bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Evaluation of the Relationship between Nurses' Compassion Competencies and Their Perception and Understanding of Human Dignity
Authors: ÇELİK ŞEYMANUR , Özalp Cemal , Avşar Gülçin
Published: November 2024

Background
It has been emphasized in many studies that patient care should include the values ​​of compassion and respect for human dignity. Nurses providing care with these values ​​increase patient satisfaction and strengthen the holistic quality of care. It is thought that nurses with high compassion competence may be able to perceive and understand human dignity more deeply; this relationship can significantly contribute to the quality of patient care and the sustainability of a health service that values ​​people. No study in the literature comprehensively evaluates the relationship between nurses' compassion competence and their levels of perception and understanding of human dignity. This study addresses this deficiency by examining the relationship between nurses' compassion competence and their levels of perception and understanding of human dignity.
Methods
The study's universe, which examined the relationship between nurses' compassion competencies and their perception and understanding of human dignity, consisted of nurses working in a training and research hospital in Turkey between November 2023 and January 2024. The study was completed with 485 nurses. The "Personal Information Form," "Human Dignity Perception and Understanding Scale in Nursing," and "Nurses' Compassion Competency Scale" were used to collect data. Frequencies, percentages, mean values, standard deviations, and Pearson correlation analysis were used to evaluate the data.
Results
This study revealed that nurses' compassion competence (4.13 ± .616) and their level of perception and understanding of human dignity were high. Additionally, a moderate and positive relationship was detected between the total score averages of "compassion competence" and "perception and understanding of human dignity" (p > 0.05).
Results
As a result of this study, it was concluded that as nurses' compassion competencies increased, their level of perception and understanding of human dignity also increased.
Zic3 enables bimodal regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase expression in olfactory bulb and midbrain derived neurons
Authors: kumar ANUJITH , Bhaskar Smitha , Gowda Jeevan , Hegde Akshay , Thumu Surya Chandra Rao , Banerjee Shreetama , Ramanan Narendrakumar , Sala Paloma , Campbell Kenneth , Prasanna Jyothi
Published: November 2024

Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) is a key enzyme that catalyzes dopamine synthesis in various regions of the brain. Expression of TH is diversely regulated in Olfactory bulb (OB) and Midbrain (MB). Different sets of transcription factors (TFs) control the expression of TH in these two regions and most of them are exclusive to either OB or MB. Zinc finger transcription factor of cerebellum 3 (ZIC3) is known to regulate forebrain development. However, the role of ZIC3 in TH regulation and its underlying mechanism remains unknown. While loss of function of Zic3 in primary neurons led to down-regulation of TH expression, it could be rescued by over-expression of shRNA resistant Zic3. TH promoter lacks the consensus ZIC3 binding region and mechanistic insights revealed ZIC3 to regulate TH expression by interacting with ER81, a known TH regulator. ZIC3 interaction with ER81 is indispensable for ER81 binding to Th promoter and it fine tunes ER81 mediated Th regulation. In midbrain (MB), ZIC3 regulates TH expression both in vitro and in vivo. However, in the absence of ER81 in MB, ZIC3 chooses an alternative approach of binding to Pitx3 promoter- a DA fate determinant. Under the ectopic expression of ER81 in MB derived neurons, propensity of ZIC3 binding to Pitx3 promoter is compromised and its occupancy on Th promoter encompassing ER81 binding site is established, finally culminating in desired TH expression. Together, these findings reveal a unique ZIC3 mediated bimodal regulation of TH in OB and MB derived neurons.
Biodegradation of phenolic derivatives by Pseudomonas sp., at saline conditions
Authors: Chandrasekaran Sivaraman , Paramasivan Balasubramanian , Jeyakumar Rajesh Banu , Summan Ahmed Saleh Ahmed
Published: November 2024

Bacteria in saline matrices need to be studied for its scope in organic turnover, elemental recycling, and recovery of industrially important metabolites. The gained knowledge can be utilised for treatment of pollutants in saline wastewater generating industries and in marine environments. Phenol and its derivatives found as priority pollutants and hence in this study bacteria potential to degrade these priority pollutants was examined at saline conditions. The bacteria were isolated from the sludge taken from industrial units of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and grown on Halophilic Mineral Salt Medium (HMSM at 4% NaCl) with phenol supplied as primary source of carbon for the bacterial growth. The bacteria effectively utilised phenol (400 ppm) in 72 hrs. Extraction of DNA from phenol degrading bacteria was performed and the bacteria was identified as Pseudomonas sp., using molecular techniques. Pseudomonas sp. was found to degrade a variety of phenolic derivatives. The percentage of residual compound left over for catechol (4.82 ± 1.59% at 96 hrs), resorcinol (0% at 96 hrs), quinol (20.69 ± 0.66% at 96 hrs) 4-Chlorophenol (46.66 ± 4.83% at 192 hrs) and 4-Nitrophenol (60.21 ± 2.68% at 192 hrs). The presence of chloro and nitro group resulted in remarkable increase in time span to degrade the phenolic derivative. Addition of yeast extract significantly reduced the time span of experiments and Pseudomonas sp., completely utilised 4-Chlorophenol and 4-Nirophenol within 96 hours leaving nil residues. Hence the Pseudomonas sp., could play a versatile role in saline conditions for the degradation of phenol and its derivatives present in industrial wastewater.
Report on nematode parasites in Spot-billed pelicans (Pelecanus philippensis) and Painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala) from Telineelapuram, Srikakulam District, AP, India
Authors: Mathews Anisha , Malathi Sanapala , Mohinikumari Paidi , Shameem Ummey
Published: November 2024

