bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ANTI-INFLATIONARY STATE POLICY ON THE FOOD MARKET
Authors:   Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, DENIKIN A.V. , RAZOV P.V. , KAZAKOVA E.D.
Published: September 2024

The article examines the effectiveness of the state’s anti-inflationary policy in the food market and the opinion of citizens on priorities and problems in this area. The study showed that the measures taken have a certain level of effectiveness, but do not seem sufficient. In addition, citizens are not sufficiently aware of the measures taken by the anti-inflationary policy, and information and educational work in this direction is important. A significant proportion of respondents consider it important to check the reasons for price increases in specific cases.
THE STATE OF CONFLICT MANAGEMENT ENVIRONMENT IN MILITARY COLLECTIVES
Authors:   Military University named after Prince Aleksander Nevsky of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, BAKLANOVSKY S.V.
Published: September 2024

The article examines the state of conflict management environment in military collectives, examines the main causes of conflicts and the influence of various factors on their occurrence and resolution. The study conducted a comparative analysis of leadership styles and their impact on the level of conflict, as well as an assessment of the impact of socio-demographic factors. The methodology included a survey of military personnel and semi-structured interviews with unit commanders. The results showed that personal hostility, cultural differences and leadership style play a key role in the formation of conflict situations. Based on the data obtained, recommendations were developed on conflict management and improvement of the moral and psychological climate in military collectives.
THE STATE AND TRANSFORMATION OF THE STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS OF THE RUSSIAN NATIONAL IDENTITY
Authors:   Institute of Socio-Political Research of the Federal Center of Theoretical and Applied Sociology of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ISPR FCTAS RAS), Moscow, Russian Federation, LIKHANOVA T.YU.
Published: September 2024

The purpose of the study is to identify the structural elements of national identity. To analyze the state of these elements of national identity and their dynamics over the past decades based on sociological data. Conclusions. Such structural elements of national identity as national feeling, interest in nation, people’s knowledge of themselves, national dignity, attitude towards other peoples, the presence of a national idea (ideology), responsibility for the fate of the people and a sense of belonging to their fate, as well as an attitude towards patriotism were highlighted. The data obtained showed that some of the elements demonstrate positive dynamics, in particular, national feeling, interest in the nation, a sense of belonging to their fate, and patriotic sentiments. But some elements cause concern, especially with regard to the younger generation, which demonstrates a lower level of national identity, a greater focus on Western values, and a low level of knowledge of the achievements of national culture and history.
THE CONCEPT OF “THE POLITICAL”: CONTENT, SCOPE, FUNCTIONS
Authors:   Zhirinovsky University of World Civilizations, Moscow, Russian Federation, BELKOV O.A.
Published: September 2024

Politics, state, government, bureaucracy, law, etc. as institutions, war, revolution, elections, lawmaking, etc. as processes, sociological polling, collection, storage, presentation and dissemination of information, digitalization, lobbying, corruption, etc. as technologies are hyponyms, that is, concepts expressing a private essence in relation to another, more general concept - hyperonym. Such a common concept for them is political. And a deep understanding of its meaning and content is the initial condition for their scientific research. Today, society has not developed a socially significant and generally accepted understanding of the political. In modern discourse, it has a fairly broad interpretation, characterized by multivariance and ambiguity. At the same time, its meaning and content are often deliberately and purposefully distorted and distorted. On this basis, they sometimes talk about politics as an extremely contradictory concept. The article presents an experience of operationalization of the concept of “political”. It offers the author’s definition of the political, reveals its originality, its relationship with politics and its role in understanding and describing the sphere of politics. An attempt is made to identify criteria of politicality, to reveal the content, scope and functions of the title concept.
STRATEGIES OF SELF-PRESENTATION OF HEADS OF RUSSIAN REGIONS IN INTERNET SOCIAL NETWORKS: KEY FEATURES, EFFECTIVENESS (ON THE EXAMPLE OF VKONTAKTE PROFILES)
Authors:   St. Petersburg State University (SPbSU), Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, SOLDATENKOV I.V.
Published: September 2024

The social resources of the Web 2.0 era provide political actors with a wide range of opportunities to influence public opinion. At the same time, the new media impose demands that media strategies cannot succeed without. Therefore, political actors are forced to adapt new ways of presenting themselves to others in the course of Internet communication. The purpose of the study is to identify the peculiarities of self-presentation strategies used by the heads of the subjects of the Russian Federation in social media. The research method is deductive content analysis of publications (N = 400) on the walls of personal profiles of S.S. Sobyanin, R.A. Kadyrov, A.S. Nikitin, A.L. Teksler, O.A. Nikolaev, I.I. Kobzev, A.S. Tsydenov, and M.V. Razvozhayev in the VKontakte network. It was found that politicians use a balanced way of presenting themselves, combining the tactics of professionalization, association with citizens, demonstration of interaction with the authorities, and coverage of private life. Self-presentations emphasize the positive effects of professional activity and positive interaction with citizens.
How Criminal Governance Undermines Elections
Authors: Trudeau Jessie
Published: September 2024

