bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biopurification - using non-growing microorganisms to improve plant protein ingredients.
Authors: Bachmann Herwig , Nugroho Avis , Schalkwijk Saskia van , Cebeci Sabri , Jacobs Simon , Wesselink Wilma , Staring Guido , Goerdayal Soenita , Prodan Andrei , Stijnman Ann , Teuling Emma , Broersen Kerensa
Published: January 2024

Securing a sustainable global food supply for a growing population requires a shift toward a more plant-based diet. The application of plant-based proteins is therefore increasing, but unpleasant off-flavors complicate their use. Here, we screened 97 microorganisms for their potential to remove off-flavors in a process with limiting amounts of fermentable sugar. This allowed to produce a more neutral-tasting, purified food ingredient, while limiting microbial growth and the production of typical fermentation end products. We demonstrate that various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeasts remove “green” aldehydes and ketones. This conversion can be carried out in less than one hour in almond, pea, potato, and oat proteins. Heterofermentative LAB were best at aldehyde and ketone neutralization with minimum de novo formation of microbial volatiles such as ethylacetate (sweet, fruity) or alpha-diketones (butter- and cheese-like). While sensory properties were improved, changes in protein solubility, emulsification, foaming, and in vitro digestibility were limited.
Morphometric Description of the Final Instar Nymphs and Exuviae of Odonata: Tramea limbata Des.
Authors: Paul Geetha , Suresh Priscilla , Philip Ninan Sajeeth
Published: January 2024

Tramea limbata, commonly known as the Black marsh trotter, is a dragonfly species belonging to the genus Tramea in the family Libellulidae. It has a cosmopolitan distribution found in various regions, including the peninsular region of India. This medium-sized red hued dragonfly is characterised by its distinctively long anal appendages. One key distinguishing feature of Tramea limbata is the presence of a dark-brown hind-wing patch. Both males and females exhibit red colouration, although females may also have a yellowish hue. The nymphs of Tramea limbata are robust, greenish-yellow and translucent aquatic insects. The study describes the morphology and morphometric characteristics of the nymphs and their exuviae (shed exoskeletons). The significant identifying characteristics noted are premental setae on the underside of the head and the lack of spiniform setae in the dorsal regions of the abdominal segments, particularly segments 6 to 9, giving them a smooth appearance. Notably, the appendages exhibit distinct patterns. The femur bears spines, while the tibia and tarsus are adorned with comb-like tufts of setae. These features help to distinguish Tramea limbata nymphs from strikingly similar nymphs of other Tramea species.
A Life Cycle Cost Analysis of Different Shore Power Incentive Policies on Both Shore and Ship Sides based on System Dynamics and a Chinese Port Case
Authors: Gu Yimiao , YU Xinyi
Published: January 2024

Shore power (SP) is widely recognized as an efficient strategy for reducing air pollution in port areas. Unfortunately, the adoption of SP has been relatively low, resulting in limited emission reductions and financial losses. To address these challenges, this paper focuses on enhancing the utilization rate of SP. We propose a system dynamics model that assesses the impact of various incentive policies on the economic and environmental benefits of SP. The model considers the life cycle cost and comprises four subsystems. By conducting a case study on Nansha Port, we find that price subsidies are more effective than construction subsidies in overcoming economic barriers. Furthermore, we observe that the overall economic benefits only increase when the electricity price decreases. This is because lowering the electricity price enhances the profitability of ships without negatively affecting port revenue. Additionally, it is the proportion of the electricity price and service price that determines the overall economic benefits, rather than the SP price itself. Hence, it is recommended to provide preferential subsidies for the electricity price.
Mitigation of Water stress by Compost and Arginine application and its impacts on Barley production
Authors: Hellal Farid , Sayed Saied El , Basha Doaa M. R. Abo , Kader Hanan H. Abdel
Published: January 2024

Background
Water-scarce locations necessitate the deployment of creative and sustainable techniques for managing water for agricultural production. Field experiment was conducted at the Experimental Research Farm of National Research Centre, Nubaria region, Egypt to alleviate the harmful effect of water stress on the yield of Mediterranean barley varieties (Giza 125, Tombari, Ksar Megrine and Tamellat) by compost (0.0, 2.0, 4.0, 6.0-ton feddan− 1) and arginine application (0.00 and 1000 ppm) under deficit irrigation. The amounts of irrigation water applied were “900 and 450” m3 feddan− 1 to sufficient irrigation and deficit irrigation, respectively.
Results
The greatest and most significant values of the chlorophyll values and relative water content values obtained at the treatment supplied with 6.0-ton compost feddan− 1 and sprayed with Arginine. There was a significant dramatic decrease in proline content with increasing compost application rates and treated barley plants by Arginine for all the studied barley varieties under both studied irrigation treatments. Increasing compost application rate associated with significant increase in number of spike m− 2 without or with arginine. Barley Tombari variety received 6.0-ton compost fed− 1 gained greatest significant values of grain (ton feddan− 1) under sufficient irrigation and Tamellat under deficit irrigation situation. The increases in compost rate increment grain yield values with arginine application more than untreated one. The greatest and significant grain yield was found at the treatment received 6.0-ton compost fed− 1 with arginine foliar application.
Conclusion
Compost application has an important role in maintaining greatest water use efficiency for plant and arginine application reported to contribute in reduction of destructive effects of a biotic stress thus their importance in increasing the barley production under water stress
Carboxymethyl-imidazolium O-vanillin Schiff base grafted into NH2-tagged MIL-101 (Cr) for effective removal of cupric ions from aqueous effluents
Authors: Rizk Moustafa A. , Yahya Rana , Alsaiari Raiedhah A. , Alsaiari Mabkhoot A. , Shahat Ahmed , Elshaarawy Reda F. M.
Published: January 2024

