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Isaac Kwesi Nooni, Faustin Katchele Ogou, Daniel Fiifi Tawiah Hagan, Abdoul Aziz Saidou Chaibou, Nana Agyemang Prempeh, Francis Mawuli Nakoty, Zhongfang Jin and Jiao Lu
Agricultural production across the African continent is subjected to various effects of climate variability. One of the main staple foods in Sub-Saharan Africa is maize. However, limited scientific research has recently focused on understanding the possible effects of hydro-climatic variability on maize production.
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Agricultural production across the African continent is subjected to various effects of climate variability. One of the main staple foods in Sub-Saharan Africa is maize. However, limited scientific research has recently focused on understanding the possible effects of hydro-climatic variability on maize production. The aim of the present work was to contribute to policy and climate adaptation, thus reducing the vulnerability of maize production to climate change over Equatorial Africa. This study firstly examined long-term trends of precipitation (PRE), soil moisture (SM), actual evapotranspiration (E), and potential evapotranspiration (Ep), as well as surface air temperatures, including the minimum (TMIN) and maximum (TMAX). Secondly, the relationship between maize production and these climate variables was quantified for 18 Equatorial African countries (EQCs) over 1980−2021. To assess the linear trends, Mann–Kendall and Sen’s slope tests were used to quantify the magnitude of the hydro-climatic variable trends at the 5% significance level, and Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relation of these climate parameters with the maize production. The annual mean PRE declined at 0.03 mm day−110a−1. Other climate variables increased at different rates: SM at 0.02 mmday−110a−1, E at 0.03 mm day−110a−1, Ep at 0.02 mm day−1 10a−1, TMIN and TMAX at 0.01 °C day−110a−1. A regional analysis revealed heterogeneous significant wet–dry and warm–cool trends over the EQCs. While, spatially, dry and warm climates were observed in the central to eastern areas, wet and warm conditions dominated the western regions. Generally, the correlations of maize production with the E, Ep, TMAX, and TMIN were strong (r > 0.7) and positive, while moderate (r > 0.45) correlations of maize production with PRE and SM were obvious. These country-wide analyses highlight the significance of climate change policies and offer a scientific basis for designing tailored adaptation strategies in rainfed agricultural regions.
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While ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy has previously demonstrated its utility in most common skin diseases, its use in the assessment of dermatological entities with lower incidence remains unexplored in most cases. We therefore aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of some
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While ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy has previously demonstrated its utility in most common skin diseases, its use in the assessment of dermatological entities with lower incidence remains unexplored in most cases. We therefore aimed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of some rare skin tumors as well as a few inflammatory skin diseases, that have not yet been studied in ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy. A total of 50 tissue samples comprising 10 healthy controls, 10 basal cell carcinoma, 10 squamous cell carcinoma, and 20 rare skin conditions were imaged using the newest generation ex vivo confocal microscopy (Vivascope 2500 M-G4, Vivascope GmbH, Munich, Germany). Three blinded investigators were asked to identify characteristic features of rare skin disorders and distinguish them from more common skin diseases in the ex vivo confocal microscopy images. Our findings present the capability of ex vivo confocal microscopy to display distinctive morphologic patterns in common and rare skin diseases. As might be expected, we found a strong correlation between imaging experience and diagnostic accuracy. While the imaging inexperienced dermatohistopathologist reached 60% concordance, the imaging-trained dermatologist obtained 88% agreement with dermatohistopathology. The imaging-trained dermatohistopathologist achieved concordance up to 92% with gold-standard dermatohistopathology. This study highlights the potential of ex vivo confocal laser scanning microscopy as a promising adjunct to conventional dermatohistopathology for the early and precise identification of rare dermatological disorders.
