bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rotating horizontal convection with meridional ridges
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhang Zhengguang , Wang Wei
Published: November 2022

According to recent studies, the large-scale effect of bottom topography on the ocean overturning circulation can be considered as a result of bottom enhancement of turbulent mixing in the abyssal ocean. Here we show, using laboratory experiments of rotating horizontal convection, that even without spatial variation of mixing intensity, oceanic meridional ridges can strongly impact both the strength and the pattern of the overturning in some fundamental ways. For example, as suggested by experimental results, the existence of the mid-Atlantic ridge can lead to the formation of another deep jet, like the deep western boundary current (DWBC), along the ridge’s eastern edge as a pathway for southward export of newly formed deep water. In response to this interior (mid-basin) jet and the associated isopycnal displacement, adiabatic flow structures may occur in upper and lower layers, including two opposing jets located respectively above and below the interior DWBC. Though unable to contribute to the overturning, they can probably affect transport along isopycnals. In the latitudinal band of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current without side boundary but with multiple ridges lying over the bottom, multiple interior DWBCs may develop preferentially along higher ridges, carrying the Antarctic Bottom Water into the northern latitudes. Moreover, the overturning cell or the strong jets can migrate vertically with the grow or decay of the ridge. Therefore, presumably strong variations of both ocean circulation and stratification may have occurred more than once during the past millions of years, as consequences of plate tectonic evolution, and have caused substantial changes of earth climate.
Marine life and fisheries around offshore oil and gas structures in southeastern Australia and possible consequences for decommissioning
Authors: Sih Tiffany L. , Cure Katherine , Yilmaz I. Noyan , McLean Dianne , Macreadie Peter I.
Published: November 2022

The Gippsland Basin is the location of Australia’s oldest offshore oil and gas (O&G) structures, with hydrocarbon production beginning in the 1960s. The Bass Strait flows over this area with fisheries providing seafood for the major population centers of Melbourne, Sydney and beyond. Since Australia’s maritime legislation restricts activities to outside of 500 meters from O&G structures as a security exclusion zone, these O&G structures may serve as de facto marine protected areas that may have spillover effects to local fisheries. Therefore, it is critical to understand the habitat value of O&G infrastructure to marine life in the Bass Strait and whether decommissioning of these structures affect local marine ecosystems and fisheries. We analyzed industry-collected remotely operated vehicle (ROV) imagery from 2008-2018 and compared this data with reported catch data from fishing vessels operating in this region collected by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) from 2008-2018. We assessed species richness and relative abundance on two platforms and two pipelines and compared the species composition with retained catch reported by commercial fishers operating in Commonwealth fisheries. We found diverse communities of fishes and invertebrates around O&G structures, with a different subset of species inhabiting pipelines than platforms. We found little overlap between the species that were targeted by commercial fishers and those found around O&G structures (10% overlap), however, species composition data from fisheries often groups species making the data coarse and under-representative of true species diversity. Fishery-independent data from ROV imagery or other methods greatly augments our understanding of deepwater marine communities, including those around O&G structures. Combining data sources provides a holistic look at these novel ecosystems and provides better insight into future decommissioning scenarios.
Construction of nucleus-directed fluorescent reporter systems and its application to verification of heterokaryon formation in Morchella importuna
Authors: Zhang Qianqian , Shu Fang , Chen Xin , Liu Wei , Bian Yinbing , Kang Heng
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Morchella importuna (M. importuna) is a rare fungus with high nutrition value and distinct flavor. Despite the successful artificial cultivation, its genetic characteristics and biological processes such as life cycle, reproductive system, and trophic mode remain poorly understood.

Methods

Considering this, we constructed pEH2B and pMH2B vectors by fusing M. importuna endogenous histone protein H2B with fluorescent proteins eGFP or mCherry, respectively. Based on the constructed pEH2B and pMH2B vectors, nuclear fluorescence localization was performed via Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation (ATMT). These two vectors were both driven by two endogenous promoters glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) and ubiquitin (UBI). The vector-based reporter systems were tested by the paired culture of two genetically modified strains pEH2B-labeled M04M24 (24e, MAT1-1-1) and pMH2B-abeled M04M26 (26m, MAT1-2-1).

Results

The fluorescence observation and molecular identification results indicated the successful hyphal fusion and heterokaryon formation. We found that the expression of the reporter genes was stable, and it did not interfere with the growth of the fungus.

