bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus lactis on Lipid Metabolism, Anti-Inflammatory, and Fecal Microbiota in Cats
Authors: Liang Shukun , Gu Xinshu , Sun Jintao , Wang Xiumin , Tao Hui , Wang Zhenlong , Zhong Yougang , Wang Jinquan , Han Bing
Published: November 2024

Probiotics have been used in functional foods and dietary supplements, and in recent years, they have become more widely used in pets. In our previous experiment, Lactobacillus plantarum L-27-2 and Pediococcus lactis L-14-1 were isolated from cat feces and proved to have positive effects on lipid metabolism in mice. To further discuss their possible effects in cats, a total of 12 healthy cats (British Shorthair) were randomly divided into two groups. One group was fed Pediococcus lactis L-14-1 (1 × 109 CFU/kg/d, n = 6), and the other group was fed Lactobacillus plantarum L-27-2 (1 × 109 CFU/kg/d, n = 6), and the experiment was conducted for 28 days. Blood and feces were collected on days 0 and 28 separately. ELISA was used to detect blood biochemical indexes in cats. The results showed that L-27-2 and L-14-1 could reduce the content of TG (triglyceride, p < 0.05) and LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, p < 0.01) in the blood, increase the content of HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein, p < 0.01), and L-27-2 could significantly reduce the content of IL-6 (p < 0.01). The diversity of feces microbiota was also tested. On the phylum level, there was no significance in the phylum level of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes (p > 0.05), but on the genus level, in the L-14-1 group, the abundance of Lantiplantibacillus and Cetobacterium was increased (p < 0.05), and the abundance of Ruminococcus, Olsenella, and Labanicoccus was decreased (p < 0.05), while in the L-27-2 group, the abundance of Libanicoccus was also decreased in L-14-1 (p < 0.05). Above all, L-27-2 and L-14-1 can be considered potential probiotics to improve cat gut health and lipid metabolism.
Investigating the Rhizosphere Fungal Communities of Healthy and Root-Rot-Infected Lycium barbarum in the Tsaidam Basin, China
Authors: Duan Guozhen , Fan Guanghui , Li Jianling , Liu Min , Qi Youchao
Published: November 2024

Lycium barbarum is a plant of considerable economic importance in China. However, root rot poses a significant threat to its yield and quality, leading to substantial economic losses. The disparities in rhizosphere soil fungal communities between healthy and root-rot-affected L. barbarum have not been thoroughly explored. Delving into the dynamics between these fungal communities and the onset of root rot may provide pivotal insights for the biological control of this disease in L. barbarum, as well as aid in identifying fungi associated with the condition. In this study, we utilized rhizosphere soil samples from Ningqi No. 1, a distinguished cultivar of L. barbarum, as our experimental material. We assessed the composition and diversity of fungal communities in both diseased (D) and healthy (H) samples using Illumina MiSeq sequencing technology. The study’s findings revealed that the mean concentrations of total nitrogen (TN) and soil organic matter (SOM) were significantly higher in the healthy specimens when contrasted with the diseased ones, while the pH levels were notably increased in the latter group. Additionally, the alpha-diversity of fungal communities was observed to be greater within the healthy samples as opposed to the diseased samples. Marked distinctions in fungal diversity were discerned between the healthy (H) and diseased (D) samples. Ascomycota was identified as the predominant fungal phylum in both groups. In the healthy samples, beneficial fungi such as Plectosphaerella and Mortierella were prevalent, in contrast to the diseased samples, the relative abundances of Embellisia and Alternaria demonstrated remarkable increases of 89.59% and 87.41%, respectively. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) illustrated clear distinctions in the composition of fungal communities between the healthy and diseased samples. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) indicated total nitrogen (TN), organic matter (SOM), total phosphorus (TP), Available Potassium (AK), pH, and Total Potassium (TK). Notably, pH showed a stronger correlation with the diseased samples, while TN and SOM were more significantly associated with the healthy samples.
Synergism of Specific Maca Phenotypes (Lepidium peruvianum) in Combination with Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) Extract for Chemoprevention of Prostate Cancer as Determined in In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assays on Human Epithelial and Prostate Cancer Cells
Authors: Gaweł-Bęben Katarzyna , Kukula-Koch Wirginia , Szwajgier Dominik , Antosiewicz-Klimczak Beata , Orihuela-Campos Rita Cristina , Głowniak Kazimierz , Meissner Henry O.
Published: November 2024

Selected phenotypes of dried maca (Lepidium peruvianum) hypocotyls and supercritical CO2 extract (USPlus®) of saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) were used to determine their targeted, cytotoxic action in prostate cancer cells. Fingerprinting by HPLC-MS and PCA analysis showed compositional differences in glucosinolates, amides, macamides, and other alkaloids, which varied based on the color and the size of hypocotyls. These phytochemical differences translated into a higher antioxidant potential of red maca than black maca samples. The greatest COX-2 inhibition was demonstrated with a combination of red maca: saw palmetto (67%:33%) and red maca: saw palmetto: black maca (25%:50%:25%). The LNCaP androgen-dependent prostate cancer cell line was the most sensitive to the three-component mixture of black, red maca, and saw palmetto treatment. This combination provided the most abundant set of high-activity metabolites, and is worthy of consideration in further clinical applications and future in-depth study.
Improved Detection of Polysulfated Oligosaccharides by Mass Spectrometry Applicable to Miniaturized Samples
Authors: Jeanroy Frédéric , Gil Julie , Comby-Zerbino Clothilde , Demesmay Claire , Dugas Vincent
Published: November 2024

