bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Development of new event-based rainfall-runoff equations as an alternative to the curve number method in oceanic and semiarid climates
Authors: Shokri Ali 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Event-based rainfall-runoff models are practical tools commonly used to predict catchments' response to a rainfall event. However, one of the main concerns is that the characteristics of rain events are neglected in model development. This paper developed a novel event-based rainfall-runoff equation to incorporate rainfall characteristics into account. The performance of new equation is evaluated based on the root mean square error, Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency coefficient, and percent bias for 13,339 rainfall-runoff events between 2005 to 2020 over 23 catchments across New Zealand and Australia with oceanic and semiarid climates. Compared to the previous event-based models, the new equation shows an improvement in runoff estimation in almost all case studies. Considering the new equation is simple, efficient, and takes the rain event duration into account, the new equation has the potential to become a robust alternative method to the conventional curve number in hydrological engineering projects.
A Saturated Stochastic Simulator: Synthetic US Gulf Coast Tropical Cyclone Precipitation Fields
Authors: Nakamura Jennifer , Lall Upmanu , Kushnir Yochanan , Harr Patrick A. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

The space-time fields of rainfall during a hurricane and tropical storm (TC) landfall are critical for coastal flood risk preparedness, assessment, and mitigation. We present an approach for the stochastic simulation of rainfall fields that leverages observed, high-resolution spatial fields of historical landfalling TCs rainfall that are derived from multiple instrumental and remote sensing sources, and key variables recorded for historical TCs. Spatial realizations of rainfall at each time step are simulated conditional on the variables representing the ambient conditions. We use 6 hourly precipitation fields of tropical cyclones from 1983 to 2019 that made landfall on the Gulf coast of the United States, starting from 24 hours before landfall until the end of the track. A conditional K-nearest neighbor method is used to generate the simulations. The TC attributes used for conditioning are the pre-season large-scale climate indices, the storm maximum wind speed, minimum central pressure, the latitude and speed of movement of the storm center, and the proportion of storm area over land or ocean. Simulation of rainfall for three hurricanes that are kept out of the sample: Katrina (2005), Rita (2005), and Harvey (2017) are used to evaluate the method. The utility of coupling the approach to a hurricane track simulator applied for a full season is demonstrated by an out-of-sample simulation of the 2020 season.
Novel silver nanocluster based on vancomycin antibiotic with peroxides like activity for colorimetric detection of S. aureus bacteria in milk samples
Authors: Pebdeni Azam Bagheri , Hosseini Morteza 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
A fast and colorimetric new strategy based on dual detection elements in one nanostructure as aptamer-silver nanocluster (apt-AgNC) is described for the specific and sensitive detection of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) based on silver nanocluster (AgNC) conjugated to oligonucleotide aptamer. AgNC is the first peroxidase activity research of NC based on vancomycin. This probe can specifically bind to the surface of SA and thus decrease the peroxidase activity of the apt-AgNC. Finally, in the presence of TMB as substrate and H2O2, the blue color of the solution in the infected milk samples was decreased. The detection limit for SA was 80 CFU mL− 1, and the processing time could occur during 45 min. This suggested SA detection technique has a number of appealing features, including high sensitivity, ease of use, quick testing time, and low cost.
