bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Precise Control of Surface Oxygen Vacancies in ZnO Nanoparticles for Extremely High Acetone Sensing Response
Authors: Lee Jihyun , Choi Youngmoon , Park Byoung Joon , Han Jeong Woo , Lee Hyun-Sook , Park Jong Hyeok , Lee Wooyoung 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
ZnO has been studied intensely for chemical sensors due to its high sensitivity and fast response. Here, we present a simple approach to precisely control oxygen vacancy contents to provide significantly enhanced acetone sensing performance of commercial ZnO nanopowders. A combination of H2O2 treatment and thermal annealing produces optimal surface defects with oxygen vacancies on the ZnO nanoparticles (NPs). The highest response of ~27,562 was achieved for 10 ppm acetone in 0.125 M H2O2 treated/annealed ZnO NPs at the optimal working temperature of 400 ℃, which is significantly higher than that of reported so far in various acetone sensors based on metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS). Furthermore, first-principles calculations indicate that pre-adsorbed O formed on the surface of H2O2-treated ZnO NPs can provide a favorable adsorption energy, especially for acetone detection, due to strong bidentate bonding between carbonyl C atom of acetone molecules and pre-adsorbed O on the ZnO surface. Our study demonstrates that controlling surface oxygen vacancies by H2O2 treatment and re-annealing at optimal temperature is an effective method to improve the sensing properties of commercial MOS materials.
The Hilar Height Ratio in Normal Chest Radiographs of Adults Seen at Selected Tertiary Hospitals in Kampala, Uganda; A Forgotten Parameter in Pulmonary Medicine
Authors: Wendo Daniel Muhati , Bugeza Samuel , Nseko Sam , Sereke Senai Goitom , Ameda Faith 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: The hilar height ratio (HHR) is a numerical expression of the hila position. Displacement of the pulmonary hilum is the most reliable indirect sign, in conditions that result in pulmonary volume changes. Despite the high utility of the chest radiograph, it has a relatively low diagnostic accuracy, high interobserver disagreement and numerous errors following interpretation. Routine use of the HHR with knowledge of the normal ranges would, therefore, help improve the overall chest radiograph sensitivity, reduce on errors and the interobserver disagreement in the interpretation of pulmonary volume changes. This study aims to determine the HHR in our study population, compare it with previous studies, and to relate it with sex, stratified age groups, height and body mass index (BMI).Methods: A consecutive cross-sectional study with purposive sampling were used to filter out a total of 384 normal chest radiographs of adults seen from three tertiary hospitals in Kampala, Uganda. The right and left HHRs were evaluated for each chest radiograph, along with the age, sex weight, height and BMI.Results: The median right HHR for the participants was 1.42 (IQR = 1.31- 1.57), and the median left HHR was 0.92 (IQR = 0.86- 0.98). There was a significant mean difference in the right HHR between the sex groups (p = 0.017) and age groups (p = 0.001). The mean difference in the left HHR was not affected by sex (p = 0.178) or age (p = 0.198). The right and left HHRs showed a very weak correlation to height (r = - 0.10 and r = 0.08, respectively). The right and left HHRs were not significantly different among the BMI groups (p = 0.254 and 0.20 respectively).Conclusion: The median left HHR was not affected by sex, age, weight and height while the right HHR varied with sex and age in our study population. Weight and height do not affect HHRs. The females in our study population had a higher positioned right hilum, whereas the position of the right hilum progressively lowered with increasing age.
Benefits of home-based exercise training following critical SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case study
Authors: Longobardi Igor , Prado Danilo Marcelo Leite do , Goessler Karla Fabiana , Júnior Gersiel Nascimento de Oliveira , de Andrade Danieli Castro Oliveira , Gualano Bruno , Roschel Hamilton 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Purpose: We report for the first time the effect of exercise training in a survivor patient from critical COVID-19 illness. Methods: A 67-yr-old woman who had critical COVID-19 disease underwent a 10-wk home-based exercise training aimed at recovering her overall physical condition. Before and after the intervention, we assessed cardiopulmonary parameters, skeletal muscle strength and functionality, fatigue severity and self-reported persistent symptoms. Results: The patient was hospitalized for 71 days, being admitted in the intensive care unit (ICU) due to respiratory failure. At baseline (3 months after discharge), she presented with severe impairment in cardiorespiratory functional capacity (<50% age predicted VO2peak). After the intervention, remarkable improvements in VO2peak (∆: 45.9%), oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES; ∆: 30.1%), HR/VO2 slope (∆: -43.5%), the lowest VE/VCO2 ratio (∆: -7.1%), and exertional dyspnea were observed. In addition, handgrip strength (∆: 22.7%), 30-second Sit-to-Stand (30-STS; ∆:14.3%), Timed-Up-&-Go (TUG; ∆: -15%) performance and Post-COVID Functional Status (PCFS) score (4 vs. 2) were also improved from baseline to post-intervention. Self-reported persistent symptoms were also improved and Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) score decreased (4 vs. 2.7) from baseline to post-intervention.Conclusions: This is the first evidence that a semi-supervised, home-based exercise training program may be safe and potentially effective in improving cardiorespiratory and physical functionality in COVID-19 survivors. Controlled studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Automated Segmentation of Nucleus And Cytoplasm of Cervical Cells From Pap-Smear Images Using A Quadtree Decomposition Approach.
