bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Succinic and citric acids production from renewable biomass (waste cooking oil and crude glycerol) through oleophilic yeast strain of Yarrowia lipolytica ATCC 20177
Authors: Mitrea Laura , Călinoiu Lavinia-Florina , Teleky Bernadette-Emőke , Szabo Katalin , Martău Adrian-Gheorghe , Ștefănescu Bianca-Eugenia , Dulf Francisc-Vasile , Vodnar Dan-Cristian
Published: March 2022

Background
Organic acids like succinic and citric acids are of great interest as platform organic products that play important roles as precursors for a wide range of bio-based materials. Succinic and citric acids can be successfully produced biotechnologically from renewable resources of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic nature through efficient microbiological conversion. Yarrowia lipolytica represents one of the most versatile microbial factories in terms of organic acids production, as it easily develops and produced metabolites starting from glucidic-based and/or lipid-based substrates.
Results
The purpose of this work was to investigate the ability of Y. lipolytica to adapt to hydrophilic and hydrophobic sources and to biosynthesize important platform chemicals like succinic and citric acids. The selected strain was monitored during a batch cultivation for 192 h on 100 g/L carbon source: pure glycerol as a hydrophilic source, sunflower waste cooking oil as a hydrophobic source, and crude glycerol deriving from biodiesel production as a mixture of hydrophilic and hydrophobic sources. Cellular viability, biomass accumulation, and metabolites formation in terms of succinic acid and citric acid was monitored, and the highest results were registered for cultivations performed on waste cooking oil [10.35 ± 0.29 (log10) CFU/mL, 8.15 g/L cell dry weight, 3.50 ± 0.04 g/L citric acid, and 21 ± 0.16 g/L succinic acid].
Conclusion
The results obtained in this work outline the industrial potential of the oleaginous yeast strain of Y. lipolytica to bioconvert lipidic residual biomass into valuable organic compounds with wide-range applicability.
Identifying tsunami traces beyond sandy tsunami deposits using terrigenous biomarkers: a case study of the 2011 Tohoku-oki tsunami in a coastal pine forest, northern Japan
Authors: Shinozaki Tetsuya , Sawai Yuki , Ikehara Minoru , Matsumoto Dan , Shimada Yumi , Tanigawa Koichiro , Tamura Toru
Published: March 2022

The distributions of sandy tsunami deposits do not reflect the true extents of tsunami inundation areas, leading to underestimates of inundation by past tsunamis and thus the magnitudes of their associated tsunamigenic earthquakes. To archive the sedimentological and geochemical features of the 2011 Tohoku-oki tsunami deposit, we performed visual observations and computed-tomography, grain-size, water content, and organic geochemical analyses of sediments from a coastal forest at Oirase Town, northern Japan. Stratigraphic observations revealed the 2011 tsunami deposit to be a landward-thinning interbedded sand and soil layer that became ambiguous in landward locations. The sediment samples from the inundated area did not contain marine-sourced biomarkers; instead, peak concentrations of isolongifolene, an organic compound derived from Pinus in the forest, were observed within or just above the sandy tsunami deposits in sediment sections. Peak isolongifolene concentrations were also detected in landward soils inundated by the tsunami in which no sand layer was observable, but were not observed beyond the inundation limit. Although this characteristic biomarker is unique to this and similar depositional environments, these results suggest that lateral changes of the concentrations of environment-specific biological proxies in the sedimentary column may record tsunami inundation.
Analysis of Factors Affecting Railway Embankment Settlement due to Liquefaction Using 1-g Shaking Table Model Tests
Authors: Ha Ik-Soo , Oh I-Tae , YOO MINTAEK
Published: March 2022

Herein, 1-g shaking table tests were performed under test by changing the embankment height and non-liquefiable layer thickness below the embankment for the same input seismic load. Accelerometers, pore water pressure transducers, and linear variable differential transformers were embedded inside the foundation ground or installed on the embankment surface to measure their responses to shaking. The testing procedure for analyzing the behavior of a two-dimensional embankment-ground system and well-documented experimental data are presented. The results show that the settlement of the railway embankment placed on the liquefiable sand ground due to ground liquefaction is greatly affected by the embankment height and non-liquefaction layer thickness, which determine the degree of liquefaction and lateral flow of the foundation ground. The embankment settlement increased with the embankment height due to the liquefaction of the ground and increased by twice the settlement of the ground without embankment when the embankment height was approximately 20% of the total liquefiable sand layer. Moreover, the settlement was reduced by over 20% compared to that without a layer when the layer thickness was 50% of the embankment height. Furthermore, the settlement decreased to a negligible level when it was approximately 1.4 times the height of the embankment.
Efficacy of Density Gradient Centrifugation Technique (DGC) in Enhancing Sperm Cell DNA Quality for Assisted Reproductive Technique
Authors: Ali Assila Hadj , Ajina Tesnim , Ali Maroua Ben , Mehdi Meriem
Published: March 2022

