bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Effect of RFSSW Parameters on Load Capacity of EN AW-6082-T6 Aluminium Alloy and AlCu Bimetallic Joints
Authors: Kubit Andrzej , Faes Koen , Trzepieciński Tomasz , Żaba Krzysztof , Kaščák Ľuboš
Published: March 2023

In this paper an investigation has been carried out into the creation of Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding (RFSSW) single-lap joints of 6082-T6 aluminium alloy and roll-bonded AlCu bimetallic sheet. The latter sheet comprises aluminium EN AW-1050A and electrolytic copper M1E in Z6 temper condition (after rolling) and with a 1:1 ratio of the Cu:Al layers. The welding parameters involved a variable plunge depth and welding time. The mechanical properties of the joints were determined in tensile/shear tests. The highest average value of the load capacity of the joint was observed in joints made with a tool plunge depth dt = 2.6 mm and total welding time tw = 4 s. The load capacity for this variant was an average of 5986.75 N with standard deviation SD = 166.15 N. A plug type fracture on the aluminium layer of the bimetallic sheet was observed in RFSSW joints produced with a plunge depth of 2.6 mm. Increasing the tool rotational speed, and thus the heat generated, resulted in a plug type fracture on the upper sheet (aluminium alloy). In the case of joints produced with a plunge depth of 2 mm equal to the thickness of upper sheet, the type of fracture mode with both welding times was found to be nugget debonding.
Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care: Mapping examples of use of the framework across England
Authors: Borgstrom Erica , Jordan Joanne , Henry Claire
Published: March 2023

Background
Since 2015, the Ambitions for Palliative and End of Life Care: a national framework for local action has provided guidance for care within England and beyond. Relaunched in 2021, the Framework sets out six Ambitions which, collectively, provide a vision to improve how death, dying and bereavement are experienced and managed. However, to date, there has been no central evaluation of how the Framework and its Ambitions have been implemented within service development and provision. To address this evidence gap, we investigated understanding and use of the Framework.
Methods
We reviewed relevant literature and existing information about the Framework and undertook a national (England) online questionnaire survey in order to identify where the Framework has been used; examples of how it has been used; which Ambitions are being addressed; which foundations are being used; understanding of the utility of the Framework; and understanding of the opportunities and challenges involved in its use. Survey responses were analysed both descriptively, using frequency and cross-tabulations, and exploratively, using content and thematic analysis.
Results
Findings indicate that the Framework is particularly relevant to service commissioning and development across wider palliative and end of life care, with most respondents reporting a focus on Ambition 1 (Each person is seen as an individual) and Ambition 3 (Maximising comfort and wellbeing). Additionally, of the Framework foundations, ‘Education and training’ was seen as most necessary to develop and/or sustain reported services. Provision of shared language and collaborative work across sectors and partners were also deemed important. However, there is some indication that the Framework must give more prioritisation to carer and/or bereavement support, have greater scope to enhance shared practice and mutual learning, and be more easily accessible to non-NHS partners.
Conclusions
The survey generated valuable summary level evidence on uptake of the Framework across England, offering important insights into current and past works, the factors impacting on this work and the implications for future development of the Framework. Our findings suggest considerable positive potential of the Framework to generate local action as intended. They also offer a valuable steer for research to further understand the issues raised, as well as scope for additional policy and implementation activity.
Xihuang Pill regulates Ferroptosis-Related Genes, contributing to improved prognosis of Breast Cancer
Authors: Li Dehui , Liu Xukuo , Li Tiegang , Wang Guanjun , Mu Chenglin
Published: March 2023

The natural compound Xihuang Pill (XHP) has an anti-cancer effect and was effective for breast cancer (BrCa) prevention and treatment. However, the mechanisms underlying this effect remain poorly characterized. Here, we searched the ferroptosis-related genes (FRGs) regulated by XHP using the HERB and FerrDb databases, and extracted the FRGs' data on expression and pertinent clinical data by way of the TCGA dataset. A single-factor Cox regression analysis was used to confirm FRGs associated with prognosis, and LASSO Cox regression analysis was used for prognostic model building. We then constructed a prognostic model and assessed it based on Kaplan-Meier survival curves and ROC curves. Next, we applied GO, KEGG, and ssGSEA analyses to further investigate FRGs' functions and potential mechanisms. We discovered that eight FRGs from the XHP targets were associated with a higher likelihood of survival. The prognostic model formed by eight genes also possessed good prognostic ability, and the risk score could be a separate risk factor for the BrCa prognosis. The GO, KEGG, and ssGSEA analyses showed risk score-related genes were associated with immune-related activities. Molecular docking showed that quercetin and beta-sitosterol as XHP's active ingredients are effective and promising agents for the treatment of BrCa. Our results provided insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms by which XHP improves BrCa patient prognosis; quercetin and beta-sitosterol may provide a new road for anti-BrCa natural products.
Correlation, clinicopathological and imaging analysis of radial scar and breast cancer
Authors: Hua Zhipeng , Mao Hehui , He Zesheng , Hong Sijie , Ding Yaling
Published: March 2023

