bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of single-step methods for genomic prediction of age at first calving in dairy buffaloes
Authors: dos Santos Jessica Cristina Gonçalves , de Araújo Neto Francisco Ribeiro , Fernandez Gabriela Stefani , de Abreu Santos Daniel Jordan , Cunha Felipe Pereira , Aspilcueta-Borquis Rusbel Raul , Tonhati Humberto
Published: November 2024

The age at first calving (AFC) is an important trait to be considered in breeding programmes of dairy buffaloes, where new approaches and technologies, such as genomic selection, are constantly applied. Thus, the objective of this study was to compare the predictive ability of different genomic single-step methods using AFC information from Murrah buffaloes. From a pedigree file containing 3320 buffaloes, 2247 cows had AFC records and 553 animals were genotyped. The following models were performed: pedigree-based BLUP (PBLUP), single-step GBLUP (ssGBLUP), weighted single-step GBLUP (WssGBLUP), and single-step Bayesian regression methods (ssBR-BayesA, BayesBπ, BayesCπ, Bayes-Lasso, and BayesRR). To compare the methodologies, the accuracy and dispersion of (G)EBVs were assessed using the LR method. Accuracy estimates for the genotyped animals ranged from 0.30 (PBLUP) to 0.39 (WssGBLUP). Predictions with the traditional model (PBLUP) were very dispersed from what was expected, while BayesCπ (0.99) and WssGBLUP (1.00) obtained the lowest dispersion. The results indicate that the use of genomic information can improve the genetic gain for AFC by increasing the accuracy and reducing inflation/deflation of predictions compared to the traditional pedigree-based model. In addition, among all genomic single-step models studied, WssGBLUP and single-step BayesA were the most advantageous methods to be used in the genomic evaluation of AFC of buffaloes from this population.
Outcomes of guidelines from health technology assessment organizations in community-based primary care: a systematic mixed studies review
Authors: Baradaran Ashkan , Tolentino Raymond , Grad Roland , Ganache Isabelle , Gore Geneviève , Abbasgholizadeh Rahimi Samira , Pluye Pierre
Published: November 2024

Background

Health technology assessment (HTA) organizations generate guidelines to inform healthcare practices toward improved health outcomes. This review sought to identify and classify outcomes of guidelines from HTA organizations within published research.

Methodology

We performed a systematic mixed studies review of empirical studies that (a) referred to a published guideline from an HTA organization and (b) reported an outcome resulting from a guideline. We searched the published literature in English or French within seven databases. Outcome types were classified within five dimensions of an existing framework for online health information (e.g., relevance, cognitive/affective impact, and use). Subdimensions were inductively developed. A two-phase sequential data synthesis was performed. Phase 1: a hybrid deductive–inductive thematic analysis identified the types of outcomes and displayed their relationships on a concept map. Phase 2: descriptive statistics were tabulated by the type of outcome.

Results

A total of 6,719 records were retrieved through searches on 6 February 2023. After screening, we included 120 observational studies (twenty-one qualitative, ninety-four quantitative, and five mixed methods). Phase 1 identified twenty-nine types of outcomes. The most frequently reported outcomes were within the organizational dimension (reported in ninety-four studies). The most common subdimensions were “Referrals” (thirty-eight occurrences), the “Quality of Prescriptions” (fifteen occurrences), and the “Quality of Diagnosis” (eight occurrences). For Phase 2, we could only generate descriptive statistics on seventeen outcomes. These were almost equally distributed among positive, neutral, and negative effects. Our results contribute to knowledge about the outcomes of HTA guidelines and options for documenting and measuring them in future evaluations.
Expertise and Inequality Amid Environmental Crisis: A View from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta
Authors: Warren Joseph
Published: November 2024

Scientific expertise is crucial for responding effectively to environmental crises. Nevertheless, under conditions of political inequality, expert policy making can inhibit policy solutions by altering incentives of powerful interest groups. This is the situation facing the predominantly Alaska Native communities of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta, which have long relied on salmon for subsistence and are now experiencing a collapse of the salmon population. Scientific evidence indicates that climate change is a primary cause, and experts therefore have opposed demands by Native subsistence fishers for ameliorative measures—especially restricting pollock fishing—as likely to be ineffective. However, this approach eliminates incentives for the influential pollock industry to support policies to address the salmon crisis, including climate-change mitigation. This article presents a simple formal model that demonstrates these incentive effects. This argument contributes to theories of business power and shows how expert policy making can inadvertently force marginalized communities to bear the burden of climate change.
The unrevealed links: periodontal health, human milk composition, and infant gut microbiome dynamics
Authors: Badewy Rana , Glogauer Michael , Connor Kristin L. , Sgro Michael , Lai Jim Yuan , Bazinet Richard P. , Tenenbaum Howard C. , Azarpazhooh Amir
Published: November 2024

Aim:

This review aims to identify the mechanistic relationships related to periodontal diseases and its possible association with changes in human milk composition and the composition and function of infants’ gut microbiome.

Background:

Maternal health conditions, especially inflammatory, are associated with altered human milk composition. It is not known whether maternal oral inflammatory diseases, including periodontal diseases, deleteriously affect human milk composition.

