bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Treatment with GLP1 Receptor Agonists, Liraglutide 3.0 mg and Semaglutide 1.0 mg, While on a Waiting List for Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Rubio-Herrera Miguel A. , Mera-Carreiro Sara , Sánchez-Pernaute Andrés , Ramos-Levi Ana M.
Published: October 2023

Background: Weight loss before undergoing metabolic and bariatric surgery (MBS) has been suggested to reduce perioperative complications, although with controversial results. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of treatment with GLP1-R agonists (liraglutide 3.0 mg and semaglutide 1.0 mg) on preoperative weight loss and patients’ decisions regarding MBS while on a surgical waiting list. Materials and methods: One hundred and two patients on a waiting list for MBS started treatment with GLP1-RA for at least 6 months. Changes in weight at 26 and 52 weeks, the number of patients achieving >5% weight loss, and patients’ decisions regarding MBS were evaluated. Results: After 52 weeks, patients lost 16.9 ± 7.2% of weight with semaglutide 1.0 mg and 16.1 ± 5.8% of weight with liraglutide 3.0 mg. All patients lost ≥5% of initial weight, 84.7% lost ≥10%, 54.6% lost ≥15%, and 27.5% reached ≥20%. A total of 68.6% of participants were satisfied with the achieved weight loss and withdrew from the waiting list for MBS. A threshold of >15.1% weight loss had the greatest sensitivity and specificity for the final decision regarding undergoing MBS. Conclusions: Losing >15% of initial weight after 52 weeks of treatment with liraglutide 3.0 mg or semaglutide 1.0 mg during the waiting list for MBS impacts patients’ decisions regarding the final acceptance or rejection of the procedure.
A Systematic Review of Clinical Practice Guidelines for Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
Authors: Wei Zoe , Gilbert Yasmin , Thananjeyan Arabhi , Cope James , Morton Rachael L. , Li Annie , Pham Cecile T. , Ward Meredith , Oei Ju Lee
Published: October 2023

Background: The prevalence of neonatal abstinence syndrome is increasing, but the number and quality of clinical practice guidelines available are unknown. This systematic review aimed to identify, appraise and evaluate clinical practice guidelines for neonatal abstinence syndrome. Methods: A systematic search of databases and the grey literature was conducted between 1 June and 1 July 2022. Full-text guidelines published by national or state-wide institutions were included. The recommendations from each guideline were extracted. The AGREE-II instrument was used to assess guideline quality. Sufficient-quality scores were defined as >60 and good-quality scores were >80 for each domain of AGREE-II. Results: A total of 1703 records were identified, and 22 guidelines from the United States, Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, published between 2012 to 2021, were included. The quality scores were low, with median scores of 37/100 for stakeholder involvement, 33/100 for methodology, 34/100 for applicability and 0 for editorial independence. Scope and purpose scored 72/100, and presentation scored 85/100. Sixteen (73%) guidelines did not meet the cut-offs for clinical use. Conclusion: Many guidelines were of insufficient quality to guide clinical practice for neonatal abstinence syndrome. This emphasises the need for high-quality studies to inform clinical practice guidelines, improve care and reduce the risk of poor outcomes in these high-risk infants.
Utilization of Plastic Waste in Road Paver Blocks as a Construction Material
Authors: Agrawal Rajat , Singh Suraj Kumar , Singh Saurabh , Prajapat Deepak Kumar , Sudhanshu Sharma , Kumar Sujeet , Đurin Bojan , Šrajbek Marko , Gilja Gordon
Published: October 2023

