bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel nomogram to predict the overall survival of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma patients following ablation therapy
Authors: Zhang Honghai , Sheng Shugui , Qiao Wenying , Han Ming , Jin Ronghua
Published: February 2024

Introduction

This study aimed to assess factors affecting the prognosis of early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients undergoing ablation therapy and create a nomogram for predicting their 3-, 5-, and 8-year overall survival (OS).

Methods

The research included 881 early-stage HCC patients treated at Beijing You’an Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University, from 2014 to 2022. A nomogram was developed using independent prognostic factors identified by Lasso and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Its predictive performance was evaluated with concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

The study identified age, tumor number, tumor size, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), international normalized ratio (INR), and prealbumin (Palb) as independent prognostic risk factors. The nomogram achieved C-indices of 0.683 (primary cohort) and 0.652 (validation cohort), with Area Under the Curve (AUC) values of 0.776, 0.779, and 0.822 (3-year, 5-year, and 8-year OS, primary cohort) and 0.658, 0.724, and 0.792 (validation cohort), indicating that the nomogram possessed strong discriminative ability. Calibration and DCA curves further confirmed the nomogram’s predictive accuracy and clinical utility. The nomogram can effectively stratify patients into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, particularly identifying high-risk patients.

Conclusions

The established nomogram in our study can provide precise prognostic information for HCC patients following ablation treatment and enable physicians to accurately identify high-risk individuals and facilitate timely intervention.
Compassionate use of contezolid in a toddler with severe community-acquired pneumonia induced by staphylococcus aureus: a case report and follow-up
Authors: Liu Hui-Ying , Bi Xiao-Fei , Wang Ya-Jun , Xie Feng-Jie , Zhang Hong , Zhu Yu-Cheng , Zhang Yan , Wang Zhi-Hui , Wu Di , Meng Huan , Lin Yi-Lu , Liu Lin-Qiong , Qiu Shu-Xiao , Gao Yan , Kang Kai , Gao Yang
Published: February 2024

Background

Initial choices of antimicrobial therapy for most cases of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children under 5 years of age are typically based on local epidemiology, risk factors assessment, and subsequent clinical parameters and positive cultures, which can lead to the underdiagnosis and underestimation of lung infections caused by uncommon pathogens. Contezolid, an orally administered oxazolidinone antibiotic, gained approval from the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) of China in June 2021 for managing complicated skin and soft tissue infections (cSSTI) caused by staphylococcus aureus (SA), streptococcus pyogenes, or streptococcus agalactis. Owing to its enhanced safety profile and ongoing clinical progress, the scope of contezolid's clinical application continues to expand, benefiting a growing number of patients with Gram-positive bacterial infections.

Case summary

In this report, we present the first use of contezolid in a toddler with severe CAP caused by SA, aiming to avoid potential adverse drug reactions (ADRs) associated with vancomycin and linezolid.

Conclusion

Although contezolid has not been officially indicated for CAP, it has been shown to be effective and safe in the management of SA-induced severe CAP in this toddler, suggesting its potential as an alternative option in the dilemma, especially for patients who are susceptible or intolerant to ADRs associated with first-line anti-methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) antimicrobial agents.
Low-energy spin-polarized electrons: their role in surface physics
Authors: Tusche Christian , Chen Ying-Jiun , Schneider Claus M.
Published: February 2024

Low-energy (∼100eV) electrons have been employed for more than half a century to investigate physical, chemical and electronic phenomena in condensed matter and surface physics. A particular role may be attributed to a purely quantum-mechanical property of the electron–its spin or intrinsic angular momentum. Since the 1970s the electron spin has been indispensable in determining the role of spin-dependent interactions, such as exchange interaction and spin-orbit coupling and their consequences. Most recently, the aspect of topology and its role in condensed matter systems has given a new drive to the investigation of the electron spin and spin textures in such materials. New results on time-dependent ultrafast phenomena may become available by the availability of new intense lasers and laser-driven sources.
Male histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) knockout mice have enhanced ventilatory responses to hypoxic challenge
Authors: Getsy Paulina M. , Coffee Gregory A. , Kelley Thomas J. , Lewis Stephen J.
Published: February 2024

Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is a class II histone deacetylase that is predominantly localized in the cytoplasm of cells. HDAC6 associates with microtubules and regulates acetylation of tubulin and other proteins. The possibility that HDAC6 participates in hypoxic signaling is supported by evidence that 1) hypoxic gas challenges cause microtubule depolymerization, 2) expression of hypoxia inducible factor alpha (HIF-1α) is regulated by microtubule alterations in response to hypoxia, and 3) inhibition of HDAC6 prevents HIF-1α expression and protects tissue from hypoxic/ischemic insults. The aim of this study was to address whether the absence of HDAC6 alters ventilatory responses during and/or after hypoxic gas challenge (10% O2, 90% N2 for 15 min) in adult male wildtype (WT) C57BL/6 mice and HDAC6 knock-out (KO) mice. Key findings were that 1) baseline values for frequency of breathing, tidal volume, inspiratory and expiratory times, and end expiratory pause were different between knock-out mice and wildtype mice, 2) ventilatory responses during hypoxic challenge were more robust in KO mice than WT mice for recorded parameters including, frequency of breathing, minute ventilation, inspiratory and expiratory durations, peak inspiratory and expiratory flows, and inspiratory and expiratory drives, and 3) responses upon return to room-air were markedly different in KO compared to WT mice for frequency of breathing, minute ventilation, inspiratory and expiratory durations, end expiratory pause (but not end inspiratory pause), peak inspiratory and expiratory flows, and inspiratory and expiratory drives. These data suggest that HDAC6 may have a fundamentally important role in regulating the hypoxic ventilatory response in mice.
Extensive post-transcriptional regulation revealed by integrative transcriptome and proteome analyses in salicylic acid-induced flowering in duckweed (Lemna gibba)
Authors: Fu Lili , Tan Deguan , Sun Xuepiao , Ding Zehong , Zhang Jiaming
Published: February 2024

