bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disclosure of HIV/AIDS Status to Adolescents: Experiences of Care Givers in the Context of Culture Driven Setting in Katete District, Eastern Province, Zambia
Authors: Hamangaba Moses , Munakampe Margarate
Published: May 2024

Background
The population has been impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa in both direct and indirect ways. The epidemic has had a significant impact on those who care for HIV-positive people.
Methods
This study used a qualitative technique, namely a phenomenological design. Aiming to explain and analyze these meanings in the ways that they originate from and are molded by consciousness, language, our cognitive and non-cognitive sensitivities, as well as our preconceptions and presuppositions, phenomenological research is the study of lived or experiencing meaning. The 50-person sample size for this study was chosen to obtain a wide range of caregiver experiences regarding the disclosure and non-disclosure of HIV status among HIV-positive adolescents in the Katete District. Purposive sampling was used in the study's sampling technique to identify individuals who may offer insightful opinions on the research topic. A broad and representative sample was made possible by the deliberate selection of participants who met predetermined criteria.
Results
The emotional responses of both caregivers and adolescents following HIV/AIDS disclosure represent a shared journey marked by initial shock, sadness, and confusion. While adolescents may initially grapple with the emotional impact of their diagnosis, caregivers similarly experience profound emotional reactions. These parallel emotional experiences underscore the deep emotional bond between caregivers and adolescents. This bond forms the foundation for ongoing support, understanding, and shared resilience.
Conclusions
The techniques used by caregivers to disclose their HIV status were evaluated in this study, along with the facilitators and impediments to disclosure, and the effects that revelation had on adolescents' emotional, social, and physical well-being in the Katete District. The results shed important light on the disclosure procedure and how it affected the lives of the young people who were affected. According to this study, care-givers employ a variety of techniques that are adapted to their unique situations and the demands of teenagers.
A simple route of providing a soft interface for PEDOT:PSS film metallic electrodes without loss of their electrical interface parameters
Authors: Cysewska Karolina , Pawłowska Sylwia
Published: May 2024

The work presents the procedure of developing a soft interface at PEDOT:PSS film without changing its electrical interface parameters. In the first step, PEDOT:PSS is electrodeposited on the commercial platinum electrode under the state-of-the-art conditions desirable for different electrochemical electrodes. Secondly, a pure hydrogel layer is deposited on the top of the electrodeposited PEDOT:PSS film under conditions, that provide desirable mechanical properties (Young’s modulus ~ 10–20 kPa) and high permeability to ions from the solution. As a result, a PEDOT:PSS electrode with a soft interface desirable for different electrode applications is fabricated. The electrode exhibits electrical parameters at the same level as the state-of-the-art PEDOT:PSS film applied already for electrode applications. Moreover, the hydrogel layer supports additionally the electrochemical stability of the polymeric film by inhibiting its oxidative degradation. The work shows that the specific choice of the hydrogel type and fabrication conditions allows to synthesis of the hydrogel interface on a stiff polymeric film, which does not block the ionic and electrical transfer. Moreover, the fabricated PEDOT:PSS electrode with hydrogel interface reveals interfacial impedance and potential window comparable or even better to the already published studies on PEDOT:PSS hydrogels.
Application of carbon dioxide capture technology in the process of polyethylene foaming materials
Authors: Liu Xiaoke , Jin Shuang , Yang Jiaxin , Zhou Yuhui
Published: May 2024

Lightweight and multifunctional polymer foams reveal a promising prospect, in terms of reducing energy consumption, and saving materials and resources. Herein, carbon dioxide (CO2) was captured through three amines, such as ethylenediamine (EDA), 1,3-propylenediamine (PDA) and 1,2-cyclohexanediamine (TRK). CO2 then released under heat, used as a foaming agent in the preparation of polyethylene (PE) foams. Cyclodextrin nanosponge (NS) was used as a heterogeneous nucleating agent and a carrier for complex of captured CO2. Evaluation system was developed to control the conditions of combine process, such as thermal and crystallization properties. Results showed that TRK was the proper CO2 capture candidate, with mass ratio of 1:4 for NS and TRK (NS:TRK-CO2(1:4)), and the release temperature of CO2 was 137 ℃. Foamed PE composite was prepared by molding process with NS:TRK-CO2(1:4). The optimum cell morphology was obtained with 5 wt% NS:TRK-CO2(1:4), the cell diameter was 116 µm, and the cell density was 7.9×104 cell/cm3. The best fabricated microcellular PE/NS:TRK-CO2(1:4) composite presented excellent mechanical, thermal and sound insulating performance. The maximum tensile strength of the PE composite was 25.48 MPa, and the maximum bending strength was 11.27 MPa. The impact strength was 5.77 KJ•m-2, more than 1.5 times higher than pure PE. The thermal conductivity was as low as 0.076 W/m•k, the sound absorption coefficient was 0.737 at 1500 Hz, and the noise reduction coefficient was 0.459.
Investigating the pore evolution and fractal characteristics of carbonate rocks under dissolution
Authors: Wen Xiaosong , Wang Chen , Li Zichen , Yong Chaoyuan , Li Aoli
Published: May 2024

