bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antixenosis in Glycine max (L.) Merr against Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris)
Authors: Stec Katarzyna , Kordan Bożena , Sergiel Iwona , Biesaga Magdalena , Gasik Joanna , Bocianowski Jan , Gabryś Beata
Published: February 2021

To reveal the antixenosis potential against the pea aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) we analyzed the pea aphid survival and probing behavior, and the quantitative and qualitative variation of flavonoids in the leaves of selected soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr (Fabaceae) cultivars ‘Aldana’, ‘Annushka’, ‘Augusta’, ‘Madlen’, ‘Mavka’, ‘Simona’, ‘Violetta’, and ‘Viorica’. Aphid survival was drastically impeded on all cultivars. The electronic monitoring of aphid probing using the Electrical Penetration Graph (EPG) technique revealed that on all soybean cultivars, A. pisum readily probed into leaf tissues but the probes were usually terminated before reaching vascular tissues, which demonstrates the activity of antixenosis mechanisms in peripheral tissues epidermis and/or mesophyll in soybean leaves. The potency of antixenosis factors differed among soybean cultivars, which was reflected in differences in aphid survival and frequency and duration of phloem sap ingestion. Seven flavonoids were found: apigenin, daidzein, genistein, glycitein, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, and rutin, which occurred in different amount and proportion in individual cultivars. The content of apigenin and genistein in all soybean cultivars studied probably made them relatively unacceptable to A. pisum. Kaempferol in ‘Aldana’ might be responsible for the observed strong antixenosis resistance of this cultivar to A. pisum.
Collateral circulation is a predictor for in-stent restenosis after cerebral anterior circulation large artery stenting
Authors: Liu Luji , Su Xudong , Li Zhongzhong , Bu Kailin , Yuan Si , Wang Qisong , Aime Ndoumou Justin , Liu Zengpin , Zhou Cunhe , Yu Jianghua , Tan Guojun , Guo Li , Liu Xiaoyun
Published: February 2021

Background-

In-stent restenosis (ISR) is a critical issue of endovascular therapy. The predictors for ISR are not fully explored. We aimed to investigate the predictors for ISR, especially the effect of collateral circulation on ISR after cerebral large artery stenting.
Methods-

From June, 2015 to June, 2018, a total of 312 patients, who performed stenting, with severe cerebral anterior circulation stenosis (≥ 70%), were enrolled. According to the flow velocity indicated by carotid artery ultrasound or Transcranial Doppler, the patients were divided into the ISR and no-ISR groups. Clinical data were collected, including age, sex, cerebrovascular risk factors, preoperative serum lipid, inflammatory markers, and platelet count, stent site, residual stenosis rate, drug therapy after stenting. The collateral circulation was graded according to digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the potential risk factors related to restenosis in such patients.
Results-

Higher residual stenosis rate (median 11% vs 10%, p = 0.040), fewer patients received standard drug therapy ( 73.3% vs 89.4%, p = 0.001), more patients with poor collateral circulation (70.0% vs 41.0%, p = 0.007) were found in ISR group. Residual stenosis rate increased by 10% was associated with a 19.1% increase in restenosis risk. Good collateral circulation (OR 0.16, [95%CI, 0.04–0.49]; p = 0.002) and receiving standard drug therapy (OR 0.14, [95%CI, 0.05–0.58]; p = 0.002) were significantly related to the lower risk of ISR.
Conclusion-

Collateral circulation is an independent factor related with ISR after successful cerebral anterior circulation large artery stenting, and long-term standard drug therapy after stenting should be strictly carried out in such patients.
Population-Based Analysis of Nonoperative Management and Treatment Patterns in Older Women with Estrogen Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Tejera David , Rana Mariam , Basik Mark , Boileau Jean Francois , Margolese Richard , Prakash Ipshita , Meguerditchian Ari N. , Muanza Thierry , Monette Johanne , Wong Stephanie M
Published: February 2021

Purpose: To examine the proportion of older women with ER+HER2- breast cancer receiving non-operative management versus surgery, and to evaluate the use of axillary staging and adjuvant radiation in this population.Methods: We queried the SEER database to identify all women aged 70 years or older with stage I-III ER+HER2- invasive breast cancer diagnosed between 2010-2016. We evaluated trends in non-operative management, breast surgery, axillary staging, and adjuvant radiation according to age at diagnosis.Results: We identified 57,351 older women with ER+HER2- disease. Overall, 3538 (6.2%) of the cohort underwent non-operative management, 38,452 (67.0%) underwent breast conserving surgery (BCS), and 15,361 (26.8%) underwent mastectomy. The proportion of patients undergoing non-operative management increased from 2.8% amongst 70-74 year old women to 30.1% in those ³90 years old (p<0.001). In 53,813 women who underwent surgery, 36,850 (68.5%) underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy, while 10,861 (20.2%) underwent axillary lymph node dissection. Subgroup analysis of 29,032 older women undergoing BCS for stage I ER+HER2- breast cancer revealed a 14.2% rate of omission of axillary staging, increasing from 5.3% in those 70-74 years to 67.6% in those ³90 years old (p<0.001). Receipt of adjuvant radiation occurred in 63.3% of older women following BCS and 18% post-mastectomy, with similar trends towards omission in older age groups.Conclusion: Primary breast surgery remains the dominant management strategy for the majority of older women with ER+HER2- breast cancer. Omission of axillary staging and adjuvant radiation are used in a minority of eligible women undergoing breast conservation for early-stage disease.
Minimally Invasive Open Reduction by a Modified Suture Bridge with Anchors for Avulsion-type Greater Tuberosity Fracture of the Humerus
Authors: Kong Lingpeng , Yang Juanjuan , Yang Yongliang , Wang Fu
Published: February 2021

