bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Public Attention Reduced Forest Fires in the Brazilian Amazon
Authors: Araujo Rafael , Costa Francisco , Garg Teevrat
Published: August 2021

International frameworks and agreements to reduce anthropogenic environmental disasters rely on international pressure driving local action. Although environmental catastrophes can occasionally capture international attention, it is unclear if focused media and increased public outcry can reduce environmental damage. We study the unusual and concentrated increase in international scrutiny on forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon in August 2019. Comparing active fires in the Brazilian Amazon versus those in the Peruvian and Bolivian Amazon before and after a surge in public attention on the Brazilian Amazon, we find that increased public attention reduced fires by 22% (93,607 avoided pixel-days of active fire) avoiding 24.81 million MtCO2 in emissions. Our results highlight the power of international pressure to compel governments to act on pressing environmental issues, even in political contexts hostile to environmental priorities.
Research and Design the Thrust Fluctuation of Slotted-Tubular Permanent Magnet Linear Motor: an application on low frequency plastic forming equipment
Authors: Gao Jingzhou , Li Jingxiang , Zhao Shengdun , Du Wei , Jiang Fei , Zhenhao Zheng , Wu Xinchu
Published: August 2021

In this paper, a novel type of low frequency vibration plastic forming equipment is proposed, in which the slotted tubular permanent magnet synchronous liner motor (slotted – TPMLM) is the core component and plays the roles of power source and vibration source. So, this paper focuses on the research about the design of the slotted - TPMLM. The suppression and optimization of motor thrust fluctuation has always been a hot research issue. But that is not the purpose of this article. Here, the effect of the length of stator core on end force and the influence of the number of poles and slots on the cogging force are discussed in detail. The purpose is to design the thrust fluctuation of slotted – TPMLM reasonably so that the thrust fluctuation can be used in the low frequency plastic forming. The slotted – TPMLM is designed, manufactured, and tested. The experimental results show that the motor can output thrust with periodic fluctuation (low frequency, about 4.8 Hz), and the thrust fluctuation accounts for about 16.5% of the average thrust, which meets the metal low frequency vibration plastic forming requirements. Consequently, the low frequency vibration plastic forming equipment can be realized, which contributes to the field of the plastic forming.
The protective effects of melatonin in high glucose environment by alleviating autophagy and apoptosis on primary cortical neurons
Authors: Lijiao Xiong , Liu Song , Liu Chaoming , Guo Tianting , Huang Zhihua , Li Liangdong
Published: August 2021

Cognitive dysfunction has been regarded as a complication of diabetes. Melatonin shows a neuroprotective effect on various neurological diseases. However, it’s protective effect on cortical neurons in high glucose environment has not been reported. Our present study aims to observe the protective effect of melatonin on rat cortical neurons and its relationship with autophagy in high glucose environment. The rat primary cortical neurons damaged model was induced by high glucose. The CCK-8, flow cytometry, Western Blot and immunofluorescence methods were used to examine the cell viability, apoptosis rate and proteins expression. Our results showed that there were no differences in cell viability, apoptosis rate, and protein expression among the control MLT and mannitol group. The cell viability of the glucose group was significantly lower than that of the control group, and the apoptosis rate of the glucose group was significantly higher than that of the control group. Compared with the glucose group, the glucose + melatonin group showed a significant increase in cell viability and a notable decrease in apoptosis rate. Melatonin concentration of 0.1-1 mmol/L can significantly reduce the injury of cortical neurons by high glucose. Compared with the control group, the glucose group showed a significant reduction of Bcl-2 protein expression, while remarkable elevations of Bax, caspase-3, Beclin-1 and LC3B levels. The neurons pre-administered with melatonin obtained significantly reversed these changes induced by high glucose. The phosphorylation levels of Akt and mTOR in the glucose group were significantly lower than those in the control group, were significantly increased in the glucose + MLT group compared with the glucose group. These data indicated that melatonin has a neuroprotective effect on cortical neurons under high glucose environment, which may work by activating Akt/mTOR pathway and following the down-regulation of autophagy.
The effects of aerobic, strength, or mixed exercise programs on schizophrenia symptomatology: a randomized clinical trial with a 10-month follow-up
Authors: García-Garcés Laura , Sánchez-López María Inmaculada , Lacamara-Cano Sergio , Cebolla-Meliá Yago , Marqués-Azcona David , Biviá-Roig Gemma , Lisón Juan Francisco , Peyró-Gregori Loreto
Published: August 2021

