bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative analysis of meteorological drought based on the SPI and SPEI Indices in Benin
Authors: BOUKO Abdoul-Aziz BIO SIDI D , Gao Bing , Mutelo Admire M. , El-Saadani Zozo , Abubakar Jabir , Dehah LEKOUEIRY
Published: April 2024

In Benin, drought refers to a meteorological disaster that causes insufficient soil moisture and has adverse consequences on agriculture, the environment, and food security. However, to better understand the evolution of drought, the Mann–Kendall trend test, and comparative statistical evaluation of drought indices were applied in this paper. To achieve this objective, firstly, this article used daily precipitation, temperature, and relative humidity data from the National Meteorological Agency of Benin (NMAB) to calculate the standardized precipitation index (SPI), the standardized evapotranspiration of precipitation (SPEI), and used the Mann-Kendall trend test to quantify the importance of characteristic drought trends in the three (03) zones of Benin at different time scales. Then, we performed a statistical and comparative evaluation of SPI and SPEI based on Pearson's correlation coefficient, and cross-wavelet transform, to identify the strengths of SPI and SPEI. The results showed that (1) as the time scale increased, the temporal variations of the SPI and SPEI were increasingly consistent across all 3 areas of Benin; but there remains a difference between SPI and SPEI; (2) the drought trends identified by the SPI and the SPEI in certain areas of Benin were quite different. In Zone 2 (Central Benin), SPI showed an insignificant decreasing trend (P > 0.05), while SPEI showed a significant decreasing trend (P < 0.05) on all time scales. In Zone 3 (northern Benin), SPI showed a significantly increasing trend (P < 0.05) except for SPI-1, while SPEI showed a significantly decreasing trend except for SPEI-12. (3) the two indices (SPI/SPEI) show a strong correlation with each other; (4) Compared to the drought index (SPI/SPEI) and the standard relative humidity indices (SRHI), the SRHI-3 and SPEI-3 gave the largest correlation coefficient (r = 0.5), The SPEI could be more appropriate than SPI for monitoring drought in Benin. It should be noted that the adaptability of SPI and SPEI may be different across periods and regions.
Evaluating Satellite-based multilinear regression and gauge- based spatial interpolation techniques for Köppen-Geiger classification in a national scale
Authors: Tayebi Asieh , Mokhtari Mohammad Hossein , Deilami Kaveh
Published: April 2024

Empirical climate classification is a process that makes environmental conditions understandable to humans by using climatic elements. Köppen-Geiger (KG) is a popular climate classification method that uses long-term precipitation and temperature data to classify climate into five primary groups. However, long-term continuous meteorological data is heavily exposed to data scarcity, particularly in a national scale. This research study addresses this challenge by leveraging satellite imageries, multilinear regression models and spatial interpolation within the context of entire country of Iran between 2016 and 2019. Accordingly, this study examined statistical relationship between 14 explanatory variables under four main categories of MODIS-LST, MODIS-NDVI, MODIS-TVDI, GPM-precipitation and SRTM-DEM against ground-based precipitation and temperature data (dependent variables). The spatial interpolation model (i.e. Krigging and CO-krigging) was directly developed from weather observation station datasets. A total of 332 synoptic stations were selected, 67% of which were used in modeling and the remaining 33% in testing. Accuracy assessment was performed with Kappa statistics. Overall, this research study developed three KG classification maps. These include a map per precipitation and temperature from regression model and spatial interpolation and a point-based maps from unused climate data in modelling. This study identified three KG main climate groups of arid, warm temperate and snow and eight KG sub-groups of hot desert, cold steppe, cold desert, hot steppe, warm temperate climate with dry hot summer, Snow climate with dry hot summer, Warm temperate climate with dry warm summer and Snow climate with dry warm summer. A comparison between those maps (kappa = 0.75) showed the higher accuracy of regression-based KG maps against spatial interpolation maps. This study contributes to a more detailed monitor of climate change across countries and regions with sparse distribution of weather observation data.
Anatomical factor associated with thoracic procedural difficulty in robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy
Authors: Kuriyama Kengo , Okamura Akihiko , Kanamori Jun , Imamura Yu , Tamura Masahiro , Takahashi Naoki , Terayama Masayoshi , Kanie Yasukazu , Maruyama Suguru , Watanabe Masayuki
Published: April 2024

Background: Robotic surgical systems with full articulation of instruments, tremor filtering, and motion scaling can potentially overcome the procedural difficulties in endoscopic surgeries. However, whether robot-assisted minimally invasive esophagectomy (RAMIE) can overcome anatomical difficulties during thoracoscopic esophagectomy remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the anatomical and clinical factors that influence the difficulty of RAMIE in the thoracic region.
Methods: Forty-five patients who underwent curative-intent RAMIE with upper mediastinal lymph node dissection for esophageal cancer were included. Using preoperative computed tomography images, we calculated previously reported anatomical indices to assess the upper mediastinal narrowness and vertebral body projections in the middle thoracic region. The factors influencing thoracic operative time were then investigated.
Results: During the thoracic procedure, the median operative time was 215 (124–367) min and the median blood loss was 20 (5–190) mL. Postoperatively, pneumonia, anastomotic leakage, and recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy occurred in 17.8%, 2.2%, and 6.7% of the patients, respectively. The multiple linear regression model revealed that a narrow upper mediastinum and greater blood loss during the thoracic procedure were significant factors associated with a prolonged thoracic operative time (P = 0.025 and P < 0.001, respectively). Upper mediastinal narrowing was not associated with postoperative complications.
Conclusions: A narrow upper mediastinum was significantly associated with a prolonged thoracic operative time in patients with RAMIE.
Immobilization of silver nanoparticles with gum of Moringa oleifera for effective antibacterial activities against human disease-causing bacterial species
Authors: Ali Liaqat , Ahmad Nisar , Uddin Muhammad Nazir , Saleh Ibrahim A. , Fazal Hina , Abdel-Maksoud Mostafa A , Malik Abdul , AbdElgawad Hamada , Khan Yaqub , Rauf Kamran , Khan Salman , Ullah Sami , Ahmad Tanveer , Ahmad Sajjad , Jalal Arshad
Published: April 2024

