bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Relationship between Inhibitory Control and Dietary Compliance among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Based on Subjective and Objective Measures
Authors: Liu Na , Heng Chunni , Cui Yi , Wu Di , Li Ling , Bai Mengge , Guo Yanxue , Wang Wen , Zhang Yinling
Published: November 2022

Background
For patients with T2DM, dietary control is a basic treatment which must be adhered to for a lifetime. However, the dietary compliance situation among patients with T2DM is not optimistic. Inhibitory control, as the key component of self-control,may be a potentially important influencing factor of dietary compliance. However, recent research on this topic is quite limited; therefore, further research is necessary. The objective of this study was to explore the relationship between inhibitory control and dietary compliance among patients with T2DM based on subjective and objective measures.
Methods
A total of 393 patients with T2DM were enrolled consecutively from the endocrinology departments of three tertiary hospitals in China. Participants completed the Sociodemographic Questionnaire, Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Dietary Behavior Compliance Scale for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Depression Anxiety and Stress Scales with 21 items (DASS-21), and Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult version (BRIEF-A). Among them, 105 subjects completed the stop signal task,and 101 completed the Stroop task. The relationship between inhibitory control and dietary compliance was analyzed.
Results
Regarding results related to subjective measures, the t score of inhibitory control was negatively correlated with dietary compliance (r=-0.287, p<0.05). Regarding results related to objective measures, SSRT was significantly negatively correlated with carbohydrate and fat compliance behavior (r=-0.239, p<0.05). The conflict effect was significantly negatively correlated with two dimensions: oil and salt compliance behavior (r=-0.214, p<0.05) and carbohydrate and fat compliance behavior (r=-0.291, p<0.05).The conflict score was significantly negatively correlated with dietary compliance (r=-0.216, p<0.05) and carbohydrate and fat compliance behavior (r=-0.309, p<0.05).
Conclusions
The different aspects of inhibitory control were significantly associated with dietary compliance among patients with T2DM. In the future, we can consider improving the dietary compliance of patients with T2DM based on inhibitory control training.
WITHDRAWN: Low Leakage Variation SRAM Cell with Improved Stability for IOT Applications
Authors: Rawat Ram Murti , Kumar Vinod
Published: November 2022

The typical memory for very large scale integrated (VLSI) circuits has traditionally been static random access memory (SRAM). This is so because SRAM is a speedier technology than the ones that were previously mentioned. SRAM, however, has a high power consumption rate. Due to its importance in the memory architecture, it is crucial to lower the power consumption of SRAM cells. This literature review's major goal is to provide innovative and effective strategies for creating low power SRAM cells. This study provides several circuit topologies and methodologies to compute stability, leakage current, delay, and power, as well as novel techniques for designing SRAM cells based on eight transistors (8T). The static random access memory (SRAM) is frequently chosen over dynamic random access memory (DRAM) due to faster speed and lower power consumption. It is named static since no modification or action, i.e. refreshing, is required to maintain the data intact. The leakage current in SRAM, however, frequently rises and impairs its performance when technology nodes are scaled down. Voltage scaling, which also impacts the stability and latency of SRAM, is chosen as a solution to this problem. In this study, a separate (isolated) read port is employed to increase read stability while a negative bit-line (NBL) write aid circuit is used to improve write capability. In terms of write static noise margin (WSNM), write latency, read static noise margin (RSNM), and other metrics, the suggested design has been compared to state-of-the-art work. The following is how the paper is divided into sections: 1. Introduction. Section 2 describes related work. The suggested work is in section 3. Results and discussion are included in section 4 and section 5 Conclusions.
Changes of spinal flexion angle while toileting with smartphone using
Authors: Luo Ziyi , Li Baojian , Liu Ying , Liu Lu , Li Yang , Liu Yanyan , Duan Huimin , Xiao Yu , Fu Liping , Zeng Hui , Liu Gang
Published: November 2022

