bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Accelerating Leaf Area Measurement Using a Volumetric Approach
Authors: Haghshenas Abbas , Emam Yahya 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
BackgroundDespite the advances in the techniques of indirect estimation of leaf area, the destructive measurement approaches have still remained as the reference and the most accurate methods. However, even utilizing the modern sensors and applications usually requires the laborious and time-consuming practice of unfolding and analyzing the single leaves, separately. In the present study, a volumetric approach was tested to determine the pile leaf area based on the ratio of leaf volume divided by thickness. For this purpose, the suspension technique was used for volumetry, which is based on the simple practice and calculations of the Archimedes’ principle. ResultsThe results indicated that the wheat volumetric leaf area (VLA), had an approximately 1:1 correlation with the conventionally measured optical leaf area (OLA). Exclusion of the midrib volume from calculations, did not affect the estimation error (i.e. NRMSE < 2.61%); however, improved the slope of the linear model by about 6%. The error of sampling for determining mean leaf thickness of the pile, was also less than 2% throughout the season. Besides, a more practical and facilitated version of the pile volumetry was tested using a Specific Gravity Bench (SGB), which is currently available as a laboratory equipment. As an important observation, which was also expectable according to the 3D shape of the leaf (i.e. expansion in a 2D plane), it was evidenced that the variations in the OLA exactly follows the pattern of the changes in the leaf volume. Accordingly, it was suggested that the relative leaf areas of various experimental treatments might be compared directly based on volume, and independently of leaf thickness. Furthermore, no considerable difference was observed among the OLAs measured using various image resolutions (NRMSE < 0.212%); which indicates that even the superfast scanners with low resolutions as 200 dpi may be used for a precision optical measurement of leaf area. ConclusionsIt is expected that utilizing the reliable and simple concept of volumetric leaf area, based on which the measurement time might be independent of sample size, facilitate the laborious practice of leaf area measurement; and consequently, improve the precision of field experiments.
Effects of citicoline and atorvastatin administration on the regenerative capacity of the distal segment of the transected sciatic nerve in conditions of delayed nerve repair
Authors: Bolandghamat Samira , Behnam-Rassouli Morteza , Mahdavi-Shahri Nasser , Moghimi Ali 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Backgroundː Pharmacotherapy is a cheap, accessible and non-invasive treatment that can be used in the first hours after the nerve injury. Although using some drugs after nerve injury accelerates the nerve repair process. But their functional outcomes are still not satisfactory. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of citicoline and atorvastatin administration on maintaining the regenerative capacity of the distal segment of the transected sciatic nerve in conditions of delayed nerve repairMethodsː The sciatic nerve of rats was transected and the animals were interaperitoneally administrated citicoline (200 mg/kg), atorvastatin (5 mg/kg), citicoline + atorvastatin and vehicles (control groups) for one month. In the sham group, the sciatic nerve was only exposed. After one month, the transected nerve was repaired by nerve allograft. Fourteen weeks after surgical repair, morphometric and electron microscopic evaluations were performed on the nerve.Resultsː The morphometric and ultrastractural indices of the distal nerve segment were improved in the citicoline, atorvastatin and citicoline + atorvastatin groups compared to that of control groups (P <0.01). It seems that the co-administration of citicoline and atorvastatin, has a synergistic effect on the nerve repair.Conclusionsː The results of this study show that, in the situations that immediate nerve repair using surgery is not possible, administration of citicoline, atorvastatin or a combination of both drugs can keep the regenerative capacity of the distal segment of the transected nerve.
