bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Erythrocytes in COVID-19: Effects on Morphology, Function, and Potential Role in Disease Pathogenesis
Authors: Swan D , Quinn J , Glavey S , Murphy P
Published: November 2022

Since the SARS CoV-2 virus was first identified in December 2019, huge scientific endeavor has occurred in order to characterize the pathogenesis of this virus and how best to treat it. Early observations noted marked cytokine release, coagulopathy and a prothrombotic phenotype associated with severe disease. The potential contribution of red blood cells to these findings remains an area of ongoing investigation. While there is no evidence of direct infection of red blood cells by the SARS CoV-2 RNA virus, anaemia and increased variability in shape and size of red cells have been shown to be associated with adverse outcomes in COVID-19 infection. This is likely related to the impact of inflammatory cytokine-induced oxidative stress on erythrocytes, where decreased levels of reducing agents have been shown to correlate with disease severity. The consequences of increased oxidative stress on red cells include membrane damage leading to the morphological abnormalities seen in patients, and increased rates of programmed red cell death with resultant anaemia. Production of nitric oxide by red cells is altered, possibly as a means to alleviate tissue hypoxia in these patients, and red cells may also demonstrate enhanced lactate influx, possibly reducing circulating levels at a time of increased glycolysis. In this review we discuss the currently available evidence describing the impact of SARS CoV-2 infection on erythrocytes and the possible roles they play in patients with COVID-19 infection.
Novel Policies are Required to Reduce Pediatric Lead Exposure from Legacy Lead (Pb) in Soil and Air
Authors: Mielke Howard , Paltseva Anna , Gonzales Christopher
Published: November 2022

In 1925, a U.S. conference on lead (Pb) additives tacitly approved their use in petrol. Over five-decades an exponential increase of air lead occurred from commercial marketing of leaded petrol and the sale of automobiles. The ability to measure microgram quantities of Pb was unavailable to medical researchers until the late 1960s and early 1970s. The clinical application of advanced analytical technology demonstrated that pediatric lead exposure was excessive. Beginning in the mid-1970s, actions were taken to curtail Pb additive and decreases of pediatric lead poisoning coincided with decreased air Pb from leaded petrol use. Exogenous Pb exhaust particles are absorbed through inhalation and ingestion routes of exposure. Exogenous Pb is metabolically mistaken for calcium and stored endogenously in bones, teeth, and other tissues. Endogenous Pb has intergenerational effects. All organs, most notably the nervous system, are affected. Clinical studies indicate that there is no safe level of Pb exposure. A worldwide ban on leaded petrol was achieved on August 30, 2021. Banning leaded petrol corresponded with marked decreases in lead exposure. However, exogenous Pb dust persists in soil as a legacy from the era of leaded petrol. Soil Pb is remobilized into the air. Because of traffic congestion and Pb dust emissions, population centers are of particular concern. An exceedingly strong association exists between soil Pb and blood Pb indicating that at the community-scale Pb dust mitigation is necessary to decrease pediatric Pb exposure. Urban soil Pb and blood Pb studies indicate the risk of excessive exposure from legacy Pb dust in communities is highest where the median soil Pb is ≥ 50 mg/kg. The objective of this article is to demonstrate the practical application of an advanced hand-held analytical instrument to map Pb in children’s playgrounds adjacent to a major traffic corridor. We illustrate soil Pb mapping and then consider mitigation procedures for primary prevention of legacy Pb. Mapping soil Pb provides an informed basis for advising parents and encouraging community mitigation responses for reducing pediatric Pb exposure from legacy Pb dust. The soil health-plant health-animal/human health signaling nexus is compromised by legacy Pb. For the medical pediatric community, the existence of legacy lead requires new policies to address intervention of the soil-air-blood linkages of the Pb exposure pathway.
Engineering Design of Wastewater Treatment Processes Using Flotation Combines of the KBS Series
Authors: Ksenofontov B.S. , Kozodaev A.S. , Taranov R.A. , Vinogradov M.S. , Senik E.V.
Published: November 2022

Examples of engineering solutions for wastewater treatment using flotation combines are considered. Technological schemes of wastewater treatment of various industries are given. Particular attention is paid to the description of flotation combines of the KBS series, in particular, the need to coordinate hydrodynamic regimes in various working areas of the flotation combine. It has been established that the use of flotation combines can significantly increase the efficiency of wastewater treatment at reduced material and energy costs.
A atuação da Terapia Ocupacional nos cuidados paliativos: revisão integrativa
Authors: Yamasaki Veronique Satsuki , Bombarda Tatiana Barberi
Published: November 2022

Objetivo: identificar e analisar a produção científica sobre a atuação dos terapeutas ocupacionais em cuidados paliativos. Método: revisão integrativa, realizada em 2019, de modo atemporal, focando revistas da área e as bases de dados Web of Science, Scientific Electronic Library Online, Literatura LatinoAmericana e do Caribe em Ciências da Saúde e, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, com foco nos descritores “terapia ocupacional” e “cuidados paliativos”. Os dados foram interpretados por estatística descritiva e análise temática. Resultados: considerou-se 24 artigos com quatro categorias temáticas: Controle de sintomas; Manutenção de funcionalidade e independência; Qualidade de vida; e Dificuldades na prática paliativa. Conclusão: as produções têm aumentado na última década, sobretudo nos últimos cinco anos, no caso do Brasil. Também verificou-se que a atuação pauta-se no repertório ocupacional e significados atribuídos, sendo as ações voltadas a projetos de vida e preparação para morte.
Comparing Various Machine Learning Algorithms for Sugar Prediction in Chickpea using Near-infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Priyadarshi Madhu Bala , Sharma Anu , Chaturvedi K.K. , Bhardwaj Rakesh , Lal S.B. , Farooqi M.S. , Kumar Sanjeev , Mishra D.C. , Singh Mohar
Published: November 2022

