bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A SiPM Based Camera for the Terzina Telescope on Board the Nuses Space Mission
Authors: Burmistrov Leonid
Published: October 2023

NUSES is a pathfinder satellite project hosting two detectors: Terzina dedicated to the study of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) above 100 PeV and Zirè focused on the study of protons and electrons below 250 MeV and MeV gamma rays. This work concerns mainly the description of the Cherenkov camera, composed of SiPMs, for the Terzina telescope. Cherenkov light produced by extensive air showers induced by Ultra High Energy Cosmic Rays in the atmosphere could be detected from space, thus ensuring huge exposures. The Terzina telescope is being designed to detect such light. It has an effective area of about 0.1 m2 and an equivalent focal length of about 930 mm with a diameter of the circle containing 80% of the photons of less than 1 mm2. The photo-detection plane is composed of 2×5 SiPM arrays with 8×8 channels of 3×3 mm2 pixels each. To increase the data-taking period NUSES orbit will be sun-synchronous (with a height of about 550 km), thus allowing Terzina to point always towards the dark side of the Earth’s limb. The sun-synchronous orbit requires small distances to the poles, and as a consequence the expected dose received by the SiPMs will be 10 Gy during three year of NUSES mission. About 70% of the integral dose is delivered by the electrons and secondary gammas created in the mechanical structure and about 30% from protons. This estimation is done with the Geant4 simulation of the preliminary telescope geometry, without taking into account solar wind protons. We study the SiPM photo sensors under the irradiation received by the 50 MeV protons up to 30 Gy of total integrated dose corresponding to 9 years of the satellite operation.
Spatially Structured Optical Pump for Laser Generation Tuning
Authors: Kontenis Gabrielius , Gailevicius Darius , Taranenko Victor , Staliunas Kestutis
Published: October 2023

The main goal and essential parameter of laser light conversion is achieving higher laser brightness. That is the main reason why we take one light source to pump another. For every application the desired laser beam must have the highest available beam quality and highest achievable power. Usually by increasing one parameter, you incur a loss in the other. Here we present a method for delaying the reduction in beam quality by using a spatially structured optical pump for a membrane external cavity laser resonator. A slight increase in brightness is achieved under the same focusing conditions just by changing the pump intensity profile. By using a dynamically changing pump pattern a controllable output laser mode can be achieved.
Histopathologic and Preneoplastic Changes in Tubal Ligation Materials
Authors: Ömeroğlu Ethem , Ünlü Yaşar , Uğur Kılınç A Nur , Günler Tuğba , Günenc Oğuzhan
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Objectives
To investigate histopathological changes and serous carcinoma precursors such as secretory cell outgrowths (SCOUTs) and p53 signature in bilateral tubal ligation (BTL) materials performed during cesarean section (S/C).
Materials and Methods
138 patients who underwent S/C and tubal sterilization (TS) between October 2020 and May 2021 at Konya City Hospital. Patients’ data were obtained from the haospital’s system. All data andd findings were investigated and statistically evaluated.
Results
The mean age was 34.62 years (22 - 44), the mean gravity was 4.89 (2-15) and the mean parity was 3.46 (1-10). 5.79% SCOUT, 7.24% atypia and 9.42% p53 signatures were observed. Significant correlations were shown between epithelial cell lineage and age and between KI-67, SCOUT, and gravity, between KI-67 results and gravity and parity, and between P53 score and age.
Conclusion
TS is a common, safe, and effective method worldwide. Today, BTL is increasing along with increasing S/C ratios. In addition to the reduced risk of ovarian cancers with ligation alone, precursor lesions such as hyperplasia, SCOUT, p53 signature, and STIL/ Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) are encountered in the ampulla materials obtained. Considering the low rates of re-anastomosis, tubal excision may be recommended instead of ligation in women of relatively higher gravity and age.
Analyzing EU’s Agricultural Sector and Public Spending Under Climate Change
Authors: Dincă Gheorghița , Netcu Ioana Cătălina , El-Naser Asmaa
Published: October 2023

Climate change not only affects weather conditions, patterns, and the frequency and severity of extreme weather events but also changes how governments spend money. Agriculture is an important sector of the European Union (EU), and it is projected to decrease by 16% by 2050, therefore a third of the EU budget has been spent on agricultural funding, adaptation, and climate action. The effect of climate change on agriculture is mixed and dependent on the country and its location. The southern EU is adversely affected while the northern EU is positively affected by the changes in weather patterns. The main goal of this paper is to gain insight regarding the effect that climate change has on public spending in relation to the agricultural sector of the EU, by using the pooled OLS and GMM methods. The study concluded that agriculture has a significant impact on public spending in the southern countries of the EU, where it represents a significant portion of the GDP. Inflation influences public spending in the whole EU region, the northern and southern countries of the EU. Rain has a moderately significant impact on public spending in the whole EU region. It is advised that governments maintain a controllable level of inflation using fiscal and monetary policy that will implicitly control public spending.
Challenges to Cannabis sativa Production from Pathogens and Microbes – the Role of Molecular Diagnostics and Bioinformatics
Authors: PUNJA ZAMIR , Kahl Dieter , Reade Ron , Xiang Yu , Munz Jack , Nachappa Punya
Published: October 2023

