bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Environmental DNA storage and extraction method affects detectability for multiple aquatic invasive species
Authors: García Samantha M. , Chun Chan Lan , Dumke Josh , Hansen Gretchen J. A. , Quebedeaux Kathleen B. , Rounds Christopher , Totsch Anna , Larson Eric R.
Published: May 2024

Environmental DNA (eDNA) refers to genetic material released by organisms into their surrounding environment. Collecting and identifying eDNA has gained popularity for monitoring and surveillance of aquatic invasive species. Invasive species management is most successful when an invasion is identified early while population size is likely to be low, highlighting the importance of eDNA detection sensitivity. Various factors influence DNA yield recovered from environmental samples. Environmental DNA storage and extraction methods, for example, can be adjusted to maximize DNA yield, thereby improving detectability. In this study, we compared the performance of two eDNA storage and extraction methods in detecting three common aquatic invasive species (Bythotrephes longimanus, Dreissena polymorpha, and Faxonius rusticus) across five natural ecosystems of Minnesota, United States. One method involved storing filters in 95% ethanol (EtOH) and extracting DNA using a DNeasy PowerSoil Pro Kit (Qiagen, Hilden, Germany), whereas the other method used cetyl trimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) for storage and a phenol–chloroform–isoamyl (PCI) procedure for DNA extraction. We also investigated the effect of DNA extract volume (1 μL relative to 3 μL) in qPCR reactions on eDNA detections for the commercial kit method. The CTAB‐PCI method yielded significantly more positive detections, across all three species, compared to the EtOH‐Qiagen method. Moreover, we found that using 1 μL of DNA extract in qPCR reactions was equally effective as using 3 μL. To improve detections of aquatic invasive species, we recommend that researchers store eDNA sample filters in CTAB or a similar lysis buffer such as Longmire's solution and extract with PCI when feasible, but note that lower extract volumes might be used without negative effect when either increasing technical replicates or repurposing samples for the detection of multiple species.
Application of microbial fuel cell‐based biosensor in environmental monitoring – A critical review
Authors: Liu Cheng , Cheng Liang , Jia Hui
Published: May 2024

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) represent an innovative approach for transforming biomass energy directly into electricity, which showed great promise in various applications beyond energy generation and wastewater treatment. The use of MFCs as biosensors for in‐situ and online monitoring has garnered increasing interest. These biosensors stand out for their compactness, ease of operation, affordability, and portability. They have proven effectively in the detection of various water quality indicators, including organic matter, nitrogen, heavy metals, pH levels, and dissolved oxygen. This comprehensive review aims to provide a critical analysis of the current research landscape and the latest advancements in MFC technology, with special emphasis on the challenges encountered in its application for wastewater and water quality monitoring. Moreover, strategies for performance improvement, such as the adoption of miniaturized structures, the exploration of innovative materials, and the application of mathematical modelling for analysis, are also discussed. The review also explores potential avenues for future research, especially in the realm of detecting mixed pollutants. Thus, it provides insightful perspectives on the evolving field of biosensor technology based on MFCs.
Quantitative Evaluation Method of Full‐Cycle Life of Hydrogen Production by Electricity Considering Line Electrothermal Coupler
Authors: Yu Dan , Yang Peng , Weng Hua , Zhu Weijun
Published: May 2024

This study introduces a quantitative evaluation method for the lifecycle of electric hydrogen production in microgrids, considering line electric thermal couplers. By analyzing the operational mechanism and benefits of hydrogen production through residual electricity, we systematically evaluated the cost‐effectiveness of Proton Exchange Membrane electrolytic hydrogen production. A comprehensive lifecycle cost model was constructed, including equipment investment, maintenance, operating costs, and line thermocouple failure costs. By combining hydrogen sales, electricity consumption, new energy subsidies, and delayed construction benefits, a lifecycle benefit model was developed to measure economic performance. Experimental results showed that under a 5% power outage rate, the hydrogen distribution network has a short investment payback period, high production, and significant economic benefits, reaching 23.19 million US dollars by the sixth year. This study provides valuable insights for economic decision‐making in electric hydrogen microgrids.
Sugarcane leaf return and mixing significantly reduce slope runoff and soil loss
Authors: Lin Zhe , Deng Yusong , Li Juhui , Yang Yuanfeng , Wang Jianyu , Yang Gairen , Duan Xiaoqian
Published: May 2024

