bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of efficacy and safety of entecavir and switching from entecavir to tenofovir alafenamide fumarate in chronic hepatitis B: Long‐term effects from a prospective study
Authors: Hagiwara Satoru , Nishida Naoshi , Ueshima Kazuomi , Yoshida Akihiro , Minami Yasunori , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: April 2021

Aim

Both entecavir (ETV) and tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) are widely used to treat chronic hepatitis B (CHB) in Japan. However, it remains unclear whether the efficacy of TAF in decreasing the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) level, and its safety, are superior to those of ETV. This study aimed to report the long‐term effects and safety of 96‐week ETV and TAF treatment in patients with CHB.

Methods

A prospective comparative observational study was undertaken on the following two groups: patients with CHB who received continuous ETV (n = 32) and patients with CHB who were switched from ETV to TAF upon request (n = 48). The HBsAg, urinary β2‐microglobulin (β2MG)/creatinine (Cr), urinary N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG)/Cr, and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and bone mineral density (lumbar spine and femur) at 96 weeks were compared.

Results

The two groups did not significantly differ with respect to mean age, male / female patient ratio, or rate of hepatitis B e antigen‐positive status. The mean changes in serum HBsAg level and eGFR at 96 weeks were not significantly different between the two groups. The β2MG/Cr and NAG/Cr levels at 96 weeks were similar between the two groups. Additionally, the bone mineral density of the lumbar spine and femur as well as the serum ALT did not significantly differ.

Conclusions

When compared with patients who received continuous ETV, those who were introduced to TAF after ETV showed similar effects in terms of the decrease in HBsAg level and safety.
A review of Nigella sativa plant‐based therapy in dermatology
Authors: Hwang Jacqueline R. , Cartron Alexander M. , Khachemoune Amor
Published: April 2021

Nigella sativa (N. sativa) is a widely used medicinal herb with a rich cultural and religious history in Unani, Ayurveda, Chinese, and Arabic medicine. N. sativa contains many natural bioactive agents including alkaloids, saponins, alpha‐hederin, and thymoquinone that contribute to its broad range of benefits as a diuretic, bronchodilator, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, and analgesic. In addition, N. sativa possesses antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, and antineoplastic effects, making it an interesting potential therapy for the treatment of dermatological conditions. This article reviews the current literature surrounding the pharmacological effects of N. sativa for the treatment of acne vulgaris, melanoma, vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, plaque psoriasis, and wound healing.
Reproductive biology of the swell shark Cephaloscyllium ventriosum (Carcharhiniformes: Scyliorhinidae)
Authors: Bernal‐Pérez Stephanie , Ochoa‐Báez Rosa Isabel , Galván‐Magaña Felipe , Soto‐López Katherin
Published: April 2021

The Cephaloscyllium ventriosum shark is present in the artisanal fisheries of elasmobranchs on the western coast of Baja California Sur, Mexico. The main characteristics of the sexual maturation of this species based on individuals captured from off north‐west Mexico in 2013–2016 are described. The size at maturity of this species was determined for the first time (total length 82 cm for females and 76 cm for males). Most females had one egg case per one uterus, and two per one uterus was an isolated event of low incidence. From the histological analysis of females, it was possible to show sperm storage in the oviducal gland. Fully developed sperm in immature organisms were identified in the testes. The main indicator of the maturity stage of males and their mating activity is the clasper. The present study provides evidence for a reliable estimation of the sexual maturity of these organisms, demonstrating the need for the combination of macroscopic and microscopic methods.
Identifying Medicare beneficiaries with dementia
Authors: Moura Lidia M. V. R. , Festa Natalia , Price Mary , Volya Margarita , Benson Nicole M. , Zafar Sahar , Weiss Max , Blacker Deborah , Normand Sharon‐Lise , Newhouse Joseph P. , Hsu John
Published: April 2021

Background/Objectives

No data exist regarding the validity of International Classification of Disease (ICD)‐10 dementia diagnoses against a clinician‐adjudicated reference standard within Medicare claims data. We examined the accuracy of claims‐based diagnoses with respect to expert clinician adjudication using a novel database with individual‐level linkages between electronic health record (EHR) and claims.

Design

In this retrospective observational study, two neurologists and two psychiatrists performed a standardized review of patients' medical records from January 2016 to December 2018 and adjudicated dementia status. We measured the accuracy of three claims‐based definitions of dementia against the reference standard.

Setting

Mass‐General‐Brigham Healthcare (MGB), Massachusetts, USA.

Participants

From an eligible population of 40,690 fee‐for‐service (FFS) Medicare beneficiaries, aged 65 years and older, within the MGB Accountable Care Organization (ACO), we generated a random sample of 1002 patients, stratified by the pretest likelihood of dementia using administrative surrogates.

Intervention

None.

Measurements

We evaluated the accuracy (area under receiver operating curve [AUROC]) and calibration (calibration‐in‐the‐large [CITL] and calibration slope) of three ICD‐10 claims‐based definitions of dementia against clinician‐adjudicated standards. We applied inverse probability weighting to reconstruct the eligible population and reported the mean and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for all performance characteristics, using 10‐fold cross‐validation (CV).

