bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Wind, waves, and surface currents in the Southern Ocean: Observations from the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition
Authors: Derkani Marzieh H. , Alberello Alberto , Nelli Filippo , Bennetts Luke G. , Hessner Katrin G. , MacHutchon Keith , Reichert Konny , Aouf Lotfi , Khan Salman Saeed , Toffoli Alessandro
Published: October 2020

Abstract. The Southern Ocean has a profound impact on the Earth's climate system. Its strong winds, intense currents, and fierce waves are critical components of the air-sea interface and contribute to absorbing, storing, and releasing heat, moisture, gasses, and momentum. Owing to its remoteness and harsh environment, this region is significantly under sampled, hampering the validation of prediction models and large scale observations from satellite sensors. Here, an unprecedented data set of simultaneous observations of winds, surface currents, and ocean waves is presented, to address the scarcity of in situ observations in the region – https://doi.org/10.26179/5ed0a30aaf764 (Alberello et al., 2020c), and https://doi.org/10.26179/5e9d038c396f2 (Derkani et al., 2020). Records were acquired underway during the Antarctic Circumnavigation Expedition (ACE), which went around the Southern Ocean from December 2016 to March 2017 (Austral summer). Observations were obtained with the wave and surface current monitoring system WaMoS-II, which scanned the ocean surface around the vessel using marine radars. Measurements were assessed for quality control and compared against available satellite observations. The data set is the most extensive and comprehensive collection of observations of surface process for the Southern Ocean and has the potential to support further theoretical and numerical research on lower atmosphere, air-sea interface and upper ocean processes.
Hydrology modelling R packages: a unified analysis of models and practicalities from a user perspective
Authors: Astagneau Paul C. , Thirel Guillaume , Delaigue Olivier , Guillaume Joseph H. A. , Parajka Juraj , Brauer Claudia C. , Viglione Alberto , Buytaert Wouter , Beven Keith J.
Published: October 2020

Abstract. Following the rise of R as a scientific programming language, the increasing requirement for more transferable research, and the growth of data availability in hydrology, R packages containing hydrological models are becoming more and more available to hydrologists. Corresponding to the core of the hydrological studies workflow, their value is increasingly meaningful regarding the reliability of methods and results. Despite package and model distinctiveness, no study has ever provided a comparison of R packages for conceptual rainfall-runoff modelling from a user perspective, contrasting their philosophy, model characteristics and ease of use. We have selected eight packages based on our ability to consistently run their models on simple hydrology modelling examples. We have uniformly analysed the exact structure of seven of the hydrological models integrated in these R packages in terms of conceptual storages and fluxes, spatial discretisation, data requirements and output provided. The analysis showed that very different modelling choices are associated with these packages, which emphasises various hydrological concepts. These specificities are not always sufficiently well explained by the package documentation. Therefore a synthesis of the package functionalities was performed from a user perspective. This synthesis helps inform selection of what packages could/should be used depending on the problem at hand. In this regard, technical features, documentation, R implementations and computational times were investigated. Moreover, by providing a framework for package comparison, this study is a step forward towards supporting more transferable and reusable methods and results for hydrological modelling in R.
Modeling volcanic ash aggregation processes and related impacts on the April–May 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull volcano with WRF-Chem
Authors: Egan Sean D. , Stuefer Martin , Webley Peter W. , Lopez Taryn , Cahill Catherine F. , Hirtl Marcus
Published: October 2020

Abstract. Volcanic eruptions eject ash and gases into the atmosphere that can contribute to significant hazards to aviation, public and environment health, and the economy. Several volcanic ash transport and dispersion (VATD) models are in use to simulate volcanic ash transport operationally, but none include a treatment of volcanic ash aggregation
processes. Volcanic ash aggregation can greatly reduce the atmospheric
budget, dispersion and lifetime of ash particles, and therefore its impacts. To enhance our understanding and modeling capabilities of the ash
aggregation process, a volcanic ash aggregation scheme was integrated into
the Weather Research Forecasting with online Chemistry (WRF-Chem) model.
Aggregation rates and ash mass loss in this modified code are calculated
in line with the meteorological conditions, providing a fully coupled
treatment of aggregation processes. The updated-model results were compared
to field measurements of tephra fallout and in situ airborne measurements of ash particles from the April–May 2010 eruptions of Eyjafjallajökull
volcano, Iceland. WRF-Chem, coupled with the newly added aggregation code,
modeled ash clouds that agreed spatially and temporally with these in situ
and field measurements. A sensitivity study provided insights into the
mechanics of the aggregation code by analyzing each aggregation process
(collision kernel) independently, as well as by varying the fractal
dimension of the newly formed aggregates. In addition, the airborne lifetime (e-folding) of total domain ash mass was analyzed for a range of fractal dimensions, and a maximum reduction of 79.5 % of the airborne ash lifetime was noted.
Annual flood damage influenced by El Niño in the Kan River basin, Iran
Authors: Hooshyaripor Farhad , Faraji-Ashkavar Sanaz , Koohyian Farshad , Tang Qiuhong , Noori Roohollah
Published: October 2020

