bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lower margins are tied to companies’ ESG rating rather than to low-carbon assets
Authors: Fricaudet Marie , Ameli Nadia , Smith Tristan
Published: March 2023

Lenders are likely to face significant transition risk associated with stranded shipping assets, but whether and how such risks are incorporated in their lending practices is still an open question. The extend of this risk depends on whether banks are able to incorporate such risks in their lending activity. Our results show that lower margins are tied to shipowners’ ESG rating rather than to low-carbon ships. Banks penalized carbon efficient ships before the Paris Agreement, but they no longer do while they have started rewarding shipowners with better ESG performance since then. Signing the sectoral voluntary disclosure initiative (Poseidon Principles), leads lenders to request margins 2.4 percentage points lower for companies with high ESG ratings, compared to those with the low scores. However, the Poseidon Principles does not impact the pricing of ships’ carbon intensity, casting doubts on the capacity of disclosure initiatives to change investment outlays.
Phenology and reproductive biology of Plukenetia corniculata Sm., a traditional wild vegetable of Southeast Asia
Authors: Feng Cheng , Zhu Yue , Su Qimei , Zhou Xiang , Chen Weiyue , Tao Yan-Bin , Chen Maosheng , He Huiying , Pan Bang-Zhen , Xu Zeng-Fu , Fu Qiantang
Published: March 2023

Background
Plukenetia corniculata Sm., a member of the family Euphorbiaceae, is a traditional leafy vegetable in Southeast Asia. Its young shoots, leaves, and young fruits are consumed as vegetables, and its mature seeds can be eaten as nuts. Although P. corniculata is not included in the list of threatened species, habitat destruction has affected its survivability in some areas. To enhance the conservation and exploitation of P. corniculata germplasm, more knowledge is necessary to elucidate its flowering characteristics and reproductive biology.
Results
The results showed that the inflorescence buds of P. corniculata began to appear at approximately 98.72 days after sowing and fruits matured after another approximately 55.33 days. Pistillate flowers always blossomed approximately 5.07 days earlier than that of the first staminate flowers on the same inflorescence. On average, the anthesis of a single staminate flower lasted approximately 9.44 hours, pistillate flower 10.50 days, and the whole inflorescence 26.57 days. The pollen viability reached a maximum of 73.58% at the fourth hour after the staminate flower blooming, and the stigma receptivity usually lasted for approximately 9 days and reached a peak on the sixth day after stigma dehiscence. The pollen-ovule ratio (P/O) and outcrossing index (OCI) values of P. corniculata were 1607.09 and 3, respectively, suggesting its breeding system was classified as facultative xenogamy and self-compatible. Artificial pollination experiments furtherly confirmed that both self- and cross-pollination were compatible in P. corniculata. Additionally, seeds of P. corniculata had 70.67% kernel percentage and the oil content of kernels reached 58.65%.
Conclusions
This study provided comprehensive data on flowering and fruiting phenology, reproductive characteristics, and breeding system of P. corniculata. The optimal time for emasculation, pollen collection, and artificial pollination were also determined in P. corniculata. High kernel percentage and oil content of P. corniculata seeds are worthy of further study and exploitation. The work lays a foundation for conservation and further breeding strategy of P. corniculata.
Mirror changes in inferior wall myocardial infarction and its relationship with coronary lesions in non-infarcted areas using angiographic and electrocardiographic findings
Authors: Faramarzzadeh Reza , Nobakht Mahdieh , Behnemoon Mahsa , Haghtalab Arian
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives

The study examined mirror changes in inferior wall myocardial infarction and its relationship with coronary lesions in non-infarcted areas using angiographic and electrocardiographic findings.

Methods

This retrospective study analyses 270 patients with inferior wall myocardial infarction, 135 of whom had mirror changes, and 135 had no. The patients' electrocardiograms, echocardiography results, and angiography results were examined. Ejection fraction, thrombolytic response, coronary artery occlusion, occlusion rate, and the number of occluded vessels were evaluated in two patients with and without mirror changes.

Results

We found no significant relationship between mirror changes and lateral arteries (P = 0.091). The findings indicated a connection between ST-segment depression and the existence of stenosis in the irresponsible vessel (P = 0.026). Also, in those patients exhibiting ST-segment depression, the degree of stenosis was more pronounced in the responsible vessel (P = 0.003). Additionally, no relationship was reported between multi-vessel involvement and ST-segment depression (P = 0.462). There was a noteworthy relationship between ST-segment depression and thrombolytic response (P = 0.002). Moreover, the results indicated that there was no substantial correlation between the EF level and the occurrence of ST-segment depression (P = 0.209).

