bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Can Farm Mechanization Enhance Small Farmers’ Income? A Lesson learnt of Lower Shivalik hills of Indian Himalayan Region
Authors: ROY PINAKI , Hansra BS , Burman R Roy , Bhattacharyya Sangeeta , Parray Roaf A , Roy T N , Mukherjee Anirban 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Indian farming is fraught with small land holdings, and farm mechanization's economic viability has remained a debatable issue at the core of Indian agriculture's technology growth. The authors attempted to determine the socio-agro-economic impact of seed cum fertiliser drill and zero tillage through Difference In Difference(DID) method with ex-ante (before application) and ex-post (after application) approach. Results depicted labour costs were reduced by almost 80% and seed savings were reduced by 20%. The seed cum fertiliser drill and zero tillage adopters saved a sum of Rs. 3764.10 and Rs. 4047.54 from 1 ha of land, respectively. An effort was also made to quantify the additional economic benefit by using the Apparently Unrelated Regression (SUR) model to apply selected forms of machinery to different varieties. Seed cum fertiliser drill and zero tillage results have been found to increase yield by 13.39 quintals and 6.0 quintals per ha respectively and decrease the seed rate by 27.71 kg/ha and 24.20 kg /ha, respectively, for the HD 2967 wheat variety. The growth of the agricultural mechanisation sector is hindered by machine cost, the widespread existence of resource poor farmers, and inaccessibility of agricultural technology. In addition, few suggestions on critical aspects were made on the basis of the application of technology in different states to implement suitable policies for the additional financial advantage of farmers.
Socio-economic inequality in functional disability and impairments with focus on Instrumental Activity of Daily Living: A Study on Older Adults in India
Authors: Patel Ratna , Srivast Shobhit , Kumar Pradeep , CHAUHAN SHEKHAR , Govindu Mani Deep , Simon David Jean 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background
Studies have examined functional disability among older adults by combining Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL). This study adds another dimension to ADL and IADL by combining various impairments such as hearing, vision, walking, chewing, speaking, and memory loss among older adults. This study examines functional disability among older adults in India as measured by ADL, IADL, along with various impairments.
Methods
This study utilized data from Building a Knowledge Base on Population Aging in India (BKPAI), a national-level survey and conducted across seven states of India. The study utilized three outcome variables, namely, ADL, IADL, and Impairments. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were used along with multivariate analysis to fulfill the objectives of the study. The concentration index was calculated for ADL, IADL, and impairments, and further, decomposition analysis was carried out for IADL.
Results
The results observed that nearly 7.5 percent of older adults reported ADL, more than half (56.8%) reported IADL, and nearly three-fourths (72.6%) reported impairments. Overall, ADL, IADL, and impairments were higher among older adults aged 80 + years, older adults with poor self-rated health, and those suffering from chronic diseases. Educational status and wealth explained most of the socio-economic inequality in the prevalence of IADL among older adults.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the government advise older adults to adopt health-promoting approaches, which may be useful. Further, there is a pressing need to deliver quality care to older adults suffering from chronic conditions.
Using Path Analysis to Test Theory of Change: A Quantitative Process Evaluation of the MapSan&nbsp;Trial
Authors: Bick Sarah , Buxton Helen , Chase Rachel P , Ross Ian , Adriano Zaida , Capone Drew , Knee Jackie , Brown Joe , Nalá Rassul , Cumming Oliver , Dreibelbis Robert 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
BackgroundAlthough theory-driven evaluations should have empirical components, few evaluations of public health interventions quantitatively test the causal model made explicit in the theory of change (ToC). In the context of a shared sanitation trial (MapSan) in Maputo, Mozambique, we report findings of a quantitative process evaluation assessing intervention implementation, participant response and impacts on hypothesised intermediary outcomes on the pathway to trial health outcomes. We examine the utility of path analysis in testing intervention theory using process indicators from the intervention’s ToC. MethodsProcess data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of intervention and control compounds of the MapSan trial >24-months post-intervention, sampling adult residents and compound leaders. Indicators of implementation fidelity (dose received, reach) and participant response (participant behaviours, intermediary outcomes) were compared between trial arms. The intervention’s ToC (formalised post-intervention) was converted to an initial structural model with multiple alternative pathways. Path analysis was conducted through linear structural equation modelling (SEM) and generalised SEM (probit model), using a model trimming process and grouped analysis to identify the most parsimonious models that explained variation in outcomes, and incorporating contextual factors of respondents and compounds. ResultsAmong study compounds, the MapSan intervention was implemented with high fidelity, and with a strong participant response in intervention compounds: improvements were made to intermediary outcomes related to sanitation ‘quality’ – latrine cleanliness, maintenance and privacy – but not to handwashing (presence of soap or soap residue). These outcomes varied by type of intervention: single-cabin latrines or multiple-cabin blocks (designed for >20 users). Path analysis suggested that changes in intermediary outcomes were likely driven by direct effects of intervention facilities, with little contribution from hygiene promotion activities nor core ToC elements expected to mediate change: a compound sanitation committee and maintenance fund. A distinct structural model for two compound size subgroups (≤20 members vs. >20 members) explained differences by intervention type, and other contextual factors influenced specific model parameters. ConclusionsWhile process evaluation found that the MapSan intervention achieved sufficient fidelity and participant response, the path analysis approach applied to test the ToC added to understanding of possible ‘mechanisms of change’, and has value in disentangling complex intervention pathways.
Observation of Natural Course Characteristics of Bietti Crystalline Dystrophy by Fundus Fluorescein Angiography
