bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The development, evaluation, performance, and validation of micro-PCR and extractor for the quantification of HIV-1 &-2 RNA
Authors: Prakash Shyam , Aasarey Ram , Priyatma  , Sharma Meenakshi , Khan Shahid , Medha
Published: April 2024

HIV infection has been a global public health threat and overall reported ~ 40 million deaths. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is attributed to the retroviruses (HIV-1/2), disseminated through various body fluids. The temporal progression of AIDS is in context to the rate of HIV-1 infection, which is twice as protracted in HIV-2 transmission. Q-PCR is the only available method that requires a well-developed lab infrastructure and trained personnel. Micro-PCR, a portable Q-PCR device, was developed by Bigtec Labs, Bangalore, India. It is simple, accurate, fast, and operationalised in remote places where diagnostic services are inaccessible in developing countries. This novel micro-PCR determines HIV-1 and HIV-2 viral load using a TruePrep™ extractor device for RNA isolation. Five ml blood samples were collected at the blood collection centre at AIIMS, New Delhi, India. Samples were screened for serology, and a comparison of HIV-1/2 RNA was done between qPCR and micro-PCR in the samples. The micro-PCR assay of HIV-RNA has compared well with those from real-time PCR (r = 0.99, i < 0.002). Micro-PCR has good inter and intra-assay reproducibility over a wide dynamic range (1.0 × 102–1.0 × 108 IU/ml). The linear dynamic range was 102–108 IU/ml. The clinical and analytical specificity of the assay was comparable, i.e., 100%. Intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation ranged from 1.17% to 3.15% and from 0.02% to 0.46%, respectively. Moreover, due to the robust, simple, and empirical method, the Probit analysis has also been done for qPCR LODs to avoid uncertainties in target recoveries. The micro-PCR is reliable, accurate, and reproducible for early detection of HIV-1 and HIV-2 viral loads simultaneously. Thus, it can easily be used in the field and in remote places where quantification of both HIV-1/2 is not reachable.
Selecting an optimal approach to reduce energy crises under interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment
Authors: Alghazzawi Dilshad , Alolaiyan Hanan , Ashfaq Humaira , Shuaib Umer , Khalifa Hamiden Abd El-Wahed , Gomaa Heba Ghareeb , Xin Qin
Published: April 2024

The concept of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets is intellectually stimulating and holds significant utility in the representation and analysis of real-world problems. The development of similarity measures within the class of interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets possesses significant importance across various academic disciplines, particularly in the fields of decision-making and pattern recognition. The utilization of similarity measures is of utmost importance in the decision-making process when implementing interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets. This is due to its inherent capability to quantitatively assess the level of resemblance or similarity between two interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets. In this article, the drawbacks of the existing similarity measures in the context of an interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment are addressed, and a novel similarity measure is presented. Many fundamental properties of this new interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy similarity measure are also established, and the effectiveness of this similarity measure is illustrated by presenting a useful example. Moreover, a comparison is given to demonstrate the validity of the newly proposed similarity measure within the existing knowledge of similarity measures in the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment. In addition, an algorithm is designed to solve multi-criteria decision making problems by means of the proposed measure in the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy setting. Furthermore, this newly defined similarity measure is successfully applied to select an optimal renewable energy source to reduce energy crises. Finally, we conduct a comparative study to showcase the authenticity of the recently defined technique within the existing knowledge of similarity measures in the interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy environment.
Evidence of an active role of dreaming in emotional memory processing shows that we dream to forget
Authors: Zhang Jing , Pena Andres , Delano Nicole , Sattari Negin , Shuster Alessandra E. , Baker Fiona C. , Simon Katharine , Mednick Sara C.
Published: April 2024

Dreaming is a universal human behavior that has inspired searches for meaning across many disciplines including art, psychology, religion, and politics, yet its function remains poorly understood. Given the suggested role of sleep in emotional memory processing, we investigated whether reported overnight dreaming and dream content are associated with sleep-dependent changes in emotional memory and reactivity, and whether dreaming plays an active or passive role. Participants completed an emotional picture task before and after a full night of sleep and they recorded the presence and content of their dreams upon waking in the morning. The results replicated the emotional memory trade-off (negative images maintained at the cost of neutral memories), but only in those who reported dreaming (Dream-Recallers), and not in Non-Dream-Recallers. Results also replicated sleep-dependent reductions in emotional reactivity, but only in Dream-Recallers, not in Non-Dream-Recallers. Additionally, the more positive the dream report, the more positive the next-day emotional reactivity is compared to the night before. These findings implicate an active role for dreaming in overnight emotional memory processing and suggest a mechanistic framework whereby dreaming may enhance salient emotional experiences via the forgetting of less relevant information.
Functional differentiation and genetic diversity of rice cation exchanger (CAX) genes and their potential use in rice improvement
Authors: Lian Shangshu , Chen Yanjun , Zhou Yanyan , Feng Ting , Chen Jingsi , Liang Lunping , Qian Yingzhi , Huang Tao , Zhang Chenyang , Wu Fengcai , Zou Wenli , Li Zhikang , Meng Lijun , Li Min
Published: April 2024

