bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Latin American Federation of Endocrinology for the use of vitamin D in the maintenance of bone health: recommendations for the Latin American context
Authors: Gómez Oscar , Campusano Claudia , Cerdas-P Sonia , Mendoza Beatriz , Páez-Talero Amanda , de la Peña-Rodríguez María Pilar , Reza-Albarrán Alfredo Adolfo , Rueda-Plata Pedro Nel
Published: June 2024

Introduction

These guidelines aim to provide evidence-based recommendations for the supplementation of Vitamin D in maintaining bone health. An unmet need persists in Latin American regarding the availability of clinical and real-world data for rationalizing the use of vitamin D supplementation. The objective of these guidelines is to establish clear and practical recommendations for healthcare practitioners from Latin American countries to address Vitamin D insufficiency in clinical practice.

Methods

The guidelines were developed according to the GRADE-ADOLOPMENT methodology for the adaptation or adoption of CPGs or evidence-based recommendations. A search for high quality CPGs was complemented through a comprehensive review of recent literature, including randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and systematic reviews evaluating the effects of Vitamin D supplementation on bone health. The evidence to decision framework proposed by the GRADE Working Group was implemented by a panel of experts in endocrinology, bone health, and clinical research.

Results

The guidelines recommend Vitamin D supplementation for individuals aged 18 and above, considering various populations, including healthy adults, individuals with osteopenia, osteoporosis patients, and institutionalized older adults. These recommendations offer dosing regimens depending on an individualized treatment plan, and monitoring intervals of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels and adjustments based on individual results.

Discussion

The guidelines highlight the role of Vitamin D in bone health and propose a standardized approach for healthcare practitioners to address Vitamin D insufficiency across Latin America. The panel underscored the necessity for generating local data and stressed the importance of considering regional geography, social dynamics, and cultural specificities when implementing these guidelines.
A Functional Coefficients Version of a Generalized Orr–Sherby–Dorn Creep Model: An Application to 2.25Cr–1Mo Steel
Authors: Evans M.
Published: June 2024

It is important to be able to predict the creep life of materials used in power plants. This paper illustrates the inadequacies of the Orr–Sherby–Dorn (OSD) creep model in achieving this aim for 2.25Cr–1Mo steel. This failure is explained in terms of non-constant model parameters—which in turn is the result of changing creep mechanisms. The paper introduces a semi-parametric estimation procedure for a variant of the OSD model (a structural coefficients version) that can be used to deal with such changing creep mechanisms while maintaining the structure of the model and consequently producing more reliable long-term predictions compared to the unmodified OSD model and the recently introduced LOESS technique. For 2.25Cr–1Mo steel, it was found that the model parameters varied in line with changing creep mechanisms, but in a modified way compared to that already suggested in the literature for this material. The models used suggested that with diminishing stress and increasing temperature, dislocation creep within the crystal structure morphs into grain boundary dislocation motion and finally Nabarro-Herring creep.
The Effect of Static Recrystallisation of Parent Austenite on the Lath Martensite Intervariant Boundary Network
Authors: Mirzaei Ahmad , Hodgson Peter D. , Ma Xiang , Tari Vahid , Vahid Alireza , Beladi Hossein
Published: June 2024

The current study investigated the effect of static recrystallisation (SRX) of parent austenite microstructure on the lath martensite intervariant boundary network. In general, the misorientation angle distribution of lath martensite exhibited a bimodal distribution in the range of 10–22 deg and 47–60 deg for all thermomechanical conditions, closely matching the misorientations expected from the ideal Kurdjumov-Sachs orientation relationship. Nevertheless, the population of 60 deg misorientation angle initially reduced with the extent of softening up to 50 pct beyond which it progressively increased to a maximum in the fully recrystallised condition. This was closely consistent with the trend noticed for the 60 deg/[110] intervariant boundaries having twist character. This was explained through the distinct variant selection mechanism occurring due to the change in the parent austenite grain characteristics (i.e., size and deformed state) upon static recrystallisation. The recrystallisation initially led to the formation of fine dislocation-free parent austenite grains up to 50 pct softening, promoting a 4-variant (V1V2V3V4) clustering arrangement to decrease the strain related to the martensite transformation. In turn, this promoted the formation of symmetric tilt 60 deg/$$\left[ {11\overline{1}} \right]$$

11

1
¯

intervariant boundaries, which ultimately reduced the 60 deg/$$\left[ {110} \right]$$

110

boundaries. Further softening, accompanied with the growth and/or coalescence of parent austenite grains, altered the variant clustering to a 3-variant arrangement (V1V3V5) and the increase in 60 deg/$$\left[ {110} \right]$$

