bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association Between Proactive Esophageal Cooling and Increased Lab Throughput
Authors: Zagrodzky William , Cooper Julie , Joseph Christopher , Sackett Matthew , Silva Jose , Kuk Richard , McHugh Julia , Brumback Babette , Park Shirley , Hayward Robert , Taneja Taresh , Vu Andrew , Liu Taylor , Kulstad Erik , Kaplan Andrew , Ramireddy Archana , Omotoye Samuel
Published: March 2024

Introduction: Proactive esophageal cooling has been FDA cleared
to reduce the likelihood of ablation-related esophageal injury resulting
from radiofrequency (RF) cardiac ablation procedures. Data suggest that
procedure times for RF pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) also decrease when
proactive esophageal cooling is employed instead of luminal esophageal
temperature (LET) monitoring. Reduced procedure times may allow
increased electrophysiology (EP) lab throughput. We aimed to quantify
the change in EP lab throughput of PVI cases after the introduction of
proactive esophageal cooling. Methods: EP lab throughput data
were obtained from three electrophysiology groups. We then compared EP
lab throughput over equal time frames at each site before (pre-adoption)
and after (post-adoption) the adoption of proactive esophageal cooling.
Results: Over the time frame of the study, a total of 2,498
PVIs were performed over a combined 74 months, with cooling adopted in
September 2021, November 2021 and March 2022 at each respective site. In
the pre-adoption time frame, 1,026 PVIs were performed using a
combination of LET monitoring with the addition of esophageal deviation
when deemed necessary by the operator. In the post-adoption time frame,
1,472 PVIs were performed using exclusively proactive esophageal
cooling, representing a mean 43% increase in throughput (p <
0.0001), despite the loss of two operators during the post-adoption time
frame. Conclusion: Adoption of proactive esophageal cooling
during PVI ablation procedures is associated with a significant increase
in EP lab throughput, even after a reduction in total number of
operating physicians in the post-adoption group.
Phytotherapy and anthroposophic medicine as a treatment option for bronchial asthma: A systematic review
Authors: Braunwalder Céline , Ertl Jana , Wullschleger Matteo , Timm Eliane , Wolf Ursula
Published: March 2024

Bronchial asthma is a highly prevalent health condition associated with
low quality of life and high economic costs. Treatments from
traditional, complementary and integrative medicine (TCIM) are commonly
used by individuals with bronchial asthma. However, a synthesis of the
evidence on plant-derived medication is lacking. This review aims to
systematically summarize the evidence on the efficacy, effectiveness and
safety of European/Western phytotherapy (PT) and medications from
anthroposophic medicine (AM) in individuals with bronchial asthma. Four
electronic databases and additional references were screened for
clinical trials published between 1990 and 2023. The findings of the
included studies were qualitatively synthesized and study quality was
assessed. Of 23 included studies, 19 examined European/Western PT and
four investigated AM medications. Nine studies of sufficient quality
reported beneficial effects of various plants (e.g., Nigella sativa) on
asthma symptoms, pulmonary function and immunological parameters. The
medications were considered safe in studies that reported on safety.
Overall, this systematic review suggests several medications from
European/Western PT and AM that may be beneficial and appear to be safe
in the treatment of bronchial asthma. However, further rigorous studies
are needed to provide evidence-based guidance on additional treatment
options for individuals with bronchial asthma.
The Effect of ABO Blood Group Incompatibility on Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children with Aplastic Anemia
Authors: Li Zuofeng , xiong hao , Chen Zhi , Sun Ming , Lu Wenjie , Qi Shan-shan , Tao Fang , Luo Linlin
Published: March 2024

The influence of ABO incompatibility on transplant results in juvenile
aplastic anemia (SAA) children receiving hematopoietic stem cell
transplantation (HSCT) is debated, and no published data are available.
This study involved 85 children with AA who received hematopoietic stem
cell transplants from donors who were ABO-compatible (n = 38), major
ABO-incompatible (n = 17), minor ABO-incompatible (n = 21), and
bi-directionally incompatible (n = 9). Except for a statistical
difference in acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), the four groups
did not have significantly different chronic GVHD, overall survival, and
neutrophil and platelet implantation rates, and no pure red cell aplasia
or passenger lymphocyte syndrome. Therefore, we inferred that ABO blood
group-incompatible donors do not significantly affect HSCT outcomes and
are not a barrier.
Bernard-Soulier syndrome caused by a novel GP1BB variant and 22q11.2 deletion
Authors: Nagoshi Rintaro , Sakamoto Atsushi , Imai Tsuyoshi , Uchiyama Toru , Kaname Tadashi , Kunishima Shinji , Ishiguro Akira
Published: March 2024

Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) is caused by defects in GP1BA,
GP1BB, or GP9 genes. Patients with 22q11.2 deletion
syndrome (22q11.2DS) are obligate carriers for BSS because GP1BB
resides on chromosome 22q11.2. A 15-month-old girl without bleeding
symptoms had giant platelets and thrombocytopenia. Physical findings and
macrothrombocytopenia suggested 22q11.2DS, which was confirmed by
fluorescence in situ hybridization. Flow-cytometry showed decreased
GPIbα on the platelets. A novel variant in GP1BB,
p.(Val169_Leu172del), was revealed by gene panel testing. These
findings confirmed that she had BSS. This case suggests that any
22q11.2DS patient associated with macrothrombocytopenia should be
further investigated for the presence of BSS.
Photosynthesis and photoprotection in top leaves respond faster to irradiance fluctuations than bottom leaves in a tomato canopy
Authors: Shao Bingjie , Zhang Yuqi , Vincenzi Elena , Berman Sarah , Marcelis L.F.M. , Li Tao , Kaiser Elias
Published: March 2024