Due to the widespread presence of copper-containing contaminants, it is crucial to explore novel effective approaches to scavenging Cu(II) from potable water. To that end, a novel adsorbent (MIL-CMIVSB) was successfully fabricated by modification of H2N-MIL-101(Cr) with carboxymethyl-imidazolium O-vanillin Schiff base. The MIL-CMIVSB's physicochemical characteristics were examined using the pertinent characterization methods. Batch adsorption tests were performed to determine the optimal conditions for MIL-CMIVSB's adsorption capacity for cupric ions in aqueous solutions. The optimum conditions are 1 mg/mL of MIL-CMIVSB adsorbent, 46 min adsorption time, pH 7, 100 ppm initial cupric ion concentration, and 303 K temperature. By integrating adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherm, and Van't Hoff models, the adsorption behavior was interpreted. It was found that MIL-CMIVSB removed Cu(II) more selectively and effectively (adsorption capacity 359.05 ± 12.06 mg/g). The non-linear Liu isotherm governed Cu(II) sorption performance on MIL-CMIVSB (R2 = 0.99892) and pseudo-2nd-order kinetically (R2 = 0.99721).
An empirical study of the effectiveness of information delivery in Metaverse: Does it motivate users to take action?
Authors: Lee Joong Ho
Published: January 2024

The metaverse remains a vital subject even in post-COVID-19 due to its potential as an advanced communication platform. Gather.town stands out for its user-friendly interface, facilitating social interactions in a virtual context. This study investigated how users reacted when introduced to five new mobile apps through individual one-on-one interactions in Gather.town. We compared it with conventional social methods such as face-to-face meetings, Zoom, and Kakaotalk social messenger. In experiment 1, user satisfaction and intimacy were gauged through a questionnaire, revealing no substantial differences across conditions. However, experiment 2, conducted a few days later without advance notice, unveiled a notable distinction in users' active practice. Participants who were informed via Gather.town displayed a considerably lower rate of actual installations of introduced apps on their mobile phones than those informed via face-to-face conversations or Zoom meetings. While the metaverse showed promise during the COVID-19 era, a more precise assessment of information delivery efficacy is essential now that face-to-face interactions have resumed. Gaining a profound understanding of the distinct characteristics of virtual social interaction environments will enable us to explore the metaverse's unique and advantageous attributes effectively.
North Atlantic deep-sea benthic biodiversity unveiled through sponge natural sampler DNA
Authors: Riesgo Ana , Arias María Belén , Gallego Ramon , Díez-Vives Cristina , Neave Erika , Wang Cai , Cárdenas Paco , Steffen Karin , Taboada Sergio , Villamor Adriana , Drewery Jim , Kenchington Ellen , Mariani Stefano
Published: January 2024

The deep sea remains the biggest challenge to biodiversity exploration, and anthropogenic disturbances extend well into this realm, calling for urgent management strategies. One of the most diverse, productive, and vulnerable ecosystems in the deep sea are sponge grounds. Currently, environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is revolutionising the field of biodiversity monitoring, yet complex deep-sea benthic ecosystems remain challenging to assess even with these novel technologies. Here, we evaluate the effectiveness of whole-community metabarcoding to characterise metazoan diversity in sponge grounds across the North Atlantic by leveraging the natural eDNA sampling properties of deep-sea sponges themselves. We sampled 97 sponge tissues from four species across four North-Atlantic biogeographic regions in the deep sea and screened them at the universal COI barcode region. We recovered unprecedented levels of taxonomic diversity per unit effort, especially across the phyla Chordata, Cnidaria, Echinodermata and Porifera, with at least 406 metazoan species. These assemblages identify strong spatial patterns in relation to both latitude and depth, and detect emblematic species currently employed as indicators for these vulnerable habitats. We unveil the remarkable performance of sponges as high-resolution natural samplers of environmental DNA from across the whole animal kingdom and illustrate their vast potential as accurate, low-impact biomonitoring solutions for highly diverse, vulnerable deep-sea ecosystems.
Toward Best Practice in Identifying Subtle Differential Expression with RNA-seq: A Real-World Multi-Center Benchmarking Study Using Quartet and MAQC Reference Materials
Authors: Zhang Rui , Wang Duo , Liu Yaqing , Zhang Yuanfeng , Chen Qingwang , Han Yanxi , Hou Wanwan , Liu Cong , Yu Ying , Li Ziyang , Li Ziqiang , Zhao Jiaxin , Zheng Yuanting , Shi Leming , Li Jinming
Published: January 2024