Background
The aim of this study was to quantify spinal flexion when using a smartphone while toileting.
Methods
Thirty participants were required to measure the spinal flexion angles in the Sagittal Plane when carrying out both hands, one hand and no smartphone using while toileting for 10 minutes. Five separate inertial motion sensors were placed and installed individually upon the partcipants' forehead, cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spinal regions. All data were statistically analyzed by SPSS 26.0 software.
Results
Result showed spinal and cervical flexion angle were significantly greater ( p < 0.05) on both and one hand smartphone using. There was no significant difference of the increased flexion angle of each region of the spine when using the mobile phone with both hands and one hand for 10 minutes (P > 0.05). Regression analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between the spinal flexion angle and time on no smartphone using(r = 0.747,p < 0.001) task. Regression analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between the spinal flexion angle and time on both hands smartphone using(r = 0.793,p < 0.001) task.Regression analysis showed a statistically significant correlation between the spinal flexion angle and time on one hand smartphone using(r = 0.855,p < 0.001) task.When sitting on the toilet and using the smartphone with both hands and one hand, the spine flexion angle changes exponentially with time to a certain extent. Within ten minutes, it will first increase rapidly and then gradually flatten with the increase of time.When using the smartphone with both hands, the flexion angle of the spine enters a stable state faster than when using the mobile phone with one hand.
Conclusion
Study revealed using smartphone while toileting would pose a larger load to the spine, particularly to cervical vertebrae musculature. The flexion angle of the spine will gradually increase even when not using smartphone while toileting. Therefore, we suggested not using smartphone and shorten the time on toileting in order to prevent large spinal load.
Knowledge of 3rd Year Degree Nursing Students at a University Regarding Contributing Factors of Neonatal Sepsis, Windhoek, Namibia.
Authors: Kadhila Joseph Galukeni , Gaingos Manuella
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Neonatal Sepsis is the blood infection that occurs in an infant younger than 90 days old. Early onset is seen in the first week of life and late onset sepsis occurs after 1 week through 3 months of age. The symptoms are breathing problems, low blood sugar, reduced body movements, vomiting, decreased bowel movements, jaundice and the possible complications are disability and. Neonatal sepsis is a public health problem that causes death or disability in infant younger than 90 days old unless proper antibiotic treatment is given on time.
Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 73 3rdyear nursing students from UNAM main campus. The study had a 100% response rate, with most of the 3rdyear nursing students being female, and also not being enrolled in practicing nursing before.
Results: The study found that that most of the 3rdyear nursing students had sound knowledge of the factors contributing to neonatal sepsis as the study found that most students were aware that prematurity and low-birth-weight were contributing factors of neonatal sepsis. The 3rdyear nursing students were also knowledgeable that pre-mature rapture of the membranes is one of the contributing factors of neonatal sepsis, and that babies with low-birth-weight were at risk of being infected with neonatal sepsis. Findings also show that 3rdyear nursing students had sound knowledge of when neonatal sepsis occurs and when to diagnose it.
Conclusion: The study concluded that concluded that 3rd year nursing students at UNAM main campus has good knowledge about the contributing factors of neonatal sepsis. However, the 3rdyear nursing students still need to improve their knowledge on the management practices of neonatal sepsis as some of the students chose to remain neutral at questions that assessed the management practices of neonatal sepsis. Recommendations were made based on the findings.
Vibration reduction and bifurcations properties of spaceborne flywheel system using nonlinear energy sink with Euler-buckled beams
Authors: Liu Haiping , Zhang Jun , Shen Dashan , Xiao Kaili
Published: November 2022

This study develops a new class of Euler-buckled beam nonlinear energy sink (EBNES) with three configurations, which is expected to attenuate the disturbance effects and further enhance vibration suppression under launching and on-orbit loads simultaneously. The effects of arrangements on amplitude-frequency responses of the primary system are analyzed, and the approximate solutions are verified by numerical results. Comparisons with results exhibit that the EBNES-I is much more effective with significantly enhanced vibration reduction performance and stability in a broad frequency range. Furthermore, a two-degree-of-freedom dynamic model of the flywheel system, which integrates the EBNES-I and the satellite platform, is established. The vibration attenuation and bifurcation behaviors of the proposed EBNES-I is investigated, and the efficiency of the proposed EBNES-I in vibration reduction of the flywheel is compared to that of a cubic-stiffness NES. It is found that the EBNES-I exhibits a good vibration reduction performance on the dynamic responses of the flywheel system in launching and on-orbit stage simultaneously. Additionally, the bifurcations of the system are studied in order to find influences of gravity, excitation amplitudes and geometrical parameters on the stability of the EBNES. Calculation results provide suitable conditions for occurrence of the SN and Hopf bifurcations.
Effects of cardiorespiratory fitness and body mass index on cardiometabolic risk factors in schoolchildren
Authors: Bagatini Natália Carvalho , Pinho Carolina Dertzbocher Feil , Leites Gabriela Tomedi , Voser Rogério da Cunha , Gaya Anelise Reis , Cunha Giovani dos Santos
Published: November 2022

Introduction: High levels of physical fitness established in childhood and adolescence have been associated with positive effects on cardiometabolic risk factors (CMRF), persisting into adulthood. Conversely, high rates of a sedentary lifestyle, overweight, and obesity in this period have been considered a public health problem, because these conditions tend to worsen in adulthood, increasing the incidence of chronic diseases, deterioration of CMRF, and consequently increasing comorbidities and mortality.
Objective: To verify the effect of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body mass index (BMI) on CMRF in children and adolescents.
Methods: The sample was composed of 49 schoolchildren of both sexes aged 10-17 years. Anthropometric assessments, CRF test, muscle strength test, and blood pressure (BP) measurement were performed. Participants were allocated into groups according to BMI (eutrophic, overweight, obese) and CRF (low-fit, normal-fit, and high-fit) levels.
Results: Obese individuals had lower CRF values compared to eutrophic and overweight groups. The cardiometabolic risk (CMRP) was significantly higher in the obese group when compared to the normal group, but without difference in relation to the overweight group. The Hight-fit group had lower CMRF values compared to the Low-fit group.
Conclusions: Higher BMI and CRF values had negative and positive effects on CMRF and CMRP in schoolchildren, respectively. Overweight or obese schoolchildren with low fitness levels constitute an unfavorable cardiometabolic health risk profile.
Surviving The Cold: A Case Study on Competition Between Native Lepomis macrochirus and Invasive Herichthys cyanoguttatus for Overwinter Habitat Use
Authors: Lorenz O. T. , Coghill L. M. , Smith P. , Riccobono S. A. , Exum A.
Published: November 2022

