bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Repercusiones de la pandemia de COVID‐19 y del trabajo de cuidados no remunerado en los medios de vida de las trabajadoras y trabajadores informales
Authors: OGANDO Ana Carolina , ROGAN Michael , MOUSSIÉ Rachel
Published: May 2022

Con datos de la primera ronda de un estudio longitudinal con métodos mixtos realizado en junio y julio de 2020 por la red WIEGO en colaboración con organizaciones de personas trabajadoras informales de doce ciudades, se evalúa el impacto de la actual crisis pandémica multidimensional (sanitaria, económica y de cuidados) en las responsabilidades de cuidado y el efecto resultante en los medios de vida y la seguridad alimentaria de personas trabajadoras informales de cuatro sectores. Un análisis de género del trabajo remunerado y del trabajo de cuidados no remunerado arroja luz sobre las características únicas del impacto de la actual recesión pandémica en la fuerza de trabajo informal del mundo.
COVID‐19 y crisis de los cuidados. Un análisis feminista de las políticas públicas en materia de trabajo doméstico y de cuidados remunerado y no remunerado
Authors: CAMILLETTI Elena , NESBITT‐AHMED Zahrah
Published: May 2022

La actual pandemia ha puesto de manifiesto las desigualdades de género haciendo aumentar los cuidados no remunerados que realizan las mujeres y las niñas y las vulnerabilidades de las cuidadoras remuneradas, a menudo mujeres que trabajan de manera informal. A partir de una base de datos mundial sobre políticas de protección social adoptadas frente a la COVID‐19 (asistencia social, seguros sociales y programas de mercado de trabajo), se examina si estas respuestas integran o no los cuidados y de qué forma. Se observa que algunas respuestas abordan los cuidados remunerados o no remunerados, pero muy pocas abordan ambos.
A Lifeline in troubled waters: A support intervention for migrant farm workers
Authors: Cohen Amy , Caxaj C. Susana
Published: May 2022

We implemented and evaluated a service delivery intervention (support model) to address the challenges faced by migrant agricultural workers in British Columbia, Canada. Three factors were identified that contributed to the effectiveness of the intervention: (1) face‐to‐face support and in‐person outreach towards connection; (2) accounting migrant workers' hierarchy of needs and addressing their basic needs first towards comprehensiveness; and (3) role clarity and communication between partners involved in supporting this population towards coordination. A final factor, wider constraints, referred to the wider context of migrant workers' lives including their temporary status, tied work permits, and lack of access to rights. These wider constraints, which were exacerbated by the COVID‐19 pandemic, underscore that until greater policy action is taken to address these workers' precarious status, support services can only offer a lifeline in troubled waters.
Pseudomonas fluorescens NK4 siderophore promotes plant growth and biocontrol in cucumber
Authors: Al-Karablieh Nehaya , Al-Shomali Ibrahim , Al-Elaumi Lina , Hasan Khaled
Published: May 2022

Aims

To test the effect of zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZnO-NP) supplementation for enhancing the efficacy of Pseudomonas fluorescens NK4 siderophore as a biocontrol agent against P. viridiflava NK2 and a plant growth promoter.

Methods and Results

Cucumber seedlings were treated with a suspension of P. fluorescens NK4 and its siderophore generated in siderophore-inducing medium (SIM), SIM supplemented with ZnO-NP (<100 nm) and SIM supplemented with Zn2+ ions from Zn(NO3)2. Supplementing SIM with ZnO-NP increased siderophore secretion in P. fluorescens NK4, and irrigation of cucumber seedlings with a filtrate containing the ZnO-NP-supplemented siderophore increased survival, improved vegetative and root growth, and thus increased yield similar to the effects of dipping seedlings in a P. fluorescens NK4 suspension. Both P. fluorescens NK4 and its ZnO-NP-supplemented siderophore inhibited P. viridiflava NK2 population growth in planta.

Conclusions

The siderophore of P. fluorescens NK4 produced by ZnO-NP supplementation can be employed as a biocontrol agent and biofertilizer.

Significance and Impact of the Study

ZnO-NPs can boost the synthesis of siderophores, which can then be employed as biofertilizers to boost iron bioavailability in iron-deficient soils.
Ownership concentration and firm risk: The moderating role of mid‐sized blockholders
Authors: Rossetto Silvia , Selmane Nassima , Staglianò Raffaele
Published: May 2022

This study analyzes the relationship between mid‐sized blockholders and firm risk. We show that ownership structure matters for firm risk beyond the first largest blockholder. Firms with multiple blockholders take more risk than firms with just one blockholder, even when controlling for the stake of the largest blockholder. Consistent with the diversification argument, we find that firm risk increases by 22% when the number of blockholders increases from one to two. Our results are robust to controlling for blockholder type and firm characteristics. We carry out various robustness checks to tackle endogeneity issues. More generally, we provide evidence that firms’ decisions are affected by mid‐sized blockholders and not merely the largest blockholder. This is in line with theoretical predictions.
The Nature of Societal Conflict in Europe; an Archetypal Analysis of the Postmodern Cosmopolitan, Rural Traditionalist and Urban Precariat
Authors: Beugelsdijk Sjoerd , van Herk Hester , Maseland Robbert
Published: May 2022