Background: This study aims to describe a new procedure of minimally invasive open reduction by a modified suture bridge with anchors for avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the humerus and to evaluate its clinical effectiveness.Methods: From January 2015 to January 2018, 16 patients who were diagnosed with an avulsion-type greater tuberosity fracture of the proximal humerus and treated with minimally invasive open reduction by modified suture bridges with anchors were retrospectively studied. Endpoints were assessed preoperatively and postoperatively and included the visual analog scale (VAS), the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulders score, the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (ASES), and the range of motion (ROM) for shoulders.Results: There were 7 males and 9 females with an average age of 44.94 years. Six fractures involved the left shoulder, and 10 involved the right shoulder. The time between injury and operation ranged from 1 to 5 days, with an average of 2.32 days. The average length of stay was 6.5 ± 0.85 days; the mean operation time was 103.1 ± 7.23 minutes; and the mean amount of operative blood loss was 51.88 ± 6.40 ml. All patients achieved bone union within 3 months after surgery. The VAS score significantly decreased at 3 weeks postoperatively (p = 0.002), as did the average degree of forward elevation (p = 0.047). The mean degree of abduction increased at 6 weeks after the operation (p = 0.035), and the average degree of external rotation and internal rotation improved at 3 months postoperatively (p = 0.012; p = 0.007). The ASES score and the UCLA score improved at the 6-week follow-up (p = 0.092; p = 0.029). No procedure-related death or incision-related superficial or deep tissue infection was identified in any case. No iatrogenic neurovascular injuries or fractures were found in this study.Conclusion: The fracture block was fixed firmly by minimally invasive open reduction with a modified suture bridge with anchors. Patients were allowed to move their shoulder early after surgery and recovered quickly. It is an efficient method for the treatment of avulsion-type greater tuberosity fractures of the humerus.
Single-cell evaluation reveals shifts in the tumor-immune niches that shape and maintain aggressive lesions in the breast
Authors: Sinha Vidya C. , Rinkenbaugh Amanda L. , Xu Mingchu , Zhou Xinhui , Zhang Xiaomei , Jeter-Jones Sabrina , Shao Jiansu , Qi Yuan , Zebala John A. , Maeda Dean Y. , McAllister Florencia , Piwnica-Worms Helen
Published: February 2021

There is an unmet clinical need for stratification of breast lesions as indolent or aggressive to tailor treatment. Here, single-cell transcriptomics and multiparametric imaging applied to a mouse model of breast cancer revealed that the aggressive tumor niche is characterized by an expanded basal-like population, specialization of tumor subpopulations, and mixed-lineage tumor cells potentially serving as a transition state between luminal and basal phenotypes. Despite vast tumor cell-intrinsic differences, aggressive and indolent tumor cells were functionally indistinguishable once isolated from their local niche, suggesting a role for non-tumor collaborators in determining aggressiveness. Aggressive lesions harbored fewer total but more suppressed-like T cells, and elevated tumor-promoting neutrophils and IL-17 signaling, disruption of which increased tumor latency and reduced the number of aggressive lesions. Our study provides insight into tumor-immune features distinguishing indolent from aggressive lesions, identifies heterogeneous populations comprising these lesions, and supports a role for IL-17 signaling in aggressive progression.
Therapeutic Benefits of Recombinant Alpha1-Antitrypsin IgG1 Fc-Fusion Protein in Experimental Emphysema
Authors: Takeda Katsuyuki , Kim Soo-hyun , Joetham Anthony , Petrache Irina , Gelfand Erwin W.
Published: February 2021

BackgroundAlpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a major serine protease inhibitor. AAT deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder characterized by early-onset severe emphysema. In well-selected AATD patients, therapy with plasma-derived AAT (pAAT), “augmentation therapy”, provides modest clinical improvement but is perceived as cumbersome with weekly intravenous infusions. Using mouse models of emphysema, we compared the effects of a recombinant AAT-IgG1 Fc-fusion protein (AAT-Fc), which is expected to have a longer half-life following infusion, to those of pAAT. MethodsIn an elastase model of emphysema, mice received a single intratracheal instillation of porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE) or human leucocyte elastase (hLE). AAT-Fc, pAAT, or vehicle was administered intraperitoneally 1 day prior to or 3 weeks following elastase instillation. Lung function and histology assessments were performed at 7 and 32 days after elastase instillation. In a cigarette smoke (CS) model of emphysema, mice were exposed to CS daily, 5 days a week, for 6 months and AAT-Fc, pAAT, or vehicle were administered every 10 days during the last 3 months of CS exposure. Assessments were performed 3 days after the last CS exposure. Immune responses to lung elastin peptide (EP) and the effects of AAT-Fc or pAAT treatment on dendritic cell (DC) function were determined ex vivo . ResultsBoth elastase instillation and CS exposure triggered emphysema-like alveolar enlargement, increased lung compliance, and increased markers of inflammation compared to controls. Administration of AAT-Fc either prior to or following elastase instillation or during CS exposure provided greater protection than pAAT against alveolar enlargement, lung dysfunction, and airway inflammation. When challenged ex vivo with EP, spleen mononuclear cells from elastase-exposed mice exhibited dose-dependent production of IFNg and IL-17, suggesting immune reactivity. In co-culture experiments with splenic CD4 + T cells isolated from elastase-exposed mice, AAT-Fc treatment prior to EP-priming of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells inhibited the production of IFNg and IL-17. ConclusionsCompared to pAAT, AAT-Fc more effectively prevented or attenuated elastase- and CS-induced models of emphysema. These effects were associated with immunomodulatory effects on DC activity. AAT-Fc may provide a therapeutic option to individuals with AATD- and CS-induced emphysema.
Computational Polarization 3D: new solution for monocular 3D imaging approach in natural conditions
Authors: Liu Fei , Cai Yudong , Han Pingli , Li Xuan , Liang Rongguang , Yan Mingyu , Shao Xiaopeng
Published: February 2021

