bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular Evolution of Phytocyanin Gene and Analysis of Expression at Different Coloring Periods in Apple (Malus domestica)
Authors: Shao Miao , Feng Yongqing , Yang Shangwen , Feng Tong , Zeng Fanwei , Lu Shixiong , Ma ZongHuan , Chen Baihong , Mao Juan
Published: February 2024

Background
PC (phytocyanin) is a class of copper-containing electron transfer proteins closely related to plant photosynthesis, abiotic stress responses growth and development in plants, and regulation of the expression of some flavonoids and phenylpropanoids, etc., however, compared with other plants, the PC gene family has not been systematically characterized in apple.
Results
A total of 59 MdPC gene members unevenly distributed across 12 chromosomes were identified at the genome-wide level. The proteins of the MdPC family were classified into four subfamilies based on differences in copper binding sites and glycosylation sites: Apple Early nodulin-like proteins (MdENODLs), Apple Uclacyanin-like proteins (MdUCLs), Apple Stellacyanin-like proteins (MdSCLs), and Apple Plantacyanin-like proteins (MdPLCLs). Some MdPC members with similar gene structures and conserved motifs belong to the same group or subfamily. The internal collinearity analysis revealed 14 collinearity gene pairs among members of the apple MdPC gene. Interspecific collinearity analysis showed that apple had 31 and 35 homologous gene pairs with strawberry and grape, respectively. Selection pressure analysis indicated that the MdPC gene was under purifying selection. Prediction of protein interactions showed that MdPC family members interacted strongly with the Nad3 protein. GO annotation results indicated that the MdPC gene also regulated the biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids. Chip data analysis showed that (MdSCL3, MdSCL7 and MdENODL27) were highly expressed in mature fruits and peels. Many cis-regulatory elements related to light response, phytohormones, abiotic stresses and flavonoid biosynthetic genes regulation were identified 2000 bp upstream of the promoter of the MdPC gene, and qrt-PCR results showed that gene members in Group IV (MdSCL1/3, MdENODL27) were up-regulated at all five stages of apple coloring, but the highest expression was observed at the DAF13 (day after fruit bag removal) stage. The gene members in Group II (MdUCL9, MdPLCL3) showed down-regulated or lower expression in the first four stages of apple coloring but up-regulated and highest expression in the DAF 21 stage.
Conclusion
Herein, one objective of these findings is to provide valuable information for understanding the structure, molecular evolution, and expression pattern of the MdPC gene, another major objective in this study was designed to lay the groundwork for further research on the molecular mechanism of PC gene regulation of apple fruit coloration.
Fusion method for digital twin model of a production line
Authors: Liu Xiaojun , Wang Chongxin , Huang Jiasheng , Ni Zhonghua , Salam Musharaf , Yan Yuehui , Feng Jindan
Published: February 2024

Digital twins have attracted more and more attention in the past few years. To put digital twins into practice, a large number of modeling approaches have been proposed, vast amounts of data have been collected, and their accuracy has been improving. However, current research has paid insufficient attention to the multi-scale features of the shop floor, which hinders the effective application of the digital twin shop floor. To address the problem of how to achieve effective multi-level and multi-dimensional fusion of digital twin models with production process data, this paper first proposes a structured data modeling framework for sorting out all the production process data collected in real-time; and then proposes a multi-level fusion framework for supporting the fusion of real-time data and twin models from the unit level to the system level. The method judges the parsed received data streams through the full-factor semanticization framework, and at the same time fuses the parsed data streams with the constructed full-factor twin model from multiple dimensions and layers, forming a twin model fusion method with real-time data streams as the blood and twin model as the skeleton. Finally, the micro-assembly-based production shop environment is selected as a case study to verify the correctness and feasibility of the proposed data grooming framework, data, and model fusion method.
Multi-objective optimization design of integrated pump station based on NSGA - III
Authors: Li Rui , Wang He , Xin Kunlun , Tao Tao
Published: February 2024

Safe water supply and energy conservation are two goals that the water supply industry has always focused on. Integrated pump station adopts a dual mode water supply system which has adjustable water storage capacity and can utilize the pressure of inlet water effectively, hence, it is a new type of solution in optimizing the operation of urban water supply systems. In order to solve the problem of insufficient water supply pressure during peak hours in the railway station and municipal party committee area of S city, the author constructed a pipe network hydraulic model, conducted a systematic analysis of the water supply pipe network, and optimized the design of IPSs using NSGA-III combined with EPANET. Finally, the hydraulic model of the pipe network is used to verify the feasibility of the scheme. The results show that under the premise of ensuring safe water supply, energy conservation and water age optimization can be achieved simultaneously, and the fluctuation intensity of the total water supply from the water plants is effectively reduced.
Lower respiratory microbiome in patients with stable bronchiectasis in North and South China
Authors: Bingrui Gao , Cong Feng , Shanshan Huang , Haiyan Chen , Manrui Wang , Yinghua Guo , Lixin Xie
Published: February 2024

