bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physicians assessment of the Bavarian drug-expenditure control system: A qualitative study
Authors: Zeschick Nikoletta , Gollnick Julia , Muth Julia , Hörbrand Franziska , Killian Peter , Donner-Banzhoff Norbert , Kühlein Thomas , Sebastião Maria
Published: December 2022

Background In 2014 a new system for drug expenditures, the Wirkstoffvereinbarung (WSV) was implemented in Bavaria. In pre-defined indication groups, cost-effectiveness for the prescription of medications shall be enabled based on the selection, quantity, and the proportion of an individual drug. Ambulatory care physicians receive quarterly trend reports on their prescribing behavior. This study examines physicians’ perceptions of the WSV.
Methods Qualitative interviews (n = 20) and seven focus groups (n = 36) were conducted with ambulatory care physicians (e.g. general practitioners, cardiologists, pneumologists). The methodology followed Qualitative Content Analysis.
Results Physicians generally accepted the necessity of prescribing economically. The majority of them rated the WSV positively and better than the previous system. As improvement, they especially named timely feedback in form of easily understandable trend reports, encouraging self-reflection as well as allowing early control options. Problems perceived were drug discount contracts that were strongly criticized as leading to patients mixing up medications. Some perceived constraints of therapeutic freedom.
Conclusions The WSV was seen as useful to reach the accepted goal of cost control. The restrictions of therapeutic freedom partially perceived might be met by improved information on the reasons why some drugs are rated as less economic than others.
Trial registration number: Main ID: DRKS00019820 (German Register of Clinical Studies and World Health Organization)
Groundwater Potential Zone Mapping Using Arc GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) for the case of Lower Omo-Gibe Watershed, Omo-Gibe Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Tafese Eyasu
Published: December 2022

The demand for and investigation of groundwater are occasionally increased by the ever-increasing population and abrupt climatic changes. To delineate groundwater potential (GWP) zones in the Lower Omo-Gibe Watershed, Omo-Gibe Basin, Ethiopia, an integrated strategy of remote sensing (RS), geographic information systems (GIS), and multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) using analytical hierarchical process (AHP) was used. For this purpose, seven GWP influencing thematic layers comprising lineament density, slope, soil, drainage density, landuse landcover, geology and elevation map were used. Scale values for the classes and thematic layers within them were determined using Satty's AHP and based on expert and literary judgment. The thematic layers have been integrated via their weights/rates using weighted overlay spatial function tool of ArcGIS to provide GWP map. The result shows that GWP map comprises very good (13.79%), good (40.68%), moderate (27.06%) and fair (18.45%) zones.
Two different types of kinetics, where the initial rate increases faster or slower than the reactant concentration, can coexist on bell-shaped kinetic dependencies
Authors: Zhuk P. F. , Karakhim S. O.
Published: December 2022

We have shown the possibility of mathematical analysis of complex biochemical reactions without simplifying assumptions regarding their parameters by investigating the mechanism of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) hydrolysis by the “basal” Mg2+-ATPase in which ATP (substrate), Mg2+ (essential activator) and MgATP (true substrate) compete for binding with the enzyme catalytic site. For this mechanism, we proved, using the quasi-steady state principle by Bodenstein, the existence and uniqueness of a quasi-steady state at any fixed parameters (initial reactant concentrations, positive reaction rate constants). On this basis, the definition of the initial reaction rate v as a function of the initial concentrations of ATP (x1), Mg2+ (x2), ATPase (x3) is given and the dependencies v vs xi are investigated. We proved that at fixed initial concentrations of any two reactants, the kinetic curve v vs xi has a unique maximum point. In different regions of the kinetic curve located before and after the maximum point, the initial rate may vary in different ways: in one region it can change more slowly than the reactant concentration, as in the case of hyperbolic dependencies, and in the other it can change much faster than the reactant concentration, as in the case of sigmoid dependencies, which is typical for regulatory enzymes. This initial rate behaviour causes the existence of four different types of bell-shaped kinetic curves. To quantify the degree of sigmoidity of kinetics, we used derivatives (d ln v)/(d ln xi) which allowed us to estimate the maximal velocity of the initial rate change.
MSC codes: 92C45, 65H10
Association between P2Y12 inhibitor reloading and In-hospital Outcomes for patients with Non-ST-segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome already on Chronic P2Y12 receptor inhibitors therapy in China: Findings From the CCC-ACS (Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China-Acute Coronary Syndrome) Project
Authors: Wang Yintang , Geng Yu , Zhang Ou , Xu Qin , Xue Yajun , Zhou Boda , Zhang Ping
Published: December 2022

