bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Physicochemical and Microbiological Characteristics of Rainwater Harvested from Different Rooftops in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria
Authors: Michael Nwachukwu , Majesty Duru , Innocentia Nwachukwu , Chidera Obasi , Francis Ihenetu
Published: January 2024

Assessment of physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of rainwater harvested from different rooftops in Owerri, Imo State was carried out using standard methods. Rainwater samples collected from different rooftops were analyzed for quality and compared to the standard for World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ). Rainwater was also collected directly from the rainfall and analyzed. The result of the physicochemical parameters showed that only the rainwater harvested from asbestos rooftop had the pH value that falls within WHO standard and NSDWQ. The turbidity value of rainwater harvested from the thatched rooftop was higher than the WHO standard and NSDWQ. Organisms isolated from the rainwater samples harvested from the rooftops include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsilla pneumonia, Entrobacter sp., Proteus mirabilis, Aspergillus sp., Penicillum sp., and Vibro sp. However, after molecular studies, K. pneumoniae, P. aeroginosa, E. coli, and P. mirabilis were the four bacterial species identified. The rainwater samples had high levels of microbial loads against WHO standard and NSDWQ. Rainwater sample from thatched rooftop had the highest total heterotrophic count (THC) but all the studied rainwater samples had THC higher than WHO standard and NSDWQ. The rainwater harvested directly from rainfall had low values for the physicochemical parameters and microbial loads considered in this study, when compared to the rainwater samples harvested from the rooftops. The bacterial and fungal isolates of rainwater samples from the rooftops have been associated with different diseases. There is a need to treat harvested rainwater properly before domestic or potable use. This study has assessed the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of rainwater harvested from different rooftops in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB): A Potent Source of Heavy Metal Stress Management in Plants
Authors: Gogoi Ankita , Borah Nikha , Nath Ratul
Published: January 2024

Heavy metals or metalloids are toxic elements found throughout the crust of the earth’s surface. The gradual increase of heavy metal concentration in soil and water due to some natural and anthropogenic activities like application of agrochemicals, waste disposal, industrial activities, mining, smelting, lead-based paints, etc cause stress to the local vegetation. Soil microorganisms play a critical part in the remediation of heavy metal contaminated soil and thereby exert direct or indirect promotion to plant growth. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), specially the Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), are a natural, sustainable, and eco-friendly solution for mitigating stress challenges. They can boost plant growth by alleviating heavy metal toxicity through various mechanisms such as metal sequestration, metal immobilization, and production of metal chelating compounds, which reduce metal toxicity and enhance plant growth. This review summarizes the effect of heavy metal stress on plants, the response of plants to heavy metal stress, mechanisms involved in metal stress tolerance by soil bacteria, and their application in managing heavy metal stress in plants.
Diversity of Aquatic Macrophyte Species of Pardi Wetland, Valsad District, Gujarat, India: Social-economic and Ethnobotanical importance
Authors: Patel Harvi Arvindbhai , Sahoo Susmita , Thakor Alpesh
Published: January 2024

Wetlands, which serve as a transition between land and water, are a source of concern across the world in terms of resource evaluation and use, environmental protection, pollution control, eco-restoration, biodiversity conservation, and so on. Wetlands are an important aspect of human civilization because they provide drinking water, food, improved water quality, sediment retention, flood storage, transportation, recreation, and climate stabilization, among other things. Despite their numerous advantages, wetlands are increasingly subjected to anthropogenic pressures and are rapidly disappearing. Valsad district is the developing district of Gujarat state, located between 20°37'48.00" N and 72°55'48.00" E, making it one of Gujarat's rainiest districts and having many wetland ecosystems with great aquatic biodiversity. The present investigation aimed to list, find, and investigate wetlands, with a focus on macrophyte species, because of their high socioeconomic and ethnobotanical relevance. The current study identified a total of 43 macrophyte species, which are organized into 35 genera and 24 different families. Out of the 43 macrophyte species, 40 were recorded as angiosperms, 02 as pteridophytes, and 01 as macroalgae. In the present investigation, existing macrophyte species were evaluated based on their ecological classification, life form classification, and their wetland indicator status. This research not only showed the diversity of indigenous macrophytes but also discusses the utilization of aquatic plants for socioeconomic and ethnobotanical purposes, which enhance the traditional medicinal knowledge about the macrophytes.
Farmers’ Perceptions on Land Degradation: A Case Study in Vietnam
Authors: Dung Nguyen Mau , Hai Ninh Nguyen Thi
Published: January 2024

This study aims to investigate farmers’ perception of land degradation in Vietnam, where land degradation is concerned as one of the nation's most pressing issues. Based on survey data from 826 farmers in three representative regions of Vietnam (including Hoa Binh province in Northern region, Quang Tri province in the Central Coastal region, and Can Tho province in Southern region) conducted in 2017, the study reveals that over 85% of the respondents have observed indications of land degradation on their farms. The farmers' perceptions of land degradation indicators were influenced by regional topography. Inappropriate farming techniques, excessive chemical use, and a lack of knowledge were reported as the major causes of land degradation. Furthermore, the farmers had limited understanding of land degradation as well as the benefits of soil conservation measures. Sustainable land management adopters exhibited their better perception of land degradation and measures for land improvement compared to non-adopters. Therefore, it is crucial to increase the farmers’ perception on land degradation and the advantages of adopting sustainable land management and this should be accomplished through widespread dissemination via mass and local media in the future
Making Automated Driving a Reality
Authors: Harding John
Published: January 2024

