bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of long‐term acclimation to different growth light intensities on the regulation of zeaxanthin epoxidase in different plant species
Authors: Bethmann Stephanie , Haas Ann‐Kathrin , Melzer Michael , Jahns Peter 
Published: August 2023

AbstractProper short‐ and long‐term acclimation to different growth light intensities is essential for the survival and competitiveness of plants in the field. High light exposure is known to induce the down‐regulation and photoinhibition of photosystem II (PSII) activity to reduce photo‐oxidative stress. The xanthophyll zeaxanthin (Zx) serves central photoprotective functions in these processes. We have shown in recent work with different plant species (Arabidopsis, tobacco, spinach and pea) that photoinhibition of PSII and degradation of the PSII reaction center protein D1 is accompanied by the inactivation and degradation of zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP), which catalyzes the reconversion of Zx to violaxanthin. Different high light sensitivity of the above‐mentioned species correlated with differential down‐regulation of both PSII and ZEP activity. Applying light and electron microscopy, chlorophyll fluorescence, and protein and pigment analyses, we investigated the acclimation properties of these species to different growth light intensities with respect to the ability to adjust their photoprotective strategies. We show that the species differ in phenotypic plasticity in response to short‐ and long‐term high light conditions at different morphological and physiological levels. However, the close co‐regulation of PSII and ZEP activity remains a common feature in all species and under all conditions. This work supports species‐specific acclimation strategies and properties in response to high light stress and underlines the central role of the xanthophyll Zx in photoprotection.
Revisiting the academic–practitioner divide: Evidence from computational social science and corpus linguistics
Authors: Walker Richard M. , Zhang Jiasheng , Chandra Yanto , Dong Binzizi , Wang Yao 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAs a design science, public administration is focused on addressing real‐world problems. However, within public administration argument and evidence on the relevance of academic research to practice agendas is equivocal. We investigate the “academic–practitioner divide” using computational social science techniques to identify the topics of “academic,” “academic–practitioner,” and practitioner corpora over a 25‐year period. Topic modeling results of the 50 topics identified in each of these corpora suggest that the topics of academics and practitioners have more differences than similarities: nearly seven‐tenths of the identified topics differ between the practice corpus and the academic and academic–practice corpora. Corpus linguistics analysis is applied to contrast the keyness of topics over time, and the results confirm the largely different agendas of the corpora albeit with some convergence on governance and outcomes. Corpora examined in this article is largely suggestive of a lack of relevance of academic research to practice agendas.
A little help from my friends: Lack of social interaction predicts greater boredom during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Lin Yijun , LePine S. Elisha , Krause Ashley N. , Westgate Erin C. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractWere people bored during the pandemic, and if so why? One possibility is lack of social interaction due to restrictions on social activity intended to slow the spread of communicable disease. In a 3‐week daily diary study (n = 438; international community sample) social interaction predicted boredom and its consequences. People felt more bored on days when they engaged in less social interaction than usual (in‐person or virtually), largely driven by a lack of meaning. In turn, boredom predicted lower well‐being concurrently, and more virtual interaction the next day; people dispositionally higher in trait boredom also reported more solitary (but not partnered) sexual activity. In conclusion, this study suggests that maintaining social connections, even during a pandemic, may be important to mitigate boredom and improve overall well‐being.
Evaluation of Thermal Admittance of Compressed Earth Bricks C.E.B Configurations for School Buildings in Hot-dry climate region of North-western Nigeria
Authors: Maimagani Sanusi Sani , Abdul Majid Roshida , Pau Chung Leng 
Published: August 2023

