bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEARNING STRATEGIES AND MOTIVATION OF DISTANCE LEARNERS
Authors: Ikram Hamid , Perveen Shahnaz , Javed Hafsa
Published: June 2021

Purpose of the study: The study aimed to discover the learning strategies of distance learners and their relationship with their intrinsic and extrinsic motivation.

Methodology: The study followed a quantitative correlational research design. The study sample comprised 550 female and male students enrolled as distance learners at the university level. The tool of learning strategies MSLQ was adopted from Pintrich et al. (1991) and the scale of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation was adopted from Lepper et al. (2005). The data were analyzed through descriptive and inferential statistical techniques.

Main Findings: The findings of the inquiry concluded that the learning strategies of distance learners were directly associated with both intrinsic and extrinsic motivations.

Applications of this study: This study is applicable to assess the intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of distance learners enrolled at the university level. Moreover, this study is helpful to understand the relationship between the motivation of learners and their learning styles.

Novelty/Originality of this study: Much of the research work has been done in the mainstream education sector, but there is a shortage of empirical data on the relationship between the learning styles of distance learners and their motivation. Thus, this research could be a torchbearer in this area.
REFLECTIONS ON POETIC MODELS OF ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE: AN ANALYSIS OF VAN DE VAN’S TYPOLOGY IN LITERARY, LINGUISTIC, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND MANAGERIAL PERSPECTIVE
Authors: Ali Ayesha
Published: June 2021

Purpose of the study: This article is an attempt to reflect on and locate similarities and develop synchronicity between the fields of organizational change, management, psychology, language, and literature. The reflective learning takes place through reflective practice conducted on literature and organizations to generate new knowledge and ways to comprehend and deal with issues. Thus, the rationale for uniting contributions of management and English can be logically found in the processes of nature and human life. Methodology: This article is based on rational reasoning and critical analytic comparisons that aptly explain that the four models of organizational change are not new rather proclaimed in poetic expressions several years or a century ago. Main Findings: The organizational models of change are reflected in literature which has explained how Management by Objectives, organization as systems, mechanistic and organic organizations work and how they can be maneuvered towards increasing organizational productivity and performance. Applications of this study: This inquiry shall help further examination of various fields to develop new management concepts through bargain and borrowing. Novelty/Originality of this study: This article, through reasoning and analysis, has developed four life like models i.e., Miltonic, Frostian, Shelleyan, and Eliotic models of organizational change which seem to be preceding the current existing theories on teleological, life cycle, evolutionary and dialectical models of organizational change.
Why do pharmacists leave the profession? A mixed-method exploratory study
Authors: Aspden Trudi J. , Silwal Pushkar R. , Marowa Munyaradzi , Ponton Rhys
Published: June 2021

Background: Recent New Zealand policy documents aim for pharmacists to be retained, and promote the provision of extended clinical pharmacy services. However, younger pharmacists have expressed dissatisfaction with the profession on informal social for a.

Objectives: To explore the characteristics, and perspectives of pharmacy as a career, of recent Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm, four-year degree) graduates who have left, or are seriously considering leaving the New Zealand pharmacy profession in the near future and where they have gone, or plan to go.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study with a mixed-method explanatory sequential design. An anonymous online survey among those who completed their pharmacy undergraduate degree (BPharm or equivalent) in 2003 or later and who had left or who were seriously considering leaving the New Zealand pharmacy profession in the next five years, was open from 1st December 2018 to 1st February 2019. Recruitment occurred via University alumni databases, pharmacy professional organisations, pharmaceutical print media, social media and word-of-mouth. Ten semi-structured interviews were then conducted with a purposive sample of survey respondents. Descriptive statistics were generated from the quantitative data and qualitative data were analysed using manifest content analysis.

Results: We received 327 analysable surveys of which 40.4% (n=132) were from those who had already left the New Zealand pharmacy sector at the time of the data collection and the rest (59.6% n=195) were those working within the sector, but seriously considering leaving the profession. Reasons most commonly reported for studying pharmacy were having an interest in health and wanting to work with people. The most common reasons for leaving, or wanting to leave, were dissatisfaction with the professional environment, including inadequate remuneration, and a perceived lack of career pathways or promotion opportunities. A wide range of career destinations were declared, with medicine being most frequently reported.

Conclusions: Most of the reasons for leaving/considering leaving the profession reported relate to the values and features of the pharmacy profession such as the professional environment, remuneration and career pathways. These findings are consistent with other studies and may represent a barrier to achieving the aims of recent health policy documents.
Solidarismo y contratos relacionales: alternativas frente a la pandemia de covid-19
Authors: Bauer Thea Christine , Bernal Mariana
Published: June 2021

Los efectos de la pandemia han evidenciado la insuficiencia de herramientas jurídicas como la fuerza mayor o la imprevisión para hacer frente a las diversas dificultades que enfrentan los contratantes por circunstancias extraordinarias posteriores a la celebración de los acuerdos, más allá de la imposibilidad de cumplimiento o la excesiva onerosidad prestacional. Este artículo pretende analizar aproximaciones diferentes que puedan dar luces para encontrar una salida que tenga como norte una mayor justicia contractual, tales como la doctrina del solidarismo contractual y la teoría de los contratos relacionales.
Pluralidad de causantes de un mismo daño. Régimen jurídico aplicable en Chile
Authors: Mendoza-Alonzo Pamela
Published: June 2021

