bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of retained node numbers on berry maturity and yield components of cane-pruned Sauvignon blanc
Authors: Epee Paul T. M. , Schelezki Olaf , Trought Michael C. T. , Werner Armin , Hofmann Rainer W. , Almond Peter , Charters Stuart , Parker Amber
Published: July 2024

Cane pruning is used in most New Zealand Sauvignon blanc vineyards to manage yield, vine balance (relationship between vegetative growth and fruit growth) and fruit primary and secondary metabolites. The source–sink ratio (TLA/FM—total leaf area to fruit mass or ELA/FM—exposed leaf area to fruit mass), the fruit mass to pruning mass (FM/PM), the fruit mass to cane mass (FM/CM) and fruit composition provide an assessment of the vine performance and balance. The interpretation of these metrics (i.e., TLA/FM, ELA/FM, FM/PM, FM/CM) requires their comparison with known optimal ranges specific to cultivars, locations and growing conditions. More often, such context- and cultivar-specific optimal ranges do not exist, thus warranting research to investigate them. To understand the influence of retained node numbers on the vegetative and fruit development of Sauvignon blanc, grapevines were pruned across three vineyard sites (two in Marlborough—Site 1 and 2, and one in Waipara—Site 3) over two growing seasons, retaining 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 nodes on one to four canes (each cane carrying ten nodes, with 50-node vines carrying on average 12.5 nodes on each of the four canes). The accumulation of soluble solids (TSS) generally increased at lower node numbers and vine yields, reflecting an increase in ELA/FM, with 50-node vines having the least TSS concentration at harvest. The average berry mass, titrable acidity (TA) and pH were unaffected by node numbers over the two seasons. A low source–sink ratio induced by high node numbers not only reduced the vine capacity to ripen the current crop but also reduced the following season’s bunch number per shoot (from 1.8 to 1.6 bunches per shoot; p < 0.05), average bunch mass (from 82.0 ± 6 g to 67.7 ± 3 g; p < 0.01) and bunch mass per shoot (from 153.5 ± 15 g to 106.7 ± 9 g; p < 0.05). When compared to 50-node vines, 10-node vines had a two-fold increase in the average cane mass (from 30.1 ± 3.9 g to 69.2 ± 8.7 g; p < 0.001) and average old cane mass (from 82.4 ± 6.9 g to 163.8 ± 21 g; p < 0.001). The ELA/FM and TLA/FM required for optimal TSS accumulation were 0.75 m2 kg-1 and 2.0 m2 kg-1, respectively, across all sites. A source–sink ratio above these values resulted in high average cane mass and average old cane mass (an indication of excess vigour), while lower values indicated reduced vigour and slowed TSS accumulation. This research provides useful optimal ranges to compare and interpret vine balance metrics measured at those sites.
Sketch of the history of pharmacies in the town of Grodzisk Wielkopolski before 1939
Authors: Kubacki Grzegorz
Published: July 2024

Arykuł opisuje historię aptekarzy i aptek w Grodzisku Wielkopolskim do 1939 r. Pierwsze wzmianki dotyczące aptekarzy w tym mieście pochodzą z 1637 r. i dotyczą Stephanusa pharmacopola. Szczególną uwagę poświęcono zwłaszcza czasom Powstania Wielkopolskiego oraz okresowi międzywojennemu, kiedy w mieście rywalizowali ze sobą o pacjentów aptekarze Roman Napierała i Władysław Ziętak.
Dillemma of the narrowed specialization of science: How deeply should a historian of medicine go into the history of the West and Western culture?
Authors: Kubicki Dominik
Published: July 2024

Na przykładzie publikacji Michaliny Brody „Lekarze w państwie zakonu krzyżackiego w Prusach XIV-XV wieku” (2013) autor artykułu podnosi, coraz bardziej stającą się złożoną, kwestię współcześnie uprawianej nauki. W dyscyplinie historii medycyny europejskiej stanowi ona badawczy dylemat: na ile dogłębnie badacz historii medycyny powinien sięgać do stanu wiedzy z zakresu procesu dziejowego i dziejów Zachodu, a nawet dziejów powszechnych, aby sprawić badawczą „czytelność” prezentowanych przez siebie rezultatów badawczych [nowych, bardziej szczegółowych treści], reprezentowanej przez siebie nauki szczegółowej. W przedmiocie rozważań rozchodzi się o dogłębność i szerokość kreślenia historycznego tła mediewalnej Christianitas, a na jej tle i zarazem w odniesieniu do królestwa polskiego realiów państwa zakonu krzyżackiego, aby bardziej zrozumiałe stały się nowo prezentowane treści archiwalne, dotyczące działalności medyków w państwie krzyżackim w Prusach wraz z ówczesnym zakresem ich kompetencji medycznych.
Dr. Zofia Garlicka (1874-1942) – a gynaecologist, the President of the Medical Women’s Association, a prisoner of the Pawiak Prison and the Auschwitz-Birkenau
Authors: Ciesielska Maria
Published: July 2024