India is confronted with the substantial issue of plastic debris due to the absence of an efficient waste management infrastructure. Recycled plastic has the potential to enhance various construction materials, such as roofing tiles, paving blocks, and insulation. The aforementioned materials possess notable attributes such as high strength, low weight, and exceptional resistance to extreme temperatures and humidity. The objective of this study is to ascertain feasible alternatives for manufacturing road paver blocks utilizing plastic waste (Polyethene terephthalate (PET)), and M-sand (stone dust). Three variations of a discarded plastic cube measuring 150 mm × 150 mm × 150 mm were prepared for the experiment. The experimental findings indicated that a ratio of 1:4 was determined to be the most effective in achieving the desired level of compressive strength. I-section road and brick paver blocks were produced as an alternative to the traditional concrete ones. Compressive strength tests were performed on I-sections and brick paver blocks, revealing that the 1:4 mix ratio exhibited the highest average compressive strength for both materials. The findings indicated that including plastic waste positively impacted the compressive strength of the I-sections and brick paver blocks. Additionally, the quality grading of these materials was evaluated using an ultrasonic pulse velocity test. The ultrasonic pulse velocity test results demonstrated a high-quality grading for the I-sections and brick paver blocks. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) tests assessed the microstructural behavior and performance. The results of this study demonstrate that incorporating plastic waste in combination with M-sand can effectively improve the mechanical characteristics of composite materials, rendering them viable for use in construction-related purposes.
Heterogeneous Drone Small Cells: Optimal 3D Placement for Downlink Power Efficiency and Rate Satisfaction
Authors: Namvar Nima , Afghah Fatemeh , Guvenc Ismail
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we delve into the domain of heterogeneous drone-enabled aerial base stations, each equipped with varying transmit powers, serving as downlink wireless providers for ground users. A central challenge lies in strategically selecting and deploying a subset from the available drone base stations (DBSs) to meet the downlink data rate requirements while minimizing the overall power consumption. To tackle this, we formulate an optimization problem to identify the optimal subset of DBSs, ensuring wireless coverage with an acceptable transmission rate in the downlink path. Moreover, we determine their 3D positions for power consumption optimization. Assuming DBSs operate within the same frequency band, we introduce an innovative, computationally efficient beamforming method to mitigate intercell interference in the downlink. We propose a Kalai–Smorodinsky bargaining solution to establish the optimal beamforming strategy, compensating for interference-related impairments. Our simulation results underscore the efficacy of our solution and offer valuable insights into the performance intricacies of heterogeneous drone-based small-cell networks.
The Classical Action as a Tool to Visualise the Phase Space of Hamiltonian Systems
Authors: Gonzalez Montoya Francisco
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we analyse the classical action as a tool to reveal the phase space structure of Hamiltonian systems simply and intuitively. We construct a scalar field using the values of the action along the trajectories to analyse the phase space. The different behaviours of the trajectories around important geometrical objects like normally hyperbolic invariant manifolds, their stable and unstable manifolds, and KAM structures generate characteristic patterns in the scalar field generated by the action. Also, we present a simple argument based on the conservation of energy and the behaviour of the trajectories to understand the origin of the patterns in this scalar field. As examples, we study the phase space of open Hamiltonian systems with two and three degrees of freedom.
High-Titer Bioethanol Production from Steam-Exploded Corn Stover Using an Engineering Saccharomyces cerevisiae Strain with High Inhibitor Tolerance
Authors: Wu Yilu , Su Changsheng , Zhang Gege , Liao Zicheng , Wen Jieyi , Wang Yankun , Jiang Yongjie , Zhang Changwei , Cai Di
Published: October 2023

Bioethanol is an important biofuel which can be produced from the abundant low-value lignocelluloses. However, the highly toxic inhibitory compounds formed in the hydrolysate and the ineffective utilization of xylose as a co-substrate are the primarily bottlenecks that hinder the commercialization of lignocellulosic bioethanol. In this study, aiming to properly solve the above obstacles, an engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain was constructed by introducing the xylose reductase (XR)–xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) pathway, overexpressing the non-oxidized pentose phosphate pathway, and deleting aldose reductase GRE3 and alkaline phosphatase PHO13 using a GTR-CRISPR system, followed by adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE). After screening, the isolated S. cerevisiae YL13-2 mutant was capable of robust xylose-utilizing, and exhibited high tolerance to the inhibitors in undetoxified steam-exploded corn stover hydrolysate (SECSH). An ethanol concentration of 22.96 g/L with a yield of 0.454 g/g can be obtained at the end of batch fermentation when using SECSH as substrate without nutrient supplementation. Moreover, aiming to simplify the downstream process and reduce the energy required in bioethanol production, fermentation using fed-batch hydrolyzed SECSH containing higher titer sugars with a YL13-2 strain was also investigated. As expect, a higher concentration of ethanol (51.12 g/L) was received, with an average productivity and yield of 0.71 g/L h and 0.436 g/g, respectively. The findings of this research provide an effective method for the production of bioethanol from lignocellulose, and could be used in large-scale applications in future works.
Metal–Organic Framework Gels for Adsorption and Catalytic Detoxification of Chemical Warfare Agents: A Review
Authors: Zhang Ye , Tao Cheng-An
Published: October 2023

Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) have brought great threats to human life and social stability, and it is critical to investigate protective materials. MOF (metal–organic framework) gels are a class with an extended MOF architecture that are mainly formed using metal–ligand coordination as an effective force to drive gelation, and these gels combine the unique characteristics of MOFs and organic gel materials. They have the advantages of a hierarchically porous structure, a large specific surface area, machinable block structures and rich metal active sites, which inherently meet the requirements for adsorption and catalytic detoxification of CWAs. A series of advances have been made in the adsorption and catalytic detoxification of MOF gels as chemical warfare agents; however, overall, they are still in their infancy. This review briefly introduces the latest advances in MOF gels, including pure MOF gels and MOF composite gels, and discusses the application of MOF gels in the adsorption and catalytic detoxification of CWAs. Meanwhile, the influence of microstructures (pore structures, metal active site, etc.) on the detoxification performance of protective materials is also discussed, which is of great significance in the exploration of high-efficiency protective materials. Finally, the review looks ahead to next priorities. Hopefully, this review can inspire more and more researchers to enrich the performance of MOF gels for applications in chemical protection and other purification and detoxification processes.
Applying a Geographic Information System and Other Open-Source Software to Geological Mapping and Modeling: History and Case Studies
Authors: De Donatis Mauro , Pappafico Giulio Fabrizio
Published: October 2023

Open-source software applications, especially those useful for GIS, have been used in the field of geology both in research and teaching at the University of Urbino for decades. The experiences described in this article range from land-surveying cases to cartographic processing and 3D printing of geological models. History of their use and development is punctuated by trials, failures, and slowdowns, but the idea of using digital tools in areas where they are traditionally frowned upon, such as in soil geology, is now rooted in and validated by applications in projects of various types. Although the current situation is not definitive, given that the evolution of information technology provides increasingly faster tools that are performance-oriented and easier to use, this article aims to contribute to the development of methodologies through an exchange of information and experiences.
Effects of Infection Control Education Program Using Flipped Learning Based on the ARCS Model for Nursing Students: A Mixed Method
Authors: Jeong Dain , Park Chang , Eun Young
Published: October 2023