Microalgae strains of the Mosonmagyaróvár Algal Culture Collection with activity against plant fungal pathogens
Authors: Horváth Áron N , Németh Lajos , Vörös Lajos , Stirk Wendy A , Staden Johannes , Ördög Vince 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Microalgae produce many secondary metabolites that are biologically active, including compounds with antifungal activity. These could potentially function as biofungicides. Selection criteria for potential strains include having good antifungal activity against specific phytopathogenic fungi and high biomass productivity rates to ensure sufficient biomass can be generated. Water extracts were prepared from 280 strains comprising of 33 Cyanophyceae strains (13 genera), 157 Chlorophyceae strains (29 genera), 80 Trebouxiophyceae strains (19 genera), 5 Klebsormidiophyceae strains (1 genus) and 1 Zygnematophyceae strain. These were tested against 9 phytopathogenic fungi. In total, 45% of the species had antifungal activity against at least one fungal pathogen. Cyanobacteria had the highest “hit-rate” (64%), followed by the Chlorophyceae (49%) and Trebouxiophyceae (30%). Water extracts of 19 strains had fungicidal activity – these were predominantly Cyanobacteria. The Cyanobacteria displayed a wider spectrum of activity with five strains being active (either fungicidal or fungistatic) against three or more fungal strains - Trichormis variabilis MACC-304 and Tolypothrix tennis MACC-205 had antifungal activity against 6 phytopathogens and Nostoc linckia MACC-612 inhibited 4 fungi. Each Chlorophyta strain was only active against 1–2 fungal strains. However, the daily productivity rates of Cyanobacteria were significantly lower than Chlorophyta strains. Further investigation of 15 Nostocales species (Families Nostocaceae, Tolypothrichaceae and Calotrichaceae) showed the Nostoc species generally had significantly lower biomass generation compared to other Nostocacaeae strains. The most promising strain was Tolypothrix tenuis MACC-205 which had the most potent, broad spectrum antifungal activity as well as significantly higher daily biomass productivity rates. Some microalgae strains (8%) had a stimulatory effect, suggesting the potential to screen strains especially from the Klebsormidiophyceae, for stimulating activity of beneficial plant growth promoting fungi. Thus, Cyanobacteria can potentially be developed as effective agricultural tools for environmentally-friendly disease management.
The impact of a targeted education package on the knowledge, attitudes, and utilisation of patient reported outcome measures amongst chiropractors in Australia.
Authors: Clohesy Natalie , Schneiders Anthony , Barbery Gaery , Obst Steven 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background: Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) have been shown to be valid and reliable indicators of health status and treatment outcomes, however, the current knowledge, understanding, and utilisation of PROMs within the Australian Chiropractic profession is limited. This study used the New World Kirkpatrick Model (NWKM) to evaluate whether an online PROM education package could improve knowledge, confidence, attitude, and utilisation of PROMs by chiropractors in Australia. Methods: A longitudinal cohort interventional study of chiropractors in Australia. The recruitment phase and data collection period occurred from November 2020 – May 2021. Participants completed three online surveys two weeks before, four weeks after, and 12 weeks after receiving an online education package that included ten evidence-based region-specific modules on PROMs. Survey questions were grouped into five subthemes for analysis according to the NWKM levels: 1) Reaction; 2) Learning - knowledge; 3) Learning – confidence; 4) Behaviour – attitude; 5) and Behaviour - utilisation). Results: Of the 113 participants that enrolled in the study, 43 completed all three survey and were included in the analysis. There was very positive to the education package with mean response scores (1-5 Likert scale) for the reaction questions ranging from 3.75 to 4.43. There was a small, but significant, increase in knowledge (out of 32) at four weeks (24.3 ± 6.1) and 12 weeks after receiving the education package (27.2 ± 5.5), compared to baseline (27.4 ± 5.1). There was no effect of intervention on clinician confidence or attitude towards PROMs. Utilisation of function- and pain-related PROMs did not change after the intervention. There was a small and significant (p<0.05) increase in utilisation of health-related PROMs 12 weeks after the intervention.Conclusion: Despite modest improvements in knowledge, which were retained 12 weeks after the educational package was provided, there was no evidence that participant confidence, attitude, or utilisation of PROMs changed because of the intervention. While the respondents’ have positive attitudes and beliefs regarding PROMs use, further education surrounding the clinical translation process into clinical practice is required.
