bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PrEP patient attitudes, beliefs and perceived barriers surrounding HPV vaccination: a qualitative study of semistructured interviews with PrEP patients in primary care clinics in Kansas and Missouri
Authors: Sullivan-Blum Zoe C , Brophy Margaret , Didde Ryan , Nagireddy Radha , Swagerty Hannah , Weir Sumiko , Sykes Kevin J , Dietz Craig , Alt Marcus , Ramaswamy Megha , Rotert Paul
Published: April 2022

Objectives

Men who have sex with men who use pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) have not traditionally been targets for human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine programmes, despite their high risk for HPV-related cancers and HPV vaccine being approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for people up to age 45. The objective of this study was to assess attitudes and barriers towards HPV vaccine for adult PrEP users in the primary care context.

Methods

Semistructured phone interviews of 16 primary care patients taking PrEP in the Kansas City metropolitan area were conducted, with interviews assessing HPV vaccination status, and attitudes, beliefs and perceived barriers surrounding HPV vaccine. Interview notes were open-coded by student authors, and themes were generated through code review and consensus. Data were then analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

The results showed that most patients believed that preventative health was important and felt the HPV vaccine was important. Most patients were open to vaccination if recommended by their primary care physician and covered by insurance. Most participants believed HPV infection to be far worse in women, and there were gaps in knowledge surrounding HPV and its effects in men.

Conclusions

While more research is needed to better understand facilitators of a linkage between PrEP and HPV vaccine in clinical settings for groups at high risk for HPV-related cancers, getting primary care providers involved in educating high-risk patients about the importance of HPV vaccination and actively recommending the vaccine to those patients has the potential to prevent HPV-related cancers.
Modifiable psychosocial risk factors and delayed onset of dementia in older populations: analysis of two prospective US cohorts
Authors: Grodstein Francine , Wang Tianhao , Leurgans Sue E. , Wilson Robert S , Bennett David A
Published: April 2022

Objective

Preventing Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) fundamentally equates to delaying onset. Thus, we quantified associations of modifiable, psychosocial risk factors to years of delayed onset of dementia.

Design

Two prospective cohorts (n=2860) with negative and positive psychosocial factors measured at baseline (depressive symptoms, neuroticism, cognitive activity).

Setting and participants

Religious Orders Study of older priests, nuns and brothers across the USA, initiated in 1994; Rush Memory and Aging Project, of older persons in Chicago area, initiated in 1997.

Outcome measure

We conducted annual neurological and neuropsychological assessments to identify AD (n=785 incident cases). We compared age at diagnosis of AD across psychosocial risk factor groups, controlling for confounders, using accelerated failure time models.

Results

We found strong relations of three or more depressive symptoms with age at AD diagnosis; estimated mean age at diagnosis was 86.9 years with significant symptoms versus 92.1 years with no symptoms (p=0.001). In addition, neuroticism was inversely related to age at AD diagnosis; estimated mean age at diagnosis was 88.8 years for the highest neuroticism tertile and 93.1 years in the lowest tertile (p<0.001). Participants with higher cognitive activity (such as reading books) had later AD diagnosis; estimated mean age at diagnosis was 89.2 years for the lowest cognitive activity group and 92.6 years for the highest activity group (p<0.001).

Conclusions

Higher depressive symptoms were associated with 5-year acceleration in AD; higher neuroticism with 4-year acceleration and higher cognitive activity with a 3.5-year delay. To translate findings, prior health services research in the USA indicates delaying dementia 5 years could add 3 years of life and reduce individual costs of care >$60 000. These results provide a rigorous, easily translatable metric for communicating and evaluating the potential public health impact of psychosocial and experiential interventions.
Instruments for measuring patient safety competencies in nursing: a scoping review
Authors: Mortensen Michael , Naustdal Kristin Igland , Uibu Ere , Mägi Liisi , Kangasniemi Mari , Põlluste Kaja , Moi Asgjerd L
Published: April 2022

Background

Patient safety competencies in nursing are essential for the quality of healthcare. To develop practices and collaboration in nursing care, valid instruments that measure competencies in patient safety are needed.

Objective

To identify instruments that measure the patient safety competencies of nurses.

Design

A scoping review.

Data sources

The Cochran Library, Epistemonikos, Eric, Ovid Medline, CINAHL, Embase and Web of Science databases were searched for articles reporting on instruments measuring patient safety competence in nursing. The search was limited to English peer-reviewed scientific papers published from January 2010 to April 2021.

Review method

A blinded selection of articles fulfilling the inclusion criteria was performed by two researchers based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Data were then extracted, synthesised and presented in tables and text.

Results

Our search identified 1,426 papers, of which 32 met the inclusion criteria. The selected papers described nine instruments, of which the ‘Health Professional Education in Patient Safety Survey’ was the most used instrument. The identified instruments comprised domains for patient safety skills, attitudes, knowledge, communication, teamwork and errors. The instruments had been tested for content (face) and construct validity as well as for reliability. However, sensitivity and responsiveness were rarely assessed.

