bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interactive effects of selected pharmaceutical products (metronidazole, diclofenac, ibuprofen) and differently functionalized nanoplastics on marine algae Chlorella sp.
Authors: Rex Camil , Poddar Bikram , Das Soupam , Mukherjee Amitava
Published: January 2024

Pharmaceutical products (PPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are two prevalent emerging contaminants that have garnered extensive environmental focus. The present study aimed to investigate both pristine and combined toxicity of PPs (metronidazole, diclofenac, and ibuprofen) and polystyrene NPs (with NH2 and COOH surface functionalization). Our findings suggest that Chlorella sp. experienced only a slight growth impediment when exposed to pristine PPs (1 mg/L). In contrast, PSNPs (1 mg/L) resulted in substantial growth inhibition. However, the combination of PPs and PSNPs showed a reduction in toxic effects when compared to pristine PSNPs. Additionally, independent action modeling revealed that the combination of PPs and PSNPs resulted in an antagonistic mode of interaction. Zeta potential analysis revealed the colloidal instability of PSNPs in the presence of PPs. This could have facilitated the aggregation and rapid settlement of PSNPs, consequently lessening their direct contact with the algal cells. Furthermore, ROS production significantly decreased in the combinations compared to the pristine PSNPs. This decrease in the ROS production subsequently led to a reduction in antioxidant activity and an enhancement in photosynthetic efficiency in the cells. These findings provide valuable insights into combined toxicity effects of PPs and PSNPs on primary producers like microalgae.
Waste reintroduced in the kitchen: life cycles inventories of representative waste-to-nutrition pathways
Authors: Javourez U. , Tituta-Barna L. , Hamelin L.
Published: January 2024

Waste recovery technologies targeting the formulation of edible ingredients such as insects, microorganisms, or proteins extracts, are increasingly promoted to mitigate global environmental impacts. Yet, many conversion pathways exist, and little is known about the plausibility, the implications, and the environmental relevance of deploying them: a comparative modeling approach is missing. To this end, we reviewed the available data and literature documenting these emerging biorefineries and compiled it into six harmonized life cycle inventory (LCI) models estimating the forecasted performances of 16 representative “waste-to-nutrition” pathways in function of 18 input stream characteristics and 293 technological parameters. Illustrated on eleven case studies, the results quantify the untapped potential of transforming waste into novel food and feed and unravel the intrinsic trade-offs between their energy intensity, their yield and the biochemical composition of input streams. We show that several scenarios are possible to achieve France’s protein feed autonomy by scaling and combining different waste-to-nutrition pathways, but that each scenario would lead to different consequences on energy systems and on bioresources’ mobilization requirements. As provided, the LCI models capture the implications associated with these waste recovery technologies and are ready to support their prospective life cycle assessment.
Taxonomic significance of pollen ornamentation in the Hymenaea clade (Leguminosae, Detarioideae)
Authors: De Moura Tania Maria Maria de , LEWIS GWILYM P. , TACHEVSKI ANA P. , PINTO RAFAEL B. , BOGLER DAVID , de Jesus João Pedro Marinho , Cardoso Domingos
Published: January 2024

Detarioideae is one of the most florally diverse legume lineages, in which the 84 genera and ca. 760 species variously interact with pollinating bees, bats, and birds. However, pollen ornamentation has not been extensively studied in the subfamily. Here we focus on describing the morphological variation of pollen ornamentation in the Hymenaea clade, a small lineage comprised of ca. 65 species in the florally heterogeneous genera Guibourtia, Hymenaea, and Peltogyne. We analyzed pollen grains of 32 taxa using scanning electron microscopy to characterize and illustrate their exine ornamentation. We show that pollen traits have high taxonomic significance within the Hymenaea clade. We hypothesize that highly specialized interactions with pollinating organisms might have shaped not just distinct floral architectures within the Hymenaea clade but also its highly variable pollen ornamentation.
Functions of violaxanthin de­epoxidase-related (VDR) in the photoprotective response to high-light stress
Authors: Wei Jingwei , Huang Hongyu , Zhang Shi , Zhang Jing , Sun Weike , Huang Yichao , Ma Si , Shah Syed Aizaz Ali , Tian Yongqiang , Zhang Zhenxian , Gao Lihong , Li Xin
Published: January 2024

