bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GATA1 insufficiencies in dysmegakaryopoiesis of myelodysplastic syndromes
Authors: Xiao Zhijian , Li Fuhui , Zhang Yudi , Li Chengwen , Sun Qi , Liu Jinqin , Xu Zefeng , Li Bing , Qu Shiqiang , Pan Lijuan , GAO QINGYAN , Jiao Meng , Qin Tiejun
Published: June 2024

GATA1 is one of critical transcription factors for megakaryopoiesis and platelet production. Our study aimed to explore the correlations between GATA1 expression and dysmegakaryopoiesis in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Data of blood cell counts, cytogenetics and TP53 mutation status from 90 MDS patients at diagnosis were collected. Firstly, we assessed GATA1 expression level of megakaryocytes by performing immunohistochemical staining on paraffin-embedded bone marrow biopsy sections from these patients. According to GATA1 expression level of megakaryocytes and positive megakaryocyte percentage, we assigned each patient a GATA1 score. Compared with TP53-wildtype patients, GATA1 scores significantly decreased in TP53-mutated patients (P < 0.001). Patients with abnormal karyotypes showed decreased GATA1 scores than those with normal karyotypes (P = 0.024). GATA1 expression levels were significantly downregulated in dysplastic megakaryocytes, especially micromegakaryocytes, compared with normal megakaryocytes (P < 0.001). Furthermore, we explored the correlation between GATA1 expression levels and cytogenetic abnormalities of the same megakaryocyte using the morphology antibody chromosome (MAC) technique on fresh bone marrow smears. We found that GATA1-negative megakaryocytes had higher frequencies of cytogenetic abnormalities. Our results indicated that decreased GATA1 expression level of megakaryocytes was significantly associated with TP53 mutations, abnormal karyotypes and dysmegakaryopoiesis in MDS, suggesting that downregulation of GATA1 expression levels of megakaryocytes plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of MDS.
Recyclable Lead-Free Metal-Organic Framework/Perovskite Catalyst for Efficient Click Reaction
Authors: Kahkhaie Leila Rezaie , Oveisi Ali Reza , Sanchooli Esmael , Daliran Saba , Khajeh Mostafa
Published: June 2024

This study reports the synthesis and characterization of a novel CsCu2I3@UiO-66(Ce)-NH2 hybrid material through the state-of-the-art in-situ growth of the lead-free and non-toxic CsCu2I3 perovskite within the porous UiO-66(Ce)-NH2. The composite exhibits a high surface area with the CsCu2I3 nanostructures uniformly dispersed within the UiO-66(Ce)-NH2 framework without pore blockage. The host-guest CsCu2I3@UiO-66(Ce)-NH2 was considered as an effective and stable catalyst for the one-pot three-component copper(I)-catalyzed intermolecular alkyne-azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) or click reaction. Under optimized conditions, utilizing water at room temperature, the nominal catalyst exhibited superior activity, outperforming its individual components. Remarkably, the CsCu2I3@UiO-66(Ce)-NH2 catalyst demonstrated good recyclability and reusability over several catalytic runs. Mechanistic studies unveiled a synergistic cooperation between the CsCu2I3 and MOF, leading to the enhanced catalytic performance and improved stability of the perovskite. The developed multifunctional porous solid offers potential applications in catalysis and related fields, paving the way for innovative and sustainable organic synthesis and beyond.
Bilateral asymmetry of lower limb muscle synergies during walking
Authors: Sharifi Ali , Esmaeili Hamed , Ziaei Mostafa , Bashiri Behzad
Published: June 2024

Walking is a complex motor skill involving significant interaction within the CNS and various biomechanical elements. Asymmetry is one of the most apparent characteristics of walking, which is controlled by muscle synergies. The asymmetry in muscle synergies during walking is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate limb asymmetry in synergistic control of the selected lower limb muscles during walking. The study included sixteen healthy male participants, and bilateral lower limb muscle activities were recorded during walking. Muscle synergies and relative muscle weights were extracted using non-negative matrix factorization. The results showed that for both dominant and non-dominant legs five synergies are sufficient to reconstruct the original signal. Activation patterns in the first, fourth, and fifth synergies showed high similarity, with differences in relative muscle weights observed in the first and third synergies. However, in the second synergy, the similarity of activation patterns between the legs was small with variations in specific lower limb muscles. These findings suggest that synergy structure is independent of leg dominance, but the similarities of activation patterns range from small to high between dominant and non-dominant legs.
New solitons and breather-like solutions to a (2+1)-dimensional coupled variable-coefficient Schrödinger equation in optical fibers
Authors: Wang Xingye , Gao Ben
Published: June 2024

The nonlinear Schrödinger equation is an important theoretical model for ultra-long and ultra-fast transportation. Therefore, the situation of its normal propagation and collision has significant implications for practical applications. However, current researchs mostly focus on solutions of one dimensional or two dimensional Schrödinger equations with constant coefficients. Although these solutions possess good properties, they are often too unilateral. In this paper, our research mainly focuses on solutions of a (2+1)-dimensional coupled variable-coefficient Schrödinger equation. Through a explicit transformation, the solutions of this equation in the form of one-soliton, two-soliton, three-soliton, and bright-dark-soliton-breather-like waves can be acquired by utilizing the developed Hirota bilinear method. Furthermore, we will explicate that the collisions among two-soliton, bright-dark-two-breather-like are elastic with the help of the asymptotic analysis method. At last, we will exhibit their collisions via illustrations.
Numerical Study on Post-Combustion Chamber Impact on Hybrid Rocket Performance
Authors: Dabanović Andrija , Martin Joel , May Stefan , Wartemann Viola
Published: June 2024

