bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ZNO as nanoparticle blended with ternary blend of Cotton Seed, Neem Oil, and Orange Peel Oil Biodiesel for emission reduction of CI Engine
Authors: Naik G. G. , Dharmadhikari H. M.
Published: October 2024

Utilizing renewable energy sources is essential for achieving a cleaner environment. However, the commercialization of biodiesel has lagged other alternative energy sources due to challenges related to its efficiency and yield. This study investigates performance, emissions of biodiesel produced from ternary blend of Neem, cottonseed, and orange peel oil, with the help of Zink Oxide (ZNO) nanoparticle. Fuels were prepared in ratios of B10 and B20, with ZNO added in two concentrations: 30 ppm and 50 ppm. Tests were conducted using a on CI engine attached to exhaust gas analyser. Parameters like such as BTE, BSFC and emissions like NOx, HC, CO2, and CO were evaluated. The results showed that BTE More for B10ZN50, NOx Less for B20ZN30and B20ZN30, there is slight increase in HC for B20ZN30 additive provided the most effective performance, with lower specific fuel consumption and reduced emissions compared to other blends. 56.25% reduction in CO for B10ZN30. NOx reduced by 31.43% for B10ZN30 and B20ZN50 at lower load. At 50% load NOx reduced almost for every blend as compared with diesel, maximum reduction of 14% observed for B10ZN50, at full load NOx reduction of 8.15% observed for B20ZN30. However, HC emission increased for every blend compared to diesel. It is concluded that B20ZN30 is optimum blend for NOx reduction.
Clarification of material removal mechanism in fast ED-milling - part II: Numerical simulation
Authors: Wang Jian , Ma Jie-Yu , Lu Yi-Fan , Zhang Ya-Ou , Zhao Wan-Sheng
Published: October 2024

To investigate the underlying mechanisms behind the observed phenomena presented in the Part I paper, by considering the observation results and actual processing conditions of fast ED-milling, this study develops a novel thermal-fluid coupling model to numerically simulate the evolution process of the molten material under the influence of a flow field. Throughout an in-depth investigation into the material removal process, as well as the velocity and pressure distribution within the discharge gap, it has been found that in fast ED-milling, the molten material expelled from the molten pool accounts for 58.6% of the total volume. The molten material is primarily removed by the high-pressure flushing fluid during pulse interval, with the driving force behind material removal arising from the hydrodynamic force and the large pressure difference between the electrode centre and discharge locations. Furthermore, to investigate the effects of the flow field on machining stability during a consecutive-pulse discharge process, a particle tracing model was established to simulate the debris evacuation process. The simulation results show that inner flushing can markedly reduce the amount of residual debris within the discharge gap, which is a fundamental reason for the high stability of fast ED-milling. Another interesting finding is that the effective internal flushing pressure for high-speed electrical discharge milling is approximately 0.21 MPa, and flushing pressures exceeding it can not lead to a significant improvement in debris evacuation.
Quantitative evaluation of zinc phthalocyanine photosensitized production by singlet oxygen probe
Authors: Feng Hailong , Li Yongliang , Li Jiahang , Wang Ning , Shangguan Jiawei
Published: October 2024

With the widespread application and development of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in cancer treatment, how to accurately quantify photodynamic dose for real-time adjustment and optimization of dose has become a hot topic in PDT research. This study utilized singlet oxygen probes to investigate the photophysical process of zinc phthalocyanine (ZnPc) generating singlet oxygen (1O2) under light excitation conditions. We analyzed the absorbance changes of the mixed solution of ZnPc and 1,3-diphenylisobenzofuran (DPBF) over time under varying light fluence rates. The experimental results indicated that after 90 s irradiations at light fluence rates of 40 mW/cm², 30 mW/cm², 20 mW/cm², and 10 mW/cm², the consumptions of DPBF were 77.5%, 62.7%, 50.2%, and 32.4%, respectively. The total productions of 1O2 were calculated to be 1375.8 μM, 882.5 μM, 631.7 μM, and 364.1 μM, respectively. This successfully linked the concentration changes of the singlet oxygen probe with the total production of singlet oxygen, enhancing the accuracy of photodynamic dose research.
Comprehensive Analysis of Serum Metabolites and Whole Blood Cell Transcriptome reveals the Dysregulated Metabolic Pathways in Metabolically Healthy Obesity.
Authors: Mir Fayaz , Ullah Ehsan , Iskandarani Ahmad , Mall Raghvendra , Cyprian Farhan , Shraim Mutasem , Alkasem Meis , Halabi Hamza Al , Taheri Shahrad , Abou-Samra Abdul-Badi
Published: October 2024

