bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomics of Re-emergent Aeromonas salmonicida in Atlantic Salmon Outbreaks
Authors: Godoy Marcos , Montes de Oca Marco , Suarez Rudy , Martinez Alexis , Pontigo Juan Pablo , Caro Diego , Kusch Karina , Bohle Harry , Kibenge Molly , Kibenge Frederick , Bayliss Sion
Published: December 2023

Furunculosis, caused by Aeromonas salmonicida, poses a significant threat to both salmonid and non-salmonid fish in diverse aquatic environments. This study explores the genomic intricacies of re-emergent A. salmonicida outbreaks in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Previous clinical cases have exhibited pathological characteristics, such as periorbital hemorrhages and gastrointestinal abnormalities. Genomic sequencing of three Chilean isolates (ASA04, ASA05, and CIBA_5017) and 25 previously described genomes determined the pan-genome, phylogenomics, insertion sequences, and restriction-modification systems. Unique gene families have contributed to an improved understanding of the psychrophilic and mesophilic clades, while phylogenomic analysis has been used to identify mesophilic and psychrophilic strains, thereby further differentiating between typical and atypical psychrophilic isolates. Diverse insertion sequences and restriction-modification patterns have highlighted genomic structural differences and virulence factor predictions can emphasize exotoxin disparities, especially between psychrophilic and mesophilic strains. Thus, a novel plasmid was characterized, which emphasized the role of plasmids in virulence and antibiotic resistance. The analysis of antibiotic resistance factors revealed resistance against various drug classes in Chilean strains. Overall, this study elucidates the genomic dynamics of re-emergent A. salmonicida and provides novel insights into their virulence, antibiotic resistance, and population structure. However, rigorous monitoring and control in aquaculture remain crucial to mitigate the spread of antibiotic resistance.
Calcium Signaling and the Response to Heat Shock in Crop Plants
Authors: Kang Xinmiao , Zhao Liqun , Liu Xiaotong
Published: December 2023

Climate change and the increasing frequency of high-temperature events are significant threats to global crop yields. To address this, a comprehensive understanding of how plants respond to heat shock (HS) is essential. Signaling pathways involving calcium (Ca2+), a versatile second messenger in plants, encode information through temporal and spatial variations in ion concentration. Ca2+ is detected by Ca2+-sensing effectors, including channels and binding proteins, which trigger specific cellular responses. At elevated temperatures, the cytosolic concentration of Ca2+ in plant cells increases rapidly, making Ca2+ signals the earliest response to HS. In this review, we discuss the crucial role of Ca2+ signaling in raising plant thermotolerance and we explore its multifaceted contributions to various aspects of the plant HS response.
Clinical Impact of Comprehensive Molecular Profiling in Adolescent and Young Adults with Sarcoma
Authors: Andrew Eden C , Lewin Jeremy , Desai Jayesh , Orme Lisa , Hamilton Anne , Bae Susie , Zhu Wenying , Nicolson Shannon , Varghese Leila N , Mitchell Camilla B , Vissers Joseph H.A. , Xu Huiling , Grimmond Sean M , Fox Stephen B , Luen Stephen J
Published: December 2023

Sarcomas are a heterogenous group of tumours that commonly carry poor prognosis with limited therapeutic options. Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with sarcoma are a unique and under-studied patient population that have only achieved modest survival gains compared to other groups. We present our institutional experience of AYA with sarcoma who underwent comprehensive molecular profiling (CMP) using either large-panel targeted DNA sequencing or whole genome and transcriptome sequencing and evaluated the feasibility and clinical impact of this approach. Genomic variants detected were determined to be clinically relevant and actionable following the Molecular Tumour Board evaluation. Clinicians provided feedback regarding the utility of testing three months after reporting.

Twenty-five patients who were recruited for CMP are included in this analysis. The median time from consent to final molecular report was 45 days (interquartile range 37-57). Potentially actionable variants were detected for 14 patients (56%) and new treatment recommendations were identified for 12 patients (48%). Pathogenic germline variants were identified in three patients (12%), and one patient had a change of diagnosis. Implementation for CMP for AYA with sarcoma is clinically valuable, feasible and should be increasingly integrated into routine clinical practice as technologies and turnaround times continue to improve.
Application of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for the Prediction of Interbody Cage Height and Postoperative Alignment in Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
Authors: Bui Anh Tuan , Le Hieu , Hoang Tung Thanh , Trinh Giam Minh , Shao Hao-Chiang , Tsai Pei-I , Chen Kuan-Jen , Hsieh Kevin Li-Chun , Huang E-Wen , Hsu Ching-Chi , Mathew Mathew , Lee Ching-Yu , Wang Po-Yao , Huang Tsung-Jen , Wu Meng-Huang
Published: December 2023