In chemical propulsion, propellant masses are generally the largest part of the overall weight. Hence, combustion efficiency is a key aspect of the system’s performance and small improvements within the combustion process can result in significant changes in project costs or mission longevity. To analyze detailed chemical and physical processes, direct measurements are cost-intensive and limited to lab–scale devices. Numerical investigations have therefore become a widely used tool to simulate the inner flow and combustion of propulsion systems. In hybrid rocket engines, post–combustion chambers are used to improve the mixing and combustion process. Nevertheless, these components imply additional structural mass and engine length. This study analyzes the influence of different post-combustion chamber lengths on the combustion efficiency. The simulations were performed in two–dimensional, axisymmetric domains with fuel mass flow and detailed combustion modeling. The efficiency is shown to increase linearly with increasing post–chamber length. However, it is significantly influenced by turbulator components. With these results, the qualitative influence of post– combustion chambers is analyzed, enabling optimization of engine design while ensuring sufficient combustion efficiency.
Comprehensive enhancements for machine-learning based cloud resource orchestration algorithms
Authors: Pintye István , Kovács József , Lovas Róbert
Published: June 2024

With the increasing utilisation of machine-learning algorithms, autoscaling methods have the potential to provide more sophisticated control mechanisms for the cloud application operators over virtualized resources in terms of provisioning. This paper introduces machine learning-based autoscaling approach introducing several improvements including metric selection, proactivity, various enhancements of the neural network among others. Our enhanced machine learning models enables the autoscaler algorithm to react more quickly to sudden load changes, increase proactivity while using fewer resources and reducing Quality of Service (QoS) violations for cloud-based services. The comprehensive measurements indicate that QoS violations may reduce by up to 80%, while the level of resource utilization either remains constant or decreases slightly (by 3-4%) in certain applications. In cases where there was no reduction in QoS violations, the utilization of resources saw a significant decline, falling between 20-50%. The proposed changes have been analyzed and tested under various conditions, representing 3 distinct and common use cases in cloud environments. This developed process has been implemented on the science cloud of the Hungarian Research Network supporting the operation of the infrastucture that hosts over 300 scientific projects.
Challenges in Developing Learners’ English-Speaking Skills at the Tertiary Level in the EFL Context: Teachers’ and Learners’ Perceptions
Authors: Islam Md. Syful , Roy Sukanto
Published: June 2024

The paper aims to explore the challenges teachers and learners face in developing learners’ English-speaking skills at the tertiary level in the EFL context. The study has been conducted by following a mixed-method approach. A survey has been conducted on 44 tertiary-level students to collect quantitative data and three in-person interviews have been conducted with three tertiary-level educators to collect qualitative data. The findings of the study reveal that learners’ anxiety, lack of confidence, practice, motivation, and supportive environment, fear of criticism and negative judgment, and lack of language lab are some of the vital challenges learners and teachers encounter in developing their speaking skills. In addition, the practice of only reading and writing skills-oriented exams at the secondary and higher secondary levels and giving less importance to speaking skills are also vital challenges in developing learners’ speaking skills. To develop learners' speaking skills, teachers should provide proper guidance and a supportive environment, and learners should practice speaking skills as much as possible.
A Multilingual Neural Machine Translation Model for Low Resource North Eastern Languages
Authors: Sarkar Sunita , Das Sneha , Nath Basab , Mukhopadhyay Somnath
Published: June 2024

Multilingual neural machine translation (MNMT) has emerged as a powerful approach to facilitate cross-lingual communications. However, developing MNMT systems for low resource languages in linguistically diverse regions remains a significant challenge due to scarcity of parallel data. This study introduces an innovative MNMT model designed for the linguistically diverse North-East Indian region, leveraging the transformer architecture. The proposed system employs shared encoders and language- specific decoders for English to Indic language translation while using language-specific decoders for and a shared decoder for the reverse direction. To address data scarcity, we incorporate back-translation techniques to augment the parallel corpus. Experiments on six North-East Indian languages (Assamese, Bodo, Khasi, Manipuri, Mizo and Nepali) demonstrated good results across different evaluation metrics like BLEU, ROUGE,METEOR and TER.
Long-term analysis of changes in cooling degree-days in West Africa under global warming
Authors: Dicko Kagou , Umaru Emmanuel Tanko , Sanogo Souleymane , Okhimamhe Appollonia Aimiosino , Löwner Ralf
Published: June 2024