Background: Chickpea is the third major pulse produced globally, with 11.6 million tonnes produced per annum (Merga and Haji, 2019). Sugar alcohols, inulin, starch are all prebiotic carbohydrates found in chickpeas (Johnson et al., 2020). Near-Infrared (NIR) spectroscopy is a non-destructive, versatile and powerful analytical technique. Methods: Spectral data obtained from NIR spectroscopy requires application of various techniques to extract useful information from spectral data which is further used for building various models for prediction of physical or chemical components presents in agricultural crops. The main aim of this study is to apply various machine learning algorithms especially effective in predicting sugar concentration in chickpea. Sugar prediction models are developed using Linear Regression (LR), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Random Forest (RF), Support Vector Regression (SVR) and Decision Tree Regression (DTR) algorithms. Performance of the models is evaluated using measures namely, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Residual Standard Error (RSE), Coefficient of Determination (R2) and Adjusted Coefficient of Determination (adjusted R2). Result: It was observed that, RF outperformed all other models in terms of accuracy for predicting sugar component from preprocessed spectra, with RMSE, RSE, R2 and adjusted R2 values of 0.054, 0.062, 0.954 and 0.937, respectively. The accuracy of the ANN model is similar to that of the RF, with minor differences in RMSE, RSE, R2 and adjusted R2 , values of 0.057, 0.067, 0.952 and 0.935.
Effect of Seed Coat Characteristics on Seed Quality in Soybean [Glycine max (L) Merrill] Genotypes with Contrasting Seed Longevity Traits
Authors: C. Balachandan Gowda , Jain S.K. , Joshi Monika A. , Singh Dharmpal
Published: November 2022

Background: The soybean seed is highly susceptible to field weathering and mechanical damages which adversely affect its longevity. Non-availability of good quality seed and post-harvest maintenance of prescribed level of seed germination and vigour until immediate planting season is the major constraint for soybean seed production. In soybean, the seed coat is one of the main determinants of seed germination, vigour and longevity potentials. Methods: In view of the same, the present study was conducted during 2015-16 and 2016-17 on 24 soybean genotypes having contrasting seed longevity traits. Freshly harvested seeds were stored for eight months under laboratory ambient environment (25±2°C and 65±5% RH) for evaluation of seed coat properties which are helpful in protecting the seeds from mechanical damage during pre- and post-harvest operations and study its relation with the seed quality. Result: Black, small-seeded soybean genotypes with white hilum were found to be better storers. Thick seed coat and higher seed coat (%) with more and uniform hours glass cells attributed to better seed quality for these genotypes. Parameters like seed coat (%), lignin content and mechanical strength remained unchanged during eight months laboratory ambient storage. Based on these observations, genotypes AMSS-34 and G-2265 were identified as better genotypes, which may be exploited in soybean crop improvement programme.
Determining the Relationship between SPAD Values and Common Bean Seed (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Yield by Correlation and Path Coefficient Analysis Method by using Different Organic Fertilizer
Authors: Girgel Umit , Kara Zekeriya , Cokkizgin Alihan
Published: November 2022

Path coefficient analysis provides a much better understanding of the correlation coefficient values. Spad values give information about the state of the leaf. In the study, path coefficient analysis was performed, especially SPAD values in beans. The study was carried out Kahramanmaraş Sutcu Imam University, treatment area in 2021 year. Mispir cultivar and Aydintepe local common bean genotype were used, leonardite and chicken litter and their mixture were used, various doses (3,6,9 t ha-1 and conventional fertilizer (25 kg ha-1 N/64 kg ha-1 P2O5) and control application) were added to the soil. Leaf chlorophyll content was measured in three periods: early leaf (1st SPAD), flowering stage (2nd SPAD), post-flowering (3rd SPAD). In addition, seed yield and biomass yield values were determined. Chicken Manure 3 t ha-1 organic fertilizer application showed the best performance among all applications in terms of seed yield. And the Aydintepe local genotype showed higher performance than the Mispir cultivar for the most of the properties examined.
Hubungan Ekspresi Osteocalcin dan Interleukin-1β dengan Status Inflamasi Periodontal
Authors: Priyanto Rahmavidyanti , Fauzia Malianawati , Pratiwi Ariyati Retno , Roeswahjuni Neny , Firani Novi Khila
Published: November 2022

