bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The knowledge, attitudes, perceptions and adaptation strategies to climate change of smallholder livestock farmers in Otjombinde and Epukiro constituencies in the Omaheke Region, Namibia
Authors: Siririka Ndjipua Avihe , Charamba Vonai , Mupangwa Johnfisher , Shipandeni Maria N.T. , Kahumba Absalom
Published: August 2024

The challenges of climate change are continuously increasing, constituting a major threat to livestock production, which is more than a socio-economic cornerstone in Namibian rural communal farmers, contributing approximately two-thirds of the country’s agricultural GDP. Climate variability, which may be in the form of drought, very high temperatures, floods and frosts has been reported to have detrimental effects on feed and water availability, leading to reduced livestock weight, growth, production and reproductive performance, and ultimately high mortality. Understanding smallholder farmers’ socio-psychological antecedents such as knowledge, attitudes and perceptions and the way they influence their level of adaptation to CC mitigation strategies needs to be assessed, as it guides CC policy formulation and intervention programmes. The study investigated CC perception and adaptation strategies for livestock farmers in Omaheke Region. Data were gathered from (n = 80) purposively sampled farmers in Epukiro and Otjombinde constituencies based on livestock ownership. The study revealed that 93.8% of the respondents were aware that the climate is changing, with attributes such as very high and very low temperatures, high and low rainfall, and drought having been noticed. Climate change has been attributed to both human and natural activity. The study observed that the implementation of CC adaptation strategies in livestock agriculture is low, thus recommends that the improvement of adaptation techniques involving employing extension services, promotion of farmer-to-farmer extension, and utilization of various information sources of climate knowledge, such as farmers' associations and social organizations, should be the future policy priority.
The Role of Extension Workers in Managing Agricultural Indigenous Knowledge in the East Showa Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia
Authors: Gebru Workineh , Chagwiza Clarie
Published: August 2024

The study aimed at assessing extension workers’ role in managing agricultural indigenous knowledge (IK) in East Showa Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia. To do so, a concurrent survey design involving face to face semi-structured interviews and key informant interview were employed to collect data. A sample of 24 extension workers was selected through purposive sampling techniques to take part in semi-structured interview. Both quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods were employed. For quantitative data, descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage and mean were used, while the qualitative data gathered through open-ended questions was organised, interpreted and analysed in the form of theme descriptions and tables. The result reveals that most extension workers are knowledgeable on different types of IK practices, not limited to clearing and preparing farm fields, controlling weeds and maintaining soil fertility. The study established that extension workers have been found to play a good role at preservation of IK and use a number of platforms to disseminate and promote IK utilisation among studied communities. However, most of these workers are not actively involved in the capturing and management of agricultural IK; and also they are not making use of current extension advisor approach as a platform for sharing and learning of IK with smallholder farmers. Thus, the limited engagement of extension workers with IK could have negative policy impacts related to knowledge capturing and preservation, indigenous rights, and sustainable development. Special efforts are, therefore, needed to understand, document, disseminate and utilise agricultural IK for farming activities at the grassroots level. The study further recommends the need to revisit the roles and purposes of extension workers within the current extension model and then empower them to fully participate in the formal capturing, dissemination and preservation of agricultural IK.
Prevalence and ROC curve analysis of associated factors of presbyopia among adults in southeast China: the Fujian Eye Study
Authors: Li Yang , Li Xiaoxin , Hu Yonghua , Wang Bin , Su Shengqi , Hu Qinrui
Published: August 2024

Purpose
With the improvement of people's living standards, the demand for eye health is no longer limited to being visible, but more importantly, being able to see clearly. The aging population has led to increasing attention on presbyopia worldwide. Our study aims to reveal the prevalence and related factors of presbyopia among urban and rural adults over 50 years of Fujian Province Southern China.
Methods
A population-based cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the prevalence and related factors of presbyopia among urban and rural adults over 50 years in more than 50 communities of Fujian Province Southern China from May 2018 to October 2019. A total of 8211 residents aged over 50 years underwent a questionnaire and a series related examinations. PNVA was measured using logarithmic visual acuity chart at a distance of 30cm, and presbyopia was defined as PNVA worse than 20/50.
Results
A total of 8033 residents did the examination of near visual acuity in this study. Of these, 5509 (68.6%) had presbyopia, of whom 3428 (62.2%) were female, 3057 (55.4%) were from urban area, 4300 (78.0%) were from coastal region. The prevalence of presbyopia was 68.6%. Univariate regression showed that presbyopia was correlated with female, older age, less educated, lower income, higher spherical equivalent refraction (SE), living in rural area, smoking, alcohol consumption and tea consumption, and was independent with geographic location. While multiple regression found that presbyopia was correlated with older age, less educated, lower income and higher SE, while sex, degree of urbanization, smoking, alcohol consumption and tea consumption were not statistically significantly associated with presbyopia any more. Finally, we used ROC curves to detect the credibility of the four associated factors, and the results showed that age and SE can accurately predict presbyopia, while education and income levels have poor credibility.
Conclusion
There was a significant burden of presbyopia in southeast China, which suggested more investment in accessible services and policy to enhance eye health on elderly with refractive error.
Multimodal seed data augmentation for low-resource audio latin Cuengh languge
Authors: Jiang Lanlan , Li Jun , Zhang Jingwei , Shen Yan
Published: August 2024