Background
To analyze the imaging and clinicopathological manifestations of radial scars, and to evaluate the pathological escalation rate.
Methods
A retrospective analysis of 63 cases of breast biopsy with radioactive scar in the Breast Surgery Department of Xiamen Maternal and Child Health Hospital from January 1, 2011 to January 1, 2016, 34 patients underwent further surgical resection after puncture; 29 patients did not undergo surgery after puncture, and these patients were followed up. Radiographic, clinical, and pathological findings were statistically analyzed and escalation rates were calculated.
Results
Of the 63 RS cases, 34 (54%) underwent routine surgical resection. In the surgical resection group, 2 (5.9%) cases were pathologically upgraded to malignant after operation. Twenty-nine (46%) cases underwent follow-up observation, and 1 (3.4%) case was upgraded to malignant. Compared with the observation group, the age of onset, menopausal status, smoking, family history of breast cancer, symptoms, ultrasound lesion diameter, ultrasound and mammography BI-RADS grade were not statistically significant between the surgical resection group and the observation group (all P > 0.05). The incidence of high-risk lesions of radial scar in the surgical resection group was significantly higher than that in the observation group (P = 0.02).
Conclusions
The escalation rate of malignant lesions in RS is low, and surgical resection is recommended when needle biopsy is associated with high-risk breast lesions.
Total Cost of Ownership as a Sustainability Indicator to Evaluate Environmental and Economic Performance of Sustainable Lightweight Vehicles
Authors: Moawad Karim A. , Hummieda Ammar , Mayyas Ahmad T. , Stace Roger , Amer Saed , Omar Mohammed A.
Published: March 2023

The adoption of new vehicle technologies such as electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles has put more pressure on gasoline vehicles to become more efficient and eco-friendly. Many future buyers find themselves in a grey area and may be unsure what drivetrain saves them the most over the long run. In this paper, we will unveil the total cost of ownership (TCO) for several mid-size sedan cars including conventional gasoline-powered cars, and electric vehicles (xEV) with an autobody that is made from lightweight materials (steel, AHSS, aluminum, magnesium, GFRP, and CFRP). The developed TCO model in this study helps unveil the cost associated with owning lightweight vehicles with different drivetrains using unbiased analysis of the vehicle’s total life from cradle to grave and fuel lifecycle from well to wheel. From the TCO perspective, hybrid electric vehicles seem to be the most competitive drivetrain if we use the U.S. national average numbers. TCO results vary in each state depending on the source of the electricity, the social cost of carbon, and the average driven mile in that state. Comparison between different lightweight materials shows that vehicles made from AHSS can easily break even with vehicles made from conventional dual-phase steel. Saved weight will reduce energy consumption in the vehicles’ use phase and reduce amounts of GHG emissions, without a noticeable increase in maintenance and insurance costs. However, other lightweight materials seem far from being able to breakeven with conventional dual-phase steel unless we can see higher prices of gasoline and electricity.
Biosynthesis of trialkyl-substituted aromatic polyketide NFAT-133 involves unusual aromatization-mediating P450 monooxygenase and metallo-beta- lactamase fold thioesterase
Authors: Yang Ming , Li Wanlu , Zhou Lin , Lin Xiao , Zhang Wenyu , Shen Yaoyao , Deng Hai , Lin Hou-wen , Zhou Yongjun
Published: March 2023

Background The bacterial trialkyl-substituted aromatic polyketides are biosynthetically unique due to the unusual P450 monooxygenase-mediated aromatic core formation in the polyketide chains offloaded from type I polyketide synthase (PKS). As the representatives, TM-123 (1), veramycin A (2), NFAT-133 (3), and benwamycin I (4) were discovered from severalStreptomycesspecies and they were characterized with antidiabetic and immunosuppressant activities. Though the biosynthesis of1 − 3were verified to be directed by the NFAT-133 biosynthetic gene cluster (nftBGC), it remains a mystery how3was generated during the biosynthesis. Results The biosynthesis of compounds1 − 4was verified to be directed by a cognatenftBGC inStreptomyces conglobatus. The PKS assembly logic of1 − 4was revised according to site-mutagenetic analysis of three PKS dehydratase domains. Gene deletion and mutant complementation of the five genes innftBGC confirmed two essential genes of P450 monooxygenasenftE1and metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) fold hydrolasenftF1. Deletion ofnftE1led to abolishment of1 − 4and accumulation of four new products (5 − 8). Structural elucidation reveals5 − 8as the non-aromatic analogs of1. Deletion ofnftF1gene resulted in disappearance of3and4, while the production of1and2was not interrupted. Protein sequence analysis and structure-modeling by AlphaFold2 indicate that NftF1is a MBL fold hydrolase. In vivo site-directed mutagenesis allowed identification of eight key residues in its active sites. Conclusion The PKS assembly logic ofnftBGC is revised according to site-directed mutagenetic analysis. The benzene core of1 − 4should be formed through a NftE1-catalyzed oxidative-aromatization on the polyene chains offloaded from PKS. NftF1should serve as a trans-acting thioesterase (TE) to mediate a premature chain-offloading from ACP7 to yield the nascent chain of compound3. The key residues in the predicted active site of NftE1were identified byin vivosite-directed mutations. Though the NftE1homologs are widespread in type II PKSs, their functions are underexplored. As far as we know, NftE1should represent the first MBL fold TE discovered from type I PKS.
Waste disposal processes and landfill management in Late Bronze Age inner periphery of the central Europe: Březnice settlement site (South Bohemia)
Authors: Šálková Tereza , Budilová Kristýna , Kovárník Jaromír , Majer Antonín , Novák Jan , Pavelka Jaroslav , Strouhalová Barbora , Vobejda Libor , Šťastný Ondřej , Kuna Martin , Chvojka Ondřej
Published: March 2023

