bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Uji aktivitas antibakteri ekstrak etanol daun sirih cina (Peperomia pellucida L.) terhadap Staphylococcus saprophyticus ATCC 49907 penyebab infeksi saluran kemih
Authors: Citraningsih Ni Putu Dewi , Sianturi Sister , Taufiqurrahman Muh.
Published: September 2024

Tingginya tingkat resistensi antibiotik menjadi ancaman serius bagi kesehatan masyarakat secara global. Hal ini menjadi alasan untuk mencari senyawa antimikroba baru dari sumber alami. Tanaman yang berkhasiat untuk membunuh bakteri adalah tanaman yang mengandung metabolit sekunder. Salah satu tanaman yang mengandung metabolit sekunder adalah tanaman sirih cina (Peperomia pellucida L). Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui aktivitas antibakteri ekstrak etanol daun sirih cina terhadap pertumbuhan Staphylococcus saprophyticus penyebab infeksi saluran kemih dengan metode disc diffusion test. Metode ekstraksi yang digunakan adalah maserasi dangan pelarut etanol 96% yang dibuat menjadi tiga variasi konsentrasi 10%, 50% dan 90%. Kontrol positif menggunakan amoxicillin dan kontrol negatif menggunakan DMSO 1%. Rata-rata diameter zona hambat dengan konsentrasi 10%, 50% dan 90% berturut-turut, yaitu 4,06 mm, 6,46 mm dan 10,64 mm yang termasuk kategori lemah hingga kuat. Sedangkan pada kontrol positif rata-rata zona hambat adalah sebesar 26,49 mm dengan kategori sangat kuat. Hasil uji analisis data One Way Anova menggunakan program SPSS IBM versi 26 diperoleh hasil (p<0.05) yang bermakna H0 ditolak dan H1 diterima atau terdapat perbedaan rata-rata diameter zona hambat ekstrak daun sirih cina yang signifikan antara kelompok perlakuan dengan kontrol positif dalam menghambat bakteri S. saprophyticus.
                                                                          
Kata Kunci: Peperomia pellucida L, Staphyloccoccus saprophyticus, antibakteri, difusi cakram
Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali's Perspective on Authority and Religion
Authors: Ihsan Nur Hadi , Rokhman Iwan Aminur , Heryanto Heryanto
Published: September 2024

This article explores the concept of authority and its relationship with religion, addressing various aspects and theories related to both. This concept is significant as it touches on essential elements of society. In faciliting the research process, the researcher employs a descriptive and analytical method with a philosophical basis. As a result, the study finds a connection between authority in al-Ghazali's view and other concepts, such as justice, which ultimately leads to happiness. Authority is necessary in social life as a means to achieve happiness for both individuals and society. This reflects what can be described as the ideal society concept in al-Ghazali's perspective. Al-Ghazālī proposes that an ideal society is a blend of worldly reality and spirituality, where power must be exercised according to religious teachings by leaders who embody magnanimity, in order to achieve happiness and justice within the community.
Landasan Filosofis Integrasi Ilmu Pengetahuan dan Agama
Authors: Rahma Anisa Alya , Afifah Afifah , Muniron Muniron
Published: September 2024

This article aims to examine and formulate a model for integrating religious knowledge with general science, focusing on the ontological, epistemological, and axiological foundations. In the context of modern secularism, which has led to the separation of religion and scientific knowledge, this research seeks to restore spiritual values within scientific inquiry and integrate the two disciplines to create knowledge that is not value-free. The research method used by the author is a qualitative approach with a type of library research with data collection methods by conducting documentation studies by examining primary and secondary sources in the form of books and scientific articles. The results of this study concluded that the integration of science is an effort to combine religious science and general science by incorporating religious values into it and looking for similarities between the two. Integration is done to make science not free of moral values and create good human beings who are in accordance with the two functions of human creation, namely as khalifah and good servants of Allah. The philosophical bases of science integration include ontological, epistemological and axiological bases. From the ontological basis, the relationship between the highest reality, namely God, and the lowest reality, namely creatures, has a close and inseparable relationship. Epistemologically, the source of general and religious knowledge comes from one source, namely God, who then provides means or tools of knowledge in the form of reason and the five senses, as a tool for obtaining knowledge and Islamic epistemology recognizes the means of knowledge in the form of intuition to achieve metaphysical-immaterial knowledge, where this method of intuition is in the form of inspiration and revelation. And axiologically, the integration of general science and religious science gives birth to science that is not value-free, so that it can make the development of science consistent with moral values in accordance with religion and the Qur'an, which gives birth to benefits in the world and the hereafter in the form of material, intellectual and spiritual enjoyment in humans who are a unity between body and spirit.
HIERARCHICAL NEURAL NETWORKS IN PREDICTING THE PROPERTIES OF OIL AND GAS RESERVOIRS BASED ON WELL AND SEISMIC DATA
Authors: Priezzhev I.I. , Danko D.A. , Onishchenko A.N.
Published: September 2024

