bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introspective Meditation before Seeking Pleasurable Activities as a Stress Reduction Tool among College Students: A Multi-Theory Model-Based Pilot Study
Authors: Sharma Manoj , Kanekar Amar , Batra Kavita , Hayes Traci , Lakhan Ram
Published: March 2022

In the realm of behavioral interventions, a combined approach of yoga and a cognitive-behavioral strategy in the form of introspective meditation (manan-dhyana) may offer benefits as a stress management tool. This pilot study focuses on introspective meditation performed before seeking pleasurable activities, which is a self-reflection about whether to pursue a goal that will bring sensory pleasure in life. A non-probability sample of college students was recruited from a mid-sized Southern University of the United States using a 52-items web-based survey built in Qualtrics. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistics were used to analyze data. Of total 65 students, only 21.5% students reported being engaged in the introspective meditation. The sample constituted predominantly females (75.4%), White (64.6%), and undergraduate students (87.7%). The proportions of anxiety, depression, and moderate/high stress were 50.8%, 40.0%, 86.1% respectively. In the hierarchical regression for initiation, the final model explained nearly 21.1% of variance in initiating introspective meditation among participants (n = 51) who had not been practicing it. With each unit increment in subscales of initiation (i.e., changes in physical environment), the conditional mean for initiating introspective meditation behavior increased by 0.373 units. In the hierarchical regression for sustenance, the final model explained nearly 50.5% of variance in sustaining introspective meditation behavior among participants (n = 51) who had not been practicing it. With each unit increment in subscales of sustenance (i.e., emotional transformation), the conditional mean for sustaining introspective meditation behavior increased by 0.330 units. This study can pave a way for designing interventions for college students to promote introspective meditation directed toward seeking pleasurable activities before engaging in them. This has implications for the reduction of stress as well as a preemptive measure for sexual risk-taking, indulgence in maladaptive behaviors such as smoking, vaping, alcohol, and substance use.
Factors Associated with Coping Behaviors of Abused Women: Findings from the 2016 Domestic Violence Survey
Authors: Han Youngran , Kim Heejung , An Nawon
Published: March 2022

Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important public health problem. In Korea, limited studies have systematically investigated the coping strategies used by female IPV victims. Purpose: We identified the factors associated with abused women’s coping behaviors in South Korea. Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study comprises secondary data analysis using the 2016 Domestic Violence Survey; we examined women who experienced domestic violence (DV) in the last year: September to December 2016 (n = 309). Multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted using an ecological model. Results: Over 50% responded they “did nothing”, while others “escaped the scene of violence or ran outside” and “became reciprocally violent” as coping behaviors sequentially. Compared to the women who “did nothing”, women who experienced feelings of intimidation or fear due to DV, were sexually abused, and suffered physical injury were 5.44, 3.22, and 3.02 times, respectively, more likely to escape from the scene than those who did not. Most showed passive coping behaviors. Relationship level factors, such as type of DV and physical injury, were significantly associated with the type of coping behavior. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize that multi-level comprehensive health programs are required, especially for women coping passively, to prevent and respond to DV.
Air-Surveyed Cropmarks of Early Iron Age Heritage in Central Europe—Integrating Remotely Detected Data and Excavated Evidence
Authors: Gojda Martin , Trefný Martin , Schussmann Markus , Šumberová Radka
Published: March 2022

This paper aims to present the potential of observations of the Earth’s surface by means of remote sensing (survey), specifically via direct (active) visual prospection from low altitude to identify and map small components (such as postholes) of archaeological contexts, namely aboveground post-built structures dated to the Early Iron Age (appr. 800–380 B.C.). This work gives an example of archaeological data on buried settlement constructions identified by aerial reconnaissance (i.e., by a non-invasive method), the interpretation—and primarily dating—of which is based on information achieved by excavation practice (recently performed predominantly during rescue campaigns). This research points to the fact that nonetheless to the traditional idea on the limited potential of crop-marked archaeological heritage in terms of dating (the ability of cropmarks displayed over pits, ditches, graves, etc., to produce exact ground-plans of even small buried features, so that their original function and dating can be determined) the number of more or less precisely datable archaeological sites and features buried under the surface is growing, including wooden structures once constructed on the ground (i.e., not sunken under the ground) and leaving on cereal crops just tiny spots/dots regularly spaced into lines. These are features (constructions) with identical ground plans (postholes placed in 4 × 3 and/or 3 × 3 patterns) of which commonly just one in a group of them situated on one site is enclosed by a perimeter line—a foundation for a wall or a trench for a palisade. Consequently, a retrospective survey of air-photo analog archives and digital repositories now brings new evidence on the chronological setting of many crop-marked Early Iron Age sites that previously remained undated.
Inflow Quantification in Urban Sewer Networks
Authors: Bentes Isabel , Silva Danilo , Vieira Carlos , Matos Cristina
Published: March 2022

