bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Response to Incremental Application Rates of Potassium Fertilizer in Mississippi
Authors: Harvey Lorin M. , Shankle Mark W. , Morris Callie J. , Hall Mark A. , Chatterjee Amitava , Harvey Kelsey M.
Published: September 2022

Potassium (K) fertilization is a crucial component of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) production. The basis for K fertilizer recommendations in sweet potato production varies greatly and relies on studies conducted in the late 1950s–1970s. Changes in agronomic practices and increasing costs emphasize the need to revisit fertilizer recommendations. A field experiment was conducted to investigate the impact of seven different K fertilizer (K2O) application rates on sweet potato storage root yield, tissue K concentration, and economic implications in Mississippi. Incremental applications of K fertilizer did not influence sweet potato yield at any grade. Leaf tissue K concentration exhibited a quadratic trend in response to K fertilizer rate, with maximum leaf and root K content achieved at 269 and 404 kg·ha−1 K2O, respectively. Both the predicted K application rate for maximum yield and maximum profitability were the same, at 174 kg·ha−1 K2O. Accordingly, comparable sweet potato yields were achieved while applying substantially less fertilizer than the recommended rate. Further research is warranted to examine the impacts of only potassium fertilizer applications on soil characteristics and temporal trends in sweet potato potassium uptake, as well as refine fertilization recommendations for sweet potato production.
Validation of the Norma Latina Neuropsychological Assessment Battery in Patients with Alzheimer’s Disease in Mexico
Authors: Núñez-Fernández Silvia , Rivera Diego , Arroyo-Anlló Eva María , Ortiz Jiménez Xóchitl Angélica , Camino-Pontes Borja , Salinas Martínez Ricardo , Arango-Lasprilla Juan Carlos
Published: September 2022

To our knowledge, this is the first study reported in the literature that has validated the Norma Latina Battery in a population of people with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in Mexico. The objective of the study was to determine the discriminant validity of the Norma Latina Battery in a group of Mexican individuals with AD and a group of heathy controls (HC). The Norma Latina Battery was administered to 234 Mexican participants (117 HC and 117 individuals with AD). Results show that: (1) the Norma Latina Battery has high discriminative capacity between groups in all domains; (2) participants with AD presented worse scores in each of the cognitive domains compared to the HC and a greater number of low scores in each of the established thresholds or cut-off points; and finally, (3) the Norma Latina Battery had optimal sensitivity and specificity, especially when a set was observed ≥5 scores below the 10th percentile or ≥4 scores below the 5th percentile. In conclusion, it is recommended that both clinicians and researchers use this battery in the evaluation of Mexican people with AD to better understand the prognosis of the disease and its subsequent treatment.
Maternal Folate Status and the Relation between Gestational Arsenic Exposure and Child Health Outcomes
Authors: Patti Marisa A. , Kelsey Karl T. , MacFarlane Amanda J. , Papandonatos George D. , Arbuckle Tye E. , Ashley-Martin Jillian , Fisher Mandy , Fraser William D. , Lanphear Bruce P. , Muckle Gina , Braun Joseph M.
Published: September 2022

Gestational arsenic exposure adversely impacts child health. Folate-mediated 1-carbon metabolism facilitates urinary excretion of arsenic and may prevent arsenic-related adverse health outcomes. We investigated the potential for maternal folate status to modify associations between gestational arsenic exposure and child health. We used data from 364 mother–child pairs in the MIREC study, a prospective pan-Canadian cohort. During pregnancy, we measured first trimester urinary arsenic concentrations, plasma folate biomarkers, and folic acid supplementation intake. At age 3 years, we evaluated twelve neurodevelopmental and anthropometric features. Using latent profile analysis and multinomial regression, we developed phenotypic profiles of child health, estimated covariate-adjusted associations between arsenic and these phenotypic profiles, and evaluated whether folate status modified these associations. We identified three phenotypic profiles of neurodevelopment and three of anthropometry, ranging from less to more optimal child health. Gestational arsenic was associated with decreased odds of optimal neurodevelopment. Maternal folate status did not modify associations of arsenic with neurodevelopmental phenotypic profiles, but gestational arsenic was associated with increased odds of excess adiposity among those who exceed recommendations for folic acid (>1000 μg/day). However, arsenic exposure was low and folate status was high. Gestational arsenic exposure may adversely impact child neurodevelopment and anthropometry, and maternal folate status may not modify these associations; however, future work should examine these associations in more arsenic-exposed or lower folate-status populations.
Air Quality and Cancer Prevalence Trends across the Sub-Saharan African Regions during 2005–2020
Authors: Okunromade Omolola , Yin Jingjing , Ray Clara , Adhikari Atin
Published: September 2022

