bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of food waste hydrochar as a soil amendment: Effects on soil properties, plant growth and stress response
Authors: Suarez Eneko , Martinez-Sanchez Lydia , Rubia Angeles de la , Reguera Maria , Esteban Elvira , Mohedano Angel F. , Tobajas Montserrat
Published: December 2024

Thermochemical processing of biowaste generates renewable carbon-rich materials with potential agronomic uses, contributing to waste valorization. This study evaluates the application of hydrochar obtained from hydrothermal carbonization of food waste, those obtained by different post-treatments (washing, aging, and thermal treatment), as well as biochar obtained by pyrolysis as soil amendments. For this purpose, the effect of char addition (1–10 wt.% d.b.) on a marginal agricultural soil on germination and growth of Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) plants was assessed. All the hydrochars exhibited a chemical composition suitable for agronomic use, characterized by high nutrient content, abundant organic matter, and low concentration of phytotoxic metals. In contrast, biochar exceeded the permissible limits for Cr, Cu, and Ni concentrations rendering it unsuitable for application to agronomic crops. The high temperature of thermal (post)-treatment and pyrolysis favored mineral and heavy metal concentration while washing significantly reduced nutrient content (N, S, P, K, Na, Mg) along with the electrical conductivity. The addition of biochar or both washed and thermally post-treated hydrochar negatively affected tomato growth. Reduced chlorophyll content was associated with the decreased expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in antioxidant metabolism. This led to photosynthetic membrane damage, as evidenced by chlorophyll fluorescence-related parameters. Conversely, the addition of aged (≤ 5 wt.%) and fresh (1–10 wt.%) hydrochars increased both germination and plant growth compared to unamended soil, indicating that hydrochar from food waste does not require additional post-treatments to be used as a soil amendment.
Calcium-binding protein CALU-1 is essential for proper collagen formation in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Lee Kyung Eun , Cho Jeong Hoon , Song Hyun-Ok
Published: December 2024

Collagen, a major component of the extracellular matrix, is crucial for the structural integrity of the Caenorhabditis elegans cuticle. While several proteins involved in collagen biosynthesis have been identified, the complete regulatory network remains unclear. This study investigates the role of CALU-1, an ER-resident calcium-binding protein, in cuticle collagen formation and maintenance. We employed genetic analyses, including the generation of single and double mutants, scanning electron microscopy, and transcriptome profiling to characterize CALU-1 function. Our results demonstrate that CALU-1 is essential for proper cuticle structure, including annuli, furrows, and alae formation. Synthetic lethality was observed between calu-1 and dpy-18 (encoding a prolyl 4-hydroxylase subunit) mutations, while double mutants of calu-1 with peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase (PPIase) genes exhibited exacerbated phenotypes. CALU-1 deficiency led to altered collagen stability, increased cuticle permeability, and differential expression of stress response genes similar to collagen mutants. We conclude that CALU-1 plays a critical role in regulating collagen biosynthesis, possibly by modulating the ER environment to optimize the function of collagen-modifying enzymes. These findings provide new insights into the complex regulation of extracellular matrix formation in C. elegans, with potential implications for understanding related processes in other organisms.
Training, Prediction and Adaptation Using AI for Communication Channel “Ground Control Station – Satellite - Aerial Relay Drone – UAV”
Authors: Kharchenko Volodymyr , Grekhov Andrii , Kondratiuk Vasyl
Published: December 2024

Article demonstrates a way for adaptation Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) communication channel using Artificial Intelligence (AI). Simulation was provided on the base of original model for communication channel “Ground Control Station – Satellite – Aerial Relay Drone – UAV”, which was built using NetCracker software. Impact of bit error rate and packet size on latency, impact of data rate and packet size on latency, impact of bit error rate and packet loss probability on satellite, and impact of bit error rate and packet size on channel throughput were studied. For adapting parameters depending on the delay and the number of bit errors, a linear regression model was created and trained to predict the size of the transmitted packet based on the values of the delay and the level of bit errors. Adaptive transmission was implemented based on the prediction of the packet size for a given delay and dynamic change in the packet size.
The Cell Stimulation Test: an improved protocol for evaluating maximal respiratory rate using the Seahorse Analyzer
Authors: Ransy Celine , Boissan Mathieu , Hammad Noureddine , Bouaboud Abdelouhab , Issad Tarik , De-Dieuleveult Maud , Miotto Benoit , Ye Manuela , Pasmant Eric , Bouillaud Frederic
Published: December 2024