Methods:

A narrative review was conducted according to SANRA, the Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles, guidelines. PubMed, Google Scholar, and Cochrane database of systematic reviews were searched from September 2019 up to December 2023 using keywords such as breast/human milk, maternal health/infections, and periodontal diseases. Reference lists of relevant articles were also screened. Our primary outcome of interest was human milk composition (i.e., any changes in macronutrients, immunological components, etc.). Secondary outcomes included changes in human milk microbiome and subsequent changes in the infant gut microbiome. Outcomes were synthesized using a narrative approach where the existing evidence and current literature were summarized. No risk of bias assessment of the studies was performed in this review.

Findings:

The search yielded no studies investigating the relationship between periodontal diseases in nursing mothers and changes in human milk composition. However, a dose–response relationship exists between the severity of periodontal diseases and the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth. Mastitis and diabetes affected milk lipids. Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) was increased in mastitis, whereas reduced concentrations were reported in diabetes. Potential biological pathways through which periodontal diseases can negatively affect human milk composition include the systemic dissemination of inflammatory cytokines like IL-6, PGE2, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-β that can be up-regulated by bacterial by-products. This biological plausibility needs to be investigated, given the potentially negative impact on the quality of human milk that could be caused by periodontal inflammation.
A wearable gait lab powered by sensor-driven digital twins for quantitative biomechanical analysis post-stroke
Authors: Simonetti Donatella , Hendriks Maartje , Koopman Bart , Keijsers Noel , Sartori Massimo
Published: November 2024

Commonly, quantitative gait analysis post-stroke is performed in fully equipped laboratories housing costly technologies for quantitative evaluation of a patient’s movement capacity. Combining such technologies with an electromyography (EMG)-driven musculoskeletal model can estimate muscle force properties non-invasively, offering clinicians insights into motor impairment mechanisms. However, lab-constrained areas and time-demanding sensor setup and data processing limit the practicality of these technologies in routine clinical care. We presented wearable technology featuring a multi-channel EMG-sensorized garment and an automated muscle localization technique. This allows unsupervised computation of muscle-specific activations, combined with five inertial measurement units (IMUs) for assessing joint kinematics and kinetics during various walking speeds. Finally, the wearable system was combined with a person-specific EMG-driven musculoskeletal model (referred to as human digital twins), enabling the quantitative assessment of movement capacity at a muscle-tendon level. This human digital twin facilitates the estimation of ankle dorsi-plantar flexion torque resulting from individual muscle-tendon forces. Results demonstrate the wearable technology’s capability to extract joint kinematics and kinetics. When combined with EMG signals to drive a musculoskeletal model, it yields reasonable estimates of ankle dorsi-plantar flexion torques (R2 = 0.65 ± 0.21) across different walking speeds for post-stroke individuals. Notably, EMG signals revealing an individual’s control strategy compensate for inaccuracies in IMU-derived kinetics and kinematics when input into a musculoskeletal model. Our proposed wearable technology holds promise for estimating muscle kinetics and resulting joint torque in time-limited and space-constrained environments. It represents a crucial step toward translating human movement biomechanics outside of controlled lab environments for effective motor impairment monitoring.
Enhanced Typhoon Center Localization Using Geostationary Satellite Imagery
Authors: Zhou Yuxuan , Min Min , Li Jun , Cao Zhiqiang , Gao Ling
Published: November 2024

An accurate center localization in near real‐time is critical for tropical cyclone (TC) monitoring and forecasting. This study presents a robust algorithm for localizing typhoon centers using the Chinese geostationary (GEO) meteorological satellite. The results using the Advanced Geostationary Radiation Imager (AGRI) onboard Fengyun‐4A (FY‐4A) satellite data, achieving a mean absolute error (MAE) of 29.4 km across various typhoon intensities in the Western North Pacific, superior to other baseline methods. By harnessing the multi‐spectral imagery from the FY‐4A and incorporating an attention mechanism, it significantly boosts the deep learning convolutional neural network's ability to identify typhoon cloud features and their centers, even during their initial and weakest stages, which is laudable because these are the most difficult for center fixing even for human analysts. Remarkably, it requires just a single moment satellite imagery to locate the center of typhoon, enabling automated updates of the typhoon centers in near real‐time applications.
Heterogeneous Tarim Cratonic Crust Induced by a Mantle Plume and Its Effect on Later Tectonic Evolution Based on Multi‐Frequency Receiver Functions Imaging
Authors: Li Wentao , Wang Xu , Liang Xiaofeng , Zuo Sicheng , Li Shilin , Qu Chen , Tian Xiaobo , Chen Ling
Published: November 2024

