bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Examination of flow birefringence induced by the shear components along the optical axis using a parallel-plate-type rheometer
Authors: Worby William Kai Alexander , Nakamine Kento , Yokoyama Yuto , Muto Masakazu , Tagawa Yoshiyuki
Published: May 2024

In this study, the concept of rheo-optics is applied that explores the flow birefringence caused by stress components along the optical axis of the camera since it is often overlooked in the traditional theories of photoelastic flow measurement. A novel aspect of this research is that it involved conducting polarization measurements on simple shear flows, specifically from a perspective in which a shear-velocity gradient exists along the camera's optical axis. A parallel-plate-type rheometer and a polarization camera are employed for these systematic measurements. The experimental findings for dilute aqueous cellulose nanocrystal suspensions demonstrates that the flow birefringence can be expressed as a power law based on the power of the second invariant of the deformation-rate tensor. This suggests that flow birefringence can be universally characterized by the coordinate-independent invariants and a pre-factor determined by the direction of polarization measurement. By adjusting the nonlinear term in the stress-optic law, its applicability could be expanded to include three-dimensional fluid stress fields in which the stress is distributed along the camera's optical axis.
Hydrogeochemical characteristics and nitrate distribution in groundwater in Weibei Plain, Northern China
Authors: Shi Long , Wu Chu , Pan Shibing , Wang Nan , Chen Weifan
Published: May 2024

Nitrate pollution in groundwater has become an issue that cannot be overlooked, specifically in areas where there is intense agricultural groundwater extraction. This study focuses on the Weibei Plain, where 46 shallow groundwater monitoring wells were selected for sampling during the dry and wet seasons in 2016 and 2021. The purpose of this study was to analyze the regional groundwater hydrogeochemistry and investigate the temporal or spatial variation of nitrate content. The results demonstrated that the groundwater in the study area had a weakly alkaline nature. The hydrochemical composition of the groundwater shifted from being dominated by HCO3-Ca-Mg in 2016 to HCO3-Na and SO4-Cl-Ca-Mg in 2021. The hydrochemical characteristics were predominantly impacted by both rock weathering and cation exchange. The average concentration of nitrate in the 184 samples was 25.93 mg/L, surpassing the drinking water limit of 20 mg/L. A significant correlation was observed between NO3- and Cl- as well as SO42-. The areas with high nitrate concentrations were predominantly located in the groundwater depression cone and regions with intensive agricultural activities, indicating that human activities were the main contributors to nitrate pollution. Furthermore, the nitrate concentration was significantly higher during the wet season compared to the dry season. This could be attributed to rainfall intensifying the infiltration of nitrate from the soil into the groundwater. Furthermore, there was a substantial increase in nitrate concentration in 2021 compared to 2016. This increase was primarily ascribed to the excessive exploitation of groundwater for irrigated agriculture, leading to a considerable influx of nitrate into the groundwater.
Nuclear ribosomal transcription units in Asian Paragonimus species (Paragonimidae: Platyhelminthes): structure, polymorphism, and implications for intersubordal phylogeny
Authors: Nguyen Khue Thi , Doan Huong Thi Thanh , Pham Khanh Linh Thi , Roan Do Thi , Agatsuma Takeshi , Doanh Pham Ngoc , Le Thanh Hoa
Published: May 2024

The complete coding sequences (from the 5’ terminus of 18S to the 3’ terminus of 28S rRNA genes) of ribosomal transcription units (designated as rTU*) of seven strains of five Asian Paragonimus species, excluding the unsequenced flanking ETS and IGS regions, were genetically characterized. The rTU* length was 7,661 bp for P. heterotremus (LC strain, Vietnam), 7,543 bp for P. iloktsuenensis (Amami strain, Japan), 6,932 bp for P. skrjabini miyazakii (OkuST1 strain, Japan), 7,422 bp for P. ohirai (Kino strain, Japan), and 8,616 bp (Megha strain, India), 7,292 bp (Bogil strain, South Korea), and 7,052 bp (QT2 strain, Vietnam) for P. westermani geographical samples, respectively. All Paragonimus strains' rRNA genes were equal in length: 1,977 bp for 18S, 160 bp for 5.8S, and 3,881 bp for 28S, except for P. s. miyazakii’s 18S rRNA gene, which was 1,974 bp. The ITS2 region in all Paragonimus species was 283 − 285 bp. The ITS1 lengths varied from 634 bp (P. s. miyazakii) to 2,313 bp (Indian P. westermani, Megha strain) due to the presence of tandem repeats, except P. s. miyazakii. The structural polymorphism in ITS1 is defined by the existence of 120 bp- or 121 bp-repeat units. The ITS1 and ITS2 sequences were capable of forming de novo “hairpin” (or stem-loop) and “loop” secondary structures, and the ITS2 shared a characteristic “four fingers” motif, which is likely conserved in trematodes. The base composition of A, T, G, and C, as well as skewness values of AT and GC content for 18S, 28S, 18S + 28S, and rTU*, indicated that T, A, and C were used equally frequently, with G being more common than C. These usages resulted in low negative AT-skew and low positive GC-skew. The PhyML software package was used to construct a comprehensive maximum-likelihood phylogeny from the alignment of 161 sequences of 28S D1 − D3 rDNA (1.1–1.3 kb) from 101 species of 62 genera and 23 families. Of these, 75 sequences came from 18 species of 6 genera from the suborder Troglotremata (previously, Troglotrematoidea). The phylogenetic tree clearly showed a well-supported phylogeny and clarified relationships within Paragonimidae as well as between families within the Troglotremata and Xiphidiata, Echinostomata, and Haplosplanchnata suborders, where Paragonimidae is monophyletic. There were two significant clusters: one was mixed-Paragonimus with a very tight group of P. heterotremus strains, and the other was P. westermani/siamensis, which was seperated into eight geographical/country strain groupings. Xiphidiata appears to be polyphyletic. The ribosomal datasets presented here will be valuable for taxonomic reappraisal as well as evolutionary and population genetics studies in the superfamily Troglotrematoidea (or suborder Troglotremata).
Biomechanical comparison of radiopalmar double plating with conventional palmar plating in comminuted distal radius fractures
Authors: Jäger Conrad-Friedrich , Spiegel Christian , Kohler Felix Christian , Kielstein Heike , Zderic Ivan , Gueorguiev-Rüegg Boyko , Hofmann Gunther , Lenz Mark , Weschenfelder Wolfram
Published: May 2024