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) is a commonly used technique for treating lumbar degenerative diseases. Here, we developed a fully computer-supported pipeline to predict the cage height and the degree of lumbar lordosis subtraction from the pelvic incidence (PI-LL) after TLIF surgery through preoperative X-ray images. The automated pipeline included two primary stages. First, a deep learning model was used to extract essential features from X-ray images. Second, five machine learning algorithms were trained to identify the optimal models to predict the interbody cage height and postoperative PI-LL. Lasso regression and support vector regression exhibited superior performance for predicting the interbody cage height and postoperative PI-LL, respectively. For cage height prediction, the root mean square error (RMSE) was calculated as 1.01, and the model achieved the highest accuracy at a height of 12 mm, with exact prediction achieved in 54.43% (43/79) of cases. In most of the remaining cases, the prediction error of the model was within 1 mm. In addition, the model demonstrated adequate performance for predicting PI-LL, with an RMSE of 5.19 and an accuracy of 0.81 for PI-LL stratification. In conclusion, the interbody cage height and postoperative PI-LL can be reliably predicted using artificial intelligence and ML models.
Transcriptome Analysis of Stigmas of Vicia faba L. Flowers
Authors: Casimiro-Soriguer Inés , Torres Ana M
Published: December 2023

Pollination in angiosperms depends on a complex communication between pollen grains and stigmas, classified as wet or dry, depending on the presence or absence of secretions at the stigma surface, respectively. In species with wet stigma, the cuticle is disrupted and the presence of exudates is indicative of their receptivity. Most stigma studies are focused on few species and families, many of them with self-incompatibility systems. However, there is scarce knowledge about the stigma composition in Fabaceae, the third angiosperm family, whose stigmas have been classified as semidry. Here we report the first transcriptome profiling and DEGs of Vicia faba L. styles and stigmas from autofertile (flowers able to self-fertilize in absence of manipulation whose exudate is released spontaneously) and autosterile (flowers that need to be manipulated to break the cuticle and release the exudates to be receptive) inbred lines. From the 76,269 contigs obtained from the de novo assembly, only 45,1% of the sequences were annotated with at least one GO term. A total of 115,920, 75,489 and 70,801 annotations were assigned to Biological Process (BP), Cellular Component (CC) and Molecular Function (MF) categories, respectively and 5,918 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the autofertile and the autosterile lines. Among the most enriched metabolic pathways in the DEGs subset were those related with aminoacid biosynthesis, terpenoid metabolism or signal transduction. Some DEGs have been related with previous QTLs identified for autofertility traits, and their putative functions are discussed. Results derived from this work provides an important transcriptomic reference for style-stigma processes to aid understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in faba bean fertilization.
Experimental Study of Cold Dense Nuclear Matter
Authors: Patsyuk Maria , Atovullaev Timur , Johansson Goran , Klimanskiy Dmitriy , Lenivenko Vasilisa , Nepochatykh Sergey , Piasetzky Eli
Published: December 2023

The fundamental theory of nuclear interactions, Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), operates in terms of quarks and gluons at higher resolution. At low resolution the relevant degrees of freedom are nucleons. Two-nucleon Short-Range Correlations (SRC) help to interconnect these two descriptions. SRCs are temporary fluctuations of strongly interacting close pairs of nucleons. The distance between the two nucleons is comparable to their radii and their relative momenta are larger than the fermi sea level. According to the electron scattering experiments held in the last decade, SRCs have far-reaching impacts on many-body systems, the nucleon-nucleon interactions, and nuclear substructure. The modern experiments with ion beams and cryogenic liquid hydrogen target make it possible to study properties of the nuclear fragments after quasi-elastic knockout of a single nucleon or an SRC pair. The first SRC experiment at BM@N (2018) with a carbon beam has shown that detection of an intact 11B nucleus after interaction selects out the quasi-elastic knockout reaction with minimal contribution of initial- and final-state interactions. Also, 25 events of SRC-breakups showed agreement in SRC properties as knows from electron beam experiments. The analysis of the second measurement of SRC at BM@N held in 2022 with an improved setup is currently ongoing. The SRC project at JINR moved to a new experimental area in 2023, where the next measurement is being planned in terms of experimental setup and physics goals.
The Crayfish Plague Pathogen Aphanomyces astaci in Ireland.
Authors: Brady Daniel J. , Meade Rossa , Reynolds Julian D. , Vilcinskas Andreas , Theissinger Kathrin
Published: December 2023

The crayfish plague is a devastating disease of European freshwater crayfish and is caused by the oomycete Aphanomyces astaci (Ap. astaci), which was introduced to Europe around 1860. All European species of freshwater crayfish are susceptible to the disease, including the white-clawed crayfish Austropotamobius pallipes. The aquatic mould is primarily spread by North American crayfish species and can also disperse rapidly through contaminated wet gear moved between water bodies. This spread, coupled with competition from non-indigenous crayfish, has drastically reduced and fragmented native crayfish populations across Europe. Remarkably, the island of Ireland remained free from the crayfish plague pathogen for over 100 years, providing a refuge for A. pallipes. However, this changed in 1987 when a mass mortality event was linked to the pathogen marking the pathogen's introduction to the region. Fortunately, the plague did not establish and was not detected again in Ireland until 2015 when a molecular analysis linked a mass mortality event in the Erne catchment to Ap. astaci. Since then, the pathogen has appeared across the island. Between 2015 and 2023, Ap. astaci was detected in 18 Irish water catchments, revealing multiple genotypes. Intriguingly, the pathogen in Ireland exists without its natural host species. The uneven distribution of various genetic lineages strongly suggests human-mediated transport of zoospores via contaminated water equipment as a primary cause of spread. This review details the timeline of these events, Ap. astaci’s introductions into Ireland, its rapid spread, the genotypes documented, the issue of non-indigenous crayfish species in Ireland and management efforts.
Identification, Expression and Antimicrobial Functional Analysis of Interleukin-8 (IL-8) in Response to Streptococcus iniae and Flavobacterium Covae in Asian Seabass (Lates calcarifer Bloch, 1790)
Authors: Muangrerk Chayanee , Bunnoy Anurak , Srisapoome Prapansak
Published: December 2023