The study of biomolecules and their interactions in their natural environment requires increasingly sophisticated technological and methodological developments. The complexity of these developments is due, among other things, to the nature of these molecules and the small quantities available depending on their origin. In this context, this study focuses on the conditions for improving the detection of glycosaminoglycans on a miniaturized scale by mass spectrometry. These multicharged anionic linear polysaccharides are in fact difficult to study by mass spectrometry and can present, for a given molecule, a large number of signals linked to different charge states, to the loss of one or more sulfate groups and to the presence of different adducts, which reduces sensitivity and complicates the interpretation of the spectra. In order to reduce this complexity, we have investigated different sample preparation methods applicable to small sample volumes. The development of home-made capillary ion-exchange columns, for example, makes it possible to control the adducts formed in nano-ESI coupling. However, their use on a miniaturized scale for detection by MALDI-TOF-MS does not allow for performances as high as those obtained with treatment with a commercial DOWEXTM resin. However, experimental results allowed us to demonstrate that the presence of DOWEXTM resin colloid residues in the aqueous phase greatly improves the quality of the spectra obtained by MALDI-TOFMS on a Fondaparinux model glycosaminoglycan.
Influence of Relative Humidity on the Mechanical Properties of Palm Leaf Manuscripts: Short-Term Effects and Long-Term Aging
Authors: Zhang Wenjie , Wang Shan , Guo Hong
Published: November 2024

Palm leaf manuscripts are a valuable part of world cultural heritage. Studying the mechanical properties of palm leaf manuscripts and their changes due to environmental influences is of great significance for understanding the material characteristics, aging mechanisms, and preventive conservation of these manuscripts. This study used dynamic vapor sorption (DVS) and a thermomechanical analyzer (TMA) to investigate the changes to the mechanical properties of palm leaf manuscripts in response to different relative humidity conditions and different time periods. The short-term study results show that exposure to varying relative humidities leads to changes in the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of palm leaf manuscripts, causing the bending strength of the samples to decrease significantly with increasing humidity. The bending modulus initially increases and then decreases as the humidity increases. Moreover, the greater the desorption hysteresis of the samples, the more pronounced the changes to the mechanical properties. Therefore, a stable environment in terms of humidity can prevent changes in the mechanical properties of palm leaf manuscripts, thereby preventing the onset of degradation. The results of the long-term aging studies indicate that prolonged exposure to either very dry or very humid conditions greatly affects the mechanical properties of palm leaf manuscripts, which is detrimental to their preservation. The samples kept at 50% RH did not exhibit significant signs of deterioration, with no notable changes in their mechanical properties or chemical structure. This suggests that 50% RH is a relatively optimal humidity condition for the preservation of palm leaf manuscripts.
Ligand-to-Metal Ratio Governs Radical-Scavenging Ability of Malate-Stabilised Ceria Nanoparticles
Authors: Filippova Arina D. , Baranchikov Alexander E. , Teplonogova Maria A. , Savintseva Irina V. , Popov Anton L. , Ivanov Vladimir K.
Published: November 2024

Cerium dioxide sols stabilised with L-malic acid were shown to exhibit significant antioxidant activity towards alkyl peroxyl radicals in the range of ligand:CeO2 molar ratios of 0.2–1 (0.2:1, 0.4:1, 0.5:1, 0.6:1, 0.8:1 and 1:1). The antioxidant activity of cerium dioxide nanoparticles greatly depended on L-malic acid content and increased by 8 times when the ligand:CeO2 molar ratio increased from 0.2:1 to 0.4:1. An estimate of the ligand:CeO2 molar ratio required to ensure complete surface coverage of CeO2 nanoparticles with malate anions resulted in a value of 0.2. Aggregation degree of CeO2 nanoparticles depends on the ligand:CeO2 molar ratio. In the range of ligand:CeO2 molar ratios 0.2–0.4, the size of aggregates decreased by an order of magnitude. The antioxidant capacity of 1 mM malate-stabilised cerium dioxide (0.2:1) relative to sodium ascorbate was 0.012 ± 0.001 mM. The antioxidant activity of cerium dioxide stabilised with L-malic acid at a ligand:CeO2 molar ratio of 0.2:1 was 80 times less than the antioxidant activity of sodium ascorbate. Cerium dioxide nanoparticles stabilised with L-malic acid did not demonstrate a cytotoxic effect against human mesenchymal stem cells, in a wide range of concentrations (10−3–10−5 M), and their proliferation was stimulated after 72 h of cultivation. The results obtained show new possibilities for the design of biocompatible ceria-based nanomaterials with tunable pro- and antioxidant properties; these materials can further be assessed in view of their potential for treating oxidative stress-related disorders.
Microwave-Field-Optimized GO/TiO2 Nanomaterials for Enhanced Interfacial Charge Transfer in Photocatalysis
Authors: Duan Xu , Liu Weizao , Guo Jing
Published: November 2024