Background
The association between P2Y12 receptor inhibitors reloading and in-hospital outcomes in non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS) patients who were on chronic P2Y12 receptor inhibitors therapy remained underdetermined.
Methods
The Improving Care for Cardiovascular Disease in China–Acute Coronary Syndrome (CCC-ACS project) is a national registry active from November 2014 to December 2019. 4790 NSTEACS patients on chronic P2Y12 receptor inhibitors therapy were included. Cox proportional hazard models, Kaplan–Meier curves, and subgroup analyses were conducted.
Results
The NSTEACS patients who received reloading of P2Y12 receptor inhibitors were younger and had fewer comorbid conditions. The reloading group had a lower risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (0.51% vs. 1.42%, P = 0.007), and all-cause death (0.36% vs. 0.99%, P = 0.028), the risks of myocardial infarction and major bleeding were not significantly different between patients with and without reloading. In survival analysis, a lower cumulative risk of MACE could be identified (Log-rank test, P = 0.007) in reloading group. In the unadjusted Cox model, reloading P2Y12 receptor inhibitors was associated with a decreased risk of MACE (HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.16-0.78; [P = 0.010]) and all-cause death (HR, 0.37; 95% CI, 0.14-0.94; [P = 0.036]). Reloading of P2Y12 receptor inhibitors was associated with a decreased risk of MACE in most of the subgroups.
Conclusions
In NSTEACS patients already taking P2Y12 receptor inhibitors, we observed a decreased risk of in-hospital MACEs and all-cause mortality and did not observe an increased risk of major bleeding, with reloading. The differential profile in the two groups might influence this association and further studies are warranted.
Clinical trial registration: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov (Unique identifier: NCT02306616, date of first registration: 03/12/2014).
Circadian clock circuitry deconvolutes colorectal cancer and lung adenocarcinoma heterogeneity in a dynamic time-related framework
Authors: Bianchi Fabrizio , Mazzoccoli Gianluigi , Melocchi Valentina
Published: December 2022

Increasing evidence imputes cancer progression and resistance to therapy to intra-tumor molecular heterogeneity set off by cancer cell plasticity. Re-activation of developmental programs strictly linked to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and gaining of stem cells properties are crucial in this setting. Many biological processes involved in cancer onset and progression show rhythmic fluctuations driven by the circadian clock circuitry. Novel cancer patient stratification tools taking into account the temporal dimension of these biological processes are definitely needed. Lung cancer and colorectal cancer (CRC) are the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Here, we show that the molecular heterogeneity characterizing the two deadliest cancers, colorectal (CRC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), rather than a merely stochastic event is the readout of specific cancer molecular states which correlate with time-qualified patterns of gene expression. We performed time-course transcriptome analysis of CRC and LUAD cell lines and upon computing circadian genes expression-based correlation matrices we exploited pseudo-time points to infer time-qualified patterns in the transcriptomic analysis of real-world data (RWD) from large cohorts of CRC and LUAD patients. Our temporal classification of CRC and LUAD cohorts was able to effectively render time-specific patterns in cancer phenotype switching determining dynamical distribution of molecular subtypes impacting patient prognosis.
Detection of separatrices and chaotic seas based on orbit amplitudes
Authors: Daquin Jerome , Charalambous Carolina
Published: December 2022

The Maximum Eccentricity Method (MEM, Dvorak et al, 2004) is a standard tool for the analysis of planetary systems and their stability. The method amounts to estimating the maximal stretch of orbits over sampled domains of initial conditions. The present paper leverages on the MEM to introduce a sharp detector of separatrices and chaotic seas. After introducing the MEM analogue for nearly-integrable action-angle Hamiltonians, \ie diameters, we use low-dimensional dynamical systems with multi-resonant modes and junctions, supporting chaotic motions, to recognise the drivers of the diameter metric. Once this is appreciated, we present a second-derivative based index measuring the regularity of this application. This quantity turns to be a sensitive and robust indicator to detect separatrices, resonant webs and chaotic seas. We discuss practical applications of this framework in the context of $N$-body simulations for the planetary case affected by mean-motion resonances, and demonstrate the ability of the index to distinguish minute structures of the phase space, otherwise undetected with the original MEM.
Effect of Rehabilitation Exercise Amount on Sleep Quality in Patients with Stroke
Authors: Wang Chien-Hui , Hsu Chien-Ning , Li Hsiao-Mei , Wang Ting-Yi , Hsu Hsiu-Chen , Wu Chiung-Yi , Hsu Yu-Pao , Pan Ren-Hao
Published: December 2022

Objective: Patients with stroke often have accompanying sleep disorders. However, sleep quality plays a crucial role in motor function recovery and brain reorganization. Improving sleep disorders is therefore of great clinical importance. Studies have shown that exercise and increased physical activity have positive effects on sleep disorders and sleep quality. However, studies supporting the use of rehabilitation exercise to achieve a similar effect on sleep quality in patients with stroke are still limited. Therefore, in this study, actigraphy was used to analyze the relationship between the amount and intensity of rehabilitation exercise and sleep. This study contributes to understanding regarding the effects of rehabilitation exercise on sleep quality in patients with stroke.
Methods:An observational study was conducted to investigate the correlation between the amount and intensity of rehabilitation exercise in patients with stroke and their sleep quality.
Results: We observed a positive correlation between moderate- and high-intensity exercise duration and sleep efficiency, but only the correlation between high-intensity exercise duration and sleep efficiency was significant (p≦0.001). We found a negative correlation between high-, moderate-, and low-intensity exercise duration and real sleep time. However, only low-intensity exercise duration was significantly correlated with real sleep time (p≦0.001). We also observed a significant negative correlation between high- (p≦0.001), moderate- (p≦0.001), and low-intensity (p = 0.008) exercise duration and total sleep time. Almost no significant correlation was noted between adjustment factors (gender, age, stroke type, and motor disability severity) and sleep efficiency; we only noted a significant negative correlation between left-sided strokes and sleep efficiency (p = 0.001).
Conclusions: High-intensity rehabilitation exercise had a significant positive effect on sleep efficiency in the observed patients with stroke. Rehabilitation exercise, regardless of its intensity, could reduce required sleep time in the patients with stroke. Furthermore, we recommend instructing patients to engage in not only rehabilitation exercise, but specifically, moderate- or high-intensity rehabilitation exercise, because only such exercise could effectively improve patients’ sleep quality.
Childbirth readiness mediates the effect of social support on psychological birth trauma of primiparous women: a nationwide online cross-sectional study in China
Authors: JU Dandan , ZHANG Ke , YUAN Mengmei , LI Bingbing , ZENG Tieying
Published: December 2022

