bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Internalizing Aswaja-based Character Education through School Environment Design and Collaborative Strategy
Authors: Widiyono Aan
Published: July 2022

This study explores the internalization process of Aswaja-based character education in an Islamic elementary school in Semarang, Indonesia. This qualitative research with a case study design was accomplished at Imama Islamic Elementary School, Semarang, Indonesia. The study results found three findings. First, the school environment was designed by the various religious activities and programs that shape the religious culture in schools. Second, efforts to integrate Aswaja-based character education values ​​in the learning process. Third, it was a collaborative role between the school, parents, and the community, from socialization and planning to evaluating and monitoring the activities and programs. All three are based on the teachings of Aswaja An-Nahdliyah, which emphasize the values ​​of tolerance (tasamuh), balance (tawazun), justice (i'tidal), and moderation (tasawuth). This condition can reinforce the student's character, referring to Aswaja An-Nahdliyah's teaching. The findings of this study imply that the school needs to develop programs to strengthen student character that refer to religious traditions or other local treasures who live in the community. That way, its design and implementation will become more acceptable to the student and the community while at the same time placing the school as a concrete miniature of social life for students.
Finansal Kriz Döneminde Firmaların Nakit Akış Profilleri ile Finansal Performanslarının Karşılaştırılması: BIST’te Bir Araştırma
Authors: KISAKÜREK Mustafa , TÜFEKÇİ Merve
Published: July 2022

İşletmeler açısından nakit ve nakit yönetimi önemlidir. Nakit akış tablosu, işletmenin nakit akışları ile ilgili olan tablosudur. Finansal durum ve kar zarar tablosu tahakkuk esasına göre hazırlanırken nakit akış tablosu nakit esasına göre hazırlanır. Nakit akış tablosu işletmenin esas, yatırım ve finansman faaliyetlerinden nakit akışlarını göstermek üzere üç bölümden oluşmaktadır. Bu üç bölüm işletme ile ilgili çıkar grupları için önemli bilgiler sunmaktadır. Bu çalışmada, BIST’te “Metal Eşya Makine Elektrikli Cihazlar ve Ulaşım Araçları” ve “Tekstil, Giyim Eşyası ve Deri” sektörlerinde işlem gören 22 işletmenin verileri kullanılmıştır. Çalışmada yer alan işletmelerin ekonomik krizin yaşandığı 1998-2002 yıllarına ait finansal durum tablosu, kar zarar tablosu ve nakit akış tablosu kullanılmıştır. Çalışmada, işletmelerin TOPSIS’e göre performans başarı sıralamaları sektör bazında ayrı ayrı tespit edilmiştir. Her bir işletmenin nakit akış tablosu ve nakit akış profilleri ayrı ayrı oluşturulmuştur. Sektör bazında işletmelerin performans sıralamaları ve nakit akış profilleri ekonomik kriz de dikkate alınarak karşılaştırılıp yorumlanmıştır. Sonuç olarak her iki sektörde de en başarılı işletmelerin çoğunlukla model 4 (Büyüyen İşletme) profiline uygun nakit akışlarının gerçekleştiği tespit edilmiştir.
Next Step in Incretin-Based Therapy: From Single to Dual Agonism
Authors: Pramanik Subhodip , Ray Sayantan
Published: July 2022

The twin epidemics of Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity will continue to bring significant health challenges in the coming decades. Randomised controlled trials of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)-based therapies showed high glycaemic efficacy with clinically meaningful weight loss, and have been considered as game-changers in the diabesity population. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that co-administration of glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) and GLP-1 results in enhanced insulinotropic effect in an additive way with significant glucagonostatic response, compared with the administration of each hormone separately. These findings have driven the choice to pursue incretin-based dual agonist therapies, known as ‘twincretin’. Observations from the global registration Phase III trials suggest that tirzepatide (a novel dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist) represent advancement over current GLP-1 analogues, providing enhanced glycaemic and weight benefits with similar gastrointestinal tolerability. However, data are limited from patients with a range of ethnicities, and several questions remain unanswered.
NORMAL VE RİSKLİ DOĞUM SİMÜLASYON UYGULAMALARININ EBELİK ÖĞRENCİLERİNİN MEMNUNİYETİ VE KENDİNE GÜVENLERİNE ETKİSİNİN DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ
Authors: YILMAZ ESENCAN Tuğba , DEMİR YILDIRIM Ayça , DAŞTAN Kübra , GÜDER Ayşegül
Published: July 2022

