bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and Associated Factors of Stunting and Thinness Among Children and Adolescents in Nasarawa State: Comparison with World Health Organization Reference
Authors: Monday Nwankwo , Barnabas Danborno , Abraham Musa Sunday , Shehu Abubakar Akuyam
Published: November 2022

Background: Nutritional status and growth patterns are key indicators of a population's socioeconomic wellbeing, but data on the prevalence of undernutrition and percentile ranges for height, weight and body mass index (BMI) of children and adolescents in Nigeria are currently lacking. The aim of this study was to find out how common undernutrition is and to generate reference percentile ranges for height, weight and BMI.
Methods: Height and weight of 1,541 boys and 1,650 girls aged 5–18 years from Lafia, Nasarawa State Nigeria were measured in 2018 – 2019. The LMS method was used to generate smoothed percentiles of height, weight and BMI-for-age. Classifications into nutritional status was made according to WHO recommendations for stunting and thinness.
Results: The proportions of moderately and severely stunted boys were 17.8% and 5.6%, respectively, while the proportions of moderate and severely thinned boys were 52.4% and 27.5%. In girls, the incidence of moderate and severe stunting was 10.9 % and 3.2 %, respectively, whereas the prevalence of moderate and severe thinness was 43.7 % and 18.8
Conclusions: The present study shows that undernutrition is highly prevalent among children and adolescents in Lafia, although the severity of undernutrition is higher in boys than girls. This study offers researchers in Nigeria or other low- and middle-income nations with the most recent age- and sex-standardized percentiles for height, weight, and BMI of children and adolescents in Lafia that may be used for comparison.
Temporal trends in use of antisecretory agents among patients administered clopidogrel- based dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Lee Yonghyuk , Choi Hye-Jeong , Park Susin , Je Nam Kyung
Published: November 2022

Background:
Antisecretory drugs are commonly prescribed with clopidogrel-based dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) to prevent gastrointestinal bleeding in high-risk patients after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). However, omeprazole and esomeprazole (inhibiting proton pump inhibitors [PPIs]) increase cardiovascular event rates on co-administration with clopidogrel.
This study aimed to examine trends in the use of antisecretory agents in patients administered clopidogrel-based DAPT and the concomitant use of clopidogrel and inhibiting PPIs.
Methods:
We used National Inpatient Sample data compiled by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service from 2009 to 2020. Further, we identified patients who were prescribed clopidogrel-based DAPT after PCI and investigated the concomitant use of antisecretory agents with clopidogrel. To verify the annual trend of drug utilization, we used the Cochran–Armitage trend test.
Results:
From 2009 to 2020, the percentage of H2 receptor antagonists users decreased steadily (from 82.5 % in 2009 to 25.3 % in 2020); instead, the percentage of PPI users increased (from 34.7 % in 2009 to 69.0 % in 2020). The use of inhibiting PPI also increased (from 4.2 % in 2009 to 30.7 % in 2020). P-CAB was rarely used before 2019; however, in 2020, it accounted for 7.8 % of the antisecretory users.
Conclusions:
Our study demonstrates that the use of inhibiting PPIs increased steadily in patients administered clopidogrel-based DAPT therapy. This is a major concern since the concomitant use of inhibiting PPIs with clopidogrel could increase the risk of cardiovascular events.
Biomass composite with exogenous organic acid addition supports the growth of sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor 'Dochna') by reducing salinity and increasing nutrient level in coastal saline–alkaline soil
Authors: Yang Ruixue , Sun Zhengguo , Liu Xinbao , Long Xiaohua , Gao Limin , Shen Yixin
Published: November 2022

Purpose
In coastal saline lands, organic matter is scarce and saline stress is high. Exploring the promotion effect of intervention with organic acid from biological materials on soil improvement and thus forage output and determining the related mechanism.
Methods
Three exogenous organic acids (humic acid, fulvic acid, and citric acid) were combined with four kinds of biomass materials (cottonseed hull, cow manure, grass charcoal, and pine needle) and applied to about 0.3% of medium-salt mudflat soil. The salinity and nutrient dynamics of the soil and the growth and physiological differences of sweet sorghum at the seedling, elongation, and heading stages were observed under different treatments to screen for efficient combinations and analyze the intrinsic causes and influencing mechanisms.
Results
The soil salinity, nutrient dynamics, and forage grass biological yield during sweet sorghum cultivation in saline soils differed significantly (p < 0.05) depending on the type of organic acid–biomass composite applied. Citric acid–pine needle composite substantially reduced the soil salinity and increased the soil nutrient content at the seedling stage and improved the root vigor and photosynthesis of sweet sorghum by increasing its stress tolerance, allowing plant morphological restructuring for a high biological yield. The improvement effect of fulvic acid–pine needle or fulvic acid–cow manure composite was manifested at the elongation and heading stages.
Conclusions
Citric acid–pine needle composite promoted the growth of saline sweet sorghum seedlings, and the effect of fulvic acid–pine needle composite lasted until the middle and late stages.
Magnitude and Factors Associated with Immediate Postpartum Anemia among Singleton postpartum women at Public Hospitals in Dire Dawa Administration, Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Bireda Asma , Mohammed Aminu , Hailu Mikiale , Ali Kedir
Published: November 2022