Background

The detrimental impact of psychological birth trauma is far-reaching for women. This study aimed to identify the relationship between social support, childbirth readiness, and psychological birth trauma and to further explore whether childbirth readiness can play a mediating role.

Methods

A nationwide online cross-sectional study was conducted among 751 primiparous women in seven provinces in China from November 2021 to March 2022. The questionnaire consisted of questions on demographic characteristics, the Psychological Birth Trauma Scale (PBTS), the Chinese Mandarin version of the Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey (MOS-SSS-CM), and the Childbirth Readiness Scale (CRS). Hierarchical multiple regression was used to explore the associate factors and mediating role of childbirth readiness in the relationship between social support and psychological birth trauma. The mediating model was examined by the PROCESS macro for SPSS.

Results

After adjusting for demographic variables, social support was negatively associated with psychological birth trauma (r=-0.242, P<0.01). Childbirth readiness had a positive correlation with social support (r = 0.206, P<0.01) and a negative correlation with psychological birth trauma (r=-0.351, P<0.01). The hierarchical multiple regression model indicated that social support and childbirth readiness explained 3.9% and 7.7% of the variance in psychological birth trauma, respectively. Childbirth readiness partly mediated the association between social support and psychological birth trauma for primiparas.

Conclusions

Childbirth readiness played a mediating role between social support and psychological birth trauma among primiparas. Strategies and interventions to enhance childbirth readiness levels may be expected to improve the impact of social support on women's psychological birth trauma.
Effect of nutrient supplements on the depression of the elderly: the mediating effect of physical exercise
Authors: Guo Jianhui , Huang Shuna , Chen Mingjun , Xu Jialiang , Lin Fuxin , Li Huangyuan , Kang Dezhi , Wu Siying
Published: December 2022

Objectives: To explore the association between nutrient supplements and the prevalence of depression. To explore the mediating role of physical exercise in this association.
Methods:Data from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey (CLHLS) were analyzed. A total of 8,427 older adults were included in this study. We used the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) to assess participants' depression, self-reported use of nutrient supplements as exposure, and self-reported exercise habits to assess participants' physical activity. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between nutrient supplements and depression. Mediation analysis was used to explore the role of physical activity in this association.
Results: This study found that the use of nutrient supplements was associated with a lower prevalence of depression (OR=0.641, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.536-0.766). The prevalence of depression was lower among those who used one or more nutrient supplements compared with those who did not use nutrient supplements. Among the 8 nutrient supplements, calcium, vitamin A/D and other nutrient supplements played a greater role. And physical exercise played a mediating role in the association of nutrient supplements with depression.
Conclusions:Using nutrient supplements could reduce the risk of depression. While using supplements, people should be exercising to promote absorption.
Mechanical protective effect of lens anterior capsule flap on corneal endothelial cells during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery in a rabbit model
Authors: Wu Bowen , Ding Xue , Li Shaowei , Huo Dongmei , Zhang Fan , Liang Weiyan , Li Ling , Dou Zexia
Published: December 2022

Purpose
To evaluate the effects of a novel technique using an isolated lens anterior capsule flap (LACF) to protect corneal endothelial cells in rabbit eyes during femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery.
Methods
Experimental study. 40 rabbits were divided into endothelium-protected (experimental) and control groups, with 20 rabbits in each group. In the experimental group, after femtosecond laser capsulotomy, the isolated capsule flap was lifted to the corneal endothelium by an ophthalmic viscosurgical device. The endothelium was damaged for 1 minute with an ultrasonic probe. The control group underwent the same surgery, except that the flap was removed immediately after capsulorhexis. Corneal endothelioscopy was performed preoperatively and on postoperative days (PODs) 3 and 7 to observe endothelial cell counts (ECC) and endothelial cell loss rate (ECL). Central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured before and at PODs 1, 3 and 7.
Results
There were 3.59%±1.88% (p < 0.001) and 2.92%±2.14% (p < 0.001) loss of ECC in experimental group at POD3 and POD7, respectively, while those in the control group were 11.62%±7.43% and 10.34%±5.77%, respectively. On POD 1, the difference in central corneal thickness was significantly (P = 0.019) between the two groups. At POD 3 and POD 7, CCT was not significantly different (P = 0.597;0.913) between the two groups.
Conclusions
The isolated LACF technique significantly reduces damage to the endothelium caused by ultrasonic energy and protects corneal endothelial cells during phacoemulsification.
Reclaimed Water in Taiwan: Current Status and Future Prospects
Authors: Cheng Hai-Hsuan , Yu Wan-Shen , Tseng Shu-Chuan , Wu Yi-Ju , Hsieh Ching-Lin , Lin Shi-Shuan , Chu Ching-Ping , Huang Yu-De , Chen Wan-Ru , Lin Tsair-Fuh , Whang Liang-Ming
Published: December 2022

