bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
SlPP2C2 interacts with FZY/SAUR and regulates tomato development via signaling crosstalk of ABA and auxin
Authors: Li Qian , Wang Juan , Yin Zhaonan , Pan Yingfang , Mao Wei , Peng Liangyu , Guo Xinyue , Li Bao , Leng Ping
Published: May 2024

Abscisic acid (ABA) signaling interacts frequently with auxin signaling when it regulates plant development, affecting multiple physiological processes; however, to the best of our knowledge, their interaction during tomato development has not yet been reported. Here, we found that type 2C protein phosphatase (SlPP2C2) interacts with both flavin monooxygenase FZY, an indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA) biosynthetic enzyme, and small auxin upregulated RNA (SAUR) of an IAA signaling protein and regulates their activity, thereby affecting the expression of IAA‐responsive genes. The expression level of SlPP2C2 was increased by exogenous ABA, IAA, NaCl, or dehydration treatment of fruits, leaves, and seeds, and it decreased in imbibed seeds. Manipulating SlPP2C2 with overexpression, RNA interference, and CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated genome editing resulted in pleiotropic changes, such as morphological changes in leaves, stem trichomes, floral organs and fruits, accompanied by alterations in IAA and ABA levels. Furthermore, the RNA‐seq analysis indicated that SlPP2C2 regulates the expression of auxin‐/IAA‐responsive genes in different tissues of tomato. The results demonstrate that SlPP2C2‐mediated ABA signaling regulates the development of both vegetative and reproductive organs via interaction with FZY/SAUR, which integrates the cross‐talk of ABA and auxin signals during development and affects the expressions of development‐related genes in tomato.
The subjunctive alternation in Indian English
Authors: Schmidt Karola
Published: May 2024

The study at hand is an exploration of the alternation between the mandative subjunctive and its equivalent modal construction with the verb should in Indian English. The study complements the growing body of research on the morphosyntax of the variety and it enhances our understanding of the relatively under‐researched alternation. It adds a special focus on the short‐term diachronic development of the subjunctive alternation in Indian English by using data from the South Asian Varieties of English corpus and its 2020 update. The following research questions are being investigated in the paper: Which factors influence the alternation between subjunctive and should in Indian English; are there short‐term diachronic adjustments to the subjunctive paradigm? A multifactorial model was fitted on 508 extracted data points with the following predictors: lexical diversity, newspaper, word count, distance, gender, linking word, negation, subject number, subject person, time and trigger lemma. The results show minor diachronic adjustments and highlight well‐known predictors of the alternation like voice as important factors.
Energetics of a World-Tour Female Road Cyclist During a Multistage Race (Tour de France Femmes)
Authors: Areta Jose L. , Meehan Emily , Howe Georgie , Redman Leanne M.
Published: May 2024

Despite the increased popularity of female elite road cycling, research to inform the fueling requirements of these endurance athletes is lacking. In this case study, we report for the first time the energetics of a female world-tour cyclist competing in the 2023 Tour de France Femmes, an 8-day race of the Union Cycliste Internationale. The 29-year-old athlete presented with oligomenorrhea and low T3 before the race. Total daily energy expenditure assessed with the doubly labeled water technique was 7,572 kcal/day (∼4.3 physical activity levels), among the highest reported in the literature to date for a female. Crank-based mean maximal power was consistent with female world-tour cyclists (5 min, mean 342 W, 4.8 W/kg; 20 min 289 W, 4.1 W/kg). The average daily energy intake measured with the remote food photography method (Stage Days 1–7) was 5,246 kcal and carbohydrate intake was 13.7 g/kg (range 9.7–15.9 g/kg), and 84 g/hr during stages, and an average fat intake of 15% of daily energy intake. An estimated 2,326 kcal/day energy deficit was evidenced in a 2.2 kg decrease in body mass. Notwithstanding the high carbohydrate intake, the athlete was unable to match the energy requirements of the competition. Despite signs of energy deficiency preexisting (oligomenorrhea and low T3), and other further developing during the race (weight loss), performance was in line with that of other world-tour cyclists and a best personal performance was recorded for the last stage. This case study emphasizes the need for further research to inform energy requirements for female athletes’ optimal performance and health.
Playing in Front of the Bench: Courtside Selection and Its Impact on Team Performance
Authors: Spilker Finn , Deutscher Christian
Published: May 2024

This paper analyzes the strategic decision of basket choice in the National Basketball Association. Before games start, the away team chooses whether to play on offense in front of their bench in the first or second half. Based on eight regular seasons and 9,308 games, we identify the standard strategy for away teams to play on offense at their own benches in the first half. Results indicate that both home and away teams score more points when they play on offense in front of their bench. More importantly, there is a strategic advantage for the away team to play with the offense in front of the bench in the second half, deviating from the standard strategy in the league. Finally, we demonstrate that the choice of the basket for the away team can partially offset the home advantage under normal spectator conditions and entirely nullify it in ghost games.
Wogonin Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Proliferation and Epithelial Mesenchymal Transformation by Suppressing Phosphorylation in the AKT Pathway
Authors: Liu Yujing , Lu Lu , Cheng Peiqiu , Zhang Shengan , Xu Yangxian , Hu Dan , Ji Guang , Xu Hanchen
Published: May 2024

