bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Surface Roughness, Color, and Bonding Efficacy: Self-Adhesive vs. Conventional Flowable Resin
Authors: Leal Caroline de Farias Charamba , Viana Beatriz Barros , Miranda Samille Biasi , Lima Renally Bezerra Wanderley e , Silva Cleyton Cézar Souto , Lins Rodrigo Barros Esteves , Batista André Ulisses Dantas , De Andrade Ana Karina Maciel , Montes Marcos Antônio Japiassú Resende
Published: August 2024

This in vitro study aimed to analyze the surface roughness (Ra) and color stability (ΔEab, ΔE00) following simulated mechanical brushing, and to evaluate the microtensile (μTBS) to dentin of Self Adhering Resin Flowable (SARF). The selected materials were Constic, Yflow AS, and Tetric N flow (TNF/control). Thirty composite resin cylinders were fabricated for surface property evaluation. Ra and color were assessed both before and after simulated brushing. The thresholds of 50:50% perceptibility and acceptability of color difference of the evaluated resins were assessed. For μTBS analysis, fifteen molars were selected, sectioned to expose flat dentin surfaces, and restored according to manufacturers' instructions. Subsequently, they were sectioned into sticks for microtensile testing. Statistically significant differences in Ra among the groups, with Constic exhibiting the highest Ra value (p < 0.05), while Yflow AS showed the lowest Ra value. No statistically significant difference in color was observed among the groups (p > 0.05). The 50:50% perceptibility and acceptability thresholds set at 1.2 and 2.7 for ΔEab and 0.8 and 1.8 for ΔE 00. All the results fell within the acceptable limits. The mean μTBS values of Constic, Yflow AS, and TNF were 10.649 MPa, 8.170 MPa, and 33.669 MPa, respectively. The study revealed increased Ra and comparable color stability among all tested composite resins after abrasion. However, SARF exhibited lower μTBS compared to conventional using an adhesive system.
Investigating Hydrological Drought Characteristics and Different Return Periods in Semi-Arid Regions under CMIP5 Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Chatklang Sornsawan , Tongdeenok Piyapong , Kaewjampa Naruemol
Published: August 2024

This study analyzes future hydrological droughts in LCKW using the SWAT model and data from 2010-2021, evaluating the Streamflow Drought Index (SDI) for 5, 10, 25, and 50-year return periods (RP) for 2029 and 2039 under RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios. The model shows high accuracy (R² = 0.82, NSE = 0.78). Under RCP4.5, streamflow may increase by 34.74% and 18.74%, while RCP8.5 predicts significant decreases of 37.06% and 55.84%. Historical data reveal frequent short-term droughts during SDI-3, notably in 2014–2016 and 2020–2021, with SDI-6 indicating less frequent but severe droughts, especially in 2015 and 2020. Future projections under RCP8.5 suggest wors-ening drought conditions in 2029 and 2039, with critical drought periods from January to April and November. Wavelet analysis indicates a high risk of severe hydrological drought in LCKW due to low annual recurrence rates, with the highest drought severity over a 50-year RP. The study high-lights an increasing likelihood of frequent and severe droughts, particularly under high emission scenarios such as RCP8.5, which could result in significant water shortages and ecosystem disrup-tions. It emphasizes the significance of adaptive water resource management strategies in mitigating negative impacts on water security and ecosystem health.
Tunnel Fire Detection Method Based on Improved DS Evidence Theory
Authors: Wang Haiying , Shi Yuke , Chen Long , Zhang Xiaofeng
Published: August 2024

Tunnel fires are generally detected using various sensors, including measuring temperature, CO concentration, and smoke concentration. To address the ambiguity and inconsistency in multi-sensor data, this paper proposes a tunnel fire detection method based on an improved Dempster-Shafer (DS) evidence theory for multi-sensor data fusion. To solve the problem of evidence conflict in DS theory, a two-level multi-sensor data fusion framework is adopted. The first level of fusion involves feature fusion of the same type of sensor data, removing ambiguous data to obtain characteristic data, and calculating the basic probability assignment (BPA) function through the feature interval. The second level fusion derives basic probability numbers from the BPA, calculates the degree of evidence conflict, normalizes to obtain the relative conflict degree, and optimizes the BPA using the trust coefficient. The classical DS evidence theory is then used to integrate and obtain the probability of tunnel fire occurrence. Different heat release rates, tunnel wind speeds, and fire locations are set, forming four fire scenarios. Sensor monitoring data under each simulation condition are extracted and fused using the improved DS evidence theory. The results show that the proposed improved DS evidence theory method detects the probability of fire occurrence in the four scenarios as 67.5%, 71.0%, 82.8%, and 83.5%, respectively, and identifies fire occurrence in approximately 2.4 seconds, an improvement of 64.7% to 70% over traditional methods. This demonstrates the feasibility and superiority of the proposed method, highlighting its significant importance in ensuring personnel safety.
Residue Addition Can Mitigate Soil Health Challenges with Climate Change in Drylands: Insights from a Field Warming Experiment in Semi-arid Texas
Authors: Devkota Pawan , Singh Rakesh K , Smith Nicholas G , Slaughter Lindsey C , van Gestel Natasja C
Published: August 2024