Abstract. Although many studies have explored the effect of teleconnection patterns on floods, few investigations have focused on the assessment of expected flood damage under such large-scale atmospheric signals. This study aims to determine the effect of the most emblematic teleconnection, El Niño, on the expected damage due to floods with short return periods in the Kan River basin, Iran. To determine the flood damage costs, the median of annual precipitation changes (ΔP) during El Niño conditions was used, although ΔP cannot necessarily be transferred to extreme values. Then the flooded area was determined under the increased rainfall due to El Niño for 5-, 10-, and 50-year return periods. The results showed that El Niño has increased the annual precipitation by 12.2 %. Flood damage assessment using damage–depth curves showed that the relative increase in expected damage during El Niño conditions is much higher for short return period floods than that for long return period floods. In general, a 12.2 % increase in the annual precipitation would increase the damage by 1671 % and 176 %, respectively, for the return periods of 5 and 10 years. However, in the case of a 50-year flood, this increased percentile decreased to 52 %. These results indicate the importance of small flood events in flood management planning during El Niño.
Cascade effect of rock bridge failure in planar rock slides: explicit numerical modelling with a distinct element code
Authors: Delonca Adeline , Gunzburger Yann , Verdel Thierry
Published: October 2020

Abstract. Plane failure along inclined joints is a classical mechanism involved in rock slopes movements. It is known that the number, size and position of rock bridges along the potential failure plane are of main importance when assessing slope stability. However, the rock bridges failure phenomenology itself has not been comprehensively understood up to now. In this study, the propagation cascade effect of rock bridges failure leading to catastrophic block sliding is studied and the influence of rock bridges position in regard to the rockfall failure mode (shear or tensile) is highlighted. Numerical modelling using the distinct element method (UDEC-ITASCA) is undertaken in order to assess the stability of a 10 m3 rock block lying on an inclined joint with a dip angle of 40° or 80°. The progressive failure of rock bridges is simulated assuming a Mohr–Coulomb failure criterion and considering stress transfers from a failed bridge to the surrounding ones. Two phases of the failure process are described: (1) a stable propagation of the rock bridge failures along the joint and (2) an unstable propagation (cascade effect) of rock bridges failures until the block slides down. Additionally, the most critical position of rock bridges has been identified. It corresponds to the top of the rock block for a dip angle of 40° and to its bottom for an angle of 80°.
Quaternary lava tubes distribution in Jeju Island and their potential deformation risks
Authors: Kim Jungrack , Lin Shih-Yuan , Oh Jong-woo
Published: October 2020

Abstract. Jeju Island, located in the southern sea of the Korean Peninsula, is a volcanic island created by the tertiary and quaternary volcanic eruptions. A group of lava tubes formed between quaternary lava flows constitutes one of the most predominant geological contexts owing to its unique and complex network, for which a total of 178 lava tubes is estimated. As a significant portion of lava caves have not been discovered, the threat caused by lava cave collapse has become one of the major concerns in connection with the recent infrastructure construction in Jeju Island. Considering the risk potential, the overall distribution and collapsing risk of the Jeju lava tube network were investigated in this study. Through spatial analysis, we firstly found that the lava tubes distribution is not correlated with specific geological units. Secondly, the risk of collapse is high especially when there are ongoing artificial constructions around the undisclosed lava tube network. We therefore introduced Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) techniques to measure the deformation of the ground surface where lava tube networks distributed underground. InSAR results and the proposed machine learning applications identified that the populations of ground deformations was up to 1–2 mm/year and was inferred to be caused by the instability of the shallow lava cavity. Given that underground cavities could pose serious risks, a detailed physical exploration and threat assessment of potential cave groups is required before intensive anthropogenic construction is developed.
Variability in glacier albedo and links to annual mass balance for the gardens of Eden and Allah, Southern Alps, New Zealand
Authors: Dowson Angus J. , Sirguey Pascal , Cullen Nicolas J.
Published: October 2020