Using qRT-PCR analysis, the LcIL-8 expression level indicated broad expression in most detected tissues, with the most predominant expression in whole blood at 6 to 24 h after infection with S. iniae at concentrations of 105 colony-forming unit (CFU)/fish (p < 0.05). After immersion with F. covae, the LcIL-8 transcript was upregulated in the gills, liver and intestine, with the highest expression level found in the gills. However, LcIL-8 was downregulated in all tested tissues at 48 and 96 h after infection with the two pathogenic strains, indicating that Lc-IL8 has a short half-life during the early immune responses to pathogens. MIC analysis of rLcIL-8 protein against S. iniae was 10.42 ± 3.61 µg/mL. Furthermore, the functional analyses clearly demonstrated that 10 and 100 µg of rLcIL-8 protein efficiently enhanced the phagocytic activity of Asian seabass phagocytes in vitro (p < 0.05). Additionally, in vivo injection of S. iniae following the rLcIL-8 protein indicated that 50 and 100 µg of rLc-IL-8 were highly effective in protecting fish from the tested pathogen (p < 0.001). These results indicate that rLcIL-8 plays a crucial role in the defense mechanisms against bacterial infections in the target fish.
Nanostructured Copper Selenide Coatings for Antifouling Applications
Authors: Mancillas-Salas Sergio , Ledón-Smith José Ángel , Pérez-Álvarez Marissa , Cadenas-Pliego Gregorio , Mata-Padilla José Manuel , Andrade-Guel Marlene , Esparza-González Sandra Cecilia , Vargas-Gutiérrez Gregorio , Sierra-Gómez Uriel Alejandro , Saucedo-Salazar Esmeralda Monserrat
Published: December 2023

The accumulation of microorganisms, plants, algae, or small animals on wet surfaces that have a mechanical function causes biofouling, which can result in structural or other functional deficiencies. The maritime shipping industry must constantly manage biofouling to optimize operational performance, which is a common and long-lasting problem. It can occur in any metal structure in contact or submerged in ocean water, which represents additional costs in terms of repairs and maintenance.
This study is focused on the production of antifouling coatings, made with nanoparticles of copper selenide (CuSe) modified with gum arabic, within a water-base acrylic polymeric matrix. During the curing of the acrylic resin, the CuSe NPs remain embedded in the resin but this does not prevent the release of ions.
The coatings presented to release copper and selenium ions for up to 80 days, selenium was the element that was released the most. The adhesion of film coatings to metallic substrates showed good adhesion, scale 5B (ASTM D3359 standard).
Antimicrobial activity tests show that the coatings have an inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The effect being more noticeable when the coating is detached from the substrate and placed on a growing medium, than compared to the coating on a substrate.
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations show that nanostructured CuSe coatings are made up of rod-shaped and spherical particles whose range ranges from 12 to 25 nm. The Energy Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) studies showed that the ratio of selenium nanoparticles is greater than that of copper and that their distribution is homogeneous
Progress on Next Generation Electrochemical Energy Storages: Status and Challenges
Authors: Benti Natei Ermias , Chaka Mesfin Diro
Published: December 2023

Transportation is the primary consumer of oil, accounting for a significant portion of global energy consumption (34%) and CO2 emissions (40%). Electrifying road transportation is crucial to mitigate the effects of global warming. The abundant potential of renewable energy sources like solar and wind is hindered by their intermittent nature and incongruity with peak energy demands. This calls for the development of sophisticated energy storage solutions. Metal-air batteries (MABs), emerging as viable alternatives to lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), have attracted considerable attention due to their promising applications in the transportation sector. Despite substantial progress in MAB development over the past two decades, overcoming critical challenges such as electrolyte decomposition, carbon cathode degradation, anodic dendrite growth, and air impurities remains essential for their commercial viability. This mini-review provides a comprehensive overview of MAB fundamentals and the challenges associated with their development. The insights presented in this review serve to illuminate the current landscape and future prospects of MABs in the transportation sector.
The Effect of Varying Air Flow Solar Collector on the Quality of Arabica Coffee Beans
Authors: Siagian Parulian , Napitupulu Farel Hasiholan , Ambarita Himsar , Sihombing Hendrik Voice , Sibagariang Yogie Probo , Siagian Horas Sotardodo
Published: December 2023