Background:Anemia is the decrease ability of red blood cells to provide adequate oxygen to body tissue. Postpartum period is a critical time where most maternal complications including death occurs and immediate postpartum anemia is one of the risk factors. But it lacks studies both at national level and study area too. Therefore, this study was aimed to assess magnitude and factors associated with immediate postpartum anemiaat public hospitals in Dire Dawa administration, Ethiopia.Methods:Institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on May 2022 among 476 study participants selected using systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through face-to-face interview by pre-tested structured questionnaire and medical card review. The data were entered in to EPI DATA (Version 3.1) and analyzed using SPSS (Version 22) software. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression, odds ratios with 95% CI also was carried out to see the effect of each independent variable on the dependent variable. A P-value (< 0.25 at bivariate and < 0.05 at multivariable) was considered as statistical significance.Results:A total of 476 postpartum women were included in the study and the overall magnitude of immediate postpartum anemia was 26.9% (95% CI: 22.9-31.1%). Immediate postpartum anemia was significantly associated with no formal education (AOR=3.01, 95%CI: 1.12-8.08), unemployment (AOR= 2.72, 95%CI:1.02-7.21), < 4 ANC visits (AOR=2.40,95%CI: 1.32-4.30), instrumental assisted vaginal delivery(IAVD) (AOR=3.70,95%CI: 1.952-6.86), pre-delivery anemia (AOR=2.96,95%CI: 1.48-5.91), GIT parasites (AOR=3.23,95%CI: 1.37-7.59), low dietary diversity (AOR=3.10,95%CI:1.65-5.79) and no IFA supplementation (AOR=2.69,95%CI:1.10-6.58) during pregnancy.Conclusion:Immediate postpartum anemia is a high public health problem comparing to other previous studies in Ethiopia.Coordinated efforts in promoting antenatal care visits and awareness about risk factors of immediate postpartum anemia were recommended to studied hospitals and other stalk holders.
Born with intronless ERF transcriptional factors: C4 photosynthesis inherits a legacy dating back 450 million years
Authors: Lyu Ming-Ju , Du Huilong , Yao Hongyan , zhang zhiguo , Chen Genyun , Chen Faming , Zhao Yong-Yao , Tang Qiming , Miao Fenfen , Wang Yanjie , Zhao Yuhui , Lu Hongwei , Fang Lu , Gao Qiang , Qi Yiying , Zhang Qing , Zhang Jisen , Yang Tao , Cui Xuean , Liang Chengzhi , Lu Tiegang , Zhu Xin-Guang
Published: November 2022

The genus Flaveria, containing species at different evolutionary stages of the progression from C3 to C4 photosynthesis, is used as a model system to study the evolution of C4 photosynthesis. Here, we report chromosome-scale genome sequences for five Flaveria species, including C3, C4, and intermediate species. Our analyses revealed that both acquiring additional gene copies and recruiting ethylene responsive factor (ERF) cis-regulatory elements (CREs) contributed to the emergence of C4 photosynthesis. ERF transcriptional factors (TFs), especially intronless ERF TFs, were co-opted to regulate C4 photosynthetic genes in both dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous C4 species that diverged 160 million years ago (mya). These C4 species co-opted intronless ERF TFs originated from the Late Ordovician mass extinction that occurred ~450 mya in coping with environmental stress. Moreover, intronless ERF TFs are the most abundant intronless TFs in plant genomes, and show fast responses to environmental changes. Therefore, this study suggested that intronless ERF TFs, acquired during the early evolution of plants, provided the molecular toolbox facilitating multiple subsequent independent evolutions of C4 photosynthesis.
Linking drought indices in the Atlantic sector of the High Arctic (Svalbard) to atmospheric circulation
Authors: Migała Krzysztof , Łupikasza Ewa , Osuch Marzena , Owczarek Magdalena Opała – , Owczarek Piotr
Published: November 2022

Based on the long-term climatological data from Ny Alesund, Svalbard Airport – Longyearbyen and Hornsund Polish Polar Station, we undertook an analysis of drought indices on West Spitsbergen Island, Svalbard, for the period 1979–2019. The features and causes of spatiotemporal variability of atmospheric drought on Svalbard were identified, as expressed by the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI). It was possible to indicate several-year periods with the SPEI indicating a domination of drought or wet conditions. The long-term variability in the annual and half-year (May-October) SPEI values showed a prevalence of droughts in the 1980s and in the first decade of the 21st century, while wet seasons were frequent in the 1990s and in the second decade of the 21st century. The seasonal SPEIs were characteristic of great interannual variability. In MAM and JJA, droughts were more frequent after 2000; in the same period in SON and DJF, the frequency of wet seasons increased. The most remarkable changes in the scale of the entire research period were estimated for autumn, where negative values of SPEI occur more often in the first part of the period and positive values dominate in the last 20 years. The long-term course of the variables in subsequent seasons between 1979 and 2019 indicates strong relationships between the SPEI drought index and anomalies of precipitable water and somewhat weaker relationships with anomalies of sea level pressure.
Production of Designer Milk and Its Evaluation of Constituents Beneficial for Human Health
Authors: Hasan Ali , Sohail Asma , Iqbal Muhammad Farooq , Javed Muhammad Adeel
Published: November 2022

