bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Occurrences of Polar Pesticide Contamination in Niger River Valley and Its Tributary the Mekrou River, Using POCIS Passive Samplers and Survey of Agricultural Practices (Niger Republic)
Authors: ILLATOU Oumar El Farouk MAMAN , GONZALES Catherine , VINCHES Marc 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
The increase in food needs due to high population growth in Niger has led to the intensification of urban agriculture and increased use of pesticides. The objective of this study is to assess the polar pesticide contamination of the Niger River and its tributary, the Mekrou River, in Niger, using both grab sampling and POCIS (Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Samplers) and evaluate their ecological risks in the waters. Two water sampling campaigns were carried out during the rainy and dry seasons. The samples were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) and allowed the detection of compounds with concentrations above the WHO guide values and the EU directive: diuron with 3281 ng/L (EU quality guideline: 200 ng/L), atrazine with 1476 ng/L (EU quality guideline: 600 ng/L) and acetochlor with 255 ng/L (EU quality guideline: 100 ng/L). Diuron and Atrazine show a high ecological risk for aquatique environment. The main source of this water contamination is the intensive use of pesticides in urban agriculture near the city of Niamey and in an intensive cotton farming in the Benin. The results of surveys showed the influence of poor pesticide application practices and seventy percent (70%) of the pesticides used are not approved by the Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) and some are prohibited in Niger. These contaminations may raise concerns about the health of farmers along the Niger River and the Mekrou River.
Reconfigurable Single-Material Peltier Effect Using Magnetic-Phase Junctions
Authors: Nakagawa Kurea , Yokouchi Tomoyuki , Shiomi Yuki 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Peltier effects, which produce a heat flux at the junction of two different materials, have been an important technology for heating and cooling by electrical means. Whereas Peltier devices have advantages such as cleanliness, silence, compactness, flexibility, reliability, and efficiency, relatively complicated modular structures are unavoidable, leading to a higher cost than that of commonly used refrigeration technology. Here, we provide a concept of a Peltier device composed of a single magnetic material exhibiting a first-order magnetic transition. Our concept is based on a controllable junction structure consisting of two magnetic phases with opposite Peltier coefficients instead of a semiconductor junction. Using Mn1.96Cr0.04Sb samples with the first-order magnetic transition between ferrimagnetic (FI) and antiferromagnetic (AF) states, we successfully made a stable junction structure of AF/FI/AF by a pulse heating method and achieved a maximum Peltier coefficient of 0.58 mV. Our device concept was further verified by a numerical simulation based on a finite element method. The single-material Peltier effect reported here avoids a complex device design involving material junctions and is importantly reconfigurable.
Determinants of Maternal Healthcare Utilisation Among Pregnant Women in Southern Ethiopia: A Multi-level Analysis
Authors: Gurara MEKDES , Draulans Veerle , Geertruyden Jean-Pierre Van , Jacquemyn Yves 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: In low- and middle-income countries, considerable proportions of women and newborns are dying from easily preventable pregnancy and childbirth-related causes. The utilisation of maternal health care (MHC) is a proven intervention that significantly reduces maternal and newborn morbidity and mortality. Despite efforts to make MHC available in rural Ethiopia, utilisation of these services remains low. Therefore, this study aimed to assess MHC services’ status and determinants in rural Ethiopia.Methods: The study used a community-based, cross-sectional design. A pretested, semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. A multilevel, mixed-effects, logistic regression model was used to identify individual and communal factors level factors associated with utilisation of antenatal care (ANC), skilled birth attendance (SBA) and postnatal care (PNC). Adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated at a p-value < 0.05, indicating statistical significance.Results: A total of 727 pregnant women from rural areas took part, with a response rate of 99.3%. About 63.4% of the women visited ANC clinics at least once during their last pregnancy while only 46.5% had given birth with SBA, and 32.8% had received PNC. The study revealed that women’s employment, awareness of danger signs and pregnancy planning were associated with increased MHC service utilisation from individual-level factors. The odds of using SBA (AOR=3.3; 95% CI: 1.8–5.9) and PNC (AOR=2.8; 95% CI: 1.2–6.7) were associated with ANC use. Similarly, PNC utilisation was associated with SBA (AOR=3.3; 95% CI: 1.8–6.1). At the cluster level, being a lowlands resident was found to be associated with ANC (AOR = 4.1; 95% CI: 1.1–14). Similarly, a proximity of less than two hours of travel time from the nearest health facility was found to be associated with SBA use (AOR=2.9; 95% CI: 1.4–5.8) and ANC use (AOR=1.9; 95% CI: 1.1–3.7).Conclusions: Individual and community-level factors play a key role in determining utilization of MHC services. Women’s empowerment, promotion of contraceptive methods to avoid unintended pregnancy and improved access to health care services, particularly in highlands areas, are recommended.