Translating RNA-seq into clinical diagnostics requires ensuring the reliability of detecting clinically relevant subtle differential expressions, such as those between different disease subtypes or stages. Moreover, cross-laboratory reproducibility and consistency under diverse experimental and bioinformatics workflows urgently need to be addressed. As part of the Quartet project, we presented a comprehensive RNA-seq benchmarking study utilizing Quartet and MAQC RNA reference samples spiked with ERCC controls in 45 independent laboratories, each employing their in-house RNA-seq workflows. We assessed the data quality, accuracy and reproducibility of gene expression and differential gene expression and compared over 40 experimental processes and 140 combined differential analysis pipelines based on multiple 'ground truths'. Here we show that real-world RNA-seq exhibited greater inter-laboratory variations when detecting subtle differential expressions between Quartet samples. Experimental factors including mRNA enrichment methods and strandedness, and each bioinformatics step, particularly normalization, emerged as primary sources of variations in gene expression and have a more pronounced impact on the subtle differential expression measurement. We underscored the pivotal role of experimental execution over the choice of experimental protocols, the importance of strategies for filtering low-expression genes, and optimal gene annotation and analysis tools. In summary, this study provided best practice recommendations for the development, optimization, and quality control of RNA-seq for clinical diagnostic purposes.
The risk of diabetes associated with DDE exposure and its interaction with a common FTO gene variant: the Pro-Saude study, Brazil
Authors: Meyer Armando , Sichieri Rosely , Porta Miquel , Robinson Oliver , Verly Eliseu , Neto José , Rosa Ana , Vineis Paolo , Faerstein Eduardo
Published: January 2024

Exposure to dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) is suspected to be associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D). Other studies suggested that the fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) is associated with T2D risk, regardless of adiposity. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) was used in Brazil until the mid-2000s, but no previous studies investigated the association between diabetes and body concentrations of DDE in that country. We investigated that association in a population of Rio de Janeiro, as well as how the FTO-rs9939609 genotypes might affect it. In this cross-sectional study nested in the Pro-Saude cohort, participants were randomly selected according to age, sex, and educational level at the cohort's baseline up to n = 520. Individuals who self-reported diabetes or presented glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥ 6.5% in the study's phase 4 were considered diabetic. We used logistic regression to estimate the odds ratio of diabetes according to serum levels of DDE, adjusting for age, sex, and total fat mass. We stratified the adjusted odds ratio by FTO-rs9939609 variant genotypes. Serum levels of DDE were associated with a higher chance of having diabetes (OR: 1.43; 95%CI: 1.11–1.84). Across quartiles of DDE concentrations, the dose-response relationship was statistically significant (p-trend = 0.003). The magnitude of the association was higher among individuals with the homozygous allele for the FTO-rs9939609 gene (OR: 3.33; 0.45–24.13). Exposure to DDE may increase the risk of developing diabetes in the Brazilian population, especially in individuals homozygous allele for the FTO-rs9939609 variant.
First isolation and genotyping of pathogenic Leptospira spp. from Austria
Authors: Sohm Cynthia , Willixhofer Denise , Fasching Eva , Waldner Karoline , Deitzer Nicole , Steiner Janina , Jöbstl Julia , Schleicher Corina , Schwarz Marcel , Fuchs Reinhard , Bourhy Pascale , Käsbohrer Annemarie , Wittek Thomas , Firth Clair , Steinparzer Romana , Desvars-Larrive Amélie
Published: January 2024

Leptospirosis is a globally distributed zoonotic disease. The standard serological test, known as Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT), requires the use of live Leptospirastrains. To enhance its sensitivity and specificity, the usage of locally circulating strains is recommended. However, to date, no local strain is available from Austria. This study aimed to isolate circulating Leptospira strains from cattle in Austria to enhance the performances of the routine serological test for both humans and animals. We used a statistical approach combined with a comprehensive literature search to profile cattle with greater risk of leptospirosis infection and implemented a targeted sampling between November 2021 and October 2022. Urine and/or kidney tissue were sampled from 410 cattle considered at higher risk of infection. Samples were inoculated into EMJH-STAFF culture media within 2-6 hours and a PCR assay was used to confirm the presence/absence of pathogenic Leptospira in each sample. Isolates were further characterised by core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). Nine out of 429 samples tested positive by PCR, from which three isolates were successfully cultured and identified as Leptospira borgpetersenii serogroup Sejroe serovar Hardjobovis, cgMLST cluster 40. This is the first report on the isolation and genotyping of local zoonotic Leptospira in Austria, which holds the potential for a significant improvement in diagnostic performance in the country. Although the local strain was identified as a cattle-adapted serovar, it possesses significant zoonotic implications. Furthermore, this study contributes to a better understanding of the epidemiology of leptospirosis in Europe.
Water motifs in zirconium metal-organic frameworks induced by nanoconfinement and hydrophilic adsorption sites
Authors: Speybroeck Veronique Van , Lamaire Aran , Rogge Sven , Wieme Jelle
Published: January 2024