The misuse of antibiotics generates resistant bacterial strains that are extremely dangerous and pose a serious threat to global health systems. This global issue needs a rapid and urgent alternative to control the growth of resistant strains. In this study, a novel strategy was adopted to suppress the growth of resistant pathogens. Here, an immobilization approach was applied using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gum of medicinally important Moringa oleifera. In many studies, the gum and AgNPs alone have proven antibacterial activities. Here, the differential concentrations of AgNPs were immobilized with gum of M. oleifera to investigate its potential against highly resistant pathogens. Immobilization is a powerful technique that is commonly used in pharmaceutics for controlled reactivity and emulsification. The immobilized AgNPs displayed promising activities against highly resistant B. subtilis (23.6mm, 50 µL:200 µL), E. coli (19.3; 75 µL:200 µL), K. pneumoniae (22 mm; 200 µL:200 µL), P. mirabilis (16.3 mm; 100 µL:200 µL), P. aeruginosa (22 mm; 175 µL:200 µL) and S. typhi (19.3; 25 µL: 200 µL) than either AgNPs alone or gum. The immobilized AgNPs released the positive sliver ions and the positively charged nanoparticles (NPs) are attracted by the negatively charged bacterial cells. After attachment and permeation to bacterial cell, the immobilized NPs altering the cell membrane permeability, protein denaturation, causing oxidative stress, deactivating enzymes, generating ROS, DNA damage and changing gene expression level. It has been mechanistically considered that the immobilized AgNPs can kill bacteria by damaging their cell membranes, dephosphorylate tyrosine residues during their signal transduction pathways, cell apoptosis, rupture the organelles and inhibiting the cell division and finally lead to cell death. This study has a potential to be adopted by pharmaceutical industries as highly effective antibacterial alternatives to synthetic drugs.
A deep learning-based approach for automated two-stage femur segmentation
Authors: Xie Wenqing , Chen Peng , Li Zhigang , Wang Xiaopeng , Wang Chenggong , Zhang Lin , Wu Wenhao , Xiang Junjie , Wang Yiping , Zhong Da
Published: April 2024

Objectives
The purpose of this study was to develop a deep learning-based two-stage network based on deep learning tenets designed for swift delineation of regions of interest (ROIs) and semantic segmentation of the femur with accuracy and precision.
Methods
The deep learning-based two-stage segmentation network proposed in this paper performs femur segmentation on full lower limb CT images. The experimental dataset utilized herein is sourced from Hospital, encompassing a total of 100 experimental datasets—partitioned into 85 datasets for training, 8 for validation, and 7 for testing.
Results
In the first stage, the average IoU reached 0.9671, and the mAP reached 0.9656, indicating that the femoral region was effectively and accurately extracted. In the second stage, the average Dice coefficient, sensitivity, specificity, and pixel accuracy were 0.953, 0.965, 0.998, and 0.996, respectively, indicating accurate segmentation of the femur. Compared with the non-two-stage network, it converges more easily during training, has a shorter inference time, has higher accuracy, and exhibits superior performance.
Conclusion
This deep learning-based, two-stage segmentation network is adept at executing femur segmentation tasks with remarkable speed, precision, and autonomy across expansive medical datasets. Boasting minimal computational requisites. With low computational constraints, it has broad applicability and scalability. It holds promise as an effective tool for improving femur image segmentation and facilitating clinical diagnosis.
Genetic diversity and runs of homozygosity (ROH): A portrait of the quantitative academic publication dynamic and scientific metadata
Authors: Sobrinho Francisco de Assis Diniz , Coelho Ronaldo Cunha , Moura Jeane de Oliveira , Bajay Miklos Maximiliano , Carvalho Leonardo Castelo Branco , Britto Fábio Barros , Sarmento José Lindenberg Rocha , Mastrangelo Salvatore , de Araújo Adriana Mello
Published: April 2024