Waste disposal processes and landfill management are crucial subjects in the field of settlement archaeology. Our study is focused on the reconstruction of the community economy in the context of the Late Bronze Age; understanding the processes that led to the filling of these features; reconstruction of the recycling system of building materials (daub and wood) and the waste management. These research questions were addressed based on plant macroremains, charcoals, phytoliths, starch, micromorphology, phosphates and magnetic volume susceptibility. The results showed the waste character of features infills which reflected specific economy and habitats around the single households. The composition of the archaeobotanical assemblages was not determined by the type of feature, however similarities in the plant spectra could often be observed in the infill of features that were located close to each other. Charred remains of firewood inside the assemblages, also contained a proportion of burnt oak structures. The remains of various parts of uncharred plants were detected by phytolith and starch analyses. Animal proteins detected the presence of livestock meat and dung. Anomalies in soil phosphate contained different amounts of organic matter in single features. Magnetic susceptibility measurements showed that the features were backfilled in a one-time event. Sedimentological analysis showed that the infills of the different types of features were similar, but only the infills of the trenches were compacted, unlike the other features.
Challenges in surgical management of neutropenic enterocolitis in pediatric cancer patients
Authors: Ahmed Gehad , Refaat Ahmed , Eltagy Gamal , Shalaby Lobna , Raafat Tarek Ahmed , Younes Alaa
Published: March 2023

Neutropenic enterocolitis (NE) affects immunocompromised patients with incidence ranging from 2.6% to 11.6%. The pathogenesis of NE is poorly understood. The recommended treatment is highly controversial, with some suggesting supportive care and others advocating surgery. The present study intended to characterize the outcome, prognostic factors and indications of surgery among those patients
PATIENTS AND METHODS
This is a retropective cohort observational study conducted during January 2019–2022 on patients aged <18 years with NE. Conservative management was initially started and surgical interventions were done after the failure of conservation.
RESULTS
Among 5736 patients diagnosed with malignant diseases, 171 patients (3%) developed NE, of them 33 required surgical intervention. Patients with bowel wall thickness <10 mm, isolated drug-resistant organisms, and multifocal distribution were associated with failure of conservative management.
deterioration on maximum supportive measures (70%, n = 23), was the most common indication for surgery. The overall 30-day mortality was 18%. The mortality rate in the surgery and conservative arms were 39% and 10% respectively (p = <0.001). Factors associated with higher mortality in all groups were: Drug-resistant blood cultures and multifocal distribution. Vasopressors showed higher mortality in the surgery group (p = 0.003). The bowel wall thickness of >10 mm was associated with higher mortality in the whole (p = 0.001) and conservative groups (p = 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS
Most patients with NE respond to conservative management. Deterioration in maximum supportive care is the most common indication for surgery. positive blood culture, multifocal distribution, vasopressors and bowel wall thickness of >10 mm were associated with higher mortality.
Coordinated nasal mucosa-mediated immunity accelerates recovery from COVID-19
Authors: Cass Steven , Nicolau Dan , Baker Jonathan , Mwasuku Christine , Ramakrishnan Sanjay , Mahdi Mahdi , Barnes Peter , Donnelly Louise , Martinez-Nunez Rocio T. , Russell Richard , Bafadhel Mona
Published: March 2023

Viral infection due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induce a dynamic immune environment. Using nasal mucosal samples in 139 participants from the STOIC study (community-based randomised clinical trial for the use of budesonide in early onset SARS-CoV-2, NCT04416399), we applied predefined immune mediator nodes in relation to clinical outcomes and viral burden. Interferon- and chemokine-dominant nodes increased expression as compared to health, validating our modular approach. Next, we demonstrated that an increase in mucosal immunity-like node consisting of CCL13, CCL17, IL-33, among others was associated with a mean 3.7-day quicker recovery with no primary outcome events, irrespective of treatment arm. By day 14 the mucosal node divided into two daughter nodes linked to interferon molecules and was transcriptionally detectable in nasal cavity basal, hillock and ciliated cells (as per public single cell dataset EGAD00001007718). Our data suggest mucosal-associated mediators are key for early symptom resolution of SARS-CoV-2.
Study of Alfalfa Leaf Proteome Response Under Biological Stress Conditions Caused by Alfalfa Leaf Weevil (Hypera Postica Gell.) Feeding Using Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis, Isoelectric Focusing and Two-dimensional Electrophoresis
Authors: KAKAEI Mehdi , kakaei mehdi , MAZAHERI-LAGHAB Hojjatollah , mostafaie Ali
Published: March 2023

