bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How to Deploy Electric Ships for Green Shipping
Authors: Wang Wei , Liu Yannick , Zhen Lu , Wang H.
Published: November 2022

Maritime transport plays an important role in global economic development but also inevitably faces increasing pressures from all sides, such as ship operating cost reduction and environmental protection. An ideal innovation to address these pressures is electric ships, which are more environmentally friendly than conventional manned fuel oil ships. The electric ship is in its early stages. To provide high-quality transportation services, the service network needs to be designed carefully. Therefore, this research simultaneously studies the location of charging stations, charging plans, route planning, ship scheduling, and ship deployment under service time requirements. The problem is formulated as a mixed-integer linear programming model with the objective of minimizing total cost comprised of charging cost, construction cost of charging stations, and fixed cost of ships. A case study using the data of the shipping network along the Yangtze River is conducted in order to evaluate the performance of the model. Valuable managerial insights are also derived from sensitivity analyses.
Numerical Simulation of Wave Overtopping of an Ecologically Honeycomb-Type Revetment with Rigid Vegetation
Authors: Zhang Jinfeng , Zhang Na , Zhang Qinghe , Jiao Fangqian , Xu Lingling , Qi Jiarui
Published: November 2022

Traditional concrete revetments can destroy the ecological environment and the water landscape. An increasing number of ecological revetment structures have been applied in coastal, lake, and river regulation projects. It has been found that honeycomb-type revetments display a better performance in the attenuation of wave overtopping when compared to experimental data collected using the Eurotop and Muttray’s formula; recording a 40% decrease in the wave run-up in comparison to the latter. To further investigate the wave run-up and overtopping of the ecologically vegetated honeycomb-type revetment, based on OpenFOAM, an open source computational fluid dynamics software, a three-dimensional numerical wave tank was established. The Discrete Particle Method (DPM) was used to simulate gravel movement, and the flexible plant move boundary model was developed to simulate vegetation. The results of wave run-up calculated by the numerical model and those obtained by the experiments were in good agreement, with errors less than 20%. The modeled results of wave overtopping were within the same order of magnitude as those from the experiments; however, critical limitations were noticed due to effects of plant generalization and grid restrictions imposed by DPM methods. The results showed that wave overtopping increased with increasing wave period and wave height. However, with an increase in the wave overtopping, the influence of the wave period on wave overtopping decreased. The increase in vegetation density effectively reduced wave overtopping. Furthermore, an empirical formula for wave overtopping, considering the effects of vegetation density, was proposed.
Photoplethysmography Enabled Wearable Devices and Stress Detection: A Scoping Review
Authors: Namvari Mina , Lipoth Jessica , Knight Sheida , Jamali Ali Akbar , Hedayati Mojtaba , Spiteri Raymond J. , Syed-Abdul Shabbir
Published: November 2022