Background Autozygosity is the homozygous state of identical-by-descent (IBD) alleles, which can result from several phenomena. The increase in inbreeding (F) leads to different negative effects such as a reduction in genetic variance, with a reduction in individual performance (inbreeding depression) and lower population viability. Nowadays, among several alternative methods to estimate inbreeding, F estimated from Run of Homozygosity (FROH) is considered the most powerful. This study aimed to provide a systematic review to comprehensive understanding of the structure and dynamics of genomic diversity and the impact of ROH studies over the last decade, highlighting directions and opportunities for future research.
Results 406 publications were identified on WoS core collection and applied to bibliometric analysis available in the R environment. The analysis revealed an increased number of publications per year. China, Italy, and the United States are the countries that published the most on the topic, with the main contributions published in journals such as Animals and Frontiers in Genetics. This study highlights the growing interest in the functional analysis of ROHs driven by computational tools capable of characterizing these genomic regions. Noteworthy are the PLINK software and the detectRUNS package, utilizing a sliding window methodology for SNP analysis in the genome. Beyond a global crisis of genetic diversity loss, challenges encompass ecological issues, habitat fragmentation, and isolated populations, as well as the availability of genetic variation in species domesticated by humans, which forms the foundation of our food supply.
Conclusion A bibliometric analysis highlights the growing interest and progress of research in breeds of homozygosity (ROH) and genetic diversity, driven by the advancement of genomic technology and international collaboration. Asia, America and Europe lead in knowledge production. Advances like PLINK and detectRUNS in R mean a quest for more accurate analysis. Emerging topics such as migration and correlation indicate an increasing focus on the impact of ROH standards. Challenges include refining analytical techniques and exploring regions of high heterozygosity, promising future research directions.
Production of Micro and Nano Crystalline Cellulose from Waste Cassava Pulp and Cassava Pulp Treated from Biogas System
Authors: Banditvong Chittaphone , Varongchayakul Suppanut , Laosiripojana Navadol , Songkasiri Warinthorn
Published: April 2024

The objective of this study was to produce microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) from solid waste cassava pulp from (i) a starch process and (ii) a biogas system (CP and CPbiogas, respectively) in the cassava starch industry. The process commenced with the removal of starch using α-amylase. The lignocellulosic fibers were bleached with 0.7% (w/v) NaClO2 and 17.5% (w/v) NaOH, resulting in a cellulose content of 91% and 88% from the CP and CPbiogas, respectively. The average particle size of MCC ranged from 10–200 µm. Subsequently, it was hydrolyzed by 60% sulfuric acid for 132 min for produce NCC. NCC yield of less than 100-nm from CP and CPbiogas were 10 and 12% respectively. The resulting MCC and NCC from CP and CPbiogas were dried and characterized by X-ray diffractometry, revealing a crystallinity index of 68% and 70% of MCC, after H2SO4 hydrolyzed, the crystallinity index was increased to 71% and 76% of NCC from CP and CPbiogas, respectively. These characteristics demonstrated a highly promising potential for the obtained nanocellulose in various applications.
The influence of early life exposures on the infant gut virome
Authors: Zhang Yichang , Castro-Mejía Josué L. , Deng Ling , Shah Shiraz A. , Thorsen Jonathan , Rodríguez Cristina Leal , Jessen Leon E. , Dion Moïra B. , Chawes Bo , Bønnelykke Klaus , Sørensen Søren J. , Bisgaard Hans , Moineau Sylvain , Petit Marie-Agnès , Stokholm Jakob , Nielsen Dennis S.
Published: April 2024

Background
The factors influencing the establishment of the gut bacterial community in early life are fairly well studied. However, the factors shaping the infant gut virome remain elusive. Most gut viruses are bacteriophages (phages), i.e., viruses attacking bacteria in a host specific manner, and to a lesser extent, but also widely present, eukaryotic viruses, including viruses attacking human cells. Interestingly, early life gut virome imbalances have recently been linked with increased risk of developing diseases like type 1 diabetes and asthma. We utilized the deeply phenotyped COPSAC2010 cohort to investigate how environmental factors influence the gut virome at one year age.
Results
We demonstrate that presence of older siblings as well as residental location (urban or rural) had the strongest impact on gut virome composition at one year of age. A total of 16,118 species-level clustered viral representative contigs (here termed viral Operational Taxonomic Units – vOTUs) were identified and of these 2105 vOTUs varied in abundance with environmental exposure. Of these vOTUs 94.1% were phages mainly predicted to infect Bacteroidaceae, Prevotellaceae, and Ruminococcaceae. Strong co-abundance of phages and their bacterial hosts was confirmed underlining the predicted phage-host connections. Furthermore, we found some gut viruses affected by environmental factors encode enzymes involved in the utilization and degradation of major dietary components, potentially affecting infant health by influencing the bacterial host metabolic capacity. Genes encoding enzymes significantly associated with early life exposures were found in a total of 42 vOTUs. Eigtheen of these vOTUs had their life styles predicted, with 17 of them having a temperate lifestyle.
Conclusion
Given the importance of the gut microbiome in early life for maturation of the immune system and maintenance of metabolic health, these findings provide avaluable insights for understanding early life factors that predispose to autoimmune and metabolic disorders.
Integration of Single-Cell and Spatial Transcriptome Sequencing Identifies CDKN2A as a Senescent Biomarker in Endothelial Cells Implicating Hepatocellular Carcinoma Malignancy
Authors: Ma Yue , Yi Chenhe , Cai Ning , Chen Jinhong
Published: April 2024