Accounting for the dynamic responses of photosynthesis and
photoprotection to naturally fluctuating irradiance can improve
predictions of plant performance in the field, but the variation of
these dynamics within crop canopies is poorly understood. We conducted a
detailed study of dynamic and steady-state photosynthesis,
photoprotection, leaf pigmentation, and stomatal anatomy in four leaf
layers (100, 150, 200 and 250 cm from the floor) of a fully-grown tomato
canopy in the greenhouse. We found that leaves at the top of the canopy
exhibited higher photosynthetic capacity and faster photosynthetic
induction (shorter time to reach 50% of full photosynthetic induction;
t-A) compared to lower-canopy leaves,
accompanied by higher stomatal conductance and a faster activation of
carboxylation and linear electron transport capacities. In upper-canopy
leaves, non-photochemical quenching showed faster induction and
relaxation after in- and decreases in irradiance, allowing for more
effective photoprotection in these leaves. A large number of leaf
functional traits, including photosynthetic capacity, chlorophyll
a: b ratio, stomatal density and specific leaf area,
correlated strongly with the irradiance integral and the red:far-red
ratio, both of which showed strong gradients throughout the canopy. The
rate of stomatal movement after in- or decreases in irradiance was not
strongly affected by leaf layer, and neither was the rate of loss of
photosynthetic induction under low irradiance. Time-averaged
photosynthesis under fluctuating irradiance was strongly correlated to
steady-state photosynthesis under high irradiance, and to a lesser
extent to t-A, suggesting that both
steady-state photosynthetic capacity and the rapidity of photosynthesis
response to a change in irradiance affect time-integrated dynamic
photosynthesis.
Neuroprotective effects of resveratrol on retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma: Focusing on oxidative stress, cellular, and molecular mechanisms
Authors: Golmohammadi Maryam , Meibodi Seyed Arash Aghaei , Al-Hawary Sulieman , Gupta Jitendra , Sapaev Ibrohim B , Najm Mazin A.A , Alwave Marim , Nazifi Mozhgan , Rahmani Mohammadreza , Zamanian Mohammad Yassin
Published: March 2024

Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are the major cells that are damaged in
glaucoma leading to vision loss and blindness. The damage to RGCs in
glaucoma is caused by various mechanisms such as elevated intraocular
pressure, oxidative stress, inflammation, and other neurodegenerative
processes. As the disease progresses, more and more RGCs are lost,
leading to a gradual loss of vision. Therefore, protecting RGCs from
damage and promoting their survival is an important goal in the
treatment of glaucoma. Resveratrol (RES) exerts anti-oxidant effects and
slows down the evolution and progression of glaucoma. This review was
prepared using databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, Scopus, and
ScienceDirect. Based on the findings of this review, RES has a
protective role on RGCs in cases of ischemic injury and hypoxia as well
as ErbB2 protein expression in the retina. Additionally, RES has
protective effects on RGCs by promoting cell growth, reducing apoptosis,
and decreasing oxidative stress in H2O2-exposed RGCs. RES was also found
to inhibit oxidative stress damage in RGCs and suppress the activation
of MAPK signaling pathways. Moreover, RES could alleviate retinal
function impairment by suppressing the HIF-1a/VEGF and p38/p53 axis
while stimulating the PI3K/Akt pathway. Hence, RES might exert potential
therapeutic effects in the treatment of glaucoma by protecting RGCs from
damage and promoting their survival.
Drying and quality optimization of dried mango slices pretreated with low-cost anti-browning agent
Authors: Dzigbor Aaron , Dzah Courage Sedem , Bawa Michael , Opoku Genevieve Fremah , Sraha Rosemond
Published: March 2024

The study sought to determine the effects of varying drying parameters
on quality attributes and the effective diffusivity of dried mango
slices treated with locally available anti­‑browning agent. To achieve
this objective, sucrose solution of varying concentrations (40% w/v,
50% w/v, and 60% w/v) was prepared and mixed with lemon juice (20 mL).
Mango slices were dipped in these sucrose-lemon juice solutions for
varying osmotic times (30, 45, and 60 minutes) and were dried at
different temperatures (50, 60, and 70°C). The effect of these
treatments (sucrose concentration, osmotic times, and drying
temperature) on colour, vitamin C content, and effective moisture
diffusivity was determined, analysed, and optimized using the response
surface methodology [[1]](#ref-0001). The optimum condition was
found to be 60% w/v sucrose concentration, 50°C drying temperature, and
60 minutes of osmotic time. The predicted value for the responses under
the optimum conditions was colour brightness value of 53 . 6786 ,
vitamin C content of 37 . 094   mg / 100 g with effective moisture
diffusivity of 3 . 4449 × 10 - 9 m 2 / s . The results of the study
indicate that immersion of mango slices in lemon juice prior to drying
has the potential to retain vitamin C in the dried mango slices.
Evaluation of Physical and Mechanical Properties for Enhanced Thermal Insulation: An Assessment of Fabricated Clay Bricks in Housing Applications.
Authors: Yator Philister Cheptepkeny , Githinji David Njuguna , Sitters Cornelius , Kipchumba Bett
Published: March 2024

