bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of kidney volume on incidence of in-hospital kidney-related adverse outcomes in patients with acute heart failure
Authors: Saito Akira , Asano Taku , Komiyama Nobuyuki , Ohde Sachiko
Published: May 2023

Background:Recent studies revealed an association between kidney volume and function in particular settings such as kidney transplantation and transcatheter aortic valve implantation. We hypothesized that kidney volume was associated with the incidence of kidney-related adverse outcomes such as worsening renal function (WRF) in patients with acute heart failure (AHF).
Methods:This study was a single-center retrospective cohort study. It included patients admitted for AHF treatment between 2011 and 2021 and who underwent computed tomography (CT) that included images of the kidneys on the date of admission. We measured the volume of the right and left kidneys using dedicated volume analyzing software for 3D-CT (SYNAPSE VINCENT, Fuji Film, Tokyo, Japan) and determined the total kidney volume by adding the volumes of the left and right kidneys. We newly defined the composite of death from any cause, initiating renal replacement therapy, and WRF during hospitalization as Kidney-related adverse composite event (KACE). We conducted multivariate logistic regression analysis to evaluate the impact of KACE and each component of KACE adjusted for age, sex, body surface area, serum creatinine on admission date and the factors that were significantly associated with the incidence of KACE by bivariate analysis.
Results: In the 229 patients enrolled in the analysis, death from any cause, initiating RRT, and WRF occurred in 30 (13.1%), 10 (4.4%), and 89 (38.9%) patients, respectively. It was found that small kidney volume (≤250ml) was independently associated with the increased incidence of KACE (odds ratio 6.10, 95% confidence interval [1.68-22.16], p=0.006) and WRF (odds ratio 7.14, 95%confidence interval [1.91-26.73] p=0.004). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for multivariate logistic regression analysis of KACE was 0.77.
Conclusions: Kidney volume on admission was independently associated with the increased incidence of kidney-related adverse outcomes during hospitalization in patients with AHF.
Research on water and fertilizer PH control strategy of automatic fertilizer application system in cotton field
Authors: Wang Hao , Zhang Lixin , Hu Xue , Wang Huan , Zhang Xiongye
Published: May 2023

Xinjiang, China's largest cotton-producing region, suffers from a severe shortage of water resources. Cotton is a highly adapted crop to limited water conditions and no significant decreases in cotton yield have been observed under appropriate limited water conditions. Therefore, water and fertilizer integration technology has become the fundamental way out for the development of the cotton industry in Xinjiang. Time-varying, hysteresis and non-linearity in automatic fertilizer application systems for cotton fields. To address this problem, a fuzzy PID controller based on genetic algorithm optimisation is studied and designed in this paper. Optimisation of the control parameters of the PID is achieved through the optimisation of the proportionality factor in the fuzzy control algorithm by means of a genetic algorithm to complete the precise control of the fertilizer pH value. Development of an automatic fertilizer control system based on a real-time fuzzy control system using MATLAB and PLC controllers with OPC technology. The performance of the controller was verified experimentally and the results showed that the controller has good control accuracy and robustness compared with conventional PID controllers and fuzzy PID controllers, achieving the effect of precise fertilizer application.
Zoonotic Giardia duodenalis Assemblage A in Northern Sloth from Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Reis Lisiane Lappe dos , de Souza Lirna Salvioni Silva , Braga Francisco Carlos de Oliveira , Lima Dayane Costa de Souza , Lima Natália Aparecida de Souza , Padinha Jessica da Silva , Nava Alessandra Ferreira Dales , Vicente Ana Carolina Paulo
Published: May 2023

The zoonotic protozoa parasite Giardia duodenalis infects a wide range of vertebrate hosts, including domestic and wild animals as well as humans. G.duodenalis is one of the most common intestinal parasite in humans and mammals worldwide. In humans, the disease is called giardiasis, with symptoms such as acute diarrhea which may progress to a chronic stage, but most infections remain asymptomatic. In children, giardiasis has a negative impact on their growth and cognitive development. Zoonotic assemblages A and B have already been identified in humans and wild and domestic animals (non-human primates and cats) from Brazilian Amazon. Here, in a screening focusing Giardia identification in wild animals from the Brazilian Amazon region, we identified, by microscopy, Giardia in two Northern sloths (Bradypus tridactylus). Samples from these two individuals were submitted to molecular assays, PCR targeting the beta giardin gene and amplicon sequencing, and it was revealed that both were infected by G. duodenalisfrom zoonotic assemblage A. In addition, the phylogenetic analysis showed that each one belong to a distinct assemblage A sub-cluster within sequences from humans and animals. Therefore, besides showing, by the first time, the presence of this parasite in sloths, our findings reveals that this wild animal species would be part of the zoonotic scenario of this parasite in the Brazilian Amazon.
Health Care Workers’ Experiences of Calling-for-help When Taking Care of Critically Ill Patients in Hospitals in Tanzania and Kenya
Authors: Mkumbo Elibariki Godfrey , Willows Tamara Mulenga , Onyango Onesmus , Khalid Karima , Maiba John , Schell Carl Otto , Oliwa Jacquie , McKnight Jacob , Baker Tim , English Mike
Published: May 2023