Different coffee drying technologies face complex task in ensuring an acceptable final seed moisture content. Drying technology of agricultural commodities aims to maintain and improve the quality of the agricultural products themselves. In addition to maintaining quality, especially from other bacterial attacks, it can last for a long time before further processing. Coffee commodities are promising for the welfare of coffee farmers. Drying technology plays a major role in determining the quality of coffee. Various drying models are applied including the traditional model that until now is still applied, direct drying under solar radiation. However, this drying process is less hygienic and requires a large area. Thus, one of the drying technologies that can accelerate drying time is to vary the air flow in the drying chamber so that the coffee can be determined to reduce the water content with a certain temperature. In this study, it was found that the moisture content of coffee beans dried using a dryer on air flow with variations of velocity in solar collector 1 (DB1) air velocity of 1.0m/s obtained the final mass = 732.249 gr, solar collector 2 (DB2) with air velocity 1.5 m/s obtained the final mass = 774.70 gr, solar collector 3 (DB3) with air velocity 2.0 m/s obtained the final mass = 855.10 gr, solar collector 4 (DB4) with air velocity 2.5 m/s obtained the final mass = 745.79 gr, and solar collector 5 (DB5) with air velocity 3.0 m/s obtained the final mass = 786.40 gr. Water Content DB1=12.0%, DB2=13.6%, DB3=18.5%, DB4=12.9% and DB5=15.2%. The time required for 25 hours with a maximum radiation of 586.9 w/m2, total heat utilized from solar radiation in 3 days =16.663128 MJ/m2. from the initial weight of 1500gr coffee bean samples and dried in five solar collectors with parallel simultaneously. The evaporated water content DB1=51.18%, DB2=48.35%, DB3=42.96%, DB4=50.28% and DB5=47.57%. Based on this research, it was found that the most optimum quality of coffee was by using solar collector 2 (DB2), namely with air flow of 1.5 m/s with average temperature in the drying box DB2=43.68°C, with the quality content of the coffee, Protein content=12.2%, Carbohydrate=22.8% and Free Fatty Acid (ALB) content=0.05%.
Hydrogen Storage System Attained by HCOOH-CO2 Couple: Recent Developments in Carbon-Based Heterogeneous Catalysts
Authors: Riquelme-García P. , Navlani-García M. , Cazorla-Amorós D.
Published: December 2023

The present review revisits representative studies addressed to develop efficient carbon-based heterogeneous catalysts for two important reactions, namely, the production of hydrogen from formic acid and the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide to formic acid. The HCOOH-CO2 system is considered a promising couple for a hydrogen storage system that would be involved in an ideal carbon-neutral cycle. Significant advancements have been achieved in those catalysts designed to catalyze the dehydrogenation of formic acid under mild reaction conditions, while much effort is still needed to catalyze the challenging CO2 hydrogenation reaction. The design of carbon-based heterogeneous catalysts for these reactions encompasses both the modulation of the properties of the active phase (particle size, composition, and electronic properties), as well as the modification of the supports by means of incorporation of nitrogen functional groups. These approaches are herein summarized to provide a compilation of the strategies followed in recent studies to set the basis for a hydrogen storage system attained by the HCOOH-CO2 couple.
ControlFace: Feature Disentangling for Controllable Face Swapping
Authors: Zhang Xuehai , Zhou Wenbo , Liu Kunlin , Tang Hao , Zhang Zhenyu , Zhang Weiming , Yu Nenghai
Published: December 2023

Face swapping is an intriguing and intricate task in the field of computer vision. Currently, most mainstream face swapping methods employ face recognition models to extract identity features and inject them into the generation process. Nonetheless, such methods often struggle to effectively transfer identity information, result in generated results failing to achieve a high identity similarity with the source face. Furthermore, if we can accurately disentangle identity information, we can achieve controllable face swapping, thereby providing more choices to users. In pursuit of this goal, we propose a new face swapping framework (ControlFace) based on the disentanglement of identity information. We disentangle the structure and texture of the source face, encoding and characterizing them in the form of feature embeddings separately. According to the semantic level of each feature representation, we inject them into the corresponding feature mapper and fuse them adequately in the latent space of StyleGAN. Owing to such disentanglement of structure and texture, we are able to controllablely transfer parts of the identity features. Extensive experiments and comparisons with state-of-the-art face swapping methods demonstrate the superiority of our face swapping framework in terms of transferring identity information, producing high-quality face images and controllable face swapping.
The Use of Fungi of the Trichoderma Genus in Anaerobic Digestion: A Review
Authors: Kubiak Adrianna , Pilarska Agnieszka A. , Wolna-Maruwka Agnieszka , Niewiadomska Alicja , Panasiewicz Katarzyna
Published: December 2023

Plant waste biomass is the most abundant renewable energy resource on Earth. The main problem of utilising this biomass in anaerobic digestion is the long and costly stage of degrading its complex structure into simple compounds. A promising solution to this problem are fungi of the Trichoderma genus, which show a high capacity to produce hydrolytic enzymes capable of degrading lignocellulosic biomass. This article discusses the structure of plant waste biomass and the problems resulting from its structure in the digestion process. It presents the methods of pre-treatment of lignocellulose with a particular focus on biological solutions. Based on the latest research findings, key parameters related to the application of Trichoderma sp. as a pre-treatment method are discussed. In addition, the possibility of using the digestate from agricultural biogas plants as a carrier for the multiplication of the Trichoderma sp. fungi, which are widely used in many industries, was discussed.
Solid Acid-Base Catalysts Based on Layered Double Hydroxides Applied for Green Catalytic Transformations
Authors: You Xiaolu , Chen Lishi , He Shan , Zhang Guiju
Published: December 2023

Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) have emerged as promising catalysts for various acid-base catalytic reactions. Due to their unique structure and regulatable dual acid-base properties, they offer more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternatives to traditional liquid acid and base catalysts. This study introduces the structural composition, preparation methods, and acid-base catalytic properties of LDHs-based catalysts. Recent application progress of LDHs and rehydrated LDHs, LDHs-based metal nanocatalysts, and LDHs-based mixed metal oxide catalysts used as solid acid-base catalysts in acid-base green catalytic conversion is reviewed. The challenges and prospects of LDHs-based catalysts as green and sustainable catalysts are summarized and proposed.
Relationship between Biochemical Pathways and Non-Coding RNAs Involved in the Progression of Diabetic Retinopathy
Authors: Mrowicka Małgorzata , Mrowicki Jerzy , Majsterek Ireneusz
Published: December 2023