This study explores the potential of fabricated clay bricks as effective
thermal insulators for housing, with a focus on evaluating and enhancing
key physical and mechanical properties. Employing clay soil and maize
stalk biochar, a controlled approach identified optimal conditions for
fabrication, resulting in notable improvements. The fabricated
clay-biochar bricks exhibit a density of 1.418 g/cm ,
water absorption rate of 24.009%, thermal conductivity of 0.688 W/mK,
and an impressive compressive strength of 8.408 N/mm. Biochar content,
pressure, and temperature are identified as crucial factors in achieving
these enhanced characteristics. These findings highlight the viability
of clay-biochar bricks as sustainable and energy-efficient solutions for
housing applications, meeting the demand for environmentally friendly
construction materials with superior thermal insulation properties.
Development of a Portable Security Safety Device Using IOT
Authors: Akinwumi Aderonke , Ojo Tosin
Published: March 2024

This paper described the development of a portable security device which
can accurately report the GPS coordinates of a victim to the
authorities, send SMS messages to a predetermined contact, and sound a
loud alarm to alert passersby. When quick assistance is needed, such as
in cases of personal safety issues, the device is intended to provide a
dependable and efficient method of emergency communication and location
tracking. The device makes sure that the precise location information is
delivered to a specified contact using GPS technology and SMS
capabilities, enabling them to react quickly. The addition of an alarm
improves the functionality of the gadget by drawing attention from
nearby people, possibly discouraging perpetrators, or helping to locate
the user. The analysis of the development of this device offered a
reliable and adaptable solution to the increasing insecurities issues in
developing countries and other parts of the globe in general This
enhances the personal safety of users and their designated contacts
peace of mind for emergency danger situations.
Robust Defense against LRS Obfuscated DGAs through Domain-Specific Noise and Deep Learning Analysis
Authors: Rizi Anthony , Yocam Eric , Vaidyan Varghese , Wang Yong
Published: March 2024

Identifying novel variations within Domain Generating Algorithm
(DGA) families, have a significant impact on the security of critical
infrastructures. Despite existing research, the adaptability of
techniques to diverse DGA manifestations is still a major concern.
Class Integration of ChatGPT and Learning Analytics for Higher Education.
Authors: Civit Miguel , Escalona M. J. , Cuadrado Francisco , Cózar Salvador Reyes-de
Published: March 2024

Background: Active Learning with AI-tutoring in Higher Education tackles
dropout rates. Objectives: To investigate teaching-learning
methodologies preferred by students. ChatGPT-based gamified learning
methodology is compared to another active learning methodology and a
traditional methodology. Study with Learning Analytics to evaluate
alternatives, their implementation, and help students elect the best
strategies according to their preferences. Methods: Comparative study of
three learning methodologies in a Single-Group counterbalanced with 45
university students. It follows a pretest/post-test approach using AHP
and SAM. HRV and GSR used for emotional state estimation. Findings:
Criteria related to in-class experiences valued higher than test-related
criteria. Chat-GPT integration was well regarded compared to
well-established methodologies. Student emotion self-assessment
correlated with physiological measures, validating used Learning
Analitycs. Conclusions: Proposed model AI-Tutoring classroom integration
functions effectively at increasing engagement and avoiding false
information. AHP with the physiological measuring allows students to
determine preferred learning methodologies, avoiding biases, and
acknowledging minority groups.
Development of a Sustainable Multi-Objective Approach to Poultry Management System with IoT-Based Environmental Monitoring
Authors: Akinwumi Aderonke O. , Onibonoje Moses O. , Yusuff Adeyinka S.
Published: March 2024

Poultry farming has greatly contributed to the global economy and food
security by providing highly demanded products that offer unique
nutrients to various demographics. With an ever-increasing population,
the demand for poultry products will continue to rise. Therefore, an
automated approach is necessary to ensure uninterrupted and increased
production of these yields. This paper proposes a collaborative approach
that integrates internet of things (IoT) and wireless sensor
technologies to remotely monitor and control environmental parameters
within the poultry farm. The system employs autonomous devices, wireless
sensors, and internet-enabled smartphones to measure and benchmark
parameters such as humidity, temperature, food availability, water
level, illumination level, and presence of ammonia waste against
required thresholds. The central mote and cloud receive the results and
initiate control actions on the monitored factors. The system provides
real-time monitoring and control, and the parameters and corresponding
actions can be recorded and viewed over the central hub and web. The
evaluation results indicate an accuracy of 93.7% and a delay time of 2s
in real-time. The developed model system is robust and intuitive,
providing a management solution for poultry farming. Results further
shows that the quality of eggs produced were not affected by varying
environmental conditions as a result of the real-time monitoring and
control system.
Caught between two states: the compromise of leaf acclimation under fluctuating light.
Authors: Durand Maxime , Zhuang Xin , Salmon Yann , Robson T. Matthew
Published: March 2024

