bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mining synergistic genes for nutrient utilization and disease resistance in maize based on co-expression network and consensus QTLs
Authors: Luo Bowen , Li Jiaqian , Li Binyang , Zhang Haiying , Yu Ting , Zhang Guidi , Zhang Shuhao , Sahito Javed Hussain , Zhang Xiao , Liu Dan , Wu Ling , Gao Duojiang , Gao Shiqiang , Gao Shibin
Published: October 2022

Nutrient restrictions and large-scale emergence of diseases are threatening the maize production. Recent findings demonstrated that there is a certain synergistic interaction between nutrition and diseases pathways in model plants, however there are few studies on the synergistic genes of nutrients and diseases in maize. Thus, the transcriptome data of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) nutrients and diseases treatments in maize, rice, wheat and Arabidopsis thaliana were collected in this study, and four and 22 weighted co-expression modules were obtained by using Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) in leaf and root tissues, respectively. With a total of 5252 genes, MFUZZ cluster analysis screened 26 clusters with the same expression trend under nutrition and disease treatments. In the meantime, 1427 genes and 22 specific consensus quantitative trait loci (scQTLs) loci were identified by meta-QTL analysis of nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition and disease stress in maize. Combined with the results of cluster analysis and scQTLs, a total of 195 consistent genes were screened, of which six genes were shown to synergistically respond to nutrition and disease both in roots and leaves. Moreover, the six candidate genes were found in scQTLs associated with gray leaf spot (GLS) and corn leaf blight (CLB). In addition, subcellular localization and bioinformatics analysis of the six candidate genes revealed that they were primarily expressed in endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, nucleus and plasma membrane, and were involved in defense and stress, MeJA and abscisic acid response pathways. The fluorescence quantitative PCR confirmed their responsiveness to nitrogen and phosphorus nutrition as well as GLS treatments. Taken together, findings of this study indicated that the nutrition and disease have a significant synergistic response in maize.
Production and stably maintenance of strigolactone by transient expression of biosynthetic enzymes in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Yata Akira , Nosaki Shohei , Yoda Akiyoshi , Nomura Takahito , Miura Kenji
Published: October 2022

Strigolactones (SLs) are phytohormones that play an essential role in plant–microbe interactions. The instability of SLs makes it challenging to use them for application to agriculture. In this study, we successfully produced a large amount of the 4-deoxyorobanchol (4DO), one of SLs, in the leaves of Nicotiana benthamiana, using a transient expression system to express SL biosynthetic enzymes. Using this system, the yield of 4DO was 2.1 ± 0.3 μg/gFM (fresh mass). Treatment of leaves at 80°C for 16 h killed Agrobacterium and approximately half amount of 4DO was left in the leaves (1.0 μg/gFM (calculated based on the original FM) ± 0.3). Interestingly, incubation of dried leaves at room temperature for 1 month maintained an almost equal amount of 4DO (0.9 ± 0.2 μg/gFM) in the leaves. These results suggest that high accumulation of 4DO with stability for long periods can be achieved in plant leaves.
The impact of chromium ion stress on plant growth, developmental physiology, and molecular regulation
Authors: Saud Shah , Wang Depeng , Fahad Shah , Javed Talha , Jaremko Mariusz , Abdelsalam Nader R. , Ghareeb Rehab Y.
Published: October 2022

In recent years, heavy metals-induced soil pollution has increased due to the widespread usage of chromium (Cr) in chemical industries. The release of Cr into the environment has reached its peak causing hazardous environmental pollution. Heavy metal-induced soil pollution is one of the most important abiotic stress affecting the dynamic stages of plant growth and development. In severe cases, it can kill the plants and their derivatives and thereby pose a potential threat to human food safety. The chromium ion effect on plants varies and depends upon its severity range. It mainly impacts the numerous regular activities of the plant's life cycle, by hindering the germination of plant seeds, inhibiting the growth of hypocotyl and epicotyl parts of the plants, as well as damaging the chloroplast cell structures. In this review article, we tried to summarize the possible effects of chromium-induced stress on plant growth, developmental physiology, biochemistry, and molecular regulation and provided the important theoretical basis for selecting remedial plants in chromium-induced contaminated soils, breeding of low toxicity tolerant varieties, and analyzing the mechanism of plant resistance mechanisms in response to heavy metal stress.
More benefit or harm? Moral contextualism shapes public attitudes towards social egg freezing
Authors: Forke Anna , Siegers Pascal
Published: October 2022

