bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A positive feedback loop between ZEB2 and ACSL4 regulates lipid metabolism to promote breast cancer metastasis
Authors: Lin Jiamin , Zhang Pingping , Liu Wei , Liu Guorong , Zhang Juan , Yan Min , Duan Yuyou , Yang Na
Published: May 2023

Lipid metabolism plays a critical role in cancer metastasis. However, the mechanisms through which metastatic genes regulate lipid metabolism remain unclear. Here, we describe a new oncogenic-metabolic feedback loop between the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcription factor ZEB2 and the key lipid enzyme ACSL4 (long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase 4), resulting in enhanced cellular lipid storage and fatty acid oxidation to drive breast cancer metastasis. Functionally, Depletion of ZEB2 or ACSL4 significantly reduced lipid droplets (LD) abundance and cell migration. ACSL4 overexpression rescued the invasive capabilities of the ZEB2 knockdown cells, suggesting that ACSL4 is crucial for ZEB2-mediated metastasis. Mechanistically, ZEB2 activated ACSL4 expression by directly binding to the ACSL4 promoter. ACSL4 binds to and stabilizes ZEB2 by reducing ZEB2 ubiquitination. Notably, ACSL4 not only promotes the intracellular lipogenesis and lipid droplet accumulation but also enhances fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and ATP production by upregulating the FAO rate-limiting enzyme CPT1A (carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 isoform A). Finally, we demonstrated that ACSL4 knockdown significantly reduced metastatic lung nodes in vivo. In conclusion, we reveal a novel positive regulatory loop between ZEB2 and ACSL4, which promotes LD storage to meet the energy needs of breast cancer metastasis, and identify the ZEB2-ACSL4 signaling axis as an attractive therapeutic target for overcoming breast cancer metastasis.ZEB2 activates FAO through transcription of ACSL4ACSL4 regulates lipid metabolism through FAO, promoting breast cancer metastasisTargeting ZEB2-ACSL4 signaling axis inhibits breast cancer metastasisWe describe a novel positive feedback loop between ZEB2 and ACSL4 that results in enhanced cellular lipid storage and FA oxidation to drive breast cancer metastasis.
A dynamic graph Hawkes process based on linear complexity self-attention for dynamic recommender systems
Authors: Hou Zhiwen , Lv Xiaojun , Zhou Yuchen , Bu Lingbin , Ma Qiming , Wang Yifan , Bu Fanliang
Published: May 2023

The dynamic recommender system realizes the real-time recommendation for users by learning the dynamic interest characteristics, which is especially suitable for the scenarios of rapid transfer of user interests, such as e-commerce and social media. The dynamic recommendation model mainly depends on the user-item history interaction sequence with timestamp, which contains historical records that reflect changes in the true interests of users and the popularity of items. Previous methods usually model interaction sequences to learn the dynamic embedding of users and items. However, these methods can not directly capture the excitation effects of different historical information on the evolution process of both sides of the interaction, i.e., the ability of events to influence the occurrence of another event. In this work, we propose a Dynamic Graph Hawkes Process based on Linear complexity Self-Attention (DGHP-LISA) for dynamic recommender systems, which is a new framework for modeling the dynamic relationship between users and items at the same time. Specifically, DGHP-LISA is built on dynamic graph and uses Hawkes process to capture the excitation effects between events. In addition, we propose a new self-attention with linear complexity to model the time correlation of different historical events and the dynamic correlation between different update mechanisms, which drives more accurate modeling of the evolution process of both sides of the interaction. Extensive experiments on three real-world datasets show that our model achieves consistent improvements over state-of-the-art baselines.
Factors shaping the gut microbiome of five species of lizards from different habitats
Authors: Vasconcelos Diana S. , Harris D. James , Damas-Moreira Isabel , Pereira Ana , Xavier Raquel
Published: May 2023

Background

Host-gut microbiota interactions are complex and can have a profound impact on the ecology and evolution of both counterparts. Several host traits such as systematics, diet and social behavior, and external factors such as prey availability and local environment are known to influence the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota.

Methods

In this study, we investigate the influence of systematics, sex, host size, and locality/habitat on gut microbiota diversity in five lizard species from two different sites in Portugal: Podarcis bocagei and Podarcis lusitanicus, living in syntopy in a rural area in northern Portugal (Moledo); the invasive Podarcis siculus and the native Podarcis virescens, living in sympatry in an urbanized environment (Lisbon); and the invasive Teira dugesii also living in an urban area (Lisbon). We also infer the potential microbial transmission occurring between species living in sympatry and syntopy. To achieve these goals, we use a metabarcoding approach to characterize the bacterial communities from the cloaca of lizards, sequencing the V4 region of the 16S rRNA.

Results

Habitat/locality was an important factor explaining differences in gut bacterial composition and structure, with species from urbanized environments having higher bacterial diversity. Host systematics (i.e., species) influenced gut bacterial community structure only in lizards from the urbanized environment. We also detected a significant positive correlation between lizard size and gut bacterial alpha-diversity in the invasive species P. siculus, which could be due to its higher exploratory behavior. Moreover, estimates of bacterial transmission indicate that P. siculus may have acquired a high proportion of local microbiota after its introduction. These findings confirm that a diverse array of host and environmental factors can influence lizards’ gut microbiota.
Molecular analysis of the 14-3-3 genes in Panax ginseng and their responses to heat stress
Authors: Wang Qi , Peng Wenyue , Rong Junbo , Zhang Mengyang , Jia Wenhao , Lei Xiujuan , Wang Yingping
Published: May 2023

Background

Panax Ginseng is a perennial and semi-shady herb with tremendous medicinal value. Due to its unique botanical characteristics, ginseng is vulnerable to various abiotic factors during its growth and development, especially in high temperatures. Proteins encoded by 14-3-3 genes form a highly conserved protein family that widely exists in eukaryotes. The 14-3-3 family regulates the vital movement of cells and plays an essential role in the response of plants to abiotic stresses, including high temperatures. Currently, there is no relevant research on the 14-3-3 genes of ginseng.