Monitoring energy consumption in response to rising temperatures has become extremely important in all regions of the globe. In West Africa, where the climate is predominantly tropical, the energy required for cooling is a major challenge. Among the various methods for evaluating energy requirements, the degree-day method is best known for its ability to estimate the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) needs of buildings. This research used three decades of weather station data to assess the cooling degree-days (CDD) in two major West African cities, Kano and Bamako, across a range of base temperatures from 22°C to 30°C. The results indicate an increase in cooling degree days for Kano, while Bamako experienced a decrease in these parameters over the same period. Nonetheless, Bamako required a relatively higher cooling demand for all base temperatures. Furthermore, the study showed that the years 1998 and 2015 had the most significant impact on Kano and Bamako, with CDD values ranging from 2220°C-day to 218°C-day for Kano and from 2425°C-day to 276°C-day for Bamako. The study also found that a lower base temperature leads to higher energy consumption, while a higher base temperature leads to lower energy consumption. This information provides a useful reference for governments and policy-makers to achieve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
ExCS: Accelerating Code Search with Code Expansion
Authors: Huang Siwei , Cai Bo , Yu Yaoxiang , Luo Jian
Published: June 2024

Efficiently searching and reusing code from expansive codebases is pivotal for enhancing developers' productivity. In recent times, the emergence of deep learning-driven neural ranking models, characterized by their vast dimensions and intricate interaction mechanisms, has been noteworthy. Yet, these models, in real-world scenarios, pose computational challenges due to their high dimensionality. Moreover, models rooted in interaction necessitate querying every piece of code within a voluminous corpus. While these methodologies offer superior accuracy, their online retrieval process is considerably more time-consuming compared to traditional Information Retrieval (IR) techniques. Addressing this, we introduce "ExCS", an innovative code search tool designed to expedite the code search process without compromising on accuracy. ExCS innovatively employs code expansion in its offline phase, leveraging predictions on potential queries for specific codes, thereby enriching the code's semantic depth. During online retrieval, ExCS prioritizes IR-based methods to pinpoint a concise set of persuasive candidates. Our evaluations, conducted on the Java dataset from CodeSearchNet, reveal that ExCS achieves a remarkable 90% reduction in retrieval duration while maintaining an impressive 99% retrieval accuracy.
The Concussion, Exercise, and Brain Networks (ConExNet) study: A cohort study aimed at understanding the effects of sub-maximal aerobic exercise on resting state functional brain activity in pediatric concussion.
Authors: Sharma Bhanu , Koelink Eric , DeMatteo Carol , Noseworthy Michael D. , Timmons Brian W.
Published: June 2024

Background Recent scientific evidence has challenged the traditional “rest-is-best” approach for concussion management. It is now thought that “exercise-is-medicine” for concussion, owing to dozens of studies which demonstrate that sub-maximal, graded aerobic exercise can reduce symptom burden and time to symptom resolution. However, the primaryneuropathologyof concussion is altered functional brain activity. To date, no studies have examined the effects of sub-maximal aerobic exercise on resting state functional brain activity in pediatric concussion. In addition, although exercise is now more widely prescribed following concussion, its cardiopulmonary response is not yet well understood in this population. Our study has two main goals. The first is to understand whether there are exercise-induced resting state functional brain activity differences in children with concussion vs. healthy controls. The second is to profile the physiological response to exercise and understand whether it differs between groups. Methods We will perform a single-center, controlled, prospective cohort study of pediatric concussion at a large, urban children’s hospital and academic center. Children with sport-related concussion (aged 12–17 years) will be recruited within 4-weeks of injury by our clinical study team members. Key inclusion criteria include: medical clearance to exercise, no prior concussion or neurological history, and no implants that would preclude MRI. Age- and sex-matched healthy controls will be required to meet the same inclusion criteria and will be recruited through the community. The study will be performed over two visits separated by 24–48 hours. Visit 1 involves exercise testing (following the current clinical standard for concussion) and breath-by-breath gas collection using a metabolic cart. Visit 2 involves two functional MRI (fMRI) scans interspersed by 10-minutes of treadmill walking at an intensity calibrated to Visit 1 findings. To address sub-objectives, all participants will be asked to self-report symptoms daily and wear a waist-worn tri-axial accelerometer for 28-days after Visit 2. Discussion Our study will advance the growing exercise-concussion field by allowing us to understand whether exercise impacts outcomes beyond symptoms in pediatric concussion. We will also be able to profile the cardiopulmonary response to exercise, which may allow for further understanding (and eventual optimization) of the role of exercise in concussion management. Trial registration: Not applicable.
The causal relationship between extensive perivascular space burden and ischemic stroke and its subtypes and transient ischemic attack: A Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Chu Xuehong , Shen Yingjie , Wang Yaolou , Dong Xiao , Liu Yuanyuan , Feng Yan , Li Chuanhui , Zhao Wenbo , Ji Xunming , Jiang Miaowen , Li Ming , Wu Chuanjie
Published: June 2024

