bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Raman Spectroscopic Studies on Aqueous Sodium Formate Solutions and DFT Calculations
Authors: Rudolph Wolfram W. , Irmer Gert 
Published: June 2022

AbstractNaHCOO(aq) and NaDCOO(aq) solutions were measured using Raman spectroscopy from dilute to concentrated solutions at 23 °C in water and heavy water from 50 to 4300 cm−1. A concentrated NaHCOO solution in heavy water was also measured. The Raman band parameters of HCOO−(aq) and DCOO−(aq) such as peak position, full width at half maximum (fwhm), integrated intensities, and depolarization values were determined. From the Raman spectroscopic data, it was concluded that the HCOO−(aq) and DCOO−(aq) symmetry is lower than C2v and probably as low as C1. In contrast to the solution state, $$\tt \normalsize \tt \normalsize {\text{HCO}}_{2}^{ - }$$

HCO

2

-

($$\tt \normalsize\tt\normalsize {\text{DCO}}_{2}^{ - }$$

DCO

2

-

) possess C2v symmetry in the gas phase and the DFT frequencies are given. DFT frequencies on a cluster of HCOO−/DCOO− with five implicit water molecules in the first sphere and placed in a polarizable continuum deviate not more than 1–2% from the measured ones. In the Raman spectrum in NaHCOO(aq), a band doublet at 2730 cm−1 and 2820 cm−1 occurs instead of a single band. The band doublet is due to Fermi resonance and results from the interaction of the overtone of the bending C–H mode, 2ν6 at 1382 cm−1 and ν1. The undisturbed C–H stretching mode, ν1 amounts to 2785 cm−1. In DCOO−(aq), a Fermi doublet was also observed at 2030.5 and 2116.5 cm−1, and the undisturbed wavenumber position amounts to 2101 cm−1. Furthermore, a solution of HCOO− in D2O showed slightly changed frequencies compared with the ones in water caused by the solvent isotope effect. Ion pairing between Na+ and HCOO− characterizes the Raman spectrum at high solute concentrations which are melt-like enabling direct contact between the ions. A NaHCOO solution with high amounts of LiCl added showed large perturbations of the HCOO− bands especially νsCOO− and δ COO− of HCOO−and revealed a stronger affinity of Li+ toward HCOO−. The ion pairs formed are most likely contact ion pairs between Li+ and HCOO− which have different stoichiometry of Li+: HCOO− such as 1:1 and 2:1.
Graphical Abstract
Virtual reality content creation based on self-contained components in the e-learning domain: Re-using pattern-based vr content in different authoring toolkits
Authors: Horst Robin , Gerstmeier Simon , Naraghi-Taghi-Off Ramtin , Wagner Julian , Rau Linda , Dörner Ralf 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIn the context of e-learning, it is challenging to incorporate emerging technologies, such as alternate reality games or Virtual Reality (VR), within current learning trends. Microlearning is such a current trend. It divides large and complex chunks of content into small and elementary learning nuggets. These single self-contained nuggets are then composed to overarching lessons or courses. The concept of VR nuggets dovetails this educational trend. VR nuggets are standalone, self-contained, and rather short VR experiences that can be combined with other learning nuggets. By using initial implementations of VR nuggets, they can be used to let authors create VR earning content, for example, to let learners experience alternate realities. In this paper, we further investigate the VR nugget authoring concept and extent it. We introduce two novel authoring toolkits that rely on VR nuggets – one based on context-related module interaction (CoNMoD) and one based on visual scripting (ViNS Tiles). In two separate user studies, we examine the acceptance of the toolkits and compare them to existing authoring environments that also rely on VR nuggets but utilize different interface techniques. These studies’ results emphasize the importance of exchanging content between different established tools and indicate the acceptance of our tools regarding their hedonic and pragmatic qualities, also compared to existing tools from related work. As a conclusion, we propose an exchange format for VR nuggets that supports their reusability. It enables authors that use different toolkits to work together. They can utilize VR nuggets created with other toolkits and still use their own preferred toolkit. By means of an expert survey, we draw conclusions on technical aspects and a suitable platform to make VR nuggets available to the community. This survey indicates that potential authors would use such an exchange-approach for creating and presenting VR content and that they are willing to share their work and to contribute in a VR nugget authoring community.
Pre-surgery immune profiles of adult glioma patients
Authors: Bracci Paige M. , Rice Terri , Hansen Helen M. , Francis Stephen S. , Lee Sean , McCoy Lucie S. , Shrestha Pavan P. , Warrier Gayathri , Clarke Jennifer L. , Molinaro Annette M. , Taylor Jennie W. , Wiencke John K. , Wrensch Margaret R. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Introduction
Although immunosuppression is a known characteristic of glioma, no previous large studies have reported peripheral blood immune cell profiles prior to patient surgery and chemoradiation. This report describes blood immune cell characteristics and associated variables prior to surgery among typical glioma patients seen at a large University practice.