This study was conducted to verify the effect of an infection control education program, using flipped learning based on the ARCS model, for nursing students. The study was a mixed-method study, composed of a nonequivalent control group, a pretest-posttest design, and focus group interviews. The total number of participants was 37, with 18 in the experimental group and 19 in the control group. The mean age of the participants was 24.32 ± 5.60 years, consisting of three males (8.1%) and thirty-four females (91.9%). The collected data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects method. The data regarding experiences of participation were analyzed using conventional content analysis. The experimental group had a higher degree of learning motivation, self-directed learning ability, and confidence in infection control practice than the control group. In the results of the focus group interviews, the themes were derived from ‘Engaging learning experience, although difficult, in new ways of learning’. It was confirmed that the infection control education program, using flipped learning based on the ARCS model, was an effective intervention for improving nursing students’ self-directed learning ability. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to use the educational program developed in this study for infection control education for nursing students and new nurses.
Exogenous Application of Coconut Water to Promote Growth and Increase the Yield, Bioactive Compounds, and Antioxidant Activity for Hericium erinaceus Cultivation
Authors: Chutimanukul Preuk , Sukdee Siripong , Prajuabjinda Onmanee , Thepsilvisut Ornprapa , Panthong Sumalee , Ehara Hiroshi , Chutimanukul Panita
Published: October 2023

Hericium erinaceus (Bull.:Fr) Pers. is a medicinal mushroom that has various health benefits and is a rich source of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity. In recent years, H. erinaceus has been considered for its many medicinal properties and is widely consumed in Asian countries. This work aimed to explore the potential improvement of coconut water utilization in order to promote growth and increase the yield, as well as the enhancement of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of H. erinaceus. The application of coconut water at a concentration of 20% (v/v) resulted in the optimal development and production of H. erinaceus. In terms of biological efficiency, it was demonstrated that the 22.09% increase over the control treatment resulted in a higher yield. Moreover, H. erinaceus cultivated from coconut water intake at all concentrations resulted in higher protein content. Additionally, bioactive compounds such as total triterpenoid content and total phenolic content of H. erinaceus were 67.87–89.24 mg Urs/g DW and 16.62–17.39 mg GAE/g DW, respectively, while H. erinaceus grown on a control treatment had the lowest at 56.84 mg Urs/g DW and 14.42 mg GAE/g DW, respectively. Applying coconut water at all concentrations resulted in H. erinaceus IC50 values of 0.58–0.69 mg/mL exhibiting higher DPPH activities than those grown on control treatment IC50 value of 0.77 mg/mL. Therefore, this finding of the study indicated that the utilization of coconut water as a therapy resulted in a significant enhancement in the development, production, and bioactive compounds of H. erinaceus, in comparison to the control treatment.
Construction of Watermelon Mutant Library Based on 60Co γ-ray Irradiation and EMS Treatment for Germplasm Innovation
Authors: Yin Lijuan , Hou Yinjie , Chen Xiaoyao , Huang Xin , Feng Mengjiao , Wang Chunxia , Wang Zhongyuan , Yue Zhen , Zhang Yong , Ma Jianxiang , Li Hao , Yang Jianqiang , Zhang Xian , Yu Rong , Wei Chunhua
Published: October 2023

Watermelon is a crucial horticultural crop worldwide but its genetic base has become extremely narrow owing to long-term cultivation. Induced mutagenesis can create a range of variations with distinctive agricultural characteristics. To broaden the genetic diversity of watermelon, we established a mutagenesis library containing over 4000 M1 seeds from an inbred line ‘M08’, which was irradiated by 350 Gy of 60Co γ-rays for 3 h. The rates of germination, emergence, and survival of the M1 seeds were reduced by 5.88%, 18.66%, and 41.96%, respectively. After phenotypic screening, 20 and 10 types of morphological changes were observed in the M1 and M2 generations, with approximately 10.57% and 14.17% mutation frequencies, respectively. Six mutants with desirable horticultural alterations were selected for additional presentation, including the leaf color mutant C1-NO.1, the yellow peel mutant C1-NO.2, the pericarp thickening mutant C1-NO.3, the pericarp thinning mutant C1-NO.4, the seedless mutant C1-NO.5, and the C2-No.1 mutant with normal female flowers and malformed male flowers. Moreover, the three mutants M1-3, M2-1, and M1-5 were identified from our EMS-induced M2 library, exhibiting the fusiform fruit, the dark green peel, and the yellow leaves, respectively. Compared to the wild type (WT), the photosynthetic pigments and parameters were negatively impacted in the yellow-leaf mutant M1-5. For example, the total chlorophyll was 1.22 and 2.22 mg/g in the young and mature leaves of M1-5, respectively, which were significantly lower than those in the WT (2.58 and 2.90 mg/g, respectively). Notably, some mutagenesis phenotypes could be stably inherited, including traits such as yellow leaf color, fusiform fruit shape, and thickening and thinning pericarp. Taken together, these results indicate that these two mutant libraries serve as essential resources to discover new phenotypic germplasms, thereby facilitating the genetic breeding and functional gene exploration in watermelon.
The Effect of Electrolytes on the Kinetics of the Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Gebremariam Goitom K. , Jovanović Aleksandar Z. , Pašti Igor A.
Published: October 2023