Texas cotton production is facing challenges arising from increased temperatures and extended droughts. One potential solution to mitigate these environmental stresses lies in enhancing soil health through measures aimed at increasing soil organic matter and microbial biomass. Our field study investigated the effectiveness of adding residue on soil surface to increase soil organic matter content, microbial biomass, and cotton production under experimental warming with open-top chambers (OTCs). The OTCs raised the air temperature by 2 °C but did not affect soil temperature. OTCs also increased microbial biomass and soil respiration rate. Residue addition increased moisture content in non-irrigated (i.e., dryland) soils under experimental warming and concurrently reduced the daily temperature range in warmed plots. Furthermore, residue addition increased microbial biomass and soil respiration, particularly under OTC treatments in dryland soils. We also observed increased soil organic matter, microbial biomass, cotton biomass, and yield in irrigated fields compared to dryland. Our findings suggest that residue retention can mitigate the adverse effects of warming by stabilizing soil microclimate and enhancing soil organic matter and microbial biomass levels, especially in drylands. This, in turn, can help attenuate the potential impacts of future climate change on soil health and crop production in semiarid environments.
Identification of MTA1 as a New Molecular Marker for Canine Urothelial Carcinoma
Authors: Campanelli Gisella , Waxner Noah , Parkhomovsky Nema , Mak Chun Kuen , Yin Ji-Hang , Lin Susanne Je-Han , Vanderstichel Raphael , Yang Ching , Levenson Anait S
Published: August 2024

Although metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1) is known to play a role in cancer invasion and metastasis of various cancers, the clinical significance of its expression in canine urothelial carcinoma (UC) has not been explored. We sought to evaluate the expression of MTA1, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) and E-cadherin (E-cad) in association with clinicopathological parameters in clinical samples of canine UC. Here, we show that MTA1 and COX2 are overexpressed in canine UC samples compared to normal canine bladder samples, whereas E-cad levels are higher in normal bladder. The results demonstrated that MTA1 expression correlated with aggressive clinicopathological features such as high tumor-grade, muscular/vascular invasion, and metastasis. The expression of MTA1 differed in tumors depending on their localization, with the highest being in the urethra adjoining the prostate. Unexpectedly, higher E-cad levels were detected in metastatic tumor cells compared to primary tumor cells. Overall, these findings suggest that MTA1 may represent a key upstream effector tightly associated with COX2 and E-cad-mediated events in canine UC. Accordingly, MTA1 may be considered a feasible interceptive and therapeutic target for canine UC treatment.
Optical Properties of Yttrium Orthoferrite Films Prepared by Plasma Laser Deposition
Authors: Sobola Dinara , Fawaeer Saleh H. , Kočková Pavla , Schubert Richard , Dallaev Rashid , Trčka Tomáš
Published: August 2024

This study investigates the optical properties of Yttrium Orthoferrite thin films fabricated via plasma laser deposition. Yttrium Orthoferrite, a ferrimagnetic material known for its potential applications in spintronics and photonics, was deposited on single-crystal substrates under controlled conditions to analyze its optical characteristics. The influence of deposition time, on the film quality and optical properties was examined.
Exploring Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake Among Women in the United States: Impact of Social Determinants of Health and Psychosocial Determinants
Authors: Asare Matthew , Owusu-Sekyere Eyram , Elizondo Anjelica , Benavidez Gabriel A
Published: August 2024

We assessed the impact of social determinants of health (SDOH) and psychosocial factors on screening behavior in a nationally representative sample of women in the US. A retrospective population-level cross-sectional sample was extracted from the 2022 Health Information National Trends Survey. Descriptive statistics were conducted for demographic characteristics and covariates. Population-based estimates with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were produced for Pap testing behaviors across study years. We used logistic regression models to assess Pap testing differences based on SDOH and psychosocial factors, adjusting for covariates, with a significance level of 0.05 for hypothesis testing. Women (n=2,224) with a mean age of 46.96 participated in the study. Our study found that 90% of women were interested in cervical cancer screening, with an 80% actual screening rate. Screening rates differed by age group and rurality. SDOH and psychosocial factors were associated with participants’ interest in screening and in actual screening behavior. The impacts of SDOH and psychosocial factors on screening behavior were 3% and 1%, respectively. The SDOH and psychosocial factors are associated with the uptake of cervical cancer screening among women in the United States. Policies must be directed at bridging the gap created by these SDOHs.
Study of a New Novel HVOAF Coating Based on a New Multicomponent Al80Mg10Si5Cu5 Alloy
Authors: Villanueva Ester , Vicario Iban , Vaquero Carlos , Albizuri Joseba , Guraya Maria Teresa , Burgos Nerea , Hurtado Iñaki
Published: August 2024

