bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic diversity of a recovering European roller (Coracias garrulus) population from Serbia
Authors: Matić Ivana , Veličković Nevena , Radišić Dimitrije , Milinski Lea , Djan Mihajla , Stefanović Milomir
Published: August 2024

The European Roller (Coracias garrulus), a long-distance migratory bird, faced a considerable decline in breeding pairs throughout Europe at the end of the 20th century. Due to conservation efforts and the installation of nesting boxes, the population of the European Roller in Serbia has made a remarkable recovery. Here, we used the variability of nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region and 10 microsatellite loci to assess the genetic diversity and structuring, phylogeographic patterns and demographic history of this species using 224 individuals from Serbia. Our results showed moderate level of genetic diversity (HO = 0.392) and a slightly elevated level of inbreeding and homozygosity (FIS = 0.393). Genetic structuring based on microsatellite data indicated three genetic clusters, but without a clear spatial pattern. High haplotype diversity (Hd = 0.987) of the mtDNA control region sequences was detected, and neutrality tests indicated a recent demographic expansion. The phylogeographic analysis, which also included previously published sequences of the mtDNA control region, supported the subdivision into two distinct European and Asian haplogroups (ΦST = 0.712). However, the results of our study showed that a larger number of haplotypes sampled in Serbia are clustered in the Asian haplogroup as compared to previous studies, indicating a historically continuous distribution of this species and possibly a wider distribution of the subspecies Coracias garrulus semenovwi. Our results suggest that the European Roller population in Serbia is genetically stable, with no evidence of recent bottlenecks, and emphasize the importance of artificial nest boxes for promoting and maintaining population dynamics of European Rollers.
EEG and ERP biosignatures of mild cognitive impairment for longitudinal monitoring of early cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Meghdadi Amir H. , Salat David , Hamilton Joanne , Hong Yue , Boeve Bradley F. , St Louis Erik K. , Verma Ajay , Berka Chris
Published: August 2024

Cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease is associated with electroencephalographic (EEG) biosignatures even at early stages of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The aim of this work is to provide a unified measure of cognitive decline by aggregating biosignatures from multiple EEG modalities and to evaluate repeatability of the composite measure at an individual level. These modalities included resting state EEG (eyes-closed) and two event-related potential (ERP) tasks on visual memory and attention. We compared individuals with MCI (n = 38) to age-matched healthy controls HC (n = 44). In resting state EEG, the MCI group exhibited higher power in Theta (3-7Hz) and lower power in Beta (13-20Hz) frequency bands. In both ERP tasks, the MCI group exhibited reduced ERP late positive potential (LPP), delayed ERP early component latency, slower reaction time, and decreased response accuracy. Cluster-based permutation analysis revealed significant clusters of difference between the MCI and HC groups in the frequency-channel and time-channel spaces. Cluster-based measures and performance measures (12 biosignatures in total) were selected as predictors of MCI. We trained a support vector machine (SVM) classifier achieving AUC = 0.89, accuracy = 77% in cross-validation using all data. Split-data validation resulted in (AUC = 0.87, accuracy = 76%) and (AUC = 0.75, accuracy = 70%) on testing data at baseline and follow-up visits, respectively. Classification scores at baseline and follow-up visits were correlated (r = 0.72, p<0.001, ICC = 0.84), supporting test-retest reliability of EEG biosignature. These results support the utility of EEG/ERP for prognostic testing, repeated assessments, and tracking potential treatment outcomes in the limited duration of clinical trials.
Collagen imaging reveals synergistic effects of sutures and host-donor misalignment on topographical irregularities in penetrating keratoplasty
Authors: Gururani Himanshu , Chittajallu Sai Naga Sri Harsha , Doulatramani Minal , Chinthapenta Viswanath , Basu Sayan , M. Ramji
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Mitigating unwanted refractive errors is crucial for surgeons to ensure quality vision after penetrating keratoplasty (PK). The primary objective of the present study is to highlight the importance of microstructural matching of the host and the donor cornea during PK on the distribution of the corneal tissue while suturing.

Methods

For this purpose, the present study undertakes an in-vitro PK model to analyse the effect of suturing and host-donor misalignment on corneal birefringence. Five groups of experiments were performed using five corneoscleral buttons. In each group, N = 16 data points (corresponding to 16 simple interrupted sutures) were assessed before and after PK with five degrees of misalignments, 0°, 30°, 45°, 60° and 90° to detect the variations in corneal birefringence post-PK. The technique of digital photoelasticity is utilized to capture the corneal birefringence experimentally.

