bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preventing effect of angiotensin-receptor-blocker for moderate to severe cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.
Authors: Lim Jeong-Wook , Lee Si Un , Byoun Hyoung Soo
Published: October 2024

Purpose
To verify the effectiveness of angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) in preventing moderate to severe cerebral vasospasm, which may influence patient outcomes in cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage resulting from aneurysmal rupture.
Methods
Between 2016 and 2020, we treated a total of 210 patients. We obtained the clinical and radiological characteristics of patients through medical records and divided them into two groups: those who were administered ARBs (ARB group) and those who were not (no ARB group).
Results
One hundred eighty-one patients enrolled in this study. ARB group were 29 and no ARB group were 152. The overall incidence of moderate to severe vasospasm was 33.7%. The incidence of moderate to severe vasospasm in each group was 13.8% (4 patients) and 37.5% (57 patients), respectively. The independent risk factors for moderate to severe vasospasm included Fisher grade (III-IV) with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.732 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.343–5.560; P = 0.006), older age (OR = 0.963; 95% CI: 0.938–0.989; P = 0.006), and ARB administration (OR = 0.246; 95% CI: 0.079–0.771; P = 0.016).
Conclusions
Despite the potential adverse impacts associated with hypotension, the administration of ARBs may provide therapeutic benefits in preventing moderate to severe vasospasm. Age and volume of hemorrhage should be taken into consideration because of their association with the development of moderate to severe cerebral vasospasm.
A tough semi-dry hydrogel electrode with anti-bacterial properties for long-term repeatable non-invasive EEG acquisition
Authors: Lin Jiaqi , Wang Dongyang , Xue Hailing , Xia Long , Li Zongqi , Sun kai , Wang Huanan , Hamalainen Timo , Li Yanhua , Song Fei
Published: October 2024

Non-invasive brain-computer interfaces (NI-BCIs) have garnered significant attention due to their safety and wide range of applications. However, developing non-invasive electroencephalogram (EEG) electrodes that are highly sensitive, comfortable to wear, and reusable has been challenging due to the limitations of conventional electrodes. Here, we introduce a simple method for fabricating semi-dry hydrogel EEG sensors with antibacterial properties, enabling long-term, repeatable acquisition of EEG. By utilizing N-acryloyl glycinamide and hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan, we have prepared electrodes that not only possess good mechanical properties (compression modulus 65 kPa) and anti-fatigue properties but also exhibit superior antibacterial properties. These electrodes effectively inhibit the growth of both Gram-negative (E. coli) and Gram-positive (S. epidermidis) bacteria. Furthermore, the hydrogel maintains stable water retention properties, resulting in an average contact impedance of less than 400 Ω measured over 12 hours, and an ionic conductivity of 0.39 mS/cm. Cytotoxicity and skin irritation tests have confirmed the high biocompatibility of the hydrogel electrodes. In N170 event-related potential (ERP) tests conducted on human volunteers, we successfully captured the expected ERP signal waveform, comparable to that of traditional wet electrodes. Moreover, contact impedance on the scalps remained below 100 kΩ for 12 hours, while wet electrodes became unable to detect signals after 7–8 hours due to dehydration. In summary, our hydrogel electrodes are capable of detecting ERPs over extended periods in an easy-to-use manner with antibacterial properties. This reduces the risk of bacterial infections associated with prolonged reuse and expands the potential of NI-BCIs in daily life.
Fast parallel index-based GPU particle collision detection for science and engineering.
Authors: Bell Jackie
Published: October 2024

A fast particle collision detection method by rounding and indexing particle and cell locations. The two part process is performed in compute and render pipelines exclusively on the GPU. The method is GPU-Driven in that detection and rendering are simultaneous and all logic resides on the GPU. The application can process 1 million particles in less than 1/30th of a second, (30 frames per second) on an inexpensive laptop workstation. This speed provides a basis for scientists and engineers accustomed to computational fluid dynamics, to consider particle systems for thremo-fluid flow including rarefied gases. It presents an opportunity for students and educators to explore massive particle systems (greater than 1 million particles). Also, in order to encourage comparative analysis, we have developed a light-weight benchmarking method where test data is generated by software.
Adaptive long-read and transcriptome sequencing detail a submicroscopic inv(15)(q14q15), generating fusion transcripts and MEIS2 and NUSAP1 haploinsufficiency
Authors: Ek Marlene , Kvarnung Malin , Pettersson Maria , Soller Maria Johansson , Anderlid Britt-Marie , Thonberg Håkan , Eisfeldt Jesper , Lindstrand Anna
Published: October 2024