Conclusion

It seems that mirror change in the ST segment plays a role in the severity of responsible vessel occlusion and the significance of irresponsible vessel occlusion. Mirror change did not affect EF level, though it influenced thrombolytic responses.
Declining hip fracture burden in Sweden 1998-2019 and consequences for projections through 2050
Authors: Michaëlsson Karl , Baron John A , Byberg Liisa , Larsson Susanna C , Melhus Håkan , Gedeborg Rolf
Published: March 2023

Although it may seem trivial to use national diagnosis databases to identify the number of patients, analyze time trends, and make projections, here we use hip fracture to illustrate the complexity and difficulty of estimating the reliable number of injury events. Readmissions after the index hip fracture are common, and register identification of a real second fracture is crucial for data accuracy. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the absolute and age-standardized number of hip fractures in Sweden during the past two decades to produce time trends and future projections. We also illustrate how the naïve use of register data leads to invalid estimates.
We used nationwide Swedish register data from 1998 to 2019 and a validated algorithm to calculate the annual absolute and age-standardized number of incident hip fractures over time. According to our algorithm, the total hip fracture burden was 335,399 incident events over the 22-year period, with a change from 16,180 in 1998 to 13,929 in 2019, a 14% decrease. One decade after the index hip fracture event, 80% of the patients had died and 11% had a new hip fracture. After considering the steady growth of the older population, the decline in the age-standardized number of hip fractures was 30%. With a continued similar reduction in hip fracture incidence, we can predict that 14,800 hip fractures will occur in 2034 and 12,000 in 2050 despite a doubling of the oldest old (≥80 years). Without an algorithm, a naïve estimate of the total number of hip fractures over the study period was 539,947, with a second 10-year hip fracture risk of 35%.
Accordingly, the naïve use of register data can dramatically inflate estimates of the number of fractures. We note an ongoing decline in absolute and age-standardized actual number of hip fractures in Sweden, with consequences for future projections.
Design of a Silicon Mach-Zehnder Modulator via Deep Learning and Evolutionary Algorithms
Authors: de Paula Romulo Aparecido , Aldaya Ivan , Sutili Tiago , Figueiredo Rafael C. , Pita Julian L. , Bustamante Yesica R. R.
Published: March 2023

As an essential block in optical communication systems, silicon (Si) Mach-Zehnder modulators (MZMs) are approaching the limits of possible performance for high-speed applications. However, due to a large number of design parameters and the complex simulation of these devices, achieving high-performance configuration employing conventional optimization methods result in prohibitively long times and use of resources. Here, we propose a design methodology based on artificial neural networks and heuristic optimization that significantly reduces the complexity of the optimization process. First, we implemented a deep neural network model to substitute the 3D electromagnetic simulation of a Si-based MZM, whereas subsequently, this model is used to estimate the figure of merit within the heuristic optimizer, which, in our case, is the differential evolution algorithm. By applying this method to CMOS-compatible MZMs, we find new optimized configurations in terms of electro-optical bandwidth, insertion loss, and half-wave voltage. In particular, we achieve configurations of MZMs with a 40 GHz bandwidth and a driving voltage of 6.25 V, or, alternatively, 47.5 GHz with a driving voltage of 8 V. Furthermore, the faster simulation allowed optimizing MZM subject to different constraints, which permits us to explore the possible performance boundary of this type of MZMs.
Dispersal versus local recruitment - the central role of seed banks for meta-populaton dynamics in an aquatic plant
Authors: Tomowski Maxi , Lozada-Gobilard Sissi , Jeltsch Florian , Tiedemann Ralph
Published: March 2023

Progressive habitat fragmentation threatens plant species with narrow habitat requirements. While local environmental conditions define population growth rates and recruitment success at the patch level, dispersal is critical for population viability at the landscape scale. Identifying the dynamics of plant meta-populations is often confounded by the uncertainty about dormant population compartments. We combined a landscape-scale assessment of an amphiphytic species’ population structure with measurements of dispersal complexity in time to track dispersal and putative shifts in functional connectivity. Using 13 microsatellite markers, we analyzed the genetic structure of extant Oenanthe aquatica populations and their soil seed banks in a kettle hole system to uncover hidden connectivity among populations in time and space. Considerable spatial genetic structure and isolation-by-distance (IBD) patterns suggest limited gene flow between sites. Spatial isolation and size of patches showed minor effects on genetic diversity. Local recruitment was prevalent, despite some evidence for spatial migration and recent colonization. Our findings uncover stepping-stone dynamics with source-sink effects based primarily on dispersal from persistent local to adjacent populations. Overall, spatiotemporal connectivity patterns provide support for meta-population dynamics in our system and highlight the importance of persistent seed banks as a long-term source of genetic diversity.
The prevalence of bronchiectasis in patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: Initial report of EARCO
Authors: Stockley Robert A. , Pye Anita , DeSoyza Joshua , Turner Alice , Miravitlles Marc
Published: March 2023

Background
Although bronchiectasis has been recognised as a feature of some patients with Alpha1-Antitrypsin deficiency the prevalence and characteristics are not widely known. We wished to determine the prevalence of bronchiectasis and patient characteristics. The first cohort of patients recruited to the EARCO (European Alpha1 Research Collaboration) International Registry data base by the end of 2021 was analysed for radiological evidence of both emphysema and bronchiectasis as well as baseline demographic features.
Results
Of the first 505 patients with the PiZZ genotype entered into the data base 418 (82.8%) had a reported CT scan. There were 77 (18.4%) with a normal scan and 38 (9.1%) with bronchiectasis alone. These 2 groups were predominantly female never smokers and had lung function in the normal range. The remaining 303 (72.5%) ZZ patients all had emphysema on the scan and 113 (27%) had additional evidence of bronchiectasis.
Conclusions
The data indicates the bronchiectasis alone is a feature of 9.1% of patients with the PiZZ genotype of Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency but although emphysema is the dominant lung pathology bronchiectasis is also present in 27% of emphysema cases and may require a different treatment strategy.
Factors associated with the recruitment and retention of family and community medicine and nursing residents in rural settings: A qualitative study
Authors: Gloria Tort-Nasarre , Josep Vidal-Alaball , Màrius Fígols Pedrosa , Lorena Vazquez Abanades , Anna Forcada Arcarons , Joan Deniel Rosanas
Published: March 2023