Cation exchanger (CAX) genes play an important role in plant growth/development and response to biotic and abiotic stresses. Here, we tried to obtain important information on the functionalities and phenotypic effects of CAX gene family by systematic analyses of their expression patterns, genetic diversity (gene CDS haplotypes, structural variations, gene presence/absence variations) in 3010 rice genomes and nine parents of 496 Huanghuazhan introgression lines, the frequency shifts of the predominant gcHaps at these loci to artificial selection during modern breeding, and their association with tolerances to several abiotic stresses. Significant amounts of variation also exist in the cis-regulatory elements (CREs) of the OsCAX gene promoters in 50 high-quality rice genomes. The functional differentiation of OsCAX gene family were reflected primarily by their tissue and development specific expression patterns and in varied responses to different treatments, by unique sets of CREs in their promoters and their associations with specific agronomic traits/abiotic stress tolerances. Our results indicated that OsCAX1a and OsCAX2 as general signal transporters were in many processes of rice growth/development and responses to diverse environments, but they might be of less value in rice improvement. OsCAX1b, OsCAX1c, OsCAX3 and OsCAX4 was expected to be of potential value in rice improvement because of their associations with specific traits, responsiveness to specific abiotic stresses or phytohormones, and relatively high gcHap and CRE diversity. Our strategy was demonstrated to be highly efficient to obtain important genetic information on genes/alleles of specific gene family and can be used to systematically characterize the other rice gene families.
Early adversity and sexual diversity: the importance of self-reported and neurobiological sexual reward sensitivity
Authors: Alley Jenna C. , McDonnell Amy S. , Diamond Lisa M.
Published: April 2024

Work shows that sexually-diverse individuals face high rates of early life adversity and in turn increased engagement in behavioral outcomes traditionally associated with adversity, such as sexual risk taking. Recent theoretical work suggests that these associations may be attributable to heightened sexual reward sensitivity among adversity-exposed women. We aimed to test these claims using a combination of self-report and EEG measures to test the relationship between early adversity, sexual reward sensitivity (both self-reported and EEG measured) and sexual risk taking in a sexually diverse sample of cis-gender women (N = 208) (Mage = 27.17, SD = 6.36). Results showed that childhood SES predicted self-reported sexual reward sensitivity which in turn predicted numbers of male and female sexual partners. In contrast we found that perceived childhood unpredictability predicted neurobiological sexual reward sensitivity as measured by EEG which in turn predicted male sexual partner number. The results presented here provide support for the notion that heightened sexual reward sensitivity may be a pathway through which early life adversity augments future sexual behavior, and underscores the importance of including greater attention to the dynamics of pleasure and reward in sexual health promotion.
Spectral shifted Chebyshev collocation technique with residual power series algorithm for time fractional problems
Authors: Rida Saad. Z. , Arafa Anas. A. M. , Hussein Hussein. S. , Ameen Ismail G. , Mostafa Marwa. M. M.
Published: April 2024

In this paper, two problems involving nonlinear time fractional hyperbolic partial differential equations (PDEs) and time fractional pseudo hyperbolic PDEs with nonlocal conditions are presented. Collocation technique for shifted Chebyshev of the second kind with residual power series algorithm (CTSCSK-RPSA) is the main method for solving these problems. Moreover, error analysis theory is provided in detail. Numerical solutions provided using CTSCSK-RPSA are compared with existing techniques in literature. CTSCSK-RPSA is accurate, simple and convenient method for obtaining solutions of linear and nonlinear physical and engineering problems.
Tactile shape discrimination for moving stimuli
Authors: Pélegrin Nicolas , Konishi Mahiko , Sarrazin Jean-Christophe
Published: April 2024

In this study, we explored spatial-temporal dependencies and their impact on the tactile perception of moving objects. Building on previous research linking visual perception and human movement, we examined if an imputed motion mechanism operates within the tactile modality. We focused on how biological coherence between space and time, characteristic of human movement, influences tactile perception. An experiment was designed wherein participants were stimulated on their right palm with tactile patterns, either ambiguous (incongruent conditions) or non-ambiguous (congruent conditions) relative to a biological motion law (two-thirds power law) and asked to report perceived shape and associated confidence. Our findings reveal that introducing ambiguous tactile patterns (1) significantly diminishes tactile discrimination performance, implying motor features of shape recognition in vision are also observed in the tactile modality, and (2) undermines participants’ response confidence, uncovering the accessibility degree of information determining the tactile percept’s conscious representation. Analysis based on the Hierarchical Drift Diffusion Model unveiled the sensitivity of the evidence accumulation process to the stimulus’s informational ambiguity and provides insight into tactile perception as predictive dynamics for reducing uncertainty. These discoveries deepen our understanding of tactile perception mechanisms and underscore the criticality of predictions in sensory information processing.
Investigating the role of common cis-regulatory variants in modifying penetrance of putatively damaging, inherited variants in severe neurodevelopmental disorders
Authors: Wigdor Emilie M. , Samocha Kaitlin E. , Eberhardt Ruth Y. , Chundru V. Kartik , Firth Helen V. , Wright Caroline F. , Hurles Matthew E. , Martin Hilary C.
Published: April 2024