Background
When caring for critically ill patients, health workers often need to ‘call-for-help’ to get assistance from colleagues in the hospital. Systems are required to facilitate calling-for-help and enable the timely provision of care for critically ill patients. Evidence around calling-for-help systems is mostly from high income countries but the state of calling-for-help in hospitals in Tanzania and Kenya has not been formally studied. This study aims to describe health workers’ experiences about calling-for-help when taking care of critically ill patients in hospitals in Tanzania and Kenya.
Methods
Ten hospitals across Kenya and Tanzania were visited and in-depth interviews conducted with 30 health workers who had experience of caring for critically ill patients. The interviews were transcribed, translated and the data thematically analyzed.
Results
The study identified three thematic areas concerning the systems for calling-for-help when taking care of critically ill patients: 1) there are weak structures for calling-for-help; 2) The calling-for-help processes are innovative and improvised; and 3) the help that is provided is not as requested.
Conclusion
Calling-for-help when taking care of a critically ill patient is a necessary life-saving part of care, but health workers in Tanzanian and Kenyan hospitals experience a range of significant challenges. Hospitals have weak structures, processes for calling-for-help are improvised and help that is provided is not as requested. These challenges likely cause delays and decrease the quality of care, potentially resulting in unnecessary mortality and morbidity.
Neonatal Zika virus infection causes transient perineuronal net degradation
Authors: Engel Kaliroi , Lee Ha-Na , Tewari Bhanu P. , Lewkowicz Aaron P. , Ireland Derek D.C. , Manangeeswaran Mohanraj , Verthelyi Daniela
Published: May 2023

Perineuronal nets (PNNs) form a specialized extracellular matrix that regulates neuronal activity. Their formation early in the postnatal period is regulated by neuronal signaling and glial activation raising concerns that the long-term neurological sequelae ascribed to perinatal viral infections could be mediated by altered PNN formation. Previously, we developed neonatal zika virus (ZIKV) infection model where mice have lifelong neurological sequelae despite resolving the acute infection. Here, we demonstrate that neonatal ZIKV infection results in a reduction of PNN formation during the acute disease with significant reduction in Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) staining and increased aggrecan and brevican degradants. Following resolution of infection, the level of WFA staining as well as levels of aggrecan and brevican in brains normalize, but there is increased frequency of abnormal or immature PNN. In adults, the impact of the perinatal infection subsides and PNN levels and morphology are not different from control mice. Of note, the reduction in PNN formation during acute infection was associated with increased expression of MMP12 and MMP19, but not MMP9, ADAMTS-4 or ADAMTS-5. Together our findings indicate that infection at the time of PNN development interferes with PNN formation, but nets can reform once the infection and inflammation subside.
Which factors contribute to standardized test scores for prospective general science teachers: An analysis of the PraxisⓇ General Science Content Knowledge Test.
Authors: Ndembera Rachel , Ray Herman , Shah Lisa , Rushton Gregory
Published: May 2023

This study aims to contribute to the knowledge base of what is known about the general science certified teaching population. Studies have shown that science teacher content knowledge is among the most foundational components of effective teaching and learning. Our study analyzes thePraxisⓇGeneral Science Content Knowledge Test (GSCKT) from May 2006-June 2016. We present one of the largest datasets comprising 28,688 general science teacher candidates in order to provide information about their demonstrated general science content knowledge. Our results can be used to design targeted professional learning experiences for pre- and inservice teachers with the objective of strengthening teacher recruitment and retention efforts. Findings from this study are particularly useful while planning inservice topic specific professional learning for teachers pre- and inservice GS teachers by answering the following research questions (1) How have personal and professional characteristics correlated withPraxisⓇGSCKT performance in the last decade? (2) How have examinees performed as a whole in each category on thePraxisⓇGSCKT? (3) Which personal and/or professional characteristics have been associated with examinee performance in each category? What have been the relative category performances of examinees of varying characteristics? Examinee performance at the category level was analyzed through a four-part process: 1. Percent correct; 2. Regression; 3. ANOVA; 4. Scaled points lost. Our findings revealed that examinees demonstrated strongest performance in the topics assessingLife Scienceand identifiedEarth & Space Scienceas a topic in need of support. Across categories, we found differences in achievement associated with undergraduate major, gender, and ethnicity. Test-takers with STEM majors consistently lost fewer points than their out-of-field counterparts, that men outperformed women in the study, and White test-takers lost fewer scaled points than Black and Hispanic candidates. Our recommendations include reviewing our results for alignment with state standards in order to develop comprehensive content knowledge development that will be used as an anchor for focused support on those topics where test-takers tend to demonstrate lowest proficiency.
Differences between urinary metabolites in individual renal units in patients with unilateral nephrolithiasis
Authors: Gorgen Antonio R. H. , Vu Minh-Chau , Cumpanas Andrei D. , Tano Zachary E. , Ali Sohrab N. , Jiang Pengbo , Landman Jaime , Asplin John R. , Clayman Ralph V. , Patel Roshan M.
Published: May 2023