Conclusions

Over the last decade, there has been a growing body of instruments aimed at measuring patient safety competencies among nurses. The future development of new instruments should consider including the important dimension of ethics in patient safety as well as evaluating the instrument’s responsiveness to be able to track changes over time.
Treatment with 3-day methylprednisolone pulses in severe cases of COVID-19 compared with the standard regimen protocol of dexamethasone
Authors: Dafni Maria , Karampeli Maria , Michelakis Ioannis , Manta Aspasia , Spanoudaki Anastasia , Mantzos Dionysios , Krontira Sofia , Georgiadou Victoria , Lioni Athina , Tzavara Vasiliki
Published: April 2022

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, research has been focused on establishing effective treatments, especially for patients with severe pneumonia and hyperinflammation. The role and dose of corticosteroids remain obscure. We evaluated 58 patients with severe COVID-19 during two periods. 24 patients who received methylprednisolone pulses (250 mg/day intravenously for 3 days) were compared with 34 patients treated according to the standard dexamethasone protocol of 6 mg/day. Among non-intubated patients, the duration of hospitalization was shorter for those who received methylprednisolone pulses (9.5 vs 13.5, p<0.001). In a subgroup analysis of patients who required intubation, those treated with the dexamethasone protocol demonstrated a relative risk=1.89 (p=0.09) for dying, in contrast to the other group which showed a tendency towards extubation and discharge from the hospital. A ‘delayed’ need for intubation was also observed (6 vs 2 days, p=0.06). Treatment with methylprednisolone pulses significantly reduced hospitalization time. Although there was no statistically significant influence on the necessity for intubation, methylprednisolone pulses revealed a tendency to delay intubation and hospital discharges. This treatment could benefit patients in the hyperinflammatory phase of the disease.
Using diatoms to track road-salt seepage into small, shallow, softwater Ontario lakes
Authors: Valleau Robin E. , Rühland Kathleen M. , Paterson Andrew M. , Smol John P.
Published: April 2022

Since the 1950s, the widespread application of road salt for winter road maintenance and safety in cold regions has led to increased conductivity levels in many freshwater systems. Salting practices have adversely affected freshwater biota; however, the magnitude of ecological impacts may vary by species and ecosystem. Here, we examine diatom assemblage changes during the past ∼200 years from the sedimentary records of five impacted lakes (measured specific conductance values of 149–350 µS·cm−1) and a reference lake (18 µS·cm−1) located in the Muskoka River Watershed, south-central Ontario, Canada. Diatom compositional changes in the road-salt-impacted sites were consistent with increasing conductivity and increased diatom-inferred (DI)-conductivity was evident during the latter half of the 20th century in the impacted lakes, concurrent with known road-salt application. The strongest predictor of DI-conductivity changes among the six lakes was the kilometre equivalents of roads within the watershed (i.e., kilometres of road × number of lanes). Similar to changes observed in a previous study focusing on cladoceran assemblages, we conclude that even modest applications of road salt can affect diatom assemblages in softwater lakes.
A critical review of successional dynamics in boreal forests of North America
Authors: Anyomi Kenneth A. , Neary Brad , Chen Jiaxin , Mayor Stephen J.
Published: April 2022

Forest succession is a dynamic process of progressive compositional development of ecological communities of species following natural or anthropogenic disturbance. Despite a rich history of conceptual frameworks, models, and empirical advances, the complex interactions among climatic conditions, disturbances, edaphic factors, and silvicultural treatments still challenge our ability to accurately predict forest succession, hindering application to forest management. Our goal was to improve understanding of forest succession in the managed boreal forests of North America by clarifying advances in knowledge and limitations in our understanding. We reviewed 152 peer-reviewed papers to: ( i) document conceptual developments in forest succession; ( ii) summarize drivers of North American boreal forest succession, including changes to forest composition and successional trajectories given climate change; and ( iii) discuss the implications of the synthesized information for boreal forest management. While the element of stochasticity is expected to increase under climate change, successional dynamics are anticipated to remain predominantly deterministic. Southern boreal forests are at increased risk of mortality due to warming-driven drought and increased fires. Following disturbance, regeneration is likely to favor deciduous hardwoods. In boreal mixedwoods, increased fires would promote jack pine, and also black spruce on hydric and xeric sites. Dynamics of the northern boreal will depend on the balance between precipitation and evapotranspiration. Forest management must carefully select prescriptions to promote forest regeneration and composition that consider the long-term effects of changing climate and disturbance regimes. For instance, combining retention cut with mechanical site preparation would maintain site productivity and reverse open black spruce stand development in northern boreal stands. Our work shows that multiple disturbances have compounding effects on forest development, but further work is needed to better define thresholds for synergistic and buffering interactions. Modeling of boreal forest succession can be improved by incorporating more of the influential factors, but this is often limited by the lack of data. This information will guide the development of forest management strategies by exploring combinations of prescribed fire and variable intensity selection cutting systems to reproduce the effects of multiple interacting natural disturbances under climate change on successional dynamics.
Dynamical torsion suppression in Brans–Dicke inflation and Lorentz violation
Authors: de Andrade L. C. Garcia
Published: April 2022

