bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impacts of mir146a genotypes to bladder cancer risk in Taiwan
Authors: Chang Wen-Shin , Liao Cheng-Hsi , Chen Chao-Hsuan , Wang Bo-Ren , Wang Zhi-Hong , Yang Jai-Sing , Wang Yun-Chi , Gu Jian , Bau Da-Tian , Tsai Chia-Wen
Published: June 2022

We aimed to examine the associations of the genotypes for mir146a and mir196a with bladder cancer (BLCA) risk in Taiwan. Mir146a rs2910164 and mir196a rs11614913 genotypes among 375 bladder cancer patients and 375 healthy subjects were determined using the typical PCR-RFLP methodology, and their associations and interactions with age, gender, smoking and alcohol drinking status on BLCA risk were evaluated. Simultaneously, the serum expression level of mir146a was measured using quantitative RT-PCR. The results showed that the partitions of CC, CG and GG of mir146a genotypes were 31.7, 45.6 and 22.7% in the control group and 21.9, 44.3 and 33.8% in the case group, respectively. In logistic regression analysis, the heterozygous variant genotype CG carriers were at a bolder line significantly increased BLCA risk (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 0.99–2.01) and the homozygous variant GG carriers were at a 2.17-fold increased BLCA risk (OR = 2.17, 95%CI = 1.46–3.21). Moreover, the GG/CG genotype carriers have significantly higher serum levels of mir146a than the CC genotype (p < 0.0001), supporting a genotype-phenotype correlation. The mir196a rs11614913 SNP were not associated with BLCA risk. In conclusion, genotypes of mir146a rs2910164 may serve as a risk prediction marker for BLCA.
Diurnal activity budget and feeding activity of grivet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) in Zegie Peninsula, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Yitayih Yibelu , Asmare Esubalew , Mola Misganaw
Published: June 2022

Background
Grivet monkeys (Chlorocebus aethiops) are an Old World monkey with long white tufts of hair along the sides of the face. We collected data on the activity patterns of the members of the 2 neighboring focal groups on an average of 4 day per month from August 2021 to March 2022 covering both the wet and dry seasons. Scan sampling method at 15 minutes interval was used to collect data on diurnal activity patterns and feeding ecology of grivet monkeys.
Results
A total of 16707 individual behavioral scans were recorded for a total of 24 days; 12 days during the wet season (August, September and October) and 12 days during the dry season (January, February and March). Grivet monkeys spent 39.4% of time feeding, 29.6% moving, 19.9% resting, 4.4% grooming, 3.1% social play, 2.4% aggression, and 1% for other activities. The overall diet of grivet monkeys was dominated by fruit (61.2%), while young leaf accounted (22%), young shoot (8%), bark (4.6%), animal prey (2.9%), and others (1.1%). A total of 22 plant species were consumed by grivet monkeys in the study area. The top four plant species namely Mimuscops kummel, Ficus sur, Strychanoss pinosa and Ficus vasta accounted for more than 73% of their plant diet. According to the total percentage contribution of the plant food items eaten, Mimuscops kummel was the most frequently consumed species which accounted about 29%, Ficus sur was 17%, Strychanoss pinosa 16%, and Ficus vasta was 11%.
Conclusion
Grivet monkeys spent more time for feeding followed by, moving, resting, grooming, social play, aggression and other activities. Grivet monkeys are mostly feed on fruits and they also feed on young leaves, shoots, bark, animal preys and other food items.
Effect of Preferential Flow on the Fate of Nitrate in Coastal Unconfined Aquifer
Authors: Gao Chao , Kong Jun , Wang Jun , Zhang Jinming , Chen Weilun , Hua Guofen
Published: June 2022

This study examined the influence of preferential flow (PF) on salinity change, pore water flows, and solute transport reaction in variable saturation and variable density coastal aquifers. The 2-D unconfined aquifer model established was based on the finite element software COMSOL by coupling the dynamic and chemical processes together. The simulated results showed that PF affect groundwater flow, leading to a more complicated mixing process. PF was found to effectively reduce the length of seawater intrusion. The deeper the depth of PF, the more significant the effect. Owing to this complex and dynamic process, nitrification mainly took place in the shallower zone adjacent to the coast, where oxic seawater and groundwater interact intensively. Denitrification, on the other hand, was dominant in the middle zone of the aquifer, where the oxygen was relatively lesser. Further quantitative analysis revealed an increase in the intensity of nitrification and dissolved oxygen inflow flux with PF depth. This also led to a decrease in the nitrate (NO3−) removal efficiency. This phenomenon usually occurs on coasts where biological caves are abundant. The results also offer significant implications for designing engineering measures to mitigate saltwater intrusion and groundwater quality management in coastal zones.
Usefulness of PIVKA-II for Monitoring After Liver Transplantation in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: LÓPEZ FRANCISCO VILLALBA , MATEOS LUIS FRANCISCO SÁENZ , LORENCIO MARIA ISABEL SÁNCHEZ , GARCÍA VIRGINIA DE LA ORDEN , GAGO FELIPE ALCONCHEL , CAMPOS PEDRO ANTONIO CASCALES , BERNARDO CARMEN GARCÍA , VELASCO JOSÉ ANTONIO NOGUERA , MAZO ALBERTO BAROJA , ROMERO PABLO RAMÍREZ
Published: June 2022

