bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Silencing of an efflux pump coding gene decreases the efflux rate of pyrazinoic acid in Mycobacterium smegmatis
Authors: Quiñones-Garcia Stefany , Gilman Robert H. , Sheen Patricia , Zimic Mirko 
Published: October 2021

ABSTRACTBackgroundTuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). The recommended treatment for TB is based on the use of first-line drugs, including pyrazinamide (PZA). PZA is also a drug used in the treatment of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) because of its main effect against the latent stage. The main cause of resistance to PZA is mutations in the pncA gene, which compromise the activity of the encoded enzyme pyrazinamidase (PZAse), which hydrolyzes PZA into POA, the active antituberculosis molecule. The mechanism of action of PZA requires that POA is expelled from the bacterium by an efflux mechanism. After that, if the extracellular medium is sufficiently acidic, POA is protonated and returns to the cytosol, releasing the proton and repeating the cycle, resulting lethal to the bacteria. The efflux pump responsible for extruding the POA to the extracellular environment is not yet known. Mycobacterium smegmatis is naturally resistant to PZA and has a 900-fold faster POA efflux rate than MTB, and has the advantage to be a faster growing mycobacterium.MethodsIn the present study we have silenced the transcription of several genes encoding efflux pumps in M. smegmatis by CRISPRi (CRISPR interference). These genes (MSMEG_0250, MSMEG_3815, MSMEG_0241, MSMEG_5046 and MSMEG_0410) were homologous to efflux pump genes in MTB. POA efflux rate was measured, and a quantitative Wayne’s test was performed after silencing each gene.ResultsSilencing of MSMEG_0250, resulted in approximately 5-fold decrease in the POA efflux rate in M. smegmatis (P<0.0001). None of the other silenced genes showed a notable decrease in POA efflux rate.
Vaccine-induced humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 at 6 months post BNT162b2 vaccination
Authors: Kato Hideaki , Miyakawa Kei , Ohtake Norihisa , Yamaoka Yutaro , Yajima Satoshi , Yamazaki Etsuko , Shimada Tomoko , Goto Atsushi , Nakajima Hideaki , Ryo Akihide 
Published: October 2021

AbstractTo evaluate vaccine-induced humoral and cell-mediated immunity at 6 months post BNT162b2 vaccination, immunoglobulin G against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (SP IgG), 50% neutralizing antibody (NT50), and spot-forming cell (SFC) counts were evaluated by interferon-γ releasing ELISpot assay of 98 healthy subjects (median age, 43 years). The geometric mean titers of SP IgG and NT50 decreased from 95.2 (95% confidence interval (CI) 79.8–113.4) to 5.7 (95% CI 4.9–6.7) and from 680.4 (588.0–787.2) to 130.4 (95% CI 104.2–163.1), respectively, at 3 weeks and 6 months after the vaccination. SP IgG titer was negatively correlated with age and alcohol consumption. Spot-forming cell counts at 6 months did not correlate with age, gender, and other parameters of the patients. SP IgG, NT50, and SFC titers were elevated in the breakthrough infected subjects. Although the levels of vaccine-induced antibodies dramatically declined at 6 months after vaccination, a certain degree of cellular immunity was observed irrespective of the age.
Questing a walkable city: a case of urban neighbourhood walkability environment in Bangladesh
Authors: Shuaib A.S.M. , Rana Md Masud Parves 
Published: October 2021

Purpose
What makes neighbourhood environment more walkable is an important question for urban planning and design research. The purpose of this paper is to explore this question through a case study of urban sidewalks in different contexts of urban neighbourhoods in Rajshahi city of Bangladesh.

Design/methodology/approach
Using participatory observation, Google street view and photography techniques, it examines the quality of the street facilities by demonstrating physical attributes of sidewalks and by analysing how various obstructions on them characterize neighbourhood walkability environment.