Background
The Seahorse XF Analyzer developed by Agilent has revolutionized measurement of the oxidative metabolism of cells. Most of these measurements use the Seahorse XF Cell Mito Stress Test, which estimates, among other parameters, the maximal cellular oxygen consumption rate (OCRmax) after respiration is stimulated with an uncoupler. This method has the drawback, however, that the measurement of OCRmax is made after full inhibition of ATP production by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Moreover, within this protocol only two additions of uncoupler are possible. This results in a risk that OCRmax is underestimated. As the OCRmax is used to determine the spare respiratory capacity, or ‘power reserve’, of the cells that might be mobilized in the short term, its underestimation might lead to the conclusion that the cells being studied are short of energy, or close to it. Previous studies of cellular bioenergetics reported in the literature have warned about the drawbacks of this procedure for estimating OCRmax.
Results
Here, we analyzed recent publications that used this protocol and found that in more than 30% of them the OCRmax value presented may be underestimated. We show the results obtained if a “Cell Stimulation Test” is associated to the Cell Mito Stress Test in a single Seahorse experiment.
Conclusion
The Cell Stimulation Test takes into account experimental constraints and reduces the cellular energy stress under conditions of OCR stimulation by uncoupler. We propose therefore that the Cell Stimulation Test should be associated to the Cell Mito Stress Test to improve characterization of mitochondrial activity within cells.
Intravenous Anesthesia with High-Flow Nasal Cannula Improves Recovery in Elderly Undergoing Ureteroscopic Lithotripsy: a prospective controlled study
Authors: Tang Lifei , Guo Ran , Quan Yaochen , Zhang Haiwen , Qian Yingcong , Yu Youjia , Song Shaoyong , Li Jian
Published: December 2024

Background: Intravenous anesthesia with high-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) has been reported to benefit oxygen reserves and enhance postoperative recovery in surgeries requiring low neuromuscular blockade. This study investigated whether HFNC improves recovery quality in elderlyundergoing ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotripsy (UHLL).
Methods: We enrolled 106 elderly patients undergoing UHLL, with 96 patients (48 per group) included in the final analysis. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1, stratified by sex) to receive either HFNC (HFNC group) or laryngeal mask airway (LMA) assisted general anesthesia (LMA group). The primary outcome was the Quality of Recovery 15-questionnaire (QoR-15) scores. Secondary outcomes included PACU stay duration, time to out-of-bed mobilization, length of hospital stay, airway dryness scores, surgeons' satisfaction, and postoperative complications.
Results: Compared to the LMA group, the HFNC group achieved significantly higher QoR-15 scores (125.5 [118.3–130.0] vs 136.5 [126.3–139.0]; difference = -9, 95%CI, -11 to -5; P < 0.001) on the first postoperative day. For secondary outcomes, the HFNC group had a shorter PACU stay ( difference = 11.6 min, 95% CI, 10.4–12.8 min), earlier out-of-bed mobilization (difference = 31.8 min, 95% CI, 30.6–33.1 min), lower mouth (difference = 2, 95% CI, 1-3) and throat dryness scores (difference =2, 95% CI, 1–3) at 30 minutes post-operation, and lower rates of postoperative sore throat (14.6% vs 0%; P = 0.019) and cough with sputum (odds ratio [OR] = 9.4, 95% CI, 1.1–78.4). No significant differences were observed between the groups for other measures.
Conclusions: HFNC can improve recovery quality in elderly patients after UHLL compared to LMA-assisted general anesthesia.
Trial Registration: This trial was registered on July 20, 2023, in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2300073757).
Dietary acid load and mortality: Results from the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J-MICC) Study
Authors: Unohara Taichi , Watanabe Takeshi , Arisawa Kokichi , Matsuura Akari , Kita Kahori , Torii Yuka , Ishizu Masashi , Katsuura-Kamano Sakurako , Nguyen Tien , Otonari Jun , Ikezaki Hiroaki , Tanaka Keitaro , Shimanoe Chisato , Nagayoshi Mako , Kubo Yoko , Matsunaga Takashi , Okada Rieko , Oze Isao , Ito Hidemi , Michihata Nobuaki , Nakamura Yohko , Tanoue Shiroh , Koriyama Chihaya , Suzuki Sadao , Nishiyama Takeshi , Koyama Teruhide , Ozaki Etsuko , Kuriki Kiyonori , Takashima Naoyuki , Kondo Keiko , Tamura Takashi , Matsuo Keitaro
Published: December 2024

Purpose: The impact of diet on the body acid-base balance may be related to the risk of various chronic diseases. This prospective cohort study examined the relationships between the dietary acid load and all-cause and cause-specific mortalities in a large Japanese population.
Methods: The data of 74,360 subjects (aged 35-69 years in the baseline survey) in the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort Study were analyzed. The dietary acid load was estimated using the net endogenous acid production (NEAP) score. Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for all-cause and cause-specific mortalities according to the quartiles of the energy-adjusted NEAP score after adjustments for potential confounders.
Results: During a mean follow-up of 11.6 years, 3,761 deaths were identified. A higher NEAP score was associated with higher all-cause (HR 1.16, 95% CI 1.04-1.28) and cerebrovascular disease mortality (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.08-2.65). Sex-stratified analyses showed that the NEAP score was associated with all-cause and cause-specific mortalities, including cerebrovascular disease mortality in male subjects, but not in female subjects.
Conclusion: This study suggest that the dietary acid load is associated with all-cause and cause-specific mortalities, including cerebrovascular disease mortality, in Japanese male adults.
Development of MXene-Enhanced Polyvinyl Alcohol Nanofibers: A Comprehensive Study on Synthesis and Characterization
Authors: Zagabathuni Aparna , Rabeeh VP , G Sree Pranavi
Published: December 2024

