bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brazilian Gold Miners Working Irregularly in French Guiana: Health Status and Risk Determinants
Authors: Silva Amanda Figueira da , Franco Vivian da Cruz , Douine Maylis , Albuquerque Hermano Gomes , Hureau Louise , Sanna Alice , Mosquera Pamela , Pereira Rafael dos Santos , Santos Simone da Silva , Marchesini Paola , Bretas Gustavo , Gomes Margarete , Lambert Yann , Suárez-Mutis Martha Cecília
Published: July 2024

Brazilian garimpeiros are a highly hard-to-reach and mobile population, with little access to basic hygiene and health services, and have been crossing the border to work irregularly in gold mines in French Guiana since the 90s. This study aimed to characterize this population and identify their main health problems. A cross-sectional study was carried out in the municipality of Oiapoque-AP, with two surveys: before (2018) and after (2019) the implementation of Malakit. Individuals were recruited from resting places and submitted to a questionnaire with demographic variables, history and knowledge of malaria, and health issues in the mines. Simultaneously, a clinical evaluation was performed. The garimpeiros were mainly men from Maranhão, Pará, and Amapá, with a low educational level and worked on average for 10 years in the mining sites. The study population mentioned numerous health problems: malaria, followed by leishmaniasis, flu, body aches, headaches, and digestive problems. Other diseases mentioned were skin diseases, bat bites, hepatitis, and HIV infection. This vulnerable population is constantly subjected to heavy routines and exposed to different diseases and infections that can spread across borders. Knowledge of this is essential for developing public health policies that can be integrated into specific epidemiological situations.
Assessing the Limit of CO2 Storage in Seawater as Bicarbonate-Enriched Solutions
Authors: Varliero Selene , Jamali Alamooti Samira , Campo Francesco Pietro , Cappello Giovanni , Cappello Stefano , Caserini Stefano , Comazzi Federico , Macchi Piero , Raos Guido
Published: July 2024

The dissolution of CO2 in seawater in the form of bicarbonate ions is an attractive alternative to the storage in geological formations, on the conditions that the storage is stable over long times and does not harm the marine environment. In this work, we focus on the long-term chemical stability of CO2 absorbed in seawater as bicarbonate, by monitoring the physico-chemical properties of the solutions (pH, dissolved inorganic carbon and alkalinity), in six different sets of experiments on both natural and artificial seawater lasting up to three months. The bicarbonate treatment of natural seawater consists in pouring pre-equilibrated solutions obtained from the reaction of CO2 and Ca(OH)2. If the pre-equilibrated mixture does not exceed a critical threshold (ca. 1000-1500 mmol/L), the resulting bicarbonate-rich solutions can be stable for over three months.
Automated Production of [68Ga]Ga-desferrioxamine B on Two Different Synthesis Platforms
Authors: Kraihammer Martin , Petřík Miloš , Rangger Christine , Gabriel Michael , Haas Hubertus , Nilica Bernhard , Virgolini Irene , Decristoforo Clemens
Published: July 2024

PET imaging of bacterial infection could potentially provide added benefit for patient care by non-invasive means. [68Ga]Ga-desferrioxamine B – a radiolabelled siderophore – shows specific uptake by human-pathogenic bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus or Pseudomonas aeruginosa as well as sufficient serum stability for clinical application. Here, we provide data for automated production of [68Ga]Ga-desferrioxamine B on two different cassette based synthesis modules (Modular-Lab PharmTracer and GRP 3V) using commercially available cassettes together with an approved 68Ge/68Ga radionuclide generator. Quality control including determination of radiochemical purity as well as a system suitability test was set up via RP-HPLC on a C18 column. The two described production processes, using an acetic acid/acetate buffer system with ascorbic acid as a radiation scavenger for radiolabelling, yield ready-to-use formulations with sufficient activity yield. Batch data showed radiochemical purity of >95 % as determined by RP-HPLC and ITLC as well as excellent stability over 2 hours post production. Specifications for routine production were set up and validated with four master batches for each synthesis module. Based on this study, an academic clinical trial for imaging of bacterial infection was initiated. Both described synthesis methods enable reproducible, automated in-house production of [68Ga]Ga-desferrioxamine B for clinical application.
Determining by Consensus Lung Ultrasound Guidelines for the Management of Paediatric Pneumonia—Protocol for a Modified Delphi Survey
Authors: Du Toit Jacques , Romano Fabrizio , Rees Chris A. , Gravel Cynthia A. , Neuman Mark , Keitel Kristina
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Lower respiratory tract infections, including pneumonia, are one of the leading causes of child mortality, especially in low-resource settings. Current guidelines rely on clinical signs for diagnosis, leading to over-prescription of antibiotics, which in turn contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Lung point of care ultrasound (L-POCUS) offers potential to improve diagnostic accuracy and reduce unnecessary antibiotic use, but lacks standardized guidelines for diagnosis and management of paediatric pneumonia. Methods and Analysis: This study utilizes a modified Delphi process to develop expert consensus guidelines for L-POCUS interpretation in paediatric pneumonia that would constitute a framework for effective guidelines for judicious antibiotic prescribing. The 5-stage iterative process includes: i) creation of a literature summary and conceptual framework, ii) first round of online surveys for expert feedback, iii) virtual meetings to discuss survey results and refine guidelines, iv) second round of online surveys, v) final analysis and development of consensus guidelines. A panel of 12-15 experts, chosen for their paediatric POCUS experience, geographic diversity, and gender balance, will participate. Consensus will be defined as ≥75% agreement. Ethics and Dissemination: Participation is voluntary, with consent obtained at the start and the option to withdraw at any time. The protocol was approved by the Ethics Commission of Bern, Switzerland. Findings will be disseminated through open access publication.
State of the Art Synthesis of Ag-ZnO-Based Nanomaterials by Novel Atmospheric Pressure Microplasma Techniques
Authors: Khalid Ayesha , Naeem M. , Atrooz Omar , Mozafari M. R. , Anari Fatemeh , Taghavi Elham , Rashid Umair , Aziz Bushra
Published: July 2024