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of three different physical exercise programs on the symptomatology, body composition, and physical fitness of individuals with schizophrenia. A total of 432 patients were assessed for eligibility and 86 were randomized into the aerobic (n = 28), strength (n = 29) or mixed (n = 29) groups. Positive, negative, and general symptoms of psychosis, body mass index (BMI), and physical fitness (6-minute walk test [6MWT] and hand-grip strength [HGS]) were assessed at baseline, post-intervention (16 weeks), and at 10-months. Our results at 16 weeks showed significant improvements in all three groups in the negative, general, and total symptoms with moderate to large effect sizes (P < 0.01, ηp2 > 0.11), no change in the BMI or 6MWT, and a significant improvement in the HGS test in the strength and mixed groups (P ≤ 0.05, ηp2 > 0.08). Nonetheless, all the improvements had disappeared at 10 months. We concluded that 3 weekly sessions of a moderate to vigorous progressive exercise program for 16 weeks improved the symptomatology of schizophrenic patients, regardless the type of exercise they performed. However, the effects had declined to baseline levels by the 10-month follow-up, suggesting that exercise interventions should be maintained over time.
Research on Road Performance of Asphalt Mixture With Iron Waste Ore
Authors: Fei Aiping , ZHANG TIEZHI , Ruan Zhongwei
Published: August 2021

In order to study the road performance of asphalt mixture with different kinds of iron waste ore , stripping waste rock rich in iron trioxide and stripping waste rock rich in iron oxide are used as aggregate to make the mixture.Through the test comparison, it is confirmed that the dynamic stability performance of asphalt concrete mixture mixed with iron trioxide mining and stripping waste rock is the best, namely its high temperature stability is best; followed by the one mixed with waste rock rich in iron trioxide. The residue stability of asphalt concrete mixed with mining and stripping waste rock increases obviously. It can found from the experiments that the residual stability can be up to 94.96% which kinds of asphalt mixture with waste rock rich in iron trioxide. Asphalt mixture mixed with stripping waste rock has a better anti-sliding performance than the common one, among which the one mixed with aggregates rich in iron trioxide is the best. Through tectonic depth, it is reflected that it also has a better performance on drainage noise reduction. In conclusion, using mining and stripping waste rock instead of mining gravel has a good economic efficiency,but also solved the problem of mining and stripping waste rock accumulation.
A Systematic Review Protocol to Establish Plasmodium Falciparum Genetic Diversity, Multiplicity of Infection, Genotyping Approaches, and Methods of Reporting It in Africa.
Authors: Mwesigwa Alex , Nankabirwa Joaniter Immaculate , Nsobya Samuel Lubwama , Karamagi Charles , Castelnuovo Barbara , Byakika-Kibwika Pauline
Published: August 2021

BackgroundP. falciparum is the most important Plasmodium species that causes high malaria morbidity and mortality. The distribution of diverse and multiple P. falciparum infections is a major setback to the control and eventual elimination of malaria globally. Little efforts have been made to systematically establish P. falciparum genetic diversity and multiplicity of infection (MOI) in African settings. Additionally, the choice of an effective P. falciparum genotyping approach for a specific endemic setting remains a challenge. The review aims to establish P. falciparum genetic diversity MOI, genotyping approaches, and methods of reporting it in Africa. This will aid the evaluation of the impact of malaria control interventions and development of new control strategies.MethodsThe review will consider Randomized Clinical Trials (RCTs), Quasi-experiments, Cross-sectional studies, Cohort and Case-control studies about P. falciparum genetic diversity and MOI. A literature search will be conducted in PubMed, Google scholar and MEDLINE databases for articles published from January 2010 to December 2020. Articles will be screened using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. Risk of bias in RCTs will be assessed using Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool while New Castle Ottawa tools will be used to assess the risk of bias in observational studies. Publication bias will be assessed using a funnel plot as well as Begg and Mazumdar's rank correlation test or Egger's test. The Higgins I2 statistic and Galbraith plots will be used to assess heterogeneity. A meta-regression analysis will be performed to explain the low heterogeneity. DiscussionThe findings from the study will enhance our understanding of the distribution and dynamics of P. falciparum genetic diversity and MOI. This will provide insights to the changing landscape of malaria transmission and evaluation of malaria control interventions. Findings will also serve as baseline data for future studies on parasite population structure and antimalarial drug resistance surveillance across African countries.
Solid-State Optical Properties of Self-Assembling Amyloid-Like Peptides with Different Charged States at the Terminal Ends
Authors: Schiattarella Chiara , Diaferia Carlo , Gallo Enrico , Ventura Bartolomeo Della , Morelli Giancarlo , Vitagliano Luigi , Velotta Raffaele , Accardo Antonella
Published: August 2021

The self-assembling of small peptides not only leads to the formation of intriguing nanoarchitectures, but also generates materials with unexpected functional properties. Oligopeptides can form amyloid-like cross-β assemblies that are able to emit intrinsic photoluminescence (PL), over the whole near-UV/visible range, whose origin is still largely debated. As proton transfer between the peptide chain termini within the assembly is one of the invoked interpretations of this phenomenon, we here evaluated the solid state PL properties of a series of self-assembled hexaphenalanine peptides characterized by a different terminal charge state. Overall, our data indicate that the charge state of these peptides has a marginal role in the PL emission as all systems exhibit very similar multicolour PL associated with a violation of the Kasha’s rule. On the other hand, charged/uncharged ends occasionally produce differences in the quantum yields. The generality of these observations has been proven by extending these analyses to the Aβ16−21 peptide. Collectively, the present findings provide useful information for deciphering the code that links the spectroscopic properties of these assemblies to their structural/electronic features.
Trends in Inequality in Maternal and Child Health and Health Care in Uganda: Analysis of the Uganda Demographic and Health Surveys
Authors: Kakama Alex Ayebazibwe
Published: August 2021

