bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Propionic acid induces apoptosis‐like death in Escherichia coli O157
Authors: Kim Minji , Lee Dong G. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractPropionic acid (PPA), utilized in the manufacture of cellulose acetate propionate, is known to exhibit antimicrobial effects, but its mechanism in Escherichia coli O157 is still unknown. In general, antimicrobial activity is associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS), but ROS generation is not observed under PPA treatment. In addition to ROS, experiments were conducted to observe changes in trehalose and ion balance to discover factors that may affect the cell proliferation. Bacteria use trehalose, a sugar used for stabilization due to stress factors, which contradicts PPA concentration. Discrepancy in homeostasis follows as a result of ion imbalance. PPA causes interruption in bacterial internal stability in a dose‐dependent manner. Membrane damage by ion imbalance occurs due to the binding ability of ionized PPA and divalent ions, which induce membrane depolarization, leading to a reduction in cell viability. Considering the lethal impact of membrane depolarization on cell death in bacteria, DNA fragmentation and phosphatidylserine exposure in apoptosis are confirmed. Due to severe damage in DNA, the activation of caspase‐like protein is observed. Apoptosis‐like death (ALD), a novel programmed cell death in bacteria, occurs eventually. In conclusion, ALD in E. coli O157 is induced via the contribution of homeostasis disruption in a ROS‐independent manner.
Self‐targeting spacers in CRISPR‐array: Accidental occurrence or evolutionarily conserved phenomenon
Authors: Devi Veena , Harjai Kusum , Chhibber Sanjay 
Published: December 2021

AbstractIn recent years, a tremendous amount of inquisitiveness among scientists in the clustered regularly interspaced short palindrome repeats (CRISPR)–CRISPR‐associated proteins (Cas) has led to many studies to delineate their exact role in prokaryotes. CRISPR–Cas is an adaptive immune system that protects prokaryotes from phages and mobile genetic elements. It incorporates small DNA fragment of the invader in the CRISPR‐array and protects the host from future invasion by them. In a few instances, the CRISPR‐array also incorporates self‐targeting spacers, most likely by accident or leaky incorporation. A significant number of spacers are found to match with the host genes across the species; however, self‐targeting spacers have not been investigated in detail in most of the organisms. The presence of self‐targeting spacers in the CRISPR‐array led to speculation that the CRISPR–Cas system has a lot more to offer than just being the conventional adaptive immune system. It has been implicated in gene regulation and autoimmunity more or less equally. In this review, an attempt has been made to understand self‐targeting spacers in the context of gene regulation, autoimmunity, and its avoidance strategies.
Utilization and evolving prescribing practice of opioid and non‐opioid analgesics in patients undergoing lymphadenectomy for cutaneous malignancy
Authors: Witt Russell G. , Cope Brandon , Chiang Yi‐Ju , Newhook Timothy , Lillemoe Heather , Tzeng Ching‐Wei D. , Chen Iris B. , Fisher Sarah B. , Lucci Anthony , Wargo Jennifer A. , Lee Jeffrey E. , Ross Merrick I. , Gershenwald Jeffrey E. , Robinson Justine , Keung Emily Z. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesOpioids are commonly prescribed following surgery and can lead to persistent opioid use. We assessed changes in prescribing practices following an opioid education initiative for patients undergoing lymphadenectomy for cutaneous malignancy.MethodsA single‐institution retrospective study of all eligible patients (3/2016–3/2020) was performed.ResultsIndications for lymphadenectomy in 328 patients were metastatic melanoma (84%), squamous cell carcinoma (10%), and Merkel cell carcinoma (5%). At discharge, non‐opioid analgesics were increasingly utilized over the 4‐year study period, with dramatic increases after education initiatives (32%, 42%, 59%, and 79% of pts, respectively each year; p < 0.001). Median oral morphine equivalents (OMEs) prescribed also decreased dramatically starting in year 3 (250, 238, 150, and 100 mg, respectively; p < 0.001). Patients discharged with 200 mg OMEs were less likely to also be discharged with non‐opioid analgesics (40% vs. 64%. respectively, p < 0.001).ConclusionsAnalgesic prescribing practices following lymphadenectomy for cutaneous malignancy improved significantly over a 4‐year period, with use of non‐opioids more than doubling and a 60% reduction in median OME. Opportunities exist to further increase non‐opioid use and decrease opioid dissemination after lymphadenectomy for cutaneous malignancy.