Purpose The aim of this study is to analyse the effect of an additional radial buttress plate for palmar plate osteosynthesis in an AO/OTA 2R3 C2.1 fracture model.Methods Nine pairs of fresh-frozen radii were examined for pathology and bone density and assigned pairwise to 2 groups. Palmar fixation was performed with a variable-angle palmar locking plate in one of the groups and supplemented with a radial buttress plate in the other. An AO/OTA 2R3 C2.1 fracture was created. Biomechanical testing was conducted using an established protocol including. Stiffness, range of motion, and individual fragment movements and rotations were evaluated.Results No implant failure was observed. Among all specimens, stiffness increased (p < 0.01) and overall range of motion decreased (p = 0.02). The mobility of the ulnar fragment to the shaft during cyclic testing was smaller with double plating, initially and finally (p ≤ 0.01). Fragment movements increased in the course of testing and were significant for the radial movement among all specimens (p < 0.01). The initial rotation of the ulnar fragment and the final rotation of the radial fragment in relation to the shaft were lower with double plating (p ≤ = 0.05). There was an increase in rotation of the ulnar fragment to the shaft of all radii during cyclic testing (p = 0.048) and the rotation of the ulnar fragment to the shaft was lower than that of the radial fragment (p < 0.02).Conclusion Biomechanically, the radial buttress plate in addition to a common palmar locking plate demonstrated an advantage in the fixation of comminuted distal radius fractures.
Educational Environment Perception in Last Year Medical Students at Pontificia Universidad Católica Del Ecuador a Descriptive Study
Authors: Salazar-Erazo Fabian , Salazar-Erazo Carolina , Alvear-Duran Susana , Sanchez-del-Hierro Galo
Published: May 2024

Background: Education represents a challenge for higher education institutions: making students see the value of solving real-world problems and encouraging them to learn independently. This means creating situations such as those students might encounter in their careers. Students will be subject to an educational environment that certainly influences their perception, triggering feelings of motivation and satisfaction. Since these feelings can improve learning, it is important to understand how students perceive their educational environment, enabling universities to proactively address their needs and concerns.Methods: The Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) scale is a validated tool for measuring the educational environment used in various universities. This scale provides an objective assessment of each student's individual perception. The scale was applied to 110 students who responded to the survey virtually in the first period of 2022, describing the mean, median and mode along with the total on the scales. Additionally, the SCIMAGO ranking in 2022 was used for comparative purposes among different universities worldwide.Results The consolidated scores of the subscales show that learning perception was 26.25/48 (54.68%), teacher perception was 23.15/44 (52.61%), academic self-perception was 19.6/32 (61.25%), atmosphere perception was 24.92/48 (51.91%), social self-perception was 14.91/28 (53.25%), and the total score was 108.81/200. This global score represents 54.4%, which is low compared with the scores reached from other universities in the same ranking.Conclusions The educational environment is fundamental for the development of students. At this university, there is a slightly more positive than negative perception according to the lower limits set. It is necessary to pay attention and focus efforts to correct in the three categories where a good score was not obtained: perception of teachers, atmosphere perception, and social perception.
Sentiment Analysis of Movie Review Using Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Solanki Sweta , Trivedi Krutika
Published: May 2024