110

twist intervariant boundaries. Indeed, the martensite boundary network was largely controlled by the SRX parent austenite characteristics (i.e., size), which can be controlled to enhance the materials performance for a given application.
Subclinical hypothyroidism predicts outcome in heart failure: insights from the T.O.S.CA. registry
Authors: De Luca Mariarosaria , D’Assante Roberta , Iacoviello Massimo , Triggiani Vincenzo , Rengo Giuseppe , De Giorgi Alfredo , Limongelli Giuseppe , Masarone Daniele , Volterrani Maurizio , Mancini Antonio , Passantino Andrea , Perrone Filardi Pasquale , Sciacqua Angela , Vriz Olga , Castello Roberto , Campo Michela , Lisco Giuseppe , Modesti Pietro Amedeo , Paolillo Stefania , Suzuki Toru , Salzano Andrea , Marra Alberto Maria , Bossone Eduardo , Cittadini Antonio ,   T.O.S.CA. Investigators
Published: June 2024

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SH), defined as increased serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) with normal free T4 (fT4) levels, is frequently observed in the general population. Prevalence ranges from 0.6% to 1.8% in the adult population, depending on age, sex, and iodine intake. Several studies reported a worse prognosis in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and SH, but they considered heterogeneous populations suffering mainly from severe SH. Aim of this study was to evaluate if SH was independently associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular death considering 30 months of follow-up. 277 HFrEF patients enrolled in the prospective, multicenter, observational T.O.S.CA. (Terapia Ormonale Scompenso CArdiaco) registry, were included in this analysis. Patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of SH (serum TSH levels > 4.5 mIU/L with normal fT4 levels). Data regarding clinical status, echocardiography, and survival were analyzed. Twenty-three patients displayed SH (87% mild vs 13% severe), while 254 were euthyroid. No differences were found in terms of age, sex, HF etiology, and left ventricular ejection fraction. When compared with the euthyroid group, SH patients showed higher TSH levels (7.7 ± 4.1 vs 1.6 ± 0.9, p < 0.001), as expected, with comparable levels of fT4 (1.3 ± 0.3 vs 1.3 ± 0.3, p = NS). When corrected for established predictors of poor outcome in HF, the presence of SH resulted to be an independent predictor of cardiovascular mortality (HR: 2.96; 5–95% CI:1.13–7.74; p = 0.03). Since thyroid tests are widely available and inexpensive, they should be performed in HF patients to detect subclinical disorders, evaluate replacement therapy, and improve prognosis.
The Truncated Moment Problem on Reducible Cubic Curves I: Parabolic and Circular Type Relations
Authors: Yoo Seonguk , Zalar Aljaž
Published: June 2024

In this article we study the bivariate truncated moment problem (TMP) of degree 2k on reducible cubic curves. First we show that every such TMP is equivalent after applying an affine linear transformation to one of 8 canonical forms of the curve. The case of the union of three parallel lines was solved in Zalar (Linear Algebra Appl 649:186–239, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.laa.2022.05.008), while the degree 6 cases in Yoo (Integral Equ Oper Theory 88:45–63, 2017). Second we characterize in terms of concrete numerical conditions the existence of the solution to the TMP on two of the remaining cases concretely, i.e., a union of a line and a circle $$y(ay+x^2+y^2)=0, a\in {\mathbb {R}}{\setminus } \{0\}$$

y

(
a
y
+

x
2

+

y
2

)

=
0
,
a
∈
R
\

{
0
}

, and a union of a line and a parabola $$y(x-y^2)=0$$

y
(
x
-

y
2

)
=
0

. In both cases we also determine the number of atoms in a minimal representing measure.
Backtracking New Q-Newton’s Method, Newton’s Flow, Voronoi’s Diagram and Stochastic Root Finding
Authors: Fornæss John Erik , Hu Mi , Truong Tuyen Trung , Watanabe Takayuki
Published: June 2024

A new variant of Newton’s method - named Backtracking New Q-Newton’s method (BNQN) - which has strong theoretical guarantee, is easy to implement, and has good experimental performance, was recently introduced by the third author. Experiments performed previously showed some remarkable properties of the basins of attractions for finding roots of polynomials and meromorphic functions, with BNQN. In general, they look more smooth than that of Newton’s method. In this paper, we continue to experimentally explore in depth this remarkable phenomenon, and connect BNQN to Newton’s flow and Voronoi’s diagram. This link poses a couple of challenging puzzles to be explained. Experiments also indicate that BNQN is more robust against random perturbations than Newton’s method and Random Relaxed Newton’s method.
The Role of Platelet Rich Plasma in Vertebrogenic and Discogenic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Kataria Saurabh , Wijaya Jeremiah Hilkiah , Patel Utsav , Yabut Kevin , Turjman Tawfiq , Ayub Muhammad Abubakar , Upadhyay Nihar , Makrani Moinulhaq , Turjman Hisham , Mohamed Ahmed Mostafa Abdalla , Kaye Alan D.
Published: June 2024

Purpose of Review

The present investigation evaluates clinical uses and roles of platelet rich plasma in the management of vetrebrogenic and discogenic mediated pain states.