Improper management of sugarcane cultivation may cause severe soil erosion, especially in lateritic red soil hilly areas. Crop straw return to the field can effectively improve the soil structure, but there is a lack of evaluation studies of the soil and water conservation benefits of sugarcane leaf mixing and return to the field, and the underlying regulatory mechanism has rarely been described. Thus, we conducted a series of simulated rainfall experiments to investigate the impact of returning different mixed sugarcane leaf weights (0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 t/ha) to the field on erodible lateritic red soil slopes that support sugarcane production under various slopes (5°, 10°, 15° and 20°) in different rainfall events (60 and 120 mm/h). The results indicated that returning sugarcane leaves into farmland could effectively regulate the process of runoff and sediment production on lateritic red soil slopes, and the optimal mixing amount was 9 t/ha. Under a low rainfall intensity, the erosion process was mainly affected by the slope, and the benefits of applying the sugarcane leaf mixing treatment to the slope to reduce runoff and sediment could reach 13.37–53.04% and 23.86–77.55%, respectively. However, under a high rainfall intensity, the sugarcane leaf mixing amount was the main influencing factor, the benefits for reducing runoff and sediment could reach 4.64–38.72% and 30.87–93.14%, respectively. The sugarcane leaf mixing amount exhibited a linear relationship with the Reynolds number (R2 > 0.63), whereas the runoff velocity (R2 > 0.96), Froude number (R2 > 0.94) and drag coefficient (R2 > 0.85) exhibited well‐fitting exponential function relationship with it. This study provides a reference for future endeavours regarding the inhibition mechanisms of sugarcane leaves mixed and returned to the field for decreasing slope erosion.
Enhanced authentication and device integrity protection for GDOI using blockchain
Authors: Mukhandi Munkenyi , Andrade Eduardo , Granjal Jorge , Vilela João P.
Published: May 2024

Recent device‐level cyber‐attacks have targeted IoT critical applications in power distribution systems integrated with the Internet communications infrastructure. These systems utilize group domain of interpretation (GDOI) as designated by International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) power utility standards IEC 61850 and IEC 62351. However, GDOI cannot protect against novel threats, such as IoT device‐level attacks that can modify device firmware and configuration files to create command and control malicious communication. As a consequence, the attacks can compromise substations with potentially catastrophic consequences. With this in mind, this article proposes a permissioned/private blockchain‐based authentication framework that provides a solution to current security threats such as the IoT device‐level attacks. Our work improves the GDOI protocol applied in critical IoT applications by achieving decentralized and distributed device authentication. The security of our proposal is demonstrated against known attacks as well as through formal mechanisms via the joint use of the AVISPA and SPAN tools. The proposed approach adds negligible authentication latency, thus ensuring appropriate scalability as the number of nodes increases.
Kumquat pomace removal of free polyphenol alleviates induced acute enteritis and restores gut microbiota in dextran sodium sulphate‐treated mice
Authors: Ji Chunxiao , Huang Yixin , Xie Wenjie , Zhu Yawen , Qin Jingping , Guo Shiyin , Xiao Hang , Fan Wei , Tang Zhonghai
Published: May 2024

Kumquat pomace non‐extractable polyphenols (KNEP), which contains celobiotics and has anti‐inflammatory and antioxidant effects, are one of the main components in kumquats. We aimed to determine the preventive and inhibitory effects of KNEP on dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)‐induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The disease activity index (DAI) score, H&E staining, high‐throughput sequencing technology, quantitative analysis, ELISA, and western blotting were used to explore the effect of KNEP in an IBD mouse model. The DAI score and H&E staining results showed that compared with the DSS treatment group, the DAI and pathological status of IBD in the DSS + 3% KNEP (low‐dose) and DSS + 6% KNEP (high‐dose) intervention groups were significantly improved. High‐throughput sequencing showed that the composition of the intestinal flora was restored under KNEP, and the abundance of pathogenic bacteria decreased and that of beneficial bacteria increased. Quantitative analysis of short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs) showed that the SCFAs content in the cecum of IBD mice increased in a dose‐dependent manner. ELISA results showed that KNEP at different doses could inhibit the expression of TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IFN‐γ, and other inflammatory factors, and that 6% KNEP had the most potent inhibitory effect. Western blotting results showed that KNEP inhibited the expression of TLR4, NF‐κB, and NLRP3 in the colon of mice with DSS‐induced colitis in a dose‐dependent manner. These results indicate that KNEP can significantly improve DSS‐induced acute colitis in mice, and the higher the KNEP content, the more pronounced the improvement in IBD.
SAN: Mitigating spatial covariance heterogeneity in cortical thickness data collected from multiple scanners or sites
Authors: Zhang Rongqian , Chen Linxi , Oliver Lindsay D. , Voineskos Aristotle N. , Park Jun Young
Published: May 2024

In neuroimaging studies, combining data collected from multiple study sites or scanners is becoming common to increase the reproducibility of scientific discoveries. At the same time, unwanted variations arise by using different scanners (inter‐scanner biases), which need to be corrected before downstream analyses to facilitate replicable research and prevent spurious findings. While statistical harmonization methods such as ComBat have become popular in mitigating inter‐scanner biases in neuroimaging, recent methodological advances have shown that harmonizing heterogeneous covariances results in higher data quality. In vertex‐level cortical thickness data, heterogeneity in spatial autocorrelation is a critical factor that affects covariance heterogeneity. Our work proposes a new statistical harmonization method called spatial autocorrelation normalization (SAN) that preserves homogeneous covariance vertex‐level cortical thickness data across different scanners. We use an explicit Gaussian process to characterize scanner‐invariant and scanner‐specific variations to reconstruct spatially homogeneous data across scanners. SAN is computationally feasible, and it easily allows the integration of existing harmonization methods. We demonstrate the utility of the proposed method using cortical thickness data from the Social Processes Initiative in the Neurobiology of the Schizophrenia(s) (SPINS) study. SAN is publicly available as an R package.
Diagnostic value of 18F‐FDG PET/CT versus diffusion‐weighted MRI in detection of residual or recurrent tumors after definitive (chemo) radiotherapy for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A prospective study
Authors: Kim Soung Yung , Crook David , Rosskopf Johannes , Lee Jung‐Hyun
Published: May 2024