Atmospheric pressure Microplasma is a simple, cost-effective, efficient, and eco-friendly procedure, which is superior to the traditional nanomaterials synthesis techniques. It generates high yields and allows for a controlled growth rate and morphology of nanomaterials. The silver (Ag) nanomaterials, with their unique physical and chemical properties, exhibit outstanding antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Similarly, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials, known for their low toxicity and relatively lower cost, find wide applications in wound repair, bone healing, and antibacterial and anticancer applications. The use of core-shell nanomaterials in certain situations where some nanoparticles can cause serious harm to host tissues or organs is a testament to their potential. A benign material is coated over the core to reduce toxicity in these cases. This review compares the numerous configurations of microplasma systems used for synthesizing nanomaterials and their use in producing Ag, ZnO, and their core-shell (Ag-ZnO) nanomaterials for biomedical applications. The summary also includes the effect of control parameters, including cathode diameter, gas flow rate, precursor concentration, voltage, and current, on the nanomaterial's characteristics and applications. In addition, it provides a research gap in the synthesis of Ag, ZnO, and core shall nanomaterials by this technique, as well as the development and limitations of this technique and the use of these nanoparticles for biomedical applications.
Individual Protective Covers (IPCs) Improve Yield and Quality of Citrus Fruit under Endemic Huanglongbing (HLB)
Authors: Gaire Susmita , Albrecht Ute , Batuman Ozgur , Zekri Mongi , Alferez Fernando
Published: July 2024

The use of individual protective covers (IPCs) to protect newly planted citrus trees from HLB infection is being widely adopted in Florida, an HLB endemic citrus producing area. It is known that IPCs positively influence most horticultural traits, increasing tree growth, flush expansion, and leaf size enabling trees to sustain a balanced carbohydrate metabolism by preventing CLas infection and induced higher leaf chlorophyll levels. This may result in more productive trees. However, as the tree grows IPCs eventually are removed, typically between 2 and 3 years after initial installation. Once IPCs are removed, trees become exposed to the ACPs and ultimately become infected. In this work we covered trees from Valencia sweet orange with IPCs for 30 months, until the trees entered fruit bearing age. We investigated how IPC protection of newly planted trees for 30 months influenced fruit quality and yield of ‘Valencia’ trees for three consecutive seasons after IPC removal compared to non-covered trees. The use of IPCs kick-started the newly planted citrus trees, resulting in more yield and fruits with better internal and external quality. After 30 months of IPC protection, tree canopies were larger and denser supporting more fruit per tree than in non-protected trees for three consecutive seasons even though by the end of the first season after IPC removal trees were HLB positive. Tree height, scion diameter, canopy volume, and leaf area were significantly improved as compared to non-covered trees. Additionally, fruit quality was significantly improved in the three seasons following IPC removal as compared to non-covered trees. However, a decline in quality was measurable in fruit from IPC trees after the second harvesting season, with trees affected by HLB. Based on the results from this study, we conclude that benefits from IPC protection may last for at least three consecutive seasons once trees enter the productive age despite CLas-infection within 12 months after IPC removal.
Public Health in Disaster: Emotional Health and Life Incidents Extraction during Hurricane Harvey
Authors: Hoang Thomas , Nguyen Quynh Anh , Nguyen Hoang Long
Published: July 2024