Background: Uganda has made great strides in improving maternal and child health. However, little is known about how this improvement has been distributed across different socioeconomic categories, and how the health inequalities have changed over time. This analyses data from three Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in 2006, 2011, and 2016 in Uganda to assess trends in inequality for a variety of mother and child health and health care indicators. Methods: The indicators studied are widely acknowledged as critical for monitoring and evaluating maternal and child health status. These include infant and child mortality, underweight status, stunting, and prevalence of diarrhea. Antenatal care, skilled birth attendance, delivery in health facilities, contraception prevalence, full immunization coverage, and medical treatment for child diarrhea and URI symptoms are all health care indicators. Two metrics of inequity were used: the quintile ratio, which evaluates discrepancies between the wealthiest and poorest quintiles, and the concentration index, which utilizes data from all five quintiles. Results: The study found extraordinary, universal improvement in population averages in most of the indices, ranging from the poorest to the wealthiest groups, as well as between rural and urban areas. However, significant socioeconomic and rural-urban disparities persist. Under-five mortality, malnutrition in children (Stunting and Underweight), the prevalence of anaemia, mothers with low BMI, and the prevalence of ARI were found to have worsening inequities.Healthcare utilization measures such as skilled birth attendants, facility delivery, contraceptive prevalence rate, child immunization, and ITN usage were found to be significantly improving or lowering disparity levels towards a perfect equity stance. Three healthcare utilization indicators, namely medical treatment for diarrhea, medical treatment for ARI symptoms, and medical treatment for fever, demonstrated a completely perfect equitable situation.Conclusion: Increased use of health services among the poor and rural populations leads to improved health status and, as a result, the elimination of disparities between the poor and the wealthy, rural and urban people.Recommendation: Intervention initiatives should prioritize the impoverished and rural communities while also considering the wealthier and urban groups.
Telemedical Transport Layer Security Based Platform for Cardiac Arrhythmia Classification Using Quadratic Time-Frequency Analysis of HRV Signal
Authors: AHMED Ismail HADJ , Djebbari Abdelghani , Kachenoura Amar , SENHADJI Lotfi
Published: August 2021

In this paper, we have developed a client-server model implemented as a telemedical platform for real-time remote monitoring of the cardiovascular function in patients suffering from arrhythmia. This technical platform capable of detecting and classifying in real-time cardiac arrhythmia via a Graphical User Interface (GUI) using Time-Frequency analysis methods, features extraction, features selection, and classification of the Heart Rate Variability signal recorded using a data acquisition system. The data acquisition system that we used is mainly designed around the Raspberry Pi zero which communicates with a server through the TCP/IP involving a 4G/3G connection secured by the transport layer security (TLS) for a reliably safe connection between client and server. This telemedical platform adopts continuous control and monitoring of the heart rhythm. By using this system, in case of an alarm, medical staff can easily communicate with their patients in the hospital or at home.
Multi-agent Based Scheduling Method for Tandem Automated Guided Vehicle Systems
Authors: Ji Chol , Cha Ryong Gun
Published: August 2021

The way a AGV in each zone in tandem AGV (Automated Guided Vehicles) systems handles the local request for transport while schedules effectively the global request for transport involving the pickup/delivery operation at the transfer point by cooperating a AGV in other zone, affect the traveling time of the AGV (and thus energy consumption), as well as the waiting time of each node in the system. So far, almost all studies on tandem AGV systems focus on the optimal number of partitioned zones (and thus the number of AGVs), the optimal location of nodes into zones, the optimal location of transfer points between each two zones, the design of AGV’s direction to minimize the total handling flow or the traveling distance of AGV in each zone. This study presented a novel scheduling approach to effectively deal with global and local request by minimizing the total traveling time within the individual zone and the waiting time at the transfer points between zones based on the cooperating control of multi-agent. The proposed approach is verified at the AGV system for book printing process as the real-world experiment and it is showed that the scheduling for multi-agent based tandem AGV system is effective
Silencing of lncRNA H19 Enhances the Sensitivity to X-rays and Carbon-Ions Through the miR-130a-3p /WNK3 Signal Axis in Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Zhao Xueshan , Jin Xiaodong , Zhang Qiuning , Liu Ruifeng , Luo Hongtao , Yang Zhen , Geng Yichao , Feng Shuangwu , Li Chengcheng , Wang Lina , Wang Xiaohu , Li Qiang
Published: August 2021