Objective: To compare microbiome in the lower respiratory tract of patients with stable bronchiectasis in North and South China.
Methods: Demographic and Sequencing data were collected from patients who underwent bronchoalveolar lavage fluid macro-genomic sequencing testing between September 2021 to September 2022 at Hainan Hospital of the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army (Sanya, Hainan, South) and the Eighth Medical Center of the General Hospital of the People's Liberation Army (Haidian, Beijing, North). The patients were grouped according to the clinical test results, and the sequencing data were analyzed twice to compare the microbiome differences among different groups.
Results We enrolled 75 patients, 42 in the North and 33 in the South. The number of smokers in the Northern group was higher than that in the Southern group and the FEV1/FVC (%) value was lower than that in the Southern group; otherwise, the groups had no significant differences. The most abundance bacteria in the lower respiratory tract of the Northern group were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Nocardia wilsonii, while the Southern group were H. influenzae, P. aeruginosa, and Prevotella intermedia. According to the severity of the patients with bronchiectasis (BSI), there was also a difference in the abundance of microbiome in the lower respiratory tract in patients with stable bronchiectasis from the North and South.
Conclusion The lower respiratory tract microbiome of patients with stable bronchiectasis differed significantly between the North and South in China. The microbiome of the Southern group was more similar to that reported in the international literature, while the Northern group was significantly different from the results of other studies. P. aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae were most abundant in the Northern group, while H. influenzae and P. aeruginosa were most abundant in the Southern group, These findings can guide antibiotic treatment of exacerbations.
The role of community health workers in non-communicable diseases in Cape Town, South Africa: descriptive exploratory qualitative study
Authors: Williams Doresha , Mash Robert
Published: February 2024

Background Community health workers (CHW) are an integral part of primary health care re-engineering in South Africa. Cape Town is developing community-orientated primary care, with a central role for CHWs. Their role in HIV, TB, maternal and child health has been articulated, but is less clear for non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Non-communicable diseases are now a major contributor to the burden of disease. The aim was to explore the current role of CHWs regarding NCDs in the Eastern sub-district of Cape Town, South Africa.Methods An exploratory descriptive qualitative study made use of non-participant observation and qualitative interviews with community health workers, their managers, and coordinators. Data from nine semi-structured interviews and ten observations were analysed with the framework method and Atlas-ti.Results CHWs were embedded in their communities and provided services via support groups, household visits and delivery of medication. They linked people to care with assistance of nurse coordinators. They could also provide physical care in the home. They lacked the ability to counsel people on the risk factors for NCDs and their role in rehabilitation and palliative care was unclear. More nurse coordinators were needed to provide supportive supervision. Inter-sectoral collaboration was weak and hindered CHWs from addressing social issues. More standardised and comprehensive training should equip CHWs for health promotion and disease prevention during household visits. Data collected in the community needed to be analysed, reported on and integrated with data from the primary care facility. This should also contribute to a community diagnosis. Their relationship with facility-based members of the primary health care team needed to be improved. Attention needed to be given to the requirements for and conditions of employment, as well as working hours and remuneration. Some equipment was absent and hindered their services for NCDs.Conclusions CHWs have the potential to provide a comprehensive approach to NCDs, but community-orientated primary care needs to be strengthened in many of the key areas to support their activities. In relation to NCDs, they need training in basic and brief behaviour change counselling and risk factors as well as in the areas of rehabilitation and palliative care.
Mean and dispersion regression model for extremes with application in humidity
Authors: Costa Lara Roberta da Silva , Nascimento Fernando Ferraz do , Pereira Marcelo Bourguignon
Published: February 2024

The generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution has been widely used in the prediction of extreme events in the most diverse areas of knowledge, being possible calculate accurately extreme quantiles of maximum data. Although the mean and variance of the GEV can be written as a function of the parameters, making a reparametrization where the parameters themselves become the mean and the standard deviation produces interpretive advantages, especially in models where these parameters are written as a function of regression models, being able to directly show how covariates affect the mean and standard deviation of the data. The proposed modelsare fitted by applying the Bayesian paradigm and assuming normal prior distribution for theregression parameters. This work proposes a reparameterization of the GEV distribution as a function of the mean and standard deviation, applied to minimum humidity data in the Northeast region of Brazil. Results obtained showed the advantage of the proposed methodology, where we can punctuate in detail how seasonal and locality variables affect the average and the variance of the minimum humidity.
Local Coordinates on Lie Groups for Half-Explicit Time Integration of Cosserat Rod Models with Constraints
Authors: Tumiotto Denise , Arnold Martin
Published: February 2024

Explicit Runge-Kutta methods are the gold standard of time integration methods for non-stiff problems in system dynamics since they combine a small numerical effort per time step with high accuracy, error control and straightforward implementation. For the analysis of beam dynamics, we couple them with a local coordinates approach in a Lie group setting to address large rotations. Stiff shear forces and inextensibility conditions are enforced by internal constraints in a coarse grid discretization of a geometrically exact beam model. The resulting non-stiff constrained systems are handled by a half-explicit approach that relies on the constraints at velocity level and avoids all kinds of Newton-Raphson iteration. We construct half-explicit Runge-Kutta Lie group methods of order up to five that are equipped with an adaptive step size strategy using embedded Runge-Kutta pairs for error estimation. The methods are tested successfully for a roll-up maneuver of a flexible beam and for the classical flying spaghetti benchmark.
Standardization of Dental Vulnerability Scale Scores (EVO-BR)
Authors: Oliveira Daniele Boina , Belotti Lorrayne , Eshriqui Ilana , Rebustini Flávio , Palácio Danielle Costa , Bonfim Daiana , Paresque Marcio Anderson Cardozo , Ribeiro Danielle Viana , Barbieri Wander , Tedesco Tamara Kerber
Published: February 2024