The Latin Cuengh Language is a low-resource dialect prevalent in select ethnic minority regions of China, presents unique challenges for intelligent research and preservation efforts. This is primarily due to the language's oral tradition and the limited availability of textual resources. Prior research has sought to bolster intelligent processing capabilities for Latin Cuengh through data augmentation techniques leveraging scarce textual data, with modest success. In this study, we introduce an innovative multimodal seed data augmentation model designed to significantly enhance the intelligent recognition and comprehension of the Latin Cuengh dialect. Our approach commences with the training of a pre-trained model on extensive speech data. Subsequently, we integrate a modest corpus of multilingual textual data as seed data, which is instrumental in fine-tuning the pre-trained model. Notably, we employ both Latin Cuengh and Chinese texts as bilingual seed data to enrich the multilingual aspects of our model. We refine the model parameters further by engaging it in a variety of downstream tasks. Our experimental findings demonstrate that the proposed model delivers commendable performance across both multi-classification and binary classification tasks. Moreover, the model's training efficiency has been substantially ameliorated through the strategic use of seed data augmentation. This research paves the way for more effective intelligent systems tailored to low-resource languages like Latin Cuengh.
Reclassifying Lethal Heat
Authors: Rouse Robert , Debnath Ramit , Rouse David , Tebbutt Will , Dousset Benedicte , Hosking J. Scott , McRobie Allan , Mora Camilo , Shuckburgh Emily
Published: August 2024

As heatwaves increase in both frequency and intensity globally, the need to develop tools to predict the human impact and develop a more comprehensive understanding of the impact mechanism at a population level is becoming more urgent. Our study provides a new taxonomy of heatwaves based on identifying sub-threshold lethal heatwaves through physiological adaptation and vulnerability. We used a classification algorithm applied to a lethal heatwave dataset, comprising 125,411 events where the temperature exceeded the 90$^{th}$ percentile across 140 cities, with combined meteorology and sociodemographic inputs to label these events. The accuracy of our model outperformed classification that relied on wet bulb temperature thresholds with a factor of 16 improvement in imbalanced classification performance. Furthermore, we found that the majority of level heatwaves within our dataset occur below high wet bulb temperature thresholds and that accurate predictions for heatwave mortality could be obtained by combining thermo-temporal differentials and population health metrics instead of absolute climatic conditions. We thus propose classifying heatwaves as either: Shock Heatwaves, where aggressive thermo-temporal differentials from a local acclimation point trigger adverse stress effects, particularly among the vulnerable; or Threshold Heatwaves, where high temperature and humidity conditions do exceed the ability to dissipate heat effectively.
Evaluation of the seismic capacity of cultural heritage in case of aggregate buildings: the castle of Rosignano Marittimo
Authors: Puppio Mario Lucio , Ariu Matteo , Deligia Mariangela , Doveri Fabio , Ferrini Martina , Sassu Mauro
Published: August 2024

The partitioning of masonry buildings in Structural Units (SUs), or aggregate of Structural Units, is a useful tool to simplify the analysis of the buildings and the study of static and seismic vulnerability. However, this allocation is affected by uncertainties, simplification, and sometimes unavoidable miscalculation due to the directionality of this subdivision. This procedure exposes the results to discrepancies due to the way the building is divided. The case of Rosignano Castle is emblematic. In this paper, the dependence of the results on how the Structural Units are considered is analyzed, as well as the role of structural in plan and elevation irregularities on various SUs and their combination. Non-linear static analysis corresponding to different distributions of the building in Structural Units, the uncertainties about material properties, and different directions of the seismic action are analyzed, and the respective results are discussed here. A simplified approach, for the study of aggregate buildings on an urban scale, is based on the so-called “tabular method”. Several Authors proposed and improved similar methods applied to different urban contexts. A comparison of simplified methodologies with the results of the detailed FEM analysis is also discussed and presented here. Finally, a simplified approach is proposed based on the regularity parameter of the building in aggregate. Taking the evidence from FEM analysis as a physical-mechanical base, the authors propose the quantitative definition of irregularity parameters and the use of them to determine the building vulnerabilities. The proposed procedure aimed to be a practical tool to determine, in an expeditious manner, the seismic capacity of a masonry building in aggregate. The model proposed in this paper, applied to the case of the study of Rosignano Marittimo (a typical situation of aggregate building in a historical context in Tuscany, Italy) shows emblematic results that can be extended to analogous configuration.
Microscopic mechanism of contraction of cellulose-rich G-fiber in tension wood due to boiling: an approach by simulation using reaction kinetics
Authors: Yamamoto Hiroyuki , Matsuo-Ueda Miyuki , Gril Joseph
Published: August 2024