The swift recombination of photo-induced electrons and holes is a major obstacle to the catalytic efficiency of TiO2 nanomaterials, but the incorporation of graphene oxide and out-field modification is considered a potent method to augment photocatalytic properties. In this work, a series of GO/TiO2 photocatalysts were successfully optimized by a microwave field. As determined by transient photocurrent response and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) tests, microwave irradiation at 600 W for 5 min on the GO/TiO2 photocatalyst promoted interfacial charge transfer and suppressed charge recombination. Through systematic characterizations, GT(600/5) exhibited the highest photooxidation rate (81.5%, 60 min) of Rhodamine B under visible light compared to other homologous samples, owing to the minimum grain size (16.914 nm), enlarged specific surface area (151 m2/g), maximum light response wavelength (510 nm), narrowest bandgap width (2.90 eV), and stronger oxidized hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Given the environmental friendliness, greenness, and sustainability, this study could present an efficient and economical strategy for synthesizing and fine-tuning photocatalysts.
Haptic-Based Real-Time Platform for Microswarm Steering in a Multi-Bifurcation Vascular Network
Authors: Jarvis Benjamin W. , Abolfathi Kiana , Poli Riccardo , Kafash Hoshiar Ali
Published: November 2024

The use of electromagnetic fields to control a collection of magnetic nanoparticles, known as a microswarm, has many promising applications. Current research often makes use of accurate but time-consuming simulations lacking real-time human input. On the contrary, human interaction is possible with a real-time simulator, allowing the collection of valuable user interaction data. This paper presents the development and validation of a real-time two-dimensional microswarm simulator to accommodate the human interaction aspect. A haptic device is used to steer the microswarm through a multi-bifurcation vascular network towards a selected outlet. The percentage of particles reaching the selected outlet is used as the success metric. The simulator is verified against collected real-world experimental data and shows an 8% deviation. Parametric studies demonstrate the most influential parameters. We found that reducing the magnetic gradient from 1000 mT/m to 100 mT/m resulted in a decrease in recorded performance from 100% to 30.8%. Variation in fluid flow also had a considerable effect on the recorded performance, presenting a drop from 100% to 35.3% when fluid flow velocities increased from 0.005 m/s to 0.06 m/s. Changing the starting arrangement of particles resulted in a drop to 59% over the same range of fluid flow velocities.
Characterizing Secondary and Atypical Parkinsonisms: Defining Features and Clinical Variability
Authors: Viveros-Martínez Iraís , Zarate-Calderon Cristofer , Chi-Castañeda Donají , Carrillo Porfirio , Aranda-Abreu Gonzalo E. , Martínez Armando J. , Manzo Jorge , Coria Genaro A. , García Luis I.
Published: November 2024

Parkinsonism is a clinical syndrome characterized by akinesia/bradykinesia, muscle rigidity, resting tremor, and postural instability. Within the group of parkinsonisms is Parkinson’s disease, also known as neurodegenerative parkinsonian syndrome. The group of atypical parkinsonisms was established due to the existence of sporadic parkinsonisms that do not share the exact etiology of Parkinson’s disease. Additionally, parkinsonisms that arise from causes other than neurodegeneration have been classified as secondary parkinsonisms. With this in mind, given the diversity of etiologies that can trigger parkinsonism, it is crucial to understand the symptomatology and its relationship with the basal ganglia (including damage to the nigrostriatal pathway, neuroinflammation, and neuronal damage). Only then will it be possible to propose appropriate treatments for each variant of parkinsonism.
Peanut Cake as an Alternative Protein Source to Soybean Meal on Performance, Nitrogen Utilization, and Carcass Traits in Feedlot Lambs
Authors: Araújo Maria Leonor Garcia Melo Lopes de , Carvalho Gleidson Giordano Pinto de , Leão André Gustavo , Pina Douglas dos Santos , Oliveira Ronaldo Lopes , Dias Laís Santana Bezerra , Caribé Jéssica Dias , Rebouças Rodolpho Almeida , Rodrigues Luciana de Jesus , Silva Rosani Valéria Marcelina Matoso , Nascimento Camila de Oliveira , Lima Victor Guimarães Oliveira , Pereira Taiala Cristina de Jesus , Pereira Mara Lúcia Albuquerque , Alba Henry Daniel Ruiz
Published: November 2024

Substituting soybean meal (SM) with other protein sources can be advantageous in reducing production costs without increasing nitrogen losses in the environment. Peanut cake (PC) might be a strategy in ruminant herds to result in a performance similar to that observed in animals fed SM. This study assessed the PC inclusion at rates of 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 g/kg on intake and digestibility, performance, nitrogen balance, microbial protein synthesis, and carcass traits of lambs. Forty-five entire, crossbreed Dorper × Santa Inês lambs (average age = five months and 24.49 ± 5.27 kg of BW) were distributed in a completely randomized design. Only the ether extract intake was not affected by the PC inclusion, and only the crude protein digestibility was affected by the diets. The total weight and average daily gains decreased, and the feed conversion increased. Hot carcass yield was influenced quadratically, the leg depth increased and the loin-eye area decreased. The total replacement of soybean meal with peanut cake in diets for lambs did not compromise nutrient digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, and carcass characteristics. Nevertheless, peanut cake as a protein source in the diet had adverse effects on nutrient intake and growth performance of feedlot lambs.
Analysis on Reducing the Bandwidth of Kelly Sidebands in Mode-Locking Fiber Laser for Narrow Terahertz Signal Generation
Authors: Zhao Weiqian , Hu Youyou , Shen Mingya , Feng Qiyan
Published: November 2024

