bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ANÁLISIS EXERGÉTICO A UN CICLO LINDE SIMPLE PARA LICUAR AIRE
Authors: Garcia Lopez Maria Fernanda , Castro Hernandez Sergio , Lugo Mendez Helen Denise , Torres Aldaco Alejandro , Lugo Leyte Raul
Published: September 2024

El ciclo Linde simple se utiliza en sistemas de refrigeración criogénica para producir temperaturas extremadamente bajas. Este ciclo es una variante del ciclo de refrigeración por compresión de vapor y es aplicado en la producción de oxígeno, nitrógeno y otros gases industriales, así como en la liquefacción de gases como el aire. En este trabajo se realiza un análisis exergético de un ciclo Linde simple, que opera con aire, que ingresa a condiciones de presión y temperatura ambiente de 1 bar y 19.8 °C, respectivamente. Se parte del análisis energético para determinar las propiedades termodinámicas de cada estado. Posteriormente, se plantean los balances de exergía por subregiones mostradas en el Figura 1, para evaluar la irreversibilidad producida en los procesos. Como resultado del análisis exergético se determinó que la válvula de expansión, por ser uno de los equipos disipativos, tiene la mayor irreversibilidad de todo el sistema (4,188.43 kJ) y representa el 39.7% de la exergía asociada al recurso total del ciclo. Seguido por región II (3,725.64 kJ) con un 35.3% del recurso, debido a que el post-enfriador disipa calor para disminuir la temperatura hasta la temperatura que ingresa al compresor (ver Figura 2).
A numerical model of microplastic erosion, transport, and deposition for fluvial systems
Authors: Armitage John Joseph , Rohais Sébastien
Published: September 2024

Rivers are the primary pathway of microplastic pollution from source to the eventual sink in the marine environment. However, like sediments, microplastic will become trapped within the fluvial system as it makes its way from source-to-sink. There is therefore the potential that rivers are an important reservoir of microplastic pollution globally. To explore the transport of microplastic through the fluvial system we develop a reduced complexity model of microplastic erosion, transport, and deposition that builds on methods developed for the transport of sediment. We apply this model to the river Têt, France, where there has been punctual monitoring of the flux of microplastic at the outlet. We find that the reduced complexity model captures the observed quantity of microplastic under reasonable assumptions of the relationship between microplastic sources and population density. The model that best matches observed fluxes of microplastic at the outlet of the Têt river requires between 1 and 10 ppm volume concentration of microplastic per 200×200 m in the top half a meter of soil. The microplastic of grain size 300 μm then travels within the river network with a settling velocity of the order of 10-4 m/sec. The model results imply that a large proportion of microplastic will become entrained within the sediments along the fluvial system. This model is a first step in assessing where to sample for microplastic pollution within fluvial systems and points to regions susceptible to microplastic pollution.
Effect of hunting month and physiological effort of antler growth on meat quality of wild red deer males killed stress-free
Authors: Serrano Martina Pérez , Lorenzo José Manuel , Bermúdez Roberto , Purriños Laura , Fierro Yolanda , García Andrés , Wang Datao , Chonco Louis , Alegría-Aravena Nicolás , Landete-Castillejos Tomás
Published: September 2024

The marked seasonality of temperate habitats in food availability and requirements of energy expenditure in reproduction or temperature homeostasis affects most aspects of wild animals, including meat composition. This study examines for first time the effects of seasonality (assessed as hunting month: September, January, April, and June) on loin muscle quality from 32 adult wild male deer culled stress-free. Deer hunted in September (end of summer) had the highest carcass weight and yield, while the lowest values were observed in January (mid-winter) and June (beginning of summer; p < 0.001). Intramuscular fat content was also higher in September than in the other months, but differences were only significant with April (p = 0.016). Other seasonal effects were found for pH72, shear force and fatty acid composition (p < 0.05). In contrast to these differences, likely caused by food availability, meat mineral composition seems to be caused by the mineral mobilization from the skeleton to grow antlers, as Ca and Mg were higher in April, and Fe and Zn were lower in this month and June. Thus, we can conclude that both, the season and the effort to grow antlers, affecte6d the meat quality and composition in wild male red deer.
Nutritional, functional and microbiological properties of edible crickets enriched cereal-based complementary foods
Authors: Kiiru Samuel , Kamotho James , Okeyo Nicky , Ng’ang’a Jeremiah , Konyole Silvenus , Roos Nanna , Kinyuru John
Published: September 2024