Bu çalışmanın amacı normal ve riskli doğum simülasyon uygulamalarının ebelik öğrencilerinin memnuniyeti ve kendine güvenlerine etkisinin değerlendirilmesidir. Yarı deneysel olan bu çalışma; bir üniversitenin sağlık bilimleri fakültesi, ebelik bölümü laboratuvarında Şubat 2021-Temmuz 2021 tarihleri arasında 132 kişi ile gerçekleştirildi. Veriler, araştırmacılar tarafından literatür doğrultusunda geliştirilen bilgi formu ve öğrenci memnuniyeti ve öğrenmede kendine güven ölçeği ile toplandı. Çalışmada tüm istatistiksel hesaplamalar SPSS 21.0 istatistik paket programında analiz edildi. Sonuçlar p<0.05 anlamlılık düzeyinde değerlendirildi. Katılımcıların yaş ortalaması 22.20±1.66 idi. Öğrencilerin %75’i simülasyon eğitiminin klinik uygulamada faydalı olduğunu belirtti. Çalışmada öğrenci memnuniyeti ve öğrenmede kendine güven ölçeği puan ortalaması 48.69±8.49 olarak bulundu. Öğrencilerin simülasyon uygulamalarının ardından teorik eğitimlerini uygulamaya yansıtabilmeleri, vaka yönetimlerinin gelişimi, doğum ve riskli doğum becerilerinin gelişimi ile öğrenci memnuniyeti ve öğrenmede kendine güven ölçeğinin alt boyutları olan öğrenme memnuniyeti ve kendine güven puanları arasında istatistiksel olarak ileri derecede anlamlı bir fark oluşturduğu bulundu (p<0.01). Simülasyon eğitiminin klinik uygulamada fayda sağladığı, klinikte öğrencilerin kendilerini yeterli bulma oranını arttırdığı, doğum ve riskli doğum becerilerinin geliştirme durumuna ve vaka yönetimini geliştirme durumuna katkı sağladığı bulunmuştur. Öğrencilerin kendine olan güveni ve memnuniyeti üzerinde simülasyonun etkili olması sebebiyle simülatörlerin ebelik eğitiminde ve uygulamalarında daha sık kullanılması gerekmektedir.
PENYELESAIAN MODEL EPIDEMI SIR MENGGUNAKAN METODE RUNGE-KUTTA ORDE EMPAT DAN METODE ADAMS-BASHFORTH-MOULTON
Authors: Setiawan Laurensius Ian , Mungkasi Sudi
Published: July 2022

Model epidemi SIR (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered) telah diterapkan secara luas untuk simulasi penyebaran penyakit menular. Makalah ini menyajikan skema numeris metode Runge-Kutta orde empat dan metode Adams-Bashforth-Moulton untuk menyelesaikan model SIR. Lebih lanjut, makalah ini menyajikan penyelesaian model SIR yang dihasilkan dengan simulasi komputer. Hasil simulasi atas kedua metode tersebut memberikan rata-rata nilai mutlak selisih yang sangat kecil. Dengan demikian, skema numeris dan hasil simulasi dalam makalah ini dapat dipercaya kebenarannya. Dalam melakukan simulasi penyebaran penyakit menular, penggunaan dua metode yang berbeda disarankan agar hasil simulasi diyakini benar.
Analisis Graph Mining dalam Penentuan Senyawa Dan Tanaman Obat Indonesia Sebagai Antihipertensi
Authors: Setiani Lusi Agus , Ardiansyah Deden , Saepulrohman Asep , Hakim Arief Rachman , P Olandina Cahyani
Published: July 2022

Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a degenerative disease whose prevalence tends to increase every year. People in Indonesia generally treat this disease by using a mixture of several types of herbal plants or so-called herbs. This study aims to find out the potential of compounds and plants that have effectiveness as antihypertensives by combining the concept of multicomponent-multi-target with a bioinformatics approach. This study aims to find out the potential of compounds and medicinal plants in Indonesia that have effectiveness as antihypertensives using graph mining analysis. Graph tracing techniques can be applied to search for compounds and plants related to target proteins in a disease. Patikan kebo (Euphorbia factor Ti2, betaAmyrin, alpha-Amyrin), mango (3-Carene, L-Histidine), cayenne pepper (Capsanthin, Capsorubin, Solasonine), papaya (L-Histidine, Sterol, Caffeine), and fenugreek ( L-Histidine) is the best plant that acts as an antihypertensive agent by targeting 4 proteins or about 80% of the total 5 significant proteins in hypertension.
The Effect of Force Ratio Multiplier on A Control System for Surfing Problem Simulation
Authors: Septiawan Reza Rendian , Virgono Agus , Ahmad Umar Ali , Abadi Prayitno , Saputra Mas'ud Adhi
Published: July 2022

A surfing problem is a control problem of the surfing board to maintain its position on top of an ocean wave as long as possible. There are some physical and mathematical problems regarding a surfing problem that have not yet been solved. One of them is on translating a target inclination problem from an ordinary differential equation (ODE) control system to the inclination control system via the distribution of a surfer’s weight. To move the surfing board swiftly, a correct value of the multiplier, which is notated by σ, is needed on the weight distribution system. In this work, an investigation has been done on the effect of the multiplier in an attempt to help moves the surfing board fulfils the target inclination angle needed by using a smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulation. The result from this work shows that the best value for the multiplier is σ=10 that gives the smallest average positional error for some variations of a given target position. This work gives a contribution on an attempt to model a surfer’s phenomenon mathematically.
Design of fusion enzymes for biocatalytic applications in aqueous and non-aqueous media
Authors: Ma Yu , Zhang Ningning , Vernet Guillem , Kara Selin
Published: July 2022

Biocatalytic cascades play a fundamental role in sustainable chemical synthesis. Fusion enzymes are one of the powerful toolboxes to enable the tailored combination of multiple enzymes for efficient cooperative cascades. Especially, this approach offers a substantial potential for the practical application of cofactor-dependent oxidoreductases by forming cofactor self-sufficient cascades. Adequate cofactor recycling while keeping the oxidized/reduced cofactor in a confined microenvironment benefits from the fusion fashion and makes the use of oxidoreductases in harsh non-aqueous media practical. In this mini-review, we have summarized the application of various fusion enzymes in aqueous and non-aqueous media with a focus on the discussion of linker design within oxidoreductases. The design and properties of the reported linkers have been reviewed in detail. Besides, the substrate loadings in these studies have been listed to showcase one of the key limitations (low solubility of hydrophobic substrates) of aqueous biocatalysis when it comes to efficiency and economic feasibility. Therefore, a straightforward strategy of applying non-aqueous media has been briefly discussed while the potential of using the fusion oxidoreductase of interest in organic media was highlighted.
3D printing polylactic acid polymer-bioactive glass loaded with bone cement for bone defect in weight-bearing area
Authors: Ding Yurun , Liu Xiaolin , Zhang Jue , Lv Zhuocheng , Meng Xiangchao , Yuan Zhiguo , Long Teng , Wang You
Published: July 2022