The intricate hydrogen bond network of water gives rise to various structures with anomalous properties at different thermodynamic conditions. Nanoconfinement can further modify the water structure and properties, and induce specific water motifs, which are instrumental for technological applications such as atmospheric water harvesting. However, so far, a causal relationship between nanoconfinement and the presence of specific hydrophilic adsorption sites is lacking, hampering the further design of nanostructured materials for water templating. Therefore, this work investigates the organisation of water in a series of zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), with varying topologies, pore sizes, and chemical composition, to extract design rules to shape water. The highly tuneable pores and hydrophilicity of MOFs makes them ideally suited for this purpose. We find that small nanopores favour orderly water clusters that nucleate at hydrophilic adsorption sites. Favourably positioning the secondary adsorption sites, hydrogen-bonded to the primary adsorption sites, allows larger clusters to form. To disentangle the importance of nanoconfinement and hydrophilic nucleation sites in this process, we introduce an analytical model with precise control of the adsorption sites. This sheds a new light on design parameters to induce specific water clusters and hydrogen-bonded networks, thus rationalising the application space of water in nanoconfinement.
Sulfur metabolism promotes the progression of Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma via the PPAR signaling pathway.
Authors: wei peng , Chen Bendong , Zhou Hongcai , zhang Xusheng , Song Lili , Ding Ling , Chen Long , Ma Weihu
Published: January 2024

More and more studies have shown that sulfur metabolism plays an important role in various cancers, but not much research has been done on Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (LIHC). This study aimed to discovered genes with high correlation between sulfur metabolism and LIHC. GSE148985, a dataset containing 10 experimental samples and 5 control samples was used to find differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in sulfur metabolism; and DEGs in LIHC were found from The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)database. Subsequently, 11 DEGs were obtained, through various bioinformatics methods and further analysis to obtain the target genes, our results showed that the sulfur metabolism promotes the progression of LIHC. As a result, we illustrate that the sulfur metabolism promotes the progression of LIHC via the PPAR signaling pathway.
Alien fish species in the North Aegean Sea: a review of their distributions integrating unpublished fisheries data
Authors: Evangelopoulos Athanasios , Karampetsis Dimitrios , Christidis Aris , Gubili Chrysoula , Sapounidis Argyrios , Adamidou Angeliki , Kamidis Nikolaos , Koutrakis Emmanouil
Published: January 2024

Fisheries-dependent data and information gathered through fisheries-related scientific surveys can significantly contribute to researching the patterns and processes underlying marine biological invasions and their interactions with fisheries. This study presents an overview of the presence of non-indigenous (NIS) fish species in the North Aegean Sea, offering insights into their distributions and impact on fisheries. The findings are based on a comprehensive compilation of commercial fisheries-dependent and scientific survey data collected in Greece from 2016 to 2023, along with an up-to-date systematic review of the international scientific literature. The study resulted in the identification of 37 non-indigenous fish species, including several recorded for the first time in the area. The results suggest that fish NIS invasions in the North Aegean Sea are dynamic: While most species were classified as casual, and the frequencies of occurrence as well as the quantities in commercial fisheries catches of established species are smaller than in the South Aegean Sea, an increasing trend in species introductions, extent of occurrence, and the area of occupancy of several species was identified. The significance of non-indigenous fish species is growing in relevance to commercial fisheries in the study area, especially in the Northeastern Aegean Sea. There, fish NIS catches are increasing, and new species of potential commercial interest have emerged in the last few years.
The distribution and drivers of tree cover in India
Authors: Gopalakrishna Trisha , Rifai Sami , Ratnam Jayashree , Menor Imma Oliveras , Stevens Nicola , Malhi Yadvinder
Published: January 2024

The distribution of forest and savanna biomes and the role of resources (climate and soil) and disturbances (fire and herbivory) in determining tree-grass dynamics remains elusive and variable across geographies. This is especially problematic in Indian savannas which have been historically misclassified as degraded forests and are targeted for tree-planting. Here, we examine biome distribution and determinants through the lens of tree cover across India. Our analyses reveal four distinct zones of differing tree cover, with intermediate zones containing savanna vegetation. Rainfall seasonality determines maximum possible tree cover non-linearly. Once rainfall seasonality is factored out, soil sand fraction and topography partially explain residual variation of tree cover. High domestic livestock herbivory and other anthropogenic pressures reduce tree cover. Lastly, lack of detectable fires precludes robust conclusions about the relationship between fire and tree cover. By considering these environmental drivers in restoration planning, we can improve upon simplistic tree planting initiatives that may be detrimental to Indian savannas.
Stability and inter-family associations of hair endocannabinoid and N-acyl-ethanolamines across the perinatal period in mothers, fathers, and children
Authors: Bergunde Luisa , Steudte-Schmiedgen Susann , Karl Marlene , Jaramillo Isabel , Gao Wei , von Soest Tilmann , Garthus-Niegel Susan
Published: January 2024

Analysis of endocannabinoids (ECs) and endocannabinoid-related compounds (ERCs) in hair is assumed to retrospectively assess long-term EC/ERC concentrations. To inform their use, this study investigated stability of EC/ERC hair concentrations in mothers, fathers, and their children across the perinatal period as well as associations between family members. In a prospective cohort study, EC (AEA, 1-AG/2-AG) and ERC (SEA, PEA, OEA) levels were quantified in hair samples taken four times in mothers (n =336)and their partners (n =225) from pregnancy to two years postpartum and in offspring (n =319) from shortly after birth to two years postpartum. Across the perinatal period, maternal and paternal hair ECs/ERCs showed fair-to-good multiple-test consistency and variable relative stability, and inconsistent absolute stability for mothers. Regarding children, hair ECs/ERCs evidenced poor multiple-test consistency, no absolute stability, and either no or variable relative stability. Hair ECs/ERCs were significantly related across the perinatal period within couples and parent-child dyads. Findings suggest hair ECs/ERCs during the perinatal period possess some trait-like stability in adults, highlighting the utility of hair analysis. The first two years of life may be a dynamic phase for the endocannabinoid system in children, potentially characterized by endocannabinoid system synchrony within the family.
Frequency of Cul-de-sac Obliteration in Surgery for Pelvic Organ Prolapse: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Hirata Go , Miyagi Etsuko , Maruyama Yasuyo , Ishikawa Rena , Hirabuki Tomoo
Published: January 2024