Evolutionary dynamics driving continental radiations of Fagaceae forests across the Northern Hemisphere
Authors: Zhou Biao-Feng , Yuan Shuai , Crowl Andrew , Liang Yi-Ye , Shi Yong , Chen Xue-Yan , An Qing-Qing , Kang Ming , Manos Paul , Wang Baosheng 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Northern Hemisphere forests changed drastically in the early Eocene with the diversification of the oak family (Fagaceae). Cooling climates over the next 20 million years fostered the spread of temperate biomes that became increasingly dominated by oaks and their chestnut relatives. Here we investigate the timing and pattern of major macroevolutionary events and ancient genome-wide signatures of hybridization across Fagaceae. An unparalleled transformation of forest dynamics began with the rapid diversification of major lineages within 15 million years following the K-Pg extinction. Innovations related to seed and pollen dispersal are implicated in triggering waves of continental radiations, while fungal symbioses fortified a competitive edge underground. We detected introgression at multiple time scales, including ancient events predating the origination of genus-level diversity. As oak lineages moved into newly available temperate habitats in the early Miocene, secondary contact between previously isolated species occurred. This resulted in adaptive introgression, further amplifying global proliferation.
Brain Network Study of Attentional Cognitive Impairment in Children with Bronchial Asthma
Authors: Jiang Kaihua , Zhu Lin , Ge Yawen , Shangguan Qiuling , Chen Yi , He Ye , Wu Jianfeng , Qin Congyin , Xiong Jianxin , Zhao Jing 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Bronchial asthma is a common clinical disease in pediatrics. It affects brain function and causes cognitive impairment due to long-term hypoxia in the brain. Studies have shown attention deficits in asthma children, but lack the basis for brain studies. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) based on functional connectivity analysis was used in this study, and 31 asthma children and typically developing children (TDC) were compared in degree centricity (DC), voxel-mirrored homotopic connectivity (VMHC) and continuous performance test (CPT). The study found that the correct number of CPT in the asthma group was significantly lower than the TDC group. And the reaction time in the asthma group was significantly longer than the TDC group. Compared with TDC group, asthma children exhibited lower DC value in the right superior frontal gyrus (after FDR correction, P<0.05). Meanwhile, asthma children exhibited lower VMHC value in bilateral superior frontal gyrus and bilateral superior parietal lobule (after FDR correction, P<0.05). The study found that the impaired functions of superior frontal gyrus and superior parietal lobule were related to the attention deficit of asthma children which were the key nodes of the default network and the dorsal attention network. This study will provide objective indicators for the evaluation of attention in asthma children and provide scientific basis for early clinical intervention.
