bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rancang Bangun Monitoring Gas Belerang Oksida Berbasis Internet of Things Studi Kasus Gunung Ijen
Authors: Ardi Muhammad Arifin , Pristianto Fellian Helmi , Nurkahfi Muhammad , Yasi Ratna Mustika
Published: February 2022

Gunung Ijen merupakan salah satu Gunung berapi yang memiliki lapangan solfatara danselalu melepaskan gas vulkanik dengan konsentrasi belerang yang tinggi dan dapatmengiritasi saluran pernafasan. Modul sensor gas MQ136 merupakan sensor yang dapatmendeteksi keberadaan gas belerang dengan jarak pembacaan antara 0 sampai dengan 100ppm (parts per million). Modul sensor gas MQ136 difungsikan sebagai komponen aktif yangdigunakan untuk membaca fenomena fisis konsentrasi gas belerang dan IC (IntegratedCircuit) ATmega2560 digunakan sebagai penerima data ADC (Analog to Digital Converter)dari modul sensor gas MQ136. Data ADC yang diterima oleh IC ATmega2560 kemudiankirimkan ke modul ESP8266 Node MCU melalui serial UART (Universal AsynchronousReceiver Transmitter) dan kemudian data tersebut dikirimkan ke server menggunakan aksesinternet melalui modul ESP8266 Node MCU. Sehingga pengguna dapat mengetahuikonsentrasi gas belerang di Gunung Ijen melalui web secara realtime kapanpun dandimanapun pengguna berada. Hasil uji coba menggunakan simulasi miniatur Gunung Ijendan bantun asap gas yang dihasilkan dari asap serbuk flare menunjukkan bahwa prototipdapat berfungsi memonitoring gas belerang dengan kadar konsentrasi tertentu yangditunjukkan pada konsentrasi 0 ppm sampai 15 ppm.
Sintesis, Karakterisasi, dan Uji Aktivitas Antibakteri Senyawa Organotimah(IV) 4-Nitrobenzoat
Authors: Hadi Sutopo , Irianti Nova Tri , Noviany Noviany
Published: February 2022

Dua buah senyawa organotimah(IV) yaitu berupa senyawa trifeniltimah(IV) 4-nitrobenzoat (2) dan difeniltimah(IV) di-4-nitrobenzoat (4) telah berhasil disintesis melalui reaksi antara senyawa trifeniltimah(IV) hidroksida (1) dan difeniltimah(IV) oksida (3) dengan ligan asam 4-nitrobenzoat (HNBA). Senyawa hasil sintesis dikarakterisasi dengan menggunakan spektrofotomer IR, spektrofotomer UV, spektrometer NMR dan microelemental analyzer untuk melihat kemurnian senyawa. Aktivitas biologis senyawa turunan organtotimah(IV) 4-nitrobenzoat telah diuji terhadap bakteri Gram positif Staphylococcus aureus dan Gram negatif Escherichia coli. Hasil uji dengan metode difusi agar menunjukkan senyawa 2 pada konsentrasi 200 ppm (3,87 × 10-4 M) memberikan penghambatan yang lebih efektif dibandingkan senyawa 4, senyawa awal 1 dan 3 serta ligan HNBA.

Synthesis, Characterization, and Antibacterial Activity Test of Organotin(IV) 4-nitrobenzoate. Two organotin(IV) compounds, namely triphenyltin(IV) 4-nitrobenzoate (2) and diphenyltin(IV) di-4-nitrobenzoate (4) compounds have been successfully synthesized through a reaction between triphenyltin(IV) hydroxide (1) and diphenyltin(IV) oxide (3) with 4-nitrobenzoic acid (HNBA) The synthesized compounds were characterized using IR, UV, NMR spectrometer, and a microelemental analyzer to check the compound purity. The biological activity of the organotin(IV) 4-nitrobenzoate derivative was tested against Gram-positive bacteria S. aureus and Gram-negative bacteria E. coli. The test results with the agar diffusion method showed that compound 2 at a concentration of 200 ppm (3.87 x 10-4 M) provide more effective inhibition than compound 4, the starting materials 1 and 3, and the ligand HNBA.
Air Pollution, Environmental Regulations and Economic Growth — Estimation of Simultaneous Equations Based on Panel Data of Prefecture-Level Cities
Authors: Wang Ligang , Zhang Qi , Wang Lin , Zhang Xi
Published: February 2022

The article selects the panel data of 289 prefecture-level and above cities in China from 2003 to 2017, establishes simultaneous equations and uses the 3SLS estimation method to study the relationship between air pollution and economic growth. On the whole, industrial sulfur dioxide and soot emissions have an inverted U-shaped relationship with per capita GDP, and the increase in sulfur dioxide emissions has played a significant role in hindering economic growth. From a regional perspective, the sulfur dioxide emissions in the eastern and western regions conform to the environmental Kuznets curve, and the per capita GDP at the turning point in the western region is significantly lower than the overall national level. The smoke and dust emissions in the eastern, central and western regions all conform to the environmental Kuznets curve, while the per capita GDP at the turning point in the western region is significantly lower than that in the eastern and central regions. In the eastern region, both sulfur dioxide and smoke and dust emissions significantly hinder economic growth, and this hindrance is mainly caused by the spatial transfer of labor. Through further analysis, it is found that environmental regulations can significantly suppress the negative impact of air pollution on economic growth. Finally, the article puts forward some suggestions, such as environmental governance according to local conditions and strengthening environmental regulations.
The Kalkowsky Project - Chapter II. Wobbly ooids in a stromatolite from the Yacoraite Formation (Argentina)
Authors: Granier Bruno , Lapointe Philippe
Published: February 2022