This paper presents and demonstrates the development of a new lightweight coating for aluminium alloy using a novel multicomponent alloy based on the AlSiMgCu system. This coating was applied using a newly designed approach that combined High-Velocity Oxy-Fuel (HVOF) and Plasma Spraying processes. This hybrid technique enables the deposition of coatings with enhanced performance characteristics. The microstructure was studied using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM+EDS) microscopy, revealing good adhesion and compaction between the multicomponent coating and the A6061 substrate with 50 to 150 µm thickness. Vickers indentations were performed on the substrate and the new coating material, revealing a 50% improvement in the material's hardness compared to the casted alloy. Additionally, electrical conductivity measurements showed approximative x3.3 times values compared to the alloy in as-cast condition due to high solidification rates altering the morphology of the phases. Corrosion tests demonstrated a lower corrosion rate compared to other multicomponent aluminium alloys and similar to thermal treated A6061 alloy. Finally, tribological results obtained using ball on disc (BOD) test and laser scanning confocal microscopy, confirmed that the new multicomponent coating exhibited reductions in both friction coefficient and wear rate by more than 20% and 50%, respectively. This study demonstrates that using multi-component aluminium coatings could lead to developing of new automotive parts with enhanced properties for corrosion resistance, electrical conductivity, and wear conditions. Optimizing the thermal spraying parameters could further enhance the coating, achieving greater and more homogeneous thicknesses and yielding even higher performance properties.
Senescence Biomarkers CKAP4 and PTX3 Stratify Severe Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: McCallion Sean , McLarnon Thomas , Cooper Eamonn , English Andrew , Watterson Steven , Chemaly Melody , McGeough Cathy M. , Eakin Amanda , Ahmed Tan , Gardiner Philip , Pendleton Adrian , Wright Gary , McGuigan Declan , O'Kane Maurice , Peace Aaron , Kuan Ying , Gibson David S. , McClean Paula L. , Kelly Catriona , McGilligan Victoria E. , Murray Elaine K. , McCarroll Frank , Bjourson Anthony J. , Rai Taranjit Singh
Published: August 2024

Cellular senescence is the irreversible growth arrest subsequent to oncogenic mutations, DNA damage or metabolic insult. Senescence is associated with aging and chronic age associated diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The involvement of cellular senescence in Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is not fully understood however, recent studies suggest that such patients have a higher-than-normal level of cellular senescence and accelerated aging. This study aimed to discover key biomarkers of senescence in AKI and CKD patients compared to other chronic ageing diseases as controls. We show that senescence proteins CKAP4 and PTX3 are upregulated in AKI and CKD patients compared with controls with chronic diseases suggesting they may play in a role in overall kidney disease development. Additionally, CKAP4 was found to be differentially expressed in both AKI and CKD when compared to unhealthy controls hence this biomarker could be prognostic senescence biomarker of both AKI and CKD.
Deep Learning-Based Eye Blink Detection in Video Frames: Performance Analysis of Various Models
Authors: Ata Fahad , Ayturan Kubilay , Hardalaç Fırat , Kutbay Uğurhan
Published: August 2024

The human eye is a vital source of collecting information worldwide via daily observation. The computer science area recognizes it in research as a human-computer interaction. Human blink is an integral part of this observation as a research topic. Several studies have been conducted on eye blinking and left-right eye movements. Previous studies conducted on the eye blink consider the availability of hardware devices high in the budget, high Precision, and low light expo-sure, unlike our study, which uses low-budget devices as simple as a webcam and more versatile usable techniques, incredibly both dim and high light to name a few. This study offers the observational approach via ResNet101v2, VGG-19, and Convolution Neural Network (CNN) architectures. Outperforming both VGG-19 and CNN in this study, ResNet101v2 achieves an impressive accuracy of 98.2%. In contemporary times, deep learning in AI is taking an advanced form. This study attempts to provide a new insight into the real-world implementation of the eye blink.
A Comprehensive Analysis of the Genomic and Expressed Repertoire of the T Cell Receptor Beta Chain in Equus caballus
Authors: Antonacci Rachele , Giannico Francesco , Moschetti Roberta , Pala Angela , Jambrenghi Anna Caputi , Massari Serafina
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we report a comprehensive and consistent annotation of the locus encoding the horse T cell receptor b-chain (TRB), as inferred from the most recent genome assembly. The horse TRB locus spans approximately 1 Mb, making it the largest locus among the mammalian species stud-ied to date, with a significantly higher number of genes related to extensive duplicative events. In the region, 136 TRBV, belonging to 29 subgroups, 2 TRBD, 13 TRBJ and 2 TRBC genes, were iden-tified. The general genomic organization resembles that of other mammals, with a V-cluster of 135 TRBV genes, located upstream of two in-tandem aligned TRBD-J-C clusters, and an inverted TRBV gene at the 3’ end of the last TRBC gene. However, the horse b-chain repertoire would be affected by a high number of non-functional TRBV genes. Thus, we queried a transcriptomic da-taset derived from splenic tissue of a healthy adult horse, using each TRBJ gene as a probe to ana-lyse clonotypes encompassing the V(D)J junction. This analysis provided insights into the usage of the TRBV, TRBD and TRBJ genes and the variability of the juxtaposition region. Our results clearly demonstrated that the horse β-chain constitutes a complex level of variability broadly like that described in other mammalian species.
Characterization of Avian Influenza Viruses Detected in Kenyan Live Bird Markets and Wild Bird Habitats Reveal Genetically Diverse Subtypes and High Proportion of A(H9N2), 2018-2020
Authors: Munyua Peninah , Osoro Eric , Jones Joyce , Njogu George , Yang Genyan , Hunsperger Elizabeth , Szablewski Christine , Njoroge Ruth , Marwanga Doris , Oyas Harry , Andagalu Ben , Ndanyi Romona , Otieno Nancy , Obanda Vincent , Nasimiyu Carolyne , Njagi Obadiah , DaSilva Juliana , Jang Yunho , Barnes John R , Emukule Gideon , Onyango Clayton , Davis Charles
Published: August 2024

