bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Forensic psychiatric analysis of organic personality disorders after craniocerebral injury in Shanghai, China
Authors: Li Beixu , Fang Youxin , Lin Junyi , Chen Xueyan , Li Chenhu , He Meng
Published: July 2022

Objective

To explore the incidence rate and the differences of clinical manifestations of organic personality disorders with varying degrees of craniocerebral trauma.

Materials and methods

According to the International Classification of Diseases-10, 1,027 subjects with craniocerebral trauma caused by traffic accidents were reviewed, the degrees of craniocerebral trauma were graded and those with personality disorder after craniocerebral trauma were diagnosed. The personality characteristics of all patients were evaluated by using the simplified Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI).

Results

The incidence rate of organic personality disorder after all kinds of craniocerebral trauma was 33.1%, while it was 38.7 and 44.2% in the patients after moderate and severe craniocerebral trauma, respectively, which was significantly higher than that in the patients after mild craniocerebral trauma (18.0%) (P < 0.05). Compared with the patients without personality disorder, the neuroticism, extraversion and agreeableness scores all showed significantly differences (P < 0.05) in the patients with personality disorder after craniocerebral trauma; especially the conscientiousness scores showed significant differences (P < 0.05) in the patients with personality disorder after moderate and severe craniocerebral trauma. The agreeableness and conscientiousness scores in the patients with personality disorder after moderate and severe craniocerebral trauma were significantly lower than that after mild craniocerebral trauma, and the patients with personality disorder after severe craniocerebral trauma had lower scores in extraversion than that after mild craniocerebral trauma.

Conclusion

The severity and area of craniocerebral trauma is closely related to the incidence rate of organic personality disorder, and it also affects the clinical manifestations of the latter, which provides a certain significance and help for forensic psychiatric appraisal.
Blood routine reference value range should be adjusted according to regional and ethnic characteristics
Authors: Guo Yan , Liu Xiao , Zihao Zhang , Zhang Qiang , Shi Zhongshan , Zhang Na
Published: July 2022

Objective

To further understand the influence of regional and ethnic factors on blood routine indicators.

Methods

The routine blood test (RBT) results of 617 healthy men aged 18–45 years old of the Li, Tibet, and Han nationalities living in the city of Sanya, Hainan Province (200 m), the city of Xining, Qinghai Province (2,300 m), and Maduo County of Qinghai Province (4,300 m) for a long time were studied. Eight indexes, such as the red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), and platelet (PLT) counts, were compared and analyzed.

Results

With an increase in altitude, the RBT index values and change trends of the different ethnic groups were different. When the altitude increased by 2,000 m, the RBC and Hb increased by 6.6 and 8.1%, respectively, and the PLT decreased by 16.8%. However, the RBC, Hb, and PLT of the Tibetan subjects decreased by 7.4, 5.1, and 3.0%, respectively. In the same region, there were also significant differences in the RBT index values among the ethnic groups. The RBC increased, Hb decreased, and PLT did not change in the Li nationality in Sanya compared with the Han nationality. The RBC, Hb, and PLT of Tibetans in the Xining area were significantly higher than those of the Han population. Referring to the current RBT reference value range in China, the abnormal rates of the various RBT index values of the enrolled population were high. By utilizing Hb as an example, 27.7% of the Li nationality in Sanya was low, 67.0% of the Tibetan nationality in Xining was high, and 89.4% of the Maduo Han nationality was high. The PLT was lower in the Sanya Li nationality (13.8%) and the Maduo Han nationality (88.3%).

Conclusion

Regional and ethnic factors have a significant impact on the RBT, and the current range of normal values of the RBT in China needs to be revised and adjusted.
Addressing health corruption during a public health crisis through anticipatory governance: Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Gonzalez-Aquines Alejandro , Kowalska-Bobko Iwona
Published: July 2022

Corruption in the health sector costs over 500 billion USD annually, weakening health system preparedness and response to health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic. The lack of resources to deal with a shock limits the capacity to protect the population, exposing them to a greater risk of infection and mortality. There is an urgent need to improve health policy to reduce corruption in the health sector during times of crisis. This article aims to propose a prepare and response strategy to address corruption during times of health crises. We first explore the inherent characteristics of health systems that make them vulnerable to corruption and present the different faces corrupt practices take. We then explain why anticipatory governance is fundamental in addressing corruption in health systems and draw upon examples of corruption during COVID-19. Finally, we conclude by proposing that anticipatory governance could decrease the impact of corruption during health crises by increasing the availability of resources required to improve the population's health.
Assessing volatile organic compounds exposure and prostate-specific antigen: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001–2010
Authors: Wei Chengcheng , Chen Yumao , Yang Yu , Ni Dong , Huang Yu , Wang Miao , Yang Xiong , Chen Zhaohui
Published: July 2022

Background

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a large group of chemicals widely used in people's daily routines. Increasing evidence revealed the VOCs' accumulating toxicity. However, the VOCs toxicity in male prostate has not been reported previously. Thus, we comprehensively evaluated the association between VOCs and prostate-specific antigen (PSA).