Objective: Density-gradient centrifugation (DGC) is commonly used for sperm preparation before Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) procedures. This technique separates superior motile spermatozoa with normal morphology from the total sperm population. However, there is still controversy as to the effects of this sperm separation technique on sperm cell DNA integrity which is a determining element in the process of fertilization and embryonic development.The objective of this study was to determine the effects of DGC on sperm cell DNA integrity as assessed by a novel association between two cytogenetic tests.Study Designs: Semen samples were collected from 30 fertile donors and 40 patients being candidates for ART treatmemt. Each sample was divided into two parts: the first portion was subjected to selection by two layers of DGC (45% and 90%) and the second fraction was rinsed with phosphate buffered saline solution and centrifuged without density gradient.Abnormal sperm chromatin structure as evaluated by sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test and DNA denaturation as assessed by acridine orange (AO) test were monitored in the initially washed sample and in the different layers of the density gradient centrifugation.Results: DGC significantly improved the proportion of sperm progressive motility, total motility, and sperm morphology. Moreover, following density gradient centrifugation, the proportion of spermatozoa with denaturated DNA significantly decreased when compared with whole semen (p< 0.001). In addition, we found that spermatozoa isolated in the 90% layer possessed a significantly lower percentage of sperm chromatin decondensation when compared with those remaining in the 45% layer and unprocessed semen (p<0.001). Conclusions: Using double cytogenetic tests, our study shows that semen processing by density gradient centrifugation is useful in selecting sperm with higher double-strand DNA integrity and recommended to be used in sperm preparation for assisted reproduction.
Hypothesized pathways for the association of vitamin D status and insulin sensitivity with resting energy expenditure: a cross sectional mediation analysis in Australian adults of European ancestry.
Authors: Soares Mario , Calton Emily , Pathak Kaveri , Zhao Yun
Published: March 2022

Background
The role of vitamin D in human energy expenditure requires confirmation. We explored whether insulin sensitivity (IS)/insulin resistance (IR) mediated the association of vitamin D status (25OHD) on resting energy expenditure (REE).
Methods
REE, body composition (assessed via DEXA), and clinical biochemistry of 155 Australian men and women were collated. A hypothesised mediation pathway through IS/IR on the direct association between 25OHD and REE was modelled, using three surrogate indices of IS/IR: McAuley’s insulin sensitivity index (McA), Quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) and triglyceride to glucose ratio (TYG). The modelling was performed on PROCESS SPSS Macro (version 4.0) based on 5000 bootstrapped samples, with and without the adjustment for covariates.
Results
Unadjusted models indicated a sizeable negative mediation by all indices but no significant direct effect of 25OHD on REE. On adjustment for covariates, a negative indirect mediation effect of McA [β coefficient (SE) -2.1(0.821); bootstrapped 95% CI:-3.934, -0.703; p < 0.05] and a similar negative mediation of TYG [-1.935 (0.780); bootstrapped 95% CI: (-3.679, -0.622; p < 0.05] was observed. These models also showed a positive direct effect of 25OHD on REE. In contrast, QUICKI made a smaller contribution to total effect but was in the same direction as the other two measures [-0.783 (0.534); bootstrapped 95% CI: (-1.939, 0.134; P > 0.05].
Conclusions
A sizeable, partial, negative mediation of IS/IR on the direct relationship between 25OHD and REE, dampened the total effect of vitamin D on REE. Validation of the proposed causal framework would clarify vitamin D’s role in human energy metabolism.
From cognitive MR-targeted fusion prostate biopsy to radical prostatectomy: Incidence and predictors of Gleason Grade Group upgrading in a Chinese cohort
Authors: Yan Huaqing , Wu Yiming , Cui Xiaobo , Zheng Sinian , Zhang Peng , Li Rubing
Published: March 2022

Purpose: To access the incidence and predictors of Gleason grade group upgrading from cognitive MR-targeted fusion prostate biopsy to radical prostatectomy in a Chinese cohort.Materials and Methods: We included 199 patients in our institution between January 2016 and June 2021. Multivariable logistic regression model and nomograms was utilized to analysis the collected data.Results: The concordance rate of biopsy Gleason grade group and radical prostatectomy was. Upgrading occurred in 80 (40.2%) patients and 37 (68.5%) patients have an upgrading Gleason grade group when the biopsy Gleason grade group was 1. Multivariable logistic regression models were established to analyze the incidence and predictors of Gleason grade group upgrading from cognitive MR-targeted fusion prostate biopsy to radical prostatectomy. Biopsy Gleason grade group, PV and patient year were confirmed to be individual predictors of upgrading. Based on the logistic regression models, nomograms for predicting probability of prostate Gleason grade group upgrading were generated.Conclusions: The incidence and predictors associated with Gleason grade group upgrading may help physicians improve the accuracy of prostate cancer diagnosis and provide a more precise treatment for patients.
Acupuncture in multidisciplinary treatment of post-COVID-19 Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Trager Robert J. , Brewka Elise C. , Kaiser Christine M. , Patterson Andrew J. , Dusek Jeffery A.
Published: March 2022