Edible insects are a compelling alternative source of animal protein that holds potential for diversifying and enriching complementary foods with minerals and proteins. This study aimed at formulating, developing and characterizing nutrient- dense complementary flour (CF) containing edible cricket containing maize and roasted finger millet flours (CECF). In addition, the effect of extrusion was evaluated on nutritional, functional and microbiological properties. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) with multiple comparisons using Tukey’s HSD (honestly significant difference) test (α = 0.05) and T- test were used to determine the significance of differences. Edible cricket had significantly high protein, fat, chitin/fibre, energy, iron, zinc and phosphorus. Contrary, cereal flour had high total carbohydrates, manganese and calcium. Phytates were undetectable in roasted finger millets but tannins remained highest at 494.1 mg/ 100g. Extrusion of CECF significantly (p > 0.05) improved the energy ration and densities of protein, carbohydrate but decreased the energy content and fibre content and density. Extrusion reportedly eliminated the phytates and reduced tannins content to acceptable levels for infant foods. Iron content were increased (4.64–6.22 mg/ 100g), whereas Ca: P remained low at 0.35–0.36. Extruded and blended CECFs had poor foaming and emulsion properties. Extrusion improved swelling power, bulking density and water related properties as well as protein digestibility. Microbial quality of the CECF was influenced by the initial microbial load, cross contamination and pre-processing conditions. The study suggests inclusion of edible cricket, pre-processing of ingredients, extrusion and a possible final cooking of CECF as well as observing hygienic and sanitary conditions for a safe and nutrient dense infant food. Further research is needed on evaluating the acceptability and the impact of feeding CECF on children’s growth and development.
Hyperuricemia and gout as uncommon manifestation of Papillorenal syndrome in an 18-year-old young man with PAX 2 mutation : A Case report and review of the literature
Authors: Rajae Boutaleb , Axel Derwa
Published: September 2024

Hyperuricemia is a metabolic abnormality, either acquired or inherited, characterized by elevated levels of uric acid (UA) in the serum. We are interested in the case report regarding hereditary hyperuricemia. In this case, we are reporting on an 18-year-old man who experienced repeated gout attacks, hyperuricemia, and reduced fraction ejection of uric acid (FEUA). Additionally, he had renal anomalies such as proteinuria and renal hypoplasia and Focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) in the kidney biopsy and eye fundus revealed a bilateral optic disc pit .These findings prompted us to conduct a genetic study on the patient. To our surprise, the DNA sequence analysis did not detect mutations in UMOD or REN, which are commonly associated with familial juvenile hyperuricemic nephropathy (FJHN). Instead, a mutation in the paired box 2 (PAX2) gene was identified which is a very rare entity. We concluded that the patient had papillorenal syndrome (PAPRS) . Hyperuricemia is a rare and uncommon manifestation in patients with PAPRS and PAX2 mutation, and has only been documented in three studies in the literature. The diagnosis of PAPRS is often underestimated and not well-known by clinicians. It exhibits high clinical variability and phenotypic heterogeneity without well-defined diagnostic criteria. The presence of hyperuricemia should prompt consideration of this diagnosis and it should be included in the diagnostic criteria for PAPRS in the future.
Climate change perceptions and adaptation by Sebei pastoralists in Mount Elgon, Uganda; a qualitative survey
Authors: Aggrey Siya , Varela Elsa , Batumike Rodrigue , Cuni-Sanchez Aida
Published: September 2024

Background
Pastoralists’ sedentarisation and agriculturalization might increase their vulnerability to climate change impacts, but few studies have investigated if this is the case in mountain areas. In Uganda, little is known about how Sebei pastoralists have perceived and adapted to such changes. This study sought to establish perspectives of Sebei pastoralists on climate change in terms of its occurrence and impacts as well as access to livelihood assets and or opportunities to withstand such challenges.
Method
This study was conducted in Mount Elgon areas of Uganda. A cross sectional study design was employed using qualitative approaches. Data was collected using focus-group discussions with men and women village elders to assess their perceptions regarding climatic changes, impacts and adaption strategies used. Data was analysed using thematic and content analysis approaches. All analyses were done using NVivo version 14.
Results
Respondents reported changes in the amount and distribution of rainfall, fog and temperatures, with negative impacts on fodder availability, milk production and pests and diseases. Study participants mentioned using several adaptation strategies with regard to animal rearing, crop farming and livelihood diversification. Among others, participants reduced herd size, migrated longer distances, stored wild grass, used crop residues as feed and increased ‘self-medication’ of their cattle.
Conclusions
Access to funds, markets and technical advice were the main barriers to adaptation identified. Institutional support- now only focused on improved breeds – should consider the multiple strategies used by pastoralists, and the constraints they highlighted, including the need for mutual learning space.
Authentication and Traceability for Federated Learning Models via Group Signatures
Authors: Liu Hong , Wei Jiahui , Xu Zhu , Zhao Zhiqiang
Published: September 2024

Federated learning, due to its distributed and privacy-protecting properties, is a good solution to the data silo problem in machine learning, but there are still many hidden dangers that threaten the security of federated learning, such as privacy leakage and potential malicious users. In this paper, we propose a federated learning copyright protection framework FedAaT. Our framework employs group signatures for authentication as well as user traceability, and reduces the computational cost of the server by aggregating signatures. To prevent models from being distributed maliciously, we introduce a conditional loss function to add traceability to local models.First, for the problem of difficult to verify the identity in the anonymity scenario of federated learning, considering that group signature has both anonymity and verifiability, a federated learning environment is organically combined with group signature, and a federated learning model copyright protection method based on group signature, FedAaT, is proposed.Second, to address the problem of excessive authentication overhead in federated learning scenarios, the process of authentication is optimized by introducing the aggregate signature technique, which reduces the computational overhead used for authentication by reducing the number of signatures that need to be verified.Finally, the problem of difficult traceability of illegally distributed models is addressed.For a specific set of inputs, we assign unique output sequences to each user and embed them into the model through a conditional loss function, and trace the model by detecting the output sequences.Experimental results show that our proposed FedAaT is effective in federated learning for authentication, user traceability, and reducing computational cost.
Comparing the experiences of cancer survivors living with sleep disturbances between differing levels of psychological distress: a qualitative study
Authors: Chan Julia , Ng Danielle Wing Lam , Fielding Richard , Lam Wendy Wing Tak
Published: September 2024