Inversions are balanced structural variants that often remain undetected in genetic diagnostics. We present a female proband with a de novo Chromosome 15 paracentric inversion, disrupting MEIS2 and NUSAP1. The inversion was detected by short-read genome sequencing and confirmed with adaptive long-read sequencing. The breakpoint junction analysis revealed a 96 base pair (bp) deletion and an 18 bp insertion in the two junctions, suggesting that the rearrangement arose through a replicative error. Transcriptome sequencing of cultured fibroblasts revealed normal MEIS2 levels and 0.61-fold decreased expression of NUSAP1. Furthermore, two fusion transcripts were detected and confirmed by Sanger sequencing.
Heterozygous loss of MEIS2 (MIM# 600987) is associated with a cleft palate, heart malformations, and intellectual impairment, which overlap with the clinical symptoms observed in the proband. The observed fusion transcripts are likely non-functional, and MEIS2haploinsufficiency is the likely disease causative mechanism. Altogether, this study findings illustrate the importance of including inversions in rare disease diagnostic testing and highlight the value of long read sequencing for the validation and characterization of such variants.
Innovative Event Management: Strengthening DigitalIdentity and Access Control with Sui Blockchain
Authors: Sri Suthir , Saraf Priyanka , R Tharaniesh P , VIJAYARAJ NIVETHITHA , MURUGAN THANGAVEL
Published: October 2024

The evolution of blockchain technology offers transformative ability for event control, specially in enhancing safety, transparency,and efficiency across the industry. This paper introduces a blockchain-based event management machine that leveragesSui blockchain era to cope with vital challenges together with ticket fraud, facts security, and excessive transaction costs,which can be normal in conventional occasion management systems. The proposed system consists of several revolutionaryfeatures: Tickets to the gadget: making use of the concept of NFT, the machine ensures that each price tag is specific, istamper evidence and cannot be cast. It also guarantees the validity of tickets and on the same time ensures that the ticketis transferable to and fro even as the possession of the price ticket is totally and without a doubt disclosed. zkLogin forSeamless person Authentication: zkLogin is then carried out inside the platform to make certain users can be authenticated ina privacy-preserving way while on the equal time having high safety. This mechanism may be pretty useful for the users due tothe fact they can log in as speedy and discreetly as feasible without any hazard to their debts’ protection. Suiet Sui pocketsfor value-powerful Transactions: Merging of Suiet and Sui wallet allows reasonably-priced transactions and something that isalways financially draining when using blockchain systems is deposits luxurious transactions prices. This makes the platformto be open to a much wider market specially to folks that are organizing small scale events. because of decentralizing theoccasion control technique the platform reduces all feasible dangers that can occur in situation of centralized systems like forinstance unmarried factors of failure and also creates better transparency of price ticket sales and distribution. moreover, thisgreatly decentralizes the machine which drastically decreases the transaction costs making the answer fiscally sustainablefor events of numerous scales. This paper additionally gives the design and implementation of the platform as well as thepower of the platform depending on the kind and size of the occasion. The research indicates that the usage of this blockchaintechnology increases the safety and the verifiability of the occasion tickets further to providing a solution to the entire drift of theoccasion starting from price tag distribution to price ticket authentication and transaction control.
Mitigating Biofouling in Cooling Water System: Actibromide® to Combat Perna viridis Infestation and environmental impact
Authors: Badakumar Bandita , Inbakandan D. , Venkatnarayanan S. , Mohan T. V. Krishna , Nancharaiah Y. V. , Veeramani P. , Pandey N. K. , Mu P. Sriyutha
Published: October 2024

Heavy settlement and fouling of green mussels were observed in the process seawater heat exchangers (PSWHX) and conduits at the Madras Atomic Power Station (MAPS), despite the use of a continuous low-dose chlorination (CLDC) regime. This regime involved maintaining total residual oxidant (TRO) levels at 0.2 ± 0.1 mg/L and performing twice-weekly booster dosing at 0.4 ± 0.1 mg/L. To enhance the efficiency of these heat exchangers, supplemental targeted dosing of Actibromide® was considered. The efficacy of this biocide on adult green mussels was evaluated to determine the appropriate in-plant concentrations (0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/L TRO). The results showed 100% mussel mortality after 12 days at 0.2 mg/L, 7 days at 0.5 mg/L, and 4 days at 1.0 mg/L. Actibromide® exerted toxic effects on mussels by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which inhibited cellular processes in various tissues, including the gills, mantle, digestive gland, and foot. The highest ROS generation was observed in the digestive gland compared to other tissues. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production increased in a dose-dependent manner under Actibromide® stress, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity were highest in the digestive gland. DNA damage, expressed as % tail DNA in a comet assay, indicated that even the lowest dose of Actibromide® (0.2 mg/L) induced significant DNA damage (34%). Additionally, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, a sensitive biomarker for neurotoxic stress, showed reduced activity (80–91%) at all tested biocidal concentrations. This study clearly demonstrates that Actibromide® penetrates green mussels at the cellular level, causing severe damage to the gills and digestive glands, reducing feed consumption, and inducing both neurotoxic and genotoxic effects. Therefore, supplemental targeted dosing of Actibromide® (0.2 to 0.5 mg/L) is recommended for effective green mussel control in PSWHX systems.
Immobilization of enzymes for synergy in polymers to produce lactose free milk
Authors: Peta Gayathri , Avrahami Ron , Zussman Eyal , Greiner Andreas , Rokem J. Stefan , Greenblatt Charles
Published: October 2024