The USDOT has developed a new FHWA framework for facilitating collaboration between infrastructure operators and vehicle OEMs to ensure automated driving systems are deployed safely and effectively. Here the FHWA’s John Harding explains how it works
Data-Driven Traffic Management
Authors: Maraia Lorenzo
Published: January 2024

Lorenzo Maraia, head of traffic and safety management at Movyon, reveals how the firm’s Traffic Management Platform is exploiting data and AI to improve efficiency and road safety
The Multi-Purpose Tractor
Authors: Seco Alberto
Published: January 2024

Alberto Seco is a designer based in Spain. Aside from designing industrial vehicles, he has worked on everything from mobile phones to washing machines
Spray Drift, Operator Exposure, Crop Residue and Efficacy: Early Indications for Equivalency of Uncrewed Aerial Spray Systems with Conventional Application Techniques
Authors: Bonds Jane A.S. , Pai Naresh , Hovinga Sarah , Stump Katie , Haynie Rebecca , Flack Sheila , Bui Travis
Published: January 2024

Highlights

Initial data shows UASS spray drift is greater than ground, less than aerial, and similar to an airblast application.

Operator exposure with UASS is less than that of a backpack sprayer.

No current data shows that residues on crops from UASS applications would be different than conventional applications.

UASS applications generally have similar efficacy as their conventional counterparts.

Abstract. Uncrewed Aerial Spray Systems (UASS) are being adopted at a rapid pace in agricultural applications of crop protection products. The data required to effectively regulate their use must be gathered to position UASS in terms of equivalency with other conventional practices. In Fall 2021, the CropLife America Drones Working Group initiated an effort to collect published information on establishing the equivalency of UASS applications with conventional application types as it relates to spray drift, operator exposure, crop residue, and efficacy. Based on the published literature, our comparison demonstrated that UASS spray drift is lower than aerial, higher than ground boom, and similar to orchard airblast applications. However, this comparison is based on limited data and needs further confirmation. Individual use cases and other application variables will need to be considered to determine if this generalization applies (e.g., adjuvant use, rotor and nozzle configuration, etc.). For operator exposure, this work supported the current consensus that applications with UASS have less potential for exposure in some respects (e.g., compared to backpack applications), but for other job steps that are unique to UASS (such as mixing and loading) more information is needed. With respect to crop residue, UASS applicators follow the label for conventional application techniques with the same directions for use (i.e., application rate, pre-harvest interval, and number of applications), but there is no evidence that pesticide residues resulting from a UASS application are any different to conventional application techniques. In terms of efficacy, applications with UASS tend to be equivalent to conventional methods; however, more information is needed, especially where good coverage is a requirement. The assessment of published literature on UASS demonstrates potential equivalency in certain key areas and supports the responsible use of this emerging technology, while more information on spray distribution within the target zone, off-target droplet movement, operator and bystander exposure, and pesticidal efficacy continues to be generated. Keywords: Drone, Efficacy, Emerging technology, Operator exposure, Pesticide, Residue, Spray drift, UASS.
Evaluation of a Process to Separate Ensiled Corn Grain and Stover for Improved Utilization as a Biomass Feedstock
Authors: Blazer Keagan J. , Shinners Kevin J. , Timm Aaron J. , Digman Matthew F.
Published: January 2024

Highlights

An experimental machine that combined air classification and mechanical screening was investigated to separate corn grain and stover.

Important variables included stover:grain ratio, air velocity, and throughput.

As much as 99.4% of the grain could be separated from the stover with less than 1% foreign matter in the grain.

Abstract. Corn grain and chopped stover were stored anaerobically at 37% to 50% (w.b.) aggregate moisture content to create a unique biomass feedstock. However, after storage, the two fractions must be separated to accommodate different conversion pathways. In this work, a modified cleaning system from a grain combine harvester was evaluated to investigate its effectiveness in separating the grain from the stover. While this system has been purposefully built for this task, there is no previous literature on separating grain at high material other than grain (MOG) to grain ratios. Using this system, material was separated into four fractions: Grain, Tailings, Heavy MOG, and Light MOG. Subsamples were collected, oven dried, and then hydrodynamically separated to quantify the grain content in the four fractions. Several different configurations of air velocities, mass flow rate, material MOG: grain ratios, and sieve types and openings were investigated. Grain capture was defined as the fraction of the total grain dry mass collected in the grain and tailings fractions. In five experiments, the grain capture effectiveness varied from 89.2% to 99.4% on a dry basis. The dry basis foreign matter (FM) in the clean grain was 0.6% to 10.8%. The use of a modified combine cleaning system has the potential to be one step in a system to fractionate corn grain from stover (i.e., MOG) in a biorefinery that uses both starch and cellulose as biomass feedstocks. Keywords: Air classification, Anatomical fractionation, Cleaning shoe, Corn stover, Mechanical sieving.
Multi-depth focused laser differential interferometer based on chromatic aberration
Authors: Webber Nicholas , Constantin Rachel , Edwards Sophia , Gragston Mark
Published: January 2024