Social Media Data Analysis Framework for Disaster Response
Authors: Ponce-López Víctor , Spataru Catalina 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
This paper presents a social media data analysis framework applied to multiple datasets. The method developed uses machine learning classifiers, where filtering binary classifiers based on deep bidirectional neural networks are trained on benchmark datasets of disaster responses for earthquakes and floods and extreme flood events. The classifiers consist of learning from discrete hand-crafted features and fine-tunning approaches using deep bidirectional Transformer neural networks of these datasets of disaster response. With the development of the multiclassification approach we compare the state-of-the-art results in one of the benchmark datasets containing the largest number of disaster-related categories. The multiclassification approaches developed in this research with support vector machines provide a precision of 0.83 and 0.79 compared to Bernoulli Naïve Bayes which are 0.59 and 0.76 and multinomial Naïve Bayes which are 0.79 and 0.91, respectively. The binary classification methods based on the MDRM dataset show a higher precision with deep learning methods (DistilBERT) than BoW and TF-IDF, while in the case of UnifiedCEHMET dataset show a high performance for accuracy with the deep learning method in terms of severity, with a precision of 0.92 compared to BoW and TF-IDF method which has a precision of 0.68 of 0.70, respectively.
QTL Detection for Rice Grain Length and Fine Mapping of a Novel Locus qGL6.1
Authors: Zhao Mingzhu , Wang Yuanzheng , He Na , Pang Xiu , Wang Lili , Ma Zuobin , Tang Zhiqiang , Gao Hong , Zhang Liying , Fu Liang , Wang Changhua , Liu Jingang , Zheng Wenjing 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background
Grain length (GL) that is directly associated with appearance quality is a key target of selection in rice breeding. Although abundant quantitative trait locus (QTL) associated with GL have been identified, it was still relatively weak to identify QTL for GL from japonica genetic background, as the shortage of japonica germplasms with long grains. We performed QTLs analysis for GL using a recombinant inbred lines (RILs) population derived from the cross between japonica variety GY8 (short grains) and LX1 (long grains) in four environments.
Results
A total of 197 RILs were genotyped with 285 polymorphic SNP markers. Three QTLs qGL5.3, qGL6.1 and qGL11 were detected to control GL by individual environmental analyses and multi-environment joint analysis. Of these, a major-effect and stable QTL qGL6.1 was identified to be a novel QTL, and its LX1 allele had a positive effect on GL. For fine-mapping qGL6.1, a BC1F2 population consisting of 2,487 individuals was developed from a backcross between GY8 and R176, one line with long grain. Eight key informative recombinants were identified by nine kompetitive allele specific PCR (KASP) markers. By analyzing key recombinants, the qGL6.1 locus was narrowed down to a 20.117 kb genomic interval on chromosome 6. One candidate gene LOC_Os06g43304.1 encoding cytochrome P450 (CYP71D55) was finally selected based on the difference in the transcriptional expression and variations in its upstream and downstream region.
Conclusions
Three QTLs qGL5.3, qGL6.1 and qGL11 were identified to control grain length in rice. One novel QTL qGL6.1 was fine mapped within 20.117 kb region, and LOC_Os06g43304.1 encoding cytochrome P450 (CYP71D55) may be its candidate gene. We propose that the further cloning of the qGL6.1 will facilitate improving appearance quality in japonica varieties.
Collaboration and Partnerships between South African Higher Education Institutions and Stakeholders: Case Study of a Post-Apartheid University
Authors: Bidandi Fred , Nofor Anthony Ambe , Mukong Claudia 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
In this paper we attempt to locate collaboration and partnerships between higher education institutions and their stakeholders. These include the state, students, teaching and administrative staff, the community and corporate entities. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the contribution of stakeholders to the developmental trajectory and sustenance of higher education institutions using the University of the Western Cape in Cape Town, South Africa as the case study. The paper analyses existing scholarship to understand the importance of stakeholders and their impact on higher education institutions. The study first examines the stakeholders’ concept in the post-apartheid period, the concept of stakeholder in relation to HEIs, UWC and collaborations and partnership with stakeholders from a theoretical perspective, and the stakeholder collaborations and partnership from UWC perspective. The study adopted a qualitative approach utilising existing data from literature and interviews with participants. Conceptual analysis was used to analyse the data. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with key participants. In total, 10 participants participated in the interviews.
