bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patients with temporomandibular disorders and chronic pain of myofascial origin display reduced alpha power density and altered Small-world properties of brain networks
Authors: Ito Clara Hikari , Campbell Fernanda Queirós , Montoya Pedro , Araújo Lucas , Santana Jamille Evelyn Rodrigues Souza , Meneses Francisco , Sá Katia Nunes , Fonseca André , Benevides Silvia Damasceno , Zana Yossi , Lopes Tiago da Silva , Baptista Abrahão Fontes
Published: January 2023

Chronic pain is one of the most common symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Although its pathophysiology is still a challenge, TMD has been associated with changes in central nervous system activity related to pain modulatory capacity. This study was conducted to examine the cortical activity of patients with temporomandibular disorders and chronic pain of myofascial origin using quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG). Individuals with TMD and chronic pain and healthy controls were evaluated using qEEG in four consecutive conditions, all with closed eyes: 1) initial resting condition; 2) non-painful motor imagery task of hand movement; 3) painful motor imagery task of clenching the teeth; 4) final resting condition. Participants with TMD and chronic pain overall presented decreased alpha power density during baseline at rest, and non-painful and painful motor imagery tasks when compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, functional brain connectivity was distinct between groups, with TMD and chronic pain showing lower small-world values for the delta (all conditions), theta (eyes closed, painful and non-painful motor imagery task), and alpha bands (painful motor imagery task), and an increase in the beta band (all conditions). These results suggest that TMD and related chronic pain is associated with maladaptive plasticity in the brain, which may correspond to a reduced ability to modify brain activity during different mental tasks, including painful and non-painful imagery. These changes can be detected by qEEG, a method which may be very important because of its characteristics of good temporal resolution and the possibility to be performed in naturalistic setups.
Probiotic Bacillus licheniformis MCC2514 and Bifidobacterium breve NCIM 5671 regulate GATA3 and Foxp3 expression in the elevated disease condition
Authors: HS Rohith , Pedda Muthukumar Serva , Halami Prakash Motiram
Published: January 2023

The TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis was evaluated using B. licheniformis and Bf. breve as immune modulator. The study aims to analyze the probiotic efficiency of ulcerative colitis induced by TNBS in Wistar rats. The tumor-like structure was found in colon of TNBS inflammation-induced rats. Nitric oxide production was inhibited by about 65.2% fed with combination of bacteria and C-reactive protein, decreased by 12% and 10.8% upon supplementing B. licheniformis and Bf. breve against the TNBS-treated rats, respectively. Liver damage was observed in the TNBS-treated rats, SGPT (75.4%) and SGOT (42.5%) were reduced by addition of probiotic bacteria. On TNBS treatment, transcriptional factor responsible for Th2 cell immune response (GATA3) was analyzed, and the elevation in gene expression (5.31 folds) was found. The FOXP-3 responsible for T-regulatory cells was expressed about 0.91 folds upon the treatment with combination of bacteria. The expression of antioxidant genes such as iNOS (1.11 folds), GPx (1.29), and PON1 (1.48) has been increased when compared with TNBS treated group. The cytokines specific to the Th2-driven immune response, such as IL-4, IL-5, and TNF-α, were reduced upon feeding the bacteria. It is observed that the B. licheniformis and Bf. breve used in the study has reduced the Th2-driven immune response.
WITHDRAWN: Factors affecting the application of the value-based care principle in patient care among sixth-year medical students and postgraduate trainees
Authors: Sornsenee Phoomjai , Choomalee Kittisakdi , Sanphet Kamonlak , Keereerak Kanyarat , Wongwatthanawisit Techin , Wongtabpabut Tanyamon , Tipphayawong Panpim , Khunjun Panupong , Tularak Suppanita , Sungkaro Kanisorn , Wongkittithaworn Theepat
Published: January 2023

Background: Value-based care (VBC) entails improving the quality and value of healthcare for patients by focusing on costs, quality of healthcare services, and quality of life, holistically. The theory of planned behaviour (TPB) is a psychological model outlining individuals’ intentions and behaviours towards VBC to understand how individuals engage in a specific behaviour. Thus, we developed a questionnaire based on VBC and TPB to collect data from sixth-year medical students and postgraduate trainees to identify and compare factors affecting the intention and application of the VBC principle in patient care between these two groups.
Methods: Cross-sectional study (December 2022January 2023) data were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics for personal factors; Spearman rank correlation statistics explored the relationship based on TPB between the score of attitudes towards behaviour, subjective norms, perception of behavioural control, intention to perform behaviour, and application of principles; and a multiple regression analysis was conducted to examine the predictive factors among variables.
Results: This study involved 90 participants, 51 (56.67%) postgraduate trainees and 39 (43.33%) undergraduate students. Spearman rank correlation found relationships between each part of TPB, showing a significant difference in behaviour scores between the two groups. In the multiple regression analysis, attitude and perception scores were positive predictors of intention scores, while postgraduate status, perception scores, and perception of family socio-economic status were significant, positive predictors of behaviour scores. A subgroup analysis revealed that perception scores were positive predictors of both intention and behaviour scores for both groups. Furthermore, being a sixth-year student with a family member suffering from a chronic illness was positively associated with higher behaviour scores (β= 6.28, p-value 0.003). In the postgraduate group, attitude scores and perception of family socio-economic status were correlated with intention scores (β= 0.36, p-value 0.018) and behaviour scores (β=4.14, p-value 0.002).
Conclusions: TPB is a suitable theoretical basis for examining factors influencing the adoption of VBC. Additionally, the perception of behavioural control significantly affects the intention to perform behaviour related to the application of principles in patient care among sixth-year medical students and postgraduate trainees.
Neural substrates for hand and shoulder movement in healthy adults: A functional near infrared spectroscopy study.
Authors: Bonnal Julien , Ozsancak Canan , Monnet Fanny , Valery Antoine , Prieur Fabrice , Auzoy Pascal
Published: January 2023