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Hence, there is a need to identify new therapeutic agents to improve the current repertoire of therapeutic drugs. Wogonin, a flavonoid from the herbal medicine Scutellaria baicalensis, has unique antitumor activity. Our study aimed to further explore the inhibitory effects of wogonin on colorectal cancer and its specific mechanism. The results showed that wogonin significantly inhibited the proliferation of colorectal cancer cells as well as their ability to invade and metastasize. We detected phosphorylation of tumor-associated signaling pathways using a phosphorylated protein microarray and found that wogonin intervention significantly inhibited the phosphorylation level of the AKT protein in colorectal cancer cells. Through in vitro and in vivo experiments, it was confirmed that wogonin exerted its antitumor effects against colorectal cancer by inhibiting phosphorylation in the AKT pathway. Our discovery of wogonin as an inhibitor of AKT phosphorylation provides new opportunities for the pharmacological treatment of colorectal cancer.
Analysis and Synchronization of the Chen System with Fractional Derivative
Authors: Yin Chuntao , Zhao Yufei , Li Xianghong , Shen Yongjun
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we study the dynamic behaviors and chaos synchronization of the Chen system described by Caputo–Hadamard fractional derivative. First, the existence and uniqueness of a solution to the Chen system with Caputo–Hadamard derivative are proved by qualitative analysis. Further, the stability of equilibria of the considered system is analyzed with the aid of Routh–Hurwitz criteria. Meanwhile, the bifurcation condition of the Caputo–Hadamard Chen system is compared with the integer-order Chen system, where the differences between the two systems are demonstrated numerically. In the study of chaos synchronization of the drive–response Chen systems with Caputo–Hadamard derivative, two control schemes are developed: three nonlinear controllers and single linear controller. The feasibility of two control schemes is verified, and the synchronization performances of these two schemes are compared by numerical simulations. Based on this, the influence of the fractional-order on chaos synchronization performance is illustrated as well.
Canard Cycles and Their Cyclicity of a Fast–Slow Leslie–Gower Predator–Prey Model with Allee Effect
Authors: Shi Tianyu , Wen Zhenshu
Published: May 2024

We study canard cycles and their cyclicity of a fast–slow Leslie–Gower predator–prey system with Allee effect. More specifically, we find necessary and sufficient conditions of the exact number (zero, one or two) of positive equilibria of the slow–fast system and its location (or their locations), and then we further completely determine its (or their) dynamics under explicit conditions. Besides, by geometric singular perturbation theory and the slow–fast normal form, we find explicit sufficient conditions to characterize singular Hopf bifurcation and canard explosion of the system. Additionally, the cyclicity of canard cycles is completely solved, and of particular interest is that we show the existence and uniqueness of a canard cycle, whose cyclicity is at most two, under corresponding precise explicit conditions.
Taiwan’s Contested Survival in an Era of Shrinking Globalization
Authors: DITTMER LOWELL
Published: May 2024

Hitherto renowned for its economic and political development, Taiwan has lately come under a harsher spotlight as a possible victim of invasion based on an analogy to Ukraine. Yet, Taiwan is also challenged by a slew of other problems too long neglected. These environmental, industrial, agricultural, demographic, trade, and economic security problems altogether form a “polycrisis” that makes it difficult to solve one set of problems without aggravating the others, and the democratic electoral process has unfortunately so far been unable to table a comprehensive “polysolution.”
FEMALE IN MANAGER-OWNER TEAMS: DRIVERS OF INNOVATION AND FIRM PERFORMANCE IN MENA MARKETS
Authors: SDIRI H.
Published: May 2024

This study examines the relationship between women in pivotal organisational roles, innovation, and firm performance in the MENA region. It employs data from the World Bank Enterprise Survey (WBES) across six MENA countries to explore how female leadership, combined with managerial experience (ME), impacts innovation and firm performance. We employ the two-stage least square instrumental variable (2SLS-IV) regression method, which addresses potential biases caused by endogeneity and allows us to discern genuine causal relationships better. Our results indicate a positive influence of female leadership on innovation, although this effect diminishes with more excellent ME. Innovation remains a critical factor for firm performance in the MENA region. This research illuminates the multifaceted role of women in organisational leadership, underscoring their impact on innovation and firm performance, with implications for policymakers and business leaders globally.
REPUTATION AND TRUST OF PRINCIPALS AND AGENTS IN INTERORGANISATIONAL RELATIONS — THE CASE OF INTERDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH COOPERATION
Authors: JOHN MICHAEL , KLOYER MARTIN , FLEßA STEFFEN
Published: May 2024

Trust is the most important prerequisite for the emergence and effectiveness of interorganisational innovation cooperation, due to uncertainty and contract incompleteness. Nevertheless, little attention has been paid to the question of whether the trust of principals in a cooperation depends on different preconditions than that of agents. Based on a sample of 364 scientists from 100 German publicly funded interdisciplinary cooperations in medical research, we find that the trust of principals mainly depends on their partners’ reputation of ability, whereas the trust of agents on their partners’ reputation of benevolence. Surprisingly, culture- and personality-related factors prove to be ineffective. These results are of major relevance for the trust generation in innovation cooperation.
PUF-based Digital Money with Propagation-of-Provenance and Offline Transfers between Two Parties
Authors: Bean Benjamin , Minwalla Cyrus , Tsiropoulou Eirini Eleni , Plusquellic Jim
Published: May 2024