Following the detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus in countries bordering Kenya to the west, we conducted surveillance among domestic and wild birds along the shores of Lake Victoria. In addition, between 2018 and 2020, we conducted surveillance among poultry and poultry workers in live bird markets and among wild migratory birds in various lakes that are resting sites during migration to assess introduction and circulation of avian influenza viruses in these populations.
We tested 7,464 specimens (oropharyngeal and cloacal swabs) from poultry and 6,531 fresh fecal specimens from wild birds for influenza A viruses by real-time RT-PCR. Influenza was detected in 3.9% (n=292) of specimens collected from poultry and 0.2% (n=10) of fecal specimens from wild birds. On hemagglutinin subtyping, most of the influenza A positives from poultry (274/292, 93.8%) were H9. Of 34 H9 specimens randomly selected for further subtyping, all were H9N2. On phylogenetic analysis, these viruses were genetically similar to other H9 viruses detected in East Africa.
Only two of the ten influenza A positive specimens from the wild bird fecal specimens were successfully subtyped; sequencing analysis of one specimen collected in 2018 was identified as low pathogenicity avian influenza H5N2 virus of the Eurasian lineage and the second specimen, collected in 2020, was subtyped as H11. A total of 18 OP/NS swabs from poultry workers with ARI (12%) were collected; none were positive for influenza A virus.
We observed significant circulation of H9N2 influenza viruses in poultry in live bird markets in Kenya. During the same period, low pathogenic H5N2 virus was detected in a fecal specimen collected in a site hosting a variety of migratory and resident birds. Although HPAI H5N8 was not detected in this survey, these results highlight the potential for introduction and establishment of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in poultry populations and the associated risk of spillover to human populations.
Validation of a Multiplex Molecular Macroarray for the Determination of Allergen-Specific IgE Sensitizations in Dogs
Authors: Olivry Thierry , Fontao Ana Mas , Aumayr Martina , Ivanovova Natalia Paulenka , Mitterer Georg , Harwanegg Christian
Published: August 2024

Detecting IgE sensitizations in the serum of allergic dogs is commonly done using allergen extracts, but these are difficult to standardize. This article details the development and validation of the Pet Allergy Xplorer (PAX; Nextmune, Stockholm, Sweden), the first multiplex macroarray for the detection of IgE sensitization in dogs using allergen extracts and molecular components; the PAX is derived from the Allergy Xplorer (ALEX2; MacroArray Diagnostics, Vienna, Austria). The selection of allergens, cartridge processing, strategy for identifying and blocking IgE directed against cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants (CCD), and the method used for determining the positivity threshold are described. The validation of the PAX included evaluations of the specificity of its anti-IgE monoclonal antibody, specificity of IgE binding to target allergens, assay precision, and internal consistency. Additionally, the influence of possible confounding factors, such as sample type, the influence of hemolysis, lipemia, bilirubinemia, and elevated CCD-IgE, was tested. Finally, the sensitization rates of 23,858 European dogs to 145 environmental and Hymenoptera venom allergens were summarized. The PAX is accurate and reproducible and has a unique CCD-detection and blocking strategy; its molecular allergens offer a unique window on allergen cross-reactivity.
Solutions of the Mathieu-Hill Equation for the Trapped Ion Harmonic Oscillator. Qualitative Discussion
Authors: Mihalcea Bogdan M.
Published: August 2024

We investigate solutions of the classical Mathieu-Hill (MH) equation which describes the dynamics of trapped ions, based on the Floquet theory and the analytical model introduced in \cite{Blu89}. We show the equations of motion are equivalent to those of the harmonic oscillator (HO) and demonstrate methods to determine the solutions of the MH equation. The regions of stability and instability for the MH equation in case of a trapped particle are also discussed. What is more, we address both the damped HO and parametric oscillator (PO) for an ion confined in a Paul trap. The paper is a follow-up of a recently published paper in Photonics, 11 (6) 551.
Key Factors for A Successful Telemedicine Solution for Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review
Authors: Russo Giuseppe Felice , Basile Ilaria , Ciampi Mario , Silvestri Stefano
Published: August 2024

Background: Telemonitoring systems in cardiology have shown potential in improving chronic cardiovascular disease (CVD) management. This study aims to evaluate the impact of telemonitoring, mainly through mobile applications, on patient outcomes such as self-care, blood pressure control, quality of life, and hospitalization. Methods: We systematically reviewed studies assessing telemonitoring methods for patients with chronic CVD. The analysis included studies from various geographic regions and healthcare settings, focusing on qualitative outcomes without performing a meta-analysis. Results: Telemonitoring was found to aid in maintaining blood pressure and significantly enhance self-care abilities. Improvements in quality of life were observed in some studies, though results varied. Most studies indicated telemonitoring could effectively manage blood pressure and reduce hypertension-related complications. However, the heterogeneity of interventions and outcomes measured across trials posed challenges for a comprehensive meta-analysis. Conclusions: Integrating telemonitoring systems into routine care can significantly improve disease management and patient outcomes for chronic CVD patients. Future research should standardize telemonitoring interventions and outcome measures, conduct long-term studies, and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of these systems. Greater blindness in future randomized controlled trials and more studies on atrial fibrillation are also necessary. Significant potential exists for telemonitoring to improve patient outcomes and assist in managing chronic illnesses.
Suburban Public Open Space – Types of Gathering and Recreation Places Developed under Mature Urban Planning. A Case Study of Bunnik Commune, the Netherlands
Authors: Kępkowicz Agnieszka
Published: August 2024