Methods

The identification of the ginseng 14-3-3 gene family was mainly based on ginseng genomic data and Hidden Markov Models (HMM). We used bioinformatics-related databases and tools to analyze the gene structure, physicochemical properties, cis-acting elements, gene ontology (GO), phylogenetic tree, interacting proteins, and transcription factor regulatory networks. We analyzed the transcriptome data of different ginseng tissues to clarify the expression pattern of the 14-3-3 gene family in ginseng. The expression level and modes of 14-3-3 genes under heat stress were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) technology to determine the genes in the 14-3-3 gene family responding to high-temperature stress.

Results

In this study, 42 14-3-3 genes were identified from the ginseng genome and renamed PgGF14-1 to PgGF14-42. Gene structure and evolutionary relationship research divided PgGF14s into epsilon (ε) and non-epsilon (non-ε) groups, mainly located in four evolutionary branches. The gene structure and motif remained highly consistent within a subgroup. The physicochemical properties and structure of the predicted PgGF14 proteins conformed to the essential characteristics of 14-3-3 proteins. RNA-seq results indicated that the detected PgGF14s existed in different organs and tissues but differed in abundance; their expression was higher in roots, stems, leaves, and fruits but lower in seeds. The analysis of GO, cis-acting elements, interacting proteins, and regulatory networks of transcription factors indicated that PgGF14s might participate in physiological processes, such as response to stress, signal transduction, material synthesis-metabolism, and cell development. The qRT-PCR results indicated PgGF14s had multiple expression patterns under high-temperature stress with different change trends in several treatment times, and 38 of them had an apparent response to high-temperature stress. Furthermore, PgGF14-5 was significantly upregulated, and PgGF14-4 was significantly downregulated in all treatment times. This research lays a foundation for further study on the function of 14-3-3 genes and provides theoretical guidance for investigating abiotic stresses in ginseng.
Integrated analysis of lncRNAs, mRNAs, and TFs to identify network modules underlying diterpenoid biosynthesis in Salvia miltiorrhiza
Authors: Wang Lin , Zou Peijin , Liu Fang , Liu Rui , Yan Zhu-Yun , Chen Xin
Published: May 2023

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcripts of more than 200 nucleotides (nt) in length, with minimal or no protein-coding capacity. Increasing evidence indicates that lncRNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression including in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge is an important medicinal plant in China. Diterpenoid tanshinones are one of the main active components of S. miltiorrhiza. To better understand the role of lncRNAs in regulating diterpenoid biosynthesis in S. miltiorrhiza, we integrated analysis of lncRNAs, mRNAs, and transcription factors (TFs) to identify network modules underlying diterpenoid biosynthesis based on transcriptomic data. In transcriptomic data, we obtained 6,651 candidate lncRNAs, 46 diterpenoid biosynthetic pathway genes, and 11 TFs involved in diterpenoid biosynthesis. Combining the co-expression and genomic location analysis, we obtained 23 candidate lncRNA-mRNA/TF pairs that were both co-expressed and co-located. To further observe the expression patterns of these 23 candidate gene pairs, we analyzed the time-series expression of S. miltiorrhiza induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA). The results showed that 19 genes were differentially expressed at least a time-point, and four lncRNAs, two mRNAs, and two TFs formed three lncRNA-mRNA and/or TF network modules. This study revealed the relationship among lncRNAs, mRNAs, and TFs and provided new insight into the regulation of the biosynthetic pathway of S. miltiorrhiza diterpenoids.
Influência do tratamento pré-natal na prevalência de toxoplasmose congênita
Authors: De Sousa Sara Falcão , Pegoraro Fábio , De França Junior Mosaniel Falcão , D’Alessandro Walmirton Bezerra , Gontijo Erica Eugênio Lourenço , Da Silva Marcos Gontijo
Published: May 2023

OBJETIVO: Descrever a influência do tratamento gestacional na prevalência da toxoplasmose congênita em uma Policlínica, de um município de médio porte no interior do Brasil. MÉTODOS: Estudo descritivo, com uma série de casos de 30 mulheres com gravidez confirmada clinicamente, que apresentaram infecção por T. Gondii durante a gravidez, que realizaram seguimento pré-natal em uma Policlínica (Centro de Especialidades) no município de Gurupi-TO, durante os anos de 2010 à 2017; as mesmas retornaram para avaliação e acompanhamento de seus filhos nesta mesma unidade. As variáveis analisadas foram: esquema terapêutico empregado para tratar as gestantes e sequelas fetais ao nascimento. As gestantes foram agrupadas em dois grupos, sendo um grupo que foi submetido ao tratamento por espiramicina por 2 meses e outro tratado por espiramicina por toda a gestação. Os dados foram tratados pelo teste de qui-quadrado com p ≤5%. RESULTADOS: Foram identificados 13 (86,7%) recém-nascidos com diagnóstico de toxoplasmose congênita (sorologia positiva) e todos esses eram filhos de mães que haviam usado a espiramicina pelo período de dois meses.. Cerca de 80% dos RNs apresentaram coriorretinite, 53% atraso motor, 47% problemas de audição e 33% problemas na fala.  CONCLUSÃO: Foi identificado ausência de padronização de condutas terapêuticas entre as gestantes diagnosticadas com toxoplasmose gestacional o que ocasionou sequelas severas nos neonatos.
Prevalência de soropositividade para Toxoplasma gondii em gestantes de Gurupi — estado do Tocantins
Authors: De Sousa Sara Falcão , Pegoraro Fábio , De França Junior Mosaniel Falcão , D’Alessandro Walmirton Bezerra , Gontijo Erica Eugênio Lourenço , Da Silva Marcos Gontijo
Published: May 2023