This paper describes a technique for hierarchical neural networks based on the nearest neighbor method with preliminary clustering of the original training dataset and construction of a search cluster decision tree. This method is a promising alternative to neural network technologies with deep learning and has quite a few advantages: high learning rate, identification of objects with a low degree of similarity, and the ability to generalize and retrain. As shown by testing the hierarchical neural network method on real data from the West Siberian oil and gas province, predicting the oil saturation in the Vikulov suite interval is much faster and more efficient than inversion approaches to quantitative interpretation of seismic data while achieving fairly similar geological results. This characterizes the proposed method of hierarchical neural networks as an effective tool for the quantitative interpretation of seismic data to solve geological problems.
Evald Ilyenkov and the Moscow Logical Circle: Materials of Polemics
Authors:   Belgorod National Research University, Illesh Elena , Maidansky Anrey ,   Belgorod National Research University,   Russian Federation; Institute of Philosophy, Russian Academy of Sciences
Published: September 2024

The publication deals with an almost forgotten dispute between two currents of Russian philosophy that emerged on the threshold of the “Thaw”. Its leaders were Evald Ilyenkov and Aleksander Zinoviev, both of whom had just graduated from Moscow State University. The dispute revolved around the methodology of Marx’s Capital and then developed into a discussion of the subject of dialectical logic and the specifics of thought. Ilyenkov’s archive preserved the theses of his speeches and critical notes on the position of Zinoviev and his followers from the Moscow Logical Circle. This material is published below. The accompanying article reconstructs the contexts of the polemic – theoretical, cultural-historical and personal – and weighs the arguments of each side. The inadequacy of labelling Ilyenkov as a “gnoseologist” is demonstrated. The thesis he defends about the dialectical identity of thinking and being invalidates the very distinction between gnoseology and ontology. The Kantian origins of Zinoviev and his teachers, professors at the Moscow State University, in solving the problem of the specificity of thought are revealed. All of them proclaimed the distinction between the “subjective dialectic” in the human mind and the “objective dialectic” of the external world – in opposition to the principle of the identity of thinking and being, which they regarded as the “Hegelian mysticism”. Ilyenkov, on the other hand, pointed out that this identity is fulfilled before our eyes in practice – in the processes of human labour
An Integrated Solution in Utilizing Active Magnetic Ranging to Seal Off Underground Gas Storage: Theoretical Analysis and Field Test
Authors: Che Yang , Yuan Guangjie , He Ai Guo , Qiao Lei , Liu Tian'en , Fang Ming Xing
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we describe a comprehensive technology based on an active magnetic ranging system (AMR) for sealing off the cement plug (CP) in the open hole (OH) section of the wellbore below the existing CP for underground gas storage.

Utilizing depleted oil and gas reservoirs for natural gas storage is an important approach toward achieving carbon neutrality. Sealing off old wellbores is prioritized according to relevant standards.

The challenge with OHs with CP is that there are no magnetic beacons in the wellbore, and the extent of compaction is unknown. Accurate placement of the seal-off CP is crucial because current technical methods, such as electromagnetic and acoustic waves, have limitations. Magnetic ranging technology, which is mature and widely used for wellbore interceptions or collision avoidance, requires magnetic beacons such as steel casing, drillpipes, or bottomhole assemblies left in the borehole. On the other hand, acoustic positioning techniques are applicable but presently complex to run operationally.

In this paper, we propose a comprehensive control technology. It starts by measuring the positional relationship between the subject wellbore (SW) and a magnetic beacon wellbore (MBW) using AMR. The data are then used in combination with additional skew data along with associate positional uncertainty or ellipse of uncertainty (EOU) to determine the location of the target wellbore (TW) and the MBW. By calculating the relative positional relationship between the SW and the TW, OH reentry below CP can be achieved within the EOU below the sidetracking point. After reentry, specific work such as crushing, element logging, caliper logging, and full hydrocarbon gas detection is performed to verify if the TW is still in the original position and if the caprock is properly squeezed and sealed off.

The comprehensive technique or method was tested on five wells in the Bohai Bay, successfully assessing the position of the OH wellbore and reentering below the CP. The process system expands the field of AMR and demonstrates significant industrial application value. It provides a new means of sealing off complex old wells.
A Novel Downhole Communication Strategy Using Loading Wave Conduction on Sucker-Rod Pumping System for Intelligent Lifting
Authors: Yang Qinghai , Liao Chenglong , Xu Wenlong , Hao Zhongxian , Pei Xiaohan , Jia Deli , Shen Qiaochu , Yu Hao , Wu Hengan , Liu He
Published: September 2024

