bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ROTEIRO GEOTURÍSTICO VIRTUAL PARA DIFUSÃO DA GEODIVERSIDADE DA CATEDRAL METROPOLITANA DE MANAUS (AM)
Authors: Carvalho de Oliveira Márcia , Barbosa Roberto , Arantes Azevedo Leonilda , Apoema Gomes de Souza Isabela
Published: February 2024

A geodiversidade do meio urbano em centros comerciais ou templos religiosos passa muitas vezes despercebida no cotidiano corrido das grandes cidades. Esses elementos, quando observados separadamente, despertam apenas surpresas e curiosidades, mas quando abordados em conjunto, podem agregar valores que vão além do apelo turístico ao geopatrimônio. Como marco evolutivo da cidade de Manaus, a Catedral Metropolitana reúne elementos da geodiversidade desconhecidos por grande parte da comunidade. Os principais elementos são representados por blocos de arenito Manaus, carbonatos portugueses fossilíferos e obras funcionais inseridas principalmente no Ciclo da Borracha. Estes elementos da geodiversidade foram analisados, catalogados e ranqueados com base em seu potencial didático, diversidade geológica, acessibilidade e segurança com o objetivo de gerar um produto turístico e educacional. Assim, este artigo apresenta um georroteiro virtual baseado nos elementos da geologia urbana observados na Catedral Metropolitana de Manaus, visando à difusão de conhecimentos culturais, históricos e geológicos que enfatizem as práticas de geoconservação. Este roteiro utilizou a ferramenta Google Earth para criação e difusão de um passeio virtual guiado por 13 estações navegáveis, baseado em informações fossilíferas e nos materiais pétreos que caracterizam diferentes elementos da geodiversidade presente no centro histórico da cidade de Manaus. A inventariação realizada identificou três principais elementos da geodiversidade na catedral metropolitana: arenito Manaus, carbonatos portugueses com fósseis de moluscos e obras funcionais como Relógio Municipal, chafariz e busto do Marechal Floriano Peixoto. Com isso, o produto final desta pesquisa pode auxiliar saídas de campo, agregar valores geológicos com cunho educativo/turístico e propagar conhecimentos fundamentais sobre a geodiversidade no meio urbano.
LEVANTAMENTO DE CONTAMINAÇÕES GEOGÊNICAS E ANTRÓPICAS EM ÁGUAS SUBTERRÂNEAS NA CIDADE DE NOVO AIRÃO
Authors: Ribeiro Amanda , Wahnfried Ingo , Antunes Fernandes Neto Lucindo
Published: February 2024

Modelos hidroquímicos de águas subterrâneas identificaram áreas com alta probabilidade de ocorrência de arsênio, manganês, ferro e alumínio no mundo. Estudos desenvolvidos na região amazônica utilizaram dados de geologia, solo, clima e topografia para verificar a ocorrência desses metais em águas subterrâneas. Além disso, a ausência de sistemas de coleta e tratamento de efluentes líquidos impacta negativamente a qualidade da água subterrânea em aquíferos freáticos. O presente artigo apresenta a caracterização hidroquímica de aquíferos freáticos na área urbana de Novo Airão/AM, e identifica poços onde estão presentes contaminações. As amostras foram coletadas em 21 poços tubulares utilizados pela população. Medições de pH, Eh, temperatura e alcalinidade foram feitas in-situ. Ânions e cátions foram analisados em Manaus. Sete dos 21 resultados das análises estavam dentro dos limites aceitáveis de erro do equilíbrio iônico. Quatro das sete apresentavam concentrações acima do valor máximo permitido (VMP) para alumínio, e em concentrações elevadas, mas dentro de VMP para nitrato. Uma amostra apresentou valor acima de VMP para manganês e ferro, e esta teve a maior concentração de arsênio, associação encontrada em outras áreas da Amazônia. Apenas duas amostras estavam com todos os valores dentro do permitido. A falta de dados geológicos consistentes nos poços analisados impediu a identificação dos processos de mobilização dos contaminantes geogênicos na água. Já a contaminação por nitrato muito provavelmente tem origem nos sistemas de destinação de efluentes in-situ, como fossas negras e sépticas, uma vez que a cidade não possui rede de coleta e tratamento de efluentes líquidos.
Assessing the landscape of clinical trials involving bioprinting: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Briones Yumi L. , Tiangco Narra Maria J. , Crisostomo Isabel C. , Pascua Beatrice Paula G. , Casiguran Samantha Louise , Remenyi Roland
Published: February 2024

Bioprinting is a tissue engineering method with promising clinical applications. This scoping review protocol aims to assess the past and present landscape of clinical trials involving bioprinting. In this protocol, the term “bioprint” and its variants will be searched in five clinical trial databases and two primary registries. Results will then undergo dual independent review to determine the final inclusion list. Finally, data will be synthesized narratively. Our protocol is designed to maximize search coverage while minimizing search time by utilizing databases covering multiple international primary registries. Ultimately, we aim to provide a framework for monitoring developments and identifying specific research questions within the rapidly evolving field of clinical bioprinting over time.
Study on the Awareness of Cigarette Butt as a Potential Environmental Hazard
Authors: Thakur Meenakshi , Bhardwaj Sushma , Singh Jyotsna , Iqbal Hiba
Published: February 2024