Medical treatments at the beginning and end of human life are highly contested in public discourse. Our study reveals factors shaping the acceptance of social egg freezing (or oocyte cryopreservation) as an assisted reproduction technology (ART) in the general public. Based on the theory of moral contextualism and the literature on medical ethics, we deduce potential factors influencing attitudes toward cryopreservation (for example, the number of oocytes used or the age up to which women plan to use the oocytes). The influence of these factors on individual attitudes is modeled using a factorial design embedded into a web survey. The results show that factors associated with potential harm to the children decrease acceptance of cryopreservation, whereas factors associated with potential harm to the women increase acceptance. The strongest effect has the age at which women plan to use the preserved oocytes.
The influence of supervisor creative feedback environment on team creativity: The role of the ambidextrous learning and creative cognitive style
Authors: Liu Shuwei , Zhang Yawei , Liu Yamei , He Linyan , Xiao Yuchun
Published: October 2022

The survival and success of organizations increasingly depend on creativity. A Supervisor Creative Feedback Environment is of special value in enhancing team creativity, but few studies have explored the relationship between the supervisor creative feedback environment and creativity and how it affects creativity. Based on feedback intervention theory and triadic reciprocal determinism, this paper explores the process mechanism and boundary conditions of the supervisor creative feedback environment affecting team creativity from the perspectives of ambidextrous learning and team creative cognitive style. With 506 team members from 115 work teams in domestic enterprises as research samples, regression analysis was used to test the theoretical hypotheses. Feedback intervention, according to the feedback intervention theory, is a complicated process. There are various influencing factors, such as the feedback provider, means of feedback intervention, the content of the feedback information, situational factors, and the feedback recipients (Junwei, 2003). The leading creative feedback loop includes important feedback receiver's factors which are not mentioned above. Triadic reciprocal determinism holds that individual behavior is formed by the interaction and interconnection of individual, environment, and behavior. The two above-mentioned theories can explain why the leadership creative feedback environment can affect team creativity by influencing ambidextrous learning. The results also show that the feedback environment of supervisor creativity has positive effects on team creativity. Ambidextrous learning mediates the relation between supervisor creative feedback environments and team creativity. Team creative cognitive style has a positive moderating effect on the indirect relationship between a supervisor creative feedback environment and team creativity through ambidextrous learning. This study validates feedback intervention theory and triadic reciprocal determinism, expands the application of feedback environment factors in the research field of team creativity, provides a theoretical framework for the influence of the creative feedback environment on team creativity, and also provides theoretical support for managers to apply the management tool of a supervisor creative feedback environment to organizational context to improve team creativity. Based on the research results, this paper puts forward corresponding management suggestions from the aspect of creating a supervisor creative feedback environment, attaching importance to team ambidextrous learning, and making good use of creative cognitive style.
A Delphi method on the positive impact of COVID-19 on higher education institutions: Perceptions of academics from Malaysia
Authors: Tee Mcxin , Rasli Amran , Toh Jason See Seong Kuan , Abas Imelda Hermilinda , Zhou Fei , Liew Cheng Siang
Published: October 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered the education sector. Rather than the impact of COVID-19, many higher education institutions (HEIs) are on the verge of insolvency due to a lack of digital transformation readiness and poor business models. The bleak financial future many HEIs will face while others may be forced to close their doors completely will erode HEIs’ ability to fulfil their societal responsibilities. However, HEIs that have survived and maintained their operations anticipate the transition to online learning or the effects of any economic crisis, including university closures in the short, medium, or long term. The entire educational ecosystem was forced to transform its operations quickly and entirely to an online teaching-learning scenario in just a few weeks. Notably, HEIs that have long offered online courses worldwide can easily transition to digital teaching and learning when necessary. The second roundtable session’s result of the International Higher Education Conference, organized by INTI International University on March 31 2022, was used to organize a Delphi method to identify further factors that positively impact HEIs by COVID-19. The importance of these factors was then determined using Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. Recommendations on how HEIs should move towards institutional sustainability during the endemic phase are presented accordingly.
Does education finance reduce the inequality of educational results? The mediation effect of shadow education
Authors: Ma Yingqi , Jia Wei , Wang Jingxuan , Wang Xuesong , Zhou Yuanxiang , Yan Zeran
Published: October 2022

Public education finance in China plays an important role in education equality. This study investigated two mediation effects with a generalized structural equation model that comprised the mediation effect of shadow education at the school, family, and individual levels and the moderating role of education finance. There was a strong association among heterogeneity factors, shadow education, and educational results, with shadow education playing a mediating role in math and English courses. Individual heterogeneity differences had a negative impact on equality in educational results through access to additional shadow education opportunities, while heterogeneous factors were mediated through shadow education, causing financial moderation effects, in turn affecting inequality in educational results. Finally, the moderation degree and direction of education finance varied significantly, with a greater moderation effect on household-level factors that lead to unequal educational results. Targeted efforts are required to regulate shadow education, which is key to the development of the education system.
Emotion recognition and processing in patients with mild cognitive impairment: A systematic review
Authors: Morellini Lucia , Izzo Alessia , Rossi Stefania , Zerboni Giorgia , Rege-Colet Laura , Ceroni Martino , Biglia Elena , Sacco Leonardo
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate emotion recognition and processing in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in order to update the state of current literature on this important but undervalued topic. We identified 15 papers published between 2012 and 2022 that meet the inclusion criteria. Paper search, selection, and extraction followed the PRISMA guidelines. We used a narrative synthesis approach in order to report a summary of the main findings taken from all papers. The results collected are still ambiguous: some studies did not find any differences between MCI and healthy controls (HC) groups in emotion recognition and processing, and other results reported emotion-specific deficits in emotion recognition regarding MCI patients (both regarding negative and neutral emotions). It is essential to underline that these findings could not be generalized to the whole MCI population due to the heterogeneous use of measures and composition of the sample. This does not allow us to make a comprehensive comparison between the results. Our suggestion for future research is to align the results using the same type of tests and emotion recognition assessment.
Understanding the complexity of provincial-level elite sport policy change: The case of Shanghai municipality
Authors: Ma Yang
Published: October 2022