Discussion

Our constructed nucleus-directed fluorescent systems in M. importuna can be used for monitoring the dynamic development and reproductive processes in living cells and also for monitoring the interaction between morels and plant roots. Therefore, morels exhibit the potential to be a candidate organism used for the research on basic biology and genetics of ascomycetes.
Influence of baking and frying conditions on acrylamide formation in various prepared bakery, snack, and fried products
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Mushtaq , Qureshi Tahir Mahmood , Mushtaq Maham , Aqib Amjad Islam , Mushtaq Umair , Ibrahim Salam A. , Rehman Abdul , Iqbal Muhammad Waheed , Imran Tabish , Siddiqui Shahida Anusha , Javed Anjum , Shamim Sadaf , Saleem Muhammad Hamzah
Published: November 2022

The core objective of the present study was to evaluate the influence of baking/frying times and temperatures on the formation of acrylamide in bakery, snack, and fried products such as biscuits, muffins, pizza, cakes, samosa, paratha rolls, nuggets, and potato cutlets during baking/frying at different times and temperature conditions. First of all, the raw material, especially flour, was tested for its proximate composition and rheological characteristics. The quantification of acrylamide produced during the processing of different products was carried out through the HPLC method. A sensory evaluation of these food samples was also carried out to find out the acceptability differences. The raw material was found to have good rheological properties and proximate composition. The results revealed that different times and temperature regimes influenced the formation of acrylamide in those products. Among the bakery products, the highest concentrations of acrylamide were observed in biscuits (126.52 μg/kg) followed by muffins (84.24 μg/kg), cake (71.21 μg/kg), and pizza (62.42 μg/kg). The higher contents of acrylamide were found in paratha roll (165.92 μg/kg) compared to samosa (100.43 μg/kg), whereas among snacks, potato cutlets (135.71 μg/kg) showed higher concentrations than nuggets (43.04 μg/kg). It was observed that baking or frying all the investigated products at higher temperatures produced slightly more acrylamide concentrations. The prepared products in the present study were also accepted sensorially by the panel of judges. So, it was concluded that baking or frying at higher temperatures resulted in higher concentrations of acrylamide compounds in different products in the present study.
Risk of fracture following gastric surgery for benign and malignant conditions: A study level pooled analysis of population-based cohort studies
Authors: Zou Qiuping , Wei Chao , Shao Zhuo , Wang Hao , Xiao Zhihong , Cao Lixing , Mei Zubing , Zhao Wei , Jiang Zhi , Chen Zhiqiang
Published: November 2022

Background

Metabolic changes may occur following gastric surgery, which has been reported to contribute to bone loss, osteoporosis and even bone fracture. However, the evidence regarding the relationship between gastric surgery for benign and malignant conditions and risk of fracture is controversial. This study was conducted with the aim to evaluate whether gastric surgery is associated with a high risk of fracture.

Methods

Major electronic databases were searched from inception through October 2021 for population-based cohort studies investigating the associations between gastric surgery (including bariatric gastric surgeries and surgeries for gastric benign and malignant gastric tumors) and risk of fracture compared with controls. Pooled relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were derived using the random-effects Mantel–Haenszel model. Multiple subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were carried out to test sources of heterogeneity stratified by various study characteristics and the robustness of the results.

Results

A total of 14 studies comprising 693134 individuals were identified for analysis. The RR for the risk of fracture in people undergoing gastric surgery was 1.45 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.23 - 1.72; I2 = 95.8%; P < 0.001] compared with that in control populations, among which the fracture sites of upper limb, spine, lower limb, pelvis and hip showed consistent significant results (all P < 0.05), whereas nonsignificant associations was noted for other fracture sites. Significant associations were also observed for patients having total or subtotal gastrectomy (RR 2.22, 95% CI 1.66 to 3.00), gastric bypass (RR 1.48, 95% CI 1.26 to 1.74), and a similar trend was observed for preserved passage procedures (including sleeve gastrectomy, gastric banding, vertical banded gastroplasty and other procedures that preserved the passage through the duodenum and proximal small bowel, in contrast to gastric bypass), though the difference did not reach statistically significant (RR 1.10, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.26). An evident increased risk in the age range from 40-59 years was observed (40-49 years: RR 1.36, 95% CI 1.19-1.55; 50-59 years: RR 2.48, 95% CI 1.58-3.90).

Conclusion

From this large pooled analysis of population-based cohort studies, evidence supports that fracture risk is increased in gastric surgery survivors compared with the control population. Early prevention and effective intervention strategies of bone fracture should be taken from clinicians and health policy makers.

Clinical Trial Registration

PROSPERO (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=291394), identifier CRD42021291394
Liquid metal injected from interstitial channels for inhibiting subcutaneous hepatoma growth and improving MRI/MAT image contrast
Authors: Lu Chaosen , Yang Aocai , Xia Fei , Liu Guoqiang , Zhao Hongliang , Zhang Wenwei , Li Yuanyuan , Liu Jian , Ma Guolin , Xia Hui
Published: November 2022

Objective

Liquid metal (LM) nowadays is considered a new biomedical material for medical treatment. The most common application of LM in medical therapy is taking LM as a carrier for oncology therapeutics. However, the feasibility and direct effect of LM in tumor treatment are still unknown, and how to delineate the negative resection margin (NRM) of the tumor is also a crucial problem in surgery. We aimed to inject LM into interstitial channels of extremities of mice to overlay the surface of the primary tumor to investigate the effect of LM on inhibiting tumor growth and highlight the NRM of the tumor.