Alfalfa is an important forage plant. Alfalfa leaf Weevil (Hypera postica Gell.) is considered a first-class pest of this plant, which causes a lot of damage every year, especially to the first layer of this plant. Knowledge about initial molecular signaling and proteins associated with sensing the damage of pests, especially the weevil pest in the alfalfa plant in among crop plants is limited. In this study, an attempt has been made to investigate the overall protein expression pattern of the leaf of this plant in response to the stress caused by the alfalfa leaf weevil (Hypera postica Gell.) using the proteomics technique, to take a step in investigating the resistance mechanisms of this plant to the aforementioned pest. For this purpose, a sample of stress (under pest feeding) and non-stress stage (Control) was obtained under the same growth conditions. In order to determine the significant difference in protein expression in control and stress conditions caused by alfalfa leaf weevil pest, t-test method was used. The extracted proteins were separated in two dimensions by IPG gels with a gradient pH of 4–7 and with length 18 cm and 12.5% acrylamide gels. The results of the statistical evaluation using Image Master 2D platinum of Melani 6 software showed that out of a total of 241 repeatable protein points, 28 protein points showed changes in expression in stress levels caused by alfalfa leaf weevil. These changes included increased and decreased expression. Mass spectrometry results led to the identification of proteins involved in stress response mechanisms, energy production, metabolism, synthesis and photosynthesis. The evaluation of different protein classes showed that the proteome responding to biological stress in this plant follows two distinct trends in terms of co-expression. The results showed that among the 28 protein spots with significant expression changes in the Yazdi genotype, most of them i.e. 17.85% were expressed for energy production and the same amount was expressed in response to stress in the plant. In general, the results showed that studying the amount of changes in the expression of individual proteins alone will not be the solution, but knowing the set of co-expressed proteins and studying the pattern of their collective changes in response to different levels of biological stress caused by alfalfa leaf weevil. It is very important and gives a better understanding. It is obvious that conducting more studies on other alfalfa genotypes can provide a suitable molecular model for modifying alfalfa leaf weevil resistance in other alfalfa genotypes. These results clarify our understanding of the underlying mechanisms in alfalfa plant tolerance to alfalfa leaf weevil.
Modulation of the catalytic activity and thermostability of a highly thermostable GH7 endoglucanase by engineering the key loop B3
Authors: Zheng Fei , Yang Junzhao , Sun Qingyang , Zhang Xinrui , Li Ruilin , Wang Xiaoyu , He Xiangwei , Zhao Guozhu
Published: March 2023

Background
The cellulases of glycoside hydrolase family 7 (GH7) are confined into two main types, endoglucanase and cellobiohydrolase, based on their subtle differences in loop structures. In the viewpoint of evolution, the loop regions of GH7 cellulases exhibit a more pronounced effect on enzyme properties.
Results
A thermophilic endoglucanase of GH7, TtCel7, having a long 18 amino acid loop B3 was identified in Thermothelomyces thermophilus ATCC 42464. It was successfully obtained with heterologous expression and then purified for activity assays. The recombinant TtCel7 was distinguished for the excellent thermostability at 90°C (> 30% residual activity after 1-h incubation). When truncated the loop B3 or mutated C220A to remove the disulfide bond on loop B3, both the TtCel7 variants showed decreased catalytic efficiency, but the ∆B3 showed improved thermostability, retaining higher residual activities (9–44%) at 70–90°C than the wild type. Based on the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation analysis, both the loops B1 and A3 of ∆B3 swing toward the catalytic center, which contributes to the reduced cleft space and more rigid structure; instead, the structural rigidity of C220A was decreased as an α-helix was introduced into the loop B3 due to the deletion of disulfide bond.
Conclusions
Two structural elements related to catalysis and thermostability of GH7 cellulases were identified in this study through structure-directed enzyme modulation. Of them, the loop B3 of TtCel7 possibly stretches the catalytic pocket, making the catalytic tunnel more open and the protein structure more flexible for efficient catalysis. Additionally, the disulfide bond in loop B3 stabilizes the loop structure and keeps it in a highly active and stable state. This strategy casts an insight into the engineering of GH7 endoglucanases for potential commercialization.
Microglia-mediated drug resistance by hijacking drug substances from glioma cells
Authors: Wu Sheng-Yan , Yu Wen-Jui , Chien Ting-Yi , Ren Yu-An , Chen Chi-Shuo , Chiang Chi-Shiun
Published: March 2023