Zofia Garlicka urodziła się 19 czerwca 1874 r. w Niżnym Nowogrodzie. Ukończyła studia medyczne na Uniwersytecie w Zurychu uzyskując tytuł doktora nauk medycznych. Specjalizowała się w ginekologii i położnictwie w Krakowie. Działała w licznych organizacjach społecznych, zabiegając o poprawę losu pracujących kobiet ciężarnych i położnic. Była jedną z założycielek i przewodniczącą Stowarzyszenia Lekarek Polskich. W okresie okupacji hitlerowskiej w Polsce działała w strukturach Armii Krajowej, za co została aresztowana i uwięziona na „Pawiaku”. W październiku 1942 r. została przewieziona do KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, gdzie wkrótce zmarła w wyniku zachorowania na tyfus plamisty.
A brief history of the theory of mind in bipolar disorder
Authors: Bodnar Anna
Published: July 2024

Niniejszy artykuł ma na celu omówienie historii choroby afektywnej dwubiegunowej w kontekście badań nad teorią umysłu. Choroba afektywna dwubiegunowa (ChAD) charakteryzuje się występowaniem stanów psychopatologicznych – manii i depresji, które są sobie przeciwstawne. ChAD jest zaburzeniem znacznie wykraczającym poza aspekt medyczny. W ostatnich latach szerokie spektrum jej objawów, przynależących do epizodu depresji oraz będących przejawem manii, stało się przedmiotem zainteresowania psychologii. Szczególny obszar badań w ostatniej dekadzie dotyczy związku pomiędzy ChAD a teorią umysłu, określą inaczej jako mentalizacja. W pracy przedstawiono genezę i rozwój badań nad ChAD. Omówiono, jak ChAD z przedmiotu zainteresowania medycyny stała się obiektem badań psychologii, która koncentruje się na objawach i ich leczeniu oraz analizuje, w jaki sposób objawy zaburzeń psychicznych dezorganizują życie społeczne. Druga część artykułu koncentruje się na przedstawieniu historii powstania teorii umysłu. Ponadto omówiono drogę prowadzącą od badań nad autyzmem i schizofrenią do analizy deficytów teorii umysłu w ChAD.
The Finite-Size Nuclear Structure of the Black Hole
Authors: Pei Ting-Han
Published: July 2024

Although some alternative metrics have been proposed in classical gravity, the singularity problem remains unresolved perfectly. To satisfy the super-gravitational requirement of a black hole without singularities, we propose some possible finite-size structure to avoid the confused one. In this research, the degenerate Fermi electron gas is first used to reveal that the Fermi electron gas cannot shrink to a point regardless of how much energy it obtains; therefore, the singularity existing at the center becomes very unreasonable. To avoid these problems, a finite-size nucleus of the black hole is proposed and explained by the behaviors of the Fermi electron gas and Fermi neutron gas for this finite-size nuclear model. We construct the Kerr-Newman black hole by using a non-rotating but charged finite-size nucleus, a compact-like star, which is surrounded by counter-rotating and corotating electrons. Based on this model, the super-gravity the same as the one from a black hole is presented, and the speed of light observed at far-away places can be nonzero at the event horizon.
A Revolution in Quantum Computing is Underway: the Essence-Units and Energy States are Fundamental Programming Units
Authors: Rybalov Alexander , Naich Michael
Published: July 2024

This proposal advocates using energy states as fundamental units for quantum computer programming. Each programming unit is conceptualized as an energy state, manifested as an essence-unit. The essence-unit, defined as the minimal form encapsulating complete uniqueness or specificity, serves as the cornerstone of this paradigm. This approach allows recording various forms of matter on quantum computers in essence-units representing their energy states. Recording energy states is achieved through the creation of four distinct coherent potentials facilitated by quantum dots or crystals. It is crucial to note that these energy states, embodied in essence-units, cannot be subdivided. The study examines the intricate relationship between similarity, fractals, and uniqueness in quantum dot operations, elucidating their profound implications for information transfer efficiency. Normalized entropy quantifies the charge localization in quantum dot impurities in systems exhibiting distortions. Utilizing N-level recording and entropy-fractal dimension equivalence enables this paper to elucidate the potential of quantum dots in reducing transmission time and modeling complex systems. The proposed methodology represents a significant departure from the current state of quantum computing, offering unprecedented potential for overcoming previously intractable challenges.
Stress Responses in Horses Housed in Different Stable Designs During Summer in a Tropical Savanna Climate
Authors: Poochipakorn Chanoknun , Wonghanchao Thita , Sanigavatee Kanokpan , Chanda Metha
Published: July 2024

Single-confinement housing can pose welfare risks to domestic horses. This study investigated horses’ stress responses when confined to single stalls in different stable designs in a tropical savanna region to address a literature gap. In total, 23 horses were assigned to a stable with a central corridor and solid external walls (A) (N = 8), a stable with one side corridor and solid external walls (B) (N = 6) or a stable with a central corridor and no solid external walls (C) (N = 9). Air velocity, relative humidity, air temperature and noxious gases were measured inside the stables, and the heart rate and HRV of the horses were also determined. The relative humidity was lower in stable C than in stable A (p < 0.05), while the air temperature was higher in stable C than in stable B (p < 0.05) during the day. The airflow and ammonia levels were higher in stable C than in stables B and A (p < 0.01–0.0001). Overall, horses’ HRV in stable A was lower than in those in stables B and C (p < 0.05-0.01). Horses in stable A tended to experience more stress than those in other stables.
Quantum Chemical (QC) Calculations and Linear Solvation Energy Relationships (LSER)-Hydrogen-Bonding Calculations with New QC-LSER Molecular Descriptors
Authors: Panayiotou Costas
Published: July 2024