We analyse the nature of contemporary societal conflict in Europe, conceptualizing conflict in terms of oppositional identities, represented by the archetypal extreme corner positions between which contestation takes place. By analysing key characteristics of 28,565 Europeans from seven countries in four distinct time periods, we find three archetypal corner positions. Each archetype represents an ideal‐typical configuration of values, attitudes and socio‐demographic characteristics which people identify more or less with. The first archetype (which we label Postmodern Cosmopolitan) represents an urban, higher‐educated person with cosmopolitan values and attitudes. The other two archetypes (Rural traditionalist and Urban Precariat) present images of Europe that are more nationalistic and differ in their political‐economic ideological position. Western and Eastern European countries differ markedly in the distribution of these archetypes over time. The novelty of this paper is our conceptualization and operationalization of the changing nature of societal conflict as changes in oppositional identities.
Inactivation of viruses related to foodborne infections using cold plasma technology
Authors: Thirumdas Rohit
Published: May 2022

Globally, there is a rise in day‐to‐day demand for minimally processed foods to supply nutritious, wholesomeness and safe foods to the consumers. Contamination of food by pathogens is a serious problem resulting in several outbreaks. Food pathogens like molds, bacteria were detectable and can be inactivated. The virus detection in foods is always a difficult task as their presence could not alter any noticeable change in the quality. Norovirus, Hepatitis A viruses are well‐known for their foodborne outbreaks and illnesses. Enveloped viruses are resistant and have the stability to the current traditional preservation methods due to the presence of a protective capsid layer and an envelope. The current thermal processing has shown significant effect on the product quality. The use of chemical disinfestation compounds is not suitable for food commodities. There is a need for alternative nonthermal food processing technologies for decontamination of food and food packages and preserving the food quality as well. Cold plasma is one of the emerging nonthermal, chemical‐free residues, and eco‐friendly technology widely being applied to the different food sectors. The main antiviral mechanism is the disruption of the capsid protein layer, the oxidation and denaturation of viral proteins. The method has also caused damage to the envelope layer and genetic material. This review focuses on cold plasma inactivation efficiency on different viruses.
Calibration by differentiation – Self‐supervised calibration for X‐ray microscopy using a differentiable cone‐beam reconstruction operator
Authors: Thies Mareike , Wagner Fabian , Huang Yixing , Gu Mingxuan , Kling Lasse , Pechmann Sabrina , Aust Oliver , Grüneboom Anika , Schett Georg , Christiansen Silke , Maier Andreas
Published: May 2022

High‐resolution X‐ray microscopy (XRM) is gaining interest for biological investigations of extremely small‐scale structures. XRM imaging of bones in living mice could provide new insights into the emergence and treatment of osteoporosis by observing osteocyte lacunae, which are holes in the bone of few micrometres in size. Imaging living animals at that resolution, however, is extremely challenging and requires very sophisticated data processing converting the raw XRM detector output into reconstructed images. This paper presents an open‐source, differentiable reconstruction pipeline for XRM data which analytically computes the final image from the raw measurements. In contrast to most proprietary reconstruction software, it offers the user full control over each processing step and, additionally, makes the entire pipeline deep learning compatible by ensuring differentiability. This allows fitting trainable modules both before and after the actual reconstruction step in a purely data‐driven way using the gradient‐based optimizers of common deep learning frameworks. The value of such differentiability is demonstrated by calibrating the parameters of a simple cupping correction module operating on the raw projection images using only a self‐supervisory quality metric based on the reconstructed volume and no further calibration measurements. The retrospective calibration directly improves image quality as it avoids cupping artefacts and decreases the difference in grey values between outer and inner bone by 68–94%. Furthermore, it makes the reconstruction process entirely independent of the XRM manufacturer and paves the way to explore modern deep learning reconstruction methods for arbitrary XRM and, potentially, other flat‐panel computed tomography systems. This exemplifies how differentiable reconstruction can be leveraged in the context of XRM and, hence, is an important step towards the goal of reducing the resolution limit of in vivo bone imaging to the single micrometre domain.
The effect of subjective well‐being on consumption behavior
Authors: Dominko Miha , Verbič Miroslav
Published: May 2022

The article studies the causal effect of subjective well‐being on the consumption behavior of individuals aged 50 and above using data from the English Longitudinal Study of Aging (ELSA). To establish a causal link between subjective well‐being and six distinct types of consumption (food consumed at home, food consumed outside of home, spending on clothing, leisure consumption, monthly rent, and utility consumption), it exploits the longitudinal dimension of the dataset and instruments for subjective well‐being. The analysis reveals that subjective well‐being positively affects spending on food outside of home and leisure activities, while having no significant effect on the consumption of food consumed at home, clothing, monthly rent, and utilities. These results imply that people with higher levels of subjective well‐being are more engaged in social and leisure activities, such as going out for dinner, which offers important implications for both long‐term, as well as habitual buying behavior.
Is music piracy over? Comparing music piracy attitudes and behaviors between young generations
Authors: Borja Karla , Dieringer Suzanne
Published: May 2022

To understand and predict the consumer patterns of generational groups within a highly technological world, it is critical to study their experiences, social views, and attitudes about music. Today, limited information is available to the research community about “Gen Z,” a population group that recently entered college life and the next largest consumer group after the Millennials. This study aims at closing this gap by exploring and comparing distinctive patterns and consumer behavior in the music market between Gen Z and Millennials. Using a group of 1624 college students from two universities in the United States, we found that Gen Z is less prone to music piracy than Millennials, and those who pirate music tend to share similar social norms, a limited understanding of copyright infringements, and poor views about the music industry. New technologies are also transforming the way future generations are drawn into music piracy. We conclude that music infringement will continue to be an ethical dilemma and the industry should continue in its effort to design consumer policies to assist young generations.
Adherence of Candida albicans to Five Long‐Term Silicone‐Based Denture Lining Materials Bonded to CAD‐CAM Denture Base
Authors: Tasopoulos Theodoros , Vrioni Georgia , Naka Olga , Diamantatou Theodora , Zoidis Panagiotis , Tsakris Athanasios
Published: May 2022

Purpose

Knowledge about quantifying the number as well as the retention and adhesion of Candida albicans blastoconidia to silicone denture liners is limited. Thus, the aim of this in vitro study was to explore the adherence of C. albicans to the surface of five long‐term silicone‐based soft denture lining materials, using artificial saliva.

