bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What Drives Success when Scaling Innovations? Insights from European Agricultural and Forestry Co-Innovation Actions
Authors: Rivera María , Fieldsend Andrew , Muñoz-Rojas José , Martin Susana , Dijk Lisa Van
Published: June 2024

Agriculture and forestry are facing wicked challenges, driven by a complex set of social, economic and ecological factors. Innovation is a key to devising viable, resilient and sustainable solutions to these challenges but, for innovations to have impact, they need to be ‘scaled’. The current policy context, in the European Union and elsewhere, encourages the use of the ‘interactive’ model of innovation through the so-called ‘multi-actor’ approach. In this study, we explore the dynamics of scaling within agricultural and forestry co-innovation partnerships. Drawing upon evidence from eight co-innovation actions across Europe, encompassing varied contexts, scales and funding mechanisms, we identify four distinct forms of scaling: scaling out, up, deep, and introducing a novel concept, ‘scaling in’. Scaling in reflects the important role in ‘interactive innovation’ of external knowledge flows in optimising the contextual relevance and embedding of innovations. The selection by co-innovation partnerships of strategies and enabling mechanisms in pursuit of scaling is dependent on factors such as funding conditions, contextual norms and partnership objectives. Partnerships need to be clear about the type of scaling they aim to achieve, have an in-depth understanding of contextual complexities, and ensure that scaling is an integral part of the entire project cycle. Co-innovation partnerships can be effective catalysts for transformative change, provided scaling complexities are navigated and enabling mechanisms leveraged adeptly. Our insights advance the understanding of scaling dynamics in co-innovation actions and offer evidence-based strategies for practitioners, policymakers and researchers to bolster the impact of innovation initiatives in agriculture and forestry sectors.
Adaptive sampling using multi-sensor fusion: Marine biodiversity assessments using eDNA metabarcoding and acoustic sensor data
Authors: Veylit Lara , Piarulli Stefania , Farkas Julia , Davies Emlyn J. , Stevenson-Jones Ralph , Aas Marianne , Majaneva Sanna , Hakvåg Sigrid
Published: June 2024

To achieve the aims of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 2030 Global Biodiversity Framework, marine legislation and management requires the use of cost- and time- effective monitoring of indicator species. Marine observation platforms, which are increasing in popularity globally, are used for such monitoring activities. These platforms allow data to be collected from a variety of sensors simultaneously, providing the opportunity for adapting where and when sampling is performed based on real-time observational data. While some recent monitoring activities are following an adaptive sampling approach, most still employ a more opportunistic method. In this study, we applied an adaptive sampling approach to detect calanoid copepods at seasonally contrasting time points using real-time acoustic sensor data, traditional plankton net sampling, and eDNA metabarcoding. We demonstrate that there are ways to move from sampling opportunistically to a more adaptive sampling approach for more cost- and time- effective monitoring of indicators.
Contact-free magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy with acoustic levitation
Authors: Bordes Romain , Argyri Smaragda-Maria , Svenningsson Leo , Guerroudj Feryal , Bernin Diana , Evenäs Lars
Published: June 2024

Conventional magnetic resonance measurements often rely on the use of sample containers. This limits the implementation of time-resolved studies on the molecular level of liquid samples undergoing evaporation, phase transitions, or other dynamic phenomena. Previous attempts to study self-standing droplets in a magnetic field have predominantly focused on buoyancy forces of immiscible liquids[1–3], or molten aluminum beads studied by aerodynamic levitation[4–7]. However, these methods do not allow direct access to the interface and are restricted to non-volatile samples. Recent advancements have explored magnetic resonance studies on surface-resting sessile droplets[8, 9], providing real-time dynamic insights, yet, without granting a fully contact-free environment. In this study, we utilized a demagnetized acoustic levitator to perform magnetic resonance studies on liquid samples in a contact-free manner. Initially, we examined the performance of the levitator inside a 7.05 T magnetic field. Following, magnetic resonance images of the levitator and the levitated samples were acquired, acting as a direct proof of concept. Then, we collected magnetic resonance spectra of the levitated droplets by applying localized and non-localized pulse sequences, and we examined the effect of the droplet shape on the chemical shift. Additionally, we conducted time-resolved experiments on pure solvents and mixtures and captured physical and chemical molecular interactions in real time. This approach allows the implementation of real-time, dynamic, contact-free studies at the molecular level, on a microliter droplet, advancing the scope of magnetic resonance research.
Music Genre Classification using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Sood Apoorvi , Rathee Tripti , Bansal Priti , Garg Harsh , Aggarwal Ansh , Tyagi Amrutanshu
Published: June 2024