The treatment of bone defects in weight-bearing areas is mainly to transplant filling materials into the defect area, to provide immediate and strong support for weight-bearing. At present, the commonly used filling material is bone cement, which can only provide physical support without bone regeneration effect. The long-term stress at the interface may cause the loosening of bone cement. The ideal filling material should provide not only strong mechanical support but also promote bone regeneration. We introduce a 3D printing frame-filling structure in this study. The structure was printed with polylactic acid/bioactive glass as the frame, and bone cement as the filler. In this system, bone cement was used to provide immediate fixation, and the frame provided long-term fixation by promoting osteogenic induction and conduction between the interface. The results showed that the degradation of bioactive glass in the frame promoted osteogenic metabolism, induced M2 polarization of macrophages, and inhibited local inflammatory response. The in vivo study revealed that implantation of the frame-filling structure significantly promoted bone regeneration in the femoral bone defect area of New Zealand white rabbits. For a bone defect in a weight-bearing area, long-term stability could be obtained by bone integration through this frame-filling structure.
Effect of short- and medium-chain fatty acid mixture on polyhydroxyalkanoate production by Pseudomonas strains grown under different culture conditions
Authors: Szacherska Karolina , Moraczewski Krzysztof , Czaplicki Sylwester , Oleskowicz-Popiel Piotr , Mozejko-Ciesielska Justyna
Published: July 2022

Short- and medium-chain fatty acids (SMCFAs) derived from the acidogenic anaerobic mixed culture fermentation of acid whey obtained from a crude cheese production line and their synthetic mixture that simulates a real SMCFA-rich stream were evaluated for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production. Three individual Pseudomonas sp. strains showed different capabilities of growing and producing PHAs in the presence of a synthetic mixture of SMCFAs. Pseudomonas sp. GL06 exhibited the highest SMCFA tolerance and produced PHAs with the highest productivity (2.7 mg/L h). Based on these observations, this strain was selected for further investigations on PHA production in a fed-batch bioreactor with a SMCFA-rich stream extracted from the effluent. The results showed that PHA productivity reached up to 4.5 mg/L h at 24 h of fermentation together with the ammonium exhaustion in the growth medium. Moreover, the PHA monomeric composition varied with the bacterial strain and the type of the growth medium used. Furthermore, a differential scanning calorimetric and thermogravimetric analysis showed that a short- and medium-chain-length PHA copolymer made of 3-hydroxybutyric, -hexanoic, -octanoic, -decanoic, and -dodecanoic has promising properties. The ability of Pseudomonas sp. to produce tailored PHA copolymers together with the range of possible applications opens new perspectives in the development of PHA bioproduction as a part of an integrated valorization process of SMCFAs derived from waste streams.
The First-Principles Study of External Strain Tuning the Electronic and Optical Properties of the 2D MoTe2/PtS2 van der Waals Heterostructure
Authors: Zhang Li , Ren Kai , Cheng Haiyan , Cui Zhen , Li Jianping
Published: July 2022

Two-dimensional van der Waals (vdW) heterostructures reveal novel properties due to their unique interface, which have attracted extensive focus. In this work, the first-principles methods are explored to investigate the electronic and the optical abilities of the heterostructure constructed by monolayered MoTe2 and PtS2. Then, the external biaxial strain is employed on the MoTe2/PtS2 heterostructure, which can persist in the intrinsic type-II band structure and decrease the bandgap. In particular, the MoTe2/PtS2 vdW heterostructure exhibits a suitable band edge energy for the redox reaction for water splitting at pH 0, while it is also desirable for that at pH 7 under decent compressive stress. More importantly, the MoTe2/PtS2 vdW heterostructure shows a classy solar-to-hydrogen efficiency, and the light absorption properties can further be enhanced by the strain. Our results showed an effective theoretical strategy to tune the electronic and optical performances of the 2D heterostructure, which can be used in energy conversion such as the automotive battery system.
Endoscopic outcomes in patients with AERD treated with topical antibiotics and intranasal corticosteroids
Authors: Martinez-Paredes Jhon F. , Choby Garret , Marino Michael , Lal Devyani , Olomu Osarenoma , Alfakir Razan , Stokken Janalee K. , O’Brien Erin , Donaldson Angela M.
Published: July 2022

Background

Identifying effective therapy for recalcitrant chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis (CRSwNP) is a major challenge; and subtypes such as aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) are even more difficult to treat. Evidence on topical antibiotics use in (CRSwNP) is lacking. Current consensus guidelines recommend against its routine use, but recent reviews show some benefit when managing recalcitrant disease after endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Objective

Evaluate the effect of culture-directed topical antibiotics on sinonasal outcomes in AERD patients with a positive perioperative sinonasal bacterial culture who have undergone ESS.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of AERD patients with positive sinonasal culture, who underwent ESS from 2016 to 2021 was performed. Forty-four patients were identified and stratified based on their postoperative medical treatment. Twenty-six underwent postoperative intranasal corticosteroids (INCS) alone, while eighteen underwent INCS plus a 4-weeks treatment with topical antibiotics. SNOT-22 and Lund-Kennedy score (LKS) were assessed preoperatively and at 4-weeks and 4-6 months after ESS.