Background
Currently, the growing shortage of primary care doctors and nurses is causing difficulties in replacement, and this shortage is expected to increase. This situation is more pronounced in rural environments than in urban ones. Family and community care specialty training is a key component of both the transition to clinical practice and the retention of new professionals. The aim of the study is to explore the attitudes and perceptions of internal medicine residents and internal nurse residents trained in a rural teaching unit on factors associated with recruitment and retention, including the role of the specialty training programme.
Methods
A qualitative study was conducted. Purposive sampling was used and thirteen residents from the central Catalonia teaching unit who were in their final year of training participated in semi-structured interviews. The data were collected during the year 2022. The data were subsequently analysed with thematic analysis. The study is reported using the COREQ checklist.
Results
Six themes emerged from the data related to perceptions and attitudes about the factors associated with recruitment and retention: training programme, characteristics of the family and community specialty, concept of rural life, family and relational factors, economic and resource factors, and recruitment and job opportunities.
Conclusions
Family and community medicine and nursing residents trained in rural settings expressed satisfaction with the specialty programme and most features of primary care, but they experience a wide range of uncertainties in deciding on their professional future. The study identifies individual and structural factors to consider and that could be of great use in order to retain doctors and nurses in rural areas.
Prediction of the Height of Fractured Water-Conducting Zone Using Swarm Intelligence Optimization Algorithms
Authors: Zhao Dekang , Li Zhenghao , Feng Guorui , Wang Fulong , Hao Chenwei , He Yaming , Dong Shuning
Published: March 2023

The calculation of the height of fractured water-conducting zone (FWCZ) is of great significance for mine optimization design, water disaster prevention and safety production of the coal mines. In this paper, a height-prediction model of FWCZ based on extreme learning machine (ELM) is proposed. Aiming at its disadvantages of low prediction accuracy and relatively difficult parameter optimization, the ELM prediction model is optimized by the grey-wolf optimization algorithm (GOA), whale optimization algorithm (WOA) and salp optimization algorithm (SOA) respectively. These optimization algorithms overcome the problems of slow convergence, poor stability, and tendency to fall into local optimality of traditional neural networks. The mining depth, mining height, overburden strata structure, working face length and coal seam dip angle are selected as the main controlling factors for the height of FWCZ. A total of 42 fields measured samples are collected and divided into two subsets for training and validating with a ratio of 36/6. The prediction capability of GOA-ELM, WOA-ELM and SOA-ELM models are evaluated and compared, and the results show that the calculation results of the three models are optimized compared with the ELM model. The prediction capability of GOA and WOA are similar, while the prediction results of SOA-ELM are better than the other two models, and the relative errors of the test sets are all less than 10%. Therefore, the SOA-ELM model is finally applied to predict the height of FWCZ formed after the mining of No.15 coal seam in Xinjian Coal Mine. Finally, prediction results are verified by the measured data of the borehole television detection instrument, which shows good consistency. It further proves the effectiveness of the swarm intelligence optimization algorithm in the prediction of the height of FWCZ.
First luminescence chronology of the Initial Upper Palaeolithic of Eastern Kazakhstan at Ushbulak
Authors: Kurbanov R. N. , Pavlenok G. D. , Ulyanov V. A. , Kharevich V. M. , Taimagambetov Zh. K. , Semikolennykh D. V. , Anoikin A. A.
Published: March 2023

The paper presents the first results of a detailed geochronological study of the Central Asian reference section for the Upper Palaeolithic multilayered site at the Ushbulak. Seven main cultural layers were identified in the stratigraphic sequence in two excavations. Artefact’s properties distinguish four main stages of the occupation: Paleo-Metallic era; Final Upper Palaeolithic; advanced Upper Palaeolithic; initial stages of the Upper Palaeolithic. Detailed luminescence dating using both optically stimulated luminescence and infrared stimulated luminescence is used to provide a chronology for the main archaeological units and proluvial-colluvial deposits of the site. The sedimentology is described, based on detailed characteristics of all lithological layers, the geomorphological structure of the area and modern exogenous processes. Comparison of three luminescence dating signals indicate that it is likely that all 3 signals were sufficiently well reset before deposition, so that the IRSL ages reflect the time of deposition, and based on other laboratory tests we consider the individual ages and the final chronology to be reliable. We now characterise the Ushbulak site in three cultural-chronological stages, corresponding to different periods of the Upper Palaeolithic stone industries: the Initial Upper Palaeolithic, recorded in the interval 51–34 ka; the advanced Upper Palaeolithic between 25 and 21 ka and the Final Upper Paleolithic between 17 and 14 ka. Finally, this research identifies this initial main settlement of the site as occurring about 51 ka ago, i.e. during the initial warming stage of MIS 3c.
Application of discipline integration in the practical teaching of endodontic‒restorative sequential treatment
Authors: Chen Luona , Wang Jian , Zhang Xin
Published: March 2023

