bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association of strontium exposure with liver function: A cross-sectional study from a mining area in Hunan, China
Authors: Feng Shuidong , Chen Limou , Tang Yan , Shen MinXue , Chen Xiang , Yang Fei
Published: October 2022

The relationship between exposure to a single heavy metal and liver function has been reported. However, the effect of strontium exposure on liver function has not been examined. A cross-sectional study involving 1,021 residents from a mining area in Hunan Province, China, was conducted to explore the single and combined effects of strontium exposure on liver function. Liver function was determined by detecting the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBIL) in the serum. The plasma concentrations of strontium (Sr), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) in residents were measured using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and history of disease were assessed by questionnaire. Then the association between plasma Sr and liver function was analyzed by multiple linear regression and BKMR.
A positive correlation was found between Sr and ALT and Sr and AST (ALT: β = 14.86, 95% CI: 8.23, 21.50, P < 0.05 and AST: β = 9.67, 95%CI: 3.54, 15.80, P < 0.05) by multiple linear regression model. According to the BKMR, Sr and Pb and Sr and Cu had a synergistic effect on liver function. A single exposure or combined exposure to Sr are associated with liver function, which is influenced by age and gender. Sr and Pb and Sr and Cu have a synergistic effect on liver function. We reveal that Sr was an independent risk factor for ALT and AST based on the results of BKMR and GAMS.
WITHDRAWN: A comprehensive quality evaluation method of different medicinal parts of Physalis Calyx seu Fructus by fingerprints, chemometrics, antioxidant activity, network pharmacology, and molecular docking
Authors: Liu Meiqi , Liu Guoqiang , Ma Zicheng , Gao Jie , Liu Yi , Sun Lili , Ren Xiaoliang
Published: October 2022

Physalis Calyx seu Fructus (PCF) is one herb with the function of clearing heat and detoxify, benefiting pharynx and reducing phlegm, widely used in health care and tea drinking in China. However, the storage period of fruit and calyx was short and the quality was uneven. It is very important to further develop other parts with long storage period and obvious effect of medicine in PCF. Firstly, the fingerprint of differernt parts of PCF was developed by High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). The chemical markers were screened out by a variety of chemometric analyses. It was found that the calyxes of PCF could self-cluster among fruits, roots, stems, and leaves. It was found that the significant active components of PCF were mainly in persistent calyxes, and flavonoids were mainly in persistent calyxes and leaves. Moreover, the extraction of persistent calyxes had the strongest scavenging ability of DPPH and ABTS. Finally, the important chemical markers were verified by network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking. It provides a reference for clinical application of PCF, and the obtained chemical markers also provide a scientific reference for quality evaluation.
Beauveria bassiana interacts with gut and hemocytes to manipulate Aedes aegypti immunity
Authors: Bitencourt Ricardo Oliveira Barbosa , Corrêa Thaís Almeida , Reis-Mallet Jacenir , Santos Huarrison Azevedo , Lowenberger Carl , Moreira Haika Victória Sales , Gôlo Patrícia Silva , PinheiroBittencourt Vânia Rita Elias , Angelo Isabele Costa
Published: October 2022

Background: Mosquito-borne diseases affect millions of people. Chemical insecticides are currently employed against mosquitoes. However, many cases of insecticide resistance have been reported. Entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) have demonstrated potential as a bioinsecticide. Here, we assessed the invasion of the EPF Beauveria bassiana into Aedes aegyptilarvae and changes in the activity of phenoloxidase (PO) as a proxy for the general activation of the insect innate immune system. In addition, other cellular and humoral responses were evaluated.
Methods: Larvae were exposed to blastospores or conidia of B. bassiana CG 206. After 24 and 48 hours, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was conducted on the larvae. The hemolymph was collected to determine changes in total hemocyte concentration (THC), the dynamics of hemocytes, and to observe hemocyte-fungus interactions. In addition, the larvae were macerated to assess the activity of PO using L-DOPA conversion, and the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) was measured using quantitative Real-Time PCR.
Results: Propagules invaded mosquitoes through the midgut, and blastopores were detected inside the hemocoel. Both propagules decreased the THC regardless of the time. By 24 h after exposure to conidia the percentage of granulocytes and oenocytoids increased while the prohemocytes decreased. By 48 h, the oenocytoid percentage increased significantly (P<0.05) in larvae exposed to blastospores; however, the other hemocyte types did not change significantly. Regardless of the time, SEM revealed hemocytes adhering to, and nodulating, blastospores. For the larvae exposed to conidia, these interactions were observed only at 48 h. Irrespective of the propagule, the PO activity increased only at 48 h. At 24 h, cathepsin B was upregulated by infection with conidia, whereas both propagules resulted in a downregulation of cecropin and defensin A. At 48 h, blastospores and conidia increased the expression of defensin A suggesting this may be an essential AMP against EPF.
Conclusion: By 24 h, B. bassiana CG 206 occluded the midgut, reduced THC, did not stimulate PO activity, and downregulated AMP expression in larvae, all of which allowed the fungus to impair the larvae to facilitate infection. Our data reports a complex interplay between Ae. aegypti larvae and B. bassianaCG 206 demonstrating how this fungus can infect, affect, and kill Ae. aegypti larvae.
Economic Feasibility Assessment of Microgrids with Renewable Energy Sources in Peruvian Rural Areas
Authors: Quispe Juan Carlos , Obispo Angel E. , Alcántara Francisco Javier
Published: October 2022

