bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
DHCR24 Knockdown Induces Tau Hyperphosphorylation at Thr181, Ser199, Ser262, and Ser396 Sites via Activation of the Lipid Raft-Dependent Ras/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway in C8D1A Astrocytes
Authors: Mai Meiting , Guo Xiaorou , Huang Yue , Zhang Wenbin , Xu Yixuan , Zhang Ying , Bai Xiaojing , Wu Junfeng , Zu Hengbing 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe synthetase 3β-hydroxysterol-Δ24 reductase (DHCR24) is a key regulator involved in cholesterol synthesis and homeostasis. A growing body of evidence indicates that DHCR24 is downregulated in the brain of various models of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), such as astrocytes isolated from AD mice. For the past decades, astrocytic tau pathology has been found in AD patients, while the origin of phosphorylated tau in astrocytes remains unknown. A previous study suggests that downregulation of DHCR24 is associated with neuronal tau hyperphosphorylation. Herein, the present study is to explore whether DHCR24 deficiency can also affect tau phosphorylation in astrocytes. Here, we showed that DHCR24 knockdown could induce tau hyperphosphorylation at Thr181, Ser199, Thr231, Ser262, and Ser396 sites in C8D1A astrocytes. Meanwhile, we found that DHCR24-silencing cells had reduced the level of free cholesterol in the plasma membrane and intracellular organelles, as well as cholesterol esters. Furthermore, reduced cellular cholesterol level caused a decreased level of the caveolae-associated protein, cavin1, which disrupted lipid rafts/caveolae and activated rafts/caveolae-dependent Ras/MEK/ERK signaling pathway. In contrast, overexpression of DHCR24 prevented the overactivation of Ras/MEK/ERK signaling by increasing cellular cholesterol content, therefore decreasing tau hyperphosphorylation in C8D1A astrocytes. Herein, we firstly found that DHCR24 knockdown can lead to tau hyperphosphorylation in the astrocyte itself by activating lipid raft-dependent Ras/MEK/ERK signaling, which might contribute to the pathogenesis of AD and other degenerative tauopathies.
Image processing based horizon sensor for estimating the orientation of sounding rockets, launch vehicles and spacecraft
Authors: Braun Benjamin , Barf Jochen 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThe paper describes how the attitude of a sounding rocket, launch vehicle or satellite with respect to the Earth can be estimated from camera images of the Earth horizon. Details about detecting the horizon in the camera image, fitting hyperbolae or ellipses to the detected horizon curve and deriving the Earth nadir vector and the corresponding error covariance from the fitted conic section are given. The presented method works at low heights, where the projected horizon mostly appears to be hyperbolic, as well as at large heights, where the projected horizon mostly appears to be elliptic and it is irrelevant if the Earth is fully or only partially in the field of view of the camera. The method can be universally used to estimate the direction vectors and attitude with respect to any spherical celestial body such as the Sun or Moon. Using the example of a sounding rocket mission with two cameras aboard, it is illustrated how the estimates of the Earth nadir and the Sun direction vectors are fused with the measurements of a strapdown inertial measurement unit and a GPS receiver to obtain an accurate and continuous estimate of the three-dimensional orientation of the sounding rocket with respect to the Earth.
Analytical Eco-Scale for Evaluating the Uniqueness of Voltammetric Method used for Determination of Antiemetic Binary Mixture Containing Doxylamine Succinate in Presence of its Toxic Metabolite
Authors: Atty Shimaa A. , El-Hadi Heidi R. Abd , Eltanany Basma M. , Zaazaa Hala E. , Eissa Maya S. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractGreen analytical procedures are gaining popularity in the pharmaceutical research area as a way to reduce environmental impact and improve analyst health safety. The current work presents a green and sensitive electrochemical carbon paste electrode that has been chemically modified with zirconium dioxide and multi-walled carbon nanotubes for estimation of pyridoxine HCl (PYR) and doxylamine succinate (DOX) using the square wave voltammetric technique. Under optimum conditions, the linearity ranges were 20.00–2000.00 ng mL−1 and 2.00–20.00 µg mL−1 for both drugs in the 1st linear segment and 2nd linear segment, respectively. Stability testing assesses how the quality of a drug substance changes over time, depending on environmental and laboratory factors. DOX was found to undergo oxidative degradation when refluxed for 7 h using 30% H2O2 and the degraded product (DOX DEG) (toxic metabolite) was successfully characterized utilizing LC–MS. The developed electrode showed selectivity for the determination of binary mixture in pure form, pharmaceutical form, and in the presence of DOX DEG and common interfering molecules with good recovery. The proposed method was found to be eco-friendlier than the reported method in terms of the use of hazardous chemicals and solvents, energy consumption, and waste generation.
Graphical Abstract
Neural networks meet least squares Monte Carlo at internal model data
Authors: Jonen Christian , Meyhöfer Tamino , Nikolić Zoran 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn August 2020 we published “Comprehensive Internal Model Data for Three Portfolios” as an outcome of our work for the committee “Actuarial Data Science” of the German Actuarial Association. The data sets include realistic cash-flow models outputs used for proxy modelling of life and health insurers. Using these data, we implement the hitherto most promising model in proxy modeling consisting of ensembles of feed-forward neural networks and compare the results with the least squares Monte Carlo (LSMC) polynomial regression. To date, the latter represents—to our best knowledge—the most accurate proxy function productively in use by insurance companies. An additional goal of this publication is a more precise description of “Comprehensive Internal Model Data for Three Portfolios” for other researchers, practitioners and regulators interested in developing solvency capital requirement (SCR) proxy models.
Value-added biocarbon production through slow pyrolysis of mixed bio-oil wastes: studies on their physicochemical characteristics and structure–property–processing co-relation
Authors: Mishra Ranjeet Kumar , Misra Manjusri , Mohanty Amar K. 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn this work, mixed bio-oil (MBO) is transformed into valuable biocarbon through slow pyrolysis technique. MBO was accomplished in a semi-batch reactor at 600 and 900 °C temperature, 10 °C min−1 heating rate, and 30 min holding time under a non-oxidizing environment. The produced mixed bio-oil-derived biocarbon (MBOB) was characterized by its surface properties, thermal stability, elemental composition, thermal conductivity, BET surface area, surface morphology, and electrical conductivity. The pyrolysis outcomes established that the temperature has a predominant impact on the variation in yield and properties of MBOB. Characterization results of MBOB exposed increased properties (thermal stability, electrical and thermal conductivity, graphitic content, carbon content, and HHV) at 900 compared to 600 °C. Also, the elemental and EDS investigation of MBOB established a broad diminution in O2 and H2 at 900 than 600 °C. The purest form of carbon with enhanced thermal stability, higher carbon content, smoothness, and bigger particles of biocarbon (verified by SEM) is accomplished at 900 °C. The electrical and thermal conductivity (EC and TC) of MBOB increased with increasing the temperature from 600 to 900 °C due to the close contact of biocarbon particles. Finally, an investigation of the particle size of MBOB established that the majority of particles are within 1.5 to 1.7 µm.
Graphical abstract
Anti-noise performance of the pulse coupled neural network applied in discrimination of neutron and gamma-ray
Authors: Liu Hao-Ran , Zuo Zhuo , Li Peng , Liu Bing-Qi , Chang Lan , Yan Yu-Cheng 
Published: July 2022