The high morbidity and mortality of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has encouraged the search for new biomarkers to be used alongside alpha-foetoprotein (AFP) and imaging tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical contribution of protein induced by vitamin K absence or antagonist-II (PIVKA-II) for HCC monitoring after liver transplantation (LT) and compare it with AFP, a routinely used tumour marker. A total of 46 HCC patients (Milan criteria) were enrolled in this study. Serum levels of PIVKA-II and AFP were measured before and after transplantation. Clinical features were determined for all the patients that were included. Significant correlations were found between PIVKA-II expression levels and some clinicopathological features, such as tumour size and number of pre-transplant transarterial chemoembolizations (TACEs). Serum levels of PIVKA-II and AFP decreased significantly after LT and increased in patients with tumour recurrence. Serum PIVKA-II levels may play an important role in predicting disease severity. Furthermore, monitoring PIVKA-II levels in HCC transplant recipients reflects the tumor early recurrence after transplantation and could be used, complementing AFP and imaging tests, as a novel biomarker of this pathology.
I-κB kinase-ε deficiency attenuates the development of Doxorubicin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy
Authors: Liu Yafeng , Xu Yueyue , Yao Yiwei , Cao Yide , Chen Ganyi , Cai Yuchen , Chen Wen , Chen Xin , Qiu Zhibing
Published: June 2022

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) can lead to heart expansion and severe heart failure, but its specific pathogenesis is still elusive. In many cardiovascular diseases, I-κB kinase-ε (IKKε) has been recognized as a pro-inflammatory molecule. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of IKKε on Dox-induced cardiomyopathy in mice. Wild-type mice (WT, n=14) and IKKε knockout mice (IKKε-KO, n=14) were generated and intraperitoneally injected with Dox or Saline five times in 30 days. Our results demonstrated that compared to WT mice, IKKε-KO mice exhibited attenuation of dilated cardiomyopathy-related morphological changes and alleviation of heart failure after Dox was injected.Additionally, compared to the WT mice after Dox-injected, the expression of fibrosis and proinflammatory were decreased in IKKε-KO mice, and the expression of cardiac gap junction proteins were much higher in IKKε-KO mice. Further testing found that pyroptosis and apoptosis in myocardium were also ameliorated in IKKε-KO mice compared to WT mice after Dox was injected. Mechanistically, our results showed that deficiency of IKKε might inhibit the phosphorylation of IκBα, p65, RelB ,and p100 in mouse heart tissues after Dox stimulation. In summary, our research suggests that IKKε might play an essential role in the development of Dox-induced dilated cardiomyopathy and maybe a potential target for the treatment of dilated cardiomyopathy in the future.
Efficient Security Sharing Scheme Using Block chain in Internet of Things
Authors: C Sathish , C Rubavathi Yesubai
Published: June 2022

Recently, the organizations and different institutions are utilized cloud service providers to save the information for sharing information with the consideration of Internet of Things (IoT). In this storage, third party access is a biggest issue for reducing unwanted access and data theft. So, this paper, Block chain based Security Sharing scheme with Data Access Control (BSSDAC) is developed for empowering the access control and secures operation of data transaction. The major main of this research towards empower the security and data access control in the IoT applications. Cipher text-Policy Attribute-Based Encryption (CP-ABE) can be developed to enhance the security of personal data. In the CP-ABE, the key generation is achieved by Aquila Optimization Algorithm (AOA). To maintain the owner's security, the Block chain based Data Access Control (DAC) can be designed. To maintain secure data storage in addition sharing, the Block chain based Cipher text-Policy Attribute-Based Encryption (CP-ABE) is designed. The data owner is empowering the security and data access control with the consideration of Block chain technology. Finally, the security of the data, access control of the data owner can be achieved through the Block chain based approach. The proposed method is implemented in MATLAB and performances are evaluated. The proposed technique is contrasted with the existing technologies such as Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) in addition Rivest–Shamir–Adleman (RSA) respectively.
A smart algorithm to optimally manage the charging strategy of the Home to Vehicle (H2V) and Vehicle to Home (V2H) technologies in an off-grid home powered by renewable sources
Authors: MAZZEO Domenico , Matera Nicoletta , De Luca Rocco , Musmanno Roberto
Published: June 2022