Methods

A total of 2016 subjects were included in our study from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with VOCs, PSA, and other variables among U.S. average population. We constructed XGBoost Algorithm Model, Regression Model, and Generalized linear Model (GAM) to analyze the potential association. Stratified analysis was used to identify high-risk populations.

Results

XGBoost Algorithm model identified blood chloroform as the most critical variable in the PSA concentration. Regression analysis suggested that blood chloroform was a positive association with PSA, which showed that environmental chloroform exposure is an independent risk factor that may cause prostate gland changes [β, (95% CI),P= 0.007, (0.003, 0.011), 0.00019]. GAM observed the linear relationship between blood chloroform and PSA concentration. Meanwhile, blood chloroform linear correlated with water chloroform in the lower dose range, indicating that the absorption of water may be the primary origin of chloroform. Stratified associations analysis identified the high-risk group on the chloroform exposures.

Conclusion

This study revealed that blood chloroform was positively and independently associated with total PSA level, suggesting that long-term environmental chloroform exposure may cause changes in the prostate gland.
RETRACTED: Cultivation and interpretation of students' psychological quality: Vocal psychological model
Authors: Zhang Yali
Published: July 2022

Reflecting students' mental health data through vocal music teaching expressive system is a research hotspot in vocal music teaching psychology. Based on the theory of students' expressiveness in vocal music teaching, this paper constructs a psychological model of vocal music teaching. The model uses psychological data mining technology to conduct a feasibility study and analysis on the mental health education of vocal music students, solves the quantitative problem of mental health, and analyzes the relationship between psychological problems and students. In the simulation process, the psychological data of the vocal music freshmen of a certain college was taken as the research object, and the association rule Apriori algorithm was used to analyze the relationship between the factors of the psychological dimension. Psychological data mining was carried out, and descriptive indicators and univariate analysis methods were used to analyze the current situation of students' mental health and personality characteristics, and Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation model were used to explore the relationship between their mental health and personality characteristics. The amount of vocal music learning is the duration of the load and the total number of tasks completed within a single exercise or a series of exercises. ASP-NET and SQLServer2008 and other experimental results show that the chi-square test value of the overall fit of the model is 20.078, and the ratio of the chi-square value to the degree of freedom is 4.016, which has a relatively high accuracy and effectively enhances the psychological data mining technology in vocal music students for operation and practicality of applications in health data analysis.
Mental well-being and diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in the veterinary profession: Pathways to a more resilient profession
Authors: Timmenga Florentine Scilla Louise , Jansen Wiebke , Turner Patricia V. , De Briyne Nancy
Published: July 2022

Mental well-being (MWB) and diversity, equity, and inclusiveness (DEI) continue to be critical within the veterinary profession but there is less information regarding how professional associations around the world tackle these issues. A mixed-method study including an international online survey in English (n = 137 responses via snowball sampling), fourteen interviews, and two webinars was used to identify the availability and impact of MWB and DEI support programs for veterinarians. Survey results showed that more veterinary organizations designated MWB and DEI challenges (54%, n = 43/79 and 58%, n = 45/78, respectively) as a key priority area than veterinary clinics (26%, n = 15/57 and 33%, n = 19/57, respectively). Whereas, MWB support programs were available in a moderate number of mainly English-speaking countries, DEI support programs were available in only a few countries and focused primarily on specific groups, with an unknown impact due to their recent implementation. Universally, survey respondents believed activities for specific groups, such as MWB webinars, training, and awareness campaigns, as well as MWB/DEI helplines and DEI peer-to-peer support programs had a high impact (median 3.5–4/5) yet were underemployed by both veterinary organization and veterinary clinics. Further feedback from respondents during focused interviews indicated that requiring initial and continuing training as well as tailored group activities would be most beneficial to improve MWB/DEI throughout the veterinary professional career. There are many areas of the intersection between MWB and DEI that remain to be elucidated in the future studies. Having a sufficient sample size, improving accessibility, and addressing varying cultural perceptions are the main challenges, as seen in our study. To truly address MWB and DEI disparities, change is also needed in veterinary workplace culture and environment. In conclusion, raising awareness for an inclusive profession, including increasing openness and acceptance to enhance DEI and destigmatizing MWB challenges, is needed to ensure a thriving, modern veterinary profession.
Safety and efficacy of cannabidiol-cannabidiolic acid rich hemp extract in the treatment of refractory epileptic seizures in dogs
Authors: Garcia Gabriel A. , Kube Stephanie , Carrera-Justiz Sheila , Tittle David , Wakshlag Joseph J.
Published: July 2022