Methods

In this study, all 50 BALB/c-nude female mice were used to construct the transplanted HepG2-type hepatocellular carcinoma model. One week after the establishment of the model, the mice were divided into three groups, named LM group, PBS group and Control group by injecting different liquid materials into the forelimb interstitial channel of the mice. T2WI image on MRI and Magneto-acoustic tomography (MAT) were used to show the distribution of LM and PBS in vivo. The group comparisons of tumor growth and blood tests were evaluated by one-way ANOVA and post-hoc analysis. And the biocompatibility of LM to BALB/c nude mice was evaluated by histopathological analysis of LM group and control group.

Results

The volume change ratio of tumor was significantly lower in LM group than in PBS and Control group after 10 days of grouping. Compared with PBS and Control group, the main indexes of blood tests in LM group were significantly lower and close to normal level. In addition, the distribution of LM in vivo could be clearly observed under T2WI anatomic images and the crossprofile of the tumor in MAT. LM also has a obvious contrast in MRI T2WI and enhanced the amplitude of imaging signal in MAT.

Conclusion

LM may inhibit the growth of transplanted hepatoma tumor through tumor encapsulation. In vivo, tumor imaging and LM distribution imaging were achieved by MRI T2WI, which verified that LM injected with interstitial injection made the NRM of tumor more prominent and had the potential of being MRI contrast agent. At the same time, LM could also be a new conductive medium to improve the imaging quality of MAT. Moreover, LM performed mild biocompatibility.
Evaluation of the peritumoral features using radiomics and deep learning technology in non-spiculated and noncalcified masses of the breast on mammography
Authors: Guo Fei , Li Qiyang , Gao Fei , Huang Chencui , Zhang Fandong , Xu Jingxu , Xu Ye , Li Yuanzhou , Sun Jianghong , Jiang Li
Published: November 2022

Objective

To assess the significance of peritumoral features based on deep learning in classifying non-spiculated and noncalcified masses (NSNCM) on mammography.

Methods

We retrospectively screened the digital mammography data of 2254 patients who underwent surgery for breast lesions in Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital from January to December 2018. Deep learning and radiomics models were constructed. The classification efficacy in ROI and patient levels of AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were compared. Stratified analysis was conducted to analyze the influence of primary factors on the AUC of the deep learning model. The image filter and CAM were used to visualize the radiomics and depth features.

Results

For 1298 included patients, 771 (59.4%) were benign, and 527 (40.6%) were malignant. The best model was the deep learning combined model (2 mm), in which the AUC was 0.884 (P < 0.05); especially the AUC of breast composition B reached 0.941. All the deep learning models were superior to the radiomics models (P < 0.05), and the class activation map (CAM) showed a high expression of signals around the tumor of the deep learning model. The deep learning model achieved higher AUC for large size, age >60 years, and breast composition type B (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Combining the tumoral and peritumoral features resulted in better identification of malignant NSNCM on mammography, and the performance of the deep learning model exceeded the radiomics model. Age, tumor size, and the breast composition type are essential for diagnosis.
Correlative factors of ocular surface lesions after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: A retrospective study
Authors: Zhuang Xin-Yu , Sun Zheng-Tai , Xu Yue , Ren Ya-Ru , Chen Ying-Jie , Chen Feng , Ma Xiao , Tang Xiao-Wen , Zhang Xiao-Feng
Published: November 2022

Background

Ocular graft-versus-host disease (oGVHD) is one of the complications after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), which impairs the quality of life and may indicate poor prognosis. In this retrospective study, the aim was to investigate the characteristics of ocular surface after HSCT, and analyze the risk factors related to the severity of ocular surface lesions.

Methods

248 post-HSCT patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. Subjects were divided into no lesion group, mild lesion group and severe lesion group, according to the severity of ocular surface lesions. The correlations between grades of ocular surface lesions and gender, age, primary disease, donor source, human leukocyte antigen (HLA) type, kinship, donor-recipient relationship, blood type, source of stem cell and systemic GVHD were analyzed.

Results

The median scores of corneal epitheliopathy, lid margin lesions and meibomian gland loss were 3, 6 and 2 points, respectively. The grade of corneal epitheliopathy was related to donor source (P<0.001), kinship (P=0.033), HLA-matching (P<0.001), and systemic GVHD (P=0.007), especially oral GVHD (P<0.001) and liver GVHD (P=0.002). The grade of lid margin lesions was related to donor source (P=0.019), HLA-matching (P=0.006), and systemic GVHD (P=0.013), especially skin GVHD (P=0.019) and oral GVHD (P=0.019). The grade of meibomian gland loss was related to age (P=0.035) and gastrointestinal GVHD (P=0.007). The grade of corneal epitheliopathy after HSCT was related to the lid margin lesion score (P<0.001).

