bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experiences of infertility among couples in Morocco
Authors: Benbella Amal , Mburu Gitau , Zaidouni Asmaa , Elomrani Sanae , Yahyane Abdelhakim , Gholbzouri Karima , Kiarie James , Bezad Rachid
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Infertility has significant implications on health. It affects physical, emotional, and social wellbeing. In Morocco, about 12% of couples or live with infertility. In 2013 the first public Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Center was established at the Maternity and Reproductive Health Hospital les Orangers in Rabat, Morocco. This qualitative study explores the experiences of infertility among couples who have benefited from diagnosis and treatment at ART center. The study represents a part of the overall evaluation of this first public ART centre in Morrocco.

Methods

Data were collected through in-depth patient interviews. A semi-structured interview guide was used to elicit the perspectives and experiences couples with infertility. Data collection occurred between January and March 2023. Inductive thematic analysis was conducted to explore the experiences of infertility among the couples.

Results

The study showed that couples with infertility were exposed to negative experiences such as (i) biomedical experiences (diagnostic delays, fragmented care, multiplicity of treatments), (ii) social experiences (gendered social pressures, stigma, discrimination, marital challenges, isolation and disrupted social routines), (iii) mental experiences (anger, anxiety, depression, and mood changes) as well as (iv) financial limitations (out of pocket payments and financial indebtedness). Solutions addressing these challenging experiences were suggested by interviewed couples including continued quality and respectful care to enhance biomedical experiences; public education campaigns to educate the public and destigmatize infertility to improve social experience, inclusion of psychosocial services as part of fertility integrated care to enhance psychological experiences, and enhanced financial protection, and service decentralisation to mitigate negative financial pressures.

Conclusion

Couples with infertility are exposed to various challenges in the biomedical, social, psychological, and financial domains. A health system strengthening approach is essential to address those challenges, and multiple strategies are needed to improve the experiences of couples with infertility in Morocco. Given interconnectedness between biomedical, social, psychological, and financial divers of experiences, a holistic approach is required to comprehensively improve the experiences of infertile couples and address all the issues faced by couples during their treatment journey.
The politics of environmental policy: haze pollution, ASEAN, and the way forward
Authors: Putra Bama Andika
Published: January 2025

One of the lingering environmental issues faced in Southeast Asia is transboundary haze due to peatland fires. The issue is primarily evident in the Southern sub-region of ASEAN but affects the entirety of the Southeast Asian region. Recent spikes in haze since 2023 and ASEAN’s inability to adopt enforcing pronouncements and mediate the political ‘blame game’ between ASEAN member states lays the foundation for alternative approaches to curtail the environmental crisis. This empirical explanatory study utilizes primary and secondary data between 2014 and 2024 relevant to the political dynamics of haze pollution regulation in Southeast Asia. It is recommended that an ASEAN code of conduct be introduced to elevate the importance of transboundary haze regulations in Southeast Asia. A moderate level of its implementation grants ASEAN member states the freedom to determine the time period and form of domestic regulations to be practiced. In ensuring greater stakeholder accountability and participation, it is also recommended that ASEAN member states provide incentives for private entities adopting sustainable management practices of peatlands and sanction stakeholders who display non-compliance.
Identifying community-driven priority questions in acoustic backscatter research
Authors: Lecours Vincent , Misiuk Benjamin , Butschek Felix , Blondel Philippe , Montereale-Gavazzi Giacomo , Lucieer Vanessa L. , McGonigle Chris
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Remotely-sensed acoustic backscatter is an indispensable tool for seabed mapping, among other disciplines. Almost a decade after the GeoHab Backscatter Working Group published its guidelines and recommendations report, new technologies, new challenges and new questions have emerged. Given the range of potential backscatter research avenues, it can be difficult to align research programs with the priorities of the community of practice. Prioritization of backscatter research topics is thus necessary to establish a roadmap for acoustic backscatter research efforts.

Methods

We asked the international community working with acoustic backscatter to submit their priority research questions over a 5- to 10-year horizon. We analyzed and curated a total of 177 research questions from 73 contributors, and the resulting 104 questions were grouped into eight broad recurring themes: “Technologies”, “Calibration”, “Data acquisition and ground-truthing”, “Data processing”, “Post-processing, quality control, data handling, and curation”, “Data analysis”, “Data interpretation”, and “Applications and end uses”. A follow-up survey based on the final list of questions was distributed to characterize the community working with backscatter and to identify key research priorities.

Results

A total of 120 responses originating from 23 countries were used for the analyses. Most respondents were researchers (68%), while others were technicians (25%) or department or program managers (11%), among other roles. Affiliations of respondents included academia (43%), governmental agencies (37%), and industry/private sector (18%). After scaling the responses, the most commonly selected theme was “Post-processing, quality control, data handling, and curation”, followed by “Calibration” and “Data analysis”. Respondents consistently ranked several research questions as priorities. The two questions that were identified as priorities by over 25% of respondents were “How can we move towards absolute calibration of different systems to allow interregional comparisons?”, and “How can we quantify seafloor backscatter quality and develop standards similar to what exists with bathymetry?”.

