bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Risk Aversion, Organ Utilization and Changing Behavior
Authors: Sharif Adnan
Published: April 2022

Improving organ acceptance and utilization rates is critical to ensure we maximize usage of donated organs as a scarce resource. Many factors underlie unnecessary discard of viable organs. Declined transplantation opportunities for candidates is associated with increased wait-list mortality. Technological advancements in organ preservation may help bridge the gap between donation and utilization, but an overlooked obstacle is the practice of risk aversion by transplant professionals when decision-making under risk. Lessons from behavioral economics, where experimental work has outlined the impact of loss or risk aversion on decision-making, have not been translated to transplantation. Many external factors can influence decision-making when accepting or utilizing organs, which are potentially amendable if external conditions are improved. However, attitudes and perceptions to risk for transplant professionals can pervade decision-making and influence behaviour. If we wish to change this behavior, then the underlying nature of decision-making under risk when accepting or utilizing organs must be studied to facilitate the design of targeted behavior change interventions to convert risk aversion to risk tolerance. To ensure optimal use of donated organs, we need more research into decision-making under risk.
An Integrated Nitrogen Management Strategy Promotes Open-Field Pepper Yield, Crop Nitrogen Uptake, and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Southwest China
Authors: Ma Xiao , Zhang Fen , Liu Fabo , Guo Guangzheng , Cheng Taihong , Wang Junjie , Shen Yuanpeng , Liang Tao , Chen Xinping , Wang Xiaozhong
Published: April 2022

Excessive nitrogen (N) fertilizer application is a serious issue in intensive vegetable production and can negatively affect vegetable productivity and N use efficiency (NUE). The optimization of the N fertilizer rate and application of enhanced efficiency N fertilizers (EENFs), including nitrification inhibitors (Nis) and controlled-release fertilizer (CRF), are widely recognized as feasible N management strategies to resolve the problem of unreasonable N fertilizer input. Therefore, we conducted a 2-year field experiment (2019–2020) in an open-field vegetable system (pepper, Capsicum annuum L.) in southwest China to investigate the effects of an optimized N application rate and EENFs on vegetable yield, NUE, and crop N uptake. The following N management treatments were established: control without N fertilizer input (CK); optimized N fertilizer rate as urea (OPT); farmers’ fertilizer practice (FP); application of a nitrification inhibitor (NI) within the optimized N fertilizer rate; and application of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) within the optimized N fertilizer rate. The results showed that the OPT treatment based on root zone N management achieved a 37.5% reduction in the N application rate without compromising vegetable yield and increased the recovery efficiency of N (REN) by 31.5% compared to the FP treatment. Furthermore, the combined application of the NI or CRF treatments with the OPT treatment resulted in greater vegetable yields, fruit N uptake, and REN (9.54%, 26.8%, and 27.6%, respectively, for NI; 10.5%, 28.7%, and 28.8%, respectively, for CRF) than the OPT treatment alone. The absorption ratio of fruit N uptake to total crop N uptake was also increased. Our results clearly showed that the combined application of EENFs with the OPT treatment could achieve the win–win benefits of a yield increase and improved REN in Chinese vegetable production.
An Affordable Identity—Customisation Prior to Housing Construction in Australia
Authors: Carney Lauren , Yu Rongrong
Published: April 2022

This paper presents a study that explores an affordable housing scheme which allows customisation prior to construction for owner-occupiers. Due to ongoing concerns about the economic fallout caused by the COVID-19 pandemic affecting large populations, the demand for affordable housing is increasing. In particular, low-income households continue to struggle with unaffordable rents throughout major Australian cities. Assailed by this growing affordability crisis and deemed environmentally unsustainable, Australian suburbs are in need of revitalisation. The implementation of mass customisation solutions can heighten the sense of identity within a community and also significantly increase occupant satisfaction. However, presently, there is a lack of studies discussing the financial model and design of affordable mass customisation solutions for housing. To address that gap, this paper employs the method of case studies by analysing five relevant cases from the perspectives of affordability and customisation. The results of this study indicate that there is great room for future improvement in what is currently claimed to be defined as affordable housing, in terms of both affordability and customisation. These results will potentially assist and provide guidance to future architects, developers and planners.
Increases of Phosphorylated Tau (Ser202/Thr205) in the Olfactory Regions Are Associated with Impaired EEG and Olfactory Behavior in Traumatic Brain Injury Mice
Authors: Yoon Younghyun , Kim SuHyun , Seol YunHee , Im Hyoenjoo , Park Uiyeol , Han Hio-Been , Choi Jee Hyun , Ryu Hoon
Published: April 2022