Purpose
The present investigation is undertaken to understand the cause of the sudden mass mortality of Spot-billed Pelicans (Pelecanus philippensis) that have mixed colonies with Painted storks (Mycteria leucocephala) at Bird Migration Centre, Telineelapuram Village, Tekkali Mandal, Srikakulam District, Andhra Pradesh.
Methods
Post-mortem examination of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of a single pelican was conducted along with the faecal analysis of both birds using Mac Master floatation technique. The infected proventriculus of pelican was studied histopathologically. Parasites collected were identified and described using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
Results
Faecal analysis showed 100% prevalence of infection. Post-mortem revealed very high parasite burden with 1394 (426 adults and 968 larvae) nematode parasites. Nematodes were found attached to mucosal surface of the proventriculus, obstructing the lumen and thereby causing mucosal ulcers, lesions and haemorrhages, revealing considerable histoarchitectural changes at the histopathological level. Parasites were identified as Contracaecum species i.e. C. micropapillatum and C. multipapillatum.
Conclusion
This is the first record of Contracaecum species in the proventriculus of a wild spot-billed pelican at Srikakulam District. Overall, the present study indicates the danger of sudden mass mortalities in migratory birds like pelicans and storks due to heavy infections with nematode parasites and stresses the importance of timely preventive measures to safeguard the avian fauna from heavy parasite infections.
Impact of a WeChat Mini Program-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia on Sleep Quality and Cognitive Function in Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Insomnia:a Randomised Trial
Authors: Qiao Yan-Ming , Tian Yi-Can , Song Yan
Published: November 2024

Aims：This study aimed to evaluate the effects of a 6-week Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBTI) intervention delivered via a WeChat Mini Program on sleep quality and cognitive function among older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and insomnia.
Design：This study employed a randomized controlled trial design.
Methods：Sixty older adults were recruited From February 2023 to June 2023, 30 older adults in the experimental group received a 6-week intervention based on the WeChat mini program, while those in the control group received 6 weeks of online sleep health education. Primary outcomes include sleep quality and cognitive function and second outcomes were awareness and practices of sleep hygiene, anxiety and self-efficacy. Using independent sample t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare the differences of outcomes measures between the control group and the experiment group. The differences of them before and after the intervention within the experimental group were compared by paired sample t-tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.
Results：We found significant improvements in sleep quality, cognitive function, awareness and practices of sleep hygiene , anxiety, and self-efficacy in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.05). Additionally, the study showed significant enhancements in these areas before and after the intervention within the experimental group (P<0.05).
Conclusions：Overall, the results indicate that the WeChat Mini Program-based CBTI intervention effectively improved sleep quality and cognitive function, enhanced knowledge and habits related to sleep hygiene, increased self-efficacy, and reduced anxiety in older adults with MCI and insomnia.
Clinical trial number: Not applicable.
The Impact of Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation on Global Food Supply Chain —An Empirical Analysis Based on Panel Data from 68 Food Producing Countries
Authors: Li Shengzhu , Yang Dan
Published: November 2024

With the frequent occurrence of geopolitical, economic and military conflicts in the world, the supply chain security of the global food industry chain is facing serious challenges. In this paper, global food supply chain security(FSCS) is divided into two dimensions: food supply chain dependence and food supply chain concentration, based on cross-country panel data of 68 food-producing countries around the world from 2001 to 2021, firstly, to analyze the global food security situation, and then, based on constructing indexes to measure the agricultural scientific and technological innovation, to empirically estimate empirical estimation of the agricultural scientific and technological innovation(ASTI) capacity impact on global food supply chain security. The results of the study show that agricultural science and technology innovation capacity has a negative impact on both food supply chain concentration and food supply chain dependence; on the whole, the improvement of agricultural science and technology innovation capacity can bring about a decrease in global food supply chain concentration and dependence.
Portable In-Field DNA Sequencing for Rapid Detection of Pathogens and Antimicrobial Resistance: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Pillay Stephanie , Calderón-Franco David , Abeel Thomas
Published: November 2024

