bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Towards Sustainable Cosmetics Packaging
Authors: Dube Manu , Dube Sema
Published: August 2023

In spite of the significant progress towards sustainable cosmetics, mass-produced sustainable packaging has proven to be a challenge. The complexity of environmental, economic, social, technological and policy considerations in conjunction with varying consumer behaviors and corporate goals can make it difficult to select an optimal strategy across heterogeneous supply-chain components spread over the globe; and the cost and effort of developing, testing and validating alternative strategies discourages empirical exploration of potential alternatives. This review discusses the challenges that can be expected in the context of broader sustainability efforts, as well as the experience gained in related fields such as sustainable cosmetics and sustainable packaging, to identify potential pitfalls as well as promising trends towards development of sustainable cosmetics packaging. The findings suggest there may be little to be gained from attempting to induce customers to change their behavior; waiting for a significant increase in global recycling infrastructure; or expecting regulatory constraints to substitute for the lack of technological and business solutions. A research strategy is delineated towards development of sustainable packaging that, with appropriate policy support, could minimize externalities and provide mass-produced packaging that is acceptable to both consumers and producers.
Machine Learning Techniques for Effective Pathogen Detection based on Resonant Biosensors
Authors: Rong Guoguang , Xu Yankun , Sawan Mohamad
Published: August 2023

We describe a machine learning (ML) approach to process the signals collected from Covid-19 optical-based detector. Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) and Support Vector Machine (SVM) were used to process both raw data and feature engineering data, and high performances for qualitative detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with concentration down to 1 TCID50/ml has been achieved. Valid detection experiments contain 486 negative and 108 positive samples; and control experiments, in which biosensors without antibody functionalization were used to detect SARS-CoV-2, contains 36 negative samples and 732 positive samples. Data distribution patterns of the valid and control detection dataset, based on T-distributed Stochastic Neighbor Embedding (t-SNE), was used to study the distinguishability between positive and negative samples, and explain the ML prediction performances. This work demonstrates that ML can be a generalized effective approach to process signals and dataset of biosensors dependent on resonant modes as biosensing mechanism.
A Large Benchmark Dataset for Individual Sheep Face Recognition
Authors: Pang Yue , Yu Wenbo , Xuan Chuanzhong , Zhang Yongan , Wu Pei
Published: August 2023

The mutton sheep breeding industry has transformed significantly in recent years, from traditional grassland free-range farming to a more intelligent approach. As a result, automated sheep face recognition systems have become vital to modern breeding practices and have gradually replaced ear tagging and other manual tracking techniques. Although sheep face datasets have been introduced in previous studies, they have often involved pose or background restrictions (e.g., fixing of the subject’s head, cleaning of the face), which restrict data collection and have limited the size of available sample sets. As a result, a comprehensive benchmark designed exclusively for the evaluation of individual sheep recognition algorithms is lacking. To address this issue, this study develops a large-scale benchmark dataset, Sheepface-107, comprised of 5,350 images acquired from 107 different subjects. Images were collected from each sheep at multiple angles, including front and back views, in a diverse collection that provides a more comprehensive representation of facial features. In addition to the dataset, an assessment protocol is developed by applying multiple evaluation metrics to the results produced by three different deep learning models: VGG16, GoogLeNet, and ResNet50, which achieved F1-scores of 83.79%, 89.11%, and 93.44%, respectively. A statistical analysis of each algorithm suggested that accuracy and the number of parameters were the most informative metrics for use in evaluating recognition performance.
Dynamics of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in the Albanian Population: Impact of Infection and Vaccine-Induced Immunity during the COVID-19 Pandemic Year from August 2021 to August 2022
Authors: Sulcebe Genc , Ylli Alban , Cenko Fabian , Kurti-Prifti Margarita , Shyti Erkena , Dashi-Pasholli Jonida , Lazri Erina , Seferi-Qendro Irena , Perry Melissa J.
Published: August 2023

Understanding the dynamics of humoral immune responses throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is crucial for optimizing vaccine strategies. This study aimed to investigate the impact of infection and vaccine-induced immunity on the Albanian population from August 2021 to August 2022. Two independent samples from the Albanian general population were analyzed using an ELISA method to assess IgG class anti-Spike (S1) and anti-Nucleocapsid (N) SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. The results revealed a robust immune response among vaccinated individuals with prior COVID-19 infection who received only one vaccine dose. In the 2022 cohort, most individuals who received one vaccine dose achieved comparable seropositivity and antibody levels to those who received two doses. However, individuals aged 61 and over required two or three vaccine doses to reach the same level of immune response as the younger population. Notably, the time elapsed since infection or vaccination did not significantly impact the immune response. These findings highlight the importance of hybrid immunity and suggest that one vaccine dose may be sufficient for most individuals with prior COVID-19 infection. However, additional doses are necessary for optimal protection in older individuals. This study provides unique insights into humoral immune response dynamics that can be used to refine ongoing COVID-19 population vaccination strategies for middle-income countries with low vaccination coverage.
Local Ratcheting at the Notch Region of Non-press-Fitted and Press-Fitted Al 7075-T6 Samples Undergoing Asymmetric Stress Cycles
Authors: Hatami F. , Varvani-Farahani A.
Published: August 2023

