bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opportunities and obstacles in non-invasive brain stimulation
Authors: Toth Jake , Kurtin Danielle Lauren , Brosnan Méadhbh , Arvaneh Mahnaz
Published: March 2024

Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is a complex and multifaceted approach to modulating brain activity and holds the potential for broad accessibility. This work discusses the mechanisms of the four distinct approaches to modulating brain activity non-invasively: electrical currents, magnetic fields, light, and ultrasound. We examine the dual stochastic and deterministic nature of brain activity and its implications for NIBS, highlighting the challenges posed by inter-individual variability, nebulous dose-response relationships, potential biases and neuroanatomical heterogeneity. Looking forward, we propose five areas of opportunity for future research: closed-loop stimulation, consistent stimulation of the intended target region, reducing bias, multimodal approaches, and strategies to address low sample sizes.
Opsin expression varies across larval development and taxa in pteriomorphian bivalves
Authors: Hasan Md Shazid , McElroy Kyle E. , Audino Jorge A. , Serb Jeanne M.
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Many marine organisms have a biphasic life cycle that transitions between a swimming larva with a more sedentary adult form. At the end of the first phase, larvae must identify suitable sites to settle and undergo a dramatic morphological change. Environmental factors, including photic and chemical cues, appear to influence settlement, but the sensory receptors involved are largely unknown. We targeted the protein receptor, opsin, which belongs to large superfamily of transmembrane receptors that detects environmental stimuli, hormones, and neurotransmitters. While opsins are well-known for light-sensing, including vision, a growing number of studies have demonstrated light-independent functions. We therefore examined opsin expression in the Pteriomorphia, a large, diverse clade of marine bivalves, that includes commercially important species, such as oysters, mussels, and scallops.

Methods

Genomic annotations combined with phylogenetic analysis show great variation of opsin abundance among pteriomorphian bivalves, including surprisingly high genomic abundance in many species that are eyeless as adults, such as mussels. Therefore, we investigated the diversity of opsin expression from the perspective of larval development. We collected opsin gene expression in four families of Pteriomorphia, across three distinct larval stages, i.e., trochophore, veliger, and pediveliger, and compared those to adult tissues.

Results

We found larvae express all opsin types in these bivalves, but opsin expression patterns are largely species-specific across development. Few opsins are expressed in the adult mantle, but many are highly expressed in adult eyes. Intriguingly, opsin genes such as retinochrome, xenopsins, and Go-opsins have higher levels of expression in the later larval stages when substrates for settlement are being tested, such as the pediveliger.

Conclusion

Investigating opsin gene expression during larval development provides crucial insights into their intricate interactions with the surroundings, which may shed light on how opsin receptors of these organisms respond to various environmental cues that play a pivotal role in their settlement process.
Explainable machine learning radiomics model for Primary Progressive Aphasia classification
Authors: Tafuri Benedetta , De Blasi Roberto , Nigro Salvatore , Logroscino Giancarlo
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by linguistic impairment. The two main clinical subtypes are semantic (svPPA) and non-fluent/agrammatic (nfvPPA) variants. Diagnosing and classifying PPA patients represents a complex challenge that requires the integration of multimodal information, including clinical, biological, and radiological features. Structural neuroimaging can play a crucial role in aiding the differential diagnosis of PPA and constructing diagnostic support systems.

Methods

In this study, we conducted a white matter texture analysis on T1-weighted images, including 56 patients with PPA (31 svPPA and 25 nfvPPA), and 53 age- and sex-matched controls. We trained a tree-based algorithm over combined clinical/radiomics measures and used Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) model to extract the greater impactful measures in distinguishing svPPA and nfvPPA patients from controls and each other.

Results

Radiomics-integrated classification models demonstrated an accuracy of 95% in distinguishing svPPA patients from controls and of 93.7% in distinguishing svPPA from nfvPPA. An accuracy of 93.7% was observed in differentiating nfvPPA patients from controls. Moreover, Shapley values showed the strong involvement of the white matter near left entorhinal cortex in patients classification models.

Discussion

Our study provides new evidence for the usefulness of radiomics features in classifying patients with svPPA and nfvPPA, demonstrating the effectiveness of an explainable machine learning approach in extracting the most impactful features for assessing PPA.
Oral rehabilitation and associated quality of life following mandibular reconstruction with free fibula flap: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ritschl Lucas M. , Singer Hannes , Clasen Franz-Carl , Haller Bernhard , Fichter Andreas M. , Deppe Herbert , Wolff Klaus-Dietrich , Weitz Jochen
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Mandibular reconstruction with the free fibula flap (FFF) has become a standardized procedure. The situation is different with oral rehabilitation, so the purpose of this study was to investigate the frequency of implant placement and prosthetic restoration. Additionally, the patients’ situation, motivation, and treatment course were structurally assessed.