Invasive species management can be challenging or even impossible, especially in aquatic environments. To determine if the tropical origins of an invasive species affected where it could be targeted, we constructed a study to compare winter behavior of a tropical, invasive species to a temperate weather, native species in Louisiana. The winter activity and cold tolerance of ten invasive Rio Grande Cichlids, Herichthys cyanoguttatus and ten native bluegill, Lepomis macrochirus was observed using an outdoor pond with a dual antenna PIT tag array and an artificial culvert created inside of the pond. All fishes had PIT tags injected into their lateral musculature. Both species were active at temperatures below 10°C and all twenty fish survived temperatures as low as 7°C. Even though the invasive H. cyanoguttatus is a member of a tropical family of fishes, activity and even feeding behavior of both species was similar up to 13°C; but H. cyanoguttatus individuals were more active than L. macrochirus at higher temperatures. Both species appeared to use the culvert during cold fronts, demonstrating that the behavior of both species during cold weather were remarkably similar. This study illustrates the thermal tolerance abilities of H. cyanoguttatus in New Orleans and also demonstrates their potential for invading other cold-water habitats.
Significance Statement
This article is the first to investigate the simultaneous examination of overwintering behavior of a temperate native species of fish and an invasive tropical species of fish. Its application to invasive species management has unique usefulness not previously published. It is also unique in its examination of overwintering fish behavior in general, using a mesocosm PIT tag array.
Neural Network-Based Output Tracking Control of High-Order Nonlinear Systems with DoS Attacks and Perturbations
Authors: Jin Xiaozheng , Yan Bingheng , Chi Jing , Wu Xiaoming , Deng Chao
Published: November 2022

This paper focuses on the output feedback tracking control of a high-order nonlinear system with denial-of-service (DoS) attacks and exogenous perturbations. A novel neural network (NN)based state estimator is employed to observe the system states during DoS attacks. New nonlinear filters with adaptive regulation are developed to reduce the conservatism of estimator designs and eliminate the impact of unexpected factors such as perturbations and NN approximation errors. Constituting with filtering operation and backstepping control technique, an NN-based secure controller is constructed to suppress the influences of nonlinearities and DoS attacks. The semiglobally uniformly ultimately bounded output tracking results are established by Lyapunov functions on the basis of the estimation and control signals in the cases of DoS attacks, nonlinearities, and perturbations. Comparative results are provided to validate the efficiency of the developed NN-based observation and secure control strategies of a nonlinear system.
Knowledge of crisis prevention strategies are highly effective, whereas vulnerability scores may elicit Addison’s disease crises
Authors: Ross Ian Louiss , Anderson Michelle Moya , Demeke Belene , Minnnie Elza Louise , Henry Michelle
Published: November 2022

Objective: The knowledge in patients with Addison’s disease (AD) to prevent an adrenal crisis and the degree to which patients feel vulnerable.
Design: Telephonic interview of patients with AD in 47 patients, assessing knowledge of prevention of a crisis and vulnerability using a vulnerability scale.
Methods: Knowledge of adrenal crisis (AC) and vulnerability score completed. Patients were compared based on having had a crisis or not. Factors associated with AC and the impact of knowledge, vulnerability were determined.
Results: (64%) had an adrenal crisis in the previous five years, compared with 34% who never had a crisis. Crisis was associated with poorer knowledge prevention of an AC, especially having a cold (31.2% vs 71%; p=0.002) fever (44.7% vs 90.3%; p<0.001) infection (50% vs 93.5%; p<0.001) vomiting (50% vs 80.6%; p=0.007), and diarrhoea (37.5% vs 71%; p<0.001), respectively. The median proportion with vulnerability for each question was 41.5%. Disease duration was negatively correlated with vulnerability; (r=-0.426, p=0.003). Number of comorbidities was correlated with vulnerability (r=0.290, p=0.048). A negative correlation between knowledge score and number of crises in the previous five years (r=-0.530, p<0.001). Logistic regressions showed the only predictor for a crisis in the past year or past 5 years was patients’ knowledge (p<0.001). Predictors of knowledge were younger patients, more comorbidities, patients who had AC, scored higher on vulnerability questionnaire. Variables accounted for 52% of the variance (F=9.751, p<0.001).
Conclusions: Education is critical in preventing AC, specifically cold, fever, infection, vomiting and diarrhoea. Health-care providers should provide psychological support, considering significant vulnerability burden.
A fatal case of cytomegalovirus pneumonia with Aspergillus infection in a non-transplanted patient : A case report
Authors: Huang Kun-lun
Published: November 2022