Background: It is well known that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play essential roles in brain tumor resistance to chemotherapy. However, the detailed mechanisms of how TAMs are involved in brain tumor resistance are still unclear and lack a suitable analysis model.
Methods: A BV2 microglial cells with ALTS1C1 astrocytoma cells in vitro co-culture system was used to mimic the microglia dominating tumor stroma in the tumor invasion microenvironment and explore the interaction between microglia and brain tumor cells.
Results: Our result suggested that microglia could form colonies with glioma cells under high-density culturing conditions and protect glioma cells from apoptosis induced by chemotherapeutic drugs. Moreover, this study demonstrates that microglia could hijack drug substances from the glioma cells and reduce the drug intensity of ALTS1C1 via direct contact. Inhibition of gap junction protein prevented microglial-glioma colony formation and microglia-mediated chemoresistance.
Conclusions: This study provides novel insights into how glioma cells acquire chemoresistance via microglia-mediated drug substance transferring, providing a new option for treating chemo-resistant brain tumors.
Characterization of polyphenolic compounds extracted from stressed apple peel and their interaction with β-lactoglobulin
Authors: Llopart Emilce Elina , Verdini Roxana Andrea , Delorenzi Néstor Jorge , Busti Pablo Andres
Published: March 2023

This paper proposes to apply a postharvest environmental stress to red apples (Red Delicious) in order to increase the polyphenolic compounds (PP) content in their peels. PP has beneficial effects on health, this leads to great interest in increasing its dietary content. The possibility of enhancing extractable PP yields give an interesting alternative for the use of discarded crops in the food industry. A great increase in PP was observed at 14 days of stress, based principally in an increment in the content of anthocyanins of 40%, approximately. The interaction of the extracted PP from unstressed and stressed apple peels with beta-lactoglobulin (β-LG) was characterized. A PP-β-LG complex was formed with one single binding site in the protein was determined. The interaction was spontaneous and enthalpy driven. PP extracted from unstressed samples had a major affinity for the protein. The results of this last study could provide a better understanding of the interaction between PP and β-LG in dairy food.
The effect of subsidies on thechnical efficiency of Algerian agricultural sector : Using Stochastic Frontier Analysis(SFA) Approach
Authors: HOUARI MOULAY ALI , Fayçal MOKHTARI , SEGHIR GUELLIL MOHAMMED
Published: March 2023

This study seeks to determine the impact of agricultural subsidies on the efficiency of Algerian farms. To do so, we estimated a Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) for Algerian data covering the period from1970 to 2020. Two variables were used to describe the agricultural subsidy: the first is total agricultural support, and the second is a dummy variable that takes the values 0 and 1 to express the coupling of subsidies to production. The variable of support for agriculture production and producers takes the value of one (1) in the era when the support is not related to production(decoupled support). It takes the value zero (0) when there is explicit support for production and producers (coupled support).The findings revealed that total subsidies had a negative impact and statistically significant on the technical efficiency of Algerian farms. While, The decoupling has a positive effect on efficiency (negative on inefficiency), but without significance.JEL Classification: H21 ; H71 ; O13 ; Q18 ; C51
Proxy variables of the closeness between humans and wildlife that associate with the public interest in bird species in Japan
Authors: Takaya Kosuke , Tomojiri Daiki
Published: March 2023

Human–nature interactions are gaining attention as evidence accumulates on the health and well-being benefits of interacting with nature. Since public interest in the species affects support for biodiversity protection, it is important to elucidate and quantify the relevant factors in conservation efforts. However, the factors that affect public interest are highly abstract proxies for the distance between humans and species. Therefore, more detailed variables that represent familiarity with humans (e.g., habitat type) and their relationship with public interest need to be identified. In the present study, we examined the factors influencing public interest in 391 bird species in Japan using Wikipedia pageviews as a proxy. Daily view data from July 1, 2015, to December 31, 2020, were obtained to explore statistical models explaining Wikipedia pageviews for birds using a generalized linear model and Akaike information criterion. Our results revealed that species that inhabit urban areas, nest on artificial structures, are designated as game birds, and have a large body size attract high public interest. Furthermore, species related to an urban habitat type and food use were particularly associated with high public interest. The results showed that people were highly interested in birds that were physically and culturally close to humans. Although cities are historically novel environments, a variety of species have successfully utilized the urban environment, and cities are potentially new interaction sites between people and wildlife. Therefore, planning for a highly biodiverse city could increase public interest in species and generate broad public support for conservation.
Exactly Solvable Initial-Boundary Value Problems with Moving Boundaries for Variable Parametric Convection-Diffusion-Reaction Type Equations
Authors: Serdal Aylin B. , Büyükaşık Şirin A.
Published: March 2023