Music genres play a pivotal role in structuring and interpreting music through shared attributes and traditions. Accurate classification of music genres enhances the overall music experience and enables more precise evaluation of artistic innovation and quality. In this paper, a music genre classification system has been proposed that uses an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Model, moving beyond the traditional Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) approaches that rely heavily on spectrogram images and require extensive computational resources. Our model focuses on analyzing only the crucial characteristic features of audio files, sidestepping the need for complete spectrogram data. Mel-frequency Cepstral Coefficient (MFCC) has been utilized as the main feature extraction method and is combined with Chroma features and Spectral Contrast. The widely used GTZAN dataset has been utilized. After the extraction of the feature vector, the proposed model classifies the music into different genres. The model exhibited impressive performance with a training accuracy of 98.41% and a validation accuracy of 97.05%, highlighting its effectiveness in accurately classifying music genres.
Factors associated with incomplete tuberculosis preventive treatment: A retrospective analysis of six-years programmatic data in Cambodia
Authors: An Yom , Khun Kim Eam
Published: June 2024

Tuberculosis (TB) preventive treatment (TPT) effectively prevents the progression from TB infection to TB disease. This study explores factors associated with TPT non-completion in Cambodia using 6-years programmatic data (2018-2023) retrieved from the TB Management Information System (TB-MIS). Out of 14,262 individuals with latent TB infection (LTBI) initiated with TPT, 13,963 (97.9%) successfully completed the treatment and 299 (2.1%) did not. Individuals aged between 15-24 years old were more likely to discontinue treatment compared to those aged < 5 years old, with aOR=1.7, p=0.034 and aOR=2, p=0.003, respectively. Compared to the 3-month weekly Isoniazid and Rifapentine (3HP) regimen, the likelihood of TPT discontinuation was high for individuals initiated with 3-month daily Rifampicin and Isoniazid (3RH) (aOR=2.6, p<0.001) and with 6-month daily Isoniazid (6H) (aOR=7, p < 0.001). Those who began TPT at referral hospitals were nearly twice as likely to discontinue the treatment compared to those who started the treatment at health centers (aOR=1.95, p = 0.003). To improve TPT treatment completion, strengthen the treatment follow-up among those aged between 15 and 34 years old and initiated TPT at referral hospitals should be prioritized. The national TB program should consider 3HP the first choice of treatment.
NCAPG mediated CDK1 promotes malignant progression of Non- small cell lung cancer by activating ERK signaling
Authors: Wu Yilin , Yang Ming , Chen Ming , Tian Lan , Zhu Yong , Chen Limin
Published: June 2024

Background
Non-SMC condensing I complex subunit G (NCAPG) has been implicated in tumor progression. However, its role, potential mechanism and prognostic significance in human Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are elusive.
Methods
Through the conjoint analysis of TCGA and GEO databases, we confirmed that NCAPG is an upregulated gene. The prognostic value of NCAPG was elucidated by data analysis. The functional roles and mechanistic insights of NCAPG in NSCLC growth and metastasis were evaluated in vitro and in vivo.
Results
NCAPG expression was significantly increased in NSCLC. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that NCAPG was an independent prognostic factor in patients with NSCLC. The high expression of NCAPG was significantly correlated with lymphatic metastasis. In addition, the high expression of NCAPG effectively promoted the growth and metastasis of NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. In mechanism, the interaction between NCAPG and CDK1 promotes the phosphorylation of ERK.
Conclusion
In general, our results show the key role of NCAPG in NSCLC and highlight the regulatory function of NCAPG / CDK1 / ERK axis in regulating the progression of NSCLC, which provides potential prognosis and therapeutic targets for the treatment of NSCLC.
Identification of superficial invasive and indolent lymphomatous lymph nodes by multiple Ultrasonographic vascular imaging
Authors: Lu Wenjuan , Li Lin , Deng Hongyan , Chen Wenqin , Shu Hua , Zhang Pingyang , Ye Xinhua
Published: June 2024

Objective
This study aimed to explore whether superficial invasive lymphomas and indolent lymphomas could be identified by Ultrasonographic vascular imaging.
Method
A retrospectively study enrolled 82 lymphoma patients. According to proliferation rates and clinical course, the lymph nodes were classified as invasive and indolent lymphomatous lymph nodes. All patients underwent ultrasound (US) with three effective techniques: color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI), angio plus ultrasound imaging (AngioPLUS), and contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS). Qualitative and quantitative parameters from the two groups were compared. Finally, the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) and regression analysis were used to compare the differences between the two groups and determine the diagnostic efficiency of the three techniques for differentiating invasive lymphoma from indolent lymphoma.
Result
The types of blood flow distribution between invasive and indolent lymphomatous lymph nodes were statistically different in all three Ultrasound techniques. In CDFI, invasive or indolent lymphomatous lymph nodes were determined by resistance index (RI) (p < 0.001). In CEUS, the differences between the two groups in necrosis and arrival time (ATM) (p = 0.026, 0.043) were statistically significant. Finally, CDFI combined with CEUS had the highest diagnostic sensitivity of 98.1%. Interobserver agreements for qualitative parameters were all excellent.
Conclusion
Ultrasonographic Vascular imaging is an aid in identifying invasive and indolent lymphomatous lymph nodes, and CDFI combined with CEUS had the highest diagnostic sensitivity, which can guide clinicians to make more accurate diagnosis and better treatment for patients.
Early Maladaptive Schemas Mediate the Relationship between Severe Childhood Trauma and Eating Disorder Symptoms
Authors: Fasolato Rachele , De Felice Mariangela , Barbui Corrado , Bertani Mariaelena , Bonora Federica , Castellazzi Mariasole , Castelli Silvia , Cristofalo Doriana , Dall’Agnola Rosa Bruna , Ruggeri Mirella , Signoretto Benedetta , Bonetto Chiara
Published: June 2024

