bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of College Students’ Perceived Service Quality in the Context of Regional Integration of Education
Authors: Chen Qi , Chen Nan , Yang Yunpeng
Published: September 2023

Exchange programs have been found to have a positive impact on regional economic growth, university cooperation, and student academic, and professional development. However, there has been limited analysis of the factors that influence the quality of these programs. In this study, a mixed-methods approach was used to examine regional exchange programs in China. Qualitative research was conducted using Octopus Big Data Crawler software, Timdream.org software, and 33 interviews to develop a questionnaire that covers student expectations, service quality, and satisfaction. Using SPSS 22 and Amos 21, the study analyzed the interactive relationships among expectations, perceived service quality, and satisfaction in the context of regional education integration based on a sample of 246 questionnaires. The results demonstrate that perceived service quality plays an intermediary role in the relationship between expectations and satisfaction, with students’ perceptions of learning quality and interpersonal quality at the receiving university influencing their satisfaction levels. This study provides important insights into the factors that impact the quality of regional exchange programs in China.
A Corpus-Based Study of the Dependency Distance Differences in English Academic Writing
Authors: Gao Nan , He Qingshun
Published: September 2023

Dependency distance has increasingly become a key measure of interest in cross-linguistic corpus studies from multiple perspectives. Based on a syntactically annotated corpus of 400 PhD dissertation abstracts written by native English (L1) and English as a foreign language (L2) academic writers, the current study investigated the mean dependency distance (MDD) variation across language backgrounds and disciplines, which is followed by a grammatical description based on fine-grained indices related to particular syntactic structures. The findings include: (1) L2 academic writers produce an averagely longer MDD than L1 academic writers because of their heavy use of prepositional phrases; (2) The MDD of the linguistics abstracts is significantly longer than that of the physics & chemistry abstracts because of the relatively higher syntactic complexity of the language of linguistics. The findings suggest that MDD can effectively differentiate academic texts with different language backgrounds and disciplines, that both L1 and L2 academic writers write under the constraint of dependency distance minimization, and that L2 PhD dissertation writers have achieved native-like writing proficiency in extending nominal structures.
Trade Openness and Public Innovation: A Causality Analysis
Authors: Arshad Muhammad Usman , Shabbir Muhammad Nadir , Niazi Momna
Published: September 2023

The comparative advantage theory perspective has been extended to the public innovation and trade openness of OECD and Non-OECD countries by focusing on the role of tariff and asymmetric effect of trade openness by comparing imports and exports growth with the causal relationship among the respective factors. The study’s findings indicate that trade openness, innovation, and tariffs are linked in developing countries more than in developed countries due to the difference in economic perspectives and policies, which disprove the idea of the tariff being ineffective for developed nations. The causality effectiveness in developed and underdeveloped countries has resulted among public innovation toward openness of trade and tariff but not in case of tariff to trade openness. Additionally, the results hold up to sub-indicators and measures of public innovation, evaluating that input sub-index is more impactful than output sub-index, and both are even stronger in developing countries than developed countries. Finally, this study implied the usefulness of monetary policy to encourage the governments to lower import tariffs, paved the way to increased investment in research and development and collaboration between foundations, businesses, and academia.

JEL Classification: H7, H8, O31, C26
Unfavorable transcriptome profiles and social disadvantage in hematopoietic cell transplantation: a CIBMTR analysis
Authors: Taylor Mallory R. , Cole Steve W. , Strom Joelle , Brazauskas Ruta , Baker K. Scott , Phelan Rachel , Buchbinder David , Hamilton Betty , Schoemans Hélène , Shaw Bronwen E. , Sharma Akshay , Bhatt Neel S. , Badawy Sherif M. , Winestone Lena E. , Preussler Jaime M. , Mayo Samantha , Jamani Kareem , Nishihori Taiga , Lee Michelle A. , Knight Jennifer M.
Published: September 2023

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) capture subjective social determinants of health (SDOHs), which can affect health outcomes through the stress response pathway. The conserved transcriptional response to adversity (CTRA) is a stress-mediated proinflammatory transcriptomic pattern that has been linked to adverse hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) outcomes. This study examined the association of pretransplant CTRA with patient-reported SDOHs in allogeneic HCT recipients. In this cross-sectional study, pre-HCT SDOH-related PROs included the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT). CTRA was assessed by RNA sequencing of whole blood specimens, with mixed effects linear regression models relating CTRA expression to PRO scores while controlling for age, sex, race, disease, and performance status. Among 121 patients, the median age was 54 years, 42% were female, and 91% were White. CTRA was elevated in participants reporting lower scores on the FACT-BMT (P = .003), including the general (P = .003) and BMT-specific (P = .014) components. Effects were driven by the social well-being domain (P = .0001). This corresponded to an 8% to 15% difference in CTRA RNA expression across a 4 standard deviation range in patient-reported SDOHs. Ancillary bioinformatics analyses confirmed the association of well-being with reduced proinflammatory transcription pathway activity [cyclic AMP response element-binding protein, (CREB), NF-κB, and activating protein-1 (AP-1)]. In conclusion, HCT-treated patients who experience unfavorable social conditions show elevated CTRA expression in pretransplant blood samples. These data highlight the biologic sequelae of social well-being and community context and suggest a potential molecular mechanism for the impact of social gradients in HCT outcomes. Targeting this pathway could optimize outcomes in this high-risk population.
Antibacterial activity and antibacterial mechanism of flavaspidic acid BB against Staphylococcus haemelyticus
Authors: Liu Jiaxin , Liu Ruijie , Deng Rongrong , Zheng Shiqian , Shen Zhibin
Published: September 2023