Building on prior concepts of electronic money (eCash), we introduce a digital currency where a physical unclonable function (PUF) engenders devices with the twin properties of being verifiably enrolled as a member of a legitimate set of eCash devices and of possessing a hardware-based root-of-trust. A hardware-obfuscated secure enclave (HOSE) is proposed as a means of enabling a PUF-based propagation-of-provenance (POP) mechanism, which allows eCash tokens (
eCt
) to be securely signed and validated by recipients without incurring any third-party dependencies at transfer time. The POP scheme establishes a chain of custody starting with token creation, extending through multiple bilateral in-field transactions, and culminating in redemption at the token-issuing authority. A lightweight mutual-zero-trust (MZT) authentication protocol establishes a secure channel between any two fielded devices. The POP and MZT protocols, in combination with the HOSE, enable transitivity and anonymity of
eCt
transfers between online and offline devices.
Dynamic Cluster Head Selection in WSN
Authors: Hada Rupendra Pratap Singh , Srivastava Abhishek
Published: May 2024

A Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) comprises an ad-hoc network of nodes laden with sensors that are used to monitor a region mostly in the outdoors and often not easily accessible. Despite exceptions, several deployments of WSN continue to grapple with the limitation of finite energy derived through batteries. Thus, it is imperative that the energy of a WSN be conserved and its life prolonged. An important direction of work to this end is towards the transmission of data between nodes in a manner that minimum energy is expended. One approach to doing this is cluster-based routing, wherein nodes in a WSN are organised into clusters, and transmission of data from the node is through a representative node called a cluster-head. Forming optimal clusters and choosing an optimal cluster-head is an NP-Hard problem. Significant work is done towards devising mechanisms to form clusters and choosing cluster heads to reduce the transmission overhead to a minimum. In this article, an approach is proposed to create clusters and identify cluster heads that are near optimal. The approach involves two-stage clustering, with the clustering algorithm for each stage chosen through an exhaustive search. Furthermore, unlike existing approaches that choose a cluster-head on the basis of the residual energy of nodes, the proposed approach utilises three factors in addition to the residual energy, namely the distance of a node from the cluster centroid, the distance of a node from the final destination (base-station), and the connectivity of the node. The approach is shown to be effective and economical through extensive validation via simulations and through a real-world prototypical implementation.
On the Comparative Analysis among Topological Indices for Rhombus Silicate and Oxide Structures
Authors: Sattar Aqsa , Javaid Muhammad , Abebe Ashebo Mamo
Published: May 2024

A topological index (TI) is a numeric digit that signalizes the whole chemical structure of a molecular network. TIs are helpful in predicting the bioactivity of molecular substances in investigations of quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) and quantitative structure-property relationship (QSPR). TIs correlate various chemical and physical attributes of chemical substances such as melting and freezing point, strain energy, stability, temperature, volume, density, and pressure. There are several distance-based descriptors available in the literature, but connection-based TIs are considered more effective than degree-based TIs in measuring the chemical characteristics of molecular compounds. The present study focuses on computing the connection-based TIs for the most significant type of chemical structures, namely, rhombus silicate and rhombus oxide networks. At the end, we compare these structures on the basis of their computed result.
Stub Asymmetry-Enabled Self-Phase-Shift Circularly Polarized Antenna under Dual-Mode Resonance
Authors: Gu Shan-Shan , Lu Wen-Jun , Ji Fei-Yan , Zhu Lei
Published: May 2024

In this article, a novel design approach to wideband dual-mode resonant circularly polarized (CP) antenna is advanced. An analytical design approach with low complexity as supported by a set of closed-form formulas is presented. Thus, the wideband dual-mode CP characteristics can be forward predicted and simply realized by incorporating stub asymmetry-enabled self-phase-shift dipoles and unequal feeding branches. At first, stubs are employed to broaden the impedance bandwidth by simultaneously exciting dual resonant modes. Then, the phase quadrature and equal magnitude conditions for wideband CP can be automatically realized by incorporating unequal Y-shaped microstrip branches and asymmetric slotline stubs. Finally, the coincidence between the simulated and measured results of the fabricated prototype antenna further confirms the feasibility of the design approach. It is shown that the presented antenna can exhibit an impedance bandwidth of 20.1% and a 3 dB axial ratio bandwidth of 16.3% in the boresight direction.
Postoperative Hemoglobin Drop and the Associated Factors among Elective Orthopedic Surgeries in Northern Tanzania
Authors: Ashir Abdel , Maya Elifuraha G. , Saiyed Shahnoor Ruhulamin , Alimohamed Taher Muslim , Jusabani Mubashir Alavi , Abdel Kulthum A. , Sadiq Abid M. , Ali Ali Mohamed , Mandari Faiton Ndesanjo
Published: May 2024