OBJETIVO: Determinar a prevalência da soropositividade para Toxoplasma gondii em gestantes assistidas em programas de pré-natal nas unidades básicas de saúde na cidade de Gurupi, estado do Tocantins e analisar sua associação com a idade gestacional. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal com estimativa de prevalência de soropositividade para Toxoplasma gondii, em gestantes atendidas durante o pré-natal em 11 Unidades Básicas de Saúde (UBS) do serviço municipal de Gurupi. O estudo foi realizado a partir da análise de prontuários de acompanhamento destas gestantes durante o pré-natal no período dos anos de 2015 a 2017. RESULTADOS: A prevalência para toxoplasmose gestacional na fase aguda ou recente foi de 20,7%, 9,4% infecção crônica e 53,7% das gestantes foram identificadas como susceptíveis. Do total da amostra (n=309), 79 (25,6%; IC95% 21,0 – 30,7) das mulheres foram positivas para o IgG, sendo que dessas 11 (13,9%) estavam com até 18 semanas de gestação, revelando uma associação significativa (p=0,010);  65 (21,0%; IC95% 16,9 – 25,9) foram positivas para anticorpos IgM contra o parasita T. gondii e dessas 9 (14,8%) estavam no período gestacional abaixo de 18 semanas, também com associação significativa (valor de p = 0,033).  Dentre aquelas que foram IgM positivas 49 (75,4%) também eram IgG positivas. CONCLUSÕES: A taxa de prevalência para toxoplasmose gestacional na infecção aguda no município de Gurupi-TO, foi considerada relativamente alta se comparado a outros municípios brasileiros e a taxa global. A proporção de gestantes susceptíveis, demonstrou a necessidade de rigoroso acompanhamento pré-natal. A idade gestacional esteve associada com a frequência da doença, aguda ou crônica e isso foi evidenciado com taxas mais baixas entre gestantes com até 18 semanas de gestação.
Study on the Purification and Reusability of Burnt Cooking Oil and Assessment of Its Physicochemical and Safety Parameters
Authors: Khaled B. M. , Sina Adda Ann , Alam Asraful , Alim Md. Abdul , Biswas Mrityunjoy
Published: May 2023

Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate the reusability of edible oils and to find which temperature the refined oils could be used for cooking purposes.

Study Design:  The study followed a completely randomized design (CRD).

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Department of Agro Product Processing Technology and its corresponding laboratory on Jashore University of Science and Technology, Jashore, Bangladesh. The study took three consecutive months to complete the study.

Methodology: The study adopted several methods to refine the burnt cooking oils and analyze their physicochemical as well as cooking qualities. At first, the heat was applied to commercially purchased palm, soybean, and rice bran oil. Produced burnt oil was refined using a base and hexane mixture. After that, these refined oils were repeatedly heated for 15, 30 and 60 minutes and physicochemical quality like peroxide value (PV), saponification number (SN), acid value (AV), etc were analyzed for each oil sample at each time interval. Furthermore, cooking quality of the refined oils was determined by frying sausages using each oil and the flavor, color, texture and overall acceptability were determined using hedonic scale.

Results: The study found that the refining rate of each oil was at the peak when the base -to-hexane ratio was 9:1. An increasing trend was observed in the case of the peroxide value of the refined oils during repeated heating. This trend was most predominant in case of palm oil. In palm oil sample, PV of palm oil increased from 4.950±0.6 to 14.432±0.86 meqo2/kg oil at the third time of heating. The other two sample oils also crossed the standard PV of the respective oil at the third time of heating. It means all the refined oil can be used for a maximum of three times. Acid value of the oils also showed the same trend of increasing with an increase in temperature. In the case of SN, palm oil showed a higher degree of saturation with increased heating time among the refined oils. The flavor, color, texture, and overall acceptability of the sausages fried in these three showed significant differences at p<0.05. This is an indicator that burnt cooking oil that was refined can be reused in cooking.   

Conclusion: Due to the increasing price of edible oils and limited resources, they can be refined from their burnt stage and reused for cooking. Therefore, refining can be a good method to solving edible oil scarcity.
Physico-Chemical Analysis of Developed Rice Beer from Oryza sativa
Authors: Tiwari Akansha , Singh Neetu , Singh Ayushi
Published: May 2023

Aim: Medicinal plants and their extracts represent a rich source of crude medications that possess therapeutic properties. Physico-chemical properties of two different rice varieties (Jandhan and Sugapankhi) of North India collected from Uttar Pradesh and a starter culture cake collected from Arunachal Pradesh used in the process of rice beer preparation were analyzed. This study evaluates the development of rice beer from Oryza sativa and physico-chemical analysis of developed rice beer.

