bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative Genome Analysis of Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes and Virulence Factors in Lichen-Associated Variovorax Sp. PAMC28711
Authors: Shrestha Prasansah , Han So-Ra , Lee Jun Hyuck , Park Hyun , Oh Tae-Jin 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
Background: The genus Variovorax sp. PAMC28711 is a cold-adapted microorganism, isolated from Antarctica lichen Himantormia. The complete genomes of six Variovorax species were analyzed and compared along with the strain PAMC28711. The genomic information was collected from NCBI as well as PATRIC databases. Likewise, CAZyme annotation (dbCAN2 Meta server) was performed in order to predict the CAZyme family responsible for trehalose synthesis and trehalose degradation enzymes. The trehalose metabolic pathway was analyzed via the KEGG database. Bioinformatics tools such as OrthoANI software were used to analyze similar genes in different strains under the same genus. Likewise, MEGA X was used for evolutionary and conserved genes.Results: The complete genome of genus V. sp. PAMC28711 was found to comprise CAZyme families GH (10), GT (9), CB (1), AA5 (1), and CE (1). The three trehalose synthetic pathways (OtsA/OtsB, TS, and TreY/TreZ) and trehalose degradation pathway (TreF) were identified only in V. sp. PAMC28711 among the different strains of Variovorax studied, whereas one to two pathways of trehalose biosynthesis, but not trehalose degradation pathways are involved in other Variovorax strains. The strain PAMC28711 comprises of cytoplasmic trehalase (TreF) as a trehalose degrading enzyme that belongs to the CAZyme family GH37, which is not identified in other strains of Variovorax.Conclusions: To date, although the genus V. sp. PAMC28711 has not been reported to exhibit CAZyme activities such as trehalase, and no microorganism expressed different virulence factors, the results based on PATRIC database showed that the strain carried a few virulence genes. Further, this study provides additional information regarding trehalase as one of the factors facilitating bacterial survival under extreme environments and this enzyme has showed potential application in biotechnology fields.
Assessing the Contextual Effect of Community in the Utilization of Postnatal Care Services in Ghana
Authors: Dankwah Emmanuel , Zeng Wu , Feng Cindy , Kirychuck Shelley , Lepnrum Rein , Farag Marwa 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
BackgroundInequalities in the use of postnatal care services (PNC) in Ghana have been linked to poor maternal and neonatal health outcomes. This has ignited a genuine concern that PNC interventions with a focus on influencing solely individual-level risk factors do not achieve the desired results. This study aimed to examine the community-level effect on the utilization of postnatal care services. Specifically, the research explored clusters of non-utilization of PNC services as well as the effect of community-level factors on the utilization of PNC services, with the aim of informing equity-oriented policies and initiatives.MethodsThe 2014 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey GDHS dataset was used in this study. Two statistical methods were used to analyze the data; spatial scan statistics were used to identify hotspots of non-use of PNC services and second two-level mixed logistic regression modeling was used to determine community-level factors associated with PNC services usage. ResultsThis study found non-use of PNC services to be especially concentrated among communities in the Northern region of Ghana. Also, the analyses revealed that community poverty level, as well as community secondary or higher education level, were significantly associated with the utilization of PNC services, independent of individual-level factors. In fact, this study identified that a woman dwelling in a community with a higher concentration of poor women is less likely to utilize of PNC services than those living in communities with a lower concentration of poor women (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.44 - 0.81). Finally, 24.0% of the heterogeneity in PNC services utilization was attributable to unobserved community variability.ConclusionThe findings of this study indicate that community-level factors have an influence on women’s health-seeking behavior. Community-level factors should be taken into consideration for planning and resource allocation purposes to reduce maternal health inequities. Also, high-risk communities of non-use of obstetric services were identified in this study which highlights the need to formulate community-specific strategies that can substantially shift post-natal use in a direction leading to universal coverage.
Effect of pH on nutrient removal and crop production of hydroponic systems treating brewery effluent
Authors: Taylor Richard P. , Jones Clifford L. W. , Laing Mark 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
The use of a crop to remove nutrients from brewery effluent and the influence of pH on these removal rates was evaluated. Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) was grown in recirculating hydroponic systems fed with post-anaerobically digested brewery effluent (BE) either subject to pH adjustment (6.5–7.0) or unaltered pH (8.0–8.5). These were compared with cabbages grown in water only and in a inorganic fertiliser nutrient solution (NS). Hydroponic systems fed with pH adjusted BE removed significantly more nitrogen and phosphorus than systems fed with pH unadjusted BE (p &lt; 0.05). The final weight of cabbages from the pH adjusted BE systems were 6.7 times greater than cabbages from the pH unadjusted BE systems, whereas pH adjustment had no influence on cabbage weight in the water-only and NS treatments. Anaerobically digested BE that is not pH adjusted is not a suitable water and nutrient source for the hydroponic production of cabbages. However, pH adjustment of BE renders it more suitable for hydroponic crop production with hydroponic systems decreasing dissolved inorganic nitrogen, ammonium, phosphate and chemical oxygen demand concentrations by 72.8, 31.8, 98.5 and 51.0%, respectively. Hydroponic systems can be used to treat post-anaerobically digested BE to a similar standard obtained by conventional activated sludge treatment system.
What removals of pathogen indicators can be expected within large-scale wastewater treatment facilities in the context of wastewater reuse in Paris conurbation?
Authors: Mailler R. , Mèche P. , Rocher V. 
Published: January 2021