Paul and SenGupta (Eur Phys J C 79:591, 2019) have recently shown that the reason why torsion effects are not present in today s universe is that they are suppressed in the bulk of a 5D braneworld. In this case only curvature effects remain. In this paper our goals are to investigate how this idea applies in the 4D Brans–Dicke inflation in two cases: First in the spin-torsion energy density scaling as $$\sim {a^{-6}}$$

∼

a

-
6

, whereas matter density scales at $$a^{-3}$$

a

-
3

. Here a(t) is the cosmic evolution parameter in the cosmic time t. In this case when a is given by the de Sitter expansion spin-torsion density it is highly suppressed. the second is the inflation in the framework of Einstein–Cartan–Brans–Dicke (ECBD) gravity used here, to build an effective inflaton potential and computing the number of its e-folds. Spin-torsion density contributes to a decrease on the number of e-folds when the ratio of spin-torsion density to matter density is not suppressed as in Early Universe. At present universe it is easy to show that by the end of inflation, spin-torsion density is suppressed with respect to matter-curvature density with a ratio of $$a^{-3}$$

a

-
3

or $$t^{-3}$$

t

-
3

by the end of inflation. When torsion possesses dynamical degrees of freedom, contortion is also shown to be suppressed by the end of BD inflation. The Kalb–Ramond fields in the 5D braneworld are equivalent to torsion. At present universe we find $$K\sim {10^{-39}~\hbox {GeV}}$$

K
∼

10

-
39

GeV

for contortion. Such an estimate is much more stringent than the value found by Russell et al. (Phys Rev Lett 100, 2008) from torsion Lorentz violation (LV) with dual masers experiment.
Impact of slow conversions on hybrid stars with sequential QCD phase transitions
Authors: Gonçalves Victor P. , Lazzari Lucas
Published: April 2022

In this paper, we investigate the impact of the phase conversion speed on the properties of hybrid stars with sequential sharp QCD phase transitions. We consider that these hybrid stars possess an inner (outer) core of CFL (2SC) quark matter surrounded by hadronic matter. Assuming that the phase conversions can be slow or rapid, we analyze the dynamical stability of these objects. In particular, we present our predictions for the mass-radius profile and the fundamental eigenfrequencies of hybrid stars with sequential QCD first order phase transitions. Our results demonstrate that the usual stability criteria i.e.$$\partial M/ \partial P_0 \ge 0$$∂M/∂P0≥0, is sufficient only if both conversions are rapid. Moreover, we show that if any of the interfaces has a slow conversion speed, the fundamental eigenfrequencies are significantly modified.
Modeling international mobility using roaming cell phone traces during COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Luca Massimiliano , Lepri Bruno , Frias-Martinez Enrique , Lutu Andra
Published: April 2022

Most of the studies related to human mobility are focused on intra-country mobility. However, there are many scenarios (e.g., spreading diseases, migration) in which timely data on international commuters are vital. Mobile phones represent a unique opportunity to monitor international mobility flows in a timely manner and with proper spatial aggregation. This work proposes using roaming data generated by mobile phones to model incoming and outgoing international mobility. We use the gravity and radiation models to capture mobility flows before and during the introduction of non-pharmaceutical interventions. However, traditional models have some limitations: for instance, mobility restrictions are not explicitly captured and may play a crucial role. To overtake such limitations, we propose the COVID Gravity Model (CGM), namely an extension of the traditional gravity model that is tailored for the pandemic scenario. This proposed approach overtakes, in terms of accuracy, the traditional models by 126.9% for incoming mobility and by 63.9% when modeling outgoing mobility flows.
Transformation from Traditional to Digital Marketing: A Case on Facebook Marketing for Micro Foodservice Brands
Authors: Shahriar Shamsul Huq Bin , Alam M Sayeed , Arafat Sayed
Published: April 2022

This study analyzes the transformation of marketing strategies from traditional to ’digital’ and find s out the efficacy of ’Facebook’ marketing for small or micro-enterprise brands; in the case of the restaurant industry. The study looks for the answers to questions such as How ’Facebook’ has changed the means of marketing in the case of small restaurant brands. Two restaurant brands were considered for the study. A qualitative case approach was adopted for the study. Major findings of the study have revealed that Facebook marketing is the direct, easiest and economical mode of communication with current and potential customers through ’Facebook page’, to disseminate information regarding brand and services through ’Facebook posts’, ’Comments’ and ’Chats’; besides, to maintain rapid feedback service to customers’ queries. In addition, through ’Facebook’ activities i.e., an instance of ’Likes’, ’Reviews’, ’Check-ins’, and ’Share’, customers themselves ensue as a source for promoting the brands. Nevertheless, for these small or microbrands’ Facebook Marketing, per se, it is an inexpensive technique for effective marketing; additionally, it fosters mutual relationships and increases the level of customer engagement.
Exploring Creative Education Practices and Implications: A Case study of National Chengchi University, Taiwan
Authors: Li Hui , Khattak Shoukat Iqbal , Chui Suan Hoh
Published: April 2022

