cu–Ni–Pt nano cubes (Pt–Ni–Cu–NCs), and applied to the detection
of nanobacteria in the blood and urine of patients after surgery. It was found that the detection range of the constructed nanobacteria detection sensor was 1.3×102~1.5×108 CFU/mL, which had a good linear relationship. Moreover, within 30 minutes, the detection
of nanobacteria in blood and urine was achieved, and a broad-spectrum detection was achieved. In contrast to PCNL group, CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and CD8+ were significantly lower in the URL group (P < 0.05). The detection rates of nanobacteria in blood and
urine in PCNL group were 10% and 11.2%, respectively; those of URL group were 6.8% and 5.9%, respectively. Detected by the biosensor, the nanobacteria content was lower after URL treatment, and the immune function was at a higher level, which was more conducive to postoperative recovery.
Detection of α1 and β2-Microglobulin Using Gold Nanoparticle-Based Duplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay
Authors: Zou Guming , Wang Xueling , Gao Hongmei
Published: February 2022

This study aims to explore the sensitivity of nanoparticle-assisted polymerase chain reaction (nano-PCR) in α1 and β2-microglobulin (MG) detection in urine samples. Three urine MG-positive samples from patients with nephritis, confirmed by a nephelometry immunoassay
and conventional reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, were used for a nano-PCR specificity test. Eight dilution series of urine MG-positive samples from patients with nephritis with a ten-fold decrease by sequence (6.25×107–6.25×100 copies/μL) were
chosen for nano-PCR sensitivity verification. Forty-eight selected urine samples with weak positive MG detected using nephelometry immunoassay were tested by the two types of PCR mentioned above. The detection value was compared between the nano-PCR and nephelometry immunoassay in MG detection.
As compared to the conventional PCR, nano-PCR had higher specificity and ten-fold higher detection sensitivity. The nano-PCR produced brighter bands and had a higher gene relative expression level than the conventional RT-PCR in the urine sediment specimen with a weak positive MG. The accuracy
and sensitivity of nano-PCR were significantly higher than those of the nephelometry immunoassay. Therefore, we believe that nano-PCR may play an important role in the detection of kidney disease in the future.
Preparation of Nanoscale Graphene Oxide and Its Application on β-Catenin Expression in Pediatric Osteosarcoma Cells Combine with Probiotics
Authors: Zhang Shengling , Zhuang Yan , Jin Shaobin , Wang Kelai
Published: February 2022

This work aimed to study the effect of nanoscale graphene oxide (NGO) and probiotics on the expression of β-catenin (chain protein) in pediatric osteosarcoma (OSA) cells. Ninety pediatric patients with OSA were taken as the research object, who were classified into control
group, GO (NGO) group, and probiotics group. Their tumor tissues were collected and cultured. NGO materials were prepared by adding N, N-dimethylformamide solvent into graphite powder. The control group was interfered with normal saline, the GO group was treated with NGO, and the probiotics
group was interfered with mixed bacterial solution. The results showed that the expression of β-catenin mRNA in GO group and probiotics group was considerably inferior to control group (P < 0.05). Expression of β-catenin protein in control group increased,
while that in GO group and probiotics group decreased. The OSA cell counts of GO group and probiotics group were evidently lower relative to control group (P < 0.05). In short, NGO and probiotics can reduce the expression of β-catenin protein in pediatric OSA cells, and
inhibition of signaling pathway that involved β-catenin can suppress the proliferation of OSA cells.
Preparation of Nano-Silver Dressing for Application on Postoperative Rehabilitation Nursing of Patients with Gastrointestinal Surgery
Authors: Shen Xiaoqun , Ying Rongchao , Zhu Akao
Published: February 2022

This study was to explore the effect of nursing and repairing methods of nano-silver dressing (NSD) on the postoperative rehabilitation of gastrointestinal surgery (GIS) patients. For preparation of the nano-silver dressing, ammonia water was added to the solution containing silver
particles to generate ammonium nitrate, and the coating solution was then uniformly coated on the surface of the substrate layer, and pre-baked at 100–180 °C to finally obtain a medical dressing. 80 GIS patients admitted to the hospital were selected and randomly divided into the
control group treated with ordinary dressing (40 cases, group OD) and the observation group treated with NSD (40 cases, group NSD). The treatment effect and postoperative recovery results of the two groups of patients were compared, and the performance of the NSD was tested. The results showed
that it was found that the recovery status of patients in group NSD was better (P < 0.05), and the NSD had good bacteria killing effect and microbial barrier effect. In conclusion, NSD could continue to act on the wound surface, improve the body’s immunity, and promote the
rapid recovery of postoperative incisions, with obvious clinical effect.
Preparation of Puerarin Nanocrystals and Their Application on Rats with Myocardial Ischemic Injury Combined with Electroacupuncture-PC6 (Neiguan)
Authors: Kong Lingjuan , Jia Yejuan , Li Tianyu , Chen Yu , Pan Lijia , Jia Chunsheng
Published: February 2022