Electrification of Peru's rural areas is an issue of vital importance for economic growth. However, these areas still have poor quality electricity service or operate in a stand-alone mode with high cost of energy. To address this problem, one of the most promising strategies proposes the use of renewable energy technologies through the implementation of microgrids. In this context, this research develops the analysis of 37 cases of rural villages throughout Peru in order to obtain the optimal microgrid design and the most feasible areas for its implementation, considering the associated costs, geographic location, and load characteristics. For this purpose, an optimization process is carried out using Homer Pro software with the aim of sizing the microgrid with the minimum net present cost and cost of energy. Then, an iterative process is developed in Matlab software to map cost values, renewable contribution, emissions, the energy charge and the annual savings in the utility bill. This analysis considers five scenarios base on a grid-connected microgrid (with sensitivity values of grid sellback price) and an off-grid microgrid system. The results show the geographic distribution of all the annual utility saving bill. For the grid-connected microgrid condition, it presents a profit in the range of $107.08 to $368.2 compared to loads connected to the grid; while, for the off-grid microgrid condition, it presents a profit in the range of $1269 to $4976 in comparison with loads connected to a diesel generator.
BG-SDN: A Big Graph Framework for Topology Modeling and Traffic Analysis in Large-Scale SDN
Authors: Samaan Sama Salam , Jeiad Hassan Awheed
Published: October 2022

This paper presented a new method of modeling a Software Defined Networking (SDN) network as a graph and importing traffic data into the created graph using graph techniques to speed up the computations required in traffic analysis and management. For this purpose, a specialized application named TMTA (Topology Modeling and Traffic Analysis) is created to model the SDN network topology as a graph and feed the created graph with traffic data. To achieve high performance, the TMTA application is integrated with the Neo4j graph database utilizing its ability to store and process big graphs consisting of massive amounts of highly interconnected data in a scalable and reliable manner. For performance evaluation, various sizes of network topologies ranging from 41 to 62,586 devices are modeled using the TMTA application and stored in Neo4j. Evaluation results show that the proposed big graph framework can handle large-scale topologies effectively and perform traffic analysis tasks, i.e., calculating the control score of each device in the network and finding the shortest path between devices in a very reasonable time.
Research on the Health Assessment Method of Bronze Artifacts Excavated from Archaeological Sites
Authors: Li Juan , Li Li , Xie Zhenbin , Xiang Jiankai , Zhao Xichen , Xiao Qing , Ling Xue
Published: October 2022

As one of the common physical materials in Chinese archaeological excavations, ancient bronzes are important bases for studying the development of Chinese bronze culture, which is of great significance for exploring the development law of ancient human culture and reconstructing ancient human society. However, the ancient bronzes unearthed by archaeological excavations have been corroded to varying degrees under the dual influence of the soil burial environment and the sudden change of the above-ground environment, which has led to the different health status of the cultural relics. An adequate scientific evaluation of these bronzes is needed to inform how they should be extracted, moved and transported, as well as how subsequently they should be restored. Based on the analysis and research of relevant industry standards and the disease characteristics of bronzes to determine the risk factors affecting the health status of unearthed cultural relics, and then determines the main content of the health assessment of bronzes. By studying methods to effectively characterize the health status of bronzes and combining laboratory research to form a systematic method for in situ nondestructive analysis of bronzes. Through the systematic analysis of the detection results of the evaluation indicators to establish an analysis model for the health evaluation of bronzes. Finally, this paper achieves a scientific and effective evaluation of the health status of bronzes unearthed from archaeological sites. This enabled the feasibility of the extraction methods to be evaluated using the excavated Sanxingdui bronzes as samples.
Modified Diffusive Epidemic Process on the Apollonian Network
Authors: Alencar D. S. M. Alencar , Filho A. Macedo-Filho , Alves T. F. A. Alves , Alves G. A. Alves , Ferreira R. S. Ferreira , Lima F. W. S. Lima
Published: October 2022

We present an analysis of an epidemic spreading process on the Apollonian network that can describe an epidemic spreading in a non-sedentary population. We studied the modified diffusive epidemic process using the Monte Carlo method by computational analysis. Our model may be helpful for modeling systems closer to reality consisting of two classes of individuals: susceptible (A) and infected (B). The individuals can diffuse in a network according to constant diffusion rates DA and DB, for the classes A and B, respectively, and obeying three diffusive regimes, i.e., 𝐷𝐴 < 𝐷𝐵, 𝐷𝐴 = 𝐷𝐵 and 𝐷𝐴 > 𝐷𝐵. Into the same site i, the reaction occurs according to the dynamical rule based on Gillespie's algorithm. Finite-size scaling analysis has shown that our model exhibit continuous phase transition to an absorbing state with a set of critical exponents given by 𝛽∕𝜈 = 0.66(1), 1∕𝜈 = 0.46(2), and 𝛾′∕𝜈 = −0.24(2) familiar to every investigated regime. In summary, the continuous phase transition, characterized by this set of critical exponents, does not have the same exponents of the Mean-Field universality class in both regular lattices and complex networks.
Muscle hypertrophy and neuroplasticity in the small bowel in Short Bowel Syndrome
Authors: Khasanov Rasul , Svoboda Daniel , Tapia-Laliena María Ángeles , Kohl Martina , Maas-Omlor Silke , Hagl Cornelia Irene , Wessel Lucas M. , Schäfer Karl-Herbert
Published: October 2022