Background. Having an estimated level of Hb drop in different orthopedic surgeries would help plan for surgery from pre- to postoperative periods. The aim of this study was to assess the Hb drop and the associated factors during the intraoperative period among elective orthopedic surgeries. Methods. This was an analytic cross-sectional study conducted between October 2022 and March 2023, which included all patients admitted for elective orthopedic surgery who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected before and after the patient was operated on. Information was analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA to establish the statistical significance of the Hb drop. Results. A total of 195 participants were enrolled. The majority of the participants were male (62.1%), with the main etiology of symptoms being motor traffic accidents (31.8%). The most affected site was the femur (36.4%), followed by the spine (23.6%). The highest mean Hb drop was in total hip replacement surgeries (4.19 g/dL), with the overall mean Hb drop being 2.75 g/dL. A statistically significant difference was identified in diathermy use, duration of surgery, and patients with chronic illnesses. Conclusion. With a mean Hb drop of 2.75 g/dL, the application of diathermy and surgeries with shorter durations resulted in a reduced Hb drop. These factors should be incorporated to minimize the drop in Hb in orthopedic surgeries. Accounting for differences in surgeries, there should not be delays in patients who have a preoperative Hb level that can sustain the mean Hb drop recorded in the study.
Prevalence and Residual Risk of HIV in Volunteer Blood Donors of Zhejiang Province, China, from 2018 to 2022
Authors: Zhu Hong , Ding Wei , Han Wenjuan , Zheng Xiaofan , Hu Yiqing , Dong Jie , Wu Yaling , Wu Danxiao , Liu Jinhui , Zhu Faming
Published: May 2024

Background. Blood safety levels have been significantly improved since the implementation of nucleic acid amplification technology (NAT) testing for blood donors. However, there remains a residual risk of transfusion transmission infections. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of HIV and its residual risk transmission among volunteer blood donors of Zhejiang Province, China, for five years after NAT implementation. Materials and Methods. All specimens and information were collected from voluntary unpaid donors at all blood services in Zhejiang Province, China, from January 2018 to December 2022. The HIV antibody or antigen and HIV RNA were detected using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and NAT, respectively. The HIV residual risk transmission was calculated using the incidence or window period model. Results. A total of 3,375,678 voluntary blood donors were detected, revealing an HIV prevalence of 9.92/100000. The HIV prevalence of blood donors in 12 blood services in Zhejiang Province was 6.11, 6.98, 7.45, 8.21, 8.36, 8.94, 9.04, 9.66, 9.73, 10.22, 11.80, and 12.47 per 100000 donors, without statistically significant difference observed among the services (p>0.05). The HIV prevalence of males (15.49/100000) was significantly higher compared to females (1.95/100000; p<0.05). There was an insignificant difference in HIV prevalence among blood donors of all different age groups (p>0.05), but the HIV prevalence in the 26–35 age group and 18–25 age group was significantly higher compared to the 36–45 age group (p<0.05). The difference in HIV prevalence between first-time blood donors (13.65/100,000) and repeat blood donors (6.78/100,000) was statistically significant (p<0.05). From 2018 to 2022, the HIV residual risk in blood transfusion transmission was 0.266/100000. Conclusion. The prevalence of HIV among blood donors in Zhejiang Province, China, is associated with age, gender, and times of blood donation. The HIV residual risk in blood transfusion transmission remains low in the province, and increasing the rate of repeat blood donors is beneficial to improve blood safety.
Farmers’ Adoption, Knowledge, and Perceptions of Tick Control Measures on Dairy Farms in Subtropical Areas of Continental Ecuador
Authors: Paucar-Quishpe Valeria , Pérez-Otáñez Ximena , Rodríguez-Hidalgo Richar , Pérez-Escalante Cecilia , Cepeda-Bastidas Darío , Grijalva Jorge , Enríquez Sandra , Arciniegas-Ortega Susana , Vanwambeke Sophie O. , Ron-Garrido Lenin , Saegerman Claude
Published: May 2024

The application of tick control strategies on tropical dairy cattle strongly relies on farmers’ uptake, knowledge, and perceptions of the efficacy of control measures. This study aims to identify common and uncommon tick control practices employed by dairy farmers in subtropical areas of Ecuador and associate them with the presence of infestation and acaricide resistance. Data were collected through a cross‐sectional survey and participatory meetings. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to explore the association between management variables and the level of tick infestation and resistance. It was determined that the main method of acaricide control is still chemical, mainly using spray baths. Generally, when this form of application is used, acaricides are overdosed, in contrast to the pour‐on method with underdosage. Among the measures farmers adopt when chemical treatment has failed is to use overdoses of products, mix different acaricides, and use focused treatments (wipe cloth) with irritant substances. The absence of a high level of infestation was related to acaricide dips every 3–4 weeks and the use of intensive grazing. On the other hand, the high infestation was related to the use of organophosphates, wipe cloth application, and the report of tick‐borne diseases (TBDs). A small group of farmers have good knowledge and seek alternatives to chemical control, experimenting with biological controls, herbal extracts, manual tick removal, and paddock control. Additionally, farmers reported the presence of TBDs (47%) and the presence of animals poisoned by acaricides (6%), which died in 75% of those cases. Farmers frequently mentioned that tick infestation induces milk drop production and weight loss and is associated with the presence of TBDs. This information is crucial to improve tick control management in Ecuador, particularly through implementing practices that mitigate resistance to acaricides and ensure long‐term solutions that help maintain the efficacy of tick control treatments.
Cholestasis Linked to Bodybuilding Supplements: Exploring the Risks of Contamination
Authors: Matusak Mark , Aljabban Jihad , Wirtz Mark , Agni Rashmi , Spengler Erin
Published: May 2024