Hearing Loss and Its Burden of Disease in a Large German Cohort—Hearing Loss in Germany
Authors: Hackenberg Berit , Döge Julia , Lackner Karl J. , Beutel Manfred E. , Münzel Thomas , Pfeiffer Norbert , Nagler Markus , Schmidtmann Irene , Wild Philipp S. , Matthias Christoph , Bahr Katharina 
Published: December 2021

Objectives/HypothesisHearing loss is the most common sensory impairment worldwide. It restricts patients in many aspects of their daily lives and can lead to social exclusion. Understanding this burden is a mandatory requirement for the care of those affected. Therefore, the aim of this study was to estimate the burden of hearing loss in a large German cohort.Study DesignCohort study.MethodsThe Gutenberg Health Study is designed as a single‐center, prospective, and observational cohort study and representative for the city of Mainz, Germany, with its district. Participants were interviewed concerning common otologic symptoms and tested by pure‐tone audiometry. The primary outcome was hearing impairment stratified by age and sex. The prevalence of tinnitus was estimated for a subcohort to calculate disability‐adjusted life years (DALYs). All results were weighted by the European Standard Population (ESP) 2013.ResultsA total of 5,024 participants (mean age: 61.2 years, 2,591 men and 2,433 women) were included in the study. Hearing impairment showed the following prevalence: 28.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 26.9%–29.4%) mild impairment, 10.1% (95% CI, 9.3%–11.0%) moderate impairment, 2.3% (95% CI, 1.9%–2.7%) moderately severe impairment, 0.2% (95% CI, 0.1%–0.4%) severe impairment, 0% (95% CI, 0.0%–0.1%) profound impairment, and 0.1% (95% CI, 0.0%–0.2%) complete impairment. Weighted for the ESP 2013 (all ages), hearing impairment across all levels (with/without tinnitus) causes a total of 2,118.97 DALYs per 100,000.ConclusionWith 40.9% affected, the hearing loss represents a relevant burden of the German population. Understanding this will provide the basis for future guidelines on how to care for these patients.Level of Evidence2 Laryngoscope, 132:1843–1849, 2022
Nasally inhaled therapeutics and vaccination for COVID‐19: Developments and challenges
Authors: Xi Jinxiang , Lei Lameng Ray , Zouzas William , April Si Xiuhua 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe nose is the initial site of viral infection, replication, and transmission in the human body. Nasally inhaled vaccines may act as a promising alternative for COVID‐19 management in addition to intramuscular vaccination. In this review, the latest developments of nasal sprays either as repurposed or antiviral formulations were presented. Nasal vaccines based on traditional medicines, such as grapefruit seed extract, algae‐isolated carrageenan, and Yogurt‐fermenting Lactobacillus, are promising and under active investigations. Inherent challenges that hinder effective intranasal delivery were discussed in detail, which included nasal device issues and human nose physiological complexities. We examined factors related to nasal spray administration, including the nasal angiotensin I converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) locations as the delivery target, nasal devices, medication translocation after application, delivery methods, safety issues, and other nasal delivery options. The effects of human factors on nasal spray efficacy, such as nasal physiology, disease‐induced physiological modifications, intersubject variability, and mucociliary clearance, were also examined. Finally, the potential impact of nasal vaccines on COVID‐19 management in the developing world was discussed. It is concluded that effective delivery of nasal sprays to ACE2‐rich regions is urgently needed, especially in the context that new variants may become unresponsive to current vaccines and more refractory to existing therapies.
Greedy Motzkin–Kaczmarz methods for solving linear systems
Authors: Zhang Yanjun , Li Hanyu 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe famous greedy randomized Kaczmarz (GRK) method uses the greedy selection rule on maximum distance to determine a subset of the indices of working rows. In this paper, with the greedy selection rule on maximum residual, we propose the greedy randomized Motzkin–Kaczmarz (GRMK) method for linear systems. The block version of the new method is also presented. We analyze the convergence of the two methods and provide the corresponding convergence factors. The computational complexities of the proposed methods are also given. Extensive numerical experiments show that the GRMK method has almost the same performance as the GRK method for dense matrices and the former performs better in computing time for some sparse matrices and some realistic practical problems, and their block versions have almost the same performance for most of cases.