Abstract
The fate of pathogen indicators (Escherichia coli – EC, intestinal enterococci – IE, RNA-F bacteriophages and spores of sulfite reducing bacteria – SSR) was extensively studied in Parisian large-scale wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), based on conventional activated sludge, biofiltration or membrane bioreactor (MBR) processes. Between 14 and 87 campaigns were performed between 2014 and 2018 in five WWTPs. High removals of 3 log for both EC and IE, and lower removals of 1–2 log for SSR and RNA-F bacteriophages, were observed in conventional activated sludge and biofiltration WWTPs. The MBR WWTP achieves notably greater removals of 4.5–5.5 log for faecal bacteria and 3–4 log for SSR and RNA-F bacteriophages. This WWTP is the only one already in compliance with reuse standards, the other ones being non-compliant because of SSR and RNA-F bacteriophages. The implementation of a micro-grain activated carbon process would increase the WWTP removals of 0.8 log for faecal bacteria, due to particles retention, with no significant effect on both other pathogens. Ozonation (0.9–1.3 g O3/g dissolved organic carbon) or performic acid (0.8–1.2 ppm) would have greater benefits with additional removals of 1.5–2.5 log for EC, 1–2 log for IE and 0.5–1 log for SSR and RNA-F bacteriophages. Correlations between pathogen indicator removals and initial concentrations were found, as well as a significant decrease of RNA-F bacteriophage concentrations in Parisian raw wastewater, below 2 log. Thus, RNA-F bacteriophages could be a real issue to evaluate the compliance of Parisian wastewater with reuse. The time evolution of removals demonstrated that SSR is the most problematic parameter regarding reuse in conventional activated sludge and biofiltration WWTPs, as its initial concentration is high (5 log) but removals insufficient (&lt;2 log). In contrast, removals of RNA-F bacteriophages greater than 2 log can be obtained within WWTPs completed or not with a tertiary treatment when the initial concentration in raw wastewater is sufficient. Correlations were also found between the removals of pathogen indicators and the removals of physico-chemical parameters, but they are not good enough to allow performance predictions.
Sistema de avaliação de desempenho para apoio à gestão da coordenadoria dos processos licitatórios de um Hospital Universitário
Authors: Souza de Araújo Samuel , Dos Santos Matos Lucas , Rolim Ensslin Sandra 
Published: January 2021