Background

Despite advances in treatment, residual or recurrent tumors after definitive (chemo) radiotherapy for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) remain a challenge in clinical management and require accurate and timely detection for optimal salvage therapy. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic value of Fluorine 18 (18F) fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) and diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DW‐MRI) in detecting residual or recurrent tumors after definitive (chemo) radiotherapy for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal SCC.

Methods

A prospective study was conducted on 30 patients who presented with new symptoms after definitive (chemo) radiotherapy for laryngeal (n = 21) and hypopharyngeal (n = 9) carcinoma. Both 18F‐FDG PET/CT and DW‐MRI were performed and histopathologic analysis served as the standard of reference.

Results

Histopathology showed 20 patients as positive and 10 as negative for tumors. 18F‐FDG PET/CT detected all tumors correctly but was falsely positive in one case. DW‐MRI detected tumors in 18 out of 20 positive patients and correctly excluded tumors in all negative patients. The sensitivity and specificity of 18F‐FDG PET/CT were 100% and 90%, respectively, while the values for DW‐MRI were 90% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusions

The study concludes that 18F‐FDG PET/CT is slightly superior to DW‐MRI in detecting residual or recurrent tumors after definitive (chemo) radiotherapy for laryngeal and hypopharyngeal SCC. The combined use of 18F‐FDG PET/CT and DW‐MRI can potentially improve specificity in therapy response evaluation.
Support for a browser plug‐in blocking online alcohol imagery among Australian participants: A qualitative interview study
Authors: Patsouras Maree , Cook Megan , Pennay Amy , Kuntsche Emmanuel , Manning Victoria , He Zhen , Riordan Benjamin C.
Published: May 2024

Issues Addressed

Alcohol depictions are extremely common online, and there is a reported relationship between alcohol exposure and alcohol use. A browser plug‐in specifically designed to block online alcohol depictions may be helpful to prevent the uptake of alcohol or increased alcohol use.

Methods

Twenty‐five semi‐structured interviews were conducted, examining participants' beliefs about the effects of online alcohol exposure and their support for developing the browser plug‐in.

Results

Using reflexive thematic analysis, we found participants highlighted a clear impact of viewing alcohol online and offline alcohol use. Participants believed a browser plug‐in that blocked alcohol was acceptable and would be especially useful for minors (to prevent alcohol initiation) and those who are aiming to reduce their alcohol use.

Conclusions

Participants emphasised that viewing online alcohol exposure had an impact on drinking behaviours, such as increased craving and temptation. The browser plug‐in was considered an easy intervention tool for both parents and people who are experiencing alcohol‐related problems or trying to reduce their drinking.

So What?

Participants' continuous support of an alcohol‐blocking browser plug‐in suggests that future health promotion strategies should consider the development of a prototype plug‐in.
A decadal analysis of road traffic accident‐related mortality among women of reproductive age: A cross‐sectional study in East Azerbaijan Province, Iran
Authors: Golestani Mina , Sadeghi‐Bazargani Homayoun , Gavgani Leili Faraji , Khabiri Roghayeh , Jahangiry Leila
Published: May 2024

Background

Given the extensive impact of road traffic accidents (RTAs) consequences and their potential ramifications on the health of both current and future generations, this study examines the social and demographic factors that influence RTA‐related mortality among women of reproductive age.

Methods

The study population consisted of cases retrieved from the database of the Legal Medicine Organization, encompassing all women aged 15–49 who succumbed to road accidents between 2011 and 2021.

Results

The mean age of women in the reproductive age group from East Azerbaijan province between 2011 and 2021 was 33.67 years, with a standard deviation of 9.18. RTAs on main roads accounted for the majority of incidents (395 cases, 50.8%), with 93.7% (728 cases) attributed to road traffic. In 54.4% of these cases, the affected organ was the head and neck, and the primary cause of death in 52.1% was head trauma. Across all age groups, injuries to the neck and head were the most common, followed by injuries to the abdomen, chest, back, and sternum.

Conclusion

The higher incidence of road accidents in the 25–29 age group highlights the need for targeted interventions to address risky behaviors, inexperience, and peer influences in this demographic. Our observation of passengers experiencing the highest mortality rate emphasizes the vulnerability of road users, particularly pedestrians, in traffic accidents. Pedestrian violations in the 17–30 age group further emphasize the importance of education and awareness campaigns aimed at reducing risky behavior.
The pathogenicity and potential risk evaluation of Zika virus to cause mysterious “Disease X”: A brief report
Authors: Tushar Md. Ismail , Islam Md. Rabiul
Published: May 2024

Background and Aims

Disease X is included to represent an unknown pathogen that has the potential to spread globally and trigger significant epidemics. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunization (GAVI) recommend 10 potential disease organisms responsible for disease X. Among them, the Zika virus (ZIKV) is one of the potential organisms. The present work aimed to evaluate the current pathogenicity and potential risk of the ZIKV for public health emergencies.

