bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chemical constituents of Panax ginseng sprouts cultivated in Vietnam
Authors: Tuan Anh Hoang Le , Duc Ngo Viet , Van Cong Pham , Van Hieu Ngo , Van Dan Nguyen , Trang Vu Thi , Hien Do Thi Thu , Tuan Do Thanh , Anh Le Tuan , Kim Jeong Ah
Published: February 2024

Eight compounds, including 20(R)‐ginsenoside Rg3 (1), Ginsenoside Rd (2), ginsenosides Rg2 (3), ginsenosides Re (4), β‐sitosterol (5), daucosterol (6), stigmasterol (7), and stigmasterol‐3‐O‐β‐glucoside (8) were isolated from the Panax ginseng sprouts cultivated in Vietnam. Their structures were elucidated by 1H, 13C NMR, and MS spectroscopic techniques and compared with the previous publication. In addition, their inhibitory activity on NO production and cytotoxic effects against human embryonic kidney cells (HEK‐293A) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) were evaluated. This is the first study of the phytochemical investigation of P. ginseng sprouts cultivated in Vietnam and ginseng sprouts also contained the same main active ginsenosides as in the 4–6‐year old roots.
Study on the removal efficacy and mechanism of phosphorus from wastewater by eggshell‐modified biochar
Authors: Xu Qingshan , Li Cong , Sumita  , Pang Weihai
Published: February 2024

The excessive discharge of phosphorus from rural domestic sewage is a problem that worthy of attention. If the phosphorus in the sewage were recovered, addressing this issue could significantly contribute to mitigating the global phosphorus crisis. In this study, corn straw, a common agricultural waste, was co‐pyrolytically modified with eggshells, a type of food waste from university cafeterias. The resulting product, referred to as corn straw eggshell biochar (EGBC) was characterized using SEM, XRD, XPS, XRF, and other methods. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to determine the optimal preparation conditions of EGBC and to explore its adsorption characteristics. EGBC showed strong adsorption effectiveness within a pH range of 5–12. The adsorption isotherm closely followed the Sips model (R2 > 0.9011), and the adsorption kinetics were more consistent with the pseudo‐second‐order model (R2 > 0.9899). The process was found to be both spontaneous and endothermic. Under optimal conditions, the phosphorus adsorption capacity of EGBC was measured to be 288.83 mg/g. This demonstrates the high efficiency of EGBC for phosphorus removal and illustrates an effective method of utilizing food waste for environmental remediation.

Practitioner Points

Biochar prepared from waste eggshell was used to removal and recovery phosphorus in wastewater treatment.

EGBC has an impressive adsorption capacity that can reach up to 288.83 mg/g.

EGBC has excellent adsorption and filtration capabilities, and there is a sudden increase in concentration at 900 min in the breakthrough curve of EGBC.

EGBC has good regeneration performance, with an adsorption effect of 65% and an adsorption capacity of 121 mg/g after four desorption and regeneration cycles.
Imagining Restorative Diplomacy
Authors: Braithwaite John
Published: February 2024

Restorative diplomacy outperforms realism at preventing war, climate change, financial crises, pandemics, and at accomplishing national interest objectives. Peacebuilding Compared finds narratives of the broken promise have been impediments to peace in 41 out of 73 armed conflicts. Restorative diplomacy requires promise-keeping that learns from American Indigenous wisdom on ritualizing peace agreements, with regular commemorations at which statecraft speaks from the heart, apologizes, forgives, ritualizes collective memory, and builds new commitments atop growing architectures of peace. Learn restorative diplomacy lessons from the Marshall Plan. Put deposits, financial and emotional, in the banks of old adversaries. Learn restorative diplomacy lessons from South African spymaster Niël Barnard. South African nuclear weapons destruction, Africa as a nuclear weapons-free continent, and Apartheid abolition illustrate the possibilities of restorative diplomacy.
Controlling Away the Phenomenon: Maze Research and the Nature of Learning
Authors: Arnet Evan
Published: February 2024

Following maze research in animal behavior studies through the twentieth century, I explore “control” as an extended historical process involving the successive stabilization or removal of bits and scraps of the world to arrive at the pure form of a phenomenon of interest. Early behaviorist investigation of maze learning aimed to strip environmental cues from maze design to study context-free learning. Exemplifying this tendency is the famous 1907 “Kerplunk” experiment of Watson and Carr, in which they concluded that rats could ultimately learn a maze as one long bodily response unspooling in a successive series of actions, rather than basing their movement through the maze on external sensory stimuli. Supporting this context-free research program was a conceptual understanding of learning as something singular and general. With later, more ecological, accounts of animal behavior, however, it was argued that these early control practices had nullified the rich interrelation between organism and environment that makes advanced learning possible. The result was a deflated and distorted understanding of animal learning. Researchers had, in short, controlled away the phenomenon. This case highlights the tension between the object of inquiry and the object of control, and illustrates how novelty emerges in reinterpreting as central to the phenomenon of interest that which was previously merely interference.
One Myrtle Proves Nothing: Repeated Comparative Experiments and the Growing Awareness of the Difficulty of Conducting Conclusive Experiments
Authors: Schürch Caterina
Published: February 2024