Materials and methods

A total of 50 specimens (10 × 10 × 3 mm) of five long‐term resilient liners (Molloplast‐B; GC Reline Soft; Elite Soft Relining; Tokuyama Sofreliner S; Ufigel SC), bonded to a computer‐aided design and computer‐aided manufacturing denture base, were prepared. The specimens were inoculated and incubated in artificial saliva for 1 and 24 hours with a standardized (2.8 × 106 cfu/ml) C. albicans suspension. At the end of the incubation period, the specimens were stained with acridine orange and observed using fluorescence microscopy.

Results

After 1 hour and in 24 hours, Molloplast B demonstrated significantly earlier adherence of C. albicans cells compared to the other chairside materials (p < 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively), where the mean number of cells also increased in the frontal parts. Regarding the rate of C. albicans proliferation from 1 to 24 hours within the materials, there was an increase in all materials (Molloplast B: p < 0.001; GC Reline Soft: p = 0.220; Elite Soft Relining: p = 0.032; Tokuyama Sofreliner S: p = 0.001; Ufigel Sc: p = 0.001). The Ufigel Sc showed a significant 2.5‐fold increase at 24 hours.

Conclusions

Long‐term silicone denture liners accumulate a significant amount of C. albicans blastoconidia and their coverage by them increases progressively over time.
Effects of cold stress on growth performance, carcass traits and tibia attributes in broiler chickens with thiram‐induced dyschondroplasia
Authors: Saeedi Sadaf , Hassanabadi Ahmad , Zaeemi Mahdieh
Published: May 2022

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of cold stress (CS) on growth performance and tibia attributes in broiler chickens with thiram‐induced dyschondroplasia (TD). Four hundred 10‐day‐old male broilers were randomly allocated into four groups including, NT0: normal temperature (NT) without thiram; NT50: NT + thiram; CS0: CS without thiram; and CS50: CS + thiram in a completely randomised. The birds in CS groups were placed at a constant temperature of 15 ± 1°C during 11–20 days. Thiram (50 mg/kg) was added to the diet during 11–14 days to induce TD. Results showed that main effects of CS and thiram significantly decreased body weight and daily weight gain during 11–42 days (p < 0.05). Feed intake in the thiram50 group was significantly lower than the group thiram0 during 25–42 days (p < 0.05). Feed conversion ratio in CS birds was significantly more than NT group during 25–42 days (p < 0.05). On day 16, tibia width (TW) and TW to tibia length (TL) ratio were significantly higher in CS chicks compared to the NT group. TW was significantly higher in thiram50 group than thiram0 group (p < 0.05). On day 19, TL in CS chicks was significantly shorter than NT (p < 0.05). On day 23, growth plate width (GPW) in thiram50 group was significantly higher than thiram0 birds. In general, thiram increased tibial GPW and CS decreased TD severity as well as decreased growth performance in broilers.
Turkish‐Jordanian Relations: Between Change and Stability
Authors: Köprülü Nur , Ergüven Hüseyin
Published: May 2022

Relations between Turkey and the Kingdom of Jordan have been among the most stable in the Middle East. This article argues that, nevertheless, the relationship gained momentum following the Arab uprisings, which forced both countries to tackle mounting security concerns. One major challenge has been the influx of a huge number of Syrian refugees accompanying the continued instability in Syria, as well as the prolonged Palestinian‐Israeli dispute and the destabilizing impact of sectarian cleavages in Iraq since 2003. What is more, the new power balance since 2011 has alarmed both Turkey and Jordan, and motivated them to reinforce the goal of regional order and stability. Within this changing context of the redistribution of power in the Middle East, the aim of this article is to explore the motivations of each country to perceive the other as a “partner,” specifically in the post‐uprisings era, as well as the limitations to such a partnership.
Cytochrome c and the transcription factor ABI4 establish a molecular link between mitochondria and ABA‐dependent seed germination
Authors: Racca Sofía , Gras Diana E. , Canal M. Victoria , Ferrero Lucía V. , Rojas Bruno E. , Figueroa Carlos M. , Ariel Federico D. , Welchen Elina , Gonzalez Daniel H.
Published: May 2022

During germination, seed reserves are mobilised to sustain the metabolic and energetic demands of plant growth. Mitochondrial respiration is presumably required to drive germination in several species, but only recently its role in this process has begun to be elucidated.

Using Arabidopsis thaliana lines with changes in the levels of the respiratory chain component cytochrome c (CYTc), we investigated the role of this protein in germination and its relationship with hormonal pathways.