Results

Beneficiaries had an average age of 75.3 years and were predominately female (59%) and non‐Hispanic whites (93%). The adjudicated prevalence of dementia in the eligible population was 7%. The best‐performing definition demonstrated excellent accuracy (CV‐AUC 0.94; 95% CI 0.92–0.96) and was well‐calibrated to the reference standard of clinician‐adjudicated dementia (CV‐CITL <0.001, CV‐slope 0.97).

Conclusion

This study is the first to validate ICD‐10 diagnostic codes against a robust and replicable approach to dementia ascertainment, using a real‐world clinical reference standard. The best performing definition includes diagnostic codes with strong face validity and outperforms an updated version of a previously validated ICD‐9 definition of dementia.
Effort–Reward Imbalance and Its Effects on Satisfaction With Working Conditions and Sleep‐Related Problems: Comparison of Nurses and Other Occupations
Authors: Hong Kyung Jin , Cho Sung‐Hyun
Published: April 2021

Purpose

This study aimed to compare effort–reward imbalance (ERI) among registered nurses, social workers, and elementary school teachers, and to analyze the effects of ERI on satisfaction with working conditions and sleep‐related problems.

Design

A secondary data analysis was conducted using cross‐sectional data from the Korean Working Conditions Survey collected in 2017. The study sample included 276 registered nurses, 97 social workers, and 229 elementary school teachers.

Methods

The effort index was measured using two dimensions (work intensity and working time quality) with seven subdimensions. The reward index consisted of three dimensions (social support, earning, and prospects) with five subdimensions. The ERI index was computed by dividing the average effort score by the average reward score. Linear or logistic regression analysis was conducted to compare efforts, rewards, and ERI among the three occupations and to examine the effects of ERI on satisfaction and sleep‐related problems.

Findings

Nurses had a significantly higher effort score than the other two groups. However, nurses had a lower reward score than elementary school teachers, but a higher score than social workers. The highest ERI index was found among nurses (0.47 ± 0.16), followed by social workers (0.39 ± 0.30) and elementary school teachers (0.30 ± 0.15). All three occupations showed an inverse relationship between ERI and satisfaction with working conditions and positive relationships between ERI and sleep‐related problems.

Conclusions

The high ERI (i.e., more effort relative to reward) perceived by nurses was associated with diminished satisfaction and increased sleep‐related problems.

Clinical Relevance

To attract future generations to nursing as a career choice and to ensure a sustainable nurse workforce, the nurse‐perceived ERI should be decreased by reducing work demands and increasing both monetary and nonmonetary rewards.
Dynamics of apoptosis‐related gene expression during follicular development in yak
Authors: Zhang Taojie , BaSang Wang‐Dui , Chang Weihua , Huo Shengdong , Ma Xingbin , Ju Xianghong , Yu Sijiu , Cui Sheng
Published: April 2021

The potential reproduction power of domestic animals is limited by a complicated follicular atresia process. P53, caspase‐9 (Casp9), Bax, Bcl‐2 and Fas play a crucial role in the ovarian mitochondrion‐dependent apoptosis and death receptor pathway. In accordance with this study, the expression levels of Casp9, Bax, Bcl‐2 and Fas were analysed in ovaries and oviducts of yak by immunohistochemistry (IHC). P53 and the above in ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) from atretic (3–6 mm) to healthy follicles (6–8 mm) and in oviducts were examined from the luteal phase to the follicular phase during the oestrous circle by Western blot (WB) and real‐time PCR (RT‐PCR). Results demonstrated that typical classic apoptotic factors Casp9, Bax, Bcl‐2 and Fas were expressed in the cytoplasm and zonal pellucida of oocytes, primordial follicles, primary follicles, ovarian surface epithelium, ovarian GCs, granular lutein cells, surface epithelia in oviduct uterotubal junction and oviduct ampulla during the luteal phase. RT‐PCR and WB revealed that P53 and Fas significantly increased in GCs of atretic follicles. P53 and Casp9 increased in oviduct epithelium during the luteal phase, but Fas was unchanged. A contrary tendency was noted in Bcl‐2 and Bax expression. Overall, P53 and Fas play an essential role in inducing GC apoptosis, and Bax, Bcl‐2, Casp9 and P53 are involved in oviduct epithelial regeneration in yak.
Platelet function in dogs with chronic liver disease
Authors: Wilkinson A. , Panciera D. , DeMonaco S. , Boes K. , Leib M. , Clapp K. , Ruth J. , Cecere T. , McClendon D.
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To assess platelet function, buccal mucosal bleeding time and plasma von Willebrand factor concentration in dogs with chronic inflammatory and/or fibrotic liver disease and to compare results with those obtained in healthy dogs.

Materials and Methods

Preliminary study including 18 dogs with chronic inflammatory and/or fibrotic liver disease undergoing liver biopsy and 18 healthy age‐matched control dogs. Platelet function was assessed by measuring closure time with the PFA‐100® analyser using adenosine diphosphate (ADP) as an agonist. Buccal mucosal bleeding time, closure time and plasma von Willebrand factor antigen were measured in dogs in both groups. After undergoing ultrasound‐guided needle biopsy, dogs were monitored for haemorrhage to determine if there was an association of any measurement with post‐biopsy bleeding.