Background: Dental Vulnerability Scale (also known as EVO-BR) is an instrument developed to help identifying oral health-vulnerable individuals. This scale comprises 15 items distributed into 4 dimensions. It is the first instrument with the potential to guide clinical and managerial decisions in the oral health field. The aim is to validate a score to enable using EVO-BR in PCC practice.
Method: The investigated sample included Primary Care Center users in five Brazilian regions. Data were collected at two different stages: in 2019 (São Paulo) and in 2022 (Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Roraima, Pernambuco e Paraná). Exploratory descriptive study of this scale scores was carried out to create classification ranges. Subsequently, discriminant analysis was performed to assess the accuracy of the established classification. Boosting regression was carried out to check items’ weight for the instrument score.
Results: EVO-BR score ranged from 0 (highest vulnerability) to 15 (lowest vulnerability). Four (4) classification configurations were tested. Score equal to 12 points was the one presenting the best classification of the assessed individuals (100% were correctly classified). Boosting regression has evidenced that items 1 and 2 (Overall health domain) and 14 and 15 (Health Services domain) had the strongest influence on this instrument’s score.
Conclusion: The process to standardize the EVO-BR score and, consequently, to develop assessment ranges, is an important step in the fight against health inequalities, since it provides a tool to help planning actions and interventions aimed at meeting specific needs of the population in the Primary Care Health context.
Gut Microbiota and Other Factors Associated With Increased Regulatory T Cells in Hiv-exposed Uninfected Infants
Authors: Johnson Michael , Lazarus Sarah K. , Bennett Ashlynn E. , Tovar-Salazar Adriana , Robertson Charles E. , Kofonow Jennifer M. , Li Shaobing , McCollister Bruce , Nunes Marta C. , Madhi Shabir A. , Frank Daniel N. , Weinberg Adriana
Published: February 2024

HIV-exposed uninfected infants (HEU) have higher infectious morbidity than HIV-unexposed infants (HUU). HEU have multiple immune defects of unknown origin. We hypothesized that HEU have higher regulatory T cells (Treg) than HUU, which may dampen their immune defenses against pathogens. We compared 25 Treg subsets between HEU and HUU and sought the factors that may affect Treg frequencies. At birth, 3 Treg subsets, including CD4 + FOXP3 + and CD4 + FOXP3 + CD25+, had higher frequencies in 123 HEU than 117 HUU and 3 subsets were higher in HUU. At 28 and 62 weeks of life, 5 Treg subsets were higher in HEU, and none were higher in HUU. The frequencies of the discrepant Treg subsets correlated at birth with differential abundances of bacterial taxas in maternal gut microbiome and at subsequent visits in infant gut microbiomes. In vitro, bacterial taxa most abundant in HEU expanded Treg subsets with higher frequencies in HEU, recapitulating the in vivo observations. Other factors that correlated with increased Treg were low maternal CD4 + T cells in HEU at birth and male sex in HUU at 28 weeks. We conclude that maternal and infant gut dysbiosis are central to the Treg increase in HEU and may be targeted by mitigating interventions.
A computed tomography-based radiomic score to predict survival in patients with adrenocortical carcinoma
Authors: Barat Maxime , Eltaher Mohamed , Moawad Ahmed W. , Soyer Philippe , Fuentes David , Golse Marianne , Jouinot Anne , Ahmed Ayahallah A. , Shehata Mostafa A. , Assié Guillaume , Elmohr Mohab M. , Haissaguerre Magalie , Habra Mouhammed A. , Hoeffel Christine , Elsayes Khaled M. , Bertherat Jérome , Dohan Anthony
Published: February 2024

Background: Adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is a rare condition with a poor and hardly predictable prognosis. This study aims to build and evaluate a preoperative computed tomography (CT)-based radiomic score (Radscore) using features previously reported as biomarkers in adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) to predict overall survival (OS) in patients with ACC.
Methods: In this retrospective study, a Radscore based on preoperative CT examinations combining shape elongation, tumor maximal diameter, and the European Network for the Study of Adrenal Tumors (ENSAT) stage and was built using a logistic regression model to predict OS duration in a development cohort. An optimal cut-off of the Radscore was defined and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to assess OS. The Radscore was then tested in an external validation cohort. The C-index of the Radscore for the prediction of OS was compared to that of ENSAT stage alone.
Findings: The Radscore was able to discriminate between patients with poor prognosis and patients with good prognosis in both the the validation cohort (54 patients; mean OS, 69·4 months; 95% CI: 57·4–81·4 months vs. mean OS, 75·6 months; 95% CI: 62·9–88·4 months, respectively; P = 0·022). In the validation cohort the C-index of the Radscore was significantly better than that of the ENSAT stage alone (0.62 vs. 0.35; P = 0·002).
Conclusion: A Radscore combining morphological criteria, radiomics, and ENSAT stage on preoperative CT examinations allow a stratification of prognosis in patients with ACC compared with ENSAT stage alone.
Construction of a prognostic model for lung adenocarcinoma tumor endothelial cells and prediction of immunotherapy based on single-cell transcriptome and Bulk transcriptome
Authors: Wu Jiatao , Zhang Kai , Zhang Jing , wang Xue , Chen Huili , Wang Luyao , Xie Yiluo , Min Shengping , Wang Xiaojing , Lian Chaoqun
Published: February 2024