Background
Psychological distress often co-occurs with sleep disturbances; but the specific mechanisms linking the two remain unclear. A qualitative study explored perceptions and factors associated with sleep disturbances in cancer survivors between patients with varying levels of psychological distress.
Methods
33 Cantonese speaking mixed type cancer survivors were recruited from a community cancer care program. Participants that scored > 5 on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and had non-clinical or borderline to clinical levels of psychological distress underwent semi-structured interviews. Interviews were analyzed using grounded theory.
Results
Common triggers of sleep disturbances included unresolved treatment side-effects, intrusive thoughts about cancer, fear of cancer recurrence or progression. Those with higher levels of distress exhibited more worry about recovery after cancer and engaged in thought suppression and meta-worry about negative emotions and worry of poor sleep impacting recovery and cancer progression. They commonly exhibited high sleep reactivity and were observed to have limited social support. In contrast, those with low distress adopted better adaptive mechanisms, including a changed commitment to prioritizing health and positive reappraisal of their recovery progress. Self-distraction was used to cope with sleep disturbances and they had fewer expectations of good sleep quality.
Conclusions
Findings provided insights into the suitability of interventions for patients with sleep disturbances. Interventions targeting maladaptive emotion-focused coping may be more effective in addressing sleep disturbances in cancer survivors with higher distress. Interventions adopting a stepped-care approach may be advantageous in managing sleep disturbances by catering for varying levels of distress.
Simulation Study of Closed Pit AMD Multi-stage Permeable Reactive Barrier In-Situ Processing
Authors: Qi Yueming , Zhou Pei , Zhou Lai , Jiang Dan , Liu Yanzhuo , Zhang Jiehui
Published: September 2024

The closure of high-sulfur coal mines has resulted in buried acid-producing pollution sites, posing potential risks to regional aquifers and the surrounding environment. This study focuses on a specific closed mine area, employing modeling experiments and numerical simulations to investigate the pollution distribution model. The effectiveness of a multi-stage permeable reactive barrier (PRB) system for controlling acid mine drainage (AMD) and its impact on hydrodynamic and hydrochemical fields were analyzed at both laboratory scale and field scale. The results indicate that, after 10 years of continuous acid production, pollutants in the adjacent aquifer have horizontally migrated up to 1332 meters, covering an area of 2.48 km², with a maximum vertical migration of 120 meters. A multi-stage PRB treatment system was proposed, which effectively reduced SO42−, total Fe, and total Mn concentrations to 212.07 mg/L, 0.16 mg/L, and 0.048 mg/L, respectively, after 10 years of operation. These levels are below the water quality standards of 250, 0.3, and 0.1 mg/L, with removal rates of 81.6%, 98.6%, and 99.3%. This study provides a theoretical foundation and practical guidance for managing AMD pollution in closed mines and offers a scientific reference for similar sites.
Whole-genome sequencing analysis of the Chikungunya virus during 2021 outbreak in Malaysia
Authors: Kalyanasundram Jeevanathan , Zawawi Zarina Mohd , Kamel Khayri Azizi , Aroidoss Emmanuel Tiagaraj , Ellan Kavithambigai , Anasir Mohd Ishtiaq , Azizan Muhammad Afif , Zulkifli Murni Maya Sari , Zain Rozainanee Mohd
Published: September 2024

Background
Chikungunya cases was reported to be on the rise in Malaysia from 2019 to 2021. Although potential endemicity was described previously, genotype shift during 2008 outbreak originating from the 2004 Indian Ocean Islands outbreak presents the probability of current CHIKV spread from neighboring countries. This is due to the prevalence of the new IOL sub-lineage which consists of E1-226A wildtype or reverted strains that are circulating in the Indian subcontinent before spreading to neighboring Thailand during 2018-2019 outbreak.
Method
In this study, samples received mostly from the Tangkak, Johor were analyzed. A total 56 CHIKV positive serum samples received in 2021 by Institute of Medical Research Malaysia (IMR), were collected based on sample selection criteria. Selected samples were subjected to total RNA extraction, whole-genome sequencing as well as bioinformatic analysis such as phylogenetic, variant and mutation analysis.
Results
Based on the genomic and phylogenetic analysis, the CHIKV samples from 2021 outbreak were of ECSA-IOL genotype. Genome similarity analysis also revealed that these CHIKVs are highly similar to 2018-2019 outbreak strain from Thailand. In comparison to the 2008 outbreak CHIKV isolate, the current CHIKVs lacked the E1-A226V mutation and harbored the new E1-K211E/E2-V264A sub-linage mutation. Since the E1-K211E/E2-V264A mutation facilitates adaptation to Ae. aegypti as opposed to the E1-A226V mutation which improves adaptation to Ae. albopictus, the emergence 2021 CHIKV outbreak in Malaysia can be postulated due to vector shift. Interestingly, a novel nsP3-T441A/V mutation detected in this study, may also play a role in virus transmission, pathogenicity, fitness and vector adaptation
Conclusion
In summary, the current CHIKV outbreak are strains originated from the Indian subcontinent through Thailand which may have capitalized on vector shifting by adapting to Ae. aegypti. The presence of novel nsP3-T441A/V mutation may also contribute to the spread of this virus across peninsular Malaysia.
Spatio-temporal disparities in phytoplankton dynamics and metabolite production depending on weather conditions
Authors: Noirmain Fanny , Marie Benjamin , Legrand Benjamin , Baelen Joël , Latour Delphine
Published: September 2024