Conclusions

The occurrence and development of ocular GVHD are mostly accompanied by the history of systemic GVHD. While in few cases, ocular surface lesions related to GVHD can be observed prior to the rejection of other tissues and organs. Severe corneal epitheliopathy occurs in patients with severe lid margin lesions in ocular GVHD. The lesions of corneal epithelium and lid margin are milder in HLA partially matching transplantation.
Malignant hypercalcemia as the debut of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a pediatric patient—a diagnostic and therapeutic approach: Case report
Authors: Bonilla Gonzalez Carolina , Vargas Muñoz Sarha M. , Contreras Diaz María Luisa , Obando Belalcazar Evelyn , Uribe Camila
Published: November 2022

Background

Hypercalcemia is a rare metabolic disorder in the pediatric population, with several differential diagnoses that resemble hematologic malignancies. In cases of severe hypercalcemia, therapeutic strategies other than hyperhydration, such as the use of bisphosphonates, have been described.

Case presentation

We present the case of a previously healthy 12-year-old boy who was admitted to the emergency department due to fatigue, hypo-responsiveness, and progressively worsening poor appetite for the previous 19 days. Initial laboratory tests revealed severe hypercalcemia (total calcium: 19 mg/dl), hyperphosphatemia, elevated creatinine, and hyperuricemia. Management with hyperhydration and xanthine oxidase inhibitor (allopurinol) was provided. The patient was transferred to the pediatric intensive care unit where treatment with furosemide, systemic corticosteroid, and zoledronic acid was started. Metabolic, infectious, renal, and endocrinological causes were excluded. Follow-up paraclinical studies showed a progressive hematologic involvement with heterogeneous hypochromic microcytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and elevated lactic dehydrogenase. Bone marrow aspiration and biopsy were performed, which confirmed the diagnosis of B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Hypercalcemia was resolved 72 h after the application of bisphosphonates.

Conclusion

Hypercalcemia as an oncological metabolic emergency in the onset of acute lymphoblastic leukemia is uncommon in children. The use of intravenous bisphosphonates is an effective therapy in the early resolution of the condition. We present the case of a 12-year-old patient with malignant hypercalcemia who responded favorably to the use of a single dose of bisphosphonates.
Effect of methionine and trace minerals (zinc, copper and manganese) supplementation on growth performance of broilers subjected to Eimeria challenge
Authors: Chen J. , Yan F. , Kuttappan V.A. , Cook K. , Buresh B. , Roux M. , Hancock D. , Vázquez-Añón Mercedes
Published: November 2022

Coccidiosis is a major intestinal challenge that causes economic loss to the broiler industry. Two battery cage studies were conducted to evaluate the effect of trace minerals, source and dose of methionine on growth performance and gut health of broilers subjected to Eimeria challenge. Experiment #1 consisted of 9 treatments of 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design + 1 arrangement with main factors of methionine (Met) sources (DL-Met vs. 2-hydroxy-4-(methylthio)-butanoic acid (HMTBa)), total sulfur amino acid (TSAA) levels (high vs. low; ±5% of recommended level), and sources of trace minerals (TM) Zn:Cu:Mn in the form Inorganic trace minerals (ITM) in sulfates (80:20:100ppm) vs. mineral methionine hydroxy-analogue bis-chelate (MMHAC, 40:10:50ppm), each with 8 pens of 10 birds. Experiment #2 consisted of 2 treatments--ITM [ZnSO4:tribasic copper chloride (TBCC):MnSO4 110:125:120ppm] and MMHAC (Zn:Cu:Mn, 40:30:40ppm), each with 36 pens of 10 birds. All birds except for treatment 9 in experiment #1 were orally gavaged with 1x, 4x and 16x recommended dose of coccidiosis vaccine on d0, d7 and d14, respectively. Data were subjected to one-way and/or three-way ANOVA, and means were separated by Fisher’s protected LSD test with significance at p ≤ 0.05. In experiment #1, factorial analysis revealed the main effects of TSAA level and TM, but not Met source. High TSAA level improved body weight and cumulative feed intake at 14, 20, and 27d. MMHAC improved body weight at 14, and 27d; feed intake at 14, 20, and 27d; and cumulative FCR at 27d vs. sulfates. One-way ANOVA analysis showed that birds fed MMHAC and high levels of TSAA regardless of Met source had similar body weight as unchallenged birds on d27. In experiment #2, MMHAC improved body weight and cumulative FCR, and reduced jejunal IL-17A gene expression on d28. In summary, in broilers subjected to Eimeria challenge, supplementation of the reduced levels of bis-chelated trace minerals MMHAC improved growth performance compared to high levels of ITM (sulfates or TBCC), which might partially result from better immune response, high levels of TSAA improved growth performance, Met source had no effect. Supplementation of both bis-chelated trace minerals MMHAC and high levels of TSAA could overcome the growth performance challenge issue due to coccidiosis.
Genetic dissection of the soybean dwarf mutant dm with integrated genomic, transcriptomic and methylomic analyses
Authors: Song Jian , Wang Xuewen , Huang Lan , Li Zhongfeng , Ren Honglei , Wang Jun
Published: November 2022