The integration of two-dimensional materials into polymer matrices has garnered significant attention in recent years due to potential to enhance the mechanical and electrical properties of composite materials. This study focuses on synthesizing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and Ti3C2Tx MXene into a nonwoven nanofiber (NF) composite mat using an electrospinning. Following the electrospinning process, the fibers underwent pyrolysis, a crucial step that enhances their electrical conductivity and structural integrity. To characterize the nanofibers, an X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed. XRD and FTIR analysis confirmed the presence of both PVA and MXene, while SEM revealed improved morphological properties, including increased surface area and a higher number of active sites. The Raman spectra provided insights into defect densities, with the ID/IG ratio indicating that the incorporation of MXene and subsequent pyrolysis effectively increased defect density in PVA while enhancing its amorphous nature. Importantly, electrical conductivity measurements demonstrated a substantial enhancement in direct current conductivity for the pyrolyzed PVA-MXene composite fibers. The improved defect densities created an additional pathway for charge carriers through localized stress distribution, leading to higher conductivity.
Ultrasound-guided Modified Thoracoabdominal Nerve Block for Postoperative Analgesia in Laparoscopic Renal Cyst Decompression: A Randomized Double-blind Controlled Trial
Authors: Wan Mengning , Wei Ke , Dong Jun , Jin Juying , Cao Jun , Yuan Baohong
Published: December 2024

Background
Laparoscopic renal cyst decompression (LRCD) is a common procedure in urology, but postoperative pain remains a significant challenge. While regional nerve blocks provide more targeted pain relief, there is no universally accepted pain management strategy for LRCD. The ultrasound-guided modified thoracoabdominal nerve block (M-TAPA) may offer effective analgesia by blocking the anterior and lateral branches of the intercostal nerves (T5-T12). However, its efficacy in LRCD has not been thoroughly evaluated.
Objective
This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of unilateral M-TAPA in reducing postoperative pain and opioid consumption in patients undergoing LRCD, and to evaluate its potential benefits in enhancing recovery.
Methods
In this randomized, double-blind, controlled trial, 61 patients undergoing LRCD were assigned to either the M-TAPA group (n = 31) or the Control group (n = 30). The M-TAPA group received ultrasound-guided nerve block, while the Control group received a placebo injection following general anesthesia. Postoperative pain was assessed using the numerical rating scale (NRS) over a 48-hour period. Additional outcomes included opioid consumption and opioid-related side effects, such as nausea and vomiting.
Results
The M-TAPA group had significantly lower NRS scores at all time points compared to the Control group, with the largest difference observed at 6 hours postoperatively (4.27 ± 0.83 in the Control group vs. 2.19 ± 0.54 in the M-TAPA group). Repeated measures ANOVA revealed a significant interaction between time and treatment (F = 20.813, p < 0.001). Opioid consumption was reduced by 22% in the M-TAPA group over 48 hours (P < 0.001), and the need for antiemetic drugs was significantly lower (P = 0.020). No M-TAPA-related complications were observed.
Conclusion
M-TAPA was found to be an effective method for reducing postoperative pain and opioid consumption in patients undergoing LRCD.
CYP1B1-AS1 regulates CYP1B1 to promote Coxiella burnetii pathogenesis by inhibiting ROS and host cell death.
Authors: Samuel James , Arunima Aryashree , Niyakan Seyednami , Butler Samantha , Clark Sabrina , Pinson Anna , Kwak Doyoung , Qian Xiaoning , de figueiredo Paul , Schaik Erin Van
Published: December 2024

Coxiella burnetii(Cb), the causative agent of Q fever, replicates within host macrophages by modulating immune responses through poorly understood mechanisms. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators of inflammation, yet their role in Cb pathogenesis remains largely unexplored. Here, we employed a global transcriptomic approach to identify lncRNAs specific to Cb infection in THP-1 derived macrophages, compared to 15 other microbial infections. CYP1B1-AS1 was uniquely regulated in a spatio-temporal manner during Cb infection. Promoter assays revealed that CYP1B1-AS1 is transcribed by AHR from a bidirectional promoter, enhancing CYP1B1 expression in cis. Inhibition of CYP1B1-AS1 and CYP1B1 increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and apoptosis, suggesting their role in dampening host cell death. Additionally, immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry identified the mitochondrially localized Cb effector CBU_0937 as an interactor of the CYP1B1 enzyme. These events facilitate Cb intracellular survival. Our findings identify CYP1B1-AS1 as a potential molecular target for combating Cb infection.
Comparison of low-rate oxytocin infusion versus bolus oxytocin for initiating uterine contraction during Cesarean delivery: A randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial
Authors: Somjit Monsicha , Pongsri Wichuda , Kasemsiri Cattleya , Sripadung Darunee , Sirisom Monthira , Bootsri Neeranart , Kongwattanakul Kiattisak
Published: December 2024