Various studies suggest that global change is causing an increase in phytoplankton biomass, cyanobacteria prevalence and cyanotoxin production. However, there are conflicting reports regarding the response of cyanobacteria blooms to global warming and meteorological events, probably because of the lack of global approaches. Metabolomics approaches in natural system hold great promise in investigating the factors leading to variations in phytoplankton successions and subsequent cyanotoxin production. However, eco-metabolomics studies are still scares in literature and suffer to adequately unravel the biologically relevant variables under environmental changes. In this study, we investigate the temporal and spatial dynamics of phytoplankton community and the production of their primary and secondary untargeted metabolites in response to local meteorological events. Thus, we collected water samples in two points of the Aydat Lake (France): near the inflowing waters from Veyre River and at the middle of the lake during the 2021 summer. Untargeted intracellular metabolites were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a high-resolution mass spectrometer, as well as phytoplankton biovolume and diversity and physicochemical lake’s parameters. Primarily, our results show the increase of the biovolume of diazotrophic cyanobacteria at the end of the drought and after rain events at both sites. During the drought, we observe a strong increase of intracellular lipid contents, probably in response to sudden nitrogen and phosphorus limitation. Differently, during the wet periods, we observe an increase of the phytoplankton glycerophospholipid content, especially at the middle of the lake, whereas significantly higher abundance of secondary metabolites was monitored at site near the wetland area. Since then, we report a strong correlation between the abundance of different cyanopeptides and the biovolume of Dolichospermum, which is present at both sites, we suggest acclimative responses to cope with the phytoplankton growing stimulation related with the increase of the nutritive ion influx following the rain events. The significant difference in the intra-cellular content in metabolites between the 2 sampling sites, separated by only 200m, while phytoplankton communities were similar suggests the existence of local metabolomic niches.
Therapeutic drug monitoring-guided treatment determination in a ganciclovir-unresponsive lung transplant recipient
Authors: Umemura Keisuke , Katada Yoshiki , Katsube Yurie , Hira Daiki , Tsuda Masahiro , Nakagawa Shunsaku , Shima Chiaki , Matsumoto Akira , Ohsumi Akihiro , Date Hiroshi , Nagao Miki , Terada Tomohiro
Published: September 2024

Ganciclovir and valganciclovir are used for cytomegalovirus infection after lung transplantation, but the emergence of resistant viruses complicates treatment. We experienced a lung transplant case where cytomegalovirus reactivation was observed under the valganciclovir prophylaxis. We utilized therapeutic drug monitoring for this case, and immediately suspected that the cytomegalovirus might be resistant to ganciclovir because the area under the curve of ganciclovir was sufficient for prophylaxis. Therefore, we determined to change the antiviral regimen to foscarnet and letermovir, which resulted in immediate cytomegalovirus clearance. This report demonstrated the utility of therapeutic drug monitoring of ganciclovir for suspecting the resistance to ganciclovir.
Inflatable penile prosthesis implantation in the outpatient setting
Authors: Patel Premal , Fidel Maximilian , Shah Jainik , Bal Dhiraj , Roque Connor , Ko Yool , Dhillon Harliv , Bard Robert , Pandian Alagarsamy , Nayak Jasmir , Patel Premal
Published: September 2024

Inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) implantations are commonly performed in hospital settings which accommodate an overnight stay and are increasingly being performed as day procedures in outpatient settings with same-day discharge. This study sought to investigate the safety and feasibility of day surgery insertion of an IPP. Surgical parameters and incidence of postoperative complications including infection, hospital admission, emergency room visitation, and additional analgesia were investigated. This prospective study included all adult patients undergoing day surgery insertion of an IPP at an ambulatory surgical centre classified as ASA 1-3, between February 2023 and April 2024. All procedures were performed via an infrapubic approach under spinal anesthesia or deep sedation with local anesthesia. 52 patients were enrolled with a mean age of 62.5 ± 3.1 years. All procedures were performed successfully with no intra-operative complications. The mean surgery duration was 65.2 ± 17.9 minutes. The mean recovery time was 115.9 ± 58.2 minutes. No patients required hospital admission or had acquired a post-operative infection. One patient required emergency room visitation, which was unrelated to the surgery. 5.9% (n=3) of patients required additional postoperative analgesia. Our results demonstrate the safety and feasibility of performing an IPP implantation in an outpatient setting.
Microbial Diversity, Functional Genomics and Antibiotic Resistance in Integrated Chicken and Fish Farming Systems in Bangladesh
Authors: Kador S. M. , Shila Jannatul Ferdus , Afrin Sinthea , Jannat Jarin , Islam Khondoker Tanjim , Rahman M. Shaminur , Islam Ovinu Kibria , Chakrovarty Tanay , Hasan Md. Shazid , Sakib Najmuj , Islam Md. Tanvir
Published: September 2024