Preparation, Characterization and Antimicrobial Properties of Nanosized Silver‐Containing Carbon/Silica Composites from Rice Husk Waste
Authors: Unglaube Felix , Lammers Alexander , Kreyenschulte Carsten Robert , Lalk Michael , Mejía Esteban 
Published: December 2021

AbstractRice husk, one of the main side products in the rice production, and its sustainable management represent a challenge in many countries. Herein, we describe the use of this abundant agricultural bio‐waste as feedstock for the preparation of silver‐containing carbon/silica nano composites with antimicrobial properties. The synthesis was performed using a fast and cheap methodology consisting of wet impregnation followed by pyrolysis, yielding C/SiO2 composite materials doped with varying amounts of silver from 28 to 0.001 wt %. The materials were fully characterized and their antimicrobial activity against ESKAPE pathogens, namely E. faecium, S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, P. aeruginosa, and E. coli, and the pathogenic yeast C. albicans was investigated. Sensitivities of these strains against the prepared materials were demonstrated, even with exceptional low amounts of 0.015 m% silver. Hence, we report a straightforward method for the synthesis of antimicrobial agents from abundant sources which addresses urgent questions like bio‐waste valorization and affordable alternatives to increasingly fewer effective antibiotics.
Effect of projectile nose on high‐velocity impact behavior of fiber metal laminates
Authors: Majzoobi Gholamhossein , Kashfi Mohammad , Keshavarzan Mohsen , Riazalhosseini Mohammadreza 
Published: December 2021

AbstractFiber metal laminates (FMLs) are a class of hybrid materials consisting of several thin metal layers bonded by layers of composite material. In the present study, the ballistic limit, absorbed energy, specific perforation energy and failure mechanism of FML 2/1 (Al/GFRE/Al) and FML 3/2 (Al/GFRE/Al/GFRE/Al) are numerically and experimentally studied under the high‐velocity impact loading using a single‐stage light gas gun. In addition, the ballistic behavior of FML 2/1 and FML 3/2 is investigated using three different projectile nose geometries. Numerical simulation of the ballistic tests was performed to determine the residual velocity and the FML panel failure mechanism by using AUTODYN. The results indicated that the highest ballistic limit for FML 2/1 and FML 3/2 was obtained for the conical nosed projectile and the ballistic limit of FML 3/2 was 75.63% higher than FML 2/1. Although the FML 3/2 thickness is ~67% higher than FML 2/1, the specific perforation energy of FML 3/2 is improved by 72.51%, 55.26%, and 89.22% compared to FML 2/1 for blunt, hemispherical, and conical nosed projectiles, respectively.
Biochar from waste agriculture as reinforcement filer for styrene/butadiene rubber
Authors: Abd El‐Aziz Mahmoud E. , Shafik Emad S. , Tawfic Medhat L. , Morsi Samir M. M. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractCarbon black (CB), obtained by incomplete combustion of heavy petroleum products, is the most important filler used to improve the properties of various rubber composites. Its production process causes very serious environmental impacts in addition to its dependence on nonrenewable resources. Therefore, the trend has been to use eco‐friendly alternative materials that reduce the pollution associated with the CB production process and at the same time achieve the required mechanical properties of rubber composites. Biochar, a carbon‐rich solid product, could fulfill this role. It can be obtained by pyrolysis of organic matter such as agricultural waste in the absence of air at temperatures of 400–600°C. Herein, biochar was used in different ratios with CB to investigate its effect on the mechanical properties of styrene/butadiene rubber. The chemical composition of biochar and CB was investigated using a scanning electron microscopy and X‐ray fluorescence. In addition, the thermal properties, tensile strength, elongation at break, as well as thermo‐oxidative aging of the prepared rubber were studied. The tensile strength for styrene/butadiene rubber (SBR) composites containing 100% CB was 14.9 MPa, which decreases by adding biochar where it becomes 13.5, 11.2, 9.5, and 6.9 for SBR composites containing 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% biochar, respectively. Furthermore, the vulcanized sample with 25% biochar (E2) shows higher retained tensile strength values than that containing 100% CB (E1) with increasing the aging time.