El objetivo de esta investigación es configurar el estatuto jurídico aplicable en Chile en el caso de que haya más de un causante de un mismo daño. Así, hemos tenido presentes principalmente la ley, la doctrina y la jurisprudencia chilenas, sin perjuicio de servirnos del derecho comparado como referencia. Concluimos que existe una estrecha interrelación entre los artículos 1511 y 2317 del código civil chileno, lo que impide interpretar de manera extensiva la solidaridad a otros supuestos de concurrencia causal que no se enmarquen en el artículo 2317 del código civil, por lo que proponemos algunos criterios para su delimitación.
Methods of massive parallel reporter assays for investigation of enhancers
Authors: Romanov S. E. , Kalashnikova D. A. , Laktionov P. P.
Published: June 2021

The correct deployment of genetic programs for development and differentiation relies on finely coordinated regulation of specific gene sets. Genomic regulatory elements play an exceptional role in this process. There are few types of gene regulatory elements, including promoters, enhancers, insulators and silencers. Alterations of gene regulatory elements may cause various pathologies, including cancer, congenital disorders and autoimmune diseases. The development of high-throughput genomic assays has made it possible to significantly accelerate the accumulation of information about the characteristic epigenetic properties of regulatory elements. In combination with high-throughput studies focused on the genome-wide distribution of epigenetic marks, regulatory proteins and the spatial structure of chromatin, this significantly expands the understanding of the principles of epigenetic regulation of genes and allows potential regulatory elements to be searched for in silico. However, common experimental approaches used to study the local characteristics of chromatin have a number of technical limitations that may reduce the reliability of computational identification of genomic regulatory sequences. Taking into account the variability of the functions of epigenetic determinants and complex multicomponent regulation of genomic elements activity, their functional verification is often required. A plethora of methods have been developed to study the functional role of regulatory elements on the genome scale. Common experimental approaches for in silico identification of regulatory elements and their inherent technical limitations will be described. The present review is focused on original high-throughput methods of enhancer activity reporter analysis that are currently used to validate predicted regulatory elements and to perform de novo searches. The methods described allow assessing the functional role of the nucleotide sequence of a regulatory element, to determine its exact boundaries and to assess the influence of the local state of chromatin on the activity of enhancers and gene expression. These approaches have contributed substantially to the understanding of the fundamental principles of gene regulation.
Seasonal pit heat storages - guidelines for material and construction
Authors: Jensen Morten Vang , Nielsen Jan Erik
Published: June 2021

Guidelines for design of seasonal pit heat storages.
Financial Inclusion Disclosure: Empirical Evidence From Banking Industry Of Bangladesh
Authors: Das Shaily
Published: June 2021

Financial inclusion refers to the procedure of making financial services accessible to all individuals and businesses at reasonable costs. Financial inclusion strives to address the constraints that retard people from participating in the financial sector. It has been drawn much attention for its contribution to economic and commercial development, raising inclusive growth, minimizing income inequality all over the world, especially in developing countries like Bangladesh. Central Bank of Bangladesh (Bangladesh Bank) formulated a financial inclusion policy in 2009 intending to make banking services available to unbanked people. This study examines the Financial Inclusion Disclosure by 30 Banks (5 state-owned banks and 25 private commercial banks) of Bangladesh, which are listed in the Dhaka Stock Exchange during the period 2015-2019. The objective of the study is to analyze the activities of the banking sector of Bangladesh for making banking services available to unbanked people. For that purpose, annual reports of the selected banks have been studied, and findings are demonstrated through graphs. According to the study findings, priority areas of financial inclusion include school banking, agent banking, street children account,10 taka farmers account, SME financing, rural credit, women entrepreneur loan, etc.  This study also shows the prospects of financial inclusion, financial inclusion issues that are highly emphasized, barriers to financial inclusion, and initiatives needed to overcome these barriers.  This study findings depict that the financial inclusion performance of state-owned banks of Bangladesh is relatively better than those of private commercial banks, and inclusion actions are increasing with time. Policymakers might use these findings and also the banks to ensure no eligible person remains unbanked.