The dissolution of carbonate rocks under deep burial conditions significantly affects reservoir quality, garnering recent research attention. The study focuses on a carbonate rock formation in southwest China, where dissolution experiments are conducted using a self-constructed experimental platform. Pore mechanical characteristics, fractal properties, and pore structure of carbonate rocks were analyzed using fractal theory, mercury intrusion method, and rock triaxial compression experiments. Core characteristics and reservoir space types were determined through thin section observation, while the pre- and post-dissolution morphology of rock samples was examined under a microscope. The results suggest that dissolution alters the pore structure of carbonate rock, widening primary fractures, facilitating interconnection, and generating secondary fractures, thereby enhancing pore connectivity. Mean values of macropore fractal dimension (D1), mesopore fractal dimension (D2), and micropore fractal dimension (D3) range from 2 to 3. The fractal dimension (D1) of macropores decreases gradually with increased dissolution time, while that of mesopores (D2) and micropores (D3) increases. There is a robust correlation between fractal dimensions and reservoir physical properties, with higher values indicating a more complex micropore structure. Under constant pore pressure and confining pressure, the peak strength of carbonate rocks diminishes with prolonged dissolution time, while strain increases. Dissolution selectively dissolves minerals based on their composition and rock microstructure, with calcite exhibiting higher solubility than dolomite. Moreover, the specific surface area and porosity of rock sample pores positively correlate with dissolution time. These findings offer a theoretical framework for understanding the origin, distribution, and fractal characteristics of carbonate dissolution pores.
HLA class I peptidome analysis of synthetic long peptide-fed human dendritic cells for therapeutic vaccine design
Authors: Buschow Sonja , Kessler Amy , Doff Wouter , Pieterman Roel , Bezstarosti Karel , Bouzid Rachid , Klarenaar Kim , Jansen Diahann , Luijten Robbie , Demmers Jeroen
Published: May 2024

Synthetic long peptides (SLPs) are a promising vaccine modality that exploit dendritic cells (DC) to treat chronic infections or cancer. Currently, the design of SLPs relies on in silico prediction and multifactorial T cells assays to determine which SLPs are best cross-presented on DC human leukocyte antigen class I (HLA-I). Furthermore, it is unknown how TLR ligand-based adjuvants affect DC cross-presentation. Here, we generated a unique, high-quality immunopeptidome dataset of human DCs pulsed with 12 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-based SLPs combined with either a TLR1/2 (Amplivant®) or TLR3 (PolyI:C) ligand. The obtained immunopeptidome reflected adjuvant-induced differences, but no differences in cross-presentation of SLPs. We uncovered dominant (cross-)presentation on B-alleles, and identified 33 unique SLP-derived HLA-I peptides, several of which were not in silico predicted and some were consistently found across donors. Our work puts forward DC immunopeptidomics as a valuable tool for therapeutic vaccine design.
Genetic control of the resistance of tomato genotypes Yoshimatsu and Hawaii 7996 to Ralstonia solanacearum
Authors: Costa Djayran Sobral , Souza Elineide Barbosa , Carvalho Rejane Rodrigues Costa e , Costa Ester da Silva , Silva Adriano Márcio Freire e , Costa Kleyton Danilo da Silva , Filho José Luiz Sandes de Carvalho
Published: May 2024

Tomatoes are one of the most widely explored crops in breeding programs through hybridization and selection methods, with the aim of obtaining cultivars with better agronomic characteristics and resistance to diseases such as bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, which causes major economic losses. One of the first steps in obtaining new cultivars is to know the genetic control of the characteristics. The aim of this work was therefore to determine the genetic control of the resistance of the tomato genotypes Yoshimatsu and Hawaii 7996 to Ralstonia solanacearum and to determine whether the resistance loci that govern the trait in these materials are the same. The Yoshimatsu and Hawaii 7996 genotypes and the F1, F2, BC11 and BC21 generations were evaluated in one experiment and 60 F2:3 progenies in a second experiment. The severity of bacterial wilt was assessed using a descriptive scale of scores at 20 days after inoculation. Resistance to bacterial wilt caused by Ralstonia solanacearum has a distinct genetic control between the genotypes, being controlled by two genes of greater effect in recessive homozygosis in Yoshimatsu and only one gene with partial dominance action in Hawaii 7996.
Machine learning Algorithm Predicting Deep Vein Thrombosis Based on Blood Routine Analysis
Authors: Su Jie , Tang Yuechao , Wang Yanan , Chen Chao , Song Biao
Published: May 2024