The effect of electroacupuncture PC6 (Neiguan) combined with puerarin nanocrystal preparation (PUE-NP) on myocardial injury and autophagy in a rat model with myocardial ischemia was explored in this study. PUE-NPs were first prepared, and there was an analysis on the fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), particle size distribution of nanocrystalline preparation, Zeta potential, and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) characterization, so as to analyze the difference in the in vitro cumulative release rate of PUE and PUE-NPs. Secondly, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were
taken as the subjects investigated. Besides, they were divided randomly into a sham surgery group (Sham), a myocardial ischemia model group (Model), an electroacupuncture Neiguan acupoint pretreatment model group (EA+M), an electroacupuncture Neiguan acupoint pretreatment combined with PUE
treatment model group (EA+PUE+M), and an acupuncture Neiguan point pretreatment combined with PUENPs treatment model group (EA+PUE-NPs+M). Then, the rats were treated with abdominal anesthesia, and their serums were extracted to detect the differences in serum creatine kinase MB isoenzyme
(CK-MB) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) concentrations. After the rats were sacrificed, myocardial tissues were taken out, and the Western blot, hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining were employed
to detect apoptosis index, pathological changes of myocardial tissue morphology, and expression differences of autophagy-related protein, such as Beclin-1, LC3, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). It was found that the average particle size of PUE-NPs was 155.9±17.3 nm, and the
average Zeta potential was −15.3±2.1 mV. FTIR and XRD maps displayed that PUE-NPs nanoparticles were successfully prepared, and had a longer lasting in vitro release rate compared with PUE bulk drugs. The results of animal experiments indicated that the myocardial infarction
area, serum LDH and CK-MB concentration, and myocardial cell apoptosis index, LC3II/I ratio, mTOR phosphorylation level, and Beclin-1 protein expression level of rats from the EA+M group, EA+PUE+M group, and EA+PUENPs+ M group reduced sharply compared with the model group (P < 0.05). Compared
with the EA+M group, the above indicators of rats from the EA+PUE+M group and EA+PUE-NPs +M group dropped steeply (P < 0.05). Besides, the above indicators of rats from the EA +PUE-NPs+M group were lower obviously than those indicators of the EA+PUE+M group (P < 0.05). In conclusion,
the above results revealed that the combination of electroacupuncture PC6 (Neiguan) and PUE preparation could improve myocardial cell apoptosis and autophagy levels in rats with myocardial ischemia, while the improvement effect of combining PUE-NPs was more marked.
High-Performance Humidity Sensing of Arsenic Based Chalcogenide Thin Films at Different Frequencies
Authors: Mishra Surabhi , Lohia Pooja , Chaudhary Priyanka , Yadav B. C. , Dwivedi D. K. , Fouad Hassan , Akhtar M. S.
Published: February 2022

Present paper consists of the study of arsenic-based chalcogenide thin film for sensing elements for humidity sensors. The chemical composition of the prepared sensing element makes it more sensitive towards water molecule absorption and hence affects sensitivity. The bulk samples of
Ge–Se–Te–As composition were prepared using the conventional melt-quench technique and the thin films were obtained using the thermal evaporation method. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to analyze the structural characteristics of
the prepared sensing element. Tauc’s plot, using UV-Vis spectrophotometer data, was used to determine the optical bandgap of the sensing materials. The relative humidity (RH) variation of the prepared sensing element was recorded in the range of 10%–90%. The sensitivity of the
prepared sensing membrane was obtained as 8.54 MΩ/%RH, 9.724 MΩ/%RH, 10.257 MΩ/%RH for x = 10, 20, 30 respectively. The repeatability of the prepared samples was also reported to increase with Arsenic concentration.
Porous Metal Organic Framework for the Chemical Fixation of CO2 and Operation Nursing Application Values on Postoperative Infection
Authors: Cui Jifang , Wu Lichun
Published: February 2022

