bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Insight into Low-Temperature One-Step Biopreparation and Natural Dyeing of Cotton as an Environmentally Benign Route
Authors: Erdem İşmal Özlenen
Published: April 2024

The goal of this study is to present an environmentally benign route for cotton fabric and investigate the effect of different pretreatments in natural dyeing. In this context, conventional alkaline scouring, conventional hydrogen peroxide bleaching, low-temperature one-step biopreparation processes, namely enzymatic scouring (alkaline pectinase and alkaline pectinase-neutral cellulase combination) at 55 °C and enzyme-bleaching agent (hydrogen peroxide/sodium percarbonate/sodium perborate)-activator agent (TAED) combinations at 65 °C were applied to 100% cotton knitted fabric. The use of agricultural waste and eco-friendly mordants was preferred in natural dyeing. For this purpose, pretreated fabrics were dyed with the outer green shell of almond fruit extracts and a low amount of 0.4 g/L metal mordants (alum and iron(II) sulfate) in accordance with the simultaneous mordanting method. The dyeing properties of bio- and conventionally prepared cotton fabrics were examined in terms of colorimetric data (K/S, CIELa*b*C*h°) and wash fastness compared with water absorbency, whiteness, weight loss, pectin removal, and type of mordant. Excellent wash fastness values were achieved regardless of the type of pretreatment. Low-temperature one-step biopreparation can be a good substitute for conventional scouring and bleaching processes. Since different results can be achieved, it is essential to determine and evaluate all bioprocess conditions depending on the end-use characteristics of the textile (e.g. whether it will be white or dyed/printed, its color and lightness/darkness) at the laboratory and industrial scale applications.
Litter Decomposition in Retreating Coastal Forests
Authors: Smith Alexander J. , Valentine Kendall , Small John M. , Khan Aliya , Gedan Keryn , Nordio Giovanna , Fagherazzi Sergio , Kirwan Matthew L.
Published: April 2024

Rising sea levels lead to the migration of salt marshes into coastal forests, thereby shifting both ecosystem composition and function. In this study, we investigate leaf litter decomposition, a critical component of forest carbon cycling, across the marsh-forest boundary with a focus on the potential influence of environmental gradients (i.e., temperature, light, moisture, salinity, and oxygen) on decomposition rates. To examine litter decomposition across these potentially competing co-occurring environmental gradients, we deployed litterbags within distinct forest health communities along the marsh-forest continuum and monitored decomposition rates over 6 months. Our results revealed that while the burial depth of litter enhanced decomposition within any individual forest zone by approximately 60% (decay rate = 0.272 ± 0.029 yr−1 (surface), 0.450 ± 0.039 yr−1 (buried)), we observed limited changes in decomposition rates across the marsh-forest boundary with only slightly enhanced decomposition in mid-forest soils that are being newly impacted by saltwater intrusion and shrub encroachment. The absence of linear changes in decomposition rates indicates non-linear interactions between the observed environmental gradients that maintain a consistent net rate of decomposition across the marsh-forest boundary. However, despite similar decomposition rates across the boundary, the accumulated soil litter layer disappears because leaf litter influx decreases from the absence of mature trees. Our finding that environmental gradients counteract expected decomposition trends could inform carbon-climate model projections and may be indicative of decomposition dynamics present in other transitioning ecosystem boundaries.
Sensitivity analysis of urban air mobility aircraft design and operations including battery charging and swapping
Authors: Ratei Patrick , Naeem Nabih , Prakasha Prajwal Shiva , Nagel Björn
Published: April 2024

Urban Air Mobility (UAM) is an evolving concept of passenger transportation providing on-demand flights within metropolitan environments, wherefore typically fully electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft are designed. Due to the underlying battery energy constraints, the design of UAM aircraft is very sensitive. Apart from the design considerations, the impact of aircraft operations on the entire UAM transport network must be examined. As there is no data from real-world operations available, this research article utilizes a system of systems simulation framework combining aircraft design with an agent-based simulation. The underlying approach offers the possibility of studying several parameters concerning UAM aircraft design and operations. In a case study focused on intra-city transport, aircraft design aspects regarding the payload capacity, the mission profile, and the reserve requirement are studied for a multirotor configuration. Furthermore, the aircraft operations aspects are focused on the turnaround procedures, the passenger demand, and the cruise speed. The multi-level sensitivity analysis ranging from the subsystem over the system of interest to the system of systems level allows us to trace the most sensitive aspects. Especially, the sensitivity analysis of battery fast-charging and swapping shows the importance of the holistic system of systems investigations for the successful development of UAM aircraft and services.
Conversion rate to open surgery during transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) for rectal cancer: a single-center experience
Authors: Tirelli Flavio , Lorenzon Laura , Biondi Alberto , Neri Ilaria , Santoro Gloria , Persiani Roberto
Published: April 2024