INTRODUCTION: Twenty-four-hour urine testing is performed to identify urine electrolyte abnormalities that are associated with kidney stone formation. This analysis pools urine from the two kidneys even though in many patients, stones affect only one renal unit. Our goal was to determine if there were significant differences in urine electrolytes between the stone-bearing and the stone-free kidney.
METHODS: Fourteen adult patients with unilateral nephrolithiasis scheduled for ureteroscopy or percutaneous nephrolithotomy were enrolled. Following Foley catheter drainage of the bladder, a ureteral access sheath (UAS) was passed into the stone-bearing kidney. Urine was collected simultaneously from the UAS (intervention) and from the Foley catheter (control) for 10-15 minutes. Samples were analyzed for urine stone risk factors. Pairwise comparison was made between the two kidneys using both raw concentration values and concentration values corrected for creatinine. The amount of urine collected determined the type of analysis performed. In those patients where at least 6ml of urine was collected, the samples were split into two samples, one for the addition of thymol and the other for the addition of hydrochloric acid (HCl).
RESULTS: Among the 14 patients, there were 11 complete thymol samples and 5 complete HCl samples. There were differences at the individual level between the kidneys. In the HCl samples, all patients had unilateral metabolic differences related to stone formation: higher urinary calcium in three, higher urinary oxalate in one and lower urinary citrate in one patient.
CONCLUSIONS: In most patients, there were urinary metabolite differences between the renal units, most notably in urinary calcium concentration.
Development of Dissimilar AA2014 and AA2024 Based Composite by Using nano-TiC as Reinforcement Via FSP Technique to Categorize Microstructure, Interfacial Layer, and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Dwivedi Shashi Prakash , Saxena Ambuj , Sharma Shubham
Published: May 2023

In the present study, dissimilar aluminum alloys AA2014 and AA2024 alloys have been taken as a base matrix material to develop the composite material by using nano-TiC particles as reinforcement. The friction stir process (FSP) technique was employed to develop the composite. The number of tool passes on the workpiece surface i.e. single, double, triple, and fourth were varied in this experiment. Nono-TiC particles were encapsulated in the groove. Homogeneous distribution and proper interfacial reaction layer of nano-TiC particles were observed in the processed surface of AA2014 and AA2024 alloy for the composite fabricated after the triple tool pass. XRD analysis illustrated the occurrence of Al, TiC, and Al2Cu phases inside the composite. The average tensile strength of aluminum alloys (average of AA2014 and AA2024) was found to be 225 MPa. The tensile strength of the nano-TiC reinforced AA2014 and AA2024-based composite material after the triple tool pass was found to be 256 MPa. There was a 20.54% improvement in the hardness after the addition of nano-TiC in the aluminum alloy (AA2014 and AA2024) developed after the triple tool pass. The friction stir process produced a nanocrystalline layer near the surface of the material, which improved the wear resistance of the composite.
WITHDRAWN: Detection of Unauthorized IoT devices using Machine Learning
Authors: Sonawane Uday
Published: May 2023

As technology advances, so will the risk, as new types of vulnerabilities emerge with each new release of software. Such is the case with IoT devices and new upcoming technologies such as 5G, which will soon take over the world as each user may have two or three devices monitoring their health and safety. Allowing vulnerabilities in such devices can be dangerous and lead to fatal accidents. It is not possible to find a solution for every vulnerability, nor is it possible to continuously monitor the condition of a device. So why not let machines monitor and analyze such flaws? We can determine whether a device or its network is compromised by employing machine learning techniques. These techniques can perform device verification at high speeds while also taking action against unauthorized devices. We used parameters like a node's battery power consumption, what data it collects, how much power the CPU consumes, how many packets are exchanged and received, and so on to determine whether the node is authorized or not. This model is limited to a single type of IoT device; to add multiple devices, the model must be trained separately for each one. The method is based on the idea that if a device has unusual power consumption and packet exchange parameters, it will identify those devices as unauthorized. We were able to achieve an accuracy of over 97 percent for identifying authorized while training this model, which means that in this model we basically check whether the device is authorized by calculating a threshold value for that device. If the threshold is less than the maximum allowable threshold, the device is authorized; otherwise, it is not.
Excellent optical, flexible, and mechanical properties of cellulose liquid crystal films induced by carbon quantum dots
Authors: Zhao Xinyu , Feng Huimin , Kang Wenjia , Yang Boying , Ma Yueer , Li Xinping , Chang Hui , Tong Shuhua , Xiong Chuanyin , Zhang Zhao
Published: May 2023

Recently, cellulose liquid crystals (LCs) have received attention due to their unique photophysical properties. However, their fragility and single structural color mode (birefringence) restricts their further development. Herein, a flexible optoelectronic LC film was reported composed of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) produced by evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA). Due to weak interactions between CQDs and CNCs, the optimal tensile strength and curvature reached 65.5 MPa and 2×102, respectively, thereby solving the fragility of LC films. In addition, these products retained not only the structural color of cellulose LC in the birefringent mode, but also introduced fluorescence in the CQD ultraviolet excitation mode. This was conducive for improving anticounterfeiting performance. Related work also addressed the issue of cellulosic LC fragility and provided a new method.
Autoscaling in Serverless Computing : Taxonomy and OpenChallenges
Authors: Jawaddi Siti Nuraishah Agos , Ismail Azlan
Published: May 2023