The increased cultivation of Cannabis sativa L. in North America, represented by high Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol-containing (high-THC) cannabis genotypes and low THC-containing hemp genotypes, has been impacted by an increasing number of plant pathogens. These include fungi which destroy roots, stems and leaves, in some cases causing a build-up of populations and mycotoxins in the inflorescences that can negatively impact quality. Viroids and viruses have also increased in prevalence and severity and can reduce plant growth and product quality. Rapid diagnosis of the occurrence and spread of these pathogens is critical. Techniques in the area of molecular diagnostics have been applied to study these pathogens in both cannabis and hemp. These include polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technologies, including RT-PCR, multiplex RT-PCR, RT-qPCR, and ddPCR, as well as whole genome sequencing (NGS) and bioinformatics. In this study, examples of how these technologies have enhanced the rapidity and sensitivity of pathogen diagnosis on cannabis and hemp will be illustrated. These molecular tools have also enabled studies on the diversity and origins of specific pathogens, specifically viruses and viroids, and these will be illustrated. Comparative studies on the genomics and metabolomics of healthy and diseased plants are urgently needed to provide insight into their impact on quality and composition of cannabis and hemp-derived products. Management of these pathogens will require monitoring of their spread and survival using the appropriate technologies to allow accurate detection, followed by appropriate implementation of disease control measures.
Biomechanical Efficacy of Three Methods for the Fixation of Posterior Malleolar Fractures: A Three-Dimensional Finite Element Study
Authors: Giordano Vincenzo , Babinski Márcio Antônio , Freitas Anderson , Pires Robinson Esteves , Souza Felipe Serrão de , Faria Luiz Paulo Giorgetta de , Labronici Pedro José , Godoy-Santos Alexandre Leme
Published: October 2023

We investigated the biomechanical behaviour of different fixations of the tibial posterior malleolus (TPM), simulating distinct situations of involvement of the tibiotalar articular surface (TTAS) through a finite element model (FEM). A 3D computer-aided design model of the left ankle was obtained. The materials used were divided according to their characteristics into ductile and non-ductile, and all materials were assumed to be linear elastic, isotropic, and homogenous. Three different fracture lines of the TPM were defined, with sagittal angles of 10º, 25º, and 45º. For biomechanical comparison, different constructions using a trans-syndesmotic screw (TSS) only (Group T), a one-third tubular plate only with (Group PT) and without (Group PS) a TSS, and a locked compression plate with (Group LCPT) and without (Group LCPS) a TSS were tested. FEM was used to simulate the boundary conditions of vertical loading. Load application regions were selected in the direction of the 700N Z axis, 90% on the tibia and 10% on the fibula. Data on the displacement and stress in the FEM were collected, including the total principal maximum (MaxT) and total principal minimum (MinT) for non-ductile materials, total displacement (desT), localized displacement at the fragment (desL), localized displacement at syndesmosis (desS), and Von Mises equivalent stress for ductile materials. The data were analyzed using ANOVA and multiple comparison LSD tests were used. For TPM fractures with a sagittal angles 10º and 25º, desL in the PT and LCP groups was significantly lower, as well as Von Mises stress in Group LCPT in 10º, and PT and LCPT groups in 25º. TPM fractures with a sagittal angle of 45º, desL in the LCP group and Von Mises stress in Group LCPS and LCPT was significantly lower. We found that any TPM fracture may indicate instability of the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, even when the fragment is small. Our study showed that in fragments involving 10% of the TTAS, the use of a TSS is sufficient, but when the involvement is greater than 25% of the TTAS, either non-locked or locked plate must be used to buttress the TPM. In posterior fragments affecting 45% or more of the TTAS, the use of a locking plate is recommended.
Novel Negev-like RNA Viruses Encoding Membrane Proteins of SP24 Family in Hosts Ranging from Algae to Vertebrates
Authors: Morozov Sergey Y. , Solovyev Andrey G.
Published: October 2023

This paper describes new horizons in the diversity and taxonomy of negev-like viruses encoding the membrane-embedded SP24 protein. First, our data extend the known host range of SP24-encoding negev-like viruses to include brown algae, fungi, green plants, the phylum Entoprocta, the phylum Mollusca, and vertebrates. Second, our phylogenetic analysis suggests that the evolution of the SP24 gene family may have involved frequent events of inter-order virus genome shuffling. Third, the identification of 2-3 copies of SP24 protein genes in some virus RNAs shows that virus genomes may have acquired additional SP24 genes during the evolutionary process due to duplications or new acquisition steps. Forth, the broad host specificity of some SP24-encoded viruses may be related to an important adaptive role of SP24. Fifth, insect and nematode genomes may acquire viral SP24 genes by putative horizontal transfer from negev-like viruses known to infect species of both taxa.
Safety Constraints-Guided Reinforcement Learning with Linear Temporal Logic
Authors: Kwon Ryeonggu , Kwon Gihwon
Published: October 2023