Permeation of heat into the school building enclosure through external walls components of the building resulting into the numerous consequences which causes unhealthy indoor living conditions for teaching and learning activities, which has a negative impacts on the students general academic performance and their productivity, the study carried out a fieldwork experimentation where four experimental models (chambers) were built using four dissimilar compressed earth (C.E.B) configurations; compressed earth horizontal hollow brick (C.E.H.H.B), compressed earth vertical hollow brick (C.E.V.H.B), compressed earth cellular brick (C.E.C.B), and compressed earth solid brick (C.E.S.B) respectively, data were collected from fieldwork experimental chambers using two distinct wall surface temperature measuring devices; an onset UX120-M600 4-channel analogue data logger and Testo 835 Infrared thermometer which were utilized to measure the interior wall surface temperature facing the west direction of each experimental chamber to determine the rate of thermal admittance of the entire chambers built with distinct C.E.B configurations, the extracted data using surface temperature measuring instrument were analyzed using the spss software package for identification of the C.E.B configurations with the least thermal permeation from outdoor environment to indoor space of the school building via external walls of the building. After the statistical analysis, the study's outcome revealed that compressed earth horizontal hollow brick (C.E.H.H.B) has a minimum heat transfer rate of (34.933OC) and (35.7493OC), among other C.E.B configurations. This undoubtedly indicated the appropriate C.E.B configurations for school buildings in hot-dry climate regions of northwestern Nigeria.
The Relationship Between Kindergarten Teachers' Perceptions and Children's Readiness Skills in Selangor, Malaysia: A Survey Study
Authors: Ghazali Azam , Mohamad Ashari Zakiah , Abu Bakar Azlina 
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this study is to learn about teachers' perceptions of children's readiness skills by understanding the different types of skills and their importance to children who will enter primary school in the future. There are 4 main objectives in this study which are (i) to explore the types of children's readiness skills; (ii) to explore teachers' perceptions of children's readiness skills; (iii) to find out the relationship between teachers' perceptions and children's readiness skills; and (iv) to find out the difference between male and female teachers' perceptions towards children's readiness skills. This study is a quantitative study where it was only conducted using a survey method which is a set of questionnaires was distributed to 112 participants consisting of trainee teachers, young teachers, experienced teachers, and early childhood education practitioners in Selangor. The data were analyzed by using Statistical Software Package for Sciences (SPSS) version 25 to obtain percentage, standard deviation and mean. Findings show teachers understand the level of readiness skills required by children in kindergarten. Besides, their perceptions of the readiness skills needed by children is also at a good level. Several suggestions have been made to the Malaysian Ministry of Education to ensure that the emphasis on child well-being through positive learning is implemented in kindergarten so that children can improve their readiness skills when they are entering the primary school. Furthermore, researchers have stated the implications on children's readiness skills, specifically the role of the school and parents in providing opportunities for them to explore their surrounding so that they demonstrate a clear nature of readiness to learn.
Improved Ballistic Impact Resistance of Nanofibrillar Cellulose Films With Discontinuous Fibrous Bouligand Architecture
Authors: Caviness Colby , Chen Yitong , Yang Zhangke , Wang Haoyu , Wu Yongren , Meng Zhaoxu 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Natural protective materials offer unparalleled solutions for impact-resistant material designs that are simultaneously lightweight, strong, and tough. Particularly, the Bouligand structure found in the dactyl club of mantis shrimp and the staggered structure in nacre achieve excellent mechanical strength, toughness, and impact resistance. Previous studies have shown that hybrid designs by combining different bioinspired microstructures can lead to enhanced mechanical strength and energy dissipation. Nevertheless, it remains unknown whether combining Bouligand and staggered structures in nanofibrillar cellulose (NFC) films, forming a discontinuous fibrous Bouligand (DFB) architecture, can achieve enhanced impact resistance against projectile penetration. Additionally, the failure mechanisms under such dynamic loading conditions have been minimally understood. In our study, we systematically investigate the dynamic failure mechanisms and quantify the impact resistance of NFC thin films with DFB architecture by leveraging previously developed coarse-grained models and ballistic impact molecular dynamics simulations. We find that when nanofibrils achieve a critical length and form DFB architecture, the impact resistance of NFC films outperforms the counterpart films with continuous fibrils by comparing their specific ballistic limit velocities and penetration energies. We also find that the underlying mechanisms contributing to this improvement include enhanced fibril sliding, intralayer and interlayer crack bridging, and crack twisting in the thickness direction enabled by the DFB architecture. Our results show that by combining Bouligand and staggered structures in NFC films, their potential for protective applications can be further improved. Our findings can provide practical guidelines for the design of protective films made of nanofibrils.
Three-Dimensional-Slice-Super-Resolution-Net: A Fast Few Shooting Learning Model for 3D Super-Resolution Using Slice-Up and Slice-Reconstruction
Authors: Lin Hongbin , Xu Qingfeng , Xu Handing , Xu Yanjie , Zheng Yiming , Zhong Yubin , Nie Zhenguo 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
3D modeling accurately depicts the physical world but typically requires substantial data acquisition resources and significant storage space. We introduce a novel three-dimensional slice-reconstruction model (3DSR) to address these challenges. This 3D data super-resolution model leverages low-resolution 3D data as input to generate high-resolution results promptly and accurately, reducing the time and storage required to create detailed 3D models. To enhance the computational efficiency and accuracy of deep learning models, the 3D data are partitioned into multiple slices. The 3DSR processes each slice into a high-resolution 2D image, which is then reassembled into high-resolution 3D data. Our slice-up method and slice-reconstruction technique are specifically designed to preserve the primary characteristics of the 3D data. We employ a pre-trained deep 2D convolutional neural network to expand the resolution of the 2D image, resulting in excellent performance. This approach reduces the time required for training deep learning models and enhances computational efficiency during the resolution improvement process. Importantly, our model can deliver superior performance even when trained on fewer data.
Experimental Study on the Simulated Defects Detection in Submerged Transmission Pipeline
Authors: Durai Mathivanan , Huang Chun-Wei , Chi-Chuan Peng , Lan Chou-Wei , Son Kwon Joong , Chang Ho 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
The transport of oil, natural gas, water, and other petrochemical substances is extensively supported by pipelines over long distances. However, long-term use without maintenance causes the residue in the pipeline to gradually settle in the pipeline due to physical or chemical action, and the pipeline becomes an accident. This leads to overpressure and leakages in the pipeline, which in turn affects the safety of the industry and people's lives. This study aims to develop a nondestructive inspection to measure defects in a water pipeline using an ultrasonic technique. An SCH80 carbon steel pipe with a standard thickness of about 11 mm was used for the experiments, and various sets of defects inside and outside of the pipe were simulated, such as holes and grooves. A submerged ultrasonic transducer was used to evaluate the simulated pipeline defects and then acquire the defect data in an imaging system using LabVIEW and origin software. In this way, the thickness and location of the defects were clearly located. In addition, the ultrasonic detection error was calculated to be less than 6.5%. It helps to use this technique and equipment for the inspection of underground fluid pipelines.
A novel ruthenium-silver based antimicrobial potentiates aminoglycoside activity against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Donkor Gracious Yoofi , Anderson Greg M. , Stadler Michael , Tawiah Patrick Ofori , Orellano Carl D. , Edwards Kevin A. , Dahl Jan-Ulrik 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

The rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance combined with the decline in the discovery of novel antibiotics represents a major challenge for infectious disease control that can only be mitigated by investments in novel treatment strategies. Alternative antimicrobials, including silver, have regained interest due to their diverse mechanisms of inhibiting microbial growth. One such example is AGXX, a broad-spectrum antimicrobial that produces highly cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) to inflict extensive macromolecular damage. Due to the connections identified between ROS production and antibiotic lethality, we hypothesized that AGXX could potentially increase the activity of conventional antibiotics. Using the gram-negative pathogen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
, we screened possible synergistic effects of AGXX on several antibiotic classes. We found that the combination of AGXX and aminoglycosides tested at sublethal concentrations led to a rapid exponential decrease in bacterial survival and restored the sensitivity of a kanamycin-resistant strain. ROS production contributes significantly to the bactericidal effects of AGXX/aminoglycoside treatments, which is dependent on oxygen availability and can be reduced by the addition of ROS scavengers. Additionally,
P. aeruginosa
strains deficient in ROS detoxifying/repair genes were more susceptible to AGXX/aminoglycoside treatment. We further demonstrate that this synergistic interaction was associated with a significant increase in outer and inner membrane permeability, resulting in increased antibiotic influx. Our study also revealed that AGXX/aminoglycoside-mediated killing requires an active proton motive force across the bacterial membrane. Overall, our findings provide an understanding of cellular targets that could be inhibited to increase the activity of conventional antimicrobials.