Eccentric ooids are described from a brackish Maastrichtian paleolake in NW Argentina. The first report of such atypical coated grains was from marine Upper Jurassic strata in SE Poland. Because their growth pattern is not likely to be confused with that of other "eccentric" ooids, such as asymmetric ooids, hiatus ooids, half-moon ooids, or "broken" ooids, it is suggested here to name them "wobbly ooids".
Unconventional Reservoirs: Australian Exploration Experts Weigh In on Rosy Reserves Estimates
Authors: Jacobs Trent
Published: February 2022

The early days of a new shale play can be exciting, but they can also come with inflated expectations. This is a familiar theme in the unconventional sector which has delivered a myriad of discoveries over the past decade that have failed to achieve commerciality.

It’s especially familiar for those involved in Australia’s unconventional projects where big hopes have been pinned on the tight-gas potential of places called the Beetaloo, Canning, and Cooper Basin. Instead, the only long-term success to be found on the Australian unconventional landscape is a mature coal-seam gas sector which, not to be discounted, helped the country claim the status of the world’s top exporter of liquefied natural gas in 2020.

For Duncan Lockhart, one of the chief reasons that Australia’s tight-gas ambitions have yet to materialize likewise lies in the fact that tight-rock plays extend for vast areas compared with even the largest conventional systems. As a result, the general manager of exploration with Brisbane-based Central Petroleum said some of the estimates on unconventional prospective resources are “verging on fantasy.”

Lockhart issued his critique as a co-chair of a resource valuation panel hosted by the Asia Pacific Unconventional Resources Technology Conference in November 2021 The discussion between several exploration experts tried to identify the biggest missteps in Australia’s tight-gas adventure thus far. At the highest level, the industry depended on the promising results of too few appraisal wells to formulate reserves estimates on areas covering hundreds and sometimes thousands of square kilometers.

Lockhart emphasized in trying to evaluate such “massive areas,” operators and appraisers have been pushed into a corner.

“We need to make a whole bunch of major assumptions about a whole bunch of inputs,” he said, adding that left out of the initial estimates all too often is “the amount of heterogeneity that we will be experiencing in these rocks over these large areas.”

Lockhart was not alone in his concerns.

With hindsight, it has become easier to see that the highest-performing wells tend to be drilled in isolated sweet spots and along narrow fairways—not across the entirety of a play’s geographic boundaries as shown on the map. The risk facing every operator in this situation is that it will burn through its capital on the wrong slivers of shale and, in turn, see its investors run for the exit.

Martin Wilkes, a managing director with energy consulting firm RISC Advisory in Perth, took aim at what he characterized as the “sales message” approach that tends to ignore such facts of life during the early promotion of tight-gas plays.

“[Operators] talk up total organic compound content and use it to develop these large numbers, which then get transferred into a continued resource using standard recovery factors,” he said.
Artificial-Intelligence and Machine-Learning Technique for Corrosion Mapping
Authors: Carpenter Chris
Published: February 2022

This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 202801, “Automated Corrosion Mapping AI and Machine Learning,” by Marc Majors and Travis Harrington, Occidental, and Eric Ferguson, Abyss Solutions, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed.

The complete paper discusses risk reduction and increased fabric-maintenance (FM) eﬃciency using artiﬁcial-intelligence (AI) and machine-learning (ML) algorithms to analyze full-facility imagery for atmospheric corrosion detection and classiﬁcation. With this tool, a comprehensive and objective analysis of a facility’s health is achievable in a matter of weeks from the time of data collection. This application of AI and ML is a novel approach aimed at gaining a comprehensive understanding of facility-coating integrity and external corrosion threats.

Introduction

Atmospheric corrosion is the most-signiﬁcant asset-integrity threat in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Oﬀshore facilities require constant inspection and FM—and the signiﬁcant ﬁnancial obligation of these activities—to stay ahead of rapid equipment degradation.

In general, regulatory codes in the GOM require a visual inspection of pressure equipment and piping on a 5-year frequency at minimum. A common approach is to inspect 20% of the facility per year, with a rolling 5-year inspection plan, to balance the inspection work through time. As a result, in a 5-year inspection cycle, the owner or operator of the facility will not see the condition of the piping or equipment for the 4 years between inspection cycles. Considering the complexity, high areas, overwater, and other diﬃcult-to-inspect areas, gathering data for inspection can be costly and time-consuming and can yield a variable quality of results.

An eﬀective asset-integrity program requires full visibility of asset and equipment condition. Prioritizing areas for nondestructive examination (NDE) on high-consequence equipment and piping allows for eﬀective risk reduction and FM planning. To that end, AI and ML are being harnessed to detect, classify, quantify, and report the condition of piping and equipment in the GOM.
At-Bit Virtual Neutron Log Estimated from Real-Time Drilling Data
Authors: Arnø Mikkel , Godhavn John-Morten , Aamo Ole Morten
Published: February 2022