How does criminal governance affect elections? Existing accounts explore the consequences of criminal involvement in politics, but have not thoroughly examined how such groups exert their influence. I argue that criminal groups undermine elections through two mechanisms: (1) gatekeeping prevents rival candidates from accessing voters and (2) corralling influences voter choice. I use a natural experiment that leverages exogenous variation in voter assignment to voting booths and a novel dataset on criminal governance to test my theory in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. I show that gatekeeping restricts the candidate pool while corralling yields more votes for the local leading candidate. Together, these mechanisms decrease electoral competition. I illustrate the logic underpinning the mechanisms using qualitative data based on interviews and voter complaints. These findings bring together the literatures on clientelism and criminal governance by demonstrating that criminal groups leverage the power they derive from governing to sway elections.
Analysing Organised Crime in the Context of the Western Balkans Region, with a Research Perspective on the Territory of Albania
Authors: ZAHARIA Juliana
Published: September 2024

Organized crime creates a particularly negative social situation in the Western Balkans, which has a direct impact on the relationships that citizens have with their society. The analysis of several characteristics of organized crime and their consequences on young people, based on a review of the literature, constitutes the main research approach on which the conceptualization of the variables is based. The research follows the methodology of a cross-sectional descriptive study, which explores through scientific means how respondents (n=1,059) perceive organized crime in Albanian society. The collection of data through the structured questionnaire, analysed statistically, highlights the factors conducive to crime and the groups most exposed, as well as the dynamics linked to opposition to criminal acts, which support scientific conclusions to focus on the request for specific intervention.
Poly (A) binding protein 2 is critical for stem cell differentiation during regeneration in the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea
Authors: Mukundan Namita , Hariharan Nivedita , Sasidharan Vidyanand , Lakshmanan Vairavan , Palakodeti Dasaradhi , Jamora Colin
Published: September 2024

Post-transcriptional regulation has emerged as a key mechanism for regulating stem cell renewal and differentiation, which is essential for understanding tissue regeneration and homeostasis. Poly(A)-binding proteins are a family of RNA-binding proteins that play a vital role in post-transcriptional regulation by controlling mRNA stability and protein synthesis. The involvement of poly(A) binding proteins in a wide range of cellular functions is increasingly being investigated. In this study, we used the regenerative model planarian organism Schmidtea mediterranea to demonstrate the critical role of poly(A)-binding protein 2 (PABP2) in regulating neoblast maintenance and differentiation. A deficit in PABP2 blocks the transition of neoblasts toward immediate early progenitors, leading to an enhanced pool of non-committed neoblasts and a decreased progenitor population. This is reflected in variations in the transcriptome profile, providing evidence of downregulation in multiple lineages. Thus, an insufficiency of PABP2 resulted in defective formation and organization of tissue, leading to abnormal regeneration. Our study reveals the essential role of PABP2 in regulating genes that mediate stem cell commitment to early progenitors during tissue regeneration.
Manifestation of relativistic effects in the chemical properties of nihonium and moscovium revealed by gas chromatography studies
Authors: Yakushev A. , Khuyagbaatar J. , Düllmann Ch. E. , Block M. , Cantemir R. A. , Cox D. M. , Dietzel D. , Giacoppo F. , Hrabar Y. , Iliaš M. , Jäger E. , Krier J. , Krupp D. , Kurz N. , Lens L. , Löchner S. , Mokry Ch. , Mošať P. , Pershina V. , Raeder S. , Rudolph D. , Runke J. , Sarmiento L. G. , Schausten B. , Scherer U. , Thörle-Pospiech P. , Trautmann N. , Wegrzecki M. , Wieczorek P.
Published: September 2024

Chemical reactivity of the superheavy elements nihonium (Nh, element 113) and moscovium (Mc, element 115) has been studied by the gas-solid chromatography method using a new combined chromatography and detection setup. The Mc isotope, 288Mc, was produced in the nuclear fusion reaction of 48Ca ions with 243Am targets at the GSI Helmholtzzentrum Darmstadt, Germany. After isolating 288Mc ions in the gas-filled separator TASCA, adsorption of 288Mc and its decay product 284Nh on silicon oxide and gold surfaces was investigated. As a result of this work, the values of the adsorption enthalpy of Nh and Mc on the silicon oxide surface were determined for the first time, −∆HadsSiO2Mc=54−5+11 kJ/mol and −∆HadsSiO2Nh=58−3+8 kJ/mol (68% c.i.). The obtained −ΔHads values are in good agreement with results of advanced relativistic calculations. Both elements, Nh and Mc, were shown to interact more weakly with the silicon oxide surface than their lighter homologues Tl and Bi, respectively. However, Nh and Mc turned out to be more reactive than the neighbouring closed-shell and quasi-closed-shell elements copernicium (Cn, element 112) and flerovium (Fl, element 114), respectively. The established trend is explained by the influence of strong relativistic effects on the valence atomic orbitals of these elements.
Environmental contamination with carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in healthcare settings in Fiji: a potential source of infection
Authors: Baleivanualala Sakiusa C. , Matanitobua Silivia , Samisoni Yvette , Soqo Vika , Smita Shayal , Mailulu Josese , Nabose Ilisapeci , Lata Alvina , Shayam Christina , Sharma Radhika , Wilson Donald , Crump John A. , Ussher James E.
Published: September 2024

Introduction

There are multiple ongoing outbreaks of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAb) infection in Fiji’s hospitals. CRAb is able to colonize and persist on various hospital surfaces for extended periods. We conducted a study to understand the extent of hospital environmental contamination and phylogenetic links with clinical isolates.