Background
Obesity stands as a formidable public health challenge, contributing to a spectrum of diseases, including cardiovascular disorders, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Individuals with obesity classified as “metabolically healthy” have susceptibility to various diseases later in life. These diseases often linked to dysregulated metabolic pathways. Our objective was to explore potential associations between serum metabolites and features of metabolic diseases in metabolically healthy subjects with obesity.
Methods
We analyzed a dataset of 40 subjects with obesity only (OBO, n = 20) versus age-matched lean healthy controls (LHC, n = 20). We measured 711 serum metabolites and whole blood transcriptomes. Pathway enrichment analysis was employed to uncover meaningful insights into the association between metabolite concentrations and the observed phenotypic changes. Finally, Transcriptome profiling and subsequent gene set enrichment was done to identify the differentially enriched pathways between the LHC to OBO subjects.
Results
A total of 116 metabolites, mostly lipids, were significantly different (p < 0.05) between the 2 groups. Notably the metabolites demonstrated a distinct metabolic signature differentiating OBO from LHC group. The differentially expressed metabolites include lipids, amino acids, nucleotides, peptides, partially characterized molecules, cofactors/vitamins, carbohydrates, xenobiotics, and energy-related metabolites. Pathway enrichment scores indicated that out of 26 metabolic pathways,14 pathways were differentially activated between the 2 groups. Among these, 5 major metabolic pathways significantly enriched and had maximum difference in mean activity between the two groups were aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, phosphonate and phosphinate metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, glutathione metabolism and lysine degradation.
Conclusions
Our results indicate that obesity is characterized by a distinctive metabolomic signature emphasizing the perturbed pathways involving amino acids and lipid metabolism.
In-depth mapping of primary care physicians’ practices in four health districts in Benin: a mixed methods study
Authors: Bello Kéfilath , De Lepeleire Jan , Agossou Christian , Zannou Djimon Marcel , Criel Bart
Published: October 2024

Background
In Benin, the number of primary care physicians (PCPs) is increasing. This phenomenon challenges the current prevailing policy of task shifting from physicians to nurses adopted in Benin’s primary care system and raises a few questions. To date, information on PCPs and their practices remains scarce. This study aims to describe current PCP practices and propose a typology of these practices.
Methods
A fully mixed sequential equal-status design was used. Quantitative data were gathered from 155 PCPs through a survey, whereas qualitative data were obtained from in-depth interviews with 21 PCPs, 3 representatives of health authorities, and a review of policy documents.
Results
In our study, four types of PCPs were distinguished: first, private general practitioners (62.6%); second, public general practitioners (3.4%); third, Médecins généralistes communautaires (MGCs) (5.2%); and fourth, specialists working in primary care (28.4%). A comprehensive description of PCP practices is presented across four dimensions: professional identity, governance arrangements, roles and activities, and outputs and outcomes. Notably, only MGCs underwent structured professional identity-building. Most other PCPs perceive primary care as temporary, with low job satisfaction stemming from limited resources and inadequate incomes. Despite strong intrinsic motivation, governance challenges—such as the absence of a coherent national policy on PCPs’ practices, along with limited support to PCPs—significantly hinder their potential, leading to issues such as an excessive focus on curative care, urban concentration, and high costs.
Conclusions
This study is the first to provide a complete and in-depth description of PCP practices in Benin, confirming their growing presence and classifying their practices. It also highlights critical issues affecting these practices, emphasizing the need for stronger governance arrangements to improve primary care outcomes. The findings underscore the importance of developing an evidence-based policy framework to guide and support PCP practices in Benin.
Fine Mapping and Identification of Causal Alleles at the Ur-11 Locus Controlling Rust Resistance in Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)
Authors: Erfatpour Mohammad , Simons Kristin , Roy Jayanta , Figueroa-Cerna Jose , Lee Rian , Beaver James , McClean Phillip , Osorno Juan M.
Published: October 2024

The Middle American rust resistance gene Ur-11 present in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) confers resistance to all but one known race of the pathogen Uromyces appendiculatus (Pers.) Unger. Even though progress has been made in understanding the host-pathogen interactions between common bean and U. appendiculatus, the causal alleles of the majority of rust resistance loci, including Ur-11, remain unknown. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted to identify genomic regions associated with resistance to the U. appendiculatus race 31 − 22, which is avirulent to Ur-11 but virulent to other Middle American rust resistance genes. GWAS using genotypic data consisting of approximately 71k SNP markers and phenotypic data based on the median reaction type (1 to 9 scale) of a panel of 350 Middle American breeding lines and cultivars, plus 12 germplasm lines with the Ur-11 locus derived from PI 181996, located Ur-11 on chromosome Pv11. Twenty-seven SNP markers clustered in the 55.16–55.56 Mb region of the P. vulgaris UI111 reference. Multiple DNA sequence alignments detected a missense mutation [c.1,328A > G] in the PvUI111.11G202400 gene model that encodes a leucine-rich repeat-containing protein in response to race 31 − 20. A PCR allele competitive extension marker (PACE) was developed and tested across a panel of ~ 650 Middle American dry bean genotypes. No recombination event was observed for the marker among the tested genotypes; suggesting that the polymorphism on which it is based is very close to or in the Ur-11 gene. This SNP marker will be a useful and reliable marker for marker-assisted selection.
Predicting the Progression from Clinical Normal and Mild Cognitive Impairment to Alzheimer’s Disease using Socio-Demographic, Non-Clinical, and Genetic Data with Multi-Classification Models
Authors: Memon Shoaib Ul Din , Javed Kamran , Qureshi Nameer Ul Haq , Raza Ali , Memon Rehman , Saeed Zubair , Javed Tooba
Published: October 2024

