bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perceived COVID‐19 health and job risks faced by digital platform drivers and measures in place to protect them: A qualitative study
Authors: MacEachen Ellen , Meyer Samantha B. , Majowicz Shannon , Hopwood Pamela , Crouch Meghan , Amoako Joyceline , Jahangir Yamin T. , Durant Steve , Ilic Antonela 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIntroductionAs they deliver food, packages, and people across cities, digital platform drivers (gig workers) are in a key position to become infected with COVID‐19 and transmit it to many others. The aim of this study is to identify perceived COVID‐19 exposure and job risks faced by workers and document the measures in place to protect their health, and how workers responded to these measures.MethodsIn 2020–2021, in‐depth interviews were conducted in Ontario, Canada, with 33 digital platform drivers and managers across nine platforms that delivered food, packages, or people. Interviews focused on perceived COVID‐19 risks and mitigation strategies. Audio recordings were transcribed verbatim and uploaded to NVivo software for coding by varied dual pairs of researchers. A Stakeholder Advisory Committee played an instrumental role in the study.ResultsAs self‐employed workers were without the protection of employment and occupational health standards, platform workers absorbed most of the occupational risks related to COVID‐19. Despite safety measures (e.g., contactless delivery) and financial support for COVID‐19 illnesses introduced by platform companies, perceived COVID‐19 risks remained high because of platform‐related work pressures, including rating systems. We identify five key COVID‐19 related risks faced by the digital platform drivers.ConclusionWe situate platform drivers within the broad context of precarious employment and recommend organizational‐ and government‐level interventions to prevent digital platform worker COVID‐19 risks and to assist workers ill with COVID‐19. Measures to protect the health of platform workers would benefit public health aims by reducing transmission by drivers to families, customers, and consequently, the greater population.
Application of the “Method Operable Design Region” (MODR) approach for the development of a UHPLC method for the assay and purity determination of risperidone in risperidone drug substance and other formulations
Authors: Pawar Amit , Pandita Nancy 
Published: June 2022

AbstractTo understand the role of analytics in drug development, regulatory bodies also started using the approach of Quality by Design (QbD) during analytical method developments. The present study deals with the development of the “Method Operable Design Region” for assay and purity determination of risperidone in risperidone drug substance and formulations usingy UHPLC. Five different column chemistries, five different pH buffers, oven temperatures from 25 to 45°C, and different organic modifier composition, column lengths and flow rates were studied and statistically evaluated using Fusion QbD software. The final method parameters were selected by performing multivariable changes in a single run and evaluated using the Monte Carlo simulation approach. The uniqueness of this method is that it is mass compatible, a total of 10 peaks are separated within a short run time of 12.0 min and it uses a “Platforming approach”, which means the use of a single method for testing the drug substance, different strengths of a drug product and different formulations. The same method can be also used for the determination of the preservative (benzoic acid) in risperidone 1 mg/ml oral solution. The use of the QbD approach is aligned with the US Pharmacopeia <1220>, BP supplementary chapter 2022 and the International Conference on Harmonization Q14 guidelines for life cycle management of analytical methods.
Prevalence of adverse childhood experiences and their relationship to mental and physical illnesses in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia
Authors: AlHemyari Amena Hamood , Al‐Zamil Nada Adeeb , Shaikh Ahad Yasir , Al‐Eidi Dalal Abdulaziz , Al‐Dahlan Hussam Waleed , Al‐Shamekh Sumiyah Sulaiman 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIntroductionAdverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are widely prevalent and interrelated. They affect multiple domains of health while having a dose–response effect. These effects are biologically plausible, where ACEs are found to be highly associated with physical and mental comorbidities.ObjectivesThe study aimed to measure the magnitude of ACE and its relationship to mental and physical illnesses in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia by assessing its prevalence.Materials and MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study that took place in the Eastern Region of Saudi Arabia in 2020.SettingIt was applied to a population‐based, random adult sample from both genders, different educational levels and socioeconomic statuses.ParticipantsThose who were 19 years old and above and living in the Eastern region were included. Everyone under the age of 19, those not currently living in the Eastern Region, and those who did not complete the questionnaire were excluded.ResultsThe total sample size was 611 respondents, but after applying the exclusion criteria, 507 respondents were included. Most participants were females (65.1%). The mean age of the participants was 29.7 years, with a standard deviation of 11.2 years. Regarding educational level, 69.6% were college/university graduates. Most study respondents (81.8%) were exposed to four or more types of ACEs, with emotional neglect being the most common type (82.2%). Having four or more ACEs increases the risk of having physical illnesses compared to those with only one. Furthermore, female respondents who had four or more ACEs had the highest likelihood of having depressed mood (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0–1.07), stress (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI = 1.11–7.3), and insomnia (AOR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.01–1.07).ConclusionOur study showed that in the Eastern Region, ACEs are highly prevalent and are associated with an increased risk of mental and physical illness.