Short bowel syndrome (SBS) is a severe, life-threatening condition and one of the leading causes of intestinal failure in children. Here we were interested in changes in muscle layers and especially in the myenteric plexus of the enteric nervous system (ENS) of the small bowel in the context of intestinal adaptation. Twelve rats underwent a massive resection of the small intestine to induce an SBS. Sham laparotomy without small bowel transection was performed in 10 rats. Two weeks after surgery, the remaining jejunum and ileum were harvested and studied. Samples of human small bowel were obtained from patients who underwent resection of small bowel segments due to a medical indication. Morphological changes in the muscle layers and the expression of nestin, a marker for neuronal plasticity, were studied. Following a SBS, muscle tissue increases significantly in both parts of the small bowel, jejunum, and ileum. The leading pathophysiological mechanism of these changes is hypertrophy. Additionally, we observed an increased nestin expression in the myenteric plexus in the remaining bowel of SBS. Our human data also showed that in patients with SBS, the proportion of stem cells in the myenteric plexus have risen by more than two times. Our findings suggest that the ENS is tightly connected with changes in intestinal muscle layers and is critically involved in the intestinal adaptation process to SBS.
Molecular Aggregates Associated THz Coherent Vibrations Contribute to Enhancements of Emission Efficiencies
Authors: Wei Yu-Chen , Chen Bo-Han , Ye Ren-Siang , Huang Hsing-Wei , Su Jia-Xuan , Chen Kai , Hsu Liang-Yan , Chi Yun , Lu Chih-Hsuan , Yang Shang-Da , Chou Pi-Tai
Published: October 2022

The control of excited-state vibrational and electronic energy flows in molecular solids has a considerable impact on the performance of optoelectronic devices. In this study, we applied a novel ultrafast pump-probe system with 3.2 fs resolution to demonstrate that the aggregated Pt(II) complex 4H, an efficient near-infrared emitter, exhibits prominent single-mode vibrational coherence (VC) with a frequency of 32 cm−1 (~ 0.96 THz) in the excited state. This single-mode VC is associated with the collective out-of-plane motions induced by intermolecular metal-metal-to-ligand charge transfer transitions, which occur through ultrafast intersystem crossings with lifetimes of 150 fs. Similar single-mode VC characteristics were observed in analogues of 4H and other Pt(II) complexes with intense NIR emission. The conservation of single-mode VC enables excited-state deactivation to proceed along low-frequency coordinates, which contributes to the suppression of nonradiative decay rates and causes highly intense near-infrared emission in aggregated Pt(II) complexes. These novel results highlight the importance of VC in understanding nonradiative processes, elucidating the foundations of VC in molecular solid, which serve as a benchmark for evolving the device performance.
Central Obesity and Associated Factors Among Adult Patients Attending Public Health Facilities in Adama Town, Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Getahun Mihret Shawel , Deybasso Haji Aman , Komicha Meyrema Abdo , Gurara Abinet Menon
Published: October 2022

Background
Central obesity is excessive accumulation of fat around the abdomen which is associated risk of coronary heart and cerebrovascular diseases. This study determined the magnitude of central obesity among adult patients using the waist-to-hip ratio which has a superior capacity to measure the risk of developing non-communicable diseases compared to the body mass index used in previous studies in Ethiopia.
Methods
Institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among a sample of 516 adults from April 1 to May 30, 2022. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Data were collected by using interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. The data were entered into EPI INFO version 7 and analyzed by Statistical Software for Social Science Version 25. The associations between independent and dependent variables were checked using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were used to measure of strengths of the association. Statistical significance was declared at a P-value of less than 0.05.
Results
The magnitude of central obesity in this study was 40% (51.2% and 27.4% among females and males respectively (95% CI: 36–44%). Being a female (AOR = 9.5, 95% CI: 5.22–17.9), age range 35–44 (AOR = 7, 95% CI: 2.9–16.7), 45–64 years (AOR = 10.1, 95% CI:4.0- 15.2), married (AOR = 2.5, 95% CI: 1.3–4.7), high monthly income (AOR = 3.3, 95% CI: 1.5–7.3), high consumption of milk and milk products (AOR = 0.3 ,95% CI: 0.1–0.6), family history of obesity (AOR = 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1–3.2) were significantly associated with central obesity among the study participants.
Conclusion
The magnitude of central obesity was higher in the study area. Sex, age, marital status, monthly income, consumption of milk and milk products, and family history of obesity were independent determinants of central obesity.
Resilience to substance use disorder following childhood maltreatment: association with peripheral biomarkers of endocannabinoid function and neural indices of emotion regulation.
Authors: Perini Irene , Mayo Leah , Capusan Andrea J. , Paul Elisabeth , Kämpe Robin , Gauffin Emelie , Mazurka Raegan , Stensson Niclas , Asratian Anna , Hamilton J. Paul , Kastbom Åsa , Gustafsson Per , Heilig Markus , Yngve Adam
Published: October 2022