Discussion

All eight themes are represented in the top 10 priority questions, underscoring the need for contributions to backscatter research from multiple perspectives to advance the field. The ranking of priority questions encourages collaboration within the community and will serve as a roadmap for backscatter research programs over the next decade.
Climate change impacts on shoreline migration and community livelihood resilience: evidence from coastal Bangladesh
Authors: Islam Md. Tariqul , Hossain Md. Monabbir , Ha-Mim Nur Mohammad , Hossain Md. Zakir , Sikder Sujit Kumar
Published: January 2025

The livelihoods of coastal people are at risk as shoreline migration is accelerated by climate change. To safeguard these communities and maintain their economy, it is imperative to strengthen resilience via adaptive strategies. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the rates and impacts of physical shoreline migration over the past 9,000 years using geospatial analysis and focus on understanding the livelihood resilience of coastal at-risk communities using in-depth interviews with environmental experts. The dynamic system of the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna is highly complex and causes continuous shoreline migration. Historical data and more recent satellite remote sensing imagery analysis identified that the shrinking of the delta system has resulted from the migration of the shorelines at the mouth of the river system. Since 5,000 BP, it has been expanding towards the Bay of Bengal – meaning land gains at the coast. Land gain provides an opportunity for the extension of coastal communities but also increases their vulnerability to natural hazards. Moreover, by 2050, the salinity isoline with a 5-ppt is expected to shift inland by ⁓8 km in the south-east (Bhola-Patuakhali) and ⁓24 km in the southwest (Khulna-Satkhira) region. The in-depth interviews reveal several adaptive practices to effectively deal with the situation, including community knowledge, stakeholder engagement, local-led adaptation, and most importantly, temporal migration. The findings also highlighted the urgent need for an adaptation plan for the sustainability and resilience of coastal communities, considering indigenous knowledge with local cultural orientation and incorporation of scientific standards.
From speech acts to communicative acts: social network debates about sexual consent
Authors: Torras-Gómez Elisabeth , Krauchenberg Arja , Petuya Victor , Marcos Rebeca , Serradell Olga , Soler-Gallart Marta
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Understanding consent is essential to combat sexual violence, a deeply rooted social problem. Amidst its complexities, the scientific literature has emphasized the shortcomings of only considering the speech act—whether the victim-survivor said “yes” or not. Instead, sociological research underscores the need to analyze the whole communicative act where different elements lead to either a power relationship where there is no consent or a dialogic relationship where freedom is granted. Although some research has been conducted on citizens’ social media debates on consent, how such debates include the concept of communicative acts to discuss it has not been analyzed yet

Methods

55 gender-related Instagram and Twitter (now known as X) posts—published and extracted over the course of 14 days—were analyzed.

Results

Findings reveal that most posts refer to Power Communicative Acts as a hindrance for consent due to hierarchical power imbalances or to coercion, and called for the need to establish elements of Dialogic Communicative Acts to achieve consent and construct more egalitarian environments. Finally, most posts that considered ethics spoke about the need for perpetrators to be held accountable or offered similar takes on consequentialism.

Discussion

These findings help illustrate how several social media debates about consent successfully fall into the Communicative Acts framework.
Evaluation of growth, yield attributes, and yield of wheat varieties under Terminalia chebula trees
Authors: Kumar Akshay , Gupta Meenakshi , Gupta L. M. , Kour Sarabdeep , Choudhary Punit
Published: January 2025

Agroforestry plays a key role in the Indian economy in terms of tangible and intangible benefits. Agroforestry can simultaneously satisfy three important objectives, namely, protecting the ecosystems, producing a high-level output of economic goods, and increasing income and basic needs of the rural population, in addition to maintaining the resource base. In the Jammu subtropics, many fruit trees are grown with grasses or as the sole crop. There is not much awareness among farmers about the benefits of agroforestry. To overcome this, we conducted a field trial at the experimental farm of the Division of Agroforestry, Chatha, with the aim of exploring the possibility of growing different wheat varieties as an intercrop under the canopy of harad (Terminalia chebula Retz.) trees planted at a spacing of 5 × 4 m2. Three wheat varieties, namely, JAUW-598, WH-1080, and RSP-561, were grown under the Terminalia chebula trees, and growth and yield parameters were recorded at two distances from the base of the tree (0–1 m and 1–2 m). This study investigates the impact of distance from Terminalia chebula (harad) trees on the growth and yield of different wheat varieties in the agroclimatic conditions of Jammu and Kashmir. The primary objective was to determine the optimal spacing that minimizes competition for resources between the trees and crops, thereby enhancing wheat productivity. By evaluating key growth parameters and yield at varying distances from the tree base, this research aims to provide actionable insights for optimizing intercropping systems in the region. The growth and yield of varieties were significantly reduced under shade as compared to sole cropping. Maximum spike length (13.91 cm), tillers/plant (7.36), grains/spike (33.62), and grain yield (42.46 qha−1) were recorded in the variety RSP-561 grown in the open conditions. Overall, RSP-561 performed better among all the other varieties with a yield reduction of 47.83 and 12.15% at a distance of 0–1 m and 1–2 m, respectively, under shade as compared to the open conditions. All wheat varieties performed better at a distance of 1–2 m away from the tree base as the amount of shade/competition is less compared to a distance of 0–1 m from the tree base. The study concluded that wheat can be successfully grown at a distance of 1–2 m from the tree base to attain an additional income from the Terminalia chebula orchard.
Risk factors analysis of hypokalemia after radical resection of esophageal cancer and establishment of a nomogram risk prediction model
Authors: Yan Guanqiang , Li Jingxiao , Su Yiji , Li Guosheng , Feng Guiyu , Liu Jun , Gao Xiang , Zhou Huafu
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aimed to explore the risk factors of hypokalemia after radical resection of esophageal cancer (EC) and establish a nomogram risk prediction model to evaluate hypokalemia risk after esophagectomy. Thus, this study provides a reference for the clinical development of intervention measures.