Results

The local and global features of corneal birefringence provided interesting insights into the nuances of corneal birefringence in PK. Statistical analysis was performed to study the effects of suturing on the birefringence around the suture bites. It was observed that the interaction of the suture tension and structural misalignment between the host and the donor cornea influences the corneal birefringence in PK. Conclusions

The zero-degree structural misalignment of the host and the donor tissue is preferable to minimize the topographical irregularities and related astigmatism post-PK. The findings of the present study envisage an additional step of structurally aligning the donor tissue with the host before suturing to minimize topographical irregularities in PK.
Study on the impact of digital economy on industrial collaborative agglomeration: Evidence from manufacturing and productive service industries
Authors: Lei Hongbo , Tang Caihong , Long Yunfei
Published: August 2024

In the digital era, digital economy has a far-reaching impact on the collaborative agglomeration of manufacturing and service industries. This research aims to examine the economic relationship between digital economy and industrial collaborative agglomeration. Based on a panel data set of 286 Chinese cities, this research employs Tobit model, moderating effect model, and mediating effect model to conduct data analysis. It is found that digital economy has a nonlinear relationship with industrial collaborative agglomeration, and this relationship is a U-shape. Moderating effect analysis reveals that government intervention significantly regulates the role of digital economy in industrial collaborative agglomeration. Mediating effect analysis indicates that digital economy promotes industrial collaborative agglomeration through entrepreneurial activity. Heterogeneity analysis shows that the facilitating effect of digital economy on collaborative agglomeration in high-end industries comes earlier than in middle- and low-end industries. Moreover, this research finds that digital economy plays a significant role in industrial collaborative agglomeration in central and western regions of China but not in the eastern region. To enhance the impact of digital economy on industrial collaborative agglomeration, it is crucial to strengthen the engagement of the government and ensure the availability of digital technology.
A single origin and high genetic diversity of cultivated medicinal herb Glehnia littoralis subsp. littoralis (Apiaceae) deciphered by SSR marker and phenotypic analysis
Authors: Li Weiwei , Liu Shuliang , Wang Shimeng , Li Yihui , Kong Dongrui , Wang Ailan
Published: August 2024

Ten SSR markers based on transcriptome sequencing were employed to genotype 231 samples ofG.littoralis subsp.littoralis(Apiaceae) from nine cultivated populations and seven wild populations, aiming to assess the genetic diversity and genetic structure, and elucidate the origin of the cultivated populations. Cultivated populations exhibited relatively high genetic diversity (h = 0.441, I = 0.877), slightly lower than that of their wild counterparts (h = 0.491, I = 0.930), likely due to recent domestication and ongoing gene flow between wild and cultivated germplasm. The primary cultivated population in Shandong have the crucial genetic status. A single origin of domestication was inferred through multiple analysis, and wild populations from Liaoning and Shandong are inferred to be potentially the ancestor source for the present cultivated populations. Phenotypic analysis revealed a relatively high heritability of root length across three growth periods (0.683, 0.284, 0.402), with significant correlations observed between root length and petiole length (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.30,P<0.05), as well as between root diameter and leaf area (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.36,P<0.01). These parameters can serve as valuable indicators for monitoring the developmental progress of medicinal plants during field management. In summary, this study can shed light on the intricate genetic landscape ofG.littoralis subsp.littoralis, providing foundational insights crucial for conservation strategies, targeted breeding initiatives, and sustainable management practices in both agricultural and natural habitats.
Decomposition of air conditioning electricity consumption based on effective duration
Authors: Xun Chao , Zheng Huan , Han Zhaoyu
Published: August 2024

As the share of air conditioning electricity consumption within total grid electricity consumption grows, the decomposition of such consumption becomes increasingly crucial for assessing electricity usage patterns, devising consumption scheduling strategies, and maintaining the stability of the power grid. Although there is a strong correlation between apparent temperature and air conditioning electricity consumption, the literature currently available seldom explores the impact of apparent temperature on this consumption. Moreover, there is a scarcity of effective assessment indices to evaluate the efficacy of air conditioning electricity consumption breakdown. This study introduces a method for decomposing electricity consumption from air conditioning units, utilizing effective duration as a basis to tackle these issues. By employing an apparent temperature model as a constraint, this approach identifies the effective operating time of air conditioning and constructs a constrained convex optimization problem to estimate air conditioning power usage. Additionally, a novel evaluation index for the effectiveness of air conditioning electricity consumption decomposition is proposed, which includes penalties for negative decomposed consumption, alongside the traditional consistency index. Comparative experiments are conducted using real electricity consumption data from Fujian Province. Empirical results indicate that the methodology for air conditioning electricity consumption decomposition presented in this paper aligns more closely with actual conditions. Furthermore, the evaluation metrics introduced for the decomposition of air conditioning electricity consumption are adept at precisely gauging the quality of the air conditioning electricity consumption data.
Identifying sites where wild boars can consume anthropogenic food waste with implications for African swine fever
Authors: Aguilar-Vega Cecilia , Sánchez-Vizcaíno José Manuel , Bosch Jaime
Published: August 2024