Objective: Administration of oxytocin is the standard for preventing and treating postpartum hemorrhage. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of low-rate oxytocin infusion compared to a 5 IU intravenous oxytocin bolus, specifically assessing its impact on uterine contractions at 3 minutes and comparing associated side effects.
Material and Methods: This randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial was conducted at Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University, between October 2022 and August 2023. A total of 160 pregnant women undergoing cesarean section under spinal anesthesia were randomized into two groups: low-rate oxytocin infusion (Group L) and oxytocin bolus (Group B), with 80 participants in each group. The primary objective was to assess adequate uterine contraction at 3 minutes post-oxytocin administration. Secondary outcomes included uterine tone (measured on a 0–10 linear analog scale) at 3 minutes, the total amount of uterotonic drugs used, additional obstetric procedures required and adverse effects.
Results: Adequate uterine contraction at 3 minutes was achieved in a total of 120 patients. Group L had a significantly lower rate of adequate uterine contraction compared to Group B, with 47 (58.75%) in Group L versus 73 (91.25%) in Group B (RR 0.64; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.78). The mean uterine tone at 3 minutes was lower in Group L than in Group B (4.68 ± 1.35 vs. 6.01 ± 1.78, respectively; P < 0.001). The incidence of hypotension was also lower in Group L than in Group B (11.25% vs. 26.25%, RR 0.43; 95% CI 0.21 to 0.88).
Conclusions: Low-rate oxytocin infusion was found to be inferior to a 5 IU oxytocin bolus in achieving adequate uterine contraction during cesarean delivery. Higher doses of oxytocin were associated with an increased risk of hypotension. Further studies are warranted to identify the optimal oxytocin regimen that achieves effective uterine contraction while minimizing the need for additional uterotonic agents and reducing adverse effects.
obfFuzz: Empirical Study to Boost Fuzzing the Obfuscated Software
Authors: Aldoshan Kawkab
Published: December 2024

Code obfuscation is a well-known method for pro- tecting proprietary software against reverse engineering. While obfuscation is beneficial, it alters the program’s control and data flow. Thus, systematic control and data flow alteration significantly affect the binaries’ quality, especially from the viewpoint of fuzzing testing. Although these modifications can introduce bugs in the program, there is still a lack of clear understanding of how implementing an obfuscation algorithm degrades the quality of fuzzing obfuscated software.
This paper proposes ObfFuzz, the first empirical study to reveal and understand the challenges behind fuzzing the ob- fuscated software. Our study begins by fuzzing unobfuscated binaries and comparing the results with obfuscated binaries. We chose the most popular fuzzing technique, AFL++. It is interesting because of its approach to combining mutation-based test case generation with code coverage metrics, which is the most affected component, by applying obfuscation transformation techniques. We have evaluated our tool on four real-world programs (pdfinfo, exif, tiffinfo, and md2roff). 1 Our study revealed several findings: 1) Control flow obfuscation makes the code more complex, significantly decreasing code coverage percentage by 60% compared to the original code. 2) Due to data flow obfuscation, we have inefficient mutations during fuzzing, so it takes 70% more time to expose crashes than in the unobfuscated code with the same constraints. 3) Applying obfuscation techniques increases program code size and decreases execution speed, giving us inefficient fuzzing results for the obfuscated binary. 4) Our observation shows that fuzzing an obfuscated binary is inefficient. Obfuscation transformations add more complexity, degrading the resultant binary and introducing buggy code.
On Measuring Labor and Job Shortage by Occupation
Authors: Felder Rahel , Sheldon George
Published: December 2024

Popular indicators used to measure labor and job shortage across occupations in Switzerland typically compare the stocks of job openings and unemployed observed in these professions. According to this approach, labor shortage prevails when the number of vacancies in an occupation exceeds the number of jobseekers, and job shortage when the opposite holds. We show that this approach is deficient in a number of ways and develop a new approach that avoids these shortcomings. In addition, we demonstrate that our approach outperforms current methods in capturing the labor market turbulences that followed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
JEL classifications: C41, J64
Fabrication of complex optical phantoms using on-the-fly multi-filament mixing 3-D printing
Authors: Ragunathan Rahul , Mireles Miguel , Xu Edward , Lewis Aiden , Vanegas Morris , Fang Qianqian
Published: December 2024

We report a method to directly 3-D print complex heterogeneous optical phantoms with programmable tissue-mimicking absorption and scattering properties. The proposed approach utilizes commercially available multi-color mixing extruders and off-the-shelf polylactic acid (PLA) filaments, making this technique low-cost and broadly accessible. We systematically characterized optical properties, including both absorption and reduced scattering coefficients, at a wide range of mixing ratios of gray, white and translucent filaments and validated our hypothesis of a linear-mixing model between the filament mixing ratios and the resulting optical properties. Various techniques were used to design and fabricate sophisticated solid phantoms, including the design of color-purging towers, and the optimization of several printing parameters to improve print quality. To demonstrate the feasibility of this technique for generating anatomically complex phantoms with tunable optical absorption and scattering properties within tissue-relevant ranges, we designed and fabricated three heterogeneous optical phantoms. One of the presented phantoms was specifically designed to support quality assurance efforts in evaluating diffuse optics instruments and methodologies across various institutions. We have characterized the printed phantoms and observed an average error between 12%-15% compared to our linear-mixing model predicted values.
Case Report of a 47-Year-Old Long COVID Patient Diagnosed With Alzheimer's Disease
Authors: Yao Yang , Liu Shichang , Zhang Yiyao , Liu Chang , Shi Jingsong , Chen Binbin , Yang Zhuo , Zhang Tao , Li Zhanyong , Gao Shan
Published: December 2024