Purpose
Infectious diseases represent a major global health threat due to the rapid spread of pathogens, leading to widespread outbreaks. Concurrently, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasing, making standard treatments less effective and complicating infection management. Effective surveillance systems are essential to address these challenges. Methods: We conducted a proof-ofconcept study to evaluate a portable in-field microbial lab against a traditional molecular lab for DNA isolation, sequencing, microbial detection, antibiotic resistance gene identification, and plasmid classification. Samples from lake water, wastewater treatment plant sludge, and retail meat were selected to reflect relevant surveillance vectors. This approach provides valuable data for environmental monitoring, public health, and food safety, aiding in outbreak preparedness. We compared results using five metrics: DNA yield and purity, read N50, taxonomic classification, antibiotic resistance gene identification (ARGs), and plasmid classification. Results: Our study found that metagenomic bacterial DNA isolation from environmental and food sources is feasible with portable lab technology, producing ≥ 800ng of DNA, suitable for Nanopore sequencing. DNA from retail meat, lake, and sludge samples resulted in similar read numbers and read N50 values. Taxonomic classification was achieved at the genus and species levels. A Jaccard similarity of over 50% was observed in the top 20 most abundant species between chicken samples, and lake samples. ESKAPE pathogens were detected in chicken and lake samples. ARGs and plasmids were also identified in both retail meat and lake samples. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that in-field DNA isolation and sequencing are feasible with minimal equipment, yielding results comparable to traditional lab methods.
Proteome-wide assessment of 10,000 plasma proteins with age-related diseases and multi-morbidity in a Chinese population
Authors: Bennett Derrick , Wright Neil , Yao Pang , Iona Andri , Clarke Jonathan , Wang Baihan , Mazidi Mohsen , Chan Kahung (Peter) , Clarke Charlotte , Im Pek Kei (Becky) , Kakkoura Maria , Kartsonaki Christiana , Rahmati Maryam , Hill Michael , Millwood Iona Y , Fry Hannah , Du Huaidong , Yang Ling , Chen Yiping , Avery Daniel , Yu Canqing , Lv Jun , Sun Dianjianyi , Li Liming , Clarke Robert , Chen Zhengming
Published: November 2024

Blood-based proteomics can help improve risk prediction and elucidate biological pathways underlying the development of age-related diseases and multi-morbidity. We assessed the associations of ~10,000 plasma proteins, assayed using Olink and SomaScan platforms, with all-cause mortality, 14 incident diseases and multi-morbidity among 2026 Chinese adults. Cox regression yielded hazard ratios for disease risks associated with specific proteins, after adjusting for confounders and multiple testing. Overall, 984 and 761 proteins were significantly associated with all-cause mortality and multi-morbidity respectively, with top proteins mostly involved in regulating immune responses, inflammation, and cell survival. For all-cause mortality, protein-based risk prediction models outperformed conventional risk factors (C-statistics: 0.825 [0.796-0.853] vs 0.806 [0.774-0.838]) and adding proteins to conventional risk factors improved net reclassification index by 32% (17-47%). Our results illustrate that, regardless of specific proteomic assay platform used, plasma proteins could be used to improve risk prediction and inform prevention and treatment of age-related diseases.
Genome-wide identification and characterization of Calcium-Dependent Protein Kinase (CDPK) gene family in autotetraploid cultivated alfalfa (Medicago sativa subsp. sativa) and expression analysis under abiotic stresses
Authors: Han Bingcheng , Dong Xueming , Shi Congcong , Wang Zhaoming , Chen Jiwei , Li Pengzhen , Yan Wei , Zhou Qiang , Liu Zhipeng , Yan Longfeng
Published: November 2024

Background
Calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs), play multiple roles in plant development, growth and response to bio- or abiotic stresses. Calmodulin-like domains typically contain four EF-hand motifs for Ca²⁺ binding. The CDPK gene family can be divided into four subgroups in Arabidopsis, and it has been identified in many plants, such as rice, tomato, but has not been investigated in alfalfa yet.
Results
In our study, 38 non-redundant MsCDPK genes were identified from the “XinJiangDaYe” alfalfa genome. They can be divided into four subgroups which is the same as in Arabidopsis and Medicago truncatula, and there were 15 MsCDPK proteins in CDPK I, 12 in CDPK II, 10 in CDPK III and only one MsCDPK in group IV. RNA-seq analysis revealed tissue-specificity of 38 MsCDPK genes. After researching the transcriptome data, we found these 38 MsCDPK members responsive to drought, salt, and cold stress treatments. Further analysis showed that the expression of almost all the MsCDPKs is regulated by abiotic stresses. In addition, we chose MsCDPK06, MsCDPK35, MsCDPK20 and MsCDPK07 for RT-qPCR validation which was from CDPK I-IV subgroups respectively. The result showed that the expression of these four genes were significantly induced by drought, salt and cold treatments. The subcellular location experiment showed that these four proteins were all located in nucleus.
Conclusion
In our study, we identified 38 distinct MsCDPK genes within the alfalfa genome, which were classified into four groups. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of various gene features, including physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, exon-intron structures, conserved motifs, chromosomal locations, gene duplication events, cis-regulatory elements, 3D structures, and tissue-specific expression patterns, as well as responses to drought, salt, and cold stresses. These results also provide a solid foundation for further investigations into the functions of MsCDPKs aimed at improving drought tolerance in autotetraploid cultivated alfalfa through genetic engineering.
Low degree of domestication can be an indicator of high potential of biological invasion
Authors: Marciniak Brisa , Dechoum Michele S. , Levis Carolina , Lemes Gustavo , Peroni Nivaldo
Published: November 2024