Characterization of cortical activation patterns during movements in healthy adults may help our understanding of how the injured brain works. Upper limb motor tasks are commonly used to assess impaired motor function and to predict recovery in individuals with neurological disorders such as stroke. This study aimed to explore cortical activation patterns associated with movements of the hand and shoulder using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).
Twenty healthy, right-handed participants were recruited. Two 10-s motor tasks (right-hand opening-closing and right shoulder abduction-adduction) were performed in a sitting position at a rate of 0.5 Hz in a block paradigm. We measured the variations in oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) and deoxyhemoglobin (HbR) concentrations. fNIRS was performed with a 24-channel system (Brite 24®; Artinis) that covered most motor control brain regions bilaterally.
Activation was mostly contralateral for both hand and shoulder movements. Activation was more lateral for hand movements and more medial for shoulder movements, as predicted by the classical homunculus representation. We also found ipsilateral activation for both tasks. Both HbO2 and HbR concentrations varied with the activity.
Our data confirm that unilateral movements require bilateral activation of the sensorimotor cortex with stronger activation of the contralateral cortex. We also showed that fNIRS can distinguish patterns of cortical activity in upper limb movements under ecological conditions. These results suggest that fNIRS could be used to measure spontaneous motor recovery and rehabilitation-induced recovery after brain injury.
The trial was restropectively registered on January 20, 2023: NCT05691777 (clinicaltrial.gov)
A Coupling Model of Vertical Rolling Process Based on Upper Bound Method and Elastic Theory
Authors: Yang Boxin , Xu Haojie , An Qi
Published: January 2023

Vertical rolling is an important plastic forming process of metal. The establishment of accurate mechanical model is essential for parameter presetting and online control of the process. A prediction model of vertical rolling force with consideration of mechanism displacement is proposed. Using Γ function and parabolic function to describe edge deformation, the corresponding 3D velocity field, strain rate field and total power functional are derived. On this basis, an energy model for calculating rolling force and edge deformation is established. Simultaneously, an analysis method of mechanism displacement is proposed. The deflection of vertical roller and the radial displacement of support bearings are calculated by applying superposition principle and Palmgren's modified formula respectively. The coupling calculation of slab deformation and mechanism displacement is realized through repeated iteration. The study of bearing structure is carried out, of which the results show that the fluctuation of rolling force caused by bearing azimuth can be ignored. The accuracy of the presented model is verified by comparison with other models and factory measurements. Subsequently, the influences of main rolling parameters on rolling process are analyzed and a series of results are obtained. The influence of width reduction rate and slab thickness on edge deformation and rolling force is greater than that of vertical roller radius and slab width. The compensation value of rolling force has a similar change trend to the compensation value of displacement. In the rolling position, the axis displacement is much greater than deflection. The proportion of axis displacement in total radial displacement rises at first and then falls with the increase of width reduction rate and slab thickness. The proposed model could provide some references for the optimization of vertical rolling process and the improvement of slab quality and yield ratio.
As proficient as adults: Distribution of children's knowledge of wild edible plants in the arid Mahafaly region, Madagascar
Authors: Porcher Vincent , Li Xiaoyue , Carrière Stéphanie M. , Alvarez-Fernandez Santiago , Cresson Didie , Reyes-García Victoria , Gallois Sandrine
Published: January 2023

In drylands, where resources are scarce, wild edible plant (WEP) knowledge is crucial to overcome food scarcity. Understanding the distribution pattern of local ecological knowledge (LEK) about WEP and identifying knowledge holders are key steps to assessing the resilience and vulnerability of knowledge systems. However, little is known about how WEP knowledge is distributed across life stages and gender of people living in arid regions. Here, we study the distribution of WEP knowledge within a small-scale society from southwestern Madagascar, a region known for its dry climate and related food crises. We worked with Tanalana male and female children and adults using semi-structured interviews and free listings. Tanalana people display a sophisticated LEK adapted to the extreme environment in which they live, with a distinct distribution pattern regarding theoretical and practical knowledge across life stages and gender. While women and men cited similar WEP, children and adults cited different sets of WEP, suggesting they hold differentiated bodies of theoretical knowledge, however our results suggest similarity in practical knowledge across life-stage and gender. We argue that resource limitation and food scarcity might be so pervasive in the area that extensive sharing of knowledge on WEP could be an adaptation to the extremely dry environment.
Effect of aluminum honeycomb core milling defects on mechanical properties of sandwich structure
Authors: Wu Shaodi , Liu Chang , Zhang Tianxing , Li Chao , Duan Chunzheng
Published: January 2023