Background: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is a common histologic subtype of lung cancer with high morbidity and mortality. Tumor endothelial cells (TEC) are associated with tumor progression and metastasis. In this study, we explored the effect of TEC on prognosis and immunotherapy of LUAD based on single-cell transcriptome and Bulk transcriptome. To help lung adenocarcinoma patients obtain accurate clinical treatment strategies.
Methods: We identified TEC marker genes by single-cell transcriptome in this study. LUAD data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus(GEO) databases, and prognostic models of TEC marker genes were constructed using Lasso-Cox analysis in the TCGA cohort and externally validated in the GEO cohort. Differences in the immune microenvironment between high and low-risk groups were analyzed using the ESTIMATE and six immune cell infiltration algorithms. Using the TIDE algorithm, the IMvigor210, GSE78220, and Whijae Roh et al. cohorts were used to predict the outcome of immunotherapy in patients in different risk groups. In addition, differences in functional enrichment analysis and genomic mutations between high and low-risk groups were investigated. Finally, core genes were screened using differential and survival analyses, and RT-qPCR verified their expression.
Results: The results showed that the prognostic model constructed based on TEC marker genes could categorize LUAD patients into two groups, and there was a significant difference in survival time between the two groups. In addition, we found significant differences between the high- and low-risk groups in terms of biological functions, genomic mutations, immune cell infiltration, immune characteristics, and chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity. Notably, patients in the low-risk group showed better immunotherapy response. Finally, the results of RT-qPCR experiments were consistent with the bioinformatics analysis.
Conclusion: In this study, we developed a new TEC marker gene-based signature that effectively stratifies LUAD patients and has a strong efficacy in predicting the prognosis of LUAD patients and immunotherapy.
Comparison between AHP and FAHP for the best Selection of Renewable Energies in Colombia, a country with diversity in its geographical regions: Optimization and Sustainability
Authors: Rocha Christian Manuel Moreno , Buelavas Daina Arenas
Published: February 2024

This study presents a comprehensive examination of renewable energy sources across distinct Colombian regions, employing the AHP and FAHP methodologies. Tailoring the selection of alternatives, including solar photovoltaic, offshore/onshore wind, biomass, geothermal, and large- and small-scale hydropower, to each region's specific characteristics aims to provide sustainable solutions for the nation's escalating energy demand. The weighting process incorporates multidimensional criteria encompassing social, economic, technical, and environmental aspects, further broken down into sub-criteria for meticulous evaluation. Results unveil distinct weightings and hierarchies for each region, shaped by the variability in energy potential and resource availability. Methodological differences yield notable disparities in outcomes, with solar photovoltaics emerging as a leading option in most regions, securing a 60% preference due to its viability and potential. This emphasizes the necessity of considering unique regional characteristics when selecting the most suitable energy source. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the significance of introducing innovative metaheuristic methods, notably AHP and FAHP, into the Colombian energy sector. In a geographically diverse country like Colombia, where regional variability demands flexible approaches, these methodologies emerge as crucial decision-making tools. Overcoming the limitations of traditional approaches, they provide a precise and informed assessment, adeptly managing uncertainty and subjectivity in dynamic environments. This research not only offers a valuable guide for the effective implementation of renewable energies in Colombia but also underscores the importance of accommodating regional variability in the transition towards a cleaner and more sustainable energy system. The application of metaheuristic methods contributes to more effective strategic planning, fostering environmental sustainability within the Colombian context. Ultimately, the combination of detailed assessment, specific weighting, and the application of advanced methodologies presents a comprehensive approach to addressing energy challenges in a country as diverse as Colombia.
Mapping site amplification with the dense recording of ambient vibration for the city of Lucerne (Switzerland) – comparison between two approaches
Authors: Janusz Paulina , Panzera Francesco , Bergamo Paolo , Perron Vincent , Fäh Donat
Published: February 2024