Minimally invasive techniques for rectal cancer have demonstrated considerable advantages in terms of faster recovery and less post-operative complications. However, due to the complex anatomy and a limited surgical field, conversion to open surgery is still sometimes required, with a negative impact on the short-and long-term outcomes. The purpose of this study was to analyse the conversion rate to open abdominal surgery during laparoscopic transanal total mesorectal excision (TaTME) procedures performed at a high-volume Italian referral center. All consecutive TaTME performed for mid-to-low rectal cancer between 2015 and 2023 were reviewed, independently if treated with a primary anastomosis (with/without a diverting ostomy) or an end stoma. All procedures were performed using a standardized approach by the same surgical team. Patients with benign diagnosis that underwent different-from rectal resection procedures and cases pre-operatively scheduled for open surgery were excluded. The primary outcome of interest was the rate of conversion, defined as an un-planned intraoperative switch to open surgery using a midline laparotomy. Secondary aims included the comparison of patients who had a longer vs shorter operative time. Out of 220 patients, 210 were selected. In 187 cases, a primary anastomosis was performed, while 23 patients received a terminal colostomy (1 in the converted group; 22 in the full MIS- TaTME group, 10.6%). A surgical approach modification occurred in two cases, with a conversion rate of 0.95%. Median operative time was 281 min. Reasons for conversions included intra-operative difficulties impairing the mini-invasive procedure without intra-operative complications in one case, and difficulties in the laparoscopic control of an intraoperative bleeding due to a splenic lesion in another patient. Male sex and a higher BMI were found to be statistically significantly associated to longer operative time (respectively: p = 0.001 and p = 0.0025). In a high-volume center, a standardized TaTME is associated to a low conversion rate to open abdominal surgery.
A hybrid approach based on multipath Swin transformer and ConvMixer for white blood cells classification
Authors: Üzen Hüseyin , Fırat Hüseyin
Published: April 2024

White blood cells (WBC) play an effective role in the body’s defense against parasites, viruses, and bacteria in the human body. Also, WBCs are categorized based on their morphological structures into various subgroups. The number of these WBC types in the blood of non-diseased and diseased people is different. Thus, the study of WBC classification is quite significant for medical diagnosis. Due to the widespread use of deep learning in medical image analysis in recent years, it has also been used in WBC classification. Moreover, the ConvMixer and Swin transformer models, recently introduced, have garnered significant success by attaining efficient long contextual characteristics. Based on this, a new multipath hybrid network is proposed for WBC classification by using ConvMixer and Swin transformer. This proposed model is called Swin Transformer and ConvMixer based Multipath mixer (SC-MP-Mixer). In the SC-MP-Mixer model, firstly, features with strong spatial details are extracted with the ConvMixer. Then Swin transformer effectively handle these features with self-attention mechanism. In addition, the ConvMixer and Swin transformer blocks consist of a multipath structure to obtain better patch representations in the SC-MP-Mixer. To test the performance of the SC-MP-Mixer, experiments were performed on three WBC datasets with 4 (BCCD), 8 (PBC) and 5 (Raabin) classes. The experimental studies resulted in an accuracy of 99.65% for PBC, 98.68% for Raabin, and 95.66% for BCCD. When compared with the studies in the literature and the state-of-the-art models, it was seen that the SC-MP-Mixer had more effective classification results.
Effect of long reaction distance on gas composition from organic-rich shale pyrolysis under high-temperature steam environment
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhang Rui , Wang Guoying , Zhao Jing , Yang Dong , Kang Zhiqin , Zhao Yangsheng
Published: April 2024

When high-temperature steam is used as a medium to pyrolyze organic-rich shale, water steam not only acts as heat transfer but also participates in the chemical reaction of organic matter pyrolysis, thus affecting the generation law and release characteristics of gas products. In this study, based on a long-distance reaction system of organic-rich shale pyrolysis via steam injection, the effects of steam temperature and reaction distance on gas product composition are analyzed in depth and compared with other pyrolysis processes. The advantages of organic-rich shale pyrolysis via steam injection are then evaluated. The volume concentration of hydrogen in the gas product obtained via the steam injection pyrolysis of organic-rich shale is the highest, which is more than 60%. The hydrogen content increases as the reaction distance is extended; however, the rate of increase changes gradually. Increasing the reaction distance from 800 to 4000 mm increases the hydrogen content from 34.91% to 69.68% and from 63.13% to 78.61% when the steam temperature is 500 °C and 555 °C, respectively. However, the higher the heat injection temperature, the smaller the reaction distance required to form a high concentration hydrogen pyrolysis environment (hydrogen concentration > 60%). When the steam pyrolysis temperature is increased from 500 °C to 555 °C, the reaction distance required to form a high concentration of hydrogen is reduced from 3800 to 800 mm. Compared with the direct retorting process, the volume concentration of hydrogen obtained from high-temperature steam pyrolysis of organic-rich shale is 8.82 and 10.72 times that of the commonly used Fushun and Kivite furnaces, respectively. The pyrolysis of organic-rich shale via steam injection is a pyrolysis process in a hydrogen-rich environment.
Cooling Curves of Concentrated Alloys, Steelmaking Slag, and Lithium Iron Phosphate
Authors: Li Delin
Published: April 2024