Authors: William Wasswa , Ware Andrew , Basaza-Ejiri Annabella Habinka , Obungoloch Johnes 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Background: Digital pathology and microscopy image analysis is widely used for comprehensive studies of cell morphology especially for cervical cancer screening from pap-smears. Manual assessment of pap-smears is labour intensive and prone to interobserver variations. Computer-aided methods, which can significantly improve the objectivity and reproducibility, have attracted a great deal of interest in recent literature. A critical prerequisite in automated analysis of pap-smears is nucleus and cytoplasm segmentation, which is the basis of cervical cancer screening. This paper articulates a potent approach to the segmentation of cervical cells into nucleus and cytoplasm using a quadtree decomposition approach with statistical measures.Results: Choosing an appropriate quadtree decomposition strategy was a great challenge and a novel task in the proposed approach. The image is pre-processed using an enhanced median filter and is decomposed based on the mean, maximum entropy and the variance statistical measures of the pixels in the subtree. As a result, highly efficient and segmentations of acceptable performance were obtained. Comparison of the segmented nucleus and cytoplasm with the ground truth nucleus and cytoplasm segmentations resulted into a Zijdenbos similarity index of greater than 0.9034 and 0.9498 for nucleus and cytoplasm segmentation respectively. Conclusion: Given the accuracy of the classifier in segmenting the nucleus which plays an important role in cervical cancer diagnosis and classification, the classifier can be adapted for automated systems for cervical cancer diagnosis and classification. The method serves as a basis for first level segmentation of cervical cells for diagnosis and classification of cervical cancer from pap-smears.
Source Apportionment and Characterization of Water Insoluble Single Particulate Matters in Rain Sequences Using Particle Size Analyzer and Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: BERBERLER Ercan , GEMİCİ Betül Tuba , ÖZEL Handan UCUN , DEMİR Tuğçe , KARAKAŞ Duran 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
In this study, eight independent rainfall events were sampled sequentially from September 20, 2019 to June 15, 2020, in Bartın province located at the western Black Sea coast of Turkey. Manually collected volume based sequential samples were analyzed for pH and water soluble ions involving F-, Cl-, NO3-, SO42–, PO43-, Na+, K+, NH4+, Mg2+ and Ca2+. Total trace and major elements (sum of soluble and insoluble fractions), and elemental and organic carbons (EC and OC) contents of the sequential samples were measured. Water insoluble particulate matters in the sequential samples were characterized for their sizes, morphologies and the compositions by using Scanning Electron Microscopy Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectrometry (SEM-EDS) and particle size analyzer. Results of SEM-EDS, particle size distributions, chemical analyses and the upper atmospheric backtrajectories were used to apportion the sources of the water insoluble single particulate matters in sequential rain samples. Using the proposed method, iron-steel facilities, and thermal power plants were identified as the significant regional sources. Urban traffic and natural emission were identified as the local sources.
Correlation between Compaction Characteristics with undrained Shear Strength of Soils found in Burayu Town
Authors: KORMU SOLOMON , Sorsa Alemineh 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
The shear strength of the soil is an important factor to know the internal resistance of soil against external loads causing shearing forces. Shear strength parameters are mandatory for the analysis of load bearing capacity of the soil, the stability of Geotechnical structures and in analysing stress and strain characteristics of soils. The undrained shear strength is one type of shear strength parameter. This parameter is conducted by undisturbed samples. But due to handling, transportation, release of overburden pressure and poor laboratory conditions, it is difficult to obtain accurate undisturbed samples. So, prediction of undrained shear strength parameters (cu) for cohesive soil with the help of compaction characteristics provides a good alternative to minimize this problem. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop the correlation between undrained shear strength values with soil compaction characteristics specifically located in Burayu town. The study was carried out using thirty samples collected from the town. By using the test result regression based statistical analysis was carried out to develop the intended correlation. The parameters considered for this study are Atterberg's limits, Grain size analysis, Specific gravity, Compaction tests and unconfined compression test. The test procedures were based on AASHTO and ASTM laboratory test standards. These parameters are used to establish equations of correlations between undrained shear strength values with soil compaction. The soil type found in Burayu town was highly plastic red clay soil. Based on both single and multiple linear regression analysis relatively good correlation is obtained by combining undrained shear strength (qu ) with maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of red clay soil. From the correlation analysis the equations developed are qu = - 3105 + 1625 MDD + 40.9 OMC with coefficient of determination of R2 =0.828 for multiple linear regression and qu= - 1473 + 57.8 OMC and qu= - 4861 + 3910 MDD with coefficient of determination of R2=0.787 and R2 =0.601 for single linear regression respectively. Generally, the intended correlation obtained from the study area fulfil the basic requirement of regression.
Distribution characteristics, source identification, and risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments of the salt lakes in the Ordos Plateau, China
Authors: Zhang Shengyin , Zhang Shuncun , Chen Yongxin , Chen Bo , Lei Tianzhu 
Published: October 2021