Background: LncRNA H19 was believed to act as an oncogene in various types of tumors and was considered to be a therapeutic target and diagnosis marker. However, the role of lncRNA H19 in regulating the radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells was unknown. However, the effects of lncRNA H19 on radiosensitivity of NSCLC were not clear. Methods: The expression profiles of lncRNAs were explored via transcriptome sequencing in NSCLC. The CCK-8, EDU, and clonogenicity survival assay were conducted to explore the proliferation and radiosensitivity in NSCLC cells. Results: Expression patterns of lncRNAs revealed that compared with A549 cells, lncRNA H19 was upregulated in radioresistant NSCLC(A549-R11) cells. Knockdown experiments revealed that lncRNA H19 enhanced the radiation sensitivity of both A549 and H460 cancer cell lines to X-rays and carbon ion irradiation. Mechanistically, lncRNA H19 upregulated With-No-Lysine Kinase 3 (WNK3) expression via serving as a sponge of miR-130a-3p and promoted the resistance of NSCLC cells to both X-rays and carbon ion irradiation. Conclusion: Knockdown of lncRNA H19 promoted the radiation sensitivity of NSCLC cells to X-rays and carbon ion irradiation. Hence, lncRNA H19 might function as a potential therapeutic target which enhance the anti-tumor effects of radiotherapy in NSCLC.
Genetic Analysis of Salinity Tolerance in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Omrani Saeed , Arzani Ahmad , Moghaddam Mohsen Esmaeilzadeh , Mahlooji Mehrdad
Published: August 2021

Background: The understanding of the genetics of salt tolerance is of utmost need to combat the rising prevalence of soil salinity through employing tolerant cultivars. The current study was carried out to investigate the quantitative genetic basis of agronomical and physiological-related traits of salinity-stressed plants using the seven generations (parents, F1, F2, F3, and backcrosses) of wheat grown in the field under normal and saline conditions. Results: The combined analysis of variance showed highly significant effects of salinity and genotypes (generations) on all the traits. The scaling tests did not support the three-parameter model (additive-dominance model); hence, the six-parameter model was used to assess the genetic effects governing the traits in this study. The epistatic gene effects were crucial, as were additive and dominance gene effects for plant height, K/Na, and yield in salinity stress conditions. The highest heritability was observed for total chlorophyll, carotenoid, SPAD chlorophyll, and K/Na ratio in saline conditions. The additive genetic variance was more important than the dominance variance for grain weight, K, K/Na in salinity conditions. Conclusions: The findings of the current study may have important implications in the quantitative genetics of salinity tolerance and the development of cultivars tolerant to salinity in wheat.
Variation in Tracheid Dimensions of Conifer Xylem Reveals Evidence of Adaptation to Environmental Conditions
Authors: Zheng Jingming , Li Yajin , Morris Hugh , Vandelook Filip , Jansen Steven
Published: August 2021

Background: Globally distributed extant conifer species must adapt to various environmental conditions, which would be reflected in their xylem structure, especially in the tracheid characteristics of earlywood and latewood. A comparative study of conifer species might shed light on how xylem structure responds to environmental conditions. With an anatomical trait dataset of 79 conifer tree species growing throughout China, an interspecific study within a phylogenetic context was conducted to quantify variance of tracheid dimensions and their response to climatic and soil conditions. Results: There was a significant difference in tracheid diameter between early- and latewood while no significant difference was detected in tracheid wall thickness through a phylogenetically paired t-test. Most of the tracheid dimensional traits were positively related to each other based on phylogenetic independent contrast (PIC) analyses, and tracheid structure could be accounted for by the first and second PCA axes. Through a phylogenetic principle component analysis (pPCA), Pinaceae species were found to be strongly divergent in their tracheid structure in contrast to a conservative tracheid structure in species of Cupressaceae, Taxaceae and Podocarpaceae. Meanwhile, tracheid wall thickness decreased from high to low latitudes in both earlywood and latewood, with tracheid diameter decreasing for latewood only. According to the most parsimonious phylogenetic general least square models (PGLS), environment and phylogeny together could explain about 21%~56% of tracheid structure variance, suggesting both genetics and the environment contribute to tracheid characteristics. Conclusions: The large variability of tracheid traits observed along an environmental gradient across China suggests that xylem structure was strongly constrained by the environmental conditions in temperate monsoonal climates and thus could be regarded as an ecological strategy for adapting to environmental stresses, especially freezing and drought. Our results provide insights into the effects of climate and soil on the xylem structure of conifer species thus furthering our understanding of the trees’ response to global change and guiding forest management.
Construction of Cell Factory Capable of Efficiently Converting L-tryptophan Into 5-hydroxytryptamine
Authors: Wang Yingying , Chen Xueman , Chen Qiaoyu , Zhou Ning , Wang Xin , Zhang Alei , Chen Kequan , Ouyang Pingkai
Published: August 2021