Authors: Zhang Shengjuan , Wang Lifei , Liu Zhiqiang , Sun Huijing , Li Qian , Xing Chen , Xiao Zhe , Peng Xiaoyan 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder that causes progressive vision loss. Here, 12 patients were followed up for 1–5 years with fundus fluorescein angiography (FFA) to clarify BCD disease development and its classification. Methods: FFA images were collected for 12 patients with BCD who visited our clinic twice or more in 5 years. Peripheral venous blood was collected to identify a pathogenic gene related to the clinical phenotype.Results: FFA images identified two BCD types. Type 1 showed retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) atrophy at the macular area, followed by choriocapillaris atrophy, then RPE atrophy appeared at the peripheral retina. Type 2 showed RPE atrophy at the posterior pole and peripheral retina, followed by choriocapillaris atrophy around the macula and along the superior and inferior vascular arcades and optic disc nasal side. Then the posterior and peripheral lesions of type 1 and type 2 were extended to the mid-periphery; at last, all the RPE and choriocapillars atrophied, exposed choroid great vessels, but the macular RPE atrophy of type 2 can existed for a long time. Conclusions: The two different BCD development types provide a better understanding of the phenotype and the progression of the disease for a precise prognosis and prediction of pathogenesis.
Significance of Preoperative Peripheral Blood Neutrophil-lymphocyte Ratio in Predicting Postoperative Survival in Patients with Multiple Myeloma Bone Disease
Authors: Xu Ziyu , Yao Xingchen , Shi Xiangjun , Du Xinru 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Background: By observing the change characteristics of NLR at different stages after operation, to make a preliminary analysis of the effect of operation on the immune status of MM patients and study the prognostic value of peripheral blood NLR in predicting the treatment of multiple myeloma bone disease (MMBD).Method: The clinical data of 82 MMBD patients who underwent operations in our hospital were collected, which to analyze the effect of preoperative peripheral blood NLR on the prognosis of MMBD patients; Peripheral blood lymphocyte percentage was taken as the major observation indicator to analyze the change characteristics of the immune status of MM patients.Results: Data showed that the NLR cut-off values of the NLR≥3 group and NLR≥4 group were significantly correlated with POS. The POS of NLR≥3 patients (14.86±14.28) was significantly shorter than that of NLR＜3 patients (32.68±21.76). The lymphocyte percentage 1 week after operation (19.329±9.083) was significantly lower than that before operation (25.723±11.016). Survival analysis showed that postoperative chemotherapy and preoperative peripheral blood NLR were independent risk factors for POS.Conclusions: NLR was significant for the prediction of the POS of MMBD patients treated with operation, and MMBD patients with high preoperative NLR (NLR≥3) had a poorer prognosis and shorter POS. The immune status of MMBD patients was at a normal low level, and significantly declined after operation.Trial registration: The conducted study contains a retrospective analysis of medical records of our hospital database. Beijing Chao-yang Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee classifies this as a retrospective audit. The ethics approval and consent was given for the conducted retrospective data analysis.
HighAltitudeOmicsDB: An integrated resource for High-Altitude associated genes and proteins, interacting networks and semantic-similarities.
Authors: Khurana Pankaj , Varshney Rajeev 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Millions of people worldwide visit, live, or work in the hypoxic environment encountered at high altitudes and it is important to understand the biomolecular responses to this stress. This would help design mitigation strategies for High Altitude Illnesses (HAIs). Inspite of a number of studies spanned over 100 years, complex mechanisms controlling acclimatization to hypoxia remain largely unknown. Some biomolecules, though, have been proposed as potential diagnostic, therapeutic and predictive markers for HA stress. HighAltitudeOmicsDB is a unique resource that provides a comprehensive, curated, user- friendly and detailed compilation of various genes/proteins which have been experimentally validated to be associated with various HA conditions; their Protein Protein Interactions (PPI) and Gene Ontology (GO) semantic similarities. For each database entry, HighAltitudeOmicsDB stores the level of regulation (up/down-regulation), fold change, control (low landers or high landers), duration and altitude of exposure, tissue of expression, source organism, level of hypoxia, experimental validation, place/country of study, ethnicity, geographical location, link to respective publication etc.Tthe database also collates information on disease and drug association, Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway associations. The web resource is a unique server platform which constructs PPI networks and extracts GO semantic similarities among the interactors. These unique features help to offer mechanistic insights in disease pathology. Hence, HighAltitudeOmicsDB is a unique platform for researchers working in this area to explore, fetch, compare and analyze HA associated gens/proteins, their PPI networks and GO semantic similarities. The database is available at http://www.altitudeomicsdb.in
Identification of evolutionarily stable functional and immunogenic sites across the SARS-CoV-2 proteome and the greater coronavirus family
Authors: Wang Chen , Konecki Daniel M. , Marciano David C. , Govindarajan Harikumar , Williams Amanda M. , Wastuwidyaningtyas Brigitta , Bourquard Thomas , Katsonis Panagiotis , Lichtarge Olivier 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Since the first recognized case of COVID-19, more than 100 million people have been infected worldwide. Global efforts in drug and vaccine development to fight the disease have yielded vaccines and drug candidates to cure COVID-19. However, the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants threatens the continued efficacy of these treatments. In order to address this, we interrogate the evolutionary history of the entire SARS-CoV-2 proteome to identify evolutionarily conserved functional sites that can inform the search for treatments with broader coverage across the coronavirus family. Combining this information with the mutations observed in the current COVID-19 outbreak, we systematically and comprehensively define evolutionarily stable sites that may provide useful drug and vaccine targets and which are less likely to be compromised by the emergence of new virus strains. Several experimentally-validated effective drugs interact with these proposed target sites. In addition, the same evolutionary information can prioritize cross reactive antigens that are useful in directing multi-epitope vaccine strategies to illicit broadly neutralizing immune responses to the betacoronavirus family. Although the results are focused on SARS-CoV-2, these approaches stem from evolutionary principles that are agnostic to the organism or infective agent.
Endodontia regenerativa em dentes permanentes com rizogênese incompleta
Authors: Costa Daniela Pereira , Almeida Leticia Neves , Azevedo Leticia Reis , Alves Jeane de Fatima Correia Silva 
Published: February 2021