Background
Clinical studies suggest a strong link between extensive perivascular space (EPVS) and ischemic stroke (IS), including its subtypes, and transient ischemic attack (TIA), but it's uncertain if the relationship is genetically causal.
Methods
We utilize summary data from large-scale Genome-wide Association Studies (GWAS) to investigate the association between EPVS in different locations and IS, its subtypes, and TIA through Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Various MR methods are employed to assess the causal relationship between EPVS and IS, its subtypes, and TIA. We apply multivariable MR to mitigate potential confounding factors and conduct sensitivity analyses to enhance result robustness. Subsequently, meta-analysis is utilized to integrate causal relationships between EPVS in different locations and IS from various sources. Additionally, reverse MR is employed to observe the impact of various IS types on EPVS. Finally, linkage disequilibrium score regression is conducted to assess genetic correlations between exposures and outcomes.
Results
EPVS burden in both the white matter (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.01–1.25; P = 0.04) and the basal ganglia (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.30–1.89; P < 0.01) are significant risk factors for IS. EPVS burden in the basal ganglia is also a risk for IS (small-vessel) (OR, 4.56; 95% CI, 2.57–8.27; P = 5.95E-07). Additionally, there appears to be a potential increase in extensive basal ganglia perivascular space burden following IS and TIA.
Conclusion
Extensive white matter perivascular space burden and extensive basal ganglia perivascular space burden may serve as important indicators for predicting IS.
Relationship between obesity and iron metabolism: Insights from NHANES and Mendelian randomization studies
Authors: Zhao Jingjing , Zhong Hua , Zhao Jinjin , Wang Guoqiang , Wang Zhaohui , Zhang Xiuwen , Lu Guangjian , Wang Hui
Published: June 2024

Background
Obesity is associated with various health and nutritional issues, including impaired iron metabolism. However, the causal relationship is debatable, and the connection between obesity and iron metabolism remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between obesity and iron metabolism using an observational cohort study and Mendelian randomization (MR).
Methods
A total of 4,981 individuals were included in the cohort study after screening participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) cycles of 2003–2006 and 2017–2018. A multivariable linear regression model was used to analyze the association between body mass index (BMI) and iron metabolism indicators (serum iron [SI], serum ferritin [SF], transferrin saturation [TSAT], total iron binding capacity [TIBC], and soluble transferrin receptor [sTfR]). Then, a two-sample MR analysis was conducted to verify causality.
Results
The results showed that SI and TSAT were lower, while SF and sTfR were higher in the obesity group compared to normal-weight individuals. After adjusting for confounding factors in the multivariable linear regression models, BMI was found to be significantly negatively correlated with SI (β = -0.15, 95% CI: -0.17 to -0.12, P < 0.001) and TSAT (β = -0.23, 95% CI: -0.28 to -0.19, P < 0.001), and positively associated with SF (β = 0.57, 95% CI: -0.15 to 1.29, P = 0.120) and sTfR (β = 0.02, 95% CI: 0.02 to 0.03, P < 0.001). However, the difference between BMI and TIBC was not statistically significant (β = 0.02, 95% CI: -0.02 to 0.06, P = 0.328). The MR findings suggested that genetically predisposed BMI was linked to reduced levels of SI (β = -0.073, 95% CI: -0.140 to 0.004, P = 0.036) and TSAT (β = -0.11, 95% CI: -0.18 to -0.04, P = 0.001), and increased levels of SF (β = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.069 to 0.21, P = 0.035), but no causality between BMI and sTfR. Genetically determined iron levels did not show any association with BMI.
Conclusion
Although altered iron status may not increase the risk of obesity, a correlation and causal relationship between obesity and iron metabolism was observed.
Elevating the Inference Performance of LLMs with Reverse Inference Federation
Authors: Li Qinian , Gu Yuetian
Published: June 2024

Natural language processing has seen impressive progress, driven by increasingly sophisticated models capable of performing complex linguistic tasks. The introduction of reverse inference federation represents a novel and significant advancement in optimizing the inference performance of these models, offering a scalable solution that distributes computational workloads across multiple nodes. Detailed modifications to the GPT-Neo architecture, coupled with innovative task allocation and synchronization algorithms, have led to substantial improvements in inference speed, accuracy, and resource utilization. Extensive experimentation and rigorous statistical analysis have validated the effectiveness of this approach, demonstrating its potential to enhance the efficiency and scalability of large language models. By leveraging distributed computing techniques, reverse inference federation addresses the computational challenges associated with real-time inference, providing a robust framework that ensures optimal resource utilization and reduced latency. The findings highlight the transformative impact of distributing inference tasks, setting a new benchmark for performance optimization in natural language processing applications.
Evaluation of Retention force of Two Different Attachments for Mandibular Implant Supported Overdenture
(A Comparative Study)
Authors: kotb shimaa Hussein , Mamdouh Ahmed , Kamal Hamsa , Gaber Maged , Ammar Mahmoud , Boriqaa Emad
Published: June 2024