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Oana Cristina Costescu, Aniko Maria Manea, Eugen Radu Boia, Daniela Mariana Cioboata, Florina Marinela Doandes, Ileana Enatescu, Sergiu Costescu, Mihaela Prodan and Marioara Boia
This study aimed to investigate the impact of early erythropoietin (EPO) administration on the neurodevelopment of newborns, specifically focusing on its effects on hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). The primary objective was to determine whether early EPO administration could impact the
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This study aimed to investigate the impact of early erythropoietin (EPO) administration on the neurodevelopment of newborns, specifically focusing on its effects on hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH). The primary objective was to determine whether early EPO administration could impact the short-term neurodevelopmental outcomes and provide safety in neonates at risk for neurodevelopmental disorders. Conducted at the “Louis Turcanu” Children’s Emergency Clinical Hospital in Timisoara, Romania, this observational study included 121 neonates receiving EPO and 130 No EPO controls. EPO was administered within the first 48 h of life, with doses of 1000 U/kg that escalated to 2000 U/kg if necessary. Besides observing the occurrence of IVH and HIE, this study measured clinical and biochemical markers, including LDH, blood glucose, urea, creatinine, CPK, CRP, PCT, and erythropoietin levels alongside hematology and coagulation profiles. There were no significant differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. The EPO group showed significant reductions in LDH levels from days 1–3 to 7–10 (695.0 U/L to 442.0 U/L) and the APTT value (54.0 s) compared with the No EPO group (38.0 s). Notably, early EPO administration was associated with a significant decrease in HIE severity (beta coefficient: −0.38, p = 0.001). Additionally, lower gestational ages and hemoglobin levels correlated with increased severity of HIE. By week four, there was a significant reduction in moderate and severe HIE cases in the EPO group compared with controls (p = 0.001). Early administration of EPO in neonates significantly reduced the severity of IVH and HIE, suggesting its potential as a neuroprotective agent in neonatal care.
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The flotation of unoxidized and oxidized molybdenite fines is a challenging job worldwide. In this work, dodecylamine (DDA) was developed as a potential collector to improve the flotation of molybdenite fines with and without oxidation. The flotation behaviors and interaction mechanisms were probed
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The flotation of unoxidized and oxidized molybdenite fines is a challenging job worldwide. In this work, dodecylamine (DDA) was developed as a potential collector to improve the flotation of molybdenite fines with and without oxidation. The flotation behaviors and interaction mechanisms were probed through flotation tests, contact angle, Zeta potential, Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectrometer(SEM-EDS), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The flotation tests revealed that DDA improved the flotation of unoxidized or oxidized molybdenite fines efficiently. The results of Zeta potential, contact angle, and SEM-EDS uncovered that a substantial number of DDA species adsorbed on both fresh and oxidized molybdenite faces and edges, thus enhancing their hydrophobicity. XPS analysis further manifested that RNH2 and RNH3+ adsorbed on the S atoms of fresh faces through hydrogen bonding. Meanwhile, RNH2 and RNH3+ mainly adsorbed on fresh edges via chemical bonding between amine groups and Mo sites and electrostatic force. For oxidized molybdenite, RNH2 and RNH3+ interacted with oxidized faces through hydrogen bonding while adsorbed on oxidized edges via hydrogen bonding and electrostatic interaction.
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As the largest freshwater river flowing through Harbin, the Songhua River is a standby water source. It is very important to know the species and distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in the river. In this study, five antibiotics were selected to screen and
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As the largest freshwater river flowing through Harbin, the Songhua River is a standby water source. It is very important to know the species and distribution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in the river. In this study, five antibiotics were selected to screen and identify ARB in spring and autumn. The results showed that the concentration of cefotaxime-resistant bacteria was the highest, and the maximum concentration at S6 in spring was up to 1.40 × 104 CFU/mL. In spring and autumn, bacteria resistant to three antibiotics were screened at S1 of the Songhua River, and bacteria resistant to five antibiotics were screened at S6. No multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria (MARB) were screened in the other four sites in autumn, while MARB were screened in the other three samples except S2 in spring. In all sample areas in spring and autumn, the probability of screening MARB at S1 and S6 was the highest, reaching 100%. The identification results of 16S rDNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products of ARB showed that a total of 51 ARB strains from 15 bacterial genera were screened in the Songhua River, of which 20 ARB strains were from Pseudomonas. Among the 15 bacterial genera, bacteria from 8 bacterial genera have pathogenicity. The results of this study revealed the concentration, spatial distribution, and seasonal variation of culturable ARB in the Songhua River, providing data support for the remediation of antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) pollution in the river.