In the context of reinforcement learning (RL), ensuring both safety and performance is crucial, especially in real-world scenarios where mistakes can lead to severe consequences. This study aims to address this challenge by integrating temporal logic constraints into RL algorithms, thereby providing a formal mechanism for safety verification. We employ a combination of theoretical and empirical methods, including the use of temporal logic for formal verification and extensive simulations to validate our approach. Our results demonstrate that the proposed method not only maintains high levels of safety but also achieves comparable performance to traditional RL algorithms. Importantly, our approach fills a critical gap in existing literature by offering a solution that is both mathematically rigorous and empirically validated. The study concludes that the integration of temporal logic into RL offers a promising avenue for developing algorithms that are both safe and efficient. This work lays the foundation for future research aimed at generalizing this approach to various complex systems and applications.
Reallocating Shared Groundwater Resources Using a Participatory Two-level Weighted Bankruptcy Framework
Authors: Tolouei Virani Mohammad Ali , Javidi Sabbaghian Reza , Roghani Bardia , Bahrami Jovein Ehsan , Fereshtehpour Mohammad
Published: October 2023

The global rising demand for exploiting limited shared groundwater resources, coupled with significant water deficit, especially in arid and semi-arid regions, has led to escalating conflicts among stakeholders. As such, using Bankruptcy Theory methods can be an appropriate response to the reallocation of resources. This study introduces a novel approach to weighted Bankruptcy, where the relative importance of stakeholders is determined by their contributions to sustainable development, and the impact of their claims on the shared groundwater resources is considered. The framework is implemented in a two-level bankruptcy process including the plains and their beneficiaries (agriculture, drinking and industry). The proposed two-level weighted bankruptcy process applies to the Neyshabour-Ataiyeh-Sabzevar plains in Iran. The process is implemented for two scenarios including the Baseline scenario related to the present status of demands and the Future scenario associated with the estimated demands for the year 2041. To compare the weighted proposed method with the other weighted methods such as Proportional (WPRO), Constrained Equal Awards (WCEA), Pinile (WPIN), Talmud (WTAL), Constrained Equal Losses (WCEL), Modified Constrained Equal Losses (MWCEL), two categories including the deficit-based and resource-based approaches are considered. According to the stability analysis using the Bankruptcy Allocation Stability Index (BASI) method, among the deficit-based methods, the novel approach is chosen as the preferred method for the beneficiaries’ reallocation like the Sabzevar’s beneficiaries. Accordingly, it allocates 86.95%, 10.86% and 2.17% of the shared resource to the agricultural, drinking, and industrial demands, respectively. Among the resource-based methods, the WPIN method is selected for reallocation between the stakeholders and their beneficiaries in each level and scenario of reallocation. The novel approach offers a promising solution to the water resource reallocation problem, ensuring a more equitable and sustainable management of shared groundwater resources.
Nucleotides as Bacterial Second Messengers
Authors: Cancino-Diaz Mario E. , Guerrero-Barajas Claudia , Betanzos-Cabrera Gabriel , Cancino-Diaz Juan C.
Published: October 2023

As participating molecules in nucleic acids, nucleotides also have signaling functions and act as second messengers in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, the most common example being cyclic AMP (cAMP). In bacteria, a great interest has arisen in studying nucleotide signaling. It has been determined that cyclic di-AMP (c-di-AMP), cAMP, and cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) participate in biological events such as bacterial growth, biofilm formation, sporulation, cell differentiation, motility, virulence, and other. Moreover, these cyclic-di-nucleotides (c-di-nucleotides) produced in pathogenic intracellular bacteria can affect eukaryotic host cells for infection. On the other hand, the nucleotide molecules pppGpp, and ppGpp are alarmones involved in regulating bacterial nutritional stress; they are also considered second messengers. These second messengers can be used as therapeutic agents because of their immunological functions on eukaryotic cells. In this review, different topics on the role of c-di-nucleotides as second messengers in different bacterial processes are addressed.
Does Frontal Sinus Cell Variations Are Associated with the Development of Frontal Sinusitis? A Narrative Review
Authors: Habsi Tariq Al , Ajmi Eiman Al , Washahi Mohammed Al , Lawati Maitham Al , Maawali Shihab Al , Mahajan Amit , Sirasanagandla Srinivasa Rao
Published: October 2023