AbstractIn this study, the anti-noise performance of a pulse-coupled neural network (PCNN) was investigated in the neutron and gamma-ray (n−$$\gamma$$
γ
) discrimination field. The experiments were conducted in two groups. In the first group, radiation pulse signals were pre-processed using a Fourier filter to reduce the original noise in the signals, whereas in the second group, the original noise was left untouched to simulate an extremely high-noise scenario. For each part, artificial Gaussian noise with different intensity levels was added to the signals prior to the discrimination process. In the aforementioned conditions, the performance of the PCNN was evaluated and compared with five other commonly used methods of n−$$\gamma$$
γ
discrimination: (1) zero crossing, (2) charge comparison, (3) vector projection, (4) falling edge percentage slope, and (5) frequency gradient analysis. The experimental results showed that the PCNN method significantly outperforms other methods with outstanding $$\mathrm{FoM}$$
FoM
-value at all noise levels. Furthermore, the fluctuations in $$\mathrm{FoM}$$
FoM
-value of PCNN were significantly better than those obtained via other methods at most noise levels and only slightly worse than those obtained via the charge comparison and zero-crossing methods under extreme noise conditions. Additionally, the changing patterns and fluctuations of the $$\mathrm{FoM}$$
FoM
-value were evaluated under different noise conditions. Hence, based on the results, the parameter selection strategy of the PCNN was presented. In conclusion, the PCNN method is suitable for use in high-noise application scenarios for n−$$\gamma$$
γ
discrimination because of its stability and remarkable discrimination performance. It does not rely on strict parameter settings and can realize satisfactory performance over a wide parameter range.
Investigation of phase transformation related electrical conductivity of long-term heat treated aluminium electrolysis cathodes
Authors: Hankel Jonas , Kernebeck Sandra , Deuerler Friederike , Weber Sebastian 
Published: July 2022