It remains controversial whether the interaction between a mantle plume and a craton destabilizes or reinforces the craton. The Tarim basin, with a craton core, a Permian Large Igneous Province, and internal deformation, is an ideal place to investigate this interaction. Here, we construct high‐resolution S‐wave velocity structures down to 15 km in depth using multi‐frequency receiver functions from two temporary seismic arrays that largely cover the Tarim Basin. Our results reveal a strong velocity‐increasing discontinuity across the basin and several large‐scale high‐Vs anomalies. The discontinuity is flat at about 3.5 km depth in the majority of eastern Basin but is uplifted and folded to ∼3 km depth around the Bachu Uplift in the central‐western basin and depressed to more than 6 km depth in the northwestern and southwestern basin. The high‐Vs anomalies, with an average Vs of ∼3.4 km/s, are concentrated under this discontinuity around the Bachu Uplift. Analysis with drilling data, experimental rock‐physics data and previous geophysical observations indicates that the discontinuity corresponds to the top of early Permian strata, and the high‐Vs anomalies are the magmatic intrusions from the early Permian mantle plume. There is strong deformation around the Bachu Uplift formed during Cenozoic Indian‐Eurasian collision, exhibiting a strong spatial correlation with the Permian magmatic intrusions. This suggests that the western Tarim Craton, compared to the east, may be weakened in strength by the Permian mantle plume and exhibits more localized Cenozoic deformation.
Structural Controls on Megathrust Slip Behavior Inferred From a 3D, Crustal‐Scale, P‐Wave Velocity Model of the Alaska Peninsula Subduction Zone
Authors: Acquisto T. , Bécel A. , Canales J. P. , Beaucé E.
Published: November 2024

In subduction zones, along‐strike and downdip variations in megathrust slip behavior are linked to changes in properties of the subducting and overriding plates. Although marine geophysical methods provide insights into subduction zone structures, most surveys consist of sparse 2D profiles, limiting our understanding of first‐order controls. Here, we use active‐source seismic data to derive a 3D crustal‐scale P‐wave velocity model of the Alaska Peninsula subduction zone that encompasses both plates and spans the Semidi segment and SW Kodiak asperity. Our results reveal modest variations within the incoming plate, attributed to a series of fracture zones, seamounts and their associated basement swell, collectively contributing to plate hydration. Basement swell appears to modulate the distribution and type of sediment entering the trench, likely impacting observed variations in slip behavior. The overriding plate exhibits significant heterogeneity. The updip limit and width of the dynamic backstop are similar between the SW Kodiak asperity and eastern Semidi segment, but differ significantly from the Western Semidi segment. These distinctions likely account for differences in earthquake rupture patterns and interseismic coupling among these segments. Additionally, high‐velocities in the mid‐lower forearc crust coincide with the location of megathrust slip during the Mw 8.2 2021 Chignik event. We interpret these velocities as intracrustal intrusions that contributed to the deep rupture of the 2021 event. Our findings suggest that the contrasting structural and material properties of both the incoming and overriding plates influence the spatially complex and semi‐persistent segmentation of the megathrust offshore the Alaska Peninsula.
Impact of Oversimplified Parameters on BVOC Emissions Estimation in China: A Sensitivity Analysis Using the WRF‐CLM4‐MEGAN Model
Authors: Shang Fang , Yin Lifei , Liu Mingxu , Liu Bing , Xu Tingting , Li Mengmeng , Cai Xuhui , Kang Ling , Zhang Hongsheng , Yue Xu , Song Yu
Published: November 2024

Biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions estimation models are driven by various physical factors. Many studies use weather forecasting models coupled with simple BVOC emission algorithms, where the physical factors driving variations in emissions are largely oversimplified. This study employs the land surface scheme CLM4 (Community Land Model version 4) coupled in the advanced Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF), and the MEGAN (Model of Emissions of Gases and Aerosols from Nature) algorithms embedded within CLM4, to quantify the effects of three simplified parameters on BVOC emission estimates in China. Our sensitivity analysis results show that the annual BVOC emissions estimated using 2‐m air temperature are about 48% lower than those estimated using leaf temperature in our study. Neglecting the shaded fraction of the canopy leads to a 1.7 times increase in total annual BVOC emissions compared to the separate treatment of sunlit and shaded leaves. Employing fixed values in the default WRF‐CLM4‐MEGAN results in a 51% reduction in total BVOC emissions in July compared to using dynamic weather history for the past few days. Each scenario is evaluated against field measurements, revealing that enhancing a single parameterization does not necessarily lead to improved model performance. Uncertainties from specific simplified parameters can be partially masked by other factors, and vice versa, which therefore pose limitations on overall model performance. Our findings highlight the non‐negligible impact of the three oversimplified parameters and their underlying physical processes on BVOC emission estimates, while also deepening the understanding of uncertainties in BVOC emission modeling.
Discovery of new AMR drugs targeting modulators of antimicrobial activity using in vivo silkworm screening systems
Authors: Tabuchi Fumiaki , Mikami Kazuhiro , Miyauchi Masanobu , Sekimizu Kazuhisa , Miyashita Atsushi
Published: November 2024

Global concerns about drug-resistant bacteria have underscored the need for new antimicrobial drugs. Emerging strategies in drug discovery include considering the third factors that influence drug activity. These factors include host-derived elements, adjuvants, and drug combinations, which are crucial in regulating antimicrobial efficacy. Traditional in vivo assessments have relied on animal models to study drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET). Alternative models, such as silkworms, are being explored to overcome the ethical and financial barriers associated with mammalian models. The silkworm has been proven effective in evaluating ADMET and in highlighting the therapeutic potential enhanced by third factors. Host factors (either mammalian or non-mammalian) enhance the antimicrobial activity of antimicrobial agents such as lysocin E. Additionally, using d-cycloserine to potentiate vancomycin has successfully combated vancomycin-resistant infections in silkworms. Leveraging silkworms in drug discovery could establish a novel screening method incorporating interactions with third factors, whether host related or non-host-related, thus promising new pathways for identifying antimicrobial drugs with unique mechanisms of action.
Mapping global public perspectives on mRNA vaccines and therapeutics
Authors: Xu Jiaxiang , Wu Zhengdong , Wass Lily , Larson Heidi J. , Lin Leesa
Published: November 2024

