bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
First demonstration of functional task performance using a sonomyographic prosthesis: a case study
Authors: Engdahl Susannah M. , Acuña Samuel A. , King Erica L. , Bashatah Ahmed , Sikdar Siddhartha 
Published: May 2022

Abstract

Ultrasound-based sensing of muscle deformation, known as sonomyography, has shown promise for accurately classifying the intended hand grasps of individuals with upper limb loss in offline settings. Building upon this previous work, we present the first demonstration of real-time prosthetic hand control using sonomyography to perform functional tasks. An individual with congenital bilateral limb absence was fitted with sockets containing a low-profile ultrasound transducer placed over forearm muscle tissue in the residual limbs. A classifier was trained using linear discriminant analysis to recognize ultrasound images of muscle contractions for three discrete hand configurations (rest, tripod grasp, index finger point) under a variety of arm positions designed to cover the reachable workspace. A prosthetic hand mounted to the socket was then controlled using this classifier. Using this real-time sonomyographic control, the participant was able to complete three functional tasks that required selecting different hand grasps in order to grasp and move one-inch wooden blocks over a broad range of arm positions. Additionally, these tests were successfully repeated without retraining the classifier across three hours of prosthesis use and following simulated donning and doffing of the socket. This study supports the feasibility of using sonomyography to control upper limb prostheses in real-world applications.
Identifying major yield limiting nutrients on sorghum (Girana one) for developing site-specific nutrient management practices in low lands of Eastern Amhara
Authors: Adissie Samuel , Teshome Habtemariam , Sisay Kassa , Hailu Tadesse 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background: Omission trial is a passionate way of identifying yield limiting nutrients. A field experiment was conducted for identification of yield limiting nutrients through crop response in Kobo with test crop sorghum (Girana one variety) for two years in three kebeles. The design for experiment was a randomized completely block (RCBD) using farmer field as replication. Biological yield data were collected and subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA). Whenever there was significant difference between treatments, the means were separated using LSD test at P≤0.05. Results: The results showed that the omission of nutrients from inorganic fertilizer alone or in combination resulted in significance grain yield reduction. The highest grain yield was observed with the treatment receiving NPS+FYM whereas the lowest was omission of all nutrients (control). There was no significant difference in biomass yield between treatments for both years. Omission of all nutrients from inorganic fertilizer alone or in combination significantly reduced grain yield of sorghum. Application of FYM in combination with inorganic fertilizer (NPS) and NP contained treatments (NPS, NPSK and NPSKZN) can meet nutrient requirement for sorghum. Conclusions: This experiment shows a significant yield advantage of all applied nutrients compared to omitting nutrients. Application of farm yard manure was also significantly affected grain yield compared to the control. Based on this result, nitrogen and phosphorous fertilizers with farm yard manure rather than secondary and micro nutrients can be recommended in the study area for increasing production and productivity of the sorghum.
Scolicidal activity of essential oils and nanoemulsions of Satureja sahendica and Artemisia dracunculus on hydatid cysts protoscoleces
Authors: Tabari Mohaddeseh Abouhosseini , Youssefi Mohammad Reza , Hasanabadi Reza , Bazaz Mojtaba Mousavi , Mahmoudabadi Elnaz , Nekooei Negar , Shahavi Mohammad Hassan , Sammakkhah Shohreh Alian , Moghaddas Elham 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Hydatidosis is a substantial zoonosis infection with a significant socio-economic burden. Surgery is the most effective treatment of hydatidosis. The utilization of scolicidal agents is a method to minimize the risk of distribution of infective protoscoleces during surgery. So far, most of the available scolicidals result in local or systemic side effects. Considering essential oils of Artemisia dracunculus and Satureja sahendica have shown several bioactivities, we decided to characterize A.dracunculus and S.sahendica nanoemulsions and evaluate the scolicidal activity of these two nanoemulsions and the EOs using albendazole as positive control. To reach this goal, 10 3 protoscoleces of E.granulosus in 1 ml medium M199 were exposed to four concentrations of 1, 2, 5, and 10 µg/ml of EOs and nanoemulsions at 30, 60, and 120-minute time points. For all tested plants, a significant effect of the treatments (F5,60=61.47, P<0.001), the time of exposure (F2,120=170.72, P<0.001) and their interaction (F10,120=4.32, P<0.001) were noted. The overall mortality rate in protoscoleces after exposutre to S. sahendica nanoemulsion was significantly higher than other treatments and it was 83.13% (P˂0.05). Among all the tested compounds of the present study, nanoemulsion of S.sahendica demonstrated the highest toxicity on protoscoleces and may serve as a candidate for research and development on novel scolicidas.