Background

Staphylococcus haemolyticus (S. haemolyticus) is the main etiological factor in skin and soft tissue infections (SSTI). S. haemolyticus infections are an important concern worldwide, especially with the associated biofilms and drug resistance. Herein, we investigated the inhibitory effect of Flavaspidic acid BB obtained from plant extractions on clinical S. haemolyticus strains and their biofilms. Moreover, we predicted its ability to bind to the protein-binding site by molecular simulation. Since the combination of Hsp70 and RNase P synthase after molecular simulation with flavaspidic acid BB is relatively stable, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to investigate Hsp70 and RNase P synthase to verify the potential antimicrobial targets of flavaspidic acid BB.

Results

The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of flavaspidic acid BB on 16 clinical strains of S. haemolyticus was 5 ~ 480 µg/mL, and BB had a slightly higher inhibitory effect on the biofilm than MUP. The inhibitory effect of flavaspidic acid BB on biofilm formation was better with an increase in the concentration of BB. Molecular simulation verified its ability to bind to the protein-binding site. The combination of ELISA kits showed that flavaspidic acid BB promoted the activity of Hsp70 and inhibited the activity of RNase P, revealing that flavaspidic acid BB could effectively inhibit the utilization and re-synthesis of protein and tRNA synthesis, thus inhibiting bacterial growth and biofilm formation to a certain extent.

Conclusions

This study could potentially provide a new prospect for the development of flavaspidic acid BB as an antibacterial agent for resistant strains.
Complete surgical myocardial revascularization in patients with declined renal functions: 12-month outcomes
Authors: Kaya Ibrahim C. , Bulut Halil I. , Lopes Leilani , Ozbayburtlu Merih , Kocaoglu Selim
Published: September 2023

Introduction

This retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of complete revascularization coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with multi-vessel disease (MVD)-CAD and declined renal functions, addressing the knowledge gap regarding optimal treatment strategies and outcomes in this specific patient population.

Methods

Between 2020 and 2022, a total of 58 patients underwent on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting surgery for complete myocardial revascularization in this study. To assess overall survival, Kaplan–Meier with the log-rank test was conducted for statistical analysis.

Results

The mean age of cohort was 60.7. The findings showed a high prevalence of medical conditions such as hypertension (50.0%), diabetes (50.0%), and anaemia (41.4%) among the participants. Intraoperatively, low cardiac output syndrome was reported in 5.2% of cases, while perioperative outcomes indicated a need for transfusions in 53.5% of cases and an in-hospital mortality rate of 3.4%. At the 12-month follow-up, no redo revascularization or renal replacement therapy was required, but cardiac mortality was 5.2% and all-cause mortality was 6.9%.

Conclusions

The study concluded that complete revascularization is safe for these patients and highlights the potential benefits, emphasizing the need for further research in optimizing revascularization techniques for this population.
PLCD3 promotes malignant cell behaviors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via the PI3K/AKT/P21 signaling
Authors: Wang Mengmeng , Gao Mingjun , Chen Yong , Wu Jun , Wang Xiaolin , Shu Yusheng
Published: September 2023

Background

Phospholipase C Delta 3 (PLCD3) is a member of phospholipase C(PLC) Protein and PLCD3 protein plays a prominent role in many cancers. However, little is known about the role of PLCD3 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC).

Material and Methods

We analyzed PLCD3 mRNA and protein expression in ESCC tissues and cell lines by immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR, and western blot. The correlation between PLCD3 expression and clinicopathological characteristics was also analyzed. CCK8, colony formation, wound-healing, and transwell assays were conducted to measure cell functional alternations. Flow cytometry was performed to assess the apoptosis rate and cell cycle caused by PLCD3 knockdown. Xenograft models in nude mice to clarify the role of PLCD3 in ESCC. Key proteins in the PI3K / AKT signaling pathway after treatment of ECA109 and KYSE150 cells with the AKT inhibitor MK2206 were analyzed by western blot.

Results

PLCD3 was highly expressed in ESCC tissues and cell lines. PLCD3 expression levels correlated with pathologic stage and lymphatic metastasis. PLCD3 knockdown inhibited cell proliferation, migration, invasion, promoted apoptosis, and caused the cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. PLCD3 overexpression promoted cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In vivo experiments with xenografts demonstrated that PLCD3 promoted ESCC tumorigenesis. Finally, Overexpression of PLCD3 activated the PI3K / AKT / P21 signaling.

Conclusion

PLCD3 promotes malignant cell behaviors in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma via the PI3K/AKT/P21 signaling and could serve as a potential target for ESCC treatment.
Effect of khat extract on color stability of digitally and manually fabricated provisional restorations: an in vitro comparative study
Authors: Al-Akhali Abd Al-Rhaman M. , Al-Hamzi Mohsen , Al-Shami Ibrahim Z. , Al-Kholani Abdulwahab I. , Madfa Ahmed A.
Published: September 2023

Background

The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effect of khat extract on the color stability of five different provisional restorative materials (PRMs).

