bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Novelties in the Sector for Quality and Products' Safety of the Ministry of Economy, during 2021
Authors: Dugandžija Miodrag
Published: March 2022

This paper describes the most significant activities and results of the Sector for Quality and Products Safety of the Ministry of Economy, until the end of 2021. The Ministry of Economy - coordinator for technical regulations and authority responsible for creating strategies and policies for the development of standardization, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment (Quality Infrastructure), has established a stable legal and institutional framework in these areas, over the last 15 years. The quality infrastructure includes both public and private institutions in these areas, but also the legal framework in which they operate. The activities of the Sector for Product Quality and Safety during the 2021, were aimed at improving legal framework for prescribing technical requirements for products and conformity assessment; system of accreditation and system of control of the precious metals articles. The paper also describes the state of play in the EU accession process in the area of Free Movement of Goods, and provides a reached degree of harmonization of product safety regulations of the European single market. The paper also talks about initiatives of the relevant Sector of the Ministry of Economy, in order to create an economic environment suitable for integration into the European and global economies, harmonizing business processes with international standards during all phases of product design, production and control.
Torzija testisa - specifičnosti bimodalne kliničke prezentacije, dijagnostike i lečenja
Authors: Jovanović Zorica , Slavković Anđelka , Janković Goran , Zečević Maja , Slavković Milan
Published: March 2022

Torzija testisa (TT) je stanje uzrokovano uvrtanjem spermatične vrpce, što dovodi do prekida protoka krvi do testisa. Najčešće javlja u dva različita perioda rasta i razvoja. Znatno je ređa oko rođenja, pre ili neposredno posle, uključujući i prvi mesec života, a mnogo češće u starijem uzrastu od 12-18 godina. Osim uzrasta, različit je patoanatomski supstrat, mehanizam nastanka i klinička prezentacija. Kod mlađih adolescenata je to urgentno kliničko stanje, dok kod novorođenčeta najčešće nije. Cilj rada je ukazati na ove specifičnosti, jer od pravovremenog prepoznavanja zavisi i terapijski pristup, koji može biti suštinski različit.
Calorimetry in Computed Tomography Beams
Authors: Chen-Mayer H. Heather , Tosh Ronald E. , Bateman Fred B. , Bergstrom Paul M. , Zimmerman Brian E.
Published: March 2022

A portable calorimeter for direct realization of absorbed dose in medical computed tomography (CT) procedures was constructed and tested in a positron emission tomography (PET) CT scanner. The calorimeter consists of two small thermistors embedded in a polystyrene (PS) cylindrical “core” (1.5 cm diameter) that can be inserted into a cylindrical high-density polyethylene (HDPE) phantom (30 cm diameter). The cylindrical design of core and phantom allows coaxial alignment of the system with the scanner rotation axis, which is necessary to minimize variations in dose that would otherwise occur as the X-ray source is rotated during scanning operations. The core can be replaced by a cylindrical ionization chamber for comparing dose measurement results. Measurements using the core and a calibrated thimble ionization chamber were carried out in a beam of 6 MV X-rays from a clinical accelerator and in 120 kV X-rays from a CT scanner. Doses obtained from the calorimeter and chamber in the 6 MV beam exhibited good agreement over a range of dose rates from 0.8 Gy/min to 4 Gy/min, with negligible excess heat. For the CT beam, as anticipated for these X-ray energies, the calorimeter response was complicated by excess heat from device components. Analyses done in the frequency domain and time domain indicated that excess heat increased calorimetric temperature rise by a factor of about 15. The calorimeter’s response was dominated by dose to the thermistor, which contains high-atomic-number elements. Therefore, for future construction of calorimeters for CT beams, lower-atomic-number temperature sensors will be needed. These results serve as a guide for future alternative design of calorimeters toward a calorimetry absorbed dose standard for diagnostic CT.
Leading edge maintenance in migrating cells is an emergent property of branched actin network growth
Authors: Garner Rikki M , Theriot Julie A
Published: March 2022

Animal cell migration is predominantly driven by the coordinated, yet stochastic, polymerization of thousands of nanometer-scale actin filaments across micron-scale cell leading edges. It remains unclear how such inherently noisy processes generate robust cellular behavior. We employed high-speed imaging of migrating neutrophil-like HL-60 cells to explore the fine-scale shape fluctuations that emerge and relax throughout the process of leading edge maintenance. We then developed a minimal stochastic model of the leading edge that reproduces this stable relaxation behavior. Remarkably, we find lamellipodial stability naturally emerges from the interplay between branched actin network growth and leading edge shape – with no additional feedback required – based on a synergy between membrane-proximal branching and lateral spreading of filaments. These results thus demonstrate a novel biological noise-suppression mechanism based entirely on system geometry. Furthermore, our model suggests that the Arp2/3-mediated ~70–80° branching angle optimally smooths lamellipodial shape, addressing its long-mysterious conservation from protists to mammals.
Intrinsic mechanical sensitivity of mammalian auditory neurons as a contributor to sound-driven neural activity
Authors: Perez-Flores Maria C , Verschooten Eric , Lee Jeong Han , Kim Hyo Jeong , Joris Philip X , Yamoah Ebenezer N
Published: March 2022