The current trend of "functional foods" demands foods that can improve customers' health while also providing significant benefits in areas such as energy, development, and age. Milk is classified as a functional food just because it contains a high level of nutritional content as well as other health advantages that promote growth and development. Buffalo milk has a high concentration of milk proteins, lipids, vitamins, and other physiologically active components, making it an important food. Milk must be designed in such a way that it can enhance its properties in response to changing conditions in order to compete with today's demand. Milk composition can be altered or designed utilizing nutritional and genetic techniques to achieve specific health or processing benefits. This study aimed to alter the fatty acid profile and lactose content of buffalo milk utilizing plant seeds (canola seeds, linseed, and fenugreek) and other nutrients such as bypass fat, vitamins A, D, E, zinc sulphate, and folic acid. A fifteen days trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of a nutritional supplement on milk production, lactose content, and fatty acid profile of buffalo milk. Three treatments were used: To control diet (T0) and diets containing nutritional supplemented groups T1 (295g per day) and T2 (355g per day). Three replicates per treatment were used. At days 0, 5, 10, and 15, milk samples were collected from each buffalo to measure milk production, protein, fat, lactose, total solids, and fatty acid profile. A significant increase in milk production, fat, protein, and fatty acid profile of milk at days 0–15, in T2 group produced higher milk production, fat, protein, and unsaturated fatty acid (oleic-18:1, linoleic-18:2) than buffaloes in the T1 and control diet (T0). Lactose and saturated fatty acid (Palmitic-C16, Myristic-C14) scores were lower for nutritional-supplemented diets (T1 and T2). Designer milk was used to make designer yogurt, which had more fat and protein than control yogurt. These results suggest that nutritional supplements can be used in buffaloes’ diets to reduce lactose content and increase the amount of unsaturated fatty acids.
USP25 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma progression by interacting with TRIM21 via the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway
Authors: Liu Yinghui , Ma Jingjing , Lu Shimin , He Pengzhan , Dong Weiguo
Published: November 2022

The USP25 protein has been reported to participate in the development of several cancers. However, few studies have reported its association with HCC. In our study, USP25 was highly expressed in HCC tissue and HCC cell lines. Importantly, high expression of USP25 in tissues was closely related to poor prognosis. USP25 knockdown markedly reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion of HepG2 and MHCC97H cells, whereas USP25 overexpression led to the opposite effects. In addition, we demonstrated that USP25 interacted with TRIM21 to regulate the protein levels of the EMT (E-cadherin, N-cadherin and Snail) and Wnt/β-catenin pathway (β-catenin, APC, Axin2 and GSK3β) and those of their downstream proteins (C-myc and Cyclin D1). Finally, we verified that knocking out USP25 inhibited tumour growth in vivo and promoted the distant metastasis of the tumor. In summary, our data showed that USP25 was overexpressed in HCC. USP25 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of HCC cells by interacting with TRIM21 to activate the β-catenin signalling pathway.
Dried Raw Camel Milk Spot “DRCMS” as a simple and efficient microsampling method from hot and remote regions for mesophilic aerobes count and Lactofermentation microbiota activity detection
Authors: DRICI Habiba , ADHIKARY Nihar DEB , VILLINGER François , HANSEN Egon BECH
Published: November 2022

We tested the validity of the “DRCMS” as new method for the collection and procurement of raw camel milk samples from the field. 100 µl of whole fresh raw camel milk were spotted on Sterile Whatman Filter Paper (SWFP) then, stored at 24°C and 37°C from 0 to 3 days. We compared the log10 cfu/mL count of mesophilic aerobes (MA) populations and the fermenting ability from freshly collected milk and corresponding samples that were spotted on SWFP. Considering the results using parametric unpaired t-test, absence of significant differences (p > 0.05) between means log10 cfu/mL from fresh raw camel kept at 06°C according the conventional method, and those from DRCMS as new storage method were recorded for 85% samples. Besides Lactofermentation test reveal that biological activities of the microbiota in each fresh raw camel milk and its correspondent DRCMS were the same, showing an effective microbiota composition preservation on SWFP.
Agrochemical Use: Factors Predisposing Maize-based Farmers to Health Impairment and the Cost of Health Valuation in Ogun State, Nigeria
Authors: Ayegbokiki A.O , Ayinde I. A. , Okoye H.O. , Atungwu J.J. , Zingstra H.
Published: November 2022

The use of agrochemicals promotes productivity and efficiency of farm work and it may become hazardous for the user if handled improperly. Hence, this study looked into the factors that triggered health impairment among maize-based farmers using agrochemical in Ogun state, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 200 respondents for the study. Analytical tools employed in the study include descriptive statistics, multivariate probit and economic cost of illness models. The results revealed that most health impairment suffered by agrochemical user include headache, breathing difficulty, skin rashes and dizziness, among others. Insecticide, as the likely cause of headache and breathing difficulties on respondents, was significant atp ≤ 0.01 while the probability of agrochemical application method, improper use of protective wears and non-reading of instructional label was also significant to cause health impairments at values ofp ≤ 0.01,p ≤ 0.01 andp ≤ 0.05, respectively. Consequently, the economic cost of illness (COI) result reflected that maize-based farmers who used agrochemicals incurred more cost on treatment ( 51,012.31k) than the non-agrochemical users ( 21,908.13k). Insecticides tend to make the respondents more sick than other agrochemicals as it recorded a peak mean value of economic cost in the study area. The study recommends among others, prompt health talks, proper use of protective wears and investment in organic farming.
Nutritive Values of Protein Hydrolysate Products from Shrimp Waste Utilization by Fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum
Authors: Chamsart Saethawat ,   Krongchan Rattanpradit1, Kuakaew Jeerarat
Published: November 2022