Perceived Benefit of Yoga Among Adults Who Have Practiced Yoga for a Long Time: a Qualitative Study
Authors: AKDENİZ Şengül , KAŞTAN Özlem 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background: Previous quantitative studies have shown many of the perceived benefits of yoga practice on the mind and body. Although there are many quantitative studies in the international literature on yoga, the number of qualitative studies showing the experience of yoga practice is insufficient. An accurate demonstration of yoga participents experiences, opinions, and judgments on this subject requires a qualitative, rather than a quantitative approach.Purpose: This study was to explore the benefit perceived by adults who have practiced yoga for a long time.Design and method: This qualitative study is based on a hermeneutic–phenomenological approach. The research sample consisted of 18 adults who volunteered to participate in the research and regularly joined yoga practice. The study were collected through individual and focus group interviews with the participants who practise yoga and analyzed by content analysis method.Results: We created five themes. Themes coded by researchers: meaning of the concept of yoga (theme 1), physical, mental and social state before starting yoga (theme 2), reasons for practising yoga (theme 3), the participants' experiences of related to their physical and mental health and social relationships (theme 4), difficulties of doing yoga (theme 5). In addition, individuals in the study their perceptions of the concept of "yoga", their mental “yoga is like …… in order to reveal the images and their causes. Because ……” metaphor were asked to complete their sentences. A justification for the metaphors produced by the research participants or the concept of “because” is included to provide a basis.Conclusions: Both individual and focus group in their interviews, almost all of the participants described that doing yoga has positive benefits on the mind and body. The positive experiences of the participants in the study; decrease in pain and flexibility, increase in sleep quality, development of positive personality traits, increase in self-esteem, and coping with anxiety and stress more effectively. Since the study was qualitative and long-term, it was evaluated the beliefs, attitudes and behaviors of individuals were evaluated in a more realistic, systematic and detailed manner.
Changes in physiological responses and immunity of blunt snout bream Megalobrama amblycephala suffering from transport stress
Authors: Wang Bingke , Wang Yanhui , Jia Tao , Feng Jianxin , Qu Changyi , Wu Xiaojun , Yang Xingli , Zhang Qin 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of transport stress on the physiological responses and immunity of Megalobrama amblycephala. Fish (average weight: 109.67 ± 1.51 g) were taken at eight times intervals: before experiment (control), at 0h, 1h, 3h, 6h, 12h, 24h, 3d, 7d after 4 hours of long-distance transportation. The results showed that plasma cortisol, glucose, triiodothyronine (T3) complement component 3 (C3), complement component 4 (C4), total protein, immunoglobulin M (IgM), and nitrogen monoxide (NO) concentrations as well as alternative complement pathway (ACH50), lysozyme, acid phosphatase (ACP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activities increased first and then decreased with significant differences observed between treatments (P < 0.05). Liver heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) expressions both increased first and then decreased with significant differences observed between treatments (P < 0.05). However, after a long period of stabilization, all the indicators of t blunt snout bream had returned to their pre-transport levels. Overall, these findings suggested that 4 hours of long-distance transportation caused stress response of blunt snout bream, and transport stress had a significant effect on plasma indicators. But post-transport recovery could return the physiological response, immune indexes and the expression of heat shock protein to the normal level. This also provided data support for the long-distance transportation of blunt snout bream in the future.
The expression of Lin28 in gastric cancer cells treated with an anticancer bioactive peptide combined with oxaliplatin in vitro and in vivo
Authors: Li Xian , Kang Lihua , Peng Jiaqi , Han Wenyan , Su Xiulan 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Background: Gastric cancer has become one of the major diseases threatening human health. This study aimed to investigate the effect and mechanism of an anticancer bioactive peptide (ACBP) combined with oxaliplatin (OXA) on MKN-45, SGC7901, and NCI-N87 differentiated human gastric cancer cells and GES-1 immortalized human gastric mucosal epithelial cells. And the therapeutic effect and action mechanism of short-term intermittent ACBP combined with OXA on nude mice with human gastric cancer were investigate.Methods: The half-maximal inhibitory concentrations of these agents in these cells were measured by an MTT assay, and cell morphological changes were observed by H&E staining. The expression of Lin28, miR-107, miR-609 and Let-7 in these four cell lines was determined by q-PCR after drug treatment. Lin28 protein expression in these four cell lines treated with these drugs was measured by western blotting. Furthermore, activity and quality of life were observed daily in all tumor-bearing nude mice, and the expression of Lin28 in tumor tissue was determined by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Results: The results showed that ACBP inhibited the proliferation of MKN-45, SGC7901, and NCI-N87 gastric cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner and weakly suppressed the proliferation of GES-1 cells. Moreover, the inhibitory effect on proliferation was stronger in poorly differentiated gastric cancer cells. ACBP, OXA and the combination upregulated Lin28 gene expression in MKN-45 cells and downregulated it in SGC7901 and GES-1 cells. ACBP and the combination therapy downregulated Let-7 expression in MKN-45 cells and upregulated Let-7 expression in SGC7901 cells. The combination of ACBP with OXA has significant anticancer sensitization on oxaliplatin, and also significantly improves the quality of life of tumor-bearing nude mice and reduces the toxic side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs on nude mice. Conclusion: ACBP alone and in combination with oxaliplatin influenced the expression of tumor stem cell marker gene Lin28 and regulated the expression of microRNAs specifically regulated by Lin28. In addition, the anticancer effects and attenuated sensitization effects of ACBP may be related to the Lin28/miRNA-107 signaling pathway, acting by inhibiting the proliferation of cancerous stem cells.
