bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A review of the conservation status and survey methods for the live-bearing sea star Parvulastra vivipara
Authors: Strain EMA , Bastiaansen A , Thomson RJ , Stuart-Smith J , Vila-Concejo A , Byrne M
Published: June 2024

The live-bearing sea star Parvulastra vivipara, 1 of only 6 Asteroidea species globally that gives birth to live young, had an uncertain conservation status due to data deficiencies and historical differences in research methods. Restricted to southeast Tasmania, its distinctive reproductive strategy, coupled with limited distribution, low genetic diversity, and geographically isolated populations makes P. vivipara populations highly susceptible to localised and global extinction. Since the species was described in 1969, ten different historical survey methods have been used to survey P. vivipara populations. Notably, the survey area at these locations has increased through time as P. vivipara abundances declined. In 2022, surveys revealed the persistence of P. vivipara populations at 10 of 15 historically documented locations. Five locations experienced local extinction of P. vivipara populations, 3 in the last 2 decades, and 4 locations had <150 individuals remaining. P. vivipara density has experienced a decline of 90% from the first surveys in 1974-2001 to recent surveys in 2022. Based on the current trajectory, it is predicted that the density of P. vivipara will decline to 1 ind. m-2 by 2033 and 1 ind. site-1 by 2111, with some locations experiencing this decline even sooner. The rapid decline and restricted area of occupancy mean that P. vivipara qualifies for Critically Endangered status under IUCN Red List criteria A1 and B1. There is a pressing need for standardised and ongoing monitoring, management of key threats, and recovery strategies to bolster local and global P. vivipara populations against the threat of extinction.
Modified Method for Early Closure of Purulent Wounds in Chronic Osteomyelitis in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Mamyshov A. , Osmonbekova N. , Kochkonbaev Zh. , Zhynzhyrov B. , Emilbekov F. , Muratov K. , Zhumabaev A.
Published: June 2024

The article analyzes the results of surgical treatment of 106 patients with chronic osteomyelitis of long bones, in whom diabetes mellitus was a concomitant disease. A modified method of early wound closure for chronic osteomyelitis in patients with diabetes mellitus turned out to be more effective compared to traditional methods of treatment, which reduced the average treatment time by 2.5 times.
Development of Wide Bandgap One-dimensional MOF/TiO2 Photonic Crystal and Its Gas-sensing Properties
Authors: Tian Yu , Lysyakov A. , Wang Haoyu , Xie Haoyu
Published: June 2024

Metal-organic framework (MOFs) materials are a type of coordination polymer that have seen significant breakthroughs in material science over the past decade. Because of their high specific surface area and porosity, they are widely used for gas adsorption, storage, and separation. Additionally, their structural tunability allows for a wide variety of MOFs, with more remarkable properties yet to be discovered as research continues. When MOFs are applied in photonic crystals, adjustments to their structure enable them to act as specific gas-sensitive materials, causing shifts in the photonic crystal's forbidden band after gas adsorption. This generates distinguishable signals for effective sensing. In conventional single-metal MOFs, doping with another metal to prepare photonic crystals increases defect size while reducing symmetry and simplicity, leading to more pronounced forbidden bands and improved sensing. Therefore, in this thesis, we aim to partially replace the chromium in MIL-101 with magnesium and then self-assemble it with titanium dioxide to prepare photonic crystals. This approach aims to leverage the exceptional properties of MOFs, resulting in photonic crystals with improved gas-specific recognition and sensitivity, further enhancing their gas-sensing capabilities.
Development of a Prototype Non-volatile Heating Circuit with Pulsating Mode
Authors: Zhang Siyu , Mindrov K. , Kuznetsov A.
Published: June 2024

The emergence of global energy crisis makes energy saving technology become the key technology of sustainable development. Enhanced heat transfer technology can improve the efficiency of various heat transfer equipment and reduce the weight and volume, which plays a vital role in energy saving and sustainable economic development. In recent years, based on theoretical and experimental research, Chinese researchers and technicians have developed many new technologies to strengthen heat transfer, such as cross-scaled elliptic tube, discontinuous double-inclined inner rib tube, spiral groove tube, spiral groove tube, inner fin tube, twisted elliptic tube and so on. Among them, the pulsating heat transfer technology is an efficient and energy-saving means that can significantly strengthen the convective transport operation and improve the heat transfer effect. Through fluid pulsation or the vibration of the heat transfer pipe, the technology can remove the dirt deposited on the heat exchange surface, reduce the thermal resistance of the dirt, and improve the performance and life of the heat exchanger. It is widely used in the cooling of electronic components, automobile turbines, and the utilization of atomic energy in Marine environment. Firstly, the construction scheme of the experimental device is proposed, and the working principle of the experimental device is described in detail. The complex impedance, frequency function, amplitude-frequency characteristic and phase-frequency characteristic are obtained by mathematical transformation of power supply circuit. Finally, the frequency response of the circuit is constructed.
Assessment of the Influence of Headwind Speed and Direction on the Specific Resistance when Rolling a Wagon from a Shipment Hump
Authors: Sitnikov S.
Published: June 2024

