bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does Fiscal Decentralization Support Green Economy Development? Evidence from China
Authors: Li Jia , Xu Yibo
Published: November 2022

Based on the panel data of China's provinces from 2006 to 2018, this paper uses the Super-SBM model to measure the green economy development index by introducing carbon dioxide emissions and industrial "three wastes" emissions, and analyzes the relationship between fiscal decentralization, green technology innovation and green economy based on the perspective of local government behavior. It is found that fiscal decentralization significantly inhibits the development of green economy, and local green technology innovation activities in the last period will amplify this negative impact, and the above findings pass the robustness test. After introducing comparative analysis of economic growth indicators that is measured by the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA), the results show that: only in the eastern region its fiscal decentralization both drives economic growth and does not inhibit green economy development by local government officials' political promotion motives and self-interested preferred expenditures, but the overall economic promotion and green economy inhibition caused by fiscal decentralization exist simultaneously in the Yangtze River Economic Belt region, and significant heterogeneity differences exist in the rest of the regions. This study provides some policy recommendations for the transformation of local government governance, the formulation of green development policies, and the achievement of sustainable development.
SipNose - Topiramate: A Novel Breakthrough Approach to Binge Eating Management
Authors: GREENHUT AYALA KOBO , Beja Adit Zohar , Hadar Liron , Itzhaki Lior , Karasik Avraham , Caraco Yossi , Frankenthal Hilel , Shahaf Daniel , Ekstein Dana , Shichor Iris , Gur Eitan
Published: November 2022

Background: Binge eating disorder) BED) is the most common eating disorder in the United-States. Chronic, orally administered topiramate has shown BED treatment efficacy, but with two major limitations: frequent and severe side effects and slow time to action. SipNose is a novel-non-invasive-intranasal (IN) direct nose-to-brain (DNTB) drug delivery platform that delivers drugs to the central nervous system (CNS) consistently and fast. Herein, we study SipNose-topiramate combination product, as an acute "as needed"(PRN) solution for BED management.
Methods: First, we evaluate the innovative SipNose-topiramate's pharmacokinetics (PK) and safety. The second part aimed to demonstrate SipNose-topiramate's PRN-treatment efficacy in reducing the number of binge-eating episodes in 12-BED patients (2-weeks of baseline monitoring [BL], 8-weeks of treatment [TX], 2-weeks of follow up [FU]).
In this part 251 treatments were used by the 12 BED patients participated in the study.
Results: The PK profile showed peak plasma levels at 90 minutes post-administration, and a t1/2 > 24hr, and demonstrated consistent topiramate delivery with no AE. In the second part, mean weekly binge events (WBE) and binge event days per week (DPW) showed a significant reduction from baseline to treatment period that was maintained in follow up period. Efficacy was corroborated by improved patient illness severity scales. There were no adverse events during all administered treatments. Patients were exposed to less drug when compared with accepted oral dosing.
Conclusions: This study introduces the novel SipNose-topiramate drug-device combination as a safe, effective, and controlled method for BED management. Its findings represent a breakthrough approach to BED management both as an intranasal and "as needed" therapy for reducing binge eating episodes with a large-scale reduction in patient drug exposure and thus side effects and with improved patient quality of life. Further studies are needed with larger patient populations to establish SipNose-topiramate as a mainstream treatment for BED.
Trial registration: Registration number and date of registration of the clinical studies reported in this article are as follows: 0157-18-HMO, August 15th 2018 and 6814-20-SMC, December 2nd 2020.
Improvement of quality and yield for investment casting of centrifugal pump impeller by tilting mold and optimizing runner/riser system
Authors: Kim Yu-Chol , Paek Nong-I , Ri Bok-Gyu , O Rim-Hyok
Published: November 2022

The impellers must have no defects to endure vibration and centrifugal force. The shell for producing impeller was located at tilt and the runner/riser system was optimized to obtain good quality casting and increase the casting yield. We adopted sprue as riser to increase the casting yield and employed ProCAST to analyze the solidification behavior of molten metal according to the dimension of riser and gate. Although the diameter of riser is change from 133mm to 66mm, the shrinkage defects was removed from the casting due to the proper size and location of runner/riser system. And we predicted the probability occurring gas and non-metal inclusion defects in casting by tilting the shell at 0°, 5°, 10°, 15° and 20°. The ultrasonic detecting results show that the proper designs of the runner/riser systems and mold tiling eliminated casting defects such as shrinkage, gas and non-metal inclusion. In addition, the casting yield was increased from 41.5 to 65.2% with producing a good quality casting.
Climate change poses significant risks to maize production over the Great Lakes region
Authors: Deng ziwang , Yuan Pei , Liu Jinliang , Zhu Huaiping
Published: November 2022