Background: Post-COVID syndrome (PCS) is a complex, multisystem illness that may follow SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 infection. As there is limited evidence for individual therapies and no singular treatment for PCS, guidelines endorse a multidisciplinary approach. This case describes a post-COVID patient benefiting from acupuncture within a comprehensive approach alongside symptom-titrated physical activity (STPA).Case: A 50-year-old woman presented upon Long-COVID Clinic referral to an outpatient hospital-affiliated acupuncturist with 8 months of fatigue, anosmia, chest pressure, palpitations, and other symptoms following mild assay-confirmed COVID-19. Prior/concurrent medical testing demonstrated multisystem-inflammatory involvement (pericardial effusion, thyroid dysfunction, elevated D-dimers). Cardiology/pulmonology cleared the patient for exercise to tolerance considering serious pathology was absent. The acupuncturist’s Traditional Chinese Medicine impression was of Qi deficiency of the Heart, Lung, Spleen, and Kidney. The patient received 7 sessions of scalp, auricular, and body acupuncture. Physical therapist (PT) led STPA began 1-week post-acupuncture, involving six 30-minute exercise sessions while monitoring heart rate, with as-needed rest.Results: Chest pressure and palpitations resolved after 1 acupuncture treatment. With 6 additional treatments spanning 9 weeks, overlapping with physical therapist-led SPTA, the patient completely recovered and resumed normal exercise habits.Conclusions: In this case, acupuncture appeared to facilitate PCS recovery. However, the independent effects of acupuncture are less clear given the concurrent STPA/exercise therapy, and should be explored using larger study designs. Acupuncture is an attractive potential PCS therapy, considering its holistic approach and that it may be added to a multidisciplinary, guideline-concordant regimen.
Prognostic significance of metabolomic biomarkers in patients with diabetes mellitus and coronary artery disease
Authors: Karagiannidis Efstratios , Moysidis Dimitrios V. , Papazoglou Andreas S. , Panteris Eleftherios , Deda Olga , Stalikas Nikolaos , Sofidis Georgios , Kartas Anastasios , Bekiaridou Alexandra , Giannakoulas George , Gika Helen , Theodoridis George , Sianos Georgios
Published: March 2022

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) and coronary artery disease (CAD) constitute inter-related clinical entities. Biomarker profiling emerges as a promising tool for the early diagnosis and risk stratification of either DM or CAD. However, studies assessing the predictive capacity of novel metabolomics biomarkers in coexistent CAD and DM are scarce.Methods: This post-hoc analysis of the CorLipid trial (NCT04580173) included 316 patients with CAD and comorbid DM who underwent emergency or elective coronary angiography due to acute or chronic coronary syndrome. Cox regression analyses were performed to identify metabolomic predictors of the primary outcome, which was defined as the composite of major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events (MACCE: cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, major bleeding), repeat unplanned revascularizations and cardiovascular hospitalizations. Linear regression analyses were also performed to detect significant predictors of CAD complexity, as assessed by the SYNTAX score. Results: After a median 2-year follow up period (IQR=0.7 years), the primary outcome occurred in 69 (21.8%) of patients. Acylcarnitine ratio C4/C18:2, apolipoprotein (Apo) B, history of heart failure (HF), age>65 years and presence of acute coronary syndrome were independent predictors of the primary outcome in diabetic patients with CAD (aHR=1.89 [1.09, 3.29]; 1.02 [1.01, 1.04]; 1.28 [1.01, 1.41]; 1.04 [1.01, 1.05]; and 1.12 [1.05-1.21], respectively). Higher levels of ceramide ratio C24:1/C24:0, acylcarnitine ratio C4/C18:2, age>65 and peripheral artery disease were independent predictors of higher CAD complexity (adjusted β= 7.36 [5.74, 20.47]; 3.02 [0.09 to 6.06]; 3.02 [0.09, 6.06], respectively), while higher levels of Apo-A1 were independent predictors of lower complexity (adjusted β= -0.65 [-1.31, -0.02]). Conclusion: In patients with comorbid DM and CAD, novel metabolomic biomarkers and metabolomics-based prediction models could be recruited to predict clinical outcomes and assess the complexity of CAD, thereby enabling the integration of personalized medicine into routine clinical practice.
An Immunoinformatic strategy to develop new Mycobacterium tuberculosis multi-epitope vaccine
Authors: Ghandadi Morteza
Published: March 2022

Mycobacterium tuberculosis causes a life-threatening disease known as tuberculosis (TB). In 2021, tuberculosis was the second cause of death after COVID-19 among infectious diseases. Latent life cycle and development of multidrug resistance in one hand and lack of an effective vaccine in another hand have made TB a global health issue. Here, a multi-epitope vaccine have been designed against TB using five new antigenic protein and immunoinformatic tools. To do so, immunodominant MHC-I/MHC-II binding epitopes of Rv2346, Rv2347, Rv3614, Rv3615 and Rv2031 antigenic proteins have been selected using advanced computational procedures. The vaccine was designed by linking ten epitopes from the antigenic proteins and flagellin and TpD as adjuvant. Three-dimensional (3D) structure of the vaccine was modeled, refined and evaluated using bioinformatics tools. The 3D structure of the vaccine was docked into the toll-like-receptors (TLR3, 4, 8) to evaluated potential interaction between the vaccine and TLRs. Evaluation of immunological and physicochemical properties of the constructed vaccine have demonstrated the vaccine construct can induce significant humoral and cellular immune responses, the vaccine is non-allergenic and can be recognized by TLR proteins. The immunoinformatic results reported in the present study demonstrates that it is worth to follow the designed vaccine by experimental investigations.
An in-sight analysis of molecular evolution of Trichoderma as emerging human pathogen
Authors: Ghosh Swapan Kumar
Published: March 2022