Results

The closure time was not different between the liver disease group (median 76.3; range 53 to 118.5 seconds) and control group (72.8; 57 to 89.5 seconds). The buccal mucosal bleeding time was longer in the liver disease group (median 138; range 95 to 229 seconds) than the control group (103; 63 to 200 seconds). The plasma von Willebrand factor antigen concentration was not different between the liver disease group (median 203; range 109 to 351%) and control group (165.5; 63 to 246%).

Clinical Significance

In this study, dogs with chronic necroinflammatory and/or fibrotic liver disease did not have overt, clinically relevant derangements in platelet function as assessed by buccal mucosal bleeding time, closure time and von Willebrand factor analysis. In addition, none of the dogs undergoing percutaneous ultrasound‐guided biopsy in the study exhibited bleeding complications post‐biopsy procedure.
Old wine in new bottles? Revisiting employee participation in Industry 4.0
Authors: Vereycken Yennef , Ramioul Monique , Hermans Maarten
Published: April 2021

This paper aims to critically examine employee participation in Industry 4.0, with a systematic literature review. A total of 58 studies were reviewed, resulting in a categorisation of the literature into three perspectives. The ‘techno‐optimist’ and the ‘socio‐technical’ perspective dominate in the reviewed papers. They both confirm a trend that frames employee participation in a unitarist tradition, which emphasises synergies between managerial efficiency and (mostly individual) participation, leading to high innovation potential. The third perspective is rooted in critical studies. Authors writing on the latter subject predict more standardisation and centralisation, and the continued demise of collective and representative forms of participation. To better understand the role of employees in Industry 4.0, we suggest confronting the current discourse with robust empirical research. On that basis, we reject both technological and social determinism, and we acknowledge the structural ambiguities and multidimensionality of employee participation in technological transformations.
Pulmonary infarction caused by sarcoidosis vascular involvement: A case report
Authors: Tasaki Takashi , Hatanaka Kazuhito , Kitazono Ikumi , Noguchi Hirotsugu , Tabata Kazuhiro , Higashi Michiyo , Maeda Kouki , Yokose Tomoyuki , Uekusa Toshimasa , Tanimoto Akihide
Published: April 2021

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease. In pulmonary sarcoidosis, granulomatous vascular involvement is a common feature that occurs in all types of vessels, including large elastic arteries to venules, but sarcoidosis complicated with pulmonary infarction has not been reported. We report a case of a 60 years old female, who was operated on a clinical diagnosis of lung cancer, and histological examination revealed a pulmonary infarction and sarcoidosis. In the pulmonary elastic arteries, granulomas infiltrated the adventitia and media, and caused elastic fiber collapse and destruction. Arterial occlusion by granulomas was observed in the edge of the infarcted area. It was considered that the arterial sarcoidosis granuloma involvement was the cause of pulmonary infarction. Sarcoidosis is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular events. However, pulmonary infarction is an extremely rare complication of sarcoidosis. Our case suggests that sarcoidosis may cause vascular events in the lungs.
Intra‐individual differences in the effect of endurance versus resistance training on vascular function: A cross‐over study
Authors: Dawson Ellen Adele , Sheikhsaraf Bahare , Boidin Maxime , Erskine Robert M. , Thijssen Dick H.J.
Published: April 2021

We used a within‐subject, cross‐over design study to compare the impact of 4‐weeks' resistance (RT) versus endurance (END) training on vascular function. We subsequently explored the association of intra‐individual effects of RT versus END on vascular function with a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of theNOS3gene. Thirty‐five healthy males (21 ± 2 years old) were genotyped for theNOS3rs2070744 SNP and completed both training modalities. Participants completed 12 sessions over a 4‐week period, either RT (leg‐extension) or END (cycling) training in a randomized, balanced cross‐over design with a 3‐week washout period. Participants performed peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2) and leg‐extension single‐repetition maximum (1‐RM) testing, and vascular function assessment using flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) on 3 separated days pre/post‐training. Peak VO2increased after END (p < 0.001), while 1‐RM increased after RT (p < 0.001). FMD improved after 4‐weeks’ training (time effect:p = 0.006), with no difference between exercise modalities (interaction effect:p = 0.92). No relation was found between individual changes (delta, pre‐post) in FMD to both types of training (R2 = 0.06,p = 0.14). Intra‐individual changes in FMD following END and RT were associated with theNOS3SNP, with TT homozygotes significantly favoring only END (p = 0.016) and TC/CC tending to favor RT only (p = 0.056). Although both training modes improved vascular function, significant intra‐individual variation in the adaptation of FMD was found. The association withNOS3genotype suggests a genetic predisposition to FMD adapting to a specific mode of chronic exercise. This study therefore provides novel evidence for personalized exercise training to optimize vascular health.
Blood donor screening in the Netherlands: Universal anti‐HBc screening in combination with HBV nucleic acid amplification testing may allow discontinuation of hepatitis B virus antigen testing
Authors: van de Laar Thijs J. , Hogema Boris M. , Molenaar‐de Backer Marijke W. , Marijt‐van der Kreek Tanneke , Zaaijer Hans L.
Published: April 2021

Background

In the Netherlands, blood donor screening for hepatitis B virus (HBV) consists of HBsAg screening since the 1970s, HBV DNA minipool testing (MP‐NAT) since 2008, and anti‐HBc screening since 2011. Anti‐HBc reactivity causes deferral only if anti‐HBs titers are <200 IU/mL, or when anti‐HBc was acquired during follow‐up.

