bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved effect of fresh ginseng paste (radix ginseng-ziziphus jujube) on hyperuricemia based on network pharmacology and molecular docking
Authors: Zhang Hao , Liu Wei , Qi Si-Min , Chi Jian-Feng , Gao Qiang , Lin Xiang-Hui , Ren Shen , Wang Zi , Lei Xiu-juan , Li Wei
Published: October 2022

Background: Hyperuricemia (HUA) is a metabolic disease caused by reduced excretion or increased production of uric acid. This research aims to study the practical components, active targets, and potential mechanism of the “Radix ginseng (RG)-Ziziphus jujube (ZJ)” herb pair through molecular docking, network pharmacology, and animal experiments.

Methods: The potential targets of “Radix ginseng (RG)-Ziziphus jujube (ZJ)” herb pair were obtained from the TCMSP database. The therapeutic targets of HUA were acquired from the GendCards, OMIM, PharmGkb, and TTD databases. Protein-protein interaction network (PPI) was constructed in the STRING 11.0 database. The David database was used for enrichment analysis. Molecular Docking was finished by the AutoDock Vina. And we employed Radix ginseng and Ziziphus jujube as raw materials, which would develop a new functional food fresh ginseng paste (FGP) after boiling. In addition, benzbromarone (Ben) (7.8 mg/kg) and allopurinol (All) (5 mg/kg) were used as positive drugs to evaluate the hyperuricemia induced by FGP (400 and 800 mg/kg) potassium oxazine (PO) (100 mg/kg) and hypoxanthine (HX) (500 mg/kg) on mice.

Results: The results showed that 25 targets in the “RG-ZJ” herb pair interacted with hyperuricemia. Then protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis showed that TNF, IL-1β, and VEGFA were core genes. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the Toll-like receptor signaling pathway and IL-17 signaling pathway were mainly involved. Meantime, animal experiments showed that FGP could improve the HUA status of mice by reducing serum UA BUN, XO, and liver XO levels (p < 0.05, p < 0.01). Furthermore, we analyzed the main ingredients of FGP by HPLC. We found that the main ingredients of FGP had solid binding activity to the core target of HUA by molecular docking.

Conclusion: This study explored the active ingredients and targets of the “RG-ZJ” herb pair on HUA through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and animal experiments. It revealed the improvement of FGP in mice with HUA.
Cannabidiol for neurodegenerative disorders: A comprehensive review
Authors: Bhunia Sukanya , Kolishetti Nagesh , Arias Adriana Yndart , Vashist Arti , Nair Madhavan
Published: October 2022

Despite the significant advances in neurology, the cure for neurodegenerative conditions remains a formidable task to date. Among various factors arising from the complex etiology of neurodegenerative diseases, neuroinflammation and oxidative stress play a major role in pathogenesis. To this end, some phytocannabinoids isolated from Cannabis sativa (widely known as marijuana) have attracted significant attention as potential neurotherapeutics. The profound effect of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the major psychoactive component of cannabis, has led to the discovery of the endocannabinoid system as a molecular target in the central nervous system (CNS). Cannabidiol (CBD), the major non-psychoactive component of cannabis, has recently emerged as a potential prototype for neuroprotective drug development due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and its well-tolerated pharmacological behavior. This review briefly discusses the role of inflammation and oxidative stress in neurodegeneration and demonstrates the neuroprotective effect of cannabidiol, highlighting its general mechanism of action and disease-specific pathways in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Furthermore, we have summarized the preclinical and clinical findings on the therapeutic promise of CBD in PD and AD, shed light on the importance of determining its therapeutic window, and provide insights into identifying promising new research directions.
Integrative metabolomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal the mechanisms of Tibetan hulless barley grain coloration
Authors: Xu Congping , Abbas Hafiz Muhammad Khalid , Zhan Chuansong , Huang Yuxiao , Huang Sishu , Yang Haizhen , Wang Yulin , Yuan Hongjun , Luo Jie , Zeng Xingquan
Published: October 2022

Cereal grains accumulate anthocyanin during developmental process. The anthocyanin content increases at grain filling stages to develop grain coloration in cereals. However, anthocyanin biosynthesis responsible for grain coloring and its regulatory mechanisms controlled by structural and functional genes remain unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the global map of metabolic changes linked to grain coloration of Tibetan hulless barley (qingke) using an integrative metabolome and transcriptome approach. Grains from three colored qingke cultivars at different developmental stages were considered for molecular and metabolic investigations. A total of 120 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) and 8,327 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were filtered. DEGs were mainly enriched in the phenylpropanoid and flavonoid pathways. The transcript levels of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes (PAL, C4H, 4CL, CHS, FLS, F3H, F3’H, DFR, ANS, GT, OMT, and MAT) significantly upregulate in colored qingke compared to the non-colored variety. During grain development and maturation, the strong correlation of HvMYC2 expression with anthocyanin contents and anthocyanin biosynthesis genes suggested it as a critical gene in anthocyanin accumulation. Further results confirmed that HvMYC2 could be activated by HvMYB and be a positive regulator of UV-B and cold tolerance in qingke. In addition, verification based on enzymatic assays indicated that six key modifier enzymes could catalyze glycosylation, malonylation, and methylation of anthocyanins, thereby dissecting the major anthocyanin modification pathway in colored qingke. Overall, our study provides global insight into anthocyanin accumulation and the mechanism underlying grain coloration in qingke.
Early number word learning: Associations with domain-general and domain-specific quantitative abilities
Authors: Yang Meiling , Liang Junying
Published: October 2022