This chapter focuses on physicists from across Europe who, between the mid-1740s and the mid-1780s, investigated whether electricity promoted plant growth. They considered comparative experiments to be a prerequisite for making reliable causal inferences, and thus compared the growth of electrified and non-electrified plants. In doing so, they were careful to keep the two experimental setups stable to rule out the possibility that growth differences were caused by factors other than electrification. A closer look at the experimental reports of these physicists reveals sophisticated discussions of control strategies. They pointed out several possible sources of error and suggested strategies for avoiding them, such as repeating an experiment many times to eliminate chance effects. But the physicists’ methodological views also differed on crucial issues, such as how many plants an experiment should include, or how often it should be repeated to ensure a reliable conclusion. By the late 1780s, the question of electricity’s effect on plant growth was far from resolved. Rather, the controversy became emblematic of the difficulty of conducting well-controlled, conclusive experiments.
Phenomenology of superheavy decaying dark matter from string theory
Authors: Allahverdi Rouzbeh , Arina Chiara , Chianese Marco , Cicoli Michele , Maltoni Fabio , Massaro Daniele , Osiński Jacek K.
Published: February 2024

Abstract

We study the phenomenology of superheavy decaying dark matter with mass around 1010 GeV which can arise in the low-energy limit of string compactifications. Generic features of string theory setups (such as high scale supersymmetry breaking and epochs of early matter domination driven by string moduli) can accommodate superheavy dark matter with the correct relic abundance. In addition, stringy instantons induce tiny R-parity violating couplings which make dark matter unstable with a lifetime well above the age of the Universe. Adopting a model-independent approach, we compute the flux and spectrum of high-energy gamma rays and neutrinos from three-body decays of superheavy dark matter and constrain its mass-lifetime plane with current observations and future experiments. We show that these bounds have only a mild dependence on the exact nature of neutralino dark matter and its decay channels. Applying these constraints to an explicit string model sets an upper bound of $$ \mathcal{O} $$
O
(0.1) on the string coupling, ensuring that the effective field theory is in the perturbative regime.
Regular Functions on the Scaled Hypercomplex Numbers
Authors: Alpay Daniel , Cho Ilwoo
Published: February 2024

In this paper, we study the regularity of $$\mathbb {R}$$
R
-differentiable functions on open connected subsets of the scaled hypercomplex numbers $$\left\{ \mathbb {H}_{t}\right\} _{t\in \mathbb {R}}$$

H
t

t
∈
R

by studying the kernels of suitable differential operators $$\left\{ \nabla _{t}\right\} _{t\in \mathbb {R}}$$

∇
t

t
∈
R

, up to scales in the real field $$\mathbb {R}$$
R
.
Biofilm volume and acidification within initial biofilms formed in situ on buccally and palatally exposed bracket material
Authors: Loewe Micha Frederic , Doll-Nikutta Katharina , Stiesch Meike , Schwestka-Polly Rainer
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Acidification by bacterial biofilms at the bracket/tooth interface is one of the most common problems in fixed orthodontic treatments, which can lead to white spot lesions (WSL) and caries. As lingual brackets were shown to exhibit reduced WSL formation clinically, the aim of this in situ study was to compare initial intraoral biofilm formation and acidification on bracket-like specimens placed buccally and palatally in the upper jaw as a possible cause for this observation.

Methods

Intraoral biofilm was collected from splints equipped with buccally and palatally exposed test specimens, which were worn by 12 volunteers for a total of 48 h. The test specimens consisted of standard bracket material cylinders on top of a hydroxyapatite disc to represent the bracket/tooth interface. They were analyzed for three-dimensional biofilm volume and live/dead distribution by fluorescence staining and confocal laser scanning microscopy as well as for acidification by fluorescence-based pH ratiometry.

Results

Similar general biofilm morphology with regard to volume and viability could be detected for buccally and palatally exposed specimens. For pH values, biofilms from both positions showed increased acidification at the bottom layer. Interestingly, the pH value at the top layers of the biofilms was slightly lower on palatally than on buccally exposed specimens, which may likely be due to anatomic conditions.

Conclusion

Based on the results of this study, initial intraoral biofilm formation and acidification is almost similar on the bracket material/biomimetic tooth interface when placed buccally or palatally in the upper jaw. As lingual brackets were shown to exhibit reduced WSL formation clinically, future studies should investigate further factors like bracket geometry.
Transrectal ultrasound for intraoperative interstitial needle guidance in cervical cancer brachytherapy
Authors: Knoth J. , Sturdza A. , Zaharie A. , Dick V. , Kronreif G. , Nesvacil N. , Widder J. , Kirisits C. , Schmid M. P
Published: February 2024

Objective

This study aimed to prospectively assess the visibility of interstitial needles on transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) in cervical cancer brachytherapy patients and evaluate its impact on implant and treatment plan quality.