European directives promote activities aimed at developing a sustainable and decarbonised energy system, with a greater share of electricity production from renewable sources, within a framework of greater efficiency. In the energy of nZEB buildings, the reduction of energy needs is accompanied by the use of hybrid renewable energy systems (HRES) for the production of energy on-site to be used for appliances and lighting and also for mobility through the electric vehicle (EV) charging. With reference to this framework, the paper studied the integration of Vehicle to Home (V2H) technology in HRES for residential users. The HRES consists of a photovoltaic (PV) generator, a wind generator, an electrical storage system and a charging station for an EV, in a stand-alone context. V2H technology provides for the use of the EV as an emergency energy source if the generation and storage systems are unable to guarantee the satisfaction of the residential load. For this purpose, an algorithm is proposed that can manage and optimize the dissipated energy produced in excess, providing that this is sent, when possible, to the EV for extra charging compared to the residential charging expected in the load determination. This extra charging process does not affect the load required by the residential user being carried out directly by the generation system with the excess energy produced. With reference to an isolated single-family user not connected to the network and to the use of an EV (which ensures mobility), two energy scenarios were considered, in the absence and the presence of V2H technology. The possibility of EV charging at night and an additional extra charge during the day were considered. The load required for nocturnal EV charging rests on the residential load of the home, while the extra charge is directly borne by the generation system. To reduce excess energy, which in the considered context must be dissipated, two charging strategies were considered that differ in the choice of whether or not to carry out nocturnal charging depending on the EV state of charge. The different system configurations and use of the generated energy make the energy analysis complete to identify the performance of these systems. The dynamic simulations of the HRES operation were carried out through TRNSYS, for the dynamic simulation of the PV and wind systems, which is coupled with MATLAB to dynamically simulate the residential battery and the H2V and V2H technologies. Starting from the hourly results obtained, an yearly energy analysis was carried out.
Down-regulation of hepatic CLOCK by PPARα is involved in inhibition of NAFLD
Authors: Luo Jia , Yan Zheng , Xu Liping , Zhang Haoyue , Xi Yang , Yang Julin , Liu Aiming
Published: June 2022

This work aimed to investigate the role of nuclear factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) in modification of circadian clock and their relevance to development of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Both male wild-type (WT) and Pparα-null (KO) mice treated with high-fat diet (HFD) were used to explore the effect of PPARα and lipid diet on the circadian clock. PPARα humanized (hPPARα) mice were treated with PPARα agonist fenofibrate to reveal the hPPARα-dependence of circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (CLOCK) down-regulation. Hepatocytes were challenged with oleic acid and WY-14643 to verify the action of PPARα in down-regulating CLOCK and lipid accumulation. Strongest NAFLD developed in mice fed 45%HFD and it was inhibited in WT mice. The night/day diet consumption ratio was inhibited more in WT mice than that in KO mice on HFD. The core circadian factor CLOCK was down-regulated by HFD in both WT and KO mice in the liver, not in the hypothalamus. More interestingly, hepatic CLOCK was down-regulated by basal PPARα and activated hPPARα in dose-dependence of fenofibrate. According with the in vivo experiments, CLOCK down-regulation by activated PPARα was involved in inhibition of lipid accumulation in hepatocytes. Down-regulation of hepatic CLOCK by basal PPARα contributes to tolerance against development of NAFLD. Inhibition of CLOCK by activated PPARα is involved in inhibition of NAFLD by PPARα agonists.
Systemic immune-inflammation index within the first postoperative hour as a predictor of severe postoperative complications in upper abdominal surgery: A retrospective single-center study
Authors: Jiao Yang , Zhang Xiao , Liu Mei , Sun Yu'e , Ma Zhengliang , Gu Xiaoping , Gu Wei , Zhu Wei
Published: June 2022

Background
Systemic pro-inflammatory factors play a critical role in mediating severe postoperative complications (SPCs) in upper abdominal surgery (UAS). The systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) has been identified as a new inflammatory marker in many occasions. The present study aims to determine the association between SII and the occurrence of SPCs after UAS.
Methods
Included in this study were 310 patients with upper abdominal tumors who received UAS and subsequently were transferred to the anesthesia intensive care unit between November 2020 and November 2021 in Nanjing Drum Hospital. SPCs, including postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs), major adverse cardiac and cardiovascular events, postoperative infections and delirium, were recorded during the hospital stay. The clinical features of the patients with and without SPCs were compared by Student’s t-test or Fisher’s exact test as appropriate. Risk factors associated with SPC occurrence were evaluated by univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to establish a cut-off level of SII value to predict SPCs.
Results
Of the 310 patients receiving UAS, 103 patients (33.2%) presented at least one SPC, including PPCs (n = 62), adverse cardiovascular events (n = 22), postoperative infections (n = 51), and delirium (n = 5). Blood samples were collected for SII and other laboratory measurements before operation and within the first hour after operation. Both preoperative SII and 1-h postoperative SII in patients with complications were significantly higher than those in patients without significant SPCs. Multivariate analysis showed that 1-h postoperative SII was an independent predictor for SPCs occurrence (OR = 1.000, 95% CI 1.000–1.000), together with 1-h postoperative C-reactive protein, 1-h postoperative arterial lactate, 1-h postoperative oxygenation-index and older age. The ROC curve showed that the optimal cutoff value of 1-h postoperative SII to predict SPC was 754.6078×109/L, with an 88.3% sensitivity and a 29% specificity.
Conclusion
Our findings demonstrated an association between the higher level of 1-h postoperative SII and SPCs, suggesting that 1-h postoperative SII may be a useful tool for identifying patients at risk of developing SPCs.
Salinity indicators in sediment through the fluvial-to-marine transition (Fraser River, Canada)
Authors: Dashtgard Shahin E. , Wang Aihua , Pospelova Vera , Wang Pei-Ling , Croix Andrew La , Ayranci Korhan
Published: June 2022