Study design and methods

Over 5.5 million donations from 582,459 Dutch donors were screened for HBV DNA, HBsAg, anti‐HBc, and, if anti‐HBc positive, also for anti‐HBs. The added value, expressed as the yield of (potentially) infectious and/or recent HBV infections versus unnecessary donor loss, was evaluated for each of the three HBV screening tests.

Results

HBV donor screening identified 89 HBV‐infected donors with at least two reactive HBV markers (MP‐NAT, HBsAg and/or anti‐HBc). Single HBV‐marker yield was: 5 MP‐NAT‐only, 0 HBsAg‐only, and 20 anti‐HBc‐only donors. In addition, anti‐HBc screening yielded 1,067 potentially infectious donors at risk for occult HBV infection (OBI). In total, 4,126 (0.71%) donors were anti‐HBc‐reactive at first‐time screening, and 1,098 (0.19%) seroconverted during follow‐up. Anti‐HBc‐related donor loss was limited to 2,627 (0.45%) donors using anti‐HBs titers and two‐strike programs. Donor loss due to MP‐NAT and HBsAg screening was extremely low: 0 and 128 donors, respectively.

Conclusion

HBV donor screening could be limited to MP‐NAT and anti‐HBc screening. MP‐NAT and anti‐HBc improved blood safety by intercepting infectious donations from donors with recent infection or OBI, while HBsAg did not. Unnecessary donor loss related to anti‐HBc screening is substantial but does not endanger the continuity of the blood supply.
Psychometric properties of tools for initial screening for oropharyngeal dysphagia in older people: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Lauridsen Marie Krestense , Møller Liselotte Bang , Pedersen Preben Ulrich
Published: April 2021

Objective:

The objective of this scoping review is to identify and map the psychometric properties of screening tools designed to identify oropharyngeal dysphagia in older people.

Introduction:

Oropharyngeal dysphagia is a geriatric syndrome associated with reduced quality of life, malnutrition, dehydration, medical administration problems, and poor health care outcomes. It requires a multidimensional approach to treatment. The syndrome is present in approximately 60% of institutionalized, frail older patients and in 47% of frail older patients who are hospitalized.

Inclusion criteria:

This review will consider studies of screening tools for oropharyngeal dysphagia used in people older than 65 years who do not have stroke, Parkinson disease, sclerosis, or head and neck cancer. Patients who depend on respiratory support or feeding tubes will be excluded. All health care settings will be included.

Methods:

The JBI methodology for scoping reviews will be followed. The Cochrane Library, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, and Epistemonikos will be searched for relevant studies. Sources of unpublished studies and gray literature, including Google Scholar, will be searched. Articles published in English, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian will be included. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts against the inclusion criteria. The full text of included studies will be read and relevant citations included. Disagreements between the reviewers will be resolved through discussion or with a third reviewer. The proposed data extraction form will be modified as necessary during the process. Data will be presented in diagrammatic form, and a narrative summary that aligns with the objective will be included.
Convolutional neural networks for estimating transport parameters of fibrous materials based on micro-computerized tomography images
Authors: Jeon Ju Hyun , Chemali Elias , Yang Sung Soo , Kang Yeon June
Published: April 2021

This study proposes a method for estimating the transport parameters of fibrous materials from x-ray micro-computed tomography (CT) images using convolutional neural networks (CNNs). Two-dimensional (2-D) micro-CT images and numerically obtained transport parameters were used to train the CNNs; Stokes flow and potential flow were used to numerically obtain the transport parameters using geometrical models extracted from the raw CT images. Then, analogously to constructing a three-dimensional image of the fibrous material by stacking the 2-D slice images, the volumetric transport parameters of the fibrous materials were calculated using the parameters of each 2-D image predicted by the trained CNN models. The transport parameters of the fibrous volume predicted by the CNN models showed good agreement with the measured values. In addition, the sound absorption coefficient was calculated by applying both the predicted and measured transport parameters to the semi-phenomenological sound propagation model and compared with the measured sound absorption coefficient. The results of the study confirm the feasibility of predicting transport parameters of fibrous materials using a neural network model based on raw micro-CT images.
Simultaneous Anaerobic and Aerobic Ammonia and Methane Oxidation under Oxygen Limitation Conditions
Authors: van Kessel Maartje A. H. J. , Stultiens Karin , Pol Arjan , Jetten Mike S. M. , Kartal Boran , Op den Camp Huub J. M.
Published: April 2021

Nitrogen in wastewater leads to eutrophication of the receiving water bodies, and methane is a potent greenhouse gas; it is therefore important that these are removed from wastewater. A potential solution for the simultaneous removal of nitrogenous compounds and methane is the application of a combination of nitrite/nitrate-dependent methane oxidation (N-damo) and anaerobic ammonium oxidation (annamox).
A Live-Attenuated Zika Virus Vaccine with High Production Capacity Confers Effective Protection in Neonatal Mice
Authors: Ye Xianmiao , Liu Xinglong , Shu Tao , Deng Weiqi , Liao Min , Zheng Yali , Zheng Xuehua , Zhang Xiaoyan , Li Ting , Fan Wenxia , Qu Linbing , Chen Ling , Li Feng , Feng Liqiang
Published: April 2021