The xanthophyll cycle is crucial for protecting plants and algae from photodamage. While the resistance of the violaxanthin de-epoxidase enzyme (VDE) to high-light stress in the xanthophyll cycle has been extensively studied, there is limited knowledge about VDE-related (VDR) proteins, which share a close homologous relationship with VDEs. In this study, we conducted a preliminary investigation of VDR protein from the aspects of basic bioinformatics, spatiotemporal gene expression patterns, and strong light stress treatment. Through subcellular localization experiments, we observed that the CsVDR-GFP protein was predominantly located in chloroplasts. CsVDR was expressed in all tissues of Arabidopsis and cucumber, with the highest expression level observed in mature leaves cultivated for 20 days in cucumber. Interestingly, both CsVDR and AtVDR were identified as high-light response genes. However, when subjected to high-light stress, all CRISPR/Cas9 mediated gene-edited Arabidopsis mutants (Atvdr) exhibited a decreasing trend in the de-epoxidation ratio of (A+Z)/(A+Z+V) and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) compared to the wild-type (WT) lines. This suggests that the xanthophyll cycle in Atvdr was less effective and more susceptible to photoinhibition of PSII under high-light stress. Our findings provide evidence that VDR proteins play a role in regulating the high-light response in plants, thereby offering a theoretical basis for further investigation into plant photoprotective pathways.
A novel approach to architecting microchannel in pressure sensor for real-time wearable gait monitoring system
Authors: Ahn Jung , Yoo Byungseok , Bejjanki Naga Sai , Pines Darryll J , Kim Soaram
Published: January 2024

A highly sensitive and reliable pressure sensor has been successfully fabricated by employing eutectic gallium indium (EGaIn) liquid metal as the sensing material and EcoFlex 00–30 silicone as the substrate material via a low-cost fabrication process. The combination of durable mechanical properties in substrate and sensing material contributes to the sensor's superior stretchability and flexibility, resulting in an enhanced sensitivity (6556 kPa− 1) and an reliable detecting range of over 1 MPa. The design of a microchannel with two independent sensing channels in a single device adds novelty to the sensor's architecture. The sensor not only detects applied pressure accurately but also distinguishes pressure distribution across a wide area. By leveraging these features, the sensor proves high efficiency in monitoring human walking gait at various speeds with a single sensor attached to the foot, differentiating between proper walking postures and indicating strong potential for clinical and rehabilitation applications in gait analysis.
Region-specific variation in the electrophysiological responses of Spodoptera frugiperda to synthetic sex pheromone compounds
Authors: Akinbuluma Mobolade D. , Schaijk Renée , Roessingh Peter , Groot Astrid T.
Published: January 2024

The fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), is a global pest that feeds on > 350 plant species and causes major yield loses. Variation in the responses of S. frugiperda males to female sex pheromone compounds affects the detection, monitoring and management of the pest. We determined geographic variation in the responses of S. frugiperda males to four different doses of synthetic sex pheromone compounds using a gas chromatography-electroantennogram detector (GC-EAD). Furthermore, we disentangled regional populations into C- and R- mitotypes via molecular analysis of the cytochrome oxidase I gene, and measured their responses to the compounds. When comparing responses of males from Florida, Benin, Nigeria and Kenya, we found some regional differences in the responses of S. frugiperda males to the major compound, Z9-14:OAc and minor component Z9-12:OAc. However, we found no differences in male responses from the different African countries. All males showed significantly higher antennal responses to Z7-12:OAc than to E7-12:OAc. When comparing the mitotypes, we found that Florida R-type males showed higher responses to Z9-14:OAc, Z7-12:OAc and Z9-12:OAc than Benin R-type males, while C-type males from both regions responded equally to Z7-12:OAc. In addition, Florida R-type males showed higher responses to E7-12:OAc than Florida C-type males. Our study thus shows some differential physiological responses of Spodoptera frugiperda males towards the known sex pheromone compounds, including E7-12:OAc, but mostly in the different mitotypes. How these differences translate to field trap catches remains to be determined.
possible scalable solution for Early detection of prodromal phase of dementia based on EEG complexity
Authors: Cukic Milena , Anneheim Simon , Eggenberger Patrick , Rossi Renè Michel
Published: January 2024

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is recognized as a predementia stage and important risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). The electroencephaloram (EEG) signal reflects activity of the brain cortex cells, which is very complex, as well as brain structure and organization. Contrary to the classical (standard) Fourier-based analysis that presumes the signals' stationarity, the fractal and nonlinear analysis might be a better suited for EEG analysis allowing to early detect changes in such a complex dynamical system as the brain. The application of complex systems dynamics theory in physiology (physiological complexity) is connected to the stereotypy of disease. Certain levels of decomplexification are confirmed in healthy human ageing, but the levels of complexity characteristic for disease are distinct and can serve as a marker. In early detection of dementia risk nonlinear measures extracted from EEG as a proxy of the brain as a complex system are promising as accessible, accurate and potentially clinically useful biomarkers of dementia. Together with the use of wearables for health, this approach to early detection can be done out of the clinical setting improving the chances of increasing the quality of life in seniors.
Introduction and Testing of a Cost-Effective GNSS System for Landslide Monitoring
Authors: Garcia Ingrid Arantxa Berru , Pulisci Renato Macciotta , Rodriguez Jorge , Grapel Chris , Skirrow Roger , Tappenden Kristen
Published: January 2024