Neutron log is an important tool for lithology classification. In combination with the density log, it can be used to determine clay content, gas content and shaliness of a lithology. Combined with several logging while drilling (LWD) logs, a precise understanding of subsurface lithology can be achieved. However, logs are mounted some distance behind the bit. A deep neural network (DNN) architecture is used to estimate an at-bit virtual neutron log from drilling parameters. The DNN is trained on historical data from wells on a field operated by Equinor, resulting in a baseline model. Using delayed neutron log measurements, continuously supervising updates to the model is possible during operation. This configuration allows correcting for conditions that are different for every case, such as equipment used, bit wear, friction and well trajectory. The method is validated and tested on separate wellbores, unseen during training. Results are compared between the continuously updating model and the baseline model, where it can be seen that the updating model performs much better. The deviation from measured neutron log is significantly reduced using the updating system compared to the baseline model. Also, plots with true and estimated neutron log reveal that the updating model rapidly adapts to the case-specific conditions of the presented datasets and to a larger extent captures main trends. The system performance indicates that this approach could be used to give preliminary estimates of at-bit neutron, eliminating the delay due to the neutron log tool placement. To the best of our knowledge, a continuously updating system for at-bit neutron log estimation has not been presented before. This kind of approach is believed to increase generalizability, so that the model performs well on a wider range of cases.
Optic Nerve Sheath Diameter in Severe Preeclampsia with Neurologic Features versus Controls
Authors: Sterrett Mary E , Austin Brittany , Barnes Ryan , Chang Eugene
Published: February 2022

Background: Optic nerve sheath diameters (ONSD) have been validated as an accurate screening tool to detect elevated intracranial pressure in hypertensive encephalopathy. The neurologic manifestations of preeclampsia and/or eclampsia mimic those of hypertensive encephalopathy. This study was performed to assess the incidence of elevated optic nerve sheath diameters of patients with severe preeclampsia and neurologic criteria compared to non-preeclamptic patients. The secondary objective was to determine baseline optic nerve sheath diameters in patients with severe preeclampsia without neurologic criteria and preeclampsia without severe features. Methods: Single site cohort study including 62 pregnant women 18 years or older and 20 weeks or further gestation. Patients with preeclampsia without severe features, preeclampsia with severe features by non-neurologic criteria, preeclampsia with severe features with neurologic criteria, and patients without preeclampsia were enrolled via convenience sampling. One blinded reviewer measured sheath diameters; baseline demographics and pregnancy data were collected by chart review. Statistical analysis was completed with STATA/IC 16. Categorical variables were compared by the χ2 test. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation, and discrete variables were presented as medians and compared by Kruskal-Wallis testing. Normality was confirmed by Shapiro-Wilk testing. Linear and logistic regression were used to test the association between the preeclampsia groups and optic nerve sheath diameters. Models were presented as unadjusted and adjusted for BMI, gestation, hypertension, diabetes, parity, and gravidity.Results: The incidence of optic nerve sheath diameters >5.8 mm was 43.8% in the severe preeclampsia with neurologic features cohort, and 42.1% in the control cohort, with a relative risk of 1.04. Patients with severe preeclampsia without neurologic features had sheath diameters of 5.75 mm +/- 1.09 mm; non-severe preeclampsia patients had sheath diameters of 5.54 mm +/- 1.26 mm.Conclusions: We did not find a significant elevated optic nerve sheath diameter relative risk between severe preeclampsia patients with neurologic features and non-preeclampsia control patients. This is the first study to assess a North American population utilizing ACOG criteria for severe and non-severe preeclampsia, with severe cohorts additionally stratified by neurologic criteria.
Addressing the COVID-19 pandemic challenges for operational adaptations of a a cluster randomized controlled trial on dengue vector control in Malaysia
Authors: SAADATIAN-ELAHI Mitra , Alexander Neal , Möhlmann Tim , Ariffin Farah Diana , Schmitt Frederic , Richardson Jason H. , Rabilloud Muriel , Hamid Nurulhusna Ab
Published: February 2022

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic placed an unprecedented overload on healthcare system globally. With all medical resources being dedicated to contain the spread of the disease, the pandemic may have impacted the burden of other infectious diseases such as dengue, particularly in countries endemic for dengue fever. Indeed, the co‐occurrence of COVID‐19 made dengue diagnosis challenging because of some shared clinical manifestations between the two pathogens. Furthermore, the sudden emergence and novelty of this global public health crisis has forced the suspension or slow-down of several research trials due to the lack of sufficient knowledge on how to handle the continuity of research trials during the pandemic. We report on challenges we have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and measures that were implemented to continue the iDEM project (intervention for Dengue Epidemiology in Malaysia). Methods: This randomized controlled trial aims to assess the effectiveness of Integrated Vector Management (IVM) on the incidence of dengue in urban Malaysia by combining: targeted outdoor residual spraying (TORS), deployment of auto-dissemination devices (ADDs), and active community engagement (CE). Our operational activities started on February 10, 2020, a few weeks before the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Malaysia. Results: The three main issues affecting the continuity of the trial were: ensuring the safety of field workers during the interventions; ensuring the planned turnover of TORS application and ADD deployment and services; and maintaining the CE activities as far as possible. Conclusions: Even though the pandemic has created monumental challenges, we ensured the safety of field workers by providing complete personal protective equipment and regular COVID-19 testing. Albeit with delay, we maintained the planned interval time between TORS application and ADDs services by overlapping the intervention cycles instead of having them in a sequential scheme. CE activities continued remotely through several channels (e.g., phone calls and text messages). Sustained efforts of the management team, significant involvement of the Malaysian Ministry of Health and a quick and smart adaptation of the trial organisation according to the pandemic situation were the main factors that allowed the successful continuation of our research.
APEX1 regulates alternative splicing of key tumorigenesis genes in non-small-cell lung cancer
Authors: Peng Li , Liu Yuwei , Chen Jing , Cheng Mengxin , Wu Ying , Chen Min , Zhong Ya , Shen Dan , Chen Ling , Ye Xujun
Published: February 2022