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a risk factor for substance use disorders (SUD) in adulthood. Understanding the mechanisms by which people are susceptible or resilient to developing SUD after exposure to CM is important for improving intervention. This case-control study investigated the impact of prospectively assessed CM on biomarkers of endocannabinoid function and emotion regulation in relation to the susceptibility or resilience to developing SUD. Four groups were defined across the dimensions of CM and lifetime SUD (n = 101 in total). After screening, participants completed two experimental sessions on separate days, aimed at assessing the behavioral, physiological, and neural mechanisms involved in emotion regulation. In the first session, participants engaged in tasks assessing biochemical (i.e., cortisol, endocannabinoids), behavioral, and psychophysiological indices of stress and affective reactivity. During the second session, the behavioral and brain mechanisms associated with emotion regulation and negative affect were investigated using magnetic resonance imaging. CM exposed adults who did not develop SUD, operationally defined as resilient to developing SUD, had higher peripheral levels of the endocannabinoid anandamide at baseline and during stress exposure, compared to controls. Similarly, this group had increased activity in salience and emotion regulation regions in task-based measures of emotion regulation compared to controls, and CM exposed adults with lifetime SUD. At rest, the resilient group also showed significantly greater negative connectivity between ventromedial prefrontal cortex and anterior insula compared to controls and CM exposed adults with lifetime SUD. Collectively, these peripheral and central findings point to mechanisms of potential resilience to developing SUD after documented CM exposure.
Towards a generalized Regev's cryptosystem and its related signing cryptosystem: An implementation for hashes and simple ASCII texts in Python
Authors: BARJ Sara
Published: October 2022

Quantum computing makes most of nowadays protocols breakable. Fortunately, this technology is still too expensive to be used by anybody.
The cryptosystems relying on the LWE problem are still an excellent choice to prepare for the democratization of quantum computing.
The motivation of this work is to implement a post-quantum complete and complex asymmetric cryptosystem using the learning with error (LWE) problem. In fact, it is impossible or hard to find a cryptosystem in Python in the literature like the implemented one.
As a contribution, this work proposes an implementation of a generalized Regev's Cryptosystem and its related signature and verification functions for achieving the quantum-safety property.\\ It also tests the validity of a list of primes for specified values.
Finally, this work completes the cryptosystem with the signing and verification algorithms. These algorithms are news for the scientific community. Errors and omissions excepted.
These implementations are based on hard problems related to lattices
Radiographic tumor burden score is useful for stratifying the overall survival of hepatocellular carcinoma patients undergoing resection at different Barcelona Clinic Liver
Authors: Li Wei-Feng , Liu Yueh-Wei , Wang Chih-Chi , Yong Chee-Chien , Lin Chih-Che , Yen Yi-Hao
Published: October 2022

Purpose:The Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer (BCLC) staging system has been recommended for prognostic prediction. However, prognosis is variable at different BCLC stages. We aimed to evaluate whether the radiographic tumor burden score (TBS) could be used to stratify prognosis in different BCLC stages.
Methods: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing liver resection (LR) at BCLC-0, -A, or -B stage in our institution in 2007–2018 were divided into derivation and validation cohorts. Overall survival (OS) was analyzed according to the TBS and BCLC stage. TBS cutoff values for OS were determined with X-tile.
Results: Of the 749 patients in the derivation cohort, 138 (18.4%) had BCLC-0, 542 (72.3 %) BCLC-A, and 69 (9.2 %) BCLC-B HCC; 81 (10.8%) had a high TBS (> 7.9), 474 (63.3%) a medium TBS (2.6–7.9), and 194 (25.9%) a low TBS (< 2.6). OS worsened progressively with increasing TBS in the cohort (p< 0.001) and in BCLC-A (p = 0.04) and BCLC-B (p = 0.002) stages. Multivariate analysis showed that the TBS was associated with OS of patients with BCLC-A (medium vs. low TBS: hazard ratio [HR] = 2.390, 95% CI = 1.024–5.581, p = 0.04; high vs. low TBS: HR = 3.885, 95% CI =1.443–10.456, p = 0.007) and BCLC-B (high vs. medium TBS: HR = 2.542, 95% CI = 1.077–6.002, p = 0.033) HCC. The TBS could also be used to stratify the OS of patients in the validation cohort (p< 0.001).
Conclusion: The TBS could be used to stratify the OS of the entire cohort and BCLC stages A and B of HCC patients undergoing LR.
Gastrodin regulates expression of angiotensin-SirT3 and proinflammatory mediators in reactive astrocytes via activated microglia
Authors: Zuo Han-Jun , Ren Xue-Qi , Guo Kun , Wang Peng-Xiang , Zhao Min , Li Juan-Juan
Published: October 2022