Stabilization of the enzyme lactase is of interest in obtaining lactose-free foods. Optimization of the lactase enzyme activity was examined using different methods of immobilization, encapsulation, and electrospinning, and compared with the activity of the free enzyme. The lactase was also studied in combination with glucose oxidase and catalase to reduce feedback inhibition of glucose and the toxicity of H₂O₂. The core-shell technique of electrospinning was used, with lactase embedded in an aqueous core and protected by a non-biodegradable shell. Electrospinning increased the stability of lactase activity, and the immobilized enzyme could be reused. The enzyme activity was stable for four weeks, and it remained active after three months of storage at 4°C in PBS. This approach was a modest attempt to study the possible benefits of enzyme synergy.
Piloting Methods for Obtaining User Preferences of Audio Signal Processing Techniques in Simulated Hearing Aids
Authors: Jones Oscar , Greasley Alinka , Kuehnel Volker , Lesimple Christophe , Wenhart Teresa , Picinali Lorenzo
Published: October 2024

The development of Hearing Aids (HA) has mainly focused on improving speech intelligibility, often relying on signal processing techniques which have a negative impact on music listening. Music Programmes (MP) are sets of parameters intended to improve music quality through HAs, however, assessing their effectiveness is difficult and so far relatively inconclusive. This study begins to address this as part of a wider project to improve the music listening experience for HA users. A literature review on audio quality evaluation and preferences elicitation identifies some potential issues in the current popular methods of assessing MPs and HAs, while also providing some examples from other fields which may be applicable in HA evaluation.A pilot study investigates the reliability of different methods for capturing preferences for MPs on simulated HAs, including direct numerical ranking and pairwise comparisons. Initial tests reveal that direct numerical ranking can produce inconsistent results, whereas pairwise comparisons, analysed using the Bradley-Terry-Luce model and a novel rank swapping method, show more reliable outcomes. Future work will focus on leveraging reliable preference data to uncover the aspects of signal processing that most influence listener satisfaction.
Large-scale experimental study on scour around both slender and large monopiles under irregular waves
Authors: enyu Gong , Songgui Chen , Xin Chen , Dawei Guan , Jinhai Zheng
Published: October 2024

The offshore wind power is of great significance in the energy strategy. The experimental results simulated by traditional small-scale physical model may become unreliable when extrapolated to strong field scales. This work conducts large scale (1:13) experiments to study the scour hole pattern and equilibrium scour depth around both slender and large monopiles under irregular waves. The Keulegan-Carpenter (KC) number ranges from 1.01 to 8.89, and the diffraction parameter (D/L) number ranges from 0.016 to 0.056. The large-scale experiment indicates changes of maximum scour location and scour hole shape around slender monopile are associated with KC number, and the changes are different in irregular and regular waves. The accuracy of existing scour formulae under irregular waves is improved by improving the calculation of KC number. The maximum scour location around large monopile is always located on both sides, regardless of the KC and D/L numbers, but the topography of the scour hole is related to both. The scour range is at least as large as the diameter of the large monopile.
Mitochondrial DNA oxidation propagates autoimmunity by enabling plasmacytoid dendritic cells induce Tfh differentiation
Authors: Karin Michael , Xian Hongxu , Ohira Masafumi , Watari Kosuke , Brito Jonathan , Onyuru Janset , Zuniga Elina , Hoffman Hal
Published: October 2024

NLRP3 inflammasome activation depends on stress-induced production of oxidized mitochondrial DNA (Ox-mtDNA) fragments that enter the cytoplasm to bind NLRP3 and activate caspase-1. Along with pro-IL-1β processing, caspase-1 generates gasdermin D pores that result in circulatory mtDNA release. Elevated amounts of circulating cell-free (ccf)-mtDNA, which is likely to be oxidized, were documented in the elderly and patients with metabolic and autoimmune disorders and its intra-articular injection elicited arthritis in mice. Investigating whether ccf-mtDNA may promote autoimmunity, we found that induction of sustained Ox-mtDNA release triggered by a prototypical NLRP3 inflammasome activator elicited autoantibody production and glomerulonephritis in mice. Similar autoimmune responses, dependent on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) and T follicular helper cells (Tfh), were elicited by in-vitro generated Ox-mtDNA but not by non-oxidized mtDNA. Although both mtDNA forms were internalized by pDC and induced interferon-a, only Ox-mtDNA stimulated autocrine IL-1β signaling that induced expression of immunoregulatory and co-stimulatory molecules, including IL-21, that enabled mouse and human pDC convert naïve CD4+ T cells into functional Tfh, supportive of autoantibody production. Highlighting pDC-generated IL-1β as an orchestrator of autoantibody production, these findings suggest that Ox-mtDNA could be a key participant in immune-aging and unravel new therapeutic opportunities.
The Value of Early Root Development Traits in Breeding Programs for Biomass Yield in Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)
Authors: Malinowska Marta , Kristensen Peter Skov , Nielsen Bjarne , Fè Dario , Ruud Anja Karine , Lenk Ingo , Greve Morten , Asp Torben
Published: October 2024