Background
Aberrant alternative splicing (AS) contributes to tumor progression. Previous studies have shown that apurinic-apyrimidinic endonuclease-1 (APEX1) is involved in tumor progression. It is unknown whether APEX1 functions in tumor progression by regulation of AS. It is also unknown whether APEX1 can regulate non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) proliferation and apoptosis. We analyzed APEX1 expression levels in 517 lung NSCLC samples from the TCGA (Cancer Genome Atlas) database. The impact of APEX1 over expression on A549 cell proliferation and apoptosis was detected by the methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium assay and by flow cytometry. The transcriptome of A549 cells with and without APEX1 over expression was determined by Illumina sequencing, followed by analysis of AS. RT-qPCR validated APEX1 in A549 cells. We have successfully applied RNA-seq technology to demonstrate APEX1 regulation of AS.
Results
APEX1 expression was shown to be upregulated in NSCLC samples and to reduce cell proliferation and induce apoptosis of A549 cells. Furthermore, APEX1 regulated AS of key tumorigenesis genes involved in cancer proliferation and apoptosis within the MAPK and Wnt signaling pathways. Each of these pathways are involved in lung cancer progression. Validated AS events regulated by APEX1 were in key tumorigenesis genes; AXIN1 (axis inhibition protein 1), GCNT2 (N-acetyl glucosaminyl transferase 2), and SMAD3 (SMAD Family Member 3). These genes encode signaling pathway transcription regulatory factors.
Conclusions
We found that increased expression of APEX1 in NSCLC was an independent prognostic factor related to tumor progression. Therefore, APEX1 regulation of AS may serve as a molecular marker or therapeutic target for NSCLC treatment.
The Role of DPAS in Improve the Efficacy of FNA in Detection of Breast Lumps.
Authors: Idris Alkhair Abd Almahmoud , Suliman Ahmed Abdelbadie Mohamed , Adam Elsadig Ahmed , Husain Nazik Almalika Obeid Seid Ahmed
Published: February 2022

Background:Fine-Needle Aspiration (FNA) has become an essential, critical preoperative and screening test for breast masses. ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the role of Diastase-Resistant Periodic Acid Schiff (DPAS) in improving the efficacy of FNA in the detection of cytological changes in breast lumps.Methods:This prospective cross-sectional study carried out in Khartoum state (Sudan), among Sudanese women who suffered from breast lumps. FNA samples were collected from each patient, and the material was simultaneously smeared onto two labeled glass slides..DPAS score and AC grade were expressed as mean±SD, and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the means were calculated. Results: The findings revealed that the DPAS scores were found as follows; negative (±) 28(13.9%), one plus (+) 114(56.7%), two plus (++) 27(13.4%) and three-plus (+++) 32(15.9%).The analysis of DPAS scores versus the cytological categories (cytology results) revealed that DPAS positivity (++, +++) correlated best with malignancy. Out of the two hundred and one patient's Aspiration cytology (AC) grades among studied women according to the International Academy of Cytology (IAC) system were found as follows; AC2 30(14.9%), AC3 112(55.7%), AC4 27(13.4%) and AC5 32(15.9%).Eleven cases were upgraded from suspicious of malignancy in AC4 to malignant on AC5. On the others hand, there was a statistically significant association between aspiration cytology grades and cytology results, malignant findings significantly associated with AC grade 5.Conclusions:DPAS positivity within atypical cells in FNA aspirates may assist in upgrading from a suspicious to a malignant diagnostic result.
Channel structure selection in a competitive supply chain under consideration of marketing effort strategy
Authors: Li Mingxia , Chen Kebing
Published: February 2022

We study the optimal decisions of a supplier in terms of channel structure selection and marketing effort strategy when facing a competitor offering substitutable products. By employing game theoretic models for different retail competition scenarios, we show that equilibrium channel structures are primarily determined by the intensity of retail competition along with the marketing effort level. Channel structure selection and marketing effort strategy are interdependent and interactive. Our results show that the supplier has an incentive to make marketing effort and sell products directly to consumers in most cases. When the retail competition becomes fiercer, the supplier can benefit from selecting a distribution strategy based on customers' sensitivity to the supplier's marketing effort. In contrast, the supplier selling products through the downstream retailer will not make marketing effort under certain market conditions (e.g., low competition and high customer sensitivity to the supplier's effort performance), while the competitor adopts the direct-sales strategy. Generally, the supplier will prefer making marketing effort relative to undertaking product distribution. Finally, we also examine the strategic effects of channel structure selection and marketing effort decisions on the competitor's profit in the retail competition market.
Clustering of Lifestyle and Health Behaviours in Australian Children and Their Relationship with Obesity, Self-Rated Health and Quality of Life
Authors: Ahmad Kabir , Keramat Syed Afroz , Ormsby Gail M. , Kabir Enamul , Khanam Rasheda
Published: February 2022

