bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Potential benefits of metformin and pioglitazone combination therapy via gut microbiota and metabolites in high-fat diet-fed mice
Authors: Wang Dongmei , Liu Jieying , Zhong Ling , Ding Lu , Zhang Qian , Yu Miao , Li Ming , Xiao Xinhua
Published: October 2022

Metformin and pioglitazone monotherapy have been proven to alter gut microbiota in diabetes and obesity. The present study aimed to investigated whether the combined administration of pioglitazone and metformin achieved superior protective effects on high-fat diet (HFD)-fed obese mice and elucidated its molecular mechanism via the gut microbiota and its metabolites. C57BL/6 males were randomly divided into five groups: the control group, fed a normal control diet; the HFD group, fed an HFD; the metformin monotherapy group, fed an HFD and treated with metformin; the pioglitazone monotherapy group, fed an HFD and treated with pioglitazone; and the combination therapy group, fed an HFD and treated with metformin and pioglitazone combination therapy. The cecal contents were collected for 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing and untargeted metabolomics analysis. The results showed that the combination therapy of metformin and pioglitazone significantly improved insulin sensitivity and glucolipid metabolism in HFD-fed mice. Combination therapy markedly altered gut microbiota by increasing beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Faecalibacterium and Roseburia, and decreasing harmful bacteria, such as Oscillibacter and Eubacterium_xylanophilum_group. Fecal metabolites were significantly changed in the combination therapy group, including a reduction in amino acid metabolism and augmentation of lipid metabolism, such as citrulline, sarcosine, D-glutamine, lipoxin A4, prostaglandin E2, stearidonic acid and lucidenic acid A. These results revealed that combined metformin and pioglitazone therapy had synergistic effects or at least have an additive effect on modifying gut microbiota and metabolites, closely associated with improved glucolipid metabolic parameters in HFD-fed mice, which provides novel evidence and promising targets for metformin and pioglitazone combination therapy in type 2 diabetes.
Tissue distribution and integrated pharmacokinetic properties of major effective constituents of oral Gegen-Qinlian decoction in mice
Authors: Lu Jing-Ze , Hong Dan-Dan , Ye Dan , Mu Sheng , Shi Rong , Song Yu , Feng Chu , Ma Bing-Liang
Published: October 2022

Gegen-Qinlian decoction (GQD) is a classic traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula. GQD is effective against colon or liver-related diseases including ulcerative colitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver, and type 2 diabetes. In this study, a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method was developed, validated, and then applied to reveal the tissue distribution and integrated pharmacokinetic properties of major effective constituents of oral GQD in mice. The established method was quick, sensitive, and accurate enough to analyze GQD constituents in plasma and tissue homogenate samples quantitatively. According to their concentrations in the portal vein, systemic circulation, liver and colon samples of the mice after oral administration of GQD, the concentration-time curves of the constituents were respectively plotted. The results showed that daidzein, baicalin, and baicalein had relatively high exposure levels in the livers, while puerarin, berberine, epiberberine, coptisine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine, glycyrrhizic acid, and glycyrrhetinic acid were enriched in the colons. Given that these constituents have significant biological activity, they could be regarded as the major effective constituents of GQD in treating colon or liver-related diseases, respectively. In addition, the integrated pharmacokinetic properties of GQD were studied. The GQD “integrated constituent” reached peak concentration at 4.0 h in the portal vein, the systemic circulation, the livers, and the colons, with half-lives of 1.5–4.1 h and mean retention time of 4.5–6.3 h, respectively. Furthermore, the concentration of the GQD “integrated constituent” in the colons was approximately 10 times higher than that in the livers, both of which were much higher than that in the systemic circulation, indicating its accumulation in these tissues, especially in the colons. In conclusion, the tissue distribution and integrated pharmacokinetic properties of oral GQD were revealed in the study. The results of the tissue distribution study would contribute to identifying the major target tissues and effective constituents of GQD, while the results of the integrated pharmacokinetic study would help to explain the pharmacokinetic properties of oral GQD as a whole.
The significance of calcium-sensing receptor in sustaining photosynthesis and ameliorating stress responses in plants
Authors: Bai Rui , Bai Chunming , Han Xiaori , Liu Yifei , Yong Jean Wan Hong
Published: October 2022

Calcium ions (Ca2+) regulate plant growth and development during exposure to multiple biotic and abiotic stresses as the second signaling messenger in cells. The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CAS) is a specific protein spatially located on the thylakoid membrane. It regulates the intracellular Ca2+ responses by sensing changes in extracellular Ca2+ concentration, thereby affecting a series of downstream signal transduction processes and making plants more resilient to respond to stresses. Here, we summarized the discovery process, structure, and location of CAS in plants and the effects of Ca2+ and CAS on stomatal functionality, photosynthesis, and various environmental adaptations. Under changing environmental conditions and global climate, our study enhances the mechanistic understanding of calcium-sensing receptors in sustaining photosynthesis and mediating abiotic stress responses in plants. A better understanding of the fundamental mechanisms of Ca2+ and CAS in regulating stress responses in plants may provide novel mitigation strategies for improving crop yield in a world facing more extreme climate-changed linked weather events with multiple stresses during cultivation.
Oligochitosan fortifies antioxidative and photosynthetic metabolism and enhances secondary metabolite accumulation in arsenic-stressed peppermint
Authors: Ahmad Bilal , Dar Tariq Ahmad , Khan M. Masroor A. , Ahmad Ajaz , Rinklebe Jörg , Chen Yinglong , Ahmad Parvaiz
Published: October 2022