Material and methods

TRUS was utilized during and after applicator insertion, with each needle’s visibility documented through axial images at the high-risk clinical target volume’s largest diameter. Needle visibility on TRUS was scored from 0 (no visibility) to 3 (excellent discrimination, margins distinct). Quantitative assessment involved measuring the distance between tandem and each needle on TRUS and comparing it to respective magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurements. Expected treatment plan quality based on TRUS images was rated from 1 (meeting all planning objectives) to 4 (violation of High-risk clinical target volume (CTVHR) and/or organ at risk (OAR) hard constraints) and compared to the final MRI-based plan.

Results

Analysis included 23 patients with local FIGO stage IB2-IVA, comprising 41 applications with a total of 230 needles. A high visibility rate of 99.1% (228/230 needles) was observed, with a mean visibility score of 2.5 ± 0.7 for visible needles. The maximum and mean difference between MRI and TRUS measurements were 8 mm and –0.1 ± 1.6 mm, respectively, with > 3 mm discrepancies in 3.5% of needles. Expected treatment plan quality after TRUS assessment exactly aligned with the final MRI plan in 28 out of 41 applications with only minor deviations in all other cases.

Conclusion

Real-time TRUS-guided interstitial needle placement yielded high-quality implants, thanks to excellent needle visibility during insertion. This supports the potential of TRUS-guided brachytherapy as a promising modality for gynecological indications.
Structure and Functions of Endophytic Bacterial Communities Associated with Sphagnum Mosses and Their Drivers in Two Different Nutrient Types of Peatlands
Authors: Wang Yue , Xue Dan , Chen Xuhui , Qiu Qing , Chen Huai
Published: February 2024

Sphagnum mosses are keystone plant species in the peatland ecosystems that play a crucial role in the formation of peat, which shelters a broad diversity of endophytic bacteria with important ecological functions. In particular, methanotrophic and nitrogen-fixing endophytic bacteria benefit Sphagnum moss hosts by providing both carbon and nitrogen. However, the composition and abundance of endophytic bacteria from different species of Sphagnum moss in peatlands of different nutrient statuses and their drivers remain unclear. This study used 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to examine endophytic bacterial communities in Sphagnum mosses and measured the activity of methanotrophic microbial by the 13C-CH4 oxidation rate. According to the results, the endophytic bacterial community structure varied among Sphagnum moss species and Sphagnum capillifolium had the highest endophytic bacterial alpha diversity. Moreover, chlorophyll, phenol oxidase, carbon contents, and water retention capacity strongly shaped the communities of endophytic bacteria. Finally, Sphagnum palustre in Hani (SP) had a higher methane oxidation rate than S. palustre in Taishanmiao. This result is associated with the higher average relative abundance of Methyloferula an obligate methanotroph in SP. In summary, this work highlights the effects of Sphagnum moss characteristics on the endophytic bacteriome. The endophytic bacteriome is important for Sphagnum moss productivity, as well as for carbon and nitrogen cycles in Sphagnum moss peatlands.
A biased random walk approach for modeling the collective chemotaxis of neural crest cells
Authors: Freingruber Viktoria , Painter Kevin J. , Ptashnyk Mariya , Schumacher Linus J.
Published: February 2024

Collective cell migration is a multicellular phenomenon that arises in various biological contexts, including cancer and embryo development. ‘Collectiveness’ can be promoted by cell-cell interactions such as co-attraction and contact inhibition of locomotion. These mechanisms act on cell polarity, pivotal for directed cell motility, through influencing the intracellular dynamics of small GTPases such as Rac1. To model these dynamics we introduce a biased random walk model, where the bias depends on the internal state of Rac1, and the Rac1 state is influenced by cell-cell interactions and chemoattractive cues. In an extensive simulation study we demonstrate and explain the scope and applicability of the introduced model in various scenarios. The use of a biased random walk model allows for the derivation of a corresponding partial differential equation for the cell density while still maintaining a certain level of intracellular detail from the individual based setting.
PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome: Clinical and genetic characterization in pediatric patients
Authors: Martín-Valbuena Jesús , Gestoso-Uzal Nerea , Justel-Rodríguez María , Isidoro-García María , Marcos-Vadillo Elena , Lorenzo-Hernández Sandra Milagros , Criado-Muriel M. Carla , Prieto-Matos Pablo
Published: February 2024

Objective

The aim of this study was to provide a full characterization of a cohort of 11 pediatric patients diagnosed with PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS).

Patients and methods

Eleven patients with genetic diagnostic of PHTS were recruited between February 2019 and April 2023. Clinical, imaging, demographic, and genetic data were retrospectively collected from their hospital medical history.

Results

Regarding clinical manifestations, macrocephaly was the leading sign, present in all patients. Frontal bossing was the most frequent dysmorphism. Neurological issues were present in most patients. Dental malformations were described for the first time, being present in 27% of the patients. Brain MRI showed anomalies in 57% of the patients. No tumoral lesions were present at the time of the study. Regarding genetics, 72% of the alterations were in the tensin-type C2 domain of PTEN protein. We identified four PTEN genetic alterations for the first time.

