bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Therapeutic controversies over use of antioxidant supplements during cancer treatment: a scoping review
Authors: Woldeselassie Mulugeta , Tamene Aynadis
Published: December 2024

Background

Antioxidant supplements are widely used during cancer treatment to prevent oxidative stress, reduce treatment toxicities, and improve patient outcomes. However, current literature reveals significant gaps suggesting that antioxidants may protect both healthy and tumor cells from oxidative damage, thereby reducing treatment efficacy. It is for this reason that antioxidant supplements have become a source of therapeutic controversy.

Objective

To review therapeutic controversies over the use of antioxidant supplements during cancer treatment.

Methods

Scoping review of the international published articles following the Arksey and O’Malley framework, cross-sectional studies, clinical and pre-clinical studies, systematic and umbrella reviews and grey literatures published from 2014 to 2024 with all age patient populations were included. A structured literature search was conducted of CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Google Scholar, using key medical subject heading words and Cochrane Collaboration and Joanna Briggs Institute databases. All included studies were reviewed independently by two investigators. Data were extracted, collated by type of antioxidants, summarized in tables and synthesized for analysis.

Result

A total of 1, 550 articles were identified. After reviewing all literatures, twenty-one (21) were full-text articles, grey literatures (2), and systematic reviews (42) and umbrella reviews (3), met the criteria for inclusion. In this review, the use of antioxidant supplements can benefit cancer cells in the same way as they do for normal cells during cancer treatment. In addition, not all antioxidants were effective in inhibiting oxidative stress, reduce treatment toxicities, and improve patient outcomes.

Conclusion and recommendations

According to this review, the use of antioxidant supplements can benefit tumor cells in the same manner as they do for normal cells. Therefore, oncologists should advise not to take antioxidant supplements during chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. Future research including potential clinical and preclinical trials, mechanistic studies, and exploration of different vitamin and mineral supplement studies are required to uncover the complete potential of antioxidant supplements for cancer treatment or determine their safety and effectiveness when used alongside standard cancer treatments. Furthermore, the results of this review could be used for future systematic review of therapeutic controversies over use of antioxidant supplements during cancer treatment.
Patients’ perception on quality of care for prostate cancer at tertiary hospitals in Tanzania: a qualitative study
Authors: Nyongole Obadia , Kakoko Deodatus , Sirili Nathanael , Frumence Gasto , Simba Daudi , Urassa David , Sunguya Bruno
Published: December 2024

Background

Prostate cancer is a common cancer among men globally and its treatment affects quality of life. Poor patients’ perception of prostate cancer services may lead to their late presentation for care, often presenting with the advanced stage of the disease. This may vary from one region to another.

Objective

This study, therefore, aimed to explore patients’ perceptions of the quality of care for prostate cancer in Tanzania.

Methods

This qualitative case study was conducted in five tertiary hospitals in Tanzania in November 2023. In-depth interviews were conducted with prostate cancer patients on treatment for not less than 6 months. Data on patients’ perception of prostate cancer, quality of prostate cancer services, and quality of life among prostate cancer patients were collected. Thematic analysis used a hybrid inductive and deductive reasoning approach through NVivo 14 software.

Results

A total of 17 interviews were conducted, resulting in four themes. These were perception of prostate cancer on the causes and diagnostic methods, delays of care leading to late presentation, perception of quality of life after treatment for prostate cancer recovery versus cancer progression, and quality of service in terms of organization of service delivery for prostate cancer at tertiary hospitals in Tanzania.

Conclusion

Quality of services for prostate cancer was well-perceived, especially communication for psychosocial support. A good perception of the quality of service was found to influence the uptake of prostate cancer services. Prostate cancer patients have mixed perceptions about the quality of life after treatment, which delays health seeking, leading to late presentation. Despite efforts in awareness campaigns through different platforms, more effort is needed in determining the causes of prostate cancer, the diagnostic/screening methods necessary for prostate cancer, timely health seeking, the available treatment options for prostate cancer, and the expected quality of life after treatment.
Molecular pathways involved in the control of contractile and metabolic properties of skeletal muscle fibers as potential therapeutic targets for Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Bonato Agnese , Raparelli Giada , Caruso Maurizia
Published: December 2024

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin, a subsarcolemmal protein whose absence results in increased susceptibility of the muscle fiber membrane to contraction-induced injury. This results in increased calcium influx, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction, leading to chronic inflammation, myofiber degeneration, and reduced muscle regenerative capacity. Fast glycolytic muscle fibers have been shown to be more vulnerable to mechanical stress than slow oxidative fibers in both DMD patients and DMD mouse models. Therefore, remodeling skeletal muscle toward a slower, more oxidative phenotype may represent a relevant therapeutic approach to protect dystrophic muscles from deterioration and improve the effectiveness of gene and cell-based therapies. The resistance of slow, oxidative myofibers to DMD pathology is attributed, in part, to their higher expression of Utrophin; there are, however, other characteristics of slow, oxidative fibers that might contribute to their enhanced resistance to injury, including reduced contractile speed, resistance to fatigue, increased capillary density, higher mitochondrial activity, decreased cellular energy requirements. This review focuses on signaling pathways and regulatory factors whose genetic or pharmacologic modulation has been shown to ameliorate the dystrophic pathology in preclinical models of DMD while promoting skeletal muscle fiber transition towards a slower more oxidative phenotype.
Discrimination of leaf diseases in Maize/Soybean intercropping system based on hyperspectral imaging
Authors: Liu Xin , Meng Kaixin , Zhang Kaixing , Yang Wujie , Yang Jiutao , Feng Lingyang , Gong Haoran , Zhou Chang’an
Published: December 2024