The analysis of elite sport policy changes at the provincial level remains relatively uncharted territory despite the substantial contributions of provincial-level elite sport to national elite sport success. Data were gathered from semistructured face-to-face interviews and official and semiofficial documents. The key findings were that (1) Guangdong, as a provincial compatriot of Shanghai, has made tremendous efforts and obtained notable achievements in professional football and thus serves as a powerful stimulant for policy reform regarding elite sports in Shanghai; (2) the policy stream has been strengthened by knowledge-based (epistemic) communities at the Shanghai University of Sports that can examine cause and effect relationships and further propose specific policies; and (3) the general director of the Shanghai Administration of Sports plays a central role in advocating for policy proposals. The current research offers practical insights into strategies for reviewing policy trajectories to enhance policy design and implementation.
The socialization of modality capital in sign language ecologies: A classroom example
Authors: Singleton Jenny L. , Crume Peter K.
Published: October 2022

Gaze behavior is an important component of children’s language, cognitive, and sociocultural development. This is especially true for young deaf children acquiring a signed language—if they are not looking at the language model, they are not getting linguistic input. Deaf caregivers engage their deaf infants and toddlers using visual and tactile strategies to draw in, support, and promote their child’s visual attention; we argue that these caregiver actions create a developmental niche that establishes thevisual modality capitaltheir child needs for successful sign language learning. But most deaf children do not have deaf signing parents (reportedly over 90%) and they will need to rely on adult signing teachers if they are to acquire a signed language at an early age. This study examines classroom interactions between a Deaf teacher, her teacher’s aide, and six deaf preschoolers to document the teachers’ “everyday practices” as they socialize the gaze behavior of these children. Utilizing a detailed behavioral and linguistic analysis of two video-recorded book-sharing contexts, we present data summarizing the teacher’s attention-getting actions directed toward the children and the discourse-embedded cues that signal the teacher’s expectations for student participation in the signed conversation. We observed that the teacher’s behaviors differed according to the parent status of the deaf preschooler (Deaf parents vs. hearing parents) suggesting that Deaf children of Deaf parents arrive to the preschool classroom with well-developed self-regulation of their attention or gaze. The teachers also used more physical and explicit cueing with the deaf children of hearing parents—possibly to promote their ability to leverage the visual modality for sign language acquisition. We situate these socialization patterns within a framework that integrates notions of intuitive or indigenous practices, developmental niche, and modality capital. Implications for early childhood deaf education are also discussed.
The comprehension and production of Wh- questions among Malay children with developmental language disorders: Climbing the syntactic tree
Authors: Abu Bakar Norsofiah , Smith Giuditta , Razak Rogayah A. , Garraffa Maria
Published: October 2022

This study is an investigation of both comprehension and production of Wh- questions in Malay-speaking children with a developmental language disorder (DLD). A total of 15 Malay children with DLD (ages 7;0–9;11 years) were tested on a set of Wh- questions (who subject and object, which subject and object), comparing their performance with two control groups [15 age-matched typically developing (TD) children and 15 younger TD language-matched children]. Malay children with DLD showed a clear asymmetry in comprehension of Wh- questions, with a selective impairment for which NP questions compared with who questions. Age-matched controls performed at ceiling in all Wh- questions, while the language-matched group reported a subject/object asymmetry selective for the which NP, as reported in other languages. In production, both children with DLD and younger children showed a preference for questions with in situ Wh- elements, a structure that is allowed in colloquial Malay, but which is not produced by the age-matched TD group. Several non-adult-like strategies were adopted particularly by the children with DLD to avoid complex sentences, including substitution with yes/no echo questions, production of the wrong Wh- question, and use of a generic Wh- element. The study provides an insight on the mastery of Wh- questions in both typical Malay children and children with DLD. Implications for the definition of a clinical marker for DLD in a free word order language with Wh- in situ option will be discussed.
Regaining power: How feelings of exclusion during COVID-19 are associated with radicalism among critics of containment policies
Authors: Pfundmair Michaela , Mahr Luisa A. M.
Published: October 2022