Objective
This study identifies the clustering of lifestyle and health behaviours in a nationally representative sample of Australian children and adolescents and explores the association of the clusters with obesity, self-rated health and quality of life.
Methods
The study participants were 3127 children aged 14/15 years who participated in the 8th Wave of the birth cohort of the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). A latent class analysis (LCA) was conducted to identify clusters on the basis of the following health behaviours: physical activity, sedentary behaviour, alcohol consumption, smoking, diet, eating disorders, sleep problems, and weight-gain consciousness. Obesity, self-rated general health, and pediatric health related to quality of life were used in this study to compare the latent groups. Multinomial logistic regression was used to investigate the association among LCA clusters and health outcome variables.
Results
Based on the lifestyle and health behaviour characteristics, latent class analysis found better model fits for identifying distinct clusters among male and female children separately, rather than all children. The study identified five clusters for male children: healthy lifestyle cluster (n = 624, 38.9%), temperate cluster (n = 440, 27.4%), physically inactive cluster (n = 73, 4.6%), mixed lifestyle cluster (n = 347, 21.6%) and multiple risk factor cluster (n = 122, 7.6%). For female children, this study found following four clusters: healthy lifestyle cluster (n = 659, 43.3%), temperate cluster (n = 558, 36.7%), mixed lifestyle cluster (n = 63, 4.2%) and multiple risk factor cluster (n = 241, 15.8%). Children from the healthy lifestyle and temperate clusters reported low and moderately active health risk behaviours, respectively; mixed lifestyle or multiple risk factor clusters showed higher negative association on health-related quality of life score compared to healthy lifestyle clusters for both male and female children.
Conclusion
This current study identifies sex-segregated discernible patterns of lifestyle and health behaviours in Australian adolescents. The study findings lead to an improved classification strategy for children with different lifestyles and health related behaviours to identify characteristics of the vulnerable groups in relation to obesity, general health status and quality of life.
Phytoaccumulation of Zinc and its associated impact on the growth performance and tolerance index of six bioenergy crop plants grown in Zn-contaminated soil
Authors: Osman Hanan El-Sayed Mohamed , Quronfulah Afnan Sami , ElMorsy Mohamed , Galal
Published: February 2022

Crop plant remediation and reclamation of Zn-contaminated soils may pose a serious threat to food safety and thus human health. As a result, the current study was carried out to assess the capability of six bioenergy crop plants (BCP): Zea mays hybrid 360, Z. mays hybrid 123, Helianthus annus , Brassica juncea , Ricinus communis , and Simmondsia chinensis to remediate and restore Zn-contaminated soils. The investigated plants can tolerate 150 mg kg -1 Zn content of the soil, where they had tolerance index (TI) > 1 for all growth criteria, except the root dry weight (DW) of S. chinensis . Z. mays T123 and R. communis were the most susceptible plants, while B. juncea and S. chinensis were moderately tolerant, and H. annus was the most tolerant to high Zn-concentrations. Increasing the soil Zn-content led to a significant ( p < 0.05 ) increase in the concentration of Zn in the different tissues of the six BCP. The study BCP did not translocate Zn to their grains/seeds, and consequently they can be used safely in Zn phytoremediation from Zn-contaminated soils. The root and shoot Zn-content was negatively correlated with the TI of the root and shoot length and weight, while the TF of Zn from root to shoot was significantly proportional to the TI of the root length and weight. According to phytoremediation efficiency, the six study BCP were arranged as follow: B. juncea (31.9%) > Z. mays T123 (31.1%) > Z. mays T360 (27.6%) > H. annus (20.8%) > S. chinensis (20.3%) > R. communis (15.3%). All tested BCP had high Zn concentrations in their roots and shoots, a high Zn uptake potential, and a high biomass at 150–450 mg kg -1 Zn treatments, indicating that these plants are good candidates for the implementation of new strategy of cultivating BCP for phytoremediation in Zn-contaminated soils.
Early decompression promotes motor recovery after cervical spinal cord injury in rats with chronic cervical spinal cord compression
Authors: Furuya Takeo , Okimatsu Sho , Miura Masataka , Shiratani Yuki , Yunde Atsushi , Inoue Takaki , Maki Satoshi , Ohtori Seiji
Published: February 2022

BackgroundThe number of elderly patients with spinal cord injury without radiographic abnormalities (SCIWORA) has been increasing in recent years and is true of most cervical spinal cord injuries. There is no agreement on the efficacy of decompression in these populations. However, basic research has shown the effectiveness of early decompression after spinal cord injury on the spinal cord without stenosis; no studies have reported the efficacy of decompression in models with spinal cord compressive lesions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of decompression surgery after mild spinal cord injury in rats with chronic spinal cord compressive lesions.MethodsA water-absorbent polymer sheet (Aquaprene DX, Sanyo Chemical Industries) was inserted dorsally into the 4-5th cervical sublaminar space in 8-week-old Sprague Dawley rats to create a rat model with a chronic spinal compressive lesion. At the age of 16 weeks, 30 mildly myelopathic or asymptomatic rats with a Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan score (BBB score) of 19 or higher were subjected to spinal cord compression injuries. The rats were divided into three groups: an immediate decompression group (decompress immediately after injury), a sub-acute decompression group (decompress one week after injury), and a non-decompression group. Behavioral and histological evaluations were performed four weeks after the injury.ResultsAt 20 weeks of age, the BBB score and FLS (Forelimb Locomotor Scale) of both the immediate and the sub-acute decompression groups were significantly higher than those of the non-decompression group. There was no significant difference between the immediate decompression group and the sub-acute decompression group. TUNEL (transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) staining showed significantly fewer positive cells in both decompression groups compared to the non-decompression group. LFB (Luxol fast blue) staining showed significantly more demyelination, and GAP-43 (growth associated protein-43) staining tended to show fewer positive cells in the non-decompression group.ConclusionsDecompression surgery in the acute or sub-acute phase of injury is effective after mild spinal cord injury in rats with chronic compressive lesions. There was no significant difference between the immediate decompression and sub-acute decompression groups.
A Novel environmental nano-catalyst of zeolite amended with carbon nanotube/silver nanoparticles decorated carbon paste electrode for electro-oxidation of propylene glycol
Authors: Abdel-Gawad Soha , Fekry Amany
Published: February 2022