Analyzing the polarimetric properties of the reflected light is a simple, fast, and low-cost approach to recover shape information, but no reported method can accurately recover surface shape from non-Lambertian object in natural conditions with a single view. Another major issue is the lack of effective method to address azimuth ambiguity during the surface reconstruction. To address these two major obstacles, we propose a monocular 3D polarization imaging approach for non-Lambertian surfaces by investigating the subtle difference in specular and diffuse reflection and then separating them using independent component analysis (ICA). Separated pure diffuse reflection enables accurate polarization extraction, based on which a gradient field is derived to determine surface normals. The ambiguity is removed by solving an optimization problem with a reference gradient field. We experimentally demonstrate the performance of the proposed method with man-made object under the controlled illumination and human face under natural illumination.
The Proportion of Excised Cone Volume for Cervical Lesions is the Best Predictor of Pregnancy Outcomes after Cervical Conization
Authors: Wang Yahui , Lin Wei , Luo Youjun , Niu Zhaoyuan , Du Yanhui , Lv Yingpin , Cui Zhumei , Zhang Yan , Yuan Fang
Published: February 2021

Background: As much more women in the reproductive period are treated with a cervical conization, the risk of subsequent adverse pregnancy outcomes is also increasing. We carried the present study to evaluate whether absolute cone length/volume and the proportions of the cone length/volume correlate to spontaneous abortion (SAB) and spontaneous preterm birth (SPTB) and their predictive values.Methods: The present retrospective observational study included 312 women undergoing cervical conization for cervical lesions at the Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University during 2012–2019. The information about the pretreatment cervical dimensions and cone size and pregnancy outcomes were collected to assess the correlation between cone parameters and pregnancy outcomes.Results: In the multivariate logistic regression models, the cervical length excised, the cervical volume excised, the proportion of the length excised, and the proportion of the cervical volume excised significantly correlated with SAB and SPTB, respectively (P<0.05). A most significant inverse correlation of the proportion of the cervical volume excised with pregnancy duration emerged (P<0.001, r=-0.220). The area under the curve (AUC) of the proportion of the cervical volume excised was greatest (0.700,95% CI 0.634-0.765). And the risk of SAB and SPTB increased with the proportion of the cervical volume excised increasing (OR 19.704, 95% CI 4.646-83.568). The cutoff point of the proportion of the cervical volume excised was 19.5% (sensitivity 0.635; specificity 0.655). Conclusion: The cone length/volume and the proportions of cervical length/volume excised were associated with increased risks of SAB and SPTB. The proportion of the cervical volume excised is the best predictor for SAB and SPTB after cervical conization. When the proportion of the cervical volume excised is more than 19.5%, women should be informed about their future risk of SAB and SPTB after cervical conization for cervical lesions.
Genomic analyses of 10,376 individuals provides comprehensive map of genetic variations, structure and reference haplotypes for Chinese population
Authors: Zheng Houfeng , Cong Peikuan , Bai Weiyang , Li Jinchen , Li Nan , Gai Sirui , Khederzadeh Saber , Liu Yuheng , Qiu Mochang , Zhu Xiaowei , Zhao Pianpian , Xia Jiangwei , Yu Shihui , Zhao Weiwei , Liu Junquan , Guan Penglin , Qian Yu , Tao Jianguo , Yang Mengyuan , Tian Geng , Xie Shuyang , Liu Keqi , Tang Beisha
Published: February 2021