A modified version of focused laser differential interferometry (FLDI) is demonstrated with adjacent beam pairs distributed along the optical axis. This feature is accomplished using two different wavelengths of light in the interferometer and accounting for the chromatic aberration of the lenses in the optical setup. It is demonstrated that ray trace calculations can be modified to predict the focal points of each of the two different colored beams, and experiments using a tube jet and a laser-induced blast wave show the instrument still has the expected features of an FLDI as well as continued capability for velocimetry. This modification is in effort to allow FLDI to be used for the analysis of three-dimensional flows, especially if combined with other multi-point variations and targeting high-frequency flow content.
Availability estimation of optical network links using a Bayesian model
Authors: Christou Filippos
Published: January 2024

Common daily activities rely on information exchange and processing. Optical fiber links are the predominant way for transmitting vast amounts of data, thus enabling processing in remote data centers. As critical use cases like autonomous driving and biomedical procedures start relying on such infrastructure, the system’s availability becomes even more relevant. Assessing the availability of an optical link is a well-known problem, but inconclusive nonetheless. Finding the true link availability requires a perfect understanding of the complete underlying system, which is impossible to capture to such an extent. Hence, different approaches or models arise as we focus on approximating the true value. Here, we develop a hierarchical Bayesian model and compare it to various baselines. We show that the estimation methods present different behavior for separate scenarios. Moreover, a use case is investigated where services with varying availability requirements must be deployed. Using a Bayesian model to estimate the link availabilities produces, on average, the best accuracy among the considered baselines and provides worthy uncertainty estimations. Such estimations increase the network operator’s trust and allow more decision-making flexibility.
Analytical fields of ultrashort radially polarized laser beams with spatial chirp
Authors: Jolly Spencer W. , Porras Miguel A.
Published: January 2024

We find the analytical electromagnetic fields, both paraxial and with non-paraxial corrections, of an ultrashort radially polarized pulse-beam that has spatial chirp. This represents a powerful description of light that has a combination of both vector polarization and space-time structure, and it results in a novel evolution of the fields. The non-paraxial corrections allow for the application of the field solutions to tightly focused scenarios, whereby we can validate our solution via charged particle trajectories under the influence of such a pulse with high field strength.
On the validity of two-flux and four-flux models for light scattering in translucent layers: angular distribution of internally reflected light at the interfaces
Authors: Gautheron Arthur , Clerc Raphaël , Duveiller Vincent , Simonot Lionel , Montcel Bruno , Hébert Mathieu
Published: January 2024

Optical characterization and appearance prediction of translucent materials are required in many fields of engineering such as computer graphics, dental restorations or 3D printing technologies. In the case of strongly scattering materials, flux transfer models like the Kubelka-Munk model (2-flux) or the Maheu’s 4-flux model have been successfully used to this aim for decades. However, they lead to inaccurate prediction of the color variations of translucent objects of different thicknesses. Indeed, as they rely on the assumption of lambertian fluxes at any depth within the material, they fail to model the internal reflectance at the interfaces, penalizing the accuracy of the optical parameter extraction. The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of translucency on light angular distribution and corresponding internal reflectances by the mean of the radiative transfer equation, which describes more rigorously the impact of scattering on light propagation. It turns out that the light angular distribution at the bordering interfaces is often far from being lambertian, and that the internal reflectance may vary significantly according to the layer’s thickness, refractive index, scattering and absorption coefficients and scattering anisotropy. This work enables to better understand the impact of scattering within a translucent layer and also invites to revisit the well-known Saunderson correction used in 2- or 4-flux models.
Arbitrary fabrication of complex lithium niobate three-dimensional microstructures for second harmonic generation enhancement
Authors: Zheng Jia-Xin , Li Hong-Yu , Tian Ke-Shuai , Yu Yan-Hao , Liu Xue-Qing , Chen Qi-Dai
Published: January 2024

Lithium niobate (LN) crystal plays important roles in future integrated photonics, but it is still a great challenge to efficiently fabricate three-dimensional micro-/nanostructures on it. Here, a femtosecond laser direct writing-assisted liquid back-etching technology (FsLDW-LBE) is proposed to achieve the three-dimensional (3D) microfabrication of lithium niobate (LN) with high surface quality (Ra = 0.422 nm). Various 3D structures, such as snowflakes, graphic arrays, criss-cross arrays, and helix arrays, have been successfully fabricated on the surface of LN crystals. As an example, a microcone array was fabricated on LN crystals, which showed a strong second harmonic signal enhancement with up to 12 times bigger than the flat lithium niobate. The results indicate that the method provides a new approach for the microfabrication of lithium niobate crystals for nonlinear optics.
Transcription factor interactions explain the context-dependent activity of CRX binding sites
Authors: Loell Kaiser J. , Friedman Ryan Z. , Myers Connie A. , Corbo Joseph C. , Cohen Barak A. , White Michael A.
Published: January 2024