The development and rollout of mRNA vaccines during COVID-19 marked a significant advancement in vaccinology, yet public hesitation to vaccination was prevalent, indicating the potential risk that future mRNA-based medical innovations will fail to be adopted. Utilizing a combined approach of large language models with manual validation and unsupervised machine learning, we conducted a social listening analysis to assess attitudes towards mRNA vaccines and therapeutics on Twitter from June 2022 to May 2023, contrasting online perspectives with data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System. Our findings reveal widespread negative sentiment and a global lack of confidence in the safety, effectiveness, and trustworthiness of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics, with frequent discussions of severe vaccine side effects, rumors, and misinformation. This underscores the need for targeted communication strategies to foster acceptance of medical treatments and strengthen public trust in order to enhance societal resilience to future health challenges.
An investigation into the shifting landscape preferences of rural residents in Taiwan and their relationship with ecological indicators
Authors: Ning Fuer , Wang Hui , Chien Yu-Chen , Pan Haozhang , Ou Sheng-Jung
Published: November 2024

Rapid urbanization has significantly altered landscape environments in both urban and rural regions, and these landscapes have been demonstrated to play a pivotal role in human well-being. This study develops a coherent framework that integrates landscape change, landscape ecological indicators, and landscape preferences within the context of the evolving landscape environments of rural communities in Taiwan. Four distinct types of rural communities were selected, and a quantitative methodology was employed to investigate the variations and transformations in landscape preferences among rural residents in the context of landscape change. A qualitative methodology was employed to investigate the relationship between landscape ecological indicators and landscape preferences. The study’s findings indicate significant temporal variations in residents’ landscape preferences, with landscape beauty, stewardship, and coherence emerging as key determinants in the evaluation of these preferences. Landscape ecological indicators were found to be significantly correlated with variables such as landscape complexity, landscape beauty, openness, naturalness, and comprehensive landscape assessment. The findings of this study indicate that design planners, land managers, and public sector organizations can employ multidimensional thinking in the management of rural landscapes to align with the visual aesthetic preferences of rural residents.
Thermo-fluid characteristics and exergy analysis of a twisted tube helical coil
Authors: Abdelmagied Mahmoud
Published: November 2024

In the present investigation, the exergy of an innovative technique involving the integration of curved helical tubes with twisted passages was experimentally presented. This technique aims to improve the thermofluid characteristics by involving the swirl intensity of fluid flow in a twisted tube helical coil (TTHC). Six identical geometries with different pitch ratios
$$\Upsilon$$
of 36 mm, 54 mm, and ∞ (smooth/no twisted) were experimentally explored at two different inner tube profiles of triangular and square cross-sections in counter flow arrangements. The experimental runs were carried out at 10,300 ≤ Re

i
≤ 37,800 and 2400 ≤ Re

o
≤17,600 for both the inner and annulus fluids, respectively. The results showed that the Nusselt number, Nu, increased by 39.6% and 41.5% for triangular and square inner twisted cross-section profiles, respectively, at a
$$\it \Upsilon$$
of 36 mm at the expense of increasing f by 37.6% and 60.7%, respectively. The results also showed that the thermal performance factor reached 1.3 and 1.25 for a
$$\it \Upsilon$$
of 36 mm for the triangular and square inner twisted tube profiles, respectively. A comprehensive study is performed to analyze the TTHC from thermal, frictional, and exergetic viewpoints. New correlations for expecting the annulus Nu

o
and f

o
are presented.
Early life adversity blunts the subjective and physiological relaxation response in healthy adults
Authors: Gaertner Raphaela J. , Burkart Manuel , Richter Louisa , Schnell Pius , Finkhäuser Matthias , Klink Elea S. C. , Denk Bernadette F. , Meier Maria , Bentele Ulrike U. , Wienhold Stella , Kossmann Katharina E. , Pruessner Jens C.
Published: November 2024

While Early Live Adversity (ELA) is a known risk factor for mental and physical diseases, the investigation into the mechanisms behind this connection is ongoing. In the present study, we investigated whether ELA blunts the relaxation response in healthy adults. Using a within-subjects design, we employed a paced breathing exercise (four seconds inhale, six seconds exhale) and a 360° nature video as relaxation interventions while measuring physiological relaxation using heart rate variability and subjective relaxation using the Relaxation State Questionnaire. A total of 103 participants (63.11% female; agemean = 22.73 ± 3.43 years) completed the Parental Bonding Instrument and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire to assess ELA retrospectively. For subjective relaxation, a blunted relaxation reaction was associated with lower scores of paternal care and higher scores of paternal overprotection, physical abuse, physical neglect, and emotional abuse. For heart rate variability emotional abuse in interaction with nicotine consumption was related to a blunted relaxation response. This indicates that experiencing ELA negatively affects the relaxation capability in a healthy sample and emphasizes the importance of assessing relaxation at a physiological and subjective level.
Transfer learning model for anomalous event recognition in big video data
Authors: Taha Roqaia Adel , Youssif Aliaa Abdel-Halim , Fouad Mohamed Mostafa
Published: November 2024