Cytochrome c deficiency causes delayed seed germination, which correlates with decreased cyanide‐sensitive respiration and ATP production at the onset of germination. In addition, CYTc affects the sensitivity of germination to abscisic acid (ABA), which negatively regulates the expression of CYTC‐2, one of two CYTc‐encoding genes in Arabidopsis. CYTC‐2 acts downstream of the transcription factor ABSCISIC ACID INSENSITIVE 4 (ABI4), which binds to a region of the CYTC‐2 promoter required for repression by ABA and regulates its expression.

The results show that CYTc is a main player during seed germination through its role in respiratory metabolism and energy production. In addition, the direct regulation of CYTC‐2 by ABI4 and its effect on ABA‐responsive germination establishes a link between mitochondrial and hormonal functions during this process.
Factors affecting quality of life in keratoconus
Authors: Gothwal Vijaya K , Gujar Ramkailash , Sharma Sujata , Begum Nazia , Pesudovs Konrad
Published: May 2022

Purpose

To identify the factors affecting the quality of life (QoL) in adults with keratoconus, using the disease‐specific Keratoconus Outcomes Research Questionnaire (KORQ).

Methods

In this cross‐sectional study, 574 patients with keratoconus completed the 29‐item KORQ (18‐item activity limitations and 11‐item symptoms subscales) and demographic information. Based on mean corneal curvature to grade keratoconus severity, participants were categorised into four groups: mild <48 dioptres [D]; moderate: 48 to 53 D; advanced: 54 to 55 D and severe: >55D. Rasch analysis was used to assess the psychometric properties and to score the KORQ. Multivariable regression was performed to determine the independent impact of age, sex, laterality, severity and duration of keratoconus, education, employment status and mode of treatment for keratoconus on activity limitations and symptoms.

Results

Mean (SD) age was 24.5 (5.1) years. 304 (53%), 160 (28%), 26 (4%) and 84 (15%) belonged to keratoconus groups 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Rasch analysis demonstrated the ‘activity limitations’ and ‘symptoms’ KORQ subscales to possess good psychometric properties. Statistically significant associations were found between activity limitation score and the following measures: visual acuity (VA) in the better‐seeing eye (r = −0.10, p = 0.01); VA in the worse‐seeing eye (r = −0.09, p = 0.04) and ocular aberrations (r = −0.13, p = 0.008) in the worse‐seeing eye. Statistically significant associations were also found between symptoms score and mean corneal curvature in the better‐seeing eye (r = −0.10, p = 0.02). In regression models, female sex was associated with 21% worse symptom score than male (β = −0.33, 95% CI, −0.09, −0.59, p = 0.01) and working people experienced clinically and statistically significantly greater trouble from symptoms compared to those not working (β =0.44, 95% CI, 0.17, 0.70, p = 0.001).

Conclusions

People with keratoconus have poorer QoL in terms of activity limitations if they have poorer VA and greater wavefront aberrations, and in terms of symptoms if they are female and employed.
A new technique for controlling intractable pain in lumbar spinal stenosis using steroid injection to ligamentum flavum: A case series
Authors: Rho Jeong Ho , Yoon Chung Dae , Kim Gahee , Kang Hee Yong
Published: May 2022

Background

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a common degenerative disease that causes low back and lower‐extremity pain that increases with age. The treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis is either conservative or surgical. ESI is a commonly performed conservative treatment, but evidence of its effectiveness in lumbar spinal stenosis is limited.

Case series

We encountered the three patients with back pain and claudication due to lumbar spinal stenosis, which could not be controlled by conservative therapy including ESIs. Trimacinolone acetonide was injected into the patients' ligamentum flavum. All patients experienced dramatic improvement in their symptoms.

Conclusions

Trimacinolone acetonide injection into the ligamentum flavum may be effective for lumbar spinal stenosis that does not improve with ESIs.
A single promoter‐TALE system for tissue‐specific and tuneable expression of multiple genes in rice
Authors: Danila Florence , Schreiber Tom , Ermakova Maria , Hua Lei , Vlad Daniela , Lo Shuen‐Fang , Chen Yi‐Shih , Lambret‐Frotte Julia , Hermanns Anna S. , Athmer Benedikt , von Caemmerer Susanne , Yu Su‐May , Hibberd Julian M. , Tissier Alain , Furbank Robert T. , Kelly Steven , Langdale Jane A.
Published: May 2022

In biological discovery and engineering research, there is a need to spatially and/or temporally regulate transgene expression. However, the limited availability of promoter sequences that are uniquely active in specific tissue‐types and/or at specific times often precludes co‐expression of multiple transgenes in precisely controlled developmental contexts. Here, we developed a system for use in rice that comprises synthetic designer transcription activator‐like effectors (dTALEs) and cognate synthetic TALE‐activated promoters (STAPs). The system allows multiple transgenes to be expressed from different STAPs, with the spatial and temporal context determined by a single promoter that drives expression of the dTALE. We show that two different systems—dTALE1‐STAP1 and dTALE2‐STAP2—can activate STAP‐driven reporter gene expression in stable transgenic rice lines, with transgene transcript levels dependent on both dTALE and STAP sequence identities. The relative strength of individual STAP sequences is consistent between dTALE1 and dTALE2 systems but differs between cell‐types, requiring empirical evaluation in each case. dTALE expression leads to off‐target activation of endogenous genes but the number of genes affected is substantially less than the number impacted by the somaclonal variation that occurs during the regeneration of transformed plants. With the potential to design fully orthogonal dTALEs for any genome of interest, the dTALE‐STAP system thus provides a powerful approach to fine‐tune the expression of multiple transgenes, and to simultaneously introduce different synthetic circuits into distinct developmental contexts.
Combined Transcriptomic and Proteomic Analyses Reveal the Different Responses to UVA and UVB Radiation in Human Keratinocytes
Authors: Zhao Qinqin , Chen Yueyue , Qu Liping
Published: May 2022