Background: Childhood trauma history has frequently been linked to eating disorders (EDs); nevertheless, the scientific literature calls for extending knowledge regarding mediators between EDs and childhood trauma. This study explored whether ED symptoms and early maladaptive schemas were more severe in ED patients with severe childhood trauma than inED patients with no/mild childhood trauma and whether early maladaptive schemas mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and ED symptom severity.
Methods: Data were extracted from the Regional Centre for Eating Disorders registry at the University Hospital of Verona. The extracted data includedself-reported data, including the Eating Disorder Inventory-3 score, Young Schema Questionnaire score, Childhood Experience and Experience of Care and Abuse Questionnaire score, and sociodemographic and clinical information on the ED outpatients seeking care.
Results: Forty-twooutpatients, 30.9% of whom exhibited severe childhood trauma, satisfied the criteria for registry data extraction. The severity of ED symptoms, as well as the early maladaptive schemas’ scores for emotional deprivation, defectiveness, failure, vulnerability, insufficient self-control, and negativity, were greaterin ED outpatients with severe childhood trauma. Furthermore, early maladaptive schemas related to defectiveness, failure, and negativity had a mediatingrole in the relationship between severe childhood trauma and ED symptom severity.
Conclusions: These findings highlightthe importance of early maladaptive schemas in the relationship between trauma history and ED psychopathology. In addition, ED symptoms may represent a dysfunctional attempt to avoid unpleasant emotions associated with schema activation. The results support the need to consider early maladaptive schemas in the treatment of traumatized patients with ED symptoms. Research and clinical implications are discussed.
Optical properties of dissolved organic matter along a salinity gradient from a boreal river estuary to open coastal waters.
Authors: Berezovski Aleksandr , Hessen Dag Olav , Børseth Hanne Halkjelsvik , Andersen Tom
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the optical properties of coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM) along a salinity gradient from the Glomma river to the outer Oslofjord. The research aims to determine the spectral, isotopic, and quantitative changes in CDOM across this gradient. Key findings indicate that total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations display notable seasonal variability, especially near shore, due to fluctuations in river discharge throughout the year, while remaining more constant in the outer sea environment​​. CDOM absorption, spectral slope and specific absorbance at 443 nm decreases linearly with increasing salinity. CDOM absorption exhibited significant variations, with low-salinity samples showing higher light absorption per unit of carbon, but little seasonal variations, hinting at the fact that CDOM had similar optical properties over the year of sampling. δ13C of TOC analysis revealed a strong positive correlation with salinity, indicating a linear transition from terrestrial to marine organic carbon sources. This method can be an effective way of tracking the fate of terrestrially-derived organic matter in estuarine systems, which is highly topical for coastal darkening research. Water darkening is an increasingly relevant problem affecting many coastal ecosystems, as it is exacerbated by the human activity and climate change.
DNS study of freely-propagating turbulent lean-premixed flames in the broken reaction zone regime
Authors: Zhang Yi , Kang Yinhu , Xu Xinyu , Huang Xiaomei , Zhang Pengyuan , Tang Xiaolin , Lu Xiaofeng
Published: June 2024

The novel engines nowadays featured with higher efficiency are operated under the superpressure, supercritical, supersonic, and near-limit combustion condition that is situated in the broken reaction zone regime. In the broken reaction zone regime, the turbulence Kolmogorov length is shorter than the reaction zone thickness and the fluctuating RMS velocity is higher than the propagating speed, as such small-scale vortex could tear up the continuous front surfaces and the combustion is dispersedly distributed, which is highly deviated off the flamelet theory assumption. Hence, the relevant study would provide some guiding implications for the refinement of turbulent premixed combustion models under the extreme conditions. In this article, the propagation and heat/radical diffusion physics of a high-pressure dimethyl ether (DME)/air turbulent lean-premixed flame with Ka = 200 are investigated numerically by DNS with detailed fuel chemistry and transport model. A wide range of statistical and diagnostic methods, including the Lagrangian fluids tracking, Joint Probability Density Distribution (JPDF), and chemical explosive mode analysis (CEMA) will be applied to reveal the deflagration front structure, the local combustion modes, dynamics evolution, as well as the roles of heat/mass transports and cool/hot flame interaction in the turbulent combustion regimes, which would be beneficial to the design of novel engines with high performances. It is found that in the broken reaction zone regime, the reacting front structure as well as its inner diffusion processes has changed significantly. The reaction zone thickness increases remarkably, and HRR and fuel consumption rate in the cool-flame zone are increased by 16% and 19% respectively. The diffusion effect not only enhances flame propagation, but also suppresses local HRR or fuel consumption. The strong turbulence interplaying with diffusive transports is the underlying physics for the enhancements in cool- and hot-flame fronts. In the turbulence field with strong flame folding and eddy mixing, it created intermixed reacting fronts with various progress variables; the heat/radical diffusions is the underlying mechanism for flame intensification/thickening phenomena. For the cool-flame front, diffusive transports of heat, CH2O, CH3OCH2O2, and CH3OCH3 are of the governing significances for the flame thickening and combustion enhancement. For the hot flame front, heat conductivity is most dominant and the diffusions of CH2O, H2O2, and CH3OCH3 are of less importance with an inhabitation impact.
Association between serum vitamin D status and severity of liver cirrhosis: Implications for therapeutic targeting in Nigerian patients
Authors: Adiri Winnifred Njideka , Basil Bruno , Onyia Chinwe Philomena , Asogwa Promise , Ugwuanyi Oluchi Joy , Obienu Olive , Ijoma Uchenna Nkemdilim , Nwokediuko Sylvester Chuks
Published: June 2024