The present study evaluates ratcheting response of notched and press-fitted Al 7075-T6 specimens under stress-controlled asymmetric cycles. The degree of interference fit (DIF) directly influenced progressive plastic strain magnitude and rate at notch root region. Local ratcheting at the hole-pin interference region was analyzed by means of two kinematic hardening rules of Ahmadzadeh-Varvani (A-V) and Chaboche coupled with the Neuber rule. Ratcheting strains at notch root of aluminum samples with DIF=0 (non-press-fitting samples) were measured to be highest in magnitude. For the press-fitted samples, however ratcheting strains dropped noticeably as DIF increased from 1% to 2%. Press-fitted samples plastically deformed the perimeter edge of notches and improved materials locally at the notch edge, resulting in a better resistance against ratcheting progress. Local ratcheting at different distances of 0.5, 1.3 and 3.0 mm from the notch root were evaluated for both pinned and unpinned samples through the hardening rules and compared with those of measured values. The predicted ratcheting curves by means of the A-V and Chaboche hardening rules closely agreed with experimental data and respectively positioned above and below the measured data.
Evolving Perspectives in Digitizing Cultural Heritage: Novel Paradigms through Self-Built and Adaptable Equipment
Authors: Bacci Giovanni , Bozzola Marco , Gaiani Marco , Garagnani Simone
Published: August 2023

The emergence of new methodologies and tools for digitizing objects belonging to the Cultural Heritage (CH) changed the paradigms adopted so far. Traditionally, the process to acquire artifacts required specialized and often costly equipment tailored to specific purposes. However, the development of more generalized, adaptable, and affordable tools led to novel approaches. This manuscript provides a glimpse into the evolving landscape of custom-made tools for digital documentation, both hardware and software, and their transformative impact on the digitization techniques, built to meet requirements of specific case studies, including ancient drawings, manuscripts, paintings, and museum objects. The advent of self-built instruments has revolutionized the way professionals work today, by leveraging a new generation of low-cost, adaptable gears, leading to unprecedented flexibility and efficiency, while facilitating the capture of high-quality digital representations of objects with minimal damage and preserving their integrity. The outcomes of instruments and tools specifically produced for the contexts described in this paper highlight their potential for promoting interdisciplinary collaboration, facilitating scholarly research, enhancing conservation efforts, and fostering cultural exchange. Ultimately, this research contributes to illustrate how custom software, in combination with recent devices such as smartphones and 3D printers, underscores the importance of adopting these innovative approaches to generate an ecosystem of tools and methods able to preserve, document, and promote the richness of our collective past for future generations.
Building an Expert System through Machine Learning for Predicting the Quality of a WEB Site Based on Its Completion
Authors: Jammalamadaka Sastry Kodanda Rama , B Vishnu Priya , Jammalamadaka Sasi Bhanu , CH Bhupati , Duvvuri Kamesh Balakrishna , Budaraju Raja Rao
Published: August 2023

The main channel for disseminating information is now the Internet. Users have different expectations for the calibre of websites regarding the posted and presented content. The WEB site's quality is influenced by up to 120 factors, each represented by two to fifteen attributes. A major challenge is quantifying the features and evaluating the quality of a website based on the feature counts. One of the aspects that determines a website's quality is its completeness, which focuses on the existence of all the objects and their connections with one another. It isn’t easy to build an expert model based on feature counts to evaluate website quality, so this paper has focused on that challenge. Both a methodology for calculating a website's quality and a parser-based approach for measuring feature counts are offered. We provide a multi-layer perceptron model that is an expert model for forecasting website quality from the "Completeness" perspective. The accuracy of the predictions is 98%, whilst the accuracy of the nearest model is 87%.
Reviewing the Integrated Design Approach for Augmenting Strength and Toughness at Macro and Microscale in Heterogeneous Metal Matrix Composites
Authors: Sadeghi Behzad , Cavaliere Pasquale Daniele
Published: August 2023

In response to the growing demand for high-strength and high-toughness materials in industries like aerospace and automobiles, there is a need for metal matrix composites (MMCs) that can simultaneously enhance strength and toughness. This paper focuses on the design configurations of MMCs, which include both the configurations resulting from reinforcements and the inherent heterogeneity of the matrix itself. The mechanical properties of MMCs are influenced by factors such as reinforcement content, shape, size, and spatial distribution within the composite architecture. Among them, Aluminum matrix composites (AMCs) are particularly significant in aerospace, electronics, and electric vehicles due to their potential for weight reduction and enhanced performance. However, the challenge lies in the inverse relationship between strength and toughness, hindering the widespread utilization and large-scale development of MMCs. The design configuration of composites plays a critical role in achieving concurrent improvements in strength and toughness. This review explores the advantages of toughness, toughening mechanisms, reinforcement distribution characteristics, and structural parameters in the design of composite architectures. Drawing inspiration from biological composites like bone, the development of synthetic composites with homogeneous structural designs provides insights into attaining exceptional strength and toughness in lightweight engineering structures. Additionally, understanding fracture behavior and toughening mechanisms in heterogeneous nanostructures is vital for advancing the field of metal matrix composites. Summarily, the design of composite architectures holds tremendous potential for tailoring AMCs with outstanding strength and toughness, addressing the requirements of lightweight engineering structures in various industries.
Developing a Short-Form Buss-Warren Aggression Questionnaire Based on Machine Learning
Authors: Jiang Xiuyu , Li Junyi , Yang Yitian
Published: August 2023

