bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Reflexion einer Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung aus bildungstheoretischer Perspektive
Authors: Rieckmann Marco
Published: November 2021

Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung (BNE) ist ein relativ junges Bildungskonzept, das sich in der Erziehungswissenschaft wie auch in der pädagogischen Praxis in den letzten 20 Jahren etabliert hat. Dieser Artikel reflektiert das Konzept einer BNE aus bildungstheoretischer Perspektive und beleuchtet Anschlussperspekti­ven zwischen BNE und ausgewählten bildungstheoretischen Positionen und pädagogischen Strömungen. Mit den Ausführungen in diesem Artikel wird deutlich, dass BNE sich erstens besser verstehen und verorten lässt, wenn sie auf Theorien der Erziehung und Bildung Bezug nimmt. Zweitens lässt sich BNE als eine aktualisierte Konzep­tion von Allgemeinbildung im Sinne Klafkis betrachten. Drittens sind Theorien zur transformativen Bildung sehr nützlich, um die im Rahmen einer BNE angestrebte Werte-Bildung zu beschreiben. Viertens ergeben sich aus Krü­gers Reflexiver Erziehungswissenschaft Anregungen für eine Auseinandersetzung mit der Notwendigkeit struk­tureller und institutioneller Transformation und für eine inklusivere Gestaltung von BNE. Fünftens weist BNE Parallelen zu Freires Befreiungspädagogik auf, und sie könnte von einer Auseinandersetzung mit den didaktischen Zugängen der Befreiungspädagogik profitieren. Mit dem Artikel wird ein Beitrag dazu geleis­tet, zum einen BNE stärker in der Erziehungswissenschaft zu verorten und zum anderen die Anschlussfähigkeit an allgemeine erziehungswissenschaftliche Diskurse herzustellen.
The Effect of Dynamic Electric Puzzle Science Tool-Assisted Inquiry Learning Model Towards Students’ Creative Thinking Skills
Authors: Dewi Eka , Werdhiana I Komang , Saehana Sahrul
Published: November 2021

The implementation of physics learning still does not involve students' thinking processes. It is very important to practice higher-order thinking skills, one of which is creative thinking. One of the mandated learning models in the 2013 Curriculum is inquiry. This study aimed to analyze the effect of dynamic electric puzzle science tool-assisted inquiry learning on students' creative thinking skills compared to conventional learning. This study used a quasi-experiment research type with a control group pretest-posttest design. This study was done in class XII. The sampling technique was purposive sampling, with XII IPA Al-Qalam as the experimented class and XII IPA Al-Furqan as the controlled class in the academic year of 2020/2021. Data collection was done by creative thinking skills instrument test, which consisted of 5 essay questions. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 25.0 for windows on normality, homogeneity, and N-gain test. Learning outcomes data of both classes were normally distributed and homogenous. Based on the result, the average score of the pretest and posttest of the controlled class were 39.2 and 70.7, while the average scores of the pretest and posttest of the experimented class were 49.0 and 80.2. Data analysis was done by using t test, and it resulted that tcount was 2.439, while ttable was 2.009 or tcount > ttable  and the significance was (0.01) < 0.05 meant that there was a significant effect of the inquiry model towards students' creative thinking skills if compared to conventional learning. The improvement of creative thinking skills in experimented class gained  score of 0.64, whereas the controlled class gained  score of 0.51. Inquiry learning assisted by dynamic electric puzzle science tools can increase students' opportunities to engage in inquiry-based activities and develop students' analytical and creative thinking skills.
Model-Based Reasoning in the Deductive Laboratory Work with Arduino and Sensor Module
Authors: Hadiati Soka , Saputri Dwi Fajar , Wahyudi Wahyudi , Pramuda Adi
Published: November 2021

Laboratory work that has been applied so far is more dominant in deductive laboratory work, but this type of laboratory work is not optimal in stimulating students' reasoning ability. Up to now, model-based reasoning studies on laboratory work have been substantial (especially in measurement and troubleshooting activities) and have not seen overall laboratory activity, including the use of alternative instrumentation such as Arduino and its sensor module. Designing the best laboratory work requires the role of model-based reasoning studies using Arduino devices. A mixed-method research design was used in this study with a theoretical study to obtain a predictive pattern for deductive laboratory work model which was matched with the observations of 50 undergraduate physics education students in laboratory work. Revision activities were shown by students in laboratory work depending on the capabilities of reasoning. The results of this study indicate that revision activities in deductive laboratory work using Arduino can stimulate students' reasoning. Arduino can lead students to explore their thinking and reasoning to solve problems in laboratory work.
FROM PENAGA TREE TO HERITAGE BOUTIQUE HOTEL: A CASE STUDY OF HOTEL PENAGA
Authors: Ng Lee Peng , Kuar Lok Sin , Choong Yuen Onn , Teoh Sok Yee , Tee Chee Wee , Chen I-Chi
Published: November 2021