Chemical Vapor Deposition Based Superelastic and Superhydrophoboic Thermoplastic Polymeric Nanofibrous Aerogels for Water Purification
Authors: Lu Jianwei , Jiang Yangang , Xiao Ru , Jacob Karl I , Tao Lei , Li Songjun , Guo Li 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Developing high-performance, low-cost and large-scale absorbent materials is crucial for the treatment of water pollution caused by pollutants leakage and emission. Herein, superelastic and superhydrophobic thermoplastic polymeric nanofibrous aerogels (NFAs) were created for removal pollutants from water by using a facile and effective method. Poly(vinyl alcohol-co-ethylene) (EVOH) nanofibers fabricated by mass-production techniques were used to construct three-dimensional NFAs through combing freeze-drying process and cross-linking treatment. The optimal parameters for creating EVOH NFAs with good formability and resilience, including composition and ratio of dispersion, dosage of cross-linking agent were obtained through experiments. EVOH nanofibers bonded with each other by glutaraldehyde under acidic conditions to from fibrous network structure in EVOH NFAs. The silane-coated EVOH NFAs were prepared through further modification with vapor-phase methyltrichlorosilane. The deposition of siloxane improved mechanical strength and decreased plastic deformation after 500 cyclic compressions. An asperate fibrous and granular siloxane coating was deposited on the surface of EVOH NFAs. The surface water contact angle increased from 104.4 ± 4.0° to 152.7 ± 1.9°, wettability of NFAs transitioned to being superhydrophobic. Silane-coated EVOH NFAs exhibited superior absorption capacity (40–92 g/g) for a variety of organic pollutants.The organic pollutants would be collected and the sorbents could be reused after distillation or squeezing. A successful scale-up of such materials open up a new insight into design polymeric aerogels in low-cost and large-scale with substantial industrial water purification applications.
A Novel Immune Checkpoint Siglec-15 Antibody Inhibits LUAD by Modulating mφ Polarization in TME
Authors: xiao Xuejun , Peng Yan , Wang Zheyue , Zhang Louqian , yang tingting , Sun Yangyang , Chen Yufeng , Zhang Wenqing , Chang Xinxia , huang wen , Tian Shuning , Feng Zhenqing , Xinhua Nabi , Tang Qi , Mao Yuan 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background
Siglec-15 (S15) is a type-I transmembrane protein and is considered a new candidate of immune checkpoint inhibitor for cancer immunotherapy.
Methods
In the present study, we first constructed and characterized a chimeric S15-specific monoclonal antibody (S15-4E6A). Then, the antitumor effectiveness and modulatory role of S15-4E6A in macrophages (mφs) were explored in vitro and in vivo. Finally, the underlying mechanism by which S15mAb inhibits LUAD was preliminarily explored.
Results
The results demonstrated the successful construction of S15-4E6A, and S15-4E6A exerted an efficacious tumor-inhibitory effect on LUAD cells and xenografts. S15-4E6A could promote M1-mφ polarization while inhibiting M2-mφ polarization, both in vitro and in vivo.
Conclusions
S15-based immunotherapy that functions by modulating mφ polarization may be a promising strategy for the treatment of S15-positive LUAD.
Assessment of knowledge, attitude, and practice of undergraduate medical students towards drug addiction and prevalence of drug addicts in Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum
Authors: Bashir Sara N. , Hasabo Elfatih A. , Elhag Noha E. , Ahmed Yousra S. , Omer Alaa T. , Abdelgadir Istabraq I. , Awadalla Heitham 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Introduction: Addiction can be defined as the loss of control over drug use. Drug addiction makes major damage to the population and countries worldwide. Youths are a high-risk category for the use of the addicted substance. There are an increase in drugs usage and drinking alcohol in many developing countries. We conducted this study to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice towards drug addicts and addiction.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Khartoum between December 2020 and January 2021. 355 students participated in the study with a 97% response rate. A structured questionnaire was used and data obtained were analyzed by chi-square test to identify any association between deferent variables.Results: Among participants, 1.4% of students were reported they were addicted to drugs. 7.9% were tried at least one type of addicted illicit drug before. A very high percentage of students (92.1%) were considered to have good knowledge about drug addiction. Only 32.1% had a positive attitude toward addicted patients and addiction and the majority had the opposite. Relatively low percent (16.6%) have done a good practice toward addicted patients and drugs. There were significant associations between an academic year with all of the knowledge (p=<0.001), attitude (p=0.001), and practice (p=<0.001) scores. Besides significant association between gender and practice (p=0.004).Conclusion: Although the prevalence of drug addiction among medical students was low, it is detected as a warrant red light. Knowledge of students about drug addiction is good but a negative attitude towards it has been notified. More attention is required towards students about drug addiction. Introduction of a course or workshop about the danger of drug addiction and how to deal with addicted patients.
