bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Impact of Specific Extraocular Muscle Manipulation and the Oculocardiac Reflex on Postoperative Vomiting in Pediatric Strabismus Surgery: A Multicenter, Observational Study
Authors: Kojima Taiki , Yamauchi Yusuke , Fujiwara Takashi , Obara Soichiro , Sueda Aya , Takahashi Riku , Yasuda Sayuri , Kitoh Hiroshi
Published: November 2024

Background

Strabismus surgery, which is commonly performed in children, poses a high risk of postoperative vomiting. The current anesthesia guidelines for the prevention of postoperative vomiting in children are based on heterogeneous populations involving different types of surgery, and risk factors for postoperative vomiting in, specifically, the pediatric strabismus surgery population are unclear. Moreover, the effects of manipulating the deeply attached extraocular muscles and the oculocardiac reflex on this risk remain inconclusive.

Aim

To evaluate the associations among inferior oblique muscle manipulation, the oculocardiac reflex, and postoperative vomiting in children with retrospectively collected data.

Methods

The study had a multicenter retrospective cross‐sectional design and was conducted at three institutions (two tertiary‐care children's hospitals and one pediatric–adult mixed community hospital). It included children aged < 18 years and without major comorbidities undergoing strabismus surgery. The primary exposure was inferior oblique muscle manipulation during surgery. The outcome of interest was postoperative vomiting or antiemetic medication usage within 24 h postsurgery or by discharge.

Results

Among 3152 children postoperative vomiting occurred in 108/795 (13.6%) children with and 227/2357 (9.6%) without inferior oblique muscle manipulation (unadjusted odds ratio, 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.21–2.05; p = 0.001). Multilevel logistic regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounders and surgeon‐related variance, revealed that inferior oblique muscle manipulation (adjusted odds ratio, 1.58; 95% confidence interval, 1.15–2.18; p = 0.005), but not the oculocardiac reflex (adjusted odds ratio, 1.06; 95% confidence interval, 0.76–1.48; p = 0.73), was associated with postoperative vomiting after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions

Stronger preventive measures against postoperative vomiting are recommended in healthy children undergoing strabismus surgery with inferior oblique muscle manipulation. Additionally, inferior oblique muscle manipulation should be considered a potential confounder in future related studies. However, the oculocardiac reflex was not associated with postoperative vomiting in pediatric strabismus surgery.
Development of vegetative oil sorghum: From lab‐to‐field
Authors: Park Kiyoul , Quach Truyen , Clark Teresa J. , Kim Hyojin , Zhang Tieling , Wang Mengyuan , Guo Ming , Sato Shirley , Nazarenus Tara J. , Blume Rostislav , Blume Yaroslav , Zhang Chi , Moose Stephen P. , Swaminathan Kankshita , Schwender Jörg , Clemente Thomas Elmo , Cahoon Edgar B.
Published: November 2024

Biomass crops engineered to accumulate energy‐dense triacylglycerols (TAG or ‘vegetable oils’) in their vegetative tissues have emerged as potential feedstocks to meet the growing demand for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Unlike oil palm and oilseed crops, the current commercial sources of TAG, vegetative tissues, such as leaves and stems, only transiently accumulate TAG. In this report, we used grain (Texas430 or TX430) and sugar‐accumulating ‘sweet’ (Ramada) genotypes of sorghum, a high‐yielding, environmentally resilient biomass crop, to accumulate TAG in leaves and stems. We initially tested several gene combinations for a ‘push‐pull‐protect’ strategy. The top TAG‐yielding constructs contained five oil transgenes for a sorghum WRINKLED1 transcription factor (‘push’), a Cuphea viscosissima diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT; ‘pull’), a modified sesame oleosin (‘protect’) and two combinations of specialized Cuphea lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferases and medium‐chain acyl‐acyl carrier protein thioesterases. Though intended to generate oils with medium‐chain fatty acids, engineered lines accumulated oleic acid‐rich oil to amounts of up to 2.5% DW in leaves and 2.0% DW in stems in the greenhouse, 36‐fold and 49‐fold increases relative to wild‐type (WT) plants, respectively. Under field conditions, the top‐performing event accumulated TAG to amount to 5.5% DW in leaves and 3.5% DW in stems, 78‐fold and 58‐fold increases, respectively, relative to WT TX430. Transcriptomic and fluxomic analyses revealed potential bottlenecks for increased TAG accumulation. Overall, our studies highlight the utility of a lab‐to‐field pipeline coupled with systems biology studies to deliver high vegetative oil sorghum for SAF and renewable diesel production.
Filtering of point clouds acquired by mobile laser scanner for digital terrain model generation in densely vegetated green architectures
Authors: Nardinocchi Carla , Esposito Salvatore
Published: November 2024