Methods
We analyzed pre-surgery blood samples from 139 glioma patients diagnosed with a new or recurrent grade II/III glioma (LrGG, n = 64) or new glioblastoma (GBM, n = 75) and 454 control participants without glioma. Relative cell fractions of CD4, CD8, B-cells, Natural Killer cells, monocytes, and neutrophils, were estimated via a validated deconvolution algorithm from blood DNA methylation measures from Illumina EPIC arrays.

Results
Dexamethasone use at time of blood draw varied by glioma type being highest among patients with IDH wild-type (wt) GBM (75%) and lowest for those with oligodendroglioma (14%). Compared to controls, glioma patients showed statistically significant lower cell fractions for all immune cell subsets except for neutrophils which were higher (all p-values < 0.001), in part because of the higher prevalence of dexamethasone use at time of blood draw for IDHwt GBM. Patients who were taking dexamethasone were more likely to have a low CD4 count (< 200, < 500), increased neutrophils, low absolute lymphocyte counts, higher total cell count and higher NLR.

Conclusion
We show that pre-surgery blood immune profiles vary by glioma subtype, age, and more critically, by use of dexamethasone. Our results highlight the importance of considering dexamethasone exposures in all studies of immune profiles and of obtaining immune measures prior to use of dexamethasone, if possible.
Efficacy and tolerability of regorafenib in pretreated patients with progressive CNS grade 3 or 4 gliomas
Authors: Werner Jan-Michael , Wolf Lena , Tscherpel Caroline , Bauer Elena K. , Wollring Michael , Ceccon Garry , Deckert Martina , Brunn Anna , Pappesch Roberto , Goldbrunner Roland , Fink Gereon R. , Galldiks Norbert 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Background
The phase 2 REGOMA trial suggested an encouraging overall survival benefit in glioblastoma patients at first relapse treated with the multikinase inhibitor regorafenib. Here, we evaluated the efficacy and side effects of regorafenib in a real-life setting.

Methods
From 2018 to 2021, 30 patients with progressive WHO CNS grade 3 or 4 gliomas treated with regorafenib (160 mg/day; first 3 weeks of each 4-week cycle) with individual dose adjustment depending on toxicity were retrospectively identified. Side effects were evaluated according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (version 5.0). MRI was obtained at baseline and after every second cycle. Tumor progression was assessed according to RANO criteria. After regorafenib initiation, the median PFS and OS were calculated.

Results
The median number of treatment lines before regorafenib was 2 (range 1–4). Most patients (73%) had two or more pretreatment lines. At first relapse, 27% of patients received regorafenib. A total of 94 regorafenib cycles were administered (median 2 cycles; range 1–9 cycles). Grade 3 and 4 side effects were observed in 47% and 7% of patients, respectively, and were not significantly increased in patients with two or more pretreatments (P > 0.05). The most frequent grade 3 or 4 side effects were laboratory abnormalities (62%). PFS was 2.6 months (range 0.8–8.2 months), and the OS was 6.2 months (range 0.9–24 months).