Introduction: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common disease in transplant patients who are also susceptible to secondary bacterial or fungal infections. However, co-infection in non-transplant patients is rare and often complicates diagnosis and treatment.
Patient concerns: The patient was an older adult woman with poor immune function but was not a transplant patient.
Diagnosis: The patient visited the doctor because of fever and shortness of breath for 1 day and was diagnosed with CMV combined with fungal pneumonia.
Interventions: Treatment with ceftriaxone + human immunoglobulin + voriconazole
Outcomes: The patient’s condition continued to deteriorate, and she eventually died of myocardial infarction.
Conclusion: In immunocompromised patients, combination therapy may be a key factor in improving prognosis, in addition to early detection of coinfection.
The prognostic value of the seventh edition of the AJCC staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in China
Authors: Liu Ying , Qiu Yanbing , Li Xiayu , Huang Donghai , Zou Guoying , Fan Songqing , Shi Lei , Jiang Su , Zhou Qing , Feng Ranran , Guo Yilin , Li Xiaoxu , Zhu Yan , Xiang Bo , Zeng Zhaoyang , Xiong Wei , Li Guiyuan , Zhang Wenling
Published: November 2022

The 7th edition of the International Union against Cancer/American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJCC) manual defines new classification rules for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The study was conducted to assess its effectiveness in predicting the prognosis of patients in Hunan Province, China. Between January 2001 and December 2004, 84 primary NPC patients with detailed clinical information were collected. We retrospectively analyzed the follow-up data of these patients in Sep 2007, July 2009, July 2010, Dec 2013, and Nov 2020. The 7th edition of the AJCC system creates subgroups (stages I to IV) that are assigned to 10 (11.9%), 31 (36.9%), 27 (32.2%), and 16 (19.0%) patients, respectively. The 7th edition of the AJCC system showed highly significant differences in gender for DFS. In the 7th version of the AJCC the overall stages, T classifications, and N classification showed a significant correlation with OS and disease-free survival (DFS). Multivariate analysis showed that T classification and N classification were independently significant prognostic factors for DFS and OS with 6-years. In conclusion, the 7th edition of the AJCC system for NPC is prognostically useful for patients from Hunan Province.
Analysis of Anterior Permanent Dentition in Chinese population via Cone-beam Computed Tomography
Authors: CHEN YU , Lu Bingtai , Dai Yu , You Yuehua , Wu Bin , Yan Zhengbin
Published: November 2022

Purpose: Investigation of roots and canals is crucial in clinical assessment and treatment. Morphologies such as root length, cemento-enamel junction curvature (CEJ-C), root furcation and canal variations are important factors yet remain to be discussed in depth.
Methods: In this retrospective study, we look into 4309 anterior teeth from 401 patients via cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in Chinese population, attempting to summarize the morphological characteristics of maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth.
Results: Maxillary and mandibular canines are observed with elevated root length compared with corresponding incisors (p<.0001), while those of mandibular central and lateral incisor varied with significant difference (p<.0001). The CEJ-C reveals significant increasement around incisors than canines in maxilla (p<.0001). Root furcation is detected in mandibular canines and lateral incisors. Moreover, all types of Vertucci’s classification are noticed with two other new types.
Conclusions: The current findings help to optimize the root morphological understanding of Chinese population especially in endodontics. Moreover, CEJ-C facilitates clinical aesthetic interpretation and treatment in implantology and prosthodontic. However, further study should be carried out to investigate morphologies of posterior dentition.
Dynamic Educational Recommender System Based on Improved LSTM Neural Network
Authors: Yazdi Hadis Ahmadian , Mahdavi Seyyed Javad Seyyed , Kheirabadi Maryam
Published: November 2022

Virtual learning environments have become widespread in today's society to avoid time and space constraints and to share high-quality learning resources. In the process of human-computer interaction, student behaviors are recorded instantly. This article aims to design an educational recommendation system according to the individual's interests in educational resources, which is evaluated based on clicking or downloading the source and the score given to that source by the user. In online tutorials, in addition to the problem of choosing the right source, we face the challenge of how to be aware of diversity in users' preferences and tastes, especially their short-term interests in the near future, at the beginning of a session. We assume that the user's interests consist of two parts: 1) the user's long-term interests, which include the user's constant interests based on the history of the user's dynamic activities, and 2) the user's short-term interests, which indicate the user's current interests. Due to the use of Bilstm networks and their gradual learning feature, the proposed model supports learners' behavioral changes, with an average accuracy of 0.9978 and an error of 0.0051 offers more appropriate recommendations than similar articles.
Biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in spaceflight is minimized on Lubricant Impregnated Surfaces
Authors: Zea Luis , Flores Pamela , McBride Samantha , Galazka Jonathan , Varanasi Kripa
Published: November 2022

The undesirable, yet inevitable, presence of bacterial biofilms in spacecraft poses a risk to the proper functioning of systems and to astronauts’ health. To mitigate the risks that arise from them, it is important to understand biofilms’ behavior in microgravity. As part of the Space Biofilms project, biofilms ofPseudomonas aeruginosawere grown in spaceflight over material surfaces. Stainless Steel 316 (SS316) and passivated SS316 were tested for their relevance as spaceflight hardware components, while a lubricant impregnated surface (LIS) was tested as potential biofilm control strategy. The morphology and gene expression of biofilms were characterized. Biofilms in microgravity were less robust than on Earth. LIS strongly inhibited biofilm formation compared to SS. Furthermore, this effect was even greater in spaceflight than on Earth, making LIS a promising option for spacecraft use. Transcriptomic profiles for the different conditions are presented, and potential mechanisms of biofilm reduction on LIS are discussed.
Tacrolimus reverses pemphigus vulgaris serum-enhanced expression of desmoglein in HaCaT cells via inhibition of heat shock protein-27 phosphorylation
Authors: Xie Zhimin , Li Qingqing , Dai Xiangnong , Ye Xingdong
Published: November 2022

