bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of sensory attenuation in the somatosensory domain using EEG in a novel virtual reality paradigm
Authors: Giannini Gianluigi , Nierhaus Till , Blankenburg Felix
Published: December 2024

We are not only passively immersed in a sensorial world, but we are active agents that directly produce stimulations. Understanding what’s unique about the sensory consequences can give valuable insight into the action-perception-cycle. Sensory attenuation is the phenomenon that self-produced stimulations are perceived as less intense compared to externally-generated ones. Studying this phenomenon, however, requires considering a plethora of factors that could otherwise interfere with its interpretation, such as differences in stimulus properties, attentional resources, or temporal predictability. We therefore developed a novel Virtual Reality (VR) setup that allows to control several of these confounding factors. Further, we modulated the expectation of receiving a somatosensory stimulation across self-production and passive perception through a simple probabilistic learning task, allowing us to test to what extent the electrophysiological correlates of sensory attenuation are impacted by stimulus expectation. We obtained electroencephalography (EEG) recordings of 26 participants. Results indicate that early (P100), mid-latency (P200) and later negative contralateral potentials were significantly attenuated by self-generated sensations, independently of the stimulus expectation. Moreover, a component around 200 ms post-stimulus at frontal sites was found to be enhanced for self-produced stimuli. The P300 was influenced by stimulus expectation, regardless of whether the stimulation was actively produced or passively attended. Together, our results indicate that VR opens up new possibilities to study sensory attenuation in more ecological, yet well-controlled paradigms, and that sensory attenuation is not significantly modulated by stimulus predictability.
RAD51C-XRCC3 complex regulates FANCM-mediated R-loop resolution to safeguard genome integrity
Authors: Nagaraju Ganesh , Sahoo Satyaranjan , Nagraj Tarun , Bhattacharya Debanjali , Somyajit Kumar
Published: December 2024

Fanconi anemia (FA) is characterized by bone marrow failure, congenital abnormalities, and cancer predisposition. Mutations in RAD51 paralogs have been identified in FA-like disorder and cancers. Although the role of RAD51 paralogs is well established in homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair, little is known about their role during replication stress responses. Here, we report that the RAD51C/XRCC3 (CX3) complex of RAD51 paralogs participates in the FA-pathway of R-loop tolerance mechanism. CX3 complex suppresses R-loops, transcription-replication collisions (TRC), and associated genome instability in physiological and replication stress conditions. Mechanistically, the CX3 complex physically interacts with FANCM and facilitates its recruitment to the R-loop sites to promote its resolution. Notably, cells expressing RAD51C R258H pathological mutant exhibit defective interaction with FANCM and display inefficient R-loop processing. This work identifies a novel role of the CX3 complex in preventing R-loop-induced genome instability by regulating FANCM-mediated R-loop resolution.
Effect of Gamma Irradiation on the Structural, Optical, and Electronic Properties of PVC/BiVO4/ZnO Nanocomposite Films
Authors: Alshahrani Badriah , Fares Soad Saad , Alqurashi Rania Saleh , Salman Montasir , Korna Ahmed
Published: December 2024

This study investigated the impact of gamma irradiation on PVC/BiVO4/ZnO nanocomposite films. The films were synthesized using the sol-gel method and characterized using various techniques, including XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, EDX, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Gamma irradiation was found to induce significant changes in the structural, optical, and electronic properties of the nanocomposite films. XRD analysis revealed a decrease in crystallinity and an increase in amorphous content with increasing irradiation doses. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the formation of new chemical bonds and the degradation of existing functional groups. The optical bandgap of the nanocomposite films decreased with increasing gamma irradiation, as evidenced by the redshift in the transmittance spectra and Tauc plot analysis. This suggests changes in the electronic structure of the material. Additionally, the disorder parameter and Urbach energy increased, indicating an increase in disorder within the nanocomposite films. These findings demonstrate that gamma irradiation can effectively modify the properties of PVC/BiVO4/ZnO nanocomposite films, potentially enabling their application in various fields such as photocatalysis, sensors, and optoelectronic devices. Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms and optimize the properties of these materials for specific applications.
Global Meta-Analysis of the Gut-Brain Axis: Unveiling the Impact of Microbiome Alterations on Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Li Runda
Published: December 2024