Protection and maintenance of green architecture such as parks, countryside villas, and historic gardens are a duty of our communities. Recently, hand‐held or portable mobile laser scanner (MLS) systems exploiting simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) are becoming a promising alternative to terrestrial laser scanner (TLS) in densely vegetated areas to efficiently collect information for site maintenance. The main goal for such surveys stands normally in tree parameter estimation, but getting a high‐resolution, high‐quality digital terrain model (DTM) is an objective worth pursuing as it is useful in later processing. This work presents a novel algorithm for terrain filtering of TLS point clouds and compares its performance with existing packages. To this aim, it compares and evaluates the accuracy of DTM produced by three well‐established open‐source packages and an in‐house development on the test case of an ancient garden survey, where nine scans were executed using a ZEB‐HORIZON scanner. The algorithm we developed is specifically designed for creating digital terrain models (DTMs) from TLS point clouds. In contrast, two of the three software packages we analysed were originally developed for processing airborne laser scanning (ALS) data. As parameter setting significantly influenced the quality of the DTM generation we describe in detail this process for all three algorithms. Since the unavailability of ground truth data, we used the terrain points generated by all four algorithms to perform a cross‐validation.
How is emotional evidence from multiple sources used in perceptual decision making?
Authors: Ngai Hilary H. T. , Hsiao Janet H. , Luhmann Christian C. , Mohanty Aprajita , Jin Jingwen
Published: November 2024

Judging the emotional nature of a scene requires us to deliberately integrate pieces of evidence with varying intensities of emotion. Our existing knowledge about emotion‐related perceptual decision‐making is largely based on paradigms using single stimulus and, when involving multiple stimuli, rapid decisions. Consequently, it remains unclear how we sample and integrate multiple pieces of emotional evidence deliberately to form an overall judgment. Findings from non‐emotion rapid decision‐making studies show humans down‐sample and downweight extreme evidence. However, deliberate decision‐making may rely on a different attention mode than in rapid decision‐making; and extreme emotional stimuli are inherently salient. Given these critical differences, it is imperative to directly examine the deliberate decision‐making process about multiple emotional stimuli. In the current study, human participants (N = 33) viewed arrays of faces with expressions ranging from extremely fearful to extremely happy freely with their eye movement tracked. They then decided whether the faces were more fearful or happier on average. In contrast to conclusions drawn from non‐emotion and rapid decision‐making studies, eye movement measures revealed that participants attentionally sampled extreme emotional evidence more than less extreme evidence. Computational modeling results indicated that even though participants exhibited biased attention distribution, they weighted various emotional evidence equally. These findings provide novel insights into how people sample and integrate multiple pieces of emotional evidence, contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of emotion‐related decision‐making, and shed light on the mechanisms of pathological affective decisions.
Investigating the modulation of gastric sensations and disposition toward food with taVNS
Authors: Salaris Andrea , Azevedo Ruben T.
Published: November 2024

Interoception, the perception of visceral sensations, is key for several survival functions, including those related to feeding behavior. Sensations of hunger and satiety are mediated by gastric signals transmitted via the vagus nerve to the Nucleus of Solitary Tract. Transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation (taVNS) has been shown to modulate brain‐viscera communication and to impact interoceptive processing in the cardiac domain. Yet, its effect on gastric interoception remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate taVNS' modulatory effects on gastric interoception using the Water Load Test‐II (WLT‐II) and its impact on food‐related dispositions through a disposition and willingness to eat task (DWET). Participants underwent active or sham taVNS while performing the WLT‐II and DWET. Results showed no significant difference in gastric interoceptive accuracy and amount of water ingested between taVNS groups. However, we found a significant reduction in food liking after the fullness phase of the WLT‐II in the active (vs sham) taVNS group, suggesting an influence of vagal activation in the inhibition of food enjoyment when satiated. These findings suggest that, while taVNS may not directly enhance gastric interoceptive accuracy at a conscious level, it influences food‐related dispositions, likely by modulating the processing of gastric signals. Further research exploring the intricate relationship between vagal modulation, interoceptive abilities and eating behaviors is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and, possibly, develop targeted interventions for eating disorders.
The dynamic influence of language‐switching contexts on domain‐general cognitive control: An EEG study
Authors: Liu Dongxue , Meng Yujie , Liu Linyan , Liu Shuang , Schwieter John W. , Chen Baoguo
Published: November 2024

In everyday conversation, bilingual individuals switch between their languages not only in reaction to monolinguals with different language profiles but also voluntarily and naturally. However, whether and how various switching contexts dynamically modulate domain‐general cognitive control is still unclear. Using a cross‐task paradigm in which a flanker task was interleaved with a language‐switching task trial‐by‐trial, the present study examined the performance of unbalanced Chinese‐English bilinguals on a flanker task in forced, voluntary, and natural switching contexts. The cross‐domain interaction on the P3 component revealed an atypical flanker effect in forced switching contexts only, and the P3 amplitude of incongruent trials in forced switching contexts was smaller than in both natural and voluntary switching contexts. Furthermore, robust brain–brain and brain‐behavior relationships between language control and domain‐general control emerged in the forced switching context only. Altogether, our findings support the dynamic adaptation of language control to cognitive control and highlight the importance of different types of switching contexts.
Comparison of Cholesterol Carriers and Substitution of Fructose and Glycerol With Trehalose on Frozen/Thawed ATP Content, DNA Integrity and Kinematics Variables of Ram Spermatozoa
Authors: Koorehpaz Kave , Eslami Mohsen , Farrokhi‐Ardabili Farhad
Published: November 2024