Zika virus (ZIKV), a mosquito-borne flavivirus that has caused global outbreaks since 2013, is associated with severe neurological disorders, such as Guillian-Barré syndrome in adults and microcephaly in infants. The ZIKV epidemic has gradually subsided, but a safe and effective vaccine is still desirable to prevent its potential recurrence, especially in countries of endemicity with competent mosquito vectors.
Functional Characterization of the m
6
A-Dependent Translational Modulator PfYTH.2 in the Human Malaria Parasite
Authors: Sinha Ameya , Baumgarten Sebastian , Distiller Amy , McHugh Emma , Chen Patty , Singh Meetali , Bryant Jessica M. , Liang Jiaqi , Cecere Germano , Dedon Peter C. , Preiser Peter R. , Ralph Stuart A. , Scherf Artur
Published: April 2021

Infection with the unicellular eukaryotic pathogen
Plasmodium falciparum
causes malaria, a mosquito-borne disease affecting more than 200 million and killing 400,000 people each year. Underlying the asexual replication within human red blood cells is a tight regulatory network of gene expression and protein synthesis.
British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines on the management of irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Vasant Dipesh H , Paine Peter A , Black Christopher J , Houghton Lesley A , Everitt Hazel A , Corsetti Maura , Agrawal Anurag , Aziz Imran , Farmer Adam D , Eugenicos Maria P , Moss-Morris Rona , Yiannakou Yan , Ford Alexander C
Published: April 2021

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains one of the most common gastrointestinal disorders seen by clinicians in both primary and secondary care. Since publication of the last British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) guideline in 2007, substantial advances have been made in understanding its complex pathophysiology, resulting in its re-classification as a disorder of gut-brain interaction, rather than a functional gastrointestinal disorder. Moreover, there has been a considerable amount of new evidence published concerning the diagnosis, investigation and management of IBS. The primary aim of this guideline, commissioned by the BSG, is to review and summarise the current evidence to inform and guide clinical practice, by providing a practical framework for evidence-based management of patients. One of the strengths of this guideline is that the recommendations for treatment are based on evidence derived from a comprehensive search of the medical literature, which was used to inform an update of a series of trial-based and network meta-analyses assessing the efficacy of dietary, pharmacological and psychological therapies in treating IBS. Specific recommendations have been made according to the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation system, summarising both the strength of the recommendations and the overall quality of evidence. Finally, this guideline identifies novel treatments that are in development, as well as highlighting areas of unmet need for future research.
Experimental investigation and numerical modeling of piezoelectric bender element motion and wave propagation analysis in soils
Authors: Liu Hongwei , Cascante Giovanni , Maghoul Pooneh , Shalaby Ahmed
Published: April 2021

The bender element (BE) test has been widely used for the dynamic characterization of soil specimens at low-shear strain levels. However, the actual behavior of the BE inside a soil specimen remains unknown. Thus, the current ASTM standard does not consider the interference of compressional and shear waves in BE testing, which can lead to significant errors in the evaluation of shear wave velocities. The main objective of this paper is to present a numerical model of the BE system to better understand the response of the BEs inside a soil sample. The model is calibrated, verified, and then used to demonstrate the importance of taking into consideration the interaction between compressional and shear waves for the correct interpretation of BE measurements. The model successfully captured the measured vibrations of the BE in air as well as inside transparent soils. More importantly, the numerical simulations provide a new understating of the significant interactions of P waves and S waves especially in clay soils. Thus, the proposed coupled piezoelectric and solid mechanics model can be used to study the soil–BE interaction so that sound recommendations can be given to improve the interpretation of BE tests in different soils.
Physiological changes in advanced hybrid chestnuts do not alter blight resistance under co-occurring drought
Authors: Fredericksen Brett , Kukor Samuel , Rosenthal David M.
Published: April 2021

Chestnut breeding programs have been using a backcross breeding technique to produce trees with a predominantly American chestnut (Castanea dentata (Marsh.) Borkh.) genome and chestnut blight disease resistance from Asian species like the Chinese chestnut (Castanea mollissima Blume). The potential for other physiological changes caused by breeding has yet to be widely studied. We quantify chestnut (American, Chinese, and BC3F3 hybrids) responses to water-stress and measure how co-occurring drought influences disease severity. The experiment was completed using 172 bare-root seedlings organized into a completely randomized factorial design in an outdoor rain-out shelter for one growing season. BC3F3 hybrid gas exchange (Asat, gs) rates were more similar to Chinese than American chestnuts over a 20-day dry-down period, and hybrid turgor loss point showed a more intermediate (between Chinese and American) response. The relationship of stomatal conductance to midday leaf water potential (Ψmd) also exhibited both American and Chinese characteristics in the hybrid trees. There was no effect of drought on the disease severity for any of the chestnut groups. We find evidence that drought physiology has been altered in some BC3F3 hybrids, but do not find changes in disease severity when chestnuts are under co-occurring drought.
Biochar–manure changes soil carbon mineralization in a Gray Luvisol used for agricultural production
Authors: Weber T.L. , Romero C.M. , MacKenzie M.D.
Published: April 2021

