bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Hydrogen Production from Sodium Borohydride in the Presence of Ni/Al2O3
Authors: Dönmez Fahriye , Kiren Burcu , Ayas Nezihe
Published: July 2022

With the increasing trend towards the use of renewable energy and the encouragement of international agreements due to environmental effects, the world tends to provide the energy it needs from renewable sources. Hydrogen is an environmentally friendly energy carrier that is produced from various energy sources and can be a sustainable solution to energy needs. Catalyst evaluation studies are carried out in studies that release high purity hydrogen by hydrolysis of metal hydrides such as sodium borohydride (NaBH4), and potassium borohydride (KBH4). In this study, Al2O3 supported Ni catalysts were synthesized by the impregnation method and the catalysts were characterized by applying X-Ray Diffractometry (XRD), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) methods. The performance of the catalysts was evaluated in the production of hydrogen by the hydrolysis of sodium borohydride. The influences of reaction temperature (20, 40, and 60 °C) and Ni content of the catalyst (20, 30, and 40 %) on the hydrolysis reaction was investigated under experimental conditions of 100 mg NaBH4, 100 mg catalyst, 5 mL 0.25 M NaOH. The highest hydrogen yield (100%) and hydrogen production rate (364.3 mL/gcat.min) was obtained with 40% Ni/Al2O3 catalyst at 60 °C reaction temperature.
Effect of Biodiesel B7 and B10 on Common Rail Diesel Engine Emission Characteristics at Different Engine Speeds
Authors: Sethin Aphinan , Somnuk Krit
Published: July 2022

In this study, biodiesel B7 and B10, which contain 7% and 10% biodiesel by volume, respectively, were used as high-speed diesel fuels to study the exhaust gas emissions of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxide (NOx), oxygen (O2), exhaust gas temperature (EGT), and fuel consumption (FC) with the common rail diesel engine at a ranging engine speed from 1200 to 3000 rpm without engine load. At the maximum engine speed of 3000 rpm, the CO, CO2, and NOx emissions of the biodiesel B10 were 23.79%, 1.94%, and 4.51% lower than the biodiesel B7. Concerning fuel consumption, biodiesel B10 consumed higher fuel than B7 at a maximum engine speed of 3000 rpm. The FC of the biodiesel B10 was 3.09 kg/h, which was 2.86% higher than that of the biodiesel B7 at the maximum engine speed. From the environmental impacts point of view, reducing air pollutants from exhaust gas emissions of the biodiesel B10 was better than B7 fuel. However, the fuel consumption of B10 was a little bit higher than B7.
Study of a Thermoacoustic Refrigeration System with a Spiral Rubber Stack
Authors: Traipattanakul Bhawat , Krongsinpinyo Jessadaporn , Lupkim Thanapol , Pluemchit Patiya , Wunvisut Yanisa
Published: July 2022

Thermoacoustic refrigeration technology converting sound energy into thermal energy offers environmental benefits including zero risks of ozone depletion or global warming potential due to the absence of hazardous refrigerants in the process. This study aims to investigate the effects of a spiral rubber stack on the cooling performance of a thermoacoustic refrigeration system made from an acrylic resonator tube. Air is used as a working gas. The results show that as time progresses, the temperature on the hot side of the stack increases, while that on the cold side of the stack reduces, leading to an increase in temperature difference across the stack. The findings of this study can potentially further expand knowledge and scientific experimental data in the field of thermoacoustic refrigeration.
A Photovoltaic Panel Integrated with Phase Change Material as Peak Shaving for Domestic Hot Water Energy Demand
Authors: Colarossi Daniele , Tagliolini Eleonora , Principi Paolo
Published: July 2022

Phase change materials (PCMs) applied to photovoltaic (PV) panels are a promising solution to recover the large share of energy from the incident radiation, not converted into electricity. PCMs can store a huge amount of energy, exploiting the solid-liquid phase change, which occurs at a nearly constant temperature. In addition, reducing the temperature of a PV panel increases its electric conversion efficiency. This papers experimentally investigates the match between the heat production of a PV-PCM system and the domestic hot water (DHW) demand of a typical residential building. Different curves of demand are analyzed, all have a peak in the evening period. The solar radiation profile of a typical sunny day is reproduced under a solar simulator. Once the PCM is fully melt, a hydraulic circuit, which connects the heat exchanger immersed in the PCM to a water tank, is activated to extract the heat stored. Different tests are performed by varying the size of the water tank storage. Results show that a storage volume of 50 L, 75 L, 100 L and 125 L ensures a reduction of energy demand of 15.3%, 21.2%, 22% and 21.5% respectively, compared to traditional electric water heaters.
Analysis of Cube Compressive Strength on Concrete with Recycled Aggregate and Rubber Particles
Authors: Su Haolin
Published: July 2022