Background: L-Tryptophan (L-trp) derivatives such as 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), N-Acetyl-5-hydroxytryptamine and melatonin are important molecules with pharmaceutical interest. Among, 5-HT is an inhibitory neurotransmitter with proven benefits for treating the symptoms of depression. At present, 5-HT depends on plant extraction and chemical synthesis, which limits its mass production and causes environmental problems. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an efficient, green and sustainable biosynthesis method to produce 5-HT.Results: Here we propose a one-pot production of 5-HT from L-trp via two enzyme cascades for the first time. First, a chassis cell that can convert L-trp into 5-HTP was constructed by heterologous expression of tryptophan hydroxylase from Schistosoma mansoni (SmTPH) and an artificial endogenous BH4 module. Then, dopa decarboxylase from Harminia axyridis (HaDDC), which can specifically catalyse 5-HTP to 5-HT, was used for 5-HT production. The cell factory, E. coli BL21(DE3)△tnaA/BH4/HaDDC-SmTPH, which contains SmTPH and HaDDC, was constructed for 5-HT synthesis. The highest concentration of 5-HT reached 414.5 ± 1.6 mg/L (with conversion rate of 43 mol%) at the optimal conditions (induced temperature, 25℃; IPTG concentration, 0.5 mM; catalysis temperature, 30℃; catalysis time, 72 h). Conclusions: This protocol provided an efficient one-pot method for converting L-trp into 5-HT production, which opens up possibilities for the practical biosynthesis of natural 5-HT at an industrial scale.
Optimization of a CNT-based SiGe Thin Film Solar Cell Structure
Authors: Madani Homa Hashemi , Shayesteh Mohammad Reza , Moslemi Mohammad Reza
Published: August 2021

In this paper, a SiGe thin film solar cell structure based on the carbon nanotube (CNT) and with a back surface field (BSF) layer is proposed. The efficiency of this structure is 40.36%, which is higher than conventional structures without CNT layer. We optimize this structure by changing the base layer thickness and determining the ratio of the width of the upper contact to the width of the entire cell. The cell efficiency after this optimization reaches 41.08%. Furthermore, the performance of this cell is evaluated using two types of CNT layers with sheet resistances of 128 Ω/□ and 76 Ω/□. The results of numerical simulation show that the SiGe thin film solar cell using CNT layer with 128 Ω/□ sheet resistance has better performance parameters. Finally, the number of metal electrodes above the cell is optimized due to the shading effect and we show that the contact distance in the presence of CNT layer can be increased up to 2000 µm.
Expression and Function of clpS and clpA in Xanthomonas Campestris Pv. Campestris
Authors: Lo Hsueh-Hsia , Chang Hsiao-Ching , Liao Chao-Tsai , Hsiao Yi-Min
Published: August 2021

ATP-dependent proteases (FtsH, Lon, and Clp family proteins) are ubiquitous in bacteria and play essential roles in many regulatory cell processes. Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is a Gram-negative pathogen and can cause black rot diseases in crucifers. The genome of X. campestris pv. campestris have several clp genes, namely clpS, clpA, clpX, clpP, clpQ, and clpY. Among them, only clpX and clpP were known to be required for pathogenicity. Here, we focused on two uncharacterized clp genes (clpS and clpA) that encode the adaptor (ClpS) and ATPase subunit (ClpA) of the ClpAP protease complex, respectively. Transcriptional analysis revealed that expression of both clpS and clpA is induced by heat shock. Inactivation of clpA but not clpS resulted in susceptibility to high temperature and revealed an attenuation of virulence on the host plant. The altered phenotypes of the clpA mutant could be complemented in trans. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that K223 and K504 are critical amino acid residues for ClpA function in heat tolerance. The clpA mutant revealed different protein expression profiles as compared to the wild type in response to heat stress. Taken together, we characterized two clp genes (clpS and clpA) by examining their expression and function including stress tolerance and pathogenicity. We demonstrated that both clpS and clpA are expressed in a temperature dependent manner, and clpA is required for survival at high temperature and full virulence of X. campestris pv. campestris. This is the first time that clpS and clpA has been characterized in Xanthomonas.
Specific Target Organ Toxicity (STOT) After Acute Exposure of Dinotefuan And Its Attenuation With Vitamin C Supplementation
Authors: Ahmad Hafiz Muhammad , Mirza Munazza Raza , Yousaf Muhammad Shahbaz , firyal Sehrish , Ali Muhammad Muddassir , Naseer Rahat
Published: August 2021

The present study was designed to evaluate the effect of 2-methyl-2-nitro-3-guanidine on non-target mammalian species after acute exposure and its probable. Forty-five four weeks old Sprague Dawley rats of mixed sexes having mean body weight (80 ± 20g) were randomly divided into three groups fifteen each, namely C (control), E(exposed), and V (exposed and vitamin supplemented) group. The E and V groups were exposed to 2000 mg/kg of body weight via gauge. The vitamin C was administrated by dissolving 400mg/350ml of water and given ad libitum (LD50). Eight hours after dosing 5ml blood was collected by cardiac puncture under sedation. After 48 hours five rats were selected randomly from each group, anesthetized, euthanized, and dissected. Mortalities in each group were taken into account to reduce decretory mortality. Different body tissues, liver, kidney, heart, and bones were separated and preserved in formalin for further analysis. Complete blood count was conducted along with markers of liver kidney and heart function. Bone characteristics and histopathology of soft tissues were carried out. Results showed significant disturbance in CBC and other biomarkers of liver kidney and heart function in the E group. Vitamin supplementation although improved the picture but non-significantly. Histopathology showed signs of necrosis in the exposed group with no improvement in the C group. The weight/Length index and the robusticity index were also found to follow similar trends. The present study was cautiously concluded that even single high dose exposure can cause tissue damage in non-target species.
Workload and job satisfaction of rural doctors during the new healthcare reform in China: a cross-sectional mixed methods study
Authors: Dong Xiangshu , Liu Baodan , Xiao Xiang , Han Huawei
Published: August 2021