The use of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) in combination with real-time kinematic (RTK) technique, commonly known as differential GNSS (dGNSS), has increased in recent years for monitoring landslide displacements and detecting early signs of potential failure, enabling earlier response for risk mitigation than traditional monitoring techniques. GNSS offers several advantages, including high accuracy and high-frequency data collection. Although more cost-effective, their affordability may still present challenges for public organizations managing multiple landslides in their territory. The SparkFun is a suite of components for GNSS assembly designed for topographic surveying, offering the benefits of dGNSS technology while being more affordable than other market options. It also avoids relying on phone signals for data storage in a cloud server. The SparkFun system, its components, and how it can be assembled to create a dGNSS system for landslide monitoring are described in this paper. The deployment and testing of a SparkFun system at the Chin Coulee landslide in Alberta, including challenges faced during the 6-month period, are described. The results are compared with those from a commercially available dGNSS system (Ophelia Geocube) developed for landslide monitoring in the area. Preliminary findings show that the SparkFun system demonstrates horizontal accuracy consistent with the manufacturer's specifications and exhibits displacement trends comparable to the 2018 Geocube monitoring campaign. The robustness of the power supply system and environmental insulation of the equipment needs to be enhanced for future deployments. The SparkFun assembly is shared in this paper, for others to test and deploy their own prototypes.
Prevalence and correlates of hyperbilirubinemia in Atazanavir boosted with Ritonavir (ATV/r) recipients PLHIV: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Farrokhi Hamidreza , Shahmohamadi Elnaz , Pashaei Zahra , Koochak Hamid Emadi , Parikhani Sahar Nooralioghli , Amrollah Masoumeh Fathi , Dadras Omid , Manshadi SeyedAli Dehghan , SeyedAlinaghi SeyedAhmad , Hackett Daniel
Published: January 2024

Background
Following rapid advances in antiretroviral therapy (ART), long-term treatment with simple and tolerable regimens has been provided. Protease Inhibitors are important drugs in the ART regimen for the treatment of HIV, with one of the recommended treatments in this class being Atazanavir boosted with Ritonavir (ATV/r). However, hyperbilirubinemia has been reported as an adverse effect of this treatment. Considering the importance and necessity of ART treatment in people living with HIV (PLHIV), this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of hyperbilirubinemia in PLHIV who received ATV/r as an HIV treatment regimen.
Methods
This cross-sectional study retrospectively examined clinical records of PLHIV in Tehran, Iran, who were receiving Atazanavir/Ritonavir treatment at the Consulting Clinic of Behavioral Disorders of Imam Khomeini Hospital between 2014 and 2020. The records for 121 PLHIV patients were reviewed and relevant data were extracted. Relevant variables included bilirubin tests aligned with drug intake dates, liver enzymes, CD4 count, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C serology, as well as demographic information and treatment history. Atazanavir/Ritonavir was administered as a second-line treatment in Iran during the study period. The normality of data distribution was assessed by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test. For normal distributed variables, parametric tests were employed while for non-normal distributed variables, non-parametric tests such as Chi-square were used.
Results
The majority of study participants were male, with 39.7% testing positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies. Hyperbilirubinemia was present in over 85% of the patients, with more than half exhibiting a grade III or higher of indirect hyperbilirubinemia. The prevalence and severity of hyperbilirubinemia were higher when ATV/r was combined with Co-biovir as compared to Truvada. There was no significant difference in hyperbilirubinemia risk between sexes or HCV-Ab positive and negative patients. However, a significant correlation was noted between levels of indirect bilirubin and CD4 cell counts.
Conclusions
The prevalence and severity of hyperbilirubinemia appear to be associated with CD4 count in PLHIV, while there was no apparent association with gender or age. The choice of drug combined with ATV/r may also influence the occurrence and intensity of hyperbilirubinemia in this clinical population.
RETRACTED: Study of Aerodynamic Performance Using Co Flow Jet Method
Authors: Anish J. , Herbert G. M. Joselin , Balaji K.
Published: January 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Assessing rainfall and extreme weather variability for climate resilient agricultural production systems in Nigeria
Authors: Olayide Olawale Emmanuel , Alabi T.R. , Oyedepo John , Okechukwu Richardson
Published: January 2024

Nigeria's food production heavily relies on smallholder rainfed agriculture. Unfortunately, this sector is highly vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change, such as floods and droughts. It is crucial to examine the frequency, intensity, and magnitude of these events and develop effective mitigation and adaptation strategies to ensure the resilience of Nigeria's agricultural system. This study analyses rainfall variability in Nigeria's agroecological zones (AEZs) over the past sixty years. The research evaluates annual, quarterly, and seasonal rainfall patterns and uses the Standardised Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) to examine drought and flood frequency and intensity. The study's findings reveal that the period from 1981 to 1990 experienced the weakest rainfall patterns across all AEZs, while the best occurred from 1961 to 1970. The humid forest zone consistently received the highest rainfall, although with a declining trend over the decades. Conversely, the Arid/Sahel and Semi-arid zones exhibited the lowest with a slight upward trend in precipitation, while others experienced a reduction. Spatial analysis of drought patterns also reveals that most of the AEZs face high drought risks, with over 65% of the country experiencing a considerable increase in drought in the last three decades. The rainfall pattern was less erratic in zones of lower latitudes than in the higher altitudes. Heavy rainfall events exceeding 10 mm and 20 mm revealed a decreasing trend from the Arid to the Humid Forest zone. Extreme weather events have significant economic consequences. Policymakers and stakeholders must take action to ensure climate resilient and sustainable agricultural production systems.
Causal Influence of Plasma Metabolites on Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Mendelian Randomization Study.
Authors: wang tao , huang chun , li jinshuai , wu Xiangjian , fu Xiaoyan , Hu Yimin , Wu Geping , Yang Chunfeng , Li minfang , chen sheng
Published: January 2024