For adolescents, high aggression is often associated with suicide, physical injury, worse academic performance, and crime. Therefore, there is a need for early identification and intervention for highly aggressive adolescents. The Buss-Warren Aggression Questionnaire (BWAQ) consists of 34 items, and the longer the scale, the more likely participants are to make an insufficient effort response (IER), which reduces the credibility of the results and increases the cost of implementation. The study aimed to develop a shorter BWAQ using machine learning (ML) techniques to reduce the frequency of IER and decrease implementation costs meantime. First, an initial version of the short-form questionnaire was determined using Stepwise Regression and ANOVA F-test. Then, a machine learning algorithm determined the optimal short-form questionnaire (BWAQ-ML). Finally, the reliability and validity of the optimal short-form questionnaire were tested using independent samples. The BWAQ-ML has 88% fewer items than the BWAQ. It has AUC, accuracy, recall, precision, and F1 scores of 0.85, 0.85, 0.89, 0.83, and 0.86, respectively, and good psychometric properties. The BWAQ-ML can effectively measure individual aggression and can be used as a simplified version of BWAQ.
Bridging Molecular and Clinical Sciences to Achieve the Best Treatment of Enterococcus faecalis Endocarditis
Authors: Nappi Francesco , Avtaar Singh Sanjeet Singh , Jitendra Vikram , Fiore Antonio
Published: August 2023

Enteroccoccus faecalis is a commensal that is responsible for numerous infections in surgical sites, urinary tract and bloodstream. It is of growing concern given its propensity to affect the elderly population where there is a high prevalence of undiagnosed degenerative valvular disease and the with more invasive procedures and implanted medical devices. Its actions are mediated by specific characteristics of the bacterium such as pili activity and biofilm formation. This confers significant resistance toward a multitude of antibiotic therapy, especially in endocarditis. The current guidelines advocate antimicrobial therapy but the emergence of resistant strains has added a degree of complexity to the management of these patients, especially with the advent of transcatheter therapies which are often used in patients who are poor surgical candidates. Their presentations are often variable with generalized symptoms and can be diagnostically challenging. We present our experience of a case study involving an octogenarian with a TAVI valve who developed endocarditis and performed a literature review to highlight treatment algorithms for these cases.
Clumped-isotope evidence for the formation of nonplanar dolomite textures at near-surface temperatures
Authors: Ryan Brooks H. , Petersen Sierra V. , Rivers John M. , Kaczmarek Stephen E.
Published: August 2023

Dolomite textures are widely interpreted to reflect physical, mineralogical, and geochemical conditions of crystal growth. In particular, nonplanar dolomites, which display non-faceted crystal boundaries and a low percentage of crystals with compromise boundaries with preserved crystal-face junctions, have long been cited as evidence of crystal growth in fluids warmer than a theoretical dolomite critical roughening temperature (CRT) of ∼ 50–100°C. No direct experimental evidence across this temperature range exists, however, to confirm the theory that nonplanar dolomite should form exclusively above the CRT. The present study offers new Δ47 clumped-isotope data from nonplanar dolomites from the Paleocene–Eocene Umm er Radhuma Formation (Qatar) that show that nonplanar dolomite can form below the theoretical CRT. These dolomites are interpreted to have experienced only near-surface to shallow-burial conditions since deposition, and lack common burial features such as two-phase liquid-vapor inclusions, stylolites, compaction-reduced porosity, and burial cements. Scanning electron microscope images reveal that relatively large dolomite crystals (typically > 100 µm) comprise non-faceted mosaics with indistinct crystal boundaries, indicating a nonplanar texture. Thin-section petrographic measurements confirm the nonplanar texture, as the proportion of dolomite crystals with compromise boundaries with preserved crystal-face junctions ranges from 9% to 20% with an average of 14%, defining these dolomites as nonplanar sensu stricto (≤ 30%). The new Δ47 clumped-isotope data from these nonplanar dolomites reveals average crystallization temperatures ranging from 38.8 to 54.2°C and overall averaging 43.6°C. Calculated uncertainties, however, indicate the nonplanar dolomites could have formed at temperatures as low as 29.1°C or as high as 65.3°C. More than three quarters (∼ 78%) of the samples have mean temperatures that fall below 50°C, and all samples have calculated uncertainties indicating possible temperatures below 50°C, but not all indicate possible temperatures above 50°C. Furthermore, these calculated uncertainties overlap with the crystallization temperatures of planar and mimetic dolomites higher in the section, suggesting that all dolomites formed under similar temperature conditions, and therefore texture is unlikely driven solely by crystallization temperature. Cumulatively, these results indicate that the nonplanar dolomite formed in a shallow-burial setting at temperatures near or below the proposed dolomite CRT. The new Δ47 data, in conjunction with textural observations from natural dolomites and hundreds of published high-temperature experiments, suggest that nonplanar dolomite cannot be reliably used as an indicator of high-temperature environments of dolomitization.
Study on the Oxygen Content of Oxygen-Reducing Air Flooding Based on Anticorrosion Considerations
Authors: Li Xiaoyan , Shi Baocheng , Pan Jianpeng , Zhang Xingkai , Liu Kai , Ji Guofa , Zhang Yindi
Published: August 2023