Hotel Penaga is a heritage-listed boutique hotel in the Unesco World Heritage Site in Penang, Malaysia. It was built in the 1920s and renovated into a 45-room hotel in 2008. Hotel Penaga was the first heritage-listed renovated hotel to be awarded Gold by the Green Building Index. Currently, Hotel Penaga is managed by Vouk Hotel Management. Hotel Penaga is committed to environmental sustainability and emphasizes destination marketing in its hotel operations. Achieving a healthy occupancy rate for the hotel is one of the biggest challenges for Hotel Penaga, especially after the pandemic.
Extra investigation of the self-organized critical Manna model at higher critical dimension
Authors: Podlazov Andrey Viktorovich
Published: November 2021

I investigate the nature of the upper critical dimension for isotropic conservative sandpile models and calculate the emerging logarithmic corrections to power-law distributions. I check the results experimentally using the case of Manna model with the theoretical solution known for all statement starting from the two-dimensional one. In addition, based on this solution, I construct a non-trivial super-universal indicator for this model. It characterizes the distribution of avalanches by time the border of their region needs to pass its width.
Pesan Perdamaian dalam Video Klip Atouna El-Tofoule: Analisis Semiotik Charles Sanders Peirce
Authors: Arin Faridatul Azma
Published: November 2021

The purpose of this article is to find out the description of peace messages in the Atouna El Toufoule video clip. In the video clip of Atouna El Toufoule, several signs have meaning. The study of meaning in this article uses a qualitative research methodology by analyzing images as data which is analyzed using Charles Sanders Peirce’s semiotics in finding meaning through signs, objects, and interpretants. The results of this study indicate that sign is mostly motivated by social context and does not require excessive interpretation of meaning. The object takes the side of social life that occurs in Palestinian society. Interpretants also sometimes directly criticize social life, culture, and the environment around them. The video clip of Atouna El Toufoule contains a moral message and an invitation to create peace for children living in conflict areas. They need a vacation so they can feel peace and freedom in their lives.
Initiatives to Promote Access to Medicines After the Publication of National Policy on Comprehensive Care of People With Rare Diseases in Brazil
Authors: Cunico Cassia , Vicente Geison , Leite Silvana Nair
Published: November 2021

BackgroundRare diseases affect a small number of people compared to prevalent diseases' estimates. The vast majority of these diseases are of genetic origin, have no cure, are chronic and can lead to death. Although the right to access to medicines is included in the constitutionally guaranteed right to health in Brazil, problems in the supply of medicines for rare diseases are reported in the country. ObjectiveThis study aimed to describe and analyze the initiatives to promote access to medicines for treating rare diseases in Unified Health System, Brazil, after the publication of the National Policy on Comprehensive Care of People with Rare Diseases.MethodsBased on the model published by The WHO Regional Office for Europe, which described access to medicines in pre-launch, per-launch and post-launch policies, the initiatives referring to each category were summarized, based on documentary research searched in online databases, in the period from January 2014 to December 2020. ResultsDifferent actions and policy interventions were identified, which went through the expansion of resources for research and development, health regulations, incorporation of new drugs, review and publication of clinical guidelines, expansion of the network of care facilities by the Ministry of Health. On the other hand, aspects related to care policies, pricing methods, technological development, and development of pharmaceutical services processes were not implemented. ConclusionsAlthough it is impossible to determine the explicit motivation of such actions concerning the Policy, its publication certainly was a landmark in Brazilian society, allowing greater recognition of the needs of rare diseases patients and the treatment's specificities. However, the study suggests that the steps that make up the life cycle of medicines are not linked, lacking articulation and integration of the care network and, consequently, there is no evidence that the rare diseases policy publication has generated broad impact on the promotion of access to medicines to treat rare diseases in Brazil.
Impact of the Paper Degradation State and Constituents on Its Behavior During and After X-ray Exposure
Authors: Gimat Alice , Schoeder Sebastian , Thoury Mathieu , Dupont Anne-Laurence
Published: November 2021

Paper is a complex biopolymer material which contains papermaking additives and often bears inks and other graphic media. Cultural heritage paper-based artefacts are most often deteriorated to some extent. This research explores how intrinsic factors such as constituents and degradation state can impact the modifications incurred in aged papers during and after X-ray examination. To this end laboratory model papers, artificially aged, and 18th and 19th century archival documents, with and without additives (gelatin, calcium carbonate) and iron gallate ink, were exposed to Synchrotron X-ray radiation at doses that were previously shown to incur damage in unaged cotton papers (0.7 to 4 kGy). Glycosidic scissions, hydroxyl free radicals, UV luminescence and yellowing were measured immediately after the irradiation, and were monitored over a period of three years. The depolymerization of cellulose was lower in the aged papers, as well as in the papers containing calcium carbonate and gelatin, than in the unaged fully cellulosic papers. Compared to the papers with no additives, there were more hydroxyl free radicals in the papers with calcium carbonate and slightly less in the gelatin sized papers. UV luminescence and yellowing both appeared post-irradiation, with a delay of several weeks to months, while the intensity of the responses was impacted by the various paper constituents. The papers with iron gallate ink showed limited degradation in the low doses range, most probably due to recombination of the free radicals produced. Doses below 4 kGy did not cause yellowing or UV luminescence of the archival papers within the whole monitoring period. At higher doses (26 to 36 kGy), a slight UV luminescence appeared after 21 months, as well as a slight yellowing after three years, in some of them. No clear correlation between the degradation induced by the irradiation and the constituents in the paper nor its conservation state could be made. The archival papers in good conservation state depolymerized to the same extent as the model papers, while the most degraded archival papers were less impacted than the latter.
Phytochemical Investigation and Evaluation of Anti-Microbial Activities of Some Indigenous Artemisia Spp. of Ethiopia: Rapid Method of Isolation Artemisinin From Artemisia Annua
Authors: Ebu Seid Mohammed , Dekabo Aman , Hailu Tilahun
Published: November 2021