Background: Glucocorticoids are the first-line treatment for Pemphigus vulgaris (PV), but its serious side effects can be life-threatening for PV patients. Tacrolimus (FK506) has been reported to have an adjuvant treatment effect against PV. However, the mechanism underlying the inhibitory effect of FK506 on PV-IgG-induced acantholysis is unclear.
Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the effect of FK506 on desmoglein (Dsg) expression and cell adhesion in an immortalized human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells) stimulated with PV sera.
Methods: A cell culture model of PV was established by stimulating HaCaT cells with 5% PV sera with or without FK506 and clobetasol propionate (CP) treatment. The effects of PV sera on intercellular junctions and protein levels of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK), heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), and Dsg were assayed using western blot analysis, immunofluorescence staining, and a keratinocyte dissociation assay.
Results: PV sera-induced downregulation of Dsg3 was observed in HaCaT cells and was blocked by FK506 and/or CP. Immunofluorescence staining revealed that linear deposits of Dsg3 on the surface of HaCaT cells in the PV sera group disappeared and were replaced by granular and agglomerated fluorescent particles on the cell surface; however, this effect was reversed by FK506 and/or CP treatment. Furthermore, cell dissociation assays showed that FK506 alone or in combination with CP increased cell adhesion in HaCaT cells and ameliorated loss of cell adhesion induced by PV sera. Additionally, FK506 noticeably decreased the PV serum-induced phosphorylation of HSP 27, but had no effect on p38MAPK phosphorylation.
Conclusion: FK506 reverses PV-IgG induced-Dsg depletion and desmosomal dissociation in HaCaT cells, and this effect may be obtained by inhibiting HSP27 phosphorylation.
CRAM:Conv-Resnet34-Adatriplet module forContent based Medical Image retrieval
Authors: Miao Zekun , Chang Shijie , Chao Yihu
Published: November 2022

In many hospitals, there are many fraudulent medical insurance events appear. Among them ,there is a situation in which someone else’s medical image is pretended to be his own, the main purpose of which is to obtain insurance.This paper proposes a medical image retrieval scheme based on deep learning model. There is a high degree of similarity between images taken of different people for the same type of organ. However, the degree of similarity between the images of cats, dogs, airplanes, trees or other kinds of things, which is not as high as specific organs of different people. So traditional image processing methods such as HOG feature extraction have been difficult to get a good classification effect among people with the some type of organ.There is an urgent need for a method to achieve better accuracy, which is conducive to the related work of medical image retrieval. As we know, deep learning has excellent performance in medical image segmentation, detection and retrieval based on its good accuracy. This paper proposes a method based on deep learning model to achieve medical image retrieval. By using tool libraries such as MongoDB and faiss, the retrieval of 128-dimensional feature vector is realized, and several most similar images files in the top ranking are retrieved and the corresponding file information. Thus, it is convenient for the staff to realize the matching quickly.This paper is mainly aim to solve the problem of lumbar disc CT images retrieval.
Cultivation and application of nicotine-degrading bacteria and environmental functioning in tobacco planting soil
Authors: Wang Yiting , Luo Xiangyan , Chu Peng , Shi Heli , Wang Rui , Li Jiale , Zheng Shixue
Published: November 2022

Nicotine, a toxic and addictive alkaloid from tobacco, is an environmental pollutant. However, nicotine-degrading bacteria (NDB) and their function in tobacco planting soil are not fully understood. First, 52 NDB strains belonging to seven genera were isolated from tobacco soil. The most dominant genera were Flavobacterium (36.54%), Pseudomonas (30.77%) and Arthrobacter (15.38%), and Chitinophaga and Flavobacterium have not been previously reported. Then, two efficient NDB strains, Arthrobacter nitrophenolicus ND6 and Stenotrophomonas geniculata ND16 were screened and inoculated in the compost fertilizer from tobacco waste. The nicotine content was reduced from 1.5 mg/g to below the safety threshold of 0.5 mg/g. Furthermore, strain ND6 followed the pyridine pathway of nicotine degradation, but the degrading pathway in strain ND16 could not be determined according to genomic analysis and color change. Finally, the abundance of nicotine-degrading genes in tobacco rhizosphere soil was investigated via metagenomic analysis. Five key genes, NdhA, nctB, KdhL, nboR, and Dhponh, represent the whole process of nicotine degradation, and their abundance positively correlated with soil nicotine content (p < 0.05). In conclusion, various NDB including unknown species live in tobacco soil and degrades nicotine effciently. Some key nicotine-degrading genes could be used in monitoring nicotine degradation in the environment. The fermentation of compost from tobacco waste is a promising application of efficient NDB.
Mapping competitive pathways to terpenoid biosynthesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 using an antisense RNA synthetic tool
Authors: Rodrigues João S. , Bourgade Barbara , Galle Karen R. , Lindberg Pia
Published: November 2022

