bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Parametrically optimized feather degradation by Bacillus velezensis NCIM 5802 and delineation of keratin hydrolysis by multi-scale analysis for poultry waste management
Authors: Sharma Isha , Pranaw Kumar , Soni Hemant , Rawat Hemant Kumar , Kango Naveen 
Published: October 2022

AbstractEnormous amounts of keratinaceous waste make a significant and unexploited protein reserve that can be utilized through bioconversion into high-value products using microbial keratinases. This study was intended to assess the keratinase production from a newly isolated B. velezensis NCIM 5802 that can proficiently hydrolyze chicken feathers. Incubation parameters used to produce keratinase enzyme were optimized through the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with chicken feathers as substrate. Optimization elevated the keratinase production and feather degradation by 4.92-folds (109.7 U/mL) and 2.5 folds (95.8%), respectively. Time-course profile revealed a direct correlation among bacterial growth, feather degradation, keratinase production and amino acid generation. Biochemical properties of the keratinase were evaluated, where it showed optimal activity at 60 °C and pH 10.0. The keratinase was inhibited by EDTA and PMSF, indicating it to be a serine–metalloprotease. Zymography revealed the presence of four distinct keratinases (Mr ~ 100, 62.5, 36.5 and 25 kDa) indicating its multiple forms. NMR and mass spectroscopic studies confirmed the presence of 18 free amino acids in the feather hydrolysates. Changes in feather keratin brought about by the keratinase action were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and spectroscopic (FTIR, Raman) analyses, which showed a decrease in the total crystallinity index (TCI) (1.00–0.63) and confirmed the degradation of its crystalline domain. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed the sequential structural changes occurring in the feather keratin during degradation. Present study explored the use of keratinolytic potential of the newly isolated B. velezensis NCIM 5802 in chicken feather degradation and also, unraveled the underlying keratin hydrolysis mechanism through various analyses.
Early-season plant-to-plant spatial uniformity can affect soybean yields
Authors: Pereyra Valentina M. , Bastos Leonardo M. , de Borja Reis André Froes , Melchiori Ricardo J. M. , Maltese Nicolas E. , Appelhans Stefania C. , Vara Prasad P. V. , Wright Yancy , Brokesh Edwin , Sharda Ajay , Ciampitti Ignacio A. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIncreased soybean (Glycine max L. Merril) seed costs have motivated interest in reduced seeding rates to improve profitability while maintaining or increasing yield. However, little is known about the effect of early-season plant-to-plant spatial uniformity on the yield of modern soybean varieties planted at reduced seeding rates. The objectives of this study were to (i) investigate traditional and devise new metrics for characterizing early-season plant-to-plant spatial uniformity, (ii) identify the best metrics correlating plant-to-plant spatial uniformity and soybean yield, and (iii) evaluate those metrics at different seeding rate (and achieved plant density) levels and yield environments. Soybean trials planted in 2019 and 2020 compared seeding rates of 160, 215, 270, and 321 thousand seeds ha−1 planted with two different planters, Max Emerge and Exact Emerge, in rainfed and irrigated conditions in the United States (US). In addition, trials comparing seeding rates of 100, 230, 360, and 550 thousand seeds ha−1 were conducted in Argentina (Arg) in 2019 and 2020. Achieved plant density, grain yield, and early-season plant-to-plant spacing (and calculated metrics) were measured in all trials. All site-years were separated into low- (2.7 Mg ha−1), medium- (3 Mg ha−1), and high- (4.3 Mg ha−1) yielding environments, and the tested seeding rates were separated into low (< 200 seeds m−2), medium (200–300 seeds m−2), and high (> 300 seeds m−2) levels. Out of the 13 metrics of spatial uniformity, standard deviation (sd) of spacing and of achieved versus targeted evenness index (herein termed as ATEI, observed to theoretical ratio of plant spacing) showed the greatest correlation with soybean yield in US trials (R2 = 0.26 and 0.32, respectively). However, only the ATEI sd, with increases denoting less uniform spacing, exhibited a consistent relationship with yield in both US and Arg trials. The effect of spatial uniformity (ATEI sd) on soybean yield differed by yield environment. Increases in ATEI sd (values > 1) negatively impacted soybean yields in both low- and medium-yield environments, and in achieved plant densities below 200 thousand plants ha−1. High-yielding environments were unaffected by variations in spatial uniformity and plant density levels. Our study provides new insights into the effect of early-season plant-to-plant spatial uniformity on soybean yields, as influenced by yield environments and reduced plant densities.
Zn (II)-porphyrin-based photochemically green synthesis of novel ZnTPP/Cu nanocomposites with antibacterial activities and cytotoxic features against breast cancer cells
Authors: Tehrani Nejad Sajedeh , Rahimi Rahmatollah , Rabbani Mahboubeh , Rostamnia Sadegh 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThis study focuses on synthesizing novel nanocomposites, zinc(II)tetrakis(4-phenyl)porphyrin/Cu nanoparticles (ZnTPP/Cu-NPs),with antibacterial activity, fabricated through a single-step green procedure. In this regard, the self-assembly of ZnTPP was carried out through an acid–base neutralization method to prepare ZnTPP nanoparticles. Then, the copper nanoparticles (Cu-NPs) were grown on ZnTPP nanoparticles through a visible-light irradiated photochemical procedure in the absence and presence of polyacrylic acid (PAA) as a modulator. The effect of PAA on the morphological properties of the prepared nanocomposites was evaluated. Eventually, the antibacterial activity of nanocomposites with different morphologies was investigated. In this way, the average zone of inhibition growth of diameter, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration values was determined. Besides, the cytotoxicity of the nanocomposites was evaluated by (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay MCF-7and (HEK-293) cell lines. The specific features of the synthesized nanocomposites identified them as antibacterial compounds which have therapeutic effects on breast cancer.
Ecological risk and health risk analysis of soil potentially toxic elements from oil production plants in central China
Authors: Gan Lu , Wang Jiangping , Xie Mengyun , Yang Bokai 
Published: October 2022

