bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Navigating the Thin Line: The Mediating Role of Job Satisfaction on the Relationship between Work-Life Balance, Burnout, and Female Employee Performance
Authors:   Utah Valley University, Westover Jonathan
Published: August 2024

Abstract: This research brief examines the mediating role of job satisfaction on the relationship between work-life balance, burnout, and female employee performance. It outlines how supporting work-life balance and preventing burnout is critical for optimizing female employee engagement and productivity. An extensive literature review establishes the links between these factors and reveals how job satisfaction buffers against the negative effects of work-life imbalance and burnout on performance. Strategic recommendations are then provided based on this evidence, including promoting flexibility, fostering an understanding culture, empowering autonomy and impact, and prioritizing health and well-being. It argues that adopting these strategies can help companies sustain high female employee productivity and engagement despite challenges balancing professional and personal responsibilities.
Development of Optical Communication Systems with High-Reliability Optical Sensors
Authors:   , Krotov Aleksandr
Published: August 2024

The core objectives of the Thesis involve the creation of a novel fibre optic network architecture with a proposed access protocol, access block and forward error correction coding, a novel concept of coherent perfect absorber generation, and a new pressure sensor. These devices and methods delve into the theoretical principles and practical considerations for building aircraft networks that can work in radio fields. This work contributes to advancing the state-of-the-art in optical communication and photonics technologies by exploring the methods, design, performance evaluation, and real-world applications of high-reliability aircraft networks.
KEY EMIGRATION FACTORS OF STUDENTS IN SLAVONIA AND BARANJA REGION IN CROATIA
Authors: Knežević Kušljić Sanja
Published: August 2024

The aim of this research is to examine the intention of students in Croatian region of Slavonia and Baranja about the possibility of going abroad after completing their studies and to identified push and pull factors which influence the most the decision to emigrate. The research is based on a survey conducted on a sample of 420 students in the Croatian region of ​​Slavonia and Baranja. The study uses descriptive statistical analysis and multi-variant analysis–factor method. Research results according to respondent’s perception, showed that the majority (61%) expressed intention to stay in Croatia. Data identified unemployment, low paying job and low standard of living in Croatia as main push reasons for their intention to migrate and better standard of living and higher quality of life, better opportunities for career development and better and more stable job as main pull reasons for their intention to migrate. The results also recognized “economic and social reasons” as main push reasons and “economic and non-economic (personal) reasons as main pull reasons. The research findings confirmed the hypotheses of the paper that economic factors are the main push and pull motives for migration for students in Slavonia and Baranja.
Effect of charged sand/dust atmosphere on performance of microwave quantum illumination radar
Authors: Yang Rui-Ke , Wang Jia-Le ,   School of Physics, Xidian University, Xi’an 710071, China
Published: August 2024

This work is to study the effects of charged sand/dust atmosphere on the performances of microwave quantum illumination (QI) radar. Based on Mie particle scattering theory, using a Monte Carlo method for simulating the physical process in which photon is scattered multiple times by discrete random distributed particles, the specific attenuation (dB/km) of microwave propagating in sand/dust atmosphere are analyzed under the conditions of varying atmospheric visibility and sand/dust particles with different charged quantities. It is indicated that the specific attenuation obtained by multiple scattering is smaller than that obtained based on Mie theory, for microwave propagating in charged sand/dust atmosphere. The smaller the atmospheric visibility, the greater the difference is, while the difference decreases gradually as the atmospheric visibility increases. Then, it is more reasonable to consider multiple scattering attenuation at lower atmospheric visibility. When sand/dust particle is charged, the specific attenuation is increased, however, this increase is not linear.

According to quantum illumination radar theory, a beam splitter-based optical link model is used to simulate the sand/dust atmospheric channel. The effects of charged sand/dust atmosphere with different visibility on the detection error probability, signal-to-noise ratio, and maximum detection range for microwave quantum illumination radar are studied by using quantum radar equation and quantum detection error probability theory. The performances between QI radar and classical two-mode noise (TMN) radar are compared and analyzed. These results show that the performances of quantum illumination radar are improved with sand/dust atmospheric visibility increasing. When sand/dust particles are charged, the performances for QI radar are degraded due to attenuation increasing. The change in the performance is nonlinear with the variation of sand/dust carrying charge quantity. When visibility is high, increasing the signal frequency can improve the performance of quantum illumination radar, but when visibility is low, the gain of frequency increase is offset by the performance decline caused by attenuation increase. Therefore, it is not recommended to increase the frequency in such a case. The comparison with classical radar reveals that QI radar performs better under the condition of lower atmospheric visibility and lower average photon emission, but this advantage diminishes as the number of photons increases.