Amid global energy challenges, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is gaining traction for green hydrogen production. While catalyst research is ongoing, recognizing electrolyte effects remains crucial for sustainable hydrogen production via renewable-powered water electrolysis. This review delves into the intricate effects of electrolytes on the kinetics of the HER. It examines key factors including the pH, cations, anions, impurities, and electrolyte concentration. This review discusses the notion that the electrolyte pH alters catalyst–electrolyte interactions and proton concentrations, thereby influencing factors such as the hydrogen binding energy, water adsorption, and overall reaction kinetics. Moreover, this review provides a briefing on the notion that electrolyte cations such as Li+ can impact the HER positively or negatively, offering opportunities for improvement based on the metal substrate. Interestingly, there is a potential that the HER can be tuned using Li+ ions to modify the M–H bond energy, demonstrating a flexibility beyond the pH levels and counter-ions. The varied adsorption energies of metal cations on metal electrodes are also found to influence the HER kinetics. The effects of electrolyte anions and impurities are also discussed, emphasizing both the positive and negative impacts on HER kinetics. Moreover, it is pointed out that the electrolyte-engineering approach enhances the HER kinetics without permanent catalyst surface modifications. This review underscores the importance of the electrolyte composition, highlighting both the challenges and potential solutions in advancing HER research for sustainable energy production.
Proton-Conducting Ceramic Membranes for the Production of Hydrogen via Decarbonized Heat: Overview and Prospects
Authors: Buonomenna Maria Giovanna
Published: October 2023

Proton-conducting ceramic membranes show high hydrogen ion conductivity in the temperature range of 300–700 °C. They are attracting significant attention due to their relevant characteristics compared to both higher-temperature oxygen ion-conducting ceramic membranes and lower-temperature proton-conducting polymers. The aim of this review is to integrate the fundamentals of proton-conducting ceramic membranes with two of their relevant applications, i.e., membrane reactors (PCMRs) for methane steam reforming (SMR) and electrolysis (PCEC). Both applications facilitate the production of pure H2 in the logic of process intensification via decarbonized heat. Firstly, an overview of various types of hydrogen production is given. The fundamentals of proton-conducting ceramic membranes and their applications in PCMRs for SMR and reversible PCEC (RePCEC), respectively, are given. In particular, RePCECs are of particular interest when renewable power generation exceeds demand because the excess electrical energy is converted to chemical energy in the electrolysis cell mode, therefore representing an appealing solution for energy conversion and grid-scale storage.
Solid State Phosphorescence Enhancement of PtII-Based Emitters via Combination of π-Hole(Isocyano Group)⋅⋅⋅ dz2[PtII] and I···Cl Halogen-Bonding Interactions
Authors: Katkova Svetlana A. , Antonova Elina V. , Cheranyova Anna M. , Ivanov Daniil M. , Kinzhalov Mikhail A.
Published: October 2023

The PtII isocyanide complex [Pt(ppy)Cl(CNC6H4-C≡C-Ph)] (1, Hppy=2-phenylpyridine) was co-crystallized with 1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene (1,4-DITFB), yielding 1·½(1,4-DITFB) adduct. The I···Cl halogen-bonding and π-π-stacking interactions combined with the rare π-hole(isocyano group)⋅⋅⋅dz2[PtII] interactions were identified via analysis of X-ray diffraction data of the co-crystals. These two types of structure-determining interactions supplemented each other, and the system of I⋯Cl and π-hole(isocyano group)⋅⋅⋅dz2[PtII] contacts achieved a 1D extended ladder-type architecture. The density functional theory calculations, employing a set of computational tools, verified the role of I⋯Cl and π-hole(isocyano group)⋅⋅⋅dz2[PtII] noncovalent bonds in the spectrum of noncovalent forces. The solid-state photophysical study revealed an amplification of luminescence intensity in the co-crystals, which is attributed to the suppression of the nonradiative relaxation pathways due to an increase in the rigidity of the chromophore center.
The Intra-Ply Shear Behaviour of Non-Isothermal Thermoplastic Composite Laminates
Authors: Street George E. , Johnson Michael S.
Published: October 2023

During the thermoforming of fibre-reinforced thermoplastic (FRTP) organosheets, the desire to minimise tool temperatures leads to non-isothermal temperature profiles through the laminate thickness. The aim of this study was to understand the influence of these non-isothermal conditions on FRTP intra-ply shearing. Novel non-isothermal bias extension tests were conducted, revealing that an average between the isothermal shear curves of both laminate faces approximately represented the respective non-isothermal condition. However, these findings were irrespective of FRTP thickness, and only applied to laminates that wholly remained above the crystallisation onset temperature. Upon the onset of crystallisation in a single ply, the non-isothermal shear resistance skewed heavily towards that (within 5%) of the crystallised ply and inhomogeneous shear angles were observed. Non-isothermal thermoforming validated these findings with the presence of wrinkles on non-isothermal hemispheres in which a single ply had reached crystallisation. This reaffirms the importance of accurate thermal monitoring during FRTP processing.
Excellent Hybrid Polyurethane-Graphite Filler Micro Powder as a Lightweight Structure
Authors: Nugroho Alvin Dio , Alandro Daffa , Herianto  , Jamasri  , Thirumalai Sundararajan , Nugraha Ariyana Dwiputra , Kusumawanto Arif , Prawara Budi , Muflikhun Muhammad Akhsin
Published: October 2023