Background
Liver cirrhosis is a chronic and progressive liver disease with significant global health implications. Recent evidence suggests an association between serum vitamin D levels and the severity of liver cirrhosis, potentially serving as a therapeutic target. This study aimed at investigating the relationship between serum vitamin D status and the severity of liver cirrhosis in a population of Nigerian patients.
Methods
This analytical, cross-sectional study involved 201 participants, including 103 with liver cirrhosis and 98 age- and sex-matched controls. Serum vitamin D was measured using ELISA, with deficiency defined as < 20 ng/ml. Cirrhosis severity was assessed using Child-Pugh and MELD scores. Spearman's correlation was used to assess the relationship between vitamin D and severity of liver cirrhosis while ordinal regression analysis assessed its performance as an indicator of the disease severity.
Result
Among cirrhotic patients, 36.9% were deficient, 31.1% insufficient, and 32.0% had sufficient vitamin D levels. Serum vitamin D showed strong negative correlations with Child-Pugh and MELD scores (r = -0.696, p < 0.001; r = -0.734, p < 0.001, respectively). Ordinal regression showed that higher vitamin D levels were associated with lower severity scores (Child-Pugh: OR = 0.856, 95% CI: 0.815–0.900, p < 0.001; MELD: OR = 0.875, 95% CI: 0.837–0.915, p < 0.001).
Conclusion
Lower serum vitamin D levels correlated with increased liver cirrhosis severity, suggesting its potential as both a prognostic marker and therapeutic target. Further studies should investigate the efficacy of vitamin D supplementation in improving cirrhosis outcomes.
Identification of neurotransmitters as novel biomarkers for the prognosis of colorectal cancer
Authors: Shi Fangfang , Wen Yazhou , Liu Ying , Miao Ji , Li Li
Published: June 2024

Backgroud
The biological function of neurotransmitter receptor-related genes (NRGs) has been increasingly appreciated in cancer. However, the relationship between neurotransmitters and colorectal cancer (CRC) was not well understood. The purpose of this study was to develop a neurotransmitter-related signature for risk stratification and prognosis prediction in CRC.
Methods
The RNA-seq data of CRC and clinical information of corresponding samples were obtained from the UCSC-Xena platform. GSE33113 databases are used as a validation cohort. The NRGs were obtained from the literature and Genecards database. Univariate Cox regression and Lasso regression were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and establish neurotransmitter-related prognosis signatures. A nomogram was constructed, and its performance was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and decision curve analysis (DCA). A total of 221 neurotransmitter-related DEGs were identified. Univariate Cox regression analysis identified the 10 best prognostic genes as risk signatures, and the Kaplan-Meier curve, ROC curve, and risk plot verified its performance in TCGA and GSE33113 cohorts.
Results
A prognostic nomogram was developed incorporating risk score, age, and TNM stage, with ROC and DCA curves demonstrating its strong prognostic capability. Furthermore, high-risk scores were found to be significantly associated with invasions and stages. The high-risk group exhibited activation of the angiogenesis, apical junction, coagulation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and myogenesis pathways. T In terms of drug sensitivity, TIDE scores were significantly lower in the low-risk group, which was more suitable for immunotherapy. Chemotherapy, antivascular, and targeted therapies may be more appropriate for high-risk patients. Neurotransmitter-based prognostic signatures were found in our investigation, and our 10-gene risk panel is a useful biomarker for predictive risk assessment in CRC patients.
From planning to implementation: a multi-stakeholder partnership for managing plant invasions in tropical island ecosystems
Authors: Rouget Mathieu , Fenouillas Pauline , Cazal Emilie , Caubit Margot , Soleyen Cédric Ajaguin , Balard Eve , Becker-Scarpitta Antoine , Calichiama Laurent , Karczewski Gael , Lavergne Christophe , Lequette Benoit , Marie Léa , Payet Guillaume , Payet Nicolas , Picot Frédéric , Strasberg Dominique , Triolo Julien , Turquet Vincent , Delorme Jean-Philippe
Published: June 2024