The sustainable development of public open spaces (POS) in suburban areas is crucial to enhancing neighborhood livability, especially in the face of uncontrolled urban sprawl. Therefore, the question was asked: what forms of gathering and recreation places are in suburbs that are subjected to mature urban planning? The research focuses on the Netherlands (Bunnik commune), a country known for its sustainable suburban areas.
By conducting field research that involved analyzing physical traces and engaging in non-participatory observation, the study identified and categorized 18 distinct spatial-functional units of POS looking from a top-down design and planning lens. The types of gathering and recreation places identified through top-down development included: estates with recreational areas for neighbors; communal playgrounds; greenery sites by pedestrian routes; social places in central zone; open sports grounds; public allotment gardens; multi-purpose recreational areas at schools, communal facilities generating informal meetings. POS types created as a result of both top-down and bottom-up development were: entrance zones to public facilities with a social value; viewpoints accompanying pedestrian routes; network of green walks for recreation in rural and natural landscapes. Other POS types (resulting from bottom-up development): diner's garden and urban farm.
SAM2-Adapter: Evaluating & Adapting Segment Anything 2 in Downstream Tasks: Camouflage, Shadow, Medical Image Segmentation, and More
Authors: Chen Tianrun , Lu Ankang , Zhu Lanyun , Ding Chaotao , Yu Chunan , Ji Deyi , Li Zejian , Sun Lingyun , Zang Ying
Published: August 2024

The advent of large models, also known as foundation models, has significantly transformed the AI research landscape, with models like Segment Anything (SAM) achieving notable success in diverse image segmentation scenarios. Despite its advancements, SAM encountered limitations in handling some complex low-level segmentation tasks like camouflaged object and medical imaging. In response, in 2023, we introduced SAM-Adapter, which demonstrated improved performance on these challenging tasks. Now, with the release of Segment Anything 2 (SAM2)—a successor with enhanced architecture and a larger training corpus—we reassess these challenges. This paper introduces SAM2-Adapter, the first adapter designed to overcome the persistent limitations observed in SAM2 and achieve new state-of-the-art (SOTA) results in specific downstream tasks including medical image segmentation, camouflaged (concealed) object detection, and shadow detection. SAM2-Adapter builds on the SAM-Adapter's strengths, offering enhanced generalizability and composability for diverse applications. We present extensive experimental results demonstrating SAM2-Adapter's effectiveness. We show the potential and encourage the research community to leverage the SAM2 model with our SAM2-Adapter for achieving superior segmentation outcomes. Code, pre-trained models, and data processing protocols are available at http://tianrun-chen.github.io/SAM-Adaptor/.
The Legacy Effect of Mountain Pine Beetle Outbreaks on Chemical and Anatomical Defenses of Surviving Lodgepole Pine Trees
Authors: Baker Gigi , Zhao Shiyang , Klutsch Jennifer G , Ishangulyyeva Guncha , Erbilgin Nadir
Published: August 2024

The recent mountain pine beetle outbreaks have caused widespread mortality among lodgepole pine trees in western North America, resulting in a reduced population of surviving trees. While previous studies have focused on the cascading impacts of these outbreaks on the physiology and growth of the surviving trees, there remains a need for a comprehensive study into the interactions among various physiological traits and the growth in post-outbreak stands. Specifically, the relationship between chemical (primarily terpenes) and anatomical (mainly resin ducts) defences, as well as the allocation of non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) to support these defence modalities, is poorly understood. To address these gaps, we conducted a field survey of surviving lodgepole pine trees in post-mountain pine beetle outbreak stands in western Canada. Our retrospective analysis targeted to determine correlations between the post-outbreak concentrations of monoterpenes, diterpenes, and NSCs in the phloem, and the historical resin duct characteristics and growth traits before and after the outbreak. We detected strong correlations between post-outbreak concentrations of monoterpenes and historical resin duct characteristics, suggesting a possible link between these two defence modalities. Additionally, we found a positive relationship between NSCs and the total concentrations of monoterpenes and diterpenes, suggesting that NSCs likely influence the production of these terpenes in lodgepole pine. Furthermore, historical tree growth patterns showed strong positive correlations with many individual monoterpenes and diterpenes. Interestingly, while surviving trees had enhanced anatomical defences after the outbreak, their growth patterns did not vary before and after the outbreak conditions. The complexity of these relationships emphasizes the dynamics of post-outbreak stand dynamics and resource allocation in lodgepole pine forests, highlighting the need for further research. These findings contribute to a broader understanding of conifer defenses and their coordinated responses to forest insect outbreaks, with implications for forest management and conservation strategies.
Adult Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection: Defining Incidence, Risk Factors for Hospitalization and Poor Outcomes, A Regional Cohort Study, 2016-2022
Authors: Brosh-Nissimov Tal , Ostrovsky Daniel , Cahan Amos , Maaravi Nir , Leshin-Carmel Daniel , Burrack Nitzan , Gorfinkel Rotem , Nesher Lior
Published: August 2024