Materials and methods

All cases between January 2013 and December 2018 that underwent mandibular reconstruction in our department with a free fibula flap and gave written informed consent to participate were interviewed with two structured questionnaires about their restoration and quality of life. Additionally, medical records, general information, status of implants and therapy, and metric analyses of the inserted implants were performed.

Results

In total 59 patients were enrolled and analyzed in this monocentric study. Overall, oral rehabilitation was achieved in 23.7% at the time of investigation. In detail, implants were inserted in 37.3% of patients and showed an 83.3% survival of dental implants. Of these implanted patients, dental implants were successfully restored with a prosthetic restoration in 63.6. Within this subgroup, satisfaction with the postoperative aesthetic and functional result was 79.9% and with the oral rehabilitation process was 68.2%. Satisfaction with the implant-borne prosthesis was 87.5%, with non-oral-squamous-cell-carcinoma patients being statistically significantly more content with the handling (p=0.046) and care (p=0.031) of the prosthesis.

Discussion

Despite the well-reconstructed bony structures, there is a need to increase the effort of achieving oral rehabilitation, especially looking at the patient’s persistent motivation for the procedure.
Application of machine learning combined with population pharmacokinetics to improve individual prediction of vancomycin clearance in simulated adult patients
Authors: Li Guodong , Sun Yubo , Zhu Liping
Published: March 2024

Background and aim:

Vancomycin, a glycopeptide antimicrobial drug. PPK has problems such as difficulty in accurately reflecting inter-individual differences, and the PPK model may not be accurate enough to predict individual pharmacokinetic parameters. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate whether the application of machine learning combined with the PPK method can improve the prediction of vancomycin CL in adult Chinese patients.

Methods:

In the first step, a vancomycin CL prediction model for Chinese adult patients is given by PPK and Hamilton Monte Carlo sampling is used to obtain the reference CL of 1,000 patients; the second step is to obtain the final prediction model by machine learning using an appropriate model for the predictive factor and the reference CL; and the third step is to randomly select, in the simulated data, a total of 250 patients for prediction effect evaluation.

Results:

XGBoost model is selected as final machine learning model. More than four-fifths of the subjects’ predictive values regarding vancomycin CL are improved by machine learning combined with PPK. Machine learning combined with PPK models is more stable in performance than the PPK method alone for predicting models.

Conclusion:

The first combination of PPK and machine learning for predictive modeling of vancomycin clearance in adult patients. It provides a reference for clinical pharmacists or clinicians to optimize the initial dosage given to ensure the effectiveness and safety of drug therapy for each patient.
Climate change impacts on temperate fruit and nut production: a systematic review
Authors: Osorio-Marín Juliana , Fernandez Eduardo , Vieli Lorena , Ribera Alejandra , Luedeling Eike , Cobo Nicolas
Published: March 2024

Temperate fruit and nut crops require distinctive cold and warm seasons to meet their physiological requirements and progress through their phenological stages. Consequently, they have been traditionally cultivated in warm temperate climate regions characterized by dry-summer and wet-winter seasons. However, fruit and nut production in these areas faces new challenging conditions due to increasingly severe and erratic weather patterns caused by climate change. This review represents an effort towards identifying the current state of knowledge, key challenges, and gaps that emerge from studies of climate change effects on fruit and nut crops produced in warm temperate climates. Following the PRISMA methodology for systematic reviews, we analyzed 403 articles published between 2000 and 2023 that met the defined eligibility criteria. A 44-fold increase in the number of publications during the last two decades reflects a growing interest in research related to both a better understanding of the effects of climate anomalies on temperate fruit and nut production and the need to find strategies that allow this industry to adapt to current and future weather conditions while reducing its environmental impacts. In an extended analysis beyond the scope of the systematic review methodology, we classified the literature into six main areas of research, including responses to environmental conditions, water management, sustainable agriculture, breeding and genetics, prediction models, and production systems. Given the rapid expansion of climate change-related literature, our analysis provides valuable information for researchers, as it can help them identify aspects that are well understood, topics that remain unexplored, and urgent questions that need to be addressed in the future.
Sugar signals pedal the cell cycle!
Authors: Rawat Sanjay Singh , Laxmi Ashverya
Published: March 2024

Cell cycle involves the sequential and reiterative progression of important events leading to cell division. Progression through a specific phase of the cell cycle is under the control of various factors. Since the cell cycle in multicellular eukaryotes responds to multiple extracellular mitogenic cues, its study in higher forms of life becomes all the more important. One such factor regulating cell cycle progression in plants is sugar signalling. Because the growth of organs depends on both cell growth and proliferation, sugars sensing and signalling are key control points linking sugar perception to regulation of downstream factors which facilitate these key developmental transitions. However, the basis of cell cycle control via sugars is intricate and demands exploration. This review deals with the information on sugar and TOR-SnRK1 signalling and how they manoeuvre various events of the cell cycle to ensure proper growth and development.
Optimizing sweet potato production: insights into the interplay of plant sanitation, virus influence, and cooking techniques for enhanced crop quality and food security
Authors: Villalba Anna , Martínez-Ispizua Eva , Morard Miguel , Crespo-Sempere Ana , Albiach-Marti María R. , Calatayud Angeles , Penella Consuelo
Published: March 2024

