bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-throughput proteomics identifies THEMIS2 as independent biomarker of treatment-free survival in untreated CLL
Authors: Hengeveld Paul , Kolijn Pieter Martijn , Demmers Jeroen , Doff Wouter , Dubois Julie , Rijken Melissa , Assmann Jorn , Straten Lina van der , Boiten Henk Jan , Gussinklo Kirsten , Valk Peter , Faber Laura , Westerweel Peter , Kater Arnon , Levin Mark-David , Langerak Anton
Published: December 2022

It remains challenging in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) to distinguish between patients with favorable and unfavorable time to first treatment (TTFT). Additionally, the downstream protein correlates of well-known molecular features of CLL are not always clear. To address this, we selected 40 CLL patients with TTFT ≤ 24 months and compared their B cell intracellular protein expression with 40 age- and sex-matched CLL patients with TTFT > 24 months using mass spectrometry. In total, 3268 proteins were quantified in the cohort. IGHV mutational status and trisomy 12 were most impactful on the CLL proteome. Comparing cases to controls, five proteins were significantly upregulated, whereas three proteins where significantly downregulated. Of these, only THEMIS2, a signaling protein acting downstream of the B cell receptor, was significantly associated with TTFT, independently of IGHV and TP53 mutational status (HR 2.49, [95%CI 1.62–3.84], P < 0.001). This association was validated on the mRNA and protein level by qPCR and ELISA, respectively. Analysis of two independently generated RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry datasets confirmed the association between THEMIS2 expression and clinical outcome. In conclusion, we present a comprehensive characterization of the proteome of untreated CLL and identify THEMIS2 expression as a putative biomarker of TTFT.
Knowledge, perception, and desire for pain relief in labor among Iranian pregnant women
Authors: Moradi Fereshteh , Hashemian Morteza , Hosseini Fatemeh Sadat , Shafiei Shohreh , Alidousti Katayoun
Published: December 2022

Background: One way to promote vaginal delivery and reduce unnecessary cesarean section, is by paying attention to labor pain relief techniques. The aim was to investigate knowledge, perceptions, and desire for pain relief in labor among Iranian pregnant women
Methods: This descriptive study was conducted on 325 pregnant women who referred to prenatal clinics in 2020 and met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire on painless delivery. Data analysis was performed using SPSS v.21.
Results: Most of the respondents (74%) were between 20-29 years old. 19.69% of participants were nulliparous and 62.76% had diplomas.72% were housewives. 56.61% of the participants had not enough information about pain relief in labor. Only 14 people of whom had information, (9.92%) desired to experience pain relief in labor. Many of the respondents 90.76% were worried about the effects of pain relief on their unborn. 44.68% of participants, who had information about pain relief in labor; got their information regarding pain relief in labor through Internet sources.
Conclusions:Due to the low level of awareness of pregnant women to use painless delivery and labor pain relief techniques, it is recommended that the necessary measures be taken in order to increase women’s knowledge of the benefits and limitations of painless delivery.
BNT162b2 or CoronaVac as the Third Dose against Omicron: Neutralizing Antibody Responses Among Transplant Recipients Who Had Received Two Doses of CoronaVac
Authors: Erol Çiğdem , Kuloğlu Zeynep Ece , Kayaaslan Bircan , Esken Gülen , Altınsoy Adalet , Barlas Tayfun , Çınar Güle , Hasanoğlu İmran , Oruç Ebru , İncir Said , Azap Alpay , Korkmaz Gülten , Gökçe Dilara Turan , Kırımker Onur Elvan , Yenigün Ezgi Coşkun , Ölçücüoğlu Erkan , Soy Ebru Ayvazoğlu , Çetinkünar Süleyman , Azap Özlem Kurt , Can Füsun , Haberal Mehmet
Published: December 2022

Introduction: We evaluated neutralizing antibody and anti-spike antibody (anti-S) response against omicron variant in solid organ (SOT) or hematopoietic stem cell (HSTC) receivers after third dose of BNT162b2 (BNT) or CoronaVac (CV) following two doses of CV.
Methods: In total, 95 participants who underwent SOT (n=62; 44 liver, 18 kidney) or HSCT (n=27; 5 allogeneic, 22 autologous) were included from five centers in Turkey. The median time between third doses and serum sampling was 154 days. The vaccine-induced antibody responses of both neutralizing antibodies and Anti-Spike antibodies were assessed by plaque neutralizing assay and immunoassay.
Results: Neutralizing antibody and anti-spike IgG levels were significantly higher in transplant patients receiving BNT compared to those receiving CV (GMT:26.76 vs 10.89; p=0.03 and 2116 Au/ml vs 172.1 Au/ml; p<0.001). Solid organ transplantation recipients, particularly liver transplant recipients, showed lower antibody levels than HSCT recipients. Thus, among HSCT recipients, the GMT after BNT was 91.29 and it was 15.81 in the SOT group (p<0.001). In SOT, antibody levels after BNT in kidney transplantation recipients was significantly higher than that in liver transplantation recipients (GMT:48.32 vs 11.72) (p<0.001). Besides, the neutralizing antibody levels after CV were very low (GMT: 10.81) in kidney transplantation recipients and below the detection limit (<10) in liver transplant recipients. There was a weak correlation between the neutralizing and anti-Spike antibody responses (r=0.36).
Conclusion:
This study highlights the superiority of BNT responses against omicron as a third dose among transplant recipients after two doses of CV. Lack of neutralizing antibody against omicron after CV in liver transplant recipients should be taken into consideration particularly in countries where inactivated vaccines are available in addition to mRNA vaccines.
A case of nasal extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma of lower limb muscle revealed by 18F-FDG PET/CT
Authors: Hu Xianwen , Li Wenxin , Li Dandan , Wang Pan , Cai Jiong
Published: December 2022