Methods

Swabs were collected from high-touch surfaces at Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) September 2021 and December 2022; Lautoka Hospital (LTKH) August 2022; and Labasa Hospital (LBSH) November 2022. All bacterial isolates were identified, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) performed; isolates resistant to carbapenems and producing a carbapenemase underwent whole genome sequencing. Comparison was made to clinical isolates obtained from CWMH in 2016–2017 and 2019–2021 and from LTKH and LBSH from 2020–2021.

Results

From the 180 environmental samples collected, ten (5.6%) CRAb were isolated; no other carbapenem-resistant gram-negative organisms were isolated. Seven (70%) of the CRAb were isolated from CWMH and three (30%) from LTKH; no CRAb were isolated from LBSH. Of the seven CWMH CRAb, two were sequence type 2 (ST2), three ST25, and two ST499. All LTKH isolates were ST499. The two environmental CRAb ST2 isolates were closely genetically linked to isolates obtained from patients in CWMH, LTKH, and LBSH 2020–2021. Similarly, the three environmental CRAb ST25 isolates were closely genetically linked to isolates obtained from patients admitted to CWMH in 2019–2021 and LBSH in 2020. The environmental CRAb ST499 isolates represented two distinct clones, with clone 1 comprising two genetically identical isolates from CWMH and clone 2 the three isolates from LTKH. Although no genetic linkages were observed when comparing environmental ST499 isolates to those from CWMH patients in 2020–2021, both clone 1 isolates were genetically identical to an isolate obtained from a patient admitted during the sampling period.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the contamination of high-touch surfaces within Fiji hospitals with CRAb, suggesting that these may serve as important sources for CRAb. Phylogenetic linkages to CRAb isolated from patients since 2019 underscores the persistence of this resistant pathogen in hospital settings and the ongoing risk for hospital-acquired infections.
Increasing bio-hydrogen production from microbial electrolysis cell using artificial gorilla troops optimization
Authors: Rezk Hegazy , Sayed Enas Taha
Published: September 2024

Background

The target of this paper is to improve the performance of the microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). The performance of MEC including bio-hydrogen production and energy recovery is depending on the values of three controlling parameters including buffer concentration, dilution factor, and applied voltage.

Problem

Therefore, defining the optimal values of three controlling parameters is the challenge of the work.

Methodology

In this paper the artificial gorilla troops optimization has been combined with and ANFIS modelling to increase the bio-hydrogen production from MEC. At first, using measured data, a model is created to simulate the MEC in terms of three controlling parameters. Then, for first time, an artificial gorilla troops optimization (AGTO) has been used to determine the optimal values of buffer concentration, dilution factor, and applied voltage to boost simultaneously bio-hydrogen production and energy recovery of MEC. To demonstrate the superiority of integration between ANFIS modelling and AGTO, the obtained results are compared with RSM methodology, and artificial neural network integrated with particle swarm optimization.

Findings

For hydrogen yield model, the RMSE lowered from 67.5 using RSM to 5.562 using ANFIS (decreased by 91.7%) as compared to RSM. The R-square for prediction rises from 0.94 (using RSM) to 0.99 (using ANFIS) by about 5.32%. For the ANFIS model of energy recovery, the RMSE decreased from 31.7 to 2.83 utilising ANFIS, a decrease of 91%. The R-square for prediction rises from 0.95 (using RSM) to 0.986 (using ANFIS) by about 3.8%. Compared with measured data, the integration between ANFIS and AGTO succeed to increase the hydrogen yield from 576.3 mL/g-VS to 843.32 mL/g-VS. in sum, the total performance of the MEC has been increased by 34.74%, 29.9% and 24.38% respectively compared to measured data, RSM and ANN-PSO.
Device simulation and experimental validation of perovskite-cadmium telluride 4T tandem solar cell
Authors: Menon Harigovind , Yan Feng
Published: September 2024

Developing tandem solar cells is an excellent strategy to break through the Shockley–Queisser (SQ) limit for single-junction solar cells. A major factor in developing a tandem solar cell is to make it cost-efficient with high device performance. Here, we demonstrate the proof of concept of four terminal (4T) tandem solar cell using a perovskite solar cell (PSC) as a wide bandgap (WBG) top cell and narrow bandgap (NBG) cadmium telluride (CdTe) as a bottom cell. A 4T tandem device power conversion efficiency (PCE) exceeding 23% was obtained using SCAPS (solar cell capacitance simulator) simulation, demonstrating the architecture’s feasibility. Further, we fabricated two WBG semitransparent perovskite cells with different bandgaps (1.6eV and 1.77eV) and mechanically stacked it with NBG CdTe (1.5eV) to obtain tandem efficiencies of 18.2% and 19.4% respectively. From the results, we concluded that the PSC with a bandgap of 1.77eV is more suitable to be paired with the NBG CdTe solar cell to get good device performance and effective spectral utilization. The experimental results show promising device performance and pave the way to further improve device performance by engineering the device architecture and interfaces.
Distributed PV carrying capacity prediction and assessment for differentiated scenarios based on CNN-GRU deep learning
Authors: Zhang Liudong , Lei Zhen , Ye Zhigang , Peng Zhiqiang
Published: September 2024