Use of Chinese herbal compounds have been widely explored in recent years to inhibit excessive proliferation and activation of astrocytes in brain injuries. Thus, it has been reported that Gastrodin, an anti-inflammatory agent, can effectively suppress microglia activation in rats with hypoxic-ischemia brain damage. This study was therefore aimed to determine if Gastrodin would exert a similar effect on reactive astrocytes and alleviate their inflammatory response through the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and Sirtuin3 (SirT3). Expression of ATO, AT1 and SirT3 was detected in TNC-1 astrocytes, treated respectively with conditioned medium from BV-2 microglia with or without pretreatment of Gastrodin and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by immunofluorescence and Western blotting. Along with this, expression of C3, S100A10, TNF-α and neurotrophic factors, including BDNF and IGF-1 expression was also evaluated. We showed here that TNC-1 astrocytes incubated in CM + LPS showed a marked increase in ATO, AT1, C3 and TNF-α when compared to cells in the BV-2 conditioned medium (CM), but that of S100A10 was reduced. Of note, TNC-1 astrocytes responded vigorously to conditioned medium derived from BV-2 microglia treated with Gastrodin + LPS when compared to the controls. This was evident by the decreased expression of the above-mentioned proteins, except for S100A10. As opposed to this, SirT3, IGF-1 and BDNF expression as determined by Western and immunofluorescence analysis was enhanced. The results suggest that Gastrodin inhibits the expression of RAS and proinflammatory mediators, but promotes the production of large amounts of neurotrophic factors in reactive astrocytes induced by LPS-stimulated activated microglia. Another novel finding of this study is the unequivocal demonstration that Gastrodin can promote the polarization of A2 phenotype that is regarded to be neuroprotective. This has added a new therapeutic perspective of this herbal compound that is gaining more attention in recent years.
Using observed and modelled heat fluxes for improved extrapolation of wind distributions
Authors: Floors Rogier , Peña Alfredo , Troen Ib
Published: October 2022

Modelling the horizontal and vertical variation of wind speed is crucial for wind energy applications. A model frequently used for this purpose is part of the Wind Atlas Analysis and Application program (WAsP). Here, we modify the model in WAsP to account for local atmospheric stability parameters.
Atmospheric stability effects are treated by using the impact of a temperature scale on the geostrophic drag law and the diabatic logarithmic wind profile. Using this approach, wind-direction dependent mean and standard deviation of a surface-layer temperature scale and a mean boundary-layer height scale can be obtained from either numerical weather prediction model output or observations to improve vertical extrapolations of Weibull wind speed distribution parameters.
The modified atmospheric stability model is validated at six flat sites in northwestern Europe. The surface-layer temperature scale is available from sonic anemometer measurements at three of the sites. At all sites the temperature scale is also estimated from reanalysis data and from mesoscale model output. The modified model improves the estimations of wind speed distributions when extrapolating to nearby locations, when using the temperature scale derived from either observations or mesoscale/reanalysis output.
Burnout Syndrome (Bs) Among Doctors During the Covid-19 Pandemic in Porto Velho-ro, Brazil
Authors: Reimann Raissa Santos , Romano Filippo , Cavatti Mariana Moraes
Published: October 2022

INTRODUCTION: Burnout syndrome (BS) occurs due to chronic exposure to stressors in the workplace. In addition to the stressful conditions to which doctors are exposed under usual situations, the COVID-19 pandemic has added greater pressure to the reality of these professionals.
OBJECTIVES: to identify the frequency of BS, and the possible associated risk factors, among physicians during the COVID-19 pandemic in Porto Velho-RO, Brazil.
METHODOLOGY: it is a cross-sectional study carried out through a questionnaire answered by physicians who signed the Informed Consent. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used as a basis.
RESULTS: The prevalence of BS in this study was 77.5% (107/138), with 43.48% (60/138) with BS in the emotional exhaustion and depersonalization dimensions, 29% (40/138) with emotional exhaustion alone, and 5.1% (7/138) only with depersonalization. The prevalence of low personal accomplishment was 17.4% (24/138), between these 95.8% (23/24) had BS. Statistical tests were carried out and suggest that being female, being under 30 years of age, having less than 5 years of working experience, being single, moving away from family during the pandemic, working or have worked on the frontline are risk factors for BS. While having children, being married, and living with the family are possible protective factors. The number of hours worked between physicians with and without BS was not statistically significant.
CONCLUSION: High levels of Burnout Syndrome were evidenced in the research participants. This study highlights correlated risk factors, with its results being consistent with the literature.
Adaptive Elastic-net Sliced Inverse Regression to Identify Risk Factors Affecting Covid-19 Disease Fatality Rate
Authors: Lashgari Sajedeh , Mohammadzadeh Mohsen , Ghaderi Foad
Published: October 2022