Background: Extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTCL) is a type of malignant non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma originating from mature T cells and NK cells, mainly involving the upper aerodigestive tract including the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, oropharynx, oral cavity, hypopharynx, larynx, and occasionally in the skin, salivary glands, testes, and gastrointestinal tract, but rarely in skeletal muscle.
Case presentation: An 82-year-old man presented with redness, swelling, and pain in his right lower limb for 3 months. He was initially diagnosed as cellulitis at another hospital, and was treated conservatively for two weeks without improvement. He underwent biopsy of the lesioned muscle and histopathology revealed nasal type ENKTCL. 18F-FDG PET/CT was recommended for the staging of the lymphoma, and the results showed that except for the muscles of the right lower extremity, no other organs and tissues were involved.
Conclusion: ENKTCL confined to the muscle of the lower extremity is rare and often initially misdiagnosed as myositis because of red, swollen, heat, and painful symptoms that resemble inflammation, of which higher radioactive uptake in 18F-FDG PET/CT helps to distinguish it from myositis.
Effect of the Blended Workshop Learning and Web-based Learning Sequence on the Learning Level: A new Experiment
Authors: Paknia Babak , Rafiei Mohammad , Khorsandi Mahboobeh , ramezani ghobad
Published: December 2022

Background and Objective: The blended electronic learning system, raised as a new approach in educational planning with great enthusiasm, seeks novel ways to properly combine the media; however, the sequence of in-person and distance educational methods is an issue neglected so far. This study aims to compare the effect of the sequence of blended workshop learning and web-based learning on the learning level of biostatistics in students who were members of the Student Research Committee at Arak Medical Sciences University.
Methodology: This is a quasi-experimental study with an alternative treatment design. The statistical population consisted of the students who were members of the Student Research Committee of the university, including 38 medical students and 15 health students, who were selected through census sampling due to their limited number. The data were selected with 2 questionnaires: demographic characteristics and biostatistics multiple-choice questions to assess learning of statistical concepts in three levels of literacy, reasoning, and thinking. The validity and reliability of the translated statistics questions were assessed through content validity and bisection, respectively. The data were analyzed in SPSS-16 through independent and paired t-tests and analysis of variance.
Findings: The results showed a statistical difference between the groups in both faculties in statistical literacy and reasoning in blended learning (p>0.05). However, regarding statistical thinking, the difference was significant in the health faculty (p=0.044) and insignificant in the medical school (p>0.05).
Discussion: Given the statistical difference observed in the health group, we suggest holding in-person courses at first and online courses then.
Ultra-thin 2D bimetallic MOF nanosheets for highly sensitive and stable detection of glucose in sweat for dancers
Authors: Mao Yufei , Chen Tangchun , Hu Yifan , Son Gack(Kwan)Jung
Published: December 2022

The measurement of glucose concentration in sweat is expected to replace the existing blood glucose detection, which realize the effective way of non-invasive monitoring of human glucose concentration during human sports. High precision glucose detection can be achieved by adjusting the electrode material of the sensor. Thus, in this work, the bimetallic organic frameworks (bi-MOFs) materials containing Mn and Ni ions (NiMn-MOF) with ultrathin nanosheets have been exquisitely designed. The ultrathin nanosheet and heterogeneous metal ions in the structure optimize the electronic structure, which improvs the electrical conductivity of MOFs. The success of the preparation strategy leads the good electrocatalytic performance of NiMn-MOF for glucose detection. Detailly, NiMn-MOF shows high sensitivity of 1576 μA mM-1 cm-2 in the linear rang from 0 to 0.205 mM and the wide linear region of 0.255-2.655 mM and 3.655-5.655 mM were also observe. In addition, the high repeatability, reproductivity, long-term stability and ultra-low limited of detection (LOD, 0.28 μM, S/N=3) provide foundation for the practical sensor application of this NiMn-MOF nanosheets. Remarkably, as designed NiMn-MOF sensor can accurately measure glucose concentration in sweat showing great potential in the field of wearable glucose monitoring during dancing.
Association of Blood Lipid Profile Components with White Matter Hyperintensity Burden in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Authors: Li Shanshan , Wang Yunchao , Yu Lulu , Gao Yuan , Yang Yinghao , Zhu Hanghang , An Lu , Yuan Wenxin , Wu Jinghao , Zong Ce , Xu Yuming , Li Yusheng
Published: December 2022