Duckweed is an aquatic model plant with tremendous potential in industrial and agricultural applications. Duckweed rarely flowers which significantly hinders the resource collection and heterosis utilization. Salicylic acid (SA) can significantly induce duckweed to flower; however, the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain largely unknown. In this work, transcriptome and proteome were conducted in parallel to examine the expression change of genes and proteins in Lemna gibba under SA treatment. A high-quality reference transcriptome was generated using Iso-Seq strategy, yielding 42,281 full-length transcripts. A total of 422, 423, and 417 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), as well as 213, 51, and 92 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), were identified at flower induction, flower initiation, and flowering stages by ssRNA-seq and iTRAQ methods. Most DEGs and DEPs were only regulated at either the transcriptomic or proteomic level. Additionally, DEPs exhibited low expression correlations with the corresponding mRNAs, suggesting that post-transcriptional regulation plays a pivotal role in SA-induced flowering in L. gibba. Specifically, the genes related to photosynthesis, stress, and hormone metabolism were mainly regulated at the mRNA level, those associated with mitochondrial electron transport / ATP synthesis, nucleotide synthesis, and secondary metabolism were regulated at the protein level, while those related to redox metabolism were regulated at the mRNA and/or protein levels. The post-transcriptional regulation of genes relevant to hormone synthesis, transcription factors, and flowering was also extensively analyzed and discussed. This is the first study of integrative transcriptomic and proteomic analyses in duckweed, providing novel insights of post-transcriptional regulation in SA-induced flowering of L. gibba.
Molecular mechanism of salinity and waterlogging tolerance in mangrove Kandelia obovata
Authors: Liu Huizi , An Xia , Liu Xing , Yang Sheng , Liu Yu , Wei Xin , Li Xiaowen , Chen Qiuxia , Wang Jinwang
Published: February 2024

Mangrove forests are colloquially referred to as “Earth’s kidneys” and serve many important ecological and commercial functions. Salinity and waterlogging stress are the most important abiotic stressors restricting the growth and development of mangroves. Kandelia obovata (K. obovata) is the greatest latitudinally-distributed salt mangrove species in China.Here, morphology and transcriptomics were used to study the response of K. obovata to salt and waterlogging stress. In addition, weighted gene co-expression network analysis of the combined gene expression and phenotypic datasets was used to identify core salinity- and waterlogging-responsive modules. In this study, we observed that both high salinity and waterlogging significantly inhibited growth and development in K. obovata. Notably, growth was negatively correlated with salt concentration and positively correlated with waterlogging duration, and high salinity was significantly more inhibitive than waterlogging. A total of 7, 591 salt-responsive and 228 waterlogging-responsive differentially expressed genes were identified by RNA sequencing. Long-term salt stress was highly correlated with the measured physiological parameters while long-term waterlogging was poorly correlated with these traits. At the same time, 45 salinity-responsive and 16 waterlogging-responsive core genes were identified. All 61 core genes were mainly involved in metabolic and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites pathways. This study provides valuable insight into the molecular mechanisms of salinity and waterlogging tolerance in K. obovata, as well as a useful genetic resource for the improvement of mangrove stress tolerance using molecular breeding techniques.
Rural community perceptions and practices toward the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention in Konso Zone, Southern Ethiopia: a lesson for the next pandemic
Authors: Karbana Gedeno , Ambelu Argaw , Birke Wondwossen , Asefa Lechisa , Lemma Hailu , Belay Mekdes Mekonen
Published: February 2024

Background

Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) has provided a lesson on preparedness and coping mechanisms for similar pandemics to different community segments. To control and prevent the spreading of COVID-19, people need to possess the correct attitude and perception to follow the appropriate practices against the causative agent. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the rural community's perceptions and practices toward COVID-19 prevention among southern Ethiopia's Konso zone rural communities.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study conducted from April to May 2022 on 605 study participants in the Kena district of the Konso zone of Ethiopia. Participants were recruited using simple random sampling techniques. Face-to-face interviews were conducted to collect data using structured questionnaires developed from the World Health Organization guide and related literature. A logistic regression model was used to identify determinants of perception and practice.