Conclusions

PTEN mutations appear with a wide variety of clinical signs and symptoms, sometimes associated with phenotypes which do not fit classical clinical diagnostic criteria for PHTS. We recommend carrying out a genetic study to establish an early diagnosis in children with significant macrocephaly. This facilitates personalized monitoring and enables anticipation of potential PHTS-related complications.
Neurocognitive function as outcome and predictor for prefrontal transcranial direct current stimulation in major depressive disorder: an analysis from the DepressionDC trial
Authors: Soldini Aldo , Vogelmann Ulrike , Aust Sabine , Goerigk Stephan , Plewnia Christian , Fallgatter Andreas , Normann Claus , Frase Lukas , Zwanzger Peter , Kammer Thomas , Schönfeldt-Lecuona Carlos , Vural Gizem , Bajbouj Malek , Padberg Frank , Burkhardt Gerrit
Published: February 2024

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) of the prefrontal cortex might beneficially influence neurocognitive dysfunctions associated with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, previous studies of neurocognitive effects of tDCS have been inconclusive. In the current study, we analyzed longitudinal, neurocognitive data from 101 participants of a randomized controlled multicenter trial (DepressionDC), investigating the efficacy of bifrontal tDCS (2 mA, 30 min/d, for 6 weeks) in patients with MDD and insufficient response to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI). We assessed whether active tDCS compared to sham tDCS elicited beneficial effects across the domains of memory span, working memory, selective attention, sustained attention, executive process, and processing speed, assessed with a validated, digital test battery. Additionally, we explored whether baseline cognitive performance, as a proxy of fronto-parietal-network functioning, predicts the antidepressant effects of active tDCS versus sham tDCS. We found no statistically significant group differences in the change of neurocognitive performance between active and sham tDCS. Furthermore, baseline cognitive performance did not predict the clinical response to tDCS. Our findings indicate no advantage in neurocognition due to active tDCS in MDD. Additional research is required to systematically investigate the effects of tDCS protocols on neurocognitive performance in patients with MDD.
Identifying and understanding cognitive profiles in multiple sclerosis: a role for visuospatial memory functioning
Authors: van Dam Maureen , Krijnen Eva A. , Nauta Ilse M. , Fuchs Tom A. , de Jong Brigit A. , Klein Martin , van der Hiele Karin , Schoonheim Menno M. , Hulst Hanneke E.
Published: February 2024

Background

The heterogeneous nature of cognitive impairment in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) hampers understanding of the underlying mechanisms and developing patient-tailored interventions. We aim to identify and classify cognitive profiles in PwMS, comparing these to cognitive status (preserved versus impaired).

Methods

We included 1213 PwMS (72% female, age 45.4 ± 10.7 years, 83% relapsing–remitting MS). Cognitive test scores were converted to Z-scores compared to healthy controls for the functions: attention, inhibition, information processing speed (IPS), verbal fluency and verbal/visuospatial memory. Concerning cognitive status, impaired cognition (CI) was defined as performing at Z ≤ − 1.5 SD on ≥ 2 functions. Cognitive profiles were constructed using latent profile analysis on all cognitive functions. Cognitive profiles or status was classified using gradient boosting decision trees, providing the importance of each feature (demographics, clinical, cognitive and psychological functioning) for the overall classification.

Results

Six profiles were identified, showing variations in overall performance and specific deficits (attention, inhibition, IPS, verbal fluency, verbal memory and visuospatial memory). Across the profiles, IPS was the most impaired function (%CI most preserved profile, Profile 1 = 22.4%; %CI most impaired profile, Profile 6 = 76.6%). Cognitive impairment varied from 11.8% in Profile 1 to 95.3% in Profile 6. Of all cognitive functions, visuospatial memory was most important in classifying profiles and IPS the least (area under the curve (AUC) = 0.910). For cognitive status, IPS was the most important classifier (AUC = 0.997).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that cognitive heterogeneity in MS reflects a continuum of cognitive severity, distinguishable by distinct cognitive profiles, primarily explained by variations in visuospatial memory functioning.
Serum neurofilament light chain associates with symptom burden in Lyme neuroborreliosis patients: a longitudinal cohort study from Norway
Authors: Skarstein Ingerid , Ulvestad Elling , Solheim Anne Marit , Vedeler Christian , Ljøstad Unn , Mygland Åse , Eikeland Randi , Reiso Harald , Lorentzen Åslaug Rudjord , Bos Steffan Daniel
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL), an indicator of neuronal damage, is increasingly recognized as a potential biomarker for disease activity in neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we wanted to investigate sNfL as a prognostic marker in a large, well-defined population of 90 patients with Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB). In addition, we sought to explore associations between symptoms and sNfL levels during the acute phase of LNB.

Materials and methods

Patients diagnosed with definite or possible LNB were recruited from a double-blinded, placebo-controlled, multi-center trial, in which the participants were randomly assigned to 2 or 6 weeks of oral doxycycline treatment. The sNfL levels were measured using a single molecule array assay at both diagnosis and 6-month follow-up, and analysed against clinical parameters, variations in symptom burden and long-term complaints as assessed by a composite clinical score.