In this study, the aim was to develop a diagnostic model for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) using routine blood analysis and to assess its efficacy in the early diagnosis of DVT. Data were gathered from DVT patients who received treatment at the Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University between January 2022 and June 2023. Ten blood routine indices—NEUT%, NEUT, LYMPH, MCH, MCHC, R-CV, PLT, PCT, Sex, and EO—were selected via SHAP plots. DVT prediction models were established using six different algorithms: K-nearest neighbor (KNN), logistic regression (LR), decision tree (DT), random forest (RF), support vector machine (SVM), and artificial neural network (ANN). All six models demonstrated an area under the curve (AUC) exceeding 0.8, an accuracy rate surpassing 70%, and sensitivity and specificity rates both above 70%. Notably, the RF model exhibited superior performance in evaluating the risk of lower limb venous thrombosis. This routine blood model, constructed based on commonly used clinical test parameters, shows promise in predicting DVT risk without imposing any additional medical burden on patients, warranting further investigation and validation.
Differences in homologous and heterologous cytoplasmic-nuclear interactions between cotton cytoplasmic male sterility lines (Gossypium barbadense L.)
Authors: You Jingyi , Li Min , Kong Xiangjun , Zhou Qiong , Hou Qingguang , Li Hongwei , Li Bin , Zhou Ruiyang
Published: May 2024

The utilization of crop hybrids plays an important role in crop breeding and production, and the innovation of the male sterile germplasm is the basis for this utilization. However, the utilization of hybrid advantage in cotton is currently dominated by cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) lines in Harknessi cotton, which has a single cytoplasmic origin and exhibits a significant negative effect of cytoplasmic-nuclear interactions. The negative effect of cytoplasmic-nuclear interactions can only be minimized by selecting and breeding CMS lines in which the cytoplasm and nucleus originate from the same variety. However, no homologous cytoplasmic-nuclear CMS germplasm has been created, and its mechanism of occurrence has not been determined. In this study, two homologous cytoplasmic-nuclear CMS lines and two heterologous cytoplasmic-nuclear CMS lines were utilized, and the heterologous cytoplasmic-nuclear CMS lines were aborted at a relatively early stage. The physiological indexes related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) metabolism in the heterologous cytoplasmic-nuclear CMS lines were lower than those of the homologous cytoplasmic-nuclear CMS lines, including the enzyme activities of POD and CAT from the tetrad to the mature pollen grain period, and the metabolite content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was inversely correlated with the enzyme activities of the heterologous cytoplasmic-nuclear CMS lines. Resequencing analysis of four cotton mitochondrial genomes (mt genomes) revealed that the heterologous cytoplasmic-nuclear CMS lines were more complex than the homologous cytoplasmic-nuclear CMS lines, and the homologous CMS lines showed a higher degree of covariance with the maintainer lines. This indicates that heterologous cytoplasmic-nuclear interactions are more likely to lead to mtDNA structural variation. Taken together, the results showed that the cytoplasmic-nucleus homologous system was less affected by the cytoplasmic-nuclear interaction and was the best combination for the study of male sterility.
Accurate Molecular Recognition from the Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbital
Authors: Zhou Xuehua , Yang Shingxing , Han Chao
Published: May 2024

The quantification of the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital level (LUMO) for molecular semiconductors is of great importance, because it determines the charge transport process and hence the performances of diverse electronic devices. Unfortunately, there is always lack of a convenient technique to determine the intrinsic LUMO. This work provides a reliable electrical spectroscopy by employing an easy-operating hot electron transistor, to make an accurate measurement. By taking advantage of a novel method, named the first derivative-assisted linear fitting method, the determination of the intrinsic LUMO becomes more scientific. Here, four kinds of molecular semiconductors are selected as the research objects and the values can be precisely decided even with a quite small difference in LUMO, which demonstrate the universality and the accuracy of our method. As expected, all the measured values are highly repeatable and it further confirms that we have provided a practical technique for the LUMO detection.
Study on dynamic and static properties of coal under the action of methane
Authors: Su Guorui
Published: May 2024

The study of the dynamic and static characteristics of coal plays a crucial role in understanding the formation mechanism of coal and gas composite rock bursts during underground coal mining. To investigate the impact of methane on the dynamic and static properties of coal, this research conducted static tests using variable stress upper limit cycle loading and unloading, as well as impact dynamic tests on coal specimens subjected to different pressure levels of methane. The test results reveal that the average static compressive strength of coal specimens decreases by 11.2%, 18.7%, 28.1%, and 35.1% respectively when exposed to pressures of 1 MPa, 2 MPa, 3 MPa and 4 MPa of methane. Under the same conditions, the average dynamic compressive strength of coal specimens deteriorates to a greater extent, decreasing by 20.4%, 36.6%, 45.6%, and 48.1% respectively. These findings indicate that the dynamic properties of coal are more sensitive to methane. Furthermore, the remaining elastic energy index CEF values of the coal specimens after methane treatment decrease by 10.4%, 16.7%, 18.6%, and 16.1% respectively. However, when the pressure exceeds 3 MPa, the CEF values rebound, suggesting a partial restoration of the impact tendency of the coal body. It is worth noting that an increase in CEF leads to a gradual growth in the multiple of dynamic parameters of the coal mass, indicating a direct influence of the impact tendency on the dynamic characteristics of the coal mass. These findings highlight the importance of improving relevant parameters in understanding the state of the coal mass.
Amphipod Distribution: Revisiting Latitudinal Patterns and Environmental Drivers
Authors: Momtazi Farzaneh , Saeedi Hanieh
Published: May 2024