While dynamic regulation of photosynthesis in fluctuating light is
increasingly recognized as an important driver of carbon uptake,
acclimation to realistic patterns of light fluctuations is still largely
unexplored. We subjected Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) plants to
light fluctuations with distinct amplitudes and average irradiance.
Using gas-exchange and thermal imaging, we examined how light
fluctuations affected leaf structure, photosynthetic capacity, and water
relations. We found a wider amplitude of fluctuations produced a
stronger acclimation response. Large reductions of leaf mass per area
under fluctuating light framed our interpretation of changes in pigment
content and photosynthetic capacity, in that photosynthetic investment
increased markedly on a mass basis, but only a little on an area basis.
Moreover, leaf transpiration rose sharply, being nearly four times under
fluctuating light. Our findings indicate that leaves growing under
fluctuating light, although thinner, maintained their photosynthetic
capacity; suggesting their photosynthesis may be more cost-efficient
than those under steady light, but overall may incur increased
maintenance costs. This is especially relevant for plant performance
globally, because naturally fluctuating light created conflicting
acclimation cues for photosynthesis and transpiration that may hinder
progress towards ensuring food security under climate-related extremes
of water stress.
Optimizing telescoped heterogeneous catalysis with noise-resilient multi-objective Bayesian optimization
Authors: Su An , Luo Guihua , Yang Xilin , Su Weike , Qi Tingting , Xu Qilin
Published: March 2024

This study evaluates the noise resilience of multi-objective Bayesian
optimization (MOBO) algorithms in chemical synthesis, an aspect critical
for processes like telescoped reactions and heterogeneous catalysis but
seldom systematically assessed. Through simulation experiments on
amidation, acylation, and SNAr reactions under varying noise levels, we
identify the qNEHVI acquisition function as notably proficient in
handling noise. Subsequently, qNEHVI is employed to optimize a two-step
heterogeneous catalysis for the continuous-flow synthesis of
hexafluoroisopropanol. Achieving considerable optimization within just
20 experimental runs, we report an E-factor of 0.3744 and a conversion
rate of 76.20%, with optimal conditions set at 5.00 sccm and 35.00℃ for
the first step, and 80.00 sccm and 170℃ for the second. This research
highlights qNEHVI’s potential in noisy multi-objective optimization and
its practical utility in refining complex synthesis processes.
Evaluation of the thermal performance of dropwise condensation from a semi-solid lubricant impregnated vertical condenser tube
Authors: M. Rajkumar. , Abraham Jyothish , G Venugopal
Published: March 2024

The quest for augmenting dropwise condensation heat transfer performance
has been the driving force behind the exploration of innovative
techniques and approaches to fulfil the desired objective. Recent
literature in condensation heat transfer unveils that dropwise
condensation heat transfer improvements from Slippery Liquid Infused
Porous Surfaces (SLIPSs) was central to the study of several researchers
because these surfaces have shown excellent droplet mobility due to
extremely low adhesion between the condensing liquid and the lubricant
infused surface, thereby, promote dropwise condensation. As part of
supplementing current research on SLIPSs, for the first time, the
present study explores the potential of a semi-solid lubricant
impregnated porous surface in enhancing the condensation heat transfer
performance of a vertical condenser tube. The results of experiments
conducted over a wide range of subcooling (5°C ≤ ΔT ≤ 65°C) in a
saturated steam environment signify that Copper tubes with semi-solid
lubricant impregnated porous surfaces are potential candidates for
enhancing dropwise condensation heat transfer coefficient when compared
to an untreated vertical Copper condenser tube. The highest enhancement
is found to be 280% at a subcooling of 40°C. Also, the semi-solid
lubricant impregnated porous surfaces are proficient in sustaining
dropwise condensation for a time period of 72 hours without any
degradation in the heat transfer performance. The method devised here
for fabricating the semi-solid lubricant impregnated surfaces is simple,
less expensive, and less time-consuming compared to the techniques
reported earlier for fabricating the SLIPSs. Additionally, in this work
an approach based on numerical optimization by a stochastic global
optimization technique, namely, Genetic Algorithm, is proposed to
retrieve the coefficients and the exponent in the mathematical
expression of overall resistance, which in turn is used to compute the
tube-side dropwise convection heat transfer coefficient.
Diversity and function of rhizosphere microorganisms in medicinal plant Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua
Authors: Haiyan Liu , Yingying Sun , Jing Hou , duan zhou
Published: March 2024

In China, Polygonatum cyrtonema Hua (Huangjing) is known for its
medicinal and edible properties. Multiple environmental factors can
shape plant-microbiome interactions. The cultivated sample sites were
enriched characteristic fungi by Clonostachys divergens and
Archaeorhizomycetes spp. whereas wild sample sites were enriched
particular by Geminibasidium spp. and Bifiguratus spp. The number of
observed species was lower in cultivated soil samples compared with wild
ones by alpha diversity analysis. Functional annotation showed that the
xylanolysis metabolism pathway was more abundant in rhizosphere
microorganisms of cultivated P. cyrtonema Hua. The co-occurrence network
showed positively interacted between Mucoromycota and Rozellomycota in
the cultivated rhizosphere soil. Moreover, this result indicated that
biomass of cultivated plant was significantly greater than that of the
wild samples, and the polysaccharide content of the cultivated rhizomes
was higher. In this study, we may predict basic and potential microbes
that beneficial for the P. cyrtonema Hua rhizosphere improve the
productivity and quality.
Unraveling the Harmonious Coexistence of Ruthenium States on a Self-Standing Electrode for Enhanced Hydrogen Evolution Reaction
Authors: Ma Joonhee , Cho Jin Hyuk , Lee Chaehyeon , Kang Moon Sung , Choi Sungkyun , Jang Ho Won , Ahn Sang Hyun , Back Seoin , Kim Soo Young
Published: March 2024