The popularity of serverless computing has been fueled by its operational simplicity, pay-per-use pricing model, and the ability to autoscale. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews that focus on the autoscaling context in serverless computing. In this paper, we address this gap by proposing a taxonomy of autoscaling properties for serverless computing. To gather relevant information, we review recent contributions on autoscaling in serverless computing from 2018 to 2022. Using the proposed taxonomy, we analyze the existing autoscaling solutions. Our analysis reveals that the scaling objectives explored by researchers are limited to certain elements, and the existing serverless autoscaling approaches do not provide guarantees that the scaling policies or strategies can meet the Service Level Agreement (SLA) requirements. We conclude by recommending open challenges from three perspectives: verification of autoscaling, energy-driven autoscaling, and anomaly-aware autoscaling. These challenges highlight the need for future research to address the limitations of existing autoscaling approaches and provide more robust and reliable autoscaling mechanisms for serverless computing.
A nomogram to predict postoperative deep vein thrombosis in patients with Femoral Fracture: a retrospective study
Authors: Wu Linqin , Cheng Bo
Published: May 2023

Objective:More active anticoagulation prevention and treatment has reduced the incidence of perioperative deep vein thrombosis (DVT) in patients with bone trauma effectively, but the incidence is still relatively high. According to the Caprini score, all patients undergoing major orthopedic surgery were defined as the high-risk group for DVT. Further risk stratification of DVT high-risk groups remains a challenge. Therefore, the Caprini score most commonly used in the perioperative period is not applicable to orthopaedic patients. We attempt to establish a specialized model to predict postoperative DVT risk in patients with femoral fracture.Methods:We collected the clinical data of 513 patients undergoing femoral fracture surgery in our hospital from May 2018 to December 2019. According to the independent risk factors of DVT obtained by univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis, the corresponding nomogram model was established and verified internally. The discriminative capacity of nomogram was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and area under the curve (AUC). The calibration curve used to verify model consistency was the fitted line between predicted and actual incidences. The clinical validity of the nomogram model was assessed using decision curve analysis (DCA) which could quantify the net benefit of different risk threshold probabilities. Bootstrap method was applied to the internal validation of the nomogram model. Furthermore, we compared the Caprini score and nomogram.Results:The Caprini scores of subjects ranged from 5 to 17 points. The incidence of DVT was not positively correlated with the Caprini score. The predictors of the nomogram model included 10 risk factors such as age, hypoalbuminemia, multiple trauma, perioperative red blood cell infusion, etc. Compared with the Caprini scale (AUC=0.571,95% CI: 0.479~0.623), the calibration accuracy and identification ability of nomogram were higher (AUC=0.865,95% CI:0.780~0.935). The decision curve analysis (DCA) indicated the clinical effectiveness of nomogram was higher than the Caprini score.Conclusions:The nomogram was established to effectively predict postoperative DVT in patients with femoral fracture. More specialized DVT risk assessment models should be established for early identification and individualized prevention strategies to further reduce the incidence.
Efficacy, safety and mechanism of Simiaoyongan decoction in the treatment of carotid atherosclerotic plaque: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial protocol
Authors: Fan QinHua , Tan ZhongJian , Su WenQuan , Li QingXiao , Jin Dian , Du YaWei , Zhang LiPing , Wu ShengXian
Published: May 2023

Background
Chronic inflammation is the major pathological feature of Atherosclerosis(As). Inflammation may accelerate plaque to develop, is a key factor resulting in the thinning of fibrous cap and the vulnerable rupture of plaque. Presently, clinical treatments are still lacking. It is necessary to find a safe and effective treatment for As inflammation. Simiaoyongan Decoction (SMYA) has potential anti-inflammatory and plaque protection effects. This protocol aims to evaluate the efficacy, safety,and mechanism of SMYA for patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque.
Methods/design
The assess of SMYA clinical trial is designed as a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. The sample size is 86 cases in total, and there are 43 participants in the intervention group and the control group respectively. The intervention group takes SMYA, while the control group takes SMYA placebo. The medication lasts for 14 days every 10 weeks, with a total of 50 weeks. We will use carotid artery high resolution magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) to measure plaque. The plaque minimum fiber cap thickness (PMFCT) is adopted as the primary outcome. The secondary outcomes include plaque fiber cap volume, volume percentage of fiber cap, lipid-rich necrotic core (LRNC) volume, volume percentage of LRNC, internal bleeding volume of plaque, internal bleeding volume percentage of plaque, plaque calcification volume, volume percentage of plaque calcification, lumen stenosis rate, average and maximum of vessel wall thickness, vessel wall volume, total vessel wall load, carotid atherosclerosis score, hs-CRP, IL-1β and IL-6, the leve of lipid profiles and blood glucose, blood pressure and body weight.
Discussion
We anticipate that patients with As plaque will be improved from SMYA by inhibiting inflammation to enhance plaque stability. This study analyzes plaque by using HR-MRI to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of SMYA. Moreover, we conduct transcriptome analysis, proteomic analysis and metagenomic analysis of blood and stool of participants to study the mechanism of SMYA against As plaque. This is the first prospective TCM trial to directly observe and treat As plaque by inhibiting inflammatory reaction. If successful, the finding will be valuable in the treatment of As plaque and drug development, especially in the “statin era”.
Trial registration number
Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ChiCTR2000039062; Registered on 1st November 2020.
The value of homogenous hyperintensity signal on the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures
Authors: Jin Cong , Zhen Jiewen , He Wei , Han Weiqi , He Lei
Published: May 2023