Current study was aimed to assess the β‐cyclodextrin (βCD) and methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (MβCD) on delivery of cholesterol, and substitution of fructose and glycerol with trehalose on the ram semen cryosurvival. Samples were collected, diluted with Tris‐citric acid‐LDL extender, pooled, and used. In experiment I, βCD and MβCD carriers were used and compared to deliver the cholesterol (at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, and 4 mg/mL). In the experiment II, trehalose (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 mM) was substituted with fructose (28, 21, 14, 7, 0 mM, respectively). In the experiment III, the best cholesterol/carrier dose groups from the first experiment, were selected to be evaluated with the fructose/trehalose (14/14 mM) combination compared to fructose (28 mM) alone. The concentration of glycerol in the above‐mentioned experiments was set at 4.5%. In the experiment IV, the effect of lowering glycerol (4% vs. 4.5%) was assessed using selected cholesterol/carrier groups. Kinematics, chromatin integrity, ATP contents, malondialdehyde amounts and viability were evaluated. Cholesterol (especially at 1.5 and 2 mg/mL) improved the kinematics and ATP levels using both carriers. The optimised amounts of trehalose (14 mM)/fructose(14 mM) reduced peroxidation and DNA fragmentation levels. Co‐administration of optimised levels of cholesterol with trehalose/fructose did not show extra beneficial effects compared to each of them. Trehalose could not protect the spermatozoa at lower amounts of glycerol (4% vs. 4.5%). In conclusion, either the optimised levels of cholesterol (using βCD or MβCD carriers) or substitution of half of the fructose with the trehalose alone could lead to improvement in quality of frozen/thawed ram semen.
From pandemic to participation: A two‐year follow‐up of blood donors in the Netherlands who registered during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Prinsze Femmeke J. , Merz Eva‐Maria , Spekman Marloes L. C.
Published: November 2024

Background

During the height of the COVID‐19 pandemic (2020–2021), people were urged to minimize movements. Nevertheless, the Netherlands observed a huge increase in new donor registrations in early 2020. It is unclear whether such “pandemic” donors are willing to become repeat donors. The aim of this study was to analyze the donation behavior of these “pandemic” donors during 2 years after registration.

Methods

All donors registered in weeks 11–20 of 2020 were followed for 2 years and their turnout for the new donor screening (NDS), their first‐time donation (FTD), their donation(s) in the follow‐up period, and their availability at the end of the follow‐up period was compared with donors registered in weeks 11–20 of the previous years, 2017–2019.

Results

Totally 26,463 donors registered during week 11–20 in 2020; more than double as in the same period in previous years. Their turnout for the NDS (80%) and FTD (60%) was like donors registered in 2017–2019. On the longer term, we saw lower donor availability with a shift in number of whole blood and plasma donations.

Discussion

During the first phase of the pandemic, more people registered than usual. Their show rates for the NDS and the FTD were comparable with previous years, suggesting that “pandemic” donors show identical behavior as regular donors. On the long term, however, donation behavior differed (lower return rates and shift in donation types). Further research is needed to disentangle impacts of the pandemic especially on the long‐term changes as they happened simultaneously with policy and recruitment changes.
OVERCOMING LEAN SIX SIGMA BARRIERS IN ELECTRIC VEHICLE ASSEMBLY: POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS
Authors: Atul Zope , Kumar Swami Raju , Atul Patil
Published: November 2024

The purpose of this paper is to identify the various types of lean six sigma (LSS) barriers involved in the assembly process of electric vehicles (EV). An exhaustive literature survey was conducted to identify the critical barriers in LSS implementation.  Four main barriers affecting the assembly process are transportation and handling, assembly line processing, EV assembly integration, and human resources and training. The main barriers were further separated into several sub-barriers. The potential solutions to address the sub-barriers are investigated through literature survey and an expert survey. The implementation of these solutions will help automotive industries to achieve an optimized and economical high-volume production, make operations easy, improve process flexibility, and develop human resources essential for the EV assembly process.
DESIGN AND SIMULATION OF A COMPACT LINE INSPECTION ROBOT
Authors: Ferrer Mark James , Lee Jeongrok , Linsangan Marc Heinz , Santillan Nygel Gian , Sybingco Matthew , Chua Alvin
Published: November 2024

Power line inspection is a rather risky and complex task. As a result, robots have been introduced that perform power line inspections with minimal human interaction with the power line itself. Most current designs, however, are unsuited for use in residential powerlines due to their architecture. The study aims to present a compact and lightweight design capable of inspecting residential power lines using a clamshell design. Several elements of the design were designed with the premise that these would be 3D printed to reduce weight and save costs. The study focused on designing several chassis models and different wheel designs. These were run through software such as ANSYS and SOLIDWORKS to determine their structural integrity and ability to traverse the power line respectively. After running tests, it was found that a thin rectangular chassis design with U-type grooved wheels yielded the best results in terms of overall performance, with the highest equivalent stress of 6.484e5 Pa for the individual top chassis and a highest equivalent stress of 3.363e6 Pa found in the wheel axel when an assembly simulation was performed. This resulted in a safety factor of 15 in the stress simulations. Stable behavior was observed in the motion analysis, indicating that the design was feasible for performing an inspection. The design was then modified to reduce print time along with incorporating a specific print setting that yielded a total print time of just over 1 day and an equivalent mass of under 1.5 kg with no relative effect on the structural integrity and stability of the robot.
PATH OPTIMIZATION OF SMALL TRACTOR FOR REMOVAL WEEDING SYSTEM IN OIL PALM PLANTATION
Authors: Prongnuch Sethakarn , Sitjongsataporn Suchada
Published: November 2024