Recent work has revealed an important role for rare, incompletely penetrant inherited coding variants in neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs). Additionally, we have previously shown that common variants contribute to risk for rare NDDs. Here, we investigate whether common variants exert their effects by modifying gene expression, using multi-cis-expression quantitative trait loci (cis-eQTL) prediction models. We first performed a transcriptome-wide association study for NDDs using 6987 probands from the Deciphering Developmental Disorders (DDD) study and 9720 controls, and found one gene, RAB2A, that passed multiple testing correction (p = 6.7 × 10–7). We then investigated whether cis-eQTLs modify the penetrance of putatively damaging, rare coding variants inherited by NDD probands from their unaffected parents in a set of 1700 trios. We found no evidence that unaffected parents transmitting putatively damaging coding variants had higher genetically-predicted expression of the variant-harboring gene than their child. In probands carrying putatively damaging variants in constrained genes, the genetically-predicted expression of these genes in blood was lower than in controls (p = 2.7 × 10–3). However, results for proband-control comparisons were inconsistent across different sets of genes, variant filters and tissues. We find limited evidence that common cis-eQTLs modify penetrance of rare coding variants in a large cohort of NDD probands.
Gaining a better understanding of online polarization by approaching it as a dynamic process
Authors: Treuillier Célina , Castagnos Sylvain , Lagier Christèle , Brun Armelle
Published: April 2024

Polarization is often a cliché, its conceptualization remains approximate and no consensus has been reached so far. Often simply seen as an inevitable result of the use of social networks, polarization cannot be viewed solely from an ideological or affective perspective. We propose to better understand the issue polarization by approaching it as a sequential process, drawing on a dual expertise in political and data sciences. We compare the polarization process between one mature debate (COVID-19 vaccine) and one emerging debate (Ukraine conflict) at the time of data collection. Both debates are studied on Twitter users, a highly politicized population, and on the French population to provide key elements beyond the traditional US context. This unprecedented analysis confirms that polarization varies over time, through a succession of specific periods, whose existence and duration depend on the maturity of the debate. Importantly, we highlight that polarization is paced by context-related events. Bearing this in mind, we pave the way for a new generation of personalized depolarization strategies, adapted to the context and maturity of debates.
Research on the cognitive neural mechanism of privacy empowerment illusion cues regarding comprehensibility and interpretability for privacy disclosures
Authors: Sun Rui , Zhu Qiuhua , Cheng Ru Xia , Tang Wenlong , Zuo Jiajia , Lv Dong , Qin Shukun
Published: April 2024

In the era of artificial intelligence, privacy empowerment illusion has become a crucial means for digital enterprises and platforms to “manipulate” users and create an illusion of control. This topic has also become an urgent and pressing concern for current research. However, the existing studies are limited in terms of their perspectives and methodologies, making it challenging to fully explain why users express concerns about privacy empowerment illusion but repeatedly disclose their personal information. This study combines the associative-propositional evaluation model (APE) and cognitive load theory, using event-related potential (ERP) technology to investigate the underlying mechanisms of how the comprehensibility and interpretability of privacy empowerment illusion cues affect users’ immediate attitudes and privacy disclosure behaviours; these mechanisms are mediated by psychological processing and cognitive load differences. Behavioural research results indicate that in the context of privacy empowerment illusion cues with low comprehensibility, users are more inclined to disclose their private information when faced with high interpretability than they are when faced with low interpretability. EEG results show that in the context of privacy empowerment illusion cues with low comprehensibility, high interpretability induces greater P2 amplitudes than does low interpretability; low interpretability induces greater N2 amplitudes than does high interpretability. This study extends the scopes of the APE model and cognitive load theory in the field of privacy research, providing new insights into privacy attitudes. Doing so offers a valuable framework through which digital enterprises can gain a deeper understanding of users’ genuine privacy attitudes and immediate reactions under privacy empowerment illusion situations. This understanding can help increase user privacy protection and improve their overall online experience, making it highly relevant and beneficial.
Effect of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) on photosynthetic characteristics of cotton seedlings under saline-alkali stress
Authors: Peng Zicheng , Zulfiqar Tayyaba , Yang Haichang , Wang Ming , Zhang Fenghua
Published: April 2024