The current study was designed to investigate whether application of irradiated chitosan (ICn), a recently established plant growth promoter, can prove effective in alleviating arsenic (As) stress in peppermint, a medicinally important plant. This study investigated how foliar application of ICn alleviated As toxicity in peppermint (Mentha piperitaL.). Peppermint plants were treated with ICn (80 mg L−1) alone or in combination with As (10, 20, or 40 mg kg−1of soil, as Na2HAsO4·7H2O) 40 days after transplantation (DAT), and effects on the growth, photosynthesis, and antioxidants were assessed at 150 DAT as stress severely decreases plant growth, affects photosynthesis, and alters enzymatic (ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase) and non-enzymatic (glutathione) antioxidants. When applied at 40 mg kg−1, ICn significantly decreased the content of essential oil (EO) and total phenols in peppermint by 13.8 and 16.0%, respectively, and decreased phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR) activities by 12.8 and 14.6%, respectively. Application of ICn mitigated the disadvantageous effects caused by As toxicity in peppermint by enhancing activities of antioxidative enzymes and photosynthesis and increased accretion of secondary metabolism products (EOs and phenols). An enhancement of total phenols (increased by 17.3%) and EOs (36.4%) is endorsed to ICn-stimulated enhancement in the activities of PAL and DXR (65.9 and 28.9%, respectively) in comparison to the control. To conclude, this study demonstrated that foliar application of ICn (80 mgL−1) effectively promoted the growth and physiology of peppermint and eliminated As-induced toxicity to achieve high production of EO-containing crops grown in metal-contaminated soils.
The impact of Sino-foreign cooperative universities in China on Chinese postgraduate students’ learning performances in the United Kingdom and United States
Authors: Zou Bin , Wang Xueying , Yu Chunmin
Published: October 2022

Sino-foreign cooperative universities in China provide English-Medium instruction (EMI) and enable students to have an international education mode. In contrast, Double First-Class universities provide non-EMI education mode in China. After graduation from their undergraduate studies in China, many students go to the United States or the United Kingdom for their postgraduate studies. However, very few studies have discussed the impact of the EMI context in Sino-foreign cooperative universities and compared students’ learning experiences in the EMI context with the non-EMI context in China. Therefore, this study aimed to explore students’ perceptions of their learning experience from the two contexts and their impact on their postgraduate study in British and American universities. A combination of quantitative and qualitative data collection including questionnaires and interviews was adopted in this study. The findings show that students’ learning experience in the EMI context seems to benefit more than students who are from non-EMI context when they strived for their postgraduate studies in British and American universities.
Exploring the relationship of ESG score and firm value using fsQCA method: Cases of the Chinese manufacturing enterprises
Authors: Zhong Shen , Hou Junzhu , Li Junwei , Gao Wei
Published: October 2022

The basic purpose of a business is to maximize value. With the increased expectations for companies’ social responsibility practices and sustainability, sustainability management has become a must for many companies to maximize value in the current competitive environment. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) are widely used indicators to evaluate corporate social responsibility performance. However, there is a lack of combined view on the three dimensions. This study aims to explore the sources of corporate value from the sustainability perspective. By using fsQCA (fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis), we proposes a configurational model consisting of environmental, social, governance, size and profitability to investigate the value-enhancing mechanisms of corporate social responsibility. The study shows that high enterprise value can be achieved through multiple paths, which can be categorized as resource-constrained type, slack resources type and good management type.
Embracing Uncertainty: How literary writing helps us change our minds
Authors: Devereux Kim
Published: October 2022

Creative writing and cognitive neuroscience can jointly illuminate how literary writing can change our minds by enhancing our tolerance for uncertainty. From my perspective as a novelist, I will show how literary writing hijacks the mechanisms of day-to-day perception and orchestrates cognition to facilitate vividness of (imaginary) experience and insight. Drawing on examples from my novel and other research, I will discuss the role of uncertainty and literary devices such as contradiction and paradox in stymieing habitual assumptions while inviting the reader’s sensory imagination and conscious awareness, thereby creating an open space for insight. I hypothesize that literary writing promotes a form of dual cognition that involves both sensory experience and detachment, is therapeutic, and may share some of the benefits of mindfulness.
Validity evaluation of teacher’s core literacy questionnaire of public physical education
Authors: Zeng Xiaojin , Da Yi , Luo Lin
Published: October 2022

Objective

The purpose of this study was to develop a core literacy questionnaire for public physical education teachers in colleges and universities (TCLQ-PPE) to address the current lack of core literacy assessment tools for public physical education teachers in Chinese colleges and universities. The study measured the validity of the TCLQ-PPE questionnaire by collecting evidence of the validity of this questionnaire.