Mechanosensation – by which mechanical stimuli are converted into a neuronal signal – is the basis for the sensory systems of hearing, balance, and touch. Mechanosensation is unmatched in speed and its diverse range of sensitivities, reaching its highest temporal limits with the sense of hearing; however, hair cells (HCs) and the auditory nerve (AN) serve as obligatory bottlenecks for sounds to engage the brain. Like other sensory neurons, auditory neurons use the canonical pathway for neurotransmission and millisecond-duration action potentials (APs). How the auditory system utilizes the relatively slow transmission mechanisms to achieve ultrafast speed, and high audio-frequency hearing remains an enigma. Here, we address this paradox and report that the mouse, and chinchilla, AN are mechanically sensitive, and minute mechanical displacement profoundly affects its response properties. Sound-mimicking sinusoidal mechanical and electrical current stimuli affect phase-locked responses. In a phase-dependent manner, the two stimuli can also evoke suppressive responses. We propose that mechanical sensitivity interacts with synaptic responses to shape responses in the AN, including frequency tuning and temporal phase locking. Combining neurotransmission and mechanical sensation to control spike patterns gives the mammalian AN a secondary receptor role, an emerging theme in primary neuronal functions.
Evaluation of the diagnostic and prognostic values of serum HSP90α in sepsis patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Li Fuxing , Zhang Yulin , Yu Bocheng , Zhang Zihua , Fan Yujuan , Wang Li , Cheng Mingjing , Yan Ping , Zhao Weidong
Published: March 2022

Background

Sepsis is a serious syndrome that is caused by immune responses dysfunction and leads to high mortality. The abilities of heat shock protein 90α (HSP90α) in assessing the diagnosis and prognosis in patients with sepsis remain ill-defined to date. We conducted a study to reveal the possible clinical applications of HSP90α as biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis in patients with sepsis.

Methods

In total, 150 patients of sepsis, 110 patients without sepsis admitted to ICU and 110 healthy subjects were involved in this study. The serum HSP90α contents, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) scores, procalcitonin (PCT), and short-term survival status of the participants were measured and compared. Logistic and linear regression models adjusting for potential confounders were used to examine the association of HSP90α with sepsis survival. Moreover, serum IL-1β, IL-18, MIP-3α, and ENA-78 were also determined. Finally, Spearman correlation analysis was employed to reveal a possible mechanism that HSP90α contributed to the short-term deaths.

Results

Serum HSP90α levels in sepsis patients were higher than those in ICU controls and healthy controls (P < 0.001), and even increased in patients who died within 28 days (P < 0.001). Logistic and linear regression models identified HSP90α was an independent risk factors for sepsis mortality. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis displayed that HSP90α had a considerable predictive performance for sepsis outcome, with an area under curve (AUC) value up to 0.79. Survival analysis demonstrated that the mortality of sepsis individuals at 28 days was positively associated with HSP90α levels, especially the levels of HSP90α were greater than 120 ng/mL (P < 0.001). Moreover, among sepsis patients, those who died had notably elevated cytokines, IL-1β, IL-18, and chemokines, MIP-3α, ENA-78, relative to survivors. Further correlation analysis demonstrated that there was a nominally positive correlation between HSP90α and IL-1β, IL-18, and MIP-3α.

Conclusion

HSP90α is of favorable clinical significance in sepsis diagnosis and prognosis, laying a foundation for future clinical applications.
Effect of magnification factor by Galilean loupes on working posture of dental students in simulated clinical procedures: associations between direct and observational measurements
Authors: Pazos Júlia Margato , Regalo Simone Cecilio Hallak , de Vasconcelos Paulo , Campos Juliana Alvares Duarte Bonini , Garcia Patricia Petromilli Nordi Sasso
Published: March 2022

Objectives

To determine the effect of different levels of Galilean loupe magnification on working posture as measured by compliance with ergonomic posture positions, angular deviation from the neutral position of the neck, and muscle activation in the neck and upper back region during simulated clinical conditions.

Methods

An experimental laboratory study was performed in which the dependent variables were compliance with ergonomic posture requirements while performing simulated restorative procedures in Restorative Dentistry, angular deviation from the neutral position of the neck, and muscle activation in the neck and upper back. The independent variable was the level of Galilean loupe magnification, which was tested at four levels (naked eye, 2.5× magnification, 3.0× magnification, and 3.5× magnification). The cavity preparations and Class I composite resin restorations were performed on artificial first molars on a mannequin in a dental chair. The Compliance Assessment of Dental Ergonomic Posture Requirements (CADEP) was used for the postural analysis; as was an analysis of the angular deviation from the neutral position of the neck and surface electromyography. Working posture was recorded on video over the course of the procedure. Participants were filmed from three different angles. The Compliance Assessment of Dental Ergonomic Posture Requirements (CADEP) assessed compliance with ergonomic posture requirements. A locally produced posture assessment software analyzed angular deviation. Surface electromyography bilaterally assessed activation of the sternocleidomastoid, descending trapezius and ascending trapezius muscles. Two-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) and either Tukey’s post-hoc test or the Games-Howell post-hoc test were performed (α = 0.05).

Results

During the cavity preparations and restorations, the use of Galilean loupes at all magnifications positively influenced working posture as measured by participants’ compliance with ergonomic posture positions (p < 0.01) and neck angulation (p < 0.01); the use of these loupes did not affect muscle activation in the regions evaluated (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The use of Galilean loupes had a positive effect on dental students’ working posture during the restoration procedures performed.
Effect of precipitation change on the photosynthetic performance of Phragmites australis under elevated temperature conditions
Authors: Teng Linhong , Liu Hanyu , Chu Xiaonan , Song Xiliang , Shi Lianhui
Published: March 2022

Background

As a fundamental metabolism, leaf photosynthesis not only provides necessary energy for plant survival and growth but also plays an important role in global carbon fixation. However, photosynthesis is highly susceptible to environmental stresses and can be significantly influenced by future climate change.