The study aimed to find the best Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) strain for cotton growth in Xinjiang's salinity and alkali conditions. Cotton (Xinluzao 45) was treated with Funneliformis mosseae (GM), Rhizophagus irregularis (GI), and Claroideoglomus etunicatum (GE) as treatments, while untreated cotton served as the control (CK). Salinity stress was applied post-3-leaf stage in cotton. The study analyzed cotton's reactions to diverse saline-alkali stresses, focusing on nutrient processes and metabolism. By analyzing the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of plants inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae to evaluate its salt tolerance. Saline-alkali stress reduced chlorophyll and hindered photosynthesis, hampering cotton growth. However, AMF inoculation mitigated these effects, enhancing photosynthetic rates, CO2 concentration, transpiration, energy use efficiency, and overall cotton growth under similar stress levels. GM and GE treatments yielded similar positive effects. AMF inoculation enhanced cotton plant height and biomass. In GM treatment, cotton exhibited notably higher root length than other treatments, showing superior growth under various conditions. In summary, GM-treated cotton had the highest infection rate, followed by GE-treated cotton, with GI-treated cotton having the lowest rate (GM averaging 0.95). Cotton inoculated with Funneliformis mosseae, Rhizophagus irregularis, and Claroideoglomus etunicatum juvenile showed enhanced chlorophyll and photosynthetic levels, reducing salinity effects. Funneliformis mosseae had the most significant positive impact.
Isolation and characterisation of lignin using natural deep eutectic solvents pretreated kenaf fibre biomass
Authors: Meraj Aatikah , Jawaid M. , Singh Surendra Pratap , Nasef Mohamed Mahmoud , Ariffin Hidayah , Fouad Hassan , Abu‐Jdayil Basim
Published: April 2024

Extraction of lignin via green methods is a crucial step in promoting the bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomasses. In the present study, utilisation of natural deep eutectic solvent for the pretreatment of kenaf fibres biomass is performed. Furthermore, extracted lignin from natural deep eutectic solvent pretreated kenaf biomass was carried out and its comparative study with commercial lignin was studied. The extracted lignin was characterized and investigated through Infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, X-ray Diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, UV–Vis spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. FTIR Spectra shows that all samples have almost same set of absorption bands with slight difference in frequencies. CHNS analysis of natural deep eutectic solvent pretreated kenaf fibre showed a slight increase in carbon % from 42.36 to 43.17% and an increase in nitrogen % from − 0.0939 to − 0.1377%. Morphological analysis of commercial lignin shows irregular/uneven surfaces whereas natural deep eutectic solvent extracted lignin shows smooth and wavy surface. EDX analysis indicated noticeable peaks for oxygen and carbon elements which are present in lignocellulosic biomass. Thermal properties showed that lignin is constant at higher temperatures due to more branching and production of extremely condensed aromatic structures. In UV–VIS spectroscopy, commercial lignin shows slightly broad peak between 300 and 400 nm due to presence of carbonyl bond whereas, natural deep eutectic solvent extracted lignin does not show up any peak in this range. XRD results showed that the crystallinity index percentage for kenaf and natural deep eutectic solvent treated kenaf was 70.33 and 69.5% respectively. Therefore, these innovative solvents will undoubtedly have significant impact on the development of clean, green, and sustainable products for biocatalysts, extraction, electrochemistry, adsorption applications.
Establishing an astaxanthin-rich live feed strain of Pseudodiaptomus annandalei
Authors: Chan Sen , Pan Yen-Ju , Lu Ang , Huang Chang-Wen , Liao Ji-Long , Chang Jui-Sheng , Dur Gaël
Published: April 2024

This study aimed to establish an astaxanthin-rich strain of the calanoid copepod Pseudodiaptomus annandalei, through selective breeding based on RGB (red, green and blue) value, a parameter indicating color intensity. We evaluated the RGB value frequency distributions of the copepod populations, and selected individuals with the highest 10% and the lowest 10% RGB value over six generations. The RGB value, nauplii production, clutch interval and clutch number were assessed, and the genetic gain was calculated across generations (G0-G5). Two strains of copepods were selected and defined as dark body copepod strain (DBS) and light body copepod strain (LBS) at the end of experiment. Results revealed significantly lower RGB values (male: 121.5 ± 14.1; female: 108.8 ± 15) in the G5 DBS population compared to the G0 (male: 163.9 ± 13.1; female: 162.2 ± 14.6), with higher genetic gains of RGB values during G0 to G2. While DBS females exhibited longer clutch intervals in the G3 and G4, there was no significant difference in nauplii production between the two strains across all generations. Significantly higher astaxanthin content was found in the DBS copepods (0.04 μg/ ind.) compared to the LBS copepods (0.01 μg/ ind.) and the non-selective copepods (0.02 μg/ ind.) 20 months post selective breeding, validating the stability of the desired trait in the DBS strain. This study successfully established an astaxanthin-rich strain of P. annandalei, which provides implications for enhancing marine and brackish larviculture production.
Analysis of the effect of flow channel structures on the centrifugal accelerated motion of particles in a vacuum state
Authors: Sun Bo , Wei Shizhong , Li Peng , Guo Han
Published: April 2024

In this study, the impact of flow channel structures on the acceleration of metal particles in a vacuum environment is explored, with the aim of enhancinge the acceleration quality in the centrifugal impact molding of metal powders. To assess this phenomenon, three evaluation indices are introduced: the average speed of particles thrown $${V}_{p}$$