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Lukas Büsch, Malte Jakschik, Daniel Syniawa, Christian Masuhr, Lukas Christ, Jan Schachtsiek, Kay Haalck, Leon Nerlich, Elisabeth Frömsdorf, Nadine Schirmack, Benedikt Ebert, Chaman Kirty, Patrick Adler, Thorsten Schüppstuhl and Bernd Kuhlenkötter
The global push for sustainable energy has heightened the demand for green hydrogen, which is crucial for decarbonizing heavy industry. However, current electrolysis plant capacities are insufficient. This research addresses the challenge through optimizing large-scale electrolysis construction via standardization, modularization, process optimization, and
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The global push for sustainable energy has heightened the demand for green hydrogen, which is crucial for decarbonizing heavy industry. However, current electrolysis plant capacities are insufficient. This research addresses the challenge through optimizing large-scale electrolysis construction via standardization, modularization, process optimization, and automation. This paper introduces H2Giga, a project for mass-producing electrolyzers, and HyPLANT100, investigating large-scale electrolysis plant structure and construction processes. Modularizing electrolyzers enhances production efficiency and scalability. The integration of AutomationML facilitates seamless information exchange. A digital twin concept enables simulations, optimizations, and error identification before assembly. While construction site automation provides advantages, tasks like connection technologies and handling cables, tubes, and hoses require pre-assembly. This study identifies key tasks suitable for automation and estimating required components. The Enapter Multicore electrolyzer serves as a case study, showcasing robotic technology for tube fittings. In conclusion, this research underscores the significance of standardization, modularization, and automation in boosting the electrolysis production capacity for green hydrogen, contributing to ongoing efforts in decarbonizing the industrial sector and advancing the global energy transition.
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Background: In the EV-301 trial, enfortumab vedotin prolonged survival in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma previously treated with platinum-based therapy and programmed cell death 1/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitor. However, real-world Asian data are limited, and potential prognostic markers are non-existent.
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Background: In the EV-301 trial, enfortumab vedotin prolonged survival in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma previously treated with platinum-based therapy and programmed cell death 1/programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitor. However, real-world Asian data are limited, and potential prognostic markers are non-existent. We aimed to investigate potential prognostic markers for enfortumab vedotin therapy in Asian patients. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 61 Japanese patients treated with enfortumab vedotin therapy at our hospital and affiliated hospitals between January 2019 and September 2023. Results: Enrolled patients (38 men, 23 women; median age 74 [IQR: 68–79] years) had bladder cancer (26 patients) or upper-tract urothelial carcinoma (35 patients). Fifty-four patients reported adverse events (grade >3 in 12). Skin disorders, pruritus, and neuropathy were common adverse effects. The median overall survival was 17.1 months (95% confidence interval: 10.0–not applicable). In multivariate analysis, the C-reactive protein level was an independent marker predicting favorable overall survival with enfortumab vedotin. Patient characteristics did not differ between C-reactive protein-high and -low groups. Conclusions: Our study provides real-world data showing that enfortumab vedotin prolonged survival in Asian patients similar to the EV-301 trial. Additionally, the C-reactive protein level might be considered a prognostic marker of enfortumab vedotin therapy in such patients.
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Accurate precipitation nowcasting is of great significance for flood prevention, agricultural production, and public safety. In recent years, spatiotemporal sequence models based on deep learning have been widely used for precipitation nowcasting and have achieved better prediction results than traditional methods. These models
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Accurate precipitation nowcasting is of great significance for flood prevention, agricultural production, and public safety. In recent years, spatiotemporal sequence models based on deep learning have been widely used for precipitation nowcasting and have achieved better prediction results than traditional methods. These models commonly use radar echo extrapolation and utilize the Z-R relationship between radar and rainfall to predict rainfall. However, radar echo data can be affected by various noises, and the Z-R correlation linking radar and rainfall encompasses several variables influenced by factors like terrain, climate, and seasonal variations. To solve this problem, we propose a dual-source attention dynamic neural network (DSADNet) for precipitation nowcasting, which is a network model that utilizes a fusion module to extract valid information from radar maps and rainfall maps, together with dynamic convolution and the attention mechanism, to directly predict future rainfall through encoding and decoding structure. We conducted experiments on a real dataset in Jiangsu, China, and the experimental results show that our model had better performance than the other examined models.