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight is a major risk factor for many cutaneous pathologies including skin aging and cancers. Despite decades of research, the different responses to UVA and UVB in human keratinocytes have not been systemically investigated. Here, we performed multi‐omics to characterize the common and different changes in gene transcription and protein expression after exposure to UVB and UVA, respectively. Keratinocyte cells, treated with or without UV, were analyzed by TMT‐labeled MS/MS spectra and RNA‐sequencing. A common set of genes/proteins was found to be impacted by both UVA and UVB and the other differential genes/proteins showed wavelength specificity. The common set of genes/proteins were mainly involved in keratinization, lipid metabolic processes and stimulus response. The UVB specifically responsive genes/proteins were mainly related to RNA processing, gene silencing regulation and cytoskeleton organization. The UVA specifically responsive genes/proteins were mainly involved in vesicle‐mediated transport and oxygen‐containing compound response. Meanwhile, the hub differential genes/proteins in each set were identified by protein–protein interaction networks and cluster analysis. This work provided a global view of the similar and differential molecular mechanisms of UVB‐ and UVA‐induced cell damage in keratinocytes, which would be beneficial for further studies in the prevention or treatment of UV‐related pathologies.
Ongoing evolution of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus towards Rz1‐resistance breaking in Europe
Authors: Liebe Sebastian , Varrelmann Mark
Published: May 2022

Over the last three decades, the control of Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV) in sugar beet has relied on the cultivation of varieties harbouring the Rz1 resistance gene. The strong selection pressure on BNYVV has favoured the development of resistance‐breaking strains that display mutations at amino acid positions 67–70 (tetrad) in the pathogenicity factor P25 and strains possessing an additional RNA component (RNA5). To evaluate the durability of Rz1 resistance, it is essential to monitor the ongoing virulence development in BNYVV populations. Therefore, we characterized BNYVV populations from different fields in Europe suspected to possess resistance‐breaking properties. The ability to overcome Rz1 resistance could be confirmed for several populations in greenhouse bait plant tests using susceptible and resistant genotypes. These populations were able to accumulate similar virus concentrations in both genotypes. Most of the populations harboured multiple P25 tetrad variants, but there was no obvious effect of the sugar beet genotype on their composition. The strong selection pressure on P25 was reflected by the overall high number of P25 haplotypes with several amino acids under positive selection. Two different RNA5 species closely related to either the French or the Asian RNA5 type were additionally identified in some populations. Finally, high‐throughput sequencing revealed the formation of genetic reassortments between different virus types, but the overall sequence diversity within BNYVV populations was relatively low and not affected by the genotype. Our results highlight the ongoing adaption of BNYVV towards Rz1 resistance, stressing the importance of alternative resistance sources.
Stay or exit: How do international nongovernmental organizations respond to institutional pressures under authoritarianism?
Authors: Li Hui , Farid May
Published: May 2022

International nongovernmental organizations (INGOs) are increasingly important players in global politics and development. However, they are undergoing significant adaptations as governments worldwide have instituted restrictions to regulate their activities. What explains the various ways in which they respond to these institutional pressures? In our study of INGO responses to a new restrictive law in China, we identify four strategic responses with varying levels of compliance: legal registration, provisional strategy, localization, and exit. The institutional pressures—strategic responses link is influenced by INGOs' adaptive capacity, which is in turn shaped by an organization's issue sensitivity, value‐add, government ties, and reputational authority. The integrated framework we develop for INGO strategic responses can shed light on state‐INGO relations in other countries, many of which are subject to increasingly stringent regulations and a closing political environment.
AcneGrader: An ensemble pruning of the deep learning base models to grade acne
Authors: Liu Shuai , Fan Yusi , Duan Meiyu , Wang Yueying , Su Guoxiong , Ren Yanjiao , Huang Lan , Zhou Fengfeng
Published: May 2022

Background

Acne is one of the most common skin lesions in adolescents. Some severe or inflammatory acne leads to scars, which may have major impacts on patients’ quality of life or even job prospects. Grading acne plays an important role in diagnosis, and the diagnosis is made by counting the number of acne. It is a labor‐intensive job and it is easy for dermatologists to make mistakes, so it is very important to develop automatic diagnosis methods. Ensemble learning may improve the prediction results of the base models, but its time complexity is relatively high. The ensemble pruning strategy may solve this computational challenge by removing the redundant base models.

Materials and methods

This study proposed a novel ensemble pruning framework of deep learning models to accurately detect and grade acne using images. First, we train multi‐base models and prune the redundancy models according to the performance and diversity of the models. Then, we construct the new features of the training data by the base models we select in the previous step. Next, we remove the redundancy models further by a feature selection algorithm. Finally, we integrate all the base models by classifiers. The ensemble pruning algorithm was proposed to prune the deep learning base models.

Results

The experimental data showed that the ensemble pruned framework achieved a prediction accuracy of 85.82% on the acne dataset, better than the existing studies. To verify our method's effectiveness, we test our method in a skin cancer dataset and greatly outperform the state‐of‐the‐art methods.