V
p

, the average speed of the particles $${V}_{all}$$

V

all

, and the particle velocity distribution Vf (t). Additionally, the effects of six distinct runner structures on the centrifugal acceleration of the particles are analyzed in this research. The findings indicate that the arc-shaped flow channel structure not only ensures a more consistent acceleration process but also results in a higher ejection speed, leading to an improved acceleration effect. The unique contribution of this study is the examination of the relationship between flow channel designs and particle accelerations in a vacuum.
Thermoelectric generator powered timepiece circuit for rechargeable battery operation
Authors: Penumala Sam Methuselah , Karmel A. , Kanimozhi G. , Khanwalkar Jagriti
Published: April 2024

The advent of digital technology has revolutionized the way we keep track of time. Digital watches have become an essential part of our daily lives and provide us with accurate and reliable time measurement. However, battery reliability is a long-standing issue in the digital watch industry. Batteries require frequent replacement and are a major source of waste. To solve this problem, a digital watch that runs on a lithium-polymer battery that is recharged by a voltage generated by a thermoelectric generator (TEG) placed on the hand. The proposed model uses TEG1-19913 that generates power in the range of 11.5 W to 14.5 W with hot end basking at 250 °C and a cold end between 30 °C and 50 °C. The TEG voltage is used to charge the lithium polymer battery, eliminating the need for conventional charging methods. The watch is designed to be compact and lightweight, so it can be worn comfortably for extended periods of time. The TEG is integrated into the watch strap and ensures that it is constantly in contact with the skin. The lithium-polymer battery used in the watch is a high-performance rechargeable battery that has high energy density and long life. In summary, the proposed digital watch is an innovative ecological solution to the problems associated with traditional battery-powered watches. The compact and light design of the watch combined with the energy-efficient display makes it a convenient and efficient timekeeping device.
Influencing factors of good quality of life among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients living in Zhejiang Province, China
Authors: Ying Yubing , Khunthason Siriyaporn , Apidechkul Tawatchai , Nilvarangkul Kessarawan
Published: April 2024

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic, progressive and debilitating disease that affects quality of life (QOL), especially among patients living in poor environments. This study aimed to determine the influencing factors of good QOL among COPD patients living in Zhejiang, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted to collect data from participants in six tertiary hospitals in Zhejiang Province by a simple random sampling method. A validated questionnaire was used to collect general information, environmental factors, and COPD stage. The standardized St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) was used to assess QOL. Logistic regression was used to determine influencing factors of good QOL among COPD patients at a significance level of α = 0.05. A total of 420 participants were recruited for analysis. The overall prevalence of patients with good QOL was 25.7%. Six variables were found to be associated with good QOL in the multivariable analysis. Patients who were employed had 2.35 times (95% CI 1.03–5.34) greater odds of having good QOL than those who were unemployed. Those whose family income was higher than 100,000 CNY had 2.49 times (95% CI 1.15–5.39) greater odds of having good QOL than those whose family income was lower than 100,000 CNY. Those who had treatment expenses less than 5,000 CNY had 4.57 (95% CI 1.57–13.30) times greater odds of having good QOL than those who had treatment expenses of 5,000 CNY or higher. Those who had mild or moderate airflow limitation were 5.27 times (95% CI 1.61–17.26) more likely to have good QOL than those who were in a severe or very severe stage of COPD. Those who had a duration of illness less than 60 months had 5.57 times (95% CI 1.40–22.12) greater odds of having good QOL than those who had a duration of illness of 120 months or more. Those who were not hospitalized within the past 3 months had 9.39 times (95% CI 1.62–54.43) greater odds of having good QOL than those who were hospitalized more than twice over the past 3 months. Socioeconomic status, disease stage and accessibility were associated with good QOL among COPD patients in Zhejiang Province, China. Increasing family income and implementing measures to improve the accessibility of medical care, including developing a proper system to decrease the cost of treatment for COPD patients, can improve patients’ QOL.
Experimental study on the interface characteristics of geogrid-reinforced gravelly soil based on pull-out tests
Authors: Liu Jie , Pan Jiadong , Liu Qi , Xu Yan
Published: April 2024

The factors influencing geogrid–soil interface characteristics are critical design parameters in some geotechnical designs. This study describes pull-out tests performed on gravelly soils commonly encountered in the Xinjiang region and reinforced with two types of geogrids. The factors affecting the geogrid–gravelly soil interface properties are investigated with different experimental loading methods (pull-out velocity, normal stress), geogrid types, and soil particle size distributions and water contents. The ultimate pull-out force increases with the normal stress and pull-out velocity. Furthermore, with increasing coarse particle content and water content, the ultimate pull-out force increases and then decreases sharply. Based on these research results, this paper provides reasonable parameters and recommendations for the design and pull-out testing of reinforced soil in engineering structures. In reinforced soil structure design, the grid depth should be increased appropriately, and the coarse particle content of the overlying soil should be between 30 and 40%. During construction, the gravelly soil should be compacted to the maximum compaction at the optimal water content, and the structure should have a reasonable waterproofing system. According to the calculation results of the interface strength parameters, the uniaxial geogrid–gravelly soil interface has a high cohesive force csg, which should not be ignored in reinforced soil structure design.
Investigation of multidirectional toxicity induced by high-dose molybdenum exposure with Allium test
Authors: Özkan Burak , Çavuşoğlu Kültiğin , Yalçin Emine , Acar Ali
Published: April 2024