Methods

In this study, we examined the photosynthetic responses of Phragmites australis (P. australis) to three precipitation treatments (control, decreased 30%, and increased 30%) under two thermal regimes (ambient temperature and +4 °C) in environment-controlled chambers.

Results

Our results showed that the net CO2 assimilation rate (Pn), maximal rate of Rubisco (Vcmax), maximal rate of ribulose-bisphosphate (RuBP) regeneration (Jmax) and chlorophyll (Chl) content were enhanced under increased precipitation condition, but were declined drastically under the condition of water deficit. The increased precipitation had no significant effect on malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p > 0.05), but water deficit drastically enhanced the MDA content by 10.1%. Meanwhile, a high temperature inhibited the positive effects of increased precipitation, aggravated the adverse effects of drought. The combination of high temperature and water deficit had more detrimental effect on P. australis than a single factor. Moreover, non-stomatal limitation caused by precipitation change played a major role in determining carbon assimilation rate. Under ambient temperature, Chl content had close relationship with Pn (R2 = 0.86, p < 0.01). Under high temperature, Pn was ralated to MDA content (R2 = 0.81, p < 0.01). High temperature disrupted the balance between Vcmax and Jmax (the ratio of Jmax to Vcmax decreased from 1.88 to 1.12) which resulted in a negative effect on the photosynthesis of P. australis. Furthermore, by the analysis of Chl fluorescence, we found that the xanthophyll cycle-mediated thermal dissipation played a major role in PSII photoprotection, resulting in no significant change on actual PSII quantum yield (ΦPSII) under both changing precipitation and high temperature conditions.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the significant role of precipitation change in regulating the photosynthetic performance of P. australis under elevated temperature conditions, which may exacerbate the drought-induced primary productivity reduction of P. australis under future climate scenarios.
La armadura de una investigadora: un compromiso material crítico con las experiencias somáticas
Authors:   Universidad de Salzburgo, Beuthel Janne Mascha
Published: March 2022

A través de su trabajo, los investigadores y profesionales del diseño se relacionan continuamente con seres humanos, lo que puede traducirse en encuentros con histo­rias personales, preguntas desafiantes y ex­pectativas. El investigador puede verse ante la disyuntiva de seguir siendo “profesional”, lo que a menudo se asocia a ser “neutral”, o comprometerse con sus propias emo­ciones, vulnerabilidades e inseguridades. Este artículo presenta un proceso de diseño somático informado por las experiencias autobiográficas de la autora. El resultado es un artefacto vestible llamado La armadura de una investigadora. El artefacto encarna las ex­periencias somáticas que se experimentan al “hacer investigación” y “ser investigador” durante los estudios cualitativos con parti­cipantes. Pretende provocar reflexiones y apunta a pensar acerca del profesionalismo. Los materiales físicos se ensamblan en una forma que se puede vestir, lo que permite a otros investigadores relacionarse con ellos a través de sus propios cuerpos. Por último, se describen los temas que la armadura ha evocado en otros; estos esbozan los conoci­mientos que el artefacto aporta al campo de la Interacción Humano-Computador.
A Rare Case of Facial Trichofolliculoma
Authors: Ravi Vignesh Nambi , Ramesh TV , Sangaiah Sivaramakrishnan , Saravanan Suzsmi latha
Published: March 2022

Trichofolliculoma presents as a small, indurated dome-shaped nodule with a central pore from which several, slender white hairs emerge. The lesion usually develops in adults on the head and neck region, predominantly around the nose. Biopsy reveals a large, central dilated follicle from which several smaller follicles radiate. The central follicle contains keratin and vellus hair shafts. The smaller follicles are vellus hair follicles, both normal and aberrant, in various stages of development. The tumour is encased in a fibrous sheath that is separated from the normal dermis by clefts. A large number of merkel cells are usually present in the tumour. While the lesion is easily curative through a simple excision, this case of 64-year-old male patient is reported due to the uncommon occurrences of trichofolliculoma.
Blue Economy Policy Model for the Small Island Developing States: The Case of Zanzibar
Authors: Haji Semboja, Haji Hatibu , Hafidh Hafidh Ali
Published: March 2022

The sustainable development of world social economic actors, activities and sectors depends upon the nature and character of world’s oceans, seas and coastal areas – the largest ecosystem on the planet. The global blue economy policy objective articulated in form of the Sustainable Development Goal # 14: is to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable social economic development. The paper presents the Blue Economy Policy Model for the Small independent Developing Island States, (SIDS) using an analytical policy model. The Blue Economy Policy Model considers wealth resources as stock and flow variables and theses are dynamic and complex production transformation function of exogenous, endogenous variables, other interdependent operations and social economic welfare. The solution and policy objective are to optimize wealth resources, for sustainable social economic welfare. The social economic welfare is a “happy state of human mind” in form the sum total of all satisfactions experienced by an individual and communities as the sum total of individual welfares in a certain geographical location. The paper recommends that in order to achieve the “transparent, equitable and optimal exploitation of all wealth resources to underpin broad-based sustainable growth and socio-economic development” the small independent developing states such as Zanzibar must take into account conditions and the importance of strengthening all wealth resource-based linkages while resources are extant so as to maximize the developmental and inter-generational impact of those resources. Also, this include the ability to see beyond national corporates and boundaries permits recognition of serious global development markets and trade threats that lie elsewhere within the dynamic context as well as the chance to pursue opportunities that would otherwise be missed.
The Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Employee Retention in an Apparel Industry in Puttalam District
Authors: Shamila L. M. A.
Published: March 2022