Here, we initiated the Westlake BioBank for Chinese (WBBC) pilot project with 4,535 whole-genome sequencing individuals and 5,481 high-density genotyping individuals. We identified 80.99 million SNPs and INDELs, of which 38.6% are novel. The genetic evidence of Chinese population structure supported the corresponding geographical boundaries of the Qinling-Huaihe Line and Nanling Mountains. The genetic architecture within North Han was more homogeneous than South Han, and the history of effective population size of Lingnan began to deviate from the other three regions from 6 thousand years ago. In addition, we identified a novel locus (SNX29) under selection pressure and confirmed several loci associated with alcohol metabolism and histocompatibility systems. We observed significant selection of genes on epidermal cell differentiation and skin development only in southern Chinese. Finally, the WBBC haplotype panel, which is a population-specific reference panel, yielded substantial improvement of imputation performance in Chinese population for low-frequency and rare variants compared to 1KG Project, and merging EAS individuals to increase the haplotype size of WBBC could improve the performance across all MAF bins. We provided an online imputation server (https://wbbc.westlake.edu.cn/) which could result in higher imputation accuracy compared to the existing panels, especially for lower frequency variants.
Efficacy of Percutaneous Transforaminal Endoscopic Discectomy Unilateral and Bilateral Approach for Bilateral Decompression in Treatment of Degenerative Lumbar Spinal Stenosis and Their Effects on Quality of Life
Authors: Cai Xianbin , Lin Haibin , Chen Xuanhuang , Cai Hanhua , Zheng Feng , Wu Changfu
Published: February 2021

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Feasibility and Efficacy of a Decision Aid for Emergency Department Patients with Suspected Ureterolithiasis: Protocol for an Adaptive Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Schoenfeld Elizabeth M , Poronsky Kye E , Westafer Lauren M , Visintainer Paul , DiFronzo Brianna M , Scales Charles D , Hess Erik P , Lindenauer Peter K
Published: February 2021

Background: Approximately 2 million patients present to Emergency Departments in the US annually with signs and symptoms of ureterolithiasis (or renal colic, the pain from an obstructing kidney stone). Both ultrasound and CT scan can be used for diagnosis, but the vast majority of patients receive a CT scan. Diagnostic pathways utilizing ultrasound have been shown to decrease radiation exposure to patients but are potentially less accurate. Because of these and other trade-offs, this decision has been proposed as appropriate for Shared Decision-Making (SDM), where clinicians and patients discuss clinical options and their consequences and arrive at a decision together. We developed a decision aid to facilitate SDM in this scenario. The objective of this study is to determine the effects of this decision aid, as compared to usual care, on patient knowledge, radiation exposure, engagement, safety, and healthcare utilization. Methods: This is the protocol for an adaptive randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of the intervention – a decision aid (“Kidney Stone Choice”) – on patient-centered outcomes, compared with usual care. Patients age 18-55 presenting to the Emergency Department with signs and symptoms consistent with acute uncomplicated ureterolithiasis will be consecutively enrolled and randomized. Participants will be blinded to group allocation. We will collect outcomes related to patient knowledge, radiation exposure, trust in physician, safety, and downstream healthcare utilization. Discussion: We hypothesize that this study will demonstrate that “Kidney Stone Choice,” the decision aid created for this scenario, improves patient knowledge and decreases exposure to ionizing radiation. The adaptive design of this study will allow us to identify issues with fidelity and feasibility and subsequently evaluate the intervention for efficacy. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT04234035https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04234035Registered January 21, 2020 – Retrospectively Registered
The Impact of Improved Water Supply on Cholera and Diarrhoeal Diseases in Uvira, Democratic Republic of the Congo: A Protocol for a Pragmatic Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomised Trial and Economic Evaluation
Authors: Gallandat Karin , Jeandron Aurélie , Ross Ian , Saidi Jaime Mufitini , Rumedeka Baron Bashige , Kapepula Vercus Lumami , Cousens Simon , Allen Elizabeth , MacDougall Amy , Cumming Oliver
Published: February 2021

Introduction. Diarrhoeal disease remains a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Cholera alone is estimated to cause 95,000 deaths per year, most of which occur in endemic settings with inadequate water access. Whilst a global strategy to eliminate cholera by 2030 calls for investment in improved drinking water services, there is limited rigorous evidence for the impact of improved water supply on endemic cholera transmission in low-income urban settings. Our protocol is designed to deliver a pragmatic health impact evaluation of a large-scale water supply intervention in Uvira (Democratic Republic of the Congo), a cholera transmission hotspot. Methods/Design.A stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial (SW-CRT) was designed to evaluate the impact of a large-scale drinking water supply intervention on cholera incidence among the 280,000 inhabitants of Uvira. The city was divided into 16 clusters, where new community and household taps will be installed following a randomised sequence over a transition period of up to 8 weeks in each cluster. The primary trial outcomes are the monthly incidence of “confirmed” cholera cases (patients testing positive by rapid detection kit) and of “suspected” cholera cases (patients admitted to the cholera treatment centre). Concurrent process and economic evaluations will provide further information on the context, costs and efficiency of the intervention. Discussion.In this protocol, we describe a pragmatic approach to conducting rigorous research to assess the impacts of a complex water supply intervention on severe diarrhoeal disease and cholera in an unstable, low-resource setting representative of cholera-affected areas. In particular, we discuss a series of pre-identified risks and linked mitigation strategies as well as the value of combining different data collection methods and preparation of multiple analysis scenarios to account for possible deviations from the protocol. The study described here has the potential to provide robust evidence to support more effective cholera control in challenging, high-burden settings. Trial registration. This trial is registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02928341, 10th October 2016, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02928341) and has received ethics approval from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (8913, 10603) and from the Ethics Committee from the School of Public Health, University of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (ESP/CE/088/2015).
Relativity and View Effects
Authors: Fischli Bernard
Published: February 2021