Oxygen-reduced air flooding (ORAF) is an important efficient development means for tight and low permeability reservoirs because of its low cost, low risk, and ability to penetrate into voids and substrates. However, the critical value of oxygen-reduced, which can take into account the cost and corrosion protection requirements, is uncertain. Therefore, the corrosion behavior of N80, J55, and 3Cr steels under simulated high pressure (30 MPa) gas injection with different oxygen content (1%–12% vol.) was studied by weight loss method and Ultra-Depth Three-Dimensional Microscope. Under this oxygen content, the corrosion behavior of N80, J55, and 3Cr steels under different total pressure (20–35 MPa), temperature (25℃–70℃), and coexistence of gas and water was further studied. The results show that under the condition of high temperature and high-pressure drying, when the oxygen content in the oxygen-reduced air is reduced to 5%, all three kinds of steels belong to slight corrosion (<0.025 mm/a), and the oxygen-reduced cost can still be kept at a low level. In addition, under the condition of 5% oxygen content, when the corrosion medium of the wellbore is only deoxidized gas, the corrosion is slight, so N80 steel at a lower cost can be used. However, when the wellbore contains liquid, the corrosion is serious, and anticorrosion measures need to be taken. This study can provide certain data support for the selection of oxygen content and the corrosion protection of gas-injection wells shaft in the process of high-pressure gas injection by ORAF.
Evaluation of quality-of-life following treatment with Hymovis in patients with knee osteoarthritis and/or meniscal tear
Authors: Balius Ramon , Guillermo Álvarez Rey , Fernando Baró Pazos , Miguel Domínguez Melendez , Enrique Gastaldi Orquín , Alberto Gómez Martin , Luisa Ibáñez Martín , Francisco Lara Pulido , Antonio Leal Graciani , Antonio León Garrigosa , Luis Martín Leis José , Manuel Morales Santias , Luis Pérez Carro , Orlando Pompei Fernandez , Jordi Puigdellívol Grifell , César Quesada de la Gala , Antonio Rodas Pereira José , Andrés Valentí Azcarate
Published: August 2023

Background: Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and meniscal tears (MT) are the two most common types of knee injuries having an important impact on the quality of life of patients (QoL). The objective is to evaluate the impact on the QoL, physical activity, and satisfaction degree of patients with KOA, MT, or both conditions after intra-articular Hymovis infiltration.
Methods: Non-interventional, prospective, multicenter study of 165 patients with KOA and/or MT treated with two injections of Hymovis.
Results: Patients in all three groups (KOA, MT, and mixed) reported a high percentage of global QoL improvement (>80 %). KOOS and WOMAC changes from baseline improved (p<0.001) for all patients. Physical, sports and recreational activities and satisfaction with the treatment increased after treatment. (p<0.001). Pain also improved in the three groups (p<0.05).
Conclusion: Intra-articular injection of Hymovis improves QoL, physical function, and clinical condition of patients suffering KOA, MT, or both conditions
HYPofractionated Adjuvant RadioTherapy in 1 versus 2 weeks in high-risk patients with breast cancer (HYPART):A non-inferiority, open-label, phase III randomized trial.
Authors: Yadav Budhi Singh , Dahiya Divya , P Kannan , Goyal Shikha , Loroiya Ishita , Irrinki Santhosh , Robert Ngangom , Sharma Reena
Published: August 2023

Background
To test a 1-weeks chedule of hypofractionated adjuvant whole breast/chest wall and/or regional nodal radiotherapy against 2 weeks for loco-regional control, acute and late toxicities, quality of life (QoL), survival and second cancers after primary surgery in patients with breast cancer.
Methods
Eligible patients with breast cancer after mastectomy or BCS will be treated with a radiotherapy dose of 26Gy in 5 fractions over 1 week in the study arm and 34Gy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks in the control arm. The primary endpoint of this noninferiority study will be locoregional tumour control. Secondary endpoints will be early and late radiation toxicities, quality of life, contralateral primary tumours, regional and distant metastases, survival and second cancers. A total of 1018 patients will be randomised (1:1) to receive 1 week or 2 weeks of radiotherapy. An event-driven analysis will be performed after at least 94 patients have documented locoregional recurrences. Acute radiation toxicity will be assessed and scaled according to the RTOG grading system. Late radiation toxicity will be assessed with the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer late radiation morbidity scale. Cosmetic assessment will be done using Harvard/NSABP/RTOG breast cosmesis grading scale at baseline, 3 and 5 years. Quality of life (QoL) will be assessed with EORTC QLQ -30, EORTC QLQ-BR 23 at baseline, 3 and 5 years.
Discussion
Patients with breast cancer after mastectomy or BCS will be treated with a radiotherapy dose of 26Gy in 5 fractions over 1 week in the study arm and 34Gy in 10 fractions over 2 weeks in the control arm. Hypofractionation reduces treatment time to half while maintaining cosmesis and gives control rates equal to conventional fractionation. As breast cancer is a leading cancer in females and radiation therapy is an important part of its local management, hypofractionation helps radiation centres worldwide to meet the growing need for radiation treatment in breast cancer, particularly in developing countries where resources are limited. It also reduces the financial burden on the patient and family.
Trial registration
The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT04472845 and CTRI with REF/2020/09/037050.
Continuous biohydrogen production system: construction, operation, and sustainable evaluation
Authors: Zhang Zhiping , Zhang Quanguo , Li Yameng , Ruan Rongsheng , Ren Jingzheng , Toiniolo Sara , Hu Jianjun , Jiao Youzhou , Jiang Danping , Lu Chaoyang , Zhang Huan , Man Yi , He Chao , Xia Chenxi , Wang Yi , Jing Yanyan , Zhang Xueting , Lin Ruojue , Li Gang , Yue Jianzhi , Tahir Nadeem
Published: August 2023