Recent Findings

Back pain is a common and significant condition that affects millions of people around the world. The cause of back pain is often complex and multifactorial, with discogenic and vertebrogenic pain being two subtypes of back pain. Currently, there are numerous methods and modalities in which back pain is managed and treated such as physical therapy, electrical nerve stimulation, pharmacotherapies, and platelet-rich plasma. To conduct this systematic review, the authors used the keywords “platelet-rich plasma”, “vertebrogenic pain”, and “discogenic pain”, on PubMed, EuroPMC, Who ICTRP, and clinicaltrials.gov to better elucidate the role of this treatment method for combating vertebrogenic and discogenic back pain. In recent decades, there has been a rise in popularity of the use of platelet-rich plasma for the treatment of numerous musculoskeletal conditions. Related to high concentration of platelets, growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines, platelet-rich plasma is effective in reducing pain related symptoms and in the treatment of back pain.

Platelet-rich plasma use has evolved and gained popularity for pain related conditions, including vertebrogenic and discogenic back pain. Additional well-designed studies are warranted in the future to better determine best practice strategies to provide future clinicians with a solid foundation of evidence to make advancements with regenerative medical therapies such as platelet-rich plasma.
Electrophysiological Profile of Different Antiviral Therapies in a Rabbit Whole-Heart Model
Authors: Wolfes Julian , Kirchner Lina , Doldi Florian , Wegner Felix , Rath Benjamin , Eckardt Lars , Ellermann Christian , Frommeyer Gerrit
Published: June 2024

Antiviral therapies for treatment of COVID-19 may be associated with significant proarrhythmic potential. In the present study, the potential cardiotoxic side effects of these therapies were evaluated using a Langendorff model of the isolated rabbit heart. 51 hearts of female rabbits were retrogradely perfused, employing a Langendorff-setup. Eight catheters were placed endo- and epicardially to perform an electrophysiology study, thus obtaining cycle length-dependent action potential duration at 90% of repolarization (APD90), QT intervals and dispersion of repolarization. After generating baseline data, the hearts were assigned to four groups: In group 1 (HXC), hearts were treated with 1 µM hydroxychloroquine. Thereafter, 3 µM hydroxychloroquine were infused additionally. Group 2 (HXC + AZI) was perfused with 3 µM hydroxychloroquine followed by 150 µM azithromycin. In group 3 (LOP) the hearts were perfused with 3 µM lopinavir followed by 5 µM and 10 µM lopinavir. Group 4 (REM) was perfused with 1 µM remdesivir followed by 5 µM and 10 µM remdesivir. Hydroxychloroquine- and azithromycin-based therapies have a significant proarrhythmic potential mediated by action potential prolongation and an increase in dispersion. Lopinavir and remdesivir showed overall significantly less pronounced changes in electrophysiology. In accordance with the reported bradycardic events under remdesivir, it significantly reduced the rate of the ventricular escape rhythm.
Linc00239 Facilitates the Progress of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma via the miR-204-5p/RAB22A Axis
Authors: Cheng Cheng , Lin Shuangquan , Zhu Anyi , Hong Zhengdong , Shi Zimin , Deng Huanhuan , Zhang Gan
Published: June 2024

Long intergenic non-coding RNA 239 (Linc00239) acts as an oncogene in colorectal cancer (CRC), esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, and acute myeloid leukemia cells. However, its role and regulatory mechanisms in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remain unknown. We used StarBase and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases to evaluate Linc00239 expression and its effect on ccRCC. Furthermore, the function of Linc00239 in ccRCC proliferation and metastasis was analyzed using Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assays following Linc00239 knockdown. Subsequently, the Linc00239-miRNA-mRNA regulatory associations were selected based on miRanda, miTarbase, and previous references, and their expression levels and binding relationship were further validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, western blotting and dual-luciferase reporter gene assay. Additionally, we transfected a miRNA inhibitor to evaluate whether the miR-204-5p/RAB22A (Ras-related proteins in brain 22a) axis was involved in Linc00239 function. Linc00239 was elevated in ccRCC and correlated with poor prognosis. Linc00239 knockdown inhibited ccRCC progression. Additionally, Linc00239 inhibition elevated miR-204-5p expression and repressed RAB22A levels. Moreover, miR-204-5p inhibitors attenuated this inhibitory effect on proliferation, migration, invasion, and RAB22A level when Linc00239 was knocked down. Linc00239 promotes ccRCC proliferation and metastasis by elevating RAB22A expression through the adsorption of miR-204-5p, which provides a clue for the diagnosis and treatment of ccRCC.
Management Practices, Pay, and Pay Inequality
Authors: Monteiro Natália P. , Straume Odd Rune
Published: June 2024

We use rich Portuguese data to analyse the relationship between the use of different management practices and worker pay in a large representative sample of firms. We find that the overall score on the use of management practices is significantly associated with both higher average wages and higher within-firm wage dispersion. The positive relationship between management practices and average pay is present throughout the wage distribution and for all occupational skill groups, but is stronger for workers higher up in the wage distribution and in higher-skilled occupations. These results are driven by incentives-based management practices, in particular practices related to reward and promotion of high performers in the firm. We also identify a potential moderating role of works councils. Our results suggests that, in firms with works councils, a larger share of the gains from productivity-enhancing management practices is shared with workers, and these gains are more evenly distributed across the workforce.
The Poor Integration Results of the Common European Asylum System Compared to the Temporary Protection Directive: The Case of the Netherlands
Authors: Doomernik Jeroen , van Heelsum Anja
Published: June 2024