The use of cannabidiol (CBD) in childhood refractory seizures has become a common therapeutic approach for specific seizure disorders in human medicine. Similarly, there is an interest in using CBD, cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) or cannabinoid-rich hemp products in the treatment of idiopathic epilepsy in dogs. We aimed to examine a small cohort in a pilot investigation using a CBD and CBDA-rich hemp product for the treatment of refractory epileptic seizures in dogs. Fourteen dogs were examined in a 24-week randomized cross-over study being provided placebo or CBD/CBDA-rich hemp extract treatment at 2 mg/kg orally every 12 h for each 12-week arm of the study. Serum chemistry, complete blood counts, serum anti-seizure medication (ASM) concentrations and epileptic seizure frequency were followed over both arms of the cross-over trial. Results demonstrated that besides a mild increase in alkaline phosphatase, there were no alterations observed on routine bloodwork at 2, 6, and 12 weeks during either arm of the study. Epileptic seizure frequency decreased across the population from a mean of 8.0 ± 4.8 during placebo treatment to 5.0 ± 3.6 with CBD/CBDA-rich hemp extract (P = 0.02). In addition, epileptic seizure event days over the 12 weeks of CBD/CBDA-rich hemp treatment were 4.1 ± 3.4, which was significantly different than during the 12 weeks of placebo treatment (5.8 ± 3.1; P =0.02). The number of dogs with a 50% reduction in epileptic activity while on treatment were 6/14, whereas 0/14 had reductions of 50% or greater while on the placebo (P = 0.02). No differences were observed in serum zonisamide, phenobarbital or bromide concentrations while on the treatment across groups. Adverse events were minimal, but included somnolence (3/14) and transient increases in ataxia (4/14) during CBD/CBDA-rich hemp extract treatment; this was not significantly different from placebo. This further indicates that providing CBD/CBDA-rich hemp extract during refractory epilepsy (only partially responsive to ASM), in conjunction with other ASM appears safe. Based on this information, the use of 2 mg/kg every 12 h of a CBD/CBDA-rich hemp extract can have benefits in reducing the incidence of epileptic seizures, when used concurrently with other ASMs.
Stress Relaxation Properties of Five Orthodontic Aligner Materials: A 14-Day In-Vitro Study
Authors: Albertini Paolo , Mazzanti Valentina , Mollica Francesco , Pellitteri Federica , Palone Mario , Lombardo Luca
Published: July 2022

We aimed to investigate the stress relaxation properties of five different thermoplastic aligner materials subjected to 14 days of constant deflection. Five different thermoplastic aligner materials were selected, whose elastic properties varied: F22 Evoflex, F22 Aligner, Durasoft, Erkoloc-Pro and Duran. The static properties of these materials—in particular, stiffness, stress–strain curve and yield stress—were measured with a three-point bending test. For all the tests that were performed, a minimum of three samples per material were tested. The yield load, yield strength, deformation and particularly the stiffness of each material were found to be similar in the single-layer samples, while the double-layer samples showed far lower stiffness values and were similar one to another. F22 Evoflex and Erkoloc-Pro maintained the highest percentages of stress, 39.2% and 36.9%, respectively, during the 15-day period. Duran and Durasoft obtained the lowest final stress values, 0.5 MPa and 0.4 MPa, respectively, and the lowest percentage of normalized stress, 4.6% and 3.9%, respectively, during the 15-day period. All the materials that we tested showed a rapidity of stress decay during the first few hours of application, before reaching a plateau phase. The F22 Evoflex material showed the greatest level of final stress, with relatively constant stress release during the entire 15-day period. Further research after in vivo aging is necessary in order to study the real aligners’ behavior during orthodontic treatment.
A Machine Learning Method with Filter-Based Feature Selection for Improved Prediction of Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Ebiaredoh-Mienye Sarah A. , Swart Theo G. , Esenogho Ebenezer , Mienye Ibomoiye Domor
Published: July 2022

The high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant public health concern globally. The condition has a high mortality rate, especially in developing countries. CKD often go undetected since there are no obvious early-stage symptoms. Meanwhile, early detection and on-time clinical intervention are necessary to reduce the disease progression. Machine learning (ML) models can provide an efficient and cost-effective computer-aided diagnosis to assist clinicians in achieving early CKD detection. This research proposed an approach to effectively detect CKD by combining the information-gain-based feature selection technique and a cost-sensitive adaptive boosting (AdaBoost) classifier. An approach like this could save CKD screening time and cost since only a few clinical test attributes would be needed for the diagnosis. The proposed approach was benchmarked against recently proposed CKD prediction methods and well-known classifiers. Among these classifiers, the proposed cost-sensitive AdaBoost trained with the reduced feature set achieved the best classification performance with an accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 99.8%, 100%, and 99.8%, respectively. Additionally, the experimental results show that the feature selection positively impacted the performance of the various classifiers. The proposed approach has produced an effective predictive model for CKD diagnosis and could be applied to more imbalanced medical datasets for effective disease detection.
The Translational Role of miRNA in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: From Bench to Bedside—A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Vitale Salvatore Giovanni , Fulghesu Anna Maria , Mikuš Mislav , Watrowski Rafał , D’Alterio Maurizio Nicola , Lin Li-Te , Shah Mohsin , Reyes-Muñoz Enrique , Sathyapalan Thozhukat , Angioni Stefano
Published: July 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, non-coding RNAs that are essential for the regulation of post-transcriptional gene expression during tissue development and differentiation. They are involved in the regulation of manifold metabolic and hormonal processes and, within the female reproductive tract, in oocyte maturation and folliculogenesis. Altered miRNA levels have been observed in oncological and inflammatory diseases, diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Therefore, miRNAs are proving to be promising potential biomarkers. In women with PCOS, circulating miRNAs can be obtained from whole blood, serum, plasma, urine, and follicular fluid. Our systematic review summarizes data from 2010–2021 on miRNA expression in granulosa and theca cells; the relationship between miRNAs, hormonal changes, glucose and lipid metabolism in women with PCOS; and the potential role of altered miRNAs in fertility (oocyte quality) in PCOS. Furthermore, we discuss miRNAs as a potential therapeutic target in PCOS and as a diagnostic marker for PCOS.
Health Literacy in Early Childhood: A Systematic Review of Empirical Studies
Authors: Bánfai-Csonka Henrietta , Betlehem József , Deutsch Krisztina , Derzsi-Horváth Martina , Bánfai Bálint , Fináncz Judit , Podráczky Judit , Csima Melinda
Published: July 2022