This paper analyzed the cube compressive strength of concrete containing recycled aggregate as part of coarse aggregates and rubber particles as part of fine aggregate, simultaneously. The effect of content of both aggregates on concrete compressive strength was studied. 25 sets of samples were made with a constant water/cement ratio of 0.39. Cube compressive strength of different samples at age of 28 days were obtained in accordance with relevant standard. Influence of replacement ratio of recycled aggregate and rubber on strength was investigated basing on the analyses of testing data and microstructure inspections, respectively. Results indicate that both recycled aggregate and rubber particles weaken the compressive strength of concrete while rubber particles plays a more important role. Replacement of fine aggregate over 20 vol% by rubber particles should be used carefully.
A low power 50 Hz argon plasma for surface modification of polytetrafluoroethylene
Authors: LAU Yen Theng , CHIU Wee Siong , LEE Hong Chun , WOO Haw Jiunn , CHIN Oi Hoong , TOU Teck Yong
Published: July 2022

The characteristics of a low power 50 Hz argon plasma for surface treatment of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) film is presented in this article. The current–voltage behavior of the discharge and time-varying intensity of the discharge showed that a DC glow discharge was generated in reversed polarity at every half-cycle. At discharge power between 0.5 and 1 W, the measured electron temperature and density were 2–3 eV and ∼108 cm−3, respectively. The optical emission spectrum of the argon plasma showed presence of some ‘impurity species’ such as OH, N2 and H, which presumably originated from the residual air in the discharge chamber. On exposure of PTFE films to the argon glow plasma at pressure 120 Pa and discharge power 0.5 to 1 W, the water contact angle reduced by 4% to 20% from the original 114° at pristine condition, which confirms improvement of its surface wettability. The increase in wettability was attributed to incorporation of oxygen-containing functional groups on the treated surface and concomitant reduction in fluorine as revealed by the XPS analysis and increase in surface roughness analyzed from the atomic force micrographs. Ageing upon storage in ambient air showed retention of the induced increase in surface wettability.
Long-term ENSO prediction with echo-state networks
Authors: Hassanibesheli Forough , Kurths Jürgen , Boers Niklas
Published: July 2022

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) is a climate phenomenon that profoundly impacts weather patterns and extreme events worldwide. Here we develop a method based on a recurrent neural network, called echo state network (ESN), which can be trained efficiently to predict different ENSO indices despite their relatively high noise levels. To achieve this, we train the ESN model on the low-frequency variability of ENSO indices and estimate the potential future high-frequency variability from specific samples of its past history. Our method reveals the importance of cross-scale interactions in the mechanisms underlying ENSO and skilfully predicts its variability and especially El Niño events at lead times up to 21 months. This study considers forecasts skillful if the correlation coefficients are above 0.5. Our results show that the low-frequency component of ENSO carries substantial predictive power, which can be exploited by training our model on single scalar time series. The proposed machine learning method for data-driven modeling can be readily applied to other time series, e.g. finance and physiology. However, it should be noted that our approach cannot straightforwardly be turned into a real-time operational forecast because of the decomposition of the original time series into the slow and fast components using low-pass filter techniques.
Systematic evaluation of cell-type deconvolution pipelines for sequencing-based bulk DNA methylomes
Authors: Jeong Yunhee , de Andrade e Sousa Lisa Barros , Thalmeier Dominik , Toth Reka , Ganslmeier Marlene , Breuer Kersten , Plass Christoph , Lutsik Pavlo
Published: July 2022

DNA methylation analysis by sequencing is becoming increasingly popular, yielding methylomes at single-base pair and single-molecule resolution. It has tremendous potential for cell-type heterogeneity analysis using intrinsic read-level information. Although diverse deconvolution methods were developed to infer cell-type composition based on bulk sequencing-based methylomes, systematic evaluation has not been performed yet. Here, we thoroughly benchmark six previously published methods: Bayesian epiallele detection, DXM, PRISM, csmFinder+coMethy, ClubCpG and MethylPurify, together with two array-based methods, MeDeCom and Houseman, as a comparison group. Sequencing-based deconvolution methods consist of two main steps, informative region selection and cell-type composition estimation, thus each was individually assessed. With this elaborate evaluation, we aimed to establish which method achieves the highest performance in different scenarios of synthetic bulk samples. We found that cell-type deconvolution performance is influenced by different factors depending on the number of cell types within the mixture. Finally, we propose a best-practice deconvolution strategy for sequencing data and point out limitations that need to be handled. Array-based methods—both reference-based and reference-free—generally outperformed sequencing-based methods, despite the absence of read-level information. This implies that the current sequencing-based methods still struggle with correctly identifying cell-type-specific signals and eliminating confounding methylation patterns, which needs to be handled in future studies.
Bioinformatics strategies for studying the molecular mechanisms of fungal extracellular vesicles with a focus on infection and immune responses
Authors: Saravanakumar Kandasamy , Santosh Sugavaneswaran Siva , Ahamed MohamedAli Afaan , Sathiyaseelan Anbazhagan , Sultan Ghazala , Irfan Navabshan , Ali Davoodbasha Mubarak , Wang Myeong-Hyeon
Published: July 2022

Fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) are released during pathogenesis and are found to be an opportunistic infection in most cases. EVs are immunocompetent with their host and have paved the way for new biomedical approaches to drug delivery and the treatment of complex diseases including cancer. With computing and processing advancements, the rise of bioinformatics tools for the evaluation of various parameters involved in fungal EVs has blossomed. In this review, we have complied and explored the bioinformatics tools to analyze the host–pathogen interaction, toxicity, omics and pathogenesis with an array of specific tools that have depicted the ability of EVs as vector/carrier for therapeutic agents and as a potential theme for immunotherapy. We have also discussed the generation and pathways involved in the production, transport, pathogenic action and immunological interactions of EVs in the host system. The incorporation of network pharmacology approaches has been discussed regarding fungal pathogens and their significance in drug discovery. To represent the overview, we have presented and demonstrated an in silico study model to portray the human Cryptococcal interactions.
Adaptive overheating cover for a solar water heater
Authors: Chidiac Nancy , Nehme Bechara , Said Walid , Jelwan Jad , Akiki Tilda , Zeghondy Barbar
Published: July 2022

Solar water heating systems have been widely used around the world. However, exposure to sunlight can overheat the device, affecting the efficiency and durability of the system. This article proposes an adaptive deck controller that protects the system from overheating without compromising the availability of domestic hot water. Solar water heaters are considered one of the most effective ways to reduce a home’s carbon footprint. They are a renewable energy source that reduces reliance on fossil fuels and saves money. Thus, this paper aims to develop a dynamic cover for solar water heaters that prevent overheating using an artificial neural network to optimize the design of control systems. Based on a self-organizing map network, the controller automatically adjusts the temperature of the solar collector through a fabric screen covering the main subsystems, depending on many parameters such as weather conditions, collector temperature and domestic hot water depending on demand. A suggested technique of four different shade percentages (0%, 20%, 25% or 32%) can avoid overheating and maintain the amount of hot water the home needs. Although renewable energy is free, proper controls are required to ensure maximum efficiency or proper use. In addition, the control of renewable energy leads to longer service life.
A review on non-isolated low-power DC–DC converter topologies with high output gain for solar photovoltaic system applications
Authors: Sutikno Tole , Purnama Hendril Satrian , Widodo Nuryono Satya , Padmanaban Sanjeevikumar , Sahid Mohd Rodhi
Published: July 2022

The major challenges of the high-gain DC–DC boost converters are high-voltage stress on the switch, extreme duty ratio operation, diode reverse-recovery and converter efficiency problems. There are many topologies of high-gain converters that have been widely developed to overcome those problems, especially for solar photovoltaic (PV) power-system applications. In this paper, 20 high-gain and low-power DC–DC converter topologies are selected from many topologies of available literature. Then, seven prospective topologies with conversion ratios of >15 are thoroughly reviewed and compared. The selected topologies are: (i) voltage-multiplier cell, (ii) voltage doubler, (iii) coupled inductor, (iv) converter with a coupled inductor and switch capacitor, (v) converter with a switched inductor and switched capacitor, (vi) cascading techniques and (vii) voltage-lift techniques. Each topology has its advantages and disadvantages. A comparison of the seven topologies is provided in terms of the number of components, hardware complexity, maximum converter efficiency and voltage stress on the switch. These are presented in detail. So, in the future, it will be easier for researchers and policymakers to choose the right converter topologies and build them into solar PV systems based on their needs.
How will tradable green certificates affect electricity trading markets under renewable portfolio standards? A China perspective
Authors: Leng Kaiqiang , Li Zhongzhong , Tong Zihao
Published: July 2022

Renewable portfolio standards (RPS) are important guarantees to promote renewable energy (RE) consumption. The tradable green certificate (TGC) trading mechanism is a supporting mechanism of RPS, but the rate of TGC trading is low and there is a double-metering problem of RE consumption. With the introduction of new policies in China, we innovatively take the electricity-selling side as the subject of RE consumption responsibility and biomass-based electricity-generation (BEG) projects are considered to participate in TGC trading. To explore the interaction between the TGC market and the electricity market, this paper sets up a day-ahead spot market-trading structure combining both markets under RPS and establishes a market equilibrium model. The established model is solved and validated based on the particle swarm optimization algorithm and the profits of each market player under different influencing factors are analysed. The main conclusions are as follows. (i) The established market structure and model effectively solve the double-metering problem of RE consumption, making the TGC turnover rate reach 82.97 %, greatly improving the market efficiency. (ii) Increased demand for TGC will increase demand for RE electricity. The participation of BEG projects in the TGC market can effectively improve the profit of biomass-based electricity producers (BEPs), reduce the burden of government financial subsidies and will not affect the consumption of wind-based electricity and photovoltaic-based electricity. This will help promote the rapid development of China’s RE, especially the BEG industry. (iii) Among the influencing factors, the increase in renewable-energy consumption responsibility weight and the decrease in electricity-generation cost can increase the profit of BEPs. The decline in TGC price and subsidy price will reduce the profit of BEPs. Finally, we put forward policy recommendations for China’s RPS and TGC trading mechanism. This study can provide a reference for the construction of China’s TGC market and electricity market and the development of RE.
Influence of Nasopharyngeal Viral Load on the Spread of the Omicron BA.2 Variant
Authors: Migueres Marion , Dimeglio Chloé , Mansuy Jean-Michel , Abravanel Florence , Raymond Stéphanie , Latour Justine , Jeanne Nicolas , Ranger Noémie , Lhomme Sébastien , Saune Karine , Tremeaux Pauline , Izopet Jacques
Published: July 2022