The quality of the sorting process, the processing capacity of the station, and the safety of the rolling stock and transported goods depend on the design and current condition of the hump. Studying and assessing the influence of various factors on the specific resistance to the movement of cars from the air and wind will simplify the solution of individual problems in this area. The paper shows a calculation taking into account weather conditions to estimate the speed of railway cars. The presented values ​​can be used as reference material when determining the design meteorological conditions for the design of hump humps.
Economic Efficiency of the Construction of a Multi-branch Well Using the Birch Leaf Technology as an Alternative to Fishbone Technology
Authors: Otto O. , Abdullaeva A.
Published: June 2024

Today the priority task for the oil and gas industry is to increase the oil and gas recovery of reservoirs. As an alternative to reservoir development, instead of hydraulic fracturing technology, it is proposed to apply a new technology for the construction of multi-branch horizontally inclined wells — Birch Leaf. The paper considers the possibility of using and calculates the economic effect of the introduction of a new technology of intensification of inflow for Uzbekistan.
The Role of Digital Technologies in the Formation of Soft and Hard Skills among State and Municipal Managers
Authors: Kakadiy I. , Sledneva A.
Published: June 2024

The authors consider the above-described skills as strategic competencies of a modern manager and look for innovative ways to master them. The substantiation of the importance of developing soft skills in people in general, as well as the relevance and necessity of their development specifically by managerial personnel, is given. An analysis of the benefits of using digital technologies in the process of developing these skills among employees is also presented.
The Importance of Pedagogical Competence and Tact in Resolving the Conflict between Teacher and Student
Authors: Kadenova Zh. , Акимкызы D.
Published: June 2024

Conflicts between teachers and students can significantly affect the learning environment and academic results. This article examines various strategies for resolving conflicts between teachers and students, emphasizing the critical importance of pedagogical competence and tact for the effective resolution of such situations. Based on existing literature, empirical research and practical findings, this study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of conflict resolution in educational institutions and to highlight the role of pedagogical competence and tact in strengthening positive relationships between teachers and students. Through in-depth analysis of theoretical foundations, case studies and best practices, this study provides valuable information on how teachers can deal with conflict by being empathetic, professional and focusing on promoting student growth and well-being. This study is aimed at studying the complex nature of conflicts between teachers and students, studying the underlying causes, manifestations and consequences of such conflicts. Focusing on conflict resolution strategies based on pedagogical competence and tact, this study aims to shed light on effective approaches to conflict management and strengthening positive relationships in educational institutions.
From the Socio-Psychological Aspects of Digitalization to the Reflection of the Nature of the Word Phenomenon
Authors: Kartashova E.
Published: June 2024

In connection with the ongoing processes of social transformation, informatization and digitalization, there is a tendency to increase emotional tension and anxiety in society. Studies of the impact of digitalization on the security of the individual and society, analysis of the positive and negative aspects of digitalization are relevant. Part of the population is afraid of depersonalization, replacing the name with a digital code. Against this background, the search for a philosophical understanding of the word, as well as the name, is actualized in a comparative analysis with a digit and a digital designation, the problem of attention to the word as a spiritual phenomenon and cultural historical value is posed. Thus, the process of digitalization is a complex cultural, historical and socio-psychological phenomenon. At the personal level, the realization of personal freedom and responsibility in choosing worldview values and aspirations contributes to reducing frustration in an era of change, at the social level it is important to maintain the priority of spiritual values and meanings, where the word should remain as the highest ability that distinguishes a person from the world of animals and things.
Semantics and Internet Language
Authors: Akhmedova K.
Published: June 2024

In this article the following topics have been under the discussion: the developmental stage of the relatively new field – semiotics, its relationship with the other traditional branches of linguistics, three modes with some relevant examples, the role of signs in the modern way of communication medium, opinions and expectations of several researchers about this constantly modernizing process. -
South African Allegories in Richard Jefferies’s After London; or Wild England (1885)
Authors: Slocum Leah
Published: June 2024

This paper argues that Richard Jefferies’s After London (1885), often praised as a pioneering work of speculative fiction, has not been sufficiently understood within the context of late-Victorian imperial expansion. While After London is frequently read in tandem with Jefferies’s nature essays and speculative fiction like H. G. Wells’s The Time Machine (1895), I locate the novel within the generic conventions of lost world fiction, a subgenre of the imperial romance associated with masculine adventure tales. Analysing After London’s parallels with, and potential influences on, H. Rider Haggard’s King Solomon’s Mines (1885), published later that same year, I argue that Jefferies’s unflattering portrayal of English ‘Bushmen’, coupled with the geography of Wild England, gesture emphatically to South Africa. In turn, the motif of a ‘relapse into barbarism’ serves to rationalise the fantasies of terra nullius [‘nobody’s land’] and extractive treasure hunting that Felix Aquila, the quixotic hero, enacts. By connecting After London to Haggard’s highly influential fiction and drawing on Jefferies’s writings about British colonialism in South Africa and the conventions of travel literature, cartography, and ethnography, this paper provides a more complete understanding of Jefferies’s contributions to the canon of lost world fiction.
PERNIKAHAN DIBAWAH TANGAN DALAM TINJAUAN MAQ??ID AL-SHAR?‘AH DAN UTILITARIANISME
Authors: Juniyati Erni , Rohman Miftakur
Published: June 2024