AbstractThis study presents an investigation on the specific electrical conductivity of the cathode materials used in an aluminium electrolysis cell over a temperature range between room temperature and 950 °C. Those materials are subjected to a diffusion related aging process due to the high operating temperature of the cell, leading to a change in chemical composition and microstructure. The materials were investigated both in the initial state before use in an aluminium electrolysis cell and after an operating period of 5 years. It is shown that the changes in chemical composition and thus also in microstructure over the service life at elevated operating temperature exert an effect on the electrical conductivity. In addition, calculations based on thermodynamic data were used to relate phase transformations to the changes in electrical conductivity. On the one hand, the electrical conductivity of the collector bar at 950 °C is reduced by about 11% after 5 years of service. On the other hand, the ageing process has a positive influence on the cast iron with an increased conductivity by about 41% at 950 °C. The results provide an understanding how diffusion related processes in the cathode materials affect energy efficiency of the aluminium electrolysis cell.
Seasonal analysis of groundwater samples to identify water quality index and comparative statistical analysis of Hunsur Taluk, Mysuru, Karnataka, India
Authors: Afshan Noushin , Nagaraju D. , Bhanuprakash H. M. , Deep P. Gagan 
Published: July 2022

AbstractGroundwater quality assessment is critical for maintaining freshwater sources in semi-arid and dry environments, which is critical for long-term development. Water quality control authorities can regulate the use of water for agriculture or drinking implementations based on groundwater quality in various areas, as nearly 85% of India's population is reliant on groundwater for domestic and irrigation needs, particularly as a source of drinking in rural areas. From Hunsur taluk, Mysore district, Karnataka, India, this study explores and identifies potential places for pumping groundwater for drinking and irrigation. An analysis of groundwater quality was conducted by analyzing the Water Quality Index (WQI) determined from 30 wells during two seasons of the year 2019, namely Pre-Monsoon and Post-Monsoon. The identification of the quality of water resources for irrigation and drinking purposes can be determined with the help of the WQI. It’s extremely useful for classifying water quality considering the standard-based classification of water as excellent, good, poor, very poor, or unsuitable for drinking. By using the Weighted Arithmetic Index method calculated using the groundwater samples collected data for the study, reported ‘excellent water’ ranges between 80 and 83.33 and ‘good water’ between 20 and 16.67, and never found ‘poor water.’ The IWQ index for the study area has been reported to be in the average range of 17.35–65.64. This paper highlights the physico-chemical parameters assess water quality in comparison with climatology.
Long Latency Reflexes in Clinical Neurology: A Systematic Review
Authors: Dhar Debjyoti , Kamble Nitish , Pal Pramod Kumar 
Published: July 2022