Abstract. The gardens of Eden and Allah (GoEA) are two of New Zealand's
largest ice fields. However, their remote location and protected conservation
status have limited access and complicated monitoring and research efforts.
To improve our understanding of the spatial and temporal changes in mass
balance of these unique ice fields, observations from the Moderate Resolution
Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensors are used to monitor annual minimum
glacier-wide albedo (α¯yrmin) over the
period 2000–2018. The α¯yrmin for 12
individual glaciers ranges between 0.42 and 0.70 and can occur as early as
mid-January and as late as the end of April. The evolution of the timing of
α¯yrmin indicates a shift to later in
the summer over the 19-year period on 10 of the 12 glaciers. However, there
is only a weak relationship between the delay in timing and the magnitude of
α¯yrmin, which implies that albedo is
not necessarily lower if it is delayed. The largest negative departures in
α¯yrmin (lower-than-average albedo) are
consistent with high snowline altitudes (SLAs) relative to the long-term
average as determined from the End of Summer Snowline (EOSS) survey, which
has been the benchmark for monitoring glaciers in the Southern Alps for over
40 years. While the record of α¯yrmin
for Vertebrae Col 25, an index glacier of the EOSS survey and one of the
GoEA glaciers, explains less than half of the variability observed in the
corresponding EOSS SLA (R2=0.43, p=0.003), the relationship is
stronger when compared to other GoEA glaciers. Angel Glacier has the
strongest relationship with EOSS observations at Vertebrae Col 25,
accounting for 69 % of its variance (p<0.001). A key advantage
in using the α¯yrmin approach is that
it enables variability in the response of individual glaciers to be
explored, revealing that topographic setting plays a key role in addition to
the regional climate signal. The observed variability in individual glacier
response at the scale of the GoEA contrasts with the high consistency of
responses found by the EOSS record across the Southern Alps and challenges
the suggestion that New Zealand glaciers behave as a unified climatic
unit. MODIS imagery acquired from the Terra and Aqua platforms also
provides insights about the spatial and temporal variability in clouds. The
frequency of clouds in pixels west of the Main Divide is as high as 90 %
during summer months and reaches a minimum of 35 % in some locations in
winter. These complex cloud interactions deserve further attention as they
are likely a contributing factor in controlling the spatial and temporal
variability in glacier response observed in the GoEA.
Intestinal Parasites and Theta Brainwave Changes in Children
Authors: Davoudi Massomeh , Rafiei Sefiddashti Raheleh , Meamar Ahmadreza , Toreyhi Somayeh , Hadighi Ramtin
Published: October 2020

Background: Parasitic diseases are one of the health problems in all societies, especially in developing countries. Infection with parasites, especially in children, can be associated with learning disorders, malnutrition, anaemia, and physical disorders. On the other hand, an abnormal increase in the theta brainwave amplitude may also be one of the causes of mental slowness and disability in children’s learning, decentralization, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Objectives: In this study, we assessed the possible effects of intestinal parasites on brainwave changes in children in Karaj Health centers. Methods: A stool examination was done to separate healthy and infected children. Then, using a diagnostic interview and electroencephalography, the theta-wave was recorded in both groups. Results: From 69 children who participated in this study, 8.7% were infected with one or more intestinal parasites. Around 14.49% of all children had a high theta wave, but the interesting point was that 100% of infected children had a high theta brainwave (P value = 0.001). In contrast, only 6.34% of healthy people had high theta waves. Conclusions: In this study, there was a significant relationship between parasitic infection and brain wave changes. Parasitic diseases may alter brainwaves with unknown mechanisms and affect the ability and activities of the brain.
The Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies, Cognitive Flexibility, and Distress Tolerance in Death Anxiety Among Women with Hypertension: A Descriptive Correlation Study
Authors: Ghanbarpoor Ganjari Mehrdad , Khanmohammadzadeh Zahra , Nobakht Hanieh , Eslami Kenarsari Habib
Published: October 2020

Background: Death anxiety and its consequence are among the most important mental health issues that should be considered in hypertension patients. Some studies reported that cognitive emotion regulation strategies, cognitive flexibility, and distress tolerance, both influence and predict mental health. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the role of these variables on death anxiety among women with hypertension. Methods: This is a descriptive correlational study that was conducted on 150 women with hypertension who were referred to hospitals in Rasht in 2018. Participants were selected using the convenience sampling method. Death Anxiety scale (DAS), the Distress Tolerance scale (DTS), the cognitive flexibility inventory (CFI), and the short version of the Cognitive Emotion Regulation questionnaire (CERQ) were used to collect the data. Data were analyzed using both descriptive (means and standard deviations) and inferential (the Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression analysis) analyzes using SPSS. Results: Overall cognitive emotion regulation strategies (r = -0.20), refocus on planning (r = -0.28), acceptance (r = -0.35), positive reappraisal (r = -0.20), and putting into perspective (r = -0.42) had diverse significant relationships with death anxiety. In contrast, catastrophizing (r = 0.19), rumination (r = 0.19), and self-blame (r = 0.16) had direct significant correlations. Besides, overall cognitive flexibility (r = 0.61), controllability (r = -0.21), alternatives (r = -0.44), behavioral justification (r = -0.23), overall distress tolerance (r = -0.21), tolerance (r = -0.18), appraisal (r = -0.15), and regulation (r = -0.17) had diverse significant correlations with death anxiety; however, absorption (r = 0.52) had a direct significant relationship with death (P ≤ 0.05). The results of the stepwise regression analysis indicated that the research variables were could explain 71% of the variance in death anxiety (R2 = 0.71), and overall cognitive flexibility had the strongest role in explaining death anxiety (beta = -0.67), which was significant at the 1% level (P ≤ 0.0001). Conclusions: Based on the findings, cognitive emotion regulation strategies, cognitive flexibility, and distress tolerance were associated with death anxiety, and cognitive flexibility had the strongest role in predicting death anxiety.
Acute Improvement of Postural Steadiness Through Neuromuscular and Proprioceptive Training in Sedentary Older Females
Authors: Rezaeipour Mohammadreza , Apanasenko Gennady Leonidovich
Published: October 2020