Background To compare the clinical efficacy of conservative treatment and percutaneous vertebroplasty for the treatment of osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture bearing homogenous hyperintensity signals on magnetic resonance imaging and explore the value of homogenous hyperintensity signal in decision making for osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture treatment.Methods From January 2016 to December 2018, we retrospectively analyzed the radiographic and clinical data of 114 patients with osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture bearing homogenous hyperintensity signals on magnetic resonance imaging. The patients were divided into a percutaneous vertebroplasty group (60 cases) and a conservative treatment group (54 cases). The visual analog scale, Oswestry disability index score, Short Form 36 questionnaire score, kyphosis angle, anterior vertebral body height, and bone union rate were compared between the two groups.Results There were no significant differences in visual analog scale, Oswestry disability index score, and Short Form 36 questionnaire score between the two groups at the three-month and one-year follow-ups (P > 0.05). All 60 patients in the percutaneous vertebroplasty group achieved bone union at the one-year follow-up at a rate of 100%. In the conservative treatment group, one patient did not achieve bone union, and the bone union rate was 98.1%. There was no significant difference in the bone union rate between the two groups (P > 0.05).Conclusions For patients with a homogenous hyperintensity signal, percutaneous vertebroplasty had equivalent efficacy to the conservative treatment at the long-term follow-up. Both percutaneous vertebroplasty and conservative treatment can achieve satisfactory results.
Response of microbial communities on tobacco leaf phyllosphere exposed to the broad-spectrum fungicide mancozeb
Authors: Dai Yuanfeng , Wu Xiaomao , Wang Hancheng , Liu Tingting , He Yi , Cai Liuti , Meng Jianyu , Luo Zhenbao , Chen Xingjiang
Published: May 2023

Mancozeb is a broad-spectrum fungicide frequently applied as foliar spray in tobacco fields to control fungal diseases. The response of tobacco phyllosphere microbiota toward mancozeb stress was assessed using high-throughput sequencing at four time points: before spraying, and 5, 10 and 15 days after fungicide application. Results showed that the foliar application of mancozeb had moderate but significant effect on fungal community composition of tobacco phyllosphere. In all samples, Ascomycota and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla, and Alternaria was the dominant fungal genus. Moreover, mancozeb significantly affected indigenous bacterial communities of tobacco leaves; Pseudomonas was predominant in untreated and before mancozeb treatment groups. An increase in abundance of Ascomycota was observed in diseased samples while healthy samples showed a reduction after mancozeb application. Increased abundance of Proteobacteria was observed in treated samples, which was much higher in diseased than in healthy groups. Increased abundance of Alternaria was observed until 15 days after mancozeb application, while successive reduction in abundance of the genus was observed in the untreated healthy group. Fungal alpha diversity indices in untreated groups increased from the first collection stage to the third, whereas a decrease in four fungal indices was observed at 5 d after mancozeb exposure. A significant difference between treated and untreated groups was observed in terms of fungal richness indices of similar samples from the previous stage. Bacterial diversity indices increased after mancozeb application while they decreased in untreated samples. Mancozeb was effective in altering the fungal community structure rather than bacterial community structure. After mancozeb treatment, the proportion of pathotroph-saprotroph-symbiotroph increased while it decreased in the untreated groups. The overall findings revealed ecological implications of the effects of mancozeb on tobacco phyllosphere microbiome; our results would provide a theoretical basis for future studies on microecological protection of phyllosphere.
Facile Synthesis and X-band Microwave Absorption Performance of Activated Carbon Materials from Palm Kernel Shell Waste
Authors: Chitraningrum Nidya , Sulistyaningsih Sulistyaningsih , Arisesa Hana , Septiani Ardita , Daud Pamungkas , Desvasary Winy , Darwis Fajri , Sakti Indra
Published: May 2023

A well-developed porous activated carbon materials were synthesized from palm kernel shell (PKS) waste through the facile carbonization process with several KOH concentration, and the microwave absorbing performance were studied in the X-band range. The XRD and EDX measurement results confirmed the transformation from crystalline structure to the amorphous structure of cellulose of PKS materials with the higher carbon content. The BET analysis measures the pore size between 2–4 nm and a specific surface area between 554–825 m2/g. All activated carbon materials show the improvement of microwave absorbing performance compared to its hydro char or raw PKS materials, with the highest minimum return loss and frequency bandwidth of -37.85 dB at 11.02 GHz and 900 MHz, respectively, for activated carbon with only KOH concentration of 10%. The porous structure of AC-based PKS is benefitted to give better impedance matching and dielectric loss capacity to enhance the microwave absorbing performance of AC-based PKS waste. This observation indicates that the activated carbon can be synthesized with a facile process from PKS waste and expands the possible utilization of AC-based PKS waste as the prospective microwave absorber materials for electronics and telecommunication devices.
Prevalence and determinants of depression and suicidality among Health Sciences and Engineering students at Busitema University: A snapshot after COVID-19 lockdown
Authors: Kirabira Joseph , Kagoya Enid Kawala , Mpagi Joseph , Atala Christine Etoko , Nsubuga Allan G. , Okello Francis , Okibure Ambrose , Ainembabazi Alex , Waako Paul
Published: May 2023