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most malignant tumors worldwide, remaining difficult to manage. The role of cellular senescence in HCC has been gradually recognized. The present study aimed to comprehensively analyze the senescence-related features of HCC in single-cell and spatial dimension.
Methods: Integration of single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-Seq) and spatial transcriptome sequencing (ST) data enabled identification of senescence-related genes (SRGs) for HCC. A novel prognostic model based on SRGs was constructed, and spatial distribution of senescent endothelial cells (ECs) within HCC tumors was analyzed. Then, the role of senescent ECs was verified through in vitro and in vivo experiments.
Results: Significant heterogeneity in senescence profiles of ECs was observed, with specific regulatory alterations existing the communication between senescent ECs and other cell types. Spatial analysis revealed senescent ECs mainly located in the core region of HCC. The interaction of senescent ECs and immune cells implicated their role in tumor progression and immunotherapeutic response. In addition, CDKN2A was identified as an independent risk factor for HCC prognosis by constructing a prognostic model. CDKN2A promoted senescence of ECs which exhibited a secretory phenotype. Furthermore, senescent ECs with CDKN2A overexpression promote the malignancy of HCC both in vitro and in vivo.
Conclusion: The present study advances understanding of senescent ECs in HCC pathogenesis, providing an insight into evaluation of ECs senescence as a therapeutic target for HCC.
The dynamic revolution of intestinal flora and bile acids profiles revealed the hypolipidemic effect of lotus seed resistant starch
Authors: Lei Suzhen , Jiang Yijun , Cai Xiaoliang , Lin Zhixiong , Zhang Yi , Zeng Hongliang
Published: April 2024

Our research group had shown that lotus seed resistant starch (LRS) had hypolipidemic effect, but its mechanism is still being studied. Bile acids are important metabolic pathway of cholesterol, accelerating the conversion of cholesterol into bile acids and excreting them in the fecal may be one of the effective ways to reduce cholesterol levels in the body. This study aimed to reveal the lipid-lowering effect of LRS from the perspectives of fecal microbiota and bile acids. Herein, a rat model of hyperlipidemia was established and intervened with LRS. Fecal samples from different periods were collected to study the changes in microbiota and bile acids, and the correlation network diagram was established to reveal the lipid-lowering mechanism of LRS. The results showed that LRS inhibited the growth of Prevotella and Allobaculum in hyperlipidemic rats. Meanwhile LRS promoted the excretion of cholic acid (CA), chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), alpha-muricholic acid (α-MCA), ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), ursocholic acid (UCA), 7-ketodeoxycholic acid (7-keto-DCA) in hyperlipidemic rats. Furthermore, total cholesterol (TCHO), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were negatively correlated with CA, CDCA, UDCA and UCA, and TCHO was positively correlated with Prevotella. Triglycerides (TG) was negatively correlated with CA, CDCA, 7-keto-DCA and UCA, while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was positively correlated with α-MCA. Regulating the gut microbiota such as Prevotella and accelerating the transformation of liver cholesterol into primary bile acids (CA, CDCA) for excretion from the body was one of the effective means for LRS to ameliorate blood lipid levels in hyperlipidemic rats.
Retreatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C, subtype 3a, and cirrhosis, who previously failed a regimen containing second-generation NS5A inhibitors with sofosbuvir + glecaprevir/pibrentasvir and ribavirin for 16-24 weeks
Authors: Fedorchenko Sergii V. , Klimenko Zhanna , Martynovych Tatiana , Solianyk Iryna , Suprunenko Tatiana
Published: April 2024

Background: The use of direct acting antiviral agents (DAAs) in patients with chronic HCV genotype (GT) 3a infection results in sustained virologic response (SVR) rates of 93-98%, but 3-6% of patients experience virologic failure.
Methods: We observed 11 patients infected with HCV subtype 3a who failed previous treatment with DAAs, with liver cirrhosis. All patients previously failed with sofosbuvir+velpatasvir+ribavirin for 24 weeks. Patients received retreatment with sofosbuvir, glecaprevir/pibrentasvir and ribavirin for 16-24 weeks. We compared SVR12 rates depending on the presence of NS5A mutation (L31M, A30K, Y93H or double mutations).
Results: Observed SVR12 rate was: 100% (11/11 patients) overall.
Conclusion:s Retreatment with SOF+GLE/PIB+RBV for 16-24 weeks was highly effective and safe in patients with chronic HCV GT3a infection, including those with liver cirrhosis, who previously failed DAA containing second-generation NS5A inhibitors. Presence of NS5A RASs L31M, A30K, Y93H or double mutations at the baseline did not impact SVR12 rates.
Numerical Study on the Breaking Phenomena of the Fornberg-Whitham Equation
Authors: Tanaka Mitsuhiro
Published: April 2024

For surface gravity waves, it is known that wave breaking may occur in the temporal evolution as a result ofthe steepening of waveform due to nonlinearity. Here, ``breaking" refers to the phenomenon in which the slope of the front face of the wave diverges to \(-\infty\).The Fornberg-Whitham equation is a model equation which can reproduce this breaking phenomenon.In this study, the breaking phenomenon of the Fornberg-Whitham equation is investigated numerically.The equation is normalized to a form that includes two free parameters,while the initial condition is fixed as \(u_0(x)=\cos x\).The results are categorized in terms of whether wave breaking occurs or not in the course of the temporal evolution,and summarized as a scatter plot on the parameter plane.The overall shape of the critical curve, which separates the breaking and the non-breaking regionson the parameter plane, is qualitatively explained in terms of the competition between the effects of dispersion and nonlinearity.
Economic ready to eat food supplement results in altered hematopoietic system in domestic cats
Authors: Abdulrahman Hanar A. , Aziz Shnya Hama , Sabir Muhamad , Nawzad Rahel , Gharib Rawa Hama , Mohammed Rebar Nawzad
Published: April 2024