Countless disasters have resulted from climate change, with severe damage to infrastructure and the economy. Their societal impacts require mental health services for the millions affected. To prepare for and respond effectively to these events, it is important to understand people’s emotions and incidents both before and after a disaster strikes. The emotions and other life incidents expressed on Twitter during the 2017 Hurricane Harvey were mined in this case study. Between August 20 and August 30, we collected a dataset of approximately 400,000 public tweets that related to the storm. Using a BERT-based model, we predicted the emotions attached to each tweet. After that, we used various natural language processing techniques to analyze the tweets themselves to understand what kind of ’topics’ were being discussed when people expressed certain ’emotions’. Applying the Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) technique for topic modeling sidesteps the need for manual content analysis and allows us to find meaningful patterns in the data. Results show that there is a significant change of emotions occurred when the hurricane is at most devastating and many of life incidents become pressing demands/concerns from population such as evacuation plan, animal safety, safety update, public policy, helps, flood, and fake news.
Uncovering Urban Palimpsest through Descriptive and Ana-Lytical Approaches to Urban Morphology. Understanding the Ottoman Urban Fabric of Bursa, Türkiye
Authors: Sarihan Elif , Lovra Éva
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the structured spatial organization through a focus on streets, blocks and buildings, proposing them as fundamental components in conceptualizing cities as layered pal-impsests. Former Ottoman capital city, Bursa, serve as case study due to its rich evolutionary history and the potentiality of the urban heritage values/elements they demonstrate. Following the “Tanzimat” Era, a period marked by modernization and renewal, the urban fabric of Ottoman capital cities underwent significant reforms aimed at aligning them with the principles of mo-dernity. Maps dating back to the 19th century serve as the most illustrative sources for compre-hending the evolving character and layout of these cities. The foundational aspects of the charac-ter and appearance of the historic environment played crucial roles not only in shaping the mod-ern city but also in preserving and enhancing urban heritage areas by harmonizing them with contemporary urban conditions. Factors such as street age, street hierarchy, block typology, and the localization of historical landmarks are indispensable for grasping the developmental trajec-tory of these cities, offering insights that bridge spatial scales and span across historical eras. Employing a combination of qualitative and quantitative data, this research builds upon descrip-tive and analytical approaches to urban morphology. The methodology entails comprehensive morphological analysis, which involves assessing changes and persistence in the urban fabric of selected heritage site, both pre-existing and post-modernization, drawing from its historically scientific maps. The analysis focuses on abstracting key attributes such as type, configuration, size, and the relationship between the elements.
Innovation in Skills and Sustainable Development in Italian Upper Secondary Technical Education and the Professional Role of Construction, Environment, and Territory Technicians
Authors: Pompigna Andrea , Ferrario Gianluigi
Published: July 2024

This study explores innovation and sustainability within the Construction, Environment, and Territory (CAT) curriculum in Italian Upper Secondary Schools. It begins with an overview of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) and its integration at various educational levels, focusing on technical/vocational curricula in Upper Secondary Education. The study examines the evolution of the technician's role, the CAT pathway in the Italian educational system, and comparisons with other European contexts. It analyzes the alignment between skills developed during the CAT course and the professional competencies required by the community and job market. A survey conducted among recent graduates and companies involved in the Pathways for Transversal Skills and Orientation (PCTO) at a CAT-focused school reveals significant training and professional needs related to Sustainable Development. To address these needs, the study proposes integrating ministerial programs in professional disciplines such as Topography, Building and Technological Systems Design, and Geopedology, Economics, and Appraisal, with new modules dedicated to Sustainable Development. These modules are to be integrated into the last three years of the course, utilizing the autonomy and flexibility in curricular planning per-mitted by current regulations. Additionally, the proposal includes actions to redistribute existing educational modules within ministerial programs without increasing teaching hours. An initial step in updating professional discipline programs involves implementing a cross-disciplinary educational path within Civic Education, focusing on Sustainable Mobility. The investigation, evaluation, and educational design process presented in this study aims to serve as a model for swiftly implementing structured curriculum reforms, emphasizing educational innovation and comprehensive student preparation to meet emerging social and professional needs.
Properties of Co-free Ni-Rich LiNi0.8Mn0.1Fe0.1O2 as Cathode Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Hashem Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed , El-Tawil Rasha Samir , Abbas Somia Mohamed , Abdel-Ghany Ashraf El-Sayed , Bargnesi Luca , Arbizzani Catia , Mauger Alain , Julien Christian M.
Published: July 2024

This study throws more light on the new Co-free and Ni-rich LiNi0.8Mn0.1Fe0.1O2 cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. This cobalt-free cathode material is prepared using a two-step process: the formation of an oxalate precursor by co-precipitation followed by a solid-state reaction with lithium hydroxide and iron citrate. The physico-chemical properties of LiNi0.8Mn0.1Fe0.1O2 are characterized using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. The LiNi0.8Mn0.1Fe0.1O2 electrode tested at at C/2 rate within voltage window of 3.0-4.4 V vs. Li+/Li delivers a specific capacity of ~80 mAh g-1 and retain about 45% of its initial capacity after 100 cycles.
Proposal of a Mathematical and Computational Method for Determining the Optimal Number of Clusters in the K-Means Algorithm
Authors: Chanchí Gabriel , Barrera Dayana , Barreto Sandra
Published: July 2024