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a progressive blinding disease that affects vision and quality of life of patients and severely impacts society. This complication, caused by abnormal glucose metabolism, leads to structural, functional, molecular, and biochemical abnormalities in the retina. Oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation also play pivotal roles in the pathogenic process of DR, leading to mitochondrial damage and decrease in the mitochondrial function. DR causes retinal degeneration in glial and neural cells, while the disappearance of pericytes in retinal blood vessels leads to modifications in vascular regulation and stability. Clinical changes include dilatation and blood flow alterations in response to the reduce in retinal perfusion in retinal blood vessels, leading to vascular leakage, neovascularization and neurodegeneration. Thus, DR is a highly complex disease with various biological factors that contribute to its pathogenesis. The interplay between biochemical pathways and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) is essential for understanding the development and progression of DR. Abnormal expression of ncRNAs has been confirmed to promote the development of DR, suggesting that ncRNAs such as miRNAs, lnc-RNAs and circ-RNAs have potential as diagnostic biomarkers and theranostic targets in DR. This review provides an overview of interactions between abnormal biochemical pathways and dysregulated expression of ncRNAs under the influence of hyperglycemic environment in DR.
The Long Road from Religious and Ethical Traditions to Welfare of Invertebrates
Authors: Mather Jennifer A.
Published: December 2023

Ethical behaviour tends to lead to welfare consideration of animals, but much less so for invertebrates. Indigenous tradition often valued all animals having an important role in the life on the planet, a practical application of modern ecology. The Judaeo-Christian-Islamic tradition postulated ‘man’ as having dominion over all the earth, resulting in anthropocentrism and careless practices. In contrast, the Buddhist/Hindu beliefs in rebirth leads to ahisma or doing no harm. In the face of capitalist systems, practice does not necessarily follow these beliefs, especially in the ‘shepherding’ of domestic animals. Only the Jainist beliefs value the lives of all invertebrates. Philosophers are often divorced from the physiological reality of the animals they muse about and science’s traditions of objectivity and the simplest possible explanation of behaviour led to ignorance of invertebrates’ abilities. With the new information about sentience in some of these animals, moral standing and welfare consideration has sometimes been extended to invertebrates, but we have a long distance to go to consider recognition and care of all these 97% of the animals on the planet.
Exploring the Potential Role of Hypericin in Targeting PIM1 for Cancer Research
Authors: FERRARI IVAN VITO
Published: December 2023

PIM1is involved in critical cellular processes, playing a key role in the regulation of the cell cycle, apoptosis, transcriptional activation, and broader signal transduction pathways . The exploration of PIM1inhibitors, such as small molecules or antibodies, represents a promising avenue in cancer research for developing novel treatment strategiess. Its significance in oncogenic signaling has led to extensive research on PIM1 as a target in cancer studies. Docking studies have revealed a robust interaction between hypericin and PIM1, suggesting a strong binding affinity (-12.5 kcal/mol). This research aims to explore the molecular dynamics of the hypericin-PIM1 interaction, identifying potential binding sites and elucidating the impact on PIM1-mediated cellular processes, such as cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. The findings may contribute valuable insights into developing hypericin-based therapies targeting PIM1, paving the way for novel and effective strategies in cancer research.
Synthesis and Characterization of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles Anchored Carbon as Hybrid Adsorbents for Effective Heavy Metals-Uptake from Wastewater
Authors: ALanazi Abdullah G , Habila Mohamed A , ALOthman Zeid A , Badjah-Hadj-Ahmed Ahmed Yacine
Published: December 2023

Hybrid materials derived adsorbents have showed a great applicable efficiency in various fields including industrial uses and environmental remediation. Herein, the zinc oxide nanoparticles anchored carbon (ZnO-C) is fabricated and utilized for wastewater treatment by adsorption of Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II). The surface and structural characteristics are examined by TEM, SEM, XRD, FTIR, EDS and BET surface area. The Kinetics and equilibrium investigations are applied to optimize the adsorptive removal of Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) onto ZnO-C. Results indicated formation of ZnO-C in crystalline spherical granules with nano-size between 29.3 and 48.8 nm. In addition, the spherical granules are gathered to form clusters. The FTIR indicated that the ZnO-C surface is rich with OH groups and ZnO. The adsorption capacity is reported as 212, 209, 200 and 230 mg/L for Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) respectively. The optimum condition for maximum adsorption were pH between 5 and 6, contact time of 180 min and adsorbent dose of 0.1 g/L. The adsorptive removal data modeling for uptake of Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) onto ZnO-C showed agreement with the assumption of pseudo 2nd order kinetic model and Freundlich isotherm suggesting fast adsorption rate and multilayer mechanism. The achieved adsorption capacity using the prepared ZnO-C is more effective compared to ZnO, carbon, Fe3O4 and Fe3O4-C. Real wastewater samples are applied including valley water, industrial wastewater and rain wastewater and evaluated for applicable uptake of Zn(II), Cd(II), Co(II) and Mn(II) using ZnO-C and Fe3O4-C with high efficiency.
Data Augmentation for Regression Machine Learning Problems in High Dimensions
Authors: Guilhaumon Clara , Hascoët Nicolas , Chinesta Francisco , Lavarde Marc , Daim Fatima
Published: December 2023