Background: The cultivation of clinical reasoning and operative skills is the core of the practice course for undergraduates majoring in stomatology. To achieve this goal, a “discipline integration teaching method” is adopted in the practice course for root canal and prosthetic treatments in stomatology.
Methods: A total of 893 students of West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, participated in this study. Of these students, 443 in the 2016-grade and 2017-grade groups used the traditional teaching method (Group TT) for preclinical practice courses (endodontics and prosthodontics training courses were taught separately), and 450 in the 2018-grade and 2019-grade groups used the discipline integration teaching method (Group DIT) for a preclinical practice course (root canal and prosthetic treatments were integrated into an endodontic‒restorative sequential treatment). The scores of the students (clinical skills examination and treatment planning) were compared between the two groups. In addition, students in Group DIT and their teachers were asked to complete a questionnaire on their attitudes and opinions about the DIT method in the preclinical course.
Results: The results indicated that the DIT method was more effective than the TT method in enhancing students’ clinical reasoning and operational abilities. The questionnaire results showed that the teachers and students had recognized the DIT method.
Conclusions: The DIT method significantly improved students’ learning quality and proved effective in the endodontic‒restorative sequential treatment practice course. This teaching method is expected to be further applied to other correlated subjects.
Thunder-DDA-PASEF enables high-coverage immunopeptidomics and identifies HLA class-I presented SarsCov-2 spike protein epitopes
Authors: Gomez-Zepeda David , Arnold-Schild Danielle , Beyrle Julian , Kumm Elena , Distler Ute , Schild Hansjörg , Tenzer Stefan
Published: March 2023

Human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I peptide ligands (HLAIps) are key targets for developing vaccines and immunotherapies against infectious pathogens or cancer cells. Identifying HLAIps is challenging due to their high diversity, low abundance, and patient-specific profiles. Here, we developed a highly sensitive method for identifying HLAIps using liquid chromatography-ion mobility-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-IMS-MS/MS). The optimized method, Thunder-DDA-PASEF, semi-selectively fragments HLAIps based on their IMS and m/z, thus increasing the coverage of immunopeptidomics analyses. Thunder-DDA-PASEF includes singly-charged peptides, which contributes to more than 35% of the HLAIp identifications. Combined with MS2Rescore, Thunder-DDA-PASEF improved ligandome coverage by 150% compared to the original-DDA-PASEF method, and enabled in-depth profiling of HLAIps from two human cell lines, JY and Raji, transfected to express the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. We identified seventeen spike protein HLAIps, thirteen of which had been reported to elicit immune responses in human patients.
Empathy and Self-Compassion Mediate the Relationships between Parental Attachment, Prosocial Behavior, and Antisocial Behavior among Adolescents after the Jiuzhaigou Earthquake
Authors: Liu Aiyi , Wang Wenchao , Wu Xinchun , Xu Boya
Published: March 2023

Objective
This study examined the mediating roles of empathy and self-compassion in the relationship between parental attachment, prosocial behavior, and antisocial behavior among Chinese adolescents after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake.
Methods
A total of 411 adolescents (M = 14.73, SD = 0.91) were assessed 16 months after the Jiuzhaigou earthquake using self-report questionnaires of trauma exposure, parental attachment, empathy, self-compassion, prosocial behavior, and antisocial behavior.
Results
The parental attachment had a positive effect on prosocial behavior via empathy and positive self-compassion, as well as via an indirect path from empathy to positive self-compassion. Parental attachment had a negative effect on antisocial behavior via empathy and negative self-compassion, and had an indirect path from empathy to negative self-compassion.
Conclusions
These findings indicate that enhancing parental attachment may promote prosocial behavior and reduce antisocial behavior of post-earthquake adolescents. Empathy and self-compassion play significant mediating roles between parental attachment, prosocial behavior, and antisocial behavior.
Energy losses in photovoltaic generators due to the wind patterns
Authors: Rossa Carlos
Published: March 2023

Wind patterns play a key role in the energy production of the photovoltaic power plant. The heat flux from the photovoltaic generator surface to the air varies while the air flux develops from a laminar to a turbulent regime. The decrease of the heat transfer coefficient with the air flux development makes the temperature in the turbulent zone remain high. This increases the temperature dispersion inside the whole photovoltaic generator up to 14 °C1 , slightly increasing the mismatch losses2 . However, the impact of wind patterns on big PV generators remains unknown. It is demonstrated that the wind speed increase is responsible for the mismatch losses increase. Benefits of photovoltaic cooling, usually composed by a single module3–9 , are commonly assumed to be the same in photovoltaic generators. Contrarily to this common belief, the consequent overall thermal behaviour due to the wind speed affects negatively energy production. Considering both the long-term energy estimations and lifespan of a photovoltaic power plant, these experimental results suggest that the wind patterns cannot be neglected, especially in the next years due to the climatic change.
ShIVA – A user-friendly and interactive interface giving biologists control over their single-cell RNA- seq data
Authors: Aussel Rudy , Asif Muhammad , Chenag Sabrina , Jaeger Sébastien , Milpied Pierre , Spinelli Lionel
Published: March 2023