An initial-boundary value problem for the convection-diffusion-reaction equation Φt = (1/2μ(t))Φxx − [a(t) − b(t)x] Φx + μ(t) [(ω2(t)/2)x2 − f(t)x + f0(t)] Φ, with variable coefficients and Dirichlet boundary condition imposed at the boundary x = s(t), is considered in a time-dependent semi-infinite interval s(t) < x < ∞. It is shown that, if the boundary of the interval propagates according to an associated classical equation of motion determined by the time-dependent parameters, then the initial-boundary value problem can be solved analytically. For this, a nonlinear Riccati type dynamical system that simultaneously determines the solution of the problem and the moving boundary is solved by a linearization procedure. Then, Green's function and integral representation of the solution to the convection-diffusion-reaction problem with a moving boundary is obtained in terms of a classical diffusion problem on the fixed half-line. This allows the construction of exactly solvable models with moving boundaries that appear in various fields of science and engineering. Here two concrete models are introduced: a convection-diffusion model with time and space variable coefficients; and a convection-diffusion-reaction problem with constant diffusion, time-periodic convection and a reaction coefficient that is quadratic in position. For each model, families of exact solutions corresponding to different types of initial data and homogeneous boundary conditions are derived explicitly and their dynamics are discussed according to the influence of the time-variable parameters and the prescribed moving boundaries.
MSC Classification: 35R37 , 35K20 , 35C05 , 35C15 , 35K57
Genetic diversity of longjack (Eurycoma longifolia Jack) distributed in Thua Thien Hue, Vietnam
Authors: Van Thi Yen , Nguyen Hoang Loc , Morgentern Kristin , Tran Nam Thang , Krabel Doris
Published: March 2023

Longjack (E. longifolia Jack) is one of the important medicinal plants, distributed naturally in the mountainous and sandy areas of Vietnam. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity within and among four longjack populations in Thua Thien Hue with a total of 276 individuals based on the markers as random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), start codon targeted (SCoT), and branch point single sequences (BPS). The analysis of polymorphic information content (PIC), effective multiplex ratio (EMR), marker index (MI), and resolving power (Rp) showed markers SCoT and BPS are more informative than RAPD markers. Combining the data of these markers indicated that genetic diversity (He) and Shannon index (I) are relatively low, at only 0.17 and 0.28, respectively. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed that genetic variation was greater within populations than between them, 89% vs 11%. A Bayesian cluster analysis (STRUCTURE) showed the number of genetic groups was two (K = 2), similar to the results of Principle Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) and Ward’s method. The Mantel test also exhibited a positive correlation of the geographical, elevational factors, morphological characteristics with the genetic variation.
Causal Networks and Complex Systems in Archaeology
Authors: Palacios Olga , Barceló Juan Antonio
Published: March 2023

Difficulties surrounding the reconstruction of social systems in past communities have propitiated the development of multiple social theories and a variety of approaches to explain archaeological remains. The Bayesian Network approach has proved to be a crucial tool to model uncertainty and probability to estimate parameters and predict the effects of social decisions, even when some data entries are missing. This paper has the principal objective to present a research study centered on exploring how prehistoric early farmers survived in their environmental context by suggesting a causal complex model of a socio-ecological system. To achieve this, two different causal models are proposed, both based on probabilistic Bayesian Networks, one built from expert knowledge and the other learned from ethnoarchaeological data. These models are used to define what variables would have been relevant to the socioeconomic organization of early Neolithic communities and to predict their behavior and social decisions in hypothetical case scenarios. The ultimate outcome is exploring the use of the Bayesian Network for investigating socio-ecological systems and defining its potentialities as a research method.
Design of a distributed offloading and real-time data unified access platform for IoT under command and control communication network
Authors: Yang YiZhuo , Zeng HongJin , Chen TingPing , Lv Meng
Published: March 2023

With the rapid development and fusion of IoT and command and control communication networks, the number of computationally intensive applications and heterogeneous devices is rapidly increasing. Edge computing technologies and heterogeneous protocol access technologies can offload computational programs to edge servers and normalize the communication protocols of heterogeneous devices in the network. However, traditional edge computing networks use protocol gateways that can only convert for specific communication protocols, which can cause development costs to rise in the era of IoT and big data. For this reason, how to quickly connect heterogeneous protocol devices to edge computing networks and how to allocate edge server resources more efficiently and fairly are still urgent issues to be addressed. In this paper, we study the joint problem of task offloading and heterogeneous protocol device access under the command and control communication network, derive the gain parameters for task offloading, and propose a set of unified access platform for real-time data, which provides the design function of external protocol data and internal topic data to enable distributed data publishing/subscription function for the whole network. In addition, to improve the efficiency of heterogeneous devices accessing the network, a set of data parsing/encapsulation algorithms is designed on the basis of the real-time data unified access platform to support two kinds of data mapping in both directions. Through experimental verification, the proposed scheme is reasonable and effective.
Epitaxially ferroelectric hexagonal boron nitride on graphene
Authors: Wu Chung-Lin , Wong Sheng-Shong , Lin Zhen-You , Ho Sheng-Zhu , Hsu Chin-En , Li Ping-Hung , Chen Ching-Yu , Huang Yen-Fu , Chen Chia-Hao , Chen Yi-Chun , Hsueh Hung-Chung , Cheng Cheng-Maw
Published: March 2023

