bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tuning the physio-chemical properties of ZnO nanoparticles through annealing process and their photocatalytic activity for dye degradation
Authors: Srid C , Suguna A. , Prabhu S. , Geerthana M. , Silambarasan A. , Ramesh R. , Sri C. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Hexagonal phase zinc oxide nanostructures were synthesized via hydrothermal method and annealed at different temperatures viz., 200, 400, 600, 800 and 1000°C. The prepared nanostructures were characterized by XRD, FTIR, FESEM, HR-TEM and UV-DRS techniques. The annealing seems to have a profound effect on the crystallinity, morphology and properties of nanostructures. The lattice strain (ε) is calculated from Williamson-Hall (W-H) plot; for nanostructure with small crystallite size the strain is caused by compressive force (intercept is negative) whereas for the large crystallite size tensile force (intercept is positive) determines the lattice strain. The photocatalytic performances were studied by analyzing the degradation of methylene blue (MB) in an aqueous solution. ZnO annealed at 1000°C exhibited better photocatalytic activity due to enhanced crystallinity, comparatively lower bandgap and high oxygen vacancy. Thus, ZnO nanostructures prepared here provide a potential solution to general wastewater treatment and drinking water purification.
New Criteria for Extrauterine Growth Restriction in Very Low-birth-weight Preterm Children and Neuropsychological Development at the Beginning of Primary School.
Authors: Solís Gonzalo , Fernández-Baizán Cristina , Álcantara Leticia , González-García Lara , García-López Enrique , Arias Jorge Luis , Méndez Marta 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Controversy between short-term neonatal growth of very low birth-weight preterm (VLBW) and neurodevelopment may be affected by new criteria of intra- and extrauterine growth restriction (IUGR and EUGR). Objective: To determine if IUGR and IUGR classic and new criteria are related to the neuropsychological development in VLBW. Patients and methods: 87 VLBW were studied at 5–7 years. Neuropsychological assessment included RIST test and NEPSY-II tests. Results of these tests were related to IUGR and EUGR classification using Fenton and INTERGROWTH-21 (IGW-21) graphs and standards. Results: Weight IUGR by Fenton and IGW-21 was 37.9 and 39.1% (Kappa 0.879). Classic (static) EUGR was 89.7% and 75.9%, respectively (Kappa 0.532). “True” EUGR was 52.9% and 36.8% (Kappa 0.683). Result of the RIST index was correlated with Fenton´s z-score weight (0.034), length (< 0.001) and head circumference (HC) (< 0.001) at birth; with IGW-21´s length (0.002) at birth; with Fenton´s weight (0.004) and length (0.003) at neonatal discharge; and with IGW-21´s weight (0.004) and length (0.003) at neonatal discharge. We found statistically significant differences in IQ when comparing cases with and without IUGR of weight, length and HC by Fenton; and length and HC by IGW-21; also we found differences in static EURG for length and HC for Fenton and IGW-21. In NEPSY-II subtasks we found some relationship in inhibitory control and visuospatial abilities. Conclusion: IUGR and EUGR classic and new concepts show different classification percentages of VLBW. This should be considered when assessing relationships with risk of alterations in neuropsychological tests at school initiation, due to the different results found depending on the classification criteria chosen.
Capital Inflows, Financial Development and Growth in Ecowas Countries: A New Empirical Insight
Authors: Orji Anthony , Ogbuabor Jonathan E. , Okolomike Chiamaka F. , Anthony-Orji Onyinye I. 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
This paper empirically investigated the impact of foreign capital inflows and financial development on economic growth in ECOWAS countries. The study made use of quarterly data series from 2000 to 2017 for the analysis. Adopting the panel fixed-effect regression, the empirical results showed that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), net domestic credit (CRE), Gross Capital Formation (GCF), and Foreign Aid (AID) increase economic growth in ECOWAS region while labour force (LF) and Trade Openness (OPEN) revealed otherwise. The study therefore recommended that concerned policy makers in the ECOWAS region should pursue financial deepening and strengthen policies that will enhance the operations of the financial system. Also member countries should create a conducive socio-political and economic environment for foreign investors to invest in the economies. This can be done by reducing the corruption prevalent in the system, ethnic unrest, introduction of tax holidays, stability of policies introduced by the government, among others. In this era of Covid-19 many have lost their jobs and the economy of ECOWAS needs to be revitalized by following these economic prescriptions, among others.JEL Classification: F21; F36; F38; F43; G15; O16