Background: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) refers to a common cerebrovascular disease and white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) constitute a typical feature of CSVD. However, there has not been a large number of studies investigating the relationship between lipid profile components and WMHs.
Methods: Altogether, 1019 patients with CSVD were enrolled to the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University between April 2016 to December 2021. Baseline data were collected for all patients, including demographic characteristics and clinical data. WMH volumes were evaluated by two experienced neurologists using the MRIcro software. Multivariate regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship among the severity of WMHs, blood lipids and common risk factors.
Results: Altogether, 1019 patients with CSVD were enrolled, including 255 in the severe WMH group and 764 in the mild WMH group. After including age, sex and blood lipids to construct a multivariate logistic regression equation, we observed that the severity of WMHs was independently predicted by low-density lipoprotein (LDL), the ratio of LDL to high-density lipoprotein (LDL/HDL), homocysteine level, and history of cerebral infarction.
Conclusion: We used WMH volume, a highly accurate measure, to assess its relationship with lipid profiles. The WMH volume increased with a decrease in LDL and LDL/HDL. This relationship was more significant especially among the subgroups of patients aged <70 years and men. Patients with cerebral infarction and higher homocysteine levels were more likely to have higher WMH volumes. Our study has provided a reference for clinical diagnosis and therapy, especially for discussing the role of blood lipid profiles in the pathophysiology of CSVD.
A Least-Squares Image Matching Method for Precise 3D Registration of Airborne LiDAR Data and High-Resolution Satellite Images
Authors: Safdarinezhad Alireza
Published: December 2022

3D registration of high-resolution satellite imagery (HRSI) and airborne LiDAR data can be done by the availability of some matched positions for estimating the 3D transforms such as 3D affine or rational functions. The main idea of this paper is the estimation of the 3D registration parameters (here, the 3D Affine) based on the Least-Squares Image Matching (LSIM) method. Traditionally, in the LSIM method, the sum of squares of differences between the matched gray values are minimized by simultaneously estimating a geometric and a radiometric transformation between the matched positions. Although this method is known as a local strategy for matching the perspective images; it has been adapted here as a global strategy for matching between HRSI and LiDAR data. Hence, the proposed method exploits the whole of the overlapped regions between the LiDAR data and the HRSI to find the parameters of a transformation to relate the 3D LiDAR data and the 2D HRSI. Considering the cost function of the LSIM method, the radiometric similarity of the HRSI and LiDAR data has also increased by adding the shadows and topographic effects to the LiDAR intensity data to be act as a proper entity in matching with the HRSI. The LSIM is done through the solving an equation system of nonlinear equations that is sensitive the initial values of the unknowns. The results indicate that the accurate 3D registrations with the one-pixel precisions can be accessible even when the approximate geometric transformations are used as the initial parameters.
Status, associated factors, and reasons for bypassing the childbirth center among postpartum women in the Dire Dawa Administration, Ethiopia: A Mixed Study
Authors: Mohammed Aminu , Hailu Mickiale , Getnet Tewodros , Manaye Yibekal
Published: December 2022

Background: Obstetrics care in a nearby health facility is an important strategy to reduce maternal and child complications, including death during childbirth. Bypassing the nearby birthing health facility is common in developing countries, including Ethiopia. But, in Ethiopia and the study area, little is known about the extent, determinants, and reasons for bypassing them. Therefore, this study was aimed at assessing all these gaps, which are an important indicator of the quality of obstetrics care that the health system needs to address.
Methods: A facility-based mixed (quantitative cross-sectional and phenomenological qualitative) study was conducted at selected public health centers in Dire Dawa city from December 01 to 30, 2022. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 635 participants for the quantitative study and purposive sampling for the qualitative study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a pre-tested structured questionnaire and semi-structured questions for in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were entered and cleaned by Epi DATA (Version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS (Version 22). A P-value < 0.25 at bivariate to select variables for multivariate and ≤ 0.05 at multivariate with 95% confidence intervals was considered statistically significant. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis using open-source software.
Results: 635 postpartum women for quantitative and twelve participants for qualitative were included. At childbirth centers, the overall bypass rate was 30.9% (95% CI: 27.1%–34.55 %).
A higher age group (AOR = 2.34, 95% CI: 1.43–3.82), rural residence (AOR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.11-3.22), no formal education (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI: 1.23–4.16), obstetric care needs during antenatal care (AOR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.33–4.22), and health professionals’ behavior (AOR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.33–4.22) and health professionals’ behavior (AOR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.99–4.78) were associated with a higher likelihood of bypassing. Health care facility, personal perception, and health care worker-related factors were the main identified themes in the qualitative results.
Conclusion: The extent of bypassing the nearby childbirth health facility was moderate and associated with women’s age, education, resident area, obstetrics care during antenatal visits, and health care workers’ approaches. In the qualitative analysis, three major themes emerged for the reasons for bypassing a nearby childbirth health facility: the health care facility, health professionals, and service users’ perception-related reasons. Stakeholders were advised to increase obstetrics services (supplies, equipment), respectful care, and education while taking pregnant women's residence and education level into account, as well as conduct additional community-based research.
Zinc Deficiency Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Leading To Hepatocyte Apoptosis in Mice
Authors: Cui Jie , Wang Fuhan , Deng Xian , Guo Mengyao
Published: December 2022

