bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of sustainable geopolymer concrete by synergistic utilization of jarosite and GGBS
Authors: Pandiyan Tarunkumar , Solaiyan Elavenil
Published: November 2024

Jarosite (JS) is a zinc industry byproduct generated during the smelting process of zinc ore. Due to its high concentration of heavy metal ions, it has been declared a hazardous material by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. As a result, the utilization of JS is highly limited. Hence, geopolymer concrete provides an eco-friendly solution for producing sustainable concrete by incorporating various industrial byproducts. This study focuses on formulating a binary blended geopolymer concrete that incorporates ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) and JS as precursor materials, which are activated using an alkali solution. The mix design for the GGBS-JS-based geopolymer concrete involves varying several parameters, including the proportion of JS, total aggregate percentages, alkali-to-binder ratios, and sodium hydroxide molarities. A total of 48 mix proportions of geopolymer concrete are prepared and investigated to determine the fresh and strength characteristics. Based on the experimental values, it is observed that the utilization of JS in geopolymer concrete elevates the dispersion of binders, which increases the workability of concrete by 44.5%, and a 47.37% reduction in compressive strength is observed as the JS incorporation is increased. With the collected experimental values, a new mix design procedure is proposed. Furthermore, selected concrete samples with varying JS percentages are studied to determine microstructural characteristics such as x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to analyze the developed geopolymer concrete’s phase transformation, surface morphology, and bond formation. This study also assessed JS’s heavy metal leaching properties and observed that toxicity by leaching is reduced by up to 99%, which justifies the utilization of JS in geopolymer concrete as a sustainable solution for the zinc industry waste management system.
Environmental factors influencing inshore migration in Japanese eel Anguilla japonica
Authors: Arai Takaomi , Kimura Shogo
Published: November 2024

Catadromous eel species of the genus Anguilla have a long and complex life history, migrating between offshore spawning areas and continental growth habitats. The eel larvae are passively transported, metamorphosing into glass eels and colonizing continental growth habitats. However, inshore migration and recruitment mechanisms need to be better understood, notwithstanding the increasing concern for sustainable future stock. Inshore migration of glass eel, Japanese eel Anguilla japonica, concerning regional environmental factors, examined throughout the year in central Japan facing the Pacific Ocean. A total of 3534 glass eels were collected through 33 investigations, with peak recruitment occurring from February to April. The inshore migration occurred for both new and full moon phases during ebb tide, with mean daily temperature ranging from 5.8 to 23.3 °C. In various environmental factors, a clear recruitment peak was found at the timing of westerly wind, with a significant positive correlation between wind speed and CPUE (catch per unit effort). Westerly wind advects the surface seawater towards the coastal area, and the stronger wind facilitates the inshore migration of glass eels to continental habitats. Understanding the reliable environmental factors affecting the inshore migration of Japanese glass eels can help facilitate the management and conservation of regional eel stocks.
Planar filter for microwave loss analysis in nickel and cobalt ferrite samples
Authors: Barboza Amanda G , Araujo Jorge A I , Alencar Marina de O , Silva Crislane P do N , Silva Evanimeck Bernardo S da , Llamas-Garro Ignacio , dos Reis Albuquerque Anderson , de Melo M T
Published: November 2024

This paper analyzes the microwave loss behavior of nickel ferrite (NFO) and cobalt ferrite (CFO) samples using a planar fractal filter, along with the study of the crystal lattice of each sample. The resonator geometry used is the fourth iteration of the Hilbert fractal. The Hilbert curve is employed to compress the filter area and increase the interaction area with the tested sample. The resonance frequency is approximately 1.1 GHz, within the range of 0.7 to 1.6 GHz. Filter measurements were conducted with samples of each material to evaluate their specific characteristics.
Enhancing crop protection through smart autonomous pesticide spray bot in sustainable agriculture
Authors: Meshram Ashish , Vanalkar Anil , Meshram Kavita , Badar Avinash , Mehta Girish , Kaushik Vishal
Published: November 2024

Pesticide spraying is a common practice employed to safeguard crops against harmful pest infestations and mitigate crop losses. However, the conventional use of handheld pesticide sprayers by the farmers raises concern regarding adverse health effects, including fatalities, and the environmental damage caused by excessive pesticide dispersion. Present robotic spraying solutions over and over again lack the precision and adaptability essential to report these problems effectively. This work covers the design of a smart autonomous pesticide spray bot that combines an advanced robotic architecture with a deep learning-based pest detection module, driven by the desire to improve both environmental sustainability and human safety. The bot autonomously navigates entire fields, utilizing a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) trained on a diverse dataset to detect pests on plant leaves with high accuracy. Upon detection, the bot promptly activates its spraying management system, it has an adaptive spraying mechanism that precisely applies the amount of pesticide required to target the pests that have been identified. Evaluation of the system’s performance in a cotton field yielded significant results, including a robot speed of 0.25 m s−1, a pest detection accuracy of 97%, an average droplet size of 60 microns, a spray nozzle pressure of 7 bar, and a pesticide flow rate of 25 ml/s. The system raises issues with data dependency and expenses even if it has several benefits in terms of environmental conservation and public health. However, this system stands out as a major development in automated agriculture technology since it combines deep learning with a strong architectural design.
A dual-phase strategy for oscillation damping in power systems: transitioning from traditional stabilizers to solar farms using PSSE and PSCAD
Authors: Mohammad Sheikh Fareed , Bakhsh Farhad Ilahi
Published: November 2024