The improper waterflow to wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) due to rainwater inflow, and infiltration is a growing concern due to the many problems it brings to the sector, ranging from infrastructure deterioration to environmental problems caused by untreated wastewater and to the eventual financial costs that these issues cause. The study was carried out at the Folhadela WWTP, Vila Real, Portugal, between May 2014 and May 2015, with the total effluent flows recorded every 2 min at the entrance of the WWTP. Rainfall data from the Vila Real Meteorological Station, corresponding to the same period, were used. The study allowed us to conclude that from the wastewater that flowed to the Folhadela WWTP, in the months of study, only 15% is domestic wastewater, and the remaining 85% were undesirable volumes. Of these, 47% were infiltration flows, and 38% were rainwater flows that are not taken into account when dimensioning networks and WWTPs. These flows also have the particularity of representing very high volumes in short periods of time, coinciding with heavy rains, representing a very high risk for drainage and treatment infrastructures. Regarding the infiltration flow rates, as a general rule, they are taken into account when dimensioning the networks as being a percentage of the total flow. However, it is necessary to take into account the magnitude and the evolution of these values according to the network age and state of conservation, as well as have straight regulations about the undue connections into the network.
Hydrogenosome, Pairing Anaerobic Fungi and H2-Utilizing Microorganisms Based on Metabolic Ties to Facilitate Biomass Utilization
Authors: Ma Jing , Zhong Pei , Li Yuqi , Sun Zhanying , Sun Xiaoni , Aung Min , Hao Lizhuang , Cheng Yanfen , Zhu Weiyun
Published: March 2022

Anaerobic fungi, though low in abundance in rumen, play an important role in the degradation of forage for herbivores. When only anaerobic fungi exist in the fermentation system, the continuous accumulation of metabolites (e.g., hydrogen (H2) and formate) generated from their special metabolic organelles—the hydrogenosome—inhibits the enzymatic reactions in the hydrogenosome and reduces the activity of the anaerobic fungi. However, due to interspecific H2 transfer, H2 produced by the hydrogenosome can be used by other microorganisms to form valued bioproducts. This symbiotic interaction between anaerobic fungi and other microorganisms can be used to improve the nutritional value of animal feeds and produce value-added products that are normally in low concentrations in the fermentation system. Because of the important role in the generation and further utilization of H2, the study of the hydrogensome is increasingly becoming an important part of the development of anaerobic fungi as model organisms that can effectively improve the utilization value of roughage. Here, we summarize and discuss the classification and the process of biomass degradation of anaerobic fungi and the metabolism and function of anaerobic fungal hydrogensome, with a focus on the potential role of the hydrogensome in the efficient utilization of biomass.
Association of Tocilizumab and Invasive Aspergillosis in Critically Ill Patients with Severe COVID-19 Pneumonia and Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Authors: Wu Kuo-Lun , Chang Chia-Yuan , Sung Heng-You , Hu Ting-Yu , Kuo Li-Kuo
Published: March 2022

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) causes severe pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome. According to the current consensus, immunosuppressants, such as dexamethasone and anti-interleukin-6 receptor monoclonal antibodies, are therapeutic medications in the early stages of infection. However, in critically ill patients, viral, fungal, and bacterial coinfection results in higher mortality. We conducted a single-center, retrospective analysis of 29 mechanically ventilated patients with artificial airways. Patients were adults with confirmed COVID-19 infection and severe pneumonia. Acute respiratory distress syndrome was diagnosed according to the Kigali modification of the Berlin definition. Six patients had invasive pulmonary aspergillosis coinfection based on elevated serum galactomannan levels and/or bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. We present two cases with brief histories and available clinical data. We also conducted a literature review to determine whether immunosuppressants, such as tocilizumab, increase infection risk or invasive aspergillosis in patients with COVID-19. There is no conclusive evidence to suggest that tocilizumab increases coinfection risk. However, further studies are needed to determine the optimal dose, between-dose interval, and timing of tocilizumab administration in patients with COVID-19.
Machine Learning for Prediction of Recurrence in Parasagittal and Parafalcine Meningiomas: Combined Clinical and MRI Texture Features
Authors: Hsieh Hsun-Ping , Wu Ding-You , Hung Kuo-Chuan , Lim Sher-Wei , Chen Tai-Yuan , Fan-Chiang Yang , Ko Ching-Chung
Published: March 2022