Pathogenicity and Effects on Lymphoid Organs of Recent Moroccan Very Virulent Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in Broilers and SPF Chickens
Authors: TOUZANI Charifa DRISSI , MAAROUFI Imane , FELLAHI Siham , BERBRI Ikhlass EL , SIKHT Fatima-zohra , FIHRI Ouafaa FASSI , TLIGUI Noursaid , HOUADFI Mohammed EL 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
The aim of the current study is to evaluate the pathogenicity of recent infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) (1/chicken/Morocco/IB19/2017) genetically characterized as vvIBDV belonging to genogroup 3.Two chicken lines, broiler and speciﬁc-pathogen-free (SPF) chickens, were inoculated by occulonasal route with 0.2 ml of the 105EID50 /ml of viral solution of IB19 vvIBDV strain at 29 days of age. The experimental monitoring was carried out during 10 days post challenge (dpc). The clinical signs stared on day 2 pc with maximum severity observed between 3 and 6 dpc. The total mortality rate reached 10% in broilers (group G1) and 93% in SPF (G3). The macroscopic lesions in broilers G1 was a marked hypertrophy of the bursa of Fabricius (BF) with slight haemorrhage observed between 2 to 4 dpc, followed by very pronounced atrophy observed on the 5 dpc. The post-mortem examinations of dead SPF birds (G3) revealed on 3 dpc very haemorrhagic BF with black cherry appearance in 80 % of dead birds. The mean Bursa/Body Index (BBI) of challenged broilers (G1) showed a decrease of 46% on day 9 pc compared to broilers control group (G2) indicating bursal atrophy. The microscopic lesions found in the BF on 3 dpc consisted mainly of inflammation with severe lymphoid depletion of the follicles. The evaluation of recent vvIBDV outbreak is very important to understand its epidemiology and will contribute to the efficient prevention and control of IBD.
Research on The Bonding Properties of Vitrified Bonds With Porous Diamonds and The Grinding Performance of Porous Diamond Abrasive Tools
Authors: LI Jianwei , FANG Wenjun , WAN Long , LIU Xiaopan , HU Weida , CAO Dan , HAN Kai , LI Yingying , YAN Yonggao 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Ordinary diamond presents the disadvantages of poor self-sharpening and concentrated grinding stress when it is used as an abrasive. Moreover, this kind of diamond cannot be well wetted by the vitrified bond, resulting in a lower holding force of the binder to the abrasives (i.e., the diamond is easy to detach from the binder matrix during grinding). These comprehensive factors not only reduce the surface quality of the processed workpiece, but also hinder the processing efficiency. In order to solve these problems, a new type of porous diamond with high self-sharpening properties was prepared using a thermochemical corrosion method in this study. Our results showed a great improvement in pore volume and specific surface area of the porous diamond compared with ordinary diamond abrasive particles, and the holding force and wettability of vitrified bond to the porous diamond abrasive particles were also improved. Compared with ordinary diamond abrasive tools, porous diamond abrasive tools showed a 29.6% increase in grinding efficiency, a 15.5% decreased in grinding ratio, a 27.5% reduction in workpiece surface roughness, and the scratches on the silicon wafer surface were reduced and refined.
Smoke Removal and Image Enhancement of Laparoscopic Images by An Artificial Multi-Exposure Image Fusion Method
Authors: Azam Muhammad Adeel , Khan Khan Bahadar , Rehman Eid , Khan Sana Ullah 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
In laparoscopic surgery, image quality is often degraded by surgical smoke or by side effects of the illumination system, such as reflections, specularities, and non-uniform illumination. The degraded images complicate the work of the surgeons and may lead to errors in image-guided surgery. Existing enhancement algorithms mainly focus on enhancing global image contrast, overlooking local contrast. Here, we propose a new Patch Adaptive Structure Decomposition utilizing the Multi-Exposure Fusion (PASD-MEF) technique to enhance the local contrast of laparoscopic images for better visualization. The set of under-exposure level images are obtained from a single input blurred image by using gamma correction. Spatial linear saturation is applied to enhance image contrast and to adjust the image saturation. The Multi-Exposure Fusion (MEF) is used on a series of multi-exposure images to obtain a single clear and smoke-free fused image. MEF is applied by using adaptive structure decomposition on all image patches. Image entropy based on the texture energy is used to calculate image energy strength. The texture entropy energy determined the patch size that is useful in the decomposition of image structure. The proposed method effectively eliminate smoke and enhance the degraded laparoscopic images. The qualitative results showed that the visual quality of the resultant images is improved and smoke-free. Furthermore, the quantitative scores computed of the metrics: FADE, Blur, JNBM, and Edge Intensity are significantly improved as compared to other existing methods.