Drug-induced liver injury resulting from herbal and dietary supplement use is increasingly common and underrecognized. We report a case of a 34-year-old male recreational bodybuilder who presented with muscle cramping, fatigue, and diffuse itching in the setting of bodybuilding supplement use. Labs showed cholestatic liver injury, and liver biopsy revealed bland cholestasis and sinusoidal dilation. He was diagnosed with anabolic-androgenic steroid-induced liver injury. He was symptomatically managed with plasmapheresis for debilitating pruritus. This case highlights drug-induced liver injury as a complication of bodybuilding supplement use containing unlabeled anabolic-androgenic steroids. Sports medicine providers should inquire on herbal and dietary supplement use and be aware of potential contaminants.
Affinity Coefficient for Clustering Autoregressive Moving Average Models
Authors: Nascimento Ana Paula , Oliveira Alexandra , Faria Brígida Mónica , Pimenta Rui , Vieira Mónica , Prudêncio Cristina , Bacelar-Nicolau Helena
Published: May 2024

In various fields, such as economics, finance, bioinformatics, geology, and medicine, namely, in the cases of electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, and biotechnology, cluster analysis of time series is necessary. The first step in cluster applications is to establish a similarity/dissimilarity coefficient between time series. This article introduces an extension of the affinity coefficient for the autoregressive expansions of the invertible autoregressive moving average models to measure their similarity between them. An application of the affinity coefficient between time series was developed and implemented in R. Cluster analysis is performed with the corresponding distance for the estimated simulated autoregressive moving average of order one. The primary findings indicate that processes with similar forecast functions are grouped (in the same cluster) as expected concerning the affinity coefficient. It was also possible to conclude that this affinity coefficient is very sensitive to the behavior changes of the forecast functions: processes with small different forecast functions appear to be well separated in different clusters. Moreover, if the two processes have at least an infinite number of π- weights with a symmetric signal, the affinity value is also symmetric.
A Developed Tunnel Ventilation System Modeling for an Intelligent Transportation System
Authors: Beiza Jamal
Published: May 2024

This paper presents a Laplace transform model for an urban tunnel ventilation system. This model allows one to witness higher performance for supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) in terms of monitoring and control of an urban area tunnel based on measurement systems. This proposed model illustrates the ventilation control system framework as well as the emergency response system for urban area tunnels such that smoother controllability and higher security in the operation of tunnels can be envisioned. The salient contributions of this work can be stated as a novel method for modeling tunnel ventilation systems and the implementation of an emergency response plan for a futuristic intelligent transportation system. The simulation results exhibit that the proposed model outperforms the ventilation system in the high‐density traffic jams and further the efficient operation of the tunnel. Likewise, comparison results and experimental results are addressed to emphasize the validation of this method and to be helpful in proving the reliability of the results obtained in this study. These results show that the ventilation control system reaches the desired CO value either in high‐traffic volume conditions or in normal traffic conditions.
Geometric Classifications of Perfect Fluid Space-Time Admit Conformal Ricci-Bourguignon Solitons
Authors: Alhouiti Noura , Roy Soumendu , Dey Santu , Mofarreh Fatemah , Ali Akram , Li Yanlin
Published: May 2024

This paper is dedicated to the study of the geometric composition of a perfect fluid space-time with a conformal Ricci-Bourguignon soliton, which is the extended version of the soliton to the Ricci-Bourguignon flow. Here, we have delineated the conditions for conformal Ricci-Bourguignon soliton to be expanding, steady, or shrinking. We have studied certain curvature conditions on the spacetime that admit conformal Ricci-Bourguignon soliton. We have also discussed conformal Ricci-Bourguignon soliton on some special types of perfect fluid spacetime such as dust fluid, dark fluid, and radiation era.
Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper as Heterogeneous Catalyst for Generation of Biodiesel from a Mixture of Multiple Oil Feedstocks
Authors: Brahma Sujata , Basumatary Bidangshri , Mushahary Bikash Chandra , Basumatary Siri Fung , Das Bipul , Selvaraj Manickam , Basumatary Sanjay
Published: May 2024

A cost‐effective catalyst is essential to reduce the expenses of producing biodiesel. This study is aimed at utilizing the waste of the black gram (Vigna mungo (L.) Hepper) plant as an efficient catalyst for producing biodiesel from a blend of different edible and inedible oils. The catalyst was developed by igniting the dried material and then subjecting it to calcination at 550°C for 2 h. The feedstock was prepared by mixing the oils in an equivalent ratio for the reaction. Various sophisticated techniques such as XRD, FT‐IR, XPS, BET, FESEM‐EDX, HRTEM, and SAED were employed to characterize the prepared catalyst. The catalyst’s catalytic activity was assessed by transesterification of the oil mixture. The optimized transesterification conditions were 10 wt% of catalyst loading, 9 : 1 of MTOR, 65°C of reaction temperature, and 1.6 ± 0.14 h of reaction time producing 94.79 ± 0.27% of biodiesel yield and 96.86% oil conversion. The calcined catalyst’s alkaline solubility was found to be 2.77 mmol/g, basicity as 0.13 mmol/g, and 14.57 per hour as the turnover frequency (TOF). Catalyst reusability was conducted and found that the catalyst could be reprocessed up to three successive cycles. The synthesized biodiesel’s physicochemical characteristics were assessed and found to conform to ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 requirements.
How to Optimize Deimplementation of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy?
Authors: Dragvoll Ida , Bofin Anna M. , Søiland Håvard , Engstrøm Monica Jernberg
Published: May 2024