The increasing penetration of distributed photovoltaic (PV) brings challenges to the safe and reliable operation of distribution networks, distributed PV access to the grid changes the characteristics of the traditional distribution grid. Therefore, the assessment of distributed PV carrying capacity is of great significance for distribution network planning. To this end, a differentiated scenario-based distributed PV carrying capacity assessment method based on a combination of Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) and Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) is proposed. Firstly, the meteorological characteristics affecting PV power are quantitatively analyzed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and the influence of external factors on PV power characteristics is assessed by integrating the measured data. Then, for the problem of high blindness of clustering parameters and initial clustering centers in the K-means clustering algorithm, the optimal number of clusters is determined by combining the cluster Density Based Index (DBI) and hierarchical clustering. The improved K-means clustering method reduces the complexity of massive scenarios to obtain distributed PV power under differentiated scenarios. On this basis, a distributed PV power prediction method based on the CNN-GRU model is proposed, which employs the CNN model for feature extraction of high-dimensional data, and then the temporal feature data are optimally trained by the GRU model. Based on the clustering results, the solution efficiency is effectively improved and the accurate prediction of distributed PV power is realized. Finally, taking into account the PV access demand of the distribution network, combined with the power flow calculation of distribution network, the bearing capacity of distribution network considering node voltage in differentiated scenarios is evaluated. In addition, verified by source-grid-load measured data in IEEE 33-bus distribution system. The simulation results show that the proposed CNN-GRU fusion deep learning model can accurately and efficiently assess the distributed PV carrying capacity of the distribution network and provide theoretical guidance for realizing distributed PV access on a large scale.
A semi-quantitative risk model for dairy farms to pinpoint and break source-pathway connections between nutrient sources and open drainage channel sections
Authors: Opoku D. G. , Healy M. G. , Fenton O. , Daly K. , Condon T. , Tuohy P.
Published: September 2024

Introduction

On intensive grassland dairy farms in high rainfall areas with poorly drained soils, networks of open drainage channels linked to in-field drainage systems are needed to enable farm operations. Nitrogen and phosphorus point and diffuse sources may be connected to this open drainage channel network along surface and subsurface pathways, with negative impacts upon delivery to the downstream aquatic system.

Methods

This study developed a semi-quantitative risk assessment model by: (1) selecting parameters (categorical or continuous) representing the nutrient transfer continuum and (2) scoring (relative magnitude and impact) the risk of nutrient source connectivity and delivery for every open drainage channel section across seven dairy farms.

Results and Discussion

A Risk Index Classification System consisting of low, medium, high, or very high-risk class was developed, with high or above requiring a mitigation plan. Results showed that 23%, 68%, 9% and 0% of all open drainage channels on study farms were identified as low, moderate, high and very high-risk, respectively. A range from 2% to 25% per farm of the open drainage channels was classified as high-risk that potentially needed mitigation, although none was identified as very high-risk. Two-thirds of the high-risk open drainage channels were connected to the farmyards, with potential for high nutrient loss from point sources. A combined approach of source management and targeted breaking of the pathway (e.g., in-channel filters, water diversion bars) may help minimise nutrient losses from high risk open drainage channels on poorly draining soils.
The native fish diversity with environmental influencing factors in the Daqing River basin, China
Authors: Zhou Xushen , Li Yanqing , He Jianwu , Hou Yin , Wang Fei
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Investigating and assessing native fish diversity and conducting regional assessments of threats are vital for the conservation of aquatic biodiversity. For this specific study, the Daqing River basin in China was chosen as the research area. Field surveys were carried out between 2018 and 2019, supplemented by a review of pertinent literature and other records.

Methods

To evaluate fish diversity, the following parameters are selected for analysis: Relative abundance (Pi), Frequency of occurrence (Fi), Margalef richness index (D) , Shannon Wiener diversity index (H′) , and Pielou evenness index (J′).Relative abundance levels are categorized as follows: dominant species make up more than 10%, common species account for 1%–10%, and occasional species constitute less than 1%. Canoco 5.0 software was utilized to conduct Redundancy Analysis (RDA) on the fish species composition and environmental factors at 34 sampling sites.

Results

The findings revealed that 85 fish species have been recorded in the basin, consisting of 78 freshwater species categorized into 8 orders, 17 families, and 59 genera, among which Cypriniformes comprised 64% of the total catch. The low proportion of threatened and endemic species was an important feature of the fish diversity of the Daqing River. Despite the theoretical presence of 85 species, field surveys managed to collect only 42 species, of which 33 were confirmed as naturally occurring within the basin. The average values of Margalef richness index, 22 Shannon Wiener diversity index and Pielou evenness index were 1.72, 2.04 and 0.80 respectively, signifying a low fish diversity with relatively uniform distribution across the sampled regions.