Private marriages are marriages carried out by Muslims who fulfill the pillars and requirements of marriage, but are not registered with the Marriage Registrar as regulated in Law no. 1 of 1974 concerning Marriage. This marriage is actually valid if it meets the marriage requirements according to Islamic law. It's just that formally, juridically, it doesn't meet the requirements of the provisions regulated in Law no. 1 of 1974 and its implementing regulations, namely that it is not registered with the Marriage Registrar's Office. So the impact that arises from this underhanded marriage is that the wife is not entitled to alimony, inheritance, shared assets. Apart from that, the status of the child born is considered an illegitimate child. As a consequence, the child only has a civil relationship with the mother and the mother's family. This research is a type of normative research. The nature of the research is descriptive qualitative, namely describing underhanded marriages based on Maq??id Al-Shar?'ah and Utilitarianism. The research results show that marriage under the hand is not in accordance with Maq??id Al-Shar?'ah because it is contrary to the benefit of human al-?ar?r?yah, namely religion, soul, reason, lineage and property. This marriage is also incompatible with Utilitarianism because it is not in accordance with the principle of happiness.
Pemodelan Identifikasi Sistem untuk Pengaturan Kecepatan Motor DC dengan Kontrol PID
Authors: Rahman Hidayat Arief , Dwi Risdhayanti Anindya , Fitri  , Ayu Permatasari Dinda , Tri Wahono Wahyu
Published: June 2024

Perancangan untuk pemodelan dan identifikasi sistem untuk pengaturan sistem merupakan aspek penting dalam pengembangan kontroler untuk motor DC guna mencapai pengaturan kecepatan yang optimal. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menginvestigasi metode-metode pemodelan dan identifikasi sistem yang efektif serta menerapkan kontrol Proporsional-Integral-Derivative (PID) untuk mengatur kecepatan motor DC. Pendekatan ini diharapkan dapat meningkatkan performa kontrol kecepatan motor DC dalam berbagai aplikasi. Pemodelan sistem motor DC dilakukan untuk memahami karakteristik dinamisnya, sedangkan identifikasi parameter sistem dilakukan untuk mengestimasi parameter-parameter penting yang mempengaruhi respons motor. Kontrol PID dipilih karena kemampuannya yang teruji dalam memberikan respons yang cepat dan stabil terhadap perubahan beban atau kondisi sistem. Melalui integrasi pemodelan, identifikasi, dan pengaturan kontrol PID, penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menciptakan sistem pengaturan kecepatan yang dapat diandalkan dan efisien untuk motor DC. Hasil penelitian menghasilkan respon transien dengan settling time sebesar 2.5 s , maksimum overshoot sebesar 3,45%, error steady state sebesar 0. Penelitian ini menegaskan efektivitas pendekatan identifikasi sistem dalam meningkatkan kinerja motor DC, memungkinkan aplikasi yang lebih handal dan efisien di berbagai industri.
Space in Music: what we call ‘space’ in music and what it really is
Authors: Wanderley Janhan Sousa Fabio
Published: June 2024

This article proposes a division of the concept of space in music into four spaces, namely the internal, external, intrinsic and extrinsic spaces. Having reviewed these concepts in texts from numerous authors and composers, we aggregate a variety of concepts into these four main categories of space in music. We also present possible transgressions of the boundaries of these concepts, with the understanding that these transgressions are common practice for contemporary composers. Currently, these practices of transgression tend to be confused because of the lack of a clear definition for the spaces in question.
Pembinaan Literasi Pendidikan Tinggi pada Siswa SMA/SMK di Kota Batam
Authors: Fajrah Nofriani , Rasid Ridho Muhammat , Cindoswari Ageng Rara , Salsabila Lubna
Published: June 2024

Pendidikan sebagai salah satu kebutuhan primer seluruh masyarakat. Pendidikan sebagai alat untuk dapat meningkatkan taraf hidup masyarakat karena dengan pendidikan yang baik maka dapat memenuhi kesejahteraan hidup. Rencana pendidikan tinggi perlu persiapan dan pemahaman yang matang, khususnya bagi siswa SMA/SMK yang akan melanjutkan pendidikan tingkat lanjut. Siswa SMA/SMK di Kota Batam perlu diberikan pembinaan tentang literasi pendidikan tinggi. Hal ini ditunjukkan dari survei yang dilakukan menunjukkan 80% siswa belum paham mengenai pendidikan tinggi dan kehidupan kampus. Berdasarkan kondisi tersebut kegiatan pembinaan literasi pendidikan tinggi pada siswa SMA/SMK di Kota Batam perlu dilakukan. Pelaksanaan pembinaan menarik antusiasme siswa SMA/SMK di Kota Batam ditunjukkan dengan beberapa pertanyaan sekitar kehidupan kampus dan konsekuensi serta prospek karir di masa yang akan datang. Pembinaan ini menunjukkan peningkatan pemahaman literasi pendidikan tinggi dan kehidupan kampus bagi siswa SMA/SMK di Kota Batam. Pembinaan ini juga memberikan kontribusi untuk meningkatkan minat siswa SMA/SMK di Kota Batam untuk melanjutkan studi di jenjang Pendidikan Tinggi.
Use of CRISPRoff and synthetic Notch to modulate and relay endogenous gene expression programs in engineered cells
Authors: Shi Shuqun , Hamann Catherine A. , Lee Joanne C. , Brunger Jonathan M.
Published: June 2024