 

Keywords: Bangladesh Bank; disclosure; financial inclusion; unbanked people
Exchange Sex and Condom Use Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Who Use Social and Sexual Networking Technologies
Authors: Meunier Étienne , Cai Xiang , Bamonte Anthony , Callander Denton , Schrimshaw Eric W.
Published: June 2021

The practice of sex work or exchange sex (having sex in exchange for money, drugs, shelter, or other things) and the risks for HIV and sexually transmissible infections (STIs) associated with it differ based on the venues where partners meet (e.g., streets, agencies, or the Internet). Although there is evidence that gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM) use social media and dating/hookup applications and websites to find exchange sex, little is known about this phenomenon. We used online survey data collected among MSM in New York City recruited through social/sexual networking technologies to learn more about the practice of exchange sex in this population. Overall, 28.8% of participants had ever exchanged (sold) sex, including 8.4% who had done so in the prior three months. Almost half (46.4%) of those who had ever exchanged sex had met their first client through a social/sexual networking app/website (that was not a website dedicated to sex work), and the majority (88%) of those who had exchanged sex in the prior three months had done so with a client met through these technologies. In multivariable analyses, those who had exchanged sex in the prior three months reported at least twice the number of condomless anal sex partners in that period (compared to those who never exchanged sex) after controlling for covariates (incidence-rate ratio [IRR] = 2.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.52–2.84). Social/sexual networking technologies are important venues for finding exchange sex among MSM, a practice that may present high risk for HIV and/or STI transmission.
Vernacular Resilience: An Approach to Studying Long-Term Social Practices and Cultural Repertoires of Resilience in Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo
Authors: Wandji Dieunedort , Allouch Jeremy , Marchais Gauthier
Published: June 2021

This working paper aims to situate our research project within the various debates around resilience. It advocates a historical, cultural and plural approach to understanding how communities develop and share resilient practices in contexts of multiple and protracted crises. A focus on ‘vernacular’ resilience, as embedded in social practices and cultural repertoires, is important since conventional approaches to resilience seem to have overlooked how locally embedded forms of resilience are socially constructed historically. Our approach results from a combination of two observations. Firstly, conventional approaches to resilience in development, humanitarian and peace studies carry the limitations of their own epistemic assumptions – notably the fact that they have generic conceptions of what constitutes resilience. Secondly, these approaches are often ahistorical and neglect the temporal and intergenerational dimensions of repertoires of resilience. In addition to observable social practices, culture and history are crucial in understanding the ways in which vernacular and networked knowledge operates.
Analysis of Community Preparedness Facing Erosion Disaster in Sambas Regency
Authors: Wulandari Fajar
Published: June 2021

This research was conducted to analyze the community's preparedness in the face of erosion in Sambas Regency, which is erosion caused by filing by river water. This research is a mixed methods research. This mixed research combines qualitative research and quantitative research, with a sample of people living in riverbank areas. The head of the local household was also asked for information on preparedness to face erosion disasters. The results of the research on community preparedness for erosion in Sambas District were based on the researchers' view that the community was not ready, people who had filled out the new research questionnaire were about 15% out of 100% who were ready. The results of interviews with residents indicated that there was no counselling, training on this preparedness was also one of the causes of the low level of community preparedness.
Community Vulnerability Levels in The Coastal Area of Pariaman Beach in Facing Earthquake Disasters
Authors: Alfi Muhammad , Edwar Edwar , Zairin Zairin , Karman Warsa Sugandi , Suhendro Suhendro
Published: June 2021

This study aims to obtain data, process, analyze and discuss the Community Vulnerability in the Coastal Areas of Pariaman City in Earthquake Disaster Mitigation. This type of research is descriptive qualitative. The population in this study are villages along the coast of Pariaman. Total population of 1117 households (KK). Sampling of respondents based on Proposional Random Sampling, namely 10% of the total population, so that the respondents totaled 117 people. Data collection techniques using questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive qualitative data analysis used frequency and percentage tables. The results of this study indicate the level of community vulnerability in the coastal area of Pariaman in earthquake mitigation shows a high vulnerability category. The general public must always be given outreach on a regular basis to be able to understand about knowledge before a disaster, during a disaster and after a disaster.
Diferenciales en desarrollo infantil temprano por edad de la madre, Encuesta Nacional de Niños, Niñas y Mujeres 2015
Authors: Hubert Celia , Villalobos Aremis , Armendares Nathalie , Vázquez-Salas Argelia
Published: June 2021

Objetivo. Determinar el estado de salud, bienestar, desa­rrollo infantil temprano (DIT) de los niños y niñas menores de cinco años y su asociación con la edad de la madre. Material y métodos. Utilizando la Encuesta Nacional de Niños, Niñas y Mujeres 2015, se compararon características sociodemográficas e indicadores de bienestar, DIT, nutrición, salud y protección infantil por edad de la madre. Se ajustó un modelo de regresión logística para conocer las características asociadas con el DIT adecuado. Resultados. Los hijos/as de madres adolescentes presentan menores posibilidades de DIT adecuado. El apoyo al aprendizaje incrementa casi tres veces las posibilidades de desarrollo adecuado; ser hombre e hijo o hija de madres con sintomatología depresiva reduce estas posibilidades. Conclusiones. Es importante dise­ñar políticas públicas basadas en condiciones modificables focalizadas en apoyo al aprendizaje, prevención y atención de sintomatología depresiva para disminuir riesgos para el desarrollo e incrementar la atención a los hijos/as de madres en condiciones de desventaja.
Prognosis values of modified Lauren classification in gastric cancer: a validation from SEER database
Authors: Ning Feilong , Zhang Nannan , Wang Jun , Jin Yifeng , Quan Hongguang , Pei Junpeng , Zhao Yan , Zeng Xiantao , Abe Masanobu , Zhang Chundong
Published: June 2021