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) leads to long-term cognitive impairments, with an increased risk for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Among these various impairments, olfactory dysfunction is one of the most common symptoms in TBI patients. However, there are very few studies that show the association between olfactory dysfunction and repetitive TBI. To investigate the effects of repetitive TBI on olfactory functioning and the related pathological neuronal injuries in mice, we applied a weight-drop model of TBI and performed neuropathological examinations and electroencephalography (EEG) in olfactory-bulb-associated areas. Through neuropathological examinations, we found significant increases of amyloid precursor protein (APP) and phosphorylated Tau (p-Tau) (S202/T205) in olfactory-bulb-associated areas. Neuronal atrophy in the lateral anterior olfactory nucleus (AOL), granule layer olfactory bulb (GrO), and dorsal tenia tecta (DTT) was also found to be correlated with p-Tau levels. However, there was no difference in the total Tau levels in the olfactory-bulb-associated areas of TBI mice. Electroencephalography (EEG) of repetitive TBI mouse models showed impaired spontaneous delta oscillation, as well as altered cross-frequency coupling between delta phase and amplitudes of the fast oscillations in the resting-state olfactory bulb. Furthermore, abnormal alterations in EEG band powers were observed during the olfactory oddball paradigm test. TBI also led to impairments of the olfactory-function-associated behaviors. This study provides evidence of behavioral, neuropathological, and physiological alterations in the mouse olfactory system caused by repetitive TBI. Together, p-Tau alterations and EEG impairments may serve as important biomarkers of olfactory-track-associated dysfunctions in repetitive TBI.
Utilizing Three-Dimensional Culture Methods to Improve High-Throughput Drug Screening in Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Bergdorf Kensey , Bauer Joshua A. , Westover David , Phifer Courtney , Murphy Barbara , Tyson Darren R. , Lee Ethan , Weiss Vivian L.
Published: April 2022

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is the most aggressive endocrine neoplasm, with a median survival of just four to six months post-diagnosis. Even with surgical and chemotherapeutic interventions, the five-year survival rate is less than 5%. Although combination dabrafenib/trametinib therapy was recently approved for treatment of the ~25% of ATCs harboring BRAFV600E mutations, there are no approved, effective treatments for BRAF-wildtype disease. Herein, we perform a screen of 1525 drugs and evaluate therapeutic candidates using monolayer cell lines and four corresponding spheroid models of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. We utilize three-dimensional culture methods, as they have been shown to more accurately recapitulate tumor responses in vivo. These three-dimensional cultures include four distinct ATC spheroid lines representing unique morphology and mutational drivers to provide drug prioritization that will be more readily translatable to the clinic. Using this screen, we identify three exceptionally potent compounds (bortezomib, cabazitaxel, and YM155) that have established safety profiles and could potentially be moved into clinical trial for the treatment of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma, a disease with few treatment options.
Heterogeneity between Core Needle Biopsy and Synchronous Axillary Lymph Node Metastases in Early Breast Cancer Patients—A Comparison of HER2, Estrogen and Progesterone Receptor Expression Profiles during Primary Treatment Regime
Authors: Weydandt Laura , Nel Ivonne , Kreklau Anne , Horn Lars-Christian , Aktas Bahriye
Published: April 2022

In breast cancer therapeutic decisions are based on the expression of estrogen (ER), progesterone (PR), the human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) receptors and the proliferation marker Ki67. However, only little is known concerning heterogeneity between the primary tumor and axillary lymph node metastases (LNM) in the primary site. We retrospectively analyzed receptor profiles of 215 early breast cancer patients with axillary synchronous LNM. Of our cohort, 69% were therapy naive and did not receive neoadjuvant treatment. Using immunohistochemistry, receptor status and Ki67 were compared between core needle biopsy of the tumor (t-CNB) and axillary LNM obtained during surgery. The discordance rates between t-CNB and axillary LNM were 12% for HER2, 6% for ER and 20% for PR. Receptor discordance appears to already occur at the primary site. Receptor losses might play a role concerning overtreatment concomitant with adverse drug effects, while receptor gains might be an option for additional targeted or endocrine therapy. Hence, not only receptor profiles of the tumor tissue but also of the synchronous axillary LNM should be considered in the choice of treatment.
Regulation of ZEB1 Function and Molecular Associations in Tumor Progression and Metastasis
Authors: Perez-Oquendo Mabel , Gibbons Don L.
Published: April 2022

Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is a pleiotropic transcription factor frequently expressed in carcinomas. ZEB1 orchestrates the transcription of genes in the control of several key developmental processes and tumor metastasis via the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The biological function of ZEB1 is regulated through pathways that influence its transcription and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Diverse signaling pathways converge to induce ZEB1 activity; however, only a few studies have focused on the molecular associations or functional changes of ZEB1 by post-translational modifications (PTMs). Due to the robust effect of ZEB1 as a transcription repressor of epithelial genes during EMT, the contribution of PTMs in the regulation of ZEB1-targeted gene expression is an active area of investigation. Herein, we review the pivotal roles that phosphorylation, acetylation, ubiquitination, sumoylation, and other modifications have in regulating the molecular associations and behavior of ZEB1. We also outline several questions regarding the PTM-mediated regulation of ZEB1 that remain unanswered. The areas of research covered in this review are contributing to new treatment strategies for cancer by improving our mechanistic understanding of ZEB1-mediated EMT.
Clinical Applications of Classical and Novel Biological Markers of Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Pekarek Leonel , Fraile-Martinez Oscar , Garcia-Montero Cielo , Saez Miguel A. , Barquero-Pozanco Ines , del Hierro-Marlasca Laura , de Castro Martinez Patricia , Romero-Bazán Adoración , Alvarez-Mon Miguel A. , Monserrat Jorge , García-Honduvilla Natalio , Buján Julia , Alvarez-Mon Melchor , Guijarro Luis G. , Ortega Miguel A.
Published: April 2022