Effective management of invasive species within protected areas requires innovative solutions. In the Mascarene's archipelago, the national park of Reunion contains the largest area of intact vegetation, which faces alarming threats from invasive alien plant species. In response, the local government initiated an inclusive partnership in 2018 involving decision-makers, managers, and scientists to address the management of invasive alien plant species. An operational framework from planning to implementation has been established encompassing five key steps: (1) conduct a comprehensive site assessment, (2) model future threats, (3) prioritise interventions, (4) implement actions through a multi-stakeholder programme spanning multiple years, and (5) evaluate the effectiveness of implemented interventions. This study provides an in-depth examination of the research-action partnership and the operational framework, illustrating outputs for key priority sites. Our survey covered over 2500 ha, quantifying invasion degree in three vegetation strata at a fine-scale, and revealed significant areas within subalpine vegetation which remain remarkably pristine. By adapting participatory conservation planning approaches, we developed implementation-level outputs at a scale useful for managers which guided interventions on the ground. The partnership exemplifies a transdisciplinary approach with a broad array of stakeholders. Drawing from a checklist of essential components for successful partnerships, we highlight key insights from this initiative, providing valuable lessons for managing invasions in other regions. This framework holds promise for addressing several Global Biodiversity Framework Targets concerning plant invasions in island ecosystems or within landscapes characterised by multi-layered governance.
Bioerosion and encrustation in Late Triassic reef corals from Iran
Authors: Burger Michelle , Dimitrijević Danijela , Kiessling Wolfgang
Published: June 2024

Hard substrate communities can impact coral reef growth by adding or removing calcium carbonate when they act as encrusters or bioeroders, respectively. Although such sclerobiont communities are known across the Phanerozoic, the Triassic saw a substantial increase in reef macrobioerosion. This study provides the first quantitative assessment of sclerobionts in a Late Triassic (Norian) reef coral community from the Nayband Formation in central Iran and establishes some post-Paleozoic trends in reef bioerosion. Sclerobionts were common on the dominant coral Pamiroseris rectilamellosa and covered between 0 and 26.4% of total coral surface area among the 145 colonies investigated. Encrustation was significantly more prevalent (1.78% of total area) than bioerosion (0.36% of total area). The underside of corals was 3.5 times more affected by sclerobionts than the surfaces. This suggests that the sclerobionts preferentially colonized dead parts of corals. The main encrusting taxa were polychaeta worms (76.2%), followed by bivalves (11.9%). The main bioeroders were of Polychaeta (51.4%), Porifera (22.2%), and Bivalvia (20.7%). The lack of a correlation between encrustation and bioerosion intensity suggests that the amount of sclerobionts is not simply a function of exposure time before final burial. Our review of the published literature suggests a declining trend in the relative importance of bivalves, polychaetas and cirripeds in reefs, whereas sponges increased in importance from the Triassic until today.
Twin Pregnancy and Postpartum Haemorrhage: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Abdulsalam Fatma A. M. , Bourdakos Natalie E. , Burns James W. F. , Zervides Zoe Y. , Yap Nathanael Q. E. , Adra Maamoun , Nakanishi Hayato , Than Christian A. , Chervenak Francis A. , Arulkumaran Sir Sabaratnam
Published: June 2024

Background
Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) continues to stand as the primary cause of maternal morbidity and mortality post-delivery, with twin pregnancies carrying a heightened risk of PPH compared to singleton deliveries.
Objectives
To investigate the incidence of primary PPH among twin pregnancies whilst evaluating the possible association between maternal and peripartum characteristics, considering the lack of a strong guideline on the risk stratification of PPH in such cases.
Methods
A literature search was conducted using data from PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane, Scopus, and Web of Science. The search aimed to identify studies concerning mothers with twin pregnancies and postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) from the inception of each respective database to June 8th, 2023. Pooled means and proportions were analyzed using the generic inverse variance method. This review was registered prospectively with PROSPERO (CRD42023427192)
Results
A total of 21 studies involving 23,330 twin pregnant patients were included. Incidence of PPH for vaginal delivery and Caesarean delivery (CS) was found to be 10.9% (95% CI: -0.017, 0.235, I2 = 96%) and 27.0% (95% CI: 0.180, 0.359, I2 = 99%) respectively. In vitro fertilization (IVF) was the most common conception method at 62.0% (95% CI: 0.448, 0.792, I2 = 100%) with 81.1% (95% CI: 0.708, 0.915, I2 = 100%) of twins being dichorionic diamniotic.
Conclusion
This meta-analysis demonstrated more than one in ten vaginal deliveries and over one in four cesarean sections result in PPH for twin pregnancies. IVF is the predominant method of conception in this patient group and seems to contribute to subsequent PPH risk in specific mothers. While preliminary, these findings underscore the necessity for further well-designed and high-quality studies to validate these results.
Semaglutide treatment of hypothalamic obesity – a real-life data study
Authors: Svendstrup Mathilde , Rasmussen Aase Krogh , Kistorp Caroline , Klose Marianne , Andreassen Mikkel
Published: June 2024