Objetivo: O objetivo da pesquisa é estruturar um modelo para apoiar a gestão da Coordenadoria de Processos Licitatórios do Hospital Universitário Professor Polydoro Ernani de São Thiago da Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, visando construir, no seu gestor, conhecimento acerca do contexto que administra, permitindo a visualização dos aspectos julgados como necessários e suficientes para se ter em consideração nesse processo.
Metodologia: Utiliza-se a metodologia Multicritério de Apoio à Decisão-Construtivista (MCDA-C) para a estruturação de um sistema de avaliação de desempenho específico às particularidades do contexto e de seu gestor. Assim, a pesquisa utiliza-se de uma abordagem qualitativa, sob forma de estudo de caso, com coleta de dados primários, a partir de entrevistas com o gestor da coordenadoria.
Resultados: A estruturação do sistema permite o desenvolvimento de uma estrutura hierárquica de valor e indicadores qualitativos de desempenho. A criação dos indicadores de desempenho possibilita o efetivo acompanhamento das atividades desenvolvidas pelo setor, conduzindo a uma gestão eficiente e à melhor aplicação dos recursos públicos. Permite, ainda, a visualização dos aspectos em níveis comprometedores, de mercado e de excelência, evidenciando os fatores relevantes para a gestão.
Contribuições do Estudo: O estudo contribui para o preenchimento de lacuna evidenciada com base na análise da literatura sobre o tema. Considera-se que o sistema subsidia o gestor com informações específicas para a tomada de decisão e promove uma discussão, ainda não encontrada na literatura, a respeito do uso de abordagens construtivistas para o setor licitatório de um hospital universitário.
Indicadores econômico-financeiros de empresas brasileiras: uma comparação entre setores
Authors: Jacintho Vinícius , Kroenke Adriana 
Published: January 2021

Objetivo: Analisar pesos de indicadores econômico-financeiros de diferentes setores da B3 e avaliar o impacto destes pesos ao se trabalhar com rankings de empresas de diversos setores simultaneamente.
Metodologia: A população compreende as empresas pertencentes ao IBrX100 e a amostra é formada pelas 43 empresas que apresentaram todos os dados na base Economática para o ano de 2017. Foram criados quatro lotes de indicadores: Liquidez, Endividamento, Rentabilidade e Atividade a partir do agrupamento de nove indicadores distintos. Esta pesquisa emprega um conjunto de técnicas de Análise Multicritério, sendo (i) o método Moora (Multi-Objective Optimization on the basis of Ratio Analysis) para formação dos lotes, (ii) o método Critic (Criteria Importance Throught Intercriteria Correlation) para a formação de pesos, e (iii) o Método da Soma Ponderada para formação de um ranking alternativo.
Resultados: Os resultados indicam que as mudanças identificadas nas 10 primeiras posições ao se analisar os rankings foram ocasionadas pela construção dos pesos, permitindo uma avaliação mais justa das empresas. A partir desta abordagem destacam-se as empresas que obtiveram bons resultados nos indicadores relevantes para o seu setor, de modo que resultados em indicadores de menor peso não interferem substancialmente na avaliação da empresa. A rentabilidade e atividade foram os lotes de maior destaque.
Contribuições do Estudo: A comparação de setores utilizando indicadores é uma limitação no uso destes e na literatura acerca do tema, de modo que uma abordagem multicritério foi adotada para solucionar tal limitação. Esta pesquisa contribui para a área de avaliação de desempenho pois oferece uma ferramenta que permita ampliar o uso dos indicadores, sendo útil tanto para usuários internos quanto externo. Como contribuição teórica, os resultados desta pesquisa podem servir como base para justificar a escolha dos indicadores adequados de acordo com os objetivos de cada pesquisa.
Luteolin Stimulates Proliferation and Inhibits Late Differentiation of Primary Rat Calvarial Osteoblast Induced by High-dose Dexamethasone via Sema3A /NRP1/Pleixin A1
Authors: Zheng Li 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Although Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A)/ Neuropilin-1(NRP1)/Plexin A1 is one
of the important targets in bone metabolism, few studies are performed on this target in the glucocorticoids-
induced osteoporosis. Luteolin is a chemical component of Honeysuckle and it has various bioactivities.
The effect of Luteolin on the glucocorticoids-induced osteoporosis (primary osteoblasts
model) remain unknown.

Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the action of Sema3A/ NRP1/Plexin A1 in Luteolin-
induced osteoprotection against high-dose Dexamethasone.

Methods:
The effect of Luteolin on the proliferation, late differentiation, and apoptosis of primary osteoblasts
model of glucocorticoids-induced osteoporosis in vitro as well as the expression of Sema3A/
NRP1/Plexin A1 are investigated by using 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2-Htetrazolium
bromide, Cell Counting Kit-8, reverse transcription-quantitative real-time polymerase
chain reaction, western bolting and so on.

