bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro tetraploid induction and plant regeneration of Pinellia ternata, a pearl-like herb
Authors: Ren Yan , Gao Jinrong , Dong Xian , Yan Hongmei , Huang Hengyu
Published: February 2024

Pinellia ternata (Thunb.) is a widely used Chinese medicinal herb in many countries globally. However, asexual reproduction causes the germplasm of P. ternata to degrade, and there is limited research on genetic breeding. The objective of this study is to induce tetraploid ‘Pearl’ P. ternate plants by treating leaves and tubers with colchicine to acquire superior germplasm resources. The in vitro medium for autotetraploid plants was optimized through orthogonal experiments. Subsequently, the morphology, tissues, and cells of diploid and tetraploid plants were compared. The results indicated that the number of chromosomes in diploid plants was 2n = 2x = 66, while the tetraploid plants were 2n = 4x = 132 by somatic chromosome counting and flow cytometry analysis. The leaf was more suitable than the tuber for polyploid induction, and the maximum induction rate was 29.49% when leaves were treated with a 0.05% colchicine solution for 96 h. In MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg·L− 1 6-BA, 0.1 mg·L− 1 NAA, and 1.0 mg·L− 1 KT, tetraploid leaves successfully developed into plantlets with roots, achieving a 100% transplant survival rate. Tetraploid P. ternata exhibited larger and denser leaves, thicker petioles, and larger stomata but had shorter plants compared to diploid. Meanwhile, tetraploid leaves produced a greater number of tubers. This study induced tetraploids in P. ternata and established an artificial tetraploid rapid propagation system for P. ternata. It provided the theoretical foundation and experimental support for its genetic breeding and variety enhancement.
Out of a Crisis Comes Resilience: Community School Coordinators Work Through the Pandemic to Generate Social Capital in Baltimore’s Neighborhoods
Authors: Shiller Jessica
Published: February 2024

The global pandemic was traumatic for everyone, and it revealed the vast inequity in public services to which people have access. Fortunately, community schools had been coordinating services to meet the needs of their families prior to the pandemic, and when schools closed in 2020, they kicked into high gear to provide for those needs. This paper reports on interviews with 15 community school coordinators in Baltimore conducted at the end of the pandemic period to find out how they went about meeting community needs. Findings indicate that coordinators played a crucial role in getting families’ basic needs (i.e. food, shelter, clothing) met, but they also built trusting relationships, generating social capital in their neighborhoods set in racially segregated neighborhoods as a result of decades of redlining and policies meant to isolate Black communities. In the end, this paper argues that community school coordinators need more support to convert the social capital into further advocacy alongside the families with whom they work.
The Added Value of Civil Society Organizations in the Provision of Welfare State Services
Authors: Wæraas Arild , Sirris Stephen , Hellevik Øystein
Published: February 2024

Civil society organizations (CSOs) that deliver services on behalf of public authorities operate under increased competitive and standardization pressures. Given this background, many CSOs experience a need to justify why public authorities should continue to fund them. In this article, we underpin and develop a new understanding of added value, proposing it to be the perceived social value of services or programs provided by a CSO that differs positively from the perceived social value of services or programs provided by other organizations and can be identified as functional, altruistic, emotional, or social. We elaborate on these four forms of added value and discuss the theoretical and practical implications of this understanding.
New Insights on NLRP3 Inflammasome: Mechanisms of Activation, Inhibition, and Epigenetic Regulation
Authors: kodi Triveni , Sankhe Runali , Gopinathan Adarsh , Nandakumar Krishnadas , Kishore Anoop
Published: February 2024

Inflammasomes are important modulators of inflammation. Dysregulation of inflammasomes can enhance vulnerability to conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases, autoinflammatory diseases, and metabolic disorders. Among various inflammasomes, Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain leucine-rich repeat and pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) is the best-characterized inflammasome related to inflammatory and neurodegenerative diseases. NLRP3 is an intracellular sensor that recognizes pathogen-associated molecular patterns and damage-associated patterns resulting in the assembly and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. The NLRP3 inflammasome includes sensor NLRP3, adaptor apoptosis-associated speck-like protein (ASC), and effector cysteine protease procaspase-1 that plays an imperative role in caspase-1 stimulation which further initiates a secondary inflammatory response. Regulation of NLRP3 inflammasome ameliorates NLRP3-mediated diseases. Much effort has been invested in studying the activation, and exploration of specific inhibitors and epigenetic mechanisms controlling NLRP3 inflammasome. This review gives an overview of the established NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, its brief molecular mechanistic activations as well as a current update on specific and non-specific NLRP3 inhibitors that could be used in NLRP3-mediated diseases. We also focused on the recently discovered epigenetic mechanisms mediated by DNA methylation, histone alterations, and microRNAs in regulating the activation and expression of NLRP3 inflammasome, which has resulted in a novel method of gaining insight into the mechanisms that modulate NLRP3 inflammasome activity and introducing potential therapeutic strategies for CNS disorders.