Uncovering the stimulus-response histories that give rise to cell fates and behaviors is an area of great interest in developmental biology, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine. A comprehensive accounting of cell experiences that lead to the development of organs and tissues can help us to understand developmental anomalies that may underly disease. Perhaps more provocatively, such a record can also reveal clues as to how to drive cell collective decision-making processes, which may yield predictable cell-based therapies or facilitate production of tissue substitutes for transplantation or in vitro screening of prospective therapies to mitigate disease. Toward this end, various methods have been applied to molecularly trace developmental trajectories and record interaction histories of cells. Typical methods involve artificial gene circuits based on recombinases that activate a suite of fluorescent reporters or CRISPR-Cas9 genome writing technologies whose nucleic acid-based record keeping serves to chronicle cell-cell interactions or past exposure to stimuli of interests. Exciting expansions of the synthetic biology toolkit with artificial receptors that permit establishment of defined input-to-output linkages of cell decision-making processes opens the door to not only record cell-cell interactions, but to also potentiate directed manipulation of the outcomes of such interactions via regulation of carefully selected transgenes. Here, we combine CRISPR-based strategies to genetically and epigenetically manipulate cells to express components of the synthetic Notch receptor platform, a widely used artificial cell signaling module. Our approach gives rise to the ability to conditionally record interactions between human cells, where the record of engagement depends on expression of a state-specific marker of a subset of cells in a population. Further, such signal-competent interactions can be used to direct differentiation of human embryonic stem cells toward pre-selected fates based on assigned synNotch outputs. We also implemented CRISPR-based manipulation of native gene expression profiles to bias outcomes of cell engagement histories in a targeted manner. Thus, we present a useful strategy that gives rise to both state-specific recording of cell-cell interactions as well as methods to intentionally influence products of such cell-cell exchanges.
Biogas enhancement in the anaerobic digestion of thermo-chemically pretreated sludge by stimulating direct interspecies electron transfer by biochar and graphene
Authors: Almegbl Abdulaziz Mohammed , Munshi Faris Mohammad A. , Khursheed Anwar
Published: June 2024

It is necessary to pretreat waste-activated sludge (WAS) to disintegrate the sludge matrix and amend its anaerobic digestion (AD) with carbon-based materials (CMs) to accelerate direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) in order to realize the maximum biogas potential of abundant and habitat-threatening organic WAS. The AD of WAS pretreated thermo-chemically at 0.5% NaOH (g/g dry sludge) and 125 °C microwave irradiation was amended by biochar doses of 0–40 g/L and graphene doses of 50–1,000 mg/L in the batch operation mode. Hybrid pretreatment of WAS deteriorated dewaterability but solubilized 38% of total chemical oxygen demand (COD). AD amended with 20 g/L biochar and 100 mg/L graphene had the optimum accumulative methane yield of 183.6 and 153.8 mL/gVS, respectively, which correspond to 42.8% and 24.8% increases compared to an unamended control assay with maximum methane content of 70.3% and 71.9%, respectively. The digestate of biochar- and graphene-amended assays resulted in higher TS% and alkalinity, reduced sCOD, VFA, and turbidity, and increased particle size distribution compared to control. Biochar-amended digestate had improved dewaterability, while digestate of graphene-amended assays resulted in worse dewaterability than control. The t-test showed a significant difference between the biochar and graphene amended batch assays, while principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that biogas yield was closely correlated with pH. CM-amended batch assays demonstrated superb fitting with modified Gompertz, logistic, and first-order models with a coefficient of determination above 0.97. Microbial community abundance and diversity were affected by CMs amendment, resulting in increased acetoclastic methanogen growth and transformed methanogenic metabolic pathways. An extended pilot-scale study and techno-economic and life cycle assessments are required to investigate environmental impacts and feasibility.
The role of bacterial genital infections in spontaneous preterm delivery: a case-control study
Authors: Ahmadi Amjad , Khadem Erfan Mohammad Bagher , Roshani Daem , Derakhshan Safoura , Ramazanzadeh Rashid , Farhadifar Fariba , Mohsenpour Behzad , Shahgheibi Sholeh , Zarei Mozhdeh , Salimizand Himen , Nikkhoo Bahram
Published: June 2024

Background

Spontaneous preterm delivery is defined as the beginning of the birth process before the 37th week of pregnancy. The presence of microorganisms in the fetal membranes is accompanied by an increase in the production of prostaglandin, one of the important factors associated with the prevalence of preterm birth. The invasion of microorganisms leads to the production of protease, coagulase, and elastase, which directly stimulate the onset of childbirth. We investigated the role of genital infections in women with preterm birth.