The development of cost-effective, highly efficient, and durable
electrocatalysts has been a paramount pursuit for advancing the hydrogen
evolution reaction (HER). Herein, a simplified synthesis protocol was
designed to achieve a self-standing electrode, composed of activated
carbon paper embedded with Ru single-atom catalysts and Ru nanoclusters
(ACP/RuSAC+C) via acid activation, immersion, and high-temperature
pyrolysis. Ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) calculations are employed
to gain a more profound understanding of the impact of acid activation
on carbon paper. Furthermore, the coexistence states of the Ru atoms are
confirmed via aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron
microscopy (AC-STEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray
absorption spectroscopy (XAS). Experimental measurements and theoretical
calculations reveal that introducing a Ru single atom site adjacent to
the Ru nanoclusters induces a synergistic effect, tuning the electronic
structure and thereby significantly enhancing their catalytic
performance. Notably, the ACP/RuSAC+C exhibits a remarkable turnover
frequency (TOF) of 18 s-1 and an exceptional mass activity (MA) of 2.2 A
mg-1, surpassing the performance of conventional Pt electrodes. The
self-standing electrode, featuring harmoniously coexisting Ru states,
stands out as a prospective choice for advancing HER catalysts,
enhancing energy efficiency, productivity, and selectivity.
A genetic variant of delta-9 desaturase is associated with thermal tolerance in a coral from the Great Barrier Reef
Authors: Black Kristina , Bay Line , Matz Mikhail
Published: March 2024

Coral populations across the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) could rapidly
adapt to the warming climate if they have standing genetic variation for
thermal adaptation. Here, we describe a locus likely involved in
acclimatization and adaptation of Acropora millepora to cooler
temperatures at higher latitudes. This locus shows a strong signal of
selection in the A. millepora genome, with a steep latitudinal gradient
of derived allele frequency, and harbors a cluster of eight tandemly
repeated Δ9-desaturase genes adjacent to a region where a hard sweep
likely occurred. In colonies reciprocally transplanted across 4.5
degrees of latitude, the expression of Δ9-desaturase was upregulated at
the cooler high-latitude reef. Furthermore, corals from the warmer
low-latitude reef with one or two copies of the “cold-adapted”
Δ9-desaturase allele expressed the gene more and grew faster than their
peers when transplanted to the cooler reef. In other organisms ranging
from bacteria to fish, Δ9-desaturase is upregulated under cold
conditions to adjust membrane fluidity by introducing double bonds into
fatty acid chains of membrane lipids. While all these lines of evidence
are suggestive rather than conclusive, they collectively make
Δ9-desaturase a strong candidate marker gene for coral thermal
acclimatization and adaptation.
Investigation of Stress Situation of Pediatric Nurses and Corresponding Changes of Intestinal Flora
Authors: He Li , TIAN Lang , QU Shujuan
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND: A growing concern among nurses is that they have become
extremely stressed and anxious, for many reasons. Intestinal flora has
become a widely research topic. Stool samples were sequenced to explore
the relationship between intestinal flora and the stressors of nurses.
METHODS: Paediatric nurses in the Third Xiangya Hospital were the
research group, and internal medicine nurses were the control group. The
“Chinese Nurse Stressor Scale” (CNSS) was used for general
investigation and stress-related assessment. Six patients in the
internal medicine group and 7 in the paediatric group underwent DNA
sequencing of their intestinal flora. The gut microbiome was profiled by
16S rRNA sequencing. RESULTS: The work stressors of internal medicine
and paediatric nurses included nursing specialty and work (10.94±3.17 vs
12.25±2.78), work environment and resources (4.91±1.63 vs 5.66±2.03),
patient care (15.86±4.30 vs 18.95±5.12) and management and interpersonal
relationships (8.83±4.94 vs 10.86±5.01). The abundance of
Clostridia in the internal medicine group was higher, while the
abundance of Bacteroidia in the paediatric group was higher. The
abundances of γ-Proteobacteria and β-Proteobacteria also
showed obvious differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The
changes in the intestinal flora of nurses were correlated with their
stress levels, which were especially notable for Bacteroidia,Clostridia, γ-Proteobacteria and β-Proteobacteria.
TE landscapes and ecological niche adaptation in fig wasps
Authors: Liu Jing , Miao Yun-Heng , Hou Hong-Xia , Huang Da-Wei , Xiao Jinhua
Published: March 2024

Transposable elements (TEs), acting as symbiotic entities within host
genomes, their landscapes represent a pivotal subject in evolutionary
discourse. Previous investigations on the impact of ecological niches on
the shaping of TE landscapes have yielded inconsistent conclusions. This
study assessed the effect of ecological niches on the dynamics of TEs,
employing pollinating fig wasps and non-pollinating fig wasps (NPFWs)
residing in the syconia of figs as models. Our findings reveal a
significantly positive correlation between TE content and genome size,
exhibiting conspicuous phylogenetic signal. Significant differences
emerge in the quantity, total length, and family types of TEs between
pollinators and NPFWs. Notably, pollinators exhibit ‘dormant’ TE
landscapes characterized by inactivity along with rapid decay
attributable to smaller effective population sizes. This results in only
a few remnants persisting over nearly a million years. Despite the
relaxed selection pressure on pollinators in an effort to prolonging TE
retention, their abundance remains limited. In contrast, NPFWs exhibit
‘aggressive’ TE landscapes, marked by the continual generation of new
insertions. The larger effective population sizes contribute to
decelerating the decay of TEs, as demonstrated by the substantial TE
accumulation in the last one million years. These observed dynamics are
intrinsically linked to the distinctive ecological niche provided by
figs. TE remains suggest a functional role in facilitating pollinators’
adaptation to stress induced by their niche. Numerous cis-regulatory
modules that originate from TEs and locate near genes involved in
processing environmental information, which emphasizes their potential
functional significances.
A Robust Parity-Time-Symmetric Hybrid Wireless Power Transfer System with Extended Coupling Range
Authors: Qiu Dongyuan , Chen Hao , Gu Wenchao , Zhang Bo , Chen Yanfeng , Wenxun Xiao , Xie Fan
Published: March 2024