Conclusion

The method we proposed is used to grade acne. Our method's performance outperforms state‐of‐the‐art methods on two datasets, and it can also remove redundancy models to reduce computational complexity.
Stem cell‐mediated angiogenesis in skin tissue engineering and wound healing
Authors: Azari Zoleikha , Nazarnezhad Simin , Webster Thomas J. , Hoseini Seyed Javad , Brouki Milan Peiman , Baino Francesco , Kargozar Saeid
Published: May 2022

The timely management of skin wounds has been an unmet clinical need for centuries. While there have been several attempts to accelerate wound healing and reduce the cost of hospitalisation and the healthcare burden, there remains a lack of efficient and effective wound healing approaches. In this regard, stem cell‐based therapies have garnered an outstanding position for the treatment of both acute and chronic skin wounds. Stem cells of different origins (e.g., embryo‐derived stem cells) have been utilised for managing cutaneous lesions; specifically, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) isolated from foetal (umbilical cord) and adult (bone marrow) tissues paved the way to more satisfactory outcomes. Since angiogenesis plays a critical role in all four stages of normal wound healing, recent therapeutic approaches have focused on utilising stem cells for inducing neovascularisation. In fact, stem cells can promote angiogenesis via either differentiation into endothelial lineages or secreting pro‐angiogenic exosomes. Furthermore, particular conditions (e.g., hypoxic environments) can be applied in order to boost the pro‐angiogenic capability of stem cells before transplantation. For tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications, stem cells can be combined with specific types of pro‐angiogenic biocompatible materials (e.g., bioactive glasses) to enhance the neovascularisation process and subsequently accelerate wound healing. As such, this review article summarises such efforts emphasising the bright future that is conceivable when using pro‐angiogenic stem cells for treating acute and chronic skin wounds.
Design and fabrication of a micro-opto-mechanical-systems accelerometer based on intensity modulation of light fabricated by a modified deep-reactive-ion-etching process using silicon-on-insulator wafer
Authors: Gholamzadeh Reza , Gharooni Milad , Salarieh Hassan , Akbari Javad
Published: May 2022

Accelerometers that work based on intensity modulation of light are more sensitive, economically feasible, and have a simpler fabrication process compared to wavelength modulation. A micro-opto-electro-mechanical-system accelerometer based on intensity modulation of light is designed and fabricated. A movable shutter that is attached to the proof mass is designed to change the intensity of light. Moreover, the mechanical part is designed to improve the overall sensitivity and linear behavior in the measurement range. The designed accelerometer is fabricated by a deep-reactive-ion-etching (DRIE) process. The DRIE process used in this report is based on a Bosch-like process, which uses SF6 and a mixture of H2, O2, and SF6 gases in etching and passivation subsequences, respectively. This method has a lower plasma density and a higher base pressure and causes higher verticality, which results in lower optical efficiency loss in comparison with the Bosch process. Furthermore, the functional characteristics of the accelerometer are derived with analytical and numerical methods, and the results are compared. The functional characteristics of the accelerometer are as follows: a resonant frequency of 0.56 kHz, a mechanical sensitivity of 0.6μm/g, an optical sensitivity of 16%/nm, an overall sensitivity of 9.6%/g, a footprint of 2000×2000μm2, a measurement range of 3g, a mechanical cross axis sensitivity of 0.058μm/g, and an overall cross axis sensitivity of 0.00029%/g. These functional characteristics make the design appropriate for a large range of applications.
Integrated interferometry for in-process monitoring of critical dimension in vertical NAND flash memory dry etch
Authors: Oh Se-Jin
Published: May 2022

Integrated interferometry installed on top of dry etch equipment was developed for the in-process measurement of critical dimension (CD) in vertical NAND flash memory dry etch forming word-line steps, also known as word-line processes. The etching process sequentially consists of mask trimming and mold etching (multilayered structure of Si3N4 and SiO2). In-process real-time CD measurements can be made in a trimming step that etches the photoresist (PR) to form a vertical mask shape. The measurement principle is based on the analysis of the interference fringe signal of light reflection to a single point in the center of the wafer. To check the measurement accuracy of the interferometer, the CD measured with interferometry was compared with an in-line SEM (scanning electron microscope). The correlation coefficient between the interferometric measurements measured during the mask trimming step and the in-line SEM measured after the completed process was 86%. On the other hand, when the mask trimming and the mold etching steps including Si3N4 over etching were added, the total measurement results showed that the correlation coefficient was 95%. This is because the CD value was derived based on the phenomenon that the PR thickness change measured by interferometry in the trimming step was a linear relationship with the change in the lateral PR amount, so the lateral PR amount was weakly etched in the mold etching step after the trimming step, which eventually affected the final formed CD. This metrology method can be simply applied to dry etching equipment in real production lines.
Biogeographic Patterns and Elevational Differentiation of Sedimentary Bacterial Communities across River Systems in China
Authors: Zhang Sibo , Xia Xinghui , Wang Junfeng , Li Xiaokang , Xin Yuan , Bao Jia’ao , Han Lanfang , Qin Wei , Yang Zhifeng
Published: May 2022

Bacterial diversity is tightly correlated with the nutrient cycling of river systems. However, previous studies on bacterial diversity are mainly constrained to one single river system, although microbial biogeography and its drivers exhibit strong spatial scale dependence.
Race against Time between the Virus and Host: Actin-Assisted Rapid Biogenesis of Replication Organelles is Used by TBSV to Limit the Recruitment of Cellular Restriction Factors
Authors: Molho Melissa , Zhu Shifeng , Nagy Peter D.
Published: May 2022