In a word, these results show that the performances of QI radar are more significant at lower atmospheric visibility. Under higher visibility conditions, the QI system SNR can be improved by increasing frequency. The maximum detection range of the QI radar is significantly better than that of the classical TMN radar.
Effect of alternating electric field induced by cold atmospheric plasma on conformation and function of interleukin-6
Authors: Xing Ren-Fang , Chen Ming , Li Rui-Yu , Li Shu-Qian , Zhang Rui , Hu Xiao-Chuan ,   School of Energy and Electrical Engineering, Chang’an University, Xi’an 710064, China,   Honghui Hospital, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710068, China,   Health Science Center, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Published: August 2024

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is considered to be a very promising cancer treatment method due to its “selective” killing effect on cancer cells. The CAP can inhibit tumor inflammatory responses and activate the immune system by reducing the expression of the key inflammatory factor Interleukin-6 (IL-6). However, the influence of the strong alternating electric field induced by CAP on the conformation and function of IL-6 remains unclear. In this study molecular dynamics simulation is used to investigate the effects of alternating electric fields with different frequencies and intensities on the conformation of IL-6. We statistically analyze the root mean square fluctuations, root mean square deviation, secondary structural alterations, and dipole moment changes of IL-6 under different electric field parameters. Furthermore, molecular docking is utilized to assess the influence on the receptor-binding process. The results show that when the electric field frequency is below 30 MHz and the intensity exceeds 0.5 V/nm, the average dipole moment of IL-6 increases, leading to changes in the rigid regions at the C-terminus which maintain structural stability. Specifically, the salt bridges that stabilize the long helices rupture, and the number of α-helices decreases. The docking outcomes reveal that the distance between the key binding residues of the conformationally altered IL-6 and its receptor increases, thereby disrupting the normal binding process and potentially impairing its normal biological functionality. This study explains the internal interaction mechanism of CAP-induced electric fields affecting IL-6-related biological effects at the micro level, and provides important theoretical basis for optimizing parameters in the practical application of CAP in tumor inflammation treatment and the development of effective cancer therapy strategies.
Mediator kinase inhibition suppresses hyperactive interferon signaling in Down syndrome
Authors: Cozzolino Kira , Sanford Lynn , Hunter Samuel , Molison Kayla , Erickson Benjamin , Jones Taylor , Courvan Meaghan CS , Ajit Deepa , Galbraith Matthew D , Espinosa Joaquin M , Bentley David L , Allen Mary A , Dowell Robin D , Taatjes Dylan J
Published: August 2024

Hyperactive interferon (IFN) signaling is a hallmark of Down syndrome (DS), a condition caused by trisomy 21 (T21); strategies that normalize IFN signaling could benefit this population. Mediator-associated kinases CDK8 and CDK19 drive inflammatory responses through incompletely understood mechanisms. Using sibling-matched cell lines with/without T21, we investigated Mediator kinase function in the context of hyperactive IFN in DS over a 45min - 24h timeframe. Activation of IFN-response genes was suppressed in cells treated with the CDK8/CDK19 inhibitor cortistatin A (CA), and this occurred through rapid suppression of IFN-responsive transcription factor activity. Moreover, we discovered that CDK8/CDK19 affect splicing, a novel means by which Mediator kinases control gene expression. To further probe Mediator kinase function, we completed cytokine screens and untargeted metabolomics experiments. Cytokines are master regulators of inflammatory responses; by screening 105 different cytokine proteins, we show that Mediator kinases help drive IFN-dependent cytokine responses at least in part through transcriptional regulation of cytokine genes and receptors. Metabolomics revealed that Mediator kinase inhibition altered core metabolic pathways, including broad up-regulation of anti-inflammatory lipid mediators, whose levels were elevated during hyperactive IFN signaling. A subset of these lipid mediators (e.g. oleamide, desmosterol) serve as ligands for nuclear receptors PPAR and LXR, and activation of these receptors occurred specifically during hyperactive IFN signaling in CA-treated cells, revealing a mechanistic link between Mediator kinase activity and nuclear receptor function. Collectively, our results identify new mechanisms by which CDK8/CDK19 regulate gene expression, and establish that Mediator kinase inhibition antagonizes IFN signaling through transcriptional, metabolic, and cytokine responses, with implications for DS and other chronic inflammatory conditions.
Robust, fast and accurate mapping of diffusional mean kurtosis
Authors: Farquhar Megan E. , Yang Qianqian , Vegh Viktor
Published: August 2024

Diffusional kurtosis imaging (DKI) is a methodology for measuring the extent of non-Gaussian diffusion in biological tissue, which has shown great promise in clinical diagnosis, treatment planning and monitoring of many neurological diseases and disorders. However, robust, fast and accurate estimation of kurtosis from clinically feasible data acquisitions remains a challenge. In this study, we first outline a new accurate approach of estimating mean kurtosis via the sub-diffusion mathematical framework. Crucially, this extension of the conventional DKI overcomes the limitation on the maximum b-value of the latter. Kurtosis and diffusivity can now be simply computed as functions of the sub-diffusion model parameters. Second, we propose a new fast and robust fitting procedure to estimate the sub-diffusion model parameters using two diffusion times without increasing acquisition time as for the conventional DKI. Third, our sub-diffusion based kurtosis mapping method is evaluated using both simulations and the Connectome 1.0 human brain data. Exquisite tissue contrast is achieved even when the diffusion encoded data is collected in only minutes. In summary, our findings suggest robust, fast and accurate estimation of mean kurtosis can be realised within a clinically feasible diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging data acquisition time.
Brain state and cortical layer-specific mechanisms underlying perception at threshold
Authors: Morton Mitchell P , Denagamage Sachira , Blume Isabel J , Reynolds John H , Jadi Monika P , Nandy Anirvan S
Published: August 2024