An effective and accurate downhole communication strategy is crucial for the fabrication of an intelligent lifting system for onshore oil wells. Traditional communication approaches based on the wired cable, acoustic wave, vibration wave, or fluid pressure are usually limited by downhole conditions, and issues such as cumbersome implementation, limited communication, and unstable signal modulation are encountered. Herein, a novel downhole communication strategy is proposed using the loading waves in the sucker-rod pumping system (SRPS). The loading wave is altered at the downhole pump at an extremely low frequency, and its significant variation could be captured by the surface load sensor. A controlled valve is installed between the chamber of the pump and the wellbore. The valve opening regulates the pressure in the pump chamber, leading to the generation of the controlled loading waves. The field tests are further carried out and prove the effective coding between the downhole and surface with an acceptable delay (~0.154 seconds for a well with a depth of 1000 m). For the loading wave transmission on the sucker-rod string system, the finite element method is used to solve the theoretical model considering the real circumstances, such as the coupling damping, centering device friction, and stuffing box friction. The impacts of operating parameters of the lifting system, wellbore conditions, and modulation of excitation signal on the communication process are systematically discussed. The transmission evaluation standard, applicable conditions, coding tactic, and potential engineering values are presented for the downhole communication system.
Dynamics of Horizontal Well Drilling in Deepwater Shallow Gas Hydrate Reservoirs: A Mass and Heat Transfer Study
Authors: Wang Jintang , He Zhijun , Sun Jian , Liu Lei , Li Wenbiao , Liao Bo , Zhao Ke , Li Yiyao , Xu Jiaqi
Published: September 2024

Natural gas hydrates represent a promising and environmentally friendly alternative energy source, with horizontal wells being an effective method for efficient extraction. However, the drilling process of horizontal wells presents challenges due to the prolonged contact between the drilling fluid and the hydrates. This interaction leads to a significant influx of drilling fluid, triggering hydrate phase transition and causing instability within the wellbore. To address these technical issues, this study focused on decomposition-induced wellbore instability and reservoir structure damage during deep-sea natural gas hydrate drilling. Specifically, we investigated the stability of the gas hydrate phase during drilling shallow, deep-sea horizontal wells. To accomplish this, we established a 2D mathematical model that describes the nonsteady-state mass and heat transfer process between the wellbore and hydrate reservoir. In addition, we explored the mass and heat transfer mechanisms between the drilling fluid and hydrates, obtaining a 2D distribution of temperature and pressure fields within the wellbore and hydrate reservoir. The findings of this research contribute to the theoretical and technical development of safe and efficient drilling fluids for hydrate reservoirs.
Microbiological Safety and Quality of Raw Milk at Pastoral Community Cattle Campsites in Rejaf East Payam, South Sudan
Authors: Aguer Elijah Majok Kiir , Rapheal Wangalwa , Jeninah Atwebembeire , Augustino Serafino Musa Abdelkarim
Published: September 2024

The safety of dairy products concerning foodborne diseases is a major concern worldwide. This is particularly true in developing countries, where milk and various dairy products are produced under unhygienic conditions and poor production practices. Milk is one of the food products consumed in South Sudan, however, there is limited information regarding its handling and safety, especially among the pastoral communities. Therefore, this study assessed raw milk's microbiological safety and quality at pastoral communities’ cattle campsites in Rejaf East Payam, South Sudan. A total of 240 households and 75 raw milk samples were selected at random. The findings revealed that the milking handling practices at cattle camps are characterized by hygienic and unhygienic practices. The pastoral communities had no access to a cooling system for milk storage. Additionally, 90.8% of the households in cattle camps consumed unboiled raw milk, and 10% of the households experienced milk rejection at the point of milk sale. The overall means of physicochemical parameters of milk samples were; fat = 7.76±1.47%, SNF = 7.68±0.26%, density = 1.03±0.00g/ml, lactose = 4.21±0.15%, protein = 2.81±0.09%, and pH 6.60±0.21. The result of the microbiological quality of raw milk indicated that the highest TVC (5.81 ± 0.51logCFU/ml) was recorded in Jebel Amianin cattle camp, on the other hand, the highest TCC (4.64 ± 0.21 logCFU/ml) was recorded in Kadoro cattle camp and TSC (2.53 ± 0.31logCFU/ml) recorded in Highland cattle camp. Furthermore, the study shows that the microbiological quality of raw milk samples is not within the standard and therefore there is a need to improve hygiene practices in milk production.
Inductive link prediction boosts data availability and enables cross-community link prediction in ecological networks
Authors: Pilosof Shai , Puzis Rami , Biton Barry
Published: September 2024

Predicting species interactions within ecological networks is vital for understanding ecosystem functioning and the response of communities to changing environments. Traditional link prediction models often fall short due to sparse and incomplete data and are limited to single networks. Here, we present a novel approach using inductive link prediction (ILP), which leverages structural similarities across diverse ecological networks. Our model pools data across communities, and uses transfer learning to enable prediction within and between different ecological communities. We applied our model to 538 networks across four community types: plant-seed disperser, plant-pollinator, host-parasite, and plant-herbivore. ILP outperforms non-ILP models, particularly in host-parasite and plant-seed disperser networks. However, the efficacy of cross-community predictions varies, with plant-pollinator networks consistently under-performing as train and test sets. Moreover, we developed the first method to computationally estimate the limits of link prediction given a certain proportion of missing links, in which ILP performs better than a non-ILP model. This study underscores the potential of ILP to generalize link prediction across different ecological contexts.
Understanding Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and Mental Health Disparities in Bangladeshi Women: A Mixed Method Approach
Authors: Khan Maharaj , Jaman Abdullah , Ahmed MD. Faisal , Das Namrata
Published: September 2024