In order to achieve precise discrimination of leaf diseases in the Maize/Soybean intercropping system, i.e. leaf spot disease, rust disease, mixed leaf diseases, this study utilized hyperspectral imaging and deep learning algorithms for the classification of diseased leaves of maize and soybean. In the experiments, hyperspectral imaging equipment was used to collect hyperspectral images of leaves, and the regions of interest were extracted within the spectral range of 400 to 1000 nm. These regions included one or more infected areas on the leaves to obtain hyperspectral data. This approach aimed to enhance the accurate discrimination of different types of diseases, providing more effective technical support for the detection and control of crop diseases. The preprocessing of hyperspectral data involved four methods: Savitzky-Golay (SG), Standard Normal Variate (SNV), Multiplicative Scatter Correction (MSC) and 1st Derivative (1st Der). The 1st Der was found to be the optimal preprocessing method for hyperspectral data of maize and soybean diseases. Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling (CARS), Successive Projections Algorithm (SPA) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were employed for feature extraction on the optimal preprocessed data. The Support Vector Machines (SVM), Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Network (BiLSTM) and Dung Beetle Optimization-Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory Network (DBO-BiLSTM) were established for the discrimination of maize and soybean diseases. Comparative analysis indicated that, in the classification of maize and soybean diseases, the DBO-BiLSTM model based on the CARS extraction method (1st Der-CARS-DBO-BiLSTM) demonstrated the highest classification rate, reaching 98.7% on the test set. The research findings suggest that integrating hyperspectral imaging with both traditional and deep learning methods is a viable and effective approach for classifying diseases in the intercropping model of maize and soybean. These results offer a novel method and a theoretical foundation for the non-invasive, precise, and efficient identification of diseases in the intercropping model of maize and soybean, carrying positive implications for agricultural production.
Physiological characteristics and transcriptomic analyses of alfalfa root crown in wintering
Authors: Wang Xiaolong , Chai Hua , Li Shasha , Xu Yanxia , Wu Yue , Wang Jianli , Yang Zhao
Published: December 2024

Background

Alfalfa, scientifically identified as Medicago sativa, is repeatedly referred to as the “king of forages”. Because of its tight relationship to winter hardiness, the alfalfa’s root crown plays a significant role as a storage organ over the winter. At present, it is still unknown what molecular process makes the alfalfa root crown resistant to cold. This study was aimed to study these knowledge gaps. Using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology, significant genes associated with cold hardiness were found.

Methods

According to the random block design, Longmu 806 alfalfa and Sardi alfalfa were planted in regional experiments. Under the condition of low-temperature treatment in winter, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), winter survival rate (WSR), and physiological characteristics were, in turn, calculated by RNA-Seq, chemical analysis, and field investigation.

Results

The WSR of the Longmu 806 alfalfa was 3.68-fold greater than that of the Sardi alfalfa. The jasmonic acid (JA), soluble sugar (SS), proline (Pro), and glutathione (GSH) concentration in the roots of Longmu 806 alfalfa was more than the same amount in Sardi alfalfa in other words P is less than 0.05. An entire set of 878 DEGs related to winter hardiness was found by statistical analysis. Among them, 463 DEGs showed an increase in expression, whereas 415 DEGs showed a decrease in expression. The metabolic pathways’ examination presented that the DEGs (MsERF1, MsCHIB, MsJAZ, MsAOC, MsGST, MsINV, MsTPS, and MsOAT) were linked to the pathways of “plant hormone signaling transduction”, “Amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism”, and “glutathione metabolism”. Furthermore, the physiological changes in JA, SS, Pro content, and GSH were influenced by the dynamic transcription profile of LT (low- temperature) resistance-related genes.
Evaluation of stripe rust resistance and analysis of resistance genes in wheat genotypes from Pakistan and Southwest China
Authors: Abbas Sakina , Li Yunfang , Lu Jing , Hu Jianming , Zhang Xinnuo , Lv Xue , Shahzad Armghan , Ao Donghui , Abbas Maryam , Wu Yu , Zhang Lei , Fayyaz Muhammad
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici, poses a significant threat to wheat quality and production worldwide. The rapid evolution of Pst races caused several resistance genes to be ineffective.

Methods

This study evaluated stripe rust resistance genes in 349 Pakistan and Southwest China genotypes. We utilized previously published functional and linked molecular markers to detect 13 major stripe rust resistance genes: Yr5, Yr9, Yr10, Yr15, Yr17, Yr18, Yr26, Yr29, Yr30, Yr36, Yr48, Yr65, and YrSp. Field evaluations assessed IT and resistance levels, while the impact of gene combinations on resistance was also analyzed.

