bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 Virus Variants of Concern in Mouse Models
Authors: Shipovalov A. V. , Kudrov G. А. , Tomilov A. A. , Bodnev S. A. , Boldyrev N. D. , Ovchinnikova A. S. , Zaikovskaya A. V. , Taranov O. S. , P’yankov O. V. , Maksyutov R. A. 
Published: April 2022

The aim of the research was to assess the susceptibility of mice of different lines to newly emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2.Materials and methods. The SARS-CoV-2 virus strains belonging to variants of concern (VOC) circulating in the territory of the Russian Federation were used in the study. Experiments involved three inbred mouse lines (BALB/c, CBA and C57Bl/6z) and CD1 outbred mice taken from the nursery of the SSC VB “Vector” of the Rospotrebnadzor. The infectious titer of coronavirus in tissue samples obtained from the laboratory animals was determined on a Vero E6 cell culture. The (Ct) threshold value in RT-PCR was considered an additional parameter for monitoring the viral load in the samples. The severity of lung tissue damage was assessed using histological preparations.Results and discussion. The susceptibility of various mouse lines to the genetic variant Beta of the SARS-CoV-2 virus has been investigated. During intranasal infection of the inbred and outbred mice with strains of VOC at a dose of 2·103 TCID50, the virus replicated in the lungs with maximum concentrations 72 hours after infection. The pathogenicity of genetic variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus for BALB/c mice has been assessed, a 50 % infectious dose for intranasal infection (ID50) determined. Histological analysis showed COVID-19-specific lung tissue lesions in infected animals. Our study proves that BALB/c mice can be used as a model animal in screening studies when evaluating the effectiveness of therapeutic, vaccine preparations and studying the pathogenesis caused by VOC of the SARS-CoV-2 virus: Alpha (B.1.1.7), Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Omicron (B.1.1.529) and the like.
West Nile Fever: Results of Monitoring over the Causative Agent in the Russian Federation in 2021, the Incidence Forecast for 2022
Authors: Putintseva E. V. , Udovichenko S. K. , Nikitin D. N. , Borodai N. V. , Shpak I. M. , Fomina V. K. , Nesgovorova A. V. , Baturin A. A. , Molchanova E. V. , Prilepskaya D. R. , Pimenova E. V. , Viktorov D. V. , Toporkov А. V. 
Published: April 2022

The epidemiological situation on West Nile fever (WNF) in Russia in 2021 was characterized by an increase in the incidence relative to 2020 (more than 6-fold increase). The peculiarities of the WNF epidemic process have been determined: the territorial distribution of cases (75 % – in the constituent entities of the Central Federal District), the expansion of the causative agent’s areal with the involvement of new territories (official registration of cases in Moscow and the Tula Region for the first time ever), the early end of the epidemic season. An increase in the proportion of neuroinvasive forms, an increase in the share of male patients and the age group of 30–39 years, a decrease in the proportion of the population in contact with the pathogen in natural places of mass recreation were observed in the incidence structure. According to the results of the monitoring studies carried out by the Reference Center, intensive circulation of the pathogen was established on the territory of the Central Federal District, Southern Federal District, and the North Caucasian Federal District. The low reported incidence was due to insufficient detection of WNF patients. The results of moleculargenetic study showed that in the European part of Russia, WNV lineage 2 circulated in both epizootic and epidemic cycles, lineage 2 in the south of Western Siberia (Omsk Region) and lineage 4 in the Volgograd Region – in the epizootic cycle only. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strains isolated from the Astrakhan, Volgograd, Rostov, Voronezh Regions and the Republic of Dagestan in 2021 belong to the genovariant of WNV lineage 2 not registered in Russia previously. The topology of the phylogenetic tree indicates the possible African origin of the isolates, probably imported into Russia by migratory birds across the coast of the Caspian Sea. In the Volgograd Region, WNV of both the entrenched clade of lineage 2 (since 2007) and new genovariant circulated. The specialists of the Reference Center developed a forecast of WNF epidemiological situation development in the Volgograd Region in 2022 on the basis of the neural network modeling technique, according to which an increase in the incidence is expected, comparable to that in 2010 and 2012. Based on the climate projections, an increase in the incidence is possible in all Federal Districts of the European part of Russia, the southern territories of the Urals, Western Siberia, and the Far East.
Studying the Effect of Experimental Bases on the Growth Quality of Liquid Nutritional Media for Submerged Cultivation of Plague Microbe Vaccine Strain
Authors: Abzaeva N. V. , Gostishcheva S. E. , Startseva O. L. , Katunina L. S. , Kovalev D. A. , Ivanova G. F. , Kostrominov A. V. , Kurilova A. A. 
Published: April 2022