Inductive wireless power transfer (IPT) and capacitive wireless
power transfer (CPT) are currently the two main wireless power transfer
technologies. Combining the coils of the IPT with the plates of the CPT
creates a hybrid wireless power transfer (HPT) system, which can improve
the transmission performance but introduces higher parameter
sensitivity. Therefore, achieving stable output power and constant
transfer efficiency over a wide range of coupling coefficient variations
is still a major challenge for HPT. In this work, the parity-time (PT)
symmetry theory is applied to an SS-type HPT system, and a circuit model
of the PT-based HPT system is developed by using coupling capacitance
and coupling inductance. The effect of connecting the plates to the
homonymous end or heteronymous end of the coupling coils on the
PT-symmetry range of the HPT system is discussed. It is found that the
heteronymous end connection of the coils can effectively increase the
range of constant output power and stable transfer efficiency. Finally,
a prototype is built to verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the
proposed PT-based HPT system. The transfer efficiency remains constant
in the PT-symmetric range, and the inductive and capacitive coupling
coefficients are smaller compared to IPT and CPT systems with the same
parameters.
BDD Efficiency: Survey of BDD Edge Ordering Algorithms in Network Reliability
Authors: Chauhan Aakash , Verma Gourav
Published: March 2024

Network reliability analysis is vital for ensuring efficient and
error-free communication within networking and communication
applications. Binary Decision Diagrams (BDDs) have emerged as a powerful
tool for analyzing and optimizing complex network infrastructures. The
objective of this research paper is to conduct a comparative analysis of
edge-ordering algorithms for network reliability using BDDs the study
aims to evaluate and compare existing algorithms, providing valuable
insights for selecting suitable edge-ordering algorithms that enhance
network reliability. The paper concludes that snooker is outperforming
among selected algorithms.
Effective Language Control Strategies Optimize Domain-general Conflict Control: An EEG Study
Authors: Liu Dongxue , Meng Yujie , Liu Shuang , Liu Linyan , Chen Baoguo
Published: March 2024

For bilingual individuals, a notable aspect of their language control
lies in its adaptive generalization to domain-general conflict control,
known as ‘cross-task adaptation’. However, previous studies have
primarily focused on examining adaptation in cue-driven top-down
switching, overlooking the existence of three distinct forms of language
control: top-down switching, lexical-accessibility-driven bottom-up
switching, and voluntary switching that integrates both approaches. This
study delved into the adaptation effects of these language control forms
in a cohort of 30 unbalanced Chinese-English bilinguals, who engaged in
the flanker task paired with picture-naming across three distinct
switching contexts. Surprisingly, participants exhibited heightened
executive control capacity in resolving interference when confronted
with the bottom-up switching compared to the top-down and
mixed-switching contexts. Notably, Granger causality analysis
consistently emphasized that bottom-up switching demonstrated a more
robust interaction with conflict control, particularly in the low gamma
band (25~35Hz). These findings underscore the remarkable
upregulation of the bottom-up switching strategy in contributing to
domain-general conflict control. Our study highlights that the effective
adoption of switching strategy, rather than the switching itself, yields
more significant benefits in cross-task adaptation.
Repetition of critical search features underlies EEG lateralization, but not the Pd, in visual search
Authors: Oxner Matt , Mazza Veronica , Müller Matthias
Published: March 2024

When searching for an item with specific visual features, salient
nontargets (distractors) sometimes capture attention. The repetition of
search features, such as target and distractor colors, affects both
successful search and effective distractor handling. Nevertheless, the
specific consequences of trial-to-trial feature repetition and search
context on behavior and EEG components are poorly understood. Here, we
investigated how search feature repetition shapes the
electrophysiological and behavioral correlates of target processing and
distractor handling, testing theoretically-informed predictions of these
signals with a mixed-effects model comparison approach. In two
experiments, the colors of a singleton distractor and fixed-shape target
either repeated or changed unpredictably across trials. A color
singleton target and distractor appeared in Experiment 1, allowing
efficient search among pop-out items, while targets in Experiment 2 were
not uniquely colored, forcing participants to rely on slower
shape-feature search. Capture by the color singleton distractor occurred
only in pop-out search (Experiment 1), but repetition reduced distractor
interference. This pattern was paralleled by the contralateral N2pc-PD
complex: following a search color switch, the target-related N2pc was
greatly delayed, and salient distractors elicited an N2pc followed by a
reactive PD. This biphasic response was absent in Experiment 2, where
color was of limited usefulness to search. Early and late contralateral
positivities were not sensitive to search relevance or feature
repetition, suggesting that the PD is unrelated to preparatory
suppression. Attention- and capture-related lateralization components
are not universally elicited by target or distractor features, but are
driven specifically by expected features important to the search task.
Financial Experiences of Adolescents and Emerging Adults with Cancer and their Caregivers: A Cross-Cultural Perspective
Authors: Beauchemin Melissa , Solomon Samrawit , L Claudia Michaels , McHenry Kathryn , Turi Eleanor , Khurana Rhea , Sanabria Gabriella
Published: March 2024