The bandwidth of the ±1-order Kelly sidebands of mode-locking fiber lasers is investigated for narrow terahertz (THz) signal generation. Four key factors influencing the bandwidth of Kelly sidebands are found and analyzed in detail. Then, a numerical model is presented for manipulating the parameters of the mode-locking fiber laser. Two mode-locking fiber lasers are designed for generating narrow sidebands. The bandwidth of the ±1-order Kelly sidebands is reduced to 0.041 nm and 0.021 nm for the sidebands with different spacings. Using the data obtained from the optical spectra with narrow bandwidth Kelly sidebands, the frequency spectra of the generated THz signals are obtained. Finally, the bandwidth of the generated THz signals is reduced to 7.16 GHz and 3.4 GHz, respectively.
Understanding the Physiological and Molecular Basis for Differences in Nitrogen Use Efficiency in the Parents of a Winter Wheat MAGIC Population
Authors: Ligeza Aleksander , Milner Matthew J.
Published: November 2024

The need to improve both the cost of food production and lower the environmental impact of food production is key to being able to sustainably feed the projected growth of the human population. To attempt to understand how to improve yields under lower nitrogen (N) inputs, a diverse set of UK winter wheats encompassing ~80% of the genetic diversity in current winter wheats in the UK were grown under a range of N levels and their performance measured under various levels of N. This population has parents which encompass all four end-use categories to understand how breeding for differences in NUE may change across different end-use types of wheat. The growth of the eight parents of a MAGIC population showed significant differences in biomass per plant, ear number, yield and protein content of the grain when grown with differing levels of N. No consistent response to N was seen for the lines tested for all of the traits measured. However, the underlying difference in response to N was not due to N uptake or N translocation, as short-term 15N uptake and translocation showed no significant differences in the lines tested. RNASeq was then performed on two different bread-making varieties grown under low-N conditions to identify putative genes controlling the underlying differences seen in biomass production when grown on low N. This led to the identification of the genes involved in growth and C/N signaling and metabolism, which may explain the differences in growth and biomass production seen between the parents of this population.
Identification of Phenolic Compounds in the Invasive Plants Staghorn Sumac and Himalayan Balsam: Impact of Time and Solvent on the Extraction of Phenolics and Extract Evaluation on Germination Inhibition
Authors: Mikulic-Petkovsek Maja , Ravnjak Eva , Rusjan Denis
Published: November 2024

An HPLC-MS-DAD analysis of phenolic compounds was carried out on the extracts of staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina L.) and Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera Royle). This study focuses on the influence of solvent type and extraction time on the phenolic extraction efficiency from both invasive plants. Methanol extraction resulted in a 4.2 times higher content of hydroxybenzoic acids, a 3.7 times higher content of hydroxycinnamic acids, a 3.2 times higher content of flavanols, a 9.6 times higher content of flavanones, and an 8.7 times higher content of flavonols in the Himalayan balsam extract compared to aqueous extraction. Anthocyanins were only detected in the alcohol-based extraction. In comparison, the aqueous extraction from staghorn sumac resulted in a higher yield of total hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonols, while the methanol extraction resulted in a 1.4-fold lower total polyphenolic content compared to the aqueous extraction. The type of solvent had no significant effect on the total content of flavanols in staghorn sumac. Extraction time considerably affected the total phenolic content in both plant extracts. After 84 h of extraction, the staghorn sumac extract showed a 3.5-fold increase in the total phenolic content compared to the initial measurement. In contrast, the Himalayan balsam extract showed a 40% decrease in the total phenolic content after 84 h. The Himalayan balsam extract reduced the germination of perennial ryegrass seeds by 55%, while the staghorn sumac extract reduced it by 80%. Both extracts also inhibited shoot and root growth of perennial ryegrass, although the Himalayan balsam extract at a concentration of 0.125 g/mL stimulated root growth of perennial ryegrass. The strategic use of invasive alien plants could be an effective approach to control their spread in the environment, potentially reducing management costs. The effectiveness of this approach depends largely on the type and content of allelochemicals present in the invasive plants.
Physiology and Metabolism Alterations in Flavonoid Accumulation During Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) Sprouting
Authors: Hu Meixia , Yang Jia , Zhang Jing , Fang Weiming , Yin Yongqi
Published: November 2024