Poor efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors plus chemotherapy in the lung cancer patients with EGFR/ERBB2 exon 20 insertion
Authors: fu yang , Zheng Yue , Chen Yue-Yun , Wang Pei-Pei , Li Qing , Liu Ting , Ding Zhen-Yu 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background: EGFR and ERBB2 exon 20 insertion (Ex20ins) comprised a small subset of patients with EGFR mutations. The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), especially in combination with chemotherapy, for these patients was still controversial. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled lung cancer patients harboring either EGFR or ERBB2 Ex20ins mutations. For comparison, lung cancer patients without EGFR mutations or with EGFR classic mutation were also enrolled as controls. All the patients were treated with platinum-based chemotherapy plus ICI (immunochemotherapy) or platinum-based chemotherapy. The demographic feature and clinical outcome of each patient were reviewed and analyzed.Results: When treated with immunochemotherapy, patients with EGFR/ERBB2 Ex20ins mutations (n=31) had poor PFS compared with those without EGFR mutations (n= 141, 5.0 mon and 11.2 mon, p<0.001). When compared with those with EGFR classic mutations who received immunotherapy as the salvage therapy (n=24), these patients with EGFR/ERBB2 Ex20ins mutations had similar PFS (5.0 mon and 4.1 mon, p=0.625), ORR (37.5% vs 48.4%) and DCR (70.8% vs 77.4%). In the patients with EGFR/ERBB2 Ex20ins mutations, those treated with chemotherapy (n=54) had a longer PFS over those treated with immunochemotherapy (n=31, 6.5mon vs 5.0mon, p=0.066). Accordingly, chemoimmunotherapy was found to be significantly associated with poor PFS in multivariate analysis for the patients with EGFR/ERBB2 Ex20ins mutations. In the EGFR Ex20ins subgroup, the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy (n=20) led to longer PFS over chemotherapy alone (n=16, 8.8mon and 5.2mon, p=0.082) or immunochemotherapy (n=15, 8.8mon and 5.0mon, p=0.097). Similarly, in the ERBB2 subgroup, the combination of bevacizumab and chemotherapy achieved a numerically long PFS over chemotherapy alone (9.1 mon and 4.5 mon, p=0.253).Conclusion: This study showed that platinum-based chemotherapy plus ICI had limited efficiency compared to platinum-based chemotherapy for patients with EGFR/ERBB2 Ex20ins. Chemotherapy plus bevacizumab maybe a potential scheme for these patients.
Comparison of aneuploidy rate in spontaneous abortion chorionic villus between D6 and D5 thawed-frozen blastocyst transfer
Authors: Zhao Weie , Chen Panyu , Liu Xiaoping , Li Yujie , Liang Xiaoyan , Li Jingjie 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
Background
To compare the aneuploidy rate in spontaneous abortion chorionic villus (SA-CV) after D5 and D6 thawed-frozen blastocyst transfer(TBT).
Methods
This retrospective cohort study recruited 522 patients with early spontaneous abortion from March 2012 to January 2020 in the our center. The aneuploidy rate of SA-CV was compared according to the blastocyst development stage: D5 group (n = 398) and D6 group (n = 124).
Results
Patients’ characteristics, including age, body mass index, follicle-stimulating hormone, fertilization methods, and gestational age when miscarriage, did not differ between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Although the mean number of embryos was significantly higher in D6 than in the D5 group (P < 0.001), the mean number of top-quality embryos was similar (P = 0.773). In the D5 group, 46.5% of SA-CV showed aneuploidy, which was comparable to 41.1% in the D6 group (P = 0.296). After further grouping according to age (> 35 years or ≤ 35 years), the difference between the D5 and D6 groups remained not statistically significant (P = 0.247 and P = 0.690). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that women’s age was independently associated with the aneuploidy rate (OR = 0.88; 95% CI: [0.84–0.91]; P < 0.001). The rate of chromosomal aneuploidy was significantly higher in the age > 35 years group than in the age ≤ 35 years group (61.0% vs. 39.4%, P < 0.001). Other factors, including blastocyst formation speed, were not significant predictors of aneuploidy rate.
Conclusions
Chromosomal abnormalities may not be a factor contributing to the high abortion rate at D6 group.