Many sediment attributes have been proposed as proxies for determining salinity conditions under which sediment is deposited, and six attributes (Sr/Ba-HAc, Sr/Ba-NH4Ac, δ13Corg, C/N, and the relative abundances and concentrations of dinoflagellate cysts) are compared here. In this paper, sediment attributes from the Fraser River Delta, Canada and surrounding coastal areas are compared by depositional position along the fluvial-to-marine transition, by sea-surface salinity, and by sedimentological characteristics. Along the fluvial-to-marine transition, most attributes exhibit distinct trends between parts of the river that experience sustained marine water (saltwater) influence over seasonal and tidal timeframes, and parts that experience only freshwater or periodic saltwater influence. No attributes are reliable indicators of depositional position where saltwater incursion is short lived or where water is fresh. Where marine influence is sustained, Sr/Ba-HAc and Sr/Ba-NH4Ac are the most reliable positional indicators along the fluvial-to-marine transition. When compared strictly to salinity, Sr/Ba-HAc, Sr/Ba-NH4Ac, and δ13Corg all correlate predictably except in delta front and prodelta settings. Our data show that all six sediment attributes are heavily impacted by river-derived sedimentation, and it is not appropriate to compare values from strongly river-influenced settings (e.g., deltas) with those from weakly river-influenced settings (e.g., bays and estuaries).
Diversity in tree and fruit traits of wood apple (Limonia acidissima L.) genetic resources collected from south India
Authors: Lamani Shrinivas , Hosakatte Niranjana Murthy
Published: June 2022

Wood apple (Limonia acidissima L.) is an undomesticated nutritionally and medicinally potential monotypic tree species of the genus Limonia, which belongs to the family Rutaceae. This species is remained underexploited due to a lack of awareness regarding its significance and systematic study of its diversity. The present work was carried out to recognize the elite populations for future cultivation among the studied populations of South India. Considering a wide genetic diversity in wood apples, 32 populations were assessed by the prepared set of qualitative and quantitative traits presented in this study. The tree height ranges between 7.68 to 16.69 m, canopy area was 18.78 to 36.36 m3 whereas, the weight of the fruits ranges between 118.30 to 233.42 g, the percentage composition of pulp was 53.91 to 72.93% and the percentage composition of seed was 4.02 to 9.07%. The tree with medium height with an average of 11.13 m and having average stem girth of 2.62 m showed large-sized fruits with an average weight of 233.43 g and an average percentage of 65.04% of pulp (TN-03). The obtained results were subjected to multivariate statistical analysis, using the techniques of principal component analysis and cluster analysis, and were formed into 4 clusters. The formation of different clusters shows the genetic variability and the dissimilarity among the genotypes which could guide the selection of elite genotypes to enrich the programs of genetic improvement of the wood apple. Out of 4 cluster groups, cluster 1 and cluster 2 could be used for domestication programs because they showed superior fruit-related traits by having the highest fruit, pulp, and seed weight even though they have average morphology of trees.
The relationship between screen time and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in Chinese preschool children under the multi-child policy: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Zhou Yu , Jiang Xinye , Wang Ran , Guo Bingbing , Cai Jingfen , Gu Yujing , Pei Jingjing
Published: June 2022

Background: Long screen time has become a public health problem that cannot be ignored. The association between screen time and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has received widespread attention in preschool children.Methods: A questionnaire survey was used to investigate 2452 people. ADHD symptoms were assessed by the Conners Child Behavior Scale. Considering that the hyperactivity index of boys and girls might be quite different, this study conducted all the studies by gender. Generalized linear model was used for regression analysis. In order to exclude the influence of overweight and obese children, we also conducted a sensitivity analysis. P values were two-tailed with a signiﬁcance level at 0.05. Results:The results showed that the average daily screen time of preschool children was more than 1 hour, of which the average screen time on weekends was 1.13±0.80 hours per day. Screen time on weekends has a significant effect on ADHD symptoms of preschool children. And the eldest child was more likely to be affected by screen time in muti-child families.Subgroup analysis found that conclusions were similar in different genders and BMI children.Conclusions: The issue of weekend screen time for preschoolers needs to be taken seriously, especially for eldest child in multi-child families.
An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of couples’ recovery from the psychological symptoms of trauma following traumatic childbirth
Authors: Attard Rose , Iles Jane , Satherley Rose-Marie
Published: June 2022

Globally, a large proportion of birthing mothers, and a to a lesser extent their partners, experience birth trauma each year, and yet access to adequate post-natal trauma support is rarely available. Untreated birth trauma has been shown to negatively impact the family in terms of the parents’ relationship with one another, and long-term negative consequences for the child. Despite a drive towards integrating mental health support into maternity services and a call to provide mental health support for couples rather than solely the birthing mother, there is little research exploring what birthing couples find helpful in recovery from birth trauma. The current research interviewed six couples using an Interpretative Phenomenological Approach in order to explore their understanding of what supported their recovery from birth trauma. Four themes were identified: ‘We need validation’, ‘Feeling paper thin’, ‘This is a system failure’ and ‘Birth trauma is always going to be a part of you’. The data describes an understanding of parents’ feelings of vulnerability and loss of trust in services to provide support following birth trauma. Further, parents’ need for validation and repositioning of control away from healthcare professionals when considering the availability and knowledge of the support options available is discussed. Clinical implications for supporting parents following birth trauma are explored, including an identified need for trauma informed care communication training for all healthcare professionals involved in maternity care, and the requirement for sources of therapeutic support external from the parent dyad in order to maintain the couples’ interpersonal relationship.
The Artistic Features of Women's Close-Crotch Pants Unearthed from Tombs of the Ming Dynasty in the Jiangnan Area of China
Authors: Lin Pengfei , Niu Li
Published: June 2022