Cats, belonging to the feline family, have been domesticated by humans for millennia, undergoing a gradual process divided into animal breeding and animal keeping phases. As obligate carnivores, cats require diets rich in protein, moderate in fat, and low in carbohydrates, with dietary needs evolving throughout their lifetimes. The aim of the current study is to compare the nutritional value and health consequences from eating economic diets with premium diets. Twelve cats (7 eating economic diets and 5 eating premium diets as control) were enrolled into the study. The animals went through clinical consultation and laboratory investigations. Based on the results from the current study, economic ready to eat food supplement impact the overall immune system and the defense mechanisms in the cats due to a marked reduction the number of white blood cells in the peripheral blood in particular the lymphocytes and the monocytes. Cats consuming economic diets experienced anemia due to an impaired hemoglobin production therefore impacted the rate of red blood cell production. Moreover, thrombocytopenia, conditions marked by reduced platelet counts, are linked to economic diets and nutrient deficiencies in cats in the study. In conclusion, proper nutrition is pivotal in preserving overall health and preventing hematological anomalies. Regular veterinary attention and a balanced diet are imperative for the management and prevention of such conditions in feline companions.
An analysis of the mediating factors of suicide risk in adolescents with depressive disorder based on machine learning
Authors: Zhu Xuanyan , Chen Yun , Jiang Zhongyi , Bi Ran , Zhang Qiaoyang , Cao Yin , Dong Guanzhong
Published: April 2024

Aims: The role of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in the suicide process of patients with depressive disorder remains controversial. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role NSSI plays in suicide risk in patients with depressive disorder.
Methods: A questionnaire survey was compiled using the HAMD-24, the Baker Suicide Risk Scale, and the NSSI Scale. The survey was administered to 113 adolescent patients with depressive disorder. The correlation between NSSI, depression, and suicide risk was analyzed using the gradient-lifting regression model.
Results: NSSI had the highest incidence among high school students, regardless of gender. Furthermore, the incidence of NSSI was high among depressive patients with a history of smoking and drinking. NSSI partially mediated the risk of suicide in depressive patients.
Conclusions: The findings show that NSSI increases the risk of suicide in patients with depressive disorder. Therefore, paying attention to NSSI in patients with depressive disorder and taking early mediating measures to minimize the effect will be conducive to reducing the risk of suicide.
Survey and genetic diversity of wild Brassica oleracea L. germplasm on the northern coast of Spain
Authors: Maggioni Lorenzo , Bengtsson Therése , Poulsen Gert Bundgaard , von Bothmer Roland
Published: April 2024

This study follows from an expedition undertaken in 2011 to collect and monitor populations of Brassica oleracea var. oleracea growing on the Atlantic cliffs in the north of Spain. The genetic diversity and structure of 17 of these populations were analysed with Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) revealed through Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT). These were compared with eight similar populations from the Atlantic coasts of northern Europe, with a representation of six Mediterranean wild taxa belonging to the Brassica oleracea complex and with six leafy kale landraces from Italy and Spain. The analysis reveals that the largest B. oleracea genetic diversity is present in the Asturias region. Another evidence is the presence of a north-south gradient of diversity along the Atlantic coasts, and the distinction between two types of accessions, one confined to northwest Spain (‘AsCan’ type) and another comprising most northern populations and the cultivated leafy kales, with an intermediate area of admixed types. The genetic distance among all the B. oleracea var. oleracea populations and between these and the leafy kales is minimal. This brings further weight to the interpretation of the wild-growing Atlantic populations of B. oleracea as a feral group. A specific pivotal position is assigned to the population of Laredo, Cantabria, which is genetically very close to 63% of the other accessions. In this study, Brassica incana is genetically the closest wild taxon to cultivated leafy kales and feral B. oleracea, and thus is indicated as a possible source of domestication of B. oleracea.
Ethnic differences in the rate pressure product to dance aerobic exercise with African Canadian and South Asian cardiac patients
Authors: Tomlinson Sherldine , Naemi Roozbeh
Published: April 2024

Introduction: The rate pressure product (RPP) is a non-invasive method used as an index to measure myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) on physiological responses. It is the product of heart rate (HR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP) (RPP = HR x SBP/100). Past studies have investigated the RPP on exercise response and produced positive outcomes. However, the data is limited for racialised groups such as individuals of black African descent and South Asians. This is despite their experiencing similar cardiovascular risk.
Objective: This study sought to accomplish two key goals: 1) to evaluate and contrast the responses of blood pressure (BP), HR, and RPP following ten sessions of low-impact dance aerobics in African Canadian and South Asian cardiac patients, and 2) to assess the degree of health improvements within these demographic groups.
Methods: 160 patients, divided evenly between African Canadians and South Asians, all with hypertension or associated conditions, were encouraged to participate in 10 exercise sessions. A range of variables were recorded before and after the exercise sessions. Subsequently, a multitude of statistical methodologies were leveraged to dissect the collected data.
Results: The study unveiled substantial differences in SBP and HR (p < 0.05) between the two groups both prior to and after the exercise sessions, although the shifts in RPP (p > 0.05) did not yield statistical significance. Improvements were also observed in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP) measurements from the baseline to the point after exercise.
Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated enhancements in BP and various cardiovascular functionalities following exercise in African Canadian and South Asian participants. These results underline the importance of acknowledging the nuanced variances in BP and RPP responses to exercise across different ethnicities. This understanding allows pinpointing specific groups predisposed to a heightened risk of severe cardiovascular ailments. Tailored exercise interventions can then be formulated to cater to these particular groups' needs, thereby contributing to the overall reduction of the cardiovascular disease burden.
Study the Impact of Fuel Cell Integration in Hybrid Autonomous Systems on Technical-Economic Performance
Authors: BAYOUD Mebarka , GHOUDELBOURK Sihem , BOUZIDI Belgacem Mohamed Nassim
Published: April 2024