Methods

In this study, 50 specimens were fabricated from five different PRMs with different techniques. Twenty specimens were digitally fabricated of poly-methyl methacrylate (PMMA) CAD/CAM milling and 3D printing PRMs, while the other thirty specimens were manually fabricated of three different PRMs: PMMA self-cured (SC) acrylic resin, light-cured (LC) composite, and Bis-acrylic SC composite. Milling and 3D printing machines were used to fabricate the digital specimens, while the manual specimens were fabricated using a metallic mold. The material was placed in the mold, covered by a polyester stripe, and held between two glass slabs with a constant load for 30 s. After setting, the specimens were removed and checked. Ten disc-shaped specimens with 2 ± 0.3 mm thickness and 10 ± 0.3 mm diameter were prepared from each of the tested PRM. Then all the specimens were polished. Five specimens of each PRM were immersed in khat extract, while the other five were immersed in distilled water medium as a control group. The color measurements were recorded before and after 1 and 7 days of immersion using a spectrophotometer. The immersion media were renewed every 24 h and kept along with the specimens at 37 °C. The T test, paired T test, and ANOVA analysis of variance were used to analyze the results. The Bonferroni test was used for post-hoc multiple comparisons.

Results

The interaction between the tested PRMs, the media, and the duration of immersion time was statistically significant (p < 0.05). PMMA CAD/CAM milling PRM was the most stable in color, and this was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The LC composite PRM composite was the least stable in color and was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05) when compared to the 3D printing and Bis-acrylic SC composite PRMs, respectively.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that khat extract medium has a high staining ability on the tested PRMs. CAD/CAM milling PRM was the most stable in color and could therefore be used as a long-term provisional. The increase in immersion time was a significant factor in the color change of the tested PRMs. The color of the 3D-printed PRM was the most affected over time.
Understanding inequalities in access to adult mental health services in the UK: a systematic mapping review
Authors: Lowther-Payne Hayley J. , Ushakova Anastasia , Beckwith Adelaide , Liberty Catherine , Edge Rhiannon , Lobban Fiona
Published: September 2023

Background

Population groups experience differential access to timely and high-quality mental healthcare. Despite efforts of recent UK policies to improve the accessibility of mental health services, there remains a lack of comprehensive understanding of inequalities in access to services needed to do this. This systematic mapping review aimed to address this gap by identifying which population groups continue to be poorly served by access to adult mental health services in the UK, how access has been measured, and what research methods have been applied.

Methods

Seven electronic databases were searched from January 2014 up to May 2022. Primary research studies of any design were included if they examined access to adult NHS mental health services in the UK by population groups at risk of experiencing inequalities. Study characteristics, measures of access, inequalities studied, and key findings were extracted. A best-fit framework approach was used, applying Levesque’s Conceptual Framework for Healthcare Access to synthesise measures of access, and applying a template derived from Cochrane Progress-Plus and NHS Long Term Plan equality characteristics to synthesise key findings associated with inequalities.

Results

Of 1,929 publications retrieved, 152 studies of various types were included. The most frequently considered dimensions of inequality were gender, age, and ethnicity, whilst social capital, religion, and sexual orientation were least frequently considered. Most studies researched access by measuring “healthcare utilisation”, followed by studies that measured “healthcare seeking”. Key barriers to access were associated with individuals’ “ability to seek” (e.g. stigma and discrimination) and “ability to reach” (e.g. availability of services). Almost half of the studies used routinely collected patient data, and only 16% of studies reported patient and public involvement.

Conclusions

Little appears to have changed in the nature and extent of inequalities, suggesting that mental health services have not become more accessible. Actions to reduce inequalities should address barriers to population groups’ abilities to seek and reach services such as stigma-reducing interventions, and re-designing services and pathways. Significant benefits exist in using routinely collected patient data, but its limitations should not be ignored. More theoretically informed research, using a holistic measurement of access, is needed in this area.

Review registration

https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/RQ5U7.
Efficient targeted recombination with CRISPR/Cas9 in hybrids of Caenorhabditis nematodes with suppressed recombination
Authors: Xie Dongying , Gu Bida , Liu Yiqing , Ye Pohao , Ma Yiming , Wen Tongshu , Song Xiaoyuan , Zhao Zhongying
Published: September 2023

Background

Homology-based recombination (HR) is the cornerstone of genetic mapping. However, a lack of sufficient sequence homology or the presence of a genomic rearrangement prevents HR through crossing, which inhibits genetic mapping in relevant genomic regions. This is particularly true in species hybrids whose genomic sequences are highly divergent along with various genome arrangements, making the mapping of genetic loci, such as hybrid incompatibility (HI) loci, through crossing impractical. We previously mapped tens of HI loci between two nematodes, Caenorhabditis briggsae and C. nigoni, through the repeated backcrossing of GFP-linked C. briggsae fragments into C. nigoni. However, the median introgression size was over 7 Mb, indicating apparent HR suppression and preventing the subsequent cloning of the causative gene underlying a given HI phenotype. Therefore, a robust method that permits recombination independent of sequence homology is desperately desired.