Plant height affects crop production and breeding practices, while genetic control of dwarfism draws a broad interest of researchers. Dwarfism in soybean (Glycine max) is mainly unexplored. Here, we characterized a dwarf mutant dm screened from ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) mutated seeds of the soybean cultivar Zhongpin 661(ZP). Phenotypically, dm showed shorter and thinner stems, smaller leaves, and more nodes than ZP under greenhouse conditions. Genetically, whole-genome sequencing and comparison revealed that 210K variants of SNPs and InDel in ZP relative to the soybean reference genome Williams82, and EMS mutagenesis affected 636 genes with variants predicted to have a large impact on protein function in dm. Whole-genome methylation sequencing found 704 differentially methylated regions in dm. Further whole-genome RNA-Seq based transcriptomic comparison between ZP and dm leaves revealed 687 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), including 263 up-regulated and 424 down-regulated genes. Integrated omics analyses revealed 11 genes with both differential expressions and DNA variants, one gene with differential expression and differential methylation, and three genes with differential methylation and sequence variation, worthy of future investigation. Genes in cellulose, fatty acids, and energy-associated processes could be the key candidate genes for the dwarf phenotype. This study provides genetic clues for further understanding of the genetic control of dwarfism in soybean. The genetic resources could help to inbreed new cultivars with a desirable dwarf characteristic.
Affective polarization in low-partisanship societies. The case of Chile 1990–2021
Authors: Segovia Carolina
Published: November 2022

Does the decline in party identification lead to a decrease or an increase in affective polarization? In recent years, research about affective polarization has increased, asking whether contemporary publics polarize in terms of their affective evaluations of the opposite party. Evidence shows that, at least in some cases, there are signs of increased polarization. At the same time, however, there is evidence of a decline in party identification, suggesting that the parties no longer attract people's hearts and minds. These two results might conflict. However, whether and how affective polarization and declining partisanship are related has received little attention. To address this issue, in this article, we investigate how much affective polarization there is in Chile, how it has changed over time. We use survey data from Chile between 1990 and 2021, a country that has shown a profound and constant loss in partisanship. First, we show that affective polarization varies over time and that, at the aggregate level, the decline in partisanship does not impact affective polarization. Second, the groups that show higher polarization also change: if by 1990 the more polarized were people identifying with left-wing parties, by 2021, affective polarization is similar across groups, including those who do not identify with political parties.
Relationship between different types of complement syntax and false belief in Mandarin-speaking children with autism spectrum disorder and typically developing children
Authors: Guo Qiang , Pan Qianqian , Liu Qiaoyun , Wang Tingzhao , Cao Shuqin , Lin Yunqiang , Hu Bisheng
Published: November 2022

Previous studies have shown that complement syntax is closely associated with false belief (FB) in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, the relationship between different types of complement syntax and FB remains unclear. This study examined the relationship between different types of complement syntax and FB in both ASD and typically developing (TD) children. Thirty Mandarin-speaking ASD and TD children, each matched for language ability, were included. Children completed different types of complement syntax tasks, verbal and nonverbal FB. For the ASD children, results demonstrated that sentential complement syntax independently predicted verbal and nonverbal FB, while phrasal complement syntax only predicted nonverbal FB. For the TD children group, sentential complement syntax only predicted verbal FB. This indicates that as the language demands of the FB task decrease, ASD children can use both types of complement syntax for its prediction. Moreover, the characteristics of ASD children differ from TD children in terms of the relationship between different types of complement syntax and FB. The results of this study support de Villiers’ point of view from the Mandarin perspective and provide evidence for the social-cognitive component of the theory of mind.
Influencing factors of employee brand equity from the perspective of FinTech
Authors: Lin Lichao , Huang Ziling , Jia Xiaofei
Published: November 2022

Recent years have seen a heated discussion on what influences employees’ recognition of enterprise brand equity among the psychological community. Some empirical evidence suggests that the brand equity of consumers and brand equity of sales are two categories that should be studied. However, more recent discussions have focused more on the former. In contrast, this study discusses the factors influencing brand equity based on the employee level. Moreover, this paper examines whether FinTech can help companies get out of financing difficulties and thus improve employees’ brand equity recognition. This research illustrates how FinTech has become an essential driver of brand equity value. Based on micro panel data on enterprises from 2011 to 2019, we analyze the transmission mechanism between the two factors and the mediating role of financing constraints. FinTech’s development promotes employees’ recognition of corporate brand equity, and financing constraints are an essential transmission path between the two factors. Furthermore, the impact of financing constraints on employee brand equity identity is characterized by cross-regional economic heterogeneity. In contrast, the development of FinTech characterizes the cross-enterprise heterogeneity in employees’ recognition of brand equity value. Altogether, this study demonstrates the promising application of FinTech in influencing the mechanisms of employee brand equity.
Based on Role Expectation to Discuss Role Ambiguity and Practice of University Teachers in Business Administration
Authors: Deng Yun , Zeng Haimei , Xu Anxin , Chen Youcheng
Published: November 2022