Background: Mental and physical health are both important for overall health. Mental health includes emotional, psychological, and social well-being; however, it is often difficult to monitor remotely. The objective of this scoping review is to investigate studies that focus on mental health and stress detection and monitoring using PPG-based wearable sensors. Methods: A literature review for this scoping review was conducted using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for the Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) framework. A total of 290 studies were found in five medical databases (PubMed, Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science). Studies were deemed eligible if non-invasive PPG-based wearables were worn on the wrist or ear to measure vital signs of the heart (heart rate, pulse transit time, pulse waves, blood pressure, and blood volume pressure) and analyzed the data qualitatively. Results: Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria, with four real-life studies, eighteen clinical studies, and one joint clinical and real-life study. Out of the twenty-three studies, seventeen were published as journal-based articles, and six were conference papers with full texts. Because most of the articles were concerned with physiological and psychological stress, we decided to only include those that focused on stress. In twelve of the twenty articles, a PPG-based sensor alone was used to monitor stress, while in the remaining eight papers, a PPG sensor was used in combination with other sensors. Conclusion: The growing demand for wearable devices for mental health monitoring is evident. However, there is still a significant amount of research required before wearable devices can be used easily and effectively for such monitoring. Although the results of this review indicate that mental health monitoring and stress detection using PPG is possible, there are still many limitations within the current literature, such as a lack of large and diverse studies and ground-truth methods, that need to be addressed before wearable devices can be globally useful to patients.
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptoms after Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Wu Wen-Yang , Chang Shih-Chun , Hsu Jun-Te , Yeh Ta-Sen , Liu Keng-Hao
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is widely performed in bariatric surgery. However, the prevalence and risk factors of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) symptoms after LSG remain unclear to date. This study aimed to identify risk factors of GERD after LSG. (2) Methods: We conducted a retrospective study at Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and reviewed 296 patients who underwent LSG from 2016 to 2019. A total of 143 patients who underwent preoperative esophagogastroduodenoscopy and completed the 12-month postoperative follow-up were enrolled. Patients’ demographic data, comorbidities, and postoperative weight loss results were recorded for analysis. The GerdQ questionnaire was used to assess GERD after LSG. (3) Results: There were eight surgical complications (5.6%) among the 143 studied patients (median age, 36 years; 56 (39.2%) men; median body weight 105.5 kg; median body mass index [BMI], 38.5 kg/m2). Twenty-three patients (16.1%) developed de novo GERD symptoms. GERD was significantly associated with older age (p = 0.022) and lower BMI (<35 kg/m2, p = 0.028). In multiple logistic regression analysis, age and BMI were significantly associated with GERD. (4) Conclusions: LSG is a safe and effective weight loss surgery. In our study, it led to 16.1% of de novo GERD symptoms, which were significantly related to older age and lower BMI (<35 kg/m2).
Ribosomal DNA Abundance in the Patient’s Genome as a Feasible Marker in Differential Diagnostics of Autism and Childhood-Onset Schizophrenia
Authors: Ershova Elizaveta , Veiko Natalia , Nikitina Svetlana , Balakireva Elena , Martynov Andrey , Chudakova Julia , Shmarina Galina , Kostyuk Svetlana , Salimova Nataliya , Veiko Roman , Porokhovnik Lev , Asanov Aliy , Izhevskaia Vera , Kutsev Sergey , Simashkova Nataliya , Kostyuk Svetlana
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Differential diagnostics of early-onset schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a problem of child psychiatry. The prognosis and relevant treatment are to a large degree determined by the correctness of diagnosis. We found earlier that leucocyte DNA of adult schizophrenia patients contained significantly larger copy numbers of ribosomal repeats (rDNA) coding for rRNA, than DNA of mentally healthy controls. Aim: To compare the contents of ribosomal repeats in the leucocyte DNA of children with schizophrenia, children with ASD, and healthy age-matched controls to estimate the possibility of using this genetic trait in the differential diagnostics of the two types of disorders. Patients and methods: Blood samples of patients with infantile autism (A—F84.0 according to ICD-10, N = 75) and with childhood-onset schizophrenia (SZ—F20.8 according to ICD-10, N = 43) were obtained from the Child Psychiatry Department of the Mental Health Research Center. The healthy control blood samples (HC, N = 86) were taken from the Research Centre for Medical Genetics collection. The recruitment of cases was based on the clinical psychopathologic approach. DNA was extracted from blood leukocytes with organic solvents. Nonradioactive quantitative hybridization technique was applied for determining the abundance of ribosomal repeats in the genomes. Statistical processing was performed using StatPlus, Statgraphics and MedCalc. Findings: DNA derived from SZ cases contained 565 ± 163 rDNA copies, which is significantly (p < 10−6) higher than the rDNA content in ASD cases (405 ± 109 copies) and controls (403 ± 86 copies). The HC and A groups did not differ by rDNA copy number (p > 0.4). The genetic trait “rDNA copy number in patient’s genome” can potentially be applied as an additional marker in differential diagnostics of childhood-onset schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorders.
Short-Chain Fatty Acids in Gut–Heart Axis: Their Role in the Pathology of Heart Failure
Authors: Yukino-Iwashita Midori , Nagatomo Yuji , Kawai Akane , Taruoka Akira , Yumita Yusuke , Kagami Kazuki , Yasuda Risako , Toya Takumi , Ikegami Yukinori , Masaki Nobuyuki , Ido Yasuo , Adachi Takeshi
Published: November 2022

Heart failure (HF) is a syndrome with global clinical and socioeconomic burden worldwide owing to its poor prognosis. Accumulating evidence has implicated the possible contribution of gut microbiota-derived metabolites, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), on the pathology of a variety of diseases. The changes of SCFA concentration were reported to be observed in various cardiovascular diseases including HF in experimental animals and humans. HF causes hypoperfusion and/or congestion in the gut, which may lead to lowered production of SCFAs, possibly through the pathological changes of the gut microenvironment including microbiota composition. Recent studies suggest that SCFAs may play a significant role in the pathology of HF, possibly through an agonistic effect on G-protein-coupled receptors, histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibition, restoration of mitochondrial function, amelioration of cardiac inflammatory response, its utilization as an energy source, and remote effect attributable to a protective effect on the other organs. Collectively, in the pathology of HF, SCFAs might play a significant role as a key mediator in the gut–heart axis. However, these possible mechanisms have not been entirely clarified and need further investigation.
Effects of a Cognitive Stimulation Program in Institutionalized Patients with Dementia
Authors: Jiménez-Palomares María , González-López-Arza María Victoria , Garrido-Ardila Elisa María , Montanero-Fernández Jesús , Rodríguez-Domínguez Trinidad , Rodríguez-Mansilla Juan
Published: November 2022