The Integrated Fish Farming (IFF) system, practiced in Bangladesh for its economic benefits and resource efficiency, requires an understanding of microbial diversity, functional genomics, and antimicrobial resistance to optimize efficiency and sustainability. This study delves into the microbial compositions, diversity, and antibiotic resistance within diverse environmental samples using 16S rRNA sequencing and KEGG pathway analysis. The taxonomic analysis revealed a microbial community comprising 2838 OTUs, with Bacteria (99.81%) dominating over Archaea (0.19%). Sediment samples exhibited the highest archaeal diversity, primarily consisting of Euryarchaeota, Parvarchaeota, and Crenarchaeota. Bacterial diversity encompassed 70 phyla, with Firmicutes being predominant, particularly in chicken gut samples. Notable bacterial genera included Lactobacillus and Weissella. Alpha diversity analysis highlighted significant microbial richness in sediment and fish intestine samples, while beta diversity analysis using Bray-Curtis PCoA indicated distinct microbial community compositions across sample types. Functional genomic analysis revealed metabolic genes as the most predominant across all samples, focusing on amino acid, carbohydrate, and energy metabolism. Noteworthy pathways included ribosome biogenesis and ABC transporters, particularly abundant in sediment and feed samples. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of 55 isolates demonstrated high resistance rates, notably against Tetracyclines and Fluoroquinolones, with Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis exhibiting the highest resistance. Antibiotic resistance genes identified through KEGG pathways, such as bcrC and vanX, were abundant in sediment and chicken gut samples, indicating significant resistance profiles. This comprehensive profiling underscores the diverse and complex microbial ecosystems in various samples, the metabolic dominance in these environments, and the concerning levels of antibiotic resistance among common bacterial pathogens. These findings emphasize the need for ongoing surveillance and targeted interventions to mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance in microbial communities. This is the first study in the country to reveal microbial diversity, antimicrobial resistance and functional genomics in Integrated Chicken and Fish Farming settings.
Characterization of Natural Therapeutic Compounds Producing novel strains of bacteria Isolated from Rhizosphere soil samples.
Authors: Bhrdwaj Anushka , Nayarisseri Anuraj , Singh Sanjeev Kumar
Published: September 2024

Natural products (NPs) are secondary metabolites that exert their biological effects within organisms and on other organisms. Among the microbial consortia, bacteria have been demonstrated to be potent microbial producers of bioactive natural therapeutic products due to their versatile biocatalytic activity. Therefore, the present study encompasses the isolation, identification, and characterization of four novel bacterial strains that exhibited the potential to produce natural therapeutic products. The novel cadre of the isolates was determined via taxonomical assessment, employment of myriad biochemical, antagonistic screening tests, followed by 16S rRNA molecular characterization, and bioinformatics analysis, which allowed the naming of the subsequent isolates as, Klebsiella pneumoniae strain ABSKALAB01, Klebsiella quasipneumonia strain ABSKSLAB02, Streptomyces minutiscleroticus strain ABSKSLAB03, and Streptomyces peucetius strain ABSKSLAB04, and was deposited in the GenBank under accession numbers ‘OP597532’, ‘OP597545’, ‘OQ061473’ and ‘PP086938’, respectively. Media optimization via OVAT approach, and statistical optimization via Plackett–Burman and RSM-mediated Box–Behnken designs were also conducted to assess the antagonistic, and NP-producing potential, followed by the construction of the secondary structure of 16S rRNA. The results signified that the subsequent bacterial strains hold the potential to produce natural therapeutic products in diacritic conditions, and the Streptomyces peucetius strain ABSKSLAB04 demonstrated the highest NP-producing potential among all the other isolates. The study also signifies the subsequent isolates can further be utilized for industrial-driven investigations.
Evaluating Drought Patterns in Gediz Basin with Advanced Statistical Techniques and Indices
Authors: Dalkılıç Hüseyin Y. , Alkoyun Muhammet Safa
Published: September 2024

Drought, defined as a reduction in water resources over a period of time, has become one of the most costly natural disasters in recent years due to industrialisation, rapid population growth and climate change. The aim of this study is to gain a better understanding of drought trends in the Gediz Basin, Turkey, and to provide information to relevant institutions and organisations to mitigate the effects of drought. To achieve this goal, drought analyses were conducted using seven different drought indices and five different statistical methods based on data from six meteorological stations in the Gediz Basin. The results of the drought indices indicated the occurrence of both dry and wet periods at different times. Significant correlations were observed between the reconnaissance drought index (RDI) and the percent of normal index (PNI). Additionally, the standardized precipitation index (SPI) also captured drought conditions during the same period as the RDI and PNI. However, the correlation between SPI and the other two indices was lower, primarily due to the SPI detecting lower levels of drought severity. Trend analyses showed a decrease in precipitation values, especially during the summer months, and an increasing trend in temperature values. The study recommends using the RDI index to assess meteorological drought, while the Pinna Combinative index can be used to assess hydrological drought in the basin. These findings are expected to provide valuable insights for the development of drought management plans and necessary measures in the Gediz Basin.
miR-1323 inhibits bladder cancer growth by targeting PMEPA1
Authors: Yang Haoran , Wang Jing , Huang Tao , Li Yu
Published: September 2024