This research presents a path optimization based on genetic algorithm suitable for small tractor in order to mow or remove weeds in oil palm plantations. Fuel is the most important budget or cost for cutting weeds by tractor. Hence, the aim is to design an optimized path and calculation model for saving the cost of fuel of a tractor that can save the fix cost of oil palm farmers. Genetic algorithm is applied to find an optimized path of tractor for removal weeds compared with the conventional path of native oil palm farmers. Modified greedy genetic algorithm is introduced by using the greedy algorithm and ranking selection in the conventional GA. For the cutting machine, a Kubota weed cutter is installed at the tail of Kubota tractor. These experiments are tested at the Agricultural Learning Center, Mueang District, Ranong Province in the South of Thailand. Basic types of paths for removal weeding around the oil palm trees are line, rectangle and zig-zag. All three patterns of path driving of two small tractors for removal of weed are tested and evaluated. Pattern A is the round-trip in the same row, Pattern B is the U-typed trip in the next row and Pattern C is the spiral trip. Experimental results achieve in accordance with the energy savings and budget. After calculation, it found that Pattern C is the best way to save budget. Experiments on two types of tractors with Pattern C spent 7.44 min./0.41L and 14.89 min./0.53L of gasoline. Practical results in path optimization for driving tractors by native farmers are similar to the proposed calculation model.
RADIALLY-DIRECTED MICROSTRIP PATCH ANTENNA FOR LIGHTWEIGHT MOBILE WIRELESS CONTROL
Authors: Fikri Ahmad Ilham Rokhul , Hendinata Laurentius Kevin
Published: November 2024

In the realm of wireless communication, the continuous evolution driven by the rapid advancements in information technology over the past few decades has led to an ever-growing reliance on various digital technologies such as WiFi, GSM, LTE, IoT, 5G, and mmWave for communication connectivity. This technological expansion finds significant application in the transportation sector, where smart and automated systems demand efficient communication for enhanced efficiency, safety, and reliability, encompassing both vehicle-infrastructure interactions and broadband services. However, this progress poses challenges encompassing security, spectrum utilization, energy efficiency, and communication infrastructure. The critical role of antennas in enabling radio wave-based communication is evident, necessitating compact, integrated, and polarization-responsive designs with substantial bandwidth and high gain. Here, the microstrip patch antenna emerges as a solution, offering attributes like favorable return loss, high efficiency, and directional radiation patterns. The design, at dimensions of 50 mm × 60 mm within a single-layer FR-4 PCB of 1.4 mm thickness, undergoes simulations using CST Studio. The resultant data includes current signal output, gain, radiation pattern, and parameters for potential design optimization. Simulation findings indicate a resonant frequency of 433 MHz with an S11 value of -40.727 dB, a VSWR value of 1.018 at 433 MHz, and an impedance of 50.05 ohms. The radiation pattern showcases elevated gain radially and diminished axial gain, indicating optimal signal transmission perpendicular to its axis. Additionally, the analysis of electric (E) and magnetic (H) fields offers insights into the antenna's radiation characteristics. This work addresses challenges in modern wireless communication, providing a promising microstrip patch antenna solution supported by quantitative simulations, heralding the prospect of enhanced wireless control and communication in lightweight mobile applications.
STUDY ON THE UTILIZATION OF TIO2/NISE/N/C FOR CR(VI) PHOTOREDUCTION
Authors: Zain Elfirza , Kusumawati Yuly , Saepurahman Saepurahman
Published: November 2024

The toxic contaminant chromium is commonly found in industries such as electroplating, metallurgy, and metal processing. Cr(VI) ions are highly toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic. Photocatalytic reduction has emerged as a promising method for Cr(VI) removals due to its high efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and the absence of secondary pollutants. TiO2 was chosen as a photocatalyst due to its exceptional photocatalytic activity. However, TiO2 has the disadvantage of a broad bandgap and rapid electron-hole recombination. To overcome this drawback, a heterojunction is formed between TiO2 and NiSe. Nevertheless, TiO2/NiSe suffers from poor thermal stability and a tendency to agglomerate. To address these issues, NiSe is modified using carbon and nitrogen materials derived from chitosan. In this research, TiO2/NiSe modified with N/C has been synthesized through the solvothermal method as a photocatalyst utilizing two forms of TiO2, namely rutile (Rk) and P25 (Pk). The resulting photocatalysts are optimized for reducing Cr(VI) in water through photocatalysis. X-ray diffraction (XRD), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), UV-Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (UV-DRS), and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were utilized for characterization. The UV-Vis DRS analysis indicated a reduction in the bandgap upon incorporating carbon and nitrogen elements. Rutile TiO2's bandgap has decreased from 3 eV to 2.87 eV, while P25 TiO2’s bandgap has decreased from 3.14 eV to 3.04 eV. The photoreduction study of TiO2/NiSe/N/C in water against Cr(VI) was also conducted with several variations, namely light source (no light, TL lamp, 365 nm lamp, 254 nm lamp) and hole scavenger (formic acid).  The photoreduction test results demonstrate the superior performance of the composite compared to pure TiO2. For example, under 254 nm light, the P25 sample significantly improved from 20.41% (P) to 53.26% (Pk). The Rk sample shows the strongest activity in TL light, which achieved a photoreduction rate of up to 48%. The best photoreduction study results were obtained by the Pk sample at 254 nm lamp variation using a formic acid hole scavenger with 99.7% photoreduction.
MXENE AS FUTURE POTENTIAL PHOTOACTIVE CO-CATALYST MATERIAL FOR EFFICIENT VISIBLE LIGHT PHOTODEGRADATION OF PERSISTENT ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS: A REVIEW
Authors: Khan Zeeshan , Jaafar Juhana , Khan Azmat Ali , Kamal Mustafa , Rehman Ghani Ur , Mir Fahad , Ismail A.F. , M. H. D. Othman  , A. Rahman Mukhlis
Published: November 2024