The purpose of this study is to see how corporate social responsibility impacts on employee retention in an Apparel industry in Puttalam district. In recent years, the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has gotten a lot of attention. It provides businesses with a valuable strategy for retaining employees and is viewed as a source of competitive advantage. Data was collected using a research method, questionnaire survey. This research found that, the majority Garment Industries consider their CSR to society and CSR to their working environment undertaking various measures to conserve resources as well as retain their employees within the organization. Garment Industries provided little support to most internal CSR practices identified in this study. The conceptualization of the study demonstrated independent variables (Corporate Social Responsibility) of Economic responsibility, Ethical responsibility, Legal responsibility and Philanthropic responsibility how to effect on dependent variable of Employee retention.

A quantitative analysis was conducted with 100 of sample. The data was collected though distributing questionnaire among respondent. Further, univariate analysis and bivariate analysis were carried out through SPSS (21.0). The findings revealed that CSR and Employee Retention are in high level and Corporate Social Responsibility moderately and positively influence on Employee Retention. Furthermore, study found that there was positive and significant relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility and Employee Retention in an Apparel Industry in Puttalam district. The recommendations were provided, in order to further improvement in highest returns to their stakeholders, comply with all state laws and regulations, be compromise ethical norms of the society to achieve corporate goals, Strive to provide community betterment. This study will be more beneficial both existing apparel industries and newly joint who will be doing the business in apparel sector in Sri Lanka.
Optimization of Acid Activated Ngbo Clay Catalysts in Esterification Reaction Using Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Nnenna Nwobasi Veronica , K. Igbokwe Philomena , Onu Chijioke Elijah
Published: March 2022

In this study, Box-Behnken”s Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied to study the esterification reaction effectiveness of acid activated Ngbo clay catalyst. The esterification were monitored based on the process conditions of temperature, duration, amount of reactant, catalyst weight and particle size. The Box--Behnken’s Response Surface Methodology indicates that the acid clay-catalysed esterification reactions proceed through dual mechanisms of Acid-complex and Alcohol-complex mechanisms with the Alcohol mechanism dominating. The esterification efficiencies of acetic acid and ethanol by acid activated Ngbo clay catalyst optimized using RSM models indicated the estimated esterification percentage of ˃99%. The predicted and experimental values under the same conditions showed less than 5% difference thereby making the Box-Behnken design approach an efficient, effective and reliable method for the esterification of acetic acid with ethanol. The produced catalyst was optimized using A-One way ANOVA modelling, which indicated correlation coefficient of the regression of 0.9940, which implies that 99.40% of the total variation in the esterification reaction was attributed to the experimental variables. The result obtained indicated that the process could be applied in the esterification of acetic acid to avoid the drawbacks of corrosion, loss of catalyst and environmental problems.
Effect of Sowing Dates and Varieties of Wheat Crop (Triticum aestivum L.) on Growth and Productivity under Changing Climate
Authors: Alam Mohd Shah , Kumar Rajesh , Patel Jay Nath , Shukla Gaurav
Published: March 2022

The field experiment was conducted at Crop Research Station Masodha, Acharya Narendra Deva University of Agriculture & Technology, Kumarganj, Ayodhaya (U.P) during Rabi season November, 2017-April, 2018. In the field environment, the growth of wheat was greatly influenced by temperature changes associated with sowing dates. The productivity of wheat is highly vulnerable to climate change. The experiment laid out in Split plot design (SPD) with 3 replication and four different dates of sowing (05th November,25th November, 15th December, 05th January) in a main plot against six varieties of the Wheat crop (HD-3086, HS-562, HI-1544, WR-544, MACS-6222 and HD-2967) in sub plot.. Growth parameters were higher in early sown crops as compared with late sown wheat crops. Among varieties HD-3086 sown on 25th November obtained the highest growth parameter as compared to HS-562, HD-2967, HI-1544, MACS-6222 and WR-544. Growth and yield potential of crop or variety are the outcomes of genomic, environmental and agronomic interactions. Due to the reduction in tillering period and increased risk of hot weather during grain filling, late planting results in a linear reduction in wheat grain yield. it may be concluded that optimum sowing time of wheat crop is 25th November as compare to late sown wheat. Among the variety HD-3086 is the most promising variety.
Elemental composition of Dust Particles and Influence of Dust Addition on Photovoltaic Module Performance
Authors: McAsule A. A. , Gesa F. N. , Akiiga N. S. , Kungur S. T. , Igbawua T. , Ikyumbur J. T. , Aondoakaa S. I. , Daniel T.
Published: March 2022