BackgroundDepression is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder in Uganda and is strongly associated with suicide which is an important cause of death among people aged 15–29 years. Among University students, depression affects social and academic performance which limits the capabilities of this potentially productive population. Additionally, many students display suicidal behaviour which is commonly a manifestation of severe depression hence need for evaluation of both depression and suicidality in a bid to address them. This cross-sectional study aimed at assessing the prevalence and determinants of depression and suicidality among students at two campuses of Busitema University in rural eastern Uganda.MethodsA total of 658 were recruited with 360 from Busitema campus (faculty of engineering) and 298 from Mbale campus (faculty of health sciences). Depression and suicidality were assessed using Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and relevant sociodemographic and clinical factors were collected using an investigator designed questionnaire. Data was analysed quantitatively using STATA version 16.ResultsThe prevalence of major depressive episode was 32.4% while that of suicidality was 25.5%. The prevalence of both depression and suicidality was higher among health science students compared to those of engineering. Risk factors for depression included studying health sciences (adjusted odds ratio (AOR = 1.6, p-value (p) = 0.005), having chronic medical condition (AOR = 2.9, p = 0.001), being worried about academic activities (AOR = 1.6, p = 0.015) and being bullied by students (AOR = 2.0, p = 0.038). The risk factors for suicidality were having major depressive episode (AOR = 6.2, p = < 0.001) and familial history of mental illness (AOR = 1.8, p = 0.022) while being in second and fourth year of study ((AOR = 0.4, p = 0.001 and AOR = 0.2, p < 0.001 respectively) were protective against suicidality.ConclusionThe findings indicate that depression and suicidality are highly prevalent public health challenges among university students influenced by factors some of which are potentially modifiable. Hence there is an urgent need for institutions of higher learning to put in place interventions against these challenges involving staffs as well as students and their relatives to ensure good mental health among students which may improve their functioning and performance.
Mechanism of “Fructus Arctii–licorice” herb pair in treating oral-mucosa diseases based on bioinformatics–network pharmacology–molecular docking
Authors: Xing Yaoying , He Hai , Pang Zhe , Zhao Ning , Wang Zhiwang , Shao Jing , Cui Zhijia
Published: May 2023

Backbround: “Fructus Arctii–licorice” herb pair is used in several formulas for oral-mucosa diseases, but the mechanism of action has not been studied. In this work, we investigated the mechanism of action of “Fructus Arctii–licorice” herb pair on the treatment of oral-mucosa diseases at the molecular level based on bioinformatics, network pharmacology, and molecular-docking techniques.
Methods: The active ingredients of “Fructus Arctii–licorice” herb pair were screened and downloaded from the TCMSP database, and their target information was obtained. The gene chips of oral-mucosa diseases patients were obtained from the GEO database, and the differential genes were analyzed by GEO2R. The targets of oral-mucosa diseases were obtained by applying GeneCards, OMIM, and DrugBank databases, and the key targets of the “Fructus Arctii–licorice” herb pair to treat oral-mucosa diseases were obtained by taking the intersection of the three. The STRING platform was used for protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analysis to screen the core targets, the DAVID database was used for GO and KEGG pathway-enrichment analysis, and the molecular-docking technique was used to analyze the binding between the active ingredients of “Fructus Arctii–licorice” herb pair and the core targets.
Results:“Fructus Arctii–licorice” herb pair for the treatment of oral-mucosa diseases involved 61 key targets, 251 gene functional information, and 78 signaling pathways. The core targets were MMP9, TNF, IL6, PTGS2, and STAT3, which functioned primarily through the AGE-RAGE, TNF, IL-17, PI3K-Akt, NF-κB, JAK-STAT, and other signaling pathways. Molecular-docking results showed that the top 10 active ingredients in the "drug-component-target-disease-pathway" network diagram had good binding ability to the core targets, among which MMP9-naringenin, IL6-glyasperin B, TNF-arctigenin, PTGS2-glabridin, and STAT3-liquiritigenin had the optimum docking effect.
Conclusions:The results of this study provided a comprehensive explanation of the active ingredients, targets, and mechanisms of action of “Fructus Arctii–licorice” herb pair in treating oral-mucosa diseases. This pair primarily acted by modulating inflammatory, tumor, immune, and metabolic pathways and may provide directions for subsequent studies.
Association of individual and contextual factors to chronic spine problems: analysis from the PNS 2013
Authors: Ferreira Aryostennes Miquéias da Silva , de Assis Sanderson José Costa , Sanchis Gerônimo José Bouzas , Lopes Johnnatas Mikael , Oliveira Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli da Costa , de Souza Clécio Gabriel
Published: May 2023