Background: The advances achieved by the available research that focus on understanding memory operation and cognitive functions have helped the development of specific treatment approaches. These can help to maintain or improve the cognitive function and well-being of people with dementia. The use of cognitive stimulation in dementia has a long history. There are multiple studies that have demonstrated its benefits on the cognitive levels of patients with mild to moderate dementia. However, all of the studies on this type of non-pharmacological intervention conclude that there is a need for more clinical trials in order to give more solidity to the evidence already found. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the effects of an occupational therapy cognitive training program on the cognitive function of institutionalized older adults with dementia. Methods: The study was a pilot randomized clinical controlled trial. A total of 58 participants with major neurocognitive disorder or dementia were randomized to the occupational therapy cognitive training program group or to the conventional occupational therapy group twice a week for 5 weeks. The cognitive level was measured with the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS) and the Lobo’s Cognitive Mini Test (LCMT), which is the Mini-Mental Status Examination in Spanish. Measures were taken at baseline (week 0), after 5 weeks of treatment (week 5), and after 6 weeks of follow up (week 12). A value of p < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: There were no statistical differences between groups in the LCMT global scores at baseline or after the intervention at week 5. However, the analysis of the specific cognitive areas assessed in the Lobo’s Cognitive Mini Test indicated that that the intervention group significantly improved comprehension of verbal commands and praxis (p = 0.021). At the follow-up measure, the differences obtained in relation to verbal commands and praxis maintained the statistical differences significantly (p = 0.009). Conclusions: Occupational therapy based on cognitive training shows positive effects on the maintenance of the global cognitive state of institutionalized older adults with dementia and improves significantly the comprehension of verbal commands and praxis.
Detecting the Effect Size of Weather Conditions on Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs)
Authors: Milella Frida , Seveso Andrea , Famiglini Lorenzo , Banfi Giuseppe , Cabitza Federico
Published: November 2022

One of the next frontiers in medical research, particularly in orthopaedic surgery, is personalized treatment outcome prediction. In personalized medicine, treatment choices are adjusted for the patient based on the individual’s and their disease’s distinct features. A high-value and patient-centered health care system requires evaluating results that integrate the patient’s viewpoint. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are widely used to shed light on patients’ perceptions of their health status after an intervention by using validated questionnaires. The aim of this study is to examine whether meteorological or light (night vs. day) conditions affect PROM scores and hence indirectly affect health-related outcomes. We collected scores for PROMs from questionnaires completed by patients (N = 2326) who had undergone hip and knee interventions between June 2017 and May 2020 at the IRCCS Orthopaedic Institute Galeazzi (IOG), Milan, Italy. Nearest neighbour propensity score (PS) matching was applied to ensure the similarity of the groups tested under the different weather-related conditions. The exposure PS was derived through logistic regression. The data were analysed using statistical tests (Student’s t-test and Mann−Whitney U test). According to Cohen’s effect size, weather conditions may affect the scores for PROMs and, indirectly, health-related outcomes via influencing the relative humidity and weather-related conditions. The findings suggest avoiding PROMs’ collection in certain conditions if the odds of outcome-based underperformance are to be minimized. This would ensure a balance between costs for PROMs’ collection and data availability.
Therapeutic Effect of Polymeric Nanomicelles Formulation of LY2157299-Galunisertib on CCl4-Induced Liver Fibrosis in Rats
Authors: Panzarini Elisa , Leporatti Stefano , Tenuzzo Bernardetta , Quarta Alessandra , Hanafy Nemany , Giannelli Gianluigi , Moliterni Camilla , Vardanyan Diana , Sbarigia Carolina , Fidaleo Marco , Tacconi Stefano , Dini Luciana
Published: November 2022

Hepatic fibrosis (HF) is a major cause of liver-related disorders and together with cancer-associated fibroblasts can favor liver cancer development by modulating the tumor microenvironment. Advanced HF, characterized by an excess of extracellular matrix (ECM), is mediated by TGF- β1, that activates hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and fibroblasts. A TGF-β1 receptor inhibitor, LY2157299 or Galunisertib (GLY), has shown promising results against chronic liver progression in animal models, and we show that it can be further improved by enhancing GLYs bioavailability through encapsulation in polymeric polygalacturonic-polyacrylic acid nanomicelles (GLY-NMs). GLY-NMs reduced HF in an in vivo rat model of liver fibrosis induced by intraperitoneal injection of CCl4 as shown by the morphological, biochemical, and molecular biology parameters of normal and fibrotic livers. Moreover, GLY-NM was able to induce recovery from HF better than free GLY. Indeed, the encapsulated drug reduces collagen deposition, hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation, prevents fatty degeneration and restores the correct lobular architecture of the liver as well as normalizes the serum parameters and expression of the genes involved in the onset of HF. In summary, GLY-NM improved the pharmacological activity of the free TGF- β1 inhibitor in the in vivo HF treatment and thus is a candidate as a novel therapeutic strategy.
The Effectiveness of Negative Pressure Therapy: Nursing Approach
Authors: Astasio-Picado Álvaro , Montero María Dolores Murcia , López-Sánchez Miriam , Jurado-Palomo Jesús , Cobos-Moreno Paula , Gómez-Martín Beatriz
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Complex wounds require advanced techniques for their management and care. Wound care costs are high, so healthcare professionals need to be aware of available therapies. Negative pressure therapy is a technology for which more and more data on its effectiveness in complex wounds are being collected. Objective: The objectives of this review were to analyze if the application of negative pressure therapy in complex wounds is effective; to compare the effectiveness of negative pressure therapy with other conventional treatments, as well as its combination with other therapies; and to evaluate the quality of life of patients undergoing negative pressure therapy and collect their main characteristics. Methodology: A bibliographic review focused on articles published between November 2015 and June 2022 was carried out. The following databases were consulted: PubMed (Medline), Google Scholar, Web of Science (WOS), Scielo and Scopus. Results: The most used pressures in the studies coincide at −125 mmHg and in the range of −125 mmHg to −150 mmHg. In the pediatric population, pressure levels vary by age group. A pressure of −75 to −125 mmHg is recommended for children over 12 years of age, and −50 to −75 mmHg is recommended for children under 2 years of age. Conclusions: Negative pressure therapy stands out for its rapid rate of granulation, the prevention and effective treatment of infections, the variety and malleability of dressings, its various applications and the possibility of using it with other therapies to accelerate wound closure.
Adoption of a Digital Patient Health Passport as Part of a Primary Healthcare Service Delivery: Systematic Review
Authors: Tuan Soh Tuan Yuswana , Nik Mohd Rosdy Nik Mohd Mazuan , Mohd Yusof Mohd Yusmiaidil Putera , Azhar Hilmy Syathirah Hanim , Md Sabri Budi Aslinie
Published: November 2022