Amphipods are known as umbrella species in conservation biology. Recent hypotheses suggested a bimodal latitudinal global distribution pattern for amphipods, irrespective of species' depth or habitat type. This study revisited this hypothesis with a comprehensive database collected from all open-access data and sampling database from the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. After rigorous data quality controls, the final dataset comprised 1,142,416 distribution records of 6,424 accepted marine amphipod species from 0 to 10,900 m depths divided into pelagic and benthic, shallow-water (> 200 m) and deep-sea (< 200 m) groups. Alpha and gamma species richness and the expected number of species per 50 random samples were calculated. Our findings did not show a bimodal distribution with latitude, excluding shallow-water species. The Beta diversity of benthic species revealed similarities between Gondwana and Laurasia lands. Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) emerged in the deep-sea realm, combining various environmental factors as a significant model, and in shallow waters, temperature, and chlorophyll levels emerged as the most influential factors for predicting benthic species richness. These findings emphasize the importance of considering depth and habitat type understanding amphipod biodiversity, and informing conservation efforts and policy decisions to protect these vital marine organisms from anthropogenic impacts.
Dynamic treatment units in forest planning improves economic performance over stand-based planning
Authors: Wilhelmsson Pär , Wallerman Jörgen , Lämås Tomas , Öhman Karin
Published: May 2024

High-resolution, wall-to-wall forest information enables precision-driven decision-making in forest management planning. In a case study we compare planning approaches using such information for solving long-term forest planning problems. The two first approaches are based on dynamic treatment unit (DTU) planning with high-resolution cells (12.5x12.5 m2) or segments (0.27 ha on average), respectively, solved with a cellular automata heuristics. The third approach is a traditional stand-based approach using stands (5.2 ha on average) and linear programming to solve the planning problem. Fixed costs associated with cutting operations are quantified as each treatment unit is charged with an entry cost of 10 000 SEK. The entry costs are included in the DTU approach while in the stand approach entry costs are applied accordingly in a post-optimization routine. In large, the analyses are based on open-access tools and data provided by Swedish authorities. The traditional stand approach produced plans with 5.2-2.7% lower net present value compared to DTU planning. Most of the differences were caused by greater suboptimal losses in plans produced with the stand approach, but entry costs were also lower in DTU plans. While forestry was less profitable, treatment units were more spatially compact with stands, especially compared to cell-based plans. Therefore, we reason that a combination of modelling of direct costs and use of spatial proxy variables, such as common border length, may be advisable in DTU planning to achieve compact and realistic treatment units. Finally, the results indicate that high-resolution data and DTU planning may better utilize forests’ potential of economic production, compared to the traditional stand approach.
Verified authors shape X/Twitter discursive communities
Authors: Guarino Stefano , Mounim Ayoub , Caldarelli Guido , Saracco Fabio
Published: May 2024

Community detection algorithms try to extract a mesoscale structure from the available network data, generally avoiding any explicit assumption regarding the quantity and quality of information conveyed by specific sets of edges. In this paper, we show that the core of ideological/discursive communities on X/Twitter can be effectively identified by uncovering the most informative interactions in an authors-audience bipartite network through a maximum-entropy null model. The analysis is performed considering three X/Twitter datasets related to the main political events of 2022 in Italy, using as benchmarks four state-of-the-art algorithms – three descriptive, one inferential –, and manually annotating nearly 300 verified users based on their political affiliation. In terms of information content, the communities obtained with the entropy-based algorithm are comparable to those obtained with some of the benchmarks. However, such a methodology on the authors-audience bipartite network: uses just a small sample of the available data to identify the central users of each community; returns a neater partition of the user set in just a few, easy to interpret, communities; clusters well-known political figures in a way that better matches the political alliances when compared with the benchmarks.
Our results provide an important insight into online debates, highlighting that online interaction networks are mostly shaped by the activity of a small set of users who enjoy public visibility even outside social media.
Barriers and Facilitators to Using an App-Based Tool for Suicide Safety Planning in a Psychiatric Emergency Department: A Qualitative Descriptive Study Using the Theoretical Domains Framework and COM-B Model
Authors: Shin Hwayeon Danielle , Durocher Keri , Kassam Iman , Kundurthi Sridevi , Torous John , Strudwick Gillian , Zaheer Juveria
Published: May 2024