Biochar is a source of stable organic matter being explored as a manure additive. A 64 d incubation experiment was conducted to quantify the short-term effect of manure (RM), biochar–manure (BM), raw biochar (BC), RM + BC, and BM + BC amendment on soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) mineralization. Manure increased CO2-C emission rates, with the highest cumulative CO2-C emissions being observed for RM + BC. Treatments with BM halted soil C mineralization, indicating manure-C stabilization. By contrast, neither RM nor BM affected soil N mineralization. Applying BM might benefit soil C sequestration by lowering CO2-C emissions over the long term.
A new miniature Pristella (Actinopterygii: Characiformes: Characidae) with reversed sexual dimorphism from the rio Tocantins and rio São Francisco basins, Brazil
Authors: Lima F.C.T. , Caires R.A. , Conde-Saldaña C.C. , Mirande J.M. , Carvalho F.R.
Published: April 2021

A new species of the genus Pristella Eigenmann, 1908 (Pristella crinogi sp. nov.) is described from the middle rio Tocantins and middle rio São Francisco basins, Brazil. The new species can be diagnosed from its two congeners, Pristella ariporo Conde-Saldaña, Albornoz-Garzón, García-Melo, Villa-Navarro, Mirande, and Lima, 2019 and Pristella maxillaris (Ulrey, 1894), by a combination of color pattern and teeth morphology characters. A phylogenetic analysis of the genus recovered P. crinogi as the sister taxa of P. ariporo. Pristella crinogi, along with P. ariporo, are the first characiform fishes, and one of the first bony fishes, to be reported as presenting a reversed sexual dimorphism, with females presenting a more developed color pattern than males. Comments on the miniaturization of the species, as well as remarks on the biogeography of the genus Pristella, are presented.
Noether symmetry approach in Eddington-inspired Born–Infeld gravity
Authors: Kanesom Thanyagamon , Channuie Phongpichit , Kaewkhao Narakorn
Published: April 2021

In this work, we take a short recap of a formal framework of the Eddington-inspired Born–Infeld (EiBI) theory of gravity and derive the point-like Lagrangian for underlying theory based on the use of Noether gauge symmetries (NGS). We study a Hessian matrix and quantify Euler–Lagrange equations of EiBI universe. We discuss the NGS approach for the Eddington-inspired Born–Infeld theory and show that there exists the de Sitter solution in this gravity model.
Matter and dark matter asymmetry from a composite Higgs model
Authors: Ahmadvand M.
Published: April 2021

We propose a low scale leptogenesis scenario in the framework of composite Higgs models supplemented with singlet heavy neutrinos. One of the neutrinos can also be considered as a dark matter candidate whose stability is guaranteed by a discrete $${\mathbb {Z}}_2 $$

Z
2

symmetry of the model. In the spectrum of the strongly coupled system, bound states heavier than the pseudo Nambu–Goldstone Higgs boson can exist. Due to the decay of these states to heavy right-handed neutrinos, an asymmetry in the visible and dark sector is simultaneously generated. The resulting asymmetry is transferred to the standard model leptons which interact with visible right-handed neutrinos. We show that the sphaleron-induced baryon asymmetry can be provided at the TeV scale for resonant bound states. Depending on the coupling strength of dark neutrino interaction, a viable range of the dark matter mass is allowed in the model. Furthermore, taking into account the effective interactions of dark matter, we discuss low-energy processes and experiments.
Spall Behaviors of Metaconcrete: 3D Meso-Scale Modelling
Authors: Jin Hexin , Hao Hong , Chen Wensu , Xu Cheng
Published: April 2021

Spalling is a typical tensile fracture phenomenon due to insufficient tensile strength of concrete. Concrete structure might experience severe spall damage at the rear surface of the structure owing to reflected tensile stress wave induced by impulsive load. In recent years, metaconcrete consisting of engineered aggregates has attracted attentions as metaconcrete exhibits extraordinary wave-filtering characteristics. Metaconcrete can be used to attenuate stress wave generated by impulsive load and hence possibly mitigate the spall damage. In this study, engineered aggregate is designed via the software COMSOL to have the frequency bandgap coincide with the dominant frequency band of stress wave propagating in the normal concrete (NC) specimen to reduce the stress wave propagation and hence spall damage. The wave propagation behaviors in metaconcrete specimen with periodically distributed engineered aggregates have been investigated in a previous study. This study establishes 3D meso-scale model of metaconcrete including mortar, randomly distributed natural aggregates and engineered aggregates to simulate spall behaviors of metaconcrete via the software LS-DYNA. The responses of metaconcrete composed of engineered aggregates with single bandgap and multiple bandgaps are studied. The results show that stress wave can be more effectively attenuated by using engineered aggregates with multiple bandgaps. It is found that although engineered aggregates mitigate stress wave propagation, the soft coating of the engineered aggregates reduces the concrete material strength, therefore spall damage of metaconcrete specimen is not necessarily less severe than the normal concrete, but has different damage mode. In addition, the influences of loading intensity and duration on stress wave, as well as the spall behaviors of metaconcrete specimen are also studied.
Neuromarketing and Improved Understanding of Consumer Behaviour through Brain-Based Neuro Activity
Authors: Alsmadi Sami , Hailat Khaled
Published: April 2021

