bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum zinc status is a matter of concern among children and non-pregnant women in a nationwide survey of Nepal
Authors: Mehata Suresh , Tamang Man Kumar , Parajuli Kedar Raj , Rayamajhee Binod , Yadav Uday Narayan , Mehta Ranju Kumari , Singh Dipendra Raman 
Published: July 2021

AbstractNationally representative population data on zinc status in Nepal is lacking at present. This study analyzed data from the recent Nepal National Micronutrient status survey 2016 to determine the prevalence of zinc deficiency and associated risk factors among children aged 6–59 months (n = 1462) and non-pregnant women aged 15–49 years (n = 1923). Venous blood was collected from the participants to measure micronutrients such as zinc, markers of anemia, RBP (vitamin A), and markers of inflammation. Stool samples were collected to assess soil-transmitted helminths and Helicobacter pylori infection. Socio-demographic, household, and other relevant factors were collected by a structured questionnaire. Serum zinc concentration was measured by Microwave Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry, and zinc deficiency was defined according to the International Zinc Nutrition Consultative Group’s guidelines. Logistic regression was used to examine the predictors of zinc deficiency among the participants. The overall zinc deficiency in children was 22.9%, while it was higher in non-pregnant women (24.7%). The prevalence of anemia among zinc-deficient children was higher (21.3%) than the zinc non-deficit children (18.7%). The prevalence of anemia was 18% among zinc-deficient non-pregnant women compared to 22% non-deficit non-pregnant women. Predictors associated with zinc deficiency among the study children were living in rural areas (AOR = 2.25, 95% CI, [1.13, 4.49]), the occurrence of diarrhea during the two weeks preceding the survey (AOR = 1.57, 95% CI, [1.07, 2.30]), lowest household wealth quintile (AOR = 0.48, 95% CI, [0.25, 0.92]) and lower vitamin A status (AOR = 0.49, 95% CI, [0.28, 0.85]. The predictors associated with zinc deficiency among non-pregnant women were: being underweight (AOR = 1.55, 95% CI, [1.12, 2.15]), fever occurrence during two weeks preceding the survey (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI, [1.04, 1.98]), H. pylori in the stool (AOR = 1.33, 95% CI, [1.04, 1.71]), lowest household wealth quintile (AOR = 0.62, 95% CI,[0.40, 0.94]) and being at risk of folate deficiency (AOR = 0.58, 95% CI,[0.36, 0.94]). We conclude that community-level intervention programs focused on rural children and women to prevent diarrhea, improve nutrition counseling, and provide economic opportunities in rural communities may help to lower zinc deficiency and other micronutrient deficiencies in the Nepalese population. We believe that intervention programs to address zinc deficiency should not be isolated. Instead, integrated approaches are beneficial to improve overall micronutrient status, such as encouraging dietary diversity, providing livelihood opportunities to the unemployed, micronutrient supplementation to vulnerable populations, and consumption of zinc-rich animal-based foods.
CD276 is an important player in macrophage recruitment into the tumor and an upstream regulator for PAI-1
Authors: Durlanik Sibel , Fundel-Clemens Katrin , Viollet Coralie , Huber Heinrich J. , Lenter Martin , Kitt Kerstin , Pflanz Stefan 
Published: July 2021