Over the past few years, a variety of melting casting projects have been performed, in collaboration with industries and universities. Concentrated alloys and nonmetallic compounds were studied including high-Si cast iron, high-Mn steel, Al-added stainless steel, high-entropy alloy, Permalloy 80 Ni alloy, Stellite Co alloy, steelmaking slag, and lithium iron phosphate (LFP). A melt synthesis of LFP was developed. Cooling curves were measured using the thermal analysis cup method and differential thermal analysis. In addition, the phase diagrams of alloys were calculated using Thermo-Calc. This paper draws on some examples of the measured cooling curves to illustrate the thermal behaviors of melts, along with a quick review of each project.
Preliminary screening of plant essential oils from an oceanic climate zone (NW Spain) for the control of equine cyathostomins
Authors: Garduño Roberto González , Vázquez María Sol Arias , Monteiro Cristiana Cazapal , Andrade Rita Sánchez , Silva Adolfo Paz
Published: April 2024

Cyathostomins (Strongylida: Cyathostominae) are gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) that affect equines in many parts of the world. Due to anthelmintic resistance (AR), it is necessary to search for control alternatives. The objective of the study was to carry out a screening of 26 essential oils (EOs) from plants to determine in vitro their action on cyathostomins. Essential oils were obtained by hydro-distillation from leaves, flowers, fruits, and seeds of the selected species and used against the eggs of cyathostomins by means of the tests of egg hatching and larval motility inhibition. For each EO, different concentrations were prepared (250, 125, 62.5, 31.3, 15.6, 7.8, 3.9, 2.0, 1.0, 0.5 and 0.24 mg/mL). Oxfendazole at 2.5% mixed with closantel 5% was used as positive control, and PBS served as negative control. Cyathostomin eggs were obtained from feces of infected horses and infective larvae were recovered after coproculture. The in vitro test was carried out 36 h after the challenge with the EOs. The highest production of EOs was obtained from leaves of bay, eucalyptus, mallow, and basil, as well as from seeds of black pepper, coriander, cinnamon, anise, and peel of orange and cloves, cumin, and Lawson’s cypress. The oils extracted from laurel leaves, ground cinnamon, anise, cumin, and coriander seeds had a very high effect on cyathostomins eggs up to concentrations lower than 3.9 mg/mL. Therefore, in addition to the uses against other pathogens such as fungi and bacteria, some EOs might attain great importance as an alternative control strategy in the control of nematode eggs.
Fluorescence enhancement of benzimidazolium derivative on clay nanosheets by surface-fixation induced emission (S-FIE)
Authors: Mori Hakan , Nakazato Ryosuke , Tachibana Hiroshi , Shimada Tetsuya , Ishida Tamao , Ryo Miyajima , Hasegawa Eietsu , Takagi Shinsuke
Published: April 2024

The photophysical behaviors of benzimidazolium derivative [4-(1,3-dimethylbenzimidazol-3-imu-2-yl)-N, N-diphenylaniline (2-(4-(diphenylamino)phenyl)-1,3-dimethyl-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-3-ium)] (BID) in water, organic solvents and on synthetic saponite were investigated. The fluorescence quantum yield (Φf) of BID was 0.91 on the saponite surface under the optimal condition, while that in water was 0.010. Such fluorescence enhancement on the inorganic surface is called “surface-fixation induced emission (S-FIE)”. This fluorescence enhancement ratio for BID is significantly high compared to that of conventional S-FIE active dyes. From the values of Φf and the excited lifetime, the non-radiative deactivation rate constant (knr) and radiative deactivation rate constant (kf) of BID on the saponite surface and in water were determined. Results showed that the factors for fluorescence enhancement were both the increase of kf and the decrease of knr on the saponite surface; especially, knr decreased by more than two orders due to the effect of nanosheets.

Graphic abstract

The fluorescence quantum yield increased approximately 90 times by the addition of clay.
Building partnerships for sustainable development: case study of Laos, the BRI, and the SDGs
Authors: Gu Jing
Published: April 2024

This study examines sustainable development cooperation and the effectiveness of sustainable development partnerships in supporting national development in meeting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This study focuses on SDG 17, “Building Partnerships for Sustainable Development” and takes the Lao Democratic People’s Republic (Laos) as its case study. The study assesses Laos’s socio-economic condition, development trajectory and SDGs. It evaluates Laos’s development partnerships with China and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and wider development diplomacy. The study adopts a political economy perspective, drawing in global major power competition. The paper argues that development partnerships are pivotal to success in achieving national and global development goals. Laos holds the ASEAN Chair through 2024, whilst experiencing severe economic challenges domestically. Moving between these two domains, Laos will seek to achieve balance and even-handedness between regional and global interests. Laos’s long-standing development partnership with China and the BRI brings tangible results. However, the study concludes that greater diversification in building partnerships for development will provide additional support to Laos’s development strategy.
“Women Teachers’ Lobby”: Justice, Gender, and Politics in the Equal Pay Fight of the New York City Interborough Association of Women Teachers, 1906-1911
Authors: Rosenberg Rachel
Published: April 2024

This paper explores the movement of the New York City Interborough Association of Women Teachers (IAWT) for “equal pay for equal work” in teaching salaries, which it won in 1911. The IAWT’s success sheds light on the possibilities and limits of women teachers advocating for change within a feminized profession. Leading the movement were of a group of women teachers, organizing before woman’s suffrage and in an era of sex-differentiated work and pay, who convinced the city’s public and state’s legislators that they deserved pay equal to what men teachers received. They did so by strategic maneuvering in city and state politics and making equal pay look reasonable. And they did so by narrowly defining their goals and leaning on their identities as women to push a theoretically sex-neutral claim of justice. Their success, though limited, was nonetheless a victory in shifting ideas about women’s societal and professional status in New York City and the state.
Visual observation of photonic Floquet–Bloch oscillations
Authors: Zhang Zhen , Li Yuan , Sun Xiankai , Shu Xuewen
Published: April 2024