Results

Here, we report a method of highly efficient targeted recombination (TR) induced by CRISPR/Cas9 with dual guide RNAs (gRNAs), which circumvents the HR suppression in hybrids between the two species. We demonstrated that a single gRNA was able to induce efficient TR between highly homologous sequences only in the F1 hybrids but not in the hybrids that carry a GFP-linked C. briggsae fragment in an otherwise C. nigoni background. We achieved highly efficient TR, regardless of sequence homology or genetic background, when dual gRNAs were used that each specifically targeted one parental chromosome. We further showed that dual gRNAs were able to induce efficient TR within genomic regions that had undergone inversion, in which HR-based recombination was expected to be suppressed, supporting the idea that dual-gRNA-induced TR can be achieved through nonhomology-based end joining between two parental chromosomes.

Conclusions

Recombination suppression can be circumvented through CRISPR/Cas9 with dual gRNAs, regardless of sequence homology or the genetic background of the species hybrid. This method is expected to be applicable to other situations in which recombination is suppressed in interspecies or intrapopulation hybrids.
Non-pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation: analysis of systematic reviews and meta-analyses
Authors: Nian Tao , Guo Kangle , Liu Wendi , Deng Xinxin , Hu Xiaoye , Xu Meng , E Fenfen , Wang Ziyi , Song Guihang , Yang Kehu , Li Xiuxia , Shang Wenru
Published: September 2023

Background

Although non-pharmacological smoking cessation measures have been widely used among smokers, current research evidence on the effects of smoking cessation is inconsistent and of mixed quality. Moreover, there is a lack of comprehensive evidence synthesis. This study seeks to systematically identify, describe, and evaluate the available evidence for non-pharmacological interventions in smoking populations through evidence mapping (EM), and to search for best-practice smoking cessation programs.

Methods

A comprehensive search for relevant studies published from the establishment of the library to January 8, 2023, was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, the Cochrane Library, CNKI, CBM, Wan Fang, and VIP. Two authors independently assessed eligibility and extracted data. The PRISMA statement and AMSTAR 2 tool were used to evaluate the report quality and methodology quality of systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SRs/MAs), respectively. Bubble plots were utilized to display information, such as the study population, intervention type, evidence quality, and original study sample size.

Results

A total of 145 SRs/MAs regarding non-pharmacological interventions for smoking cessation were investigated, with 20 types of interventions identified. The most commonly used interventions were cognitive behaviour education (n = 32, 22.07%), professional counselling (n = 20, 13.79%), and non-nicotine electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) (n = 13, 8.97%). Among them, counselling and behavioural support can improve smoking cessation rates, but the effect varies depending on the characteristics of the support provided. These findings are consistent with previous SRs/MAs. The general population (n = 108, 74.48%) was the main cohort included in the SRs/MAs. The total score of PRISMA for the quality of the reports ranged from 8 to 27, and 13 studies (8.97%) were rated as high confidence, and nine studies (6.21%) as moderate confidence, in the AMSTAR 2 confidence rating.

Conclusions

The abstinence effect of cognitive behaviour education and money incentive intervention has advantages, and non-nicotine e-cigarettes appear to help some smokers transition to less harmful replacement tools. However, the methodological shortcomings of SRs/MAs should be considered. Therefore, to better guide future practice in the field of non-pharmacological smoking cessation, it is essential to improve the methodological quality of SRs and carry out high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs).
Multifunctional CaCO3@Cur@QTX125@HA nanoparticles for effectively inhibiting growth of colorectal cancer cells
Authors: Hu Shengyun , Xia Kunkun , Huang Xiaobei , Zhao Ye , Zhang Qingqing , Huang Dongdong , Xu Weiyi , Chen Zhengju , Wang Chenfei , Zhang Zhiyong
Published: September 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major cause of cancer-related deaths in humans, and effective treatments are still needed in clinical practice. Despite significant developments in anticancer drugs and inhibitors, their poor stability, water solubility, and cellular membrane permeability limit their therapeutic efficacy. To address these issues, multifunctional CaCO3 nanoparticles loaded with Curcumin (Cur) and protein deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor QTX125, and coated with hyaluronic acid (HA) (CaCO3@Cur@QTX125@HA), were prepared through a one-step gas diffusion strategy. Dynamic light scattering (DLS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that CaCO3@Cur@QTX125@HA nanoparticles have uniform spherical morphology and elemental distribution, with diameters around 450 nm and a Zeta potential of − 8.11 mV. The controlled release of Cur from the nanoparticles was observed over time periods of 48 h. Cellular uptake showed that CaCO3@Cur@QTX125@HA nanoparticles were efficiently taken up by cancer cells and significantly inhibited their growth. Importantly, CaCO3@Cur@QTX125@HA nanoparticles showed specific inhibitory effects on CRC cell growth. Encouragingly, CaCO3@Cur@QTX125@HA nanoparticles successfully internalized into CRC patient-derived organoid (PDO) models and induced apoptosis of tumor cells. The multifunctional CaCO3@Cur@QTX125@HA nanoparticles hold promise for the treatment of CRC.
Metabolic response to CNS infection with flaviviruses
Authors: Dobrzyńska Marta , Moniuszko-Malinowska Anna , Skrzydlewska Elżbieta
Published: September 2023