Periodontitis is inflammation of the periodontal tissue that can cause progressive damage to the periodontal ligament and alveolar bone. Clinical examination to determine the degree of damage to the alveolar bone using a periodontal probe instrument or probing. Cellular activity in the gingival crevicular fluid is thought to be a biomarker to determine the inflammatory status of the periodontal tissue. Cellular immune responses suggest the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of gingivitis and periodontitis. The cytokines observed in this study were the protein Osteocalcin and Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF). In this study, 67 patients were examined for the condition of their periodontal tissues including the severity of gingivitis and periodontal probing. The gingivitis group was divided into 4 groups, namely normal, mild, moderate, and severe. Meanwhile, for probing samples were grouped based on probing into 3 groups. Group I (0-3 mm), group II (3.1-5 mm) and group III (> 5 mm). GCF was obtained using paper points that were left in the gingival sulcus for 30 seconds. Then paper points are put into cryovial tubes which are sent to the laboratory for ELISA test. The observed data on the expression of Osteocalcin and IL-1β were then performed statistical tests. Osteocalcin and IL-1β expression showed a significant difference with the severity of gingivitis cases. In the other hand, it did not show a significant difference with difference of periodontal pocket depth. Osteocalcin and IL-1β expression associated with the severity of gingivitis cases.
Viskositas dan Porositas Bahan Cetak Alginat dari Alga Merah Kappaphycus alvarezii
Authors: Pratiwi Rosi Endah , Barid Izzata , Indahyani Didin Erma
Published: November 2022

Alginate impression material is a material that is often used in dentistry to produce study models. The main active ingredient in the alginate impression material is sodium alginate, which can be obtained naturally from algae. Alginate from turbulent water (Waters on village Agel, Situbondo) and the structure of aliginate gluronic acid can form gel and influence the viscosity and the porosity of alginate impression material. Purpose was to analyze the viscosity and porosity of the alginate impression material from the red algae Kappaphycus alvarezii. This study is a laboratory experimental study with the research design of the post-test only control group design. This study consisted of 4 groups, namely the (1) viscosity control group, (2) porosity control, (3) viscosity treatment, and (4) porosity treatment. The porosity measurement results showed that there was no significant difference and the viscosity was significantly different from the control group because of the type of algae, the surface area of the particles, the preparation stage, the extraction that affected sodium alginate. Kappaphycus alvarezii type red alginate impression material has lower porosity than the standard Hygedent alginate impression material with a mean yield of 9%. The viscosity of the Kappaphycus alvarezii red alginate impression material based on the sigma standard is classified as high viscosity with an average of 33,200 cP.
The role of antiangiogenic monoclonal antibodies combined to EGFR-TKIs in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer with activating EGFR mutations: acquired resistance mechanisms and strategies to overcome them
Authors: Rocco Danilo , Della Gravara Luigi , Palazzolo Giovanni , Gridelli Cesare
Published: November 2022

As of today, only two antiangiogenic monoclonal antibodies plus epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI) combinations are FDA and EMA-approved and are recommended by American Society of Clinical Oncology, European Society for Medical Oncology, and National Comprehensive Cancer Network for the first-line treatment of EGFR+ advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients: erlotinib plus bevacizumab and erlotinib plus ramucirumab. However, all treated patients eventually become unresponsive to such drugs, due to several different acquired resistance mechanisms, mainly represented by T790M substitutions and MET amplifications. While osimertinib treatment in T790M+ patients still represents the only approved treatment, MET-TKIs will likely change this status quo in the near future. In fact, existing clinical data strongly support a role for MET-TKI-based combinations in EGFR+ MET-amplified patients, possibly revolutionizing our current treatment algorithm. Chemotherapy plus immunotherapy plus antiangiogenic therapy combinations could also represent another useful addition.
The growing prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), determined by fatty liver index, amongst young adults in the United States. A 20-year experience
Authors: Li Wenhao , Ng Cheng Han , Quek Jingxuan , Chan Kai En , Tan Caitlyn , Zeng Rebecca Wenling , Yong Jie Ning , Tay Hannah , Tan Darren Jun Hao , Lim Wen Hui , Chee Douglas , Ho Jinyang , Chew Nicholas W.S. , Mak Lung Yi , Siddiqui Mohammad Shadab , Sanyal Arun , Alazawi William , Alkouri Naim , Muthiah Mark , Noureddin Mazen
Published: November 2022

Aim: The Global burden of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has significantly increased recently, with its prevalence mirroring increasing obesity and diabetes. However, population-specific evidence for young adults remains limited. Herein, we provide a 20-year trend analysis of NAFLD in young adults and examine factors associated with NAFLD and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) prevalence. Methods: This study uses data from the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2018. Fatty liver was examined with the fatty liver index (FLI) and United States-FLI (US-FLI), and advanced fibrosis was examined with the fibrosis-4 index. Clustered multivariate logistic regression analysis on the year of study was applied to obtain odds ratios (OR) for the estimation of events. Results: 13.31% (95%CI: 12.71% to 13.94%) of young adults had NAFLD. The prevalence increased from 9.98% in 1999 to 19.49% in 2018, with a statistically significant trend (P < 0.001). 9.52% and 5.29% of patients have clinically significant and advanced fibrosis, respectively. In multivariate analysis, diabetes (3.48, 95%CI: 2.37 to 5.11), hypertension (2.03, 95%CI: 1.62 to 2.55), elevated body mass index (1.22, 95%CI: 1.20 to 1.23, P < 0.001) significantly increases odds of NAFLD. The largest increase in odds was related to obesity (OR: 21.61, 95%CI: 16.95 to 27.55, P < 0.001). Young adults with NAFLD had a borderline non-significant increase in the prevalence of MACE compared to individuals without NAFLD (OR: 1.603, 95%CI: 0.949 to 2.708, P = 0.078). Conclusion: The rising prevalence of NAFLD in young adults depicts the changing landscape of NAFLD and its association with a significant increase in MACE. The challenge of effective risk stratification and education of these individuals remains.
Restoring finger-specific tactile sensations with a sensory soft neuroprosthetic hand through electrotactile stimulation
Authors: Xu Haipeng , Chai Guohong , Zhang Ningbin , Gu Guoying
Published: November 2022