Discussion

This study found that the community structure and diversity of fish were closely related to environmental factors, particularly water quality. Among these factors, ammonia nitrogen emerged as a significant determinant of fish diversity. High concentrations of ammonia nitrogen inhibit fish growth, endanger health, and can even lead to death. Additionally, dams and other water infrastructure also impact fish community structure and diversity. This baseline study can provide a basis for the protection and ecological restoration of fish resources in the Daqing River.
Increased neutrophil counts are associated with poor overall survival in patients with colorectal cancer: a five-year retrospective analysis
Authors: Garcia-Flores Libia Alejandra , Dawid De Vera María Teresa , Pilo Jesus , Rego Alejandro , Gomez-Casado Gema , Arranz-Salas Isabel , Hierro Martín Isabel , Alcaide Julia , Torres Esperanza , Ortega-Gomez Almudena , Boughanem Hatim , Macias-Gonzalez Manuel
Published: September 2024

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) continues to be a major health concern in today’s world. Despite conflictive findings, evidence supports systemic inflammation’s impact on CRC patients’ survival rates. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prognostic role of the innate immune system in patients with CRC.

Method

A total of 449 patients were included, with a 5-year follow-up period, and absolute neutrophil counts and their related ratios were measured.

Results

The non-survival group had increased levels of white blood cells, neutrophils (both p<0.001), and monocytes (p=0.038), compared to the survival group, along with other neutrophil-related ratios. We observed increased mortality risk in patients in the highest tertile of white blood cells [HR=1.85 (1.09-3.13), p<0.05], neutrophils [HR=1.78 (95% CI: 1.07-2.96), p<0.05], and monocytes [HR=2.11 (95% CI: 1.22-3.63)], compared to the lowest tertile, after adjusting for all clinicopathological variables. Random forest analysis identified neutrophils as the most crucial variable in predicting survival rates, having an AUC of 0.712, considering all clinicopathological variables. A positive relationship between neutrophil counts and metastasis was observed when neutrophil counts are considered continuous (β=0.92 (0.41), p<0.05) and tumor size (width) when neutrophils were considered as logistic variable (T1 vs T3) [OR=1.42, (95% CI: 1.05-1.98), p<0.05].

Conclusion

This study offers comprehensive insights into the immune factors that impact the prognosis of CRC, emphasizing the need for personalized prognostic tools.
Manganese mineralization constrained by redox conditions in the Cryogenian Nanhua Basin, South China and its implications for nitrogen and carbon cycling
Authors: Wang Ping , Wang Jian , Du Yuansheng , Yu Wenchao , Zhou Qi , Tian Li , Yuan Liangjun , Pan Wen , Wei Wei , Qin Yongjun , Ma Zhixin
Published: September 2024

The Nanhua Basin of South China recorded complete Cryogenian stratigraphic sequence from the Sturtian Glaciation (~717–660 Ma) to the Marinoan Glaciation (~654–635 Ma). The interglacial Datangpo Fm in the Nanhua Basin is divided into two members, and the first member consists of the Mn-carbonate unit and the overlying black shale unit, containing a series of large and superlarge manganese deposits. The metallogenic process of manganese deposits is not clear, and the Mn-carbonates formed through the precursor of Mn-oxide/oxyhydroxide reduction or directly precipitated from an anoxic water column. Moreover, the redox conditions in the deep Nanhua Basin during the precipitation of manganese deposits are also controversial. In this study, the high-resolution nitrogen contents (TN), isotope compositions, carbon isotope compositions of organic and inorganic matter from the first member of the Datangpo Fm are analyzed. The δ15N values of the Mn-carbonate unit (+1.53‰ to +5.26‰, mean +3.36‰) are higher than those of the overlying black shale unit (−3.74‰ to +3.54‰, mean +0.89‰). The Mn contents show a negative relationship with TN but a positive relationship with δ15N in the Mn-carbonate unit, implying that the formation of Mn-carbonates is related to redox variations. The relatively higher δ15N values in the Mn-carbonate unit indicated oxic conditions, and NH4+can be released and partially oxidized during the mineralization of organic matter, resulting in the residual 15N-enriched NH4+ being transferred into clay minerals. Meanwhile, the lower δ15N values in the black shale unit indicated anoxic conditions, which recorded primary N isotope signals. The Mn-carbonate unit is characterized by negative δ13Ccarb values (−11.17‰ to −5.22‰, mean −8.30‰), which show a positive relationship with δ13Corg, but a negative relationship with Mn contents, implying that the negative δ13Ccarb excursions were related to the organic matter degradation during Mn-carbonate formation. The findings of this study indicated that the metallogenesis of manganese deposits in the Cryogenian Nanhua Basin was constrained mainly by the oxic interval in the deep basin. The nitrogen and carbon cycling process can provide new insights into geochemical cycling after the Sturtian Glaciation.
The Vestfold Hills are alive: characterising microbial and environmental dynamics in Old Wallow, eastern Antarctica
Authors: Chelliah Devan S. , Ray Angelique E. , Zhang Eden , Terauds Aleks , Ferrari Belinda C.
Published: September 2024