Due to climatic changes, anthropogenic activity and pollution, new variants of known species of human pathogens are emerging. Similarly, non-pathogenic Trichoderma spp are becoming pathogenic via molecular evolution. The literature survey provides us that some spp of Trichoderma (T. longibrachiatum, T. viride, T. koningii, T, harzianum, T. citrinoviride, T. reesii, T. atroviride and T. pseudokoningi) infected some organs of patients which were immune-compromised. These are the case of “cross-kingdom host jumps”. The first case report was found in 1970. Latest case report was presented in 2019. So, after 50 years, 42 cases or episodes of Trichoderma infection to human have been recorded. In maximum cases T. longibrachiatum was involved. Proposed pathogenecity factors, molecular evolution and a hypothetical linage of evolution of clinical Trichoderma have been presented here. Although, this opportunistic pathogen is still not reported in COVID-19 patients, it may infect them as COVID-19 patients are with high risk factors. , .
Vitamin B12 and D deficiency as cofactors of COVID-19 vaccine-induced chronic neurological adverse reactions: Two cases and a hypothesis
Authors: Carroll Harriet Amy , Millar Ewen , Deans Kevin Alexander
Published: March 2022

Background: The COVID-19 vaccines have been an essential measure to help reduce COVID-19-related injury and death. However, in some cases, vaccination has caused severe and chronic reactions, akin to post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (long COVID). Cases: Here we present two cases (Case 1: male, age 43 years, Pfizer BNT162b2 vaccination; Case 2: female, age 30 years, Oxford-AstraZeneca ChAdOx1nCoV-19 vaccination) with severe neurological adverse reaction post-vaccine and concomitant vitamin B12 deficiency. Both cases presented with non-textbook symptomatology of vitamin B12 deficiency. Case 1 had full symptom resolution with vitamin B12 replacement therapy. In Case 2, frank vitamin D deficiency and chronically elevated D-dimer were also found. Case 2 is still undergoing replacement therapy and this manuscript will be updated as appropriate. Discussion: Vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccines, are known to cause severe and/or chronic neurological reactions in rare cases. We support screening for vitamin B12 deficiency prior to vaccination in high-risk groups (e.g. those following an animal produce free diet), those suffering atypical/chronic vaccine reactions, and those with similar conditions, such as post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (long COVID). A hypothesis is also presented demonstrating the links between vitamin B12 and vitamin D deficiency and other pathologies (e.g. mast cell activation disorders) that, if validated, could help explain some vaccine hyperreactions.
Biofilm-Based Nutraceuticals: A Better Solution to Diet-Based Interventions for Achieving Healthy Gut Microbiota
Authors: Premarathna M. , Seneviratne G. , Madawala H.M.S.P.
Published: March 2022

Microbial biofilms developed in-vitro and applied to agroecosystems are reported to restore their soil-plant-microbial relationships by supplying a mixture of diverse biochemicals that reinstate network interactions. Here we hypothesize that the same method can also be used to reinstate unhealthy human body ecosystem caused by altered gut microbiota due to modern lifestyle and dietary patterns. In the present study, we tested biochemicals exuded by a developed fungal-bacterial biofilm (BFEx) on the growth and development of five test gut microbes in a simulated gut environment with eight different dietary patterns. Live microbial cell concentrations of the cultures were analyzed after 24 and 48 hours of inoculation using a bacterial viability kit. In addition, BFEx was tested for cytotoxic activity using brine shrimp lethality assay. Results revealed that the live microbial cell concentrations of the mixed cultures increased while they decreased in the monocultures with the application of BFEx in all dietary patterns. The BFEx promoted the growth and possibly dormancy-breaking of the tested gut microbes. However, it seems that there is a need of an interaction of diverse microbes, if a beneficial outcome from the BFEx is to be achieved. Further, the BFEx showed no toxicity to brine shrimp nauplii, instead it supported for their survival for a while by supplying food sources. In conclusion, this biofilm-based method is a better solution than diet-based interventions for achieving healthy gut microbiota because the former is user-friendly and preserves food-choice-freedom of people, unlike the latter.
Exploring the Knowledge and Attitudes of Mothers on Utilisation of Maternity Services in Peri urban District of Central Uganda
Authors: Nalutaaya Janet , Walekhwa Abel Wilson
Published: March 2022

Maternal health services entail the various activities delivered by health workers for pregnant mothers during pregnancy, delivery and after delivery. In Mende sub-county, out of about 1904 pregnant women, only 316 (17%) institutional deliveries were done with 592 having had at least one Antenatal care visit and only 225 reaching the fourth Antenatal care visit in Financial Year 2019/20. We therefore sought to explore the knowledge, attitudes of women and how they influenced maternal health services utilization in a rural subcounty of Wakiso district in Uganda. Methods We conducted a cross sectional study using quantitative methods. The study was conducted at Show Mercy International Health Centre in Mende sub-county - Wakiso District from March to April 2016. We Purposively selected the study participants who were women aged 18–49 years that had ever given birth. A total of 70 participants were enrolled into the study. We open ended questionnaires to collect data from the study participants, quantitative data was collected, coded and analyzed using Microsoft excel windows 16 and SPSS version 16.0. Results Of the 70 mothers, majority were aged 28–37 years (57.1%) with a mean age of 33.5 years, Majority (44.3%) had attained both Secondary followed by primary level education (34.3%). Majority of the women (45.7%) had some form of employment although a good number of them (28.6%) were peasants and casual labourers. We found out that 92.9% were knowledgeable about maternal health services. Furthermore, 46.9% of mothers preferred both Antenatal care and delivery services at the health facility. Conclusion Majority of the mothers were knowledgeable about health facility maternal health services and reported their willingness to use them. The motivating factors for health facility deliveries were (1) healthy baby and pregnancy, (2) getting Mama Kits and mosquito nets, (3) accessing Prevention of Mother to Child treatment services and routine supplements. We therefore recommend further sensitization for HIV/AIDS testing during pregnancy but also maintain the supply of Mama Kits and mosquito nets for improved health facility deliveries.
An Investigation on the Adoption of Rainwater Harvesting Based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Norm Activation Model
Authors: Shanmugavel Nagarajan , Rajendran Rema
Published: March 2022