Background: Poor balance ability will increase falling incidence. This study evaluated an acute improvement of postural steadiness through a neuromuscular and proprioceptive training (NPT) program in sedentary older females. Methods: Forty-eight sedentary females over the age of 65, who came to the Ukrainian center for sports medicine (Kiev) in the winter of 2018, volunteered for participation in this quasi-experimental study. Participants, who were derived from a convenience sample, were assigned at random to the NPT exercise group (n = 24; age = 70.1 ± 4.6; BMI = 22.34 kg/m2) and the seated rest group (n = 24; age = 69.3 ± 6.8; BMI = 22.47 kg/m2). The NPT exercise group held a modified NPT session for one hour and then finished it by cooling down for 5 minutes, while the seated rest group at the same time, stayed in a sitting position. The center of pressure (COP) in the static state in barefoot conditions was recorded with different visual conditions before and after the study from both groups in the two planes using a force platform. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was utilized to compare groups in addition to differences over time. Results: Significant interaction influences were found in the total mean velocity of COP swings (P = 0.004) and the mean velocity of COP swings in the mediolateral plane (P = 0.003) in the NTP exercise group when eyes were closed. Conclusions: A modified NPT program session improves the ability to balance age changes. This program has an acute positive effect on COP velocity swings in sedentary elderly females.
Determinacy of Content
Authors: Glock Hans-Johann ,   The Harvard Review of Philosophy
Published: October 2020

Few arguments against intentional states in animals have stood the test of time. But one objection by Stich and Davidson has never been rebutted. In my reconstruction it runs: Ascribing beliefs to animals is vacuous, unless something counts as an animal believing one specific “content” rather than another; Nothing counts as an animal believing one specific content rather than another, because of their lack of language; Ergo: Ascribing beliefs to animals is vacuous. Several attempts to block the argument challenge the first premise, notably the appeals to “naked” belief ascriptions and alternative representational formats. This essay defends the first premise and instead challenges the second premise. There are non-linguistic “modes of presentation”; these can be determined by attributing to animals specific needs and capacities—a “ hermeneutic ethology” based on lessons from the debate about radical translation/interpretation in the human case. On that basis we can narrow down content by exclusion. What remains is an “imponderability of the mental” which does not rule out attributions of intentional states to animals.
Molecular docking analysis of COX-2 for potential inhibitors
Authors:   Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai - 600 077, India, Selvaraj Jayaraman
Published: October 2020

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is liked with breast cancer. Therefore, it is of interest to design and develop new yet effective compounds against COX-2 from medicinal plants such as the natural alkaloid compounds. We document the optimal binding features of aristolochicacid with COX-2 protein for further consideration.
Protein targets in the red complex organisms binding with an herbal compound silymarin
Authors:   Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical & Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Saveetha University Chennai 600077, Tamilnadu, India, Faiz Nadhirah
Published: October 2020

Periodontitis is attributed to the dental biofilm formation caused by various microbial changes that occurs in the biofilm. Red complex organisms are a group of organisms linked with periodontal diseases. Therefore, it is of interest to identify potential targets from the red complex organisms to bind with the herbal compound silymarin. We report a list of potential proteins having optimal drug like binding features with the herbal agent silymarin for further consideration. We used the STITCH v.5 pipeline using VICMPred and VirulentPred tools to identify such targets as potential virulent factors in the red complex organisms. We considered the strains of Porphyromonas gingivalis ATCC 33277, Treponema denticola ATCC 35405 and Tannerella forsythia ATCC 43037 in the red complex pathogens for this analysis. Protein targets in the red complex organisms with optimal binding features with the herbal compound silymarin were thus identified and reported for further consideration.
Farmers Contribution to Agriculture in Rural Development of Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State, Nigeria
Authors: Umar M. R. , Suleiman I. J.
Published: October 2020

This study was carried out to access farmer’s contribution to Agriculture in Rural Development of Fufore LGA of Adamawa State, Nigeria. Seven wards within the LGA were selected (Ribadu, Gurin, Farang, Mayo-ine, Pariya, Karlahi and Yadim). Thirty (30) questionnaires were randomly distributed to the household in each ward selected through multi-state random sampling technique as primary data. A total of Two Hundred and Ten (210) farmers were selected for the study. Data were analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics and multiple regression models. Results show that Age, Marital status, Farm size, Family size, Education level have percentage ranging from 10-28.6, 13.3-31, 4-69, 5.2-31 and 15.2-37.6% respectively while Primary occupation, Access to credit, Number of extension visit and farm income percentage values ranged from 3.8-43.9, 15.7-25.7, 5.7-53.4 and 8.1-35.7% respectively.  The result further shows that the majority of the respondents are still in their youthful stage and 31% of them were married. The study further reveals that 69% of the respondents cultivate on 1-5 hectares of land, the result of the multiple regression analysis indicates that farm size was negative and significant at 5% level; Education level has a positive coefficient and significant at 1% level while access to credit coefficient was positive and significant at 5% level. The findings of the regression equation determine the manner towards farmer’s contribution to agriculture in rural development and examine the constraints militating farmer’s contributions to agriculture in the study area. Cob-Douglas function with R­2 value of 0.813 was chosen as the lead equation. Low price of farm output poor extension visits, market distance, is some of the major problems affecting the contribution of agriculture to the development of the study area. It was therefore recommended that there is need to train and provide farming equipment’s, agricultural credit should also provide the needed environment to foster rural development facilities in Fufore Local Government Area of Adamawa State.
Analysis of Characteristics, Technical and Perceptions on the Willingness to Use Tuberculosis (TB) Control Applications in Indonesia
Authors: Widianawati Evina , Kurniadi Arif , Pantiawati Ika
Published: October 2020