The incidence and prevalence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma have increased in recent years. Pancreatic cancer is the seventh leading cause of cancer death, but it is projected to become the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality by 2040. Most patients are diagnosed in an advanced stage of the disease, with very limited 5-year survival. The discovery of different tissue markers has elucidated the underlying pathophysiology of pancreatic adenocarcinoma and allowed stratification of patient risk at different stages and assessment of tumour recurrence. Due to the invasive capacity of this tumour and the absence of screening markers, new immunohistochemical and serological markers may be used as prognostic markers for recurrence and in the study of possible new therapeutic targets because the survival of these patients is low in most cases. The present article reviews the currently used main histopathological and serological markers and discusses the main characteristics of markers under development.
Integrated Studies of Banana on Remote Sensing, Biogeography, and Biodiversity: An Indonesian Perspective
Authors: Wikantika Ketut , Ghazali Mochamad Firman , Dwivany Fenny Martha , Novianti Cindy , Yayusman Lissa Fajri , Sutanto Agus
Published: April 2022

The study of banana herbs and fruits is rarely conducted using multidisciplinary approaches. However, a multidisciplinary approach could be useful for gaining information on many aspects, including remote sensing, biodiversity and biogeography, owing to the uniqueness of bananas. The present article reviews a study on banana herbs from an Indonesian perspective. It starts by obtaining information related to firmness, peel’s colour change, water content and sugar content corresponding to Brix and Starch values. It then proceeds to find the relation between remote sensing (RS) technologies of all these biophysical characteristics and genomics, transcriptomic and metabolomics. Besides this, geospatial sciences, such as geographic information systems (GIS), may help visualise biogeographical factors that help analyse a land’s suitability for growing bananas. Furthermore, the plant canopy, health and plant disease, and the herbs’ water content, analysed through satellite images and aerial photos of drones, helps describe the banana distribution in Indonesia, at both the local and regional levels. Similar techniques may be applied to explore and analyse the characteristics of the fruit. In the end, the integration of these methods can foster advanced studies on bananas, even making it possible for its scope to extend to industries, food technology, post-harvest, and eco-tourism.
Grammatical Gender Disambiguates Syntactically Similar Nouns
Authors: Rogers Phillip G. , Gries Stefan Th.
Published: April 2022

Recent research into grammatical gender from the perspective of information theory has shown how seemingly arbitrary gender systems can ease processing demands by guiding lexical prediction. When the gender of a noun is revealed in a preceding element, the list of possible candidates is reduced to the nouns assigned to that gender. This strategy can be particularly effective if it eliminates words that are likely to compete for activation against the intended word. We propose syntax as the crucial context within which words must be disambiguated, hypothesizing that syntactically similar words should be less likely to share a gender cross-linguistically. We draw on recent work on syntactic information in the lexicon to define the syntactic distribution of a word as a probability vector of its participation in various dependency relations, and we extract such relations for 32 languages from the Universal Dependencies Treebanks. Correlational and mixed-effects regression analyses reveal that syntactically similar nouns are less likely to share a gender, the opposite pattern that is found for semantically and orthographically similar words. We interpret this finding as a design feature of language, and this study adds to a growing body of research attesting to the ways in which functional pressures on learning, memory, production, and perception shape the lexicon in different ways.
An Optical Image Encryption Method Using Hopfield Neural Network
Authors: Xu Xitong , Chen Shengbo
Published: April 2022

In this paper, aiming to solve the problem of vital information security as well as neural network application in optical encryption system, we propose an optical image encryption method by using the Hopfield neural network. The algorithm uses a fuzzy single neuronal dynamic system and a chaotic Hopfield neural network for chaotic sequence generation and then obtains chaotic random phase masks. Initially, the original images are decomposed into sub-signals through wavelet packet transform, and the sub-signals are divided into two layers by adaptive classification after scrambling. The double random-phase encoding in 4f system and Fresnel domain is implemented on two layers, respectively. The sub-signals are performed with different conversions according to their standard deviation to assure that the local information’s security is guaranteed. Meanwhile, the parameters such as wavelength and diffraction distance are considered as additional keys, which can enhance the overall security. Then, inverse wavelet packet transform is applied to reconstruct the image, and a second scrambling is implemented. In order to handle and manage the parameters used in the scheme, the public key cryptosystem is applied. Finally, experiments and security analysis are presented to demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of the proposed scheme.
Model Validation and DSGE Modeling
Authors: Poudyal Niraj , Spanos Aris
Published: April 2022