In this research, we investigated the physiological modifications, flavonoid metabolism, and antioxidant systems of two buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) cultivars, Pintian and Suqiao, during germination. The results demonstrated an initial increase followed by a subsequent decline in the flavonoid content of the buckwheat sprouts throughout germination. On the third day of germination, the highest flavonoid concentrations were observed, with the Pintian and Suqiao varieties reaching 996.75 and 833.98 μg/g fresh weight, respectively. Both the activity and relative gene expression level of the flavonoid metabolizing enzyme showed a significant rise in 3-day-old buckwheat sprouts, which was strongly correlated with the flavonoid content. The correlation analysis revealed that the buckwheat sprouts accumulated flavonoids by enhancing the activities and gene expression levels of flavonoid synthases. The antioxidant capacity and the activities and gene expression profiles of the antioxidant enzymes in both buckwheat cultivars notably increased after three days of germination. The correlation analysis indicated a significant positive link between antioxidant capacity and the activity and gene expression levels of the antioxidant enzymes, flavonoid content, and total phenol content. This research demonstrated that germination treatment can significantly boost the accumulation of flavonoids and total phenols, thereby enhancing the antioxidant properties of buckwheat sprouts, despite variations among different buckwheat varieties.
Synergetic Effect of Potassium, Biochar and Cattle Manure on the Growth and Yield of Maize, and Soil Physio-Chemical Characteristics
Authors: Shao Zeqiang , Zhang Xiuzhi , Nasar Jamal , Gitari Harun
Published: November 2024

Biochar (BC) and cattle manure (CM) are carbon-nutrient-rich organic substances and have long been used to improve crop yield and soil fertility. Nevertheless, their combined effect with potassium (K) fertilizer remains unknown. Against the previous context, a 2-year (2021–2022) field experiment was conducted to assess the effect of K fertilization coupled with BC and CM on the growth and yield of maize and soil physio-chemical characteristics. The K application combined with BC and CM increased (p ≤ 0.05) the majority of the growth indices of maize crop compared with CK. Compared with CK, the combined application of K (60 kg K ha−1) with BC and CM resulted in an increased number of seeds cob−1 by up to 451 and 465, and up to 383 and 396, the 1000-seed weight up to 22 and 23 g, and up to 27 and 34 g, and the grain yield up to 1979 and 2900 and up to 3240 and 3341 kg ha−1, respectively, in 2021 and 2022. The integrated application of these inputs increased the chlorophyll of maize crops by 29 and 36% and by 30 and 44%, respectively, in 2021 and 2022. Such application also increased the photosynthetic activities of maize such as transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), and photosynthetic rate (Pn) by 21 and 23%, 143 and 110%, and by 64 and 66% in 2021 and by 19 and 30%, 163 and 118%, and by 63 and 72% in 2022. Similarly, the combined application of K, BC, and CM increased the K uptake of maize due to an increase in the soil extractable K. Equally, soil total N and organic matter improved under the combined application of K, BC, and CM. However, it did not affect the soil extractable P in 2021 but increased it in 2022. Conversely, these applications reduced (p < 0.05) the soil electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, and bulk density. This suggests that K fertilization combined with BC and CM enhances the growth and yield of maize by improving the soil nutrients availability, increasing soil organic matter, and enhancing soil structure and moisture retention.
Towards National Energy Internet: Novel Optimization Method for Preliminary Design of China’s Multi-Scale Power Network Layout
Authors: Liu Liuchen , Cui Guomin , Xu Yue
Published: November 2024

The regional imbalance of power supply and use is an important factor affecting the efficient and sustainable development of China’s power system. It is necessary to achieve the better matching of power supply and use through the optimization of the national power network layout. From a mathematical point of view, the power network layout’s optimization is a typical mixed-integer non-linear programming problem. The present paper proposes a novel method based on the Random Walk algorithm with Compulsive Evolution for China’s power network layout optimization to improve the network economy. In this method, the length of transmission lines and the amount of cross-regional power transmission between nodes are synchronously optimized. The proposed method was used to find the minimum total cost (TC) of the power transmission network on the basis of energy supply and use balance. The proposed method is applied to the optimization of power network of different scales. Results indicated that, compared with the optimization method that only optimizes the transmission line length, the TC of municipal and provincial power grids can be significantly reduced by the recommended methods. Moreover, for the national power network, through simultaneous optimization, the TC savings in 30 years of operation are significant.
Relational Conservation: Undisciplining Community-Based Fieldwork in the Okavango Delta, Botswana
Authors: Beaudette J. A.
Published: November 2024

In many southern African protected areas, religion and culture strongly influence how people initiate, adopt, or oppose conservation initiatives. If conservationists are unable to effectively engage with local communities, the result is often poor participation and failed conservation programs, particularly those operating under Western colonial paradigms. Contemplative inquiry has recently emerged as a promising relational, embodied, and dialogical approach to community engagement that also supports decolonial processes. This paper explores decolonial, relational and contemplative approaches to community-based fieldwork in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. Included are reflections on ethnographic interviews with Batswana conservation practitioners whose research lies at the intersection of Euro-Western environmentalism and an African relational ontology. This humanities-science transdisciplinary exploration challenges normative boundaries between intellectual territories and engages civil society beyond academia. It aims to “undiscipline” religion and conservation science, make a measurable contribution to conservation practice, and connect diverse knowledges in academia and civil society to address real-world ecological challenges.
A Comprehensive Analysis of the Impact of an Increase in User Devices on the Long-Term Energy Efficiency of 5G Networks
Authors: Lorincz Josip , Klarin Zvonimir
Published: November 2024