The Taiwan Water Resources Agency of Ministry of Economic Affairs indicates the average water demand shortage is 530.6 million m3/yr during 2011 to 2019, and this shortage situation will be more serious in the near future due to global climate change. The reclaimed water in Taiwan, therefore, has been considered as new water sources mainly for industrial consumers for manufacturing processes, especially those high-tech industries in science parks. In order to meet the targeted reclaimed water supply of 1.32 million CMD in 2031, Taiwan currently focuses on two major reclaimed water sources, including reclaimed water from the high water-consuming industries and municipal wastewater treatment plants. This report reviews current technologies used for reclaimed water including units for pretreatment, desalting, polishing, and reclamation. Cases studies in Taiwan including reclaimed water from high water-consuming industries such as thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) and semiconductor industries and from municipal wastewater treatment plants are presented. Finally, challenges and future prospects for promoting reclaimed water to fulfill the targeted reclaimed water supply in 2031 are discussed.
Clinical value of PEX7 in Coronary Artery Heart Disease patients: Bioinformatics-based approach
Authors: Ji Xiang , Shi Lin , Xi Qian , Liu Yang
Published: December 2022

Background
Coronary Artery Heart Disease (CHD) is a chronic inflammatory and fibroproliferative disease background on aberrant lipid metabolism, and the focus in trending research is the mechanism of unstable plaque generated by immune-related inflammation. Identifying the mechanism of plaque-related immune infiltration is crucial for mitigating the negative effects of coronary artery disease.
Methods
The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used to download the expression data for the CHD and control samples. The Limma R program was used to find differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between CHD and control samples. The ssGESA technique was used to examine the enrichment of 28 cell types in CHD and control samples. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), it was possible to identify modules that were important to the cell types that were differentially enriched. Following the discovery of overlapping DEGs and genes by WGCNA, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was built to identify hub genes. In order to assess the diagnostic utility of hub genes, ROC curves were generated. Additionally, the TF-mRNA and miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks were built and visualized by Cytoscape software, and the miRNA and TF targeting of diagnostic hub genes were predicted using the web tools miRNet and NetworkAnalyst.
Results
A total of 9485 DEGs were identified in CHD database. The results of immune cell infiltration revealed that the abundance of T follicular helper cells, type 1 T helper cells, and immature dendritic cells varied significantly between samples. The extensive immunological mechanism demonstrates the pathway involved by immune related DEGs(IR-DEGs)was primarily enriched in the peroxisome-mediated immune metabolism. Among the 421 CHD-related IR-DEGs identified, PEX6, SCP2, PEX7, PECR, SRP54, and PEX10 occupy key positions in the PPI network, featuring PEX7 as the core and five others as its interconnected genes. The ROC curve revealed that, with the exception of PECR, the other five genes had diagnostic value in the progression of CHD. The constructed miRNA and TF regulatory network model suggest that PEX7 may be casCHDed with SCP2 and PEX10 via h6a-mir-124-3p and FOXL1, which imply a molecular framework for PEX-related path.
Conclusion
Our research has elucidated the diagnostic relevance of immune-related genes, indicating that PEX7, as a potential biomarker, plays a significant role in the immune metabolism-related mechanism of CHD via the peroxisome-mediated pathway.
Landward mantle flow associated with the Pacific subduction system opened the South China Sea
Authors: Suo Yanhui , Dong Hao , Liu Lijun , Peng Diandian , Li Yanchong , Liu Jinping , Dai Liming , Cao Xianzhi , Li Sanzhong
Published: December 2022

Whether Tethyan or Pacific subduction controlled the formation of the South China Sea (SCS) is debated. Here, using high resolution seismic data, we reveal that the continental extension across the northern SCS margin experienced a transition from the Early-Eocene narrow-rift mode to the Late Eocene wide-rift mode. Using 4D geodynamic models, we propose that the evolving rifting mode was dominated by the landward mantle flow associated with Pacific subduction: 1) Toroidal mantle flow through a hole in the retreating flat slab initially thinned the continent to form a narrow rift; 2) Strong landward mantle wind through a broad trench-parallel slab window since ~40 Ma stretched the narrow rift into a wide rift and eventually an oceanic basin. We conclude that the landward mantle flow represents a new mechanism of continental extension, where increasingly strong hot upwelling caused the intermediate SCS rifted margin between the traditional magma-poor and magma-rich end-members.
"Family and society empowerment": Abused women's exclusive needs during pregnancy- A qualitative study
Authors: Barez Malikeh Amel , Najmabadi Khadijeh Mirzaii , Roudsari Robab Latifnejad , Bazaz Mojtaba Mousavi , Babazadeh Raheleh
Published: December 2022