O tratamento endodôntico radical em dentes com ápices maduros, a apicificação em dentes com ápices imaturos e a exodontia são modalidades terapêuticas utilizadas nos casos de necrose pulpar. A endodontia regenerativa é uma alternativa para tratamento endodôntico de dentes com necrose pulpar e rizogênese incompleta. O presente estudo tem como objetivo analisar protocolos existentes e revisar as condutas clínicas associadas as terapias regenerativas, por meio de revisão da literatura do tipo descritiva. Foi realizada seleção de artigos científicos a partir das bases de dados Pubmed (National Center for Biotechnology Information) e Scielo (Scientific Eletronic Library Online) no período de 2014 a 2019. O principal benefício da técnica é possibilitar a reconstituição do tecido pulpar. A maioria dos autores empregam técnicas de revascularização pulpar. A utilização de métodos regenerativos foi observado em estudos in vitro e in vivo, utilizando modelos animais. Entretanto, muitos autores usam o termo endodontia regenerativa para se referir a revascularização. A revascularização é um procedimento regenerativo que permite a continuidade de desenvolvimento radicular. As técnicas de regeneração pulpar utilizam o conceito de engenharia tecidual para criar alternativas de restabelecer a vitalidade do elemento dentário. No entanto, muitas pesquisas são necessárias para avaliação e comparação de resultados obtidos, clinicamente, sobre essas novas terapias que envolvem os conceitos de endodontia regenerativa.
Evaluation of the effluent quality parameters of wastewater treatment plant based on uncertainty analysis and post-processing approaches (case study)
Authors: Hejabi Nasim , Saghebian Seyed Mahdi , Aalami Mohammad Taghi , Nourani Vahid 
Published: February 2021

Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are highly complicated and dynamic systems and so their appropriate operation, control, and accurate simulation are essential. The simulation of WWTPs according to the process complexity has become an important issue in growing environmental awareness. In recent decades, artificial intelligence approaches have been used as effective tools in order to investigate environmental engineering issues. In this study, the effluent quality of Tabriz WWTP was assessed using two intelligence models, namely support Vector Machine (SVM) and artificial neural network (ANN). In this regard, several models were developed based on influent variables and tested via SVM and ANN methods. Three time scales, daily, weekly, and monthly, were investigated in the modeling process. On the other hand, since applied methods were sensitive to input variables, the Monte Carlo uncertainty analysis method was used to investigate the best-applied model dependability. It was found that both models had an acceptable degree of uncertainty in modeling the effluent quality of Tabriz WWTP. Next, ensemble approaches were applied to improve the prediction performance of Tabriz WWTP. The obtained results comparison showed that the ensemble methods represented better efficiency than single approaches in predicting the performance of Tabriz WWTP.
Phosphoserine Aminotransferase has Conserved Active Site from Microbes to Higher Eukaryotes with Minor Deviations
Authors: Singh Rohit Kumar , Kumar Devbrat , Gourinath Samudrala 
Published: February 2021

:
Serine is ubiquitously synthesized in all living organisms from the glycolysis intermediate
3-phosphoglycerate (PGA) by phosphoserine biosynthetic pathway, consisting of three different
enzymes, namely: 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PGDH), phosphoserine aminotransferase
(PSAT), and phosphoserine phosphatase (PSP). Any functional defect or mutation in these
enzymes may cause deliberating conditions, such as colon cancer progression and chemoresistance
in humans. Phosphoserine aminotransferase (PSAT) is the second enzyme in this pathway that converts
phosphohydroxypyruvate (PHP) to O-phospho-L-serine (OPLS).

:
Humans encode two isoforms of this enzyme: PSAT1 and PSAT2. PSAT1 exists as a functional
dimer, where each protomer has a large and a small domain; each large domain contains a Lys residue
that covalently binds PLP. The PLP-binding site of human PSAT1 and most of its active site
residues are highly conserved in all known PSAT structures except for Cys-80. Interestingly, Two
PSAT structures from different organisms show halide binding near their active site. While the human
PSAT1 shows a water molecule at this site with different interacting residues, suggesting the
inability of halide binding in the human enzyme. Analysis of the human PSAT1 structure showed a
big patch of positive charge around the active site, in contrast to the bacterial PSATs. Compared to
human PSAT1, the PSAT2 isoform lacks 46 residues at its C-terminal tail. This tail region is present
at the opening of the active site as observed in the other PSAT structures. Further structural
work on human PSAT2 may reveal the functional importance of these 46 residues.
Design and Synthesis of Novel Aminoalkanamides Targeting Neurodegeneration and Symptoms of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Jankowska Agnieszka , Satała Grzegorz , Latacz Gniewomir , Partyka Anna , Lubelska Annamaria , Pociecha Krzysztof , Świerczek Artur , Wilczyńska Natalia , Mordyl Barbara , Bojarski Andrzej J. , Wyska Elżbieta , Chłoń-Rzepa Grażyna 
Published: February 2021