The integration of renewable energy into existing power grids presents significant challenges due to the intermittent nature and rapid dynamics of renewables. These characteristics can lead to power system oscillations, notably inter-area oscillations, which may result in power generation loss, reduced transmission capacity, and potential blackouts. Additionally, local power plant-level oscillations further minimise equipment wear and efficiency. This paper presents a Kundur two-area power system model to address these issues, offering a straightforward framework for analysing system stability. The model focuses on local and inter-area oscillations and their mitigation, which are crucial for maintaining system stability. Two mitigation techniques are modelled and analysed. The first uses phase-compensated power system stabilisers within the Kundur two-area network modelled in PSSE, emphasising their impact on system stability. The second replaces conventional hydropower plants with renewable energy sources, eliminating traditional damping equipment. In this scenario, a solar farm in hybrid mode manages both active and reactive power without stabilisers, as modelled in PSCAD. This approach effectively dampens inter-area and local oscillations. A three-phase bus fault is used to induce disturbances for system testing. RMS and EMT dynamic simulations are conducted within PSSE and PSCAD software, respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of both techniques in mitigating power system oscillations, thereby enhancing system stability. Notably, the solar farm in hybrid mode presents a promising solution for integrating renewables while maintaining stability without traditional damping equipment.
Equity-driven investments in community energy systems: an optimization model applied to Washington State
Authors: Sifuentes Froylan E , Major Sophie C , McNett Ben , Davis Robert , Nath Hari
Published: November 2024

This paper presents the development and application of the equity and climate impacts optimization in community energy (ECOCE) model, a mixed integer linear tool designed to optimize equity-driven investment in community solar projects (CSPs). By providing insight on a variety of impacts of CSP investments, including electricity bill savings, solar production, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction, the model assists policymakers in understanding the possible trade-offs in benefits and impacts of CSP investments. Using a detailed case study of a one-time $100 million investment in CSPs in Washington State, the model evaluates potential scenarios under various funding distributions to determine the optimal allocation of state funds. The study highlights considerations of geographical equity and participation, trade-offs between maximizing greenhouse gas reductions and minimizing energy burden, and the potential to use the model in different regional contexts. The findings suggest that targeted investments can provide significant electricity bill savings ($6.5–8.5 million annually) for low-income communities while contributing to state decarbonization goals (4–42 kTons of avoided emissions annually) in Washington State, though political and practical considerations may influence the feasibility of these optimized allocations. The ECOCE model provides a robust framework for decision-makers aiming to balance a variety of political, equity, and climate change mitigation considerations in the transition to renewable energy.
Overview of porous magnesium-based scaffolds: development, properties and biomedical applications
Authors: Motaharinia Amir , Drelich Jaroslaw W , Sharif Safian , Ismail Ahmad Fauzi , Naeimi Farid , Glover Alexandra , Ebrahiminejad Mahshid , Bakhsheshi-Rad Hamid Reza
Published: November 2024

Magnesium (Mg) and its alloys are revolutionizing the field of interventional surgeries in the medical industry. Their high biocompatibility, biodegradability, and a similar elastic modulus to natural bone make porous Mg-based structures potential candidates for orthopedic implants and tissue engineering scaffolding. However, fabricating and machining porous Mg-based structures is challenging due to their complexity and difficulties in achieving uniform or gradient porosity. This review aims to thoroughly explore various fabrication procedures used to create metallic scaffolds, with a specific focus on those made from Mg-based alloys. Both traditional manufacturing techniques, including the directional solidification of metal-gas eutectic technique, pattern casting, methods using space holders, and modern fabrication methods, which are based on additive manufacturing, are covered in this review article. Furthermore, the paper highlights the most important findings of recent studies on Mg-based scaffolds in terms of their microstructure specifications, mechanical properties, degradation and corrosion behavior, antibacterial activity, and biocompatibility (both in vivo and in vitro). While extensive research has been conducted to optimize manufacturing parameters and qualities of Mg-based scaffolds for use in biomedical applications, specifically for bone tissue engineering applications, further investigation is needed to fabricate these scaffolds with specific properties, such as high resistance to corrosion, good antibacterial properties, osteoconductivity, osteoinductivity, and the ability to elicit a favorable response from osteoblast-like cell lines. The review concludes with recommendations for future research in the field of medical applications.
Gardens in Northern Iberia in the Early Middle Ages
Authors: Davies Wendy
Published: November 2024