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant cause of illness in adults, especially older adults and those with underlying conditions. This study aimed to assess the incidence of RSV hospitalizations in adults and identify risk factors for hospitalization and poor outcomes.
Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from two hospitals in southern Israel from 2016-2022. We calculated incidence rates of RSV and influenza hospitalizations. Risk factors for hospitalization were analyzed using Poisson regression. We evaluated poor outcomes (death, ICU admission, or mechanical ventilation) among RSV-hospitalized patients.
Results: The median annual incidence of RSV hospitalization was 28.2/100,000 population, increasing with age to 199/100,000 in those ≥75 years. Significant risk factors for RSV hospitalization included pulmonary diseases (RR 4.2, 95% CI 3.4-5.2), cardiovascular diseases (RR 3.3, 95% CI 2.6-4.2), and chronic renal failure (RR 2.9, 95% CI 2.3-3.7). Among hospitalized RSV patients, 13.9% had poor outcomes. Renal failure (RR 1.81, 95% CI 1.23-2.66), neutropenia (RR 2.53, 95% CI 1.19-5.35), neutrophilia (RR 1.66, 95% CI 1.81-2.34), and lymphopenia (RR 2.03, 95% CI 1.37-3.0) were associated with poor outcomes.
Conclusions: RSV causes a substantial burden of hospitalizations in adults, particularly among older adults and those with comorbidities. Identifying high-risk groups can help target prevention and treatment strategies, including vaccination.
Is There Gender Disparity in Vascular Access for Hemodialysis with New Percutaneous Systems?
Authors: Vergara-Pérez Hugo , Pérez Alba Alejandro , Baliño Pablo , Rius Peris Asunción , Reque Javier
Published: August 2024

Background: Historically, a large gender-related disparity in vascular access (AV) has been demonstrated, with a lower prevalence of women with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) compared to men and worse maturity rates. The cause of this difference is not entirely clear, although several reasons that could contribute to it have been hypothesized. The emergence of new percutaneous FAV (pFAV) systems could be an alternative for reducing these differences.
Objective: The study aims to determine if there is a gender difference in the creation of AVFs using the new percutaneous systems.
Material and Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted by searching PubMed and Google Scholar using the following terms: "percutaneous arteriovenous fistula", "endovascular arteriovenous fistula", and "hemodialysis". All clinical trials, comparative studies, and descriptive studies involving patients who underwent a pAVF were included.
Results: Finally, the review includes 19 studies, comprising 14 retrospective and 5 prospective studies. Of these, 6 studies are comparative, 5 of which compare pAVF with surgically created AVFs (sAVF), and 1 comparing pAVFs performed using different systems with each other.
A total of 1,269 patients were included in the review. Of the total number of patients, only 414 were women, representing 32.62%.
Conclusion: The number of women included in the various studies analyzing pAVF remains very low, representing less than one-third of all patients. Although the causes of this difference are not entirely clear, several reasons have been hypothesized such as socio-economic factors, anatomical factors, or even patients' preferences. Given these results, further studies are needed to try to clarify the reasons for this gender disparity and to establish different strategies to mitigate the barriers faced by women in accessing the creation of an AVF.
The Genus Chaetogaster Baer, 1827 (Annelida, Clitellata) in Switzerland: A First Step towards Cataloguing Its Molecular Diversity, and Description of New Species on a DNA Sequence Basis
Authors: Vivien Régis , Lafont Michel , Issartel Colin , Ferrari Benoît J.D. , Martin Patrick
Published: August 2024

The genus Chaetogaster belongs to the subfamily Naidinae (Naididae), includes mostly species of small size and is diverse and abundant in surface coarse sediments in streams. The aim of the present study is to initiate an inventory of lineages of Chaetogaster in Switzerland. We used 135 specimens collected at six sites in four streams of four cantons. We sequenced the cytochrome c oxidase (COI) gene from all specimens and ITS2 and rDNA 28S from all or several specimens of each lineage delimited using COI data and preserved a voucher of almost all sequenced specimens. We could delimit one lineage (=species) for Chaetogaster diaphanus (Gruithuisen, 1828), three within Chaetogaster diastrophus (Gruithuisen, 1828), one for Chaetogaster langi Brestcher, 1896, one for Chaetogaster setosus Svetlov, 1925 and three unidentified Chaetogaster spp. Two lineages of Chaetogaster spp. could correspond to a new morphological group, but this should be confirmed on more specimens. We described the three C. diastrophus lineages and two Chaetogaster spp. as new species for science. The prospects of the present work are to complete the data of the molecular diversity of this genus in Switzerland and to describe on a molecular/morphological basis the new Chaetogaster species that we will probably find.
Diversity and Interactions Between Picobiine Mites and Starlings
Authors: Sikora Bozena , Kosicki Jakub Z , Patan Milena , Marcisova Iva , Hromada Martin , Skoracki Maciej
Published: August 2024