Background:PCOS is a common hormonal disorder that affects women's well-being. It is a chronic ailment without a cure, and poses a significant threat to women's health, with many going women untreated.Aims:Many women in Bangladesh lack knowledge about PCOS, leading to delays in diagnosis and treatment. This gap hinders the understanding of coping strategies, treatment options, and lifestyle improvements related to this condition.Methods:In total, 426 participants were included in this mixed methods study, and data were collected via a mixed-methods approach. A standard approach was used for the assessment of among Bangladeshi people’s knowledge about PCOS signs, and symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options, and impacts on health. The prevalence of diagnostic tests among people and the extent to which women are underdiagnosed were also determined.Results:A positive PCOS status had a significantly negative impact on mental health conditions. The knowledge levels about PCOS among participants were low (63.7%), moderate (21.6%), or high (14.7%). We found significant associations between knowledge level and age, education, occupation, place of residence, screening practices, and PCOS status (p-value <0.05). Notably, 63.4% of women in Bangladesh remain undiagnosed and have a symptomatic appearance.Conclusion:A significant number of women have limited knowledge about PCOS. Moreover, these studies failed to assess PCOS status, even though the prevalence of PCOS is more than thirty percent. Hence, it is important to arrange a health education initiative aimed at educating and encouraging women to actively engage in the diagnostic process to prevent PCOS complications.
Muon spectroscopy of a 12-phosphatetraphene with extremely efficient radical trapping properties
Authors: Ito Shigekazu , Yasuda Kohei , Ishihara Keisuke , Karner Victoria L. , Kojima Kenji M. , McKenzie Iain
Published: September 2024

This paper describes muon spin spectroscopy (µSR) studies of 12-phosphatetraphene stabilized by a peri-trifluoromethyl group and a meso-aryl substituent. Even though the prepared solution in tetrahydrofuran (THF) was quite dilute (0.060 M) for transverse-field muon spin rotation (TF-µSR) measurements, the π-extended heavier congener of tetraphene presented a pair of signals due to a muoniated radical from which the muon hyperfine coupling constant (hfc) was determined. This muoniated radical was produced by the diffusion-controlled regioselective addition of muonium (Mu = [µ+e–]) to the sp2-type phosphorus atom. The assignment of the muoniated radical structure was confirmed by observing a resonance due to the I = 1/2 (31P) nucleus in a muon (avoided) level-crossing resonance (µLCR) spectrum. The 31P hfc was determined from the resonance position, and a comparison with the value obtained from density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicated that the radical retained a flat π-delocalized tetracyclic skeleton. This higher energy structure is hypothesized to be preferable because of the increased zero-point energy of the light mass of the muon. The findings of this study could be fruitful in the development of novel spin-functional materials featuring efficient radical capture and π-delocalized paramagnetic molecular systems.
Thermodynamically Informed Multimodal Learning of High-Dimensional Free Energy Models in Molecular Coarse Graining
Authors: Duschatko Blake , Fu Xiang , Owen Cameron , Xie Yu , Musaelian Albert , Jaakkola Tommi , Kozinsky Boris
Published: September 2024

We present a differentiable formalism for learning free energies that is capable of capturing arbitrarily complex model dependencies on coarse-grained coordinates and finite-temperature response to variation of general system parameters.
This is done by endowing models with explicit dependence on temperature and parameters and by exploiting exact differential thermodynamic relationships between the free energy, ensemble averages, and response properties. Formally, we derive an approach for learning high-dimensional cumulant generating functions using statistical estimates of their derivatives, which are observable cumulants of the underlying random variable. The proposed formalism opens ways to resolve several outstanding challenges in bottom-up molecular coarse graining dealing with multiple minima and state dependence. This is realized by using additional differential relationships in the loss function to significantly improve the learning of free energies, while exactly preserving the Boltzmann distribution governing the corresponding fine-grain all-atom system.
As an example, we go beyond the standard force-matching procedure to demonstrate how leveraging the thermodynamic relationship between free energy and values of ensemble averaged all-atom potential energy improves the learning efficiency and accuracy of the free energy model. The result is significantly better sampling statistics of structural distribution functions. The theoretical framework presented here is demonstrated via implementations in both kernel-based and neural network machine learning regression methods and opens new ways to train accurate machine learning models for studying thermodynamic and response properties of complex molecular systems.
Prevalence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Asthma Patients: a Cross-sectional Study
Authors: Alnesr Anas , Zabad Kareem , AlBundokji Fayezeh , Jame Yaman Khaddam , Albardan Hussam
Published: September 2024