Convection‐enhanced delivery with controlled catheter movement: A parametric finite element analysis
Authors: Mehta Jason N. , Rausch Manuel K. , Rylander Christopher G. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractConvection‐enhanced delivery (CED) is an investigational method for delivering therapeutics directly to the brain for the treatment of glioblastoma. However, it has not become a common clinical therapy due to an inability of CED treatments to deliver therapeutics in a large enough tissue volume to fully saturate the target region. We have recently shown that the combination of controlled catheter movement and constant pressure infusions can be used to significantly increase volume dispersed (Vd) in an agarose gel brain tissue phantom. In the present study, we develop a computational model to predict Vd achieved by various retraction rates with both constant pressure and constant flow rate infusions. An increase in Vd is achieved with any movement rate, but increase in Vd between successive movement rates drops off at rates above 0.3–0.35 mm/min. Finally, we found that infusions with retraction result in a more even distribution in concentration level compared to the stationary catheter, suggesting a potential increased ability for moving catheters to have a therapeutic impact regardless of the required therapeutic concentration level.
New Insights on the Origin of Chemical Instabilities Between Poly(carbonate)‐based Polymer and Li‐containing Inorganic Materials
Authors: Meabe Leire , Zagórski Jakub , Mecerreyes David , Aguesse Frederic , LLordes Anna 
Published: June 2022

AbstractComposite electrolytes, owing to their ability to combine both polymeric and ceramic properties are promising candidates for Solid‐State‐Batteries (SSBs). In this paper, we assess the effect of ceramic fillers (Li1+xAlxTi2‐xP3O12, Li6.55Ga0.15La3Zr2O12 and Al2O3) in a poly(ethylene oxide carbonate)‐LiTFSI matrix. First, the role of the filler chemistry on thermal and electrochemical properties is evaluated: reduced polymer crystallinity leads to an increased ionic conductivity at low temperatures; and the ionic conductivity at low temperatures (<30 °C) is improved for LLZO filler particles. This behaviour is commonly attributed to new conduction pathways generated within the fillers. However, we also demonstrate that a polymer degradation is induced by the filler chemistry by modifying the polymer chemistry in poly(ethylene glycol), initiated by LiOH that can be found on the LLZO surface. The electrolyte containing LATP or Al2O3 does not induce any degradation. Hence, special attention must be paid to surface impurities, as degradation may occur.
Revealing the Essential Role of Iron Phosphide and its Surface‐Evolved Species in the Photoelectrochemical Water Oxidation by Gd‐Doped Hematite Photoanode
Authors: Chai Huan , Gao Lili , Jin Jun 
Published: June 2022

AbstractPhosphates are easily derived from transition metal phosphides under natural conditions, and the real roles of these two in catalytic reactions are not yet clear. Here, a multiphase FeP/Gd−Fe2O3 shell‐core structure photoanode was constructed and explored regarding the real role of FeP and its surface‐reconstructed iron phosphate (Fe−Pi) in photoelectrochemical water oxidation. The FeP/Gd−Fe2O3 photoanode exhibited an excellent photocurrent density of 2.56 mA cm−2 at 1.23 V versus the reversible hydrogen electrode, up to 4 times greater than those of the pristine α‐Fe2O3 (0.64 mA cm−2). Detailed studies showed that FeP could act as a photosensitizer to enhance light absorption and as a conductive layer to accelerate charge transfer. The FeP significantly enhanced the incident photon‐to‐current conversion efficiency of the photoanode and improved the electron transition within the photoanode. Naturally evolved Fe−Pi on the surface provided more active sites for water oxidation. They effectively passivated the surface capture state and synergistically inhibited the electron–hole recombination. Moreover, the in‐situ constructed multiphase catalyst had a smaller interfacial contact resistance than the intentionally decorative cocatalyst. This work provides new insight into the understanding of the essential role of transition metal phosphides and their surface‐reconstructed species in catalytic reactions.