Taking the case of the Netherlands, we compare integration outcomes of the traditional asylum reception system (implementing the Refugee Convention), applied to, for example, Syrians and Afghans, and the EU’s Temporary Protection Directive (TPD) which is applied to Ukrainians. We show that the TPD is not just less costly for receiving countries but also results in much faster labor market integration. While rapid integration is an important policy goal, the traditional asylum system is not effective, and talents are underutilized. We show how spatial and temporal aspects of the asylum procedures for Common European Asylum System (CEAS) refugees lead to slow integration, while Ukrainians under TPD work immediately and can build connections in Dutch society.
“A good night’s sleep!” How do remote workers juggle work and family during lockdown? Some answers from a French mixed-methods study
Authors: Dolce Valentina , Ghislieri Chiara , Molino Monica , Vayre Émilie
Published: June 2024

This study, based primarily on job demands–resources model in the context of recovery, uses a mixed methods approach to examine the role that some work and family demands and boundary management tactics play in explaining work-nonwork balance and some related constructs, while also accounting for gender inequalities. The research involved 553 remote workers during the first lockdown in France caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The results confirmed that a high number of work-related emails or phone calls outside of working hours and the constant presence of children at home were risk factors; conversely, good supervisor support was positively related to recovery experiences and negatively related to work-family conflict and insomnia. Women reported higher levels of insomnia symptoms and had more difficulty disengaging from work and restoring their energy than men. The use of effective tactics– planning, having your own space to work, coordinating with your partner - was made more difficult by workload, use of technology, demands at home, the size of the home and, for women, likely gender inequalities.
The Influence of Sex and Gender, Gender Ontological Beliefs, and Sexism on Pain Sensitivity Judgments: Implications for Health Care Settings and Beyond
Authors: Vetterlein Annabel , Reuter Martin , von Häfen Lina , Dressler Sara , Plieger Thomas
Published: June 2024

Chronic pain affects at least one in five individuals. Hence, adequate pain judgement is a vital interpersonal skill. Nonetheless, women often face treatment disparities due to biased assessments. Priorly, sex and gender (i.e., biological category vs. cultural representation) have not been investigated separately. Our study was thus designed to disentangle their distinct influence on pain judgments. In an online study, N = 679 participants (73.8% female) were presented with a novel vignettes paradigm including descriptions of fictional gender-stereotypical and counter-stereotypical women and men. Participants were instructed to rate the characters’ pain sensitivity before completing inventories measuring gender ontological beliefs and ambivalent sexism. We found significant interaction effects of observer and character sex, in that higher pain sensitivity was attributed to opposite-sex characters. Men showed a higher sex bias, which was partially mediated by lower social constructionism and higher hostile sexism. We further uncovered a gender bias across observers, in that feminine characters were assumed to be more pain sensitive, irrespective of their sex. Our research underscores the presence of sex and gender biases in pain judgments, even in scenarios with minimal contextual cues. Despite limitations, the findings offer insights for the development of intervention strategies, which might reduce treatment disparities.
Testing driver warning systems for off-road industrial vehicles using a cyber-physical simulator
Authors: Garcia-Carrillo Dan , Garcia Roberto , Pañeda Xabiel G. , Mourao Filipa , Melendi David , Corcoba Victor , Paiva Sara
Published: June 2024

ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) are becoming increasingly popular in on-road vehicles due to their safety, productivity, and cost savings. In the same way, off-road vehicles can benefit from ADAS systems to improve the security of drivers and workers in industrial settings. In this work, we study, design, and develop a novel security system to be integrated into industrial vehicles. This system is built to provide one-way Human Computer Interaction, from the computer to the human, so providing, through the interaction with the ADAS system, feedback to drivers about their surroundings, such as nearby workers, and thus helping to avoid collisions and prevent incidents. The study evaluates the quality of different feedback mechanisms, with the goal of designing the ADAS that produces the best User eXperience (UX). These feedback mechanisms are generated by LEDs in different display formats and colors, as well as with haptic feedback. We created a hybrid testbed using a realistic ADAS and a forklift simulator, integrating the system into a physical structure that resembles an industrial vehicle (a forklift) and used a computer-based simulation of a warehouse to gather the information from users. We performed a study with 36 people for the evaluation of the different feedback mechanisms tested, evaluating the results both from an objective point of view based on the results of the simulation, and a subjective point of view through a questionnaire and the stress of the users in each test.
Children with obesity have poorer circadian health as assessed by a global circadian health score
Authors: Rodríguez-Martín María , Martínez-Lozano Nuria , Santaclara-Maneiro Vicente , Gris-Peñas Antonio , Salmerón Diego , Ríos Rafael , Tvarijonaviciute Asta , Garaulet Marta
Published: June 2024

Background

Circadian health refers to individuals’ well-being and balance in terms of their circadian rhythm. It is influenced by external cues. In adults, a close relationship between circadian-related alterations and obesity has been described. However, studies in children are scarce, and circadian health and its association with obesity have not been evaluated globally. We aimed to assess whether circadian health differed between children with and without obesity as determined by a global circadian score (GCS) in a school-age population.