Background and Objectives: Indonesia has launched the Wifi TB application that serves as a monitoring and control tuberculosis (TB) cases since September 2018. This research aims to identify characteristics, perceptions, and technicalities on the willingness to use the Wifi TB application.

Methodology: This research was conducted by collecting data from 129 doctors in Semarang city, then carried out the descriptive analysis, factor analysis & logistics as data analysis techniques.

Results: The results showed that respondents with age> 45 years, DPM agencies, length of work> 10 years, perception benefit high, perception ease high, getting training and good technical implementation will be more chance to use the Wifi TB application, while gender and technical obstacle have a low impact on the use of the Wifi TB application. The use of the Wifi TB application is influenced by dominant factors, which is the perception of benefit, perception of ease, technical implementation, and training at 69%.

Conclusions: To increase users' Wifi TB application, there needs to be retraining and technical implementation of the Wifi TB application, also strengthening the perception of benefit and ease of respondents on the Wifi TB application.
Knowledge, Concern and Support for Policy on Adaptations to Impacts of Climate Change in Grand Bahamian
Authors: Joffre Feraldo D. , Jr. Berkley N. King
Published: October 2020

This study assessed the knowledge, concern and support of policy relative to climate change impacts of Grand Bahamians. Specifically the study assessed the awareness and concern of Grand Bahamians; examine the difference in participants’ awareness and concern of climate change impacts; analyze the factors that influence the awareness and concern of climate change impacts of participants; and assess the predictive ability of the Value Belief Norm Theory in relation to the participants’ intent to support policy for climate change issues. A survey questionnaire and focus group discussion were used for ata collection Findings showed that Grand Bahamians have a low level of scientific knowledge, a high level of concern regarding climate change and a strong intent to support policy for climate adaptation. Despite this low level of scientific knowledge, they have a developed experiential knowledge due to their frequent exposure to extreme climate events they perceive to be associated with climate change. The high level of concern influenced their desire to support policies aimed at adapting to the adverse impacts of climate change.
Assessing the Specificity of Paclitaxel towards the Marker Proteins of Breast Cancer Using In silico Molecular Docking Study
Authors: Kumar V. Senthil , Kumar T. V. Ajay , Parthasarathy V.
Published: October 2020

Breast cancer is highly prevalent next to lung cancer. Breast cancer occurs as a result of mutation in the genes like proto-oncogenes as well as tumor suppressor genes in a single clone of cells in the ductal and glandular regions of the breast. The drugs used to prevent breast cancer are Raloxifene hydrochloride and Tamoxifen citrate. The drugs used to treat breast cancer are Abemaciclib, Paclitaxel, Everolimus, Imatinib, Alpelisib, Anastrozole. Although several drug molecules had been developed, their specificity towards the potential breast cancer specific marker proteins such as activated threonine kinase 2/Protein kinase B (AKT2), cell division protein kinase 6 (CDK6), estrogen receptor (ER), human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2), and poly ADP ribose polymerase1 (PARP1) need to be studied in silico. The present study was undertaken 1) to assess the specificity of paclitaxel towards the breast cancer specific marker proteins using molecular docking analysis and 2) to identify various physico-chemical properties of drug molecules including absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME). The interaction between paclitaxel and the target proteins of breast cancer was analyzed using the Schrodinger Maestro Ver.2018.4. The results of the present study reveal that paclitaxel shows good binding interactions with the target proteins in the following order, ER > PARP1 > AKT2 >CDK6 > HER2. Among the five proteins, ER and PARP1 showed good binding interactions as compared to AKT2, CDK6 and HER2 proteins. The ADME properties of paclitaxel were predicted using QikProp module of Schrodinger Maestro version 2018.4. The present study warrant further studies which helps in the development of potent anticancer drug to treat breast cancer.
Faecal Carriage and Antibiotics Resistance Patterns of Campylobacter Species from HIV/AIDS Patients in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria
Authors: Falodun Olutayo Israel , Adesola Emmanuel Adedapo , Ademola Ebenezer Adewuyi , Bakarey Solomon A.
Published: October 2020

Background: As a result of the low immunosuppressive condition of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS), they are at greater risk of Campylobacter infections but the use of antibiotics tends to reduce incidence. However, though this has reduced the incidence of the infection, there is likely development of antibiotic resistance with them thereby becoming asymptomatic carriers of drug resistant Campylobacter species.