Early childhood plays a key role in the formation of healthy habits and the establishment of health literacy. Nonetheless, there are only a few research studies focusing on the health literacy level of children under the age of eight. The aim of our systematic review is to explore empirical research on health literacy related to early childhood. The research was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA protocol. This systematic review examines 12 studies published between 2013–2022. Results show that research focuses on different domains of health literacy for children. In relation to children’s food literacy, children understand the relationship between health and nutrition and they realize the health impact of obesity. The habits connected to oral health are strongly associated with parents’ knowledge of and behaviours around oral health. Results related to health care situations show that children are able to be actively involved in decision-making processes in connection with their health. Exploring young children’s health literacy is essential in order to be able to plan health promotion interventions, embedded into early childhood education. Picture-based messages or story-based messages supported by illustrations can help measure health literacy in early childhood and can support the formation of health literacy.
An Interactive Augmented Reality Graph Visualization for Chinese Painters
Authors: Li Jingya , Wang Zheng
Published: July 2022

Recent research in the area of immersive analytics demonstrated the utility of augmented reality for data analysis. However, there is a lack of research on how to facilitate engaging, embodied, and interactive AR graph visualization. In this paper, we explored the design space for combining the capabilities of AR with node-link diagrams to create immersive data visualization. We first systematically described the design rationale and the design process of the mobile based AR graph including the layout, interactions, and aesthetics. Then, we validated the AR concept by conducting a user study with 36 participants to examine users’ behaviors with an AR graph and a 2D graph. The results of our study showed the feasibility of using an AR graph to present data relations and also introduced interaction challenges in terms of the effectiveness and usability with mobile devices. Third, we iterated the AR graph by implementing embodied interactions with hand gestures and addressing the connection between the physical objects and the digital graph. This study is the first step in our research, aiming to guide the design of the application of immersive AR data visualization in the future.
The Effect of Pretreatments on the Physical Properties and Starch Structure of Potato Chips Dried by Microwaves under Vacuum
Authors: Gomide Aline Iamin , Monteiro Ricardo Lemos , Carciofi Bruno Augusto Mattar , Laurindo João Borges
Published: July 2022

Native potato starch has a semi-crystalline structure associated with a low glycemic index. Microwave vacuum drying (MWVD) produces crispy snacks under mild temperatures, reducing starch structural changes. However, blanching pretreatment gelatinizes starch, reducing crystallinity. A promising alternative is drying raw or blanched-then-cooled potatoes by MWVD. Cooling the blanched potato before MWVD aims to promote the partial return of the crystalline structure. Thus, this study evaluated how different pretreatments affect potato chips’ starch structure and physical properties. Three samples were dried by MWVD: (i) raw (MWVD-RW), (ii) blanched (MWVD-BL), and (iii) blanched followed by cooling (4 °C for 48 h) (MWVD-BLC) potatoes. MWVD-RW samples presented a higher starch crystallinity (16.9%), which disappeared in MWVD-BL samples and partially returned in MWVD-BLC (8.7%). MWVD-BL and MWVD-BLC samples presented lower bulk (<0.338 g cm−3) density and higher porosity (>74%) and crispness. On the other hand, MWVD-BLC samples presented intermediate characteristics for color, true density, and porous distribution compared to others. All samples showed high porosity (>69%) and crispy texture. Therefore, based on the quality assessment, the MWVD-RW and MWVD-BLC produced healthy and crispy oil-free chips with a potentially lower glycemic index.
Antibacterial and Angiogenic Poly(ionic liquid) Hydrogels
Authors: Sheng Chengju , Tan Xuemei , Huang Qing , Li Kewen , Zhou Chao , Guo Mingming
Published: July 2022