Study Design: The present study was conducted in 3 phases-

Collection of raw materials

Production of rice beer

Physico-chemical analysis of developed rice beer

Place and Duration of the Study: The present study was conducted in the Department of Food and Nutrition of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow. The duration of the study is 3 months i.e. from Jan, 2023 - March, 2023.

Methodology: Rice beer was developed in the laboratory under optimum conditions through fermentation followed by filtration and distillation. Collection of the raw materials was done from the local markets of North India and North-east, India. In the present study we have compared physico-chemical properties between two rice varieties i.e. Jandhan and Sugapankhi.

Results: Various physico-chemical parameters (pH, TSS, total acidity, volatile acidity, turbidity, and alcohol content) of rice beer were determined. The pH decreased with storage time, and acidic pH was noted for the beer in ambient storage. An increase with time in the total acidity, volatile acidity, and alcohol % of rice beer was observed. The final recorded alcohol % value of rice beer was in the range of 8-10%. The alcohol content increased throughout the storage. Statistical analysis was performed for comparison between the two samples of rice. Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from the starter culture cake was found to be the major organism responsible for rice beer fermentation.

Conclusion: The preparation of rice beer needs scientific input for increasing its shelf-life and value addition for its marketing and improving its shelf-life for better quality and acceptability.
Correlation between Sheep Body Condition Score and Lambing Interval in Langkat District of Indonesia
Authors: Kurniawan Media Agus , Sitepu Sukma Aditya , Aditya Gilang
Published: May 2023

The Body Condition Score relates to livestock reproduction, such as estrus, pregnancy, the birth process, and the condition of lambs. If the lamb has a bodyweight exceeding the ideal body weight, the animal will experience reproductive disorders to metabolic diseases. However, if the mother sheep has a body weight less than ideal, it can disrupt the reproductive system, affecting the symbol interval. This research aims to find out the relationship between Body Condition Score and the reproductive performance of sheep in Langkat Regency, namely Service Per Conception and Lambing Interval. The study design is Deskriptif analysis. Research conducted in Langkat Regency, Indonesia, between November 2022 and January 2023.The method used in this research is a case study, namely by collecting primary and secondary data. The observed variables are Body Condition Score (BCS) and Lambing Interval. The results of the study are The value of the Body Condition Score with the Lambing Interval regression equation Y = 15.677-0.818X. (R2) 12.8%. (r) of 0.358. The relationship between Body Condition Score and Calving Interval is positive, with an R2 value of 12.8%. The conclusion of the research is The relationship between the lambs Body Condition Score (BCS) and the Lambing Interval had a good correlation with an average Calving Interval ranging from ≤8 to 9 months.
Impact of Covid-19 Pandemic on Education and Psycho-Social Behavior among School Students: A Comparative Study between Two Adjacent Blocks in North 24 Pargana District of West Bengal, India
Authors: Nandy Poulami , Pal Biswajit , Mondal Susmita , Ghosh Juni
Published: May 2023

A country is developed only when its citizens are educated. The role of education in the development of a nation can never be denied. Institutional education is imperative as it helps the child to become a good citizen through holistic development. During the last three years, due to emergence of Covid-19 and lockdown as its preventive measure, formal education was not in continuation for that time period. The objective of the paper is to compare the impact of school closure during lockdown on education and psycho-social behaviour among school students of two adjacent blocks of North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, India. Hence, the comparative parameters are school closure-related impacts faced by students during the pandemic situation. Cross-sectional data were collected from 80 no of children enrolled in government schools and their parents randomly. The data has been analyzed to evaluate the impact of school closures on learners. The result revealed that an alternative option came as a learning medium that is the online mode of education. These online classes required gadgets like mobile phone, laptop and proper internet connection. The majority of the students' parents are daily wage earners. During the lockdown, they got unemployed. So many of them couldn’t afford a new smartphone and recharge amount for internet packages. The majority of students from rural areas were unable to do online classes due to economic constraints and inaccessibility of internet and many schools could not arrange online classes due to higher poverty rate of the location and lack of infrastructure. It caused a significant impact on the learners' education by creating a huge difference between the learners of the same age. Most of the students of both blocks lost their sincerity towards education. Behavioural changes occurred among students during this school closure. Most of the parents complained that during online classes their wards got addicted to online games and other unnecessary online activities. They lost their concentration in studies, got irritable by nature, enjoy loneliness, talk less etc. The changes among learners of Barrakpore II were greater than the learners of Barasat I. It can be recommended from this study that if there will any situation arrives to shut down the schools again or to development of a blended mode of education, a related educational policy, infrastructure with affordable and accessible measures should be considered to continue the education system for every section of students.
Approaches to Smoking Cessation
Authors: Okobi Okelue Edwards , Salawu Mujeeb Adedeji , Nikravesh Elham , Umeozor Ifunanya Vera , Sanusi Ibilola Akorede , Ojo Soji A. , Oaikhena Ijeoma , Ezeani Esther Ifeoma , Uzoh Precious Anastasia , Umeh Chioma Celestina , Awoyemi Eyitope Olaide , Okobi Emeka Kenneth , Evbayekha Endurance O. , Okobi Tobechukwu J. , Odoma Victor Ameh , Izundu Ijeoma C.
Published: May 2023

Smoking cessation is a critical public health issue. Smoking cessation techniques are essential in reducing the burden of tobacco-related diseases and deaths. Medical practitioners have the potential to assist patients in quitting smoking, but deficits exist in the amount and type of training received in smoking cessation counseling.