Green tension wood (TW) contracts irreversibly in the longitudinal direction upon hygrothermal treatment (HT-treatment) (i.e., boiling in water), which is known as hygrothermal-recovery (HTR) of TW. Researchers believe that HTR of TW-specimen is due to longitudinal contraction of the thick cellulose-rich gelatinous-layer (G-layer) in the gelatinous-fibers (G-fibers) when it is boiled in hot water. However, how the G-layer, composed of highly crystallized and longitudinally oriented cellulose microfibrils (CMF), contracts during HT-treatment is still an open question. The ultimate goal of our study is to elucidate the microscopic mechanisms related to the longitudinal HTR-behavior of G-fibers. With those backgrounds, the present study first generalized the simple mathematical model given by Sujan et al. (2016). Second, the newly generalized model was developed into a physicochemical model in terms of reaction kinetics of denaturation of the matrix components in the G-layer. Third, the experimental results reported in Yamamoto et al. (2022) were simulated using the newly-developed model, and the obtained results were analyzed and compared with experimental results to give a glimpse of what happens in the TW-fiber when it is HT-treated, especially in the G-layer, which is composed of crystalline cellulose microfibrils and non-crystalline matrix polysaccharides.
Plasmon-Induced Transparency Performance of Multi-Layered Graphene-Phosphorene Structure in THz Region
Authors: KHANPOUR MOHAMMAD AMIN , KARIMZADEH ROUHOLLAH
Published: August 2024

This paper investigates the optimization and tunability of THz refractive index plasmon-induced transparency sensors with multiple layers of asymmetric dark modes using Finite-Difference Time-Domain simulations. Notable findings include enhanced absorption peaks at higher frequencies in structures incorporating diverse dark mode materials, specifically graphene-dominated structures. This study also explores dynamic tunability through voltage application to graphene dark modes, showcasing potential applications in practical tunable THz sensors. Additionally, optimal sensor performance is explored when the sample material is placed in various positions relative to the last dark mode of the structure, providing insights into spatial arrangement optimization. Overall, this research contributes new perspectives on the impact of material diversity, dynamic tunability, and sample layer placement for advancing THz refractive index sensors.
The Genomic Landscape of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines
Authors: Zhang Chao , Li Chenghao , Su Jian Zhong , Zhao Kuaile , Shao Longlong , Deng Jiaying
Published: August 2024

Background
Research on the genomic characteristics of common esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines, including exome mutations and mRNA expression, is limited. This study aims to elucidate the malignancy, invasion capability, classical cancer-related signaling pathways, and immune status of ESCC cell lines, providing a detailed genomic landscape and highlighting the unique features of each cell line.
Methods
Whole exome and RNA sequencing were conducted on ESCC cell lines TE-1, ECA-109, KYSE-30, KYSE-150, KYSE-180, KYSE-450, and KYSE-510, with the normal epithelium cell line Het-1a as a comparison. Bioinformatics methods analyzed gene mutation types, mutation frequencies, RNA expression, and classical cancer-related signaling pathways. Specific analyses were also performed on tumor burden, genes related to differentiation, invasion, immunity, and gene enrichment in each cell line.
Results
The highest tumor mutation burden (TMB) was 70.4 mutations per megabase (mut/MB) in KYSE-150, while the lowest was 48.7 mut/MB in KYSE-510. Mutations in the Hippo, Notch, PI3K, RTK-Ras, and Wnt signaling pathways were present in all cancer cell lines. Mutations were significantly enriched in signature 3, associated with defective homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). The NRF2 signaling pathway exhibited mutations in KYSE-180, KYSE-450, and TE-1 cell lines. The cell cycle gene mutation frequency was low, occurring only in KYSE-30 and TE-1 cell lines. The expression profiles of KYSE-510 and ECA-109 were similar. The KYSE-150 cell line showed up-regulated invasion genes, while the KYSE-450 cell line had significantly down-regulated poor differentiation-related genes. Immune-related genes were up-regulated in the ECA-109 cell line.
Conclusion
The molecular profiles generated in this study provide detailed information on gene mutations and expression in common ESCC cell lines. The KYSE-150 cell line exhibited a prominent invasion capability, while the ECA-109 cell line showed up-regulated immune properties. This genomic landscape offers valuable insights for future research and therapeutic strategies in ESCC.
Advanced non-invasive detection for immediate LNAPL spillage: temporal and statistical analysis
Authors: al-hussain Ola Tareq , Ramli Harris , Al-Haidarey Mohammed J. , Naser Hayder Yasir
Published: August 2024