Machine learning approaches are currently used to understand or model complex physical systems. In general, a substantial number of samples must be collected to create a model with reliable results. However, collecting numerous data is often relatively time-consuming or expensive. Moreover, the problems of industrial interest tend to be more and more complex and depending on a high number of parameters. High dimensional problems intrinsically involve the need of large data amount through the curse of dimensionality. That is why, new approaches based on smart sampling techniques are investigated to minimize the number of samples to be given to train the model, such as Active Learning methods. Here, we propose a technique based on a combination of Fisher information matrix and of Sparse Proper Generalized Decomposition that enables the definition of a new Active Learning informativeness criterion in high dimensions. We provide examples proving the performances of this technique on a theoretical 5D polynomial function and on an industrial crash simulation application. The results prove that the proposed strategy over-perform the usual ones.
Analytical Experimentations with Midjourney Architectural Virtual Lab: Defining Some Major Current Limits in AI-generated Representations of Islamic Architectural Heritage
Authors: Sukkar Ahmad , Fareed Mohamed W. , Yahia Moohammed Wasim , Abdalla Salem Buhashima , Ibrahim Iman , Senjab Khaldoun Abdul Karim
Published: December 2023

In the realm of artificial intelligence (AI), generative systems, most notably Midjourney, have tremendous power to generate creative images of buildings and sites of Islamic architectural heritage through text-to-image generation based on the internet. The AI-generated representations have significant potential for architects, specialists, and common users. However, the system has considerable limitations when generating images for some buildings and sites where the representations appear too far from their original represented structures. This research article attempts to answer the question: What are the limitations of using the AI system of Midjourney in producing images similar to the original buildings and sites of the Islamic architectural heritage? The research employs prompt engineering techniques based on historical sources as inputs to examine the accuracy of the output of the AI-generated images of selected examples of structures of the Islamic tradition. It compares the output with the original look by employing direct observation and critical analysis of human intelligence (HI). It categorizes these limitations into four groups: (1) limits of the prompt, (2) limits of fame, (3) limits of regionality and historical styles, and (4) limits of architectural elements and details. It concludes that while Midjourney has great capability to represent high-end AI-generated images inspired by the Islamic tradition, it currently falls short of presenting the actual appearance of some of their original structures.
Publishing and citing datasets
Authors: Ermakov Alexey Viktorovitch
Published: December 2023

The paper addresses issues related to the creation of data archives, their publication, placement of metadata in the Crossref bibliographic database and citation of datasets in scientific publications. Examples of popular world data archives are given and an experiment on creating and publishing datasets in KIAM is described.
Perspective Review: The Influence of Gait Efficacy on Improving Physical Activity in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Nur Amalia Riskah
Published: December 2023

Aging appears to be associated with a rise in the prevalence of inactivity. The Covid-19 pandemic was also reported associated with physical functioning and fall outcomes, with the greatest effect on individuals with reduced physical activity and social. Therefore, the elderly as the most populous group vulnerable need serious attention. Gait efficacy is defined as an individual’s perception of their level of confidence in order to perform safe walking tasks. Increasing older adults' gait-related self-efficacy is potentially necessary in order to promote self-regulation of physical activity and initiate the development of good physical activity habits as early prevention of disuse syndrome or inactivity in older adults.
Facile Synthesis of Composite Chitosan and Durio zibethinus Seed and Its Applications as Adsorbent of Metal Ion Ni(II)
Authors: Putri Silvia Devi Eka , Mulijani Sri , Sutriah Komar
Published: December 2023

Nickel is one of the most dangerous heavy metals that impact water ecosystems and human health. In the study, natural and harmless composite materials such as biochar and chitosan were modified to build adsorbent composites and form optimal conditions for the adsorption of nickel heavy metal ions from contaminated wastewater. Biochar was prepared from Durio zibethinus seeds by hydrothermal method to form nanopowder. It was treated with acid, while chitosan was designed as nanopowder by hydrothermal method, also without acid treatment. Composite adsorbents were prepared by mixing biochar and chitosan with a ratio of 4:3 (w/w). Fourier Transform Infrared characterizes composite materials as adsorbents, biochar, and chitosan. The surface morphology of the adsorbent was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms determine the adsorbent's performance. In addition, batch adsorption experiments were carried out to measure the effect of solution pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial concentration of metal ions. Nickel ion adsorption by the composite adsorbent showed an adsorption capacity of 26.69 mg/g, a maximum removal efficiency of 89.39% at optimum conditions of pH 6, an adsorbent dose of 0.5 g, and a contact time of 200 minutes. This adsorption capacity was better than chitosan and durian seed adsorbents. The nickel ion adsorption process by composite adsorbent shows a pattern in the Temkin isotherm model. In contrast, the chitosan and Durio zibethinus seed adsorbents tended to follow the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. In addition, the adsorption kinetics of the composite material showed pseudo-second-order kinetics, and the reaction was exothermic.
İstanbul’un İşgali’nden Lozan Barış Konferansı’na: Bıçakçızade İsmail Hakkı’nın Tarih-i Zafer’i
Authors: SONA İbrahim , NEGİŞ Dindar
Published: December 2023