Video surveillance faces challenges due to the need for improved anomalous event recognition techniques for human activity recognition. Growing security concerns make standard CCTV systems insufficient because of high monitoring costs and operator exhaustion. Therefore, automated security systems with real-time event recognition are essential. This research introduces a semantic key frame extraction algorithm based on action recognition to minimize frame volume big video data. This approach has not been previously applied with ResNet50, VGG19, EfficientNetB7, and ViT_b16 models for recognizing anomalous events in surveillance videos. The findings demonstrate the effectiveness of this method in achieving high accuracy rates. The proposed method addresses the challenges posed by large volumes of frames generated by surveillance videos, requiring effective processing techniques. A large number of videos from the UCF-Crime dataset were used for proposed model evaluation, including both abnormal and normal videos during the training and testing phase. EfficientNetB7 achieved 86.34% accuracy, VGG19 reached 87.90%, ResNet50 attained 90.46%, and ViT_b16 excelled with 95.87% accuracy. Compared to state-of-the-art models from other studies, the transformer model (ViT_b16) outperformed these algorithms, demonstrating significant improvements in recognizing anomalous events.
Innovative anti-proliferative effect of the antiviral favipiravir against MCF-7 breast cancer cells using green nanoemulsion and eco-friendly assessment tools
Authors: Abd-Elrasheed Eman , Fahim Sally A. , Nessim Christine K. , El-Helaly Sara Nageeb
Published: November 2024

Telomerase enzyme prevents telomere shortening during division, having human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) as its catalytic subunit. Favipiravir (FAV), an RNA-dependent RNA polymerases inhibitor, shared structural similarity with hTERT and thus assumed to have cytotoxic effect on cancer cells, in addition to its prophylactic effect to immunocompromised cancer patients. Nanoemulsion (NE) is a potential tumor cells targeting delivery system, thereby enhancing therapeutic efficacy at the intended site, mitigating systemic toxicity, and overcoming multidrug resistance. The objective of this study is to develop a green FAV nanoemulsion (FNE) that is environmentally friendly and safe for patients, while aiming to enhance its cytotoxic effects. The study also highlights the environmental sustainability of the developed RP-HPLC method and assesses its greenness impact. The FNE formulation underwent thermodynamic stability testing and invitro characterization. Greenness was assessed using advanced selected tools like the Analytical Eco-Scale (AES), Analytical Greenness Metric for Sample Preparation (AGREEprep), and green analytical procedure index (GAPI). The cytotoxic potential of FNE was screened against MCF-7 breast cancer and Vero normal cell lines using SRB assay. Stable and ecofriendly FNE was formulated having a particle size (PS) of 25.29 ± 0.57 nm and a zeta potential of -6.79 ± 5.52 mV. The cytotoxic effect of FNE on MCF-7 cells was more potent than FAV with lower IC50 while FNE showed non-toxic effect on VERO normal cell line. Therefore, the FAV nanoemulsion formulation showed targeted cytotoxicity on MCF-7 cells while being non-toxic on normal Vero cells.
Effect of tin oxide particle size on epoxy resin to form new composites against gamma radiation
Authors: Elsafi Mohamed , Abdel-Gawad Esraa H. , El-Nahal Mohamed A. , Sayyed M. I.
Published: November 2024

The aim of the present study is to assess the shielding performance of a novel lead-free epoxide material against ionizing radiation. The effect of variation in particle size and concentration of tin oxide (SnO), which was added to epoxy resin polymer (ER), on its radiation shielding properties has been investigated in this research. Ten samples of ER samples incorporated with different concentrations (0%,20%,40%,60%) of SnO microparticles, nanoparticles, and both sizes combined were prepared and assessed. The linear attenuation coefficients (LAC) were measured experimentally through the collimated gamma-ray beam at 0.0595 MeV, 0.6617 MeV, 1.1730 MeV, and 1.330 MeV emitted from Am-241, Cs-137 and Co-60, respectively (to cover all energy range of gamma rays) for all samples with various concentrations and particle sizes of SnO. The other radiological shielding parameters such as half value layer (HVL), tenth value layer (TVL), and radiation protection efficiency (RPE) were estimated and compared for all different samples. The results prove that the increasing of the concentration and reducing the particle size of SnO leads to the enhancement of the radiation protection properties of the ER polymer. Moreover, it was observed that the incorporation of SnO micro- and nanoparticles together improves the radiation shielding properties of ER samples. Conclusively, the reinforcing of ER polymer material matrix by micro/nanoparticles of SnO as composite with enhanced radiation shielding specifications was highlighted.
The degree of toxoplasmosis and testicular histomorphometry in rats
Authors: Hegazy Mamdouh , Elghanam Walaa , Aboulfotouh Nora , Sheta Heba , El-Tantawy Nora
Published: November 2024