Old Wallow is an underexplored, hyper-arid coastal desert in Antarctica’s Vestfold Hills. Situated near an elephant seal wallow, we examined how stochastic nutrient inputs from the seal wallow affect soil communities amid environmental changes along a spatially explicit sampling transect. We hypothesized that nutrient levels would be elevated due to proximity to the seal wallow, influencing community distributions. While the soil bacterial and eukaryotic communities at the phylum level were similar to other terrestrial environments, analysis at class and family levels revealed a dominance of unclassified taxa that are often linked to marine environments. Elevated nutrient concentrations (NO3−, SO42−, SO3) were found at Old Wallow, with conductivity and Cl− levels up to 10-fold higher at the lowest elevation soils, correlating with significantly (p < 0.05) higher abundances of halophilic (Halomonadaceace) and uncultivated lineages (Ca Actinomarinales, unclassified Bacillariophyta and unclassified Opisthonkonta). An improved Gradient Forest model was used to quantify microbial responses to 26 soil gradients at OW, revealing variable responses to environmental predictors and identifying critical environmental thresholds or drivers of community turnover. Major tipping points were projected for eukaryotes with SO42−, pH, and SO3, and for bacteria with moisture, Na2O, and Cl−. Thus, the Old Wallow ecosystem is primarily shaped by salt, sulphate, and moisture and is dominated by uncultivated taxa, which may be sensitive to environmental changes once critical tipping points are reached. This study provides critical baseline data for future regional monitoring under threats of environmental change.
Improved quality of life in head and neck cancer patients treated with modern arc radiotherapy techniques – A prospective longitudinal analysis
Authors: Chuang Eva Yu-Hsuan , Hou Pei-Yu , Shueng Pei-Wei , Lo Wu-Chia , Lin Ping-Yi , Lin Shih-Chiang , Wu Po-Hsuan , Jiang Jing-Gu , Chung Chen-Shuan , Hsu Chen-Xiong , Kuo Deng-Yu , Lu Yueh-Feng , Liao Li-Jen , Hsieh Chen-Hsi
Published: September 2024

Purpose

The present longitudinal study aimed to evaluate the potential impact of modern radiotherapy (RT) techniques on quality of life (QOL) in patients with head and neck (HNC) cancer.

Materials and methods

In this single-center prospective study, participants were asked to complete QOL questionnaires that included the EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-H&N 35 and utility score by time trade-off (TTO) at three time points (2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months) after completion of RT. All patients were treated by modern RT techniques [volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) or helical tomotherapy (HT)]. Patients who developed recurrence or died before the 6-month follow-up were excluded. Linear mixed models with random intercepts for participants and restricted maximum likelihood estimates were used to assess the effect of our study variables (age, sex, primary site, cancer stage, treatment, radiation dose and radiation method). Overall changes in QOL, utility scores and symptom burdens at different time points were tested using paired t tests.

Results

A total of 45 patients were recruited from 2022 to 2023. Those who completed the surveys at 2 weeks with at least 1 follow-up (30 patients, 67%) were enrolled in the final analysis. The majority of these 30 patients were men (76.7%), had oral cancer (40%), had stage III or IV disease (60%), received surgical intervention (63%) and were treated with chemoradiation (80%). A curative total dose of 66 to 70 Gy was delivered to 23 (76.7%) patients, half of whom received HT. Patients who received chemotherapy had significantly lower global QoL scales (mean difference, 27.94; 95% CI, 9.33-46.55; p=0.005). Global QOL, physical function, symptoms of sticky saliva, cough, feelings of illness and weight loss improved significantly between 2 weeks and 3 months. There was no significant difference between 3 and 6 months. Interestingly, improvements in social function, social contact, pain and nutrition reached significance at 6 months. Subgroup analysis revealed greater pain relief over time for patients who underwent HT (p=0.030). Moreover, patients who participated in swallowing rehabilitation programs had a greater decrease in nausea and vomiting (p=0.036).

Conclusion

HNC patients treated with modern RT techniques experience improved QOL and physical function over time. The most significant improvement occurs between 2 weeks and 3 months, after which the improvement plateaus. However, social function, social contact, pain and nutrition may require longer recovery intervals after treatment. HT with daily image guidance could provide a therapeutic opportunity for improving pain relief in patients with HNC.
Association of screen exposure/sedentary behavior and precocious puberty/early puberty
Authors: Wu Xinyu , Wang Lingmei , Xue Peng , Tang Jingyi , Wang Haodong , Kong Huijun , Lin Cuilan , Chang Bo , Liu Shijian
Published: September 2024

Background

In recent years, with the development of society, children's daily exposure to screen time has gradually increased. Screen exposure and sedentary behavior have brought a host of harms to children's lives. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of screen exposure and sedentary behavior on precocious puberty and early development.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional study in the school-based population. A total of 3,560 children were recruited from Qufu City, Shandong province using multistage stratified cluster random sampling. All study subjects had a physical examination by professional pediatricians in October 2019, and were investigated with health questionnaires. Precocious puberty is defined as development of secondary sexual signs in boys before 9 years or in girls before 8 years. Screen time was calculated as the average of screen time on weekdays and weekend days, and sedentary time was calculated as the average of sedentary time on weekdays and weekend days. After adjusting for potential confounders, logistic regression was used to examine the association between screen exposure and sedentary behavior and early puberty and precocious puberty.

Results

Sedentary time was a risk factor for precocious puberty and early development (OR = 1.428, 95% CI = 1.087–1.876) in girls without adjustment. No significant association was found between screen exposure and early puberty and early development both in girls and boys.