The honeycomb core sandwich structure has received wide attention in aeronautical and aerospace engineering in recent years, which is a structural composite material formed by adding an aluminum honeycomb core layer between two thin metal plates. The honeycomb core has high rigidity in the axial direction, but low rigidity in the radial direction, so many machining defects may easily take place under the action of the horizontal cutting force. To investigate how such defects affect the mechanical properties of aluminum honeycomb core sandwich structure, the mechanical response of honeycomb cores in a flat compression and the deformation process in a low-velocity impact were studied. By milling the aluminum honeycomb cores, the typical defects such as honeycomb wall tearing, folding, crushing, cracking, and debonding were obtained. In addition, a finite element model of the honeycomb sandwich structure with machining defects was created to simulate the flat compression and the low-velocity impact. Then the effects of machining defects on the impact properties under different impact conditions were compared and analyzed. The results show that the tearing has the greatest influence on the flat compression of the aluminum honeycomb core, the length and number of the tearing defect together affect the load carrying capacity of the sandwich structure, however the influences of the crushing and folding, cracking and debonding of the honeycomb wall are small. When the tearing length was 0.3L (L is the length of the honeycomb core wall) and tearing defect ratio was maintained below 8%, the ultimate load applied on the honeycomb sandwich structure and the energy absorption were less affected by the impact energy. The panel thickness has a great influence on the impact performance of the honeycomb sandwich structure, the greater panel thickness of the sandwich structure of the aluminum honeycomb core provides a greater ultimate load capability and a smaller influence of the machining defects on the impact performance of the sandwich structure, with a comprehensive consideration of both lightweight design and reducing the influence of the number of defects on the impact performance of the sandwich structure, the best choice of the skin panel thickness for the honeycomb core was 1 mm.
Performance and wear mechanisms of coated PCBN tools in high-speed turning superalloy GH4202
Authors: Wang Zhanghao , Wang Yongguo , Lv Dejin , Yu Xin , Gao Yuan
Published: January 2023

Nickel-based superalloys are widely used in aerospace and other fields for their superior performance. PCBN is an excellent tool material for cutting superalloys because of its excellent cutting performance. To study the wear mechanism of PCBN tools with different coatings (Uncoated, TiN, and TiAlN) for machining superalloy GH4202 under different cutting conditions, cutting tests were carried out at a wide range of cutting speeds (vc=50-400m/min). Two different cutting conditions, dry cutting, and wet cutting were also introduced. The results showed that the coating can reduce tool wear in dry cutting at a range of speeds (vc =50-200m/min). The coating has the opposite effect when cutting coolant is added. Wear mechanisms vary at different cutting speeds. At high cutting speeds (vc =200-400m/min) coatings and cutting coolant have little effect on tool wear. The TiN coating is the most sensitive to the cutting coolant and the uncoated tool is the most stable. Significant deposition of wear products can be observed at high cutting speeds with the addition of cutting coolant.
Using the serum LDH level as a biomarker for amyopathic dermatomyositis with interstitial lung disease: A retrospective study of 158 patients with nonspecific interstitial pneumonia or organizing pneumonia
Authors: Ying Yanan , Wu Tingting , Wang Long , Zhang Yun , Yu Yiming , Deng Zaichun , Ding Qunli
Published: January 2023

Background
Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an easily obtained biological marker and a promising index for determining the severity of amyopathic dermatomyositis with interstitial lung disease (ADM-ILD). In this study, we retrospectively analysed the clinical signs and laboratory data from ADM-ILD patients displaying nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) or organizing pneumonia (OP) ILD radiological patterns, and we identified the serum LDH level as a useful biomarker for early ADM-ILD detection.
Methods
In our cohort study, 158 Chinese patients were divided into four groups according to whether NSIP or OP patterns were present on high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT). The 4 groups included 25 ADM-NSIP and 92 control-NSIP patients, 15 ADM-OP patients, and 29 control-OP patients. Patient’s demographic features, clinical presentation, laboratory parameters, duration of ILD, and follow-up data were recorded and analysed.
Results
ADM-ILD patients generally had higher AST (45.96 ± 42.45 in NSIP, 64.53 ± 75.75 in OP, U/L) and LDH (317.20 ± 104.29 in NSIP, 356.60 ± 214.84 in OP, U/L) levels than the corresponding control groups. A total of 40.53% (15/37) and 86.49% (32/37) of ADM-ILD patients had high serum levels of AST and LDH above the normal range, respectively. At a cut-off level of 235.5 U/L, identified by the ROC curve, serum LDH yielded a sensitivity of 78.38% and specificity of 82.64% for ADM with NSIP or OP radiological patterns. The 5-year overall survival rate of ADM-OP patients (73.33%) was significantly worse than that of control-OP patients (94.12%) (p=0.007). No difference was evident in the survival rate between the NSIP groups. The presence of skin ulcers (p=0.028) and OI<300 mmHg (p=0.029) were significant risk factors for poor outcomes in ADM-ILD patients. A lower serum level of ferritin (< 500 ng/ml) indicated a better patient prognosis (p=0.023). The presence of coexistent myositis-associated autoantibodies with anti-melanoma differentiation-associated gene 5 (anti-MDA5) seems to protect ADM-ILD patients.
Conclusions
The LDH level can be used as a screening biomarker for patients with NSIP or OP ILD radiological patterns. It is important to recognize ADM-ILD early, especially in patients with the OP radiological pattern, which appears to impact patient treatment and outcomes.
Afterhours telehealth in Australian residential aged care facilities: A mixed methods evaluation
Authors: TRANKLE STEVEN A , REATH JENNIFER
Published: January 2023