A new method, based on quantum chemical calculations, is proposed for the thermodynamically consistent reformulation of QSPR-type Linear Free-Energy Relationship (LFER) models. This reformulation permits the extraction of valuable information on intermolecular interactions and its transfer in other LFER-type models, in acidity / basicity scales or even in equation-of-state models. New molecular descriptors of electrostatic interactions are derived from the distribution of molecular surface charges obtained from COSMO-type quantum chemical calculations. The widely used and very successful Abraham’s Linear Solvation Energy Relationship (LSER) model is selected as the reference LSER model for the calculations in solute – solvent systems as well as in solute self-solvation. Hydrogen-bonding free energies, enthalpies and entropies are now derived for a variety of common solutes. The capacity of the method to address the role of conformational changes in solvation quantities is discussed. The perspectives of the LSER model with the implementation of the new descriptors are also discussed.
Correlations of Multidrug Resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae with Long-Term Aminoglycoside Consumption and Resistance Data
Authors: Sajerli Bence , Makai Klára , Sarkadi-Nagy Ágnes , Burián Katalin of , Orosz László
Published: July 2024

Multidrug resistant bacteria pose a significant threat to global health, particularly in healthcare settings. This study aimed to explore the potential of aminoglycoside consumption and resistance data to correlate with multidrug resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Data on aminoglycoside consumption and antibiotic resistance indices (ARI) were collected from 2010 to 2023. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analyzes were performed to examine both immediate and delayed (one-year delay) correlations between aminoglycoside use (amikacin, tobramycin, gentamicin) and resistance patterns. The results indicated that the consumption of amikacin was consistently high and correlated with resistance in both bacterial species. Tobramycin and gentamicin showed variable resistance patterns, with negative correlations in some cases. Delayed effect analysis revealed that amikacin and tobramycin consumption had a slight delayed positive impact on multidrug resistance in A. baumannii, while gentamicin use was associated with a delayed reduction in resistance. In K. pneumoniae, gentamicin showed a strong delayed positive correlation with multidrug resistance, while amikacin and tobramycin had weaker associations. These findings highlight the complex and species-specific relationships between aminoglycoside consumption and resistance development, emphasizing the need for customized antibiotic management strategies that account for the immediate and delayed effects of antibiotic use.
Biomaterials in Drug Delivery and Clinical Applications
Authors: Islam Nadia , Galijatović Aiša , Kozarić Selma , Hrapović Adna , Tipura Ajla , Kovalenko Boris , Hajdarpašić Maida , Bourghli Asmaa Al , Lokvančić Haris , Sezer Abas , Aljabali Alaa A. , Tambuwala Murtaza M. , Hromić-Jahjefendić Altijana , Uversky Vladimir N.
Published: July 2024

As the world population grows, fulfilling the need for biomaterials in the healthcare system becomes increasingly important. Biomaterials, which include metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites, play an important role in the creation of medical devices that improve people's lives. The European Society for Biomaterials described biomaterials as non-biological materials used in medical devices to interact with biological systems. This definition has developed to encompass materials that treat, assess, or replace tissues or bodily functions. Biocompatibility, as defined by the FDA, is a key feature of biomaterials, as is the requirement to fulfil design requirements such as mechanical performance, geometry, and electrical control. Over the last decade, advances in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering have boosted biomaterials' usage in medical applications dramatically. Despite its promise, scientists, engineers, and physicians continue to face significant challenges due to the complexity of biomaterials. Biomaterials have various benefits, including biodegradability, non-toxicity, and biocompatibility, making them extremely useful for replacing, sustaining, or improving biological activities in damaged tissues. They are used in a wide range of applications, including tissue engineering implants, human tissue healing and regeneration, medication delivery systems, and biosensors. This study gives insights into the fundamental characteristics, case studies, and ethical issues associated with the usage and use of biomaterials, further examining their potential and significance in healthcare and medicine.
Synthesis of tetrahydroberberine N,N-derived O-acetamides
Authors: Nechepurenko Ivan V. , Komarova Nina I. , Salakhutdinov Nariman F.
Published: July 2024

The reaction of berberine derivatives containing at O-9 position N,N-disubstituted acetamide fragments with sodium borohydride in methanol at 0 °C leads to a mild reduction of the "C" cycle with the formation of corresponding tetrahydroberberine derivatives with moderate to good yields.
Changes in the Release of Endothelial Extracellular Vesicles CD144+, CCR6+ and CXCR3+ in Individuals With Acute Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Moreno Alexa , Zapata Padro Alarcón , Gutierrez Enrique Guzman , Radojkovic Claudia , Contreras Hector , Lampeti Estefanía Nova , Zuñiga Felipe , Rodriguez Llerenty , Escudero Carlos , Lagos Paola , Aguayo Claudio
Published: July 2024