Graphical Abstract

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Socio-techno-ecological transition dynamics in the re-territorialization of food production: the case of wild berries in Sweden
Authors: Andersson Johnn , Plummer Paul , Lennerfors Thomas Taro , Hedberg Charlotta
Published: February 2024

Recent geopolitical and economic crises underline the need for a European transition towards a more sustainable food system. Scholars and policymakers have called for a re-territorialization of food production to strike a better balance between local, regional and global value chains. This paper explores the role of re-territorialization through an analysis of the emergence, development and current transformation of the Swedish wild berry value chain. The analysis combines the multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions with a socio-techno-ecological system approach and draws on interviews, informal conversations, participant observations and a range of secondary sources. The resulting case narrative shows how processes of de-territorialization may result in regimes that fail to address sustainability potential and problems. It also highlights that processes of re-territorialization challenge established regimes by promoting niches that represent different, albeit complementary, value chain configurations. Apart from a rich empirical narrative that brings useful knowledge to stakeholders to the Swedish wild berry value chain, the paper contributes to the theoretical understanding re-territorialization, shows how the ecological dimension can be accounted for with the multi-level perspective on sustainability transitions and presents a number of general policy implications.
Hepatobiliary Ascariasis in a Piglet
Authors: Tamponi Claudia , Cavallo Lia , Dessì Giorgia , Sardu Francesco , Carta Carlo , Corda Andrea , Burrai Giovanni Pietro , Varcasia Antonio , Scala Antonio
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Ascariasis caused by the helminth Ascaris suum is the most common parasitosis of swine worldwide and it may involve all age categories of pigs. The present study reports an unusual localization of A.suum worms in the biliary system of a piglet slaughtered for human consumption.

Methods

The liver was subjected to ultrasound scan and pathological examination. The isolated worms were morphologically examined and the DNA was extracted for the molecular identification of the species involved.

Results

A total of 43 preadult nematodes were found within the gallbladder and the bile ducts. Parasites were morphologically identified as belonging to the genus Ascaris and molecularly as A. suum. At gross examination, the liver was moderately enlarged, with the bile ducts severely dilated. A chronic inflammatory infiltrate was noted, often centered around ectatic bile ducts (up to 5 mm in diameter), lined by hyperplastic epithelium and filled with sections of nematodes. The worm sections showed smooth cuticle, coelomyarian musculature, and an intestinal tract lined by columnar, uninucleated cells within a pseudocoelom. The ex vivo ultrasonographic examination of the liver allowed the visualization of several nematodes in the bile duct lumen and could be suggested for in vivo diagnosis. Unfortunately, the absence of the intestine did not allow to define the pathogenesis of the infection.

Conclusion

Although, given the unusual nature of this finding, it is difficult to identify predisposing factors for this A. suum localization, it suggests that ascariasis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pigs with hepatobiliary disease.
Classification of the machine state in turning processes by using the acoustic emission
Authors: Diaz Ocampo Daniel , Aubart Daniel , González Germán , Zanger Frederik , Heizmann Michael
Published: February 2024

Processing digital information stands as a crucial foundation of Industry 4.0, facilitating a spectrum of activities from monitoring processes to their understanding and optimization. The application of data processing techniques, including feature extraction and classification, coupled with the identification of the most suitable features for specific purposes, continues to pose a significant challenge in the manufacturing sector. This research investigates the suitability of classification methods for machine and tool state classification by employing acoustic emission (AE) sensors during the dry turning of Ti6Al4V. Features such as quantiles, Fourier coefficients, and mel-frequency cepstral coefficients are extracted from the AE signals to facilitate classification. From this features the 20 best are selected for the classification to reduce the dimension of the feature space and redundancy. Algorithms including decision tree, k-nearest-neighbors (KNN), and quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) are tested for the classification of machine states. Of these, QDA exhibits the highest accuracy at 98.6 %. Nonetheless, an examination of the confusion matrix reveals that certain classes, influenced by imbalanced training data, exhibit a lower prediction accuracy. In summary, the study affirms the potential of AE sensors for machine state recognition and tool condition monitoring. Although QDA emerges as the most acurate classifier, there remains an avenue for refinement, particularly in training data optimization and decision-making processes, to augment accuracy.
Factors That Shaped the Forestry Extension System in Japan: Adoption and Adaptation of the United States Model After World War II
Authors: Ishizaki Ryoko , Hartwig Manuela G.
Published: February 2024