Methods

Four hundred and thirty-two children (7–12 years) were recruited in Spain. Non-invasive tools were used to calculate the GCS: (1) 7-day rhythm of wrist temperature (T), activity (A), position (P), an integrative variable that combines T, A, and P (TAP); (2) cortisol; and (3) 7-day food and sleep records. Body mass index, body fat percentage, waist circumference (WC), melatonin concentration, and cardiometabolic marker levels were determined.

Results

Circadian health, as assessed by the GCS, differed among children with obesity, overweight, and normal weight, with poorer circadian health among children with obesity. Children with obesity and abdominal obesity had 3.54 and 2.39 greater odds of having poor circadian health, respectively, than did those with normal weight or low WC. The percentage of rhythmicity, a marker of the robustness of the TAP rhythm, and the amplitude, both components of the GCS, decreased with increasing obesity. Different lifestyle behaviors were involved in the association between circadian health and obesity, particularly protein intake (P = 0.024), physical activity level (P = 0.076) and chronotype (P = 0.029).

Conclusions

The GCS can capture the relationship between circadian health and obesity in school-age children. Protein intake, physical activity level, and chronotype were involved in this association. Early intervention based on improving circadian health may help to prevent childhood obesity.
Food expensiveness in remote areas of Scotland: a natural experiment measuring the out-shopping effect
Authors: Russo Carlo , Revoredo-Giha Cesar
Published: June 2024

This paper investigates the effect of out-shopping (i.e., buying food outside local area) on food expensiveness in remote areas in Scotland, contributing to the literature on social factors affecting food security and food affordability in remote rural areas worldwide. It identifies out-shopping as a factor explaining why existing studies observing food prices at local stores in remote areas find much higher prices than at urban stores, while studies observing actual purchases of household in remote areas find small differences in food expensiveness with urban households. To investigate this difference, a food expensiveness index was constructed using home scanner data measuring households’ actual purchases. Data from the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown, when travel restriction limited out-shopping, were compared with the same period in 2019 when such restrictions were not in place. The results find that the premium paid in remote rural areas was small overall, but a statistically significant increase during lockdown was found for those households that lost access to discount stores because of movement restrictions. This result indicates that out-shopping is an important factor limiting food expensiveness in remote areas of Scotland and thus ensuring food affordability. Data suggest that approximately 42 percent of households in Scotland remote areas rely on out-shopping for obtaining affordable food.
How are We Doing Today? Using Natural Speech Analysis to Assess Older Adults’ Subjective Well-Being
Authors: Finze Nikola , Jechle Deinera , Faußer Stefan , Gewald Heiko
Published: June 2024

The research presents the development and test of a machine learning (ML) model to assess the subjective well-being of older adults based solely on natural speech. The use of such technologies can have a positive impact on healthcare delivery: the proposed ML model is patient-centric and securely uses user-generated data to provide sustainable value not only in the healthcare context but also to address the global challenge of demographic change, especially with respect to healthy aging. The developed model unobtrusively analyzes the vocal characteristics of older adults by utilizing natural language processing but without using speech recognition capabilities and adhering to the highest privacy standards. It is based on theories of subjective well-being, acoustic phonetics, and prosodic theories. The ML models were trained with voice data from volunteer participants and calibrated through the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQOL), a widely accepted tool for assessing the subjective well-being of human beings. Using WHOQOL scores as a proxy, the developed model provides accurate numerical estimates of individuals’ subjective well-being.

Different models were tested and compared. The regression model proves beneficial for detecting unexpected shifts in subjective well-being, whereas the support vector regression model performed best and achieved a mean absolute error of 10.90 with a standard deviation of 2.17. The results enhance the understanding of the subconscious information conveyed through natural speech. This offers multiple applications in healthcare and aging, as well as new ways to collect, analyze, and interpret self-reported user data. Practitioners can use these insights to develop a wealth of innovative products and services to help seniors maintain their independence longer, and physicians can gain much greater insight into changes in their patients’ subjective well-being.
Efficacy of disinfectants and heat treatments against green mould in casing soil and button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) yield
Authors: Aydoğdu Mehmet
Published: June 2024