Employing Electrical Resistivity (ER)in this study as a non-invasive geological method for assessing LNAPL (Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid) migration within subsurface soil presents a valuable and cost-effective tool for geological and environmental investigations. Nevertheless, little is known about how ER values are affected by the presence of contaminants Therefore, this research seeks to provide an in-depth understanding of the relationship between LNAPL contamination and soil electrical properties to enhance environmental monitoring and remediation efforts, methodology was performed in a 9-sector glass soil box to assess the possible migration pathways for diesel in subsurface layers with spillage volumes of 5ml, 25ml, and 50ml over 24 hours, with readings taken at regular intervals. Soil samples were collected from Bahar al-Najaf which is located in the 'Middle Euphrates' area in the upper part of southern Iraq, 170km southwest of Baghdad, analyzed and packed into four soil profiles inside soil box according to their original stratification as Unified Soil Classification System (USCS). For measuring (ER), the Wenner method by Dr. Frank Wenner of the US Bureau of Standards in 1915, and a Multifunction Installation Tester (Fluke 1652C.USA) were used in this study. Results of the temporal analysis showed a continuous decrease along with the increase in LNAPL, comparing chemical and geophysical data enabled us to evaluate how sensitive physical properties are to the presence of contaminants depending on soil composition as an important factor.
Chlorine-induced Stress Corrosion Cracking of Single Crystal Superalloys at 550°C
Authors: Martinez Fabian Duarte , Dawson Karl , Tatlock Gordon , Leggett Jonathan , Gibson Grant , Mason-Flucke J. C. , Nicholls J. R. , Syed Adnan , Morar Nicolau , Gray Simon
Published: August 2024

This study has investigated the effect of NaCl and different gaseous environments on the stress corrosion cracking susceptibility of CMSX-4 at 550°C. The presence of SOx leads to the rapid dissociation of NaCl into Na2SO4 and the release Cl2 and HCl, which then trigger an active oxidation mechanism and stress corrosion cracking. The incubation time for crack initiation at 690 MPa and in the presence of a sulphur containing environment is 10 minutes. A working hypothesis is that stress corrosion cracking occurs due to the hydrogen released at the oxide/alloy interface when metal chlorides are formed; however, this hypothesis needs to be further explored.
TCP-Based Network Communication Optimized for Green Cloud Computing
Authors: Fesl Jan , Sedlák Daniel , Polák Michal
Published: August 2024

In many clouds running around the world, much of the communication takes place over TCP. Inside clouds, a huge number of new TCP connections are created every second, carrying huge amounts of information. Different variants of TCP use different algorithms to control data flow, which vary in complexity and suitability for specific conditions. Our team has examined in detail most of the currently used TCP variants to evaluate their ability to achieve high throughput and low energy consumption in data center network conditions. Adopting the recommendations from our observations can reduce power consumption in intra-cloud communication by units or tens of percent at global scale simply by ensuring suitable TCP variants.
Distributed Compressive Genomics: Fundamental Pattern Matching Primitives via Spark
Authors: Rocco Lorenzo Di , Petrillo Umberto Ferraro , Giancarlo Raffaele , Cattaneo Giuseppe
Published: August 2024

Background: Compressive genomics consists of a set of techniques that, for some important bioinformatics tasks such as sequence comparison and search, leverages on a compressed representation of the data in order to improve time performance. That is, its good compression is not the final goal, since the new and smaller representation of the data should support fast processing of it. Although Big Data technologies, such as distributed systems incarnated by Spark, have no apparent limit on the overall amount of memory available, making compression not so appealing, they may benefit of compressive genomics for a variety of reasons (e.g., the economic cost of adding more computational nodes may be significant). Unfortunately, there is no study that provides an evaluation of how convenient such an approach would be, to fix ideas, for Spark.
Results: Although porting compressive genomics techniques to a distributed environment is not simple neither immediate, we present here the first study regarding the benefits of compressive genomics for Big Data technologies such as Spark. In particular, we provide the first Spark version of the FM-Index, a fundamental compressed pattern matching data structure with pervasive use in bioinformatics. For completeness, we also propose Spark versions of the Compressed Boyer-Moore Pattern Matching algorithm. A carefully designed experimental analysis indicates the clear advantages of using those two compressed genomics primitives within Spark. Moreover, we propose a general method, with associated software, that simplifies the development of compressive genomics techniques on Spark.
Conclusions: We provide the first, and much needed study, regarding the potential advantages of using compressive genomics within Big data technologies: the proof of principle is via a fundamental compressed data structure for bioinformatics such as the FM-Index on a leading system such as Spark. The software platform associated to this research is perceived as a fundamental building block for further studies in this area.
Availability: https://github.com/ldirocco/SparkGeco
Comprehensive analysis of differential expression genes within the CLEC family in the prognosis, immune response, and treatment of gastric cancer
Authors: Zhu Weijian , Yi Qiang , Wang Jiaqi , Ouyang Xinting , Yang Kuan , Jiang Bowei , Liu Jin , Zhao Liwen , Liu Xuejin , Huang Benben , Zhong Jinghua , Zhong Jianing
Published: August 2024