Systems for small-scale forestry are occasionally shaped by adopting models used by other countries. Such adoption is localized and adapted to suit needs and conditions of the country and reflects its specific characteristics instead of being simply copied. In this study, we examine the process of the adoption and adaptation of the forestry extension system in Japan and discuss the meaning of policy transfer across countries and the factors influencing policy development. Although the adoption of the forestry extension system was de facto a direct coercion enforced by the occupying United States (US) government in the early post-war era, in-depth analysis revealed it was a joint effort between Japanese and US foresters. The enthusiasm of foresters in charge of forestry extension enabled them to improve it into an idealized form. This first adaptation phase can be regarded as a very progressive step in view of trends indicated by a previous study. The adoption of the US model inspired and legitimized the new system. Results imply that policy development occurs at the level of the ruler, who sets the direction of the forestry extension, and the level of the practitioner, who is in charge of the extension activities in the field. Moreover, it demonstrates the importance of examining the significance and effectiveness of policy transfers and the adaptation of adopted institutions at each level. However, motivation and perception of practitioners toward their work and allowance for voluntary initiatives given to them is the key to this notion.
Neutrophils in Inflammatory Bone Diseases
Authors: Carmona-Rivera Carmelo , Kaplan Mariana J. , O’Neil Liam J.
Published: February 2024

Purpose of Review

In this review, we summarize the current evidence that suggests that neutrophils play a key role in facilitating damage to local bone structures.

Recent Findings

Neutrophil infiltration is a hallmark of inflammatory bone diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and periodontitis disease (PD). Both of these human diseases are marked by an imbalance in bone homeostasis, favoring the degradation of local bone which ultimately leads to erosions. Osteoclasts, a multinucleated resident bone cell, are responsible for facilitating the turnover of bone and the bone damage observed in these diseases. The involvement of neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular trap formation have recently been implicated in exacerbating osteoclast function through direct and indirect mechanisms. We highlight a recent finding that NET proteins such as histones and elastase can generate non-canonical, inflammatory osteoclasts, and this process is mediated by post-translational modifications such as citrullination and carbamylation, both of which act as autoantigens in RA.

It appears that NETs, autoantibodies, modified proteins, cytokines, and osteoclasts all ultimately contribute to local and permanent bone damage in RA and PD. However, more studies are needed to fully understand the role of neutrophils in inflammatory bone diseases.
Analyzing the Role of Values and Ideals in the Development of Energy Systems: How Values, Their Idealizations, and Technologies Shape Political Decision-Making
Authors: Alleblas Joost
Published: February 2024

This study examines an important aspect of energy history and policy: the intertwinement of energy technologies with ideals. Ideals play an important role in energy visions and innovation pathways. Aspirations to realize technical, social, and political ideals indicate a long-term commitment in the design of energy systems, distinguishable from commitment to other abstract goals, such as values. This study offers an analytical scheme that could help to conceptualize these differences and their impact on energy policy. In the proposed model, two spheres of interaction are highlighted: a material sphere in which values and technologies co-evolve, and an imaginary sphere in which ideals interact with idealized technologies. Furthermore, the relation between these two spheres can be understood in different ways. This study examines three cases that are illustrative of the different roles of ideals in the development of energy technologies and visions: (1) the evolution of safety in nuclear reactor design; (2) visions of atomic power in France; (3) the political idealization of a tidal power scheme in the Severn Estuary. Finally, the developed model implies more general insights for the development of sociotechnical systems. Amongst others, it shows why certain projects and technologies remain a political, but not a techno–economic option.
Copper Intoxication in South American Camelids—Review of the Literature and First Report of a Case in a Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna)
Authors: Marahrens H. , von Dörnberg K. , Molnár V. , Gregor K. M. , Leitzen E. , von Altrock A. , Polifka A. , Ganter M. , Wagener M. G.
Published: February 2024

Copper (Cu), an essential trace element in the metabolism of mammals, plays a central role in various metabolic processes. However, overdosing can lead to severe symptoms and even fatalities. Chronic Cu intoxication continues to be a problem in grazing and domestic animals, with sheep being particularly sensitive. There are few comparative studies on its impact on South American camelids (SACs). Therefore, this work presents the results of literature research combined with a case report on a 3-year-old female vicuña (Vicugna vicugna) presented to the clinic from a zoological garden in northern Germany. The animal showed reduced food intake, recumbency, bruxism, icteric mucous membranes and sclera. Auscultation revealed atony of the third compartment and the digestive tract. Similar to cases described in the literature, the animal showed rapid deterioration of its condition with unspecific symptoms of liver failure and rapid death. However, in contrast to descriptions in sheep, clinical icterus has not been previously reported in cases of other SACs. Laboratory findings from EDTA and serum samples revealed neutrophilia with a left shift, hypoproteinaemia, lymphopaenia, azotaemia, elevated levels of creatine kinase (CK), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH) in the serum. Hyperbilirubinaemia and significantly elevated serum and liver Cu levels were observed. Subsequent blood samples from the remaining vicuñas and alpacas in the same enclosure showed no remarkable abnormalities. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this case report represents the first documented case of Cu intoxication specifically in vicuñas.
The Effect of Dietary Organic Copper and Zinc Trace Minerals on some Yield and Mineral Levels and Histological Structure of Testes
Authors: Eren Vadullah , Güleş Özay , Gökdal Özdal , Eren Ülker , Ünübol Aypak Serap
Published: February 2024