This book is about gardens in northern Spain and northern Portugal in the early middle ages, that part of the Iberian peninsula that lay beyond Muslim al-Andalus. Dealing with a vast area, of great geographical diversity and wide variation in climate, it spans the sixth to tenth centuries. Using archaeological, archaeobotanical, and written evidence, it shows that gardens might lie beside houses or scattered among arable fields or grouped together in garden zones. Gardens are difficult to recognize archaeologically but excavation suggests that many were terraces, as it also suggests that indicators of intensive use—through fertilization or irrigation or characteristic weed species—may be more useful for identifying garden activity than looking for a distinctive shape. The strongest indications of garden produce are that fruit was always important and so were legumes; and some gardens, especially those owned by monasteries, may have grown herbs. The most striking trend across the tenth century is that peasants sold gardens to monasteries, although there are regional differences, Catalonia having a more diverse land market. Peasants sold in order to get food and monasteries bought partly to provide garden produce, including herbs, for expanding communities but partly to use and increase garden space for textile use—growing flax, hemp, and dye plants—for commercial reasons, especially urban supply. Gardens were vital for the supply of clothes.
The archaeology of gardens
Authors: Davies Wendy
Published: November 2024

This chapter surveys the range and character of early medieval excavations in northern Iberia. Although there has been little excavation of identifiable garden plots, other kinds of physical indication of garden practice can be revealed by excavation. These include dark earth zones in former Roman towns like León and Barcelona, suggesting periods of early medieval cultivation; construction of terraces in the early middle ages; traces of irrigation systems; stable isotope and other indications of fertilization with vegetable matter and domestic waste; and ‘manuring’ scatters of pottery around settlements. ‘Functional weed ecology’ can also suggest areas of very intensive, i.e. garden, cultivation.
Proprietors
Authors: Davies Wendy
Published: November 2024

There is a considerable body of written reference to garden transactions and to those who transacted in gardens. Many monasteries and churches owned gardens but lay persons did too; about a third of lay transactors were peasants. There are significant regional variations in the status and gender of transactors and in the nature of transactions, with more sale than gift in Catalonia and on the meseta and more gift than sale in Castile. There was also noticeable change over time and the principal beneficiaries of garden transactions in the tenth century were monasteries, partly because of gifts but especially because of their purchases. Overall, peasants alienated rather than acquired gardens, and monasteries bought from them. Peasant sale of gardens, and monastic acquisition, was disproportionate within the overall context of property transactions. Gardens were a distinctive, tradable, resource.
Production, supply, and distribution
Authors: Davies Wendy
Published: November 2024

This chapter explores why monasteries were so interested in acquiring gardens in the tenth century. Likely reasons were to increase the regular supply of garden fruit, legumes, and medicinal herbs for expanding monastic communities. Regular supply of textile fibres for those communities is likely too. Some rural monasteries bought gardens in towns and they had shops there; a network of roads was available and there was plentiful provision of draught animals, the necessary elements of a distribution system. It looks as if some textiles—and plant dyes—were provided for urban communities. Garden plots may well have been acquired in order to focus on textile and dye plants for cloth production for distribution; monastic enterprise took a new direction, with a corresponding shift in garden product.
Practical advice in the development of a lyophilized protein drug product
Authors: Cheng Yuan , Duong Huu Thuy Trang , Hu Qingyan , Shameem Mohammed , Tang Xiaolin (Charlie)
Published: November 2024

The development of lyophilized protein drug products is a critical and complex task in the pharmaceutical industry, requiring a comprehensive understanding of the myriad of factors affecting product quality, stability, and the efficiency and robustness of the lyophilization process. This review offers practical advice on the critical aspects of lyophilized protein drug product development. Practical considerations across both the early and late stages of development are discussed, underscoring the necessity of a strategic approach from initial development through to commercialization. The review then delves into formulation optimization strategies that are essential for enhancing protein stability and the efficiency of the lyophilization process. This section outlines stable formulation design and highlights the unique considerations required for high protein concentration lyophilized drug products. It further explores the formulation strategies to enhance the lyophilization process’ efficiency. Moreover, the paper examines the critical elements in selecting primary containers and closures for lyophilized drug products, focusing on vials and dual chamber systems. The analysis encompasses the effects of the container/closure’s material, size, geometry, and fill volume on product quality and process efficiency. Lastly, the review provides practical considerations in lyophilization cycle development, including the design and optimization of the freezing, primary drying, and secondary drying stages to achieve a robust, scalable, and efficient lyophilization process. By offering comprehensive insights into these key areas to enhance their understanding and implementation of best practices in the field, this paper serves as a useful resource for researchers, formulators, and process engineers involved in the development of lyophilized protein drug products.
Male mating tactics are associated with distinct female cognitive-behavioral profiles in 4 poeciliids
Authors: Inman Callen M , Vuong Alan , Schlupp Ingo B , Cummings Molly E
Published: November 2024