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) can have a significant impact on quality of life. With persistent symptoms and the failure of initial medical treatments, surgical management is indicated. Despite the excellent results of endoscopic sinus surgery for persistent CRS, it is quite a challenging procedure for frontal sinusitis given the complex anatomy and location of the frontal sinus. Frontal sinus cells significantly contribute to the complexity of the frontal sinus, and numerous studies have sought to establish their association with sinusitis. This review offers a comprehensive understanding of the frontal sinus cells, their different classifications, their prevalence among different populations, and their relationship to sinusitis. After an extensive review of the current literature, the International Frontal Sinus Anatomy Classification (IFAC) is the most recent classification method and a preferred practical preoperative assessment tool. Although the Agger Nasi Cell is the most prevalent cell among all reported populations, ethnic variations are still influencing the other cells' distribution. Studies are inconsistent in reporting a relationship between frontal sinus cells and sinusitis, and that is mainly because of the difference in the classification method used. More research using a standardized classification method is needed to understand the association between frontal sinus cells and sinusitis.
Navigating the Labyrinth: Intensive Care Challenges in Patients with Acute on Chronic Liver Failure
Authors: Saner Fuat H. , Raptis Dimitri A. , Alghamdi Saad Ali , Malagó Massimo M. , Broering Dieter C. , Bezinover Dmitri
Published: October 2023

Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure (ACLF) refers to the deterioration of liver function in individuals who already have chronic liver disease. In the setting of ACLF, liver damage leads to the failure of other organs and is associated with increased short-term mortality. Optimal medical management of patients with ACLF requires implementing complex treatment strategies, often in an intensive care unit (ICU). Failure of organs other than the liver distinguishes ACLF from other critical illnesses. Although there is growing evidence supporting the current approach of ACLF management, mortality associated with this condition remains unacceptably high. In this review, we discuss considerations for ICU care of patients with ACLF and highlight areas for further research.
The Synergistic Effects of Hyaluronic Acid and Platelet-Rich Plasma for Patellar Chondropathy
Authors: Costa Fábio Ramos , Santos Márcia da Silva , Martins Rubens Andrade , Costa Cláudia Ramos , Hamdan Paulo César , Da Silva Marcos Britto , Menegassi Zartur José , Azzini Gabriel Ohana Marques , Santos Gabriel Silva , Pires Luyddy , Lana José Fábio
Published: October 2023

Musculoskeletal disorders are increasingly prevalent worldwide, causing significant socioeconomic burdens and diminished quality of life. Notably, patellar chondropathy (PC) is among the most widespread conditions affecting the joint structures, resulting in profound pain and disability. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) have emerged as reliable, effective, and minimally invasive alternatives. Continuous research spanning from laboratory settings to clinical applications demonstrate the numerous advantages of both products. These encompass lubrication, anti-inflammation, and stimulation of cellular behaviors linked to proliferation, differentiation, migration, and the release of essential growth factors. Cumulatively, these benefits support the rejuvenation of bone and cartilaginous tissues, which are otherwise compromised due to the prevailing degenerative and inflammatory responses characteristic of tissue damage. While existing literature delves into the physical, mechanical, and biological facets of these products, as well as their commercial variants and distinct clinical uses, there is limited discussion on their interconnected roles.
We explore basic science concepts, product variations, and clinical strategies. This comprehensive examination provides physicians with an alternative insight into the pathophysiology of PC as well as biological mechanisms stimulated by both HA and PRP that contribute to tissue restoration.
Experimental and Simulation Studies for Purification and Etherification of Glycerol from the Biodiesel Industry
Authors: Silva Silvia S. O. , Nascimento Matheus R. , Lima Ricardo J. P. , Luna F. Murilo T. , Cavalcante Jr. Célio L.
Published: October 2023

The production of biodiesel through transesterification routes generates large amounts of glycerol, approximately 10 m3 for every 90 m3 of the biodiesel produced. Taking into account this scenario, the valorization of glycerol using chemical routes that could be operated in biodiesel industry constitutes a promising approach to achieve added-value products. An interesting option is the production of ethers, which can be used as fuel additives in diesel engines to improve the combustion efficiency, reducing soot emission and increasing cetane index. In this study, a purification route was applied to crude glycerol and its valorization by etherification was evaluated. The glycerol contents of purified samples were above 98% wt. The purified and commercial glycerol was used to obtain ethers. Etherification reactions were carried out with different alcohols (ethanol, isopropanol and 3-methyl-1-butanol) into a batch reactor, using small amount of Amberlyst 15 as a catalyst, at autogenous pressure and solvent-free conditions. The glycerol conversion, selectivity and yield to ethers were evaluated. A glycerol conversion of 97% wt. with selectivity of 80% to monoether was obtained when using ethanol. For isopropanol, the glycerol conversion was up to 95% (76% of monoether and 22% of diether). However, the selectivity to ethers for 3-methyl-1-butanol was negligible (<3% wt.). A process simulation for purification and etherification steps integrated with a biodiesel production was assessed in terms of productivity and energy consumption, considering different scenarios of glycerol/alcohol molar ratios.
Invariables and Variables in the Evolution of Plant Reproduction
Authors: Wang Xin
Published: October 2023