Wounds, particularly under low-hydration conditions, require more time to repair successfully. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop wound dressings that can accelerate wound healing. Hydrogels, which can maintain a moist environment around the wound and allow gas to pass through the material, act as antibacterial hydrogels as dressings and have great application value in the treatment of wounds. In addition, wound dressings (hydrogels) containing antibacterial capacity have lasting antibacterial effects and reduce damage to cells. In this work, we firstly synthesized two antibacterial agents: imidazolium poly(ionic liquids) containing sulfhydryl (Imidazole-SH) and ε-Poly(lysine) containing SH (EPL-SH). Then, lysine as a cross-linking agent, by “thiol-ene” click reaction, was mixed with Deferoxamine (DFO) to prepare the antibacterial hydrogels. The in vitro assays showed that the hydrogels could effectively kill Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). In addition, it also could reduce the inflammatory response produced by Lipopolysaccharide (LPS). More importantly, according to the transwell and angiogenesis assays, DFO-incorporated hydrogels promoted the migration and vascular repair of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). All the results revealed that the hydrogels provided new strategies for wound dressings.
Construction of a System of Indices for Determining the Contribution of Biodiversity to Human Well-Being in the Sanjiangyuan Area: A Spatiotemporal Distribution Study
Authors: Chen Wenting , Wang Yongcai , Li Tong , Wan Huawei , Chen Yuxuan
Published: July 2022

The contribution of biodiversity to human well-being is key to exploring the relationships between biodiversity, ecosystem services (ES), and human well-being. In this work, a composite index, termed the human well-being index (HWI), was constructed for evaluating the contribution of biodiversity to human well-being in the Sanjiangyuan area. This index consists of material, ecological regulation, and spiritual and cultural contributions, represented by the material index (MI), the ecological regulation index (ERI), and the spiritual and cultural index (SCI), respectively. The system was further used to evaluate the spatiotemporal distribution of human well-being at the county level in 2000, 2010, and 2020. HWI increased steadily across Sanjiangyuan over the study period, especially in the western and northeastern counties; its center of gravity shifted in the northward direction. The MI increased (decreased) in the west and northeast (southeast); its center of gravity shifted in the northeast direction. All counties showing changes in the ERI were located in the eastern part of Sanjiangyuan. The center of gravity of ERI did not change significantly. The SCI increased steadily across the study area, but was high in the west and low in the east; the center of gravity shifted in the northwest direction. The study findings can contribute toward quantifying biodiversity contributions to human well-being and the formulation of biodiversity conservation policies.
How to Promote the Withdrawal of Rural Land Contract Rights? An Evolutionary Game Analysis Based on Prospect Theory
Authors: Tian Mengling , Zheng Yangyang
Published: July 2022

The phenomenon of “separation of people and land” between urbanized farmers and rural land hinders the optimal allocation of land resources and is not conducive to the development of agricultural modernization and the implementation of rural revitalization strategies. Although the “separation of three rights” in agricultural land partially solves this problem, it also causes social inequity in the phenomenon of urbanized wealthy farmers collecting rent from poor farmers who depend on the land for a living. The Chinese government carried out a pilot reform aimed at the withdrawal of urbanized farmers from contracted land, and proposed a paid withdrawal policy, but the reform results were unsatisfactory. Based on evolutionary game theory and prospect theory, this paper constructed a two-party evolutionary game model between the government and farmers and simulated the behavioral strategies of the government and farmers in the contracted land withdrawal problem. The results show that first, the initial probability of government policy choice will affect the decision-making behavior of the government and farmers. Second, when the government’s economic compensation for farmers is higher than the farmers’ ideal expectation for land withdrawal compensation, the implementation of individualized withdrawal policy has a positive effect on farmers’ willingness to withdraw from contracted land. Third, farmers’ emotional needs for land, farmers’ ideal economic compensation, and farmers’ risk aversion all impede farmers’ withdrawal from contracted land. The government’s implementation of individualized withdrawal policy can improve farmers’ willingness to withdraw from contracted land by reducing farmers’ concerns about unstable land rights, improving the government’s security compensation, and reducing farmers’ sensitivity to profit and loss.
The Impact of Teacher Education on English Teachers’ Views about Using Mother Tongues: A Teachers’ Perspective
Authors: Neokleous Georgios , Krulatz Anna , Xu Yaqiong
Published: July 2022

After decades of persistent dominance of monolingual approaches in language teaching, we are now witnessing a shift to pluralist pedagogical practices that recognize learners’ mother tongues (MTs) as a valuable resource. This paper examines data from 44 questionnaire respondents and 4 interviewees to investigate teacher perspectives on using learners’ MTs in the classroom and the extent to which teacher education shaped their beliefs. The results suggest that while most of the participants stressed the importance of maximizing target language (TL) use, some of them also recognized the value of employing MTs for specific purposes, such as anchoring new learning, providing grammar explanations and task instructions, decreasing student and teacher anxiety, sustaining motivation, and supporting learner identity. Most participants agreed that their teacher education program exerted some influence on their beliefs and practices, but their personal experiences as learners and teachers were also named as influential sources. The most notable change in views related to an increased use of the TL, which contradicts recent findings relative to the value of using learners’ existing resources. The paper concludes by stressing the need to examine the curricula and objectives of teacher education programs in the light of the current research on multilingualism in education.
Charge Transfer Transitions and Circular Magnetooptics in Ferrites
Authors: Moskvin Alexander
Published: July 2022