Wild boar population dynamics promote the increase in numbers and distribution of the species in Eurasia, leading to a rise in the interaction with human activities, as well as generating problems with the management of certain infectious diseases, most notably African swine fever (ASF). ASF virus possesses high stability in several contaminated pork and pork products that can be a source of indirect transmission to susceptible hosts habituated to anthropogenic food waste. This transmission route is a concerning threat for the dispersion of the disease, primarily into unaffected areas given the worldwide widespread distribution of the disease and the increase of wild boar contact with humans. Thus, in this study, a straightforward tool to assess the relative risk of wild boar natural populations potentially consuming food waste is presented using synthetic data. Three risk groups were defined related to urban areas, travel, and leisure. The surrounding quality of habitat of wild boar was used to obtain the relative risk of wild boar potentially consuming anthropogenic food waste. To assign the relative risk to the corresponding risk unit, we also included the population for the urban areas group, and traffic volume for the travel risk group. The leisure group had higher scaled risk scores, followed by the urban areas group. Higher risk was found in the edges of the study area where more natural landscapes are found. The implications of this risk are discussed focusing on the context of ASF transmission. The outputs can help prioritize decision-making in terms of the improvement of preventive measures against the habituation of wild boar to anthropogenic food waste and ASFV introduction in a given study area.
General practitioners’ perspectives on statutory skin cancer screening–A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey in Germany
Authors: Reinhardt Lydia , Strasser Cristin , Steeb Theresa , Petzold Anne , Heppt Markus V. , Wessely Anja , Berking Carola , Meier Friedegund
Published: August 2024

Background

In Germany, skin cancer screening (SCS) is available free of charge every two years to all those with statutory health insurance over the age of 35. General Practitioners (GP) can carry out the screening if they have completed an 8-hour training course. GPs play a crucial role in the implementation of SCS and act as gatekeepers between initial patient contact and referral to dermatologists.

Objective

To record how comprehensively GPs carry out SCS in terms of patient information and body examination, as well as to explore GPs opinions on the feasibility of SCS.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted. A questionnaire was sent to GPs with permission to perform SCS in two regions of Germany (Bavaria and Saxony) between August and September 2021. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis. Subgroup analysis was performed according to regions (federal state, location of physician´s office), professional experience (experience in years, number of monthly screenings, age) and gender. Open questions were evaluated using qualitative content analysis.

Results

In the survey, 204 GPs responded. Genitalia (40.7%, 83/203), anal fold (62.3%, 127/204) and oral mucosa (66.7%, 136/204) were the least examined body regions during screening. Information on risks (false-positive findings: 18.6%, 38/203; false-negative findings: 13.2%, 27/203; overdiagnosis: 7.8%, 16/203) and benefits (48.0%, 98/202) were not always provided. GPs who performed screenings more frequently were more likely to provide information about the benefits of SCS (p<0.001; >10 vs. <5 screenings per month). Opinions were provided on uncertainties, knowledge requirements, structural and organizational requirements of SCS, SCS training and evaluation. The organization and remuneration of the SCS programme was seen as a barrier to implementation. GPs expressed uncertainties especially in unclear findings and in dermatoscopy.

Conclusion

Uncertainties in the implementation of the SCS should be addressed by offering refresher courses. Good networking between GPs and dermatologists is essential to improve SCS quality.
Problem-solving ability and future time perspective among the Chinese nursing interns: The mediating role of future work self
Authors: Wang Zhangyi , Zhu Yue , Zhan Xiaoping , Wang Tingrui , Tang Xiaochun , Li Liping , Su Tao , Zhou Huifang , Liu Li , Chen Lamei , Pang Xiaoli , Peng Jiaofeng , Wang Yan , Yang Li
Published: August 2024

Background

The significance of problem-solving ability has been confirmed in numerous studies worldwide, highlighting its role in enhancing the skills of nursing interns and reducing psychological pressure. However, existing research indicates that the problem-solving ability of nursing interns urgently needs to be further improved. Limited research has been conducted on the problem-solving ability of nursing interns, and the correlations among problem-solving ability, future time perspective, and future work self of Chinese nursing interns are unclear.

Objectives

To investigate problem-solving ability, future time perspective, and future work self among the Chinese nursing interns, and to examine the relationships among these variables. Additionally, the study aims to explore the mediating role of future work self between problem-solving ability and future time perspective.

Methods

A cross-sectional and correlational design was employed, adhering to the quality reporting conformed to the STROBE Checklist. From May 8, 2023, to February 15, 2024, 1,251 nursing interns were recruited from 15 tertiary grade-A hospitals across six cities in China. The Demographic Characteristics Questionnaire, Social Problem-Solving Inventory, Future Time Perspective Inventory, and Future Work Self Scale were used. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, univariate, correlation, and process plug-in mediation effect analyses.

Results

The total scores for problem-solving ability, future time perspective, and future work self were 64.39 ± 18.55, 45.08 ± 11.37, and 16.92 ± 5.28, respectively. Problem-solving ability was positively correlated with future time perspective (r = 0.638, p < 0.001) and future work self (r = 0.625, p < 0.001). Additionally, future work self partially mediated mediating role between problem-solving ability and future time perspective, accounting for 39.7% of the total effect.