Methods

Clinical data of EC patients who underwent radical surgery from January 2020 to November 2022 in the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University were retrospectively collected. The relevant variables were screened using multivariate logistic regression analysis with IBM SPSS 25.0 and R 4.2.0 software, and a nomogram for predicting hypokalemia risk was established. The established nomogram was evaluated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC), calibration, and decision curves. The model was also internally validated by 1000 bootstrap resampling methods.

Results

After radical EC resection, the incidence rate of hypokalemia in 213 patients was 19.2% (41/213). The hemoglobin levels, total serum protein, serum albumin, calcium ion concentration, direct bilirubin, prothrombin time (PT), and activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) were related (p < 0.05). The multivariate logistic analysis showed that the white blood cell count, serum albumin level, direct bilirubin, and operation time were risk factors for hypokalemia after radical EC resection (p < 0.05). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.764, demonstrating the good discriminative ability of the established nomogram for hypokalemia prediction. The calibration curve showed a good fit between the predicted and actual observed probabilities. The model maintained a high C-index in the internal validation (C-index = 0.758), supporting that the nomogram can be widely used for hypokalemia prediction.

Conclusion

The prediction model for hypokalemia risk with individualized scores based on the patient's white blood cell count, serum albumin level, direct bilirubin, and operation time can screen out high-risk patients who might develop hypokalemia. It is of certain reference value for clinicians to screen and follow up with patients with emphasis and to formulate preoperative and postoperative intervention strategies.
Reduction of antimicrobial resistance genes in wastewater through phytoremediation
Authors: McCorquodale-Bauer Kenton , Flores Orozco Daniel , Grosshans Richard , Zvomuya Francis , Cicek Nazim
Published: January 2025

Developing strategies for the prevention of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) in wastewater treatment facilities, such as municipal wastewater sewage lagoons, is important to prevent ARG introduction and proliferation to the environment. While previous studies have shown promising results in reducing ARGs through biological and phytoremediation systems like Constructed Wetlands, the underlying mechanisms and the impact of water chemistry on ARG reduction remain poorly understood. This study used metagenomics to investigate the effect of three different biological wastewater treatments on the microbial community and resistome. The results indicated that each biological treatment significantly reduced ARGs and metal resistance genes (MRGs). A network analysis identified eight bacterial genera strongly associated with resistance genes, six of which belonged to the phylum Pseudomonadota and two to Campylobacteria. Of the six genera in Pseudomonadota, four were facultative anaerobes. A strong correlation was observed between iron (Fe) concentration in water and total ARG abundance (r = 0.95), as well as between total metal concentration (across eight measured metals) and ARGs (r = 0.93). Additionally, there was a significant correlation between ARG abundance and Fe resistance (r = 0.86). This implies that high Fe and metal concentrations may favor ARG-harboring facultative bacteria by providing an electron donor for anaerobic respiration. This study suggests that phytoextraction of metals, including Fe, may play a significant role in reducing ARG abundance in treated water columns. These findings offer valuable insights into how metal removal and phytoremediation can effectively reduce ARG levels in wastewater.
Documentation of ethnoveterinary knowledge and alternative practices for cattle tick control in Sekhukhune District, Limpopo Province, South Africa
Authors: Phaahla Confidence Semakane , Shai Jeremiah Leshweni , Maduna Vincent , Moropeng Resoketswe Charlotte , Magano Solomon Ramagoai
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The integration of traditional plant-based methods for controlling ectoparasites in the primary healthcare of livestock is progressively emerging as a crucial intervention to enhance livestock productivity in regions with limited resources, particularly in smallholder farming areas facing resource constraints. In Sekhukhune District, where livestock plays a vital role in rural livelihoods, cattle ticks present a significant challenge to cattle farming. This study aimed to document the ethnoveterinary practices employed by local communities to control cattle ticks, highlighting the use of alternative methods rooted in indigenous knowledge (IK).