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of experimental bases on the growth qualities of liquid nutrient media at the stage of obtaining the biomass of plague microbe vaccine strain using submerged cultivation.Materials and methods. Yersinia pestis EV NIIEG vaccine strain was used in the work. The cultivation was carried out in a 5 L bioreactor with automatic stirrer control. We used 28 variants of nutrient media obtained through combining five types of bases and six growth stimulants. Nutrient media without the addition of growth-stimulating additives were used as controls. The following parameters were assessed in the yield biomass: the total number of microbial cells, pH, the percentage of viable microbial cells.Results and discussion. On experimental nutrient media, biomasses of the plague microbe vaccine strain have been produced using submerged cultivation. After evaluating bacterial suspensions by the main indicators, the quality of the obtained suspensions has been compared depending on the nutrient medium used. The most promising bases identified are pancreatic hydrolyzate of casein with dry enzymatic peptone and acid hydrolyzate of corn syrup, especially in combination with such growth stimulants as sodium sulfite, ferrous ammonium sulfate or ammonium molybdate.
Study of the Surface Antigenic Determinants of <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> Strains with Atypical Agglutinability Using the Panel of Monoclonal Antibodies
Authors: Evdokimova V. V. , Alekseeva L. P. , Yakusheva O. A. , Levchenkо D. A. , Kruglikov V. D. , Zyuzina V. P. , Yagovkin M. E. 
Published: April 2022

The aim of the work was to study surface antigenic determinants of V. cholerae R-variant strains using enzyme immunoassay and a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MAbs).Materials and methods. 60 strains of V. cholerae R-variant isolated from ambient environment objects in the territories of the former USSR and the constituent entities of the Russian Federation over a 30-year period (1988–2019) were investigated in the slide agglutination reaction with cholera diagnostic sera, enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) using the panel of MAbs specific to membrane proteins and a set of reagents “Monoclonal diagnostic immunoglobulins labeled with horseradish peroxidase, dry, for serological identification of V. cholerae O1 and O139 (in vitro) through ELISA and dot-ELISA”.Results and discussion. The analysis of the surface structures of V. cholerae R-variant strains with atypical agglutinability has been carried out applying enzyme immunoassay. It showed that individual strains with different amounts of O-antigen are registered among the studied strains identified at isolation as V. cholerae R-variant (the optical density range is from 0.261±0.002 to 1.312±0.003). Epitopes of specific O-antigen were found in some “conservative” strains (30 %) that are agglutinated only with RO serum, and in several strains (20 %) that do not have the wbeT gene that determines its synthesis, and lost agglutinability with all diagnostic cholera sera, including RO. The protein epitopes recognized by complementary MAbs are represented with varying frequency in the composition of surface antigens of R-vibrios; a decrease in their representation or absence on the cell surface correlates with the modification or loss of R-LPS and is accompanied by a negative agglutination reaction.
Isolation of Rabies Virus Glycoprotein Using Three-Phase Extraction and Characteristics of its Antigenic Properties
Authors: Efimova M. A. , Akhmadeev R. M. , Galeeva A. G. , Valeeva A. R. , Miftakhov N. R. , Mukminov M. N. , Khaertynov K. S. , Shuralev Е. A. 
Published: April 2022