Climate change significantly affects global and regional agriculture production thus food security. There are currently large areas suitable for maize production in the regions surrounding the Great Lakes (the Great Lakes region, GLR), one of the major maize production regions and economic engines in North America and the world. Will the GLR remain its high-yield under the future climate change? In this study, we use the climate change risk assessment platform CLIMADA to quantify the maize production associated risks over the GLR in the 2050s (2040-2069) and 2080s (2070-2099) under the Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP) scenarios RCP 2.6 and the RCP 6.0. The updated gridded global maize production, land use and the large ensemble of maize yield projections generated by the ISIMIP are used in this study. The results show that in the current maize production areas, the total loss could reach 7.143 million tons (MT)/year in the 2050s and 0.897 MT/year in the 2080s under the RCP 2.6; and even more losses are projected under the RCP 6.0, which could reach 8.472 MT/year in the 2050s and 20.571 MT/ in the 2080s. Based on current global maize price in US dollars, these losses could be $2.4 billion/year, $301 million/year, $2.83 billion/year and $6.91 billion/year, respectively. Maize production in most states and provinces in the Great Lakes region may drop by more than 7% by the end of this century under RCP 6.0. The production could drop more than 10% for some years or decades due to the additive effect of long-term warming and extreme annual and decadal climate variability. Sustained maize price increases and high price volatility could translate such risks to maize production into risks to food security and many other sectors of the local, regional and global economies. As the usage of maize continues to increase, the loss in maize production could continue resulting in more significant risks on food security and the economy. Our results also show a north-ward shift to higher latitudes in the maize growing areas, which implies that some of the current low-yield regions in the north could see a significant yield increase that may make up for some losses in the current high-yield areas in the south. Results from this study could provide guidance to various jurisdictions for their climate change adaptation/ mitigation practices.
Surfactant Protein A Attenuates Generalized and Localized Neuroinflammation In Neonatal Mice
Authors: Crocker Caroline E. , Sharmeen Romana , Tran Thu T. , Khan Amir M. , Alcorn Joseph L.
Published: November 2022

Background: Surfactant protein A (SP-A) has important roles in innate immunity, attenuation of pulmonary inflammation and modulation of extrapulmonary inflammation. SP-A has been detected in rat and human brain, but its function in the central nervous system is untested. Our objective was to determine whether SP-A has a role in modulating inflammation in the neonatal mouse brain.
Methods: Neonatal wildtype (WT) and SP-A-deficient (SP-A-/-) C57BL/6J mice were subjected to three models of brain inflammation: sepsis through intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) through intraventricular injection of hemoglobin and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) through unilateral carotid artery ligation and hypoxia. Following treatment, RNA was isolated from brain tissue and expression of cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, CXCL1, TNF-α, and IL-10) mRNA was determined by real-time quantitative RT-PCR analysis. Expression of SP-A mRNA in mouse brain was determined by RT-PCR analysis.
Results: In the sepsis model, levels of most cytokine mRNAs were significantly increased in WT and SP-A-/- mouse brain tissue subjected to LPS injection compared to saline control, and all cytokine mRNA levels were significantly greater in SP-A-/- mouse brain tissue compared to WT. In the IVH model, all cytokine mRNAs were significantly increased in WT and SP-A-/- brain tissue subjected to intraventricular hemoglobin injection compared to saline control, and levels of cytokine mRNAs were significantly increased in SP-A-/- mouse brain tissue compared to WT. In the HIE model, only TNF-a mRNA levels were significantly increased in WT brain tissue subjected to carotid artery ligation compared to sham + hypoxia control, but most cytokine mRNAs were significantly increased in SP-A-/- mouse brain tissue and all cytokine mRNA levels were significantly higher in SP-A-/- mouse brain tissue compared to WT. SP-A mRNA was not detectable in brain tissue of adult WT mice nor of WT neonates subjected to the neuroinflammatory models.
Conclusions: In neonatal mice subjected to models of neuroinflammation, cytokine mRNA expression was significantly greater in SP-A-/- brain tissue compared to WT. These results suggest that SP-A-/- mice are more susceptible to generalized and localized neuroinflammation than WT mice, thus supporting the hypothesis that SP-A attenuates inflammation in the neonatal mouse brain.
A deep-learning system for automatic detection of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures at thoracolumbar junction using low-dose computed tomography images
Authors: Niu Xinyi , Yan Wenming , Li Xinyu , Huang Yilin , Chen Jiwu , Mu Guangrui , Li Jianying , Jiao Xijun , Zhao Zhifu , Jing Wenfeng , Guo Jianxin
Published: November 2022