In this study, the multifaceted toxicity induced by high doses of the essential trace element molybdenum inAllium cepaL. was investigated. Germination, root elongation, weight gain, mitotic index (MI), micronucleus (MN), chromosomal abnormalities (CAs), Comet assay, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and anatomical parameters were used as biomarkers of toxicity. In addition, detailed correlation and PCA analyzes were performed for all parameters discussed. On the other hand, this study focused on the development of a two hidden layer deep neural network (DNN) using Matlab. Four experimental groups were designed: control group bulbs were germinated in tap water and application group bulbs were germinated with 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg/L doses of molybdenum for 72 h. After germination, root tips were collected and prepared for analysis. As a result, molybdenum exposure caused a dose-dependent decrease (p < 0.05) in the investigated physiological parameter values, and an increase (p < 0.05) in the cytogenetic (except MI) and biochemical parameter values. Molybdenum exposure induced different types of CAs and various anatomical damages in root meristem cells. Comet assay results showed that the severity of DNA damage increased depending on the increasing molybdenum dose. Detailed correlation and PCA analysis results determined significant positive and negative interactions between the investigated parameters and confirmed the relationships of these parameters with molybdenum doses. It has been found that the DNN model is in close agreement with the actual data showing the accuracy of the predictions. MAE, MAPE, RMSE and R2 were used to evaluate the effectiveness of the DNN model. Collective analysis of these metrics showed that the DNN model performed well. As a result, it has been determined once again that high doses of molybdenum cause multiple toxicity inA. cepaand theAlliumtest is a reliable universal test for determining this toxicity. Therefore, periodic measurement of molybdenum levels in agricultural soils should be the first priority in preventing molybdenum toxicity.
Impact of floral and geographical origins on honey quality parameters in Saudi Arabian regions
Authors: Alaerjani Wed Mohammed Ali , Mohammed Mohammed Elimam Ahamed
Published: April 2024

This article examined the effect of geographical (different climate conditions) and floral origins on some quality parameters of honey including the activity of diastase enzyme. Moreover, some non-quality parameters were investigated such as the pH, fructose, glucose, ratio of fructose/glucose and invertase. The honey samples were collected from Asir (cold climate) and Jazan (hot climate) regions at the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia. The geographical origin significantly affected the mean value moisture of the Acacia honey (p-value = 0.02), conductivity of the polyfloral honey (p-value = 0.03), sucrose of the Acacia honey (p-value = 0.02), diastase activity of the Acacia (p-value = 0.001), Ziziphus (p-value = 0.046) and polyfloral honey (p-value ≤ 0.001), fructose of the Acacia honey (p-value = 0.01), glucose of the Ziziphus honey (p-value = 0.03), fructose/ glucose ratio of the Ziziphus honey (p-value = 0.035), and invertase activity of the polyfloral honey (p-value ≤ 0.001). Regarding the effect of the floral origin of the honey from Asir region, the sucrose percentage of the Acacia honey was significantly more than that of the polyfloral honey (p- value = 0.003), the diastase activity of the Acacia honey was significantly more than its activity in the Ziziphus honey (p- value = 0.044), glucose percentage of the Ziziphus honey was significantly more the glucose percentage of the Acacia honey (p-value = 0.009) and the fructose/ glucose ratio of the Ziziphus honey was significantly more than that of the Acacia and polyforal honeys (p-value = 0.011 and p-value = 0.045, respectively). Concerning the significant effects of the floral origin on the quality parameters of the honey samples from Jazan region, the moisture of the Ziziphus honey was significantly increased when compared to the moisture of the Acacia honey (p-value = 0.038), the acidity of the polfloral honey was significantly more than the acidity of the Acacia honey (p-value = 0.049), the sum of fructose and glucose of the polyfloral honey was significantly increased compared to that of the Acacia honey (p-value = 0.015), the pH of the Ziziphus hiney was significantly more than the pH of the polyfloral honey (0.011) and the fructose of the polfloral honey was significantly more than that of the Acacia honey (p-value = 0.031). The effect of the geographical origin of the honey samples on their quality parameters depends on their floral origin and the effect of their floral origin differs according to their geographical origin. This article suggests considering collectively the geographical and floral origins effect when developing honey standards. However, the Codex standards for honey started considering this issue when it changed the standard concentration of HMF in honey from not more than 80–40 mg/Kg for honeys from cold climate and 80 mg/Kg for honeys from hot climates.
Systematic culture of central catheters and infections related to catheters in a neonatal intensive care unit: an observational study
Authors: Mazuel Marie , Moulier Virginie , Bourrel Anne-Sophie , Guillier Cyril , Tazi Asmaa , Jarreau Pierre-Henri , Chollat Clément
Published: April 2024