The effects of transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) on the activity of a cis-regulatory element (CRE) depend on the local sequence context. In rod photoreceptors, binding sites for the transcription factor (TF) Cone-rod homeobox (CRX) occur in both enhancers and silencers, but the sequence context that determines whether CRX binding sites contribute to activation or repression of transcription is not understood. To investigate the context-dependent activity of CRX sites, we fit neural network-based models to the activities of synthetic CREs composed of photoreceptor TFBSs. The models revealed that CRX binding sites consistently make positive, independent contributions to CRE activity, while negative homotypic interactions between sites cause CREs composed of multiple CRX sites to function as silencers. The effects of negative homotypic interactions can be overcome by the presence of other TFBSs that either interact cooperatively with CRX sites or make independent positive contributions to activity. The context-dependent activity of CRX sites is thus determined by the balance between positive heterotypic interactions, independent contributions of TFBSs, and negative homotypic interactions. Our findings explain observed patterns of activity among genomic CRX-bound enhancers and silencers, and suggest that enhancers may require diverse TFBSs to overcome negative homotypic interactions between TFBSs.
Gene expression bias between the subgenomes of allopolyploid hybrids is an emergent property of the kinetics of expression
Authors: An Hong , Pires J. Chris , Conant Gavin C.
Published: January 2024

Hybridization coupled to polyploidy, or allopolyploidy, has dramatically shaped the evolution of flowering plants, teleost fishes, and other lineages. Studies of recently formed allopolyploid plants have shown that the two subgenomes that merged to form that new allopolyploid do not generally express their genes equally. Instead, one of the two subgenomes expresses its paralogs more highly on average. Meanwhile, older allopolyploidy events tend to show biases in duplicate losses, with one of the two subgenomes retaining more genes than the other. Since reduced expression is a pathway to duplicate loss, understanding the origins of expression biases may help explain the origins of biased losses. Because we expect gene expression levels to experience stabilizing selection, our conceptual frameworks for how allopolyploid organisms form tend to assume that the new allopolyploid will show balanced expression between its subgenomes. It is then necessary to invoke phenomena such as differences in the suppression of repetitive elements to explain the observed expression imbalances. Here we show that, even for phenotypically identical diploid progenitors, the inherent kinetics of gene expression give rise to biases between the expression levels of the progenitor genes in the hybrid. Some of these biases are expected to be gene-specific and not give rise to global differences in progenitor gene expression. However, particularly in the case of allopolyploids formed from progenitors with different genome sizes, global expression biases favoring one subgenome are expected immediately on formation. Hence, expression biases are arguably the expectation upon allopolyploid formation rather than a phenomenon needing explanation. In the future, a deeper understanding of the kinetics of allopolyploidy may allow us to better understand both biases in duplicate losses and hybrid vigor.
Phosphoregulation of the yeast Pma1 H+-ATPase autoinhibitory domain involves the Ptk1/2 kinases and the Glc7 PP1 phosphatase and is under TORC1 control
Authors: Guarini Nadia , Saliba Elie , André Bruno
Published: January 2024

Plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPases of the P-type family are highly conserved in yeast, other fungi, and plants. Their main role is to establish an H+ gradient driving active transport of small ions and metabolites across the PM and providing the main component of the PM potential. Furthermore, in both yeast and plant cells, conditions have been described under which active H+-ATPases promote activation of TORC1, the rapamycin-sensitive kinase complex controlling cell growth. Fungal and plant PM H+-ATPases are self-inhibited by their respective cytosolic carboxyterminal tails unless this domain is phosphorylated at specific residues. In the yeast H+-ATPase Pma1, neutralization of this autoinhibitory domain depends mostly on phosphorylation of the adjacent Ser911 and Thr912 residues, but the kinase(s) and phosphatase(s) controlling this tandem phosphorylation remain unknown. In this study, we show that S911-T912 phosphorylation in Pma1 is mediated by the largely redundant Ptk1 and Ptk2 kinase paralogs. Dephosphorylation of S911-T912, as occurs under glucose starvation, is dependent on the Glc7 PP1 phosphatase. Furthermore, proper S911-T912 phosphorylation in Pma1 is required for optimal TORC1 activation upon H+ influx coupled amino-acid uptake. We finally show that TORC1 controls S911-T912 phosphorylation in a manner suggesting that activated TORC1 promotes feedback inhibition of Pma1. Our results shed important new light on phosphoregulation of the yeast Pma1 H+-ATPase and on its interconnections with TORC1.
Children’s cognitive impairment associated with cassava cyanide in Democratic Republic of the Congo: Burden of disease
Authors: Chen Chen , Wu Felicia
Published: January 2024

Worldwide, tens of millions of children rely on cassava as a dietary staple throughout their formative years of brain and behavioral development. Recently, it was discovered that cassava cyanide can impair children’s neurocognitive development at relatively low exposures. We revisited the World Health Organization’s foodborne disease burden estimate of cassava cyanide, focusing on the new health endpoint of children’s cognitive impairment in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The loss of Intelligence Quotient (IQ) scores was used to measure the endpoint of cognitive impairment caused by cassava cyanide exposure, which was estimated based on the concentration-effect relationship between children’s IQ scores and cyanide concentrations in flour. We estimated the burden of intellectual disability (ID) associated with cassava cyanide exposure in terms of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The median content of cyanide in cassava samples collected from DRC was 12.5 mg/kg, causing a median decrement to children’s IQ of 2.37 points. The estimated number of children with ID associated with cassava cyanide exposure was 1,643 cases, although 1,567 of these cases (95%) were mild ID. The burden of cognitive impairment attributable to cassava cyanide in DRC alone was 13,862 DALYs per 100,000 children, or 3.01 million for all children under age 5. The results of the study, showing a significant burden of cassava cyanide-related cognitive impairment in children even at relatively low doses, can contribute to the implementation of cost-effective interventions to make cassava consumption safer for children in high-risk rural areas of DRC.
Green credit policy and corporate excess cash holdings
Authors: Ning Jinhui , Wang Guiping , Xiong Fengshan , Yin Shi
Published: January 2024