A subset of parasagittal and parafalcine (PSPF) meningiomas may show early progression/recurrence (P/R) after surgery. This study applied machine learning using combined clinical and texture features to predict P/R in PSPF meningiomas. A total of 57 consecutive patients with pathologically confirmed (WHO grade I) PSPF meningiomas treated in our institution between January 2007 to January 2019 were included. All included patients had complete preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and more than one year MRI follow-up after surgery. Preoperative contrast-enhanced T1WI, T2WI, T1WI, and T2 fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) were analyzed retrospectively. The most significant 12 clinical features (extracted by LightGBM) and 73 texture features (extracted by SVM) were combined in random forest to predict P/R, and personalized radiomic scores were calculated. Thirteen patients (13/57, 22.8%) had P/R after surgery. The radiomic score was a high-risk factor for P/R with hazard ratio of 15.73 (p < 0.05) in multivariate hazards analysis. In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, an AUC of 0.91 with cut-off value of 0.269 was observed in radiomic scores for predicting P/R. Subtotal resection, low apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values, and high radiomic scores were associated with shorter progression-free survival (p < 0.05). Among different data input, machine learning using combined clinical and texture features showed the best predictive performance, with an accuracy of 91%, precision of 85%, and AUC of 0.88. Machine learning using combined clinical and texture features may have the potential to predict recurrence in PSPF meningiomas.
DeepBiomarker: Identifying Important Lab Tests from Electronic Medical Records for the Prediction of Suicide-Related Events among PTSD Patients
Authors: Miranda Oshin , Fan Peihao , Qi Xiguang , Yu Zeshui , Ying Jian , Wang Haohan , Brent David A. , Silverstein Jonathan C. , Chen Yu , Wang Lirong
Published: March 2022

Identifying patients with high risk of suicide is critical for suicide prevention. We examined lab tests together with medication use and diagnosis from electronic medical records (EMR) data for prediction of suicide-related events (SREs; suicidal ideations, attempts and deaths) in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients, a population with a high risk of suicide. We developed DeepBiomarker, a deep-learning model through augmenting the data, including lab tests, and integrating contribution analysis for key factor identification. We applied DeepBiomarker to analyze EMR data of 38,807 PTSD patients from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Our model predicted whether a patient would have an SRE within the following 3 months with an area under curve score of 0.930. Through contribution analysis, we identified important lab tests for suicide prediction. These identified factors imply that the regulation of the immune system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, and gut microbiome were involved in shaping the pathophysiological pathways promoting depression and suicidal risks in PTSD patients. Our results showed that abnormal lab tests combined with medication use and diagnosis could facilitate predicting SRE risk. Moreover, this may imply beneficial effects for suicide prevention by treating comorbidities associated with these biomarkers.
WGCNA-Based DNA Methylation Profiling Analysis on Allopurinol-Induced Severe Cutaneous Adverse Reactions: A DNA Methylation Signature for Predisposing Drug Hypersensitivity
Authors: Cheng Lin , Sun Bao , Xiong Yan , Hu Lei , Gao Lichen , Li Ji , Xie Hongfu , Chen Xiaoping , Zhang Wei , Zhou Hong-Hao
Published: March 2022

Background: The role of aberrant DNA methylation in allopurinol-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs) is incompletely understood. To fill the gap, we analyze the DNA methylation profiling in allopurinol-induced Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS) and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) patients and identify the DNA methylation signature for predisposing allopurinol hypersensitivity. Methods: Genome-scale methylation analysis was conducted using the Illumina® HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was utilized to analyze the data. Results: A total of 21,497 annotated promoter regions were analyzed. Ten modules were identified between allopurinol hypersensitivity and tolerance, with turquoise and yellow modules being the most significant correlation. ATG13, EPM2AIP1, and SRSF11 were the top three hub genes in the turquoise module. MIR412, MIR369, and MIR409 were the top three hub genes in the yellow module. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the turquoise module was related to the metabolic process in intracellular organelles and the binding of various compounds, proteins, or nucleotides. The yellow module, however, was related to stimulus sensory perception in cytoskeletal elements and the activity of the receptor or transducer. Conclusion: DNA methylation plays a vital role in allopurinol-induced SCARs. DNA methylation profiling of SJS/TEN is significantly related to autophagy and microRNAs (miRNAs).
Effect of Maize Conservation Crops Associated with Two Vegetal Covers on the Edaphic Macrofauna in a Well-Drained Savanna of Venezuela
Authors: Morales-Márquez Jimmy A. , Jiménez-Ballesta Raimundo , Hernández-Hernández Rosa M. , Sánchez Gloria K. , Lozano Zenaida , Castro Ignacio
Published: March 2022

Conventional agricultural in the Venezuelan Llanos has generated gradual soil degradation. Therefore, conservationist agriculture has been proposed. According to several works, this type of management favors soil macrofauna. To test this hypothesis, the response of soil macrofauna to the establishment of conservationist maize crops, associated with Brachiaria dictyoneura (Bd) and Centrosema macrocarpum (Cm), was evaluated. The samples of soil and soil macrofauna were taken per vegetation cover at different climatic season over 2 years and 10 months. For this period and under the conditions studied, the results partially refute the hypothesis; on the one hand, they showed that the soil macrofauna of a natural savanna (NS) is the most diverse and equitable (N1 = 4.5 ± 2.8), followed by the cultivation of maize associated with Cm (N1 = 3.2 ± 1.9) and the least diverse with Bd (N1 = 2.6 ± 2.1). Additionally, some taxonomic groups apparently did not tolerate soil intervention, while Termitidae was favored. On the other hand, the temporal variation of the soil macrofauna did not differ between vegetation covers (F: 1.18; p = 0.37). This variation could be due to the decrease in TP (r = −0.55) and increased BD (r = 0.56).
The Integration of Cell Therapy and Biomaterials as Treatment Strategies for Remyelination
Authors: López-Muguruza Eneritz , Villar-Gómez Natalia , Matias-Guiu Jordi A. , Selma-Calvo Belen , Moreno-Jiménez Lidia , Sancho-Bielsa Francisco , Lopez-Carbonero Juan , Benito-Martín María Soledad , García-Flores Silvia , Bonel-García Natalia , Kamal Ola Mohamed-Fathy , Ojeda-Hernández Denise , Matías-Guiu Jorge , Gómez-Pinedo Ulises
Published: March 2022