Background:
Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 utilizes pyruvate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate via the methylerythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway for the biosynthesis of terpenoids. Considering the deep connection of the MEP pathway to the central carbon metabolism, and the low carbon partitioning towards terpenoid biosynthesis, significant changes in the metabolic network are required to increase cyanobacterial production of terpenoids.
Results:
We used the Hfq-MicC antisense RNA regulatory tool, under control of the nickel-inducible PnrsB promoter, to target 12 different genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis, central carbon metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis and ATP production, and evaluated the changes in the performance of an isoprene-producing cyanobacterial strain. Six candidate targets showed a positive effect on isoprene production: three genes involved in terpenoid biosynthesis (crtE, chlP and thiG), two involved in amino acid biosynthesis (ilvG and ccmA) and one involved in sugar catabolism (pgi). The same strategy was applied to interfere with different parts of the terpenoid biosynthetic pathway in a bisabolene-producing strain. Increased bisabolene production was observed not only when interfering with chlorophyll biosynthesis, but also with carotenogenesis.
Conclusions:
We demonstrated that the Hfq-MicC synthetic tool can be used to evaluate the effects of gene knockdown on heterologous terpenoid production, despite the need for further optimization of the technique. Possible targets for future engineering of Synechocystis aiming at improved terpenoid microbial production were identified.
Changes in the wild bee community (Apoidea: Hymenoptera) over 100 years in relation to land use: A case study in a protected steppe habitat in Eastern Austria
Authors: Zimmermann Dominique , Schoder Sabine , Zettel Herbert , Hainz-Renetzeder Christa , Kratschmer Sophie
Published: November 2022

The wild bee community of a sand steppe habitat in Eastern Austria was surveyed in the years 2018 and 2019, complemented with historical data from over 100 years, and analyzed in relation to land use change. The mapping of land use categories was based on historical aerial photographs and orthophotos. Changes in bee community composition were analyzed by a multivariate statistical approach and took ecological traits into account. In total, 310 bee species were recorded in the area, with the oldest records dating back to 1882. The bee species composition differed significantly among four defined timespans. Across the two most intensively sampled time periods (1931–1966 vs. 2001–2021), a decline in species richness of more than 50% was observed. We observed a disproportionally high decline of steppe and sand-associated species, and a distinct shift from ground nesting species to above ground nesting species. The area covered with woods increased from 1966 to 2018, while the total area covered with grassland and fallows decreased slightly between 1966 and 1994. The oligolectic species assemblage was specialized on Dipsacaceae, Brassicaceae and Fabaceae in the two earlier periods, and on Asteraceae and specifically on Carduoideae during the two later ones. Implications for insect conservation: Our results indicate that the shift from grazing to mowing as land management is a major factor in the decline of species diversity in the studied nature reserve and its surrounding. Particular attention should be given to measures that facilitate the re-establishment of steppe species.
Atmospheric-cold plasma (ACP) performance on coliform inactivation, dehydration and functional properties in powder form materials (wheat flour and whey protein isolate)
Authors: Soleimani Majid , Baik Oon-Doo
Published: November 2022

This study was conducted to determine the performance of atmospheric plasma on powder form biological materials including wheat flour (WF) and whey protein isolate (WP). Coliform bacteria inactivation and optimization were performed based on a central composite design with two variables, namely residence time and mass of the sample. The results indicated that both variables had significant effect on bacterial inactivation with more importance of residence time compared to mass of the substrate. Drying process was conducted for selected conditions including mild, moderate, and extreme conditions. The results indicated that plasma can be even used as a fast and effective tool for drying biological materials. Among all models used in this study, Henderson-Pabis model was more suitable in predicting the dehydration kinetics of both materials. Drying rate constants obtained using this model indicated that the ratios of residence time over mass of the material did not have a significant impact on this parameter. Analysis of the functional properties revealed that water absorption can be highly (≈ 70%) enhanced in WF. However, properties such as oil absorption (in WF and WP), protein solubility and emulsifying activity index (EAI) as well as stability (in WP) were slightly changed by the plasma treatment.
Application of the extended value-based adoption model to understand consumers’ participation in automobile recalls for environmental defects
Authors: Huang Hong
Published: November 2022

Carrying out automobile recalls for environmental defects (ARED) is a practical move to implement policies of peak carbon dioxide emissions and carbon neutrality, and can also improve air quality. The smooth completion of ARED is premised on the active participation of consumers. This study aims to investigate the determinants of consumers’ intention to participate in ARED. This study adopts the value-based adoption model (VAM) as the basic model and extends it by adding the constructs of consumer knowledge and personal norms. Structural equation modeling is used to analyze the survey data (N = 571). The results show that consumers’ perceived value of participating in ARED, consumer knowledge of ARED, and personal norms positively affect their participation intention. Perceived value is affected by perceived environmental benefits, perceived personal costs, and consumer knowledge. Personal norms are explained by perceived environmental benefits. This study enriches the understanding of consumers’ perceptions and participation intention toward ARED and provides several practical implications to relevant regulatory agencies and firms.
One-pot facile biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles using Dillenia indica L. bark extract for in vitro anticancer activity against human lung and breast cancer cell lines
Authors: Mohanta Larica , Jena Bhabani Sankar
Published: November 2022