Shrimp hydrolysate proteins are produced from inedible parts of shrimp, such as the head, shell and tail, called GSW (ground shrimp waste). By fermentations with a proteolytic Lactobacillus plantarum strain 541, the inoculants were cultivated with commercial MRS (De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe) broth and pineapple juice broth (PA). There were four fermentation treatments: raw GSW fermented with inborn microorganisms, sterilized GSW fermented with MRS inoculant, raw GSW fermented with MRS inoculant, and raw GSW fermented with PA inoculant. The protein hydrolysate products of those treatments were compared with those of a nonfermented GSW and a commercial fishmeal, CFM. The changes in pH and viable cell number density concentrations (VSNC) or viable cell counts (CFU/g) were studied during fermentations at 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 h. The pH values were controlled to 5.0–5.5 within the first 4 h. The hydrolysate protein products contained 48.6–52.5% (w/w) proteins, 5.4–8.0% (w/w) total lipids, 0.4–0.7% (w/w) fiber, and 12.0–13.5% (w/w) ash. The protein content in raw GSW fermented with MRS inoculant was the highest (p ≤ 0.05), close to the values of 55.6 and 63% (w/w) in nonfermented GSW and CFM. Moreover, the sixteen types of total amino acids of those hydrolysate protein products, nonfermented GSW and CFM presented high values. For this reason, the shrimp hydrolysate protein products here contain large amounts of amino acids, similar to those of the high-quantity protein source CFM. Thus, protein products from the hydrolysis of GSW by fermentation can replace CFM for animal feed protein sources. The in vitro results also showed that the shrimp hydrolysate proteins contained highly digestible proteins. They also presented varying molecular weights of 26–77 kDa of short peptides on SDS-PAGE.
Effect of calcium soaps from garlic and Salix babylonica extracts on nematode loads, nutrient intake and digestibility, nitrogen balance, and rumen fermentation kinetics in dairy goats
Authors: Vargas-Bello-Pérez Einar , Ghavipanje Navid , Gonzalez Teresa Torres , Hernandez Juan Carlos Angeles , Velázquez-Ordoñez Valente , Ortega Octavio Alonso Castelán , Jimenez Lizbeth E. Robles , Roskof Sergio , González-Ronquillo Manuel
Published: November 2022

Global small ruminants’ sector is under scrutiny and is challenged by sustainability issues. The infections caused by gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) are some of the main concerns that are responsible for both economic and productive losses. Natural extracts may be a useful as a part of an integrated parasite control. It has been shown that both Garlic (Garlic) and Salix babylonica (Salix) have anti-microbial and anti-parasitic properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary calcium soaps of Garlic and Salix extracts on nematode loads, nutrient intake and digestibility, nitrogen balance, and rumen fermentation kinetics in dairy goats. A completely randomized design was used with 9 Saanen does, 3 in each of the three treatments over a period of 28 days. Animals were fed a diet based on alfalfa hay and a concentrate that was supplemented (65 g/kg DM) with calcium soaps of either safflower (Control), Garlic, or Salix. Intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were not affected by dietary calcium soaps. However, the highest digestibility of DM (P = 0.02) and OM (P = 0.01) was observed in Salix supplemented goats besides a tendency to increase (P = 0.06) NDF digestibility. In vitro gas kinetics and fermentation profile were not affected by diets. Results from fecal egg count indicated a reduction (P = 0.003) for Salix (67%) and Garlic (66%) compared to Control. Overall, calcium soaps of garlic or Salix extracts can be used to reduce gastrointestinal parasites in goats without compromising animal's productive traits and rumen function.
Amalgamation of Nanotechnology with Chicken Egg Yolk Antibody (IgY) for Enhanced Therapeutic and Diagnostic applications – A Systematic Review
Authors: Suresh Laksha Gayathri , Indhuprakash Srichandrasekar Thuthikkadu , Gandhi Sakthivel , Thirumalai Diraviyam
Published: November 2022