Bloch oscillations (BOs), an important transport phenomenon, have been studied extensively in static systems but remain mysterious in Floquet systems. Here, by harnessing notions from photonic analogy, we propose a generalization of the existing BOs in photonic Floquet lattices, namely the “photonic Floquet–Bloch oscillations”, which refer to rescaled photonic Bloch oscillations with a period of extended least common multiple of the modulation period and the Bloch oscillation period. Next, we report the first visual observation of such photonic Floquet–Bloch oscillations (FBOs) by employing waveguide fluorescence microscopy. Most significantly, the FBOs surpass the existing BOs in Floquet systems and exhibit exotic properties on their own, including fractal spectrum and fractional Floquet tunneling. This new transport mechanism offers an intriguing method of wave manipulation that may contribute to rapidly developing fields in photonics, condensed matter physics, and quantum physics.
Multiplexed manipulation of orbital angular momentum and wavelength in metasurfaces based on arbitrary complex-amplitude control
Authors: He Guoli , Zheng Yaqin , Zhou Changda , Li Siyang , Shi Zhonghong , Deng Yanhui , Zhou Zhang-Kai
Published: April 2024

Due to its unbounded and orthogonal modes, the orbital angular momentum (OAM) is regarded as a key optical degree of freedom (DoF) for future information processing with ultra-high capacity and speed. Although the manipulation of OAM based on metasurfaces has brought about great achievements in various fields, such manipulation currently remains at single-DoF level, which means the multiplexed manipulation of OAM with other optical DoFs is still lacking, greatly hampering the application of OAM beams and advancement of metasurfaces. In order to overcome this challenge, we propose the idea of multiplexed coherent pixel (MCP) for metasurfaces. This approach enables the manipulation of arbitrary complex-amplitude under incident lights of both plane and OAM waves, on the basis of which we have realized the multiplexed DoF control of OAM and wavelength. As a result, the MCP method expands the types of incident lights which can be simultaneously responded by metasurfaces, enriches the information processing capability of metasurfaces, and creates applications of information encryption and OAM demultiplexer. Our findings not only provide means for the design of high-security and high-capacity metasurfaces, but also raise the control and application level of OAM, offering great potential for multifunctional nanophotonic devices in the future.
Thermogalvanic hydrogel-based e-skin for self-powered on-body dual-modal temperature and strain sensing
Authors: Wang Zhaosu , Li Ning , Yang Xinru , Zhang Zhiyi , Zhang Hulin , Cui Xiaojing
Published: April 2024

Sensing of both temperature and strain is crucial for various diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Here, we present a novel hydrogel-based electronic skin (e-skin) capable of dual-mode sensing of temperature and strain. The thermocouple ion selected for this study is the iodine/triiodide (I−/I3−) redox couple, which is a common component in everyday disinfectants. By leveraging the thermoelectric conversion in conjunction with the inherent piezoresistive effect of a gel electrolyte, self-powered sensing is achieved by utilizing the temperature difference between the human body and the external environment. The composite hydrogels synthesized from polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) monomers using a simple freeze‒thaw method exhibit remarkable flexibility, extensibility, and adaptability to human tissue. The incorporation of zwitterions further augments the resistance of the hydrogel to dehydration and low temperatures, allowing maintenance of more than 90% of its weight after 48 h in the air. Given its robust thermal current response, the hydrogel was encapsulated and then integrated onto various areas of the human body, including the cheeks, fingers, and elbows. Furthermore, the detection of the head-down state and the monitoring of foot movements demonstrate the promising application of the hydrogel in supervising the neck posture of sedentary office workers and the activity status. The successful demonstration of self-powered on-body temperature and strain sensing opens up new possibilities for wearable intelligent electronics and robotics.
Asymmetric impact of climatic parameters on hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in Shandong using a nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model
Authors: Wang Yongbin , Liang Ziyue , Qing Siyu , Xi Yue , Xu Chunjie , Lin Fei
Published: April 2024

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) poses a major threat in Shandong. This study aimed to investigate the long- and short-term asymmetric effects of meteorological factors on HFRS and establish an early forecasting system using autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and nonlinear ARDL (NARDL) models. Between 2004 and 2019, HFRS exhibited a declining trend (average annual percentage change = − 9.568%, 95% CI − 16.165 to − 2.451%) with a bimodal seasonality. A long-term asymmetric influence of aggregate precipitation (AP) (Wald long-run asymmetry [WLR] = − 2.697, P = 0.008) and aggregate sunshine hours (ASH) (WLR = 2.561, P = 0.011) on HFRS was observed. Additionally, a short-term asymmetric impact of AP (Wald short-run symmetry [WSR] = − 2.419, P = 0.017), ASH (WSR = 2.075, P = 0.04), mean wind velocity (MWV) (WSR = − 4.594, P < 0.001), and mean relative humidity (MRH) (WSR = − 2.515, P = 0.013) on HFRS was identified. Also, HFRS demonstrated notable variations in response to positive and negative changes in ∆MRH(−), ∆AP(+), ∆MWV(+), and ∆ASH(−) at 0–2 month delays over the short term. In terms of forecasting, the NARDL model demonstrated lower error rates compared to ARDL. Meteorological parameters have substantial long- and short-term asymmetric and/or symmetric impacts on HFRS. Merging NARDL model with meteorological factors can enhance early warning systems and support proactive measures to mitigate the disease's impact.
Early detection of bovine respiratory disease in pre-weaned dairy calves using sensor based feeding, movement, and social behavioural data
Authors: Bushby Emily V. , Thomas Matthew , Vázquez-Diosdado Jorge A. , Occhiuto Francesca , Kaler Jasmeet
Published: April 2024