Single-cell technologies have revolutionised biological research and applications. As they continue to evolve with multi-omics and spatial resolution, analysing single-cell datasets is becoming increasingly complex. For biologists lacking expert data analysis resources, the problem is even more crucial, even for the simplest single-cell transcriptomics datasets.
We propose ShIVA, an interface for the analysis of single-cell RNA-seq and CITE-seq data specifically dedicated to biologists. Intuitive, iterative and documented by video tutorials, ShIVA allows biologists to follow a robust and reproducible analysis process, mostly based on the Seurat v4 R package, to fully explore and quantify their dataset, to produce useful figures and tables and to export their work to allow more complex analyses performed by experts.
Finite element analysis of the plantar support for the medial longitudinal arch with flexible flatfoot
Authors: Long Xiao , Yuan Cheng-jie , Xu Jian , Liu Tao , Zhang Yi-jun
Published: March 2023

Background
The present study is to explore the appropriate plantar support force for its effect on improving the collapse of the medial longitudinal arch with flexible flatfoot.
Methods
A finite element model with the plantar fascia attenuation was constructed simulating as flexible flatfoot. The appropriate plantar support force was evaluated. The equivalent stress of the articular surface of the joints in the medial longitudinal arch and the maximum principal stress of the ligaments around the ankle were obtained.
Results
The height fall is smaller when applying 15% of body-weight-bearing force as the plantar support for the medial longitudinal arch compared with 10% of the body-weight-bearing while 20% of body-weight-bearing force is over plantar support. The equivalent stress on the articular surface of each joint is smallest when applying 15% of body-weight-bearing force compared with 10% or 20% of the body-weight-bearing force. The maximum principal stress of the anterior talofibular ligament is decreased while other ligaments increased when the plantar fascia attenuation under loading. The maximum principal stress of the tibiocalcaneal ligament and the posterior tibiotalar ligament are decreasing while other ligaments increased with the force increasing gradually.
Conclusions
Applying 15% of body-weight-bearing to the sole of the foot can restore the height fall of the medial longitudinal arch, and relieve the equivalent articular stress of the talonavicular joint and the talocalcaneal joint as well as the tension stress of the tibiocalcaneal ligament and the posterior tibiotalar ligament.
Committing to Reproducibility and Explainability]{Committing to Reproducibility and Explainability: Version Control as Research Journal
Authors: Huskey Samuel
Published: March 2023

Traditional critical editions in print offer a model for creating a culture of reproducible and explainable research in Digital Humanities. In addition to explaining their editorial methods and practices in a preface, editors provide a critical apparatus to allow readers to evaluate the evidence and decide for themselves whether the editor's judgment is sound. This paper will argue for viewing distributed, version-controlled data repositories (e.g., Git) in the same way, to empower users to follow the choices and methods of DH researchers and to reproduce their work. Using examples from a current project, this paper will propose some guidelines for using Git to promote reproducibility and explainability in the publication of DH research of all kinds.
Effectiveness of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Combined with Transspinal Electrical Stimulation on Corticospinal Excitability for Individuals with Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lin Bor-Shing , Zhang Zhao , Peng Chih-Wei , Chen Shih-Hsuan , Chan Wing P , Lai Chien-Hung
Published: March 2023

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) and transspinal electrical stimulation (tsES) have been proposed as a novel neurostimulation modality for individuals with incomplete spinal cord injury (iSCI). In this study, we integrated magnetic and electrical stimulators to provide neuromodulation therapy to individuals with iSCI. We then designed a clinical trial comprising an 8-week treatment period and a 4-week treatment-free observation period. Assessments of cortical excitability, clinical features, inertial measurement unit and surface electromyography were conducted every 4 weeks. Twelve individuals with iSCI were recruited and randomly divided into a combined therapy group, a magnetic stimulation group, an electrical stimulation group, or a sham stimulation group. The magnetic and electric stimulations provided in this study were intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) and 2.5-mA direct current (DC) stimulation, respectively. According to the results, combined therapy, which involves iTBS and transspinal DC stimulation (tsDCS), was more effective than was iTBS alone or tsDCS alone in terms of increasing corticospinal excitability. In addition, the effectiveness of 8-week combined therapy in increasing corticospinal excitability faded 4 weeks after the cessation of treatment. Although promising, the results of this study must be validated by studies with longer interventions and larger sample sizes.
Exploring the effectiveness of Chinese herbal medicine as an "iron blade" to get rid of a "hidden murderer" hypertension
Authors: Meng Yiming , Sun Jing , Zhang Guirong
Published: March 2023