Featuring high caloric value, cleanliness, and renewability, hydrogen is a fuel, believed to be able to change energy structure worldwide. Biohydrogen production technologies effectively utilize waste biomass resources, and produce high-purity hydrogen. Improvements have been made in the biohydrogen production process in recent years. However, there is a lack of operational data and sustainability analysis from pilot plants, to provide a reference for commercial operations. In this report, based on spectrum coupling, thermal effects, and multiphase flow properties of hydrogen production, continuous pilot-scale biohydrogen production systems (dark-and photo -fermentation) are established as a research subject. Then, pilot-scale hydrogen production systems are assessed in terms of sustainability. The system being evaluated, consumes 171,530 MJ of energy and emits 9.37 t of CO2 eq when producing 1 t H2, and has a payback period of 6.86 years. Our analysis also suggests future pathways towards effective biohydrogen production technology development and real-world implementation.
Factors influencing the time to ethics and governance approvals for clinical trials
Authors: Crosby Sam ,   Adriana Malavisi1, Huang Liping , Jan Stephen , Holden Richard , Neal Bruce
Published: August 2023

Background
Clinical trials are at the heart of medical research, enabling the development and implementation of new treatments. The time it takes to commence clinical trials at sites can be long, and ethics and governance approvals are key steps on the pathway to site activation.
Methods
This paper explores factors influencing the times to ethics approval, governance approval and site activation. Broadly, these comprised trial characteristics (disease area and trial phase), site characteristics (public or private ownership, country) and characteristics of the ethics and governance processes (scope guidelines, mutual acceptance requirements and triage of projects by risk). Median times were compared between site initiations that were and were not exposed to each characteristic using non-parametric tests in univariable and multivariable regressions.
Results
There were data from 150 site activations done across 91sites, 16 trials and 5 countries. The overall median time to activation was 234 days (range 74 to 657), with ethics approval taking a median of 48 days (0 to 369) and governance approval a median of 34 days (0 to 489). Both the univariable and multivariable analyses identified associations of disease area, particularly oncology (p univariable = 0.012, p multivariable = 0.044), use of scope guidelines (p < 0.001, p = 0.020) and use of a triage process (p < 0.001, 0.043) with shorter median times for governance approval. These characteristics (all p < 0.001) plus early trial phase (p = 0.028) were also predictive of shorter median times for ethics approval in univariable analyses, but none remained predictive in multivariable models (all p > 0.054). The only factors associated with reduced overall time to site activation in both univariable and multivariable analyses were early trial phase (p < 0.001, p = 0.013) and mutual acceptance of ethics approvals (p = 0.031, p = 0.030).
Interpretation
Times to ethics and governance approvals were only one third of total trial start-up time. Factors influencing times to approval and activation were somewhat inconsistent across analyses, but it seems likely that the introduction of selected governance and ethics processes can reduce approval times.
Hypoxia conditions caused by the Green Noctiluca in the coral reef ecosystem of Tuticorin surface coastal waters along the Gulf of Mannar (Biological Paradise)
Authors: Samiyappan Manickavasagam , Muthu Ponmani , Tamilarasan Nirmal , Mohanty Prakash Chandra
Published: August 2023