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is an important forage grass widely used in pastures and lawns, valued for its high nutritive value and environmental benefits. Despite its importance, genetic improvements in biomass yield have been slow, mainly due to complexities in breeding such as its outbreeding nature and the challenges of improving multiple traits simultaneously. This study aims to assess the potential advantages of including early root traits in the perennial ryegrass selection process. Using rhizoboxes to phenotype root traits under glasshouse environment, we collected data on early root morphology and correlated these traits with yield data from three field locations across Europe collected over two years. We employed bivariate models to assess the genetic correlations between early root traits and biomass yield, finding significant positive genetic correlations, particularly for total root length (TRL). Our results demonstrate that early root traits exhibit substantial heritability show potential as predictors of field yield. Incorporating these traits into selection criteria can improve the efficiency of breeding programs, potentially increasing genetic gain by approximately 10%. This study underscores the potential of using early root development traits to enhance perennial ryegrass breeding programs, ultimately contributing to higher biomass yields.
Immunoinformatics-Based Design of Broad-Spectrum Multi-Epitope Vaccines Targeting Mutations in Emerging SARS-CoV-2 Variants
Authors: Mei Xueyin , Xie Wanrong , Lin Xue , Zhu Liguo , Li Jian
Published: October 2024

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, intensified by emerging SARS-CoV-2 mutations, highlights the urgent need for enhanced vaccines. Despite considerable efforts in vaccine design, improvements are still required in formulating vaccines targeting the novel coronavirus. This study, utilized immunoinformatics and reverse vaccinology to design multi-epitope vaccines targeting emerging variations. B and T cell epitopes were generated by analyzing the mutation sites of the prevalent variant strains, and two vaccines were designed by linking with two different adjuvants. Interaction of the model vaccines with four Toll-like receptors (TLR) revealed a relatively high affinity between vaccines and immune receptors. Codon optimization and computational cloning were conducted to validate the robustness of the multi-epitope vaccines and immunogenic simulations were performed to assess the antigenicity and antibody generation capability of the vaccine. The L455S mutation in the JN.1 variant and its adjacent F456L mutation on antibody effectiveness against the XBB variant revealed that 15 antibody structures maintained a certain level of binding affinity. This study offers an immunological evaluation from a mutation-centric perspective and integrates co-evolutionary analysis with immunoinformatics to design effective multi-epitope vaccines targeting various SARS-CoV-2 strains. The methodologies applied in this research can also be extended to the vaccine development for other pathogens.
On Relative importance of C-H‧‧‧O, C-H‧‧‧π and S‧‧‧π interactions in the crystal of 2H-1-benzopyran-2-one phenyl sulfoxide - A coumarin derivative
Authors: Joarddar Provash , Biswas Goutam , Jana Atish Dipankar , Halder Sasthi Charan , Kundu Sandip , Dasgupta Subrata
Published: October 2024

Weak intermolecular interactions play crucial role in molecular assembly and crystal packing. Though C-H‧‧‧O, C-H‧‧‧π interactions have received much attention, the S‧‧‧π interactions have received little attention. Present paper explores the relative importance of C-H‧‧‧O, C-H‧‧‧π and S‧‧‧π interactions in the crystal packing of 2H -1-benzopyran − 2-one phenyl sulfoxide, a coumarin molecule. Investigation of intermolecular interactions and crystal packing through Hirshfeld surface analysis reveals that the maximum of the close contacts are due to weak interactions. Furthermore, their structures were optimized using density functional theory (DFT) calculations with the M062X hybrid functional and the 6-311G++(d,p) basis set. We investigated the Mulliken charges, molecular electrostatic potential (MEP), and frontier molecular orbitals (HOMO-LUMO). Further the molecular docking studies with Human Serum Albumin (HSA) revealed that the compound exhibits better binding affinity compared to Coumarin, suggesting that it may serve as a more effective inhibitor.
Study of Iron Deficiency Anemia in First Three Trimesters of Pregnant Women During in RAMADAN: A Prospective Study.
Authors: Ahmed  , ZUBAEDA
Published: October 2024

Background: Iron deficiency is defined as a condition in which Hemoglobin (Hb) level in the body is lower than normal, which results in decreased oxygen-carrying capacity of red blood cells to tissues, Pregnant women with Iron Deficiency Anemia are at a higher risk of postpartum hemorrhage.
METHODS: This study was a prospective analytical study conducted at the Sabratha Laboratory from RAMADAN 2021 to 2023.This study was conducted on all pregnant women with hemoglobin level less than 11 gm/dl in the first trimester and less than 10 gm/dl in the second and third trimesters. Data were 30 cases collected by studying from the Sabratha Laboratory in Libya.
A self-designed questionnaire was used. The questionnaire was translated into the Arabic language for ease of understanding and administration to study the population.
CONCLUSION: To improve maternal and fetal outcomes, it is recommended that primary health care has to be strengthened and high priority has to be given to aspects such as prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment of anemia in pregnancy before Fasting Ramadan.
Investigating bifurcations and thermal behavior in chaotic fractional-order exothermic reactions with reactant consumption
Authors: Makinde Oluwole Daniel , Khan Zafar Hayat , Khan Waqar Ahmed , Trounev Alexander , Ahmad Rashid
Published: October 2024