Relativity has been based on the implicit assumption that electromagnetism would exclusively describe interactions. Relativistic view effects are included as well, and they act with no force and no energy exchanges. The Ehrenfest paradox is solved. View effects specific to each point of view are the solution. The calculation of the deflection of light by the sun explains in detail why the deflection angle must be almost double the value obtained with Newton’s laws. The compatibility of General Relativity with the new interpretation is discussed. View effects cannot impact total energy. An object has no speed limit due to relativity but can be limited due to other causes. Inertial behavior is examined. Inertial masses are redundant, but this does not introduce gravitation to General Relativity.
Körperbasierte Zugangsweisen als Form der inklusiv-medialen Welterschliessung
Authors: Seidler Maximilian
Published: February 2021

Schülerinnen und Schüler der Primarstufe kommen täglich mit technischen Artefakten in Kontakt. Somit stellt Technik einen bedeutenden Lebensweltbezug für sie dar. Um technische Artefakte in ihrer Funktionsweise zu verstehen, bedarf es technischer Kenntnisse und naturwissenschaftlicher Grundlagen (Mammes und Tuncsoy 2013, 8ff.). Daher kommt der Didaktik des Sachunterrichts die Aufgabe zu, Kinder bei der Erschliessung ihrer naturwissenschaftlich-technischen Lebenswelt zu unterstützen (GDSU 2013, 9). Hinsichtlich der Realisierung dieser Aufgabe im inklusiven Sachunterricht findet sich ein Forschungsdesiderat wieder. Dieser Ausgangslage nimmt sich der vorliegende Artikel an und beschreibt ein Forschungsvorhaben, welches die Entwicklung sowie die Evaluation einer inklusiven Lernumgebung im naturwissenschaftlich-technischen Sachunterricht umfasst. Zunächst richtet der Artikel einen Blick auf Gestaltungsprinzipien eines naturwissenschaftlich-technischen und inklusiven Sachunterrichts. Speziell für den inklusiven Sachunterricht werden in körperbasierten Zugangsweisen Potenziale zur Gestaltung einer solchen Lernumgebung gesehen. Neben einer definitorischen Klärung der Begrifflichkeit der körperbasierten Zugangsweisen und der Vernetzung mit sinnlichen Wahrnehmungsmedien wird die Bedeutung körperbasierter Zugangsweisen für die Implementierung in den Unterricht beschrieben. Die methodische Entwicklung und Evaluation einer Lernumgebung erfolgt mit dem Forschungsrahmen DBR. Dieser findet im letzten Kapitel eine Vorstellung, um daran anschliessend erste Empfehlungen für die Gestaltung einer inklusiv naturwissenschaftlich-technischen Lernumgebung darzulegen.
Effect of Light Regulation on the Quality of Sweetpotato Sprouts
Authors: Lv Zunfu , Zhang Simeng , Lu Guoquan
Published: February 2021

Sweetpotato sprouts are buds or young shoots formed under dark or low-light conditions that can be eaten directly by people. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of light intensity and photoperiod on the quality and yield of sweetpotato sprouts and to identify the most suitable production conditions to provide a theoretical basis and technical parameters for the production of these vegetables. Four treatments involving different light intensities and photoperiods were set up: WL-1, WL-2, SL-1, and SL-2. The leaf color, nutritional quality, antioxidant capacity, texture characteristics, and yield of the sweetpotato sprouts were analyzed using Duncan’s new complex range method. The results demonstrated the following: 1) an increase in photoperiod improved leaf brightness and enhanced the appearance of the product, whereas light intensity had little effect on these parameters; and 2) low light intensity increased the yield of sweetpotato sprouts, whereas high light intensity reduced their yield. Under weak light conditions, the quality and yield of sweetpotato sprouts were improved, and their taste was unaffected. Therefore, the condition of 750 μmol·m−2·s−1 for 2 hours/day was chosen to produce crispy, high-quality, and high-yielding sweetpotato sprouts.
Effect of water salinity and potassium doses on physiological traits and growth of ‘Embrapa 51’ precocious dwarf cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) rootstock
Authors: Lima Geovani Soares de , Silva Jailson Batista da , Soares Lauriane Almeida dos Anjos , Nobre Reginaldo Gomes , Gheyi Hans Raj , Diniz Genilson Lima , Fernandes Pedro Dantas , Dantas Jussara Silva , Lima Vera Lúcia Antunes de
Published: February 2021

In the semiarid regions, plants are constantly exposed to different conditions of abiotic stresses due to the occurrence of excess salts in both soil and water. Thus, it is extremely important to identify an alternative capable of minimizing the effects of salt stress on plants as a way to ensure the expansion of irrigated areas. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the chloroplast pigments, photochemical efficiency and growth of ‘Embrapa 51’ precocious dwarf cashew as a function of irrigation with saline water and potassium fertilization in the rootstock formation stage. The study was conducted under greenhouse conditions in the municipality of Pombal, PB, Brazil, using a randomized block design in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme, corresponding to five levels of irrigation water electrical conductivity - ECw (0.4; 1.2; 2.0; 2.8 and 3.6 dS m-1) and two doses of potassium fertilization - KD (100 and 150% of the recommendation corresponding to 150 and 225 g K2O kg-1 soil), with two plants per plot and three replicates. Water salinity from 0.4 induced reductions in chlorophyll a and b synthesis, maximum and variable fluorescence and growth in sexually propagated precocious dwarf cashew seedlings and increases in carotenoid content and initial chlorophyll fluorescence. The quantum efficiency of photosystem II in cashew plants was decreased sharply with the increment in water salinity levels, standing out as indicative of damage to the photosystem II reaction centres. 'Embrapa 51' precocious dwarf cashew plants can be classified as sensitive to water salinity above 0.4 dS m-1. Potassium doses of 100 and 150% of the recommendation did not alleviate the effects of salt stress during the precocious dwarf cashew rootstock production phase.
Soil chemical and microbiological attributes under integrated production system in Oxisol of degraded pasture
Authors: Araújo Nayara Christina Almeida , Frazão Leidivan Almeida , Freitas Igor Costa de , Ferreira Evander Alves , Freitas Daniela Aparecida , Santos Marcia Vitória , Sanglard Demerson Arruda , Fernandes Luiz Arnaldo
Published: February 2021