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) ranks as the third most common parasitic parasite worldwide, and it is estimated that > 60% of the population is infected with T. gondii worldwide at some point in their lives. So. Therefore, it is highly curious that T. gondii could be a potential cause of idiopathic infertility that is incidental to male partners, who are responsible for nearly 50% of cases. Testicular histomorphometric analysis was developed to investigate fertility problems. The objective of this experimental study was to assess the impact of toxoplasmosis on spermatogenesis indicated by histomorphometric changes in rat testes and its correlation with the degree of infection in the brain. Ninety male Wistar albino rats were infected with T. gondii, and 30 male rats composed the control group. The studied parameters were investigated from the seventh week until the twelfth week postinfection by estimating the body weight, the weight of the testes, histopathological examination, and metric analysis of the testes. Each time, correlations were detected between the investigated parameters and the infection severity calculated by estimating the cyst burden in brain homogenates and brain lesion grading of stained histological sections.Our findings demonstrated a significant adverse impact of toxoplasmosis on absolute body weight, testis weight, and testis histomorphometry. The grading of brain lesions and the number of brain cysts paralleled each other. There was a reverse correlation between the gonado-somatic index and the number of brain cysts and brain lesion grade. There was a statistically significant correlation between the brain cyst count and the brain lesion grade and the indices 20 A, 20b, 250, and 200 of the testes metric analysis. Conclusion: Our results revealed that toxoplasmosis has an adverse impact on male rat spermatogenic cells, which in turn affects spermatogenesis and fertility. This impact is significantly correlated with the degree of latent infection in the brain.
Knowledge, attitudes, and concerns about psilocybin and MDMA as novel therapies among U.S. healthcare professionals
Authors: Wang Erin , Mathai David S. , Gukasyan Natalie , Nayak Sandeep , Garcia-Romeu Albert
Published: November 2024

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) with substances like psilocybin and MDMA has shown promise for conditions including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Psilocybin and MDMA may become approved medicines in the coming decade. This study assessed knowledge and attitudes regarding PAT among 879 U.S. healthcare professionals via anonymous online survey. Multivariable linear regression was used to identify predictors of openness to clinical use. Most participants (71.2%) were female and White (85.8%), with a mean (SD) age of 45.5 (12.7) years. Registered nurses (25.4%) and physicians (17.7%) comprised the largest professional groups. Respondents endorsed strong belief in therapeutic promise, and moderate openness to clinical use and support for legal access to both substances, with higher overall ratings for psilocybin compared to MDMA. Objective knowledge items revealed low knowledge of therapeutic uses, risks, and pharmacology. Primary concerns were lack of trained providers, financial cost, and potential contraindications. Prior psychedelic use, self-rated knowledge, younger age, and professional role predicted openness to clinical use of psilocybin and MDMA, with physicians reporting lower openness. As psychedelics continue to garner popular and scientific interest, results indicate a pressing need for additional formal training to provide balanced, evidence-based information from trusted sources.
Green synthesis of fluorescent N-doped carbon quantum dots from castor seeds and their applications in cell imaging and pH sensing
Authors: Elkun Salah , Ghali M. , Sharshar T. , Mosaad M. M.
Published: November 2024

Water-soluble fluorescent N-doped carbon quantum dots (N-CQDs) were hydrothermally prepared through a green synthesis route using castor seeds as a single precursor and a hydrothermal method. Several experimental techniques have been used to characterize synthesized N-CQDs to confirm their structure and to verify their applicability in cell imaging and pH sensing. The synthesized N-CQDs were found to have are characterized by amorphous nature with a spherical shape with an average particle size of 6.57 nm as revealed from XRD and TEM measurements. The FTIR results reveal the presence of carboxylic and hydroxyl functional groups on the surface of the CQDs, which was also confirmed by XPS analysis. The fluorescence characterization of the synthesized N-CQDs showed blue emission and excitation dependence with good photostability. It was found that the optimal excitation and emission wavelengths were (λEx = 360) and (λEm = 432) nm, respectively. The fluorescence quantum yield (QY) of about 9.6% at the optimum excitation wavelength 360 nm. Moreover, the fluorescence intensity of N-CQDs showed good linear dependence with the pH values in ranges of 3.5 − 7.5 and 8 − 12 as well as high sensitivity for slight changes of pH values. According to these results, two fluorescent pH sensors were created based on acidic and basic media. The obtained N-CQDs have zeta potential of -21.86 mV and thus have excellent stability in water. Moreover, N-CQDs derived from the castor seeds have antimicrobial activity and exhibits low cytotoxicity to WI-13 cells with IC50 = 394.4 ± 13.8 µg/mL. The results of this study demonstrated that the synthesized N-CQDs derived from castor seeds can be used as pH sensing and antimicrobial materials. On the other hand, they are also promising in applications in cell imaging, thermo-sensing and optoelectronics.
Associating EEG functional networks and the effect of sleep deprivation as measured using psychomotor vigilance tests
Authors: Mason Sophie L. , Junges Leandro , Woldman Wessel , Ftouni Suzanne , Anderson Clare , Terry John R. , Bagshaw Andrew P.
Published: November 2024