IMPORTANCE

The emergence of drug-resistant bacteria coupled with the decline in antibiotic development highlights the need for novel alternatives. Thus, new strategies aimed at repurposing conventional antibiotics have gained significant interest. The necessity of these interventions is evident especially in gram-negative pathogens as they are particularly difficult to treat due to their outer membrane. This study highlights the effectiveness of the antimicrobial AGXX in potentiating aminoglycoside activities against
P. aeruginosa
. The combination of AGXX and aminoglycosides not only reduces bacterial survival rapidly but also significantly re-sensitizes aminoglycoside-resistant
P. aeruginosa
strains. In combination with gentamicin, AGXX induces increased endogenous oxidative stress, membrane damage, and iron-sulfur cluster disruption. These findings emphasize AGXX’s potential as a route of antibiotic adjuvant development and shed light on potential targets to enhance aminoglycoside activity.
Emergence of the
Dickeya
genus involved duplication of the OmpF porin and the adaptation of the EnvZ-OmpR signaling network
Authors: Cochard Clémence , Caby Marine , Gruau Peggy , Madec Edwige , Marceau Michael , Macavei Iulia , Lemoine Jérôme , Le Danvic Chrystelle , Bouchart Franck , Delrue Brigitte , Bontemps-Gallo Sébastien , Lacroix Jean-Marie 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT

Genome evolution, and more specifically gene duplication, is a key process shaping host–microorganism interaction. The conserved paralogs usually provide an advantage to the bacterium to thrive. If not, these genes become pseudogenes and disappear. Here, we show that during the emergence of the genus
Dickeya
, the gene encoding the porin OmpF was duplicated. Our results show that the
ompF2
expression is deleterious to the virulence of
Dickeya dadantii
, the agent causing soft rot disease. Interestingly,
ompF
2 is regulated while
ompF
is constitutive but activated by the EnvZ-OmpR two-component system.
In vitro
, acidic pH triggers the system. The pH measured in four eudicotyledons increased from an initial pH of 5.5 to 7 within 8 h post-infection. Then, the pH decreased to 5.5 at 10 h post-infection and until full maceration of the plant tissue. Yet, the production of phenolic acids by the plant’s defenses prevents the activation of the EnvZ-OmpR system to avoid the
ompF2
expression even though environmental conditions should trigger this system. We highlight that gene duplication in a pathogen is not automatically an advantage for the infectious process and that, there was a need for our model organism to adapt its genetic regulatory networks to conserve these duplicated genes.

IMPORTANCE

Dickeya
species cause various diseases in a wide range of crops and ornamental plants. Understanding the molecular program that allows the bacterium to colonize the plant is key to developing new pest control methods. Unlike other enterobacterial pathogens,
Dickeya dadantii
, the causal agent of soft rot disease, does not require the EnvZ-OmpR system for virulence. Here, we showed that during the emergence of the genus
Dickeya
, the gene encoding the porin OmpF was duplicated and that the expression of
ompF2
was deleterious for virulence. We revealed that while the EnvZ-OmpR system was activated
in vitro
by acidic pH and even though the pH was acidic when the plant is colonized, this system was repressed by phenolic acid (generated by the plant’s defenses). These results provide a unique— biologically relevant—perspective on the consequence of gene duplication and the adaptive nature of regulatory networks to retain the duplicated gene.
Hypertriglyceridaemic waist phenotype and waist circumference triglyceride index are associated with higher incidence of acute pancreatitis: a nationwide population-based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chung Kwang Hyun , Choi Young Hoon , Cho In Rae , Son Byoung Kwan , Ryu Ji Kon , Kim Yong-Tae , Lee Sang Hyub , Han Kyungdo 
Published: August 2023