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic degenerative autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that causes inflammation, demyelinating lesions, and axonal damage and is associated with a high rate of early-onset disability. Disease-modifying therapies are used to mitigate the inflammatory process in MS but do not promote regeneration or remyelination; cell therapy may play an important role in these processes, modulating inflammation and promoting the repopulation of oligodendrocytes, which are responsible for myelin repair. The development of genetic engineering has led to the emergence of stable, biocompatible biomaterials that may promote a favorable environment for exogenous cells. This review summarizes the available evidence about the effects of transplantation of different types of stem cells reported in studies with several animal models of MS and clinical trials in human patients. We also address the advantages of combining cell therapy with biomaterials.
Auction and Classification of Smart Contracts
Authors: Gibaja-Romero Damián-Emilio , Cantón-Croda Rosa-María
Published: March 2022

The execution of smart contracts (SCs) relies on consensus algorithms that validate the miner who executes the contract and gets a fee to cover her expenditure. In this sense, miners are strategic agents who may focus on executing those contracts with the largest fee, to the detriment of other SCs’ execution times, which also harms the blockchain’s reputation. This paper analyzes the impact of miners’ competition on SCs’ execution times in a public blockchain. First, we explain that the Proof-of-Work mechanism casts similarities with a time auction, where the one who first adds blocks is the one who executes the contract and gets the fee. At equilibrium, costs negatively affect execution times, while the opposite holds concerning fees. However, this result does not capture the competition for other contracts; hence, we apply the Naïve Bayes method to classify SCs by considering a simulated database that comprises miners’ competition for several contracts. We observe that simultaneous competition generates patterns that differ from the ones expected by the auction solution. For example, miners’ valuation does not accelerate contracts’ execution, and high-cost smart contracts do not necessarily execute at last places.
stigLD: Stigmergic Coordination in Linked Systems
Authors: Schubotz René , Spieldenner Torsten , Chelli Melvin
Published: March 2022

While current Semantic Web technologies are well-suited for data publication and integration, the design and deployment of dynamic, autonomous and long-lived multi-agent systems (MAS) on the Web is still in its infancy. Following the vision of hypermedia MAS and Linked Systems, we propose to use a value-passing fragment of Milner’s Calculus to formally specify the generic hypermedia-driven behaviour of Linked Data agents and the Web as their embedding environment. We are specifically interested in agent coordination mechanisms based on stigmergic principles. When considering transient marker-based stigmergy, we identify the necessity of generating server-side effects during the handling of safe and idempotent agent-initiated resource requests. This design choice is oftentimes contested with an imprecise interpretation of HTTP semantics, or with rejecting environments as first-class abstractions in MAS. Based on our observations, we present a domain model and a SPARQL function library facilitating the design and implementation of stigmergic coordination between Linked Data agents on the Web. We demonstrate the efficacy our of modelling approach in a Make-to-Order fulfilment scenario involving transient stigmergy and negative feedback as well as by solving a problem instance from the (time constrained) Trucks World domain as presented in the fifth International Planning Competition.
Curve and Surface Geometric Modeling via Generalized Bézier-like Model
Authors: Ameer Moavia , Abbas Muhammad , Miura Kenjiro , Majeed Abdul , Nazir Tahir
Published: March 2022

Generalized Bernstein-like functions (gB-like functions) with different shape parameters are used in this work. Parametric and geometric conditions in generalized form are developed. Some numerical examples of the parametric continuity (PC) and geometric continuity (GC) constraints of generalized Bézier-like curves (gB-like curves) are analyzed with graphical representation. Bézier-like symmetric rotation surfaces are constructed by gB-like curves. Vase and Capsule Taurus surfaces are modeled with the help of symmetry. The effect of shape parameters on surfaces are also analyzed. The illustrating figures reveal that the proposed curves and surfaces yield an accommodating strategy and mathematical depiction of Bézier curves and surfaces, allowing them to be a beneficial way to describe curves and surfaces.
Occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. Infection in Humans in Latvia: Evidence of Underdiagnosed and Underreported Cases
Authors: Deksne Gunita , Krūmiņš Agris , Mateusa Maira , Morozovs Vladimirs , Šveisberga Dārta Paula , Korotinska Rita , Bormane Antra , Vīksna Ludmila , Krūmiņa Angelika
Published: March 2022