Artemisia spp are one of the most important traditional medicinal plants of Ethiopia which are used for the treatment of infection and non-infection health problems. The genus Artemisia (Astraceae) consists of about 500 species worldwide. Previous reports indicated that the different species of Artemisia have a wide array of biological activities including antimalarial, cytotoxic, antihepatotoxic, antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activity. In this study, the main aim was to investigate chemical components of Artemisia spp. (A. abyssinica, A. absinthium and A. annua) and evaluate their antimicrobial activities against bacterial strains. The results indicated that the crude extract of these plants were effective against some selected strains of bacterial strains. Here we isolated the well-known antimalarial drug artemisinin (7 mg, 0.004%) from Artemisia annua leaves using a rapid n-hexane fractionation method. The n-hexane extract of A. abyssinica, ethyl acetate extract of A. absinthium and n-hexane of A. annua showed varying degrees of inhibiting effect against bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923T, Salmonella enteritidis ATCC13076T, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC1053T, boydii ATCC1233T, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922T, hospital acquired Acinetobacter baumannii. The ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia absinthium (A.abe) showed the maximum inhibiting effect (35 mm) against A. baumannii. The minimum zone of inhibition (< 3 mm) was recorded for test extract of A.ap against Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC1053T. Ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia absinthium (A.abe) was more effective against these selected bacterial strains and the zone of inhibition ranged from 5-35 mm. The minimum inhibition zone (8 mm) was detected against S. typhimurium ATCC 13311T for both A.ac and n-hexane- EtOAc fraction (8:2) of Artemisia abyssinica. The maximum zone of inhibition (25 mm) for fraction (A.ach F4) of Artemisia abyssinica obtained by column chromatography was recorded against S. pyogen ATCC 19615. However, there was no zone of inhibition detected for boydii ATCC1233T due to these test extracts. Significant variations (P = 0.887) were observed between all test extracts of these medicinal plants at 95% of confidence intervals. There is no zone of inhibition or growth for negative control. But, clear zones of inhibition were detected for positive control due to some standard impregnated disks. Based on our results we recommend that various species of Artemisia seem to have great potential for in-depth investigation for various antimicrobial activities that assists the effort in searching for antimicrobial lead compounds.
Sensitivity Analysis of Conformal CCs for Injection Molds: 3D Transient Heat Transfer Analysis
Authors: Silva Hugo Miguel , Noversa João Tiago , Fernandes Leandro , Rodrigues Hugo Luís , Pontes António José
Published: November 2021

Fabricating conformal cooling channels (CCCs) has become easier and more cost-effective because to recent advances in additive manufacturing. CCCs provide better cooling performance in the injection molding process than regular (straight drilled) channels. The main reason for this is that CCCs can follow the molded geometry's paths, but regular machining methods cannot. Thermal stresses and warpage can be reduced by using CCCs, which also improve cycle time and provide a more uniform temperature distribution. Traditional channels, on the other hand, have a more involved design technique than CCC. Computer-aided engineering (CAE) simulations are essential for establishing an effective and cost-effective design. The sensitivity analysis of design variables is the emphasis of this research, with the goal of establishing a design optimization approach in the future. The ultimate goal is to optimize the location of Cooling Channels (CCs) in order to reduce ejection time and increase temperature uniformity. It can be concluded that the parametrization performed in ANSYS Parametric Design Language (APDL), as well as the design variables used, can be applied in practice and could be relevant in future optimization approaches.
New Triazolothiadiazine Derivative Inhibits Stemness and Induces Cell Death in HCC by Oxidative Stress Dependent JNK Pathway Activation
Authors: Kahraman Deniz Cansen , Guven Ebru Bilget , Aytac Peri S. , Aykut Gamze , Tozkoparan Birsen , Atalay Rengul Cetin
Published: November 2021