There is an excellence prospective for solar power practice in Nigeria by engaging solar photovoltaic (PV) units. Addition of dust on solar antennae and PV elements is a pronounced worry owing to different dust particles fouling on the module. The recitals of such devices are considerably suffering from dust addition. Dust samples involved during this study came from ash, cement, rice husk, brick dust, and sand. This paper therefore, reports the outcome of a research work on the  elemental composition of dust particles and influence of dust addition on the maximum power, efficiency and performance ratio of a 3 W polycrystalline solar PV module. The electron dispersive x-ray analysis of the collected dust samples revealed silicon having the highest percentage weight composition while sulfur and nitrogen records 0 % in most of the sample apart from rice husk. The experimental measurements were conducted outdoor under 470, 715 and 756 W/m2 solar irradiation levels. Results indicated that dust addition on the solar PV module negatively affects the output power with cement dust proffering highest effect due to high percentage weight of carbon present in it. The research work revealed that solar PV modules polluted by dust particles for a period of time experienced a significant decrease in their efficiency and performance during operation. Accordingly, it is recommended that installed PV modules be cleaned routinely as dust particles hid on the solar panel naturally. Many areas have to be covered in future like construction sites, agricultural land and many more as solar power is growing exponentially in Nigeria.
Comparative Study of the Adsorption of Crude Oil from Surface Water Using Esterified Rice Husk and Saw Dust
Authors: Maxwell Onoh Ikechukwu , Ngozi Agu Evangeline , Nnaemeka Igwilo Christopher
Published: March 2022

The comparative adsorption of crude oil from water surface using sawdust and rice husk absorbents was carried out. The sawdust and rice husk were carbonized and further modified with stearic acid. The prepared adsorbents were characterized using Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infra-red (FTIR) Spectroscopy, proximate and physiochemical analysis. Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of the initial oil concentration, the dosage of the adsorbents, temperature, pH and contact time on the adsorption capacities of the adsorbents and percentage sorption of the crude oil. The characterization results obtained showed that the surface modification through carbonization and stearic acid activation improved the physiochemical properties of sawdust and rice husk respectively. The FTIR results revealed that the biomass samples have numerous functional groups and the major functional groups present are O-H, N-H, N-CH3, C=C-C, C-Cl, Si-O-Si. The SEM results also showed that carbonization and stearic acid activation of the saw dust and rice husk were able to effect surface modification of the prepared adsorbents by the removal of volatile matters; improvement of porosity hence the improvement of their surface areas respectively. The process parameters investigated were found to influence the adsorption capacity of the absorbents respectively and subsequently the percentage sorption of the crude oil.

Meanwhile, the results of the percentage sorption of sawdust and rice husk samples, based on the average weight of oil adsorbed; show 96.577% and 67.327% as their respective adsorption efficiency. Hence, the comparative adsorption efficiency of the carbonized and esterified saw dust and rice husk absorbents, showed that esterified saw dust adsorbent performed better than the esterified rice husk adsorbent.
Effect of Intrathecal Dexmedtomidine as an Adjuvant for Cesarean Section: A Review
Authors: Bajaj Radhika , Singam Amol
Published: March 2022

Background: Intrathecal dexmedetomidine has been used in spinal anesthesia during caesarean sections. The purpose of this review article was to investigate the effect of intrathecal dexmedetomidine on the adverse reactions of spinal anesthesia during cesarean section.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of dexmedetomidine as a neuraxial adjuvant for elective caesarean section.

Methods: We did a literature search assessing the effect of intrathecal dexmedetomidine as an adjuvant in elective caesarean section in PubMed, EMbase, Web of science, EBSCO and GOOGLE library databases.

Results: 11 Randomized control trials were included. Overall, compared with control intervention in patients with elective cesarean section, dexmedetomidine intervention could significantly improve the characteristics of the block, including onset of sensory block, duration of the sensory block and duration of the motor block. Additionally, when compared with control group dexmedetomidine could prolong time to rescue analgesiaThe incidence of shivering in the dexmedetomidine group was significantly lower than that in the control group. The incidences of nausea and vomiting, bradycardia, hypotension and pruritus were not different between the two groups.

Conclusion: Intrathecal Dexmedetomidine can effectively improve the characteristics of the block, prolong time to rescue analgesia, and reduce the occurrence of shivering during cesarean section, but it does not affect the occurrence of nausea and vomiting, bradycardia or hypotension.
Prevalence of Multidrug Resistant Gram-negative Bacteria in Tissues of Diseased Chicken in Chitwan District, Nepal
Authors: Poudel Saraswati , Thapa Alina , Pokharel Sharmila , Dhakal Ranju , Subedi Sadikshya , Shrestha Anil , Rai Lakh Kumar , Bajracharya Anup Muni
Published: March 2022

For increasing productivity in poultry, antibiotics are overused. This increased use in antibiotics has raise the prevalence of Multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria in poultry. Treatment of chicken infected with MDR bacteria is difficult to achieve, thereby increasing treatment cost and productivity cost. MDR bacteria of poultry can also infect humans if they are not handled properly. Thus, the purpose of this study was to find bacteria responsible for infecting chicken and prevalence of MDR bacteria in diseased chicken. Out of total 516 diseased chicken, 212(41.09%) chicken were infected by bacteria. The prevalence of E. coli (63.2%) was high in diseased chicken followed by Salmonella spp. (12.26%), Pseudomonas spp. (5.2%) and, Pasteurella spp. (4.7%). Out of total number of isolates, the prevalence of MDR was 42.5 %. This study also showed that Pasteurella spp. isolates had high MDR with prevalence of 50%. It is thus concluded that there was high prevalence of MDR bacteria among diseased chicken in Chitwan district.
Paracandidimonas
Authors: Nunes Olga C. , Manaia Célia M. , Vaz‐Moreira Ivone
Published: March 2022

Paracandidimonas
(Pa.ra.can.di.di.mo'nas. Gr. prep.
para
like; N.L. fem. n.
Candidimonas
bacterial genus name; N.L. fem. n.
Paracandidimonas
a bacterium like
Candidimonas
).