Antibody research field has dramatically revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry for diagnosis and therapeutic applications. Ever since after the approval of first monoclonal antibody by US-FDA, researchers have been extensively working on this new class of drugs called antibodies. Owing to its inexpensive, fast production of no ethical concern, IgY from avian source i.e., chicken-IgY has attracted many researchers. Nevertheless, the combination of deploying nanoparticle and IgY-technology has a great potential in making tremendous impact in combating the issues of biosensing and antibody delivery. The so-called nano-immunotherapy, that uses nanoparticles as a carrier to safely and effectively transport IgY antibodies to the target region, may be the most cutting-edge, sophisticated, effective, and best method to address antibody delivery-related problems. Utilizing the proper moieties, functionalized nanomaterials can help improve the localization of antibodies at a specific site, thereby reducing off-targeting problems, protect them from enzyme-mediated degradation, lessen side effects, and decrease the frequency of dosage by high loadings in a single dose. Overall, this review presents the so-far postulated frameworks on the usage of nanomaterials with IgY for diagnostic and therapeutic applications thereby discussing the immediate need in shifting the paradigm of employing nano-IgY technology to set a benchmark in healthcare industry.
Parent-adolescent conflict, peer victimization, and Internet gaming disorder among Chinese adolescents: The moderating effect of OXTR gene rs53576 polymorphism
Authors: Liang Qiao , Long Hongzhi , Yu Chengfu , Xing Qiang , Chen Pei , Li Shengnan
Published: November 2022

Background:Despite growing evidence that parent-adolescent conflict positively correlates with Internet gaming disorder (IGD) among adolescents, its underlying mediating and moderating mechanisms have not been thoroughly examined. Based on the social development model and gene-environment interaction perspective, this study investigates whether the indirect association of parent-adolescent conflict, which impacts adolescent IGD through peer victimization, was moderated by the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene rs53576 polymorphism.Methods:Overall, 673 Chinese adolescents (Meanage= 12.81 years;SD= 0.48 years; 54% boys) were included in this study. The participants completed questionnaires concerning parent-adolescent conflict, peer victimization, and IGD, and genomic DNA was extracted from each participant’s saliva and buccal cells.Results:The findings indicated that peer victimization mediated the link between parent-adolescent conflict and IGD among adolescents. TheOXTRgene rs53576 polymorphism also moderated this indirect link. Specifically, the indirect effect of parent-adolescent conflict on adolescent IGD through peer victimization was significant for adolescents with AA homozygotes. However, it was non-significant for G-carrier adolescents.Conclusion:This research simultaneously considers the roles of family, peers, and genetics in the occurrence of adolescent IGD. Furthermore, it provides beneficial information to customize interventions for adolescent IGD prevention.
Coconut flour (Cocos nucifera L.) partial replacement on wheat flour (Triticum aestivum)-based tortillas and its effect on dough rheology and tortilla quality
Authors: Islas-Rubio Alma R. , Laborin-Escalante Francisco , Vásquez-Lara Francisco , Montoya-Ballesteros Luz C , Ramos-Clamont-Montford Gabriela , Barca Ana M. Calderón de la , Heredia-Sandoval Nina G.
Published: November 2022

One of the popular flatbreads in northern Mexico are the wheat-flour (WF) tortillas to prepare ‘burritos’ widely accepted in USA and other countries, but with low nutritional quality. Therefore, to increase protein and fiber contents we replaced 10 or 20% WF with coconut (Cocos nucifera, variety Alto Saladita) flour (CF) and evaluated the effects in dough rheology and quality of the composite tortillas. There were differences in the optimum mixing time among the doughs. The protein, fat, and ash contents of the tortillas increased (p < 0.05), with the CF increasing. The carbohydrate content was not different (p > 0.05), but the 20% CF tortillas contained more fiber than the control tortilla. Tortilla firmness increased (p < 0.05) and extensibility decreased (p < 0.05) with the CF increasing. The 80:20 blend tortillas showed the highest firmness (7.9 N), whereas the control and the 90:10 blend tortillas did not differ (p > 0.05) in firmness. There were no differences (p > 0.05) in extensibility between the composite tortillas. The physicochemical properties of the tortillas indicated that the 20% CF-containing tortilla is a better nutritive option to only wheat flour tortilla for its higher dietary fiber and protein contents, in addition to the slightly reduction in extensibility compared to the WF tortilla.
A comparative estimation on the property’s performance and applications of ZnO thin fabricated via ALD
Authors: Fouad S. S. , Nabil M , Parditka B. , Ismail A. M. , Atyia H. E. , Baradács E. , Erdélyi Zoltán
Published: November 2022

In this study we investigated the material properties of ZnO thin film of ≈ 300 nm thickness, grown on glass and silicon substrates by using atomic layer deposition (ALD) technique. Structural characterization was carried out using incident X-ray diffraction pattern. The microstructural evolution was accompanied by the grain size measurement. A key element of this study was to prove that it is practically impossible to attribute the optical energy gap Eg and the refractive index n dependence to any typical thin film material because these parameters depend on the deposition condition and the program used for determination. Two different values (3.32 and 3.36 eV) for the optical energy gap Eg, and (2.29–2.27) for the refractive index, have been reported and analyzed for ZnO thin film due to the type of behavior of absorbance, transmittance and reflectance. The dielectric characteristics and the AC conductivity were also measured at temperature ranging from (303–413 K0 ) and at frequency range of (1 K Hz to 1 MH). The data of the AC conductivity was analyzed by the universal power law. It was found that the corelated barrier hopping model (CBH) model is the predominate conduction mechanism. This article contains recent advances in the modified ZnO metal oxide prepared by (ALD), for efficient approach for sensor device fabrication depending mainly on the estimated parameters.
Kinetic characteristics of microplastic release from commonly used masks in aquatic environment
Authors: Liu Ying , Yang Xiaoxia , Chen Liangkai , Zhou Yan , He Qian , Liu Shuli , Li Yan , Tian Kunming
Published: November 2022