Poor air quality and environmental pollution remain some of the main etiological factors leading to cancers and cancer-related deaths worldwide. As a result of human activities, deleterious airborne chemicals can be dispersed not only in the environment but also released in occupational environments and industrial areas. Air pollutants and cancer links are now established through various oxidative stress-related mechanisms and related DNA damages. Generally, ambient and indoor air pollutants have been understudied in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) compared to other regions in the world. Our study not only highlights the deleterious effects of air pollutants in these developing countries, but it has strived to examine the trends and correlations between cancers and some air pollutants—carbon dioxide, other greenhouse gases, PM2.5, and human development index—in some SSA countries, where recent cancer burdens were reported as high. Our results showed strikingly higher yearly trends of cancers and above-mentioned air pollutant levels in some sub-Saharan countries during 2005–2020. Relative risks (RR) of these air pollutants-related cancer case rates were, however, below, or slightly above 1.0, or not statistically significant possibly due to other responsible and confounding factors which were not considered in our analyses due to data unavailability. We recommend new approaches to monitoring, minimizing, and creating awareness of the trends of hazardous air pollutants in sub-Saharan Africa, which will help ameliorate cancer prevalence and support the reduction in air pollution levels within regulatory limits, thereby relieving the cumulative burdens of cancers. Utilization of the findings from the study will support large-scale public health and health policy efforts on cancer management through environmental stewardship in SSA countries having the poorest outcome and the shortest survival rates from cancers.
The Changing Landscape of Invasive Fungal Infections in ICUs: A Need for Risk Stratification to Better Target Antifungal Drugs and the Threat of Resistance
Authors: Poissy Julien , Rouzé Anahita , Cornu Marjorie , Nseir Saad , Sendid Boualem
Published: September 2022

The landscape of invasive candidiasis and invasive aspergillosis has changed dramatically in intensive care units over the past two decades. Today, we are faced with new risk factors such as the emergence of resistance, but are also equipped with new therapeutic strategies and diagnostic tools which are changing epidemiological data and diagnostic algorithms. Some common points need to be addressed: (i) the best way to use microbiological tools and to integrate their results in decisional algorithms; (ii) the need to find the optimum balance between under-diagnosis and overtreatment; (iii) and the need to decipher pathophysiology. In this short review, we will try to illustrate these points.
Analysis of Influencing Factors and Income Effect of Heterogeneous Agricultural Households’ Forestland Transfer
Authors: Wu Juan , Yu Wenjing , Liu Xiaobing , Wen Yali
Published: September 2022

After the collective forest tenure reform, the forestland transfer behavior choices did not reach the policy expectations. In order to explore the factors influencing the behavior of farmers’ forestland transfer and the income effect of forestland transfer, this paper constructs a binary logistic regression model and a propensity score matching (PSM) model and uses the data obtained from a questionnaire survey of 500 farmers from 10 counties in Liaoning Province for quantitative analysis. Considering the heterogeneity, agricultural households are divided into three categories, namely, pure agricultural households, part-time agricultural households and non-agricultural households. The study found that the influencing factors of different types of agricultural households’ forestland transfer behavior choices were not exactly the same and the degree of influence by the same variable was also different. Forestland transfer can effectively promote the increase of agricultural and forestry income and total household income of pure agricultural households, part-time agricultural households and non-agricultural households, among which the promotion effect on pure agricultural households is the largest.
Effects of Cadmium Stress on Root and Root Border Cells of Some Vegetable Species with Different Types of Root Meristem
Authors: Feng Yingming , Li Huanxiu , Zhang Xianshi , Li Xuewen , Zhang Jie , Shi Lei , Chen Xingyun , Nong Wei , Wang Changquan , Shabala Sergey , Yu Min
Published: September 2022

Cadmium is one of the most toxic heavy metals and can be easily absorbed by plants, affecting root growth. Root border cells (RBCs), that are located in the periphery of the root cap and originate from the root cap meristem, represent a convenient tool to study the toxic effects of Cd on root performance. In this work, vegetables with contrasting types of root apical meristem (RAM) organizations were used. The open RAM organizations included pea and cucumber, and the closed RAM organizations included tomato, chili, and eggplant. The number of RBCs were significantly higher in the species possessing open RAM organization: pea (11,330 cells per root) > cucumber (8200) > tomato (2480) > eggplant (1830) > chili (1320). The same trend was observed for cell viability: pea (61%) > cucumber (59%) > tomato (49%) > eggplant (44%) > chili (42%). Pea and cucumber had higher relative radicle elongation rates and a lower increase in stress-induced accumulation of malondialdehyde (MDA), making them more resistant to Cd stress than the vegetables with close RAM organization. Under Cd treatment, the number and viability of RBCs in vegetables with both types of RAM organization were significantly decreased. However, the decreasing ratio of the number and viability of RBCs in pea and cucumber was higher than in tomato, chili, and eggplant. Taken together, the plants with the open-type RAM are more tolerant to Cd, and it can be speculated that the cadmium tolerance of the vegetables may be correlated with the number and viability of RBCs in response to cadmium stress.
Effect of Cutting Parameters on Tool Chipping Mechanism and Tool Wear Multi-Patterns in Face Milling Inconel 718
Authors: Liu Delin , Liu Zhanqiang , Wang Bing
Published: September 2022