Land plants have undergone their great diversification and evolution in the past 400 million years. Although appearing complex and hard to grasp, the evolution of plants centers around an invariable core development process, SRC (Sexual Reproductive Cycle). Various modifications have been added sequentially to this core process, and thus creating various novel organs and distinguishing their bearers one from another. Reproductive organs of all land plants, including sporangium, megasporangium, metamegasporangium (= ovule), and various metamegasporangium complexes, are derived from terminal sporangia in the earliest land plants. Throughout the million-year-long evolution, plants sequentially recruit associating accessories to protect their vulnerable core parts (spore and gamete). The occurrence of every single of these novelties is a stair marking land plant reproduction evolution and leads to enhanced offspring development conditioning (ODC).
Characterization of the Complete Mitochondrial Genome of Leptobotia elongata and Its Phylogenetic Implications in Cobitidae
Authors: Ke Zhenlin , Zhou Kangqi , Hou Mengdan , Luo Hui , Li Zhe , Pan Xianhui , Jing Tingsen , Ye Hua
Published: October 2023

Elongate loach (Leptobotia elongata) is an endemic fish in China. Previous studies have provided some insights into the mitochondrial genome composition, and the phylogenetic relationships of L. elongata inferred using protein-coding genes (PCGs). However, the detailed information about is limited. Therefore, in this study, we sequenced the complete mitochondrial genome of L. elongata and analyzed its structural characteristics. The PCGs and mitochondrial genome were used for selective stress analysis and genomic comparative analysis respectively. The complete mitochondrial genome of the L. elongata, together with those of 36 Cyprinidae species, was used to infer the phylogenetic relationships of the Cobitidae family through maximum likelihood (ML) reconstruction. The results showed that the genome sequence has a full length of 16,591 bp, which includes 13 PCGs, 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNA), two ribosomal RNA genes (rRNA), and two non-coding regions (CR D-loop and light chain sub-chain replication origin OL). Overall, L. elongata shared the same gene arrangement and composition of the mitochondrial genes with other teleost fishes. The Ka/Ks ratios of all mitochondrial PCGs were less than 1, indicating that all the PCGs were evolving under purifying selection. Genome comparison analyses showed a significant sequence homology of species of Leptobotia. A significant identity between L. elongata and the other 5 Leptobotia species was observed in the visualization result, except for L. mantschurica, which lacked the tRNA-Arg gene and had a shorter tRNA-Asp gene. The phylogenetic tree revealed that the Cobitidae species examined here can be grouped into two clades, with L. elongata forming a sister relationship with L. microphthalma. This study could provide additional inferences for a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among Cobititdae species.
The Modern Campus Fails as Pedestrian Space
Authors: Mehaffy Michael W. , Salingaros Nikos A. , Lavdas Alexandros A.
Published: October 2023

The challenge of campus design, like other aspects of contemporary environmental design, reveals a serious problem in education and practice. The foundational design theories of a century ago have been exposed as an obsolete way of thinking about cities, human nature, biological nature, and even the nature of mathematical and physical structures. Yet in practice, these discredited models persist, obscured by new theoretical language and extravagant “neoplastic” forms, but embodying persistent though untested ideologies and driven by systems inertia. This paper considers the campus design typology (including business campuses, commercial districts, hospitals, and schools) as a design paradigm for pedestrian public space with implications for human flourishing and well-being. We propose a specific human-oriented design method to encourage the well-being of occupants and improve the outcomes for creative development, education, and health.
Mozaikok az 57. magyar nyelv hetéről
Authors: Blankó Miklós , Némethné Balázs Katalin
Published: October 2023

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Overview and Prevention of Complications During Fully Endoscopic Lumbar Spine Surgery
Authors: Kwon Woo-Keun , Hur Junseok W
Published: October 2023

Fully endoscopic lumbar surgery has emerged as an alternative technique to classic open microscopic laminectomy or discectomy. It is gaining popularity due to its advantages in terms of minimal invasiveness, while achieving equivalent clinical outcomes. Remarkable technical developments in surgical techniques and instruments have expanded the indications of this surgical method. However, as the utilization of endoscopic surgery increases, related complications inevitably arise and become major clinical issues. Frequent complications include failure to achieve adequate decompression, early recurrence, and the possibility of wrong-level surgery. Intraoperative and perioperative complications can include postoperative sensory changes related to neural injury, dural tears, hematoma, infection, and rarely, water pressure-related problems. This review article presents an overview of the possible intraoperative and perioperative complications associated with uniportal full-endoscopic surgery. We also discuss the pitfalls that can lead to unexpected devastating results. Additionally, we briefly review potential preventive efforts that can help reduce the risks. The objective of this presentation is to reinforce the basic principles and introduce key technical tips for full-endoscopic spine surgery, ultimately leading to clinical success and the prevention of complications.
Thermal decoupling in high-Tc cuprate superconductors
Authors: Lee Gun-Do , Lee Sungwoo , Choi Woojin , Kim Yeong Jae , Kwon Young-Kyun , Song Dongjoon , Kim Miyoung
Published: October 2023