This study presents a complete investigation of the chaotic fractional-order exothermic decomposition in a flow channel, concentrating on the interaction between reactant consumption and thermal dynamics. By employing a time-fractional derivative method, we originate and solve the system of differential equations along with boundary conditions, leading to a vigorous numerical procedure that apprehends the complex behavior of the system. The simulations deliver complete profiles of velocity, temperature, and concentration, depicting both stable and unstable solutions. The Nusselt number and Sherwood number are assessed, highlighting their implication in understanding thermal and flow characteristics. The algorithm highlights stable and unstable solutions by implementing the fractional order derivatives, using a numerical scheme to identify stable/unstable regions of the solution across various governing parameters. We investigate bifurcation phenomena and analyze the effects of the Biot number and reactant consumption rate on the bifurcation plane. Additionally, we discover temperature and concentration profiles, as well as Nusselt and Sherwood numbers. The perceptions attained from this research not only improve the forecast and control of thermal behaviors in industrial processes but also contribute to enhanced safety and efficiency in chemical manufacturing. These discoveries underline the potential for advanced control strategies to discourse challenges modelled by exothermic reactions, guaranteeing optimal operational conditions. It is believed that this research might be useful in enhancing temperature control in catalytic reactors, enhancing effectiveness and safety in chemical production processes. One noteworthy application of this research is in the optimization of temperature control in catalytic reactors used in the making of fine chemicals and pharmaceuticals, wherein the precise temperature management is crucial for yield and product quality.
Effect of Ophthalmic Preparation of Methyldopa on Induced Ocular Hypertension in rabbits
Authors: Gatea Foouad Kadhim , Hussein Zeena Ayad , Mahmood Haitham Kadhim , abu-raghif ahmed rahmah
Published: October 2024

Glaucoma is a type of ocular disorder with multifaceted etiologies characterized by progressive optic nerve damage and ultimately loss of visual field. This study evaluated the possible IOP-lowering effect of an ophthalmic preparation of methyldopa in corticosteroid-induced ocular hypertension in rabbits. 40 New Zealand white male rabbits were assigned to the experiment and then randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 8). Ocular hypertension was induced by weekly subconjunctival injection of betamethasone suspension in both eyes. Animal groups included the control (healthy) group, which received the ophthalmic vehicle only, the standard (timolol) group, which received 0.5% timolol ED, and the MD groups, which received 0.5%, 1%, and 2% of methyldopa ophthalmic preparation. Treatments were applied to the right eye twice daily for 7 days whereas the left eye served as control and was given only distilled water. IOP was recorded and ocular reflexes were observed. Weekly subconjunctival injections of betamethasone resulted in a significant elevation in the IOP (P ≤ 0.001) that was reduced after treatments with timolol 0.5% and MD at different concentrations. Timolol showed the highest reduction (P ≤ 0.001) in the mean IOP with a 30% reduction. MD showed a concentration-dependent reduction with the highest reduction (P ≤ 0.01) observed at 2% compared to the induced/DW eyes and no significant difference compared to the timolol 0.5% (P ≥ 0.05) with a 24.2% reduction in the mean IOP. Methyldopa managed to reduce the IOP in the chronic model of glaucoma, making MD a promising addition to the anti-glaucoma medications.
Agricultural Census Reports on Environmental Issues in Rural Properties
Authors: Morato Carlos Henrique de Oliveira , Farinha Maycon Jorge Ulisses Saraiva , Bernardo Luciana Virginia Mario
Published: October 2024

The objective of this study was to analyze data from the Agricultural Census regarding the Technical Guidance provided to rural producers and the Agricultural Practices adopted. For this purpose, data on rural properties across different regions of Brazil were collected, along with information on Technical Guidance and Agricultural Practices at the regional and municipal levels. A percentage analysis was conducted to characterize the data by region, and a paired T-Test was used to identify statistically significant differences between the 2006 and 2017 Censuses for the variables of Technical Guidance and Agricultural Practices. Significant differences were found in Technical Guidance, showing an overall decrease during the period analyzed. For Agricultural Practices, the results revealed low percentages of declared adoption.
Variable effects of a fire-retardant gradient on seasonal wetland communities
Authors: Rennert Monica E. , Kneitel Jamie M.
Published: October 2024

Wildfires have become larger and more severe in recent decades. Fire retardant is one of the most common wildfire response tools to protect against loss of life and property. Previous studies have documented various effects of fire retardant, which commonly contains chemicals used in fertilizers, on plant and invertebrate community composition. This mesocosm study investigated the effects of fire retardant on water quality and plant and invertebrate communities in California vernal pools. This study found that fire retardant caused water quality conditions to shift from oligotrophic to eutrophic with strong correlations between fire retardant and phosphates, nitrates, conductivity, and chlorophyll-a. Algal cover increased with added fire-retardant concentration. Shifts in invertebrate and plant communities occurred even at relatively low fire-retardant concentrations. Abundance of passive dispersers (crustaceans) peaked at medium concentrations of fire retardant, but time also influenced the relationship between fire retardant and passive invertebrate abundance. Active disperser (insects) abundance increased with increasing fire-retardant concentration and invertebrate richness peaked at medium concentrations. This study informs land managers, government agencies, and the public of the side-effects of fire-retardant use on populations, communities, and water quality of freshwater ecosystems.
Genetic Predisposition Analysis of the Fshr Gene in Pcos: Insights From a South Indian Population
Authors: Francis Jijo , Sebastian Honey , George Neetha , Saritha F. , Gilvaz Sareena , Dileep K.V. , T.S. Ragitha , George Siji Susan , Francis Roger , Martin Mary , Menon Smriti , Raveendran Suresh Kumar
Published: October 2024