Purpose Patients with tumors involving the hypothalamic region are at high risk of developing morbid obesity due to disturbances in the appetite regulative nuclei in hypothalamus. We evaluated the effect of Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogue treatment in patients with hypothalamic obesity.Methods We recorded weight changes from real-time data before and after treatment with the GLP-1 analogue semaglutide in patients hypothalamic obesity from our outpatient clinic at the Department of Endocrinology at Rigshospitalet, from September 2020 to November 2023.Results A total of 26 patients were included in this study (15 females, median age at initiation of semaglutide was 52 (18–65) years). Body weight at initial diagnosis was median 80 kg (range 50–140) while body weight at initiation of semaglutide was median 116 kg (range 76–175). All but one patient lost weight during semaglutide treatment with a mean weight loss of 12.5 kg (95% CI 8.4–16.5 kg, p = < 0.001) after one year (median 11.4 months) with an average dosage of semaglutide of 1.6 mg (range 0.5–2.5). There was no significant difference in weight loss between patients previously treated with liraglutide and patients naïve to GLP-1 analogues (p = 0.35). Fifteen patients (58%) lost more than 10% and 2 patients (8%) lost more than 20% of initial body weight, respectively.Conclusion Treatment with semaglutide shows promising results in reducing body weight in patients with acquired hypothalamic obesity. Whether the weight reduction remains stable after long time follow-up needs further investigation.
Modelling the proportions with excessive endpoints based on a generalized Lindley binomial model
Authors: Deng Dianliang , Zhang Xiaoqing
Published: June 2024

This paper presents the generalized Lindley binomial (GLB) distribution, a novel probability distribution designed for the analysis of proportional data with excessive endpoints. The study delves into the probabilistic characteristics of the GLB distribution, including the probability mass function and the rth factorial moment function. Estimation of the distribution parameters in the GLB model, both with and without covariates, is addressed using the Fisher scoring algorithm and the EM algorithm. Furthermore, the paper explores techniques for model diagnosis and evaluates the goodness of fit for the proposed GLB model. To illustrate the performance of the derived EM algorithms in parameter estimation, a limited simulation study is conducted for both cases, with and without covariates, in the GLB model. The practical application of the proposed Lindley binomial regression model is demonstrated using the whitefly dataset.
Microbiological Characterization of Neuropathic Diabetic Foot Infection: a Retrospective Study at a Portuguese Tertiary Hospital
Authors: Gonçalves Juliana , Guimarães André Rodrigues , Ferreira Helena Urbano , Ribeiro Sara , Moreno Telma , Borges-Canha Marta , Meira Inês , Menino João , Silva Fábia , Pedro Jorge , Silva Nélia , Simão Ricardo São , Santos Lurdes , Queirós Joana , Diabético Consulta de Grupo Pé
Published: June 2024

Diabetic foot infection imposes a significant burden and is the major cause of nontraumatic limb amputation. Adequate patient management with effective antibiotic therapy is crucial. This retrospective cohort study aimed to characterize the microbiology and resistance patterns of moderate to severe neuropathic diabetic foot infection in patients hospitalized at a tertiary referral hospital between January 2020 and June 2023. Deep tissue specimens from ulcers were collected for culture. Sixty inpatients were included (62% male, mean age 59.1 ± 11.5 years). Osteomyelitis was present in 90% of the patients. Among 102 microorganisms (average of 1.91 ± 1.25 pathogens per patient), 60.8% were gram-positive bacteria, 31.4% were gram-negative, 3.92% were anaerobic bacteria, and 3.92% were fungi. Staphylococcus aureus (19%) and Enterococcus faecium (17%) were the most common. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8%) and bacteria of the Enterobacterales family (24%) accounted for all the isolated gram-negative bacteria. Sixteen percent of Staphylococcus aureus and 67% of coagulase-negative Staphylococci were resistant to methicillin. Resistance to ampicillin was found in 11% of Enterococci. All Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were sensitive to piperacillin-tazobactam, ceftazidime, or cefepime. Among the Enterobacterales, resistance rates were 35% for piperacillin-tazobactam, 35% for ceftazidime, 17% for cefepime, and 13% for carbapenems. Although the prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci was lower than that in other studies, carbapenem resistance among gram-negative bacteria warrants attention. This study highlights the importance of understanding local epidemiology for effective diabetic foot infection management and resistance mitigation.
Assessment of diversity, population structure and gene flow in indigenous and exotic accessions of Adzuki bean (Vigna angularis Willd.)
Authors: Bhardwaj Neelam , Nareshkumar Varadharajan , Bhardwaj Anjali , Patyal Surbhi , Singh Mohar
Published: June 2024

Adzuki beans are recognized for their high carbohydrate content and protein composition, featuring a well-balanced amino acid profile, particularly abundant in lysine. This compensates for the typically deficient protein levels found in commonly consumed cereals. Morphological diversity analysis categorized 96 adzuki accessions into three distinct clusters, with the greatest intra-cluster distance observed between cluster I and cluster II. Principal Component Analysis indicated that PC1 accounted for 55.90% of the total variation, primarily attributed to traits such as primary branches per plant, plant height, 1000-seed weight, clusters per plant, seed yield per plant, and seeds per pod. Seventy SSR primers were utilized to assess molecular diversity. Among these, 11 primer pairs exhibited polymorphism, with a mean PIC value of 0.241. The average number of effective alleles (Ne) and Shannon’s Information Index (SII) were calculated as 1.5051 and 0.4560 per locus, respectively. Clustering analysis using the NTSYS-pc package identified three clusters comprising both indigenous and exotic accessions. Population STRUCTURE revealed the highest ΔK mean value at K = 2, dividing the 96 germplasm accessions into two distinct gene pools, consisting of pure lines and admixtures. AMOVA conducted between the two populations unveiled that 79% of the variation exists within populations, while 21% exists among populations. The pure lines and polymorphic SSR markers identified in this study hold promise for the development and evaluation of core collections and the breeding of superior varieties of adzuki beans along with harnessing genetic diversity in adzuki beans to enhance breeding endeavors toward superior varieties and hybrids.
Decision Tree Models for Predicting Liquefaction-Induced Settlement of Buildings with Shallow Foundations Subjected to Seismic Excitation
Authors: Ahmad Mahmood , Danish Muhammad , Khan Beenish Jehan , Abdullah Gamil M.S. , Ahmad Feezan
Published: June 2024