Reliable site-specific amplification information can be retrieved using earthquake-based methods, involving the deployment of seismic networks, which, however, may need to operate for years. Hence, time- and cost-effective approaches using ambient vibrations are gaining popularity. Among such techniques, the hybrid standard spectral ratio method (SSRh) uses simultaneous recordings of ambient vibrations translated into a prediction of local seismic response with a limited number of instrumented sites with earthquake ground-motion data. The canonical correlation approach (CC) collates measured empirical amplification with its proxy computed from ambient vibrations (horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratios, HVSRn) at a training set of seismic stations, to predict site response at points without earthquake recordings. We apply both methods in the Lucerne area (Switzerland), located on a soft sedimentary basin, obtaining consistent results, comparable to amplification estimates from earthquake ground motions. The resulting linear amplification factors are significant (factor of 8–10 or more) at the fundamental frequency of resonance of the sediments (0.8-2 Hz). However, both techniques show systematic differences in the spatial and frequency domains. The CC method tends to underestimate the amplification at the fundamental frequency, while SSRh predicts higher amplification factors in the center and lower at the basin edges in comparison to the CC approach. The study discusses the impact of limited completeness of the calibration dataset, and variability introduced by factors like Vs30 model choice and inelastic behavior treatment for the CC method, as well as the influence of the measurement setup for the SSRh method.
Temporal dynamics of scout release behaviour of termitophagous ponerine ant, Megaponera analis
Authors: Modiba Rifilwe V. , Pirk Christian W.W. , Yusuf Abdullahi A.
Published: February 2024

Megaponera analis is an obligate termitophagous species that is endemic to sub-Saharan Africa. The species forage by sending out scouts to search for termites, and once located, the scouts return to the nest to recruit nest mates. Scouts face unpredictable environmental problems, including sudden flooding, temperature changes, wind speed changes and predation by natural enemies. As a monotypic genus, M. analis has shown strong adaptive resilience to such environmental pressures; hence, its populations remain viable despite being obligate predators. We have observed 519 scouting trips from 18 different colonies separated by a large spatial area over three years to find out how long it takes for the colony to replace a scout that has likely met mercurial environmental perturbations. Study areas were at Maremani, Musina, Masebe and D’nyala Nature Reserves in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. The results suggested that colonies exhibited a tendency to deploy scouts in response to the level of starvation rather than solely relying on the absence of information from scouts already outside. However, when feedback was lacking, colonies delayed sending out scouts and dispatched a single scout after a prolonged period. The mean scouting turnover for all 519 trips was 9.36 ± 0.64 (SD) minutes. When turnover was divided into sessions, the first scouting session had a mean of 7.77 ± 12.17 (SD) minutes, while the second had 10.34 ± 18.32 (SD)minutes. The minimum turnover was zero minutes, and the maximum was 124 minutes.
Restoring Colon Motility in Parkinson's Disease: GDNF-Mediated CX43 Suppression in Reactive Enteric Glial Cells
Authors: Xiaoling Qin , Ke Xue , Guo Yurong , Panpan An , Yimeng Wang , Yinzhen Du , Xue Li , Tingting Liu , Chuanxi Tang
Published: February 2024

Background:Constipation is most common in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and is usually caused by slow colon movement. Intestinal glial cells (EGCs) play a role in the regulation of intestinal inflammation and movement, and their activation can trigger the death of intestinal neurons, which may be mediated by the activation of the connexin 43 (CX43) semi-channel. GDNF plays an important role in maintaining intestinal movement and inhibiting inflammation. This study investigated whether GDNF plays an inhibitory role in the activation of EGCs by inflammation, and promotes neuronal survival and regulates intestinal motility through the EGCS-CX43 pathway.
Methods: PD model was established by unilateral stereotaxic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine. At the 5th week after injury, AAV5-GDNF (2~5×1011) was intraperitoneally injected into experimental and control rats. Fecal moisture percentage (FMP) and toner propulsion rate (CPPR) were used to evaluate colon motion. Colon-related markers were detected at 5 and 10 weeks after induction.
Results:Colonic motility and GDNF expression decreased, EGCs reactivity, IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α expression increased, CX43 up-regulated, PGP 9.5 decreased. Intraperitoneal injection of AAV-GDNF can protect colon neurons by inhibiting EGCs activation and down-regulating CX43.
Conclusion: GDNF may promote the survival of colonic neurons in PD rats by regulating CX43 activity.
Electrochemical Syntheses and Characterization of Some Polydyes and their Application for the Simultaneous Determination of Ascorbic Acid and Uric Acid
Authors: Guyasa Jabesa Nagasa , Beyene Tamene Tadesse , Anshebo Sisay Tadesse
Published: February 2024

The electropolymerization and characterization of the monomers: gentian violet (GV), brilliant green (BG), aniline, and methyl violet (MV) and their copolymers were done using cyclic voltammetry (CV) on glassy carbon electrode (GCE) as a working electrode against Ag/AgCl reference electrode and platinum wire as counter electrode. The copolymers showed higher current peaks than their corresponding homopolymers. The electrochemical characterization of these polymers and copolymers was studied by scan rate effect each between 10 and 300 mV/s and pH effect between 1.56 and 5.30. After being modified by the copolymers: poly(BG-GV) and poly(BG-MV), the modified GCE showed good results in resolving the peaks of ascorbic acid and uric acid which otherwise showed one broad peak on bare GCE. The determination of the area of the modified electrode was done with all polymers investigated and also their copolymers. The CV in bare GCE was scanned at different scan rates of 4 mM K3[Fe(CN)6] in 1 M KNO3 solution. The square root of scan rate dependence of peak current was plotted and the Randles-Sevcik equation was applied to determine the diffusion coefficient of Fe(CN)63− ion and which was 1.13 x 10− 14 cm2/s. This was used to determine the area after running the CV of 4 mM K3[Fe(CN)6] in 1 M KNO3 at different scan rates. From the plot of peak current vs. square root of scan rate, the slope was determined and used to determine the area of the modified electrode from the Randles-Sevcik equation.
Trade Exposure in Germany: How China's Exports Affect Men's and Women's Fertility. An Application to G-SOEP
Authors: Ulivieri Giulia
Published: February 2024