Cardinal number knowledge-understanding “two” refers to sets of two entities-is a critical piece of knowledge that predicts later mathematics achievement. Recent studies have shown that domain-general and domain-specific skills can influence children’s cardinal number learning. However, there has not yet been research investigating the influence of domain-specific quantifier knowledge on children’s cardinal number learning. The present study aimed to investigate the influence of domain-general and domain-specific skills on Mandarin Chinese-speaking children’s cardinal number learning after controlling for a number of family background factors. Particular interest was paid to the question whether domain-specific quantifier knowledge was associated with cardinal number development. Specifically, we investigated 2–5-year-old Mandarin Chinese-speaking children’s understanding of cardinal number words as well as their general language, intelligence, approximate number system (ANS) acuity, and knowledge of quantifiers. Children’s age, gender, parental education, and family income were also assessed and used as covariates. We found that domain-general abilities, including general language and intelligence, did not account for significant additional variance of cardinal number knowledge after controlling for the aforementioned covariates. We also found that domain-specific quantifier knowledge did not account for significant additional variance of cardinal number knowledge, whereas domain-specific ANS acuity accounted for significant additional variance of cardinal number knowledge, after controlling for the aforementioned covariates. In sum, the results suggest that domain-specific numerical skills seem to be more important for children’s development of cardinal number words than the more proximal domain-general abilities such as language abilities and intelligence. The results also highlight the significance of ANS acuity on children’s cardinal number word development.
RETRACTED: The effect of personality traits on employees’ annual salaries in Chinese startups
Authors: Zhao Longlong
Published: October 2022

Personality is a relatively regular habit of a person. It exerts a specific influence on personal behavior and the corresponding results. At the same time, personality can provide a certain degree of explanation for the differences among individuals in behavior and the related consequences. Economic differences are one of the discrepancies that exist among individuals. In order to explore the quantitative relationship between personality and individual income, this study takes 376 active employees of Chinese startups as the primary research objects. Additionally, considering the simplification and convenience of the survey, the annual salary investigated by this study is the pre-tax income of active startup employees. It uses quantitative methods to analyze the relationship between their personality traits and annual salary. Unlike the measures used in previous studies, this study employed the HEXACO-60 Inventory created by Ashton and Lee to investigate employees’ personality traits. Compared to the Big Five model, HEXACO (Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, eXtraversion, Consciousness, Open to Experience, and Agreeableness) adds a new dimension to evaluate personality traits, called Honesty-Humility (H-H). H-H did not appear in previous studies related to personality and individual income. Therefore, there is no reference to the relationship between H-H and personal earnings. Considering that the content of H-H is highly consistent with the components of inter locus of control and the core spirit advocated by the Confucian culture, which influences Chinese people profoundly, this paper proposes a bold hypothesis, that is, H-H has a positive correlation with employees’ annual salaries. Meanwhile, other corresponding hypotheses for the correlation between the other personality traits in HEXACO and employees’ annual salaries are proposed. After that, the above hypotheses are tested with the help of correlation analysis. Then, the following conclusions can be quickly drawn. Consciousness, eXtraversion, Open to Experience, and Honesty-Humility positively correlate with employees’ annual salaries. In comparison, Emotionality and Agreeableness negatively correlate with employees’ annual salaries.
Inoculation works and health advocacy backfires: Building resistance to COVID-19 vaccine misinformation in a low political trust context
Authors: Jiang Li Crystal , Sun Mengru , Chu Tsz Hang , Chia Stella C.
Published: October 2022

This study examines the effectiveness of the inoculation strategy in countering vaccine-related misinformation among Hong Kong college students. A three-phase between-subject experiment (n = 123) was conducted to compare the persuasive effects of inoculation messages (two-sided messages forewarning about misinformation related to COVID-19 vaccines), supportive messages (conventional health advocacy), and no message control. The results show that inoculation messages were superior to supportive messages at generating resistance to misinformation, as evidenced by more positive vaccine attitudes and stronger vaccine intention. Notably, while we expected the inoculation condition would produce more resistance than the control condition, there was little evidence in favor of this prediction. Attitudinal threat and counterarguing moderated the experimental effects; issue involvement and political trust were found to directly predict vaccine attitudes and intention. The findings suggest that future interventions focus on developing preventive mechanisms to counter misinformation and spreading inoculation over the issue is an effective strategy to generate resistance to misinformation. Interventions should be cautious about using health advocacy initiated by governments among populations with low political trust.
Aberrant frontolimbic circuit in female depressed adolescents with and without suicidal attempts: A resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging study
Authors: Liu Mengqi , Huang Yang , Li Xuemei , Liu Yang , Yu Renqiang , Long Yicheng , Lv Fajin , Zhou Xinyu
Published: October 2022

Background

The neurobiological basis of suicidal behaviors among female adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD) remains largely unclear.