Previous research shows that feeding and activity behaviours in combination with machine learning algorithms has the potential to predict the onset of bovine respiratory disease (BRD). This study used 229 novel and previously researched feeding, movement, and social behavioural features with machine learning classification algorithms to predict BRD events in pre-weaned calves. Data for 172 group housed calves were collected using automatic milk feeding machines and ultrawideband location sensors. Health assessments were carried out twice weekly using a modified Wisconsin scoring system and calves were classified as sick if they had a Wisconsin score of five or above and/or a rectal temperature of 39.5 °C or higher. A gradient boosting machine classification algorithm produced moderate to high performance: accuracy (0.773), precision (0.776), sensitivity (0.625), specificity (0.872), and F1-score (0.689). The most important 30 features were 40% feeding, 50% movement, and 10% social behavioural features. Movement behaviours, specifically the distance walked per day, were most important for model prediction, whereas feeding and social features aided in the model’s prediction minimally. These results highlighting the predictive potential in this area but the need for further improvement before behavioural changes can be used to reliably predict the onset of BRD in pre-weaned calves.
Ecological amplitude and indication potential of mining bees (Andrena spp.): a case study from the post-agricultural area of the Kampinos National Park (Poland)
Authors: Szczepko-Morawiec Katarzyna , Wiśniowski Bogdan , Motyka Ewelina , Celary Waldemar , Kruk Andrzej
Published: April 2024

The mining bee (Andrena spp.) play a key role in ensuring plant and animal diversity. The present study examines their diversity in a post-agricultural landscape exemplified by the Kampinos National Park (KNP), a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Poland. The following hypotheses were addressed: (H1) the mining bees demonstrate a narrow ecological amplitude, (H2) there are no indicator species for particular habitats, and (H3) the studied mining bees have the same ecological preferences to those presented in the literature. A total of 40 catch per unit effort samples (CPUE) were collected across various habitats with different soil humidity. Forty-six species were recorded, representing 46% of mining bees and approximately 10% of the known Polish bee fauna. Nineteen of the recorded species (41%) were assigned to CR-NT threat categories, indicating that the national park plays a significant role in preserving mining bee species diversity and their conservation. None of the hypotheses (H1, H2, H3) were confirmed. The mining bees were found to demonstrate a wide ecological amplitude. Surprisingly, habitats located in dry and wet soils were both characterised by high abundance and species richness. Seventeen indicators were distinguished among the dominant and rarer species. Our findings suggest that Andrena nigroaenea and A. ventralis (lower humidity), as well as A. alfkenella and A. minutuloides (higher humidity), have different significant relationships with habitat soil humidity to those reported in the literature.
A prospective study of surgeons’ workloads and associated factors in real-world practice
Authors: Harada Shigeru , Abe Takashige , Furumido Jun , Takahashi Keita , Hori Kanta , Abe Noriyuki , Kon Masafumi , Murai Sachiyo , Miyata Haruka , Kikuchi Hiroshi , Matsumoto Ryuji , Osawa Takahiro , Shinohara Nobuo
Published: April 2024

New technologies such as laparoscopic and robotic surgery are spreading, and there is a demand for physicians to keep up with novel methods. In contrast to the recent focus on healthcare professional burnout, the mental and physical costs during surgery are not well-understood. We aimed to quantify surgeons’ workloads in daily urological surgical practice and clarify potential background factors associated with such workloads. Urologists in Hokkaido, Japan, were invited to this study. Between December 2020 and December 2021, participants repeatedly reported workloads, which were assessed using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), after each surgery in conjunction with participants’ names, patients’ backgrounds, their roles (independent operator, operator under supervision, instructor, and 1st or 2nd assistant), and surgical outcomes, via SurveyMonkey®. Because of the heterogeneity among individuals, a linear mixed-effects model was utilized to analyze factors associated with NASA-TLX, calculating the parameter estimates (PE) of regression coefficients for each factor and their 95% confidence interval (CI). Sixty-five urologists (5 women) joined the study, and 2169 data were collected within 7 days after surgeries. A linear mixed-effects model revealed that female surgeons (PE + 15.56, 95% CI 2.36–28.77), urgent/emergency surgery (PE + 6.65, 95% CI 4.59–8.70), intraoperative complications (PE + 9.26, 95% CI 6.76–11.76), and near-miss incidents (PE + 3.81, 95% CI 2.27–5.36) were associated with higher workloads. Regarding the surgeons’ role, operator under supervision (PE + 12.46, 95% CI 9.86–15.06) showed the highest workloads. Surgeons’ workloads decreased as the number of previous cases of the same procedure increased. Surgeons’ workloads were associated with various factors. Given that the highest workloads were for operators under supervision, instructors should be aware of trainees’ high workloads and devise appropriate instructional interventions.
Influence of mudstone on coal spontaneous combustion characteristics and oxidation kinetics analysis
Authors: Zhang Xun , Zou Jiahui , Lu Bing , Bai Gang , Qiao Ling
Published: April 2024