Background and Objectives: Protozoan parasites—Cryptosporidium and Giardia—are important causes of diarrhea with an underestimated short-term burden on childhood growth and wellbeing in children under five years of age. The main transmission routes for both parasites are food and drinking water; transmission from person to person; and, due to their zoonotic nature, from domestic or wild animals to humans. The aims of the present study were to summarize the officially reported human cases of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis in Latvia and to assess the occurrence of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in children within a prospective prevalence study. Materials and Methods: The number of officially reported cases of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis in the time period of 2000–2020 was collected from the Centre for Disease Prevention and Control of Latvia. Data from a clinical diagnostic laboratory were included in the study in the period from 1 January 2008 to 31 December 2018. Additionally, a prospective study was performed, and fecal samples were collected from unique 0–17-year-old patients from January to February 2021 and tested using fluorescent microscopy. Results: Overall, during the 20-year period, 71 cases (mean per year = 9) of cryptosporidiosis and 1020 (mean per year = 34) cases of giardiasis were officially reported in Latvia. Meanwhile, within the prospective study, we found 35 (6.0%; 95%CI 4.3–8.1) Cryptosporidium and 42 (7.2%; 95%CI 5.3–9.6) Giardia cases. Conclusions: Here, we provide clear proof that both Cryptosporidium and Giardia are underdiagnosed in Latvia, which could also be true for neighboring Baltic and European countries, where a low number of cases are officially reported. Therefore, we highlight the hypothesis that the actual number of cryptosporidiosis and giardiasis human cases in the Baltic states is higher than that officially reported, including in Latvia.
Recycling of Waste Cotton Textile Containing Elastane Fibers through Dissolution and Regeneration
Authors: Wang Luxuan , Huang Shuting , Wang Yixiang
Published: March 2022

Increasing utilization of textiles has raised concern regarding the environmental impact brought by the textile manufacturing process and disposal of waste textiles. In our previous work, the dissolution of cotton waste through different solvent systems was demonstrated. Herein, this study aimed to further investigate the recycling of waste cotton–elastane fabrics using H2SO4, NaOH/urea, and LiCl/DMAc solvent systems. The structure of regenerated films was characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and the properties of the regenerated films, including transparency, mechanical properties, water vapor permeability, and thermal stability, were investigated. The results revealed that all solvent systems could convert the waste cotton–elastane fabrics into regenerated films with the existence of different forms of elastane components. The elastane fibers were partially hydrolyzed in H2SO4 solvent and reduced the transparency of regenerated films, but they were well retained in NaOH/urea solvent and interrupted the structure of regenerated cellulose films. It is worth noting that the elastane fibers were completely dissolved in LiCl/DMAc solvent and formed a composite structure with cellulose, leading to obviously improved tensile strength (from 51.00 to 121.63 MPa) and water barrier property (from 3.50 × 10−7 to 1.03 × 10−7 g m−1 h−1 Pa−1). Therefore, this work demonstrates the possibility to directly recycle waste cotton–elastane fabrics through dissolution and regeneration, and the resultant films have potential applications as packaging materials.
A Literature Review of Modelling and Experimental Studies of Water Treatment by Adsorption Processes on Nanomaterials
Authors: Ibrahim Qusai , Creedon Leo , Gharbia Salem
Published: March 2022

A significant growth in the future demand for water resources is expected. Hence researchers have focused on finding new technologies to develop water filtration systems by using experimental and simulation methods. These developments were mainly on membrane-based separation technology, and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants which play an important role in wastewater treatment by means of adsorption technology. In this work, we provide valuable critical review of the latest experimental and simulation methods on wastewater treatment by adsorption on nanomaterials for the removal of pollutants. First, we review the wastewater treatment processes that were carried out using membranes and nanoparticles. These processes are highlighted and discussed in detail according to the rate of pollutant expulsion, the adsorption capacity, and the effect of adsorption on nanoscale surfaces. Then we review the role of the adsorption process in the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in wastewater. We summarise the comparison based on decomposition ratios and degradation efficiency of pollutants. Therefore, the present article gives an evidence-based review of the rapid development of experimental and theoretical studies on wastewater treatment by adsorption processes. Lastly, the future direction of adsorption methods on water filtration processes is indicated.
Correction: Morón-Asensio et al. Differential Labeling of Chemically Modified Peptides and Lipids among Cyanobacteria Planktothrix and Microcystis. Microorganisms 2021, 9, 1578
Authors: Morón-Asensio Rubén , Schuler David , Wiedlroither Anneliese , Offterdinger Martin , Kurmayer Rainer
Published: March 2022

The authors wish to make the following corrections to this paper [...]
IntegronFinder 2.0: Identification and Analysis of Integrons across Bacteria, with a Focus on Antibiotic Resistance in Klebsiella
Authors: Néron Bertrand , Littner Eloi , Haudiquet Matthieu , Perrin Amandine , Cury Jean , Rocha Eduardo
Published: March 2022