AbstractMore than 70% of colorectal, prostate, ovarian, pancreatic and breast cancer specimens show expression of CD276 (B7–H3), a potential immune checkpoint family member. Several studies have shown that high CD276 expression in cancer cells correlates with a poor clinical prognosis. This has been associated with the presence of lower tumor infiltrating leukocytes. Among those, tumor-associated macrophages can comprise up to 50% of the tumor mass and are thought to support tumor growth through various mechanisms. However, a lack of information on CD276 function and interaction partner(s) impedes rigorous evaluation of CD276 as a therapeutic target in oncology. Therefore, we aimed to understand the relevance of CD276 in tumor-macrophage interaction by employing a 3D spheroid coculture system with human cells. Our data show a role for tumor-expressed CD276 on the macrophage recruitment into the tumor spheroid, and also in regulation of the extracellular matrix modulator PAI-1. Furthermore, our experiments focusing on macrophage-expressed CD276 suggest that the antibody-dependent CD276 engagement triggers predominantly inhibitory signaling networks in human macrophages.
Cost effective dye sensitized solar cell based on novel Cu polypyrrole multiwall carbon nanotubes nanocomposites counter electrode
Authors: Rafique Shaista , Rashid Imran , Sharif Rehana 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn order to replace Pt CE in dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) with simple and low cost, copper polypyyrol functionalized multiwall carbon nanotubes (Cu-PPy-FWCNTS) nanocomposite CE was fabricated by two step electrodeposition method on the stainless-steel substrate. The surface morphology, electrical conductivity, electrochemical properties of Cu-PPy-FWCNTS nanocomposite CE electrodes were observed by using verity of techniques such as scanning electron microscopy, a four-probe method and electrochemical workstation. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirms the presence of FMWCNTS into PPy-FMWCNTS nanocomposite and XRD analysis verified the Cu nanostructures had come into being. The cyclic voltammogram and Tafel polarization measurement demonstrated that solution processed Cu-PPy-FWCNTS nanocomposites CE had smaller charge transfer resistance Rct (4.31 Ω cm2) and higher electrocatalytic performance for I3−/I− redox solution. Finally, the photovoltaic efficiency of DSSC assembled with Cu-PPy-FWCNTS nanocomposite CE and Platinized CE were compared. The results revealed that the photovoltaic efficiency of DSSC with Cu-PPy-FWCNTS nanocomposites CE reached (7.1%), which is superior to Platinized CE (6.4%). The higher photovoltaic efficiency of the Cu-PPy-FMWCNTS film is due to copper nanostructures that lead to higher cathodic current density (2.35 mA/cm2). The simple fabrication method, excellent electrocatalytic and photovoltaic properties permit the Cu-PPy-FWCNTS nanocomposites credible alternative CE to save the cost of DSSC.
First experimental evidence of the piezoelectric nature of struvite
Authors: Prywer Jolanta , Kruszyński Rafał , Świątkowski Marcin , Soszyński Andrzej , Kajewski Dariusz , Roleder Krystian 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn this paper, we present the first experimental evidence of the piezoelectric nature of struvite (MgNH4PO4·6H2O). Using a single diffusion gel growth technique, we have grown struvite crystals in the form of plane parallel plates. For struvite crystals of this shape, we measured the piezoelectric coefficients d33 and d32. We have found that at room temperature the value of piezoelectric coefficient d33 is 3.5 pm/V, while that of d32 is 4.7 pm/V. These values are comparable with the values for other minerals. Struvite shows stable piezoelectric properties up to the temperature slightly above 350 K, for the heating rate of 0.4 K/min. For this heating rate, and above this temperature, the thermal decomposition of struvite begins, which, consequently, leads to its transformation into dittmarite with the same non-centrosymmetric symmetry as in case of struvite. The struvite-dittmarite transformation temperature is dependent on the heating rate. The higher the heating rate, the higher the temperature of this transformation. We have also shown that dittmarite, like struvite exhibits piezoelectric properties.
The association between douching, genital talc use, and the risk of prevalent and incident cervical cancer
Authors: O’Brien Katie M. , Weinberg Clarice R. , D’Aloisio Aimee A. , Moore Kristen R. , Sandler Dale P. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractWhile human papillomavirus is the primary cause of cervical cancer, other factors may influence susceptibility and response to the virus. Candidates include douching and talcum powder applied in the genital area. We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate confounder-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) in the Sister Study (2003–2009), a US cohort of women aged 35–74. We considered pre-baseline (n = 523) and incident (n = 31) cervical cancers. Douching at ages 10–13 was positively associated with pre-baseline cervical cancer (HR 1.32, 95% CI 0.86–2.03), though the association was not statistically significant. We did not observe an association between adolescent talc use and pre-baseline cervical cancer (HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.76–1.19). Douching in the year before enrollment was positively associated with incident cervical cancer (HR 2.56, 95% CI 1.10–5.99). The association between recent genital talc use and incident cervical cancer was positive, but not statistically significant (HR 1.79, 95% CI 0.78–4.11). The observed positive association between douching and incident cervical cancer is consistent with previous retrospective case–control studies. In the first study to examine genital talc use and cervical cancer, we did not see evidence of an association.
Minimal-moderate variation of human oral virome and microbiome in IgA deficiency
Authors: de la Cruz Peña Maria José , Gonzalez-Granado Luis Ignacio , Garcia-Heredia Inmaculada , Carballa Lucia Maestre , Martinez-Garcia Manuel 
Published: July 2021