The concept of charge transfer (CT) transitions in ferrites is based on the cluster approach and takes into account the relevant interactions, such as the low-symmetry crystal field, spin–orbital, Zeeman, exchange and exchange-relativistic interactions. For all its simplicity, this concept yields a reliable qualitative and quantitative microscopic explanation of spectral, concentration, temperature and field dependencies of optic and magneto-optic properties ranging from the isotropic absorption and optical anisotropy to circular magneto-optics. In this review paper, starting with a critical analysis of the fundamental shortcomings of the “first-principles” density functional theory (DFT-based) band theory, we present the main ideas and techniques of the cluster theory of the CT transitions to be main contributors to circular magneto-optics of ferrites. Numerous examples of comparison of cluster theory with experimental data for orthoferrites, iron garnets and other ferrites are given.
On the Preservation with Respect to Nonlinear Perturbations of the Stability Property for Nonautonomous Linear Neutral Fractional Systems with Distributed Delays
Authors: Madamlieva Ekaterina , Kiskinov Hristo , Petkova Milena , Zahariev Andrey
Published: July 2022

In the present paper, sufficient conditions are obtained under which the Cauchy problem for a nonlinearly perturbed nonautonomous neutral fractional system with distributed delays and Caputo type derivatives has a unique solution in the case of initial functions with first-kind discontinuities. For this system, by applying a formula for the integral presentation of the solution of the nonhomogeneous linear neutral fractional system, we found some additional natural conditions to ensure that from the global asymptotically stability of the zero solution of the linear part of the nonlinearly perturbed system, global asymptotic stability of the zero solution of the whole nonlinearly perturbed system follows.
Application of Compound Poisson Process in Pricing Catastrophe Bonds: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Sukono  , Juahir Hafizan , Ibrahim Riza Andrian , Saputra Moch Panji Agung , Hidayat Yuyun , Prihanto Igif Gimin
Published: July 2022

The compound Poisson process (CPP) is often used in catastrophe risk modeling, for example, aggregate loss risk modeling. Hence, CPP can be involved in pricing catastrophe bonds (CAT bonds) because it requires a catastrophe risk modeling method. However, studies of how the application of CPP in pricing CAT bonds is still scarce. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a systematic literature review (SLR) on how CPP is used in pricing CAT bonds. The SLR consists of three stages: the literature selection, bibliometric analysis, and gap analysis. At the literature selection stage, the 30 articles regarding the application of CPP in pricing CAT bonds are obtained. Then, the conceptual and nonconceptual structures of the articles are mapped at the bibliometric analysis stage. Finally, in the gap analysis stage, the application of CPP in pricing CAT bonds from the previous studies is analyzed, and new research opportunities are studied. This research can be a reference for researchers regarding the application of CPP in pricing CAT bonds and can motivate them to design more beneficial ways of pricing CAT bonds with CPP in the future.
The Moisture Diffusion Equation for Moisture Absorption of Multiphase Symmetrical Sandwich Structures
Authors: Yu Hang , Yao Lu , Ma Yan , Hou Zhaoyuan , Tang Jiahui , Wang Yuming , Ni Yang
Published: July 2022

When hydrophilic materials (such as natural fiber, epoxy resin or concrete) compose sandwich structures, the moisture absorption from hydrothermal environments may significantly affect their mechanical properties. Although some experimental works were carried out, few mathematical efforts have been made to describe the moisture diffusion of multiphase symmetrical sandwich structures thus far. In this paper, the moisture diffusion equation was developed to effectively predict the moisture diffusion behavior of multiphase symmetrical sandwich structures as the function of aging time. Both finite element analysis (FEA) and experimental works were carried out to validate the accuracy of the analytical method, and the analytical results show a good agreement with FEA and experimental data. The effect of the interface condition on the concentration at the interfaces was discussed; the difference between concentration and normalized concentration was illustrated; the correct interface condition, which is a continuous normalized concentration condition, was explained for the moisture diffusion behavior of sandwich structures.
Wettability of Metals by Water
Authors: Somlyai-Sipos Laszlo , Baumli Peter
Published: July 2022

The wetting behavior of water on metal surfaces is important for a wide range of industries, for example, in the metallurgical industry during the preparation of metallic nanoparticles or electrochemical or electroless coating preparation from aqueous solutions, as well as in the construction industry (e.g., self-cleaning metal surfaces) and in the oil industry, in the case of water–oil separation or corrosion problems. Wettability in water/metal systems has been investigated in the literature; nevertheless, contradictions can be found in the results. Some papers have reported perfect wettability even in water/noble metal systems, while other researchers state that water cannot spread well on the surface of metals, and the contact angle is predicted at around 60°. The purpose of this paper is to resolve this contradiction and find correlations to predict the contact angle for a variety of metals. In our research, the wetting behavior of distilled water on the freshly polished surface of Ag, Au, Cu, Fe, Nb, Ni, Sn, Ti, and W substrates was investigated by the sessile drop method. The contact angle of the water on the metal was determined by KSV software. The contact angle of water is identified as being between 50° and 80°. We found that the contact angle of water on metals decreases linearly with increasing the atomic radius of the substrate. Using our new equation, the contact angle of water was identified on all of the metals in the periodic table. From the measured contact angle values, the adhesion energy of the distilled water/metal substrate interface was also determined and a correlation with the free electron density parameter of substrates was determined.
Terpenes Combinations Inhibit Biofilm Formation in Staphyloccocus aureus by Interfering with Initial Adhesion
Authors: Salinas Claudia , Florentín Gladys , Rodríguez Fátima , Alvarenga Nelson , Guillén Rosa
Published: July 2022