Tactile feedback is of great significance for amputees to improve the controllability of prosthetic hands and obtain tactile information regarding the interacting objects, which remains a significant challenge for neuroprosthetic hands. In this study, we present a method to restore finger-specific tactile sensations on the projected finger map of a unilateral forearm amputee with a sensory soft neuroprosthetic hand through electrotactile stimulation. On this basis, five soft touch sensors embedded in the fingertips are first adopted to measure the pressure changes of the soft neuroprosthetic hand with the touched objects. The measured pressure information is then accordingly encoded into electrotactile stimulation patterns to trigger an electrical stimulator that outputs programmable electrical pulses on the projected finger map of the amputee. In this manner, the finger tactile sensation can be elicited, which can help the amputee to distinguish the finger press state and discriminate the curvature and hardness of the touched objects. Experimental results show that, based on the different stimulation regions, the amputee subject can instantaneously distinguish the tactile sensation of a single finger or multiple fingers with an accuracy of 98.57% and 91.71%, respectively. By programming the frequencies of the electrical pulses, the amputee subject can successfully discriminate the touching objects with different curvatures and hardnesses with an accuracy of 97.26% and 97.93%, respectively. Finally, we demonstrate that the amputee subject can achieve closed-loop control of the sensory soft neuroprosthetic hand by integrating a myoelectric control interface and electrotactile feedback to achieve multilevel perception.
Innate Immunity in Cardiovascular Diseases – Identification of Novel Molecular Players and Targets
Authors: Poller Wolfgang , Heidecker Bettina , Ammirati Enrico , Kuss Andreas W , Tzvetkova Ana , Poller Wolfram C , Skurk Carsten , Haghikia Arash
Published: November 2022

During the past few years unexpected developments have driven studies in the field of clinical immunology. One driver of immense impact was the outbreak of a pandemic caused by the novel virus SARS-CoV-2. Excellent recent reviews address diverse aspects of immunological re-search into cardiovascular diseases. Here, we specifically focus on selected studies taking ad-vantage of advanced state-of-the-art molecular genetic methods ranging from genome-wide epi/transcriptome mapping and variant scanning to optogenetics and chemogenetics. First, we discuss emerging clinical relevance of advanced diagnostics for cardiovascular diseases - includ-ing those associated with COVID-19 - with a focus on the role of inflammation in cardiomyopa-thies and arrhythmias. Second, we consider newly identified immunological interactions at or-gan and systems level which affect cardiovascular pathogenesis. Thus, studies into immune in-fluences arising from the intestinal system are moving towards therapeutic exploitation. Fur-ther, powerful new research tools have enabled novel insight into brain – immune system inter-actions at unprecedented resolution. This latter line of investigation emphasizes the strength of influence of emotional stress - acting through defined brain regions - upon viral and cardiovas-cular disorders. Several challenges need to be overcome before the full impact of these far-reaching new findings will hit the clinical arena.
Usage of GAMS-based Digital Twins and Clustering to Improve Energetic Systems Control
Authors: Gronier Timothé , Maréchal William , Geissler Christophe , Gibout Stéphane
Published: November 2022

With increasing constraints on energy and resource markets and the non-decreasing trend in energy demand, the need for relevant clean energy generation and storage solutions is growing and is gradually reaching the individual home. But small-scale energy storage is still an expensive investment in 2022 and the risk/reward ratio is not yet attractive enough for individual homeowners. One solution is for homeowners not to store excess clean energy individually but to produce hydrogen for mutual use. In this paper a collective production of hydrogen for a daily filling of a bus is considered. Following our previous work on the subject, the investigation consists of finding an optimal buy/sell rule to the grid, and the use of the energy with an additional objective: mobility. The dominant technique in the energy community is reinforcement learning, which is however difficult to use when the learning data is limited as in our study. We chose a less data-intensive and yet technically well-documented approach. Our results show that rulebooks, different but more interesting than the usual robust rule, exist and can be cost-effective. But they require fine-tuning as to not deteriorate system performance. In some cases, it is worth missing the H2 production requirement in exchange for higher economic performance.
PCR-based Detection of Typhoidal Salmonella from Human Clinical Samples and Evaluation of Traditional PCR, Nested-PCR and Widal Test in Pune, India
Authors: Hadi Abas O. , Alburkat Hussein , Kadhim Taisir Abdulelah , Al-Helli Ammar M S , Ghazi Mustafa Hamza , Aldabbagh Yasir Abdulameer N. , Talib Reem Numaan , Ali Sama Hussein , Imran Noor Hameed , Almohsen Ruaa , Saad Turki Muftin , Mandave Pallavi
Published: November 2022