Results

Among the 564 participants, 296 (52.5%) believed they would go to the healthcare facility if they contracted COVID-19. About 276 (48.9%) perceived that COVID-19 is not a stigma and should not be concealed. About 233 (41.3%) perceived COVID-19 would be controlled. However, the majority, 451 (80%), 440 (78%), 384 (68.1%), 381 (67.6%), 337 (59.8%), and 317 (56.2%) perceived that the cause of COVID-19 is sin, eating some food items were effective against the virus, no cases in their locality, living far away from COVID-19 area, the virus does not exist, respectively. Overall, only 22.5% of the study participants have good perceptions. About 58.5% practiced handwashing to prevent COVID-19, and 45.2% covered their mouth and nose while coughing/sneezing. Among the participants, 39.8% were vaccinated, and about a quarter (24.8%) of the respondents had good prevention practices. Participants with better educational status, use of social media as a source of information, and those with better income levels are found to be protective factors while being married is a risk factor.

Conclusion

The status of the participant's perception and preventive practices toward COVID-19 was meager. There was a substantial magnitude of wrong perceptions about controlling such pandemics. High inaccurate perceptions and low preventive practice need an urgent and sustained improvement strategy to tackle similar pandemics or epidemics.
Australian health care workers experience of PPE related side-effects. A cross-sectional survey
Authors: McKenna Karen , Bouchoucha Stephane , Redley Bernice , Hutchinson Anastasia
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Protection of health care workers (HCWs) is a fundamental aspect of an effective pandemic response. During the COVID-19 pandemic, frequency, and duration of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use increased. The experience of PPE-related side-effects has potential to contribute to decreased compliance resulting in breaches in infection prevention and increasing risk of HCW exposure. This study aims were to measure the frequency of PPE-related side-effects amongst HCW in Australia, and to establish if an increased frequency of adverse reactions was related to the significant increase in use and extended duration of time spent in PPE.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used.

Results

Of the 559 respondents the majority were female (83.7%), aged 31–45 years old (33.6%). A pre-existing skin condition was reported by 266 (47.6%). Frequency of PPE related side-effects were: pressure-related 401 (71.7%), skin 321 (57.4%) and respiratory 20 (3.6%). Surgical mask use was significantly associated with pre-exiting skin conditions (β = 1.494 (SE 0.186), df (1), p < 0.001). Side effects to N95 respirator use was more commonly reported by staff working in COVID-19 high-risk areas (β = 0.572 (SE 0.211), df (1), p = 0.007) independent of work duration (β = −0.056 (SE 0.075), df (1), p = 0.456), and pre-existing skin conditions (β = 1.272, (SE.198), df (1), p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a significant increase in the use of PPE. While the preventative benefits of PPE are significant, adverse events related to PPE use are frequently reported by HCW. Findings in this study highlight the need for innovation in PPE design to maximize protection while decreasing adverse effects and maintaining adhere to use.
The association between community-level economic deprivation and incidences of emergency department visits on account of attempted suicides in Maryland
Authors: Akinyemi Oluwasegun , Ogundare Temitope , Weldeslase Terhas , Andine Tsion , Fasokun Mojisola , Odusanya Eunice , Hughes Kakra , Mallory Williams , Luo Guoyang , Cornwell Edward
Published: February 2024

Background

Suicide is a major cause of mortality in the United States, accounting for 14.5 deaths per 100,000 population. Many emergency department (ED) visits in the United States are due to attempted suicides. Suicide attempts predict subsequent completed suicides. Socioeconomic factors, such as community-level socioeconomic deprivation, significantly affect many traditional risk factors for attempted suicides and suicides.

Aim

To determine the association between community-level socioeconomic deprivation and ED visits for attempted suicide in Maryland.

Methods

A retrospective analysis of attempted suicides in the Maryland State Emergency Department Database from January 2018 to December 2020. Community-level socioeconomic deprivation was measured using the Distress Community Index (DCI). Multivariate regression analyses were conducted to identify the association between DCI and attempted suicides/self-harm.

Results

There were 3,564,987 ED visits reported in the study period, with DCI data available for 3,236,568 ED visits; 86.8% were younger than 45 years, 64.8% were females, and 54.6% non-Hispanic Whites. Over the study period, the proportion of ED visits due to attempted suicide was 0.3%. In the multivariate logistic regression, compared to prosperous zones, those in comfortable (OR = 0.80, 95% CI: 0.73–0.88, p < 0.01), Mid-Tier (OR = 0.76, 95%CI:0.67–0.86, p < 0.01), At-Risk (OR = 0.77; 95%CI: 0.65–0.92, p < 0.01) and Distressed zones (OR = 0.53; 95% CI:0.42–0.66, p < 0.01) were less likely to visit the ED for attempted suicide.