A 47-year-old female patient was diagnosed with Alzheimer disease (AD) based on positive Amyloid-PET and Tau-PET imaging results, coupled with increased levels of plasma biomarkers (Aβ42/Aβ40, pTau181, and pTau217). In this report, we characterized this unusual AD case by integrating data from various diagnostic methods, including PET, MRI imaging, genetic testing, plasma biomarker testing, etc, to contribute to future research and guide clinical practice. Given that this case emerged after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, we suggest that the AD cases analogous to this one be categorized under a distinct subset within the long COVID syndromes, termed AD-like COVID syndromes.
New onset granulomatous with polyangiitis in a Covid-19 patient: A case report
Authors: sabouri Reza
Published: December 2024

Background: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a systemic necrotizing vasculitis affecting small to medium-sized blood vessels. COVID-19 pandemic, originating in Wuhan, China in 2019, has led to significant global morbidities and mortalities across the world up to now (3). Autoimmune reactions can be triggered by various factors, including infections and vaccines, contributing to ANCA-associated vasculitis.
Case report: A 41-year-old male with history of HTN was hospitalized with complaints of fatigue, abdominal pain, shortness of breath and gross haematuria. The patient had history of hospitalization due to severe Covid-19 last year and was hospitalized hospitalized due to concurrent diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. Laboratory investigations revealed elevated ESR, CRP, proteinuria (+2) and haematuria (+4) and positive C-ANCA.
Discussion: We presented a de novo case of wegener’s disease with bronchiectasis in a previously healthy individual. ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis may potentially arise both SARS-Cov2 infection and vaccinations. Proper management and diagnosis of Wegener’s disease requires multidisciplinary collaboration. Overlapping clinical manifestations of GPA with other pathologies and diseases may lead to misdiagnosis, thus high clinical suspicion is crucial.
Conclusion: Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) is a rare autoimmune vasculitis, affecting small- medium sized blood vessels and is characterized by necrotizing granulomatous vasculitis caused by autoantibodies against anti-proteinase3 (PR3). SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with either development of de novo autoimmune disease or flaring of preexisting autoimmunity. Further researches are warranted for investigation of long-term complications of SARS-CoV-2 infection in high-risk individuals.
Mapping of shore area wetlands in Lake Tana: Using Multi-Source Datasets, Sentinel-1A SAR, and PCI Geomatica Software
Authors: Wondim Yirga Kebede , Melese Ayalew Wondie
Published: December 2024

Shore area wetlands are important ecotones for biodiversity, spawning and refuge habitats, high primary productivity, and significant material exchange between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The distribution, size, and dynamic changes of lacustrine wetlands must be understood in order to effectively manage and maintain these resources. This work aimed to develop accurate shore area wetland mapping with multi-temporal, multi-source data, wetland indicators, and radar imagery of Sentinel 1 using Geomatica software, ground truth validation, and manual techniques. The topographic position (DEM and derivatives, as well as Lake Bathymetry) and hydric soil wetland indicators were mapped using different multisource datasets and Arc GIS software. Hydrophytic vegetation and wetland hydrology were mapped using publicly available Sentinel-1 SAR data and Geomatica Banff software packages. For shore area wetland mapping, the analytical hierarchy process and weighted overlay method were applied. The topography position wetland indicator map covered about 55,363.53 ha, while hydric soils (Gleysols, Vertisols, and Fluvisols) covered about 55,151 ha around Lake Tan within a 3 km buffer. The hydrology wetland indicator map of only permanently inundated covered about 591,311.43 ha, while including temporarily inundated covered about 607,052.48 ha. Hydrophytic vegetation around Lake Tana, including invasive water hyacinth, covered about 74,771.86 ha. The overall land use/cover classification accuracy and overall Kappa statistic were 78.68% and 0.70, respectively. Based on Class Accuracy Statistics results of Producer Accuracy (PA), User Accuracy (UA), and Kappa Statistic (KS), water bodies (PA = 94.11%, UA = 99.12, and KS = 0.98), cultivated land (PA = 77.20%, UA = 81.04%, and KS = 0.780), and hydrophytic vegetation (PA = 69.69%, UA = 59.77%, and KS = 0.51) were classified with the highest accuracies. Shrub-land (PA = 45.00%, UA = 29.03%, and KS = 0.27), and Plantation of Eucalyptus (PA = 0.00%, UA = 0.00%, and KS = -0.02) had the lowest PA, UA, and KS. Shore area wetlands were generally found around Lake Tana, about 3 km to the terrestrial part, and covered about 26,663.24 ha. The combination of multi-temporal, multi-source data, wetland indicators, radar imagery of Sentinel 1 using Geomatica software, ground truth validation, and manual techniques provided information on the spatial distribution of shore area wetlands in Lake Tana. In order to properly manage and preserve these resources, the distribution and extent of shore area wetlands produced by this study will be a crucial point of reference for next research.
Remote sensing as a support tool to map suspended sediment concentration over extended river reaches
Authors: Nones Michael , Guo Chao
Published: December 2024