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly heterogeneous cancer, and resistant to both conventional and targeted chemotherapy. (NSAIDs) Recently, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been shown to decrease the incidence and mortality of different types of cancers. Here, we investigated the cellular bioactivities of a series of triazolothiadiazine derivatives on HCC, which have been previously reported as potent analgesic/anti-inflammatory compounds. From the initially tested 32 triazolothiadiazine NSAID derivatives, 3 compounds were selected based on their IC50 values for further molecular assays on 9 different HCC cell lines. 7b, which was the most potent compound, induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HCC cells. Cell death was due to oxidative stress-induced JNK protein activation, which involved the dynamic involvement of ASK1, MKK7, and c-Jun proteins. Moreover, 7b treated nude mice had a significantly decreased tumor volume and prolonged disease-free survival. 7b also inhibited the migration of HCC cells and enrichment of liver cancer stem cells (LCSCs) alone or in combination with sorafenib. With its ability to act on both proliferation, stemness and the migration of HCC cells, 7b can be considered for the therapeutics of HCC, which has an increased rate of incidence ~3% annually.
Using the Choquet Integral for the Determination of the Anxiety Degree
Authors: Chiţescu Ion , Manea Mădălina Giurgescu , Paraschiv Titi
Published: November 2021

This paper introduces a mathematical model describing how the EEG type waves are processed in order to characterize the level of anxiety. The electroencephalogram (EEG) is a recording of the electrical activity of the brain. The main frequencies of the human EEG waves are: Delta, Theta, Alpha (Low Alpha and High Alpha), Beta (Low Beta and High Beta), Gamma. Psychologists' studies show that there is an interactive relationship between anxiety and two factors in the Big Five theory, namely, extraversion and neuroticism. The specialists in psychology state that the anxiety is characterized by LowAlpha, HighAlpha, LowBeta and HighBeta waves. In this regard, we developed a mathematical model through which EEG waves are processed in order to determine the level of anxiety. Our main idea is to use the Choquet integral with respect to a suitable monotone measure in order to characterize the level of anxiety. This measure was obtained using the measurements of the values of EEG waves made on 70 subjects and the corresponding levels of anxiety (established by psychologists) of these subjects. In order to verify our mathematical model (aggregation tool) we used it to determine the level of anxiety of 10 other subjects, comparing our results with the results provided by psychologists (the comparison validated our results).
Evaluation of Early Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses to the TB Vaccine Mycobacterium Bovis BCG and Vaccine Candidate BCGdBCG1419c
Authors: Gunasena Manuja , Shukla Rajni Kant , Yao Naiquan , Mejia Oscar Rosas , Powell Michael D , Oestreich Kenneth J , Aceves-Sánchez Michel de Jesús , Valdez Mario Alberto Florez , Liyanage Namal P M , Robinson Richard T
Published: November 2021

The vaccine Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) elicits an immune response that is protective against certain forms of tuberculosis (TB); however, because BCG efficacy is limited it is important to identify alternative TB vaccine candidates. Recently, the BCG deletion mutant and vaccine candidate BCGDBCG1419c was demonstrated to survive longer in intravenously infected BALB/c mice due to enhanced biofilm formation, and better protected both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice against TB-induced lung pathology during chronic stages of infection, relative to BCG controls. BCGDBCG1419c-elicited protection also associated with lower levels of proinflammatory cytokines (i.e. IL6, TNFa) at the site of infection in C57BL/6 mice. Given the distinct immune profiles of BCG- and BCGDBCG1419c-immunized mice during chronic TB, we set out to determine if there are early immunological events which distinguish these two groups, using multi-dimensional flow cytometric analysis of the lungs and other tissues soon after immunization. Our results demonstrate a number of innate and adaptive response differences between BCG- and BCGDBCG1419c-immunized mice which are consistent with the latter being longer lasting and potentially less inflammatory, including lower frequencies of exhausted CD4+ T helper (TH) cells and higher frequencies of IL10-producing T cells, respectively. These studies suggest the use of BCGDBCG1419c may be advantageous as an alternative TB vaccine candidate.
Factors Affecting the Purchase of Commercial Health Insurance: Based on Personal Health Status and the Substitution Effect of Social Insurance
Authors: Yu Wenguang , Wang Qi , Guan Guofeng , Huang Yujuan
Published: November 2021

Background: How health status affects residents’ purchase of commercial health insurance and whether social insurance will crowd out the demand of commercial health insurance are important issues related to the development of commercial health insurance. Further, this paper also attempts to answer why people with worse health buy less commercial health insurance through mechanism analysis. Methods: We used Logit model to analyze the impact of self-rated health level on the purchase of commercial health insurance and the crowding out effect of participating in social health insurance on the purchase of commercial health insurance. In addition, we also successively introduced the respondents with worse and worse health status for regression analysis and analyzed the reasons why the poor health groups reduce the purchase of commercial medical insurance. Results: When performing regression analysis on whether to purchase commercial health insurance, the regression coefficient of having social health insurance is -0.497 and the regression coefficient of self-rated health level is -0.182, but the health status has no significant impact on whether to have social health insurance. Conclusions: The expansion of social basic health insurance has a restraining effect on the promotion of commercial health insurance, and self-rated health level has a negative impact on the purchase of commercial health insurance. The reason why individuals with poor health buy less commercial health insurance is that commercial insurance companies often refuse to cover individuals in poor health.JEL: I11, G22
Optical Modelling of GaAs/GaSb Core-Shell Cone Topped Octagonal Faced Nanopillar Array with Periodic Trapezoidal Textured Cut for High Photon Trapping Efficiency
Authors: Baruah Smriti , Borah Janmoni , Bora Joyatri , Maity Santanu
Published: November 2021