Flaviviruses are arthropod-borne RNA viruses found worldwide that, when introduced into the human body, cause diseases, including neuroinfections, that can lead to serious metabolic consequences and even death. Some of the diseases caused by flaviviruses occur continuously in certain regions, while others occur intermittently or sporadically, causing epidemics. Some of the most common flaviviruses are West Nile virus, dengue virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus, Zika virus and Japanese encephalitis virus. Since all the above-mentioned viruses are capable of penetrating the blood–brain barrier through different mechanisms, their actions also affect the central nervous system (CNS). Like other viruses, flaviviruses, after entering the human body, contribute to redox imbalance and, consequently, to oxidative stress, which promotes inflammation in skin cells, in the blood and in CNS. This review focuses on discussing the effects of oxidative stress and inflammation resulting from pathogen invasion on the metabolic antiviral response of the host, and the ability of viruses to evade the consequences of metabolic changes or exploit them for increased replication and further progression of infection, which affects the development of sequelae and difficulties in therapy.
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) antibody changes over time in a general population cohort in rural Uganda, 1992–2008
Authors: Sabourin Katherine R. , Mugisha Joseph , Asiki Gershim , Nalwoga Angela , Labo Nazzarena , Miley Wendell , Beyer Rachel , Rochford Rosemary , Johnston Thomas W. , Newton Robert , Whitby Denise
Published: September 2023

Background

Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection is ubiquitous and in sub-Saharan Africa, occurs early in life. In a population-based rural African cohort, we leveraged historical samples from the General Population Cohort (GPC) in Uganda to examine the epidemiology of infection with EBV over time, in the era of HIV.

Methods

We used 9024 serum samples collected from the GPC in 1992, 2000, 2008, from 7576 participants across the age range (0–99 years of age) and tested for anti-EBV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies to EAd, VCA, and EBNA-1 using a multiplex bead-based assay. The related gammaherpesvirus, Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) seropositivity was also determined by detection of anti-KSHV IgG antibodies to K8.1 or ORF73 measured by recombinant protein enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data on sex, age, and HIV serostatus were also collected. EBV seropositivity was modeled with age (excluding those under one year, who may have had maternal antibodies), sex, HIV serostatus, and KSHV serostatus using generalized linear mixed effects models to produce beta estimates.

Results

More than 93% of children were EBV seropositive by one year of age. EBV seropositivity was significantly associated with KSHV seropositivity. Anti-EBNA-1 antibody levels decreased with increasing age and were lower on average in people living with HIV. In general, anti-EAd antibody levels increased with age, were higher in males and KSHV seropositive persons, but decreased over calendar time. Anti-VCA antibody levels increased with age and with calendar time and were higher in KSHV seropositive persons but lower in males.

Conclusions

This is the first study to identify factors associated with EBV antibodies across the entire life-course in rural sub-Saharan Africa. Consistent with other studies, EBV was near ubiquitous in the population by age one year. Patterns of antibodies show changes by age, sex and calendar time, but no association with HIV was evident, suggesting no relationship between EBV sero-epidemiology and the spread of HIV in the population over time in Uganda.
Cry toxin expression in different plant parts of Bt cotton at different phenological stages
Authors: Likhitha P. , Undirwade D. B. , Kulkarni U. S. , Kolhe A. V. , Moharil M. P.
Published: September 2023

Background

Compared to Bollgard-I, the utilization of Cry2Ab protein in Bollgard-II cotton cultivars enhances insect control. Field and laboratory studies demonstrated reduction in the numbers of bollworm-infested terminals, squares, and bolls in Bollgard-II cotton lines when compared to both Bollgard-I and non-Bollgard cotton cultivars. This indicates that the combination of Cry2Ab with Cry1Ac increased the overall expression of proteins. The expression of Cry protein varied across different plant parts, such as leaves, bracts, squares, and bolls. As the season progresses, the expression of Cry protein decreased in these plant parts. Leaves exhibited the highest levels of Cry protein expression, followed by squares, flowers, and bolls. Variation in the expression levels of delta endotoxins in different plant parts was one of the contributing factors to the survival of pest populations on Bt cotton.

Results

Using a commercially available QL 96 ELISA plate kit, the concentration of delta endotoxin in various plant parts at different phenological stages was determined in twelve BG-II cotton hybrids, namely Ajeet-155, JKCH-2245, RCH-3863, NCS-866, MRC-7373, JKCH-99, MRC-7387, NCEH-21, ANKR-3324, NCSI-1904, and NCHB 9902. Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab protein levels were determined from samples of flowers and fruiting parts (Rind, locule, seed, locule wall and seed) at 40, 75, 100 and 125 days after sowing (DAS) over two consecutive years 2018–2019 and 2019–2020. Cry1Ac protein content and expression was the highest at 100DAS in locule, seed and rind; followed by rind and locule wall and seed in green bolls at 125 DAS; followed by seed, locule, rind and flowers at 75 DAS; followed by flowers at 40 DAS in all the tested twelve Bollgard-II hybrids. Cry2Ab protein content and expression was the highest at 125DAS in locule wall and seed and rind, followed by seed, locule and rind in green bolls at 100 DAS, followed by seed, locule, rind and flowers at 75 DAS, then by flowers at 40 DAS in all the tested twelve Bollgard-II hybrids. Cry1Ac protein expression was less in comparison with Cry2Ab.