Smoking cessation is not a single event but a process that involves a change in a person's lifestyle, values, social circles, thinking and feeling patterns, and coping skills. Overcoming the hurdles associated with smoking cessation can increase an individual's self-efficacy in their ability to succeed at their quit attempt, which in turn acts to reduce the likelihood of a relapse and increase the likelihood of long-term sustained smoking cessation. Innovative techniques of treatment are necessary to provide effective smoking cessation intervention, especially for difficult cases.

The use of pharmacotherapy, including nicotine replacement therapy and other medications, is an effective smoking cessation technique. Behavioral therapy is also a useful approach, including motivational interviewing, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and contingency management. The combination of pharmacotherapy and behavioral therapy can enhance the success rate of smoking cessation.
The Use of Scarlet Starglory (Merremia aegyptia L.) Mixed with Poultry Manure in the Agronomic Viability of Coriander in the Semiarid Region
Authors: Neta Idelzuite Ferreira da Gama , Linhares Paulo César Ferreira , Alves Natalia Fernandes de Oliveira , Sousa Roberto Pequeno de , Silva Mikael Kercio Sousa da , Dantas Thiffany Louhanne Alves , Santos Maria Eduarda Pereira dos , Assis Janilson Pinheiro de , Alves Lunara de Sousa , Gomes Geovanna Alicia Dantas , Cardoso Eudes de Almeida , Alves Andreza Maria da Silva
Published: May 2023

Aims: This research was aimed to study udy the use of jitirana mixed with poultry manure on the agronomic viability of coriander in the semiarid region.

Study: The experiment site was in the municipality of Mossoró, RN, Brazil, located at 5º 11' south latitude and 37º20' west longitude and altitude of 18 m.

Methodology: The experiment was carried out at the Rafael Fernandes Experimental Farm, belonging to the Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-árido, located in the district of Alagoinha, rural area of Mossoró, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized with treatments arranged in a 5 x 2 factorial scheme, with three replications. The treatments consisted of the combination of five amounts of the mixture of scarlet starglory (Merremia aegyptia L.) plus poultry manure (0.0; 1.2; 2.4; 3.6 and 4.8 kg m-2 of area in dry basis) and the second factor, by the forms of application to the soil (incorporated and covering).

The sown coriander cultivar was the Verdão cultivar. The characteristics evaluated were the following: plant height, number of stems plant-1, productivity, number of bunches and dry mass of coriander.

The highest productivity and number of bunches of coriander culture was observed in the amount of 4.8 kg m-2 of the mixture of scarlet starglory with poultry manure, with values of 1246.5 g m-2 and 24.9 units of bunches m-2, respectively. The mixture It is concluded that the misture of organic fertilizers (scarlet starglory with poultry manure) contributed positively to the agronomic characteristics of the coriander crop.
Evaluate the Continuous Improvement of Operations According to the Business Continuity Model (ISO 22301: 2019) A Case Study: The General Company for Vegetable Oils
Authors: Mahmeed Dr. Al-Ogaili Saad Musa
Published: May 2023

The main objective of the study is to evaluate the continuous improvement of operations by identifying the non-conformity gap and to assess the level of implementation of the requirements of (ISO 22301: 2019) in the General Company for Vegetable Oils. The method used is a case study, which included personal interviews and actual observation at the study site. The practical side included designing checklists and gap analysis using the requirements of the international standard (ISO 22301: 2019). The statistical analysis included the use of a five-weighted scale, the use of weighted average equations, and implementation and documentation ratios, to measure the non-conformity gap. The requirements amounted to (148), and they include the main subjects and their branches, while the percentage of non-conformity and the documentation gap for all requirements was less than the average. The study concluded: failure to identify external and internal problems related to risks and crises that the company/study sample may face, and failure to review information related to the strategic plan of the company and its stakeholders according to the requirements (ISO 22301: 2019). The study recommended the following: All exceptions that have an impact on the companys ability and responsibility, including risk assessment or analysis, and regulatory or legal requirements, must be documented, including all necessary processes.
Five-Year Sales for Newly Marketed Prescription Drugs With and Without Initial Orphan Drug Act Designation
Authors: Tu S. Sean , Nagar Sarosh , Kesselheim Aaron S. , Lu Zhigang , Rome Benjamin N.
Published: May 2023

This study evaluates sales revenue earned in the first 5 years for newly marketed brand-name drugs with and without an initial orphan drug designation.
Observer‐based finite‐time adaptive fault‐tolerant control for nonlinear system with input delay and prescribed performance
Authors: Yu Guo , Liu Wenhui
Published: May 2023

This paper focuses on the issue of the adaptive fuzzy fault‐tolerant control for a type of nonlinear system with input delay and disturbances. Fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) are used to estimate the unknown nonlinear quantities of the system. The Pade approximation is applied to counteract the negative effects of input delay on the system. The prescribed performance control based on error transformation helps to guarantee the transient performance of system errors. A fuzzy state observer is established to estimate the unmeasurable states of the system. Then, in presence of disturbances and actuator faults, a finite‐time control scheme is designed using the Lyapunov function and the backstepping technique. Based on Lyapunov stability, it is proved that the tracking error can converge to a specified range in a finite time, and all signals in the system are bounded in the controller design. In the end, the simulations of a second‐order system and a multi‐area interconnected power system certify the feasibility and effectiveness of the control strategy.
Topologically Optimized Fingerless Versatile Gripper Actuated by a Shape Memory Alloy Coiled Garter Spring
Authors: Hwang Bohyun , Park Hanmin , Joe Seonggun , Kim Byungkyu
Published: May 2023