Globalization has led to intense demand for diverse, multi-talent, and creative workforce to sustain market competitiveness, innovation, and corporate performance, while simultaneously intensifying challenges for higher education to transform. In Taiwan, universities have responded by formalizing and continuously restructuring their overall systems to cultivate creative talents for sustainable growth. The study has examined the practices that enable creative education at the National Chengchi University (NCCU) using data from different sources, i.e., semi-structured interviews, content analysis, and personal observations. Current findings suggest that creative education at NCCU is characterized by supporting environment and resources; interdisciplinary faculty teams; innovative HR practices for student recruitment; rich course content focused on students’ holistic development; teaching methods based on students’ experience, interaction, and teamwork; and conducive environment for creative learning.
Innovation and the Power of Ignorance – The Case of Renewable Energy
Authors: Clarke Gordon R.
Published: April 2022

Recognizing the limits of our knowledge and being dissatisfied with incomplete understanding is a major driver of scientific progress. Humanity’s experience over the last 300 years is ample demonstration of this. If we look carefully enough at the data, it is clear that we are progressing not only in terms of scientific discovery but in applications of science that are highly beneficial to our quality of life, such as medicine, agriculture, finance, transport and energy. Economic growth, in terms both of financial gain and improvement in real living standards, depends on creative thinkers who can mine and exploit such new knowledge, both as entrepreneurs and as policymakers. Public policymakers may err in the way new technology is applied, however, because they are not well-equipped to take into account the psychology of human reactions to innovation and change. Entrepreneurs with their own resources can exploit market forces to check whether an innovation is able to address the real needs and desires of the population, and if not, to change the application so that it does respond to true demand. The human thirst for knowledge seems only to accelerate rather than be satisfied by advances in knowledge and technology, so the opportunity for applying new science to human problems has a bright future. I n Brunei, for example, one area could be the development of solar farms and other forms of renewable energy, for which we examine the pros and cons in this paper.
Bottled Water Industry in Brunei Darussalam: The Unregulated Sector?
Authors: Pang Li Li
Published: April 2022

Brunei is seeing a proliferation of bottled companies established in the country in the last decade, driven by cheap water supplies, easily available water filtering systems and demand by the public. This research found 16 ‘companies,’ ’producing’ and distributing over 34 brands of bottled waters in the country. Since bottled water industry is ’popular,’ it is necessary to understand how the industry is being monitored and regulated by the government as it involved products consumed by the public. Since most of the bottled water companies use water drawn from the pipes supplied by the government, it is also important to understand how the government is protecting, monitoring and regulating this valuable resource from exploitation. This paper is a preliminary research on the bottled water industry in Brunei Darussalam.
Cryptocurrencies as Investment Instrument: A Social Commerce and Subscription-Based Service Perspective
Authors: Paschalie Leonardus Evandito , Santoso Adhi Setyo
Published: April 2022

This research aims to create a better understanding of cryptocurrency adoption. The research framework is adapted from the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) with additional constructs: social commerce, hedonic motivations, and utilitarian motivation. A quantitative research method was chosen for this study. A total of 54 respondents are collected using a snowball non-probability sampling method. The results show that Hedonic motivation and utilitarian motivation that represent subscription-based online services prove to have an impact on perceived usefulness. However, perceived usefulness fails to impact behavioral intention to use. Social commerce representing social interaction in the model has proven that it impacts behavioral intention to use with the mediation of perceived trust.
Deep Learning Methods for Multi-Channel EEG-Based Emotion Recognition
Authors: Olamat Ali , Ozel Pinar , Atasever Sema
Published: April 2022

Currently, Fourier-based, wavelet-based, and Hilbert-based time–frequency techniques have generated considerable interest in classification studies for emotion recognition in human–computer interface investigations. Empirical mode decomposition (EMD), one of the Hilbert-based time–frequency techniques, has been developed as a tool for adaptive signal processing. Additionally, the multi-variate version strongly influences designing the common oscillation structure of a multi-channel signal by utilizing the common instantaneous concepts of frequency and bandwidth. Additionally, electroencephalographic (EEG) signals are strongly preferred for comprehending emotion recognition perspectives in human–machine interactions. This study aims to herald an emotion detection design via EEG signal decomposition using multi-variate empirical mode decomposition (MEMD). For emotion recognition, the SJTU emotion EEG dataset (SEED) is classified using deep learning methods. Convolutional neural networks (AlexNet, DenseNet-201, ResNet-101, and ResNet50) and AutoKeras architectures are selected for image classification. The proposed framework reaches 99% and 100% classification accuracy when transfer learning methods and the AutoKeras method are used, respectively.
ASEAN Economic Community: the shift from absolute to relative poverty, and the rise of the middle class
Authors: Jetin Bruno
Published: April 2022