A close-crotch pant was a kind of Chinese women's underwear in the Ming Dynasty. The politics, economy, culture, and folk customs of the Ming Dynasty all had an impact on their popularity and use.This paper analyzes the situation of women's close-crotch pants unearthed from the tombs of the Ming Dynasty in the Jiangnan area of China, and explores their artistic characteristics of modeling the structure and fabric patterns. The study has shown that the plane collage of the women's close-crotch pants unearthed from the tombs in the Ming Dynasty of the Jiangnan area in China is an artistic expression of material saving. The diversity of fabric pattern options and the transformation of women's close-crotch pants from practicality to aesthetics are the results of economic development and social change.
Effect of milling time on the structural, microstructure and magnetic properties of nanocrystalline Fe90Sb10 powders obtained by high energy ball milling
Authors: GUEMMOUD nassima , hafs ali , hafs toufik
Published: June 2022

Nanocrystalline binary powders Fe90Sb10 (wt.%) have been elaborated by high energy ball milling in order to study the effect of the milling time on the microstructural and magnetic properties of these alloys. The evolution of structural, morphological and magnetic properties were investigated, as a function of milling time, using the X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX) and the vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). A disordered Fe (Sb) solid solution with body centered cubic (bcc) crystal structure is formed after twelve hours of milling from XRD results. When the milling time increases, the lattice parameter progressively increases from 0.2861 nm for the Fe90Sb10 (zero hour milling) compound down to 0.2870 nm for thirty six hours of milling. The sample with the longest milling time has exhibited the lowest value for the mean grain size of 18.16 nm as well as the microstrain of 0.19%. Grain morphology of the powders at different formation stages was examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The chemical composition homogeneity the powder form Fe90Sb10 (wt.%) were studied done with EDX experiments. For Fe-10Sb (wt.%) nanostructured powders, magnetisation saturation ,coercive fields and remnant magnetisation derived from the hysteresis curves were discussed as a function of milling time.
A Weighted K- Means clustering Algorithm for Clustering Big Data based on MapReduce
Authors: Dandug Lakshmi Srinivasulu , Vani Koneru Suvarna
Published: June 2022

Big data has gained popularity as a means of storing, managing and processing large amounts of data. In the area of big data analysis, clustering datasets has become a difficult problem. MapReduce and its accessible version of Hadoop have gained appeal in both academia and businesses as the requirement for big data analytics in scientific applications and internet services continues to grow. Hadoop is a very practical approach for constructing big data analytics frameworks. Hadoop, on either side, has faults in a variety of areas, such as data resource management, scheduling policies and management to mention a few. When performing MapReduce jobs in Hadoop clusters, these issues frequently lead to excessive energy usage. This approach intends to introduce an innovative weighted k-means clustering algorithm based on intelligent Aquila weighting activity. To broaden the difference between clusters, the degree of connectivity among clusters is first stated in the clustering model. Additionally, Aquila optimization is used to select initial cluster centers, which eliminates the sensitivity of early cluster centers. This novel algorithm has high-speed performance with a perfect Map-Reduce function. For that, we use HDFS with the python platform. The proposed method allows any volume of data to be clustered, and there is no restriction on the number of data that may be clustered. The presented algorithm performs well and has a high degree of precision. This kind of novel method provides better accuracy for the clustering process and reduces the complexities presented in this clustering. The experimental outcomes show that the proposed method yields superior performances.
Mandarin peel antioxidants and their application in enhanced probiotic ultra-filtration soft cheese
Authors: Ebid Warda M. A. , Mohamed Alaa S. , Roby Mohamed H. H.
Published: June 2022

Mandarin peel powder (MPP), which has a higher polyphenol concentration than edible parts, is the most major source of bioactive ingredients. The total phenolic (TPC) and antioxidant content of several mandarin peel extracts were evaluated. A starter containing Lactobacillus acidophilus LA5 and Streptococcus thermophilus as a mixed strain (1:1) with the addition of 1, 3 and 5% of MPP and a control without MPP, was used to make UF soft cheese. The total solid content, pH values, acidity, protein and fat contents, and organoleptic properties during storage at 5±2°C for 21 days of soft cheeses were evaluated. The results revealed that the total phenolic contents in methanol extract were the highest and the lowest recorded in acetone extraction, the same trend found in antioxidant activity. The inclusion of both probiotic strains and MPP improved cheese quality; symbiotic cheese had considerably higher relative degrees of titratable acidity and total solids than control cheese. The sensory examination revealed that adding the MPP at a ratio of 1% increased the score. Finally, it is proposed that probiotic-fortified cheese and MPP oriented functional food have acceptable composition and sensory features.
Assessment of stage-wise deficit furrow irrigation on tomato crop production at Arba minch, Ethiopia
Authors: Mamo Befikadu Belay , Affessa Girum Metaferia
Published: June 2022