The rapid advancements in 3D printing technologies offer immense design flexibility and the ability to create complex structures with high resolution. Using these cutting‐edge technologies and materials (i.e., a polylactic acid and fused deposition modeling), a novel design principle is introduced for a fingerless gripper, achieved through topological optimization. To realize the grasping capabilities, a coiled garter spring made of shape memory alloy (SMA) is incorporated at the end of the flexure beams. Based on the experiments, it is found that the gripper is very quick to respond, taking only 5 s to heat up and 15 s to cool down. This promising performance is achieved by carefully balancing the net force differential between the restoring force of the flexure beam and the force of the SMA coiled garter spring. In addition to its responsiveness, the gripper demonstrates a high force‐to‐weight ratio of 5.3, allowing it to lift heavy payloads of up to 4.91 N (0.5 kgf) despite its lightweight design (total weight of 94.2 g). Overall, this work showcases the potential of 3D printed fingerless grippers in terms of high holding strength, lightweight, low cost, and simple fabrication.
Urbanization, migration, and indigenous health in Peru
Authors: Veile A. , Chávez Cabello R. , Otárola‐Castillo E. , Rojas Bravo V. , Turner G.
Published: May 2023

Introduction

We compare demographic, socioeconomic, and anthropometric characteristics and blood pressure (BP), between rural and urban Peruvian indigenous women. These are preliminary results from a project on urbanization, migration, and health.

Methods

Data were collected cross‐sectionally (2019) and compared between a rural (n = 92) and an urban (n = 93) community.

Results

Height: μ = 148.3 ± 5.0 cm (range = 137–162), weight: μ = 62.0 ± 11.5 (range = 37.5–108.7), median waist circumference = 89.0 (IQR = 15.8, range = 64.0–126.0), BMI = 28.3 (IQR = 6.2, range = 16.7–40.0), with no significant rural–urban differences. Systolic but not diastolic BP was significantly higher in urban versus rural women (median = 110, IQR = 18, range = 80–170 vs. median = 120, IQR = 10, range = 90–170, p = .002 and median = 70, IQR = 17, range = 50–100 vs. median = 70, IQR = 10, range = 60–100, p = .354), respectively.

Conclusions

Despite major lifestyle differences, there were no anthropometric differences between rural and urban women. Higher systolic BP in urban women may reflect social/economic stressors rather than dietary factors.
A Chemically Bonded Ultraconformal Layer between the Elastic Solid Electrolyte and Lithium Anode for High‐performance Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Yang Na , Cui Yujie , Su Hang , Peng Jiaying , Shi Yongzheng , Niu Jin , Wang Feng
Published: May 2023

Although high ionic conductivities have been achieved in most solid‐state electrolytes used in lithium metal batteries (LMBs), rapid and stable lithium‐ion transport between solid‐state electrolytes and lithium anodes remains a great challenge due to the high interfacial impedances and infinite volume changes of metallic lithium. In this work, a chemical vapor‐phase fluorination approach is developed to establish a lithiophilic surface on rubber‐derived electrolytes, which results in the formation of a resilient, ultrathin, and mechanically integral LiF‐rich layer after electrochemical cycling. The resulting ultraconformal layer chemically connects the electrolyte and lithium anode and maintains dynamic contact during operation, thus facilitating rapid and stable lithium‐ion transport across interfaces, as well as promoting uniform lithium deposition and inhibiting side reactions between electrolyte components and metallic lithium. LMBs containing the novel electrolyte have an ultralong cycling life of 2500 h and deliver a high critical current density of 1.1 mA cm−2 in lithium symmetric cells as well as showing good stability over 300 cycles in a full cell.
Ru@C as a safety mask of RuO4@C for selective catalytic oxidation of alkynyl sulfurs to prepare alkynylsulfones
Authors: Wang Yuguang , Chen Yuan , Zheng Huifang , Wu Mengjing , Hong Zhiwei , Zhu Bingchun , Wei Chun
Published: May 2023

A high‐performance catalyst, RuO4@C, was safely generated in situ from a safety mask Ru@C, which was recyclable and commercially available. The catalyst could selectively oxidize thioethers to sulfones in 95%–99% yields and alkynyl sulfurs to alkynylsulfones in 93%–98% yields. This safe, non‐toxic, inexpensive, and readily available catalyst is potentially promising for industrial applications in the production of sulfones from sulfur oxidation.
Analyzing the greenhouse gas emissions in the palm oil supply chain in the VUCA world: A blockchain initiative
Authors: El Hathat Zakaria , Venkatesh V. G. , Zouadi Tarik , Sreedharan V. Raja , Manimuthu Arunmozhi , Shi Yangyan
Published: May 2023