Results

Field evaluations showed that over 60% of Chuanyu wheat, 50% of recent Pakistani cultivars, and 20% of historic Pakistani lines were resistant to current stripe rust races. In Chuanyu wheat, the dominant genes were Yr17, YrSp, and Yr48; however, Yr17, Yr26, and YrSp were overused, while Yr36 was absent, and Yr18 was rare. In historic lines, Yr5, Yr17, Yr18, and Yr26 were prevalent, with Yr15, Yr26, and YrSp demonstrating effective resistance against current stripe rust races. Furthermore, the study identified specific combinations of Yr genes (Yr26+Yr48, Yr29+Yr5, Yr26+Yr30, and Yr30+Yr17) that enhanced resistance to Pst.

Discussion

This research highlights effective resistance genes and gene combinations for stripe rust in wheat and emphasizes the deployment of durable resistance. The findings guide the strategic use of these genes in breeding programs aimed at developing durable resistance in wheat genotypes in Pakistan and Southwest China.
Korean adolescents’ experiences studying abroad and subsequent readjustment to life after returning
Authors: Lee Ji-yeon , Lee Dong Hun
Published: December 2024

Introduction

This qualitative study explored the socio-cultural adjustment and re-adjustment experiences of South Korean adolescents who studied in English-speaking countries and later returned to South Korea.

Methods

The study interviewed 12 adolescents (6 males, 6 females) aged 12–16 who studied in countries such as the U.S., Canada, England, New Zealand, and Australia.

Results

The findings highlight the students’ adjustment processes abroad, including the initial “honeymoon” phase, followed by crises like language barriers, homesickness, and difficulties in relationships with peers and teachers. Upon returning to Korea, students faced challenges with academic performance, stricter school regulations, and social reintegration, often exacerbated by biases toward those who studied abroad.

Discussion

The study underscores the importance of support systems during both phases and highlights the need for educational interventions that can ease the transition both abroad and at home. This research contributes to understanding the complexities of cross-cultural adjustment and re-entry, especially in the context of adolescents’ identity and belonging, suggesting sustainable education system to support students’ both abroad and returning process.
Nutrition literacy profile among adolescents in Kuwait: a cross-sectional study
Authors: AlBaloul Anwar H. , AlKhalidi Maraheb M. , AlAjmi Haya
Published: December 2024

Background

Adolescent nutrition literacy and knowledge are associated with nutrient intake and obesity. With the rising prevalence of obesity in Kuwait, limited studies have assessed nutrition literacy among Kuwaiti adolescents. Therefore, this study aims to assess nutrition literacy among Kuwaiti adolescents and examine factors associated with nutrition literacy, such as body mass index (BMI) and dietary intake.

Methods

A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted in public schools across Kuwait, enrolling a convenience sample of 375 adolescents (mean age = 15.6 years, 53.1% female participants). A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect relevant data. The Nutrition Literacy Assessment Instrument (NLit) score was used to assess nutrition knowledge and skills in making food choices.

Results

The median NLit score among adolescents was 29 (IQR = 6). A large percentage (72.5%) of Kuwaiti adolescents demonstrated adequate overall nutrition literacy and scored adequately in the majority of NLit subscales. However, the majority of adolescents (73.3%) demonstrated inadequate nutrition literacy in understanding food labels. Predictors of NLit included BMI, place of residence, and smoking status. Moreover, the NLit score was negatively associated with the intake of sugar-sweetened beverages.

Conclusion

This study’s findings may inform future research aimed at designing effective nutrition literacy interventions to enhance food choices among adolescents in Kuwait. The results of this study may also provide insights for policymakers and public health professionals to tailor food and nutrition programs to address the decline in food literacy skills and combat obesity.
Effects of pretreatment strategies on fertility outcomes in patients with adenomyosis
Authors: Moawad Gaby , Youssef Youssef , Fruscalzo Arrigo , Khedhri Slim , Faysal Hani , Pirtea Paul , Guani Benedetta , Vallée Alexandre , Ayoubi Jean Marc , Feki Anis
Published: December 2024

Adenomyosis is a commonly encountered pathology in women of reproductive age and frequently coexists with infertility. The effect of adenomyosis on fertility, particularly on in vitro fertilisation and intracytoplasmic sperm injection outcomes, is not well understood. Various pretreatment modalities have been used to improve pregnancy rates and live birth outcomes; however, because of a lack of high-quality evidence, there is no clear consensus on the best pretreatment option. This review was conducted through a PubMed search aiming to highlight the relationship between pretreatment and fertility in women with adenomyosis. Medical, ablative surgical, and non-surgical therapies were reviewed. According to the current literature, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy and placement of a levonorgestrel intrauterine system are two suitable medical pretreatment strategies that can improve the clinical pregnancy rates of patients with adenomyosis. Surgical ablation of adenomyosis can also be beneficial, although surgical management can be challenging. Non-surgical thermal techniques, including high-intensity focused ultrasound ablation, percutaneous microwave ablation, and radiofrequency ablation, are much less invasive techniques that have shown effectiveness in improving fertility. Although evidence remains limited, all these procedures have demonstrated a favourable safety profile. Further studies are needed to better develop these techniques and demonstrate their effectiveness.
Diaphragm injuries in a mature trauma system: still a diagnostic challenge
Authors: Karhof S. , Simmermacher R. K. J. , Gerbranda P. , van Wessem K. J. P. , Leenen L. P. H. , Hietbrink F.
Published: December 2024

Background

A traumatic diaphragm defect is a rare injury. A missed diaphragm injury may cause serious morbidity and mortality. Detection rate during the first assessment of trauma patients is notoriously low. However, important improvements in imaging modalities were developed. The aim of this study was to analyze traumatic diaphragm injuries in relation to diagnostic tools, therapeutic interventions and outcome over the past two decades.