Background
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a prevalent eye condition in the elderly, profoundly affecting their quality of life. Despite its multifactorial nature, the precise mechanisms underlying AMD remain elusive. The potential role of metabolites as biomarkers has become a focal point of recent research. Utilizing Mendelian randomization analysis, this study aims to decipher the complex metabolic mechanisms associated with AMD, laying the groundwork for novel diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
Methods
Employing Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis, this study leveraged single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) significantly associated with plasma metabolites as instrumental variables (IVs). This approach established a causal link between metabolites and AMD. Analytical methods such as Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW), MR-Egger, and Weighted Median were applied to validate causality. MR-PRESSO was utilized for outlier detection and correction, and Cochran's Q test was conducted to assess heterogeneity. To delve deeper into the metabolic characteristics of AMD, metabolic enrichment analysis was performed using Metabo Analyst 5.0. These combined methods provided a robust framework for elucidating the metabolic underpinnings of AMD.
Results
The two-sample MR analysis, after meticulous screening, identified causal relationships between 88 metabolites and AMD. Of these, 16 metabolites showed a significant causal association. Following FDR correction, three metabolites remained significantly associated, with Androstenediol (3beta,17beta) disulfate (2) exhibiting the most potent protective effect against AMD. Further exploration using Metabo Analyst 5.0 highlighted four metabolic pathways potentially implicated in AMD pathogenesis.
Conclusion
This pioneering MR study has unravelled the causal connections between plasma metabolites and AMD. It identified several metabolites with a causal impact on AMD, with three maintaining significance after FDR correction. These insights offer robust causal evidence for future clinical applications and underscore the potential of these metabolites as clinical biomarkers in AMD screening, treatment, and prevention strategies.
Relationship between weight-adjusted waist circumference index and psoriasis - based on data from NHANES2009-2014
Authors: Fu Yi , Chai Shufang , Peng Xinxin , Zhang Zhixiang , Zhang Ying , Li Junqin , Li Xinhua
Published: January 2024

Objective This study aims to investigate the potential relationships between a novel obesity indicator,the weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI),and psoriasis.Methods A cross-sectional design was used in this study,featuring both psoriasis and non-psoriasis subjects with complete WWI data,sourced from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 2009 to 2014.To determine the relationship between the WWI and psoriasis,both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models,which were appropriately weighted,were used in the analysis.The linearity of the relationships was validated using smooth curve fitting. Additionally,subgroup evaluations and interaction assessments were conducted.Results The study sample comprised 15031 subjects, yielding a psoriasis prevalence of 2.76%.WWI was positively related to psoriasis according to the full adjustment [odds ratio (OR) = 1.53,95% confidence interval (95%CI) = 1.02,2.26,P = 0.036].After converting the WWI to a categorical variable by quartiles (Q1-Q4),compared to Q1 the highest WWI quartile was linked to an obviously increased likelihood of psoriasis(OR = 2.62,95%CI = 1.17,5.590, P = 0.0109).Conclusion This study provides evidence that an elevated WWI is correlated with an increased risk of psoriasis in the adult population of the U.S. These results suggest that the WWI may serve as a viable anthropometric indicator for predicting psoriasis.
Overriding Plate Mantle Delamination Controls the Uplift of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Xie Yuan , Balázs Attila , Gerya Taras , Xiong Xiong
Published: January 2024

The Tibetan Plateau stands as one of the most remarkable and complex topographic features in the world, with its geodynamic origin remaining a highly debated topic. In particular, the challenge lies in how the successive growth of the plateau inferred from paleo-altitude studies is connected to documented spatio-temporally variable magmatic activity as well as to lithospheric mantle removal processes proposed on the basis of the characteristic mantle seismic velocity anomalies under the orogen. Several conflicting geodynamic models have been proposed for this region, but none of them were capable of explaining all these first-order topographic, magmatic and seismic features self-consistently. Here, we propose and test numerically a new evolutionary model of overriding plate delamination and related mantle and crustal melting and uplift events, aiming to reconcile all three main features of the Tibetan Plateau. By comparing the numerical modelling predictions with the observations, we show that the overriding plate delamination model is consistent with the successive northward surface uplift to more than 4 km high. Furthermore, it explains the observed northward migration of magmatism and the observed lithosphere-asthenosphere geometry with the subducting Indian Plate and the delaminating Eurasian mantle lithosphere beneath the area, as imaged by seismic tomography.
Generative AI-enabled Knowledge Base Fine-tuning: Enhancing Feature Engineering for Customer Churn
Authors: Shahabikargar Maryam , Beheshti Amin , Mansoor Wathiq , Zhang Xuyun , Foo Jin , Jolfaei Alireza , Hanif Ambreen , Shabani Nasrin
Published: January 2024