Over the past three decades, there has been a growing interest in studying consumer behaviour directly through non-traditional, brain-based, approach using the basic knowledge of human neuroscience. This multidisciplinary approach has evolved into a new marketing branch, known as Neuromarketing, which goes inside the human brain to improve our knowledge of consumer behaviour. Neuromarketing traces neural circuit activities inside the brain using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology. This paper explores the existing literature on Neuromarketing to provide insights into the potential for improving our understanding of consumer behaviour. The paper concludes that Neuromarketing can offer a valuable opportunity to increase precision and validity of measuring consumer reactions to marketing activities, thus improve marketing knowledge of consumer choice behaviour. The paper also addresses the main ethical issues raised by critiques on the unprecedented access to consumers’ mind, and how advocates looked at such criticisms.
Models to study photoinduced multiple proton coupled electron transfer processes
Authors: Guerra Walter D. , Odella Emmanuel , Urrutia María N. , Liddell Paul A. , Moore Thomas A. , Moore Ana L.
Published: April 2021

In water-oxidizing photosynthetic organisms, excitation of the reaction-center chlorophylls (P680) triggers a cascade of electron and proton transfer reactions that establish charge separation across the membrane and proton-motive force. An early oxidation step in this process involves proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) via a tyrosine-histidine redox relay (Yz-H190). Herein, we report the synthesis and structural characterization of two isomeric dyads designed to model this PCET process. Both are based on the same high potential fluorinated porphyrin (model for P680), linked to isomeric pyridylbenzimidazole-phenols (models for Yz-H190). The two isomeric dyads have different hydrogen bond frameworks, which is expected to change the PCET photooxidation mechanism. In these dyads, 1H NMR evidence indicates that in one dyad the hydrogen bond network would support a Grotthuss-type proton transfer process, whereas in the other the hydrogen bond network is interrupted. Photoinduced one-electron, two-proton transfer is expected to occur in the fully hydrogen-bonded dyad upon oxidation of the phenol by the excited state of the porphyrin. In contrast for the isomer with the interrupted hydrogen bond network, an ultrafast photoinduced one-electron one-proton transfer process is anticipated, followed by a much slower proton transfer to the terminal proton acceptor. Understanding the nature of photoinduced PCET mechanisms in these biomimetic models will provide insights into the design of future generations of artificial constructs involved in energy conversion schemes.
Battery day
Authors: Frazelle Jessie
Published: April 2021

A closer look at the technology that makes portable electronics possible.
Trustworthy scientific computing
Authors: Peisert Sean
Published: April 2021

Addressing the trust issues underlying the current limits on data sharing.
Looking Back, Looking Forward: Materials Science in Art, Archaeology, and Art Conservation
Authors: Faber Katherine T. , Casadio Francesca , Masic Admir , Robbiola Luc , Walton Marc
Published: April 2021

Cultural heritage materials, ranging from archaeological objects and sites to fine arts collections, are often characterized through their life cycle. In this review, the fundamentals and tools of materials science are used to explore such life cycles—first, via the origins of the materials and methods used to produce objects of function and artistry, and in some cases, examples of exceptional durability. The findings provide a window on our cultural heritage. Further, they inspire the design of sustainable materials for future generations. Also explored in this review are alteration phenomena over intervals as long as millennia or as brief as decades. Understanding the chemical processes that give rise to corrosion, passivation, or other degradation in chemical and physical properties can provide the foundation for conservation treatments. Finally, examples of characterization techniques that have been invented or enhanced to afford studies of cultural heritage materials, often nondestructively, are highlighted.
Virilizing doses of testosterone decrease circulating insulin levels and differentially regulate insulin signaling in liver and adipose tissue of females
Authors: Kothmann Kadden H. , Jacobsen Victoria , Laffitte Emily , Bromfield Corinne , Grizzaffi Matthew , Jarboe Monica , Braundmeier-Fleming Andrea G. , Bahr Janice M. , Nowak Romana A. , Newell-Fugate Annie E.
Published: April 2021

Acute virilizing doses of testosterone administered to females suppress circulating insulin levels, upregulate components of the insulin-signaling pathway in liver, and suppress insulin signaling in white adipose tissue. These results suggest that insulin resistance in transgender men may be due to suppression of the insulin-signaling pathway and decreased insulin sensitivity in white adipose tissue.
Channel Estimation Approach with Low Pilot Overhead in FBMC/OQAM Systems
Authors: Sun Jun , Mu Xiaomin , Kong Dejin , Wang Qian , Li Xinmin , Cheng Xing
Published: April 2021

In filter bank multicarrier with offset quadrature amplitude modulation (FBMC/OQAM) systems, a large pilot overhead is required due to the existence of the imaginary interference. In this paper, we present an approach to reduce the pilot overhead of channel estimation. A part of pilot overhead is used for transmitting data, and compensating symbols are required and designed to remove the imaginary interference. It is worthwhile to point out that the power of compensating symbols can be helpful for data recovery; hence, the proposed approach decreases the overhead of pilots significantly without the cost of additional pilot energy. In addition, the proposed scheme is extended into multiple input multiple output systems without the performance loss. Compared with the conventional preamble consisting of 3 columns symbols, the pilot overhead is equivalent to 2 column symbols in the proposed preamble. To verify the proposed preamble, numerical simulations are carried out with respects to bit error ratio.
Sales Disclosure and Pricing Policies in the Presence of Social Learning
Authors: Zheng Rui , Yuan Yi , Li Yi
Published: April 2021