Shallow-founded buildings are susceptible to liquefaction-induced settlement (Sl) in the event of an earthquake. Mitigating earthquake damage requires accurate settlement evaluation. Nnonetheless, the process of predicting the Sl is not simple and necessitates advanced soil models and calibrated soil characteristics, which are not easily accessible for specialists and designers. Furthermore, multivariate adaptive regression splines or conventional regression analysis were used to build the available empirical models to estimate the Sl, and these methods result in complex models. Moreover, these empirical models were created by applying the outcomes of numerical modelling. In order to overcome these constraints, this research presents the development of two novel decision tree models: the reduced error pruning (REP) tree, the random forest (RF), and the random tree (RT). The Sl may be immediately and accurately estimated with the new models, which have been developed using authentic laboratory observations from centrifuge results. The data utilized in this research includes seven characteristics: the width of the foundation, the height of the building, the pressure exerted on the foundation, the thickness and relative density of the liquefiable layer, and the intensity of the earthquake. Two subsets of the available data are used: the training set (20%) and the test set (80%). Statistical measures such as root mean squared error, mean absolute error, and coefficient of correlation are utilized to assess the decision tree models' output. Applications of the previously outlined method for predicting the Sl are compared and discussed. The evaluation of the Sl dataset's statistical metrics indicates that the RT produced significantly more dependable and reliable outcomes.
Urbanization alters the diversity, assembly and complexity in microbial generalist and specialist community of a subtropical river system
Authors: Zhao Teng , Deng Yuting , Zhou Ling , Wang Jinna , Dong Peichang , Yang Songqi , Zheng Baohai , Shi Junqiong , Wu Zhongxing
Published: June 2024

Urbanization-induced environmental changes are becoming a major threat to river systems. However, little is known about how urbanization affects aquatic microbial communities despite their critical role in maintaining ecological processes and nutrient cycling. Here, we investigated assembly processes of habitat generalists and specialists in different urbanization stages of subtropical rivers. The results highlight that nitrogen compounds can influence the composition of the microbial community. Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes, as well as Cyanobacteria were identified as dominant phyla in urbanization rivers. Both total diversity and total species richness of generalists were significantly higher than that of specialists, while beta diversity of generalists was significantly higher in low-level urbanization rivers (LUS) than that in high-level urbanization river (HUS). For the generalist, heterogeneous selection is the most important process for the assembly of HUS in winter, but dispersal limitation, drift and other nondominated processes were mainly the dominant assembly process for the establishment of LUS whether in summer or winter. Similarly, stochastic processes were the main assembly of specialists for LUS and HUS, whether in summer or winter. In summer HUS and winter LUS, a more complex network was found in the generalists and specialists, while a significantly stronger network was found in the complexity and robustness of the co-occurrence network compared to HUS. Overall, these suggest that the specialists and nitrogen play a key role in shaping urbanization-induced homogenization of microbial communities. The insights gained from this study may be helpful in understanding how urbanization affects microbial communities and their ecological assembly mechanisms.
Relationship between bank value, tax avoidance, and profitability
Authors: Fawzi Shubita Mohammad
Published: June 2024

This study explores the intricate relationships between bank value, tax avoidance, and profitability, which significantly affect the stability and strategies of financial institutions worldwide. Understanding these connections is vital for comprehending the financial dynamics of banks, key players in economic growth and stability. The study focuses on these three factors due to their intertwined roles in shaping fiscal policy effectiveness, shareholder satisfaction, and overall financial health. The aim of this study is to explore the relationships between the bank value, tax avoidance and profitability aiming to clarify their interactions and their impact on the Jrdanian banks. Ordinary Least Squares regression analysis is employed using a mixed-methods approach, including quantitative regression analysis and qualitative assessments. The study results reveal a significant direct link between bank tax avoidance and profitability. The increase in Return on Assets is associated with a substantial increase in tax avoidance. In the expanded model, bank value and size did not exhibit statistically significant incremental information over profitability in explaining tax avoidance. Profitability emerges as a dominant factor, overshadowing the potential impact of size and value. The results underscore profitability as a key driver in bank tax strategies, highlighting a potential area for regulatory scrutiny and strategic realignment. In conclusion, the study underscores the pivotal influence of bank profitability on tax avoidance strategies. Policymakers, practitioners, and researchers are encouraged to recognize the prominence of profitability in formulating tax strategies.
The impact of government expenditure, renewable energy consumption, and CO2 emissions on Lebanese economic sustainability: ARDL approach
Authors: Taher Hanadi
Published: June 2024