Tool wear behavior is mainly influenced by cutting parameters for a given tool–workpiece pair and cutting process. Rapid tool wear increases production costs and deteriorates machining quality in manufacturing industries. Inconel 718 is prone to severe tool wear in the milling process due to its high strength under elevated temperature and being prone to work hardening. The effects of cutting speed and feed rate on the tool chipping mechanism and tool wear multi-patterns in face milling Inconel 718 with cemented carbide tools are investigated in this research. Firstly, the face milling experiments of Inconel 718 were conducted with various cutting speeds and feed rates. The experimental results show that the tool wear morphology, especially the tool edge chipping on the flank face, is changed with the cutting parameters. Secondly, the tool chipping mechanism in the milling process is discussed. The effects of cutting speed and feed rate on the chipping and wear patterns of cutting tools are clarified. Finally, the ANOVA analysis is conducted to verify the effects of cutting parameters on cutting force, tool life, and tool edge chipping. This work provides an experimental basis for process parameter optimization to alleviate cutting tool wear in machining processes.
Effect of Microstructure on Photo-Induced Current Characteristics of Eu2+-Doped SrAl2O4
Authors: Lee Hyunseok , Lee Seung-Woo
Published: September 2022

Research interest is active in Eu2+/Dy3-doped SrAl2O4 phosphors, and the photocurrent characteristics of Eu2+-doped SrAl2O4 without Dy3+ was investigated extensively. However, it exhibits a low photocurrent of ~1 μA owing to high resistance. In this study, the changes in a photo-induced current with grain size were examined. The effect of the processing methods on the microstructure and photocurrent characteristics of Eu2+-doped SrAl2O4 phosphors was investigated. (Sr0.99Eu0.01)Al2O4 powders were synthesized using a conventional solid-state method and calcined at 1350 °C under a 3% H2/(Ar + H2) reducing gas atmosphere. Sample pellets were fabricated as conventional and hot-press-sintered bodies at 1400 °C. A thin film of the sample was deposited on an alumina substrate by radio-frequency magnetron sputtering. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the hot-press-sintered body has larger grains than the conventionally sintered body. The photo-induced current of the hot-press-sintered body at 400 lx was ~100 and ~1000 times higher than those of the conventionally sintered body and thin film, respectively. Impedance analysis confirmed that this dramatic increase in the photo-induced current is closely related to the increase in the grain size and crystallinity of the sample. This study verifies the applicability of Eu2+-doped SrAl2O4 as both a phosphor and photosensor.
New SHapley Additive ExPlanations (SHAP) Approach to Evaluate the Raw Materials Interactions of Steel-Fiber-Reinforced Concrete
Authors: Anjum Madiha , Khan Kaffayatullah , Ahmad Waqas , Ahmad Ayaz , Amin Muhammad Nasir , Nafees Afnan
Published: September 2022

Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) approaches have gained the attention of researchers in the civil engineering field for estimating the mechanical characteristics of concrete to save the effort, time, and cost of researchers. Consequently, the current research focuses on assessing steel-fiber-reinforced concrete (SFRC) in terms of flexural strength (FS) prediction by employing delicate AI techniques as well as to predict the raw material interaction that is still a research gap. In this study, the FS of SFRC is estimated by deploying supervised machine learning (ML) techniques, such as DT-Gradient Boosting, DT-XG Boost, DT-AdaBoost, and DT-Bagging. In addition to that, the performance model is also evaluated by using R2, root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE). Furthermore, the k-fold cross-validation method is also applied to validate the model’s performance. It is observed that DT-Bagging with an R2 value of 0.95 is superior to DT-XG Boost, DT-Gradient Boosting, and DT-AdaBoost. Lesser error MAE and RMSE and higher R2 values for the DT-Bagging model show the enhanced performance of the model compared to the other ensembled approaches. Considerable conservation of time, effort, and cost can be made by applying ML techniques to predict concrete properties. The evaluation of the outcome depicts that the estimated results of DT-Bagging are closer to the experimental results, indicating the accurate estimation of SFRC flexural strength. It is further revealed from the SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) study that the volumetric content of steel fiber highly and positively influences the FS of SFRC.
Electrical and Optoelectronic Properties Enhancement of n-ZnO/p-GaAs Heterojunction Solar Cells via an Optimized Design for Higher Efficiency
Authors: Derbali Lotfi
Published: September 2022