The notion of the study is to reflect the concepts and benefits of rainwater harvesting to the households to recharge ground water that manifests sustainable ground water. Hence to study the adoption of rainwater harvesting the Theory of Planned Behaviour and Norm Activation Model has been synergized. The constructs such as personal norm, subjective norm, intention to acquire rainwater harvesting knowledge, environmental responsibility and environmental concern have been used to explain the adoption of rainwater harvesting. A sample size consisting of 400 participants constructing and likely to construct houses have been had taken for the study. Structural Equation Modelling was used to analyze the data, inter alia moderation and mediation analysis was also done. The study results typically show that all the factors show significant relationship with adoption of rainwater harvesting, similarly intention to acquire rainwater harvesting knowledge moderates the relationship exists between environmental concern; environmental responsibility and rainwater harvesting. Based on the results, significant theoretical and social implications have been made.
TreeSp2Vec: a method for developing tree species embeddings using deep neural network
Authors: González-Rodríguez Miguel A. , Diéguez-Aranda Ulises
Published: March 2022

In recent years, Representation Learning (RL), a subdiscipline of artificial intelligence, has proved a useful resource in many research fields for effectively mapping abstract categories into numeric scales. In this study, we explored an novel application of RL to forestecology, labeled TreeSp2Vec, for developing tree species numeric representations using deep neural networks and data from a National Forest Inventory. Our approach consisted of a supervised species classification of individual trees using as input a set phytocentric and geocentric variables derived from forest inventory data and environmental cartography. Among the tested neural network architectures, a multi-layer perceptron with two hidden layers of 1024 units and an embedding layer of 16 units provided the best apparent and test performances (Matthew’s Correlation Coefficient = 0.89). The developed latent representations (W), or embeddings, were evaluated intrinsically by estimating their correlations with supplementary species descriptors that were not included in the training dataset. The evaluation analysis revealed some significant associations that proved the generality of the embeddingmodel. Some latent dimensions (e.g., W6 and W16) were useful for differentiating species general features, such as conifers vs broad-leaved species, while other dimensions (e.g., W2 and W5) were related to forest ecosystem characteristics such as competition intensity (relative spacing index) and biodiversity (Simpson index). We concluded that the developed embeddings provided accurate and generalizable numeric representations of the considered tree species, which can be used as a ground for further cutting-edge forest modelling approaches and open a new range of artificial intelligence applications in ecology.
A prognostic nomogram based on risk assessment for invasive micropapillary carcinoma of the breast after surgery
Authors: Chen Yuyuan , Yu Caixian , Tang Yiyin , Chen Dedian , Zhu Keying , Guo Rong , Li Zheng , Huang Sheng
Published: March 2022

Invasive micropapillary carcinoma (IMPC) is one of the rare subtypes of breast cancer. A total of 1855 IMPC patients diagnosed after surgery between 2004 and 2014 were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database to build a nomogram. Cox regression analysis indicated that age ≥ 62 at diagnosis, negative ER status, and tumor stage were considered adverse independent factors for overall survival (OS), while patients who were married, white or of other races, received chemotherapy or radiotherapy, had a better postoperative prognosis. The nomogram accurately predicted OS with high internal and external validation consistency index (C index) (0.756 and 0.742, respectively). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves (AUCs) of the training group were 0.787, 0.774 and 0.764 for 3 years, 5 years and 10 years, respectively, while those of the validation group were 0.756, 0.766 and 0.762, respectively. The results of both decision curve analyses (DCA) and calibration curves demonstrated the good performance of the model. This study constructed a novel nomogram for IMPC of the breast patients after surgery, which has good accuracy and consistency in predicting prognosis and has clinical application value.
Clinical Effects Of Early Rehabilitation Training At Different Time In Patients With Dysphagia After Stroke: Study Protocol For A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Yan Hui , Du Ye-Hui , Wang Xing-Lei , Xie Qi , Zhong Juan-Ping , Wu Yin-Ping , Wang Hai-Xia , Dou Xin-Man
Published: March 2022