Dementia and cognitive impairment are the leading causes of illness in the elderly. The research objective is to predict whether the subject is Clinical Normal (CN), Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), or Dementia, and when the progression from MCI to Dementia occurs within four years by examining socio-demographic, clinical, and genetic factors. The author used Alzheimer’s Disease data, containing socio-demographic, non-clinical assessment, and genetic data. A grid search approach was employed to find the best classification model. Demonstrated that Support Vector Classifier performs significantly better than other classifiers, achieving F1-score of 0.78. The proposed classifier, when combined with genetic factors, improves the overall result of multi-classification, yielding an F1-score of 0.84. The study successfully identified the impact of genetic factors on the progression of dementia. These findings can contribute to lowering the disease burden on individuals, reducing healthcare costs, and aiding in the discovery of dementia-modifying therapies.
A Novel Thermal Hysteresis-RC Pressure Perturbation Dynamic Characteristic Model of Air Spring Considering the Bending Effects and Energy Dissipation Shifts of Hysteresis Loops
Authors: Chen Junjie , Liu Yajie , Xu Jinyuan , Gan Yufeng , Wu Mingyu
Published: October 2024

The dynamic characteristics of air springs are mightily hysteresis nonlinear, stemming from the complex structure of the rubber bellows, material nonlinearity, and pressure dependence. This paper aims to precisely capture the dynamic characteristics of air springs, particularly characterizing the pronounced bending effects at the extremes of the hysteresis loop under high amplitudes(>10mm). The friction between the cord and the rubber, the bellows viscoelasticity, and the pressure fluctuations are considered comprehensively. A novel piecewise methodology for characterizing the hysteresis loops is proposed by introducing the resistor-capacitor (RC) operator and pressure parameter. The frequency-dependent Quadratic Parabola Fractional Derivative Kelvin-Voigt Pressure Perturbation Model (QKPPM) is integrated to formulate the RC Pressure Perturbation Hysteresis Nonlinear Model of Rubber Bellows (RCPPM-RB), depicting the evolution laws of model parameters in response to the changes in amplitude, frequency and pressure of rubber bellows. Subsequently, the Thermal Hysteresis-RC Pressure Perturbation dynamic characteristic Model of air spring (TH-RCPPM) under variable working pressure is established. The test results demonstrate that the static hysteresis loops show a maximum relative error of less than 1.6%, with a hysteresis area error of 8.1%. Furthermore, the dynamic hysteresis loop and dynamic stiffness values only have maximum relative errors of 7.1% and 5.4%, respectively. The accuracy and broad applicability of the novel model proposed are verified by experiments. The research results present an innovative approach for accurately modeling the dynamic characteristics of air springs and a fresh idea for the precise characterization of the dynamic characteristics of air springs.
Morphological diversity of the sensilla of the larval mouthparts among three species of Corydalidae (Insecta, Megaloptera) with reference to their possible functions
Authors: LI YU TONG , DAI YU MENG , CAO CHENG QUAN
Published: October 2024

Sensory structures on the mouthparts surface of three species of Corydalidae (Insecta, Megaloptera), Acanthacorydalis asiatica, Neoneuromus ignobilis and Protohermes similis, have been studied using Scanning Electron Microscopy. They were studied to morphologically characterize and compare the sensory structures present on the mouthparts. The identified sensilla types were sensilla basiconica (SB), fin-like sensilla (FLS), sensilla trichodea (ST), sensilla peg (SP), sensilla styloconica (SS), sensilla chaetica (SCh), and forficate sensilla (FS). The potential functions of these sensilla were discussed in relation to their morphology and location. Additionally, cuticular process (CP), small spine-shaped projections (sp) and cuticular pores (cp) were identified in the sensory regions of the studied species. Morphological comparisons revealed significant diversity in the sensilla of larval mouthparts among the three species, but there may be similarities in function.
A methodological review of solicited diaries as a qualitative tool in health research in low- and middle-income countries
Authors: Akinreni Temidayo
Published: October 2024

Diaries have served as a vehicle to document personal narratives and as a research tool. However, diaries remain relatively underutilized in most research disciplines, particularly in the field of global health. This review aimed to explore the application, utility, and methodological potential of diaries as a qualitative data collection tool in the health sector within low- and middle-income countries. We applied a search string across several databases, which yielded 1,796 articles that were screened for eligibility. Eleven articles, covering topics including menstrual health, HIV, and mental illness, met our criteria and were included in this review. Across studies, authors highlighted a need to provide instructions in a diary’s early pages and make diaries appealing to the participants by incorporating color. Researchers and participants described diaries as an appropriate tool for conducting research especially among vulnerable populations (e.g. children) or on sensitive or stigmatized topics (e.g. HIV and menstrual health). Some participants said that diary entry clashed with existing obligations, leading to time conflicts and increased workload. Challenges related to diary comprehension suggests a need for researchers to engage more pointedly with participants to co-design diaries in a manner that facilitates understandability (e.g. language, use of audio/video recording among low literacy population) and age-appropriateness. An undercurrent across studies entailed a tension between what researchers desire from diaries (insights regarding a phenomenon of interest captured in a relatively timely manner) versus the original purpose of diaries (a space for individuals to note a variety of topics at a self-appointed pace). Studies generally under-report process insights from participants. Most studies stem from 2020 onward suggesting that this qualitative approach may continue to expand in the future. Our review organizes pertinent diary characteristics into a framework that may facilitate reporting of diary usage in global health research.
Improved Energy Equations and Thermal Functions for Diatomic Molecules: A Generalized Fractional Derivative Approach
Authors: Eyube E. S. , Makasson C. R. , Omugbe E. , Onate C. A. , Inyang E. P. , Tahir A. M. , Ojar J. U. , Najoji S. D.
Published: October 2024