Male mating tactics, the morphological and behavioral traits that males employ to access potential mates, alter female space use, time budget, and ecology in ways that may have downstream consequences for female behavior and cognition. Courtship tactics, in which males display and females exercise preferences, are common in some taxa. In others, coercive tactics, in which males force matings with limited female choice, predominate. Because behavior and cognition often transcend a single context, we ask whether variation in male mating tactics predictably shapes female behavior and cognition outside of mating. Controlling for predation by using populations housed in ecologically identical mesocosms for multiple generations, we compared female behavioral and cognitive traits of 4 different species across the teleost fish family Poeciliidae. We compared all-coercive Gambusia vittata and Heterandria formosa to Limia perugiae and Xiphophorus nigrensis, species with both coercion and courtship. We assessed females on sociability, activity, boldness, stress movement, cognitive flexibility, and spatial learning. Mating system predicted variation in movement patterns, cognitive flexibility, and spatial learning. Mixed-tactic species showed higher activity, stress movement, and cognitive flexibility than coercion-only taxa. In spatial learning, the all-coercive G. vittata had the highest accuracy and was the only species to show evidence for learning across trials. Multivariate approaches identified movement traits as the largest factors differing between mating systems in cognitive-behavioral syndromes. This work provides the first suggestion that species-level variation in poeciliid male mating tactics is a potential factor contributing to differences in female behavior, cognition, and cognitive-behavioral syndromes.
Two cases of drug-induced psoriasis from second-generation androgen receptor blockers
Authors: Buttars Ben , Baltazar Dave , Charest Guy , Flaherty Amber , Hamann Dathan , Whittemore Darren , Hamann Carsten
Published: November 2024

We present here two cases of androgen receptor-induced psoriasis. Both cases ultimately continued their medications after risk/benefit analysis by multidisciplinary teams. Both cases also improved with topical ultrapotent steroids. To our knowledge, this is the first case series reported to show androgen receptor inhibitors implicated as a class in psoriatic drug eruptions.
Herpes vegetans mimicking penile malignancy in a patient living with human immunodeficiency virus
Authors: Larney Conor , Osti Millicent , Jiang Jacqueline , Lasocki Anita
Published: November 2024

A 51-year-old man with HIV infection presented to the dermatology clinic with a 2-year history of recurrent penile ulceration and a large, fungating, exophytic mass with ulceration. Histopathology revealed no evidence of malignancy; herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 were detected on polymerase chain reaction and a diagnosis of herpes vegetans was made. The patient was treated successfully with oral valaciclovir, resulting in complete resolution of lesions.
Rapid Hepatitis C Virus Engagement and Treatment in Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Perera Himain , Keeshan Alexa , Imsirovic Haris , Patern Jeremy , Castaneda Roselyn , Simmons J Graydon , Mansour Sarah , Cooper Curtis
Published: November 2024

Patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) are frequently discharged without HCV care engagement Alert systems can promote consultation to HCV programs. Rapid engagement of hospitalized HCV patients is successful in achieving high proportions of direct acting antiviral treatment starts, completions and cures.
Increased Severity of Multidrug-Resistant Shigella sonnei Infections in People Experiencing Homelessness
Authors: Stefanovic Aleksandra , Alam Mosaab E , Matic Nancy , Larnder Ashley , Ritchie Gordon , Gowland Leah , Chorlton Samuel D , Lloyd-Smith Elisa , Payne Michael , Dawar Meena , Vijh Rohit , Leung Victor , Hull Mark , Baker Kate S , Lowe Christopher F , Romney Marc G
Published: November 2024

Background

Shigella sonnei has caused sexually transmitted enteric infections in men who have sex with men (MSM) in Vancouver. We recently observed a high rate of multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. sonnei bacteremia among persons experiencing homelessness (PEH). We aimed to describe the wider epidemiology, clinical outcomes, and genomics of S. sonnei infections over time.

Methods

A retrospective review of 163 patients with S. sonnei infections was undertaken from 2015 to 2022. We collected demographic, clinical, and microbiological data over 2 time periods: historical (2015–2020) and recent (2021–2022). Severe shigellosis definition included hospitalization, bacteremia, or death. Whole-genome sequencing was performed to identify genotype, infer relatedness, and predict antimicrobial resistance.

Results

S. sonnei infections increased from 8.3 (historical period) to 56.5 (recent period) cases/year. Over time, the primary population characteristics associated with shigellosis shifted from MSM (45; 98%) to PEH (86; 77%). The population intersection between MSM and PEH historically and recently was similar and occurred in 3 (6%) and 10 (9%) of patients, respectively. Severe shigellosis was significantly higher in the recent versus historical period (69 [61%] vs 7 [14%]; P < .001). A dominant clone of MDR S. sonnei, 3.6.1.1.2 (CipR.MSM5), emerged with resistance to all first- and second-line agents, yet with susceptibility to ceftriaxone.