Integrons are flexible gene-exchanging platforms that contain multiple cassettes encoding accessory genes whose order is shuffled by a specific integrase. Integrons embedded within mobile genetic elements often contain multiple antibiotic resistance genes that they spread among nosocomial pathogens and contribute to the current antibiotic resistance crisis. However, most integrons are presumably sedentary and encode a much broader diversity of functions. IntegronFinder is a widely used software to identify novel integrons in bacterial genomes, but has aged and lacks some useful functionalities to handle very large datasets of draft genomes or metagenomes. Here, we present IntegronFinder version 2. We have updated the code, improved its efficiency and usability, adapted the output to incomplete genome data, and added a few novel functions. We describe these changes and illustrate the relevance of the program by analyzing the distribution of integrons across more than 20,000 fully sequenced genomes. We also take full advantage of its novel capabilities to analyze close to 4000 Klebsiella pneumoniae genomes for the presence of integrons and antibiotic resistance genes within them. Our data show that K. pneumoniae has a large diversity of integrons and the largest mobile integron in our database of plasmids. The pangenome of these integrons contains a total of 165 different gene families with most of the largest families being related with resistance to numerous types of antibiotics. IntegronFinder is a free and open-source software available on multiple public platforms.
Transformation of the Sub-Continental Lithospheric Mantle Beneath the North China Craton (NCC): Constraints from the Geochemical Characteristics of Olivine Websterite Xenoliths and Their Minerals in the Cenozoic Basalts from Hannuoba
Authors: Duan Xianzhe , Shen Hongjie , Li Nan , Xiao Wenzhou , Sui Qinglin , He Haiyang , Feng Peng , Tang Zhenping
Published: March 2022

The sub-continental mantle beneath North China Craton (NCC) has attracted extensive attention in the past decades because of its dramatic transformation from an old, cold, thick, and refractory mantle to a juvenile, hot, thinner, and fertile mantle. However, the transformation mechanism remains largely controversial. The mantle xenoliths entrapped in basalts, as petrogenetic indicators, can provide an important window to reveal the evolution of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle. In this study, we present a systematical study on the geochemical characteristics of the olivine websterite xenoliths and their minerals in the Cenozoic basalts in the Hannuoba region located at the central orogenic belt of the NCC. The results, compared with the geochemical data of Paleozoic and Meosozic peridotites, the Cenozoic composite pyroxenites as well as the global cumulate pyroxenites, demonstrate that: (1) The source of the websterite is probably the lithospheric mantle, which is mainly newly accreted, but with small amounts of ancient mantle residues. The source may be contaminated by different degrees of crustal materials. The high Nb/Ta ratios (11.36–20.57) of the websterite indicate that the Ti-bearing minerals (such as rutile) are probably involved in the source; (2) The websterite is more likely to be produced as a result of interaction of mantle peridotite with the silica-rich melts that are mainly derived from the asthenospheric mantle and also contributed by the crustal materials; (3) The metasomatic crustal melts might be derived from the subducted Paleo-Pacific plate. These melts interacted with the lithospheric mantle can significantly transform the chemical composition of the lithospheric mantle, and consequently play an important role in the destruction of the NCC. An important implication for the destruction of the NCC is further discussed.
Recent Developments of Quantum Dot Materials for High Speed and Ultrafast Lasers
Authors: Yao Zhonghui , Jiang Cheng , Wang Xu , Chen Hongmei , Wang Hongpei , Qin Liang , Zhang Ziyang
Published: March 2022

Owing to their high integration and functionality, nanometer-scale optoelectronic devices based on III-V semiconductor materials are emerging as an enabling technology for fiber-optic communication applications. Semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) with the three-dimensional carrier confinement offer potential advantages to such optoelectronic devices in terms of high modulation bandwidth, low threshold current density, temperature insensitivity, reduced saturation fluence, and wavelength flexibility. In this paper, we review the development of the molecular beam epitaxial (MBE) growth methods, material properties, and device characteristics of semiconductor QDs. Two kinds of III-V QD-based lasers for optical communication are summarized: one is the active electrical pumped lasers, such as the Fabry–Perot lasers, the distributed feedback lasers, and the vertical cavity surface emitting lasers, and the other is the passive lasers and the instance of the semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors mode-locked lasers. By analyzing the pros and cons of the different QD lasers by their structures, mechanisms, and performance, the challenges that arise when using these devices for the applications of fiber-optic communication have been presented.
Theory of MBE Growth of Nanowires on Adsorbing Substrates: The Role of the Shadowing Effect on the Diffusion Transport
Authors: Dubrovskii Vladimir G.
Published: March 2022

A new model for nanowire growth by molecular beam epitaxy is proposed which extends the earlier approaches treating an isolated nanowire to the case of ensembles of nanowires. I consider an adsorbing substrate on which the arriving growth species (group III adatoms for III-V nanowires) may diffuse to the nanowire base and subsequently to the top without desorption. Analytical solution for the nanowire length evolution at a constant radius shows that the shadowing of the substrate surface is efficient and affects the growth kinetics from the very beginning of growth in dense enough ensembles of nanowires. The model fits quite well the kinetic data on different Au-catalyzed and self-catalyzed III-V nanowires. This approach should work equally well for vapor-liquid-solid and catalyst-free nanowires grown by molecular beam epitaxy and related deposition techniques on unpatterned or masked substrates.
Delays in Epidemic Outbreak Control Cost Disproportionately Large Treatment Footprints to Offset
Authors: Severns Paul M. , Mundt Christopher C.
Published: March 2022