Results

At the time of diagnosis, approximately 60% of the patients had elevated sNfL levels adjusted for age. Notably, mean sNfL levels were significantly higher at diagnosis (52 pg/ml) compared to 6 months after treatment (12 pg/ml, p < 0.001), when sNfL levels had normalized in the majority of patients. Patients with objective signs of spinal radiculitis had significantly higher baseline sNfL levels compared to patients without spinal radiculitis (p = 0.033).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that sNfL can serve as a biomarker for peripheral nerve tissue involvement in the acute phase of LNB. As found in an earlier study, we confirm normalization of sNfL levels in blood after treatment. We found no prognostic value of acute-phase sNfL levels on patient outcome.
Modified Archimedes optimization algorithm for global optimization problems: a comparative study
Authors: Nurmuhammed Mustafa , Akdağ Ozan , Karadağ Teoman
Published: February 2024

Archimedes Optimization Algorithm (AOA) is a recent optimization algorithm inspired by Archimedes’ Principle. In this study, a Modified Archimedes Optimization Algorithm (MDAOA) is proposed. The goal of the modification is to avoid early convergence and improve balance between exploration and exploitation. Modification is implemented by a two phase mechanism: optimizing the candidate positions of objects using the dimension learning-based (DL) strategy and recalculating predetermined five parameters used in the original AOA. DL strategy along with problem specific parameters lead to improvements in the balance between exploration and exploitation. The performance of the proposed MDAOA algorithm is tested on 13 standard benchmark functions, 29 CEC 2017 benchmark functions, optimal placement of electric vehicle charging stations (EVCSs) on the IEEE-33 distribution system, and five real-life engineering problems. In addition, results of the proposed modified algorithm are compared with modern and competitive algorithms such as Honey Badger Algorithm, Sine Cosine Algorithm, Butterfly Optimization Algorithm, Particle Swarm Optimization Butterfly Optimization Algorithm, Golden Jackal Optimization, Whale Optimization Algorithm, Ant Lion Optimizer, Salp Swarm Algorithm, and Atomic Orbital Search. Experimental results suggest that MDAOA outperforms other algorithms in the majority of the cases with consistently low standard deviation values. MDAOA returned best results in all of 13 standard benchmarks, 26 of 29 CEC 2017 benchmarks (89.65%), optimal placement of EVCSs problem and all of five real-life engineering problems. Overall success rate is 45 out of 48 problems (93.75%). Results are statistically analyzed by Friedman test with Wilcoxon rank-sum as post hoc test for pairwise comparisons.
Software Development of an Integrated Water Management Optimisation Model: the Roy Hill Mine Case Study Application
Authors: Firmani Giovanni
Published: February 2024

This case study utilizes data from the Roy Hill iron ore mine, which has a daily water balance of abstraction, use, and surplus disposal, to address the problem of water management prediction at a global level by analysing the results of each modelling task and evaluating the presence of potential critical scenarios with an automated, mathematically rigorous tool. This paper describes the development of a software application that aggregates the results of the various water management models built for each task and provides the optimal utilisation of water to minimise water disposal and thereby maximise water usage. The business benefits of this work include the ability to calculate the net present cost (NPC) for new water infrastructure configurations in an integrated way. Investing in capital projects for water management and evaluating various scenarios helps determine the optimal water infrastructure configuration, minimizing operational impact. Traditionally, water has not been viewed as a significant cost; however, the cost of water infrastructure is now one of the highest business investments in the mining industry of the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Introducing the concept of NPC for water in the mining industry is a novel approach to making informed decisions on water expenses and investments. The key to success lies in using automated modelling to achieve the most efficient environmental and operational balance. This approach reduces individual decision-making and leads to a more cost-effective and beneficial production outcome.
Mitigating the curse of dimensionality using feature projection techniques on electroencephalography datasets: an empirical review
Authors: Anuragi Arti , Sisodia Dilip Singh , Pachori Ram Bilas
Published: February 2024

Electroencephalography (EEG) is commonly employed to diagnose and monitor brain disorders, however, manual analysis is time-consuming. Hence, researchers nowadays are increasingly leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) techniques for automatic analysis of EEG, involving task-specific feature extraction and classification. Extracting multiple non-linear features from multiple EEG channels enhances the performance of classification, but it also results in high-dimensional features. However, the presence of the "curse of dimensionality" poses challenges for classifiers in AI-based EEG analyzers, leading to overfitting and complexity in classification. Therefore, in this empirical review, the effectiveness of the existing dimensionality reduction techniques to mitigate the curse of dimensionality in EEG feature sets is analyzed. We begin this study, by overviewing the extracted high-dimensional features from EEG signals related to disorders such as schizophrenia, alcoholism, focal seizures, focal seizures with deep features, and depression. Subsequently, 23 reduction techniques were reviewed, which transform the high-dimensional EEG features into a new reduced feature space to improve the classification. The impact of the reduced features was evaluated using traditional AI-based classifiers (support vector machine (SVM) and k-nearest neighbor (k-NN)). 10-fold cross-validation was performed for training and testing, and the performance was evaluated using accuracy, selected features, and dimensionality reduction rate (DRR) metrics. Comprehensive analysis of projection techniques on diverse EEG datasets offers valuable insights to assist researchers in selecting the most suitable technique. The hybrid projection technique termed principal component analysis-based t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (PCA+t-SNE) achieved an impressive average accuracy of 93.36%, surpassing the k-NN classifier without reduction techniques.
Applying earth system justice to phase out fossil fuels: learning from the injustice of adopting 1.5 °C over 1 °C
Authors: Gupta Joyeeta , Chen Yang , Mckay David I. Armstrong , Fezzigna Paola , Gentile Giuliana , Karg Aljoscha , van Vliet Luc , Lade Steven J. , Jacobson Lisa
Published: February 2024