Due to the need for accurate analysis of interactions in diatomic molecules using analytical models, this work develops expressions for ro-vibrational energy models embedding fractional parameters. These expressions are derived by solving the Schrödinger equation for a variant of the Tietz potential using the generalized fractional Nikiforov-Uvarov solution method and a Pekeris-type approximation scheme. The canonical partition function for the system is employed to formulate thermodynamic models, including Helmholtz free energy, mean thermal energy, entropy, and isochoric heat capacity. The analytical equations are applied to diatomic molecules such as CO (X (C(2) 1 Π u), and NaK (c 3 ∑ +). The percentage average absolute deviations for the pure vibrational energies of these molecules are 0.2185%, 0.0630%, 0.6984%, 0.0975%, 0.7433%, 0.1988%, 0.1684%, and 0.2645%, relative to the experimental data. The study reveals a linear decrease in Helmholtz free energy and an initial increase in heat capacity as the temperature of the system rises. The results obtained are consistent with existing literature on diatomic systems.
WITHDRAWN: Analysis of the difference between urban and rural areas in job satisfaction of primary health care workers
Authors: liu sicheng , Yang Ming , Sun Jiayi , Xu Yuan , Fang Guixia , Yang Jinxia
Published: October 2024

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the influencing factors of job satisfaction and urban-rural differences among grassroots health workers in Anhui Province, and to provide a basis for the formulation of relevant health policies.
Methods: A multi-stage sampling method was used to survey 8135 primary health care workers in Anhui Province. Data were analyzed using chi-square test, t-test, and logistic regression analysis to analyze the influencing factors of job satisfaction of primary health personnel and its urban-rural differences in Anhui Province. In addition, Fairlie decomposition analysis was used to quantify the contribution levels of different influencing factors.
Results: Out of 8135 primary health workers, 3161 (38.9%) primary health workers were dissatisfied with their jobs. The percentage of job dissatisfaction was higher among rural primary health workers (39.8%) than urban primary health workers (36.7%).Fairliedecomposition analysis showed that 13.12% of the urban-rural difference in job satisfaction could be explained mainly with gender (24.00%), average annual income (-12.22%), overtime pay (8.94%), job-reward match (- 15.76%), unit-family support (-4.24%), and burnout (15.07%) differences.
Conclusion: The results of the study will help the Chinese government to provide a basis for improving the job satisfaction of primary health care personnel, narrowing the gap between urban and rural primary health care personnel's job satisfaction, formulating relevant health policies, and promoting the better development of primary health care.
The feasibility of using individual-level loyalty card data for disease surveillance: A pilot study on COVID-19
Authors: Dolan Elizabeth , Goulding James , Lang Alexandra R , Tata Laila J , Skatova Anya
Published: October 2024

Background: While regional-level self-medication sales data has been shown to enhance disease surveillance, individual-level sales data remains unexplored. This pilot study evaluates the feasibility of linking individual loyalty card data with health data to improve COVID-19 forecasting accuracy. The primary aims were to test a data-sharing protocol, evaluate the data's quality and representativeness, and explore initial signals.
Methods: A data-sharing protocol was developed, considering public preferences for sharing loyalty card data for health research. Participants used Tesco Clubcard’s data portability function to share data and completed an online health survey. Descriptive analysis was primarily used due to the small sample size, and a post-hoc sample size calculation was later conducted to assess statistical power for future studies. Recruitment occurred online from 18/01/2022 to 04/02/2022, targeting 200 participants.
Results: A total of 197 participants shared loyalty card and health survey data, resulting in 893,414 transactions across 65,310 unique items purchased from 2015-2022. Participants averaged 4,653 transactions (SD 5,256) over 5.5 years (SD 836 days), with 81% purchasing medications (44 per individual, SD 68). Importantly, 56.35% disclosed pre-existing health conditions, 43.65% confirmed prescription medication use, and 42.13% specified these prescriptions. Despite variability in transaction frequency, trends in self-medication purchases aligned with participants’ reported health conditions. Gender differences were observed in purchasing behaviour, and elderly and younger populations were underrepresented. Medication purchases aligned with COVID-19 symptom spikes during the OMICRON variant, particularly for throat-related remedies. Seasonal buying patterns corresponded with higher mortality periods, and a notable connection was observed between peak deaths before the pandemic (winter 2018/2019) and medication purchases among participants with regular prescriptions.
Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility of integrating individual-level loyalty card data with health information for disease monitoring, presenting a protocol adaptable for larger studies. Key considerations include refining the protocol to ensure inclusivity by addressing age group underrepresentation, health disparities, and digital exclusion. Additionally, resolving discrepancies between self-reported and actual behaviours, and managing data quality variability are essential. Researchers should also focus on gender influences and linking medication purchases to specific health conditions. By addressing these factors, personal loyalty card data could enhance public health surveillance.
Fe-phosphates in Jezero Crater: Chemical, Structural, and Spectral Evidence for an Ancient Habitable Environment on Mars
Authors: Kizovski Tanya , Schmidt Mariek , O'Neil Lauren , Jones Michael , Tosca Nicholas , Klevang David , Hurowitz Joel , Adcock Christopher , Hausrath Elisabeth , Siebach Kirsten , Wolf Uriah , Sharma Sunanda , Vanbommel Scott , McCubbin Francis , Cloutis Edward , Cable Morgan , Liu Yang , Clark Benton , Treiman Allan , Tice Michael , Catling David , Maki Justin , Bosak Tanja , Weiss Benjamin , Fairén Alberto , Christian John , Knight Abigail , Randazzo Nicolas , Jørgensen Peter , Lawson Peter , Wade Lawrence , Heirwegh Chris , Elam William , Allwood Abigail
Published: October 2024

