bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pyrolysis temperature affects biochar suitability as an alternative rhizobial carrier
Authors: Shabir Rahat , Li Yantao , Megharaj Mallavarapu , Chen Chengrong 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBiochars produced from different feedstocks and at different pyrolysis temperatures may have various chemical and physical properties, affecting their potential use as alternative microbial carrier materials. In this study, biochars were produced from pine wood and oak feedstocks at various temperatures (400°C, 500°C, 600°C, 700°C and 800°C), characterized, and assessed for their potential as carriers for Bradyrhizobium japonicum (CB1809) strain. The biochars were then stored at two different storage temperatures (28°C and 38°C) for up to 90 days. Furthermore, the study also explored the role of potentially ideal carriers as inoculants in the growth of Glycine max L. (soybean) under different moisture levels i.e., 55% water holding capacity (WHC) (D0), 30% WHC (D1) and, 15% WHC (D2) using a mixture of 50% garden soil and 50% sand. The results were compared to a control group (without inoculants) and a peat inoculant. Among all the materials derived from pine wood and oak, pine wood biochar pyrolyzed at 400℃ (P-BC400) exhibited the highest CFU count, with values of 10.34 and 9.74 Log 10 CFU g− 1 after 90 days of storage at 28℃ and 38℃, respectively. This was notably higher compared to other biochars and peat carriers. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in plant properties: shoot and root dry biomass (174% and 367%), shoot and root length (89% and 85%), number of leaves (71%), membrane stability index (27%), relative water content (26%), and total chlorophyll (140%) were observed in plants treated with P-BC400 carrier inoculant compared to the control at D2; however, lower enrichment of δ13C (37%) and δ15N (108%) with highest number of root nodules (8.3 ± 1.26) and nitrogenase activity (0.869 ± 0.04) were observed under D2, as evident through PCA analysis, showing more nitrogen (N) fixation and photosynthetic activity. Overall, this experiment concluded that biochar pyrolyzed at lower temperatures, especially P-BC400, was the most suitable candidate for rhizobial inoculum and promoted soybean growth.
Acoustics and aerodynamic effects following glottal and infraglottal medialization in an excised larynx model
Authors: Oren Liran , Maddox Alexandra , Farbos de Luzan Charles , Xie Changchun , Howell Rebecca , Dion Gregory , Gutmark Ephraim , Khosla Sid 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Objective
This study aimed to investigate the impact of the implant’s vertical location during Type 1 Thyroplasty (T1T) on acoustics and glottal aerodynamics using excised canine larynx model, providing insights into the optimal technique for treating unilateral vocal fold paralysis (UVFP).

Methods
Measurements were conducted in six excised canine larynges using Silastic implants. Two implant locations, glottal and infraglottal, were tested for each larynx at low and high subglottal pressure levels. Acoustic and intraglottal flow velocity field measurements were taken to assess vocal efficiency (VE), cepstral peak prominence (CPP), and the development of intraglottal vortices.

Results
The results indicated that the implant's vertical location significantly influenced vocal efficiency (p = 0.045), with the infraglottal implant generally yielding higher VE values. The effect on CPP was not statistically significant (p = 0.234). Intraglottal velocity field measurements demonstrated larger glottal divergence angles and stronger vortices with the infraglottal implant.

Conclusion
The findings suggest that medializing the paralyzed fold at the infraglottal level rather than the glottal level can lead to improved vocal efficiency. The observed larger divergence angles and stronger intraglottal vortices with infraglottal medialization may enhance voice outcomes in UVFP patients. These findings have important implications for optimizing T1T procedures and improving voice quality in individuals with UVFP. Further research is warranted to validate these results in clinical settings.
Efficacy of anti-VEGF monotherapy versus anti-VEGF therapy with subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) in the management of diabetic macular oedema (DMO): a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wijeweera Chandana , Ni Jing , Petocz Peter , Preda Veronica , Jabbour James 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background
Intravitreal injection anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (IVI anti-VEGF) therapy serves as the primary treatment for centre involving diabetic macular oedema (DMO). Conventional laser therapy (CLT) adjunct has proven beneficial; however, it is not widely used due to significant risks of retinal scarring. Subthreshold micropulse laser (SML) therapy has, however, emerged as a comparable alternative to combination therapy, offering a distinct advantage by mitigating the risk of retinal scarring.