The degree of domestication can influence the ability of introduced species to survive and reproduce. Species with higher degrees of domestication are highly dependent on humans for survival and reproduction. On the other hand, lower degrees may result in lower survival rates and reproduction output. However, the interrelationship between degrees of domestication and plant invasion remains underexplored. We focused our study on plant species native to the Americas with distinct degrees of domestication, with fruits used for human consumption, to test the hypothesis that plants with intermediate degrees of domestication show higher invasion potential than plants with lower or higher degrees of domestication. We calculated an invasion potential index as the ratio between the number of checklists where an introduced species was recorded as invasive and the total number of checklists where it was registered as introduced. Our results show a negative non-linear relationship between the degree of domestication and invasion potential. While species with intermediate degrees of domestication show higher invasion potential than those fully domesticated, species with the lowest degrees of domestication showed the highest invasion potential. These findings suggest that full domestication does not eliminate invasion risk, highlighting the complexity of the relationship between domestication and invasion. Our results provide valuable insights to support public policies, inform future studies on plant invasions, and the need for management strategies that consider different degrees of domestication.
Seismic Performance Assessment and Retrofitting Recommendations for a Historic Masonry Building: The Case of Amasya Çilehane Complex
Authors: Sözen Şahin
Published: November 2024

Cultural continuity can be ensured by protecting and strengthening historical buildings, part of the world's cultural heritage. Protection of these buildings from damage caused by destructive earthquakes can only be achieved by accurately predicting their structural behavior. Amasya Çilehane Complex, the focus of this study, has a unique place among the historical buildings, which are an essential component of the cultural heritage of the civilizations that have left their mark on history. This study evaluates the complex's seismic performance, consisting of a mosque, a special worship space (in Turkish tevhidhane), a tomb, a sheik’s room, and ordeal rooms. For this purpose, non-linear static, modal, and non-linear time history analyses were performed. The time history analysis reveals that the structure's lateral load capacity corresponds to 30% of its total weight. Considering the elastic design spectrum curve of the structure, it is seen that the structure can be subjected to an acceleration above 1.2g for the design earthquake with a 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years. Non-linear time history analyses showed that the structure would suffer severe damage and could wholly or partially collapse. This study also presents effective retrofitting methods for historic masonry structures, highlighting the necessity of retrofitting the Amasya Çilehane Complex using appropriate methods found in the literature.
The effect of glucose and lipid control on sperm parameters: An analysis of 7291 semen samples
Authors: Leybovitz-Haleluya Noa , Cohen Ram , Gutvirtz Gil , Har-Vardi Iris , Zeadna Atif , Steiner Naama
Published: November 2024

Introduction: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) continue to increase. DM is known to have adverse effects on male sexual function. We studied the impact of DM on seminal fluid and sperm parameters.
Methods: A retrospective, case-control study including semen samples from patients 18 – 65 years of age. Patients with azoospermia, those undergoing hormonal treatment or post-chemotherapy or radiotherapy were excluded. All samples were analysed using Makler counting chamber for the parameters: sperm concentration, semen volume, , motile sperm and morphology according to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Diagnoses of DM and impaired fasting glucose (IFG), body mass index (BMI) and the level of high density lipoproteins (HDL) were retrieved from patients’ computerized medical records. Multivariate modelling for oligozoospermia and asthenozoospermia was undertaken using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) with adjusted for age, BMI and smoking.
Results: A total of 7,291 semen samples: 336 from DM patients, 276 from men with IFG and 6,679 from patients with normal glycemia. Using the WHO cutoff parameters, we found that men with DM have statistically significant higher rates of low seminal fluid volume (hypospermia), asthenozoospermia and teratozoospermia as compared to men with IFG or normal glucose levels. Using a multivariate model, we DM was an independent risk factor for hypospermia and teratozoospermia (aOR 1.57, 95% CI 1.18-2.10, p=0.002 and aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.23-2.27, p=0.001, respectively).
Conclusion: DM adversely affect sperm parameters. Men should be advised on the harmful effects of abnormal glucose levels as it may impact their compliance
Confronting the Economic Burden of Diabetes: Can TCM DRG Payment Reform in China Offer a Viable Solution? Insights from Empirical Research in Western China
Authors: Chen Mengen , Yu Jing , Xia Shiji , Wang Yuhan , Wang Yan , Yuan Youshu , Zhang Xiaoxi , Sun Henong , Jia Xuan , Wu Guoping , Wang Jiayi , Cong Tianzhen , Kong Fanxin , Hou Haojia , Yang Jingyu , Wang Zhiwei
Published: November 2024

Background
Diabetes poses a major global public health challenge, carrying significant economic implications worldwide. In China, the ongoing implementation of Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) payment reforms, especially within Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) contexts, is critical in improving diabetes patient care and alleviating associated economic burdens.
Methods
We examined 2,804 hospitalized diabetes patients at Qingyang City Hospital of Chinese Medicine in Gansu Province from 2017 to 2022. Using univariate and interrupted time-series (ITS) analyses, we compared patient visit data, healthcare-related costs, and length of stay pre- and post-DRG reform.
Results
Following DRG reform at Qingyang City Hospital of Chinese Medicine, significant differences were noted in patients’ gender, age, visit times, type of diabetes, complications and comorbidities, use of Chinese medicine diagnostic and therapeutic equipment, and surgeries and operations, compared with the pre-reform period (P < 0.05). Post-reform, there was a noteworthy decrease in hospitalization cost and Western medicine cost, and TCM treatment cost (P < 0.05), while Chinese medicine cost remained stable but the overall cost level increased (P > 0.05). Additionally, there was a slight reduction in length of stay after the reform, although this change did not reach statistical significance (P > 0.05).
Conclusions
DRG reform significantly reduces hospitalization cost, TCM treatment cost, and Western medicine cost for diabetes patients in TCM hospitals. However, its impact on Chinese medicine cost and length of stay is limited. Future reforms should capitalize on the unique strengths of TCM treatment, enhance cost management strategies, and focus on minimizing length of stay and medical expenses while ensuring effective patient care.
ESW-YOLO: A lightweight YOLO model for defect detection in bottled liquor
Authors: Wang Xuyang , Lan Xuerui , Liu Lijun
Published: November 2024