A novel environmental nano-catalyst based on zeolite (ZE) adjusted with carbon nanotube (CNT)/silver nanoparticles (AgNPS) ornamented carbon paste electrode (CPE) is used for electrochemical oxidation of propylene glycol (PG) in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution. The techniques like cyclic voltammetry (CV), chronoamperometry (CA) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) are utilized to achieve the catalytic performance. Surface characteristics are achieved by means of Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and Energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) techniques. Enhancing the loading magnitude of CNT into catalyst's ingredient can meaningfully develop the catalytic activity of the electrocatalyst towards propylene oxidation. The impact of altering the concentration of propylene glycol and the scanning rate on the resulting electrocatalyst performance during the oxidation cycle is considered. Chronoamperograms present an amplify of the steady state oxidation current density values after addition of these nano-catalysts. A promising catalytic stability of nano-catalyst has been achieved in electing its use for propylene glycol electro-oxidation in fuel cells applications.
Effective Biofertilizer Trichoderma Spp. Isolates with Enzymatic Activity and Metabolites Enhancing Plant Growth
Authors: Reghmit Abdenaceur , Farida Benzina-tihar , Mourad Djeziri , Rima Hadjouti , Zahia Oukali , Fatma Sahir-Halouane
Published: February 2022

Trichoderma species have been widely recognized as biofertilizer fungi for their ability to produce phytohormones and enhancing plant growth. In our current study, fifteen strains of Trichoderma spp (T1-T15) were screened for their capacity to produce phytohormones and metabolites eliciting plant growth. The stains were previously isolated from olive rhizosphere soil in northern Algeria. Plant growth promoting (PGP) potential of Trichoderma spp. was evaluated in-vitro through the production of phosphatases, iron chelators (siderophores), cyanhydric acid (HCN) and ammonia (NH3). Besides, Plant growth phytohormones such as gibberellic acid and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were assessed quantitatively by a colorimetric assay. Results showed an effective potential of Trichoderma isolates in PGP biomolecules production. Importantly, qualitative estimation of phosphate solubilization indicates that T10 gave the highest P-solubilization on medium Pikovskaya’s with a solubilization index (SI) of 3, whereas, the high capacity nitrogen-fixing was related to T8. In other hand, quantitative analysis of IAA and gibberellic acid revealed a production varying between (1.30 µg mL− 1 − 21.15 µg mL− 1) and (0.53µg/ml − 7.87µg/ml), respectively, the highest amount of both phytohormones was obtained by T11 isolate. Indeed, analysis of ethyl acetate extracts of T11 isolate by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed a high amount (71.19 mgL− 1) of IAA. Overall, Results showed clearly that isolate T11 has promising plant growth promoting properties. Hence, this native Trichoderma isolate (T11) identified as Trichoderma harzianum strain (OL587563) could be used later as biofertilizer for sustainable olive crop agriculture.
Presentation Attack Detection Methods Based On Gaze Tracking And Pupil Dynamic: A Comprehensive Survey
Authors: Khiarak Jalil Nourmohammadi
Published: February 2022

Purpose of the research: In the biometric community, visible human characteristics are popular and viable for verification and identification on mobile devices. However, imposters are able to spoof such characteristics by creating fake and artificial biometrics to fool the system. Visible biometric systems have suffered a high-security risk of presentation attack. Methods: In the meantime, challenge-based methods, in particular gaze tracking and pupil dynamic appear to be more secure methods than others for contactless biometric systems. We review the existing work that explores gaze tracking and pupil dynamic liveness detection. The principal results: This research analyzes various aspects of gaze tracking and pupil dynamic presentation attacks, such as state-of-the-art liveness detection algorithms, various kinds of artifacts, the accessibility of public databases, and a summary of standardization in this area. In addition, we discuss future work and the open challenges to creating a secure liveness detection based on challenge-based systems.
Real-world efficacy of nalfurafine hydrochloride for pruritus in patients with chronic liver disease: a retrospective multicenter study
Authors: Atsukawa Masanori , Kawano Tadamichi , Tsubota Akihito , Shimada Noritomo , Toyoda Hidenori , Takaguchi Koichi , Tani Joji , Morishita Asahiro , Hiraoka Atsushi , Mikami Shigeru , Ishikawa Toru , Okubo Hironao , watanabe Tsunamasa , Okubo Tomomi , Arai Taeang , Hayama Korenobu , Itokawa Norio , Kondo Chisa , Iwakiri Katsuhiko
Published: February 2022