In 2015 ASEAN has become a community which rests on three pillars: political-security, economic and social-cultural (Jetin and Mikic, 2016). The underlying assumption is that economic development will be fostered by a regional integration deepening, namely a “single market and single production base” which should lead to a convergence of social-cultural development thanks to a catching up process of the late-comers and poorest member states vis-à-vis the more advanced ASEAN Member States (AMS) (Jetin, B. 2016a). This implies a convergence of living standards and a strong decline of poverty. The purpose of this paper is precisely to verify the existence of such a process of convergence among AMS and the nature of this convergence. Which countries are converging? How did poverty evolve and what is the social dynamics implied? Section 1 checks if the existence of ASEAN has favoured a process of convergence of living standards or in other terms a reduction of inequality between countries. In section 2, we show that in several ASEAN countries, absolute poverty has receded but has been replaced by relative, poverty which creates its own set of expectations and potential frustrations. Finally, in section 3, we focus on the emergence of the middle classes and their potential effect on the socio-economic dynamic of ASEAN countries.
The role of creep in geopressure development
Authors: You Kehua , Flemings Peter , Bhandari Athma R. , Heidari Mahdi , Germaine John
Published: April 2022

This study developed a one-dimensional numerical model of sedimentation and compaction based on the equivalent isochrone framework to investigate the impact of creep on geopressure during burial. In this framework, the void ratio is a function of effective stress and strain rate; the change in void ratio is the same with each order of magnitude decrease in strain rate at a constant effective stress. We simulated lower void ratio and higher overpressure when creep was included compared to cases where no creep was present and void ratio is only a function of effective stress. Creep causes apparent overconsolidation. The apparent overconsolidation ratio is used to quantify the magnitude of creep; this is the vertical distance from the normal compression curve in a void ratio v. effective stress plot. The magnitude of creep depends on the loading rate, and increases with depth at sites with low sedimentation rates. These findings bridge the gap between laboratory and field observations on rock compression behaviours. For example, it provides one explanation why laboratory-derived compression curves have a higher void ratio at a given effective stress. In addition, it suggests under what conditions the rock will behave elastically.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Geopressure collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/geopressure
Review of groundwater flow and contaminant transport modelling approaches for the Sherwood Sandstone aquifer, UK; insights from analogous successions worldwide
Authors: Medici G. , West L. J.
Published: April 2022

Sandstones are characterized by different hydraulic behaviours and need to be modelled in various ways to represent groundwater flow and contaminant transport. This review shows how sandstone aquifers within the UK Triassic Sherwood Sandstone Group can be represented using three modelling approaches: the Conduit Network, Discrete Fracture Network and Equivalent Porous Medium. The Sherwood Sandstone aquifer is dominated by matrix flow in the Eastern England Shelf, Worcester, Needwood and Staffordshire basins. Here, the aquifers are modelled as Equivalent Porous Media at different spatial scales. Fractures represent the principal flow pathways in the Cheshire Basin. In this basin, Discrete Fracture Network models that account for diffusivity in the matrix can be used where the domain scale is small. The Sherwood Sandstone aquifer across northwestern England shows evidence of intense groundwater alteration and high flow velocities in solutionally enlarged fractures. Turbulent flowing pipe-elements can be inserted in the modelling domain represented by Equivalent Porous Medium at specific sites. The review shows how the Sherwood Sandstone aquifer as well as other siliciclastic deposits across the world need to be represented using a range of modelling approaches, as they behave as matrix or fracture flow aquifers, or in specific cases show a karst-like behaviour.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Hydrogeology of Sandstone collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/hydrogeology-of-sandstone
Teaching and Learning Domain Modeling through Collaboration Patterns: A Controlled Experiment
Authors: Bolloju Narasimha
Published: April 2022

Domain models in software engineering—often represented as class diagrams—depict relevant classes in a given problem domain along with necessary relationships among those classes. These models are important because they establish links between the requirements of a given system under development and the subsequent phases of the systems development life cycle. Although the teaching of basic concepts related to domain modeling takes only about 1 or 2 hours, proper application of these concepts to a given problem situation is difficult for students studying software engineering. Due to their insufficient domain knowledge of the problem situation and modeling experience, they often produce domain models that may not adequately represent necessary elements as part of the domain models. Analysis patterns can help them by encoding expert knowledge and offering guidance in the modeling process. This article reports the findings from a controlled experiment conducted to study the effects of collaboration patterns on the domain modeling process by students. Specifically, the study investigated the differences in students’ perceptions of the ease of the domain modeling process and quality of models produced, perceived difficulties, and how collaboration patterns help address domain modeling difficulties and the quality of domain models produced. Findings from this experimental study involving students from a software engineering course indicate that although there is no significant difference in subjects’ perceptions between the control and treatment groups, the subjects from the treatment group produced better-quality domain models. Additionally, the qualitative analysis of the feedback collected from the subjects from the control and treatment groups reveals that that having knowledge of patterns is beneficial, as it addresses the difficulties in domain modeling.
Research on the Influence of Artificial Intelligence Technology with web 3.0 on Accounting Education and Its Countermeasures
Authors: Li Changzhen , Zhao Xin
Published: April 2022