The Effect of SPIO Nanoparticles Size on Transduction of PEGylated Lentiviral Vector
Authors: Omid Hamed , Paryab Amirhosein , Nakhli Yasamin , Moradzadeh Kobra , Sajadi Nasim , Hosseini Hamid Reza Madaah , Ahmadbeigi Naser 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Gene editing has revealed many promising opportunities for the treatment of severe diseases including cancers and autoimmunes. There are two main routes for gene delivery: viral and non-viral. Recent research shows viral methods are very close to clinical trials. Nevertheless, there are a couple of obstacles to remove such as difficulty in virus concentration, low efficiency of transduction, and being time-consuming. In this work, by employing magnetic nanoparticles (NP) we tried to solve these problems. Conjugating these nanoparticles to viruses by polyethylene glycol (PEG) can increase sedimentation of viruses due to magnetic and gravity forces even without ultracentrifuge. Moreover, this magnetic force can guide viruses toward cells and tremendously facilitate the transduction process. Nanoparticle size has significant effects and should be considered for this application. As shown, average size nanoparticles revealed the best performance especially in combination with salting-out precipitation and increased transduction efficiency more than 20-fold.
A Novel Ferroptosis-Related Gene Signature For Clinically Predicting Recurrence After Hepatectomy of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Patients.
Authors: Wang Huaxiang , Xu Fengfeng , Ke Ruisheng , Hu Huanzhang , Fang Jian , Jiang Yi 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: The high HCC recurrence rate was the main reason for the poor prognosis after hepatectomy. In this present study, we identified a novel ferroptosis-related gene signature for clinically predicting HCC recurrence after hepatectomy.Methods: Ferroptosis-related genes were obtained from the FerrDb database. We identified the ferroptosis-related differentially expressed genes (FDEGs) between HCC tissues and normal tissues from the GSE14520 dataset. These FDEGs were used to perform a univariate and multivariate regression analysis to construct HCC recurrence models. An independent HCC cohort from TCGA database was used to validate the reliability of the multi-gene HCC recurrence model. The predictive nomogram and DCA was built to estimate the recurrence predicting capacity of the multi-gene signature. GO, KEGG and GSEA were used to further investigate the potential mechanism of these FDEGs.Results: A total of 39 FDEGs were identified. A seven-gene signature (MAPK9, SLC1A4, PCK2, ACSL3, STMN1, CDO1, and CXCL2) was constructed for HCC recurrence prediction. Patients in high-risk groups exhibited a significantly poor prognosis compared with low-risk patients in both the training set (GSE14520 cohort) and the validation set (TCGA cohort). Multivariate cox regression analysis demonstrated that the 7-gene signature were independent risk factors for RFS in HCC patients. The nomograms incorporating 7-gene signature and clinical prognostic risk factors were able to effectively predict RFS. KEGG analysis showed that FDEGs were mainly enriched in Ferroptosis, Hepatocellular carcinoma pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and so on. GSEA analysis revealed that the high-risk group was enriched with multiple oncology characteristics and invasive-related pathways.Conclusion: Our study constructed a seven ferroptosis-related gene signature and established a prognostic nomogram for clinically predicting recurrence after hepatectomy and offered novel research directions for personalized treatment in HCC patients.
Strategies of Preserving Genetic Diversity While Maximizing Genetic Response From Implementing Genomic Selection in Pulse Breeding Programs
Authors: Li Yongjun , Kaur Sukhjiwan , Pembleton Luke W. , Valipour-Kahrood Hossein , Rosewarne Garry M. , Daetwyler Hans D. 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Using a stochastic computer simulation, we investigated the benefit of optimization strategies in the context of genomic selection (GS) for pulse breeding programs. We simulated GS for moderately complex to highly complex traits such as disease resistance, grain weight and grain yield in multiple environments with a high level of genotype-by-environment interaction for grain yield. GS led to higher genetic gain per unit of time and higher genetic diversity loss than phenotypic selection by shortening the breeding cycle time. The genetic gain obtained from selecting the segregating parents early in the breeding cycle (at F1 or F2 stages) was substantially higher than selecting at later stages even though prediction accuracy was moderate. Increasing the number of F1 intercross (F1i) families and keeping the total number of progeny of F1i families constant, we observed a decrease in genetic gain and increase in genetic diversity. Whereas increasing the number of progeny per F1i family while keeping a constant number of F1i families increased rate of genetic gain and had higher genetic diversity loss per unit of time. Adding 50 F2 family phenotypes to the training population increased the accuracy of GEBVs and genetic gain per year and decreased the rate of genetic diversity loss. Genetic diversity could be preserved by applying a strategy that restricted both the percentage of alleles fixed and the average relationship of the group of selected parents to preserve long-term genetic improvement in the pulse breeding program.