Background:
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a disorder characterized by recurrent upper airway obstructions during sleep, resulting in disrupted airflow lasting at least 10 seconds. Despite its high prevalence and significant comorbidities, OSA remains underdiagnosed, particularly in less developed regions. Asthma, another common respiratory condition, involves persistent airway inflammation leading to symptoms like wheezing, coughing, and chest tightness. The relationship between OSA and asthma is believed to be bidirectional, with each condition potentially influencing the other due to shared risk factors. Furthermore, airway inflammation from either condition can increase the risk of developing the other. Our study aims to investigate the prevalence of OSA among asthma patients in the Syrian community.
Methods:
The study recruited two groups: one consisting of individuals diagnosed with asthma and the other serving as a control group. The research was conducted at Al-Mouasat Hospital, with the asthma group recruited from the pulmonary clinic and the control group from the internal medicine clinic. Data collection involved the administration of a structured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews with both asthmatic patients and the control group. The Arabic version of the Sleep Apnea Scale of the Sleep Disorders Questionnaire (SDQ-SA) was utilized to assess the risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), while the Asthma Control Questionnaire (ACQ) was employed to evaluate asthma control. Informed consent was obtained from all participants involved in the study, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22.
Results:
A total of 276 patients participated in the study, with 111 in the asthma group and 165 in the control group. The two groups were matched for sex and age. It was found that 34.2% of the asthma group indicated a high risk for OSA, whereas only 13.9% of the control group showed a similar risk. The prevalence of OSA was 3.21 times higher in the asthma group compared to the control group. In the subgroup analysis of the asthma group, it was observed that 82.9% of patients had uncontrolled asthma, which was associated with a 12.109-fold higher risk for OSA compared to patients with controlled asthma.
Conclusion:
Our study revealed a significantly higher prevalence of OSA in asthma patients compared to those without asthma, with uncontrolled asthma showing an even higher risk. Building on these findings and in line with previous research, we recommend heightened awareness and enhanced screening for OSA among individuals with asthma, particularly focusing on those with uncontrolled asthma. Detecting and addressing OSA in this subgroup may lead to a reduction in related health complications and improve the management of both conditions.
Clinical trial number: not applicable
LsrK attenuates the pathogenicity of both the Gram negative bacterium Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Yang Daoxin , Zhang Wenjing , Hao Zhenzhen , Guo Kairui , Luo Huiying , Yao Bin , Su Xiaoyun , Huang Huoqing
Published: September 2024

The Escherichia coli LsrK gene encoding a phosphorylase acting on AI-2 quorum sensing signal molecules was recombinantly expressed in the E. coli BL21(DE3). Its role on affecting the pathogenicity of both Gram negative and positive pathogens was investigated using two representative enterohemorrhagic bacteria, the E. coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus. The recombinant LsrK catalyzed degradation of the typical AI-2 signal molecule 4,5-dihydroxy-2,3-pentanedione and decreased the transcript levels of multiple virulence factors in the two bacteria (fliC, ycgR, eaeA, ompX, ycgR, and eaeA in E. coli O157:H7 and sea, eta, hlα, sdrE, bbp, and cna in S. aureus, respectively). Interestingly, LsrK inhibited formation of the biofilm in E. coli but promoted this process in S. aureus, which might be partially related to transcription repression of SaaR involved in biofilm generation. LsrK also reduced the swimming motility, hemolytic ability, cytotoxicity, and the acid-tolerating ability of the two pathogenic bacteria. These collectively suggested that LsrK could serve as a promising enzyme in combating Gram negative and positive pathogenic bacteria infection.
The Impact of COVID-19 on Mental Health: PTSD and Post-Traumatic Growth Among Survivors
Authors: Milanowska Joanna , Mackiewicz Barbara , Aftyka Anna , Mazurek Patrycja , Samardakiewicz Marzena
Published: September 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on mental health, with many survivors experiencing psychological challenges, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This study assessed PTSD symptoms and Post-Traumatic Growth (PTG) among 62 individuals who recovered from COVID-19 and were under the care of the Department of Pneumonology, Oncology, and Allergology at the Medical University of Lublin. The results revealed that 40.32% of participants exhibited PTSD symptoms. Cognitive symptoms and post-COVID self-rated health were significant predictors of PTSD severity, with cognitive symptoms positively associated and self-rated health negatively associated with PTSD severity. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between PTSD severity and PTG, suggesting that while many individuals endure significant distress, they may also experience positive psychological changes, such as improved self-perception and resilience. These findings highlight the dual impact of COVID-19 on mental health and underscore the importance of integrated mental health care that addresses both mitigating PTSD symptoms and promoting resilience and growth in COVID-19 survivors.
A multi-proxy stalagmite record indicates a shift in forcing of 20th Century drought events in Normandy
Authors: Bejarano-Arias Ingrid , Nehme Carole , Breitenbach Sebastian , Ionita Monica , Baldini James , Pons-Branchu Edwige , Modestou Sevasti , Umbo Stuart , Mouralis Damase
Published: September 2024

Drought events are increasingly impacting Europe. The study of past droughts helps disentangle the different factors that trigger hydrological drought, helping to forecast future drought severity. Here we identify the historical drought events of the 20th and 21st centuries in geochemical records of a stalagmite from Caumont cave in Northern France and develop a mechanistic understanding of their root causes. Subannually-resolved stable isotope records (δ13C and δ18O) and trace element data are directly compared with historical climatic records. δ13C, δ18O, Mg, and Sr peaks align well with most of the historical drought events of the 20th and 21st centuries. The comparison reveals a good correspondence between summer effective rainfall and δ13C, Mg, and Sr concentrations. Further comparison of geochemical records with the precipitation-evapotranspiration index (SPEI) reveals a change in the drought forcings for the past two decades. During most of the 20th century, droughts appear driven by a pluvial regime, whereas since the late 1990s, drought was driven by higher evapotranspiration due to increased temperature.
Hyperspectral anomaly detection via low-rank and sparse decomposition with cluster subspace accumulation
Authors: CHENG Baozhi , GAO Yan
Published: September 2024