Background: It remains controversial as to which pathological classification is most valuable in predicting overall survival (OS) in patients with gastric cancer (GC). We assessed the prognostic performances of three pathological classifications in GC and developed a novel prognostic nomogram individually predicting OS. Methods: Patients were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the independent prognostic factors. Model discrimination and model-fitting were evaluated by receiver operating characteristic curves and Akaike information criteria. Decision curve analysis was performed to assess clinical usefulness. The independent prognostic factors identified by multivariate analysis were further applied to develop a novel prognostic nomogram. Results: A total of 2,718 eligible GC patients were identified. The modified Lauren classification was identified as one of the independent prognostic factors of OS. It showed superior model discriminative ability and model-fitting performance over the other pathological classifications, and similar results were obtained in various patient settings. In addition, it showed superior net benefits over the Lauren classification and tumor differentiation grade in predicting 3- and 5-year OS. A novel prognostic nomogram incorporating the modified Lauren classification showed superior model discriminative ability, model-fitting performance, and net benefits over the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 8th Edition TNM classification. Conclusion: The modified Lauren classification showed superior net benefits over the Lauren classification and tumor differentiation grade in predicting OS. A novel prognostic nomogram incorporating the modified Lauren classification showed good model discriminative ability, model-fitting performance, and net benefits.
Detection and classification of unilateral cleft alveolus with and without cleft palate on panoramic radiographs using a deep learning system
Authors: Kuwada Chiaki , Ariji Yoshiko , Fukuda Motoki , Kuwada Tsutomu , Gotoh Kenichi , Ariji Eiichiro
Published: June 2021

Although panoramic radiography has a role in the examination of patients with cleft alveolus (CA), its appearances is sometimes difficult to interpret. The aims of the present study were to develop a computer-aided diagnosis system for diagnosing the CA status on panoramic radiographs using a deep learning object detection technique with and without normal data in the learning process, to verify its performance, and to clarify some characteristic appearances probably related to the performance. The panoramic radiographs of 383 CA patients with cleft palate (CA with CP group) or without cleft palate (CA only group) and 210 patients without CA (normal group) were used to create 2 learning models on the DetectNet. The models 1 and 2 were developed based on the data with and without normal subjects, respectively, to detect the CAs and classify them into the CA only and CA with CP groups. The model 2 reduced the false positive rate (1/30) compared to the model 1 (12/30). The model 2 performances were higher in almost values than those in the model 1, but no difference in the recall of CA with CP groups. The model created in the present study appeared to have the potential to detect and classify CAs on panoramic radiographs.
Nanoparticles for active combination radio mitigating agents of Zinc Coumarate and Zinc Caffeiate in a rat model
Authors: Askar Mostafa A. , Guida Mona S. , AbuNour Seham. M. , Ragab Essam A. , Ali Eiman N. , Abdel-Magied Nadia , Mansour Nahla. A. , Elmasry Samir A.
Published: June 2021

Zinc Coumarate and zinc caffeiatenano-particles (ZCoNPs, ZCaNPs) have been shown to affectthe different biological processes. This work was undertaken to evaluate the mitigating action of ZCoNPs in combination with ZCaNPsagainst liver damage induced by gamma rays (γ-rays). Rats were exposed to 7Gy of γ-rays, and theninjected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with ZCoNPs [2U / rat / day (5 mg/kg)], and ZCaNPs [2U / rat / day (15 mg/kg)] for 7 consecutive days.The results showed that irradiated rats treated with ZCoNPs (5 mg/kg/body weight) in combination with ZCaNPs (15 mg/kg/body weight) for 7 days revealed a significant increase in the body weight, antioxidants levels, T Helper (CD4) Cell and T Cytotoxic (CD8), associated with amarked decrease in the level of lipid peroxidation (LP), nitric oxide(NOx), total free radicals concentrate (TFRC), and DNA fragmentation. Moreover, positive alterations in the morphological state, hematological parameters, and thecell cycle phases were noticed. Additionally, the histopathological study demonstrated an improvement in the liver tissue of irradiated rats after treatment.Thus, ZCoNPs and ZCaNPscould be usedas a natural mitigating agent to reduce the hazards of ionizing radiation.
Proteomics Analysis of Serum Proteins in Gestational Diabetes
Authors: Li Jianhua , Lu Lin , Xie Xinping , Dai Xiaofeng , Chen Lihong , Zheng Shan
Published: June 2021

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to screen serum proteins for biomarkers of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to investigate its pathogenesis by analyzing the differences in serum proteomics between pregnant women with GDM and healthy pregnant women.
Methods

High performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to identify differentially expressed serum proteins between pregnant women with GDM and healthy pregnant women, and bioinformatics analysis was then performed on the identified proteins.
Results

A total of 1152 quantifiable proteins were detected; among them, 15 were up-regulated in the serum of GDM pregnant women, while 26 were down-regulated. The subsequent parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) assay validated the expression levels of 12 out of 41 differentially expressed proteins. Moreover, bioinformatics analysis revealed that the differentially expressed proteins are involved in multiple biological processes and signaling pathways related to lipid metabolism, glycan degradation, immune response, and platelet aggregation.
Conclusions