Text mining is a process of identifying meaningful information from text-based data. A large amount of data in the form of reviews and tweets is available on the web. It is difficult to manually read these reviews and assign sentiments to them; therefore, an automated system can be created that analyses the text and extracts user precepts. In this system, sentiment analysis is performed on collected restaurant reviews. The implemented system performs sentiment analysis on the available restaurant review data. This result can provide an opinion that is positive or negative. In the baseline system, we demonstrate two different feature extraction techniques. First, the bag-of-words model is used for feature extraction. The second technique used was the term frequency-inverse document frequency scores. We examined the effectiveness of several N-gram ranges using the naïve Bayes classifier. We analyze the results of the baseline system and the scope of improvement in the results using the word embedding technique. The CNN model efficiently extracts higher level features using convolutional layers and max pooling layers. The LSTM model is capable of capturing long-term dependencies between word sequences. We propose a hybrid model using LSTM and a CNN model, named the Hybrid CNN-LSTM Model, to overcome the sentiment analysis problem. We obtained improved accuracy for sentiment analysis on the IMDB movie review dataset.
Disruption of the Circadian Rhythm Is Exacerbated by Aging and Ameliorated by Time- restricted Feeding
Authors: Huo Fengjiao , Liu Qing , Lv Shuyao , Liu Yue , Zhu Xiaoqi , Huang Ce , Feng Shengyu , Wang Hao , Xu Siling , Shen Junyan , Gao Jiaming , Su Tingting , Wu Yating , Jiang Ruichan , Zhu Jian-Kang , Liu Hailiang
Published: May 2024

Background: Circadian rhythms exist across species, and circadian rhythm disorder (CRD) occurs in people of all ages and is prevalent in those with age-related neurodegenerative diseases. The gut microbiota changes with age and a significant proportion of gut microbes show circadian rhythms in their homeostasis. Dysregulation of gut microbial homeostasis is likewise a neurodegenerative disease trigger.
Results: In this study, to investigate the relationship between aging, CRD, and the gut microbes, we created a model of CRD by controlling the light/dark cycle, and found that aging aggravated their cognitive impairment and mood disorders. This was accompanied by a loss of gut microbial homeostasis, impairment of the intestinal barrier, and systemic inflammation in aged mice with CRD. The abnormal expression pattern of circadian genes underpin the age-related expression pattern of ifi27l2, thereby exacerbating oxidative stress. In addition, time-restricted feeding (TRF) ameliorated the negative effects of CRD in aged mice by enriching Akkermansia_muciniphilaand inhibiting the NOD-like signaling pathway.
Conclusion: Aged mice show more severe impairments in response to stress, likely due to inflammation from gut microbes and circadian gene dysregulation. Maintaining a regular eating schedule can help reduce these effects.
CTSC promotes tumorigenesis in bladder cancer by activating Wnt/β-Catenin signaling
Authors: Wang Xinsheng , Jia Yong , Wang Dawen
Published: May 2024

Cathepsin C (CTSC) participates in the development of numerous cancers. The function of bladder cancer (BCa) is still largely unknown. Bioinformatics prediction, RT-qPCR assay, and Western blotting assay determined the level of expression of CTSC in BCa tissues, para-cancer tissues, BCa cells, and normal uroepithelial cells (SV-HUC-1). Colony formation assay, CCK-8 assay, and Transwell assay were utilized to ascertain the involvement of CTSC in BCa. In addition, the effect of CTSC on BCa was further studied by animal experiments in vivo. The findings affirmed that CTSC exhibited a heightened expression level in BCa cells and tissues, and the overexpression of CTSC substantially enhanced the activity, proliferation, migration, and invasion of BCa cells, while suppression of CTSC repressed the above biological phenotypes. CTSC could both activate the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway and up-regulate DIAPH3 expression. Overexpression of CTSC combined with knockdown of DIAPH3 could partially reverse the impact of CTSC on the biological behavior of BCa cells and the Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway activation. CTSC could up-regulate DIAPH3 and activate the aforementioned pathway to enhance the activity, proliferation, migration, and invasion of cells from BCa.
Development of a Sorbitol Membraneless Alkaline Fuel Cell with AgMnO 2 /C and Ag/C Cathode Catalysts
Authors: Chaiburi Chakkrapong , Chayboonchoo Pintira , Dampat Supansa
Published: May 2024

The primary aim of this study was to synthesize catalysts suitable for both the anode and cathode of sorbitol fuel cells. The catalysts investigated in this research included Ag/C, AgMnO2/C, and Pd/C. To begin the investigation, the physical properties of these catalysts were examined using SEM, EDS, and XRD techniques. The catalysts were found to have small, densely packed and lumpy particles, according to the results. The next phase of the study involved the use of cyclic voltammetry to evaluate the electrochemical properties of sorbitol oxidation in alkaline fuel cells. The Pd/C catalyst showed a maximum current density of 0.54 mA.cm− 2 at a sorbitol concentration of 0.1 M. In the reduction procedure, the Ag/C and AgMnO2/C catalysts were similarly evaluated using identical sorbitol solution concentration ratios in a 0.1 M alkaline KOH solution. Notably, the reduction reaction was hampered when the catalysts were diluted with sorbitol solution due to their oxidation resistance. In the evaluation of catalyst performance, it was found that the electrocatalysts with the Pd/C anode and AgMnO2/C cathode exhibited a higher power density than those with the Pd/C anode and Ag/C cathode. The AgMnO2/C catalyst was effective in facilitating the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and enhancing alkaline electrolyte solutions.
Under Voltage Control approach using CHI for Solar PV Integration in Grid
Authors: Sharma Pankaj Kumar , Singh Pushpendra , Choube S. C. , Titare L S
Published: May 2024