The global deployment of fifth-generation (5G) mobile networks, especially in urban cities, is dedicated to accommodating the demand for high data rates and reliable wireless communications. While the latest 5G networks improve service quality, the support for a simultaneous serving of more user devices (UDs) with higher data rates than previous mobile network generations will require a massive installation of different 5G base station (BS) types dominantly in urban cities. Besides contributing to the smart city service improvements, this massive installation of heterogeneous 5G BSs will also contribute to the increase in 5G network energy consumption (EC) and carbon dioxide emissions. Since this increase in installed 5G BSs imposes environmental and economic challenges, this paper analyzes the impact of the continuously rising number of 5G UDs on the energy efficiency (EE) of the radio part of Croatian and Dutch 5G networks as example cases in the period of 2020s. Analyses consider the countries’ rural, suburban, urban, and dense urban UD density areas by utilizing the proposed simulation framework for the EE evaluation of 5G heterogeneous networks (HetNet) valued through standardized mobile networks EE metrics. The study examines four proposed BS installation and operation scenarios for reducing energy costs of 5G networks that differ in optimizing energy consumption via different BS installations, sleep modes, and transmission power scaling techniques. The obtained results indicate that dynamic adaptation of BS deployments and radio resource management during operation according to the increase in the number of UDs and corresponding DVs can enhance 5G HetNet EE. The findings provide valuable insights for mobile network operators looking to optimize 5G network EE in the upcoming decade.
Implementation and Performance Evaluation of Quantum Machine Learning Algorithms for Binary Classification
Authors: Ajibosin Surajudeen Shina , Cetinkaya Deniz
Published: November 2024

In this work, we studied the use of Quantum Machine Learning (QML) algorithms for binary classification and compared their performance with classical Machine Learning (ML) methods. QML merges principles of Quantum Computing (QC) and ML, offering improved efficiency and potential quantum advantage in data-driven tasks and when solving complex problems. In binary classification, where the goal is to assign data to one of two categories, QML uses quantum algorithms to process large datasets efficiently. Quantum algorithms like Quantum Support Vector Machines (QSVM) and Quantum Neural Networks (QNN) exploit quantum parallelism and entanglement to enhance performance over classical methods. This study focuses on two common QML algorithms, Quantum Support Vector Classifier (QSVC) and QNN. We used the Qiskit software and conducted the experiments with three different datasets. Data preprocessing included dimensionality reduction using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and standardization using scalers. The results showed that quantum algorithms demonstrated competitive performance against their classical counterparts in terms of accuracy, while QSVC performed better than QNN. These findings suggest that QML holds potential for improving computational efficiency in binary classification tasks. This opens the way for more efficient and scalable solutions in complex classification challenges and shows the complementary role of quantum computing.
A Narrative Review of the Best Anesthesia Care for Endovascular Thrombectomy: Early Diagnosis of the Ischemic Stroke and Evaluation of Risk Factors in Female Population
Authors: Coniglione Filadelfo , Martire Francesco Giuseppe , Domi Rudin , d’Abate Claudia , Donadel Giulia , Huti Gentian , Abdyli Asead , Lilaj Krenar , Piccione Emilio
Published: November 2024

Background: The increasing incidence of cerebrovascular accidents represents an emerging problem. The rise in risk factors such as lifestyle choices—smoking, poor nutrition, and metabolic diseases—poses a significant challenge for the global healthcare system. The female population, due to physiological conditions and iatrogenic risks, may be at a greater risk of developing ischemic accidents. In addition to these acquired conditions, life phases such as pregnancy or puerperium, and medical conditions like surgical treatments and hormone therapy, may elevate this risk. Methods: This narrative aims to assess the various risk factors specific to the female population and evaluate the appropriate management strategies, including anesthetic support. Anesthesia plays a crucial role in enabling pharmacological procedures, such as thrombolysis, or surgical procedures like thrombectomy, in the management of ischemic cerebrovascular events. Results: The review emphasizes the importance of early recognition of risk factors to ensure prompt diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment options for ischemic events. Anesthesia support has become essential for carrying out necessary medical interventions effectively. Choosing the right anesthesia technique for endovascular thrombectomy is particularly significant, requiring consideration of the patient’s characteristics, the timing of diagnosis, and the preferences of the interventional neuroradiologists. Conclusions: It is vital to identify risk factors in the female population early to facilitate timely diagnosis and optimize treatment outcomes. Anesthetic support plays a key role in ensuring that critical procedures, such as thrombolysis and thrombectomy, are carried out effectively. Tailoring anesthesia choices to the patient’s individual needs is critical for a successful intervention.
Dynamic Analysis of the Effectiveness of Emergency Collaboration Networks for Public Health Emergencies from a Systems Thinking Perspective
Authors: Xu Jun , Li Xiao , Wang Xiulai
Published: November 2024