The Paris Agreement has seen the adoption of a 1.5° to 2 °C climate target, based on the belief that climate change becomes ‘dangerous’ above this level. Since then, the scientific community and the countries most affected by global warming have reiterated that the maximum limit to be reached should be 1.5 °C. This paper goes one step further by questioning the reasoning behind the adoption of these targets, arguing that the fossil fuel-dependent political context in which they were adopted has undermined justice concerns. We highlight the political influence of the fossil fuels industry within target-setting negotiations, analyzing the evolution of climate targets and fossil fuel lobbying. We then harness published scientific evidence and the Earth System Justice framework to analyze the impacts of the 1.5 °C target, and the injustices that have so far been implicitly deemed acceptable. We argue that 1 °C would have been a far more just target and was undermined by vested interests and status quo maintenance. Finally, we propose just supply-side policies to ensure an adequate placement of responsibility on the fossil fuel industry. This way we (a) identify political influences and scientific blind spots that have and could continue to hinder climate action, (b) reveal how these influences delayed more ambitious climate objectives, contributing to the adoption of an unjust climate target, and (c) promote a focus on supply-side measures and polluting industries in order to break free from the impasse in the energy transition and foster more just outcomes.
Modulating spectral response of raw photosynthetic pigments via ternary cadmium chalcogenide quantum dots: simultaneous enhancement at green spectrum and inhibition at UV region
Authors: Aykut Sümeyye , Ük Nida , Coşkun İbrahim Yağız , Keskin Sultan Şahin , Nar Ilgın , Trabzon Levent , Ünlü Caner
Published: February 2024

Photosynthesis relies on the absorption of sunlight by photosynthetic pigments (PPs) such as chlorophylls and carotenoids. While these pigments are outstanding at harvesting light, their natural structure restricts their ability to harvest light at specific wavelengths. In this study, Oleic acid-capped CdSeS and CdTeS ternary quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized using a novel two-phase synthesis method. Then, these QDs were used to interact with raw PPs, a mixture of chlorophylls and carotenoids isolated from spinach. Our findings revealed the following: (1) Interacting QDs with raw PPs effectively inhibited the chlorophyll fluorescence of the pigments upon excitation in UV light region (250–400 nm) without causing any damage to their structure. (2) By forming an interaction with QDs, the chlorophyll fluorescence of raw PPs could be induced through excitation with green-light spectrum. (3) The composition of the QDs played a fundamental role in their interaction with PPs. Our study demonstrated that the photophysical properties of isolated PPs could be modified by using cadmium-based QDs by preserving the structure of the pigments themselves.
Covalent organic frameworks modified with silver nanoparticles as substrates for label-free SERS detection of fungicides
Authors: Wei Qingyi , Shao Liya , Pu Hongbin , Sun Da-Wen
Published: February 2024

Despite prohibition in many countries, malachite green (MG) and crystal violet (CV) are illegally used in aquaculture, endangering both human health and the environment. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a method to accurately detect MG and CV. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology based on noble metal materials has attracted considerable attention for detecting food contaminations. However, noble metal materials are of poor stability and have a very low affinity for organic molecules. Herein, in this study, covalent organic frameworks (COFs) modified with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were used as SERS substrates for the adsorption and detection of fungicides. COFs prepared by the Schiff base reaction of 1,3,5-tris (4-aminophenyl) benzene (TAPB) and 2,5-dimethoxybenzene-1,4-dicarboxaldehyde (DMTA) had a huge specific surface area and could provide sufficient adsorption sites and Ag NPs grown on the surface of COFs not only generated dense SERS “hot spots” but also improved their stability. The results showed that COF@Ag NPs exhibited a high enhancement factor (1.4 × 106), high reproducibility (RSD = 6.18%), and good stability within 50 days (RSD = 8.88%). Regression analyses in the ranges of 0.0001–10.0 mg/L and 0.0002–10.0 mg/L showed that the limits of detection (LOD) for the standard solutions of MG and CV were 3.8 × 10−5 mg/L and 1.8 × 10−5 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, for MG and CV in fish samples, significant recoveries of 90.83–107.91% and 98.60–116.69% were achieved. Hence, it is hoped that this work could expand the application of COF materials for trace detection in SERS analyses.
miR-324-3p Suppresses Hepatic Stellate Cell Activation and Hepatic Fibrosis Via Regulating SMAD4 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Chen Si-Yu , Chen Xin , Zhu Sai , Xu Jin-Jin , Li Xiao-Feng , Yin Na-Na , Xiao Yan-Yan , Huang Cheng , Li Jun
Published: February 2024