Weight plays a significant role in the automotive and aerospace fields due to the demand of lightweight material structures. A lighter body in weight (BIW) and in structure can reduce fuel consumption, lessen emissions, and support the SDGs 9, 11, 12, and 13. Therefore, polyurethane (PU) foam is suitable for applications that require low weight. The characteristics of hybrid polyurethane-graphite micro were successfully evaluated in this study. Several tests have been used to characterize these structures, such as, compression, hardness, density, surface evaluation, and FTIR analysis. The results showed that the expansion and shrinkage variations lead to different shapes at specific ratios. Compression tests show that the highest value occurred at 0.84 kN, with a 4:1 ratio found in pure PU foam without any reinforcement. PU foam with 2% graphite filler showed the highest results at the 4:1 ratio with a value of 0.45 kN. Furthermore, the highest hardness test result was 37.7 SHD. Density testing indicates that the highest value is obtained from specimens with a 4:1 ratio of 0.077 g/cm3. FTIR testing reveals that adding graphite as a filler alters the chemical bonds during the formation of solid PU foam. Surface observations show that adding graphite as a filler influences the variation in material structure formation. All the evaluation has tended to conclude the present combination as suitable for lightweight structures applications.
Surface, but Not Age, Impacts Lower Limb Joint Work during Walking and Stair Ascent
Authors: Wenzel Thomas A. , Hunt Nicholas L. , Holcomb Amy E. , Fitzpatrick Clare K. , Brown Tyler N.
Published: October 2023

Older adults often suffer an accidental fall when navigating challenging surfaces during common locomotor tasks, such as walking and ascending stairs. This study examined the effect of slick and uneven surfaces on lower limb joint work in older and younger adults while walking and ascending stairs. Fifteen young (18–25 years) and 12 older (>65 years) adults had stance phase positive limb and joint work quantified during walking and stair ascent tasks on a normal, slick, and uneven surface, which was then submitted to a two-way mixed model ANOVA for analysis. The stair ascent required greater limb, and hip, knee, and ankle work than walking (all p < 0.001), with participants producing greater hip and knee work during both the walk and stair ascent (both p < 0.001). Surface, but not age, impacted positive limb work. Participants increased limb (p < 0.001), hip (p = 0.010), and knee (p < 0.001) positive work when walking over the challenging surfaces, and increased hip (p = 0.015), knee (p < 0.001), and ankle (p = 0.010) work when ascending stairs with challenging surfaces. Traversing a challenging surface during both walking and stair ascent tasks required greater work production from the large proximal hip and knee musculature, which may increase the likelihood of an accidental fall in older adults.
Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Delayed Onset Muscle Soreness (DOMS): Evidences from Laboratory and In-Field Studies
Authors: Gussoni Maristella , Moretti Sarah , Vezzoli Alessandra , Genitoni Valerio , Giardini Guido , Balestra Costantino , Bosco Gerardo , Pratali Lorenza , Spagnolo Elisabetta , Montorsi Michela , Mrakic-Sposta Simona
Published: October 2023

Intense, long exercise can increase oxidative stress, leading to higher levels of inflammatory mediators and muscle damage. At the same time, fatigue has been suggested as one of the factors giving rise to delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of a specific electrical stimulation (ES) treatment (without elicited muscular contraction) on two different scenarios: in the laboratory on eleven healthy volunteers (56.45 ± 4.87 years) after upper limbs eccentric exercise (Study 1) and in the field on fourteen ultra-endurance athletes (age 47.4 ± 10.2 year) after an ultra-running race (134 km, altitude difference of 10,970 m+) by lower exercising limbs (Study 2). Subjects were randomly assigned to two experimental tasks in cross-over: Active or Sham ES treatments. The ES efficacy was assessed by monitoring the oxy-inflammation status: Reactive Oxygen Species production, total antioxidant capacity, IL-6 cytokine levels, and lactate with micro-invasive measurements (capillary blood, urine) and scales for fatigue and recovery assessments. No significant differences (p > 0.05) were found in the time course of recovery and/or pre–post-race between Sham and Active groups in both study conditions. A subjective positive role of sham stimulation (VAS scores for muscle pain assessment) was reported. In conclusion, the effectiveness of ES in treating DOMS and its effects on muscle recovery remain still unclear.
Unlocking the Power of Gesture: Using Movement-Based Instruction to Improve First Grade Children’s Spatial Unit Misconceptions
Authors: Congdon Eliza L. , Levine Susan C.
Published: October 2023