Methods

Data were collected using a purposive sampling method to select traditional livestock keepers, herders, and community elders to uncover the plant-based treatments and management strategies used in tick control. In addition, a semi-structured questionnaire and a guided field survey were employed to collect data.

Results

A total of 250 participants, with an age range from 18 to over 60 years, were recruited. The result revealed that the elder participants, over 60 years of age, were more knowledgeable compared to the youth and adults. Furthermore, 28 plant species with potential acaricidal properties and other methods aimed at controlling cattle tick infestations were documented. Cissus quadrangularis was the most frequently cited species, which was widely distributed throughout the district.

Conclusion

In addition, these results are framed within the larger context of sustainability, promoting eco-friendly cattle farming practices in Sekhukhune District while reducing reliance on conventional acaricides. By documenting this ethnoveterinary knowledge, the study contributes to the preservation of indigenous knowledge while advocating for sustainable approaches to livestock health management in rural areas. The study concludes with valuable insights into the selected local community’s traditional methods of managing tick infestations. Furthermore, the study underscores the significance of preserving and understanding indigenous knowledge in livestock health management, particularly in regions where conventional veterinary approaches may face challenges.
Does perioperative electroacupuncture reduce postoperative pain in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy?
Authors: Iwe Celine , Schiele Anika , Passenegg Vanessa , Corona Daniele , Bettschart-Wolfensberger Regula , Heitzmann Vanessa
Published: January 2025

Introduction

This study aimed to investigate the analgesic efficacy of perioperative electroacupuncture in fifty-six healthy female dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy as part of a catch-neuter-release project.

Materials and methods

Ten minutes after sedation with 20 μg/kg medetomidine combined with 0.3 mg/kg butorphanol intramuscularly, the dogs were randomly allocated into two groups and received either electroacupuncture (EA, n = 27) or sham acupuncture (C, n = 29) treatment for 10 min (after sedation until the end of the surgery) at 6 different acupuncture points LI-4 (Large intestine 4), LIV-3 (Liver 3), ST-36 (Stomach 36), SP-6 (Spleen 6) bilateral. After administration of 0.2 mg/kg meloxicam and anesthesia induction with 2 mg/kg ketamine intravenously, ovariohysterectomy was performed by the same experienced surgeon using a midline surgical approach in dorsal recumbency. Pain was evaluated by two blinded and independent anesthetists using the Short Form of the Multimodal Glasgow Composite Pain Scale (mCMPS-SF) before sedation (T0), and three (T3), six (T6), and 24 h (T24) after anesthesia induction.

Results

Postoperative pain scores did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.36), but increased significantly three (T3) (p = 0.001) and six (T6) (p = 0.001) hours after surgery compared to before sedation and 24 h postoperative in both groups. Three hours after surgery (T3), 89.4% and six hours postoperatively (T6), 71.4% of the dogs in both groups exceeded the analgesic intervention threshold of the mCMPS-SF, indicating the need for rescue analgesia.

Discussion

The results of the study indicate that perioperative electroacupuncture treatment did not improve postoperative pain in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Therefore, a 10-min electroacupuncture treatment may be insufficient to provide effective postoperative analgesia. The pain assessment in feral dogs was notably impacted by anxious behavior, which may have influenced the final outcome The pain threshold was exceeded in ¾ of the dogs in the early postoperative phase (T3, T6), suggesting that the widely used anesthesia protocol consisting of butorphanol, ketamine and medetomidine in combination with meloxicam may not provide long-lasting and sufficient pain relief.
Domesticated chickens interact more with humans and are more explorative than Red Junglefowl
Authors: Demree Ruth , Jensen Per
Published: January 2025

Domesticated species are adapted to thrive in an environment with regular human interaction, and these interactions influence the development of a human-animal relationship. Chickens are the most abundant domesticated species, but their relationship with humans is poorly understood. A more comprehensive analysis of this relationship would provide valuable insight into their welfare needs. The present study compares the behavior of a domesticated and a non-domesticated breed of Gallus gallus in the presence of a familiar human. The domesticated breed was more active overall, and displayed more human contact-seeking behavior. These behavioral differences contribute to our understanding of the human-chicken relationship and could be helpful new insights for improving welfare of chickens in agricultural practice.
Driving Digital Transformation in Lima’s SMEs: Unveiling the Role of Digital Competencies and Organizational Culture in Business Success
Authors: Espina-Romero Lorena , Chafloque-Céspedes Raquel , Izaguirre Olmedo Jorge , Albarran Taype Rossmery , Ochoa-Díaz Angélica
Published: January 2025