In recent years, public health emergencies have become frequent worldwide. In response to these complex and evolving emergencies, the organizations involved are increasingly collaborating with each other. From a systems thinking perspective, greater attention should be given to the long-term development and continuous operation of emergency collaboration systems. By time slicing the development of the COVID-19 epidemic in Wuhan, the different phases of emergency collaboration networks can be respectively established. A new method for identifying key organization nodes and different network attack strategies is proposed, assessing network effectiveness from two dimensions: efficiency and resilience. The results indicate that, compared to random attack strategies, the efficiency and resilience of these networks are significantly affected by deliberate attack strategies, underscoring the network’s sensitivity to high-importance nodes. Based on the variations in network efficiency and resilience, the effectiveness of different forms of networks are classified into four types. The pre-emergency network is categorized as resilience-focused, the mid-emergency network as efficiency-oriented, the post-emergency network as efficient-resilient, and the overall emergency network as inefficient-fragile. Analyzing forms of network effectiveness at different phases offers a deeper understanding of the operational characteristics, dynamic changes, and existing issues within emergency collaboration networks. This study provides a vital theoretical basis and practical guidance for emergency management departments and decision-makers on how to effectively improve collaboration mechanisms between different organizations.
STANet: A Novel Spatio-Temporal Aggregation Network for Depression Classification with Small and Unbalanced FMRI Data
Authors: Zhang Wei , Zeng Weiming , Chen Hongyu , Liu Jie , Yan Hongjie , Zhang Kaile , Tao Ran , Siok Wai Ting , Wang Nizhuan
Published: November 2024

Background: Early diagnosis of depression is crucial for effective treatment and suicide prevention. Traditional methods rely on self-report questionnaires and clinical assessments, lacking objective biomarkers. Combining functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) with artificial intelligence can enhance depression diagnosis using neuroimaging indicators, but depression-specific fMRI datasets are often small and imbalanced, posing challenges for classification models. New Method: We propose the Spatio-Temporal Aggregation Network (STANet) for diagnosing depression by integrating convolutional neural networks (CNN) and recurrent neural networks (RNN) to capture both temporal and spatial features of brain activity. STANet comprises the following steps: (1) Aggregate spatio-temporal information via independent component analysis (ICA). (2) Utilize multi-scale deep convolution to capture detailed features. (3) Balance data using the synthetic minority over-sampling technique (SMOTE) to generate new samples for minority classes. (4) Employ the attention-Fourier gate recurrent unit (AFGRU) classifier to capture long-term dependencies, with an adaptive weight assignment mechanism to enhance model generalization. Results: STANet achieves superior depression diagnostic performance, with 82.38% accuracy and a 90.72% AUC. The Spatio-Temporal Feature Aggregation module enhances classification by capturing deeper features at multiple scales. The AFGRU classifier, with adaptive weights and a stacked Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), attains higher accuracy and AUC. SMOTE outperforms other oversampling methods. Additionally, spatio-temporal aggregated features achieve better performance compared to using only temporal or spatial features. Comparison with existing methods: STANet significantly outperforms traditional classifiers, deep learning classifiers, and functional connectivity-based classifiers. Conclusions: The successful performance of STANet contributes to enhancing the diagnosis and treatment assessment of depression in clinical settings on imbalanced and small fMRI.
Pesticide Contamination of Honey-Bee-Collected Pollen in the Context of the Landscape Composition in Latvia
Authors: Ozols Niks , Brusbārdis Valters , Filipovičs Maksims , Gailis Jānis , Radenkovs Vitalijs , Rubene Betija , Zagorska Viktorija
Published: November 2024

The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is the most widely managed pollinator and is vital for crop fertilization. Recently, bee colonies have been suffering high mortality rates, exacerbated by factors such as land-use changes and the use of pesticides. Our work aimed to explore the residues of pesticides in honey-bee-collected pollen and how this contamination was affected by seasonality and the landscape composition. We selected six apiaries from different landscapes in Latvia, and pollen samples were collected during the flowering season (2023). We analyzed 39 samples and found 21 pesticide residues (mainly fungicides) with a frequency of 93 occurrences where the values were above the limit of quantification. The most frequently encountered substances were acetamiprid, boscalid, fluopyram, and prothioconazole. However, the highest concentrations were for dimoxystrobin (44 µg kg−1), acetamiprid (37 µg kg−1), azoxystrobin (27 µg kg−1), prothioconazole (25 µg kg−1), and boscalid (15 µg kg−1). We then calculated the Pollen Hazard Quotient (PHQ) for each pollen sample. No sample had a PHQ value above the critical value of 50. The highest contamination level was observed in the first half of the vegetation season (the end of May and the beginning of June), but later, it significantly decreased. We did not find any significant influence of landscape composition on pesticide pollution.
Oxidative Stress and Keap1-Nrf2 Pathway Involvement in Bisphenol A-Induced Liver Damage in Rats
Authors: Tang Juan , Wang Kai , Shen Dan , Li Chunmei
Published: November 2024