The world faces the dual pressures of an aging population and the prevalence of metabolic risk factors. The morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease (CVD) continue to increase, becoming one of the important causes of death in the population. Chinese herbal medicine can also change abnormal metabolism while lowering blood pressure. It has an extraordinary curative impact and promises to prevent and treat hypertension. Iron-dependent lipid reactive oxygen species buildup and polyunsaturated fatty acid consumption in the plasma membrane, involving three processes—lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and iron metabolism—are always present when ferroptosis occurs. It is crucial for the pathophysiology of CVD. Therefore, finding Chinese herbal medicine to treat ferroptosis, screen out the active ingredients, and explore the therapeutic targets related to ferroptosis in hypertension is an urgent problem. In this study, network pharmacology was used to find that Stigmsterol, sitosterol, kaempferol, beta-sitosterol, and quercetin were the main active constituents of Toosendan Fructus, Jujubae Fructus, Flos Puerariae Lobatae, Peucedani Radix, Crataegi Folium, and Potentiliae. To reach the goal of treating hypertension, these active components target CAV1, IL6, TGFB1, HMOX1, TP53, IL1B, HIF1A, GJA1, EGFR, and NEDD4L to control ferroptosis. The current work provides a more in-depth understanding of Chinese herbal medicine used to treat hypertension through ferroptosis for future drug optimization.
Friction Angles of Sands – An Appraisal
Authors: K Prakash , A Sridharan , N Manoj , . Manoj
Published: March 2023

River sand is a naturally occurring conventional construction material, which has good frictional properties. Due to a steep rise in the construction activities all over the world, natural sand resources are getting depleted. This has favored / forced the construction industry in general and geotechnical engineering practice in particular to go for M-sands. This necessitates a proper understanding of the frictional characteristics of M – sands. In this technical note, the results from a comparative study of the friction angles of river sand and M-sand with reference to the effect of grain size, grain angularity, dry density and gradation are reported. It is shown that M-sand exhibits higher friction angles than river sand at minimum density levels and river sand exhibits higher friction angles than M-sand at maximum density levels, on average, irrespective of grain size. It is also shown that poorly graded M-sands exhibit higher friction angles than well graded M-sands at minimum density levels, whereas well graded river sands have higher friction angles than poorly graded river sands irrespective of density levels.
Reciprocal influence of soil, phyllosphere and aphid microbiomes
Authors: Wolfgang Adrian , Tack Ayco J. M. , Berg Gabriele , Abdelfattah Ahmed
Published: March 2023

Background

The effect of soil on the plant microbiome is well-studied. However, less is known about the impact of soil microbiome in multitrophic systems. Here we examined the effect of soil on plant and aphid microbiomes, and the reciprocal effect of aphid herbivory on the plant and soil microbiomes. We designed microcosms, which separate below and aboveground compartments, to grow oak seedlings with and without aphid herbivory in soils with three different microbiomes. We used amplicon sequencing and qPCR to characterize the bacterial and fungal communities in soils, phyllospheres, and aphids.

Results

Soil microbiomes significantly affected the microbial communities of phyllospheres and, to a lesser extent, aphid microbiome, indicating plant-mediated assembly processes from soil to aphids via the plant endosphere. While aphid herbivory significantly decreased microbial diversity in phyllospheres independent of soil microbiomes, the effect of aphid herbivory on the community composition in soil varied among the three soils.

Conclusions

This study provides experimental evidence for reciprocal influence of soil, plant and aphid microbiomes, with potential for the development of new microbiome-based pest management strategies.
A graphitic nano-onion/molybdenum disulfide nanosheet composite as a platform for HPV-associated cancer-detecting DNA biosensors
Authors: Kim Youngjun , Kang Eunah
Published: March 2023

An electrochemical DNA sensor that can detect human papillomavirus (HPV)-16 and HPV-18 for the early diagnosis of cervical cancer was developed by using a graphitic nano-onion/molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanosheet composite. The electrode surface for probing DNA chemisorption was prepared via chemical conjugation between acyl bonds on the surfaces of functionalized nanoonions and the amine groups on functionalized MoS2 nanosheets. The cyclic voltammetry profile of an 1:1 nanoonion/MoS2 nanosheet composite electrode had an improved rectangular shape compared to that of an MoS2 nanosheet elecrode, thereby indicating the amorphous nature of the nano-onions with sp2 distancing curved carbon layers that provide enhanced electronic conductivity, compared to MoS2 nanosheet only. The nanoonion/MoS2 sensor for the DNA detection of HPV-16 and HPV-18, respectively, was measured at high sensitivity through differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) in the presence of methylene blue (MB) as a redox indicator. The DPV current peak was lowered after probe DNA chemisorption and target DNA hybridization because the hybridized DNA induced less effective MB electrostatic intercalation due to it being double-stranded, resulting in a lower oxidation peak. The nanoonion/MoS2 nanosheet composite electrodes attained higher current peaks than the MoS2 nanosheet electrode, thereby indicating a greater change in the differential peak probably because the nanoonions enhanced conductive electron transfer. Notably, both of the target DNAs produced from HPV-18 and HPV-16 Siha and Hela cancer cell lines were effectively detected with high specificity. The conductivity of MoS2 improved by complexation with nano-onions provides a suitable platform for electrochemical biosensors for the early diagnosis of many ailments in humans.
Preoperative BChE serves as prognostic marker in patients with resectable AEG after neoadjuvant chemotherapy
Authors: Gensthaler Lisa , Jomrich Gerd , Brugger Jonas , Kollmann Dagmar , Paireder Matthias , Bologheanu Milena , Riegler Franz M. , Asari Reza , Schoppmann Sebastian F.
Published: March 2023