Button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) is the predominant mushroom species cultivated around the world. In the button mushroom cultivation, casing soil is one of the main substrate inducing emergence of mushrooms but presence of Trichoderma aggressivum f. aggressivum (causal agent of green mould disease) in casing soil causes devastating yield losses. However, little is known about management of the green mould in button mushroom cultivation. The aim of this study was to examine efficacy of several disinfectants and heat treatments against T. aggressivum f. aggressivum in casing soil and mushroom yield. In this respect, by considering yield (total amount of sporophores) values, in vivo experiments were separately set up according to randomized block design with three replications. As a result, compared to controls, disinfectants [hydrogen peroxide (H202), formaldehyde (CH2O), sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl)] and heat treatments (60, 90 and 120 °C) significantly (P˂0.01) increased mushroom yields up to 18.74 and 24.06% in the treated plots, respectively. Biological efficiency values ranged from 87.16 to 105.72% in the disinfectant treatments, while they varied from 93.15 to 95.68% in the heat treatments. However, applications of the disinfectants at high doses had negative influence on growth of A. bisporus. The overall results suggest that the tested disinfectants and heat treatments may significantly increase button mushroom yield by suppressing development of T. aggressivum f. aggressivum in casing soil. The present study not only reveals management practices that can be used against the green mould in the in vivo but also presents new knowledge for mushroom industry.
‘Off–On’ determination of lead (Pb2+) and fluoride (F−) ion in fish and wastewater samples using N, S co-doped carbon quantum dots (N, S-CQDs)
Authors: Aladesuyi Olanrewaju Aladesanmi , Oluwafemi Oluwatobi Samuel
Published: June 2024

Lead is a global priority pollutant. Its presence in aquatic systems is harmful to the human health. Fluoride is essential to the human body, especially in dental health. However, excess fluoride in the body can lead to serious health concerns. Therefore, a simple approach to monitoring lead and fluoride in environmental samples is paramount. In this study, we synthesized N and S co-doped carbon quantum dots under the hydrothermal method by employing citric acid, glutamine, and sodium sulphide (Na2S) as precursors. Characterization of the developed nanosensor was carried out using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), photoluminescence (PL) spectrophotometer, ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The as-prepared nanosensor is spherical with an average particle diameter of 3.45 ± 0.86 nm and emits light in the green region of the spectrum. This material was employed as an ‘on–off’ and ‘off–on’ fluorescent sensor to determine Pb2+ and F− rapidly and selectively. The fluorescence was quenched (turned off) in the presence of Pb2+ because of the strong interaction between Pb2+ ions and the surface functional groups of the as-synthesized material. Subsequently, the quenched fluorescence of the N, S-CQDs + Pb2+ system was restored (turned on) upon the introduction of F− ions, owing to the formation of ionic bonds between Pb2+ and F−. The N S-CQDs were selective towards Pb2+. At the same time, the N, S-CQDs + Pb2+ system exhibited selectivity towards F− ions amidst other ions with low detection limits (LODs) of 13.35 nM and 43.17 nM for Pb2+ and F−, respectively. The dynamic quenching mechanism was suggested based on the absorption spectra and lifetime results. Satisfied recoveries of 89.30–116.40% for Pb2+ and 90.22–115.05% for F- (RSD < 5) were obtained in practical samples of wastewater and fish. We believe that the as-synthesized N S-CQDs can effectively serve as reliable, accurate, and swift nanosensor for detecting Pb2+ and F− in environmental samples.
Use of gene expression programming to predict reference evapotranspiration in different climatic conditions
Authors: Raza Ali , Vishwakarma Dinesh Kumar , Acharki Siham , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Alshehri Fahad , Elbeltagi Ahmed
Published: June 2024

Evapotranspiration plays a pivotal role in the hydrological cycle. It is essential to develop an accurate computational model for predicting reference evapotranspiration (RET) for agricultural and hydrological applications, especially for the management of irrigation systems, allocation of water resources, assessments of utilization and demand and water use allocations in rural and urban areas. The limitation of climatic data to estimate RET restricted the use of standard Penman–Monteith method recommended by food and agriculture organization (FAO-PM56). Therefore, the current study used climatic data such as minimum, maximum and mean air temperature (Tmax, Tmin, Tmean), mean relative humidity (RHmean), wind speed (U) and sunshine hours (N) to predict RET using gene expression programming (GEP) technique. In this study, a total of 17 different input meteorological combinations were used to develop RET models. The obtained results of each GEP model are compared with FAO-PM56 to evaluate its performance in both training and testing periods. The GEP-13 model (Tmax, Tmin, RHmean, U) showed the lowest errors (RMSE, MAE) and highest efficiencies (R2, NSE) in semi-arid (Faisalabad and Peshawar) and humid (Skardu) conditions while GEP-11 and GEP-12 perform best in arid (Multan, Jacobabad) conditions during training period. However, GEP-11 in Multan and Jacobabad, GEP-7 in Faisalabad, GEP-1 in Peshawar, GEP-13 in Islamabad and Skardu outperformed in testing  period. In testing phase, the GEP models R2 values reach 0.99, RMSE values ranged from 0.27 to 2.65, MAE values from 0.21 to 1.85 and NSE values from 0.18 to 0.99. The study findings indicate that GEP is effective in predicting RET when there are minimal climatic data. Additionally, the mean relative humidity was identified as the most relevant factor across all climatic conditions. The findings of this study may be used to the planning and management of water resources in practical situations, as they demonstrate the impact of input variables on the RET associated with different climatic conditions.
No Agent in the Machine: Being Trustworthy and Responsible about AI
Authors: Conradie Niël Henk , Nagel Saskia K.
Published: June 2024