The impact of international trade on fertility choices via labor demand is a crucial empirical question. On the one hand, a globalized world as well as new trade routes increase the availability of new products and inputs, but on the other hand re-allocation of working roles may change male-female positions in the labor market, giving raise to wider disparities. Using the German Socio-Economic Panel (G-SOEP), we select two samples formed only by women, and try to assess the impact of trade exposure on women’s fertility choices. The analysis follows two contributions in the literature (Autor et al., 2014; Piriu, 2020): one is affected by bad controls issues. The latter is solved by considering employed and unemployed workers independently from the current industry sector. This first approach can be called panel analysis, while the second one follows Autor et al. (2014) and it considers the change of imports’ amounts over time instead of fixed stocks. Both approaches do not display any significant results, opening the way to further research and investigation in trade exposure field.
Genome sizes of grasses (Poaceae), chromosomal evolution, paleogenomics and the ancestral grass karyotype (AGK)
Authors: Tkach Natalia , Winterfeld Grit , Röser Martin
Published: February 2024

Grasses are one of the largest angiosperm families, widespread and economically important. They have therefore been the subject of early studies of genome size as a fundamental biological trait of any organism. Variation in genome size has functional consequences and is an essential parameter for understanding evolutionary patterns. In this study, we report the nuclear genome sizes (2C values) of 32 species and subspecies from 27 genera of Poaceae, including most of its subfamilies, examined by flow cytometry. Genome sizes were analyzed together with the chromosome numbers to give information on the size of monoploid chromosome sets with the chromosome base number x and the mean chromosome size. Monoploid genomes of < 0.6 pg/1Cx and chromosomes of < 0.1 pg are presumably characteristic of the subfamilies Arundinoideae, Chloridoideae, Micrairoideae and the Oryzoideae. The larger 1Cx values (1.2–1.3 pg) of the evolutionarily early diverging subfamilies Anomochlooideae and Pharoideae are discussed in context with the origin of grasses and the pan-grass whole-genome duplication. The data indicate that the ancestral grass had a monoploid genome of this size, which is less than half the size previously assumed. Genome size data and available chromosome numbers support the concept of the ancestral grass karyotype (AGK) with x = 12. The AGK seems to have been conserved in some grass subfamilies (Bambusoideae, Oryzoideae, Pharoideae, parts of the Pooideae), while the major genome rearrangements are lineage-specific and occurred after the separation of the BOP and the PACMAD clades, i.e. when the diversification of their subfamilies had begun.
Performance and acceptability of the STREAM Disinfectant Generator for infection prevention and control practices in primary healthcare facilities in Uganda.
Authors: Drolet Adam , Mugumya Thomas , Hsu Shan , Izudi Jonathan , Ruhweza Martin , Mugisha Emmanuel , Bahatungire Rony , Coffey Patricia
Published: February 2024

Background
Effective infection prevention and control programs can positively influence quality of care, increase patient safety, and protect health care providers. Chlorine, a widely used and effective chemical disinfectant, is recommended for infection prevention and control in health care settings. However, lack of consistent chlorine availability limits its use. Electrolytic chlorine generators can address limited chlorine supply and stockouts by enabling onsite production of readily usable, high-quality chlorine cost-effectively. We report the feasibility (i.e., performance, acceptability, chlorine availability, and cost) of the electrolytic STREAM Disinfectant Generator (Aqua Research, New Mexico, USA) device for infection prevention and control in primary health care facilities in Uganda.
Methods
We installed STREAM devices in ten primary health care facilities in central and western Uganda and compared the 12-month chlorine inventory total (from December 2020 through December 2021) with the volume of chlorine generated by the STREAM device to determine its impact on chlorine availability. We collected acceptability data from a purposive sample of device users (n = 16), hospital administrators (n = 10), and district health officers (n = 6). We descriptively analyzed the acceptability data by user group and evaluated qualitative responses manually using a thematic approach. Cost data were normalized and modeled to determine a break-even and cost-savings analysis across a five-year period (the minimum expected lifespan of the STREAM device).
Results
Chlorine was consistently available without any reported stockouts during the evaluation period. STREAM chlorine production resulted in a 36.9 percent cost-savings over a five year period compared to commercial chlorine. User acceptability of the STREAM device was high among STREAM operators, hospital administrators, and district health officers, with all respondents reporting that STREAM moderately or significantly improved infection prevention and control practices in the health facility. Overall, 88 percent of device users and 100 percent of hospital administrators wished to continue using the STREAM device instead of commercial chlorine products.
Conclusion
The STREAM device has demonstrated significant potential to strengthen infection prevention and control practices in health care facilities in Uganda. Accordingly, the STREAM device should be scaled up to health care facilities facing similar infection prevention and control challenges in Uganda and elsewhere.
Retrospective analysis of the effect of delayed chemotherapy on the prognosis of patients with stage III colorectal cancer receiving standard chemotherapy
Authors: Zhang Ruoxin , Weng Junyong , Ye Zilan , Luo Dakui , Liu Xuesong , Wu Tao , Li Xinxiang
Published: February 2024