Classic RNA extraction is efficient for subsequent detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR in nasopharyngeal swab samples
Authors: Saldanha Maíra Garcia , Reis Nayra , Junior Marcos Antônio Azevedo , Girão Manoel João Batista Castello , Sartori Marair Gracio Ferreira , Luna Luciano Kleber de Souza , Bellei Nancy Cristina Junqueira , Bonetti Tatiana Carvalho de Souza 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background: Mass testing is a fundamental measure for tracking and controlling the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases. The standard diagnosis for infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) involves the extraction of nucleic acids for the recognition of viral genes present in biological samples collected from the population. This worldwide demand affects the distribution of specific reagents and difficult to expand the number of tests. The aim of the study was to compare the quality of the extracted material using a commercial kit and a phenol-based reagent and the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results. We performed these two RNA extraction protocols with 15 samples positive for SARS-CoV-2. Results: Our analysis showed that there was no reduction in the sensitivity of the RT-PCR test or direct impact on the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: Both methodologies proved to be useful and show similar results, confirming the possibility of using alternative RNA extraction protocols for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.
Severe pneumonia with thrombocytopenia caused by Chlamydia psittaci: A case and literature review
Authors: shi Zhaokun , wang Lu , chen Wei , du Xianjin , zhan Liying 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background: Severe pneumonia caused by Chlamydia psittaci is a rare infectious disease associated with living environment. The causes of thrombocytopenia were infection, leukemia, idiopathic thrombocytopenia and many other factors. The determination of platelet parameters could reflect the compensatory situation of bone marrow and provide a basis reason of thrombocytopenia identification. Case presentation: Based on the patient’s symptoms, exposure history, computerized tomography（CT）and next-generation sequencing, a preliminary diagnosis of the patient were made, at the same time other infections are excluded. We reported a case of severe pneumonia with severe thrombocytopenia caused by Chlamydia psittaci. During the treatment, he was diagnosed as parrot fever and secondary immune thrombocytopenia. Anti-infection and rising platelet with Doptelet treatment were in effect. The presence of high fever, feeling faint, gastrointestinal symptoms, images of chest CT and platelet reduction, Chlamydia psittaci might be considered as a priority reason of this case, other infections and hematology disorders excluded.Conclusion: This is the first reported case of Chlamydia psittaci-induced thrombocytopenia associated with bone marrow changes and treatment. The efficacy of mokexin in the treatment of thrombocytopenia may be further generalized.
Central Retinal Vein Occlusion Post ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccination – Can It Be Explained by the Two-hit Hypothesis?
Authors: Parakh Shweta , Maheshwari Shrey , Das Shrutanjoy , Vaish Hans , Luthra Gaurav , Agrawal Rupesh , Gupta Vishali , Luthra Saurabh 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
PURPOSE - To report a case of central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) seven days following the first dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine.OBSERVATION - A 31-year-old male presented with CRVO with cystoid macular edema, one week after receiving his first ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine dose. Apart from mild hyperhomocysteinemia, no major thrombophilic or systemic risk factors were found. Anti-platelet factor 4 antibodies, specific for vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia, were also negative. However, he tested strongly positive ( > 250 U/mL) for severe acute respi­ratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) IgG spike antibodies, 2 weeks post the first dose – suggestive of a prior subclinical infection. CONCLUSION - COVID-19 is known to be associated with an altered host one-carbon metabolism resulting in hyperhomocysteinemia. We hypothesize that a prior subclinical infection with COVID-19 - the first hit - led to hyperhomocysteinemia in our patient and vaccination proved to be the second hit that triggered the thrombotic event. Further studies, including correlation of thrombotic complications with IgG antibody titres post-vaccination, are essential in order to better understand the pathogenesis of such events.