Improvement of mechanical and interfacial properties of hot water and sodium bicarbonate treated jute fibers for manufacturing high performance natural composites
Authors: Sarker Forkan , Uddin MD Zulhash , Sowrov Kazi , Islam Md Shakirul , Miah Amran 
Published: December 2021

AbstractUses of natural fibers in the field of composites are often restricted by their poor mechanical and interfacial properties. Fiber constitutions have significant influence over both of these properties. Traditional alkali treatment is mainly used to solve this problem which is not environmentally friendly and also not cost effective. A cost effective, less hazardous and sustainable sodium bicarbonate chemical treatment has been used as an alternative of traditional mercerization on jute fibers with an objective of manufacturing high‐performance natural fiber composites. Jute fibers were hand combed and treated with hot water and bicarbonate (5% and 10%) and further reinforced with epoxy resin to make composites. The mechanical characterizations of jute fiber were carried out using single fiber tensile tests; reliability analysis of the experimental data was performed. Interfacial adhesion of jute fiber with an epoxy matrix was investigated by using single fiber pull‐out techniques. The mechanical behavior of jute fiber/epoxy composites was studied by flexural testing. FTIR analysis indicates that sodium bicarbonate treatment can progressively remove hemicellulose and reduce the content of lignins present in the fiber. The results also showed that a 10% sodium bicarbonate concentration increased the tensile properties of jute fiber, enhanced the interfacial shear strength and flexural properties of jute/epoxy composites.
Factor structure of audiences' physical experience while watching dance
Authors: Vukadinović Maja S. , Marković Slobodan 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe aim of this study is to explore factor structure of audiences' physical experience and their related bodily sensations when watching dance choreographies. This study also includes the process of developing an instrument for measuring the observers' physical experience of dance choreographies and their related kinesthetic responses to watching dance. In the main study, participants rated their physical experiences and kinesthetic responses when watching 16 different dance choreographies of various dance forms, including contemporary dance, jazz, tango, and hip‐hop. Three factors of the observers' physical experiences when watching dance were identified: Action Tendency, Arousal, and Relaxation. Furthermore, the results show that the structure of the observers' kinesthetic responses when watching dance consisted of three factors: Focus, Excitement and Embodied Anticipation. The spectators' physical experiences and bodily sensations in response to an observed dance are the result of their engagement in the dance, the pleasure they draw from the dance, the emotions provoked in them, and their admiration for the performance. These findings are in line with the concept of kinesthetic empathy, which can be understood as the experience of sharing a dancer's movements.
Thermally driven self‐healing PEDOT conductive films relying on reversible and multiple Diels–Alder interaction
Authors: Yu Jiarui , Gao Nan , Xie Xiaowen , Xin Xing , Li Zhanqi , Chen Shuai , Xu Jingkun 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThermally healing capability of cracks and defects is important and urgent for the safe operation and life extending of electric materials and devices. Here, by the combination of thermally driven reversible Diels–Alder (DA) interaction and in‐situ chemical oxidative polymerization of 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT), a series of intrinsically conductive poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)/DA composites possess intrinsically self‐healing property under low‐temperature (reverse DA reaction at 100°C; DA crosslinking at 60°C) stimulus were achieved. The crosslinking DA bonding reactions are multiple from the co‐existence of pre‐synthesized macromolecular polyurethane attached DA units (PU‐DA) and 2,4‐hexadiyne‐1,6‐diol (DADOL) in the films. PU‐DA involved in the polymerization process of EDOT to endow PEDOT with outstanding solution‐processability, uniform film making, and structural self‐healing capability, while DADOL was added to enhance the cross bonding between polymer chains. This work will accelerate the research and application development of intrinsically self‐healing conducting polymers for commercial capacitors, antistatic coatings, implantable, printable electronics, and so on.
SnOct2‐catalyzed ROPs of l‐lactide initiated by acidic OH‐ compounds: Switching from ROP to polycondensation and cyclization
Authors: Weidner Steffen M. , Kricheldorf Hans R. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractRing‐opening polymerizations (ROPs) of l‐lactide are performed in bulk at 130°C with tin(II) 2‐ethylhexanoate as catalyst and various phenols of different acidity as initiators. Crystalline polylactides having phenyl ester end groups are isolated, which are almost free of cyclics. The dispersities and molecular weights are higher than those obtained from alcohol‐initiated ROPs under identical conditions. Polymerizations at 160°C yield higher molecular weights than expected from the monomer/initiator ratio and a considerable fraction of cycles. The fraction of cycles increases with higher reactivity of the ester end group indicating that the cycles are formed by end‐to‐end cyclization.