AbstractImmunoglobulin A (IgA) is the dominant antibody found in our mucosal secretions and has long been recognized to play an important role in protecting our epithelium from pathogens. Recently, IgA has been shown to be involved in gut homeostatic regulation by ‘recognizing’ and shaping our commensal microbes. Paradoxically, yet selective IgA-deficiency is often described as asymptomatic and there is a paucity of studies only focused on the mice and human gut microbiome context fully ignoring other niches of our body and our commensal viruses. Here, we used as a model the human oral cavity and employed a holistic view and studied the impact of IgA deficiency and also common variable IgA and IgM immunodeficiencies (CVID), on both the human virome and microbiome. Unexpectedly, metagenomic and experimental data in human IgA deficiency and CVID indicate minimal-moderate changes in microbiome and virome composition compared to healthy control group and point out to a rather functional, resilient oral commensal viruses and microbes. However, a significant depletion (two fold) of bacterial cells (p-value < 0.01) and viruses was observed in IgA-deficiency. Our results demonstrate that, within the limits of our cohort, IgA role is not critical for maintaining a rather functional salivary microbiome and suggest that IgA is not a major influence on the composition of abundant commensal microbes.
Chemopreventive effects of pterostilbene through p53 and cell cycle in mouse lung of squamous cell carcinoma model
Authors: Surien Omchit , Ghazali Ahmad Rohi , Masre Siti Fathiah 
Published: July 2021

AbstractCell proliferation and cell death abnormalities are strongly linked to the development of cancer, including lung cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of pterostilbene on cell proliferation and cell death via cell cycle arrest during the transition from G1 to S phase and the p53 pathway. A total of 24 female Balb/C mice were randomly categorized into four groups (n = 6): N-nitroso-tris-chloroethyl urea (NTCU) induced SCC of the lungs, vehicle control, low dose of 10 mg/kg PS + NTCU (PS10), and high dose of 50 mg/kg PS + NTCU (PS50). At week 26, all lungs were harvested for immunohistochemistry and Western blotting analysis. Ki-67 expression is significantly lower, while caspase-3 expression is significantly higher in PS10 and PS50 as compared to the NTCU (p < 0.05). There was a significant decrease in cyclin D1 and cyclin E2 protein expression in PS10 and PS50 when compared to the NTCU (p < 0.05). PS50 significantly increased p53, p21, and p27 protein expression when compared to NTCU (p < 0.05). Pterostilbene is a potential chemoprevention agent for lung SCC as it has the ability to upregulate the p53/p21 pathway, causing cell cycle arrest.
Targeted delivery of cytotoxic proteins to prostate cancer via conjugation to small molecule urea-based PSMA inhibitors
Authors: Rogers O. C. , Rosen D. M. , Antony L. , Harper H. M. , Das D. , Yang X. , Minn I. , Mease R. C. , Pomper M. G. , Denmeade S. R. 
Published: July 2021