Conclusions

Excessive sedentary behavior was associated with an increased risk of early puberty, especially in girls, while there was no significant association between screen exposure and early puberty and early development. In addition, further longitudinal investigations are needed to determine the causal relationship between screen exposure, sedentary behavior and precocious puberty.
Comparative efficacy of different exercise modalities on metabolic profiles and liver functions in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a network meta-analysis
Authors: Huang Mingming , Yang Jiafa , Wang Yihao , Wu Jian
Published: September 2024

Objective

Research evidence suggests that exercise is a potent therapeutic strategy for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Many investigations have delved into the curative potential of diverse exercise regimens on NAFLD. This investigation synthesizes findings from randomized controlled trials via a network meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of exercise-based interventions on NAFLD.

Methods

We conducted a search across five electronic databases (Web of Science, EMBASE, PubMed, SCOPUS, and CNKI)to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of different exercise modalities on metabolic profiles and liver functions in patients with NAFLD. The literature search was comprehensive up to 15, December 2023. The selected studies were subjected to a rigorous quality appraisal and risk of bias analysis in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook’s guidelines, version 5.1.0. We employed Stata/MP 17 for the network meta-analysis, presenting effect sizes as standardized mean differences (SMD).

Results

This study aggregated results from 28 studies, involving a total of 1,606 participants. The network meta-analysis revealed that aerobic exercise was the most effective intervention for improving BMI in patients with NAFLD, demonstrating a significant decrease in BMI (−0.72, 95%CI: −0.98 to −0.46; p < 0.05; Surface Under the Cumulative Ranking (SUCRA) = 79.8%). HIIT was the top intervention for enhancing HDL-C (0.12, 95% CI: 0.04 to 0.20; p < 0.05; SUCRA = 76.1%). Resistance exercise was the most effective for reducing LDL-C (−0.20, 95% CI: −0.33 to −0.06; p < 0.05; SUCRA = 69.7%). Mind-body exercise showed superior effectiveness in improving TC (−0.67, 95% CI: −1.10 to −0.24; p < 0.05; SUCRA = 89.7%), TG = −0.67, 95% CI: −1.10 to −0.24; p < 0.05; SUCRA = 99.6%), AST (−8.07, 95% CI: −12.88 to −3.25; p < 0.05; SUCRA = 76.1%), ALT (−12.56, 95% CI: −17.54 to −7.58; p < 0.05; SUCRA = 99.5%), and GGT (−13.77, 95% CI: −22.00 to −5.54; p < 0.05; SUCRA = 81.8%).

Conclusion

This network meta-analysis demonstrates that exercise interventions positively affect various metabolic profiles and liver functions in NAFLD patients. Mind-body exercises are particularly effective, surpassing other exercise forms in improving metabolic profiles and liver functions.

Systematic Review Registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier registration number CRD42024526332.
Comparison of the effects of cold water immersion and percussive massage on the recovery after exhausting eccentric exercise: A three-armed randomized controlled trial
Authors: Heinke Lars , Javanmardi Sasha , Rappelt Ludwig , Konrad Andreas , Schleip Robert , Knicker Axel J. , Freiwald Jürgen , Baumgart Christian
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Athletic training requires both challenging stimuli for adaptation and sufficient recovery for improved performance. While cold water immersion (CWI) is already a popular recovery method, handheld percussive massage (PM) devices have also gained popularity in recent years. This study aims to assess the effects of CWI and PM on performance recovery after strenuous eccentric exercises compared to a passive rest (PR) control condition.

Methods

Thirty-four healthy physically active participants (9 females, 25 males) were randomly divided into three groups: CWI (n = 11), PM (n = 11), and passive rest (PR) (n = 12). They underwent an exhausting eccentric exercise protocol and different measurements at six time points (baseline, POST1, POST2, POST24, POST48, and POST72) over the time course of 72 h. These included subjective assessments of muscle soreness and perceived stiffness as well as measures of skin temperature, leg volume, creatine kinase activity, and three different jump tests. The eccentric exercise protocol consisted of 15 min downhill running (slope: 12%, speed: 10 km/h) and 3 sets of successive depth jumps (dropping height: 0.5 m) until individual exhaustion. After POST1 measurements, participants received 12 min of either CWI (11 ± 0.5°C), PM (40 Hz) or PR (supine posture).

Results

No significant group effects were found for the number of depth jumps performed during the exhaustion protocol. All jump tests displayed a significant group × time interaction effect. Post-hoc analysis indicated significant lower jump heights in ΔPOST2 between CWI and both PM and PR. No other significant group effects were observed at any time point. No significant group × time interaction effects were noted for CK, leg volume, and soreness. The perceived stiffness showed a significant group × time interaction effect. Post-hoc analysis revealed a significant decrease in stiffness for PM compared to PR at ΔPOST2.

Conclusion

Neither CWI nor PM showed any significant improvement in performance recovery over the 72-h period following strenuous eccentric exercise compared to PR. CWI showed an immediate performance decline which may be attributed to a cold-related reduction in motor nerve conduction velocity.
Air pollutants and ovarian reserve: a systematic review of the evidence
Authors: Zupo Roberta , Castellana Fabio , Nawrot Tim S. , Lampignano Luisa , Bortone Ilaria , Murgia Ferdinando , Campobasso Gianluca , Gruszecka Kosowska Agnieskza , Giannico Orazio Valerio , Sardone Rodolfo
Published: September 2024

Background

Growing evidence indicates an association between ambient air pollution and decreased human reproductive potential. This study aims to systematically review the association between air pollutants and female ovarian reserve.