In hepatic fibrosis (HF), hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) form the extracellular matrix (ECM), and the pathological accumulation of ECM in the liver leads to inflammation. Our previous research found that miR-324-3p was down-regulated in culture-activated human HSCs. However, the precise effect of miR-324-3p on HF has not been elucidated. In this study, the HF mouse models were induced through directly injecting carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) into mice; the HF cell models were constructed using TGF-β1-treated LX-2 cells. Next, real-time-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), western blot (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were applied to assess the expression levels of miR-324-3p, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), Vimentin or SMAD4; hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson’ s trichrome and Sirius red staining to evaluate the liver injury; luciferase reporter assay to verify the targeting relationship between miR-324-3p and SMAD4; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to determine the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST); and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and flow cytometry to evaluate the effects of miR-324-3p on cell proliferation and cycle/apoptosis, respectively. The experimental results showed a reduction in miR-324-3p level in CCl4-induced HF mice as well as transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-activated HSCs. Interestingly, the miR-324-3p level was rescued following the HF recovery process. In HF mice induced by CCl4, miR-324-3p overexpression inhibited liver tissue damage, decreased serum ALT and AST levels, and inhibited fibrosis-related biomarkers (α-SMA, Vimentin) expression, thereby inhibiting HF. Similarly, miR-324-3p overexpression up-regulated α-SMA and Vimentin levels in HF cells, while knockdown of miR-324-3p had the opposite effect. Besides, miR-324-3p played an antifibrotic role through inhibiting the proliferation of hepatocytes. Further experiments confirmed that miR-324-3p targeted and down-regulated SMAD4 expression. SMAD4 was highly expressed in HF cells, and silencing SMAD4 significantly decreased the α-SMA and Vimentin levels in HF cells. Collectively, the miR-324-3p may suppress the activation of HSCs and HF by targeting SMAD4. Therefore, miR-324-3p is identified as a potential and novel therapeutic target for HF.
Authorship and ChatGPT: a Conservative View
Authors: van Woudenberg René , Ranalli Chris , Bracker Daniel
Published: February 2024

Is ChatGPT an author? Given its capacity to generate something that reads like human-written text in response to prompts, it might seem natural to ascribe authorship to ChatGPT. However, we argue that ChatGPT is not an author. ChatGPT fails to meet the criteria of authorship because it lacks the ability to perform illocutionary speech acts such as promising or asserting, lacks the fitting mental states like knowledge, belief, or intention, and cannot take responsibility for the texts it produces. Three perspectives are compared: liberalism (which ascribes authorship to ChatGPT), conservatism (which denies ChatGPT's authorship for normative and metaphysical reasons), and moderatism (which treats ChatGPT as if it possesses authorship without committing to the existence of mental states like knowledge, belief, or intention). We conclude that conservatism provides a more nuanced understanding of authorship in AI than liberalism and moderatism, without denying the significant potential, influence, or utility of AI technologies such as ChatGPT.
Morphological and molecular evidence for considering Xylocopa nigrocincta as the senior synonym of Xylocopa suspecta (Apidae: Xylocopini)
Authors: Agostini Júlia Colombelli , Françoso Elaine , Arias Maria Cristina , Zanella Fernando César Vieira
Published: February 2024

Xylocopa nigrocincta Smith, 1854, and Xylocopa suspecta Moure & Camargo, 1988, are two nominal species within the subgenus Neoxylocopa and have a sympatric geographic distribution in South America. While X. nigrocincta is recognized by the presence of reddish metasomatic bands, X. suspecta is entirely black. Although morphologically distinct in terms of metasomal band colour, other morphological characters suggest that both species could be the same evolutionary entity and therefore synonymous. The aim of this research was to review both nigrocincta and suspecta morphotypes using an integrative approach (morphological and molecular) to evaluate if they are truly two different evolutionary lineages. Females of both species were obtained from field collections and museums, representing a large part of their morphotype distribution. Additional diagnostic characters of the external morphology were investigated, such as metasomal band colour, metasomal punctuation, wing colours, and apical regions of the basitibial plate. Mitochondrial gene sequences (COI and CytB) were used for phylogenetic reconstructions. Our results showed that both nigrocincta and suspecta morphotypes are undistinguished based on morphology, although the metasomal band colour, together with the geographic distribution, revealed the presence of three distinct morphogroups, including an intermediate one with a variable number of reddish bands. Nonetheless, the three morphogroups are not supported by molecular data and therefore represent intra-specific variations. In conclusion, our results do not support the hypothesis that the two nominal species are distinct evolutionary lineages, and we propose a synonym between X. nigrocincta and X. suspecta.
Assessing Multidimensional Vulnerability of Rural Areas to Flooding: An Index-Based Approach
Authors: Rasool Samavia , Rana Irfan Ahmad , Waseem Hassam Bin
Published: February 2024