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) results from vulnerable plaque rupture, causing ischemic cardiomyocyte necrosis and intense inflammation. Paradoxically, this inflammation releases factors that aid heart repair. Recent findings suggest a role for extracellular vesicles (EVs) in intercellular communication during post-AMI cardiac repair. However, EVs’ tissue origin and chemokine profile in the blood of patients with AMI remains unclear. This study characterized EV tissue origin and chemokine receptor profile in the coronary and peripheral blood of patients with AMI.
The results reveal that vesicles isolated from coronary and peripheral blood plasma are enriched in tetraspanin (CD9) and express CD81+, CD90+, and CD144+. The vesicle size ranged between 145 and 162 nm, with the control group exhibiting smaller vesicles than the AMI group. Furthermore, all vesicles expressed CCR6+ and CXCR3+, whereas a small percentage expressed CCR4+. In addition, a decrease in CXCR3+ and CCR6+ positivity was observed in coronary and peripheral blood vesicles compared with the control. Non-difference was found in the coronary and peripheral blood for the CXCR3+ and CCR6+ markers.
In conclusion, our study demonstrates, for the first time, changes in the number of extracellular vesicles expressing CD144+, CXCR3+, and CCR6+ in the peripheral circulation of patients with AMI. Extracellular vesicles present in the peripheral circulation of patients with AMI hold excellent promise as a potential diagnostic tool.
Hydrological Monitoring System of the Navío-Quebrado Coastal Lagoon (Colombia): A Very Low Cost, High Value, Replicable, Semi Participatory Solution With Preliminary Results
Authors: Nardini Andrea Gianni Cristoforo , Escobar Villanueva Jairo Rene , Perez Montiel Jhonny Isaac
Published: July 2024

Like many coastal lagoons in several countries, “Navío Quebrado” lagoon (La Guajira-Colombia) is a very delicate and precious environment; indeed, it is a nationally recognized Flora and Fauna Sanctuary. Several factors, amongst which climate change, are threatening its existence because of changes in the governing hydro-morphological processes. A first step to address this problem certainly is to understand its hydrological behavior and to be able to replicate via simulation its recent history and then infer likely futures. These potential futures will be marked by changes in the water input by its tributary, the Camarones River, and by a modified water exchange with the sea, according to a foreseen sea level rise pattern, as well as by a different evaporation from the free surface, according to temperature changes. In order achieve the required ability to simulate future scenarios, data on the actual behavior have to be gathered, i.e. a monitoring system has to be set up, which to date is not existent. Conceptually, designing a suitable monitoring system is not a complex issue and seems easy to implement. However, the environmental and socio-cultural and socio-economic context makes every little step a hard climb. An extremely simple –almost “primitive”- monitoring system has been set up in this case which is based on very basic measurements of current velocity and water levels and a direct participation of local stakeholders, first of all the National Park unit of the Sanctuary. All this may clash with the latest groovy advances of science, like in situ automatized sensors, remote sensing, machine learning and digital twins, and certainly several improvements are possible and desirable. But it has strong positive points: it is providing surprisingly reasonable data and…it is working at almost zero additional cost. Several technical difficulties made this exercise interesting in itself and worth being shared. Its novelty lies in showing how old, simple methods may offer a working solution to new challenges. This humble experience may be of help in several other similar situations across the world.
Life Cycle Assessment and Prediction of Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles Considering Different Vehicle Working Conditions and Battery Degradation Scenarios
Authors: Zhang Yaning , Cao Ziqiang , Zhang Chunmei , Chen Yisong
Published: July 2024

This study establishes life cycle assessment model to quantitively evaluate and predict material resource consumption, fossil energy consumption and environmental emissions of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) by employing the GaBi software. the envi-ronmental impact of different vehicle working conditions, power battery degradation scenarios and mileage scenarios on the operation and use stage of PHEV, BEV and HEV is distinguished. The findings indicate that under urban, highway, and aggressive driving conditions, PHEVs' life cycle material resource and fossil fuel consumption exceed that of BEVs but are less than HEVs. Battery degradation leads to increased material resource consumption, energy use, and environmental emissions for both PHEVs and BEVs, en-vironmental emission of BEVs are more sensitive than those of PHEVs to the impact of power battery degradation. Among different-mileage scenarios, PHEVs demonstrate the least sensitivity to increased mileage regarding life cycle material resource consumption, with the smallest increase. Future projections for 2025 and 2035 suggest life cycle GWP of HEV, PHEV and BEV in 2035 is 1.21×104, 1.12×104 and 1.01×104 kg CO2-eq respectively, which is decreased by 48.7%, 30.9% and 36.1% compared with those in 2025. The out-comes of this study are intended to bolster data support for the manufacturing and de-velopment of PHEV, BEV and HEV under different scenarios and offer insights into the growth and technological progression of the automotive sector.
Application of Reduced Graphene Oxide-Zinc Oxide Nanocomposite in the Removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) Contaminated Wastewater
Authors: Motitswe Moeng Geluk , Badmus Kassim Olasunkanmi , Khotseng Lindiwe
Published: July 2024

