Browse Articles

An assessment model of bio-efficiency for container terminals in the presence of air emissions

Atmospheric pollutants from container terminal operations have adverse effects on the environment in port regions, leading to increased health risks, including respiratory and cardiovascular diseases among local residents. This paper aims to assess bio-efficiency for container terminals (CTs) in the presence of air emissions utilizing a slacks-based measure (SBM) model. In doing so, the paper first adopts cluster analysis to elect homogeneous CTs that aligns with the assumption of DEA theory, then uses a new method to estimate air emissions generated by CTs’ operations at harbor zones. Next, the SBM model is used to estimate the bio-efficiency of CTs in the presence of air emissions. Finally, CTs in the Ba Ria-Vung Tau port authorities (PAs) are employed as an empirical study to verify the proposed research model. The proposed research framework can contribute a methodological reference towards the relevant literature on abating atmospheric pollutants in maritime regions.

Microbiota-indole-3-propionic acid-heart axis mediates the protection of leflunomide against αPD1-induced cardiotoxicity in mice

Wind farm noise negatively impacts the calling behavior of three frogs in Caatinga dry forests

Acoustic signals play a fundamental role in the lives of anurans. With the increasing prevalence of wind farms in Caatinga ecosystems, our goal was to assess whether the noise generated by this energy source poses a threat to anuran communication. We analyzed acoustic parameters of the advertisement calls from 181 adult males, of the species Scinax pachycrus, Scinax x-signatus, and Physalaemus cicada. Call activity was recorded across noise gradients in 19 temporary ponds with similar vegetation structures, distributed in two wind farms. Our results revealed a significant relationship between wind turbine noise and changes in acoustic parameters of the three species, distinctly influencing their spectral and temporal parameters of the advertisement calls. Dominant frequency, frequency range of Scinax pachycrus were affected by the noise, decreasing in noisier temporary ponds, while Scinax x-signatus decreased call amplitude and call pulses. On the other hand, Physalaemus cicada showed changes only in temporal variables, with reductions in call duration and call pulses, and an increase in call rate to cope whit noise in temporary ponds. Therefore, noise pollution becomes particularly concerning for the anurans of the Caatinga, as the areas of greatest interest for wind power generation overlap with priority areas for biodiversity conservation.

Blue organic long-persistent luminescence via upconversion from charge-transfer to locally excited singlet state

Number of ICD-10 diagnosis fields required to capture sepsis in administrative data and truncation bias: A nationwide prospective registry study

Background In observational studies that use administrative data, it is essential to report technical details such as the number of International Classification of Disease (ICD) coding fields extracted. This information is crucial for ensuring comparability between studies and for avoiding truncation bias in estimates, particularly for complex conditions like sepsis. Specific sepsis codes (explicit sepsis) are suggested to be identified by extracting 15 diagnosis fields, while for implicit sepsis, which comprises an infection code combined with acute organ failure, the number of diagnosis field remains unknown. Objective The objective was to explore the necessary number of diagnosis fields to capture explicit and implicit sepsis. Materials and methods We conducted a study utilizing The Norwegian Patient Register (NPR), which encompasses all medical ICD-10 codes from specialized health services in Norway. Data were extracted for all adult patients with hospital discharges registered with explicit and implicit sepsis codes from all Norwegian hospitals between 2008 through 2021. Results Out of 317,705 sepsis admissions, we identified 105,499 ICD-10 codes for explicit sepsis, while implicit sepsis was identified through 270,346 codes for infection in combination with 240,789 codes for acute organ failure. Through our analysis, we found that 55%, 37%, and 10% of the explicit, infection, and acute organ failure codes, respectively, were documented as the main diagnosis. The proportion of explicit and infection codes peaked in the primary diagnosis field, while for acute organ failure codes, this was true in the third secondary diagnosis field. Notably, the cumulative proportion reached 99% in diagnosis field 10 for explicit codes and in diagnosis field 13 for implicit codes. Conclusion Expanding the utilization of multiple diagnosis fields can enhance the comparability of data in epidemiological studies, both internationally and within countries. To make truncation bias visible, reporting guidelines should specify the number of diagnosis fields when extracting ICD-10 codes.