AbstractIn this study, the enrichment factor (EF) and pollution load index (PLI) were used to evaluate the pollution of potential toxic elements (PTEs) in the soil near the oil production plants in central China, and the potential ecological risk (PER) and human health risk (HHR) assessment model were used to evaluate the PER and HHR caused by the soil PTEs in the study area. The mean EFs of all PTEs were greater than 1, PTEs have accumulated to varying degrees, especially Cr, Ni and Pb were the most serious. The average value of PLI was 2.62, indicating that the soil PTEs were seriously polluted. The average $${E}_{r}^{i}$$

E

r

i

values of PTEs were Cr > Pb > Cd > Ni > As > Cu > Zn > Mn, of which Cr, Pb, Cd and Ni were at medium and above PER levels. Both adults and children in the study area suffered from varying degrees of non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks. The total hazard index (THI) values of children (7.31) and adults (1.03) were all > 1, and the total carcinogenic risk index (TCRI) of children (9.44E−04) and adults (5.75E−04) were also > 10–4. In particular, the hazardous quotient (HQ) of Cr and Pb for children under the oral intake route were 4.91 and 1.17, respectively, caused serious non-carcinogenic risk. And the carcinogenic risk index (CRI) values of the PTEs in adults and children under the three exposure routes were Cr > Ni >  > As > Pb >  > Cd. Among them, the CRI values of Cr and Ni in children and adults by oral intake were both greater than 10–4, showing a strong carcinogenic risk. The results will provide scientific basis for environmental protection and population health protection in this area.
Multi-octave metasurface-based refractory superabsorber enhanced by a tapered unit-cell structure
Authors: Karimi Habil Mojtaba , Ghahremani Maryam , Zapata–Rodríguez Carlos J. 
Published: October 2022

AbstractAn ultra-broadband metasurface-based perfect absorber is proposed based on a periodic array of truncated cone-shaped $$\text {TiO}_2$$

TiO
2

surrounded by TiN/$$\text {TiO}_2$$

TiO
2

conical rings. Due to the refractory materials involved in the metasurface, the given structure can keep its structural stability at high temperatures. The proposed structure can achieve a broadband spectrum of 4.3 µm at normal incidence spanning in the range of 0.2–4.5 µm with the absorption higher than $$90\%$$

90
%

and the average absorption around $$94.71\%$$

94.71
%

. The absorption can be tuned through the angle of the cone. By optimizing geometrical parameters, a super absorption is triggered in the range of 0.2–3.25 µm with the absorption higher than 97.40$$\%$$
%
and substantially average absorption over 99$$\%$$
%
. In this regard, the proposed structure can gather more than $$99\%$$

