bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Towards sustainable forest management: an examination of environmental knowledge among forest dwellers in the Kashmir Himalayas
Authors: Thoker Irshad Ahmad , Bhat M. Shafi , Shah Shamim Ahmad , Lone Fayaz Ahmad , Mir Sumira , Parrey Hilal Ahmad , Akbar Mohmad 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Environmental knowledge, attitude and sustainable behaviour of the people have become fundamental elements of sustainable forest management. Kashmir Himalayas is an ecologically fragile region, inhabited by various ethnic and tribal communities with low levels of education and heavy dependence on forest resource utilization. The lack of adequate environmental knowledge and appreciation of ecological values among the inhabitants has negatively affected the forest resources. The study aims to ascertain the levels of environmental knowledge and identify the factors that influence attitude and sustainable behaviour among forest dwellers. The study is based on primary data, with a sample size of 600 households, which was analyzed with the help of Weighted Average Index (WAI), and the Binary Logistic Regression Model (BLRM). The findings indicate that forest dwellers in the region exhibit low levels of environmental knowledge, along with a moderate attitude and moderate levels of sustainable behaviour. Environmental knowledge regarding emerging global environmental issues such as the role of forests in combating global warming, greenhouse gas emissions, climate change, and ecological imbalance was found to be very low, primarily on account of low levels of education. In addition, the attitude towards wildlife conservation was non-congenial due to increasing man-animal conflicts in the region. The study reveals that education, age, and gender were key determinants influencing people’s environmental knowledge, attitude, and sustainable behaviour. This study validates that knowledge, sustainable behaviour, and attitude scales could be used as premier tools for monitoring sustainable forest management initiatives in similar environments across mountainous regions.
Autosomal dominant kidney disease phenocopying hypertensive nephropathy in Turkish Cypriot Families
Authors: Ozdemir Fezile , Oygar D. Deren , Behlul Ahmet , Ataç Salahi , Bardak Simge , Yükseliş Meral , Papagregoriou Gregory , Malatras Apostolos , Gale Daniel P. , Neild Guy H. , Deltas Constantinos , Gurkan Cemal 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background
In Cyprus, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is very common and often presents as a haematuric nephropathy caused by autosomal dominant pathogenic variants in the COL4A3 or COL4A4 genes. We investigated 57 Turkish Cypriots (TCs) with familial CKD for pathogenic variants in the COL4A3 and COL4A4 genes.
Methods
Probands from 53 families underwent massive parallel DNA sequencing using a glomerular gene panel for familial haematuria (COL4A3, COL4A4, COL4A5, CFHR5, and FN1), and whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed for 24 families. Twenty families were subjected to both procedures. Variants of interest were validated and tested in other family members by Sanger DNA sequencing or polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PCR-RFLP) and agarose gel electrophoresis.
Results
The diagnostic yield from these families was disappointing, and likely pathogenic variants were identified in only 12 of the 57 patients (genes, including COL4A3 (3), COL4A4 (2), and COL4A5 (2)), leaving 45 unsolved families. Among the latter, a common missense variant (COL4A4:p. G545A), was present in four of the 45 unsolved and one of the solved families. Subsequently, we examined at least one member from a total of 85 families with evidence of familial kidney disease and a probable glomerular phenotype (at least one person with hematuria or proteinuria) and found 12 families (14%) with the p.G545A variant, which seemed to cosegregate with renal disease more often than would be expected by chance. All these families demonstrate an autosomal dominant (AD) inherited susceptibility to kidney disease associated with hypertension, variable and intermittent microscopic hematuria, and minimal proteinuria that remains at < 1 g/day until the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) falls below 30 ml/min, after which it may increase.
Conclusions
We suggest that COL4A4:p. G545A may play a permissive polygenic role in a novel renal condition that phenocopies ‘hypertensive nephropathy’. This variant may be a common contributor to renal failure in the eastern Mediterranean region, thus justifying further investigation in appropriate families.