Background

With the integration of urban and rural health insurance, the demand for health services from rural residents increases rapidly, which in turn, bring heavier workload for doctors from county public hospitals (CPHs). Meanwhile, township healthcare centers (THCs) are required to provide more additional public health services under the integration of public health and primary care, which also brings challenges for its doctors’ workload. As a result, Chinese rural doctors from both CPHs and THCs have to cope with heavier workload that may have an adverse effect on their job satisfaction. This study sought to investigate the association between the workload and their job satisfaction during the new healthcare reform in China.
Methods

A cross-sectional survey using mixed methods targeting Chinese rural doctors from both CPHs and THCs in three provinces of Gansu (the west province of China), Shanxi (the middle province of China), and Shandong (the east province of China) was conducted. Correlation analyses of three dimensions of workload and job satisfaction were performed. The association between workload and job satisfaction was estimated using discrete choice regression and the detail parts of workload were analyzed using qualitative data collected from interviews with some agency administrators and representatives from the respondents.
Results

Of the 849 rural doctors enrolled, 52.18% thought that the proportion of time spent on non-medical activities (PT) was too high; 78% reported that they worked more than 8 hours in a working day; up to 40% of rural doctors from county public hospitals (CPHs) reported unaffordable clinical visit number per day (CV), which was significantly higher than that from township healthcare centers (THCs). Both of the proportion of time on non-medical issues and working hours (WH) were significantly and negatively associated with the job satisfaction of rural doctors. However, the effects of clinical visit number were mixed, with a significantly negative association with the job satisfaction of doctors from CPHs rather than from THCs. Qualitative analysis indicated that non-medical activities constituted the main source of Chinese rural doctors workload, in terms of a performance assessment criteria for doctors from CPHs and public health services for doctors from THCs.
Conclusion

The workload, dominated by non-medical activities, working hour and clinical visit number, are non-negligible factors that negatively associated with Chinese rural doctors’ job satisfaction in the healthcare reform setting. The growing number of patients towards CPHs and the additional public health service imposed on the THC doctors were the main source for the workload that worsened rural doctors’ job satisfaction. Policy makers should consider some feasible measures to reduce non-medical activities for rural doctors so that they could dedicated their limited energy and time to the medical service.
ALF-Score: Network-Based Walkability
Authors: Alfosool Ali M. S. , Chen Yuanzhu , Fuller Daniel
Published: August 2021

Walkability is a term that describes various aspects of the built and social environment and has been associated with physical activity and public health. Walkability is subjective and although multiple definitions of walkability exist, there is no single agreed upon definition. Road networks are integral parts of mobility and should be an important part of walkability. However, they are missing from existing methods. Most walkability measures only provide area-based scores with low spatial resolution, have a one-size-fits-all approach, and do not consider individuals opinion. Active Living Feature Score (ALF-Score) is a network-based walkability measure that incorporates road network structures as a core component. It also utilizes user opinion to build a high-confidence ground-truth that is used in our machine learning pipeline to generate models capable of estimating walkability. We found combination of network features with road embedding and POI features creates a complimentary feature set enabling us to train our models with an accuracy of over 87% while maintaining a conversion consistency of over 98%. Our proposed approach outperforms existing measures by introducing a novel method to estimate walkability scores that are representative of users opinion with a high spatial resolution, for any point on the map.
Consortium of Plant Growth – Promoting Rhizobacteria Enhances Oilseed Rape (Brassica Napus L.) Growth Under Normal And Saline Conditions
Authors: Brzezinska Maria Swiontek , Świątczak Joanna , Wojciechowska Anna , Burkowska-But Aleksandra , Kalwasińska Agnieszka
Published: August 2021