Objective
It is still uncertain whether delayed chemotherapy will cause poor prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. Therefore, we conducted this retrospective study to compare the long-term survival of the delayed chemotherapy (DT) group with that of the continued chemotherapy (CT) group.
Methods
We collected the data on 560 patients with stage III colorectal cancer who received surgical treatment in the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center in 2015. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 328 patients were included. The information was collected on chemotherapy history, clinical pathology and survival. The incidence of myelosuppression, liver function injury and prognosis were compared between the CT group and the DT group.
Results
201 (61.3%) of the 328 patients suffered bone marrow suppression at least once during chemotherapy. 99 (49.3%) of them received symptomatic treatment. The results showed that compared with the DT group, the CT group had a lower incidence of myelosuppression (58.5% vs. 71.4, p < 0.001) and a lower incidence of liver dysfunction (17.79% vs. 28.57%, p < 0.001). Survival analysis suggested that the prognosis of the DT group was worse than that of the CT group (Ratio = 2.269, 95% CI: 1.651 to 4.188, p < 0.001)
Conclusion
Delayed chemotherapy was associated with poor prognosis in patients with stage III colorectal cancer. Clinicians should pay close attention to patients' blood tests and biochemistry tests while developing chemotherapy regimens and intervene promptly to avoid delaying the timing of chemotherapy.
Empfindlichkeit und molekulare Resistenzmechanismen gegenüber Ceftazidim/Avibactam in gramnegativen Mikroorganismen aus fünf lateinamerikanischen Ländern
Authors:   , Appel Tobias Manuel
Published: February 2024

Resistenzen gegenüber Carbapenemen sind eine Bedrohung für die globale Gesundheit mit wenigen verbleibenden Therapieoptionen. Ceftazidim/Avibavtam (CZA) ist die Kombination aus einem Cephalosporin und einem Diazabicyclooctan, mit der Eigenschaft eine Vielzahl von Carbapenemasen der Ambler Klasse A und D zu inhibieren. Resistenzen gegenüber Carbapenemen in gramnegativen Bakterien sind in Kolumbien und anderen Ländern Lateinamerikas weit verbreitet. In den hier vorgestellten Arbeiten wurden 2.235 Enterobakterien und 492 P. aeruginosa Isolate aus fünf Lateinamerikanischen Ländern auf ihre Empfindlichkeit gegenüber CZA und anderen klinisch verfügbaren Antibiotika untersucht. Die CZA-resistenten Isolate wurden mittels PCR und Genomsequenzierung auf die zugrundeliegenden Resistenzmechanismen hin analysiert. CZA zeigte Aktivitäten gegenüber 99,2% (2.217/2.235) aller untersuchten Enterobacterales und 77,8% (383/492) aller P. aeruginosa Isolate. Als plausible Erklärung für die Resistenz gegen CZA konnte mittels qPCR bei allen Enterobakterien und bei 38,5% (42/109) der P. aeruginosa Isolate ein Metallo-β-Laktamase (MBL)-kodierendes Gen nachgewiesen werden. Die verbleibenden P. aeruginosa Isolate wurden einer Genomsequenzierung unterzogen, dabei zeigten sich Mutationen in Genen, die zuvor mit einer verringerten Empfindlichkeit gegen CZA assoziiert wurden, wie z.B. Genen die mit der Überexpression von MexAB-OprM und AmpC (PDC) in Verbindung stehen, sowie Genen, die PoxB (blaOXA-50-like), FtsI (PBP3), DacB (PBP4) und OprD kodieren. Unsere Ergebnisse unterstreichen die Notwendigkeit von Therapieoptionen gegenüber MBL-produzierenden und anderen Carbapenem-resistenten Mikroorganismen. Des Weiteren sind diese Studien eine Momentaufnahme der Empfindlichkeit gegen CZA vor dessen Verfügbarkeit in Lateinamerika und dienen deswegen als Ausgangspunkt um die Entwicklung von Resistenzen in dieser Region zu verfolgen.
Doença pulmonar obstrutiva crônica e educação em saúde: relato de experiência sobre ação extensionista em escola pública de Maceió - AL
Authors: JESUS Ana Karolina Barros de , MORAES Mayara Ricardo , ARAÚJO Gabriel Carneiro de , SILVA JUNIOR Giorbélio dos Santos , BRANDÃO Martha Pontes de Miranda , GUEDES Larissa Marques da Rocha , BERNUCIO Marina de Barros , DANTAS Roberta Correia , SILVA JUNIOR Arlindo Garrote da , DUARTE Morgana Barbosa , RAMOS Susana Alves Araújo
Published: February 2024