(1) Background: The rapid evolution of the internet and technological infrastructure has led to a surge in data generation across various contexts, increasing the use of machine learning tools to extract valuable information. Clustering, particularly using the K-means algorithm, is a common technique. However, determining the optimal number of clusters in K-means is challenging, as traditional methods like the elbow method can be imprecise and subjective. This study proposes a more accurate and objective method to identify the optimal number of clusters. (2) Methods: The proposed method utilizes the numerical derivative of cluster inertias and the maximum value of the ratio between contiguous derivatives. Implemented in Python using sklearn, numpy, and matplotlib, the method was validated with synthetic datasets generated by artificial intelligence, where cluster numbers are clearly distinguishable. (3) Results: The method proved to be more precise and less subjective than the traditional elbow method, accurately identifying the optimal number of clusters in all tested synthetic datasets. Additionally, it demonstrated computational efficiency with minimal RAM usage and execution time, making it suitable for practical data analysis applications. (4) Conclusions: This new mathematical and computational method significantly improves the determination of the optimal number of clusters in K-means, offering a more accurate and objective alternative to traditional techniques. Future work will extend this method to hierarchical clustering and develop a cloud service for wider accessibility
The Control of Septin Dynamics for Budding Yeast Cytokinesis
Authors: Varela Salgado Maritzaida , Piatti Simonetta
Published: July 2024

Cytokinesis, the process by which the cytoplasm divides to generate two daughter cells after mitosis, is a crucial stage of the cell cycle. Successful cytokinesis must be coordinated with chromosome segregation and requires the fine orchestration of several processes, such as constriction of the actomyosin ring, membrane reorganisation, and, in fungi, cell wall deposition. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, commonly known as budding yeast, septins play a pivotal role in the control of cytokinesis by assisting the assembly of the cytokinetic machinery at the division site and controlling its activity. Yeast septins form a collar at the division site that undergoes major dynamic transitions during the cell cycle. This review will discuss the functions of septins in yeast cytokinesis, their regulation and the implications of their dynamic remodelling for cell division.
Direct Binding of Synaptopodin 2-Like Protein to Alpha-Actinin Contributes to Actin Bundle Formation in Cardiomyocytes
Authors: Yamada Hiroshi , Osaka Hirona , Tatsumi Nanami , Araki Miu , Abe Tadashi , Kaihara Keiko , Takahashi Ken , Takashima Eizo , Uchihashi Takayuki , Naruse Keiji , Takei Kohji
Published: July 2024

Synaptopodin 2-like protein (SYNPO2L) is localized in the sarcomere of cardiomyocytes and is involved in heart morphogenesis. However, the molecular function of SYNPO2L in the heart is not fully understood. We investigated the interaction of SYNPO2L with sarcomeric alpha-actinin and actin filaments in cultured mouse cardiomyocytes. Immunofluorescence studies showed that SYNPO2L colocalized with alpha-actinin and actin filaments at the Z-discs of the sarcomere. Recombinant SYNPO2La or SYNPO2Lb caused bundling of actin filaments in the absence of alpha-actinin and enhanced alpha-actinin-dependent formation of actin bundles. In addition, high-speed atomic force microscopy revealed that SYNPO2La directly bound to alpha-actinin via its globular ends. The interaction between alpha-actinin and SYNPO2La stabilized the two proteins on actin filaments. These results strongly suggest that SYNPO2L cooperates with alpha-actinin during actin bundle formation to facilitate sarcomere formation and maintenance.
Comparative Study on the Effect of Calcium Chloride on the Physicochemical Properties of Glycerol- and Sorbi-tol-Plasticized Pea Protein Isolate Films
Authors: Kowalczyk Dariusz
Published: July 2024

Ca2+ can boost protein-protein interactions and, if present at an appropriate level, can potentially improve the physicochemical properties of protein gels and films. This study aimed to determine the effect of CaCl2 (0, 0.01 0.025 0.05% w/w) on the optical, water affinity, and mechanical char-acteristics of glycerol (Gly)- and sorbitol (Sor)-plasticized pea protein isolate (PPI) films. The CaCl2 caused darkening and a color shift of the films from yellow to yellow-green. Additionally, de-creased light transmission, particularly in the UV range, and reduced moisture content were observed. The CaCl2 decreased the water vapor permeability (WVP) of the Gly-plasticized film by an average of 20%, with no effect on the Sor-plasticized film. All films were completely soluble in water. The CaCl2 negatively impacted the mechanical integrity of the films, reducing the tensile strength of the Gly- and Sor-plasticized films by ~16% and 14-37%, respectively. Further increases in CaCl2 content (0.1% and 0.2% w/w) led to concentration-dependent cracks, suggesting protein over-crosslinking. In summary, the incorporation of CaCl2 into PPI films did not provide signif-icant benefits and actually worsened key properties such as transparency and mechanical strength. The type of plasticizer influenced how CaCl2 affected some properties of the PPI film.
Understanding Individual Motivations and Desistance: Interviews with Genocide Perpetrators from Rwanda and Cambodia
Authors: Caspar Emilie
Published: July 2024