Background
Bladder cancer is one of the common malignant tumors in the urinary system, and its incidence has been increasing year by year in recent years. However, effective treatment options for advanced bladder cancer are still lacking at present. The molecular mechanisms underlying the occurrence and development of bladder cancer have not been fully elucidated. Previous studies have found that various genes are abnormally regulated in bladder cancer tumor tissues, and the abnormal expression of microRNAs also affects protein expression.
Methods
The analysis of the TCGA-BLCA dataset was used to identify differentially expressed genes in bladder cancer. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the expression levels of PMEPA1, miR-1323, and SMAD/p-SMAD proteins. The CCK-8 assay and wound healing assay were used to evaluate cell proliferation and migration. Flow cytometry with AnnexinⅤ-FITC/PI double labeling was used to detect apoptosis. The interaction between miR-1323 and PMEPA1 was verified by Dual Luciferase Reporter Assay.
Results:
The results indicate that PMEPA1 is upregulated in bladder cancer tissues and cells. High expression of PMEPA1 stimulates bladder cancer cell proliferation and migration while inhibiting apoptosis. Databases such as TargetScan_8.0 predicted and Dual Luciferase Reporter Assay and Western blot experiments verified the interaction between miR-1323 and PMEPA1. Knockdown of miR-1323 promotes bladder cancer cell proliferation and migration, inhibits apoptosis, and reduces the expression of SMAD2/SMAD3 and p-SMAD2/p-SMAD3 proteins, while simultaneous knockdown of PMEPA1 can counteract these changes induced by miR-1323 knockdown.
Conclusions:
In summary, miR-1323 can inhibit bladder cancer progression by targeting PMEPA1, potentially through suppression of the SMAD-dependent TGF-β signaling pathway. Both miR-1323 and PMEPA1 may serve as potential therapeutic targets for bladder cancer.
Clinical Utility of Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing in Neonatal Patients Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO)
Authors: Amin Milan , Wigby Kristen , Suttner Denise , Niemi Anna-Kaisa , Guidugli Lucia , Carroll Jeanne
Published: September 2024

Objective
The objective of this study is to describe the impact of rapid and ultra-rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS/urWGS) on the care of neonatal intensive care (NICU) patients who require extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
Study Design
This is a retrospective cohort study at a single-center NICU in a tertiary children’s hospital. The study population includes NICU patients treated with ECMO from May 2017 to September 2023. Patients were evaluated for whether whole genome was completed, speed of testing (rapid vs ultra-rapid), diagnostic rate, and clinical utility.
Result
Twenty-six (72%) patients had rWGS/urWGS. A diagnosis associated with the patient’s phenotype was made in 12 patients (46%). A change in clinical management was made due to rWGS/urWGS in 10 patients (38%) including avoidance of imaging studies, decisions regarding goals of care, and screening studies.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates a high diagnostic rate and clinical utility of rWGS/urWGS for NICU patients requiring ECMO.
Transcriptome analysis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Utilizing Expression Datasets of Middle-aged Indian Males
Authors: Nayarisseri Anuraj , Bisht Niyati , Bandaru Srinivas , Kunsavalikar Srushti , Bhati Durvi , Swami Radhika D , Kumar Abhishek , Chaudhary Rinku , Chopra Ishita , Khan Arshiya , Sharma Khushboo , Singh Sanjeev Kumar
Published: September 2024

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a major contributor to disease burden and mortality, particularly in rural India. This study aims to identify genes associated with OSCC through differential expression analysis utilizing datasets (BioProject: PRJNA853478) obtained from middle-aged Indian males. Differential expression analysis, transcript assembly, and functional enrichment were performed using standard Tuxedo II suite protocols, along with the StringTie, Ballgown, and KOBAS packages. The comprehensive analysis identified genes like NOTCH1, PTEN, and NCBP2 as significantly associated with OSCC. Furthermore, our findings contrast with existing studies, as we did not observe a significant association of crucial mediators of OSCC such as PROS1 and CTBP1 genes, which may be attributed to ethnic variations and differing sampling strategies. Importantly, we observed a significant enrichment of DNA repair pathways, particularly mismatch repair genes suggesting these pathways as promising prognostic and therapeutic targets for OSCC. Overall, our findings have identified key genes associated with OSCC, and the expression profiling of these genes may serve as valuable prognostic markers for the detection of OSCC, particularly in the context of the Indian population.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid enhanced the antioxidant capacity in skin fibroblasts
Authors: Zhang Meng , Shi Doudou , Cui Mimi , Li Jinyong , Cheng Wenjing , Pu Chunhong , Zhang Jiachan , Wang Changtao
Published: September 2024