Background
Domestic violence threatens maternal physical, psychological and emotional safety. Abused pregnant women required several interventions based on their actual needs with the purpose of reducing domestic violence and its negative consequences. The present study aimed to explore the exclusive needs of abused pregnant women in Iran.
Methods
This qualitative study was performed from September 2019 to August 2021 in Mashhad, Iran. Semi-structured interviews with 14 abused women (8 pregnant and 6 after birth) who were the victims of domestic violence, and 11 key informants with various discipline specialties until the data saturation was achieved. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Qualitative data were analyzed based on the conventional content analysis adopted by Graneheim & Lundman.
Findings:
"Family and society empowerment" was the main concept emerged from the data analysis comprising of three categories such as "need to empower couples to reduce domestic violence during pregnancy", "demand for improved health care services", and "need to strengthen inter-sectoral, legal and social supports".
Conclusion
Abused pregnant women experienced several individual, interpersonal and inter sectoral needs. Family and society empowerment constituted the actual needs of abused pregnant women. Awareness of policymakers and health system managers of these needs could be the basis for designing a supportive care program according to abused women’s actual needs. In addition to the educational and skill empowerment of couples, it is essential that supportive organizations cooperate with each other to provide integrated and coordinated services to abused pregnant women and strengthen and facilitate maternal access to supportive resources.
Multiple redox switches of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease in vitro provide new opportunities for drug design
Authors: Tittmann Kai , Funk Lisa-Marie , von Pappenheim Fabian Rabe , Wensien Marie , Eulig Nora , Penka Elke , Stegmann Kim , Dickmanns Antje , Dobbelstein Matthias , Mata Ricardo , Uranga Jon , Bazzi Sophia , Fritz Tobias , Chari Ashwin , Paknia Elham , Heyne Gaby , Pearson Arwen , Hilgenfeld Rolf , Curth Ute , Berndt Carsten , Poschmann Gereon
Published: December 2022

Besides vaccines, the development of antiviral drugs targeting SARS-CoV-2 is critical for stopping the current COVID-19 pandemic and preventing future outbreaks. The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro), a cysteine protease with essential functions in viral replication, has been validated as an effective drug target. Here, we show that Mpro is subject to redox regulation in vitro and reversibly switches between the enzymatically active dimer and the functionally dormant monomer through redox modifications of cysteine residues. These include a disulfide-dithiol switch between the catalytic cysteine C145 and cysteine C117, and generation of an allosteric cysteine-lysine-cysteine SONOS bridge that is required for structural stability under oxidative stress conditions, such as those exerted by the innate immune system. We identify homo- and heterobifunctional reagents that mimic the redox switching and inhibit Mpro activity. The discovered redox switches are conserved in main proteases from other coronaviruses, e.g. MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV, indicating their potential as common druggable sites.
Measurement of pressure–volume–temperature diagrams based on simulated melt temperature and actual cavity pressure
Authors: Zhu Bo-Wei , Nian Shih-Chih , Huang Ming-Shyan
Published: December 2022

Pressure–volume–temperature (pvT) diagrams illustrate the behavior of a polymer melt during injection molding and can be used to determine the optimal process parameter settings for producing quality parts. However, the measurements of pvT diagrams are costly and time-consuming and have limitations for process control. This study generated an economic pvT diagram based on sensor data and simulation analysis. To avoid the use of expensive infrared sensors and inaccurate pressure simulations, a pvT curve was constructed by combining the melting temperature, which was simulated using computer-aided engineering, and the actual cavity pressure. The specific volume of the polymer melt was then calculated using a modified Tait model. The pvT diagram could be used to investigate the changes in specific volume at various injection stages, which could be applied to quality prediction. In this study, a flat plate with uneven thickness was used as the research vehicle. The specific volume of each sensor position of the plastic component cooled to room temperature was calculated. Thereafter, a correlation analysis between the changes in specific volume and the shrinkage ratio of the plastic part was conducted. The experiment indicated that both variables were highly correlated. Therefore, monitoring changes in specific volume could predict part size. Additionally, the proposed measurements of the pvT diagram could be used to compute the cooling time, which greatly affects the quality and production efficiency of injection-molded parts. A 25-s cooling time setting demonstrated a stable molding quality compared with the traditional heat transfer formula (16 s) and the commercial simulation (17 s).
Design optimization and experiment of corn U-shaped fertilization device
Authors: Zuo Zheng , Zhao Jianguo , Yin Baozhong , Li Lixia , Jia Hetong , Zhang Baochuan , Ma Zhikai , Hao Jianjun , Wang Zhenyang
Published: December 2022

Aiming at the problems of low utilization rate of corn fertilizer, low precision of fertilization ratio, and time-consuming and laborious topdressing in the later stage, an U-shaped fertilization device with uniform fertilizer mechanism was designed. The device was mainly composed of uniform fertilizer mixing mechanism, fertilizer guide plate and fertilization plate. Compound fertilizer was applied on both sides and slow/controlled release fertilizer was applied at the bottom to form an U-shaped distribution of fertilizer around corn seeds. Through theoretical analysis and calculation, the structural parameters of the fertilization device were determined. Through the simulated soil tank test, the quadratic regression orthogonal rotation combination design was carried out on the main factors affecting the spatial stratification effect of fertilizer. The optimal parameters were obtained as follows: the stirring speed of the stirring structure was 300 r/min, the bending angle of the fertilization tube was 165°, and the operating speed of the fertilization device was 3 km/h. The results of bench verification test showed that under the optimized stirring speed and bending angle, the fertilizer particles were stirred evenly, and the average values of fertilizer flowing out of the fertilization tubes on both sides were 299.5 g and 297.4 g, respectively. The average fertilizer amounts of the three fertilizer outlets were 200.4 g, 203.2 g and 197.7 g, respectively, which met the agronomic requirements of 1:1:1 fertilization, and the variation coefficients of fertilizer amounts on both sides of the fertilizer pipe and each layer were less than 0.1% and 0.4%, respectively. The simulation results of the optimized U-shaped fertilization device can achieve the expected U-shaped fertilization effect around corn seeds. The results of field experiment showed that the U-shaped fertilization device could realize the U-shaped proportional application of fertilizer in soil. The distance between the upper end of fertilization on both sides and the distance between the base fertilizer and the surface were 87.3 ~ 95.2 mm and 197.8 ~ 206.0 mm, respectively. The transverse distance between the fertilizers on both sides was 84.3 ~ 99.4 mm, and the error with the designed theoretical fertilization was within 10 mm. Compared with the traditional side fertilization method, the number of corn roots increased by 5 ~ 6, the root length increased by 30 ~ 40 mm, and the yield increased by 9.9 ~ 14.8 %.
Analysis of the correlation between biomechanical properties and corneal densitometry in myopic eyes
Authors: Zheng Yuwei , Xue Chao , Wang Jing , Chen Xuan , Wang Xiaohui , Wang Yan
Published: December 2022