Methods

The present case-control study was conducted in the west of Iran on 100 women with spontaneous preterm delivery (following 24 weeks of gestation and before 36 weeks and 6 days) as the case group and 100 women with normal delivery as controls. A questionnaire was applied to collect the data. Polymerase chain reaction and pathological examination of the placenta were performed.

Results

The average age in women with normal delivery (30.92 ± 5.10) in women with spontaneous preterm delivery (30.27 ± 4.93). The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhea, Listeria monocytogenes, and Mycoplasma genitalium infections was zero in both groups. The highest prevalence of Gardnerella vaginalis was 19 (19%) in the case group and Ureaplasma parvum 15 (15%) in the control group. Also, Placental inflammation was zero in controls and 7(7%) in the patient group. There was a significant relationship between Gardnerella vaginalis bacteria and spontaneous preterm delivery.

Conclusion

The results of our study showed that except for Gardnerella vaginalis bacteria, there is no significant relationship between the above bacterial infections and spontaneous preterm birth. Moreover, despite the significant reduction in the prevalence of many sexually transmitted infections in this research, it is still suggested to increase the awareness of people, including pregnant women, about the ways it can be transmitted by gynecologists and health and treatment centers.
Electroacupuncture for slow flow/no-reflow phenomenon in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention: protocol for a pilot randomized controlled trial
Authors: Peng Yanbin , Wei Xuqiang , Wu Feng , Fan Min , Wang Ke , Zhou Jia
Published: June 2024

Background

Slow flow/no-reflow (SF-NR) during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is associated with poor prognosis of patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Currently, effective treatment is not available for SF-NR. Electroacupuncture (EA) has shown significant efficacy as an adjuvant therapy for many cardiovascular diseases by improving microcirculation and reducing ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, its effects on SF-NR in the AMI patients during PCI are not clear. This pilot trial aims to determine the efficacy of intraoperative EA in alleviating SF-NR in AMI patients undergoing PCI.

Methods

This prospective, single-center, randomized controlled, pilot trial will recruit 60 AMI patients scheduled for PCI at the Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, China. The patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio into the EA or the control groups. Patients in the control group will undergo standard PCI. Patients in the EA group will undergo intraoperative electroacupuncture while undergoing standard PCI. Incidence of SF-NR is the primary outcome for this study. This study will also assess secondary outcomes including cardiac biomarkers, inflammatory biomarkers, pain and anxiety scores, electrocardiography parameters, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) symptom score, and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE). All the included patients will undergo laboratory tests including routine blood tests, levels of electrolytes, as well as liver and renal function tests. Patients will be followed up for 1 month after the procedure.

Discussion

This pilot trial will provide evidence for the potential benefits of intraoperative EA in improving microvascular perfusion and preventing or alleviating SF-NR during PCI in patients with AMI. If proven effective, intraoperative EA will provide a new and effective strategy against SF-NR and provide evidence for subsequent multicenter trials.

Clinical Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier (ChiCTR2300072265). Registered on 8 June 2023.
Right anterior mini thoracotomy for redo cardiac surgery: case series from North America and Europe
Authors: Fatehi Hassanabad Ali , Fercho Justyna , Fatehi Hassanabad Mortaza , King Melissa , Sosniuk Morgan , de Waard Dominique , Adams Corey , Kent William D. T. , Karolak Wojtek
Published: June 2024

Background

Right anterior mini thoracotomy (RAMT) for aortic valve replacement (AVR) is a minimally invasive procedure that avoids sternotomy. Herein, we report the outcomes of patients who underwent redo-cardiac via a RAMT approach for AVR.

Methods

This case series reports the clinical outcomes of 14 consecutive redo operations, done in Calgary (Canada) and Gdansk (Poland) between 2020 and 2023. Primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and disabling stroke. Secondary outcomes included surgical times, hemodynamics, permanent pacemaker implantation (PPM), length of ICU and hospital stay, new post-operative atrial fibrillation (POAF), post-operative blood transfusion, incidence of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), rate of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and/or dialysis, and chest tube output in the first 12-hours after surgery.

Results

Nine patients were male, and the mean age was 64.36 years. There were no deaths, while one patient had a disabling stroke postoperatively. Mean cardiopulmonary bypass and cross clamp-times were 136 min and 90 min, respectively. Three patients needed a PPM, 3 patients needed blood transfusions, and 2 developed new onset POAF. Median lengths of ICU and hospital stays were 2 and 12 days, respectively. There was no incidence of paravalvular leak greater than trace and the average transvalvular mean gradient was 12.23 mmHg.