As a result of social change, the issues, such as the complexity of family structure and increasing student problems, are becoming more complicated. Both schools and parents have high expectations of teachers and expect them to solve the problems. Considering the many different factors involved in this issue, this could lead to a psychological and physiological imbalance in teachers, especially in relation to their emotions which results in role ambiguity. The participants of this study consisted of teachers in business administration departments of universities in China. During the data collection, 450 copies of the questionnaire were distributed. A total of 363 valid copies were retrieved, with a retrieval rate of 81%. It can be concluded that the results of this study can help national university faculty present professional spirit and attitude toward the professional service, which in turn promotes the standard of national education in universities.
Teacher violence from the perspectives of teachers and students and related factors: A survey in Southern Iran
Authors: Ardestani Zahra Foghara , Saber Maryam , Dehghan Mahlagha , Iranpour Abedin , Baniasadi Hamideh
Published: November 2022

Introduction

Teacher violence is defined as the intentional use of power by teachers against students in a variety of ways, including physical, verbal, psychological, and sexual assault. Victims of school violence are more anxious and insecure than other students. An in-depth and comprehensive study on the prevention of violence in schools is urgent and necessary. We conducted this study to determine teacher violence from the perspectives of schoolteachers and students and related factors.

Methods

We conducted this descriptive-analytical study on 313 teachers and 400 students in Ardestan, southern Iran, in 2019. We selected teachers and students using a census method and stratified random sampling, respectively. The research instrument was the school violence questionnaire.

Results

From the perspective of teachers, the mean score of teacher violence (5.7) was significantly lower than that of students (18.3). Male, young, single teachers with diploma and less work experience had significantly higher violence scores than other teachers (P < 0.001). We witnessed this trend in public boys’ schools as well (p < 0.001). The total mean score for teacher violence was not significantly different between male and female students. From the perspective of students, the mean score of teacher violence was significantly different (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that education authorities and school principals should supervise public school teachers with less education, younger students, and boys’ schools and provide practical training to improve the communication and emotional skills among these teachers.
Socio-technical context for insertable devices
Authors: Heffernan Kayla J. , Vetere Frank , Chang Shanton
Published: November 2022

In this article, we show that voluntarily inserting devices inside the body is contested and seek to understand why. This article discusses insertables as a source of contestation. To describe and understand the social acceptability, reactions toward, and rhetoric surrounding insertable devices, we examine (i) the technical capabilities of insertable devices (the technical context), (ii) human reactions toward insertables (the social context), and (iii) the regulatory environment. The paper offers explanations to the misperceptions about insertables.
COVID-19 preventive practices and associated factors among high school and preparatory school students in Dessie City, Ethiopia
Authors: Feleke Alelgne , Gebrehiwot Mesfin , Kloos Helmut , Embrandiri Asha , Daba Chala , Hassen Seada , Adane Metadel
Published: November 2022

Background

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, the most pretentious sector besides the economy is the education system. Ethiopia is not equipped with the infrastructure and facilities to provide online classes for students at all levels. Hence, all institutions were re-opened with mandatory infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols such as the use of face masks, physical distancing, shifts in classes, and routine hand washing practices with soap and water to restrict the spread of the virus. Nevertheless, there has been no monitoring and follow- up and there is no data on IPC compliance among school children in the country. The purpose of this study was to examine the COVID-19 preventive practices and their associated factors among high and preparatory school students in Dessie City, Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out by using a pre-tested face-to-face applied structured questionnaire and direct observations from March 8 to March 20, 2021, in five high and preparatory schools in Dessie City. The sample size was proportionally allocated in each school based on the students' total number registered in the first academic semester, then stratified by grade level, and proportionally allocated to each grade and section. Finally, a simple random sampling method was used to select study participants. Variables with p-values < 0.25 in the bivariate logistic regression analysis were entered into the multivariate logistic regression model.

Results

This study involved 422 students with a response rate of 98.8%. The level of good preventive practices was 43.7%. After adjusting for covariates, female, positive attitudes, received IPC training and clear accessible sharing of information and feedback with parents, students and teachers were identified as predictors of good precaution practices.