Background
To investigate the correlation between corneal biomechanical characteristics (in vitro and in vivo) and corneal densitometry in myopia.
Methods
The Pentacam (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) corneal densitometry (CD) and Corvis ST (Oculus, Wetzlar, Germany) exams were conducted prior to surgery for myopic patients who were intended to undergo small-incision lenticule extraction (SMILE). CD values (grayscale units, GSUs), CCT (central corneal thickness) and in vivo biomechanical parameters were obtained. The stromal lenticule was subjected to a uniaxial tensile test to obtain the elastic modulus E in vitro. To exam correlations among biomechanical characteristics, CCT and CD values.
Results
In this study, 37 myopic patients (63 eyes) were included. The mean age of participants was 25.14 ± 6.74 years (range:16–39 years). The mean CD values of the total cornea, anterior layer, intermediate layer, posterior layer, 0–2 mm region and 2–6 mm region were 15.03 ± 1.23 GSU, 20.35 ± 1.98 GSU, 11.76 ± 1.01 GSU, 10.95 ± 0.83 GSU, 15.57 ± 1.12 GSU and 11.94 ± 1.77 GSU, respectively. Elastic modulus E (in vitro biomechanical indicator) was negatively correlated with intermediate layer CD (r=-0.35, P = 0.01) and 2–6 mm region CD (r=-0.39, P = 0.00). A negative correlation was also found between 0–2 mm central region CD and in vivo biomechanical indicator SP-HC (r=-0.29, P = 0.02). CCT was correlated with multiple biomechanical characteristics in vivo but didn’t interfere in vitro biomechanical indicator.
Conclusions
In myopic patients, densitometry is negatively correlated with biomechanical properties both in vivo and in vitro. With an increase in CD, the cornea deformed more easily. Elastic modulus can exclude the influence of CCT on corneal mechanics.
Prevalence of genetic diamine oxidase (DAO) deficiency in women with fibromyalgia in Spain
Authors: Okutan Gülşah , Casares Eva Ruiz , Alcalde Teresa Perucho , Niño Guerthy Melissa Sánchez , Penadés Bruno F. , Lora Ana Terrén , Martin Ismael San Mauro
Published: December 2022

Diamine oxidase (DAO) is the enzyme responsible for the metabolism of intestinal histamine. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the AOC1 gene are associated with low enzymatic activity or functionality in the metabolism of histamine.
The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of DAO deficiency for four variants of the AOC1 gene, p.Thr16Met (rs10156191), p.Ser332Phe (rs1049742), p.His664Asp (rs1049793) and c.691G>T (rs2052129) in Spanish women with fibromyalgia, as well as to compare the distribution of allelic and genotypic frequencies with European population samples in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) extracted from the ALFA (Allele Frequency Aggregator) database.
The sample consisted of 98 Spanish women with fibromyalgia between 33 and 60 years old (48.5 years ± 7.5) DAO enzyme activity was determined by a sample of oral mucosa and a standard hygiene protocol was followed. The patients' DNA was extracted and the analysis of gene variants of interest was performed using SNPE Multiplex (Single Nucleotide Primer Extension).
The prevalence of genetic DAO deficiency was 74.5% by the four variants of the AOC1 gene. The deficit for each SNP followed the following frequencies: p.Thr16Met (53.1%), c.691G>T (49%), p.His664Asp (48%) and p.Ser332Phe (19.4%). The allelic and genotypic prevalence of the variants had similar distributions of European population except for p.Ser332Phe.
Variants of the AOC1gene could be associated with genetic DAO deficiency and potential disruptive biomarker in fibromyalgia patients.
This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05389761
Optimization analysis of fire characteristics and emergency evacuation scheme of small- and medium-sized high-speed railway stations
Authors: Chunhua Zhang , Jianing Jin , Dengming Jiao , Liqiang Wang
Published: December 2022