The current study found that environmental variables triggered the sudden outburst of a high-density and thick mat-like algal bloom proliferated by Green Noctiluca on the coral reef surroundings in the coastal surface waters of the Tuticorin coast of the Gulf of Mannar (GoM). It is a distinguished heterotrophic dinoflagellate and bioluminescent organism in marine ecosystems. Coral reef ecosystem around the world have been waning severely in contemporary period. Climate change and disease epidemics are primarily responsible for coral devastation and other marine biodiversity. In this investigation, we report on considerable coral mortality due to a Green Noctiluca bloom on Kasuwar Island, Tuticorin Coast along Gulf of Mannar. The surface coastal waters have appeared as a strong bright green, and the microscopic laboratory analysis of the seawater samples exposed the existence of Green Noctiluca in high abundance and density. During the sample times, the mean concentration of Green Noctiluca was 3.98 × 105cells/L, associated with hypoxia and an abnormally elevated ammonia level in the Green Noctiluca bloom outburst zones. Hypoxic conditions (DO level less than 3mg/L) caused by harmful algal blooms can drive the destruction of corals, though they are reported rarely. The dissolved oxygen (DO) levels in bloom outburst zones declined below 3 mg/L. During the sampling periods, the Green Noctiluca bloom caused temporary low levels of dissolved oxygen in the fast-growing coral genera Acropora sp., Turbinaria sp., and Montipora sp., which were observed in the reef crest and reef slopes. Therefore, it is likely that shallow-water coral reefs will be affected more often by episodic smothering conditions caused by harmful algal blooms. Due to global climate change, anthropogenic activities, and the enrichment of nutrients, more frequent and larger algal blooms are expected in the future. Furthermore, long-term observation and scientific studies are required to understand the mechanisms of highly sensitive marine ecosystems due to harmful algal blooms, their impacts on community composition, and the potential for subsequent revival and conservation of marine ecology and biodiversity.
Multi-Scale Accretion in Dense Cloud Cores and the Delayed Formation of Massive Stars
Authors: Vazquez-Semadeni Enrique , Gómez Gilberto , Gonzalez-Samaniego Alejandro
Published: August 2023

The formation mechanism of massive stars remains one of the main open problem in astrophysics, in particular the relationship between the mass of the most massive stars, and that of the cores in which they form. Numerical simulations of the formation and evolution of large molecular clouds, within which dense cores and stars form self-consistently, show in general that the cores' masses increase in time, and also that the most massive stars tend to appear later (by a few to several Myr) than lower-mass stars. Here we present a model that incorporates accretion onto the cores as well as onto the stars, in which the core's mass grows by a ``gravitational choking'' mechanism that does not involve any form of support. This process is of purely gravitational origin, and causes some of the mass accreted onto the core to stagnate there, rather than being transferred to the central stars. Thus, the simultaneous mass growth of the core and of the stellar mass can be computed. In addition, we estimate the mass of the most massive allowed star before its photoionizing radiation is capable of overcoming the accretion flow onto the core. This model constitutes a proof-of-concept for the simultaneous growth of the gas reservoir and the stellar mass, the delay in the formation of massive stars observed in cloud-scale numerical simulations, the need for massive, dense cores in order to form massive stars, and the observed correlation between the mass of the most massive star and the mass of the cluster it resides in. Also, our model implies that by the time massive stars begin to form in a core, a number of low-mass stars are expected to have already formed.
Relationship between Adiponectin and Blood Pressure in Obese Latino Adolescent Boys with a Family History of Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Hijazin Kristin , Smith Brandon , Garrett Coleby , Knox Allan , Kelly Louise A.
Published: August 2023

INTRODUCTION: Adipokines are associated with several pathological states including, metabolic syndrome, obesity, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. One of these adipokines, adiponectin is of particular interest as it has been shown to have numerous anti-inflammatory effects, However, the association between adiponectin and blood pressure remains inconclusive especially in the obese Hispanic adolescent.
PURPOSE: to investigate the relationship between plasma adiponectin and blood pressure in obese Latino adolescents’ boys with a family history of Type 2 diabetes.
METHODS: Thirty two obese Latino male adolescents aged 14-17 years with a family history of type 2 diabetes underwent a frequently sampled glucose tolerance test (FSIVGTT) to measure insulin sensitivity. Body composition was assessed using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Obesity was defined as having a BMI percentile ³95. Blood pressure was assessed using the Dinamap automated blood pressure monitor, and the average of three readings was used in the analysis. Fasting plasma adiponectin was determined using radioimmunoassay.
RESULTS: There was a strong positive significant correlation for adiponectin and Systolic blood pressure(SBP) (p< 0.027) and a moderate, positive significant correction for Diastolic blood pressure(DBP) (p< 0.028). A multivariate liner regression showed that plasma adiponectin could significantly predict 19% of the variance in SBP (p=0.017, and 33% for DBP (p=0.017).
CONCLUSION: In conclusion, adiponectin was positively and significantly correlated to blood pressure in obese Latino adolescent youth. Future studies should investigate this relationship in a large sample of Latino adolescent youth.
Examination of the Relationship between Agricultural Carbon Emission Efficiency and Food Quality and Safety: From the Perspective of Environmental Regulation
Authors: Wang Ruixue , Deng Xiangzheng , Fang Yiliang , Bai Wanting , Chen Jiancheng
Published: August 2023