This study examines the impact of digital competencies (DCs) and organizational culture (OC) on digital transformation (DT) in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in metropolitan Lima. Using a non-experimental and cross-sectional design, 307 business owners were surveyed using a previously validated questionnaire. Data were analyzed through partial least squares structural equation modeling (SEM-PLS). The results show that DCs have a direct and significant impact on DT, being the main driver of this process. Additionally, OC acts as a partial mediator between DCs and DT, although its influence is lesser, compared with DCs. The study highlights the importance of DCs in driving digitalization in SMEs, while OC facilitates, although does not solely determine, the success of the digital transformation process. Despite the limitations and the cross-sectional nature of the study, the findings provide valuable insights for SMEs in emerging economies and offer a basis for future research on the factors influencing digital transformation in similar contexts.
CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Editing of a NODULATION SIGNALING PATHWAY 1 Homolog Alters the Production of Strigolactones in Sunflower Roots
Authors: Lebedeva Maria A. , Gancheva Maria S. , Losev Maksim R. , Sokornova Sofia V. , Yuzikhin Oleg S. , Krutikova Anna A. , Plemyashov Kirill V. , Lutova Lyudmila A.
Published: January 2025

Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is specifically infected by an obligatory root parasitic plant Orobanche cumana Wallr. (sunflower broomrape), which causes significant losses of sunflower yield. Breeding of sunflower varieties resistant to broomrape is an important challenge for agriculture. However, the selection of new resistant sunflower varieties was accompanied by the emergence of new virulent races of broomrape, which overcame the effect of resistance genes. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying the resistance to broomrape in sunflowers should facilitate the development of new sunflower varieties with complex resistance to broomrape using genome editing technology. Here, we used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing in sunflower hairy roots for a specific knock-out of the gene encoding a GRAS transcription factor (HaNSP1a), acting as a possible regulator of strigolactone biosynthesis, a class of phytohormones known to induce the germination of broomrape seeds. According to HPLC-IT-TOF/MS analysis, the levels of orobanchol were decreased in the genetically modified roots with knock-out of the HaNSP1a gene, whereas, in contrast, 5-deoxystrigol levels were increased in the roots with HaNSP1a knock-out, suggesting the role of HaNSP1a in the regulation of the strigolactone biosynthetic pathway. The experimental approach described here could be used in further studies to test the effect of gene knock-out on the development of resistance to O. cumana in sunflowers.
Relationship Between Population Size and Habitat Area of Giant Pandas in China
Authors: Kang Dongwei
Published: January 2025

This study analyzed survey result data of giant panda populations and habitats in the third and fourth giant panda surveys to reveal the population size–habitat area relationship and assess the habitat status at the county and nature reserve levels. Results showed that a significant linear relationship existed between the logarithm of population size (lnS) and the logarithm of habitat area (lnA), with an equation of lnS = 1.145 × lnA − 4.022. Based on this relationship, this study determined that 557.43 km2 was the minimum habitat area for maintaining a sustainable survival population of 25 pandas (the minimum population size to ensure sustainable survival with a relatively low extinction probability). This study selected 20 counties and 16 nature reserves containing ≥25 pandas and found that 30.0% of counties and 87.5% of reserves had habitat areas less than 557.43 km2. More habitat restoration efforts are needed to increase the habitat. The habitat area remained stable in the selected counties but decreased in the selected reserves between the third and fourth surveys. The causes of habitat decline in counties and reserves should be identified so that targeted conservation measures can be implemented. This study provides a theoretical basis and scientific reference for giant panda conservation and habitat management.
Interventions by Cardiovascular Drugs Against Aircraft Noise-Induced Cardiovascular Oxidative Stress and Damage
Authors: Kuntić Marin , Kuntić Ivana , Zheng Jiayin , Nardi Leonardo , Oelze Matthias , Valar Arijan , Mihaliková Dominika , Strohm Lea , Ubbens Henning , Tang Qi , Zhang Liyu , Horta Guilherme , Stamm Paul , Hahad Omar , Krueger-Burg Dilja , Li Huige , Steven Sebastian , Gericke Adrian , Schmeisser Michael J. , Münzel Thomas , Daiber Andreas
Published: January 2025