Background: Emerging research suggests a significant connection between the gut microbiome and mental health, termed the ”gut-brain axis.” However, findings across studies are inconsistent, and no comprehensive meta-analysis has quantified this relationship globally.
Objective: To systematically review and meta-analyze existing literature on the association between gut microbiome alterations and psychiatric disorders, identifying specific microbial profiles linked to different mental health conditions.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted across multiple databases for studies examining the gut microbiome in patients with psychiatric disorders compared to healthy controls. Data on microbial diversity, specific bacterial taxa, and psychiatric outcomes were extracted. Meta-analytic techniques were used to pool data and assess the strength of associations, with adjustments to include studies with varying designs and data availability.
Results: We identified 50 studies encompassing a total of 4,237 participants from various geographic regions. Meta-analysis revealed that patients with psychiatric disorders exhibited significantly reduced alpha diversity (standardized mean difference [SMD] = -0.45; 95% CI: -0.52 to -0.38; p < 0.001) compared to controls. Specific microbial taxa, such as decreased Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (SMD = -0.65; 95% CI:-0.75 to -0.55; p < 0.001), were consistently associated with conditions like depression and schizophrenia.
Conclusion: This comprehensive meta-analysis clarifies the role of the gut microbiome in psychiatric disorders, revealing consistent patterns of microbial alterations. These findings have potential implications for developing microbiome-based diagnostics and therapeutic interventions targeting the gut-brain axis.
Observation of quantum information collapse-and-revival in a strongly-interacting Rydberg atom array
Authors: Li Lin , Xiang De-Sheng , Zhang Yao-Wen , Liu Hao-Xiang , Zhou Peng , Yuan Dong , Zhang Kuan , Zhang Shun-Yao , Xu Biao , Liu Lu , Li Yitong
Published: December 2024

Interactions of isolated quantum many-body systems typically scramble local information into the entire system and make it unrecoverable. Ergodicity-breaking systems possess the potential to exhibit fundamentally different information scrambling dynamics beyond this paradigm. For many-body localized systems with strong ergodicity breaking, local transport vanishes and information scrambles logarithmically slowly. Whereas in Rydberg atom arrays, local qubit flips induce dynamical retardation on surrounding qubits through the Rydberg blockade effect, giving rise to quantum many-body scars that weakly break ergodicity, and resulting in the predicted unconventional quantum information spreading behaviours. Here, we present the first measurements of out-of-time-ordered correlators and Holevo information in a Rydberg atom array, enabling us to precisely track quantum information scrambling and transport dynamics. By leveraging these tools, we observe a novel spatio-temporal collapse-and-revival behaviour of quantum information, which differs from both typical chaotic and many-body localized systems. Our experiment sheds light on the unique information dynamics in many-body systems with kinetic constraints, and demonstrates an effective digital-analogue approach to coherently reverse time evolution and steer information propagation in near-term quantum devices.
Cervical Spinal Cord Injury Following Osteophyte Excision for Respiratory Disorder caused by Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis Associated with Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Masuda Keisuke , Shigematsu Hideki , Okuda Akinori , Kawasaki Sachiko , Yamamoto Yusuke , Mui Takahiro , Tanaka Yasuhito
Published: December 2024

Background
Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a systemic non-inflammatory disorder characterized by enthesopathy and osteophyte formation. DISH can also cause several other symptoms. Limited range of motion (ROM) is the most common symptom; however, dysphagia and respiratory disorders are clinically important symptoms. Dysphagia caused by cervical DISH is initially treated conservatively, but surgical treatment is performed when conservative treatment is ineffective. Although there are many reports on the surgical excision of osteophytes for refractory dysphagia, only a few reports on surgery for dysphagia caused by DISH associated with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) exist. Here, we report a rare case of cervical spinal cord injury following osteophyte excision for a respiratory disorder caused by DISH associated with OPLL.
Case presentation
A 76-year-old male with hypertension and diabetes presented with dysphagia, respiratory insufficiency, and palpitations. Four months later, he experienced severe dyspnea and was hospitalized. His vital signs indicated respiratory distress, which led to intubation and tracheotomy due to his worsening condition. Imaging revealed massive anterior cervical osteophytes and multisegmental OPLL that caused spinal canal stenosis and tracheal compression. Surgical excision of the osteophytes was performed, but the patient later developed tetraplegia attributed to C5/C6 instability. Posterior fusion and laminoplasty were performed, resulting in neurological improvement but persistent dysphagia and motor deficits. He was transferred to another hospital for rehabilitation but died of aspiration pneumonia.
Conclusions
Patients with cervical OPLL and spinal cord compression may experience spinal cord injury when intervertebral mobility is slightly increased due to osteophyte excision. If dysphagia or respiratory disorders occur in patients with DISH and OPLL, decompression and fusion surgery at the mobile segment is required, in addition to osteophyte excision surgery. Posterior decompression and fusion surgery should be performed before anterior osteophyte excision surgery to avoid implant infection, particularly in patients with respiratory disorders who have undergone tracheostomy. Patients receiving long-term mechanical ventilation are less likely to recover their swallowing function and should undergo a total laryngectomy.
Biologically Synthesized Boron Oxide Nanoparticles Improve the Photosynthetic Performance and Yield in Potato Plants
Authors: Garg Drishti , Mandal Shovon , Singh Pushplata Prasad
Published: December 2024