Background. The omission of sentinel lymph node biopsy in low-risk elderly breast cancer patients has been introduced in several guidelines. Despite evidence to support its safety, this recommendation has not been implemented by many clinicians. We have examined two aspects of this recommendation that may explain why sentinel lymph node biopsy continues to be performed in most of these patients. Firstly, we quantified the proportion of patients diagnosed with axillary metastases postoperatively. Secondly, we examined adherence to antihormonal therapy in the same group of patients. Methods. In this single-centre retrospective cohort study, the study population comprised 98 patients with breast cancer. Patients were aged ≥70 years and diagnosed with hormone receptor positive breast cancers less than 20 mm (T1). All patients underwent surgery and were subsequently prescribed five years of adjuvant antihormonal treatment. Results. Axillary lymph node metastases, as confirmed by the postoperative histology report, were seen in 36.3%. Nonadherence was seen in 33.7% of the patients. Primary nonadherence, that is, patients that never collect their first or subsequent prescriptions at the pharmacy, comprised 11.2% of the total study population. Conclusion. The high proportion of axillary metastases demonstrated suggests that clinical examination of the axilla alone is not sufficient in the preoperative assessment of the axilla. The less-than-optimal adherence rates show that adherence in these patients cannot be taken for granted. We suggest that these factors reflect some of the reluctance among clinicians to omit the sentinel lymph node procedure in these patients.
Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing for Colistin: Extended Application of Novel Quantitative and Morphologic Assay Using Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Zmerli Omar , Bellali Sara , Haddad Gabriel , Iwaza Rim , Hisada Akiko , Matsumoto Erino , Ominami Yusuke , Raoult Didier , Bou Khalil Jacques
Published: May 2024

Background. Colistin (Polymyxin E) has reemerged in the treatment of MDR Gram‐negative infections. Traditional Colistin AST methods have long turnaround times and are cumbersome for routine use. We present a SEM‐AST technique enabling rapid detection of Colistin resistance through direct observation of morphological and quantitative changes in bacteria exposed to Colistin. Methods. Forty‐four Gram‐negative reference organisms were chosen based on their Colistin susceptibility profiles. Bacterial suspensions of ∼107 CFU/mL were exposed to Colistin at EUCAST‐ECOFF, with controls not exposed, incubated at 37°C, and then sampled at 0, 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes. Phosphotungstic Acid (PTA) staining was applied, followed by SEM imaging using Hitachi TM4000PlusII‐Tabletop‐SEM at ×2000, ×5000 and ×7000 magnifications. Bacterial viability analysis was performed for all conditions by quantifying viable and dead organisms based on PTA‐staining and morphologic changes. Results. We identified a significant drop in the percentage of viable organisms starting 30 minutes after exposure in susceptible strains, as compared to nonsignificant changes in resistant strains across all tested organisms. The killing effect of Colistin was best observed after 120 minutes of incubation with the antibiotic, with significant changes in morphologic features, including bacterial inflation, fusion, and lysis, observed as early as 30 minutes. Our observation matched the results of the gold standard‐based broth microdilution method. Conclusions. We provide an extended application of the proof of concept for the utilization of the SEM‐AST assay for Colistin for a number of clinically relevant bacterial species, providing a rapid and reliable susceptibility profile for a critical antibiotic.
Experiences of Alcohol Use and Harm among Travellers, Roma, and Gypsies: A Participatory Qualitative Study
Authors: Condon Louise , Hargreaves Suzy C. , Barry Denise , Curejova Jolana , Morgan Donna Leeanne , Worrall Sam , Celik Filiz , Price Menna
Published: May 2024

Alcohol is widely used in many cultures as part of everyday life and for special occasions. It is a leading cause of preventable death in the UK, with higher rates among socioeconomically disadvantaged people. Gypsies and Travellers are ethnic and cultural minorities who experience extreme social disadvantage but there is a lack of knowledge about their alcohol use. The study aim was to explore experiences of alcohol use and harm in these distinct groups. Taking a participatory research approach, peer researchers conducted semistructured interviews (n = 26) to explore experiences of alcohol use and harm within the following four Gypsy/Traveller communities: Irish Travellers, Boaters, Gypsies, and Slovakian Roma. Vignettes were used as a basis for interview questions. Data were analysed thematically following the framework model. Alcohol consumption was found to be fundamental to celebration in all groups and integrated within social norms. Among Gypsies, Irish Travellers and Roma, drinking was associated with masculinity and despite an increase in alcohol use among women, female drinking remains highly socially regulated. Gypsies and Irish Travellers reported being illegally excluded from public drinking venues, while Slovakian Roma experienced less discrimination towards their ethnic group in the UK. Knowledge of the risks of alcohol dependence was high in all groups, but there was little awareness of the health impact of regular heavy drinking. Shame was a barrier to help‐seeking for Gypsy, Roma, and Irish Traveller men and women, while Boaters’ nomadism reduced access to both primary care and alcohol treatment services. These distinct ethnic and cultural groups are aware of the health and social risks of alcohol use but experience barriers to accessing healthcare. Each community has different needs in relation to prevention of alcohol dependence, highlighting the need for targeted health promotion to accompany national strategies to reduce alcohol harm.
A Note on Weakly Semiprime Ideals and Their Relationship to Prime Radical in Noncommutative Rings
Authors: Abouhalaka Alaa
Published: May 2024