Methods

A retrospective analysis was performed of all trauma patients with traumatic diaphragm injuries between 2000 and 2018 at a level I trauma center. Data collected were baseline characteristics, diagnostics that were performed, treatment given and follow-up.

Results

A total of 47 patients with traumatic diaphragm injuries were evaluated. The majority of injuries was seen following blunt trauma (72%). Mortality was 21%, mainly due to concomitant injuries. One patient died due to the consequences of an unrecognized diaphragm injury. In 29 cases (62%) the injury was diagnosed pre-operatively through imaging, with the remaining being diagnosed during laparotomy. In 11 patients (35%) the diaphragmatic injury was not seen on a pre-operative CT-scan. Postoperative complications occurred in 19 patients, mostly of pulmonary origin (i.e., pneumonia). No recurrences were reported.

Conclusion

This study confirms diaphragm injuries are infrequent injuries, with high mortality. Even more, despite major improvement in diagnostic modalities over the past 2 decades, the algorithm for detection of diaphragmatic injuries has not changed nor has its outcome. Although the incidence is low, since consequences are severe, it is important to have a high index of suspicion in abdominal trauma, even in a non-conclusive CT-scan.
Comparative evaluation of negative lymph node count, positive lymph node count, and lymph node ratio in prognostication of survival following completely resection for non-small cell lung cancer: a multicenter population-based analysis
Authors: Huang Qiming , Chen Shai , Xiao Yuanyuan , Chen Wei , He Shancheng , Xie Baochang , Zhao Wenqi , Xu Yuhui , Luo Guiping
Published: December 2024

Objective

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Lymph node involvement remains a crucial prognostic factor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and the TNM system is the current standard for staging. However, it mainly considers the anatomical location of lymph nodes, neglecting the significance of node count. Metrics like metastatic lymph node count and lymph node ratio (LNR) have been proposed as more accurate predictors.

Methods

We used data from the SEER 17 Registry Database (2010–2019), including 52,790 NSCLC patients who underwent lobectomy or pneumonectomy, with at least one lymph node examined. Primary outcomes were overall survival (OS) and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Cox regression models assessed the prognostic value of negative lymph node (NLN) count, number of positive lymph node (NPLN), and LNR, with cut-points determined using X-tile software. Model performance was evaluated by the Akaike information criterion (AIC).

Results

The Cox proportional hazards model analysis revealed that NLN, NPLN, and LNR are independent prognostic factors for OS and LCSS (P < 0.0001). Higher NLN counts were associated with better survival (HR = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.76–0.83, P < 0.0001), while higher NPLN (HR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.79–2.67, P < 0.0001) and LNR (HR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.79–2.67, P < 0.0001) values indicated worse outcomes. Kaplan-Meier curves for all three groups (NLN, NPLN, LNR) demonstrated clear stratification (P < 0.0001). The NLN-based model (60,066.5502) exhibited the strongest predictive performance, followed by the NPLN (60,508.8957) and LNR models (60,349.4583), although the differences in AIC were minimal.

Conclusions

NLN count, NPLN, and LNR were all identified as independent prognostic indicators in patients with NSCLC. Among these, the predictive model based on NLN demonstrated a marginally superior prognostic value compared to NPLN, with NPLN outperforming the LNR model. Notably, higher NLN counts, along with lower NPLN and LNR values, were consistently associated with improved survival outcomes. The relationship between these prognostic markers and NSCLC survival warrants further validation through prospective studies.
Case report: Treatment of non-medical tetrahydrocannabinol toxicosis with transmucosal cannabidiol-infused dissolving sheets in six dogs
Authors: Marsigliano Kyra , Green Katie , DiGangi Brian A.
Published: December 2024