Conclusions

The research findings indicate that the locule of BG-II cotton plants exhibited the highest expression levels of Cry1Ac and Cry2Ab proteins, followed by the seeds, rind, locule wall, and flowers. These results provide valuable insights into the distribution of Cry protein expression in different plant parts, which can contribute to a better understanding of insect control in Bt cotton cultivars.
A Prospective Study of Lipids in Adult Women With Turner Syndrome
Authors: Sandahl Kristian Juul , Just Jesper , Erlandsen Mogens , Mortensen Kristian Havmand , Andersen Niels Holmark , Gravholt Claus Højbjerg
Published: September 2023

Context

Turner syndrome (TS) is a rare genetic syndrome with an increased mortality, mainly attributed to cardiovascular disease.

Objective

This work aimed to investigate and correlate the lipid profile in adult women with TS to clinical characteristics.

Methods

A 12-year prospective cohort study, including 4 study visits, was conducted at a specialist hospital. A total of 102 women with TS qualified for inclusion. Excluding missing variables and participants lost to follow-up, 86 women (mean age 38.1 years; range, 18.4-62.1 years) were included in this study. Fifty-three women completed the study. Repeated-measurement analysis was performed, using total cholesterol (Total-C), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), triglycerides (TGs), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) as outcome variables and age, karyotype, body mass index (BMI), treatment with statins, antidiabetics, and hormone replacement therapy as explanatory variables. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares (PLS) analysis were performed at the first study visit.

Results

Hyperlipidemia was present in 30% of the TS cohort. Total-C increased with age (0.12 mmol/L/y; P = .016). LDL (P = .08), TGs (P = .14), and HDL (P = .24) were not associated with age. BMI significantly increased total-C (0.19 mmol/L/kg/m2; P = .006), LDL (0.63 mmol/L/kg/m2; P < .001), and TGs (0.80 mmol/L/kg/m2; P < .001) and decreased HDL (−0.59 mmol/L/kg/m2; P < .001). PCA and PLS analysis found correlations between weight and BMI and total-C, LDL, and TGs.

Conclusion

Hyperlipidemia is more prevalent in adult women with TS across adulthood compared to the background population. Total-C, LDL, TGs, and HDL were significantly associated with BMI characterizing the atherogenic profile in adult women with TS.
Antibacterial Rattle-type Polypyrrole-silver Nanocomposite Particles Synthesized by Aqueous Chemical Oxidative Dispersion Polymerization
Authors: Rodtuk Nattawut , Takeuchi Kazusa , Hirai Tomoyasu , Nakamura Yoshinobu , Sajomsang Warayuth , Chaiyasat Preeyaporn , Chaiyasat Amorn , Fujii Syuji
Published: September 2023

Rattle-type polypyrrole-silver nanocomposite particles were synthesized by aqueous chemical oxidative dispersion polymerization in one step and one pot manner and were characterized in terms of particle size, morphology and chemical composition. The resulting nanocomposite particles could function as an antibacterial agent against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.
Research on desktop object grasping based on ellipse fitting
Authors: Zhang Shaolin , Ge Yueguang , Chang Wenkai , Wang Haitao , Wang Shuo
Published: September 2023

The grasping operation task in service scenes faces several problems including too many kinds of objects and a large amount of training data. This paper focuses on the grasping strategy and pose detection in desktop object grasping tasks. A grasping strategy is given based on the combination of desktop normal vector detection, object category detection, and grasping pose detection. The grasping pose is calculated by ellipse fitting on the depth map. An optimal function is designed to evaluate the possibility of the object sliding along the ellipse axis and the stability of the grasping height. The most reliable grasping pose is selected. Finally, experiments were carried out with a six-degree-of-freedom manipulator, and the proposed grasping method achieved effective grasping of desktop objects without prior knowledge of the object.
Identification of high-performing antibodies for Apolipoprotein E for use in Western Blot and immunoprecipitation
Authors: Ayoubi Riham , Southern Kathleen , Laflamme Carl ,   NeuroSGC/YCharOS collaborative group
Published: September 2023

Apolipoprotein E is a secreted protein involved in mediating lipid distribution and metabolism among cells of specific tissues. The dysregulation of Apolipoprotein E can disturb cholesterol homeostasis, resulting in several diseases, including cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s disease. The therapeutic potential of Apolipoprotein E against these diseases demonstrates the importance of providing high-quality antibodies for this protein to the scientific community. In this study, we characterized fourteen Apolipoprotein E commercial antibodies for Western Blot and immunoprecipitation, using a standardized experimental protocol based on comparing read-outs in knockout cell lines and isogenic parental controls. We identified many high-performing antibodies and encourage readers to use this report as a guide to select the most appropriate antibody for their specific needs.
Did the emergence of the Omicron variant impact the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in the Arab world? A Twitter-based sentiment analysis
Authors: Dimashkieh Chehab Nada
Published: September 2023

Background: Low vaccine acceptance constitutes a major obstacle for achieving herd immunity against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Data on COVID-19 show a significant rise in the number of cumulative cases in Arab countries where vaccine uptake is lower than the uptake at the global level for the 2021-2022 period. The aim of this study is to analyze sentiments related to vaccine acceptance before and after the emergence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant in the Arab-speaking world.