The utilization of digital personal health records is considered to be appropriate for present-time usage; it is expected to further enhance primary care’s quality-of-service delivery. Despite numerous studies conducted on digital personal health records, efforts in a systematic evaluation of the topic have failed to establish the specific benefits gained by patients, health providers, and healthcare systems. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review regarding the impact of digital personal health records in relation to the delivery of primary care. The review methods included five methodological elements that were directed by the review protocol 2020 (PRISMA). Over a time period of 10 years (2011–2021), 2492 articles were retrieved from various established databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, EBSCO—Medline, and Google Scholar, and based on reference mining. The Mixed Method Appraisal Tool (MMAT) was used for quality appraisal. A thematic analysis was performed to develop the themes in this study. The thematic analysis performed on 13 articles resulted in seven main themes, which were empowering the patient, helping with communication, improving relationships, improving the quality of care, maintaining health records, sharing records, and saving time. We concluded the study by expanding the seven themes into 26 sub-themes, of which each served as answers to our main research question that prompted this systematic review.
Long COVID Syndrome Presenting as Neuropsychiatric Exacerbations in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Insights for Treatment
Authors: Jyonouchi Harumi , Geng Lee , Rossignol Daniel A. , Frye Richard E.
Published: November 2022

COVID-19 causes not only severe respiratory symptoms, but also long-term sequelae, even if the acute-phase symptoms are minor. Neurological and neuropsychiatric symptoms are emerging as major long-term sequalae. In patients with pre-existing behavioral symptoms, such as individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), the emergence of neuropsychiatric symptoms due to long COVID can be difficult to diagnose and manage. Herein, we present three ASD cases who presented with markedly worsening neuropsychiatric symptoms following COVID-19 exposure and subsequent difficulty in managing the post-COVID neuropsychiatric symptoms. Case 1 contracted SARS-CoV-2 during the early stages of the pandemic and treatment targeting COVID-19-induced immune activation was delayed. Case 2 was asymptomatic in the acute stage of a confirmed COVID-19 exposure, but still developed significant neuropsychiatric symptoms. Case 3 demonstrated a difficult course, partly due to pre-existing immune dysregulation and prior use of multiple immunomodulating agents. In cases 1 and 3 for whom serial blood samples were obtained, notable changes in the production of inflammatory and counter-regulatory cytokines by peripheral blood monocytes were observed. The presented cases illustrate the profound effects of COVID-19 on neuropsychiatric symptoms in ASD subjects and the difficulty of managing long-COVID symptoms.
Factors Influencing Self-Management Behaviors among Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Ma Li-Ching , Liu Yueh-Min , Lin Yen-Chung , Liao Chia-Te , Hung Kuo-Chin , Chen Remy , Lu Kuo-Cheng , Ho Kuei-Fang , Zheng Cai-Mei
Published: November 2022

Aim: To investigate the factors affecting hemodialysis patients’ self-management ability at a dialysis center in Taiwan. Background: Taiwan has the highest incidence and prevalence of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in the world. Over 90% of patients with ESKD receiving hemodialysis (HD) and self-management behaviors are critical among these patients. Failure to adhere to self-managed care increases the cost of medical care and the risk of morbidity and mortality. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 150 HD patients were observed for their self-management behaviors and the factors influencing these behaviors including education level, comorbid conditions, biochemical analysis, depression, and social support, etc., were analyzed. Results: Self-management behaviors in HD patients were significantly impaired in the presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, and depression. The major predictor of patients’ self-management was depression, explaining 14.8% of the total variance. Further addition of social support, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus into the regression model increased the total explained variance to 28.6%. Of the various domains of self-management, the partnership domain received the highest score, whereas emotional processing received the lowest score. Conclusions: This study found the important factors influencing self-management behaviors; through this acknowledgement and early correction of these factors, we hope to improve HD patients’ individual life quality and further decrease their morbidity and mortality.
Challenges in Management of Diabetic Patient on Dialysis
Authors: Eldehni Mohamed T. , Crowley Lisa E. , Selby Nicholas M.
Published: November 2022

Diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of end-stage kidney disease in many countries. The management of diabetic patients who receive dialysis can be challenging. Diabetic dialysis patients have higher rates of cardiovascular events and mortality due to metabolic factors and accelerated vascular calcification. Diabetic haemodialysis patients have high rates of haemodynamic instability which leads to organ ischaemia and end organ damage; autonomic dysfunction seems to play an important role in haemodynamic instability and abnormal organ perfusion during haemodialysis. Poor glycaemic control contributes to fluid overload and worse cardiovascular outcome. Xerostomia and thirst are the main drivers for fluid overload in haemodialysis patients and in peritoneal dialysis a chronic state of hyperhydration that is related to absorption of glucose from the PD fluids, protein loss and malnutrition contributes to fluid overload. Glycaemic control is of great importance and adjustments to diabetic agents are required. In haemodialysis, a reduction in insulin dose is recommended to avoid hypoglycaemia whereas in peritoneal dialysis an increase in insulin dose is often required. Foot ulcers and infection are more common in diabetic dialysis patients compared to non-diabetic dialysis patients or diabetic patients with normal renal function and regular surveillance for early identification is important. Ultimately, a multi-disciplinary approach which includes diabetologist, nephrologist, dietitians, microbiologist, vascular surgeon, interventional radiologist is required to address the complicated aspects of diabetic patient care on dialysis.
An Empirical Analysis of the Role of Forage Product Trade on Grassland Quality and Livestock Production in China
Authors: Guo Zhichao , Qin Feiyu
Published: November 2022

The restoration of grassland ecosystems and the development of the livestock industry in China are constrained by a gap in livestock feed supply and demand. The importation of forage products, as an important means to bridge this feed gap, deserves attention for its relationship with grassland quality and livestock production. This paper empirically examines the relationship between forage products trade and grassland quality, as well as livestock production. The paper uses a cointegration test and error correction model based on data on forage product trade, grassland quality, and livestock production in seven livestock-type regions from 2006 to 2020. The results show that forage product trade has a long-term stable equilibrium relationship with grassland quality in China. The relationships between forage product trade and livestock production in different livestock-type regions are heterogeneous. Among these heterogeneous results, livestock production in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau region, Loess Plateau Region, Southwest Mountain Region, and Northeast Region are closely related to forage product trade. It appears that importation of feed reduces pressure on natural grasslands, as well as providing high-quality feed that improves livestock production. The above findings can help explain the characteristics of livestock production in different livestock-type regions in China, as well as provide empirical evidence and new ideas for restoring grassland environments and developing herbivorous animal husbandry.
Does Job Accessibility Matter in the Suburbs? Black Suburbia, Job Accessibility, and Employment Outcomes
Authors: Eom Hyunjoo
Published: November 2022

The spatial mismatch hypothesis of John Kain proposes that geographic separation between residential locations and jobs creates a spatial barrier in accessing job opportunities, which has a negative impact on labor market outcomes. A key hypothesis is that Black populations have limited accessibility to suburban job opportunities due to residential segregation in the city, resulting in lower employment and earnings. However, the spatial structure of the U.S. metropolitan area has changed since then, with increased polycentric employment growth and Black suburbanization. This challenges Kain’s original hypothesis that residential segregation in the city creates a spatial barrier in accessing jobs. The spatial pattern of mismatch has changed and demonstrates a mismatch between Black suburbs and suburban jobs. Then, what role does job accessibility play in the change in the spatial pattern of mismatch? Does job accessibility continue to matter in the suburbs? Or, are there other more important neighborhood characteristics affecting labor market outcomes? The findings demonstrate that job accessibility remains closely associated with Black labor market outcomes. In Chicago, job accessibility has higher marginal effects on Black employment, especially in predominantly Black neighborhoods. However, in Atlanta, where a majority of the Black population lives in the suburbs, having a higher percentage of Black residents in the neighborhood negates the effects of job accessibility. Instead, the share of Black residents becomes a more significant factor in employment. The findings demonstrate that the effect of job accessibility varies by the spatial pattern of mismatch. Job accessibility becomes less important in highly segregated suburbs, but the share of Black residents matters more in labor market outcomes. In metropolitan areas with the traditional mismatch pattern, job accessibility is significantly associated with employment and earnings, especially in neighborhoods where the majority of the Black population remains segregated in the city.
Emotion Processing in a Highly Proficient Multilingual Sub-Saharan African Population: A Quantitative and Qualitative Investigation
Authors: Basnight-Brown Dana M. , Ayoob Asiya , Altarriba Jeanette
Published: November 2022