Customers are the most critical component in a business’s success regardless of the industry or product. Companies make significant efforts to acquire and, more importantly, retain their existing customers. Customer churn is a significant challenge for businesses, leading to financial losses. To address this challenge, understanding customer’s cognitive status, behaviors, and early signs of churn is crucial. However, predictive and ML-based analysis, being fed with proper features that are indicative of a customer’s cognitive status or behavior, is extremely helpful in addressing this challenge. Having practical ML-based analysis relies on a well-developed feature engineering process. Previous churn analytical studies mainly applied feature engineering approaches that leveraged demographic, product usage, and revenue features alone, and there is a lack of research on leveraging the information-rich content from interactions between customers and companies. Considering the effectiveness of applying domain knowledge and human expertise in feature engineering, and motivated by our previous work, we propose a Customer Churn-related Knowledge Base (ChurnKB) to enhance the feature engineering process. In the ChurnKB, we leverage textual data mining techniques for extracting churn-related features from texts created by customers, e.g., emails or chat logs with company agents, reviews on the company’s website, and feedback on social media. We use Generative AI (GAI) to enhance and enrich the structure of the ChurnKB regarding features related to customer churn-related cognitive status, feelings, and behaviors. We also leveraged feedback loops and crowdsourcing to enhance and approve the validity of the proposed ChurnKB and apply it to develop a classifier for customer churn problems.
A cohort analysis of incidence and antepartum risk factors of severe postpartum haemorrhage in anaemic pregnant women in Lagos, Nigeria
Authors: OKUNADE Kehinde S. , OYEDEJI Olufemi A. , OLOWOSELU Festus O. , ADEJIMI Adebola A. , OLOWE Atinuke , OLUMODEJI Ayokunle , ADELABU Hameed , ADEMUYIWA Iyabo Y. , OSHODI Yusuf A. , UGWU Aloy O. , ADENEKAN Muisi A. , OJO Temitope , TOKS-OMAGE Eselobu , AKINMOLA Olukayode O. , OLUWOLE Ayodeji A. , OLAMIJULO Joseph A.
Published: January 2024

Background:The magnitude and risk factors for
postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) have been extensively investigated,
although little is currently known about the incidence and
predictors of severe PPH, specifically among women affected by
prenatal anaemia in Nigeria.

Objectives: We determined the incidence and antepartum risk factors of severe PPH in anaemic pregnant women in five health institutions in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
Methods: We performed a secondary analysis of the data of pregnant women with anaemia from the "Predict-PPH" study conducted between January and June 2023. This study included n=570 pregnant women affected by anaemia who gave birth in five hospitals in the Lagos metropolis of Nigeria. The study outcome was severe PPH, defined as estimated blood loss of at least 1000 mL within 24 hours of childbirth. We utilized a backward stepwise conditional approach in a multivariable logistic regression model to highlight the independent risk factors associated with severe PPH.
Results: Of the 570 women with prenatal anaemia enrolled in the primary study, 42 (7·4%) had severe PPH. The identified independent risk factors of severe PPH were maternal obesity (adjusted odds ratio=3.85, 95% confidence interval: 1.85–8.02), antepartum haemorrhage in index pregnancy (adjusted odds ratio=2.98, 95% confidence interval: 1.29–6.90), uterine fibroids (adjusted odds ratio=6.10, 95% confidence interval: 2.39–15.52), delivery gestational age ≥39 weeks (adjusted odds ratio=2.62, 95% confidence interval: 1.23–5.56) and delivery by caesarean birth (adjusted odds ratio=16.75, 95% confidence interval: 5.81–48.31).
Conclusion: Compared to the general women population, we reported a relatively higher incidence of severe PPH in anaemic pregnant women. Maternal obesity, antepartum bleeding in the current pregnancy, co-existing uterine fibroids in pregnancy, delivery gestational age beyond 38 weeks, and caesarean birth in the current pregnancy were factors that were significantly associated with severe PPH in anaemic pregnant women. These underscore the importance of heightened vigilance during both the antenatal and peripartum periods to identify women with these risk factors for initiation of timely interventions to prevent severe PPH.
Menstrual Waste Management Practices Among Female Students in Niger Delta Development Commission Hostels in Tertiary Institutions in Niger Delta, Nigeria
Authors: IKOGHO Doris Eseoghene , ONOHARIGHO Dafe Festus
Published: January 2024