Purpose: To develop a deep-learning system for automatic osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCF) detection at the thoracolumbar junction using low-dose computed tomography (CT) images.
Materials and methods: 500 individuals were enrolled in this retrospective study, including 270 normal and 230 OVCF cases. The cases were divided into the training, validation, and test sets in the ratio of 6:2:2. First, a localization model using Faster R-CNN was trained to identify and locate the target thoracolumbar junction, then a 3D AnatomyNet model was trained to finely segment the target vertebrae in the localized image. Finally, 3D DenseNet model was applied for detecting OVCF on target vertebrae. Manual annotation by experienced radiologists and a clinically made diagnosis of OVCF were used as the gold standards. The performance of the detecting system was evaluated through the area under the curve (AUC) for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV).
Results Our automated segmentation method achieved a mean Dice coefficient of 0.95 for vertebral bodies (T12-L2) segmentation on the testing dataset, with dice coefficients greater than 0.9 accounting for 96.6%. For the diagnostic performance of our system for OVCF, the AUC, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for the four-fold cross-validation on the testing dataset were 98.1%, 95.7%, 92.6%, 91.7% and 96.2%, respectively.
Conclusions A deep-learning system has been developed to automatically segment vertebral bodies and accurately detect OVCF using low-dose CT.
Near-wall turbulence and wall-shear-stress measurements using volumetric μPTV
Authors: Fuchs Thomas , Bross Matthew , Kähler Christian J.
Published: November 2022

Accurately determining the wall-shear-stress, τw , experimentally is challenging due to small spatial scales and large velocity gradients present in the near-wall region of turbulent flows. To avoid these resolution requirements, several indirect iterative fitting methods, most notably the Clauser chart method, exist for determining τw by fitting the mean velocity profile further away from the near-wall region in the log-law layer. These methods often require proper selection of fitting constants, assumptions of a canonical flow state, and other empirical based generalizations. To reduce the amount of ambiguity, determining the near-wall velocity gradient by assuming a linear relationship between the mean streamwise velocity and wall normal distance in the viscous sublayer can be used. However, this requires an accurate unbiased measurement of the near wall velocity profile in the region below five viscous spatial units, which can be less than 50 μm for high Reynolds number flows. Therefore, in this study a method for a volumetric defocusing micro particle tracking velocimetry method is presented that is capable of resolving the flow in the viscous sublayer of a turbulent boundary layer up to Ue = 44.7 m/s (Reθ = 27250). This method allows for the measurement of the near-wall flow through a single optical access for illumination and imaging and serves as an excellent complement of larger scale measurements that require near-wall information. The τw values determined from defocusing approach was found to be in good agreement values obtained from a simultaneous parallax PTV measurement. Furthermore, analysis of the diagnostic plot and cumulative distribution of measured fluctuations in the near-wall region, showed that both methods are capable of accurately determining mean velocity and fluctuation profiles in the self-similar viscous sublayer region.
Two major quantitative trait loci control wheat dwarf virus resistance in four related winter wheat populations
Authors: Buerstmayr Maria , Buerstmayr Hermann
Published: November 2022

Wheat dwarf virus (WDV) is among the most damaging viral pathogens. Its prevalence has increased substantially in recent years and it is predicted to increase even further due to global warming. There are limited options to control the virus. Growing resistant cultivars would safeguard crops, but most current wheat cultivars are highly susceptible. Thus, the aim of this study was to dissect the genetic architecture of WDV resistance in resistant germplasm and to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) to support resistance breeding. QTL mapping was conducted using four related populations comprising 168, 105, 99 and 130 recombinant inbred lines. Populations were evaluated under field conditions for three years. Natural infestation was provoked by early autumn sowing. WDV symptom severity was visually assessed at two time points in spring resulting in highly reproducible phenotypic data. QTL analysis revealed two highly significant QTL with the major QTL Qwdv.ifa-6Amapping to the long arm of chromosome 6A between markers Tdurum_contig75700_411 (601,412,152 bp) and AX-95197581 (605,868,853 bp). Qwdv.ifa-6A descends from the Dutch experimental line SVP-72017 and was of high effect in all populations, explaining up to 73.9% of the phenotypic variance. The second QTL, Qwdv.ifa-1B, mapped to chromosome 1B and is putatively associated with the 1RS.1BL translocation, which was contributed by the CIMMYT line CM-82036. Qwdv.ifa-1B explained up to 15.8% of the phenotypic variance. Qwdv.ifa-6A and Qwdv.ifa-1B are among the first identified highly effective resistance QTL and represent valuable resources for improving WDV resistance in wheat.
Maroon women still grow rice varieties named after their ancestors who hid seeds in their hair when they escaped slavery in Suriname.
Authors: Andel Tinde van , Maat Harro , Pinas Nicholaas
Published: November 2022

Given the few written documents left behind by those who escaped slavery, the analysis of African agency in the transfer of crops and knowledge in the successful establishment of Maroon communities benefits from other disciplines, such as oral history, ethnobotany and linguistics. Here we report the histories of several enslaved women, who escaped in the early periods of slave rebellion in Suriname. They played a crucial role in ensuring food security for their runaway communities by bringing rice seeds hidden in their hair. We combined information from ethnobotanical surveys, Maroon oral history, archival documents and published accounts to show how Maroon farmers safeguard their agricultural diversity and cultural heritage by cultivating rice varieties that still carry the names of their female ancestors who took along these seeds during their flight to freedom. We trace the routes of the Saramaccan ancestors Sééi, Yaya and Paánza, Tjowa of the Matawai, Sapali, Ana and Bapi of the Aucans, and describe the rice varieties named after them. The legends of these female ancestors acknowledge the importance of women in Maroon survival. Maroon women’s agricultural knowledge probably contains much more neglected oral history on how their ancestors obtained food crops from plantations or Amerindians.
Eye understand: physiological measures as novel predictors of adaptive learning
Authors: Evans Louise , Cameron-Whytock Heather , Ijichi Carrie
Published: November 2022