Identical stimuli can be perceived or go unnoticed across successive presentations, producing divergent behavioral outcomes despite similarities in sensory input. We sought to understand how fluctuations in behavioral state and cortical layer and cell-class specific neural activity underlie this perceptual variability. We analyzed physiological measurements of state and laminar electrophysiological activity in visual area V4 while monkeys were rewarded for correctly reporting a stimulus change at perceptual threshold. Hit trials were characterized by a behavioral state with heightened arousal, greater eye position stability, and enhanced decoding performance of stimulus identity from neural activity. Target stimuli evoked stronger responses in V4 in hit trials, and excitatory neurons in the superficial layers, the primary feed-forward output of the cortical column, exhibited lower variability. Feed-forward interlaminar population correlations were stronger in hits. Hit trials were further characterized by greater synchrony between the output layers of the cortex during spontaneous activity, while the stimulus-evoked period showed elevated synchrony in the feed-forward pathway. Taken together, these results suggest that a state of elevated arousal and stable retinal images allow enhanced processing of sensory stimuli, which contributes to hits at perceptual threshold.
Maternal smoking DNA methylation risk score associated with health outcomes in offspring of European and South Asian ancestry
Authors: Deng Wei Q , Cawte Nathan , Campbell Natalie , Azab Sandi M , de Souza Russell J , Lamri Amel , Morrison Katherine M , Atkinson Stephanie A , Subbarao Padmaja , Turvey Stuart E , Moraes Theo J , Teo Koon K , Mandhane Piush J , Azad Meghan B , Simons Elinor , Paré Guillaume , Anand Sonia S
Published: August 2024

Background:

Maternal smoking has been linked to adverse health outcomes in newborns but the extent to which it impacts newborn health has not been quantified through an aggregated cord blood DNA methylation (DNAm) score. Here, we examine the feasibility of using cord blood DNAm scores leveraging large external studies as discovery samples to capture the epigenetic signature of maternal smoking and its influence on newborns in White European and South Asian populations.

Methods:

We first examined the association between individual CpGs and cigarette smoking during pregnancy, and smoking exposure in two White European birth cohorts (n=744). Leveraging established CpGs for maternal smoking, we constructed a cord blood epigenetic score of maternal smoking that was validated in one of the European-origin cohorts (n=347). This score was then tested for association with smoking status, secondary smoking exposure during pregnancy, and health outcomes in offspring measured after birth in an independent White European (n=397) and a South Asian birth cohort (n=504).

Results:

Several previously reported genes for maternal smoking were supported, with the strongest and most consistent association signal from the GFI1 gene (6 CpGs with p<5 × 10-5). The epigenetic maternal smoking score was strongly associated with smoking status during pregnancy (OR = 1.09 [1.07, 1.10], p=5.5 × 10-33) and more hours of self-reported smoking exposure per week (1.93 [1.27, 2.58], p=7.8 × 10-9) in White Europeans. However, it was not associated with self-reported exposure (p>0.05) among South Asians, likely due to a lack of smoking in this group. The same score was consistently associated with a smaller birth size (–0.37±0.12 cm, p=0.0023) in the South Asian cohort and a lower birth weight (–0.043±0.013 kg, p=0.0011) in the combined cohorts.

Conclusions:

This cord blood epigenetic score can help identify babies exposed to maternal smoking and assess its long-term impact on growth. Notably, these results indicate a consistent association between the DNAm signature of maternal smoking and a small body size and low birth weight in newborns, in both White European mothers who exhibited some amount of smoking and in South Asian mothers who themselves were not active smokers.

Funding:

This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Metabolomics Team Grant: MWG-146332.
A molecular proximity sensor based on an engineered, dual-component guide RNA
Authors: Choi Junhong , Chen Wei , Liao Hanna , Li Xiaoyi , Shendure Jay
Published: August 2024

One of the goals of synthetic biology is to enable the design of arbitrary molecular circuits with programmable inputs and outputs. Such circuits bridge the properties of electronic and natural circuits, processing information in a predictable manner within living cells. Genome editing is a potentially powerful component of synthetic molecular circuits, whether for modulating the expression of a target gene or for stably recording information to genomic DNA. However, programming molecular events such as protein-protein interactions or induced proximity as triggers for genome editing remains challenging. Here we demonstrate a strategy termed “P3 editing”, which links
p
rotein-
p
rotein
p
roximity to the formation of a functional CRISPR-Cas9 dual-component guide RNA. By engineering the crRNA:tracrRNA interaction, we demonstrate that various known protein-protein interactions, as well as the chemically-induced dimerization of protein domains, can be used to activate prime editing or base editing in human cells. Additionally, we explore how P3 editing can incorporate outputs from ADAR-based RNA sensors, potentially allowing specific RNAs to induce specific genome edits within a larger circuit. Our strategy enhances the controllability of CRISPR-based genome editing, facilitating its use in synthetic molecular circuits deployed in living cells.
Soluble immune mediators orchestrate protective in vitro granulomatous responses across Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex lineages
Authors: Arbués Ainhoa , Schmidiger Sarah , Reinhard Miriam , Borrell Sònia , Gagneux Sébastien , Portevin Damien
Published: August 2024