99
%

of the full spectrum of solar radiation. Furthermore, the absorption of the designed structure is almost insensitive to the launching angle up to $$50^\circ $$

50
∘

for TE polarization, while it has a weak dependence on the incident angle for TM polarization. The proposed structure can be a promising candidate for thermal energy harvesting and solar absorption applications.
Measurement of retinal nerve fiber layer thickness with a deep learning algorithm in ischemic optic neuropathy and optic neuritis
Authors: Razaghi Ghazale , Hedayati Ehsan , Hejazi Marjaneh , Kafieh Rahele , Samadi Melika , Ritch Robert , Subramanian Prem S. , Aghsaei Fard Masoud 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThis work aims at determining the ability of a deep learning (DL) algorithm to measure retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness from optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans in anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) and demyelinating optic neuritis (ON). The training/validation dataset included 750 RNFL OCT B-scans. Performance of our algorithm was evaluated on 194 OCT B-scans from 70 healthy eyes, 82 scans from 28 NAION eyes, and 84 scans of 29 ON eyes. Results were compared to manual segmentation as a ground-truth and to RNFL calculations from the built-in instrument software. The Dice coefficient for the test images was 0.87. The mean average RNFL thickness using our U-Net was not different from the manually segmented best estimate and OCT machine data in control and ON eyes. In NAION eyes, while the mean average RNFL thickness using our U-Net algorithm was not different from the manual segmented value, the OCT machine data were different from the manual segmented values. In NAION eyes, the MAE of the average RNFL thickness was 1.18 ± 0.69 μm and 6.65 ± 5.37 μm in the U-Net algorithm segmentation and the conventional OCT machine data, respectively (P = 0.0001).
SNP allele calling of Illumina Infinium Omni5-4 data using the butterfly method
Authors: Andersen Mikkel Meyer , Christiansen Steffan Noe , Andersen Jeppe Dyrberg , Eriksen Poul Svante , Morling Niels 
Published: October 2022

AbstractWe introduce a within-sample SNP calling method, called the “butterfly method”, that improves the quality of SNP calling with the Illumina Infinium Omni5-4 SNP Kit. This was done by improving how no-calls are determined from allele signal intensities. High confidence of SNP allele calling is extremely important in forensic genetics and clinical diagnostics. This paper is accompanied by two open-source R packages, and that make SNP calling easy by helping with bookkeeping and giving easy access to meta-information about the SNPs typed with the Illumina Infinium Omni5-4 Kit (including chromosome, probe type, and SNP bases). We compared the results from our method with those obtained with the Illumina GenomeStudio software (which does not provide sample and SNP specific genotype probabilities or other quality measures), and with whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Given the signal intensities, the SNP calling quality was optimised using a threshold for the a posteriori probability of a SNP belonging to a SNP cluster. By lowering the a posteriori probability threshold for no-calls, we obtained a higher call rate than GenomeStudio. Using a higher a posteriori probability threshold, we achieved a higher concordance with the WGS data than GenomeStudio. Our method had SNP call and concordance rates with WGS data of approximately 99%.
Listening and Spoken Language Specialist Auditory–Verbal Certification: Self-Perceived Benefits and Barriers to Inform Change
Authors: de Melo Maria Emilia , Soman Uma , Voss Jenna , Valencia Maria Fernanda Hinojosa , Noll Dorie , Clark Frances , Guignard Gayla Hutsell , Löfkvist Ulrika 
Published: October 2022

Purpose:
The aim of this study was to explore the path to Listening and Spoken Language Specialist (LSLS) certification from the professional's viewpoint as well as to address motivation, self-perceived gains, challenges, and barriers to certification in an international cohort with the purpose of guiding future change within the existing certification system.

Method:

Members of the AG Bell Academy for Listening and Spoken Language (AG Bell Academy) Global Matters Committee created an online survey disseminated by the AG Bell Academy in English and Spanish for professionals who were certified LSLSs, mentees currently pursuing the certification, and professionals interested in the certification. Participants (
N
= 295) were from different parts of the world. Of the respondents, 48% reported English as their first language, 19% reported Spanish as their first language, and the remaining 33% reported one of 26 other languages as their first language. Approximately 40% of the total respondents were certified LSLSs (
n
= 117), and 50% of them lived in the United States.