ABSTRACT:Background:Long latency reflexes (LLRs) are impaired in a wide array of clinical conditions. We aimed to illustrate the clinical applications and recent advances of LLR in various neurological disorders from a systematic review of published literature.Methods:We reviewed the literature using appropriately chosen MeSH terms on the database platforms of MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, and Google Scholar for all the articles from 1st January 1975 to 2nd February 2021 using the search terms “long loop reflex”, “long latency reflex” and “C-reflex”. The included articles were analyzed and reported using synthesis without meta-analysis (SWiM) guidelines.Results:Based on our selection criteria, 40 articles were selected for the systematic review. The various diseases included parkinsonian syndromes (11 studies, 217 patients), Huntington’s disease (10 studies, 209 patients), myoclonus of varied etiologies (13 studies, 127 patients) including progressive myoclonic epilepsy (5 studies, 63 patients) and multiple sclerosis (6 studies, 200 patients). Patients with parkinsonian syndromes showed large amplitude LLR II response. Enlarged LLR II was also found in myoclonus of various etiologies. LLR II response was delayed or absent in Huntington’s disease. Delayed LLR II response was present in multiple sclerosis. Among the other diseases, LLR response varied according to the location of cerebellar lesions while the results were equivocal in patients with essential tremor.Conclusions:Abnormal LLR is observed in many neurological disorders. However, larger systematic studies are required in many neurological disorders in order to establish its role in diagnosis and management.
Psychological impact of COVID-19 on healthcare workers: cross-sectional analyses from 14 countries
Authors: Ghozy Sherief , Cross Wendy M. , Islam Shariful , Al-Mawali Adhra Hilal , AlQurashi Alaa Ashraf , Hamza Amr , Joseph Bindu , Banik Biswajit , Elsori Deena H. , Sultana Farhana , Yasmin Farhana , Mahmud Ilias , Lam Louisa , Hammoud Majeda , Salehin Masudus , Keblawi Mohammed Ali , Eltewacy Nael Kamel , Al Laham Nahed , El-Khazragy Nashwa , Oli Natalia , Tungpunkom Patraporn , Almustanyir Sami , Chair Sek Ying , Alif Sheikh M. , Al-Madhoun Sondos , Chien Wai Tong , Rahman Muhammad Aziz 
Published: July 2022

AbstractBackgroundHealthcare workers (HCWs) have been impacted psychologically due to their professional responsibilities over the prolonged era of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The study aimed to identify the predictors of psychological distress, fear, and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic among HCWs.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted among self-identified HCWs across 14 countries (12 from Asia and two from Africa). The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale, and the Brief Resilient Coping Scale were used to assess the psychological distress, fear, and coping of HCWs, respectively.ResultsA total of 2447 HCWs participated; 36% were doctors, and 42% were nurses, with a mean age of 36 (±12) years, and 70% were females. Moderate to very-high psychological distress was prevalent in 67% of the HCWs; the lowest rate was reported in the United Arab Emirates (1%) and the highest in Indonesia (16%). The prevalence of high levels of fear was 20%; the lowest rate was reported in Libya (9%) and the highest in Egypt (32%). The prevalence of medium-to-high resilient coping was 63%; the lowest rate was reported in Libya (28%) and the highest in Syria (76%).ConclusionCOVID-19 has augmented the psychological distress among HCWs. Factors identified in this study should be considered in managing the wellbeing of HCWs, who had been serving as the frontline drivers in managing the crisis successfully across all participating countries. Furthermore, interventions to address their psychological distress should be considered.
The Politics of Intersecting Crises: The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Climate Policy Preferences
Authors: Bergquist Parrish , De Roche Gabriel , Lachapelle Erick , Mildenberger Matto , Harrison Kathryn 
Published: July 2022

AbstractFew contemporary crises have reshaped public policy as dramatically as the COVID-19 pandemic. In its shadow, policymakers have debated whether other pressing crises—including climate change—should be integrated into COVID-19 policy responses. Public support for such an approach is unclear: the COVID-19 crisis might eclipse public concern for other policy problems, or complementarities between COVID-19 and other issues could boost support for broad government interventions. In this research note, we use a conjoint experiment, panel study, and framing experiment to assess the substitutability or complementarity of COVID-19 and climate change among US and Canadian publics. We find no evidence that the COVID-19 crisis crowds out public concern about the climate crisis. Instead, we find that the publics in both countries prefer that their governments integrate climate action into COVID-19 responses. We also find evidence that analogizing climate change with COVID-19 may increase concern about climate change.
Functional ear symptoms referred to an otology clinic: incidence, co-morbidity, aetiological factors and a new experience-driven clinical model
Authors: Scholfield D W , Chandrasekharan D , Bahra A , Williams M , Patel N 
Published: July 2022