Identifying and modeling variables that affect coronavirus disease (Covid-19) infection fatality rate leads to better macro decisions and reduces the spread of the virus. Moreover, identifying these variables leads to better understanding and interpretation of the prediction models and can improves their performance. So far, different methods have been proposed for variable selection. However, they often face challenges such as non-modeling, high computational cost, overfitting, following certain assumptions like specific distribution, specific model, or lack of collinearity. They also do not consider sufficient dimensions. In this article, to overcome these limitations, we propose a method based on Adaptive Elastic-net Sliced Inverse Regression to identify risk factors for the Covid-19 disease in the presence of collinearity between explanatory variables. Considering the penalty of elastic-net and sliced inverse regression, this method leads to sufficient dimension reduction and presentation of a more stable and accurate model and prevents the occurrence of overfitting. We applied the proposed method to simulated data and new real-world Covid-19 disease dataset with 60 explanatory variables that we collected from available sources and prepared after going through pre-processing steps. We observed that the proposed method has significantly improved by reducing the experimental standard error of bootstrapping by 13\% compared to the previous methods for both datasets. So, it is an efficient and stable method for modeling and identifying risk factors for the Covid-19 disease. This method also has high generalizability, prevents overfitting, and can be used for other similar diseases.
The Effectiveness of Automated Speech Recognition in English with Native Thai Speakers
Authors: Savithi Charuay , Suttidee Arisaphat
Published: October 2022

Usability evaluation performance is one of the cornerstones of user interface design. This study presents the usability evaluation of Apple’s Siri based on Nielsen's usability heuristics. Apple’s Siri is one of the technologies of automatic speech recognition (ASR) that allows the user to use a natural language with smartphones and smart devices. The result shows that this feature still has a problem with the user who speaks English as a second language. This study may lead the developer to provide the best voice interfaces for the user who speaks English with a different accent.
Are anthropogenic soils from dumpsites suitable for arable fields? Evaluation of soil fertility and biomass response to elements
Authors: Opare Michael Asare
Published: October 2022

Background and purpose
The fertility of anthropogenic soils developed from dumpsites used for arable fields is not well-studied. The study aimed to evaluate the fertility of soils from an abandoned dumpsite in Awotan, Nigeria, by measurable indicators and assess the bioaccessibility of elements of identified plant species.
Methods
The study adopted multi-analytical approaches to determine the signatures of the soils and further parameterized the bioaccessibility of elements to plants.
Results
The comparatively high content of Ca and Na in the anthropogenic soil contributed to the slightly alkaline soil reaction against the slightly acidic control. The high amount of organic matter is well-indicated by the enrichment of organic C and N in the anthropogenic soil. Waste deposition significantly contributed to the high accumulation of macronutrients (P, Ca, K, S) and micronutrients (Mn, Na, Fe) sufficient for maximum plant growth and yields, with an adequate C/N ratio supporting effective mineralization. The high cation exchange capacity of the anthropogenic soil contributed to cations binding. Indiscriminate deposition resulted in a high accumulation of potentially toxic elements (PTEs; Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb) above permissible limits in agricultural soils following WHO limits. Potential effects on lives are evident by the high PTEs accumulation in roots and leaves of Chromolaena odorata, Saccopetalum tectonum, Passiflora foetida, and Senna siamea. These plant species exhibited various PTEs accumulation, especially excluding Cd and Pb.
Conclusion
Although anthropogenic soils remained fertile, the bioaccessibility of PTEs by plants indicates potential threats to consumers of crops and herbs produced from such sites.
More Alike than Different: Latina Immigrants’ Cancer Causal Attributions
Authors: Fiallos Katie , Owczarzak Jill , Bodurtha Joann , Margarit Sonia , Erby Lori H.
Published: October 2022

Latinos in the U.S. suffer health disparities including stage of disease at time of breast or colon cancer diagnosis. Understanding Latinas’ causal attributions of breast and colon cancer may provide insight into some of the individual level determinants of cancer disparities in this population. Cultural consensus analysis (CCA) is one way to study causal beliefs. The objective of this study was to describe Latina immigrants’ causal attributions of breast and colon cancer. We conducted Spanish-language interviews with 22 Latina immigrants using a qualitative exploratory design comprised of freelisting, ranking, and open-ended questions. Participants freelisted causes and risk factors for breast and colon cancer then ranked risk factors according to their perceived role in the development of each cancer. CCA was conducted on rank orders to identify whether a cultural consensus model was present. Participants answered semi-structured, open-ended questions regarding the risk factors and rankings. Interviews were transcribed and subjected to thematic analysis. CCA showed no consensus around rank of causes for either cancer. “Genetics” and “hereditary factors” ranked first and second on average across participants for both cancers. Based on interview data, participants were less aware of colon cancer than breast cancer. Participants’ causal attributions of breast and colon cancer were similar to those reported in studies of primarily non-Latina populations. While tailoring education in other ways may make it more acceptable, evidence suggests that it is appropriate for the information provided to Latina immigrant populations about breast and colon cancers to be similar to that provided to non-Latina patients.
Knowledge, Attitude and Perceptions about Cancer Genetic Testing in Clinical Practice in Karachi, Pakistan
Authors: Shafqat Shameel , Naseem Masooma , Rana Masooma , Naseem Zehra , Ahmed Warda , Musharraf Muhammad Daniyal , Zaheer Arisha , Shaikh Ahmed Safiullah , Musharraf Muhammad Bazil , Niaz Mahnoor , Khan Saifullah , Irfan Rabiya , Imran Areeba , Mehmood Zahid
Published: October 2022