Most of the recent environmental and economic studies focus on the influence of renewable energy consumption and effective government expenditure respecting global climate change in leading sustainable economic growth. The empirical studies showed variation in the relationship between these variables. Based on the Keynesian economic growth framework, this study aims to investigate the impact of government expenditure, renewable energy consumption, and carbon dioxide emissions on the sustainable economic growth of Lebanon. The study used the ordinary least square method to test the short- and long-run relationship between the model variables by employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag Stationarity estimation. The research data are gathered from the World Development Indicators annually from 1990 to 2022. The empirical findings showed that all variables are stationary at first difference except for carbon dioxide emissions. A long-term relationship between the dependent and independent variables was shown by the model test simulation employing the bound test. The model test for model residuals showed no heteroscedasticity based on the White test. The residuals are normally distributed by applying the Shapiro-Wilk test, and the model is stable with no structural break at the period. According to the study results, government spending has a robust reverse relation with sustainable economic growth and positive significant results for both renewable energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The study findings are consistent with some literature sources and raise attention to monitoring the nature of government spending and boosting green energy sources in an economy.
Analysis of flood streamflow sensitivity to precipitation using the WRF-Hydro model in a humid environment
Authors: Liu Peilong , Liang Zhongmin , Qian Mingkai , Hu Yiming , Wang Jun , Li Binquan
Published: June 2024

Basin-scale runoff forecasting requires controlling absolute relative errors within 0.2 for accurate predictions. This study examines the sensitivity of simulated flood deviations in frequently flooded humid regions to discrepancies in precipitation driving the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF)-Hydro model. Key parameters of various WRF-Hydro modules are calibrated from 23 flood events between 2003 and 2017. Two experiments were designed with minimized uncertainty in both model and parameterization to explore the sensitivity of streamflow changes to precipitation misestimations, both in total and graded precipitation. The sensitivity of runoff relative errors is more pronounced than that of precipitation relative errors, influenced by the magnitude, variability, and duration of rainfall. During processes involving heavy rainstorm, precipitation absolute relative errors increased by 50%, while runoff absolute relative errors increased by more than 60%. This sensitivity trend is linked to variations in components generated by misestimated precipitation. Runoff relative errors are higher when precipitation is misestimated at high rainfall levels compared to the same misestimation at low rainfall levels. For effective flood simulation and prediction, it is crucial to emphasize the accuracy of precipitation, especially during high rainfall events. Future research will incorporate more realistic precipitation forcing mechanisms and additional metrics for evaluating precipitation forecast.
Assessment of lead contamination in soil and tap water in daycare facilities in Addis Ababa: implications for children's health
Authors: Belete Eden , Getaneh Zerihun , Debebe Dawit
Published: June 2024

In recent years, lead poisoning has been recognized as a serious environmental health problem throughout the world, particularly, for children in developing countries. The objective of the study was to investigate the lead level in the water and soil of daycare facilities in Addis Ababa. Graphite furnaces atomic absorption spectrometry was used to analyze the concentration of lead in soil and tap water of 28 daycare centers. The result indicated that the mean levels of lead in soil and water were 0.00237 mg/g and 8.26 μg/L, respectively, which are below the permissible values of 0.1 mg/g and 10 μg/L according to WHO standards. The blood lead levels and exposure to lead in children were calculated using the integrated exposure uptake biokinetic model as per United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidelines. The mean blood lead level was 1.78 μg/dL, and the model also predicted that 6.497% of the children in the city may have blood lead levels above the Center for Disease Control recommended reference value of 3.5 μg/dL. Even if the values were below the reference, there is no safe blood lead level since even a small amount can have adverse effects on children.
Evaluating rooftop rainwater harvesting potential to satisfy urban water demand in Hosaena City, South Central Ethiopia
Authors: Meskele Dawit Yohannes , Shomre Muse Wldmchel , Soche Tagese Kalsido
Published: June 2024

The assessment of the rainwater harvesting (RWH) potential in Hosaena City from medium to large public buildings is the main objective of the study. ArcGIS with Google Earth Pro was used to calculate the rooftop area of the selected building, and RWH from each category of public buildings was evaluated by considering rooftop areas, monthly rainfall, and runoff coefficient. The result shows that the highest amount of rainwater was harvested from the City Administration building in August (197.1 m3), whereas the lowest was collected from the Health Center building in December (1.8 m3). Additionally, the contribution of RWH from individual public buildings for each month was evaluated, and its values ranged from 0.073 to 1.8%. The comparison shows that Wachemo University, Nigist Eleni Comprehensive Hospital, a technical and vocational institute, and teacher training center buildings, could have a significant potential for rainwater storage, ranging from 1.56 to 28.41%. This implies that, besides saving a noteworthy volume of potable water, the excess rainwater can be stored and utilized for the later dry months. As a result, it is recommended that rooftop RWH in Hosaena be the best source of the city's water supply system to reduce the current water supply shortage.