Findings
The findings suggest that the unusable sidewalks in Rajshahi city, Bangladesh, are a production of inadequate and inappropriate planning and design that unable to capitalize the functionality of sidewalks as a means of walking. It further argues that the urban planners and designers of streets have paid little attention to the diverse requirements of sidewalks in accordance with spatial and socio-economic categories of urban neighbourhoods.

Originality/value
This study adds insights about the urban sidewalks planning and design in the context of a developing country. It provides an empirical evidence about the constraints and potentials of making a walkable city.
Sensitivity of Remotely Sensed Vegetation to Hydrologic Predictors across the Colorado River Basin, 2001–2019
Authors: Saby Linnea , McKee Kevin L. , Kansara Prakrut , Goodall Jonathan L. , Band Lawrence E. , Lakshmi Venkataraman 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIn water‐limited regions, it is important to understand the response of vegetation to hydrologic predictors for fire management and water resource planning. We present a novel spatially distributed analysis of ecohydrological interactions in the semi‐arid Colorado River Basin (CRB) over 18 years, 2001–2019. The hydrologic predictors used include precipitation from the Integrated Multi‐satellitE Retrievals for GPM, 0‐ to 10‐cm‐depth surface soil moisture (SSM) estimations from the National Land Data Assimilation System, and newly available 0‐ to 40‐cm depth Soil MERGE root zone soil moisture (RZSM) estimations. These are evaluated using time‐lagged correlations with the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) from MODerate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS). We demonstrate that EVI response is strongest and most immediate to the hydrologic predictors in the hot and dry southwestern CRB, with lag times of 0–32 days. RZSM was expected to provide the best predictor of EVI, but we found SSM to be a superior predictor of EVI with interquartile range correlations of 0.20–0.37 across the CRB. RZSM had slightly lower interquartile range correlations of 0.15–0.35, and precipitation was the least effective predictor of EVI with interquartile range correlations of 0.11–0.26. Plotting these cross‐correlations provides a spatially explicit overview of temporal dependence between SSM, RZSM, precipitation, and EVI with publicly available datasets.
Can digital transformation improve the information environment of the capital market? Evidence from the analysts' prediction behaviour
Authors: Chen Wanyi , Zhang Liguang , Jiang Pinyan , Meng Fanli , Sun Qianyi 
Published: October 2021

AbstractThis study tests the impact of enterprise digital transformation on the information environment. The results show that while analyst coverage increase significantly and the accuracy of public information improves after enterprises implement digital transformation, there is no significant change in the accuracy of private information. The main influence channels are information disclosure quality and stock price information content. Further analysis shows that this relationship is affected by cyber‐attacks, market competition, and social media. This study enriches the analytical paradigm of the influencing factors of analysts' prediction behaviour and provides evidence for exploring digital transformation in the emerging capital market.
Repeated echocardiographic imaging of aortic stenosis: Real‐life lessons
Authors: Bray Jonathan J. H. , Ionescu Adrian 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundTiming of aortic valve intervention is dependent on the accuracy and reproducibility of echocardiographic (ECHO) parameters. We aimed to assess haemodynamic subsets of aortic stenosis (AS), their change over time, and variability of ECHO parameters.MethodThis retrospective, longitudinal study compared sequential ECHO over 15 months to identify concordant or discordant aortic valve area (AVA) and mean pressure gradient (MPG) in order to determine the real world variability of echocardiographic indices.ResultsWe included 143 patients with a mean age of 76.0 years. The median length of time between studies was 112 days (IQR 38–208). Initially, participants were classified as 9 (6.4%) mild, 47 (33.6%) moderate, and 84 (60.0%%) severe AS. In 80 (55.9%) AVA and MPG were concordant; stroke volume index (SVi) was < 35 mL/m2 in 53 (74.6%). AS severity was downgraded in 29 (20.7%) patients. MPG was most consistent and AVA was the least consistent between successive investigations (intraclass correlation coefficients R = .86 and R = .76, respectively). Even small variations in left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) measurement of 1 standard deviation reclassified up to 67% of participants from severe to non‐severe.ConclusionAlmost half of patients with AS have valve area/gradient discordance. Variations in LVOT diameter measurement commensurate with clinical practice reclassified AS severity in up to two‐third of cases. Change in AS severity should only be accepted following careful scrutiny of all available ECHO data.
Application of kinesiology taping to equine abdominal musculature in a tension frame for muscle facilitation increases longitudinal activity at the trot
Authors: Biau Sophie , Burgaud Isabelle 
Published: October 2021