In this study, I present the results of interviews with forty-nine former genocide perpetrators from Rwanda and fifty-one former members of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia to better understand motivations and desistance for participating in mass atrocities. I contrast these qualitative interviews with experimental research from psychology and neuroscience to offer an interdisciplinary approach to better understand their participation. The findings from the interviews show that a vast majority of respondents identified obedience to authority as a primary factor in their involvement. Many also cited the significant influence of group dynamics, particularly in Rwanda where many murders were carried out by armed groups. These reports align with two main forms of social influence: obedience to authority and conformity. Research in psychology and neuroscience had shown that obeying orders or conforming to a group can strongly alter our behaviors by affecting several brain processes. When questioned about desistance, a majority from both groups conceded that without intervention from an external military force, they would not have stopped participating on their own. This finding may be pivotal as it emphasizes the necessity of external intervention to stop mass atrocities.
Daily Prison Fiqh: A Practical Solution of Islamic Law to The Problems of Prisoners in Tembilahan, Riau
Authors: Najamuddin Najamuddin , Wahidi Ridhoul , Rahman Riki
Published: July 2024

The article aimed to answer the daily fiqh problems of prisoners in Correctional Institutions (Lapas) class II Tembilahan. The fiqh problems related to Islamic law relating to individuals, relationships with God and prison society. The structured interviews with prisoners and the study of relevant documents were used to answer the research questions. This research uses a qualitative approach and literature by referring to classical and contemporary fiqh books. This research resulted in the findings of the formulation of daily fiqh of prisoners in Class II Tembilahan Correctional Institution, namely: First, related to fiqh laws that concern individual issues such as masturbation, tattoos, vital organs installed with roles to becoming prayer leader (imam), paying debts from drug money, anxious between farting or not at the time of bowing or prostration, the law of not providing maintenance for the wife for a long time, and apologizing to parents who have died. Secondly, there is the issue of fiqh rulings between the servant and Allah. In this case, one issue is the law of the zuhur prayer being performed before the Friday prayer. Third, issues related to relationships with society. In this case, there is one issue, namely maintaining tolerance for non-Muslims in prison. This research contributes to providing Islamic legal solutions to the daily problems of Muslim prisoners to continue to carry out religious obligations in correctional institutions and as a reference for policymakers in correctional institutions to continue to present legal benefits for Muslim prisoners.
Silicon fertilization reinforces community temporal stability via increasing species asynchrony under long-term nitrogen fertilization in alpine meadow
Authors: xu danghui , Tang Yuxin , Yang Yuting , Huang Baiying , Zhou Wenhong , Wu Yuqi , Mou Wenbo , Ma Hailan
Published: July 2024

There is a lot of empirical evidence pointing towards nitrogen (N) fertilization having adverse effects, but silicon (Si) fertilization having beneficial effects, on biodiversity in grassland. However, despite N and Si fertilization having been widely applied in grassland management, relatively little is known about how their influences on biodiversity can shape community temporal stability, which is of practical importance in guaranteeing the performance of multiple ecosystem functions. Here, a nine-year field experiment was conducted to test the mechanisms contributing to community temporal stability in relation to net primary productivity and species richness, including species dominance, species asynchrony, dominant species stability, and population stability, under N and Si fertilization in an alpine meadow ecosystem. We found that N fertilization increased the aboveground net primary productivity but decreased the species richness and species asynchrony. This meant that the community temporal stability was weakened through the reduced species asynchrony and increase in species dominance, which led to a less stable ecosystem. Meanwhile, Si fertilization increased community temporal stability directly, and indirectly via the positive influence on species asynchrony, indicating that compensatory growth is the main mechanism driving community temporal stability. Overall, Si fertilization was able to modulate the response of community temporal stability to N fertilization. These results highlight the different mechanisms driving community temporal stability under different types of nutrient fertilization, such as N and Si, which provides scientific support for alpine meadow management.
Multi-agents Rounding Strategy based on DeepReinforcement Learning GCMSA Algorithm
Authors: Wei Zhaotian , Wei Ruixuan
Published: July 2024

Aiming at the problem of target rounding by multi-agents in complex environ-ments, this paper proposes a Goal Consistency Reinforcement Learning Approachbased on Multi-head Soft Attention(GCMSA). Firstly, in order to make the modelcloser to reality, the reward function when the target is at different positions andthe target escape strategy are set respectively. Then, the Multi-head soft atten-tion module is used to promote the information cognition of the target amongthe agents, so that the agents can complete the target roundup more smoothly.Finally, in the training phase, this paper introduces cognitive dissonance loss toimprove the sample utilisation. Simulation experiments show that GCMSA isable to obtain a higher task success rate and significantly better than MADDPGin terms of algorithm performance.
Farmers’ knowledge and attitudes toward the use of low-cost stationary brushes for dairy cows
Authors: Nascimento Fernanda Gatti de Oliveira , Brito Amanda Aparecida , Bóscollo Paola Perez , Brettas Patrícia Kelly de Moraes , França André Madeira Silveira , De-Sousa Karolini Tenffen , Faria Priscila Neves , Guimarães Ednaldo Carvalho , Nascimento Mara Regina Bueno de Mattos
Published: July 2024