To explore the spontaneous combustion characteristics and hazards of the low-temperature oxidation (LTO) stage in the process of spontaneous combustion of coal and mudstone, the pore structure, spontaneous combustion characteristic parameters, and exothermic characteristics of coal and mudstone were tested and studied, and the oxidation kinetic parameters were calculated. The results show that mudstone has a larger specific surface area and pore volume than coal. From the fractal characteristics, the pore structure of mudstone is more complex than that of coal. According to the comparison of theoretical and actual gas generation and oxygen consumption rate curves, it is found that there is an interaction between coal and mudstone in the LTO process. With the increase of mudstone mass ratio, gas production, and its oxygen consumption rate increase. Among them, CM-4 (Coal:Mudstone = 1:1) has the highest exothermic intensity and the exothermic factor (A) and fire coefficient (K) increase with the increase of mudstone content. The apparent activation energy of the mudstone sample is lower than that of the raw coal, indicating that the sample after adding mudstone is more likely to have spontaneous combustion in the LTO stage.
Carbon cycle perturbations and environmental change of the middle permian and Late Triassic Paleo-Antarctic circle
Authors: Lestari Wahyuningrum , Al-Suwaidi Aisha , Fox Calum P. , Vajda Vivi , Hennhoefer Dominik
Published: April 2024

During the middle Permian through the Triassic, Tasmania moved from paleo-latitudes of 78° to 69°S, wedged between Antarctica and Australia, within the paleo-South polar circle. During this time, significant global carbon cycle disturbances triggered major environmental and climatic changes and mass extinction events globally. The Bicheno-5 core from Eastern Tasmania, Australia, provides the opportunity to examine middle Permian and Upper Triassic sediments from the paleo-Antarctic, using high-resolution organic carbon isotope (δ13CTOC) chemostratigraphy, pXRF, and sedimentology, combined with new palynological data integrated with the existing radiometric age model. While there is a significant unconformity in the Upper Permian to the middle Triassic associated with eustatic sea-level fall as a result of regional uplift in eastern Australia, three distinct carbon isotope excursions (CIEs), characterized by negative shifts of up to − 6 ‰ were identified; the middle Permian Guadalupian Carbon Isotope Excursions (G-CIE), the Carnian Pluvial Episode (CPE), and the mid-Norian Event (MNE). These three events highlight a significant climate shift through glacial and interglacial cycles to warmer non-glacial intervals in the Late Triassic, with evidence of the polar record of the Carnian Pluvial Episode and the mid-Norian Event, which are poorly studied in the Southern Hemisphere, specifically within the Paleo-Antarctic circle.
Explainability does not mitigate the negative impact of incorrect AI advice in a personnel selection task
Authors: Cecil Julia , Lermer Eva , Hudecek Matthias F. C. , Sauer Jan , Gaube Susanne
Published: April 2024

Despite the rise of decision support systems enabled by artificial intelligence (AI) in personnel selection, their impact on decision-making processes is largely unknown. Consequently, we conducted five experiments (N = 1403 students and Human Resource Management (HRM) employees) investigating how people interact with AI-generated advice in a personnel selection task. In all pre-registered experiments, we presented correct and incorrect advice. In Experiments 1a and 1b, we manipulated the source of the advice (human vs. AI). In Experiments 2a, 2b, and 2c, we further manipulated the type of explainability of AI advice (2a and 2b: heatmaps and 2c: charts). We hypothesized that accurate and explainable advice improves decision-making. The independent variables were regressed on task performance, perceived advice quality and confidence ratings. The results consistently showed that incorrect advice negatively impacted performance, as people failed to dismiss it (i.e., overreliance). Additionally, we found that the effects of source and explainability of advice on the dependent variables were limited. The lack of reduction in participants’ overreliance on inaccurate advice when the systems’ predictions were made more explainable highlights the complexity of human-AI interaction and the need for regulation and quality standards in HRM.
Characterization and evaluation of cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of cyclotides from Viola japonica
Authors: Lian Yuanyuan , Tang Xue , Hu Gehui , Miao Chenfang , Cui Yunfei , Zhangsun Dongting , Wu Yong , Luo Sulan
Published: April 2024

Cyclotides are a type of defense peptide most commonly found in the Violaceae family of plants, exhibiting various biological activities. In this study, we focused on the Viola japonica as our research subject and conducted transcriptome sequencing and analysis using high-throughput transcriptomics techniques. During this process, we identified 61 cyclotides, among which 25 were previously documented, while the remaining 36 were designated as vija 1 to vija 36. Mass spectrometry detection showed that 21 putative cyclotides were found in the extract of V. japonica. Through isolation, purification and tandem mass spectrometry, we characterized and investigated the activities of five cyclotides. Our results demonstrated inhibitory effects of these cyclotides on the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii and Bacillus subtilis, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 4.2 μM and 2.1 μM, respectively. Furthermore, time killing kinetic assays revealed that cyclotides at concentration of 4 MICs achieved completely bactericidal effects within 2 h. Additionally, fluorescence staining experiments confirmed that cyclotides disrupt microbial membranes. Moreover, cytotoxicity studies showed that cyclotides possess cytotoxic effects, with IC50 values ranging from 0.1 to 3.5 μM. In summary, the discovery of new cyclotide sequences enhances our understanding of peptide diversity and the exploration of their activity lays the foundation for a deeper investigation into the mechanisms of action of cyclotides.
GIS and cellular automata based slope rainwater movement process model and its application
Authors: Liu Lei , Chen Yu , Zhang Yanjun , Lian Zhipeng , Pei Laizheng , Liu Yalei
Published: April 2024