Past experimental research has shown that social exclusion can be linked with radicalism. During the COVID-19 pandemic, feelings of social isolation and loneliness rose, just like protests and violence against national anti-COVID-19 measures did. Based on these observations, we hypothesized that feelings of exclusion induced by measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 were associated with radicalism intentions to illegally and violently fight COVID-19-related regulations among critics of the containment policies (Hypothesis 1). Moreover, we expected that radicalism intentions against COVID-19-related regulations fortified needs deprived by social exclusion (Hypothesis 2). Studying a sample of individuals who opposed the measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 (N = 171), we found evidence for both hypotheses: Results revealed that feelings of social exclusion induced by COVID-19 containment measures predicted radicalism intentions. Moreover, the relationship between exclusion and radicalism was associated with fortifying power issues. Political opinion did not moderate these effects. These data replicate the exclusion-radicalism link in the COVID-19 crisis and add one more factor that may have promoted radical developments during that time. Fortifying feelings of power, radicalism appeared to foster well-being, though at a high political price.
Integrating drones in response to public health emergencies: A combined framework to explore technology acceptance
Authors: Shapira Stav , Cauchard Jessica R.
Published: October 2022

The aim of the study was to propose and test an integrated model combining the technology acceptance model (TAM), task-technology fit (TTF), social motivation, and drone-related perceived risks to explore the intention to use drones in public health emergencies (PHEs). We conducted a survey among the Israeli population, yielding a sample of 568 participants. Structural equation modeling was implemented to test the research hypotheses. The results showed that our integrated model provided a robust and comprehensive framework to perform an in-depth investigation of the factors and mechanisms affecting drone acceptance in PHEs. First, ease of use, attitudes, individual-technology fit, task-technology fit, and social influence significantly and directly influenced users' behavioral intention to utilize drone technology. Second, attitudes were significant mediators of the effects of social influence and perceived risks on the intention to use drones. Finally, significant relationships between TAM, TTF, social motivation, and perceived risks were also observed. Theoretical aspects and practical implications—which can serve as the basis for shaping a positive development in drone public acceptance in PHEs and in general—are discussed.
Impact of social influence on users' continuance intention toward sports and fitness applications
Authors: Li Zhiwen , Du Nian , Wang Baojiao , Oteng-Darko Clarissa
Published: October 2022

The purpose of this paper is to explore how social influence (SI), which is disaggregated into subjective norms (SN), social image (SIM), and social identity (SID), predicts perceived usefulness (PU), perceived pleasure (PP), and continuance intention (CI) toward sports and fitness applications. The underlying context is the socialization and gamification of exercise during the Covid-19 pandemic. Based on the theory of SI and the technology acceptance model, a theoretical framework was built where PU and PP mediate the influence of SI on CI, and proposed hypotheses were tested. The responses of 296 Keep users (a popular sports and fitness application in China) to a questionnaire survey were analyzed. SN and SIM were found to have significant positive effects on SID; SID has significant positive effects on PU and PP; both PU and PP have significant positive effects on the CI of users; SID and PU positively and significantly mediate the relationship between SN/SIM and CI; PU positively and significantly mediates the SID-CI relationship. However, the role of PP in mediating the influence of SI on CI is non-significant. This paper deepens the current understanding of the mechanisms that influence the relationship between SI and CI under the context of socialization and gamification services.
Tracking CO2 emission reductions from space: A case study at Europe’s largest fossil fuel power plant
Authors: Nassar Ray , Moeini Omid , Mastrogiacomo Jon-Paul , O’Dell Christopher W. , Nelson Robert R. , Kiel Matthäus , Chatterjee Abhishek , Eldering Annmarie , Crisp David
Published: October 2022

We quantify CO2 emissions from Europe’s largest fossil fuel power plant, the Bełchatόw Power Station in Poland, using CO2 observations from NASA’s Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO) 2 and 3 missions on 10 occasions from March 2017 to June 2022. The space-based CO2 emission estimates reveal emission changes with a trend that is consistent with the independent reported hourly power generation trend that results from both permanent and temporary unit shutdowns. OCO-2 and OCO-3 emission estimates agree with the bottom-up emission estimates within their respective 1σ uncertainties for 9 of the 10 occasions. Different methods for defining background values and corresponding uncertainties are explored in order to better understand this important potential error contribution. These results demonstrate the ability of existing space-based CO2 observations to quantify emission reductions for a large facility when adequate coverage and revisits are available. The results are informative for understanding the expected capability and potential limitations of the planned Copernicus Anthropogenic CO2 Monitoring (CO2M) and other future satellites to support monitoring and verification of CO2 emission reductions resulting from climate change mitigation efforts such as the Paris Agreement.
Development of a highly sensitive lateral flow strip device for nucleic acid detection using molecular beacons
Authors: Moon Youngkwang , Moon Hyeokgyun , Chang Junhyuck , Kim Harold D. , Lee Jung Heon , Lee Jinkee
Published: October 2022