Conclusion

The number of patients requiring redo-AVR is increasing. Redo-sternotomy may not be feasible for many patients. This study suggests that the RAMT approach is a safe alternative to redo-sternotomy for patients that require an AVR.
The bivalve-bearing carbonate platform on the east Tethys during the middle Eocene and its response to the Tethys transgression
Authors: Fang Shaobo , Xi Dangpeng , Sun Qi , Li Dalei , Yang Zhangzhang , Liu Dan , Wu Yuyang , Jiang Tian , Wan Xiaoqiao
Published: June 2024

The Eocene was a typical greenhouse climate period in the history of the Earth, with a high global sea level and extensive carbonate deposits developed in Tethys. During the Eocene, a carbonate platform was deposited in the western Tarim Basin, which belongs to the easternmost Tethys. However, the details of this carbonate platform and its complications for paleoecology and paleoclimate are still unclear. This research focuses on the bivalve-bearing carbonates of the Kalataer Formation in the western Tarim Basin, and detailed analyses of microfacies, biostratigraphy, paleoecology, and sea-level change were carried out. The bivalves of the Kalataer Formation are dominated by the Ostrea (Turkostrea) strictiplicata, Ostrea (Turkostrea) cizancourti, Ostrea (Turkostrea) strictiplicata, Ostrea (Turkostrea) strictiplicata, and Sokolowia buhsii, and the age is middle Lutetian of the Eocene. The biota of the Kalataer Formation mainly lives in open shallow sea environments, with medium to low energy and rich nutrients and oxygen, representing a typical shallow marine ecosystem of the carbonate platform. Microfacies and paleoecology indicate a large marine transgression event occurred in the western Tarim Basin during the middle Eocene.
Capacitor virtual inertia control and equivalent inertia analysis for a grid-forming wind generation system
Authors: Li Qun , Li Qiang , Tang Weijia , Wang Chenggen
Published: June 2024

A grid-forming wind generation system exhibits exceptional grid frequency support abilities. The DC capacitor of the grid-forming wind generation system, which is characterized by rapid response and high sensitivity to minor disturbances, can provide short-term inertia support for the power system. This paper proposes the capacitor virtual inertia control for the grid-forming wind generation system, coupling the DC capacitor voltage with the power system frequency, which enables the DC capacitor to participate in the system frequency response process and reduces the rate of change of the system frequency during the disturbance. To analyze the inertia of the wind power generation system, this paper establishes an equivalent Philips–Heffron model for the grid-forming wind generation system and uses the equivalent inertia constant to quantify the inertia of the wind power generation system. The effectiveness of the proposed control strategy and the reasonableness of the inertia assessment method are verified through simulations in the single-turbine system and the IEEE four-machine two-area system.
Joint DNA-RNA-based NGS for diagnosis and treatment of a rare CD47-MET fusion lung adenocarcinoma which was immunoresistant and savoltinib-sensitive: a case report
Authors: Wang Rulan , Liu Yanyang , Yu Xuejiao , Wang Weiya , Liu Jiewei
Published: June 2024

Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are both important in the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Accurate diagnose and precise treatment are key in achieving long survival of patients. MET fusion is a rare oncogenic factor, whose optimal detection and treatment are not well established. Here, we report on a 32-year-old female lung adenocarcinoma patient with positive PD-L1 and negative driver gene detected by DNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS). A radical resection of the primary lesion after chemotherapy combined with PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor administration indicated primary immuno-resistance according to her pathological response and rapid relapse. A rare CD47-MET was detected by RNA-based NGS, which was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Multiplex immunofluorescence revealed a PD-L1 related heterogeneous immunosuppressive microenvironment with little distribution of CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. Savolitinib therapy resulted in a progression-free survival (PFS) of >12 months, until a new secondary resistance mutation in MET p.D1228H was detected by re-biopsy and joint DNA-RNA-based NGS after disease progression. In this case, CD47-MET fusion NSCLC was primarily resistant to immunotherapy, sensitive to savolitinib, and developed secondary MET p.D1228H mutation after targeted treatment. DNA-RNA-based NGS is useful in the detection of such molecular events and tracking of secondary mutations in drug resistance. To this end, DNA-RNA-based NGS may be of better value in guiding precise diagnosis and individualized treatment in this patient population.
Endocytosis at the maternal-fetal interface: balancing nutrient transport and pathogen defense
Authors: Fan Mingming , Wu Hongyu , Sferruzzi-Perri Amanda N. , Wang Yan-Ling , Shao Xuan
Published: June 2024

Endocytosis represents a category of regulated active transport mechanisms. These encompass clathrin-dependent and -independent mechanisms, as well as fluid phase micropinocytosis and macropinocytosis, each demonstrating varying degrees of specificity and capacity. Collectively, these mechanisms facilitate the internalization of cargo into cellular vesicles. Pregnancy is one such physiological state during which endocytosis may play critical roles. A successful pregnancy necessitates ongoing communication between maternal and fetal cells at the maternal-fetal interface to ensure immunologic tolerance for the semi-allogenic fetus whilst providing adequate protection against infection from pathogens, such as viruses and bacteria. It also requires transport of nutrients across the maternal-fetal interface, but restriction of potentially harmful chemicals and drugs to allow fetal development. In this context, trogocytosis, a specific form of endocytosis, plays a crucial role in immunological tolerance and infection prevention. Endocytosis is also thought to play a significant role in nutrient and toxin handling at the maternal-fetal interface, though its mechanisms remain less understood. A comprehensive understanding of endocytosis and its mechanisms not only enhances our knowledge of maternal-fetal interactions but is also essential for identifying the pathogenesis of pregnancy pathologies and providing new avenues for therapeutic intervention.
Knowledge and practices on lymphatic filariasis in patients with filarial morbidity in an endemic area in Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Marcondes Márcia , Brandão Eduardo , Oliveira Paula , Bonfim Cristine , Miranda Tereza , Rodrigues Heloísa , Braga Cynthia , Rocha Abraham
Published: June 2024