Materials and methods

Fifty-eight drug-naïve, first-episode female adolescent MDD [including 31 patients with suicidal attempt (SA group) and 27 patients without SA (non-SA group)], and 36 matched healthy controls (HCs) participated in the present study. Resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed on each subject. The metrics of the amplitude of low-frequency fluctuation (ALFF), fractional ALFF (fALFF), and regional homogeneity (ReHo) were compared among the three groups. Then seed-based functional connectivity (FC) was conducted based on the ALFF/fALFF and ReHo results, which were then correlated to clinical variables.

Results

Compared with the non-SA group, the SA group exhibited increased fALFF in the bilateral insula and right precentral gyrus, and enhanced ReHo in the left superior temporal gyrus, left middle cingulate cortex, right insula, and right precentral gyrus. Relative to the HCs, the SA group demonstrated additionally reduced fALFF and ReHo in the left middle frontal gyrus. Moreover, the SA group showed increased FC between the right precentral gyrus and the left middle frontal gyrus and left insula, and between the right insula and anterior/middle cingulate cortex compared to the non-SA and HC groups. In addition, the fALFF in the left middle frontal gyrus was positively correlated with the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale scores, and the values in the fALFF/ReHo in the right insula were positively correlated with the duration of MDD within the patient group.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the multiple abnormalities of the frontolimbic circuit, which may enhance our understanding of the neurobiological basis underlying female MDD with SA during adolescence.
Potential value of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, and S100B for identifying major depressive disorder in knee osteoarthritis patients
Authors: Zhang Peng , Xiong Yuyuan , Wang Bangjun , Zhou Yi , Wang Zijian , Shi Jiaqi , Li Chao , Lu Xinyan , Chen Gang
Published: October 2022

Background

The chronic pain and functional limitations in osteoarthritis (OA) patients can increase risk of psychiatric disorders, e.g., major depression disorder (MDD), which may further aggravate the clinical symptoms of OA. Early detection of MDD is essential in the clinical practice of OA.

Materials and methods

Two hundred and fifteen participants with knee OA were recruited, including 134 MDD patients (i.e., MDD group) and 81 ones without MDD (i.e., control group). Among them, 81 OA participants in the control group received a 3-year follow-up and were divided into trans-MDD group (who transforming into MDD; N = 39) and non-MDD group (who keeping non-MDD; N = 42) at the end of the follow-up. The 17-item Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD-17), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were performed. Furthermore, serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), S100B, and IGF-1 were detected.

Results

(1) Compared with OA participants without MDD, there were significant decrease in serum BDNF and significant increase in serum VEGF and S100B and VAS scores in OA participants with MDD. (2) A mediation of the association was found between the VAS scores and the HAMD-17 scores through the BDNF as mediator in OA participants with MDD. (3) Significantly lower baseline BDNF levels and higher baseline S100B levels were detected in OA participants who transforming to MDD after a 3-year follow-up when compared with those who keeping non-MDD. (4) In the trans-MDD group, significant associations of the change of serum BDNF levels with rate of change of HAMD-17 scores were found, and baseline serum S100B levels positively correlated with the HAMD-17 scores at the end of the follow-up. (5) In OA participants, the composite indicator of BDNF, VEGF, and S100B differentiated MDD patients from controls with the area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.806, and the combined indicator of baseline BDNF and S100B distinguished trans-MDD participants from non-MDD ones with an AUC value of 0.806.

Conclusion

Serum BDNF, VEGF, and S100B may be potential biomarkers to identify MDD in OA patients. Meanwhile, serum BDNF and S100B shows great potential to predict the risk of MDD for OA.
Assessment of potential for viral contamination of user and environment via aerosols generated during hand drying: A pilot study
Authors: Moura Ines B. , Bentley Karen , Wilcox Mark H.
Published: October 2022

Background

Hand drying is an essential step of hand hygiene, helping remove microbes remaining on hands following handwashing. However, it is unclear whether particles dispersed or aerosolized during hand drying can also have an impact on microbe dissemination and so pose an infection risk.

Methods

We used a PR772 bacteriophage to investigate whether microorganisms remaining on hands can disperse in the washroom environment and contaminate facemasks of others sharing the same space, as a surrogate for virus inhalation risk. Hand drying using either a jet air dryer or paper towels were performed, and mask contamination by splattering and droplet deposition was investigated, up to 15 min following each procedure.

Results

Facemask contamination by splattering was 10-fold higher when a jet air dryer was used, compared with hand drying by paper towels, for both the person performing the hand drying and for standby users stationed at 1 and 2 m distance. Facemask contamination by droplet/aerosols deposition was higher in the first 5 min following hand drying, for both methods; however, virus load was significantly higher when a jet air dryer was used. In the jet air dryer assays, facemask contamination increased at 15 min post-hand drying, suggesting aerosolization of small particles that remain airborne for longer.