The subfamily Picobiinae (Acariformes: Syringophilidae) comprises obligate and permanent parasites of birds found exclusively in the quills of contour feathers. In this paper, we studied associations of picobiine mites with birds of the family Sturnidae (Aves: Passeriformes). Among the 414 examined bird individuals belonging to 44 species (35.2% of all sturnids), 103 individuals from 24 species (54.5% of examined species) were parasitised by quill mites. The diversity of mites was represented by five species, including one newly described, Picobia malayi Patan and Skoracki sp. n. Statistical analysis of the Picobiinae-Sturnidae bipartite network demonstrated a low connectance value (Con = 0.20) and high modularity, with significant differences in the H2' specialisation index compared to null model values. The network structure, characterised by four distinct modules, highlighted the specificity and narrow oligoxenous to mesostenoxenous nature of the mite-host associations. The distribution of Picobia species was congruent with the phylogeny of their starling hosts, with different mites parasitising specific clades of starlings. The findings suggest that the social and breeding behaviours of starlings influence quite a high prevalence. Finally, our studies support the validity of museum collections to study these parasitic interactions.
Trajectory Recognition and Working Condition Analysis of Rod Pumping Systems Based on Pose Estimation Method with Heatmap-Free Joint Detection
Authors: Zhang Kai , Xia Xiaolong , Song Zewen , Zhang Liming , Yang Yongfei , Wang Jian , Yao Jun , Zhang Huaqing , Zhang Yue , Feng Gaocheng , Liu Chen
Published: August 2024

Rod pump systems are the primary production tools in oilfield development. Analyzing their working conditions provides a theoretical foundation for formulating production optimization plans and adjusting equipment parameters. Existing machine learning–based condition analysis methods rely on dynamometer cards and cannot capture the actual operational trajectory of the pumping unit. To address this issue, this paper proposes a keypoint detection method for pumping units based on pose estimation of heatmap-free joint detection from video data. A data annotation scheme suitable for the task of detecting pumping unit keypoints was developed, and the learning criteria for this task were optimized. An end-to-end heatmap-free pose estimation algorithm was used to process images of the pumping unit, yielding predicted keypoint positions, thereby enabling the identification of the keypoint motion trajectories of the pumping unit. Experiments validated the proposed method and compared it with general learning criteria. Results show that this method accurately captures the keypoint positions of the pumping unit, with the optimized learning criteria model improving by more than 5% compared with general methods and increasing the keypoint object keypoint similarity (OKS) by more than 30%. The model’s results can be used for the actual operational trajectory recognition of the pumping unit, automatically calculating the motion parameters of the polished rod, and intelligently assessing the balance and working condition analysis of the pumping unit. This realizes the intelligent application of video surveillance data, significantly contributing to the dynamic study of rod pump systems.
Gut microbiome of Oecophylla smaragdina: potential functions in host and environment
Authors: Agarwal Surbhi , Sharma Garima , Mathur Vartika
Published: August 2024

Oecophylla smaragdina (red weaver ant) is widely consumed either in the form of protein and nutrient rich diet or as a source of medicine provided by traditional healers in various parts of the world. Similar to other animals, ants also form mutualistic relationship with the microbes that live inside them. These endosymbionts perform various crucial functions in their host such as nutritional upgrading, digestion, nitrogen recycling and pathogen defence. However, not much literature is available on the role of gut specific microbes and their functions in the ant host. In this study, we have determined the microbiome profile of O. smaragdina colonies using 16S rRNA sequencing and biochemical characterization for understanding the role of both culturable and non-culturable microbes present in ant gut. While, a number of microbes are reported for the first time, Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcaceae were found to be the most dominant families found in O. smaragdina. Some endosymbionts were similar to human gut microbiota depicting the diversity of microbes inside an ant gut. We also focused on the bioactive compounds produced by endosymbionts, which may find an application in the treatment of various ailments in humans.
EFFECT OF CRUDE AQUEOUS AND ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF MORINGA (Moringa oleifera) AGAINST COWPEA WEEVILS (Callosobruchus maculatus) IN STORED COWPEA (Vigna unguiculata) IN LOKOJA, KOGI STATE
Authors: Olusanmi Pamilerin Kehinde
Published: August 2024

Background:This study investigated the effect of crude aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera against Callosobruchus maculatus (cowpea weevil) on stored Vigna unguiculata (Cowpea).The pesticidal activity of Moringa oleifera extracts on Callosobruchus maculatus was evaluated at concentrations of 500, 1000, and 1500g/L. The cold Maceration method was employed in this study. The mortality rate of the weevils was monitored after 24, 48, and 72 hours of bioassay. The mortalities recorded were subjected to ANOVA. The differences between the two extracts were significantly different at P = 0.05.
Results:The inference drawn from this study showed that the crude aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera was not effective against Callosobruchus maculatus on stored cowpea, while the Ethanolic extract showed a significant effect on Callosobruchus maculatus because of the high mortality recorded in the third concentration.
Conclusion:Therefore, Moringa leaf extract is recommended to be used as an alternative to synthetic pesticides for the control of Cowpea weevil, and further research is needed to test the activity of the plant on non-target.
Spatial Structures of Blue Low-Latitude Aurora Observed from Japan during the Extreme Geomagnetic Storm of May 2024
Authors: Nanjo Sota , Shiokawa Kazuo
Published: August 2024