Marine debris invasion and pollution assessment in mangrove wetlands in the northern South China Sea
Authors: ZHOU Peng , SHI Rongui , ZHENG Yuanlai , ZHAO Li , GUO Zhiming , LI Dongmei , JIANG Zhongchen , NI Zhixin 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Mangrove wetlands as debris traps should receive more attention. Here, we assessed that the magnitude, accumulation, source and fate of marine debris in seven mangrove areas in the north South China Sea (MNSCS) (2019–2020). Marine debris with plastic dominating is invading the MNSCS at the low level. More than 70% of all debris weight with plastics (48.34% ) and fabrics (14.59%) is land-based, and more than 70% comes from coastal/recreational activities. More than 90% of all debris items with plastics (52.50%) and styrofoam(36.32%) is land-based, and more than 90% comes from coastal/recreational activities. The medium/large size debris are trapped in mangrove wetlands under the influenced conditions of local tidal level, debris item materials, and sizes. We expect that our study is helpful to determine the nature and significance of their risk and future marine debris management and the mangrove conservation and restoration.
Impact of irrigation, fertilizer, and pesticide management practices on groundwater and soil health in the rice-wheat cropping system: A comparison of conventional, resource conservation technologies and conservation agriculture
Authors: Shah Shailendra Singh , Dam Jos van , Singh Awtar , Kumar Suresh , Kumar Satyendra , Bundela Devendra Singh , Ritsema Coen 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Agricultural intensification in the Northwestern Indo-Gangetic Plain (NWIGP), a critical food bowl supporting millions of people, is leading to groundwater depletion and soil health degradation, primarily driven by conventional cultivation practices, particularly the rice-wheat (RW) cropping system, which comprises over 85% of the IGP. Therefore, this study presents a systematic literature review of input management in the RW system, analyzes district-wise trends, outlines the current status, addresses challenges, and proposes sustainable management options to achieve development goals. Our district-wise analysis estimates potential water savings from 20–60% by transitioning from flood to drip, sprinkler, laser land leveling, or conservation agriculture (CA). Alongside integrating water-saving technologies with CA, crop switching and recharge infrastructure enhancements are needed for groundwater sustainability. Furthermore, non-adherence with recommended fertilizer and pesticide practices, coupled with residue burning, adversely affects soil health and water quality. CA practices have demonstrated substantial benefits, including increased soil permeability (up to 51%), improved organic carbon content (up to 38%), higher nitrifying bacteria populations (up to 73%), enhanced dehydrogenase activities (up to 70%), and increased arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi populations (up to 56%). The detection of multiple fertilizers and pesticides in groundwater underscores the need for legislative measures and the promotion of sustainable farming practices similar to European Union strategies. Lastly, greater emphasis should be placed on fostering shifts in farmers' perceptions toward optimizing input utilization. The policy implications of this study extend beyond the NWIGP region to the entire country, stressing the critical importance of proactive measures to increase environmental sustainability.
Enhancing porous silicon biosensors performance: the interplay of nanostructure design and microfluidic integration
Authors: Bahnemann Janina , Awawdeh Kayan , Buttkewitz Marc , Segal Ester 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
In this article, we investigate mass transfer acceleration approaches aimed at enhancing the performance of porous silicon (PSi)-based biosensors. PSi biosensors tend to suffer from relatively poor sensitivity due to mass transfer limitations, which can be attributed to several factors including the bulk diffusion of the target in the solution toward the biosensor surface, the hindered diffusion within the porous layer, and simultaneous reaction with the immobilized capture probe molecules. This study considers the impact of different PSi structural characteristics (such as the pore diameter, porous layer thickness, and the capture probe density) on the overall performance of such sensors. Additionally, we look at the effect of incorporating convection on the performance of PSi biosensors, via their integration into sophisticated 3D-printed microfluidic platforms. The proposed 3D-printed microfluidic designs include micromixer components that can be deployed for both passive and active mixing to achieve superior sensitivity. We show that tuning the PSi biosensor characteristics improve performance significantly – achieving a calculated limit of detection (LOD) of 50 nM, which is > 1 order of magnitude lower than the achieved in similar previously developed biosensors. Furthermore, the integration of PSi with the different microfluidic systems can indeed improve the sensitivity of the aptasensor, and the LOD can be reduced by > 1 order of magnitude.