Background
Emergency departments (ED) play a crucial role in suicide prevention, with evidenced-based safety planning interventions (SPI) playing an important role. Traditional safety plans, which are often paper based, come with challenges (i.e., not easily accessible, or easy to misplace). Digital safety planning tools offer an alternative mode of intervention delivery, but clinical implementation remains limited. Using behavioural change frameworks, we aim to provide insights into the factors influencing app adoption. These insights will be used as a knowledge base to design behavior change strategies to promote the implementation of a SPI app in a psychiatric ED.
Methods
We used a qualitative descriptive design to conduct semi-structured interviews with clinicians in a psychiatric ED in Toronto, Canada. Participants encompassed all ED staff, irrespective of their SPI app usage. The semi-structured interview guide was developed using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and the capability (C), opportunity (O), motivation (M) and behavior (B) (COM-B) model. We then used directed content analysis, identifying findings within the TDF and COM-B domains as barriers, facilitators, or both.
Findings:
A total of 29 ED clinicians were interviewed, including nurses, psychiatrists, social workers, program assistants, and a pharmacist. The majority had not used the app. We observed strong motivation among clinicians across all disciplines to use the app, and they considered SPI as a high-priority ED care strategy closely linked to their professional identity and responsibility. Anticipated barriers regarding the app as a new mode of SPI delivery in routine practice included: documentation, communication, care efficiency, and patient access to smartphones. Some barriers were attributable to the lack of interoperability between the app and the electronic health record and documentation infrastructure for the app.
Conclusion
We identified key behavioral factors influencing the implementation of the SPI app in the psychiatric ED. We found that tailored strategies are essential to address barriers, while leveraging facilitators can sustain implementation. Additionally, ongoing monitoring and adaptation of strategies are necessary, as new barriers may arise or facilitators may weaken over time, impacting the sustained use of the app in the ED. We will use these findings to inform the next phase of this work, which involves co-designing targeted and tailored implementation strategies.
Educational Take-off and the Role of Wealth
Authors: Battisti Michele , Gravina Antonio Francesco , Lavezzi Andrea Mario , Maggio Giuseppe , Tortorici Giorgio
Published: May 2024

What is the role of a society’s wealth in influencing educational choices? Although the theoretical literature provides several possible answers, from an empirical viewpoint answering this question is not straightforward. Indeed, nowadays such an issue cannot be typically inspected before starting the college, due to the compulsory public education laws in force at lower education levels in nearly all countries. We investigate this problem by employing a unique dataset covering Sicilian wealth shares and primary school enrollment in the year 1858 at municipal level. This represents an ideal setting to study our research question as, at that time, schools at the lowest grade levels were available in almost each Sicilian municipality, but their attendance was not compulsory. Our identification strategy relies on the historical heritage of seismic events in shaping mid-19th century land and property distribution, which allowed for the emergence of a class of “wealthy” households. Results of the analysis show that, even in an almost entirely agrarian society, household wealth played a decisive role in educational choices: an increase of 10% in the share of wealthy households implied an increase of approximately 0.6% of the share of students enrolled in primary schools. We discuss the implications of these results for the existing evidence on the nexus between wealth and education, and provide a number of falsification tests that support our main results. In addition, we document the long-lasting impacts of early wealth conditions on a series of institutional and economic outcomes.
JEL Classification: I24, O15, N93.
A Whole blood in vitro study on Stewart’s acid/base theory
Authors: Matri Jonas Lindstad , Tveit Sjur Hansen , Jónsson Pétur , Ingvaldsen Baard , Dejgaard Lars , Dahl Vegard
Published: May 2024

Objective
To determine whether two equimolar solutions of strong cations and weak anions with vastly different pH values are added to blood samples in vitro, the pH will be similar in both samples.
Design: prospective in vitro study.
Setting: University hospital research lab.
Subjects: Arterial human blood.
Intervention: We added either equimolar solutions of sodium hydroxide or sodium bicarbonate to the arterial blood samples and analysed them using Radiometer ABL 800 Flex. We then conducted a second experiment, increasing the carbon dioxide partial pressure to a similar level in each sample using the Equilibrator tonometer 300 from RNA Medical.
Measurements and Main Results
0.2 ml of equimolar solutions of sodium bicarbonate or sodium hydroxide 167 mmol/L were added to blood samples sealed with rubber stoppers. This resulted in notably different pH and SID levels between the two groups. In the sodium bicarbonate group, pH was stable at 7.44, and pCO2 increased to 6.3 kPa (mean). In the sodium hydroxide group, pH increased to 7.77, and pCO2 decreased to 2.22 kPa. When the amount of carbon dioxide was raised to an equal level in both groups (pCO2 8.9 kPa), simulating a respiratory acidosis, the pH and SID became similar. pH: NaOH 7.33 vs NaHCO3 7.32 and SID: NaOH 39 vs NaHCO3 39.
Conclusions
Since the SID and pH were similar in both groups after adding carbon dioxide, we can confirm our objective that when two equimolar solutions of strong cations and weak anions with vastly different pH values are added to blood, the pH will be similar in both samples in vitro. However, further experiments, preferably conducted in vivo, are required to confirm Stewart's theory thoroughly.
Transient efficacy of buparvaquone against Theileria haneyi in chronically infected horses
Authors: Onzere Cynthia K. , Hassan Amany , Sears Kelly , Kappmeyer Lowell S. , Villarino Nicolas F. , Fry Lindsay M. , Bastos Reginaldo G.
Published: May 2024