Introduction and Hypothesis: We aimed to clarify the frequency of cul-de-sac obliteration in patients undergoing POP surgery.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent laparoscopic POP surgery at our hospital between April 2017 and September 2021.
Results: In total, 191 cases were included in the analysis. Ten patients (5.2%) had cul-de-sac obliteration. No difference in age (73 years vs. 72 years, P = 0.99), parity (2 vs. 2, P = 0.64), or body mass index (BMI) (25.7kg/m2 vs. 24.7kg/m2, P = 0.34) was observed between the cul-de-sac obliteration and normal groups. No significant differences were observed in the rate of previous abdominal surgery (50.0% vs. 32.6%, P = 0.46), rate of POP – quantification system (POP-Q) ≥2 posterior prolapse (40.0% vs. 46.4%, P = 0.98), and effect of defecation symptoms on the prolapse quality of life (p-QOL) score (vaginal bulge emptying bowels: 2.5 vs. 3.5, P = 0.15; empty bowel feeling: 3 vs. 3, P = 0.72, constipation: 3.5 vs. 3, P = 0.58; straining to open bowels: 3.5 vs. 3, P=0.82; empty bowels with fingers: 1 vs. 1, P = 0.55) between the cul-de-sac obliteration and normal groups. Multivariate analysis of risk factors for the cul-de-sac obliteration was performed for age, number of births, previous abdominal surgery, and presence of rectocele; however no significant risk factors were extracted.
Conclusion: Predicting cul-de-sac obliteration preoperatively in patients undergoing POP surgery based on age, number of previous surgeries, previous abdominal surgeries, rectocele, and defecation symptoms is difficult.
A simple and sequential strategy for the introduction of complexity and hierarchy in hydrogen-bonded organic (HOFs) crystals for environmental applications
Authors: Fernández Antonio , Halliwell Chris , Jolley Kenny , Yendall Keith , Elsegood Mark R.J. , Parkinson Gary
Published: January 2024

Hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) are a new class of crystalline porous organic molecular materials (POMMs) with great potential for a diverse range of applications. HOFs face common challenges to POMMs, and in general to purely organic crystals, that is, the difficulty of integrating multiple hierarchies in crystals. Herein, we proposed a simple and sequential strategy for the formation of hierarchical HOFs, including combined hierarchies in composition, architecture, and porosity. The strategy is based on controlling the assembly conditions, avoiding the use of any surface functionalization or template and obtaining hierarchical crystalline porous structures in an easy manner. As proof of concept, we demonstrate that hierarchical HOF crystals can be used to assemble crystals with superhydrophobicity and trapping abilities for the capture of persistent water contaminants such as oils and microplastics. We expect that this strategy could serve as inspiration for the construction of more intricated multiscale structures that could greatly expand the library of HOFs materials.
Effects of exogenous organic acids and biological substrates on the structural characteristics of soil bacterial communities in coastal mudflat soils of salt-tolerant forage growth field
Authors: xiaoyu Liu , Liang Zhong , Ruixue Yang , Huiyan Wang , Xinbao Liu , Wei Xue , He Yang , Yixin Shen , Jianlong Li , Zhengguo Sun
Published: January 2024

Aims
The high salinity of soil, nutrient scarcity, and poor aggregate structure limit the exploitation and utilization of coastal mudflat resources and the sustainable development of saline soil agriculture. In this paper, the effects of applying exogenous organic acids combined with biological substrate on the composition and diversity of soil bacterial community were studied in moderately saline mudflats in Jiangsu Province.
Methods
A combination of three exogenous organic acids (humic acid, fulvic acid, and citric acid) and four biological substrates (cottonseed hull, cow manure, grass charcoal, and pine needle) was set up. A total of 120 kg ha− 1 of organic acids and 5000 kg ha− 1 of substrates were used, plus two treatments, CK without application of organic acids and substrates and CK0 in bare ground, for a total of 14 treatments.
Results
No significant difference was found in the alpha diversity of soil bacterial community among all treatments (P > 0.05), with the fulvic acid composite pine needle (FPN) treatment showing the largest increase in each index. The beta diversity differed significantly (P ≤ 0.05) among all treatments, and the difference between citric acid–grass charcoal (CGC) and CK treatments was greater than that of other treatments. All treatments were effective in increasing the number of bacterial ASVs and affecting the structural composition of the community. Citric acid–cow manure, FPN, and CGC treatments were found to be beneficial for the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Actinobacteria, respectively. By contrast, all treatments triggered a decrease in the relative abundance of Acidobacteria. The changes in soil bacterial communities were closely related to the changes in soil salt alkali and nutrient characteristics induced by the addition of exogenous organic acids and biological substrates.
Conclusions
Adding exogenous organic acids and biological substrates provides a relatively independent microenvironment and sufficient nutrients for the life activities of different energy-type bacteria. It regulates the species composition and functional characteristics of bacterial communities by changing the structural characteristics of these communities in mudflats.
Social alienation and self-care ability in old age among rural empty-nest elderly multiple mediating effects through psychological resilience and subjective well-being
Authors: Jiang Zhaoquan , Sun Qi , Zhang Huijun , Zhou Shixue
Published: January 2024