Methods

We performed a brief review of existing literature from available sources using Zika fever, Zika virus, and Flaviviridae as keywords and extracted relevant information for this review.

Results

The primary way that the ZIKV transmits to humans is by mosquito bites (Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus). Typically, Aedes mosquitoes bite during the day. As an RNA virus, the ZIKV is well‐known for its rapid mutation rate. ZIKV strains or variations can arise due to genomic mutations, and they occur through various processes, including replication errors, recombination, and selection pressure. Nowadays, the ZIKV has also evolved into a global pandemic because the four‐amino acid sequence fits the envelope protein's 154 glycosylation motif, which may be involved in virulence.

Conclusion

There is no specific medicine or vaccine available for the prevention or treatment of ZIKV infection. Therefore, personal protective measures should be the way to prevent ZIKV disease. Therefore, avoiding exposure is the best way to prevent problems from ZIKV to mosquitoes.
The association of sociodemographic factors and history of chronic diseases on menopausal symptoms: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Sharami Seyedeh Hajar , Rafiei Sorouri Zahra , Farzadi Sara , Hosseinzadeh Fatemeh , Etezadi Atoosa , Bab Eghbal Sedighe , Eslami‐Kenarsari Habib
Published: May 2024

Background

Menopausal symptoms are very diverse in terms of prevalence and severity, and this difference is due to various factors such as psychological factors, sociocultural status, lifestyle, geographical location, and other factors. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of menopausal symptoms and evaluate the predictive factors related to the prevalence and severity of menopausal symptoms.

Materials and Methods

This was a cross‐sectional analytical study that was performed on 214 women aged 35–65 years old who were referred to Alzahra Educational, Research and Treatment Center in Rasht, Iran. The data collection tool was a valid and reliable questionnaire, using the list of menopausal symptoms and a checklist of subjects’ general characteristics.

Results

16.8% of postmenopausal women in our study had at least one menopausal symptom. Using multiple linear regression, race (p = 0.02), history of chronic diseases (p = 0.04), place of residence (p = 0.02), and marital satisfaction (p = 0.02) were associated with menopausal symptoms. Nineteen percent of the covariates related to the logistics function were explained by the predictor variables in the model.

Conclusion

Evaluation of menopausal symptoms showed that the severity of menopausal symptoms was related to factors such as body mass index (BMI), ethnicity, place of residence, marital satisfaction, and history of chronic diseases, and need to address BMI, psychological issues, and chronic illness.
Thermohydraulic performance augmentation of triangular duct solar air heater using semi‐conical vortex generators: Numerical and experimental study
Authors: Pramod G. K. , Madhwesh N. , Arunachala U. C. , Manjunath M. S.
Published: May 2024

Thermohydraulic performance augmentation using turbulence promotors is a commonly adopted technique in solar air heater (SAH) applications. This article presents the thermohydraulic performance augmentation of triangular duct SAH using semi‐conical vortex generators (SCVG) using computational fluid dynamics and experimental methodology for various flow Reynolds numbers ranging from 6000 to 21,000. An in‐depth parametric analysis is undertaken to establish the influence of flow attack angle, relative longitudinal pitch, relative transverse pitch and cone diameter of SCVG on the thermohydraulic performance as indicated by the thermohydraulic performance parameter (THPP). The results reveal that the SCVG generates longitudinal vortices and introduces flow impingement zones which significantly affects the flow and heat transfer characteristics of air heaters. Correlations for Nusselt number and friction factor are established, which predicts the performance outcomes with an average error of 6.74% and 4.46%, respectively. The optimal THPP is determined to be 1.74 using artificial neural network model and Bonobo Optimization algorithm. The SCVG produces THPP values well above unity for the entire flow Reynolds number range of 6000–21,000.
Clarity tubes as effective citizen science tools for monitoring wastewater treatment works and rivers
Authors: Mark Graham Philip , Pattinson Nicholas B. , Lepheana Ayanda Tsepo , Taylor Robert James (Jim)
Published: May 2024

Improved freshwater resource management requires the implementation of widespread, effective, and timely water quality monitoring. Conventional monitoring methods are often inhibited by financial, infrastructural, and human capacity limitations, especially in developing regions. This study aimed to validate the citizen-scientist-operated transparency or clarity tube (hereafter “clarity tube”) for measuring water clarity as a proxy for total suspended solids (TSS) concentration, a critical quality metric in river systems and wastewater treatment works (WWTW) effluent in Southern Africa. Clarity tubes provided a relatively accurate and precise proxy for TSS in riverine lotic systems and WWTW effluent, revealing significant inverse log-linear relationships between clarity and TSS with r2 = 0.715 and 0.503, respectively. We demonstrate that clarity-derived estimates of TSS concentration (TSScde) can be used to estimate WWTW compliance with WWTW effluent TSS concentration regulations. The measurements can then be used to engage with WWTW management, potentially affecting WWTW performance. Overall, these findings demonstrate the usefulness of clarity tubes as low-cost, accessible, and easy-to-use citizen science tools for high spatial and temporal resolution water quality monitoring, not only in rivers in Southern Africa but also in WWTW effluent for estimating compliance, with strong global relevance to the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1463–1472. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Key Points