A porous 3D metal–organic framework (MOF) with NbO topology was prepared at ambient temperature by utilizing the paddle wheel dinuclear secondary building units of Co2(COO)4 and tertiary amine groups as an active center. Its chemical formula is {[Co2(L)(H2O)2]·(3DMF)(4H2O)}n
(1, H4L is 5, 5′-(piperazine-1,4-diyl)diisophthalic acid). The activated MOF 1 possesses a rich porous structure, high Langmuir and BET surface areas, and abundant Lewis acid (CoII) catalytic sites and tertiary amino groups. This catalyst is suitable
for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO2 with TBAB catalyst under a no solvent or mild reaction. Its treatment activity on postoperative bacterial infection was also determined, and bacterial survival was calculated. Relative ftsZ expression in bacteria was measured
by real time RT-PCR.
Mechanical Properties of SiC Whisker-Reinforced Aluminum Matrix Composite Wheel
Authors: Wang Xiangling , Shi Xiaoling
Published: February 2022

Carbon fiber composite has advantages such as high specific heat capacity, low coefficient of thermal expansion and low elastic modulus. The SiC whisker-reinforced aluminum (SiCw-Al) matrix composite wheel has been developed to address the thermal fatigue failure of wheels caused by
the braking heat. This paper studied the thermal cycle characteristics, crack propagation and fracture mechanism of SiCw-Al matrix composite wheel. Using finite element simulation technology, it compared the fatigue life of both the SiCw-Al matrix composite wheel and the traditional steel
wheel. According to the findings, during braking, the wheel made of SiCw-Al matrix composites has 20.1% lower maximum temperature than the ordinary steel wheel; Its maximum safety factor (yield strength/maximum stress) has increased by 1.08, and its fatigue life is significantly longer. The
SiCw-Al matrix composites show excellent mechanical properties and is thus widely used.
COVID-19 as America’s Stress Test
Authors: Lawlor Edward F.
Published: February 2022

COVID-19 exposed and tested many dimensions of the support system for vulnerable groups and communities. The convergence of racial, political, and economic upheaval amplified and complicated the effects of the pandemic. Social science demonstrated impressive responses in data collection, real-time analyses, and policy guidance. Articles in this volume demonstrate many of these innovations in data and methods. Despite their diversity, these articles also demonstrate consistent themes in the geographical and population targeting of the pandemic, the underlying social vulnerability of particular groups and communities, and the residual population consequences that will occupy researchers and policy-makers for the foreseeable future. Long-term social and economic impacts, from the mental health consequences of death and tragedy to the setbacks in education, job mobility, household financial security, and health, need to become the focus of an ongoing program of research and policy development.
When Public Health Crises Become Entwined: How Trends in COVID-19, Deaths of Despair, and Well-Being Track across the United States
Authors: Dobson Emily , Graham Carol , Dodd Ethan
Published: February 2022

COVID-19 landed in a United States that is deeply divided in opportunity, health, and hope; a reality that is manifest in the million lives lost to deaths of despair in the past decade. We explore the places and populations most vulnerable to COVID and where they coincide with vulnerability to despair deaths. We use well-being metrics to explore spillover effects from the confluence of COVID and despair. Our earlier research finds that metrics like lack of hope and worry track with mortality patterns, with minorities more optimistic and less likely to die of despair deaths than whites. Using EMS first responder data, we compare trends in 2020 with those in 2018 to 2019, assessing excess deaths of despair and new survey data to explore changes in well-being. Remarkably, the cohorts with the highest COVID death rates—low-income Blacks—still report more optimism than other cohorts.
Brief introductions to Anglican theology: Christian mission
Authors: Zink Jesse
Published: February 2022

This essay explores changing understandings of Anglican mission from the nineteenth century to the present. Three periods are identified. First, when mission was practiced “over there” (in the period before World War II), then when mission was understood in terms of mutuality (in the postwar era), and finally when mission was understood as being everywhere (from the end of the Cold War to the present). The essay pays attention to shifting theological rationales for mission and demonstrates how ecclesiology and eschatology are critical themes for Anglicans in relation to mission. The essay concludes with suggestions for Anglican mission theology and how ecclesiological and eschatological emphases can be combined in a mutually enriching fashion.
Book review: Uma Das Gupta, ed., Friendships of ‘Largeness and Freedom’: Andrews, Tagore and Gandhi—An Epistolary Account, 1912–1940
Authors: Sen Amiya P.
Published: February 2022