The members of the
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex (MTBC) causing human tuberculosis comprise ten phylogenetic lineages that differ in their geographical distribution. The human consequences of this phylogenetic diversity remain poorly understood. Here, we assessed the phenotypic properties at the host-pathogen interface of 14 clinical strains representing five major MTBC lineages. Using a human
in vitro
granuloma model combined with bacterial load assessment, microscopy, flow cytometry, and multiplexed-bead arrays, we observed considerable intra-lineage diversity. Yet, modern lineages were overall associated with increased growth rate and more pronounced granulomatous responses. MTBC lineages exhibited distinct propensities to accumulate triglyceride lipid droplets —a phenotype associated with dormancy— that was particularly pronounced in lineage 2 and reduced in lineage 3 strains. The most favorable granuloma responses were associated with strong CD4 and CD8 T cell activation as well as inflammatory responses mediated by CXCL9, granzyme B and TNF. Both of which showed consistent negative correlation with bacterial proliferation across genetically distant MTBC strains of different lineages. Taken together, our data indicate that different virulence strategies and protective immune traits associate with MTBC genetic diversity at lineage and strain level.
Endosomal Chemokine Receptor Signalosomes Regulate Central Mechanisms Underlying Cell Migration
Authors: Hahn Hyunggu , Daly Carole , John Little , Perry-Hauser Nicole A , Flores-Espinoza Emmanuel , Inoue Asuka , Plouffe Bianca , Thomsen Alex Rojas Bie
Published: August 2024

Chemokine receptors are GPCRs that regulate chemotactic migration of a wide variety of cells including immune and cancer cells. Most chemokine receptors contain features associated with the ability to stimulate G protein signaling during β-arrestin-mediated receptor internalization into endosomes. As endosomal signaling of certain non-GPCR receptors plays a major role in cell migration, we chose to investigate the potential role of endosomal chemokine receptor signaling on mechanisms governing this function. Applying a combination of pharmacological and cell biological approaches, we demonstrate that the model chemokine receptor CCR7 recruits G protein and β-arrestin simultaneously upon chemokine stimulation, which enables internalized receptors to activate G protein from endosomes. Furthermore, spatiotemporal-resolved APEX2 proteome profiling shows that endosomal CCR7 uniquely enriches specific Rho GTPase regulators as compared to plasma membrane CCR7, which is directly associated with enhanced activity of the Rho GTPase Rac1 and chemotaxis of immune T cells. As Rac1 drives the formation of membrane protrusions during chemotaxis, our findings suggest an important integrated function of endosomal chemokine receptor signaling in cell migration.
PCSK9 inhibitor effectively alleviated cognitive dysfunction in a type 2 diabetes mellitus rat model
Authors: Yang Yang , Wang Yeying , Wang Yuwen , Ke Tingyu , Zhao Ling
Published: August 2024

Background

The incidence of diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD) is increasing; however, few clinical intervention measures are available for the prevention and treatment of this disease. Research has shown that proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, particularly SBC-115076, have a protective effect against various neurodegenerative diseases. However, their role in DACD remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the impact of PCSK9 inhibitors on DACD.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were used to establish an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The rats were randomly divided into three groups: the Control group (Control, healthy rats, n = 8), the Model group (Model, rats with T2DM, n = 8), and the PCSK9 inhibitor-treated group (Treat, T2DM rats treated with PCSK9 inhibitors, n = 8). To assess the spatial learning and memory of the rats in each group, the Morris water maze (MWM) test was conducted. Hematoxylin-eosin staining and Nissl staining procedures were performed to assess the structural characteristics and functional status of the neurons of rats from each group. Transmission electron microscopy was used to examine the morphology and structure of the hippocampal neurons. Determine serum PCSK9 and lipid metabolism indicators in each group of rats. Use qRT-PCR to detect the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) in the hippocampal tissues of each group of rats. Western blot was used to detect the expression of PCSK9 and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) in the hippocampal tissues of rats. In addition, a 4D label-free quantitative proteomics approach was used to analyse protein expression in rat hippocampal tissues. The expression of selected proteins in hippocampal tissues was verified by parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results

The results showed that the PCSK9 inhibitor alleviated cognitive dysfunction in T2DM rats. PCSK9 inhibitors can reduce PCSK9, total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels in the serum of T2DM rats. Meanwhile, it was found that PCSK9 inhibitors can reduce the expression of PCSK9, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in the hippocampal tissues of T2DM rats, while increasing the expression of LDLR. Thirteen potential target proteins for the action of PCSK9 inhibitors on DACD rats were identified. PRM and IHC revealed that PCSK9 inhibitors effectively counteracted the downregulation of transthyretin in DACD rats.