Green credit is changing industrial structure and corporate behavior, but little attention has been paid to the relationship between green credit and corporate cash management behavior. Based on the typical fact that the allocation of traditional bank credit funds is biased towards heavily polluting industries and the exogenous impact event of green credit policy, this paper takes A-share listed companies in China’s capital market from 2008 to 2015 as samples, and uses the DID model to investigate the impact of green credit policy on excess cash holdings of heavily polluting enterprises. The findings indicate that the green credit policy has reduced the excessive cash holdings of heavily polluting enterprises, suggesting that it can correct the issue and align their cash holdings with the requirements of normal production and operations. The mechanism test demonstrates that the green credit policy can alleviate agency conflicts and influence enterprise cash holdings. Moreover, a cross-sectional investigation reveals that the inhibitory effect of the green credit policy on cash holdings is more pronounced in large-scale and state-owned enterprises compared to small-scale and non-state-owned enterprises. Finally, an analysis of the economic consequences reveals that the green credit policy indirectly enhances corporate value by reducing excessive cash holdings. Based on this, banks and financial institutions continue to treat the credit granting of heavily polluting enterprises cautiously, optimize the structure of green financial products, fully consider the different types and nature of customers, and develop differentiated lending conditions and diversified evaluation mechanisms. This paper has enriched the research on the economic consequences of green credit and the influencing factors of corporate cash holdings, and provided policy enlightenment for regulators and listed companies to correctly understand and make full use of green credit policies to keep corporate cash stable through the crisis.
Geometric Deep Learning sub-network extraction for Maximum Clique Enumeration
Authors: Carchiolo Vincenza , Grassia Marco , Malgeri Michele , Mangioni Giuseppe
Published: January 2024

The paper presents an algorithm to approach the problem of Maximum Clique Enumeration, a well known NP-hard problem that have several real world applications. The proposed solution, called LGP-MCE, exploits Geometric Deep Learning, a Machine Learning technique on graphs, to filter out nodes that do not belong to maximum cliques and then applies an exact algorithm to the pruned network. To assess the LGP-MCE, we conducted multiple experiments using a substantial dataset of real-world networks, varying in size, density, and other characteristics. We show that LGP-MCE is able to drastically reduce the running time, while retaining all the maximum cliques.
Morphological and ultrastructural investigation of the posterior atlanto-occipital membrane: Comparing children with Chiari malformation type I and controls
Authors: Ravindra Vijay M. , Robinson Lorraina , Jensen Hailey , Kurudza Elena , Joyce Evan , Ludwick Allison , Telford Russell , Youssef Osama , Ryan Justin , Bollo Robert J. , Iyer Rajiv R. , Kestle John R. W. , Cheshier Samuel H. , Ikeda Daniel S. , Mao Qinwen , Brockmeyer Douglas L.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The fibrous posterior atlanto-occipital membrane (PAOM) at the craniocervical junction is typically removed during decompression surgery for Chiari malformation type I (CM-I); however, its importance and ultrastructural architecture have not been investigated in children. We hypothesized that there are structural differences in the PAOM of patients with CM-I and those without.

Methods

In this prospective study, blinded pathological analysis was performed on PAOM specimens from children who had surgery for CM-I and children who had surgery for posterior fossa tumors (controls). Clinical and radiographic data were collected. Statistical analysis included comparisons between the CM-I and control cohorts and correlations with imaging measures.

Results

A total of 35 children (mean age at surgery 10.7 years; 94.3% white) with viable specimens for evaluation were enrolled: 24 with CM-I and 11 controls. There were no statistical demographic differences between the two cohorts. Four children had a family history of CM-I and five had a syndromic condition. The cohorts had similar measurements of tonsillar descent, syringomyelia, basion to C2, and condylar-to-C2 vertical axis (all p>0.05). The clival-axial angle was lower in patients with CM-I (138.1 vs. 149.3 degrees, p = 0.016). Morphologically, the PAOM demonstrated statistically higher proportions of disorganized architecture in patients with CM-I (75.0% vs. 36.4%, p = 0.012). There were no differences in PAOM fat, elastin, or collagen percentages overall and no differences in imaging or ultrastructural findings between male and female patients. Posterior fossa volume was lower in children with CM-I (163,234 mm3 vs. 218,305 mm3, p<0.001), a difference that persisted after normalizing for patient height (129.9 vs. 160.9, p = 0.028).

Conclusions

In patients with CM-I, the PAOM demonstrates disorganized architecture compared with that of control patients. This likely represents an anatomic adaptation in the presence of CM-I rather than a pathologic contribution.
HP promotes neutrophil inflammatory activation by regulating PFKFB2 in the glycolytic metabolism of sepsis
Authors: Chen Song , Zhang Qian , Sun Liyan , Song Wei , Zhang Tao , Song Weidong , Wan Jian
Published: January 2024

Background

Sepsis, described as an inflammatory reaction to an infection, is a very social health problem with high mortality. This study aims to explore the new mechanism in the progression of sepsis.