Background: Diminished systemic serum butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), a biomarker for chronic inflammation, cachexia, and advanced tumor stage, has shown to play a prognostic role in various malignancies. Aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of pretherapeutic BChE levels in patients with resectable adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (AEG), treated with or without neoadjuvant therapy.
Methods: Data of a consecutive series of patients with resectable AEG at the Department for General Surgery, Medical University of Vienna were analyzed. Preoperative serum BChE levels were correlated to clinic-pathological parameters as well as treatment response. Prognostic impact of serum BChE levels on disease free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated by univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis, Kaplan-Meier curves used for illustration.
Results: 319 patients were included in this study, with an overall mean (Standard deviation, SD) pretreatment serum BChE level of 6.22 (+/-1.91) IU/l. In univariate models, diminished preoperative serum BChE levels were significantly associated with shorter overall (OS, p<0.003) and disease-free survival (DFS, p<0.001) in patients who received neoadjuvant treatment and/or primary resection. In multivariated analysis, decreased BChE was significantly associated with shorter DFS (HR: 0.92, 95%-CI: 0.84-1.00, p 0.049) and OS (HR: 0.92, 95%-CI: 0.85-1.00, p<0.49) in patients receiving neoadjuvant therapy. Backward regression identified the interaction between preoperative BChE and neoadjuvant chemotherapy as an predictive factor for DFS and OS.
Conclusion: Serum BChE serves as strong, independent, and cost-effective prognostic biomarker for worse outcome in patients with resectable AEG who had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Synopsis
Diminished systemic serum Butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) serves as a strong and independent prognostic biomarker for shortened DFS and OS in patients with resectable adenocarcinoma of the gastroesophageal junction (AEG) after preoperative neoadjuvant treatment. BChE levels could be of use in clinical practice when measured prior to surgery, especially in those patients who had received neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
Using Teaching Interaction Procedure to Increase Empathetic Responding During Cross-racial Behavior Analytic Supervisory Relationships
Authors: Robinson Sapphire U. , Parks Natalie , Lewis Heather L. , Rigdon Charda'e P.
Published: March 2023

As graduate student's racial/ethnic identities continue to diversify among individuals pursuing applied behavior analysis, there is an increased risk for marginalization to occur during supervision. To promote successful supervisor-supervisee relationships, supervising behavior analysts need to acquire culturally responsive practices such as empathetic responding and partake in continuous education to shape their supervising repertoire. This will expand their ability to provide quality support for supervisees belonging to various identity groups. The teaching interaction procedure is a training tool that can be used to teach culturally responsive practices to supervising behavior analysts. It is an evidenced- based tool that has been used to teach social skills to children and adults. This training tool procedural components consist of labeling the social skill, providing rationale for that social skill, describing the steps involved in the social skill, modeling examples and non-examples of the social skill, and providing feedback throughout the process. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the teaching interaction procedure effectiveness as a training tool to teach empathetic responding skills to three supervising behavior analysts within cross-racial dyads in a web-based training format. The results of a multiple-baseline design will show the teaching interaction procedure was effective at training all 3 supervisors empathetic responding in a contrived setting and suggests this had a positive impact on the perceived level of satisfaction among their supervisees.
Bilateral high-riding jugular bulb associated with a jugular diverticulum and dehiscence of the mastoid cells and Trautmann’s triangle
Authors: Alnafie Mohammed Assaad
Published: March 2023

A 30-year-old man underwent a high-resolution computed tomography of both temporal bones as part of the assessment of horizontal rotatory vertigo, pulsatile tinnitus, and mild hearing loss. First, we observed a bilateral high-riding jugular bulb with a right jugular diverticulum. Then, the right jugular bulb and the diverticulum were dehiscent in mastoid cells and Trautmann’s triangle. This case report illustrates a new presentation of the dehiscent high-riding jugular bulb and jugular diverticulum. We believe it deserves to be shared.
Physicochemical and Pharmacokinetic Properties’ Screening of Selected Cardiovascular Agents: an in-silico Approach
Authors: Inamdar Aparna , Pote Shweta , Sawant Suraj , Salve Preeti S , Suryawanshi Shailendra S. , Palled Mahesh
Published: March 2023

Cardiovascular (CVS) drugs are medications whose primary effects are experienced by the heart and blood vessels to treat cardiovascular disorders such as coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, high blood-pressure, heart failure and stroke. Evaluation of drug-likeness is a qualitative research approach in drug design that examines the drug-like properties of any chemical compound used as a lead in terms of factors such as oral bioavailability. These ADME parameters can be used widely in drug discovery to optimize the properties needed to convert lead candidates into safe and effective drugs for human use. An approach to estimate the passive gastrointestinal (GI) absorption and blood-brain barrier (BBB) access of drugs is the BOILED-Egg model from Swiss-ADME. In the current study, we virtually screened fifty-five bioactive CVS agents, which twenty-three were newly marketed agents and thirty-two were conventional agents. PubChem database for canonical smile collection, Molsoft server for physicochemical properties and drug-likeness screening, Schrodinger's software for ADME parameters, Microsoft Excel software for Heat-Map analysis, Swiss-ADME database for construction of BOILED-Egg model were utilized. The study results revealed that out of fifty-five screened bioactive drugs, forty-six drugs obeyed Lipinski's rule of five (RO5) and forty-five drugs obeyed Jorgensen's rule of three (RO3), were within recommended ranges of physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. Few of the compounds found in the Egg-yolk and Egg-white were predicted to pass the BBB and GI, respectively. It can be concluded that maximum of the screened bioactive drugs are proved to be potent drug candidates with good membrane permeability and oral bioavailability.
Association of SARS-CoV-2 Infection with Neurological Symptoms and Neuroimaging Manifestations in the Pediatric Population: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kwan Angela T.H. , Al-Kassimi Khaled , Portnoff Jacob S. , Tesla Marija , Hanafimosalman Mehrshad , Gharibi Nima , Ni Tiffany , Sonfack Davaine J.N. , Martyniuk Julia , Arfaie Saman , Mashayekhi Mohammad Sadegh , Mofatteh Mohammad , Jeremian Richie , Moscote-Salazar Luis Rafael , Lee Ángel , Jawad Muhammad Youshay , Guo Ziji , Ceban Felicia , Teopiz Kayla M. , Mansur Rodrigo B. , Ho Roger , Rosenblat Joshua D. , Cao Bing , Rhee Taeho Greg , McIntyre Roger S.
Published: March 2023

