bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Response of Leaf Traits and Photosynthetic Fluorescence Characteristics of Fraxinus malacophylla Seedlings to Rainfall Patterns During Dry and Rainy Seasons in Southwestern China
Authors: Zeng Huiping , Cha Xiaofei , Sun Lijuan , Guo Huanxian , Zheng Shaojie , Li Xingze , Dong Qiong 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTGlobal climate change has led to a shift in rainfall patterns. And as water is an essential ingredient for plant photosynthesis, shifts in rainfall patterns will inevitably affect plant growth. This study was conducted in Kunming, southwest China. In this study, the response of leaf traits and photosynthetic fluorescence properties of Fraxinus malacophylla seedlings to rainfall patterns during the dry and rainy seasons was investigated using a natural rainfall interval of 5 days (T) and an extended rainfall interval of 10 days (T+) as rainfall interval treatments and a monthly average rainfall as a control (W), with the corresponding rainfall treatments of a 40% increase in rainfall (W+) and a 40% decrease in rainfall (W−). The results showed that Pn, Gs, and Tr basically all tended to increase and then decrease with increasing rainfall in the dry season and generally reached the highest under the W treatment; Pn, Gs, Ci, and Tr mostly remained high at 5 days relative to 10 days; PI was overall higher under the W treatment throughout the dry season. Extending the rainfall interval at the beginning of the rainy season significantly reduced Fm; throughout the rainy season, Gs, Ci, and Tr basically showed a decreasing trend with increasing rainfall, reaching the highest under the W‐treatment and mostly higher at 5 days than at 10 days. These results suggest that natural rainfall intervals and natural rainfall amounts are more favorable to the growth of Fraxinus malacophylla seedlings in the dry season; reduced rainfall and multiple rainfalls in the rainy season tend to promote photosynthesis in Fraxinus malacophylla. This study reflects the different survival strategies of Fraxinus malacophylla under different rainfall patterns, as well as provides a theoretical basis for understanding how Fraxinus malacophylla can grow better under rainfall variability and for future management.
Antidiabetic and hypolipidemic activities of Sanghuangporus vaninii compounds in streptozotocin‐induced diabetic mice via modulation of intestinal microbiota
Authors: Huang Zirui , Chen Kewen , Li Tiantian , He Xiaoyu , Ge Xiaodong , Liu Xiaoyan , Liu Bin , Zeng Feng 
Published: October 2024

AbstractSanghuangporus vaninii is a traditional edible and medicinal fungi with a long history in China. Recent studies have focused on its potential in treating diabetes, although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the antidiabetic and hypolipidemic effects of the formula of S. vaninii compounds (SVC) in diabetic mice and explore the potential improvement in the intestinal microbiota. Oral administration of SVC significantly reduced fasting blood glucose and improved insulin sensitivity and lipid indexes. In addition to its direct effects on glucose levels and insulin sensitivity, SVC was found to have an impact on the intestinal microbiota. The levels of short‐chain fatty acids receiving SVC intervention increased, and 16S rRNA sequencing revealed changes in the abundances of certain bacteria, such as Harryflintia, Helicobacter, Candidatus_Soleaferrea, Klebsiella, and Candidatus_Stoquefichus. These bacteria were found to be negatively associated with glucose and lipid indexes and positively related to body weight and insulin sensitivity. Overall, this study highlights the potential of SVC in treating diabetes and provides a novel perspective for understanding its antidiabetic mechanism through modulation of the intestinal microbiota.