With the growing adoption of deep learning in AI, flaw detection in bottled liquor production has become crucial to ensure product quality and consumer satisfaction. However, existing flaw detection models often face issues of low efficiency, particularly in multi-category and multi-target scenarios, and struggle with integration into resource-constrained devices. To solve these challenges, this study proposes ESW-YOLO, a lightweight model optimized to detect diverse flaws in bottled liquor production. This model is designed as follows: firstly, the Efficient Multi-Branch \& Scale FPN (EMBSFPN) is developed to reduce model size while increasing the detection accuracy of small flaws. Secondly, the SE attention mechanism is incorporated to emphasize critical features, which strengthens the model’s robustness in complex scenarios. Thirdly, the Wise-IoU loss function is used to optimize localization accuracy, particularly for irregular defects. Finally, a lightweight shared convolutional detection head (ESCD) is proposed to further decrease model size and improve detection efficiency. Experimental results on a bottled liquor flaw detection dataset demonstrate that ESW-YOLO achieves a mean average precision (mAP) of 94.7% and a recall of 91.8%. Additionally, the proposed model reduces computational cost by 30.8%, decreases parameter count by 45.1%, and maintains a compact model size of only 3.6 M. This method can provide a reference for the development of defect detection methods in bottled liquor.
Dynamic stability of high-efficiency quantum dot light-emitting diodes
Authors: Li Hongbo , Liu Xiaonan , Gao Yan , Li Bo , Yue Yansong , Wei Jing , Wu Zhenhui , Liu Fangze , Shen Huaibin
Published: November 2024

Quantum dot light-emitting diodes (QD-LEDs) hold great potential for enabling ultra-clear and ultra-bright displays technologies. Although the operational lifetime of QD-LEDs under static conditions has reached commercial standard, their dynamic stability, i.e., performance consistency while being switched on and off, remains largely behind that of state-of-the-art III-V LEDs. In this work, we studied the degradation mechanism of red QD-LEDs with high external quantum efficiency (EQE) and long static operational lifetime and found that the accelerated EQE decline is mainly due to the fast-increasing electron leakage into the organic hole transport layer (HTL) under continuous voltage scans. To improve the dynamic stability of QD-LEDs, we refined the structure of CdZnSe/ZnSe QDs by introducing a ZnSeS/ZnS outer shell, where the ZnS shell improves the electron confinement and the ZnSeS mitigates the lattice mismatch between ZnSe and ZnS. Consequently, the electron leakage into the HTL is significantly inhibited, leading to QD-LEDs with minimal EQE drop of less than 4% after more than 5,000 voltage cycles within the range between 0 V and 4.5 V, while the devices still possess excellent static stability for maintaining 95% of its initial luminance (T95) at 1,000 cd m-2 for over 61,000 h.
Taguchi Method Analysis of Layer Thickness, Printing Orientation, and Heat Treatment Effects on FDM Printed PLA Impact Strength
Authors: A.S. Shagul , E Poovannan
Published: November 2024

Optimizing process parameters to enhance the impact strength of polylactic acid (PLA) products remains a hard task in fused deposition modeling (FDM), a widely used 3D printing technology. The objective of this study is to identify the most effective process parameters for achieving the highest impact strength of PLA components produced by FDM printing. This study employed the Taguchi L9 orthogonal array approach to improve the process parameters for PLA produced using FDM. We utilized the Izod impact test to quantify the impact strength. We methodically altered and evaluated various factors such as layer thickness, printing orientation, and heat treatment. The theory posited that specific combinations of printing settings would yield increased impact strength. Based on the results, the best conditions for getting the highest impact strength of 534.8571 J/m were a layer thickness of 0.08 mm, the material being upright, being heated to 80°C, and being bent 65 degrees. These conditions resulted in little deformation. Conversely, even with a layer thickness of 0.08 mm and a heat treatment at 100°C, a vertical alignment resulted in inadequate impact resistance. The study emphasizes the critical role of printing orientation in achieving greater impact strength in 3D-printed PLA. It shows that orientation has a more significant impact than layer thickness and temperature. This discovery is essential for maximizing material performance efficiency in real-world applications.
Development of a Distributed and Scalable Testbed for UAVs using Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Mahmood Jawad , Raja Muhammad Adil , Loane John , Caffery Fergal Mc
Published: November 2024