Ferroelectricity in two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) layers has revolutionized our understanding of the vdW layered coupling, and has been introduced in the domains of moiré superlattice patterns generated by interlayer twisting or sliding. In the smallest limit of thickness, untwisted and epitaxial vdW stacking layers exhibiting ferroelectricity would clearly serve as building blocks for realizing 2D devices with nonvolatile and reconfigurable functionalities. In this study, we grew ferroelectric hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) films on single-crystal graphene synthesized on a SiC (0001) substrate using nitrogen plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PA-MBE). Systematic angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) studies and first-principles calculations revealed that the epitaxial mono-, bi-, and tri-layer h-BN films exhibit layer-number-dependent µ-band dispersions due to an AB stacking sequence on a Bernal-stacked graphene substrate. Furthermore, our piezoelectric force microscopy (PFM) confirmed the coexistence of robust moiré and sliding ferroelectricity at the well-aligned h-BN/graphene heterojunction and in multilayered h-BN films, respectively. In principle, as-developed epitaxially ferroelectric h-BN is limited only by the size of the crystalline graphene substrate, thereby providing a versatile and scalable 2D ferroelectric platform with promising exotic physics and vdW device applications down to a few atomic layers.
Tuberculoma masquerading as an en plaque Meningioma resulting in a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemma; a Case Report
Authors: Mohammed Salhadin , Negash Hanna Assefa , Nedi Addisu , Ayele Christian , Hailemariam Fekadu
Published: March 2023

Background: Reports of an imaging or pathological diagnosis of en-plaque tuberculoma are limited. To our knowledge, descriptions of en-plaque tuberculoma are limited to a cluster of few cases, and none has been reported from Ethiopia.
Case Presentation: We present a 40-year-old Ethiopian woman, who came to our hospital with a complaint of a one-year history of global-type headache, projectile vomiting, blurring of vision, and diplopia, followed by a change in behavior of four months duration. Apart from obesity, the patient had no family or personal history of chronic illness and denied constitutional symptoms. Her neurological examination was notable for CN VI Palsy and was otherwise unremarkable. Brain MRI done at the time revealed a right frontoparietal dural-based ill-defined contrast-enhancing non-restricting mass likely representing en plaque tumor (meningioma) (with dural and leptomeningeal involvement) while CNS Tuberculosis and Sarcoidosis were considered as differential diagnoses. After evaluation by our neurosurgical team, the patient underwent craniotomy and excision, after which the excised mass was sent for a neuropathologic diagnosis. The pathologic section showed fragments of large areas of necrosis, multinucleated giant cells, and well-formed epithelioid granulomas, suggestive of Tuberculosis. Her postoperative course was complicated by eosinophilia, drug-induced liver injury (DILI), and renal failure.
Conclusion: The present case describes a 40-year-old female patient with CNS Tuberculosis having an atypical presentation, leading to the entertainment of an alternate diagnosis. This case highlights the fact that TB continues to masquerade as other diseases, even in the 21st century, and a high index of suspicion is needed to rightly diagnose our patients.
Collection techniques of Touch DNA deposited on human skin following a strangulation scenario
Authors: Alketbi Salem Khalifa
Published: March 2023

Trace DNA is a significant type of evidence for its ability to be collected from touched items or surfaces at crime scenes to link suspects to their crimes. In cases of violent crimes like assault, sexual offences, or even homicide, often touch DNA is collected from the victim’s skin. However, the collection of Touch DNA from the victim's skin can be complex because of the mixture of DNA present, as there is likely to be a small quantity of the offender’s DNA compared to the victim’s DNA. Validating different collection methods or techniques can improve Touch DNA sampling, therefore, this study investigated three collection techniques involving cotton and nylon swabs to test their efficiency for the collection of touch DNA from the human neck. There was a significant difference between the three recovery techniques used to recover Touch DNA with a cotton swab (CS) (p < 0.05) and nylon swab (NS) (p < 0.05), with more alleles observed when the neck skin was moistened with 100 µl of distilled water using spray a bottle before collection for both swabs.
Therapy for reproductive problems in the postpartum cow
Authors: Momont Harry
Published: March 2023

Many problems beset the postpartum dairy cow and all of them may potentially decrease reproductive efficiency. This brief review will deal with retained fetal membranes (RFM) and metritis/endometritis and discuss various treatment approaches in light of recent research. It should be noted here that research often does not translate into obvious clinical recommendations. Two recent reviews dealing with RFM/metritis cite a combined total of 241 reports without reaching definitive conclusions about therapy. We will proceed from this rather uncertain foundation.
Modified Caslicks's procedure for closure of the dorsal vulva in the cow
Authors: Anderson John F.
Published: March 2023

A cyanoacrylate tissue adhesive (Nexaband) was used to assist healing of vaginal tears, sutured a month after calving. The procedure prevented pneumovagina. Use of the adhesive overcame faecal contamination of the wound.
Field studies of protective shelters for beef calves
Authors: Olson David P.
Published: March 2023

For the past 8 years, research scientists at the University of Idaho have conducted a series of controlled experiments designed to determine the effects of cold exposure on young calves. This work stemmed, in part, from field observations suggesting an association between exposure of calves to cold temperatures and excessive moisture under field conditions and incidence of the ‘weak calf syndrome’. Results of the experiments indicated that young calves are highly susceptible to the effects of cold exposure and that this stressor may be a direct or indirect cause of death of these animals. Life-threatening changes observed in severely cold stressed calves include subnormal body temperature, decreased concentration of blood glucose, decreased total number of leukocytes in blood, temporary failure of calves to absorb colostral immunoglobulins, and decreased aortic blood pressure and heart rate. Respiratory failure is the usual cause of death of severely cold stressed calves. Other changes commonly observed in cold-exposed young calves include intensive shivering, physical weakness, depression, reluctance to nurse, changes in concentration of blood constituents other than glucose, and extensive hemorrhage and straw-colored edema beneath the skin of the extremities.
Surgical management of umbilical masses in calves
Authors: Trent A. M.
Published: March 2023