Conclusions
In patients with progressive WHO grade 3 or 4 gliomas, predominantly with two pretreatment lines or more, regorafenib seems to be effective despite considerable grade 3 or 4 side effects.
Unzipping flood vulnerability and functionality loss: tale of struggle for existence of riparian buildings
Authors: Gautam Dipendra , Adhikari Rabindra , Gautam Suraj , Pandey Vishnu Prasad , Thapa Bhesh Raj , Lamichhane Suraj , Talchabhadel Rocky , Thapa Saraswati , Niraula Sunil , Aryal Komal Raj , Lamsal Pravin , Bastola Subash , Sah Sanjay Kumar , Subedi Shanti Kala , Puri Bijaya , Kandel Bidur , Sapkota Pratap , Rupakhety Rajesh 
Published: June 2022

AbstractFloods pose significant risk to riparian buildings as evidenced during many historical events. Although structural resilience to tsunami flooding is well studied in the literature, high-velocity and debris-laden floods in steep terrains are not considered adequately so far. Historical floods in steep terrains necessitate the need for flood vulnerability analysis of buildings. To this end, we report vulnerability of riparian-reinforced concrete buildings using forensic damage interpretations and empirical/analytical vulnerability analyses. Furthermore, we propose the concept and implications of functionality loss due to flooding in residential reinforced concrete (RC) buildings using empirical data. Fragility functions using inundation depth and momentum flux are presented for RC buildings considering a recent flooding event in Nepal. The results show that flow velocity and sediment load, rather than hydrostatic load, govern the damages in riparian RC buildings. However, at larger inundation depth, hydrostatic force alone may collapse some of the RC buildings.
Identification of the glutamine synthetase (GS) gene family in four wheat species and functional analysis of Ta4D.GSe in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Yin Huayan , Sun Qian , Lu Xiaoqing , Zhang Lufei , Yuan Yanchao , Gong Cuiling , He Xiaoyan , Ma Wujun , Mu Ping 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Drought stress can negatively impact crop yield and quality. Improving wheat yields under drought stress is a major objective of agronomic research. Glutamine synthetase (GS) is a key enzyme of nitrogen metabolism that is critical to plant growth and development in abiotic stress response. However, to date, no systemic characterization of the GS genes has yet been conducted in wheat and its close relatives. We identified a total of 15 GS genes in Triticum aestivum (2n = 6x = 42; AABBDD), as well as 9 GS genes in Triticum dicoccoides (2n = 4x = 28; AABB), 6 in Aegilops tauschii (2n = 2x = 14; DD), and 5 in Triticum urartu (2n = 2x = 14; AA). The 35 GSs were further clustered into five lineages according to the phylogenetic tree. Synteny analysis revealed that the three subgenomes in bread wheat retained extensive synteny between bread wheat and its three relative species. We identified three up-regulated TaGSs (Ta4A.GSe, Ta4B.GSe, and Ta4D.GSe) from transcriptome data after drought and salt stress. Ta4D.GSe was subsequently used for further functional studies, and its subcellular localization were determined in Arabidopsis protoplasts. Its overexpression in Arabidopsis enhanced drought tolerance by increasing the ability of scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and osmotic adjustment. We identified GS gene family in four wheat species and performed comparative analyses of their relationships, chromosome locations, conserved motif, gene structure, and synteny. The subcellular localization of Ta4D.GSe was detected and its drought tolerance function was demonstrated. Taken together, these findings provide insight into the potential functional roles of the GS genes in abiotic stress tolerance.

Key message
This report clearly shows detailed characterization of GS gene family in four wheat species and demonstrates that Ta4D.GSe plays an important role in enhancing drought tolerance by improving the scavenging of ROS and osmotic adjustment ability in Arabidopsis.
Spatiotemporal responses of rice root architecture and anatomy to drought
Authors: Fonta Jenna E. , Giri Jitender , Vejchasarn Phanchita , Lynch Jonathan P. , Brown Kathleen M. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Aims
Growth reductions and yield losses from drought could be mitigated by developing rice genotypes with more efficient root systems. We examined spatiotemporal responses to drought in order to determine whether roots developing in upper vs. deeper soil layers respond differently to drought stress.