This study identified 41 serum proteins with differential expression between pregnant women with GDM and healthy pregnant women, providing new candidate molecules for elucidating GDM pathogenesis and screening therapeutic targets.
Hidden Brain iron content in Sickle cell disease: Impact on Neurocognitive Functions
Authors: ElAlfy Mohsen Saleh , Ibrahim Ahmed Samir , Ibrahim Ghada Samir , Hussein Hanaa Midhat Abdel Gader , Mohammed Hend Galal Eldeen , Ebeid Fatma Soliman Elsayed
Published: June 2021

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are at a high risk for neurocognitive impairment. We aim to quantitatively measure cerebral tissue R2* to investigate the brain iron deposition in children and young adults with SCD in comparison to beta thalassemia major (BTM) and healthy controls and evaluate its impact on neurocognitive functions in patients with SCD. Thirty-two SCD, fifteen BTM and eleven controls were recruited. Multi-echo fast-gradient echo sequence brain MRI was performed and brain R2* values of both caudate and thalamic regions were calculated. SCD patients were examined for the neurocognitive functions. SCD had high iron overload 0.30±0.12 mg/kg/day. 68.9% of SCD had under- threshold IQ, 12.5% had moderate to severe anxiety and 60.8% had depression. There was no differences between SCD, BTM and controls in brain MRI except that left thalamus R2* higher in BTM than both SCD and controls (p=0.032). Mean right caudate R2* was higher in female than male (p=0.044). No significant association between brain R2* and LIC or heart R2* values in SCD. Left caudate R2* directly correlate with age and HbS%, negative correlate with HbA% while right thalamus R2* negatively correlate with transfusion index and among SCD patients. Conclusion: Neurocognitive dysfunction in SCD could not be explained solely by brain iron overload.
Prediction of pancreatic adenocarcinoma patient risk status using alternative splicing events
Authors: Kumar Rajesh , Lathwal Anjali , Raghava Gajendra Pal
Published: June 2021

In literature, several mRNA, miRNA, lncRNA based biomarkers are identified by genomic analysis to stratify the patients into high and low risk groups of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD). The identified biomarkers are of limited use in terms of sensitivity and prediction ability. Thus, we aimed to identify the prognostic alternative splicing events and their related mutations in the PAAD. PAAD splicing data of 174 samples (17874 AS events in 6209 genes) and corresponding clinical information was obtained from the SpliceSeq and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), respectively. Prognostic-index based modeling was used to obtain the best predictive models for the seven AS types. However, model based on multiple spliced events genes (APP; LATS1; MRPL4; LAS1L; STARD10; PHF21A; NMRAL1) outperformed the single event models with a remarkable HR of 9.13 (p-value = 6.42e-10) as well as other existing models. Results from g:Profiler suggest that transcription factors ZF5, ER81, E2F-1/2/3, ER81, Erg, and PEA3 are most related to the prognostic spliced genes. We also identified 565 mutations across 160 spliced genes that have a strong association with the prognostic AS events. The analysis revealed that around 560 of these mutations were not reported before in context to splice event/region. Overall, we conclude that altered AS events may serve as strong indicators for overall survival in pancreatic cancer patients, and novel linkage of the known mutations to the survival-related AS events may provide a new dimension to the advancement of diagnostic and therapeutic interventions in these patients.
Network Pharmacology of Triptolide in Cancer Cells: Implications for Transcription Factor Binding
Authors: Seo Ean-Jeong , Dawood Mona , Hult Annika K. , Olsson Martin L. , Efferth Thomas
Published: June 2021

Background: Triptolide is an active natural product, which inhibits cell proliferation, induces cell apoptosis, suppresses tumor metastasis and improves the effect of other therapeutic treatments in several cancer cell lines by affecting multiple molecules and signaling pathways, such as caspases, heat-shock proteins, DNA damage and NF-ĸB.Purpose: We investigated the effect of triptolide towards NF-ĸB and GATA1.Methods: We used cell viability assay, compare and cluster analyses of microarray-based mRNA transcriptome-wide expression data, gene promoter binding motif analysis, molecular docking, Ingenuity pathway analysis, NF-ĸB reporter cell assay, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) of GATA1. Results: Triptolide inhibited the growth of drug-sensitive (CCRF-CEM, U87.MG) and drug-resistant cell lines (CEM/ADR5000, U87.MGΔEGFR). Hierarchical cluster analysis showed six major clusters in dendrogram. The sensitive and resistant cell lines were statistically significant (p = 0.65 × 10-2) distributed. The binding motifs of NF-κB (Rel) and of GATA1 protein were significantly enriched in regions of 25 kb upstream promoter of all genes. IPA showed the networks, biological functions, and canonical pathways influencing the activity of triptolide towards tumor cells. Interestingly, upstream analysis for the 40 genes identified by compare analysis revealed ZFPM1 (friend of GATA protein 1) as top transcription regulator. However, we did not observe any effect of triptolide to the binding of GATA1 in vitro. We confirmed that triptolide inhibited NF-κB activity, and it strongly bound to the pharmacophores of IκB kinase β and NF-κB in silico. Conclusion: Triptolide showed promising inhibitory effect toward NF-κB, making it a potential candidate for targeting NF-κB.
Listening to ultrasound from plants reveals xylem vessel anatomy. Ultrasound characterization of plant vessels.
Authors: Dutta Satadal , Kaiser Elias , Matamoros Priscila Malcolm , Steeneken Peter , Verbiest Gerard
Published: June 2021