Menstrual waste management practices are all the activities that women and girls put together from the time the menstruation starts till it ceases. Managing high level of hygiene can be problematic for many women and girls especially when they are out of the comfort of their homes. The focus of this study is to examine the menstrual waste management practices among female students in hostels built by the Niger Delta Development Commission in tertiary institutions in Niger Delta region. The population for the study was made up of female students of NDDC hostels in 3 tertiary schools in the Niger Delta region. All of whom are all 100 level. With a population of 820. The sample of the study was 415 selected using simple systematic sampling technique. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.8. Permission to carry out this study was obtained from the Ethical committee and informed consent was also sought. Results show that cotton wool, regular pads, and sanitary napkins are the common materials used by female students, used pads are disposed in designated bin, buried in pit, or burnt among others. The health risks in managing menstrual waste varies, while global guidelines for menstrual waste management are; access to clean water supply,use of designated bin but no promotion of awareness to dispel myths to reduce stigma.
Recommendations include health education programs to create more awareness and and collaborative efforts between students, school authorities, and government agencies to improve menstrual waste management in NDDC built hostels.
Mineral and Phytochemical Contents of Selected Insects and the Possibility of Their Inclusion in Diets for Livestock
Authors: Malematja Emmanuel , Mabelebele Monnye , Kolobe Sekobane , Sebola Nthabiseng , Manyelo Tlou
Published: January 2024

The present study aimed to quantify the mineral and phytochemical contents of three commonly consumed insect species found in southern Africa. The mineral contents were analysed using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, while the phenolic compounds were determined using liquid chromatography-electrospray ionisation quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The results obtained demonstrate that locusts recorded the highest potassium and sodium than in stinkbugs and termites, respectively. Phosphorus was recorded the highest in termites than in stinkbugs and locusts. Furthermore, stinkbugs have the highest magnesium whereas the lowest concentrations were recorded in termites and locusts. With exception for iron, copper, manganese, and zinc were recorded higher in termites than in stinkbugs and locusts. Phenolic compounds such as Rehmaglutin D, Floripavidine, Rosmarinic acid, Acerosin, and Hyacinthacine C1;(+)-Hyacinthacine C were identified in abundance in termites. Crotanecine, 7beta-Hydroxycatuabine D, Acerosin, and N-Hydroxyannomontine were detected in abundance in stinkbugs. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant differences in the phenolic compounds profile, among insect species studied. Therefore, it can be concluded that the three edible insects contain sufficient minerals and exhibit considerable amounts of phenolic compounds that make these insects a potential source of minerals and pharmacology for use in livestock diets.
Characteristics of surrounding rock damage and control technology of a facing-mining excavating roadway in north Shanxi mining area
Authors: Zhang Li-Xin , Yi Li , Gang Li , Liu Guang-Chao , Deng Ze-Hui , Mi Jia-Le
Published: January 2024

A coal mine in the northern region of Shaanxi Province, China, there is a facing-mining excavating roadway, to make the facing-mining excavating roadway to be retained for the next working face safety services. In this paper, the deformation and damage characteristics of the surrounding rock of the roadway in different periods are investigated by using FLAC 3D numerical simulation with the facing-mining excavating Roadway of this coal mine as the research background. At 20m ahead of the working face, a discontinuous plastic zone appeared in the surrounding rock of the roadway, and this phenomenon is a plastic zone jumping through due to the different hardness of the lithology. Real-time monitoring of the stability of the roadway is carried out using on-site measurement, and the roadway is affected by a large amount of mining in the 50m point of the working face in front of the roadway. Based on the numerical simulation and on-site monitoring results, the support strength was increased at 50m of the roadway over the working face, and a new support program was adopted. In the lagging section of the roadway, where the mine pressure is strongly manifested, anchor rods and anchor ropes with W steel belts are used to carry out differentiated reinforcing support, and the on-site effect is good.
Geographically isolated wetlands have higher alpha diversity than surrounding uplands in pine savanna ecosystems
Authors: Heitmann Jackson Barratt , Folk Travis H. , Lord Lisa J. , McGlinn Daniel J.
Published: January 2024

Geographically isolated wetlands are a critical habitat for many amphibian and plant species, yet it is not clear if they also support higher biodiversity of songbirds. Biodiversity monitoring is crucial to preserving imperiled species and communities of birds; however, most studies have relied only on species richness without recognizing the multi-scale and multi-component nature of biodiversity. The purpose of this study was to use the Measurement of Biodiversity (MoB) framework to examine changes in biodiversity of songbird communities in geographically isolated wetlands distributed across pine savanna ecosystems at multiple spatial scales (α, β, and γ), using metrics that account for differences in abundance and sampling effort (rarefied richness (Sn) and evenness (SPIE)). Specifically, we tested if bird biodiversity was higher in geographically isolated wetlands compared to surrounding upland savannas (α-diversity), and if the degree of species turnover (β-diversity) was different within wetlands and uplands. We conducted avian point count surveys of n = 19 wetlands and n = 6 uplands in 2021, and n = 30 wetlands and n = 6 uplands in 2022, on 2 properties with pine savanna habitats. We used direct ordination methods, and linear mixed effect models to analyze differences in bird biodiversity and community composition in geographically isolated wetlands compared to surrounding uplands. We found that wetlands had significantly higher abundance (N), species richness (S), rarefied richness (Sn) and evenness (SPIE) than uplands at the α-scale. β-diversity was low in both wetland and upland habitats, and was not significantly different between habitats, indicating very little species turnover regionally within habitat types. Geographically isolated wetlands are important repositories of bird biodiversity, and should be prioritized by land managers for their ecological value.
An Efficient Deep Learning Technique for Brain Abnormality Detection Using MRI Images
Authors: Mahajan Shilpa , Dhull Anuradha , Dahiya Aryan
Published: January 2024