The primary objective of this paper is to revisit DSGE models with a view to bringing out their key weaknesses, including statistical misspecification, non-identification of deep parameters, substantive inadequacy, weak forecasting performance, and potentially misleading policy analysis. It is argued that most of these weaknesses stem from failing to distinguish between statistical and substantive adequacy and secure the former before assessing the latter. The paper untangles the statistical from the substantive premises of inference to delineate the above-mentioned issues and propose solutions. The discussion revolves around a typical DSGE model using US quarterly data. It is shown that this model is statistically misspecified, and when respecified to arrive at a statistically adequate model gives rise to the Student’s t VAR model. This statistical model is shown to (i) provide a sound basis for testing the DSGE overidentifying restrictions as well as probing the identifiability of the deep parameters, (ii) suggest ways to meliorate its substantive inadequacy, and (iii) give rise to reliable forecasts and policy simulations.
Full Core Pin-Level VVER-440 Simulation of a Rod Drop Experiment with the GPU-Based Monte Carlo Code GUARDYAN
Authors: Legrady David , Tolnai Gabor , Hajas Tamas , Pazman Elod , Parko Tamas , Pos Istvan
Published: April 2022

Targeting ultimate fidelity reactor physics calculations the Dynamic Monte Carlo (DMC) method simulates reactor transients without resorting to static or quasistatic approximations. Due to the capability to harness the computing power of Graphics Processing Units, the GUARDYAN (GpU Assisted Reactor DYnamic ANalysis) code has been recently upscaled to perform pin-by-pin simulations of power plant scale systems as demonstrated in this paper. A recent rod drop experiment at a VVER-440/213 (vodo-vodyanoi enyergeticheskiy reaktor) type power plant at Paks NPP, Hungary, was considered and signals of ex-core detectors placed at three different positions were simulated successfully by GUARDYAN taking realistic fuel loading, including burn-up data into account. Results were also compared to the time-dependent Paks NPP in-house nodal diffusion code VERETINA (VERONA: VVER Online Analysis and RETINA: Reactor Thermo-hydraulics Interactive). Analysis is given of the temporal and spatial variance distribution of GUARDYAN fuel pin node-wise power estimates. We can conclude that full core, pin-wise DMC power plant simulations using realistic isotope concentrations are feasible in reasonable computing times down to 1–2% error of ex-core detector signals using current GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) High Performance Computing architectures, thereby demonstrating a technological breakthrough.
Improving Transportation Technologies for Carbon Reduction in the Chinese Provinces along the Silk Road
Authors: Zhang Qiang , Shan Jun , Long Hai
Published: April 2022

As an economic corridor, the Silk Road Economic Belt (SREB) connects the East to Western nations, where carbon emissions are gradually becoming severe. This study aims to provide solutions for dealing with carbon emissions from the transportation of the SREB in the Chinese range. By employing the Malmquist index method of data envelopment analysis (DEA), this study develops models to test the different carbon-reduction performances (CRP) of transportation in the Chinese provinces along the SREB. This study shows that carbon-reduction performance has improved since 2013 because of the improvements in transportation technology. Technical efficiency, including scale efficiency and pure technological efficiency, may improve carbon reduction, while the lagged technological progress restricts the CRP. It is further suggested that the provincial CRPs are different. The southwest provinces have the best decarbonization performance, followed by the northwest, while the northeast provinces, including Inner Mongolia, underperform compared to the others. Therefore, the government should release some technology-orientated policies as soon as possible to facilitate the improvements in technical efficiency and progress in transportation vehicles and infrastructures in order to consequently reduce carbon emissions.
Current Trends in Waste Plastics’ Liquefaction into Fuel Fraction: A Review
Authors: Matuszewska Anna , Owczuk Marlena , Biernat Krzysztof
Published: April 2022

Polymers and plastics are crucial materials in many sectors of our economy, due to their numerous advantages. They also have some disadvantages, among the most important are problems with the recycling and disposal of used plastics. The recovery of waste plastics is increasing every year, but over 27% of plastics are landfilled. The rest is recycled, where, unfortunately, incineration is still the most common management method. From an economic perspective, waste management methods that lead to added-value products are most preferred—as in the case of material and chemical recycling. Since chemical recycling can be used for difficult wastes (poorly selected, contaminated), it seems to be the most effective way of managing these materials. Moreover, as a result this of kind of recycling, it is possible to obtain commercially valuable products, such as fractions for fuel composition and monomers for the reproduction of polymers. This review focuses on various liquefaction technologies as a prospective recycling method for three types of plastic waste: PE, PP and PS.
A Methodology for Automatic Identification of Units with Ecological Significance in Dehesa Ecosystems
Authors: Martínez-Ruedas Cristina , Guerrero-Ginel José Emilio , Fernández-Ahumada Elvira
Published: April 2022