Abstract
Salt lakes have a significant effect on the regional climate, environment, and ecology in semi-arid regions characterized by lower rainfall and high evaporation. However, under the stresses of global change and human disturbance, anthropogenic pollution is the main factor threatening the lake ecological environment. Surface sediment samples collected from four salt lakes in the Ordos Plateau were used to investigate the salinity, concentration, pollution status, potential sources of heavy metals, and influencing factors. The surface sediments of Beida Pond and Gouchi Pond were weakly alkaline (pH < 9) owing to Na2SO4, whereas those of Chaigannaoer and Hongjiannao were strongly alkaline (pH > 9) owing to Na2CO3. The concentration range of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb in the sediment samples collected from the salt lake in the Ordos followed the order of Cr > Zn > Ni > Pb > Cu > As > Cd. The Cr values were higher in Chagannaoer and Hongjiannao, but the Ni, Cu, and Zn values were higher in Beida Pond and Gouchi Pond. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and enrichment factor (EF) consistently indicated that Cr posed the greatest potential ecological risk and that Ni, Cu, and Zn pollution was more severe in Beida Pond and Gouchi Pond than in Chagannaoer or Hongjiannao. However, Er and RI indicated these heavy metals were a low risk to the environment. Risk assessment code (RAC) revealed that Pb and Cr exhibited no mobility and had low potential bioavailability risk, although Zn, Ni, and As were categorized as medium risk. Cu had the highest mobility and high risk. Principal component analysis for Beida Pond and Gouchi Pond revealed that the source of Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb might be associated with water - soluble elements in aqueous migration. For Cr, Pb, and As, it was indicated that the source of these heavy metals might be lithospheric minerals carried by dust storms. Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Cr, and Pb in Chagannaoer and Hongjiannao may be derived from surface runoff, and chemicals from these sources may eventually accumulate in sediments. Pearson’s correlation analysis indicated that pH was the main environmental factor controlling the distribution of heavy metals in Chagannaoer and Hongjiannao.
Description of a new species and new faunistic records of the genus Anomala Samouelle (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Rutelinae) from China and neighboring regions
Authors: Wang Fa-Lei , Zorn Carsten 
Published: October 2021