People are routinely forced to undertake cognitive challenges under the effect of sleep deprivation, due to professional and social obligations forcing them to ignore their circadian clock. However, low intra-individual and high inter-individual differences in behavioural outcomes are known to occur when people are sleep deprived, leading to the conclusion that trait-like differences to sleep deprivation could explain the differing levels of resilience. Within this study we consider if trait-like resilience to sleep deprivation, measured using psychomotor vigilance tests over a 40 h protocol, could be associated with graph metrics (mean node strength, clustering coefficient, characteristic path length and stability) calculated from EEG functional networks acquired when participants ($$n=13$$) are well rested (baseline). Furthermore, we investigated how stability (the consistency of a participant’s functional network over time measured using 2-D correlation) changed over the constant routine. We showed evidence of strong significant correlations between high mean node strength, low characteristic path length and high stability at baseline with a general resilience to extended sleep deprivation, although the same features lead to vulnerability during the period of natural sleep onset, highlighting non-uniform correlations over time. We also show significant differences in the levels of stability between resilient and vulnerable groups.
Recycling some byproducts for fabrication of green cement with good mechanical strength and high efficiency for wastewater treatment
Authors: Helmy Fatma M. , El-Gamal S.M.A. , Ramadan M. , Selim F. A.
Published: November 2024

This research aims to produce green cement, as an alternative to traditional cement, with outstanding performance. Five alkali-activated cement pastes were fabricated based on NaOH-activation of slag (GGBFS), bypass (B), and/or silica fume (S). Codes of five pastes are C, C-20B, C-30B, C-10B10S, and C-20B10S, as C is the control paste containing 100% slag. The compressive strength of the fabricated pastes was measured at different curing regimes: Conventional curing for 3 months and autoclave curing at 4 bar/153◦C, 7 bar/178◦C, and 10 bar/198◦C for 4 h. XRD, TGA/DTG, SEM/EDX, and BET/BJH techniques were utilized to clarify the phase development, morphological and texture features of the formed alkali-activated composite pastes. Besides, the removal capacity of some pastes for methylene blue and indigo-carmine dyes from aqueous media was evaluated. The results confirmed that C and C10B10S (80%GGBFS + 10%B + 10%S) pastes have significant mechanical properties and distinctive meso-porosity that can remove both anionic and cationic dyes.
Leveraging large language models to construct feedback from medical multiple-choice Questions
Authors: Tomova Mihaela , Roselló Atanet Iván , Sehy Victoria , Sieg Miriam , März Maren , Mäder Patrick
Published: November 2024

Exams like the formative Progress Test Medizin can enhance their effectiveness by offering feedback beyond numerical scores. Content-based feedback, which encompasses relevant information from exam questions, can be valuable for students by offering them insight into their performance on the current exam, as well as serving as study aids and tools for revision. Our goal was to utilize Large Language Models (LLMs) in preparing content-based feedback for the Progress Test Medizin and evaluate their effectiveness in this task. We utilize two popular LLMs and conduct a comparative assessment by performing textual similarity on the generated outputs. Furthermore, we study via a survey how medical practitioners and medical educators assess the capabilities of LLMs and perceive the usage of LLMs for the task of generating content-based feedback for PTM exams. Our findings show that both examined LLMs performed similarly. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Our survey results indicate that one LLM produces slightly better outputs; however, this comes at a cost since it is a paid service, while the other is free to use. Overall, medical practitioners and educators who participated in the survey find the generated feedback relevant and useful, and they are open to using LLMs for such tasks in the future. We conclude that while the content-based feedback generated by the LLM may not be perfect, it nevertheless can be considered a valuable addition to the numerical feedback currently provided.
Contribution of remote Pacinian corpuscles to flutter-range frequency discrimination in humans
Authors: Nagi Saad S. , McIntyre Sarah , Ng Kevin K. W. , Mahns David A. , Birznieks Ingvars , Vickery Richard M.
Published: November 2024

Among the various classes of fast-adapting (FA) tactile afferents found in hairy and glabrous skin, FA2 afferents, associated with Pacinian corpuscles (PC), preferentially signal high-frequency sinusoidal events corresponding with vibration percepts, in contrast to other classes associated with lower frequency flutter percepts. The FA2-PC complex is also uniquely sensitive to distant sources of vibration mechanically transmitted through anatomical structures. In the present study, we used a pulsatile waveform to assess the contribution of FA2 afferents to the perception of flutter-range frequency stimuli (~ 20 Hz) in combination with two methods to abolish local FA inputs and force a dependence on FA2 via transmission from adjacent structures. Firstly, we examined frequency discrimination and perception of vibration applied to the hairy skin overlying the ulnar styloid before and during the blockade of intradermal receptors by local anaesthesia. Secondly, we tested frequency discrimination on the digital glabrous skin before and during the blockade of myelinated fibres by ulnar nerve compression. Despite reliance on vibration transmission to activate remote PCs, we found that flutter-range frequency discrimination was unimpeded across both skin types. Comparisons with stimuli applied to the contralateral side also indicated that perceived frequency was unaffected. This confirms that flutter-range frequency perception can be encoded by the FA2-PC system. Our results demonstrate that input from receptors specialised for low-frequency signalling is not mandatory for flutter-range frequency perception. This explains how the constancy of frequency perception might be achieved across different skin regions, irrespective of the afferent type activated for transmitting these signals.
Validation of an interactive process mining methodology for clinical epidemiology through a cohort study on chronic kidney disease progression
Authors: Chen Kaile , Abtahi Farhad , Carrero Juan-Jesus , Fernandez-Llatas Carlos , Xu Hong , Seoane Fernando
Published: November 2024