Anomaly detection (AD) has emerged as a prominent area of research in hyperspectral image (HSI) processing. Traditional algorithms, such as low-rank and sparse matrix decomposition (LRaSMD), often struggle to effectively address challenges related to background interference, anomaly targets, and noise. To overcome these limitations, we propose a novel method that leverages both spatial and spectral features in HSI. Initially, the original hyperspectral image is segmented into several subspaces using the k-means method, which reduces redundancy among HSI bands. Subsequently, the fractional Fourier transform (FrFT) is applied within each subspace, enhancing the distinction between background and anomaly target information while simultaneously suppressing noise. To further improve the stability and discriminative power of the HSI, LRaSMD is employed. Finally, the modified Reed–Xiaoli (RX) detector is utilized to identify anomalies within each subspace. The results from these detections are then aggregated to produce a comprehensive final outcome. Experiments conducted on five real HSI datasets yield an average area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9777 with a standard deviation of 0.0116 for the proposed algorithm. These results indicate that our method is highly competitive in the field of anomaly detection.
Seed biopriming with Parachlorella, Bacillus subtilis, and Trichoderma harzianum alleviates the effects of salinity in soybean
Authors: Silva Dobyas Maclen Marques , Santos Cleberton Correia , Wagner Fábio Eduardo , Martins Luiz Otávio Montera , Ozório João Pedro Assis , Silva Obadias Alves , Ribeiro Dágon Manoel , Scalon Silvana de Paula Quintão
Published: September 2024

Background
Seed conditioning with bioinputs (biopriming) offers a promising and sustainable alternative to mitigate the adverse effects of salt stress on soybeans. This study aims to evaluate the potential of isolated or combined biopriming using microalgae and different microorganisms in alleviating salinity-induced stress in soybeans.
Methods
Seeds were subjected to five biopriming treatments: microalgae Parachlorella sp., Bacillus subtilis, Trichoderma harzianum, Parachlorella sp. + B. subtilis, and Parachlorella sp. + T. harzianum, along with a control group without biopriming. Subsequently, the seeds were exposed to two conditions: i) control (0.0 MPa), and ii) salinity induced by NaCl (-0.8 MPa). Germination, photochemical indicators, and seedling performance were assessed.
Results
Salinity impaired root protrusion and seed physiology, resulting in a high percentage of abnormal seedlings, thus creating a stressful condition. However, biopriming alleviated the negative effects of salinity, particularly with T. harzianum, Parachlorella sp. + B. subtilis, and Parachlorella sp. + T. harzianum, which led to high germination rates and normal seedlings. All biopriming treatments, especially the combined ones, reduced the suppression of non-photochemical quenching, thereby enhancing the maximum yield of photosystem II. Seedlings under salt stress without biopriming exhibited short lengths and low fresh and dry mass, whereas those bioprimed with Parachlorella sp. + B. subtilis and Parachlorella sp. + T. harzianum showed significantly higher values.
Conclusion
Seed biopriming, especially with Parachlorella sp. combined with B. subtilis or T. harzianum, effectively alleviates the stressful effects of salinity on soybeans.
Analysis of nitrogen flow in the Yellow River Basin over a long time series
Authors: Cui Ying , Li Ruiping , Chen Xu
Published: September 2024

Based on the basic statistical data and related parameters of The Yellow River Basin (YRB) from 2000 to 2019, the nitrogen flow model of the YRB was constructed by using the full nitrogen flow analysis model (FNFA) and the emission coefficient method to analyze the characteristics of the nitrogen inputs and outputs in the YRB. The results revealed that over the past 20 years, both the total nitrogen inputs and outputs in the YRB have shown a significant increasing trend. Specifically, the total nitrogen input rose from 12,806.69 Gg to 18,553.42 Gg, while the total output increased from 9,250.93 Gg to 12,955.0 Gg. Among the various subsystems, the industrial and agricultural sectors were the largest contributors to nitrogen balance, accounting for 28.30% and 26.22% of the total nitrogen input, and 26.22% and 40.48% of the total nitrogen output, respectively. The overall nitrogen utilization efficiency (NUE) across the subsystems required improvement, particularly within the cropland subsystem, which had an NUE ranging from 25.67–36.10%. In contrast, the livestock subsystem exhibited only half the NUE of the cropland subsystem. High emissions and inefficient nitrogen utilization led to a continuous increase in environmental nitrogen loads, with atmospheric nitrogen loads being particularly pronounced. Additionally, the life cycle analysis of industrial nitrogen revealed that a substantial amount of nitrogen was enriched in the atmosphere. These findings can serve as scientific basis and support for regulating nitrogen inflow and outflow within watershed areas, and formulating more rational integrated management strategies for nitrogen.
Identification of an Additional Periplanone Receptor Family Gene Preferentially Expressed in the Male Antennae of the American Cockroach
Authors: Watanabe Takayuki , Ugajin Atsushi , Tateishi Kosuke , Watanabe Hidehiro , Mizunami Makoto
Published: September 2024