This study analyzes the role of sales disclosure and social learning (SL) in firms’ optimal responsive pricing policies and profits. If sales quantities are disclosed, potential customers will increase (decrease) their willingness to pay for the product based on the observation of relatively high (low) sales. In a monopoly market, a firm can control initial sales through the initial price, thus influencing consumers’ SL outcomes. We find that disclosing sales quantities and enhancing SL are always beneficial for a firm in a monopoly context. With an increase in the intensity of SL, a monopoly firm has a higher incentive to decrease the initial price of a product to attract early buyers, which is beneficial for consumers. However, consumer surplus may decrease if consumers’ purchase intentions are strongly driven by historical sales quantities. In a duopoly market, learning based on historical sales quantities can encourage potential customers but intensify competition between firms. Thus, in a competitive market, sales disclosure and SL are only beneficial to firms when consumers’ intrinsic valuation of a product is relatively low. Otherwise, SL harms firms.
Cancer Classification with a Cost-Sensitive Naive Bayes Stacking Ensemble
Authors: Xiong Yueling , Ye Mingquan , Wu Changrong
Published: April 2021

Ensemble learning combines multiple learners to perform combinatorial learning, which has advantages of good flexibility and higher generalization performance. To achieve higher quality cancer classification, in this study, the fast correlation-based feature selection (FCBF) method was used to preprocess the data to eliminate irrelevant and redundant features. Then, the classification was carried out in the stacking ensemble learner. A library for support vector machine (LIBSVM),

K

-nearest neighbor (KNN), decision tree C4.5 (C4.5), and random forest (RF) were used as the primary learners of the stacking ensemble. Given the imbalanced characteristics of cancer gene expression data, the embedding cost-sensitive naive Bayes was used as the metalearner of the stacking ensemble, which was represented as CSNB stacking. The proposed CSNB stacking method was applied to nine cancer datasets to further verify the classification performance of the model. Compared with other classification methods, such as single classifier algorithms and ensemble algorithms, the experimental results showed the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed method in processing different types of cancer data. This method may therefore help guide cancer diagnosis and research.
Knowledge on Palliative Care and Associated Factors among Nurses in Ethiopia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Getie Addisu , Wondmieneh Adam , Bimerew Melaku , Gedefaw Getnet , Demis Asmamaw
Published: April 2021

Background. Palliative care is a multidisciplinary team-based care for patients facing life-threatening illness and their families which addresses their physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs to improve the quality of care. There is a strategy for an increase in palliative care services by integrating with the healthcare system. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis was aimed to assess the overall pooled prevalence of nurses’ knowledge towards palliative care in Ethiopia. Method. PubMed/MEDLINE, HINARI, EMBASE, Scopus, Google Scholar, and African Journals OnLine (AJOL) were the databases used to search for articles. Cochrane I2 statistics and Egger’s test were done to check heterogeneity and publication bias, respectively. Subgroup analysis by region, study period, and sample size was done due to the presence of heterogeneity. Sensitivity analysis was also done to detect the presence or absence of an influential study. Result. Nine studies with a total of 2709 study participants were included in the final analysis. The overall pooled prevalence of nurses’ knowledge towards palliative care was 45.57% (95% CI: 35.27–55.87). Educational status and palliative care training were significantly associated factors with the level of nurses’ knowledge towards palliative care. B.S. degree holder nurses (AOR = 3.01; 95% CI: 1.50–6.02) and nurses who had palliative care training (AOR = 4.64; 95% CI: 2.37–9.08) were found to be significantly associated factors with the nurses’ level of knowledge. Conclusion. More than half of nurses had poor knowledge of palliative care. Educational status of nurses and palliative care training were significantly associated factors with the nurses’ level of knowledge about palliative care. Therefore, palliative care training and improving nurses’ careers through continuous professional development should be focused on regularly to improve nurses’ knowledge about palliative care.
Fresh Tea Sprouts Detection via Image Enhancement and Fusion SSD
Authors: Chen Bin , Yan Jili , Wang Ke
Published: April 2021

The accuracy of Fresh Tea Sprouts Detection (FTSD) is not high enough, which has become a big bottleneck in the field of vision-based automatic tea picking technology. In order to improve the detection performance, we rethink the process of FTSD. Meanwhile, motivated by the multispectral image processing, we find that more input information can lead to a better detection result. With this in mind, a novel Fresh Tea Sprouts Detection method via Image Enhancement and Fusion Single-Shot Detector (FTSD-IEFSSD) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, we obtain an enhanced image via RGB-channel-transform-based image enhancement algorithm, which uses the original fresh tea sprouts color image as the input. The enhanced image can provide more input information, where the contrast in the fresh tea sprouts area is increased and the background area is decreased. Then, the enhanced image and color image is used in the detection subnetwork with the backbone of ResNet50 separately. We also use the multilayer semantic fusion and scores fusion to further improve the detection accuracy. The strategy of tea sprouts shape-based default boxes is also included during the training. The experimental results show that the proposed method has a better performance on FTSD than the state-of-the-art methods.