Phosphorus is an essential component for life, and in-situ identification of phosphate minerals that formed in aqueous conditions directly contributes toward one of the main goals of the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover: to seek signs of ancient habitable environments. In Jezero crater, proximity science analyses within a conglomerate outcrop, “Onahu” demonstrate the presence of rare Fe3+-bearing phosphate minerals (likely beraunite, metavivianite, ferrolaueite, and/or santabarbaraite) embedded in a carbonate-rich matrix. While Fe-phosphates have been previously inferred on Mars, this work presents the most definitive in-situ identification of martian Fe-phosphate minerals to date, using textural, chemical, spectral, and diffraction analyses of discrete green-blue grains. The Fe-phosphate minerals’ textural context along with comparisons to Earth analogs suggest they likely formed after oxidation of the Fe2+-phosphate vivianite — the most common Fe-phosphate on Earth, often associated with microbial activity and organics. The Fe3+-phosphate assemblage after vivianite, and the presence of two distinct matrix domains in Onahu indicate that the conglomerate and corresponding sample collected by Perseverance (Otis_Peak) preserve a record of evolving habitable paleoenvironmental conditions on Mars. Once returned to Earth, analysis of the Fe-phosphates in the Otis_Peak sample will provide new insights into ancient habitable environments, and, if analogous to terrestrial vivianite-rich environments, potential links with microbial activity.
Tumor suppressor NME1/NM23-H1 modulates DNA binding of NF-κB RelA
Authors: Shahabi Shandy , Maurya Mano , Subramaniam Shankar , Ghosh Gourisankar
Published: October 2024

The dimeric NF-κB family of transcription factors activates transcription by binding sequence-specifically to DNA response elements known as κB sites, located within the promoters and enhancers of their target genes. While most NF-κB remain inactive in the cytoplasm of unstimulated cells, a small amount of RelA, one of its members, persists in the nucleus, ensuring low-level expression of genes essential for homeostasis. Several cofactors have been identified that aid in DNA binding of RelA. In this study, we identify NME1 (nucleoside diphosphate kinase 1) as a cofactor that enhances RelA's ability to bind κB sites within the promoters of a subset of its target genes, promoting their expression under both unstimulated and stimulated conditions. Depletion of NME1 influences activation or repression of several genes that are unresponsive to TNFα, despite containing κB sites in their promoters but not in clusters. This suggests that clustering of kB sites may be necessary for RelA-dependent transcription complex assembly. NME1 appears to act as a cofactor for other transcription factors to regulate these genes. NME1 does not directly contact κB DNA but interacts with RelA, with this interaction being further strengthened in the presence of κB DNA. Notably, NME1 alone has a marginal effect in enhancing RelA’s DNA binding, suggesting that NME1 likely cooperate with other cofactors to regulate DNA binding and transcription through RelA. These observations underscore the intricate assembly of transcription complexes centered on NF-κB.
Soil type (World Reference Base) map of Europe based on Ensemble Machine Learning and multiscale EO data
Authors: Minarik Robert , Hengl Tomislav , Simoes Rolf , Isik Mustafa Serkan , Ho Yu-Feng , Tian Xuemeng
Published: October 2024

The paper describes the production of a high spatial resolution (30 m) soil type map for the pan-EU based on the IUSS's World Reference Base classification system and Ensemble Machine Learning with a large set of covariates. 19,680 legacy soil survey points collated from multiple national and European projects were harmonized and combined to produce a consistent set of training points with a total of 185 classes. The training points were overlaid by 130 covariate layers containing climatic variables (CHELSA Bioclimatic variables), Landsat-based long-term (2000-2022) biophysical indices, multiscale terrain variables (at 30, 60, 120, 240, 480 and 960 m resolutions) and parent material variables. Predictions of soil-type probabilities were produced by fitting an ensemble model based on Random Forest and LightGBM. The results of the variable importance analysis indicate that the model is mainly driven by relief and climate factors. The accuracy assessment reveals a moderate decrease in the logarithmic loss of the model from 4.41 to 2.76 (about 37 %) compared to the dummy model. Visually, the produced predictions match existing coarse resolution (1 km) pan-EU products, but then reveal significantly more detail, especially in areas with complex topography. The intended uses of the 30 m resolution maps include: (1) to help distinguish different soil regions (cross between soil types and climatic variables), (2) to assist in predictive soil mapping of soil properties with limited laboratory data, (3) to serve as a covariate in agronomy and forest species distribution models, e.g. to map yields and for species distribution mapping. The data and code used are publicly available under an open license from https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13838408 and https://github.com/AI4SoilHealth/.
Using deep learning models to decode emotional states in horses
Authors: Phelipon Romane , Lansade Lea , Razzaq Misbah
Published: October 2024