AbstractObjectiveThis study aimed to review the incidence and co-morbidity of functional ear symptoms in new referrals to an adult otology clinic and present a clinical model based on neuroscientific concepts.MethodThis was a retrospective review of 1000 consecutive new referrals to an adult otology clinic.ResultsFunctional disorder was the primary diagnosis in 346 patients (34.6 per cent). Functional ear symptoms included tinnitus (69.7 per cent), imbalance (23.7 per cent), otalgia (22.8 per cent) and aural fullness (19.1 per cent), with more than one symptom occurring in 25.1 per cent of patients. Co-morbidities included sensorineural hearing loss (39 per cent), emotional stress (30 per cent) and chronic illness (22 per cent).ConclusionFunctional disorders commonly present to the otology clinic, often in the presence of emotional stress or chronic illness. They occur because of adaptation of brain circuitry to experience, including adverse events, chronic illness and fear learning. This study presented an experience-driven clinical model based on these concepts. An understanding of these principles will significantly aid otolaryngologists who encounter patients with functional ear symptoms.
The Personalisation of Social Care: How Can a Healthcare System Be Adapted to the Specific Characteristics of People with Multiple Impairments? The case of the care of people with “rare disabilities” in France
Authors: WINANCE MYRIAM , BERTRAND LOUIS 
Published: July 2022

AbstractSince the 1980s, “personalisation” is at the centre of the evolution of disability policies and more generally of the Welfare state. It refers on one hand to the question of self-determination through the allocation of personalised budgets, and on the other to the adaptation of care to the specificities of a given person, through the development of “person-centred” care. In this article we study the issue of the personalisation of care from a point of view intermediate to these two dimensions, that of the transformation of social care organisations. Using the example of care provided to people with multiple impairments in France, we analyse how new social care organisations have addressed the diversity and specificity of the needs of these people. This analysis thus proposes a new way to think about the personalisation of policy responses implemented by the welfare state.
The production of /s/-stop clusters by pre-schoolers with hearing loss
Authors: MILLASSEAU Julien , BRUGGEMAN Laurence , YUEN Ivan , DEMUTH Katherine 
Published: July 2022

AbstractProducing word-initial /s/-stop clusters can be a challenge for English-speaking pre-schoolers. For children with hearing loss (HL), fricatives can be also difficult to perceive, raising questions about their production and representation of /s/-stop clusters. The goal of this study was therefore to determine if pre-schoolers with HL can produce and represent the /s/ in word-initial /s/-stop clusters, and to compare this to their normal hearing (NH) peers. Based on both acoustic and perceptual analysis, we found that children with HL had little /s/-omission, suggesting that their phonological representation of these clusters closely aligns with that of their NH peers.
Assessment of phenotypic diversity and multi-locational screening against bean common mosaic virus (BCMV) disease resistance in dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) germplasm
Authors: Basavaraja Talavar , Manjunatha Lakshmaiah , Chandora Rahul , Singh Mohar , Rathod Santosha , Dubey Vikas , R. C. Kanishka , Singh Farindra , Singh Narendra Pratap 
Published: July 2022

AbstractAssessing genetic diversity and identifying trait-specific germplasm within germplasm collections is necessary for a varietal development programme. Agronomic features were investigated in 318 diverse dry bean germplasm accessions, including check varieties. We observed a lot of genetic variability for the traits studied. A wide range of variations was noticed for days to 50% flowering, days to maturity, pod length, the number of seeds per pod and 100-seed weight (HSW). For eight of the agronomic features evaluated, the analysis of variance revealed substantial differences among the accessions. For all characters, phenotypic coefficient of variation estimations were more significant than genotypic coefficient of variation. Plant height, days to 50% flowering, seed yield (q/ha) and HSW had high heritability and genetic advance as a per cent of the mean. Association analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between HSW, plant height, pod length and seed yield (q/ha). According to a hierarchical clustering analysis based on agronomic features, the diversity of dry bean germplasm has no significant association with their geographical origin. The number of pods per plant, plant height, days to maturity, days to 50% flowering and seed yield had relatively long vectors based on principal components 1 and 2, indicating that genotypes differ significantly. Additionally, the trait-specific donors and bean common mosaic virus disease-resistant accessions, IC360831, ET4515, EC150250, IC340947, IC564797B, EC565693 and ET8409 could be of value for dry bean improvement.