Conclusions

We observed a substantial increase in severe shigellosis and shift from sexually transmitted S. sonnei infections in MSM to likely environmental transmission among PEH. More severe disease associated with the 3.6.1.1.2 clone of MDR S. sonnei in PEH could be a result of underlying vulnerabilities of the affected population.
Functional redundancy buffers the effect of poly-extreme environmental conditions on southern African dryland soil microbial communities
Authors: Sauma-Sánchez Tomás , Alcorta Jaime , Tamayo-Leiva Javier , Díez Beatriz , Bezuidenhout Hugo , Cowan Don A , Ramond Jean-Baptiste
Published: November 2024

Drylands’ poly-extreme conditions limit edaphic microbial diversity and functionality. Furthermore, climate change exacerbates soil desiccation and salinity in most drylands. To better understand the potential effects of these changes on dryland microbial communities, we evaluated their taxonomic and functional diversities in two Southern African dryland soils with contrasting aridity and salinity. Fungal community structure was significantly influenced by aridity and salinity, while Bacteria and Archaea only by salinity. Deterministic homogeneous selection was significantly more important for bacterial and archaeal communities’ assembly in hyperarid and saline soils when compared to those from arid soils. This suggests that niche partitioning drives bacterial and archaeal communities' assembly under the most extreme conditions. Conversely, stochastic dispersal limitations drove the assembly of fungal communities. Hyperarid and saline soil communities exhibited similar potential functional capacities, demonstrating a disconnect between microbial structure and function. Structure variations could be functionally compensated by different taxa with similar functions, as implied by the high levels of functional redundancy. Consequently, while environmental selective pressures shape the dryland microbial community assembly and structures, they do not influence their potential functionality. This suggests that they are functionally stable and that they could be functional even under harsher conditions, such as those expected with climate change.
Stress path dependence of time-lapse seismic effects in shales: experimental comparison at seismic and ultrasonic frequencies
Authors: Lozovyi S , Duda M , Bauer A , Holt R M
Published: November 2024

Changes in pore pressure within geological reservoirs, due to, for example hydrocarbon production, CO2 and energy storage or wastewater disposal, may cause substantial stress changes in the overburden, altering propagation velocities of elastic waves. The corresponding time-shifts are detected and quantified using time-lapse (4-D) seismic analysis. To invert seismic time-shifts for changes in stress and strains, stress sensitivity of rocks is studied in laboratory experiments on core plugs. Such measurements are typically conducted at ultrasonic frequencies. However, previous studies indicate that the stress sensitivity of velocities at seismic frequencies could be higher than that at ultrasonic frequencies. Therefore, calibration based on laboratory ultrasonic data may lead to inaccurate prediction of stresses and strains when applied to 4-D seismic data. To study the influence of frequency on stress sensitivity of acoustic wave velocities, a series of laboratory experiments was performed on two overburden shales with different petrophysical properties. In a low-frequency apparatus—a triaxial pressure cell that combines measurements at low (seismic) and high (ultrasonic) frequencies—the shale samples underwent stress changes with different ratios of horizontal to vertical stress amplitudes to mimic stress variations across the overburden. High-frequency velocity changes were directly recorded, while low-frequency velocity changes were obtained indirectly from the elastic parameters measured at seismic frequency by applying a rock physics inversion using third-order elasticity model. The experiments were conducted at undrained conditions, a representative state for reservoir overburden composed of shales. The results suggest that the stress sensitivities and strain sensitivities (R-factor) of P-wave velocities could be two to four times greater at seismic frequencies than at ultrasonic frequencies. Furthermore, it was found that the previously reported linear relation between the stress sensitivity and stress-path parameter (horizontal/vertical stress change) at ultrasonic frequencies also holds for seismic frequencies. We discuss the theoretical background for frequency-dependent stress sensitivity of wave velocities that supports the experimental findings. The effect of frequency when using laboratory-based calibrations should be taken into account when inverting time-lapse seismic data for changes in stresses and strains.
Can health impact assessment help tackle commercial determinants of health and support a wellbeing economy?
Authors: Douglas Margaret J , Foster Catherine , McDermott Rosalind , Bunse Lukas , Clemens Timo , Walker Jodie , Green Liz
Published: November 2024

Commercial activity has positive and negative effects on health. Adverse commercial impacts on health are underpinned by corporate power and economic models and policy that prioritize economic growth, rather than a wellbeing economy that prioritizes health, equity and sustainability. Health in all policies (HiAP) aims to ensure that all policies promote health and health equity, using processes including health impact assessment (HIA). We aimed to explore the potential for HiAP and HIA to help address commercial determinants of health and promote a wellbeing economy. We completed a scoping review to identify how HiAP approaches, including HIA, could address commercial determinants, including challenges and implications for practice. This found synergy between the concepts of wellbeing economy and HiAP. However, corporate interests have sometimes co-opted HiAP to influence policy. We found some examples of HIAs of transnational corporations and international trade and investment agreements. We reviewed HIA frameworks for guidance to practitioners on managing corporate influence. This identified little guidance on identifying and managing corporate and other conflicts of interest or managing power differentials between stakeholders. We also mapped wellbeing economy outcomes against health determinants considered in selected HIA frameworks. This found that HIA frameworks with a comprehensive checklist of health determinants prompt consideration of most wellbeing economy outcomes. HIA could support the transition to a wellbeing economy if applied routinely to economic policies, but ideational change is also needed. HIA frameworks should provide guidance on corporate conflicts of interest and power differentials.
Resisting industry narratives: guidance to avoid tobacco and nicotine industry framing
Authors: Maddox Raglan , Diaz Abbey , Waa Andrew , Teddy Lani , Telford Rohan , Pope Sam , Heris Christina
Published: November 2024