The primary focus in managing voltage source converters (VSC) integrated with the grid during abnormal conditions lies in maintaining both voltage stability and power quality. This study introduces a novel control approach tailored for regulating solar photovoltaic (PV) systems connected to the grid using a Crosslink Harmonizer Integrator (CHI) Filter. The system adopts a double-stage three-phase topology. Its core objective is to ensure continuous power transmission from the PV system to the grid, even under diverse abnormal grid circumstances. Under normal operating conditions, power is supplied to the grid with a unity power factor (UPF). However, in the face of grid voltage fluctuations, the control scheme adjusts the Point of Common Coupling (PCC) voltage within specified limits by injecting reactive power. To maximize system utilization during periods of no PV generation, such as night time, the VSC and DC link capacitor serve as a Distribution Static Compensator (DSTATCOM). Notably, this approach maintains power quality without sacrificing traditional control techniques. The efficacy of the proposed control methodology is verified through MATLAB simulation. Furthermore, a comparative analysis against state-of-the-art techniques underscores the effectiveness of the proposed control strategy.
Trends in the integration of medical corporation hospitals in Japan: a national wide longitudinal study between 2017 and 2021
Authors: Funada Satoshi , Luo Yan , Kato Hirotaka , Yoshioka Takashi , Uno Shunsuke , Honda Kimiko , Akune Yoko , Goto Rei
Published: May 2024

Background
Medical corporations, which aim to operate hospitals, clinics, or long-term care facilities, account for more than half of all hospital beds and play a central role in the health care system in Japan. However, limited analysis of hospital integration has been performed. Examining the hospital integration trends of medical corporations can provide valuable insights for optimizing health care delivery and resource allocation in Japan. This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of trends in the hospital integration of medical corporations and market concentration in Japan using nationwide longitudinal data.
Methods
This longitudinal study evaluated the hospital integration of medical corporations in Japan between 2017 and 2021 using medical corporation financial data provided by the Neostage Company. The target population was medical corporations that own hospitals in Japan. The primary outcomes were the horizontal and vertical integration of medical corporation hospitals. Horizontal integration was defined as the integration of two or more hospitals within the same corporation, while vertical integration was defined as the integration of a hospital with different types of health care facilities, such as clinics or long-term care facilities, within a single medical corporation. The Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) was calculated to measure hospital market concentration using hospital bed data for medical corporations in all prefectures.
Results
The number of hospitals and hospital beds within medical corporations decreased from 5,670 and 848,174 in 2017 to 5,486 and 814,462 in 2021, respectively. Both horizontal and vertical integration among medical corporation facilities showed a gradual upward trend, increasing from 24.92% and 55.75% in 2017 to 26.92% and 59.42% in 2021, respectively. The mean (SD) HHI increased slightly from 262.7 (178.6) in 2017 to 275.2 (187.9) in 2021, with rural areas being more concentrated than urban areas, although both remained unconcentrated.
Conclusions
This longitudinal study revealed a gradual downward trend in the number of hospitals and hospital beds owned by medical corporations, while horizontal and vertical integration gradually progressed without any particular medical corporation dominating the market. These findings are expected to contribute to policy-making efforts aimed at providing optimal health care services in Japan.
Assessing the Impact of Big Data Analytics on Manufacturing Transformation Services in the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Authors: Younus Muhammad , Nurmandi Achmad , Mutiarin Dyah , Harisa Fabian Fadhlurrohman
Published: May 2024

The invention of new technologies has enabled the development of the manufacturing industry, from mechanical systems to highly automated assembly lines. The Industry 4.0 Concept requires self-sufficient factories, self-prediction, self-comparison, self-reconfiguration, and self-maintenance. Service innovation and industrial big data are receiving more attention from academia and industry. This article discusses managing manufacturing transformation services in the era of the Industrial Revolution 4.0 in the big data environment and the readiness of intelligent predictive informatics tools. This paper focuses on the basic concepts of Industry 4.0 and the current state of the manufacturing system. It also identifies research gaps between existing systems and Industry 4.0 requirements. The main contribution is the Industry 4.0 implementation structure, which consists of a multi-layered framework that can help people understand and achieve the requirements of Industry 4.0. The most cited members in this cluster are ten life cycles, eight construction industries, and eight learning systems. This study found that the number of publications on Big Data and Industry has increased overall in the last six years, with China being the most powerful country. It also found several other sub-topics related to Big Data and Industry, such as big data Analytics, Risk Management, and Industrial Revolution.
Personalised Exercise Rehabilitation in Cancer Survivorship: Findings from a Triage and Referral Implementation study
Authors: Brennan Louise , Sheill Grainne , Collier Sonya , Browne Peter , Donohoe Claire , Guinan Emer
Published: May 2024