Cigarette butt pollution is a global environmental concern with profound health and ecological ramifications. This study addresses the pressing need for coordinated efforts involving the public, manufacturers, lawmakers, and citizens to manage and mitigate the detrimental consequences of this pervasive pollutant. The research focuses on the younger generation's awareness of this issue. The survey encompassed 454 respondents, primarily comprising individuals aged 13–19 years (60%), with a substantial representation of females (64%). Encouragingly, an overwhelming majority (97%) recognized cigarette butts as pollutants, irrespective of gender, highlighting substantial public awareness. Notably, respondents reported encountering cigarette debris in public places, often witnessing improper disposal, such as in drains, contributing to water pollution. While respondents exhibited reasonable awareness of the hazards linked to cigarette butts, including fires and harm to wildlife, only 42% were aware of their role in ocean pollution, suggesting a knowledge gap. Notably, despite awareness, improper disposal remains a concern, indicating societal insensitivity. This underscores the need for enhanced public education. The study concludes with recommendations, including awareness campaigns and biodegradable filters, to address cigarette butt pollution. Comprehensive interventions and legislation against careless disposal are essential. This research aims to stimulate further interdisciplinary exploration and draw policymakers' attention to reducing this potential pollutant's impact through sustainable methods.
Evaluation and assessment of risk of pesticide residue in vegetables, soil and water samples of few district of Northern India
Authors: mishra sudeep , singh Mukesh Kumar , Saini Mahesh Kumar , Alam Samsul , Thakur Lalitesh Kumar
Published: February 2024

The main motive of the study was to determine pesticides residues in 16 different vegetables grown in four districts i.e Rohtak, Karnal, Hisar, Panipat of Haryana, India. In total 102 vegetables of field and market for the pesticide residue analysis during the year 2019-2020. Also along with that 46 soil and 50 water samples were a collected from the same four districts. 161 pesticideswere screened for their presence of pesticide residue. Analysis of samples were done using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) (90 pesticides) and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS) (71). The extraction of a multi-residue method using QuEChERS method for vegetables and traditional partitioning and shaking method for water and soil respectively. The evaluation of detected residues where compared with the maximum residue limit (MRL) of FSSAI and European regulations. A total of 31 samples (30.39%) of vegetables, 44 samples (95.65%) of soil and 34 samples (68.0%) of water were detected with pesticide residue. Alpha cypermethrin, hexaconazole and carbendizim were detected in low concentration below MRL and chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, pendimethalin, buprofezin, butachlor and deltamethrin were deteted in higher concentration in some samples. Chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, pendimethlin and butachlor were commonly detected. As the result of the study, it is necessary that the government need to support the the monitoring of pesticide residues in vegetables and other environmental samples for consumers’ health.
Enhanced protocatechuic acid production using metabolically engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum
Authors: Chung Jiwoon , Cho Jaehoon , Shin Woo-Shik , Park Chulhwan
Published: February 2024

Protocatechuate acid (PCA) is a phenolic acid naturally synthesized by various microorganisms. To enhance PCA production during fermentation using Corynebacterium glutamicum, a statistical optimization of the production medium was performed using full factorial design, the steepest ascent method, and the response surface method. The optimized production medium enabled PCA production of over 5 g/L in a 72-h batch culture. PCA cytotoxicity affected strain growth and PCA production rate, with an inhibitory concentration of approximately 5 g/L in the fermentation broth. Finally, continuous fermentation was operated for 150 h in steady-state mode, maintaining the concentration of PCA below 5 g/L. The optimization method established in this study successfully increased PCA production levels, and the findings presented herein are anticipated to contribute to the industrialization of PCA production using C. glutamicum.
Impact of Climate Change and Land Use Land Cover Change on Stream Flow of the Teesta River Basin under CMIP6 Climate Scenarios
Authors: Rahman Syadur , Islam AKM Saiful
Published: February 2024