In the pursuit of sustainable agriculture and clean environment, nano-fertilizers are emerging as a viable alternative to traditional chemical fertilizers. This is attributed to enhanced properties of nano-fertilizer such as stable dispersion in media, and bioavailability in plants. Boron nanoparticle based formulation can be used as a fertilizer to solve challenges associated with micronutrient boron, narrowly balanced between its deficiency and toxicity in plants. In this study, boron oxide nanoparticles (nano boron) were biologically synthesized. A comparative analysis was conducted between nano boron and commercially available borax (a standard boron fertilizer) after foliar application on potato plants. The study further encompasses time series, and correlation analyses to assess the impact of nano boron on agronomic and productivity parameters. The minimized dosage of nano boron enhanced photosystem II efficiency, plant biomass, and tuber yield, outperforming conventional borax. Nano boron is a potent, minimal-input, maximum-output solution for potato productivity. This study contributes valuable insights into the field of sustainable agriculture and food production, advocating for the adoption of green nanotechnology and setting a new paradigm in resource-efficient crop cultivation.
Subject terms: sustainable agriculture, nano-fertilizers, bioavailability, boron oxide nano particles, photosystem II efficiency
Susceptibility Assessment of Moraine-Dammed Glacial Lakes in the Eastern Himalaya: A Geospatial Approach
Authors: Pohal Sangeeta , Sharma Chitesh Kumar , Baisantry Munmun
Published: December 2024

The glaciers in the Himalayan region are some of the fastest retreating glaciers in the world with an annual rate of retreat of 16–35 m/yr. leading to creation of a large number of glacial lakes in the Himalaya. The global warming has contributed to the continuing expansion of the glacial lakes. These topographic depressions, confined by ice, bedrock, moraine, or a combination of these, accumulate the melt water annually, and often the poor structural integrity of moraine dam fails to withstand the pressure exerted by the volume of accumulated water, leading to occurrence of a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF). Since, GLOFs are mostly an instantaneous phenomenon and have the potential to cause severe damage to the property and loss of lives, a comprehensive analysis of GLOFs is necessary. The present study focuses on Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh (Indian Eastern Himalaya) to create an inventory of glacial lakes with area > 0.01 km2 and assess their hazard potential. 340 and 1529 lakes in Sikkim and Arunachal Himalaya were manually identified from the 50 cm high resolution combined product of Worldview-8 and Geo-Eye true Ortho-rectified Satellite Imageries, out of which 27 in Sikkim and 6 in Arunachal Himalaya were identified as moraine dammed lakes. A detailed inventory of these lakes in GIS environment incorporated 14 parameters including 11 crucial controls on outburst susceptibility using AHP. The susceptibility map is classified into 4 classes, namely very high (4 lakes), high (12 lakes), medium (13 lakes) and low (4 lakes). Validation of the susceptibility classes was validated with 3 known GLOF events from the Himalaya. This novel study highlights the need to monitor and assess possible GLOFs in future while providing a high precision base inventory to open further research in this direction.
Impact of breast cancer awareness program on breast screening utilization among women in the United Arab Emirates: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Abdulla Raseena Aboobacker , Kareem Nafeesa Abdul , Assadi Rifah Anwar , Sanaullah Afreen Abdul Rahim , Nandagopal Sathyapriya , Wazil Shahnaz Mohamed , Muttappallymyalil Jayakumary
Published: December 2024

Background
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. In 2020, approximately 2.3 million women were newly diagnosed with breast cancer, resulting in around 685,000 deaths globally. The high incidence and prevalence of breast cancer have made it a major public health problem in both developed and developing nations, leading to overburdened health systems and increased direct medical expenditure. This research was conducted to assess the impact of breast cancer awareness programs on breast screening utilization among women in the United Arab Emirates.
Methods
A cross-sectional study using a content-validated interviewer-administered questionnaire was conducted among 959 women aged ≥ 20 years in the United Arab Emirates. Data on sociodemographics, awareness program participation, screening utilization, and barriers were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests.
Results
Among the study participants,304 (31.7%) had attended awareness programs. Attendance was associated with younger age, higher education, and being single (p < 0.001). Among those who have ever attended any breast cancer awareness programs who had utilized the screening were 38.5% compared to 13.3% non-attendees (p < 0.001). The study concluded that age, education level, and marital status were significantly associated with participation in breast cancer awareness programs (p-value < 0.05). Key barriers included a lack of physician recommendations (24.3%), knowledge gaps (23%), and cost concerns (22.6%).
Conclusions
The study shows that participation in the awareness programs varied based on age, education and marital status, additionally, those with lower educational levels had a higher attendance at the awareness programs, emphasizing the significance of educational initiatives. The study showed a link between attending breast cancer awareness programs and the use of screening services, furthermore, notable gap in screening utilization such as emotional and perceived barriers were noted. Thus, its necessary to overcome these challenges for enchaning early detection and treatment outcomes. Interventions such as targeted educational campaigns, improved screening facility and better communication between physicians and patients can aid in addressing these challenges.
Vehicular Noise and Air Pollution in Bhubaneswar City, India and Socio-Health Analysis
Authors: Meher K K , Sahu A K , Pradhan M , Pradhan P K
Published: December 2024