Reversal learning is facilitated by tonic firing of midbrain striatal dopamine and through phasic striatal dopamine release, thought to be reflected by Spontaneous Eye Blink Rate (SEBR). Arousal during learning has also been associated with performance. This study aimed to investigate whether SEBR and arousal predict learning performance during reversal learning. Twenty horses completed a reversal learning task. Performance was measured using a Reversal Learning Performance Index. SEBR was measured at rest and during learning as a proxy of tonic and phasic striatal dopamine respectively. Heart rate variability (RMSSD) and Infrared Thermography of eye temperature (IRT) were measured as indicators of arousal. SEBR did not change in response to reversal learning but RMSSD was higher (p = 0.008) and IRT decreased during trials (left eye: p = 0.002; right eye: p = 0.05). A negative binomial GLM was able to predict performance (p < 0.0005). Baseline RMSSD was associated with higher performance following an inverted U-shaped association (p = 0.04) consistent with a Yerkes-Dodson relationship. SEBR did not predict learning performance. Increased left eye temperature predicted higher performance (p = 0.0003). This is consistent with lateralised blood flow to the left brain hemisphere (responsible for learning targeted responses) and thought to be the first observation of this phenomenon during learning.
Placental abruption and neonatal anemia
Authors: Tweddell Sarah , Bahr Timothy , Henry Erick , Page Jessica , Ilstrup Sarah , Ohls Robin , Christensen Robert
Published: November 2022

OBJECTIVE
Placental abruption can cause maternal blood loss and maternal anemia. It is less certain whether abruption can cause fetal blood loss and neonatal anemia.
STUDY DESIGN:
Retrospective multi-hospital 24-month analysis of women with placental abruption and their neonates.
RESULTS
Of 55 111 births, 678 (1.2%) had confirmed abruption; 83% of these neonates (564) had one or more hemoglobins recorded in the first 24 hours. Four-hundred-seventy-two (83.7%) had a normal hemoglobin (≥ 5th % reference interval) while 92 (16.3%) had anemia, relative risk 3.26 (95% CI, 2.66–4.01) vs. >360 000 neonates from previous reference interval reports. The relative risk of severe anemia (< 1st % interval) was 4.96 (3.44–7.16). When the obstetrician identified the abruption as “small” or “marginal” the risk of anemia was insignificant.
CONCLUSIONS
Most abruptions do not cause neonatal anemia but approximately 16% do. If an abruption is not documented as small, it is important to surveille the neonate for anemia.
Development of a reliable DNA method for quality control of Glehnia littoralis and its industrial extracts
Authors: Lin Mengchen , Wang Hongtao , Yu Qiaoning , Wang Dandan
Published: November 2022

As a medicinal and edible plant, Glehnia littoralis has been widely recognized for its comprehensive nutritional properties and pharmaceutical effects, but it has also been the target of fraudulent practices. To overcome the difficulties in unanimous polymorphism exploitation of the adulterants and DNA degradation of industrial extracts, ribosomal ITS and chloroplast trnL-F gene sequences were targeted for molecular analysis. Based on the developed single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, two species-specific PCR systems were respectively established and proved to be effective for molecular discrimination of G. littoralis from its adulterants. The SNP marker exploited in trnL-F region was able to detect 0.1% of intentional adulteration of genomic DNA with a detection limit of 0.01 ng, and it is effective for botanical origin authentication of G. littoralis industrial extracts either in single or mixed plant samples. Compared with the other molecular protocols so far used, the established DNA method enabled the accurate authentication and standardization of routine work for quality control of G. littoralis and its industrial products.
Sleep quality and temperament in association with autism spectrum disorder among infants in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Authors: Kikuchi Kimiyo , Michikawa Takehiro , Morokuma Seiichi , Hamada Norio , Suetsugu Yoshiko , Nakahara Kazushige , Kato Kiyoko , Ochiai Masayuki , Shibata Eiji , Tsuji Mayumi , Shimono Masayuki , Kawamoto Toshihiro , Ohga Shouichi , Kusuhara Koichi , Group the Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Published: November 2022