Aim: This study was carried out to determine the faecal carriage and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Campylobacter species isolated from HIV patients in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Methods: One Hundred stool samples were collected from HIV patients attending two Antiretroviral Clinics in Ibadan between February and March, 2017. Campylobacter species were isolated and identified using standard methods. Antibiotic susceptibility test of the isolates to amikacin, gentamycin, chloramphenicol, amoxicillin/clavulanate, cefixime, aztreonam, ciprofloxacin, cephalothin, nalidixic acid and ertapenem was done using disk diffusion method. 

Results: The prevalence of Campylobacter species in the stool samples of the HIV/AIDS patients was 68%. A total of one hundred and twenty isolates were identified as C. upsaliensis 32(26.7%), C. jejuni 30(25%), C. lari 23(19.2%), C. coli 20(16.7%), and C. fetus 15(12.5%). The antibiotics susceptibility pattern of these isolates showed that 97(80.8%), 88(73.3%), 82(68.3%), 9(7.5%), 9(7.5%) and 12 (10.8%) were resistant to gentamycin, chloramphenicol, cefixime, amikacin, ciprofloxacin and ertapenem respectively. Moreover, 102 (85.0%) of the isolates were found to be multidrug resistant.

Conclusions: The faecal carriage and high prevalence of antibiotic resistance of Campylobacter strains among the HIV/AIDS patients therefore present them as asymptomatic carrier and reservoir for dissemination of the bacteria.
CDR3 sequences in IgA nephropathy are shorter and exhibit reduced diversity
Authors: Zhang Xi , Zeng Jianming , Tong Yin , Zhang Li , Lu Xibin , Zhu Shenglang , Li Zhoufang
Published: October 2020

Immunoglobulin (Ig) A nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common glomerulonephritis, which is characterized by the deposition of IgA antibody in the glomerulus. Systematic dissection of immune composition may contribute to a better understanding of the alternations in the immune system in IgAN. To this end, here we applied immune repertoire sequencing technology for parallel analysis of the complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) of all B cell receptors, including all five antibody subtypes (IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE and IgD), in 13 patients with IgAN and 7 healthy individuals. A significant decrease in CDR3 length was observed in the IgAN group. In particular, the JH6 family was significantly increased in IgAN. Amino acid usage was also altered in IgAN. Shannon, Simpson, Gini and Diversity 50 indices also revealed significant differences in the diversity of IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies as compared with controls. The proportions of IgA and IgG were increased, whereas IgM was decreased in IgAN. Moreover, a greater number of CDR3 sequences was shared between patients with IgAN. These findings suggest that the BCR immune repertoire is dramatically altered in IgAN, as characterized by shortened CDR3 length, as well as decreased overall diversity of CDR3.
A feasibility study to estimate optimal rigid‐body registration using combinatorial rigid registration optimization (CORRO)
Authors: Yorke Afua A. , Solis David , Guerrero Thomas
Published: October 2020

Purpose

Clinical image pairs provide the most realistic test data for image registration evaluation. However, the optimal registration is unknown. Using combinatorial rigid registration optimization (CORRO) we demonstrate a method to estimate the optimal alignment for rigid‐registration of clinical image pairs.

Methods

Expert selected landmark pairs were selected for each CT/CBCT image pair for six cases representing head and neck, thoracic, and pelvic anatomic regions. Combination subsets of a k number of landmark pairs (k‐combination set) were generated without repeat to form a large set of k‐combination sets (k‐set) for k = 4,8,12. The rigid transformation between the image pairs was calculated for each k‐combination set. The mean and standard deviation of these transformations were used to derive final registration for each k‐set.

Results

The standard deviation of registration output decreased as the k‐size increased for all cases. The joint entropy evaluated for each k‐set of each case was smaller than those from two commercially available registration programs indicating a stronger correlation between the image pair after CORRO was used. A joint histogram plot of all three algorithms showed high correlation between them. As further proof of the efficacy of CORRO the joint entropy of each member of 30 000 k‐combination sets in k = 4 were calculated for one of the thoracic cases. The minimum joint entropy was found to exist at the estimated mean of registration indicating CORRO converges to the optimal rigid‐registration results.

Conclusions

We have developed a methodology called CORRO that allows us to estimate optimal alignment for rigid‐registration of clinical image pairs using a large set landmark point. The results for the rigid‐body registration have been shown to be comparable to results from commercially available algorithms for all six cases. CORRO can serve as an excellent tool that can be used to test and validate rigid registration algorithms.
Using organic amendments to stabilize sand‐based athletic fields during turfgrass establishment period
Authors: Drietz Thomas , Li Deying , Zhu Huishen , Chang Zhihui
Published: October 2020