The dehesa is an anthropic complex ecosystem typical of some areas of Spain and Portugal, with a key role in soil and biodiversity conservation and in the search for a balance between production, conservation and ecosystem services. For this reason, it is essential to have tools that allow its characterization, as well as to monitor and support decision-making to improve its sustainability. A multipurpose and scalable tool has been developed and validated, which combines several low-cost technologies, computer vision methods and RGB aerial orthophotographs using open data sources and which allows for automated agroforestry inventories, identifying and quantifying units with important ecological significance such as: trees, groups of trees, ecosystem corridors, regenerated areas and sheets of water. The development has been carried out from images of the national aerial photogrammetry plan of Spain belonging to 32 dehesa farms, representative of the existing variability in terms of density of trees, shrub species and the presence of other ecological elements. First, the process of obtaining and identifying areas of interest was automated using WMS services and shapefile metadata. Then, image analysis techniques were used to detect the different ecological units. Finally, a classification was developed according to the OBIA approach, which stores the results in standardized files for Geographic Information Systems. The results show that a stable solution has been achieved for the automatic and accurate identification of ecological units in dehesa territories. The scalability and generalization to all the dehesa territories, as well as the possibility of segmenting the area occupied by trees and other ecological units opens up a great opportunity to improve the construction of models for interpreting satellite images.
Analysis of Plant Water Transport Mechanism and Water Requirement for Growth Based on the Effect of Thermal Environment
Authors: Lu Haolin , Sun Hongfa , Long Jibo
Published: April 2022

This paper put forward a model for calculating the water requirements of plants, including a transpiration model, stem water delivery model, and root water uptake model. The results showed that the model had good accuracy. The relative error between simulated values and measured values was 2.09–14.13%. The limiting effects of stem water delivery capacity and root water uptake capacity on plant–water relations were analyzed. When the transpiration rate is large, even if there is enough root water uptake capacity, the limited stem water delivery capacity may affect the plant–water relationship. In order to understand the relationship between a plant and the thermal environment, the effect of the thermal environment on a plant’s water requirements was analyzed, and the effect of air temperature was obvious. Under the simulated condition, when the air temperature increased from 0 °C to 40 °C, the water requirement of an apple tree increased from 0.0134 L/h to 33.8 L/h.
Assessing the Speciation of Lutjanus campechanus and Lutjanus purpureus through Otolith Shape and Genetic Analyses
Authors: Marval-Rodríguez Angel , Renán Ximena , Galindo-Cortes Gabriela , Acuña-Ramírez Saraí , Jiménez-Badillo María de Lourdes , Rodulfo Hectorina , Montero-Muñoz Jorge L. , Brulé Thierry , De Donato Marcos
Published: April 2022

Based on their morphological and genetic similarity, several studies have proposed that Lutjanus campechanus and Lutjanus purpureus are the same species, but there is no confirmed consensus yet. A population-based study concerning otolith shape and genetic analyses was used to evaluate if L. campechanus and L. purpureus are the same species. Samples were collected from populations in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico and the Venezuelan Caribbean. Otolith shape was evaluated by traditional and outline-based geometric morphometrics. Genetic characterization was performed by sequencing the mtDNA control region and intron 8 of the nuclear gene FASD2. The otolith shape analysis did not indicate differences between species. A nested PERMANOVA identified differences in otolith shape for the nested population factor (fishing area) in morphometrics and shape indexes (p = 0.001) and otolith contour (WLT4 anterior zone, p = 0.005 and WLT4 posterodorsal zone, p = 0.002). An AMOVA found the genetic variation between geographic regions to be 10%, while intrapopulation variation was 90%. Network analysis identified an important connection between haplotypes from different regions. A phylogenetic analysis identified a monophyletic group formed by L. campechanus and L. purpureus, suggesting insufficient evolutionary distances between them. Both otolith shape and molecular analyses identified differences, not between the L. campechanus and L. purpureus species, but among their populations, suggesting that western Atlantic red snappers are experiencing a speciation process.
Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Flow in Eccentric Co-Rotating Heat Transfer
Authors: Kaewbumrung Mongkol , Charoenloedmongkhon Akapak
Published: April 2022

Heat transfer engineering is significant in many applications, especially in buoyancy natural convection in concentric and eccentric cavities. The biggest practical challenges, in this context, are capturing the self-natural flow, estimating the mixing performance, and determining what parameters affect the temperature distribution in the cavity. In this paper, we focus on the improvement of a mathematical model, in order to enhance the accuracy of the solution, by investigating a new source term in the SST k−ω turbulence model based on the finite volume technique. The commercial numerical simulation software ANSYS Fluent 2021R1 is implemented to validate the accuracy. A concentric cavity was chosen for validation, the obtained temperature profiles at θ=0°, θ=30°, θ=60°, θ=90°, θ=120°, θ=150°, and θ=180° were compared with previous experimental data. We applied this model to four eccentric rotating scenarios, including inner counterclockwise rotation, outer counterclockwise rotation, inner–outer clockwise rotation, and inner clockwise–outer counterclockwise rotation. The numerical simulation results reveal that the new source term in the momentum equation can produce superior results in the concentric test-case. The proposed mathematical model can describe the heat transfer under the eccentric co-rotation scenario well. Furthermore, the results for eccentric cases confirm that the rotational direction affects the mixing temperature by generating a large vortex in the cavity, which increases the temperature mixing performance.
An Alternative Radiation Shielding Material Based on Barium-Sulphate (BaSO4)-Modified Fly Ash Geopolymers
Authors: Oglat Ammar A. , Shalbi Sabri M.
Published: April 2022