Masks-related microplastic pollution poses a new threat to the environment and human health that has gained increasing concern. However, the longer-term kinetics of microplastic release from mask in aquatic environments have not been studied, which hampers its risk assessment. Four types of masks, Mask 1 (normal mask), Mask 2 (fashion mask), Mask 3 (N95 mask), and Mask 4 (disposable surgical mask), were exposed to simulated natural water environments to determine the time-dependent microplastic release characteristics at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months, respectively. In addition, the structure changes of employed masks were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Moreover, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was applied to analyze the chemical composition of released microplastic fibers. Our results showed that the stimulated natural water environment could degrade four masks and produce microplastic fibers and fragments in a time-dependent manner. The size of released particles/fibers is dominant below 20 µm across four mask types. The physical structure of all four masks was damaged to varying degrees. Collectively, we characterized the long-term kinetics of microplastic release from commonly used masks. Our findings suggest that urgent action must be taken to properly manage disposable masks and ultimately limit the health threats associated with discarded masks.
Evaluation of nature parks according to Multi Criteria Decision Making Methods in nature-based tourism processes: Giresun-Turkey
Authors: Kızılkan Yusuf , Birinci Salih , Kaymaz Çağlar Kıvanç
Published: November 2022

Protected areas are the focal point of processes that come to the forefront and contribute to tourism with the concern of transferring national and international natural and cultural areas to future generations. This study includes the determination of the evaluation factors for tourism-based protected area approaches, and the analysis of the protected areas that developed in terms of tourism and infrastructure among the nature parks in Giresun province according to the AHP-TOPSIS method. The proposed model is designed according to 4 main groups resource values and 15 sub-criteria. In the research, the opinions of the experts on the protected areas were analyzed by making pairwise comparisons and alternative selection. The results of these analyzes contribute to the correct decision-making, planning, management, and precise determination of investment areas for the protected areas used for tourism purposes while providing convenience to eliminate the deficiencies in protection and infrastructure planning.
Predictors of Extubation in the Operating Room after Pediatric Cardiac Surgery: A Single Center Retrospective Study
Authors: Biçer Mehmet , Kozan Şima , Darçın Kamil , Çetin Seçil , Tanyıldız Murat , Özden Ömer , Kızılkaya Metehan , Akçevin Atıf
Published: November 2022

Objective
Despite various clinical benefits of early extubation following congenital cardiac surgery, the feasibility of this strategy has been widely debated. In this study, we present the outcomes of our on-table extubation strategy in patients with congenital cardiac disease.
Methods
We performed a retrospective analysis of 91 patients from all age groups, operated on for congenital heart diseases. Patients were evaluated according to the STS-EACTS scoring system. Perioperative patient data were analyzed and correlated with the extubation status.
Results
Overall, 56% of the patients were extubated in the operating room. There was an association between younger age, longer bypass and cross-clamp times and on-table extubation. In addition, lactate as well as partial carbon dioxide pressure values in the blood gas analysis taken prior to extubation were shown to be significant with regards to extubation success. Patients with STAT expected mortality rates below 4.3% and estimated major complication rates below 6.9% were more likely to be extubated. Further, the blood gas analysis with lactate values ​​below 3.9mmol/L and partial carbon dioxide pressures below 35.3mmHg would direct the strategy in favor of on-table extubation. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between a decreased length of hospital stay and on-table extubation.
Conclusion
The outcomes of our on-table extubation strategy for patients with congenital cardiac disease reveal the feasibility of this approach. Higher lactate levels, younger age, increased surgical complexity are indicators of on-table extubation failure. Further, this strategy is associated with shorter ICU and hospital length of stays as an additional clinical benefit.
Transportation Efficiency of Railway Operation Enterprises
Authors: Niu Yanliang , Xiao Fushu , Zhang Na , Sadeghi Mahsa
Published: November 2022

As the basic unit of railway transportation service, railway operation enterprises have receive1d more and more attention. The improvement of transportation efficiency of railway operation enterprises plays a vital role in developing railway transportation. We used the three-stage DEA-Bootstrap model to calculate the transportation efficiency of 38 railway operators worldwide from 2000 to 2020. Compared with the traditional DEA model and the three-stage DEA model, the three-stage DEA-Bootstrap not only eliminates the influence of environmental variables on the efficiency value, but also revises the influence of random factors on the efficiency, and obtains the efficiency closest to the real value. The results show that China Railways (CR), Japan Railways (JR), India Railways (IR), and Russian Railways (RZD) all have high-efficiency rankings in the first stage, the third stage, after Bootstrap correction. Railway comprehensive efficiency is mainly composed of scale efficiency and technical efficiency. And scale efficiency (SE) is the most important factor that determines the overall efficiency of an enterprise. Companies with high-scale efficiency tend to rank relatively high in overall efficiency. Based on the revised characteristics of pure technical efficiency and scale efficiency, we divided the sample enterprises into regions and proposed a promotion strategy relying on the characteristics of regional development. This study would promote improving the transportation efficiency of railway operating enterprises and developing the entire railway transportation industry.
Clinical implications and immunological features of iron metabolism-related gene prognostic signature in breast cancer
Authors: Wang Wenqian , Yu Anni , Wang Zhiruo , Guo Haodong , Yue Chenran , Li Nannan , Wang Yue , Gao Sheng , Hua Chunyan
Published: November 2022