Objectives: In an in vitro study, comparing the maximum retentive force of ball and socket attachments with locator attachments for mandibular implant-supported overdentures.
Background: Dental implants have revolutionized the field of prosthodontics by offering a reliable and stable solution for patients with missing teeth. Among the various types of implant-supported overdentures, mandibular implant-supported overdentures are commonly used to improve function and esthetics for individuals with total edentulism in the mandible. Retention force is a crucial factor in the success of mandibular implant-supported overdentures, as it directly impacts the stability and comfort of the prosthesis.
Materials and Methods: A comparative study was conducted on two groups of patients who received mandibular implant-supported overdentures with different attachment systems. Group A: received overdentures with Ball and socket attachment system, while Group B: received overdentures with Locator implant attachment system. The retention force of each attachment system was measured using a standardized testing protocol. The measurements were taken at different time points to assess the initial and long-term retention force of the attachments. A gradual increase in tension was observed, and the maximum force required to retain was calculated. The evaluation of retention will occur at baseline (T0) and after 3 months (T1), 6 months (T2), 9 months (T3), and one year (T4) of usage.
Results: The study revealed that Attachment System Ball /Ring exhibited significantly higher retention force compared to Locator implant Attachment System in the initial term assessments. This difference in retention force could be attributed to the design and material properties of the two attachment systems. Locator implant Attachment System demonstrated superior retention force at the end term of assessment.
Conclusion: Both types of attachment systems; Ball/O Ring and Locator attachments are trustworthy modalities for advancement the retention and stability of implant retained mandibular over denture with superior initial stability results for the Locator attachment.
Optimization of Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Prevention in Guinea: Impact of the Improvement Plan on Performance Indicators at Large-Cohort Sites
Authors: CAMARA Soriba
Published: June 2024

Introduction
This study assessed the prevention of mother‒to‒child transmission (PMTCT) in Guinea, focusing on the impact of the World Health Organization’s Option B + strategy for human immunodeficiency virus. This pilot study, conducted across 66 high-burden PMTCT sites, aimed to enhance service accessibility and utilization. The study evaluated the indicators of the mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus before and after the implementation of the Option B + strategic plan.
Methods
Data from 66 large-cohort PMTCT sites from 2019 to 2022 were analysed to compare PMTCT metrics before (2019–2020) and after (2021–2022) the improvement initiative. Key indicators were reviewed, and trends were statistically analysed using Mann‒Whitney tests, with a p value less than 0.05 indicating statistical significance.
Results
The implementation of the strategy significantly increased the antiretroviral therapy rate among HIV-positive pregnant women from 66–94%, and full antiretroviral prophylaxis coverage was achieved in infants. However, early infant diagnosis via polymerase chain reaction testing fell short of the national target, highlighting deficiencies in laboratory and specimen transport capacities. The study also revealed regional disparities in the use of PMTCT services.
Conclusion
The improvement plan effectively enhanced antiretroviral therapy and prophylaxis use, demonstrating the benefits of structured interventions and capacity development. Despite improvements, challenges such as insufficient polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and uneven access to services remain. Future initiatives should aim to equip PMTCT sites with essential resources and promote community-driven health-seeking behaviours in underserved areas.
Codebase release r1.0 for amcheck
Authors: Smolyanyuk Andriy , Šmejkal Libor , Mazin Igor I.
Published: June 2024

Altermagnets (AM) is a recently discovered class of collinear magnets that share some properties (anomalous transport, etc) with ferromagnets, some (zero net magnetization) with antiferromagnets, while also exhibiting unique properties (spin-splitting of electronic bands and resulting spin-splitter current). Since the moment compensation in AM is driven by symmetry, it must be possible to identify them by analyzing the crystal structure directly, without computing the electronic structure. Given the significant potential of AM for spintronics, it is very useful to have a tool for such an analysis. This work presents an open-access code implementing such a direct check.
Co-occurrence of Sympatric Poroderma Species
Authors:   , Watson Ralph Gareth Andrew
Published: June 2024

Species exploiting similar ecological niches are expected to adapt their behaviour, which can either promote or hinder coexistence. This study examined the ecological (dis)similarity between the endemic Poroderma africanum (pyjama catshark) and Poroderma pantherinum (leopard catshark) in Mossel Bay, South Africa. The co-occurrence of these species was examined along the ecological axes of time, trophic position and space, between October 2015 and April 2018, through the use of Baited Remote Underwater Videos (BRUV), gastric lavage, and acoustic telemetry. Through the deployment of 197 BRUVs, P. africanum showed a seasonal, higher Relative Abundance (RA = 0.52), occurring more frequently during winter months, while showing an overall decline in RA over the course of the study period. Poroderma pantherinum on the other hand, showed a lower, unseasonal RA (0.20), remaining relatively stable throughout the study period. The BRUV deployments indicated that the two species showed a positive co-occurrence with one other, being sighted in BRUV deployments more frequently together as opposed to in isolation/at random. Acoustic telemetry indicated that the two species were active during different diel periods, influenced by a complex combination of tidal and diel rhythms, while P. pantherinum showed a higher residency compared to P. africanum (P. pantherinum: Continuous Residency Time (CRT)24 = 3.32 days (mean), 95% CI: 2.53–4.11 days; P. africanum: CRT24 = 2.01 days, 95% CI: 1.66–2.36 days). While the two species are sympatric in nature, and have an overlapping, endemic, distribution, acoustic telemetry indicated that 1 ABSTRACT P. africanum showed higher degrees of movement throughout the acoustic receiver array (P. africanum: edge density (ED) = 0.25; P. pantherinum: ED = 0.12); however, certain areas of the bay showed to be of high importance for both species. Both species revealed high levels of intra- and inter-specific variation in both residency and movement behaviour. Gastric lavage indicated partially overlapping trophic niches, between the two Poroderma spp. Poroderma africanum had a generalist diet, dominated by teleosts (Index of Relative Importance (IRI)% = 22.69), octopus (IRI% = 11.48) and discarded bait (IRI% = 64.54), while P. pantherinum showed indications of being a specialist predator, with a diet dominated by cephalopods (IRI% = 83.68). The two Poroderma spp. showed a partially overlapping, but separate trophic niches, while displaying spatial dissimilarity in diet. The study suggests that the two species are able to coexist within the same geographical area through niche differentiation across trophic and temporal ecological axes, with varying spatial use. The intra- and inter-specific differences between the two species may complicate elasmobranch management efforts for these co-occurring endemic catsharks, and as such, efforts should follow either an individual species approach, which is often not feasible, or an ecosystem-based approach, as opposed to considering the genus as a whole.
Electrocatalysis of Oxygen Evolution Reaction by Iron Oxide Nanomaterials Synthesized with Camellia sinensis Extract
Authors: Machado Samara , Silva Ana Luisa , de Souza Ana Paula , Sánchez Dalber , Alzamora Mariella , de Gois Jefferson , Carvalho Nakédia
Published: June 2024