Clarity tubes provide a relatively accurate and precise proxy for total suspended solids (TSS) in riverine lotic systems and wastewater treatment works (WWTW) effluent, revealing significant inverse log-linear relationships between clarity and TSS. Clarity-derived estimates of TSS concentration (TSScde) can be used to estimate WWTW compliance with WWTW effluent TSS concentration regulations, which can then be used to engage with WWTW management, potentially affecting WWTW performance. These findings demonstrate the usefulness of clarity tubes as low-cost, accessible, and easy-to-use citizen science tools for high spatial and temporal resolution water quality monitoring in rivers in Southern Africa and in WWTW effluent for estimating compliance. Using clarity tubes for river and WWTW monitoring is a decisive step toward achieving significant progress in meeting sustainable development goal (SDG) 6 for ensuring safe access to water and sanitation for all, specifically SDG 6.3.2 and SDG 6b, by involving communities in water and sanitation monitoring and management.
REACHing for divergence?—UK chemical regulation post-Brexit
Authors: Jones Lowenna B. , Burns Charlotte J.
Published: May 2024

On 1 January 2021, the United Kingdom formally exited the European Union (EU; Brexit) and ceased to be subject to EU chemical regulation requirements. Before Brexit, UK chemical policy was regulated largely by the EU. With its large internal market, sophisticated regulatory capability, and stringent regulatory framework, the EU has become the world's leading regulatory state, regularly influencing global industrial decisions and practices. At the time of writing, there has been limited academic analysis of the implications of Brexit for UK chemical regulation. More than two years post-Brexit, we have the opportunity to assess UK chemical regulation and revisit early expectations about regulatory divergence. This article takes the EU's Regulation on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as a case study to analyze patterns of post-Brexit regulatory divergence, thereby providing one of the first analyses of the implications of Brexit on UK chemical regulation. Through the analysis and review of key documents and reports (n = 99), this article assesses the extent to which UK and EU regulatory (REACH) regimes are beginning to diverge and discusses the potential implications of any divergence for the United Kingdom. We find that the UK and EU chemical regulatory regimes are now evolving independently and provide clear, empirical evidence of an emerging divergence in regulatory decisions, ambitions, and approaches. The evidence suggests that the United Kingdom is currently unable to keep pace with EU developments, lacking the capacity, expertise, and capability of its EU counterparts, raising the prospect of further divergence in the future. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1529–1538. © 2024 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).

Key Points

The UK and European Union (EU) chemical regulatory regimes are now evolving independently and beginning to diverge in regulatory decisions, ambitions, and approaches. The United Kingdom is currently unable to keep pace with EU chemical regulatory developments, lacking the capacity, expertise, and capability of its EU counterparts. Divergence between UK and EU chemical regulatory regimes risks economic, social, and environmental damage to the United Kingdom, threatening the manufacture and production of chemical goods, trade and market access, and environmental and human health.
Evaluation of water efficiency in agriculture: The case of the Konya closed basin
Authors: Torun Elifnaz , Çakmak Belgin
Published: May 2024

The main goal in water efficiency in agriculture is to obtain more products with the same amount of water. In this respect, the use of irrigation performance indicators is important for increasing agricultural water efficiency. This study was conducted to evaluate agricultural water efficiency in the Konya closed basin, which is the region most affected by drought in Turkey. For this purpose, performance indicators selected for evaluating agricultural water efficiency were determined in irrigation associations taken as material for the years 2016–2020.

In the research area, the following water use efficiency indicators were determined: annual amount of irrigation water distributed 1.750–517.462 million m3 yr⁻¹ (MCM yr⁻¹), annual amount of irrigation water distributed per unit area 0.529–8.688 MCM ha⁻¹, annual amount of irrigation water distributed per unit irrigated area 0.787–33.909 MCM ha⁻¹ and annual water supply ratio ranging between 0.220 and 52.600. The following agricultural water efficiency performance indicators were determined: income obtained for unit irrigation area, 127–5075 US$ ha⁻¹; income obtained per unit irrigated area, 656–12353 US$ ha⁻¹; income obtained per unit irrigation water taken into the network, 0.104–6.771 US$ m⁻3; and income obtained per unit irrigation water consumed, 0.236–37.358 US$ m⁻3. Correlation analysis was carried out to identify the significance of the relationships between the performance indicators, and the results were discussed.
Adolescents' implicit and explicit attitudes toward their peers with genetic conditions
Authors: Wainstein Tasha , Yeung David , Jennings Lauren ,   GenCOUNSEL Study, Elliott Alison M.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Previous research has demonstrated that children lacking knowledge about genetic disorders may have harmful attitudes toward people with disabilities, but disability awareness can successfully modify these attitudes. We explored adolescents' implicit and explicit attitudes toward peers with genetic conditions to determine whether improved genetics/genomics literacy can mitigate the impact of ableism in this population.