Salmonella is a foodborne pathogen associated with localized outbreaks that potentially pose a huge risk to the public health in some countries such as Africa and India, especially in the regions lacking health care measures. The focus of the present study is the molecular detection method of salmonella. The study was conducted to identify Salmonella strains by PCR targeting flagellin specific gene from suspected patient’s clinical blood samples. Serologically, Widal test results showed that all serum samples except one patient (ID 7) were positive for O antigen. The serum of three patients (ID 4, 5 and 10) were found to be positive for H and O antigens while one patient (ID 9) showed agglutination for antigen H. The PCR approach used in this study was successful for fast and precise detection of clinically related Salmonella Typhi. Seven samples out of 10 were positive for Salmonella Typhi as fragments of 458-497bp were observed on the gel-agarose 0.8% corresponds to flagellin gene of S. Typhi. Relatively, smaller amplicons of 366-343bp were observed utilizing nested PCR as well, which seems more sensitive than the conventional PCR. Therefore, we recommend the PCR approach performed in this study to be used as a fast, cost-effective, and time-consuming tool for diagnostic purposes of Salmonella.
Self-Calibrating Magnetometer-Free Inertial Motion Tracking of 2-DoF Joints
Authors: Laidig Daniel , Weygers Ive , Seel Thomas
Published: November 2022

Human motion analysis using inertial measurement units (IMUs) has recently been shown to provide accuracy similar to the gold standard, marker-based optical motion capture, but at much lower costs and while being less restrictive and time-consuming. However, IMU-based motion analysis requires precise knowledge of the orientation in which the sensor is attached to the body segments. This knowledge is commonly obtained via an anatomical calibration procedure based on precisely defined poses or motions, which is time-consuming and error-prone. In the present work, we propose a self-calibrating approach for magnetometer-free joint angle tracking that is suitable for joints with two degrees of freedom (DoF), such as the elbow, ankle, and metacarpophalangeal finger joints. The proposed methods exploit kinematic constraints to simultaneously identify the joint axes and the heading offset. The experimental evaluation shows that the proposed methods are able to estimate plausible and consistent joint axes from just ten seconds of arbitrary elbow joint motion. Comparison with optical motion capture shows that the proposed methods yield joint angles with similar accuracy as a conventional IMU-based method while being much less restrictive. Therefore, the proposed methods improve the practical usability of IMU-based motion tracking in many clinical and biomedical applications.
Cognitive Factors in Nonnative Phonetic Learning: Impacts of Working Memory and Selective Attention on the Benefits and Costs of Talker Variability
Authors: Zhang Xiaojuan , Cheng Bing , Zhang Yang
Published: November 2022

Talker variability has been reported to facilitate generalization and retention of speech learning, but is also shown to place demands on cognitive resources. Our recent study provided evidence that phonetically-irrelevant acoustic variability in single-talker (ST) speech is sufficient to induce equivalent amounts of learning to the use of multiple-talker (MT) training. This study is a follow-up contrasting MT versus ST training with varying degrees of temporal exaggeration to examine how cognitive measures of individual learners may influence the role of input variability in immediate learning and long-term retention. Native Chinese-speaking adults were trained on the English /i/-/ɪ/ contrast. We assessed the trainees’ working memory and selective attention before training. Trained participants showed retention of more native-like cue weighting in both perception and production regardless of talker variability condition. The ST training group showed long-term benefit in word identification, whereas the MT training group did not retain the improvement. The results demonstrate the role of phonetically-irrelevant variability in robust speech learning and modulatory functions of nonlinguistic working memory and selective attention, highlighting the necessity to consider the interaction between input characteristics, task difficulty, and individual differences in cognitive abilities in assessing learning outcomes.
Genomic Analysis of Adaptation of the MRSA ST239 Strains to the Development of Various Types of the Infectious Process
Authors: Dmitrenko Olga Alexandrovna , Chaplin Andrey Viktorovich , Balbutskaya Anna Alexandrovna , Pkhakadze Tamara Yakovlevna , Alkhovsky Sergey Vladimirovich
Published: November 2022

Abstract. The increasing frequency of isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) limits the chances of effective antibacterial therapy of staphylococcal diseases and results in development of persistent infection such as bacteremia and osteomyelitis. The aim of this study was to identify features of the MRSAST239 0943-1505-2016 (SA943) genome, that contribute to the formation of both acute and chronic musculoskeletal infections. The analysis was performed using comparative genomics data of the dominant epidemic S. aureus lineages namely ST1, ST8, ST30, ST36, ST239. SA943 genome encodes proteins that provide resistance to the host immune system, suppress immunological memory and form biofilms. The molecular mechanisms of adaptation responsible for development of persistent infection were as follows: amino acid substitution in PBP2 and PBP2a, providing resistance to ceftaroline; loss of a large part of prophage DNA and restoration of nucleotide sequence of beta-hemolysin, that greatly facilitates escape of phagocytosed bacteria from phagosome and formation of biofilms; dysfunction of the AgrA system due to the presence of psm-mec and several amino acid substitutions in the AgrC; partial deletion of nucleotide sequence in genomic island vSAβ resulting in the loss of two proteases of Spl - operon; deletion of SD repeats in SdrE amino acid sequence.
Archaeological Evidence for Community Resilience and Sustainability: A Bibliometric and Quantitative Review
Authors: Jacobson Matthew J.
Published: November 2022