The aim was to assess farmers’ knowledge of herd behaviour, grooming-related injuries, stress reduction, familiarity with a brush device, and attitudes toward adopting a low-cost stationary brush. Farmers from Southeast and Midwest Brazil participated in an online survey. The questionnaire was organized into sections: first, about the profile of farmers; second, about the description of the milk production system; and third, about farmers' knowledge and attitudes toward brush devices. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, and a multiple logistic regression model was used to estimate the odds ratio. Farmers with a higher level of milking system technique were found to have 2.85 times greater odds of recognizing the need to reduce stress. Farmers interested in a low-cost brush were found to have 10.48 times greater odds of recognizing the need for stress-reducing improvements. Those who believe that the use of a brush improves milk production and cow welfare have 14.15 times greater odds of installing a low-cost brush. Most farmers reported familiarity with cow brushing. Moreover, farmers recognize the use of brushes as a beneficial strategy for reducing stress, improving milk production, and enhancing animal welfare, Consequently, they express a willingness to install a low-cost stationary brush for dairy cows.
Cowpea, sunflower, sorghum, pearl millet and showy ratllepod for Pratylenchus brachyurus management on soybean
Authors: Paes Bruno Scentinela Jacintho , Carvalho Gabriela Sousa , Inomoto Mário Massayuki
Published: July 2024

The lesion nematode Pratylenchus brachyurus is a major pest of soybean in Brazil, managed by treating seed with nematicides and replacing corn for pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) and rattlepods (Crotalaria spp.) as a second crop. However, these cover crops are not profitable, leading growers to consider alternatives as cowpea, sunflower, and sorghum. In fact, although cowpea and sorghum are susceptible to P. brachyurus, cowpea is widely cultivared in the Brazilian Cerrado, where P. brachyurus is prevalent, and the forage sorghum ‘BRS Ponta Negra’ has been recommended for P. brachyurus management, based on field observations. Considering the increasing importance of cowpea in the Brazilian Cerrado, three pot trials were carried out to evaluate the host status of modern cowpea cultivars for P. brachyurus. Additionally, two pot trials were carried out to evaluate the effect of cowpea, sunflower, forage sorghum ‘BRS Ponta Negra’, pearl millet and showy rattlepod on soybean production in soil with P. brachyurus, taking account the scarcity of studies that prove the benefits of replacing corn for resistant crops on soybean grain production. The five cowpea cultivars tested were highly suitable hosts for P. brachyurus, supporting previous findings. Therefore, cowpea should be avoided in infested growing areas, especially as a second crop after soybean. Among the cover crops, only showy rattlepod consistently decreased P. brachyurus population density and increased soybean grain production, proving to be more effective than pearl millet in managing P. brachyurus.
PANDAS, a series of difficult decisions: a case report
Authors: Wang Michael , Ricardi Randall , Ritfeld Gaby J.
Published: July 2024

Background: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcus infections (PANDAS) is a controversial diagnosis with limited evidence-based treatment guidelines available, particularly for severe and treatment-resistant cases.
Case presentation: This report describes a 9-year-old male presenting with sudden onset, severe OCD symptoms one month following a streptococcus infection. His symptoms included suicidality and recurrent self-injurious behaviors, which led to multiple inpatient hospitalizations. He was diagnosed with PANDAS and was treated with psychotropic medications, antibiotics, immunotherapy, and a tonsillectomy. Over the two years since initial admission, the patient’s condition improved, with a decrease in symptom severity and an increase in adaptive functioning, though symptom remission was slow to occur
Conclusions: This paper explores the controversies surrounding the PANDAS diagnosis, reviews potential treatments, and discusses the dilemmas of medical decision-making in the setting of severe treatment-resistant symptoms and limited evidence-based guidelines. We hope that this case report will be valuable to healthcare providers facing similar presentations and inspire further investigation into this complex condition.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Refugee Health Publications in the Nursing Field between 1980 and 2023 by Visual Mapping Method
Authors: Öztürk Gizem , Dikeç Gül , Seren Arzu Kader Harmancı
Published: July 2024

Background
Millions of people worldwide are forced to migrate to another country, and nurses are the key professionals for providing necessary health care to this population. Providing nursing care to refugees or immigrants requires diverse transcultural professional competencies based on standardized guidelines. This study aimed to examine the bibliographic characteristics of publications on refugees and asylum seekers in the nursing field.
Methods
Data were obtained from articles scanned in the Web of Science Core Collection database. The 1672 articles that were published between 1980 and 2023 and met the inclusion criteria were analyzed using VOSviewer and Microsoft 365 Excel software. The BIBLIO Checklist was used for reporting.
Results
Most publications were published in 2020. The United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia have the highest number of publications, citations, and international cooperation. Additionally, "mental health" was one of the most commonly used keywords in the studies.
Conclusion
The findings show the importance of empowering nurses working in this field, especially in determining the needs related to mental health services for refugees. The increased migration rates and the growing need for health care for refugees highlighted the importance of investment in nursing research within this field. Nurses and researchers should aim to establish partnerships and share best practices with leading countries. Furthermore, nurses require specialized training to competently evaluate and provide nursing care and mental health services to this vulnerable population.
Analyzing Moisture Self-Diffusion coefficient and Pore Characteristics in Mongolian Scots Pine Using Single- sided NMR
Authors: Zhu Xiaofeng , Zhao Zhihong , Zhou Long , Liu Wenjing , Tan Rui , Wang Jiawei , Liu Huabing , Xie Zonghai Harry , Zhang Minghui
Published: July 2024