The Teesta basin, shared by Bangladesh and India, undergoes profound changes due to land use and land cover (LULC) dynamics combined with climate change, significantly impacting its water balance. This study intends to analyse the combined effects of future LULC changes and climate change on the stream flow of the Teesta River. Employing a cellular-automata model, we accurately predicted LULC for 2020 and projected scenarios for 2050 and 2080. A semi-distributed hydrological model, Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is used to generate flow for the base period (1995-2014), the near future (2035-2064), and the far future (2071-2100). SWAT model is forced by 8 General Circulation Models (GCMs) under two Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP245 and SSP585). Satellite image analysis showed notable LULC changes, with substantial increases in agricultural (0.49%), water bodies (4.24%) and settlement areas (1.67%), while a decrease in forest (1.45%) and sand bar (5.49%) decreased from 2000 to 2010. During 2010 and 2020, increases in agricultural (2.77%), water bodies (7.7%) and settlement areas (8.59%), while decreases in forest (1.36%) and sand bar (0.18%) were found. The CA-Markov prediction indicates significant future increases in settlements and agricultural land by 2050 and 2080, coupled with reductions in forest, water, and snow cover. The calibrated and validated SWAT model effectively simulated discharge, yielding satisfactory results. Projected changes in discharge during the monsoon and winter periods were examined under different scenarios. Monsoon discharge is predicted to increase by 26% to 38% in the near future and 30% to 45% in the far future. Conversely, the winter/dry period may experience a decrease of 46% to 49% in the near future and 38% in the far future for SSP245 and SSP585 scenarios, respectively. Considering LULC changes to account, additional discharge increases during the monsoon are projected, with slight increases in the dry period during the near future and decreases during the far future. This study anticipates an increasing trend in peak flow during the monsoon and a declining trend in mean flow during winter without further upstream water control. Understanding and managing the combined effects of LULC changes and climate change on the hydrological dynamics of the basin is of utmost importance for sustainable water resource management in the region.
Fabrication of Low Cost Thermoresponsive Microgel@CuO Catalyst for Rapid Reduction of Methylene Blue Dye
Authors: Prasad Tarkeshwar , Pande Poorn Prakash , Kumar Krishna , Rai Shailza , Chaudhary Aradhna , Das Anupam , Tiwari Rudra Mani , Tungala Kranthikumar , Singh Vinai Kumar
Published: February 2024

The present study details the catalytic reduction of water pollutants (Methylene blue). In this research, the synthesis of microgels was achieved through free-radical emulsion polymerization techniques employing HEMA monomer as a crosslinker. Three different grades of microgel have synthesized by varying the amount of N-vinyl caprolactam. Copper-oxide nanoparticles were successfully incorporated into polymeric microgels through hydrothermal methods for catalytic reduction applications. Characterization of both microgels and microgel-nanoparticle composites was conducted using various techniques like as: Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), powder X-Ray diffraction (Powder XRD) Dynamic light scattering (DLS), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic reduction of methylene blue (MB) was characterized using ultraviolet-visible spectrometry. The catalytic reduction efficiency of the dye was measured by optimizing the parameter effect of crosslinking, temperature responsive monomer feed, temperature and amount of reducing agent (NaBH4). Microgel nanocomposites respond to efficient catalysis at higher NVCL feed with moderate dose of NABH4.
Welfare evaluation of fat-rumped lambs under stall feeding condition with different feeder design
Authors: Mohapatra Arpita , Kerketta Shilpi , Kumar Vijay , De Kalyan , Dangi Satyaveer Singh , Singh Raghvendar
Published: February 2024

Animal welfare is directly related to animal performance and farm profit. It is associated with their autonomy to take feed and water along with lack of discomfort. Feeding welfare determines farm profit as major cost of a farm is associated with feed. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of feeder design on lamb welfare evaluated through feeding behavior and lamb performance. Sixteen growing fat-rumped lambs of 3–4 months were categorized into 2 groups with an average weight of 23.20 ± 0.25kg. Group I lambs were fed in conventional feeder i.e. without divider and group II in designed feeder i.e. with divider respectively. The eating time was significantly (P < 0.05) low in group I with longer and strong agonistic behavior suggesting intense competition within the group. This group showed minimal weight gain and maximal feed wastage due to extreme struggle for food during the period of the study. The time spent in comfort behaviors like lying rumination was more and agonistic behavior was less in group II lambs. They showed significantly (P < 0.05) higher body weight gain. This can be concluded from the study that group feeding of growing lambs in feeder with divider allocates designated space for individual lamb, reduce agonistic behavior and bring better growth in lambs under stall feeding conditions.
Vesical stone formation caused by a forgotten and migrated intrauterine contraceptive: A case report with literature review
Authors: Hameed Farooq , Anwaar Adeel , Anwar Mamoona , Anwar Maria
Published: February 2024

Background
As widely known, an intrauterine device (IUD) is a small, typically T-shaped contraceptive device that offers long-term reversible birth control. However, neglecting to remove the IUD can lead to severe complications. This case report showcases an exceptional instance that underscores the potential risks associated with retention of an IUD.
Case Presentation
This case report documents a 40-year-old female who failed to remove her intrauterine device for eight years. Upon her visit to our clinic, she presented with increased urinary frequency, burning micturition, dysuria, and discomfort while emptying her bladder. Medical review consisting of ultrasound (KUB) and X-ray pelvis revealed the intrauterine device had migrated and was encrusted with a stone. We used Holmium laser lithotripsy to break down the stone, before using cystoscope to manually remove the intrauterine device. She made a rapid recovery without any complications.
Conclusions
In order to raise awareness about forgotten or misplaced IUDs and their complications, we are presenting a case of complete intravesical IUD migration at our clinic. This serves as an educational opportunity to shed light on this uncommon occurrence and emphasize the importance of timely removal and follow-up in patients using intrauterine devices (IUDs).
Immunogenicity and efficacy of XBB.1.5 rS vaccine against EG.5.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2 in Syrian hamsters
Authors: Boon Jacco , Soudani Nadia , Bricker Traci , Darling Tamarand , Seehra Kuljeet , Patel Nita , Guebre-Xabier Mimi , Smith Gale , Suthar Mehul , Ellebedy Ali , Davis-Gardner Meredith
Published: February 2024