Purpose: In genetic studies, ethnic variations and the heterogeneous nature of PCOS attributed to inconclusive results. Despite being one of the most populated and diverse countries in the world, there is an absence of polymorphisms study on promoter region and a paucity of data on the association of common exonic variations of FSHRgene with PCOS in a homogenous group in India.
Materials and Methods: In our case-control study, we recruited 1018 women (438 PCOS and 580 Controls). We carefully selected 121 participants from the 438 PCOS patients based on their maternal or paternal lineage and the severity of their symptoms from menarche onwards with fulfilling all the three Rotterdam criteria. From 580 controls, to reduce maximum genetic propensity, 121 age-matched individuals who did not have PCOS in either maternal or paternal relatives up to the second degree were enrolled as experimental controls. The proximal promoter region of the FSHR gene was analyzed in PCOS and control samples by PCR-Sanger sequencing. Further, significantly observed 5’UTR variant (rs1394205) in sanger sequencing and two common exon 10 SNPs [Ala307Thr A>G (rs6165) and Ser680Asn A>G (rs6166)] were analyzed by PCR-RFLP in 121 PCOS patients and 121 control subjects. Finally, the pathogenic evaluation of Ala307Thr A>G (rs6165) and Ser680Asn A>G (rs6166) was performed by applying various bioinformatics tools.
Results: In our study, a notable significance were observed in the FSHR rs1394205 and rs6165 polymorphisms with the PCOS predisposition. Apart from this, rs6165 has a notable variance in genotype frequency between individuals with the normal BMI group. However, the in-silico pathogenicity prediction tools predicted that this variation was non-pathogenic.
Conclusion: Our finding suggests that the FSHR rs1394205, −29G>A and rs6165 polymorphisms are significantly associated with PCOS predisposition in South Indian PCOS patients.
Prevalence and predictors of undiagnosed hypertension among residents of Akesta City, Northeast, Ethiopia, 2023: Community based cross-sectional study
Authors: Tassew Hussein , Shumye Mekuraiw Wuhib , Zeru Leul Mekonnen , Shiferaw Metadel Tegegne , Shumye Getachew Wuhib , Tegegne Belachew
Published: October 2024

Background: Hypertension is the world's leading risk factor for death and disability. Occasionally, there is an alarming rise in the prevalence of undetected hypertension; this is especially true in poorer nations due to inadequate screening protocols. However, there are few studies on the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in Ethiopia. Thus, the purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension and associated factors among Akesta Town residents.
Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study design was conducted among 428 adult residents of Akesta town from April to May 2023. A systematic sampling technique was used to select the study participants. A structured, pretested WHO STEPS-wise tool was used to collect data. Data was entered using Epidata version 3.1, then exported to SPSS version 25 for further analysis. Binary logistic regression, adjusted odds ratio, along with 95% CI, was used to identify significant variables. From multivariable analysis, variables having a p-value <0.05 were considered statistically significant. The results were expressed in texts and tables. Model fitness was assessed using the Hosmer-Lemshow Test.
Results: The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension was 15.9% (995% CI: 11.2, 21.5). Cigarette smoking (AOR = 11.04, 95% CI: 3.43, 35.57), alcohol drinking (AOR = 5.5, 95% CI: 1.64, 18.78), physical exercise (AOR = 4.78, 95% CI: 1.53, 15.06), and family history of hypertension (AOR = 6.8, 95% CI: 1.83, 25.19) were predictors of undiagnosed hypertension.
Conclusion: According to this study, adult residents of Akesta Town had a significant prevalence of untreated hypertension. Undiagnosed hypertension was predicted by physical exercise, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and family history of hypertension. The government and other pertinent parties will be alarmed by this, prompting them to create public health initiatives, including community-based screening and education campaigns.
Temporal Graph Memory Networks For Knowledge Tracing
Authors: Gad Seif , Abdelfattah Sherif , Abdelrahman Ghodai
Published: October 2024

Tracing a student's knowledge growth given the past exercise answering is a vital objective in automatic tutoring systems to customize the learning experience. Yet, achieving this objective is a non-trivial task as it involves modeling the knowledge state across multiple knowledge components (KCs) while considering their temporal and relational dynamics during the learning process. Knowledge tracing methods have tackled this task by either modeling KCs' temporal dynamics using recurrent models or relational dynamics across KCs and questions using graph models. Albeit, there is a lack of methods that could learn joint embedding between relational and temporal dynamics of the task. Moreover, many methods that count for the impact of a student's forgetting behavior during the learning process use hand-crafted features, limiting their generalization on different scenarios. In this paper, we propose a novel method that jointly models the relational and temporal dynamics of the knowledge state using a deep temporal graph memory network. In addition, we propose a generic technique for representing a student's forgetting behavior using temporal decay constraints on the graph memory module. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method using multiple knowledge tracing benchmarks while comparing it to state-of-the-art methods.
Hyperammonemia-derived Neurovascular Inflammation Mediated by MAO-A and δ- Secretase in Neurodegenerative Brain Models
Authors: Tran Minh , Do Khanh V. , Kang You Jung , Diep Yen N. , Jamsranjav Ariunzaya , Kwak Seung Min , Lee Luke P. , Cho Hansang
Published: October 2024