This study investigates the impact of sweet potato plant sanitation on the yield and external and internal quality root storage exploring the nutritional content affected by various cooking methods (raw, boiled, and oven-cooked). The presence of viruses, and concretely of the sweet potato leaf curl virus (SPLCV), in sweet potato propagation material is shown to significantly reduce yield and modify storage root quality. Notably, the research reveals a substantial improvement in crop yield and external quality, reinforcing the efficacy of plant sanitation methods, specifically apical meristem culture, in preserving the overall productivity of sweet potato crops. Furthermore, the investigation identifies a noteworthy decrease in starch content, suggesting a dynamic interaction between plant sanitation and starch metabolism in response to viral diseases. The study also delves into the alteration of mineral absorption patterns, shedding light on how plant sanitation influences the uptake of essential minerals in sweet potato storage roots. While the health status of the plants only slightly affected magnesium (Mg) and manganese (Mn) accumulation, indicating a potential resilience of mineral balance under virus-infected conditions. Moreover, the research identifies significant modifications in antioxidant levels, emphasizing the role of plant sanitation in enhancing the nutritional quality of sweet potatoes. Heat-treated storage roots, subjected to various cooking methods such as boiling and oven-cooking, exhibit notable differences in internal quality parameters. These differences include increased concentrations of total soluble solids (SS) and heightened levels of antioxidant compounds, particularly phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The observed increase in antioxidant capacity underscores the potential health-promoting benefits associated with plant sanitation practices. Overall, the study underscores the critical importance of plant sanitation in enhancing sweet potato production sustainability, contributing to food security, and supporting local agricultural economies. The results emphasize the need for further research to optimize plant sanitation methods and promote their widespread adoption globally, providing valuable insights into the complex relationships in food quality.
Combined miRNA and mRNA sequencing reveals the defensive strategies of resistant YHY15 rice against differentially virulent brown planthoppers
Authors: Yu Bin , Geng Mengjia , Xue Yu , Yu Qingqing , Lu Bojie , Liu Miao , Shao Yuhan , Li Chenxi , Xu Jingang , Li Jintao , Hu Wei , Tang Hengmin , Li Peng , Liu Qingsong , Jing Shengli
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The brown planthopper (BPH) poses a significant threat to rice production in Asia. The use of resistant rice varieties has been effective in managing this pest. However, the adaptability of BPH to resistant rice varieties has led to the emergence of virulent populations, such as biotype Y BPH. YHY15 rice, which carries the BPH resistance gene Bph15, exhibits notable resistance to biotype 1 BPH but is susceptible to biotype Y BPH. Limited information exists regarding how resistant rice plants defend against BPH populations with varying levels of virulence.

Methods

In this study, we integrated miRNA and mRNA expression profiling analyses to study the differential responses of YHY15 rice to both avirulent (biotype 1) and virulent (biotype Y) BPH.

Results

YHY15 rice demonstrated a rapid response to biotype Y BPH infestation, with significant transcriptional changes occurring within 6 hours. The biotype Y-responsive genes were notably enriched in photosynthetic processes. Accordingly, biotype Y BPH infestation induced more intense transcriptional responses, affecting miRNA expression, defenserelated metabolic pathways, phytohormone signaling, and multiple transcription factors. Additionally, callose deposition was enhanced in biotype Y BPH-infested rice seedlings.

Discussion

These findings provide comprehensive insights into the defense mechanisms of resistant rice plants against virulent BPH, and may potentially guide the development of insect-resistant rice varieties.
Approaching the nature of consciousness through a phenomenal analysis of early vision. What is the explanandum?
Authors: Forti Bruno
Published: March 2024

Loorits (2014) identifies the solution to the hard problem of consciousness in the possibility of fully analyzing seemingly non-structural aspects of consciousness in structural terms. However, research on consciousness conducted in recent decades has failed to bridge the explanatory gap between the brain and conscious mind. One reason why the explanatory gap cannot be filled, and consequently the problem remains hard, is that experience and neural structure are too different or “distant” to be directly compatible. Conversely, structural aspects of consciousness can be found in phenomenal experience. One possible alternative, therefore, is to seek the structure of seemingly non-structural aspects of consciousness not in the neural substrate, but within consciousness itself, through a phenomenal analysis of the qualitative aspects of experience, starting from its simplest forms. An essential premise is to reformulate the explanandum of consciousness, which is usually attributed to qualia and what it is like to be in a certain state. However, these properties do not allow us to identify the fundamental aspects of phenomenal experience. Sensations such as the redness of red or the painfulness of pain are inseparable from the context of the experience to which they belong, making qualia appear as phenomenal artifacts. Furthermore, the simplest qualitative aspects can be found in early vision. They are involved in perceptual organization and necessarily have relational significance. The unitary set of qualities found in early vision—such as those related to being an object, background or detail—constitutes the explanandum of the simplest forms of consciousness and seems to imply a justifying structure. Although early vision is characterized by interdependent qualitative components that form a unitary whole, we cannot find in it the structure of seemingly non-structural aspects of consciousness. Phenomenal appearance alone does not seem sufficient to identify a unitary structure of consciousness. However, the closeness of these characteristics to a unitary structure prompts us to delve into less explored territory, using the components of experience also as possible explanans.
Higher serum chromium level may be associated with the presentation of depression in patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: evidence from NHANES survey
Authors: Li Xiuhua , Xia Xuezhong , Jiang Bolin , Yao Yao , Ding Fengjiao , Qin Shanyu
Published: March 2024