Process mining holds promise for analysing longitudinal data in clinical epidemiology, yet its application remains limited. The objective of this study was to propose and evaluate a methodology for applying process mining techniques in observational clinical epidemiology. We propose a methodology that integrates a cohort study design with data-driven process mining, with an eight-step approach, including data collection, data extraction and curation, event-log generation, process discovery, process abstraction, hypothesis generation, statistical testing, and prediction. These steps facilitate the discovery of disease progression patterns. We implemented our proposed methodology in a cohort study comparing new users of proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and H2 blockers (H2B). PPI usage was associated with a higher risk of disease progression compared to H2B usage, including a greater than 30% decline in estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.6, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.4–1.8), as well as increased all-cause mortality (HR 3.0, 95% CI 2.1–4.4). Furthermore, we investigated the associations between each transition and covariates such as age, gender, and comorbidities, offering deeper insights into disease progression dynamics. Additionally, a risk prediction tool was developed to estimate the transition probability for an individual at a future time. The proposed methodology bridges the gap between process mining and epidemiological studies, providing a useful approach to investigating disease progression and risk factors. The synergy between these fields enhances the depth of study findings and fosters the discovery of new insights and ideas.
The influence of timescales and data injection schemes for reservoir computing using spin-VCSELs
Authors: Mühlnickel Lukas , Jaurigue Jonnel A. , Jaurigue Lina C. , Lüdge Kathy
Published: November 2024

Reservoir computing with photonic systems promises fast and energy efficient computations. Vertical emitting semiconductor lasers with two spin-polarized charge-carrier populations (spin-VCSEL), are good candidates for high-speed reservoir computing. With our work, we highlight the role of the internal dynamic coupling on the prediction performance. We present numerical evidence for the critical impact of different data injection schemes and internal timescales. A central finding is that the internal dynamics of all dynamical degrees of freedom can only be utilized if an appropriate perturbation via the input is chosen as data injection scheme. If the data is encoded via an optical phase difference, the internal spin-polarized carrier dynamics is not addressed but instead a faster data injection rate is possible. We find strong correlations of the prediction performance with the system response time and the underlying delay-induced bifurcation structure, which allows to transfer the results to other physical reservoir computing systems.
Silicon oxide nanofibers using fungi mycelium as template material/from water purification to space insulation
Authors: Birdsong Björn K. , Capezza Antonio J. , Nejati Maryam , Bjurström Anton , Li Yuanyuan , Jiménez-Quero Amparo , Olsson Richard T.
Published: November 2024

Mycelium derived from Ganoderma lucidum was employed as a template for synthesising silicon oxide (SiOx) nanofibers.
Recent progress in the development of porous polymeric materials for oil ad/absorption application
Authors: Lee Hyejin , Chen Guowei , Chang Boon Peng , Mekonnen Tizazu H.
Published: November 2024

Porous polymer materials, including polymer foams and melt-blown fibers, have nano or micro-size pores and a large specific surface area that endows them with great potential as engineered oil ad/absorption materials.
An electrochemical immunosensor based on a nano-ceria integrated microfluidic chip for interleukin-8 biomarker detection
Authors: Bhardwaj Hema , Hashmi Zimad , Singh Avinash Kumar , Kumar Gautam , Lakshmi G. B. V. S. , Solanki Pratima R.
Published: November 2024

A nano-ceria integrated microfluidic electrochemical immunosensor for IL8 biomarker detection in human saliva samples.
Analogous copper nanoclusters (Cu16/17) with two electron superatomic and mixed valence copper(ii)/copper(i) and copper(i)/copper(0) characters
Authors: Kumar Shibaditya , Mishra Saikat , Das Aniruddha , Mahiya Kuldeep , Laha Sourav , Maji Milan , Patra Apurba K.
Published: November 2024

Three in one: Three Cu NCs of three different characters (e.g. two electron superatomic and mixed-valent CuII/CuI and CuI/Cu0), stabilized in a common Cu12S12 truncated octahedron, are reported.
Expression of concern: Anti-aggregation effect of carbon quantum dots on diabetogenic and beta-cell cytotoxic amylin and beta amyloid heterocomplexes
Authors: Voronova Anna , Barras Alexandre , Plaisance Valérie , Pawlowski Valerie , Boukherroub Rabah , Abderrahmani Amar , Szunerits Sabine
Published: November 2024

Expression of concern for ‘Anti-aggregation effect of carbon quantum dots on diabetogenic and beta-cell cytotoxic amylin and beta amyloid heterocomplexes’ by Anna Voronova et al., Nanoscale, 2022, 14, 14683–14694, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2NR03173F.
A review on the active sites for titanium species in zeolites: coordination structure, synthetic strategies and activity
Authors: Wang Yihao , Wang Kaiwei , Wang Fumin , Zhai Yi , Bing Changhao , Fan Xiaolu , Shen Qi , Zhang Xubin
Published: November 2024

This review provides a comprehensive overview of contemporary advances in titanosilicate zeolites. The regulatory strategies, detection methods, and catalytic properties of titanium species are comprehensively summarized.