This study focuses on leveraging advanced medical imaging techniques, encompassing X-rays and MRIs, to effectively detect brain anomalies, notably tumors. The conventional manual examination approach is time-intensive and often suboptimal. The study proposes a novel method employing machine learning algorithms to categorize 700 patient images as either "brain" or "non-brain" following meticulous labelling and preprocessing. The binary classification comprises "Normal" and "Abnormal" classes, with model accuracy refined through adjustments and augmented training on expanded datasets. Through comprehensive model evaluation including ANN, CNN, VGG-16, and AlexNet, the VGG-16-based model emerges with the highest accuracy at 94.4%. This research underscores the immense potential of advanced deep learning, ensuring swift and precise brain abnormality detection in medical imaging with significant clinical implications.
Effects of text modification on reading comprehension and reading motivation of Ethiopian secondary school students
Authors: Kenefergib Asefa , Amogne Dawit , Teklesellassie Yinager
Published: January 2024

This study endeavored to study the effects of text modification on secondary school students’ reading comprehension and motivation towards reading. The design of the study was quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test control experimental groups. The study followed a mixed-method approach to data gathering and data analysis. Test and, questionnaire, were used to obtain data from the participants. A Likert scale reading motivation questionnaire was given to the participants in the treatment group to know their motivation towards reading. The reading texts in the students' textbook were modified in a way that caters for the needs of the students. The experimental group was taught using modified texts while the control group was taught with baseline texts of teaching that schools practiced. The data were analyzed through one way ANOVA. The findings indicated that delivering classes through modifying the text could bring a tremendous change in their reading comprehension and motivation towards reading. Based on the overall findings, it is possible to conclude that providing modified texts could help in enhancing secondary school students’ reading comprehension and motivation towards reading.
A Compact Four Port MIMO Antenna Configuration for Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Other Wireless Applications
Authors: Mandal Sayantan , Das Swarup
Published: January 2024

In this article, a compact planar four port Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) antenna configuration with an electrical dimension of 0.44λ × 0.44λ has been presented for Ultra wideband (UWB) operation and other wireless communication services. The proposed MIMO antenna consists of four identical microstrip line fed octagonal shaped patch antenna which are placed orthogonally to each other. In order to obtain required impedance bandwidth and desired isolation between antenna elements, modifications are made on ground plane and a circular metallic stub is inserted at the center of substrate. All the identical antenna elements operate from 2.62GHz to 20GHz covering the entire frequency band allotted to UWB operation. The isolation between different antenna elements is also obtained more than 15dB for the entire frequency range of impedance bandwidth. The proposed design also exhibits suitable radiation pattern with sufficient amount of gain. Different diversity performance parameters of the proposed design are observed to be within accepted limit. The time domain performance of the proposed design is also analysed in terms of group delay which further confirms the application of the proposed design as a UWB MIMO antenna configuration.
Life Cycle Assessment of Aerogels: A Critical Review
Authors: KARA Ilkay TURHAN , KIYAK Baris , GUNES Neslihan COLAK , YUCEL Sevil
Published: January 2024

Over the past decade, aerogel sustainability has emerged as a pivotal area, revealing insights and identifying significant gaps. Exploring the sustainability dynamics of aerogel production, this study utilizes the robust methodology of Life Cycle Assessment to navigate environmental complexities. This study created a road map for sustainable aerogel production by analyzing Life Cycle Assessment studies in the literature. The outcomes of the review acknowledge the diversity in precursors, solvents, and production techniques, highlighting the urgency to bridge these disparities for a sustainable aerogel production path. The majority of studies have examined aerogel production from cradle to laboratory gate. Regarding sustainability, there are gaps in the use and end-of-life phases depending on the application areas for cradle to grave. For this purpose, functional units mutually agreed upon according to their application areas are needed. Moreover, the most significant contributors to environmental impacts are precursors, solvents, and drying techniques. These contributors are compared comprehensively in this review. Findings have emerged that aerogel productions should be examined synergistically to shed light on the debate about which technique is more environmentally friendly, especially for aerogel drying. Finally, sustainability suggestions were made by identifying gaps in the aerogel Life Cycle Assessment with comprehensive hotspots.
A novel hydrophobic butyl rubber damping composites modified with environmentally friendly bio-based PF/DBA via constructing three-dimensional network
Authors: Hu Zhenguo , Chen Zeyu , Meng Fuliang , Zhang Yimiao , Jia Yufei , Fei Hongwei , Li Songjun , Yuan Xinhua
Published: January 2024