Advanced oxidation strategies (AOSs), which are regarded as an eco-friendly approach, are being evaluated as a potential technique to address the escalating energy crisis and environmental issues stemming from the industrial revolution. Traditional wastewater treatment techniques often result in the emission of possibly harmful by-products. Therefore, various semiconductor photocatalysts such as TiO2, ZnO, g-C3N4, CdS, WO3, and ZnS have been under continuous investigation to fulfill the need for efficient treatment of wastewater in a cost-effective approach. However, there is a pressing need to develop engineering strategies for these photocatalytic materials to generate strong capabilities for maintaining high stability, effectively separating charges, and harvesting visible light. This need for innovation arises from the inherently low efficiency of the reactions that occur when employing a single photocatalyst. MXene (2-D titanium carbide) has gained recognition as a promising co-catalyst material in the field of photocatalysis based on its distinctive physicochemical and mechanical characteristics that include a configurable bandgap, extensive surface area, strong conductivity, exceptional structural stability, facile functionalization, and hydrophilicity. The challenges associated with the utilization of an individual semiconductor photocatalyst could be effectively addressed by incorporating MXene as a co-catalyst, thus enhancing the photocatalytic degradation performance. One of the effective techniques for promoting photocatalytic activity and improving the electronic structure by utilizing MXene as a co-catalyst is the generation of Schottky junctions and heterostructures. The overall objective of this paper is to highlight MXene as a prospective co-catalyst for visible light photodegradation of persistent organic contaminants. The article critically focuses on the fundamental principles of photocatalysis, synthesis techniques, and recent advancements in MXene and MXene-based composite photocatalysts for efficient wastewater treatment. It is anticipated that this article will motivate additional research and pave the way for the development of novel, highly effective MXene-modified semiconductor photocatalysts, thereby expanding their potential applications.
COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE IN LEARNING ANALYTICS: A MINI REVIEW
Authors: Tan Fei Zhi , Lim Jia Yee , Chan Weng Howe , Idris Muhammad Iqbal Tariq
Published: November 2024

he field of Learning Analytics (LA) has witnessed remarkable growth, with a growing emphasis on the utilization of data-driven insights to enhance educational practices. Learning Analytics, encompassing the acquisition, analysis, and interpretation of student data, holds immense promise in transforming education. This review paper synthesizes the key advancements in Learning Analytics, focusing on its definition, benefits, and various levels of learning analytics. A comprehensive literature review has been conducted to delve into existing platforms, LA levels, and technologies. It critically evaluates the significance of predictive Learning Analytics in identifying trends and patterns in educational data. Moreover, the review delves into the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in LA, highlighting its multifaceted utility, from personalized recommendations to intelligent tutoring systems. Several case studies are examined to underscore the real-world applications of AI models in Learning Analytics. This paper offers insights into the advantages of AI-driven LA, such as early intervention and adaptive learning. Challenges and ethical considerations in AI-powered LA are also discussed. Furthermore, it shines a spotlight on the field of machine learning within Learning Analytics, emphasizing its role in automating data analysis and prediction, thus streamlining educational processes. This comprehensive review provides a foundational understanding of the evolving landscape of Learning Analytics, AI, and Machine Learning in education.
REMOVAL OF TETRACYCLINE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING KOH TREATED DIATOMACEOUS EARTH
Authors: Sinpichai Sarawut , Yuangsawad Ratanaporn , Na-Ranong Duangkamol
Published: November 2024

Contamination of tetracycline group antibiotics (TC) has become more serious environmental problem. Diatomaceous earth (DE) activated by KOH impregnation is one of feasible adsorbents applied to TC removal. This paper aims to find the suitable condition for KOH activation, to investigate the adsorption behavior of DE activated at this condition (BDE), to regenerate the spent BDE (SBDE), as well as, to evaluate reusability of the regenerated BDE (RBDE). By comparing adsorption capacities (qTC, e) of DEs activated under various conditions (1 – 12 h and 333 – 353 K), the most suitable condition was determined as 6 h and 353 K. Linear regression analysis of kinetics and isotherm experimental data revealed that pseudo-second-order model gave the best fit with the kinetics data, comparing with pseudo-first-order and Elovich models and Langmuir isotherm model fitted with the isotherm data better than Freundlich model. Furthermore, SBDE was successfully regenerated using the procedure similar to the activation step but under milder conditions; impregnation of SBDE in 0.1 M KOH solution at 303 K for 1 h. Although qTC, e of RBDE dropped around 24% of the original value after the first regeneration, it was nearly constant even after 4 cycles of adsorption-regeneration experiment.
EFFECTS OF THIOBENCARB AND BIOAUGMENTATION IN PADDY SOIL AND SEDIMENT SLURRIES ON BACTERIAL COMMUNITY AND THIOBENCARB DEGRADATION
Authors: Duc Ha Danh , Oanh Nguyen Thi , Mai Khanh Nguyen Thi
Published: November 2024