Increased cases of canine tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) toxicosis have been reported in North America in recent years. Cases are often evaluated on an emergency basis and treatment has relied upon supportive care which can be costly and prohibitive for some pet owners. The purpose of this report is to describe the clinical findings and outcomes in dogs with non-medical, presumptive THC toxicosis treated by administration of a cannibidiol (CBD)-infused transmucosal dissolving sheet. Medical records of six cases of non-medical, presumptive THC toxicosis from a private primary care practice and a private after-hours emergency practice were reviewed and summarized. Five of six cases were treated exclusively with transmucosal CBD (0.4–2.6 mg/kg); one case also received injectable anti-emetic therapy. Lethargy and ataxia noticeably improved and all additional clinical signs resolved within 45 min of treatment in five of six cases. No further follow-up measures for THC toxicosis were required in any case; one case required additional follow-up for presumably unrelated gastrointestinal distress. This is the first report of treatment of canine THC toxicosis by administration of CBD. The use of transmucosal CBD-infused dissolving sheets resulted in expedient resolution of clinical signs in a minimally invasive manner that is accessible to both clients and veterinary practitioners.
Effect of age on lung adaptation to high-altitude hypoxia in Tibetan sheep
Authors: Zhao Pengfei , Li Shaobin , Zhao Fangfang , Hu Jiang , Wang Jiqing , Liu Xiu , Zhao Zhidong , Li Mingna , Luo Yuzhu
Published: December 2024

After prolonged adaptation to high-altitude environments, Tibetan sheep have developed a robust capacity to withstand hypobaric hypoxia. Compared to low-altitude sheep, various organs and tissues in Tibetan sheep have undergone significant adaptive remodeling, particularly in the lungs. However, whether lambs and adult Tibetan sheep exhibit similar adaptations to high-altitude hypoxia remains unclear. In this study, we selected six lambs (4 months old) and six adult (3 years old) female Tibetan sheep to assess their blood gas indicators, observe lung microstructures, and measure the expression levels of key proteins in the lungs. The results indicated that adult sheep exhibited higher hemoglobin concentrations and finer, denser pulmonary vasculature, which enhanced their oxygen-carrying capacity and increased the surface area available for blood gas exchange, resulting in improved oxygen transfer capacity. Conversely, lambs demonstrated larger lungs relative to their body weight and greater pulmonary vascular volumes, which increased relative pulmonary ventilation and blood flow, thereby enhancing oxygen uptake. These findings suggested that Tibetan sheep employ different adaptation strategies to high-altitude hypoxia at various life stages.
Study on the Coupling and Coordination Relationship Between Urban Living Environment and Economic Development
Authors: Chen Tianyi , Tian Yunjing , Zhang Zhimin , Yu Jianqiang
Published: December 2024

The coordinated development of urban human settlements and the economy is a crucial indicator for assessing regional development and is essential for achieving sustainable high-quality development. Therefore, urban planning and management need to introduce scientific concepts to achieve a win–win situation for both the economy and the environment. (1) Background: Since the reform and opening up of China’s economy, it has undergone rapid development and urbanization. However, the improvement of human settlements has not kept pace. Some regions pursue economic development while neglecting environmental construction. To achieve a win–win situation for both the economy and the environment, urban planning and management need to incorporate scientific concepts. (2) Methods: This paper adopts a literature analysis method to construct a coupling coordination model and evaluate the level of coupling coordination between urban human settlements and economic development in 31 provinces and cities in China from 2011 to 2021. (3) Results: The level of coupling coordination has gradually increased year by year, but there are significant regional differences, with the East outperforming the West. Spatial analysis reveals a positive spatial correlation, indicating that provinces with similar development levels tend to cluster together. (4) Conclusions: The degree of economic outwardness, industrial structure, and residents’ income and consumption system are the main internal obstacles, while economic strength, urbanization, technological innovation, and human capital are positive external factors.
Urban Management for Building-Sector Decarbonization: Focusing on the Role of Low-Carbon Policies
Authors: Tang Jianxin , Yang Pengpeng , Tang Kai , Wang Sibo
Published: December 2024

The building sector is a major source of anthropogenic carbon emissions worldwide. While existing studies have extensively explored the socioeconomic and technological impacts on carbon emissions generated from building operations, few have assessed the effectiveness of low-carbon policies in curbing the increasing trend of building sector carbon emissions. This study examines the impacts of low-carbon policy intensity on building sector carbon emissions using a two-way fixed effects model on a 6-year panel (2015–2020) dataset for 286 cities in China. Our findings indicate that, on average, the aggregated intensity of low-carbon policies fails to pose any significant impacts on carbon emissions from building operations. This is partly due to the variations in different types of policy. Specifically, a 10% increase in the intensity of energy conservation policy results in a 0.05% decrease in carbon emissions, whereas capacity utilization policies are associated with an increase in building-operation carbon emissions. Moreover, these policy–emission relationships vary across building types and end-use sources. In particular, energy conservation policies are negatively associated with emissions from cooking and heating, but positively related to emissions generated from appliances and cooling. In comparison, capacity utilization policies tend to encourage additional emissions from most sources. This study highlights the partial effectiveness of energy conservation policies in curbing building sector carbon emissions and underscores the need for additional efforts in tackling the rebound effects to realize building sector decarbonization.
Structure and Mechanical Properties of a Titanium–8 wt.% Gallium Alloy
Authors: Wheeler David W.
Published: December 2024