Background
This study aims to explore the roles of psychological resilience and subjective well-being as multiple mediators in the relationship between social alienation and the ability for self-care in elderly individuals living alone in rural areas, particularly focusing on the empty-nest segment of this population.
Methods
From February 17, 2021, to April 20, 2023, A multistage stratified sampling approach was utilized to conduct a survey among 425 elderly individuals (aged 60 and above) living in rural areas without the company of their children, commonly referred to as 'empty-nesters'. These participants were recruited from rural areas of Liaoning Province, China. The questionnaire included the Generalized Social Alienation Scale, the Psychological Resilience Scale, the Subjective Well-being Scale, and the Self-care Ability In Old Age Scale. The analysis was designed to define the characteristics of the sample. We employed linear regression to examine how social alienation influences self-care capabilities in the elderly. To assess the compound mediating effects of psychological resilience and subjective well-being, the PROCESS macro (Model 6) was utilized.
Results
Social alienation significantly impacts self-care ability in the elderly living alone in rural areas, with a direct effect size of β = -0.678 (95% CI = -0.750–0.607), accounting for 66.67% of the total influence. Additionally, three indirect pathways play a role in shaping self-care ability in old age: 1) The psychological resilience route, contributing 42.37% of the total effect (β=-0.431, 95% CI=-0.515–-0.350); 2) The subjective well-being route, adding 4.32% to the total effect (β = 0.044, 95% CI = 0.010–0.089); and 3) A combined pathway involving both psychological resilience and subjective well-being, which adds 4.71% to the overall effect (β = 0.048, 95% CI = 0.029–0.073). The cumulative mediating effect of these pathways is 33.33%.
Conclusions
In rural areas, the well-being and self-care capabilities of older adults living alone are significantly influenced by their psychological resilience and sense of subjective well-being. As such, it's imperative for healthcare professionals and relevant stakeholders to focus on the mental health and psychological resilience of these individuals. By doing so, and by prioritizing their subjective well-being, targeted interventions can be effectively implemented to bolster the resilience and overall happiness of these elderly members of our rural communities.
A pseudonymized corpus of occupational health narratives for clinical entity recognition in Spanish
Authors: Dunstan Jocelyn , Vakili Thomas , Miranda Luis , Villena Fabián , Aracena Claudio , Vera Paulina , Valenzuela Sebastián Viteri , Rocco Victor
Published: January 2024

Despite the high creation cost, annotated corpora are indispensable for robust natural language processing systems. In the clinical field, apart from annotating medical entities, personally identifiable information (PII) must be removed, especially in the era of large language models where unwanted memorization can occur. This paper presents a corpus annotated to anonymize personally identifiable information in 1,787 anamneses of work-related accidents and diseases in Spanish. In addition, we applied a previously released model for Named Entity Recognition (NER) trained on referrals from primary care physicians to identify diseases, body parts, and medications in this work-related text. We analyzed the differences between the models and the gold standard curated by a physician in detail. Moreover, we compared the performance of the NER model on the original narratives, in narratives where personal information has been masked, and in texts where the personal data is replaced by another similar expression (pseudonymization). Within this publication, we share the annotation guidelines and the annotated corpus.
Identification of exosome-related differentially expressed genes in ischemic stroke
Authors: Lin Ma , Xiaofang Xi , Yu Cao
Published: January 2024

An ischemic stroke is a pathological condition characterized by an abrupt cessation of blood flow to a specific cerebral region, leading to a concomitant impairment of neurological function. This form of stroke arises from occlusions or constriction of the cerebral arteries responsible for supplying blood to the brain, and may manifest as a consequence of diverse factors including thrombosis, embolism, or systemic hypoperfusion. The aim of the present study was to identify exosome-related differentially expressed genes (ERDEGs) for ischemic stroke (IS) by integrating and analyzing gene expression profiles from two independent datasets. Differential expression analysis yielded 16 ERDEGs (Aprt, Cd55, Ckap4, Ctsz, Cuta, Emg1, Imp3, Lamp2, Mgam, Mif, Mme, Mmp9, Sdcbp, Slamf1, Tln1, and Tubb), which were examined for functional similarities and differential expression between IS and control groups. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (GSEA) revealed significant pathways involved in platelet aggregation and inflammatory responses. The diagnostic potential was assessed employing Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) logistic regression methodologies, identifying a subset of genes exhibiting substantial diagnostic accuracy. Four ERDEGs (Tubb, Sdcbp, Tln1, and Ctsz) were identified as key biomarkers, with Sdcbp showing the highest utility. The clinical efficacy of the diagnostic model based on ERDEGs was evaluated, demonstrating significant prognostic significance for IS.
Safety and feasibility of early water consumption after general anesthesia recovery in patients undergoing daytime surgery
Authors: Lu Yixing , Liu Siyan , Jing Shunzhong , Zhao Xuefeng , Liang Jiamei , Sun Xiaoqiang , Lin Yunan
Published: January 2024