Background

Depressive symptoms are frequently observed in patients with Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD), a prevalent metabolic disorder that affects many individuals. It is not yet clear whether there is an association between serum chromium levels and depression.

Objective

The purpose of this research was to explore the association between serum chromium level and the manifestation of depression among patients with MAFLD.

Methods

The selection of 1837 patients diagnosed with MAFLD was based on data obtained from the 2017-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database in this research. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) was employed to evaluate the severity of depression. The researchers utilized logistic regression models that were weighted for multiple variables to investigate the association between depression and serum chromium levels.

Results

In our study, we found that 8.98% of US adults with MAFLD were suffering from depression at the time of evaluation. In the logistic regression model, serum chromium levels showed an inverse association with depression (OR=0.82, 95%CI: 0.69-0.96; p=0.016), this relationship remained after adjusting for fully confounding factors (OR=0.83, 95%CI: 0.71-0.97; p=0.021), subgroup analyses showed that the association between serum chromium levels and depression existed in relatively high-prevalence of depression groups.

Conclusion

Patients diagnosed with MAFLD have a greater likelihood of experiencing depression, whereas individuals with higher levels of serum chromium are less likely to suffer from depression, and this association persists even after adjusting for other factors. These findings indicate supplementing chromium may be a viable treatment for their depressive symptoms.
The meaningfulness of exploring one's own limits through interactions and enjoyment in outdoor high-intensity physiotherapy for people with multiple sclerosis: a qualitative study
Authors: Dahl Stine Susanne Haakonsen , Arntzen Ellen Christin , Normann Britt
Published: March 2024

Background and purpose

Physical activity (PA) is often reduced in people with MS (pwMS), even when disability is low. Understanding the perspectives of pwMS on interventions aiming to improve PA is important to inform the development of such services. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of pwMS participating in an outdoor, high-intensity and balance exercise group intervention.

Methods

This qualitative study was nested within an RCT exploring a novel intervention integrating sensorimotor exercises with high-intensity intervals of running/walking. Individual, in-depth interviews with the intervention group (n = 15; 12 women, 3 men; age 38–66; EDSS score 0–3.5) were conducted postintervention (mean days = 14), analyzed using a phenomenological-inspired approach with systematic text condensation, and interpreted based on enactive theory.

Results

Four categories were generated: (1) Exploration of one's own physical abilities: Challenging one's own limits was perceived by all participants to improve movement performance and/or intensity level. Such bodily changes engendered strong positive feelings. Some negative consequences of high-intensity training were described, increasing a feeling of loss. (2) New insights and beliefs: Participants experienced enhanced beliefs in their own capabilities, which they integrated in activities outside the intervention. (3) An engaging environment: The group setting was perceived as supportive, and the outdoor environment was perceived as stimulating activity. (4) Professional leadership, tailoring and co-creation of enjoyment: Physiotherapist-led, individualized interactions were regarded as necessary to safely revisit prior activities, such as running. Co-creating enjoyment facilitated high-intensity training and intervention adherence.

Discussion

High-intensity training combined with detailed exercises in a physiotherapy outdoor group was perceived to create meaningful bodily changes and enhance PA and prospects for both PA and life. Importantly, however, some negative experiences were also reported from the high-intensity training. Enactive theory allowed for the illumination of new perspectives: the importance of embodiment for self-efficacy and of tailored physiotherapy and an outdoor-group environment for exploring one's own limits to physical capabilities. These aspects should inform future exercise interventions in pwMS with low disability.
Freedom comes at a cost?: An exploratory study on affordances’ impact on users’ perception of a social robot
Authors: Huang Guanyu , Moore Roger K.
Published: March 2024