The continued emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants necessitates updating COVID-19 vaccines to match circulating strains. The immunogenicity and efficacy of these vaccines must be tested in pre-clinical animal models. In Syrian hamsters, we measured the humoral and cellular immune response after immunization with the nanoparticle recombinant Spike (S) protein-based COVID-19 vaccine (Novavax, Inc.). We also compared the efficacy of the updated monovalent XBB.1.5 variant vaccine to previous COVID-19 vaccines for the induction of XBB.1.5 and EG.5.1 neutralizing antibodies and protection against a challenge with the EG.5.1 variant of SARS-CoV-2. Immunization induced high levels of spike-specific serum IgG and IgA antibodies, S-specific IgG and IgA antibody secreting cells, and antigen specific CD4 + T-cells. The XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 vaccines, but not the Prototype vaccine, induced high levels of neutralizing antibodies against XBB.1.5 and EG.5.1 variants of SARS-CoV-2. Upon challenge with the Omicron EG.5.1 variant, the XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 vaccines reduced the virus load in the lungs, nasal turbinates, trachea and nasal washes. The bivalent vaccine continued to offer protection in the trachea and lungs, but protection was reduced in the upper airways. In contrast, the monovalent Prototype vaccine no longer offered good protection, and breakthrough infections were observed in all animals and tissues. Thus, the protein-based XBB.1.5 vaccine is immunogenic and can protect against the Omicron EG.5.1 variant in the Syrian hamster model.
Distinct sources of resting-state EEG microstates in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Metzger Marjorie , Dukic Stefan , McMackin Roisin , Giglia Eileen , Mitchell Matthew , Bista Saroj , Tadjine Yasmine , Sirenko Vladyslav , Plaitano Serena , Coffey Amina , McManus Lara , Sharp Adelais Farnell , Mehra Prabhav , Heverin Mark , Bede Peter , Muthuraman Muthuraman , Pender Niall , Hardiman Orla , Nasseroleslami Bahman
Published: February 2024

Brain microstates are a well-established method for the dynamic analysis of resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG). We observed four quasi-stable, transient and reoccurring resting-state topographies in the high density EEG data (128 electrodes, 3x2 min recording blocks). The four microstates were reliably observed across conditions: individuals with Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) (n = 99) versus age-matched healthy controls (HC, n = 78).
To improve the understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying microstates, we estimated the sources of microstates topographies. A general linear model was applied to predict the microstate sequence based on EEG-estimated source space time courses. High reproducibility across participants of influential brain sources led to the identification of four microstate specific networks. Some brain regions contributed to several microstate networks, which may indicate that these regions (including the precuneus, the superior frontal gyrus and the hippocampus) are functional neuronal ‘hubs’ of connection. Additionally, distinct source patterns were observed between ALS patients and healthy controls, highlighting potential functional changes in the brain networks in ALS.
Coupled CFD-FEM Analysis of the Damage Causes of the Retention Bunker: A Case Study at Hard Coal Mine
Authors: Janoszek Tomasz , Rotkegel Marek
Published: February 2024

Underground coal storage bunkers are built to equalize coal output, guarantee continuity of the excavated coal transport, and store coal at the point where the nature of the transport changes from continuous to periodic. The physical properties of stored coal in underground coal storage bunkers are unpredictable and prone to sudden changes, especially for the coal mines that operate under water hazards. Interaction with underground water changes the state of solid coal and forms a coal-water mixture. The hydromixture radically changes the conditions of internal hydrostatic loading. The main goal of the paper was to determine the values of pressure field variations exerted by the flowing hydromixture. The influence of the internal pressure loading change on the stress distribution in the underground coal storage bunker was tested. The changes in the underground coal storage bunker's pressure caused by the flow of hydromixture were examined using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method. The damage to an underground coal storage bunker due to stress distribution was examined using the finite element method (FEM). The results of the CFD numerical simulation were compared with the mathematical models.
Semi-empirical modeling of weaving process for high-quality and property parts in plasma arc directed energy deposition
Authors: Suhr Jonghwan , Kim Min-Kyeom , Fang Yongjian , Kim Juwon , Heo Sungho , Jang Youngseob , Ahn Heesung , Kim Yonghwi , Lee Wanki
Published: February 2024

Plasma arc directed energy deposition (DED) technology faces challenges, such as low resolution, nonuniform layers, defects, and severe deformation, despite its advantage of rapid, large-scale manufacturing. Although a weaving process offers potential solutions to these issues, its optimization is challenging due to more processing parameters over a stringer process. To address this, we introduce a semi-empirical modeling approach for the weaving process using 316L austenitic stainless steel. This modeling enables the empirical determination of printable region and the numerical alleviation of residual stress and deformation, using multi-heat sources to significantly reduce computing time. Our findings show that a larger weaving process notably decreases bead aspect ratio, dilution, and thermal deformation, thereby reducing uneven beads and layers, compared to the stringer process. Additionally, it enhances heat dissipation and minimizes the heat-affected zone, leading to a remarkable 69.98% increase in elongation while maintaining tensile strength at 486 MPa. This innovative approach offers a practical solution for enhancing the weaving process, overcoming its prevalent challenges to produce high-quality parts with improved properties.
Translation and psychometric evaluation of Persian version of the oral presentation evaluation scale in nursing students
Authors: Rahmatkhah Tahmine , Dashti-Kalantar Rajab , Vosoghi Nazila , Mirzaei Alireza , Mehri Saeid
Published: February 2024