Geopolymers are a new environmentally friendly cementitious material, and the application of geopolymers can reduce the carbon dioxide emissions caused by the development of the cement industry. Purpose: This study investigates the radiation shielding capacity of fly ash geopolymers (FAGP) as a viable alternative to conventionally used ordinary Portland cement (OPC) due to the high demand for an environmentally friendly, cost-effective and non-toxic shield material. Methods: The FAGP material was fabricated and combined with Barium sulphate (BaSO4) at different ratios (0, 5, 10 and 15%). Different thicknesses (3, 6 and 9 cm) of the samples were also prepared. An energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) was used to determine the elemental percentages of the materials, which were then used to calculate their effective atomic number (Zeff). An ion chamber was used to detect the dose of radiation transmitted through the samples. Results: The lowest radiation dosage (34.68 µGy) and highest Zeff were achieved with FAGP combined with 15% BaSO4 at 9 cm thickness. The decrease in radiation dosage can be attributed to the increase in Zeff with the addition of BaSO4 to FAGP, which in turn increases the density of FAGP. Conclusions: Thus, the radiation dose can be significantly reduced with a higher ratio of BaSO4 to FAGP. This study shows that FAGP combined with BaSO4 is a promising radiation shielding material, as well as a viable alternative to OPC.
A Narrative Review of Specialist Parkinson’s Nurses: Evolution, Evidence and Expectation
Authors: Tenison Emma , James Alice , Ebenezer Louise , Henderson Emily J.
Published: April 2022

Extended nursing roles have existed since the 1940s. The first specialist nurse for Parkinson’s disease, a complex neurodegenerative disease, was appointed in the United Kingdom (UK) in 1989. A review was undertaken using MEDLINE and Cumulative Index to the Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), relating to the role and evidence for Parkinson’s disease nurse specialists (PDNSs). PDNSs fulfil many roles. Trials of their effectiveness have failed to show a positive benefit on health outcomes, but their input appears to improve the wellbeing of people with Parkinson’s. Now embedded in the UK Parkinson’s multidisciplinary team, this care model has since been adopted widely, including successful dissemination of training to countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The lack of evidence to support the benefit of PDNSs may reflect an insufficient duration and intensity of the intervention, the outcome measures selected or the need to combine PDNS input with other evidence-based interventions. Whilst the current evidence base for their effectiveness is limited, their input appears to improve subjective patient wellbeing and they are considered a vital resource in management. Better evidence in the future will support the development of these roles and may facilitate the application of specialist nurses to other disease areas.
The Manuscripts of Solomon and Saturn: CCCC 41, CCCC 422, BL Cotton Vitellius A.xv
Authors: Beechy Tiffany
Published: April 2022

Reflecting John D. Niles’ recent codicological reading of the Exeter Book, this essay advances a comparative reading of the three manuscripts containing Old English Solomon and Saturn dialogues. These manuscripts attest that the Solomon and Saturn dialogues were “serious” texts, twice attending the liturgy and later (12th century) joining high pre-scholastic philosophy. They further reveal a shift in the use of poetry over time. The earlier dialogues evince an “Incarnational poetics” that is distinct from but nevertheless comparable to the “monastic poetics” of the Exeter Book, while the later, prose dialogue has taken a less performative and more encyclopedic form.
First Molecular Identification of Three Clinical Isolates of Fungi Causing Mucormycosis in Honduras
Authors: Ortiz Bryan , Laínez-Arteaga Isis , Galindo-Morales Celeste , Acevedo-Almendárez Lilia , Aguilar Kateryn , Valladares Diana , López Miriam , Fontecha Gustavo
Published: April 2022

Mucormycoses are rare but serious opportunistic fungal infections caused by filamentous organisms of the order Mucorales. Here we report the first molecular identification of Rhizopus oryzae (heterotypic synonym Rhizopus arrhizus), R. delemar, and Apophysomyces ossiformis as the etiological agents of three cases of severe mucormycosis in Honduras. Conventional microbiological cultures were carried out, and DNA was extracted from both clinical samples and axenic cultures. The ITS ribosomal region was amplified and sequenced. Molecular tools are suitable strategies for diagnosing and identifying Mucorales in tissues and cultures, especially in middle-income countries lacking routine diagnostic strategies.
Linear Motor Driven Leg-Press Dynamometer for Testing, Training, and Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review with a Focus on the Concept of Serial Stretch Loading
Authors: Cvečka Ján , Krčmár Matúš , Hamar Dušan , Kern Helmut , Hofer Christian , Löfler Stefan , Vajda Matej
Published: April 2022