Zinc (Zn) is a crucial trace element for the organism. We investigated Zn deficiency causing endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis by establishing a mouse Zn deficiency model (34 mg/kg in CG group and 2 mg/kg in LG group) and hepatocyte Zn deficiency model (add 0 umol TPEN in CCG group, add 50 umol TPEN in C50 group, add 100 umol TPEN in C100 group). The Zn deficiency caused oxidative stress and produced a large amount of ROS, which had a greater effect on the endoplasmic reticulum and caused endoplasmic reticulum stress. HE staining, liver tissue showed more inflammatory cell infiltration, and TUNEL showed that more apoptotic cells appeared in the LG group compared with the CG group. In RT-PCR assay, we found that the expression of GRP78, IRE-1α, ATF6, PERK, and Chop gene increased in the Zn deficiency group, and caspase-12, caspase-9, caspase-3, caspase-7, PARP apoptotic gene expression were increased. In the apoptosis assay, AO/EB staining clearly showed an increase in apoptotic cells in the Zn-deficient group. Our study provides some basis for the effects of trace element Zn on the liver in terms of endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Increasing the follow-up rate of preterm infants after discharge: a quality improvement project in a Chinese neonatal clinic
Authors: Chang Hesheng , Qin Xuanguang , Yang Xue , Wen Ying , Fu Xiaoyan , Huang Shuxia , Li Zhenghong
Published: December 2022

Objective
Adopting the methodology of quality improvement (QI) to explore the multiple interventions to increasing the follow-up rate of preterm infants and evaluate the effect of these QI interventions.
Methods
The quality improvement method based on statistical process control was used in this project. The baseline was measured per week from March to May 2017 according to the follow-up rate of preterm infants before the interventions, further, the specific aim of improvement was determined. The Pareto analysis of follow-up failure and the key driving diagram was constructed. The intervention measures were synchronized to monitor the change of weekly follow-up rate through the control chart until the QI goal was achieved.
Results
The baseline of follow-up rate was 57.92%, and the aim of the QI project was to increase the follow-up rate to 80% within 12 months. Major interventions included optimizing follow-up platform, strengthening family follow-up education and improving follow-up clinic service ability. The control chart showed that the follow-up rate increased to 74.09% in July 2017 and to 83.09% in December 2017 with a series of interventions and achieved the aim of QI. This improvement had been sustained for 6 months.
Conclusion
Our QI project increased the follow-up rate of preterm infants significantly. Interventions according to analysis of follow-up failure, such as strengthening family follow-up education and improving follow-up clinic service ability, could improve follow-up of preterm infants.
Multiplicity of solutions for sub-Laplacian systems involving Hardy-Sobolev critical exponents on Carnot groups
Authors: Zhu Shuhai , Zhang Jinguo
Published: December 2022

In this work, we deal with the multiplicity results for sub-elliptic systems on Carnot group $\mathbb{G}$ with Hardy-Sobolev critical nonlinearities
\begin{equation*}\left\{\aligned &-\Delta_{\mathbb{G}}u-\mu_{1}\frac{\psi^{2}u}{d(z)^{2}}=\lambda_{1}\frac{\psi^{\alpha}|u|^{2^*(\alpha)-2}u}{d(z)^{\alpha}}+\beta p_{1}f(z)\frac{\psi^{\gamma}|u|^{p_{1}-2}u|v|^{p_{2}}}{d(z)^{\gamma}}\,\,\, &\text{in } \,\,\mathbb{G},\\ &-\Delta_{\mathbb{G}}v-\mu_{2}\frac{\psi^{2}v}{d(z)^{2}}=\lambda_{2}\frac{\psi^{\alpha}|v|^{2^*(\alpha)-2}v}{d(z)^{\alpha}}+\beta p_{2}f(z)\frac{\psi^{\gamma}|u|^{p_{1}}|v|^{p_{2}-2}v}{d(z)^{\gamma}}\,\,\, &\text{in } \,\,\mathbb{G}, \endaligned\right.\end{equation*}
where −∆G is a sub-Laplacian on Carnot group G, µ1, µ2 ∈ [0, µG), µG = ( Q−2/2 )2 is the best Hardy constant on G, 0 ≤ α < 2, 0 ≤ γ < 2, λ1, λ2, β are positive parameters, p1, p2 > 0 with 1 < p1 + p2 < 2, 2* (α) := 2(Q−α)/Q−2 being the critical Hardy-Sobolev exponents on G, Q is the homogeneous dimension with respect to the dilation δγ naturally associated with −∆G, d is the natural gauge associated with the fundamental solution of −∆G on G, ψ = |∇Gd| and ∇G is the horizontal gradient associated with ∆G. By using the second concentration-compactness pribciple and concentration-compactness principle at infinity to prove that the (PS)c-condition holds locally and together with the new version of symmetric mountain pass theorem of kajikiya, we prove that the problem admits infinitely many solutions under suitable conditions.
Scaling Invariance of Spatial Autocorrelation in Urban Landscape
Authors: Fu Meng , Chen Yanguang
Published: December 2022