Proteobacteria / Betaproteobacteria / Burkholderiales / Alcaligenaceae / Paracandidimonas

Rods
, non‐spore‐forming, and Gram‐staining‐negative.
Aerobic
or facultatively aerobic chemoorganotrophic metabolism. Motility and the presence of cytochrome
c
oxidase test are variable traits.
Mesophilic
with optimal growth at 20–25°C or 30°C. The major respiratory quinone is
ubiquinone 8
, and the DNA G + C content is 56.8–63.9 mol%. Putrescine and 2‐hydroxyputrescine are the major polyamines. Polar lipids and fatty acids composition is variable among species. Phylogenetically, belongs to the family
Alcaligenaceae
. The genus includes two species, the type species
Paracandidimonas soli
and
Paracandidimonas caeni
.

DNA G + C content (mol%)
: 63.9 (fluorimetric thermal denaturation); 56.8–62.5 (whole‐genome sequencing).

Type species
:
Paracandidimonas soli
Kämpfer et al. 2017
VP
.
Oleiharenicola
Authors: Rochman Fauziah F. , Tran Triet , Dunfield Peter F.
Published: March 2022

O.le.i.ha.re.ni
'
co.la. L. neut. n.
oleum
, oil; L. fem. n.
harena
, sand; L. suffix ‐
cola
, inhabitant, dweller; N.L. masc. n.
Oleiharenicola
defines an inhabitant of oil sands wastewater.

Verrucomicrobiota / Opitutae / Opitutales / Opitutaceae / Oleiharenicola

The genus
Oleiharenicola
consists of two described species of strictly aerobic chemoorganotrophic bacteria:
Oleiharenicola alkalitolerans
and
Oleiharenicola lentus
. Cells are Gram‐negative, non‐spore‐forming, and nonpigmented cocci or diplococci (0.5–1.5 μm in diameter). The two species, and some closely related strains described in nontaxonomic literature, were all isolated from terrestrial freshwater or wastewater environments. The type strain
Oleiharenicola alkalitolerans
NVT
T
was isolated from the tailings pond of an oil sands mining operation (hence the genus name), and
Oleiharenicola lentus
TWA‐58
T
from agricultural irrigation water, while closely related bacteria (originally dubbed “Lacunisphaera,” but probably
Oleiharenicola
spp.) have also been isolated from a freshwater lake. Bacteria of the genus
Oleiharenicola
are mesophilic (optimum 25–37°C) and neutrophilic (optimum pH 6–8), but
O. alkalitolerans
tolerates alkaline conditions up to pH 11. Cells reproduce by normal cell division and occur mainly as single cells or pairs. Their carbon and energy sources include several sugars, polysaccharides, and organic acids. The DNA G + C content is 65.3–66.1 mol%. The major isoprenoid quinone is MK‐7, while anteiso‐C
15:0
and iso‐C
15:0
are the major cellular fatty acids. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the genus belongs to the family
Opitutaceae
of the phylum
Verrucomicrobiota
.

DNA G + C content (mol%)
: 65.3–66.1.

Type species
:
Oleiharenicola alkalitolerans
Rochman et al. 2018
VP
.
Quasi‐Linear Superelasticity with Ultralow Modulus in Tensile Cyclic Deformed TiNi Strain Glass
Authors: Zhao Shuangshuang , Liang Qianglong , Liang Chuanxin , Wang Dong , Ji Yuanchao , Wang Yu , Zheng Yufeng , Ding Xiangdong , Mills Michale , Ren Xiaobing , Wang Yunzhi
Published: March 2022

Herein, a quasi‐linear superelasticity (≈2.3%) with the ultralow elastic modulus (≈18 GPa) over a wide temperature range (≈55 K) in tensile cyclic deformed TiNi shape memory alloys is reported. Differential scanning analysis (DSC) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) show the suppression of normal martensitic transformation (MT) and the appearance of strain glass transition behavior. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analysis shows the existence of high‐density defects involving twin boundaries and dislocations under tensile cyclic deformation. Further transmission electron microscope (TEM) observation reveals stabilized B19' nanodomains after tensile cyclic deformation. The observed deformation defects and stabilized B19' nanodomains impose significant influence on the following transition behavior and mechanical property, yielding the detected quasi‐linear superelasticity with ultralow modulus. Herein, an effective way to design unique phase transitions with unprecedented properties by defect engineering may be suggested.
Synchronous Passivation of Defects with Low Formation Energies via Terdentate Anchoring Enabling High Performance Perovskite Solar Cells with Efficiency over 24%
Authors: Zhao Wenhao , Guo Pengfei , Su Jie , Fang Zhiyu , Jia Ning , Liu Chen , Ye Linfeng , Ye Qian , Chang Jingjing , Wang Hongqiang
Published: March 2022