Gestures are hand movements that are produced simultaneously with spoken language and can supplement it by representing semantic information, emphasizing important points, or showing spatial locations and relations. Gestures’ specific features make them a promising tool to improve spatial thinking. Yet, there is recent work showing that not all learners benefit equally from gesture instruction and that this may be driven, in part, by children’s difficulty understanding what an instructor’s gesture is intended to represent. The current study directly compares instruction with gestures to instruction with plastic unit chips (Action) in a linear measurement learning paradigm aimed at teaching children the concept of spatial units. Some children performed only one type of movement, and some children performed both: Action-then-Gesture [AG] or Gesture-then-Action [GA]. Children learned most from the Gesture-then-Action [GA] and Action only [A] training conditions. After controlling for initial differences in learning, the gesture-then-action condition outperformed all three other training conditions on a transfer task. While gesture is cognitively challenging for some learners, that challenge may be desirable—immediately following gesture with a concrete representation to clarify that gesture’s meaning is an especially effective way to unlock the power of this spatial tool and lead to deep, generalizable learning.
Modulating Visuomotor Sequence Learning by Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation: What Do We Know So Far?
Authors: Szücs-Bencze Laura , Vékony Teodóra , Pesthy Orsolya , Szabó Nikoletta , Kincses Tamás Zsigmond , Turi Zsolt , Nemeth Dezso
Published: October 2023

Predictive processes and numerous cognitive, motor, and social skills depend heavily on sequence learning. The visuomotor Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT) can measure this fundamental cognitive process. To comprehend the neural underpinnings of the SRTT, non-invasive brain stimulation stands out as one of the most effective methodologies. Nevertheless, a systematic list of considerations for the design of such interventional studies is currently lacking. To address this gap, this review aimed to investigate whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a viable method of modulating visuomotor sequence learning and to identify the factors that mediate its efficacy. We systematically analyzed the eligible records (n = 17) that attempted to modulate the performance of the SRTT with rTMS. The purpose of the analysis was to determine how the following factors affected SRTT performance: (1) stimulated brain regions, (2) rTMS protocols, (3) stimulated hemisphere, (4) timing of the stimulation, (5) SRTT sequence properties, and (6) other methodological features. The primary motor cortex (M1) and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) were found to be the most promising stimulation targets. Low-frequency protocols over M1 usually weaken performance, but the results are less consistent for the DLPFC. This review provides a comprehensive discussion about the behavioral effects of six factors that are crucial in designing future studies to modulate sequence learning with rTMS. Future studies may preferentially and synergistically combine functional neuroimaging with rTMS to adequately link the rTMS-induced network effects with behavioral findings, which are crucial to develop a unified cognitive model of visuomotor sequence learning.
Spatial Distribution and Genetic Diversity of Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus, Linnaeus, 1758) in Bulgarian Black Sea Waters Relative to Fishing Pressure and Their Abiotic Environment
Authors: Zlateva Ivelina , Ivanova Petya , Dzhembekova Nina , Doncheva Valentina , Popov Ivan , Slabakova Violeta , Raev Yordan , Raykov Violin , Dimitrov Dimitar
Published: October 2023

The present study examined the genetic diversity and spatial distribution of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), an economically important species on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling software Version 3.4.4. was utilized to develop a habitat suitability model for S. maximus in the Bulgarian Black Sea region. Data collected via demersal and pelagic surveys and genetic sampling from 2017 to 2021 were utilized to link species occurrence localities with selected abiotic factors. Our findings showed that the species’ habitat preferences are strongly influenced by temperature and dissolved oxygen, and projections based on simplified climatic scenarios indicated potential distribution shifts and a substantial reduction in reproduction habitats in the northern region. The assessment of genetic diversity was based on mtDNA COIII sequencing; MtDNA revealed a low level of polymorphism in all analyzed populations. The extensive fishing pressure may have increased the likelihood of genetic and population bottlenecks and a consequent decline in genetic diversity in the Shabla, Nesebar, and Tsarevo populations. The Tajima’s D values for the latter indicated that turbot underwent a bottleneck followed by rapid population expansion. Our findings are essential for the conservation and effective management of S. maximus stocks in the region.
Paradigm Shift: Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto as the Most Prevalent Candida Species Isolated from Bloodstream Infections with Increasing Azole-Non-Susceptibility Rates: Trends from 2015–2022 Survey
Authors: Franconi Iacopo , Rizzato Cosmeri , Tavanti Arianna , Falcone Marco , Lupetti Antonella
Published: October 2023

Candidemia is the fourth most common healthcare-related bloodstream infection. In recent years, incidence rates of Candida parapsilosis have been on the rise, with differences in prevalence and antifungal susceptibility between countries. The aim of the present study was to evaluate temporal changes in prevalence and antifungal susceptibility of C. parapsilosis among other species causing candidemia. All candidemia episodes from January 2015 to August 2022 were evaluated in order to depict time trends in prevalence of C. parapsilosis sensu stricto among all Candida species recovered from blood cultures as well as fluconazole- and voriconazole-non-susceptibility rates. Secondary analyses evaluated time trends in prevalence and antifungal non-susceptibility according to clinical settings. The overall prevalence of C. parapsilosis was observed to increase compared to the prevalence of other Candida species over time (p-trend = 0.0124). From 2019, the number of C. parapsilosis sensu stricto isolates surpassed C. albicans, without an increase in incidence rates. Overall rates of fluconazole- and voriconazole-non-susceptible C. parapsilosis sensu stricto were both 3/44 (6.8%) in 2015 and were 32/51 (62.7%) and 27/51 (52.9%), respectively, in 2022 (85% cross-non-susceptibility). The risk of detecting fluconazole- or voriconazole-non-susceptibility was found to be higher in C. parapsilosis compared to other Candida species (odds ratio (OR) = 1.60, 95% CI [1.170, 2.188], p-value < 0.0001 and OR = 12.867, 95% CI [6.934, 23.878], p-value < 0.0001, respectively). This is the first study to report C. parapsilosis sensu stricto as the most prevalent among Candida spp. isolated from blood cultures, with worrisome fluconazole- and voriconazole-non-susceptibility rates, unparalleled among European and North American geographical regions.
A Big Data Grided Organization and Management Method for Cropland Quality Evaluation
Authors: Miao Shuangxi , Wang Shuyu , Huang Chunyan , Xia Xiaohong , Sang Lingling , Huang Jianxi , Liu Han , Zhang Zheng , Zhang Junxiao , Huang Xu , Gao Fei
Published: October 2023