Methods

English‐speaking adolescents (10–18 years) from British Columbia were invited to complete a Disability Attitudes Implicit Association Test (DA‐IAT) and participate in a semi‐structured focus group centering on a fictionalized vignette about an adolescent with Down syndrome. We used pragmatism as an analytical paradigm. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze DA‐IAT and sociodemographic data; phronetic iterative analysis with constant comparison as a coding strategy for transcripts; and interpretive description to develop a conceptual model.

Results

Twenty‐two adolescents completed the DA‐IAT and participated in one of four focus groups. Participants had a statistically significant implicit preference for non‐disabled people (D‐score = 0.72, SD = 0.44; t = 7.18, p < .00001). They demonstrated greater diversity in their explicit attitudes during the focus groups. Although participants articulated a positive attitude toward improved genetics education, results demonstrate their belief that social and personal interactions with disabled peers would be essential to address negative perceptions.

Conclusions

This study lays important groundwork to understand, explain, and influence the negative attitudes of adolescents toward individuals with disabilities. Findings will be used to inform the design of interventions that address biased perceptions of people with genetic disorders, with the goal of reducing prejudices and improving social interactions.
Impact of bisphenol A and analogues eluted from resin‐based dental materials on cellular and molecular processes: An insight on underlying toxicity mechanisms
Authors: Rajkumar Divya Sangeetha , Padmanaban Rajashree
Published: May 2024

Dental resin systems, used for artificial replacement of teeth and their surrounding structures, have gained popularity due to the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) recommendation to reduce dental amalgam use in high‐risk populations and medical circumstances. Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine‐disrupting chemical, is an essential monomer within dental resin in the form of various analogues and derivatives. Leaching of monomers from resins results in toxicity, affecting hormone metabolism and causing long‐term health risks. Understanding cellular‐level toxicity profiles of bisphenol derivatives is crucial for conducting toxicity studies in in vivo models. This review provides insights into the unique expression patterns of BPA and its analogues among different cell types and their underlying toxicity mechanisms. Lack of a consistent cell line for toxic effects necessitates exploring various cell lines. Among the individual monomers, BisGMA was found to be the most toxic; however, BisDMA and BADGE generates BPA endogenously and found to elicit severe adverse reactions. In correlating in vitro data with in vivo findings, further research is necessary to classify the elutes as human carcinogens or xenoestrogens. Though the basic mechanisms underlying toxicity were believed to be the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species and a corresponding decline in glutathione levels, several underlying mechanisms were identified to stimulate cellular responses at low concentrations. The review calls for further research to assess the synergistic interactions of co‐monomers and other components in dental resins. The review emphasizes the clinical relevance of these findings, highlighting the necessity for safer dental materials and underscoring the potential health risks associated with current dental resin systems.
GraphEGFR: Multi‐task and transfer learning based on molecular graph attention mechanism and fingerprints improving inhibitor bioactivity prediction for EGFR family proteins on data scarcity
Authors: Boonyarit Bundit , Yamprasert Nattawin , Kaewnuratchadasorn Pawit , Kinchagawat Jiramet , Prommin Chanatkran , Rungrotmongkol Thanyada , Nutanong Sarana
Published: May 2024

The proteins within the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family, members of the tyrosine kinase receptor family, play a pivotal role in the molecular mechanisms driving the development of various tumors. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors, key compounds in targeted therapy, encounter challenges in cancer treatment due to emerging drug resistance mutations. Consequently, machine learning has undergone significant evolution to address the challenges of cancer drug discovery related to EGFR family proteins. However, the application of deep learning in this area is hindered by inherent difficulties associated with small‐scale data, particularly the risk of overfitting. Moreover, the design of a model architecture that facilitates learning through multi‐task and transfer learning, coupled with appropriate molecular representation, poses substantial challenges. In this study, we introduce GraphEGFR, a deep learning regression model designed to enhance molecular representation and model architecture for predicting the bioactivity of inhibitors against both wild‐type and mutant EGFR family proteins. GraphEGFR integrates a graph attention mechanism for molecular graphs with deep and convolutional neural networks for molecular fingerprints. We observed that GraphEGFR models employing multi‐task and transfer learning strategies generally achieve predictive performance comparable to existing competitive methods. The integration of molecular graphs and fingerprints adeptly captures relationships between atoms and enables both global and local pattern recognition. We further validated potential multi‐targeted inhibitors for wild‐type and mutant HER1 kinases, exploring key amino acid residues through molecular dynamics simulations to understand molecular interactions. This predictive model offers a robust strategy that could significantly contribute to overcoming the challenges of developing deep learning models for drug discovery with limited data and exploring new frontiers in multi‐targeted kinase drug discovery for EGFR family proteins.
Brain‐to‐brain interface technology: A brief history, current state, and future goals
Authors: Vakilipour Pouya , Fekrvand Saba
Published: May 2024