In-Vitro Acclimatization of Curcuma Zedoaria Under Iso-Osmotic Treatments, Ex-Vitro Adaptation and Agronomic Traits in Greenhouse Conditions
Authors: Tisarum Rujira , Bayaraa Unenzaya , Sotesaritkul Thanyaporn , Hleepongpanich Thipmanee , Samphumphuang Thapanee , Cha-um Suriyan 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Low survival rate, poor adaptation to ex-vitro environments, and time required for hardening the plants to cope with fluctuated environments of field trial are identified as major barriers in this technology. In present study, iso-osmotic adjustment in the culture medium using sucrose and/or mannitol was applied to the in-vitro cloning of Curcuma zedoaria (white turmeric) plants, which were transferred to ex-vitro conditions and subsequently cultivated in the greenhouse conditions prior to harvest after 9 months. During both in-vitro and ex-vitro development of plant, growth and physiological traits under 3% sucrose (Suc) + 2.5% mannitol (Man) were lower than those in control (3% Suc; conventional tissue culture). Interestingly, pseudostem height and root length in acclimatized plantlets under 3% Suc + 2.5% Man were sharply dropped by 60.13% and 92.37% over control, respectively, resulting in a decrease in the ex-vitro adaptation by 56.27% and 33.33% over the control. A positive relationship between reduction of net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and sucrose concentration in the leaf tissues was evidently observed. Remarkably, the morphological and physiological traits of aboveground and underground parameters of acclimatized plantlets under 3% Suc + 2.5% Man were maximized over control, leading to high yield of curcuminoids (229.4 mg plant− 1) in the dry rhizome (31 g plant− 1) when cultivated under greenhouse microenvironments for 9 months. Based on this investigation, we propose that plantlets of C. zedoaria micropropagated using 3% Suc + 2.5% Man can readily acclimatize under ex-vitro conditions and subsequently develop as healthy plants with compact and uniform size.
Clinical Verification of Body Mass Index and Tumor Immune Response in Patients With Breast Cancer Receiving Preoperative Chemotherapy
Authors: Takada Koji , Kashiwagi Shinichiro , Asano Yuka , Goto Wataru , Kouhashi Rika , Yabumoto Akimichi , Ishihara Sae , Morisaki Tamami , Shibutani Masatsune , Tanaka Hiroaki , Hirakawa Kosei , Ohira Masaichi 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
PurposeThe body mass index (BMI) is commonly used as a simple indicator of obesity; patients with early-stage breast cancer who are obese (OB) per BMI measurements have been shown to have high postoperative recurrence and low survival rates. On the other hand, it has been shown that lymphocytes present in the vicinity of malignant growths that are involved in the tumors’ immune responses influence the efficacy chemotherapy. Therefore, we hypothesized that OB patients with breast cancer have a lower density of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), which may influence the therapeutic effect of preoperative chemotherapy (POC). In this study, we measured pretreatment BMI and TILs in patients with breast cancer who underwent POC, examined the correlations between these two factors, and retrospectively analyzed their therapeutic outcomes and prognoses.MethodsThe participants in this study were 421 patients with breast cancer who underwent surgical treatment after POC between February 2007 and January 2019. The patient’s height and weight were measured before POC to calculate the BMI (weight [kg] divided by the square of the height [m2]). According to the World Health Organization categorization, patients who weighed under 18.5 kg/m2 were classified as underweight (UW), those ≥18.5 kg/m2 and >25 kg/m2 were considered normal weight (NW), those ≥25 kg/m2 and <30 kg/m2 were overweight (OW), and those ≥30 kg/m2 were OB. The TILs were those lymphocytes that infiltrated the tumor stroma according to the definition of the International TILs Working Group 2014.ResultsThe median BMI was 21.9 kg/m2 (range, 14.3–38.5 kg/m2); most patients (244; 64.5%) were NW. Among all 378 patients with breast cancer, the TIL density was significantly lower in OB than in NW and OW patients (vs. NW: p=0.001; vs. OW: p=0.003). Furthermore, when examining patients with each breast cancer type individually, the OS of those with TNBC who had low BMIs was significantly poorer than that of their high-BMI counterparts (log rank p=0.031).Conclusions﻿Our data did not support the hypothesis that obesity affects the tumor immune microenvironment; however, we showed that being UW does affect the tumor immune microenvironment.