Rainfall serves as a significant factor contributing to slope stability challenges in mountainous areas, and simulating the process of slope rainwater movement is a crucial approach for analyzing the stability of slopes triggered by rainfall. By combining computer numerical simulation technology with traditional hydraulic and hydrological calculation theories, it is possible to create an efficient and precise rainwater movement model that can simulate and analyze the process of rainwater movement on slopes. Utilizing natural slopes as the focal point of our research, the cellular automaton method was applied to simulate rainfall runoff on slopes, and a Cellular Automata (CA) based model for rainwater movement process was developed. This model modified the Green-Ampt (G-A) infiltration model by adopting an elliptical water content curve and introducing a coefficient that quantifies the ratio of saturated to unsaturated depth. Additionally, we refined the rules governing runoff generation and convergence within the slope and on its surface, enabling a comprehensive simulation of the entire rainwater movement process on the slope. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the model was validated through analytical solutions derived from simplified assumptions, laboratory experiments on infiltration and runoff in the flume, and a case study of a natural slope. The results show that the infiltration calculation results of the rainwater movement model are closer to the experimental values, and their overall values are slightly higher than the measured values, which are basically consistent with the model test results; The runoff calculation results show a phenomenon of initially increasing and gradually approaching the measured values compared to the measured values. When applying the model to an actual slope, it was found that the model comprehensively accounts for the influence of slope seepage, infiltration and runoff process, has better performance compared to G-A modified model. The model can be used to describe the spatial distribution and temporal variation of infiltration and runoff processes.
Surgical treatment improves overall survival of hepatocellular carcinoma with extrahepatic metastases after conversion therapy: a multicenter retrospective study
Authors: Zhang Xiaoshi , Zhu Xiaodong , Zhong Jianhong , Zhao Yang , Zhang Xiaoyun , Zhang Wenwen , Ye Feng , Yang Chaoxu , Xue Jun , Xiong Rui , Wang Jiabei , Shen Shunli , Pan Yangxun , Li Dongxiao , Song Tianqiang , Bi Xinyu , Sun Huichuan , Xiang Bangde , Gu Shanzhi , Wen Tianfu , Lu Shichun , Chen Yongjun , Yin Tao , Liu Lianxin , Kuang Ming , Xu Li , Li Deyu , Cai Jianqiang
Published: April 2024

Systemic therapy is typically the primary treatment choice for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients with extrahepatic metastases. Some patients may achieve partial response (PR) or complete response (CR) with systemic treatment, leading to the possibility of their primary tumor becoming resectable. This study aimed to investigate whether these patients could achieve longer survival through surgical resection of their primary tumor. We retrospectively collected data from 150 HCC patients with extrahepatic metastases treated at 15 different centers from January 1st, 2015, to November 30th, 2022. We evaluated their overall survival (OS) and progress-free survival (PFS) and analyzed risk factors impacting both OS and PFS were analyzed. Patients who received surgical treatment had longer OS compared to those who did not (median OS 16.5 months vs. 11.3 months). However, there was no significant difference in progression-free survival between the two groups. Portal vein invasion (P = 0.025) was identified as a risk factor for poor prognosis in patients, while effective first-line treatment (P = 0.039) and surgical treatment (P = 0.005) were protective factors. No factors showed statistical significance in the analysis of PFS. Effective first-line treatment (P = 0.027) and surgical treatment (P = 0.006) were both independent protective factors for prolonging patient prognosis, while portal vein invasion was an independent risk factor (P = 0.044). HCC patients with extrahepatic metastases who achieve PR/CR with conversion therapy may experience longer OS through surgical treatment. This study is the first to analyze the clinical outcomes of patients receiving surgical treatment for HCC with extrahepatic metastases.
Assessing the consequences of recent climate change on World Heritage sites in South Greenland
Authors: Hollesen Jørgen , Jepsen Malte Skov , Stendel Martin , Harmsen Hans
Published: April 2024