Rural financial intermediation and poverty reduction in Ghana: A micro‐level analysis
Authors: Danquah Michael , Iddrisu Abdul Malik , Quartey Peter , Ohemeng Williams , Barimah Alfred 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe financial sector in rural areas, where most of the poor people in sub‐Saharan Africa are found, has transformed massively in recent times, notably through the increased penetration of several types of rural financial intermediaries in addition to rural and community banks and microfinance institutions. Using recent household survey data, we ascertain the access of rural populations to various types of financial services, and the influence of rural financial intermediation on poverty reduction, in Ghana. By accounting for the potential endogeneity of access to financial services, we show that rural households with access to basic financial services are significantly more likely to be nonpoor than those without such access. To more sustainably tackle the goal highlighted in the sustainable development goals of eliminating global hunger or extreme poverty, the poor must be allowed to obtain meaningful access to financial services through the design of efficient pro‐poor financial products.
Degradation of gemfibrozil in aqueous solutions by gas–liquid dielectric barrier discharge plasma combined with CNTs/γFe2O3
Authors: Xu Zimu , Zhu Bin , Ye Zhengxin , Zhang Nannan , Shen Jie , Lan Yan , Hu Shuheng , Cheng Cheng , Li Yunxia , Yang Fan , Chu Paul K. 
Published: December 2021

AbstractThe degradation effects and mechanism on gemfibrozil (GEM) in aqueous solution by dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma combined with the catalyst CNTs/γFe2O3 are investigated. The concentrations of plasma‐generated reactive species, including H2O2, O3, , and OH, are measured with spectrophotometric and fluorescent probes. The effects of the plasma treatment period, discharge power, initial GEM concentration, solution pH value, conductivity, and the catalytic property are studied on the degradation rate and energy efficiency. Compared with the sole plasma treatment, CNTs/γFe2O3 could maximally improve the GEM degradation rate and energy efficiency to 99.7% ± 0.2% and 76.5 ± 5.2 mg·kW−1·h−1, respectively. The solution's total organic carbon removal efficiency has been increased to 47.2% ± 2.7%. Meanwhile, the possible degradation pathways of the plasma‐treated GEM solution and overall biological toxicity of GEM degradation intermediates and residual catalyst in solution are investigated.
High‐intensity interval training attenuates the effects caused by arterial hypertension in the ventral prostate
Authors: Correia Rafael Ribeiro , Batista Victor Rogério Garcia , Veras Allice Santos Cruz , Tavares Maria Eduarda de Almeida , Souza Francilene Lima Agostinho , Pacagnelli Francis Lopes , Campos Dijon Henrique Salomé , Giometti Ines Cristina , Teixeira Giovana Rampazzo 
Published: December 2021

AbstractBackgroundThe prostatic effects induced by arterial hypertension is very controversial and its mechanism is unclear. High‐intensity interval training (HIIT) is an exercise considered to be hypotensive. The objective of this work was to investigate the molecular, biochemical, and morphological effects of 8 weeks of HIIT in the prostatic tissue of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).MethodsTwenty male SHR rats, 51.4 weeks old, were used. The SHR animals were divided into two groups: spontaneously sedentary hypertensive and spontaneously hypertensive submitted to HIIT. We analyze androgens receptor and glucocorticoid receptors in the prostate. Still, we verify effects of the hypertension and HIIT on the physiopathology prostatic, for immunohistochemistry investigated BCL‐2, BAX, IGF‐1, FAS/CD95, data's inflammatory tumour necrosis factor α, nuclear factor kappa B and interleukin (IL)‐6, anti‐inflammatory IL‐10. The echocardiographic evaluation was performed at the baseline and after the training period.ResultsArterial hypertension promote high prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia incidence in the prostate, increases IGF‐1, BCL‐2 (p < 0.05), and inflammatory proteins (p < 0.05). Eight weeks of HIIT training reduced the arterial pressure and increase the concentration of tissue collagen and intracellular glycogen and showed a higher expression of BAX, FAS/CD95, and IL‐10 proteins (p < 0.05), coinciding with a lower incidence of lesions and lower prostate weight (p < 0.05) and reduction of the BCL‐2 and IGF‐1.ConclusionOur data suggested that arterial hypertension suppressed apoptosis and increased damage prostatic. On other hand, HIIT promotes morphology and function improves in the prostatic environment, inhibited inflammation, and increased apoptosis.