Health care professionals (HCP) play an important role in the practical application of genetic screening tests but often feel inadequately prepared for cancer genetic testing (CGT) in clinical care. As the complexity of gene related malignancies increases, it demands HCPs’ preparedness to cater to patients’ needs. Therefore, our study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices of HCPs in Pakistan regarding the application of cancer genetics. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April 2022 to June 2022 amongst HCPs at a private and a governmental institution in Karachi, Pakistan. Non-probability random convenience sampling was used to select the population. A total of 210 HCPs, 56.7% (119) were included in this study. Most respondents from both hospitals deemed their knowledge inadequate, with only 2% (2) and 1.8% (2) being extremely knowledgeable, respectively. 68.6% (144) HCPs displayed a positive attitude towards CGT, with 55.2% (116) participants perceiving CGT in a positive light. As compared to the private sector, significantly more HCPs in the public sector dedicated ≥ 5 hours/week for CME (P = 0.006), and were better prepared to counsel patients (P = 0.021) and interpret results concerning CGT (P = 0.020). Additionally, screening tests for specific cancer types were popularly considered a worthwhile avenue of investment to improve the current state of CGT in our healthcare system [47.6% (N=100)]. Our results thus call upon the need for additional training concerning CGT. Understanding specific gaps in knowledge may further help enhance post-graduate training programs and eventually lead to effective incorporation of CGT into our healthcare setting.
HPLC-MS-MS quantification of short-chain fatty acids secreted by probiotic strains
Authors: Calvigioni Marco , Bertolini Andrea , Codini Simone , Mazzantini Diletta , Panattoni Adelaide , Celandroni Francesco , Zucchi Riccardo , Saba Alessandro , Ghelardi Emilia
Published: October 2022

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are the main by-products of microbial fermentations occurring in the human intestine and are directly involved in the host’s physiological balance. As impaired gut concentrations of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids are often associated with systemic disorders, the administration of SCFA-producing microorganisms has been suggested as attractive approach to solve symptoms related to SCFAs deficiencies. In this research, nine probiotic strains (Bacillus clausii NR, OC, SIN, and T, Bacillus coagulans ATCC 7050, Bifidobacterium breve DSM 16604, Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus ATCC 53103, and Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745) commonly included in commercial formulations were tested for their ability to secrete SCFAs by using an improved and sensitive protocol in high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS-MS). All tested microorganisms were shown to secrete acetic acid, with only B. clausii and S. boulardii additionally able to produce propionic and butyric acids. Quantitative differences in the secretion of SCFAs were also evidenced. The application of HPLC-MS-MS may help in the analysis of SCFA production by probiotics, especially for their administration as targeted bacteriotherapy to improve SCFAs deficiencies.
Controlling time-varying confounding in difference-in-differences studies using the time-varying treatments framework
Authors: Myint Leslie
Published: October 2022

This article clarifies how the biostatistical literature on time-varying treatments can provide tools for dealing with time-varying confounding in difference-in-differences studies. I use a simulation study to compare the bias and standard error of inverse probability weighting estimators from the time-varying treatments framework and from a difference-in-differences framework. I simulated longitudinal data over multiple time points using linear and logistic models. Confounders were time-varying and affected by prior treatment, a realistic occurrence in applied settings. Observed covariates were sufficient to control confounding in one simulation setting and insufficient in a second. Under realistic data settings, estimators from the time-varying treatments framework have lower bias than difference-in-differences estimators based on parallel trends assumptions. Estimators that combined ideas from both frameworks were least biased in settings with unmeasured time-varying confounders. The time-varying treatments framework provides estimation tools that can complement difference-in-differences tools in a wide range of applied settings. It also provides alternate estimands for consideration in policy settings.
On flows of Neural Ordinary Differential Equations that are solutions of universal dynamical systems
Authors: Arratia Argimiro , Ortiz Carlos , Romaní Marcel
Published: October 2022

Neural Ordinary Differential Equations (NODE) have emerged as a novel approach to deep learning, where instead of specifying a discrete sequence of hidden layers, it parameterizes the derivative of the hidden state using a neural network. The solution to the underlying dynamical system is a flow, and various papers have explored the universality of flows, in the senseof being able to approximate any analytical function.In this paper we present preliminary work aimed at identifying families of systems of ordinary differential equations (SODE) that are universal, in the sense that they encompass most of the systems of differential equations that appear in practice. Once one of these (candidate) universal SODEs is found, we define a process that generates a family of NODEs whose flows are precisely the solutions of this universal SODE.
We present three candidates for universal SODE family: the generalized Lotka-Volterra families of differential equations; the Riccati dynamical systems; and the S-systems.We present the NODE models built upon each one of these dynamical systems and a description of their appropriate flows together with some preliminary implementations of these processes and results on learning some analytical functions.
STATE POLICY OF ECONOMIC SECURITY IN THE CONDITIONS OF SANCTIONS
Authors:   Baikal Institute of Nature Management SB RAS, Ulan-Ude, Russia, Sharaldaev B. , Yumova Ts. ,   East Siberian State University of Technology and Management, Ulan-Ude, Russia, Ochirova A. ,   Banzarov Buryat State University, Ulan-Ude, Russia
Published: October 2022