Methods

An initial pool of items was obtained from existing research tools, literature, and expert opinion. An expert review panel evaluated its content. A subsequent validation process reduced the number of items in the item pool. A validated factor analysis of the TCLQ-PPE was performed using structural equation modeling.

Results

The TCLQ-PPE consists of five dimensions (professional beliefs, professional knowledge and skills, sports skills, work and life adaptation and reflection, and work management), consisting of a total of 40 items. The factorial validity of the TCLQ-PPE was determined by the significant loadings of all items on their expected factors, showing good data model fit and good stability between two independent samples. The Cronbach’s ɑ coefficient for each dimension was greater than 0.9.

Conclusion

The TCLQ-PPE had sufficient evidence of validity. The development of the instrument showed evidence of validity for the content, response process, and internal structure.
Narcissistic traits and compassion: Embracing oneself while devoiding others
Authors: Freund Vanessa Lea , Peeters Frenk , Meesters Cor , Geschwind Nicole , Lemmens Lotte H. J. M. , Bernstein David P. , Lobbestael Jill
Published: October 2022

Grandiose narcissistic traits refer to exploitative and arrogant attitudes, while vulnerable narcissistic traits entail hypersensitivity to judgment and low self-esteem. Little is known about how individuals with narcissistic traits can improve their attitudes toward themselves and others. The current research puts self- and other compassion forward as possible targets to alleviate some of destructive patterns of narcissism. Generally, self-compassion (SC) has previously been associated with beneficial effects on psychological wellbeing, while other compassion (OC) is advantageous for interpersonal relationships. This study explored the relationship between narcissistic traits and the efficacy of experimental compassion inductions. Student and community participants (N = 230, Mage = 27.41, 65.2% female) completed grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic trait, SC and OC state questionnaires, and either an SC or OC induction. It was expected that individuals with higher narcissistic traits (particularly grandiose traits) would benefit from the inductions and show higher SC after but would have greater difficulty showing meaningful increases in OC (especially OC directed at the general population). The results indicated that individual differences in grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic traits are related to the magnitude of improvements following the inductions: the theorized lack of SC in individuals with vulnerable oversensitivity to judgment traits seems possible to be counteracted through different types of compassion exercises. Moreover, higher grandiose exploitativeness–entitlement and global vulnerable narcissistic traits related to less increases than others. However, directly inducing OC in individuals with these traits was linked to greater OC improvements than improvements after inducing SC. Overall, the present findings suggest that self-compassionate behavior can be improved in individuals with high oversensitivity and that other compassionate behavior could potentially be increased if, specifically, other compassion exercises are utilized when higher levels of certain narcissistic traits are present.
Double chain system for online and offline medical data sharing viaprivate and consortium blockchain: A system design study
Authors: Li Chaoran , Liu Jusheng , Qian Guanyu , Wang Ziyi , Han Jingti
Published: October 2022

With the informatization development and digital construction in the healthcare industry, electronic medical records and Internet medicine facilitate people's medical treatment. However, the current data storage method has the risk of data loss, leakage, and tampering, and can't support extensive and secure sharing of medical data. To realize effective and secure medical data storage and sharing among offline medical institutions and Internet medicine platforms, this study used a combined private blockchain and consortium blockchain to design a medical blockchain double-chain system (MBDS). This system can store encrypted medical data in distributed storage mode and systematically integrate the medical data of patients in offline medical institutions and Internet medicine platforms, to achieve equality, credibility, and data sharing among participating nodes. The MBDS system constructed in this study incorporated Internet medicine care services into the current healthcare system and provided new solutions and practical guidance for the future development of collaborative medical care. This study helped to solve the problems of medical data interconnection and resource sharing, improve the efficiency and effect of disease diagnosis, alleviate the contradiction between doctors and patients, and facilitate personal health management. This study has substantial theoretical and practical implications for the research and application of medical data storage and sharing.
COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy in patients with Parkinson's disease
Authors: Zhou Yifan , Lin Zhengyu , Wan Xiaonan , Liu Jun , Ding Jianqing , Zhang ChenCheng , Ren Kang , Li Dianyou , Wu Yiwen
Published: October 2022

Background

As coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination campaign underway, little is known about the vaccination coverage and the underlying barriers of the vaccination campaign in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

Objective

To investigate the vaccination status and reasons for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy among PD patients.

Methods

In concordance with the CHERRIES guideline, a web-based, single-center survey was promoted to patients with PD via an online platform from April 2022 and May 2022. Logistic regression models were used to identify factors related to COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.