In this study, Single-sided NMR was used to detect the changes of axial and radial chord water self-diffusion coefficient with diffusion time of Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica. The result shows that, The self-diffusion coefficient ranked as axial > radial > tangential. Axial self-diffusion coefficient exhibited free diffusion, averaging 2.0×10⁻⁹ m²/s, while radial and tangential directions showed confined diffusion, decreasing with time. Based on the restricted diffusion theory, the results are as follows, Radial and tangential tracheid surface-to-volume ratios (S/V) were approximately 203,000 ± 10,600/m and 265,000 ± 25,000/m, pit sizes of 6.4 ± 0.33 µm and 6.2 ± 0.49 µm with, tortuosity values τR = 3.96 ± 0.02 and τT = 6.59 ± 0.45. Combining S/V with the form factor (Fs) and the T2 relaxation mechanism yields the following results, Average pore sizes for radial and tangential tracheids were 19.7 ± 1.44 µm and 15.09 ± 1.3 µm, Cell water transverse surface relaxation rates were ρ2R = 0.103 ± 0.005 µm/ms and ρ2T = 0.082 ± 0.007 µm/ms. This study provides a systematic method for wood moisture self-diffusion analysis.
Abnormal Heart Sound Recognition using SVM and LSTM Models in Real-time Mode
Authors: Al-Shannaq Moy'awiah A. , Nasrawi Areen , Bsoul Abed Al-Raouf , Saifan Ahmad A.
Published: July 2024

Cardiovascular diseases are non-communicable diseases that are considered the leading cause of death worldwide accounting for 17.9 million fatalities. Auscultation of heart sounds is the most common and valuable way of diagnosing heart diseases. Normal heart sounds have a special rhythmic pattern as an indicator of heart integrity. Many experts concentrate on diagnosing the heart by automatic digital auscultation systems which find various distinguishable characteristics for heart sound classifications. This can decrease the mortality rate for cardiovascular diseases and enhance the patient’s quality of life. This study aims to propose a real-time heart sound recognition system to classify both normal and abnormal phonocardiograms with the ability to define the abnormality type if existed. Digital signal processing methods, by applying the fast Fourier transform, filtering techniques, and the dual-tree complex wavelet transform, with machine learning classification algorithms are employed to segment the input phonocardiogram signal, extract meaningful features, and find the appropriate class for the input signal. We utilized three datasets, the PhysioNet of 1,395, the GitHub of 800, and the PASCAL of 100 files segmented into three cardiac cycles. The proposed solution relies on the support vector machine and the long-short term memory neural network to distinguish between normal and abnormal heartbeat sounds and to recognize the type of abnormality (in the case distinguished) respectively. The results show that the proposed approach for normal/abnormal classification achieves an overall accuracy of 96.0% and 98.1%, sensitivity of 94.4% and 84.2%, and specificity of 64.9% and 98.4% for two and one support vector machines respectively among the state-of-the-art solutions. The long short-term memory model is also a well-known efficient classifier for temporal data, and the results show the accuracy of 99.2%, 99.5%, 98.6%, and 99.4% for four, five, six, and seven classes. Furthermore, we found an efficient automatic segmentation method that was tested with the PASCAL database achieving a total error of 867,525.6 and 23,590.3 for datasets A and B respectively, with a computational time of 0.04 seconds to segment one cardiac cycle.
Pottery Evolution Pattern Discovery based on Deep Learning: Case Study of Miaozigou Culture in China
Authors: Pang Honglin , Qi Xiujin , Xiao Chengjun , Xu Ziying , Ding Guangchen , Chang Yi , Yang Xi , Duan Tianjing
Published: July 2024

Potteries, one of the tools widely used by early humans, encapsulates rich historical information. Deep neural networks have been applied to analyzing pottery digital images, bypassing the need for intricate handcrafted features. However, existing models focus solely on pottery shape comparison, neglecting the analysis of their evolution across different historical periods. In this work, we propose a method based on deep learning to assist experts in identifying the evolutionary patterns of a given pottery type within their specified chronological divisions. First we train a convolutional neural network for pottery classification, extracting low and high level features that represent different ages of pottery samples. Next, we employ clustering algorithms to identify representative potteries for each historical period based on high level features. To facilitate intuitive comparisons across different ages, we use shallow features and compute cosine similarities between potteries, visualizing shape and decoration differences. This approach enhances understanding of pottery evolution patterns directly through visual analysis. The effectiveness and efficiency of our proposed method are evaluated by validating it on three distinct era division cases using data from the Dabagou and Miaozigou archaeological sites, which represent the Miaozigou culture and exhibit clear evolutionary patterns. Our method identifies representative artifacts for each era and uncovers their evolutionary patterns effectively and efficiently, achieving conclusions comparable to those of experts while significantly reducing time compared to traditional manual methods.
Superposition and nonseparable states in reconfigurable time-varying metasurfaces
Authors: Cui Tie Jun , Chen Long , You Jian Wei , Ma Qian , Su Jian Lin , Qin Shi Long , Peng Qiao Cong , Xiao Qiang
Published: July 2024