In this paper, we introduce the concept of weakly semiprime ideals and weakly n-systems in noncommutative rings. We establish the equivalence between an ideal P being a weakly semiprime ideal and R−P being a weakly n-system. We provide alternative definitions and explore the properties of weakly semiprime ideals. Additionally, we investigate scenarios where all ideals in a given ring are weakly semiprime and demonstrate that in Noetherian rings, where every ideal is weakly semiprime, the prime radical and the Jacobson radical coincide.
Evaluation of Immune Characteristics and Factors Associated with Immune Response following Hepatitis B Vaccination among Ghanaian Adolescents
Authors: Asamoah Sakyi Samuel , Badu Gyapong Joseph , Krampah Aidoo Ebenezer , Effah Alfred , Koffie Simon , Simon Olympio Mensah Oscar , Arddey Isaac , Boakye Godwin , Opoku Stephen , Amoani Benjamin , Amadu Ngala Robert
Published: May 2024

Background. WHO recommends HBV-negative babies in high-prevalence (8%) countries receive anti-HBV vaccination. Ghana initiated mass immunization in 2002, but concerns remain about vaccine effectiveness and long-term protection. We evaluated immune characteristics and factors following hepatitis B vaccination among Ghanaian adolescents who received HBV vaccines. Methods. In this longitudinal cross-sectional study, 74 participants were enrolled from the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana. Sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics of participants were obtained using a questionnaire. Blood samples were obtained before and after booster administration for anti-HBsAg, IL-6, and IL-10 estimations using ELISA kit (Shanghai Chemical Ltd., China). Anti-HBsAg titers ≥10 mIU/ml were considered protective. Statistical analyses were done using SPSS version 26.0 and R programming language, p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. We found 100% seroconversion rate, with 25.7% seroprotection rate (anti-HBsAg >10 mIU/ml). Gender (p=0.009), age (p=0.001), and exercising (p=0.044) were significantly associated with seroprotection. Following booster administration, 59.4% were hyporesponders (10 ≤ anti-HBsAg titre ≤99 mIU/ml) whilst 40.6% were good responders (anti-HBsAg titre ≥100 mIU/ml). Exercise (p=0.034) was significantly associated with immune response after booster administration. Moreover, we reported significant positive correlation between cytokines [IL-6 (r = 0.817, p<0.001) and IL-10 (r = 0.928, p<0.001)] and anti-HBsAg titre. Conclusion. Approximately two thirds of adolescents vaccinated at birth lack protective levels of antibodies against hepatitis B virus. Booster vaccines could aid in mounting protective levels of anti-HBsAg. Physical exercise was negatively associated with immune response to hepatitis B vaccinations.
Investigation of Herb-Drug Interactions between Xylopia aethiopica, Its Principal Constituent Xylopic Acid, and Antidepressants
Authors: Ndu Christian C. , Abotsi Wonder K. M. , Mante Priscilla K.
Published: May 2024

Introduction. Depression affects an estimated 350 million people worldwide and is implicated in up to 60% of suicides. Only about 60–70% of patients respond to antidepressant therapy. One of the factors causing patients to not attain therapeutic goals is herb-drug interactions. Objective. To investigate any potential herb-drug interaction that might exist between Xylopia aethiopica extract (XAE) or xylopic acid (XA) and selected conventional antidepressants (imipramine, fluoxetine, and venlafaxine) in mice. Methods. Dried, powdered fruits of Xylopia aethiopica were cold macerated in 70% ethanol to obtain XAE. XA was isolated by cold macerating dried fruits of Xylopia aethiopica in petroleum ether, crystallising impure XA with ethyl acetate, and purifying XA crystals with 96% ethanol. Pharmacodynamic interaction was assessed via isobolographic analysis of tail suspension tests of the agents individually and in their respective combinations. Pharmacokinetic interaction was assessed by monitoring the effect of coadministrations on the plasma concentration of antidepressants and xylopic acid via HPLC analysis. Results. XAE and XA in mice showed significant antidepressant-like activity in the tail suspension test. With interaction indices less than one, synergism of antidepressant effect was observed in the Xylopia aethiopica extract/fluoxetine (γXAE/FL = 0.502), Xylopia aethiopica extract/imipramine (γXAE/IP = 0.322), Xylopia aethiopica extract/venlafaxine (γXAE/VL = 0.601), xylopic acid/imipramine (γXA/IP = 0.556), xylopic acid/venlafaxine (γXA/VL = 0.451), and xylopic acid/fluoxetine (γXA/FL = 0.298) combinations, which may be potentially due to elevation of serotonergic neurotransmission via varying mechanisms. The AUC of imipramine (AUCIP = 1966 ± 58.98 µg/ml.h) was significantly (P<0.0001) reduced by Xylopia aethiopica extract (AUCIP = 1228 ± 67.40 µg/ml.h) and xylopic acid (AUCIP = 1250 ± 55.95 µg/ml.h), while the AUC of xylopic acid (AUCXA = 968.10 ± 61.22 µg/ml.h) was significantly (P<0.0001) reduced by venlafaxine (AUCXA = 285.90 ± 51.92 µg/ml.h) and fluoxetine (AUCXA = 510.60 ± 44.74 µg/ml.h), possibly due to the effect of interfering agents on gastric emptying hence reducing oral absorption. Conclusion. Xylopia aethiopica extract and xylopic acid interacted synergistically with imipramine, fluoxetine, and venlafaxine and reduced the systemic circulation of imipramine.
Design of Hybrid Bandpass Filter Chips with High Selectivity and Wideband Using IPD and FBAR Technology
Authors: Li Keyan , Wu Yongle , Lai Zhiguo , Yang Qinghua , Wang Weimin , Yang Yuhao
Published: May 2024