Stereocontrolling Effect of a Single Triisopropylsilyl Group in 1,2‐cis‐Glucosylation
Authors: Abronina Polina I. , Malysheva Nelly N. , Zinin Alexander I. , Kolotyrkina Natalya G. , Kononov Leonid O. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractGlycosylation with phenyl 3,4,6‐tri‐O‐benzoyl‐2‐O‐triisopropylsilyl (TIPS)‐1‐thio‐β‐d‐glucopyranoside is highly 1,2‐cis‐stereoselective, while the use of 2,3‐di‐O‐TIPS glucosyl donor with benzoyl groups at O‐4 and O‐6 results in the loss of α‐stereoselectivity (α/β=3 : 1). Complete α‐stereocontrol with 2‐O‐TIPS substituted glucosyl donors could only be achieved in glucosylation of weak nucleophiles. In this case, the glucosylation seems to proceed along the SN1‐like pathway via the 4H3 conformer of glycosyl cation stabilized by the bulky TIPS group at O‐2.
Pharmacological inactivation of the primate posterior insular/secondary somatosensory cortices attenuates thermal hyperalgesia
Authors: Nagasaka Kazuaki , Takashima Ichiro , Matsuda Keiji , Higo Noriyuki 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundWe previously established a macaque model of central post‐stroke pain (CPSP) and confirmed the involvement of increased activity of the posterior insular cortex (PIC) and secondary somatosensory cortex (SII) to somatosensory stimuli in mechanical allodynia by a combination of imaging techniques with local pharmacological inactivation. However, it is unclear whether the same intervention would be effective for thermal hyperalgesia. Therefore, using the macaque model, we examined behavioural responses to thermal stimuli following pharmacological inactivation of the PIC/SII.MethodsTwo CPSP model macaques were established based on collagenase‐induced unilateral hemorrhagic lesions in the ventral posterolateral nucleus of the thalamus. To evaluate pain perception, withdrawal latencies to thermal stimuli of 37, 45, 50, 52, and 55 °C to hands were measured. Several weeks after the lesion induction, pharmacological inactivation of the PIC/SII by microinjection of muscimol was performed. The effect of inactivation on withdrawal latency was assessed by comparison with withdrawal latency after vehicle injection.ResultsSeveral weeks after induction of the thalamic lesions, both macaques demonstrated a reduction in withdrawal latencies to thermal stimulation (<50 °C) on the contralesional hand, indicating the occurrence of thermal hyperalgesia. When the PIC/SII were inactivated by muscimol, the withdrawal latencies to thermal stimuli of 50 and 52 °C were significantly increased compared to those after vehicle injection.ConclusionsOur data emphasize that increased activity in the PIC/SII after appearance of thalamic lesions can contribute to abnormal pain of multiple modalities, and the modulation of PIC/SII activity may be a therapeutic approach for thermal hyperalgesia.SignificanceCPSP is caused by stroke lesions in the sensory system and characterized by mechanical allodynia or thermal hyperalgesia. Inactivation of the PIC/SII has an analgesic effect on mechanical allodynia; however, it is not clear whether the same intervention could reduce thermal hyperalgesia. Here, using the macaque model, we demonstrated that inactivation of these cortices reduces hypersensitivity to thermal stimuli. This result emphasizes that increased PIC/SII activity can contribute to abnormal pain of multiple modalities.