Urban areas, with their dense populations and extensive transportation networks, often face significant challenges from vehicular noise and air pollution. Noise pollution occurs when sound levels exceed acceptable thresholds, leading to adverse impacts on human health and well-being. In urban environments, traffic noise constitutes the largest portion of overall noise pollution and it can lead to a range of health issues of the inhabitants. The pollutants are released to surrounding air when fuel burns inside an internal combustion engine. Air pollution has escalated into a significant environmental and public health issue over the past few decades, particularly in urban areas. The long-term exposure to air pollution has serious health consequences, leading to chronic conditions that significantly impair quality of life and increase mortality. In this work, the vehicular noise pollution in Bhubanswar city and its impact on exposed population have been studied. The important locations have been chosen for the assessment of noise level and noise pollution indices. The air pollution and its correlation with vehicular noise have been studied. The impact of noise pollution on wellness of the exposed population has been studied also. It's concerning to observe that the traffic noise levels in Bhubaneswar city have reached such an alarming stage.
Integration of Artificial Intelligence Algorithms for Defect Detection and Shape Recognition in Mechanical Quality Control
Authors: Melhaoui Ouafae El , Melhaoui Islam El , Said Sara
Published: December 2024

The integration of artificial intelligence algorithms for defect detection and shape recognition in the automotive industry is rooted in machine learning principles. Neural networks play a pivotal role in this domain, renowned for their effectiveness in tasks such as pattern recognition and data analysis. These systems are indispensable within the automotive industry and beyond, crucial for interpreting datasets and enabling machines to identify objects and defects in images or videos based on their geometrical and structural properties. Techniques for defect analysis, including convolutional neural network (CNN) and fuzzy min-max classifier (FMMC) methods, are employed.
In the context of quality control, where assessing shape is paramount, image processing techniques such as zoning, Loci features, profile projection, Freeman chain code, and histogram of oriented gradients (HOG) are utilized. These methods facilitate the analysis of physical shapes and surface characteristics, ensuring that automotive parts satisfy stringent quality standards. Experimental results underscore the efficacy of CNN combined with FMMC, demonstrating superior accuracy of 97% compared to traditional image analysis methods. This approach highlights the capability of CNN and FMMC to enhance the precision and reliability of shape recognition through advanced image analysis, thereby contributing to improved quality control measures in the automotive industry.
An Innovative Ensemble Approach of Deep Learning Models with Soft Computing Techniques for GIS-based drought-zonation mapping in Rarh Region, West Bengal
Authors: Chowdhury Gopal , Mandal Sayantan , Saha Ashis
Published: December 2024

Drought is a complex natural disaster impacting ecosystems and communities, making its identification crucial for mitigation efforts. This study aimed to assess drought scenarios in the Rarh Region of West Bengal at 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals. The region is an amalgamation of the plateau and Gangetic delta, facing a decreasing rainfall trend, particularly in Birbhum and Purba Bardhhaman districts. Purba Bardhhaman, known for its good track of rice production, is now facing severe drought, which is a concerning matter. The study assessed their collinearity by evaluating 27 drought assessment variables grouped into meteorological, agricultural, hydrological, and socio-economic facets. A Multi-Layer Perceptron Neural Network (MLP NN) was applied as a benchmark, followed by a DenseNet neural network. Finally, a Hybrid Deep Learning Ensemble model was developed to compare precision and create a drought-prone map. Results indicated that, on average, 26.66% of the region is highly drought-prone at a 3-month interval, 20% at 6 months, and 25% at 12 months. The models were validated using ROC-AUC, Standard Error, and Asymptotic Significance. The Hybrid Deep Learning Ensemble model showed the highest accuracy, achieving 94.2%, 94.3%, and 95.3% at 3-, 6-, and 12-month intervals, respectively. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers in West Bengal to address the increasing drought risks in the region.
Modelling Soil Organic Carbon at Multiple Depths in Woody Encroached Grasslands Using Integrated Remotely Sensed Data
Authors: Mthiyane Sfundo , Mutanga Onisimo , Matongera Trylee Nyasha , Odindi John
Published: December 2024