With the continuous development of
artificial intelligence (AI)
technology, AI technology has been widely used in various fields of social and economic life, bringing great impact to various industries. AI is a section of computer science, a new science technology that studies and develops theories, methods, and application systems used. The development of artificial intelligence technology first has a profound impact on the development of the accounting industry, which leads to the change of the demand for accounting talents. This paper takes the accounting industry as an example, discusses the application of artificial intelligence technology in accounting practice, analyzes its impact on the reform of accounting education, and finally proposes countermeasures and suggestions for accounting education to deal with technological challenges with the blended learning for increasing student retention and engagement in an E-learning environment. Blended learning gives greater flexibility which means being able to complete assignments any place and any time. It successfully improves students’ experience and enhances their engagement. It uses apps, games, or measurable programs and helps to balance the classroom. Practice shows that the development of artificial intelligence technology not only has a profound and extensive impact on the accounting profession and accounting education, but also has a profound impact on engineering education and other fields. An in-depth study of the challenges of artificial intelligence technology to accounting education is also of reference and guiding significance for the reform and development of engineering education and other fields.
Multilevel Mesoscale Complexities in Mesoregimes: Challenges in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering
Authors: Chen Jianhua , Ren Ying , Huang Wen Lai , Zhang Lin , Li Jinghai
Published: April 2022

This review discusses the complex behaviors in diverse chemical and biochemical systems to elucidate their commonalities and thus help develop a mesoscience methodology to address the complexities in even broader topics. This could possibly build a new scientific paradigm for different disciplines and could meanwhile provide effective tools to tackle the big challenges in various fields, thus paving a path toward combining the paradigm shift in science with the breakthrough in technique developments. Starting with our relatively fruitful understanding of chemical systems, the discussion focuses on the relatively pristine but very intriguing biochemical systems. It is recognized that diverse complexities are multilevel in nature, with each level being multiscale and the complexity emerging always at mesoscales in mesoregimes. Relevant advances in theoretical understandings and mathematical tools are summarized as well based on case studies, and the convergence between physics and mathematics is highlighted.
Electrochemical Polishing of Tungsten: An Investigation of Critical Spatial Frequency and Ultimate Roughness
Authors: Jianwei Ji , Ajmal Khan Muhammad , Zejin Zhan , Rong Yi , Hui Deng
Published: April 2022

Electrochemical polishing (ECP) offers incomparable advantages and great potential in metal polishing by surface errors correction. This paper systematically investigates the ultimate roughness and surface errors correction ability of ECP over different spatial frequency ranges. This paper further explores the law of ECP influencing errors at different frequency ranges, proposes and clarifies the concept of critical spatial frequency, and studies the law of polishing parameters affecting critical spatial frequency by using spatial frequency spectrum analysis. The surface roughness evolution and ultimate roughness of ECP were investigated using the surface error filtering method based on the critical spatial frequency. The ultimate roughness of ECP was determined by two different strategies, (i) stepwise polishing and (ii) one-step polishing. In addition, the stepwise polishing was also investigated for any possible inconsistency with one-step polishing on the final surface roughness. As ECP progressed, the optimization speed of surface roughness gradually decreased, and the surface roughness eventually reached a stable limiting value. Further analysis revealed that crystal corrosion is mainly responsible for inhibiting surface roughness optimization.
More than meets the islet: aligning nutrient and paracrine inputs with hormone secretion in health and disease
Authors: Morriseau Taylor S. , Doucette Christine A. , Dolinsky Vernon W.
Published: April 2022

The pancreatic islet is responsive to an array of endocrine, paracrine, and nutritional inputs that adjust hormone secretion to ensure accurate control of glucose homeostasis. Although the mechanisms governing glucose-coupled insulin secretion have received the most attention, there is emerging evidence for a multitude of physiological signaling pathways and paracrine networks that collectively regulate insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin release. Moreover, the modulation of these pathways in conditions of glucotoxicity or lipotoxicity are areas of both growing interest and controversy. In this review, the contributions of external, intrinsic, and paracrine factors in pancreatic β-, α-, and δ-cell secretion across the full spectrum of physiological (i.e., fasting and fed) and pathophysiological (gluco- and lipotoxicity; diabetes) environments will be critically discussed.
Albumin uptake and processing by the proximal tubule: physiological, pathological, and therapeutic implications
Authors: Molitoris Bruce A. , Sandoval Ruben M. , Yadav Shiv Pratap S. , Wagner Mark C.
Published: April 2022