Conclusion

The prevalence of good prevention practices for COVID-19 among students was relatively very low. Therefore, the Department of Health and Education of Dessie City and each school should implement environmental health programs and promote prevention practices in high schools and preparatory schools.
The impacts of COVID-19-induced online lectures on the teaching and learning process: An inquiring study of junior secondary schools in Orlu, Nigeria
Authors: Nneji Confidence Chioma , Urenyere R. , Ukhurebor Kingsley Eghonghon , Ajibola Saheed , Onaseso Olatunji Oluwatosin
Published: November 2022

This study investigated how the sudden shift in the system of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the students, how the external environment impacted their performance, and the structural barriers encountered, which equally had significant impacts on students at junior secondary schools (JSS) in Orlu, Imo State, Nigeria. The study adopted the descriptive survey research method. The simple random sampling method was adopted with a sample size of 650 students. The data were collected using a structured questionnaire, rated using a four-point Likert scale, and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, and means. 60.10, 58.80, 59.50, 59.00, and 59.50% of the respondents agreed to research questions respectively. Based on these results, it was concluded that the COVID-19-induced online teaching and learning impacted negatively on the students and on the process of teaching and learning due to inadequate prior preparation for such a system of teaching and learning at the JSS level within the study area. These have serious implications and remain significant for policy and practice in the education sector.
Implementing just climate adaptation policy: An analysis of recognition, framing, and advocacy coalitions in Boston, U.S.A.
Authors: Malloy Jeffrey T. , Ashcraft Catherine M. , Kirshen Paul , Safford Thomas G. , Aytur Semra A. , Rogers Shannon H.
Published: November 2022

Cities face intersectional challenges implementing climate adaptation policy. This research contributes to scholarship dedicated to understanding how policy implementation affects socially vulnerable groups, with the overarching goal of promoting justice and equity in climate policy implementation. We apply a novel framework that integrates social justice theory and the advocacy coalition framework to incrementally assess just climate adaptation in Boston, Massachusetts in the United States. Boston made an ambitious commitment to address equity as part of its climate planning and implementation efforts. In this paper, we evaluate the first implementation stage over the period 2016–2019 during which Boston developed coastal resilience plans for three neighborhoods. Despite Boston's commitment to equity, we find injustice was nevertheless reproduced through representation and coalition dynamics, the framing of problems and solutions, and a failure to recognize the priorities and lived experiences of city residents. The assessment framework presented can be adapted to evaluate how other climate adaptation initiatives advance social justice and highlights the need for incremental evaluation over short time periods to inform ongoing implementation efforts.
Case series: Pleural effusion caused by urinary ultrafiltrate in two cats without evidence of urinary obstruction, trauma, or simultaneous perinephric pseudocysts
Authors: Griffin Maureen A. , Steffey Michele A. , Phillips Kathryn L. , Mayhew Philipp D. , Woolard Kevin D. , Della Maggiore Ann
Published: November 2022

Objectives

To describe the diagnostic techniques, surgical treatments, and outcomes of two cats with recurrent pleural transudate caused by urinary ultrafiltrate.

Animals

Two cats without evidence of trauma, urinary tract obstruction, or concurrent perinephric pseudocysts that were evaluated and treated for recurrent pleural transudate caused by urinary ultrafiltrate.

Study design

Short case series.

Methods

Multiphase contrast CT scan revealed leakage of contrast media from the kidneys bilaterally into the retroperitoneal spaces in both cats. Renal scintigraphy performed in one cat revealed progressive accumulation of 99mTc diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (Tc-DTPA) in the pleural space. Exploratory laparotomy localized the leakage of fluid to renal capsular defects bilaterally in both cats. The retroperitoneum was incised bilaterally to promote fluid drainage into the peritoneum, and nephropexies were performed.

Results

One cat had long-term survival with recurrent, though decreasing volumes of, pleural effusion. The second cat was euthanized 16 days postoperatively for progressive renal disease.

Conclusion

The diagnosis of spontaneous urinary ultrafiltrate accumulation in the pleural space of cats without evidence of trauma, urinary tract obstruction, or concurrent perinephric pseudocysts has not previously been reported. The surgical correction described reduced but did not completely eliminate the rate of pleural effusion accumulation.
Transcriptomic analysis of LMH cells in response to the overexpression of a protein of Eimeria tenella encoded by the locus ETH_00028350
Authors: Wu Xiao-Jing , Gao Jin , Mu Bing-Jin , Yu Lin-Mei , Wang Zi-Rui , Zheng Wen-Bin , Gao Wen-Wei , Zhu Xing-Quan , Liu Qing
Published: November 2022

A protein of Eimeria tenella (encoded by the locus ETH_00028350) homologous to Toxoplasma gondii dense granule protein 9, designated as EtHGRA9 hereafter, was reported to be expressed in all life cycle stages of E. tenella. However, no data are currently available regarding its functional properties. In the present study, a recombinant vector harboring a 741 bp gene segment encoding the mature form of EtHGRA9 was constructed and transfected into leghorn male hepatoma (LMH) cells. Then, transcriptomic analysis of the transfected LMH cells was carried out by using a high-throughput RNA-seq technology. The LMH cells overexpressing EtHGRA9 was validated by means of Western blotting as well as indirect immunofluorescence staining. The results demonstrated that the expression of 547 genes (275 upregulated genes and 272 downregulated genes) was altered by EtHGRA9. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) validation of the ten genes with differential expression between the two groups was consistent with the transcriptome analysis. According to pathway enrichment analysis for the obtained differentially expressed genes, seven pathways were significantly affected by EtHGRA9, such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, MAPK signaling pathway, and protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum. Our data reveal several possible roles of EtHGRA9 in immune or inflammatory responses, which paves the way for a better understanding of the molecular interplay between E. tenella and its host.
A Two-Channel Silicon Nitride Multimode Interference Coupler with Low Back Reflection
Authors: Menahem Jonathan , Malka Dror
Published: November 2022