This paper describes a study of the microstructure and mechanical properties of a titanium–gallium (Ti-8 wt.% Ga) alloy using X-ray diffraction, optical metallography, micro-hardness measurements, compression and tensile testing, nanoindentation and ultrasonic velocity measurements. X-ray diffraction has shown the alloy to be wholly α Ti with no other phases present. A comparison of the hardness and elastic modulus values of the Ti-8Ga alloy with those of Ti-6Al-4V showed the former to have a significantly higher hardness, although the elastic moduli of the two alloys were broadly comparable. The study also indicated reasonable agreement between the elastic moduli obtained by nanoindentation, ultrasonic velocity measurements and tensile testing. Under compressive loading, the mean 0.2% proof stress values of the Ti-8Ga alloy were between 1066 MPa and 1083 MPa. However, under tensile conditions, the mean tensile strength was found to be only 427 MPa, and the alloy exhibited highly brittle behaviour, with specimens failing before they had undergone any appreciable plasticity. The cause of this was ascribed to high oxygen and nitrogen levels.
High-Performance Garbage Collection Scheme with Low Data Transfer Overhead for NoC-Based SSDC
Authors: Ahn Seyeon , Im Donghyuk , You Donggon , Hong Youpyo
Published: December 2024

Solid-state drives (SSDs) have become the preferred storage solution for performance-critical applications due to their high speed, durability, and energy efficiency. However, the inherent characteristics of NAND flash memory, such as block-level erasure and data fragmentation, necessitate frequent garbage collection (GC) operations to reclaim storage space. These operations, while essential, introduce significant performance overhead, particularly in modern SSD controllers (SSDCs) that utilize network-on-chip (NoC) architectures. In such architectures, GC requires substantial data transfer over interconnects for error correction, leading to increased latency and reduced throughput. This paper presents a novel GC scheme designed to minimize latency in NoC-based SSDCs. Unlike conventional methods that unconditionally transfer data for error correction, the proposed approach selectively determines the data transfer path based on the presence of errors. By leveraging the low error probability of NAND flash memory, this scheme avoids unnecessary data traversal across the interconnect, significantly reducing GC overhead. A hardware implementation using task queues ensures efficient parallelism without disrupting other operations. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed scheme improves SSD performance across various real-world workloads, achieving up to a 26.9% reduction in average latency and a 50.0% reduction in peak latency compared to traditional GC methods. These findings highlight the potential of optimizing data traversal paths in NoC architectures, providing a scalable solution for enhancing SSD performance for diverse applications.
Study on Spatial Differentiation Characteristics and Driving Mechanism of Sustainable Utilization of Cultivated Land in Tarim River Basin
Authors: Sheng Yang , Liu Weizhong , Xu Hailiang
Published: December 2024

The sustainable utilization of cultivated land is a crucial prerequisite for ensuring food security and achieving sustainable socioeconomic development. This study employed a dataset to evaluate sustainable land use and utilized a combination of multi-factor comprehensive evaluation models, structural equation modeling, geographically weighted regression, and Pearson correlation analysis to systematically investigate the overall level, spatial differentiation characteristics, and driving mechanisms of sustainable cultivated land utilization in the Tarim River Basin. Additionally, we compared and tested three spatial interpolation methods using high-resolution data to address the modifiable areal unit problem (MAUP) and enhance the quality of spatial predictions for cultivated land utilization, ultimately identifying inverse distance weighting (IDW) as the optimal method. The results indicate the following: (1) The level of sustainable cultivated land utilization is moderately high, with an average index of 0.581, exhibiting a “U-shaped” trend from the upper to lower reaches of the Tarim River Basin. The highest levels are found in the Kashgar River–Yarkant River Basin, followed by the Hotan River Basin and the Kaidu–Peacock River Basin, while the mainstream area has the lowest levels. (2) The relationships among various cultivated land environmental systems and sustainability demonstrate distinct response characteristics and spatial differentiation patterns. Cultivated land use and management exert the most significant influence on sustainability, followed by soil quality and water resource systems, with climatic factors having the least impact. The effects of each system reveal inverted “U”, inverted “N”, “U”, and “W” patterns from the lower reaches to the upper reaches, respectively. (3) As the complexity of interactions and integrative mechanisms within the regional cultivated land system increases, the sensitivity and vulnerability of the system also rise, resulting in lower levels of sustainable utilization. (4) Based on the current challenges facing the cultivated land environmental system and the primary mechanisms influencing its sustainability, we propose regulatory measures focused on “suitable consolidation”, “suitable resting”, and “suitable planting”. These findings provide valuable insights for formulating differentiated land protection strategies, policies, and spatial planning initiatives.
Gene Cloning, Characterization and Transesterification Reactions of Mgl-C255, a Lipolytic Enzyme from Neobacillus thermocopriae C255 Isolated from Ash from Popocatépetl Volcano
Authors: Espinosa-Luna Graciela , Bustos-Baena Aaron S. , Solis-Palacios Rocio , Lara-Sanchez Jonathan , Espinosa-Honorato Aurelio , Oliart-Ros Rosa María
Published: December 2024