Extensive research is focused on the development of highly sensitive, rapid on-site diagnostic devices. The lateral flow strip (LFS) is a paper-based point-of-care diagnostic device, which is highly promising because of its ease of use and low cost. Despite these advantages, LFS device is still less popular than other methods such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) or real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) due to its low sensitivity. Here, we have developed a fluorescence-based lateral flow strip (f-LFS) device for DNA detection using a molecular beacon (MB), a short hairpin-forming DNA strand tagged with a fluorophore-quencher pair. Each paper and membrane component of f-LFS device was carefully selected based on their physicochemical properties including porosity, surface functionality, and autofluorescence. The limit of detection (LOD) of this device was substantially improved to 2.1 fg/mL by adding MgCl2 to the reaction buffer and narrowing the test membrane dimension. Also, a portable fluorescence detection system for f-LFS was developed using a multi-pixel photon counter (MPPC), a sensitive detector detecting the signal on site. We anticipate that this highly sensitive paper-based diagnostic device can be utilized for on-site diagnosis of various diseases.
The validity and reliability of counter movement jump height measured with the Polar Vantage V2 sports watch
Authors: Gruber Markus , Peltonen Jussi , Bartsch Julia , Barzyk Philipp
Published: October 2022

The purpose of the present study was to assess the validity and reliability of the jump height measured by the Polar Vantage V2 sports watch in comparison to a gold-standard force plate measurement. Fifteen healthy adults, seven female, age 20–42 years participated in the study and performed six sets of three CMJs, on two consecutive days. The participants wore the Polar Vantage V2 sports watch (Polar Electro Oy, Kempele, Finland) whilst performing the jumps on two force plates (AMTI, Watertown, Massachusetts, United States). Jump height was on the one hand extracted directly from the watch (“leg recovery test”) and on the other hand calculated by the flight time method with the force plate data. To assess validity, we calculated the mean absolute error, constructed Bland-Altman plots and applied an ordinary least squares regression analysis. To test for left-to-right and day-to-day reliability, we calculated Pearson and intraclass correlations. We found a mean error of ≈5% and a high correlation (r = 0.96; p < 0.001) for the jump height measured by the Polar Vantage V2 sports watch compared to the force plate measurement. The Bland-Altmann plot together with the ordinary least squares regression analysis showed no systematic bias between the methods with a minimal difference at a jump height of 30 cm. For reliability of left-to-right and day-to-day measurements, we found high Pearson and ICC correlations and no indications for systematic bias by Bland-Altmann analysis. The present study has demonstrated that the “leg recovery test” of the Polar Vantage V2 sports watch provide a valid and reliable measurement of the mean vertical jump height of three consecutive CMJs. For the first time the jump height of a CMJ can be measured solely by a sports watch without the need to attach additional sensors or measurement devices. Thus, the “leg recovery test” is an easy to administer, valid and reliable test, that can be used in future studies to measure CMJ-height in the field when lab-based assessments are unavailable or inconvenient. This opens new avenues for cross-sectional and longitudinal assessments of neuromuscular power of the lower extremities in a large number of participants.
Short-term outcomes of Ivor Lewis vs. McKeown esophagectomy: A meta-analysis
Authors: Xing Huajie , Hu Mengyu , Wang Zhiqiang , Jiang Yuequan
Published: October 2022

Objective

The objective of this article is to assess the rate of anastomotic leak and other perioperative outcomes in patients undergoing esophagectomy with either thoracic or cervical anastomosis.

Methods

This meta-analysis was conducted by searching relevant literature studies in Web of Science, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase databases. Articles that included patients undergoing esophagectomy and compared perioperative outcomes of McKeown with Ivor Lewis procedures were included. The primary outcome parameter was anastomotic leak, and secondary outcome parameters were grade ≥2 anastomotic leak, chylothorax, recurrent laryngeal nerve injury, hospital length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay, postoperative mortality rate, operative time, blood loss, R0 resection rate, and lymph nodes examined.

Results

A total of eight studies, with 3,291 patients (1,857 Ivor Lewis procedure and 1,434 McKeown procedure) were eligible for analysis. Meta-analysis showed that Ivor Lewis procedure was associated with lower rate of anastomosis leak of all grades [risk ratio (RR), 0.67; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.55–0.82; P = 0.0001], lower rate of recurrent laryngeal nerve injury (RR, 0.14; 95% CI, 0.08–0.25), and shorter length of hospital stay (weighted mean difference, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04–0.22). Grade ≥2 anastomotic leak, chylothorax, ICU length of stay, postoperative mortality rate, operative time, blood loss, R0 resection rate, and lymph nodes examined were similar between the two groups.