Thiobencarb has been extensively applied to control weeds. In this study, research was conducted to investigate thiobencarb degradation in soil and sediment slurries under anaerobic condition whereby we acknowledged degradation rates in this order: sediments from river, soil from paddy field, sediments from mangrove. The augmentation of Dechloromonas sp. Th1, Thauera sp. Th2, and Azoarcus sp. Th3 increased thiobencarb degradation by 24.46±4.1% in soil from paddy fields, 25.03±3.3% in sediment from the river, and 17.58±3.0% in sediment from the mangrove. Moreover, the thiobencarb supplementation and bacterial inoculation resulted in the shifts of bacterial communities in these media. For example, the inoculation of the mixed culture resulted in significant increases in relative abundances of all phyla Dechloromonas, Thauera and Azoarcus in sediment from the river, Dechloromonas and Azoarcus in soil from the paddy field, and Thauera in sediment from the mangrove. α and β-diversity analyses showed that thiobencarb caused significant changes of indigenous bacteria in soil collected from the paddy field and sediment from the mangrove. Besides, the inoculation of the mixed culture reduced the adverse effect of thiobencarb on indigenous bacteria based on α-diversity. This study provides valuable information on roles of bioaugmentation in the degradation, effects of thiobencarb supplementation and bacterial inoculation on native bacterial communities under anaerobic conditions.
CO-CULTURE OF CHLORELLA VULGARIS AND ESCHERICHIA COLI ENHANCE INTRACELLULAR ORGANIC MATTER IN BIOFILM MODE
Authors: Tong C. Y. , Honda Kohsuke , Ahmad Wazir Norhidayah , Derek C. J. C.
Published: November 2024

Microalgal-bacterial biofilm studies over years often highlights challenges in biomass harvesting due to the larger pore sizes, grooves, or pores found on most of the supporting substrates, which trapped the cells easily, hence causing frequent maintenance or replacement with new batch of solid supporting materials. In light of this, the current work addresses this limitation by investigating the use of microporous membranes as a cultivation substrate for co-culture biofilms. A self-designed permeated system was employed to enable the cultivation of biofilms on these membranes throughout 15 days. Findings showed that cell density of C. vulgaris in the co-culture biofilm was at least three times higher than the monoculture control, peaking at approximately 49.84x1010±4.44x1010 cells m-2 on day 10. The total chlorophyll yield depicted by co-culture group shown an average of two-fold higher productivity than that of control. Additionally, co-culture system also demonstrated higher extracellular polysaccharide (380% higher at day 5) and protein (870% higher at day 15) levels. The presence of E. coli in co-culture undoubtedly stimulated algal metabolism through nutrient recycling or cross-feeding. Intracellularly, permeated biofilm system facilitated a remarkable accumulation of six- to nine-times higher as compared to their respective extracellular counterparts. Insights gained from this work would pave a way to the exploration of more potential co-culture systems in enhancing both the biomass and algal organic matter growth through symbiotic interactions with bacteria.
Forns index and fatty liver index, but not FIB-4, are associated with indices of glycaemia, pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes: analysis of The Maastricht Study
Authors: Heyens Leen , Kenjic Hanna , Dagnelie Pieter , Schalkwijk Casper , Stehouwer Coen , Meex Steven , Kooman Jeroen , Bekers Otto , van Greevenbroek Marleen , Savelberg Hans , Robaeys Geert , de Galan Bastiaan , Koster Annemarie , van Dongen Martien , Eussen Simone , Koek Ger
Published: November 2024

Objective

Glucose metabolism status (GMS) is linked to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Higher levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are observed in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and NAFLD. We examined the association between GMS, non-invasive tests and AGEs, with liver steatosis and fibrosis.

Methods

Data from The Maastricht Study, a population-based cohort, were analysed. Participants with alcohol overconsumption or missing data were excluded. GMS was determined via an oral glucose tolerance test. AGEs, measured by skin autofluorescence (SAF), were assessed using an AGE Reader. Associations of GMS and SAF with the fibrosis-4 score (FIB-4), Forns index (FI) and fatty liver index (FLI) were investigated using multivariable linear regression, adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle and clinical variables.

Results

1955 participants (56.6%) were analysed: 598 (30.6%) had T2DM, 264 (13.5%) had pre-diabetes and 1069 (54.7%) had normal glucose metabolism. Pre-diabetes was significantly associated with FLI (standardised regression coefficient (Stβ) 0.396, 95% CI 0.323 to 0.471) and FI (Stβ 0.145, 95% CI 0.059 to 0.232) but not FIB-4. T2DM was significantly associated with FLI (Stβ 0.623, 95% CI 0.552 to 0.694) and FI (Stβ 0.307, 95% CI 0.226 to 0.388) but not FIB-4. SAF was significantly associated with FLI (Stβ 0.083, 95% CI 0.036 to 0.129), FI (Stβ 0.106, 95% CI 0.069 to 0.143) and FIB-4 (Stβ 0.087, 95% CI 0.037 to 0.137).