Lipases and carboxylesterases are enzymes of biotechnological interest both for their reactions and their specificity. They have wide-ranging applications in the food, pharmaceuticals, biodiesel synthesis, and bioremediation industries. For that reason, the strain Neobacillus thermocopriae C255 was isolated from ash from Popocatepetl volcano and studied as a new source of lipolytic enzymes. It was identified using 16S ribosomal RNA and flagellar protein FliF sequence homology, yielding 100% identity. From the sequencing of its genome, an enzyme with lipolytic activity, classified as a monoacylglycerol lipase, and named Mgl-C255, was cloned in E. coli BL21, and then expressed, biochemically characterized, and tested via transesterification reactions with alcohols and monosaccharides. Based on its sequence and structure, it was placed within family V, having a catalytic triad of S90-D207-H237. Biochemical characterization showed its highest activity at 40 °C, pH 7.5 to 8.5, with C-2 length substrate preference. No metal ions or inhibitors influenced lipolytic activity, except for PMSF, SDS, Cu−2, and Hg−2. Mgl-C255 retained about 50% of its activity in non-polar solvents and showed synthetic activity in organic solvents, making it a good candidate for studying its catalytic potential and selectivity.
An Investigation into the Creep Characteristics of Nylon Strings Used in Badminton Rackets
Authors: Ji Feng
Published: December 2024

In order to improve the hitting performance of badminton rackets, the creep characteristics of their nylon string were explored based on the Maxwell and Kelvin models. Special attention was given to the instantaneous elastic deformation coefficient, the delayed elastic deformation coefficient and the retardation time under different conditions. Based on the experimental results, models with high accuracy were developed for nylon, which can describe the changes in the creep rate at different times, relative humidities and stress levels. They all showed that the creep rate increases rapidly with time and then gradually becomes flat. The highest relative humidity led to the lowest instantaneous elastic deformation coefficient and delayed elastic deformation coefficient, but the highest retardation time for nylon. Finally, as the stress level increased, the instantaneous elastic deformation coefficient, delayed elastic deformation coefficient and retardation time all increased. Thus, to improve the hitting performance of badminton rackets, it is necessary to pay attention to the tension and the air humidity in the environment during use.
“Erudite Discussion” vs. “Aimless Statement”: An Investigation into the Debate Strategies of Buddhism and Daoism in the Tang Dynasty
Authors: Lan Xing , Chen Xi
Published: December 2024

This paper explores the argumentative strategies employed by Daoism and Buddhism in their debates during the Tang dynasty (618–907). Despite being significant in Chinese intellectual history, these debates, particularly the strategies behind them, remain understudied, and two gaps remain. First, the argumentative strategies of the two teachings are yet to be fully examined. Secondly, few studies have examined why Daoism was consistently defeated in the debates. This paper aims to address the two gaps. The paper first examines the argumentative strategies of the two teachings. Overall, the strategies employed by Buddhists were far superior to those employed by Daoists. Buddhists excelled in exposing contradictions and illogical reasoning in their opponents’ arguments. In contrast, the strategies employed by Daoists were often weak, superficial and aimless, primarily serving to undermine Buddhism, whether as a branch of Daoism or a foreign religion. The second part of the paper identifies three reasons for the disparities in argumentative strategies between the two teachings. Firstly, Buddhist doctrines and scriptures underscored the significance of debates, whereas Daoism, both from philosophical and religious perspectives, often overlooked or even discouraged their significance. Secondly, Buddhists actively learned from previous sources and debates, while Daoists displayed limited inclination to do so. Thirdly, Buddhists possessed extensive knowledge of various schools, including Daoism, while Daoists exhibited limited proficiency beyond their own tradition.
Human Health Risk Assessment of Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Groundwater Based on Multi-Pathway Analysis
Authors: Wang Yidi , Li Guilan , Li Xiaohan , Yang Ye , Ding Kaifang , Xing Shilu , Zhang Yilong , Zhang Luxing
Published: December 2024

The rapid development of the global chemical industry has led to widespread groundwater contamination, with frequent pollution incidents posing severe threats to water safety. However, there has been insufficient assessment of the health risks posed by chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination in groundwater around chemical industrial parks. This study evaluates the chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination in groundwater at a chemical park and conducts a multi-pathway health risk assessment, identifying the key risk pollutants. In addition, sensitivity analysis of the primary exposure pathways was performed using the Monte Carlo method. The results indicate severe exceedance of pollutant concentrations with widespread diffusion. Carcinogenic risks were mainly driven by vinyl chloride, whose oral cancer slope factor was significantly higher than that of other substances, while non-carcinogenic risks were dominated by trichloro-ethylene, which had the lowest reference dose. Both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks through the drinking water pathway accounted for approximately 90% of the total risk, whereas the risk contribution from dermal contact was negligible. Although boiling water can partially reduce the risks, its effect on high-concentration pollutants is limited. Additionally, sensitivity analysis showed that pollutant concentration was the primary influencing factor for risk values, followed by exposure duration. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for effectively formulating pollution control measures and ensuring the drinking water safety of nearby residents.
Implications Of Counseling Guidance On Teenager’s Hanging Out Lifestyles
Authors: Hamidah Aisyah Ummu , Rafiola Ryan Hidayat , Ayu Siska Putri
Published: December 2024