Although it is well known that plants emit ultrasound bursts under drought stress, the exact origin of the acoustic waveform of these pulses has remained elusive. Here we present evidence for a correlation between the ultrasound spectrum of these pulses and the dimensions of the plant’s xylem vessels. Using a model that relates the vibrational excitations of the vessels to their geometric and viscoelastic properties, we develop a methodology to extract the internal xylem vessel dimensions from recorded ultrasound waveforms. We apply the method to ultrasound pulses from drying shoots of three vascular dicot plant species, and validate it by comparison with destructive measurements via microscopy. Our method demonstrates the potential for continuous monitoring of the vascular anatomy of plants. The ultrasonic, non-invasive characterization of internal vessel dimensions can lead to breakthroughs in speed and accuracy in plant phenotyping and disease detection in agriculture.
Disinfection Effect of Hexadecyl Pyridinium Chloride on SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.
Authors: Chen Keda , Ma Feike , Wang Ying , Zhuang Xinyi , Zhang Xuning , Mao Haiyan , Zhang Yanjun
Published: June 2021

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19 or 2019-nCoV) is a respiratory virus that can exist in the mouth and saliva of patients and spreads through aerosol dispersion. Therefore, stomatological hospitals and departments have become high-infection-risk environments. Accordingly, the search for oral disinfectants that can effectively inactivate the virus has become a highly active area of research. Hexadecyl pyridinium chloride, povidone-iodine, and other common oral disinfectants are the natural primary choices for stomatological hospitals. Therefore, this study investigated the inhibitory effect of hexadecyl pyridinium chloride on SARS-CoV-2 in vitro. Vero cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 were used to determine disinfection effect; the CCK-8 method was used to determine cytotoxicity; and viral load was determined by real-time PCR. The results showed that hexadecyl pyridinium chloride has no obvious cytotoxic effect on Vero cells in the concentration range 0.0125–0.05 mg/mL. The in vitro experiments showed that hexadecyl pyridinium chloride significantly inhibits the virus at concentrations of 0.1 mg/mL or above at 2 min of action. Thus, the results provide experimental support for the use of hexadecyl pyridinium chloride in stomatological hospitals.
Investigation of The Relationships Between Image Spatial Resolution And Landscape Metrics
Authors: Sertel Elif , Topaloglu Raziye Hale , Varol Beril , Aksu Asli Gul , Bahsi Kubra
Published: June 2021

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) maps derived from satellite images are a significant source of geo-information to better understand the current status of landscapes, to analyze the landscape changes, and to develop sustainable decisions for landscape and urban planning. Since the spectral and spatial resolution of satellite images directly impact the LULC classes to be identified and the accuracy of the classification, these will also affect the values of calculated landscape metrics. This research aims to propose the most appropriate functions and features to obtain highly accurate thematically extensive LULC classification results from multi-resolution satellite images and to investigate how the change in spatial resolution of satellite images would affect the landscape metrics values and landscape pattern analysis Sentinel-2, SPOT-7, Pleaides, and Worldview-4 images with respective 10 m, 1.5 m, 0.5 m, and 0.3 m spatial resolution were classified using Geographic Object-Based Image Analysis techniques to create multi-scale LULC maps with the overall classification accuracy values of 66.05%, 85.00%, 91.79%, and 95.71%, respectively. Patch Density, Total Area, Largest Patch Index, Shape Index, Euclidian Nearest Neighbor distance, Aggregation Index, and Shannon's Diversity Index metrics were found to be most appropriate metrics to analyze the impact of spatial resolution on landscape metrics calculations considering the ability of these metrics to capture the spatial details, spatial arrangement, spatial distribution and complexity of shapes of landscape and classes.Landscape metrics results obtained from different LULC maps were compared to analyze the effects of image spatial resolution on different landscape metrics.
Field Verification of Low-Level Biochar Applications as Effective Ameliorants to Mitigate Cadmium Accumulation into Brassica Campestris L from Polluted Farmland Soil
Authors: Zhang Youchi , Hou Yanwei , Fan Jiajun , Lin Shanna , Reid Brian J. , Coulon Frédéric , Cai Chao
Published: June 2021