Edebiyat ve tarih, sosyal bilimler içerisinde birbirine en yakın disiplinler arasındadır. İki ilim dalının olaylara bakış açıları ve yaklaşımları farklı olsa da doğru ve güvenilir bilgiye ulaşma konusunda birbirlerinden istifadeleri kaçınılmazdır. Edebî metinleri inceleyen bir araştırmacının, eserin ortaya konulduğu zamanın tarihî olaylarını bilme zorunluluğu olduğu gibi tarih araştırmacısının da incelediği bir olayı, devrinin yazılı kaynaklarında ararken edebî metinlere bakma gerekliliği bulunmaktadır. Araştırmalar, Osmanlı tarihi ve edebiyatına dair olduğunda bu zorunluluk daha belirgin hâle gelmektedir. Manzum ve mensur sayısız eserin yazıldığı Osmanlı dönemi metinleri içerisindeki fetihname, gazavatname, zafername ve cenknameler tarihî olayların edebiyatçı gözünden ele alındığı eserlerdir. Bu türden eserler içerisinde değerlendirmenin mümkün olduğu Bıçakçızade Hakkı’nın Tarih-i Zafer manzumesi mefâ’îlün mefâ’îlün mefâ’îlün mefâ’îlün kalıbıyla yazılmış ve seksen üç bentten oluşan bir mütekerrir murabbadır. “Bin üç yüz kırk biri yâd et, bin üç yüz kırk biri yâd et” mısraının her bentte tekrarlandığı bu şiir, 1922 yılını hatırlamayı öğütlemektedir. İstanbul’un İşgali, Misak-ı Millî’nin kabulü, Yunanlılar başta olmak üzere Fransız, İngiliz ve İtalyanların eylemleri, İnönü Muharebeleri, Arap ayaklanmaları ve Emir Şerif Hüseyin isyanı, Kütahya Eskişehir Savaşları, Sakarya Muharebeleri, Londra Konferansları, Büyük Taarruz, İzmir Yangını, Mudanya Mütarekesi ve Lozan Konferansı şiirde ayrıntılı olarak ele alınmıştır. Tarih-i Zafer, tarihî olayların şiir hâlinde ifadesidir, üstelik şair olayların içerisindedir. Aynı zamanda eser, Millî Mücadele’nin Türk halkı üzerindeki etkisini göstermesi açısından da dikkat çekicidir. Çalışmada, zafername sayılabilecek Tarih-i Zafer’in tarihî yönden incelenerek bilim âleminin istifadesine sunulması amaçlanmıştır.
Effect of Temperature and Amount of Nickel Catalyst on Yield and Bio-Oil Composition in Pyrolysis of Sugarcane Bagasse
Authors: Arifah Zulia , Setyawan Martomo , Jamilatun Siti
Published: December 2023

The abundance of bagasse waste from sugar cane processing needs special attention apart from being used for direct combustion in boilers. Sugarcane bagasse waste can be further processed by pyrolysis so that it will produce bio-oil, bio-gas and char products which have the potential to be used as fuel or high-value chemicals. Pyrolysis of bagasse was carried out to study the effect of temperature and the ratio of the amount of Ni catalyst on the yield and composition of bio-oil in the form of oxygen to carbon (O/C) ratio, hydrogen to carbon (H/C) ratio, higher heating value (HHV), content of oxygenated compounds and range of aromatic compounds. Pyrolysis of bagasse is carried out in a fixed bed reactor with a heating rate of 10-12 ºC/minute to the desired temperature. Pyrolysis with and without a catalyst was carried out at a temperature range of 300-600 ºC with a variation of Ni catalyst weighing 2.5 grams and 5 grams. Liquid product analysis was tested using GCMS (Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectroscopy) to determine the compound content in the liquid product resulting from pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse. Bio-oil resulting from pyrolysis of sugarcane bagasse contains several dominant compounds including alcohol, fatty acids, esters, carotenoids and levoglucosan. However, the yield of sugarcane bagasse bio-oil without catalyst was dominated by high levoglucosan, namely 70.52%. Meanwhile, the bio oil resulting from pyrolysis which varied with 2.5 grams and 5 grams of Ni catalyst was dominated by esters, namely 69.07% and 81.68% respectively. These compounds have different chemical properties and applications, and understanding the composition of bio-oil can help in deciding how to use it efficiently.
A Case Study of Implementing Efficient Rotating Six-Axis Measurements-While-Drilling Survey in Azerbaijan
Authors: Dairova Bakytgul , Saleh Rashad Mohiey , Shirinova Nargiz , Isayeva Elina , Lowdon Ross
Published: December 2023

Measurement-while-drilling (MWD) surveying is one of the important prerequisites for the successful delivery of directional wells because the survey defines the accurate wellbore position and orientation of the bottomhole assembly (BHA) in real time during the drilling operation. There were many modifications performed in MWD measurements evolution progress over the years, but none of them resulted in achieving the six-axis surveying measurements that obtained in dynamic conditions with at least the same accuracy as static surveys. Realizing the true potentials of taking the survey measurements in the rotating mode helped to optimize drilling operations and minimize the risks associated with stationary survey methods. The definitive dynamic survey (DDS) can be accurately performed while drilling in both rotary and slide modes. The DDS eliminated survey-related rig time, i.e., working the drillstring to release the torque, providing zero motion while making and sending downhole survey measurements, or spending additional time to resurvey the interval for various reasons.