In this work, we present various machine learning models to predict emotional states in horses. We manually label the images to learn the task in a supervised manner. We perform data exploration and use different cropping methods, mainly based on Yolo and Faster R-CNN, to create two new datasets: 1) the cropped body, and 2) the cropped head dataset. We build different models based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) using (un)cropped datasets and compare their performances to accurately predict emotions. The cropped head dataset yields the best results despite lacking important region of interests like a tail, which experts use to annotate images. Furthermore, we update our models using various techniques, such as transfer learning and fine-tuning to further improve their performance. The best performance is achieved through a model based on stacking principals, which gave a boost to the overall performance with an accuracy of 87%, precision of 79%, and recall of 97%. Finally, we employ three interpretation methods to understand the internal workings of our models. Different interpretation methods seem to highlight different features of the same model. We found that only LIME appears to detect some of the features that are used by experts to annotate emotional states.
Half-Quantized Quantum Hall Plateaus in the Confined Geometry of Graphene
Authors: Kumar Manohar , Pandey Preeti , Manna Sourav , Frei Kristiana , Saji Jerin , Denis Anne , Savin Alexander , Watanabe Kenji , Taniguchi Takashi , Hakonen Pertti , Das Ankur
Published: October 2024

Since the ground-breaking discovery of the quantum Hall effect, half-quantized quantum Hall
plateaus have been some of the most studied and sought-after states. Their importance stems
not only from the fact that they transcend the composite fermion framework used to explain
fractional quantum Hall states (such as Laughlin states). Crucially, they hold promise for hosting
non-Abelian excitations, which are essential for developing topological qubits — key components
for fault-tolerant quantum computing. In this work, we show that these coveted half-quantized
plateaus can appear in more than one unexpected way. We report the observation of fractional
states with conductance quantization at νH = 5/2 arising due to charge equilibration in the
confined region of a quantum point contact in monolayer graphene.
Modality Matching for Efficient and Precise Text Interpretation: Experimentation with Large Language Models
Authors: Fa Xide , Zhu Weiwen , Liu Shaoqiang , Li Zheng , Huang Honghong
Published: October 2024

Language models have increasingly been tasked with interpreting complex and domain-specific texts, requiring both precision and efficiency in handling vast amounts of data. Modality matching introduces a novel technique that aligns different input modalities to enhance text interpretation by ensuring more consistent and coherent outputs, particularly when multimodal data is involved. The modifications to the Mistral model, including modality-aligned input layers and reconfigured attention mechanisms, led to significant improvements in both accuracy and computational efficiency. Experiments demonstrated that modality matching reduced memory usage and computational costs while increasing interpretative precision, particularly in tasks involving domain-specific terminology. By refining how multimodal data is processed, the study presents a robust and scalable approach to improving the overall performance of language models in complex NLP applications. Modality matching ultimately offers a highly adaptable framework, enabling more efficient text interpretation without sacrificing accuracy, even in real-time scenarios.
Retrospektive Analyse des Outcomes von Patienten nach Ileostomarückverlagerung in Abhängigkeit vom Ausbildungsstand des Operateurs
Authors:   , von Savigny Clara
Published: October 2024

Ziel dieser Studie war es, zu untersuchen, ob der Ausbildungsstand des Operierenden einen Einfluss auf das Ergebnis der Ileostomarückverlagerung (ILSRV) bei den Patienten hat. Die ILSRV ist eine der ersten Operationen am Darm, die Assistenzärztinnen und Assistenzärzte durchführen. Dennoch können bei dieser Operation potenziell lebensbedrohliche Komplikationen, wie die Undichtigkeit der Naht (Anastomoseninsuffizienz), auftreten. Um eine ausreichende Patientensicherheit zu gewährleisten, sollte daher sichergestellt werden, dass die Durchführung dieser Operation durch Assistenzärztinnen und Assistenzärzte keine erhöhte postoperative Morbidität und Letalität für Patienten verursacht. Für diese Studie wurden 300 Patienten mit einer Ileostomarückverlegung retrospektiv untersucht. Als primärer Endpunkt wurde die Morbidität, entsprechend der Clavien-Dindo-Klassifikation (CDC), mit besonderem Augenmerk auf den Ausbildungsstand der Operierenden definiert. Als sekundärer Endpunkt wurde die postoperative Darmmotilitätss
Can a LiDAR-enhanced Air-blast Sprayer Improve Coverage on Tough Targets like Tree Trunks and Emerging Shoots?
Authors: Warneke Brent W. , Nackley Lloyd L. , Pscheidt Jay W.
Published: October 2024