Background: Stroke is characterized by high morbidity, high mortality, high disability rate, high recurrence rate and heavy economic burden. Post-stroke dysphagia (PSD) is one of the common complications of stroke, which can easily lead to adverse consequences such as repeated aspiration, malnutrition, pulmonary infection, and even asphyxia, and seriously affect the quality of life and prognosis of patients. For PSD patients, scientific and practical early rehabilitation measures can better improve the swallowing function, but the best time for early rehabilitation of PSD patients has not been reported. Therefore, we report on a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in which patients were offered early rehabilitation training using rehabilitation exercises for dysphagia after stroke. This protocol was written according to the SPIRIT 2013 Statement.Methods: This is a multi-center and pragmatic RCT. On the basis of sample size calculation, 180 patients with acute ischemic stroke were randomly enrolled from 3 different hospitals and divided into 4 groups: 1 control group and 3 experimental groups. The control group only received clinical routine electrical stimulation treatment, and the experimental group added rehabilitation exercise on this basis. According to the different starting time of rehabilitation exercise training after the onset of stroke, they were divided into 0-3 days group, 4-7 days group and 8-14 days group. Rehabilitation exercise training lasts for 4 weeks, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, about 30 minutes each time. Primary outcomes were the degree of improvement in patient swallowing function and efficacy assessment. Secondary outcomes, including incidence of choking, pulmonary infection, quality of life, and training compliance rates, were assessed at baseline and 4 weeks after intervention initiation.Discussion: The purpose of this study was to investigate the improvement of swallowing function in PSD patients after early rehabilitation training at different time.Trial registration: chictr.org.c, ID: ChiCTR2000029149. Full Registration on 1 May 2021. https://www.chictr.org.cn/ ChiCTR2000029149.
Die Ranunculaceae der Flora von Zentraleuropa: Ranunculus
Authors: Hörandl Elvira
Published: March 2022

Die Gattung Ranunculus L. gehört zur Tribus Ranunculeae, die durch meist zwittrige Blüten, eine kelchblattartige äußere Blütenhülle, flächige innere Blütenhüllblätter (Kronblätter), eine Samenanlage mit einem Integument, Chromosomen vom Ranunculus-Typ und die Chromosomen-Grundzahlen x = 7 und 8 charakterisiert ist. Im Gebiet gehören außer Ranunculus s. str. noch Ficaria Schaeffer, Myosurus L. und Ceratocephala Moench zu den Ranunculeae. Ranunculus ist in der Familie die artenreichste Gattung. Die Zahlenangaben schwanken zwischen 400 und rund 800 Arten. Die zahlreichen apomiktischen Taxa des R. auricomus agg. sind in der vorliegenden Bearbeitung nicht berücksichtigt.
Voice Recognition im Arbeitsverhältnis — eine datenschutzrechtliche Analyse
Authors: Schmidlin Remo R.
Published: March 2022

Im Arbeitsverhältnis wird Voice Recognition als Arbeitsmittel, Leistungsmessung, Zugangskontrolle oder Gesundheitsindikator verwendet. Der Einsatz von Voice Recognition muss in datenschutzrechtlicher Hinsicht einen genügend hinreichenden Arbeitsplatzbezug aufweisen. Entscheidend ist in vielen Fällen die Verhältnismässigkeit der Bearbeitung und, insb. bei Cloud-Lösungen, die Wahrung der erforderlichen Datensicherheit. Ist eine Einwilligung des Arbeitnehmers vorausgesetzt, sind hohe Hürden an die Freiwilligkeit zu setzen. Zudem muss sie in den meisten Fällen ausdrücklich sein. Durch die Revision des Datenschutzgesetzes werden Regelungskonzepte wie das Profiling, die Datenschutz-Folgenabschätzung, automatisierte Einzelentscheidungen und technische Anforderungen von der europäischen DSGVO übernommen. Allerdings bringt die Schweizer Ausgestaltung keine in der Praxis relevanten Änderungen im Zusammenhang mit Voice Recognition mit sich.

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Dans le cadre des relations de travail, Voice Recognition est utilisée comme un outil de travail, de mesure des performances, de contrôle d'accès ou d’indicateur de santé. Du point de vue de la protection des données, l'utilisation de Voice Recognition doit présenter un lien suffisant avec le poste. Dans de nombreux cas, la proportionnalité du traitement et, en particulier dans le cas des solutions « Cloud », la préservation de la sécurité des données sont des facteurs décisifs. Même si l'accord du travailleur est expressément requis dans la plupart des cas, le caractère volontaire doit être fortement relativisé. La révision de la loi sur la protection des données permet de reprendre du RGPD européen certains concepts de réglementation tels que le profilage, l'évaluation de l'impact sur la protection des données, les décisions individuelles automatisées et les exigences techniques. La conception suisse n'apporte toutefois pas de changements significatifs et concrets concernant Voice Recognition.
Deficit Irrigation on Growth of Baby Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Cultivars Grown in Varied-textured Soils
Authors: Lekgoathi Boitumelo Patience , Soundy Puffy , Kgopa Pholosho Mmateko
Published: March 2022