Context
A large number of studies have shown that measures of spatial autocorrelation in urban landscape bear scale dependence. Scale dependence generally suggests fractals and scaling. But the inherent relationships between spatial autocorrelation index and fractal dimension is not clear yet.
Objectives
This paper is devoted to revealing the internal relationship between the scale dependence of Moran’s I and fractal scaling.
Methods
Mathematical reasoning and empirical analysis are employed to derive and test the model on the scale dependence of spatial autocorrelation. The fractal dimension estimation is based on box-counting method, and parameter estimation relies on the least squares regression.
Results
Based on the locality postulate of spatial correlation and the idea of multifractals, a power law model on Moran’s I changing with measurement scale is derived from the principle of recursive subdivision of space. The power exponent is proved to be a function of fractal dimension. This suggests that the numerical relationship between Moran’s I and fractal dimension can be established through the scaling process of granularity. Taking the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou in China as examples, we made an empirical analysis with observation data, and the results lend support to the theoretical model.
Conclusions
It can be concluded that spatial autocorrelation of urban landscape has no characteristic scale in many cases. In order to make effective spatial statistical analysis, it is necessary to explore spatial complexity based on fractal scaling behind urban landscape.
A VAE-based Model for Incomplete Time Series Modeling using a Time-aware Encoder and Neural ODEs
Authors: Chang Zhuoqing , Liu Shubo , Qiu Run , Song Song , Cai Zhaohui , Tu Guoqing
Published: December 2022

Internet of Things (IoT) realizes the ubiquitous connection of all things, sensors of which produces countless data with time tags. Quality of time series data become increasing important when effectively mined to inform decision making towards solving practical problems. However, time series are often incomplete as a result of missing values or being sampled at irregular frequencies. Yet, traditional algorithms fail to directly model such incomplete time series data. The preprocess of missing data imputing destroys time step information, and the deviation data will additionally bring error accumulation to the subsequent model. To this end, this paper presents an improved variational autoencoder (VAE) model coupled with a time-aware LSTM encoder and neural ordinary differential equations (ODEs) for incomplete time data modeling, which is named the Time-Recurrent Variational AutoEncoder ODE (TRVAEODE) model. In this model, continuous-time latent dynamics are generated by Neural ODEs based on the initial state learned by the time-aware LSTM encoder from partial observed data, further enabling conduct data imputation and prediction with higher accuracy. Furthermore, the proposed TRVAEODE model is evaluated on incomplete real-world and synthetic time-series datasets by conducting data interpolation and extrapolation tasks as well as classification task. Extensive experiments show the TRVAEODE model outperforms the baseline methods in terms of Mean Square Error (MSE) in tasks of imputation and prediction as well as accuracy in downstream classification task.
Novel probe based on rhodamine B and quinoline as a naked-eye colorimetric sensor for dual sensing of heavy metals and hypochlorite as a biosensing and bioimaging agent
Authors: Hooshmand Seyyed Emad , Baeiszadeh Behnaz , Mohammadnejad Masoumeh , Ghasemi Razieh , Darvishi Farshad , Shiri Morteza , Hussain Faiq H. S.
Published: December 2022

This work demonstrated the design and straightforward syntheses of several novel probe-based on rhodamine B and 2-mercaptoquinoline-3-carbaldehydes as a naked-eye colorimetric sensor, indicating a sensitive and selective recognition towards nickel (II) with a limit of detection 0.15 µmol mL− 1 (0.01 mg L− 1). Further, by employing the oxidation property of hypochlorite (OCl−), this novel sensor parallelly has been deployed to detect hypochlorite in laboratory conditions with a limit of detection of 0.19 µmol mL− 1 and in living cells. Regarded to negligible cell toxicity toward mammalian cells, this novel sensor has the potential to determine these analytes in in-vivo investigation and foodstuff samples.
Monitoring of Urea Concentration in Drip Fertirrigation
Authors: Kepp¹ Naila Cristina , Boas¹ Marcio Antonio Vilas , Haupenthal¹ Soni William , Cossich¹ Vinicius , Lopes Allan Remor , Andrade² Mauricio Guy
Published: December 2022

Topographic slope negatively affects irrigation uniformity when associated with fertilizer application via irrigation water. The concentration of the injection solution at the emitter outlet can adversely affect the uniformity of the drip system. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the ideal concentration that maintains high levels of uniformity for the nitrogen solution, applied via fertigation, in different concentrations of the injection solution, with different levels of slope. The experiment was conducted out in a protected environment at the Laboratory of Irrigation and Fertigation (LIF), Cascavel-, PR. The experimental design was conducted out in randomized blocks in a 4x3 factorial scheme, in which the concentration of fertilizer was evaluated at three levels of slope: with plots divided into two factors, the main factor being the type of water, represented by four plots: clean water (from artesian well) and water with nitrogen fertilizer, urea (44% N) in three concentrations (2 g L-1; 4 g L-1; 6 g L-1); and as a second factor, the slope levels, represented by the subplot: level (0%), uphill of 2% and downhill of 2%. The addition of 4 g L-1 urea concentration affected the uniformity at all slope levels, presenting values for UD< 90%, observed in the Shewhart control chart. The increase in urea concentration by 6 g L-¹ affected the distribution uniformity of the system in level, with values for UD< 70%. The system was able to apply concentrations up to 2 g L-1 in level, presenting Cpl = 2.86.
Environmental sustainability and contemporary Islamic society: A Shariah perspective
Authors: Norita Mohd Nasir  , Mahendhiran Sanggaran Nair  , Pervaiz Khalid Ahmed
Published: December 2022