The aim of the work was to develop an approach to isolation of rabies virus glycoprotein applying threephase extraction and to characterize its antigenic properties.Materials and methods. Infectious activity of the rabies virus (production strain, “Ovine” GNKI) after long-term storage was restored on white BALB/c mice. The strain was used for cultivation on BHK-21 cells; the culture liquid was concentrated applying ultracentrifugation followed by separation by buoyant density in a sucrose gradient, selection of visually opalescent zones, phase concentration, chromatographic separation on an ENrich™ SEC650 column (Bio-Rad, USA) and selection of monomeric fractions with high serological activity according to the results of Western blotting.Results and discussion. We have demonstrated that preliminary mechanical destruction of brain suspension, extraction of the virus-containing material from the cell suspension through successive low-speed and high-speed centrifugation, separation of the sediment produced in sucrose gradient with further phase concentration and chromatographic separation of the precipitate allows to obtain monomeric antigenic preparations with high serological activity. This methodology has made it possible to obtain an antigen, which is rabies virus glycoprotein with a molecular weight of 67 kDa, and two of its isoforms, having molecular weights of 60 and 54 kDa. The described approach can be viewed as an option for isolation of the rabies virus specific antigen when improving laboratory diagnostics techniques. The resulting antigen is a monomeric discrete containing one fraction with a molecu lar weight of 67 kDa. The data obtained corroborate the high specificity of the antigen and its suitability for the design of enzyme immunoassay and immunochromatographic tests, production of specific immunoglobulins, the study of the antigen/antibody interaction, as well as for the assessment of the protective immunity intensity after vaccination.
<i>In vitro</i> Study of Biological Properties of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus Strains Related to Various Genetic Variants
Authors: Zaykovskaya A. V. , Gladysheva A. V. , Kartashov M. Yu. , Taranov O. S. , Ovchinnikova A. S. , Shipovalov А. V. , P’yankov O. V. 
Published: April 2022

The aim of the research was to study reproduction features of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus strains of various genetic lines on Vero and Vero E6 cell culture.Materials and methods. The SARS-CoV-2 virus strains related to the variants of concern (VOC) circulating in the territory of the Russian Federation were used in the research. The strains of the SARS-CoV-2 virus were deposited in the State Collection of Pathogens of Viral Infections and Rickettsioses at the FBIS SSC VB “Vector” of the Rospotrebnadzor. The experiments were carried out on Vero and Vero E6 cell cultures. The dynamics of infectious virus accumulation was determined by titration of culture fluid samples 24, 48, 72, 96 hours after infection (MOI – from 1 to 0,00001 CPE50/cell). Plaque formation was studied on Vero E6 cell culture under 0.2 % agar coating. Image analysis and plaque size calculation were performed using GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program).Results and discussion. The study describes the dynamics of accumulation of infectious virus in the culture fluid depending upon multiplicity of infection for the strains of SARS-CoV-2 virus belonging to different genetic lines. Differences in the morphology of plaques on the monolayer of Vero E6 cell culture under agar coating are shown. SARS-CoV-2 virus strains related to Alfa and Delta VOC demonstrate maximum reproduction rate among the studied strains (infectious titer is higher than 7 lg TCID50/100µl). Omicron VOC forms small plaques under agar coating and at a low multiplicity of infection has a low reproduction rate. Thus, SARS-CoV-2 virus strains belonging to different genetic lines have significant differences in the rate of reproduction on Vero and Vero E6 cell culture.
Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Application, and Selection Criteria Adaptations, in Times of COVID-19
Authors: Khalafallah Youssef M. , Markowitz Moses , Levine William N. , LaPorte Dawn M. , Aiyer Amiethab A. 
Published: April 2022

Background:
Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, medical education and residency application have faced unprecedented changes. This has forced residency directors to alter their selection criteria in the absence of away rotations and the implementation of nationwide virtual interviews.

Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to assess how residency directors have adapted their selection criteria in light of this unique application cycle and to look at the effect, and future, of the different changes.

Methods:
A 16-question online survey was disseminated to 31 residency programs gathering data about new opportunities offered this cycle, changes to selection criteria, match outcomes, as well as the number of applicants to their program.