It is of interest to develop wide-temperature domain damped hydrophobic materials. In this paper, we designed incorporating bio-based phenolic resin into the IIR matrix and introducing dibenzyl fork acetone (DBA) into the main chain structure with sodium hydroxide activation to construct three-dimensional network. The added bio-based phenolic resin has reticulated structure blended with butyl rubber, combined with sodium hydride activation-modified IIR. The results show that sodium hydride activated modification of DBA is introduced into the main chain structure of IIR by infrared and 1H NMR analysis. The material hydrophobic is realized by the introduction of DBA with static water contact angle of 103.5°. The addition of 10phr lignin-based phenolic resin (LPF) is compatible with IIR, and the torque can reach 7.0N-m. The tensile elongation of the modified butyl rubber composite can reach 2400% with tensile strength up to 11.43 MPa, while the damping factor can reach 0.37 even at 70°C. The thermal stability of the composites is enhanced with mass retention rate of 28%. The bio-based PF/NaH activation-modified butyl rubber damping material has potential applications in damping hydrophobicity with wide temperature range.
BlueMIC: Coordination for Mitigating Inter-Piconet Interference in BLE5 Networks
Authors: Khanmirza Hamed , Teymoori Peyman
Published: January 2024

The proliferation of Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) in diverse applications has led to a dense clustering of piconets in confined spaces. BLE operates within the congested 2.4GHz ISM band, shared by numerous short-range wireless protocols. Frequency hopping and Adaptive Frequency Hopping (AFH) mechanisms have been introduced in Bluetooth to reduce interference with other protocols in the same band. However, research shows these mechanisms are ineffective in reducing inter-piconet interferences. These studies have demonstrated the relationship between the number of piconets and the level of interference. In this paper, we investigate the relationship between the similarity of channel maps and the number of neighboring piconets in interference intensity. Then, we present a light and practical coordination framework to address this challenge. Our solution employs a BLE gateway to detect its surrounding piconet masters and computes a better channel map to reduce the impact of inter-piconet interferences. We also introduce the Isolated Channels (ICA) algorithm for channel allocation of neighboring piconets with controlled channel overlaps for BLE5. Simulation results show a 20 to 60% reduction of interference level in environments with high to moderate inter-piconet interferences. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first practical BLE5-compatible solution for mitigating the inter-piconet interference problem and does not require modifying the standard stack.
Artificial intelligence in university education: Systematic review
Authors: López-Regalado Oscar , Núñez-Rojas Nemecio , López-Gil Oscar Rafael , Lloclla-Gonzáles Herry , Sánchez-Rodríguez Jose
Published: January 2024

Frequent changes in university education have been structurally disrupted by the incorporation of artificial intelligence (AI), through the use of the latest tools and applications by students and teachers in the teaching-learning process. The objective of this study was to analyze and interpret the bibliometric results of biblioshiny on artificial intelligence in university education, as well as to assess its contributions in the period from 2019 to 2023. The method applied is the systematic and bibliometric review with the purpose of answering the specific research questions, by means of clear, systematic, and replicable search methods; for which a universe of 917 publications indexed in Scopus, WoS and PubMed was accessed and a sample of 59 scientific articles was selected. The results indicate that the majority of publications have been made in China, followed by Spain and the United States, and there is also little evidence of collaboration among researchers, dispersion in specific topics and isolation in small networks. In the universities, the application of artificial intelligence tools is being reported, but with the demand to educate in their correct use for the development of deep learning with the activation of higher cognitive processes in students, for which the pedagogical orientation of teachers trained in this subject is required.
Evaluation of wakefulness electroencephalogram in OSA patients
Authors: Pereira Isabel , Guerra Patrícia , Pinto Nuno , Alfaiate Daniel , Pereira Alexandre
Published: January 2024

Objective
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been associated with an elevated cardiovascular risk, increased daytime sleepiness, cognitive decline, and slower electroencephalographic activity (EEG). This study assesses EEG patterns during wakefulness in OSA patients compared to those without sleep-disordered breathing.
Material and methods
This retrospective study analyzed 30 OSA patients with an Apnea/Hypopnea Index (AHI) of 15 or higher, as well as 29 individuals without sleep-disordered breathing (AHI of 5 or lower) who underwent hospital polysomnography and met all inclusion criteria. Sociodemographic and EEG data were obtained from the sleep laboratory database. Blinded EEG analysis was conducted by two observers, assessing activity in the frontal, central, and occipital regions.
Results
No significant differences were observed in EEG activity between OSA and non-OSA patients. However, a weak correlation was found between decreased C3 EEG frequency and higher AHI (p = 0.033), as well as increased total sleep time and higher O2 EEG frequency (p = 0.038). Lower amplitudes in C3 (p = 0.043) and O1 (p = 0.031) were correlated with reduced average oxygen saturation.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that OSA-related hypoxemia may impact neuronal activity, highlighting the need to address this sleep-disordered breathing in order to potentially prevent the cognitive decline observed in OSA patients.