Toxic metal wastewater is a challenge for exposed terrestrial, aquatic environments and the recyclability of the water, prompting inputs for the development of promising treatment methods. Consequently, the rGO/ZnONP nanocomposite was synthesized at room temperature for four hours and was tested for adsorption of cadmium and lead in wastewater. The optimized nanocomposite had the lowest band gap energy (2.69 eV) and functional group interactions were at 516, 1220, 1732, 3009, and 3460 cm-1. The nanocomposite showed saturation of ZnO nanoparticles on rGO with a weight percentage of zinc (60.02 %), oxygen (22.96 %), and carbon (16.58 %), and the micrograph showed slight agglomeration on the sheet surface. The nanocomposite’s D and G band intensities were almost the same constituting the ZnO presence on rGO from the raman spectrum. The adsorption equilibrium time for cadmium and lead was reached within 10 and 90 minutes with efficiencies of ~ 100 %. Sips and Freundlich were best fitting the cadmium and lead adsorption data (R2 ~ 1), therefore the adsorption was a multilayer coverage for lead and a mixture of heterogenous and homogenous coverage for cadmium adsorption. Both adsorptions were best fitted by the pseudo first order model, suggesting the multilayer coverage dominance. The adsorbent was reused for three and seven times for cadmium and lead. The nanocomposite showed selectivity towards lead (95 %) and cadmium (100 %) in the interfering wastewater matrix. Conclusively, the nanocomposite may be embedded within upcoming lab-scale treatment plants which could lead to further upscaling and serving as industrial wastewater treatment material.
Treatment of Plantar Warts with Nitric-Zinc Complex Solution: A Review of 72 Cases
Authors: GARCÍA-OREJA SARA , AFONSO FRANCISCO JAVIER ÁLVARO , ARANDA PAULA VIGARA , RODRIGUEZ GUILLERMO PARAMIO , LEÓN-HERC DIEGO , MARTÍNEZ JOSÉ LUIS LÁZARO
Published: July 2024

Background: There are multiple conservative treatment options for plantar warts, but none have proven to be universally effective. Nitric acid is often used empirically by podiatrists in the treatment of plantar warts. A novel medical device or topical solution of nitric-zinc complex solution (NZCS) could potentially offer an effective and safe alternative for the targeted treatment of plantar warts.
Objective: To observe the rate of complete healing of NZCS in a series of plantar wart cases, and to establish the minimum number of product applications and time needed for healing. This will help standardize and protocolize its use.
Methods: A descriptive study was conducted involving 72 patients who exhibited symptoms of plantar warts. These patients underwent chemical treatment using a nitric-zinc complex.
Results: The cure rate with NZCS was 59.2%. The average number of NZCS applications was 5.9 ± 3.0 and the mean duration of treatment was 9.4 ± 7.1 weeks. A recurrence rate of 6.7% (4/72 patients) was observed.
Conclusion: The topical solution of nitric-zinc complex is an effective treatment for plantar warts, which can be considered as a first-line treatment option in the general population.
Predictive Analysis of Osteoarthritis and Chronic Pancreatitis Comorbidity: Complications and Risk Factors
Authors: Halabitska Iryna , Babinets Liliia , Oksenych Valentyn , Kamyshnyi Oleksandr
Published: July 2024

Osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis comorbidity are insufficiently studied, and the reciprocal impact of these conditions remains poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate potential predictors for the development of osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis comorbidity, as well as complications associated with this comorbidity. A cohort of 150 patients was categorized into three groups: a control group (n=30), patients with osteoarthritis (n=68), and patients with comorbid osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis (n=52). Potential predictors for comorbidity development and associated complications were explored. The study revealed that concurrent osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis exacerbate each other's progression and contribute to malnutrition. Body Mass Index (BMI) emerged as a potential predictor for chronic pancreatitis development in osteoarthritis patients. In osteoarthritis patients, fecal elastase-1 levels were identified as potential predictors for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Factors such as WOMAC total score, fecal elastase-1, C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, retinol, tocopherol, 25-hydroxy vitamin D3, and BMI were found to influence comorbidity development between osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis. Additionally, Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale-Diarrhea Syndrome (GSRS-DS), Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale-Constipation syndrome (GSRS-CS), Qualitative Assessment of the Symptoms and Impact of Pancreatic Exocrine Insufficiency domain A (PEI-Q-A), retinol, tocopherol, and iron were identified as potential predictors for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in osteoarthritis patients. In conclusion, the comorbidity of osteoarthritis and chronic pancreatitis exacerbates disease progression and complications, necessitating further investigation.
Genomic Characterisation of Methicillin-Resistant and Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Implicated in Bloodstream Infections, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
Authors: Hetsa Bakoena A. , Asante Jonathan , Mbanga Joshua , Ismail Arshad , Abia Akebe L. K , Amoako Daniel G. , Essack Sabiha Y.
Published: July 2024

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic human pathogen and a leading cause of bloodstream infections. It can acquire different antibiotic resistance genes, leading to treatment failure. Aim: We elaborate on the genomic characteristics; antibiotic resistance, virulence, pathogenicity, phylogenomics and clonal diversity of S. aureus implicated in bloodstream infections. Six multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. aureus, three methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and three methicillin-sensitive S. aureus obtained from blood cultures underwent whole genome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis. All isolates carried different permutations and combinations of resistance genes including, blaZ, mecA, aac(6')-aph (2''), ant(9)-Ia, ant(6)-Ia, mepR, fosB, norA, norC, lmrS, arlS, arlR, mgrA, kdpD and sdrM. We found 6 spa types (t9475, t355, t045, t1265, t1257, and t7888) with varying profiles of virulence genes responsible for immune invasion, enterotoxins, adhesion/biofilm, haemolysins, and leukotoxins. Panton-Valentine leukocidin (Luk-PV) was found in one MSSA isolate. Two SCCmec types IVd(2B) and I(1B) were identified. Isolates belonged to four multilocus sequence types (MLSTs), the most common of which was ST5 (n=3). The STs were clustered into two clonal complexes CC5 and CC8. We found two MRSA clones typed as ST5-CC5-t045-SCCmec_I(1B), and the human-associated MRSA endemic clone ST612-CC8-t1257-SCCmec_IVd(2B). The insertion sequences IS30 and IS6 associated with virulence were found in two isolates. The presence of virulent MDR S. aureus in bloodstream infections poses a clinical concern because of limited treatment options and increased risk of mortality.
The Prevalence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus in Polycystic Ovary Disease—A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Exploration of Associated Risk Factors
Authors: Dube Rajani , Bambani Taniqsha , Saif Sahina , Hashmi Noha , Patni MohamedAnas MohamedFaruk , Kedia Noopur Ramesh
Published: July 2024