In unconventional high-Tc cuprate superconductors, the intricate interplay between the non-ergodic bad metal 1,2 and the strange metal state 3 has remained enigmatic. Herein, we unravel this mystery using ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) simulations coupled with the temperature-dependent effective potential (TDEP) method. Our investigation, centered on YBa2Cu3O7 (YBCO), provides the first simulation report on the B1g phonon anomaly 4,5, unveiling profound thermal decoupling induced by the bond weakening between the Ba atom and CuO2 plane. Notably, this decoupling emerges as a pivotal underpinning behind several puzzling phenomena in high-Tc superconductivity. Our results indicate that the effective temperature on the BaO plane deviates from that of the CuO2 plane at low temperatures. Furthermore, we delineate the correlation between thermal decoupling and the Planckian dissipation, rigorously and quantitatively revealing a profound connection between linear-T resistivity, Uemura plots, and superconducting domes, which are known to be the most important unsolved mysteries of high-Tc superconductivity. Our discoveries offer a revolutionary perspective on high-Tc superconductivity, suggesting the potential for a transformative shift in our comprehension. Furthermore, they suggest that the autonomous emergence of low-temperature layers within materials has the potential to revolutionize industrial thermal management challenges.
Implementation of a Cervical Cancer Tumor Board to optimize patient care and follow-up at a rural hospital in Malawi
Authors: Mphande Isaac , Chiphaka Ruth , Kapira Sitalire , Munyaneza Fabien , Prior Margret , Walker Andrea , Aron Moses Banda , Mbalati Hilda , Connolly Emilia , Kachimanga Chiyembekezo
Published: October 2023

Cervical cancer is Malawi's most diagnosed and highest mortality cancer. Due to a lack of screening, it is often diagnosed at an advanced stage. It has poor survival outcomes because treatment is not always available, patients are not quickly engaged in care and follow-up can be challenging for patients, especially those living far from a secondary facility. We set up a multidisciplinary team-based cervical cancer tumor board (CCTB) to better capture and care for clients at risk for cervical cancer and those with a new diagnosis. In February 2019, we initiated a monthly cervical cancer CCTB to enroll, review and discuss management for clients with suspected cervical cancer lesions. Specifically, we developed a cervical cancer registry to log suspects at Neno District Hospital. Our CCTB team members included cervical cancer screening providers, obstetrics and gynecology clinicians, and palliative care, laboratory, and community health workers representative. Any client with findings that required confirmation of cervical cancer diagnosis through a biopsy following cervical cancer screening was enrolled. Once enrolled, patients were followed continuously for final pathology results, treatment planning, and outcomes including referrals for surgeries and death. Between 1 February 2019, and 30 April 2021, an estimated 4,822 Visual Inspections with Acetic Acid (VIAs) were performed in the district. We enrolled 72 clients from those initial screenings with suspected cervical cancer. We found a high linkage to care for clients of 97%. All women enrolled in the CCTB had their results for biopsies available (100%). Total loss to care was very minimal at 2% for premalignant lesions. Out of the clients enrolled in CCTB, 39.8% (n = 37) had cervical cancer and among them, 73.0% were successfully staged. Cervical cancer-focused CCTB is an effective way to follow clients with suspected and diagnosed cervical cancer to ensure appropriate treatment and subsequent follow-up. We demonstrated that CCTB could be successfully implemented in rural Malawi at the district hospital level.
Based CBL+ flipped classroom as a means to improve international students' Active learning and Critical thinking ability
Authors: Yang Wanjing , Xiaoyan Zhang , Xinhuan Chen , Jing Lu , Fang Tian
Published: October 2023

Background International student education has become an important part of higher education and an important symbol to measure the level of higher education. Thus the objective of this study is to explore whether the active learning ability and critical thinking ability of international students can be improved by improving the innovation ability of teachers' team, updating teaching ideas, and using the reform of Case-based learning （CBL）+ Flipped Classroom (FC ) teaching mode, so as to lay a foundation for building a first-class course of Pathophysiology for international students.
Methods The two chapters of Cardiac Insufficiency and Apoptosis in Pathophysiology are designed as a CBL + FC teaching method. At the same time, a questionnaire is designed to evaluate whether the teaching reform based on Case + FC can improve the independent learning ability and critical thinking ability of international students and whether they are satisfied with this teaching method.
Results Compared with the traditional classroom, the online flipped classroom based on CBL has significantly improved the learning enthusiasm. Through independent literature review, PPT production, active participation in classroom teaching, learning to use a variety of learning strategies, and cooperation with other students. At the same time, the students' ability to raise problems and solve problems has been greatly improved by analyzing clinical cases; By consulting the literature, the theoretical knowledge learned can be better applied to clinical analysis. The results of the satisfaction survey also show that international students are more likely to accept the flipped classroom teaching mode.
Conclusions This teaching mode will stimulate the learning motivation of international students, enhance teaching attraction and increase teaching interaction; At the same time, the CBL + FC teaching method can strengthen the evaluation of international students' in and out of class and online learning, enhance students' active learning ability and critical thinking ability, promote the development of personalized learning, and integrate with international medical education.
Targeted Functionalization of Waste Lignocellulosic Biomass to Produce Sound Absorbing Materials
Authors: Negi Ashutosh , Mago Jonty , Sunali Ms , Kumar Adepu Kiran , Ahmad Ejaz , Fatima S. , Haider M. Ali
Published: October 2023