Background
The aged care system in Australia is failing. Residential aged care facilities (RACFs) and general practitioners (GPs) struggle to meet the care demands of their residents, particularly after hours. Many residents are given ambulance support and transferred to hospital emergency departments (EDs) for care that could be provided at RACFs. The MyEmergencyDoctor (MED) service was commissioned in a 12-month program (February 2020-February 2021) using ED physicians to provide afterhours telehealth care in six RACFs.
Methods
We conducted descriptive analyses of statistical data from the MED service, RACFs and the ambulance service and conducted a thematic analysis with interview data collected from GPs, RACF and MED service staff, and family members of residents.
Results
Most calls to MED (179/209) were recommended for care in the RACF and 30 for ambulance transport to hospital. There was a reduction in ED transfers from the six RACFs during the program compared to previous years and other RACFs. RACF staff reported that for 87 of the 209 calls to MED, they would have normally called the ambulance service directly if the MED afterhours service was not available to them. Qualitative themes included: Systems issues related to care in RACFs; Issues related to the MED Model of Care; Implementing the MED Program; and Experience of the MED program.
Conclusions
The afterhours telehealth model provided in-house care and reduced ambulance transfers, and GPs and RACF staff generally felt supported. The service was easy to use and fostered good communications with GPs and RACF staff. Some GPs preferred to provide their own care, commenting on the need for a good understanding of patient and family needs and of the local context. Other stakeholders suggested this model could be extended to palliative care settings and to normal business hours when GPs were unavailable. The reduced ambulance and hospital use suggested benefits to wider health systems, however policies and funding that remunerate GPs, support community-based care and provide additional staffing in RACFs are needed to sustain afterhours telehealth in RACFs. Use of the NASSS (non-adoption, abandonment, scale-up, spread, and sustainability) Framework provided a valuable explanatory lens for our analyses.
Therapeutic applications of topical injection
of hsa-miR-634 into canine spontaneous malignant
melanoma tumors
Authors: Yoshikawa Ryutaro , Inoue Jun , Iwasaki Ryota , Terauchi Mitsuhiko , fujii Yuji , Ohta Maya , Hasegawa Tomomi , Mizuno Rui , Mori Takashi , Inazawa Johji
Published: January 2023

Malignant melanoma (MM) is one of the most common tumors in both dogs and humans. As canine MM (CMM) and human MM (HMM) have similar clinical characteristics, CMM appears to be a good clinical model for HMM. We previously demonstrated that the introduction of a synthetic double-strand-microRNA-634 (miR-634) mimic triggered apoptotic cell death by directly targeting the genes associated with cytoprotective processes in various human cancer cell lines, including those of HMM. This study aimed to investigate the antitumor effects of topical administration of miR-634 on spontaneous CMMs to provide a basis for future applications of miR-634 formulations in HMM treatment. We found that miR-634 administration induced apoptosis in CMM cell lines in vitro via downregulation of Asct2, Nrf2, and survivin expression, similar to the mechanisms in HMM cell lines. Furthermore, intratumoral miR-634 administration induced antitumor effects in four of seven spontaneous CMM cases, with no adverse effects. Local administration of miR-634 to lung metastasis under ultrasound guidance induced tumor shrinkage. These results confirm the antitumor effect of topical administration of miR-634 in spontaneous CMM, a model for spontaneous HMM, thereby providing a novel treatment strategy for HMM.
2-Amino-4-arylthiophene-3-carbonitrile and Formamidine Acetate as Key Building Units for the Synthesis of 5-Arylthieno[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4- amines
Authors: Alizadeh-Bami Farzaneh , Mehrabi Hossein , Hosseini-pour Maryam
Published: January 2023

A novel series of thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine analogues was designed and synthesized via three-step reactions. A novel condition has been developed for the preparation of substituted 2-aminothiophenes employing the Knoevenagel condensation followed by the Gewald method and in the last step to form thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidines by using formamidine acetate. The structure of these compounds was confirmed by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and CHN analysis.
Effect of Conbercept for macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion in different ethnic groups in Southeast Guizhou
Authors: Zhu Tongle , Wang Fen , Yang Chunman , Xu Xiaoying , Yang Zhumin , Yang Yanan , Mao Yujie , Liu Caiyu
Published: January 2023