Woody plants encroachment into grasslands has considerable hydrological and biogeochemical consequences to grassland soils that include altering the Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) pool. Consequently, continuous SOC stock assessment and evaluation at deeper soil depths of woody encroached grasslands is essential for informed management and monitoring of the phenomenon. Due to high litter biomass and deep root structures, woody encroached landscapes have been suggested to alter the accumulation of SOC at deeper soil layers, however, the level at which woody encroachment sequestrate SOC within localized protected grasslands is still poorly understood. Remote sensing methods and techniques have recently been popular in SOC analysis due to better spatial and spectral data properties as well as the availability of affordable and eco-friendly data. In this regard, the study sought to quantify the accumulation of SOC at various depths (30 cm, 60 cm, and 100 cm) in a woody-encroached grassland by integrating Sentinel-1 (S1), Sentinel-2 (S2), PlanetScope (PS) satellite imagery, and topographic variables. SOC was quantified from 360 field-collected soil samples using the loss-On-Ignition (LOI) method and spatial distribution of SOC across the Bisley Nature Reserve modelled through employing the Random Forest (RF) algorithm. The study’s results demonstrate that the integration of topographic variables, Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), and PlanetScope data effectively modelled SOC stocks at all investigated soil depths, with high R² values of 0.79 and RMSE of 0.254 t/ha. Interestingly, SOC was established to be high at 30 cm compared to 60 cm and 100 cm depths. The horizontal reception (VH), Slope, Topographic Weightiness Index (TWI), Band 11 and vertical reception (VV) were optimal predictors of SOC in woody encroached landscapes. These results highlight the significance of integrating RF model with spectral data and topographic variables for accurate SOC modelling in woody encroached ecosystems. The findings of this study are pivotal for developing a cost-effective and labour-efficient assessment and monitoring system for the appropriate management of SOC in woody encroached habitats
AT4CTIRE: Adversarial Training for Cyber Threat Intelligence Relation Extraction
Authors: Han Yue , Jiang Rong , Li Changjian , Huang Yanyi , Chen Kai , Yu Han , Li Aiping , Han Weihong
Published: December 2024

Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) plays a crucial role in cybersecurity. However, traditional information extraction has low accuracy due to the specialization of CTIs and the concealment of relations. To improve the performance of CTI relations extraction in the knowledge graph, we propose a relation extraction architecture called Adversarial Training for Cyber Threat Intelligence Relation Extraction (AT4CTIRE). Besides, we developed a large-scale cybersecurity dataset for CTI analysis and evaluation, called Cyber Threat Intelligence Analysis (CTIA). Inspired by the Generative Adversarial Network, we integrate contextual semantics into this framework to refine our study. Firstly, we use some wrong triples with incorrect relations to train the generator and produce high-quality generated triples as adversarial samples. Secondly, the discriminator used actual and generated samples as training data. Integrating the discriminator and the context embedding module facilitates a deeper understanding of contextual CTI within threat triples. Finally, training a discriminator identified the relation between the threat entities. Experimentally, we set two CTI datasets and only one baseline that we could find to test the effect of the proposed method in the cybersecurity domain. We also set other knowledge graph completion comparisons that conclude three entity completion datasets and nine baselines, one relation completion dataset, and eight baselines. Experimental results demonstrate that AT4CTIRE outperforms existing methods with substantially improved extraction accuracy and a remarkable expedited training convergence rate.
Evaluation of the effectiveness of Aquatain, Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, and Temephos Anopheles arabiensis and Anopheles stephensi larvae in the laboratory and field settings.
Authors: Dugassa Sisay , Kebede Tilahun , Abdulatif Bedri , Assefa Gudissa , Solomon Hiwot , Getachew Dejene , Lelisa Kidane , Gebresilassie Araya
Published: December 2024

Background: The main tools for the control of malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), including Ethiopia are long lasting insecticidal nets and indoor residual spraying. However, the sustainability of IRS and ITNs is threatened by the emergence of insecticide resistances, behavioral avoidance, as well as presence of outdoor biting mosquito populations. Thus, complementary interventions such as larval source management (LSM), which includes larviciding, are required to achieve better result in malaria vector control. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of three larvicides (Aquatain AMF®, temephos and Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) against larvae of Anopheles arabiensisi and An. stephensi.
Method: The tests were conducted in the laboratory and in semi-natural habitats on the 3rd and 4th larval instars of both insectary-reared and wild-collected immature Anopheles mosquitoes, respectively. For the field study, larvae were collected from three sites (Awash Sebat Kilo, Metahara and Adama towns). Three productive larval habitats in three villages were treated with Aquatain, temephos and Bti, and compared with untreated habitats (control).
Results: In the laboratory, the percent mortality ranged 95% to 100% and 60% to 100% for An. arabiensis and An. stephensi colonies, respectively, while the percent larval mortality ranged 97% to 100% and 74% to 100% for field collected wild An. arabiensis and An. stephensi, respectively. In the natural field study, the percent immature stages reductions ranged 84% - 96%, 89% - 95% and 77% - 96% at Awash, Metahara and Adama respectively. The three larvicides (Aquatain, Temephos and Bti) clearly showed high larviciding efficacies both in the laboratory and field evaluations. Despite its efficacy, temephos changed the color of the water to whitish and has got strong smell. As a result, the community scared of the treated habitats.
Conclusion: It is highly recommendable that Aquatain and/or Bti larvicides be used in malaria control program as complementary malaria vector control tools.
RETRACTED: A Novel Architecture Based on Weight Freezing and Random Forest for Website Phishing Detection
Authors: Jasim Ali , KURNAZ Sefer , shaban Raghda Awad , Farhan Hameed Mutlag
Published: December 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Optimizing environmental remediation: Thermal tunability of bone char for selective remediation of water, soil, and mine waste
Authors: Loredo-Portales Rene , Ruiz-Ortega Héctor Adán , Rio-Salas Rafael Del , Moreno-Rodriguez Verónica , González-Méndez Blanca , Ramos-Pérez Daniel , Torre-Velázquez Víctor , Encinas-Yanez Martín Fernando
Published: December 2024