Background
Gastric cancer, a prevalent malignancy, often presents challenges due to its low early diagnosis rate and poor prognosis. This study aims to establish a prognostic model composed of genes from the CLEC family, aiming to predict the prognosis of gastric cancer patients effectively.
Methods
Data Collection: mRNA expression matrices and clinical data were downloaded from the TCGA and GEO databases. Differential analysis, univariate Cox analysis, lasso regression analysis, and multivariate Cox analysis were conducted to identify three genes associated with the prognosis of the CLEC family for building a prognostic model. Prognostic Model Construction: A prognostic model comprising these three genes was constructed. The prognostic value was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier plots, time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, multivariable Cox regression analysis incorporating clinical information, and a nomogram. The predictive value of the three-gene signature was further validated using the GSE84437 dataset. Immune and Functional Analyses: Differences in immune status and signaling pathways between different risk groups were assessed through analyses of the tumor microenvironment, immune cell infiltration, immune function, and gene set enrichment. Finally, chemotherapy-sensitivity drugs were identified through drug analysis.
Results
Results revealed CD93, CLEC3A, and VCAN as three CLEC family genes associated with prognosis. Multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that these three CLEC family genes were independent prognostic factors for overall survival in gastric cancer patients. Additionally, we constructed a prognostic nomogram that incorporated risk score, age, gender, grade, and stage. Based on TCGA/GSE84437 data, calibration plots demonstrated its predictive solid performance. Furthermore, immune-related analyses and drug sensitivity assessments suggested a close association between the three-gene model and immune cell infiltration, indicating their potential as predictive indicators for chemotherapy sensitivity.
Conclusion
We have identified a CLEC family gene model consisting of three genes associated with the prognosis of gastric cancer. This provides a basis for personalized prevention and treatment strategies.
A breadth-first search algorithm for frequent itemsets based on vertical data layout
Authors: Li Yingchao , Wang Yang , Yang Guanci , Wu Yongming , Xie Zhenqiang
Published: August 2024

Frequent itemset mining, a pivotal technique in the field of data mining, is aimed at identifying items that frequently co-occur in transaction databases, thereby enabling the extraction of valuable patterns and associations within large datasets. Algorithms utilizing vertical data layout typically employ depth-first search for extracting frequent itemsets. However, leveraging anti-monotonicity property to constrain the search space poses challenges. Additionally, memory consumption can be substantial, particularly when using a low minimum support threshold. In this paper, we propose integrating hashmap and list data structures to store frequent itemsets and represent the search space more efficiently. Furthermore, we introduce a breadth-first search-based approach for generating candidate itemsets while simultaneously pruning them based on anti-monotonicity principles. Support counting is performed using bitwise operators within the concept and technique of vertical database representation. Building upon two formats of vertical databases (Tidset and Diffset), we present two novel algorithms: Tidset-BFS and Diffset-BFS respectively. To evaluate their performance, extensive experiments are conducted, comparing them with a prominent negFIN algorithm across various real-world and synthetic datasets. The experimental results demonstrate that our proposed algorithms exhibit significantly improved efficiency across most datasets.
Ethics beyond Goldwater? Analyzing policies from American medical organizations on public communications from physicians in the digital age
Authors: Smith Alexander , Hachen Stefanie , Oquendo Maria A. , Bhugra Dinesh , Ventriglio Antonio , Liebrenz Michael
Published: August 2024

As a professional duty, physicians often publicly comment on health-related topics. However, ethical complexities can arise during discussions about high-profile individuals or events, especially in an era of rapid news cycles and digital media. The American Medical Association (AMA) has policies concerning physician commentary and media interactions, as does the American Psychiatric Association (i.e., the Goldwater Rule). Nevertheless, the extent to which other US medical associations have adopted similar protocols remains underexplored. Focusing on non-psychiatric members of the AMA’s policymaking body, the Federation of Medicine (FMMs), this study sought to analyse cross-speciality perspectives. Between January-March 2024, online resources for n = 122 FMMs were reviewed (e.g., professional codes and position statements), followed by email outreach to verify positions and garner further insights. n = 47 FMMs provided sufficient information for inclusion, cumulatively representing approximately 950,000 members. n = 16 FMMs (34%) had guidelines or policies regarding public commentary, generally emphasizing accuracy, consent, and confidentiality. Yet, for the majority of FMMs (n = 31/66%), no specific regulations were identified; these organizations did not cite any proprietary statutes or deferred to AMA materials. Moreover, existing FMM policies largely overlooked the impact of Artificial Intelligence and digital misinformation, warranting cross-specialty exchanges to uphold credible discourse amid societal and technological shifts.
Unit Pattern: A Design Pattern for Self-Documenting User Acceptance Test Automation
Authors: Shan Shan , Han Gene , Reyna Marcela , Huang Jeff
Published: August 2024