For nearly 50 years the proximal tubule (PT) has been known to reabsorb, process, and either catabolize or transcytose albumin from the glomerular filtrate. Innovative techniques and approaches have provided insights into these processes. Several genetic diseases, nonselective PT cell defects, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and acute PT injury lead to significant albuminuria, reaching nephrotic range. Albumin is also known to stimulate PT injury cascades. Thus, the mechanisms of albumin reabsorption, catabolism, and transcytosis are being reexamined with the use of techniques that allow for novel molecular and cellular discoveries. Megalin, a scavenger receptor, cubilin, amnionless, and Dab2 form a nonselective multireceptor complex that mediates albumin binding and uptake and directs proteins for lysosomal degradation after endocytosis. Albumin transcytosis is mediated by a pH-dependent binding affinity to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) in the endosomal compartments. This reclamation pathway rescues albumin from urinary losses and cellular catabolism, extending its serum half-life. Albumin that has been altered by oxidation, glycation, or carbamylation or because of other bound ligands that do not bind to FcRn traffics to the lysosome. This molecular sorting mechanism reclaims physiological albumin and eliminates potentially toxic albumin. The clinical importance of PT albumin metabolism has also increased as albumin is now being used to bind therapeutic agents to extend their half-life and minimize filtration and kidney injury. The purpose of this review is to update and integrate evolving information regarding the reabsorption and processing of albumin by proximal tubule cells including discussion of genetic disorders and therapeutic considerations.
Targeting Nrf2-Mediated Oxidative Stress Response in Traumatic Brain Injury: Therapeutic Perspectives of Phytochemicals
Authors: Wu An-Guo , Yong Yuan-Yuan , Pan Yi-Ru , Zhang Li , Wu Jian-Ming , Zhang Yue , Tang Yong , Wei Jing , Yu Lu , Law Betty Yuen-Kwan , Yu Chong-Lin , Liu Jian , Lan Cai , Xu Ru-Xiang , Zhou Xiao-Gang , Qin Da-Lian
Published: April 2022

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), known as mechanical damage to the brain, impairs the normal function of the brain seriously. Its clinical symptoms manifest as behavioral impairment, cognitive decline, communication difficulties, etc. The pathophysiological mechanisms of TBI are complex and involve inflammatory response, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, and so on. Among them, oxidative stress, one of the important mechanisms, occurs at the beginning and accompanies the whole process of TBI. Most importantly, excessive oxidative stress causes BBB disruption and brings injury to lipids, proteins, and DNA, leading to the generation of lipid peroxidation, damage of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA, neuronal apoptosis, and neuroinflammatory response. Transcription factor NF-E2 related factor 2 (Nrf2), a basic leucine zipper protein, plays an important role in the regulation of antioxidant proteins, such as oxygenase-1(HO-1), NAD(P)H Quinone Dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), to protect against oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and neuronal apoptosis. Recently, emerging evidence indicated the knockout (KO) of Nrf2 aggravates the pathology of TBI, while the treatment of Nrf2 activators inhibits neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammatory responses via reducing oxidative damage. Phytochemicals from fruits, vegetables, grains, and other medical herbs have been demonstrated to activate the Nrf2 signaling pathway and exert neuroprotective effects in TBI. In this review, we emphasized the contributive role of oxidative stress in the pathology of TBI and the protective mechanism of the Nrf2-mediated oxidative stress response for the treatment of TBI. In addition, we summarized the research advances of phytochemicals, including polyphenols, terpenoids, natural pigments, and otherwise, in the activation of Nrf2 signaling and their potential therapies for TBI. Although there is still limited clinical application evidence for these natural Nrf2 activators, we believe that the combinational use of phytochemicals such as Nrf2 activators with gene and stem cell therapy will be a promising therapeutic strategy for TBI in the future.
Structural and Evolutionary Adaptations of Nei-Like DNA Glycosylases Proteins Involved in Base Excision Repair of Oxidative DNA Damage in Vertebrates
Authors: Ahmad Hafiz Ishfaq , Afzal Gulnaz , Sadia Sehrish , Haider Ghulam , Ahmed Shakeel , Saeed Saba , Chen Jinping
Published: April 2022