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition in reproductive-age women. Women with PCOS are at higher risk of pregnancy complications including gestational diabetes (GDM). The prevalence of PCOS and GDM varies according to the diagnostic criteria used. The mechanism for the occurrence of GDM in women with PCOS is still unclear. Materials & Methods- A systematic search of the electronic database was done using keywords like PCOS, and GDM to include studies between April 2008 and March 2023 where uniform diagnostic criteria were used. Studies were excluded with high-risk of bias after the assessment of bias, and meta-analysis was done with relative risks and confidence intervals. Results & Discussion-Out of 1896 search results, 95 were selected for full-text. The quality of the studies was scrutinized and a total of 28 studies were included as they fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The incidence of GDM in women with PCOS was found to be 10.55 % (2.9- 54.9%) from pooled data involving 1,280,245. The prevalence of PCOS in women diagnosed with GDM was found from pooled data of 36,351 women in retrospective studies to be 2.47% (1.5- 50.1%). Selection predominantly included cohort studies, most commonly from China. The meta-analysis reported the risk of GDM is higher in women with PCOS than in those without PCOS (HR: 1.59, 95% CI: 1.27–1.91, p < 0.001). Family history of diabetes, ethnicity, pre-pregnancy BMI, insulin resistance, gestational weight gain, use of assisted reproductive techniques, and multifetal gestation were the risk factors for GDM in women with PCOS. Conclusion- The prevalence of GDM in patients with PCOS is high, but the causality is complex. The newer predictive models are promising in clarifying the causative relationships, yet use various parameters at different cut-offs. There is a need for the development of universally acceptable parameters for the early prediction of GDM in women with PCOS.
Enhancing Smart City Connectivity: a Multi-Metric CNN-LSTM beamforming based Approach to Optimize Dynamic Source Routing in 6G Networks for MANETs and VANETs
Authors: Inzillo Vincenzo , Garompolo David , Giglio Carlo
Published: July 2024

The advent of Sixth Generation (6G) wireless technologies introduces challenges and opportunities for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) and Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks (VANETs), necessitating a reevaluation of traditional routing protocols. This paper introduces the Multi-Metric Scoring Dynamic Source Routing (MMS-DSR), a novel enhancement of the Dynamic Source Routing (DSR) protocol, designed to meet the demands of 6G-enabled MANETs and the dynamic environments of VANETs. MMS-DSR integrates advanced technologies and methodologies to enhance routing performance in dynamic scenarios. Key among these is the use of a CNN-LSTM based beamforming algorithm, which optimizes beamforming vectors dynamically, exploiting spatial-temporal variations characteristic of 6G channels. This enables MMS-DSR to adapt beam directions in real-time based on evolving network conditions, improving link reliability and throughput. Furthermore, MMS-DSR incorporates a multi-metric scoring mechanism that evaluates routes based on multiple QoS parameters, including latency, bandwidth, and reliability, enhanced by the capabilities of Massive MIMO and the IEEE 802.11ax standard. This ensures route selection is context-aware and adaptive to changing dynamics, making it effective in urban settings where vehicular and mobile nodes coexist. Additionally, the protocol uses machine learning techniques to predict future route performance, enabling proactive adjustments in routing decisions. The integration of dynamic beamforming and machine learning allows MMS-DSR to effectively handle the high mobility and variability of 6G networks, offering a robust solution for future wireless communications, particularly in smart cities.
Well-Being of Orthodontic Patients Wearing Orthodontic Appliances
Authors: Nedzinskaitė Rugilė , Augytė Benedikta , Smailienė Dalia , Vasiliauskas Arūnas , Lopatienė Kristina , Zasčiurinskienė Eglė , Trakinienė Giedrė
Published: July 2024

Orthodontic appliances may cause discomfort for patients. It could influence person‘s psychological well–being. The aim was to examine psychological health of patients wearing orthodontic appliances. It is important to analyze well-being of patients during orthodontic treatment because it is started in a young age and it may affect one’s psychological health. Therefore, for doctors and patients it is important to understand and take every aspect of the treatment into consideration when deciding when to start the treatment and what appliance to choose. 339 patients answered anonymous questionnaire. They were divided into four groups according to their age and type of appliance. Main reasons to seek treatment were crooked teeth and bad bite. Statistically signifi-cant difference was between women and men as women seeked treatment because of crooked teeth, meanwhile men indicated bad bite as main reason. 48.7% of subjects noted that they were feeling good during treatment, however, 4% of all patients noted that they were feeling bad. 45% of subjects stated that they felt unhappy at least sometimes. 43% of subjects felt stress. Even though patients indicated various negative aspects on their well-being during treatment, for the majority of the subjects end results significantly increased their psychological well-being.
Development of an Auxiliary Indicator for Improving the Rationality and Reliability of the National‐Level Carbon Productivity Indicator
Authors: Lee Jong-Hyo , Kang Hong-Yoon , Hwang Yong Woo
Published: July 2024