Results

A total of 187 PD cases participated in this online survey (response rate of 23%). COVID-19 vaccination rate was 54.0%. Most participants had a fear of COVID-19 (77.5%) and trusted the efficacy (82.9%) and safety (66.8%) of COVID-19 vaccine. Trust in government (70.3%) and concerns about the impact of vaccine on their disease (67.4%) were the most common reasons for COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and hesitancy, respectively. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was independently associated with the history of flu vaccination (OR: 0.09, p < 0.05), trust in vaccine efficacy (OR: 0.15, p < 0.01), male gender (OR: 0.47, p < 0.05), disease duration of PD (OR: 1.08, p < 0.05), and geographic factor (living in Shanghai or not) (OR: 2.87, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The COVID-19 vaccination rate remained low in PD patients, however, most individuals understood benefits of vaccination. COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy was affected by multiple factors such as geographic factor, history of flu vaccination, disease duration and trust in efficacy of vaccine. These findings could help government and public health authorities to overcome the barrier to COVID-19 vaccination and improve vaccine roll-out in PD patients.
Towards Autonomous Robotic Minimally Invasive Ultrasound Scanning and Vessel Reconstruction on Non-Planar Surfaces
Authors: Marahrens Nils , Scaglioni Bruno , Jones Dominic , Prasad Raj , Biyani Chandra Shekhar , Valdastri Pietro
Published: October 2022

Autonomous robotic Ultrasound (US) scanning has been the subject of research for more than 2 decades. However, little work has been done to apply this concept into a minimally invasive setting, in which accurate force sensing is generally not available and robot kinematics are unreliable due to the tendon-driven, compliant robot structure. As a result, the adequate orientation of the probe towards the tissue surface remains unknown and the anatomy reconstructed from scan may become highly inaccurate. In this work we present solutions to both of these challenges: an attitude sensor fusion scheme for improved kinematic sensing and a visual, deep learning based algorithm to establish and maintain contact between the organ surface and the US probe. We further introduce a novel scheme to estimate and orient the probe perpendicular to the center line of a vascular structure. Our approach enables, for the first time, to autonomously scan across a non-planar surface and navigate along an anatomical structure with a robotically guided minimally invasive US probe. Our experiments on a vessel phantom with a convex surface confirm a significant improvement of the reconstructed curved vessel geometry, with our approach strongly reducing the mean positional error and variance. In the future, our approach could help identify vascular structures more effectively and help pave the way towards semi-autonomous assistance during partial hepatectomy and the potential to reduce procedure length and complication rates.
Reducing the Number of Research Animals: How Imaging Technologies Can Help
Authors: Tremoleda Jordi L.
Published: October 2022

Even when no other alternatives are available for scientific experiments, the use of research animals is still a difficult decision. To promote more ethical animal research, scientists must follow the 3Rs principle. Reduction is one of the 3Rs—it involves keeping the number of animals used to a minimum, by obtaining information from fewer animals or obtaining more information from the same number of animals. Imaging technologies allow scientists to see inside of the bodies of live animals without harming them, so that the animals do not need to be killed for scientists to study their organs. Using imaging techniques, scientists can study illness and responses to treatments. Animals can be imaged multiple times in long-term studies, so imaging techniques protect animal welfare by reducing the number of animals used in research.
Magnetohydrodynamics evolution of three-dimensional magnetic null in NOAA active region 11515 initiated using non-force-free field extrapolation
Authors: Kumar Sanjay , Prasad Avijeet , Sarkar Ranadeep , Bhattacharyya Ramit
Published: October 2022

Magnetohydrodynamics simulation of active region NOAA 11515 is performed to examine the initiation of the M5.6 flaring event that starts around 10:43 UT on 2 July 2012. The simulation is conducted using an extrapolated non-force-free magnetic field generated from the photospheric vector magnetogram of the active region as the initial magnetic field. The magnetic field shows the presence of a three-dimensional (3D) magnetic null with the corresponding dome overlying a filament and a low-lying magnetic flux rope, observed in 304 Å and 131 Å respectively. The simulated dynamics, triggered by the initial Lorentz force, lead to the bifurcations of the flux rope, which is similar to the observed bifurcation in the 131 Å brightenings. Additionally, the rope exhibits a rise and reconnects at the 3D null. These reconnections convert field lines of the rope into the anchored outer spine of the 3D null—explaining the occurrence of a nearby confined C-class flare. Further, the results show that the field lines of the flux rope reach the vicinity of the filament and become non-parallel to the field lines of the filament. This initiates the reconnections between the rope and the field lines of the filament—activating the filament for the eruption. This interesting interaction of the flux rope and filament seems to contribute to the onset of the M-class flare.
Test charge driven response of a dusty plasma with polarization force
Authors: Ali S. , Masood W. , Singh K. , Jahangir R.
Published: October 2022

By using the framework of kinetic model, the test charge driven response of a dusty plasma is evaluated in the presence of polarization force. The plasma containing electrons, singly ionized positive ions, and highly charged negative dust particulates is known as a dusty plasma, which can be perturbed by a test particle of charge qT moving with velocity vT along the z-axis. The polarization force purely comes from the high charging state of micron-sized dust particles, causing a deformation of shielding length due to density gradient and modifying the collective motion and particulates’ acceleration. The application of Fourier transformation technique to the set of dynamical equations may result in the shielded potential for a test charge with a modified dielectric constant. Several possibilities have been explored to evaluate the shielded potentials by imposing different conditions on the test charge speed in comparison with the thermal speeds of plasma species. It is found that the profiles of wakefield, Debye-Hückel and farfield (FF) potentials are strongly modified by the polarization force coefficient via the dust charging state and dust concentration. The present findings are useful in the study of strongly coupled dusty plasma, where micron-sized negatively charged dust grains are characterized by a high charging state.
Only transesophageal echocardiography guided patent foramen ovale closure: A single-center experience
Authors: Wang Su , Zhu Ge , Liu Zhang , Zhou Jian , Zang Wangfu
Published: October 2022

Background

An increasing number of studies have proved that patent foramen ovale (PFO) occlusion could reduce the incidence of recurrent stroke more than drug therapy alone under certain conditions. Which is the “best” guidance technique still remains to be discussed.