Vulnerability assessment is essential for understanding and launching effective flood risk reduction strategies. This study aimed to examine the vulnerability of flood-prone rural communities in southern Punjab, Pakistan to external shocks. The concept of vulnerability encompasses a range of dimensions, including physical, social, institutional, environmental, economic, and attitudinal. Using a composite index method, indices were developed for each dimension and combined to create a multidimensional measure of vulnerability. A sample of 365 communities was selected using the Yamane sampling technique, and data were collected through a questionnaire containing 65 indicators across all dimensions. Descriptive statistics and ANOVA tests were used to analyze the data. The results show that communities near the Chenab River had higher attitudinal and institutional vulnerability compared to other communities. High attitudinal vulnerabilities were associated with poorly perceived flood risks and low preparedness measures, whereas institutional vulnerabilities were driven by conventional flood protection strategies, lack of institutional trust, and lack of flood risk awareness. This research provides insights into the various components of vulnerability in flood-prone rural communities in Pakistan and demonstrates a useful methodology that can be applied to other disasters at different spatial scales.
Enhancing joint performance in friction stir welding through tailored double-butt-lap geometry
Authors: Acharya Uttam , Choudhury Smrity , Sethi Durjyodhan , Akinlabi Esther , Roy Barnik Saha
Published: February 2024

The study investigates the effectiveness of a novel joint configuration, the double-butt-lap (DBL), in friction stir welding (FSW) to join 6-mm-thick AA 6061-T6 plates. Four welds, including a simple square butt (SSB) configuration and three DBL variations (with UB to LB ratios of 1:2, 1:1, and 2:1), were executed. Using consistent parameters, the investigation evaluates the force distribution, macrostructure, and mechanical properties of the joints. Results show varied force profiles; spindle torque and Z-force decrease notably in DBL configurations compared to SSB, while X-force decreases overall for all DBL variations. Macrostructural analysis indicates increased weld area and finer microstructures in DBL joints. A correlation between peak temperature, grain size, and hardness highlights larger grain sizes at higher temperatures, influencing joint hardness. The DBL configuration with a 2:1 ratio exhibits the highest joint efficiency (83.76%). Fractographic analysis indicates ductile failure in all samples. Bend testing reveals increased flexural strength and bend angles in two DBL-configured joints compared to SSB. The results indicate that using a 2:1 ratio for joining 6-mm AA6061-T6 plates through FSW is viable, providing valuable insights into enhancing mechanical properties by optimizing joint geometry.
Sales education in Italian universities: state of the art and future directions
Authors: Cardinali Silvio
Published: February 2024

During the last 10 years, scholars focused their attention on how sales education has evolved and highlighted the relevant impact of teaching sales-related topics in tertiary education worldwide. However, in the universities, the number of programs, curricula, and courses is limited. This low number of sales programs can impact students’ “work readiness” and not respond to company needs generating a mismatching. This study aimed to understand the state of the art of sales education in the Italian context and to explore the future challenges for universities. The results confirm the low presence of sales-related courses but, at the same time, a relevant part of the selected program presents sales as a job opportunity or a competence. Internal and external challenges are also described and suggestions to better develop sales education programs within Italian universities are provided.
Evaluation of aflatoxin content in “Cheka” (traditional beverage in South-Western Ethiopia) and its major ingredient (maize)
Authors: Kayola Kefita Kashala , Gebre Solomon Genet , Addisu Sisay , Kussia Amanuel Dubale
Published: February 2024

Background

Aflatoxin is a toxic cancerous fungal secondary metabolite produced by Aspergillus species. Consumption of aflatoxin-contaminated cereals and their products can cause several health-related effects including acute and chronic aflatoxicosis. This study aims to evaluate the total aflatoxin content in “Cheka” and its major ingredients using the Immuno-Affinity Column Clean-up technique by sensitive HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) with fluorescence detection.

Methods

This study followed a completely randomized experimental design to evaluate the level of aflatoxin in traditionally brewed “Cheka” and its major ingredients (maize) by HPLC from November 2019 to June 2020. Traditionally brewed 6 “Cheka” beverages and 6 maize seed samples were collected randomly from Konso and transported to Bless Agri Food Laboratory in Addis Ababa for laboratory evaluation of aflatoxin in samples. The data were analyzed by SPSS version 25.

Results

In the present study aflatoxin contamination was detected in all maize and “Cheka” samples. A mean total aflatoxin level of 6.78 ± 8.28 μg/kg and 10.76 ± 4.50 μg/kg were observed in maize and “Cheka” samples respectively. The maize taken from above-ground storage (“Gotera”) and underground storage (pitfall) showed a mean total aflatoxin level of 10.23 ± 10.12 μg/kg and 3.35 ± 5.79 μg/kg respectively. The samples taken from “Cheka” prepared from maize of above-ground storage (“Gotera”) and underground storage (pitfall) showed a mean total aflatoxin level of 11.34 ± 3.06 μg/kg and 10.19 ± 6.35 μg/kg respectively. Aflatoxin G family was not detected in both maize and “Cheka” samples while aflatoxin B1 and B2 contributed to the total aflatoxin level. AFB1 predominantly contributed to the contamination of all samples. Although there was no significant difference while comparing between mean total aflatoxin of any other sample types, a significant difference was observed for the AFB1 mean level of pitfall maize and their respective “Cheka” samples (P = 0.033).

Conclusion

The mean level of AFB1 in pitfall maize differs from a respective “Cheka” sample. As most of the samples evaluated for aflatoxin contamination showed levels above healthy cut-off points of aflatoxin set by different authorities like the European Union, CODEX, and Ethiopian Standards Agency, there must be a protracted interventional approach to reduce aflatoxin contamination in maize and its products in the region.