Proficiency in light reflectance mitigation is the most crucial factor for high photodetector performance. In this respect light trapping mechanism based on nanostructures or microstructures such as nanopillars, nanocones, nanopyramids have emerged as the most promising candidate for reducing overall light reflectance. This could be attributed to its effective large irradiation area, multiple scattering of incident light as well as increased path length of incident rays in these nanostructures. This paper proposes an optical modelling of a GaAs/GaSb material based vertically oriented core-shell cone topped octagonal shaped nanopillar structure with periodical trapezoidal nanotexturization over it to be deployed over a circular planar detector’s surface of radius 50um. The geometrical analytical investigation of the proposed model exhibits a 0.999 overall absorbance and 0.995A/W photoresponsivity along with 87% EQE at 1um operating wavelength.
The Trend of Temperature Changes in Iranian Metropolises in the Last Three Decades
Authors: Lashkari Hassan , ghorlivand Nahid , Mohammadi Zainab , Sigaroodi Hossein Ali Rouhbakhsh
Published: November 2021

Global warming is a challenging issue among the world's climatologists, embraced even by politicians and the common people. In this study, the trend of temperature changes in 31 metropolises of Iran, which are generally the provincial centres of the country, has been studied in a statistical period of 35 years (1985-2019). We found that there are more temperature changes in all metropolises of Iran in winter than other seasons. In this season, the maximum temperature parameter shows a significant increase, as evidenced in Ardabil with about 9 degrees Celsius. Also, the highest amount of temperature increase in all seasons has occurred in the western and northwestern part of Iran, being of mildly cold to extremely cold climate in Iran. In general, the temperature changes more intensively from the south to the north regions. It is interesting that in the southern and coastal cities of Iran, such as Ilam, Bushehr and Shiraz, in some months, the temperature keeps decreeing. The increase in temperature of metropolises has been much more regular for the maximum temperature than the minimum temperature. Strangely, unlike all the months in November, the maximum temperature has decreased in most cities in Iran.
Shared Genetic Architecture Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders: A Large-scale Genome-wide Cross-trait Analysis
Authors: Adewuyi Emmanuel O , O’Brien Eleanor K , Nyholt Dale R , Porter Tenielle , Laws Simon M
Published: November 2021

Background: Consistent with the concept of the gut-brain phenomenon, observational studies have reported a pattern of co-occurring relationship between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and a range of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) traits. However, it is not clear whether the reported association reflects a causal or shared genetic aetiology of GIT disorders with AD. While AD has no known curative treatments, and its pathogenesis is not clearly understood, a comprehensive assessment of its shared genetics with diseases (comorbidities) can provide a deeper understanding of its underlying biological mechanisms and enhance potential therapy development. Methods: We analysed large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS) summary data (sample size = 34,652 – 456,327) to comprehensively assess shared genetic overlap and causality of GIT disorders with the risk of AD. Further, we performed meta-analyses, pairwise GWAS analysis; and investigated genes and biological pathways shared by AD and GIT disorders.Results: Our analyses reveal significant concordance of SNP risk effects across AD and GIT disorders (Ppermuted = 9.99 × 10−4). Also, we found a significant positive genetic correlation between AD and each of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease (PUD), medications for GERD or PUD (PGM), gastritis-duodenitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and diverticular disease, but not inflammatory bowel disease. Mendelian randomisation analyses found no evidence for a significant causal association between AD and GIT disorders. However, shared independent genome-wide significant (Pmeta-analysis < 5 × 10-8) loci (including 1p31.3 [near gene, PDE4B], 1q32.2 [CD46], 3p21.31 [SEMA3F], 16q22.1 [MTSS2], 17q21.33 [PHB], and 19q13.32 [APOE]) were identified for AD and PGM, six of which are putatively novel. These loci were replicated using GERD and PUD GWAS and reinforced in pairwise GWAS (colocalisation) as well as gene-based analyses. Lipid metabolism, autoimmune system, lipase inhibitors, PD-1 signalling, and statin mechanisms were significantly enriched in pathway-based analyses. Conclusions: These findings support shared genetic susceptibility of GIT disorders with AD risk and provide new insights into their observed association. The identified loci and genes—PDE4B, CD46 and APOE, especially—and biological pathways—statins and lipase inhibitors, in particular—may provide novel therapeutic avenues or targets for further investigation in AD, GIT disorders, or their comorbidity.
The Bovine Serum Albumin Coated Copper Oxide Nanoparticle for Curcumin Delivery in Biological Environment: In-vitro Drug Release
Authors: Atloo Tahmineh , Mohammadkhani Ramin , Mohammadi Ali , Zaboli Kasra Arbabi , Kaboli Saeed , Rahimi Hossein , Nosrati Hamed , danafar hossein
Published: November 2021