ObjectivesThe hypertriglyceridaemic waist (HTGW) phenotype, an indicator to assess metabolic syndrome, could be a useful predictive marker for the risk of acute pancreatitis. This study aimed to evaluate the association between the HTGW phenotype and the risk of acute pancreatitis with a nationwide population-based cohort.DesignA retrospective, nationwide cohort study.SettingRegistry of health check-up result from Korean National Health Insurance Service.ParticipantsA total of 3 912 551 adults who underwent health checkups under the National Health Insurance Service in 2009 were enrolled in this study.InterventionsSubjects with both increased waist circumference (WC) and elevated blood triglyceride concentrations were defined as the HTGW phenotype. The participants were divided into four groups, classified as NWNT (normal WC-normal triglycerides), EWNT (elevated WC-normal triglycerides), NWET (normal WC-elevated triglycerides) and HTGW. The WC triglyceride index (WTI) is a quantitative indicator of the HTGW phenotype which is calculated by multiplying WC (cm) by triglyceride levels (mmol/L).Primary outcome measureThe subjects were followed until 31 December 2018. The adjusted HRs of acute pancreatitis in each group were estimated.ResultsDuring the follow-up, there were a total of 8933 of acute pancreatitis occurrences. The incidence of acute pancreatitis in all subjects was 0.278 per 1000 person-year. The HTGW group had the highest incidence (0.444), followed by the NWET (0.381), and EWNT (0.316) groups. The HTGW group had a significant higher incidence of acute pancreatitis than the NWNT groups (HR 1.364 (95% CI 1.279 to 1.454)). The risk of acute pancreatitis steadily increased as the WTI increased (HR 1.847 (95% CI 1.657 to 2.058) in 10th decile).ConclusionsThe HTGW phenotype is confirmed to be an independent risk factor that increases the risk of acute pancreatitis.
Delay in health-seeking behaviour and associated factors among adult patients with cancer in Ethiopia: a multicentre cross-sectional study
Authors: Bayable Alem , Tegenaw Abebu , Tesfaye Zerihun , Lidetu Tadios , Assefa Amare , Dessie Getenet 
Published: August 2023

ObjectivesDelays in obtaining proper cancer treatment can lead to advanced stages at diagnosis. Despite the problems, there is not enough evidence regarding delay in presentation. This study aims to assess delay in health-seeking behaviour and associated factors among adult patients with cancer in Ethiopia.DesignMulticentre cross-sectional study design.SettingData were collected from selected oncology centres in Ethiopia.ParticipantsA multistage sampling technique was used to select 635 study participants from May 9 to June 9 2022.Outcome measuresPatients who have a duration of ≥3 months from symptom recognition to the first healthcare visit were considered as delay in health-seeking behaviour. Data were entered using Epi data and exported to SPSS for further analysis. Before analysis, model fitness was carried out using Hosmer and Lemeshow test. Variables with a p value<0.25 in the bivariable analysis were included in multivariable logistic regression. In multivariable logistic regression, a p value<0.05 significant level was considered as the factor for delay in health-seeking behaviour.ResultsIn this study, a total of 628 adult patients with cancer participated. A total of 72.6% of patients had a delay in health-seeking behaviour. Variables such as being female (AOR=2.81; 95% CI=1.29 to 6.14), rural residence (AOR=2.82; 95% CI=1.43 to 5.58), low social support (AOR=4.16; 95% CI=2.04 to 8.49), not having comorbidity (AOR=4.44; 95% CI=2.28 to 8.66), stage III cancer (AOR=3.73; 95% CI=1.37 to 9.98), stage IV cancer (AOR=3.07; 95% CI=1.28 to 6.41), additional symptoms (AOR=3.03; 95% CI=1.55 to 5.94), never heard about cancers (AOR=4.09; 95% CI=2.06 to 8.11) and never heard about cancer screening (AOR=2.16; 95% CI=1.06 to 4.40) were identified as factors for delay in health-seeking behaviour.ConclusionThis study showed that relatively higher magnitude in which approximately three-fourth of adult patients with cancer were delayed in seeking medical attention. As a result, more effort must be made to tackle delay in health-seeking behaviour and associated factors.