Renewable resources are increasingly acknowledged as a crucial solution to address escalating energy demands and combat heightened greenhouse gas emissions within conventional energy systems. This research delves into the techno-economic feasibility of incorporating fuel cell systems into stand-alone hybrid systems tailored to electrify a community load situated in Annaba, northeastern Algeria. This load averages 6.9 kW of power and requires 165.59 kWh/day annually. Employing HOMER software, a comprehensive comparative analysis of four distinct hybrid power system configurations—namely PV/BAT, PV/BAT/DG, PV/BAT/FC, and PV/BAT/FC/DG—was conducted to pinpoint the most optimal solution in meeting energy demands. Parameters such as net present cost, energy cost, energy surplus, load satisfaction, and CO2 emissions were considered. Additionally, the study addressed the environmental impact and evaluated the impact of varying storage battery fleet sizes on the total cost of the power system. Among the configurations scrutinized, the PV/BAT/FC/DG hybrid system emerged as the most favorable option, striking a well-balanced compromise between PV penetration efficiency, energy cost, and system stability. Moreover, the findings highlight the benefits of integrating fuel cell technology into the hybrid system, including minimizing excess energy, reducing the necessity for DG interventions, and optimizing the size of the battery bank.
The Energetics of the 1998 Pacific Decadal Transition
Authors: Mauget Steven
Published: April 2024

To trace the energetics of the 1998 shift in Pacific decadal variability (PDV), monthly ocean assimilation, atmospheric reanalysis, and satellite-derived cloud cover and radiative data was analyzed. Data during 1980-2021 showed evidence of the Pacific Walker circulation abruptly forcing the equatorial Pacific Ocean into a persistently elevated energy state after 1998. This occurred as a step-like shift to stronger trade winds, positive SOI, and increased central equatorial Pacific (CEP) 500 mb subsidence (w500), accompanied by a significant 25% increase in mean equatorial Pacific oceanic available potential energy (OAPE). Covarying (|r| > 0.6) CEP w500, fractional cloud cover, top-of-atmosphere albedo, and surface short-wave absorbed radiative energy (SWARS) indicate a control of CEP Walker subsidence on CEP SWARS via a subsidence-albedo effect. Similarly correlated CEP SWARS and OAPE (r = 0.670), and a 71 exa Joule (eJ) increase in mean CEP SWARS after 1998 that is two orders of magnitude greater than the increase in mean OAPE (0.507 eJ), suggests the post-1998 strong Walker PDV phase was radiatively driven. Together, this is interpreted as evidence of a positive Walker radiative-dynamic feedback over the equatorial Pacific after 1998. The 1998 shift’s circumstances suggest the influence of persistent 1998-2001 La Niña conditions in tipping PDV from a climatically weak-Walker phase to a strong-Walker phase. Based on these results, and previous work that studied the 1976-1977 PDV transition, a preliminary hypothesis is proposed of PDV as a bi-stable radiative climate mechanism governed by Walker-driven subsidence-albedo variation and ENSO-related tipping events.
Determinants of Low Fifth Minute Apgar Score among Newborn Delivered at health facilities in Ethiopia,systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Anagaw Tadele Fentabel , Fenta Eneyew Talie , Adal Ousman , Tareke Abiyu Abadi , Kebede Natnael , Delie Amare Mebrat , Bogale Eyob Ketema
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Apgar score is the most consistently used measure of neonatal health and it provides an accepted and convenient method for reporting the status of newborn infants in the few minutes after birth. Apgar score at 5th minute are better predictor neonatal survival. There is no evidence on pooled magnitude and determinant factors associated with low 5th minute Apgar score among newborns delivered in Ethiopia.Objective This review aimed to estimate the pooled magnitude and associated factors with low 5th minute Apgar score among newborns delivered at health facilities of EthiopiaMethod Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist guideline was followed for this review and meta-analysis. Electronic data base (PubMed, EMBASE, Midline, Cochrane library, Web of science, Google scholar and Science direct) were used to retrieve studies. Data were extracted using Microsoft Excel and analyzed using STATA version 17. Publication bias was checked by funnel plot, Beggs and Egger’s regression test. Pooled analysis was conducted using a weighted inverse variance of random effect model. Subgroup and sensitivity analysis was done.Result Nine papers were included from the total of 1982 articles that were retrieved using various electronic databases in order to determine the aggregate magnitude of low five-minute APGAR scores. A total of 23% (95% CI 16–30) of newborns delivered at Ethiopian health facilities had a low 5-minute APGAR score. Factors associated with low Apgar score were Skin incision time > 3 minutes (AOR:4.76,95%CI:1.28–8.25),gestational hypertension (AOR = 5.71, 95%CI: 0.89–10.53), birth weight < 2500 gram (AOR:4.82,95%CI:3.72–5.91) ,induced/augmented labor (AOR:3.21, 95%CI:2.27–4.15),meconium-stained liquor (AOR: 5.36,95%CI: 3.45–7.27), Presentation of fetus non vertex (AOR:3.15,95% CI:1.31–5.01), no ANC follow up (AOR:11.46,95%CI: 3.94–18.97), cesarean section delivery(AOR:15.98,95%CI:14.76–17.22),APH/PPH (AOR:8.92,95%CI:7.87–9.98),and Prolonged labor duration > 24hours (AOR:13.92,95%CI:10.95-16).Conclusion This review revealed that approximately 3 in 10 newborns delivered at health facilities of Ethiopia had low 5th minute Apgar score. Therefore, Comprehensive intervention including enhancing ANC follow up, early identification danger sign and complication of pregnancy and nutritional coursing were recommended for healthcare workers and concerned stakeholders working on maternal, newborn, and child healthcare.
A semi-classical Floquet-NEGF approach to model photon-assisted tunneling in quantum-well devices
Authors: De Sutter Nathan , Vanderstraeten Emile , Ginste Dries Vande
Published: April 2024