Background: The purpose of this scoping review was to analyze the evidence of acute and long-term effects of the application of leg-press strength training with or without serial stretch-loading stimuli on various biomechanical and physiological outcomes. Methods: This review was performed in accordance with PRISMA for Scoping Reviews recommendations, and two researchers independently searched the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, ProQuest, Cochrane, and Google Scholar. All studies that used unique leg-press device for testing, acute responses and long-term adaptation were included in this review, irrespective of the measured outcomes. A total of 13 studies were included in this review, with 5 focused on the testing capabilities of the device and acute training responses and 8 focused on the long-term adaptations in various physical and physiological outcomes. Results: Regarding the acute responses after leg-press strength training with or without serial stretch-loading stimuli, visible changes were observed in the muscle force, rate of force development, and hormonal concentrations between pre- and postmenopausal women (only one study). Long-term studies revealed different training adaptations after performing leg-press strength training with unique serial stretch-loading stimuli. A positive trend for leg-press strength training with serial stretch-loading was recorded in the young population and athletes; however, more variable training effects favoring one or the other approach were achieved in the older population. Conclusions: In summary, this review shows the uniqueness and usability of a leg-press device that is capable of various exercising modes, including special serial stretch-loading stimuli. The use of this device can serve as a positive addition to training regiments, and the main application appears to be suitable for rehabilitation needs.
Spatio-Temporal Differentiation Characteristics and Urbanization Factors of Urban Household Carbon Emissions in China
Authors: Li Chen , Zhang Le , Gu Qinyi , Guo Jia , Huang Yi
Published: April 2022

This paper explores the spatial relationship between urbanization and urban household carbon emissions at the prefectural level and above cities in China and uses Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) and Geographically Weighted Regression (GWR) to reveal the extent of the impact of urbanization on urban household carbon emissions and the spatial and temporal variation characteristics. The results show that: Overall carbon emissions of urban households in cities of China showed a decreasing trend during the study period, but there were significant differences in the carbon emissions of urban households in the four major regions. In terms of the spatial and temporal characteristics of urban household carbon emissions, the urban “head effect” of urban household carbon emissions is obvious. The high-high clustering of urban household carbon emissions is characterized by a huge triangular spatial distribution of “Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Chengdu-Chongqing, and Shanghai”. The level of urbanization in Chinese cities at the prefecture level and above shows a spatial pattern of decreasing levels of urbanization in the east, middle, and west. The four subsystems of urbanization are positively correlated with urban household carbon emissions in the same direction. The urbanization factors have a contributory effect on some cities’ carbon emissions of urban households, but there are significant regional differences in the impact of urbanization factors on urban household carbon emissions in the eastern, central, and western regions of China, as they are at different stages of rapid urbanization development.
Validity of the Swimming Capacities and Anthropometric Indices in Predicting the Long-Term Success of Male Water Polo Players: A Position-Specific Prospective Analysis over a Ten-Year Period
Authors: Dimitric Goran , Kontic Dean , Versic Sime , Scepanovic Tijana , Zenic Natasa
Published: April 2022

Long-term predictors of success in water polo are rarely reported. This study aimed to evaluate the position-specific validity of the swimming and anthropometric/body build tests on the prediction of the long-term success of male water polo players. The participants were 85 top-level players observed at baseline (junior level, when they were 17–18 years of age; 35 centers and 50 perimeter players) in tests of swimming capacities (15 m water polo sprint, 25 m sprint, and 100 and 400 m freestyle swimming) and anthropometric/body build indices (body mass, body height, arm span, body mass index, and body fat percentage). Over a period of 10 years, participants’ senior-level success was prospectively observed. Multinomial logistic regression with three levels of criteria (high achievement, medium achievement, and low achievement at the senior level) was applied to identify the predictive validity of the swimming and anthropometric/body build indices. For the total sample (not dividing perimeter from center players), all observed swimming capacities, body height, and arm span were significantly associated with success, with more successful players being taller, with a longer arm span, and superior swimming capacities. Body height and 100 m freestyle swimming were significant predictors of success among centers. Achievement in 100 and 400 m freestyle swimming, body height, and a lower percentage of body fat were correlated with higher senior-level performance in perimeter players. The results showed better validity of the anaerobic-lactate and aerobic swimming tests than sprint swimming in predicting the long-term achievement of male water polo players. Differences in the influence of swimming capacities and body-build indices on senior-level success between observed playing positions are related to differences in game duties, playing time, and consequent metabolic demands.
DnaJC7 in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Authors: Dilliott Allison A. , Andary Catherine M. , Stoltz Meaghan , Petropavlovskiy Andrey A. , Farhan Sali M. K. , Duennwald Martin L.
Published: April 2022