Development of a preparation, which stimulates plant growth under normal and saline conditions, and protects against fungal infections, would increase crop yields and reduce damage in agriculture. This study was conducted using bacterial isolates from rape rhizosphere as a plant growth promoter and an alternative to chemical fertilizers. Three from fifty bacterial isolates: B14 (Pseudomonas grimontii), B16 (Sphingobacterium kitahiroshimense), and B19 (Microbacterium oxydans) showed the best in vitro plant growth – promoting (PGP) characteristics. B14 strain inhibited the growth of B. cinerea, C. acutatum, and P. lingam and B14 - inoculated plants had the best ability to grow in salt concentrations of 100 mM NaCl. Moreover, B14, B16 and B19 isolates coded for several genes involved in PGP activities, aimed at improving nutrient availability, resistance to abiotic stress, and fungal pathogen suppression. Microbial consortium (B14, B16, and B19) had the best effect on rape growth, significantly increasing chlorophyll content index, shoot length and number of live leaves, compared to the untreated control and single inoculant treatments. Consortium also induced the plants tolerance to salt stress. The genomic information as well as the observed traits, and beneficial attributes towards rape, make the rhizobacterial consortium an ideal candidate for further development as biofertilizers.
Prostaglandin-E2 Receptor-4 Stimulant Rescues Cardiac Malfunction during Myocarditis and Protects the Heart from Adverse Ventricular Remodeling after Myocarditis
Authors: Takakuma Akira , Nishii Mototsugu , Valaperti Alan , Hiraga Haruto , Saji Ryo , Sakai Kazuya , Matsumura Reo , Miyata Yasuo , Oba Nozomu , Nunose Fumiya , Ogawa Fumihiro , Tamura Kouichi , Takeuchi Ichiro
Published: August 2021

Cardioprotective effect of prostaglandin-E2 receptor-4 (EP4) stimulation on the ischemic heart has been demonstrated. Its effect on the heart affected by myocarditis, however, remains uncertain. In this study, we investigated therapeutic effect of EP4 stimulant using a mouse model of autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) that progresses to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). EP4 was present in the hearts of EAM mice. Treatment with EP4 agonist (ONO-0260164: 20 mg/kg/day) improved an impaired left ventricular (LV) contractility and reduction of blood pressure on day 21, a peak myocardial inflammation. Alternatively, DCM phenotype, characterized by LV dilation, LV systolic dysfunction, and collagen deposition, without inflammatory profiles was observed on day 56, along with activation of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2 critical for myocardial extracellular matrix disruption, indicating an important molecular mechanism underlying adverse ventricular remodeling after myocarditis. Continued treatment with ONO-0260164 alleviated the DCM phenotype, but this effect was counteracted by its combination with a EP4 antagonist. Moreover, ONO-0260164 inhibited in vivo proteolytic activity of MMP2 in association with up-regulation of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-3. EP4 stimulant may be a promising and novel therapeutic agent that rescues cardiac malfunction during myocarditis and prevents adverse ventricular remodeling after myocarditis by promoting the TIMP3/MMP2 axis.
The Effect of the National Brand on High-Tech Exports in Selected Countries
Authors: Shahabadi Abolfazl , Amjadian Shiva , Shafieian Masoume
Published: August 2021

High-tech exports play a crucial role on the growth and prosperity of the national economy due to higher added value and higher profitability; however, gaining a competitive advantage and increasing high-tech exports is arduous because of the highly competitive environment in global markets. Also, increasing the value of the national brand through the improvement of foreign customers' mental image of products made in a specific country can play an undeniable role in the increase of customer loyalty and the growth of high-tech exports. Therefore, we intended to evaluate the impact of the national brand on high-tech exports in 14 selected developing countries (sample group) and 12 selected developed and emerging countries (control group) by using panel data and generalized method of moments (GMM), during the period 2011–2018. The results showed the positive and significant impact of the national brand in both groups, but the estimated coefficient is higher in developed and emerging countries. It means that although the improvement of the national brand stimulates the demands for high-tech products from foreign customers, countries that have had more capacity to increase the production and supply of these products have been more successful in meeting the surplus demand created. Therefore, developing countries should take action to improve the national brand, by moving towards a knowledge-based economy, and at the same time, they have to increase their capacity of production and supply of high-tech products to be able to meet the demands for these products in global markets.JEL Classification: F14, M16, F31, K11.
Efficacy and Safety of Single-Session Radiofrequency Ablation in Treating Benign Thyroid Nodules: A Short-Term Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Van Bang Nguyen , Nguyen Xuan Thi , Nguyen Hau Van Vy , Nguyen Thuy Hai , Nguyen Toan Dinh , Le Chi Van
Published: August 2021

Objective:The aims of this study are to evaluate the safety and efficacy of RFA in the treatment of benign thyroid nodule(s) and to find independent factors related to the volume reduction rate of the nodule(s).Materials and methods: This short-term prospective study from a single medical center was conducted on 93 benign thyroid nodules in 93 patients treated with RFA. Two basic techniques were used: the trans-isthmic approach, moving-shot technique. Clinical and ultrasonography examinations were performed at 1; 3 months follow-up after the treatment session. Primary outcomes included volume reduction ratio (VRR) at 1 month and 3 months follow-ups; Secondary outcomes were therapeutic success rate and complications. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to determine independent factors associated with VRR. Results: A final sample of 78 patients with 78 nodules, given participant rate 83.8%, (included 60 solid nodules, 16 predominantly cystic nodules, and 2 thyroid cysts) was followed for 3 months. The mean volume reduction ratio was 41.47% and 64.72% after 1 month and 3 months follow-ups, respectively. The therapeutic success rate was 30.8% at 1 month and 84.6% at 3-month follow-ups. Symptom score and cosmetic score improved significantly. There was no change in thyroid function tests. Two minor complications (transient voice change) were found. The only internal component of nodules significantly related to the VRR during the 3 months follow-up (b = 23.00; 95%CI (7.59 - 38.45)).Conclusion: RFA was demonstrated as a safe and effective option for benign thyroid nodules treatment. It can be used as an alternative treatment with encouraging results.
Cell Metabolomics Responses to Chlorpromazine: Novel Insights Into Blood Brain Barrier Dysfunctionality
Authors: Ngamratanapaiboon Surachai
Published: August 2021