Generally, test cases that closely mirror business logic are easier for practitioners and stakeholders to understand. However, they are typically more expensive to implement compared to cases that execute specific functions without domainspecific specialization. Readability plays a crucial role in enhancing software quality, reducing maintenance costs, and facilitating testing by non-technical personnel.
Implementing easily readable test automation solutions may impact code structure and entail additional development and maintenance costs. Yet, the best approach to mitigate these costs remains unaddressed. Existing frameworks often employ ad hoc approaches limited to specialized scenarios, lacking a systematic
solution to the cost and readability problem in general.
To bridge this gap, we share the challenges and difficulties encountered during the process of creating readable test automation test cases. Drawing from our practical experience, we introduce a new design pattern called the Unit Pattern.
This pattern focuses on dividing test logic into the smallest units that convey a clear business meaning, eliminating business domain dependence and ensuring applicability to all projects.
The idea behind this approach is straightforward, making implementation very straightforward and with minimal additional costs. Through theoretical analysis and empirical studies using real-world projects from industrial settings, we find that the Unit Pattern has minimal impact on code structure. Our experimental results confirm that applying the Unit Pattern to test automation yields good readability with minimal additional costs.
Analysis and Short-circuit Test Investigation on Mechanical Stability of Power Transformer Winding
Authors: ZHANG Zongxi , FENG Yun , LIU Rui , OU Qiang , REN Junwen
Published: August 2024

The deviation from checking the transformer's short-circuit capacity is challenging to control because of the difficulties in detecting critical stability through standard short-circuit tests or faults. To accurately evaluate the mechanical strength of power transformer winding, this paper proposes an obtaining radial buckling stress (ORBS) method for the inner windings based on the non-equivalent force characteristics of the winding disks at different height positions. Firstly, after designing a test transformer and calculating the critical buckling current based on traditional methods, 22 short-circuit tests are implemented by gradually increasing the short-circuit current. Additionally, various feature data representing excessive winding deformation are characterized, and the trans-former is disassembled, with the "step" deformation positions marked as the critical buckling points. Finally, the differences between different destabilization algorithms are analyzed by loading the maximum current into the simulation model and obtaining the critical buckling stress at the marked position. The results indicate that the critical conditions of mechanical stability of transformer winding can be investigated accurately through multiple destructive short-circuit tests in a limited tested model based on the ORBS method. Furthermore, the ORBS method can improve the design and verification of the ability to withstand the short circuit.
Etiology and Mortality of Nonconvulsive Status Epilepticus
Authors: Tokuç Firdevs Ezgi Uçan , Görgülü Emine , Genç Fatma , Korucuk Meltem , Erdal Abidin , Gömceli Yasemin Biçer
Published: August 2024

Background: Nonconvulsive status epilepticus (NCSE) is a disease with a high mortality rate, which is not uncommon, especially in the elderly population. It has a very diverse aetiology. Prognosis is related to the etiology. we aimed to investigate the etiology, mortality rates, and factors affecting mortality in patients diagnosed with NCSE in a tertiary epilepsy center in Turkiye.
Methods: All EEGs taken in the electroencephalography (EEG) laboratory of the Department of Neurology, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, between June 2021 and February 2024. Patients who met the Salzburg Consensus Criteria (SCC) for NCSE were included. Demographic data, etiologic factors, seizure history, comorbidities, neuroradiological imaging, laboratory data, treatments administered for NCSE and responses to treatment, short- and long-term outcomes, and EEG findings at follow-up, if any, were noted from the epicrisis notes of all patients who met the criteria.
Results: Two hundred patients were included in the study. Mortality was observed in 76 (38.4%) of patients with NCSE. There was a statistically significant correlation between NCSE etiology and mortality (p<0.001). Mortality was most common in patients with cerebral tumors as the etiology, with a rate of 63.6%, followed by 57.1% in patients with dementia and 53.8% in patients with CVD. The lowest mortality rate was observed in patients with autoimmune encephalitis and epilepsy (14.3% and 17.2%, respectively). After appropriate ASM treatment, 117 (58.5%) patients with NCSE improved, while no change was observed in 19 (9.5%) patients. In 12 (26%) patients, deterioration in the EEG was observed. When posttreatment improvement and etiologic factors were analyzed, the highest rate of improvement was observed in the autoimmune encephalitis and CVD groups.
Conclusions: Our study showed that advanced age and the presence of stroke are associated with mortality and that patients with NCSE due to autoimmune encephalitis respond well to treatment.
Integrating Electro-fermentation and Other Strategies to Enhance Xylitol Production From Sugarcane Hydrolysate by Saccharomyces Cerevisiae
Authors: Gaspar Thiago , Lizarazo Frank Uriel Suarez , Fier Ícaro , Santos Leandro Vieira , Pereira Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães , de Mello Fellipe da Silveira Bezerra
Published: August 2024