Global attention to climate change has surged since the advent of the Paris Agreement, intensifying the importance of measuring and managing carbon productivity indicators on a national level. Nevertheless, concerns persist regarding the reliability of such measurements because of inherent discrepancies in implementing and operating national-level carbon productivity indicators, coupled with their inherent uncertainty. This study proposes a multiple regression model to address these issues aimed at refining national-level carbon productivity indicators metrics, accounting for factors such as the gross domestic product and total greenhouse gas emissions by sectors. The objective was to offer insights into enhancing and effectively utilizing current indicators, enabling a more nuanced interpretation of the variation in the carbon productivity indicators across diverse industrial landscapes. This study showed that adjustments of the carbon productivity metrics reflect disparities in emissions across industrial structures, with countries characterized by high emissions from non-service industries showing improving trends. In addition, this paper proposes an auxiliary indicator estimating method for carbon productivity, emphasizing its utility in interpreting productivity indicators within the context of varying industrial compositions across OECD countries. This study underscores the inadequacies of the current national productivity estimating method, pinpointing areas requiring refinement. Specifically, the method for estimating the auxiliary indicator for carbon productivity guarantees enhanced rationality when integrated with current methodologies. Moreover, by elucidating the nuances of industrial structures, this study advocates for more sophisticated approaches to interpreting and managing the productivity indicators tailored to each unique economic landscape of each country. Nevertheless, the limitations stemming from data availability underscore the need for further research, particularly in refining the national-level carbon resource productivity indicators analyses and exploring the thematic productivity variations in greater depth. By addressing these gaps, future studies will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of national-level carbon resource productivity indicators dynamics and reveal targeted strategies for sustainable development.
Outcomes of Colonic and Gastric Tube Transplants after Caustic Esophageal Burn in Children: A 33-Year Review
Authors: de Sousa Amaral Michaël , Vasseur Sabine , Reinberg Olivier , Divjak Natalie , de Buys Roessingh Anthony
Published: July 2024

Background: Accidental caustic burns of the esophagus in children represent a significant global health challenge, often necessitating esophageal reconstruction. The aim of this study is to compare the efficacy and morbidity related to esophagus replacement with colonic and gastric tube transplants in a pediatric population followed for caustic stenosis. Method: This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary pediatric surgery unit for children treated from January 1989 to December 2022. We compared colonic and gastric tube esophageal replacement. Short-term (within 30 days) and mid-term outcomes and complications were reviewed. Statistical evaluation was considered using a Chi-square test for categorical data analysis. Results: A total of 124 children with caustic esophageal burns were included. Among them, 23 (18.5%) had a gastric tube transplant for esophagus replacement and 101 (81.5%) a colonic transplant. During surgical intervention, we found a significantly higher risk of complications when using a colonic transplant (34%, p < 0.001). There was no significant statistical difference in postoperative short-term and mid-term complications between the two techniques. Twenty-six (26%) of the children required a reoperation, with a higher risk in the gastric tube transplant group (p < 0.001). Endoscopic dilatation after surgery was also performed on a higher number of children who had received a gastric tube transplant (p = 0.005). Overall, 97.6% recovered full normal oral feeding. Conclusions: We found that colonic and gastric tube replacement are both good options for pediatric esophageal replacement after a caustic injury and show effectiveness over time. Gastric tube transplants carried a slightly higher risk of reoperations and a higher number of dilatations post-surgery. However, our groups are not really comparable due to the much higher number of colonic transplants. Both surgical options have to be considered during surgery and the choice depends on the anatomy of the patient. Our future research will focus on assessing long-term quality of life and potential risk of neoplastic complications.
Cultural Tourism Interpreter’s Service Competence Perceived by Chinese Tourists Visiting Nanjing Museum Influencing Revisit Intention-Moderating Effect of Tourist Empathy
Authors: WANG WENLONG , YANG XUESONG
Published: July 2024

The landscape of tourism is undergoing rapid transformation in response to societal shifts, economic fluctuations, and advancements in the tourism sector, particularly in the post-pandemic. Tourists are increasingly inclined towards outdoor activities and natural landscapes, prioritizing experiences that emphasize health and safety. Conversely, cultural tourism emphasizes local heritage and immersive encounters to accommodate evolving preferences. Cultural tour guides play a pivotal role in shaping tourists' perceptions and intentions to revisit. Empirical research conducted among Chinese tourists visiting Nanjing Museum explores this paradigm shift. A questionnaire was distributed to 402 respondents to examine the principal factors influencing intentions to revisit. Factor and regression analyses illustrate the significance of cultural tour guides' competencies, revealing a positive correlation with intentions to revisit. It is noteworthy that tourist empathy moderates this relationship, wherein higher levels of empathy magnify the impact of tour guides' competencies on intentions to revisit. Robustness checks further validate these findings, affirming the nuanced interaction between service competencies, tourist empathy, and intentions to revisit. The study underscores the substantial influence of cultural tour guides on shaping tourist experiences and fostering repeat visits. This is contingent upon both the quality of service provided and the degree of empathy exhibited towards tourists.
Rebuilding Quantum Homeostasis
Authors: Olsen Steven
Published: July 2024