Farmland soils in China have been reported to be diffusely contaminated, Cd has been recognized as a significant contributor to this issue and biochars have been reported to be effective in mitigating soil Cd pollution. However, previous studies have shown contradictory outcomes. Furthermore, in general, laboratory experiments and unrealistically large amounts of biochar (>10 t/ha) have been used. In this study, three biochars: rice straw biochar (RS), pig manure biochar (PM) and rice husk biochar (RH) were produced from readily available farm residues and characterized. These were used in a field experiment, at low applications rates of 1.8 and 3.6 t/ha, with rape (Brassica campestris L.). Batch adsorption experiments indicated Cd adsorption in the order RS biochar > PM biochar > RH biochar. Field experiment indicated biochar amendments to slightly changes in soil pH and CEC; yet led to considerable and significant decreases in extractable Cd concentrations (reductions of: 43%-51% (PM), 29%-35% (RS) and 17%-19% (RH)). Reduced extractable Cd correlated with lower Cd concentrations in rape plants. PM and RS biochars were the most effective in decreasing Cd phytoaccumulation into edible parts of rape (>68% reduction). It is highlighted that biochars were produced using a pyrolysis unit with an output of 20 ton/yr. Thus, assuming a working application rate of 2 ton/ha, the pyrolysis unit could service 10 ha/yr. While at a modest scale, this research demonstrates the genuine reality of biochar-based remediation solutions to contribute to the mitigation of diffuse Cd contamination in some of China’s impaired farmland.
A New Design of Custom Optimized Cnn-Lstm Assists to Detect Network Anomaly Using Categorical Data
Authors: R Kanmani , Malar A.Christy Jeba , V Roopa , D Ranjani , R Suganya
Published: June 2021

For traditional intrusion detection model, the system effectiveness is fully based on training dataset and feature selection. During feature selection, it needs more labour charge and trusted mainly on expert’s knowledge. Moreover, the training dataset contains more imbalanced data which in terms model tends to be biased. Here, an automatic approach is introduced to correct deficiency in the system. In this paper, the author proposes novel network anomaly detection (NID) build using categorical data. A model has to be designed with modified form of deep neural network primarily utilized for detecting anomaly within the network. Custom CNN-LSTM with Harris Hawks Optimization (named as custom optimized CNN-LSTM) is designed as a new classifier majorly used to detect the anomaly from word cloud to distinguish the data with effective performance. The experimental result shows that the proposed method achieves a promising output for network anomaly detection.
Who Makes It All The Way? Participants Vs. Decliners, And Completers Vs. Drop-Outs, In A 6-Month Exercise Trial During Cancer Treatment. Results From The Phys-Can RCT
Authors: Strandberg Emelie , Bean Christopher , Vassbakk-Svindland Karianne , Brooke Hannah L , Sjövall Katarina , Börjeson Sussanne , Berntsen Sveinung , Nordin Karin , Demmelmaier Ingrid
Published: June 2021

Purpose: To compare sociodemographic, health- and exercise-related characteristics of participants vs decliners, and completers vs drop-outs, in an exercise intervention during cancer treatment. Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed breast, prostate or colorectal cancer were invited to participate in a 6-month exercise intervention. Questionnaire, medical record and physical testing data were analyzed for between-group differences using independent t-tests and Chi2-tests. Results: Trial participants (n=577) were younger (59±12 yrs vs 64±11 yrs, p<.001), included more women (80% vs 75%, p=.012) and were scheduled for chemotherapy treatment (54% vs 34%, p<.001) compared to decliners (n=1391). A greater proportion had university education (60% vs 40%, p<.001), reported more anxiety (5.5±4.4 vs 4.3±3.7, p<.001), cancer-related fatigue, exercise self-efficacy (49.9±16.2 vs 45.0±20.1, p<.001), higher outcome expectations and less kinesiophobia (23.5±5.1 vs 24.5±5.0, p=.001) compared to decliners who completed baseline questionnaires (n=436). A greater proportion of participants were classified as ‘not physically active’, however, within the group who participated, more intervention completers were classified as ‘physically active’ at baseline compared to drop-outs. Completers also reported less kinesiophobia than drop-outs. Conclusion: Participants in a comprehensive exercise oncology trial differ in several sociodemographic, health and exercise-related aspects from those declining to participate, while differences between completers and drop-outs are less pronounced. A lack of health-enhancing exercise habits at baseline may be an incentive for accepting participation, while having such habits at baseline may increase the chances of completing exercise intervention trials. The findings provide useful insight for translating research results and planning future exercise interventions for cancer survivors.
Delta Ruled First Order Iterative Deep Neural Learning for Sybil and Wormhole Attacks Detection in Healthcare Wireless Sensor Network
Authors: A John Clement Sunder , KP K.P. Sampoornam , R R.Vinodkumar
Published: June 2021