Background
Delivering concise oral presentations is a valuable skill for nurses. Strong oral presentation skills influence not only the quality of nurse-client communications and the effectiveness of teamwork among healthcare professionals but also promotion, leadership, and professional development. This study aimed to determine the translation and psychometric evaluation of the Persian version of the oral presentation evaluation scale in nursing students.
Methodology:
The oral presentation evaluation scale (OPES) was translated into Persian using the standard method of translation and re-translation. Then, in a cross-sectional study, it was distributed among 474 nursing students of different levels using the available sampling method. Reliability was determined by Cronbach's alpha coefficient and test-retest repeatability. Confirmatory factor analyses determined construct validity.
Results
The questionnaire in Persian comprises 15 items and is divided into three factors: accuracy of content, effective communication, and speech clarity. The overall content validity index score (S-CVI) was 0.94. The three-factor questionnaire's fitness indices were RMSEA = 0.070, CFI = 0.96, GFI = 0.91, and AGFI = 0.88. The intra-cluster correlation index (ICC) was 0.965, and the Cronbach's alpha was 0.875.
Conclusion
The results of the present study indicated that the OPES-Persian Survey with 15 items enjoyed appropriate reliability and validity and could be used to evaluate the successful oral presentation among nursing students.
Exploring the Role of Disulfidptosis-Related Genes in GBMLGG Prognosis: A Comprehensive Pan-Cancer Study
Authors: Shen Jing , Li Xiaowei , Xu Hua , Wang Peng , Yan Hanfei
Published: February 2024

Background
Disulfidptosis, a novel programmed cell death (PCD) driven by disulfide stress, has emerged as a potential player in various cancer dynamics. However, its implications in Glioma (GBMLGG) prognosis and immunotherapy response remain an uncharted territory.
Results
An extensive analysis on 15 disulfidptosis-associated genes across multiple cancers highlighted their diverse prognostic values. Specifically for GBMLGG, these genes offered unique non-clustered grouping with profound significance in prognosis differentiation. Out of these, seven pivotal genes were pinpointed using a robust machine learning framework encompassing 101 algorithm combinations. Their prognostic reliability was underscored through receiver operating characteristic curves and Kaplan-Meier (KM) analyses, both presenting highly satisfactory outcomes. The culmination of this work led to the formulation of a predictive nomogram. In-depth correlations were established between these target genes and key tumor-immunity factors, with 13 types of immune cells and 19 immune checkpoint genes showcasing significant ties. Single-cell analysis provided further validation to these findings.
Conclusions
This study underscores the intricate relationship between disulfidptosis-associated genes and GBMLGG prognosis. The derived nomogram, based on meticulously selected target genes through machine learning, exhibited remarkable accuracy across different datasets, offering promising avenues for GBMLGG prognostic strategies.
Trial registration:
Not applicable
Limited training and transfer effects in older and young adults who participated in 12 sessions of process-based working memory training. A three-armed pretest-posttest design study
Authors: Zając-Lamparska Ludmiła
Published: February 2024

Objective: Numerous studies confirm the effectiveness of cognitive training in older adults. However, there is limited evidence of the transfer occurrence. The part of the study presented here tested the effect of 12 sessions of process-based working memory training on the performance of the trained task (training effect) and other cognitive tasks (transfer effect). A pretest-posttest study design with one experimental group and two control (passive and active) groups was applied. The sample comprised 3 groups of older adults: experimental (n = 25), passive control (n = 22), active control (n = 7), and young adults: experimental (n = 25), passive control (n = 25), and active control (n = 12). The study was registered after completion of the study with a ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT06235840 on 31 January 2024.
Results: Under the influence of training, the performance of the trained task improved significantly, but only in young adults. Transfer of WM training effects was not revealed. Among young adults, a testing effect was observed for the indicator of attentional focus and psychomotor speed. Moreover, the obtained results suggest the transfer from practice in multi-domain training, implemented in the active control group, to tasks that require the use of fluid intelligence. However, this finding should be interpreted with great caution due to the small size of active control groups.
Mineral and Fluid Transformation of Hydraulically Fractured Shale: Case Study of Caney Shale in Southern Oklahoma
Authors: Awejori Gabriel A. , Dong Wenming , Doughty Christine , Spycher Nicolas , Radonjic Mileva
Published: February 2024