Oxidative stress is a type of stress that damages DNA and can occur from both endogenous and exogenous sources. Damage to DNA caused by oxidative stress can result in base modifications that promote replication errors and the formation of sites of base loss, which pose unique challenges to the preservation of genomic integrity. However, the adaptive evolution of the DNA repair mechanism is poorly understood in vertebrates. This research aimed to explore the evolutionary relationships, physicochemical characteristics, and comparative genomic analysis of the Nei-like glycosylase gene family involved in DNA base repair in the vertebrates. The genomic sequences of NEIL1, NEIL2, and NEIL3 genes were aligned to observe selection constraints in the genes, which were relatively low conserved across vertebrate species. The positive selection signals were identified in these genes across the vertebrate lineages. We identified that only about 2.7% of codons in these genes were subjected to positive selection. We also revealed that positive selection pressure was increased in the Fapy-DNA-glyco and H2TH domain, which are involved in the base excision repair of DNA that has been damaged by oxidative stress. Gene structure, motif, and conserved domain analysis indicated that the Nei-like glycosylase genes in mammals and avians are evolutionarily low conserved compared to other glycosylase genes in other “vertebrates” species. This study revealed that adaptive selection played a critical role in the evolution of Nei-like glycosylase in vertebrate species. Systematic comparative genome analyses will give key insights to elucidate the links between DNA repair and the development of lifespan in various organisms as more diverse vertebrate genome sequences become accessible.
Assessment of Groundwater Potential Zones of Upper Blue Nile River Basin Using Multi-Influencing Factors under GIS and RS Environment: A Case Study on Guder Watersheds, Abay Basin, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Duguma Timketa Adula , Duguma Gemechis Adula
Published: April 2022

Groundwater is the most crucial resource for human beings and plays an important role in combating climate change and is substantial to human existence on the globe. Overall increased demand for water in different sectors, population growth, and unreliable rainfall necessitates the planning and management of groundwater. In this study, groundwater potential zones are delineated by combining remote sensing and geographical information system techniques in the Guder watersheds of the Upper Blue Nile Basin. Groundwater potential zones are prepared by using various multi-influencing factors like geomorphology, land use/cover, lithology, soil type, soil texture, drainage density, slope, lineament, rainfall, and elevation. These influencing factors’ features were given appropriate weightage according to Saaty’s AHP method, expert judgment, and their relative significance for groundwater occurrence. The groundwater potential zone was classified into different categories as very poor, poor, moderate, good, and very good according to quantile classification. This study reveals that about 33.6% of the Guder River Basin represents a good andvery good GWPZ category with an equal value of 16.8%,; while values 23.3%, 20.2%, and 22.9% were denoted by very poor, poor, and moderate groundwater potential zone, respectively. GWPZ was validated by field-collected data such as well discharge and soil depth. An accepted similarity was observed between delineated GWPZ and the basin’s soil depth graphically. The results of this study were also verified by correlation and kappa statistics values of 0.73and 77%, respectively. The study is certain with a sensible dimension of consistency in pairwise comparison between influencing and the overall weightage. The very high GWPZs are found in the northern part starting from the center longitude of the study area, more along with the northwestern, southern, and southwestern of the Guder subbasin. Low to very low groundwater potentiality has been seen at different distances from the center due to the presence of escapements, hills and steep side slopes, slopes, and rock surfaces. The study also revealed that the zone of high groundwater potential has high soil depth, and the zone of low groundwater showed low soil depth as the capacity of the aquifer to store water may depend on the depth of soil profile. This study attests to the GIS and remote sensing techniques as an effective model for delineation of GWPZs and can be applied at other basins of Ethiopia.
Lipotoxic Effects of Gossypol Acetate Supplementation on Hepatopancreas Fat Accumulation and Fatty Acid Profile in Cyprinus carpio
Authors: Zhang Yuru , Zhang Junmei , Ren Yanhua , Zhang Mengdan , Liang Junping
Published: April 2022

Cottonseed meal is an excellent protein source with low price and abundant nutrients, but the existence of free gossypol restricts its wide application in animal feeds. To explore the toxic effects of free gossypol, the effects of gossypol acetate on the growth performance, hepatopancreatic fat accumulation, and muscle fatty acid composition of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) were investigated in the present study. Carp were randomly divided into four groups, which were fed a diet supplemented with 0, 170, 340, and 680 mg/kg gossypol acetate, respectively. After 60 days of feeding, the gossypol residue in the tissue, growth performance, blood biochemical indices, hepatopancreas histology, fatty acid components, and expression of key genes involved in lipid metabolism pathways were measured. It was found that the concentrations of free gossypol were increased significantly in the serum, bile, and hepatopancreas of carp fed 340 mg/kg and 680 mg/kg gossypol acetate (

P
<
0.05

). Dietary gossypol acetate had a limited effect on growth performance, and high concentrations of gossypol acetate induced excessive hepatopancreatic fat deposition and hepatocyte injury in C. carpio. In addition, gossypol acetate decreased total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and docosahexaenoic acid in muscle. In the hepatopancreas, decreased HSL, PPARα, and CD36 may result in fat accumulation. In the muscle, decreased FADS2 may be the key reason for the decrease in PUFAs. Taken together, these findings indicated that dietary gossypol acetate can cause lipid metabolism disorders, such as hepatopancreatic damage and significant changes in tissue fatty acid profile, which are regulated by the key lipid metabolic genes in common carp.