Ammonia is a potent neurotoxin that can lead to hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a severe neurological condition associated with cerebral edema. Recent studies have increasingly shown an association between hepatic encephalopathy, particularly cerebral edema and tauopathy, yet no existing model adequately explains the underlying mechanism. Here, we report that hyperammonemia triggers neurovascular inflammation, leading to tauopathy through the activation of monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) and δ-secretase, using a human brain edema model implemented on 3D human blood-brain barrier (BBB) and 3D neuroglia platforms. In the BBB, hyperammonemia disrupts tight junctions and activates pro-inflammatory endothelial cells via superoxide production from mitochondrial MAO-A, allowing ammonia and inflammatory factors to infiltrate brain tissues. In brain neuron-glia, ammonia is a key factor in inducing brain edema by activating hypertrophic astrogliosis, which releases excess glutamine and H2O2, key contributors to phosphorylated tau via MAO-A activation in neurons. Meanwhile, endothelium-derived pro-inflammatory factors drive the recruitment of microglial M1 phenotypes, further triggering δ-secretase activation and subsequent cleavage of tau proteins in neurons. Taken together, our studies suggest potential therapeutic targets for neurodegeneration associated with hepatic failure.
Predicting peak cardiorespiratory fitness in patients with cardiovascular disease using machine learning
Authors: Suh Jungwon , Kim Hongbum , Kim Bo Ryun , Lee Hyo Kyung , Jung Jae Seung , Kim Hee Jung , Son Ho Sung , Ko Jinhee , Park Chanyoung
Published: October 2024

Objective
This study aimed to develop machine learning (ML) models to predict peak cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) before and after cardiac rehabilitation (CR).
Methods and Results
Data from 162 patients with cardiovascular disease were analyzed. Two predictive tasks were employed: Task 1 estimated peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak) using baseline clinical and functional data and Task 2 predicted changes in VO2 peak after CR by additionally considering inter-visit exercise quantities and pre-CR cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) results. Four linear regression models and six ML models were trained and validated through 5-fold cross-validation technique. Both tasks demonstrated that the CatBoost and XGBoost models exhibited the highest predictive performance, effectively forecasting VO2 peak values before and after CR. Task 1 highlighted the importance of the six-minute walk distance (6MWD), Korean Activity Scale Index (KASI), and hand grip strength (HGS) in predicting the initial VO2 peak. Task 2 suggested a ceiling effect in the recovery of VO2 peak following CR and emphasized the importance of resistance exercise.
Conclusion
The application of ML models provides a powerful tool for predicting the peak CRF in patients with CVD undergoing CR, both at the initial assessment and after completing rehabilitation programs.
Exceptional energy harvesting from coupled bound states
Authors: Kronowetter Felix , Melnikov Anton , Maeder Marcus , Yang Tao , Chiang Yan Kei , Oberst Sebastian , Powell David , Marburg Steffen
Published: October 2024

Sustainable and affordable energy is one of society's most critical issues. Noise is ubiquitous and disruptive, hence a near-perfect energy harvesting source, albeit with a low energy density. To overcome the problem of low energy density, one possible solution to improve energy harvesting performance is to exploit the unique properties of bound states in the continuum. Due to their high-quality factor, they offer exceptional energy enhancement properties, resulting in improved impedance matching between the medium and the harvesting element. As a result, bound states in the continuum are particularly well suited to harvesting energy with a high degree of efficiency. A cutting-edge innovation is that bound states can be further tuned by pressure coupling, which can lead to the formation of a super-bound state. Here, we present theoretical, numerical, and experimental studies on bound state acoustic harvesters. We compare them to conventional Helmholtz resonator harvesters and show that the energy harvesting efficiency is significantly improved. Under white noise excitation, the bound state harvester outperforms the conventional Helmholtz resonator harvester by a factor of $2.2$ in terms of amplitude spectral density of the output voltage. We also present the first free field system for bound state-based harvesting. By introducing a coupled bound state system, we further increase the energy enhancement, resulting in a $50$-fold increase in output voltage compared to a single-bound state harvester. In summary, a game-changing, low-cost, and sustainable module for free acoustic energy generation that outperforms conventional harvesters is presented. Our findings advance the state-of-the-art in sustainable energy harvesting for low-power devices such as wearable devices, medical implants, and remote sensors, where connecting to the grid or other conventional power sources is inconvenient. This contribution serves as another step towards a greener, cleaner world.
Recenzia monografie "Ukrajinská informačná bezpečnosť: Filologická zložka"
Authors: Amir Adriana
Published: October 2024

Monografia "Ukrajinská informačná bezpečnosť: Filologická zložka" predstavuje jedinečný príspevok k výskumu informačnej bezpečnosti v kontexte súčasného geopolitického konfliktu medzi Ruskom a Ukrajinou. Vedecký tím z Katedry žurnalistiky a filológie Sumskej štátnej univerzity (Iryna Žylenko, Alla Jarova, Stefan Brenner, Olena Iščenko, Olena Bondarenko ) pod vedením Volodymyra Sadivnyčoho prináša multidisciplinárny pohľad, ktorý kombinuje filologické, mediálne a literárne prístupy s cieľom analyzovať, ako jazyk, literatúra a médiá formujú a ovplyvňujú informačnú bezpečnosť.
Russian invasion of Ukraine in the Italian media coverage
Authors: Simashova Anastasiia
Published: October 2024