An experimental exploration of modified basin solar still performance through integration of flat plate collector and built condenser
Authors: Kerfah Rabah , Benabdelaziz Ferhat Kamel , Tigrine Zahia , Hamrat Oussama 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThis study experimentally investigates the integration of a flat plate solar collector and a condensation chamber into a basin solar still. Three prototypes were designed and constructed for evaluation: a basin solar still coupled to both a solar collector and a condensation chamber, a basin coupled with a solar collector, and a simple basin solar still as a reference. The experiments, conducted from July 24 to 28, 2016, at the UDES site in Bouismail, Algeria, used seawater from the Fouka region. Solar radiation emerged as the primary influencer on the solar desalination system, with active solar stills, particularly those equipped with a flat plate collector, showing significant temperature increases. Daily cumulative production analysis revealed the condensation chamber as a significant contributor, representing 58% of total production. Incorporating a flat plate collector resulted in a 110% increase in daily production compared to the conventional solar still. Simultaneously incorporating both the flat plate collector and the condensation chamber showcased an impressive 176% increase in daily production. Daily production quantified at 5.9 kg/m2 for the active with a condensation chamber, 4.5 kg/m2 for the active solar still, and 2.1 kg/m2 for the simple solar still. Economic analysis indicated that the active solar still with the condensation chamber enables more cost‐effective freshwater production than the active solar still alone. Water analyses demonstrated the efficiency of solar distillation, converting high‐salinity saltwater (31.4%) into exceptionally pure distillate (0.00%).
Executive hour or political competition in times of crisis?—An analysis of public crisis reporting on the COVID‐19 lockdowns in Germany
Authors: Demler Katja 
Published: October 2024

AbstractWhile much work has looked at how governments responded to the Corona pandemic, little consideration has been given to how the crisis affected party competition and what positions political actors took during this period. How were political actors' positions on COVID‐19 portrayed in daily newspapers? And how can we explain these patterns? To answer these questions, this article examines the discourse surrounding both German lockdown decisions by analyzing the public coverage of two German daily newspapers. By means of discourse network analysis, the most central actors of the public discourse are revealed at first. Second, relevant factors influencing the discourse centrality of political actors are analyzed. Therefore, a linear regression is performed to identify party‐political factors that have a significant influence on political actors' discourse centrality. Participation in the executive branch in the Länder and federal level as well as having candidate status emerge as central factors influencing discourse centrality.
Experimental study on the utilization of Fly ash solid waste in tunnel shotcrete materials
Authors: Juncai Zan , Wanxing Ren , Qing Guo 
Published: October 2024

AbstractFly ash has emerged as a prominent solid waste in China, leading to various environmental concerns and posing a threat to the health of living organisms, including humans. To enhance the industrial applicability of this waste material, a novel approach has been proposed wherein sand is replaced with fly ash as the primary raw material for wall grouting of coal mine roadways. To address the issue of low compressive strength and to improve the properties of fly ash shotcrete materials, a method employing an alkali activator to stimulate the chemical activity of fly ash has been put forward. The long‐term effectiveness of the shotcrete material has been evaluated using compressive strength testing and scanning electron microscopy testing methods. The impact of replacing sand with fly ash on the compressive strength of shotcrete and the activation effect of sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), NaOH, and Na2SiO3 on fly ash shotcrete have been studied. The results indicate that the compressive strength of fly ash shotcrete shows optimal improvement when the content of Na2SO4 is 3%. The ideal ratio of cement to fly ash is 1:3. Therefore, incorporating an appropriate amount of alkaline activator could effectively address the compressive strength issues of fly ash shotcrete materials.
Experimental Study of Single‐Pass Fluid Flow With Convective and Sensible Thermal Energy Storage in a Porous Curved Channel Solar Air Heater
Authors: Chamarthi Subbarao , Singh Satyender , Chander Subhash 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTIn this experimental research, a single‐pass solar air heater comprising a porous curved channel is investigated to reveal the scope of high thermal performance during the winter season. The investigation explores the geometrical parameters for the porous channel maintained by using steel wiremesh layers of wire diameter of 0.45 mm and pitch of 2.35 mm, and the number of layers ranging from 3 to 12, which presents the channel porosity, , from 99% to 96%, respectively. The curved porous channel offers additional fluid mixing, thermal backup, and high heat transfer area, thereby increasing the convective heat transfer to the air and consequently the thermal performance. A series of experiments were carried out under real outdoor conditions to examine the various factors such as variable channel porosity, air flow rate, and the amount of solar energy received. The findings revealed that the curved porous channel with a channel porosity of 96% results in the maximum thermal and thermohydraulic efficiencies of about 85% and 79%, respectively, and the outlet air temperature of 79°C.