This study aims to investigate the effects of providing Cu and Zn minerals with an organic structure reduced by 25% compared to the recommended (NRC) inorganic value on parameters such as the age at which lambs achieve 50% sperm motility yield, some developmental parameters, testis histology, as well as serum, wool, and fecal mineral levels in lambs. The study involved 12 male lambs in the T1 group (organic minerals) and 11 in the T2 group (inorganic minerals) of the Kıvırcık breed. Lambs received minerals from mothers during the last month of fetal period and suckling, continuing individual feeding post-weaning. During individual feeding, T1 received 5.25 mg/kg DM copper-chelate and 15.0 mg/kg DM zinc-chelate, while T2 received 7 mg/kg DM copper-sulfate and 20 mg/kg DM zinc-sulfate. The mothers received identical mineral amounts in the last month of pregnancy and lactation. The ewes birthed offspring solely for the supply of experimental groups. Lambs, averaging about 18.5 kg, underwent bi-weekly electroejaculation, concluding the trial for those with 50% semen motility. Statistical analyses were carried out using the GLM method. No differences were observed between groups in the average age at which lambs achieve 50% sperm motility, live weight, scrotum, and testicular measurements at this age (P > 0.05). Histological analyses revealed no difference in tubule area between T1 and T2 groups (P > 0.05), but tubular epithelium height was greater in T1 (P < 0.01). End-of-trial serum copper, as well as weaning day and end-of-trial serum and fleece zinc mean values, did not differ between groups (P > 0.05). However, T1 had higher mean values for serum Cu on the weaning day (P < 0.01), fleece copper on the weaning day (P < 0.05) and at the end of the trial (P < 0.001). Additionally, the T1 group exhibited lower mean levels of fecal copper (P < 0.05) and fecal zinc (P < 0.001). In conclusion, despite organic copper and zinc levels being 25% lower in the examined parameters, comparable or improved results were achieved with inorganic copper and zinc.
Simultaneous removal of fluoride and arsenic from drinking groundwater using limestones from Bajío Guanajuatense, Mexico
Authors: Juárez-Aparicio Fátima , Morales-Arredondo José Iván , Armienta Hernández María Aurora
Published: February 2024

Numerous groundwater wells in Mexico exceed the maximum allowable fluoride (F−) and arsenic (As) drinking water concentration requirements, posing an environmental and health risk to the population that relies solely on these wells for drinking water sources. Since encouraging results have been obtained utilizing native limestones to remove some toxic elements from contaminated water, the ability of the limestone rock outcrop to the south of the Sierra de Guanajuato in Mexico to remove As and F− from groundwater was assessed. A sampling campaign was conducted in the study area, focusing on wells exhibiting elevated concentrations of arsenic (As) and fluoride (F−) in compliance with international standards. This water was employed in the treatment experiment involving limestone rocks. The rock sampling process involved a reconnaissance campaign covering the study area and outcrop points of limestone rocks. Representative limestone samples were collected and subsequently subjected to mineralogical and geochemical characterization. Using rock samples, synthetic water, and groundwater from contaminated wells in the region, batch experiments were conducted to evaluate the As and F− removal capacity of limestone. The batch testing consisted of water–rock interactions at various times with different samples of limestone rocks, grain sizes, and water containing distinct concentrations of both elements, artificial and groundwater extracted close to the limestones outcrop. The results indicate that the rock with the highest calcium carbonate (CaCO3) content and the smallest grain size (< 0.05 mm) removes the highest concentrations of both As and F−, with As removal being superior. The removal mechanisms were studied using scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS) images, saturation index calculations, and Eh–pH diagrams,. Fluoride precipitation was favored when the pH of the solution was slightly acidic, whereas sorption was favored when the pH was higher. The results obtained are encouraging for the removal of high levels of As, and to a lesser extent for F−; consequently, the use of regional limestone rocks could be a viable option for improving the water quality ingested by rural inhabitants in the study area. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) concentration can be used to identify limestone rocks with the potential to effectively remove As and F− in other locations.
The role of individual decision-making in the manufacturing of bone retouchers
Authors: Martellotta Eva Francesca , Zinnarello Valerio Giuliano , Peresani Marco
Published: February 2024

Bone retouchers, while often underrated, stand out as widespread tools throughout the Palaeolithic, typically linked to breaking bones for marrow extraction. Although bone retouchers are commonly considered a by-product of butchering activities, the possibility of intentional manufacturing has been rarely considered but should not be dismissed. In our experimental protocol, we explore decision-making processes involved in manufacturing bone retouchers, focusing on how these decisions are guided by intentional production rather than solely marrow extraction. The results indicate that individuals employ specific techniques and make technological decisions, rapidly acquiring experience in retoucher manufacturing that extends beyond mere intuition. The choice of bone-breaking technique(s) reflects the intention behind either marrow extraction or producing suitable bone fragments for retouchers. This decision-making process is heavily influenced by the morphology of the bone, presenting challenges that individuals learn to overcome during the experiment. The analysis of the experimental percussion marks suggests that certain marks on specific skeletal elements indicate intentional bone retoucher manufacturing. We then propose a likelihood grid to assess the reliability of traces on each skeletal element in inferring intentional manufacturing. Given the abundance of bone retouchers in Middle Palaeolithic contexts, a thorough investigation into the intentionality behind their manufacturing processes could significantly impact their relevance within other Palaeolithic bone industries.
Comparative biology and life tables of sorghum aphid Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) from Mexico, at different temperatures
Authors: Peña-Martínez Rebeca , Lomeli-Flores J. Refugio , Bujanos-Muñiz Rafael , Salas-Monzón Raquel , Hernández-Torres Oscar Eduardo , Marín-Jarillo Antonio , Ibarra Jorge E. , Vanegas-Rico Juan Manuel , Muñoz-Viveros Ana Lilia
Published: February 2024