AbstractBackgroundKinesiology taping (KT) has been used on human subjects for many years. More recently, KT has been used in sport horses. The physiological mechanisms involved remain unclear and its benefits are controversial.ObjectivesTo investigate the effects of application of kinesiology taping to abdominal muscles on locomotor parameters before and after lungeing exercise in horses.Study designCross‐over study.MethodsEleven horses were tested twice, once with an application of KT without tension on abdominal muscles (condition 1) and once with a facilitation application of KT on abdominal muscles (condition 2). A triaxial accelerometric device, located in the trunk (Equimetrix system®), was used at walk and trot in hand on a straight line before (30 min after the KT application) and after a lungeing session. Locomotor parameters were calculated, including stride frequency, regularity and symmetry, dorsoventral displacement and dorsoventral, mediolateral and longitudinal activities.ResultsAt trot, the longitudinal activity was significantly higher for condition 2 than for condition 1, before (7.6 ± 1.8 W/kg vs. 5.4 ± 2.2 W/kg, P = .02) and after (7.3 ± 1.3 W/kg vs. 6.1 ± 1.7 W/kg, P = .005) the lungeing session.Main limitationsThe speed was not measured. The recording conditions and the experimenter, unaware of conditions, were the same for all horses to limit variations.ConclusionsKinesiology taping on abdominal muscles immediately increased longitudinal activity at trot in hand and this benefit was still present after a lungeing session. Longitudinal activity is a sought‐after quality; thus, this method could be used as a way to enhance a training program. Future investigations are needed to confirm this result in horses being ridden.
Retail "Save the Sale" tactics: Consumer perceptions of in‐store logistics service recovery
Authors: Peinkofer Simone T. , Esper Terry L. , Smith Ronn J. , Williams Brent D. 
Published: October 2021

AbstractTo prevent customers from leaving stores empty‐handed when encountering a stockout, retailers increasingly leverage their inventory visibility and order fulfillment capabilities to implement “save the sale” tactics. Retailers have several logistics service options available in designing “save the sale” stockout recovery initiatives: “buy at store—ship from (different) store” and the “buy at store—ship from DC,” leading to different order fulfillment speeds. In addition, there is the home delivery approach, which is generally more convenient to customers than the option of store delivery for customer pick‐up. In this paper, we explore how customers evaluate and respond to varying elements of these “save the sale” stockout recovery services when experiencing an in‐store stockout. Building on justice theory and literatures on service recovery and impression formation, we develop a series of four experiments. We explain and provide empirical evidence for (1) why and how customers assess specific stockout service recovery dimensions (i.e., order fulfillment speed and delivery location) as more just, (2) how customers appraise the justice of these bundled stockout recovery dimensions, (3) how purchase involvement and monetary offers impact these perceptions, and (4) how justice perceptions and stockout recoveries impact the likelihood of “saving the sale.”
Can SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccine increase the risk of reactivation of Varicella zoster? A systematic review
Authors: Desai Hardik D. , Sharma Kamal , Shah Anchal , Patoliya Jaimini , Patil Anant , Hooshanginezhad Zahra , Grabbe Stephan , Goldust Mohamad 
Published: October 2021