Effect of age at first conception as selection criteria on growth and carcass traits in Nellore cattle
Authors: Brunes Ludmilla Costa , Baldi Fernando , Costa Marcos Fernando Oliveira e , Lobo Raysildo Barbosa , Lopes Fernando Brito , Magnabosco Claudio Ulhoa 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
Despite the economic importance of sexual precocity for beef cattle production systems, in heifers, this indicator is commonly assessed indirectly using the scrotal circumference or with age at first calving (AFCa), which can delay the identification of precocious females. The study aimed to investigate the genetic parameters for age at first conception (AFCo), AFCa, and their relationship with growth and carcass traits, to verify the possibility of using AFCo as selection criteria for the genetic improvement of sexual precocity. The AFCo was considered the age at which the female presented the first positive diagnosis for pregnancy. The estimation of (co)variance components and genetic parameters was performed using a linear animal model in two-trait analyzes. The heritability estimates were moderate. The highest genetic and phenotypic correlation were obtained between AFCo and AFCa (0.88 ± 0.13 and 0.96 ± 0.13, respectively). In general, genetic correlations estimates between sexual precocity-indicator and growth and carcass traits were moderate and negative. The results of this study encourage the use of AFCo in Nellore cattle since this trait displayed enough genetic variability in Nelore cattle, can be used as selection criteria to improve sexual precocity, and would not display an unfavorable effect on other profitability traits. Selection for animals with early ages at first conception and calving would increase the carcass yield, fat deposition and growth performance. When the selection objective is to increase the heifer sexual precocity, we could use the first trait as criterion, as the measurement of this trait occurs at a lower age at first calving.
Use of cellulose nanofibers to improve hydrophobic and oleophobic properties for polyvinyl alcohol coated paper
Authors: Huang Shancong , Wang Xiyun , Meng Yu , Hua Feiguo , Tong Shuhua , xia xinxing 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
The effect of the composite coating containing a mixture of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and cellulose nanofibers (CNFs) prepared from bamboo pulp on the hydrophobic, oleophobic and strength properties of paper was investigated. The results showed that the size of bamboo fibers (BFs) decreased significantly and the crystallinity increased significantly after biological enzyme treatment. The average length of CNFs obtained by high pressure homogenization was about 2.4 µm, the diameter was about 28.7 nm, and the crystallinity was 63.63%. When the coating weight of PVA/CNF was 2.0 g/m2 and the CNF dosage was increased from 0.0–3.0%, the paper grease resistance grade was increased from 7 to 9, the Cobb value was decreased from 22.68 g/m2 to 18.37 g/m2, the contact angle was increased from 67.82° to 93.56°, and the longitudinal and transverse tensile index were increased from 67.72 N∙m/g and 37.63 N∙m/g to 68.61 N∙m/g and 40.71 N∙m/g, respectively. When the CNF dosage was 3.0% and the coating weight of PVA/CNF was increased to 4.0 g/m2, the grease resistance grade of the paper reached 12, the Cobb value was 21.80 g/m2, and the longitudinal and transverse tensile indices were 72.11 N∙m/g and 42.58 N∙m/g, respectively. Overall, the addition of CNFs to the PVA coating significantly improves the oleophobic property of the coated paper, and the hydrophobicity and tensile strength are well maintained.