Noise pollution is a known health risk factor and evidence for cardiovascular diseases associated with traffic noise is growing. At least 20% of the European Union’s population lives in noise-polluted areas with exposure levels exceeding the recommended limits of the World Health Organization, which is considered unhealthy by the European Environment Agency. This results in the annual loss of 1.6 million healthy life years. Here, we investigated the protective effects of cardiovascular drug interventions against aircraft noise-mediated cardiovascular complications such as elevated oxidative stress or endothelial dysfunction. Using our established mouse exposure model, we applied mean sound pressure levels of 72 dB(A) for 4 d. C57BL/6 mice were treated with the beta-blocker propranolol (15 mg/kg/d s.c. for 5 d) or the alpha-blocker phenoxybenzamine (1.5 mg/kg/d s.c. for 5 d) and noise-exposed for the last 4 d of the drug administration. Short-term noise exposure caused hypertension (measured by tail-cuff blood pressure monitoring) and impaired endothelial function (measured by isometric tension recording in the aorta and video microscopy in cerebral arterioles in response to acetylcholine). Noise also increased markers of oxidative stress and inflammation. Treatment of mice with propranolol and phenoxybenzamine prevented endothelial and microvascular dysfunction, which was supported by a decrease in markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in heart tissue and the brain. Amelioration of noise-induced hypertension (systolic blood pressure) was not observed, whereas pulse pressure was lowered by trend. This study provides a novel perspective mitigating the adverse effects of noise pollution, especially in vulnerable groups with medication, a rationale for further pharmacological human studies.
In Situ and Partial In Situ Synthesis of Cellulose Magnetite/Maghemite Composites
Authors: Rotaru Razvan , Fortună Maria Emiliana , Ungureanu Elena , Ungureanu Ovidiu , Dascalu Andrei , Harabagiu Valeria
Published: January 2025

The current study aims to prepare ferromagnetic iron oxides (magnetite and/or maghemite) using the coprecipitation method of an iron salt in a basic environment stimulated by ultrasound, with cellulose added at the start of the synthesis and after 15 min in order to perform an in situ and partial in situ synthesis. The structures, morphology, and properties of composites are analyzed by IR, XRD, SEM, TEM, TGA, DSC, and magnetic measurements. The cumulative effect of the ultrasonic waves is observed by a reduction in the degree of crystallinity of the native cellulose compared to the composites (from 73.2 to 36.4, respectively 38.3). The vibrating sample magnetic measurement shows a single hysteresis curve characteristic of ferromagnetic materials with superparamagnetic properties.
Particulate Matter During Food Preparation on a Barbecue: A Case Study of an Electric Barbecue
Authors: Bihałowicz Jan Stefan , Badyda Artur , Rogula-Kozłowska Wioletta , Widziewicz-Rzońca Kamila , Rogula-Kopiec Patrycja , Chyzhykov Dmytro , Majewski Grzegorz , Pecio Mariusz
Published: January 2025

The distribution of mass and the number of particles is a determining factor in the respirable nature of a given particulate matter (PM), and thus in the potential health effects of breathing the air in question. One of the most popular activities during the summer months is the preparation of food on a barbecue. Barbecuing represents one of the few sources of combustion particulates during the summer, a period which is otherwise characterised by a lack of heating. The objective of this study is to ascertain the fractional composition of PM emitted during food preparation on an electric barbecue and to compare these values with the measured background. The concentrations of particulate matter (PM) at the barbecue were determined with a Palas AQ Guard optical spectrometer, while the background concentrations were measured with a Palas Fidas 200 optical spectrometer that complies with the EN16450 standard. The contribution of the individual PM fractions measured in the barbecue environment differed from that observed in the ambient air. The background measurements exhibited a relatively well-defined and consistent distribution, with the PM1 fraction representing between 10 and 30% of the PM mass and the PM4−1 fraction accounting for only 10 to 20%. Thus, the mass of the PM4 fraction did not exceed 50% of the total mass of particles. Upon analysis of the particles emitted during the grilling process, it was observed that the PM1 fraction was capable of accounting for a substantial proportion, exceeding 90% of the PM mass. The trend related to the PM4−1 fraction was maintained; however, the limit of the maximum content of this fraction increased to 40% of the PM. The results demonstrate that the barbecue process itself, utilising a barbecue without emission fuel, can exert a notable influence on the contribution of submicron PM.
Developing a Fire Monitoring System Based on MQTT, ESP-NOW, and a REM in Industrial Environments
Authors: Udurume Miracle , Hwang Taewoong , Uddin Raihan , Aziz Toufiq , Koo Insoo
Published: January 2025

Fires and fire hazards in industrial environments pose a significant risk to safety, infrastructure, and the operational community. The need for real-time monitoring systems capable of detecting fires early and transmitting alerts promptly is crucial. This paper presents a fire monitoring system utilizing lightweight communication protocols, a multi-hop wireless network, and anomaly detection techniques. The system leverages Message Queue Telemetry Transport (MQTT) for efficient message exchange, the ESP-NOW for low-latency and reliable multi-hop wireless communications, and a radio environment map for optimal node placement, eliminating packet loss and ensuring robust data transmission. The proposed system addresses the limitations of traditional fire monitoring systems, providing flexibility, scalability, and robustness in detecting fire. Data collected by ESP32-CAM sensors, which are equipped with pre-trained YOLOv5-based fire detection modules, are processed and transmitted to a central monitoring server. Experimental results demonstrate a 100% success rate in fire detection transmissions, a significant reduction in latency to 150ms, and zero packet loss under REM-guided configuration. These findings validate the system’s suitability for real-time monitoring in high-risk industrial settings. Future work will focus on enhancing the anomaly detection model for greater accuracy, expanding scalability through additional communication protocols, like LoRaWAN, and incorporating adaptive algorithms for real-time network optimization.
The Principle and Downhole Testing of Water Injection Exploration in Depleted Reservoirs
Authors: Xu Jinpeng , Zhao Hui , Dong Bing , Li Yi , Wang Chuang
Published: January 2025