Place‐based and people‐centred: Principles for a socially inclusive Net Zero transition
Authors: Middlemiss Lucie , Snell Carolyn , Theminimulle Samanthi , Carregha Tania , Morrison Emily , Chzhen Yekaterina , Kennedy Kelli , Owen Anne 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe transition to Net Zero marks a radical reshaping of many aspects of everyday life in the effort to reduce human‐caused climate change. It also has the potential to influence positively a number of social challenges: improving public health, reducing the effects of poverty, increasing well‐being and bringing neighbourhoods together. However, these positive outcomes are by no means a given. Households on low incomes are less resilient than ever following austerity, COVID‐19 and the cost‐of‐living crisis. In this paper, we report on research undertaken in seven low‐income neighbourhoods in Leeds and Newcastle in the UK, in which we ran a series of workshops to understand perspectives and concerns on this issue. We found that people's perceived ability to engage in Net Zero was shaped by the neighbourhood they live in (due to its geographical location, local services and infrastructure), their housing (the building and its tenure) and household (the people they live with) as well as by their inability to access funds. It is clear from our data that people have big concerns about their ability to participate in the substantial changes they can see ahead. Our research suggests that ensuring a successful Net Zero transition for low‐income neighbourhoods will require a place‐based and people‐centred approach. We conclude by offering three principles for tailoring research and policy to specific geographic and socio‐economic needs, including (1) recognising patterns of difference and their spatial and social roots, (2) bringing whole life experiences into narratives of the future and (3) prioritising social inclusion in climate policy.
The amended international health regulations: Implications and challenges for domestic legal frameworks
Authors: Emami Sarah , Aperce Cedric 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe World Health Organisation's International Health Regulations were amended in May 2024, with a number of implications for countries to amend their legal and institutional frameworks. This perspective highlights two key areas of focus in the amendments—the importance of multisectoral coordination and subnational work ‐ and explores their links to health security challenges and to concrete country experiences. National legal and institutional frameworks constitute a key enabling mechanism for effective public health systems capable of preventing, detecting, and responding promptly to public health events and emergencies, and the recent IHR amendments provide a new impetus for WHO Member States to make these changes.
Characteristics of deep soil layer water deficit under different artificial vegetation types of the Loess Plateau, China
Authors: Zhao Jiongchang , Shen Mingshuang , Zhang Jianjun , Yu Yang 
Published: October 2024

AbstractSoil water is a crucial factor for the growth of vegetation and sustainable development in water‐limited areas. After large‐scale vegetation restoration on the Chinese Loess Plateau, understanding the relationship between vegetation and deep soil moisture has become a crucial focus in current research. In this study, artificial forest (Pinus tabulaeformis [PT], Robinia pseudoacacia [RP] and Platycladus orientalis [PO]), apple orchard (AO), secondary forest (SF) and farmland (FL) were selected as the research objects, and grassland (GL) as the control, using soil‐drilling techniques. We systematically monitored the soil water content of 0–10 m soil layer over two hydrological years, and explored the effects of different vegetation types on soil water deficiency. The results showed that: (1) The deep soil water various significantly among different vegetation types. Compared with GL, the soil water content in all forest land was generally lower, and this difference became more pronounced in deeper soil layer (>7 m), which indicating the depth of the influence of vegetation on soil water has reached 10 m. (2) The mean soil water deficit size (SWDS) values of PT (0.14), RP (0.17), PO (0.07), AO (0.15), SF (0.10) and FL (0.27) in 0–1 m were all positive, indicating that surface soil water had accumulated during more than half of the sampling periods. In the 2–10 m soil layer, mean SWDS was negative in all vegetation types except in FL, leading to soil desiccation. SWDS was found to fluctuate with soil depth. (3) SWDS was affected by a combination of soil properties and vegetation growth. Our results indicate that the current afforestation model could lead to the deficiency of deep soil water. Therefore, it is imperative to make reasonable vegetation structure according to the available local soil and water resources in future vegetation allocation and management.