An important breakthrough in the coordinated development of China's low-carbon goals and food security strategies is agricultural development oriented toward quality, safety, green, and low carbon. This study integrated command-control and market-incentive environmental regulation (ER), agricultural eco-efficiency (ACEE), and food quality and safety (FQS) into a unified theoretical framework. The unexpected output-oriented Super-SBM model was used to calculate the ACEE of China's provinces and cities from 2011 to 2020 and test the bidirectional causality between ACEE and FQS through the system generalized moment estimation model. A dynamic panel smooth transition (PSTR) model was used to explore the nonlinear impact mechanisms of different types of ERs on ACEE and FQS. The results showed that there was a long-term, two-way causal relationship between ACEE and FQS. The impact of environmental regulations on ACEE and FQS has a nonlinear relationship. Among them, the role of market-incentivized ER is more significant. Therefore, building an inter-regional coordinated development mechanism, improving the utilization rate of agricultural resources such as fertilizers and pesticides, and coordinating the positive effects of different types of ERs are the keys to improving the ACEE and ensuring the coordinated development of FQS.
Preliminary study on the effect of ultrasound on postpartum uterine involution and breast pain: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Wei Dongmei , Yue Jun , Meng Jian , Gao Jing , Yang Lei , Niu Xiaoyu , Wang Zhijian
Published: August 2023

Objectives
To evaluate the safety and efficacy of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFUS) therapy in promoting fundus descent and relieving postpartum breast pain compared with sham treatment.
Methods
A multicentre, randomised, sham-controlled, blinded trial was conducted. A total of 176 participants who had normal prenatal check-ups and met the inclusion and exclusion criteria were enrolled from three medical centres and subsequently randomised into the LIFUS or sham group. All participants provided three times treatment, LIFUS signal to the uterus and breast site through coupling gel, wherein a ultrasound signal output was absent in sham group. Fundal height measurement and breast pain score were performed after each treatment. The primary outcome was uterine involution, which was presented by measuring the fundal height of the uterus. The visual analogue scale (VAS) score, as a secondary outcome, was used to simultaneously assess breast pain and the correlation between breast pain and fundal height as the outcome.
Results
All participants were randomised into the LIFUS group (n = 88) or sham group (n = 88), of whom seven did not complete treatment. Overall, a statistically significant difference was noted in the rate and index of fundus descent after each treatment. The rate and index of fundus descent were more significant following the second (rate: 1.3 cm/d; index: 0.13, P < 0.001) and third (rate: 1.71 cm/d; index: 0.26, P < 0.001) treatments in the LIFUS group. VAS scores, which were based on the continuous variable for the baseline, first, second, and third treatments in the LIFUS (2.23, 1.16, 0.78, and 0.28 points, respectively) and sham groups (2.09, 1.64, 1.98, and 2.49 points, respectively), had a statistically significant difference between the two groups. Meanwhile, the differences in VAS score classification variables between the two groups were statistically significant. After the third treatment, a significant correlation was observed between the VAS score decrease and fundus descent rate; the more the VAS score decreased, the faster was the fundal decline rate in the LIFUS group.
Conclusions
LIFUS therapy is safe and effective, which contributes to accelerated uterine involution and relieved postpartum breast pain.
The study has registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100049586) at 05/08/2021.
Gold and polystyrene nanoparticle measurement differences between transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in the liquid phase
Authors: CHIANG C. L. , YEH C. W.
Published: August 2023

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), when applied in combination with a silicon chip, can be used to study the physical and chemical properties of nanoparticles in the liquid phase. However, these measurement approaches lack repeatability, accuracy, and reproducibility with regard to nanoparticle size and distribution estimates. We applied bootstrapping and the probability density function for our measurement estimates. Our results revealed that TEM outperformed SEM in terms of particle size and size distribution measurement. The effects of electron probe energy and position on the nanoparticle measurement results are outlined herein.
Exploring the Self-Talk of Women with Multiple Sclerosis; Qualitative Study
Authors: Fadavi Yasamin , mahmoodabadi Hassan Zareei
Published: August 2023

Background
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive disease of the central nervous system characterized by extensive lesions in the brain and spinal cord. Patients with MS suppress their emotions, are overly sensitive and anxious, and often have internal conversations with themselves. Inner speech is described as a person's silent conversation with himself. This conversation has a significant positive or negative effect on the quality of life and mental health of people.
Objective
This study was conducted to explore the self-talk of women with MS due to the role of self-talk in these components and its importance in the course of MS.
Methods
The research method is qualitative and its strategy was descriptive phenomenology. The research environment included all the MS patients in Isfahan in 2022. Those people who had the conditions to enter the research were selected using the purposeful sampling method. A semi-structured interview was conducted with them until saturation. The interviews were conducted with 19 participants.
Results
The data were analyzed using the Colaizzi method. The findings were presented in the form of 50 concepts, 17 sub-themes, and 7 main themes. The main categories were created under the headings of self-improvement, stable self-confidence, rational mindfulness, effective relationship management, weakness in managing thoughts and feelings, stressful situations, and experience of desire-avoidance.
Conclusion
According to the results, positive self-talk for women with MS has positive consequences in terms of improving mental health components and coping with the disease. On the other hand, negative self-talk creates negative and destructive consequences such as mood and health problems.
Ethical problems related to conflicts between Assistant and Intensivist physicians in the Intensive Care Unit: Medical Resident’s point of view
Authors: de Souza Guilherme Martins , Cáfaro Carolina , Paiva Luisa de Souza Campos , Rezende Julia Cavalcanti de Albuquerque , Troster Eduardo Juan
Published: August 2023