Coal mine water hazards are one of the five major natural disasters in mines, and water in depleted areas is the most serious form of water hazard causing casualties. The exploration of depleted areas, especially old tunnels, presents significant challenges, and achieving the required borehole density for exploration in depleted areas is difficult in reality. The authors of this paper previously applied for a patent titled “Water Injection Exploration Method for Depleted Areas Based on Stress Seepage Principle”. In order to theoretically analyze the feasibility of the patented results and validate them in practice, we first analyze the stress distribution and seepage phenomena around the goaf theoretically, construct boreholes underground in Renlou Coal Mine, conducting on-site water injection tests for different zones (depleted areas, old tunnels, and general boreholes), and perform transient electromagnetic observations during the water injection tests. A total of 355 sets of water injection flow rate and pressure data were obtained from different zones in three different boreholes; permeability coefficients were calculated based on the measured data, and relevant diagrams were drawn. Through the analysis of water injection test data and theoretical analysis, the following conclusions were drawn: there are disturbances and stress reduction zones around depleted areas (old tunnels), and when the equivalent normal stress induced by water injection pressure is greater than zero, the permeability of fractures will increase significantly. Whether it is a borehole aimed at depleted areas or old tunnels, it shows the characteristic that the closer the distance to the depleted areas (old tunnels) is, the smaller the water injection pressure, and the larger the permeability coefficient. When water is injected into the disturbance and stress reduction zones of the depleted areas (old tunnels), the water injection pressure can decrease from 9–10 MPa to 3–4 MPa, and the permeability coefficient may even increase in quantity value. The phenomena of pressure reduction and increased permeability during water injection are significantly observable, indicating that the water injection exploration method for depleted areas based on the stress seepage principle is feasible and has practical significance.
Influence of Urban Commercial Street Interface Morphology on Surrounding Wind Environment and Thermal Comfort
Authors: Zhang Yijie , Huang Bin
Published: January 2025

In recent climate-adaptive design strategies, there has been a growing interest in creating healthy and comfortable urban microclimates. However, not enough attention has been paid to the influence of street interface morphology in order to better understand the wind–thermal conditions of various commercial streets within the city and create a sustainable built environment. This research summarizes and categorizes commercial streets according to their functions and types of attributes and then abstracts the ideal models of three types of typical commercial streets to explore the effects of changes in specific morphological parameters on their wind–thermal environments. Firstly, this study selects out design parameters that affect the street interface morphology. Then, it uses the numerical simulation software PHOENICS2019 to simulate and investigate the effects of three types of typical commercial street interface morphology on their wind environment and thermal comfort. The results show that (1) in neighborhood-commercial streets, reducing void ratio and variance of height fluctuations can enhance the average wind speed of the street while reducing average temperature and improving the thermal comfort; (2) in business-office streets, the value of the void ratio is negatively correlated with the wind environment and thermal comfort, while the changes in the variance of height fluctuations and the average aspect ratio are positively correlated; and (3) in comprehensive-commercial streets, the decrease of the void ratio will reduce the average wind speed of its street and increase the average temperature, thus weakening the thermal comfort of pedestrians. In contrast, the variance of height fluctuations as well as the average aspect ratio do not significantly affect its wind–thermal environment. These conclusions from this research provide a theoretical basis and methodological reference for the creation of safer, resilient and sustainable built environments.
Impact of Sea Surface Temperature on City Temperature near Warm and Cold Ocean Currents in Summer Season for Northern Hemisphere
Authors: Moazzam Muhammad Farhan Ul , Lee Byung Gul , Kim Sanghyun
Published: January 2025