Among the most abundantly available bioresources, lignocellulosic biomass offers a ‘green renewable’ alternative resource for producing high-value biomaterials suitable for acoustical applications. In this study, a systemic process is developed to fabricate sound absorbing material using refined cellulosic microfibrils generated from natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) pretreated rice straw. Physico-chemical characterization using FTIR and FESEM analysis confirmed substantial removal of the hemicellulose and lignin from the extracted cellulosic microfibrils. Moreover, the surface area after NADES pretreatment increased to 12.55 m2/g from 2.18 m2/g of raw rice straw, suggesting the enhanced potential of sound dissipation within the biomaterial. The noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of the NADES pretreated rice straw is increased to 0.55 compared to 0.41 with untreated rice straw. Sound absorption performance shows an increasing trend with the increase in sample thickness (25 mm to 50 mm); however, no significant improvement in sound absorption is observed with an air gap of more than 20 mm. Overall, the tested biomaterial shows comparable NRC to commercially available synthetic sound absorbing materials.
Autocharacterization: Automated and Scalable Semiconductor Property Estimation from High-throughput Experiments using Computer Vision
Authors: Siemenn Alexander , Aissi Eunice , Sheng Fang , Tiihonen Armi , Kavak Hamide , Das Basita , Buonassisi Tonio
Published: October 2023

High-throughput materials synthesis methods have risen in popularity due to their potential to accelerate the design and discovery of novel functional materials, such as solution-processed semiconductors. After synthesis, key material properties must be measured and characterized to validate discovery and provide feedback to optimization cycles. However, with the boom in development of high-throughput synthesis tools that champion production rates up to 104 samples per hour with flexible form factors, most sample characterization methods are either slow (conventional rates of 101 samples per hour, approximately 1000x slower) or rigid (e.g., designed for standard-size microplates), resulting in a bottleneck that impedes the materials-design process. To overcome this challenge, we propose a set of automated material property characterization (autocharacterization) tools that leverage the adaptive, parallelizable, and scalable nature of computer vision to accelerate the throughput of characterization by 85x compared to the non-automated workflow. We demonstrate a generalizable composition mapping tool for high-throughput synthesized binary material systems as well as two scalable autocharacterization algorithms that (1) autonomously compute the band gap of 200 unique compositions in 6 minutes and (2) autonomously compute the degree of degradation in 200 unique compositions in 20 minutes, generating ultra-high compositional resolution trends of band gap and stability. We demonstrate that the developed band gap and degradation detection autocharacterization methods achieve 98.5% accuracy and 96.9% accuracy, respectively, on the FA1-xMAxPbI3, 0 ≤ x ≤ 1 perovskite semiconductor system.
MiR-186-5p inhibition restores synaptic transmission and neuronal network activity in a model of chronic stress
Authors: Carvalho Ana Luisa , Rodrigues Beatriz , Leitão Ricardo , Santos Mónica , Trofimov Alexander , Silva Mariline , Inácio Ângela , Abreu Mónica , Nobre Rui Jorge , Costa Jéssica , Cardoso Ana Luisa , Milosevic Ira , Peça João , de Almeida Luís Pereira , Pinheiro Paulo
Published: October 2023

Chronic stress exerts profound negative effects on cognitive and emotional behaviours and is a major risk factor for the development of neuropsychiatric disorders. However, the molecular links between chronic stress and its deleterious effects on neuronal and synaptic function remain elusive. Here, using a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches, we demonstrate that the upregulation of miR-186-5p triggered by chronic stress may be a key mediator of such changes, leading to synaptic dysfunction. Our results show that the expression levels of miR-186-5p are increased both in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of mice exposed to chronic stress and in cortical neurons chronically exposed to dexamethasone. Additionally, viral overexpression of miR-186-5p in the PFC of naïve mice induces anxiety- and depressive-like behaviours. The upregulation of miR-186-5p through prolonged glucocorticoid receptor activation differentially affects glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission, causing an imbalance in excitation/inhibition and leading to altered neuronal network activity. At glutamatergic synapses, we observed both a reduction in synaptic AMPAR and synaptic transmission, along with a switch in their subunit composition, whereas GABAergic synaptic transmission was strengthened. These changes could be rescued by a miR-186-5p inhibitor. Overall, our results establish a novel molecular link between chronic glucocorticoid receptor activation, the upregulation of miR-186-5p and the synaptic changes induced by chronic stress, that may be amenable to therapeutic intervention.
Altered cord blood mitochondrial DNA content and prenatal exposure to arsenic metabolites in low-arsenic areas
Authors: Qiu Feng , Zhang Hongling , Wang Xin , Jia Zhenxian , He Yujie , Wu Yi , Li Zhangpeng , Zheng Tongzhang , Xia Wei , Xu Shunqing , Li Yuanyuan
Published: October 2023