Results

A statistically significant improvement in the 4-weeks and 4-6 months postoperative SNOT-22 and LKS were noted within both groups (p<0.05). However, only a statistically significant difference was found in the 4-weeks postoperative LKS when comparing between treatment groups (p=0.01). Our linear regression model demonstrated a relationship between the use of combined therapy with INCS and topical antibiotics and the LKS 4-weeks post ESS (p=0.015).

Conclusion

In AERD patients with a confirmed sinus infection, the combination of culture-directed topical antibiotics and intranasal corticosteroid irrigations in the postoperative period can provide a short-term improvement in endoscopic scores.
ABCD3 is a prognostic biomarker for glioma and associated with immune infiltration: A study based on oncolysis of gliomas
Authors: Li Jinchuan , Zhang Yi , Qu Zhizhao , Ding Rui , Yin Xiaofeng
Published: July 2022

Background

Gliomas are the most lethal primary brain tumors and are still a major therapeutic challenge. Oncolytic virus therapy is a novel and effective means for glioma. However, little is known about gene expression changes during this process and their biological functions on glioma clinical characteristics and immunity.

Methods

The RNA-seq data after oncolytic virus EV-A71 infection on glioma cells were analyzed to screen significantly downregulated genes. Once ABCD3 was selected, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), Clinical Proteomic Tumor Analysis Consortium (CPTAC), and Human Protein Atlas (HPA) data were used to analyze the relationship between ABCD3 expression and clinical characteristics in glioma. We also evaluated the influence of ABCD3 on the survival of glioma patients. CIBERSORT and Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) were also used to investigate the correlation between ABCD3 and cancer immune infiltrates. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to functionally annotate the potential functions or signaling pathways related to ABCD3 expression.

Results

ABCD3 was among the top 5 downregulated genes in glioma cells after oncolytic virus EV-A71 infection and was significantly enriched in several GO categories. Both the mRNA and protein expression levels of ABCD3 were upregulated in glioma samples and associated with the prognosis and grades of glioma patients. The Kaplan–Meier (K-M) curve analysis revealed that patients with high ABCD3 expression had shorter disease-specific survival (DSS) and overall survival (OS) than those with low ABCD3 expression. Moreover, ABCD3 expression could affect the immune infiltration levels and diverse immune marker sets in glioma. A positive correlation was found between ABCD3 and macrophages and active dendritic cells in the microenvironment of both the GBM and LGG. Gene sets including the plk1 pathway, tyrobp causal network, ir-damage and cellular response, and interleukin-10 signaling showed significant differential enrichment in the high ABCD3 expression phenotype.

Conclusion

Our results suggested that ABCD3 could be a potential biomarker for glioma prognosis and immunotherapy response and also further enriched the theoretical and molecular mechanisms of oncolytic virus treatment for malignant gliomas.
Valve embolization during transcatheter aortic valve implantation: Incidence, risk factors and follow-up by computed tomography
Authors: Frumkin David , Pietron Malte , Kind Andreas , Brand Anna , Knebel Fabian , Laule Michael , Leistner David M. , Landmesser Ulf , Krackhardt Florian , Sherif Mohammad , Sündermann Simon H. , Grubitzsch Herko , Lembcke Alexander , Niehues Stefan M. , Stangl Karl , Dreger Henryk
Published: July 2022

Background

In most cases of transcatheter valve embolization and migration (TVEM), the embolized valve remains in the aorta after implantation of a second valve into the aortic root. There is little data on potential late complications such as valve thrombosis or aortic wall alterations by embolized valves.

Aims

The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence of TVEM in a large cohort of patients undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and to examine embolized valves by computed tomography (CT) late after TAVI.

Methods

The patient database of our center was screened for cases of TVEM between July 2009 and July 2021. To identify risk factors, TVEM cases were compared to a cohort of 200 consecutive TAVI cases. Out of 35 surviving TVEM patients, ten patients underwent follow-up by echocardiography and CT.

Results

54 TVEM occurred in 3757 TAVI procedures, 46 cases were managed percutaneously. Horizontal aorta (odds ratio [OR] 7.51, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.4–16.6, p < 0.001), implantation of a self-expanding valve (OR 4.63, 95% CI 2.2–9.7, p < 0.01) and a left ventricular ejection fraction < 40% (OR 2.94, 95% CI 1.1–7.3, p = 0.016) were identified as risk factors for TVEM. CT scans were performed on average 26.3 months after TAVI (range 2–84 months) and detected hypoattenuated leaflet thickening (HALT) in two patients as well as parts of the stent frame protruding into the aortic wall in three patients.

Conclusion

TVEM represents a rare complication of TAVI. Follow up-CT detected no pathological findings requiring intervention.
Cardiac Shock Wave Therapy in Coronary Artery Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Qiu Quan , Chen Shenjie , Qiu Yuangang , Mao Wei
Published: July 2022

Objective

Coronary artery disease (CAD) has been one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Cardiac shock wave therapy (CSWT) is a novel and non-invasive therapy for CAD. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of CSWT on CAD.