Anomala xiongi Wang & Zorn spec. nov. is described from Yunnan, China. This new species can be distinguished from all other known Anomala species by conspicuous long erect setae rising from the primary costae of elytra. Additionally, ten new distributional records of Anomala species from China and neighboring countries are provided.
Nomenclatural act
Anomala xiongi Wang & Zorn spec. nov. – urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:F10AD66D-BEF8-41E2-B22D-42D0492D9E95
Estimating ferric iron content in clinopyroxene using machine learning models
Authors: Huang Wei-hua , Lyu Yang , Du Ming-hao , He Can , Gao Shang-de , Xu Ren-jun , Xia Qun-ke , ZhangZhou J 
Published: October 2021

AbstractClinopyroxene ferric iron content is an important consideration for garnet-clinopyroxene geothermometry and estimations of water storage in the Earth’s interior but remains difficult and expensive to measure. Here, we develop seven classic algorithms and machine learning methods to estimate Fe3+/ΣFe in clinopyroxene using major element data from electron microprobe analyses. The models were first trained using a large data set of clinopyroxene Fe3+/ΣFe values determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy and spanning a wide compositional range, with major uncertainties ranging from 0.25 to 0.3 and root-mean-square errors on the test data set ranging from 0.071 to 0.089. After dividing the entire data set into three compositional sub-data sets, the machine learning models were trained and compared for each sub-data set. Our results suggest that ensemble learning algorithms (random forest and Extra-Trees) perform better than principal component analysis-based elastic net polynomial, artificial neural network, artificial neural network ensemble, decision trees, and linear regressions. Using a sub-data set excluding clinopyroxene in spinel peridotite and omphacite in eclogite, the new models achieved uncertainties of 0.15 to 0.2 and root-mean-square errors on the test data set ranging from 0.051 to 0.078, decreasing prediction errors by 30–40%. By incorporating compositional data on coexisting spinel, new models for clinopyroxene in spinel peridotite show improved performance, indicating the interaction between spinel and clinopyroxene in spinel peridotite. Feature importance analysis shows Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ to be the most important for predicting Fe3+ content, supporting the coupled substitution between Ca2+-M2+ and Na+-M3+ in natural clinopyroxenes. The application of our models to garnet-clinopyroxene geothermometry greatly improves temperature estimates, achieving uncertainties of ±50 °C, compared with uncertainties of ±250 °C using previous models assuming all Fe as Fe2+ or calculating Fe3+ by charge conservation. Differences in the ferric iron contents, as calculated using the machine learning models, of clinopyroxenes that did or did not experience hydrogen diffusion during their crystallization from basaltic magma support a redox-driven mechanism for hydrogen diffusion in clinopyroxene.
“As janelas vitrais do século XXI” em meio ambientes sociolinguísticos cada vez mais complexos: as pichações e os grafites na cidade de Juiz de Fora/MG
Authors: Soares Mariana Schuchter , Peters Salgado Ana Claudia 
Published: October 2021