Research using traditional experimental paradigms (e.g., Priming, Stroop and Simon tasks), narratives and interview type data have revealed that bilingual speakers process and express emotion differently in their two languages. In the current study, both a qualitative and quantitative approach were taken to investigate how individuals who know and regularly use several languages process emotion in each of their languages. In Experiment 1, emotional stimuli in the L2 and L3 was quantitatively investigated using an Affective Simon Task. Participants consisted of Sub-Saharan African multilinguals who had acquired Kiswahili (L2) after their mother tongue (L1), followed by English (L3). The results revealed no difference in the way emotion and emotion-laden words were processed in the two languages (Kiswahili and English). However, significant Affective Simon Effects emerged for positive emotion and emotion-laden words, suggesting that these multilinguals largely process positive emotions in their L2 and L3. In Experiment 2, narrative data generated by multilinguals was used to determine how language selection was influenced by context and type of emotional situation. Themes that emerged within the qualitative analysis revealed that one’s L1 was the more emotional language when expressing negative emotions, while the L2 and L3 were reported to be used more frequently when expressing positive emotions, or when discussing more sensitive or embarrassing topics.
Do Girls Outperform Boys in Early Syntactic Development? Negative Evidence from Mandarin-Speaking Preschoolers
Authors: Tong Nga-Yui , Li Hui
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to verify the sex differences seen in our previous study on early syntactic development among Cantonese-speaking children with the same corpus design but a different Chinese language: Mandarin. The utterances produced during half-hour play activities by 192 Beijing children, ranging from 3 to 6 years, were collected in the Early Child Mandarin Corpus and analyzed in this study. Their syntactic development was measured in terms of mean length of utterance (MLU), sentence type and structure, syntactic complexity, and verb pattern. The statistical analyses indicated significant age differences in MLU, sentence types and structures, and syntactic complexity. However, no sex or age-by-sex differences in MLU were found. This negative evidence indicates that sex difference is neither universal nor cross-language. The implications for early childhood education and future studies are discussed.
Long-Term Anatomical and Hearing Outcomes of Canal Wall down Tympanoplasty for Tympano-Mastoid Cholesteatoma: A 20-Year Retrospective Study
Authors: Ferlito Salvatore , La Mantia Ignazio , Merlino Federico , Cocuzza Salvatore , Di Stadio Arianna , Cammaroto Giovanni , Bartel Ricardo , Fadda Gianluca , Iannella Giannicola , Mat Quentin , Gargula Stéphane , Michel Justin , Fakhry Nicolas , Maniaci Antonino
Published: November 2022

Background: to evaluate the residual rate and the functional results after ten years from canal wall down tympanoplasty (CWD) for tympano-mastoid cholesteatoma. Methods: All the patients undergoing CWD for chronic otitis media with cholesteatoma at our ENT University Department between January 2002 and December 2022 were initially assessed. We performed clinical and diagnostic evaluation at baseline, 6 months, and then every year until an average follow-up of 10 years was obtained. Patients were consequently divided into two groups according to the presence (group A) or absence (group B) of the stapes superstructure. Results: After the selection process, 176 ears were included. The presence of the stapes superstructure was associated with better hearing outcomes (rate of patients < 30 dB) at 6 months (91.42% vs. 74.46%; p = 0.001) and 10 years (74.46% vs. 24.11%; p < 0.001). Residual cholesteatoma was reported in 10 ears, which included 2/35 ears in group A (5.71 %) and 8/141 in group B (5.67 %) (p = 0.993). The recurrent cholesteatoma rate was respectively 1/35 (2.85%) vs. 3/141 (2.18%) (p = 0.516). Conclusions: the CWD approach to cholesteatoma allows for effective long-term anatomical disease control and good hearing results when the stapes superstructure is preserved.
Micrococcus porci sp. nov., Isolated from Feces of Black Pig (Sus scrofa)
Authors: Lee Ai-Yun , Chen Chia-Hsuan , Liou Jong-Shian , Lin Yu-Chun , Hamada Moriyuki , Wang Yu-Ting , Peng Lin-Liang , Chang Shen-Chang , Chen Chih-Chieh , Lin Chuen-Fu , Huang Lina , Huang Chien-Hsun
Published: November 2022

An aerobic bacterium, designated as strain KD337-16T, was isolated from the fecal samples of a black pig. It exhibited spherical, non-motile and non–spore-forming, Gram-positive cells. KD337-16T was identified as a member of the genus Micrococcus through 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and its closest relatives were found to be Micrococcus endophyticus YIM 56238T (99.5% similarity), Micrococcus luteus NCTC 2665T (99.1%), Micrococcus yunnanensis YIM 65004T (99.1%), Micrococcus aloeverae AE-6T (99.1%), Micrococcus antarcticus T2T (98.9%), and Micrococcus flavus LW4T (98.7%). Phylogenomic trees were constructed, and strain KD337-16T was found to form its own cluster as an independent lineage of M. flavus LW4T. Between KD337-16T and its close relatives, the average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity, and digital DNA–DNA hybridization were below the respective species delineation thresholds at 82.1–86.6%, 78.1–86.1%, and 24.4–34.9%. The major cellular fatty acids and polar lipids were anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0, and DPG and PG, respectively. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8(H2). Taken together, the results indicate that strain KD337-16T is a novel species of the genus Micrococcus, for which the name Micrococcus porci sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KD337-16T (=BCRC 81318T = NBRC 115578T).
Antibiofilm Potential and Exoenzyme Inhibition by Elattaria cardamomum Essential Oil in Candida spp. Strains
Authors: Noumi Emira , Alshammari Ghada Salamah , Zmantar Tarek , Bazaid Abdulrahman S. , Alabbosh Khulood Fahad , Elasbali Abdelbaset Mohamed , Abu Al-Soud Waleed , Ghazi Alrashidi Sami , Snoussi Mejdi
Published: November 2022