Security Assessment Using SPA-VFS and Obstacle Factors Diagnosis of Water-Energy-Food Nexus Based on A PSR Framework
Authors: Ji Juan , Chen Junfei , Ding Tonghui 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In the context of population growth and increasingly scarce resources, the sustainability of water-energy-food nexus (WEFN) has been considered as a major global challenge. This study presented the evaluation index system of WEFN security based on the pressure-state-response (PSR) model. The set pair analysis and variable fuzzy sets (SPA-VFS) were supplied to evaluate WEFN security, which analyzed the situation and obstacles of WEFN security in Northwest China from 2008 to 2017. The results showed that, (1) In the WEFN, the pressure-subsystem in Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia was in a critical safe level; in the state-subsystem, the security level of Shaanxi was the best and the response-subsystem in Inner Mongolia and Gansu is in an unsafe level; (2) Over the years, the safety level of WEFN in the five provinces of Northwest China had obvious spatio-temporal characteristics, which was always between critical safety and unsafety, but the overall trend was positive. (3) The results of obstacle degree of three subsystems were compared as follows: pressure-subsystem state-subsystem response-subsystem. And, their obstacle factors were almost all related to water. The key to improving WEFN security in Northwest China in the future is to deal with the serious mismatch between water resources and energy resources.
Metal-Alkali Catalytic Valorization of Lignocellulose Towards Aromatics and Small Molecular Alcohols and Acids in a Holistic Approach
Authors: Lv Wei , Zhu Yuting , Mai Weiqi , Zhu Changhui , Pi Qifeng , Wang Chenguang , Xu Ying , Zhang Qi , Ma Longlong 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
In this work, we developed an approach of one-pot completely catalytic conversion of woody biomass into two value product streams: lignin-derived aromatics (68.54% monomer and 29.65% oligomer yields of lignin) and (semi-)cellulose-derived small molecular alcohols (about 59.60% of biomass mass). These could be afforded by conducting lignocellulose depolymerization over metal-alkaline catalysts in a mixture n-butanol/H2O solvent system at 250 °C and 30 bar H2. In the valorization process, the homogenous mixture of n-butanol-H2O solvents extract and depolymerize both lignin and hemicellulose, while the catalysts and H2 are essential to cleave the inter-/intramolecular linkages of lignocellulose into target products. After the reaction, phase separation of n-butanol and H2O takes place when systematic temperature at room temperature, providing a mild and effective strategy to isolate lignin-derived aromatics (n-butanol phase) from small molecular alcohols/acids (aqueous phase). Ru/C and alkali catalysts are collected by filtration from n-butanol phase and H2O phase, respectively. Meanwhile, the effect of metal-alkali coupled catalysts enables facilitating the cleavage of β-O-4 linkage of lignin and increasing the attainability of (semi-)cellulose-derived oligomers and the small molecular alcohols. This catalytic system provides a versatile valorization approach for biomass catalytic to bio-based chemicals.
Syntheses of MnW12/TiO2 Microflowers and Nanorods for Photocatalytic H2 Evolution
Authors: Guo Ningning , Liu Shixian , Zhang Niuniu , Wu Xia , Wang Guan , Zhao Yuan 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
MnW12/TiO2 microflower has been successfully synthesized by the one-pot method and the microflower could be converted to nanorods by thermal treatment. The hydrogen evolution efficiency of MnW12/TiO2 nanorods is higher than that of MnW12/TiO2 microflowers by means of the photocatalysis test. These results suggest that the photocatalytic property of MnW12/TiO2 could be enhanced by controlling morphology. In addition, massive control experiments have been conducted to explore the effect factors of morphologies. Therefore, the successful preparations in this work not only open up new directions for the structural diversity of isopolyoxometallate based nano/micro materials, but also provide us with an irradiative way to increase the photocatalytic performance of POM/TiO2 nano/micro composite.
Complete plastid genome of Angelica, Ostericum and related species (Apiaceae): genomic evolution and phylogenetic implications
Authors: Jiang Qiu-Ping , Price Megan , Guo Xian-Lin , Gou Wei , Zhou Song-Dong , He Xing-Jin 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background