Backgroud: Increasing evidences suggest that the dysregulation of iron metabolism is linked to the onset and progression of breast cancer. However, prognostic value and therapeutic importance of iron metabolism-related genes in breast cancer remain unclear. Methods RNA sequencing information, clinicopathological data, and iron metabolism-related gene sets were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the Molecular Signatures Database. The risk score model was constructed and validated using GSEA, univariate, multivariate Cox, and LASSO regression analysis. The tumor microenvironment landscape of risk model was then evaluated. Finally, we predicted the immunotherapy response and drug prediction of iron metabolism-related signature. Results A total of 7 iron metabolism-related genes were identified, and a novel risk signature was developed in the training cohort for prognosis and risk stratification. The prognostic value of this model was also verified in the testing cohort. Moreover, a nomogram model was constructed and shown high predictive accuracy for 1-, 3-, and 5-year OS rate estimates. In addition, the high risk group had significantly higher immune, stromal and estimate scores, increased immunosuppressive cell infiltrations, elevated marker genes of cancer associated fibroblasts, lower tumor mutation burden, and worse response to anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy. Finally, the associations between drug sensitivity and risk model were analyzed, which might explore targeted drugs to improve the clinical outcomes for breast cancer patients. Conclusions The iron metabolism-related gene prognostic signature was developed and validated, which might provide a method for predicting the prognosis and survival of breast patients, as well as potential targets and drugs for immunotherapy.
Identification of hub-methylated differentially expressed genes in lung adenocarcinoma and immunotherapy resistance
Authors: Ye Xiaodie , Cai Weiguo , Zhang Jian , Zhang Zhiru , Zhi Cheng , Liu Manting , Zhang Zhenfeng
Published: November 2022

Incidence and mortality of lung adenocarcinoma are high, and the epigenetic mechanism of DNA methylation has a critical effect on LUAD at all stages. Our work used GEO and TCGA databases to identify differentially methylated genes (DMGs) in LUAD to explore how DNA methylation works in immunotherapy resistance. Candidate pathogenic genes were highly correlated to hub-methylated differentially expressed genes (SLC2A1, HLF, FAM83A, SCARF1, C2orf40). Core genes were correlated with the pathways regulating cancer development. Using the TISIDB database to estimate immune cell infiltration and immune factor levels, a relation of tumor gene levels with immune infiltration suggested the possible effect of core genes on regulating tumor microenvironment (TME). The functional pathways and key genes were analyzed via GESA and GEVA (GO, KEGG) to identify functionally enriched pathways and key genes. According to CMap, there was a significantly negative correlation between drug expression profiles (BX-912, JAK3-inhibitor-VI, panobinostat, purvalanol-A, and scriptaid) and differentially expressed genes. Therefore, we hypothesized that these drugs could enhance LUAD anti-tumor therapy.
Identification of microRNAs with therapeutic potentials on prostate cancer drug targets: In-silico prediction and In-vitro validation
Authors: Rezaei Samaneh , Abadi Mohammad hassan Jafari Najaf , Bazyari Mohammad Javad , Aghaee-Bakhtiari Seyed Hamid
Published: November 2022

Developing novel strategies for cancer treatment is essential in modern medicine. MiRNAs are master regulators of gene expression and act as control nodes or hubs in regulatory networks. Thus, we hypothesized that miRNAs could be an appropriate and novel therapeutic tool simultaneously targeting a candidate gene set. We defined a set of druggable genes with approved clinical outcomes in prostate cancer by a literature review (i.e., AR, PIK3CA, PIK3CB, MET, FGFR4, EGFR). We conducted gene ontology (GO) enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses using DAVID and BINGO. The gene-gene interaction network was evaluated by GeneMANIA. The protein-protein interaction analysis was performed by STRING. Visualization and integration of biological networks were performed by Cytoscape. These analyses showed selected genes' importance in prostate cancer and its related pathways. Then we applied three bioinformatics algorithms to predict the candidate miRNAs, including mirDip, TarBase v8, and miRTarbase. As a result, miR-124-3p, miR-16-5p, and miR-27a-3p were retrieved through in-silico analyses. The quantitative characteristics of extracted miRNAs with mRNAs were determined using MIRANDA and BiBiServ-Services. The binding features included the miRNA binding site (BS) of mRNA, the locations of miRNA BS (3 UTR,5 UTR, CDS), and the interaction free energy (ΔG, kcal/mole). Next, we performed some experimental techniques to examine the validity of the results. After transfecting the PC-3 and LNCaP cell lines with miRNA overexpressing vectors, the mRNA level of the target gene was examined by RT-PCR. The effects of candidate miRNAs on cell viability were evaluated using MTT assays. The cell cycle distribution was studied by flow cytometry. Our findings suggest that this novel approach may have higher clinical benefits in cancer treatment by concurrent targeting therapeutically relevant gene sets by miRNAs.
Analysis of Daily Visual Habits in a Presbyopic Population
Authors: Ribeiro Filomena , Ferreira Tiago B , Silva Diana , Cláudia Matos Ana , Sylvia Gaspar , P Piñero David
Published: November 2022