The generation of clean, zero-carbon, and renewable energy is a challenge for the development of a sustainable and egalitarian society. Hydrogen gas can be produced by water electrolysis and has been claimed as the most promising option to replace fossil fuels. The oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is the most energetically demanding step of the water splitting and requires the use of electrocatalysts to overcome the kinetic barrier. Iron oxide nanomaterials have been emerging as a low-cost and Earth-abundant OER electrocatalysts. The synthesis of iron oxide assisted by plant extract is an eco-friendly approach to obtain nanomaterials with unique properties. Herein, we investigated iron oxide synthesized with the assistance of Camellia sinensis extract, under different experimental conditions towards oxygen evolution reaction electrocatalysis. Pure phases of iron oxide were obtained, ferrihydrite and maghemite showed overpotentials of 460 and 480 mV at a current density of 10 mA cm−2 , respectively. After calcination, hematite was formed and the overpotential was raised to 610 and 810 mV, respectively. The lower overpotential of the amorphous materials could be related to the lower electron transfer resistance and faster reaction rate. On the other hand, the calcinated materials presented higher specific activity, stability and higher Faradaic efficiency.
Problem checklist to identify problems with students in Islamic boarding schools
Authors: Alifia Syifa , Fauziah Fitri , Syaputra Yogi Damai
Published: June 2024

Purpose - This article aims to analyze the use of DCM (Problem Checklist) to identify student problems in Islamic boarding schools. Second, develop a guidance and counseling service program for Islamic boarding school students' issues.Method - This type of research uses descriptive quantitative analysis. The data collection technique uses the Problem Checklist (DCM) instrument. Data was obtained from 18 students from class XII at the El-Syarief Islamic Boarding School. Data was processed using MS Excel and analyzed using a quantitative description.Result  -  The research results show that students are very problematic in social and organizational elements, with a percentage of 60%, and personal aspects, with a percentage of 100%. Some guidance and counseling services that can be used to overcome student problems include individual counseling services, group guidance, and information.Implication – This research aims to identify what problems students face in Islamic boarding schools and determine interventions that are appropriate to the issues they face. Counselors in schools and  Islamic boarding schools can implement the results of this intervention.Originality - This research strengthens the identification of student problems and designs appropriate interventions to overcome these problems.***Tujuan - Artikel ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis penggunaan DCM (Daftar Cek Masalah) untuk mengidentifikasi masalah santri di pesantren. Kedua, mengembangkan program layanan bimbingan dan konseling untuk permasalahan santri di pondok pesantren.Metode - Jenis penelitian ini menggunakan analisis kuantitatif deskriptif. Teknik pengumpulan data menggunakan instrumen Daftar Cek Masalah (DCM). Data diperoleh dari 18 siswa kelas XII di Pondok Pesantren El-Syarief. Data diolah menggunakan MS Excel dan dianalisis menggunakan deskripsi kuantitatif.Hasil - Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa santri sangat bermasalah pada unsur sosial dan organisasi, dengan persentase 60%, dan aspek pribadi, dengan persentase 100%. Beberapa layanan bimbingan dan konseling yang dapat digunakan untuk mengatasi permasalahan siswa antara lain layanan konseling individu, bimbingan kelompok, dan informasi.Implikasi - Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi masalah apa saja yang dihadapi siswa di pondok pesantren dan menentukan intervensi yang sesuai dengan masalah yang mereka hadapi. Konselor di sekolah dan pondok pesantren dapat mengimplementasikan hasil intervensi ini.Orisinalitas - Penelitian ini memperkuat identifikasi masalah santri dan merancang intervensi yang tepat untuk mengatasi masalah tersebut.
Assessing soil erosion and its drivers in agricultural landscapes: a case study in southern Bahia, Brazil
Authors: François Mathurin , Gonçalves Pontes Maria Carolina , de Vasconcelos Rodrigo Nogueira , de Oliveira Ulisses Costa , Peixoto da Silva Heraldo , Faria Deborah , Mariano-Neto Eduardo
Published: June 2024