The biofilm is a conglomerate of cells surrounded by an extracellular matrix, which contributes to the persistence of infections. The difficulty in removing the biofilm drives the research for new therapeutic options. In this work, the effect of terpenes (−)-trans-Caryophyllene, (S)-cis-Verbenol, (S)-(−)-Limonene, (R)-(+)-Limonene, and Linalool was evaluated, individually and in combinations on bacterial growth, by assay with resazurin; the formation of biofilm, by assay with violet crystal; and the expression of associated genes, by real-time PCR, in two clinical isolates of Staphyloccocus aureus, ST30-t019 and ST5-t311, responsible for more than 90% of pediatric infections by this pathogen in Paraguay. All combinations of terpenes can inhibit biofilm formation in more than 50% without affecting bacterial growth. The most effective combination was (−)-trans-Caryophyllene and Linalool at a 500 μg/mL concentration for each, with an inhibition percentage of 88%. This combination decreased the expression levels of the sdrD, spa, agr, and hld genes associated with the initial cell adhesion stage and quorum sensing. At the same time, it increased the expression levels of the cap5B and cap5C genes related to the production of capsular polysaccharides. The combinations of compounds tested are promising alternatives to inhibit biofilm formation in S. aureus.
New Variants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa High-Risk Clone ST233 Associated with an Outbreak in a Mexican Paediatric Hospital
Authors: Aguilar-Rodea Pamela , Estrada-Javier Elia L. , Jiménez-Rojas Verónica , Gomez-Ramirez Uriel , Nolasco-Romero Carolina G. , Rodea Gerardo E. , Rodríguez-Espino Benjamín Antonio , Mendoza-Elizalde Sandra , Arellano Cesar , López-Marcelino Beatriz , de la Rosa Zamboni Daniela , Gamiño-Arroyo Ana Estela , Mora-Suárez Rosalia , Torres García Margarita , Franco Hernández Isabel , Parra-Ortega Israel , Campos-Valdez Guillermina , Velázquez-Guadarrama Norma , Rosas-Pérez Irma
Published: July 2022

Recent multidrug resistance in Pseudomonas aeruginosa has favoured the adaptation and dissemination of worldwide high-risk strains. In June 2018, 15 P. aeruginosa strains isolated from patients and a contaminated multi-dose meropenem vial were characterized to assess their association to an outbreak in a Mexican paediatric hospital. The strains were characterized by antibiotic susceptibility profiling, virulence factors’ production, and biofilm formation. The clonal relationship among isolates was determined with pulse-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) sequencing. Repressor genes for the MexAB-OprM efflux pump were sequenced for haplotype identification. Of the strains, 60% were profiled as extensively drug-resistant (XDR), 33% as multidrug-resistant (MDR), and 6.6% were classified as sensitive (S). All strains presented intermediate resistance to colistin, and 80% were sensitive to aztreonam. Pyoverdine was the most produced virulence factor. The PFGE technique was performed for the identification of the outbreak, revealing eight strains with the same electrophoretic pattern. ST235 and ten new sequence types (STs) were identified, all closely related to ST233. ST3241 predominated in 26.66% of the strains. Twenty-five synonymous and seventeen nonsynonymous substitutions were identified in the regulatory genes of the MexAB-OprM efflux pump, and nalC was the most variable gene. Six different haplotypes were identified. Strains from the outbreak were metallo-β-lactamases and phylogenetically related to the high-risk clone ST233.
Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activities of Constituents from the Fruit of Albizia lebbeck L. Benth (Fabaceae)
Authors: Leutcha Bosco Peron , Dzoyem Jean Paul , Jouda Jean-Bosco , Sema Denis Kehdinga , Tsague Tankeu Virginie Flaure , Bitchagno Gabin Thierry Mbahbou , Tchegnitegni Billy Toussie , Essoung Flaure Rosette Ehawa , Ndjakou Lenta Bruno , Fogue Kouam Siméon , Delie Florence , Meli Lannang Alain , Sewald Norbert
Published: July 2022