Replication of positive-strand RNA viruses is affected by the recruitment of host components, which provide either proviral or antiviral functions during virus invasion of infected cells. The delivery of these host factors into the viral replication organelles (VROs), which represent the sites of viral RNA replication, depends on the cellular actin network.
Changes to the Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) Reservoir and Enhanced SIV-Specific Responses in a Rhesus Macaque Model of Functional Cure after Serial Rounds of Romidepsin Administrations
Authors: Kleinman Adam J. , Sivanandham Sindhuja , Sette Paola , Sivanandham Ranjit , Policicchio Benjamin B. , Xu Cuiling , Penn Ellen , Brocca-Cofano Egidio , Le Hingrat Quentin , Ma Dongzhu , Pandrea Ivona , Apetrei Cristian
Published: May 2022

HIV cure is sought after due to the prevalence of comorbidities that occur in persons with HIV. One of the most investigated HIV cure strategies is the “shock and kill” approach.
InvL, an Invasin-Like Adhesin, Is a Type II Secretion System Substrate Required for Acinetobacter baumannii Uropathogenesis
Authors: Jackson-Litteken Clay D. , Di Venanzio Gisela , Le Nguyen-Hung , Scott Nichollas E. , Djahanschiri Bardya , Distel Jesus S. , Pardue Evan J. , Ebersberger Ingo , Feldman Mario F.
Published: May 2022

While pathogenic
Acinetobacter
can cause various infections, we recently found that 20% of clinical isolates come from urinary sources. Despite the clinical relevance of
Acinetobacter
as a uropathogen, few virulence factors involved in urinary tract colonization have been defined.
Pf
ARID Regulates P. falciparum Malaria Parasite Male Gametogenesis and Female Fertility and Is Critical for Parasite Transmission to the Mosquito Vector
Authors: Kumar Sudhir , Baranwal Vinay K. , Haile Meseret T. , Oualim Kenza M. Z. , Abatiyow Biley A. , Kennedy Spencer Y. , Vaughan Ashley M. , Kappe Stefan H. I.
Published: May 2022

Successful completion of the
Plasmodium
life cycle requires formation of mature gametocytes and their uptake by the female
Anopheles
mosquito vector in an infected blood meal. Inside the mosquito midgut the parasite undergoes gametogenesis and sexual reproduction.
Sperm-Associated Antigen 9 Promotes Influenza A Virus-Induced Cell Death via the c-Jun N-Terminal Kinase Signaling Pathway
Authors: Gui Rui , Zheng Huabin , Ma Liping , Liu Renyi , Lin Xian , Ke Xianliang , Ye Chang , Jian Xiaoqin , Chen Quanjiao
Published: May 2022

Upon influenza A virus (IAV) infection, DAI is activated, recruits downstream proteins to assemble a multiprotein platform (PANoptosome), and then triggers cell death. Until now, the protein composition and assembly mechanism of the PANoptosome during IAV infection had not been elucidated.
The Deubiquitinase USP29 Promotes SARS-CoV-2 Virulence by Preventing Proteasome Degradation of ORF9b
Authors: Gao Wenying , Wang Liuli , Ju Xiaohui , Zhao Simin , Li Zhaolong , Su Manman , Xu Jiancheng , Wang Peihui , Ding Qiang , Lv Guoyue , Zhang Wenyan
Published: May 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a current global health threat caused by SARS-CoV-2. The innate immune response such as type I IFN (IFN-I) is the first line of host defense against viral infections, whereas SARS-CoV-2 proteins antagonize IFN-I production through distinct mechanisms.
Complete Genome Sequence of the N4-like Pseudomonas aeruginosa Bacteriophage vB_PaeP_CMS1
Authors: Faith Dominick , Kinnersley Margie , Schwartzkopf Caleb M. , de Mattos Camilla D. , Schmidt Amelia K. , Secor Patrick R.
Published: May 2022

vB_PaeP_CMS1 is a lytic bacteriophage that infects
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that vB_PaeP_CMS1 has a linear double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome composed of 72,673 bp, with a GC content of 54.9%, that harbors 92 predicted open reading frames, with the greatest genome homology to members of the family
Podoviridae
, genus
Litunavirus
.
Development of a Dual-Fluorescent-Reporter System in Clostridioides difficile Reveals a Division of Labor between Virulence and Transmission Gene Expression
Authors: Donnelly M. Lauren , Shrestha Shailab , Ribis John W. , Kuhn Pola , Krasilnikov Maria , Alves Feliciano Carolina , Shen Aimee
Published: May 2022

Clostridioides difficile
is an important nosocomial pathogen that causes severe diarrhea by producing toxins and transmits disease by producing spores. While both processes are crucial for
C. difficile
disease, only a subset of cells express toxins and/or undergo sporulation.
Obesity: Policy and Practice Recommendations for High-Risk Populations Influenced by the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Robinson Kathryn N. , Saber Deborah A.
Published: May 2022

Obesity has been linked to higher morbidity and mortality in those that contract novel viruses, such as H1N1 and SARS-CoV-2. Loss of life and the high cost of obesity highlight the need to focus on preventative measures.
No Genus-Specific Gene Is Essential for the Replication of Fowl Adenovirus 4 in Chicken LMH Cells
Authors: Liu Xinglong , Zou Xiaohui , Zhang Wenfeng , Guo Xiaojuan , Wang Min , Lv Yingtao , Hung Tao , Lu Zhuozhuang
Published: May 2022