This paper examines the relevance of Islamic environmental theology in contemporary Islamic society. Islamic law or Shariah gives a significant prominence to environmental care. The responsibility to care for the environment is set at individual and societal levels, as outlined in the primary sources of Shariah. In line with the industrial and vast economic development, the modern jurists have extended the moral and religious obligations to firms. Environment is an important element that supports the objective of Shariah or maqasid al-Shariah, which is to safeguard the interests of all beings. However, the current devastating state of the global environment, including those of Islam-majority and Islam- dominated countries, poses major challenges to the maqasid al-Shariah. Environmental degradation is threatening the dharuriyyah level of maqasid al-Shariah, or the basic necessities of human. In view of this devastating phenomenon, this paper highlights the relevance of Islamic legal maxim of harm prevention, and how it can provide an impetus to the global environmental sustainability in modifying human attitudes and actions pertaining to the environment. We conclude that progressive interpretations of Shariah by way of incorporating vast economic development and social changes are important to address new necessities of maqasid al-Shariah. While holding on to the principles of Shariah, religious rulings pertaining to environmental matters are to be aligned to the current changing needs and problems of the society.
Shaping up the green entrepreneurial inclination among the university students
Authors: T. Ramayah  , Seyedeh Khadijeh Taghizadeh  , Syed Abidur Rahman
Published: December 2022

Green entrepreneurship is the movement of deliberately addressing an environmental/ social problem/need through the apprehending of entrepreneurial ideas. However, becoming green entrepreneurs possess challenges which is needed through apprehending entrepreneurial ideas. Therefore, this study proposed and tested an integrative, multi- perspective framework towards green entrepreneurial inclination among university students in Malaysia. The main objective of this study is to determine the significant predictive role of a range of university support, institutional support, family support, and acquaintances support for green entrepreneurial inclination. Cross-sectional survey was directed through structured questionnaires among the university students. Partial least squares method was adopted using the SmartPLS 3.0 software to analyse the data from 1,000 respondents. The findings revealed that perceived educational, business development, institutional support along with perceived family and acquaintances supports play a significant role for green entrepreneurial inclination. The result of the study will provide guidelines to entrepreneurial universities to open up diverse opportunities for green entrepreneurial ventures. Non-governmental organisations, financial institutions, and patent organisations can also offer services to potential green entrepreneurs. This study will surely benefit all these parties to accelerate the green business and align with the “going green” movement. Originality of this research is an integrated multi-perspective framework to find support for green entrepreneurial inclination.
Leader-member exchange and creative idea validation: The role of helping and bullying
Authors: Ahmad Adeel  , Samreen Batool  , Kee Mui Hung Daisy  , Zain-ul-Abdeen Madni  , Muhammad Kamran Khan
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of leader-member exchange (LMX) for selection-focused creativity. Thus, we seek to understand when subordinates develop high- quality relationships with their supervisors, do they also get their creative ideas validated by co-workers or not? The proposed model was tested using data obtained at two points in time from three data sources (co-workers, subordinates, and supervisors) working at a software solution provider operating in Pakistan. The obtained data were then analysed for random coefficient models with Mplus. It was found that having only quality LMX will not guarantee the validation of co-workers’ ideas. The focal employee needs to signal to others that they also care about their co-workers and have quality LMX. Subordinates who maintain quality relationships with their supervisors also need to consider what they signal to their co-workers by their behaviours and actions at work. Co-workers are more likely to provide support for creativity to those who are more supportive at work. We extend novel benefits associated with high-quality LMX, that is, the validation of co-workers’ ideas. Additionally, by focusing on social relationships for selection-focused creativity, we also extended creativity literature.
A proposal to extract and enhance four-Majorana interactions in hybrid nanowires
Authors: Reza Tasnum , Frolov Sergey , Pekker David
Published: December 2022

We simulate the smallest building block of the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev
(SYK) model, a system of four interacting Majorana modes. We propose a
1D Kitaev chain that has been split into three segments, i.e., two
topological segments separated by a non-topological segment in the
middle, hosting four Majorana Zero Modes at the ends of the topological
segments. We add a non-local interaction term to this Hamiltonian which
produces both bilinear (two-body) interactions and a quartic (four-body)
interaction between the Majorana modes. We further tune the parameters
in the Hamiltonian to reach the regime with a finite quartic interaction
strength and close to zero bilinear interaction strength, as required by
the SYK model. To achieve this, we map the Hamiltonian from Majorana
basis to a complex fermion basis, and extract the interaction strengths
using a method of characterization of low-lying energy levels and then
finding the differences in energies between odd and even parity levels.
We show that the interaction strengths can be tuned using two methods -
(i) an approximate method of tuning overlapping Majorana wave functions
(without non-local interactions) to a zero energy point followed by
addition of a non-local interaction, and (ii) a direct parameter space
optimization method using a genetic algorithm. We propose that this
model could be further extended to more Majorana modes, and show a
6-Majorana model as an example. Since eigenspectral characterization of
one-dimensional nanowire devices can be done via tunneling spectroscopy
in quantum transport measurements, this study could be performed in
experiment.
DOĞAL AFETLERİN TOPLUMSAL TARİHE ETKİLERİ ÜZERİNE YEREL BİR ÖRNEK: 1931-1941 DÖNEMİNDE EDİRNE VE ÇEVRESİNDEKİ TAŞKINLAR VE SONUÇLARI
Authors: AKKUŞ Turgay
Published: December 2022