Detection and isolation of Sybil and wormhole attack nodes in healthcare WSN is a significant problem to be resolved. Few research works have been designed to identify Sybil and wormhole attack nodes in the network. However, the detection performance of Sybil and wormhole attack nodes was not effectual as the false alarm rate was higher. In order to overcome such limitations, Delta Ruled First Order Iterative Deep Learning based Intrusion Detection (DRFOIDL-ID) Technique is proposed. The DRFOIDL-ID Technique includes two main phase namely attack detection and isolation. The DRFOIDL-ID Technique constructs Delta Ruled First Order Iterative Deep Learning in attack detection phase with aim of detecting the occurrence of Sybil and wormhole attacks in healthcare WSN. After detecting the attack nodes, DRFOIDL-ID Technique carried outs isolation process with the objective of increasing the routing performance. During the isolation phase, DRFOIDL-ID Technique keep always the identified Sybil and wormhole attack nodes through transmitting the isolation messages to all sensor nodes in healthcare WSN. Hence, DRFOIDL-ID Technique improves the routing performance with lower packet loss rate. The DRFOIDL-ID Technique conducts the simulation process using factors such as attack detection rate, attack detection time, false alarm rate and packet loss rate with respect to a diverse number of sensor nodes and data packets. The simulation result proves that the DRFOIDL-ID Technique is able to improve the attack detection rate and also reduces the attack detection time as compared to state-of-the-art works.
Multiple Classification Algorithm Based on Graph Convolutional Neural Network for Intrusion Detection
Authors: Liu Fulai , Hu Zhongyi , Zhang Aiyi , Du Ruiyan , Qin Dongbao , Xu Jialiang
Published: June 2021

In order to improve the recognition performance of intrusion detection, a graph convolutional neural network for multiple classification intrusion detection is proposed, named as GCNID. Firstly, the detection data are preprocessed by numerical and normalized, so that the disadvantage effect of numerical differences among various features can be reduced. Then, the adjacency matrix for intrusion data in GCIND is constructed by the k-nearest neighbor method, which utilizes the Euclide distance between different features as evaluation criterion. Besides, the adjacency matrix and the modified detection data are set as the input of GCNID framework. Furthermore, the neighbors information of each detection data are added into itself by the graph convolutional layer, such that more effective intrusion features can be extracted by GCNID. What s more, the parameters in the proposed method are optimized by back propagation until the network convergence. Finally, the Softmax logistic regression model is used to classify the types of intrusion. Simulation results show that the proposed method can not only improve the detection accuracy, but also classify the unknown attack types. The performance shows that the GCNID has a good ability of accuracy and generalization.
Extent, Type and Reasons for Adaptation and Modification When Scaling-Up an Effective Physical Activity Program: Physical Activity 4 Everyone (PA4E1)
Authors: Mclaughlin Matthew , Campbell Elizabeth , Sutherland Rachel , McKenzie Tom , Davies Lynda , Wiggers John , Wolfenden Luke
Published: June 2021

Background

Few studies have described the extent, type and reasons for making changes to a program prior to and during its delivery using a consistent taxonomy. Physical Activity 4 Everyone (PA4E1) is a secondary school physical activity program that was scaled-up for delivery to a greater number of schools. We aimed to describe the extent, type and reasons for changes to the PA4E1 program (the evidence-based physical activity practices, implementation support strategies and evaluation methods) made before its delivery at scale (adaptations) and during its delivery in a scale-up trial (modifications).
Methods

The Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced (FRAME) was used to describe adaptations (planned and made prior to the scale-up trial) and modifications (made during the conduct of the trial). A list of adaptations was generated from a comparison of the efficacy and scale-up trials via published PA4E1 protocols, trial registrations and information provided by trial investigators. Monthly trial team meetings tracked and coded modifications in ‘real-time’ during the conduct of the scale-up trial. The extent, type and reasons for both adaptations and modifications were summarized descriptively.
Results

In total, 20 adaptations and 20 modifications were identified, these were to physical activity practices (n = 8; n = 3), implementation support strategies (n = 6; n = 16) and evaluation methods (n = 6, n = 1), respectively. Few adaptations were ‘fidelity inconsistent’ (n = 2), made ‘unsystematically’ (n = 1) and proposed to have a ‘negative’ impact on the effectiveness of the program (n = 1). Reasons for the adaptations varied. Of the 20 modifications, all were ‘fidelity consistent’ and the majority were made ‘proactively’ (n = 12), though most were ‘unsystematic’ (n = 18). Fifteen of the modifications were thought to have a ‘positive’ impact on program effectiveness. The most common decision-maker in the modification process was the ‘program manager’ (n = 17). The main reason for modification was the ‘available resources’ (n = 14) of the PA4E1 Implementation Team. For both adaptations and modifications respectively, the most common goal was to ‘improve fit with recipients’ (n = 8; n = 7).
Conclusions

A considerable number of adaptations and modifications were made for scale-up that could have important impacts on intervention effects and are important to the interpretation of trial findings.
Trial Registration

Australia New Zealand Clinical Trial Registry: ACTRN12617000681358
The Space-evolution Frame as Alternative to Space-time
Authors: Du Xiaonan
Published: June 2021

As an alternative to Minkowski spacetime frame, this paper propose a four-dimensional Euclidean space that combines three spatial dimension with proper time instead of time. We call it space-evolution, in which proper time is interpreted as evolutionary position, time is considered as world line length and is absolute. Space-evolution frame provide a new perspective for our understanding of time, space and special relativity. The new frame is self-consistent without losing compatibility to special relativity, the Lorentz transform and its predictions could be derived geometrically by simple coordinate rotation