Bone char (BoC) is a bio-hydroxyapatite material derived from the pyrolysis of animal bones. It has been extensively studied for its applications in water, soil, and industrial waste remediation. Unlike other biological and mineral adsorbents, BoC exhibits pH, electrical conductivity, porosity, and crystallinity properties that vary proportionally with the pyrolysis temperature. This variability allows BoC to be a tunable, reproducible, and sustainable material suitable for targeted remediation efforts, including the removal of specific anions and cations from contaminated water, enhancing soil quality, and mitigating the adverse effects of mine tailings. This study evaluates the chemical and physical properties of BoC produced at pyrolysis temperatures ranging from 400 to 1000°C, proposing its use for targeted remediation applications. Our findings indicate that both physical and chemical properties of BoC vary proportionally positively or negatively with increasing pyrolysis temperature. The main key characteristics for remediation include ion exchange capacity, pH, and stability. We recommend using BoC pyrolyzed at low temperatures (< 500°C) for water pollutant remediation, while BoC produced at medium temperatures (500–800°C) is better suited for soil remediation and as a soil fertilizer. Additionally, high temperature (> 800°C) pyrolyzed BoC is effective for remediation in both water and soil under extremely acidic conditions.
Integrated chemical and genomic analysis of lipopeptides produced by Bacillus velezensis CMRP4489 with antifungal activity
Authors: Nicoletto Maria Luiza A. , Baptista Julia P. , Noriler Sandriele A. , Gouveia Paula O. , Bertoli Alicya M. , Silva Daniel V. , Camargo Priscila G. , Macedo Fernando C. , Oliveira João P. , Pereira Ulisses P. , Mello João C. P. , Novello Claudio R. , Rocha Ulisses , Oliveira Admilton Gonçalves
Published: December 2024

Background
Bacillus velezensis CMRP4489 shows promise as a biological control agent thanks to its production of secondary metabolites with antimicrobial properties. Nevertheless, the specific compounds contributing to its antifungal effects are not fully understood. This study aimed to identify and characterise bioactive compounds from B. velezensis CMRP4489 that exhibit antifungal activity against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, a major phytopathogen affecting various crops.
Results
We utilised vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) to separate and identify antifungal compounds present in the cell-free supernatant of B. velezensis CMRP4489. Initial antifungal activity was detected in fraction F2, but further purification led to the identification of fraction F6F, which displayed significantly enhanced activity, evident from inhibition halos measuring 26.25 ± 1.8 mm in disk diffusion assays. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed four subfractions, with F6F.1 demonstrating the highest activity, forming inhibition halos of 27.5 ± 2.0 mm. Through spectroscopic and spectrometric analysis, we identified F6F.1 as Bacillopeptin A and B, structurally similar lipopeptides. Electron microscopy confirmed that Bacillopeptins disrupt the hyphal structure of S. sclerotiorum, while minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays showed that as low as 25 µg/mL could be effective. Additionally, genomic analysis using antiSMASH showed the presence of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) in B. velezensis CMRP4489 linked to lipopeptide production, particularly those related to bacillopeptins, iturins, and fengycins, reinforcing the strain's potential for the production of diverse bioactive compounds.
Conclusions
This research is the first to illustrate the effectiveness of Bacillopeptins A and B from B. velezensis CMRP4489 against S. sclerotiorum, highlighting their strong antifungal properties and potential as biocontrol agents. The identification of pertinent BGCs suggests that B. velezensis CMRP4489 can be optimised for increased production of secondary metabolites. This study highlights the potential of Bacillopeptins A and B as alternatives to chemical fungicides, warranting further investigation in greenhouse and field trials to evaluate their effectiveness in real-world applications. Our findings provide important insights into the antimicrobial potential of B. velezensis CMRP4489 and emphasise its promise in sustainable crop protection strategies.
Mycorrhization of Quercus dentata seedlings with Laccaria bicolor enhances salt tolerance of plants only under relatively moderate soil salinity level
Authors: Sun Wenlong , Qi Luyu , Chen Haonan , Song Yixin , Jiang Jiaqi , Zhang Puyi , Wang Bojian , Wang Qiang , Meng Gaode , Ji Tianyu , Sun Xinke , Guo Weihua , Du Ning , Zwiazek Janusz J.
Published: December 2024