Results:
Suckling SD rats’ calvarial osteoblasts were isolated and identified. The glucocorticoidsinduced
primary osteoporosis cell model was established by 100 μM Dexamethasone in 48 h
(P<0.01). Luteolin promotes osteoblasts either in physiological condition (without Dexamethasone) or
pathological condition (with Dexamethasone) at 1 μM concentration for 48h (P<0.01). Luteolin partly
reverses down-regulated expression of proliferation markers such as proliferating cell nuclear and CyclinD1.
(P<0.01) Similarly, Luteolin partly reverses up-regulated expression of apoptosis markers
such as Bax/B-cell lymphoma-2. (P<0.01) The expression of mRNA and protein of Sema3A/
NRP1/Plexin A1 decreased in model one which significantly increased in Luteolin protecting one.
(P<0.05) Interestingly, the late differentiation marker such as osteocalcin and collagenase sharply
decreased in Luteolin protecting group compared with model one. (P<0.01).

Conclusion:
The thesis concludes that Luteolin promoted the proliferation of osteoblast and inhibited
its apoptosis and late differentiation in this glucocorticoids-induced primary osteoporosis cell model.
This function may be related to the expression of up-regulated Sema3A/NRP1/Plexin A1. Therefore,
Luteolin may be a potential medicine for the glucocorticoids-induced osteoporosis.
Catalyst-free Synthesis of Aminomethylphenol Derivatives in Cyclopentyl Methyl Ether via Petasis Borono-Mannich Reaction
Authors: Di Jia-Qi , Wang Hao-Jie , Cui Zhen-Shui , Hu Jin-Yong , Zhang Zhan-Hui 
Published: January 2021

Objective:
Aminomethylphenol molecules have wider applications in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals,
plant protection and promising functional materials. The development of an efficient and practical method to
prepare this class of compound is highly desirable from both environmental and economical points of view.

Materials and Methods:
In order to establish an effective synthetic method for preparing aminomethylphenol
derivatives, the Petasis borono-Mannich reaction of salicylaldehyde, phenylboronic acid and 1,2,3,4-
tetrahydroisoquinoline was selected as a model reaction. A variety of reaction conditions are investigated,
including solvent and temperature. The generality and limitation of the established method were also evaluated.

Results and Discussion:
It was found that model reaction can be carried out in cyclopentyl methyl ether at 80 °C
under catalyst-free conditions. This protocol, with broad substrate applicability, the reaction of various arylboronic
acid, secondary amine and salicylaldehyde proceeded smoothly under optimal reaction conditions to
afford various aminomethylphenol derivatives in high yields. A practical, scalable, and high-yielding synthesis of
aminomethylphenol derivatives was successfully accomplished.

Conclusion:
A catalyst-free practical method for the synthesis of minomethylphenol derivatives based on Petasis
borono–Mannich (PBM) reaction of various arylboronic acid, secondary amine and salicylaldehyde in cyclopentyl
methyl ether has been developed. The salient features of this protocol are avoidance of any additive/catalyst
and toxic organic solvents, use of cyclopentyl methyl ether as the reaction medium, clean reaction profiles, easy
operation, and high to excellent yield.
Novel Dithranol Loaded Cyclodextrin Nanosponges for Augmentation of Solubility, Photostability and Cytocompatibility
Authors: Kumar Sunil , Rao Rekha 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Drug loaded β-cyclodextrin based nanosponges (CDNS) are of special interest
for the entrapment of moieties with the view to address their physicochemical challenges, and
to improve their delivery characteristics and utility. Dithranol (DTH), the standard drug for psoriasis,
has poor stability and solubility, which limit its pharmaceutical applications.

Objective:
The objective of the current study was to entrap DTH in CDNS in order to alleviate the
above-mentioned challenges.

Methods:
To synthesize CDNS, β-cyclodextrin was treated with diphenyl carbonate in various molar
ratios. The obtained placebo CDNS were loaded with DTH by lyophilisation. The particle size of the
DTH loaded CDNS was found to lie between 150 and 450 nm, with a narrow polydispersity index
range. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, zeta potential and
electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were conducted for characterization
of DTH-CDNS.