The sorghum aphid Melanaphis sorghi (Theobald, 1904) is the most critical pest in sorghum crops grown in the USA and Mexico. The cultivated area of sorghum was reduced by more than 30% between 2016 and 2019 in northern Mexico, Guanajuato, Morelos, and other regions. This study provides essential information to support an Integrated Pest Management of this insect. M. sorghi field colonies from Guanajuato, Mexico, were identified by morphometric criteria and reared on Sorghum bicolor var. UPM-219 leaf discs using a bioclimatic chamber under different temperatures: 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C. The highest mortality occurred in extreme temperatures: 40 °C (100%). The lowest temperature assessed (5 °C) shows no reproduction, but the pre-reproductive period spread to 62.5 days, allowing an average of 88.2 days of the insects' survival. At 20 °C, M. sorghi produced a supernumerary N5 stage that prolonged the development by 7.1 days, while at the highest temperature (40 °C), N1s died after 0.9 days. The most prolonged reproductive period was 33.2 days (0.6 nymphs/day) at 10 °C, in contrast to 4.1 days (0.4 nymphs/day) at 35 °C. The most extended post-reproductive period (22.4 days) was observed at 10 °C and the shortest (4.2 days) at 35 °C. The highest fertility average (79.06 nymphs) was reached at 25 °C. The heat units required for each generation were 158.9, while theoretical thermal thresholds were 2.0 and 40 °C. Population parameters show that 25 °C is the optimal temperature for this aphid, estimating Ro (79.06), Rm (0.44), T (10.01), DT (1.59), and λ (1.55).
Affirmation, Friendship, and Volunteerism: Understanding and Facilitating what Makes LGBTQA+ Young People in Australia Feel Good About Themselves
Authors: McGowan I. , Power J. , Amos N. , Lyons A. , Hill A. O. , Blundell R. , Bourne A.
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or asexual (LGBTQA+) young people are at heightened risk of suicidality and psychological distress. Interventions in various forms are required to address this issue, which should be informed by the strengths, capacity and insight of LGBTQA+ young people.

Methods

An online survey was promoted to LGBTQA+ young people (aged 14–21) via targeted social media advertising and community organisation dissemination, in late 2019. In addition to a range of health and wellbeing questions, all participants were asked, ‘What makes you feel good about yourself?’ The open-text responses were subject to a detailed, inductive thematic analysis.

Results

In total, 4751 young people provided a short answer response to the question of what makes them feel good about themselves. The length of responses ranged from a few words to several paragraphs. Six key themes were identified. These included LGBTQA+ young people finding value in connection with significant others and finding affirmation for their gender and sexuality through their presentation and engagement with the world. In addition, participants talked about how they liked to engage with people they identified with or saw as role models, and how their creative outlets or making a positive difference in the world (e.g., through volunteering) helped them feel good about themselves.

Conclusions

While ensuring that young LGBTQA+ people have access to mental health services and social/support programs is important, it is also essential that we acknowledge young people’s agency and the significance of everyday, informal acts which support young LGBTQA+ people to achieve desires for connection, acceptance, contribution, belonging and self-expression.

Policy Implications

Findings reported in this paper offer some valuable insights for policy and programming, particularly in acknowledging and centring young people’s agency and capacity to make decisions and take action to express themselves, to find community and affirm their identity.
Endophytic genera in californian thistle (Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop.)
Authors: Kentjens Wendy , Casonato Seona , Kaiser Clive
Published: February 2024

Cirsium arvense is an important weed in temperate areas, causing yield losses in pasture and cropping systems. Endophytes may affect fungal biocontrol agents deployed to control C. arvense. This was the first study sampling leaves, stems, and roots of C. arvense multiple times in one growing season to determine which endophytic genera were associated with this plant species. Eighty-eight endophytic genera were isolated by culture methods and identified with molecular markers. Sixty-five of these have not previously been reported for C. arvense. This study was the first to document many genera belonging to the orders Pleosporales, Hypocreales, and Diaporthales that have not previously been identified in association with C. arvense. In addition, this study isolated more Leotiomycetes and Helothiales than previous studies on C. arvense endophytes. Information on endophytic genera in C. arvense will aid our understanding of biotic factors influencing fungal biocontrol agents and may improve effectiveness of biocontrol agents.
Social Robots: A Promising Tool to Support People with Autism. A Systematic Review of Recent Research and Critical Analysis from the Clinical Perspective
Authors: Vagnetti Roberto , Di Nuovo Alessandro , Mazza Monica , Valenti Marco
Published: February 2024