spontaneous rupture of rhabdomyosarcoma of the testis with unilateral ptosis: a case report and literature review
Authors: Wu Ronghua , Liu Xing , Song Yajun , Yi Shanhong , Chen Wei , Fu Wanlei , Zhu Jingzhen 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background
Spontaneous rupture of testicular rhabdomyosarcoma is very rare. We report a case of spontaneous testicular rupture that was pathologically confirmed as rhabdomyosarcoma with unilateral blepharoptosis.
Case presentation:
a 19-year-old male and his father had weakness of the left eyelid muscle ,who was suspicion diagnosed right inguinal hernia by the family doctor without further treatment ,Two days later, there was skin itching in the right inguinal area, with redness, swelling and discomfort of the right scrotum, and he went to the local hospital again,Ultrasound examination showed that the contusion of the right testis may have been complicated with orchitis,oral levofloxacin was invalid.scrotal enlargement significantly increased, He came to the emergency room of our hospital the patient was treated with levofloxacin, but the pain was not relieved,CT and Ultrasound examination cannot defined the cause of the disease,the exploration of the right scrotum, which was performed under general anaesthesia and comfirmed the right testis was spontaneous rupture,The pathological diagnosis was rhabdomyosarcoma of the right testis.
Conclusion
Testicular rhabdomyosarcoma is clinically rare, and spontaneous rupture is even more rare. The pathogenesis of the disease needs to be further studied, and the diagnosis is made on a case-by-case basis. Overall, the prognosis is poor. As seen by this case, whether there is some association between testicular rhabdomyosarcoma and ptosis needs further study. unfortunately,
Gastric metastasis of hpeatic sarcomatoid carcinoma: a case report and literature review
Authors: Ma ShuoShuo , Zhang DengYong , Zhao GuanRu , Ding Sheng , Wu Qiong , Zhang XueLi , Lu Zheng 
Published: February 2022

Abstract
Background: Hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma (HSC), an extremely rare malignant tumor in clinical practice, mostly occurs in the right lobe and rarely in the left lobe of the liver. This paper reports a case of sarcomatoid carcinoma that occurred in the left outer lobe of the liver, accompanied by gastric stromal tumors (GSTs) of the greater curvature of the stomach, and the patient developed gastric metastasis of liver sarcomatoid carcinoma in the later stage.Case presentation: A 63-year-old male patient was diagnosed with both HSC and GST. With fever as the main clinical manifestation, the liver malignant tumor was detected after he underwent abdominal computer tomography (CT) and ultrasound-guided percutaneous liver biopsy at the local hospital. The patient came to our hospital for further treatment. During the next electronic gastroscopy, we found multiple submucosal tumors (SMT) in the stomach. Without multiple metastases in other parts, we performed left hepatic lobe resection with gastric partial resection, and the postoperative pathology determined the presence of HSC and GST. One month after surgery, the patient felt well, and the imaging examination found no obvious space-occupying lesions in other areas. Unfortunately, four months later, the patient showed pain in the upper left abdomen and found metastases in the stomach. We performed the operation on him again, and the patient recovered well after the operation. The patient was still alive at the time of writing this paper.Conclusion: Hepatic sarcomatoid carcinoma lacks characteristic clinical manifestations and is highly malignant. Surgery is the first choice for the treatment of patients with HSC. For sarcomatoid cancer that occurs in the left lobe of the liver, we need to be highly vigilant against the tumor's invasion of the stomach tissue, especially when the tumor breaks through the capsule of the liver. In addition, during the operation, doctors need to perform delicate operations to avoid dissemination and metastasis of the gastrointestinal tract.