Archaeology is often argued to provide a unique long-term perspective on humans that can be utilised for effective policy-making, for example in discussions of resilience and sustainability. However, the specific archaeological evidence for resilient/sustainable systems is rarely explored, with these terms used simply to describe a community that survived a particular shock. In this study, a set of 74 case studies of papers discussing archaeological evidence for resilience/sustainability are identified and analysed using bibliometric methods. Variables from the papers are also quantified to assess patterns and provide a review of current knowledge. A great variety of scales of analysis, case study locations, stressors, resilient/sustainable characteristics, and archaeological evidence types are present. Climate change was the most cited stressor (n=40) and strategies relating to natural resources were common across case studies, especially subsistence adaptations (n=35), other solutions to subsistence deficiencies (n=23), and water management (n=23). Resilient/sustainable characteristics were often in direct contrast to one-another, suggesting the combination of factors is more important than each factor taken individually. Further quantification of well-defined variables within a formally-produced framework is required to extract greater value from archaeological case studies of resilience/sustainability.
Special Cases of Generalized Leonardo Numbers: Modified p-Leonardo, p-Leonardo-Lucas and p-Leonardo Numbers
Authors: Soykan Yüksel
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we define and investigate modified p-Leonardo, p-Leonardo-Lucas and p-Leonardo sequences as special cases of the generalized Leonardo sequence. We present Binet's formulas, generating functions, Simson formulas, and the summation formulas for these sequences. Moreover, we give some identities and matrices related with these sequences. Furthermore, we show that there are close relations between modified p-Leonardo, p-Leonardo-Lucas, p-Leonardo numbers and Fibonacci, Lucas numbers.
A Review of Power Compensation Techniques: Challenges and Recommendations for Future Investigation
Authors: Okojie Daniel Esene , Kgori Phinias , Akuru Udochukwu Bola
Published: November 2022

Power quality problem is a hot area in power systems and drives that has drawn the attention of many researchers. This is because of the threat it poses on the health of electrical systems and the cost incurred on utility bills. The problem arises as a result of the need for reactive power to be supplied alongside active power in power transmission and distribution. Unfortunately, reactive power is consumed by almost all components of the system, leading to a shortage. To solve this problem, there is a need to compensate for the lost reactive power. Several researchers have proposed various approaches to mitigate this problem such as thyristor switched capacitor bank, series compensator, series reactor, series var compensator (SVC), Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM), synchronous condenser and others. In order to further draw attention in this area, this work investigates a number of research papers on power compensation techniques and draw up challenges from each work that can be considered for further investigation. To this end, each research paper reviewed is evaluated in terms of problem solved, technique used, and results obtained. It therefore offers ample opportunities for researchers to explore in improving power quality and power system safety.
Algorithm for Additional Correction of Remote Sensing Reflectance in the Presence of Absorbing Aerosol
Authors: Shybanov Evgeny Borisovich , Papkova Anna Stanislavovna
Published: November 2022

In the presence of absorbing aerosol in the atmosphere a number of systematic errors of standard Ocean Color algorithms were noted, for example, negative values of remote sensing reflectance in the short-wavelength region at 412 nm and 443 nm. The main goal of this work is to develop an algorithm for additional correction of remote sensing reflectance level 2 satellite data, taking into account the presence of absorbing aerosol over the Black Sea, where a large number of dust transfers from the Sahara are observed annually. To implement the algorithm, an analytical and experimental evaluation of the interpolation function is carried out, taking into account the optical effects caused by the stratification of the absorbing aerosol. This algorithm is based on the constancy of the color index value, characteristic of the selected region. For the Black Sea the average value of CI(412/443) = 0.80±0.08, a small standard deviation indicates that the sample is slightly variable. Therefore, CI(412/443) = 0.80 will be further considered as the reference value of the color index for calculating new restored Rrs(λ).
Reintepretation of Lampung Cretaceous-Paleogene Granitoids Genesis and Its Tectonic Implications
Authors: Widiatama Angga Jati , Hendrawan Rezki Naufan
Published: November 2022

Granite in Lampung Province is widely exposed but not much has been discussed so that it is still causing debate, especially in the context of the tectonic episode of its formation. This study aims to reconstructed formation of the Lampung granitoid in a tectonostratigraphic framework. The research was carried out by mapping the field in four places, Tanjung Bintang, Branti, Padean, and Tarahan to reconstructed genesis of granitoid formation using a tectonic approach based on the order of rock age. This study shows that the Lampung granitoids can be divided into three different tectonostratigraphy, are subduction related granitoids, collision-delamination granitoids, and post-orogrnic granitoids. Subduction related granitoids characterized by granitoid to tonalite lithology that cross cutting metamorphic rocks. Collision-delamination related granitoids are characterized by migmatite to leucogranite and foliated granodiorite. Post-orogenic collapse granitoids characterized by microgranite associated with mafic-intermediet rock such as basalt, diabas, and andesite.
Tyre Drop Structure Design for Erosion Handling in Mine Rehabillitation Area
Authors: Hidayat Nuzul , Ramli Muhammad , Purwanto Purwanto
Published: November 2022