Floods have come to the forefront among natural disasters with their devastating effects on human history. Floods ranked second after earthquakes in terms of loss of life and property in Turkey, and ranked first among meteorological disasters. Edirne, a historical city located on the fertile lands formed by the floodplains of the Arda, Meriç, and Tunca rivers, has frequently witnessed floods. This study aimed to reveal the results of the floods and overflows in a certain section of the history of the republic with its social dimensions in Edirne. Archive records and media organs of the period constituted the sources of the research. A method based on scanning the sources, chronological processing, and analysis of the obtained information-data was followed. It has been determined that the floods have negative effects on the dimensions of social life in Edirne, including production, communication, transportation, energy, and historical structures.
Enhancing blue-green infrastructure in German cities with the involvement of urban society: insights from Frankfurt/Main and Stuttgart
Authors: Winker Martina , Deffner Jutta , Rohrbach Michaela , Schramm Engelbert , Stein Melina
Published: December 2022

Enhancing blue-green infrastructure (BGI) will help cities adapt to climate change. This study focused on urban society, specifically on residents, the housing and real estate sector, and municipal administration in the cities of Frankfurt and Stuttgart, and investigated ways to enhance BGI in line with their perceptions, expectations and requirements. A particular emphasis was placed on periods of hot, dry weather. During future workshops, actor analysis, expert interviews and two expert workshops, the positions, level of knowledge and attitudes of the various groups were examined and barriers to BGI identified, in addition to discussions about measures to overcome these barriers. The results showed that within urban society the greatest support for BGI comes from residents, followed by municipal employees, while actors in the housing and real estate sector are the most reluctant. It became evident that there is a need for action to overcome a range of barriers. Overall, political backing, alliances between stakeholders, encouragement of the housing and real estate sector to take action, and a focus on initiating action in selected urban areas are recommended for successful enhancement of BGI. To ensure maximum impact, there should also be a combination of bottom-up and top-down activities.
Sex, Age, and Regional Differences in CHRM1 and CHRM3 Genes Expression
Levels in the Human Brain Biopsies: Potential Targets for Alzheimer's
Disease-related Sleep Disturbances
Authors: Sanfilippo Cristina , Giuliano Loretta , Castrogiovanni Paola , Imbesi Rosa , Ulivieri Martina , Fazio Francesco , Blennow Kaj , Zetterberg Henrik , Di Rosa Michelino
Published: December 2022

Background:

Cholinergic hypofunction and sleep disturbance are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s
disease (AD), a progressive disorder leading to neuronal deterioration. Muscarinic acetylcholine
receptors (M1-5 or mAChRs), expressed in hippocampus and cerebral cortex, play a pivotal
role in the aberrant alterations of cognitive processing, memory, and learning, observed in AD. Recent
evidence shows that two mAChRs, M1 and M3, encoded by CHRM1 and CHRM3 genes, respectively,
are involved in sleep functions and, peculiarly, in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

Methods:

We used twenty microarray datasets extrapolated from post-mortem brain tissue of nondemented
healthy controls (NDHC) and AD patients to examine the expression profile of CHRM1
and CHRM3 genes. Samples were from eight brain regions and stratified according to age and sex.

Results:

CHRM1 and CHRM3 expression levels were significantly reduced in AD compared with ageand
sex-matched NDHC brains. A negative correlation with age emerged for both CHRM1 and
CHRM3 in NDHC but not in AD brains. Notably, a marked positive correlation was also revealed between
the neurogranin (NRGN) and both CHRM1 and CHRM3 genes. These associations were modulated
by sex. Accordingly, in the temporal and occipital regions of NDHC subjects, males expressed
higher levels of CHRM1 and CHRM3, respectively, than females. In AD patients, males expressed
higher levels of CHRM1 and CHRM3 in the temporal and frontal regions, respectively, than females.

Conclusion:

Thus, substantial differences, all strictly linked to the brain region analyzed, age, and
sex, exist in CHRM1 and CHRM3 brain levels both in NDHC subjects and in AD patients.
In silico Prediction and Evaluation of Human Parainfluenza Virus-3 CD4+
T Cell Epitopes
Authors: Bemani Peyman , Mohammadi Mozafar
Published: December 2022

Background:

Human parainfluenza viruses type 3 (HPIV-3) through bronchiolitis and
pneumonia is a common cause of lower respiratory tract infections. It is the main cause of
hospitalization of infants and young children and also one of the main causes of morbidity and
mortality in immuno-compromised and transplant patients. Despite many efforts, there is currently
no specific anti-HPIV-3 drug or approved vaccine to prevent and control the virus. Identification
of HPIV-3 epitopes with the capability of binding to human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II
molecules can be helpful in designing new vaccine candidates against HPIV-3 infection, and also
can be useful for the in vitro stimulation and proliferation of HPIV-3-specific T cells for transplant
and immunocompromised patients.

Objective:

To predict and comprehensively evaluate CD4+T cell epitope (HLA-II binders) from
four main HPIV-3 antigens.

Method:

In the present work, we predicted and comprehensively evaluated CD4+T cell epitope
(HLA-II binders) from four main HPIV-3 antigens, including fusion protein (F), hemagglutininneuraminidase
(HN), nucleocapsid (N) and matrix (M) proteins using bio- and immunoinformatics
software. The toxicity, allergenicity, Blast screening and population coverage of the
predicted epitopes were evaluated. The binding ability of the final selected epitopes was evaluated
via a docking study.