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Sepsis poses a significant global health challenge due to immune system dysregulation. This narrative review explores the complex relationship between antibiotics and the immune system, aiming to clarify the involved mechanisms and their clinical impacts. From pre-clinical studies, antibiotics exhibit various immunomodulatory effects,
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Sepsis poses a significant global health challenge due to immune system dysregulation. This narrative review explores the complex relationship between antibiotics and the immune system, aiming to clarify the involved mechanisms and their clinical impacts. From pre-clinical studies, antibiotics exhibit various immunomodulatory effects, including the regulation of pro-inflammatory cytokine production, interaction with Toll-Like Receptors, modulation of the P38/Pmk-1 Pathway, inhibition of Matrix Metalloproteinases, blockade of nitric oxide synthase, and regulation of caspase-induced apoptosis. Additionally, antibiotic-induced alterations to the microbiome are associated with changes in systemic immunity, affecting cellular and humoral responses. The adjunctive use of antibiotics in sepsis patients, particularly macrolides, has attracted attention due to their immune-regulatory effects. However, there are limited data comparing different types of macrolides. More robust evidence comes from studies on community-acquired pneumonia, especially in severe cases with a hyper-inflammatory response. While studies on septic shock have shown mixed results regarding mortality rates and immune response modulation, conflicting findings are also observed with macrolides in acute respiratory distress syndrome. In conclusion, there is a pressing need to tailor antibiotic therapy based on the patient’s immune profile to optimize outcomes in sepsis management.
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Surface modifications for titanium, a material of choice for dental implants, can greatly alter the surface micro/nanotopography and composition of implants, leading to notable enhancements in their hydrophilicity, mechanical properties, osseointegration performance, and antibacterial performance, as well as their impacts on osteoblast activity
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Surface modifications for titanium, a material of choice for dental implants, can greatly alter the surface micro/nanotopography and composition of implants, leading to notable enhancements in their hydrophilicity, mechanical properties, osseointegration performance, and antibacterial performance, as well as their impacts on osteoblast activity and bone formation processes. This article aims to update titanium surface modification techniques for dental implants from the past to the present, along with their effects on osteoblasts and bone formation, by thoroughly summarizing findings from published studies. Peer-reviewed articles published in English consisting of in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies on titanium dental implant surface treatments were searched in Google Scholar, PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and the Scopus databases from January 1983 to December 2023 and included in this review. The previous studies show that implant surface roughness, condition, and hydrophilicity are crucial for osteoblast adhesion and growth. While various techniques enhance osseointegration comparably, one of the most common approaches to accomplishing these properties is sandblasting large-grit acid etching surface treatment and coating with hydroxyapatite or chitosan. In conclusion, this review points out the efficacy of different subtraction and addition techniques in enhancing the surface properties of titanium dental implants, promoting favorable outcomes in terms of osteoblast activity and bone formation in various degrees. However, most existing studies predominantly compare treated and non-treated titanium, revealing a need for more comprehensive studies comparing the effects of various modification techniques. Moreover, further investigation of factors playing a role in the dynamic osseointegration process in addition to osteoblasts and their functions, as well as improved surface modification techniques for the treatment of compromised patients, is greatly required.
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The evaluation and classification of goaf stability are fuzzy and random. To address this problem, a new classification method is proposed. A cavity monitoring system is used to detect the goaf, 3DMine and FLAC3D software are used to conduct the 3D visual modeling
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The evaluation and classification of goaf stability are fuzzy and random. To address this problem, a new classification method is proposed. A cavity monitoring system is used to detect the goaf, 3DMine and FLAC3D software are used to conduct the 3D visual modeling of the scanning results, and numerical simulation analysis is performed on the goaf. According to the analysis results, the stability classification standard of the goaf is constructed, and the characteristics of each classification are described. The evaluation indicator system of goaf stability is constructed in accordance with similar engineering experience, and the evaluation indicator is weighted by using the analytic hierarchy process. The cloud–element coupling evaluation model is built, the field measured values of indicators are collected, the cloud correlation degree of goafs belonging to each stability level is calculated, the stability level is evaluated according to the principle of maximum membership degree, and the results are compared with the numerical simulation to analyze the reasons for the differences in the stability evaluation results obtained by the two methods and to improve the accuracy of the evaluation of goaf stability. The pillar stress and surrounding rock deformation are monitored in Room 1# of the inclined mining area of Shirengou Iron Mine. The monitoring results are consistent with the evaluation results, which proves the accuracy of the proposed goaf stability classification method.