Methods
A search of six databases was conducted. A meta-analysis of mean differences was performed including subgroup analyses where appropriate. Primary outcome was the number of injections at 12–14 months; secondary outcomes were changes in central macular thickness (CMT) and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at 6–8 months and 12–14 months.

Results
A total of ten papers including six randomised clinical trials and four retrospective clinical studies were included in our study, capturing 563 eyes of 478 patients. Overall, the risk of bias was moderate for these studies. Significantly fewer anti-VEGF therapy injections were administered in the combination therapy versus anti-VEGF monotherapy patients at 12–14 months who had poor visual acuity (6/18 Snellen or worse) at baseline, mean difference − 2.25 (95% CI; − 3.35, − 1.15; p < 0.05). Combination therapy was not associated with significantly fewer intravitreal injections in patients with a higher visual acuity (6/15 Snellen or better) at baseline. Our analysis also showed significant improvements to both BCVA and CMT were reached at 6 − 8 month post-baseline at the 95% confidence intervals: − 1.13 (− 2.09, − 0.16) and − 4.04 (− 7.59, − 0.50). These improvements remained statistically significant at 12–14 months: − 0.94 (− 1.67, − 0.20) and − 1.92 (− 3.52, − 0.32) respectively with combination therapy.

Conclusion
Our findings demonstrate that combination therapy (SML + IVI anti-VEGF) is associated with fewer intravitreal injections. We report a better BCVA and a reduction in CMT at 6 and 12 months from baseline with combination treatment compared to the IVI anti-VEGF monotherapy comparator. SML is a proven non-scarring cost-effective therapy for DMO that should be readily available in the medical retinal therapy as it may reduce the burden of care.
Effects of acute and multi-day low-dose sodium bicarbonate intake on high-intensity endurance exercise performance in male recreational cyclists
Authors: Aktitiz S. , Koşar Ş. N. , Turnagöl H. H. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to compare the effects of acute and multi-day low-dose sodium bicarbonate (SB) intake on high-intensity endurance exercise performance.

Methods
In a randomized, double-blind, cross-over design, twelve recreational male cyclists (age: 31.17 ± 4.91 years; $$\dot{{\text{V}}}$$

V
˙

O2peak: 47.98 ± 7.68 ml·kg−1·min−1) completed three endurance performance tests following acute SB (ASB, 0.2 g·kg−1 SB), multi-day SB (MSB, 0.2 g·kg−1·day−1 SB for four days), and placebo (PLA) intake. The high-intensity endurance performance was assessed with a cycling exercise test, wherein participants cycled on a bicycle ergometer at 95% of the predetermined anaerobic threshold for 30 min, followed by a time-to-exhaustion test at 110% of the anaerobic threshold. Data were analyzed using one-way and two-way repeated-measures ANOVA.

Results
Significant main effects of supplementation protocol were evident in pre-exercise bicarbonate concentrations (F = 27.93; p < 0.01; partial eta squared (η2) = 0.72; false discovery rate (FDR)-adjusted p value = 0.001). Prior to performance test, blood bicarbonate concentrations were significantly higher in MSB (25.78 ± 1.63 mmol·L−1 [95% CI 26.55–28.44] (p < 0.001; FDR-adjusted p value = 0.001)) and ASB (27.49 ± 1.49 mmol·L−1 [95% CI 24.75–26.81] (p < 0.001; FDR-adjusted p value = 0.007)) compared to PLA (23.75 ± 1.40 mmol·L−1 [95% CI 22.86 to 24.64]). Time-to-exhaustion increased in MSB (54.27 ± 9.20 min [95% CI 48.43–60.12]) compared to PLA (49.75 ± 10.80 min [95% CI 42.89–56.62]) (p = 0.048); however, this increase in MSB did not reach the significance threshold of 1% FDR (FDR-adjusted p value = 0.040). No significant difference was noted in exhaustion times between ASB (51.15 ± 8.39 min [95% CI 45.82–56.48]) and PLA (p > 0.05).