In the past decade, interdisciplinary research has revealed the potential benefits of using social robots in the care of individuals with autism. There is a growing interest in integrating social robots into clinical practice. However, while significant efforts have been made to develop and test the technical aspects, clinical validation and implementation lag behind. This article presents a systematic literature review from a clinical perspective, focusing on articles that demonstrate clinical relevance through experimental studies. These studies are analysed and critically discussed in terms of their integration into healthcare and care practices. The goal is to assist healthcare professionals in identifying opportunities and limitations in their practice and to promote further interdisciplinary cooperation.
Concurrent training associated with moderate walnut consumption improved isokinetic strength, subjective sleep quality, cognitive performance and postural balance in elderly active men: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kamoun Anis , Yahia Abdelmonem , Farjallah Mohamed Amine , Maaloul Rami , Marzougui Houssem , Bouaziz Mohamed , Souissi Nizar , Elleuch Mohamed Habib , Hammouda Omar
Published: February 2024

Aims

To investigate the effects of concurrent training (resistance and endurance) associated with moderate walnut consumption on isokinetic strength, subjective sleep quality, cognitive performance and postural balance in physically active elderly men.

Methods

Twenty healthy elderly men were divided into two matched groups, in a randomized controlled experiment. They have participated in three training sessions per week: concurrent (strength and endurance) training + ad libitum diet with walnuts (15 g/day for 6 weeks, CTW: n = 10) and concurrent training + ad libitum diet (CT: n = 10). Isokinetic strength, Spiegel questionnaire, Montreal cognitive assessment and postural balance parameters were assessed 48 h pre- and post-intervention.

Results

Absolute peak torque of knee extensors and knee flexors significantly increased compared to pre-training in CTW (15.2% ± 6.7; 13.2% ± 2.3, p < 0.05, respectively) and CT (10.6% ± 6.8; 7.4% ± 2.9, p < 0.05, respectively). Subjective sleep quality increased compared to pre-training for CTW and CT (24% ± 14.4; 10.5% ± 9.4, p < 0.05, respectively) with a significantly greater increase in CTW (p < 0.05). Cognitive performance measured by Montreal cognitive assessment (MoCA) increased only in CTW compared to baseline (7.7% ± 2.5, p < 0.05). Postural balance parameters with dual task decreased only in CTW compared to baseline.

Conclusions

The present study clearly revealed that concurrent training alone or associated with daily walnut (15 g) consumption for 6 weeks significantly increased knee isokinetic strength, support leg standing parameters and sleep quality. Meanwhile, cognitive performance evaluated by MoCA test and postural balance with dual task were improved for CTW group only.
Efficient relation extraction via quantum reinforcement learning
Authors: Zhu Xianchao , Mu Yashuang , Wang Xuetao , Zhu William
Published: February 2024

Most existing relation extraction methods only determine the relation type after identifying all entities, thus not fully modeling the interaction between relation-type recognition and entity mention detection. This article introduces a novel paradigm for relation extraction by treating relevant entities as parameters of relations and harnessing the strong expressive capabilities and acceleration advantages of quantum computing to address the relation extraction task. In this article, we develop a quantum hierarchical reinforcement learning approach to enhance the interaction between relation-type recognition and entity mention detection. The entire relation extraction process is broken down into a hierarchical structure of two layers of quantum reinforcement learning strategies dedicated to relation detection and entity extraction, demonstrating greater feasibility and expressiveness, especially when dealing with superimposed relations. Our proposed method outperforms existing approaches through experimental evaluations on commonly used public datasets, mainly showcasing its significant advantages in extracting superimposed relationships.
A low-light image enhancement method for personnel safety monitoring in underground coal mines
Authors: Yang Wei , Wang Shuai , Wu Jiaqi , Chen Wei , Tian Zijian
Published: February 2024

Intelligent monitoring technology plays an important role in promoting the development of coal mine safety management. Low illumination in the coal mine underground leads to difficult recognition of monitoring images and poor personnel detection accuracy. To alleviate this problem, a low illuminance image enhancement method proposed for personnel safety monitoring in underground coal mines. Specifically, the local enhancement module maps low illumination to normal illumination at pixel level preserving image details as much as possible. The transformer-based global adjustment module is applied to the locally enhanced images to avoid over-enhancement of bright areas and under-illumination of dark areas, and to prevent possible color deviations in the enhancement process. In addition, a feature similarity loss is proposed to constrain the similarity of target features to avoid the possible detrimental effect of enhancement on detection. Experimental results show that the proposed method improves the detection accuracy by 7.1% on the coal mine underground personal dataset, obtaining the highest accuracy compared to several other methods. The proposed method effectively improves the visualization and detection performance of low-light images, which contributes to the personnel safety monitoring in underground coal mines.
Recovery of Metals from Copper Smelting Slag Using Coke and Biochar
Authors: Chen Min , Sukhomlinov Dmitry , Taskinen Pekka , Hamuyuni Joseph , Michallik Radoslaw M. , Lindgren Mari , Jokilaakso Ari
Published: February 2024