The tobacco and nicotine industry has a long history of endangering the health and wellbeing of individuals, populations and society, including Indigenous peoples, via dubious practices and tactics that continue today. These tactics include generating opposition, fracturing consensus, dehumanizing groups and minimizing the perception of harms from tobacco use. This article offers guidance for people working in health promotion and tobacco control to align with the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, which includes Articles on research, monitoring and information exchange regarding the tobacco and nicotine industry. Recommendations are given to resist the tobacco and nicotine industry’s narrative in health promotion, research, evaluation and publications. Holding the industry to account provides a further step forward to eliminating tobacco disease and death.
Multi-target therapeutic modulation with natural compounds towards DNA repair MRN-checkpoint sensor genes (MRN-CSGs) and oncogenic miRNAs in breast cancer patients: a Clinico-Informatic study
Authors: Singh Jitender , Khanduja Krishan L , Avti Pramod K
Published: November 2024

Breast cancer, more prevalent in women, often arises due to abnormalities in the MRN-checkpoint sensor genes (MRN-CSG), responsible for DNA damage detection and repair. Abnormality in this complex is due to the suppression of various effectors such as siRNAs, miRNAs, and transcriptional factors responsible for breast tumor progression. This study analyzed breast tumor samples (n = 60) and identified four common miRNAs (miR-1-3p, miR-210-3p, miR-16-5p, miR-34a-5p) out of 12, exploring their interactions with MRN-CSG. The 3D structures of these miRNA-MRN-CSG complexes displayed strong thermodynamic stability. Screening 7711 natural compounds resulted in two natural compounds (F0870–0001 and F0922–0471) with the lowest ligand binding energies (ΔG = −8.4 to−11.6 kcal/mol), targeting two common miRNAs. Docking results showed that one natural compound (PubChem id-5 281 614) bound to all MRN-CSG components (ΔG = −6.2 to −7.3 kcal/mol), while F6782–0723 bound only to RAD50 and NBN. These compounds exhibited minimal dissociation constants (Kd and Ki) and thermodynamically stable minimum free energy (MMGBSA) values. Molecular dynamics simulations indicated highly stable natural compound-MRN-CSG complexes, with consistent RMSD, RMSF, and strong residual correlation. These top-selected compounds displayed robust intermolecular H-bonding, low carcinogenicity, low toxicity, and drug-like properties. Consequently, these compounds hold promise for regulating miRNA and MRN-CSG DNA repair mechanisms in breast cancer therapy.

Insight Box: This study investigated breast tumor samples (n = 60) and identified four miRNAs (miR-1-3p, miR-210-3p, miR-16-5p, miR-34a-5p) that interact with MRN-checkpoint sensor genes (MRN-CSG), crucial for DNA damage repair. Screening 7711 natural compounds highlighted two compounds (F0870–0001 and F0922–0471) with the lowest binding energies (ΔG = −8.4 to −11.6 kcal/mol), targeting two common miRNAs (miR-1-3p and miR-34a-5p). Another natural compound (PubChem id-5 281 614, ΔG = −6.2 to −7.3 kcal/mol) bound all MRN-CSG components, while F6782–0723 targeted RAD50 and NBN. These compounds showed strong binding stability, favorable MMGBSA values, and minimal dissociation constants. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability and drug-like properties of these compounds, indicating their potential in breast cancer therapy by modulating miRNA and MRN-CSG DNA repair mechanisms.
Epidemiology and pathogen characteristics of infections following solid organ transplantation
Authors: Meng Fanjie , Zhu Chi , Zhu Chan , Sun Jiaxuan , Chen Dongsheng , Ding Ran , Cui Liyuan
Published: November 2024

Solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients have a heightened risk for infection due to prolonged immunosuppressive drug use following transplant procedures. The occurrence of post-transplant infections is influenced not only by the transplanted organ type but also by varied factors. The kidney is the most common organ in SOT, followed by the liver, heart, and lung. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current epidemiological characteristics of infections after kidney, liver, heart, and lung transplantation, focusing on bacterial, fungal, and viral infections. The incidence and infection types demonstrated significant variability across different SOTs. Furthermore, this review attempts to elucidate the clinical characteristics of infections across patients following different SOTs and contribute to the development of individualized prevention strategies according to infection incidence, ultimately enhancing the quality of life of transplant recipients.
Integrated neural network and PSO hybrid approach for production of citrulline using immobilized permeabilized Pseudomonas furukawaii
Authors: Kawatra Anubhuti , Dhankhar Rakhi , Datten Bharti , Dhankhar Shweta , Chhabra Deepak , Gulati Pooja
Published: November 2024