A brain‐to‐brain interface (BBI), defined as a combination of neuroimaging and neurostimulation methods to extract and deliver information between brains directly without the need for the peripheral nervous system, is a budding communication technique. A BBI system is made up of two parts known as the brain–computer interface part, which reads a sender's brain activity and digitalizes it, and the computer–brain interface part, which writes the delivered brain activity to a receiving brain. As with other technologies, BBI systems have gone through an evolutionary process since they first appeared. The BBI systems have been employed for numerous purposes, including rehabilitation for post‐stroke patients, communicating with patients suffering from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, locked‐in syndrome and speech problems following stroke. Also, it has been proposed that a BBI system could play an important role on future battlefields. This technology was not only employed for communicating between two human brains but also for making a direct communication path among different species through which motor or sensory commands could be sent and received. However, the application of BBI systems has provoked significant challenges to human rights principles due to their ability to access and manipulate human brain information. In this study, we aimed to review the brain–computer interface and computer–brain interface technologies as components of BBI systems, the development of BBI systems, applications of this technology, arising ethical issues and expectations for future use.
CAD‐CAM and heat‐press: Comparison of internal and marginal fit of lithium disilicate copings
Authors: Bella Marcia , Lins Leonardo , Canabarro Antonio
Published: May 2024

The aim of this in vitro study is to compare the performance of digital and conventional methods in the manufacture of single copings in terms of the internal and marginal fit. Twenty‐four prefabricated titanium Cone Morse Exact abutments of the lateral anatomical type were used to manufacture 24 lithium disilicate copings in the CAD‐CAM Ceramill (n = 12) and heat‐press (n = 12) systems. The copings were cemented using a self‐adhesive resin cement (RelyX U‐200; 3M ESPE) and then cut vertically. The cement line was photographed using an optical microscope at ×100 and ×200 magnification and then the internal and marginal regions were measured. The mean values of fits, for the CAD‐CAM and heat‐press techniques, respectively, were (μm): angular regions, 81.8 and 75.3; linear regions, 63.1 and 60.1; incisal regions, 171.1 and 114.7; marginal discrepancy, 74.1 and 75.2; and absolute marginal discrepancy, 99.5 and 96.2. MANOVA test showed that there is an effect of the techniques on the regions (p < .05). The effects of laboratories and the interaction between laboratories and techniques on the regions were not statistically significant (p > .05). The techniques evaluated presented clinically acceptable results for the marginal fit. However, the conventional method performed better for the internal fit.

Research Highlights

Scientific evidence regarding the methods of making prosthesis can help the dental professional in decision‐making. Digital and conventional methods is both good in the manufacture of single copings in terms of the internal and marginal fit.
Personal, health system, and geosocial disparities in appointment nonadherence at family medicine clinics in southcentral Pennsylvania, United States
Authors: Tuan Wen‐Jan , Weems Ashley , Leong Shou Ling
Published: May 2024

Background

To assess the relationship between patients' demographic, health system‐related, and geosocial characteristics and the risk of missed appointments among patients in family medicine practice.

Methods

The study was based on a retrospective cross‐sectional design using electronic health records and neighborhood‐level social determents of health metrics linked by geocoded patients' home address. The study population consisted of patients who had a primary care provider and at least one appointment at 14 family medicine clinics in rural and suburban areas in January–December 2022. Negative binomial regression was utilized to examine the impact of personal, health system, and geosocial effects on the risk of no‐shows and same‐day cancellations.

Results

A total of 258,614 appointments were made from 75,182 patients during the study period, including 7.8% no‐show appointments from 20,256 patients. The analysis revealed that individuals in the ethnic minority groups were 1.24–1.65 times more likely to miss their appointments than their White counterpart. Females and English speakers had 14% lower risk for no‐show. A significant increase (32%–64%) in the odds of no‐shows was found among individuals on Medicaid and uninsured. Persons with prior history of no‐shows or same day cancellations were 6%–27% more likely to miss their appointments. The no‐show risk was also higher among people living in areas experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage.

Conclusion

The risk of missed appointments is affected by personal, health system, and geosocial contexts. Future efforts aiming to reduce no‐shows could develop personalized interventions targeting the at‐risk populations identified in the analysis.
Synthesis of Radiolabeled [14C]Rimsulfuron and Stable Isotope Labeled Rimsulfuron‐[M + 3] to Support Crop Metabolism Studies for Reregistration
Authors: Horty Lindsey G. , Martin Timothy
Published: May 2024