In this study, fermented hyaluronic acid (FHA) was obtained by fermentation of HA with molecular weight between 120 and 130W with two strains of Saccharomyces cerevicae (CICC 1308 and CICC 1747). Active substance content and spectral analysis revealed a substantial decrease in FHA molecular weight, accompanied by changes in monosaccharide composition, yet the chemical structure of FHA remained unchanged. Secondly, FHA exhibited a strong ability to scavenge DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. In H2O2-induced human skin fibroblasts (HSF), FHA was found to enhance superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Pretreated FHA could regulate the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 through the Nrf2/Keap1/HO-1 signaling pathway, thereby regulating the transcription of downstream genes and the expression of antioxidant enzymes. These findings indicate that FHA possesses antioxidant properties, making it a valuable natural ingredient in cosmetics for safeguarding skin health.
ModVAR: A Multimodal Framework for Comprehensive Driver Variant Prediction in Cancer
Authors: Wang Zhe , Yang Hai , Chen Yijia , Zhou Tianyi , Wang Yingzhuo , Zhou Qin , Xiao Ting , Zhang Qian , Zhang Jing , Li Dongdong
Published: September 2024

Cancer's genomic complexity poses significant challenges in identifying the crucial driver variants that fuel oncogenesis. To overcome these obstacles, we present ModVAR, an innovative multimodal model that seamlessly integrates DNA sequences, protein tertiary structures, and cancer omics data to predict driver variants with exceptional precision. Leveraging pre-trained models DNAbert2 and ESMFold, combined with a novel self-supervised strategy for omics data, ModVAR consistently outperforms 14 leading prediction methods. It achieves an outstanding AUROC of 0.985 in clinical benchmarks and 0.952 in experimental assay-related benchmarks, underscoring its effectiveness in identifying both clinically and experimentally validated variants. ModVAR also excels in predicting cancer indels, with an AUROC of 0.901, and demonstrates remarkable generalization with an AUROC of 0.981 for non-cancer disease variants. These results underscore ModVAR's robustness and versatility, positioning it as a powerful tool in genomics and precision medicine. Additionally, its application to COSMIC has generated a publicly available resource of 3,971,946 annotated variants, driving an advancement in cancer research and personalized therapy.
EcoNicheS: enhancing ecological niche modeling, niche overlap and connectivity analysis using shiny dashboard and R Package
Authors: Sunny Armando , Marmolejo Clere , López-Vidal Rodrigo , Falconi-Briones Fredy , Bolom-Huet René
Published: September 2024

EcoNicheS is a novel, user-friendly tool designed to facilitate ecological niche modeling and species distribution modeling, niche overlap and connectivity analysis and support biodiversity conservation efforts. This R package offers a streamlined workflow for researchers and conservation practitioners to assess habitat suitability and predict species distributions in response to environmental changes. Leveraging the power of R programming and the Shinydashboard, EcoNicheS provides an intuitive interface for data input, model parameterization, and visualization of results. By integrating species occurrence data with environmental variables, users can generate robust predictions of species distributions, aiding in the identification of priority areas for conservation and management actions. EcoNicheS incorporates advanced modeling techniques to account for uncertainty and variability in species-environment relationships, enhancing the accuracy and reliability of predictions. Through a combination of user-friendly features and sophisticated analytical capabilities, EcoNicheS empowers researchers and conservation practitioners to effectively assess and mitigate threats to biodiversity in a rapidly changing world.
Alternative and Emerging Mulch Technologies for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture in the United States: A Review
Authors: Shcherbatyuk Nataliya , Wortman Sam E. , McFadden Dakota , Weiss Ben , Weyers Sharon , Ahmad Waqas , Bajwa Dilpreet S. , Galinato Suzette P. , Formiga Alice , Gramig Greta , DeVetter Lisa Wasko
Published: September 2024

Plastic mulches made from nonbiodegradable polymers (e.g., polyethylene) provide an essential service in commercial horticultural production systems by enhancing crop productivity through weed suppression, soil moisture conservation, and moderating soil and canopy temperature conditions. Plastic mulches are particularly important in organic agriculture because weed management options are limited. Nevertheless, there is increasing concern about addressing the negative environmental impacts of plastic mulch waste. Soil-biodegradable plastic mulch (BDM) films that are designed to biodegrade in soils after incorporation are promising alternatives to nonbiodegradable plastic mulch. However, although the US organic standards technically permit the use of BDM films, no commercially available products meet National Organic Program (NOP) requirements for 100% biobased content and 90% degradation after 2 years following soil incorporation (7 Code of Federal Regulations, section 205.2). Other concerns about biodegradable film mulches include high perceived cost, esthetics, and uncertainties regarding the impacts of soil incorporation. New mulch technologies have emerged to diversify sustainable mulch options and overcome barriers associated with BDM film use in organic production. The objective of this study was to provide an overview of alternative and emerging mulch technologies, with an emphasis on biodegradable mulches, including water-based sprayable mulches such as hydromulch and foam mulch, and biobased agrotextiles. Information about how these mulch technologies contribute to organic and sustainable agriculture is provided, along with definitions, opportunities, challenges, and recommended areas for future research.
Riemannian optimization of photonic quantum circuits in phase and Fock space
Authors: Yao Yuan , Miatto Filippo , Quesada Nicolás
Published: September 2024