Twenty-two compounds were isolated from the fruit of Albizia lebbeck including one unprecedented, rare amino acid-derived zwitterionic and one new flavone derivative. The isolation was performed on repeated column chromatography over silica gel and their structures were determined by 1D-, 2D-NMR and HR-ESI-MS spectra together with reported data in the literature. The chemophenetic significance is also discussed. Some isolated compounds were reported for the first time to be found in the species. Additionally, compound 2 showed antibacterial activity and compounds 1 and 2 revealed moderate cytotoxic activity against the Raw 264.7 cancer cell line with IC50 values of 37.19 µM and 29.36 µM, respectively. Furthermore, a proposed biosynthetic pathway of compound 1 is described.
Molecular Interaction Studies and Phytochemical Characterization of Mentha pulegium L. Constituents with Multiple Biological Utilities as Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Anticancer and Anti-Hemolytic Agents
Authors: Al-Rajhi Aisha M. H. , Qanash Husam , Almuhayawi Mohammed S. , Al Jaouni Soad K. , Bakri Marwah M. , Ganash Magdah , Salama Hanaa M. , Selim Samy , Abdelghany Tarek M.
Published: July 2022

Multiple biological functions of Mentha pulegium extract were evaluated in the current work. Phytochemical components of the M. pulegium extract were detected by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Moreover, M. pulegium extract was estimated for antioxidant potential by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical scavenging, antimicrobial activity by well diffusion, and anticoagulant activity via prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). GC-MS analysis detected compounds including cholesterol margarate, stigmast-5-en-3-ol, 19-nor-4-androstenediol, androstan-17-one, pulegone-1,2-epoxide, isochiapin B, dotriacontane, hexadecanoic acid and neophytadiene. Chrysoeriol (15.36 µg/mL) was followed by kaempferol (11.14 µg/mL) and 7-OH flavone (10.14 µg/mL), catechin (4.11 µg/mL), hisperdin (3.05 µg/mL), and luteolin (2.36 µg/mL) were detected by HPLC as flavonoids, in addition to ferulic (13.19 µg/mL), cinnamic (12.69 µg/mL), caffeic (11.45 µg/mL), pyrogallol (9.36 µg/mL), p-coumaric (5.06 µg/mL) and salicylic (4.17 µg/mL) as phenolics. Antioxidant activity was detected with IC50 18 µg/mL, hemolysis inhibition was recorded as 79.8% at 1000 μg/mL, and PT and APTT were at 21.5 s and 49.5 s, respectively, at 50 μg/mL of M. pulegium extract. The acute toxicity of M. pulegium extract was recorded against PC3 (IC50 97.99 µg/mL) and MCF7 (IC50 80.21 µg/mL). Antimicrobial activity of M. pulegium extract was documented against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonasaureus, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, but not against black fungus Mucor circinelloides. Molecular docking was applied using MOE (Molecular Operating Environment) to explain the biological activity of neophytadiene, luteolin, chrysoeriol and kaempferol. These compounds could be suitable for the development of novel pharmacological agents for treatment of cancer and bacterial infections.
In Silico Analysis of the Effects of Omicron Spike Amino Acid Changes on the Interactions with Human Proteins
Authors: D’Arminio Nancy , Giordano Deborah , Scafuri Bernardina , Biancaniello Carmen , Petrillo Mauro , Facchiano Angelo , Marabotti Anna
Published: July 2022

The SARS-CoV-2 variant Omicron is characterized, among others, by more than 30 amino acid changes occurring on the spike glycoprotein with respect to the original SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. We report a comprehensive analysis of the effects of the Omicron spike amino acid changes in the interaction with human antibodies, obtained by modeling them into selected publicly available resolved 3D structures of spike–antibody complexes and investigating the effects of these mutations at structural level. We predict that the interactions of Omicron spike with human antibodies can be either negatively or positively affected by amino acid changes, with a predicted total loss of interactions only in a few complexes. Moreover, our analysis applied also to the spike-ACE2 interaction predicts that these amino acid changes may increase Omicron transmissibility. Our approach can be used to better understand SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility, detectability, and epidemiology and represents a model to be adopted also in the case of other variants.
A Novel Polysaccharide from AuriculariaAuricula Alleviates Thrombosis Induced by Carrageenan in Mice
Authors: Bian Chun , Ji Lanyang , Qu Hang , Wang Zhenyu
Published: July 2022

The increasing incidence of cardiovascular diseases has created an urgent need for safe and effective antithrombotic agents. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the structural characteristics and antithrombotic activity of a novel polysaccharide isolated from Auriculariaauricula fruiting bodies. The purified polysaccharide AAP-b2 (12.02 kDa) was composed of mannose, glucuronic acid, glucose and xylose, with a molar ratio of 89.25:30.50:4.25:1.00. Methylation and NMR analyses showed that AAP-b2 primarily consisted of →2,3)-Manp-(1→, →3)-Manp-(1→, →4)-GlcAp-(1→ and Manp-(1→. A thrombus mouse model induced by carrageenan was used in this research to evaluate its antithrombotic effect. AAP-b2 significantly inhibited platelet aggregation, reduced the black tail length and prolonged the coagulation time, including activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), prothrombin time (PT) and thrombin time (TT), exerting a good inhibitory effect on thrombosis in mice. The antithrombotic activity of AAP-b2 was found to be related to the inhibition of platelet activation by regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthases (eNOs), endothelin-1 (ET-1), prostacyclin (PGI2) and thromboxane B2 (TXB2), along with the enhancement of anticoagulant activity by affecting antithrombin III (AT-III) and protein C (PC) pathways.