Methods

A single center retrospective study enrolled 120 patients (mean age 52.51 ± 14.29 years) who underwent PFO closure between April 2019 and March 2021. 87 patients (72.5%) had suffered cryptogenic stroke (CS) at least one time, and 24 patients (20%) had repetitive episodes of hemicrania unsourced. 65 patients were in the transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) guidance group (T-group), and the other 55 patients were in the angiographic guidance group (A-group).

Results

There were no significant differences in crucial clinical characteristics between the two groups. In T-group, the procedural success rate was higher (100% vs. 92.7%, P = 0.028), and the procedural time was shorter (23.15 ± 13.87 vs. 25.75 ± 7.19, P = 0.001). No difference was detected in the procedural complication rate. Follow-up were performed at least 12 months. At 12 months, new atrial fibrillation occurred in 1 patient (1.5%) in the T-group and in 1 patient (1.8%) in the A-group (P = 0.905). Residual shunt occurred in 1 patient (1.5%) in the T-group and in 3 patients (5.5%) in the A-group (P = 0.236). Recurrent cerebral ischemia occurred in 2 patient (3.1%) in the T-group and in 2 patients (3.6%) in the A-group (P = 0.865).

Conclusion

The use of only intra-procedural TEE guidance for PFO closure is safe and effective. The whole procedure can be performed without fluoroscopy and contrast medium. The short and medium follow-up results are satisfactory, especially in the residual shunt.
Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum infection in black goats in Yunnan Province, Southwestern China
Authors: Hu Xiao-Hui , Xie Shi-Chen , Liang Qin-Li , Sun Li-Xiu , Li Zhao , Yang Jian-Fa , Zhu Xing-Quan , Zou Feng-Cai , He Jun-Jun
Published: October 2022

Toxoplasma gondiiandNeospora caninumare two obligate intracellular protozoan parasites that can cause reproductive failure and production losses. To date, there is no data ofT. gondiiandN. caninumseroprevalence in black goats in Yunnan Province, southwestern China. In the present study, a total of 734 serum samples were collected from black goats in four different counties of Yunnan Province. 734 and 590 serum samples were examined for antibodies againstT. gondiiandN. caninumby using MAT and indirect ELISA, respectively. A total of 123 and 76 samples wereT. gondii-positive andN. caninum-positive, respectively. The overall seroprevalence ofT. gondiiin black goats was 16.76% (123/734, 95% CI: 14.06–19.46) with the titer ranged from 1:25 to 1:3200. The seroprevalence ofN. caninumwas 12.88% (76/590, 95% CI: 10.18–15.58). There was significant difference in seroprevalence ofN. caninumin different regions (P< 0.01, χ2= 30.63) and age groups (P< 0.05, χ2= 11.85). Significant differences in seroprevalence ofT. gondiiwere observed in different regions (P< 0.05, χ2= 9.21) and different gender groups (P< 0.01, χ2= 12.29). Results of seroprevalence ofT. gondiiandN. caninumindicated thatT. gondiiandN. caninumwere prevalent parasites in black goats in Yunnan Province. This is the first report of seroprevalence ofT. gondiiandN. caninumin black goats in Yunnan Province. The results of this study indicated that some measures should be taken to control these two parasites and to reduce economic losses to the livestock industry in Yunnan Province.
Genetic diversity of imported PRRSV-2 strains, 2005–2020, Hungary
Authors: Jakab Szilvia , Kaszab Eszter , Marton Szilvia , Bányai Krisztián , Bálint Ádám , Nemes Imre , Szabó István
Published: October 2022

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 2 (PRRSV-2) remains sporadic in Europe. In this study, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of PRRSV-2 infections encompassing 15 years in Hungary. Partial (423 bp long) ORF5 sequences (n = 44) from 20 Hungarian pig herds were analyzed. The study strains fell into two genetic lineages, L1 and L5, being L5 strains more prevalent (88.6 vs. 11.4%). Pairwise sequence identities within Hungarian representative PRRSV-2 strains ranged between 84.7 to 100% (nucleotide, nt) and 85 to 100% (amino acid, aa). When compared with reference strains, identity values fell between 87 and 100% (L1, nt 87–91%, aa 87–93%, reference strain IAF-exp91; L5, nt 87–100%, aa 88–100%, reference strain Ingelvac MLV). Epidemiologic examination implied that the majority of L5 strains were imported repeatedly from other European countries where Ingelvac MLV was approved for routine use. The emergence of L1 strains was thought to be associated with a single introduction and subsequent dissemination between pig farms of a large integrator. Results presented here contribute to a better understanding of the epizootiology of PRRSV-2 infections and shed light on the genetic diversity of viral strains in non-endemic countries.
A Synopsis of the Associations of Oxidative Stress, ROS, and Antioxidants with Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Black Homer S.
Published: October 2022