Results:
Findings from spectral examinations confirmed the formation of inclusion complexes. Solubilisation
efficiency of DTH (in distilled water) was found augmented 4.54 folds with optimized
CDNS. The cytocompatibility study was performed by the MTT assay employing THP1 cell lines. A
remarkable amelioration in stability and photostability of DTH was also observed by its inclusion in
nanosponges.

Conclusion:
In a nutshell, we report the rational engineering and characterization of DTH loaded
cyclodextrin-based nanosponges, and subsequently, their stepwise screening for photostability, in
vitro release, in vitro cytocompatibility, in vitro antioxidant and in vitro inflammatory activity in a
top-down manner, yielding the best carrier for this drug.
Curcumin Decorated Silver Nanoparticles as Bioinspired Corrosion
Inhibitor for Carbon Steel
Authors: Joshi Prathamesh G. , Chauhan Dheeraj Singh , Srivastava Vandana , Quraishi Mumtaz Ahmad 
Published: January 2021

Background:
Curcumin-stabilized silver nanoparticles (Cur-AgNp) synthesized by a facile chemical method.
The synthesized AgNp was, for the first time, used as a bio-derived corrosion inhibitor for carbon steel in the 1M
sulphamic acid medium.

Methods:
The electrochemical studies via impedance spectroscopy, potentiodynamic polarization, and surface analysis are
reported in the communication. The maximum inhibition efficiency of 92.87% obtained at 800 mgL-1
.

Results:
The impedance measurements revealed an elevation in the polarization resistance with growth in the inhibitor
concentration, which supports the adsorption and inhibition behavior of Cur-AgNp on the steel surface. The inhibitor
functioned by adsorption on the steel surface and obeyed the Langmuir kinetic-thermodynamic isotherm with a mixed
mode of physical/ chemical adsorption. The potentiodynamic polarization study revealed cathodic predominating
behavior.

Conclusion:
The SEM analysis depicted the development of a protective inhibitor film on the steel substrate, and FTIRATR analysis of the inhibited steel surface supported the adsorption of the corrosion inhibitor on the metallic surface.
Patterns of Routes of Administration and Drug Tampering for Nonmedical Opioid Consumption: Data Mining and Content Analysis of Reddit Discussions
Authors: Balsamo Duilio , Bajardi Paolo , Salomone Alberto , Schifanella Rossano 
Published: January 2021

BackgroundThe complex unfolding of the US opioid epidemic in the last 20 years has been the subject of a large body of medical and pharmacological research, and it has sparked a multidisciplinary discussion on how to implement interventions and policies to effectively control its impact on public health.ObjectiveThis study leverages Reddit, a social media platform, as the primary data source to investigate the opioid crisis. We aimed to find a large cohort of Reddit users interested in discussing the use of opioids, trace the temporal evolution of their interest, and extensively characterize patterns of the nonmedical consumption of opioids, with a focus on routes of administration and drug tampering.MethodsWe used a semiautomatic information retrieval algorithm to identify subreddits discussing nonmedical opioid consumption and developed a methodology based on word embedding to find alternative colloquial and nonmedical terms referring to opioid substances, routes of administration, and drug-tampering methods. We modeled the preferences of adoption of substances and routes of administration, estimating their prevalence and temporal unfolding. Ultimately, through the evaluation of odds ratios based on co-mentions, we measured the strength of association between opioid substances, routes of administration, and drug tampering.ResultsWe identified 32 subreddits discussing nonmedical opioid usage from 2014 to 2018 and observed the evolution of interest among over 86,000 Reddit users potentially involved in firsthand opioid usage. We learned the language model of opioid consumption and provided alternative vocabularies for opioid substances, routes of administration, and drug tampering. A data-driven taxonomy of nonmedical routes of administration was proposed. We modeled the temporal evolution of interest in opioid consumption by ranking the popularity of the adoption of opioid substances and routes of administration, observing relevant trends, such as the surge in synthetic opioids like fentanyl and an increasing interest in rectal administration. In addition, we measured the strength of association between drug tampering, routes of administration, and substance consumption, finding evidence of understudied abusive behaviors, like chewing fentanyl patches and dissolving buprenorphine sublingually.ConclusionsThis work investigated some important consumption-related aspects of the opioid epidemic using Reddit data. We believe that our approach may provide a novel perspective for a more comprehensive understanding of nonmedical abuse of opioids substances and inform the prevention, treatment, and control of the public health effects.