Purpose:To evaluate and report the visual habits and requirements of a sample of presbyopic patients using an advanced sensor.Methods:Transversal study collecting clinical data from 40 presbyopes candidates for presbyopia-correction intraocular lens (IOL) implantation with mean age of 61.0 years (43-80 years). A complete ophthalmological examination was performed in all patients including visual, refractive, an ocular biometric analysis. Furthermore, patients were instructed about the use of the Vivior Monitor system (Vivior AG, Zürich, Switzerland), which consists of a series of sensors attached to the rim of the patient’s glasses that capture information about the visual behavior of the patient. This device was worn for a period of 6 hours or more. The data collected was transferred to a database and analyzed.Results:Mean percentages of time dedicated to distance, intermediate and near vision were 27.25±11.93% (5-65%), 30.23±9.36% (12-50%), and 42.53±14.96% (13-78%), respectively. Mean percentages of time performing activities under photopic, mesopic and scotopic conditions were 37.08±23.20% (5-87%), 33.65±13.84% (6-67%), and 29.28±17.03% (4-65%). The percentage of time with digital screens ranged from 2% to 48%. Age was significantly correlated with the percentage of time dedicated to distance vision (r=0.317, p=0.047) and to activities performed under photopic conditions (r=-0.344, p=0.030).Conclusions:Distance and illumination conditions used to perform different daily life visual activities vary significantly among presbyopes, with a trend to the dedication of more time to intermediate and near visual activities performed under photopic and mesopic conditions.
Wireless sensor networks and internet of things for E-services applied natural language processing and deep learning
Authors: Muam Pascal , skalna Iwona , Pełech-Pilichowski Tomasz
Published: November 2022

Introduction
. The internet of things integration with wireless sensor networks can monitor and record the physical conditions of the environment and forward the collected data to a central location. Natural language processing provides a human-data relationship (H2DR) that deep learning uses to train models of artificial neural networks representing human thoughts.
Objective
To present methods on how remote systems collect data and semantically analyze and determine a situation.
Method and material:
Natural language processing applied deep learning on content extraction and evaluation was examined to showcase the strength of e-services based on WSNs and IoTs.
Results
Based on WSNs and IoTs on e-services, a score of 3.61 out of 5 grades was recorded.
Conclusion
The study concluded that WSNs and IoTs applied NLP and DL are the best network technologies for E-services to achieve, content awareness, context extraction, summarization, and security standards.
Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Study of guggulsterone in the Treatment of hyperlipidaemia
Authors: Sarvesh Sabarathinam , Kumar Rajappan Chandra Satish
Published: November 2022

Guggulu is an oleo gum resin from the Commiphora species. It is widely used for cholesterol-lowering activity and arthritis. Guggulsterone plays a major role in the cholesterol-lowering mechanism by inhibiting Farnesoid X Receptor. The pharmacokinetic parameters of Guggulsterone were estimated from P.K.C.S.M. online server, Network analysis was performed followed by molecular docking analysis performed from Autodock V.® 4.2.6 Program. In silico data shows that guggulsterone is an inhibitor of the CYP3A4 enzyme and hepatotoxic in nature. Guggulsterone isomer showed a stronger binding affinity when compared with atorvastatin. The docking score for Guggulsterone was significant to positive control atorvastatin. The present study revealed that Guggulsterone has a high binding affinity and good binding interaction with targeted protein & positive control atorvastatin.
A 6-week time period may not be sufficient to identify potential adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination
Authors: Banoun Helene , Provost Patrick
Published: November 2022

Background
. Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines have been widely used as the main sanitary measure destined to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Rapidly purported as being “safe and effective”, this new generation of vaccines is radically different from those developed traditionally and for which potentially associated adverse events (AEs) are considered through a standard 6-week post-vaccination period.
Hypothesis
. Here, we posited that the reporting period for AEs related to the COVID-19 vaccines may be different.
Method
. In this retrospective, observational study, we aimed to assess the chronology of new/worsening ailments occurring after the administration of COVID-19 vaccines based on the changes to the participants’ pharmacological records. Patients vaccinated against COVID-19 and experiencing health-related events during the study period (between September 30, 2021 and July 15, 2022) were included and the changes to their pharmacological records were analyzed.
Results
. One hundred and twelve (112) adult patients (63 men, 49 women; 67.54 ± 14.55 years-old; mean ± standard deviation) have reported changes to their pharmacological record following health-related events, which occurred 11.57 weeks (median; range 0.04–47.14) following their last COVID-19 injection of 3 doses (median; range 1–4). The most frequent medical ailments that appeared or worsened were cardiovascular diseases (CVD; N = 61), cancer (N = 31), respiratory diseases (RD; N = 22) and zona (N = 10), half of which occurred after the second dose. Nineteen (19) patients (10 men, 9 women; 78.2 ± 11.4 years-old) died on average 17.14 weeks (SD 13.71) after their last injection.
Conclusion
. Most (76.1%) of the health-related events experienced by patients vaccinated against COVID-19 occurred beyond the 6-week period prescribed by the health authorities. Our findings call for further investigations and an extension of the post-vaccination AE reporting period.