Many recent AI policies have been structured under labels that follow a particular trend: national or international guidelines, policies or regulations, such as the EU’s and USA’s ‘Trustworthy AI’ and China’s and India’s adoption of ‘Responsible AI’, use a label that follows the recipe of [agentially loaded notion + ‘AI’]. A result of this branding, even if implicit, is to encourage the application by laypeople of these agentially loaded notions to the AI technologies themselves. Yet, these notions are appropriate only when applied to agents, which current AI technologies are not; and the concern is that this misapplication creates an incentive to inappropriately attribute trustworthiness or responsibility to AI technologies. We endeavour to show that we have good reason to avoid any general AI policy that uses agentially loaded labelling. We suggest labelling these policies not in terms of some qualification of AI, but rather in terms of our approach to the technology and its wider development and use context – focusing on being trustworthy and responsible about AI, rather than on trustworthy or responsible AI.
Effect of Number of Channels on Performance of PEM Fuel Cells for Serpentine Type Channel Configuration
Authors: Işıklı Fırat , Işıklı Hazal , Sürmen Ali
Published: June 2024

The number of gas flow channels in a serpentine-type channel configuration for Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Fuel Cells (PEMFC) is a critical design parameter. It influences mass transport, pressure drop, and water management, all of which contribute to the overall performance and efficiency of the fuel cell. In this study, different channel number configurations for small active area fuel cell and their role in contributing to a more sustainable energy environment are discussed. The influence of the number of multiple channels on the operational performance was examined in a fuel cell with 25 cm2 of active area. Six different flow channel configurations belonging to the traditional serpentine-designed flow channel were utilized, with multiple inlet–outlet structures. Numerical calculations for pressure, velocity, distribution of reactants (oxygen and hydrogen), membrane water content, and changes in water saturation concentration were conducted using the ANSYS Fluent program. The highest power density of 0.657 W/cm2 was achieved in the single-channel design, resulting in a 14% performance increase compared to the eight-channel design, which exhibited the lowest performance. However, the highest pumping loss due to pressure drop was observed in the serpentine one-channel design at 0.016573 W/cm2. While the pressure drop enhances performance in the same channel design, when constructing a fuel cell stack with a large number of cells, significant difficulties may arise in procuring a compressor capable of providing the desired pressure and flow rate. Therefore, alternative designs with reduced pressure drop need to be considered.
Comparison Analysis of Seepage Through Homogenous Embankment Dams Using Physical, Mathematical and Numerical Models
Authors: Al-Janabi Ahmed Mohammed Sami , Dibs Hayder , Sammen Saad Sh. , Yusuf Badronnisa , Ikram Rana Muhammad Adnan , Alzuhairy Sabih Hashim , Kisi Ozgur
Published: June 2024

Embankment dams have many advantages; however, they frequently develop seepage problems which may cause dams’ failure. In this study, comparison analysis of seepage through embankment dams was conducted using three different methods, namely experimental tests, mathematical calculations and numerical modeling. Three homogeneous embankment dam models with different downstream drainage filters were considered. Results revealed that SEEP/W model is inappropriate to compute the water flow volume if there is an intersection between the seepage flow line and the downstream slope of the embankment dam due to the appearance of pipes. Numerical modeling based on SEEP/W software was found to be compatible to the rest physical models. The findings also demonstrated that for all scenarios, both the Casagrande equations and the SEEP/W model produced seepage lines that closely matched the observed seepage lines. These results highlight the significance of managing the seepage line’s location to ensure the stability of embankment dams through the implementation of horizontal drains.
Urban Flood Mitigation Strategies with Coupled Gray–Green Measures: A Case Study in Guangzhou City, China
Authors: Li Jiayue , Zeng Jiajun , Huang Guoru , Chen Wenjie
Published: June 2024

The integration of gray and green infrastructure has proven to be a feasible approach for managing stormwater in established urban areas. However, evaluating the specific contributions of such coupled strategies is challenging. This study introduced a novel integrated hydrological-hydrodynamic model that takes into account the layout of low-impact development (LID) facilities along with pipeline alignment and rehabilitation. Reliable results from modeling were used to assess the individual contribution of LID and improved drainage facilities to urban flooding mitigation. We selected a natural island in Guangzhou City, China, as the study site. The results indicate that combining three LID measures, namely green roofs, sunken green spaces, and permeable pavements, can reduce total runoff by 41.7% to 25.89% for rainfall recurrence periods ranging from 1 year to 100 years, and decrease the volume of nodal overflow by nearly half during rainfall events of less than 10-year return period. By integrating LID measures with the upgraded gray infrastructure, the regional pipeline overloading condition is substantially alleviated, resulting in a significant improvement in pipeline system resilience. For urban flooding control, it is recommended to integrate sufficient green space and avoid pipe-laying structural issues during urban planning and construction. The findings may assist stakeholders in developing strategies to best utilize gray and green infrastructure in mitigating the negative effects of urban flooding.
Correlated high throughput nanoindentation mapping and microstructural characterization of wire and arc additively manufactured 2205 duplex stainless steel
Authors: Queguineur Antoine , Cherukuri Rahul , Lambai Aloshious , Dalal Manasi Sameer , Peura Pasi , Mohanty Gaurav , Hascoët Jean-Yves , Ituarte Iñigo Flores
Published: June 2024