In this study, we report the fabrication of high quality AZO/NRs-ZnO/n-ZnO/p-GaAs heterojunction via a novel optimized design. First of all, the electrical proprieties of gallium arsenide (GaAs) substrates were enhanced via an optimized gettering treatment that was based on a variable temperature process (VTP) resulting in an obvious increase of the effective minority carrier lifetime (τeff) from 8.3 ns to 27.6 ns, measured using time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL). Afterward, the deposition of a zinc oxide (ZnO) emitter was optimized and examined in view of its use both as a light trapping layer (antireflection) and as the n-type partner for the p-type (GaAs) substrate. Nanorod-shaped ZnO was grown successfully on top of the emitter, as an antireflective coating (ARC), to further boost the absorption of light for a large broadband energy harvesting. The interface state of the prepared heterojunction is a key parameter to improve the prepared heterojunction performance, thus, we used laser ablation to create parallel line microgroove patterns in the GaAs front surface. We studied the effect of each step on the performance of the n-ZnO/GaAs heterojunction. The results demonstrate a significant improvement in Voc, Jsc, fill factor (FF), and an obvious enhancement in the I–V characteristics, exhibiting good diode properties, giving rise to the photovoltaic conversion efficiency (η) from 8.31% to 19.7%, more than two times higher than the reference.
A Comprehensive Analysis of Microflora and Metabolites in the Development of Ulcerative Colitis into Colorectal Cancer Based on the Lung–Gut Correlation Theory
Authors: Tang Qi , Liu Ran , Chu Ge , Wang Yue , Cui Haiyue , Zhang Tongrui , Bi Kaishun , Gao Peng , Song Zonghua , Li Qing
Published: September 2022

The lungs and large intestine can co-regulate inflammation and immunity through the lung–gut axis, in which the transportation of the gut microbiota and metabolites is the most important communication channel. In our previous study, not only did the composition of the gut microbiota and metabolites related to inflammation change significantly during the transition from ulcerative colitis (UC) to colorectal cancer (CRC), but the lung tissues also showed corresponding inflammatory changes, which indicated that gastrointestinal diseases can lead to pulmonary diseases. In order to elucidate the mechanisms of this lung–gut axis, metabolites in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were detected using UHPLC–Q-TOF-MS/MS technology, while microbiome characterization was performed in BALF using 16S rDNA sequencing. The levels of pulmonary metabolites changed greatly during the development of UC to CRC. Among these changes, the concentrations of linoleic acid and 7-hydroxy-3-oxocholic acid gradually increased during the development of UC to CRC. In addition, the composition of the pulmonary microbiota also changed significantly, with an increase in the Proteobacteria and an obvious decrease in the Firmicutes. These changes were consistent with our previous studies of the gut. Collectively, the microbiota and metabolites identified above might be the key markers related to lung and gut diseases, which can be used as an indication of the transition of diseases from the gut to the lung and provide a scientific basis for clinical treatment.
How GBS Got Its Hump: Genomic Analysis of Group B Streptococcus from Camels Identifies Host Restriction as well as Mobile Genetic Elements Shared across Hosts and Pathogens
Authors: Crestani Chiara , Seligsohn Dinah , Forde Taya L. , Zadoks Ruth N.
Published: September 2022

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) literature largely focuses on humans and neonatal disease, but GBS also affects numerous animals, with significant impacts on health and productivity. Spill-over events occur between humans and animals and may be followed by amplification and evolutionary adaptation in the new niche, including changes in the core or accessory genome content. Here, we describe GBS from one-humped camels (Camelus dromedarius), a relatively poorly studied GBS host of increasing importance for food security in arid regions. Genomic analysis shows that virtually all GBS from camels in East Africa belong to a monophyletic clade, sublineage (SL)609. Capsular types IV and VI, including a new variant of type IV, were over-represented compared to other host species. Two genomic islands with signatures of mobile elements contained most camel-associated genes, including genes for metal and carbohydrate utilisation. Lactose fermentation genes were associated with milk isolates, albeit at lower prevalence in camel than bovine GBS. The presence of a phage with high identity to Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus suis suggests lateral gene transfer between GBS and bacterial species that have not been described in camels. The evolution of camel GBS appears to combine host restriction with the sharing of accessory genome content across pathogen and host species.
The Impact of an Electronic Prescribing Template with Decision Support upon the Prescribing of Subcutaneous Infusions at the End of Life in a Community Setting: A Future Vision for Community Palliative Care
Authors: Au Y. K. , Baker L. , Hindmarsh J.
Published: September 2022

Objectives: To assess the impact of an electronic prescribing template with decision support upon the frequency of prescription errors, guideline adherence (relating to dose ranges), and prescription legality when prescribing continuous subcutaneous infusions (CSCI) in a palliative demographic. Design, setting, and participants: Before-and-after study across a large UK city utilizing local prescribing data taken from patients receiving end-of-life care. Intervention: An electronic prescribing template with decision support. Main outcome measures: The following were assessed: (1) the rate of prescription errors; (2) the proportion of prescriptions specifying a dose range and if the specified range complied with local recommendations; and (3) the proportion of prescriptions specifying legal mixing directions. Results: The intervention was associated with a significant reduction in errors of omission, with all prescriptions clearly stating drug indication, route of administration, drug dose, and infusion duration. The numbers of continuous subcutaneous infusion prescriptions that specified dose ranges were similar at baseline and post-intervention, at 71% (n = 122) and 72% (n = 179), respectively. At baseline, 69% (n = 84) of CSCI prescriptions specifying a dose range were deemed safe, and post-intervention, 97% (n = 173) were determined to be safe. At baseline, mixing directions were not specified correctly on any continuous subcutaneous infusion prescriptions, while post-intervention, such directions were correct on 75% (n = 157; p < 0.05) of the prescriptions. Conclusions: The intervention eliminated errors of omission, ensured the safety of prescribed dose ranges, and improved compliance with legislation surrounding the mixing of multicomponent infusions. Overall, the intervention has the potential to improve patient safety at the end of life and to increase the efficiency of community services.
Optical Labels Enabled Optical Performance Monitoring in WDM Systems
Authors: Yang Tao , Li Kaixuan , Liu Zhengyu , Wang Xue , Shi Sheping , Wang Liqian , Chen Xue
Published: September 2022