The non-equilibrium Green’s function formalism is often employed to model photon-assisted tunneling processes in opto-electronic quantum well devices. For this purpose, self-consistent schemes based on a quantum electrodynamical description of light-matter interactions have been proposed before. However, these schemes are typically computationally very demanding. Therefore, in this work, a novel semi-classical method based on Floquet-Green theory is proposed, which strongly mitigates the computational costs. By comparison to results obtained with a traditional, purely quantum mechanical technique, the new approach is validated and shown to be faster and exhibits superior convergence properties. Finally, a two-band model for superlattice structures is constructed to further illustrate the advantages of the novel, advocated method.
Forest Bathing and the Mental Health of Medical Students
Authors: Mazzarino Jane M. , Périco Eduardo , Both Maria Eduarda Stefani , Agostinetto Airton
Published: April 2024

Introducion: The Shinrin-yoku exercise or forest bath is an oriental therapeutic technique for human interaction with nature. Through this practice, it is possible to obtain benefits for both the physical and mental health of the individual. Due to the growing pressure related to the need to improve performance, the academic community has gradually been experiencing adversities regarding their mental health, especially medical students, who have grueling study days in a highly competitive environment.
Objectivo: Thus, the objective of this article is to evaluate the mood states of these students before and after the forest bathing technique, using the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS).
Method: The participants, medical students who were in their first and fourth semesters of graduation, were tested in terms of sex, semester and yoga practice.
Results: After the forest bathing sessions, the positive mood indicator (vigor) increased, while the negative indicators (tension, confusion, fatigue, depression and anger) decreased significantly (p < 0.001), pointing to positive aspects of this practice. With regard to gender, girls were more confused, and there were no differences related to yoga practice.
Model the effect of different Hole Transport Inorganic materials on performance of perovskite solar cells
Authors: Eisa Altaib , Abdalla Taha. A. , Ahmed Amel. A.
Published: April 2024

Effect of different Hole transport material inorganic materials on performance of perovskite solar cells is investigated using Comsol Multiphysics by solving the Helmholtz equation derived from Maxwell’s equation. The study aims to highlight the change in perovskite solar cell performance caused by using different kinds of inorganics materials as hole transporting materials such as (MoO_3 ,Cu_2 O ,CuI ,CuSCN ,NiO_x). The J -V characteristics for different inorganic materials as hole transporting materials are simulated. The simulation results show that perovskite solar cells based on MoO_3 as hole transporting materials has higher Voc , better fill factor (FF) and an overall power conversion efficiency (18.15%). While, CuSCN has the lowest efficiency 10.34 % due to the high potential barrier faced by hole transporting materials in CuSCN/CH3 NH3 PbI3 interface. Thus, inserting MoO_3 in perovskite solar cell design may possibly be considered as novel designing for future perovskite solar cells.
A Machine Learning Algorithm for the Detection of Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria (PNH) in UK Primary Care Electronic Health Records
Authors: Worker Amanda , Mahon Hadley , Sams Jack , Boardman-Pretty Freya , Marchini Elena , Dubis Rand , Warren Alan , Varones Liz , Ollerenshaw Daniel , Grant Calum , Fish Peter , Kelly Richard J
Published: April 2024