Subtribe Angelicinae is a large and taxonomically complex group of Apiaceae, encompassing Angelica, Archangelica, Coelopleurum, Conioselinum, Czernaevia, Glehnia, Levisticum and Ostericum that are distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, and whether this taxa is natural is debatable, especially between Angelica and Ostericum. To determine genommic evolution and phylogenetic relationships between Angelica, Ostericum, and related species, we newly assembled the complete plastid genome sequences of eight subtribe Angelicinae species and Melanosciadium pimpinelloideum using next-generation sequencing technology.
Results

The nine plastid genomes we sequenced were conserved, and their size ranged from 146765 bp to 164329 bp, showing the typical quadripartite circular structure with an overall GC content of 37.5–37.8%. IR boundary analyses showed that the genes in the LSC region transfer into the IR regions and the SSC region was relatively stable. Codon usage patterns were similar among these species and we identified 66–86 SSRs, with the most abundant SSR being mononucleotide. The Pi analyses showed that petA-psbJ(0.02778), atpI-atpH(0.17333) and petA-psbJ(0.04726) intergenic regions had the highest Pi values in Angelica, Ostericum, and ten species, respectively.
Conclusions

Ostericum exhibited significant differences in size of genomes, content of genes and tRNAs, GC content, some type of SSRs, and IR boundaries to Angelica, and phylogenetic analyses found the relatedness between Angelica and Ostericum is more distant in protein-coding genes of the plastid genomes trees and nrITS trees.
A Survey of Medical Students’ Attitudes Concerning Career Decisions
Authors: Sugiyama Kayo , Watanuki Hirotaka , Futamura Yasuhiro , Okada Masaho , Nishimura Minori , Makino Satoshi , Matsuyama Katsuhiko 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background
There is currently a chronic shortage of surgeons, particularly cardiac surgeons, in Japan and worldwide. Additionally, the number of female medical students has been increasing worldwide; half of our university’s medical students are females. We assessed the attitudes of medical students regarding preferred lifestyles and specialties, aiming to identify strategies for increasing the number of surgeons in Japan.
Methods
We conducted a questionnaire survey among second- and fifth-year medical students at Aichi Medical University, to assess their career priorities and ideal lifestyles when choosing specialties. In total, 71 second-year (male:female, 36:35) and 55 fifth-year (male:female, 27:28) students were surveyed. Differences were compared between school year and sex.
Results
Few students considered becoming general surgeons (19%) or cardiac surgeons (14%). Most students were more interested in how interesting (92%) and rewarding a particular field (88%) would be, rather than in dedication to work (7%) or career advancement (6%), regardless of school year or sex. Females were particularly concerned about a heavy workload (79% vs 68%) and were less likely to prefer surgery (9% vs 27%) compared with males. The importance of acquiring useful skills (77% vs 95%) and wanting to train in the neighboring Tokai area tended to increase (21% vs 60%) with increasing grade.
Conclusions
Most students had decided their ideal career path in the lower grades and desired controlled lifestyle. To increase the number of surgeons, it is necessary to improve surgeons’ lifestyles, reduce their workloads, develop medical students’ interest in surgery, and ensure development of useful skills.
Medical School Performance as A Predictor of Scores in the National Medical Specialization Exam in Turkey
Authors: Murt Ahmet , Hope David , Ozturk Recep , Cameron Helen 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Background

Medical educators and assessors like to include predictive validity in their validity arguments but relevant evidence may be difficult to find. External standardized examinations may have a role in validating both the educational process of medical schools and their assessment results and outcomes. A strong correlation between medical school and external exam performances may also lend evidence of validity to the external examination. This work from one of Turkey’s top medical schools explored the correlations between students’ medical school performances and scores from the Specialization in Medicine Exam (TUS). The TUS is a post-graduate national ranking examination.
Methods