Purpose: We qualitatively explored the financial experiences of
adolescents and emerging adults with cancer and their caregivers to
inform future screening efforts and intervention development. Methods:
We recruited English or Spanish speaking adolescents and emerging young
adults (younger AYAs: 15 – 25 years) who were treated for cancer within
the past two years and their caregivers to participate in
semi-structured interviews. Interviews explored how the financial costs
of cancer care were experienced by younger AYAs and caregivers. Data was
inductively coded using conventional content analysis. Codes were
reviewed with the study team and interviews continued until saturation
was reached. Results: We interviewed 17 participants; 9 were younger
AYAs, and 7 preferred Spanish. We identified three cross-cutting themes:
burden, support, and routine, consistent, and
clear. Burden came in the form of unexpected costs such as
transportation to appointments, as well as emotional burdens such as
AYAs worrying about how much their family sacrificed for their care or
caregivers worrying for the AYA’s physical and financial future.
Support, in the form of familial, community, healthcare institution, and
insurance, was critical to mitigating the effects of financial toxicity
in this population. Participants emphasized the importance of meeting
individual financial needs by routinely and consistently asking about
financial factors and providing clear guidance to navigate these needs.
Conclusion: Younger AYAs and their caregivers experience significant
financial challenges during cancer treatment and often rely on key
supports to alleviate these stressors. When developing or implementing
financial screening or navigation interventions to mitigate financial
toxicity, clinicians and health systems should develop clear, consistent
procedures to meet the needs and preferences of younger AYA cancer
survivors and their families.
An Efficient Large-Scale 3D Map Stitching Algorithm using Automatic Overlapping Area Identification
Authors: Lin Hsien-I , Shodiq Muhammad Ahsan Fatwaddin , Jeng An-Kai , Chang Chun-Wei
Published: March 2024

Quality of 3D point cloud maps is essential for navigation and
localization in Autonomous Mobile Robots, yet creating these maps for
large-scale areas presents challenges, stemming from the processing of
numerous points. In such situations, constructing a 3D map can be
accomplished by dividing it into smaller regions and then merging them
to generate a complete map by performing a 3D map stitching algorithm.
Currently, these overlapping areas are manually selected, which leads to
potential errors. In response, a novel method to automatically identify
overlapping areas is proposed to perform map stitching based on the
overlapping areas only instead of the entire maps. Utilizing the
proposed method results in a significant reduction in time consumption.
The proposed automatic method incorporates the DBSCAN algorithm for area
clustering, template matching for correspondence cluster identification,
and a binary-search algorithm for determining the best parameter. For
the performance evaluation, the proposed method was compared with manual
selection and with the use of the entire maps in the map-merge-3D
algorithm. The method achieves a significant reduction in the time
required for the 3D map stitching process, amounting to a 38.64%
decrease compared to using the entire maps. In terms of accuracy, the
proposed method reduces translation error to 0.1723m and rotation error
to 0.1763 , representing decreases of 5.28% and
16.16%, respectively, while manual selection results in a translation
error of 0.4278m and rotation error of 0.7123 ,
increases of 135.25% and 238.75% respectively, compared to the entire
maps 0.1819m and 0.2103 .
Novel FKBP12 ligand promotes functional improvement in SOD1G93A ALS mice
Authors: Moreno-Martínez Laura , Gaja-Capdevila Núria , Mosqueira-Martin Laura , Herrando-Grabulosa Mireia , Gonzalez-Imaz Klaudia , Calvo Ana Cristina , Sagartzazu-Aizpurua Maialen , Moreno-García Leticia , Fuentes Jose , Acevedo-Arozena Abraham , Aizpurua Jesus , Miranda Jose , Munaín Adolfo López de , Vallejo-Illarramendi Ainara , Osta Rosario , Navarro Xavier , Gil-Bea Francisco
Published: March 2024

Background and Purpose: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a
devastating neurodegenerative disease with limited treatment options.
ALS pathogenesis involves intricate processes within motor neurons
(MNs), characterized by dysregulated Ca2+ influx and buffering in early
ALS-affected MNs. This study proposes the modulation of ryanodine
receptors (RyRs), key mediators of intracellular Ca2+, as a therapeutic
target. Experimental Approach: A novel class of novel FKBP12 ligands
that show activity as cytosolic calcium modulators through stabilizing
RyR channel activity, were tested in the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS.
Different outcomes were used to assess treatment efficacy including
electrophysiology, histopathology, neuromuscular function, and survival.
Key Results: Among the novel FKBP12 ligands, MP-010 was chosen for its
central nervous system availability. Chronic administration of MP-010 to
SOD1G93A mice produced a dose-dependent preservation of motor nerve
conduction, with the 61 mg/kg dose significantly delaying the onset of
motor impairment. This was accompanied by improved motor coordination,
increased innervated endplates, and significant preservation of MNs in
the spinal cord of treated mice. Notably, MP-010 treatment significantly
extended lifespan by an average of 10 days compared to vehicle.
Conclusions and Implications: FKBP12 ligands, particularly MP-010,
exhibit promising neuroprotective effects in ALS, highlighting their
potential as novel therapeutic agents. Further investigations into the
molecular mechanisms and clinical translatability of these compounds are
needed for their application in ALS treatment.
Early detection of psychosis and eating disorders. Exploratory research of combined risk profiles
Authors: Bont Paul A.J.M. de , Lang Birgit L. Seelen-de , Maas Joyce , Bodde Nynke M.G.
Published: March 2024