Conclusion

This study uncovered the target proteins and specific mechanisms of PCSK9 inhibitors in DACD, providing an experimental basis for the clinical application of PCSK9 inhibitors for the potential treatment of DACD.
Compasión, confianza y vulnerabilidad
Authors: Quepons Ramírez Ignacio
Published: August 2024

El artículo sugiere la importancia de la vulnerabilidad en la consideración de dos formas de referencia a la singularidad axiológica de la persona humana: la compasión y la confianza, a la luz de la fenomenología de la empatía de Edith Stein. Para tal efecto, se recurre al estudio crítico de algunas propuestas contemporáneas como la teoría enriquecida de la empatía de Mariano Crespo, y la fenomenología de la confianza como emoción moral, que encontramos en Anthony Steinbock, y como actitud práctica desarrollada por Esteban Marín-Ávila. La contribución que el artículo pone a consideración es mostrar cómo en todos los casos es necesaria una consideración de la vulnerabilidad que puede ser descrita en clave del pensamiento fenomenológico de Edmund Husserl y Edith Stein.
Emociones en el aprendizaje de niños y niñas de 2 a 4 años: Generando vínculos de apego
Authors:   , Bobadilla Vidal Joice Giovanna
Published: August 2024

La siguiente investigación tiene por objetivo explorar estrategias utilizadas por Educadoras y Técnicos en Educación Parvularia con respecto a las emociones de niños(as) y la construcción de sus vínculos de apego. Una de las principales preocupaciones actuales de nuestro país, debido al confinamiento y la pandemia, ha sido el bienestar emocional de los niños y niñas. Esto conlleva como un eje central las emociones y construcción del vínculo de apego seguro en niños y niñas de 2 a 4 años. La metodología tiene un enfoque cualitativo, recopilando información mediante entrevistas semiestructuradas y a través de la compilación de planificaciones educativas diseñadas por el equipo de aula, la que será interpretada por medio del análisis de contenido.Los resultados preliminares de la investigación revelan una brecha significativa entre la teoría y práctica en Educación Parvularia respecto a emociones y vínculos de apego. Se destaca la necesidad urgente de ajustar el currículum para incorporar de manera explícita y sistemática el enfoque emocional en la planificación educativa y la enseñanza.
Driving Agricultural Transformation: Unveiling the Impact of Rural Livelihood Diversification Strategies in Bangladesh
Authors: Salam Shakila
Published: August 2024

The diversification from pure agriculture to a combination of farming and non-farm activities raises questions about its impact on Bangladesh's agricultural sector. Diversified sources of non-farm activities may not even influence agriculture to the same extent. This study intends to assess the impact of rural households’ non-farm income-generating activities on farm production and farm input use. A field survey of 153 households that were selected from four villages in Bangladesh was used in this study. Applying the instrumental variables Two Stage Least Square (2SLS), Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), and Seemingly Unrelated Regression (SUR) models, this study finds a positive impact of non-farm income-based livelihood strategies on farm production and farming expenditures on inputs (machinery, chemicals, and hired labor) in general. Participation in wage-based and self-employment activities boosts farm households' investment in modern technology, leading to higher farm production. Conversely, remittance negatively affects agricultural input use and production, possibly due to insufficient amount of remittance or reluctance to engage in farming. From a policy perspective, the ﬁndings suggest establishing rural agro-based industries and improving infrastructure to promote wage and self-employment activities in rural areas.
The Reproductive Biology of Auchenoglanis biscutatus and Protopterus annectens from Lower River Benue Wadata, Makurdi-Nigeria
Authors: T.M Igbana , P.A. Annune , R.A. Obande, , T. Gbaaondo,
Published: August 2024

Data on the reproductive biology of Auchenoglanis biscutatus and Protopterus annectens were collected between april 2019 to march 2020. Reproductive parameters including sex ratio was determined as number of males by number of females, gonadosomatic index as total gonad weight by body weight and expressed in percentage while fecundity was obtained via volumetric and gravimetric methods. There was a slight dominance of males over females of both species (1.1:1) with more immature individuals caught within the study period. Higher GSI, gonad length and gonad weight (0.87±0.06, 15.94±0.89 and 3.01±0.19) were recorded in Auchenoglanis biscutatus during dry season while GSI and gonad weight (4.06±0.62, 5.63±0.45) of Protopterus annectens and number of mature fishes (0.35) were higher during rainy season. The relative fecundity for Auchenoglanis biscutatus investigated had no significant difference in both seasons (7.99±0.94, 8.22±0.78) while the relative fecundity for Protopterus annectentens  differed significantly among the wet and dry seasons (3.43±0.94, 0.48±0.22). The relative fecundity of Protopterus annectens (11.59±2.04) was higher than that of Auchenoglanis biscutatus (8.04±0.75).it was concluded that the study of the sex ratio indicates that males were higher than females.
The 100 Most Cited Articles on Glass Ionomer Cement: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Torres Adriana da Silva , Martins Olga Beatriz Lopez , Mendes Brauller Dias , Melo Callebe Carneiro de , Silva Breno Campos da , Torres Moisés de Matos , Araújo Cíntia Tereza Pimenta de
Published: August 2024