Methods and results

We performed a comprehensive search of electronic databases such as PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and Wanfang Data in October 2021. The results were reported as weighted mean difference (WMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Statistical heterogeneity scores were assessed with the standard Cochran’s Q test and the I2 statistic. A total of 8 randomized trials and 2 prospective cohort studies, together involving 643 patients (n = 336 CSWT and n = 307 control), were included in our study. Eight studies with 371 patients showed significantly improved rest left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) with CSWT as compared to that of the control group (WMD 3.88, 95% CI 1.53–6.23, p = 0.001, I2 = 51.2%). Seven studies with 312 patients reported left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (LVIDd) were markedly decreased in the CSWT group compared to the control group (WMD −1.81, 95% CI −3.23 to −0.39, p = 0.012, I2 = 20.3%). The summed stress score significantly favored the CSWT group (WMD −3.76, 95% CI −6.15 to −1.37, p = 0.002, I2 = 56.8%), but there was no significant difference for the summed rest score. Our data were acquired from studies without a perceived high risk of bias, so plausible bias is unlikely to seriously affect the main findings of the current study.

Conclusion

Based on data from our present meta-analysis, CSWT was shown to moderately improve myocardial perfusion and cardiac function among patients with CAD, which would provide the clinicians with a meaningful and valuable option.

Systematic Review Registration

The meta-analysis was registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF) (https://osf.io/r2xf9).
Reduction ascending aortoplasty: A retrospective analysis of outcomes and risk factors
Authors: Szalkiewicz Philipp , Gökler Johannes , Dietl Wolfgang , Ehrlich Marek , Holzinger Christoph , Laufer Günther , Wiedemann Dominik
Published: July 2022

Objectives

Indication for Reduction of Ascending Aortoplasty (RAA) and long-term outcomes remain unclear. This study analyzed the outcomes after nonreinforced RAA in two Austrian centers.

Methods

Patients with RAA at two Austrian centers between 6/2,009 and 6/2,017 were retrospectively analyzed. Aortic diameters were measured by CT pre- and post-operatively. Patients were assigned according to valve morphology and imaging modality.

Results

Overall, 253 patients underwent RAA [women: 30.8%; median age 74 (63–79) years] with a mean preoperative ascending diameter of 44.7 (±3.5) mm. RAA-related postoperative adverse events occurred in 1.2% (n = 3) over a follow-up of a median of 3.8 (2.4–5.5) years: One type A aortic dissection, one lethal aortic rupture at the suture line, and one suture line bleeding with cardiac tamponade and need of surgical revision. The overall survival rate was 89.7%. Aortic valve morphology itself was no risk factor for mortality (Log-Rank: 0.942). One hundred and forty patients had a tricuspid [TAV: (55.3%)] aortic valve and 113 patients had a bicuspid aortic valve [BAV: (44.7%)]. Redilatation to a diameter >50 mm according to CT follow-up occurred in 5.7% (n = 5 of 87). One patient needed reoperation with RAA and aortic valve replacement due to a prosthesis-patient mismatch after aortic valve replacement and aortic redilatation.

Conclusion

Non-reinforced RAA is a safe, feasible, and reproducible procedure with low rates of perioperative complications in selected patients primarily undergoing aortic valve repair with a dilated ascending aorta. Aortic valve morphology has no impact on mortality after RAA.
Geological Characteristics of the Mesozoic Unconformities in Eastern Heilongjiang, NE China: Implications for the Mesozoic Continental Margin Evolution of Northeast Asia
Authors: Zhao Xueqin , Lv Congcong , Jiang Yaoxi , Zhu Heyan , Wang Fudong , Chai Peiran
Published: July 2022

Most of the significant petroleum- and coal-bearing sedimentary basins in Northeast Asia originated via rifting and thermal subsidence during the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, followed by basin inversion in the Late Cretaceous. However, the tectonic background governing these basin prototype shifts has not been fully explored. The unconformities are excellent archives of plate boundary interactions and geodynamic switches in subduction zones. The Eastern Heilongjiang Province (EHLJ), Northeast China (NE China), comprises a series of Mesozoic-Cenozoic residual basins with well-preserved successions and provides significant insights into the tectonic characteristics and background of Northeast Asia. Mesozoic unconformities and large-scale contractional structures in the basins mark a series of important tectonic transitions in Northeast Asia. Based on the synthesis information of regional Mesozoic unconformities identified in the seismic reflection profiles and field outcrops of EHLJ, the tectonic characteristics and geodynamic background of the Mesozoic continental margin basins in Northeast Asia are analysed. The Middle-Upper Jurassic/basement unconformity (U1) can only be found in some areas of the Sanjiang and Hulin basins. It was a response to the continental collision of Siberia and the northern China–Mongolia tract along the Mongolia–Okhotsk suture during the Jurassic. The Paleo-Pacific Plate rapidly subducted in the NNW direction towards the eastern margin of Eurasia in the early Lower Cretaceous resulting in a mass of strike-slip faults and the widespread absence of deposits (Valanginian) (U2) in the EHLJ. Because of the subduction slab rollback of the Paleo-Pacific Plate during the late Lower Cretaceous, the local asthenospheric material upwelled, and fault and volcanic activities intensified in Northeast Asia. The Lower Cretaceous Dongshan Formation (Fm)/Muleng Fm unconformity (U3-1) reflects a specific scale of bimodal magmatism in the Songliao Basin and the EHLJ. The Pacific Plate subducted in a transformation from NNW to WNW during the early Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian). The Houshigou Fm (Qixinhe Fm)/Lower Cretaceous angular unconformity (U3) reflects that on the basins experienced denudation after being extensively uplifted from the subduction events. With the subduction of the Kula Plate, a compression stress field during the later Upper Cretaceous Period controlled NE China. The basins underwent a widely compressive deformation, accompanied by large-scale thrusts, denudation and deplanation, resulting in Paleogene/Cretaceous unconformity (U4) was formed.
Numerical Method for the Deformation Calculation of the Shallow Buried Tunnel Caused by the Excavation of Overlying Soil Based on Soil Rebounding Characteristics
Authors: Li Jian , Li Shichang , Zhang Yu , Chen Shanxiong , Yu Fei , Dai Zhangjun , Li Chaoxiong
Published: July 2022