Mining activities require large work areas that potentially cause environmental problems. One of the impacts that can be caused is an increase of erosion rate, which can reduce the function of the land, especially in the location that planned to be mine rehabilitation area. The potential for erosion formed must be predicted to prepare methods of prevention. Estimation of erosion potential was carried out at Tiung AB Dump PT. Kaltim Prima Coal uses the RUSLE (Revised Unified Soil Loss Equation) method which considers rain erosivity, material erodibility, slope factor, vegetation factor and conservation factor. Based on the results of the study, the average erosion rate was 292.4 tons/ha/month with a catchment area of ​​0.674 km2. Erosion reduction uses a conservation technique using the terracing method which is supported by the construction of an open channel to drain the rain discharge that enters the catchment area. Rainfall uses data from the last 15 years with the highest rainfall in January of 231.9 mm/month and the lowest in September of 118.3 mm/month. The 10-year return period of the highest rainfall is 121.49 mm/day. Peak runoff rainfall is 13.22 m3/s with infiltration discharge is 9.72 m3/s. The designed open channel has a flow rate of 21.09 m3/s with supercritical flow. The use of a tire drop structure can reduce the speed up to 3.8 m/s which is within the permissible speed based on the type of material so that erosion can be reduced to 11.7 tons/ha/month or 96% of the natural erosion rate.
Subsurface Profile Analysis for Aquifer Layer Identification
Authors: Bundang Syarifullah , Massinai Muhammad Fawzy Ismullah , Firman Firman , Hidayat Wahyu
Published: November 2022

Bungaiya village is a village located in Gowa Regency which has volcanic rock lithology with one of the problems faced in volcanic rocks is that the rock porosity is small so that this layer cannot be an aquifer zone. But the water needs needed by the community for agriculture are very large. Geoelectric is a geophysical method that can be used to describe subsurface profiles, especially aquifer layers. The purpose of this study is to interpret using the geoelectric resistivity method, is the Wenner configuration method as many as 2 lines with a length of 470 m and a space of 10 m. The interpretation results on Line 1, there are 3 layers, are volcanic breccia with resistivity values ​​of 85.6 – 2.2013.19 Ωm and depths between 1.2 – 68 m, layer 2 of tuff with resistivity values ​​of 9.82 – 59.68 Ωm, depth of 12 – 76 m and the third layer is a volcanic breccia, resistivity value is 85.6 – 176 Ωm. Line 2 has 2 layers, are the first layer with a depth of 1.2 – 42 m with a resistivity value of 93 – 490.41 Ωm which is a volcanic breccia. The second layer at a depth of 1.2 – 78.8 m with a resistivity value of 30.9 – 77, 67 Ωm is tuff. Layers 1 and 2 show a similar subsurface profile. Based on these results, it can be concluded that the layer that functions as a water-carrying layer is tuff with a resistivity value of 9.82 – 77.67 Ωm.
Plant, bird, and mammal diversity of the Tomogrande field station, Vichada, Colombia
Authors: Estrada Villegas Sergio , Rivas Luz Dary , Barrera John Fredy , Correa Diego F. , Argüello Bernal Laura Sofía , Aldana Ana María , Casas Luisa Fernanda , Lozano-Balcázar Alejandro , Gómez-Bahamón Valentina , Gómez Camila , Bayly Nicholas , Jahn Alex E. , Quiñones Antonio , Corbett Eamon C. , Castro Francisco , Stevenson Pablo , Barrera Rivas Steven
Published: November 2022

The Altillanura is a unique ecosystem within the Colombian Llanos, characterized by well-drained savannas and extensive riparian forests. The Altillanura harbors a rich assemblage of species, largely understudied and currently under threat by large-scale and unplanned agribusiness. Moreover, the number of public protected areas in the Colombian Llanos, particularly in the Altillanura, is insufficient to conserve the threatened habitats and species. Therefore, conservation efforts by private reserves are crucial for the protection of the region’s biodiversity. Here we present the first species list of the Tomogrande, a private nature reserve and scientific research field station in the municipality of Santa Rosalía, Vichada, Colombia. After ten years of ongoing research, we have recorded 299 species of plants, 189 species of birds, and 47 species of mammals. Compared to other private nature reserves in Vichada and the Tuparro National Park, the largest protected area in the region, Tomogrande makes a substantial contribution to the conservation of all three taxonomic groups. We advocate that better landscape planning and sustainable practices should become mandatory in the Altillanura to protect its biodiversity and the livelihoods of all stakeholders that inhabit this region.
Distribución espacial y conservación de cangrejos de agua dulce (Decapoda: Pseudothelphusidae) en Caldas, Colombia
Authors: Rivera Pérez Juan Mateo , Llano Arias Camilo Andrés , Guevara Cardona Giovany
Published: November 2022

Los cangrejos de agua dulce (Decapoda: Pseudothelphusidae) son un grupo de invertebrados clave en los ecosistemas montanos de Colombia; participan en el reciclaje de la materia orgánica, son eslabones intermedios de las cadenas tróficas, y son sensibles a las perturbaciones antropogénicas. Los pocos estudios en el departamento de Caldas se han enfocado en aspectos morfológicos y taxonómicos, mientras que su ecología e historia natural son muy poco conocidas. Actualmente, esta familia está representada en el departamento por seis especies. El objetivo de este estudio fue establecer los patrones de distribución potencial de Pseudothelphusidae y promover áreas de conservación en la región centro-occidental de Colombia. Se consolidaron los registros de la Colección Entomológica de la Universidad de Caldas (CEBUC) e información secundaria (metadatos) de diferentes aspectos bioecológicos de los especímenes. Se compilaron 91 georreferencias y se reportan 37 nuevos georregistros para el departamento. Se generaron mapas de vacíos y modelos de distribución potencial de las especies estudiadas con el algoritmo MaxEnt. Se detectó una distribución amplia en las zonas medias y bajas en los ríos Magdalena y Cauca, y se generaron tres nodos de convergencias para la conservación de las especies de cangrejos de agua dulce en Caldas y Colombia.
Winter Surveys for Mexican Spotted Owls with Audio Recorders
Authors: Hetzler Brent Carl
Published: November 2022