Identification of viral essential genes is important for adenoviral vector construction. Deletion of nonessential genes enlarges cloning capacity, deletion of essential genes makes a replication-defective vector, and expression of essential genes in
trans
generates a virus packaging cell line.
Genomic Traits Associated with Virulence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Invasive Group B Streptococcus Isolates with Reduced Penicillin Susceptibility from Elderly Adults
Authors: Koide Shota , Nagano Yukiko , Takizawa Shino , Sakaguchi Kanae , Soga Eiji , Hayashi Wataru , Tanabe Mizuki , Denda Tomohiro , Kimura Kouji , Arakawa Yoshichika , Nagano Noriyuki
Published: May 2022

Streptococcus agalactiae
, or group B
Streptococcus
(GBS), is recognized as the leading cause of neonatal invasive infections. However, an increasing incidence of invasive GBS infections among nonpregnant adults, particularly the elderly and those with underlying diseases, has been observed.
Receptor-Binding-Motif-Targeted Sanger Sequencing: a Quick and Cost-Effective Strategy for Molecular Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Authors: Chaki Sankar Prasad , Kahl-McDonagh Melissa M. , Neuman Benjamin W. , Zuelke Kurt A.
Published: May 2022

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic resulted in 427 million infections and 5.9 million deaths globally as of 21 February 2022. SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic, frequently mutates and has developed into variants of major public health concerns.
Genomic Surveillance of Clinical Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates Reveals an Additive Effect of Carbapenemase Production on Carbapenem Resistance
Authors: Diorio-Toth Luke , Irum Sidra , Potter Robert F. , Wallace Meghan A. , Arslan Muhammad , Munir Tehmina , Andleeb Saadia , Burnham Carey-Ann D. , Dantas Gautam
Published: May 2022

Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is associated with serious infections, and treatment can be challenging. Because of this, carbapenems and β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations have become critical tools in treating multidrug-resistant (MDR)
P. aeruginosa
infections, but increasing resistance threatens their efficacy.
Disentangling the Mechanisms Shaping the Prokaryotic Communities in a Eutrophic Bay
Authors: Zhang Huajun , Yan Yi , Lin Tenghui , Xie Weijuan , Hu Jian , Hou Fanrong , Han Qingxi , Zhu Xiangyu , Zhang Demin
Published: May 2022

A growing number of studies have examined roles of microbial community assembly in modulating community composition. However, the relationships between community assembly and microbial interactions are not fully understood and rarely tested, especially in eutrophic waters.
Implication of the IL-10-Expression Signature in the Pathogenicity of
Leptospira
-Infected Macrophages
Authors: Chou Li-Fang , Chen Ting-Wen , Yang Huang-Yu , Tian Ya-Chung , Chang Ming-Yang , Hung Cheng-Chieh , Lai Chih-Ho , Hsu Shen-Hsing , Tsai Chung-Ying , Ko Yi-Ching , Lian Jang-Hau , Yang Chih-Wei
Published: May 2022

Activation of macrophages by
Leptospira
spp. infection is thought to be involved in the pathogenesis of leptospirosis. To evaluate the innate macrophage responses to
Leptospira
spp., specifically pathogenic versus nonpathogenic
Leptospira
spp., we characterized the entire transcriptome-wide alterations in infected macrophages.
Supplemental Material: Apparent preservation of primary foraminiferal Mg/Ca ratios and Mg-banding in recrystallized foraminifera
Authors: Staudigel Philip T. , al. et
Published: May 2022

Supplemental methods, discussion, tables, and figures.
Neurosyphilis mimicking giant cell arteritis both clinically and microscopically
Authors: van Ruitenbeek Niels , van Kasteren Marjo , Bouma-de Krijger Annet
Published: May 2022

Temporal arteritis is usually caused by giant cell arteritis (GCA). However, inflammation of the temporal artery can also occur secondary to autoimmune diseases or infections.

We present a remarkable case of a man in his 70s with biopsy proven temporal arteritis, who was later diagnosed with meningovascular neurosyphilis. The presentation of an acute onset monocular vision loss with inflammation of the temporal artery on biopsy appeared a GCA, misleading the physicians, as it turned out to be a manifestation of neurosyphilis.
Acute exudative serous macular detachment with intraretinal oedema following uncomplicated phacoemulsification cataract surgery
Authors: Spackman William , Raman Vasant
Published: May 2022

We report a case of a white man in his 80s presenting with reduced vision, 1 day following uncomplicated cataract surgery. Optical coherence tomography scan showed evidence of a large collection of subretinal and intraretinal fluid. There was no ocular abnormality of note to explain these macular findings. The findings were presumed to be caused by cefuroxime toxicity despite a standard intraoperative dose of 1 mg/0.1 mL injected into the anterior chamber. We have postulated that the process of discarding excess cefuroxime onto the corneal wound or surface may inadvertently lead to a higher dose entering the eye than intended. This patient was treated with topical prednisolone 1%, ketorolac 0.5% and chloramphenicol 0.5% in place of the standard Maxitrol (dexamethasone 0.1% with neomycin) prescribed as a postoperative regimen in our unit. There was complete resolution of the retinal changes with restoration of normal vision at 3-week follow-up.