The objective of this study was to evaluate the chemical attributes and quality of an Oxisol after one year of conversion of degraded pasture into integrated production system. The evaluated treatments were degraded pasture (PAST-Control); Eucalyptus, clone Urograndis 144 (Eucalyptus grandis x E. urophylla hybrid) intercropped with cor and marandu grass (Brachiaria brizantha) (integration crop-livestock-forest system - ICLFS-M); with maize and perennial horse gram (Macrotyloma axillare) (ICLFS-HG); and with maize, java and marandu grass (ICLFS-M+J); Monoculture of marandu grass (MAR) and perennial horse gram (HG); and marandu grass intercropped with Java/ perennial horse gram (H+M). Soil samples were collected in July/2015 and January/2016 in 0-5, 5-10, 10-20 and 20-30 cm soil depth layers. The soil attributes such as pH, organic matter, phosphorus, sum of bases, effective and potential cation exchange capacity and base saturation were evaluated. The implantation of ICLFS system contributed to increase of soil organic matter, sum of bases, effective and potential cation exchange capacity and soil base saturation. The soil biological activity was increased in the rainy season, and the soil microbial carbon increased in ICLFS-HG+M, ICLFS- HG, ICLFS-M and HG+M when compared to monocultures and PAST. Integrated production systems provide improved in soil quality even with a short time implementation.
Effects of aquaponic system on growth and nutrients content and sustainable production of sprouts in urban area
Authors: Li Nianzhen , Zhang Litian , Li Jia , Yan Kuan , Wang Yu , Wang Bingwen , Li Shuangjiang , Zhou Wanhai , Wang Kailin , Li Wen , Xia Caijuan , Yan Yulian , Li Yue , Qin Feng , Chen Jian
Published: February 2021

An aquaponic system in urban area was designed and combined fish culture with sprouts production in a closed-loop system that mimics the ecology of the nature. In order to quantify the nutrients content of sprouts grown under different conditions, we conducted a factorial experiment with 3 types of growth conditions, routine cultivation (RC), circulating water supplement cultivation (CWSC) and aquaponic system cultivation (ASC), then produce sprouts (soybean sprouts, mung bean sprouts, pea sprouts and radish sprouts) under these conditions. The results showed that each sprout under ASC condition, height, weight (10 sprouts), vitamin C content, protein content and soluble sugar content were significantly higher than those under RC condition and CWSC condition. Each sprout showed significant difference in height, weight (10 sprouts), vitamin C content and soluble sugar content. The presence of Carassius auratus auratus can significantly promote the growth of sprouts in aquaponic system, and increase nutrients content. Therefore, aquaponic system can be promoted vigorously in urban areas
Resistance of popcorn hybrid (Zea mays) to multiple diseases and correlation between leaf disease intensity and agronomic traits
Authors: Santos Juliana Saltires , Souza Marcelo Vivas, Yure Pequeno de , Júnior Antonio Teixeira do Amaral , Almeida Rafael Nunes de , Saluci Julio Cesar Gradice , Mafra Gabrielle Sousa , Oliveira Fabio Tomaz de , Khan Shahid , Vivas Janieli Maganha Silva
Published: February 2021

Grain yield and popcorn quality losses have become more common due to attacks by pathogens responsible for leaf diseases. Genetic resistance is the main control measure, as it is applicable in large areas and uses reduced costs and less environmental impact, compared to chemical control. In this context, the purpose was to select popcorn hybrids that meet resistance to Exserohilum turcicum, Bipolaris maydis, and Puccinia polysora and to have high levels of popping expansion and grain yield. We took into account two growing seasons (summer harvest - October 2014 to January 2015 - and winter harvest- April to July 2015). Twenty-eight hybrids from the complete diallel cross scheme were evaluated, among eight inbred lines (P8, P1, L55, L61, L70, L76, L77 and L88). For this purpose, we used a randomized block design with four replicates in two growing seasons. The traits investigated were the incidence of P. polysora (IPP), B. maydis (IBM), and E. turcicum (IET); severity of P. polysora (SPP), B. maydis (SBM), and E. turcicum (SET); grain yield (GY); and popping expansion (PE). Data from the experiments were submitted to the principal component analysis (PCA) through the R software. Results showed that the traits IET and IPP in the summer harvest, and IET and SET, in the winter harvest, were the most significant in the select of hybrids. The P8 x L76 and L70 x P8 hybrids were selected for summer harvest and the L77 x L61 hybrid, for winter harvest
Effective Inhibition of Mitochondrial Metabolism by Cryptotanshinone in
MDA-MB231 cells: A Proteomic Analysis
Authors: Zhou Jiefeng , Li Qingcao , Wu Haoran , Tsai Shin-Han , Yeh Yu-Ting
Published: February 2021

Background :

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of invasive cancer in breast with the symptoms of unfavourable prognosis and limited targeted treatment options. Evidence of changes in the metabolic status of TNBC, characterised by increased glycolysis, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, as well as production and utilization of tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates.