Eastern filbert blight (EFB) and pacific flatheaded borer (PFB) are two problems of Pacific Northwest orchard and nursery production. Fungicides and insecticides used to manage these issues are typically applied to plant tissues with minimal foliage present that can result in considerable spray waste or drift. The Intelligent Spray System (ISS) is a laser-guided, variable-rate sprayer that detects objects in the target zone and releases spray volumes proportional to the density of plant tissues, thereby increasing application efficiency and reducing waste. However, the ISS has not been tested when targeting low-foliage plant tissues such as emerging shoots and trunks. Three experiments were conducted from 2018 to 2021 to evaluate the potential use of the ISS for EFB and PFB management by assessing spray coverage on emerging hazelnut shoot tips, hazelnut tree trunks, and maple tree trunks. On hazelnut shoot tips, coverage was <10% of the shoot on both adaxial and abaxial sides, with the highest coverage on the adaxial side (9.5%) resulting from spraying in standard mode (no sensors) at 3.1 kph. On hazelnut trunks, application at the slowest tested speed (3.1 kph) in intelligent mode resulted in spray coverage greater than or equal to that applied in standard mode at 5.1 kph. In addition, coverage was significantly higher on cards placed on the ground between trees when the sprayer was used in standard mode, indicating higher amounts of wasted spray and drift over intelligent mode. On maple trunks, the slowest speed tested (3.1 kph) resulted in the highest coverage of tree trunks facing the sprayer that were two and three rows away from the sprayer, with the highest coverage levels on the row of trees closest to the sprayer occurring at the highest tested speed of 6.4 kph. On cards placed on trunk sides not facing the sprayer, the slowest tested speed of 3.2 kph resulted in significantly higher coverage than both treatments at 6.4 kph and intelligent mode at 4.8 kph in the tree row closest to the sprayer. This work has demonstrated a baseline of coverage that hazelnut buds receive when spraying for EFB, illustrates that the ISS was able to effectively target trunks, and could be an alternative to drenches for PFB control.
Student Attendance, Study Activities, Major, and Midterm Grades as Predictors of Final Course Grades of Undergraduate and Graduate Plant Materials Courses during the Eras before and after COVID-19
Authors: Arnold Michael A. , Marshall Mason L.
Published: October 2024

Data were collected from four plant materials courses over the span of 20 years. Two classes were at the undergraduate level, Trees and Shrubs for Sustainable Built Environments (HORT 306) and Plants for Sustainable Landscapes (HORT 308), and two classes were at the graduate level, Plants for Landscape Design (HORT 608) and Plants for Landscape Design II (HORT 609). Data from these courses were analyzed to determine trends in student performance and benchmarks that might be associated with student success. Data included student enrollment, midterm course grades, final course grades, number of unexcused absences, student-reported study times for various activities, student major, student experience (class rank), whether the courses were required, and perceived difficulty levels of the courses. Trends in grade distributions were fairly stable until the last 3 to 4 years before COVID-19, when mean final grades and the frequencies of A or B grades increased. Midterm grades were strongly positively correlated with final course grades across majors in all four courses before COVID-19 (R2 = 0.90, 0.74, 0.72, and 0.54 for HORT 306, HORT 308, HORT 608, and HORT 609, respectively; P ≤ 0.001) and continued to be positively correlated after COVID-19. The number of unexcused absences was negatively significantly correlated with final course grades across majors (R2 = −0.69, −0.63, −0.21, and −0.45 for HORT 306, HORT 308, HORT 608, and HORT 609, respectively) before COVID-19 (P ≤ 0.001) and continued to be similarly correlated after COVID-19. Fewer reductions from midterm to final grades were observed for fall courses than for spring courses, particularly for seniors. Self-reported time spent studying all aspects of the courses was either not significantly correlated (P ≤ 0.05) or surprisingly slightly negatively correlated with the final course grades for all four courses. Perceptions of courses as moderately difficult (range, 7.0–8.0 out of 10.0) were remarkably stable overall but varied considerably by major (range, 5.0–8.3) and experience (range, 7.5 for seniors to 8.1 for freshman). More than 96% of enrollment in the graduate courses both before and after COVID-19 comprised Horticulture and Landscape Architecture majors, whereas undergraduate enrollment included a wide diversity of majors; however, the majority of those students were horticulture or landscape architecture majors. Biological science students or students who were architectural design majors were the top-performing students in both undergraduate courses, whereas undeclared majors, social science majors, and those in probationary major categories were among the lower-performing students in both undergraduate courses.
Investigation of Leptospirosis Agents in Cattle and Humans
Authors:   Veterinary Control Institute Directorate, Erzurum, Türkiye, Bağatir Perihan Şerifoğlu , Aktaş Osman ,   Atatürk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, Erzurum, Türkiye
Published: October 2024