Spatiotemporal variations of sediments transported along rivers play a crucial role in a wide spectrum of uses, such as navigation, recreation, habitats or river environmental protection. The advancement in technology has made it possible to use various indirect techniques to study and evaluate the transport of suspended sediment in fluvial environments. To investigate large-scale phenomena, remote sensing is becoming a largely utilized approach, as it allows to combine spatially distributed and local information. The systematic change of suspended sediment concentration (SSC) and dynamic processes controlling sediment transport at a given local scale are often not well known, and generally investigated using reach-specific field information. In this work, SSC maps were created by combining satellite images with local monitoring SSC data, from the Zhijiang-Chenglingji reach of the Changjiang River (China) as a case study, and analyzing how SSC dynamics changed over the period 2016-2023, also considering extremely low and high-flow events. Multiple relationships between measured SSC and reflectance were selected from the literature and tested. Results show that a combination of Sentinel-2 bands 3,4 and 5 represents the best-performing statistical model (R2=0.61) in mapping SSC spatiotemporal variations over an extent of dozens of kilometres. Despite the uncertainties connected to the small amount of data available and the differences between SSC data measured over the vertical and surface reflectance, this application shows the potential of remote sensing in mapping SSC at a large spatial scale, overcoming the limitations of localized field sampling, eventually suggesting a relatively simple approach that could assist water managers in mapping large-scale dynamics of SSC for applications such as navigation, habitat preservation, and hydropower production.
Predicted deleterious mutations reveal the genomic mechanisms underlying fitness variation in a lekking bird
Authors: Chen Rebecca , Soulsbury Carl , Hench Kosmas , Oers Kees van , Hoffman Joseph
Published: December 2024

Deleterious mutations are ubiquitous in natural populations and, when expressed, reduce fitness. However, the specific nature of these mutations and the mechanisms through which they impact fitness remain poorly understood. We leveraged recent advances in genomics to predict deleterious mutations in the black grouse, an iconic lekking species. Analysis of 190 whole genomes alongside comprehensive life history data including repeated measures of behavioural, ornamental and fitness traits, revealed that deleterious mutations identified through evolutionary conservation and functional prediction are strongly associated with reduced male lifetime mating success. Both homozygous and heterozygous mutations reduce fitness, indicating that fully and partially recessive mutations contribute towards an individual’s realized mutation load. Notably, deleterious mutations in promotors have disproportionally negative fitness effects, suggesting they impair an individual’s ability to dynamically adjust gene expression to meet context-dependent functional demands. Finally, deleterious mutations impact male mating success by reducing lek attendance rather than by altering the expression of ornamental traits, implying that behaviour serves as an honest indicator of genetic quality. These findings offer novel insights into the genetic architecture of sexually selected traits and illuminate the complex interplay between genetic variation and phenotypic expression, with important implications for evolutionary biology and conservation genomics.
ROBCPCA: A Robust Multivariate Time Series Clustering Method Based on Common Principal Component Analysis
Authors: Ma Ziling , López-Oriona Ángel , Ombao Hernando , Sun Ying
Published: December 2024

Multivariate time series (MTS) clustering is crucial for analyzing complex temporal data across various fields. Principal component analysis (PCA)-based methods are popular for their effectiveness in dimensionality reduction, but they are often sensitive to outliers and can not properly handle varying observation lengths. Common principal component analysis (CPCA) addresses the latter limitation by identifying a common set of principal components that capture the shared variance structure across multiple objects.
In this paper, we develop a robust MTS clustering method based on CPCA (which we call ROBCPCA), enhancing existing CPCA-based algorithms through the use of an initial grouping mechanism, the detection of richer temporal dependence structures using cross-covariance matrices for several lags, and the introduction of robustness against outliers. Compared to the classical CPCA-based approach, the proposed ROBCPCA method demonstrates improved performance on both non-temporal and temporal, uncontaminated and contaminated data. In addition, ROBCPCA produced good results when applied to multichannel electroencephalogram time series.
An adaptive NMPC for ROVs trajectory tracking with environmental disturbances and model uncertainties
Authors:   School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China, Zhang Yi , Zhang Jianing ,   School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China, Guo Zhiyang ,   School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China, Zhang Lei ,   School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, Dalian Maritime University, Dalian 116026, China, Shang Yuchen ,   Department of Ocean Engineering, Texas A&M University College, Station 77843, USA
Published: December 2024