In this work, first, copper oxide nanoparticles (CUO NPs) were synthesized by physical methods and then coated with the bovine serum albumin (BSA) via biologically meditated minerals to form CUO@BSA NPs. Finally, curcumin (CUR) as an anticancer drug were immobilized on the surface of CUO@BSA NPS. The properties of CUO@BSA-CUR NPS were investigated by FTIR, UV-Vis, TEM, and AFM spectroscopes. It was found that the synthesized CUO@BSA-CUR nanoparticles were spherical with a particle size of 20 to 30 nm and have a sustained release of CUR at 37°C in buffer solution. Also, the result of release in biological environment showed that maximum drug release rate for this nanocarrier in pH 7.4 was measured 75% after 48 hours. The cytotoxicity of CUO@BSA-CUR on MDA-MB-231 cell line was studied. The results showed that CUO@BSA-CUR nanoparticles have significant cytotoxic activity on this cell line, while the results of MTT assay indicated the CUO@BSA NPs have no toxicity effect on the cancer cells.
Study On The Implementation Status and Countermeasures of The Standardized Resident Training System in China
Authors: Li Zixin , Liu Songyi , Meng Wenqi , Jiang Xiaoli , Peng Haibo , Yu Qianqian , Yin Wenqiang , Chen Zhongming , Ma Dongping , Song Junwei
Published: November 2021

Object:

By combing the policy content of the standardized resident training system in China, this paper analyzes the residents’ cognition and satisfaction evaluation of standardized training policy, and discusses the implementation obstacles and feasible strategies of the Chinese standardized resident training.
Method

Using policy text analysis to sort out the policy content of the Chinese standardized resident training system; A questionnaire survey was conducted among 1048 residents in 5 standardized training bases for residents in Shandong Province, China, and a qualitative interview was conducted with 42 residents by personal in-depth interview. Descriptive analysis and binary logistic regression model were used to statistically analyze the residents’ cognition of the training policy, the way of participating in the training, the harvest during the training, existing problems, satisfaction evaluation, and to explore the implementation obstacle factors and optimization strategies of the standardized resident training policy in China.
Result

Through quantitative investigation and qualitative interview, it is found that the standardized resident training has improved the students’ clinical theoretical knowledge level, practical ability, and doctor-patient communication ability. However, there are still some problems in the standardized resident training in China, such as unreasonable time arrangement, low salary and living security level of residents, weak awareness of teaching, inadequate implementation of training content and assessment, etc.
Conclusion

The implementation of the standardized resident training system in China has played an important role in cultivating homogeneous and qualified doctors and improving the ability and level of doctors. However, the survey found that the training arrangement is unreasonable, the salary and living security level is not high, and put forward that the training time should be arranged reasonably, the salary and treatment level should be improved, and the awareness of teachers’ responsibility should be improved Strengthen the implementation of training content and assessment. This paper can provide a reference for graduate medical education and the training of human resources in healthcare in other countries and regions.
Synthesis of Sulfilimines Enabled by Copper-Catalyzed S-Arylation of Sulfenamides
Authors: liang qingjin , wells Lucille , han kaiming , chen shufeng , Kozlowski Marisa , jia Tiezheng
Published: November 2021

Herein, an unprecedented synthetic route to sulfilimines via a copper-catalyzed Chan-Lam-type coupling of sulfenamides is presented. A key to success in this novel transformation is the chemoselective S-arylation of S(II) sulfenamides to form the S(IV) sulfilimines, overriding the competitive C-N bond formation that does not require a change in sulfur oxidation state. The mild and environmentally benign catalytic conditions enable broad functional group compability. A variety of diaryl or alkyl aryl sulfilimines could be efficiently prepared. The Chan-Lam coupling procedure could also tolerate alkenylboronic acids as coupling partners to afford alkenyl aryl sulfilimines, a class of scaffolds which cannot be directly synthesized via conventional imination strategies. The benzoyl protecting groups could be conveniently removed from the product which, in turn, could be readily transformed to several S(IV) and S(IV) derivatives.
scSemiAE: A Deep Model with Semi-Supervised Learning for Single-Cell Transcriptomics
Authors: Dong Jiayi , Zhang Yin , Wang Fei
Published: November 2021

Background: With the development of modern sequencing technology, hundreds of thousands of single-cell RNA-sequencing(scRNA-seq) profiles allow to explore the heterogeneity in the cell level, but it faces the challenges of high dimensions and high sparsity. Dimensionality reduction is essential for downstream analysis, such as clustering to identify cell subpopulations. Usually, dimensionality reduction follows unsupervised approach. Results: In this paper, we introduce a semi-supervised dimensionality reduction method named scSemiAE, which is based on an autoencoder model. It transfers the information contained in available datasets with cell subpopulation labels to guide the search of better low-dimensional representations, which can ease further analysis. Conclusions: Experiments on five public datasets show that, scSemiAE outperforms both unsupervised and semi-supervised baselines whether the transferred information embodied in the number of labeled cells and labeled cell subpopulations is much or less.
Sub-Gbps Key Rate Four-State Continuous-Variable Quantum Key Distribution within Metropolitan Area
Authors: Wang Heng , Li Yang , Pi Yaodi , Pan Yan , Shao Yun , Ma Li , Yang Jie , Zhang Yichen , Huang Wei , Xu Bingjie
Published: November 2021