Objective: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of Conbercept on macular edema secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion and to explore the relevant influencing factors.
Method: The clinical data of 94 patients (94 eyes) with macular edema (ME) secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University from January 2015 to September 2019 were collected. All patients received 3+PRN intravitreal injection of Conbercept. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), ellipsoid zone and external membrane integrity were observed before treatment and 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment.
Result：The constituent characteristics of different nationalities in this study are 38.30% (36 / 94) of Han nationality, 34.04% (32 / 94) of Miao nationality and 27.66% (26 / 94) of Dong nationality.The clinical baseline data (age, gender, preoperative BCVA, and CMT) of ME secondary to BRVO in different nationalities were not statistically significant. There was no significant difference in BCVA and CMT between Han, Miao and Dong nationalities at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after operation. Patients’ BCVA of different nationalities at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months after operation was significantly higher than that before treatment (P < 0.05). Patients’ CMT of different nationalities decreased significantly after 1, 3, 6 and 12 months (P < 0.05). In the multiple regression analysis of this study, baseline CMT was not related to baseline BCVA (P > 0.05). Age, course of disease and integrity of the ellipsoid zone were related to baseline BCVA (P < 0.05). Baseline BCVA and baseline external membrane integrity were related to BCVA (P < 0.05).
Conclusion：In the treatment of ME secondary to BRVO, Conbercept shows time stability and broad-spectrum demographic characteristics, and it can be widely used in ethnic minority areas in Southeast Guizhou.
Exogenous epibrassinolide application improves essential oil biosynthesis and trichome development in peppermint via modulating growth and physicochemical processes
Authors: Parrey Zubair Ahmad , Shah Sajad Hussain , Mohammad Firoz , Siddiqui Manzer H. , Alamri Saud , Kalaji Hazem M.
Published: January 2023

Peppermint has gained a promising status due to the presence of a high proportion of bioactive compounds especially menthol. Due to its pharmacological efficacy, the demand for its plant-based bioactive compounds necessitates its cultivation worldwide. Brassinosteroids are polyhydroxylated sterol derivatives that regulate diverse processes and control many agronomic traits during plant growth and development. A factorial randomised pot experiment was performed in the net house to investigate the effect of 24-Epibrassinolide (EBL) on the growth, physiology, essential oil content, stomatal behaviour and trichome development of the three cultivars of peppermint. Four levels of foliage-applied EBL, viz. 0, 10− 5, 10− 6 and 10− 7 M were applied on the three cultivars of peppermint (Kukrail, Pranjal and Tushar). Among the different treatments of EBL on Kukrail, Tushar and Pranjal, the application of 10− 6 M increased shoot length by 38.84, 37.59 and 36.91%, root length by 36.73, 29.44 and 33.47%, respectively. Whereas chlorophyll content by 24.20, 22.48 and 23.32%, PN by 32.88, 32.61 and 33.61%, respectively. Further, EO content was enhanced by 32.72, 30.00 and 28.84%, EO yield per plant by 66.66, 77.77 and 73.33%, menthol yield per plant by 127.27, 110 and 118.18% compared with their respective control plants. The scanning electron microscopical analysis revealed increased trichome size and density whereas, the confocal laser scanning microscopical analysis revealed enhanced cellular viability in the treated plants as compared with the control. Moreover, the GC-MS analysis revealed the enhanced essential oil content particularly menthol in the treated plants over the control.
Optimal Design and Performances Enhancement of a Fiber-Optic Displacement Sensor
Authors: ELRAWASHDEH Zeina , PRELLE Christine , LAMARQUE Frédéric , REVEL Philippe
Published: January 2023

This paper describes the optimal design of a miniature fiber-optic linear displacement sensor. It is characterised by its ability to measure the displacement along a millimetric range, with a sub-micrometric resolution. It consists of a triangular reflective grating and two fiber-optic probes. The sensor’s measurement principle is presented. The design of the sensor triangular grating has been geometrically optimized, by considering the step angle of the grating, in a way to enhance the sensor resolution. The optimization method revealed a global optimum, at which the highest resolution is obtained.
Shallow Defects and Ultralong Photoluminescence Decay Times up to 280 µs in Triple-Cation Perovskites
Authors: Yuan Ye , Yan Genghua , Dreessen Chris , Hülsbeck Markus , Klingebiel Benjamin , Rau Uwe , Kirchartz Thomas
Published: January 2023

Quantifying recombination in halide perovskites is a crucial prerequisite to control and improve the performance of perovskite-based solar cells. While both steady state and transient photoluminescence are frequently used to assess recombination in perovskite absorbers, quantitative analyses within a consistent model are seldomly reported. We use transient PL measurements with a large dynamic range of more than 10 orders of magnitude on triple-cation perovskite films showing long-lived photoluminescence transients featuring continuously changing decay times that range from tens of ns to hundreds of µs. We quantitatively explain both the transient and steady state PL with the presence of a high density of shallow defects and consequent significant rates of charge carrier trapping thereby showing that deep defects do not affect the recombination dynamics at all. The complex carrier kinetics caused by emission and recombination processes via shallow defects implies that reporting of only single lifetime values, as routinely done in literature, is meaningless for such materials. We show that the features indicative for shallow defects seen in the bare films remain dominant in finished devices and are therefore also crucial to understand the performance of perovskite solar cells.
Implementation and applications of PACE-HRH, a stochastic workload model of human resources for health
Authors: Hagedorn Brittany , Han Rui , Eliot Charles , Wu Meikang , Schripsema Jen , McCarthy Kevin
Published: January 2023