The ionic nature endows halide perovskites with intrinsic interfacial defects in the formed polycrystalline films, thus imposing the challenge of synchronously passivating these defects with low formation energies that directly account for the unsatisfied performance of perovskite solar cells (PSCs). By virtue of the theoretically proven capability of a three to four times enhancement of the formation energy of each defect of Pb‐I antisite (PbI) and iodine vacancy (VI), a new passivation molecule of 1,10‐phenanthrolin‐5‐amine (PAA) is intentionally explored to synchronously passivate the dual defects. The pronounced passivation effect is experimentally verified by the sharp enhancement of the open‐circuit voltage in ternary PSCs from the original 1.118 up to 1.207 V, as well as the construction of PAA‐modified formamidinium lead iodide PSCs with a champion efficiency up to 24.06%, thus providing a universal alternative of addressing interfacial charge carrier dynamics and operational stability of PSCs that are bothered by the multiple interfacial defects.
Toward Structural Learning and Enhanced YOLOv4 Network for Object Detection in Optical Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Wang Kun , Liu Maozhen
Published: March 2022

With the maturity of technological tools such as satellites and airplanes, object detection in optical remote sensing images have been widely used in military and civilian fields. Due to the interference of extensive multi‐scale targets and complex backgrounds, the existing algorithms are still limited, especially for small‐scale targets. To solve this problem, a high‐precision remote sensing detection method based on the advanced YOLOv4 framework is proposed. First, a clustering algorithm that combines knowledge of object scales to generate a priori anchor boxes with a higher matching degree is proposed. The feature extension module is designed to expand the receptive field of the backbone network and capture important contextual information. After that, coordinate attention (CA) is introduced to suppress the extra noise under multi‐scale fusion that is rarely noticed in previous work. In addition, a convolutional idea of self‐learning structure has also been novelly proposed and combined with a high‐resolution network to efficiently enhance the performance of the network under limited computing resources. Finally, detailed experiments are performed on the HRRSD dataset. The experimental results show that the network has a more satisfactory superiority, and it is conducive to the advancement of optical remote sensing technology.
Fluorinated Graphene Contacts and Passivation Layer for MoS2 Field Effect Transistors
Authors: Ryu Huije , Kim Dong‐Hyun , Kwon Junyoung , Park Sang Kyu , Lee Wanggon , Seo Hyungtak , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Kim SunPhil , van der Zande Arend M. , Son Jangyup , Lee Gwan‐Hyoung
Published: March 2022

Realizing a future of 2D semiconductor‐based devices requires new approaches to channel passivation and nondestructive contact engineering. Here, a facile one‐step technique is shown that simultaneously utilizes monolayer fluorinated graphene (FG) as the passivation layer and contact buffer layer to 2D semiconductor transistors. Monolayer graphene is transferred onto the MoS2, followed by fluorination by XeF2 gas exposure. Metal electrodes for source and drain are fabricated on top of FG‐covered MoS2 regions. The MoS2 transistor is perfectly passivated by insulating FG layer and, in the contacts, FG layer also acts as an efficient charge injection layer, leading to the formation of Ohmic contacts and high carrier mobility of up to 64 cm2 V−1 s−1 at room temperature. This work shows a novel strategy for simultaneous fabrication of passivation layer and low‐resistance contacts by using ultrathin functionalized graphene, which has applications for high performance 2D semiconductor integrated electronics.
A Versatile Planar Building Block with C2V Symmetry for High‐Performance Non‐Halogenated Solvent Processable Polymer Donors
Authors: Wang Hang , Lu Hao , Chen Ya‐Nan , Zhang Andong , Liu Yuqiang , Li Dawei , Liu Yahui , Xu Xinjun , Bo Zhishan
Published: March 2022

Planar building block B2TCl with C2V symmetry configuration is designed to prepare polymer donors (PB2TCl‐o and PB2TCl‐i) with good solubility in non‐halogenated solvents. When blended with BTP‐ec9‐4F, PB2TCl‐o‐based devices processed by 1,2‐dimethylbenzene (o‐DMB) give a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 15.10% with a Voc of 0.89 V, a Jsc of 24.37 mA cm–2, and an fill factor of 69.69%. Semitransparent OSCs based on PB2TCl‐o:BTP‐ec9‐4 can afford a PCE of 9.09% with an average visible transmittance (AVT) of 23.9% and an AT of 24.2%. B2TCl‐o is also used as a third component to prepare random terpolymers PW1 and PW2. Using o‐DMB as the processing solvent, PW1 and PW2‐based devices give improved PCEs of 16.26% and 17.19%, respectively, which are much higher than the parent polymers (PM6 and D18). This work provides a versatile building block B2TCl‐o for the preparation of non‐halogen solvent processable high‐performance polymer donor materials.
Clinical effects of the use of the indocyanine green fluorescence imaging technique in laparoscopic partial liver resection
Authors: Itoh Shinji , Tomiyama Takahiro , Morinaga Akinari , Kurihara Takeshi , Nagao Yoshihiro , Toshima Takeo , Morita Kazutoyo , Harada Noboru , Mori Masaki , Yoshizumi Tomoharu
Published: March 2022

Aim

This study aimed to clarify the clinical effects of the indocyanine green (ICG)‐fluorescence imaging (FI) technique for determination of liver transection lines during laparoscopic partial liver resection for liver tumors.

Methods

This was a retrospective study including 112 patients who underwent laparoscopic partial liver resection for liver tumors. These enrolled patients were divided into an ICG‐FI group (n = 55) and a non‐ICG‐FI group (n = 57) according to the availability of the ICG‐FI. The clinicopathological characteristics of patients between two groups were compared before and after propensity score matching.