Background Theileria haneyi (T. haneyi) is one of the three known causative agents of equine piroplasmosis. While imidocarb is generally effective in the clearance of the highly pathogenic Theileria equi (T. equi), it is ineffective in the treatment of T. haneyi. Moreover, co-infection with T. haneyi has been shown to impede the successful treatment of T. equi. Furthermore, tulathromycin and diclazuril have demonstrated inefficacy in eradicating T. haneyi. The absence of an effective therapeutic agent against this parasite represents a significant obstacle in managing equine piroplasmosis.
Methods To address this issue, we evaluated the efficacy of buparvaquone in the treatment of T. haneyi in chronically infected horses.
Results and Conclusions Our findings showed that treatment of horses with the recommended dose of 2.5 mg/kg of buparvaquone led to a rapid abatement of T. haneyi levels, to a level where the parasites were not detectable by nested PCR. Following treatment, the horses remained PCR negative for a minimum of seven weeks until recrudescence occurred. Subsequent re-administration of buparvaquone at an increased dosage of 6 mg/kg upon recrudescence failed to exert a theilericidal effect on T. haneyi. Throughout the treatment regimen, the hematological parameters of the horses and most components of the chemistry panel remained within the normal range, except for blood urea nitrogen levels, which fell below the normal range in certain instances.
Coproduction of a mixed-method framework for the deprioritization of communities during insecticide-treated bed net mass campaigns in Kwara Nigeria
Authors: Ozodiegwu Ifeoma , Mhlanga Laurette , Bamgboye Eniola , Fagbamigbe Adeniyi , Ademu Cyril , Okoronkwo Chukwu , Akinyemi Joshua , Ogunwale Akintayo , Ajayi IkeOluwapo , Galatas Beatriz
Published: May 2024

Introduction
Limited funding in the Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 prompted Nigeria’s National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP) to adopt a strategy to deprioritize the least vulnerable communities for malaria during bed net mass campaigns. A deprioritization approach piloted in Ilorin, the capital of Kwara state, in collaboration with the NMEP, the state malaria control program, and implementing partners is presented.
Methods
We employed a mixed-method approach to identify communities where bed net distribution would not take place during the 2023 Ilorin mass campaign. Ten combinations of variables, including test positivity rates among under-five children, settlement classification, enhanced vegetation index, and distance to water bodies, were utilized to generate a malaria risk score and rank wards accordingly. Deprioritized wards were then selected, and after settlement classification, deprioritized communities were identified.
Results
The multi-stakeholder dialogue provided valuable insights into the most suitable variables for settlement classification and highlighted the limitations of each variable. As a result, two wards, Are 2 and Akanbi, were chosen for deprioritization, and criteria for selecting deprioritized communities were established. Characteristics distinguishing formal, informal, and slum settlements were identified and used to adapt a checklist for the classification of 188 communities within Are 2 and Akanbi 4. Ultimately, 13 communities characterized as formal settlements were deprioritized.
Conclusions
The process of deprioritizing communities necessitates stakeholder involvement to evaluate analysis outputs, especially in settings with limited data availability and uncertain data quality. We demonstrate how this can be accomplished and emphasize that ongoing evaluations will inform future enhancements to this framework and related processes. Moreover, there is a need for enhanced surveillance systems to support a more comprehensive approach to intervention tailoring that is in line with WHO recommendations.
A causal relationship between the lipidome and central nervous system tumors
Authors: Li yongxue , Lin Lihao , Zhang Wenhui , Wang Yan , GUAN YI
Published: May 2024

Background
The incidence of central nervous system (CNS) tumors is increasing. However, despite advances in treatment, the etiological factors and mechanisms remain poorly understood. Recent studies have increasingly linked the lipidome to the development of CNS tumors. However, the actual association between liposomes and nervous system tumors remains speculative and lacks definitive conclusions.
Methods
To address this gap, we used a Mendelian randomization approach to systematically evaluate the association between the lipidome and five common types of CNS tumors.
Results
Our findings revealed a causal association between 16 lipids and glioblastoma, six lipids and benign meningiomas, two lipids and pituitary tumors and craniopharyngiomas, three lipids and benign cranial nerve tumors, and two lipids and benign spinal cord tumors.
Conclusions
This study represents the first comprehensive examination of the association between lipid groups and common CNS tumors, offering crucial insights for further fundamental research into the etiology and clinical management of these conditions.
Experience of implementing metagenomic next-generation sequencing in patients with suspected pulmonary infection in clinical practice
Authors: Lai Yuting , Chen Binqi , Chen Sida , Shen Yan
Published: May 2024