We propose a framework to design and optimize generic photonic quantum circuits composed of Gaussian objects (pure and mixed Gaussian states, Gaussian unitaries, Gaussian channels, Gaussian measurements) as well as non-Gaussian effects such as photon-number-resolving measurements. In this framework, we parametrize a phase space representation of Gaussian objects using elements of the symplectic group (or the unitary or orthogonal group in special cases), and then we transform it into the Fock representation using a single linear recurrence relation that computes the Fock amplitudes of any Gaussian object recursively. We also compute the gradient of the Fock amplitudes with respect to phase space parameters by differentiating through the recurrence relation. We can then use Riemannian optimization on the symplectic group to optimize MM-mode Gaussian objects, avoiding the need to commit to particular realizations in terms of fundamental gates. This allows us to “mod out” all the different gate-level implementations of the same circuit, which now can be chosen after the optimization has completed. This can be especially useful when looking to answer general questions, such as bounding the value of a property over a class of states or transformations, or when one would like to worry about hardware constraints separately from the circuit optimization step. Finally, we make our framework extendable to non-Gaussian objects that can be written as linear combinations of Gaussian ones, by explicitly computing the change in global phase when states undergo Gaussian transformations. We implemented all of these methods in the freely available open-source library MrMustard, which we use in three examples to optimize the 216-mode interferometer in Borealis, and 2- and 3-modes circuits (with Fock measurements) to produce cat states and cubic phase states.
THE BENEFITS OF PLASTIC AND RECONSTRUCTIVE SURGERY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF AN EAR HAMARTOMA
Authors:   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Marrakesh., Benlaaguid Dr. K. , Marzak Dr. ,   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Marrakesh., Sylla Dr. ,   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Marrakesh., Sahir Dr. ,   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Marrakesh., Fifatin Dr. ,   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Marrakesh., Boukind Pr. S. ,   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Marrakesh., Atiqi Pr. El ,   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Marrakesh., Amrani Pr. El ,   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Marrakesh., Benchamkha Pr. Y. ,   Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Mohamed VI University Hospital, Marrakesh.
Published: September 2024

Hamartomas of the ear in children present significant aesthetic and functional challenges, requiring a precise surgical approach to achieve optimal results. We report the case of a 6-year-old child treated for a hamartoma of the left ear with resection of the lesion followed by a split-thickness skin graft. This article describes in detail the patients clinical presentation, the surgical technique used, and the post-operative results and discusses the efficacy of this approach.
EXTRAVASATION DES PRODUITS DE CHIMIOTHERAPIE : UNE APPROCHE CRUCIALE DU SERVICE DE LA CHIRURGIE PLASTIQUE DE MARRAKECH
Authors:   Service de Chirurgie Plastique et Reparatrice CHU Mohamed VI de Marrakech., Benlaaguid Dr. K. , Idelkheir Dr. L. ,   Service de Chirurgie Plastique et Reparatrice CHU Mohamed VI de Marrakech., Marzak Dr. M. ,   Service de Chirurgie Plastique et Reparatrice CHU Mohamed VI de Marrakech., Sahir Dr. ,   Service de Chirurgie Plastique et Reparatrice CHU Mohamed VI de Marrakech., Boukind Pr. S. ,   Service de Chirurgie Plastique et Reparatrice CHU Mohamed VI de Marrakech., Elatiqi Pr. ,   Service de Chirurgie Plastique et Reparatrice CHU Mohamed VI de Marrakech., Elamrani Pr. ,   Service de Chirurgie Plastique et Reparatrice CHU Mohamed VI de Marrakech., Benchamkha Pr. Y. ,   Service de Chirurgie Plastique et Reparatrice CHU Mohamed VI de Marrakech.
Published: September 2024

Lextravasation des produits de chimiotherapie est un incident redoute dans la prise en charge des patients atteints de cancer, susceptible dentrainer des complications graves. Cette etude se concentre sur une serie de cas de trois patients concrets ou lintervention prompte de la chirurgie plastique a joue un role determinant pour attenuer les consequences devastatrices de lextravasation. Lobjectif etait de demontrer comment la collaboration etroite entre oncologues et chirurgiens plastiques peut ameliorer significativement les issues cliniques et la qualite de vie des patients. Lanalyse de ces cas a revele que les interventions chirurgicales precoces ont permis de prevenir des necroses tissulaires etendues, de minimiser les sequelles fonctionnelles, et de favoriser une recuperation plus rapide. Les resultats ont souligne limportance dune prise en charge proactive, incluant la surveillance attentive des sites dinjection, la reconnaissance precoce des signes dextravasation, et une intervention chirurgicale appropriee Cette etude met en evidence limpact positif de la chirurgie plastique dans la gestion des complications liees a lextravasation des produits de chimiotherapie. Elle incite a repenser les protocoles de prise en charge des patients sous chimiotherapie, en integrant davantage lexpertise de la chirurgie plastique.