Sleep problems and irritable temperaments are common among infants with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs). The prospective association between such sleep problems and irritable temperaments and ASDs needs to be determined for elucidating the mechanism and exploring the future intervention study. Thus, in this study, we investigated whether sleep quality and temperament in 1-month-old infants are associated with the onset of ASDs in 3-year-old children. We also assessed its sex-stratified associations. We conducted a longitudinal study using data from 69,751 mothers and infants from a large-cohort study, the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. We examined the prospective association between infant sleep quality and temperament at 1 month of age and ASD diagnosis by 3 years of age. Infants with longer daytime sleep had a higher risk of later ASD than those with shorter daytime sleep (risk ratio [RR]: 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01–1.75). Infants who experienced intense crying had a higher risk of ASD than those who did not (RR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.00–1.72). There was a difference in sex in the association between a bad mood and later ASD. In particular, female infants experiencing bad moods had a higher risk of ASD than others (RR: 3.59, 95% CI: 1.91–6.75). The study findings provide important information for future intervention to reduce the risk of future ASD.
Effect of Blood Hemoperfusion Therapy in Acute Type A Aortic Dissection Surgery：a retrospective observational study
Authors: Wang Juxiang , Chen Bin , Xie Junhao , Chen Huilong , Li Lihua , Zhang Weiqun , Lu Lin , Wu Xijie
Published: November 2022

Background

Although hemoperfusion is considered an efficient technique of removal specific solutes in inflammatory states, there is no established indications for triggered treatment. This study aimed to evaluate whether the adding of a new hemoperfusion cartridge (HA-380) in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit of acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) surgery is associated with an attenuation of inflammatory response and improvement in organ function.

Methods

A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted on patients with ATAAD undergoing central repair between March 2021 and February 2022 at a Regional Medical Center Hospital of Southeast China. Patients received regular CPB during operation in the first 8 months (first half of the period) and received HA-380 cartridge adding in CPB circuit in the rest 8 months (second half). Patients were received intensive care therapy in a cardiac surgery intensive care unit (ICU) postoperatively. The primary outcomes were interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels during the perioperative period. The secondary outcomes were major complications included postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS).

Results

Among the 173 ATAAD patients received central repair during the study period, 121 patients fulfilled the eligibility criteria, with 59 patients in the CON group and 62 patients in the HP group. Disease severity was similar between the two groups. The serum IL-6 values were increased rapidly postoperatively compared symptom onset and were lower in HP group than in CON group (146.13pg/ml vs. 205.73pg/ml, P = 0.020). The incidence of postoperative AKI and severe ARDS were lower in HP group (25.4% vs. 44.6%, P = 0.001), and (18.3% vs. 35.1%, P = 0.04). The incidence rate ratio (RR) for AKI and severe ARDS were 0.57 (95% CI 0.35–0.79; p = 0.012) and 0.52 (95% CI 0.28–0.92; p = 0.043) in HP group compared to CON group.

Conclusions

The use of HA380 to CPB circuit was associated with significantly attenuated IL-6 level and reduced major complications, AKI and severe ARDS after ATAAD surgery.
The role of the MOG and MTG in speech recovery of patients with hearing loss: a case study
Authors: Lee Yujun , Chen Maoqing , Zhang Wenjia , Zhang Yanlong , Wang Yang , Yan Hao
Published: November 2022

Previous studies show that infants perceive speech left-hemisphere dominantly like adults, but the development of the language brain network in infants is given less attention. Here we show that functional connectivity (FC) with the whole brain in the middle temporal gyrus (MTG) and the middle occipital gyrus(MOG) plays different roles in language development. Two experiments were performed in the present study. In Experiment 1, activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis was employed to identify which brain areas are correlated with the speech outcomes of CI users.Based on the convergent findings, a case study (Experiment 2) was performed with foot reflexological stimulation. Using rs-fMRI, the change of MTG and MOG FC caused by reflexological foot stimulation was examined before age of 3 months and after the age of 6 and 9 months. Compared with control groups, the MTG FC of the infant in the case study is more significantly increased, whereas MOG FC in control is significantly less increased. This suggests MTG and MOG networks play different roles in language development. The increase of MTG FC is linked to good speech perception development, while increased MOG FC indicates poor speech perception development. Our study also shows that the functional status of the MOG and MTG may be used topredict the recovery of speech in CI users.
Trajectories of child mental health, physical activity and screen-time during the COVID-19 pandemic considering different family situations: results from a longitudinal birth cohort.
Authors: Kurz Deborah , Braig Stephanie , Genuneit Jon , Rothenbacher Dietrich
Published: November 2022