Background
Soil salinization is a growing global concern in many ecosystems. Although ectomycorrhizal fungi have been shown to alleviate the effects of salinity in some tree species, uncertainties persist concerning their effectiveness when plants are exposed to different salinity levels that are commonly present in salt-affected soils.
Objective
This study explored the effects of Laccaria bicolor on Quercus dentata seedlings under different levels of salt stress.
Methods
Q. dentata seedlings were grown in pots and were either non-inoculated (mycorrhizal control) or inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus L. bicolor. The seedlings were then treated with three NaCl concentrations (0, 0.4%, and 0.8%), that was added to the soil for 30 days, after which plant physiological, stoichiometric, and growth characteristics were examined.
Results
NaCl exposure significantly impaired growth and physiological parameters in all seedling groups. The influence of L. bicolor on Q. dentata seedlings varied with salt concentration. Under moderate salinity, the seedlings colonized by L. bicolor exhibited an enhancement in root biomass and leaf chlorophyll concentrations, concomitant with a reduction in leaf Na+ concentrations and the Na+/K+ ratios. Conversely, under relatively high salinity, colonization of L. bicolor was associated with a reduction in leaf water content and fluorescence parameters, as well as an elevation in leaf Na+ concentrations.
Conclusions
The effect of ectomycorrhizal fungus L. bicolor on Q. dentata seedlings was dependent on NaCl concentration, and our results indicate that the use of L. bicolor in afforestation efforts with Q. dentata would only be effective under relatively low soil salinity levels.
A IoT-enabled Obstacle Detection and Recognition Technique for Blind Persons
Authors: Ikram Sunnia , Bajwa Prof. Imran , Gyawali Sujan , Ikram Amna , Alsubaie Najah
Published: December 2024

Object detection is a critical task in computer vision, essential for real-time applications ranging from autonomous vehicles to surveillance systems. This proposed work presents a comparative evaluation of Single Shot Multibox Detector (SSD algorithms). YOLOv3, MobileNetv3, RetinaNet and Faster R-CNN, in the context of real-time obstacle detection from camera images. The study evaluates these algorithms on performance metrics Precision, Recall and F1 score across various Intersection Over Union (IoU) thresholds. Also, the computational efficiency in terms of the time taken per frame is assessed to determine the effectiveness of each algorithm. The workflow includes image processing, augmentation, and application of SSD models to detect objects like vehicles, pedestrians and traffic signals. Results indicate that YOLOv3 achieves the highest precision of 96% demonstrating robust performance in real-time scenarios, while MobileNetv3 follows closely with 92%, RetinaNet and Faster RCNN achieves accuracy 90% and 90% respectively. These findings contribute to understanding the trade-offs between accuracy and computational efficiency in selected suitable SSD models for practical deployment.
Proteomic analysis reveals the sperm protein difference among fresh and frozen semen of Niangya yak in Xizang
Authors: Su Kuiyuan , Fu Hanyu , Xu Yefen , Liu Bohua , Zan Ruilong , Oujie Ciren , Ciren Quzhen , Duoji Ciren , Zhou Zhihao , Liu Suozhu , Niu Jiaqiang
Published: December 2024

Background To enhance Niangya yak's reproductive efficiency and breeding process, this study employed Label-free quantitative proteomics technology to analyze fresh (F) and chilled (C) semen samples.Result The analysis revealed an extensive repertoire of 18,338 peptide segments and 2,579 proteins within Niangya yak semen. Among them, 2,300 proteins were successfully annotated in the database. Notably, a total of 300 DEPs were identified between the C and F groups; comprising 129 up-regulated DEPs and 171 down-regulated DEPs. GO enrichment analysis highlighted that these DEPs may be involved in lipid metabolism as well as protein binding with proteases and phosphorylation processes associated with sperm cryodamage. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that 35 of the mapped pathways may be related to sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and apoptosis. Specifically, the ribosome pathway, glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway, ferroptosis pathway, and phospholipase D signaling pathway might be closely linked to decreased sperm vitality, damaged plasma membrane integrity, and sperm apoptosis induced by freezing in semen. Based on the PPI analysis of groups C and F, this study has preliminarily identified potential proteins HSPBP1, HSP90AB1, CCDC83, PMSD4, ISYNA1, KLHL10, and UAB1 in Niangya yak semen that are associated with decreased vitality and cell apoptosis caused by cryodamage.Conclusion This study represents the first analysis of DEPs and their involvement in biological pathways in frozen yak semen using Label-free quantitative proteomics technology. It provides a theoretical foundation for comprehending the mechanism of cryodamage in Niangya yak semen as well as enhancing reproductive efficiency and breeding processes of yaks.
A decision-space model explains context-specific decision-making
Authors: Friedman Alexander , Beck Dirk , Heaton Cory , Davlia Luis , Rakocevic Lara , Drammis Sabrina , Tyulmankov Danil , Vara Paulina , Giri Atanu , Beck Shreeya Umashankar , Zhang Qingyang , Pokojovy Michael , Negishi Kenichiro , Batson Serina , Salcido Alexis , Reyes Neftali , Macias Andrea , Ibanez-Alcala Raquel , Houssain Safa , Waller Graham , Moschak Travis , Goosens Ki
Published: December 2024