The Greek physician, Aretaios, coined the term “diabetes” in the 1st Century A.D. “Mellitus” arose from the observation that the urine exhibits a sweetness due to its elevated glucose levels. Diabetes mellitus (DM) accounted for 6.7 million deaths globally in 2021 with expenditures of USD 966 billion. Mortality is predicted to rise nearly 10-fold by 2030. Oxidative stress, an imbalance between the generation and removal of reactive oxygen species (ROS), is implicated in the pathophysiology of diabetes. Whereas ROS are generated in euglycemic, natural insulin-regulated glucose metabolism, levels are regulated by factors that regulate cellular respiration, e.g., the availability of NAD-linked substrates, succinate, and oxygen; and antioxidant enzymes that maintain the cellular redox balance. Only about 1–2% of total oxygen consumption results in the formation of superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide under normal reduced conditions. However, under hyperglycemic conditions, about 10% of the respiratory oxygen consumed may be lost as free radicals. Under hyperglycemic conditions, the two-reaction polyol pathway is activated. Nearly 30% of blood glucose can flux through this pathway—a major path contributing to NADH/NAD+ redox imbalance. Under these conditions, protein glycation and lipid peroxidation increase, and inflammatory cytokines are formed, leading to the further formation of ROS. As mitochondria are the major site of intracellular ROS, these organelles are subject to the deleterious effects of ROS themselves and eventually become dysfunctional—a milestone in Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) of which insulin resistance and diabetes predispose to cardiovascular disease.
Contact Pressure Distribution and Pressure Correction Methods of Bolted Joints under Mixed-Mode Loading
Authors: Wang Shengao , Zhu Min , Cao Hongjun , Xie Xin , Li Biao , Guo Ming , Li Haiyan , Xu Zijian , Tian Jie , Ma Desheng
Published: October 2022

The dynamic response of complex equipment under mixed-mode loading is significant for structural design. Bolted joints are the primary connection mode of subsystem assembly, and the degradation of bolted joints may reduce the safety and reliability of the equipment. The Iwan model is widely used to describe the degradation of bolted joints, which has been continuously revised and experimentally verified. The classic Iwan model is a static model that lacks predictive ability. The latest dynamic Iwan model can predict the softening process and reveal the physical mechanism of degradation. However, the function of dynamic pressure distribution needs to be determined for the model solution. We analyzed the contact boundary and pressure distribution under mixed-mode loading with the finite element method (FEM) and proposed the dynamic functions. Secondly, we put forward two correction methods to compensate for the loss of preload caused by simplification and to achieve consistency between the pressure distribution function and the contact boundary function. Finally, the influence of discrete order on the correction of pressure distribution was analyzed. The results show that the constraint method is more suitable for the modification of the pressure distribution. The research results can be applied to the solution of the dynamic Iwan model.
Energy Harvesting from Fluid Flow Using Piezoelectric Materials: A Review
Authors: Naqvi Areeba , Ali Ahsan , Altabey Wael A. , Kouritem Sallam A.
Published: October 2022

Energy harvesting from piezoelectric materials is quite common and has been studied for the past few decades, but, recently, there have been a lot of new advancements in harnessing electrical energy via piezoelectric materials. In this regard, several studies were carried out in electrochemistry and fluid flow. Furthermore, consideration of productive and valuable resources is important to meet the needs of power generation. For this purpose, energy harvesting from fluids such as wind and water is significant and must be implemented on a large scale. So, developing self-powering devices can resolve the problem like that, and piezoelectric materials are gaining interest day by day because these materials help in energy generation. This review paper discusses different techniques for harnessing energy from fluid flows using piezoelectric materials. In addition, various vibration-based energy-harvesting mechanisms for improving the efficiency of piezoelectric energy harvesters have also been investigated and their opportunities and challenges identified.
Active Defense Research against False Data Injection Attacks of Power CPS Based on Data-Driven Algorithms
Authors: Bo Xiaoyong , Qu Zhaoyang , Wang Lei , Dong Yunchang , Zhang Zhenming , Wang Da
Published: October 2022

The terminal equipment interconnection and the network communication environment are complex in power cyber–physical systems (CPS), and the frequent interaction between the information and energy flows aggravates the risk of false data injection attacks (FDIAs) in the power grid. This paper proposes an active defense framework against FDIAs of power CPS based on data-driven algorithms in order to ensure that FDIAs can be efficiently detected and processed in real-time during power grid operation. First, the data transmission scenario and false data injection forms of power CPS were analyzed, and the FDIA mathematical model was expounded. Then, from a data-driven perspective, the algorithm improvement and process design were carried out for the three key links of data enhancement, attack detection, and data reconstruction. Finally, an active defense framework against FDIAs was proposed. The example analysis verified that the method proposed in this paper could effectively detect FDIAs and perform data reconstruction, providing a new idea for the active defense against FDIAs of power CPS.
Sorption and Spatial Distribution of 137Cs, 90Sr and 241Am on Mineral Phases of Fractured Rocks of Nizhnekansky Granitoid Massif
Authors: Rodionova Anastasiya , Petrov Vladimir , Vlasova Irina , Rozov Konstantin , Nevolin Iurii , Yapaskurt Vasiliy , Rumynin Vyacheslav , Kalmykov Stepan
Published: October 2022