Aims: This bibliometric review aimed to rank, examine, and present the 100 most cited publications in the literature on glass ionomer cement, in order to evaluate the progress of scientific production and thus contribute to future studies.
Study Design:  Bibliometric review.
Methodology: A search using MESH terms was performed in the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science database. Two independent authors selected the 100 most cited articles. There were no restrictions regarding the study design, year of publication, language or journal impact factor of the manuscripts. The year of publication, authors, citation count, periodicals, keywords, contributing institution, country, among other details, were extracted from the articles included.
Results: The initial search identified 5,186 articles. Among the 100 most cited articles selected, the author with the highest number of publications was Frencken JE. The most cited article, by Wiegand A et al. in 2007, had a total of 547 citations. The oldest manuscript was published in 1977 by Forsten L. The University of Manchester and Medical College of Georgia led the list of institutions. The country with the highest number of publications was the USA. The top journals were Dental Materials leading the ranking, followed by the Journal of Dental Research and the Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry. The most used keywords in this list were: fluoride release, glass-ionomer cements, glass-ionomer cement. The years with the highest concentration of publications were between 1998 and 2003.
Conclusion: This analysis reinforces the importance of periodic reviews and updates in the literature, promoting the dissemination of knowledge and the continuous advancement in dental materials science.
Transforming Agriculture with Drones: Applications, Challenges and Implementation Strategies
Authors: Khanpara B. M. , Patel B. P. , Parmar N. B. , Mehta T. D.
Published: August 2024

The integration of drone technology, or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), has revolutionized the agricultural sector, offering a new era of precision and efficiency. This paper examines the diverse applications of drones in agriculture, including crop health assessment, precision crop spraying, soil analysis, irrigation management, and livestock monitoring. Equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, drones provide real-time data collection and analysis, enabling farmers to make informed decisions, optimize resource use, and swiftly respond to environmental changes. This technological advancement enhances productivity, conserves resources, and promotes sustainable farming practices. However, the adoption of drones in agriculture faces challenges such as high costs, regulatory uncertainties, and the need for specialized skills, along with concerns over privacy and weather dependency. Despite these obstacles, the potential benefits like improved resource utilization and reduced environmental impact underscore the importance of drones in meeting the growing global food demand. This paper aims to provide an extensive overview of the role and potential of drone technology in reshaping the future of agriculture, empowering farmers to optimize yields, conserve resources and embrace a more sustainable approach in the face of global challenges
The activity and radial dependence of anomalous diffusion by pitch angle scattering on split magnetic drift shells
Authors: O'Brien T. P.
Published: December 2014

Asymmetries in the magnetospheric magnetic field produce drift shell splitting, which causes the radial (drift shell) invariant to sometimes depend on pitch angle. Where drift shell splitting is significant, pitch angle scattering leads to diffusion in all three invariants of the particle's motion, including cross diffusion. We examine the magnitude of drift shell splitting‐related anomalous diffusion for outer zone electrons compared to conventional diffusion in the absence of drift shell splitting. We assume that the primary local scattering process is wave‐particle interactions with chorus. We find that anomalous radial diffusion can exceed that of conventional drift‐resonant radial diffusion for particles with energies near 0.1 MeV at all radial distances outside the plasmasphere during quiet to moderate geomagnetic activity, and it is significant at 0.5 MeV. Cross diffusion involving the radial invariant can exceed the geometric mean of the corresponding pure diffusion coefficients at 0.1 MeV, and that such cross diffusion is significant even at 0.5–1 MeV. At 1 MeV, cross diffusion is often significant. The highest radial distances and magnetic activity levels in our study do not always exhibit as much significant anomalous diffusion as moderate radial distances and activity levels. This can be explained by (a) stronger dependence of conventional diffusion on magnetic activity and radius, and (b) strongest drift shell splitting at moderate magnetic activity. Simulation codes that neglect the possibility for cross terms will likely systematically underperform, especially for 0.1–0.5 MeV electrons, for much of the outer zone for quiet to moderate levels of magnetic activity.
Cuprizone does not induce CNS demyelination in nonhuman primates
Authors: Chen Zhihong , Chen Jacqueline T. , Johnson Matthew , Gossman Zachary C. , Hendrickson Megan , Sakaie Ken , Martinez‐Rubio Clarissa , Gale John T. , Trapp Bruce D.
Published: December 2014

Cognitive decline is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis patients, with profound effects on the quality of life. A nonhuman primate model of multiple sclerosis would be best suited to test the effects of demyelination on complex cognitive functions such as learning and reasoning. Cuprizone has been shown to reliably induce brain demyelination in mice. To establish a nonhuman primate model of multiple sclerosis, young adult cynomolgus monkeys were administered cuprizone per os as a dietary supplement. The subjects received increasing cuprizone doses (0.3–3% of diet) for up to 18 weeks. Magnetic resonance imaging and immunohistological analyses did not reveal demyelination in these monkeys.
CSF beta‐amyloid 1–42 – what are we measuring in Alzheimer's disease?
Authors: Hu William T. , Watts Kelly D. , Shaw Leslie M. , Howell Jennifer C. , Trojanowski John Q. , Basra Sundeep , Glass Jonathan D. , Lah James J. , Levey Allan I.
Published: December 2014

Objective

To characterize biological and technical factors which influence cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Alzheimer's disease (AD) biomarker levels, including the presence of apolipoprotein E (APOE) ε4 allele, AD diagnosis, Aβ‐binding proteins, sample processing, and preanalytical handling.

Methods

CSF was collected from 140 subjects with normal cognition, mild cognitive impairment, AD, and non‐AD dementia. CSF levels of beta‐amyloid 1–42 (Aβ42), total Tau (t‐Tau), and Tau phosphorylated at threonine 181 (p‐Tau181) were analyzed following the standard and modified protocols. CSF levels of apoJ, apoE, albumin, and α‐synuclein were measured in a subgroup (n = 69), and their effects on measured AD biomarker levels were also determined in vitro using human CSF samples.