Epidemic outbreak control often involves a spatially explicit treatment area (quarantine, inoculation, ring cull) that covers the outbreak area and adjacent regions where hosts are thought to be latently infected. Emphasis on space however neglects the influence of treatment timing on outbreak control. We conducted field and in silico experiments with wheat stripe rust (WSR), a long-distance dispersed plant disease, to understand interactions between treatment timing and area interact to suppress an outbreak. Full-factorial field experiments with three different ring culls (outbreak area only to a 25-fold increase in treatment area) at three different disease control timings (1.125, 1.25, and 1.5 latent periods after initial disease expression) indicated that earlier treatment timing had a conspicuously greater suppressive effect than the area treated. Disease spread computer simulations over a broad range of influential epidemic parameter values (R0, outbreak disease prevalence, epidemic duration) suggested that potentially unrealistically large increases in treatment area would be required to compensate for even small delays in treatment timing. Although disease surveillance programs are costly, our results suggest that treatments early in an epidemic disease outbreak require smaller areas to be effective, which may ultimately compensate for the upfront costs of proactive disease surveillance programs.
QTL Analysis Revealed One Major Genetic Factor Inhibiting Lesion Elongation by Bacterial Blight (Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae) from a japonica Cultivar Koshihikari in Rice
Authors: Shah Shameel , Tsuneyoshi Hiroaki , Ichitani Katsuyuki , Taura Satoru
Published: March 2022

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) is a pathogen that has ravaged the rice industry as the causal agent of bacterial blight (BB) diseases in rice. Koshihikari (KO), an elite japonica cultivar, and ARC7013 (AR), an indica cultivar, are both susceptible to Xoo. Their phenotypic characteristics reveal that KO has shorter lesion length than that of AR. The F2 population from KO × AR results in continuous distribution of lesion length by inoculation of an Xoo race (T7147). Consequently, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of the F2 population is conducted, covering 12 chromosomes with 107 simple sequence repeat (SSR) and insertion/deletion (InDel) genetic markers. Three QTLs are identified on chromosomes 2, 5, and 10. Of them, qXAR5 has the strongest resistance variance effect of 20.5%, whereas qXAR2 and qXAR10 have minor QTL effects on resistance variance, with 3.9% and 2.3%, respectively, for a total resistance variance of 26.7%. The QTLs we examine for this study differ from the loci of BB resistance genes from earlier studies. Our results can help to facilitate understanding of genetic and morphological fundamentals for use in rice breeding programs that are more durable against evolving Xoo pathogens and uncertain climatic temperature.
Photoperiod Affects Node Appearance Rate and Flowering in Early Maturing Soybean
Authors: Ort Nathaniel W. W. , Morrison Malcolm J. , Cober Elroy R. , Samanfar Bahram , Lawley Yvonne E.
Published: March 2022

The photoperiod plays a critical role in the control of flowering timing in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) with long days increasing the time to flowering. Early flowering cultivars have been developed from breeding programs for environments with long photoperiods; however, this effect is challenging to isolate in field experiments because of other environmental influences. Our experiment examined the effect of photoperiod on the node appearance rate and time to flower for 13 early maturing soybean cultivars ranging in maturity group (MG) between 000.9 and 1.3. Growth chambers were programmed to 14, 15, 16, and 17 h photoperiods and temperature was kept at 25 °C. The date of emergence and main stem node appearance were recorded until flowering. The node appearance rate was slowest for the first node and increased thereafter. All cultivars required more time to flowering in the longer photoperiod treatments and the later rated MG had the greatest sensitivity to photoperiod. A delay in time to flower from a longer photoperiod can delay maturity and expose the crop to fall frost that can reduce seed yield and quality. Understanding and documentation of soybean photoperiod sensitivity will help plant breeders develop suitable cultivars for environments with long photoperiods.
Impact of Weak Signals on the Digitalization of Risk Analysis in Process Safety Operational Environments
Authors: Benson Chizubem , Argyropoulos Christos D. , Nicolaidou Olga , Boustras Georgios
Published: March 2022

Weak signals in risk analysis digitalization are of great importance for preventing major accidents in risk analysis in the process industry, especially for process operations and production. However, some of the negative impacts are incorrect operational risk identification, significant inventory carrying costs, disruption of risk frequency, and risk consequence analysis, all of which will signal inaccurate information about unforeseen and current dangers in process facilities and operational environments. While the positive impacts are viewed as an early warning system that provides information on operational risk system status, the identification of potential risk weaknesses in process facilities, indicators of a transition or an emerging problem that may become significant in the future, highlighting future assumptions, challenge our views of the future and expand the selection of a processing facility. Lastly, weak signal identification in the digitalization of risk analysis can provide relevant information in supporting, assessing and analyzing the risks associated with the operation, in order to design a technical system and estimate the industry’s level of accident risk, as well as the possible control of a system. The present research will provide valuable information to the process industry on how to protect their operational facilities and increase process safety by providing information on weak safety risk monitoring systems in operations, strengthening the processes of the operational area.
Evaluation and Improvement of the Performance of a Wellhead Multistage Bundle Gas–Liquid Separator
Authors: Zhuge Xianglong , Qi Xiangdong , Wang Shanzhe , Liu Yang
Published: March 2022