Methods

We downloaded the GSE69528 dataset to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) for WGCNA, in which the key module was identified and analyzed by DMNC algorithm, expression verification and ROC curve analysis to identify the hub gene. Furthermore, the hub gene was analyzed by immunoassay, and the potential mechanism of hub gene in neutrophils was investigated by in vitro experiments.

Results

The turquoise module was the key module for sepsis in WGCNA on 94 DEGs. The top 20 genes of DMNC network were verified in GSE69528 and GSE9960, and 10 significant genes were obtained for ROC analysis. Based on the ROC curves, HP was considered the hub gene in sepsis, and its expression difference in sepsis and control groups was substantially significant. Further, it was demonstrated the knockdown of HP and PFKFB3 could suppress glycolysis and inflammatory cytokine levels in dHL-60 cell treated with LPS.

Conclusion

In conclusion, HP is identified as a potential diagnostic indicator for sepsis patients, and HP promotes neutrophil inflammatory activation by regulating PFKFB2 in the glycolytic metabolism of sepsis confirmed by in vitro experiments. These will help us deepen the molecular mechanism of sepsis.
A randomised crossover trial of five cryocompression devices’ ability to reduce skin temperature of the knee
Authors: Belsey James , Reid Andrew , Paine Eloise , Faulkner James
Published: January 2024

Background

The application of cold and pressure to the knee is a common part of post-operative rehabilitation. Skin temperature should be reduced to within 10–15 °C to optimise the therapeutic benefits of cryocompression. The purpose of this study was to investigate the ability of five different cryocompression devices to reduce skin temperature to within this therapeutic range.

Materials and methods

32 healthy adult participants (mean (SD): age 26.3 (7.9) years; BMI 24.8 (2.7) kg/m2; 20 males) were recruited for this randomised crossover study. Skin temperature was measured 20 mm distal to the patella using a k-type thermocouple every five minutes during a 30-minute treatment with one of five different cryocompression devices (Physiolab S1, GameReady, Cryo/Cuff, VPulse, and a Gel Wrap). Changes in skin temperature over time were compared to baseline within and between conditions. A subjective rating of comfort was also recorded for each device.

Results

The Physiolab S1 and GameReady devices caused significantly lower skin temperatures compared to the VPulse, Gel Wrap, and Cryo/Cuff after 30 minutes (p<0.05). 87–96% reported a positive comfort rating for the Physiolab S1, VPulse, Cryo/Cuff and Gel Wrap, whereas 53% of participants reported a positive comfort rating for the GameReady.

Conclusions

Only the Physiolab S1 and GameReady devices reduced skin temperature of the knee to within the target range of 10–15 °C. The Physiolab S1 was reportedly more comfortable than the GameReady. Clinicians should be aware of the performance differences of different cryocompression devices to understand which is most likely to provide an effective dose of cold therapy to a joint.
Rapid dataset generation methods for stacked construction solid waste based on machine vision and deep learning
Authors: Ji Tianchen , Li Jiantao , Fang Huaiying , Zhang RenCheng , Yang Jianhong , Fan Lulu
Published: January 2024

The development of urbanization has brought convenience to people, but it has also brought a lot of harmful construction solid waste. The machine vision detection algorithm is the crucial technology for finely sorting solid waste, which is faster and more stable than traditional methods. However, accurate identification relies on large datasets, while the datasets from the field working conditions are scarce, and the manual annotation cost of datasets is high. To rapidly and automatically generate datasets for stacked construction waste, an acquisition and detection platform was built to automatically collect different groups of RGB-D images for instances labeling. Then, based on the distribution points generation theory and data augmentation algorithm, a rapid-generation method for synthetic construction solid waste datasets was proposed. Additionally, two automatic annotation methods for real stacked construction solid waste datasets based on semi-supervised self-training and RGB-D fusion edge detection were proposed, and datasets under real-world conditions yield better models training results. Finally, two different working conditions were designed to validate these methods. Under the simple working condition, the generated dataset achieved an F1-score of 95.98, higher than 94.81 for the manually labeled dataset. In the complicated working condition, the F1-score obtained by the rapid generation method reached 97.74. In contrast, the F1-score of the dataset obtained manually labeled was only 85.97, which demonstrates the effectiveness of proposed approaches.
Justicia ambiental y climática: visiones interdisciplinares desde los derechos humanos
Authors: Cabezas-Vicente Manuel
Published: January 2024

La incidencia del ser humano sobre el planeta tierra es de tal magnitud, que desde la sociología se ha afirmado el inicio de una nueva era: el Antropoceno. La crisis ecosocial derivada de un modelo extractivista y consumista ha degenerado en la destrucción de ecosistemas y en un cambio climático que pone en jaque a las generaciones presentes y futuras. Igualmente, sus derivados impactos ambientales, económicos y sociales han abierto una gran brecha ecológica y climática que precisa de ser reparada, pues son aquellas comunidades más expuestas por sus circunstancias geográficas y menores recursos económicos quienes sufren sus peores consecuencias, a la vez que, irónicamente, son quienes menos han contribuido históricamente a la crisis. En este contexto, las demandas de Justicia ambiental y climática se tornan más que evidentes y necesarias. De esta manera, esta obra colectiva y multidisciplinar ahondará en los conceptos de Justicia ambiental y climática desde su origen en los movimientos sociales y analizará los desiguales impactos de la crisis ecosocial. Una temática que se aborda desde el convencimiento de un preciso enfoque holístico y global, reconociendo, a su vez, la necesidad de un mayor empoderamiento de las comunidades más afectadas por sus consecuencias. A todo ello se le sumarán soluciones de adaptación, mitigación y reparación garantistas en términos de equidad y respeto de los Derechos Humanos.
Las dictaduras militares de Argentina, Brasil, Chile y Uruguay y la justicia transicional
Authors: Berdugo Gómez De La Torre Ignacio
Published: January 2024