With the purpose of recovering the metal values, in this study the copper slag was reduced by coke and biochar at 1250 °C in an argon gas atmosphere using the isothermal reduction/drop quenching technique. The phase compositions of metal, matte, and slag were determined using electron probe microanalysis (EPMA). The effects of reduction time and amount of reductant were investigated. The distribution of elements between metal/matte and slag was ascertained based on the elemental concentrations determined by EPMA. It was found that copper concentration in slag can be effectively decreased to approximately 0.4–0.6 wt% within 5 min by coke and biochar. Copper and nickel can also be successfully recovered into the copper alloy phase once settling has been accomplished.

Graphical Abstract
Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Strengths Intervention on Adolescent Mental Health are Mediated by Changes in Negative Emotions
Authors: Kennes Anne , Lataster Johan J. E. , Janssens Mayke , Simons Marianne , Reijnders Jennifer S. A. M. , Jacobs Nele E. , Peeters Sanne C. T.
Published: February 2024

Previous studies in adult samples have shown that emotions, especially positive emotions, are one of the key mechanisms of change in positive psychology interventions. The current research aimed to investigate whether these emotions also mediate the effect of a positive psychology intervention, based on mindfulness and strengths use for adolescents, on mental health outcomes (i.e., well-being, peer-related and attentional problems). A quasi-experimental study was performed, including assessments one week before and one week after the intervention. The results of the multilevel mediation analyses showed that adolescents who completed the intervention (N=70) experienced a significant decrease in negative emotions but no significant increase in positive emotions compared to adolescents who did not participate in the intervention (N=236). Changes in negative emotions mediated changes in mental health outcomes (i.e., well-being and peer-related problems) associated with the intervention. Further, adolescents who started, but not necessarily completed the intervention (N=116) experienced no significant decrease in negative emotions. Findings suggest that positive psychology interventions may have an effect on health outcomes by decreasing negative emotions in addition to fostering positive emotions.
Mitigating bisphenol A-induced apoptosis in KGN cells: the therapeutic role of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 through upregulation of PGC-1α expression and inhibition of the mitochondrial cytochrome c pathway
Authors: Tang Liting , Du Ke , Luo Kaiming , Wang Long , Hua Fei
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study investigated the potential of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2VD3) to mitigate bisphenol A (BPA)-induced apoptosis in human ovarian granulosa KGN cells with the aim of establishing a theoretical foundation for understanding of how vitamin D improved ovarian function in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

Methods

The impact of varying concentrations of BPA and 1,25(OH)2VD3 on KGN cell viability was elucidated. It was established that BPA-induced apoptosis in KGN cells. Subsequently, KGN cells underwent pretreatment with 1,25(OH)2VD3, followed by exposure to BPA. The apoptosis rate, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and mitochondrial function of the cells were meticulously assessed, along with the expression levels of genes associated with apoptosis as well as antioxidant and mitochondrial biogenesis.

Results

BPA induced a notable increase in apoptosis (P < 0.001) and oxidative stress (P < 0.001) in KGN cells, accompanied by a significant reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.001) and severe impairment of mitochondrial function. Following pretreatment of KGN cells with 1,25(OH)2VD3, there was a significant decrease in the apoptosis rate (P = 0.004), coupled with a reduction in ROS production (P = 0.002). Concomitantly, the upregulation of PGC-1α (P = 0.009) and SOD (P = 0.018) was observed, while mRNA expression of BAX (P = 0.011), Cyt c (P = 0.001), Apaf-1 (P = 0.012), caspase-9 (P < 0.001), and caspase-3 (P = 0.011) was downregulated. Notably, the mitigation of mitochondrial damage was evident through restored mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.001), as corroborated by electron microscope results.

Conclusions

1,25(OH)2VD3 mitigated BPA-induced damage and apoptosis in KGN cells by upregulating the expression of PGC-1α and impeding the mitochondrial cytochrome c (Cyt c) apoptotic pathway. This study established a novel theoretical foundation for utilizing vitamin D in the treatment of PCOS patients.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Non-sample fuzzy based convolutional neural network model for noise artifact in biomedical images
Authors: Byeon Haewon , Patel Ruchi Kshatri , Vidhate Deepak A. , Kiyosov Sherzod , Rahin Saima Ahmed , Keshta Ismail , Lakshmi T. R. Vijaya
Published: February 2024