Conclusion

Prosperous communities had the highest rate of attempted suicides, with the risk of attempted suicide increasing as individuals move from the least prosperous to more prosperous areas.
Prior infections are associated with smaller hippocampal volume in older women
Authors: Popov Vladimir A. , Ukraintseva Svetlana , Duan Hongzhe , Arbeev Konstantin G. , Yashin Anatoliy I.
Published: February 2024

Accumulating evidence suggests that infections may play a major role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), however, mechanism is unclear, as multiple pathways may be involved. One possibility is that infections could contribute to neurodegeneration directly by promoting neuronal death. We explored relationships between history of infections and brain hippocampal volume (HV), a major biomarker of neurodegeneration, in a subsample of the UK Biobank (UKB) participants. Infectious disease diagnoses were based on ICD10 codes. The left/right HV was measured by the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in cubic millimeters and normalized. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Welch test, and regression were used to examine statistical significance. We found that HV was significantly lower in women aged 60–75, as well as 65–80, years, with history of infections, compared to same age women without such history. The effect size increased with age faster for the left vs. right HV. Results for males didn't reach statistical significance. Results of our study support a major role of adult infections in neurodegeneration in women. The detrimental effect of infections on HV became stronger with age, in line with declining resilience and increasing brain vulnerability to stressors due to aging. The faster increase in the effect size observed for the left vs. right HV may indicate that female verbal memory degrades faster over time than visual-spatial memory. The observed sex difference may reflect a higher vulnerability of female brain to infection-related factors, which in turn may contribute to a higher risk of AD in women compared to men.
Intensity estimation after detection for accumulated rainfall estimation
Authors: Weiss Taeer , Routtenberg Tirza , Ostrometzky Jonatan , Messer Hagit
Published: February 2024

This work focuses on optimizing the estimation of accumulated rain from measurements of the attenuation level of signals from commercial microwave links (CMLs). The process of accumulated rain estimation is usually based on estimation after detection, where it is first determined whether there is rain for a specific period, and then the accumulated rain at the detected rainy period is estimated. Naturally, errors in detection affect the accuracy of the consequent accumulated rain estimation. Traditionally, the detection and the estimation steps are designed independently. The detection threshold is arbitrarily set at the lowest level that would be declared as rain, without considering its effect on the accuracy of the accumulated rain estimation. This study applies a novel method that sets a detection threshold to optimize estimation after detection and apply it for accumulated rain estimation. It is based on optimizing a post-detection estimation risk function that incorporates both the estimation and detection-related errors; this essentially takes into consideration the coupling of the detection and the estimation stages and thus optimizes the overall accumulated rainfall estimation. The proposed approach is applied to actual CML attenuation measurements taken from a cellular network in Gothenburg, Sweden. This demonstrates that the proposed method achieves better accuracy for accumulated rain estimation compared with the detection threshold being set independently.
Bullfighting as dark tourism: cultural experience or anachronism?
Authors: Fennell David A. , Sheppard Valerie A.
Published: February 2024

New research in the fast-emerging domain of tourism and animal ethics indicates that the instrumental and utilitarian use of animals in tourism is no longer accepted as a favorable norm. Some of this pressure is coming from the tourists themselves who are increasingly questioning the ethics of such uses. We test this premise through research on one of the most contested forms of animal-based tourism in the form of the Spanish bullfight. Our purpose was to gain a qualitative understanding of ethical issues related to bullfighting, as well as to offer insight for understanding factors that affect tourists' overall evaluation of travel experience at this attraction. The study is informed by a framework on animals as dark tourism attractions, with the central aim of investigating the attitudes of tourists toward bullfighting as one of several variables included in the framework. Emphasis was placed on looking for patterns in concepts and how they are communicated; understanding intentions of individuals; identifying propaganda and bias in communication; and understanding consequences of communication, particularly as it relates to a tourism destination's image. Employing a thematic analysis of 74 TripAdvisor posts, dated from May of 2014 through to November 2022, we found that the majority of posts reflected negative perceptions associated with bullfighting, including cruelty, unfair “fight,” and torture. In contrast, a minority of posts reflected positive perceptions, including culture, ceremony, pomp, and history. These findings have potential implications for the image of tourism destinations, such as Spain, as dark tourism attractions.
A case report: Null-cell cardiac lymphoma in an English bulldog
Authors: Köster Liza S. , Newkirk Kim , Krawec Philip
Published: February 2024

This case report describes a novel example of an extranodal null-type lymphoma in the myocardium of a middle-aged English bulldog who presented with signs of right heart failure. An echocardiogram found, in addition to the pericardial effusion, thickened right and left ventricular free walls and the interventricular septum. The right ventricular free wall myocardium had multinodular lesions, suspicious for infiltrative disease. The owner elected humane euthanasia, and permission for necropsy was obtained. Multifocal left and right ventricular nodules and an incidental aortic root mass were detected, the latter of which was later confirmed as a chemodectoma. Microscopically, the myocardial nodules were sheets of round cells consistent with a high-grade lymphoma. Neoplastic cells were not immunoreactive to CD3 (T-cell) or CD20 and CD79a (B-cell), Mum-1 (plasma cell), CD117 (mast cell), or CD18 (histiocyte). These findings are consistent with a high-grade, null-cell-type lymphoma.
Social Inequalities in Long-Term Health Effects After COVID-19—A Scoping Review
Authors: Lammers Nina , Beese Florian , Hoebel Jens , Poethko-Müller Christina , Wachtler Benjamin
Published: February 2024

Objectives: We aimed to map and synthesize evidence about social inequalities in long-term health effects after COVID-19 (LTHE), often referred to as “long COVID” or “post-COVID-19 conditions.”