In view of strict deformation control standards, it is important to calculate the shallow tunnel deformation caused by the unloading of overburdened soil for analyzing tunnel structure safety. Due to the obvious nonlinear characteristics and the significantly smaller rebound deformation of soil under unloading conditions, previous numerical calculation methods need to be improved and adapted to the soil deformation characteristics under unloading. Based on the above background, cyclic loading and unloading tests were carried out to study the deformation characteristics of soil under different loading levels, stress history, and unloading levels. Secondly, a unified modulus calculation model was established, especially for the unloading modulus, which considers the unloading stress history and current unloading stress level, and can provide the value of soil modulus in different states. The relationship between the unloading rebound modulus Esc and the rebound modulus Ec0 used in the numerical simulation was studied. Finally, a set of numerical calculation and analysis methods for shallow tunnel deformation caused by overlying soil excavation based on its rebounding characteristics is proposed. The rationality of the method is verified by two examples, and is applied to a practical project.
Digitalization during the era of COVID-19: An analysis of the psychophysiological strain of university students
Authors: Babieva Nigina S. , Romanova Anzhela V. , Reznichenko Sergey A. , Kosykh Oksana I. , Kosolapova Natalia V. , Vlasenko Larisa V. , Krasheninnikova Ekaterina I.
Published: July 2022

The pandemic has created a push for changes in education and technology that are driving progress in all areas of instruction. This impetus is forcing all stakeholders to address the transformation of traditional education into online education. This change in the education system requires students and teachers to train new competencies, knowledge, skills, and abilities. In this context, this paper aimed to determine the psychophysiological strain of university students in relation to distance learning during the pandemic COVID-19. For this aim, quantitative data collection was conducted in this research. The results indicated that the distance learning format increased neuropsychic strain, decreased mood, activity, and wellbeing, and increased situational anxiety in college students. Based on the obtained results, social pedagogical educational technologies were developed, and hybridity, interactivity, multiformat, and feedback were identified as the main factors for their success. Pedagogical implications for teaching in higher education are presented.
Efficiency Enhancement of Thermophotovoltaic Cells With Different Design Configurations Using Existing Photon Recycling Technologies
Authors: Usman Muhammad , Kazim Ali H. , Shabbir Aqsa , Abbasi Muhammad Salman , Sarwar Jawad
Published: July 2022

This work deals with different design configurations using existing photon recycling technologies such as front spectral filters and back surface reflectors (BSRs) to improve the efficiency of the thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells. On the TPV cell surface, some photons absorb, but some quantity of them is lost due to the interference on the surface. On the other hand, BSR mounted on the backside of the cell reflects all photons which were not absorbed by TPV back to the front side of the cell and the emitter, which leads to the elevated temperature of the cell and more interference on the cell surface. This work aimed to design a configuration of the TPV system model using hybrid photon recycling technologies and to investigate the efficiencies of different TPV cells with numerous factors such as emitter temperature and reflectivity of the spectral filter. The design parameters and configuration of front filters with BSRs are studied under 2500 K temperature of the emitter. It is found that an InGaAs cell with reasonable bandgap energy of 0.72 eV, is the most favorable cell material as its bandgap wavelength (1.68 μm) is closely matched to the peak wavelength (1.65 μm) of the emissions spectra. The results show that the incorporation of magnesium oxide (MgO) spectral filter along with the BSR (R = 1) and the emitter temperature of 2200 K efficiency as high as 35% can be attained. This makes MgO a viable choice in TPV cell system under concentrated solar power plant.
Simultaneous Esterification and Transesterification of Neem Seed Oil Using Ferric Sulphate Doped With Poultry Droppings as a Bifunctional Catalyst
Authors: Akhabue Christopher Ehiaguina , Ukponahiusi Uwadiae Jonathan , Osa-Benedict Evidence Osayi , Otoikhian Shegun Kevin , Inetianbor Oseghale Cyril , Oyedoh Eghe Amenze
Published: July 2022

The use of organic waste materials conjugated with inorganic sources as a bifunctional catalyst for one-step biodiesel production is currently under-utilized. In this study, a bifunctional catalyst for biodiesel production was developed from poultry droppings doped with ferric sulphate (FSPD). Its catalytic activity was investigated in simultaneous esterification and transesterification of neem seed oil (NSO) using methanol. Response Surface Methodology was employed in modelling and optimizing the reaction conditions. The characterization of the catalyst was done using Scanning Electron Microscopy equipped with Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and X-ray Diffractometer. Fe (46.08 wt. %), S (22.31 wt. %), and Ca (11.82 wt. %) were the major elements present in the FSPD and the other results revealed that it is bifunctionally active. A biodiesel yield of 97.21% and acid value (AV) of 0.5 mg KOH/g were obtained at the optimum conditions of 21:1 methanol/oil ratio, 5 wt. %, catalyst loading and reaction temperature of 65°C after 180 min. The biodiesel produced using FSPD catalyst meets both the ASTM D6751 and the EN 14214 biodiesel standards. Reusability investigation of the FSPD showed remarkable stability up to the third reuse cycle with a slight decrease in biodiesel yield and a corresponding increase in acid value from 97.21% to 90.05% and 0.5–0.81 mg KOH/g respectively. The utilization of FSPD as a bifunctional catalyst is significant for improving the biodiesel output of high FFA oil and overall biodiesel production time.
RETRACTED: Study of thermal characteristics of energy efficient micro channel heat sinks in advanced geometry structures and configurations: A review
Authors: Rehman Zabdur , Ahmad Faraz , Muhammad Hafiz Ali , Riaz Fahid , Ayub Hafiz Muhammad Uzair , Hasan Mudassir , Lee Moonyong
Published: July 2022