Erosion is a worldwide threat to biodiversity conservation and agricultural yield, and it is linked to deforestation. In this study, we aim to assess soil loss in landscapes of Cachoeira River watershed, in southern Bahia, northeastern Brazil. We estimate the role of forests in diminishing soil erosion using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). We compare real and simulated scenarios in which the forest was replaced by agricultural use, also comparing estimates of erosivity factor (R factor) derived from remote sensing and climatological station data. Real and simulated annual soil losses varied from 0 to 15.95 t/year and from 0 to 33.53 t/year along the watershed, respectively. However, only 0.04 and 1.67% of this area is highly and severely exposed to erosion, using data from climatological stations and remote sensing, respectively. Soil loss in the simulated deforested scenario was approximately two times higher than the real annual soil loss, indicating the importance of forest cover to mitigate soil erosion. Moreover, soil loss was 10.5 times greater when using precipitation data from remote sensing compared to climatological stations. Conclusively, the practice of agroforestry can be used as an alternative to avoid erosion.
Polystyrene composite system: An alternative for wastewater treatment
Authors: Gomes Amaro Niniedna Niedja , Borges França Kepler , Batista de Souza Neto Osmar , da Silva Cruz Wellerson , de Vasconcellos Araújo Morgana
Published: June 2024

Rapid population growth intensifies water scarcity, highlighting the importance of treatment technologies such as reverse osmosis and membrane filtration to ensure safe drinking water and preserve resources. The use of polystyrene as a filter for polluted water is valuable due to its porous surface, efficiently retaining impurities. The system, a tubular reactor with a mixed polystyrene bed, underwent evaluations with varying particle sizes, flow rates and times, operating in dead-end mode and series system without recirculation with theoretical residence times between 180 and 360 min. The study, divided into two phases, optimized the system in the first phase, characterizing the filter bed and carrying out maintenance for 360 min at 0.5 L/min. Phase two evaluated the performance of the reactor in treating wastewater with flow rates of 0.5 and 1 L/min for 180 min. Under the best conditions of Phase I, 55% of Escherichia coli and turbidity were deactivated, not meeting potability standards. In Phase II, there was efficiency in the removal of several parameters, such as chemical oxygen demand (78.26%), total phosphorus (75%), nitrate (73.42%), ammonia (73.13%), nitrite (69.33%), potassium (70.83%), and sodium (68.75%). In addition, 98.32% of E. coli was deactivated, meeting CONAMA Class 2 and 3 irrigation standards.
Psicosis como primera manifestación de mixedema: un reporte de caso
Authors: Cassiani-Miranda Carlos Arturo , Pérez-Anibal Eduard , Danilo-Torres Johan , Blanco-Palomino Alexander
Published: June 2024

El coma mixedematoso es severo y amenazante para la vida. Esta condición representa un estado de hipofunción tiroidea de larga duración, no reconocida o mal controlada. Ocasionalmente estos pacientes reciben primero un diagnóstico de trastorno mental. Se presenta un caso de psicosis aguda en una mujer de 51 años, sin historia de trastorno mental como manifestación inicial de mixedema. En pacientes con psicosis aguda, la evaluación de la función tiroidea es imperativa. El tratamiento incluye el reemplazo de la hormona tiroidea y antipsicóticos a corto plazo. Es crucial considerar la etiología tiroidea en casos de psicosis agudas.
Representaciones sociales de la publicación científica de docentes de salud de Cali, Colombia
Authors: Ordoñez-Hernández Cecilia Andrea , Quiñones-Preciado Jhon Alexander , Bolaños-Roldán Ana Marcela
Published: June 2024

Introducción: se desconoce la representación social de la publicación científica, en los docentes universitarios. Objetivo: explorar la representación social de la publicación en revistas científicas indexadas en Scopus entre docentes de la facultad de salud de instituciones de educación superior en Cali, Colombia. Método: se realizó una Investigación cualitativa con enfoque de Representaciones Sociales. Los instrumentos de recolección fueron; listado libre de palabras y sorteo por montones. Se realizó análisis prototípico, procesual, e índice de distancia. Resultados: participaron 69 docentes de la facultad de salud de tres instituciones de educación superior de Cali, se encontró que el 47,8% de los docentes no ha publicado en revistas Scopus. Las categorías predominantes fueron calidad de manuscritos (39,1%), compromisos laborales (20,2%), y barreras percibidas para la publicación (16,2%). Se identificaron dos grupos temáticos: uno relacionado con la dificultad de escribir, el tiempo y compromisos académicos, y otro centrado en la rigurosidad y calidad de la investigación científica. Conclusiones: la producción científica en Colombia enfrenta desafíos significativos, como la falta de habilidades de escritura, barreras lingüísticas y la presión académica. Para superar estos obstáculos, es crucial el apoyo institucional, así como la implementación de programas de capacitación que fortalezcan las competencias de los investigadores.
Development and Evaluation of PEG-gelatin-based Microparticles to Enhance
the Oral Delivery of Insulin
Authors: Alfa John , Ben Amadi , Buxaderas Eduardo , Akpa Paul , Hanifah Abdulmumin , Oseni Okolo Martin-Luther , Kenechukwu Franklin C. , Mumuni Momoh A. , Diaz David Diaz
Published: June 2024

Background:

Diabetes mellitus is a global disease identified by hyperglycemia due to defects in insulin
secretion, insulin action, or both.