Background: Many authors described a significant mental health burden of children and adolescents during the COVID-19 pandemic, possibly moderated by social disparities. This analysis explores if pre-pandemic family circumstances might be related to different aspects of child health during the pandemic.
Methods: We analyzed trajectories of health related outcomes in children aged 5 to 9 years (T7 to T11) using the Ulm SPATZ Health study, a population based birth cohort study (baseline 04/2012-05/2013) conducted in the South of Germany. Outcomes were children`s mental health, quality of life, and lifestyle, such as screen-time, and physical activity. We conducted descriptive statistics of maternal and child characteristics before and throughout the pandemic. We defined three different groups of pre-pandemic family situations and used adjusted mixed models to estimate differences in means associated to the time during the pandemic vs. before the pandemic in (a) all children and in (b) children belonging to specific pre-pandemic family situations.
Results: We analyzed data of n=588 children from whom at least one questionnaire was completed between T7 and T11. When not considering pre-pandemic family situation, adjusted mixed models showed statistically significant lower mean scores of health-related quality of life among girls during vs. before the COVID-19 pandemic (difference in mean (b): -3.9 (95% confidence interval (CI): -6.4, -1.4). There were no substantial differences in mental health, in screen-time, and in physical activity neither in boys nor in girls. When considering pre-pandemic family situation boys with mothers having symptoms of depression or anxiety showed a substantial loss of health-related quality of life in the subscale friends (b: -10.5 (95% CI: -19.7, -1.4). Among girls of this group 60% of the 15 assessed outcomes were negatively associated with a remarkable loss in health related quality of life (e.g. KINDL-physical well-being difference in means: -12.2 (95% CI: -18.9, -5.4)). Furthermore, a substantial increase in screen-time was found (+2.9 h (95% CI: 0.3, 5.6)).
Conclusion: Our results suggest that the health (and behavior) of primary school-aged children is possibly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic with adverse consequences differing by gender and very likely by pre-pandemic family situation. Especially in girls having a mother with depression or anxiety symptoms the adverse consequences of the pandemic on mental health seem to be aggregated. Boys showed fewer adverse trajectories and it needs to be further assessed which factors exactly are behind the (socioeconomic) factors such as maternal working habits and limited living space when analyzing the effect of the pandemic on children’s health.
Transformation to small cell lung cancer is irrespective of EGFR and accelerated by SMAD4-mediated ASCL1 transcription independently of RB1 in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Ding Xi , Shi Min-xing , Liu Di , Cao Jing-xue , Zhang Kai-xuan , Zhang Run-dong , Zhang Li-ping , Ai Kai-xing , Su Bo , Zhang Jie
Published: November 2022

Background
Histological transformation to small cell lung cancer (SCLC) has been identified as a mechanism of TKIs resistance in EGFR-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the prevalence of transformation in EGFR-wildtype NSCLC and the mechanism are rarely understood.
Methods
We reviewed 1474 NSCLC patients to investigate the NSCLC-to-SCLC transformed cases and the basic clinical characteristics, driver gene status and disease course of them. To explore the potential functional genes in SCLC transformation, we obtained pre- and post-transformation specimens and subjected them to a multigene NGS panel involving 416 cancer-related genes. To validate the putative gene function, we established knocked-out models by CRISPR-Cas 9 in HCC827 and A549-TP53-/- cells and investigated the effects on tumor growth, drug sensitivity and neuroendocrine phenotype in vitro and in vivo. We also detected the expression level of protein and mRNA to explore the molecular mechanism involved.
Results
We firstly reported an incidence rate of 9.73% (11/113) of SCLC transformation in EGFR-wildtype NSCLC and demonstrated that SCLC transformation is irrespective of EGFR mutation status (P = 0.16). We sequenced 8 paired tumors and identified a series of mutant genes specially in transformed SCLC such as SMAD4, RICTOR and RET. We knocked out SMAD4 and RB1 in TP53-deficient NSCLC cells and firstly demonstrated that SMAD4 deficiency can accelerate SCLC transition by inducing neuroendocrine phenotype regardless of RB1 status. Further mechanical experiments identified the SMAD4 can regulate ASCL1 transcription competitively with Myc in NSCLC cells and Myc inhibitor acts as a potential subsequent treatment agent.
Conclusions
Transformation to SCLC is irrespective of EFGR status and can be accelerated by SMAD4 in non-small cell lung cancer. Myc inhibitor acts as a potential therapeutic drug for SMAD4-mediated resistant lung cancer.
Species Composition, Structure and Regeneration Status of Woody Plants and Anthropogenic Disturbances in Zijje Maryam Church Forest, Ethiopia
Authors: Gebreegziabher Berhane Gebreslassie , Mekonnen Amare Bitew , Wassie Wubetie Adinew , Ayalew Habtemaryam
Published: November 2022