Continuous-variable quantum key distribution (CVQKD) has potential advantages of high secret key rate, which is very suitable for high-speed metropolitan network application. However, the reported highest secret key rates of the CVQKD systems up to now are limited in a few Mbps. Here, we address the fundamental experimental problems and demonstrate a single-carrier four-state CVQKD with sub-Gbps key rate within metropolitan area. In the demonstrated four-state CVQKD using local local oscillator, an ultra-low level of excess noise is obtained and a high efficient post-processing setup is designed for practically extracting the final secure keys. Thus, the achieved secure key rates are 190.54 Mbps and 137.76 Mbps and 52.48 Mbps using linear channel assuming security analysis method and 233.87 Mbps, 133.6 Mbps and 21.53 Mbps using semidefinite programming security analysis method over transmission distances of 5 km, 10 km and 25 km, respectively. This record-breaking result increases the previous secret key rate record by an order of magnitude, which is sufficient to achieve the one-time pad cryptographic task. Our work shows the road for future high-rate and large-scale CVQKD deployment in secure broadband metropolitan and access networks.
Different DNA methylome, transcriptome and histological features in uterine fibroids with and without MED12 mutations
Authors: Maekawa Ryo , Sato Shun , Tamehisa Tetsuro , Sakai Takahiro , Kajimura Takuya , Sueoka Kotaro , Sugino Norihiro
Published: November 2021

Background: Somatic mutations in Mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12m) have been reported as a biomarker of uterine fibroids (UFs). However, the role of MED12m is still unclear in the pathogenesis of UFs. Therefore, we investigated the differences in DNA methylome, transcriptome, and histological features between MED12m-positive and -negative UFs.
Methods: DNA methylomes and transcriptomes were obtained from MED12m-positive and -negative UFs and myometrium, and hierarchically clustered. Differentially expressed genes in comparison with the myometrium and co-expressed genes detected by weighted gene co-expression network analysis were subjected to gene ontology enrichment analyses. The amounts of collagen fibers and the number of blood vessels and smooth muscle cells were histologically evaluated.
Results: Hierarchical clustering based on DNA methylation clearly separated the myometrium, MED12m-positive, and MED12m-negative UFs. MED12m-positive UFs had the increased activities of extracellular matrix formation, whereas MED12m-negative UFs had the increased angiogenic activities and smooth muscle cell proliferation.
Conclusion: The MED12m-positive and -negative UFs had different DNA methylation, gene expression, and histological features. The MED12m-positive UFs form the tumor with a rich extracellular matrix and poor blood vessels and smooth muscle cells compared to the MED12m-negative UFs, suggesting MED12 mutations affect the tissue composition of UFs.
Preoperative Inflammatory Markers as Prognostic Predictors After Hepatocellular Carcinoma Resection: Data From a Western Referral Center
Authors: Silva João Paulo Maciel , Coelho Fabricio Ferreira , Cassenote Alex Jones Flores , Jeismann Vagner Birk , Fonseca Gilton Marques , Kruger Jaime Arthur Pirola , Júnior José Donizeti Meira , Nahas Sérgio Carlos , Herman Paulo
Published: November 2021

Background

Recent studies from eastern centers have demonstrate an association between inflammatory response and long-term outcomes after hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) resection. However, the prognostic impact of inflammatory markers in western patients, with distinct tumor and epidemiologic features, is still unknown.
Aim

To evaluate the prognostic impact of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), as well as their impact according to tumor size (< 5 cm, 5-10 cm, > 10 cm) in patients undergoing HCC resection with curative intent.
Methods

Optimal cut-off values for NLR, PLR, and MLR were determined by plotting the receiver operator curves. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test. The Cox method was used to identify independent predictors of OS and DFS.
Results

In total, 161 consecutive adult patients were included. A high NLR (>1.715) was associated with worse OS (P=0.018). High NLR (>2.475; P=0.047) and PLR (>100.25; P=0.028) were predictors of short DFS. In HCC < 5 cm, MLR (>1.715) was associated with worse OS (P=0.047). In the multivariate analysis, high PLR was an independent predictor of worse DFS (hazard ratio [HR]=3.029; 1.499-6.121; P=0.002).
Conclusions

Inflammatory markers are useful tools to predict long-term outcomes after liver resection in western patients, high NLR was able to stratify subgroups of patients with short OS and DFS, an increased PLR was an independent predictor of short DFS, while high MLR was associated with short OS in patients with early HCC.
Association between ALDH2 Variant and Alcohol Dependence in South Indian Population.
Authors: Umamageswari A , Adithan C , Manoharan Aarthi , Kannan Iyanar
Published: November 2021