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Namanu Panayanthatta, Giacomo Clementi, Merieme Ouhabaz, Samuel Margueron, Ausrine Bartasyte, Mickael Lallart, Skandar Basrour, Roberto La Rosa, Edwige Bano and Laurent Montes
Vibration energy harvesting based on piezoelectric transducers is an attractive choice to replace single-use batteries in powering Wireless Sensor Nodes (WSNs). As of today, their widespread application is hindered due to low operational bandwidth and the conventional use of lead-based materials. The Restriction
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Vibration energy harvesting based on piezoelectric transducers is an attractive choice to replace single-use batteries in powering Wireless Sensor Nodes (WSNs). As of today, their widespread application is hindered due to low operational bandwidth and the conventional use of lead-based materials. The Restriction of Hazardous Substances legislation (RoHS) implemented in the European Union restricts the use of lead-based piezoelectric materials in future electronic devices. This paper investigates lithium niobate () as a lead-free material for a high-performance broadband Piezoelectric Energy Harvester (PEH). A single-clamped, cantilever beam-based piezoelectric microgenerator with a mechanical footprint of 1 cm2, working at a low resonant frequency of 200 Hz, with a high piezoelectric coupling coefficient and broad bandwidth, was designed and microfabricated, and its performance was evaluated. The PEH device, with an acceleration of 1 g delivers a maximum output RMS power of nearly 35 μW/cm2 and a peak voltage of 6 V for an optimal load resistance at resonance. Thanks to a high squared piezoelectric electro-mechanical coupling coefficient (), the device offers a broadband operating frequency range above 10% of the central frequency. The Mason electro-mechanical equivalent circuit was derived, and a SPICE model of the device was compared with experimental results. Finally, the output voltage of the harvester was rectified to provide a DC output stored on a capacitor, and it was regulated and used to power an IoT node at an acceleration of as low as 0.5 g.
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The development and utilization of urban underground space (UUS) have emerged as critical strategies to address the challenges posed by urban population growth and land resource depletion. Accurate prediction of UUS demand serves as the cornerstone for scientifically planning underground space and promoting
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The development and utilization of urban underground space (UUS) have emerged as critical strategies to address the challenges posed by urban population growth and land resource depletion. Accurate prediction of UUS demand serves as the cornerstone for scientifically planning underground space and promoting sustainable urban development. In this study, statistical analysis methods were used to investigate the relationship between potential driving factors and UUS demand based on collected data from 16 cities in China. The identification of primary driving factors involves correlation, path, and determination coefficient analyses. Subsequently, univariate regression, multiple linear regression, and LASSO regression methods are employed to construct prediction models for UUS demand. Additionally, the link between historical data and UUS demand in each city was studied separately. The findings reveal that GDP per km2 and GDP per capita comprehensively capture the influence of urban population, economy, and transportation on UUS demand. Notably, GDP per km2 makes the most significant contribution to the proposed regression models, followed by GDP per capita. The application of LASSO regression proves effective in selecting potential factors while maximizing data utilization, presenting itself as a valuable auxiliary tool for UUS planning.
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The present study explores the impact of carbon emissions on supply chain coordination, where the supply chain entities are a retailer and a distributor. The study also involves two types of systems, namely centralized and decentralized. A centralized system computes the profit of
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The present study explores the impact of carbon emissions on supply chain coordination, where the supply chain entities are a retailer and a distributor. The study also involves two types of systems, namely centralized and decentralized. A centralized system computes the profit of the entire supply chain, including the profit of a retailer and a distributor, using the traditional optimization technique. In contrast, a decentralized system computes the profit of both a retailer and a distributor independently and uses the Stackelberg sequence for profit optimization. According to the Stackelberg sequence, one entity is considered a leader and the other a follower. When the profit in both systems is compared, it is found to be higher in the centralized system. So, to coordinate the system, a revenue-sharing contract is applied to coordinate the supply chain under a stock–time–price-sensitive demand rate. Finally, a carbon emission cost is implemented to the profits of both systems to make the model more sustainable. The main objective of the research is to optimize the profit of the supply chain by considering the concept of revenue-sharing contracts and making the system more sustainable through the implementation of carbon emission cost. The overall study concludes that the revenue-sharing fraction helps in coordinating the system and 0.4 is the value of the revenue-sharing fraction that perfectly coordinates the system. Due to this coordination, both the parties will gain profit, i.e., retailer and distributor, and this whole phenomenon increases the profit of the supply chain. A sensitivity analysis is also performed to check the stability of the model, and the model is found to be quite stable. A numerical example is illustrated, providing the result of the model.