Conclusion

The problem-solving ability, future time perspective, and future work self among the Chinese nursing interns were relatively moderate, indicating a need for improvement. It is suggested that nursing managers and educators should actively implement career management and planning programs. By enhancing the future time perspective and future work self of nursing interns, their problem-solving ability can be improved. This, in turn, will facilitate their adaptation to clinical work, enhance the quality of nursing care, and promote the development of their nursing profession.
The COVID-19 pandemic and food insecurity in households with children: A systematic review
Authors: Williams Anna , Alwan Nisreen A. , Taylor Elizabeth , Smith Dianna , Ziauddeen Nida
Published: August 2024

Background

Food insecurity is defined as not having safe and regular access to nutritious food to meet basic needs. This review aimed to systematically examine the evidence analysing the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on food insecurity and diet quality in households with children <18 years in high-income countries.

Methods

EMBASE, Cochrane Library, International Bibliography of Social Science, and Web of Science; and relevant sites for grey literature were searched on 01/09/2023. Observational studies published from 01/01/2020 until 31/08/2023 in English were included. Systematic reviews and conference abstracts were excluded. Studies with population from countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development were included. Studies were excluded if their population did not include households with children under 18 years. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood institute (NIH) tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies was used for quality assessment. The results are presented as a narrative review.

Results

5,626 records were identified and 19 studies were included. Thirteen were cross-sectional, and six cohorts. Twelve studies were based in the USA, three in Canada, one each in Italy and Australia and two in the UK. Twelve studies reported that the COVID-19 pandemic worsened food insecurity in households with children. One study reported that very low food security had improved likely due to increase in benefits as part of responsive actions to the pandemic by the government.

Conclusion

Although studies measured food insecurity using different tools, most showed that the pandemic worsened food security in households with children. Lack of diversity in recruited population groups and oversampling of high-risk groups leads to a non-representative sample limiting the generalisability. Food insecure families should be supported, and interventions targeting food insecurity should be developed to improve long-term health.
Evaluation of a novel intramuscular prime/intranasal boost vaccination strategy against influenza in the pig model
Authors: Avanthay Robin , Garcia-Nicolas Obdulio , Ruggli Nicolas , Grau-Roma Llorenç , Párraga-Ros Ester , Summerfield Artur , Zimmer Gert
Published: August 2024

Live-attenuated influenza vaccines (LAIV) offer advantages over the commonly used inactivated split influenza vaccines. However, finding the optimal balance between sufficient attenuation and immunogenicity has remained a challenge. We recently developed an alternative LAIV based on the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus with a truncated NS1 protein and lacking PA-X protein expression (NS1(1–126)-ΔPAX). This virus showed a blunted replication and elicited a strong innate immune response. In the present study, we evaluated the efficacy of this vaccine candidate in the porcine animal model as a pertinent in vivo system. Immunization of pigs via the nasal route with the novel NS1(1–126)-ΔPAX LAIV did not cause disease and elicited a strong mucosal immune response that completely blocked replication of the homologous challenge virus in the respiratory tract. However, we observed prolonged shedding of our vaccine candidate from the upper respiratory tract. To improve LAIV safety, we developed a novel prime/boost vaccination strategy combining primary intramuscular immunization with a haemagglutinin-encoding propagation-defective vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) replicon, followed by a secondary immunization with the NS1(1–126)-ΔPAX LAIV via the nasal route. This two-step immunization procedure significantly reduced LAIV shedding, increased the production of specific serum IgG, neutralizing antibodies, and Th1 memory cells, and resulted in sterilizing immunity against homologous virus challenge. In conclusion, our novel intramuscular prime/intranasal boost regimen interferes with virus shedding and transmission, a feature that will help combat influenza epidemics and pandemics.
Taking a Closer Look at the AMA’s New Prior Auth Survey Results
Authors:   Xsolis, Bassett Heather
Published: August 2024

The title of the new AMA report says it all: “Exhausted by prior auth, many patients abandon care: AMA survey.” But what can payers and providers do to cure patient exhaustion?
Combined analysis of free kappa chains and central vein sign increases the specificity of multiple sclerosis diagnosis
Authors: Nabiev Sh. R. , Dzhukkaeva S. A. , Asvedov M. Sh. , Prokhorov D. E. , Popova E. V. , Grinyuk V. V. , Magomadova P. R. , Apevalova A. R. , Voskresenskaya O. N.
Published: August 2024

Objective: to determine the sensitivity and specificity of simultaneous analysis of the central vein sign (CVS) and the concentration of free kappa chains (FKC) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS).

Material and methods. Eighty patients participated in the study. The main group comprised 54 patients who had been diagnosed with MS according to the 2017 McDonald criteria. The comparison group comprised 26 patients with other diseases of the central nervous system. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine the concentration of FKC in the CSF. MRI of the brain was performed in all patients. The total and relative number of lesions with CVS were calculated.

Results. An increased level of FKC in the CSF and a higher frequency of lesions with CVS were found in the group of MS patients compared to the control group (p<0.001). The sensitivity of the integrated laboratory and radiological model was 96.3 %, the specificity – 96.2 %.