AbstractIntroductionAlthough the COVID‐19 vaccination is deemed safe, exact incidence and nature if adverse effects, particularly dermatological ones, are still unknown.ObjectiveTo describe the demographic, clinical, morphological characteristics, outcomes, and timing of development of herpes zoster to the various COVID‐19 vaccines. And to identify on whether COVID‐19 vaccine has temporal relationship between development of herpes zoster (HZ).MethodsWe have performed a systemic review of articles from PubMed and Embase using MeSH and keywords like “Shingles,” “Herpes zoster,” “Varicella zoster,” “COVID‐19,” “Vaccine,” “SARS‐CoV‐2.” No filters including country of publication, language, type of articles were applied. Individual case report references were filtered for any pertinent cases.ResultsA total of 54 cases consisting of 27 male and 27 female patients have been reported. There were cases with known risk factors for herpes zoster, which included age more than 50 years (n = 36), immunological disorders (n = 10), chronic disease (n = 25), metabolic disorder (n = 13), malignancy (n = 4), and psychiatric disorder (n = 2). The mean (SD) period between development of herpes zoster and COVID‐19 vaccination was 7.64 (6.92) days. Majority of the cases were from the high‐income and/or middle‐income countries. 86.27% of the cases of HZ were reported due to mRNA vaccine. Thirty‐six patients 36/45 (80%) developed herpes zoster following the priming dose of COVID‐19 vaccine among those who received mRNA vaccine.ConclusionWe could not establish definite link but there may be possible association between COVID‐19 vaccine and shingles. Large‐scale studies may help to understand the cause‐effect relationship.
Effect of clinical photography on postprocedure patient satisfaction in female patients who underwent nonsurgical rhinoplasty
Authors: Akpolat Nebahat Demet , Unlu Sezin 
Published: October 2021

AbstractStudy designA prospective clinical study.BackgroundTo the best of our knowledge, there is no study in the literature that addresses the effect of showing comparative photographs in the follow‐up period to patients who had undergone nonsurgical rhinoplasty on patient satisfaction.ObjectivesTo examine the effect of showing preprocedure and postprocedure photographs to patients in the follow‐up period on patient satisfaction.MethodsIt was a nonsimultaneous prospective study that included patients suitable for nonsurgical rhinoplasty. Photographs were taken during routine follow‐up after 1 month of the procedure, and patients were asked to fill the Derriford Appearance Scale 24 (DAS24) and Rhinoplasty Outcome Evaluation (ROE) questionnaires. Next, after the preprocedure and postprocedure photographs were shown to the patients, they were asked to complete the DAS24 and ROE questionnaires again.ResultsThe study included 265 female patients. The mean age of the patients was 35.11 ± 8 (18–61 years). Before the preprocedure and postprocedure photographs were shown, the DAS24 score was 52.2 ± 14.26 and the ROE score was 75.91 ± 11.91. After the photographs were shown, the DAS24 score was found to be 40.80 ± 13.25 and the ROE score as 87.722 ± 8.56. Therefore, significant improvement in DAS24 and ROE scores and an increase in patient satisfaction were observed after the preprocedure and postprocedure photographs were shown (p = 0.01, p < 0.05).ConclusionShowing preprocedure and postprocedure photographs in the follow‐up period to patients who underwent nonsurgical rhinoplasty leads to greater patient satisfaction with the surgery and their self‐image.
Phospholipase D and retromer promote recycling of TRPL ion channel via the endoplasmic reticulum
Authors: Wagner Krystina , Smylla Thomas K. , Lampe Marko , Krieg Jana , Huber Armin 
Published: October 2021

AbstractPlasma membrane protein trafficking is of fundamental importance for cell function and cell integrity of neurons and includes regulated protein recycling. In this work, we report a novel role of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) for protein recycling as discovered in trafficking studies of the ion channel TRPL in photoreceptor cells of Drosophila. TRPL is located within the rhabdomeric membrane from where it is endocytosed upon light stimulation and stored in the cell body. Conventional immunohistochemistry as well as stimulated emission depletion super‐resolution microscopy revealed TRPL storage at the ER after illumination, suggesting an unusual recycling route of TRPL. Our results also imply that both phospholipase D (PLD) and retromer complex are required for correct recycling of TRPL to the rhabdomeric membrane. Loss of PLD activity in PLD3.1 mutants results in enhanced degradation of TRPL. In the retromer mutant vps35MH20, TRPL is trapped in a Rab5‐positive compartment. Evidenced by epistatic analysis in the double mutant PLD3.1 vps35MH20, PLD activity precedes retromer function. We propose a model in which PLD and retromer function play key roles in the transport of TRPL to an ER enriched compartment.
Highly Stable Photocatalytic Removal of Paraquat Dichloride using ZnO/TiO2 supported on PVC
Authors: Ashiru Abubakar Garba , Matmin Juan , Toemen Susilawati 
Published: October 2021