Nalfurafine hydrochloride, a selective κ-opioid receptor agonist has been approved for pruritus in patients with chronic liver disease. However, not all patients respond to nalfurafine hydrochloride. The aim of this study was to clarify the efficacy of nalfurafine hydrochloride. The subjects were patients with chronic liver disease complicated by pruritus who were treated with nalfurafine hydrochloride between May, 2015, and May, 2021. The degree of pruritus was evaluated based on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score and the Kawashima’s pruritus score. Nalfurafine hydrochloride 2.5 μg was orally administered once a day for 12 weeks. A decrease in the VAS score of ≥25 mm or the Kawashima’s pruritus score of ≥1 scores was designated as relevant response. The former of ≥50 mm or the latter of ≥2 scores as remarkable response. The 326 patients who were evaluated the efficacy at 12 weeks. The median time suffering from pruritus to administration of nalfurafine hydrochloride was 4 months. The median VAS score improved from 70.0 mm before administration to 40.0 and 30.0 mm at 4 and 12 weeks of treatment, respectively. On multivariate analysis, shorter itching period and lower FIB-4 index value were extracted as the independent factors related to remarkable responder. On multivariate analysis, shorter itching period was extracted as the only independent factor related to relevant responder. In conclusion, this study suggested nalfurafine hydrochloride treatment markedly improves pruritus in patients with chronic liver disease. A short pruritus period and less-advanced fibrosis were associated with response to nalfurafine hydrochloride.
Overcrowded Housing Increases Risk for COVID-19 Mortality: An Ecological Study
Authors: Varshney Karan , Glodjo Talia , Adalbert Jenna
Published: February 2022

ObjectivesOvercrowded housing is a sociodemographic variable associated with increased infection and mortality rates from communicable diseases. It is not well understood if this association exists for COVID-19. Our objective was to hence determine the association between household overcrowding and risk of mortality from COVID-19, and this was done by performing bivariable and multivariable analyses using COVID-19 data from cities in Los Angeles County.ResultsBivariate regression revealed that overcrowded households were positively associated with COVID-19 deaths (standardized β=0.863, p<0.001). COVID-19 case totals, people aged 60+, and the number of overcrowded households met conditions for inclusion in the backwards stepwise linear regression model. Analysis revealed all independent variables were positively associated with mortality rates, primarily for individuals 60+ (standardized β­1­­=0.375, p=0.001), followed by overcrowded households (standardized β­2­­=0.346, p=0.014), and total COVID-19 cases (standardized β­3=0.311, p<0.001). Our findings highlight that residing in overcrowded households may be an important risk factor for COVID-19 mortality. Public health entities should consider this population when allocating resources for prevention and control of COVID-19 mortality and future disease outbreaks.
Monitoring of dairy farm management practice and production performances using Structural Equation Modeling in Amhara region, Ethiopia
Authors: Atanaw Malede Birhan , Chekol Yeshambel Mekuriaw , Wolde Asaminew Tassew , Amogne Firew Tegegne
Published: February 2022

Structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to monitor the dairy management practice and dairy production performance in Amhara region. Data was collected from 117 dairy farms on frontal interview on cluster sampling approaches to identify respondents. The model result revealed that the relationship between construct reliabilities and the dairy farm facilities was significantly varies (p < 0.01). The model analysis showed that the level of education has a positive and statistically significant relationship with the reproduction performance of dairy farms, with a correlation value of (ρ = 0.337), moreover, the gross revenue of the farm showed as (r = 0.849). Farm gross revenue articulated a positive, strong, and statistically significant association with feed and nutrition indicated value (0.906), dairy farm facilities (ρ = 0.934), hygiene and waste management (0.921). As a consequence, the predictors of dairy farm facilities feed and nutrition and hygiene and waste management explained 93.40, 84.0, 80.20 and 88.50% of the variance. From the study it can be concluded that, the proposed model is valid and training and education have an effect on farm management practices, subsequently affects the productive performance of dairy farm in Amhara region. Therefore, the researchers are recommending to regional agriculture and extension offices and other concerned organization to monitor the sector and provide appropriate training and awareness to the farm owners
Influence of Using Pomegranate Peel Silage in Rations of Dairy Cows on Their Productive Performance
Authors: Elmorsy Ahmed Mahmoud , Shoukry Mohsen Mahmoud , Soliman Soliman Mohamed , Soliman Mahmoud Mohamed
Published: February 2022

This study was implemented to evaluate the effect of partial replacement of whole corn plant silage (WCS) by pomegranate peel silage (PPS) treated with enzymes mixed (ZYMOGEN) or lactic acid bacterial inoculants (Inoculant 1188) on nutrient digestibility and productive performance of dairy cows. The first experiment two stacks of PPS and WCS were prepared. WCS was replaced by PPS, at 25:75, 50:50 and 75:25, respectively used in forming three rations. The second experiment has been carried with twenty lactating crossbred Friesian cows in four similar groups (5 cows / group): the control group was fed a ration consisting of WCS. G1 (WCS replaced with untreated PPS at level 50:50), G2 (WCS replaced with PPS treated with bacterial inoculants at level 50:50) and G3 (WCS replaced with PPS treated with ZYMOGEN at level 50:50). The results showed the values of CP, NFE and lactic acid were highest, while values of NDF, ADF, pH, the concentration of NH3 -N and acetic acid were lowest in all groups treated PPS. The values of digestibility coefficients, nutritive values, ruminal fluid fermentation of TVFAs and acetic acid, milk yield, 4% FCM, milk composition, blood proteins were highest, while the values of ruminal fluid fermentation of pH and NH3 N were lowest in group 2 and 3 compared with other groups. It concluded that using of treated or untreated pomegranate peel is safe in dairy cows feeding at a level of 20%. The addition of ZYMOGEN or inoculant 1188 to PPS improved fermentation and nutritive quality of silage along with its nutritive values.
Engineering properties of Cassia tora seeds and meal as a function of moisture content
Authors: Peng Fei , Fang Fang , Xiang Rui
Published: February 2022