Results

CSF Aβ42 levels measured using the AD Neuro‐imaging Initiative (ADNI) protocol (which we call suspended Aβ42 or susAβ) were lower than total measurable CSF Aβ42 in all groups, and on average represents 57% of the latter. Logistic regression analysis showed this proportion (% susAβ) to be directly correlated with CSF Aβ42 and apoJ levels, but inversely correlated with CSF t‐Tau levels. Finally, we showed in vitro that increasing apoE and apoJ levels directly increased % susAβ.

Conclusion

CSF susAβ levels are influenced by biological and technical factors, and may represent a marker of Aβ susceptible to lipoprotein‐mediated clearance. Clinical trials should include total measurable Aβ42 and susAβ to better inform outcomes.
Light‐Controlled [3]Pseudorotaxane Based on Tetrasulfonated 1,5‐Dinaphtho‐32‐Crown‐8 and α‐Cyclodextrin
Authors: Wang Jun , Zhang Ying‐Ming , Zhang Xu‐Jie , Zhao Xiao‐Jun , Liu Yu
Published: December 2014

We developed the synthesis of a multicomponent molecular machine by employing the inclusion complex of an azobenzene‐containing pyridinium salt (G1) with α‐cyclodextrin (α‐CD) and tetrasulfonated 1,5‐dinaphtho‐32‐crown‐8 (DNC) in water. The interconversion of the heterowheel trans‐G1⋅DNC⋅α‐CD [3]pseudorotaxane into cis‐G1⋅DNC [2]pseudorotaxane was modulated by the photoinduced isomerization of the azobenzene moiety accompanied by the release of α‐CD from the molecular axle. In control experiments, the azobenzene center of the bis(pyridinium)‐modified azobenzene (G2) could not be isomerized in the presence of DNC and α‐CD. Only polymeric aggregates were obtained with the G2⋅DNC⋅α‐CD system, which indicates that the inclusion complex with α‐CD and the electrostatic attraction with DNC are crucial to govern the reversible photoswitchable process. This work may provide a method to induce conformational changes of supramolecular assemblies that have multiple macrocyclic receptors.
Preparation, surface properties, and antibacterial activity of a poly(dimethyl siloxane) network containing a quaternary ammonium salt side chain
Authors: Zhang Qinghua , Liu Hailong , Chen Xi , Zhan Xiaoli , Chen Fengqiu
Published: December 2014

To obtain a copolymer network with low surface energy and antibacterial properties, a series of hydroxyl‐terminated poly(dimethyl siloxane)s (PDMSs) modified by a quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) side chain was synthesized via hydrolytic polycondensation and quaternization. The structures of the intermediate and final products were confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 1H‐NMR, and gel permeation chromatography. The results show that each step was successfully carried out, and objective products were obtained. The modified PDMSs were crosslinked with a commercial polyisocyanate to obtain cured QAS‐modified PDMS coatings. The target functional coatings exhibited excellent antibacterial performance with a low surface energy. When the molar content of QAS in PDMS was varied from 10 to 30%, the critical surface energy of the coatings remained in the range 24.05–26.88 mN/m; this indicated that the coatings had minimal adhesion with fouling according to the Baier curve. The bactericidal tests showed that the antibacterial activity was independent of the PDMS molecular weight but was closely correlated with the QAS content in PDMS. The bactericidal rate of the coatings to Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was higher than 97% when the molar content of QAS in PDMS was above 20%. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41725.
Mechanical properties and stem cell adhesion of injection‐molded poly(ether ether ketone) and hydroxyapatite nanocomposites
Authors: Rego Bruna Turino , Neto Wilson Alves Ribeiro , de Paula Ana Claudia Chagas , Góes Alfredo Miranda , Bretas Rosario Elida Suman
Published: December 2014

A nanocomposite of poly(ether ether ketone) (PEEK) with 10 wt % hydroxyapatite (HA) was produced by extrusion and injection molding. Afterward, the samples were thermally treated. Thermal and short‐ and long‐term mechanical characterizations of the samples were made. The adhesion of human adipose stem cells (h‐ASCs) on the samples was also monitored. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and elastic modulus values of the nanocomposite were found to be much higher than those of trabecular bone. The impact strength of PEEK was not modified by HA; this suggested that there was no formation of large agglomerates of nanoparticles that could concentrate the stresses. With regard to fatigue life, both the thermally and nonthermally treated nanocomposites did not fail after 106 cycles when maximum stresses of 30 and 50% of the UTS were applied, but they failed when the maximum applied stress was 75% of the UTS and behaved as cortical bone. After 5 days of culturing, the h‐ASCs had a higher proliferation in the nanocomposite than in pure PEEK because of the presence of HA. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015, 132, 41748.
BIOPOTENCY OF SERINE PROTEASE INHIBITORS FROM COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata) SEEDS ON DIGESTIVE PROTEASES AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF Spodoptera littoralis (BOISDUVAL)
Authors: Abd El‐latif Ashraf Oukasha
Published: December 2014