The aim of this project is to develop a Testbed for designing and training Multi-agent Reinforcement Learning (RL) algorithms for cooperative and self-organizing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). The main purpose of the development of a scalable and distributed testbed based on Multi-agent RL algorithms is to enable UAVs to make decisions using real-time data and perform tasks autonomously. In this project, a novel testbed is developed that allows the integration of different Multi-agent RL algorithms with a flight simulator. This testbed supports UAVs that learn to fly and coordinate together in the simulated environment to accomplish the objective of target tracking. It employs novel techniques that enable faster learning and higher performance as compared to conventional Multi-agent RL methods. FlightGear is the flight simulator used in this project. This testbed can be used to train control models for a wide variety of use cases. As a proof of concept, a problem is formulated regarding target tracking of UAVs. The tracking aircraft follows the path of the target aircraft. Both tracking and target aircraft are controlled by different Multi-agent RL models and fly on a common flight simulator. This testbed can also scale up the number of tracking aircraft and can be distributed to several systems.
Evaluation of 10 Edamame Breeding Lines to Determine Yield, Agronomic, and Seed Composition Traits
Authors: Jiang Guo-Liang , Mireku Patrick , Johnson David , Townsend William , Seow Amanda , Fallen Benjamin , Man Rouf , Carter Thomas
Published: November 2024

Edamame is a vegetable soybean (Glycine max) that is harvested at the R6 growth stage. Although it is relatively new to America, the acreage and market demand of edamame have steadily increased. Developing new cultivars that are more adapted to local environments and crop management systems is significantly important to promoting specialty crop production and meeting the market requirements. In this study, 10 edamame breeding lines and four check cultivars were evaluated during 2020–23 to determine the potential production in the southeastern United States. Among genotypes, there were significant differences in the fresh pod and mature seed yields and agronomic and seed composition traits that were investigated. The year effects and genotype × year interactions were also significant in most cases. Fresh pod and mature seed yields were not significantly correlated with most of other agronomic traits and seed compositions. Over 4 years, the fresh pod yield averaged 11,227.5 kg·ha−1 (range, 9800.1–13,154.3 kg·ha−1), and the mature seed yield averaged 2814.7 kg·ha−1 (range, 2029.2–3175.2 kg·ha−1). The average 100-seed weight of 14 genotypes was 26.9 g (range, 23.1–30.1 g), and the average seed size of nine breeding lines was larger than that of the check. Maturity occurred on average 153.3 days after planting (range, 147.1–159.5 days). Based on dry weight, seed protein, oil, and sucrose contents had averages of 43.5%, 18.7%, and 5.0%, respectively. The estimates of broad-sense heritability were medium to high (66.82%–94.90%) for most of the traits, whereas the heritability estimates for fresh pod yield and duration from flowering to maturity were relatively low (23.44%–42.29%). Several breeding lines exhibited good yield, larger seed size, and higher contents of protein, oil, and oleic acid, suggesting the potential of release and commercial production.
Long-term Evaluation of Mature-line and Juvenile-line ‘Valencia’ and ‘Vernia’ Sweet Orange Budlines on ‘Carrizo’ Rootstock
Authors: Chater John M. , Gmitter Fred G. , Grosser Jude W. , Castle William S.
Published: November 2024

Field trials are critically important to the citrus industry because they provide scientific data from replicated plantings that can be used to determine which rootstock-scion combinations to plant. The field trial reported here was a semi-commercial-scale scion trial involving several selections of ‘Valencia’ and one ‘Vernia’ selection on the ‘Carrizo’ citrange rootstock. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate ‘Valencia’ and ‘Vernia’ scion selections from various sources to identify accessions that could complement the existing scion cultivar range and provide a wider harvest window. The scions consisted of advanced seedless somaclonal ‘Valencia’ selections, irradiated material, and an assortment of other selections, including accessions from Australia, Brazil, and California. Of special interest were young (juvenile line) sources. A secondary objective was to assess the relative response of the selections to huanglongbing (HLB), which was discovered in Florida during this trial. The location of this trial was Lake County, FL, USA, and the trees were planted in Mar 2000. A randomized complete block design was used with four replications of multiple tree plots. Data collected included total soluble solids, titratable acidity, sugar-to-acid ratio, pounds-solids per box, number of boxes per tree, pounds-solids per acre, cumulative pounds-solids per acre, and HLB rating. There were significant differences among the scions for several variables, including boxes of fruit per tree, pounds-solids per acre, HLB rating, and others. The findings of this research suggest that there are differences in performance among scion selections for a variety of horticultural traits important to citrus growers and processors.
Enhanced Nutrition Programs to Rehabilitate Freeze-stressed Citrus Trees in Subtropical Regions
Authors: De Leon D. A. , Nelson S. D. , Sétamou M. , Bhandari A. , Zamora E. , Zaragoza A. , Donato M. C. , Reyes-Cabrera J.
Published: November 2024