We used variant typing polymerase chain reaction to describe the evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Omicron sublineages between December 2021 and mid-March 2022. The selective advantage of the BA.2 variant over BA.1 is not due to greater nasopharyngeal viral loads.
Feature Extraction Based Deep Indexing by Deep Fuzzy Clustering for Image Retrieval Using Jaro Winkler Distance
Authors: Kumar B Mathan , Ainapure Bharati S , Singh Suryabhan Pratap , Vyas Sumit
Published: July 2022

Image retrieval aims to locate similar image based on given query from large-sized image dataset. In the recent decades, different methods are developed to retrieve similar images, but increasing the retrieval performance is a challenging task. Hence, an effective method named Lion Henry Gas Solubility Optimization-based Deep Fuzzy Clustering (LHGSO-based DFC) is developed to increase the retrieval efficiency of image retrieval. Based on the features extraction, images are indexed efficiently to the corresponding cluster using clustering model. The proposed method retrieves the relevant images with respect to query image based on the similarity. The similarity measure is computed using Jaro Winkler distance, in which the images corresponding to the cluster that have higher similarity measure is retrieved more effectively. The proposed method achieved higher performance in terms of the metrics, like F-measure, precision and recall with the values of 0.887, 0.891 and 0.882.
Citizen science reporting indicates geographic and phenotypic drivers of road use and mortality in a threatened rattlesnake
Authors: Rhodes Chaz , Haunfelder Willard , Carlson Bradley E
Published: July 2022

Roads may influence the selection of phenotypic traits of wildlife. In particular, the likelihood of vehicle collisions with wildlife may vary depending on body coloration in contrast to the road, which may be exaggerated by cultural attitudes toward the species. The timber rattlesnake Crotalus horridus is a threatened species that varies widely in coloration, and their color pattern could influence thermoregulatory use of roads and visibility to motorists. Moreover, better-camouflaged snakes may have higher road mortality in areas where environmental interest is lower and, perhaps, negative attitudes toward wildlife are more prevalent. We used citizen scientist observations of timber rattlesnakes from iNaturalist and categorized for each rattlesnake the surface they were on, its color pattern, and whether they were alive. We combined iNaturalist data with Google Trends data to characterize regional variation in environmental interest. We discovered that lighter-colored snakes were more likely to be found on roads, as were snakes further south, west, and on warmer days. Once on a road, coloration did not influence survival regardless of road type or environmental interest. However, snakes on asphalt roads or on southern roads were more likely to be found dead. The higher likelihood of lighter-colored snakes being found on roads suggests that they are at a greater overall risk of road death, potentially selecting for darker coloration. Citizen scientist behavior may at least partly underlie the influence of latitude on the results, however, and further work in the application of citizen science data to such research questions is warranted.
Effects of Dietary Iron Quantities and Sources on Lymantria dispar (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) Survival and Development
Authors: Keena Melody A
Published: July 2022

Lymantria dispar L. is a serious invasive defoliator of broadleaf trees in both North America and Eurasia. When rearing L. dispar for research, the artificial diet must have a source of iron that is bioavailable and in the quantity needed to ensure normal development and survival. The standard iron supplement in L. dispar diet, amorphous ferric phosphate, is no longer commercially available, which motivated studies on alternative iron sources and concentrations. The responses of three L. dispar populations (including an L. dispar asiatica Vnukovskij population) to seven different iron doses were determined over two generations. The response to eight iron compounds and no added iron was also assessed over two generations for an L. dispar dispar population. The optimal levels of iron were 100, 150, and 198 mg/l of available iron for the New Jersey Standard Strain, a near-wild West Virginia population, and a near-wild Russian Far East population, respectively. All three populations showed symptoms of insufficient iron when reared on the lowest dose of iron and signs of excess iron at the highest two doses. All of the alternate iron sources evaluated provided adequate available iron, although three sources had some issues that may not make them the best options. These results reveal differences in nutritional requirements among different populations of L. dispar and verify the existence of viable replacement sources of iron for the standard amorphous ferric phosphate long used in L. dispar rearing.
Chlorogenic acid exerts antibacterial effects by affecting lipid metabolism and scavenging ROS inStreptococcus pyogenes
Authors: Le Yao-Jin , He Li-Yuan , Li Sha , Xiong Chun-Jiang , Lu Chun-Hua , Yang Xiao-Yan
Published: July 2022