Along with the development of speech and language technologies, the market for speech-enabled human-robot interactions (HRI) has grown in recent years. However, it is found that people feel their conversational interactions with such robots are far from satisfactory. One of the reasons is the habitability gap, where the usability of a speech-enabled agent drops when its flexibility increases. For social robots, such flexibility is reflected in the diverse choice of robots’ appearances, sounds and behaviours, which shape a robot’s ‘affordance’. Whilst designers or users have enjoyed the freedom of constructing a social robot by integrating off-the-shelf technologies, such freedom comes at a potential cost: the users’ perceptions and satisfaction. Designing appropriate affordances is essential for the quality of HRI. It is hypothesised that a social robot with aligned affordances could create an appropriate perception of the robot and increase users’ satisfaction when speaking with it. Given that previous studies of affordance alignment mainly focus on one interface’s characteristics and face-voice match, we aim to deepen our understanding of affordance alignment with a robot’s behaviours and use cases. In particular, we investigate how a robot’s affordances affect users’ perceptions in different types of use cases. For this purpose, we conducted an exploratory experiment that included three different affordance settings (adult-like, child-like, and robot-like) and three use cases (informative, emotional, and hybrid). Participants were invited to talk to social robots in person. A mixed-methods approach was employed for quantitative and qualitative analysis of 156 interaction samples. The results show that static affordance (face and voice) has a statistically significant effect on the perceived warmth of the first impression; use cases affect people’s perceptions more on perceived competence and warmth before and after interactions. In addition, it shows the importance of aligning static affordance with behavioural affordance. General design principles of behavioural affordances are proposed. We anticipate that our empirical evidence will provide a clearer guideline for speech-enabled social robots’ affordance design. It will be a starting point for more sophisticated design guidelines. For example, personalised affordance design for individual or group users in different contexts.
Comprehensive identification, localization, and validation of innovation measurement indices at the farm level in Iran
Authors: Farsani Elahe Davoodi , Choobchian Shahla , Naghani Moslem Shirvani
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Innovation is a fundamental component of agricultural infrastructure, fostering the sector’s development and productivity. Innovation indices tailored to the farm level are benchmarks for assessing innovation within this agricultural context. Therefore, this study aims to discover, localize, and validate comprehensive innovation measurement indices at the farm level. A distinguishing feature of this research is its endeavor to discover and validate a comprehensive tool for measuring innovation at the farm level. Notably, there has been no prior research on discovering comprehensive innovation indices at the farm level, marking a novel aspect of this study.

Method and results

The current research is applied in terms of its purpose and falls into the category of mixed research (quantitative and qualitative), as well as exploratory and descriptive research. This study has been conducted in three stages: The first phase involved reviewing existing literature and extracting indices for measuring innovation. In the second phase, a tool was designed specifically to gauge innovation at the farm level. The third phase entailed face and content validation of the identified indices. This validation process was conducted quantitatively and qualitatively through surveys of subject-matter experts in Iran, and by calculating the content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI).

To measure innovation at the farm level, 90 items across 7 dimensions (education, infrastructure, market sophistication, business sophistication, knowledge and technology outputs, creative outputs, and innovative outputs) were extracted, localized, and developed. According to the results, dimensions such as innovative outputs (product innovation, process innovation, and marketing innovation), education (farmers’ education status in technology and innovation), and infrastructure (familiarity, access, and application of Information and Communication Technology [ICT]) demonstrated high credibility based on CVR and CVI scores.

Conclusion

The utilization of innovation assessment indices can help mitigate the challenges associated with evaluating innovation status on farms, thereby enhancing their condition and increasing farmers’ profitability. Accurate and reliable data on innovation status empower farmers in market competition and improve economic performance. Attention to innovation and the use of assessment tools can facilitate the attraction of new investors to the agricultural industry. Furthermore, improving agricultural processes through innovative technologies can contribute to the preservation of natural resources and the reduction of environmental pollution.
A Regional 100 m Soil Grid-Based Geographic Decision Support System to Support the Planning of New Sustainable Vineyards
Authors: Barbetti Roberto , Criscuoli Irene , Valboa Giuseppe , Vignozzi Nadia , Pellegrini Sergio , Andrenelli Maria Costanza , L’Abate Giovanni , Fantappiè Maria , Orlandini Alessandro , Lachi Andrea , Gardin Lorenzo , D’Avino Lorenzo
Published: March 2024

A WebGis tool called GoProsit has been developed to support winegrowers in planning a new sustainable vineyard and in the identification of high-quality terroir in Tuscany, Central Italy, by providing various information on soils, climate, hydrological risks, and fertilization. GoProsit, hosted by the web platform GEAPP, is a free, user-friendly, and interactive Geographic Decision Support System (GDSS). Soil data behind the WebGis tool has a 1 ha resolution, achieved by processing the legacy vector-type soil database of the Tuscany Region with the DSMART (Disaggregation and Harmonization of Soil Map Units Through Resampled Classification Trees as supervised classification) algorithm, which disaggregated the map to 297,023 vineyard grid cells. Each grid cell holds climatic and pedologic information, along with physical and chemical features for each horizon of the most probable soil. GoProsit also provides soil maps in image format obtained by georeferencing about 50 historical soil maps (1969–2012). Finally, GoProsit runs and returns the outputs of six models: (a) carbon footprint, (b) potential erosion and maximum vine row length compatible with tolerable erosion, (c) potential water stress, (d) risk of runoff/waterlogging, (e) identification of suitable rootstocks, and (f) nutritional needs before planting. Statistics of the main model results for the investigated area are reported. This promising tool will soon be usable for the whole Italian territory; however, its potential makes it suitable for use in any wine-growing district.
The Impact of Long-Term Mulched Drip Irrigation on Soil Particle Composition and Salinity in Arid Northwest China
Authors: Huang Tianbao , Wang Zhenhua , Guo Li , Li Haiqiang , Tan Mingdong , Zou Jie , Zong Rui , Dhital Yam Prasad
Published: March 2024