Following general anesthesia, many patients experience dry lips, throat discomfort, intense thirst, and a strong desire to drink water in the postanesthesia care unit (PACU). However, the safety of drinking water is often raised. In this prospective observational study we aimed to assess the safety and feasibility of allowing patients to drink water shortly after recovering from general anesthesia, particularly in the context of daytime surgery. Postoperative patients were given water intake in the PACU according to a standard assessment protocol. A total of 216 patients undergoing non-gastrointestinal surgery. For the per-protocol analysis, sixteen patients were excluded. They were divided into four groups based on the amount of water they consumed: group A (<1 mL kg–1), group B (1–2 mL kg–1), group C (>2 mL kg–1), and group D (no drinking). The incidence of post-drinking nausea and vomiting was only 0.67%（1/150）, with no differences in comparisons between groups (P =0.289). Drinking water resulted in a significant decrease in thirst, oropharyngeal discomfort, and pain scores, while significantly increasing the antral motility index (MI). This difference was statistically significant when compared to the pre-drinking values (P < 0.001). Notably, the more water patients consumed, the more pronounced their gastrointestinal peristalsis. A significant difference in antral MI was observed between groups B, C, and A (P < 0.001). Non-gastrointestinal surgical patients who pass a pre-drinking water assessment after resuscitation from general anesthesia can safely consume moderate amounts of water in the PACU. Early water intake is both safe and feasible to promote postoperative recovery.
Clinical trial registration: http://www.chictr.org.cn/usercenter.aspx identifier: ChiCTR2200063418.
Barriers Interfere with Wide Usage of NOAC for Prevention of Thromboembolic Events Among Doctors in Sudan: a Cross-Sectional Survey February 2023
Authors: Khalil Elaf Sabri , Husain Asmaa Elfatih , Nouh Waddaha Mohammed , Awad Mustafa Sabir Abakar
Published: January 2024

Background:
Ischemic heart disease and stroke kill 25% of people worldwide. Vitamin K antagonist (warfarin) is the most widely used oral anticoagulant. Although affordable and effective, its usage is limited in many patients due to anticoagulation level variability and other factors, its alternatives include new nonvitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs). The study aims to investigate NOAC usage barriers.
Methods:
This is an observational, cross-sectional study, involved 144 doctors from different specialties and different medical degrees in Khartoum state, the data were collected by an author designed close-ended questionnaire. Data were entered, cleared and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) V25.0 software
Results:
Medicine was most common (45.8%) among 144 medical department participants. The most prevalent medical degrees were registrars (25%) and doctors (25%). Specialists (22.9%), then house officers (15.3%). Over half (51.4%) had worked less than five years. 50% didn't know about the 2021 DOACs guideline, 13.9% wanted to prescribe but couldn't owing to scope of practice or supervisor preference. 60.4% claimed DOACs' unavailability inhibits prescription. The lack of a multidisciplinary team approach hinders DOACs prescription, said 70.2%.
Conclusion:
Sudanese clinicians' hurdles to using NOAC for thromboembolic episodes were explored. Lack of a reversal agent and multi-disciplinary team approach hinder DOAC prescription. Lack of information about international guidelines, since most participants preferred specialized advice or personal experience, and high DOAC costs and inaccessibility and unavailability are other important barriers. Medical practitioners should update guidelines and government insurance plans should include DOACs. Each department should start studies separately.
Optimizing Photovoltaic Power Plant Forecasting with Dynamic Neural Network Structure Refinement
Authors: Díaz-Bello Dácil , Vargas-Salgado Carlos , Alcázar-Ortega Manuel , Águila-León Jesus
Published: January 2024

Energy systems face a challenge characterized by the inherent uncertainty associated with accurate renewable power generation forecasts. Despite the availability of weather prediction methods, achieving precise predictions for photovoltaic (PV) power generation remains a critical necessity. In response to this challenge, this study presents a novel approach that leverages genetic algorithms to optimize PV power plant forecasting. The proposed algorithm dynamically refines the neural network's structure during training, minimizing the mean square error by adjusting parameters such as the number of neurons, transfer functions, weights, and biases. An evaluation of twelve representative days, each representing one month, is conducted using annual, monthly, and seasonal data. Evaluation metrics are employed to assess forecast accuracy, including root mean square error, R-value, and relative percentage error. The research uses MATLAB for modeling, training, and testing, with a 4.2 kW photovoltaic plant utilized for data validation. Results showcase the effectiveness of genetic algorithms, with mean squared errors as low as 20 on cloudy days and 175 on sunny days. Moreover, the genetic algorithm-based artificial neural network optimization methodology achieves forecasting vs. target regressions ranging from 0.95824 to 0.99980, underscoring its efficiency in providing reliable PV power generation predictions.
Exploring Morpho-syntactic Errors in English Compositions by University ESL Learners
Authors: Umarlebbe Jameela Hanoon , Said Seriaznita , Shamsudin Sarimah
Published: January 2024