While mitochondria are susceptible to environmental detriments, little is known about potential associations between arsenic metabolites and mitochondria DNA copy number (mtDNAcn). We attempted to examine whether arsenic metabolism in different trimesters was related to cord blood mtDNAcn alteration. We included 819 mother-newborn pairs embedded in an in-progress birth cohort survey performed from April 2014 to October 2016 in Wuhan, China. We determined maternal urinary arsenic species concentrations in different trimesters using HPLC-ICPMS. We decided on cord blood mtDNAcn using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. In covariate-adjusted models, each two-fold increment of dimethylated arsenic (DMA) and total arsenic (TAs) in the 3rd trimester were related to 8.43% (95% CI: 1.13%, 16.26%) and 12.15% (95% CI:4.35%, 20.53%) increases in mtDNAcn, respectively. The dose-response trend with statistical significance was observed across tertiles of DMA and TAs in the 3rd trimester with mtDNAcn. These findings may prove the relationships between arsenic species and mitochondrial dysfunction.
The alpha2-adrenergic receptor agonist clonidine protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion induced neuronal apoptosis in rats
Authors: He Zhi , Yin Bo-Kai , Wang Ke , Zhao Bo , Chen Yue , Li Zi-Cheng , Chen Jing
Published: October 2023

Apoptosis is the crucial pathological mechanism following cerebral ischemic injury. Our previous studies demonstrated that clonidine, one agonist of alpha2-adrenergic receptor (α2-AR), could attenuate cerebral ischemic injury in a rat model of Middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R). However, it’s unclear whether clonidine exerts neuroprotective effects by regulating neuronal apoptosis. In this study, we elucidated whether clonidine can exert anti-apoptotic effects in cerebral ischemic injury, and further explore the possible mechanisms. Neurological deficit score was measured to evaluate the neurological function. TTC staining was used for the measurement of brain infarct size. Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining was applied to examine the cell morphology. TUNEL and DAPI fluorescent staining methods were used to analyze the cell apoptosis in brain tissue. Western blotting assay was applied to detect the protein expression of Caspase-3 and P53. Fluorescence quantitative real-time PCR was performed to assess the gene expression of Caspase-3 and P53. The results showed that clonidine improved neurological function, reduced brain infarct size, alleviated neuronal damage, and reduced the ratio of cell apoptosis in the brain with MCAO/R injury. moreover, clonidine down-regulated the protein and gene expression of Caspase-3 and P53 which were over-expressed after MCAO/R injury. Whereas, yohimbine (one selective α2-AR antagonist) mitigated the anti-apoptosis effects of clonidine, accompanied by reversed gene and protein expression changes. The results indicated that clonidine attenuated cerebral MCAO/R injury via suppressing neuronal apoptosis, which may be mediated, at least in part, by activating α2-AR.
Optimizing the ratio of Coomassie and Methylene blue dyes for a cost-effective and rapid staining of PET, PVC, PP, PS, LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE
Authors: Li Lanxing , Dong Linyinxue , Tian Xuechen , Kalkhajeh Yusef , Yang Yixin , Gan Samuel
Published: October 2023

The ubiquitous presence of plastic brought on by the extensive use of plastic products calls for efficient and rapid plastic detection methods for the detection and evaluation of pollution. The commonly used Nile red dye takes many hours and is expensive while also not equally efficient across all the common plastic waste. To address this, we investigated the staining efficiency and optimized the ratio of a combined dye of Coomassie brilliant blue and Methylene blue. In the optimisation process, Methanol-based Coomassie and Methylene blue dyes effectively stained the PET, PP, PS, LLDPE, LDPE, and HDPE plastics without compromising the plastic's integrity. Image analysis showed a generally better staining efficacy compared to Nile red. Given the cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and accessibility of the blue dyes in labs, the optimized ratio of the blue dyes makes it suitable for large-scale plastic staining across the six tested types of plastic, replacing Nile red.
Simulation of functional additive and non-additive genetic effects using statistical estimates from quantitative genetic models
Authors: Chu Thinh , Kristensen Peter , Jensen Just
Published: October 2023

Stochastic simulation software is commonly used to aid breeders designing cost-effective breeding programs and to validate statistical models used in genetic evaluation. An essential feature of the software is the ability to simulate populations with desired genetic and non-genetic parameters. However, this feature is lacking when non-additive effects due to dominance or epistasis are modeled, as the desired properties of simulated populations are estimated from classical quantitative genetic statistical models formulated at the population level. The software simulates underlying biological functional effects for gene action at the individual level, which are not necessarily the same as effects from statistical models in which dominance and epistasis are included. This paper provides the theoretical basis and mathematical formulas for the transformation between functional and statistical effects in such simulation. The transformation is demonstrated with two statistical models analyzed individual phenotypes in a single population (common in animal breeding) and plot phenotypes of three-way hybrids involving two inbred populations (observed in some crop breeding programs), respectively. We also describe different methods for the simulation of functional effects for additive genetics, dominance, and epistasis to achieve the desired levels of variance components in classical statistical models used in quantitative genetics.