Background Paroxysmal Nocturnal Haemoglobinuria (PNH) is an ultra rare acquired clonal haematopoietic disorder. It is difficult to diagnose due to a variety of common symptoms, heterogeneity between patients and lack of awareness and recognition in primary care settings. As a result many PNH patients experience a long diagnostic odyssey and misdiagnoses. To improve diagnostic rates, this study aimed to develop a machine learning-based clinical case-finding tool which identifies patients at high risk of having undiagnosed PNH.Methods The study uses data from the Optimum Patient Care Research Database, which contains electronic health records from general practitioner (GP) practices across the United Kingdom. A PNH group was identified as records with an existing code for a PNH diagnosis and non-PNH patients were identified as records without an existing code for a PNH diagnosis. Clinically driven features including symptoms, diagnoses, healthcare utilisation and exclusionary features, from 131 PNH patients and 593,838 non-PNH patients, were inputted to a tree-based XGBoost machine learning model to classify patients.Results 60.4% of cases classified as positive by the final model were PNH cases (positive predictive value) and 27% of PNH cases were correctly classified (recall) and specificity was 99.9%. The adjusted positive predictive value (PPV) was 19.59 and can be interpreted as nearly 1 in 5 cases flagged by the algorithm may be confirmed as PNH. The five most important clinical features in the model were aplastic anaemia, pancytopenia, haemolytic anaemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, and Budd-Chiari. Other features that contribute as top features in the model are haematology referrals, urology referrals, and haptoglobin tests.Conclusion This is the first study to combine expert understanding of the clinical presentation of PNH with machine learning to develop a clinically-useful algorithm which uses real-world electronic health records to identify possible undiagnosed PNH patients. This algorithm has the potential to expedite diagnosis of PNH and improve outcomes for both patients and clinicians.
Epidemiological Parameters of Clostridiodes difficile Acquisition and Transmission for Mathematical Modeling: a Systematic Review
Authors: Olufadewa Isaac , West Hal , Latimer Harrison , Chen Shi
Published: April 2024

Clostridiodes difficile infections (CDI) are a major threat to patient, healthcare providers, and public health with approximately half a million cases and 30,000 deaths reported annually in the United States (Lessa et al 2015; Zhang et al 2021). CDI, which is one of the most common HAIs, has had multiple major outbreaks in the US and internationally (Bartlett et al 2006; Lakkasani et al 2020) at various periods and in a wide range of settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, and intensive care units. C.difficile is an endospore-forming bacterium that is primarily transmitted through the fecal-oral route. CDI is the leading cause of infectious diarrhea which can be mild to severe in severity. It can also be life-threatening requiring surgery (Lawson et al 2016; Stewart & Hollenbeak, 2011). In 2019, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2019 Antimicrobial Resistance Threat Report designated CDI as one of the major five urgent threats to public health and it was estimated to contribute an economic burden of over 1 billion US dollars in healthcare cost in the U.S. (CDC, 2019).
The value and need for more open and FAIR data sharing to bolster biodiversity conservation in Southeast Asia
Authors: Tanalgo Krizler
Published: April 2024

The tropical Southeast Asian region, with its unique geographical characteristics and features, is home to a multitude of distinct species found in 11 nations. However, the availability of biodiversity data for several taxonomic groups remains unclear. In this study, I examined 17,126,598 occurrence records from Southeast Asia in the GBIF database to compare species data turnover in the region and compare them based on taxonomic groups. The analysis revealed significant disparities in data availability and usage between countries and taxonomic groups within SEA using GBIF. Moreover, there were weak and no correlations among species occurrence records, country size, and GDP. Based on my research, I would argue for a more concerted effort to incorporate and implement FAIR data-sharing approaches in biodiversity research in Southeast Asia. This should become a standard in the scientific community and be integrated into existing biodiversity agendas and frameworks, especially for funded research projects. This will enable a better understanding of biodiversity patterns and will facilitate the development of effective conservation strategies in Southeast Asia. This adaptive management approach is critical for responding to emerging threats and ensuring the long-term sustainability of conservation efforts. In conclusion, these initiatives play a crucial role in enhancing biodiversity conservation in SEA by promoting access to information, fostering collaboration, enabling evidence-based decision-making, engaging local communities, and supporting adaptive management practices.
Ornamental Plant and Weed Response to Oxyfluorfen Plus Prodiamine
Authors: Aulakh Jatinder S. , Witcher Anthony , Kumar Vipan
Published: April 2024

Ornamental plant and weed response to oxyfluorfen + prodiamine herbicide was evaluated in Connecticut and Tennessee, USA, in 2017 and 2018. Preemergence application of oxyfluorfen + prodiamine was made at 0 lb/acre, 2 + 0.75 lb/acre, 4 + 1.5 lb/acre, and 8 + 3 lb/acre to container-grown ornamental plants on an outdoor gravel pad and weeds in greenhouse experiments. Ornamental plants were treated first within a week after transplanting and again 6 weeks after the first treatment. Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum), candlestick plant (Senna alata), and English ivy (Hedera helix) in Tennessee, USA; and ‘Blue Flag’ iris (Iris sp.), ‘Firecracker’ gladiolus (Gladiolus sp.), and ‘Green Carpet’ Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis) in Connecticut, USA, were not injured with oxyfluorfen + prodiamine regardless of rate applied. Lily-of-the-Nile (Agapanthus africanus) in Tennessee, USA, and ‘Bowles’ periwinkle (Vinca minor) in Connecticut, USA, showed minor but commercially acceptable growth reduction with oxyfluorfen + prodiamine up to 4 + 1.5 lb/acre. Shasta daisy (Leucanthemum ×superbum) in Connecticut, USA, was the most sensitive ornamental plant. After the first application, average necrotic injury to Shasta daisy varied from 24% with 2 + 0.75 lb/acre to 31% with 8 + 3 lb/acre of oxyfluorfen + prodiamine. After the second application, necrotic injury was ≤ 5% with all oxyfluorfen + prodiamine rates tested and was commercially acceptable (≤ 20%). Oxyfluorfen + prodiamine reduced densities of creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata), hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta), giant foxtail (Setaria faberi), and large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis) ≥ 80% by 4 weeks after treatment. The fresh weed biomass 6 weeks after treatment indicated an 88% to 99% reduction compared with the untreated control.