Methods
Root anatomical and architectural phenotypes of two rice genotypes, Azucena (drought tolerant) and IR64 (drought susceptible), were measured weekly in well-watered and vegetative-stage drought stress treatments in solid medium with stratified moisture availability. Basal and apical segments were collected from older, deeper nodal roots and apical segments from younger, shallow roots for assessment of anatomy and lateral rooting phenotypes. The relationship between root anatomy and root respiration rates was tested in solution culture and solid medium.

Results
Compared to IR64, Azucena had deeper root systems and larger diameter roots in both treatments but reduced its living tissue area in response to drought, while IR64 roots exhibited less plasticity in root diameter. Root respiration rates were positively correlated with root diameter and living tissue area, providing evidence that root anatomy affects the metabolic cost of tissues. In response to drought, Azucena showed reduced theoretical axial hydraulic conductance in shallow roots and at the base of deep roots but slightly greater conductance at the tip of deep roots, while IR64 displayed low plasticity in metaxylem phenotypes.

Conclusion
We propose that the plasticity of root phenotypes in Azucena contributes to its drought tolerance by reducing the metabolic cost of soil exploration and improving the efficiency of water transport.
Covid and Public Funds: More Opportunities for a Misuse? The Case of the Intermediate Governments of Galicia
Authors: Blanco-Varela Bruno , Quintas-Pérez María , Sánchez-Carreira María Carmen , Mourão Paulo Jorge Reis 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Corruption and inefficiency of public funds pose a risk in public administrations. This paper analyses the corruption risk at the local level by analysing indicators of public procurement contracts in four deputations of Galicia (Spain). In addition, the pandemic has created opportunities to increase this risk and the misuse of public funds given the need to act quickly. Therefore, the study analyses whether the Covid crisis led to significant changes in expenditure in the four deputations and whether it involves a higher use of minor contracts, an award procedure without publicity or bidding, which has been found as increasing corruption risk.
Heuristic time-dependent personal scheduling problem with electric vehicles
Authors: Rizopoulos Dimitrios , Esztergár-Kiss Domokos 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIn this paper, a heuristic method which contributes to the solution of the Daily Activity Chains Optimization problem with the use of Electric Vehicles (DACO-EV) is presented. The DACO-EV is a time-dependent activity-scheduling problem of individual travelers in urban environments. The heuristic method is comprised of a genetic algorithm that considers as its parameters a set of preferences of the travelers regarding their initial activity chains as well as parameters concerning the transportation network and the urban environment. The objective of the algorithm is to calculate the traveler’s optimized activity chains within a single day as they emerge from the improved combinations of the available options for each individual traveler based on their flexibility preferences. Special emphasis is laid on the underlying speed-up techniques of the GA and the mechanisms that account for specific characteristics of EVs, such as consumption according to the EV model and international standards, charging station locations, and the types of charging plugs. From the results of this study, it is proven that the method is suitable for efficiently aiding travelers in the meaningful planning of their daily activity schedules and that the algorithm can serve as a tool for the analysis and derivation of the insights into the transportation network itself.
Off-Diagonal Heat Kernel Estimates for Symmetric Diffusions in a Degenerate Ergodic Environment
Authors: Taylor Peter A. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractWe study a symmetric diffusion process on $\mathbb {R}^{d}$

ℝ

d

, d ≥ 2, in divergence form in a stationary and ergodic random environment. The coefficients are assumed to be degenerate and unbounded but satisfy a moment condition. We derive upper off-diagonal estimates on the heat kernel of this process for general speed measure. Lower off-diagonal estimates are also shown for a natural choice of speed measure, under an additional mixing assumption on the environment. Using these estimates, a scaling limit for the Green function is proven.
Open access in Angola: a survey among higher education institutions
Authors: Artigas Wileidys , Gungula Eurico Wongo , Laakso Mikael 
Published: June 2022