A new gridded spatio-temporal big data fusion method is proposed for the organization and management of cropland big data, which could serve the analysis application of cropland quality evaluation and other analyses of geographic big data. Compared with traditional big data fusion methods, this method maps the spatio-temporal and attribute features of multi-source data to grid cells in order to achieve the structural unity and orderly organization of spatio-temporal big data with format differences, semantic ambiguities, and different coordinate projections. Firstly, this paper constructs a dissected cropland big data fusion model and completes the design of a conceptual model and logic model, constructs a cropland data organization model based on DGGS (discrete global grid system) and Hash coding, and realizes the unified management of vector data, raster data and text data by using multilevel grids. Secondly, this paper researches the evaluation methods of grid-scale adaptability, and generates distributed multilevel grid datasets to meet the needs of cropland area quality evaluation. Finally, typical data such as soil organic matter data, road network data, cropland area data, and statistic data in Da’an County, China, were selected to carry out the experiment. The experiment verifies that the method could not only realize the unified organization and efficient management of cultivated land big data with multimodal characteristics, but also support the evaluation of cropland quality.
Smart Cities Are More Populous: Evidence from China
Authors: Chen Xuanwei , Cheng Mingwang , Yang Xue , Chu Zhen , Duan Kaifeng
Published: October 2023

This paper examines whether the widespread adoption of digital technologies in cities has increased attractiveness. Based on China’s smart-city construction (SCC), a pilot program aimed at promoting applications of digital technologies in cities, this paper finds that SCC has led to a higher urban population growth in smart cities in China. Two potential channels are suggested by mechanism analysis: improved ecological environment resulting from digital governance with respect to pollution and green production; essential digital information provided by internet users. Specifically, relying on difference-in-differences analysis, the results reveal that, from 2005 to 2017, SCC in China led to approximately 4.4% higher urban population growth in smart cities relative to non-smart cities. In particular, evidence from migrant survey data suggests that smart cities are more favorable destinations for distant migrants, and migrants with higher educational attainment and income. Our findings highlight the importance of digitalization in urban development.
Factive Entailments and Clausal Complementation in Karitiana
Authors: Vivanco Karin , Bassa Vanrell Maria del Mar
Published: October 2023

Attitude verbs describe mental states of their subject in relation to a proposition codified by their clausal complement. In this paper, we describe the behavior of such verbs in Karitiana, a Tupian language spoken in Brazil. Recently, it has been noted in the literature that embedded clauses with nominal features seem to lead to a factive reading of these verbs. In Karitiana, all embedded clauses are nominalized since they lack many clausal features, and conversely exhibit nominal distribution and behavior. We propose a structure with an N head for embedded clauses in Karitiana, which accounts for their morphological behavior and also explains why these constructions behave as strong islands. Judgments of contradiction with attitude verbs of Karitiana were collected and the results show that they fall into two categories: one that obligatorily entails the truth of the embedded clause and another that favors it, but that does not require it obligatorily. This shows that nominalization of embedded clauses seems to be tied to the presence of factive entailments, but this alone is not a sufficient condition to force a factive reading of the matrix attitude verb.
Preparation and Tribological Behavior of Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotube/Ag Nanocomposites as Lubricant Additives
Authors: Jia Shaokun , Zhao Jiahuan , Hao Guangzhen , Feng Jifeng , Zhang Chuanbo , Wang Zhihui , Jia Zhengfeng , Bai Yungang
Published: October 2023

In this study, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotube/Ag nanocomposites (denoted as N-C/Ag) have been synthesized in a urea solution using a hydrothermal method. The carbon nanotubes, AgNO3 solution, urea and poly-dopamine (PDA) served as carbon, silver, nitrogen and carbon sources, respectively. The results show that the diameter of the carbon tubes was about 30 nm, and the Ag nanoparticles, with a diameter of ca. 10 nm, dispersed on the carbon tube surface. The Ag particle size decreased with a lower degree of crystallinity at a high temperature in the presence of urea. The friction and wear behavior of the oil acid (OA) modified N-C/Ag (OAN-C/Ag) as an additive in liquid paraffin (LP) were studied using a four-ball friction and wear tester. The results have shown that the coefficients of friction (COFs) and wear scar diameters (WSDs) of steel balls lubricated with LP-OAN-C/Ag decreased by 27.3% and 25.3%, respectively, relative to pure LP. Tribofilms containing Ag, carbon and nitride were formed on the worn steel ball surfaces. Details, the carbon, Fe2O3, azides and nitride, Ag and alloy and other compounds on the wear scars may improve tribological properties. The synergistic effect of carbon, Ag and urea plays a critical role during sliding.
The Stability and Well-Posedness of Fixed Points for Relation-Theoretic Multi-Valued Maps
Authors: Letlhage Isaac Karabo , Khantwal Deepak , Pant Rajendra , Sen Manuel De la
Published: October 2023