A Bayesian hierarchical model for improving measurement of 5mC and 5hmC levels: Toward revealing associations between phenotypes and methylation states
Authors: Jiang Lai , Greenlaw Keelin , Ciampi Antonio , Canty Angelo J. , Gross Jeffrey , Turecki Gustavo , Greenwood Celia M. T. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract5‐hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) is a methylation state linked with gene regulation, commonly found in cells of the central nervous system. 5hmC is associated with demethylation of cytosines from 5‐methylcytosine (5mC) to the unmethylated state. The presence of 5hmC can be inferred by a paired experiment involving bisulfite and oxidation‐bisulfite treatments on the same sample, followed by a methylation assay using a platform such as the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip (EPIC). Existing methods for analysis of the resulting EPIC data are not ideal. Most approaches ignore the correlation between the two experiments and any imprecision associated with DNA damage from the additional treatment. Estimates of 5mC/5hmC levels free from these limitations are desirable to reveal associations between methylation states and phenotypes. We propose a hierarchical Bayesian method called Constrained HYdroxy Methylation Estimation (CHYME) to simultaneously estimate 5mC/5hmC signals as well as any associations between these signals and covariates or phenotypes, while accounting for the potential impact of DNA damage and dependencies induced by the experimental design. Simulations show that CHYME has valid type 1 error and better power than a range of alternative methods, including the popular OxyBS method and linear models on transformed proportions. Other methods we examined suffer from hugely inflated type 1 error for inference on 5hmC proportions. We use CHYME to explore genome‐wide associations between 5mC/5hmC levels and cause of death in postmortem prefrontal cortex brain tissue samples. These analyses indicate that CHYME is a useful tool to reveal phenotypic associations with 5mC/5hmC levels.
High cellulase‐free xylanases production by Moesziomyces aphidis using low‐cost carbon and nitrogen sources
Authors: Faria Nuno Torres , Marques Susana , Cerejo Joana , Vorobieva Ekaterina , Ferreira Frederico Castelo , Fonseca César 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundEnzymes involved in xylan hydrolysis have several industrial applications. Selection of efficient microbial hosts and scalable bioreaction operations can lower enzyme production costs and contribute to their commercial deployment. This work aims at investigating the Moesziomyces aphidis yeast cultivation conditions that deliver maximal xylanase titres, yields and productivities using low‐cost nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) sources.ResultsNaNO3 and KNO3 supplementation improved xylanase production 2.9‐ and 2.7‐fold (against 67.2 U mL−1), respectively, using xylan as C source. Interestingly, the use of KNO3, instead of NaNO3, results in 2‐ to 3‐fold higher specific activity, highlighting the potassium ion role. In addition, this study investigates synergetic effects on using ionic and organic N sources. A 4.9‐fold increase in xylanase production, with high specific activity, is attained combining KNO3 and corn steep liquor (CSL). Exploring the previous findings, this study reports one of the highest extracellular xylanase production titres (864.7 U mL−1) by yeasts, using a media formulation containing dilute‐acid pre‐treated brewery spent grains (BSG), as C source and inducer, supplemented with KNO3 and CSL. Replacement of dilute‐acid pre‐treatmed BSG by untreated BSG had low impact on xylanase production, of only 6%.ConclusionEfficient production of M. aphidis xylanolytic enzymes, using low‐cost N and C sources, is attractive for deployment of on‐site enzyme production targeting different biotechnological applications under circular economy and biorefinery concepts. Potential xylanases end‐users include industries such as brewing (using BSG as substrate for enzyme production), pulp and paper (benefiting from the cellulase‐free xylanase activity) or lignocellulosic ethanol (for cellulase supplementation). © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
The diagnostic and prognostic value of serum exosome‐derived carbamoyl phosphate synthase 1 in HEV‐related acute liver failure patients
Authors: Xiang Ze , Jiang Bin , Li Wei , Zhai Guanghua , Zhou Hao , Wang Ying , Wu Jian 
Published: June 2022

AbstractEarly diagnosis and prognosis evaluation are of great significance to hepatitis E virus (HEV)‐related acute liver failure (HEV‐ALF) patients. We collected serum samples from 200 health controls (HCs), 200 patients with acute hepatitis E (AHE), and 200 HEV‐ALF patients to evaluate serum exosome‐derived carbamoyl phosphate synthase 1 (CPS1) levels and determine its diagnostic and prognostic value. The exosome‐derived CPS1 levels in the HEV‐ALF group were significantly higher than those in the AHE and HCs groups. The AUC of exosome‐derived CPS1 to predict the occurrence of HEV‐ALF was 0.850 (0.811−0.883). Both logistical regression and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS‐DA) showed that exosome‐derived CPS1 is an independent risk factor for HEV‐ALF. The exosome‐derived CPS1 levels were positively correlated with organ failure and the outcomes in HEV‐ALF patients. The exosome‐derived CPS1 levels in the worsening group were significantly higher than those in the fluctuating and the improving groups. The AUC of serum exosome‐derived CPS1 to predict 30‐day mortality was 0.829 (0.770−0.879), which was significantly greater than that of the Child‐Pugh, KCH, and MELD models. The level of serum exosome‐derived CPS1 might serve as a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for HEV‐ALF patients, which may provide better guidance for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of HEV‐ALF patients.