Athletic fields often use sand‐based root zones for improved drainage. Sand‐based root zones may have stability issues if turfgrass is not fully established. Our objective was to use organic amendments to improve the stability of sand‐based fields during the turfgrass establishment period and avoid overuse of inorganic materials, which have negative effects. Coconut coir, peat, or wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) straw at 1% organic material, peat at 2% organic material, and an inorganic stabilizing fiber, StaLok were tested, in the top 10 cm of the root zone of a Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) playing surface. In addition, rates of wheat straw, up to 2.5% organic matter were tested. Surface hardness (Gmax), volumetric water content, traction, penetration resistance, and visual quality were measured 2–4 mo after construction of the plots. Surface hardness was greatest in the inorganic stabilizer (51.7–61.7 g) and the wheat straw treatments (49.7–55.9 g). The kinetic penetration had no differences between the wheat straw (33.78–51.10 kPa) and the StaLok fibers (34.99–56.23 kPa). The results showed that it was possible to use up to 2% straw to increase the resistance to deformation and increase soil moisture while keeping acceptable visual quality and the surface hardness below 80 g. The organic matter from straw degraded faster than peat and after 4 mo of the growing season <1.5% remained. Wheat straw could be used to stabilize sand‐based fields as an organic alternative to inorganic fibers.
Nitrogen fertilization rate and method influences water and nitrogen productivity of forage winter wheat
Authors: Lenssen Andrew W. , Sainju Upendra M. , Jones Clain , McVay Kent , Angvick Terry
Published: October 2020

Spring‐seeded annual forages are well adapted to the Great Plains; however, the influence of application rate and method of N fertilization on winter wheat (WW) (Triticum aestivum L.) forage productivity is unknown. A field study was conducted in a factorial design for 3 yr to determine the influence of N application rate and method on water and N productivity of awnletted WW ‘Willow Creek’. Urea was either broadcast or banded at planting using N fertilization rates of 0, 28, 56, and 84 kg N ha−1. The N application rate × method interaction was significant only for WW height. Weed herbage was low at WW forage harvest, 19 kg ha−1. As N fertilization rate increased from 0 to 84 kg N ha−1, wheat stem density and height increased by 70 and 78%, respectively, and herbage increased by 58%. Increased N rate increased WW water use quadratically, but water productivity (kg biomass ha−1 mm−1) was 68% greater at 84 kg N ha−1. However, N application method did not influence water use or productivity. Banded N application increased N accumulation in WW herbage by 11% compared to broadcast N. Increasing N rate reduced N productivity by 24% compared to 0 kg N ha−1. Willow Creek WW produced greater herbage yield as N fertilization rate increased with banded application. Willow Creek is a highly productive fall‐planted forage in this predominantly spring‐planted small grain–grain legume region.
Blood Metal Levels and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Risk: A Prospective Cohort
Authors: Peters Susan , Broberg Karin , Gallo Valentina , Levi Michael , Kippler Maria , Vineis Paolo , Veldink Jan , van den Berg Leonard , Middleton Lefkos , Travis Ruth C. , Bergmann Manuela M. , Palli Domenico , Grioni Sara , Tumino Rosario , Elbaz Alexis , Vlaar Tim , Mancini Francesca , Kühn Tilman , Katzke Verena , Agudo Antonio , Goñi Fernando , Gómez Jesús‐Humberto , Rodríguez‐Barranco Miguel , Merino Susana , Barricarte Aurelio , Trichopoulou Antonia , Jenab Mazda , Weiderpass Elisabete , Vermeulen Roel
Published: October 2020

Objective

Metals have been suggested as a risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but only retrospective studies are available to date. We compared metal levels in prospectively collected blood samples from ALS patients and controls, to explore whether metals are associated with ALS mortality.

Methods

A nested ALS case–control study was conducted within the prospective EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) cohort. Cases were identified through death certificates. We analyzed metal levels in erythrocyte samples obtained at recruitment, as a biomarker for metal exposure from any source. Arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, selenium, and zinc concentrations were measured by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry. To estimate ALS risk, we applied conditional logistic regression models.

Results

The study population comprised 107 cases (65% female) and 319 controls matched for age, sex, and study center. Median time between blood collection and ALS death was 8 years (range = 1–15). Comparing the highest with the lowest tertile, cadmium (odds ratio [OR] = 2.04, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08–3.87) and lead (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 0.97–3.67) concentrations suggest associations with increased ALS risk. Zinc was associated with a decreased risk (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.27–0.94). Associations for cadmium and lead remained when limiting analyses to noncurrent smokers.

Interpretation

This is the first study to compare metal levels before disease onset, minimizing reverse causation. The observed associations suggest that cadmium, lead, and zinc may play a role in ALS etiology. Cadmium and lead possibly act as intermediates on the pathway from smoking to ALS. ANN NEUROL 20209999:n/a–n/a
Precise Fixation of an NO Molecule inside Carbon Nanopores: A Long‐Range Electron–Nuclear Interaction
Authors: Hashikawa Yoshifumi , Hasegawa Shota , Murata Yasujiro
Published: October 2020