Objective To assess the resident physician's view under the scope of bioethics in relation to the differences between assistant physicians and Intensivists regarding the medical treatments offered to patients.Method Cross-sectional, single-center, descriptive study with a qualitative approach.Results Conflicts and divergences in treatments such as those described by the participants are widely reported in the literature, which cites end-of-life decisions and communication problems as the main points related to divergences in the ICU. Aspects related to the perception of patients and family members regarding the therapy and care in the ICU may be influencing factors regarding divergences in conduct.Conclusion Based on a detailed analysis of the most frequent themes cited, in our analysis we found common conflicts that were similar to the related literature.
Genome-wide association study of antibiotic resistance in clinical Burkholderia pseudomallei strains from Hainan province, China
Authors: Wang Min , Duan Xuehan , Wang Xuming , Huang Dongliang , Wu Hua
Published: August 2023

Background
Burkholderia pseudomallei is a gram-negative soil-borne Bacillus pathogen that causes melioidosis and poses a significant threat to human health. This study aimed to investigate pan-genetic resistance genes using the genome sequences of 556 clinical strains. The predominant resistant phenotypes observed among these strains were resistance to DOX and AMC.
Results
We identified OprM and MexB as genes significantly associated with DOX-resistant phenotypes. Moreover, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed to explore the functional implications of the genes found in the DOX and AMC-resistant strains, indicating their involvement in the negative regulation of cellular and carboxylic acid biosynthetic processes. Furthermore, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis revealed distinct pathways enriched in DOX-resistant strains, namely oxidative phosphorylation and glutathione metabolism, whereas AMC-resistant strains exhibited enrichment in lysine biosynthesis; valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation; and, amino acid and nucleotide sugar metabolism pathways.
Conclusions
This study helps to understand the evolution of drug resistance in this bacterium and potential targets for predicting drug resistance, and provides a foundation for clinical diagnosis within hospital microbiology and medical facilities.
The Effect of Moringa Oleifera Crude Extract on Liver Cell Line, HEPG2.
Authors: Gonzo Martin , Sowunmi Boluwatife
Published: August 2023

Background
The liver plays a crucial role in the body's metabolic and detoxification processes. Given its importance, compromised liver function can negatively impact the body’s metabolic and physiological function. Liver diseases can result from various factors, including exposure to toxins, alcohol consumption, and viral infections. Therefore, finding natural remedies for liver protection and treatment is of great importance. Moringa oleifera is a tree known for its various medicinal properties, including hepatoprotective effects. This study aimed to investigate the potential of Moringa oleifera seed extract in protecting liver cells.
Methods
In this study, dried-seed powder of Moringa oleifera was extracted using extraction solvents, methanol, and ethanol. HepG2 cells were cultured and treated with different concentrations of the extracts. Antioxidative activity, cell viability, and antiproliferation were assessed using the Total antioxidant capacity assay (TAC) and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Additionally, liver enzyme activity was determined through Alkaline Phosphatase and Aspartate Aminotransferase activity assays.
Results
The extracts had varying effects on liver cells depending on the concentration and time of exposure. Lower concentrations (50 mg/l and 100 mg/l) appear to have mild stimulatory effects/minimal impact on metabolic activity, while higher concentrations (200 mg/l and 400 mg/l) tend to decrease metabolic activity, especially at later time points. Moreover, the extracts effectively reduced the levels of liver enzyme, AST, indicating its ability to mitigate liver injury.
Conclusion
The study concludes that the crude extracts of Moringa oleifera seeds exhibits potential as a natural remedy for liver diseases. The hepatoprotective effects of Moringa extract suggest that it can be used as a preventive and therapeutic agent for liver damage. The study highlights the importance of exploring natural remedies for liver protection and treatment.
Lactate-driven type I collagen deposition facilitates cancer stem cell-like phenotype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Sun Yunqing , Chen Yang , Zhao Hui , Wang Jingjing , Liu Yuantong , Bai Junqiang , Hu Chuanyu , Shang Zhengjun
Published: August 2023

Background
Lactate, the culprit of the acidic tumor microenvironment, is crucial for the therapeutic resistance and metastasis of malignancies. However, the mechanism by which lactate regulates the malignant phenotype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has not been fully clarified.
Results
In this study, we found HNSCC cells had increased type I collagen (Col I) deposition along with stronger cancer stem cells (CSC) characteristics when treated with exogenous lactate. The lactate-driven Col I was essential for the acquisition of CSC properties, knocking down COL1A1 suppressed the self-renewal abilities of cancer cells. Further study revealed that lactate promoted Col I deposition through two different pathways. On the one hand, lactate converted to pyruvate, which was a substrate of Col I hydroxylation. On the other hand, lactate activated HIF1-α and promoted the transcription of P4HA1, which was a rate-limiting enzyme for Col I synthesis. Blocking of these two pathways inhibited the enhanced cell stemness caused by lactate, while the addition of exogenous Col I rescued the CSC phenotype. The transcriptome sequencing results suggested that Col I enhanced CSC properties by affecting cell cycle dynamics.
Conlusions:
Our research proposes that lactate-driven Col I deposition is essential for the acquisition of the CSC phenotype, and lactate-centric Col I deposition may be an effective target for HNSCC.