AbstractOpen access (OA) to research publications is of global relevance, both in terms of provision and consumption of scholarly content. However, much of the research, practice, and models surrounding OA have been centered around the Global North. In this study we investigate how and to what degree higher education institutions (HEIs) in Angola interact with the concept of OA to journal publications through their policies and practices, a country where the end of the civil war in 2002 marked a new start for growth in teaching and research. This study is based on an online survey conducted in 2020 among research management units of Angolan HEIs. 23 valid institutional responses were received of 44 invitations sent (52% response rate). The results suggest that Angolan HEIs have moderate awareness of OA but practical incorporation into academic processes has remained slow, however, this can be seen to be connected to the overall slow progress in ramping up research intensity in the country. Seven of the responding institutions reported to be involved in publishing scholarly journals, all of them OA. Overall Angolan HEIs have few institutional repositories, and have so far placed little value on OA in the context of academic career advancement.
Tamquam alter idem: formal similarities in a subset of reports on anti-inflammatory compounds in the years 2008–2019
Authors: Galli Carlo , Sala Roberto , Colangelo Maria Teresa , Guizzardi Stefano 
Published: June 2022

AbstractA literature search on the in vitro testing of anti-inflammatory compounds of natural origin revealed a considerable number of studies adopting a similar template for data reporting in the years up to 2019. Sixty-five such reports appear to have been published between the years 2008 and 2019. Interestingly, this format template was clearly recognizable by a few hallmarks, such as a precise way of plotting cell viability data, extremely consistent endpoints, and the way these were graphically represented. In some instances the similarities extended to some textual features, such as in the case of figure legends. The similarity was so high that chance can be excluded and these studies can be safely assumed to have intentionally followed a template. By 2020, however, no new reports following this format have been published. Although a consistent and reproducible formatting for data reporting may improve report readability, this phenomenon should also be closely scrutinized to assess the rationale why it occurred, the validity of the endpoints that were chosen and why it was then abandoned. The present report reviewed the mean features of this format, traced its origin and its evolution over time, while discussing the limitations of this model.
Silver nanoparticles induced hepatoxicity via the apoptotic/antiapoptotic pathway with activation of TGFβ-1 and α-SMA triggered liver fibrosis in Sprague Dawley rats
Authors: Assar Doaa H. , Mokhbatly Abd-Allah A. , Ghazy Emad W. , Elbialy Zizy I. , Gaber Ahmed A. , Hassan Ayman A. , Nabil Ahmed , Asa Samah Abou 
Published: June 2022

AbstractDespite the extraordinary use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in medicinal purposes and the food industry, there is rising worry about potential hazards to human health and the environment. The existing study aims to assess the hepatotoxic effects of different dosages of AgNPs by evaluating hematobiochemical parameters, oxidative stress, liver morphological alterations, immunohistochemical staining, and gene expression to clarify the mechanism of AgNPs’ hepatic toxic potential. Forty male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into control and three AgNPs intraperitoneally treated groups 0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg b.w. daily for 15 and 30 days. AgNP exposure reduced body weight, caused haematological abnormalities, and enhanced hepatic oxidative and nitrosative stress with depletion of the hepatic GSH level. Serum hepatic injury biomarkers with pathological hepatic lesions where cholangiopathy emerges as the main hepatic alteration in a dosage- and duration-dependent manner were also elevated. Furthermore, immunohistochemical labelling of apoptotic markers demonstrated that Bcl-2 was significantly downregulated while caspase-3 was significantly upregulated. In conclusion, the hepatotoxic impact of AgNPs may be regulated by two mechanisms, implying the apoptotic/antiapoptotic pathway via raising BAX and inhibiting Bcl-2 expression levels in a dose-dependent manner. The TGF-β1 and α-SMA pathway which triggered fibrosis with incorporation of iNOS which consequently activates the inflammatory process were also elevated. To our knowledge, there has been no prior report on the experimental administration of AgNPs in three different dosages for short and long durations in rats with the assessment of Bcl-2, BAX, iNOS, TGF-β1, and α-SMA gene expressions.
Graphical abstract