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MYBs constitute the second largest transcription factor (TF) superfamily in flowering plants with substantial structural and functional diversity, which have been brought into focus because they affect flower colors by regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. Up to now, the genomic data of several Chrysanthemum species
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MYBs constitute the second largest transcription factor (TF) superfamily in flowering plants with substantial structural and functional diversity, which have been brought into focus because they affect flower colors by regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis. Up to now, the genomic data of several Chrysanthemum species have been released, which provides us with abundant genomic resources for revealing the evolution of the MYB gene family in Chrysanthemum species. In the present study, comparative analyses of the MYB gene family in six representative species, including C. lavandulifolium, C. seticuspe, C.×morifolium, Helianthus annuus, Lactuca sativa, and Arabidopsis thaliana, were performed. A total of 1104 MYBs, which were classified into four subfamilies and 35 lineages, were identified in the three Chrysanthemum species (C. lavandulifolium, C. seticuspe, and C.×morifolium). We found that whole-genome duplication and tandem duplication are the main duplication mechanisms that drove the occurrence of duplicates in CmMYBs (particularly in the R2R3-MYB subfamily) during the evolution of the cultivated chrysanthemums. Sequence structure and selective pressure analyses of the MYB gene family revealed that a majority of R2R3-MYBs were subjected to positive selection, which are mostly located on the distal telomere segments of the chromosomes and contain motifs 7 and 8. In addition, the gene expression analysis of CmMYBs in different organs and at various capitulum developmental stages of C.×morifolium indicated that CmMYBS2, CmMYB96, and CmMYB109 might be the negative regulators for anthocyanin biosynthesis. Our results provide the phylogenetic context for research on the genetic and functional evolution of the MYB gene family in Chrysanthemum species and deepen our understanding of the regulatory mechanism of MYB TFs on the flower color of C.×morifolium.
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In the context of construction and demolition waste exacerbating environmental pollution, the lack of recycling technology has hindered the green development of the industry. Previous studies have explored robot-based automated recycling methods, but their efficiency is limited by movement speed and detection range,
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In the context of construction and demolition waste exacerbating environmental pollution, the lack of recycling technology has hindered the green development of the industry. Previous studies have explored robot-based automated recycling methods, but their efficiency is limited by movement speed and detection range, so there is an urgent need to integrate drones into the recycling field to improve construction waste management efficiency. Preliminary investigations have shown that previous construction waste recognition techniques are ineffective when applied to UAVs and also lack a method to accurately convert waste locations in images to actual coordinates. Therefore, this study proposes a new method for autonomously labeling the location of construction waste using UAVs. Using images captured by UAVs, we compiled an image dataset and proposed a high-precision, long-range construction waste recognition algorithm. In addition, we proposed a method to convert the pixel positions of targets to actual positions. Finally, the study verified the effectiveness of the proposed method through experiments. Experimental results demonstrated that the approach proposed in this study enhanced the discernibility of computer vision algorithms towards small targets and high-frequency details within images. In a construction waste localization task using drones, involving high-resolution image recognition, the accuracy and recall were significantly improved by about 2% at speeds of up to 28 fps. The results of this study can guarantee the efficient application of drones to construction sites.
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The accidental initiation of explosives under mechanical loads has caused numerous catastrophic events. Therefore, the dynamic damage behavior of confined polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) must be assessed to improve their practical applicability. In this study, polymer-bonded sugar (PBS) materials were prepared using a novel
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The accidental initiation of explosives under mechanical loads has caused numerous catastrophic events. Therefore, the dynamic damage behavior of confined polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) must be assessed to improve their practical applicability. In this study, polymer-bonded sugar (PBS) materials were prepared using a novel agglomerate to develop a PBX substitute material with enhanced experimental safety. The mechanical properties of the PBS shell were evaluated using a dynamic compression test, which revealed that the compression response of the shell was affected by the strain rate. A low-velocity impact experiment was performed to investigate the dynamic damage and load transfer characteristics of the PBX substitute. A constitutive model was developed to characterize the mechanical response of PBS subjected to high strain rates, and implementing this model in ABAQUS ensured successful prediction of the damage evolution process associated with PBS. Simulation results indicated that the PBS specimen was primarily damaged around its center while sliding friction was dominant near the center during pressure application. Notably, different stress states result in distinct crack growth velocity histories along the axial direction, with the damage ratio progressively decreasing toward regions closer to the impact surface.