Background:
There is currently no drug that slows the process of neurodegeneration
or alleviates the cognitive and depressive symptoms in patients with Alzheimer’s
disease. Due to the increasing number of Alzheimer’s patients, there is an urgent need to
develop novel drugs with neuroprotective, procognitive, and antidepressant properties.

Objective:
The aim of this study was to design, synthesize, and evaluate novel aminoalkanamides
with serotonin 5-HT1A/5-HT7 receptor affinity and phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitory
activity as a new approach to combat neurodegeneration and symptoms of
Alzheimer’s disease.

Methods:
The newly designed compounds were synthesized using classical methods of
organic chemistry and tested in vitro for their receptor affinity, functional profile, enzyme
inhibition, and ADME properties. The neuroprotective effect against H2O2-induced
increase of reactive oxygen species level was tested in SH-SY5Y cells. The novel object
recognition and forced swimming tests were used to evaluate the procognitive and antidepressant
activity, respectively.

Results:
Synthesized aminoalkanamides were characterized as potent 5-HT1Areceptor antagonists
with additional 5-HT7 receptor antagonistic properties and PDE4B inhibitory activity.
Selected compound 15 showed neuroprotective, procognitive, and antidepressant
properties. In addition, compound 15 revealed suitable ADME properties expressed as
good membrane permeability and high metabolic stability.

Conclusion:
This study revealed a new class of compounds that may be useful in the
search for an effective drug in the alleviation of neurodegeneration and symptoms of
Alzheimer’s disease.
Anti-mycobacterial Activity of 22 Iranian Endemic or Rare Plant Extracts
Against Multi-drug and Extensively Drug-resistant Mycobacterium
tuberculosis
Authors: Sahebkar Amirhossein , Soleimanpour Saman , Dehestani Sina , Davoodi Javid , Emami Seyed Ahmad , Seddighinia Fereshteh Sadat 
Published: February 2021

Background:
Due to side-effects and lost efficacy of common drugs on new resistance strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), investigation on novel drugs and natural compounds from rich source of endemic plants is required. Thus, in the present study, the anti-mycobacterial effect of 22 Iranian endemic or rare plant extracts on multi-drug resistance (MDR) and extensively-drug resistance (XDR) Mtb isolates was evaluated.

Methods:
22 Iranian endemic and rare plant species from 9 families were collected and extracted by methanol. Their inhibitory-effects were then evaluated against Mtb H37Rv strain, seven clinical MDR-TB and two XDR-TB isolates using resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) method. Best of them were then fractionalized by five different polar solvents (Petroleum-Ether, Dichloromethane, Ethyl-Acetate, n-butanol and water). To find anti-mycobacterial fractions, inhibitory effect of isolated fractions were tested on Mtb H37Rv.

Results:
Out of the 22 plants, 14 plant extracts demonstrated anti-mycobacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 4 to 30µg/mL against Mtb H37Rv. Eight plant extracts also exhibited anti-mycobacterial activity against MDR and XDR clinical strains of Mtb by MICs, 15-60μg/ml. Crinitaria grimmii and Linum album were the best anti-mycobacterial plants. Among fractions of Crinitaria grimmii, dichloromethane and n-butanol and for Linum album, dichloromethane and Ethyl-Acetate fractions displayed more anti-mycobacterial effect comparing to crude extract on Mtb.

Conclusion:
The present study confirms the potential role of some plants to treat respiratory diseases as our results have demonstrated that these plants exhibit anti-mycobacterial activity in the acceptable range against Mtb. Thus, these plants could be good sources and alternatives of plant metabolites for anti-TB-drug development.