Engineering properties are of great importance for Cassia tora seeds in aspects of harvesting, handling mechanical design and product processing. The effect of moisture content on the physical, mechanical and thermal properties of Cassia seeds was systematically investigated in this study. Specifically, physical properties (length, width, bulk and true density, porosity, thousand seeds mass, coefficient of static friction and angle of repose), mechanical properties (hardness, fragmentation energy and failure deformations), as well as thermal properties(specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity), were systematically studied under five levels of moisture content (7 %, 10 %, 13 %, 16 % and 19 %) (wet basis). As the moisture contents increase from 7 % to 19 % (w.b.), the length (L) increased from 4.52 to 5.87 mm, the thickness (T) from 2.51 to 3.51 mm and the width (W) from 2.36 to 3.02 mm, respectively. The bulk density and true density of Cassia tora seeds decreased from 775.83 to 654.17 kg/m3 and from 1295.21 to 1154.72 kg/m3, respectively, with the moisture content raised from 7% to 19% (w.b.). The thermal conductivity of Cassia tora seeds meal was found to be 0.068- 0.098 W·m-1·K-1, 0.078- 0.112 W·m-1·K-1, 0.089- 0.125 W·m-1·K-1, 0.098- 0.136 W·m-1·K-1, 0.108- 0.148 W·m-1·K-1, 0.119- 0.159 W·m-1·K-1, respectively, at 25 °C, 45 °C, 65 °C, 85 °C, 105 °C and 125 °C in moisture ranges of 7 %- 19 %. The thermal diffusivity was found to decrease from 5.21×10-8 to 4.53×10-8 m2/s, from 5.75×10-8 to 4.91×10-8 m2/s, from 6.11×10-8 to 5.17×10-8 m2/s, from 6.52×10-8 to 5.36×10-8 m2/s, from 7.17×10-8 to 5.77×10-8 m2/s, from 7.36×10-8 to 5.84×10-8 m2/s, respectively, at 25 °C, 45 °C, 65 °C, 85 °C, 105 °C and 125 °C in moisture ranges of 7 %- 19 %. The results suggested that physical properties exhibited linear relationships with moisture content using the regression model, while mechanical properties showed a second-order polynomial relationship with moisture content. Furthermore, significant variation existed in thermal properties because of differentiate moisture content and temperature. These data and rules are also useful for high efficiency machines design and mechanisms development.
Networks Analysis Of Brazilian Climate Data Based On The DCCA Cross-Correlation Coefficient
Authors: Rodrigues Paulo , Filho Florêncio Oliveira , Guedes Everaldo
Published: February 2022

Climate change is one of the most relevant challenges that the world has to deal with. A better understanding about the behaviour of environmental and atmospheric variables, their long range cross correlation and the way they relate to each other, can provide helpful insights about how the climate is changing. However, such studies are complex and rarely found in the literature, especially dealing with data from the Brazilian territory. In this paper we consider four environmental and atmospheric variables, wind speed, radiation, temperature and humidity, measured in 27 stations (the capital of each of the 26 Brazilian states plus the federal district). We use the detrended fluctuation analysis to evaluate the statistical self-affinity of the signal, the cross correlation coefficient $\rho_{DCCA}$ to quantify the long range cross correlation between stations, and a network analysis that considers the top $10\%$ $\rho_{DCCA}$ values for each atmospheric variable to better understand the cross correlation between stations. The methodology used and combined in this paper represents a step forward in the field of time series and network analysis, that can be applied to other regions, other environmental variables and also to other fields of research. The results of the application are of great importance to better understand the behaviour of environmental and atmospheric variables in the Brazilian territory and to provide helpful insights about climate change and renewable energy production.
Relationship Between Moral Sensitivity And The Quality Of Nursing Care For The Elderly With Covid-19
Authors: Nazari Shima , Poortaghi Sarieh , Sharifi Farshad , Gorzin Shaghayegh , Afshar Pouya Farokhnezhad
Published: February 2022

Background: The quality of care has a significant impact on the condition of elderly patients. Many factors affect the quality of care, including ethical considerations. Ethical considerations, such as moral sensitivity, change in times of crisis. The present study was conducted to assess the relationship between moral sensitivity and quality of nursing care for the elderly with Covid-19.Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive correlational study. The participants included 445 nurses that were selected by quota sampling method from hospitals admitting COVID-19 patients. The data were collected using the Moral Sensitivity Questionnaire (MSQ) and Quality Patient Care Scale (QUALPAC) as self-report. We used the SPSS software v.16 for statistical analysis.Results: The total score of moral sensitivity and quality of care was 52.29 ± 16.44 and 2.83 ± 0.23, respectively. Modifying autonomy, interpersonal orientation, and experiencing moral conflict predicted β= 0.10 of the psychosocial aspect of quality of care. Structural moral meaning and expressing benevolence predicted the changes in the physical dimension of quality of care (β= 0.02). Modifying autonomy explained the changes in the communicational dimension (β= 0.003).Conclusion: The quality of care had a significant inverse correlation with moral sensitivity. Multiple regression analysis showed that modifying autonomy, interpersonal orientation, and experiencing moral conflict could predict the psychosocial dimensions. Structuring moral meaning could predict the physical dimension.