Background
Neurological manifestations have been widely reported in adults with COVID-19, yet the extent of involvement among the pediatric population is currently poorly characterized. The objective of our systematic review is to evaluate the association of SARS-CoV-2 infection with neurological symptoms and neuroimaging manifestations in the pediatric population.
Methods
A literature search of Cochrane Library; EBSCO CINAHL; Global Index Medicus; OVID AMED, Embase, Medline, PsychINFO; and Scopus was conducted in accordance with the Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies form (October 1, 2019 to March 15, 2022). Studies were included if they reported (1) COVID-19-associated neurological symptoms and neuroimaging manifestations in individuals aged < 18 years with a confirmed, first SARS-CoV-2 infection and were (2) peer-reviewed. Full-text reviews of 222 retrieved articles were performed, along with subsequent reference searches.
Results
A total of 843 nonduplicate records were retrieved. Of the 19 identified studies, there were ten retrospective observational studies, seven case series, one case report, and one prospective cohort study. A total of 6,985 individuals were included, where 12.8% of hospitalized patients experienced neurocognitive impairments: MIS-C (24.2%), neuroinflammation (10.1%), and encephalopathy (8.1%) were the most common disorders; headaches (16.8%) and seizures (3.8%) were the most common symptoms. Based on pediatric-specific cohorts, children experienced more drowsiness (7.3% vs. 1.3%) and muscle weakness (7.3% vs. 6.3%) as opposed to adolescents. Agitation or irritability was observed more in children (7.3%) than infants (1.3%).
Conclusion
Our findings revealed a high prevalence of immune-mediated patterns of disease among COVID-19 positive pediatric patients with neurocognitive abnormalities.
Facile green synthesis of Silver nanoparticles using ventilago maderaspatana leaf extract, physicochemical properties and evaluation of antidiabetic potential against streptozotocin induced diabetic albino rats
Authors: Karuppannan P. , Saravanan K. , Ashokkumar M. , Egbuna Chukwuebuka
Published: March 2023

The Silver nanoparticles (NPs) had been bio-synthesized using Ventilago maderaspatana leaf extract. The chemical and physical properties of the biosynthesized Silver NPs had been analyzed by XRD, FE-SEM, TEM, EDAX, FTIR and UV – visible absorption. The diffraction pattern confirmed the cubic structure of the synthesized NPs. The average crystallite size had been calculated by the Debye Scherrer’s method and W-H plot as 11.7 and 9.3 nm, respectively. The FESEM and TEM images confirmed the sized distribution around this range. The antidiabetic efficiency of the biosynthesized Silver NPs were assessed in a group of rats for 10 mg/ kg b.w and 20 mg/kg b.w. Injection of streptozotocin in experimental rat showed elevated level of biochemical parameters such as serum blood glucose, total protein, albumin and HbA1c. Meanwhile, serum insulin (2.50 ± 0.55) and activity of glucokinase (64.50 ± 8.66) levels were diminished. Treatment with silver nanoparticles decreased levels blood glucose, total protein, albumin and HbA1c to normal in dose dependent manner. On the other hand, insulin level (7.55 ± 0.63) and activity of glucokinase (121.50 ± 4.60) level were increased. It was due to the antidiabetic potential of V. maderaspatana mediated silver nanoparticles.
Remarks on the Notions of Maximal Proper Acceleration, Minimal Lapse of Proper Time and Entropy Rate Change
Authors: Torromé Ricardo Gallego
Published: March 2023

It is discussed the relation between maximal proper acceleration and a lower bound to the proper time during which acceleration acts to reach the maximum possible variation in speed. While maximal proper acceleration implies an upper bound on the proper time than an instantaneous inertial observer will be able to measure, this bound is not observed by the physical proper time given by the metric of maximal acceleration. The Unruh temperature formula is extended to the case of hyperbolic observers in spaces of maximal proper acceleration, implying the existence of a maximal temperature. As a consequence, it is shown the existence of a lower bound to the exchange entropy due to interaction with the ambient and an upper bound to the the energy exchanged by charged particles is upper bounded by the energy at rest of the system. We also discuss that for classical point particle, with definite worldline, the existence of a minimal coordinate lapse implies the existence of a maximal acceleration.