Xylitol, a naturally occurring biomolecule, is utilized in various commercial applications, with its market expected to reach USD 1.7 billion by 2028. Large-scale commercial production typically involves rigorous chemical processes, making xylitol biosynthesis an attractive alternative. The GRAS yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae emerges as an appealing host for this purpose due to its robustness and efficiency under industrial conditions. However, research on utilizing this yeast for xylitol production from biomass hydrolysates remains notably sparse. This study investigates various bioprocessing improvements to enhance xylitol production from sugarcane straw hydrolysate using recombinant S. cerevisiae strains FMYX and CENPX, derived from industrial and laboratory backgrounds, respectively. Strategies such as increased cell inoculum, nutrient supplementation, and electro-fermentation were employed to optimize xylose conversion in batch processes - a common industrial setup for this substrate. Adjusting the pitching rate increased xylitol productivity by up to 550%, while yeast extract and peptone (YP) supplementation resulted in a 42% increase in xylitol production by FMYX. Additionally, electro-fermentation at 1V boosted xylitol production by 37.4% for this strain. Notably, under very low cell inoculum conditions, YP supplementation led to an 870% increase in xylitol production by FMYX, matching the results achieved with a 25-fold cell inoculum or electro-fermentation. This research provides compelling evidence for a cost-effective alternative process for xylitol production, readily applicable on an industrial scale and leveraging existing industrial infrastructure. The integration of a bioelectric system in this context marks a novel approach towards sustainable xylitol biosynthesis using S. cerevisiae.
Thyroid Malignancy among Patients with Multinodular Goiter: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Obadiel Yasser Abdurabo , Faqeeh Taha Ahmed , Jowah Haitham Mohammed
Published: August 2024

Background: The incidence of thyroid malignancy among patients with multinodular goiter (MNG) varies widely across different regions. This study aimed to assess the incidence and types of thyroid malignancy in patients with MNG in Yemen, contributing to better understanding and management of the condition in this context.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the General Military Hospital in Sana’a, Yemen, from February 2021 to December 2023. Data from 143 patients who underwent thyroidectomy were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize patient demographics and clinical characteristics.
Results: The incidence of thyroid malignancy was 23.1% (33/143) among patients with MNG. Papillary carcinoma was the most common type of thyroid cancer, accounting for 72.2% of the malignant cases. Malignancy was more prevalent in females (84.8%) and in the 41–50-year age group (48.5%). Total thyroidectomy was the most frequently performed surgical procedure, undertaken in 79% of cases.
Conclusions: The high incidence of thyroid malignancy in MNG patients, particularly among females and middle-aged individuals, underscores the need for comprehensive evaluation and management of this condition in Yemen. Total thyroidectomy is recommended as an effective treatment approach due to the significant risk of malignancy. Addressing misconceptions about FNAC and educating both patients and healthcare providers can improve early detection and treatment outcomes.
Spatial dynamics of mammalian brain development and neuroinflammation by multimodal tri-omics mapping
Authors: Fan Rong , Zhang Di , Rodríguez-Kirby Leslie , Lin Yingxin , Song Mengyi , Wang Li , Wang Lijun , Kanatani Shigeaki , Jimenez-Beristain Tony , Dang Yonglong , Zhong Mei , Kukanja Petra , Wang Shaohui , Chen Xinyi , Gao Fu , Wang Dejiang , Xu Hang , Lou Xing , Liu Yang , Chen Jinmiao , Sestan Nenad , Uhlen Per , Kriegstein Arnold R. , Zhao Hongyu , Castelo-Branco Goncalo
Published: August 2024

The ability to spatially map multiple layers of the omics information over different time points allows for exploring the mechanisms driving brain development, differentiation, arealization, and alterations in disease. Herein we developed and applied spatial tri-omic sequencing technologies, DBiT ARP-seq (spatial ATAC–RNA–Protein-seq) and DBiT CTRP-seq (spatial CUT&Tag–RNA–Protein-seq) together with multiplexed immunofluorescence imaging (CODEX) to map spatial dynamic remodeling in brain development and neuroinflammation. A spatiotemporal tri-omic atlas of the mouse brain was obtained at different stages from postnatal day P0 to P21, and compared to the regions of interest in the human developing brains. Specifically, in the cortical area, we discovered temporal persistence and spatial spreading of chromatin accessibility for the layer-defining transcription factors. In corpus callosum, we observed dynamic chromatin priming of myelin genes across the subregions. Together, it suggests a role for layer specific projection neurons to coordinate axonogenesis and myelination. We further mapped the brain of a lysolecithin (LPC) neuroinflammation mouse model and observed common molecular programs in development and neuroinflammation. Microglia, exhibiting both conserved and distinct programs for inflammation and resolution, are transiently activated not only at the core of the LPC lesion, but also at distal locations presumably through neuronal circuitry. Thus, this work unveiled common and differential mechanisms in brain development and neuroinflammation, resulting in a valuable data resource to investigate brain development, function and disease.
Cleavage of CAD by caspase-3 determines the cancer cell fate during chemotherapy
Authors: Hong Xuehui , Ma Jingsong , Zhao Jiabao , Zhang Chen-Song , Tan Jinshui , Cheng Ao , Niu Zhuo , Lin Zeyang , Pan Guangchao , Chen Chao , Ding Yang , Zhong Mengya , Zhuang Yifan , Xiong Yubo , Zhou Huiwen , Zhou Shengyi , Xu Meijuan , Ye Wenjie , Li Funan , Song Yong-Xi , Wang Zhenning
Published: August 2024