The issues of the economic security of the state in modern conditions of the new world policy in the field of geopolitics and geoeconomics are discussed in the article. The current new world position in the conditions of sanctions of leading world economic powers against the Russian Federation is presented, this situation forces the world community the need to make new strategic decisions to ensure the country's economic security. As a result of the study of this area, it was revealed that in international relations in the modern world, the system of monopolarity gradually begins to change towards the multipolar system in the world arena. The sanctions introduced have a great influence on international trade relations and how, a consequence is observed by the change in the polarity of the world system especially in the field of international economic and political relations. The statistical analysis of the trade relations of the Russian Federation, China and the USA convincingly showed that the introduction of political and economic sanctions against the Russian Federation affects all world states, which forced the countries to ensure the economic and political security of its state, in extreme cases, to maintain sovereignty or neutrality. In addition, a change in the main trading partners in the countries under consideration is observed and, as a result, an increase or decrease in trade between these countries. And most importantly, almost all countries began to look for a solution to the issue of political and economic security primarily with cross -border countries, as well as the adoption of measures aimed at overcoming the current situations and the consequences of the influence of sanctions regarding their countries
Ugdan can be revived (Transbaikalia)
Authors:   Transbaikal State University, Salikhov V.
Published: October 2022

The variant of the revival of the unique lake of Transbaikalia Ugdan, which is located near the city of Chita, is being considered. Therapeutic sulfide mud of the lake has been known since the end of the 19th century and was used to treat diseases of the musculoskeletal system, diseases of the nervous system, and gynecological diseases. There was even a summer resort of all-Union significance on the shore of the lake. Due to mismanagement, the resort was closed in 1997, and the lake began to degrade until it completely dried up in 2003. However, from the remaining shores, they continue to extract therapeutic mud to this day. The object of the study is the lake Ugdan. The subject of the study is the revival of the medical institution. The purpose of the study is to substantiate a possibility of the mud cure clinic revival located at the lake Ugdan. This priceless gift of Nature called for a revival for a long time, but to no avail. The lake Ugdan and its therapeutic mud can and should be revived, for which a not very complex network of hydraulic structures (pipelines) is proposed with the transfer of flood waters both from the Shilnikov stream, which previously has flowed into the lake, and the construction of pipelines from the river Chita with the option of using the lake Kamyshinskoye as a reservoir. Such structures can significantly reduce the riot of flood waters, which often flooded the coastal zone of the river Chita. Sometimes the wishes of "well-wishers" to fill up the lake (that is, to bury the priceless gift of Nature) and build an autodrome here or erect any other structures should be attributed to absurd
The settlement of Russian emigrants in China along the China-Eastern railway after the October Revolution: a political analysis
Authors:   Heilongjiang University, Kharbin, Heilongjiang Province, China.,   Kharbin, China
Published: October 2022

During the Russian Civil War, thousands of Russian emigrants moved to the areas along the China-Eastern railway that had unique features on the way to China. Due to the continuous flow of a large number of newly arriving Russian emigrants, it was urgently necessary to solve problems with housing and employment of Russian emigrants, as well as other social tasks. The administration of the Chinese-Eastern railway, local authorities and public organizations, as well as international organizations arranged for the newly arrived Russian emigrants. Russian emigrants in the areas along the Chinese-Eastern railway had started a new life with the help of various parties
Effect of Spent Mushroom Compost of Pleurotus eous Strain P-31 on Growth Performance and Nodulation of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.)
Authors:   Department of Plant and Environmental Biology, University of Ghana, P.O. Box 55, Legon, Accra, Ghana, Michael Wiafe-Kwagyan , Tawia Odamtten George ,   Department of Plant and Environmental Biology, University of Ghana, P.O. Box 55, Legon, Accra, Ghana, Korley Kortei Nii ,   Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Health and Allied Sciences, PMB 31, Ho, Ghana
Published: October 2022

This study investigated the influence of spent mushroom compost (SMC) of Pleurotus eous strain P-31 on the growth, development and soil rhizobial population associated with nodulation of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp.) black-eye variety, under greenhouse conditions at 28 ± 2ºC for 12 weeks. Sandy loam soil was combined with different percentages of SMC to obtain the following combinations (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30%, 100%). Lower concentrations, SMC (5%–25%) promoted plant height, number of leaves, total leaf area, total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a and b as well as dry matter accumulation of shoot and roots after 12 weeks at 28°C–32°C. Soil: SMC concentrations beyond 30% SMC variably depressed the various developmental criteria used in assessing growth. The trend obtained in the assessed parameter were statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05) in decreasing order: 5% SMC < 10% SMC < 15% SMC, < 20% SMC, < 25% SMC, < 30% SMC, < 100% SMC. The cowpea plant efficiently assimilated nitrogen (N2) from the soil: compost. Nodule formation by cowpea was commensurate with increasing percentage of spent compost was highest in 5% SMC (89/plant) and declined with increasing proportion of SMC: soil mixture up to 25% but nodulation of cowpea plant was completely depressed in the absence of soil (100% SMC) pots. The Nodule Index data showed that the best nodule size and weight were formed by cowpea growing in medium containing 5% SMC (18) and 10% SMC (12) and thereafter declined. The nodules were red to pinkish in colour epitomising leghaemoglobin which could initiate nodulation and N2 fixation in soil. This study has shown that 5% SMC–20% SMC could provide favourable conditions in soil as a biofertiliser to improve the growth, development and nodulation of cowpea.