AbstractProstate cancer cells are characterized by a remarkably low proliferative rate and the production of high levels of prostate-specific proteases. Protein-based toxins are attractive candidates for prostate cancer therapy because they kill cells via proliferation-independent mechanisms. However, the non-specific cytotoxicity of these potent cytotoxins must be redirected to avoid toxicity to normal tissues. Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) is membrane-bound carboxypeptidase that is highly expressed by prostate cancer cells. Potent dipeptide PSMA inhibitors have been developed that can selectively deliver and concentrate imaging agents within prostate cancer cells based on continuous PSMA internalization and endosomal cycling. On this basis, we conjugated a PSMA inhibitor to the apoptosis-inducing human protease Granzyme B and the potent Pseudomonas exotoxin protein toxin fragment, PE35. We assessed selective PSMA binding and entrance into tumor cell to induce cell death. We demonstrated these agents selectively bound to PSMA and became internalized. PSMA-targeted PE35 toxin was selectively toxic to PSMA producing cells in vitro. Intratumoral and intravenous administration of this toxin produced marked tumor killing of PSMA-producing xenografts with minimal host toxicity. These studies demonstrate that urea-based PSMA inhibitors represent a simpler, less expensive alternative to antibodies as a means to deliver cytotoxic proteins to prostate cancer cells.
Distinct Contributions of Working Memory and Attentional Control to Sentence Comprehension in Noise in Persons With Stroke
Authors: Fitzhugh Megan C. , LaCroix Arianna N. , Rogalsky Corianne 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
Sentence comprehension deficits are common following a left hemisphere stroke and have primarily been investigated under optimal listening conditions. However, ample work in neurotypical controls indicates that background noise affects sentence comprehension and the cognitive resources it engages. The purpose of this study was to examine how background noise affects sentence comprehension poststroke using both energetic and informational maskers. We further sought to identify whether sentence comprehension in noise abilities are related to poststroke cognitive abilities, specifically working memory and/or attentional control.

Method
Twenty persons with chronic left hemisphere stroke completed a sentence–picture matching task where they listened to sentences presented in three types of maskers: multispeakers, broadband noise, and silence (control condition). Working memory, attentional control, and hearing thresholds were also assessed.

Results
A repeated-measures analysis of variance identified participants to have the greatest difficulty with the multispeakers condition, followed by broadband noise and then silence. Regression analyses, after controlling for age and hearing ability, identified working memory as a significant predictor of listening engagement (i.e., mean reaction time) in broadband noise and multispeakers and attentional control as a significant predictor of informational masking effects (computed as a reaction time difference score where broadband noise is subtracted from multispeakers).

Conclusions
The results from this study indicate that background noise impacts sentence comprehension abilities poststroke and that these difficulties may arise due to deficits in the cognitive resources supporting sentence comprehension and not other factors such as age or hearing. These findings also highlight a relationship between working memory abilities and sentence comprehension in background noise. We further suggest that attentional control abilities contribute to sentence comprehension by supporting the additional demands associated with informational masking.

Supplemental Material

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.14984511
A Perceptual Learning Approach for Dysarthria Remediation: An Updated Review
Authors: Borrie Stephanie A. , Lansford Kaitlin L. 
Published: July 2021

PurposeEarly studies of perceptual learning of dysarthric speech, those summarized in Borrie, McAuliffe, and Liss (2012), yielded preliminary evidence that listeners couldlearnto better understand the speech of a person with dysarthria, revealing a potentially promising avenue for future intelligibility interventions. Since then, a programmatic body of research grounded in models of perceptual processing has unfolded. The current review provides an updated account of the state of the evidence in this area and offers direction for moving this work toward clinical implementation.MethodThe studies that have investigated perceptual learning of dysarthric speech (N= 24) are summarized and synthesized first according to the proposed learning source and then by highlighting the parameters that appear to mediate learning, culminating with additional learning outcomes.ResultsThe recent literature has established strong empirical evidence of intelligibility improvements following familiarization with dysarthric speech and a theoretical account of the mechanisms that facilitate improved processing of the neurologically degraded acoustic signal.ConclusionsThere are no existing intelligibility interventions for individuals with dysarthria who cannot behaviorally modify their speech. However, there is now robust support for the development of an approach that shifts the weight of behavioral change from speaker to listener, exploiting perceptual learning to ease the intelligibility burden of dysarthria. To move this work from bench to bedside, recommendations for translational studies that establish best practices and candidacy for listener-targeted dysarthria remediation, perceptual training, are provided.
Effects of a Peer-Mentoring Program on Speech-Language Pathology Graduate Student Stress
Authors: Greene Stacie M. 
Published: July 2021

Purpose
This study sought to examine the effects of a peer-mentoring program on first-year speech-language pathology graduate students' perceived stress levels.