Methods: We conducted a scoping review of peer-reviewed articles by searching the databases Embase and Scopus. According to predefined inclusion criteria, titles/abstracts and full texts were screened for eligibility. Additionally, reference lists of all included studies were hand-searched for eligible studies. This study followed the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews.

Results: Nineteen articles were included. LTHE were analysed according to ethnicity, education, income, employment and deprivation indices. The studies varied significantly in their definitions of LTHE. Eighty-two analyses showed no statistically significant associations. At least 12 studies had a high risk of type II errors. Only studies associating deprivation indices and long COVID tended to show a higher prevalence of LTHE in deprived areas.

Conclusion: Although some studies indicated social inequalities in LTHE, evidence was generally weak and inconclusive. Further studies with larger sample sizes specifically designed to detect social inequalities regarding LTHE are needed to inform future healthcare planning and public health policies.
Pre-Transplant Hyperparathyroidism and Graft or Patient Outcomes After Kidney Transplantation
Authors: Rodrigues Fernanda Guedes , Van Der Plas Willemijn Y. , Sotomayor Camilo German , Van Der Vaart Amarens , Kremer Daan , Pol Robert A. , Kruijff Schelto , Heilberg Ita Pfeferman , Bakker Stephan J. L. ,   TransplantLines Investigators, De Borst Martin H.
Published: February 2024

The impact of pre-transplant parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels on early or long-term kidney function after kidney transplantation is subject of debate. We assessed whether severe hyperparathyroidism is associated with delayed graft function (DGF), death-censored graft failure (DCGF), or all-cause mortality. In this single-center cohort study, we studied the relationship between PTH and other parameters related to bone and mineral metabolism, including serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) at time of transplantation with the subsequent risk of DGF, DCGF and all-cause mortality using multivariable logistic and Cox regression analyses. In 1,576 kidney transplant recipients (51.6 ± 14.0 years, 57.3% male), severe hyperparathyroidism characterized by pre-transplant PTH ≥771 pg/mL (>9 times the upper limit) was present in 121 patients. During 5.2 [0.2–30.0] years follow-up, 278 (15.7%) patients developed DGF, 150 (9.9%) DCGF and 432 (28.6%) died. A higher pre-transplant PTH was not associated with DGF (HR 1.06 [0.90–1.25]), DCGF (HR 0.98 [0.87–1.13]), or all-cause mortality (HR 1.02 [0.93–1.11]). Results were consistent in sensitivity analyses. The same applied to other parameters related to bone and mineral metabolism, including ALP. Severe pre-transplant hyperparathyroidism was not associated with an increased risk of DGF, DCGF or all-cause mortality, not supporting the need of correction before kidney transplantation to improve graft or patient survival.
Characterization of the Pollen Trapped by Populus L. Seeds during the Dispersion Season
Authors: Ribeiro Helena , Castro Paula , Abreu Ilda
Published: February 2024

Our study aimed to quantify the pollen trapped by the seeds and relate it with the airborne pollen concentrations. Individual Populus spp. tuft-like seeds were sampled while suspended twice a day in 2017 and 2018 during the seed dispersal season. The seeds were submitted to laboratory treatment for pollen extraction, which was quantified using an optical microscope. Airborne pollen was monitored using a seven-day Hirst-type volumetric spore sampler. A correlation analysis was performed between the airborne pollen, the pollen on the seeds, and the meteorological parameters. A total of 26 pollen grains/mg was counted in the airborne tuft-like seeds, with 26 different taxa being identified, compared with the 18 pollen taxa identified in the airborne samples. Quercus, Poaceae, Urticaceae, Pinus, and Platanus were the most frequent pollen found on the seeds, while in the atmosphere, pollen from Urticaceae, Quercus, and Cupressaceae were the most representative. A tendency of higher pollen concentrations found in the afternoon samples, both airborne and on the seeds, was observed. Correlations between the meteorological parameters and pollen concentration found airborne and in the seeds were overall not significant. Thus, airborne poplar tuft-like seeds can trap and transport pollen, most of which has been recognized to induce respiratory allergies.
Seed Dormancy Dynamics and Germination Characteristics of Malva parviflora L.
Authors: Dawar Rakesh , Yalamalle Vishwanath Rohidas , Bana Ram Swaroop , Kaur Ramanjit , Shivay Yashbir Singh , Choudhary Anil K. , Singh Teekam , Meena Samrath Lal , Vijay Dunna , Vijayakumar H. P. , Kumar Vipin , Yadav Achchhelal
Published: February 2024

Little mallow (Malva parviflora L.) is a notorious weed that causes substantial yield losses in winter crops. For effective weed management and seed testing, a deeper understanding of seed dormancy, germination behavior, and dormancy-breaking methods is necessary. Experiments were conducted to determine the effect of seed treatments, i.e., mechanical scarification, acid scarification, hot water treatment, and different germinating temperatures, i.e., 15 °C, 20 °C, or alternating 15–20 °C (16/8 h), on the seed dormancy in M.parviflora. A large proportion of M. parviflora seeds were physically dormant, with just 10.90% germination. Seed treatments had a significant influence on seed germination, seedling dry weight, vigor index, and water absorption (p ≤ 0.01). Among the various treatments, mechanical scarification enhanced germination by 32%, the vigor index by 487% and water uptake by 34%, and decreased percent hard seeds by 34%. Among the various germination temperatures, alternating 15–20 °C temperatures (16/8 h) gave the most significant result for germination and the lowest percent hard seeds. The findings of this study will serve as a valuable reference for seed testing and the development of suitable weed control strategies for M. parviflora.
Effects of Copper Compounds on Phenolic Composition of the Common and Tartary Buckwheat Seedlings
Authors: Kovačec Eva , Regvar Marjana
Published: February 2024