Background

Lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a stigmatizing and debilitating disease that represents a significant global public health challenge. Information regarding the knowledge and practices of individuals with filarial morbidities is limited, and this understanding is crucial for the implementation of effective control strategies. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge and practices of individuals with filarial morbidity residing in two intervention areas of the Elimination Program in the city of Olinda, Brazil.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out with residents who reported filarial morbidity in 2010, four years after the start of mass drug administration, in the intervention areas of the LF Elimination Program in the city of Olinda, Brazil. The knowledge and practices of patients with reported filarial morbidity in an endemic area were scrutinized using a semi-structured questionnaire to collect pertinent information. Data were analyzed utilizing the R language version 3.6.1.

Results

Filarial morbidity was reported in 338 patients. Dermatolymphangioadenitis emerged as the most frequently reported clinical form (50.9%). Mosquito bites were the most commonly cited form of transmission, accounting for 296 cases (87.6%). Approximately 80% (266) confirmed the adoption of prevention measures. Participants reported that the treatment involved the administration of medication. The existence of a cure for parasitosis was indicated by 212 subjects (62.7%).

Conclusions

Individuals with reported filarial morbidity exhibit varying levels of conceptions, knowledge, and practices regarding the disease, despite residing in an endemic area and receiving consistent visits from family health teams. Health services must identify shortcomings in this approach to minimize disparities, thereby enabling health education to effectively contribute to disease control and elimination in the municipality.
From green to brown: two decades of darkening coastal water in the Gulf of Riga, the Baltic Sea
Authors: Aigars Juris , Suhareva Natalija , Cepite-Frisfelde Daiga , Kokorite Ilga , Iital Arvo , Skudra Māris , Viska Maija
Published: June 2024

Over the past decades, changes in the light conditions of coastal waters, induced by darkening due to water browning, has been gaining momentum within the scientific community. Although there is a general agreement that the darkening of coastal water is caused by shifts in climatic conditions, the actual links between trends in light attenuation caused by water browning and drivers are still being debated, as causality relationships are often assessed through the use of indirect evidence. In this study, we employed algorithmically processed remote-sensing and modelled data with substantially higher resolution than in-situ data as well as in-situ data. Two decades (1998–2007 and 2008–2018) were compared to test impact of parameters known to be altered by climate change, such as freshwater runoff, mobilisation of soil dissolved organic carbon, and alteration of freshwater-saline water balance in coastal waters, on darkening of coastal waters of the Gulf of Riga, Baltic Sea. The study results indicated that the most likely cause of the observed darkening of coastal waters in the study region was the mildening of winter conditions. At the same time, the study results highlighted the urgent need for detailed, time-sensitive data, since none of the conclusions drawn from the analyses of available data were unequivocal.
RNA N6-methyladenosine methylation in influenza A virus infection
Authors: Liu Xueer , Chen Weiqiang , Li Kangsheng , Sheng Jiangtao
Published: June 2024

Influenza A virus (IAV) is a negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus that causes acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome, posing a serious threat to both animal and human health. N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a prevalent and abundant post-transcriptional methylation of RNA in eukaryotes, plays a crucial regulatory role in IAV infection by altering viral RNA and cellular transcripts to affect viral infection and the host immune response. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying m6A modification and its regulatory function in the context of IAV infection and the host immune response. This will provide a better understanding of virus–host interactions and offer insights into potential anti-IAV strategies.
Effects of nitrogen deposition on the rhizosphere nitrogen-fixing bacterial community structure and assembly mechanisms in Camellia oleifera plantations
Authors: Liu Caixia , He Zhilong , Chen Yongzhong , Xu Yanming , Tang Wei , Chen Longsheng
Published: June 2024