Monitoring Mexican Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis lucida) in and near breeding territories during winter has practical value but has not been previously studied by passive techniques, including acoustic recorders. Such information could inform breeding survey strategies as well as identify new breeding pairs. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s standard survey protocol, entailing four nighttime visits to a site and listening for a response to broadcast calls, has limitations in winter, when nonbreeding owls are less likely to respond and multiple visits may not be possible. Instead, I tested the feasibility of using passive sound-recording equipment to detect the owl in winter, deploying audio recorders at two known nesting sites in northern Arizona over 6 months through winter 2014–2015. As a result, I recorded spontaneous calls during each month of the survey. Paired males and females called to each other in winter, and the variation in frequency of calling through the night paralleled the pattern found in previous studies. My data suggest that automated audio detection provides a reliable tool for continuous, high-resolution, long-term, and cost-effective monitoring of the Mexican Spotted Owl, in both winter and summer.
Characteristics and Perioperative Outcomes of Fracture in Elderly patients with Chronic Heart Failure: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zhang Yaqian , Fu Mingming , Guo Junfei , Zhao Yuqi , Wang Zhiqian , Hou Zhiyong
Published: November 2022

Purpose
The purpose is to observe the characteristics and perioperative outcomes of fracture in elderly adults with chronic heart failure (CHF).
Methods
We searched elderly patients (≥ 65 years) with CHF who developed fracture from January 2017 to February 2021. The gender, age, fracture types, electrocardiogram (ECG), laboratory results, comorbidities, complications, length of hospital stay and mortality of these patients were collected. Risk factors for perioperative cardiovascular disease (CVD) were identified.
Results
A total of 104 patients were brought into this study, including 65 female patients (62.5%) and 39 male patients (37.5%). The average age of these patients was 79.5 years old. In those 104 patients, 24 (23.1%) had HFrEF, 49 (47.1%) had HFmrEF, and 31 had HFpEF (29.8%). More than half of the patients had three or more comorbidities, and coronary artery disease was the most common comorbidity (60.6%). The incidence of perioperative CVD and non-cardiac complications was 59.6% and 95.1%, respectively. The mean length of hospital stay was 11.0 (7.0–19.0) days. The in-hospital mortality rate was 4.8%, and 1-year mortality rate was 19.2%. Arrhythmia (40%) was the most common perioperative CVD, and hypoalbuminemia (69.2%) was the most common non-cardiac complication. Multivariate analyses showed that age ≥ 80 years, comorbidities ≥ 3 and hip fracture were associated with increased rates of perioperative CVD.
Conclusion
Our results revealed elderly CHF patients with more comorbidities are prone to perioperative CVD after fracture, more comprehensive prevention and integrated management approaches will be required for these patients.
Functional insights from targeted imaging BACE1 : The first near-infrared fluorescent probe for Alzheimer's disease diagnosis
Authors: Bi Anyao , Wu Junyong , Huang Shuai , Li Yongjiang , Zheng Fan , Ding Jipeng , Dong Jie , Xiang Daxiong , Zeng Wenbin
Published: November 2022

Background
β-Secretase (BACE1) is the vital enzyme in the pathogenic processes of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the development of a powerful tool with sensitivity for BACE1 determination in vivo is a challenge.
Methods
A novel NIR fluorescent probe HBAE was synthetized from 2-hydroxy-3-methylbenzaldehyde and 2-amino-benzenethiol by 5 steps. The fluorescence mechanism in the ESIPT systems of HBAE probe was insighted with time-dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) at the TDPBE0 level with the def2-TZVP approach. The corresponding docking between HBAE and BACE1 (PDB: 5I3Y) was performed through the ducking method by DOCK6.8. Then the BBB permeability of HBAE is verified by transwell orifice plate. 22-month-old male AD-model (5XFAD) mice and age-matched wild-type mice were employed to observe the brain kinetics by intravenous injection. Finally, Immunohistochemistry was performed on the AD brain section to reveal the levels of BACE1 in hippocampus and cortex areas and other regions in AD mice through the brain tissue slices by HBAE.
Results
The novel NIR fluorescent probe was successfully applied in imaging BACE1 in AD model mice. The capability of HBAE in reflecting different level of BACE1 was performed by the specific imaging of the hippocampus region.
Conclusions
We reported the first ESIPT near-infrared fluorescence probe for monitoring endogenous BACE1 in the AD live model mice, thus offering a versatile chemical tool for visualizing in the pathological processes of AD live brains. Remarkably, high resolution images showed the localization of red fluorescence stains in hippocampus of the AD brain. This study provides a promising way for functional insights from protein BACE1 in vivo.
Twenty-two years of Precision Agriculture: A bibliometric review
Authors: Misara Rajshree , Verma Divyanshu , Mishra Neha , Rai Shashi Kant , Mishra Saurabh
Published: November 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.