Periplaneta cockroaches use periplanone analogs as female sex pheromones to attract males. We previously identified two periplanone receptor genes, PameOR1 and PameOR2, in the American cockroach Periplaneta americana. Here, we report the identification of PameOR1-like, an additional olfactory receptor resembling PameOR1 in P. americana. PameOR1-like showed high-level sequence similarity to PameOR1, and is preferentially expressed in the male antennae. Quantitative expression analysis revealed that, in the adult male antennae, the expression level of PameOR1 is 2.4-fold higher than that of PameOR1-like. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) revealed that PameOR1 and PameOR1-like are expressed in the PA-responsive sensory neurons (PA-SNs) within the single walled-B (sw-B) sensilla on the male adult antennae. These data support the idea that PameOR1 and PameOR1-like are generated by a recent gene duplication event and play a redundant function in sex pheromone reception in P. americana.
Usutu virus continues to spread across Europe: first report on multiple molecular detections of USUV Africa 2 and Africa 3 lineages in free-living and captive birds in Poland, July-November 2023
Authors: Dziadek Kamila , Niczyporuk Jowita Samanta , Styś-Fijoł Natalia , Czujkowska Agnieszka , Śmietanka Krzysztof , Domańska-Blicharz Katarzyna
Published: September 2024

The growing importance of the Usutu virus (USUV) as an emerging zoonotic viral pathogen prompted Poland to investigate the epidemiological status of USUV infections among native bird species. Consequently, thirty-four avian individuals (n = 34) from different geographical parts of the country were confirmed to be USUV-positive in the RT-PCR between July and November 2023. The phylogenetic analysis indicates the first-ever recorded occurrence of the USUV Africa 2 and Africa 3 genetic lineages in Poland.
AGBS: Application-grained Block I/O Workload Simulation for Edge Computation
Authors: Wang Yizhen , Chen Sheng , Rao Huanle , Zhao Yumiao , Huang Ouhan , Le Kelei , Xu Xiaobin , Jia Gangyong
Published: September 2024

With the increasing scale and complexity of edge computing tasks, the requirements for storage system performance are becoming higher and higher. However, the current block I/O workload analysis methods are often too rough to accurately capture the diverse and complex I/O operation characteristics in the edge computing environment. This leads to optimization of the storage subsystem based on distorted simulated workloads, which cannot effectively support actual edge applications, resulting in overall system performance degradation. In this paper, we propose an application-grained block I/O workload simulation (AGBS) tailored for the edge computing environments, aiming for fine-grained workload characteristics. The framework structure of AGBS is first described, including trace collection, application isolation, application weight analysis, single application feature analysis and simulation, and multiapplication simulation load fusion. Following that, we discuss and validate multidimensional feature portrayal methods for a single application. Finally, using the AGBS framework, we implement a workload analysis simulator. Experiments show that the simulated I/O workloads based on the AGBS framework are stable within 40% error of the actual workload in terms of workload stress, autocorrelation, and request length; in the best outcome, the combined error is less than 5%.
Evaluating a camera-based approach to assess cognitive load during manufacturing computer tasks
Authors: Vasta Nicola , Jajo Noor , Graf Frida , Li Yujin , Zhang Legolas , Biondi Francesco N.
Published: September 2024

Assessing cognitive load in work environments is of utmost importance, as suboptimal levels have been shown to lead to distractions, stress, and physical injuries. Despite this, traditional methods for measuring cognitive load present known logistical and methodological issues: while self-reported measures suffer from poor construct validity, physiological measures often require expensive instruments and time-consuming calibration. In recent years, research has linked blink rate (i.e., the number of eye blinks per minute) with cognitive load, showing a higher blink rate with increased load. Although this suggests that blink rate can be an effective indicator of load, scientific-grade eye-trackers are usually expensive and invasive, making them unsuitable for work environments. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the accuracy of a camera-based approach to measure blink rate using a widely available generic webcam. To test this, we employed two tasks that resemble computer tasks common in office and manufacturing settings. Our results showed that the camera-based approach measured cognitive load as accurately as a scientific-grade eye-tracker. These findings are crucial as they provide an affordable alternative to expensive and invasive instruments for measuring cognitive load in the workplace.
Roles of School-Context and Goal Orientation on Emotion Regulation amongst Turkish Middle-school STEM Teachers. A Structural Equation Modeling Study
Authors: Ulubey Özgür , Alpaslan Muhammet Mustafa
Published: September 2024