Citrus spp. trees are not fully dormant during the winter months in the northern hemisphere; therefore, they are susceptible to sporadic freeze events of various magnitudes that could decline tree productivity or be lethal. In Feb 2021, winter storm Uri produced freezing air temperatures for nearly 72 hours, which created several degrees of injuries to citrus orchards in southern Texas. Producers in the area implemented combinations of multiple horticultural practices aimed at remediating injuries from the cold spell to stimulate root and tree recovery. However, there is a gap in our understanding of how practices such as compost application (CA) combined with varying rates of nitrogen (N) might facilitate tree recovery. Therefore, we conducted a 2-year field experiment using two CAs as soil amendments in combination with three N rates (112, 168, and 224 kg·ha−1 N) to evaluate fruit yield and internal quality, root growth, and recovery of ‘Rio Red’ grapefruits (Citrus ×paradisi Macf.) and ‘Marrs’ sweet oranges (Citrus sinensis). The yields of both crops exhibited modest improvement with CA in 2022; however, it was nonsignificant. Moreover, CA elicited more beneficial effects than N rates alone when rehabilitating trees and improving fruit internal quality after freezing events. Grapefruit brix was 4% higher in fruits harvested from trees treated with compost, and grapefruit roots exhibited a two-fold dry weight increment with CA. Sweet oranges from trees in the CA treatment had 22% lower acidity compared with that of untreated trees. Overall, our results indicate that citrus producers in southern Texas and other subtropical citrus-producing regions might facilitate the rehabilitation of tree injuries attributed to mild to moderate freeze events with moderate financial gains with the timely application of compost, which enhanced tree fitness and ameliorated fruit productivity declines during subsequent harvests.
Analysis of Nanobubble-oxygenated Water for Horticultural Applications
Authors: DeBoer Eric J. , Richardson Michael D. , Gentimis Thanos , McCalla John H.
Published: November 2024

The theoretical properties of nanobubbles (NBs), such as a negative surface charge and large interfacial surface area, allow for highly efficient gas transfer and stagnation time in water and may reduce the surface tension of NB-treated water sources. These properties make NBs unique candidates for addressing issues like root zone oxygen deficiency, common in conventional and hydroponic crop production. Therefore, the objectives of this research were to confirm the presence of NBs in treated water and determine how time and temperature affect dissolved oxygen (DO) retention in NB-oxygenated water. Two membrane-based NB injection systems were compared with a standard method of aeration (aquarium air stone) and untreated potable water to determine the effect of NB oxygenation on DO retention time and nanoscopic particle size and concentration of potable water sources. NB oxygenation of potable water generally resulted in a greater number of nanoparticles detected compared with untreated potable water. NB oxygenation increased initial levels of DO in potable water when compared with the standard air stone. NB oxygenation failed to increase DO retention time compared with a standard air stone, regardless of water temperature. NB oxygenation remains a method of efficiently oxygenating large volumes of water, although the NBs investigated in the study did not increase DO retention in a potable water source.
Field Evaluation of Raspberry Cultivars in North Dakota
Authors: Dai Wenhao , Hermanson Amber L. , Kim Changhyeon , Zhang Qi
Published: November 2024

In North Dakota, USA, harsh winter conditions cause considerable winter injury to many floricane fruiting raspberries. Short growing seasons in North Dakota inevitably result in an incomplete fruit harvest of primocane fruiting raspberries. In this study, the winter hardiness of six floricane fruiting raspberry and five primocane fruiting raspberry cultivars had been evaluated for multiple years since 2016. Results showed that five floricane cultivars (Prelude, Boyne, Killarney, Nova, and Encore) showed less than 20% buds damaged, whereas cultivar Amethyst had 20% to 50% buds damaged in the winter. Severe bud damage was observed in five primocane fruiting cultivars (Polana, Autumn Bliss, BP-1, Heritage, and Joan J) in which Polana had the least winter bud damage with significant variations among years, followed by Heritage, Joan J, and Autumn Bliss, and BP-1. No winter damage was observed of the root system. In addition, the fruit quality, cane height, and yield of the six floricane fruiting cultivars were evaluated. Results showed that ‘Killarney’ fruit was the largest (2.50 g per berry) followed by ‘Nova’ (2.35), ‘Encore’ (2.24), ‘Amethyst’ (2.12), ‘Prelude’ (1.94), and ‘Boyne’ (1.84). No significant differences in total soluble solid (TSS) among cultivars were observed except that the TSS of Prelude was significantly lower than the other five cultivars. The cane height of ‘Killarney’ was the shortest (75 cm), whereas ‘Amethyst’ grew the longest canes (129 cm). Prelude is the earliest ripening floricane cultivar (late June) with a short harvest duration (20 to 25 days). The fruit harvest of ‘Killarney’, ‘Boyne’, and ‘Nova’ started 3 to 5 days after ‘Prelude’ with a longer harvest duration (25 to 30 days). ‘Encore’ and ‘Amethyst’ were harvested from mid-late July to early-mid August. Yield estimation indicated that ‘Killarney’ and ‘Nova’ produced more berries than other cultivars.
Nälkä ja vilu. Matkoja kauheaan pohjoiseen
Authors: Siukonen Jyrki
Published: November 2024