Conclusion

When using a jet air dryer, virus contamination dispersed further and for a longer period of time (up to 15 min post hand-drying). The method chosen for hand drying can potentially impact the airborne dissemination of microbial pathogens, including respiratory virus, and so potentially increase the risk of exposure and infection for other washroom users.
Linking suicide and social determinants of health in South Korea: An investigation of structural determinants
Authors: Zhu Yongjun , Nam Seojin , Quan Lihong , Baek Jihyun , Jeon Hongjin , Tang Buzhou
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Studies have shown that suicide is closely related to various social factors. However, due to the restriction in the data scale, our understanding of these social factors is still limited. We propose a conceptual framework for understanding social determinants of suicide at the national level and investigate the relationships between structural determinants (i.e., gender, employment statuses, and occupation) and suicide outcomes (i.e., types of suicide, places of suicide, suicide methods, and warning signs) in South Korea.

Methods

We linked a national-level suicide registry from the Korea Psychological Autopsy Center with the Social Determinants of Health framework proposed by the World Health Organization's Commission on Social Determinants of Health.

Results

First, male and female suicide victims have clear differences in their typical suicide methods (fire vs. drug overdose), primary warning signs (verbal vs. mood), and places of death (suburb vs. home). Second, employees accounted for the largest proportion of murder-suicides (>30%). The proportion of students was much higher for joint suicides than for individual suicides and murder-suicides. Third, among individuals choosing pesticides as their suicide method, over 50% were primary workers. In terms of drug overdoses, professionals and laborers accounted for the largest percentage; the former also constituted the largest proportion in the method of jumping from heights.

Conclusion

A clear connection exists between the investigated structural factors and various suicide outcomes, with gender, social class, and occupation all impacting suicide.
Determinants of mental health among youths and adolescents in the digital era: Roles of cyber and traditional bullying, violence, loneliness, and environment factors
Authors: Phan Tam Chi , Chau Brandon , Do Ha Ngoc , Vu Thao Bich Thi , Vu Khanh Long , Nguyen Hiep Duy , Nguyen Dung Tuan , Do Hoang Minh , Nguyen Nga Thu Thi , La Ly Bac Thi , Dam Vu Anh Trong , Nguyen Hien Thu , Nguyen Long Hoang , Do Anh Linh , Vu Thuc Minh Thi , Vu Le Minh Ngoc , Vu Giang Thu , Le Linh Khanh , Latkin Carl A. , Ho Cyrus S. H. , Ho Roger C. M.
Published: October 2022

Introduction

Although the pathogenesis of depressive disorders is not fully elucidated, untreated adolescent depression can lead to serious sequelae such as impaired academic performance and social functioning, substance use disorders, poor self-esteem, and increased risk for suicidal ideation and attempts. Literature on adolescent mental health in Vietnam is limited, despite increased international awareness of this critical issue. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and associations of depressive symptoms in Vietnamese adolescents.

Methods

A cross-sectional, self-administered survey was conducted in five provinces of Vietnam among adolescents aged 14 to 24 years. In addition to collecting participants' demographics, a structured questionnaire was developed to examine depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, loneliness, and cyberbullying victimization. Depressive symptoms and loneliness were assessed via the PHQ-9 and UCLA Loneliness Scale, respectively. Two-tailed Chi-squared, Mann-Whitney, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to examine associations between variables. Multivariate Logistic regression models were conducted to examine the associations between prior-defined variables and positive depressive symptoms.

Results

Among 1,600 respondents, 31.8% of participants reported having mild-moderate or severe depressive symptoms. Participants within the moderate-severe depressive symptom group had significantly lower community cohesion scores than those of participants in normal and mild depressive symptom groups (p < 0.05). Youths living alone were more likely to have moderate-severe depressive symptoms (OR 2.16; 95% CI: 1.09–4.25). Cyberbullying had significant associations with depressive severity (OR 1.93; 95% CI 1.38–2.70).

Conclusion

The findings of this study characterize various risk and protective factors for depression in Vietnamese youths and adolescents. The results highlight the importance of raising awareness and increasing access to educational resources for depression and other mental health illnesses. With the rising prevalence of depression, parents, teachers, and community leaders play a vital role in addressing mental health problems in adolescents.
Evaluation of a clinical decision support system for detection of patients at risk after kidney transplantation
Authors: Roller Roland , Mayrdorfer Manuel , Duettmann Wiebke , Naik Marcel G. , Schmidt Danilo , Halleck Fabian , Hummel Patrik , Burchardt Aljoscha , Möller Sebastian , Dabrock Peter , Osmanodja Bilgin , Budde Klemens
Published: October 2022