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In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an efficacious form of aided reproduction to deal with infertility. Human embryos are taken from the body, and these are kept in a supervised laboratory atmosphere during the IVF technique until they exhibit blastocyst properties. A human expert
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In vitro fertilization (IVF) is an efficacious form of aided reproduction to deal with infertility. Human embryos are taken from the body, and these are kept in a supervised laboratory atmosphere during the IVF technique until they exhibit blastocyst properties. A human expert manually analyzes the morphometric properties of the blastocyst and its compartments to predict viability through manual microscopic evaluation. A few deep learning-based approaches deal with this task via semantic segmentation, but they are inaccurate and use expensive architecture. To automatically detect the human blastocyst compartments, we propose a parallel stream fusion network (PSF-Net) that performs the semantic segmentation of embryo microscopic images with inexpensive shallow architecture. The PSF-Net has a shallow architecture that combines the benefits of feature aggregation through depth-wise concatenation and element-wise summation, which helps the network to provide accurate detection using 0.7 million trainable parameters only. In addition, we compute fractal dimension estimation for all compartments of the blastocyst, providing medical experts with significant information regarding the distributional characteristics of blastocyst compartments. An open dataset of microscopic images of the human embryo is used to evaluate the proposed approach. The proposed method also demonstrates promising segmentation performance for all compartments of the blastocyst compared with state-of-the-art methods, achieving a mean Jaccard index (MJI) of 87.69%. The effectiveness of PSF-Net architecture is also confirmed with the ablation studies.
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In unsupervised learning, clustering is a common starting point for data processing. The convex or concave fusion clustering method is a novel approach that is more stable and accurate than traditional methods such as k-means and hierarchical clustering. However, the optimization algorithm
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In unsupervised learning, clustering is a common starting point for data processing. The convex or concave fusion clustering method is a novel approach that is more stable and accurate than traditional methods such as k-means and hierarchical clustering. However, the optimization algorithm used with this method can be slowed down significantly by the complexity of the fusion penalty, which increases the computational burden. This paper introduces a random projection ADMM algorithm based on the Bernoulli distribution and develops a double random projection ADMM method for high-dimensional fusion clustering. These new approaches significantly outperform the classical ADMM algorithm due to their ability to significantly increase computational speed by reducing complexity and improving clustering accuracy by using multiple random projections under a new evaluation criterion. We also demonstrate the convergence of our new algorithm and test its performance on both simulated and real data examples.
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Paulo Paixao, Alfredo Garcia Arieta, Nuno Silva, Zvonimir Petric, Milton Bonelli, José Augusto Guimarães Morais, Kevin Blake and Luís Filipe Gouveia
In the European Union, bioequivalence (BE) for narrow therapeutic index (NTI) drugs is currently demonstrated when the 90% confidence interval for the ratio of the population geometric means of the test and reference products for AUC, and in some cases for Cmax, falls
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In the European Union, bioequivalence (BE) for narrow therapeutic index (NTI) drugs is currently demonstrated when the 90% confidence interval for the ratio of the population geometric means of the test and reference products for AUC, and in some cases for Cmax, falls within the acceptance range of 90.00% to 111.11%. However, meeting this requirement results in an increased difficulty of demonstrating BE and a need for clinical trials with larger subject sample sizes, especially for medium-to-high variability drugs. To address this challenge, a scaled average BE based on the reference product within-subject variability for narrowing the acceptance range of NTI drugs was recently proposed. However, this approach showed increased type I error (T1E), especially close to the cut-off point between the unscaled and scaled portions of the method. Based on simulations, this limitation can be overcome by predefining the protocol the path to be followed: either the fixed 90.00–111.11% acceptance range approach or the previously proposed scaled average BE approach with a slight adjustment of the one-sided significance level α to 0.042 for a 2 × 3 × 3 partial replicate design and without a lower cut-off point. This results in a mixed approach allowing to reduce the sample size whilst not inflating the T1E.
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Lizette Cicero, Luis Enrique Chavarín-Gómez, Daniela Pérez-Ascencio, Ornella Barreto-Barriga, Roger Guevara, Nicolas Desneux and Ricardo Ramírez-Romero
In biological control, joint releases of predators and parasitoids are standard. However, intraguild predation (IGP) can occur when a predator attacks a parasitoid, potentially affecting pest control dynamics. In addition to the focal prey (FP), Trialeurodes vaporariorum, the intraguild predator (IG-predator) Geocoris [...] Read more.