Classical and quantum bits serve as cornerstones in the field of information science. With the rapid development of this field, the classical and quantum bits are complementing and inspiring to each other. Here, we explore intermediate states between the classical and quantum bits in a reconfigurable time-varying metasurface, and demonstrate their superposition and nonseparable properties through theoretical analysis and experiments. To implement two quantum-inspired states in the classical system, we develop a reconfigurable time-varying metasurface that can synthesize the superposition states across the temporal dimension and the nonseparable states across the spatial and polarization dimensions. Due to the unique features of superposition and nonseparability, the proposed metasurface holds great potentials to enhance the information processing capabilities beyond those offered by the classical information metasurface. This work not only offers a reconfigurable and scalable physical platform to advance the classical and quantum information, but also will enable novel wave phenomena and provide new perspectives in the fields of information science, quantum physics and material science.
EEGEncoder: Advancing BCI with Transformer-Based Motor Imagery Classification
Authors: Liao Wangdan , Liu Hongyun , Wang Weidong
Published: July 2024

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) harness electroencephalographic signals for direct neural control of devices, offering significant benefits for individuals with motor impairments. Traditional machine learning methods for EEG-based motor imagery (MI) classification encounter challenges such as manual feature extraction and susceptibility to noise. This paper introduces EEGEncoder, a deep learning framework that employs modified transformers and Temporal Convolutional Networks (TCNs) to surmount these limitations. We propose a novel fusion architecture, named Dual-Stream Temporal-Spatial Block (DSTS), to capture temporal and spatial features, improving the accuracy of Motor Imagery classification task. Additionally, we use multiple parallel structures to enhance the model's performance. When tested on the BCI Competition IV-2a dataset, our proposed model outperforms the current state-of-the-art techniques.
How to handle high subgenome sequence similarity in allopolyploid Fragaria x ananassa: Linkage Disequilibrium Based Variant Filtering
Authors: Koorevaar Tim , Willemsen Johan H. , Hildebrand Dominic , Visser Ricard G.F. , Arens Paul , Maliepaard Chris
Published: July 2024

Background
The allo-octoploid F. x ananassa consistently follows a disomic inheritance. Therefore diploid variant calling pipelines can be followed but due to the high similarity among its subgenomes, there is an increased error rate for these variants. Especially when aligning short sequencing reads (150bp) to a reference genome, reads could be aligned on the wrong subgenome, resulting in erroneous variants. It is important to know which subgenome is important for a desired phenotypic value of a particular trait and filtering out these erroneous variants decreases the chance that a wrong subgenome is traced for certain traits. To mitigate the problem, we first need to classify variants in different categories: correct variants (type 1), and two erroneous variant types: homoeologous variants (type 2), and multi-locus variants (type 3).
Results
Erroneous variant types (type 2 and 3) often have skewed average allele balances (of heterozygous calls), but not always. So, the average allele balance of heterozygous variants is not sufficient to tag all erroneous variants in F. x ananassa. Not identified erroneous variants were further checked by an LD-based method in a diversity panel. This method predicted variant types with 99% similarity to a method utilizing a genetic map from a biparental mapping population that was used for validation of the method. The effect of the filtering methods on phasing accuracy was assessed by using SHAPEIT5 for phasing, and the lowest switch error rate (0.037) was obtained by a combination of LD-based and average allele balance filtering although the addition of the latter only improved the switch error rate slightly. This indicates that the LD-based method tags most erroneous variants with a skewed average allele balance and also other erroneous variants. The dataset resulting from the best filtering method (LD-based + AAB) had a 44% lower switch error rate than the original dataset and retained 72% of the overall variants.
Conclusions
In conclusion, erroneous variants that arise from high sequence similarity in allopolyploids could be identified without the need for genotyping many mapping populations. This LD-based filtering method improved phasing accuracy and ensures that important alleles are better traceable through the germplasm.
Mix proportion design and carbon emission assessment of high strength geopolymer concrete based on ternary solid waste
Authors: Liu Mo , Dai Wenting , Li Mingrui , Yang Xue , Han Yongming , Huang Mingxing
Published: July 2024

To accelerate the promotion and application of geopolymers in concrete (GPC), this study proposed a high strength geopolymer concrete (HSGPC) with ternary solid waste. The mix proportion of HSGPC was optimized and the impact of HSGPC on the environment was evaluated. Results indicate that the optimal mix proportion for HSGPC was 15% FA content, 10.30% SF content, a Na2SiO3/NaOH ratio of 2.5, and an NaOH molar concentration of 10 M. The molar concentration of sodium hydroxide has the greatest influence on the compressive strength of HSGPC, and the ratio of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide solution has the greatest influence on the splitting tensile strength of HSGPC. Compared to ordinary Portland cement concrete, the carbon emissions of HSGPC have been reduced by approximately 30%. The production of HSGPC reduces the carbon emissions by 59.87% and 68.24% compared with ultra-high-performance concrete and reactive powder concrete of equivalent strength respectively.