Background
Effective healthcare systems need adequate numbers of well-trained human resources for health (HRH). To support evidence-based strategic planning, modeling is sometimes used to estimate the number of required health workers and to allocate them appropriately. However, despite the demonstrated utility of models, there are several limitations to existing tools, including the inability to reflect the stochastic nature of workload and parameter uncertainty, or to incorporate seasonal variations. Additionally, some tools are proprietary or no longer supported, which makes them difficult for decision makers to adopt.
Methods
To address these issues, we have created an open-source, freely available modeling tool called the Population-Aware Capacity Estimator for Human Resources for Health (PACE-HRH). The modeling platform has two components: an Excel-based workbook for data input and scenario management, and a stochastic Monte Carlo simulation package and analysis pipeline written in R. PACE-HRH has a demographics model that projects future populations, a task time model that estimates workload from both variable responsibilities and overhead, an optional seasonality model, and an optional cadre allocation model.
Results
To establish the utility of PACE-HRH, we run a demonstrative model based on a subset of eight clinical service categories, populated with Ethiopian data. The projections show an increase in weekly workload for a baseline population from 37.8 (36.0, 39.7) hours in 2021 to 44.0 (37.9, 49.8) hours in 2035. The ability to calculate a confidence interval is unique to PACE-HRH, as is the option to calculate the monthly variation in workload, which in this case amounts to seasonal amplitude of 6.8%. These results are demonstrative only and more curated input assumptions would be needed in order for the results to support decision making.
Conclusions
Modeling HRH requirements is valuable to planning processes. The PACE-HRH modeling package takes a novel approach to generating these estimates and is designed to be an easy-to-use platform that reduces barriers to use. There is a shortage of observational data on task times, which are key model assumptions, and time and motion studies are needed. However, even without improved data, PACE-HRH is an advancement in the field of HRH modeling and can be used to support evidence-based planning processes.
Tools for measuring individual self-care capability. A systematic scoping review of the literature
Authors: El-Osta Austen , Sasco Eva Riboli , Barbanti Evelina , Webber Iman , Alaa Aos , Karki Manisha , Asmar Marie Line El , Almadi Mashaal , Massoud Farah , Alboksmaty Ahmed , Majeed Azeem
Published: January 2023

Background
Various instruments are used to measure individual self-care capability for healthy individuals, those experiencing everyday self-limiting conditions, or one or more multiple long-term conditions.
Objective
Identify and characterise self-care measurement tools that are designed for adults. We also sought to assess the extent to which each item of the instruments identified could be mapped to the Seven Pillars of Self-Care (7PSC) framework.
Design
Systematic scoping review with thematic content analysis.
Methods
We conducted a systematic scoping review of the literature to identify instruments that could be used to assess self-care behaviours among the general population. The search was conducted in Embase, PubMed, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases using a variety of MeSH terms and keywords covering 1 January 1950 to 30 November 2022. Inclusion criteria included tools assessing health literacy, capability and/or performance of general health self-care practices and targeting adults. We excluded tools targeting self-care in the context of disease management only or indicated to a specific medical setting or theme.
Results
We identified 38 tools. Descriptive analysis highlighted a shift in the overall emphasis from rehabilitation-focused to prevention-focused tools. The intended method of administration also transitioned from observe-and-interview style methods to the utilisation of self-reporting tools. Only five tools incorporated questions relevant to 7PSC.
Conclusions
Self-care can play a crucial role in the prevention, management and rehabilitation of diverse conditions, especially chronic non-communicable diseases. There is a need for the development of a comprehensive measurement tool that could be used to evaluate individual self-care capacity and capability.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Enantiomerically Pure (R)- and (S)-[18F]OF-NB1 for Imaging the GluN2B Subunit-Containing NMDA receptors
Authors: Korff Marvin , Chaudhary Ahmad , Li Yinlong , Zhou Xin , Zhao Chunyu , Rong Jian , Chen Jiahui , Xiao Zhiwei , Elghazawy Nehal H. , Sippl Wolfgang , Davenport April T. , Daunais James B. , Wang Lu , Abate Carmen , Ahmed Hazem , Crowe Ron , Liang Steven H. , Ametamey Simon M. , Wünsch Bernhard , Haider Achi
Published: January 2023