Methods: Tweets were collected before and after the Omicron emergence period in the Arab-speaking world using Python-enabled CAMeL Tools (Arabic Natural Language Processing toolkit) libraries. A sentiment analysis on COVID-19 vaccines using Arabic hashtags and a sentiment analysis by city were conducted.

Results: Two data sets pre-Omicron and post-Omicron tweets exhibited a difference in sentiments marking a shift towards less negativity and more neutrality. Sentiments by city showed most tweets in both periods coming from Riyadh and Jeddah in Saudi-Arabia, and from Salt in Jordan.

Conclusions: Despite the limitations of the study, the change in sentiments detected by the study may suggest more vaccine acceptance which raises some hope and perhaps a higher vaccine uptake in the future. The sentiments by city findings may help in the design of future research.
Database of geomagnetically induced currents in the main transmission line “Northern Transit”
Authors: Selivanov Vasiliy , Aksenovich Tatyana , Bilin Vladislav , Kolobov Vitaliy , Saharov Yaroslav
Published: September 2023

Database containing the results of measurements of geomagnetically induced currents (GIC) for the period of 2011 to 2022 in transformer neutrals at three 330 kV substations of the main power transmission lines “Northern Transit” passing through the territory of the Republic of Karelia, Murmansk and Leningrad regions has been created and is publicly available. The GIC value depends on the geoelectric field magnitude in the Earth surface, on the relative position of the substations to which the power transmission lines are connected, and on the resistance of electrical network elements. Important factors are the electrical network branching, which determines paths of induced current spreading, and the network topology at the time of monitoring data acquisition. We describe the structure and principles of functioning of the Russian unique regional monitoring system of geomagnetically induced currents in the electrical network. We demonstrate the features of the data contained in the GIC database, which must be taken into account when processing and analyzing the data. Examples of using the GIC database for energy and geophysical studies are given. The work performed on the organization of continuous monitoring of GIC at substations of the main power transmission line in the Arctic zone has no analogues in the Russian Federation and provides extensive original material that allows us to study geomagnetic disturbances and their impact on electrical networks. The database is available at [http://gic.en51.ru].
The importance of your surroundings
Authors: Waters Rebecca
Published: September 2023

Rebecca Waters emphasises the value of an effective professional environment.
Don't sugarcoat it
Authors: Atkins Ben
Published: September 2023

Ben Atkins reviews the current discussions around sugar substitutes and reminds us of the available facts.
Okul Öncesi Öğretmenlerinin Yaratıcılığı Geliştiren Eğitim Ortamları Oluşturma Deneyimlerinin İncelenmesi
Authors: ÇETİNGÖZ Duygu , BAKIRCI Büşra , KONUR Ömer
Published: September 2023

Bu çalışmanın amacı, okul öncesi eğitimi öğretmenlerinin yaratıcılığı geliştiren eğitim ortamları oluşturma deneyimlerinin incelenmesidir. Çalışmanın verileri 2021-2022 öğretim yılı bahar döneminde İzmir Buca’da bağımsız bir anaokulunda görev yapmakta olan dokuz okul öncesi öğretmeni ile yarı-yapılandırılmış görüşme formları kullanılarak yapılan görüşmeler sonucu toplanmıştır. Olgubilim desenindeki bu çalışmanın örneklemi amaçlı örnekleme yöntemlerinden tipik durum ve ölçüt örnekleme yöntemlerine göre belirlenmiştir. Toplanan veriler, içerik analizi yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Okul öncesi öğretmenlerinin yaratıcılığı geliştiren eğitim ortamlarına yönelik deneyimleri incelendiğinde yaratıcılık tanımı için özgün bir fikir, ürün ortaya koyma, yaratıcılığı geliştiren eğitim ortamlarının çocuğun sosyal-duygusal gelişim yeterliklerinden kendini rahat ifade etmeye etkisi olduğu, yaratıcılığı geliştiren psikolojik eğitim ortamında çocukları motive etmek için her çocuğun kendini rahat ifade etmesini ve özgür çalışmalar yapmasını sağlama çoğunlukla ifade edilen görüşler olarak belirlenmiştir. Yaratıcılığı geliştiren fiziksel eğitim ortamı için sınıf ortamında teknolojik araçları kullanmanın, yaratıcılığı geliştiren fiziksel eğitim ortamı oluşturmada yaşadıkları güçlük olarak sınıfta yeterli alan ve materyal bulamamanın ise tüm katılımcılar tarafından ifade edilen görüşlerdir.
Parental educational styles from parents’ and children’s perspectives
Authors: Inda-Caro Mercedes , Fernández-García Carmen-María , Viñuela-Hernández María-Paulina
Published: September 2023