Patient care after kidney transplantation requires integration of complex information to make informed decisions on risk constellations. Many machine learning models have been developed for detecting patient outcomes in the past years. However, performance metrics alone do not determine practical utility. We present a newly developed clinical decision support system (CDSS) for detection of patients at risk for rejection and death-censored graft failure. The CDSS is based on clinical routine data including 1,516 kidney transplant recipients and more than 100,000 data points. In a reader study we compare the performance of physicians at a nephrology department with and without the CDSS. Internal validation shows AUC-ROC scores of 0.83 for rejection, and 0.95 for graft failure. The reader study shows that predictions by physicians converge toward the CDSS. However, performance does not improve (AUC–ROC; 0.6413 vs. 0.6314 for rejection; 0.8072 vs. 0.7778 for graft failure). Finally, the study shows that the CDSS detects partially different patients at risk compared to physicians. This indicates that the combination of both, medical professionals and a CDSS might help detect more patients at risk for graft failure. However, the question of how to integrate such a system efficiently into clinical practice remains open.
Amphetamine-type stimulants use and socio-economic factors associated with hepatitis C antibody positivity among border drug users in South of China
Authors: Li Jing , Li Minyue , Zhang Yunjia , Li Jiashuang , Zhao Yinzhou , Lu Rong , You Jing
Published: October 2022

Background

Amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) use has become popular in China. This study explored ATS use status and related risk factors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among ATS users in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province, China.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted by questionnaires from January to July 2021 in border area in Yunnan. Respondent driving sampling and consecutive sampling was carried out among border drug users, and blood samples were tested for HCV antibodies. HCV infection and related risk factors among ATS users were measured. Descriptive, univariate and multivariate analysis were conducted separately by Software SPSS 26.0.

Results

The ATS users accounted for 85.82% (345/402) among drug users, while anti-HCV antibody prevalence was 6.38% (22/345) among ATS users. The combined use of other types of drugs (OR = 7.29, 95%CI: 1.982–26.81, P = 0.003), injection drug use (OR = 6.823, 95%CI: 1.898–24.525, P = 0.003), average monthly income (OR = 4.825, 95%CI: 1.325–17.566, P = 0.017) might increase the risk of HCV infection among ATS users. ATS users with high school or above had higher HCV infection rates than those with primary school or below (OR = 5.718, 95%CI: 1.172–27.908, P = 0.031).

Conclusion

Taken together, among drug users using ATS in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province, combined use of multiple drugs and intravenous drug use was the high risk factor for HCV infection. Therefore, corresponding education and intervention measures should be taken.
Life cycle impacts of concentrated solar power generation on land resources and soil carbon losses in the United States
Authors: Rangarajan Shreya , Hernandez Rebecca R. , Jordaan Sarah M.
Published: October 2022

Endpoint impacts related to the transformation of land—including that related to energy infrastructure—have yet to be fully quantified and understood in life cycle assessment (LCA). Concentrated solar power (CSP) which generates electricity by using mirrors to concentrate incoming shortwave radiation onto a receiver, may serve as an alternate source of reliable baseload power in the coming years. As of 2019 (baseline year of the study), the United States (U.S.) had 1.7 GW of installed capacity across a total of eight CSP sites. In this study, we (1) develop an empirical, spatially explicit methodology to categorize physical elements embodied in energy infrastructure using a LCA approach and manual image annotation, (2) use this categorization scheme to quantify land- and ecosystem service-related endpoint impacts, notably potential losses in soil carbon, owing to energy infrastructure development and as a function of electricity generated (i.e., megawatt-hour, MWh); and (3) validate and apply this method to CSP power plants within the U.S. In the Western U.S., CSP projects are sited in Arizona, California, and Nevada. Project infrastructure can be disaggregated into the following physical elements: mirrors (“heliostats”), generators, internal roads, external roads, substations, and water bodies. Of these elements, results reveal that mirrors are the most land intensive element of CSP infrastructure (>90%). Median land transformation and capacity-based land-use efficiency are 0.4 (range of 0.3–6.8) m2/MWh and 40 (range of 11–48) W/m2, respectively. Soil grading and other site preparation disturbances may result in the release of both organic and inorganic carbon—the latter representing the majority stocks in deeper caliche layers—thus leading to potentially significant losses of stored carbon. We estimate three scenarios of soil carbon loss into the atmosphere across 30 years, based on land transformation in m2per megawatt-hour (m2/MWh) and carbon stock in kilograms of carbon per megawatt-hour (kg C/MWh). Results reveal that potential belowground CO2released may range from 7 to 137% of total life cycle CO2emissions. While this study takes a simplistic approach to estimating loss of carbon, the broad methodology provides a valuable baseline for improving comparative analyses of land-related endpoint impacts across energy technologies and other product systems.
Simulation of diffusive solute transport in heterogeneous porous media with dipping anisotropy
Authors: Su Danyang , Xie Mingliang , Mayer Klaus Ulrich , MacQuarrie Kerry T. B.
Published: October 2022