GluN2B subunit-containing N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors have been implicated in various neurological disorders. Nonetheless, a validated fluorine-18 labeled positron emission tomography (PET) ligand for GluN2B imaging in the living human brain is currently lacking. As part of our PET ligand development program, we have recently reported on the preclinical evaluation of [18F]OF-NB1 – a GluN2B PET ligand with promising attributes for potential clinical translation. However, the further development of [18F]OF-NB1 is currently precluded by major limitations in the radiolabeling procedure. These limitations include the use of highly corrosive reactants and racemization during the radiosynthesis. As such, the aim of this study was to develop a synthetic approach that allows an enantiomerically pure radiosynthesis of (R)-[18F]OF-NB1 and (S)-[18F]OF-NB1, as well as to assess their in vitro and in vivo performance characteristics for imaging the GluN2B subunit-containing NMDA receptor in rodents. A two-step radiosynthesis involving radiofluorination of the boronic acid pinacol ester, followed by coupling to the 3-benzazepine core structure via reductive amination was employed. The new synthetic approach yielded enantiomerically pure (R)-[18F]OF-NB1 and (S)-[18F]OF-NB1, while concurrently circumventing the use of corrosive reactants. In vitro autoradiograms with mouse and rat brain sections revealed a higher selectivity of (R)-[18F]OF-NB1 over (S)-[18F]OF-NB1 for GluN2B-rich brain regions. In concert with these observations, blockade studies with commercially available GluN2B antagonist, CP101606, showed a significant signal reduction, which was more pronounced for (R)-[18F]OF-NB1 than for (S)-[18F]OF-NB1. Conversely, blockade experiments with sigma2 ligand, FA10, did not result in a significant reduction of tracer binding for both enantiomers. PET imaging experiments with CD1 mice revealed a higher brain uptake and retention for (R)-[18F]OF-NB1, as assessed by visual inspection and volumes of distribution from Logan graphical analyses. In vivo blocking experiments with sigma2 ligand, FA10, did not result in a significant reduction of the brain signal for both enantiomers, thus corroborating the selectivity over sigma2 receptors. In conclusion, we have developed a novel synthetic approach that is suitable for upscale to human use and allows the enantiomerically pure radiosynthesis of (R)-[18F]OF-NB1 and (S)-[18F]OF-NB1. While both enantiomers were selective over sigma2 receptors in vitro and in vivo, (R)-[18F]OF-NB1 showed superior GluN2B subunit specificity by in vitro autoradiography and higher volumes of distribution in small animal PET studies.
Characterization of serotonin-5-HTR1E signaling pathways and its role in cell survival
Authors: SHARMA VINAY KUMAR , CAMPBELL KIERSTEN , XUYU YANG , DALE RYAN , Loh Y. Peng
Published: January 2023

5-Hydroxy tryptamine receptor 1E (5-HTR1E) is reported to activate cAMP and ERK pathways via its ligands and binding partners, but the detailed mechanism underlying the serotonin induced 5-HTR1E signaling is still not known. In the present study, we determined the cellular regulators of ERK and cAMP signaling pathways in response to serotonin induced 5-HTR1E activation in 5-HTR1E overexpressing HEK293 cells. We found that Pertussis Toxin (PTX) treatment completely reversed the effect of serotonin-5-HTR1E mediated signaling on cAMP and ERK pathways, confirming the involvement of a Gαi-linked cascade. We also observed that Gβγ and Gq were not associated with 5-HTR1E activation, while blocking PKA inhibited ERK signaling only, and had no effect on cAMP. Additionally, serotonin-stimulated ERK1/2 phosphorylation was similar in 5-HTR1E overexpressing, β-arrestin-deficient HEK293 cells and is solely dependent on G protein signaling. siRNA mediated gene knockout studies in SH-SY5Y cells revealed that the inhibition of 5-HTR1E reduced the expression of cMyc, Cyclin D1, Cyclin E and BCL2 genes which are related to cell cycle regulation and survival. MTT assays showed that 5-HTR1E knockdown in SHSY-5Y and U118 cells inhibited cell survival significantly. In addition to the signaling mechanism, we also performed RNA-seq analysis in 5-HTR1E overexpressing HEK293 cells and found that 5-HTR1E can regulate the expression of Receptor activity modifying protein 1 (RAMP1), Nuclear receptor 1 (NR4A1) and other Cyclin genes. These findings indicate that serotonin interaction with 5-HTR1E receptor simultaneously activates cAMP and ERK pathway in HEK293 cells and its expression is important for cell survival.
Spatiotemporal Changes in Iranian Rivers’ Discharge
Authors: Maghrebi Mohsen , Noori Roohollah , Mehr Ali Danandeh , Lak Raziyeh , Darougheh Farzaneh , Razmgir Rahman , Farnoush Hossein , Taherpour Hamid , Moghadam Seyed Mohammad Reza Alavai , Araghi Alireza , Kløve Bjørn
Published: January 2023

Trends in river flow at national scale in Iran remain largely unclear, despite good coverage of river flow at multiple monitoring stations. To address this gap, this study explores the changes in Iranian rivers’ discharge using regression and analysis of variance methods to historically rich data measured at hydrometric stations. Our assessment is performed for 139 selected hydrometric stations located in Iranian data-rich basins that cover around 97% of the country’s rivers with more than 30 years of observations. Our findings show that most of Iran’s rivers (>56%) have undergone a downward trend (p–value <0.1) in mean annual flow that is 2.5 times bigger than that obtained for world’s rivers, resulting in a change from permanent to intermittent for around 20% of rivers in Iran’s sub-basins. Given no significant change observed in the main natural drivers of Iranian rivers’ discharge, these findings reveal the country’s surface fresh-water shortage was caused dominantly by anthropogenic disturbances rather than variability in climate parameters. It may even indicate the development of new river regimes with deep implications for future surface fresh-water storage in the country. This research’s findings improve our understanding of changes in Iranian rivers’ discharge and provide beneficial insights for sustainable management of water resources in the country.
Response of Landscape Groundcovers to Deficit Irrigation: An Assessment Based on Normalized Difference Vegetation Index and Visual Quality Rating
Authors: Sapkota Anish , Haghverdi Amir , Merhaut Donald , Singh Amninder , Iradukunda Jean Claude
Published: January 2023