Fungal infections caused by Candida species have attracted great interest due to their resistance to commercial antifungal agents. Essential oils from aromatic and medicinal plants have many bioactive compounds that are known for their important biological activities, mainly their antimicrobial effects. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the antifungal ability of Elettaria cardamomum essential oil (EO) against different clinical Candida isolates. Then, we investigated the anti-phospholipase, anti-protease, and anti-biofilm activity of E. cardamomum EO against the selected isolates. Twenty-four Candida strains (clinical and reference) were tested for virulence factors such as biofilm formation, protease, and phospholipase activity. The minimum inhibitory (MIC) and fungicidal (MFC) concentrations of E. cardamomum were determined, and their effects were tested against all Candida strains. Our results revealed that E. cardamomum EO was rich in α-terpinyl acetate (56.5%), limonene (12.6%), and mentha-2.4(8)-diene (7.65%). The tested EO showed activity against all tested Candida strains in their planktonic form and against exoenzymes and biofilm production. Based on our findings, we promote the use of E. cardamomum EO as a treatment against clinical Candida isolates active on the virulence factors of this fungus.
In Vitro Multiplication and Cryopreservation of Penthorum chinense Shoot Tips
Authors: Zilani Rabbi A. K. M. , Lee Hyoeun , Popova Elena , Kim Haenghoon
Published: November 2022

This study provides alternative approaches toward ex situ conservation by means of in vitro seed germination and the multiplication of Penthorum chinense Pursh using nodal explants. An overlay of a liquid medium on top of a gelled medium significantly increased the growth of shoots and roots, while the presence of activated charcoal or growth regulators (benzyl adenine and α-naphthaleneacetic acid) decreased the growth. Shoot tips of in vitro plantlets were cryopreserved using a droplet-vitrification method. The standard procedure included preculture with 10% sucrose for 31 h and with 17.5% sucrose for 17 h, osmoprotection with loading solution C4-35% (17.5% glycerol + 17.5% sucrose, w/v) for 20 min, cryoprotection with alternative plant vitrification solution (PVS) A3-70% (29.2% glycerol + 11.7% DMSO + 11.7% EG + 17.4% sucrose, w/v) at 0 °C for 30 min, cooling the samples in liquid nitrogen using aluminum foil strips and rewarming by plunging into pre-heated (40 °C) unloading solution (35% sucrose) for 40 min. A three-step regrowth procedure starting with ammonium-free medium followed by ammonium-containing medium with and without growth regulators was essential for the regeneration of cryopreserved shoot tips. The species was found to be very sensitive to the chemical cytotoxicity of permeating cryoprotectants during cryoprotection and to ammonium-induced oxidant stress during initial regrowth steps. Improvement of donor plant vigor by using apical sections and liquid overlay on top of the solid medium for propagation, improved shoot tip tolerance to osmotic stress and increased post-cryopreservation regeneration up to 64% were observed following PVS B5-85% (42.5% glycerol + 42.5% sucrose) treatment for 60 min. The systematic approach used in this study enables fast optimization of the in vitro growth and cryopreservation procedure for a new stress-sensitive wild plant species.
Active Biomolecules from Vegetable Extracts with Antitumoral Activity against Pancreas Cancer: A Systematic Review (2011–2021)
Authors: Mesas Cristina , Quiñonero Francisco , Doello Kevin , Revueltas José L. , Perazzoli Gloria , Cabeza Laura , Prados Jose , Melguizo Consolación
Published: November 2022

The emergence of resistance to pancreatic cancer (PC) current treatment requires the development of new therapeutic strategies. In this context, bioactive molecules from plant extracts have shown excellent properties to improve classical therapy against this type of tumor. This systematic review aims to collect all the in vitro studies related to the antiproliferative activity of isolated plant molecules that support their applicability in PC. A total of 620 articles published in the last 10 years were identified, although only 28 were finally included to meet the inclusion criteria. Our results reflect the most important biomolecules from natural compounds that induce cell death in PC and their essential mechanism of cell death, including apoptosis, pathways activated by the KRAS mutation and cycle cell arrest, among others. These in vitro studies provide an excellent molecule guide showing applications against PC and that should be tested in vivo and in clinical trials to determine their usefulness to reduce PC incidence and to improve the prognosis of these patients. However, natural compounds are isolated in small amounts, which prevents comprehensive drug screening, being necessary the role of organic synthesis for the total synthesis of natural compounds or for the synthesis of their simplified and bioactive analogs.
Synergistic Anti-Tumor Effect of Palmitoylcarnitine and Dasatinib in Liver Cancer
Authors: Singh Ragini , Cheng Shuang , Zeng Qinghua , Kumar Santosh , Marques Carlos
Published: November 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third major cause of cancer-related death worldwide and responds positively to tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs). Dasatinib (Das) is an Src/Abl family kinase and has been successfully utilized in the treatment of various cancers. Cancer cells are known to limit their oxidative phosphorylation to minimize oxidative stress. Palmitoylcarnitine (Pcar) incubation triggers mitochondria-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells by increasing the mitochondrial respiration rate. It stimulates the H2O2 production in cancer cells and thus induces oxidative stress. Thus, considering the above observations, the combined effect of Pcar and Das on HepG2, liver cancer cells has been evaluated in the present study. Results demonstrated that combined exposure to Pcar and dasatinib inhibited cell growth, proliferation, and invasion efficiency of cancerous cells more than single-drug treatment. Further, cells undergo membrane depolarization and caspase-dependent apoptosis upon exposure to combined treatment. In addition, in vivo study showed that Pcar and dasatinib treatment reduced the tumor size in mice more significantly than single-drug treatment. Thus, considering the above remarks, combined therapy of Pcar and dasatinib may serve as a potential candidate in the treatment of liver cancer in human and animal tissues.
Effect of Contact Conformity on Grease Lubrication
Authors: Okal Michal , Kostal David , Sperka Petr , Krupka Ivan , Hartl Martin
Published: November 2022