This study presents on ZnO/TiO2 supported on PVC (ZnO/TiO2@PVC) in the photocatalytic removal of paraquat dichloride. The ZnO/TiO2@PVC was characterized using XRD, FESEM-EDX, FTIR, and AFM. Findings indicated that ZnO/TiO2@PVC allowed degradation of paraquat dichloride under UV irradiation by the rate of up to 73%. XRD pattern indicated the presence of both TiO2(anatase) and ZnO (zincite) crystalline as well as PVC amorphous structures. FESEM and AFM results revealed the observed shape and surface of TiO2 interconnected nanowires with ZnO nanorods uniformly distributed according to EDX mapping. The reduced surface roughness was also shown in the supported photocatalyst. FTIR analysis clearly demonstrate the combined spectra of immobilised ZnO/TiO2 powder catalyst onto the PVC in the composite. Kinetic study of the degradation process was performed according to pseudo-first-order and the influence of ZnO/TiO2 coating onto PVC polymer and initial paraquat concentration were investigated on the treatment performance. Under optimized condition (pH = 7, PQ =20 mg/L and catalyst coating =15%), the stability and reusability of the supported catalyst was also evaluated over ten sequential treatment runs, and the catalyst maintain high reactivity. High recyclability of the ZnO/TiO2@PVC composites as catalyst in photodegradation processes are also reported in this study.
A Study of New Class of Star-Like Functions Associated by Symmetric

p
,
q

-Calculus
Authors: Akbar Khalid , Murtaza Rashid , Adnan  , Khan Umar , Khan Ilyas , Fayz-Al-Asad Md. 
Published: October 2021

As of late quantum calculus is broadly utilized in different parts of mathematics. Uniquely, the hypothesis of univalent functions can be newly portrayed by utilizing

q

-calculus. In this paper, we utilize our recently presented symmetric

p
,
q

-number

m
˜

p
,
q

to characterize new symmetric

p
,
q

-derivative

D

p
,
q

of analytic function

f

in the open unit disk

U

. Utilizing

D

p
,
q

, we introduce new class of analytic star-like functions and examine some fascinating results.
Reduction and fixation of proximal humeral fracture with severe medial instability using a small locking plate
Authors: Zhang Yuelei , Wan Lifu , Zhang Lecheng , Yan Chao , Wang Gang 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background
Currently, the reduction and support of comminuted medial cortex of humeral fracture remains a challenge, Therefore, a novel reduction and fixation technique that employs an anteromedial small locking plate was explored in this study, and its viability and the associated complications were assessed.

Methods
Fifteen cases of proximal humeral fractures with medial instability (five cases were classified as three-part and ten as four-part by Neer classification) were treated by the proposed reduction technique using an anteromedial small locking plate. Subsequently, the radiological and clinical outcomes were evaluated over an average follow-up period of 18.53 months.

Results
The average operation time was 108 min (range, 70–130 min), and the mean fracture union time in all patients was 12.13 weeks (range, 8–16 weeks). Complications such as infection and neurovascular injury were not observed. Postoperative X-ray showed avascular necrosis and screw penetration in one patient, while screw penetration, varus malunion, or significant reduction loss was not found in the other cases. The mean Constant score was 79.8 (range, 68–92) during the final visit.

Conclusions
The use of an anteromedial small locking plate improved the reduction efficiency, reconstructed the medial support, and alleviated the occurrence of complications in proximal humeral fractures with medial instability.