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), one of the most abundant polyphenols in the human diet, exhibits many biological properties, including antibacterial properties. Numerous studies have investigated the antibacterial effects of CGA, however, the molecular mechanisms governing its effects against Streptococcus pyogenes have not been fully elucidated. Streptococcus pyogenes is a Gram-positive pathogen that causes a wide range of human infections and postinfectious immune-mediated disorders. In this study, we used an isobaric tagging for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)-based proteomic technique to investigate the underlying mode of action of CGA against S. pyogenes. KEGG and GO analyses indicated that CGA affected the expression of protein alterations involved in multiple pathways, downregulating the expression of ribosomal proteins, and upregulating the expression of proteins associated with fatty acid metabolism, pyruvate metabolism, and propanoate metabolism, while activating the expression of oxidation–reduction-related proteins. Moreover, further cell-based experiments verified that CGA scavenges intracellular ROS in S. pyogenes. These results suggest that CGA may exert its antibacterial action through several actions, such as downregulating ribosomal subunits, affecting lipid metabolism, and scavenging intracellular ROS. The results of this study may help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which CGA combats pathogens.
Quantitative trait locus mapping of fruit aroma compounds in cucumber (Cucumber sativusL.) based on a recombinant inbred line population
Authors: Sun Yinhui , Li Xvzhen , Ma Zhaoyang , Chen Shuxia
Published: July 2022

The fresh and unique flavor of cucumber fruits, mainly composed of aldehydes and alcohols, is one of its most important fruit qualities. However, little is known about the genetic basis of aroma compounds in cucumber fruit and the related quantitative trait loci (QTLs). In this study, genomic screening of QTLs underlying aroma compounds was performed based on the genetic linkage map constructed using 1301 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers from genotyping-by-sequencing of a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population developed from Q16 × Q24. Significant genetic variations of aroma compounds in the RIL population were observed, and a total of 28 QTLs were screened. A major QTL (qol8-2.1) related to (E,Z)-2,6-nonadien-1-ol was detected with a markedly high LOD score (10.97 in 2020 and 3.56 in 2019) between mk190 and mk204 on chromosome 2. Genome scans identified a cluster of nine lipoxygenase genes in this region. A significant positive correlation was detected between CsaV3_2G005360 (CsLOX08) and (E,Z)-2,6-nonadien-1-ol, and five amino acid variations were detected between the CsLOX08 protein sequences of the two parental lines. Based on the genome variation of CsLOX08, we developed an InDel marker. Genotyping of InDel markers was consistent with the content of (E,Z)-2,6-nonadien-1-ol in RILs, which were also verified in nine cucumber inbred lines. The results will give breeders guidance for obtaining better flavor in cucumber.
Biogeographic and metabolic studies support a glacial radiation hypothesis during Chrysanthemum evolution
Authors: Chen Xi , Wang Haibin , Jiang Jiafu , Jiang Yifan , Zhang Wanbo , Chen Fadi
Published: July 2022

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat.) is an economically important plant species growing worldwide. However, its origin, especially as revealed by biogeographic and metabolomics research, remains unclear. To understand the geographic distribution of species diversity and metabolomics in three genera (Chrysanthemum, Ajania, and Phaeostigma), geographic information systems and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry were used in 19, 15, and 4 species respectively. China and Japan were two potential panbiogeographic nodes and diverse hotspots of Chrysanthemum, with species richness ratios of 58.97 and 33.33%. We studied different species from two hotspots which in similar geographical environments had closer chemotaxonomic relationships under the same cultivation conditions based on a cluster of 30 secondary metabolites. The average distribution altitude (ADA) differed significantly among Chrysanthemum, Ajania, and Phaeostigma in which it was 1227.49, 2400.12, and 3760.53 m.a.s.l. respectively, and the presence/absence of ray florets (RF) was significantly correlated with ADA (−0.62). Mountain landform was an important contributor to global Chrysanthemum diversity, playing a key role in the divergence and distribution pattern of Chrysanthemum and its allies. The Hengduan Mountains–Qinling Mountains (HDQ) in China was a potential secondary radiation and evolution center of Chrysanthemum and its related genera in the world. During the Quaternary glacial–interglacial cycles, this region became their refuge, and they radiated and evolved from this center.
MiR-18 inhibitor promotes the differentiation of bovine skeletal muscle-derived satellite cells by increasing MEF2D expression
Authors: Meng Bowen , Jiang Di , Kong Delin , Yan Yunqin , Nie Yuzhe , Teng Chun-Bo , Liang Yang
Published: July 2022

Skeletal muscle is composed of muscle fibers formed from myoblast differentiation. Recently, numerous researchers have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an essential role in modulating the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts. Our previous study has shown that among the miR-17-92 cluster members, miR-17 and miR-20a together with miR-19b can efficiently promote the differentiation of murine C2C12 and bovine primary myoblasts. However, the role of miR-18 in this process remains elusive. In this study, we revealed that miR-18 inhibited the differentiation of bovine skeletal muscle-derived satellite cells (bMDSCs), whereas an miR-18 inhibitor significantly promoted cell differentiation (p < 0.001). Then, a target gene of miR-18 was found to be myocyte enhancer factor 2D (MEF2D), which is critical for myoblast differentiation. Furthermore, we found that the combination of the miR-18 inhibitor and miR-19 significantly improved the formation of bMDSCs-derived muscle fibers (p < 0.001). This study revealed the role of miR-18 in bovine skeletal muscle differentiation and contributed to the understanding of the regulatory mechanism of mammalian myogenic differentiation.
Chemical Signals Associated With Gender and Sexual Experience Affect Mating and the Attractiveness of the Poultry Pest,Alphitobius diaperinus(Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
Authors: Calla-Quispe Erika , Martel Carlos , Ibáñez Alfredo J
Published: July 2022