Homeostasis and its interaction with gene expression in the development and maintenance of living systems is discussed in order to formulate a new method to diagnose and treat diseases on this causative level. This includes an inquiry into the unsolved homeostasis problems of: location (where in the cell are calculations performed?), communication (what language used?), identity (set of plans/hierarchy of set points?) and computational (mechanisms used to make necessary adjustments?). As these functions require the processing of vast amounts of information which is communicated at every level of organization including the mechanisms of epigenetics, different computer models are discussed, with examples for each; analog, digital and the possibility of quantum biological. Each one allows certain properties and cell functions to emerge. The difference between functional homeostasis and dysfunctional homeostasis is discussed with strategies to indirectly study them in terms of epigenetic signatures. Hormesis is discussed as a mechanism to reverse the epimutations, leading to a method of treatment to almost any chronic disease. These topics are discussed as being a whole interconnected system.
FFA: Foreground Feature Approximation Digitally Against Remote Sensing Object Detection
Authors: Zhu Rui , Ma Shiping , He Linyuan , Ge Wei
Published: July 2024

In recent years, research on adversarial attack techniques for remote sensing object detection (RSOD) has made great progress. Still, most of the research nowadays is on end-to-end attacks, which mainly design adversarial perturbations based on the prediction information of the object detectors (ODs) to achieve the attack. These methods do not discover the common vulnerabilities of the ODs and thus the transferability is weak. Based on this, this paper proposes a foreground feature approximation (FFA) method to generate adversarial examples (AEs) that discover the common vulnerabilities of the ODs by changing the feature information carried by the image itself to implement the attack. Specifically, firstly, the high-quality predictions are filtered as attacked objects using the detector, after which a hybrid image without any target is made, and the hybrid foreground is created based on the attacked targets. The images' shallow features are extracted using the backbone network, and the features of the input foreground are approximated towards the hybrid foreground to implement the attack. In contrast, the model predictions are used to assist in realizing the attack. In addition, we have found the effectiveness of FFA for targeted attacks, and replacing the hybrid foreground with the targeted foreground can realize targeted attacks. Extensive experiments with seven rotating ODs on the RSOD datasets DOTA and UCAS-AOD show that FFA achieves both targetless and targeted attacks with a high success rate and transferability.
Superhydrophobicity, Photocatalytic Self-Cleaning and Biocide Activity Combined in a Siloxane-ZnO Composite for the Protection of Limestone
Authors: Manoudis Panagiotis , Zuburtikudis Ioannis , Konstantopoulos Georgios , Khalifeh Hadil Abu , Kottaridi Christine , Karapanagiotis Ioannis
Published: July 2024

Wear phenomena on natural stone of the cultural heritage are induced from various sources. Consequently, the development of multifunctional protective materials which combine two or more useful properties is an effective strategy to address the synergistic effects of various wear mechanisms. A multifunctional coating, consisting of a silane-based precursor and zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs), is produced and tested for the protection of limestone. The hybrid coating combines the following three properties: superhydrophobicity, including water-repellency, photocatalytic self-cleaning and biocidal activity. The relative concentration of the NPs (0.8% w/w), used for the suggested composite coating, is carefully selected according to wetting studies, colourimetric measurements and durability (tape peeling) tests. The non-wetting state is evidenced on the surface of the composite coating by the large contact angle of water drops (≈153°) and the small contact angle hysteresis (≈5°) which gives rise to the physical self-cleaning scenario (lotus effect). The photocatalytic chemical self-cleaning is shown with the removal of methylene blue, induced by the UV-A radiation. Moreover, it is shown that the suggested coating hinders the incubation of E. coli and S. aureus as the inhibition were 94.8 and 99.9 %, respectively. Finally, preliminary studies revealed the chemical stability of the suggested coating.
Chikungunya Virus RNA Secondary Structures Impact Defective Viral Genomes Production
Authors: LEVI Laura I , Madden Emily A , Boussier Jeremy , Erazo Diana , Sanders Wes , Valley Thomas , Bernhauerová Veronika , Moorman Nathaniel J. J , Heise Mark T , Vignuzzi Marco
Published: July 2024

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito borne RNA virus that poses an emerging threat to humans. As other RNA viruses, CHIKV encodes an error-prone RNA polymerase which, in addition to full-length genomes, gives rise to truncated, non-functional genomes coined defective viral genomes (DVGs). DVGs have been intensively studied in the context of therapy, as they can inhibit viral replication and dissemination in their hosts. In this work, we interrogate the influence of viral RNA secondary structures on the production of CHIKV DVGs. We experimentally map RNA secondary structures of CHIKV genome using selective 2′-hydroxyl acylation analyzed by primer extension and mutational profiling (SHAPE-MaP), which couples chemical labelling with next-generation sequencing. We correlate the inferred secondary structure with preferred deletion sites of CHIKV DVGs. We document an increased probability of DVG generation with truncations at unpaired nucleotides within the secondary structure. We then generated a CHIKV mutant bearing synonymous changes at the nucleotide level to disrupt existing RNA secondary structure (CHIKV-D2S). We show that CHIKV-D2S presents altered DVG generation compared to wild-type virus, correlating with its change in RNA secondary structure obtained by SHAPE-MaP. Our work thus demonstrates that RNA secondary structure impacts CHIKV DVG production during replication.