Proficiency in English writing poses a pervasive challenge for second language learners globally, extending to Sinhala and Tamil-speaking students in Sri Lanka. Given English's role as the primary medium of instruction in Sri Lankan universities across most disciplines, it is a mandatory subject for all first-year students, irrespective of their field of study. This pilot study represents an initial exploration into the investigation of morpho-syntactic errors in the English compositions of university students in a Sri Lankan public institution. Sixteen participants’ answer scripts, evenly split between Sinhala-speaking and Tamil-speaking English learners, were selected for this study. The essays under investigation were sourced from year-end examination answer scripts, employing a purposive sampling method. The study seeks to discern prevalent morpho-syntactic errors in university-level ESL learners. This involves utilizing Corder's (1974)methodological steps for error analysis and categorizing errors through the Surface Strategy Taxonomy (SST) devised by Dulay et al. (1982). A total of 328 errors were identified and categorized into four SST types: omission, addition, misformation, and misordering. Findings reveal a prevalence of misformation errors, followed by omission, addition, and misordering. Sinhala-speaking learners exhibited a higher error percentage (54%) than their Tamil-speaking counterparts. Notably, within the Tamil-speaking group, a significant difference emerged, with Tamil-speaking Muslim learners demonstrating fewer errors than Tamil-speaking Hindu learners. These insights open avenues for broader research into the nuanced factors influencing morpho-syntactic errors in ESL learning contexts worldwide.
Study on the fire resistance of straight tenon joints with dowel
Authors: Wang Yong , Shao Jianhua , Wang Tingting , Wang Zhanguang , Xu Hongxuan , Zhang Xuan
Published: January 2024

In order to study the fire resistance of straight tenon joint with dowl, this paper uses finite element software to establish the joint temperature field model. Through this model, the temperature distribution of each part of the joint is obtained. In this paper, the sequential coupling method is used for the simulation of the heat-force coupling field, and the residual bearing capacity of the straight tenon joint with dowl at high temperature is modeled and analyzed. Through this analysis, the stress cloud diagrams of the damage modes of the joint under different high-temperature conditions were obtained, as well as the change curves of mechanical parameters such as the bending moment-angle curve, rotational stiffness, yielding angle, yielding moment and maximum moment of the joint at different temperatures. The simulation results show that the maximum heating temperature of the joint increases, the more easily the node is damaged. With the increase of the maximum temperature, the percentage of the residual bearing capacity of the joint in terms of rotational stiffness, yielding moment and maximum moment decreases gradually.
Bioproduction of yeast single cell oil with acute oral toxicity study intended for edible oil application
Authors: Nautiyal Abhilek Kumar , Singh Priyanka , Paul Pranoy , Raut Sachin , Bhasker Thallada , Chowdhury Nilotpal , Khatri Neeraj , Ghosh Debashish
Published: January 2024

Human nutrition and health rely on edible oils. Global demand for edible oils is expanding, necessitating the discovery of new natural oil sources subjected to adequate quality and safety evaluation. However, in contrast to other agricultural products, India's edible oil supply is surprisingly dependent on imports. The microbial oil is generated by fermentation of oleaginous yeast Rhodotorula mucilaginous IIPL32 MTCC 25056 using biodiesel plant byproduct crude glycerol as a fermentable carbon source. Enriched with monounsaturated fatty acid, nutritional indices mapping based on the fatty acid composition of the yeast SCO, suggested its plausible use as an edible oil blend. In the present study, acute toxicity evaluation of the yeast SCO in C57BL/6 mice has been performed by randomly dividing the animals into 5 groups with 50, 300, 2000, and 5000 mg/Kg yeast SCO dosage, respectively, and predicted the median lethal dose (LD50). Detailed blood biochemistry and kidney and liver histopathology analyses were also reported. The functions of the liver enzymes were also evaluated to check and confirm the anticipated toxicity. To determine cell viability and in vitrobiocompatibility, the 3T3-L1 cell line and haemolysis tests were performed. The results suggested the plausible use of yeast SCO as an edible oil blend due to its non-toxic nature in mice models.
Outdoor biohydrogen production by thermotolerant Rhodopseudomonas pentothenatexigens KKU-SN1/1 in a cluster of ten bioreactors system
Authors: Punriboon Netchanok , Sawaengkaew Jutaporn , Mahakhan Polson
Published: January 2024

In tropical regions, the viability of outdoor photo-fermentative biohydrogen production faces challenges arising from elevated temperatures and varying light intensity. This research aimed to explore how high temperatures and outdoor environments impact both biohydrogen production and the growth of purple non-sulfur bacteria. The findings revealed the potential of Rhodopseudomonas spp. as a robust outdoor hydrogen-producing bacteria, demonstrating its capacity to thrive and generate biohydrogen even at 40°C and under fluctuating outdoor conditions. Notably, Rhodopseudomonas pentothenatexigens KKU-SN1/1 exhibited the highest cumulative biohydrogen production of 400 mL/L under outdoor conditions. In addition, the outdoor enhancement of biohydrogen production was achieved through the utilization of a cluster of ten bioreactors system. The outcomes demonstrated a notable improvement in biohydrogen production efficiency, marked the highest daily biohydrogen production was 493 mL/L/day. Significantly, the highest biohydrogen production rate was noted to be 17 times greater than that observed in conventional batch production methods. This study is the first report represents the inaugural utilization of R. pentothenatexigens for sustained biohydrogen production in the outdoor conditions, facilitated by the cluster of ten bioreactors system over an extended operational period.