Systematic culture of the tip of central lines is performed in many neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) to guide any subsequent antibiotic therapy. The clinical relevance of this procedure is debated, given the significant bacterial contamination during its removal. We aimed to describe infections related to catheters and assess the usefulness of central catheter systematic cultures for probabilistic antibiotic therapy in cases of suspicion of catheter-related infections in a NICU. A retrospective study in a NICU included all newborn patients hospitalized with a central catheter, between January 2018, and June 2019. The main outcome measures were bacterial catheter colonization, catheter-related infection rate, and simulation-based approach to antibiotic prescription. Three hundred and seventy-five newborns, with 634 central catheters were included. There were 273 (43%) catheters that were colonized by at least one microorganism. There were 183 cases of suspected sepsis, with 31 infections definitively related to the catheter. In our simulation antibiotic prescription approach, there was no significant difference in terms of the efficacy toward the microorganism(s) involved between the probabilistic antibiotic therapies proposed by the experts and those ultimately prescribed. Performing a catheter culture only if catheter-related infection is suspected could be an alternative to routine screening.
Eco-environmental changes due to human activities in the Erhai Lake Basin from 1990 to 2020
Authors: Liu Xiaojie , Chen Junyi , Tang Bo-Hui , He Liang , Xu Yunshan , Yang Chao
Published: April 2024

Human activities have increased with urbanisation in the Erhai Lake Basin, considerably impacting its eco-environmental quality (EEQ). This study aims to reveal the evolution and driving forces of the EEQ using water benefit–based ecological index (WBEI) in response to human activities and policy variations in the Erhai Lake Basin from 1990 to 2020. Results show that (1) the EEQ exhibited a pattern of initial degradation, subsequent improvement, further degradation and a rebound from 1990 to 2020, and the areas with poor and fair EEQ levels mainly concentrated around the Erhai Lake Basin with a high level of urbanisation and relatively flat terrain; (2) the EEQ levels were not optimistic in 1990, 1995 and 2015, and areas with poor and fair EEQ levels accounted for 43.41%, 47.01% and 40.05% of the total area, respectively; and (3) an overall improvement in the EEQ was observed in 1995–2000, 2000–2005, 2005–2009 and 2015–2020, and the improvement was most significant in 1995–2000, covering an area of 823.95 km2 and accounting for 31.79% of the total area. Results also confirmed that the EEQ changes in the Erhai Lake Basin were primarily influenced by human activities and policy variations. Moreover, these results can provide a scientific basis for the formulation and planning of sustainable development policy in the Erhai Lake Basin.
The effect of a rotating magnetic field on the antioxidant system in healthy volunteers - preliminary study
Authors: Cecerska-Heryć Elżbieta , Gliźniewicz Marta , Grygorcewicz Bartłomiej , Serwin Natalia , Stodolak Patrycja , Słodzińska Weronika , Birger Radosław , Goszka Małgorzata , Polikowska Aleksandra , Budkowska Marta , Rakoczy Rafał , Dołęgowska Barbara
Published: April 2024

Oxidative stress is characterized by an excessive concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) resulting from a disturbance in the balance between ROS production and their removal by antioxidant systems (SOD, CAT, GPx). Prolonged and intense oxidative stress can cause various forms of damage to cells, which markers are total antioxidant capacity (TAC), reactive oxygen species modulator (ROMO1), and malondialdehyde (MDA). It has been demonstrated that magnetic fields can positively affect human health, for example, by reducing oxidative stress. Determination of the effect of a rotating magnetic field (RMF) on the activity/concentration of selected oxidative stress markers. A group of 30 healthy volunteers (15 women and 15 men) (mean age 24.8 ± 5.1) in the study classified into the following groups: internal control group (CG);1 h 25 Hz (samples placed in the field for one hour at 25 Hz); 3 h 25 Hz (samples placed in the field for 3 h at 25 Hz), the 1 h 50 Hz group ( placed in RMF for an hour at 50 Hz), and a group of 3 h 50 Hz (samples placed in the field for 3 h at 50 Hz). Serum samples were collected in K2EDTA tubes.. The magnetic induction value obtained for RMF is 37.06 mT and 42.64 mT.Activity/concentration of selected oxidative stress markers was analyzed by ELISA. The influence of an RMF on the activity/concentration of SOD, MDA, TAC, and ROMO1 was demonstrated (p < 0.001; p = 0.0013; p < 0.001; p = 0.003). The RFM can reduce oxidative stress, as evidenced by higher SOD and CAT activities in the CG than in samples placed in the RFM. Prolonged exposure to the RFM at 50 Hz increased the TAC level, indicating an intensification of oxidative stress in these samples. The optimal conditions for staying in the RFM (reducing oxidative stress) are 1 h 50 Hz for SOD and MDA; 3 h 25 Hz for CAT and TAC. In the case of ROMO1, it is stated that 1 h 25 Hz are the optimal conditions for no increased production of ROS.
Assessing the perioperative outcomes of abdominal drain omission after robot-assisted partial nephrectomy
Authors: Ditonno Francesco , Bertolo Riccardo , Veccia Alessandro , Costantino Sonia , Montanaro Francesca , Artoni Francesco , Baielli Alberto , Boldini Michele , Brusa Davide , De Marco Vincenzo , Migliorini Filippo , Porcaro Antonio Benito , Rizzetto Riccardo , Cerruto Maria Angela , Autorino Riccardo , Antonelli Alessandro
Published: April 2024