Purpose: Screening, triage and referral systems are proposed as efficient, needs-based models of cancer rehabilitation. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and real-world application of the PERCS Triage and Referral system.
Methods: Utilising a pre-post design, the reach, effectiveness, and implementation of PERCS was evaluated quantitatively in the context of a physiotherapy-led clinic for patients diagnosed with cancer during COVID-19. Assessments at baseline and 12-weeks (T1) included medical, social and physical activity history, patient-reported outcomes, and performance-based measures. Following assessment, the PERCS system allocated participants to one of three exercise pathways.
Results: Sixty-four participants were recruited over 5 months (25.2% recruitment rate; female n=39; mean age 61.4 (12.4) years). Almost all participants (90.6%) required support to become more physically active. The majority (n=43, 66%) were referred to community exercise programmes and n=15 (23%) required physiotherapy rehabilitation. Five required medical pre-clearance and one was re-triaged at 1-week. Mean cost per participant for community exercise services was €107.70.
At T1, adherence to physical activity guidelines increased for aerobic (44% to 83%) and resistance (13% to 67%) exercise. Improvements were observed in hand grip strength (x̄ 2.59kg, p=0.001), 30 second sit-to-stand (x̄+3.7stands, p<0.001) and 6-minute walk test (x̄ +37.3m, p=0.001).
Conclusion: PERCS appropriately triaged patients to the right level of exercise and rehabilitation for individual needs and was effectively implemented. Participants experienced improvements in physical activity and physical functioning metrics.
Implications for Cancer Survivors: Triage and referral systems can support effective and patient-centred implementation of exercise into cancer care.
ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT05615285
Exploring the Relationship of Integrated Behavioral and Primary Healthcare with Wellness Profiles
Authors: Fields Alexander , Limbert Dodie , Starrett Angie
Published: May 2024

We aimed to describe a potential relationship between an adult’s wellness and the level of care (LOC) they received in their counselling services. Through an online survey panel, we recruited clients who received counselling over the last 12 months (N = 466). Participants responded to questions about their demographics, health, and mental health history, the LOC for their counselling or therapy, and 5F-WEL (Myers & Sweeney, 2005). We analyzed the data using latent profile analysis (LPA), profiles were developed based on their responses to the 5F-WEL second order factors. We found four profiles as an appropriate solution, each had significant differences in age, sexuality, race and ethnicity, degree, work status, marriage status, and mental health diagnoses. The LOC was not significant. Our results inform practitioners, counselor educators, and policymakers on the impact IC has on an individual’s wellness, and inform future research on the relationship between wellness and IC.
Effect of soil characteristics on compressive strength of cement stabilized earth blocks: Statistical analysis and Artificial Neural Networks model
Authors: Sathiparan Navaratnarajah , Jeyananthan Pratheeba
Published: May 2024

This study investigates using machine learning techniques to predict the compressive strength of cement-stabilized earth blocks (CSEBs). CSEBs are a promising sustainable construction material, but their compressive strength depends on various soil characteristics. Accurately predicting this strength is crucial for design and construction purposes. The research analyzes the influence of several soil properties, including particle size distribution, Atterberg limits, and compaction test results, on the compressive strength of CSEBs. For this purpose experimental program was conducted using nine different soils and three different cement contents to prepare the CSEBs. Additionally, it explores the efficacy of an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model in predicting this strength based on these soil characteristics. The findings reveal that cement content significantly impacts compressive strength, followed by other factors like the coefficient of curvature, sand content, and liquid limit. Utilizing SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations) analysis allows for interpreting the model and identifying the key features influencing its predictions. Focusing on a reduced set of crucial features identified through SHAP analysis can maintain acceptable prediction accuracy while reducing data acquisition efforts. This research signifies the potential of machine learning, particularly ANN models, for accurately predicting the compressive strength of CSEBs based on their soil properties. This advancement can contribute to the efficient and sustainable development of constructions utilizing CSEBs.
The conspicuous consumption phenomenon in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alotaibi Mohamed Meteb
Published: May 2024

With Saudi Arabia’s tendency to implement a policy of economic openness to the outside world in the early 1980s of the last century, the phenomenon of conspicuous consumption (Society of consumption and imitation) has increased. Under the increasingly growing of the economic globalization phenomenon and the spread of multi-national companies which market and promote their products over different mass media, the phenomenon has remarkably increased till its shadows covered the low-income groups. Therefore, the low-income groups looked for illegal fast-earnings to cope with different patterns of this phenomenon. Consequently, the economic inflation rates have increased with the sharp increase of corruption and illegal earning while looking for fast richness and achieve social dominance and prestige. The research aims to identify the concept and fields of this phenomenon at the economic and social aspects. It aims, then, to clarify the most significant factors affecting this phenomenon and its subsequent economic and social effects and risks. The research has used social survey through the design of a sample questionnaire form for (300) respondents in three different areas in Saudi Arabia. The study introduces appropriate recommendations to curb the exacerbation of this phenomenon in the future.
Legionella maintains host ubiquitin homeostasis by effectors with unique catalytic mechanisms
Authors: Luo Zhao-Qing , Fu Jiaqi , Li Siying , Xian Wei , Zhang Zhengrui , Chen Tao-Tao , Liu Yao , Lu Qiuhua , Ouyang Songying , Das Chittaranjan , Liu Xiaoyun , Song Lei , Guan Hongxin , Li Chuang , Guan Qingtian , Wang Jingting , Li Jinyu , Kang Lina , Zheng Si-Ru , Cao Shoujing
Published: May 2024