In the present study, nutraceutical citrulline was produced using immobilization of permeabilized whole cells of Pseudomonas furukawaii, an efficient producer of ADI. Since arginine deiminase (ADI) is intracellularly localized, various additives such as SDS (Sodium dodecyl sulfate), Triton X-100, and EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic Acid) were used to permeabilize the cell to improve substrate accessibility and ADI activity. The maximum ADI activity was observed with 0.25 mg ml−1 biomass concentration treated with 0.5 mmol l−1 EDTA for 15 min using OFAT (One factor at a time) approach. Optimization of permeabilization conditions of P. furukawaii cells using novel neural networks and particle swarm optimization led to maximum ADI activity with 0.10 mmol l−1 EDTA and 0.30 mg ml−1 biomass. Further, the morphological characterization of immobilized cells was assessed by field emission scanning electron microscopy and FTIR (Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy). An optimal citrulline production of 1.19 mmol l−1 was achieved at 2.5% sodium alginate with 20 mmol l−1 arginine at 38°C, and 180 min of incubation. The immobilized cells retained 90.3% productivity after seven reuse cycles. Thus, the formulated immobilized whole-cell biocatalyst, with higher stability offers cost-effective methods of citrulline production.
Musculoskeletal Injury Surveillance in the U.S. Military: Analysis of the ICD-10-CM Transition and Descriptive Report of Health Care Utilization at Four Sites Adopting MHS GENESIS
Authors: Hando Ben , Pav Veronika , Isaacson Brad , Colahan Courtney , Funk Wendy , Yuan Xiaoning
Published: November 2024

Introduction

The U.S. Military Health System (MHS) transitioned to the ICD-10-CM coding scheme in October 2015 and began the phased rollout of a new electronic health record system, MHS GENESIS, in October 2017. Both changes have the potential to affect the observed prevalence and health care utilization associated with musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) in service members. The purpose of this article was to (1) determine the effect of the ICD-10-CM transition on the observed prevalence of select MSKI conditions and (2) describe MSKI-related health care utilization in four MTFs during the adoption of MHS GENESIS.

Materials and Methods

We calculated monthly prevalence rates for six diagnostic groupings of MSKIs routinely seen in the MHS between October 2011 and February 2020. To determine if the transition to ICD-10-CM influenced prevalence rates, we performed an interrupted time series analysis, using the ICD-10-CM transition date (October 1, 2015) as the interruption point. To assess trends in direct and private sector care encounters during the MHS GENESIS transition, we calculated monthly MSKI-related encounters at four MTFs from November 1, 2015 through September 30, 2021.

Results

Three diagnoses had a significant (P < .05) change in the slope, or rate of change, for their monthly prevalence after the introduction of ICD-10-CM (patellofemoral pain syndrome, −0.18; stress fractures, 0.12; subacromial pain, 0.03). These diagnoses also had a significant level change or immediate change in monthly prevalence following the ICD-10-CM transition (patellofemoral pain syndrome, 24.2; stress fractures, 0.16; subacromial pain, 0.36). Three of the four sites adopting MHS GENESIS showed reduced 3-month averages (range: −7.1–13.0%) of MSKI-related encounters following the electronic health record transition. For two of the four MTFs, we observed an increased reliance on private sector immediately leading up to and following the change to MHS GENESIS.

Conclusions

The observed differences in monthly prevalence for certain MSKIs could be because of the changes in the amount and/or specificity of available codes in ICD-10-CM. Within the six selected diagnostic groupings of MSKIs, we found that patellofemoral pain syndrome, stress fractures, and subacromial pain syndrome demonstrated the greatest changes in prevalence during the ICD-10-CM transition. Those involved in MSKI surveillance should exercise caution when evaluating MSKI prevalence that spans the ICD-10-CM transition. Changes in health care utilization patterns in two of the four MTFs during their adoption of MHS GENESIS suggest that MSKI care may have transferred from direct to private sector care during this period. Future research will be required to validate this finding and determine the impacts on clinical outcomes and military readiness.
Clinical utility of pharmacogenomic testing for patients with coccidioidal meningitis
Authors: Elkurdi Rawan , Grill Marie F , Kekic Adrijana , Blair Janis E
Published: November 2024

Coccidioidomycosis can cause severe meningitis, requiring lifelong treatment. In this study, we sought to better understand the potential effect of pharmacogenomic testing on treatment outcomes of patients with coccidioidal meningitis. Of 13 patients with coccidioidal meningitis who underwent pharmacogenomic testing, 11 had genetic variants of CYP2C19 and CYP3A5 that affect antifungal efficacy. These results led to real-time treatment changes and future antifungal planning. Routine pharmacogenomic testing helps to avoid antifungal treatments that are futile or lead to adverse effects.
An iterative method to deblend AGN-Host contributions for Integral Field spectroscopic observations
Authors: Ibarra-Medel H , Negrete C A , Lacerna I , Hernández-Toledo H M , Cortes-Suárez E , Sánchez S F
Published: November 2024