As the world is becoming more VUCA for business operations, organizations are leveraging the competitive advantage through their supply chain practices. The food supply chain is no exception. Being competitive has become imperative in terms of sustainability and accountability of the business process. Therefore, organizations are adopting blockchain to track and trace the information flow to ensure a better business process. Further, to ensure sustainability, analyzing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions aids firms in achieving a reasonable improvement in the food supply chain. So, the present study collects carbon emissions data for palm oil production. The study evaluates palm oil production in the Sumatra region, Indonesia (Cradle to Port), through predictive modeling. Here, the palm production process is classified as cultivation, harvesting, and shipping. Then, the study evaluates the GHG emissions from the three phases to understand the carbon footprint in palm oil production. Finally, the study uses blockchain to track and trace the GHG emissions in the palm oil supply chain using Hyperledger Fabric self‐executed smart contracts. The study has developed unique contributions in terms of developing predictive modeling, blockchain architecture, and deep learning in palm production to leverage the competitive advantage of the supply chain in the VUCA world for business excellence in the global market.
Preoperative alpha fetoprotein, total bilirubin, fibrinogen, albumin, and lymphocytes predict postoperative survival in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Xu Jia , An Shu , Lu Ying , Li Laisheng , Wu Zhi‐Qi , Xu Hua‐Guo
Published: May 2023

Aims

Our study focused on exploring the feasible prognostic laboratory parameters of HCC and establishing a score model to estimate individualized overall survival (OS) in HCC after resection.

Methods

Four hundred and sixty‐one patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy between January 2010 and December 2017 was enrolled in this investigation. Cox proportional hazards model was conducted to analyze the prognostic value of laboratory parameters. The score model construction was based on the forest plot results. Overall survival was evaluated by Kaplan‐Meier method and the log‐rank test. The novel score model was validated in an external validation cohort from a different medical institution.

Results

We identified that alpha fetoprotein (AFP), total bilirubin (TB), fibrinogen (FIB), albumin (ALB), and lymphocyte (LY) were independent prognostic factors. High AFP, TB, FIB (HR > 1, p < 0.05), and low ALB, LY (HR < 1, p < 0.05) were associated with the survival of HCC. The novel score model of OS based on these five independent prognostic factors achieved high C‐index of 0.773 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.738–0.808), which was significantly higher than those of the single five independent factors (0.572–0.738). The score model was validated in the external cohort whose C‐index was 0.7268 (95% CI: 0.6744–0.7792).

Conclusion

The novel score model we established was an easy‐to‐use tool which could enable individualized estimation of OS in patients with HCC who underwent curative hepatectomy.
Designing Alginate/Chitosan Nanoparticles ContainingEchinacea angustifolia: A Novel Candidate for Combating Multidrug‐ResistantStaphylococcus aureus
Authors: Taghiloo Sepideh , Ghajari Ghazal , Zand Zahra , Kabiri‐Samani Saber , Kabiri Hamidreza , Rajaei Negin , Piri‐Gharaghie Tohid
Published: May 2023

Nanoparticles (NPs) may help treat multidrug‐resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MDR). This study prepared and evaluated chitosan/alginate‐encapsulatedEchinacea angustifoliaextract against MDR strains. Evaluating synthesized NPs with SEM, DLS, and FT‐IR. Congo red agar and colorimetric plate techniques examined isolate biofilm formation. NP antibacterial power was assessed using well diffusion. Real‐time PCR assessed biofilm‐forming genes. MTT assessed the synthesized NPs′ toxicity. According to DLS measurements, sphericalE. angustifoliaNPs had a diameter of 335.3±1.43 nm. The PDI was 0.681, and the entrapment effectiveness (EE%) of theE. angustifoliaextract reached 83.45 %. Synthesized NPs were most antimicrobial.S. aureusresistant to several treatments was 80 percent of 100 clinical samples. Biofilm production was linked to MDR in all strains. The ALG/CS‐encapsulated extract had a 4 to 32‐fold lower MIC than the free extract, which had no bactericidal action. They also significantly decreased the expression of genes involved in biofilm formation.E. angustifolia‐encapsulated ALG/CS decreasedIcaD,IcaA, andIcaCgene expression in all MDR strains (***p<0.001). Free extract, free NPs, andE. angustifolia‐NPs had 57.5 %, 85.5 %, and 90.0 % cell viability at 256 μg/ml. These discoveries could assist generate stable plant extracts by releasing natural‐derived substances under controlled conditions.
Is there a woman paradox? Commentary on the Gender differences in percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusions from the ERCTO study
Authors: Cader Aaysha , Alasnag Mirvat
Published: May 2023

Key Points

Women are underrepresented in CTO revascularisation registries and trials.

Women undergoing CTO PCI have lower J‐CTO scores, higher procedural success with no difference in MACC, but more complications such as perforations, vascular complications and major bleeding.

There is a need for more large‐scale sex‐based analyses enrolling more women, with complex CTO lesion subsets and the adoption of contemporary best practices for CTO PCI.
When to sweat: A history of chemotherapy in malignant sweat gland tumors. A unique case report and literature review
Authors: Matthiesen J. , Chiu R. , Do T. T. , Bamdad S. , Lee J. , Peng S. K.
Published: May 2023

Sarcomatoid sweat gland carcinomas are rare among cutaneous cancers, with less than 20 cases described. A 54‐year‐old woman with sarcomatoid sweat gland carcinoma of the right upper extremity suffered extensive recurrence at 15 months, unresponsive to chemotherapy. There is no standard treatment or chemotherapy regimens for metastatic sweat gland carcinoma.
A rare case of left‐sided obturator hernia diagnosed by computed tomography
Authors: Aryal Manisha , Keshari Suraj , Pandey Archana , Pandey Abhishek , Paudel Ishwor
Published: May 2023