Developing water conservation strategies for urban landscape groundcovers grown in hot and dry summers like inland Southern California, USA, is crucial because they are one of the largest residential water users. A 2-year (2020–21) study was conducted in Riverside, CA, to assess the effect of irrigation rates on the growth of landscape groundcovers as evaluated by visual quality ratings (VR) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI). Relationships between VR and NDVI were also established to obtain the minimum threshold values of NDVI for each groundcover. Lastly, the groundcover water response function was developed to estimate groundcover response to irrigation rates over time. Four reference evapotranspiration (ETo)-based irrigation treatments ranging from 24% to 99% ETo and 10 landscape groundcovers were laid in a randomized complete block design and replicated three times. Data were collected from May to October in 2020 and 2021. The irrigation controller overirrigated the plots on average by 7.7% and 4.7% in 2020 and 2021, respectively. A significant relationship (P < 0.05, 0.35 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.82) between NDVI and VR for each landscape groundcovers was found. On the basis of the NDVI values and VR, it was found that three landscape groundcovers, including Rhadogia spinescens, Baccharis × ‘Starn’ Thompson, Eriogonum fasciculatum ‘Warriner Lytle’ can withstand water stress and can maintain their growth and visual quality at 24% ETo irrigation. Groundcovers Ruschia lineolate nana, Rosmarinus officinalis ‘Roman Beauty’, and Eremphila glabra showed the potential to perform well with as low as 49% ETo irrigation, whereas Lantana montevidensis, Oenothera stubbei, and Lonicera japonica required 75% ETo or more.
Bitterness of Papaya Milk Is Related to Protein and Free Amino Acid Contents, with Phenylalanine and Tyrosine/Tryptophan Levels Being the Most Important
Authors: Jioe Irvan Prawira Julius , Shiesh Ching-Chang , Lin Huey-Ling
Published: January 2023

Papaya milk, a mixture of papaya pulp and dairy milk, is one of the most popular beverages in Taiwan. However, the enzymes present in papaya can cause accumulation of hydrophobic amino acids, resulting in a bitter taste of papaya milk. Thus, it is important to select papaya cultivars without the potential to form the bitter taste, but it is difficult to select these papaya cultivars using a sensory test. The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship between the intensity of the bitterness with the contents of proteins and free amino acids. The results indicated that neither milk nor papaya alone tastes bitter. Heating the milk or the papaya before mixing and mixing only papaya latex with milk confirmed that an enzyme in papaya causes the bitter taste in papaya milk. The intensity of bitterness positively correlated with the contents of total soluble protein, free amino acids and the phenylalanine and tyrosine/tryptophan contents. Analyses using different papaya accessions in different seasons showed that tyrosine/tryptophan (r = 0.613***) and phenylalanine (r = 0.612***) correlate more strongly with bitterness intensity than the total soluble protein (r = 0.258*) or free amino acids (r = 0.38**). In this drink, milk provides the substrates to form the bitter substances, but the enzymes in the papaya are needed for the reaction to occur. The levels of the amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine/tryptophan showed the highest correlation with the intensity of bitterness.
Relationship between the Growth of Current Shoot and the Development of Inflorescence and Vegetative Buds in Oncidesa Gower Ramsey ‘Honey Angel’ Leaf Axils
Authors: Li Yi-Ting , Chang Yao-Chien Alex
Published: January 2023

The flowering control of Oncidesa Gower Ramsey ‘Honey Angel’ is important and in-demand by the industry. Therefore, an understanding of the development of inflorescence and vegetative shoot from the leaf axils on the current shoot is required. The internode of a young Oncidesa current shoot between the 0th (at the base of the pseudobulb) and 1st (immediately above the pseudobulb) nodes can enlarge to form a pseudobulb, and the axillary bud on the 0th or -1st (immediately below the 0th node) node can differentiate into an inflorescence bud. The axillary buds on the lower nodes (-2nd to -4th nodes) can remain vegetative. In this study, we investigated the growth and anatomical features of axillary buds at various stages during the growth of the current shoot. We sampled the axillary buds on the 0th to -4th nodes from the current shoots when they were 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 cm in length for sectioning and anatomical observations. Vegetative buds on the -2nd to -4th nodes grew faster and had more nodes than the inflorescence bud when the current shoot grew from 10 to 25 cm. However, when the current shoot elongated from 25 to 30 cm, the length and node number in the inflorescence bud on the 0th node increased and the inflorescence branch primordia were observable. The length and node number of the inflorescence bud became the same as that of the vegetative buds, which had no further growth, whereas the current shoot grew from 25 to 30 cm. The pseudobulb began to emerge from the leaf sheath (unsheathing) when the current shoot had reached 30 cm in length. Therefore, the time when the pseudobulb started to unsheathe from its subtending leaf was critical for the reproductive growth of Oncidesa Gower Ramsey ‘Honey Angel’ when growth acceleration of the inflorescence bud occurred. Evaluating the current shoot length can be a nondestructive method of estimating the developmental stage of the inflorescence bud.