Identification of oral bacteria in the gut and foot ulcer of patients with diabetes mellitus – A secondary analysis of whole-metagenome and meta-transcriptomic microbiome data
Authors: Eberhard Joerg , Santamaria Zaki Saati , Choowong Phannaphat , Menéndez Esther , Cheung Wah , Jayasinghe Thilini N. 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background: Gum disease (periodontitis) is a risk factor for diabetes mellitus and treatment has been shown to improve markers of glucose management. The translocation of oral bacteria to the gut or other tissues (i.e., foot ulcer) may contribute to the development and progression of diabetes mellitus Aims: This secondary analysis of metagenomic and meta-transcriptomic studies within the last ten years (2011-2021) aims to identify bacteria of oral origin in the gut and foot ulcers of patients with diabetes mellitus and explore a potential pathway how gum disease and diabetes mellitus are connected.Method: An electronic search was conducted in Medline on the Ovid platform (updated in June 2022). Studies with whole-metagenomic or meta-transcriptomic data at the species level in populations of all ages and genders with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and diabetic complications such as diabetic foot ulcers were included. Patient demographics, diabetic status and bacteria detected in faecal or foot ulcer samples were extracted from a total of 7 included studies.Results: Out of 9612 (gut) and 9180 (foot ulcer) microbial species identified from the selected studies, 266 bacteria were identified as oral origin. These oral bacteria compromised 5.96% in foot ulcer and 1.51% in the gut. Eleven bacteria of oral origin were only found in patients with diabetes mellitus compared to healthy individuals of the Human Microbiome Project (HMP). These bacteria included key oral pathogens such as Tannerella forsythia, Prevotella nigrescens and Prevotella intermedia. Conclusion: The continuous swallowing of oral bacteria may be a reservoir for gut microbiota and its dysregulation, which has been linked to diabetes. Clinical trials aimed at simultaneously detecting and analysing gut and oral bacteria are required.
Primary Care Team and its Association with Quality of Care for People with Multimorbidity: A Systematic Review
Authors: Li Mingyue , Tang Haoqing , Liu Xiaoyun 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background:Multimorbidity is posing an enormous burden to health systems, especially for primary healthcare system. While primary care team (PCT) is believed to have potentials to improve quality of primary health care (PHC), less is known about its impact on the quality of care for people with multimorbidity. We assessed the characteristics of PCT and its impact on the quality of care for people with multimorbidity and the mechanisms.
Methods: We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, ProQuest from January 2000 to October 2021 for English studies. Patients with multimorbidity, studies focusing on PCTs and reporting quality of care were eligible.
Results: Seventeen studies (13 RCT, 3 cohort studies, and 1 non-randomized trial) were identified. PCTs were summarized into three types - upward PCT, downward PCT and traditional PCT according to the skill mix. The upward PCT included primary care workers and specialists from upper-level hospitals, downward PCT involving primary care workers and lay health workers, and traditional PCT involving physicians and care managers. PCTs improved patients’ mental and psychological health outcomes greatly, and also improved patients’ perceptions towards care including satisfaction with care, sense of improvement, and patient-centeredness. PCTs also improved the process of care and changed providers’ behaviors. However, PCTs showed mixed effects on objective and validated outcome measures.
Conclusions: PCTs have improved mental and psychological health outcomes, the process of care, patients’ care experiences, and satisfaction towards care for patients with multimorbidity. The effect of PCTs on objective and validated clinical outcomes and changes in patient behaviors need to be further explored.
Co-occurring epiphytic orchids have specialized mycorrhizal fungal niches that are also linked to phenology
Authors: Fernández Melania , Kaur Jaspreet , Sharma Jyotsna 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Mycorrhizal symbiosis has been related to the coexistence and community assembly of coexisting orchids in few studies despite their obligate dependence on mycorrhizal partners to establish and survive. In hyper-diverse environments like tropical rain forests, coexistence of epiphytic orchids may be facilitated through mycorrhizal fungal specialization. However, information on the role of orchid mycorrhizal fungi (OMF) in niche differentiation and coexistence of epiphytic orchids is still scarce. In this study, we sought to identify the variation in fungal preferences of four co-occurring epiphytic orchids in a tropical rainforest in Costa Rica by addressing the identity and structure of their endophytic fungal and OMF communities across species and life stages. We show that the endophytic fungal communities are formed mainly of previously-recognized OMF taxa, and that the coexisting orchid species display distinct (OMF) communities while keeping a base of shared fungi. We also found that adult plants keep the OMF of the juvenile stage while adding new mycobionts over time, a strategy that may serve as a complementary mechanism to fulfill the nutritional needs associated with reproduction. This study provides evidence for niche partitioning in coexisting tropical epiphytic orchids through the utilization of specific OMF, and for an aggregation mechanism where adult orchids keep initial fungal mycobionts of the juvenile stage while adding others.