Results

The ICG‐FI and non‐ICG‐FI groups differed at baseline in terms of ICG retention rate at 15 min. After propensity score matching, two comparable groups of 32 patients each were obtained. The negativity rated of the pathological surgical margins were comparable between the two groups before and after propensity score matching. However, the surgical margins were significantly wider in the ICG‐FI group before and after propensity score matching (P = .039 and P = .047, respectively).

Conclusion

The ICG‐fluorescence imaging technique may offer clinical benefits in terms of a secure surgical margin in laparoscopic partial liver resection.
Role of chemical reaction engineering for sustainable growth: One industrial perspective from India
Authors: Sapre Ajit
Published: March 2022

Chemical reaction engineering (CRE) is vital to solve many of the pressing societal challenges—energy and energy transition, materials, food, mobility, and so forth, to meet the aspirational goals of developing country population in the face of climate change, changing demographics, and geopolitical challenges. Application of the core principles of CRE to the emerging societal challenges is creating new technologies and cost‐effective solutions by integrating the widely varied CRE activities into broad, powerful, systems descriptions with the help of interdisciplinary teams with broad expertise including chemistry, catalysis, chemical kinetics, transport phenomena, biology, applied mathematics and modeling, emerging data science technologies to design and optimize chemical/biochemical reactors. Such developments will be critical for CRE to play an important role in the emerging fourth industrial revolution—amalgamation of physical, digital, and biological worlds, where the velocity of disruption and acceleration of innovation are hard to comprehend or anticipate and such broadening of CRE discipline will be critical for the field to remain agile and relevant. This article describes some latest technical advances in Reliance Industries Ltd. using this philosophy to help achieve sustainable growth and Net Zero business targets. We will broadly discuss renewable hydrogen from novel biomass catalytic gasification, multizone catalytic cracking process to convert crude oil and low value hydrocarbon streams to petrochemical building blocks, an adsorption/desorption process for CO2 concentration and monetization from industrial flue gases. Furthermore, biotechnology advances in leveraging photosynthesis kinetics, synthetic biology, and genetic modifications for converting solar energy and carbon dioxide through algae production will be discussed to produce proteins, biomaterials, renewable biocrude, and so forth. We will also discuss new catalytic technologies to convert mixed plastic waste to stable oil and organic waste such as agri and municipal solid waste, and so forth, to biocrude for circular economy, and biodegradable plastics production to manage plastics pollution.
Controlling Resistance Switching Performances of Hf0.5Zr0.5O2Films by Substrate Stress and Potential in Neuromorphic Computing
Authors: Xiao Zuoao , Yoong Herng Yau , Cao Jing , Zhao Zhen , Chen Jingsheng , Yan Xiaobing
Published: March 2022

Ferroelectric Hf0.5Zr0.5O2(HZO) thin films have attracted wide attention in terms of potential applications of nonvolatile ferroelectric memories. However, the effect of strain on the resistance switching characteristics of the ferroelectric HZO thin‐film memristors has not been fully studied so far. In this work, the strain effects on the HZO thin‐film memristors are investigated. HZO films with different resistance properties are also prepared by controlling the value of oxygen pressure. Based on the testing results, it is proposed that the resistance switching behavior of HZO films may be caused by the joint participation between ferroelectricity and oxygen vacancy migration. The study also found that HZO films can successfully simulate learning behavior similar to the human brain. The applied pulses with a width of tens of nanoseconds timescale are beneficial to realize fast learning and computing. These results provide a fundamental and deep insight on HZO‐based ferroelectric semiconductor oxide thin‐film memristors and their potential applications in next‐generation artificial electronic synaptic devices.
The association between the 2D:4D ratio and offspring sex at birth: A cross‐sectional study in Ghana
Authors: Banyeh Moses , Amidu Nafiu
Published: March 2022

Objectives

The 2D:4D ratio is the putative marker of prenatal androgen exposure. Low maternal 2D:4D ratio has been associated with high or male‐biased secondary sex ratio. Hitherto, there has not been any study in Ghana regarding the maternal 2D:4D ratio and sex ratio at birth. This study sought to investigate this observation in a Ghanaian population.

Method

The study was cross‐sectional from December 2020 to April 2021 involving 272 first‐time mothers. The mean ± SD age of the mothers was 23.9 ± 3.67 years. The right (2D:4DR), the left (2D:4DL), the mean (M2D:4D) digit ratios and the right–left difference (Dr‐l) of the mothers were measured using computer‐assisted analysis. The mothers were stratified by their digit ratios, and the cohort sex ratio (CSR) for each stratum was then calculated as the proportion of sons.

Results

The mean ± SD of the 2D:4DR of mothers‐with‐daughters and mothers‐with‐sons were 0.941 ± 0.032 and 0.933 ± 0.037, respectively. The mean ± SD of the 2D:4DL of mothers‐with‐daughters was 0.934 ± 0.034, while that of mothers‐with‐sons was 0.931 ± 0.039. The offspring sex at birth and the CSR was not associated with either the mother's right, left, mean 2D:4D ratio or their difference (Dr‐l). However, mothers‐with‐daughters showed rightward asymmetry in their 2D:4D ratios as the Dr‐l significantly and positively deviated from zero (p < .010).

Conclusion

The maternal 2D:4D ratio may not be associated with their offspring sex at birth among first‐time mothers. This study adds to the limited data on studies regarding offspring sex at birth and the 2D:4D ratio in Ghana and Sub‐Saharan Africa.