Method
The researcher randomly assigned 10 first-year speech-language pathology graduate students to a mentee group. Students were then randomly matched with 10 second-year speech-language pathology graduate students in a peer-mentoring program for one semester. The researcher also randomly assigned 10 additional first-year speech-language pathology graduate students to a control group. Data were collected using the Perceived Stress Scale, a demographic survey, a peer-mentoring program tracking form, and an evaluation of the peer-mentoring program.

Results
This study indicates that first-semester graduate students in speech-language pathology experience moderate levels of perceived stress, and their perceived stress levels increased from the start to the end of the fall semester. In addition, a statistically significant difference was found between the students' perceived stress levels in the control and the mentee group at the end of the semester; the increase in perceived stress was greater among the control group than in the mentee group. This study also found a weak to moderate correlational relationship between participation in a peer-mentoring program and perceived stress levels at the end of the semester. Mentees reported overall positive feedback regarding the program and the effect that the program had on their perceived stress levels.

Conclusion
Results from this study indicate that peer mentoring may be an effective way to ameliorate perceived stress among first-semester graduate students in speech-language pathology.
A Review of Microsystem Factors Related to Stress in Undergraduate Students Studying Communication Sciences and Disorders
Authors: Roos Brianne H. , Schreck Janet S. 
Published: July 2021

PurposeThe purpose of this review article is to review the existing literature about the factors that impact stress in undergraduate students studying communication sciences and disorders (CSD). Current undergraduate students are more stressed than their predecessors and the body of literature about stressed students is growing. However, CSD students' experience may differ from their non-CSD peers and there is a dearth of literature about stressed CSD students, in particular.MethodThis is a narrative review of the literature about the factors that impact stress in undergraduate students studying CSD. The review is structured using the ecological systems theoretical framework with an emphasis on the microsystems that encompass the most salient factors related to undergraduate students' stress. Factors such as family influence (e.g., parenting style, parent education), peer support, faculty relationships, minority status, technology, and individual health behaviors were explored in the literature using electronic databases.ConclusionsThis review of the literature suggests that a myriad of microsystem factors contribute to the stress of undergraduate CSD students. Although the review focuses on microsystem factors that are closest to students, it is important to situate the results in context. The mental health of college students was on the decline before COVID-19, and as the economic and public health of the nation and world shift, the urgency to attend to our students increases. This review contributes to the greater understanding of CSD students' experiences that will inform programmatic and individual support.
Throughput‐based energy and spectral efficiency tradeoff for massive MIMO systems
Authors: Du Weimin , Liu Zujun 
Published: July 2021

AbstractIn massive MIMO systems, energy efficiency (EE) and spectral efficiency (SE) can be balanced by tuning the number of the transmit antennas and the transmit power. However, two key parameters i.e. the modulation order and the bit‐error‐rate (BER) are seldom considered in the conventional EE‐SE tradeoff for the massive MIMO systems. To address this problem, the throughput‐based EE (TEE) and SE (TSE) tradeoff for both the conventional massive MIMO and the full‐dimensional (FD) massive MIMO systems are investigated. Firstly, a TEE and TSE tradeoff problem is formulated and the transition property of the modulation order is analysed. The analysis reveals that due to the discrete property of the modulation order, the TEE‐TSE tradeoff curve is continuously non‐differentiable at the transition point of the modulation order. By utilising the transition property, a modified normal‐boundary‐intersection particle‐swarm‐optimisation (NBI‐PSO) algorithm is developed to solve the TEE‐TSE problem effectively. From the numerical results, it is found that the throughput‐based problem has a relatively smaller EE and SE on the Pareto front than the capacity‐based one and selecting an improper combination of the modulation order, the transmit power and the number of the antennas may cause the EE‐SE relation sub‐optimal from the point view of Pareto efficiency. Through the numerical results, the most energy efficient modulation order is obtained and it is not the commonly assumed low‐order modulation scheme.