Objective:

The main objective of this research was to evaluate the ability of gelatinized Poly(ethylene glycol)
(PEG) microparticles to be used as carriers for oral insulin delivery via double emulsion preparation.

Methods:

Five different batches of the formulation consisting of gelatin:PEG were prepared as follows: 0:1
(W1), 1:0 (W2), 1:1 (W3), 1:3 (W4), and 3:1 (W5). The prepared microparticles (from insulin-loaded batches)
had particle sizes ranging from 19.5 ± 0.32-23.9 ± 0.22 μm and encapsulation and loading capacities ranging
from 78.8 ± 0.24-88.9 ± 0.95 and 22.2 ± 0.96-29.7 ± 0.86%, respectively. The minimum and maximum in
vitro release rates were 8.0 and 66.0%, respectively, for batches W1 and W2 at 8 h.

Results:

Insulin-loaded MPs induced a significant decrease in glucose levels, with a reduction from 100 to
33.35% in batch W5 at 9 h compared to that of subcutaneous insulin (100 to 22.63%). A liver function study
showed that the formulation caused no obvious toxicity to the experimental rats.

Conclusion:

Gelatinized PEG-based microparticles as insulin delivery systems may open a new window into
the development of oral insulin for diabetic treatment.
Hypothesizing the Oleic Acid-Mediated Enhanced and Sustained Transdermal Codelivery of Pregabalin and Diclofenac Adhesive Nanogel: A Proof of Concept
Authors: Datta Deepanjan , Noor Afeefa , Rathee Anjali , Singh Snigdha , Kohli Kanchan
Published: June 2024

:

Pregabalin (PG) and diclofenac diethylamine (DEE) are anti-inflammatory
molecules that are effective in relieving inflammation and pain associated with
musculoskeletal disorders, arthritis, and post-traumatic pain, among others.
Intravenous and oral delivery of these two molecules has their limitations. However,
the transdermal route is believed to be an alternate viable option for the delivery of
therapeutic molecules with desired physicochemical properties. To this end, it is vital to
understand the physicochemical properties of these drugs, dosage, and strategies to
enhance permeation, thereby surmounting the associated constraints and concurrently
attaining a sustained release of these therapeutic molecules when administered in
combination. The present work hypothesizes the enhanced permeation and sustained
release of pregabalin and diclofenac diethylamine across the skin, entrapped in the
adhesive nano-organogel formulation, including permeation enhancers. The solubility
studies of pregabalin and diclofenac diethylamine in combination were performed in
different permeation enhancers. Oleic acid was optimized as the best permeation
enhancer based on in vitro studies. Pluronic organogel containing pregabalin and
diclofenac diethylamine with oleic acid was fabricated. Duro-Tak® (87-2196) was
added to the organogel formulation as a pressure-sensitive adhesive to sustain the
release profile of these two therapeutic molecules. The adhesive organogel was
characterized for particle size, scanning electron microscopy, and contact angle
measurement. The HPLC method developed for the quantification of the dual drug
showed a retention time of 3.84 minutes and 9.69 minutes for pregabalin and
diclofenac, respectively. The fabricated nanogel adhesive formulation showed the
desired results with particle size and contact angle of 282 ± 57 nm and ≥120⁰,
respectively. In vitro studies showed the percentage cumulative release of 24.90 ±
4.65% and 33.29 ± 4.81% for pregabalin and diclofenac, respectively. In order to
accomplish transdermal permeation, the suggested hypothesis of fabricating PG and
DEE nano-organogel in combination with permeation enhancers will be a viable drug
delivery method. In comparison to a traditional gel formulation, oleic acid as a
permeation enhancer increased the penetration of both PG and DEE from the
organogel formulation. Notably, the studies showed that the use of pressure-sensitive
adhesives enabled the sustained release of both PG and DEE.Therefore, the results
anticipated the hypothesis that the transdermal delivery of adhesive PG and DEEbased
nanogel across the human skin can be achieved to inhibit inflammation and
pain.
Effect of Magnetized Water on Partially Replaced Aggregate with Silica Sand in Concrete
Authors: Y M Arun Kumar , Pandit Poornachandra , Malkapur Santhosh
Published: June 2024

Introduction

The study aimed to investigate the impact of “Magnetized water” on the mechanical properties of M30-grade concrete partially replaced by silica sand.

Methods

Two different grades of silica sand were utilized as fine aggregate, with 25% and 50% replacement rates. The concrete was prepared using a W/C ratio of 0.41 and a specific amount of superplasticizer. The water was magnetized using a 10000 Gauss magnetic fluid enhancer, resulting in “magnetized water.”

Results

Magnetization resulted in a 10% improvement in the workmanship of the concrete, as well as a 5% reduction in water usage with additive dosage.

Conclusion

The compressive strength of concrete with silica sand was 10% higher than that of conventional concrete, and the addition of magnetized water further increased to 20% of compressive strength and the slump increased by 10%.