Food producers actively seek effective seed-coating agents to ensure optimal antimicrobial protection and/or nutritional support for young plants. In this context, our study aimed to investigate the impact of various copper compounds on the germination and early growth stages of two important crops, common and Tartary buckwheat. Microparticles (MPs) and nanoparticles (NPs) of copper oxide (CuO) were selected as potential seed treatment agents and compared to Cu salt in a comprehensive germination assay. The results indicated that seed germination remained unaffected by the tested copper compounds after eight days, while there was a significant reduction in seedlings fresh weight and root length. Treated common buckwheat seedlings exhibited extreme increases in all tested phenolic metabolites, even at low concentrations of Cu compounds. In contrast, in Tartary buckwheat seedlings, the already higher concentrations of flavonoids and tannins were mostly slightly decreased. Considering all the results, CuO NPs emerged as the most severe form of Cu, while CuO MPs may have the highest potential for applications in agriculture and food sciences. This finding has implications for producers seeking seedlings enriched in beneficial phenolic compounds for human health, as well as for farmers aiming to boost the antioxidative system of plants to mitigate stress.
The Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management on Trifolium alexandrinum Varietal Performance in the Indo-Gangetic Plains: A Comparative Yield and Economic Analysis
Authors: Hindoriya Phool Singh , Kumar Rakesh , Meena Rajesh Kumar , Ram Hardev , Kumar Ashwani , Kashyap Suryakanta , Biswal Bisworanjita , Bhakuni Kanika , Pyati Prasanna S. , Garg Kamal , Jasht Simran , Ali Ghous , Birbal  , Bhattacharjee Subhradip
Published: February 2024

The importance of selecting an appropriate berseem variety and implementing effective nutrient management practices is crucial for maximizing both the production and economic potential of forage crops. This was clearly demonstrated in a field experiment conducted during the rabi seasons of 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. The experimental setup was a factorial randomized block design incorporating five berseem varieties (Mescavi, HB-1, HB-2, BL-10, and BL-42) and five integrated nutrient management practices: 100% recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) or NM-1, 75% RDF + plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) or NM-2, 75% RDF + municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) or NM-3, 75% RDF + farmyard manure (FYM) + PGPR or NM-4, and 50% RDF + MSWC + PGPR or NM-5. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the physio-morphological responses, biomass yield, and economic efficiencies of different berseem varieties under various nutrient management practices. The experimental results highlighted the superior performance of the BL-42 variety in terms of growth and yield attributes compared to the other tested berseem varieties. Specifically, BL-42 showed an enhancement in total green fodder yield by 17.10%, 26.60%, 37.75%, and 28.04% over the varieties BL-10, HB-2, HB-1, and Mescavi, respectively. Moreover, the application of the 75% RDF + FYM + PGPR treatment (NM-4) significantly boosted the total green fodder yield by 13.08%, 14.29%, 34.48%, and 39.02% over the 75% RDF + MSWC, 100% RDF, 75% RDF + PGPR, and 50% RDF + MSWC + PGPR treatments, respectively. In terms of economic returns, BL-42 achieved a significantly higher gross return (GR) and net return (NR) of 194,989 ₹/ha and 145,142 ₹/ha, respectively, compared to the GR and NR of BL-10 (166,512 and 116,665 ₹/ha, respectively). Similarly, the nutrient management practice of 75% RDF + FYM + PGPR recorded the highest GR and NR (191,638 and 137,346 ₹/ha, respectively) compared to the 100% RDF treatment (167,593 and 120,716 ₹/ha, respectively). These findings underscore the critical role of variety selection and tailored nutrient management in optimizing both the yield and economic gains in forage crop cultivation. The significant differences in production and returns highlight the potential of targeted agronomic strategies to enhance the profitability and sustainability of forage farming.
Allelopathic Potential and Chemical Composition of Essential Oil from the Invasive Plant Acmella radicans
Authors: Yang Kexin , Yang Yunhai , Wu Xiaohan , Zheng Fengping , Xu Gaofeng , Yang Shaosong , Jin Guimei , Clements David Roy , Shen Shicai , Zhang Fudou
Published: February 2024