To study the fire spread law in high-speed railway stations and suggest a reasonable evacuation plan, we first establish a physical model based on a high-speed railway station in the Shandong building using Pyrosim software. We then simulate and analyze the variation rules for the smoke temperature, CO volume fraction, and visibility in the commercial mezzanine and waiting-hall space for a left-side fire and identify the most critical factors affecting personnel evacuation. Anylogic software, which considers the crowd social forces as well as the effect of visibility on personnel speed in areas where the fire is dynamically spreading, is used to compare and analyze the free-evacuation scheme and different guided evacuation schemes in terms of the required safety evacuation time. The optimal fire emergency evacuation scheme is then proposed. The results show that the smoke from a fire on the left commercial mezzanine will seriously threaten the upper stair entrance of the commercial mezzanine. Notably, visibility is the most critical factor affecting personnel evacuation. Under the free evacuation scheme, the utilization of evacuation exits is not balanced, and unsurprisingly, personnel congestion at the station entrance occurs. This affects evacuation efficiency. Accordingly, changing the evacuation personnel path and evacuation exit based on the shortest path under equal-area zoning evacuation can effectively reduce the personnel evacuation time.
Antimicrobial use and resistance in Scottish dairy herds: A survey of farmers’ knowledge, behaviours and attitudes
Authors: Borelli Elena , Ellis Kathryn , Tomlinson Martin , Hotchkiss Emily
Published: December 2022

Understanding how antimicrobials are used on dairy farms, as well as stakeholder beliefs relating to their use, is essential to ensure responsible antimicrobial usage (AMU) and tackle antimicrobial resistance (AMR). An online questionnaire was designed based on the findings of two focus groups. It was structured into four sections covering AMU and AMR knowledge, behaviour, and attitudes of farmers. The target population was all Scottish dairy farmers (n = 832). The survey was completed by 61 respondents. Overall, participants expressed a lack of knowledge of antimicrobials and AMR. Farmers highlighted the importance of veterinarian support, as vet opinions and advice were ranked significantly more important than other social referents or advisors. The vast majority of respondents (90%) had reduced AMU on farms over recent years. However, some risky practices, such as feeding antibiotic milk to calves, are still widespread. Limited finances and knowledge were the main barriers to ensuring responsible AMU. Attitudes towards AMR were variable, and some farmers expressed a mismatch between their intention and behaviour. Results indicated that AMU had been reduced, and most farms implemented best practices. Yet, more work is needed to raise AMR awareness among farmers and address the main barriers.
Rebuilding Caribbean Environmental Health Post-Crisis Programs: Case Study for Virtual Mentorship
Authors: DeVito Rosann , Landeen Elizabeth , Dyjack David , Labbo Rebecca , Gill Gagandeep , Gerding Justin , Kalis Martin , Daly Scott , Lopez Raymond , Somaiya Chintan , Chera Sukhdeep , Vanover Christine , Randhawa Manjit
Published: December 2022

After the U.S. Caribbean 2017 hurricanes, rebuilding, strengthening, and sustaining essential environmental health (EH) services and systems were critical. The National Environmental Health Association, in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), developed an online mentorship program for both newly hired and existing environmental health staff, as well as health department leadership in the Caribbean health departments. Participants were provided both practical and didactic learning and were given the opportunity to evaluate the program. Both mentors and mentees were highly satisfied with the knowledge and skills acquired, and mentees expressed it was relevant to their daily work. Based on the findings, we recommend both an online and a hybrid mentorship program be considered for leadership- and inspector-level workforces in EH and potentially other fields.
SL-PseAAC: A super learner based DNA-binding protein prediction model
Authors: AHMED SHEIKH HASIB , BOSE DIBYENDU BRINTO , KHANDOKER RAFI , RAHMAN M. SAIFUR
Published: December 2022

Background: DNA-binding proteins (DNA-BPs) are the proteins that bind and interact with DNA. DNA-BPs play a critical role in all aspects of genetic activity. DNA-BPs regulate and affect the processes of transcription and DNA replication, repair, and recombination by organizing the chromosomal DNA as well as various cellular processes. Very few proteins, however, are DNA-binding in nature. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an efficient predictor for identifying DNA-BPs.
Result: In this work, we have proposed new benchmark datasets for the DNA-binding protein prediction problem. We discovered several quality concerns with the widely used benchmark datasets, PDB1075 (for training) and PDB186 (for independent testing), which necessitated the preparation of new benchmark datasets. Our proposed datasets UNIPROT1424 and UNIPROT356 can be used for model training and independent testing respectively. We have retrained selected state-of-the-art DNA-BP predictors in the new datasets and reported their performance results. We also trained a novel predictor using the new benchmark datasets. We extracted features from various feature categories, then used a Random Forest classifier and Recursive Feature Elimination with Cross-validation (RFECV) to select the optimal set of 452 features. We then proposed a super learner architecture as our final prediction model. Named Super Learner Using Pseudo Amino Acid Composition, or SL-PseAAC in short, our model achieved 91.86%, 92.14% and 92.70% accuracy in 10-fold cross-validation, jackknife and independent testing respectively.
Conclusion: SL-PseAAC has performed very well in cross-validation testing and has outperformed all the state-of-the-art prediction models in independent testing. Its performance scores in cross-validation testing generalized very well in the independent test set. The source code of the model is publicly available at https://github.com/HasibAhmed1624/SL-PseAAC. Therefore, we expect this generalized model can be adopted by researchers and practitioners to identify novel DNA-binding proteins.
Active illumination spectacle device slows childhood myopia progression
Authors: Kubota Ryo , O'Connor Brett , Samandarova Inna , Selenow Arkady , Ali Steven , Mitchell G Lynn
Published: December 2022