Introduction. Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Italy, which has long had close economic, political and cultural ties with Russia, has found itself in a situation of some social and political imbalance. The presence of different, even opposing, views was reflected in the media: some publications have adopted an openly pro-Ukrainian position, while others have taken an openly anti-NATO position, if not openly pro-Russian, providing information about the causes, course and possible solutions to the war in accordance with these positions.
Relevance and purpose. The relevance of the study lies in the need to research the narratives of the Italian press about the Russian-Ukrainian war. The purpose of the article is to outline the vision of the Russian-Ukrainian war in one of the leading Italian newspapers “La Repubblica”.
The research methodology involves a quantitative and qualitative content analysis of the publications of the website and the archive of issues of “La Repubblica” in the period from 24.02.2022 to 1.05.2022. The systematisation method allowed to systematise the results obtained during the automated research, the generalisation method – to draw conclusions of research.
Results. A qualitative analysis of publications shows that news reports related to Ukraine on the La Repubblica website since the beginning of the Russian invasion have been published in a separate daily publication “The Russia-Ukraine War, News for [date]”. The total number of mentions in the publications using the keyword “war Ukraine” using the automatic search is 7,767 mentions. The most frequently used phrases were selected from this array and grouped into 8 thematic blocks: “Zelenskyy”, “refugees”, “Mariupol”, “Russian troops”, “Bucha”. It has been found that only a small proportion of publications on the pages and website of “La Repubblica” contain the terms “Nazis” and “neo-Nazis”.
Conclusions. Based on the data processing results, it was found that the Italian newspaper “La Repubblica” covers information about the Russian-Ukrainian war using frames of a war for democratic values, where Ukraine and its population is considered to be a victim of unmotivated aggression of Russia Federation, and Ukrainian politicians are portrayed as new symbols of humanistic values. There is an attempt to avoid focusing on acute issues related to Ukraine or internal Ukrainian politics, which can be partially defined as “pro-Ukrainian” propaganda. The findings are important for the inclusion of Italian media in the broader framework of European media coverage of the Russian-Ukrainian war.
A Case Study on Deep Learning for Photovoltaic Power Forecasting Combining Satellite and Ground Data
Authors: Buzzi Luiz Henrique , Weihmann Lucas , Jaskowiak Pablo Andretta
Published: October 2024

The increasing demand for clean energy presents challenges in energy supply management, largely due to their intermittency. Photovoltaic power generation, in specific, is greatly affected by weather factors, which may render power grids susceptible to instability, quality and balance issues. In this context, photovoltaic power generation forecasting is crucial not only to enhance the management of diverse energy sources through generation planning, but also to ensure widespread adoption of photovoltaic energy. To address the predictability issue in generation, this study aims to investigate the combination of satellite data with meteorological data to predict the energy generation potential in photovoltaic panels within 30, 60, 120, and 180-minute horizons. For this purpose, images from the GOES-16 satellite are used in combination with data from a ground-based weather station, located at Florianópolis – Santa Catarina – Brazil. The data is fed to a convolutional neural network, where convolutions are employed to extract features from the satellite images, aiming to establish a relationship with solar irradiation. The output of the convolutional network serves as input for a multilayer perceptron network, which utilizes the data to predict the Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI). Our results support that models incorporating satellite images provide forecasts approximately 41% better for the 30-minute horizon and 21% better for the 180-minute horizon, when compared to models without satellite images.
Comparison of Frozen and Final Pathology Results in Patients Operated for Endometrial Hyperplasia
Authors: Turker Ergun Gonca , Zorlu Ugurcan , Elmas Burak , Baris Akcan Bengü Nur , Kurtaran Gul , Cetinkaya Kadir , Doganay Melike
Published: October 2024

OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to determine the frequency of endometrial cancer in patients undergoing surgery with a diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia and to evaluate the concordance between preoperative diagnosis, frozen section examination, and final pathology results.
STUDY DESIGN: The clinical findings, imaging results, and all pathology reports of patients who underwent total abdominal hysterectomy for endometrial hyperplasia (atypical or non-atypical) between January 2020 and January 2023 at our hospital were retrospectively evaluated. Demographic and clinical characteristics (age, menopausal status, parity, body mass index, presence of diabetes and hypertension) and pathology results were recorded from patient records.
RESULTS: 144 patients diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia were included in the study. The frozen section and final pathology results of all patients diagnosed with non-atypical endometrial hyperplasia were reported as benign lesions. In the atypia group, the intraoperative frozen section results of 80.7% of the patients were classified as benign lesions, while the results of 19.3% were reported as malignant pathology. A statistically significant difference was found between the benign and malignant lesion groups, which were classified based on the final pathology results, with respect to age, menopausal status, and average endometrial thickness before biopsy.
CONCLUSION: In cases of endometrial hyperplasia with atypia, the possibility of cancer appearing in the final pathology results should be taken into consideration. In the preoperative evaluation of patients, characteristics such as endometrial thickness, age, and menopausal status may suggest the likelihood of encountering endometrial cancer during surgery in this patient group.