Optical performance monitoring (OPM), particularly the optical power and optical signal-to-noise ratio (OSNR) of each wavelength channel, are of great importance and significance and need to be implemented to ensure stable and efficient operation/maintenance of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks. However, the critical monitoring module of existing solutions generally are too expensive, operationally inconvenient and/or functionally limited to apply over WDM systems with numerous nodes. In this paper, a low-cost and high-efficiency OPM scheme based on differential phase shift keying (DPSK)-modulated digital optical labels is proposed and demonstrated. Each pilot tone is modulated by digital surveillance information and treated as an identity indicator and performance predictor that ties up to each wavelength channel and thereby can monitor the performance of all wavelength channels simultaneously by only one low-bandwidth photoelectric detector (PD) and by designed digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms. Simulation results showed that the maximum errors of channel power monitoring and OSNR estimation were both less than 1 dB after 20-span WDM transmission. In addition, offline experiments were also carried out and further verified the feasibility of our OPM scheme. This confirms that the optical label based OPM has lower cost and higher efficiency and thereby is of great potential for mass deployment in practical WDM systems.
Fire-Retardant Property of Hexasubstituted Cyclotriphosphazene Derivatives with Schiff Base Linking Unit Applied as an Additives in Polyurethane Coating for Wood Fabrication
Authors: Mohd Taip Nurul Atiqah , Jamain Zuhair , Palle Ismawati
Published: September 2022

A series of new hexasubstituted cyclotriphosphaze derivatives containing Schiff base linkages were successfully synthesized and characterized. The series contains different terminal substituents of pentyl and tetradecyl. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and carbon, hydrogen, and nitrogen (CHN) elemental analysis were used to characterize the intermediates and final compounds, while the thermal stability of the final compounds is evaluated with a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) test. The final compounds are physically added to the polyurethane coating formulation and then applied to the wood panel using a brush and the compound’s fire-retardant properties are evaluated using the limiting oxygen index (LOI) test. In this research, compound 3b showed good thermal stability compared to compound 3a. In terms of LOI results, polyurethane with an LOI value of 21.90% was employed as a matrix for wood coating and the value increased to 24.90% when this polyurethane is incorporated with 1 wt.% of the compound 3b. The increase in the LOI value indicates that the wood coating containing hexasubstituted cyclotriphosphazene compounds exhibits excellent fire-retardant properties as additives.
New Terahertz Wave Sorting Technology to Improve Plastic Containers and Packaging Waste Recycling in Japan
Authors: Yu Jeongsoo , Liu Xiaoyue , Manago Gaku , Tanabe Tadao , Osanai Shiori , Okubo Kazuaki
Published: September 2022

Plastic product consumption and disposal are widespread. Given that these products are derived from crude oil, it is critical to reduce their consumption and effectively recycle plastic waste as recycled resources to achieve a low-carbon society. Japan enacted the “Containers and Packaging Recycling Law” in 2000, encouraging the recycling of plastic packaging and containers. However, material recycling of plastic waste has stalled due to recycling costs and technical challenges. This paper examines and evaluates the transition process and operational status of Japan’s recycling policy for plastic containers and packaging, as well as clarifies the limits of resources recycling. The limits and issues of current identification technology are discussed by analyzing the characteristics of plastic marks and detecting the material compositions of waste samples. The paper also discusses a new sorting technology that uses terahertz waves to improve plastic recycling. This analysis revealed that plastic containers are typically made of two or more plastic materials, which makes resources recycling more difficult. Terahertz waves are safer than other high-accuracy sorting technologies currently in use. Thus, material recycling can be expanded by accurately analyzing the composition of plastic waste and introducing sorting devices appropriate for achieving the circular economy with sustainable resource recycling.
Personality Predictors of Gratitude to God: Examining the Roles of Positive Emotional Traits and Adaptive Relational Styles
Authors: Wilt Joshua A. , Exline Julie J.
Published: September 2022