Results:
Twenty-nine respondents completed the survey (94% response rate). There was a significant rise in the number of applications received by programs this cycle (p < 0.05). Programs have unanimously altered their selection processes. The biggest changes in selection criteria were putting more weight into communication from mentors, emails from the applicants, home applicant status, and virtual information session attendance. Some programs used additional application requirements beyond Electronic Residency Application Service, which were often uncompleted, and cut the number of eligible applications by up to 46%. Among the new opportunities offered this cycle, virtual information sessions and social media platforms seem to be the most commonly offered and are anticipated to grow.

Discussion and Conclusion:
Orthopaedic surgery residency continues to become more competitive with a significant rise in the number of applications during the COVID-19 pandemic. Amid this increasingly demanding virtual application cycle, a holistic application review was more challenging. More weight was put that cycle into communication from faculty mentors, emails from the applicants, home applicant status, and virtual information session attendance. Supplementary applications and virtual informative opportunities are likely to last and change the future of the orthopaedic surgery residency application process.
What is the purpose of Clinical Trial Monitoring?
Authors: Love Sharon B , Yorke-Edwards Victoria , Ward Elizabeth , Haydock Rebecca , Keen Katie , Biggs Katie , Gopalakrishnan Gosala , Marsh Lucy , O'Sullivan Lydia , Fox Lisa , Payerne Estelle , Hood Kerenza , Meakin Garry 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Background
The sources of information on clinical trial monitoring do not give information in an accessible language and do not give detailed guidance. In order to enable communication and to build clinical trial monitoring tools on a strong easily communicated foundation, we identified the need to define monitoring in accessible language.
Methods
In a three-step process, the material from sources that describe clinical trial monitoring were synthesized into principles of monitoring. A poll re their applicability was run at a UK national academic clinical trials monitoring meeting.
Results
The process derived 5 key principles of monitoring; keeping participants safe and respecting their rights, having data we can trust, making sure the trial is being run as it was meant to be, improving the way the trial is run, and preventing problems before they happen.
Conclusion
From the many sources mentioning monitoring of clinical trials, the purpose of monitoring can be summarised simply as 5 principles. These principles, given in accessible language, should form a firm basis for discussion of monitoring of clinical trials.
Exploration of the structural, optoelectronic and vibrational behavior of Sb2S3 through first principles approach for phenomenal applications in solar cells
Authors: Khalil R. M. Arif , Hussain Muhammad Iqbal , Saeed Nyla , Hussain Fayyaz , Manzoor Anwar 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
The first principles approach to study any material has been considered an appropriate forum and deemed a best remedy to ensure validity of the achievements/results obtained either theoretically or experimentally. It is, therefore, we are motivated to use this approach to explore the structural, optoelectronic and vibrational properties of Sb2S3 while utilizing the plane wave pseudopotential technique and conjugate gradient method employed through CASTEP simulation code. The crystal structure of Sb2S3 has been optimized in orthorhombic phase having space group Pnma with lattice parameters a= 11.31 Å, b= 3.84 Å and c= 11.23 Å. It has been noticed that the values of these lattice parameters are approximate replica of the formerly reported theoretical as well as experimental results. The calculated energy band gap is found to be 1.012 eV, which is an utter evidence that the studied compound belongs to semiconductor category of the materials. The optical parameters unveil that Sb2S3 can absorb a wide range of radiations from UV potion of the spectrum. The vibrational behavior of Sb2S3 have been investigated while utilizing density functional perturbation theory (DFPT). The outcomes pertaining to Infrared (IR) and Raman spectroscopy are used to differentiate various modes of vibrations such as active, inactive and soft modes. Vibrational analysis reveals that antimony tri sulfide compound have no negative frequencies, which endorse structural stability of Sb2S3. The fascinating results/optical analysis about the studied compound are much enough to declare it a potential material for applications in solar cells.