The sustainability and economic development is intertwined with the energy consumption and conversion processes. To suffice the ever-increasing demand of energy consumption amid environmental concerns, energy conservation and recovery along with the harnessing of renewable energy has been mandated by the policy regulators. In any energy conversion process, heat exchangers are vital operation component and has been part of any energy conversion process since the Nineteenth century. However, due to the increased energy demand, requirement of high efficiency and space and material constraints, the need for miniaturized light-weight heat exchangers with adequate heat transfer characteristics persists. Traditional heat exchangers are outdated because of its large space requirements and comparatively less heat removal rate. The miniaturized micro channel heat sink (MCHS) with tubes of about less than 1 mm have a tremendous potential to further enhance the heat transfer performance. However, its simple design doesn’t cope with the modern requirements of heat removal. Therefore, many researchers have tried to improve its performance using different techniques. The present study reviews some of the most important techniques applied to MCHS. These techniques include, coolant types used in MCHS, MCHS shapes, flow conditions, numerical methods used for this research, and materials used to manufacture MCHS. Moreover, some recommendations have been given to provide opportunities to researchers for future aspects.
Weak impact of nutrient enrichment on peat: Evidence from physicochemical properties
Authors: Li Tong , Yuan Xin , Ge Leming , Cao Chenhao , Suo Yuchen , Bu Zhao-Jun , Peng Changhui , Song Hanxiong , Liu Ziping , Liu Shasha , Wang Meng
Published: July 2022

Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) far exceeding the pre-industrial levels have the potential to change carbon (C) dynamics in northern peatlands. However, the responses of soil C concentration and organo-chemical composition to different rates and durations of nutrient enrichment are still unclear. Here, we compared the short- (3 years) and long-term (10 years) effects of N and P fertilizations on the physicochemical properties of peat and porewater in a bog-fen complex in northern China. Our results showed that the short-term fertilization increased Sphagnum moss cover, while the expansion of vascular plants was observed owing to the long-term fertilization. The preserved soil C did not vary considerably after the short- and long-term fertilizations. The harsh soil conditions may impede the decomposition of organic matters by soil microorganisms during the short-term fertilization. For the long-term fertilization, the input of high-phenolic litters owing to vascular plant expansion likely exerted an important control on soil C dynamics. These processes constrained the variation in soil C concentrations when the addition rate and cumulative amount of external N and P increased, which will advance our understanding and prediction of the resilience of soil C storage to imbalanced nutrient enrichment of N and P in northern peatlands.
NIH4215: A mutation-prone thiamine auxotrophic clinical Aspergillus fumigatus isolate
Authors: Peres da Silva Roberta , Brock Matthias
Published: July 2022

Aspergillus fumigatus is the main cause of life-threatening invasive aspergillosis. Despite the availability of various antifungals, therapy remains challenging and requires further studies. Accordingly, the clinical A. fumigatus isolate NIH4215 deriving from a fatal case of human pulmonary aspergillosis has frequently been used in drug efficacy studies. Unexpectedly, our initial attempts to generate a bioluminescent reporter of strain NIH4215 for in vivo drug efficacy studies failed, as NIH4215 was unable to grow on defined minimal medium. Subsequent analyses discovered a previously undescribed thiamine auxotrophy of strain NIH4215 and transformation with thiamine biosynthesis genes from A. fumigatus strain Af293 identified the nmt1 gene as cause of the thiamine auxotrophy. Sequencing of the defective nmt1 gene revealed the loss of a cysteine codon within an essential iron-binding motif. Subsequently, the wild-type nmt1 gene was successfully used to generate a bioluminescent reporter strain in NIH4215 by simultaneously deleting the akuB locus. The resulting bioluminescent ΔakuB strains showed a high frequency of homologous integration as confirmed by generation of pyrG and niaD deletion mutants. When tested in a Galleria mellonella infection model, neither thiamine auxotrophy nor the deletion of the akuB locus had a significant effect on virulence. However, besides thiamine auxotrophy, sectors with altered morphology and albino mutants frequently arose on colony edges of strain NIH4215 and its derivatives, and stable albino mutants were successfully isolated. A proposed increased mutation rate of NIH4215 was confirmed by screening for spontaneous occurrence of fluoorotic acid resistant mutants. Independent mutations in the pyrG and pyrE gene were identified in the fluoroorotic acid resistant NIH4215 isolates and the frequency of mutation was by at least one order of magnitude higher than that observed for the clinical A. fumigatus isolate CBS144.89. In summary, despite its virulence in animal models, strain NIH4215 is a thiamine auxotroph and prone to accumulate mutations. Our results suggest that thiamine biosynthesis is dispensable for host infection and mutation-prone strains such as NIH4215 could potentially facilitate the evolution of azole resistant strains as increasingly observed in the environment.
Compound Heterozygous Variants of the CPAMD8 Gene Co-Segregating in Two Chinese Pedigrees With Pigment Dispersion Syndrome/Pigmentary Glaucoma
Authors: Tan Junkai , Zeng Liuzhi , Wang Yun , Liu Guo , Huang Longxiang , Chen Defu , Wang Xizhen , Fan Ning , He Yu , Liu Xuyang
Published: July 2022