A wellhead multistage bundle gas–liquid separator combining a gas–liquid cylindrical cyclone (GLCC) with multi-tube bundle components is expected to improve the gas–liquid separation performance. However, there is no unified understanding of the factors influencing the separation performance of the separator. The continuous improvement and applications of the separator are restricted. This paper evaluated the performance of the separator using a numerical simulation method. The results indicate that the separation flow field evolves to be uniform with the increased water cut when the gas–oil ratio and flow rate remain constant. Compared with a 30% water cut, the separation efficiency at a 50% water cut increased by 5.88%. When the gas–oil ratio and water cut remained constant, the swirl effect of the primary separation was enhanced. The separation efficiency increased to more than 70% when the flow rate was 15 m/s. When the flow rate and water cut remained unchanged, the pressure of the separation flow field was reduced. However, when the gas–oil ratio was greater than 160 m3/t, the flow field trace density of the secondary separation bundle was reduced, and the separation efficiency was also lower than 60%. The separation efficiency can be further improved by optimizing the number and diameter of secondary separation bundles.
“Putting Down and Letting Go”: An Exploration of a Community-Based Trauma-Oriented Retreat Program for Military Personnel, Veterans, and RCMP
Authors: Smith-MacDonald Lorraine , VanderLaan Annelies , Kaneva Zornitsa , Voth Melissa , Pike Ashley , Jones Chelsea , Bremault-Phillips Suzette
Published: March 2022

(1) Background: Current military members, veterans, and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) experience higher rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and moral injury (MI). Trauma-oriented retreats have been offered as a means of addressing these concerns. This article aims to explore the impact of a non-evidence-based trauma-oriented retreat for the above populations experiencing PTSD or MI; (2) Methods: This qualitative study, nested within the larger mixed-methods pre/post longitudinal follow-up study, examined the experiences of 124 military members, veterans, and RCMP who participated in the retreat. Data were collected from semi-structured interviews and first-hand observations of the organization. Analysis was conducted using thematic analysis while being informed by realist evaluation principles; (3) Results: The results showed that important contextual elements were related to participants being ready, having multiple comorbidities and using the program as a first or last resort. Effectual mechanisms included a home-like setting; immersion; credibility of facilitators; experiential learning; an holistic approach; letting go, and reconnecting to self. Outcomes included: re-finding self, symptom management, social connection, and hope for a meaningful life. The gendered analysis suggested less favorable results; (4) Conclusions: Care is warranted as the evidence-base and effectiveness of trauma-oriented retreats yet needs to be established prior to broad use.
Modified Equations of State for Dark Energy and Observational Limitations
Authors: Sharov German S. , Myachin Vasily E.
Published: March 2022

Cosmological models with variable and modified equations of state for dark energy are confronted with observational data, including Type Ia supernovae, Hubble parameter data H(z) from different sources, and observational manifestations of cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB). We consider scenarios generalizing the ΛCDM, wCDM, and Chevallier–Polarski–Linder (CPL) models with nonzero curvature and compare their predictions. The most successful model with the dark energy equation of state w=w0+w1(1−a2)/2 was studied in detail. These models are interesting in possibly alleviating the Hubble constant H0 tension, but they achieved a modest success in this direction with the considered observational data.
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Hesitancy Highly Evident among Caregivers of Girls Attending South African Private Schools
Authors: Milondzo Tracy , Meyer Johanna C. , Dochez Carine , Burnett Rosemary J.
Published: March 2022

The viral spread of social media misinformation and disinformation regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination safety has resulted in widespread vaccine hesitancy and suboptimal HPV vaccination uptake. We previously reported that only 19.4% of age-eligible private school girls in South Africa in 2018 had received ≥1 HPV vaccine dose. Here, we report on reasons given by caregivers for why their daughters were unvaccinated. An online survey targeting caregivers of girls in grades 4–7 attending South African private schools was conducted. Caregivers of unvaccinated girls provided the most important reason for their daughter not being vaccinated by either selecting from a list of coded reasons or providing a free text reason. Free text reasons were analysed, coded and added to the list of coded reasons, which were categorised according to broad themes. Frequency distributions of reasons and categories were calculated. Most reasons were related to vaccine hesitancy (61.4%), followed by lack of access to the vaccine (21.3%) and lack of information (15.7%). HPV vaccination coverage among age-eligible girls can be improved by including private-sector schools in the South African HPV vaccination programme, training healthcare providers to advocate for HPV vaccination and extending HPV vaccination advocacy campaigns to include private-sector educators.