The purpose of this study is to present fixed-point results for Suzuki-type multi-valued maps using relation theory. We examine a range of implications that arise from our primary discovery. Furthermore, we present two substantial cases that illustrate the importance of our main theorem. In addition, we examine the stability of fixed-point sets for multi-valued maps and the concept of well-posedness. We present an application to a specific functional equation which arises in dynamic programming.
Probability Spaces Identifying Ordinal and Cardinal Utilities in Problems of an Economic Nature: New Issues and Perspectives
Authors: Angelini Pierpaolo
Published: October 2023

Prevision bundles identifying expected returns on risky assets are established. A probability space associated with risky assets is defined. In this research work, the optimization principle is based on the notion of distance. This is because problems of an economic nature are not handled in an axiomatic or intrinsic way, but they are investigated with regard to a given coordinate system. The latter is shown to be invariant. The notion of mathematical expectation applied to summarizing both monetary values and utilities is treated. Such a notion is extended to study portfolios of financial assets. Objective conditions of coherence connected with the notion of mathematical expectation are extended. Rational behaviors towards risk are based on them. A model representing diagrams considered inside the same coordinate system is shown. Such a model identifies as many optimal choices as pair comparisons it is possible to take into account in order to obtain a multilinear measure. The latter is the expected return on a specific portfolio of financial assets.
Chromatographic Analyses of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) and Mechanism of Its Protective Effects against Experimental Obesity and Hepatic Steatosis in Rats
Authors: Arrari Fatma , Jabri Mohamed-Amine , Ayari Ala , Dakhli Nouha , Ben Fayala Chayma , Boubaker Samir , Sebai Hichem
Published: October 2023

Background and Objectives: Obesity is currently a major health problem due to fatty acid accumulation and excess intake of energy, which leads to an increase in oxidative stress, particularly in the liver. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the protective effects of spirulina (SP) against cafeteria diet (CD)-induced obesity, oxidative stress, and lipotoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods: The rats were divided into four groups and received daily treatments for eight weeks as follows: control group fed a standard diet (SD 360 g/d); cafeteria diet group (CD 360 g/d); spirulina group (SP 500 mg/kg); and CD + SP group (500 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.) according to body weight (b.w.) per oral (p.o.). Results: Our results show that treatment with a CD increased the weights of the body, liver, and abdominal fat. Additionally, severe hepatic alteration, disturbances in the metabolic parameters of serum, and lipotoxicity associated with oxidative stress in response to the CD-induced obesity were observed. However, SP treatment significantly reduced the liver alteration of CD feed and lipid profile disorder associated with obesity. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that spirulina has a marked potential therapeutic effect against obesity and mitigates disturbances in liver function parameters, histological alterations, and oxidative stress status.
Association between PYTPN22 rs2476601, VEGF rs833070, TNFAIP3 rs6920220 Polymorphisms and Risk for Rheumatoid Arthritis in Early Undifferentiated Arthritis Patients: A Pilot Study
Authors: Sakalyte Regina , Stropuviene Sigita , Jasionyte Gabija , Bagdonaite Loreta , Venalis Algirdas
Published: October 2023

Background and Objectives: About 40% of early undifferentiated arthritis (UA) progresses to rheumatoid (RA) or other chronic arthritis. Novel diagnostic tools predicting the risk for this progression are needed to identify the patients who would benefit from early aggressive treatment. Evidence on the role of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the development of RA has emerged. The aim of our study was to investigate the association between rs2476601, rs833070, and rs6920220 SNPs and UA progression to RA. Materials and Methods: Ninety-two UA patients were observed for 12 months. At study entry, demographic and clinical characteristics were recorded, musculoskeletal ultrasonography was performed, and blood samples were drawn to investigate levels of inflammatory markers, rheumatoid factor (RF), anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (anti-CCP)detect SNPs. After 12 months, UA outcomes were assessed, and patients were divided into two (RA and non-RA) groups. The association between the risk of progression to chronic inflammatory arthritis and analyzed SNPs was measured by computing odds ratios (OR). Results: After a 12-month follow-up, 27 (29.3%) patients developed RA, and 65 (70.7%) patients were assigned to the non-RA group. The arthritis of 21 patients (22.8%) from the non-RA group resolved completely, while the other 44 (47.2%) patients were diagnosed with another rheumatic inflammatory disease. The patients who developed RA had a significantly greater number of tender and swollen joints (p = 0.010 and p = 0.021 respectively) and were more frequently RF or anti-CCP (p < 0.001), and both RF and anti-CCP positive (p < 0.001) at the baseline as compared with the patients in the non-RA group. No significant association between rs2476601 (OR = 0.99, p = 0.98), rs833070 (OR = 1.0, p = 0.97), and rs6920220 (OR = 0.48, p = 0.13) polymorphisms and the risk of developing RA were found. Conclusions: No association between analyzed SNPs and a greater risk to progress from UA to RA was confirmed, although patients with rs6920220 AA + AG genotypes had fewer tender joints at the disease onset.