The current study focused on green synthesis of copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using ethanolic bark extract of Dillenia indica L. as an eco-friendly, non-toxic reducing agent as well as surface stabilizing agent. The phytochemical screening showed higher positivity of phenolics and flavonoid compounds in the bark extract. Biosynthesized CuNPs was optimized and characterized using UV-Visible spectrophotometer, Transmission electron microscope (TEM), Particle size analyser, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). UV-Visible spectroscopic analysis showed maximum wavelength at 512 nm indicating the formation of CuNPs. TEM analysis reveals spherical shaped, well dispersed CuNPs with size ranging from 5 to 30 nm. Obtained CuNPs were stable up to one month with zeta potential value of -41.8 mV. FTIR analysis of CuNPs showed that the phytoconstituents of D. indica L. bark extract were the contributing factors for the reduction of copper ions as well as capping and surface functionalization of CuNPs for their stability in aqueous medium. Further, the bio-synthesized CuNPs showed dose and time dependent cytotoxicity against human lung cancer (A549) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. Morphological alterations due to apoptosis was studied by acridine orange/ethidium bromide and DAPI stains through fluorescence microscopy which reveals cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, and blebbing in CuNPs treated cancer cells. Therefore, the present study unveiled the cytotoxic efficacy of D. indica mediated CuNPs induced apoptosis in A549 and MCF-7 cells which could be further used as a contemporary strategy for cancer therapy.
In silico molecular docking of cyclooxygenase (COX-2), ADME-Toxicity and in vitro evaluation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of marine macro algae
Authors: A Maheswari , DE Salamun
Published: November 2022

Rhodophyta, a significant class of macro algae (~ about 7000 species) provides a wealth of structurally varied bioactive components. The marine ecosystem harbors unique and diverse bioactive compounds that can offer a vast repertoire of molecules with therapeutic properties. The current research was performed to elucidate the therapeutic importance of the red marine seaweeds for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and to examine the potential of bioactive compounds by ADME analysis and toxicological parameters. In the present study, four different species of red marine seaweeds were analyzed for its phytoconstituents and the potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of the methanolic extracts were screened and determined. The results revealed that, among the 4 sample extracts, G. corticata, scored a good antioxidant potential by DPPH (67.61 ± 1.23%, IC50 = 577.7µg) and metal chelation assay (29.40 ± 0.32%, IC50 = 1684µg). The anti-inflammatory analysis has shown that, H. dialata was found to exhibit maximum inhibition against the albumin denaturation (83.50 ± 0.24), whereas G. corticata was observed to measure a maximum inhibition in heat induced hemolysis (60.40 ± 0.46%) and proteinase inhibition assay (83.30 ± 0.18%). An extensive literature survey was carried out for the presence of bioactive compounds in G.corticata, since it has shown good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and later it was examined for drug likeliness by ADME analysis and toxicological parameters. Further, the best selected bioactive compounds were subjected to in silico molecular docking with pro-inflammatory target, cyclooxygenase (COX-2). Hexadecanal and Neophytadiene were reported to obtain the highest binding affinity (-5.3) for COX-2 enzyme. To conclude, in silico molecular docking studies had shown that G. corticata was found to possess potential anti-inflammatory activity that can prevent conversion of arachidonic acid to prostaglandins by inhibiting COX-2.
CD8+ T-Cell Number and Function are Altered by Shkbp1 Knockout Mediated Suppression of Tumor Growth in Mice
Authors: Guo Xiaolan , Li Haobin , Meng Xiuqiong , Zhao ZhiBin , Zhang Rongxin , Wang Lijing , Li Jiangchao
Published: November 2022

CD8 + effector cells are highly skilled in/at immune surveillance and contribute to adaptive immunity against cancer cells. An increasing number of molecular factors affecting T-cell differentiation may alter T-cell function by increasing or decreasing the capacity of the immune system to kill cancer cells. Here, Sh3kbp1 binding protein 1 (Shkbp1), known as CIN85 binding protein and SETA binding protein, was found to be expressed in immune organs and immune cells. Shkbp1 knockout mice presented abnormal red and white pulp in spleen tissue. Shkbp1 knockout increased the cell number in the spleen and enhanced the function of isolated CD8 + T cells from Shkbp1 knockout mice. Data on subcutaneous melanoma in Shkbp1 knockout mice showed that melanoma growth was inhibited, and the infiltration of CD8 + T cells in tumor tissue was increased. Furthermore, adenoviral therapy targeting Shkbp1 indicated that knockout of Shkbp1 increased CD8 + T cells and inhibited tumor growth. This study provides new insights into the role of Shkbp1 in CD8 differentiation and functions as a cancer immunotherapy, suggesting that Shkbp1 may be a new, potential target in cancer immunotherapy.
Optical gain spectrum and confinement factor of a monolayer semiconductor in an ultrahigh quality cavity
Authors: Ren Tianhua , Wang Junyong , Kumar Annie , Han Kaizhen , Kang Yuye , Zhang Gong , Wang Zhe , Oulton Rupert , Eda Goki , Gong Xiao
Published: November 2022