Background Pulmonary infection remains one of the leading infectious diseases of hospitalization. Metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) has been proven to be a promising diagnostic technology in etiological identification for pulmonary infection. But when applying mNGS to clinical practice, physicians still face many challenges. Methods We retrospectively analyzed the data of 97 patients admitted to our hospital with suspected pulmonary infection prescribed to mNGS during the past 3 years. The clinical application of mNGS in the diagnosis and management of pulmonary infection and also challenges were investigated. Results Causative or possibly causative pathogens were detected in 63.9% of patients by mNGS, performing consistently well for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, non-tuberculous mycobacteria, fungus and rare pathogens. In 43.3% of patients, 65 microbes reported as causative or possibly causative pathogens by laboratory were reclassified as colonization after fully interpretation by physicians. Antibiotics were adjusted for 34.0% of patients mainly based on positive mNGS results and not adjusted for 41.2% with pathogens identified already covered by empirical therapy or negative mNGS results. Conclusions mNGS is a promising tool in etiological diagnosis of pulmonary infection. However, physicians should go beyond the reported pathogens by laboratory and investigate fully in clinical practice. The effect on clincal treatment deserves further investigation from aspect of cost effectiveness and also application scenarios should be illustrated.
A bio-economy model with reforestation value chain framework needed for sustainability and perpetuity in rehabilitated sites in IHR region
Authors: Ghosh Paromita
Published: May 2024

This study investigated the current status of five sites where rehabilitation of degraded land were carried out. The interventions were executed in most scientific manner which took into account the socio-economic and behavioural pattern of stakeholders involved in rehabilitation. Basic social and ecological parameters were also considered to evaluate the sustainability of the rehabilitated sites. Out of the five rehabilitated sites analysed, four sites that were handed over to stakeholders were not sustainable anymore while the site that is still under the institute management has reached an ideal state. All stake holders were engaged during the rehabilitation process and vegetation was established successfully. However the stakeholders were not able to reap the economic benefit post establishment of the sites which led to discontent and degradation of the rehabilitated sites. To make the sites sustainable beyond the intervention period, a site specific bio-economy model needs to be created along with reforestation value chain frame work (RVC) aimed at augmenting livelihood opportunities and economic growth from the rehabilitated site, to attain perpetuity. It is also envisaged that a minimum threshold area for rehabilitation needs to be calculated based on various productive agri-environmental schemes as enabling policy mechanism for sustainable restoration.
Removal of Mn2+ from Polluted Groundwater Using a Natural Ghanaian Brown coal: Batch experiments and geochemical modelling
Authors: Obiri-Nyarko Franklin , Darko Daniel Amoako , Quansah Jude Ofei , Asare Sandra Vincentia , Karikari Anthony Yaw
Published: May 2024

The study investigated the efficacy of natural Ghanaian brown coal (BC) in treating water contaminated with harmful levels of manganese (Mn2+). Batch adsorption experiments were performed to assess various factors, including Mn2+ concentration, BC dosage, temperature, and pH, to determine optimal conditions for Mn2+ removal. The thermodynamic and equilibrium studies indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous, favourable and endothermic. The highest adsorption occurred at pH 6. The adsorption kinetics was accurately described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, while the Langmuir isotherm excellently fit the experimental data, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 1.19 mg/g. The BC proved to be environmentally friendly and recyclable. Adsorption efficiency remained high (>80%) after 4 cycles of adsorption/desorption. However, the presence of competing cations (e.g., Cu2+) could impact its effectiveness. The adsorption mechanisms involved ion exchange with Ca2+, Mn2+, Na+, K+, and complexation with surface functional groups. The study in general suggests that the Ghanaian BC possesses favourable environmental characteristics and holds promise for Mn2+ removal in industrial applications.
Ensemble feature selection and tabular data augmentation with generative adversarial networks to enhance cutaneous melanoma identification and interpretability
Authors: Gómez-Martínez Vanesa , Chushig-Muzo David , Veierød Marit B. , Granja Conceição , Soguero-Ruiz Cristina
Published: May 2024

Background: Cutaneous melanoma, the most serious skin cancer, constitutes a considerable health burden in fair-skinned populations. Its increasing incidence highlights the need to develop automated computer-aided approaches that support dermatologists in melanoma detection. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI), jointly with the availability of public dermoscopy image datasets, have led to create data-driven models with high predictive performance, thus contributing to dermatology research. Despite these advantages, most image datasets present the class imbalance problem, where a few classes have numerous samples, whereas others are under-represented, impacting the performance of AI-based models.
Methods: In this paper, we propose to combine ensemble feature selection (FS) methods and data augmentation with the conditional tabular generative adversarial networks (CTGAN) to enhance melanoma identification in imbalanced datasets. We employed dermoscopy images from two public datasets, PH2 and Derm7pt, which contain melanoma and not-melanoma lesions. To capture intrinsic information from skin lesions, we conduct two feature extraction (FE) approaches, including handcrafted and embedding features. For the former, color, geometric and first-, second-, and higher-order texture features were extracted, while for the latter, embeddings were obtained using ResNet-based models. To alleviate the high-dimensionality in the FE, ensemble FS with filter methods were used and evaluated. For data augmentation, we conducted a progressive analysis of the imbalance ratio (IR), related to the amount of synthetic samples created, and evaluated the impact on the predictive results. To gain interpretability on predictive models, we used SHAP, bootstrap resampling statistical tests and UMAP visualizations.
Results: Experimental results showed that the combination of CTGAN and linear models achieved the best predictive results, achieving AUCROC values of 86% (with LASSO and IR=0.8) and 71% (with support vector machine and IR=0.9) for the PH2 and Derm7pt, respectively. We also identified that ‘melanoma’ lesions were mainly characterized by features related to color, while ‘not melanoma’ lesions were characterized by texture features.
Conclusions: Our results demonstrated the effectiveness of synthetic data to build generalizable models for melanoma prediction. Our work contributes to skin lesion research, helping in melanoma identification and the interpretation of main characteristics associated with melanoma.
The novel combination of mocetinostat and capecitabine has a greater anti-tumoral effect on induced breast cancer in BALB/c mice
Authors: KAYA Hacer , EROĞLU Onur
Published: May 2024