Conclusion. A comprehensive laboratory and radiological model based on the simultaneous analysis of FKC and CVS has high sensitivity and specificity parameters for the diagnosis of MS. This paves the way for the further inclusion of these two markers in the criteria for the diagnosis of the disease.
Analysis of the Brownian Motion Approach for Ballistic Resistance Evaluation Using the Maximum Likelihood Inference
Authors: Tahenti Beya , Coghe Frederik , Ndindabahizi Irène , Nasri Rachid
Published: August 2024

Armor technologists’ improvement of protection systems led to the design of complex systems. Given the risk factor on human life, increasing requirements on the ballistic resistance evaluation are imposed. Consequently, an increased effort is dedicated to estimating the perforation probability curve as a function of the bullet impact velocity. The main limitation of methods that fits a normal law to perforation velocities is their purely statistical character. A Brownian-based approach that couples the system response variability and physics was proposed using the Chi-square and Kolmogorov-Smirnov criterion function for model parameters estimation. One major limitation of this inference approach is the large experimental database required for its execution. The contribution of this paper is the introduction of the maximum likelihood inference for parameters estimation of the Brownian-based approach. The agreement between the obtained results and the experimental ones confirms the appropriateness of the likelihood inference to solve the studied problem. Moreover, the estimations uncertainty was analyzed and compared to the existing method ones. It was observed that the proposed model reduces the confidence intervals on key velocity estimations. Accordingly, the present work encourages the adoption of this proposed methodology in a laboratory context with a restrained sample size.
Urban Operation Threat Assessment after a Multistage Radiological Dispersive Device Attack
Authors: Alves Isabela S. , Curzio Rodrigo C. , Bonfim Carlos Eduardo S. , Stenders Ricardo M. , Andrade Edson R.
Published: August 2024

The urban environment may be a relevant setting for special military operations. Due to the options offered by urban infrastructure, this environment can be an essential catalyst for the proliferation of local asymmetric actions. These actions are triggered by extremist groups offering resistance to regular troops. Improvised weapons such as radiological dispersive devices (RDD) can be used to provoke even more threatening situations by increasing the risks of operations. This study is directed, via computer simulation using the Hot Spot Health Physics code, to a hypothetical context where a multistage RDD (RDD-M) is triggered in two non-simultaneous phases. This non-linear triggering causes overlapping contamination and impacts the coping strategy and the projections of variations in the size of the potentially affected population. In this study, the primary consideration is the contamination carried out at such a level that the association between human exposure and deterministic effects is feasible. The exposure to high doses of radiation at short distances about the triggering location of the device. The simulated data show that the threats are leveraged, and the environmental variables have a high value when assessing the criticality of the situation and establishing effective countermeasures.
Elliptical Multi Orbital Truncated Flexible Patch Antenna Using PDMS Substrate for Sub 6 GHz Applications
Authors: Singh Tilakdhari , Sharma Pooja , Tripathi Shivesh , Tripathi Vijay Shanker
Published: August 2024

This paper presents an elliptical-shaped multi-orbital truncated patch antenna applicable forsub-6 GHz bands. The sub-6 GHz bands cover 5.8 GHz high-speed wireless communication. The antenna is designed on a Poly Dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. PDMS is used for designing the proposed antenna. It is a flexible substrate with a dielectric constant εr value of 2.7 and a loss tangent tan δ value of 0.022. The substrate dimension is 20×15×1.6 mm3in which a patch is created with the size of 12.5×13 mm2. The proposed antenna resonates at 6.2 GHz showing a reflection coefficient (s11) value of -37 dB. The impedance bandwidth of the antenna is 1.225 GHz in the range of 5.5-6.725 GHz frequency, and the maximum peak gain is about 3.5 dB. The proposed antenna is simulated, fabricated, and experimentally tested.
A Drone Based Image Dataset Generation Methodology for Single Image Super Resolution
Authors: Batra Amul , Shenoy Meetha V.
Published: August 2024

The advancements in drone technologies, digital imaging, computer vision techniques, and the liberalized laws related to drone flying have opened up drone-based applications such as the delivery of supplies, search and rescue, aerial surveillance, and so on. The drones, especially the nano/micro/small drones, may be mounted with only low-resolution camera(s) due to their maximum takeoff weight limitations. The low-resolution images generated by the cameras, if used for landing, can result in faulty detection unless the photos are taken from a very close distance to the point of interest. Detection and recognition of the point(s) of interest as early as possible is required to ensure sufficient response time for safe maneuvering. Hence, the images are to be captured at greater heights or distances from the point(s) of interest, and obtaining the high-resolution images from the captured low-resolution images is crucial. The High Resolution (HR) and the Low Resolution (LR) image pairs for training super-resolution models in the works presented in literature are generated using two different cameras or the HR images are captured by the camera and LR images are generated by degrading the HR images. As both methods are not appropriate for small/micro/nano category drones, we propose a novel method based on Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) to capture the LR and HR images. In this paper, we have presented the designed methodology for the creation of a dataset using drone-mounted cameras covering a broad spectrum of views of the target(s) suitable for training and testing of the Single Image Super-Resolution (SISR) models. We also present a methodology for selecting an appropriate target for imaging that enables the visual quality assessment of the developed super-resolution model.
Life Cycle Assessment in Crude Palm Oil Production: Optimization of Oil Extraction Rate
Authors: Zen Muhammad Rizky , Putra Agus Adi , Mujahidah Uswatun , Napitupulu Michelle Maria Magdalena , Noviarini Chairunnisa , Rahman Muhammad Miftahur
Published: August 2024