Research relating personality variables to gratitude to God (GTG) is in its nascent stages, as only a few descriptive, correlational studies have been conducted on this topic. We investigated whether two kinds of personality variables—positive emotional traits and adaptive relational styles—predicted higher GTG. Hypotheses linking these variables to GTG were based on a novel, preregistered conceptual framework. We also explored whether general gratitude statistically mediated these links. In a cross-sectional study of N = 698 undergraduates from the United States, participants completed self-report measures of personality predictors, situational GTG and situational general gratitude in response to a positive event, as well as trait GTG. Correlations showed strong support for hypotheses connecting GTG (situational and trait) with positive emotional traits (extraversion, optimism, vitality, self-esteem). Correlations also supported hypotheses for one adaptive relational style (agreeableness) but not others (honesty–humility, lack of entitlement, secure attachment). General gratitude was a mediator of associations between positive emotional traits and both trait and situational GTG, and general gratitude mediated associations between adaptive relational styles and trait GTG. These results provide initial evidence suggesting that positive emotional traits have consistent, direct (and indirect via gratitude) links to GTG, whereas the evidence for adaptive relational styles was more inconsistent and indirectly mediated via general gratitude.
Using Small Area Estimation to Produce Official Statistics
Authors: Young Linda J. , Chen Lu
Published: September 2022

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and other federal statistical agencies have used probability-based surveys as the foundation for official statistics for over half a century. Non-survey data that can be used to improve the accuracy and precision of estimates such as administrative, remotely sensed, and retail data have become increasingly available. Both frequentist and Bayesian models are used to combine survey and non-survey data in a principled manner. NASS has recently adopted Bayesian subarea models for three of its national programs: farm labor, crop county estimates, and cash rent county estimates. Each program provides valuable estimates at multiple scales of geography. For each program, technical challenges had to be met and a strenuous review completed before models could be adopted as the foundation for official statistics. Moving models out of the research phase into production required major changes in the production process and a cultural shift. With the implemented models, NASS now has measures of uncertainty, transparency, and reproducibility of its official statistics.
Adverse Effects of Toxic Metal Pollution in Rivers on the Physiological Health of Fish
Authors: Ngo Huong Thi Thuy , Nguyen Thanh Dinh , Nguyen Tien Thi Hanh , Le Thao Thanh , Nguyen Dinh Quoc
Published: September 2022

Toxic metal pollution influences the lives of diverse aquatic organisms and humans who consume contaminated aquatic products. However, its potential impacts on aquatic organism health and, thus, ecological health, have been neglected in many regions. This research was carried out to contribute to filling that knowledge gap. Three freshwater fish species in the Nhue–Day River basin, Vietnam, have been chosen to study the bioaccumulation of metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd) in the tissues (livers, kidneys, gills) and their effects on fish physiological health (changes in the oxidative-GST activity, and physiological biomarkers-energy reserves, respectively) from 2013 to 2017. The extensive results revealed significant spatial and temporal variations in metal concentrations in tissues of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), silver carp (Hypothalmic molitrix), and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), and well correlated to their concentration in the water (p < 0.05). Fish bioaccumulated metals in the following order: Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd, with more in the kidneys and livers (spring and summer) than in other tissues. Metal accumulation in O. niloticus and C. carpio was higher than in H. molitrix. Biomarker responses (except for glycogen variation) were also higher during warm seasons. Changes in metal levels in water and fish tissues caused variations in biomarkers in the respective fish tissues, particularly in the livers, as demonstrated by significant correlations of metal concentrations in water and fish tissues to biochemical and physiological responses (p < 0.05). The findings suggest that metal pollution in the river basin adversely impacts the physiological health of both wild and cultured fish. Seasonal shifts in the levels of metal accumulation and biomarkers could be connected to species-specific differences in physiology and the levels of metals in environments. This biomarker set is simple but effective in assessing the impact of metal pollution on fish health and, hence, the aquatic ecosystem. This is one of the first biomonitoring studies to assist in designing better water management strategies for the Nhue–Day River basin.
Mass of Cosmological Perturbations in the Hybrid and Dressed Metric Formalisms of Loop Quantum Cosmology for the Starobinsky and Exponential Potentials
Authors: Iteanu Simon , Mena Marugán Guillermo A.
Published: September 2022

The hybrid and the dressed metric formalisms for the study of primordial perturbations in Loop Quantum Cosmology lead to dynamical equations for the modes of these perturbations that are of a generalized harmonic-oscillator type, with a mass that depends on the background but is the same for all modes. For quantum background states that are peaked on trajectories of the effective description of Loop Quantum Cosmology, the main difference between the two considered formalisms is found in the expression of this mass. The value of the mass at the bounce is especially important, since it is only in a short interval around this event that the quantum geometry effects on the perturbations are relevant. In a previous article, the properties of this mass were discussed for an inflaton potential of quadratic form, or with similar characteristics. In the present work, we extend this study to other interesting potentials in cosmology, namely the Starobinsky and the exponential potentials. We prove that there exists a finite interval of values of the potential (which includes the zero but typically goes beyond the sector of kinetically dominated inflaton energy density) for which the hybrid mass is positive at the bounce whereas the dressed metric mass is negative.
Electron Temperature Anisotropy Effects on Alpha/Proton Instability in the Solar Wind
Authors: Lang Si-Yi , Xiang Liang , Li Qiu-Huan , Zhang Wen-Lu , Yu Hong-Wei
Published: September 2022