The reversal of ubiquitination induced by members of the SidE effector family of Legionella pneumophila produces phosphoribosyl ubiquitin (PR-Ub) that is potentially detrimental to host cells. Here we show that the effector LnaB functions to transfer the AMP moiety from ATP to the phosphoryl moiety of PR-Ub to convert it into ADP-ribosylated ubiquitin (ADPR-Ub), which is further processed to ADP-ribose and functional ubiquitin by the (ADP-ribosyl)hydrolase MavL, thus maintaining ubiquitin homeostasis in infected cells. Upon being activated by Actin, LnaB also undergoes self-AMPylation on tyrosine residues. The activity of LnaB requires a motif consisting of Ser, His and Glu (S-HxxxE) present in a large family of toxins from diverse bacterial pathogens. Our study not only reveals intricate mechanisms for a pathogen to maintain ubiquitin homeostasis but also identifies a new family of enzymes capable of protein AMPylation, suggesting that this posttranslational modification is widely used in signaling during host-pathogen interactions.
Effects of the Mixed Seeding Rate of Milkvetch on Fertilizer Substrate, Growth, and Carotenoid Levels of Baby Leaf Vegetables in Vertical Indoor Farming
Authors: Ju J.H. , Jin H.J. , Yoon Y.H. , Shin S.H.
Published: May 2024

During this study, an indoor experiment was conducted to determine the effect of mixed seeding rates of legumes used as green manure on the substrate fertilizer, growth characteristics, and bioactive compounds of baby leaf vegetables. The mixed seeding treatment was designed for milkvetch (Astragalus sinicus L.), tatsoi (Barassica rapa L.), kale (Brassica oleracea var. sabellica L.), and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) using five rates for each. Accordingly, a total of 15 treatments (3 baby leaf species × 5 mixed seeding rates) were constructed using a randomized complete block design with three replications for each treatment. During the baby leaf vegetable harvest, we evaluated the macronutrient levels (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) in the substrate as well as the growth parameters and carotenoid contents. The substrate in the treatment mixed with milkvetch showed significantly higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compared with those of tatsoi and kale sown alone (P ≤ 0.05). However, there were no significant differences in macronutrients observed in substrate-sown spinach with or without the milkvetch mixture. The growth and carotenoid levels of each baby leafy vegetable sown alone were significantly higher than those of each baby leafy vegetable sown with the mixed seeding treatment (P ≤ 0.05). Sowing the milkvetch–vegetable mixtures did not result in a significant increase in the growth and carotenoid levels of the three baby vegetables. The results showed that planting milkvetch with tatsoi and kale had a significant impact on substrate fertilization. However, regarding short-term vertical indoor farming, the growth and carotenoid responses of the three greens may be different. Nonetheless, we still believe that the combined interactions of legumes can provide long-term benefits by enhancing the biological functionality of the growing medium for balanced indoor agriculture production.
Clustering countries of the world according to their business practices in agriculture
Authors: Dobrovolska Olena , Schmidtke Knut , Lastovchenko Pavlo , Odnoshevna Olga , Tkachenko Oleksandr
Published: May 2024

The study aims to cluster countries worldwide by business practices in the agrosector to reveal trends and specifics in applying sustainable methods in agrobusiness management. The analysis covers 26 countries from the OECD database as of 2021. The Word and k-means clustering methods are based on General Services Support Estimate indicators from the OECD: share of agricultural knowledge and innovation system, share of inspection and control, share of development and maintenance of infrastructure, share of cost of public stockholding, which has a determining, statistically significant influence on the formation of clusters. The first cluster included three Asian countries; China is the leader (share of agricultural knowledge and innovation system – 6,529.7 million USD, share of inspection and control – 3177.9 million USD, share of development and maintenance of infrastructure – 12,874.7 million USD, share of cost of public stockholding – 14,668.5 million USD). The second cluster comprised six countries, with the USA as the leader (share of agricultural knowledge and innovation system – 2,908.4 million USD, share of inspection and control – 1,298.0 million USD, share of development and maintenance of infrastructure – 2,392.5 million USD). The third cluster has 17 countries, with Canada being singled out (share of inspection and control – 631.8 million USD and share of agricultural knowledge and innovation system – 683.1 million USD). The results indicate the diversity of countries’ approaches to support and develop their agrosector. Advanced Asian countries and the US invest significant resources in innovation, infrastructure development, and quality control, underscoring their commitment to food security, efficiency, and sustainability.
Scale effects and implications of the stochastic structure of customer water demands
Authors: Díaz Sarai , González Javier , Lansey Kevin , Pointl Michael
Published: May 2024