Background Emotion regulation addresses how individuals regulate and monitor their emotion. Although the role of personal characteristics on emotion regulation has been well studied, there is a need for examination the role of school-contextual variables including support, discipline problems, autonomy and recognition and goal orientation in emotion regulation.Methods Data from 242 STEM teachers in fifty middle schools in Turkey were collected through Teacher Emotional Control Scale, Teacher Goal Orientation scale and School Contextual Scale in the spring 2022 semester. A Structural Equation Modelling approach, allows examining the direct and indirect causal relations among variables, was used to address the research questions.Results Results of SEM showed that the hypothesized model had an acceptable fit with data. The hypothesized model could be accounted for 52.2% of variance in emotion regulation. Whereas mastery goal orientation positively predicted emotion regulation, performance goal orientation negatively contributed to emotion regulation. School contextual variables were directly related to goal orientation and indirectly emotion regulation through goal orientation.Conclusion The socio-cultural environment in the schools are important determinants of how teachers regulate and control their emotions. Moreover, the path coefficients between goal orientation and emotion regulation underscore that what teachers want to accomplish in their work greatly contribute to how they regulate their emotions.
Research on the control of turbulent coherent structures on flat panel by porous medium
Authors: HE Yunao , ZHANG Kaiyuan , DU Hai , ZHANG Tonghao , MA Junyu , ZHANG Xiaodong
Published: September 2024

Due to the unique internal structure of porous medium, the disturbance to the boundary layer involves both changing the dynamic behavior of the physical quantity in the conservation equation and changing the boundary conditions. In order to investigate the effect and mechanism of porous medium on the coherent structure near the wall of a flat panel, particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiments of a flat panel and a flat panel with porous medium were carried out in a low turbulence return flow wind tunnel.The coherent structures of flat panel and porous medium-laden flat panel were compared in the study. The flow-normal plane flow display results show that porous medium can significantly lower the near-wall flow velocity, lift up the vortex structure in the near-wall region, reduce the vorticity, and effectively reduce the shear stress. Meanwhile, the velocity statistical quantities were extracted and fitted using the velocity profile method to show that at a wind velocity of 5.8 m/s and a porosity of 10 pores per inch (ppi), the maximum drag reduction rate reaches 23.1%. The flow-spanwise plane flow display results show that the porous medium can destroy large-scale streak structures.
How is autonomy supported for people with dementia living in a nursing home, to what extent and under what circumstances? A realist evaluation
Authors: Weide Henny van der , Lovink Marleen , Luijkx Katrien , Gerritsen Debby
Published: September 2024

Background
Being autonomous is important for people with dementia living in nursing homes. Their health situation however complicates the way in which they can express their preferences and wishes. Our recent realist review indicated that supporting their autonomy depends on various aspects.
Objective
This study aims to uncover how people with dementia, their family members and professionals experience the support of autonomy in daily care practice: what works, to what extent and under what circumstances.
Design
A realist evaluation was performed using qualitative methods.
Methods
We applied a realist approach through interviews with family members and professionals, as well as on-site observations. We performed interviews with family members and professionals and observations on site to find out how, to what extent and under what circumstances, supporting autonomy interventions work in daily practice situations. Causal assumptions were derived from the empirical data, leading to Context (C) –Mechanism (M) – Outcome (O) configurations.
Results
Data extraction from 24 interviews and 8 observations resulted in 19 CMO configurations on four themes: A. Autonomy and boundaries: providing maximum autonomy influenced by safety and health restrictions. B. Organization of daily care processes: the influence of attempting to increase efficiency by working routines. C. Team competences and collaboration: the possibilities of care professionals to acquire the relevant competences and an appropriate level of team collaboration. D. Interaction and relationships: the accomplishment of a working relationship between clients, their family and care professionals.
Conclusion
The results showed that supporting autonomy is valued highly by all stakeholders. In streamlining care processes, working routines are influential to supporting autonomy. Weighing risky choices for clients in their decision making is another factor. Our study indicates that realizing autonomy is facilitated by a capable and collaborative care team and by a working relationship between client, family members and professionals.
MOFormer: Multi-Objective Antimicrobial Peptide Generation through Conditional Transformer with Multi-Fusion Descriptors
Authors: Wang Li , Fu Xiangzheng , Yang Jiahao , Zhang Xinyi , Ye Xiucai , Sakurai Tetsuya , Zeng Xiangxiang , Liu Yiping
Published: September 2024

Deep learning offers considerable potential for designing peptides with desirable properties, essential for expediting drug discovery. Despite recent advances in generating antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), the simultaneous production of AMPs with multiple desired properties remains a formidable challenge. We introduce MOFormer, a multi-objective AMP design pipeline that optimizes several AMP properties concurrently. This model leverages a condition Transformer to refine the AMP sequence-property landscape for multi-objective generation, while multi-fusion descriptors improve the capture of intricate sequence details. Regularization techniques enable the model to uphold a highly structured latent space, facilitating the generation of more effective and potent new AMPs. Comparative analyses highlight that MOFormer outperforms existing methods in the dual-objective generation tasks of enhancing antimicrobial activity and minimizing hemolysis. Furthermore, we apply a Pareto-based non-dominated sorting algorithm and deep-learning surrogate models for hierarchical candidate screening. MOFormer's high efficacy is verified through two aspects: (1) elucidating candidates' structure and functions using molecular simulations and interpretable analysis, and (2) improving known AMPs towards additional dual-objective and triple-objective scenarios.