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of abdominal drain placement (vs. omission) on perioperative outcomes of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN), focusing on complications, time to canalization, deambulation, and pain management. A prospectively-maintained institutional database was queried to get data of patients who underwent RAPN for renal masses between January 2018 and May 2023 at our Institution. Baseline, surgical, and postoperative data were collected. Retrieved patients were stratified based upon placement of abdominal drain (Y/N). Descriptive analyses comparing the two groups were conducted as appropriate. After adjusting for potential confounders, a logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate significant predictors of any grade and “major” complications. 342 patients were included: 192 patients in the “drain group” versus 150 patients in the “no-drain” group. Renal masses were larger (p < 0.001) and at higher complexity (RENAL score, p = 0.01), in the drain group. Procedures in the drain group had statistically significantly longer operative time, ischemia time, and higher blood loss (all p-values < 0.001). The urinary collecting system was more likely involved compared to the no-drain group (p = 0.01). At multivariate analysis, abdominal drainage was not a significant predictor of any grade (OR 0.79, 95%CI 0.33–1.87) and major postoperative complications (OR 3.62, 95%CI 0.53–9.68). Patients in the drain group experienced a statistically significantly higher hemoglobin drop (p < 0.01). Moreover, they exhibited statistically significant higher paracetamol consumption (p < 0.001) and need for additional opioids (p = 0.02). In summary, the study results suggest the safety of omitting drain placement and remark on the need for personalized decision-making, which considers patient and procedural factors.
A critique of using epitaxial criterion to discriminate between protogenetic and syngenetic mineral inclusions in diamond
Authors: Bruno Marco , Ghignone Stefano , Aquilano Dino , Nestola Fabrizio
Published: April 2024

Distinguishing syngenetic from protogenetic inclusions in natural diamonds is one of the most debated issues in diamond research. Were the minerals that now reside in inclusions in diamonds born before the diamond that hosts them (protogenesis)? Or did they grow simultaneously and by the same reaction (syngenesis)? Once previously published data on periclase [(Mg,Fe)O] and magnesiochromite (MgCr2O4) inclusions in diamond have been re-analysed, we show that the main arguments reported so far to support syngenesis between diamond and its mineral inclusions, definitely failed. Hence: (a) the epitaxial relationships between diamond and its mineral inclusion should no longer be used to support syngenesis, because only detecting an epitaxy does not tell us which was the nucleation substrate (there are evidences that in case of epitaxy, the inclusion acts as a nucleation substrate); (b) the morphology of the inclusion should no longer be used as well, as inclusions could be protogenetic regardless their shapes. Finally, we advance the hypothesis that the majority of inclusions in diamonds are protogenetic, e.g., they are constituent of rocks in which diamonds were formed and not products of reactions during diamond growth.
A new Mach–Zehnder interference temperature measuring sensor based on silica-based chip
Authors: Li Guoqiang , Li Tao , Liu Yongfang , Zheng Yuanjin
Published: April 2024

A new type of silicon-based Mach–Zehnder interference (MZI) temperature sensor chip with “mosquito coil” structure was designed. The sensor chip used a new MZI interference structure. After the light entered the chip, it split and interfered in the combiner of the chip. The change in the surrounding temperature will cause the refractive index of the waveguide to change, which will cause the output light intensity to change. The sensor used a frequency stabilized laser that was based on a Bragg grating fiber. The experimental results showed that this structure could achieve a resolution of 0.002 °C and measuring range of 30 °C.
Modulate the impact of the drowsiness on the resting state functional connectivity
Authors: Joliot Marc , Cremona Sandrine , Tzourio Christophe , Etard Olivier
Published: April 2024

This research explores different methodologies to modulate the effects of drowsiness on functional connectivity (FC) during resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI). The study utilized a cohort of students (MRi-Share) and classified individuals into drowsy, alert, and mixed/undetermined states based on observed respiratory oscillations. We analyzed the FC group difference between drowsy and alert individuals after five different processing methods: the reference method, two based on physiological and a global signal regression of the BOLD time series signal, and two based on Gaussian standardizations of the FC distribution. According to the reference method, drowsy individuals exhibit higher cortico-cortical FC than alert individuals. First, we demonstrated that each method reduced the differences between drowsy and alert states. The second result is that the global signal regression was quantitively the most effective, minimizing significant FC differences to only 3.3% of the total FCs. However, one should consider the risks of overcorrection often associated with this methodology. Therefore, choosing a less aggressive form of regression, such as the physiological method or Gaussian-based approaches, might be a more cautious approach. Third and last, using the Gaussian-based methods, cortico-subcortical and intra-default mode network (DMN) FCs were significantly greater in alert than drowsy subjects. These findings bear resemblance to the anticipated patterns during the onset of sleep, where the cortex isolates itself to assist in transitioning into deeper slow wave sleep phases, simultaneously disconnecting the DMN.