The sorption behavior and spatial microdistribution of Cs-137, Sr-90 and Am-241 onto the surface of a fractured rock sample from the R-11 borehole of the exocontact zone of the Nizhnekansky granitoid massif were studied. The sorption efficiency of the fractured sample increases in the row of Sr < Cs < Am, where americium is the most retained radionuclide. Based on the image processing of radiograms and scanning electron microscopy data, the mineral relative sorption efficiency (RSE) values were determined to quantify the contribution of the mineral phases of the fractured sample to radionuclide retention. It was established that cesium and strontium are predominantly retained in cracks filled with secondary mineral chlorite. Zeolite is a less effective sorbent with respect to cesium and strontium. Americium sorption is uniform over the whole surface of the fractured sample, with close RSE values for all mineral phases (RSE ~1). The behavior of cesium in heterogeneous and monomineral systems of crushed mineral phases of quartz, biotite and zeolite NaA imitating minerals of the fractured rock sample R-11 was determined. It was shown that the fraction of the sorbed cesium in a heterogeneous system of two mineral phases—biotite and quartz—was larger than the sum of sorption values for the same separated mineral phases. Based on the models of radionuclide sorption on illite–smectite minerals, it was able to estimate the depth of the penetration of solution into the fractured rock sample R-11. The variations of penetration depths for solutions of specific radionuclide into the fractured rock sample were established.
Comparative Analysis of Riser Base and Flowline Gas Injection on Vertical Gas-Liquid Two-Phase Flow
Authors: Ahmed Salem , Aliyu Aliyu , Baba Yahaya , Abdulkadir Mukhtar , Abdulhadi Rahil , Lao Liyun , Yeung Hoi
Published: October 2022

Gas injection is a frequently used method for artificial lift and flow regime rectification in offshore production and transportation flowlines. The flow behaviour in such flowlines is complex and a better understanding of flow characteristics, such as flow patterns, void fraction/hold up distributions and pressure gradient is always required for efficient and optimal design of downstream handling facilities. Injection method and location have been shown to strongly affect downstream fluid behaviour that can have important implications for pumping and downstream facility design, especially if the development length between pipeline and downstream facility is less than L/D = 50 as reported by many investigators. In this article, we provide the results of an experimental investigation into the effects of the gas injection position on the characteristics of the downstream upwards vertical gas flow using a vertical riser with an internal diameter of 52 mm and a length of 10.5 m. A horizontal 40-m-long section connected at the bottom provides options for riser base or horizontal flow line injection of gas. The flowline gas injection is performed 40 m upstream of the riser base. A 16 by 16 capacitance wire mesh sensor and a gamma densitometer were used to measure the gas-liquid phase cross-sectional distribution at the riser top. A detailed analysis of the flow characteristics is carried out based on the measurements. These include flow regimes, cross-sectional liquid holdup distributions and peaking patterns as well as analysis of the time series data. Our findings show that flow behaviours differences due to different gas injection locations were persisting after a development length of 180D in the riser. More specifically, core-peaking liquid holdup occurred at the lower gas injection rates through the flowline, while wall-peaking holdup profiles were established at the same flow conditions for riser base injection. Wall peaking was associated with dispersed bubbly flows and hence non-pulsating as against core-peaking was associated with Taylor bubbles and slug flows. Furthermore, it was found that the riser base injection generally produced lower holdups. It was noted that the circumferential injector used at the riser base promoted high void fraction and hence low liquid holdups. Due to the bubbly flow structure, the slip velocity is smaller than for larger cap bubbles and hence the void fraction is higher. The measurements and observations presented in the paper provides valuable knowledge on riser base/flowline gas introduction that can directly feed into the design of downstream facilities such as storage tanks, slug catchers and separators.
Gel Stability of Calcium Bentonite Suspension in Brine and Its Application in Water-Based Drilling Fluids
Authors: Zhao Zhenhua , Chen Sinan , Zhou Fengshan , Wei Zhongjin
Published: October 2022

With the development of the oil industry and the increasingly complex drilling environment, the performance of drilling fluids has to be constantly improved. In order to solve the problem of bentonite dispersion and hydration in a saline medium, a drilling fluid additive with good performance and acceptable cost was sought. The effects of several water-soluble polymers, such as cellulose polymers, synthetic polymers and natural polymers, on the rheology and gel suspension stability of calcium-based bentonite were compared in this study. Among the examined polymers, the xanthan gum biopolymer (XC) was the least negatively affected in the saline medium used. However, its high price limits its industrial application in oil and gas drilling fluids. In this study, a salt-tolerant polymer, modified vegetable gum (MVG), was prepared by a cross-linking modification of a natural plant gum, which is abundant and cheap. Then, a salt-tolerant polymer mixture called SNV was prepared, composed of the salt-resistant natural polymer MVG and the biopolymer XC. The salt tolerance and slurry ability of SNV and common water-soluble polymers were evaluated and compared. We then selected the most suitable Herschel–Bulkley model to fit the rheological curve of the SNV–bentonite aqueous suspension system. SNV improved the rheological properties of the calcium-based bentonite slurry and the dispersion stability of bentonite. In an SNV concentration of 0.35%, the apparent viscosity (AV) of the base slurry increased from 2 mPa·s to 32 mPa·s, and the low shear reading value at 3 rpm increased from 0 dia to 5 dia. This could greatly improve the viscosity and cutting carrying capacity of the bentonite drilling fluid. The bentonite drilling fluid prepared with SNV could be directly slurried with brine and even seawater; this means that when drilling in ocean, coastal saline water and high-salinity-surface saline water areas, the slurry preparation cost and preparation time can be conveniently reduced.
Identification of QTLs Controlling Radish Root Shape Using Multiple Populations
Authors: Wei Qingzhen , Wang Jinglei , Wang Wuhong , Hu Haijiao , Yan Yaqin , Bao Chonglai , Hu Tianhua
Published: October 2022