Background: Alcohol dependence (AD) poses a serious medical problem and significant public health issue contributing to morbidity and mortality throughout the world. The aim of the study is to test the association of rs698 (ADH1C) and rs671(ALDH2) with the risk of alcohol dependence and to further assess the influence of environmental factors on altering the genetic susceptibility to alcoholism in south Indian Tamilian population.Methods& Results: A total of 150 alcohol dependent cases aged between 18- and 65-years fulfilling DSM-V criteria were recruited from de addiction center. Subjects in control group (n=150) had history of alcohol intake with AUDIT score less than 8. The alleles were genotyped using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays by quantitative PCR. Association with alcohol dependence was evaluated with various genetic models using chi-square test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the effect of covariates. The dominant (OR=0.5811,95% CI: 0.372-0.9224, p<0.01) and allelic genetic model (OR=0.6228,95% CI: 0.4328-0.9009, p<0.01) of ALDH2, rs671 between cases and controls showed a significant association of the genetic variant with AD. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed education level, family history, marital status were significantly associated with AD but there was no association between rs671 genotypes in the presence of these co-variates.Conclusions: Genetic factors play an important role in alcohol dependence. Combined analysis of functional genetic variants and environmental factors is warranted in future studies.
A Multisectoral Approach to Advance Health Equity in Northern Arizona: County-level Leaders’ Perspectives on Health Equity
Authors: Jiménez Dulce J , Sabo Samantha , Remiker Mark , Smith Melinda , Longorio Alexandra Samarron , Williamson Heather , Chief Carmenlita , Teufel-Shone Nicolette
Published: November 2021

Background
Multisectoral and public-private partnerships are critical in building the necessary infrastructure, policy, and political will to ameliorate health inequity. By focusing on health equity, researchers, practitioners, and decision-makers make explicit the systematic, avoidable, unfair, and unjust differences in health status across population groups sustained over time and generations, beyond the control of individuals. Health equity requires a collective process in shaping the health and wellbeing of the communities in which we live, learn, work, play, move, and grow.
Methods
Data are drawn from the Southwest Health Equity Research Collaborative Regional Health Equity Survey (RHES). RHES is a community-informed, cross-sectional online survey comprised of 31 quantitative and 17 qualitative questions. Generated to elicit an interdisciplinary body of knowledge and guide future multisectoral action for improving community health and well-being, the RHES targeted leaders representing five large rural northern Arizona counties and 13 distinct sectors. To explore, multisectoral leaders’ knowledge, attitudes, and actions to address the social, environmental, and economic conditions that produce and sustain health inequity were analyzed using a priori coding scheme and emergent coding with thematic analysis.
Results
Although leaders were provided the definition and asked to describe the root causes of inequities, the majority of leaders described social determinants of health (SDoH). When leaders described root causes of health inequity, they articulated systemic factors affecting their communities and described discrimination and unequal allocation of power and resources. Most leaders described the SDoH of their communities by discussing compounding factors of poverty, transportation, and housing among others, that together exacerbate inequity. Leaders also identified specific strategies to address SDoH and advance health equity in their communities, ranging from providing direct services, to activating partnerships across organizations and sectors in advocacy for policy change.
Conclusion
Our findings indicate that community leaders in the northern Arizona region acknowledge the importance of multisectoral partnerships and collaborations in improving health equity for the populations that they serve. However, a common understanding of health equity remains to be widely established, which is essential for conducting effective multisectoral work with the goal of advancing health equity.
Quantum Study of Symmetrical/asymmetrical Chare/Energy Transfer in a Simple Candidate Molecular Switch
Authors: Hadi Hamid , Safari Reza , Shamlouei Hamid Reza
Published: November 2021

Based on molecular nanoelectronic knowledge, field-effect molecular electronic devices can be designed for use in nano-circuits. Therefore, in this study, a candidate field-effect molecular switch (isolated, M, and non-isolated, Au-M-Au/Au4-M-Au4, molecular systems) is studied, using density function/pseudopotential model (DFT/LANL2DZ). This molecular switch's switching mechanism (ON/OFF) we performed by applying an external electric field-effect. In this regard, some computational studies related to this molecular switch's electronic/vibrational transfer properties were investigated. Also, used from the quantum theory of atoms in the molecule (QTAIM), Landauer's theory (LT), and energy/charge transfer mechanisms were used at the atomic scale to predict this molecular switch's voltage-current (IV) behavior. Analysis of these results showed that when the intensity of the applied electric field increases to 0.008 au, the molecular switch is in the ON state. In addition, the role of gold electrodes on some of the electronic/vibrational properties of this molecular switch was investigated. Analysis of the results showed that gold electrodes play an essential role in the local distribution of charge and intramolecular energy and, consequently, the I/V diagram of this molecular switch. It is expected that such quantum-based research (without using numerical methods such as Green's function methods) could open new horizons in the quantum study of molecular parts at the atomic-intramolecular scale.
COVID 19 breakthrough infection risk: a simple physical model describing the dependence on antibody concentration
Authors: Williams David
Published: November 2021

The empirically-observed dependence on blood IgG anti-receptor binding domain antibody concentration of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine efficacy against infection has a rational explanation in the statistics of binding of antibody to spike proteins on the virus surface: namely that the probability of protection is the probability of antibody binding to more than a critical number of the spike proteins protruding from the virus. The model is consistent with the observed antibody concentrations required to induce immunity and with the observed dependence of vaccine efficacy on antibody concentration and thus is a useful tool in the development of models to relate, for an individual person, risk of breakthrough infection given measured antibody concentration