The evaluation of soil particle composition and salt dynamics is essential for promoting the sustainable development of oasis agriculture in arid regions under long-term mulched drip irrigation (MDI). In this study, we employed the space-for-time substitution method to investigate the long-term effects of MDI on soil particle composition and salinity. Additionally, seven fields, with MDI durations ranging from 0 to 16 years, were selected to represent the primary successional sequence though time in Northwest China. Soil samples were collected from three soil depths (0–30 cm, 30–60 cm, and 60–100 cm) and then analyzed in the laboratory for soil particle composition and salt content. Our findings demonstrated that influenced by the depth of mechanical cultivation and the maximum wetting front depth, the long-term application of MDI significantly altered both the structure of soil layers and the composition of soil particles after 8 years. Soil sand content and soil salinity gradually decreased, whereas the content of soil silt and clay increased with increasing MDI duration throughout 0–100 cm soil depth. Furthermore, the rates of soil desalination stabilized after 10 years of MDI application, with desalination levels exceeding 90% in the 0–100 cm soil layer. Additionally, the soil mass fractal dimension (Dm) exhibited an upward trend across 0–100 cm soil depth. The changes in soil particle composition indirectly influenced the variations in Dm and salt content. Our study demonstrated that long-term application of MDI effectively mitigated soil salinity, changed soil structure, and ultimately enhanced soil quality and cotton yield.
Effects of Exogenous Organic Acids on the Soil Metabolites and Microbial Communities of Panax notoginseng from the Forest Understory
Authors: Hei Jingying , Li Yue , Wang Qiong , Wang Shu , He Xiahong
Published: March 2024

Panax notoginseng (Sanqi) is a precious traditional Chinese medicine that is commonly cultivated using conventional management methods in agricultural systems in Yunnan, China, where it faces the challenge of continuous cropping obstacles (CCOs). However, the existence of Sanqi CCOs in Sanqi–pine agroforestry systems remains unclear. Here, we applied three types of exogenous organic acids (phthalic acid, palmitic acid, and phthalic + palmitic mixed organic acids) mainly derived from the root exudates of Sanqi to simulate the CCOs; then, we compared the effects on plant growth, soil physicochemical properties, soil microbes, and soil metabolites. We found that organic acid concentrations of >250 mg/kg reduced the fresh weight of Sanqi and the levels of total nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, soil water content, total phosphorus, and pH value; these concentrations also increased the soil bacterial and fungal α-diversity. The type of organic acid, as opposed to the concentration and duration of treatment, had a vital impact on the structure of the bacterial and fungal community in Sanqi soils. Moreover, the organic acid concentrations of >250 mg/kg also decreased the complexity and stability of the bacterial and fungal network. In addition, the metabolic pathways in the soils under different organic acids included 17 differential metabolites (DMs), which were involved in steroid hormone biosynthesis. The structural equation models (SEMs) revealed that plant growth, soil edaphic factors, and soil metabolites had direct or indirect influences on soil microbial communities under different organic acid conditions. Our results suggest that any phthalic or palmitic acid concentrations at concentrations >250 mg/kg are detrimental to multiple aspects of Sanqi cultivation, confirming the presence of Sanqi CCOs in Sanqi–pine agroforestry systems.
The Effects of Brassinosteroids on Nitrogen Utilization in Rice
Authors: Yang Wei , Wan Guo-Feng , Zhou Jia-Qi , Song Gen-Cai , Zhao Jing , Huang Feng-Lin , Meng Shuan
Published: March 2024

Nitrogen and brassinosteroids (BRs) play a vital role in modulating the growth, development, and yield of rice. However, the influences of BRs on nitrogen assimilation and metabolism in rice are not fully understood. In this study, we analyzed the impact of BRs on nitrogen utilization in rice using the indica variety ‘Zhongjiazao 17’ and the japonica variety ‘Nipponbare’ in hydroponic conditions. The results showed that BR treatment could efficiently elevate nitrate and ammonium nitrogen accumulation in both shoots and roots. Furthermore, some genes involved in the uptake of nitrate and ammonium in roots were stimulated by BRs, though we noted subtle variances between the two rice cultivars. Moreover, BRs augmented the activity of nitrate reductase (NR) and glutamine synthetase (GS) in roots, along with NR in shoots. Interestingly, BRs also spiked the total free amino acid content in both the shoots and roots. Gene expression analysis uncovered a robust induction by BRs of NR genes and GS-related genes in the roots of both ‘Nipponbare’ and ‘Zhongjiazao 17’. Collectively, our data suggest that BRs significantly enhance the accumulation of both nitrate and ammonium in rice and trigger a series of reactions related to nitrogen utilization.
Advances in Anatomy and Its History
Authors: Natale Gianfranco , Fornai Francesco
Published: March 2024