In situ recordings by the solar Wind spacecraft reveal the ubiquitousness of alpha particles, whose drift velocities to the background proton vα are generally less than or equal to the local Alfvén velocity vA. The alpha beam instability plays a significant role in the alpha beam deceleration in the solar wind; nonetheless, the detailed mechanism of deceleration remains unclear. By using the linear Vlasov equation of the PDRK/B0 solver, the present work investigates the kinetic instability caused by both the alpha beam and the electron temperature anisotropy in the solar wind and assesses the effects of the electron temperature anisotropy on such instability. The results show that both anisotropic electrons and alpha beams lead to the excitation of several plasma waves, and the wave frequency, growth rate, and polarization properties are sensitive to the electron temperature anisotropy (Te⊥/Te‖), the parallel electron beta (βe‖), and the alpha beam drift velocity (vα/vA). With an excess parallel temperature Te⊥/Te‖<1, the parallel magnetosonic/whistler (PM/W), parallel Alfvén wave (PAW), and oblique Alfvén/ion cyclotron (OA/IC) instabilities could be generated, while for an excess perpendicular temperature Te⊥/Te‖>1, the PM/W, OA/IC, parallel whistler (PW), and kinetic Alfvén wave (KAW) instabilities could grow. In the region of Te⊥/Te‖<1, the thresholds of the PM/W, PAW, and OA/IC instabilities extend to lower drift velocity vα/vA. In the region of Te⊥/Te‖>1, the thresholds of the PM/W and OA/IC instabilities increase, while those of the PW and KAW instabilities are shifted to lower vα/vA. The current study presents a comprehensive overview for alpha beam instabilities that limit the alpha beam drift velocity in the solar wind.
Generalized Helical Hypersurfaces Having Time-like Axis in Minkowski Spacetime
Authors: Güler Erhan
Published: September 2022

In this paper, the generalized helical hypersurfaces x=x(u,v,w) with a time-like axis in Minkowski spacetime E14 are considered. The first and the second fundamental form matrices, the Gauss map, and the shape operator matrix of x are calculated. Moreover, the curvatures of the generalized helical hypersurface x are obtained by using the Cayley–Hamilton theorem. The umbilical conditions for the curvatures of x are given. Finally, the Laplace–Beltrami operator of the generalized helical hypersurface with a time-like axis is presented in E14.
Lessons Learned from the Development and Roll-Out of the rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP Zaire ebolavirus Vaccine to Inform Marburg Virus and Sudan ebolavirus Vaccines
Authors: Coller Beth-Ann G. , Lapps William , Yunus Mahum , Bruno Samantha , Eichberg Michael J. , Lee Andrew Wen-Tseng , Liu Kenneth , Drury Rosybel , Millogo Jules , Macareo Louis Robert , Armstrong Thomas H. , Blue Jeffrey T. , Isopi Lynne A. , Hughes Melissa , VanRheenen Susan M. , Deutsch Jonathan , Tell Joan G. , Dubey Sheri A.
Published: September 2022

This review describes key aspects of the development of the rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP Ebola vaccine and key activities which are continuing to further expand our knowledge of the product. Extensive partnerships and innovative approaches were used to address the various challenges encountered during this process. The rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP Ebola vaccine was initially approved by the European Medicines Agency and prequalified by the World Health Organization in November 2019. It was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration in December 2019 and approved in five African countries within 90 days of prequalification. The development resulted in the first stockpile of a registered Ebola vaccine that is available to support outbreak response. This also provides insights into how the example of rVSVΔG-ZEBOV-GP can inform the development of vaccines for Sudan ebolavirus, Marburg virus, and other emerging epidemic diseases in terms of the types of approaches and data needed to support product registration, availability, and the use of a filovirus vaccine.
Maternal COVID-19 Vaccine May Reduce the Risk of MIS-C in Infants: A Narrative Review
Authors: Mangat Chetna , Yarrarapu Siva Naga Srinivas , Singh Gagandeep , Bansal Pankaj
Published: September 2022

COVID-19 infection in the pediatric population usually leads to a mild illness; however, a rare but serious complication of MIS-C has been seen in children. MIS-C usually presents 2–4 weeks after COVID-19 infection or exposure, and rare reports have been documented in neonates. Vaccinations for COVID-19 have been approved for children aged 6 months and above in the United States, and recent reports suggest significantly low prevalence and risk of complications of Multi-organ Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) in vaccinated children compared to unvaccinated children. Vaccinations for COVID-19 are safe and recommended during pregnancy and prevent severe maternal morbidity and adverse birth outcomes. Evidence from other vaccine-preventable diseases suggests that through passive transplacental antibody transfer, maternal vaccinations are protective against infections in infants during the first 6 months of life. Various studies have demonstrated that maternal COVID-19 vaccination is associated with the presence of anti-spike protein antibodies in infants, persisting even at 6 months of age. Further, completion of a 2-dose primary mRNA COVID-19 vaccination series during pregnancy is associated with reduced risk for COVID-19–associated hospitalization among infants aged 6 months or less. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that maternal COVID-19 vaccination can reduce the risk of and severity of MIS-C in infants. In this article, we review the literature to support this hypothesis.
Sinopharm’s BBIBP-CorV Vaccine and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine Are Associated with a Comparable Immune Response against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Abdelhafiz Ahmed Samir , Ali Asmaa , Kamel Mahmoud M. , Ahmed Eman Hasan , Sayed Douaa M. , Bakry Rania M.
Published: September 2022