Rimsulfuron is a sulfonylurea herbicide that controls grass and broadleaf weeds in maize, potatoes, fruits, nuts, and other crops. It can also be used as a burndown herbicide to clear invasive weed species along roadsides and other nonagricultural land. Rimsulfuron acts as an acetolactase synthase (ALS) inhibitor, blocking the synthesis of essential amino acids required for plant growth. As is common practice, rimsulfuron has been subject to periodic reviews by regulatory agencies for reregistration since its introduction into the market in the early 1990s. The goal of these reviews is to ensure that the herbicide carries out its intended use without creating adverse side effects to humans and the environment. Since scientific methods are continually evolving and being developed, global regulatory agencies can require additional studies to address data gaps for pesticide renewals. During this reregistration process for rimsulfuron, a new confined rotational crop study was required to address a data gap requested by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Consequently, the corresponding pyridine and pyrimidine radiolabeled [14C]rimsulfuron and [M + 3] stable isotopes of rimsulfuron were synthesized for this study to support the reregistration process.
Recent trends in agriculturally relevant climate in Central America
Authors: Nakamura Jennifer , Seager Richard , Liu Haibo , Cottier Fabien , Puma Michael J. , Wrathall David J. , Katz Brian , de Sherbinin Alex , Adamo Susana B.
Published: May 2024

This study examines the climatology and trends in climate in Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador over the past four decades, against the background of potential impacts on rainfed agriculture, livelihoods, and migration. The results show that there has been a significant warming of surface temperatures, an earlier start to the monsoon, a drier and longer mid‐summer drought, and a delay in the second peak of precipitation from September to October. These changes have led to an increase in vapour pressure deficit (VPD) in northern Guatemala and along the Pacific coast in winter. High VPD can stress plants and lead to reduced yields. The study also finds that the thresholds that cause a decline in coffee yield have already been reached in El Salvador, but the average VPD has also risen in Guatemala and Honduras over the past 42 years. Maize yields have also been negatively affected with an inverse relationship with daily maximum temperatures during the summer flowering season. Observed changes and trends in these climate factors are believed to have direct implications for crop yields and livelihoods, potentially driving shifts in migration patterns.
Ocean waves in the southwestern Atlantic Ocean: An evaluation of global wave models
Authors: Salimbeni Alejandro , Dragani Walter , Alonso Guadalupe
Published: May 2024

In situ wave observations are essential for implementing coastal management strategies, designing coastal and offshore structures and understanding many processes related to sedimentology and marine biology. Despite their importance, these observations are rather scarce in the coastal areas of southeastern South America. Moreover, the existing observations are discontinuous, with several gaps and no simultaneity. Today, global wave models have improved their performance by providing reliable wave parameters with high resolution and coverage even at near‐shore areas. In this work, wave parameters from five global models were compared with significant wave heights (HS), peak periods (T) and propagation direction at nine sites located at the Southwestern South Atlantic Ocean. The global products used were WAVERYS (Global Reanalysis Wav 001 032), IOWAGA (WAVEWATCH III Hindcast – WW3 – Global grid – CFSR), ERA5 (ECMWF reanalysis), NOAA WW3 – 30‐year Hindcast Phase 2 and NCEP/EMC Operational global wave model GFS – Wave. Mean arithmetic error (Bias), root mean square deviation, scatter index and the Pearson linear correlation coefficient (r) were assessed at each location where wave observations were available. The best agreements for HS were obtained at the deepest sites located farther from the coast. Lower statistical metrics were achieved at coastal sites where the bathymetry is roughly represented by the global models. The calculated correlation coefficients were found to be lower for T than for HS. Overall, T was slightly underestimated by global models. Wave propagation directions were excellently represented by global models at offshore sites. The WAVERYS model is the global product that best represents the wave parameters in the study area, probably due to its higher spatial resolution (0.2°) and more realistic atmospheric forcing (ERA5). In addition, it satisfactorily represents the temporal variability of HS in open water as well as swell characteristics at the outer the Río de la Plata.
A comprehensive analysis of metabolomics and lipidomics in areca nut mediated oral submucous fibrosis progression through LCMS and Raman spectroscopy
Authors: Verma Tarun Prakash , Adhikari Sonali , Singh Siddharth , Rani Chanchal , Kumar Rajesh , Jha Hem Chandra
Published: May 2024

Habitual consumption of areca/betel nut in Southeast Asia has been associated with oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and its malignant transformation to oral squamous cell carcinoma. The current study aimed to assess the molecular alterations in fibroblast cell lines after treatment with areca nut. Areca nut extract (ANE) was prepared and characterized for its active ingredient, arecoline. ANE‐treated cells were subjected to cell viability, proliferation, migration, morphologic changes, and transcript of OSMF genes (col1a1, col1a2, hsp47, timp1, timp2, timp3, and timp4). Further, liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LCMS) of cell lysate and Raman microspectroscopy (RMS) of fixed cells were performed for metabolomics/lipidomics and biomolecular alterations in the nucleus and periphery of ANE‐treated cells. We compared and integrated the data from both techniques and observed that the cells treated with ANE mimicked OSMF and could be used as an in vitro model. LCMS showed a significant alteration in 17 metabolites and 165 lipid molecules in the cells treated with ANE. Further, 40 molecules in the nucleus and 29 in the periphery were found to be altered in these cells when subjected to RMS. Molecules associated with pathways such as the transfer of acetyl groups into mitochondria, amino sugar metabolism, and the Warburg effect were modulated the most upon ANE treatment. Acetyl CoA was found to be common in most of the altered pathways. Besides, the pathways affecting carbohydrate metabolism were also altered significantly. Targeting these molecules and pathways can help to prevent the malignant transformation of OSMF.