Metabolic heterogeneity resulting from the intrinsic heterogeneity of human tumors has been shown to cause a myriad of adverse outcomes of tumor therapy, including resistance to chemotherapy, but the mechanisms inside remain largely unknown. Here, we found that the de novo pyrimidine synthesis pathway, which we previously identified as crucial for the proliferation of gastric and colon cancer cells, determines the chemosensitivity of these cancer types. In the chemosensitive cells, chemotherapeutic drugs such as 5-FU promoted the degradation of CAD, an enzyme that is rate-limiting for pyrimidine synthesis, leading to the apoptosis of these cells. We also found that CAD needed to be cleaved, by activated caspase-3 on its Asp1371 residue, before its degradation. Upregulation of CAD, either by overexpression or by a mutation on the Asp1371 to block the caspase-3 cleavage, conferred tumor chemoresistance in both mouse xenograft models and the Cldn18-ATK mouse gastric tumor models. Importantly, mutations related to Asp1371 of CAD were found in gastric tumor samples of patients who underwent unsuccessful neoadjuvant chemotherapy. By searching for a compound that capable for degradating the CAD-Asp1371 mutant, we discovered that a compound called RMY-186 can be used to treat chemoresistant tumors related to CAD mutations, resulting in a significant improvement in the effectiveness of chemotherapy. We have, therefore, revealed the vulnerability of de novo pyrimidine synthesis during chemotherapy, which can be targeted to overcome chemotherapeutic resistance and augment the antitumor efficacy of genotoxic chemotherapy agents.
Photocatalytic C(sp3)–C(sp3) cross-coupling of carboxylic acids and alkyl halides using a nickel complex and carbon nitride
Authors: Vilé Gianvito , Ibáñez Miguel M. de Vries , Cipriano Luis A. , Liberto Giovanni Di
Published: August 2024

Developing robust and reliable methods for constructing C(sp3)–C(sp3) bonds is critically important for synthesizing a diverse array of functionalized drug molecules. However, this reaction poses significant challenges from a chemical standpoint due to issues with selective activation and regioselectivity, functional group compatibility, complex catalyst design, and slow reaction kinetics. Current metallaphotoredox approaches do not provide a viable solution because they rely on expensive, toxic, and rare iridium photocatalysts, severely limiting their widespread application. In this study, we introduce carbon nitride nanosheets (nC3N4) as an efficient and sustainable alternative to traditional iridium-based catalysts. When combined with nickel catalysis, nC3N4 facilitates the cross-coupling of aryl halides and carboxylic acids. Our results demonstrate a broad substrate scope, including various aryl halides and carboxylic acids, and highlight the recyclability of the photocatalyst. Density functional theory calculations provide molecular insights into the role of nickel single atoms in facilitating photodecarboxylation and subsequent C–C bond formation. This work significantly expands the potential of photoredox chemistry, and offers a novel method for efficient, industrially relevant light-to-chemical conversion processes.
Predicting Habitat Suitability for Cultivation and Conservation of Prosopis africana and Caesalpinia bonduc in Benin through Species Distribution Modeling
Authors: Tessi Donald Romaric Yehouenou
Published: August 2024

Benin, a country in West Africa renowned for its diverse forest ecosystems and protected areas, harbors a rich biodiversity including numerous threatened plant species. Through comprehensive phytosociological surveys, analysis of herbarium records, flora databases, and assessment of rarity indices, 280 plant species facing threats have been identified within Benin. The use of Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) modeling stands out as a robust method to predict species distributions and assess habitat suitability, particularly advantageous when only presence data is available and absences are difficult to ascertain. MaxEnt's capability to perform well with limited sample sizes further enhances its utility in ecological studies. Models developed for both Prosopis africana and Caesalpinia bonduc exhibit high Area Under the Curve (AUC) values, indicating strong predictive accuracy. For Prosopis africana, significant portions of Benin are predicted to offer highly suitable climatic conditions (> 80% suitability under current and future scenarios), highlighting areas conducive to species development. Strategic reforestation efforts and mitigation of threats such as human encroachment, invasive species, and agricultural deforestation are recommended to safeguard and enhance populations of this species. Analyzing the distribution map of Caesalpinia bonduc reveals that protected areas in Southern and Central Benin predominantly align with suitable habitats for the species. These findings underscore the importance of targeting these protected zones for initiatives focused on species enrichment, reintroduction, and cultivation. In conclusion, integrating MaxEnt modeling with spatial analysis offers valuable insights into habitat suitability and conservation strategies for threatened plant species in Benin, guiding effective management practices aimed at preserving biodiversity and supporting sustainable ecosystem health.