Background
Combining drugs has been suggested as a potential therapeutic approach to combat drug resistance and boost the effectiveness of cancer monotherapy regimens. The present study is intended to investigate the efficacy of the combination of histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) mocetinostat and the antimetabolite drug capecitabine in breast cancer treatment in a pre-clinical mouse model.
Methods and Results
Female mice were assorted into the control group, capecitabine group, mocetinostat group, and capecitabine plus mocetinostat group. At the end of the 21-day experimental period, the body weight, tumor weight, tumor tissue recorded, and lung tissue of the animals were examined histologically. The body weight of the mice in the drug-treated groups decreased by approximately 18%. Tumor weights decreased by 21% in the mocetinostat group, 27.5% in the capecitabine group, and 45% in the combined group. In lung tissue, it was observed that nodules decreased, tissue integrity was preserved with dual drug administration, and it was effective on metastases.
Conclusion
In summary, mocetinostat combined with capecitabine produced a synergistic effect on the inhibition of breast cancer and was more effective in reducing tumor size than single use.
Removing carbon, restoring trust: public perceptions of industry and community roles in U.S. carbon dioxide removal policy
Authors: Scott-Buechler Celina
Published: May 2024

In a nationally representative survey (N = 1,488), I examine public perceptions of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) governance, justice, moral hazard, and the role of the fossil fuel industry in transitioning towards net-negative emissions. Qualitative coding reveals cost and misplaced financial responsibility as the most common concern, followed by doubts about CDR’s effectiveness and distrust towards industry profit motives. The most frequently cited benefit was direct job creation, followed by improved air quality, and long-term climate change benefits. I find that public support for CDR policies is significantly influenced by partisan and sectoral endorsements, with environmental NGOs bolstering support overall but sometimes reducing support among Republicans. The public shows no evidence of identifying the risk of moral hazard among policymakers supportive of CDR. Strong preferences emerge for policies that hold polluting industries accountable for their CO2 emissions, public over private ownership, and significant community engagement in CDR projects, reflecting a demand for transparent and equitable CDR governance.
Effect of Land Use Dynamics on the Distribution of Chromolaena Odorata (Asteraceae) and Mesosphaerum Suaveolens (Lamiaceae), Two Invasive Alien Species in Benin, West Africa
Authors: AÏKPON Gorgias , GANGLO Jean Cossi
Published: May 2024

Invasive plants are now a major threat to biodiversity, agriculture and natural habitats around the world. It is now increasingly recognized that land uses are linked to invasion processes. Despite the various mutations and land cover changes observed in Benin, the expansion of invasive alien species in relation to land uses is poorly documented. This study, through systemic analysis and remote sensing, aims to investigate the link between land uses and the spread of Chromolaena odorata and Mesosphaerum suaveolens, two dominant invasive alien species in Benin, West Africa. This study sheds light on the structure of the different land cover classes and establishes the link between the distribution of invasive alien plants and the dynamics of land use in the study environment. A mapping of land use by object-oriented approach, a typology of landscape elements by a systemic analysis and verification on the ground were carried out. We noted that agricultural practices and the exploitation of natural resources are the main drivers of land use. Several land use units have been identified. It appeared that mosaics of crops and fallow land are the most dominated by invasive plants, followed by open forest, wooded and shrubby savannahs. The study also revealed that the degree of invasion is linked to antropic disturbance. This suggests that managed land should be reforested, and that heavy thinning in forests and savannahs should be avoided.
An attempt to promote intelligent petroleum processing: a look at how different programming languages works with deep learning models for gasoline quality detection
Authors: Alzahawi Abdullah H. , Issa Hayder M.
Published: May 2024

The current study explores how several programming languages affect deep learning models for gasoline quality detection, highlighting the significance of choosing the best appropriate language according to project needs. Featuring several scientific computations using an integrated development environment of the Visual Studio Code (VS Code) tool. This work has reached multiple outcomes: Python is known for its rapid development and adaptability, which are well-suited for exploring quality control techniques in petroleum products. Java is recognized for its stability and flexibility to work across many platforms, making it ideal for large-scale deployments that require dependable performance in refinery equipment. C/C++ is lauded for its speed and ability to manage hardware resources effectively, which is essential in real-time production settings, allowing for quick analysis and little delay in quality control processes. The study utilizes a deep learning architecture in Java, C, and Python, with frameworks such as Visual Studio Code to aid in model construction, with the goal of creating flexible tools for monitoring the dynamic quality of petroleum products.