Serine protease inhibitors (PIs) have been described in many plant species and are universal throughout the plant kingdom, where trypsin inhibitors is the most common type. In the present study, trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory activity was detected in the seed flour extracts of 13 selected cultivars/accessions of cowpea. Two cowpea cultivars, Cream7 and Buff, were found to have higher trypsin and chymotrypsin inhibitory potential compared to other tested cultivars for which they have been selected for further purification studies using ammonium sulfate fractionation and DEAE‐Sephadex A‐25 column. Cream7‐purified proteins showed two bands on sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS‐PAGE) corresponding to molecular mass of 17.10 and 14.90 kDa, while the purified protein from Buff cultivar showed a single band corresponding mass of 16.50 kDa. The purified inhibitors were stable at temperature below 60°C and were active at wide range of pH from 2 to 12. The kinetic analysis revealed noncompetitive type of inhibition for both inhibitors against both enzymes. The inhibitor constant (Ki) values suggested high affinity between inhibitors and enzymes. Purified inhibitors were found to have deep and negative effects on the mean larval weight, larval mortality, pupation, and mean pupal weight of Spodoptera littoralis, where Buff PI was more effective than Cream7 PI. It may be concluded that cowpea PI gene(s) could be potential insect control protein for future studies in developing insect‐resistant transgenic plants.
Enantioselective Addition of Dialkylzinc to Aromatic Aldimines Mediated by Camphor‐Derived Chiral β‐Amino Alcohols
Authors: Huang Wei‐Ming , Uang Biing‐Jiun
Published: December 2014

The enantioselective addition of diethylzinc or dimethylzinc to N‐(diphenylphosphinoyl)imines mediated by 1 or 2 could be achieved in high yields (70–97 %) and enantioselectivities (85–98 % ee). The catalytic loading of 1 or 2 a could be reduced to 10 mol % for methylation or ethylation of imines in high yields and enantioselectivities (79–96 %) when the reaction was conducted in the presence of 1.8 equiv of methanol. N‐Monosubstituted amino alcohols induced higher enantioselectivity than their N,N‐disubstituted congener in our catalytic system.
Waiting When Both Certainty and Magnitude Are Increasing: Certainty Overshadows Magnitude
Authors: Webb Tara L. , Young Michael E.
Published: December 2014

In everyday decision making, people often face decisions with outcomes that differ on multiple dimensions. The trade‐off in preferences between magnitude, temporal proximity, and probability of an outcome is a fundamental concern in the decision‐making literature. Yet, their joint effects on behavior in an experience‐based decision‐making task are understudied. Two experiments examined the relative influences of the magnitude and probability of an outcome when both were increasing over a 10‐second delay. A first‐person shooter video game was adapted for this purpose. Experiment 1 showed that participants waited longer to ensure a higher probability of the outcome than to ensure a greater magnitude when experienced separately and together. Experiment 2 provided a precise method of comparing their relative control on waiting by having each increase at different rates. Both experiments revealed a stronger influence of increasing probability than increasing magnitude. The results were more consistent with hyperbolic discounting of probability than with cumulative prospect theory's decision weight function. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Safety and diagnostic accuracy of tumor biopsies in children with cancer
Authors: Interiano Rodrigo B. , Loh Amos H.P. , Hinkle Nathan , Wahid Fazal N. , Malkan Alpin D. , Bahrami Armita , Jenkins Jesse J. , Mao Shenghua , Wu Jianrong , Proctor Kimberly , Santana Victor M. , Pappo Alberto S. , Gold Robert E. , Davidoff Andrew M.
Published: December 2014

BACKGROUND

Tumor biopsies are central to the diagnosis and management of cancer and are critical to efforts in personalized medicine and targeted therapeutics. In the current study, the authors sought to evaluate the safety and accuracy of biopsies in children with cancer.

METHODS

All biopsies performed in children at the study institution with a suspected or established diagnosis of cancer from 2003 through 2012 were reviewed retrospectively. Patient characteristics and disease‐related and procedure‐related factors were correlated with procedure‐related complications and diagnostic accuracy using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1073 biopsies were performed in 808 patients. Of 1025 biopsies with adequate follow‐up, 79 (7.7%) were associated with an adverse event, 35 (3.4%) of which were minor (grade 1‐2) and 32 (3.1%) of which were major (grade 3‐4) (grading was performed according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events [version 4.0]). The most common major adverse events were blood transfusion (>10 mL/kg; 24 cases) and infection requiring intravenous antibiotics (6 cases). Eleven deaths (1.4%) occurred within 30 days after the procedure, but the procedure may have contributed to the outcome in only 2 cases. A total of 926 biopsies (90.3%) provided definitive histologic diagnoses. Using multivariable analysis, biopsy site, preprocedure hematocrit level, and body mass index were found to be associated with the risk of postprocedural complications (P<.0001, P<.0001, and P =.0029, respectively). Excisional biopsy and biopsy site were found to be independently associated with obtaining a diagnostic result (P =.0002 and P =.0008, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Tumor biopsies in children with cancer are associated with a low incidence of complications and a high rate of diagnostic accuracy. The predictive factors identified for adverse outcomes may aid in risk assessment and preprocedural counseling. Cancer 2015;121:1098–1107. © 2014 American Cancer Society.