Root shape is an important characteristic that affects the commodity of radish (Raphanus sativus L.), which can be measured using the ratio of root length (RL) to root diameter (RD). Although it is known that root shape is controlled by quantitative trait loci (QTLs), reliable QTLs for radish root shape are still lacking. In the present study, we used three F2 populations (1902, 1908 and 1909) derived from the crossing of five radish cultivars with highly divergent root shapes to perform QTL-seq. A total of 1282 individuals of the three F2 populations were measured to determine the root length and maximum diameter. High-depth resequencing of six extreme pools and five parents was performed, and QTL-seq was used to detect the QTLs controlling the radish root shape. We identified seven QTLs for root shape distributing on five radish chromosomes (R1, R2, R4, R5 and R7), among which rs7.1 and rs7.2 had an overlap of 1.02 Mb (13.79–14.81 Mb). In addition, two QTLs, rs4.1 and rs4.2, were adjacent to each other on chromosome R4. In conclusion, this study provides an important foundation for the fine mapping and functional analysis of the QTLs controlling the root shape and breeding for root shape in radish.
Qualitative Analysis of Chair Tasks in Emotion-Focused Therapy Video Sessions
Authors: Bailey Ghazaleh , Halamová Júlia , Gablíková Mária
Published: October 2022

One of the key elements of Emotion-Focused Therapy (EFT) is decreasing self-criticism as a secondary, maladaptive emotion within two-chair interventions while simultaneously increasing self-compassion and self-protection as primary, adaptive emotions. Though the concepts of self-compassion, self-protection, and self-criticism are highly acknowledged within psychotherapy research, the verbal articulation of these constructs within therapy sessions is underinvestigated. Thus, this qualitative study aims to examine how self-criticism, self-protection, and self-compassion are articulated by clients in EFT video sessions. Consensual qualitative research was used for data analysis performed by two core team members and one auditor. Three similar domains were considered for all three concepts: behavioural, emotional, and cognitive aspects. The number of self-protection statements was the highest among the states. The behavioural aspect was the most dominant domain for self-protection with the major subdomain ‘I tell you what I need’. For self-compassion, the cognitive aspect was the most significant domain containing eight subdomains, such as ‘I see your bad circumstances’. The most frequent domain for self-criticism was the behavioural aspect consisting of the two subdomains ‘I point out your wrong behaviours and I give you instructions’. The findings demonstrate the significance of promoting both self-compassion and self-protection to combat self-criticism. More studies of categorising a broader number of cases among various therapy approaches are necessary to develop a more detailed understanding of clients’ verbalisation of self-compassion, self-protection, and self-criticism within therapy.
Nontyphoidal Salmonella Infection Associated with Subsequent Risk of Hematological Malignancies: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study
Authors: Yun Chih-Hui , Kao Wei-Chun , Hsu Chung Y. , Chang Renin , Cheng Ming-Fang , Hung Yao-Min
Published: October 2022

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between nontyphoidal salmonellosis (NTS) and new-onset hematological malignancy. We conducted a 17-year nationwide, population-based, retrospective cohort study to examine the association between NTS and the risk of hematological malignancies by using the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database (LHID) of Taiwan. Participants were enrolled from 2000 to 2015 and were monitored until 2017. We traced the years 1998–2000 to ensure that the cases included were newly diagnosed with NTS. The NTS cohort included 13,790 patients with newly diagnosed NTS between 2000 and 2015. Each patient was propensity score matched at a 1:4 ratio with people without NTS. Cumulative incidence, hazard ratios (HRs), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated after adjusting for age, sex, income, urbanization, and medical comorbidities. The adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of hematological malignancies for NTS patients relative to those without NTS was 1.42 (95% CI 0.91–2.20). In the age subgroup analysis, NTS had a significantly greater risk of hematological malignancies for patients older than 60 (aHR 3.04, 95% CI 1.46–6.34), with an incidence rate of 11.7 per 10,000 person-years. In patients over 60 years of age, a prominent risk of hematological malignancies was observed at a follow-up of more than 3 years after the index date (aHR 3.93, 95% CI 1.60–9.65). A history of NTS is associated with the risk of subsequent hematological malignancies in Taiwanese subjects older than 60.