Blood-brain barrier (BBB) prevents drug access and impedes therapeutic efficacy. Effective methods of modulating barrier function and resolving these difficulties are desperately needed. We hypothesized that cell metabolic adaptation significantly influences physiological and pathological barrier functionality because we were convinced that a better understanding of cell-oriented BBB responses could provide valuable insight, and because metabolic dysregulation is prominent in many vascular-related pathological processes associated with BBB disruption. Biochemical fingerprints of primary brain endothelial cells (EC) were obtained using untargeted liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolomic profiling during chlorpromazine treatment, at concentration similar to its measured in the serum of high dosed patients, providing a functional readout of cell status. Metabolomic analyses showed brain EC had a distinct metabolic signature. Corroborating their role in BBB and CNS protection. Surprisingly, EC largely maintained their normoxic characteristics in drug treatment situations and their profiles diverged from those of control. When examining EC reactions, tissue specificity/origin is definitely significant. With a focus on cellular metabolism, we examine how cell metabolic adaptive capabilities may influence vascular stability, as well as the prospect that modifying metabolite levels may be an efficient strategy to modulate brain EC function. Overall, this study sheds new light on cell-associated metabolic changes and serves as a valuable resource for understanding BBB modifications in drug treatment circumstances.
Ultra-Broadband Electromagnetically induced Transparency in Metamaterial Based on Conductive Coupling
Authors: Zheng Tiantian , Xiao Zhongyin , Chen Mingming , Miao Xiang , Wang Xiaoyu
Published: August 2021

In this paper, a structure comprising a horizontal metal strip resonator(SR) and four C-shape ring resonators(CRRs) is proposed, obtaining a broadband electromagnetically induced transparency-like(EIT-like) effect. The SR and CRRs are classified into bright mode and dark mode depending on whether they can be directly excited by the incident electromagnetic wave. The three-level Λ -type system and electric field are used to explain the mechanism of EIT-like effect. Meanwhile, by decreasing the distance between SR and CRRs, a transparency window of 1.4THz with relative bandwidth of 91.93% is observed. It is found that when the bright and dark mode are directly contacted, the EIT window increases rapidly via conductive coupling, which can be explained by the surface current. Our work provides a new method for wide band EIT-like effect, which has certain value in the field of slow light, filter and non-linear optics.
Embedding Similarities Between Embryos And Circulating Tumor Cells: Fundamentals of Abortifacients Used For Cancer Metastasis Chemoprevention
Authors: Wang Jie , Yu Xiaobo , Peng Huayi , Lu Yusheng , Li Shuhui , Shi Qing , Liu Jian , Dong Haiyan , Katanaev Vladimir , Jia Lee
Published: August 2021

Background: The global epidemiological studies reported lower cancer risk after long-term use of contraceptives. Our systematic studies demonstrated that abortifacients are effective in preventing cancer metastases induced by circulating tumor cells (CTCs). However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which abortifacients prevent CTC-based cancer metastases are almost unknown. The present studies were designed to interdisciplinarily explore similarities and differences between embryo implantation and cancer cell adhesion/invasion.Methods: Biomarker expressions on the seeding embryo JEG-3 and cancer MCF-7 cells, as well as embedding uterine endometrial RL95-2 and vascular endothelial HUVECs cells were examined and compared before and after treatments with 17β-estradiol plus progesterone and abortifacients. Effects of oral metapristone and mifepristone on embryo implantation in normal female mice and adhesion/invasion of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in BALB/C female mice were examined. Results: Both embryo JEG-3 and cancer MCF-7 cells expressed high sLex, CD47, CAMs, while both endometrial RL95-2 and endothelial HUVECs exhibited high integrins and ICAM-1. Near physiological concentrations of 17β-estradiol plus progesterone promoted migration and invasion of JEG-3 and MCF-7 cells via upregulating integrins and MMP. Whereas, mifepristone and metapristone significantly inhibited migration and invasion of JEG-3 and MCF-7 cells, and inhibited JEG-3 and MCF-7 adhesion to matrigel, RL95-2 cells and HUVECs, respectively. The inhibitions were realized by downregulating sLex, MMPs in JEG-3 and MCF-7 cells, and downregulating integrins in RL95-2 cells and HUVECs, respectively. Mifepristone and metapristone significantly inhibited both embryo implantation and cancer cell metastasis in mice.Conclusions: The similarities between the two systems provide fundamentals for abortifacients to intervene CTC adhesion/invasion to the distant metastatic organs. The present study offers the rationale to repurpose abortifacients for safe and effective cancer metastasis chemoprevention.