Increased nitrogen deposition is a key feature of global climate change, however, its effects on the structure and assembling mechanisms of the nitrogen-fixing bacteria present at the root surface remain to be elucidated. In this pursuit, we used NH4NO3 to simulate nitrogen deposition in a 10-year-old Camellia oleifera plantation, and set up four deposition treatments, including control N0 (0 kg N hm−2 a−1), low nitrogen N20 (20 kg N hm−2 a−1), medium nitrogen N40 (40 kg N hm−2 a−1) and high nitrogen N160 (160 kg N hm−2 a−1). The results showed that nitrogen deposition affected the soil nitrogen content and the structure of the nitrogen-fixing bacterial community. Low nitrogen deposition was conducive for nitrogen fixation in mature C. oleifera plantation. With increasing nitrogen deposition, the dominant soil nitrogen-fixing bacterial community shifted from Desulfobulbaceae to Bradyrhizobium. When nitrogen deposition was below 160 kg N hm−2 a−1, the soil organic matter content, total nitrogen content, nitrate nitrogen content, ammonium nitrogen content, urease activity, soil pH and nitrate reductase activity influenced the composition of the nitrogen-fixing bacterial community, but the stochastic process remained the dominant factor. The results indicate that the strains of Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium sp. ORS 285 can be used as indicator species for excessive nitrogen deposition.
Relationship between energy balance and reward system gene polymorphisms and appetitive traits in young Mexican subjects
Authors: Rivera-Iñiguez Ingrid , Hunot-Alexander Claudia , Sepúlveda-Villegas Maricruz , Campos-Medina Liliana , Roman Sonia
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Appetitive traits are influenced by the interplay between genetic and environmental factors. This study aimed to explore the relationship between gene polymorphisms involved in the regulation of energy balance and food reward and appetitive traits in young Mexican subjects.

Methods

This cross-sectional study involved 118 university freshman undergraduates who completed the Adult Eating Behaviour Questionnaire for Spanish speakers (AEBQ-Esp) to assess their appetitive traits. A real-time PCR system was employed to determine gene polymorphisms involved in energy balance (LEP rs7799039, MC4R rs17782313, FTO rs9939609, GHRL rs696217), and reward system (DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1A rs1800497 and COMT rs4680).

Results

The mean age of participants was 20.14 ± 3.95 years, 71.2% were women and their mean BMI was 23.52 ± 4.05 kg/m2. COMT Met allele carriers presented a significantly higher “Emotional overeating” mean score than Val allele carriers (2.63 ± 0.70 vs. 2.23 ± 0.70, p = 0.028). The MC4R CC + CT genotype correlated positively with “Emotional overeating” (Phi = 0.308, p = 0.01). The COMT MetMet+MetVal genotype correlated with higher “Emotional overeating” (r = 0.257, p = 0.028; Phi = 0.249, p = 0.033). The protective genotype FTO TT correlated positively with “Emotional undereating” (Phi = 0.298, p = 0.012). Carriers of the risk genotype MC4R CC + CT presented a higher risk of “Emotional overeating” than TT carriers (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 1.3–4.8, p = 0.034). Carriers of the risk genotype COMT MetMet+MetVal (OR = 3.4, 95% CI 1.1–10.3, p = 0.033), were associated with a higher risk of “Emotional overeating” than ValVal carriers. The protective FTO genotype TT was associated with “Emotional undereating” (OR = 1.8, 95% CI 1.1–9.1, p = 0.014).

Discussion

The study found a relationship between the protective genotypes of FTO TT and “Emotional undereating” and risk genotypes of COMT Met/Met+Met/Val and MC4R CC + CT with “Emotional overeating.” These genetic factors may increase weight gain by enhancing hedonic food consumption and reducing satiety control. Future studies should focus on replication studies in ethnically diverse young adults and life stages to explore the relationship between polymorphisms and appetitive traits and weight. This will help tailor personalized nutrigenetic strategies to counteract disordered eating patterns leading to obesity and associated co-morbidities.
Association between triglyceride glucose-body mass index and all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with acute myocardial infarction: retrospective analysis of the MIMIC-IV database
Authors: Luo Chaodi , Li Qian , Wang Zhuoer , Duan Sifan , Ma Qiang
Published: June 2024

Background

Insulin resistance (IR) is closely related to the development of cardiovascular diseases. Triglyceride-glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI) has been proven to be a reliable surrogate of IR, but the relationship between TyG-BMI and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unknown. The present study aims to determine the effects of TyG-BMI on the clinical prognosis of critically ill patients with AMI.

Methods

The data of AMI patients were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. All patients were divided into four groups according to the TyG-BMI quartile. Outcomes were defined as 30-, 90-, 180-, and 365-day all-cause mortality. Kaplan–Meier (K-M) curve was used to compare survival rate between groups. Meanwhile, Cox regression analysis and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to explore the relationship between TyG-BMI index and outcome events.

Results

A total of 1,188 critically ill patients with AMI were included in this study. They were divided into four groups according to TyG-BMI quartiles, there were significant differences in 90-, 180-, and 365-day all-cause mortality while there was no difference in 30-day all-cause mortality. Interestingly, with the increase of TyG-BMI, the 90-, 180-, and 365-day survival rate increased first and then gradually decreased, but the survival rate after decreasing was still higher than that in the group with the lowest TyG-BMI. U-shaped relationships between TyG-BMI index and 90-, 180-, and 365-day all-cause mortality were identified using RCS curve and the inflection point was 311.1, 316.5, and 320.1, respectively, whereas the TyG-BMI index was not non-linearly associated with 30-day all-cause mortality. The results of Cox proportional hazard regression analysis are consistent with those of RCS analysis.

Conclusion

U-shaped relationships are existed between the TyG-BMI index and 90-, 180-, and 365-day all-cause mortality in critically ill patients with AMI, but not 30-day all-cause mortality. The TyG-BMI index can be used as an effective index for early prevention of critically ill patients with AMI.