Objective:

Investigate the proteins altered in cryptotanshinone treated MDA-MB-231 cells and explore the key pathways and specific molecular markers involved in cryptotanshinone treatment.

Method:

We use unlabeled quantitative proteomics to gain insight into the anticancer mechanism of cryptotanshinone on MDA-MB231 triple negative breast cancer cells. And flow cytometry was used to detect apoptosis and changes in cell mitochondrial membrane potential.

Results:

We show that inhibiting the expression of electron transport chain complex proteins, also inhibits mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Additionally, down-regulation of the ribosime biogenesis pathway was found to inhibit cell metabolism.

Conclusion:

In summary, results show that cryptotanshinone can trigger rapid and irreversible apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 cells through effectively inhibiting cell metabolism.
Mammography-Related Pain and Anxiety in Turkish Women: A Cross-sectional Study
Authors: ÇELİK Neşe , MIZRAK ŞAHİN Berrak , ÜNSAL Alaattin , ÇALIŞIR Cüneyt , ÇAĞAN Özlem
Published: February 2021

Objective: This study was carried out to determine mammography-related pain and anxiety level among women. Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted was on 222 women at the Mammography Unit of Department of Radiology in a tertiary-care hospital in Turkey. Visual Analog Scale and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and a survey form were used in the study. Results: Women in this study was determined that 70.7% experienced pain during mammography. About a quarter of women describe mammography as a painful procedure. Mammography-related pain level was found to be at the 38.40 ± 22.46 and “moderate” level among the participants. It was determined that women during mammography experienced mean 40.0 and "mild" anxiety level. There was no statistically significant difference between the frequency of pain and anxiety. Conclusion: It is the important duty of health professionals to minimize the pain experienced by women during mammography and to prevent pain from being an obstacle to mammography.
Development of advanced explosion safety technology for hydrogen systems
Authors: Dobashi Ritsu
Published: February 2021

A team of researchers from The University of Tokyo, Yamagata University and Hiroshima University, are working to understand phenomena related to large-scale hydrogen gas explosions. The team's research aims to develop a database of gas explosion behaviour through hydrogen gas explosion
experiments. The hope is that this will deepen academic understanding, enable the building of a reliable simulation model and, ultimately, develop a practical and advanced explosion safety technology that can be used when designing, developing and implementing hydrogen systems. The findings
will lead to improved safety and security for industries implementing hydrogen systems.
Driving Taiwanese science and technology research
Authors: Shieh Dar-Bin
Published: February 2021

Professor Dar-Bin Shieh, Deputy Minister at the Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology, shares with us details of the efforts undertaken at the Ministry to promote and support scientific and technological research and development in Taiwan, including his response to the COVID-19
pandemic
Spoken content retrieval and understanding using deep learning
Authors: Lee Lin-shan
Published: February 2021

Spoken content refers to all content over the Internet which includes human voice, essentially those in multimedia, such As YouTube videos and online courses. Today such content is retrieved via Google primarily based on human-generated text labels, because Google can only retrieve
text over the Internet. The goal of this project is to produce technologies to retrieve accurately and efficiently such spoken content directly based on the included audio sounds instead of text labels, because machines today can listen to human voice just as they can read the text. The long
term goal is to create a spoken version of Google, which may revolutionize the ways in which humans access information and improve their knowledge. Professor Lin-shan Lee at National Taiwan University is leading this project. He has been a distinguished leader in the global scientific community
for the area of teaching machines to speak and listen to human voice for many years.
Early Crowdfunding Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Cross-sectional Study (Preprint)
Authors: Saleh Sameh Nagui , Lehmann Christoph U , Medford Richard J
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

As the number of COVID-19 cases increased precipitously in the United States, policy makers and health officials marshalled their pandemic responses. As the economic impacts multiplied, anecdotal reports noted the increased use of web-based crowdfunding to defray these costs.

OBJECTIVE

We examined the web-based crowdfunding response in the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States to understand the incidence of initiation of COVID-19–related campaigns and compare them to non–COVID-19–related campaigns.

METHODS

On May 16, 2020, we extracted all available data available on US campaigns that contained narratives and were created between January 1 and May 10, 2020, on GoFundMe. We identified the subset of COVID-19–related campaigns using keywords relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored the incidence of COVID-19–related campaigns by geography, by category, and over time, and we compared the characteristics of the campaigns to those of non–COVID-19–related campaigns after March 11, when the pandemic was declared. We then used a natural language processing algorithm to cluster campaigns by narrative content using overlapping keywords.