Results:
The findings indicate that certified LSLSs perceived significant growth in knowledge and skills as a result of the certification process. Personal motivation drove individuals to pursue certification. A common barrier among all participants was limited resources, such as time, funds, and access to a mentor who speaks the same language.

Conclusions:
There is a need for more awareness of the significant gains LSLS certification can bring to professionals. There is further need to address, minimize, and overcome perceived barriers in the process. Future similar research is warranted to explore the gains and barriers of obtaining the LSLS certification outside the English-speaking countries and in a larger, more population-based sample.
Controllability of discrete‐time signed multiagent networks
Authors: Liu Bo , Shen XiXi , Miao Suoxia , Su Housheng 
Published: October 2022

AbstractMost of the existing studies on controllability have only focused on networks with non‐negative weighted interactions/edges among agents. In fact, there are both positive and negative weighted interactions in a network, where positive/negative weight implies cooperative/antagonistic interaction. The controllability of leader‐based multi‐agent systems described by directed/undirected signed graphs is respectively considered for fixed topology and switching topology. A quantitative characterization of controllability is given based on the influence pattern of leaders and some algebraic and graphical features of controllability are established according to consensus protocols. Moreover, it is proved that all follower agents can be steered to the desired configuration under structurally balanced conditions. Specially, a simultaneously structurally balanced signed multiagent network can be controllable on switching topology even though each subnetwork is uncontrollable. Finally, several numerical examples and simulation results are given.
Adsorption properties of environmentally friendly insulating medium C4F7N and its common decomposition products in NaA, NaZSM‐5, and NaX molecular sieves
Authors: Tian Shuangshuang , Yuan Zian , Zhang Xiaoxing , Wang Yingxiang , Luo Weifeng , Liu Yang 
Published: October 2022

AbstractSelecting suitable materials to adsorb the C4F7N mixtures decomposition products could not only keep the stable operation of the environmentally friendly insulating gas switch cabinet, but also ensure the safety of operation and maintenance personnel. It is necessary to study the interaction of three types of molecular sieves with the C4F7N mixture and its decomposition products, which could provide a theoretical basis for the selection of adsorbents in the C4F7N gas switch cabinet. In this research, the molecular dynamics simulation was used to study the C4F7N‐CO2 mixture and its ten kinds of decomposition products CO, CF4, C2F6, C3F6, C3F8, CF3H, CF3CN, C2F5CN, C2N2, and COF2 in three molecular sieves adsorption process (NaA, NaZSM‐5, and NaX). The gas concentration distribution curve and interaction energy parameters were obtained by simulation. The interaction energies of C3F8 in NaA, C4F7N in NaZSM‐5, and C3F6 in NaX molecular sieve are the largest, which are −368.35 kJ/mol, −174.93 kJ/mol, and −340.09 kJ/mol respectively. Then, the theoretical results were verified by the fluorocarbon gases adsorption experiment. The adsorption performance of three molecular sieves for all gases was obtained by combining the experimental results and dynamics parameters. The adsorption rate of the NaA molecular sieve for fluorocarbon gas is less than 35%, and its adsorption performance for all gases is weak. NaZSM‐5 and NaX molecular sieves show excellent adsorption performance for C3F6 and C3F8, and the adsorption rates are over 70%. NaZSM‐5 molecular sieve shows good adsorption capacity for CF3CN, C2F6, C2N2, C3F6, C3F8, C4F7N, and C2F5CN. NaX molecular sieve shows good adsorption capacity for C3F6, C3F8, C4F7N, and C2F5CN. Both of them have the potential to be used as adsorbents in environmental protection insulated gas switch cabinet.
A reliable method of wind power fluctuation smoothing strategy based on multidimensional non‐linear exponential smoothing short‐term forecasting
Authors: Zheng Xidong , Jin Tao 
Published: October 2022

AbstractThis paper investigates the multi‐dimensional non‐linear exponential smoothing prediction method under different weight coefficients, so as to realize the short‐term prediction of the original wind power output. Based on the current research on wind power fluctuation prediction, this paper firstly proposes a new multi‐dimensional nonlinear exponential smoothing prediction method. Based on different weight coefficients, the corresponding short‐term forecast volatility is obtained. Then, the wavelet packet decomposition method is used to further realize the secondary smoothing of the prediction wind power fluctuations. Hybrid energy storage system (HESS) plays an important role in wind power fluctuation suppression from different frequency bands. However, the traditional fixed frequency power allocation method significantly degrades the performance of the accuracy of the algorithm. Therefore, this paper proposes a frequency conversion entropy strategy, which combines energy value with wavelet packet decomposition. By calculating the energy components of different frequency bands, the fluctuation can be divided effectively. Finally, simulation and experiment discussions show that the proposed algorithm in this paper can realize the power allocation effectively compared to the traditional one. And it further verifies the feasibility and reliability of the strategy proposed in this work.
Homöopathie bei Long Covid
Authors: Friedrich Uwe 
Published: October 2022