Two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors have attracted great attention as a novel class of gain materials for low-threshold on-chip coherent light sources. Due to their atomically thin scale, these materials exhibit distinct gain characteristics and associated emitter-to-cavity coupling when integrated into a cavity. Despite several experimental reports on lasing, the underlying gain mechanism of 2D materials remains elusive due to a lack of key information, including modal gain and confinement factor. Here, we demonstrate a novel approach to directly determine the absorption coefficient of monolayer WS2 by characterizing the whispering gallery modes in a van der Waals microdisk cavity. By exploiting the cavity’s high intrinsic quality factor of 2.5×104, the absorption coefficient spectrum is experimentally resolved with unprecedented accuracy. We show that the excitonic gain signal and confinement factor can be assessed by analyzing the quality factors near the exciton resonance. The excitonic gain reduces the WS2 absorption coefficient by 2×104 cm− 1 at room temperature, indicating a local population inversion described in the excitonic two-band model. These results are essential for unveiling the gain mechanism in emergent low-threshold 2D-semiconductor-based laser devices.
A Novel Algorithm for Job Scheduling in Real-Time Virtual Cloud Environment
Authors: Naeem Awad bin , Zaidi Abdelhamid
Published: November 2022

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Assessing global warming vulnerability of restricted and common plant species in alpine habitats on two oceanic islands
Authors: González-Mancebo Juana María , Bello-Rodríguez Víctor , Cubas Jonay , Parada-Díaz Jesús , Bañares Ángel , Palomares Ángel , Martín-Esqu José Luís , Arco Marcelino
Published: November 2022

Climate change is modifying plant communities and ecosystems around the world. Alpine ecosystems are of special concern on oceanic islands, due to their characteristic higher endemicity rate, small area and undergoing severe climate change impact in the last few decades. During recent decades there has been increasing interest in the effects of climate change on biodiversity and a range of methods have been developed to assess species vulnerability. However, new insights are necessary to obtain useful information for species management on oceanic islands. Here in the alpine area of two oceanic islands (Tenerife and La Palma) we evaluate the drivers that best explain the vulnerability of 63 endemic species along three scenarios, covering recent past to present and two future projections (2041–2060 and 2061–2080. The selected drivers were: loss of fundamental niche area, persistence of fundamental and realized niches, and the adaptive capacity constraints. We assess whether the drivers of risk and vulnerability for common, restricted and rare species are significantly different, and the influence of fundamental niche size. Our results indicate that management must be widely distributed over the species, and not only focus on restricted species. Evidence for this was that drivers directly deriving from climate change showed no significant differences in their impact on the rarity groups identified. Vulnerability depends partially on the fundamental niche size area, showing a more complex picture where constraints on the adaptive capacity of the species have a strong enough influence to modify the effects of the characteristic drivers of climate change.
Psychosis Prevalence in London Neighbourhoods; a Case Study in Spatial Confounding
Authors: Congdon Peter
Published: November 2022

A considerable body of research concerns spatial variations in psychosis and impacts of neighbourhood risk factors. Such research frequently adopts a disease mapping approach, with unknown spatially clustered neighbourhood influences summarised by random effects. However, added spatial random effects may show confounding with observed area predictors, especially when observed area predictors have a clear spatial pattern. In a case study application, the standard disease mapping model is compared to methods which account and adjust for spatial confounding in an analysis of psychosis prevalence in London neighbourhoods. Established area risk factors such as area deprivation, non-white ethnicity, greenspace access and social fragmentation are considered as influences on psychosis levels. The results show evidence of spatial confounding in the standard disease mapping model. Impacts expected on substantive grounds and available evidence are either nullified or reversed in direction. Inferences about excess relative psychosis risk in different small neighbourhoods are affected. It is argued that the potential for spatial confounding to affect inferences about geographic disease patterns and risk factors should be routinely considered in ecological studies of health based on disease mapping.
Individualization of Responsibility for Health and Entrepreneurship of the Self as Neoliberal Strategies of Bodily Subjectivation and Contemporary Life Management
Authors: Marques João Paulo , Lara Larissa Michelle
Published: November 2022

This article analyzes discursive strategies by which health behaviors are instituted in the management of people's lives in contemporary times from the entrepreneurial neoliberal rationality. To do so, it resumes utterances about health and physical activity in the pandemic context and discusses their relations with key concepts that operate in the embodiment of the neoliberal management model. Such embodiment refers to the uses of human labor (which include body and health care practices) under the aegis of the individualization of responsibility for health, and the dispositive function that they come to exercise within the system that promulgates the individualized management of survival. Thus, we emphasize the importance of the attention of health professionals to the strategies of bodily subjectivation characteristic of the entrepreneurial neoliberal rationality, and to the social determinants of health, which constitute popular demands from which democratically oriented intervening actions should start.