Umbilical masses in calves are commonly encountered by bovine practitioners. They may vary in size from a small, discrete swelling to an extremely large mass. A mass at the umbilicus represents one of two basic situations: herniation or inflammation. A simple hernia is characterized by its reducibility, lack of pain on palpation, and the presence of a hernial ring. Inflammation (or infection) may be localized to the umbilical opening alone, or extend to involve intra-abdominal umbilical cord remnants. Both hernial and inflammatory components can be present in a single umbilical mass. In these cases the mass may be partially reducible, but will also have a component which is non-reducible. Unlike pigs, calves rarely incarcerate their hernias unless a significant inflammatory component is already present; therefore, any mass which is not completely reducible should be considered to have an inflammatory component.
Pathological and immunological responses of calves to Mycoplasma bovis
Authors: Thomas L. H. , Howard C. J. , Parsons K. R.
Published: March 2023

Mycoplasma bovis was identified in the UK for the first time in association with a severe outbreak of bovine respiratory disease. Subsequently it was shown to cause moderate lesions of arthritis and pneumonia in gnotobiotic calves.

The following paper describes a hitherto unrecognized necrotic lesions caused by M. bovis in the lung parenchyma of gnotobiotic calves; it describes certain features of the immune response to the infection and contrasts the mechanisms of pathogenesis for M. bovis with that of other respiratory mycoplasmas. The paper summarizes some of the work described more fully elsewhere.
Laminitis
Authors: Weaver A. David
Published: March 2023

Laminitis has become a fashionable diagnosis in dairy cow lameness. Some fifteen years ago, Dutch colleagues vehemently denied the existence of this problem in their country. Nowadays they not only agree that it occurs, but they, along with some Scandinavians, have been among the few critical observers of the clinical condition, and have also successfully reproduced laminitis in cattle. Let us pose a series of questions and attempt answers.
Dicumarol toxicity in a herd of Ayrshire cattle fed moldy sweet clover
Authors: DeHoogh Willem
Published: March 2023

An outbreak of sweet clover poisoning is reported in a herd of 12 yearling Ayrshire heifers. Symptoms included lameness, epistaxis, subcutaneous haematomas, shivering and depression. Four animals died, 2 possible early embryonic deaths occurred and one cow aborted. The remaining animals responded to vitamin K1 treatment and there were no recurrences or further complications. Toxicological screening of the haylage fed to the heifers revealed levels of 20.0-27.7 p.p.m. dicoumarol. Liver samples submitted from a necropsied animal yielded levels of 1.1 p.p.m. dicoumarol, confirming the diagnosis of sweet clover poisoning.
Immunosuppressive effects of bovine viral pathogens
Authors: Perino Louis J.
Published: March 2023

Epidemiologic evidence that viral immunosuppression leads to secondary bacterial pneumonia is established, yet our understanding of the immunosuppressive viral effects that cause this is incomplete. Similar relationships are likely to exist in other disease complexes. This paper reviewed many of the effects of different bovine viral pathogens on the bovine host defenses such as epithelial barriers and ciliary function, macrophages, polymorphonuclear neutrophils, and lymphocytes. For each virus there are voids in our understanding. There are many viruses such as bovine adenovirus, bovine enterovirus, bovine empheral fever virus, bovine papilloma virus, bovine papular stomatitis virus, and bovine parvovirus for which no information is available. The relevance of current in vitro tests to in vivo function is, in many cases, speculative. There are many aspects of the host immune system, such as cell-mediated immunity, for which tests are insufficient or entirely lacking. Continued work is needed to develop means to examine the immunologic interactions of cattle and their viral pathogens. There is currently a great deal of research examining the effects of various immunomodulators in cattle. In order to effectively use these immunomodulators the nature of the immunosuppression that viruses cause must be further characterized.
Force-feeding and rumen acidosis in young calves
Authors: Dirksen G. , Baur T.
Published: March 2023

Previous studies have shown that so-called 'ruminal drinking' due to dysfunction of the oesophageal groove can have severe consequences, not only in initially healthy veal calves, but also in new-born dairy calves suffering from various primary diseases. This paper describes the findings in 23 hospitalized calves (in 1989) with a history of having been force-fed repeatedly, 11 of them suffering from neonatal diarrhea, 12 being unable, too weak or listless to suck. The liquid feeds which had been used were cow's milk, milk replacer, nutrient-electrolyte solutions or so-called 'diet drinks'. All of them contained easily digestible carbohydrates. Rumen fluid samples were aspirated on the day of hospitalization and were indicative of acidosis in 20 cases and for putrefaction in 3 cases.