Conclusion
Both acute and multi-day administration of low-dose SB improves buffering system in cyclists; nevertheless, neither intervention demonstrates sufficient efficacy in enhancing high-intensity endurance performance.
Exploring inclusion in UK agricultural robotics development: who, how, and why?
Authors: Ayris Kirsten , Jackman Anna , Mauchline Alice , Rose David Christian 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe global agricultural sector faces a significant number of challenges for a sustainable future, and one of the tools proposed to address these challenges is the use of automation in agriculture. In particular, robotic systems for agricultural tasks are being designed, tested, and increasingly commercialised in many countries. Much touted as an environmentally beneficial technology with the ability to improve data management and reduce the use of chemical inputs while improving yields and addressing labour shortages, agricultural robotics also presents a number of potential ethical challenges – including rural unemployment, the amplification of economic and digital inequalities, and entrenching unsustainable farming practices. As such, development is not uncontroversial, and there have been calls for a responsible approach to their innovation that integrates more substantive inclusion into development processes. This study investigates current approaches to participation and inclusion amongst United Kingdom (UK) agricultural robotics developers. Through semi-structured interviews with key members of the UK agricultural robotics sector, we analyse the stakeholder engagement currently integrated into development processes. We explore who is included, how inclusion is done, and what the inclusion is done for. We reflect on how these findings align with the current literature on stakeholder inclusion in agricultural technology development, and suggest what they could mean for the development of more substantive responsible innovation in agricultural robotics.
“I Would Consult a Doctor, But What the Rabbi Says Goes”: Ultra-Orthodox Jews’ Relationships with Rabbis and Doctors in Israel
Authors: Neriya-Ben Shahar Rivka , Yuval Fany , Tur-Sinai Aviad 
Published: February 2024

AbstractWe examine relationships among ultra-Orthodox Israeli Jews, their doctors, and rabbis when medical decisions are made. Analyzing excerpts from sixteen focus groups with 128 ultra-Orthodox Jews, we determine how their belief system affects their decisions about whom to trust and follow when the doctor’s instructions contradict the rabbi’s advice. We argue that the strict behaviors described here with regard to relations among doctors, rabbis, and patients, function as social capital that raises the status of ultra-Orthodox Jews as members of an exclusive club that balances health decisions with the social demand to obey their religious leaders.
A constitutive model considering creep damage of wood
Authors: Trcala M. , Suchomelová P. , Bošanský M. , Němec I. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe serviceability of wooden structures involves multiphysical phenomena, notably the interactions among creep, plasticity, and damage. The influence of creep on the initialization of the damage and on its growth and spread can be adjusted by an additional alpha parameter in order to take into account the coupled effect between creep and damage more properly. We integrate an orthotropic viscoelastic model, based on the generalized Kelvin chain, with an orthotropic damage model, capturing both the immediate nonlinear elastic–plastic–damage response and the time-dependent viscous response of timber. The combination of these material models is important to obtain a realistic description of wood behavior, because the timber shows an immediate nonlinear elastic–plastic–damage response, but also the time-dependent viscous response. In this paper, we algorithmize, implement, and validate the concept of ‘creep damage’, a phenomenon observed in wooden structures. Benchmark tests reveal two distinct patterns of damage in beech wood, immediate postload damage that evolves over time and damage that occurs and spreads during the loading period.
High-order linearly implicit exponential integrators conserving quadratic invariants with application to scalar auxiliary variable approach
Authors: Sato Shun 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis paper proposes a framework for constructing high-order linearly implicit exponential integrators that conserve a quadratic invariant. This is then applied to the scalar auxiliary variable (SAV) approach. Quadratic invariants are significant objects that are present in various physical equations and also in computationally efficient conservative schemes for general invariants. For instance, the SAV approach converts the invariant into a quadratic form by introducing scalar auxiliary variables, which have been intensively studied in recent years. In this vein, Sato et al. (Appl. Numer. Math. 187, 71-88 2023) proposed high-order linearly implicit schemes that conserve a quadratic invariant. In this study, it is shown that their method can be effectively merged with the Lawson transformation, a technique commonly utilized in the construction of exponential integrators. It is also demonstrated that combining the constructed exponential integrators and the SAV approach yields schemes that are computationally less expensive. Specifically, the main part of the computational cost is the product of several matrix exponentials and vectors, which are parallelizable. Moreover, we conduct some mathematical analyses on the proposed schemes.
Does Regulatory Quality Reduce Informal Economy? A Theoretical and Empirical Framework
Authors: Barra Cristian , Papaccio Anna 
Published: February 2024