Conclusions

Although all grades of anastomotic leak and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury are higher in the McKeown procedure, this meta-analysis supports similar short-term outcomes and oncological efficacy between Ivor Lewis and McKeown esophagectomy.
The Amount of Food Ingested and Its Impact on the Level of Uric Acid in the Blood Plasma of Snakes
Authors: Halán Miloš , Kottferová Lucia , Račka Karol , Lam Anthony
Published: October 2022

In mammals, lipemic blood from sampling too soon after an animal feeds can have substantial effects on biochemical values. Plasma biochemical values in reptiles may be affected by species, age, season, and nutritional state. However, fasting status is not routinely considered when sampling reptile blood. Assessing uric acid levels in snakes is an important part of the diagnosis of the renal disease. However, the use of this biochemical indicator is undervalued without knowledge of natural uric acid fluctuations and the lack of differentiation from pathological changes. This study aimed to look at the relationship between snake feeding and uric acid concentrations. The investigation aims to better understand the feed-induced changes that occur and render the analysis of this biochemical parameter a more potent diagnostic tool. The study used ten snakes belonging to seven species, and basal uric acid values were evaluated by blood biochemical analysis before feeding. The snakes were fed in two rounds, with successive blood sampling and monitoring of uric acid changes carried out for each. The snakes were fed approximately 50% more with the second round of feeding to investigate the relationship between food supply and uric acid level. The findings show feeding led to substantial elevations in uric acid values, whereby postprandial concentrations were significantly elevated for up to 8 days after feeding. The findings show the significant changes in uric acid levels that occur after feeding and the similarities between postprandial rises in uric acid and those reported in snakes with renal disease. To minimize misdiagnosis and differentiate transient postprandial hyperuricemia from pathological increases, it is recommended that sufficient anamnestic data on time since the last feeding be collected, as well as repeated samples following weeks of fasting. This knowledge is crucial because the amount of feed in terms of intensity and volume has a significant effect on uric acid levels in the blood of snakes.
Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles on Capsular Gene Expression in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Clinical Samples
Authors: Kudaer Nuha B. , Risan Mohseen H. , Yousif Emad , Kadhom Mohammed , Raheem Rasha , Salman Israa
Published: October 2022

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen with various virulence factors that give it the capability to invade a host. Nevertheless, the treatment of bacterial infection is gradually complicated as the bacteria can develop resistance to antimicrobial agents. As nanotechnology is a prosperous field for researchers, we employed zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) on isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Here, we studied the effect of three NP concentrations—0.25, 0.50, and 0.75 mM—on the gene expression of Klebsiella pneumoniae capsules in isolates collected from different samples. After conducting an anti-bacterial test, the highest nine types of bacteria that resisted the antibacterial agent were chosen for further examination. The gene expression of four genes responsible for capsule manufacturing, namely magA, k2A, rmpA, and kfu, were investigated. When the NP concentration was 0.25 mM, the lowest efficiency was obtained. However, when the concentration increased to 0.50 mM, a noticeable effect on gene expression was detected; consequently, at a concentration of 0.75 Mm, the highest impact was achieved and the gene expression was stopped.
Gut Microbiome Remains Static in Functional Abdominal Pain Disorders Patients Compared to Controls: Potential for Diagnostic Tools
Authors: Abomoelak Bassam , Saps Miguel , Sudakaran Sailendharan , Deb Chirajyoti , Mehta Devendra
Published: October 2022

Background: Functional Abdominal Pain disorders (FAPDs) are a group of heterogeneous gastrointestinal disorders with unclear pathophysiology. In children, FAPDs are more common in the winter months than summer months. The possible influence of school stressors has been proposed. Previously, our group showed differences in bacterial relative abundances and alpha diversity in the gut microbiome and its relationship with stressors in a cross-sectional evaluation of children suffering from FAPDs compared to a healthy control group. We present longitudinal data to assess whether the gut microbiome changes over school terms in the control and FAPDs groups. Methods: The longitudinal study included children with FAPDs (n = 28) and healthy controls (n = 54). Gastrointestinal symptoms, as well as stool microbiome, were assessed in both groups. Stool samples were serially collected from all participants during both the school term and summer vacation. The stool samples were subjected to total genomic extraction, 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis. The gut microbiome was compared at school and during vacation. Other metrics, alpha diversity, and beta diversity, were also compared between the two school terms in every group. Results: In the healthy group, there were differences in microbiome composition between school terms and summer vacation. Conversely, we found no differences in the FAPDs group between the two terms. The healthy control group revealed differences (p-value < 0.05) in 55 bacterial species between the school term and vacation. Several of the differentially abundant identified bacteria were involved in short-chain fatty acids production (SCFAs), inflammation reduction, and gut homeostasis. Alpha diversity metrics, such as the Shannon index, were different in the control group and remained unchanged in the FAPDs group. Conclusion: Although preliminary, our findings suggest that the gut microbiome is static in FAPDs. This compares with a more dynamic healthy gut microbiome. Further studies are warranted to corroborate this and understand the interplay between stress, symptoms, and a less diverse and static microbiome. Future studies will also account for different variables such as diet and other patient demographic criteria that were missing in the current study.
Community Responses to Fire: A Global Meta-Analysis Unravels the Contrasting Responses of Fauna to Fire
Authors: Moyo Sydney
Published: October 2022