The use of a light-weight deep learning Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) augmented with the power of Fuzzy Non-Sample Shearlet Transformation (FNSST) has successfully solved the problem of reducing noise and artifacts in Low-Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) pictures. Both the Normal-Dose Computed Tomography (NDCT) and the Low-Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) images from the dataset are subjected to the FNSST decomposition procedure during the training phase, producing high-frequency sub-images that act as input for the CNN. The CNN creates a meaningful connection between the high-frequency sub-images from LDCT and their corresponding residual sub-images during the training operation. The CNN is given the capacity to distinguish between LDCT high-frequency sub-images and expected high-frequency sub-images, which frequently have varying levels of noise or artifacts, especially in a fuzzy setting. The FNSST-CNN then successfully distinguishes LDCT high-frequency sub-images from the expected high-frequency sub-images during the testing phase, thereby reducing noise and artifacts. When compared to other approaches like KSVD, BM3D, and conventional image domain CNNs, the performance of FNSST-CNN is impressive as shown by better peak signal-to-noise ratios, stronger structural similarity, and a closer likeness to NDCT pictures.
Climate change impacts on hydroclimatic variables over Awash basin, Ethiopia: a systematic review
Authors: Malede Demelash Ademe , Andualem Tesfa Gebrie , Yibeltal Mesenbet , Alamirew Tena , kassie Anmut Enawgaw , Demeke Girum Getachew , Mekonnen Yilkal Gebeyehu
Published: February 2024

Hydroclimate combines hydrology and climate variables, including the influence of water resources and their processes on Earth’s climate pattern and the change in the hydrological cycle. This review aimed to investigate the historical, current, and future projections of hydroclimatic variables within the Awash River basin. The spatiotemporal climate fluctuations caused by meteorological anomalies, catchment topographical processes, and human activities impact hydroclimatic variables. This systematic review was conducted to define and conceptualize hydroclimatic variables’ trends and variation. Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar were used to assess relevant works of literature. Most of the rainfall stations in the basin exhibited an increasing and decreasing trend; however, this was not statistically significant. The mean, maximum, and minimum temperature variables continuously increased in the basin while streamflow declined. Besides, hydroclimatic variables and trends in response to climate change differ by local topography, length of data and statistical methods. Additionally, the basin encounters various trends and patterns in hydroclimate variables over time. This review emphasizes the importance of historical, current, and future climate change scenarios in the development of water resources and practices for sustainable environmental management. As a result, reviewing the findings provides a scientific basis for evidence-based practice for environmental and water resource managers, researchers, and policymakers.
Self-attention transformer unit-based deep learning framework for skin lesions classification in smart healthcare
Authors: Rezaee Khosro , Zadeh Hossein Ghayoumi
Published: February 2024

Rising mortality rates in recent years have elevated melanoma to the ranks of the world’s most lethal cancers. Dermoscopy images (DIs) have been used in smart healthcare applications to determine medical features using deep transfer learning (DTL). DI-related lesions are widespread, have local features, and are associated with uncertainty. There are three components to our bi-branch parallel model: (1) the Transformer module (TM), (2) the self-attention unit (SAU), and (3) a convolutional neural network (CNN). With CNN and TM able to extract local and global features, respectively, a novel model has been developed to fuse global and local features using cross-fusion to generate fine-grained features. Parallel systems between the branches are merged using a feature-fusion architecture, resulting in a pattern that identifies the characteristics of a variety of lesions. Moreover, this paper proposes an optimized and lightweight CNN architecture version (optResNet-18) that discriminates skin cancer lesions with high accuracy. To verify the proposed method, the procedure evaluated the accuracy for the ISIC-2019 and the PH2 datasets as 97.48 and 96.87%, respectively, a significant difference over traditional CNN networks (e.g., ResNet-50 and ResNet-101) and the TM. The proposed model outperforms state-of-the-art performance metrics such as AUC, F1-score, specificity, precision, and recall. The proposed method can also be used as a generalizable model to diagnose different lesions in DIs with smart healthcare applications by combining DTL and medical imaging. With the proposed e-Health platform, skin diseases can be detected in real-time, which is crucial to speedy and reliable diagnostics.
Effects of forming techniques on residual stresses in stiffening ribs of sandwich panels
Authors: Al-Sabur Raheem , Kubit Andrzej , Khalaf Hassanein I. , Ochał Kamil , Gradzik Andrzej , Korzeniowski Marcin , Slota Ján
Published: February 2024

This study investigates residual stresses in stiffening ribs of composite materials formed by stamping in a punch-die system. Using two-dimensional X-ray diffraction (XRD), we measured residual stresses on both the anterior and posterior sides. Three LITECOR® composite types, with core thicknesses of 0.8, 1.25, and 1.6 mm, were examined. Results indicate that as core thickness increases, residual stress values decrease on both sides. Notably, anterior side stresses on the y-axis are relatively higher (1027–1199 MPa) compared to the x-axis, exceeding posterior side values (998–1083 MPa) at 0.8 mm core thickness. Moreover, the study compares these values with Single Point Incremental Forming (SPIF) and finds that SPIF generally yields lower stress values for all core thicknesses. These findings suggest that SPIF is favourable for achieving minimal residual stress in LITECOR® composites. Addressing residual stresses is crucial for enhancing structural integrity and extending the service life of sandwich panels and composite materials.