Integrated omics revealed the altered colonic microenvironment after inhibition of peripheral serotonin synthesis by LP533401
Authors: Ling Yidan , Liu Ziyu , Han Shuibing , Wu Haiqin , Mu Chunlong , Zhu Weiyun 
Published: October 2024

AbstractGut‐derived 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT), known as serotonin, plays a crucial role in regulating gastrointestinal functions. However, the impact of disruptions in gut‐derived 5‐HT synthesis on the early gut microbiome and intestinal microenvironment remains unclear. In this study, LP533401, an inhibitor targeting peripheral 5‐HT synthesis, was administered orally to neonatal rats starting at 4 days post‐birth. By day 11, inhibition of gut‐derived 5‐HT resulted in altered colonic morphology, characterized by increased crypt depth and reduced myenteric thickness. To investigate the mechanisms underlying these alterations, we employed a combination of metagenomics, mucosal transcriptome, and untargeted metabolomics on colonic samples. Metagenome profiling revealed an upregulation in the microbial two‐component system (ko02020) and tyrosine metabolism (ko00350), with minimal effects on taxa abundances. Transcriptome profiling analysis indicated the discriminant expression of genes enriched in pathogen infection‐responsive signaling (e.g., Salmonella and Yersinia infection) and the Wnt signaling pathway that affected stem cell proliferation. Consistent with increased crypt depth, marker genes related to cell proliferation were excessively activated. Metabolomics analysis indicated lower ascorbate level and higher succinic acid level, correlating with 5‐HT concentrations and increased crypt depth. Additionally, altered metabolic pathways (e.g., nucleotide metabolism, signal transduction, metabolism of cofactors and vitamins) suggested an impact on the colonic function. In summary, early inhibition of gut‐derived 5‐HT may unfavorably reshape the colonic microenvironment, affecting gut morphology, microbial function, stem cell proliferation, and mucosal metabolism.
Self‐healing polymers in rigid and flexible perovskite photovoltaics
Authors: Liang Fang‐Cheng , Akman Erdi , Aftab Sikandar , Mohammed Mustafa K. A. , Hegazy H. H. , Zhang Xiujuan , Zhang Fei 
Published: October 2024

AbstractOver the past 10 years, perovskite solar cell (PSC) device technologies have advanced remarkably and exhibited a notable increase in efficiency. Additionally, significant innovation approaches have improved the stability related to heat, light, and moisture of PSC devices. Despite these developments in PSCs, the instability of PSCs is a pressing problem and an urgent matter to overcome for practical application. Recently, polymers have been suggested suggestion has been presented to solve the instability issues of PSCs and increase the photovoltaic parameters of devices. Here, first, the fundamental chemical bond types of self‐healing polymers are presented. Then, a comprehensive presentation of the ability of self‐healing polymers in rigid and flexible PSCs to enhance the various physical, mechanical, and optoelectronic properties is presented. Furthermore, valuable insights and innovative solutions for perovskite‐based optoelectronics with self‐healing polymers are provided, offering guidance for future optoelectronic applications.image
Blockchain Enabled Secure Data Transmission With NB‐IoT Deployment in Smart Agriculture Crop Watch
Authors: Mohammed Chand Pasha , Chopra Shakti Raj , Albadri Nehad , Dekeyser Stijn , Jha Sudan , Roy Ajay , Pradhan Nihar Ranjan 
Published: October 2024

ABSTRACTThe integration of Narrowband Internet of Things (NB‐IoT) and blockchain technology presents a promising solution to address security and efficiency concerns in data transmission within the Internet of Things (IoT). This research focuses on its application in crop Watch, an agricultural monitoring system. The IoT has revolutionized various industries, including agriculture, by facilitating the collection and transmission of extensive data through sensors and devices. However, ensuring secure and efficient data transmission remains a critical challenge. NB‐IoT boasts advantages such as improved coverage in challenging areas, massive connectivity with up to 100 000 links, low