A novel hybrid adaptive control method is presented for trajectory tracking of remotely operated underwater vehicles (ROVs) that addresses unknown disturbances and model uncertainties in this paper. Traditional nonlinear control methods struggle to handle external disturbances and uncertainty in system model. To address the trajectory tracking control needs of ROVs in complex underwater environments, a kinematic and dynamic model is first developed for a fully actuated ROV with six degrees of freedom (6-DOF). The trajectory tracking problem is formulated as an online, nonlinear receding horizon optimization process. Control increments are computed as inputs to this nonlinear optimization problem. An L1 adaptive control method (L1AC) is then developed, incorporating a state observer, adaptive control law, and time filter. The framework retains the rolling optimization process of nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) while integrating the L1 adaptive component for instant compensation of unknown disturbances and model parameter mismatches. Numerical simulations were conducted to compare the trajectory tracking performance of the proposed hybrid adaptive method with the NMPC method under various disturbances, including ocean currents, waves, random forces, and model uncertainties. The results confirm that the proposed hybrid adaptive control scheme is more effective and robust than the standalone NMPC approach across various scenarios.
İDARENİN KOLLUK YETKİLERİ KAPSAMINDA TRAFİK İHLALLERİNİN ELEKTRONİK DENETLEME SİSTEMLERİ İLE TESPİTİ
Authors: Karakuş Işık Zehra , Türkoğlu Üstün Kamile
Published: December 2024

Elektronik denetleme sistemleri, kuruldukları yerlerde trafikteki araçları denetleyen ve kural ihlali yapan araçları tespit ederek araç bilgilerine erişebilen bütünleşmiş bilişim teknolojileri içeren bir sistemdir. Sistem, ihlal halinde idari veri tabanlarına erişerek araç sahibi bilgilerine ulaşmakta ve bu bilgileri emniyet müdürlüklerine yollayarak, araç sahipleri hakkında trafik idari para cezaları tesis edilmesini sağlamaktadır. 2918 sayılı Karayolları Trafik Kanunu'nda, elektronik denetleme sistemlerinin belediyeler veya sermayesinin tamamı belediyelere ait şirketler tarafından kurulabileceği veya belediyelerce hasılat paylaşımı yoluyla özel hukuk kişilerine kurdurulabileceği öngörülmüştür. Böylece özel hukuk kişilerine genel idari kolluk yetkileri devredilmiştir. Ayrıca Emniyet Genel Müdürlüğü, sistemler vasıtasıyla kesilen trafik cezalarından elde edilen geliri belediye ve özel hukuk kişileriyle paylaşmaktadır. Yapay zekâ sistemleriyle donatılan bu sistemler, kişisel verileri işlemekte ve ihlal tespitini otomatik olarak gerçekleştirmektedir. Çalışmada kişi hak ve özgürlükleriyle doğrudan ilgili olan elektronik denetleme sistemlerine ilişkin mevzuat ve emsal Anayasa Mahkemesi kararları incelenecek sonrasında otomatikleştirilmiş idari işlemler ve elektronik denetleme sistemlerinin amacına yönelik tartışmalara yer verilecektir.
Re-imagining engaged scholarship in South Africa
Authors: Burman Christopher
Published: December 2024

This article represents a constructive disruption of the extant habits of mind associated with community engagement in South Africa. The constructive disruption is developed by applying a critical realist method placing emphasis on engaged transdisciplinary knowledge co-production processes. The argument that is developed suggests two plausible disruptions. The first disruption argues that it is possible to consider a second order form of methodological decision making using a concept labelled ‘critical epistemological selectivity’ as a mechanism to increase the armamentarium of engaged, transdisciplinary scholarship. The second disruption focuses on the real-world utility of the current ‘spirit’ of engagement – ‘social justice’ – in the face of increasingly complex global challenges. The article concludes by suggesting that second and third order perspectives could contribute to a more reflexive form of engaged scholarship that may be of benefit to both academe and its neighbouring communities.
Overcoming Community Engagement Hurdles in South Africa's Private Higher Education
Authors: Schutte Flip
Published: December 2024

This paper focuses on the challenges and perceptions related to community engagement in private higher education institutions (PHEIs) in South Africa. Community engagement is now considered equally important as teaching and learning, and research and innovation at universities. The Council on Higher Education expects formal engagement from both public and private higher education institutions. However, PHEIs face unique challenges such as resource constraints, conflicting priorities, lack of tradition, and differing perceptions of community engagement. The study used qualitative data collection methods, including desktop research and semi-structured, in-depth interviews with five academics from different PHEIs. The findings emphasised the need for PHEIs to develop strategies to build sustainable relationships with their communities despite these challenges.
The Global South to the front
Authors: Flores Matias
Published: December 2024

In this article, I will reflect on the importance of two recent “South-South” exchanges organized by faculty and leadership from the Universidad de la República in Uruguay and Rhodes University in South Africa. I believe these encounters represent an innovative and much-needed alternative to collaborations where Global North voices are most prominent and Global South is reduced to an object of study. Finally, I identify five critical questions that emerged in these conversations for future South-South dialogues in the field: What is the Global South? Why should we have a dialogue? What should that dialogue look like? What are the main challenges for a South-South dialogue? What can the Global North learn from a South-South dialogue on community engagement?
Introducing Community Engagement through Hospitality
Authors: Lortan Darren
Published: December 2024