Site-specific Equivalent Linear Response Analysis and Liquefaction Hazard Evaluation of Hawassa Town, Main Ethiopian Rift
Authors: Ayele Alemayehu , Woldearegay Kifle , Meten Matebie 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Liquefaction is one of the geotechnical earthquake issues when a soil subjected to high strain due to dynamic loading and causes damage of the infrastructure. The main objective of this study is to predict the ground motion parameter and evaluate the potential of soil to liquefaction in Hawassa town. The site was characterized and classified based on the SPT-N values and average shear wave velocity (Vs30). The SPT-N value in Hawassa town ranges from 5-50. Whilst the Vs30 varies from 245-365m/s. The site class was C and D based on the NEHRP (2015) whereas B and C based on the EC8 (2003). The effects of the liquefaction are predicted using equivalent linear response analysis and liquefaction hazard evaluation methods at the five typical sites. Equivalent linear response analysis was used to determine local site effect in terms of PGA (g), SA (g) and maximum strain (%).Whereas the liquefaction hazard evaluations were done by liquefaction susceptibility criteria, factor of safety (FS), liquefaction potential index (LPI), probability of liquefaction (PL) and probability of liquefaction induced ground failure (PG). The predicted ground motion parameter shown: (i) PGA (g) values at surface ranges from 0.16g to 0.27g, (ii) the maximum strain (%) is less than 0.01 and (iii) the SA (g) vary from 0.7g to 1.2g with in the period interval of 0.1se and 1sec. The FS was less than unity for the typical one site and greater than unity for the other typical 4 sites. As a result, the liquefaction will be occurred only at the typical one site than other typical four sites for the given input motion. It is also evident that the typical one site has very high LPI, very likely to the PL and extremely high to PG than the other typical four sites. The findings from the present study will be helpful in retrofitting, analysis, design of structures and solving practical challenges in earthquake engineering.
Evaluation of Different OCT Systems in Quantitative Imaging of Human Schlemm's Canal
Authors: Wu Xuan , Tan Bingyao , Gan Jinyuan , Lam Adeline , Chen Yibing , Liu Xinyu , Chua Jacqueline , Wong Damon , Ang Marcus , Schmetterer Leopold , Yao Xinwen 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
We examined the performance of human Schlemm’s canal (SC) imaging using different OCT devices: CIRRUS 5000 (840nm, spectral-domain (SD)-OCT), PLEX Elite 9000 (1060nm, swept-source (SS)-OCT) and CASIA SS-1000 (1310nm, SS-OCT), and analyzed potential impact factors on visualization and the quantitative assessment of SC morphology. Ten healthy subjects were imaged using three OCT devices by a single experienced operator on the same day. Each eye underwent two cubic scans by each device, one on nasal and the other on temporal quadrant. The B-scan showing the largest SC was manually selected for processing. Four quantitative metrics, including one morphological metric as cross-sectional area (CSA), and three performance metrics as contrast, continuity, and coverage, were derived from the datasets. Repeated-measures ANOVA was used to investigate the difference between these parameters from the three devices (P < 0.05). We found the CSA measured from CIRRUS was significantly larger than PLEX, followed by CASIA. The contrast was highest in CIRRUS, followed by PLEX and CASIA. The coverage was also higher in CIRRUS as compared to PLEX and CASIA. No significant difference was seen in the continuity from the three devices. In summary, we showed the measurements from the three devices were not interchangeable.