El marco de la Guerra Fría, de la Revolución cubana y de la propia situación social y política de Argentina, Brasil, Chile y Uruguay llevó en las décadas de los sesenta y setenta del pasado siglo a que hubiera en estos países dictaduras militares, caracterizadas por una política de sistemática lesión de los derechos humanos y de eliminación física de los calificados por ellos como subversivos, y por pretender, sin éxito, una institucionalización de una distinta estructura de modelos de Estado. Tras el examen de estos puntos y analizados comparativamente, se aborda el fin de estas dictaduras y los obstáculos jurídicos, autoamnistías y amnistías, creados para evitar la depuración de responsabilidades por los delitos cometidos. En la segunda parte de este estudio se analiza la situación de justicia transicional en cada uno de los países objeto de este examen, con el denominador común de superar y derribar los obstáculos jurídicos creados por los gobiernos militares. Para poderlo llevar a cabo, abordan, siguiendo el modelo argentino, una primera e inevitable fase de “Comisiones de la verdad” para conocer la realidad y derribar la “historia oficial” y una segunda fase de enjuiciamiento de los responsables con distinto alcance en cada uno de los países estudiados. En todo el proceso de justicia transicional todavía no concluido está siempre presente la tensión entre exigencias políticas e imperativos de justicia. A destacar en esta justicia transicional la importante contribución de la Corte Interamericana de Derechos Humanos y cómo estamos ante una nueva fase en la evolución del Derecho penal internacional.
Apendicitis aguda neonatal, un desafío diagnóstico. Reporte de caso.
Authors: Torres Salinas Carlos Hugo , Lozano-Moreno Daniel Alejandro , Jesús-Terbullino Luz Noelia , Franco-Benites Magaly Marcy , Trujillo-Villa Ivette Katerine
Published: January 2024

Antecedentes: La apendicitis aguda neonatal es una entidad quirúrgica rara, por ello no es usual plantearla como posibilidad diagnóstica frente a un abdomen agudo, y al no mostrar características clínicas específicas que orienten a ello, existe un retraso en su sospecha y por ende en la oportunidad de ofrecer un tratamiento que mejore la mortalidad. Reporte de caso: En esta revisión presentamos el caso de una apendicitis aguda neonatal perforada, que presentó signos de peritonitis. Conclusiones: Dada su baja frecuencia y dificultad diagnóstica, muestra una alta mortalidad, por ello, es importante asociar diversos signos clínicos a fin de confirmar su diagnóstico precozmente, y así menguar su mortalidad.
Diagnóstico citogenético de AF en una cohorte de pacientes con características clínicas de sospecha de anemia de Fanconi
Authors: Moreno Olga , Paredes Angela , Rojas Moreno Adriana Patricia , De los Reyes Iliana , Rueda Ernesto , Medina Diego , Bernal Jaime , Prieto Juan C. , Pujol Roser , Benítez Javier , Surrallés Jordi , Suárez-Obando Fernando
Published: January 2024

Antecedentes: la Anemia de Fanconi (AF) es una enfermedad heredada, que afecta la reparación del ADN. Clínicamente es heterogénea; mayoritariamente se presentan malformaciones congénitas, aplasia medular temprana y predisposición a cáncer. El defecto genético causa hipersensibilidad a genotóxicos e inestabilidad cromosómica. Esta característica se considera el mejor marcador diagnóstico; sin embargo, llegar a él puede convertirse en un desafío. Objetivo: caracterizar pacientes con AF mediante pruebas citogenéticas en individuos con rasgos clínicos sugestivos de la enfermedad. Métodos: se analizaron 157 individuos con sospecha clínica de AF, 19 con asociación VACTERL, 15 hermanos, y 34 individuos sanos. Se realizó registro de datos clínicos, y prueba citogenética con Diepoxibutano (DEB). Resultados: se identificaron 43 afectados por AF. La relación de índices en células tratadas con DEB del grupo AF vs. No-AF fue significativamente incrementada, 6.7 veces la proporción de células aberrantes, 48 veces el número de roturas por célula, y 6.3 veces el número de roturas por célula aberrante. En AF la edad media de muestreo fue 9.2 años, la proporción de sexos M:F 1.5:1, consanguinidad en 11 casos. Los sistemas hematológico, esquelético, tegumentario, y urinario estuvieron significativamente alterados. Conclusiones: La AF se identificó en 26 % del grupo de sospecha y en 13 % de hermanos sin sospecha previa. La enfermedad hematológica fue el síntoma más recurrente presente en 93 % de los casos, y fue principalmente la primera sospecha de AF y motivo de estudio genético.
Asociación entre las características socio demográficasy clínicas de madres con sífilis gestacional y los recién nacidos con sífilis congénita, un estudio transversal analítico.
Authors: Ossa García Maria Isabel , Navarro Salgado Sara Carolina
Published: January 2024