“It was protected, except, it wasn’t [with] a condom”: A mixed-methods study of BBVs/STIs protective practices among international university students in Sydney
Authors: Okeke Sylvester Reuben 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Background: Little is known about factors associated with protective sexual practices among international students in Australia. This study used quantitative data to examine BBVs/STIs protective practices among East Asian and sub-Saharan African international students in Sydney. In addition, qualitative data was used to further explore how a sample of sexually active participants understand, practice and rationalise condom use in protective sex.Methods: This mixed-methods study generated quantitative data using anonymous online survey (n=149), and qualitative data through in-depth interviews (n=20). The main recruitment strategy involved advertising the study through paper and electronic flyers. Quantitative data were analysed using logistic regression, while interviews data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: Self-reported BBVs/STIs protective practices in the last 12 months include abstinence (28.7%), consistent condom use (19.9%), occasional condom use (18.7%), single partner fidelity (25.1%), other strategies (1.8%), and nothing (5.8%). Further, findings from the bivariate analysis showed that higher BBVs/STIs prevention knowledge, lower acculturation into Australian sexual culture, greater access to sexual health information, less conservative sexual norms, greater emotional social support and older age were significantly associated with increased protective practices. Variables significant at bivariate level were entered into a logistic regression. The model was statistically significant, (X2(6) = 31.33, p = 0.000) and explained 33.1% of the variance in BBVs/STIs protective practices. Only older age (OR = 1.096, 95% CI = 1.002–1.199, p<0.05) and acculturation to Australian sexual norms (OR = 1.016, 95% CI = 0.911–1.132, p<0.05) were independent predictors of BBVs/STIs protective practices. The study results based on the quantitative data, indicated that condom use (consistent and occasional) was the most reported BBVs/STIs protective behaviour among sexually active participants. Therefore, interviews data was used to explore condom-use motives and practices. The interviews results showed that participants primary concern as regards condom use was around pregnancy and not BBVs/STIs. Thus, some participants described safe sex largely as contraception, with BBVs/STIs constituting a secondary concern or no concern at all. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, tailored sexual health interventions for international students; which incorporate strategies for modifying perceived sexual norms in Australia, are advocated. In addition, this study recommends sexual health interventions that promote dual protection of condoms for both contraception and BBVs/STIs.
Residual activity of spinosad applied as a soil drench to tomato seedlings can be a driver of Tuta absoluta insecticide resistance evolution
Authors: Erasmus Reynardt , Berg Johnnie van den , Rensburg Peet Jansen van , du Plessis Hannalene 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Tuta absoluta (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) is difficult to control by means of foliar insecticides, partly due to the endophytic feeding behavior of larvae. The biopesticide, spinosad, is applied as foliar spray for control of T. absoluta and has systemic properties when applied as a soil drench to the growing medium of tomato plants. This study was done to determine the (i) instar-dependant tolerance of larvae to spinosad, (ii) efficacy of spinosad drench application for the control of larvae, (iii) residual period of systemic activity of spinosad in leaves and fruit after drenching, and (iv) effect of spinosad drenching on tomato plant growth parameters. The lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC80) of spinosad administered as soil drench were estimated by exposing second-instar larvae to leaves of plants drenched with different concentrations of spinosad. Systemic persistence of spinosad in leaves of these plants was determined by means of of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Larval mortality data were recorded over time after drenching. Although the spinosad concentration in leaves decreased over time, high larval mortalities were recorded for the duration of the experiment, which lasted 25 days (equivalent to one T. absoluta generation). This study provides evidence of the systemic properties of spinosad and its efficacy for control of T. absoluta larvae over a prolonged period. However, drenching this insecticide violates the recommendation of the Insecticide Resistance Management Committee to avoid treating consecutive insect generations with the same mode of action and can therefore be a driver of insecticide resistance evolution.