A total of 246 students from two different programs of a medical school, which have identical curricula but different admission scores were studied retrospectively. Students’ year based Grade Point Averages (GPAs) and end-of-school (graduating) GPAs were calculated using a weighted mean method. Bivariate correlations were calculated between year specific GPAs, graduating GPAs and TUS scores.
Results

Students’ inter-year GPAs showed strong significant correlations (“r” ranging from 0.59 to 0.86, p < 0.001). Their graduating GPA also had a strong significant correlation with TUS scores (r = 0.65, p < 0.001). Linear regression models showed the significant relation between medical school performance and post-graduation national exam performance.
Conclusion

Student success has a high degree of consistency throughout the medical school and students’ performance across all domains of assessment in the undergraduate program might be a good predictor of cognitive skills in an external national examination in the early postgraduate phase.
Neurosensory Rehabilitation and Olfactory Network Recovery in COVID-19-related Olfactory Dysfunction
Authors: Chung Tom Wai-Hin , Zhang Hui , Wong Fergus Kai-Chuen , Srid Siddharth , Chan Kwok-Hung , Cheng Vincent Chi-Chung , Yuen Kwok-Yung , Hung Ivan Fan-Ngai , Mak Henry Ka-Fung 
Published: March 2021

Abstract

BackgroundNon-conductive olfactory dysfunction (OD) is an important extra-pulmonary manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Prolonged COVID-19-related OD is a serious neurosensory disability. Treatment for the restoration of smell is urgently needed.Case presentationTwo patients presenting with prolonged COVID-19-related OD underwent structural and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) brain scans. Two healthy controls were recruited for radiological comparison. One patient received olfactory treatment (OT) by the combination of oral vitamin A and smell training via the novel electronic portable aromatic rehabilitation (EPAR) diffusers. After four-weeks of OT, clinical recuperation of smell was correlated with interval increase of bilateral OB volumes [right: 22.5mm3 to 49.5mm3 (120%), left: 37.5mm3 to 42mm3 (12%)] and the enhancement of mean olfactory functional connectivity [0.09 to 0.15 (66.6%)]. ConclusionsOlfactory network functional defects and OB volume loss were identified in patients presenting with prolonged COVID-19-related OD. Preliminary evidence demonstrated that the combination of oral vitamin A and smell training may induce neurogenesis at the olfactory apparatus and achieve olfactory neurosensory rehabilitation. This observation should be validated in large scale randomized–controlled trials.
Efficient strategy evaluation to control the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Gonzalez Rafael , Pablo Moya , Bringa Eduardo , Bacigalupe Gonzalo , Ramirez-Santana Muriel , Kiwi Miguel 
Published: March 2021

Abstract
Many non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) have been implemented in several countries to prevent and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of the emergence of vaccines that mitigate illness and death, no effective measures exist to control the contagion. Testing, tracing, and isolation (TTI) in conjunction with disciplined social distancing were expected to achieve negligible-contagion levels and avoid, for example, superspreading events 1. However, the logic sustaining these strategieshas proven insufficient and a commitment to implementing them leads to controversial ethical challenges. This paper focuses on the effectiveness of contagion control policies that are independent of the ethical challenges that the chosen strategies pose, and of the complex realities of different countries, that are applicable both country-wide and at the local level. Even more relevant is that our performance measure indicators are given by variables that provide an early warning as to when the epidemic might expand, despite some temporal case decrements. We show that if case reduction is not sustained for more than 7-14 days, the risk growth is considerable, warranting immediate attention and action. To draw these conclusions, our research does not only follow the contagion change but its velocity, and applies these indicators to a sample of prototypical countries, finding strong evidence for our conclusions. The latter are independent of different applied NPI and country differences, suggesting that they can be used as "universal" indicators for epidemic control policies. Our main conclusion is that if the spread reduction is lost during one, or at most two weeks, immediate measures have to be implemented to avoid undesirable scenarios.