Methods

The literature was searched in six electronic databases through June 2024. Screening the 136 articles retrieved for inclusion criteria resulted in the selection of 15 human observational studies that evaluated the effect of environmental pollutants on ovarian reserve markers. The study protocol was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO, registration code: CRD42023474218).

Results

The study design of the selected studies was found to be cross-sectional (2 of 15), retrospective cohort (10 of 15), prospective cohort (2 of 15), and case–control (1 of 15). The study population was distributed as follows: Asians (53%, eight studies), Americans (33%, five studies), and Europeans (14%, two studies). The main findings showed a higher body of evidence for the environmental pollutants PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, while a low body of evidence for PM1, O3, SO2, and a very low body of evidence for benzene, formaldehyde, and benzo(a)pyrene, yet consistently showing significant inverse association data. The overall methodological quality of the selected studies was rated moderated across the 14 domains of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) toolkit.

Conclusion

The data suggest that increased exposure to air pollutants seems to be associated with reduced ovarian reserve, with the most substantial evidence for pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, and NO2. However, more evidence is needed to draw conclusions about causality.
Towards enhanced creativity in fashion: integrating generative models with hybrid intelligence
Authors: Ryjov Alexander , Kazaryan Vagan , Golub Andrey , Egorova Alina
Published: September 2024

Introduction

This study explores the role and potential of large language models (LLMs) and generative intelligence in the fashion industry. These technologies are reshaping traditional methods of design, production, and retail, leading to innovation, product personalization, and enhanced customer interaction.

Methods

Our research analyzes the current applications and limitations of LLMs in fashion, identifying challenges such as the need for better spatial understanding and design detail processing. We propose a hybrid intelligence approach to address these issues.

Results

We find that while LLMs offer significant potential, their integration into fashion workflows requires improvements in understanding spatial parameters and creating tools for iterative design.

Discussion

Future research should focus on overcoming these limitations and developing hybrid intelligence solutions to maximize the potential of LLMs in the fashion industry.
Fermented plant-based beverage supplemented with uvaia (Eugenia pyriformis) pulp: an innovative and pioneering approach to diversify plant-based diet product market
Authors: Santana de Oliveira Thaísa , Sant’Anna Roblessa , Arend Giordana Demaman , Sorita Guilherme Dallarmi , Camelo-Silva Callebe , Hoff Rodrigo Barcellos , Verruck Silvani
Published: September 2024

Over the years, there has been an increase in demand for plant-based foods as alternatives. In line with this, this work explores the production and in vitro digestion of a fermented plant-based beverage (FPBB) produced with pea and rice proteins and 0% (FPBB-C), 5% (FPBB-5), and 10% (FPBB-10) uvaia pulp through lactic fermentation with Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus GG. The in vitro gastrointestinal digestion process was conducted to assess the bioaccessibility of L. rhamnosus GG, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity before and after simulating the gastrointestinal conditions. After 48 h of digestion, highly viable L. rhamnosus GG cells remained throughout the gastrointestinal system. FPBB-C (106.89%) and FPBB-5 (109.38%) exhibited higher survival rates than FPBB-10 (102.20%), indicating that these beverages have a higher prebiotic action potential. Compared with the non-digested samples, after 48 h of digestion, all samples exhibited a significant increase in TPC. The same behavior occurs for the antioxidant activity of FPBB-C, FPBB-5, and FPBB-10 by DPPH (4.06, 3.96, and 8.44 mg TEAC mL−1), ABTS (10.28, 11.06, 11.97 mg TEAC mL−1), and FRAP method (917.02, 863.87, and 1983.23 mg TEAC mL−1). Thirteen compounds were identified and quantified in uvaia pulp by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS, particularly epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin-3-rhamnose, and quercetin-3-glucoside. Isorhamnetin was the main phenolic compound detected in the colon, assumably due to the conversion of quercetin-3-glucoside by the probiotic cells. In conclusion, as all counts were above 9 log CFU g−1, the FPBB formulations containing pea, rice protein, and uvaia pulp become a promising vehicle for carrying L. rhamnosus GG.
Ultrasound-assisted optimized extraction and analysis of polysaccharides of Tricholoma matsutake
Authors: Xu Cheng-Jian , Yi Yu-Wen , Liu Yang , Zhou Yu , Lin Dan , Zhu Zhong-Yan , Zhu Nan , Xiao Hang
Published: September 2024

The ultrasound-assisted extraction technique was used for extracting polysaccharides of Tricholoma matsutake (PTM) in this work. The effects of different parameters, i.e., solid-to-liquid ratio, ultrasonic power, extraction time, and extraction temperature on the PTM yield were optimized using a rotatable, orthogonal central composite design. In the derived optimal conditions, the PTM yield was 16.97 ± 0.06%, which corresponded well with the regression model predicted value of 16.85%. The extracted PTM was purified, and the structural characteristics and antioxidant activities were investigated. The PTM was found to be composed mainly of fructose, mannose, glucose, and galactose with a molar molecular ratio of 1:2.25:9.35:5, and an average molecular weight of 90,100 Da. High antioxidant effects of PTM were seen in the tests of DPPH, hydroxyl, and ABTS radical scavenging, along with a moderate superoxide radical scavenging rate.