Uma Das Gupta, ed., Friendships of ‘Largeness and Freedom’: Andrews, Tagore and Gandhi—An Epistolary Account, 1912–1940. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2018, 580 pp.
Book review: Sahara Ahmed, Woods, Mines and Minds: Politics of Survival in Jalpaiguri and the Jungle Mahals, 1860–1970
Authors: Kamra Lipika
Published: February 2022

Sahara Ahmed, Woods, Mines and Minds: Politics of Survival in Jalpaiguri and the Jungle Mahals, 1860–1970. Delhi: Primus Books, 2019, 300 pp.
End of Life Therapeutic Videography in Pediatrics: Feasibility and Acceptability
Authors: Hirsh Cassandra D. , Grossoehme Daniel H. , Tsirambidis Haralambos , Richner Gwendolyn , Friebert Sarah
Published: February 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the feasibility and acceptability of using videography to alleviate the stress of anticipatory mourning in pediatric palliative care patients. A secondary aim was to expand palliative/end of life care research by performing a more comprehensive examination of children’s experiences with life-shortening illness. Methods: Eligible patients ages eight and older made a legacy video with the assistance of investigative staff and completed a questionnaire to evaluate their emotional states before and after making the video. Bereaved parents also received a questionnaire to assess the impact of the legacy. Results : Nine patients enrolled and eight completed the study through the therapeutic exit interview. Most reported decreased anxiety and a positive experience. Conclusion : Therapeutic videography is feasible and acceptable to accomplish and can improve the emotional state of participants. Conducting research requiring active participation of patients very near the end of life proved to be challenging.
Impacts of political fragmentation on inclusive economic resilience: Examining American metropolitan areas after the Great Recession
Authors: Lee Soomi , Wang Shu
Published: February 2022

We propose the concept of inclusive economic resilience to examine intra-regional economic recovery in American metropolitan areas after the Great Recession. Previous studies have treated regional and municipal economic resilience separately, with little attention to within-region variations in economic resilience. We contribute to the understanding of regional economic resilience by focusing on intra-regional economic recovery in cities. We also introduce an important yet overlooked regional factor in the context of American federalism – fragmentation of local governments. Examining US metropolitan areas from 2007 to 2017, we find that different dimensions of local fragmentation exert different impacts on intra-regional economic resilience. Our results indicate that a large number of municipal governments and greater service responsibilities borne by special and school districts lead to uneven economic recovery. In contrast, similar fiscal responsibilities taken by municipal governments promote inclusive income recovery.
Light violence at the threshold of acceptability
Authors: Laing Ebbensgaard Casper
Published: February 2022

This paper shows how residential high-rise developments in London deteriorate the living conditions for existing residents and set a legal precedent for distributing harm unevenly across the population. The paper unpacks the contentious decision-making process in one of several local planning applications in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets that ended in a spur of high-profile public planning inquiries between 2017 and 2019. The Enterprise House inquiry shows how, among other things, a loss of daylight, sunlight and outlook, and an increased sense of enclosure, affect already marginalised residents in neighbouring buildings disproportionately, elevating light to a legal category for assessing harm and addressing social injustice in the vertical city. The paper adopts a forensic approach to interrogate four instances during the public inquiry, in which numerical evidence of material harm resulting from a loss in daylight, sunlight and outlook was made to appear and disappear. The translation of scientific evidence into legal evidence is performed through the act of claiming ‘truthful’ representations of ‘real life experiences’ of light in digital visualisations. By revealing how material harm resulting from vertical development is normalised and thus naturalised in the planning inquiry, the paper demonstrates how ‘light’ violence is exercised in vertical development.
New urban habits in Stockholm following COVID-19
Authors: Legeby Ann , Koch Daniel , Duarte Fábio , Heine Cate , Benson Tom , Fugiglando Umberto , Ratti Carlo
Published: February 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, physical distancing, mobility restrictions and self-isolation measures were implemented around the world as the primary intervention to prevent the virus from spreading. Urban life has undergone sweeping changes, with people using spaces in new ways. Stockholm is a particularly relevant case of this phenomenon since most facilities, such as day care centres and schools, have remained open, in contrast to cities with a broader lockdown. In this study, we use Twitter data and an online map survey to study how COVID-19 restrictions have impacted the use of different locations, services and amenities in Stockholm. First, we compare the spatial distribution of 87,000 geolocated tweets pre-COVID-19 and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, we analyse 895 survey responses asking people to identify places they ‘still visit’, ‘use more’, ‘avoid’ and self-report reasons for using locations. The survey provides a nuanced understanding of whether and how restrictions have affected people. Service and seclusion were found to be important; therefore, the accessibility of such amenities was analysed, demonstrating how changes in urban habits are related to conditions of the local environment. We find how different parts of the city show different capacities to accommodate new habits and mitigate the effects of restrictions on people’s use of urban spaces. In addition to the immediate relevance to COVID-19, this paper thus contributes to understanding how restrictions on movement and gathering, in any situation, expose more profound urban challenges related to segregation and social inequality.
Longitudinal and reciprocal relationships between self-esteem, school adjustment, and happiness in Korean secondary school students
Authors: In Hyoyeon
Published: February 2022