Anatomy is still considered the most ancient and basic discipline in the medical sciences [...]
When to Stop Antibiotics in the Critically Ill?
Authors: Nielsen Nathan D. , Dean James T. , Shald Elizabeth A. , Conway Morris Andrew , Povoa Pedro , Schouten Jeroen , Parchim Nicholas
Published: March 2024

Over the past century, antibiotic usage has skyrocketed in the treatment of critically ill patients. There have been increasing calls to establish guidelines for appropriate treatment and durations of antibiosis. Antibiotic treatment, even when appropriately tailored to the patient and infection, is not without cost. Short term risks—hepatic/renal dysfunction, intermediate effects—concomitant superinfections, and long-term risks—potentiating antimicrobial resistance (AMR), are all possible consequences of antimicrobial administration. These risks are increased by longer periods of treatment and unnecessarily broad treatment courses. Recently, the literature has focused on multiple strategies to determine the appropriate duration of antimicrobial therapy. Further, there is a clinical shift to multi-modal approaches to determine the most suitable timepoint at which to end an antibiotic course. An approach utilising biomarker assays and an inter-disciplinary team of pharmacists, nurses, physicians, and microbiologists appears to be the way forward to develop sound clinical decision-making surrounding antibiotic treatment.
Nanoemulsions of Phoenix dactylifera L. (Decaffeinated) and Coffea arabica L. Extracts as a Novel Approach for the Treatment of Carbon Tetrachloride-Mediated Liver Fibrosis
Authors: Alamri Eman S. , Bayomy Hala M. , Hussein Mohamed A. Mohamady , Ozaybi Nawal A. , Almasoudi Seham E. , Zidan Nahla S. , Albalwi Renad A. , Atteia Hebatallah H. , EL-Ezaly Fayza M.
Published: March 2024

Liver fibrosis is a condition characterized by the excessive buildup of scar tissue in the liver. This scarring occurs as a result of chronic liver damage, often caused by conditions such as hepatitis, alcohol abuse, certain metabolic disorders, genetic abnormalities, autoimmunity, and noninfectious diseases such as fatty liver which leads to liver fibrosis. Nanoparticles have gained attention in recent years as potential therapeutic agents for liver fibrosis. They offer unique advantages due to their small size, large surface area, and ability to carry drugs or target specific cells or tissues. Studies have suggested that nanoemulsions may enhance drug delivery systems, enabling targeted drug delivery to specific sites in the liver and improving therapeutic outcomes. In this study, we explore the protective and therapeutic values with phytochemical profiling of the used agro-wastes decaffeinated palm date seeds (Phoenix dactylifera L., PSC) coffee and caffeinated Arabic coffee seeds (Coffea arabica L.; ACS). Both ACS and PSC extracts were converted into nanoemulsion (NE) forms using the oleic acid/Tween 80 system, which was recruited for the purpose of treating a rat model with liver fibrosis. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dynamic light scattering (DLS) were used to record the sizes, morphologies, hydrodynamic diameters, and ζ-potentials of the prepared NE-ACSE and NE-PSCE. Accordingly, the NE-ACSE and NE-PSCE imaged via TEM and their ζ-potentials were recorded at 20.7, 23.3 nm and −41.4, −28.0 mV, respectively. The antioxidant properties were determined with a DPPH scavenging assay. The synthesized NE-PSCE and NE-ACSE were employed to treat a rat model with CCl4-induced liver fibrosis, to estimate the role of each emulsion-based extract in the treatment of liver fibrosis through recording inflammatory parameters, liver functions, antioxidant enzymes, and histopathological analysis results. The nanoemulsion forms of both ACSE and PSCE provided significant increases in antioxidant enzymes, reducing inflammatory parameters, compared to other groups, where liver functions were decreased with values close to those of the control group. In conclusion, both nanoemulsions, ACSE and PSCE, provided a new avenue as therapeutic approaches for liver diseases, and further studies are encouraged to obtain maximum efficiency of treatment via the combination of both extracts.
Effects of Crocus sativus L. Floral Bio-Residues Related to Skin Protection
Authors: Acero Nuria , Muñoz-Mingarro Dolores , Gradillas Ana
Published: March 2024