Dipping anisotropy is a common feature in heterogeneous porous media that can substantially affect solute transport. For problems with complex geometry the influence of dipping anisotropy must be analyzed using numerical models, since suitable analytical solutions are not available. The most straightforward approach is to use a Cartesian coordinate system aligned with the material coordinate system. However, this approach is usually not practical, especially in 3D simulation domains with dipping layers and heterogeneous material properties. Furthermore, in the case of diffusion-dominated transport, the effect of anisotropy is often neglected. In this research, a general-purpose, fully 3-D unstructured grid code was developed to simulate diffusion-dominated solute transport in systems with dipping anisotropy, while accounting for complex geometry. The code has been verified against both 2-D and 3-D analytical solutions and has then been applied to two anisotropic diffusion problems, including an in-situ diffusion experiment and a hypothetical deep geologic repository, respectively. The simulation results indicate that consideration of anisotropy is required if the solute distribution in the rock matrix is of importance, in particular for assessing long-term evolution in layered systems. The formulation presented provides a versatile method for assessing diffusion-dominated solute transport in systems with dipping anisotropy subject to complex geometry.
A comparative analysis of sustainability of the usual food intakes of the Iranian population, Iranian food-based dietary guidelines, and optimized dietary models
Authors: Sobhani Seyyed Reza , Edalati Sareh , Eini-Zinab Hassan , Kennedy Gina , Omidvar Nasrin
Published: October 2022

Promoting sustainable diets might contribute toward achieving sustainable development goals. Considering the importance of national food-based dietary guidelines (FBDGs), this study aimed to assess and compare the sustainability dimensions of the usual Iranian dietary intakes with sustainable optimal diets based on Iranian (2006 and 2015 versions), Mediterranean, and vegetarian FBDGs. The usual dietary intakes of Iranian households were estimated using household expenditure survey data. Diet sustainability, including environmental (water, carbon, and land) footprints, cost, and nutrient-rich food (NRF) index, was calculated for the usual diet and compared with those of different FBDGs. Using linear and goal programming, optimal food models were calculated by minimizing environmental footprints and cost and maximizing NRF simultaneously for each FBDG, while maintaining nutritional considerations recommended by the FBDGs. Replacing the usual dietary intake of Iranians with the optimal diet based on the 2016 Iranian FBDG was associated with reductions equal to 20.9% for water footprint, 22.48% for carbon footprint, 20.39% for land footprint, 31.83% for cost, and 7.64% increase in NRF index. The optimal model based on the 2016 Iran FBDG was 10% more sustainable compared with the 2005 version. Changing the usual consumption of Iranians to the optimal model based on the Mediterranean pyramid was accompanied by the highest NRF index, lower environmental footprints, and cost compared to other models. The recent Iranian FBDG, compared with the older one, was more sustainable. Considering the dimensions of a sustainable diet for future FBDG revisions is recommended.
A retrospective study of the mid-term efficacy of full-endoscopic annulus fibrosus suture following lumbar discectomy
Authors: Wang Zhenfei , Huang Sen , Xu Long , Bu Jinhui , Liu Guangpu , Wang Hui , Liang Jun , Xia Mengjiao , Chen Tao , Ma Chao , Dai Kerong , Liu Guangwang
Published: October 2022

Aims

Full-endoscopic discectomy is associated with a high risk of disc reherniation due to the poor mechanical strength of the annulus fibrosus after scar healing. It is technically difficult to place a full-endoscopic annulus fibrosus suture. We designed an annulus fibrosus suture device that can be used to suture annulus defects under microendoscopy. The present study investigated the safety and feasibility of this technology.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of patients who underwent surgical treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) from January 2018 to October 2020. We compared 40 patients with LDH treated with full-endoscopic annulus fibrosus suture following lumbar discectomy (LD + AFS group) with 42 patients treated with lumbar discectomy alone (LD group) regarding demographic data, symptoms, and recurrence and reoperation rates. Lumbar MRI and CT were performed 3 and 12 months. A 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) was used to evaluate pain and the lumbar spine function.

Results

The cohort comprised 82 patients, including 40 patients in the LD + AFS group and 42 in the LD group. All operations were successfully completed without serious complications. Reherniation occurred in no patients in the LD + AFS group and three patients in the LD group. The VAS scores for lumbar and leg pain and ODI score were significantly improved postoperatively (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Compared with conventional lumbar discectomy, full-endoscopic annulus fibrosus suture following full-endoscopic lumbar discectomy is a safe and effective minimally invasive technique that reduces the LDH recurrence rate.
Fatal cases involving new psychoactive substances and trends in analytical techniques
Authors: Ferrari Júnior Ettore , Leite Bruno Henrique Monteiro , Gomes Eliude Barbosa , Vieira Tales Mateus , Sepulveda Pedro , Caldas Eloisa Dutra
Published: October 2022

New psychoactive substances (NPS) are an emerging public health issue and deaths are commonly associated with polydrug abuse. Moreover, the number of new substances available is constantly increasing, causing intoxications in low doses, characteristics that impose to toxicology and forensic laboratories to keep routine methods up to date, with high detectability and constantly acquiring new analytical standards. Likewise, NPS metabolites and respective elimination pathways are usually unknown, making it difficult the detection and confirmation of the drug involved in the fatal case in an analytical routine. A literature search was performed on PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science databases for papers related to chromatographic analyses from fatal cases related to NPS use published from 2016 to 2021. A total of 96 papers were retrieved and reviewed in this study. Opioids, synthetic cathinones, phenethylamines/amphetamines and cannabinoids were the NPS classes most found in the fatal cases. In many cases, multiple compounds were detected in the biological samples, including prescription and other illegal drugs. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, an alternative to overcome the gas chromatography–mass spectrometry limitations for some compounds, was the analytical technique most used in the studies, and high resolution mass spectrometry was often applied to NPS metabolite investigation and structural characterization and identification of unknown compounds. Toxicological screening and quantitation methods need to be continuously updated to include new substances that are emerging on the drug market that can be fatal at very low doses.
Antimicrobial resistance and associated genetic background of Histophilus somni isolated from clinically affected and healthy cattle
Authors: Ueno Yuichi , Suzuki Kenta , Takamura Yuji , Hoshinoo Kaori , Takamatsu Daisuke , Katsuda Ken
Published: October 2022