Water scarcity coupled with an increasing demand for water in agriculture has forced farmers to amend their irrigation practices and water management strategies. The proposed study was aimed at evaluating physiological and growth traits [photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance (gS), chlorophyll content, leaf area, and fresh weight] under three irrigation levels (50%, 75%, and 100% of field capacity) in five varied textured soils (clay, clay loam, loam, sandy loam, and sandy). Response was evaluated on two baby spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) cultivars (Dash and Hellios). Regarding physiological parameters, there were no interaction effects of deficit irrigation (DI) × soil texture. Significant increase on growth parameters (chlorophyll content, leaf weight, and leaf area) were observed under the interaction of 75% DI × sandy loam and loam soils on both ‘Dash’ and ‘Hellios’ during Season 1. ‘Hellios’ was able to adapt to deficit level of 75% during both growing seasons (summer and winter) under sandy loam soils. The study indicated that 25% water can be saved under sandy loam and loam soils when cultivating baby spinach during winter conditions.
Samgrahani Sutra: A Rare 17th Century Jaina Illustrated Manuscript in the Salar Jung Museum Library, Hyderabad, India
Authors:   Librarian and Media Officer, Salar Jung Museum, Ministry of Culture, Govt.of India, Hyderabad, Telangana, Ghosh Soma
Published: March 2022

The article analyses a rare and interesting illustrated manuscript on paper from the 17th century at the Salar Jung Museum Library, the Jaina ‘Samgrahani Sutra’ with 27 one-sided illustrations and 11 illustrations on both sides of the paper. In its entirety, the loose leaves are 76 including the illustrated papers. The origin of the manuscript is from Gujarat, Western India.
From Inner Eye to After Sight: Benode Behari Mukherjee in London
Authors:   PhD research scholar at the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi., Sarker Archishman
Published: March 2022

Tracing the journey of artistic engagements with the Indian Modernist artist Benode Behari Mukherjee’s works, starting from Satyajit Ray’s 1982 documentary ‘Inner Eye’ to a 2020 exhibition ‘After Sight’ in London, this article reassesses scholarly and artistic encounters with Benode Behari’s artistic consciousness in the light of international Modernist art movements and the artist’s lifelong search for an ideal form. The role of nature in the development of his artistic uniqueness and ingenuity is discussed; as Benode Behari has often been erroneously imagined as a metropolis-centric Modernist artist, thereby also bringing to focus the broad subject of the significance of nature and the pastoral idyll in the development of Bengali Modernism and modern South Asian artistic consciousness. In this piece, a trajectory of the reception of his works is also drawn.
The Creative Revolution: The “New York in 1960” Experimental Era of Art and Design
Authors:   School of Art and Design, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China, Shah Dhaneshwar
Published: March 2022

Welcome to New York in the 1960s! “Art and Design in 1960s New York,” a key component of Amanda Gluibizzi’s Doctor of Philosophy research at the “Graduate School of The Ohio State University,” has been first published in the UK and USA in 2021 by Anthem Press, and the book is now available to acquire on major websites. Anthem Press is a leading independent academic, professional, and trade publisher with a strong international and interdisciplinary focus in the established and emerging social sciences, business/law, and humanities fields of study. The Rail’s art editor is Amanda Gluibizzi, who is the co-founder and co-director of the New Foundation for Art History, as well as the author of the book titled “Art and Design in 1960s New York.” She is a well-known art historian, researcher, and associate professor. She has a background in history, education, teaching, and publishing, as well as a specialisation in modern and contemporary art and design. Two of her notable research talks and papers are “Design Systems: What Not to Include” at the Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston and “Making New York Understandable”: Revolutionary Proposals for a City in Crisis-Design, History, and Revolution at Parsons New School in New York. The author takes a broader view of New York’s “Visual World” in the 1960s. The author uses a formal approach to explore the relationship between art and design and highlight their mutual influence, which has been overlooked throughout history. The author employs ethnographic and multidisciplinary methods throughout the book to highlight the art and design experiments and challenges in 1960s New York. The author examines design and art side-by-side to explore how their relationship manifests itself. The author included quotations and excerpts from journals, books, magazines, newspapers, interviews, and film scenes, in addition to diverse analyses of visuals and literature cognate to art and design. This research-based book gives readers an opportunity to take a look back with curiosity at the art and graphic design of 1960s New York.
Recent Updates on Oral and Dermal Film-based Formulations and their
Applications
Authors: Kathpalia Harsha , Shinde Saily , Ghonge Mihir
Published: March 2022

On the one hand, oral formulations are susceptible to problems, including instability accompanied
by erratic absorption throughout the gastrointestinal tract, first-pass metabolism, and patientrelated
and pathological difficulties in consumption. On the other hand, the world has been observing a
shift from conventional dermal formulations to the more cosmetically attractive ones. Amid all these,
polymeric films and film-forming systems have emerged as promising candidates for addressing the
above problems. Oral films have been studied for their potential applications in immediate and sustained-
release formulations and have markedly shown increased plasma concentrations of drugs that
otherwise undergo degradation in the gastrointestinal tract and the liver and have an obvious edge in
treating pathologies of the oral cavity. At the same time, a variety of dermal film formulations have
been developed and studied for treating wounds, skin infections and pathologies, corns and calluses,
and managing pain. This review article attempts to cover significant findings in oral and dermal applications
of these formulations under one umbrella and provide readers with a compilation of relevant
research works and marketed formulations.
Mesenchymal Epithelial Transition (MET): A Key Player in Chemotherapy
Resistance and an Emerging Target for Potentiating Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: To Kenneth K.W. , Cho William C.S.
Published: March 2022