RESULTS

We found that there was a substantial increase in overall GoFundMe web-based crowdfunding campaigns in March, largely attributable to COVID-19–related campaigns. However, as the COVID-19 pandemic persisted and progressed, the number of campaigns per COVID-19 case declined more than tenfold across all states. The states with the earliest disease burden had the fewest campaigns per case, indicating a lack of a case-dependent response. COVID-19–related campaigns raised more money, had a longer narrative description, and were more likely to be shared on Facebook than other campaigns in the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

Web-based crowdfunding appears to be a stopgap for only a minority of campaigners. The novelty of an emergency likely impacts both campaign initiation and crowdfunding success, as it reflects the affective response of a community. Crowdfunding activity likely serves as an early signal for emerging needs and societal sentiment for communities in acute distress that could be used by governments and aid organizations to guide disaster relief and policy.
Smartphone Technology to Empower People Experiencing Homelessness: Secondary Analysis
(Preprint)
Authors: Thurman Whitney , Semwal Monika , Moczygemba Leticia R , Hilbelink Mark
Published: February 2021

BACKGROUND

In the United States, the number of people experiencing homelessness has continually increased over the last 3 years. Homelessness is associated with poor health, and people experiencing homelessness are often burdened with high rates of chronic and mental health conditions, functional limitations, and cognitive impairment. Despite the high burden of chronic illness and functional limitations, there is limited literature exploring self-management among homeless populations.

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate how access to smartphone technology facilitates self-management, including the attainment of social needs within the context of homelessness.

METHODS

A secondary analysis of 33 exit interviews from 2 feasibility studies related to mobile health interventions among people experiencing homelessness was conducted. Iterative thematic analysis was used to identify themes representative of participants’ experiences using smartphone technology.

RESULTS

Collectively, participants revealed not only how the context of homelessness constrained their ability to engage in activities necessary to self-manage health and meet social needs but also how consistent and predictable access to the tools available through a smartphone changed their behaviors and outlook. The global theme of empowered by technology was identified and defined as how having a smartphone with a plan for unlimited text, calling, data, and transportation allowed participants to navigate homelessness and facilitated self-management.

CONCLUSIONS

People experiencing homelessness used the tools on a smartphone to make decisions, take action, solve problems, and use the resources—skills necessary for fulfilling tasks required for effective self-management. Further, consistent access to smartphone technology and transportation empowered participants to meet the requirements for the attainment of social needs.

CLINICALTRIAL
Sintesis Suara Bernyanyi Dengan Teknologi Text-To-Speech untuk Notasi Musik Angka dan Lirik Lagu Berbahasa Indonesia
Authors: Jonathan Jonathan , Suyanto Yohanes
Published: February 2021

Singing is a work of art that can not be separated from human life. It then makes a research about develop the art of singing by technology will brings a useful impact for such a wide aspect of human life. This research is trying to synthesize singing voice with TTS (text-to-speech) technology, as it capability to produce sound with certain pronunciation at certain frequency of sound. Inputs that used in the system are texts of song in TXT format that contain the information of numbered musical notation and lyrics in Indonesian. These inputs will converted to a phonetic transcription, for then synthesize of song voice can done based on the transcription. In general, the system made successfully synthesize song voices with some feature that based on the convention of numbered musical notation. Based on 30 people of respondents, the song voice synthesized has 81.71% of accuracy with 6.24% of deviation standard. The syntax of song text also reputed as a user-friendly convention with only up to 3 times re-compilation done to synthesize 8 bar of song text by each of respondents without any error.
Rancang Bangun Platform Intel Edison Sebagai IoT Gateway Berbasis Protokol MQTT
Authors: Wicaksana Anggit , Ardi Sumbodo Bakhtiar Alldino
Published: February 2021

The role of IoT gateway on IoT network is vital, like for strengthen the sensor management. Accordingly, in this research designed an IoT gateway based on MQTT Protocol which implemented in Intel Edison platform and using ten node sensors with star topology.Results from this research is an IoT gateway system who capable to receive data packet from node sensor, saves the data in database, and publishes the data to MQTT broker. User able to do data acquisition by subscribe method, using MQTT Dasboard application. The system tested by doing the calculation of time response of gateway with variation of data length and variation of distance, life time of node sensor testing by the variation of data length. The conclusions are the time average of from data acquisition by node sensor until gateway saves the data in database and user subscribes the data is twelve seconds. The shorter the data length makes the response time of gateway faster and makes the life time of node sensor shorter because the measured current is bigger. The distance is not gives any impact to the response time of gateway.
Fabrikasi dan Karakterisasi Sensor Elektrokimia untuk Mendeteksi Kadmium Berbasis Teknologi Film Tebal
Authors: Wahyuni Riska Sri , V. M. Robert , Arifin Arifin
Published: February 2021

Electrochemical sensor has been fabrication and characterization electrode to detect heavy metals of cadmium with thick film technology. Fabrication electrodes electrochemical sensors start with the design stage of electrodes, screen maker, screen printing, and substrate cutting. The fabrication process produces a ten-pieces of sensors to be used to sensors characterization of SEM, XRD, and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV). The process of characterization produces morphology and the structure of the composites N/IL/G, and linieritas 0,9623, precision ranges between 4,11 and 10,35%, sensitivity of 0,04112 µA.L-1/mg.mm2, limit detection 0,18 mg/L, and accuracy between 79,5 and 126,8%.