Scarcity of freshwater resource threatens sustainable agricultural production in arid and semi-arid regions of Ethiopia. Therefore improved irrigation technologies needed to be developed for water saving and increase productivity per unit of water. Deficit irrigation is a recent innovative approach of water-saving method that reduces irrigation amounts and maximizes water productivity. The field experiment on tomato crop was undertaken at Arba Minch, South Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. The objectives of the study were assessing the impact of deficit irrigation at different growth stages on the phenology, crop yield, and water productivity, and identifying the sensitive crop growth stage of tomato to waters stress. The result of the study shows a highly significant difference (P ≤ 0.05) among treatments for phenology, yield and yield components, and Water use efficiency. The highest fruit yield (64.65ton/ha) was obtained from the control treatment which was not significantly different from treatment with 65%ETc applied at stage I (63.28 tons/ha). The highest crop water use efficiency 18.78kg/m3 and gross benefit 646073.04 Birr/ha were gained from treatment with the application of 65% of ETc during the vegetative stage. On the other hand, the crop yield response factor shows that the flowering and fruit development stage was highly sensitive to water stress. Whereas, the sensitivity of the vegetative growth stage to water stress was minimum. This shows that applying deficit irrigation at the flowering and fruit development stage results in a potential yield reduction and deficit irrigation at this stage is not recommended. The application of 65% ETc deficit irrigation during the vegetative stage can solve the water shortage problem without significant yield reduction.
Gap analysis of current and desired states of agricultural teachers' professional competency components for working with students with special needs
Authors: Dadoukolaei Mehdi Alikhani , Chizari Mohammad , Bijani Masoud , Hicks Troy
Published: June 2022

The present study aimed to assess the current state of professional competencies (PCs) [general and specific competencies (GSCs)] in Iranian agricultural teachers (ATs) for working with students with special needs (SSNs), to compare it with the desired state, and then to analyze their gaps. The statistical population of this study consisted of two groups of ATs and principals of vocational-technical schools for SSNs (N = 148), of these a total number of 66 ATs and 57 principals, selected as the study samples. Using a survey technique, a researcher-made questionnaire was further employed to collect the data. The results of paired test accordingly revealed a significant gap in all PC components in ATs, including instruction design (ID), professional development (PD), professional ethics (PE), cooperation (C), perceived student diversity (PSD), technology (T), agricultural education technique (AET), and special education technique (SET) between the current and desired states at a 1% error, reflecting the need to enhance these components. For this reason, adopting a creative approach to achieve optimum PC is of utmost importance. Since a general understanding of special education (SE) is established, the study results can have implications for schools and teachers for working with SSNs.
Fully Automatic Prognostic Biomarker Extraction from Metastatic Prostate Lesion Segmentations in Whole-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT Images
Authors: Kendrick Jake , Francis Roslyn , Hassan Ghulam Mubashar , Rowshanfarzad Pejman , Ong Jeremy , Ebert Martin
Published: June 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to develop and assess an automated segmentation framework based on deep learning for metastatic prostate cancer (mPCa) lesions in whole-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT images for the purpose of extracting patient-level prognostic biomarkers. Methods: 337 [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT images were retrieved from a cohort of biochemically recurrent (BCR) PCa patients. A fully 3D convolutional neural network (CNN) is proposed which is based on the self-configuring nnU-Net framework, and was trained on a subset of these scans, with an independent test set reserved for model evaluation. Voxel-level segmentation results were assessed using the dice similarity coefficient (DSC), precision, and sensitivity. Recall and precision were calculated to assess lesion level detection; patient-level classification results were assessed by the accuracy, precision, and sensitivity. Whole-body biomarkers total lesional volume (TLVauto) and total lesional uptake (TLUauto) were calculated from the automated segmentations, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess biomarker relationship with patient overall survival. Results: At the patient level, the accuracy, sensitivity, and precision were all >90%, with the best metric being the precision (97.2%). Precision and recall at the lesion level were 88.2% and 73.0%, respectively. DSC and precision measured at the voxel level performed within measured inter-observer variability (DSC; median = 50.7% vs. second observer = 32%, p = 0.012. Precision; median = 64.9% vs. second observer = 25.7%, p < 0.005). Kaplan-Meier analysis of TLVauto and TLUauto showed they were significantly associated with patient overall survival (both p < 0.005). Conclusion: The fully automated assessment of whole-body [68Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT images using deep learning shows significant promise, yielding accurate scan classification, voxel-level segmentations within inter-observer variability and potentially clinically useful prognostic biomarkers associated with patient overall survival. This study was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12615000608561) on 11 June 2015.
Quantification of steric hindrance by geometric calculation, prediction of the reductive selectivity of ketones, and clarification of reaction mechanism
Authors: Sakaguchi Daimon , Gotoh Hiroaki
Published: June 2022