Optical communication systems based on silicon (Si) multimode interference (MMI) wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM) technology can suffer from back reflection. This undesirable characteristic causes losses and is a key problem that can lead to performance limitations. To overcome this limitation, we proposed a new study on how to divide two wavelengths by understanding the light coupling mechanism of the silicon nitride (SiN) MMI coupler over the C-band window and showed four different options to design a two-channel demultiplexer. The best option for a two-channel SiN MMI coupler with low back reflection losses operating in the C-band spectrum was selected. Based on simulation results, the proposed device can transmit two channels with a spacing of 20 nm between wavelengths in the C-band. Moreover, the device has a low power loss range of 0.895–0.936 dB, large bandwidth of 16.96–18.77 nm, and good crosstalk of 23.5–25.86 dB. Usually, a unique design such as angled MMI is required when using Si MMI technology to reduce the back reflection losses. Due to the use of SiN, which has a low refractive index, we obtained a 40.4 dB back-reflection loss without using this angled MMI design. Therefore, this MMI demultiplexer based on SiN can be used in optical communication systems based on the WDM technique to obtain a high data transfer rate in conjunction with low back-reflection losses.
A Review of Lithium-Ion Battery Failure Hazards: Test Standards, Accident Analysis, and Safety Suggestions
Authors: Lai Xin , Yao Jian , Jin Changyong , Feng Xuning , Wang Huaibin , Xu Chengshan , Zheng Yuejiu
Published: November 2022

The frequent safety accidents involving lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have aroused widespread concern around the world. The safety standards of LIBs are of great significance in promoting usage safety, but they need to be constantly upgraded with the advancements in battery technology and the extension of the application scenarios. This study comprehensively reviews the global safety standards and regulations of LIBs, including the status, characteristics, and application scope of each standard. A standardized test for thermal runaway triggering is also introduced. The recent fire accidents in electric vehicles and energy storage power stations are discussed in relation to the upgrading of the rational test standards. Finally, the following four suggestions for improving battery safety are proposed to optimize the safety standards: (1) early warning and cloud alarms for the battery’s thermal runaway; (2) an innovative structural design for a no-fire battery pack; (3) the design of a fire water injection interface for the battery pack; (4) the design of an immersive energy storage power station. This study provides insights for promoting the effectiveness of relevant safety standards for LIBs, thereby reducing the failure hazards.
Forecasting Daily COVID-19 Case Counts Using Aggregate Mobility Statistics
Authors: Boru Bulut , Gursoy M. Emre
Published: November 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the whole world profoundly. For managing the pandemic, the ability to forecast daily COVID-19 case counts would bring considerable benefit to governments and policymakers. In this paper, we propose to leverage aggregate mobility statistics collected from Google’s Community Mobility Reports (CMRs) toward forecasting future COVID-19 case counts. We utilize features derived from the amount of daily activity in different location categories such as transit stations versus residential areas based on the time series in CMRs, as well as historical COVID-19 daily case and test counts, in forecasting future cases. Our method trains optimized regression models for different countries based on dynamic and data-driven selection of the feature set, regression type, and time period that best fit the country under consideration. The accuracy of our method is evaluated on 13 countries with diverse characteristics. Results show that our method’s forecasts are highly accurate when compared to the real COVID-19 case counts. Furthermore, visual analysis shows that the peaks, plateaus and general trends in case counts are also correctly predicted by our method.
Database of Metagenomes of Sediments from Estuarine Aquaculture Farms in Portugal—AquaRAM Project Collection
Authors: Nogueira Teresa , Silva Daniel G. , Lopes Susana , Botelho Ana
Published: November 2022

Aquaculture farms and estuarine environments close to human activities play a critical role in the interaction between aquatic and terrestrial surroundings and animal and human health. The AquaRAM project aimed to study estuarine aquaculture farms in Portugal as a reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes and the potential of its spread due to mobile genetic elements. We have assembled a collection of metagenomic data from 30 sediment samples from oysters, mussels, and gilt-head sea bream aquaculture farms. This collection includes samples of the estuarine environment of three rivers and one lagoon located from the north to the south of Portugal, namely, the Lima River in Viana do Castelo, Aveiro Lagoon in Aveiro, Tagus River in Alcochete, and Sado River in Setúbal. Statistical data from the raw metagenome files, as well as the file sizes of the assembled nucleotide and protein sequences, are also presented. The link to the statistics and the download page for all the metagenomes is also listed below.