The MET protein is a cell surface receptor tyrosine kinase predominately expressed in epithelial
cells. Upon binding of its only known ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), MET homodimerizes,
phosphorylates, and stimulates intracellular signalling to drive cell proliferation. Amplification
or hyperactivation of MET is frequently observed in various cancer types and it is associated
with poor response to conventional and targeted chemotherapy. More recently, emerging evidence
also suggests that MET/HGF signalling may play an immunosuppressive role and it could confer
resistance to cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we summarized the preclinical and clinical
evidence of MET’s role in drug resistance to conventional chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.
Previous clinical trials investigating MET-targeted therapy in unselected or METoverexpressing
cancers yielded mostly unfavourable results. More recent clinical studies focusing on
MET exon 14 alterations and MET amplification have produced encouraging treatment responses to
MET inhibitor therapy. The translational relevance of MET inhibitor therapy to overcome drug resistance
in cancer patients is discussed.
Research on Optimal Dispatch of Regional Integrated Energy System Under Uncertain Conditions
Authors: Shi Tao , Zhao Zi-gang , Ye Rong-bo
Published: March 2022

Background:

This paper is focused on the uncertainty influence on dispatch decision-making of regional integrated energy system caused by multiple power prediction errors of intermittent power generation, such as: Wind power generation, photovoltaic power generation, etc.

Objectives:

The objective of dispatching decision-making model is the minimization of energy consumption cost, considering the constraints such as: Balance of supply and demand, power, and capacity limitation of each energy facility, etc.

Methods:

A modeling method based on copula function is proposed to quantify the joint random probability distribution characteristics of multipower errors.

Results:

Then a stochastic optimal dispatching decision-making model of the integrated energy system considering multiple power prediction errors is provided. An algorithm based on the combination of Monte Carlo and genetic algorithm is also provided to solve this model.

Conclution:

Finally, a case study is carried out based on a typical system to verify the effectiveness of the model and algorithm. The results show that the quantitative analysis of the joint random distribution characteristics of multiple power prediction errors and the application of stochastic dispatch model are helpful to improve the confidence level of the scheduling decision-making scheme of the regional integrated energy system, and have certain utility in engineering.
Recent Advancement in Green Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles and their Catalytic Applications
Authors: Arunkumar P.
Published: March 2022

Nanotechnology is growing as an essential discipline in research with several applications. For the synthesis of nanoparticles, distinct methods such as chemical, physical and biological entities have been adopted. Among these, green synthesis of metal nanoparticles has gained wider attention owing to its simplicity, non-toxicity, cost-effective, sustainable and easy availability. The phyto compounds existing in the plant extract either acts as reducing, stabilizing and capping agents; thereby, it reduces the cost and consumptions of energy and hazardous chemicals. This review mainly focused on the recent trend in the utilization of the plant material for the synthesizing of various metal nanoparticles and their catalytic application with special reference to their morphological features.
Bio-Inspired Metal Oxide Nanostructures for Photocatalytic Disinfection
Authors: Arunpandian M.
Published: March 2022

Interest in photocatalytic disinfection synthesis has increased in recent years with the use of different semiconductor photoreceptors. While much attention has been given to the photocatalytic inactivation process, researchers have shifted to focusing on bio-inspired metal oxide materials for photocatalytic inactivation in recent years. Bio-inspired metal oxide photocatalysts have unique advantages with special emphasis being placed on its highly earth abundance, economic cost of production, eco-friendliness, simple structure and easy to synthesize. Besides that, bio-inspired metal oxide photocatalysts has also been applied extensively for the development of emerging areas, such as environmental as well as energy materials. Today, the development of simple and inexpensive bacterial disinfection technology to addresses the peril of waterborne disease in the emerging areas has grown rapidly. This chapter proposes an analysis of recent research activities that involved the use of bio-inspired photocatalytst for the disinfection of water under light radiation. Various nano-structured photocatalytic materials like titanium dioxide (TiO2), zinc oxide (ZnO), iron oxide (Fe2O3), nickel oxide (NiO), etc., are introduced. Material and various bacterial pathogens, photocatalytic and pathogens disinfection mechanism are described in detail. Finally, the progress of novel bio-inspired photocatalysts for the disinfection applications is discussed at the end of this chapter.
Bioinspired Synthesis of Nanomaterials for Photoelectrochemical Applications
Authors: Aruna Kumari M.L.
Published: March 2022

Hydrogen production by water splitting using renewable resources like water and solar energy by photoelectrochemical (PEC) processes using biological resources is an endless fountain of inspiration for fabrication and design of nanomaterials/electrodes. In this chapter, we tried to explain how researchers utilized bioinspired materials in creation of new bioinspired synthetic strategies, their artificial mimics and bioinspired process in design of artificial photosynthesis and artificial leaf using PEC technology. This chapter also covers some confront and perspectives in this emerging area of research.
Spectrum Analysis of Mesons using Nikiforov-Uvarov Functional Analysis Method
Authors: Kumar V.
Published: March 2022

Abstract. The analytical expressions for the energy eigenvalues and eigenfunctions are computed for Coulomb perturbed potential by solving the Schrodinger equation within the framework of the Nikiforov-Uvarov functional analysis method and applying the Greene-Aldrich approximation. Using the energy eigenvalue expression, we have determined the mass spectra of cs ̅ and b ̅c mesons. The results of present study are in good agreement with experimental, relativistic and other relevant works available in the literature.