AbstractItaly is characterised by a significant dualistic economy, which also includes an extensive underground sector. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between the quality of legislation and irregular employment in Italy. Our contribution consists of two components: the theoretical modelling of the impact of regulatory quality on the informal economy and the empirical validation of the predictions of the theoretical model using data from the Italian region between 2004 and 2019. The results confirm the theoretical and empirical arguments in favour of the need for laws to curb the informal sector. The regions with the highest institutional standards tend to have a lower percentage of irregular workers that fosters and encourages the legality of the labor market. Some robustness tests back up the main conclusions which show how important following rules is for strengthening the internal economy and for lowering the number of illegal workers.
Electronic nose: a tool to verify the PDO declaration of Portuguese olive oils
Authors: Rodrigues Nuno , Ferreiro Nuno , Ruano Daniela , Dias Francisco , Veloso Ana C. A. , Pereira José A. , Peres António M. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe volatile and olfactory profiles of three Portuguese olive oils with protected designations of origin (PDO) were studied: “Azeite do Alentejo Interior”, “Azeites da Beira Interior”, and “Azeite de Trás-os-Montes”. Seven classes of volatiles were identified, with aldehydes, followed by hydrocarbons and alcohols, the most prevalent (5.63, 2.92, and 2.79 mg/kg olive oil, respectively). The “Azeites da Beira Interior” oils exhibited the highest amount of volatiles (18.2 ± 4.6 mg/kg olive oil) compared to the oils from the other two PDOs. Ten positive olfactory sensations were detected, and a significant effect of the PDO on the intensities of fruity, apple, cabbage, tomato, dry and fresh herbs was observed. Specifically, “Azeite do Alentejo Interior” PDO oils were characterized as fruity-ripe, while “Azeite de Trás-os-Montes” PDO oils were labelled as fruity-green. Conversely, “Azeites da Beira Interior” PDO oils encompassed both fruity-ripe and fruity-green oils. Unique volatile and olfactory fingerprints were established for each PDO, allowing the linear discrimination of the oils according to the PDO, with a predictive sensitivity of 98.0 ± 4.2% (repeated K-fold-CV). Furthermore, a lab-made electronic nose successfully discriminated the studied oils based on the PDO, with a predictive accuracy of 99.7 ± 2.0% (repeated K-fold-CV). This device also allowed predicting the concentrations of the three main volatile classes found in the oils through multiple linear regression models (R2 ≥ 0.923 ± 0.101 and RMSE ≤ 1.32 ± 0.72 mg/kg oil; repeated K-fold-CV). These findings underscore the potential of the electronic nose as a reliable traceability tool to authenticate the PDO declaration of Portuguese olive oils, and broaden its use beyond non-PDO oils from a specific geographical area to encompass a national scale.
Graphical abstract
Experimental and modeling studies on the removal of bromocresol green from aqueous solutions by using pine cone-derived activated biochar
Authors: Kaya Nihan , Uzun Zeynep Yıldız 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis study was carried out to evaluate the potential application of pine cone (PC)-derived activated biochar which has a surface area of 1714.5 m2/g for bromocresol green (BCG) dye removal from aqueous solution. Batch adsorption experiments involved varying pH, temperature, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and initial dye concentrations and the maximum BCG removal (96.27%) occurred at pH: 2.0, T: 45 °C, m: 2 g/L, t: 15 min., and Co: 25 mg/L. To study the characteristics of adsorption, the adsorption kinetic isotherm and thermodynamic parameters were employed. The experimental data was evaluated to fit well with the Temkin isotherm (R2 = 0.99) and the adsorption process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics (R2 = 0.96). Thermodynamic parameters obtained from the adsorptive uptake showed that the interaction was endothermic and spontaneous in nature. The regenerated activated PC biochar showed good performance (95.0%), even, after 4th regeneration. To predict the BCG adsorption capacity of activated PC biochar, many different artificial neural network (ANN) models have been developed. The optimal ANN model gave mean absolute error (MAE), mean bias error (MBE), root mean square error (RMSE), and R2 values of 0.036, 0.578, 0.947, and 0.999, respectively. The results obtained showed that ANN can be used to effectively model the BCG adsorption process.