Molecular cloning, characterization, and homology modeling of serine hydroxymethyltransferase from psychrophilic bacterium Psychrobacter sp.
Authors: Wang Yifan , Wang Quanfu , Hou Yanhua , Wang Yatong 
Published: June 2022

AbstractSerine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) plays a significant role in the synthesis of l‐serine, purine, and thymidylate, which could be extensively applied in the treatment of cancers and the development of antibiotics. In this study, cloned from Psychrobacter sp. ANT206, a novel cold‐adapted SHMT gene (psshmt, 1257 bp) encoding a protein of 418 amino acids was expressed in Escherichia coli. The homology modeling result revealed that PsSHMT owned fewer Proline (Pro) residues and hydrogen bonds compared with its homologs from mesophilic E. coli and thermophilic Geobacillus stearothermophilus. In addition, the molecular weight of the purified recombinant PsSHMT (rPsSHMT) was identified to be 45 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, approximately. The enzymatic characteristics of the cold‐adapted rPsSHMT displayed that its optimum temperature and pH were 30°C and 7.5, respectively, and its enzymatic activity could be inhibited by Cu2+, significantly. rPsSHMT also showed a high kcat value and low ΔG at low temperatures. Furthermore, arginine (Arg) could affect the activity of rPsSHMT and be vital to its active sites. The results of this study reflected that these characteristics of the cold‐adapted rPsSHMT made it a remarkable candidate that could be utilized in multiple industrial fields under low temperatures.
Projected climate change impacts on groundwater recharge in the Urucuia aquifer system, Brazil
Authors: Pereira Barbara Hanna Fernandes , Dereczynski Claudine , da Silva Junior Gerson Cardoso , Marques Eduardo Antonio Gomes 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIn this work we analyse the effects of climate change on the recharge and the groundwater flow of the Urucuia Aquifer System in western Bahia State, Brazil (UAS‐BA) in the period 2041–2060. We assessed possible changes and impacts on groundwater recharge with four climate models from the sixth phase of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6): ACCESS‐ESM1‐5, CanESM5, EC‐Earth3 and MIROC6, under scenarios SSP1‐2.6 and SSP5‐8.5 (Shared Socioeconomic Pathways—SSP). Visual Balan 2.0 aquifer recharge assessment code, and the MODFLOW hydrogeological model were used to analyse the impact of future climate changes on the recharge. The projections of relative change in precipitation, under the SSP1‐2.6 scenario, show a precipitation reduction between 5% and 20%, using ACCESS‐ESM1‐5, CanESM5 and EC‐Earth3 models. Using SSP5‐8.5 scenario, these models behave differently, while the CanESM5 and EC‐Earth3 models indicate an even greater decrease in precipitation, with values up to 35%, the ACCESS‐ESM1‐5 projects an increase in precipitation of up to 25%. Using MIROC6, though, an increase of up to 10% in precipitation in the UAS‐BA is expected, under both scenarios. Regarding temperature, all the models agree with a warming in the future varying from 2 to 3°C. Recharge projections calculated using the Visual Balan 2.0 indicated in general a reduction between 8% and 43%. Using the MODFLOW model, the results show a reduction of recharge to the aquifer varying from 3% to 45% using CanESM5, EC‐Earth3 and MIROC6. The ACCESS‐ESM1‐5 has a 26% reduction (5% increase) under SSP1‐2.6 (SSP5‐8.5). Furthermore, projections indicate a downward trend in the water table in the northern portion of UAS‐BA, reaching a maximum drop of up to 12 m with the CanESM5, under SSP5‐8.5 scenario.