Alphitobius diaperinus is one of the most significant pests in the poultry industry. Identifying the role of self-produced chemical signals can help control it. Here, we exposed adults to the olfactory signals of other adults of similar and different genders (either males or females) and sexual experiences (i.e., virgin and experienced) to assess their long-range attractiveness and, at short-range, their mating behavior responses (i.e., touching, mounting, and copulation). In olfactometric experiments, our results indicate that adults are attracted to the olfactory signals of other male adults, independently of gender, or sexual condition, indicating the presence of generalized long-range attractive signals, in contrast to female signals, can be both factor-dependent. However, in mating experiments, virgin males developed more robust mating responses (i.e., they mount and copulate longer with females) compared to sexually experienced males, even though they both have similar precopulatory behavioral responses (i.e., time of antennal and leg touching). These results address the importance of short-range chemical signals in eliciting copulation. Furthermore, when virgins of both genders were tested, their mating responses were significantly longer than any other pair combination, indicating that sexual experience also affects mating behavior. Chemical analyses of adult extracts showed that sexual experience, but not gender, is linked to differences in chemical profiles of adults, primarily involved in short-range signaling. These findings provide new insights into the attractiveness and mating responses of A. diaperinus and the role of sexual experience in shaping the behavior and chemical profile of insects that mate multiple times during their lifetime.
A case of disseminated histoplasmosis mimicking miliary tuberculosis
Authors: Mah Jordan , Lieu Anthony , Bibby Helen , Vaughan Stephen
Published: July 2022

A 50-year-old immunocompromised female presented with a 10-day history of fever and dyspnoea. She had recent VFR travel to Vietnam and had lived in Calgary, Alberta, for 20 years. Investigations revealed bicytopenia, elevated cholestatic enzymes and a miliary nodular pattern on chest imaging. She was diagnosed with a disseminated fungal infection.
Ecumenism to Ontology: Stoker’s Theology of the Host
Authors: Potter Madeline
Published: July 2022

Bram Stoker’s novel Dracula is replete with religious symbolism, from devotional objects to sacred imagery. Despite the novel’s theological richness, little has been written on Stoker’s theology, and most criticism has focused on interpreting the novel as an affirmation of either Anglicanism or Catholicism. Building on Alison Milbank’s argument in God and the Gothic, this essay shows how Stoker’s theology eschews the boundaries of rigid dogmatism, seeking instead an ecumenical and eccentric theology. It is through such theological exploration, I argue, that the novel discovers and frames questions of ontological hierarchy. Stoker’s use of the Host, in particular, enables him to engage with sacramental presence, and to subvert tropes associated with the Gothic in a manner which plunges the novel into a mode of free theological exploration grounded in the physicality of both sinfulness and grace. Focusing on the implications of the Host in the novel, this article provides an in-depth analysis of theological meaning, showing how the novel’s premise refuses to fit into any particular doctrinal framework, and demonstrates that what lies at the core of Stoker’s vision is an ontological system which reaffirms divine primacy over the human.
NSI and PCL-5 Normative Tables for Active Duty Service Members Affected by Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Llop Juliana Z , Hoover Peter J , Nix Caitlyn A , Lu Lisa H , Bowles Amy O , Caban Jesus J
Published: July 2022

Introduction

Many service members (SMs) have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury. Currently, military treatment facilities do not have access to established normative tables which can assist clinicians in gauging and comparing patient-reported symptoms. The aim of this study is to provide average scores for both the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5) for active duty SMs based upon varying demographic groups.

Methods

Average scores were calculated for both the NSI and PCL-5 surveys from SMs who attended a military outpatient traumatic brain injury clinic. For this analysis, only the initial surveys for each SM were considered. The identifying demographics included age group, gender, grade, and race.

Results

Four normative tables were created to show the average scores of both the NSI and PCL-5 surveys grouped by demographics. The tables are grouped by Age Group/Gender/Race and Grade/Gender/Race.

Conclusion

Clinicians and healthcare administrators can use the scores reported in this study to determine where SM NSI or PCL-5 scores fall within the average for their demographic group.
Evolution of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF)-like and Zona Pellucida Domains Containing Shell Matrix Proteins in Mollusks
Authors: Shimizu Keisuke , Takeuchi Takeshi , Negishi Lumi , Kurumizaka Hitoshi , Kuriyama Isao , Endo Kazuyoshi , Suzuki Michio
Published: July 2022