Cepharanthine suppresses APC-mutant colorectal cancers by down-regulating the expression of β-catenin
Authors: Su Guifeng , Wang Dan , Yang Qianqing , Kong Lingmei , Ju Xiaoman , Yang Qihong , Zhu Yiying , Zhang Shaohua , Li Yan 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe aberrant activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is closely associated with the development of various carcinomas, especially colorectal cancers (CRCs), where adenomatous colorectal polyposis (APC) mutations are the most frequently observed, which limits the anti-tumor efficiency of inhibitors targeting the upstream of Wnt/β-catenin pathway. The anti-tumor activity of the naturally occurring alkaloid cepharanthine (CEP) extracted from the plant Stephania cepharantha Hayata has been reported in various types of tumors. We previously observed that its derivatives inhibited the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in liver cancer; however, the specific mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we confirmed CEP can effectively inhibit APC-mutant CRC cell lines (SW480, SW620, LoVo) through disturbing of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling and elucidated the underlying mechanisms. Here, we demonstrate that CEP attenuates the Wnt/β-catenin signaling by decreasing the β-catenin, subsequently impeding the proliferation of APC-mutant CRCs. Moreover, CEP induced β-catenin transcription inhibition rather than the instability of β-catenin protein and mRNA contributes to reduction of β-catenin. Taken together, our findings identify CEP as the first β-catenin transcriptional inhibitor in the modulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and indicate CEP as a potential therapeutic option for the treatment of APC-mutated CRCs.
Graphical Abstract
Improving antimicrobial treatment in terms of antimicrobial stewardship and health costs by an OPAT service
Authors: Burch Andrea R. , Ledergerber Bruno , Ringer Martin , Padrutt Maria , Reiber Claudine , Mayer Fabienne , Zinkernagel Annelies S. , Eberhard Nadia , Kaelin Marisa B. , Hasse Barbara 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) is a standard for antimicrobial therapy internationally. With this prospective cohort study, we aimed to assess the impact of an OPAT service as part of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and evaluate the safety and efficiency of the program while illuminating the financial benefit for the hospital.

Methods
Socio-demographic data, treatment regimen and outcomes were prospectively recorded for all patients assigned to the program of the OPAT unit of the University Hospital of Zurich between November 2018 and September 2022.

Results
In total, we recorded 303 OPAT assignments of which 260 resulted in effective OPAT episodes. The 260 OPAT episodes were further optimized toward the choice of antimicrobial agent (n = 18) and length of therapy (n = 6). Moreover, OPAT resulted in alteration of patient assessment and care led by AMS strategies in 247 of 260 episodes (95%). While the bed days saved per year increased consistently with time, a total of 3934 in-hospital treatment days were saved amounting to a cost saving of 9,835,000 CHF over 47 months. Adverse events were recorded in 46 cases whilst only two of these have been the reason for readmission during OPAT treatment. Clinical cure was noted in 77% (199/260) and was negatively associated with Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI; OR per 1 unit higher 0.85 (95% CI 0.78–0.93)).

Conclusion
This study demonstrates the impact of an OPAT service in the framework of AMS as well as its benefits for the hospital whilst preserving safety and efficacy for the patient’s parenteral antimicrobial treatment.