Bisphenol A (BPA), extensively utilized in the manufacture of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics, is prevalent in the environment. Its exposure has been associated with an increased risk of hepatic lesions; however, the underlying mechanisms and the spectrum of its effects remain poorly understood. This study investigates the role of the Keap1-Nrf2 signaling pathway in regulating BPA-induced hepatotoxicity in vivo using a rat model. Over a 30-day period, rats were orally administered either corn oil or BPA (0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg). Changes in hepatic and kidney histology were assessed via transmission electron microscopy and HE staining. Oxidative stress levels in the liver tissue and serum were quantified, while the mRNA expression of Nrf2, Keap1, GPX2, HO-1, and caspase-3 was evaluated using qRT-PCR. Additionally, the expression of Nrf2 and cleaved caspase-3 in the liver tissue was measured through immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Results indicated that BPA exposure significantly reduced the liver and adrenal coefficients in the treated rats compared to controls. Notable histomorphological alterations were observed in the liver and kidney tissues of the BPA-treated rats. The serum levels of GOT and TNF-α were significantly elevated in the BPA group relative to the controls. Evidence of oxidative stress was supported by increased malondialdehyde levels and decreased total superoxide dismutase activity in the liver and kidney, alongside a reduction in glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver tissue. Furthermore, BPA exposure enhanced the mRNA expression levels of Nrf2, Keap1, GPX2, HO-1, and caspase-3 in the liver tissue. Concurrently, Nrf2 and cleaved caspase-3 expression levels were elevated in the BPA-treated group compared to the controls. These findings suggest that BPA may contribute to metabolic disorders of liver function and poses a hepatotoxicity risk. Moreover, the activation of the Keap1-Nrf2 pathway may offer protective effects against hepatotoxicity, with potential implications for human liver disease.
Disentangling the Relationship Between Urinary Metal Exposure and Osteoporosis Risk Across a Broad Population: A Comprehensive Supervised and Unsupervised Analysis
Authors: Liu Jianing , Wang Kai
Published: November 2024

Background: Limited evidence links urinary metal exposure to osteoporosis in broad populations, prompting this study to cover this knowledge gap using supervised and unsupervised approaches. Methods: This study included 15,923 participants from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning from 1999 to 2020. Urinary concentrations of nine metals—barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), cesium (Cs), molybdenum (Mo), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), thallium (Tl), and tungsten (Tu)—were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Osteoporosis was assessed via dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. A weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression analysis evaluated each metal’s contribution to osteoporosis risk. Partitioning around medoids (PAM) clustering identified the high- and low-exposure groups, and their association with the risk and prognosis of osteoporosis was evaluated. Results: WQS regression identified Cd as a significant osteoporosis risk factor in the general population (odds ratio (OR) = 1.19, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08, 1.31, weight = 0.66). Pb notably affected those individuals aged 30–49 years and classified as Mexican American, while Sb impacted Black individuals. PAM clustering showed that the high-exposure group had a significantly higher risk of osteoporosis (OR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.43, 2.12) and cumulative mortality risk. Conclusions: Urinary metals are associated with the risk and prognosis of osteoporosis.
The Role of AFB1, OTA, TCNs, and Patulin in Forensic Sciences: Applications in Autopsy, Criminal Investigations, and Public Health Prevention
Authors: Sacco Matteo Antonio , Gualtieri Saverio , Tarallo Alessandro Pasquale , Verrina Maria Cristina , Carbone Angela , Mazzuca Wandamaria , Gratteri Santo , Aquila Isabella
Published: November 2024

Mycotoxins, specifically aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), trichothecenes (TCNs), and patulin, are a group of secondary metabolites that can contaminate food, leading to severe health implications for humans. Their detection and analysis within forensic toxicology are crucial, particularly as they can be implicated in cases of poisoning, foodborne illnesses, or lethal chronic exposure. However, little is known about the application that mycotoxins could have in forensic investigations and especially about the possibility of extracting and quantifying these molecules on tissues or post-mortem fluids collected at autopsy. We propose a review of the scientific literature on autopsy case studies in which the presence of mycotoxins on cadavers in cases of acute and chronic exposure has been investigated and identified. This review demonstrates how the analysis of mycotoxins on cadavers could be fundamental in the study of mushroom poisonings or even in the investigation of the chronic effects of mycotoxins on the human organism, by virtue of the known carcinogenic and mutagenic effects of many of them. This paper aims to explore the multifaceted role of mycotoxins within forensic sciences, focusing on their detection methods, implications in criminal contexts, and their potential as forensic evidence, thereby underscoring the critical importance they could assume in post-mortem toxicology, public health prevention, and forensic investigations.
Building Smart Urban Areas: Case Study in Pleiku City, Vietnam
Authors: Phuong Tran Trong , Vien Tran Duc , Tuan Nguyen Tran
Published: November 2024

Constructing smart cities is currently a pressing concern in many nations in an effort to address issues including environmental pollution, climate change, and the growing urban population. This study aims to understand the factors that influence the development of smart urban areas in a Vietnamese class I city. We collected research data by conducting a survey with 200 representative samples from Pleiku City. Research results have shown that the group of organizational and implementation factors has the greatest influence on smart urban construction in Pleiku City, with a rate of 30.23%. The human resource factor group has a rate of 27.77%, and the policy mechanism group has a rate of 23.36%. Finally, the planning factor group has a contribution rate of 18.65%. Policymakers can use this research result as a guide to implement smart urban construction projects in other cities in Vietnam. We also highlight some policy implications for various solutions, including human resources, finance, policy mechanisms, and planning.