ZusammenfassungLong Covid ist in den ersten Monaten nach Corona-Infektion oder Corona-Impfung sehr gut homöopathisch zu behandeln. Der Beitrag stellt die am häufigsten angezeigten Mittel zur Heilung von Long Covid vor und erläutert das zugrunde liegende homöopathische Behandlungskonzept. Dieses besteht aus Gabe der passenden Nosode, des passenden spezifischen homöopathischen Mittels und fallweise einer Behandlungsbegleitung mit „Kraftmitteln“. Sehr langwierige Long-Covid-Verläufe werden häufig verkompliziert durch Exazerbationen alter chronischer Krankheiten, neuer Traumatisierungen und wiederholter Impfungen. Eine erfolgreiche homöopathische Behandlung ist auch hier möglich, bedarf aber großer Erfahrung.
Zwischenergebnisse der laufenden Long-/Post-Covid-Studie des Krankenhauses für Naturheilweisen (KfN) in München
Authors: Schmidt Robert 
Published: October 2022

ZusammenfassungIm Dezember 2021 begannen wir im Krankenhaus für Naturheilweisen mit einer hausinternen Beobachtungsstudie zum Thema „Effektivität unserer naturheilkundlichen Komplexbehandlung bei Long-/Post-Covid-Syndrom“. Während in der zweiten Jahreshälfte 2020 die ersten, zunächst nur vereinzelten Patienten mit Long/Post Covid zu uns kamen, entwickelten sich diese Patienten im Verlauf des Jahres 2021 zu einer unserer größten Patientengruppen, mit z. T. langanhaltenden und/oder schwerwiegenden gesundheitlichen Beeinträchtigungen. Dieser Trend setzt sich auch 2022 bisher nahezu unverändert fort. Im Juli 2021 erschien dann schließlich die S1-Leitlinie Long/Post Covid, deren Überprüfung für Juli 2022 angedacht ist 3. Wirkliche therapeutische Behandlungsansätze enthält die Variante jedoch nicht, die Aktualisierung war bei Redaktionsschluss für diesen Beitrag noch nicht erschienen. Wesentliche neue Erkenntnisse sind aber nicht zu erwarten.
Association Between the Variability of Glycated Hemoglobin and
Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A
Meta-Analysis
Authors: Zhai Liping , Lu Jun , Cao Xinjian , Zhang Jun , Yin Yong , Tian Hu 
Published: October 2022

AbstractVisit-to-visit variability of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a marker of
long-term glycemic fluctuation, which has been related to increased risk of
macrovascular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
The association between HbA1c variability and retinopathy in patients with T2DM,
however, has been inconsistent in previous studies. In order to fully evaluate
the above association, we conducted a meta-analysis. Observational studies
related to the aim of the meta-analysis were identified by search of PubMed, Web
of Science, and Embase databases. Studies with HbA1c variability evaluated as
the standard deviation (SD) and/or the coefficients of variation (CV) of
HbA1c were included. The results were analyzed using a random-effects model that
incorporated potential heterogeneity between studies. Twelve observational
studies involving 44 662 T2DM patients contributed to the meta-analysis.
Overall, 5150 (11.5%) patients developed retinopathy. Pooled results
showed that compared to patients with lower HbA1c variability, T2DM patients
with higher HbA1c-SD (relative risk [RR]: 1.48, 95% confidence interval
[CI]: 1.24 to 1.78, p<0.001, I2=34%) and higher HbA1c-CV
(RR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.05 to 1.59, p=0.02, I2=0%)
were both associated with higher risk of DR. For studies with HbA1c-SD, the
association was not significantly affected by study characteristics such as
country, study design, mean age, disease duration, adjustment of mean HbA1c, or
quality scores (p for subgroup difference all>0.05). In conclusion,
higher HbA1c variability may be associated with an increased risk of retinopathy
in patients with T2DM.