This study examined the impact of sea surface temperature (SST) on urban temperature across four cities located in three different countries (United States of America, Japan, and Morocco), all at nearly the same latitude, focusing on the summer season over the period from 2003 to 2020, because previously no one attempted to analyze the impact of SST on land surface temperature (LST). Data were acquired from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) for LST and SST to evaluate the correlation between urban temperature and SST, the trends over time, and the relationship between urban areas and LST. The novelty of this study lies in its being the first to investigate the impact of SST on urban temperature based on a city’s proximity to warm and cold ocean currents. The findings revealed a positive correlation between LST and SST across all cities analyzed in this study (San Francisco, Tangier, Tokyo, and Atlantic City), and in some instances a significant positive relationship was observed at a 95% confidence level, but still the significance is in the range of weak to moderate. Specifically, the study found that during both daytime and nighttime, Tangier exhibited a decreasing trend in LST (99% confidence level) and SST. On the contrary, San Francisco displayed an increasing trend in both LST and SST during the daytime, but at nighttime, while SST continued to rise, LST showed a decreasing trend. Further analysis differentiated cities influenced by warm ocean currents (Tokyo and Atlantic City) from those affected by cold currents (San Francisco and Tangier). In Tokyo, influenced by a warm ocean current, there was a decreasing trend in LST despite increased SST. Conversely, Atlantic City, also influenced by warm ocean currents, showed an increasing trend in both LST and SST during the daytime. At nighttime, both Tokyo and Atlantic City exhibited increasing trends in LST and SST. Additionally, this study explored the correlation between urban areas and LST, finding that cities influenced by warm ocean currents (Tokyo and Atlantic City) showed a positive correlation between urban areas and LST. In contrast, cities influenced by cold ocean currents (San Francisco and Tangier) displayed a negative correlation between urban areas and LST. Overall, this research highlights the complex interplay between SST and urban temperatures, demonstrating how ocean currents and urbanization can influence temperature trends differently in cities at similar latitudes.
Cooper Pairs in 2D Trapped Atoms Interacting Through Finite-Range Potentials
Authors: Pineda-Ríos Erick Manuel , Paredes Rosario
Published: January 2025

This work deals with the key constituent behind the existence of superfluid states in ultracold fermionic gases confined in a harmonic trap in 2D, namely, the formation of Cooper pairs in the presence of a Fermi sea in inhomogeneous confinement. For a set of finite-range models representing particle–particle interaction, we first ascertain the simultaneity of the emergence of bound states and the divergence of the s-wave scattering length in 2D as a function of the interaction potential parameters in free space. Then, through the analysis of two particles interacting in 2D harmonic confinement, we evaluate the energy shift with respect to the discrete harmonic oscillator levels for both repulsive and attractive cases. All of these results are the basis for determining the energy gaps of Cooper pairs arising from two particles interacting in the presence of a Fermi sea consisting of particles immersed in a 2D harmonic trap.
Influence of Infection Origin, Type of Sampling, and Weather Factors on the Periodicity of Some Infectious Pathogens in Marseille University Hospitals, France
Authors: Kaba Lanceï , Giraud-Gatineau Audrey , Colson Philippe , Fournier Pierre-Edouard , Chaudet Hervé
Published: January 2025

This study aimed at systematically exploring the seasonalities of bacterial identifications from 1 February 2014 to 31 January 2020 in hospitalized patients, considering the infectious site and the community-acquired or hospital-associated origin. Bacterial identifications were extracted from the data warehouse of the Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Mediterranée Infection surveillance system, along with their epidemiological characteristics. Each species’ series was processed using a scientific workflow based on the TBATS time series model. Possible co-seasonalities were researched using seasonal peak clustering and series cross-correlations. In this study, only the 15 most frequent species were described in detail. The three most frequent species were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis, with median weekly incidences of 145, 74, and 39 cases, respectively. Samplings of S. aureus and E. coli follow the same seasonal dynamics. S. aureus hospital-associated infections exhibited a significant association with temperature, humidity, and pressure change, whereas community-acquired infections were only associated with precipitations. More seasonal peaks were observed during the winter season. Among the 15 peaks of this seasonal maximum, 6.7% came from blood (Klebsiellia oxytoca) and 13.3% from respiratory specimens (E. coli and S aureus). Our results showed significant associations of periodicity between pathogens, origin of infection, type of sampling, and weather drivers.
Numerical Simulation of Impact of Different Redox Couples on Flow Characteristics and Electrochemical Performance of Deep Eutectic Solvent Electrolyte Flow Batteries
Authors: Xiao Zhiyuan , Zhang Ruiping , Lu Mengyue , Ma Qiang , Li Zhuo , Su Huaneng , Li Huanhuan , Xu Qian
Published: January 2025

A comprehensive, three-dimensional, macro-scale model was developed to simulate non-aqueous deep eutectic solvent (DES) electrolyte flow batteries. The model’s feasibility was validated by comparing the simulated polarization data with the experimental results. Utilizing this model, the work reported here compared the flow characteristics and electrochemical properties of electrolytes with different redox couples within the porous electrodes of the batteries. Despite variations in the active materials, the distribution of the electrolyte flow rate showed uniformity due to consistent electrode and flow channel designs, indicating that the structural design of electrodes and channels has a more significant impact on electrolyte flow than the physicochemical properties of the electrolytes themselves. This study also highlighted that TEMPO and Quinoxaline DES electrolytes exhibited less flow resistance and more uniform concentration distributions, which helped reduce overpotentials and enhance battery energy efficiency. Furthermore, this research identified that the highest average overpotentials occurred near the membrane for all the redox couples, demonstrating that electrochemical reactions in DES electrolyte flow batteries primarily occur in the region close to the membrane. This finding underscores the importance of optimizing active redox ions transport in electrolytes to enhance electrochemical reactions in the proximal membrane region, which is crucial for improving flow battery performance.