Our current study was conducted in Zijje Maryam Church forest, Ethiopia, to explore woody species composition, structure, regeneration status, and anthropogenic disturbances inside the sacred groves. The aforementioned information for adequate conservation and management of the church forest is not well documented. Fifteen main quadrats each having an area of 625m2(25m×25m) were used for vegetation and disturbance data collection. Determination of the sampled quadrants was based on the principle that minimum quadrats give the smallest possible area in which all species occurring in the church forest are present. All woody species with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 2.5cm within the quadrat were identified, counted, and their height and DBH data were recorded. The criterion to start at DBH) ≥ 2.5cm was to exclude seedlings having DBH < 2.5 cm and height ≤ 0.6m. Sapling and seedling data were collected using 45 saplings and 45 seedling quadrat that measured 4 m2 and 1m2, respectively. Vegetation data analysis and ANOVA were used for statistical comparison. A total of 48 woody plant species belonging to 46 genera and 36 families were identified. Fabaceae was the dominant family containing 5 species followed by Rosaceae with 3 species. Total basal area of the church forest was 83.03m2 ha− 1. The density of seedlings, saplings, and matured woody species stem ha− 1 were 15555, 3833, and 865, respectively. Talking these densities, regeneration status of the forest was good. The Shannon diversity and evenness of woody plant species in the forest was high; 3.29 and 0.85, respectively. Juniperus procera 27.67 (9.22%) and Olea europaea were species with the highest IVI. Nearly, 22% of areas of the forest get disturbed and higher anthropogenic disturbances occurred near the edge of the forest. Gathering, clearing, and grazing are the major human disturbances that stakeholders need to tackle for conservation. Zijje Maryam church forest has heterogeneous species composition with varied seedlings and saplings. Therefore, local conservation policies recommended not only protect large forests, but also the small and valuable forests service to the needs of local people.
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Awareness among Females in the UAE: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Zaitoun Balkis , Kubaisi Abdullah Al , AlQattan Noora , Alassouli Yahya , Mohamed Alshaimaa , Alameeri Huriya , Mohammed Ghada
Published: November 2022

Background: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder affecting females of reproductive age. Clinical guidelines recommend following diagnostic criteria of PCOS based on an appropriate assessment of patient’s clinical presentation and history. Sufficient awareness among population will prompt females to seek medical attention when necessary. This study aimed to assess knowledge and awareness about PCOS among females above the age of 18 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and to correlate the level of awareness with women's backgrounds, demographics, and education levels.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving interviews of 430 females using a 21-items questionnaire that assessed participants' awareness of PCOS as a term, its causes, symptoms, complications, treatment, and prevention. IBM® SPSS® Statistics version 23 was used for data analysis.
Results: Among 349 participants familiar with the term PCOS, only 21.74% showed sufficient awareness of the syndrome (95% CI = 17.77-25.71%). Being knowledgeable of PCOS was significantly associated with having a previous diagnosis (p=0.002) and with studying or working in a medical field (p<0.001). In addition, females who knew someone diagnosed with PCOS were 5 times more likely to be more aware compared to those who didn’t (95% CI = 2.5-10.8; p<0.001). Age, education level, and nationality showed no correlation with the level of awareness.
Conclusions: Overall, PCOS awareness level was insufficient in the study sample. Participants whose source of information was medical practitioners demonstrated more accurate knowledge. Accordingly, awareness of PCOS needs to be raised among females in the UAE, aiding early diagnosis and improving patient-oriented outcomes.
Willingness of healthcare workers to treat COVID-19 patients during the pandemic: Extended theory of planned behavior
Authors: Shaikh Dania , Kamarudin Suzilawati , Mohd Rizal Adriana , Mohammad Shoaib Haneen
Published: November 2022

During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers played a significant role in minimizing the maximum spread of the virus. This study aims to investigate the relationship between healthcare workers’ attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, perceived effectiveness of the pandemic, risk perception of the COVID-19 pandemic, and willingness to treat COVID-19 patients in Lahore, Pakistan. However, the extended theory of planned behavior was applied and included two key constructs (perceived effectiveness and risk perception of the COVID-19 pandemic). Data were collected from 253 male and female respondents working in public, private, and semi-government hospitals. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to test the proposed hypotheses. Overall, the findings show that healthcare workers’ attitudes, social norms, and perceived behavioral control significantly impact healthcare workers’ willingness to treat COVID-19 patients. In contrast, perceived effectiveness and risk perception of the pandemic showed a negative effect. The results suggested that healthcare workers showed positive attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control to COVID-19 patients. On the other hand, due to the virus novelty, effectiveness and risk perception of the pandemic was very high, which shows that healthcare workers feel stressed and scared to treat COVID-19 patients.
Social Change-based Identity Negotiation: Case of “Cina Benteng” and Indigenous Community in Kalipasir Tangerang, Banten
Authors: Putri Liza Diniarizky , Malik Abdul , Putri Selly Novinka , Hartani Hellya Sri
Published: November 2022

Chinese and indigenous people in Kalipasir have lived together for centuries. Although they experienced various social changes due to changes in spatial planning, job opportunities, and cultural recognition, they still lives in harmony by negotiating its identity. Applying qualitative research this study will reveal: what factors drive the negotiation of the identity of the people of Kampung Kalipasir? How did the identity negotiations in Kalipasir Village take place? and what impact does this identity negotiation have on people's attitudes to social change? This study reveals that identity negotiations are driven by factors of cultural diversity, economic equality, and the presence of a common enemy. The form of identity negotiation that occurs is manifested in three behaviors, namely tolerance, prioritizing togetherness, and maintaining tradition. The consequences of this identity negotiation led to a multicultural attitude, prioritizing deliberation, and rejecting exclusivity. This finding shows that a multicultural society can develop in response to social change without having to become a hybrid society by negotiating a tolerant identity and building togetherness while still maintaining traditional values.
The Field of Cultural Production among Religious Community in Higher Education Institution
Authors: Pertiwi Ekky Megawangi , Nurcahyono Okta Hadi
Published: November 2022