Background: Chronic pain is a frequent health problem, causing 6.8% of the Disability-Adjusted Life Years lost. Spine is the most affected region, which compromises functionality and generates absenteeism, increased health care costs, and disability retirement rates. Based on the biopsychosocial model, it is believed that chronic spinal problems are the result of a complex network of factors, both individual and contextual.
Method: This is a cross-sectional study, with data from the 2013 National Health Survey, the United Nations Development Programme, and the National Register of Health Establishments - state level - for the second and third level of aggregation, respectively. Multilevel Poisson regression was performed at 3 levels, with the first level being individual variables, the second added context variables, and the third added health program variables.
Results: The prevalence of chronic back problems was 18.5% (95%CI 17.8;19.1), with higher prevalence in female gender (RP = 1.23; 95%CI1.15;1.30), aged above 49 years (RP = 1.75; 95%CI 1.61;1.90), performing heavy activities at work (RP = 1.37; 95%CI 1.28;1.46), depressive days (RP = 1.70; 95%CI 1.50;1.94), smokers (RP = 1.37; 95%CI 1.27;1.48) and in states with higher coefficient of Multiprofessional Teams in Primary Care per 100. 000 habitants (PR = 1.28; 95%CI 1.07; 1.54). Conclusion: Spine chronic problems were associated with biological and behavioral factors, besides the association with higher coefficient of Multiprofessional Teams in Primary Care in Brazilian municipalities.
Dynamical Behavior of Fear Effect on a Diseased Prey-predator Model With Predator Harvesting
Authors: Raja N , MuthuKumar S , Pradeep M Siva , Deepak N. P
Published: May 2023

In this paper, we investigate fear in an eco-epidemiological model with infection in the prey population and harvesting in the predator population. The predator consumes its prey in the form of a Holling type II functional response at various rates. To examine the positivity and the boundedness of the solutions, the stability of all biologically feasible equilibrium points and the Hopf-bifurcation on endemic equilibrium of the system are derived. Numerical simulations are performed to support our analytical findings.
Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in sylvatic rodents in Poland using molecular and serological methods
Authors: Nowicka Joanna , Antolova Daniela , Lass Anna , Biernat Beata , Baranowicz Karolina , Goll Aleksander , Krupińska Martyna , Ferra Bartłomiej , Strachecka Aneta , Behnke Jerzy M. , Bajer Anna , Grzybek Maciej
Published: May 2023

Rodents are known to be reservoirs of Toxoplasma gondii and keep the parasite circula-tion in the environment. We conducted biomonitoring to assess the role of sylvatic rodents in maintaining T. gondii and to analyse the prevalence and seroprevalence of the parasite in seven wild rodent species. Rodents were collected in our open grassland study site located in north-eastern Poland and dissected. We collected brain, spleen, blood and serum samples. We applied both molecular (PCR assay, nested-PCR assay) and serological (ELISA and agglutination tests) methods to indicate the best approach for application in the biomonitoring of T. gondii in small mammals. We screened samples from 68 individuals sing PCR assays and found no T. gondii DNA. The agglutination test showed no signal. We found antibodies against T. gondii in 5 sera samples out of 56 analysed (seroprevalence = 8.9% [4.4–16.8]). Our results confirm that rodents participate in the life cycle of T. gondii as reservoirs of this parasite in the sylvatic environment. However, biomonitoring should be performed with the ELISA tests to search for T. gondii anti-gens, rather than a molecular approach only.
α-Fe2O3/ZnO nanocomposite as an efficient photocatalyst for wastewater treatment and flexible electronic device applications
Authors: Sridha Saisree , Perumalsamy Sundara Venkatesh , Kulandaivel Jeganathan , Nammalwar Gopalakrishnan , Parangusan Hemalatha , Ponnamma Deepalekshmi
Published: May 2023

In this work, we report the synthesis of pure α-Fe2O3, ZnO, and α-Fe2O3/ZnO nanomaterials by a simple sol-gel method for photocatalytic dye degradation and flexible electronic applications. XRD results reveal that the synthesized samples were rhombohedral and hexagonal wurtzite structures of α-Fe2O3, and ZnO nanoparticles respectively. α-Fe2O3/ZnO composites exhibit the mixed peaks of both α-Fe2O3 and ZnO crystal structures which substantiate the formation of α-Fe2O3/ZnO composites. From the optical studies, the band gaps of α-Fe2O3, ZnO, α-Fe2O3/ZnO composites of (1:1), and (1:2) ratios are calculated as 2.11, 3.14, 2.87, and 2.92 eV respectively. Compared to pure α-Fe2O3 and ZnO nanoparticles, α-Fe2O3/ZnO composites of (1:2) ratio exhibit superior photocatalytic behaviour under the irradiation of the natural sunlight and also show good stability for up to five cycles. From the scavenger studies, it is concluded that hydroxyl radicals are the major contributors to the photocatalytic decolourization of methylene blue dye molecules. The dielectric behaviour of the pure and blended nanoparticles is also investigated in a wide range of frequencies using impedance spectroscopy. The nanoparticles embedded in Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA) or α-Fe2O3/ZnO/PVA thin films demonstrate a higher dielectric constant (32.68) and lower loss factor (3.32) than pristine PVA. The AC conductivity (σ AC) of α-Fe2O3/ZnO composites of (1:2) ratio is 10− 12 S/cm. These findings indicate the possibilities of using α-Fe2O3/ZnO/PVA composites as a flexible dielectric material for the fabrication of flexible electronic devices.
Spatio-temporal variability of heartwood proportion in Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir.
Authors: SEGLA Kossi Novinyo , ADJONOU Kossi , HABOU Rabiou , KOKUTSE Adzo Dzifa , MAHAMANE Ali , LANGBOUR Patrick , GUIBAL Daniel , CHAIX Gilles , KOKOU Kouami
Published: May 2023

Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. is a species found in the Guineo-Sudanian and Sudano-Sahelian zones, known for its high-quality wood. However, there is limited understanding of its forestry and technological properties, which currently prevents its inclusion in reforestation programs. The objective of this study was to analyze the factors influencing heartwood variability in P. erinaceus. The study was conducted on 40 wood cores collected from three climatic zones (Sudanian, Guinean, and Sahelian). The results revealed significant variation in the percentage of heartwood across agroecological zones, with the highest percentage observed in the Sahelian zone (90.16 ± 3.21%) and the lowest in the Guinean zone (75.20 ± 6.85%). The study also found a significant correlation between the percentage of heartwood and tree diameter, as well as between the percentage of heartwood and tree age. Duraminization initiation was found to occur early in trees from the Guinean (14 years) and Sudanian (16 years) zones, while in the Sahelian zone, it starts at the age of 21 years. The results also reveal a decrease in duraminization rate with age, regardless of climatic zone.
Non-prototypicality by (discontinuous) reduplication: the N-non-N construction in Italian
Authors: Masini Francesca , Di Donato Jacopo
Published: May 2023

This paper contributes to the research on the morphological expression of approximation by analysing the discontinuous reduplication pattern N-non-N in Italian, giving rise to complex nominals (e.g. sapone non sapone lit. soap neg soap ‘non-soap/soap-free cleanser’). The analysis is based on a dataset of 4609 tokens and 692 types extracted from corpora and annotated for orthographical, phonological and categorical parameters. Given its unpredictable formal and semantic properties, N-non-N is analysed as a semi-schematic and productive construction, which is hypothesized to have emerged microdiachronically from the entrenchment and reanalysis of the expression tessuto non tessuto ‘nonwoven fabric’. We claim that the N-non-N construction bears a general function of ‘non-prototypicality’ and produces expressions with complex and specific meanings that are generated in context, by deviating from the ‘prototypical’ N concept in various ways. Despite its productivity, very few N-non-N expressions are conventionalised, making this device similar to other approximative strategies and to evaluative morphology in general.
Spotted-wing Drosophila Host Preference and Quality Vary among Half-high Blueberry Cultivars
Authors: Gullickson Matthew , Flavin Hodge Claire , Burkness Eric , Hutchison William D. , Rogers Mary
Published: May 2023

Spotted-wing drosophila (Drosophila suzukii; SWD) is an invasive pest in the United States that is responsible for significant economic damage to soft-skinned fruit and berries worldwide. SWD uses a wide variety of cultivated and wild fruit for reproduction. Host suitability may depend on physical and chemical factors of the fruit, with a positive correlation of SWD oviposition and larval development generally associated with soluble sugar content, softer fruit, and higher pH, and a negative correlation of oviposition with fruit firmness. Variety selection is an important tool for integrated pest management, but few studies have reported host suitability across varieties within a single cultivated crop species for SWD. In this study, we investigated SWD oviposition and larval development in five half-high blueberry cultivars, Chippewa, Northblue, Northland, Patriot, and Polaris, using no-choice and two-choice laboratory bioassays. Using a host potential index, our results showed that Chippewa was the most preferred cultivar for oviposition as measured in the number of eggs laid per fruit, and Polaris was the least preferred. The inverse was true for larval development, with a higher survival rate and adult emergence in ‘Polaris’ than in ‘Chippewa’. There was a negative relationship between fruit firmness and oviposition and a positive correlation between pH and larval development. The results of this study indicate that cultivar selection for half-high blueberries may be a promising integrated pest management (IPM) tool, although further research under field conditions is needed for validation.
Flowering in ‘Honeycrisp’ Apple Shows That Spurs Are Semiautonomous Organs
Authors: Elsysy Mokhles A. , Hirst Peter M.
Published: May 2023

Irregular flowering and biennial bearing are challenging in many apple (Malus ×domestica) cultivars such as Honeycrisp. Apple flowering is influenced by many factors including crop load, fruit weight, seed number, and bourse shoot length. However, it is unclear how these factors exert their control. We investigated flowering in ‘Honeycrisp’ and whether flower formation is regulated locally within the spur or if it is under the control of the whole tree system. Treatments consisting of 30 to 240 fruit per tree with one or two fruit per spur were applied, and seed number, fruit weight, bourse shoot length, bourse number, and resulting flower formation measured. In 2013, flowering was affected by fruit number per tree, fruit number per spur and their interaction, and with lower total tree crop loads, spurs bearing two fruit had fewer flowers than those with a single fruit. In 2014, few spurs formed flowers regardless of treatment. In 2013, flowering was unaffected by seed number on single-fruited spurs but flowering inhibition was correlated with fruit weight. In spurs bearing two fruit, flowering was inhibited by higher seed numbers but fruit weight per spur had no effect on flowering. Our data suggest that both whole tree and within-spur characteristics contribute to local flower formation. Therefore, ‘Honeycrisp’ spurs can be considered semiautonomous organs because inhibition of flower formation appears to be related to the depletion of resources both locally within the spurs, and systematically within the whole tree. The main factors associated with flower formation were fruit number per tree, fruit number per spur, bourse shoot length, and bourse number per spur. In contrast to previous reports, our data show that seeds do not play a direct role in regulating flower formation.