This study explores the geochemical causes of permeability loss in hydraulically fractured reservoirs. The experiments involved the reaction of powdered-rock samples with produced brines in batch reactor system at temperature of 95oC and atmospheric pressure for 7-days and 30-days respectively. Results show changes in mineralogy and chemistry of rock and fluid samples respectively, therefore confirming chemical reactions between the two during the experimental period. The shift in mineralogy of the rock included decreases of pyrite, feldspar, and carbonate content whiles illite content showed an initial increase before decreasing. Results from analyses of post-reaction fluids generally corroborate the results obtained for mineralogical analyses. In essence, the results reveal a complex trend of reactions between rock and fluid samples which is summarized as follows. Breakdown and oxidation of pyrite by oxygenated fluid causes transient and localized acidity which triggers the dissolution of feldspar, carbonates, and other minerals susceptible to dissolution under acidic conditions. The dissolution of minerals releases high concentrations of ions which subsequently precipitate secondary minerals. On the field scale, the formation of secondary minerals in the pores and flow paths of hydrocarbons significantly reduces the permeability of the reservoir, which culminates in rapid productivity decline. This study provides an understanding of the geochemical rock-fluid reactions that impact long term permeability of shale reservoirs. Findings from the study also reveal the potential of depleted hydraulically fractured shale reservoirs as carbon storage units.
Systemic Genome Correlation Loss as a Central Characteristic of Spaceflight
Authors: Taghibiglou Changiz , Sakharkar Anurag , Lukong Kiven , Sanders Lauren , Costes Sylvain , Yang Jian
Published: February 2024

Space exploration has captured the imagination of humanity for generations. From the first steps on the moon to the recent Mars rover and Artemis lunar exploration missions, space travel has always been an ambitious goal for humanity. However, as we venture further into space and prepare for long-term missions to other planets, the physiological and health risks associated with prolonged space travel are becoming more prominent. Most current research on astronaut health focuses on identifying individual genes or pathways for specific symptoms astronauts face. The human system is complex and delicate, and the effects of microgravity, radiation, and isolation on astronaut health during long-duration spaceflight are still not fully understood. This study used a novel ranking and analysis methodology to combine space omics data from multiple datasets in the NASA OSDR repository. The data was used to generate a multi-omic, integrative bioinformatics analysis pipeline, which identified and characterized a genome-wide spaceflight gene expression correlation loss as a central biosignature for astronaut health on the International Space Station (ISS). Our findings indicate that genome-wide correlation loss corresponds to a breakdown in gene synchronization and cooperation, showcasing the systemic symptoms spaceflight induces and their genomic roots.
MOI: a comprehensive database of multi-omics upon viral infection
Authors: Guo Xuefei , Zhao Yang
Published: February 2024

Viral infections are huge threats to human health and cause many diseases. For instance, SARS-CoV-2 infection causes COVID-19, resulting in millions of deaths worldwide in the past 2 years. To develop effective strategies for controlling viral infections and curing infected patients, we must understand which molecular events happened in host cells or tissues upon infection. Multi-omics data related viral infection is growing rapidly, however, a comprehensive database for systematically documenting host responses to viruses is missing. Here, we developed a user-friendly multi-omics portal of viral infection named as MOI (http://www.fynn-guo.cn/). We manually collected high-throughput sequencing data associated infection of different viruses, and their detailed metadata including virus species, assay type and so on, from PubMed and GEO. We have processed omics data of more than 3200 viral infected samples from viral infection in both human and mice with standard pipelines, including (sc)RNA-seq, ChIP-seq and ATAC-seq. Then, we integrated this information into useful cell marker tables, gene expression tables, and epigenetic landscape charts. In addition, we developed multiple online tools to help users analyze their own data, such as DNA sequence convertion, FPKM calculation and differentially expressed genes identification and GO/KEGG enrichment analysis. Furthermore, we have implemented powerful tools for efficiently visualizing the multi-omics data with 16 common plots. MOI aspire to provide a user-friendly interface for browsing, searching, analyzing, visualizing and downloading all virus-related data, which could facilitate the analysis and utilization of available multi-omics data and promote the understanding of virus-host interactions.
• MOI provides comprehensive cell markers from scRNA-seq of human and mouse.
• MOI also contain abundant expression profiles and epigenetic landscapes for human and mouse with different treatment.
• MOI integrates a series of online tools for multi-omics analysis and visualization.
Risk factors for severe COVID-19 infection and the impact of COVID-19 infection on disease progression among patients with AAV
Authors: Wang Chen , Li Zhi-Ying , Jiang Gui-Ping , Zhao Ming-Hui , Chen Min
Published: February 2024

Objective
To identify risk factors for COVID-19 infection and investigate the impact of COVID-19 infection on chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression and vasculitis flare in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).
Methods
This cohort study retrospectively analyzed the prevalence and severity of COVID-19 infection in 276 patients with AAV who were followed up. Logistic regression was employed to estimate the risk of COVID-19 infection as well as CKD progression and vasculitis flare upon COVID-19 infection.
Results
During the 6-month observation period, 213 (77.2%) of 276 patients had a diagnosis of COVID-19 infection. Of these 213 patients, 49 (23.0%) had a COVID-19-related inpatient admission, including 17 patients who died of COVID-19 infection. AAV patients with severe COVID-19 infection were more likely to be male (OR 1.921 [95% CI 1.020–3.619], P = 0.043), suffered from worse kidney function (serum creatinine [Scr], OR 1.901 [95% CI 1.345–2.687], P < 0.001), had higher C-reactive protein (CRP) (OR 1.054 [95% CI 1.010–1.101], P = 0.017) and less likely to have evidence of initial vaccination (OR 0.469 [95% CI 0.231–0.951], P = 0.036), and Scr and COVID-19 vaccination were proven to be significantly associated with severe COVID-19 infection even after multivariable adjustment. Severe COVID-19 infection was significantly associated with subsequent CKD progression (OR 7.929 [95% CI 2.030-30.961], P = 0.003) and vasculitis flare (OR 11.842 [95% CI 1.048-133.835], P = 0.046) among patients with AAV.
Conclusion
AAV patients who were male, and with worse kidney function were more susceptible to severe COVID-19 infection, which subsequently increased the risk of CKD progression and vasculitis flare.
An Examination of A Single-Pass Heat Exchanger's Parametric Design Using Coding
Authors: Monu Pardeep kumar , Naveen Naveen Kumar , Raj Raj Kumar , Amit Amit Sharma , Anju Anju
Published: February 2024