Indonesia, as the foremost producer of palm oil globally, faces crucial environmental challenges. Besides palm oil production plays an important role in economic growth and national development, it also has environmental consequences from the production process. Crude Palm Oil (CPO) Industries face challenges balancing economic growth and environmental sustainability. This research carries out an environmental impact analysis of CPO production with the Life Cycle Assessment method using openLCA software 2.03 with CML-IA Baseline and ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H). Scope of this research adopts cradle-to-gate analysis with declaration unit of 1 kg CPO product. In this analysis, it was found that CPO production had a significant impact on GWP, Terrestrial Eco-toxicity Potential, and Land Use Change. So this research also explores the environmental impact of increased Oil Extraction Rate (OER) scenario with an OER of 21% and 22% compared to OER in current production activities. The research showed that all impacts decreased when OER was increased, impacts decreased of around 3% at OER 21% and decreased of around 8% at OER 22%. These findings confirm the potential feasibility of implementation based on increasing OER in the Palm Oil Industry to achieve targets for sustainable improvement.
Changes in amino acid levels and their effects on parthenocarpic fruit formation in young Barhi date palms Phoenix dactylifera L. derived from tissue culture
Authors: Salah A. Ghailan , Aqeel A. Suhim , Khairullah M. Awad
Published: August 2024

This research aims to analyse the quantities of non-essential amino acids (histidine, arginine, alanine, cysteine and tyrosine) and essential amino acids (aspartic, glutamine, serine, glycine, phenylalanine, threonine, valine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine and lysine) in the leaves of three different date palm phenotypes. These phenotypes are derived through tissue culture from and parthenocarpic fruits (shees) produces, normal fruits (normal) produce and propagated by offshoots of normal fruits (vegetal) produces. This study focuses on three distinct stages: pre-flowering, flowering and fruiting. The amino acid levels were determined using HPLC. Results of this study indicate that the shees phenotype has the lowest levels of amino acids compared with the normal and vegetal phenotypes. Most amino acids exhibit a consistent trend throughout the examined stages, with levels declining from the pre-flowering stage to the flowering stage, but show an increase in the fruiting stage compared with the preceding stage. In addition, the results reveal that methionine is absent in the shees phenotype during all stages of the study but present at high levels in the vegetal and normal phenotypes. These results indicate that the metabolism of amino acids varies among different phenotypes of date palms. This variation directly or indirectly affects the development of parthenocarpic fruits in date palms of the Barhi cultivar derived from tissue culture during the juvenile period.
Evidence-Based Review on Symptomatic Management of Huntington’s Disease
Authors: Shin Jung Hwan , Yang Hui-Jun , Ahn Jong Hyun , Jo Sungyang , Chung Seok Jong , Lee Jee-Young , Kim Hyun Sook , Kim Manho ,   on behalf of the Korean Huntington’s Disease Society
Published: August 2024

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor, behavioral, and cognitive impairments and significant impacts on patient quality of life. This evidence-based review, conducted by the Korean Huntington Disease Society task force, systematically examines current pharmacological and nonpharmacological interventions for symptomatic management of HD. Following PRISMA guidelines, databases were searched for studies up to August 2022 that focused on 23 symptoms across four domains: motor, neuropsychological, cognition, and others. This review provides a comprehensive and systematic approach to the management of HD, highlighting the need for more high-quality clinical trials to develop robust evidence-based guidelines.
Detection capacity of small intestine bacterial or methanogen overgrowth by lactose and fructose breath testing in the adult population
Authors: Laserna Mendieta Emilio José , Martín Dominguez Verónica , Pérez Lucendo Irene , Granero Cremades Inmaculada , Ferreirós Martínez Raquel , Álvarez Malé Tomás , Sanz De Benito María Ángeles , Santander Cecilio
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Exhaled breath tests (BTs) are the main diagnostic method for fructose and lactose malabsorption/intolerance (FI and LI, respectively) and for detecting small intestine bacterial or methanogen overgrowth (SIBO/IMO). Although FI/LI-BTs may provide evidence of the presence of SIBO/IMO, there is limited literature evaluating their reliability for this purpose. The objective of this study was to assess the sensitivity and specificity of FI/LI-BTs in detecting SIBO and their concordance with SIBO-BTs in the identification of IMO.

Methods

In this retrospective observational study, FI/LI-BTs and SIBO-BTs performed in the same patients within a period of 6 weeks were selected from 652 gas chromatography-based BTs.

Results

A total of 146 BTs from 67 eligible adult patients were identified. LI-BTs had higher specificity than FI-BT in detecting SIBO (93.8 % vs. 72.7 %). In contrast, FI-BTs showed higher sensitivity (60.0 % vs. 28.6 %) as FI was more frequently established in SIBO-positive patients (70 % vs. 29 %). With regard to IMO, concordance with LI-BT was 100 %, with a 27 % of false negatives on FI-BTs.