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has affected millions of people worldwide. During the early stages of vaccination in Egypt, the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and BBIBP-CorV vaccines were the most distributed. The aim of this study was to compare the immune responses and short-term efficacies of these two vaccines. We recruited adults who received two doses of either vaccine. Samples were collected after the first dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-1 and after the second dose of both vaccines. Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 antigens were measured using LABScreen™ COVID Plus kits, and cell-mediated immune responses were assessed using flow cytometry. Of the 109 recruited subjects, 60 (55%) received the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, and the remainder received the BBIBP-CorV vaccine. The total antibody level did not significantly differ between the two groups. The level of the anti-spike subunit 2 (S2) antibody was significantly higher in the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 group. The percentages of both total T cells and B cells were unaffected by the type of vaccination. However, the ChAdOx1 nCoV-1 vaccine was significantly associated with a higher percentage of CD8+ cells. The vaccines did not significantly differ in the number or severity of infections postvaccination. None of the participants were admitted to the hospital or died of COVID-19 infection. In conclusion, the BBIBP-CorV vaccine is associated with an immune response and protection against infection that is comparable to that of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-1 vaccine. Follow-up is needed to study the long-term protective effects of both vaccines. Inactivated vaccines are easier to manufacture in developing countries and their limited side effects may lead to better economic benefits by limiting the number of absences from work.
Maintaining Momentum for Rotavirus Immunization in Africa during the COVID-19 Era: Report of the 13th African Rotavirus Symposium
Authors: Were Frederick N. , Jere Khuzwayo C. , Armah George E. , Mphahlele M. Jeffrey , Mwenda Jason M. , Steele A. Duncan
Published: September 2022

The 13th African Rotavirus Symposium was held as a virtual event hosted by the University of Nairobi, Kenya and The Kenya Paediatric Association on 3rd and 4th November 2021. This biennial event organized under the auspices of the African Rotavirus Network shapes the agenda for rotavirus research and prevention on the continent, attracting key international and regional opinion leaders, researchers, and public health scientists. The African Rotavirus Network is a regional network of institutions initially established in 1999, and now encompassing much of the diarrheal disease and rotavirus related research in Africa, in collaboration with the World Health Organization African Regional Office (WHO-AFRO), Ministries of Health, and other partners. Surges in SARS-CoV2 variants and concomitant travel restrictions limited the meeting to a webinar platform with invited scientific presentations and scientific presentations from selected abstracts. The scientific program covered updates on burden of diarrheal diseases including rotavirus, the genomic characterization of rotavirus strains pre- and post-rotavirus vaccine introduction, and data from clinical evaluation of new rotavirus vaccines in Africa. Finally, 42 of the 54 African countries have fully introduced rotavirus vaccination at the time of the meeting, including the two recently WHO pre-qualified vaccines from India. Nonetheless, the full benefit of rotavirus vaccination is yet to be realized in Africa where approximately 80% of the global burden of rotavirus mortality exists.
A Survey on Undergraduate Medical Students’ Perception of COVID-19 Vaccination
Authors: Ciliberti Rosagemma , Lantieri Francesca , Barranco Rosario , Tettamanti Camilla , Bonsignore Alessandro , Ventura Francesco
Published: September 2022

The objectives of this study were to obtain information on medical students’ attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination and to identify the main barriers to its acceptance. We conducted an anonymous online survey on a sample of undergraduate medical students from one main Italian University. The questions were aimed at exploring their attitudes toward vaccination to prevent COVID-19, their perceptions of the risk/threat of COVID-19 and the factors associated with their attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination. A high percentage of students in our sample stated that they had been vaccinated or that they intended to be vaccinated against the COVID-19 coronavirus. A total of 239 questionnaires were analyzed. Age, social, geographic and demographic characteristics, health conditions and interest in vaccination were recorded; 93% of the students declared that they encouraged vaccination and 83% stated that the reason was “Moral responsibility towards the community”. Four students had not yet been vaccinated, mainly because of “Contradictory information on efficacy and safety”. The Likert-type questions revealed high agreement on the importance of vaccination and whether it should be made mandatory (“indispensable tool” and “ethical duty” were cited to explain this position). The results show a high level of acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination among these medical undergraduates who, being halfway through their training and involved in clinical practice, are already in possession of specific scientific knowledge and, to a small extent, come from different areas of Italy.