The main objective of this real-life example is to help readers who may have just a basic understanding of engineering concepts and a limited amount of expertise with the exchange of heat equipment. The procedure of creating a structure, a thermal transfer area, as well as pressure decreases whereas determining whether the inferred variables satisfy every need is referred to as Thermo-Hydraulic Structure originality. Analyzing many design variables is necessary for the hydrocracker unit heat exchanger, commonly known as the compact thermal exchanger. The design phases and assumptions are covered in this research as well. Borlando C++ program is used for parametric research evaluations. The intricate connections between fluid mechanics and heat transfer are also shown in this case study, drawing from a variety of scholarly research papers and industry recognized design data book. The design seeks to produce a high rate of heat transfer rather than a large pressure drop. The coding is essential to the design of densely packed heat exchangers and represents a significant improvement over previous designs.
The malonyl/acetyl-transferase from murine fatty acid synthase is a promiscuous engineering tool for editing polyketide scaffolds
Authors: Grininger Martin , Buyachuihan Lynn , Reiners Simon , Zhao Yue
Published: February 2024

Modular polyketide synthases (PKSs) play a vital role in the biosynthesis of complex natural products with pharmaceutically relevant properties. Their modular architecture makes them an attractive target for engineering to produce platform chemicals and drugs. In this study, we demonstrate that the promiscuous malonyl/acetyl-transferase domain (MAT) from murine fatty acid synthase serves as a highly versatile tool for the production of polyketide analogs. We evaluate the relevance of the MAT domain using three modular PKSs; the short trimodular venemycin synthase (VEMS), as well as modules of the PKSs deoxyerythronolide B synthase (DEBS) and pikromycin synthase (PIKS) responsible for the production of the antibiotic precursors erythromycin and pikromycin. To assess the performance of the MAT-swapped PKSs, we analyze the protein quality and run engineered polyketide syntheses in vitro. Our experiments include the chemoenzymatic synthesis of fluorinated macrolactones. Our study showcases MAT-based reprogramming of polyketide biosynthesis as a facile option for the regioselective editing of polyketide scaffolds.
Causal role of circulating inflammatory proteins in Angina pectoris: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study with mediator insights
Authors: Zhang Xin-He , Zhang Dan , Liu An-Bang , Meng Ting-Ting , Tian Peng , Chen Jian-Lin , Xu Hong-Wei , Zhang Yu , Lin Yan-Xia , Zheng Yan , Su Guo-Hai
Published: February 2024

Background: Angina pectoris (AP), characterized by retrosternal chest pain, pressure, or discomfort, serves as a prognostic indicator for significant cardiac adverse events and has been associated with numerous inflammatory mechanisms in prior research. Nevertheless, the precise causal connection between AP and diverse circulating inflammatory proteins remains inadequately elucidated.
Methods: This study used a thorough two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis to determine the causal link between inflammatory proteins in the blood and AP. We used public genetic data to study the link between 91 inflammatory cytokine signatures and susceptibility to AP. Furthermore, we employed a two-step MR approach, incorporating data from 1400 metabolites, to explore potential mediators in the relationship between circulating inflammatory proteins and AP. A comprehensive sensitivity analysis was conducted to ascertain the validity of the findings, considering factors such as robustness, pleiotropy, and heterogeneity.
Results: Following the application of the false discovery rate (FDR) correction (P < 0.05), it was determined that circulating inflammatory proteins exhibited a significant impact on AP. In our study, one circulating inflammatory protein was identified as negatively associated with AP risk significance: interleukin-10. In addition, we examined 5 circulating inflammatory proteins with no statistically significant effect of AP, but it is worth mentioning that they had an unadjusted low P-value phenotype. Two of them, respectively, leukemia inhibitory factor, interleukin−4 have a negative effect on the incidence of AP, whereas the remaining three, interleukin−20 ，interleukin−22 receptor subunit alpha−1, neurotrophin−3 have a positive effect on the incidence of AP. At the same time, we also detected the effects of AP on three circulating inflammatory proteins after multiple FDR correction adjustments. They are t−cell surface glycoprotein CD5, interleukin−10 receptor subunit beta, and interleukin−18 receptor 1. We also examined the effect of a circulating inflammatory proteins called hepatocyte growth factor on AP without statistical significance, but its P FDR <0.2. They all showed a downward trend after the onset of AP.
Conclusions: As a result of our study, it was demonstrated that circulating inflammatory proteins are closely associated with AP via genetic means, which provides guidance for future clinical studies. This finding provides evidence for the prevention and treatment of AP with drug therapy targeting circulating inflammatory proteins. Further exploration is needed to verify the clinical significance of the association of circulating inflammatory proteins with the risk of AP development.
Activation of the hippocampal CA1 astrocyte Gq and Gi G protein-coupled receptors exerts a protective effect against attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Shan Yu-Dong , Yu Zhi-Fang , Lv Ge-Ge , Shan Yong-Lin , Li Bao-Dong , Zhao Jian-Yong , Li Xiao-Ming , Gao Wei-Juan , Zhang Li-Min
Published: February 2024