Acmella radicans (Jacquin) R.K. Jansen is a new invasive species recorded in Yunnan Province, China, and little is known about its allelopathic potential and allelochemicals. In this study, the allelopathic effects of the essential oil (EO) of A. radicans on seed germination and seedling growth of four common plants, Brassica napus, Brassica rapa ssp. chinensis, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Lolium multiflorum, were explored. The results showed that the seed germination index, germination rate, root length, stem length, and biomass of B. napus and B. rapa ssp. chinensis were significantly inhibited at all EO concentrations of A. radicans, but there was a ‘low-promotion and high-inhibition effect’ on the root length of D. sanguinalis and L. multiflorum at low concentrations of 0.5 μL·mL−1 and 0.5–1.0 μL·mL−1, respectively. With increasing concentrations of EO, the inhibition rates of seed germination and seedling growth of four common plants gradually increased, and D. sanguinalis and L. multiflorum were the most inhibited, followed by B. rapa ssp. chinensis, and the least inhibited was B. napus. Thirty-two components were identified using GC–MS, representing 99.07% of the EO in A. radicans. The major components were 2-tridecanone (30.46%), caryophyllene oxide (19.18%), 4,8,11,11-tetramethylbicyclo[7.2.0]undec-3-en-5-ol (7.84%), β-caryophyllene (7.67%), and widdrol (4.7%). Among the compounds we identified, (E,E)-2,4-decadienal, 2-tridecanone, γ-cadinene, δ-cadinene, (E)-α-cadinol, spathulenol, caryophyllene oxide, and widdrol have been previously reported as having possible allelopathic effects. Our study was the first to show that A. radicans could potentially release allelochemicals to influence neighboring plants during its invasion and expansion.
Building an Information Modeling-Based System for Automatically Generating the Assembly Sequence of Precast Concrete Components Using a Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Bae Subin , Cha Heesung , Jiang Shaohua
Published: February 2024

Facing a significant decrease in economic working processes, Off-Site Construction (OSC) methods have been frequently adopted in response to challenges such as declining productivity and labor shortages in the construction industry. Currently, in most OSC applications, the assembly phase is traditionally managed based on the personal experience and judgment of the site managers. This approach can lead to inaccuracies or omissions, particularly when dealing with a large amount of information on large, complex construction sites. Additionally, there are limitations in exploring more efficient and productive alternatives for rapidly adapting to changing on-site conditions. Given that the assembly phase significantly affects the OSC productivity, a systematic management approach is crucial for expanding OSC methods. Some initial studies used computer algorithms to determine the optimal assembly sequences. However, these studies often focused on geometrical characteristics, such as component weight or spatial occupancy, neglecting crucial factors in actual site planning, such as the work radius and component installation status. Moreover, these studies tended to prioritize the generation of initial assembly sequences rather than providing alternatives for adapting to evolving on-site conditions. In response to these limitations, this study presents a systematic framework utilizing a Building Information Modeling (BIM)–Genetic Algorithm (GA) approach to generate Precast Concrete (PC) component installation sequences. The developed system employs Genetic Algorithms to objectively explore diverse assembly plans, emphasizing the flexibility of accommodating evolving on-site conditions. Real on-site scenarios were simulated using this framework to explore multiple assembly plan alternatives and validate their applicability. Comprehensive interviews were conducted to validate the research and confirm the system’s potential contributions, especially at just-in-time-focused PC sites. Acknowledging a broader range of variables such as equipment and manpower, this study anticipates fostering more systematic on-site management within the context of a digitized construction environment. The proposed algorithm contributes to improving both productivity and sustainability of the construction industry by optimizing the management process of the off-site construction projects.
Three-Phase 75 kW Brushless Direct Current Motor for Electric Vehicles: Different Power Stage Design, Calculation of Losses, Cooling Techniques, and Comparison
Authors: Bahadir Ali , Aydogdu Omer , Bahadir Elif
Published: February 2024

This study focuses on determining the technical specifications and parameters of an all-electric passenger vehicle, modeling it according to these parameters, selecting the appropriate electric motor as a result of the modeling, and then designing and making a new 75 kW three-phase DC-AC converter (inverter) as per to automotive standards for the brushless DC motor used for vehicle propulsion. Three different power stage designs are conducted and compared. The system losses were calculated, and three variants of cooling systems were used for cooling the power stage to reduce losses. Performances of such cooling systems were compared. Air cooling, fan-assisted air cooling, and liquid cooling structures are designed for power stage cooling, and the performances of these three systems were compared.
Self-Distillation and Pinyin Character Prediction for Chinese Spelling Correction Based on Multimodality
Authors: He Li , Liu Feng , Liu Jie , Duan Jianyong , Wang Hao
Published: February 2024

Chinese spelling correction (CSC) constitutes a pivotal and enduring goal in natural language processing, serving as a foundational element for various language-related tasks by detecting and rectifying spelling errors in textual content. Numerous methods for Chinese spelling correction leverage multimodal information, including character, character sound, and character shape, to establish connections between incorrect and correct characters. Research indicates that a majority of spelling errors stem from pinyin similarity, with character similarity accounting for half of the errors. Consequently, effectively modeling character pinyin and character relationships emerges as a key challenge in the CSC task. In this study, we propose enhancing the CSC task by introducing the pinyin character prediction task. We employ an adaptive weighting method in the pinyin character prediction task to address predictions in a more granular manner, achieving a balance between the two prediction tasks. The proposed model, SPMSpell, utilizes ChineseBERT as an encoder to capture multimodal feature information simultaneously. It incorporates three parallel decoders for character prediction, pinyin prediction, and self-distillation modules. To mitigate potential overfitting concerning pinyin, a self-distillation method is introduced to prioritize character information in predictions. Extensive experiments conducted on three SIGHAN benchmark tests showcase that the model introduced in this paper attains a superior level of performance. This substantiates the correctness and superiority of the adaptive weighted pinyin character prediction task and underscores the effectiveness of the self-distillation module.
Convection of Physical Quantities of Random Density
Authors: Barletta Elisabetta , Dragomir Sorin , Esposito Francesco
Published: February 2024