A Doença Pulmonar Obstrutiva Crônica (DPOC) é um desafio à saúde pública, caracterizado por inflamação das vias respiratórias, diminuindo o fluxo aéreo. A principal causa da doença é o tabagismo, e promover ações de prevenção primária, inclusive nas escolas, é crucial. Este relato descreve a vivência dos universitários na atividade de extensão sobre a DPOC, realizada com escolares de Maceió - AL. Trata-se de um relato de experiência compartilhado pelos acadêmicos do curso de Medicina, que realizaram atividades visandoa prevenção primária da DPOC por meio de recursos visuais, jogos e distribuição de brindes aos alunos, que se envolveram ativamente, fortalecendo a conscientização em saúde entre as instituições de ensino. A ação de extensão permitiu a avaliação da importância da educação em saúde no ambiente escolar, com métodos simples e acessíveis, sensibilizando os alunos sobre o tema, superando as expectativas em relação ao interesse dos estudantes durante a atividade.
NAGA IMAGERY AND THE IMPACT OF THE INTERNET ON NAGA WORSHIP IN THAILAND
Authors:   College of Fine Arts, Huanggang Normal University, 146, 2nd Xingang Road, 438000 Hubei Province, China, Chang Ya-Liang
Published: February 2024

Naga, the guardian of Triratna, dominates the waters and is an important cultural image of Thailand, as well as an auspicious symbol of ordinary life. There is a large and subtle naga cultural heritage that includes folk literature and festivals in Thailand. Whether old traditions or new cultural creations, cultural heritage using the naga theme is often combined with visual art and the images and beliefs of naga are spread through the Internet via works including sculptures, murals, emoticons, animations, festivals, amulets, fabrics, and exhibition artworks. This study aims to analyse the iconography of naga images in visual art in Thailand and explore the changes that naga worship has undergone on the Internet. We found two important changes: (1) Naga images are diverse and have become part of the cultural industry; and (2) naga worship is expressed through naga images and has taken on multiple meanings different from previous religious connotations. The Internet has led to changes in the way the Buddhist doctrine is propagated, including different interpretations of naga images, through the challenges of virtual worlds.
UNOFFICIAL CULTURAL AMBASSADORS: EXPLORING THE EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS OF MALAYSIAN STUDENT SCHOLARS IN AMERICA
Authors:   Department of Foundations of Education, Faculty of Educational Studies, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Jalan Universiti 1, Serdang, 43400 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia, Sofiya Wan Mohd Nor , Murni Wan Mohd Nor ,   Institute for Social Science Studies (IPSAS), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Jalan Universiti 1, Serdang, 43400 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia,   Faculty of Human Ecology, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Jalan Universiti 1, Serdang, 43400 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia
Published: February 2024

International educational exchange programmes promote a person’s intellectual development and cultural understanding, which could also foster mutual cooperation and stronger diplomatic ties between countries. Through these programmes, students can socially interact and learn about others from diverse backgrounds. However, the rise of Islamophobia after the September 11 attacks has inculcated the fear of “the Other” and limited the number of Muslim students allowed to study in America, as Muslim culture and religious values are popularly perceived as incompatible with American values and thus viewed as a threat. This study contributes to the literature of diplomacy by highlighting the experiences of sixteen Malaysian scholars sponsored by the Malaysian government and the challenges they experienced during their educational exchange in America. The aim of this qualitative study is to understand the experiences of Malaysian student scholars by identifying: (1) how they initially perceived America; (2) their motivations for wanting to study in America; (3) the challenges they faced; and (4) how their experiences transformed them. The study found that many students faced initial struggles with racism, cultural challenges, and difficulty in achieving cultural assimilation. However, they were able to overcome misperceptions and negative stereotypes. The findings highlight the positive impact of their academic and cultural exchange, its success in reducing divisiveness, and the influence of soft power in strengthening relations between America and Malaysia.
A geometria analítica como aliada importante na aprendizagem em cálculo diferencial e integral: o caso de integrais múltiplas nos cursos de engenharias
Authors: Henriques Afonso , Farias Elisângela Silva , Funato Rosane Leite
Published: February 2024

Resumo
Este artigo tem como objetivo principal apresentar uma análise das práticas efetivas dos estudantes de cursos de Engenharias sobre a leitura e interpretação de geradores de tarefas elaborados no cenário do ensino das Integrais Múltiplas, e as suas realizações pelos estudantes. Os geradores de tarefas tendem a eliminar efeitos topázios específicos que sobrevivem no referido cenário, e valorizam a mobilização de diferentes registros de representação semiótica na realização das tarefas gerenciadas. Nesta mobilização, a Geometria Analítica se apresenta como uma aliada natural e importante na aprendizagem das Integrais Múltiplas. Para almejar o referido objetivo, mergulhamos a pesquisa na teoria dos Registros de Representação Semiótica e Antropológica do Didático. Seguimos a análise institucional & sequência didática como metodologia de pesquisa. Os resultados obtidos mostram que os estudantes apresentam diversas dificuldades que se manifestam, não apenas na leitura e interpretação das tarefas gerenciadas, mas principalmente na coordenação das representações de objetos de saberes preliminares em diferentes registros, em especial os registros da Língua materna, algébrico, gráfico e numérico, necessários no estabelecimento e cálculo de uma Integral Múltipla. Recomenda-se, portanto, dar-se mais atenção institucional para a aprendizagem destes estudantes.
Palavras-chave: Aprendizagem em CDI III. Práticas efetivas de estudantes. Gerador de tarefas. Curvas e Superfícies. Sólidos.