Background: Abdominal bloating (AB) is a common, bothersome symptom that negatively affects most adults. Although social support may help people suffering from AB, limited validated questionnaire is available. This study aimed to validate the newly developed Abdominal Bloating Social Support (SS-Bloat) scale for the Malaysian context. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional study in which we used purposive sampling and a self-administered questionnaire. Based on the literature review, experts’ input and indepth interviews, new items were generated for SS-Bloat scale. Content validity was assessed by experts and pre-tested with 30 individuals with AB. Construct validity was determined based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability was determined based on Cronbach’s alpha and composite reliability (CR). Results: During the development stage, eight items were generated for SS-Bloat scale and remained the same after content validity and pre-testing. A total of 152 participants with a mean age of 31.27 years old (68.3% female, 32.7% male) completed the questionnaire. Based on the EFA, three problematic items were removed. The total variance explained was 35.6% with acceptable reliability (α = 0.66). The model was then tested using CFA. The initial model did not fit the data well. After several model re-specifications, the final measurement model of SS-Bloat scale fit the data well with acceptable fit indices (comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.994 and Tucker-Lewis index [TLI] = 0.984). The CR was satisfactory with value of 0.84. Conclusion: SS-Bloat scale was deemed valid and reliable for assessing the level of social support among AB patients. The questionnaire can be useful for both research studies and clinical purposes, as it is easy to use.
Bioinformatics Analysis and Spatiotemporal Distribution of the f liC Gene and Its Protein Isolated from Escherichia coli-Infected Patients in Eastern Algeria
Authors:   Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Frère Mentouri Constantine 1 University, Ain El-Bey, Algeria, Harrar Abdenassar ,   Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Laboratory of Biologie: Application en Santé et Environnement,  University Mohamed Boudiaf of M’sila, Algeria, Hamat Rukman Awang ,   Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor, Malaysia, Hamidechi Mohamed Abdelhafid ,   Department of Applied Biology, Faculty of Nature and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Microbiology Engineering and Applications, Frère  Mentouri Constantine 1 University, Ain El-Bey, Algeria
Published: October 2024

Background: The fliC locus in Escherichia coli primarily encodes flagellar (H) antigens. Exploring fliC sequence diversity will shed light on the mechanisms of bacterial pathogenicity. This study examined the presence of fliC mutant strains of E. coli in infected patients from different age groups, sexes and sample types in eastern Algerian provinces over a span of 2 years. Methods: This retrospective, cross-sectional study involved three provinces in eastern Algeria: i) Bordj Bou Arreridj, ii) Setif and iii) Batna. A total of 75 E. coli isolates were obtained from the University State Hospital Centre. Two types of analyses were conducted: i) a bioinformatics analysis of the protein sequences translated from the fliC genes, specifically the fliC f lagellar sequences and ii) a multifactorial statistical analysis (multiple correspondence analysis [MCA]) of the population of infected patients, considering various parameters. The fliC protein sequences were aligned using the Multiple Alignment using Fast Fourier Transform (MAFFT) programme. The alignment results were then visualised using the MView programme. Finally, a phylogenetic tree was constructed using the maximum likelihood algorithm in MEGA 11 software. Results: Bioinformatics analysis highlighted the strong conservation of the structures of the fliC protein sequences, especially at the two N- and C-terminal ends, and strong variability in the central zone. This remarkable fliC intersequence similarity is corroborated by the presence of protein motifs identified in the PROSITE protein motif database. Conclusion: fliC mutations in E. coli were not detected in the clinical samples of patients from hospitals in the three Algerian Provinces. Our analysis revealed that all the samples exhibited characteristics of wild-type virulent bacteria without mutations. A multicentre study is warranted for epidemiological surveillance of fliC mutant strains for future preventive measures.
Survival of Ischaemic and Haemorrhagic Stroke: Analysis of the Malaysian National Stroke Registry Data from 2009 to 2013
Authors:   Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Kelantan, Malaysia, Abd Wahab Amer Taufek , Yaacob Najib Majdi ,   Biostatistics and Research Methodology Unit, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Kelantan, Malaysia, Mohd Hairon Suhaily ,   Department of Community Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia Kelantan, Malaysia, Abdul Aziz Zariah ,   Neurology Division, Sultanah Nur Zahirah Hospital, Terengganu, Malaysia
Published: October 2024

Background: Stroke ranks as the second leading cause of death globally, contributing to 15.2 million deaths in 2016. In Malaysia, stroke has emerged as a significant cause of mortality and disability. This study aims to evaluate the survival time and rate of stroke patients in Malaysia. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we reviewed secondary data from the National Stroke Registry (NSR) of Malaysia. The study included all Malaysian residents over the age of 12 years old diagnosed with either ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke between 1 January 2009 and 31 December 2013. Patients with a transient ischaemic attack were excluded. We updated the death status up to 31 December 2018 using mortality data from the Malaysian National Registry Department. We used Kaplan-Meier Survival Analysis to determine the overall median survival time and log-rank test to compare the median time by ethnicity, sex and stroke type. The survival rates at 1 year, 3 years and 5 years were obtained using the life-table method. Results: The analysis included a total of 5,777 stroke patients. The mean age at diagnosis was 63.15 years old (with a standard deviation of 12.46 years old). The overall median survival time was 51 months (95% CI: 47.4, 54.6). Non-Malay patients and those with ischaemic strokes experienced a longer median survival time (65.2 months [95% CI: 56.6, 73.7] and 56.3 months [95% CI: 52.2, 60.3]), respectively. The survival rates at 1 year, 3 years and 5 years were 66.7% (95% CI: 65.5%, 68.0%), 55.6% (95% CI: 54.3%, 56.9%) and 46.9% (95% CI: 45.6%, 48.2%), respectively. Conclusion: There are significant differences in median survival time in relation to ethnicity and stroke types. Compared to other developed countries, Malaysia’s 5-year survival rate is notably lower.