A novel hybrid bandpass filter (BPF) with wideband and high selectivity is proposed in this paper. The hybrid BPF is composed of two film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) cells and three lumped component resonators realized by the integrated passive device (IPD) technology. The ABCD matrix to S-parameters matrix method is used to calculate the frequency response of the BPF. Moreover, the expressions of transmission zeros (TZs) have been extracted. In the design process, an iterative design approach is proposed to improve the circuit and layout of the hybrid filter based on the packaged acoustic-electric hybrid simulation effect. Finally, two parts of the filter are packaged based on the flip-chip method, and two prototypes for the BPF are measured. The measured results of two chips with 3 dB fractional bandwidth of 13.7% and 15.8% are designed and fabricated, which verifies the validity of the proposed design principle.
COVID-19 Detection from Computed Tomography Images Using Slice Processing Techniques and a Modified Xception Classifier
Authors: Morani Kenan , Ayana Esra Kaya , Kollias Dimitrios , Unay Devrim
Published: May 2024

This paper extends our previous method for COVID-19 diagnosis, proposing an enhanced solution for detecting COVID-19 from computed tomography (CT) images using a lean transfer learning-based model. To decrease model misclassifications, two key steps of image processing were employed. Firstly, the uppermost and lowermost slices were removed, preserving sixty percent of each patient’s slices. Secondly, all slices underwent manual cropping to emphasize the lung areas. Subsequently, resized CT scans (224×224) were input into an Xception transfer learning model with a modified output. Both Xception’s architecture and pretrained weights were leveraged in the method. A big and rigorously annotated database of CT images was used to verify the method. The number of patients/subjects in the dataset is more than 5000, and the number and shape of the slices in each CT scan varies greatly. Verification was made both on the validation partition and on the test partition of unseen images. Results on the COV19-CT database showcased not only improvement from our previous solution and the baseline but also comparable performance to the highest-achieving methods on the same dataset. Further validation studies could explore the scalability and adaptability of the developed methodologies across diverse healthcare settings and patient populations. Additionally, investigating the integration of advanced image processing techniques, such as automated region of interest detection and segmentation algorithms, could enhance the efficiency and accuracy of COVID-19 diagnosis.
Are ants not only ‘social insects’, but also ‘nomic insects’? In search of clues of normativity in the ant world
Authors: Lorini Giuseppe , Grasso Donato A. , Loi Andrea
Published: May 2024

Recently, various philosophers and ethologists have argued or hypothesised that, in addition to humans, there are also non-human animals that are capable of following rules and implementing normative behaviours. The investigation of animal normativity until now, however, has been almost exclusively focused on mammals and, in particular, non-human primates and cetaceans. In contrast, this work aims to extend this research to the world of invertebrates and, more specifically, to the world of eusocial insects. For the purpose of investigating whether there are clues of normativity in the world of eusocial insects, we will inquire into the question of whether certain behaviours of ants can be considered normatively conditioned behaviours.
Crip (Non)Pedagogies: Complementing and Mutating Anti-Oppressive Pedagogies
Authors: Bierdz Brad
Published: May 2024

This article aims to navigate the nuanced realm of cripped (non)pedagogies and their potential to reconceptualize/de-conceptualize traditional educational concepts, as well as ethics, politics, and knowledge. By engaging with the tensions and the contextual rebellions of anti-oppressive pedagogies – contrasted against the more radical backdrop of crip theory qua anti-normativity (an immanence of immanence) – cripped (non)pedagogies not only disrupt conventional educational paradigms but also animate mutable, multiplicitous, and nonsensical conceptions/non-conceptions of thought/dis-thought and existence/dis-existence that continuously transgress normative educational boundaries. Throughout the article, I will assert that cripped (non)pedagogies embody a refusal to adhere to pedagogical norms, offering a space/un-space/non-space where educations/miseducations/anti-educations are not confined by normative regimes but are fluid, multivalent, imaginative/de-imaginative/re-imaginative, and aberrant/cripped. The final part of this exploration draws from seminal works in critical pedagogy to enhance our understanding/dis-understanding of how cripped (non)pedagogies align with, yet diverge from, conventional critical teaching methods.