Antecedentes: La sífilis congénita se considera un problema de salud pública debido a su impacto directo en la población. De no ser detectada, podría conllevar múltiples complicaciones.
Objetivo: Establecer la relación entre las características clínicas y sociodemográficas de las madres con sífilis gestacional y el diagnóstico de sífilis congénita a partir de la descripción de registros del Municipio de Armenia, Quindío, en el periodo de 2016-2021.
Metodología: Se realizó un estudio transversal analítico que incluyó todos los registros de la base de datos de vigilancia epidemiológica en salud pública del municipio de Armenia. Se descartaron los registros que superaban el 10 % de datos faltantes. Se estableció como variable dependiente la presencia o ausencia de sífilis congénita en recién nacidos. Se realizó un análisis bivariado para establecer la asociación de las variables independientes frente a la dependiente y, posteriormente, un análisis multivariado. Las variables cualitativas se presentan como proporciones y las cuantitativas mediante medidas de tendencia central y dispersión. El departamento del Quindío emplea la guía de práctica clínica del Ministerio de Salud del año 2014 para el diagnóstico, enfoque y tratamiento de sífilis gestacional y congénita. Para el año 2022, según lo reportado en el boletín epidemiológico de la semana 35 por el Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, el departamento del Quindío superó la incidencia nacional en casos de sífilis congénita con una tasa de incidencia de 3.3 por 1000 nacidos vivos.
Resultados: Se realizó un modelo de regresión logística binaria, encontrando que las variables ingresadas al modelo, al estar presentes en la población materna, explican la probabilidad del 28.2% de desarrollo de sífilis congénita.
Conclusiones: De acuerdo con los resultados obtenidos en este estudio, se encontró una asociación débil entre las variables sociodemográficas de las gestantes; sin embargo, las variables clínicas pueden tener asociación, como era de esperar de acuerdo con el diagnóstico.
Dextrocardia:
Authors: Pazmino Miranda Ana Maria , García Vinueza Myriam Lisseth , Martínez Alvarez Yesenia Paola
Published: January 2024

Antecedentes: La dextrocardia es una malformación embriológica que está causada porque el tubo cardiaco primitivo se dobla a la izquierda en lugar de hacerlo hacia la derecha (1). Esta patología puede ser asintomática, mientras que en otras situaciones presenta sintomatología dependiendo de los defectos cardiacos asociados, la radiografía de tórax y la ecografía cardiaca son esenciales para su diagnóstico (2).
Reporte de caso: Paciente masculino producto de segunda gesta sin controles médicos prenatales, que ingresa por síndrome de dificultad respiratoria y riesgo de sepsis por parto en domicilio. Amerita uso de oxígeno a alto flujo por neo tee por lo que se solicita radiografía toracoabdominal con hallazgo incidental de dextrocardia. A la auscultación presenta soplo cardiaco sistólico en foco aórtico grado III-IV y precordio visible. Se realiza ecocardiograma para diagnóstico de situs solitus, y dextrocardia. Cuadro clínico de paciente empeora con aumento de dificultad respiratoria score de downes 5-6 por lo que amerita ventilación mecánica invasiva, a pesar de ello presenta parada cardiorespiratoria produciéndose su deceso.
Conclusiones: Es importante efectuar un diagnóstico oportuno de dextrocardia en cualquiera de sus formas para poder tratar y prevenir las complicaciones en los pacientes y mejorar su calidad de vida y en lo posible su pronóstico.
Síndrome de interrupción del tallo hipofisario: reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura de una paciente con diagnóstico tardío.
Authors: Mendoza-Borja Karolay , Ramos-Noriega Sofía , Aguilar-Britto Ericka , Guerrero-Roa Wendy , García-Bermejo Roberto
Published: January 2024

Antecedentes: El síndrome de interrupción del tallo hipofisario (SITH) hace referencia a un defecto congénito de etiología poco clara, caracterizado por: tallo hipofisario delgado o interrumpido, lóbulo hipofisiario posterior ausente o ectópico y lóbulo anterior hipoplásico o aplásico. Su presentación clínica se relaciona con los grados variables de deficiencias hormonales hipofisiarias (pan-hipopituitarismo), destacando el déficit  de hormona de crecimiento, hipotiroidismo e hipo-cortisolismo por déficit de hormona adreno-corticotropa. Algunos casos se diagnostican tardíamente.

Reporte de caso: Paciente femenina que presentó en su nacimiento cuadros de hipoglucemia recurrente e ictericia neonatal, acompañado de crisis neonatales,  con  diagnóstico tardío  de SITH, realizado  a los 4 años de vida. Los exámenes hormonales reportaron hipo-cortisolemia, déficit de hormona de crecimiento e hipotiroidismo central; y la resonancia magnética de hipófisis informó hipoplasia hipofisiaria, neurohipófisis ectópica y tallo hipofisiario interrumpido. Recibe suplencia hormonal con somatropina humana, levotiroxina e hidrocortisona, con buena respuesta clínica luego del diagnóstico e inicio de tratamiento.

Conclusión: El diagnóstico temprano del SITH puede evitar a largo plazo problemas principalmente relacionados al metabolismo, estrés, crecimiento y desarrollo. La realización de una  imagen por resonancia magnética de hipófisis, es la clave para la realización del diagnóstico.