Background
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterized by symptoms such as inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, which significantly impact the healthy development of children. Our prior research demonstrated that exposure to S-Ketamine during pregnancy can lead to the development of ADHD, and existing studies have established a close association between astrocytes and the onset and progression of ADHD. The activation and inhibition of astrocytes are closely linked to neuropsychiatric dysfunction, and astrocytic NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) has been reported to contribute to alterations in mental state and cognitive deficits. Thus, this study aims to investigate the role of astrocytes in ADHD by selectively modulating astrocyte function through Gq and Gi G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) and by specifically targeting the knockout of NLRP3.
Methods
Pregnant C57BL/6J mice or mice with a specific deletion of NLRP3 in astrocytes were administered intraperitoneal injections of 15 mg/kg of S-ketamine for 5 consecutive days from gestational day 14 to 18 to establish an ADHD model. To modulate astrocyte activity in the hippocampal CA1 region, we administered astrocyte-specific Gq-Adeno-associated virus (AAV) or Gi-AAV into the CA1 and maintained treatment with CNO. At 21 days postnatally, we conducted open field test (OFT), novel object recognition (NOR), elevated plus maze (EPM) and fear conditioning (FC) in the offspring mice. Additionally, on postnatal day 14, we implanted electrodes in the CA1 region of the offspring mice for neurophysiological monitoring and investigated local field potentials (LFP) during novel object exploration on postnatal day 21. Lastly, pathological assessments were conducted after euthanasia.
Results
Both the activation and inhibition of astrocytes in the hippocampal CA1 region improved impulsive-like behaviors and cognitive function in ADHD mice, reduced the power of theta (θ) oscillations during novel object exploration and decreased NLRP3-associated inflammatory factors, including cleaved caspase-1 and IL-8. Furthermore, compared to WT mice, astrocyte-specific NLRP3 conditional knockout mice demonstrated significantly reduced impulsive behavior and cognitive deficits, as well as a decrease in θ oscillation power and a reduction in NLRP3-associated inflammatory factors.
Conclusions
Our data provide compelling evidence that the activation of astrocytic Gq or Gi pathways improves ADHD-like behaviors through NLRP3-dependent mechanisms.
CliqueFluxNet: Unveiling EHR Insights with Stochastic Edge Fluxing and Maximal Clique Utilisation using Graph Neural Networks
Authors: Molaei Soheila , Bousejin Nima Ghanbari , Ghosheh Ghadeer O. , Thakur Anshul , Chauhan Vinod Kumar , Zhu Tingting , Clifton David A.
Published: February 2024

Electronic Health Records (EHRs) play a crucial role in shaping predictive healthcare models, yet they encounter challenges such as significant data gaps and class imbalances. Traditional Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) approaches have limitations in fully leveraging neighbourhood data or demanding intensive computational regularisation. To address this challenge, we introduce CliqueFluxNet, a novel framework that innovatively constructs a patient similarity graph to maximise cliques, thereby highlighting strong inter-patient connections. At the heart of CliqueFluxNet lies its stochastic edge fluxing strategy — a dynamic process involving random edge addition and removal during training. This strategy aims to enhance the model's generalizability and mitigate overfitting. Our empirical analysis, conducted on MIMIC-III and eICU datasets, demonstrates significant progress in representation learning, particularly in scenarios with limited data availability. Qualitative assessments further underscore CliqueFluxNet’s effectiveness in extracting meaningful EHR representations, solidifying its potential for advancing GNN applications in healthcare analytics.
DCD-Net: Image Deraining with Delta Convolution and Joint Calibration Attention
Authors: Que Hanjing , Weng Jianing , Fang Ying , Hu Kejian , Wei Hongan , Xu Yiwen
Published: February 2024

Rain streaks typically result in pronounced visual degradation and foreground occlusions, impeding the progress of visual tasks in outdoor scenarios. Presently, predominant methodologies for image deraining rely on Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs). However, CNNs tend to focus excessively on low-level visual features, exhibiting limited capability in capturing high-dimensional, global features. They lack targeted attention to channel information and spatial details. Consequently, this paper propose the Delta-Calibration Derain Network (DCD-Net). This model introduces a sequential delta convolutional layer (DCL) structure to expansively augment the feature acquisition range. Furthermore, this study pioneers the Joint Calibration Attention (JCA) module to precisely capture channel and spatial feature information, thereby elevating network performance. Experimental findings substantiate that the proposed methodology outperforms conventional CNN-based deraining models, demonstrating superior visual performance.