We study the random flow, through a thin cylindrical tube, of a physical quantity of random density, in the presence of random sinks and sources. We model convection in terms of the expectations of the flux and density and solve the initial value problem for the resulting convection equation. We propose a difference scheme for the convection equation, that is both stable and satisfies the Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy test, and estimate the difference between the exact and approximate solutions.
Convergence Results for Contractive Type Set-Valued Mappings
Authors: Zaslavski Alexander J.
Published: February 2024

In this work, we study an iterative process induced by a contractive type set-valued mapping in a complete metric space and show its convergence, taking into account computational errors.
The Intrinsic Cardiac Nervous System: From Pathophysiology to Therapeutic Implications
Authors: Giannino Giuseppe , Braia Valentina , Griffith Brookles Carola , Giacobbe Federico , D’Ascenzo Fabrizio , Angelini Filippo , Saglietto Andrea , De Ferrari Gaetano Maria , Dusi Veronica
Published: February 2024

The cardiac autonomic nervous system (CANS) plays a pivotal role in cardiac homeostasis as well as in cardiac pathology. The first level of cardiac autonomic control, the intrinsic cardiac nervous system (ICNS), is located within the epicardial fat pads and is physically organized in ganglionated plexi (GPs). The ICNS system does not only contain parasympathetic cardiac efferent neurons, as long believed, but also afferent neurons and local circuit neurons. Thanks to its high degree of connectivity, combined with neuronal plasticity and memory capacity, the ICNS allows for a beat-to-beat control of all cardiac functions and responses as well as integration with extracardiac and higher centers for longer-term cardiovascular reflexes. The present review provides a detailed overview of the current knowledge of the bidirectional connection between the ICNS and the most studied cardiac pathologies/conditions (myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmias and heart transplant) and the potential therapeutic implications. Indeed, GP modulation with efferent activity inhibition, differently achieved, has been studied for atrial fibrillation and functional bradyarrhythmias, while GP modulation with efferent activity stimulation has been evaluated for myocardial infarction, heart failure and ventricular arrhythmias. Electrical therapy has the unique potential to allow for both kinds of ICNS modulation while preserving the anatomical integrity of the system.
Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Cardio-Oncology: Antineoplastic Drug Cardiotoxicity and Beyond
Authors: Attanasio Umberto , Di Sarro Elena , Tricarico Lucia , Di Lisi Daniela , Armentaro Giuseppe , Miceli Sofia , Fioretti Francesco , Deidda Martino , Correale Michele , Novo Giuseppina , Sciacqua Angela , Nodari Savina , Cadeddu Christian , Tocchetti Carlo Gabriele , Palazzuoli Alberto , Mercurio Valentina
Published: February 2024

Serum biomarkers represent a reproducible, sensitive, minimally invasive and inexpensive method to explore possible adverse cardiovascular effects of antineoplastic treatments. They are useful tools in risk stratification, the early detection of cardiotoxicity and the follow-up and prognostic assessment of cancer patients. In this literature review, we aim at describing the current state of knowledge on the meaning and the usefulness of cardiovascular biomarkers in patients with cancer; analyzing the intricate relationship between cancer and cardiovascular disease (especially HF) and how this affects cardiovascular and tumor biomarkers; exploring the role of cardiovascular biomarkers in the risk stratification and in the identification of chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity; and providing a summary of the novel potential biomarkers in this clinical setting.
Trans Species RNA Activity: Sperm RNA of the Father of an Autistic Child Programs Glial Cells and Behavioral Disorders in Mice
Authors: Yilmaz Sukranli Zeynep , Korkmaz Bayram Keziban , Mehmetbeyoglu Ecmel , Doganyigit Zuleyha , Beyaz Feyzullah , Sener Elif Funda , Taheri Serpil , Ozkul Yusuf , Rassoulzadegan Minoo
Published: February 2024

Recently, we described the alteration of six miRNAs in the serum of autistic children, their fathers, mothers, siblings, and in the sperm of autistic mouse models. Studies in model organisms suggest that noncoding RNAs participate in transcriptional modulation pathways. Using mice, approaches to alter the amount of RNA in fertilized eggs enable in vivo intervention at an early stage of development. Noncoding RNAs are very numerous in spermatozoa. Our study addresses a fundamental question: can the transfer of RNA content from sperm to eggs result in changes in phenotypic traits, such as autism? To explore this, we used sperm RNA from a normal father but with autistic children to create mouse models for autism. Here, we induced, in a single step by microinjecting sperm RNA into fertilized mouse eggs, a transcriptional alteration with the transformation in adults of glial cells into cells affected by astrogliosis and microgliosis developing deficiency disorders of the ‘autism-like’ type in mice born following these manipulations. Human sperm RNA alters gene expression in mice, and validates the possibility of non-Mendelian inheritance in autism.