A major directional oilfield services provider pioneered a new MWD surveying technology that implemented in the projects in the Caspian Sea. The technology delivered definitive surveys while on-bottom drilling with full parameters and complete data quality control. Several operational runs have been recently conducted with the aim of comparing and qualifying DDS to industry standard gyro and MWD surveys. The MWD DDS survey was conducted in complex 3D well profiles, including a curve section and tangent at near vertical and high angle through a continuous turn interval. The results showed an excellent match both in inclination and in azimuth. Based on the results of evaluating the technology in this location, DDS surveys enhanced rig operations efficiency, improved trajectory control, and provided higher survey density than that from traditional stationary MWD surveys.

This paper presents the recent results obtained from implementing the DDS technology while drilling in the Caspian Sea region and reveal the best practices for planning and performing other similar jobs. The paper includes the procedures required to take definitive non-static surveys, ensuring the DDS data are sent continuously to the surface and meet survey acceptance criteria in terms of sensor misalignments, shock and vibration parameters, eddy current compensation, and phase shift corrections. To validate these continuous survey measurements, a field test survey comparison was performed between a conventional static survey and a gyroscopic survey. In addition to a conclusion, the paper will present the recommendations for the well construction efficiency optimization while drilling through a depleted reservoir.
Development of an innovative, multisensory and stimulus-stimulating modular system for the daily occupation of people with dementia – A nationwide online survey to assess willingness to pay using the van Westendorp method
Authors: Hummel Michel , Günther Lydia , Liebl Stefanie , Schaal Tom
Published: December 2023

Background. The well-being of people with dementia in residential care facilities can be increased through targeted activation and/or reassurance by staff. Multisensory products can provide helpful support.
Methods. All nursing homes (n = 8,734) in Germany were invited to participate in a nationwide online survey. The survey asked about the willingness of executives to pay for the developed multisensory product. In addition, the use, need and characteristics of the product as well as its effects on well-being were discussed.
Results. The information provided by the participants resulted in an optimal price of 33 euros for the developed product. Music, card games or books are primarily used. There is a need for activity boards, grasping braids and threading balls. Activation and calming down occurred equally regularly. Multisensory products should focus primarily on visual, tactile-haptic and acoustic senses.
Conclusions. Multisensory products can support caregivers' activation and reassurance of people with dementia. The willingness to pay is very low and is below the production costs of the developed product.
Canonical WNT signaling-driven DKC1 dysregulates sphingolipid biosynthesis and drives colorectal cancer.
Authors: Ateeq Bushra , Nigam Shivansh , Khan Umar , Praveen Ayush , Shendre Akshay , Carskadon Shannon , Kapoor Abhimanyu , Tewari Anjali , Chandra Abhijit , Palanisamy Nallasivam
Published: December 2023

Aberrant activation of canonical WNT signaling has been implicated in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. However, the complexity associated with WNT pathway poses challenges to consider it as an effective therapeutic target. Here, we employed a bottom-up approach and delineate the clinical significance of DKC1-driven CRC. We show higher DKC1 expression in ~88% of CRC patients associated with poor recurrence-free survival. Notably, DKC1-positive patients exhibit similarity with CMS2, a class with active WNT signaling. Mechanistically, DKC1 orchestrates cell cycle regulation, maintains genomic integrity, and confers drug resistance. Furthermore, WNT/β-catenin axis modulates DKC1 expression, and WNT inhibitor led to reduced DKC1-mediated oncogenicity. Additionally, mice bearing DKC1-knockdown xenografts show ~81% reduction in tumor burden. Patients’ specimen with high DKC1 levels show accumulation of ceramides, namely C23 and C24. Also, DKC1/SOX2 complex perturbs sphingolipids metabolism via SGPP2 enzyme, leading to elevated ceramides. Overall, we discover the underlying circuitry involved in DKC1-driven CRC, propose ceramides as biomarker, and underscore the utility of WNT-based therapeutics in disease management.
Crustal Hydration Primed Early Mars with Warm and Habitable Conditions
Authors: Adams Danica , Scheucher Markus , HU RENYU , Thomas Trent , Scheller Eva , Lillis Rob , Smith Kayla , Wordsworth Robin , Ehlmann Bethany , Rauer Heike , Yung Yuk
Published: December 2023

Geological evidence suggests that ancient Mars held substantial volumes of surface liquid water[1–2], lost over time due to crustal hydration[17] and atmospheric escape[7]. Resolving the Mars Faint Young Sun Paradox, or explaining how the atmosphere was kept warmer early on despite a less luminous sun, has remained a challenge. Reduced greenhouse gases like H2 in a CO2 atmosphere are known to induce warming through collision induced absorption[13–14], but H2 is short-lived and no long-lasting source at early Mars has been identified yet. Here we show that crustal hydration would have supplied significant H2 fluxes, which, built up in the atmosphere over 105-107 years, could have facilitated a warm, wet climate through collision-induced absorption with CO2 and N2. This would only occur during a few major events lasting ~ million years, while shorter events could not have warmed the climate. Our results are the first to explain how long-lasting warm climates could have persisted at early Mars. As CO2 was lost and the atmosphere cooled, it transitioned to a CO-dominated state in the Hesperian era, leading to a colder, drier climate. We anticipate that sharp climate and redox state changes may have been triggered by geological or obliquity changes.