Several types of shell matrix proteins (SMPs) have been identified in molluskan shells. Their diversity is the consequence of various molecular processes, including domain shuffling and gene duplication. However, the evolutionary origin of most SMPs remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the evolutionary process EGF-like and zona pellucida (ZP) domains containing SMPs. Two types of the proteins (EGF-like protein (EGFL) and EGF-like and ZP domains containing protein (EGFZP)) were found in the pearl oyster, Pinctada fucata. In contrast, only EGFZP was identified in the gastropods. Phylogenetic analysis and genomic arrangement studies showed that EGFL and EGFZP formed a clade in bivalves, and their encoding genes were localized in tandem repeats on the same scaffold. In P. fucata, EGFL genes were expressed in the outer part of mantle epithelial cells are related to the calcitic shell formation. However, in both P. fucata and the limpet Nipponacmea fuscoviridis, EGFZP genes were expressed in the inner part of the mantle epithelial cells are related to aragonitic shell formation. Furthermore, our analysis showed that in P. fucata, the ZP domain interacts with eight SMPs that have various functions in the nacreous shell mineralization. The data suggest that the ZP domain can interact with other SMPs, and EGFL evolution in pterimorph bivalves represents an example of neo-functionalization that involves the acquisition of a novel protein through gene duplication.
Recent progress on BFT in the era of blockchains
Authors: Duan Sisi , Zhang Haibin
Published: July 2022

This perspective highlights some recent progress on the research of Byzantine fault tolerant (BFT) consensus protocol in the era of blockchains, including both partially synchronous BFT and asynchronous BFT protocols, their fundamental building blocks, and their variants.
Deadly gun violence, neighborhood collective efficacy, and adolescent neurobehavioral outcomes
Authors: Gard Arianna M , Brooks-Gunn Jeanne , McLanahan Sara S , Mitchell Colter , Monk Christopher S , Hyde Luke W
Published: July 2022

Gun violence is a major public health problem and costs the United States $280 billion annually (1). Although adolescents are disproportionately impacted (e.g. premature death), we know little about how close adolescents live to deadly gun violence incidents and whether such proximity impacts their socioemotional development (2, 3). Moreover, gun violence is likely to shape youth developmental outcomes through biological processes—including functional connectivity within regions of the brain that support emotion processing, salience detection, and physiological stress responses—though little work has examined this hypothesis. Lastly, it is unclear if strong neighborhood social ties can buffer youth from the neurobehavioral effects of gun violence. Within a nationwide birth cohort of 3,444 youth (56% Black, 24% Hispanic) born in large US cities, every additional deadly gun violence incident that occurred within 500 meters of home in the prior year was associated with an increase in behavioral problems by 9.6%, even after accounting for area-level crime and socioeconomic resources. Incidents that occurred closer to a child's home exerted larger effects, and stronger neighborhood social ties offset these associations. In a neuroimaging subsample (N = 164) of the larger cohort, living near more incidents of gun violence and reporting weaker neighborhood social ties were associated with weaker amygdala–prefrontal functional connectivity during socioemotional processing, a pattern previously linked to less effective emotion regulation. Results provide spatially sensitive evidence for gun violence effects on adolescent behavior, a potential mechanism through which risk is biologically embedded, and ways in which positive community factors offset ecological risk.
Seasonal accumulation of photoassimilated carbon relates to growth rate and use for new aboveground organs of young apple trees in following spring
Authors: Imada Shogo , Tako Yasuhiro
Published: July 2022

Deciduous trees accumulate carbon (C) in woody parts during the growth season which is subsequently used for the initial development and growth of newly formed organs in the following season; however, it is unclear which period during the growth season contributes to C accumulation. Three-year-old potted Malus domestica (apple) trees were grown in controlled growth chambers during the growth season and exposed to 13CO2 in an exposure chamber at seven different periods of the growth season, including vegetative and reproductive growth periods. Approximately half of the trees were harvested in late autumn, and the remaining trees were grown in a field in the following year. The 13C accumulation in the different organs in late autumn, and its concentration in the new aboveground growth during the following growth season, was determined. The concentration of the photoassimilated 13C in woody parts (shoots, trunk, rootstock and coarse roots) in the late autumn was higher in the trees labeled during the period of vigorous vegetative growth than in those labeled during other periods of growth. Furthermore, 13C concentration in the leaves, annual shoots, flower buds and flowers in the following early spring was also high in the trees labeled during this period. The concentration of 13C in the flower buds and flowers was positively correlated with that in the woody parts in the late autumn and old shoots in the following spring. Hence, the seasonal accumulation of photoassimilated C in woody parts in late autumn is related to growth rates during the growth season and its use for the initial development of newly formed organs in the following spring. These results suggest that under non-stressed conditions, C accumulated during the period of vigorous vegetative growth largely contributes to the C reserves that are used for the development of new organs in the following year.
Family and Provider Experiences With Longitudinal Care Coordination for Infants With Medical Complexity
Authors: Dallas Abbey , Ryan Alexandra , Mestan Karen , Helner Khrystyna , Foster Carolyn
Published: July 2022

Background:

Parents in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) report low self-confidence managing their children's ongoing medical and social needs. While bedside nurses provide critical support for families throughout their NICU admission, there may be a role for nursing coordination throughout hospitalization, discharge, and in the transition to outpatient care.

Purpose:

This program evaluation explores parent and provider experiences of a novel longitudinal care coordination program for infants with medical complexity from the NICU through their first year of life post-discharge.