Conclusions

Findings suggestive of SIBO or IMO on LI-BTs were highly consistent with those of SIBO-BTs. In contrast, the rate of false positives for SIBO and the rate of false negative for IMO on FI-BTs was 27 % in both cases.
Design and performance of WDM system for high-speed optical communication on different modulation formats
Authors: Singh Ashish , Shekhara Kavitha , Hazareena Asia , Siddiqui Mohammad G.
Published: August 2024

In this paper, the performance analysis of the WDM (wavelength division multiplexing) system on the optical fiber transmission link is proposed. High data transmission is possible by implementing a WDM optical communication system using different modulation formats. Firstly, the WDM optical communication system is designed on an Optiwave simulation tool and distortion in the optical fiber by “eye pattern analysis” is analyzed. Secondly, the optical SNR of the proposed WDM optical communication system is studied. Further, the bit-error rate (BER) plot is studied and optimization techniques are applied to enhance the proposed system for long-haul communication. Furthermore, the BER plots are analyzed by varying the length of the fiber and applying different coding techniques like NRZ (non-return zero), RZ (return to zero), QAM (quadrature amplitude modulation) etc. using the Optiwave simulation tool. The results obtained in the Optiwave simulation tool are validated by theoretical implementation in the MATLAB tool.
Microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of 3D printed Kevlar fibre reinforced Onyx composite
Authors: Vaithiyanathan Alagar , Farhan Hameed , Raja Dhanigaivel Elil , Singh Sundar Prathap , Sonar Tushar
Published: August 2024

The main objective of this study is to develop the Kevlar fibre reinforced Onyx composite (KFRO) material by employing the 3D printing technology and examine the effect of Kevlar fibre reinforcement percentage on microstructural characteristics and mechanical properties of developed composite material. The methodology of continuous fibre reinforced composites (CFRC) was followed and the Kevlar fibre reinforcement % was varied as 10 %, 20 % and 30 % in the composite material fabrication. Results disclosed that the KFRO composite 3D printed using 30 % Kevlar fibre reinforcement in Onyx matrix yielded greater tensile strength of 124 MPa, flexural strength of 105 MPa, impact toughness of 2.4 J and shore hardness of 76 D. The mechanical properties of KFRO composite were significantly improved at 20 % of Kevlar fibre reinforcement compared to 10 % of Kevlar fibre reinforcement. Further increase in Kevlar fibre reinforcement up to 30 % showed slight enhancement in mechanical properties of KFRO composite when compared to 20 % of Kevlar fibre reinforcement. The overall strength improvement is a result of the increased reinforcement, precise alignment of fibres in the loading direction, and the uniform distribution of fibres within the onyx.
Cannabis use, oral dysbiosis, and neurological disorders
Authors: Hazzard Amber A. , McCrorey Marice , Salman Tabinda , Johnson Douglas E. , Luo Zhenwu , Fu Xiaoyu , Keegan Andrew P. , Benitez Andreana , Fitting Sylvia , Jiang Wei
Published: August 2024

Cannabis (marijuana) is a leafy plant that has medical, recreational, and other uses. Cannabis is socially accepted and widely used throughout the United States. Though cannabis use is increasingly gaining popularity, studies detail the deleterious effects of chronic cannabis smoking on mental health, as well as the immunosuppressive properties of cannabinoids. Additionally, oral dysbiosis induced by cannabis smoking serves as a novel catalyst for neurological abnormalities, potentially possible through microbial translocation via the oral-brain axis. This review summarizes the effects and link of smoking cannabis on neurological abnormalities, immunity, and oral microbiome.
Unveiling the unexplored: shedding light on a novel aspect of colorectal carcinoma
Authors: Cioce Alessandro , Franco Renato
Published: August 2024

Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a prevalent malignancy worldwide, with a significant burden on public health despite advancements in screening and treatment modalities. While the majority of CRC cases are histologically classified as adenocarcinomas not otherwise specified (NOS), there exists a subset characterized by clear cell features or enteroblastic differentiation, which pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. This commentary explores the clinical and pathological aspects of these rare colorectal neoplasms, highlighting their distinct characteristics and aggressive behavior. Despite their rarity, clear cell adenocarcinomas or those with enteroblastic differentiation represent a notable proportion of CRC cases and are associated with adverse prognostic implications, including higher TNM stage and poorer survival outcomes. We advocate for a clearer recognition and classification of these entities within the framework of colorectal carcinoma, analogous to existing categorizations in other gastrointestinal malignancies, to facilitate optimal management strategies and further elucidate their underlying biology.
Correlations between meaning in life and nature connectedness: German-language validation of two topic-related measures and practical implications
Authors: Pfeifer Eric , Wulf Helena , Metz Katharina , Wüster Anne-Louise , Pischel Moritz , Wittmann Marc
Published: August 2024