Globally, wildfires and prescribed fires are becoming more prevalent and are known to affect plant and animals in diverse ecosystems. Understanding the responses of animal communities to fire is a central issue in conservation and a panacea to predicting how fire regimes may affect communities and food webs. Here, a global meta-analysis of 2581 observations extracted from 208 empirical studies were used to investigate the effect of fire on aboveground and belowground fauna (e.g., bacteria, fungi, small mammals, arthropods). Overall, results revealed that fire had a negative effect on biomass, abundance, richness, evenness, and diversity of all faunas. Similarly, when considering wildfires and prescribed fires the data revealed that both fire regimes have negative effects on fauna. Similarly, fire had negative impacts on aboveground and aboveground fauna across most biomes and continents of the world. Moreover, there was little evidence of changes in pH, moisture and soil depth on soil organisms suggesting that other factors may drive community changes following a fire disturbance. Future research in fire ecology should consider the effects of fire across several species and across larger geospatial scales. In addition, fire effects on faunal community structure must be studied under contrasting global fire regimes and in light of the effects of climate change.
The Ethical Dimension of Emerging Technologies in Engineering Education
Authors: de Vries Pieter
Published: October 2022

Emerging technologies are part of the constituting datafication and digitalization process that poses major challenges to the current educational infrastructure. Clearly, universities are challenged to respond to the demands that seem to develop faster and become more complex over time. The complexity, though, is not just technical; it is the combination of technology, and specifically big data use, with job requirements, educational practices, ethical responsibilities, and the socio-cultural aspects of education. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and discuss elements of these issues in trying to clarify the complexity and lower the threshold for those who are involved and to look for a better understanding of the opportunities and challenges. Therefore, different issues related to emerging technologies are discussed, with a focus on big data and artificial intelligence, as core technologies, followed by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as a societal development, the EdTech industry, and the ethical dimensions of the technological change and the consequences for education. Ethics have been shown to be of value, also, in times of increasing complexity and can guide the use and development of emerging technologies in higher education.
Autopsy by Imaging: The Last 10 Years
Authors: Mercala Ellie , Benbow Emyr Wyn
Published: October 2022

Virtual autopsies (VAs) are non-invasive, bypassing many of the challenges posed by traditional autopsies (TAs). This is a literature review about the sensitivity of the main VA techniques: post mortem (PM) computed tomography (PMCT) and PM magnetic resonance (PMMR). This could help to identify the most appropriate uses for VA, and where future research should focus. A review was performed, searching for literature from the last 10 years regarding how sensitive VA is at detecting common lesions that could cause or contribute to death. 33 studies were included. There was strong agreement that PMCT had strengths in detecting: free gas; fractures; large fluid accumulations; and calcifications. PMCT’s weaknesses included missing: pulmonary emboli; myocardial infarctions; and visceral/soft tissue lesions. The strengths of PMMR were less widely agreed, but included detecting: large fluid collections; myocardial infarctions; and visceral/soft tissue lesions. There were no wide agreements on PMMR’s weaknesses due to a lack of literature. Therefore, VA is a useful adjunct to TA; however, its drawbacks in reliably detecting common causes of death restrict its ability to fully replace TA. Novel imaging techniques are being developed in order to bridge the current gaps of VA, and make autopsies even less invasive.
Design and Test-Beam Results of the FoCal-H Demonstrator Prototype
Authors: Simeonov Radoslav
Published: October 2022

The forward calorimeter (FoCal) of ALICE, planned to be operational for LHC Run 4, will cover the pseudorapidity range 3.4 ≤η≤ 5.8 allowing to probe the unexplored region of Bjorken-x down to 10−6. The hadronic section of the FoCal (FoCal-H) will be based on copper capillary tubes and scintillating fibers inside, with light read out by silicon photomultipliers (SiPM). A “proof of concept” demonstration prototype was built and tested in the H6 beamline at the CERN SPS in the beginning of October, 2021, exposing it to an unseparated charged particle beam with energy in the interval 20 GeV–80 GeV. The design of the prototype as well as the results of the energy reconstruction are presented and the validation with a GEANT4-based simulation is discussed.
The Mechanical Properties Prediction of Poly [(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyvalerate)] (PHBV) Biocomposites on a Chosen Example
Authors: Janowski Grzegorz , Frącz Wiesław , Bąk Łukasz
Published: October 2022