Intro: psychotic disorders (PD) and eating disorders (ED) both are
highly invalidating, costly and associated with premature death.
Researchers call for early detection and intervention. Little is known
about co-occurrence and associations between the at risk mental state
for psychosis (ARMS) and ED. Objectives: to explore the prevalence of
and associations between ARMS and ED-risk. To gain a first explorative
insight into the similarities and differences of ARMS profiles in
individuals with and without an ED risk score (EDr versus EDnr). Method:
a cross sectional observational prevalence study (N=736) in secondary
mental health care with a qualitative examination of ARMS profiles
(N=47), using an ED screener (SCOFF), psychosis prodromal screener
(PQ16) and CAARMS interview (detection of ARMS). We analyzed
prevalences, associations (using Fisher’s exact test), and conditional
probabilities of frequencies for CAARMS and SCOFF outcomes. We explored
differences in ARMS profiles between EDr and EDnr by inspection of
CAARMS reports. Results: ARMS and EDr are common across all psychiatric
conditions. ED appear to remain largely undetected. Findings
demonstrated no significant or conditional association of frequencies
between CAARMS and EDr/nr outcome. ARMS items ‘guilt/punishment’ and
‘ideas of reference’ stood out in the EDr group. Conclusions: Be aware
of ARMS and psychosis in ED. Pay more attention to possible ED. ARMS and
psychosis are equally prevalent in EDr and EDnr, and vice versa.
Researchers are encouraged to conduct studies on severity associations
and profiles of psychosis spectrum symptoms in the various
manifestations of ED.
Gene flow and migration routes in Salmo trutta L.: toward developing protected area systems in the English Channel
Authors: Vanhove Mathieu , King R. Andrew , Meslier Lisa , Besnard Anne-Laure , Stevens Jamie , Launey Sophie
Published: March 2024

Understanding gene flow can help biodiversity to mitigate habitat
changes by contributing to inform and design protected areas. The brown
trout, Salmo trutta, displays a multitude of life-history strategies and
represents an ideal model for applications in conservation genetics.
Using a panel of 185-single nucleotide polymorphism markers, the present
study aimed to explore the population structure of the brown trout and
in the English Channel. The genotypes of 2,729 individual trout from 88
rivers were obtained across England and France. Population structure
revealed the presence of genetic clusters following an east/west
gradient. The maximum threshold distance between genetic distance and
geographic distance was 344 km. The measure appeared relative to the
studied spatial environment and reflected Salmo trutta capacity to
achieve long migration distances. A machine-learning framework derived
from a gradient forest analysis was used to generate a resistance
surface using changes in allelic frequencies and environmental
predicators. The resulting surface identified areas limiting gene flow.
On the British coast, a genetic break was observed along the Jurassic
coast, whereas the Cotentin peninsula acted as a physical barrier among
French coastal populations. Salmo trutta populations appeared to be
differently affected by environmental factors reflecting demes
preference to specific breeding ground. Using our resistance map, the
distance of maximum correlation using cost distance were computed
allowing the pruning of our genetic graph. The resulting least cost path
connections were mapped to reveal the main dispersal routes. Finally, a
prioritization analysis using connectivity surface was implemented to
design potential protected areas.
How widespread use of generative AI for images and video can affect the environment and the science of ecology
Authors: Rillig Matthias C. , Mansour India , Hempel Stefan , Bi Mohan , König-Ries Birgitta , Kasirzadeh Atoosa
Published: March 2024

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) models will have broad impacts
on society including the scientific enterprise; ecology and
environmental science will be no exception. Here we discuss the
potential opportunities and risks of advanced generative AI for visual
material (images and video) for ecology and the environment. There are
clearly opportunities for positive impacts, related to improved
communication, for example; we also see possibilities for ecological
research to profit from generative AI (e.g., image gap filling,
biodiversity surveys, and improved citizen science). However, there are
also risks, threatening to undermine the credibility of our science,
mostly related to actions of bad actors, for example in terms of
spreading fake information or committing fraud. Risks need to be
mitigated at the level of government regulatory measures, but we also
highlight what can be done right now, including discussing issues with
the next generation of ecologists, and transforming towards radically
open science workflows.
Advances in Online Delivery: Introducing and Optimizing a Novel Multi-Objective Function
Authors: Kar Samarjit , Tunga Harinandan , Giri Debasis , Gandomi Amir
Published: March 2024

An efficient online delivery system in the dynamic landscape is a
challenging task. The challenges occur due to the difficulty in
generating a proper objective function that can represent the
performance of the delivery system. In this paper, we propose a novel
multi-objective function that represents the utility score and time
required in the delivery process. The utility score takes into
consideration the number of previous orders given by a particular
customer and the Time window methodology is used to achieve the two
objectives. The multi-objective optimization functions are solved and
compared using three multi-objective algorithms. They are Non-dominated
sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II), strength Pareto evolutionary
algorithm 2 (SPEA2), and indicator-based evolutionary algorithm (IBEA).
The performances are compared extensively and it is found that SPEA2
gives better convergence performance. The proposed objective function
minimizes the limitation of currently available methods for online
delivery systems.