Although personal and environmental correlates of adolescents’ happiness have been found, the temporal direction of these relationships is less known. The present study explored the longitudinal and reciprocal relationships between self-esteem, school adjustment, and happiness during secondary school years in South Korea. Longitudinal data of 2,351 adolescents from three time points (Grades 7, 9, and 11) were drawn from the Korean Children and Youth Panel Survey (KCYPS) and were analyzed using autoregressive cross-lagged modeling. The results indicated that inter-individual differences in self-esteem, school adjustment, and happiness were moderately stable from Grades 7 to 11. Self-esteem and happiness, and self-esteem and school adjustment reciprocally predicted each other over time. The effects of self-esteem on happiness and school adjustment two years later were stronger than the reverse direction of effects. School adjustment and happiness were only indirectly interrelated through self-esteem over time. These longitudinal relationships did not differ between genders. The implications of the findings for future research and adolescent interventions are discussed.
Expert-recommended biomedical journal articles: Their retractions or corrections, and post-retraction citing
Authors: Wang Peiling , Su Jing
Published: February 2022

Faculty Opinions has provided recommendations of important biomedical publications by domain experts (FMs) since 2001. The purpose of this study is two-fold: (1) identify the characteristics of the expert-recommended articles that were subsequently retracted and (2) investigate what happened after retraction. We examined a set of 232 recommended, later retracted or corrected articles. These articles were classified as New Finding (43%), Interesting Hypothesis (16%), and so on. More than 71% of the articles acknowledged funding support; the National Institutes of Health, USA (NIH) was a top funder (64%). The top reasons for retractions were Errors of various types (28%); Falsification/fabrication of data, image, or results (20%); Unreliable data, image, or results (16%); and Results not reproducible (16%). Retractions took from less than 2 months to more than 15 years. Only 15% of recommendations were withdrawn either after dissents were made by other FMs or after retractions. Most of the retracted articles continue to be cited post-retraction, especially those published in Nature, Science, and Cell. Significant positive correlations were observed between post-retraction citations and pre-retraction citations, between post-retraction citations and peak citations, and between post-retraction citations and the post-retraction citing span. A significant negative correlation was also observed between the post-retraction citing span and years taken to reach peak citations. Literature recommendation systems need to update the changing status of the recommended articles in a timely manner; invite the recommending experts to update their recommendations; and provide a personalised mechanism to alert users who have accessed the recommended articles on their subsequent retractions, concerns, or corrections.
Probation officers working with women offenders in the community: Evidence from Catalonia
Authors: Vasilescu Cristina
Published: February 2022

The purpose of this article is to analyse the experiences of probation officers who supervise women in the community in Catalonia. To this end, qualitative research involving 15 semi-structured interviews with probation officers in Barcelona and Girona was carried out. The results show that professionals agree that there are important gender differences in relation to: (a) personal and penal characteristics and (b) supervision style. The perceptions of practitioners and existing empirical data are broadly consistent. Women who serve community sentences have a wide range of problems, needs and responsibilities compared to men, which is often reflected in the fact that women's attendance is much more irregular, an issue that presents multiple challenges for practitioners. Probation officers already carry out different gender-responsive practises, however, they face different challenges in a gender-insensitive probation system. Furthermore, given the great heterogeneity of the female service users compared to the men, service provision for women in the community also needs to be intersectionally-responsive. Based on these disparities, the elements of probation that the professionals believe work better with women and those that could be improved are discussed.