Meaning in life and nature connectedness are indicators of a healthy life and correlate with health and well-being. We conducted a validation study of German versions of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire (Steger et al. 2006) and Nature Connection Index (Richardson et al. 2019) and assessed mindfulness as a trait and personality (big five personality traits) among participating students (n = 353). Results indicated a significant positive correlation between nature connectedness and presence of meaning in life. Presence of meaning correlated significantly with less neuroticism, more openness to new experiences, greater conscientiousness, and moderately with the two mindfulness subscales, ‘acceptance’ and ‘presence’. Search for meaning was associated with more neuroticism and less acceptance. A higher nature-connectedness score correlated with more presence and acceptance (mindfulness), greater openness, and less neuroticism (personality traits). Furthermore, we introduce a nature-assisted model of meaning fulfilment that can be applied in healthcare practices, counselling, and (psycho-) therapeutic treatment. Our results contribute to growing evidence on the preventive and curative effects of nature connectedness and meaning in life and their role as health-related resources. Nature connectedness and meaning in life are effective resources considering various aspects related to (global) crises such as climate change and the corona pandemic.
Von der Flexion in die Wortbildung und darüber hinaus. Zur diachronen Entwicklung des
s
-Suffixes im Deutschen
Authors: Fischer Hanna
Published: August 2024

Based on the classification scheme of grammatical categories by Plank (1981), the historical development of the s-suffix in German is described. It is shown that the suffix has reached different stages of development, ranging from inflection to word formation and to the lexicon. The article traces this development and examines on the basis of the variants öfter vs öfters, to what extent the development goes beyond the change path outlined by Plank. For this purpose, approx. 15.000 hits from the Deutsches Textarchiv (DTA) corpus (1600–1900) are analyzed with respect to time, space, genre and grammatical properties.
Blockade of GluN2B-Containing NMDA Receptors Prevents Potentiation and Depression of Responses during Ocular Dominance Plasticity
Authors: Bridi Michelle C. D. , Hong Su , Severin Daniel , Moreno Cristian , Contreras Altagracia , Kirkwood Alfredo
Published: August 2024

Monocular deprivation (MD) causes an initial decrease in synaptic responses to the deprived eye in juvenile mouse primary visual cortex (V1) through Hebbian long-term depression (LTD). This is followed by a homeostatic increase, which has been attributed either to synaptic scaling or to a slide threshold for Hebbian long-term potentiation (LTP) rather than scaling. We therefore asked in mice of all sexes whether the homeostatic increase during MD requires GluN2B-containing NMDA receptor activity, which is required to slide the plasticity threshold but not for synaptic scaling. Selective GluN2B blockade from 2–6 d after monocular lid suture prevented the homeostatic increase in miniature excitatory postsynaptic current (mEPSC) amplitude in monocular V1 of acute slices and prevented the increase in visually evoked responses in binocular V1 in vivo.The decrease in mEPSC amplitude and visually evoked responses during the first 2 d of MD also required GluN2B activity. Together, these results support the idea that GluN2B-containing NMDA receptors first play a role in LTD immediately following eye closure and then promote homeostasis during prolonged MD by sliding the plasticity threshold in favor of LTP.
Effect of Tranexamic Acid on Intra- and Postoperative Bleeding Ratio and Complications in Placenta Accreta Syndrome: A Double-Blind Clinical Trial
Authors: Shojaei Kobra , Najafian Mahin , Saberi Behbahani Maryam , Akhondzadeh Reza
Published: August 2024

Objectives: Placenta accreta syndrome (PAS) is one of the main problems of women during childbirth, also the most important cause of maternal morbidity and mortality. Tranexamic acid (TXA) is widely used to reduce blood loss and deaths due to bleeding in trauma patients and patients with postpartum hemorrhage. This study aimed to investigate the effect of TXA in reducing bleeding and complications during and after surgery in women with PAS. Materials and Methods: This double-blind clinical trial was performed on 46 women who underwent cesarean section with PAS diagnosis. The participants were randomly assigned in two groups (n=23/each): the TXA group received 1 g TXA intravenously and the control group received 50 mL of normal saline immediately after the surgery. Then, the postoperative estimated blood loss (EBL), amount of blood products transfusion, complications during and after delivery, including the need for hysterectomy, duration of hospitalization, and the number of days staying in the intensive care unit (ICU) were compared between the two groups Results: The mean EBL during and after surgery in the TXA group was significantly lower than the control group (P<0.0001). The TXA group received fewer blood products, including packed red blood cells (PRBCs), fresh frozen plasma (FFP), and platelet. The duration of surgery, duration of hospitalization, and the number of days in the ICU were significantly lower in the TXA group (P<0.001). Hysterectomy was observed in 10 participants of the TXA group and 13 women in the control group, but the difference was not significant (P=0.556). Conclusions: TXA administration effectively reduced postpartum hemorrhage, the need for postpartum blood transfusion, the duration of surgery, and the duration of hospitalization in women with PAS. TXA is a practical, inexpensive, safe, and readily available treatment and can be recommended as a prophylactic intervention to prevent blood loss in women with PAS. Trial Registration: https://www.irct.ir/, identifier: IRCT20201003048909N1.