The effect of different temporal (from seconds to months) and spatial aggregation scales (from individual users to full urban areas) on water demand behavior has been explored to a limited degree. The effort described here extends those works by evaluating the scale effects of residential water consumption in a unique US data set that covers 10,000 households with a 1-gallon (3.79 L) hourly resolution over 2 years. A preliminary data analysis and a sequential Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is carried out to assess the effect of different temporal (weekly, daily, hourly) and spatial aggregation (individual meters and groups every 10, 100 and 1,000 meters) levels on demand. Results show that individual users act very differently from each other, and individual consumer variability is only canceled out when a significant number of households are aggregated. The implications of this finding are assessed from a hydraulic modeling perspective as the spatiotemporal scale of measurements may condition the type of analysis that can be carried out in practice. However, additional work is needed to explore the point at which it may be worth embracing a micro (per fixture/household) or a macro (per node/network) approach for different purposes.
Hydrogeochemical evolution and processes based on multivariable statistical and inverse simulation modeling: A coal mine in the Northern Coalfield, China
Authors: Zhu Jingzhong , Li Wenping , Zhao Baoxin , Jiang Qilin
Published: May 2024

Considering groundwater from the aquifers overlying the bedrock is an important water source for drinking purposes. As such, the investigation of its property is essential. Based on the spatial structure of aquifers in the study area, the aquifers in the Cenozoic strata are divided into three groups. The multivariate statistical approaches are employed to identify the hydrogeochemical processes and hydro-chemical types, and hydrogeochemical inverse modeling is applied to further validate and elucidate the hydrogeochemical process and water–rock interaction. The results are as follows: (1) The hydro-chemical type of the upper aquifer is dominated by the K + Na-HCO3 type, while others have similar water quality types, which are dominated by the K + Na-Cl type and the K + Na-SO4 type. (2) The saturation index of anhydrite, gypsum, halite, and CO2(g) is below zero in three aquifers, indicating that they are unsaturated. While aragonite, calcite, and dolomite in the middle aquifer remain in the unsaturated–saturated state. (3) The cation exchange process accelerating the reduction of Ca2+ concentration and the increase of SO42− concentration occurs in three aquifers, and the dissolution of calcite and dolomite minerals occurs in most cases. This study supports the fundamental evidence for the hydrogeochemical processes and water resource utilization and has a certain practical significance.
A Review on Indole-triazole Molecular Hybrids as a Leading Edge in
Drug Discovery: Current Landscape and Future Perspectives
Authors: Rohilla Suman , Goyal Garima , Berwal Paras , Mathur Nancy
Published: May 2024

Molecular hybridization is a rational design strategy used to create new ligands or pro-totypes by identifying and combining specific pharmacophoric subunits from the molecular struc-tures of two or more known bioactive derivatives. Molecular hybridization is a valuable technique in drug discovery, enabling the modulation of unwanted side effects and the creation of potential dual-acting drugs that combine the effects of multiple therapeutic agents. Indole-triazole conju-gates have emerged as promising candidates for new drug development. The indole and triazole moieties can be linked through various synthetic strategies, such as click chemistry or other cou-pling reactions, to generate a library of diverse compounds for biological screening. The achieva-ble structural diversity with indole-triazole conjugates offers avenues to optimize their pharmaco-kinetic and pharmacodynamic attributes, amplifying their therapeutic efficacy. Researchers have extensively tailored both indole and triazole frameworks with diverse modifications to compre-hend their impact on the drug's pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics. The cur-rent review article endeavours to explore and discuss various research strategies to design indole-triazole hybrids and elucidate their significance in a variety of pathological conditions. The in-sights provided herein are anticipated to be beneficial for the researchers and will likely encour-age further exploration in this field.
Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography for the Analysis of
Pharmaceutical Formulations
Authors: Radoičić Aleksandra , Šegan Sandra , Dramićanin Aleksandra , Milojković-Opsenica Dušanka
Published: May 2024

For a long time, Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography (RPLC) was the most dominant
technique for the analysis of pharmaceutical compounds, but with poor efficiency in the separation of
small polar molecules. From the efforts to solve the problem of insufficient retention of these molecules,
during the last decades, a mode of liquid chromatography named Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid
Chromatography (HILIC) has experienced vast expansion. It is based on the use of a highly hydrophilic
stationary phase along with an aqueous mobile phase with high organic modifier content. In
this review, the characteristics of stationary and mobile phases used in HILIC are described, and corresponding
separation mechanisms are discussed. An overview of recently published papers dealing
with the application of HILIC in analyzing pharmaceuticals in biological and non-biological samples
is provided. Besides, the application of HILIC systems in the determination of the physicochemical
properties of compounds is described.
Factors that Affect the Performance of Health Workers in Providing Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care
Authors: Yusrawati   , Respati Titik , Suwarsi Sri , Muhardi   , Dasman Hardisman , Yanis Amel
Published: May 2024

Background

Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) at a tertiary hospital aims to provide sub-specialistic care for life-threatening maternal and neonatal emergency cases. The performance of healthcare workers (HCWs) is a key determinant of the quality of this hospital service, as it could eventually affect the clinical outcome of patients.

Objectives

This study was performed to analyze the factors affecting the performance of HCWs in providing CEmONC services at a tertiary hospital.

Methods

This cross-sectional research used an online questionnaire through Google Form (Google LLC, USA) from June to July 2022 distributed to 198 HCWs who contributed to CEmONC services at a tertiary hospital. A total of 119 HCWs who had worked for more than one year were included. The collected data were then analyzed with bivariate and multivariate analysis.