Duplex stainless steels (DSS) in wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) have attracted significant research attention due to their mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. This study uses conventional and nanomechanical testing methods to compare the mechanical and microstructural behaviors at macroscopic and microscopic length scales. Macro hardness (HV10) testing yielded 259 and 249 in low and high heat input (HI) samples, respectively, while ferrite content averaged 52.7 and 48.5%. However, these results fail to provide conclusive insight into the potential influence of microstructural variations at the macroscopic level, likely due to the composite response of the material. To overcome this limitation, the mechanical response of the DSS samples is assessed at the grain level via high throughput nanoindentation mapping with image processing to track the location of each indent. This approach enabled differentiating the indents landing on ferrite and austenite phases as well as those landing on the interfaces. The results showed that the austenite phase had higher hardness (4.30 and 4.35 GPa) than the ferrite phase (3.89 GPa and 4.03 GPa) for high and low HI samples, respectively. The observed differences in hardness between the phases can be attributed to higher nitrogen content in the austenitic phase.
Fatigue design of stress relief grooves to prevent weld root fatigue in butt-welded cast steel to ultra-high-strength steel joints
Authors: Havia Juho , Lipiäinen Kalle , Ahola Antti , Björk Timo
Published: June 2024

In the welded joints, fatigue failures typically originate from defects or notch-like geometries under cyclic loading. This study investigates the impact of stress relief grooves (SRG) on the fatigue performance of butt-welded cast steel to ultra-high-strength steel components using experimental fatigue tests and finite element method. The experiments examined the fatigue properties of hybrid joints between G26CrMo4 cast steel (t = 20 mm) and S960 steel plate (t = 6 mm) with and without SRG. Gas metal arc welding process was used to weld the butt joints that had a permanent root backing machined on the cast steel part, causing a crack-like defect to the weld root. Additionally, the top surfaces of the welded parts were aligned, resulting in a significant axial misalignment in the butt joint. The SRG, positioned close to the weld root, was found to have a beneficial influence on the joint’s fatigue performance by a factor of 1.2 when using the nominal stress criterion. However, the fatigue capacity was still roughly 35% lower compared to the symmetrical equivalent due to the secondary bending stress, caused by axial misalignment. The finite element analyses indicated that the SRG reduces the amount of secondary stresses at the weld root leading to lower total structural stress. The study recommends using the FAT80 (m = 3) design curve in the structural stress method, for similar butt-welds having a crack-like defect, parallel to the loading direction, at the weld root. However, for welded joints with crack-like defects, it is advisable to use linear elastic fracture mechanics rather than relying solely on stress-based local approaches.
Combined nutritional status and activities of daily living disability is associated with one-year mortality after hip fracture surgery for geriatric patients: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chen Ying , Guo Ying , Tong Gang , He Yu , Zhang Ruihua , Liu Qi
Published: June 2024

Objective

We aimed to explore the association combined nutritional status and activities of daily living disability with all-cause mortality of older adults with hip fracture in the first year after hospitalization.

Methods

This is a single-center retrospective cohort study in older adults with hip fracture patients. Clinical data and laboratory results were collected from electronic medical record system of our hospital (2014–2021). The endpoint of this study was all-cause mortality in the first year after hospitalization.

Results

A total of 303 older adults were enrolled and all-cause mortality was 21.8%. The study population was categorized by CONUT score. Patients in CONUT score 5–12 had a higher age, ASA status, CRP and creatinine level, more patients with history of fracture, pneumonia and delirium, meanwhile, lower BMI and ADL score, lower hemoglobin, lymphocyte, total protein, albumin, triglyceride, total cholesterol and one year survival than those in CONUT score 0–4 (all P < 0.05). Multivariable Cox analysis showed that BMI, ADL score and CONUT score were independent risk factors for all-cause mortality of hip fracture in older adults (HR (95% CI):2.808(1.638, 4.814), P < 0.001; 2.862(1.637, 5.003), P < 0.001; 2.322(1.236, 4.359), P = 0.009, respectively). More importantly, the combined index of CONUT and ADL score had the best predictive performance based on ROC curve (AUC 0.785, 95% CI: 0.734–0.830, P < 0.0001). Kaplan-Meier survival curves for all-cause mortality showed that patients with CONUT score increase and ADL score impairment had a higher mortality rate at 1 year compared to CONUT score decrease and ADL score well (Log Rank χ2 = 45.717, P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Combined CONUT and ADL score is associated with one-year mortality after hip fracture surgery for geriatric patients.