The aim of this mini research is to find out interaction patterns and interactional dynamics, adolescent lifestyles and the implications of guidance services for high school students. This research method uses symbolic interactionism, sampling informants using purposive sampling and collaborating with snowball. The research results showed that the group of high school teenagers that the researchers observed had a habit of hanging out in this group not as a place to show off on social media, indeed some uploaded it to social media but not to show their orders or the appearance of the clothes they were wearing. Groups also make their activities meaningful by exchanging ideas and the latest information. The final result is that this group has great potential in supporting guidance and counseling services, group guidance which is very similar to problem solving techniques and group counseling.
Influencia mediática de la investigación en Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales. Estudio de la repercusión de las publicaciones científicas del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) en Altmetric
Authors: De Filippo Daniela , González-Albo Borja
Published: December 2024

La influencia mediática de la investigación científica, entendida como aquella que llega a la sociedad a través de las menciones de artículos científicos en los medios de comunicación, se analiza en el área de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales (HCS), con dos objetivos principales: i) desarrollar un marco analítico definiendo las principales variables, dimensiones e indicadores para profundizar en el conocimiento de la influencia mediática de las publicaciones científicas, ii) realizar un estudio de caso para analizar las características de las publicaciones con influencia mediática y de las noticias que difunden estos resultados académicos. Para ello, se analizan las menciones en medios de comunicación recogidas por Altmetric.com de las publicaciones indexadas en Web of Science entre 2017 y 2021 firmadas con filiaciones del área HCS del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC). Los artículos que han obtenido influencia mediática tienden a tener mayor impacto académico y se publican en revistas científicas de mayor visibilidad, mayoritariamente en acceso abierto, y con mayor colaboración entre autores, centros o países, que los que no tienen esta repercusión. Las noticias que surgen de los artículos analizados se publican en inglés y castellano fundamentalmente, aparecen principalmente en webs de prensa generalista, en medios europeos (principalmente españoles) y sin una sección concreta en su publicación.
Accesibilidad en bibliotecas escolares del Departamento de Cordillera, Paraguay. Un estudio exploratorio
Authors: Chamorro Cristaldo María Felicia , Villagra Ferreira Mirtha Graciela , Cabrera Patricia Johana
Published: December 2024

Las bibliotecas escolares apoyan el aprendizaje en las instituciones educativas, ya que brindan recursos de información y servicios a estudiantes y docentes. Resulta fundamental que todos puedan acceder a ellas sin dificultades. Contemplar la accesibilidad en bibliotecas significa brindar una igualdad de oportunidades en el acceso a la información y en la educación. El objetivo de este estudio exploratorio es verificar el estado en que se encuentran las bibliotecas escolares del departamento de Cordillera, Paraguay, en relación a la accesibilidad para personas con discapacidad. Con este trabajo quedó demostrada la existencia de barreras en las bibliotecas escolares de Paraguay. Esta realidad debe ir modificándose y adecuándose a los lineamientos de tratados internacionales suscriptos por Paraguay y a la normativa nacional de accesibilidad.
Ediciones de la Biblioteca Nacional Mariano Moreno 2004-2015. Un análisis de su catálogo y de sus principales colecciones
Authors: Aracri Alejandra
Published: December 2024

En este artículo realizamos una primera aproximación al trabajo de la editorial de la Biblioteca Nacional Mariano Moreno de Argentina a inicios del siglo XXI. La editorial de la BNMM constituye un caso singular en el campo de los estudios de la edición y de la bibliotecología en tanto editorial pública estatal comercial que ha sido escasamente estudiada. En este trabajo, se recurre a técnicas cuantitativas y cualitativas para el análisis de diversas fuentes como prólogos y epílogos de los libros y las colecciones, normativa, notas periodísticas y discursos oficiales. Luego de enmarcar el sello editor en relación con la propia historia y misión institucional y las políticas públicas que le dan sustento, a partir de la lectura de estas fuentes y de un análisis descriptivo y sintético del catálogo y de 2 colecciones reconstruimos, en términos generales, el accionar de la editorial durante el período 2003-2015. Se presenta entre los resultados los datos que dan cuenta de la producción editorial de la institución y los objetivos que persigue la propuesta en diálogo con los debates contemporáneos sobre la misión de la BNMM, la edición pública y la difusión de la cultura nacional.
Resiliência informacional e subjetivação política. Uma discussão sobre práticas informacionais em contextos políticos digitais
Authors: Ferraz Tairine Vieira , Helal Diogo Henrique
Published: December 2024

Desde a ascensão da chamada sociedade da informação, um paradoxo tem se manifestado: a informação digitalmente mediada demonstra tanto potencial democratizador quanto terreno fértil para a proliferação de discursos extremos que se adaptam e persistem em ambientes digitais. Esse fenômeno demonstra a possibilidade de influenciar processos criativos e destrutivos na construção das subjetividades emergentes. O objetivo deste trabalho é estabelecer aproximações teóricas entre as abordagens da cidadania digital, enquanto um tipo de subjetivação política e da resiliência informacional, como processo capaz de sustentar essa subjetivação. Argumenta-se que investigar a relação entre elas é útil na compreensão do processo de tensionamento social observado em contextos políticos digitais. Sugere-se que a expansão desses enfoques possui potencial de ampliar a compreensão de variadas subjetividades políticas emergentes.