Stereoisomers often have different physiological characteristics, and stereocontrol , which includes diastereoselective reduction of carbonyls, is important in the synthesis of pharmaceuticals and natural products. Here, we have developed a model that offers features that have been difficult to achieve simultaneously using conventional methods: reflective of the experimental values of selectivity, applicable to both chained and cyclic ketones, and can quantitatively predict diastereoreductive selectivity. The method, named Moving Sphere Model (MSM), predicts diastereoreductive selectivity by quantifying steric hindrance by the overlapping volume of ketone substrate atoms and a virtual sphere moving in both reaction directions. The reaction mechanism was predicted by examining how the consistency between the calculated selectivity by MSM and the experimental values of selectivity changes when the values of the radius r of the virtual sphere and reaction direction θ are changed. Thus, a reaction mechanism in which only hydride contributes to steric hindrance was inferred for the reduction of ketones by NaBH4 in MeOH solvent. Meanwhile, for the reduction of ketones with NaBH4 in iPrOH solvent, a reaction mechanism in which the solvent introduced to the reducing agent also contributes to steric hindrance was inferred. The MSM enabled us to calculate the angle of nucleophilic attack to carbonyls based on experimental facts, to infer the reaction mechanism of the reduction of ketones with NaBH4 in alcohol solvents, and to predict the reduction selectivity of ketones with NaBH4 in MeOH solvents.
Impact of bowel preparation on elective colectomies for diverticulitis: analysis of the NSQIP database
Authors: Zhuo Haoran , Liu Zheng , Resio Benjamin J. , Liu Jialiang , Wang Xishan , Pei Kevin Y. , Zhang Yawei
Published: June 2022

Background:Recent data based on large databases show that bowel preparation (BP) is associated with improved outcomes in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery. However, it remains unclear whether BP in elective colectomies would lead to similar results in patients with diverticulitis. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether bowel preparation influences surgical site infections (SSI) and anastomotic leakage (AL) in patients with diverticulitis undergoing elective colectomies. Study design:We identified 16,380 diverticulitis patients who underwent elective colectomies from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) colectomy targeted database (2012-2017). Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to assess the impact of different bowel preparation strategies on postoperative complications, including SSI and AL.Results:In the identified population, a total of 2,524 patients (15.4%) received no preparation (NP), 4,715 (28.8%) mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) alone, 739 (4.5%) antibiotic bowel preparation (ABP) alone, and 8,402 (51.3%) MBP + ABP. Compared to NP, patients who received any type of bowel preparations showed a significant decrease in rates of SSI and AL after adjustment for potential confounders (SSI: MBP [OR=0.82, 95%CI: 0.70-0.96], ABP [0.69, 95%CI: 0.52-0.92]; AL: MBP [OR=0.66, 95%CI: 0.51-0.86], ABP [0.56, 95%CI: 0.34-0.93]), where the combination type of MBP+ABP had the strongest association with a decreased risk (SSI:OR=0.58, 95%CI:0.50-0.67; AL:OR=0.46, 95%CI:0.36-0.59). The significantly decreased risk of 30-day mortality was observed in the bowel preparation of MBP + ABP only (OR=0.32, 95%CI: 0.13-0.79). After further stratification by surgery procedure, patients who received MBP + ABP showed consistently lower risk for both SSI and AL when undergoing open and laparoscopic surgeries (Open: SSI [OR=0.51, 95%CI: 0.37-0.69], AL[OR=0.47, 95%CI: 0.25-0.91]; Laparoscopic: SSI[OR=0.58, 95%CI: 0.47-0.72, AL[OR=0.49, 95%CI: 0.35-0.68]).Conclusions:MBP + ABP for diverticulitis patients undergoing elective open or laparoscopic colectomies is associated with decreased rates of SSI and AL and 30-day mortality. Benefits of MBP + ABP for diverticulitis patients undergoing robotic surgeries warrant further investigation.
The combined utilization of predictors: a better approach to diagnose and predict rotator cuff tears than using a single predictor
Authors: Ma Qi , Sun Changjiao , Gao Hong , Cai Xu
Published: June 2022

ObjectivesTo explore whether the combined utilization of two predictors is more efficient to predict and diagnose rotator cuff tears (RCTs) than using a single predictor, and to find out which combination is the best screening approach for RCTs.MethodsThis was a retrospective study and patients who visited our hospital and were diagnosed with or without RCTs via magnetic resonance imaging from January 2018 to April 2022 were enrolled and classified into two groups respectively. Four predictors, the critical shoulder angle (CSA), the acromion index (AI), the greater tuberosity angle (GTA) and the double-circle radius ratio (DRR) were picked to participate in the present study. Quantitative variables were compared by independent samples t tests and qualitative variables were compared by chi-square tests to find significant differences between groups. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to distinguish independent risk factors and calculate the increased odds of having a RCT, and construct discriminating combined models to further diagnose and predict RCTs. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were pictured and areas under the curve (AUC) were calculated to determine the overall diagnostic performance of the involved predictors and the combined models. For all tests a p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsOne hundred and thirty-nine shoulders with RCTs and 57 shoulders without RCTs were included. The mean values of CSA (35.36 ± 4.57 versus 31.41 ± 4.09°, P = 0.000), AI (0.69 ± 0.08 versus 0.63 ± 0.08, P = 0.000), DRR (1.43 ± 0.10 versus 1.31 ± 0.08, P = 0.000) and GTA (70.15 ± 7.38 versus 64.75 ± 7.91°, P = 0.000) were significantly larger in the RCT group than for controls. Via ROC curves, we found the combined model always showed a better diagnostic performance than either of its contributors, improving the AUC from 0.668–0.823 to 0.751–0.883, and extending the upper boundary of diagnostic sensitivity from 71.9–81.3%, and the diagnostic specificity from 82.5–86.0%. Via logistic regression analysis, we found the values of both predictors over their cutoff values resulted in a dramatical and enormous increasement (20.169–161.214 folds) in the risk of having a RCT, which is far beyond that by using a single predictor only (2.815–11.191 folds).ConclusionThe combined utilization of predictors is a better approach to diagnose and predict RCTs than using a single predictor. With a comprehensive consideration on the diagnostic and predictive performance of the combined models, we conclude the CSA together with the DRR present the strongest detectability for a presence of RCTs.
TGF-β regulates m 6 A RNA methylation after PM 2.5 exposure
Authors: Xue Kaibing , Li Zhigang , Zhang Yuanxun , Tang Ning , Wei Yongjie
Published: June 2022