Consolidating Rotten/Pulverized Silk Fabrics through Spatially Adaptive 3D Strong/Tough Framework Mediated Structural Shaping of Fiber Bundles
Authors: Zhu Xiongbin , Wu Hao , Yu Yanting , Fang Beisong , Chen Shaohui , Xie Huan , Zhang Qiong , Yang Changying , Zhao Yang , Ran Jiabing 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Developing advanced technologies for consolidation and shaping of rotten/pulverized silk fabrics (RPSFs) is of vital historical and cultural values, but currently reported strategies are still far from satisfactory. In this regard, a novel PEI/PEGDE/IPP method was proposed in this work. Briefly, a spatially adaptive 3D cross-linked PEI/PEGDE framework was constructed around the silk fiber bundles of RPSF to enhance the structural integrity, strength, toughness, and elasticity of RPSF through successive soaking of RPSF in ethanol solution of branched poly(ethylenimine) (PEI) and acetone solution of poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEGDE). Then, isopropyl palmitate (IPP) molecules were introduced into the PEI/PEGDE framework to improve the softness and ductility of RPSF. Through three systematic orthogonal experiments (i.e., stiffness, chromaticity variation, and mechanical properties), the optimal initial feeding composition of PEI and PEGDE were screened out and determined to be 2 wt% and 2 wt%, respectively. A series of composition and structural identification indicated that the consolidation/shaping mechanism of the PEI/PEGDE/IPP method fitted with our initial theoretical assumption. Besides, the PEI/PEGDE/IPP treatment induced ordered arrangement of RPSF along (210) crystal plane and, therefore, could enhance the anti-tearing capability of RPSF, which also positive influence on long-term preservation of RPSF. When being applied to true RPSF historical relics, the PEI/PEGDE/IPP method didn’t change its color and texture, and could improve the mechanical stability of RPSF to some extent. Thus, the reported PEI/PEGDE/IPP method is promising for preservation of RPSF historical relics in the future.
Identifying MSMO1, ELOVL6, AACS, and CERS2 related to lipid metabolism as biomarkers of Parkinson's disease
Authors: Wang Huiqing , Zhao Mingpei , Chen Guorong , Lin Yuanxiang , Kang Dezhi , Yu Lianghong 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The mechanisms underlying lipid metabolic disorders in Parkinson's diseases (PD) remain unclear. Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was conducted to identify PD-related modular genes and differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Lipid metabolism-related genes (LMRGs) were extracted from Molecular Signatures Database. Candidate genes were assessed with overlapping modular genes, DEGs, and LMRGs for the purpose of building protein-protein interaction(PPI) networks. Then, biomarkers were generated by machine learning and Backpropagation Neural Network development according to candidate genes. Biomarker-based enrichment and network modulation analyses were executed to investigate related signal pathway. Following dimensionality reduction clustering and annotation, scRNA-seq was submitted to cellular interactions and trajectory analysis to analyze regulatory mechanisms of critical cells. Finally, qRT-PCR was conducted to confirm the expression of biomarkers in PD patients. Four biomarkers (MSMO1, ELOVL6, AACS, and CERS2) were obtained and highly predictive after analysis mentioned above. Then, OPC, Oli, and Neu cells were the primary expression sites for biomarkers according to scRNA-seq studies. Finally, we confirmed mRNA of MSMO1, ELOVL6 and AACS were downregulated in PD patients comparing with control, while CERS2 was upregulated. In conclusion, MSMO1, ELOVL6, AACS, and CERS2 related to LMRGs could be new biomarkers for diagnosing and treating PD.
Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Arsenic Concentration in Rural Drinking Water and Health Risk Assessment in Northern China over the past 10 years: A Case Study of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
Authors: Zhang Wenyu , Zhang Xiangnan , Zhang Chenguang , Jia Xinrui , Li Huan , Yue Xuanzhi , Wu Duoduo , Zhu Jiake , Zhang Wenqian , Qin Yuhan , Fan Yaochun 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

[Background] To monitor the arsenic content in drinking water in rural areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region from 2013 to 2022 and assess its carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks, in order to provide guidance for optimizing rural water supply projects and to provide a basis for further promoting population health strategies.
[Methods] Water samples from rural areas of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were collected during the dry season (May) and the wet season (August-September) each year from 2013 to 2022, with a total of 42,695 samples collected over the 10-year period. The arsenic content in the drinking water was tested following the "Inspection Methods for Drinking Water Standards - Metal Index" (GB/T5750.6-2006). The environmental health risk assessment was conducted using the health risk assessment model recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the arsenic concentrations in drinking water from different water sources.
[Results] Overall, the arsenic concentrations in drinking water in the western and central regions of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region were higher than those in the eastern region. The arsenic concentration in rural drinking water showed a significant decreasing trend from 2013 to 2022, with over 98% of water samples qualified for arsenic standards by 2022. From 2013 to 2019, the arsenic concentration in drinking water from groundwater sources was higher than that from surface water sources (P <0.05), while there was no difference between the concentrations from different water sources from 2020 to 2022. The non-carcinogenic oral exposure risk (P95) of arsenic in drinking water for adults was higher than 1 from 2013 to 2018, and for children, it was higher than 1 from 2013 to 2015. The average, median, and P95 of the carcinogenic oral exposure risk of arsenic ingestion in drinking water from 2013 to 2022 were all higher than 1×10-6 for the entire population. Sensitivity analysis showed that the contribution of drinking water arsenic concentration to the health risk was the largest for both adults and children, and the weight of the entire population had a negative contribution to the risk values.
[Conclusion] Over the 10-year period, the situation of arsenic exceeding the standard in rural drinking water in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has improved, with the overall exceeding rate reduced and the health risks to the population decreased. However, there still exists a certain carcinogenic risk, so targeted measures should be further taken to continue promoting the improvement of water quality in rural areas.
“I have never felt so alone and vulnerable” – A qualitative study of bereaved people’s experiences of end-of-life cancer care during the Covid-19 pandemic
Authors: Burton Lara , Goss Silvia , Sivell Stephanie , Selman Lucy , Harrop Emily 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
Background
COVID-19 drastically affected healthcare services world-wide. In the UK, many cancer services were overwhelmed as oncology staff were reassigned, and cancer diagnoses and treatments were delayed. The impact of these pressures on end-of-life care for patients with advanced cancer and their relatives is not well understood.
Methods
Secondary thematic analysis of qualitative survey and interview data, collected from family members and close friends bereaved by cancer, as part of a national COVID-19 bereavement study (Survey N = 156; Interview N = 10).
Results
Four key themes were identified: The impact of COVID-19 on contact with patients towards the end of life; Mixed experiences of support for family members; Variable communication quality from health and social care professionals; Prioritisation of COVID-19 and its impact on patient care. Hospital care was perceived more negatively than community care in almost all areas, while support from cancer charities and district nurses was appreciated the most. Almost all participants felt that COVID-19 was detrimentally prioritised over care for their relative/friend.
Conclusions
People bereaved by cancer were uniquely affected by pandemic-restrictions and disruptions to services. As services re-build post-pandemic, improvements in palliative care in hospitals, investment into community care, and ensuring compassionate communication with patients and families must be prioritised, alongside preparedness for future pandemics or similar events.