Histophilus somni, a member of the Pasteurellaceae family, causes various diseases, including thrombotic meningoencephalitis and respiratory diseases. Here, 166 isolates recovered from Japanese cattle with various diseases between the late 1970s and the 2010s were subjected to susceptibility testing against 14 antimicrobials (ampicillin, amoxicillin, cefazolin, ceftiofur, kanamycin, streptomycin, nalidixic acid, enrofloxacin, danofloxacin, florfenicol, erythromycin, tylosin, oxytetracycline, and fosfomycin). The proportions of antimicrobial-resistant/intermediate isolates were low in the total isolates, with resistance rates ranging from 0% for ceftiofur and florfenicol to 13.2% for ampicillin. However, relatively high minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and resistance/intermediate rates were observed in the isolates from cattle with respiratory diseases; i.e., 21/53 isolates (39.6%) showed resistance or intermediate to one or more antimicrobials for treatment of respiratory diseases, and the resistance/intermediate rates to oxytetracycline, kanamycin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, nalidixic acid, and danofloxacin were 28.3, 24.5, 24.5, 13.2, 1.9, and 1.9%, respectively. Isolates with high MICs tended to possess antimicrobial resistance genes, which may confer antimicrobial resistance phenotypes. In particular, all isolates with MICs of ampicillin/amoxicillin, kanamycin, and oxytetracycline ≥2 μg/mL, ≥512 μg/mL, and ≥4 μg/mL possessed blaROB − 1, aphA-1, and tetH/tetR, respectively, whereas isolates whose MICs were lower than the above-mentioned values did not possess these resistance genes. These results suggest that the resistance genes detected in this study are primarily responsible for the reduced susceptibility of H. somni strains to these antimicrobials. As integrative and conjugative element (ICEs)-associated genes were detected only in genetically related isolates possessing antimicrobial resistance genes, ICEs may play an important role in the spread of resistance genes in some genetic groups of H. somni strains.
Limits of Fluid Modeling for High Pressure Flow Simulations
Authors: Longmire Nelson P. , Banuti Daniel T.
Published: October 2022

Flows in liquid propellant rocket engines (LRE) are characterized by high pressures and extreme temperature ranges, resulting in complex fluid behavior that requires elaborate thermo-physical models. In particular, cubic equations of state and dedicated models for transport properties are firmly established for LRE simulations as a way to account for the non-idealities of the high-pressure fluids. In this paper, we review some shortcomings of the current modeling paradigm. We build on the common study of property errors, as a direct measure of the density or heat capacity accuracy, to evaluate the quality of cubic equations of state with respect to pseudo boiling of rocket-relevant fluids. More importantly, we introduce the sampling error as a new category, measuring how likely a numerical scheme is to capture real fluid properties during a simulation, and show how even reference quality property models may lead to errors in simulations because of the failure of our numerical schemes to capture them. Ultimately, a further evolution of our non-ideal fluid models is needed, based on the gained insight over the last two decades.
Dynamics Modeling and Characterization of Sunk Screw Connection Structure in Small Rockets
Authors: Zhang Xiaotian , Wang Ruiqing , Li Xiaogang , Lu Chengyang , Wang Zhengkang , Wang Wenlong
Published: October 2022

Bolted flange joints are widely used in engineering structures. Sunk screw connection structures commonly used in small rockets and missiles exhibit significant nonlinear characteristics when subjected to forces. In this article, a study of the dynamic characteristics of sunk screw connection is conducted. A 3-dof trilinear dynamic model is proposed, based on the study of the stiffness characteristics of the connection structure and considering contact nonlinearities. The connection surface is simplified as two axial trilinear springs and a lateral linear spring. The motion of the system can be divided into nine regions by the turning point of the trilinear springs. So that the motion of the system in each region can be completely resolved, the dynamic characteristics of the 3-dof trilinear system under impulse load and simple harmonic load are studied by means of semi-numerical analytical method. It is found that the response frequency of the system remains unchanged under a small impulse load, and the response can be obtained by approximate analytical expressions. When the impulse load is large, the response frequency is fluctuant, which reflects the sensitivity of the nonlinear system to the magnitude of impulse load. Under the simple harmonic excitation of bending moment, the response frequency curve of the system presents good single peak characteristics when the excitation amplitude is small. When the amplitude is large, the peak frequency of the system shifts, and the phenomenon of multi-peak resonance is shown in a certain range.
Water-Salt Thresholds of Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) under Film Drip Irrigation in Arid Saline-Alkali Area
Authors: Li Yunfeng , Feng Quanqing , Li Dongwei , Li Mingfa , Ning Huifeng , Han Qisheng , Hamani Abdoul Kader Mounkaila , Gao Yang , Sun Jingsheng
Published: October 2022