Conclusion

The study showed that adverse GMS and higher glycaemia are positively associated with steatosis. FI, but not FIB-4, was related to adverse GMS concerning fibrosis. This study is the first to demonstrate that SAF is positively associated with steatosis and fibrosis.
Lifestyle Profile Scale for Gravida with Urinary Incontinence: scale development and psychometric testing in Chinese Mainland
Authors: Mao Minna , Xu Ping , Guo Ping-ping , Wang Xiaojuan , Wang Hongyan , Feng Suwen
Published: November 2024

Objectives

A significant number of women may experience urinary incontinence (UI) during pregnancy. While lifestyle modifications are recommended as important measures for preventing and treating UI, little is known about the lifestyle status of gravida with UI. This study aimed to develop the Lifestyle Profile Scale for Gravida with Urinary Incontinence (LPG-UI) and to evaluate its psychometric properties.

Design

It was an instrument design study carried out in two stages. In stage 1, a literature review was conducted to generate the initial item pool. Subsequently, a Delphi survey was conducted to obtain expert consensus and reduce the items. In stage 2, further item reduction was performed through item analysis. Then, psychometric properties of the instrument were evaluated, including structural validity, internal consistency, split-half reliability, test–retest reliability and criterion validity.

Setting

This study was conducted in obstetric clinics of a tertiary maternity hospital in Zhejiang Province, mainland China.

Participants

A sample of 447 pregnant women with UI were enrolled in stage 2.

Results

A 24-item, 7-dimension lifestyle profile scale was ultimately obtained. The content validity was satisfactory. The split-half reliability and total-scale Cronbach’s alpha coefficient were 0.890 and 0.819, respectively. The criterion validity was 0.598. The seven-factor model, which accounted for 63.667% of the total item variance, demonstrated a good fit with the data (χ2/df=1.672, root mean square error of approximation=0.053, goodness of fit=0.884).

Conclusions

The LPG-UI has sufficient validity and reliability for assessing the lifestyle status of pregnant women with UI.
Supporting resident-centred decision-making about transitions from long-term care homes to hospital: a qualitative study protocol
Authors: Ménard Alixe , Konikoff Lauren , Adams Michaela , Singh Yamini , Scott Mary M , Yin Christina Y , Kimura Maren , Kobewka Daniel , Fung Celeste , Isenberg Sarina R , Kaasalainen Sharon , Kierulf Jackie , Molnar Frank , Shamon Sandy , Wilson Kumanan , Kehoe MacLeod Krystal
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Burdensome care transitions may occur despite clinicians’ engagement in care planning discussions with residents and their family/friend care partners. Conversations about potential hospital transfers can better prepare long-term care (LTC) residents, their families and care providers for future decision-making. Lack of such discussions increases the likelihood of transitions that do not align with residents’ values. This study will examine experiences of LTC residents, family/friend care partners and staff surrounding decision-making about LTC to hospital transitions and codesign a tool to assist with transitional decision-making to help prioritise needs and preferences of residents and their care partners.

Methods and analysis

This study will use semi-structured needs assessment interviews (duration: 1 hour), content analysis of existing decision support and discussion tools and a codesign workshop series (for residents and care partners, and for staff) at three participating LTC home research sites. This qualitative work will inform the development of a decision support tool that will subsequently be pilot tested and evaluated at three partnering LTC homes in future phases of the project. The study is guided by the Person-centred Practice in Long-term Care theoretical framework. Interview audio recordings will be transcribed verbatim and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Participants will be recruited in partnership with three LTC homes in Ottawa, Ontario. Eligible participants will be English or French speaking residents, family/friend care partners or staff (eg, physicians, nurses and personal support workers) who have experienced or been involved in a transition from LTC to hospital.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been obtained from the Bruyère Health Research Ethics Board (#M16-23-030). Findings will be (1) reported to participating and funding organisations; (2) presented at national and international conferences and (3) disseminated by peer-review publications.
Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures and associated factors among high school students in Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Tadesse Gudeta Habtamu , Jemberu Yordanos , Nagari Shelema Likassa
Published: November 2024

Background

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory infection that is spreading worldwide. The WHO has recommended public health preventive measures for COVID-19 prevention and control. Adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures is important for disease prevention and control of the disease’s spread. So, implementing preventive measures plays an essential role in reducing the spread of COVID-19 infection. This study aimed to assess the adherence status toward COVID-19 preventive measures and associated factors among high school students.

Methods

528 high school students participated in an institutional-based cross-sectional study. A multistage sampling technique and a systematic random sampling method were applied to select the study participants. The data was entered into EpiData V.3.1 and then exported to SPSS V.23 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regressions were computed. The significance of the association was declared by a 95% CI of adjusted OR (AOR) and a p value<0.05 in the multivariate model.