In biological control, joint releases of predators and parasitoids are standard. However, intraguild predation (IGP) can occur when a predator attacks a parasitoid, potentially affecting pest control dynamics. In addition to the focal prey (FP), Trialeurodes vaporariorum, the intraguild predator (IG-predator) Geocoris punctipes can consume the parasitoid Eretmocerus eremicus (IG-prey). In this IGP context with multiple prey, an alternative prey (AP), like the aphid Myzus persicae, may influence interactions. Theory predicts that, in simple interactions, a predator’s functional response (FR) to the FP changes with the presence of an AP. However, whether this holds in an IGP context is unknown. In this study, we empirically tested that prediction. Our results show that without IGP, G. punctipes exhibits a generalized FR with and without AP. Nevertheless, with IGP, the predator exhibited a Type II FR at low and high AP densities, increasing pressure on the FP and potentially favoring short-term biological control strategies. However, when 25 AP were offered, the predator’s response shifted, underscoring the importance of monitoring AP densities to prevent potential disruptions in FP control. In both contexts, the increase in AP produced a handling time increase and a decrease in consumption rate. These results indicate that the theoretical prediction of the effect of AP on the FR is met only under specific conditions, and the complexity of multitrophic interactions must be considered.
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Agri-food waste represents a serious problem that can be overcome by converting it into added-value material for the production of plasters for green building; in fact, it can be used as a reinforcement additive in the building material industry. In this study, the
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Agri-food waste represents a serious problem that can be overcome by converting it into added-value material for the production of plasters for green building; in fact, it can be used as a reinforcement additive in the building material industry. In this study, the performance of gypsum-based plasters with pistachio shell additives was evaluated. Before being used as additives for gypsum-based plasters, pistachio shells were ground at three different grain sizes in order to verify how grain size influences the performance of the material. Tests were then carried out on all the produced mortars to evaluate their chemical and physical characteristics, and interesting results regarding the mechanical resistance of some of the produced materials were obtained. The results showed that the addition of pistachio shells improved mechanical performance in all cases and that the best mechanical performance and water absorption by capillarity were achieved with the 0.5–2 mm pistachio grain size, while the best thermal conductivity was achieved with the 2–4 mm grain size. Summarizing, the best results were obtained with a pistachio shell granulometry of 0.5–2 mm, sand, and a water/gypsum ratio of 0.86–0.74.
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Laia Pedrola Vidal, Mónica Roselló Piera, Carla Martín-Grau, Juan S. Rubio Moll, Rosa Gómez Portero, Beatriz Marcos Puig, Jose V. Cervera Zamora, Ramiro Quiroga and Carmen Orellana Alonso
Genome-wide prenatal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening can be used to screen for a wide range of fetal chromosomal anomalies in pregnant patients. In this study, we describe our clinical experience with a genome-wide cfDNA assay in screening for common trisomies, sex chromosomal aneuploidies
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Genome-wide prenatal cell-free DNA (cfDNA) screening can be used to screen for a wide range of fetal chromosomal anomalies in pregnant patients. In this study, we describe our clinical experience with a genome-wide cfDNA assay in screening for common trisomies, sex chromosomal aneuploidies (SCAs), rare autosomal aneuploidies (RAAs), and copy-number variations (CNVs) in about 6000 patients over a three-year period at our hospital’s Prenatal Diagnostic Unit in Spain. Overall, 204 (3.3%) patients had a high-risk call, which included 76 trisomy 21, 21 trisomy 18, 7 trisomy 13, 29 SCAs, 31 RAAs, 31 CNVs, and 9 cases with multiple anomalies. The diagnostic outcomes were obtained for the high-risk cases when available, allowing for the calculation of positive predictive values (PPVs). Calculated PPVs were 95.9% for trisomy 21, 77.8% for trisomy 18, 66.7% for trisomy 13, 10.7% for RAAs, and 10.7% for CNVs. Pregnancy and birth outcomes were also collected for the majority of RAA and CNV cases. Adverse perinatal outcomes for some of these cases included preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, preterm birth, reduced birth weight, and major congenital structural abnormalities. In conclusion, our study showed strong performance for genome-wide cfDNA screening in a large cohort of pregnancy patients in Spain.
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