Crop models are valuable tools for exploring the responses of crops to changes in environmental factors, and have been widely used to analyze the response of crops to varying soil water content and salinity levels in extreme drought and high salinity conditions. To obtain suitable water-salt thresholds and the total irrigation amount for cotton in the arid oasis of southern Xinjiang, the AquaCrop model was calibrated and validated using measured data from 2020 and 2021 (total irrigation amount: 255–480 mm; initial soil salinity levels: 0.2–0.6%). With the same initial soil water content, when the initial soil salinity < 7 dS/m, cotton yield did not significantly change under different levels of total irrigation amount, while when the initial soil salinity was 10 dS/m, there was a significant difference in cotton yield with a total irrigation amount > 300 mm. The total irrigation amount of 375 mm is the threshold for cotton at the low-salinity treatment, while it increases to 450 mm at the high-salinity treatment. Based on cotton performance with the AquaCrop model, the threshold values of soil salinity were 7, 9.3, 8.2 and 9.3 dS/m (ECe) during the cotton stage of seedling, squaring, flower-boll and maturity, respectively. The total irrigation amount of 450 to 500 mm could achieve a win-win scenario for both cotton yield and water use efficiency under sandy loam soil. In summary, this study can serve as a reference for regulating water and salt in arid saline-alkali regions.
Green Synthesis of Gold Nanoflowers Using Rosmarinus officinalis and Helichrysum italicum Extracts: Comparative Studies of Their Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activities
Authors: Ertas Onmaz Nurhan , Demirezen Yilmaz Dilek , Imre Kálmán , Morar Adriana , Gungor Candan , Yilmaz Seyda , Gundog Dursun , Dishan Adalet , Herman Viorel , Gungor Guven
Published: October 2022

This study was concerned with the green synthesis of gold nanoflowers (AuNFs) using the bioactive constituents of Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) and Helichrysum italicum (immortelle) extracts, as reducer and stabilizer agents along with the determination of their antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against E. coli, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis. The AuNFs were characterized using STEM, UV–Vis, DLS, ZETA, FESEM-EDX, and FTIR techniques. The antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of the AuNFs were evaluated by microdilution broth and microtiter plate (MTP) tests, respectively. STEM and DLS analysis confirmed the flower-like morphology of gold nanoparticle clusters of R. officinalis-AuNFs (R-AuNFs) and H. italicum-AuNFs (H-AuNFs) with a size of 20–130 nm and 15–90 nm, respectively. The MICs of R-AuNFs were found to be 40 µg/mL for E. coli and S. epidermidis and 160 µg/mL for S. aureus. The MICs of H-AuNFs against all bacterial strains were 20 µg/mL. All tested AuNFs exhibited a strong dose-dependent antibiofilm activity against the test strains, and H-AuNFs was more effective than R-AuNFs. The green synthesis of AuNFs from the rosemary and immortelle extracts can be applied as a potential agent to overcome the growth of biofilm-producing microorganisms in food industries.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Regarding Antibiotic Use and Resistance for Upper Respiratory Tract Infections among the Population Attending a Mass Gathering in Central India: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Nguyen Ngoc V. , Marothi Yogyata , Sharma Megha
Published: October 2022

Background: Good knowledge and appropriate attitude and practice about antibiotic use and resistance among the general population, are significant contributors to minimize the development of antibiotic resistance. We aimed to study the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding antibiotic use, resistance to upper respiratory tract infections (URTI), and associated factors with KAP, among the population attending a mass gathering in India. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2016 during a mass gathering held in Ujjain city of Central India. A self-administered, pre-tested questionnaire consisting of 28 questions was used to collect data on demographic characteristics, KAP related to antibiotic use, resistance, and URTI. Descriptive analyses were used to describe participants’ responses. Participants were divided into poor or good knowledge and appropriate or inappropriate groups of attitude and practice. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to examine the associations between demographic characteristics, URTI knowledge, and each domain of KAP. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata 16.0. The significance level was set at 5%. Results: A total of 1915 participants consented to participate (response rate 92.7%) with a mean age of 39.3 (±14.7). Complete data on socio-demographics were available for 1619 participants. Of these, 59% were male, and 61% had an education level below high school. Eighty-nine percent of participants had poor knowledge about URTI. A majority of the respondents defined antibiotics incorrectly (93%) and were classified as having poor knowledge (97%). Most of the participants (63%) could not mention any contributors to the irrational use of antibiotics. Appropriate attitudes were observed in 40% of participants, 87% denied to comply with the prescribed course of antibiotics and 88.5% had inappropriate responses for practice. Age of the respondent, sex, education, occupation, and knowledge about URTI, were the main factors associated with the KAP. Conclusions: KAP about antibiotic use and resistance among the general population in India was poor. Knowledge about URTI is strongly associated with KAP. Community interventions, i.e., educational campaigns, should be designed and implemented promptly considering the differences in demographics of the target audience.