Key Clinical Message

Obturator hernia is a rare condition that is difficult to detect clinically. We highlight the importance of a CT scan in establishing an early diagnosis of an obturator hernia, effective surgical intervention planning, thereby enhancing the result.
Steric Control over the Threading of Pyrophosphonates with One or Two Cyanostar Macrocycles during Pseudorotaxane Formation
Authors: Vogel Julian , Chen Yusheng , Fadler Rachel E. , Flood Amar H. , von Delius Max
Published: May 2023

The supramolecular recognition of anions is increasingly harnessed to achieve the self‐assembly of supramolecular architectures, ranging from cages and polymers to (pseudo)rotaxanes. The cyanostar (CS) macrocycle has previously been shown to form 2 : 1 complexes with organophosphate anions that can be turned into [3]rotaxanes by stoppering. Here we achieved steric control over the assembly of pseudorotaxanes comprising the cyanostar macrocycle and a thread that is based, for the first time, on organo‐pyrophosphonates. Subtle differences in steric bulk on the threads allowed formation of either [3]pseudorotaxanes or [2]pseudorotaxanes. We demonstrate that the threading kinetics are governed by the steric demand of the organo‐pyrophosphonates and in one case, slows down to the timescale of minutes. Calculations show that the dianions are sterically offset inside the macrocycles. Our findings broaden the scope of cyanostar‐anion assemblies and may have relevance for the design of molecular machines whose directionality is a result of relatively slow slipping.
Experimental and numerical investigation of the reaction of 2,4‐thiazolidinedione and p‐methoxybenzaldehyde in microreactors for the production of drugs for diabetes mellitus type 2 treatment
Authors: Vieira Rodrigo de Oliveira , Silva João Lameu , Meira Paula Almeida , Bressan Gabriel Lima , Calvo Paulo Victor Cuesta , Santana Harrson Silva , Palma Mauri S. A.
Published: May 2023

The use of microreactors (MRs) in chemical and pharmaceutical industries allows for a series of advantages due to their reduced sizes regarding conventional batch reactors. In the present paper, the transposition of the reaction between 2,4‐thiazolidinedione (TZD) with p‐methoxybenzaldehyde from batch to a continuous capillary MR was carried out. The microdevice performance was evaluated experimentally and numerically by computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The batch process yielded 92% in 480 min using piperidine for equimolar reactant feed, while the pyrrolidine promoted a 100% yield in a 50 min, both using solvent ethanol. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters of the synthesis using piperidine and pyrrolidine were also obtained from experimental data. In the transposition to flow chemistry, ethanol was also used as solvent and a product yield of 100% (140°C, pyrrolidine) was obtained for a residence time of 20 min, representing a reduction of 24 times in the reaction time. In the numerical simulations by CFD, two mathematical models were elaborated: a transient batch and a steady‐state continuous flow. Both models exhibited good agreement with experimental data. The average relative deviations of TZD conversion and the reaction yields in MRs were, respectively, 0.23% and −7.1% (78°C) and 1.7% and 1.2% (140°C).
A systematic study of tert‐butylacrylamide‐methyl acrylate‐acrylic acid radical solution terpolymerization
Authors: Agboluaje Maryam , Kaur Gagandeep , Dušička Eva , Urbanová Anna , Pishnamazi Mohammad , Horváth Branislav , Janata Miroslav , Raus Vladimír , Lacík Igor , Hutchinson Robin A.
Published: May 2023

Multi‐functional polymers used for personal care products can be synthesized by radical polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) in alcohol/water solutions with non‐functional monomers such as methyl acrylate (MA) and N‐tert‐butylacrylamide (t‐BuAAm). However, solvents capable of forming or disrupting hydrogen bonds cause the polymerization kinetics of these monomers to deviate from their polymerization behaviour in bulk and non‐polar solvents. In this work, a previous mechanistic model developed for MA/t‐BuAAm copolymerization is extended to represent the terpolymerization system MA/t‐BuAAm/AA. The additional kinetic coefficients required for the system are estimated from fitting to AA homopolymerizations and AA/MA and AA/t‐BuAAm copolymerizations conducted in an ethanol/water solution. In‐situ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is used to follow monomer conversions and composition drift behaviour, with the molar mass distributions of the polymer products characterized by size‐exclusion chromatography. Although AA is more reactive than MA in non‐polar solvents, the reactivities of the two monomers equalize under the experimental conditions examined. Thus, the batch and semi‐batch terpolymerization data collected are represented equally well by a reduced acrylate/t‐BuAAm copolymerization model and the full terpolymerization implementation.
Force‐Induced Enhancement of Hydrophilicity of Individual Polymethyl Methacrylate Chain†
Authors: Kang Wenping , Bao Yu , Wang Hailong , Cao Nanpu , Cui Shuxun
Published: May 2023

Comprehensive Summary

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) has been widely applied in diverse fields such as medicine and engineering materials due to its good hydrophilicity and biocompatibility. However, another term for PMMA, Plexiglas, means that it is water insoluble. These features of PMMA are valuable but seem paradoxical. To explore the underlying mechanism of the paradoxical properties, the interactions between PMMA and water have been investigated by atomic force microscopy (AFM)‐based single‐molecule force spectroscopy (SMFS). The single‐chain elasticity of PMMA obtained in aqueous solutions is significantly different from that obtained in non‐aqueous environments, implying that PMMA can form hydrogen bonds with water molecules. A proper elongation will promote the hydration of PMMA. These findings reveal the underlying mechanism of interactions between PMMA and water molecules from a single‐molecule perspective, which is helpful for the rational regulation of the mechanical properties of PMMA materials in a bottom‐up way.