We present a new iterative deblending method to separate the host galaxy (HG) and their Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) emission with the use of Integral Field spectroscopic (IFS) data. The method decomposes the resolved HG emission from the unresolved AGN emission by modelling the two-dimensional surface brightness (SB) profile of the point-spread function (PSF) and the two-dimensional SB HG continuum simultaneously per each monochromatic slide. Our method does not require any prior information about the observed SB profile or a detailed fitting of the PSF, making it ideal for the automatic analysis of large galaxy samples. In this work, we test the quality of our method, its advantages, and its disadvantages. We test our method by using a set of IFS mock data cubes to quantify the reliability of our deblending process and further compare our method with the qdblend3d analysis tool. Furthermore, we applied our method to three data cubes selected from the MaNGA survey according to the dominance of either its HG or its AGN. We show that our deblending method is capable of disengaging the bright, non-resolved AGN emission from the HG continuum and its narrow emission lines. However, the decoupling depends on how well the IFS spatially resolves the PSF, and on the relative flux intensity of the HG-AGN. Therefore, the method is ideal for disentangling the bright-flux contribution from AGN-dominated spectra.
Toward an Existentialist Metaethics
Authors: Dover Daniela , Gingerich Jonathan
Published: November 2024

In her 1947 book Toward an Ethics of Ambiguity, Simone de Beauvoir sketches the outlines of a systematic existentialist ethical theory. This short and startlingly ambitious text purports to offer nothing less than a new way to meet the challenge of moral skepticism with a theory that at once grounds moral normativity and entails certain first-order moral norms. Beauvoir offers a distinctive and promising version of metaethical constructivism that deserves to be treated as a live option in contemporary debates. Beauvoirian constructivism has much in common with Kantian constructivist approaches to metaethics. It departs from them in that the Beauvoirian existential imperative to will freedom is derived not from rational agency as such but from contingent features of our embodied subjectivity.
Dams, Power, and the Politics of Ethiopia's Renaissance
Authors: Lavers Tom
Published: November 2024

After more than a decade, Ethiopia is filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a controversial dam with the potential to transform the hydrology and politics of the Nile Basin. The GERD is the culmination of a dam-building boom carried out over three decades and a key pillar of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front’s (EPRDF’s) efforts to bring about an Ethiopian ‘Renaissance’. This book provides the first detailed examination of the domestic and international political dynamics that shaped Ethiopia’s dam building, drawing on extensive primary research including more than 100 interviews with politicians, technocrats, consultants, and donors. In doing so, the book reflects on Ethiopia’s implications for broader debates about the role of the state in late development, the dynamics of twenty-first-century dam building, and the political economy of renewable energy transitions. A central argument of the book is that Ethiopia’s dam building is symbolic of the successes and failures of the EPRDF’s ‘developmental state’. On the one hand, this dams boom enhanced electricity generation capacity, while constituting a key element of the state infrastructure investment that turned Ethiopia into one of the world’s fastest-growing economies. On the other hand, a politically driven decision-making process undermined electricity planning, contributed to an unsustainable debt burden, and, ultimately, failed to provide reliable electricity access to key users. Following the EPRDF’s collapse, the subsequent Prosperity Party Government has taken steps away from the state-led development model of its predecessor, while labouring towards the final completion of the GERD.
Political Vulnerability and the Origins of the EPRDF’s Dams Boom
Authors: Lavers Tom , Fana Gebresenbet , Biruk Terrefe
Published: November 2024

This chapter focuses on the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front’s (EPRDF’s) first two decades in office from 1991 to 2010, analysing the government’s development strategy and the role of electricity within it, and the spatial distribution of the government’s dam building. The chapter shows that the motivation for the EPRDF’s dams boom can be located in the government’s broader approach to development. For the new government, rapid, broad-based development was considered essential to addressing the political vulnerability facing the regime, with industrialization and the mass creation of manufacturing jobs key to its political survival. The government’s ambitions regarding the electricity sector largely stem from this goal of structural transformation. Moreover, given its central importance to the EPRDF’s economic project, the government considered the retention of electricity and a handful of key economic sectors under state control to be a necessity.
Deaf Culture’s Musical Presents
Authors: Maler Anabel
Published: November 2024

This chapter explores the diversity of sign language music in the present day, exploring genres such as translated songs that involve interpreting a preexisting song in sign language, original songs created in sign language, and signed music that involves no signed words. To capture the richness and diversity of today’s signed music practices, the author conducts interviews with ten Deaf signing musicians. The chapter centers the experience and knowledge of these skilled Deaf musicians to showcase the innovations and issues surrounding sign language music today. The chapter reveals that sign language music encompasses a wide variety of genres, mediums of distribution, and perspectives, and that signing musicians come from a variety of backgrounds.