Treatment effects of Herbst appliance in skeletal Class II cases during pre-pubertal and post-pubertal periods: A cone-beam computed tomographic study
Authors: Farouk Khaled , Eissa Osama , Ghoneima Ahmed , El-Bedwehi Ashraf , Abdel-Fattah Ezzat , Hussein Farouk , El-Bialy Tarek 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
In the present study, Thirty-six Class patients II (A condition in which the upper jaw is larger than the lower jaw) were randomly selected and assigned to one of two groups based on their maturation stage: the pre-pubertal group (18 patients, mean age 9.15 ± 1.5 years) and post-pubertal group (18 patients, mean age 16.3 ± 1.0 years). All patients were treated with a metallic splint-supported Herbst IV appliance(An appliance that acts like artificial joint working between the upper and power jaws that keeps the lower jaw in a forward position, thus improving the Class II condition ). Pretreatment (T1) and post-Herbst IV treatment (T2) scans were obtained for both groups. Dental and skeletal measurements were made on the scans and statistically analyzed using paired and independent t-tests. The study hypothesis was that; the dentoskeletal changes in Class II malocclusion treatment using Herbst appliance in the Pre-pubertal is more than the Post-pubertal growth stage due to the remaining growth potential for the pre-pubertal patients. The comparison between the two groups revealed statistically significant differences in horizontal skeletal parameters in the lower jaw only, while other readings were similar
Combined Impact of Medicare’s Hospital Pay for Performance Programs on Quality and Safety Outcomes is Mixed
Authors: Waters Teresa M. , Kaplan Cameron M. , Graetz Ilana , Benitez Joseph , Cardarelli Roberto , Daniels Michael J. , Burns Natalie 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
BACKGROUND Three major hospital pay for performance (P4P) programs were introduced by the Affordable Care Act and intended to improve the quality, safety and efficiency of care provided to Medicare beneficiaries. The financial risk to hospitals associated with Medicare’s P4P programs is substantial. Evidence on the positive impact of these programs, however, has been mixed, and no study has assessed their combined impact. In this study, we examined the combined impact of Medicare’s P4P programs on clinical areas and populations targeted by the programs, as well as those outside their focus.METHODS We used 2007 – 2016 Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Databases for 14 states to identify hospital-level inpatient quality indicators (IQIs) and patient safety indicators (PSIs), by quarter and payer (Medicare vs. non-Medicare). IQIs and PSIs are standardized, evidence-based measures that can be used to track hospital quality of care and patient safety over time using hospital administrative data. The study period of 2007 – 2016 was selected to capture multiple years before and after introduction of program metrics. Interrupted time series was used to analyze the impact of the P4P programs on study outcomes targeted and not targeted by the programs. In sensitivity analyses, we examined the impact of these programs on care for non-Medicare patients.RESULTS Medicare P4P programs were not associated with consistent improvements in targeted or non-targeted quality and safety measures. Moreover, mortality rates across targeted and untargeted conditions were generally getting worse after the introduction of Medicare’s P4P programs. Trends in PSIs were extremely mixed, with five outcomes trending in an expected (improving) direction, five trending in an unexpected (deteriorating) direction, and three with insignificant changes over time. Sensitivity analyses did not substantially alter these results.CONCLUSIONS Consistent with previous studies for individual programs, we detect minimal, if any, effect of Medicare’s hospital P4P programs on quality and safety. Given the growing evidence of limited impact, the administrative cost of monitoring and enforcing penalties, and potential increase in mortality, CMS should consider redesigning their P4P programs before continuing to expand them.
Design and optimization of tapered optical fiber probes for SERS utilizing FDTD method
Authors: Gu Ciyong , Meng Delong , Zhao Zhimin , Yu Xiaolei 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
In this work, we report a strategy of Ag nanoparticles (Ag NPs) coated tapered optical fiber probes by finite difference time domain (FDTD) simulations. Investigation shows that the fiber tip decorated Ag NPs have excellent electric field enhancement and confinement of light capabilities compared with fiber tips. Moreover, we demonstrate the effect of key parameters such as tip radius, conical angle, Ag NPs size and gaps between them on the field enhanced utilizing typical excitation wavelength of 532, 633 and 785 nm. To further improve the electrical field effect, a noble metal substrate is introduced below the tip apex which exhibits a higher field enhancement generated by tip-substrate coupling. The presence of the Au substrate does not lead to a significant change in the plasma characteristic peak of the probes at 490 nm. This study provides a useful reference for the fabrication of tapered optical fiber with plasmonic nanostructures and the design of robust tapered fiber-optic Raman sensors.
Using carotenoid with ICT state to overcome the limit of photosynthetic light-harvesting
Authors: Yukihira Nao , Uragami Chiasa , Horiuchi Kota , Kosumi Daisuke , Gardiner Alastair , Cogdell Richard , Hashimoto Hideki 
Published: May 2022

Abstract
The excitation energy transfer (EET) from carotenoid to bacteriochlorophyll a (Bchl a) has a significant impact in determining the overall efficiency of utilization of the incident solar spectrum of the primary process of bacterial photosynthesis. This can be enhanced when the carotenoid has intramolecular charge-transfer (ICT) character, such as in the light-harvesting systems in marine alga and diatoms. This study provides new insights into the significance of the ICT excited states following incorporation of a higher plant carotenoid, β-apo-8'-carotenal, into the carotenoidless LH1 system from the purple photosynthetic bacterium, Rhodospirillum rubrum strain G9+. β-apo-8'-carotenal generates two types of the ICT excited state in the reconstituted LH1 complex there by achieving an efficiency of EET that exceeds that found in the wild-type LH1 complex. The present study demonstrates a strategy of how to go beyond the EET efficiency from carotenoid to Bchl a, which has evolved in the bacterial light-harvesting systems.