Childhood myopia progression occurs due to excessive axial elongation of the eye and results in increased risk for sight-threatening ocular comorbidities. Increased daily time spent outdoors and sustained use of peripheral defocus modifying lenses have been shown to exert anti-myopigenic effects in children. Here, we evaluate a novel spectacle device which projected bright, broad spectrum light combined with myopic peripheral retinal defocus in children. It was theorized that a significant decrease in myopic cycloplegic spherical equivalent autorefraction (CSER) and axial elongation would be observed in treated eyes of subjects who used the device 1.5 hours per day, five days per week, versus age- and ethnicity-matched untreated myopic virtual controls. Projected one-year myopic CSER increase and axial elongation were found to be significantly less in treated eyes, with estimated treatment effects of 0.46 D for CSER and -0.20 mm for axial length versus virtual controls. These treatment effects after part-time wear are similar to values reported for other spectacle and contact lens therapies which are worn on a full time basis for myopia control, which may suggest the novel study device exerts myopic inhibition effects via unique or multifactorial pathways.
Factors associated with father-infant bonding in the COVID-19 pandemic: An internet-based cross-sectional study in Japan
Authors: Nishimura Etsuko , Shoki Rina , Kato Mika , Yoneoka Daisuke , Okawa Sumiyo , Tabuchi Takahiro , Ota Erika
Published: December 2022

The Covid-19 pandemic has forced changes in our lifestyles and affected the relationships between father and infant. The aim of this study was to explore factors associated with father-infant bonding during the Covid-19 pandemic in Japan. This study was a cross-sectional study using a nationwide online survey data. The Japanese version of the Mother-to-Infant Bonding Scale (MIBS) was used for father-infant bonding. The study participants were divided into two groups depending on their partners’ parity. A linear regression model (Gauss-Markov-type) was used for the two groups. A total of 1,055 men were included in the analysis. Of these men, 521 (49.4%) had a partner who was primipara, and 534 (50.6%) had a partner who was multipara. No significant differences were found between the two groups for MIBS-J scores. The fathers’ mental health, relationship with the partner and family members, abusive behavior towards children, wanted pregnancy, and admission history to NICU for the youngest child were associated with father-infant bonding. As for factors related to Covid-19, caring for the child while the partner is at home has a negative impact on bonding, while fear related to infection with Covid-19 has no negative impact on the bonding.
Different effects of the chemically similar foodborne flavonoids genistein, genistin, and daidzein on the inhibition of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in U251 glioma cells
Authors: Li Meng , Huang Qiming , Xie Liuming , Qian Zilan , Yang Haiyun , Shi Xiaoyi , Huang Zhibing
Published: December 2022

Glioma is one of the most aggressive diseases among malignant tumors. Chemotherapy has a very important role in the treatment of glioma. However, most western medicines elicit different adverse reactions in patients along with obvious side effects. Therefore, there is a clinical need to develop new antitumor drugs with low toxicity and good therapeutic effects to reduce the mortality of cancer patients. The different effects of foodborne flavonoids genistein (GST), genistin (GIN), and daidzein (DAI) on glioma U251 cells have not been studied. Therefore, this study explored the effects of these flavonoids on U251 cells. CCK-8 assays, fluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry were used to detect the different effects of flavonoids on the proliferation, morphology, and apoptosis of glioma U251 cells, respectively. Reverse transcription-PCR and western blotting were carried out to detect the expression of caspase-3, Bax, PI3K, mTOR, and AKT at mRNA and protein levels, respectively. U251 cell viability was reduced with treatment at different concentrations of GST, GIN, and DAI. GST and GIN promoted apoptosis by upregulating the expression of Bax and caspase-3, whereas DAI promoted apoptosis by downregulating p-AKT and p-mTOR. This study provides a theoretical basis for the use of flavonoids in the treatment of gliomas.
Ustilago maydis PR-1-like protein has evolved two distinct domains for dual virulence activities
Authors: Ma Lay-Sun , Lin Yu-Han , Xu Meng-Yun , Hsu Chuan-Chih , Lee Hui-Chun , Tsai Wei-Lun , Damei Florensia , Hoang Cuong , Chiang Yin-Ru
Published: December 2022

Diversification of effector function, driven by a co-evolutionary arms race, enables pathogens to establish compatible interactions with their hosts. Structurally conserved plant pathogenesis-related PR-1 and PR-1-like (PR-1L) proteins are involved in plant defense and fungal virulence, respectively. It is unclear how fungal PR-1L counteracts plant defense. Here, we show that Ustilago maydis UmPR-1La and yeast ScPRY1 with conserved phenolic detoxification functions are Ser/Thr-rich region-mediated cell-surface localization proteins. However, UmPR-1La has gained additional specialized activity in eliciting hyphal-like formation, suggesting that U. maydis deploys UmPR-1La to sense phenolics and direct their growth in plants. U. maydis also hijacks plant cathepsin B-like 3 (CatB3) to release functional CAPE-like peptides after cleaving a conserved CNYD motif of UmPR-1La to subvert plant immunity for promoting fungal virulence. Surprisingly, CatB3 avoids cleavage of plant PR-1s, despite the presence of the same conserved CNYD motif. Our work highlights that UmPR-1La has acquired additional dual roles to suppress plant defense and sustain the infection process of fungal pathogens.