On May 11, 2024, an extreme G5-class geomagnetic storm triggered a spectacular and unusual display of colorful auroras in mid- to low-latitude regions all over the world. In Japan, auroras were seen not only from Hokkaido, the northernmost island, but also from the northern and central parts of Honshu, the main island. The widespread availability of commercial digital cameras among the public led to a flooding of high-resolution auroral images on social media. This study reports on the appearance of a blue aurora during a storm-time substorm on this day and its magnetic field-aligned and longitudinal structures captured by citizen scientists. Observations from two photographers at different locations revealed that the aurora was located at approximately 40 degrees magnetic latitude and magnetic local time (MLT) of 23 h, spanned about 1200 km (1-h MLT) in the longitudinal direction with three separated structures, and ranged in altitude from 400 km to at least 900 km. Simultaneous photometric measurements suggested that this blue aurora likely included emissions at 427.8 nm. While previous studies have noted the existence of emissions at 427.8 nm in low-latitude auroras, this is the first time that a blue low-latitude aurora has been spatially visualized and shown to have longitudinal and field-aligned structures. Additionally, previous studies suggested that blue emissions in low-latitude auroras are produced by energetic neutral atoms from the ring current. However, identifying longitudinal and field-aligned structures in this study may need an alternative explanation.
SET8 inhibition preserves PTEN to attenuate kidney cell apoptosis in cisplatin nephrotoxicity
Authors: Yang Xu , Guan Yingjie , Bayliss George , Zhao Ting C. , Zhuang Shougang
Published: August 2024

The aberrant expression of SET8, a histone methyltransferase that mediates H4 lysine 20 mono-methylation (H4K20me1), is implicated in the pathogenesis of various tumors, however, its role in acute kidney injury (AKI) is unknown. Here we showed that SET8 and H4K20me1 were upregulated in the murine kidney with AKI induced by cisplatin, along with increased renal tubular cell injury and apoptosis and decreased expression of E-cadherin and Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN). Suppression of SET8 by UNC0379 improved renal function, attenuated tubule damage, and restored expression of PTEN, but not E-cadherin. UNC0379 was also effective in lessening cisplatin-induced DNA damage response (DDR) as indicated by reduced expression of γ-H2AX, p53, p21, and alleviating cisplatin-impaired autophagy as shown by retained expression of Atg5, Beclin-1, and CHMP2A and enhanced levels of LC3-II in the kidney. Consistently, inhibition of SET8 with either UNC0379 or siRNA mitigated apoptosis and DDR, and restored autophagy, along with PTEN preservation in cultured renal proximal tubular epithelial cell (TKPTs) exposed to cisplatin. Further studies showed that inhibition of PTEN with Bpv or siRNA potentiated cisplatin-induced apoptosis, DDR, and hindered autophagy, and conversely, alleviated by overexpression of PTEN in TKPTs. Finally, blocking PTEN largely abolished the inhibitory effect of UNC0379 on apoptosis. Taken together, these results suggest that SET8 inhibition protects against cisplatin-induced AKI and renal cell apoptosis through a mechanism associated with the preservation of PTEN, which in turn inhibits DDR and restores autophagy.
Induced oocyte maturation in yellowbelly flounder
Authors: Ellis-Smith Brooke , Muncaster Simon
Published: August 2024

Recent interest in developing aquaculture of the endemic New Zealand yellowbelly flounder (YBF) has highlighted the need to develop captive breeding technology for this species. A pilot investigation of induced reproduction was conducted, where twenty-seven female and twelve male wild-caught sexually mature fish were placed into indoor tanks and administered either a sham (saline) or gonadotropin releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) treatment (50 µg kg-1 or 100 µg kg-1 bw). Ovulation only occurred in GnRHa treated fish. The total number of ovulated fish was low, but the majority of fish treated with 50 µg/kg-1 of GnRHa progressed either into, or through, final oocyte maturation (FOM) to produce hydrated oocytes. Fertilisation rates in excess of 80% were achieved in fish from both the 50 and 100 µg/kg-1 GnRHa treatments, indicating that high quality gametes can be achieved using hormone induced reproduction. In contrast, control fish appeared to arrest oocyte development at FOM suggesting that reproductive dysfunction may occur in wild caught broodstock. With further refinement, induced spawning using GnRHa should be a viable methodology to enhance the hatchery production of YBF.
WITHDRAWN: Assessment of Wetland Ecological Restoration Effect Based on Fuzzy Analytic Hierarchy Process: A Case Study of Tianjin Qilihai Wetland
Authors: Zhou Ran , Zhang Yi , Peng Shitao , Wang Yisheng , Dai Mingxin , Hong Ningning , Tong Hui , Liang Baocui , Lu Shaopeng , Hong Wu
Published: August 2024

Scientific evaluation of the effectiveness of ecological restoration could provide support for sustainable management and protection of wetlands. However due to the multiple and difficult to quantify factors affecting wetlands, commonly used spatiotemporal evaluation methods were difficult to scientifically reflect the actual effectiveness of ecological restoration. This paper took Tianjin Qilihai Wetland, a representative wetland in northern China, as the research object. Two representative time points, 2017 (before the start of the two-years restoration project) and 2023 (four years after the completion of the restoration project), were selected to construct a three-level monitoring and evaluation index system containing 8 specific indicators from three aspects — water environment, biological community, and landscape topography. And then a model based on fuzzy analytic hierarchy process was developed to systematically evaluate the ecological restoration effect. The evaluation results showed that after implementing a series of measures, the comprehensive evaluation index of wetland ecological environment increased by 37.68%. In addition, it was also found that compared to the water environment, the restoration of the ecosystem had a certain lag. It was recommended to further strengthen the follow-up and continuous monitoring and evaluation, as well as the monitoring and control of the stability of external water source quality. The method and model adopted in this paper further improved the theoretical and methodological system for evaluating the effectiveness of wetland ecological restoration.