The utilization practices of houses of worship in Benteng Pancasila Area of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) campus can be seen as a field of cultural production by religious communities in an educational environment. This study uses a qualitative method with a case study to discover 1) how houses of worship on UNS Benteng Pancasila are utilized, 2) how agents use capital to shape cultural production, and 3) what social impacts are created. The results indicate that 1) the successfully constructed habitus leads to socio-cultural religious practices with academic nature, 2) agents instill values through narratives using cultural, social, and symbolic capital, and 3) the social impacts include inter-religious group integration, but the interaction within it is still limited. In this case, it was revealed that the social relations formed from the cultural production are still limited on the symbolic level.
A study on villages of the planning of water infrastructure planning: 25 villages in Shaanxi Province as an example
Authors: Li Jing , Yu Ruoxi
Published: November 2022

This thesis provides a water infrastructure planning strategy based on an analysis and evaluation of the present situation, which more effectively integrates the current scenario of rural development while adjusting to the trend of population development and resource allocation in rural China. In the north-central area of Shaanxi Province, 25 villages were chosen for field study in order to get a comprehensive grasp of the population and land-use conditions. The size and population of the area needing sewage and drainage infrastructure are estimated by the projection of rural population decline and the projection of rural building land scale and land-use adjustment. On this basis, sewage and drainage facilities are subsequently planned, including the contents of a three-compartment septic tank, sedimentation tank, sewage network, and ecological treatment tank. This type of water infrastructure design may not only enhance the living environment of the region but also efficiently address the issues of water collection and agricultural irrigation in the desert tablelands, enabling the efficient use of resources and sustainable growth of the community.
Suitability of treated FS using Jatropha curcas on unplanted sand drying beds for agricultural use in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Authors: Mmasi Doglas Benjamin
Published: November 2022

The huge amount of water in faecal sludge (FS) has been presented as one of the major faecal sludge management (FSM) challenges and concerns. Jatropha curcas (JC) has been adopted as a dewatering and disinfection solution for FS treatment. However, very little is known about the agricultural suitability of their physical–chemical characteristics, nutrient and pathogen levels. The agricultural suitability of by-products from the unplanted sand drying beds was investigated by assessing the physical–chemical parametric indices, Wilcox diagram and pathogen removal rate. The qualitative method was adopted for both untreated and treated FS samples. A total of 60 samples for dry sludge and 70 samples for both leachates from control and JC chambers were analyzed for three months. Its agricultural suitability was judged by the level of salinity and sodium hazard in leachate and pathogen levels. The results showed that the salinity level of leachate from the JC chamber falls under medium- and low-risk levels. The removal efficiency of Escherichia coli by JC in leachate was from 7 ± 2 × 109 CFU/g to 6 ± 1 × 102 CFU/100 mL. Treating FS with JC is suitable for reducing salinity and sodium hazards in leachate hence favourable for irrigation. Further treatment of dry sludge is required before being used for agriculture.
Passive monitoring of soluble pesticides linked to cannabis cultivation: a multi-scale analysis
Authors: Medel Ivan D. , Gabriel Mourad W. , Wengert Greta M. , Filigenzi Michael S. , Clifford Deana L.
Published: November 2022

Several studies have documented the use of pesticides in cannabis cultivation. In northern California, one of the top cannabis production regions, several studies have identified cannabis-related impacts on multiple terrestrial wildlife species. To date, research has not focused on the potential for cannabis-related pesticides to contaminate downstream waterways and aquatic species. We conducted a two-part multi-scale study utilizing polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) to monitor pesticide contamination (1) immediately downstream and upstream of illegal public land cannabis cultivation complexes in low-order tributaries and (2) below a gradient of private land cannabis cultivation operations within higher-order streams. Diazinon and carbofuran were confirmed within sensitive headwater streams downstream of illegal public land cultivation sites in remote settings within four National Forests. Diazinon demonstrated higher downstream transport potential, with overland and in-stream flow distances totaling up to 186 m downstream of cultivation areas. While carbofuran displayed greater temporal longevity, being detected over 490 days after the last estimated pesticide application, no positive detections were identified within POCIS deployed within higher-order catchments. The utility of targeted POCIS deployed within low-order catchments is validated and confirms downstream cannabis-related water contamination on National Forest lands.
Effect Of Acetaldehyde On Aggregation Of Neuronal Tau
Authors: He Rong-Qiao , Luo Jian-Ying
Published: November 2022

Acetaldehyde at a low concentration (0.25%) induces recombinant tau polymeriz.ation distinguishably without using chemic.al cross-linker disuccinimidyl su (DSS). The aggregation of the hyperphosphorylated tau occurs in the solution of acetaldehyde at 0.05%. It appears that formation of neurofibrillary tangles in alcoholics may be correlated to acetaldehyde besides alcoho and the abnormal tau phosphorylation may accelerate acetaldehyde-induced tau polymeriz.ation.