[60]Fullerene‐based carbon nanopores were synthesized to enable the placement of two molecules of nitric oxide (NO) at an accurate distance from one another. A linear orientation of the two NO molecules inside the assembled nanopores was confirmed crystallographically. Theoretical studies suggested possible free rotation inside the carbon nanopore, while the two conformations of NO in which its long axis was oriented toward the orifice of the nanopore were predicted to be dominant. The paramagnetic shifts caused by NO showed a major contribution from the Fermi contact mechanism. The Solomon–Bloembergen theory was found to describe well the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement of a water molecule in a paired nanopore even under equilibrium as a result of fixing of the NO molecule with a distance of approximately 12 Å, thus demonstrating a long‐range bimolecular magnetic interaction.
Shape‐controlled synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles for efficient dye photodegradation and antibacterial activities
Authors: Sehar Shama , Naz Iffat , Rehman Abdul , Sun Wuyang , Alhewairini Saleh S. , Zahid Muhammad Nauman , Younis Adnan
Published: October 2020

Herein, two‐shaped cerium oxide nanoparticles (NPs), that is, spherical and cubical, were synthesized through hydrothermal approach by tuning reaction temperatures. The morphology and structural and chemical composition of both samples were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high‐resolution TEM (HRTEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), respectively. Both types of NPs were subjected to photodegradation of industrial dye, methylene blue, under dark, sunlight, and UV irradiation, and their recyclability and reusability were also assessed. Besides, the effect of pH, concentration of NPs, and dye on degradability was also analyzed. The cubical‐shaped NPs demonstrated superior degradation of ~70% under UV irradiation than the spherical ones (<50%). The antibacterial activities of both NPs were also examined, and cubical‐shaped NPs were found to exhibit superior antimicrobial potential (zone of inhibition [ZOI]: 25.75 ± 0.25, 18.83 ± 0.76, 15.75 ± 0.66, and 15.75 ± 0.25 mm) in comparison with the spherical ones (ZOI: 19.41 ± 0.94, 14.25 ± 0.66, 12.58 ± 1.01, and 9.91 ± 1.01 nm) for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus respectively with reduced growth and viable count. This difference in performance may be attributed to the higher surface areas of cubical‐shaped NPs and higher content of oxygen vacancies. The results presented in this study suggest that cubical NPs are excellent candidates for treating industrial wastewater with greater reproducibility. Moreover, they can be used as active growth inhibitors against different microorganisms and thus can be extremely useful in developing medical devices and to design various antimicrobial systems.
The effect of grafting density on the crystallization behavior of one‐dimensional confined polymers
Authors: Zhang Shuihua , Ming Yongqiang , Wei Yangyang , Hao Tongfan , Nie Yijing , Zhou Zhiping
Published: October 2020

Grafting density and confinement scale of the nano‐area are significant elements affecting the crystallization behavior of polymers. In this work, the crystallization processes of confined and unconfined polymer systems with different grafting density were systematically studied by MC simulation. The results show that when the grafting density of confined systems is low, the crystallization rate is faster and the final crystallinity is higher. However, the crystallization ability is reduced for higher grafting density. We found that for this confined system, the segmental density of interfacial region is larger, and the movement of chain segment is lower. Due to the higher grafting density, the crowding effect of polymer chains is strong, which leads to the intermolecular nucleation. The critical nucleation free energy barrier is higher. Moreover, only homogeneous nucleation occurs in confined polymer systems. With the increasing grafting density, the crystals change from lying on the substrate surface to being perpendicular to the substrate surface in unconfined polymer systems. The crystals are mainly lying on the substrate surface in confined polymer systems. These simulation results are helpful to understand the microscopic mechanism of crystallization behaviors of polymer nanocomposites and provide a theoretical basis for the design of nanocomposites with excellent physical properties.
Influence of the addition of multi‐walled carbon nanotubes on the thermal and mechanical properties of polyamide‐11 before and after aging tests
Authors: de Salles Macena da Cruz Barbara , Tienne Lucas Galhardo Pimenta , Gondim Fernanda Fabbri , da Silva Candido Ludmila , Marques Maria de Fátima Vieira , Chaves Erica Gervasoni
Published: October 2020

In this work, the preparation and characterization of nanocomposites of commercial polyamide‐11 reinforced with multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), untreated, oxidized or with the modified surface through silanization with 3‐aminopropyl trimethoxy silane (APTMS), in concentrations of 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1.0 wt% in the polymer matrix was investigated. The processing of the nanocomposites was carried out via mixing in the molten state in a twin‐screw mini‐extruder at 200°C under 60 rpm screw rotation speed, with a residence time of 7 min. The addition of the MWCNT increased the thermal stability of PA11, predominantly with 0.5% of silanized nanotubes, as observed by the thermogravimetric analysis. X‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry analyses indicated that the degree of crystallinity of the formulations increased with the nanofiller content. On the other hand, the use of the highest concentration generated agglomerates, suggesting less dispersion in the matrix and, consequently, a reduction in crystallinity. Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis showed that the silanization process promoted an increase in both loss and storage moduli. All produced nanocomposites obtained values of corrected inherent viscosity above 1.20 dl/g, before and after the aging test. The use of lower load levels promoted better processability due to the lubricating effect of the nanotubes and an increase in the hydrophobic character of the samples, as observed by the increase of the contact angle.