The cultivation of Crocus sativus L. to obtain the saffron spice generates a large amount of biowaste, constituted mainly by the flower’s tepals. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antioxidant and dermo-protective effect of a complex methanolic extract of C. sativus tepals. The extract’s major phenolic content was analyzed using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization, coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). Then, the antioxidant in vitro activity of the extract was studied and related to their chemical composition. Likewise, the effect on intracellular ROS levels in HepG2 and Hs27 cell culture was determined in normal culture and under hydrogen-peroxide-induced oxidative stress. Finally, tyrosinase, hyaluronidase, collagenase, elastase, and xanthine oxidase assays were carried out to determine the dermo-protective capacity of the extract. The high polyphenol content, including flavonoids and anthocyanins, explains the antioxidant effect of the extract both in vitro and in culture assays. The extract has a significant and remarkable protective capacity against oxidative stress induced in culture of the two studied cell lines. It is also remarkable in its ability to inhibit hyaluronidase, tyrosinase, and xanthine oxidase. Results pointed out this biowaste extract as a promising ingredient in the composition of cosmetics.
The Influence of Various Commonly Used Building Materials on the Shielding Effectiveness, Reflection and Absorption of the Electromagnetic Wave
Authors: Pavlík Marek , Bereš Matej , Beňa Ľubomír
Published: March 2024

People spend two-thirds of their time in buildings. Building materials are, therefore, natural shielding for us. Many studies describe the shielding effect of non-building materials. This study evaluates the shielding effectiveness (SE) of electromagnetic fields for various building materials over a frequency range of 1 GHz to 9 GHz. Measurements of SE, reflection (R), and calculated absorption (A) were conducted to determine the shielding properties of mineral wool (MW), hardened polystyrene (PT), extruded polystyrene (PE), polyurethane board (PUR), brick wall (BW), brick wall filled with mineral wool (BW-MW), and concrete wall. The results demonstrate that MW, PT, PE, and PUR exhibit low SE and R, indicating minimal shielding capabilities, with absorption values that do not significantly deviate from the level of measurement uncertainty. Conversely, BW, BW-MW, and concrete wall materials exhibit high SE, with notably increased absorption at higher frequencies, highlighting their potential for effective EMI shielding. Particularly, the concrete wall presents the highest absorption values, making it a superior choice for shielding applications. Reflection trends revealed a plateau for BW in the 6 GHz to 9 GHz range, indicating a frequency-dependent behavior of shielding mechanisms. This study underscores the importance of balancing reflective and absorptive properties in shielding materials and suggests that composite materials may offer enhanced performance. The findings of this research provide guidance for the selection and design of shielding materials in environments with a frequency spectrum of electromagnetic frequencies from 1 GHz to 9 GHz.
Surface Durability of 3D-Printed Polymer Gears
Authors: Ciobanu Robert , Rizescu Ciprian Ion , Rizescu Dana , Gramescu Bogdan
Published: March 2024

This paper proposes a series of experimental determinations carried out with the aim of generating new conclusions regarding the ability of 3D-printed gears to be integrated into mechanisms without lubrication. The main factors that influence the appearance of wear in non-lubricated contact are sliding speed, material hardness, surface finish, surface geometry, and material microstructure. The tests considered the type of material from which they were made and the 3D printing technology type. For testing the gear wheels, a mechatronic experimental setup was made consisting of two shafts with adjustable axial distances, a wheel loading system gears, an electric motor, and a command-and-control system. In terms of materials, four types of materials were monitored: PA (polyamide), PLA (polylactic acid), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and PP (photopolymer). The evaluation of the gear wear was carried out by checking the gearing on two flanks (Frenco ZWP 06) and by scanning with the ATOS CORE 135 3D scanner. The PA and PP gears failed to meet the structural integrity standards after the tests. The PLA gears exhibited superior resistance to abrasive wear compared to the ABS gears, whereas the ABS gears generally demonstrated stronger structural integrity.
Experiment Study of Deformable Honeycomb Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Energy Collection and Vibration Measurement in Downhole
Authors: Feng Yanjun , Pan Guangzhi , Wu Chuan
Published: March 2024

Downhole drilling tool vibration measurement is crucial for drilling exploration safety, so real-time monitoring of vibration data is required. In this research, a honeycomb triboelectric nanogenerator (H-TENG) capable of adapting to various downhole environments is proposed. It can measure the frequency of downhole drilling equipment’s vibrations and transfer mechanical energy to electrical energy for use in powering other low power downhole meters. In order to preliminarily verify the possibility of sensors used for vibration measurement of downhole drilling tools, we built a simulated vibration platform to test the sensing performance and vibration energy collection performance of H-TENG. According to the testing results, the measurement range of vibration frequency and amplitude are 0 to 11 Hz and 5 to 25 mm, respectively, and the corresponding measurement errors are less than 5% and 6%, respectively. For vibrational energy harvesting, when four sensors are wired in series with a 107 resistance, the maximum power is approximately 1.57 μW. Compared to typical methods for measuring downhole vibration, the honeycomb triboelectric nanogenerator does not need an external power source, it has greater reliability and output power, and it can vary its shape to adapt to the complicated downhole environment. In addition, the H-TENG can be combined freely according to the diameter of the drill string, and even if one sensor unit is damaged, the other units can still be used normally.