energy usage through prolonged discontinuous receipt (eDRX), and cost‐effectiveness. Despite these benefits, NB‐IoT faces security issues, including authentication, anonymity, and fault tolerance. To enhance data security, public key cryptography is proposed to be incorporated into the NB‐IoT framework. Blockchain technology, with its decentralized and immutable nature, can potentially address these security concerns and enhance data accountability. By creating a trust‐less and transparent infrastructure, blockchain complements NB‐IoT's capabilities and provides a robust mechanism for data verification and integrity. This research paper emphasizes the logical integration of NB‐IoT, public key cryptography, and blockchain technology, offering a secure and efficient data transmission framework for agricultural applications like crop Watch. Bridging the gap between data connectivity and security holds promise for advancing agricultural monitoring and driving IoT innovations.
Neurobehavioral and bioaccumulative toxicity in adult in‐vivo zebrafish model due to prolonged cadmium exposure in the presence of ketoprofen
Authors: Madesh S. , Sudhakaran Gokul , Meenatchi Ramu , Manikandan K. , Dhayanithi Nagarajan Balachandran , Almutairi Mikhlid H. , Almutairi Bader O. , Guru Ajay , Arockiaraj Jesu 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIncreasing industrial activity causes the release of chemical compounds into aquatic habitats, including toxic heavy metals like cadmium and medications like ketoprofen, posing considerable ecological concerns. Although previous studies have shown that cadmium and ketoprofen individually cause cognitive impairment, there is a lack of information on the combined neurological effects of the two substances. We investigated the neurological consequences of persistent cadmium exposure in the presence of ketoprofen on adult zebrafish, providing an essential model for understanding cumulative impacts on vertebrate organisms. Behavioral assessments, bioaccumulation rates, biochemical studies, and histopathological exams were conducted over 42 days in authentic environmental settings. The results of our study show that cadmium (10 µg/L) and ketoprofen (10 and 100 µg/L) at environmentally relevant concentrations had a significant impact on locomotor activity, social interactions, and cognitive responses, indicating cumulative neurotoxicity in co‐exposure groups compared to single pollutant groups. Biochemical tests show disturbances in antioxidant defense systems, while histological examinations reveal structural changes in zebrafish brain regions. Ketoprofen influences cadmium accumulation in the brain, underscoring the importance of conducting complete evaluations to understand the intricate interactions between environmental pollutants. This study improves our understanding of the complex interactions between heavy metals and medications, stressing the need to consider combined exposure when assessing the neurological effects on vertebrate models.
High‐throughput molecular simulations of SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor binding domain mutants quantify correlations between dynamic fluctuations and protein expression
Authors: Ovchinnikov Victor , Karplus Martin 
Published: October 2024

AbstractPrediction of protein fitness from computational modeling is an area of active research in rational protein design. Here, we investigated whether protein fluctuations computed from molecular dynamics simulations can be used to predict the expression levels of SARS‐CoV‐2 receptor binding domain (RBD) mutants determined in the deep mutational scanning experiment of Starr et al. [Science (New York, N.Y.) 2022, 377, 420] Specifically, we performed more than 0.7 milliseconds of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of 557 mutant RBDs in triplicate to achieve statistical significance under various simulation conditions. Our results show modest but significant anticorrelation in the range [−0.4, −0.3] between expression and RBD protein flexibility. A simple linear regression machine learning model achieved correlation coefficients in the range [0.7, 0.8], thus outperforming MD‐based models, but required about 25 mutations at each residue position for training.