The joint calibration method of binocular tracking multi-line laser system based on Multi-position attitude optimization algorithm
Authors: Huang Huiming , Liu Guihua , Liu Jiajia , Liu Xueyin , Deng Lei , Song Tao , Qing Fupin 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The traditional multi-line laser 3D reconstruction system relies on marker points to obtain complete 3D information of objects. However, in practical applications, many scenarios do not allow marker points to be pasted on objects. To solve this problem, we adopt a binocular tracking-based method to achieve marker-free stitching of multi-line laser reconstructed 3D data. The calibration of the binocular tracking system and the joint calibration between the multi-line laser system and the tracking ball cage constitute the core challenges of the system. To quickly and accurately complete the calibration of the entire system, this paper proposes a bundle adjustment optimization method based on a cross pole. This method utilizes multiple encoded marker points on the cross pole and their real 3D data. By capturing the cross pole images at different positions through the binocular tracking system, the internal and external parameters of the binocular tracking system are calibrated using the bundle adjustment optimization method in combination with the 3D data of the cross pole and the recognized image points. During the joint calibration of the multi-line laser system and the tracking ball cage, we simultaneously use the binocular tracking system and the multi-line laser system to capture cross pole images. By capturing cross pole at different positions, we can obtain the positional relationship between the cross pole, the binocular tracking system, and the multi-line laser system. Based on these positional relationships, we adopt a multi-position attitude optimization algorithm to calibrate the transformation relationship between the multi-line laser system and the tracking ball cage, thus completing the calibration of the entire system. Finally, based on all the calibration results, we can achieve 3D reconstruction of objects. Compared with the traditional method based on a planar calibration board, the calibration method proposed in this paper only requires one cross pole to complete the calibration of the two key steps, which not only improves the calibration accuracy but also simplifies the calibration process.
Brief description of the molecular aspects of Paralithodes camtschaticus larval development
Authors: Boyko Alexey V. , Dolmatov Igor Yu. , Girich Alexander S. , Maslennikov Sergey I. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

The transcriptome of the red king crab Paralithodes camtschaticus was sequenced at four developmental stages—zoea I, zoea IV, glaucothoe, juvenile—on an Illumina sequencer. Based on our RNA-seq data and the paired-end reads from 112 libraries obtained by other researchers earlier, we have achieved the currently most complete transcriptome assembly for P. camtschaticus with the best basic statistical parameters. The analysis of enrichment processes at different stages showed, that in the early larvae adaptation to elevated temperature and hypoxia do not function. Thus, it is important to maintain optimal condition for the normal larval development and reducing mortality. As results of expression profiles clustering and transcription factor searching, we found that most of them are associated with the development of various organs, metamorphosis, and immune respone. The data obtained by us provide an additional basis for a deeper study of the mechanisms of the biphasic life cycle in decapods and can be used in commercial Kamchatka crab breeding programs.
VoxelFSD: voxel-based fully sparse detector with sparse convolution for 3D object detection
Authors: Zhou Weidian , Hong Ru , Da Feipeng , Gai Shaoyan 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

In recent years, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in computer graphics have been transferred and applied to 3D object detection, achieving promising performance. However, challenges still exist in this area. Aiming at the problem of time-consuming dramatic increase of current voxel-based detectors in large-scale point cloud perception, this paper proposes a fully sparse detector, VoxelFSD, which is capable of real-time long-range perception. The model consists of three key components: (1) Parallel Convolutional Branches (PCB), which not only expands the model receptive field, but also effectively handles the impact of the loss of object center features on the results; (2) Sparse RPN head, which predicts the candidate boxes in a sparse manner rather than in a dense form, enabling the model to effectively handle long-range perception tasks; (3) ROI head with attention fusion module (AFM-ROI), which utilizes cross-attention to effectively fuse the extracted 3D backbone features and the compressed bev features in the second stage, further improving the model performance. Based on the above modules, we propose a single-stage lightweight detector, VoxelFSD-S, and a two-stage detector, VoxelFSD-T. Among them, VoxelFSD-S achieves a better performance than the previous voxel-based lightweight detectors, while VoxelFSD-T achieves a mAP of 81.50\% on the KITTI test set. The code and the result are available at \href{https://github.com/seu-zwd/VoxelFSD}{https://github.com/seu-zwd/VoxelFSD}