Este trabalho, que é parte do projeto de pesquisa A mobilidade social e suas implicações na paisagem linguística de Juiz de Fora/MG, aprovado no Edital 01/2015 - Demanda Universal/Fapemig, tem como objetivo discutir questões relacionadas à mobilidade dos signos, cujas formas viajam frequentemente sem problemas, enquanto outros recursos, tais como indexicalidade, significados e valor social acabam ganhando novos contornos em novos contextos. Para isso, utilizamos as teorias de Vertovec (2007) sobre superdiversidade, de Blommaert (2010, 2012, 2013) sobre globalização e superdiversidade, e de Kroon, Jie e Blommaert (2011) sobre textos que se movem. Nesse sentido, analisamos fotografias de pichações e grafites encontrados pela cidade de Juiz de Fora/MG, buscando demonstrar como a superdiversidade, e de Kroon, Jie e Blommaert (2011) sobre textos que se movem. Nesse sentido, analisamos fotografias de pichações e grafites encontrados pela cidade de Juiz de Fora/MG, buscando demonstrar como a superdiversidade, produto de movimentos migratórios e do desenvolvimento da tecnologia, pode ser vivenciada através de repertórios comunicativos cada vez mais diversificados.
Pharmacokinetic Study of Hypaphorine, a Potential Agent for Treating
Osteoclast-based Bone Loss, on Rats Using LC-MS/MS
Authors: Zhang Taiyuan , Xiong Shan , Yan Yan , Xue Yutao , Ran Wenwen , Xu Qiao 
Published: October 2021

Aim and Objective:
A high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry
(LC-MS/MS) method for determining hypaphorine, a potential agent for treating osteoclast-
based bone loss, was developed and validated in rat plasma.

Materials and Methods:
Plasma samples were pretreated by the protein precipitation. Chromatographic
separation was performed using an Inertsil ODS-3 column (50 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 μm). The
mobile phase consisted of water (containing 0.1% formic acid) and acetonitrile in a gradient mode
at a flow rate of 0.5 mL/min. The transitions from protonated precursor ion [M + H]+ to the particular
daughter ion were acquired using selected reaction monitoring (SRM). The mass transitions
of hypaphorine and IS were found to be 247 → 188 and m/z 219 → 188, respectively. The method
was validated in terms of selectivity, linearity, accuracy and precision, extraction recovery and matrix
effect, stability, and carryover.

Results:
It showed good linearity over the range of 1-2000 ng/mL (R2 = 0.9978). The intra-batch
accuracy was within 93.95-105.81%, and the precision was within 4.92-11.53%. The inter-batch
accuracy was within 96.18-100.39% with a precision of 6.22-11.23%. The extraction recovery and
matrix factors were acceptable.

Conclusion:
The simple and rapid method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study
in rats following oral administration of hypaphorine at the doses of 0.5, 1.5, and 4.5 mg/kg.
A Comparative Computational Analysis Approach to Predict Significant
Protein-Protein Interactions of Human and Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus
faecalis (VRE) to Prioritize Potential Drug Targets
Authors: Uddin Reaz , Khan Kanwal 
Published: October 2021

Background:
Various challenges exist in the treatment of infectious diseases due to the significant
rise in drug resistance, resulting in the failure of antibiotic treatment. As a consequence, a dire need
has arisen for the rethinking of the drug discovery cycle because of the challenge of drug resistance. The
underlying cause of the infectious diseases depends upon associations within the Host-pathogen Protein-
Protein Interactions (HP-PPIs) network, which represents a key to unlock new pathogenesis mechanisms.
Hence, the elucidation of significant PPIs is a promising approach for the identification of potential drug
targets.

Objective:
Identification of the most significant HP-PPIs and their partners, and targeting them to prioritize
potential new drug targets against Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE).

Methods:
We applied a computational approach based on one of the emerging techniques i.e. Interolog
methodology to predict the significant Host-Pathogen PPIs. Structure-Based Studies were applied to
model shortlisted protein structures and validate them through PSIPRED, PROCHECK, VERIFY3D, and
ERRAT tools. Furthermore, 18,000 drug-like compounds from the ZINC library were docked against
these proteins to study protein-chemical interactions using the AutoDock based molecular docking method.

Results:
The study resulted in the identification of 118 PPIs for Enterococcus faecalis, and prioritized two
novel drug targets i.e. Exodeoxyribonuclease (ExoA) and ATP-dependent Clp protease proteolytic subunit
(ClpP). Consequently, the docking program ranked 2,670 and 3,154 compounds as potential binders
against Exodeoxyribonuclease and ATP-dependent Clp protease proteolytic subunit, respectively.

Conclusion:
Thereby, the current study enabled us to identify and prioritize potential PPIs in VRE and
their interacting proteins in human hosts along with the pool of novel drug candidates.