Results

In this study, 68 HCWs (57.1%) had a good performance in implementing the CEmONC services. The significant factors influencing the performance of HCWs were Quality (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 31.914; p = 0.003), Quantity (AOR = 15.573; p = 0.003), Work effectiveness (AOR = 20.256; p=0.003), Timeliness (AOR = 27.543; p=0.001), and Teamwork (AOR = 6.773; p=0.031). Meanwhile, age, gender, professional background, length of work experience, and commitment were not associated with the performance of HCWs (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The better performance of HCWs was significantly correlated with good quality, adequate quantity, effective work, being on time, and good teamwork. Therefore, this result suggests that hospital managers should conduct periodic monitoring and evaluation regarding the performance of their employees to improve the quality of CEmONC services at the hospital.
Clinical Trial Participant's Perspectives on Genetic Research Data
Re-uses for Future Research
Authors: Devarinti Revanasiddappa , Ganachari Madiwalayya Shivkantayya
Published: May 2024

Background:

Clinical trial participants play a crucial role in advancing medical
research, and the data generated from their participation can indeed be invaluable for
future studies. However, the reuse of genetic or clinical research data comes with ethical
challenges that need careful consideration. Here are some of the key ethical issues associated
with the re-use of such data: Reusing data without clear informed consent raises issues
of autonomy and respect for individuals' choices.

Objective:

The main aim of this study is to assess the understanding of individuals involved
in clinical trials regarding the sharing of genetic research information. Moreover,
it seeks to explore the ethical issues and benefits linked with the use of genetic research
data for future research initiatives.

Methods and Material:

A cross-sectional observational study was applied to assess
Knowledge Attitude Practices of clinical trial participants on reuse of genetic research data.

Results:

The majority 70% of clinical trial participants were unsure about the difficulties
that may arise in future regarding the re-use of genomic data, with concerns about confidentiality
being the most common.

Conclusion:

The present study prioritized the involvement of clinical trial participants
due to their critical role in both genetic and clinical research endeavors. There is a lack of
awareness and understanding regarding the re-use of genetic research data and ethical issues
among the trial participants. Researchers must take measures to de-identify or anonymize
data to protect participants. There is a clear need for comprehensive awareness
programs and guidelines aimed at all clinical trial stakeholders. These initiatives would
ensure that researchers, participants, and other involved parties are well-informed and adhere
to ethical standards when utilizing genetic data for subsequent research endeavors.
Global RC Interconnects with ADL Buffers for Low-Power Applications
Authors: Bhardwaj Himani , Jain Shruti , Sohal Harsh
Published: May 2024

Introduction:

Interconnects are an essential requirement for any circuit completion. They
are utilised to connect two or more blocks, yet when creating a circuit, certain problems have been
observed. Scaling back technology is one such problem.

Methods:

With technology scaled down their aspects change which can straightforwardly affect the
circuit boundaries. Because of this, the time constant and power consumption in the interconnect circuits
has increased. Certain wire (RC) models and techniques have previously been characterized to
control these performance parameters however in this paper, authors have proposed a new interconnect
structure with a buffer insertion technique using adiabatic dynamic logic (ADL).

Results:

To optimise power, a Schmitt trigger is inserted as a buffer between lengthy interconnect
circuits utilising an energy-recovery mechanism. The TSPICE tool is used to model and simulate the
entire circuit.

Conclusion:

The suggested model's performance is compared to that of other cutting-edge methods.
State of the Art in Additive Manufacturing of Metal Matrix Composite for Use in Performance-Specific Application
Authors: Prajapati Akanksha , Chakraborty Dipayan , Khan Nisar Ahamad , Praveen Bhukya , Kumar Ajay
Published: May 2024

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) have proved themselves a reliable
alternative to different metals and their alloys due to their high strength-to-weight ratio,
high durability; high wear corrosion resistance, high hardness and other mechanical
properties. In the conventional approach, different methods like liquid-state processing
(stir casting, squeeze casting etc.), solid-state processing (consolidation, physical
vapour deposition or PVD, powder bending etc.), and in-situ processing are being used
to manufacture metal matrix composites (MMCs). Injection molding and other in-situ
processing are highly dependent upon particle size and morphology. Particle
agglomeration is a common problem for liquid and solid-state processing. Again, these
inhomogeneous second-phase particles influence crack initiation and propagation,
thermal mismatches, residual stresses, and dislocation, making the subtracting or
machining process challenging to perform. By observing these issues with the
conventional approach, additive manufacturing can be considered an alternative
technique to fabricating metal matrix composite. It is reported that 3D printing cannot
only sort out the matrix/reinforcement bonding issues observed during conventional
manufacturing processes but is also capable of providing a uniform distribution of
reinforcement inside the metal matrix. Additive manufacturing allows the fabrication of
functionally graded composites with any geometrical complexity, higher accuracy, and
minimum production lead time. However, challenges like lack of fusion, rapid cooling,
poor surface morphology and texture restrict the additive manufacturing processes to
manufacturing a sound product. The current chapter summarises the recent
development in manufacturing metal matrix composites (MMCs) using different
additive manufacturing processes.