Results:

After several filtering steps, including blast screening, toxicity and allergenicity assay,
population coverage and docking study, 9 epitopes were selected as candidate epitopes. The
selected epitopes showed high population coverage and docking studies revealed a significantly
higher binding affinity for the final epitopes in comparison with the negative control peptides.

Conclusion:

The final selected epitopes could be useful in designing vaccine candidates and for
the treatment of immune-compromised individuals and patients with transplantation.
Ensuring Safe Transfusion Practices through Haemovigilance: India vis-a-vis
Global Scenario
Authors: Rana Ruhi , Veluri  Kishore Sastha Ram , Kaur Gagandeep , Singh Gurvinder , Kumar Rajesh
Published: December 2022

Haemovigilance is the monitoring of the essential components of blood transfusion from
its initial stages to the final outcome considering all the safety parameters and hazards that co-exist
with it. It primarily aims to ensure the quality as well as safety related to the use of blood and
blood products utilizing the standard healthcare framework and a tailored vigilance program for efficient
outcomes. Initially, the art of vigilance was started with the therapeutic products available in
the market giving some groundbreaking data on their safety which later led to the implementation
of timely measures to control adverse events significantly. Several incidents have occurred during
the collection, transport, storage, and transfusion of blood and to stop these incidences of hazard,
haemovigilance came into existence with France becoming the first country to step in followed by
several nations across the world with customized guidelines directing it to the best. The majorly
reported problems include bacterial infections, hemolytic and immune reactions. The present writeup
reviews the inception and development of haemovigilance programs with a global scenario, a
detailed study of the haemovigilance program adopted in India, and the updated status of these
programs in various countries across the globe.
The Patent Landscape of BRAF Target and KRAS Target
Authors: Zhang Hai-Long , Li Yongxia
Published: December 2022

Background:

KRAS and BRAF targets are involved in the epidermal growth factor
receptor pathway. KRAS and BRAF targets are the most frequent driver mutations in cancer.

Objective:

The objective of the study was to present the recent developments in the KRAS target
and the BRAF target.

Method:

KRAS target and BRAF target were analyzed by US patent analysis. All US granted
patent documents from January 2002 to November 2021 were retrieved.

Results:

The results showed both KRAS and BRAF targets to be attractive targets for developing
anticancer drugs. The technology of RNA interference has been developed for drug discovery related
to the KRAS target. Our study indicates that the structural screening of inhibitors between
the KRAS target and the BRAF target should be an inverse option.

Conclusion:

The chemical structures of inhibitors of BRAF target exhibited a unique classification
of C07D405. The inhibitors of BRAF target could be used for the treatment of various cancers.
However, the inhibitors of KRAS target did not show this feature. The present study provides
new insight into drug discovery involving KRAS and BRAF targets.
Graph Theoretical analysis, in silico modeling and molecular dynamic studies of (5-((2-chloropyridin-4-yl)oxy)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-2-(4-substituted phenyl)-N,N-dimethylethen-1-amine derivatives for the treatment of breast cancer
Authors: Panneerselvam Theivendren , Kunjiappan Selvaraj , Govindaraj Saravanan , Gopal Murugananthan , Natarajan Kiruthiga , Hegde Yashoda Mariappa , Shanmugam Nivetha , Srinivas Geetha , Ravi Kaveena , Natarajan Vignesh
Published: December 2022

Background:

We synthesized a series of novel amide derivatives of (5-((2-chloropyridin-4-yl)oxy)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-2-(4-substituted phenyl)-N,N-dimethylethen-1-amine [5a-5r] and assessed for their antiproliferative activity against human breast cancer cell line MCF7 by using MTT assay. Graph Theoretical analysis, in silico modeling, molecular dynamic studies, and ADME profile were screened for the synthesized compounds. Based on the observed report, the significant compounds were chosen for their anticancer activity. Graph Theoretical analysis, in silico modeling and molecular dynamic studies of (5-((2-chloropyridin-4-yl)oxy)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-2-(4-substitutedphenyl)-N,N-dimethylethen-1-amine derivatives for the treatment of breast cancer.

Methods:

5-((2-chloropyridin-4-yl)oxy) (2-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1- (4-substituted phenyl) -N,N-dimethylethen-1-amine [5a-5r] was synthesized using 2-bromo-1-phenylethanone and (5-(2-chloropyridin-4-yloxy)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-N,N-dimethylmethanamine with different aromatic aldehydes and their characterization studies were evaluated by IR, NMR, and mass spectral analysis.

Results:

The compound 2-(4-methylphenyl)-1-(5-((2-chloropyridin-4-yl)oxy)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-N,N-dimethylethen-1-amine 5a and 2-(2-methylphenyl)-1-(5-((2-chloro pyridin-4-yl)oxy)-3-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-1-yl)-N,N-dimethylethen-1-amine 5c in the amide part exhibited promising cytotoxic activity against all cell lines with IC50 values of 3.3 mM for MCF-7 cells, and produced dramatic cell cycle arrest at EGFR phase as an indicator of apoptotic cell death induction.

Conclusion:

Based on their high potency in the cellular environment, these straightforward pyrazole-3-carboxamide derivatives may possess the potential to design more potent compounds for intervention with cancer cell proliferation.