The objective of this thought piece is to explore Nouwen’s notion of hospitality as a means of introducing participatory research, in particular community-based participatory research, to academics who may be interested in community engagement but have little or no experience in recent scholarly developments in the field. This includes knowledge democracy, social and epistemic injustice, and epistemic agency. The approach is not intended to replace well-established orientation processes but to engender interest in further orientation in participatory research.
Rawls y Maquiavelo sobre el “problema de la envidia”
Authors: Tavera Villegas Hugo
Published: December 2024

En este artículo expongo los análisis que realizan John Rawls y Maquiavelo acerca de lo que el primero denomina en Teoría de la justicia el “problema de la envidia”. Sostendré que las diferencias entre Rawls y Maquiavelo en lo que concierne a dicha cuestión expresan lo que aquí llamo las versiones liberal y plebeya del problema de la envidia. A partir de dicha comparación, argumento que el proyecto igualitario de Rawls requiere del tipo de politización de los muchos que constituye el núcleo central del republicanismo defendido por Maquiavelo, particularmente en los Discursos.
SPONTANEOUS ACTIVITY OF THE POSTURAL MUSCLE DURING FUNCTIONAL UNLOADING. NEURONAL MECHANISMS AND SIGNALING EFFECTS
Authors:   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Shenkman B.S. , Kalashnikov V.E. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Sharlo К.А. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Turtikova O.V. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Bokov R.O. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Mirzoev Т.М. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow
Published: December 2024

The soleus is one of the key muscles for stability of the majority mammals in Earth's gravity. It is well known that as soon as a laboratory animal (rat) is put in a real or modeled weightlessness (loss of the hindlimb contact with substrate due to tail-suspension) the electrical activity in m. soleus decreases sharply. However, starting on day 3 of the functional unloading this activity renews and grows to the level characteristic of control animals (approximately by day 14 of suspension). The phenomenon was termed "the spontaneous activity of unloaded postural muscle". The review discusses spinal mechanisms of the spontaneous postural muscle activity, the input of ion co-transporters in marrow motoneurons specifically, and effect of this activity on intra-cell signaling in fibers of unloaded m. soleus.
USE OF VIRTUAL MEDIA FOR MODELING IN ISOLATION STUDIES OF COMBINED CONTROL OF A LUNAR ROVER VEHICLE WITH AUTOMATIC NAVIGATION AND POSITIONING
Authors:   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Bubeev Yu.A. , Ivanov A.V. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Usov V.M. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Mikhalyuk M.V. ,   Federal State Institution «Scientific Research Institute for System Analysis of the Russian Academy of Sciences», Moscow
Published: December 2024

Advanced virtual reality products can be used to control robots in unexplored environments. One of the instances is virtual prototyping a human-machine system in view of the robotized lunar exploration in future.
Piloting a lunar rover (LR) in EVA suits following a prolonged transit is a critical risk factor for successful mission accomplishment. Simulation of LR driving and operation scenarios in isolation studies is a way to get a more insight in the type of operations to be performed on the Moon and to update the virtual control model as novel navigation and positioning technologies appear.
The investigation was an attempt to test the applicability of our model in the conditions reproducing some factors which, based on literature, will complicate operator's activities. Specifically, we were focused on the effects of hindered visibility and improvements that will be required as in the computer-generated VR technologies, so visualization tools. The point is that spatial orientation with the use of opto-electronic devices and multimedia systems will be successful provided a proper consideration is given to the VR effects on operator's behavior, activity and psychic condition.
Studies of the human factor limitations with the help of virtual and augmented reality lay the ground for devising original approaches to the lunar rover operations both automatic and manual, and enhance the navigation and positioning capabilities in the event of visibility deterioration.
DETERMINATION OF THE ST2 CARDIOMARKER LEVEL FOLLOWING REPEATED ROTATIONS ON A SHORT-ARM CENTRIFUGE
Authors:   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Goncharova A.G. , Pastushkova L.Kh. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Koloteva M.I. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Goncharov I.N. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Kashirina D.N. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Glebova T.M. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Larina I.М. ,   Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow
Published: December 2024

Rotation on a short-arm centrifuge (SAC) is considered as an option to prevent the cardiovascular disorders consequent to exposure in microgravity during long-term space missions. However, a conceivable cumulative effect and gravitational deformation of the hollow organs, e.g. the heart, calls for objectification of the risks of excessive stretching of cardiomyocytes caused by a specific protocol or number of rotations.
We conducted measurements of a soluble ST2 cardiomarker in 6 essentially healthy male subjects at the age of 34-45 years who participated in a series of 6 SAC rotations along the head-to-pelvis g-vector (+Gz). Each rotation session continued 60 minutes. Venous blood was sampled on each rotation completion for ST2 analysis using the solid phase enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).
The baseline analysis demonstrated ST2 variability. Low level of the cardiomarker points to a high adaptive potential and low cardiologic risk. Single rotation did not change the ST2 blood level. The group averaged level of the marker was increased relative to the estimated average after the first rotation. This dynamics may suggest an increased cardiologic risk associated with myocardium distention.
Therefore, ST2 measurements in a series of SAC rotations may reveal an individual reaction of cardiomyocytes, group people with a high and low adaptive potential, determine a cumulative effects, and detect potential cardiologic risks following serial rotations.