Hunger and Cold. Journeys to a Horrible North This book examines a range of Arctic histories as narrative forms of telling and retelling. Most of the material – texts, images and a film – builds on the Romantic concept of the Arctic sublime. The methodological framework is that of artistic research. The concept of polarlore and themes such as a failed journey and bad food are explored from Fridtjof Nansen’s works from the 1890s and Vilhjalmur Stefansson’s books and statements from the 1920s. These are read in parallel with texts such as the travelogue of the Sami expedition member Samuel Balto and the diary of the Inuit seamstress Ada Blackjack, an original counterpoint to the male narratives of the North. Other topics include the new Arctic sublime of the 1930s as depicted in the film S.O.S. Eisberg by Arnold Fanck and in contemporary Soviet narratives of the rescue of the comrades from the sunken steamship Chelyuskin. Hunger and Cold juxtaposes new findings with critical discourses of arcticality and arcticism.
2B or not 2B, a study of bottom-quark-philic semi-visible jets
Authors: Kar Deepak , Nzuza Wandile , Sinha Sukanya
Published: November 2024

Semi-visible jets arise in strongly interacting dark sectors, resulting in jets overlapping with the missing transverse momentum direction. The implementation of semi-visible jets is done using the Pythia Hidden Valley module to mimic the QCD sector showering in so-called dark shower. In this work, only heavy flavour Standard Model quarks are considered in dark shower, resulting in a much less ambiguous collider signature of semi-visible jets compared to the democratic production of all five quark flavours in dark shower. The constraints from available searches on this signature are presented, and it is shown the signal reconstruction can be improved by using variable-radius jets. Finally a search strategy is suggested.
NNLL-fast 2.0: Coloured sparticle production at the LHC run 3 with $\sqrt{S}$ = 13.6 TeV
Authors: Beenakker Wim , Borschensky Christoph , Krämer Michael , Kulesza Anna , Laenen Eric , Mamuzic Judita , Valero Laura Moreno
Published: November 2024

We report on updated precision predictions for total cross sections of coloured supersymmetric particle production at the LHC with a centre-of-mass energy of \sqrt{S} = 13.6S=13.6 TeV, computed with the modern PDF4LHC21 set. The cross sections are calculated at an approximated NNLO accuracy in QCD and contain corrections from the threshold resummation of soft-gluon emission up to NNLL accuracy as well as Coulomb-gluon contributions including bound-state terms. The corrections are found to increase the cross sections and reduce the theoretical uncertainty as compared to the best available fixed-order calculations. These predictions constitute the state-of-the-art calculations and update the existing results for \sqrt{S} = 13S=13 TeV. We make our new results publicly available in the version 2.0 update to the code package .
Kynurenine’s Effect on the Different Stages of Osteoblastic Differentiation
Authors: Allen Tate
Published: November 2024

This study focuses on the dynamics of age-related changes in osteoblasts’ matrix production, with a specific focus on the involvement of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). The AhR is activated by kynurenine, a metabolite of the amino acid tryptophan that tends to increase with age. Kynurenine has been known to impair osteoblasts’ bone formation ability, however, the point at which this occurs is unknown. The study utilizes a 21-day differentiation process of mesenchymal stem cells. “Window experiments” that vary the intervals of kynurenine treatment to explore its impact at different stages of osteoblast development were utilized. The experimental setup involves four distinct conditions: a control group with a vehicle, a group treated with kynurenine, a group with an AhR antagonist (BAY), and a group treated with both kynurenine and BAY. The AhR antagonist, specifically BAY2416964, serves to investigate whether any observed effects of kynurenine are mediated through AhR signaling. Results, analyzed through alizarin red staining, demonstrate a notable negative impact of kynurenine on matrix production, particularly in the middle stages of osteoblast differentiation. The study further employs crystal violet staining to confirm the presence of cells in the experimental wells, providing assurance of the reliability of the alizarin staining procedure. Importantly, this staining procedure also suggests that the effects of kynurenine on mineralized matrix production are largely independent of any potential impacts on cell viability.
PDE4 Inhibitors and their Potential Combinations for the Treatment of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Narrative Review
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Khan Mohd Imran , Panwar Amit , Vashist Bhavishya , Rai Santosh Kumar , Kumar Anil
Published: November 2024

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is associated with cough, sputum production, and a reduction in lung function, quality of life, and life expectancy. Currently, bronchodilator combinations (β2-agonists and muscarinic receptor antagonists, dual therapy) and bronchodilators combined with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS), triple therapy, are the mainstays for the management of COPD. However, the use of ICS in triple therapy has been shown to increase the risk of pneumonia in some patients. These findings have laid the foundation for developing new therapies that possess both anti-inflammatory and/or bronchodilation properties. Phosphodiesterase-4 (PDE4) inhibitors have been reported as an effective therapeutic strategy for inflammatory conditions, such as asthma and COPD, but their use is limited because of class-related side effects. Efforts have been made to mitigate these side effects by targeting the PDE4B subtype of PDE4, which plays a pivotal role in the anti-inflammatory effects. Unfortunately, no selective oral PDE4B inhibitors have progressed to clinical trials. This has led to the development of inhaled PDE4 inhibitors to minimize systemic exposure and maximize the therapeutic effect. Another approach, the bronchodilation property of PDE3 inhibitors, is combined with anti-inflammatory PDE4 inhibitors to develop dual inhaled PDE4/PDE3 inhibitors. A few of these dual inhibitors have shown positive effects and are in phase 3 studies. The current review provides an overview of various PDE4 inhibitors in the treatment of COPD. The possibility of studying different selective PDE4 inhibitors and dual PDE3/4 inhibitors in combination with currently available treatments as a way forward to increase their therapeutic effectiveness is also emphasized.