This paper aims to experimentally determine the properties of the poly [(3-hydroxybutyrate)-co-(3-hydroxyvalerate)]—(PHBV)—30% hemp fiber biocomposite, which is important in terms of numerical simulations of product manufacturing, and to evaluate the mechanical properties by means of micromechanical modeling. The biocomposite was manufactured using a single-screw extruder. Specimens for testing were produced by applying the injection molding technology. Utilizing the simulation results of the plastic flow, carried out by the Moldflow Insight 2016 commercial software and the results of experimental tests, the forecasts of selected composite mechanical properties were performed by means of both numerical and analytical homogenization methods. For this purpose, the Digimat software was applied. The necessary experimental data to perform the calculations for the polymer matrix, fibers, and the biocomposite were obtained by rheological and thermal studies as well as elementary mechanical tests. In the paper, the method of determining selected properties of the biocomposite and the method of forecasting its other properties are discussed. It shows the dependence of the predicted, selected properties of the biocomposite on the filler geometry assumed in the calculations and the homogenization method adopted for the calculations. The results of the work allow for the prediction of properties of the PHBV biocomposites—hemp fiber for any amount of filler used. Moreover, the results allow for the estimation of the usefulness of homogenization methods for the prediction of properties of the PHBV-hemp fiber biocomposites. Furthermore, it was found that for the developed and tested biocomposites, the most effective possibility of mechanical properties prediction is using the Mori-Tanaka homogenization model, which unfortunately has some limitations.
Jujube Shell Based-Porous Carbon Composites Double-Doped by MnO2 and Ti3C2Tx: The Effect of Double Pseudocapacitive Doping on Electrochemical Properties
Authors: Sun Xue , Fan Qingwen , Yin Xiang
Published: October 2022

In this study, manganese-containing porous carbon was synthesized from jujube shells by two-step carbonization and activation and was then covered with Ti3C2Tx to obtain double-doped biomass composites. In order to improve the interfacial properties (surface tension and wettability) between Ti3C2Tx and porous carbon, the effects of two media (deionized water and acetone solution) on the electrochemical properties of the composites were compared. The acetone solution changed the surface rheology of Ti3C2Tx and porous carbon, and the decreased surface tension and the increased wettability contributed to the ordered growth of 2D-Ti3C2Tx on the surface of the porous carbon. Raman analysis shows the relatively higher graphitization degree of JSPC&Ti3C2Tx (acetone). Compared with JSPC&Ti3C2Tx, JSPC&Ti3C2Tx (acetone) can maintain better rectangle-like properties even at a higher scanning rate. Under the effect of the acetone solution, the pseudocapacitive ratio of JSPC&Ti3C2Tx (acetone) increased from 10.1% to 30.7%. At the current density of 0.5 A/g, the specific capacitance of JSPC&Ti3C2Tx (acetone) achieved 96.83 F/g, and the specific capacitance of 58.17 F/g was maintained even at the high current density (10 A/g), which shows excellent magnification. Under the condition of the current density of 10 A/g, JSPC&Ti3C2Tx (acetone) can obtain a power density of 52,000 W/kg while maintaining an energy density of 8.74 Wh/kg. After 2000 cycles, the symmetrical button battery assembled with this material can still have a capacitance retention rate of more than 90%. This method realized the deep utilization of green and low-cost raw materials by using biomass as the precursor of composite materials and promoted the further development of carbon-based supercapacitor electrode materials.
Comparison of the Biological Behavior and Topographical Surface Assessment of a Minimally Invasive Dental Implant and a Standard Implant: An In Vitro Study
Authors: Attik Nina , Phantarasmy Marina , Abouelleil Hazem , Chevalier Charlène , Barraco Aurore , Grosgogeat Brigitte , Lafon Arnaud
Published: October 2022

The current study aimed to assess the topographical and physical properties of a minimally invasive implant (MagiCore®: MC®, InnosBioSurg, IBS) and to evaluate its biological behavior compared to a gold standard implant (NobelParallel™: NB™, Nobel Biocare™). After surface characterization, the biological behavior assessment was conducted regarding human gingival fibroblasts (hGF) and osteoblast-like cells (MG63). Roughness values for NBTM were Ra = 1.28 µm and for MC® they were Ra = 2.02 µm. Alamar BlueTM assay LIVE/DEADTM staining results indicated equivalent biological development regarding both cell types for the two implants. Significant enhancement was found for hGF ALP activity in the presence of the two tested implants in a time-dependent manner from day 7 to day 14 (** p < 0.01). Alizarin red staining demonstrated significant calcium deposition enhancement when cells were interfaced with the NB™ compared to the MC® implant (** p < 0.05). Moreover, SEM and confocal imaging revealed good cell adhesion with a denser cellular layer on the MC® than the NB™ surface. The MC® cytocompatibility was ranked as equivalent to the gold standard implant despite the surface properties differences. These findings provide new insights about the minimally invasive implant’s biological behavior and its potential clinical implication in different implantology situations.