This work focused on the experimental study of grease lubrication mechanisms around contacts in radial ball bearing 6314. The main objective of this work was to show the influence of conformities and their impact on grease lubrication in ball bearings. For the experiments, a tribometer of ball-on-ring configuration was used and fluorescence microscopy was chosen as the observation method. The results showed that, under starvation conditions, a conformity of 0.52 at velocities around 2 m/s produces a 50% thicker lubricating film than a conformity of 0.58. The available amount of lubricant around the contact area for conformity 0.52 was approximately three times less than that for conformity 0.58, and the same ratio was observed for the amount of lubricant on the rolling track. Experiments show that a realistic tribometer geometry allows a more accurate experimental study of the lubrication mechanisms of greases in ball bearings.
2-(Cyclopropylamino)-5-(4-methoxybenzylidene)thiazol-4(5H)-one
Authors: Sydorenko Ivan , Holota Serhii , Lozynskyi Andrii , Konechnyi Yulian , Horishny Volodymyr , Karkhut Andriy , Polovkovych Svyatoslav , Karpenko Olexandr , Lesyk Roman
Published: November 2022

Multicomponent reactions effectively contribute to modern organic and medicinal chemistry. 4-Thiazolidinone core and cyclopropyl moiety are important structural motifs for design of potential biologically active molecules. In the present paper, the convenient step-economy and cost-effective synthesis of 2-(cyclopropylamino)-5-(4-methoxybenzylidene)thiazol-4(5H)-one (2) is described based on the application of the MCR methodology. The proposed approach includes direct one-pot interaction of 2-thioxothiazolidin-4-one (rhodanine), 4-methoxybenzaldehyde with cyclopropylamine which was used in 10% excess compare to other reagents. The structure of synthesized compound 2 was confirmed using 1H, 13C, 2D NMR, LC-MS, IR and UV spectra. The presence of prototropic amino/imino tautomerism for synthesized compound 2 was observed based on spectral analysis data. Screening of antimicrobial activity against 12 strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as yeasts, was performed for synthesized derivative 2.
Design and Implementation of a Wire Rope Climbing Robot for Sluices
Authors: Fang Guisheng , Cheng Jinfeng
Published: November 2022

Regular maintenance of wire rope is considered the key to ensuring the safe operation of a sluice gate. Along these lines, in this work, a six-wheeled wire rope climbing robot was proposed, which can carry cleaning and maintenance tools for online cleaning and safety inspection of the sluice wire rope, without its disassembly. The developed climbing robot is composed of separable driving and driven trolleys. It adopts the spring clamping mechanism and the wheeled movement method. Thus, it can easily adapt to the narrow working environment and different diameter ranges of the sluice wire rope. In addition, the designed six-wheeled wire rope climbing robot not only possesses a simple structure, simple control, and stable climbing speed, which are typical characteristics of wheeled climbing robots, but also a large contact area with objects and small wheel deformation, which are typical characteristics of crawler climbing robots. Structural design and mechanical analysis were also carried out, with the fabrication of a prototype robot system called WRR-II. From the acquired experimental results of the prototype’s climbing speed test, load capacity test, climbing adaptability test, and obstacle-negotiation ability test, the rationality and feasibility of the designed climbing robot scheme were verified.
Oxygen Deficiency and Migration-Mediated Electric Polarization in Magnetic Fe,Co-Substituted SrTiO3−δ
Authors: Cortés Estay Emilio A. , Ong Shyue P. , Ross Caroline A. , Florez Juan M.
Published: November 2022

We use density functional theory (DFT) calculations to show that oxygen vacancies (vO) and mobility induce noncentrosymmetric polar structures in SrTi1−x−yFexCoyO3−δ (STFC, x=y=0.125) with δ={0.125,0.25}, enhance the saturation magnetization, and give rise to large changes in the electric polarization |ΔP|. We present an intuitive set of rules to describe the properties of STFC, which are based on the interplay between (Co/Fe)-vO defects, magnetic cation coordination, and topological vacancy disorder. STFC structures consist of layered crystals with sheets of linearly organized O4,5,6-coordinated Fe–Co pairs, sandwiched with layers of O5-coordinated Ti. (Co/Fe)-vO defects are the source of crystal distortions, cation off-centering and bending of the oxygen octahedra which, considering the charge redistribution mediated by vO and the cations’ electronegativity and valence states, triggers an effective electric polarization. Oxygen migration for δ=0.125 leads to |ΔP|>∼10 µC/cm2 due to quantum-of-polarization differences between δ=0.125 structures. Increasing the oxygen deficiency to δ=0.25 yields |ΔP|, the O migration of which resolved polarization for δ=0.25 is >∼3 µC/cm2. Magnetism is dominated by the Fe,Co spin states for δ=0.125, and there is a contribution from Ti magnetic moments (∼1 μB) for δ=0.25. Magnetic and electric order parameters change for variations of δ or oxygen migration for a given oxygen deficiency. Our results capture characteristics observed in the end members of the series SrTi(Co,Fe)O3, and suggest the existence of a broader set of rules for oxygen-deficient multiferroic oxides.