Methods:

First, a sequential exploratory mixed-methods approach was used to evaluate parental experiences (n = 5 interviewed followed by n = 23 surveyed). Provider perspectives were elicited through semi-structured interviews (n = 8) and focus groups (n = 26 in 3 groups).

Results:

Parent-reported benefits included frequent communication and personalized support that met families' and patients' evolving needs. Care coordinators, who were trained as nurses and social workers, developed longitudinal relationships with parents. This seemed to facilitate individualized support throughout the first year of life. Providers reported that smaller caseloads were central to the success of the program.

Implications for Practice and Research:

This longitudinal care coordination program can be used as a translatable model in NICUs elsewhere to address the unique needs of families of infants with medical complexity throughout the first year of life. Future implementations should consider how to expand program size while maintaining individualized supports. As the care coordinators are former NICU nurses and social workers, there may be a growing role for nursing coordination of care in the neonatal population.
Immediate Weight Bearing as Tolerated Is Safe Following Intramedullary Fixation of Extra-articular Metaphyseal Proximal Tibia Fractures (OTA/AO 41-A)
Authors: Telgheder Zachary L. , Hill Brenton , Huang Kevin , Watson David T. , Maxson Benjamin , Infante Anthony , Donohue David , Shah Anjan , Downes Katheryne , Sanders Roy W. , Mir Hassan R.
Published: July 2022

Objectives:

To determine whether immediate weight bearing after intramedullary fixation of extra-articular proximal tibia fractures (OTA/AO 41A) results in change of alignment before union.

Design:

Retrospective Review.

Setting:

Level I and Level II Trauma Center.

Patients/Participants:

Thirty-seven patients with 37 proximal tibial fractures, all whom could bear weight as tolerated postoperatively. Eighteen fractures were OTA/AO 41-A2, and 19 were OTA/AO 41-A3.

Intervention:

Intramedullary nailing of extra-articular proximal tibia fractures.

Main Outcome Measurements:

Change in fracture alignment or loss of reduction.

Results:

The average change in coronal alignment at the final follow-up was 1.22 ± 1.28 degrees of valgus and 1.03 ± 1.05 degrees of extension in the sagittal plane. Twenty-five patients demonstrated excellent initial alignment, 10 patients demonstrated acceptable initial alignment, and 2 patients demonstrated poor initial alignment. Five patients demonstrated a change in alignment from excellent to acceptable at the final follow-up. No patient went from excellent or acceptable initial alignment to poor final alignment. Five patients required unplanned secondary surgical procedures. Two patients required return to the operating room for soft-tissue coverage procedures, 2 patients required surgical debridement of a postoperative infection, and 1 patient underwent debridement and exchange nailing of an infected nonunion. No patient underwent revision for implant failure or loss of reduction.

Conclusion:

Immediate weight bearing after intramedullary fixation of extra-articular proximal tibia fractures (OTA/AO 41A) led to minimal change in alignment at final postoperative radiographs.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Convergent and Discriminative Validity of the PROMIS Physical Function 4 Questionnaire for Assessing Pain-related Disability in Low Back Pain Patients Seeking Chiropractic Care
Authors: Sandal Louise F. , Young James J. , Søgaard Karen , Hartvigsen Jan
Published: July 2022

Study Design.

A prospective cohort study.

Objective.

To investigate construct validity by examining the convergent and discriminative validity of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Physical Function 4a (PROMIS-PF4) questionnaire in low back pain (LBP) patients seeking care from Danish chiropractors.

Summary of Background Data.

The Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire (RMDQ) is often used to assess physical functioning in LBP. However, it consists of 24 items, which is time consuming to complete in clinical practice. The PROMIS-PF4 questionnaire has only four items and may be more applicable for clinical use.

Materials and Methods.

Patients with LBP seeking care from chiropractors in Denmark completed the PROMIS-PF4, RMDQ, Subgroups for Targeted Treatment (STarT) Back screening tool, and Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS) in advance of their first appointment with the chiropractor. Convergent validity was assessed using Spearman correlation coefficients between the PROMIS-PF4 and RMDQ and NPRS, respectively. Discriminative validity of the PROMIS-PF4 was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) when plotting the PROMIS-PF4 t score against a reference case for RMDQ; NPRS; and high and low risk groups using the STarT Back screening tool.

Results.

Among 356 patients the PROMIS-PF4 questionnaire had strong convergent validity with the RMDQ (r=−0.76) and moderate convergent validity with the NPRS (r=−0.42). The PROMIS-PF4 had good and acceptable discriminative validity for disability (AUC=0.88) and high risk of persisting disability (AUC=0.72), and poor or no discriminative validity for pain intensity (AUC=0.66) and low-risk of persisting disability (AUC=0.26), respectively.

Conclusion.

As hypothesized, for convergent validity the PROMIS-PF4 has stronger correlation with the RMDQ than the NPRS and good discriminative validity for identifying patients with pain-related disability and at high risk of persisting disability but not for identifying pain intensity or low-risk of persisting disability. Consequently, the PROMIS-PF4 has adequate construct validity for measuring pain-related disability in an LBP population in chiropractic care.