INTRODUCTION. The construction of parental educational styles is diverse and they develop along with the children being raised. Self Determination Theory (SDT) establishes two dimensions to define parental educational behaviours: autonomy support versus control, and structure versus chaos. On the basis of SDT, two parental educational styles are pointed: authoritative and harsh. This study analyses the relationship between parental education styles and children’s perceptions of their parents’ behaviours, and the influence of the parent gender. METHOD. The sample comprised 2,404 parents, and 1,234 children from 3 autonomous communities in Spain. The Parents as social context questionnaire was applied, and the Perceived Parental Autonomy Support Scale and Dependency-oriented psychological control scale in children. All of the instruments were adapted into Spanish. Multigroup path analysis was performed to identify the most appropriate model about parental educational styles in family dynamics, taking into account the parent’s gender. RESULTS. Firstly, the authoritative and harsh parental styles were confirmed via confirmatory factor analysis. The findings showed that the ideal model was that where there was no bi-directionality between parents’ perceptions about their educational styles and their children’s perceptions. The chosen model indicates a unidirectional path from parents to children. Being necessary to keep a relation between the child’s perception about the received support for autonomy and parental control. The invariance of the model based on the gender was partially maintained. DISCUSSION. This study shows a model where the authoritative parental style influences child’s perceived autonomy support and where the harsh parental style has effects on child’s perceived threat. The concept of parental psychological control has been discussed. Finally, a balance between authoritative and harsh style, is proposed inside families.
Análisis del entorno personal de aprendizaje para la mejora de la competencia digital docente
Authors: Ruiz Constanza , Ruiz Domínguez Miguel Ángel
Published: September 2023

INTRODUCCIÓN. El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar el entorno personal de aprendizaje (PLE, por sus siglas en inglés de Personal Learning Environment) de los docentes, como espacio vinculado con la web 2.0, y que permite crear, organizar y compartir contenido, así como participar en la generación de conocimiento colectivo y vincularlo con la necesidad del desarrollo de la competencia digital docente. Para ello, se ha elaborado un cuestionario en el que se han integrado las tres dimensiones que componen los PLE. La 1.ª dimensión: accesibilidad a la información; la 2.ª dimensión: desarrollo y reflexión; y la 3.ª dimensión: compartir y colaborar, vinculando esta última con la red personal de aprendizaje (PLN, por sus siglas en inglés Personal Learning Network). MÉTODO. La investigación ha sido desarrollada tomando como muestra los datos de 379 profesores y profesoras de diferentes países que trabajan en distintas etapas educativas. Se trata de un estudio transversal y de alcance exploratorio, que utiliza una metodología cuantitativa de tipo descriptivo y correlacional. RESULTADOS. Los resultados demuestran que, de forma general, los docentes comúnmente hacen uso de las tecnologías para acceder a fuentes de información, así como de las tecnologías de información y comunicación (TIC) para desarrollar procesos de análisis y reflexión acerca de su labor docente y del proceso de aprendizaje del alumnado. No obstante, los resultados del estudio no muestran datos alentadores en cuanto al desarrollo de un PLN que les permita el compartir y colaborar en red. DISCUSIÓN. Se extrae como conclusión de la investigación la necesidad de un cambio de paradigma en donde la competencia digital docente permita el desarrollo profesional del profesorado en la creación de escenarios de colaboración y creación en la red.
Field Test and Structural Stability Analysis of Multi-stage Slope Based on Seepage Coupling Theory
Authors: Hao Lu , Qing Li , Peijun Li
Published: September 2023

This study takes the slope engineering of the Guangdong North Expressway as the background, and studies the impact of rainfall infiltration on the stability of high slopes through on-site monitoring, data analysis, and model construction. Firstly, based on BC theory, the mechanical calculation model of landslide rainfall is established, and the mechanical formula of slope mechanical properties and Factor of safety considering rainfall process and rainfall infiltration process is derived. Then, by constructing a Fluid–structure interaction numerical calculation model considering the seepage characteristics and mechanical state evolution of the slope, the movement of pore water in the slope under different rainfall intensities and the evolution of the mechanical state and displacement characteristics of the slope were studied. Research has found that the mechanical and numerical calculation models in this article are highly consistent with the actual site conditions, and there may be two potential sliding surfaces in the K738+995 section. The potential sliding surface of K738+910 section is located at a depth of 7 m below the first level platform and 3 m below the third level platform; There may be two potential sliding surfaces in K738+658 section, one is located at the interface between silty clay and sandy clay (9 m below the top of cutting), and the other is mainly located at the interface between sandy clay and completely weathered andesite porphyrite; The surface layer of the slope is silty clay and sandy clay, and the underlying layer is fully strongly weathered andesite porphyrite and moderately weathered dacite. Completely strongly weathered andesite porphyrite is soft, easy to soften and disintegrate when encountering water, and joint fissures are developed. The surface of some cracks is contaminated with iron and manganese, resulting in uneven weathering. The rock is relatively soft and the rock mass is broken. Due to the recent continuous heavy rainfall, the water content of the surface soil of the slope gradually increases and tends to saturation, increasing the self-weight of the slope soil.