Protein misfolding is a common basis of many neurodegenerative diseases including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Misfolded proteins, such as TDP-43, FUS, Matrin3, and SOD1, mislocalize and form the hallmark cytoplasmic and nuclear inclusions in neurons of ALS patients. Cellular protein quality control prevents protein misfolding under normal conditions and, particularly, when cells experience protein folding stress due to the fact of increased levels of reactive oxygen species, genetic mutations, or aging. Molecular chaperones can prevent protein misfolding, refold misfolded proteins, or triage misfolded proteins for degradation by the ubiquitin–proteasome system or autophagy. DnaJC7 is an evolutionarily conserved molecular chaperone that contains both a J-domain for the interaction with Hsp70s and tetratricopeptide domains for interaction with Hsp90, thus joining these two major chaperones’ machines. Genetic analyses reveal that pathogenic variants in the gene encoding DnaJC7 cause familial and sporadic ALS. Yet, the underlying ALS-associated molecular pathophysiology and many basic features of DnaJC7 function remain largely unexplored. Here, we review aspects of DnaJC7 expression, interaction, and function to propose a loss-of-function mechanism by which pathogenic variants in DNAJC7 contribute to defects in DnaJC7-mediated chaperoning that might ultimately contribute to neurodegeneration in ALS.
Emerging Antiarrhythmic Drugs for Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Saljic Arnela , Heijman Jordi , Dobrev Dobromir
Published: April 2022

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide, is driven by complex mechanisms that differ between subgroups of patients. This complexity is apparent from the different forms in which AF presents itself (post-operative, paroxysmal and persistent), each with heterogeneous patterns and variable progression. Our current understanding of the mechanisms responsible for initiation, maintenance and progression of the different forms of AF has increased significantly in recent years. Nevertheless, antiarrhythmic drugs for the management of AF have not been developed based on the underlying arrhythmia mechanisms and none of the currently used drugs were specifically developed to target AF. With the increased knowledge on the mechanisms underlying different forms of AF, new opportunities for developing more effective and safer AF therapies are emerging. In this review, we provide an overview of potential novel antiarrhythmic approaches based on the underlying mechanisms of AF, focusing both on the development of novel antiarrhythmic agents and on the possibility of repurposing already marketed drugs. In addition, we discuss the opportunity of targeting some of the key players involved in the underlying AF mechanisms, such as ryanodine receptor type-2 (RyR2) channels and atrial-selective K+-currents (IK2P and ISK) for antiarrhythmic therapy. In addition, we highlight the opportunities for targeting components of inflammatory signaling (e.g., the NLRP3-inflammasome) and upstream mechanisms targeting fibroblast function to prevent structural remodeling and progression of AF. Finally, we critically appraise emerging antiarrhythmic drug principles and future directions for antiarrhythmic drug development, as well as their potential for improving AF management.
Calpains as Potential Therapeutic Targets for Myocardial Hypertrophy
Authors: Aluja David , Delgado-Tomás Sara , Ruiz-Meana Marisol , Barrabés José A. , Inserte Javier
Published: April 2022

Despite advances in its treatment, heart failure remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality, evidencing an urgent need for novel mechanism-based targets and strategies. Myocardial hypertrophy, caused by a wide variety of chronic stress stimuli, represents an independent risk factor for the development of heart failure, and its prevention constitutes a clinical objective. Recent studies performed in preclinical animal models support the contribution of the Ca2+-dependent cysteine proteases calpains in regulating the hypertrophic process and highlight the feasibility of their long-term inhibition as a pharmacological strategy. In this review, we discuss the existing evidence implicating calpains in the development of cardiac hypertrophy, as well as the latest advances in unraveling the underlying mechanisms. Finally, we provide an updated overview of calpain inhibitors that have been explored in preclinical models of cardiac hypertrophy and the progress made in developing new compounds that may serve for testing the efficacy of calpain inhibition in the treatment of pathological cardiac hypertrophy.
Influencia del Estado Nutricional en el Rendimiento Académico en una institución educativa
Authors: Santos Holguín Sonnia Apolonia , Barros Rivera Sara Esther
Published: April 2022

El estado nutricional es el resultado de la interacción entre una buena alimentación y los aportes nutritivos que estos contienen, permitiendo compensar las demandas que un organismo necesita para su correcto funcionamiento. El presente artículo determina la influencia del estado nutricional en el rendimiento escolar de los estudiantes de la Unidad Educativa Básica durante el primer quimestre del 2019. Se aplicó la metodología con enfoque cuantitativo, diseño descriptivo de corte transversal y correlacional, donde se obtuvo información mediante la observación, aplicación del instrumento y valoración antropométrica a los escolares. La muestra seleccionada estuvo representada por 166 estudiantes de los cuales se determinó los que se encuentran bajo peso, normo peso, sobrepeso y obesos. La etapa preescolar obtuvo un promedio aceptable que, según la escala de la Ley Orgánica de Educación Intercultural, si alcanzan entre los más relevantes se encontraban los estudiantes con bajo peso con un nivel cognitivo de 7,2 inferior al resto de los estudiantes. En cuanto a la etapa escolar los estudiantes, que según su estado nutricional se encuentran con obesidad fueron aquellos que presentaron un nivel cognitivo inferior de 6,9 que evaluado por la LOEI estaban próximos a alcanzar los aprendizajes requeridos. Con estos resultados se determinó que el estado nutricional no tiene una influencia estadísticamente significativa en el rendimiento escolar de los estudiantes de la Unidad Educativa La Libertad.