The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of pigment dispersion syndrome and pigmentary glaucoma remain unclear. In pedigree-based studies, familial aggregation and recurrences in relatives suggest a strong genetic basis for pigmentary glaucoma. In this study, we aimed to identify the genetic background of two Chinese pedigrees with pigmentary glaucoma. All members of these two pedigrees who enrolled in the study underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination, and genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral venous blood samples. Whole-exome sequencing and candidate gene verifications were performed to identify the disease-causing variants; in addition, screening of the CPAMD8 gene was performed on 38 patients of sporadic pigmentary glaucoma. Changes in the structure and function of abnormal proteins caused by gene variants were analyzed with a bioinformatics assessment. Pigmentary glaucoma was identified in a total of five patients from the two pedigrees, as were compound heterozygous variants of the CPAMD8 gene. No signs of pigmentary glaucoma were found in carriers of monoallelic CPAMD8 variant/variants. All four variants were inherited in an autosomal recessive mode. In addition to the 38 patients of sporadic pigmentary glaucoma, 13 variants of the CPAMD8 gene were identified in 11 patients. This study reported a possible association between CPAMD8 variants and pigment dispersion syndrome/pigmentary glaucoma.
Establishment of a Necroptosis-Related Prognostic Signature to Reveal Immune Infiltration and Predict Drug Sensitivity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Ren Huili , Zheng Jianglin , Cheng Qi , Yang Xiaoyan , Fu Qin
Published: July 2022

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common type of primary liver cancer and has a poor prognosis. In recent times, necroptosis has been reported to be involved in the progression of multiple cancers. However, the role of necroptosis in HCC prognosis remains elusive.

Methods: The RNA-seq data and clinical information of HCC patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and prognosis-related genes were explored, and the nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) clustering algorithm was applied to divide HCC patients into different subtypes. Based on the prognosis-related DEGs, univariate Cox and LASSO Cox regression analyses were used to construct a necroptosis-related prognostic model. The relationship between the prognostic model and immune cell infiltration, tumor mutational burden (TMB), and drug response were explored.

Results: In this study, 13 prognosis-related DEGs were confirmed from 18 DEGs and 24 prognostic-related genes. Based on the prognosis-related DEGs, patients in the TCGA cohort were clustered into three subtypes by the NMF algorithm, and patients in C3 had better survival. A necroptosis-related prognostic model was established according to LASSO analysis, and HCC patients in TCGA and ICGC were divided into high- and low-risk groups. Kaplan–Meier (K–M) survival analysis revealed that patients in the high-risk group had a shorter survival time compared to those in the low-risk group. Using univariate and multivariate Cox analyses, the prognostic model was identified as an independent prognostic factor and had better survival predictive ability in HCC patients compared with other clinical biomarkers. Furthermore, the results revealed that the high-risk patients had higher stromal, immune, and ESTIMATE scores; higher TP53 mutation rate; higher TMB; and lower tumor purities compared to those in the low-risk group. In addition, there were significant differences in predicting the drug response between the high- and low-risk groups. The protein and mRNA levels of these prognostic genes were upregulated in HCC tissues compared to normal liver tissues.

Conclusion: We established a necroptosis-related prognostic signature that may provide guidance for individualized drug therapy in HCC patients; however, further experimentation is needed to validate our results.
Effect of quercetin on muscle growth and antioxidant status of the dark sleeper Odontobutis potamophila
Authors: Zhu Chenxi , Liu Guoxing , Gu Xiankun , Yin Jiawen , Xia Aijun , Han Mingming , Zhang Tongqing , Jiang Qichen
Published: July 2022

Quercetin is a flavanol beneficial in reducing fat, promoting muscle growth, and Anti-oxidation. To study its effects in freshwater fish, the full-length cDNA of the follistatin (FST) and myostatin (MSTN) genes of the dark sleeper Odontobutis potamophila were cloned for the first time. Juvenile individual O. potamophila was exposed to quercetin at one of four concentrations (0, 2.5, 5, and 10 mg/L) for 21 days. The expression level of MSTN which inhibits muscle growth in the quercetin solution was lower than in the unexposed control group. The genes that promote muscle growth are in TGF-β superfamily like FST, TGF-β1 (transforming growth factor-beta 1), and Myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) like Myf5 (myogenic factor 5), MyoD (myogenic differentiation), MyoG (myogenin), were higher than in the control group. Apolipoprotein and growth hormone receptor transcription levels in the quercetin-treated fish were significantly lower than in the control group. The concentrations of triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol in the muscle tissue decreased, and the lipid-lowering function of quercetin was also demonstrated at the biochemical level. In this study, we analyzed the mRNA levels of AKT, Keap1 (kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1), Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor 2) oxidation-related genes in the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant pathway, and Malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT) activity and glutathione (GSH) content in the hepatopancreas of O. potamophila after quercetin treatment, the mRNA expression of AKT, Nrf2 and CAT activity and GSH content are higher than in the control group. Quercetin enhances antioxidant properties and positively affects muscle growth. The results showed that quercetin has no significant effects on the growth performance of O. potamophila, but is effective in increasing muscle growth rate and lowering muscle fat content.