Optimal decision-making requires consideration of internal and external contexts. Biased decision-making is a transdiagnostic symptom of neuropsychiatric disorders. We created a computational model demonstrating how the striosome compartment of the striatum constructs a context-dependent mathematical space for decision-making computations, and how the matrix compartment uses this space to define action value. The model explains multiple experimental results and unifies other theories like reward prediction error, roles of the direct versus indirect pathways, and roles of the striosome versus matrix, under one framework. We also found, through new analyses, that striosome and matrix neurons increase their synchrony during difficult tasks, caused by a necessary increase in dimensionality of the space. The model makes testable predictions about individual differences in disorder susceptibility, decision-making symptoms shared among neuropsychiatric disorders, and differences in neuropsychiatric disorder symptom presentation. The model provides new evidence for the central role that striosomes play in neuroeconomic and disorder-affected decision-making.
Application of Intersectionality Framework and Area-level Indicators in Machine Learning Analysis of Depression Disparities in All of Us Research Program Data
Authors: Scherbakov Dmitry , Marrone Michael T. , Lenert Leslie A. , Alekseyenko Alexander V.
Published: December 2024

Background/objective:
Depression is a complex mental health disorder influenced by various social determinants of health (SDOH) at individual and community levels. Area-level factors and intersectionality framework, which considers overlapping personal identities, are used in this paper to get a nuanced picture of depression disparities.
Methods
This cross-sectional study uses electronic health records data from the All of Us research network. Our study cohort includes 20,042 individuals who completed the SDOH surveys in All of Us and had at least one in-patient visit, with 27.3% diagnosed with depression since 2020. We used depression diagnosis as an outcome, while independent variables include US Religious Census and American urvey responses, area-level variables, sociodemographic characteristics: age group, income, gender, sexual orientation, immigration status, marital status, and race/ethnicity – and the interactions of the latter with each other and with other variables. The association between depression diagnosis and the variables is reported by fitting the logistic regression model on the subset of variables identified by LASSO method.
Results
The analysis revealed that area-level indicators, such as religious adherence and childbirth rates, significantly influenced depression outcomes when interacting with personal identity variables: area-level religious adherence was associated with increased depression odds for women (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.15–1.54) and non-binary individuals (OR 3.70, 95% CI 1.03–13.31). Overlapping identities, such as younger adults unemployed for less than a year and never married Middle Eastern and North African participants showed higher depression odds (OR 2.3, 95% CI 1.06–4.99, and OR 3.35, 95% CI 1.19–9.45, respectively).
Discussion/Conclusion:
The findings underscore the importance of considering all types of factors: individual, area-level, and intersectional in depression research.
Stormwater Management System of the surrounding areas from 2no gate to Kaptai Rastar Matha in Chattogram
Authors: Rahman Khan Refat , Chy Sazzad Hossain , Khan Md Iftekhar Sayeed , Nayeem Abdullah
Published: December 2024

The economic metropolis of Bangladesh is Chattogram, the port city. Each year's heavy precipitation results in inundated streets and low-lying regions, making life miserable for city residents. The study focuses primarily on the significant areas encircling 2no Gate to Kaptai Rastar Matha. The Noa Network, which consists primarily of Choshma Khal, Mirza Khal, and Noa Khal, is the principally responsible canal network for these regions and joins the Karnaphuli River. This research examines a methodology for estimating the municipal stormwater runoff from the catchment area. The Digital Elevation Model (DEM) for the study area was processed in ArcGIS 10.5 using terrain preprocessing tools to outline the basin, sub-basin, and stream network. The complete sub-catchment area was divided into six watersheds using ArcGIS 10.5. HEC-HMS was used to extract hydraulic parameters of the river basin based on terrain preprocessing results. These hydraulic parameters were then utilized in HEC-HMS to estimate stormwater discharge. We utilized Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD) precipitation intensity data from 1974 to 2022 to accomplish this. With the aid of BMD precipitation data, the current condition of the channel's drainage capability for rainfall runoff is evaluated using the HEC-HMS hydrologic model for return periods of 2,5,10,25,50,100 years. In addition, lag time and time of concentration were calculated. The utmost discharge for a 25-year return period was determined to be 172 cumec, while we designed the canal’s capacity to withstand a flow of approximately 180 cumec. Existing canal capacity should work fine for at least till 10 years return period. But regarding the possible climate change our suggested canal cross section can be adopted. It has been analyzed and identified the causes of urban flooding and proposed solutions to remedy the situation. The proposed cross section may differ in a few points from the CDA masterplan due to the use of various design criteria or routing methods. Numerous distinct values, such as Cure Number (CN) and Manning's n, were utilized as precisely as feasible because they can significantly alter the outcome. Finally, in order to resolve this waterlogging issue, the necessary structural measures must be implemented, but public awareness and effective drainage management are also required.