Overexpression of geranyl diphosphate synthase and farnesyl diphosphate synthase gene from Chrysanthemum indicum var. aromaticum resulted in modified trichome formation and terpenoid biosynthesis in transgenic tobacco
Authors: Gao Wenjie , Meng Qingran , Wang Xiang , Chen Feng , He Miao , Zhou Yunwei 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Geranyl diphosphate synthase (GPS) and farnesyl diphosphate synthase (FPS) catalyzes the biosynthesis of monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids, two key precursors for terpenoids biosynthesis. Here, the open reading frame (ORF) sequences of GPS (named CiGPS) and FPS (named CiFPS) with lengths of 1278 bp and 1035 bp were cloned from Chrysanthemum indicum var. aromaticum (C. indicum var. aromaticum). Phylogenetic analysis showed that CiGPS and CiFPS genes were closely related to Artemisia annua and Chrysanthemum × morifolium, respectively. qRT-PCR results showed that CiGPS and CiFPS gene had the highest expression level in leaves, while the expression of CiFPS was induced to methyl jasmonate. Overexpression of CiGPS and CiFPS in tobacco resulted in shorter plant height, darker leaf color, higher chlorophyll, and carotenoid content; the number of long handle trichomes increased significantly, while short handle trichomes only increased significantly on the upper epidermis of leaves of CiGPS transgenic tobacco lines. The relative content of terpenes of CiGPS and CiFPS transgenic tobacco lines increased significantly and monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids were detected in transgenic tobacco without wild type (WT) and empty vector (EV) lines. The activity of GPS enzyme was increased in CiGPS transgenic tobacco lines, but FPS enzyme activity in CiFPS transgenic tobacco lines was non-significant. Transcriptional analyses revealed that the expression levels of terpenoid biosynthesis pathway genes were higher in transgenic tobacco lines than in WT and EV lines. All the results demonstrated that GPS and FPS cDNA were effective to improve growth traits and alter terpenoid metabolism of C. indicum var. aromaticum.
Development of intelligent reconfigurable welding fixture for rail car manufacturing industry
Authors: Seloane Walter Thabo , Mpofu Khumbulani , Ramatsetse Boitumelo Innocentia , Modungwa Dithoto 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
Dedicated welding fixtures are used in the railcar manufacturing industry to fix and stabilise the welded components during the welding assembly process in order to achieve the highest possible accuracy and repeatability of connected components. In the railcar manufacturing industries, the use of dedicated welding fixtures results in longer production setup, high manufacturing cost, low quality standards and storage issues. In order to reduce cost, increase productivity and meet the market demands, there is a growing requirement for the tools to be flexible, reconfigurable and re-constructible. The purpose of this study is to offer a unique intelligent reconfigurable welding fixture (IRWF) that addresses the current challenges encountered by the railcar manufacturing industry when using dedicated fixtures. Functional requirements such as reconfigurability, intelligence, assembly, manufacturability and maintainability were considered during the development of an IRWF. The structural integrity of the design was analysed using numerical calculations to quantify the effectiveness of the fixture during welding and was found to be sufficient. The IRWF was then manufactured and the control systems were then incorporated to ensure fully automation of the fixture using the control panel with integrated Programmable Logic Control (PLC).
Nano-catalyst synthesis and its characterization for the production of biodiesel from Mahua oil
Authors: Ramasamy Sivakumar Vadakkumannam , Sivagurulingam Arun Prasad Arunachalam , Radhakrishnan Kannan 
Published: April 2022

Abstract
The synthesis of magnetic nancatalyst was carried out through co-precipitation and incipient wetness impregnation method and was utilized for the transesterification reaction with a short chain alcohol and mahau oil to produce a long chain Fatty acid methyl ester. The prepared catalyst was characterized to examine the morphological behavior using Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)and in turn activity of the catalyst is investigated through transesterification reaction. The optimization is carried out by investigating the effect of various process parameters such as methanol to oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration, reaction temperature and reaction time.The maximum yield of 97.4 wt% was obtained with the optimized process conditions holding 18:1 molar ration of oil to methanol, 7 wt% catalyst loading, 65°C reaction temperature and 300 min of reaction time. The obtained fatty acid methyl ester properties was tested and compared with that of ASTM standards.