In the Arctic region, microbial degradation poses a significant threat to the preservation of archaeological deposits, actively consuming irreplaceable cultural and environmental records. In this study we assess the potential effects of the last 40 years of climate change on organic archaeological deposits within the UNESCO World Heritage area Kujataa in South Greenland. We use the dynamic process-oriented model, CoupModel to simulate soil temperatures and soil moisture contents at four archaeological sites in the area. The results show that the organic deposits have experienced a substantial warming the last 40 years, which combined with decreasing soil moisture contents creates a dangerous combination that can accelerate the degradation of organic materials. Currently, there are 583 archaeological sites registered within the area. Our findings highlight that the current climatic conditions are not conducive to organic preservation. The greatest risk of degradation lies within the relatively dry continental inland areas of the study region, where all Norse Viking Age settlements are situated. However, even at the "cold" and "wet" outer coast, the combined effects of rising summer temperatures and declining soil moisture levels may already be exerting a noticeable impact.
Impact of shear stress on sacral pressure injury from table rotation during laparoscopic colorectal surgery performed in the lithotomy position
Authors: Tatsuta Kyota , Sakata Mayu , Sugiyama Kosuke , Kojima Tadahiro , Akai Toshiya , Suzuki Katsunori , Torii Kakeru , Morita Yoshifumi , Kikuchi Hirotoshi , Hiramatsu Yoshihiro , Kurachi Kiyotaka , Takeuchi Hiroya
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the impact of shear stress on surgery-related sacral pressure injury (PI) after laparoscopic colorectal surgery performed in the lithotomy position. We included 37 patients who underwent this procedure between November 2021 and October 2022. The primary outcome was average horizontal shear stress caused by the rotation of the operating table during the operation, and the secondary outcome was interface pressure over time. Sensors were used to measure shear stress and interface pressure in the sacral region. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of PI. PI had an incidence of 32.4%, and the primary outcome, average horizontal shear stress, was significantly higher in the PI group than in the no-PI group. The interface pressure increased over time in both groups. At 120 min, the interface pressure was two times higher in the PI group than in the no-PI group (PI group, 221.5 mmHg; no-PI group, 86.0 mmHg;p < 0.01). This study suggested that shear stress resulting from rotation of the operating table in the sacral region by laparoscopic colorectal surgery performed in the lithotomy position is the cause of PI. These results should contribute to the prevention of PI.
Preliminary study on the optical diagnosis of orbital rhabdomyosarcoma by Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Jin Ling , Dai Nengli , Yang Xiaobo
Published: April 2024

To investigate the Raman spectral features of orbital rhabdomyosarcoma (ORMS) tissue and normal orbital tissue in vitro, and to explore the feasibility of Raman spectroscopy for the optical diagnosis of ORMS. 23 specimens of ORMS and 27 specimens of normal orbital tissue were obtained from resection surgery and measured in vitro using Raman spectroscopy coupled to a fiber optic probe. The important spectral differences between the tissue categories were exploited for tissue classification with the multivariate statistical techniques of principal component analysis (PCA) and linear discriminant analysis (LDA). Compared to normal tissue, the Raman peak intensities located at 1450 and 1655 cm−1 were significantly lower for ORMS (p < 0.05), while the peak intensities located at 721, 758, 1002, 1088, 1156, 1206, 1340, 1526 cm−1 were significantly higher (p < 0.05). Raman spectra differences between normal tissue and ORMS could be attributed to the changes in the relative amounts of biochemical components, such as nucleic acids, tryptophan, phenylalanine, carotenoid and lipids. The Raman spectroscopy technique together with PCA-LDA modeling provides a diagnostic accuracy of 90.0%, sensitivity of 91.3%, and specificity of 88.9% for ORMS identification. Significant differences in Raman peak intensities exist between normal orbital tissue and ORMS. This work demonstrated for the first time that the Raman spectroscopy associated with PCA-LDA diagnostic algorithms has promising potential for accurate, rapid and noninvasive optical diagnosis of ORMS at the molecular level.
Genetic interaction between TTG2 and AtPLC1 reveals a role for phosphoinositide signaling in a co-regulated suite of Arabidopsis epidermal pathways
Authors: Goldberg Aleah , O’Connor Patrick , Gonzalez Cassandra , Ouren Mason , Rivera Luis , Radde Noor , Nguyen Michael , Ponce-Herrera Felipe , Lloyd Alan , Gonzalez Antonio
Published: April 2024

The TTG2 transcription factor of Arabidopsis regulates a set of epidermal traits, including the differentiation of leaf trichomes, flavonoid pigment production in cells of the inner testa (or seed coat) layer and mucilage production in specialized cells of the outer testa layer. Despite the fact that TTG2 has been known for over twenty years as an important regulator of multiple developmental pathways, little has been discovered about the downstream mechanisms by which TTG2 co-regulates these epidermal features. In this study, we present evidence of phosphoinositide lipid signaling as a mechanism for the regulation of TTG2-dependent epidermal pathways. Overexpression of the AtPLC1 gene rescues the trichome and seed coat phenotypes of the ttg2-1 mutant plant. Moreover, in the case of seed coat color rescue, AtPLC1 overexpression restored expression of the TTG2 flavonoid pathway target genes, TT12 and TT13/AHA10. Consistent with these observations, a dominant AtPLC1 T-DNA insertion allele (plc1-1D) promotes trichome development in both wild-type and ttg2-3 plants. Also, AtPLC1 promoter:GUS analysis shows expression in trichomes and this expression appears dependent on TTG2. Taken together, the discovery of a genetic interaction between TTG2 and AtPLC1 suggests a role for phosphoinositide signaling in the regulation of trichome development, flavonoid pigment biosynthesis and the differentiation of mucilage-producing cells of the seed coat. This finding provides new avenues for future research at the intersection of the TTG2-dependent developmental pathways and the numerous molecular and cellular phenomena influenced by phospholipid signaling.