Result

A total of 528 respondents participated in the study, with a 100% response rate. The overall adherence level of high school students toward COVID-19 prevention measures was 110 (20.8%, 95% CI: 17.4%, 24.6%). The mean(±SD) age of the respondents was 18 (SD 11±2) years, which ranges from 16 to 24 years, and 387 (73.3%) were in the age group of 19–20 years, The majority of the students (418; 79.2%, 95% CI: 75.4, 82.6) had poor adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. 345 (65.3%) had good knowledge, 328 (62.1%) had unfavourable attitudes and 390 (73.9%) had poor risk perception for COVID-19 preventive measures. This study revealed that most (89.9%) of the high school students did not maintain a physical distance of 2 m away, 84.4% of the students had no regular handwashing practice, majority 71.4% of the students did not use facemasks/covered their face during coughing and 62.9% of the students had no face mask and 54% of the students did not use sanitiser or alcohol per recommendation. This study revealed that sex (AOR: 2.42, 95% CI: 1.46, 4.02), attitude (AOR: 4.04, 95% CI: 2.45, 6.68) and risk perception (AOR: 7.60, 95% CI: 4.62, 12.54) were significantly associated with poor adherence toward COVID-19 prevention measures.

Conclusion

This study’s findings revealed that adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures among high school students was very low. Therefore, promoting adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures demands awareness creation and risk communication to build an appropriate level of knowledge, attitude and risk perception.
Mutation-guided chemotherapy-free strategy in first-line immunotherapy for low PD-L1-expressing non-squamous NSCLC
Authors: Li Hui , Liu Jingjing , Zhang Liang , Xu Yu , Wang Xinyue , Lan Shaowei , Cui Peng , Wang Guoqiang , Cai Shangli , Cheng Ying
Published: November 2024

Background

The necessity of platinum-doublet chemotherapy in first-line immunotherapy for non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer (nsqNSCLC) with programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression on less than 50% of tumor cells remains poorly investigated. Biomarkers predicting this necessity can guide chemotherapy-free treatment to minimize unnecessary toxicity.

Methods

Treated with immune checkpoint inhibitor monotherapy (ICI-mono), chemotherapy, or combination (ICI-chemo), 790 low PD-L1-expressing nsqNSCLCs (in-house: n=83; public: n=707) were analyzed for development and validation of the interaction score for additional chemotherapy (ISAC). Transcriptomic (public, n=11) and multiplex immunofluorescence data (in-house, n=100) were analyzed to evaluate the immune microenvironment.

Results

ICI-chemo, compared with ICI-mono, tended to prolong progression-free survival (PFS; HR=0.72, p=0.004) and overall survival (OS; HR=0.77, p=0.071) as first-line therapy in low PD-L1-expressing nsqNSCLCs. The added value of chemotherapy was observed in the ISAC-low subgroup (PFS: HR=0.48, p<0.001; OS: HR=0.53, p=0.001) rather than the ISAC-high subgroup (PFS: HR=1.08, p=0.65; OS: HR=1.14, p=0.56). This predictive utility was independent of tumor mutational burden and PD-L1 expression, indicated by subgroup and multivariable analyses. A high ISAC was associated with adaptive immune resistance reflected by more proinflammatory (eg, CD8+T cells and M1 macrophages) rather than anti-inflammatory tumor-infiltrating immune cells (eg, M2 macrophages) and high expression of immune checkpoints except for PD-L1 (eg, programmed cell death protein-1).

Conclusion

A high ISAC was identified as a significant predictor for virtually no added value of platinum-doublet chemotherapy for first-line ICI treatment in low PD-L1-expressing nsqNSCLC. Our findings may help refine personalized therapeutic strategies for nsqNSCLC, thereby improving efficacy and reducing undue toxicity.
N-terminal acetylation of transcription factor LIP induces immune therapy resistance via suppression of PD-L1 expression in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: He Xiang , Liu Yongshuo , Gao Xing , Tang Feiyu , Tian Yuxi , Gong Siyuan , Shen Jia , Wang Aimin , Sun Lunquan , Wei Wensheng , Weng Liang
Published: November 2024

Background

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) checkpoint blockade has revolutionized cancer therapy, yet its clinical success is confined to a subset of patients, underscoring the urgent need to understand the molecular underpinnings of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression to combat immunotherapy resistance.

Methods

Employing CRISPR/Cas9 screening, we identified key regulators of PD-L1 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, focusing on the transcription factor CEBPB and its isoform liver-enriched inhibitory protein (LIP). Through chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and luciferase reporter assays, we explored the interaction between LIP and basic-helix-loop-helix E22 (BHLHE22) in controlling PD-L1 transcription. We also used immunofluorescence and NBD-CI assays to examine how N-terminal acetylation affects LIP’s subcellular localization. The impact of LIP on tumor growth was assessed via subcutaneous tumorigenicity assays, while immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence were used to analyze LIP-induced alterations in the tumor immune microenvironment.

Results

Our research indicates that CEBPB, particularly its LIP isoform, significantly suppresses PD-L1 expression in NSCLC cells. This suppression is contingent on LIP’s N-terminal acetylation by the N-terminal acetyltransferase A complex, which facilitates LIP’s nuclear entry and interaction with BHLHE22. This interaction leads to the formation of a co-repressor complex at the PD-L1 promoter, effectively reducing PD-L1 expression and enhancing the tumor immune response.

Conclusions

Identifying CEBPB, especially the LIP isoform, as a pivotal regulator of PD-L1 expression sheds light on the mechanisms behind PD-1 blockade resistance in NSCLC. Our findings suggest that modulating LIP’s function or its molecular interactions might offer a novel approach to boosting the efficacy of immunotherapies.