Atmospheric particulate matter exposure has adverse effects on human health, but its molecular mechanism is complex and need to be explored in depth over time. m6A RNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification that regulates gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Our previous animal exposure studies found that PM2.5 exposure up-regulated m6A RNA methylation in lung, but the regulatory pathway is currently unclear. PM2.5 can activate transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), and Smad2/3, a downstream factor of TGF-β, can affect m6A RNA methylation by binding to the RNA methyltransferase complex. Based on the above evidences, the current study aimed to investigate the role of TGF-β signal pathway in PM2.5-induced m6A RNA methylation through animal and A549 cell exposure model. Our results showed that PM2.5 could induce upregulation of m6A RNA methylation, accompanied by increased expression of TGF-β, Smad3, methyltransferase-like 3 (METTL3), methyltransferase-like 14 (METTL14) in both lungs of mice and A549 cell line. Furthermore, the TGF-β inhibition cellular experiments determined that PM2.5 exposure altered the level of m6A RNA methylation, expression of TGF-β, Smad3. Accordingly, it is clear that TGF-β plays an indispensable role in m6A RNA methylation after PM2.5 exposure. Our study demonstrates that PM2.5 exposure influence RNA m6A methylation through the TGF-β signal pathway.
Non-targeted metabolomics analysis reveals changes in plasma and skin metabolic profiles after capsaicin gavage in mice
Authors: Xiao Zhen , Yu Simin , Yang Xiaoliang OU , Wang Xiuping , Zhang Deng , Zhao Yongwei , Li Chunming
Published: June 2022

Background
As an essential spice, chili pepper has essential physiological functions for humans. Capsaicin is the main compound found in chili pepper and has complex pharmacologic effects. Capsaicin has been observed to play an important role in obesity, cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases, various cancers and dermatologic conditions. Although possessing a broad spectrum of bioactivities, changes in the metabolic profile of the organism are inadequately unknown after oral gavage with capsaicin.
Methods
Therefore, an untargeted metabolomics approach coupled with multivariate statistical analyses was first applied to study the plasma and skin metabolic differences between mouse groups with and without capsaicin treatment by gavage. And we discussed these differential metabolites in the context of the physiological functions of capsaicin.
Results
The results showed that 38 plasma metabolites and 7 skin metabolites were associated with capsaicin intake, mainly associated with energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and oxidative stress. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed that these differential metabolites are primarily involved in some crucial pathways, such as Central carbon metabolism in cancer, Pyruvate metabolism, and ABC transporters in plasma; sphingolipid metabolism in the skin.
Conclusions
Plasma and skin metabolome showed significant alterations in response to the capsaicin supplementation, and these findings contribute to a better understanding of the potential effects of a capsaicin-rich diet on organisms.
Malting quality and preharvest sprouting traits are genetically correlated in spring malting barley
Authors: Rooney Travis E. , Sweeney Daniel W. , Kunze Karl H. , Sorrells Mark E. , Walling Jason
Published: June 2022

Expansion of malting barley production into non-traditional growing regions and erratic weather has increased the demand for preharvest sprouting (PHS) resistant, high quality malting barley cultivars. This is hindered by the relatively unknown relationships between PHS resistance and malting quality. Here we present a three-year study of malting quality and germination at different after-ripening durations post physiological maturity. Malting quality traits alpha amylase (AA) and free amino nitrogen (FAN) and germination rate at six days post PM shared a common association with a SNP in HvMKK3 on chromosome 5H in the Seed Dormancy 2 (SD2) region responsible for PHS susceptibility. Soluble protein (SP) and soluble over total protein (S/T) both shared a common association with a marker in the SD2 region, but the most significant association was not well correlated with the causative mutation in HvMKK3. Significant genetic correlations between PHS resistance and the malting quality traits AA, FAN, SP, S/T were detected across and within HvMKK3 allele groups. High adjunct malt quality was related to PHS susceptibility. Selection for PHS resistance led to a correlated response in malting quality traits. Results strongly suggest pleiotropy of HvMKK3 on malting quality traits and that the classic “Canadian-style” malt is caused by a PHS susceptible allele of HvMKK3. PHS susceptibility appears to benefit the production of malt intended for adjunct brewing, while PHS resistance is compatible with all-malt brewing specifications. Correlations of germination rate to malting quality traits indicate its potential for use as a secondary trait in selection.