Heterogeneous integration of 2D memristor arrays and silicon selectors for compute-in-memory hardware in convolutional neural networks

Tolerance of Placozoa for temperate climates: Evidence for known and new placozoan clades in the southern waters of Australia

Placozoans are small multicellular sea-dwelling animals that are typically found in shallow, warm ocean waters and have been reported in various marine environments worldwide. Their unique morphology makes them a powerful new model organism to study the evolutionary cell biology in early metazoans. Yet, knowledge on their biodiversity and ecological distribution is severely limited. Here, we report the isolation of placozoans in the temperate waters of Victoria, Australia, their most southern location known to date. Using light, electron, and confocal microscopy, we describe their morphology and behaviour. In addition to the known haplotypes H2 and H17, we have identified a new haplotype, here designated as H20, which defines a new placozoan clade. This study provides novel insights into the distribution, ecological niche separation and genetic diversity of placozoans, and reports the first morphological and ultrastructural characterisation of placozoan clades isolated from the southern waters of Victoria, Australia.

Metallacage-crosslinked free-standing supramolecular networks via photo-induced copolymerization for photocatalytic water decontamination

Understanding climate-sensitive diseases in Bangladesh using systematic review and government data repository

Background Understanding the effects of climate change on health outcomes is crucial for effective policy formulation and intervention strategies. However, in Low- and Middle-Income Countries, like Bangladesh, the true extent of these effects remains unexplored due to data scarcity. This study aims to assess available evidence on climate change-related health outcomes in Bangladesh, to compare it with actual national occurrences, and to explore challenges related to climate change and health data. Methods We first conducted a systematic review to summarize the climate-sensitive diseases examined in existing literature in Bangladesh. The review results were then compared with over 2.8 million samples from the government’s data repository, representing reported cases of climate-sensitive diseases during 2017-2022. This comparison aimed to identify discrepancies between the diseases currently occurring in Bangladesh related to climate change and available knowledge through existing research. Additionally, we also explored the limitations of the data recorded in the government data repository. Results The available literature in Bangladesh reports only a few specific climate-sensitive diseases, including Diarrhea, Dengue, Cholera, Malaria, Pneumonia, Cardiovascular Diseases, Hypertension, Urinary-Tract Infections, and Malnutrition, which were also considered in few studies. This represents a segment of the total 510 reported climate-sensitive diseases in Bangladesh, of which 143 diseases were responsible for 90.66% of the total occurrences. The most common forms of diseases were diarrhea and gastroenteritis of presumed infectious (28.51%), pneumonia (18.88%), anxiety disorders, panic disorders, generalized anxiety disorders (13.2%), and others (13.15%). Additionally, Urinary-Tract infections (7.87%), cholera (3.03%), and typhoid fever (3.27%) were other frequently reported climate-sensitive diseases. We also explored several challenges related to available data in the government repository, which include inadequate collection of patients’ comprehensive socio-demographic information and the absence of a unique patient identifier. Conclusion The findings underscore the urgent need to tackle data challenges in understanding climate-sensitive diseases in Bangladesh. Policies and programs are required to prioritize the digitalization of the healthcare system and implement a unique patient identification number to facilitate accurate tracking and analysis of health data. Climate Change, including rising temperature and extreme weather events like cyclone and floods, poses a significant global health threat [1]. The World Health Organization estimates climate change already causes at least 150,000 deaths annually at the global level, and that number is projected to double by 2030. Beside these other impact of climate change are far-reaching, leading to forced displacement, malnutrition and increased incidence of diseases such as dengue, diarrhea, and pneumonia [2]. Additionally, climate change has established links to mental health issues, like anxiety and depression [3]. The effects are particularly severe in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) due to limited resources and inadequate infrastructure for coping with erratic weather and disasters [4]. We undertook a comprehensive mixed-method study, incorporating a systematic review of existing studies conducted in Bangladesh, along with an analysis of government data repository. A detailed description of each component is presented below.

Sterically chained amino acid-rich water-soluble carbon quantum dots as a robust tumor-targeted drug delivery platform

Correction: Computational evaluation of efflux pump homologues and lignans as potent inhibitors against multidrug-resistant Salmonella typhi

Cu Intercalation-Stabilized 1T′ MoS₂ with Electrical Insulating Behavior

Individualized non-invasive deep brain stimulation of the basal ganglia using transcranial ultrasound stimulation

Bioavailability of zinc from different organic zinc chelates and their effect on the growth, whole body, tissue zinc content, enzymes activity and proximate composition of L. rohita

Minerals play an essential role in aquatic animals to maintain their normal physiological and metabolic functions. This feeding trial assessed the impact of various zinc sources on L. rohita performance. Dietary treatments included a Control group with zinc sulfate (226.25 mg/kg), and treatment groups with zinc citrate (150.15 mg/kg), zinc acetate (230.56 mg/kg), zinc monomethionine (244.75 mg/kg), and zinc gluconate (395.94 mg/kg). In 15 aquaria, 300 fish (15.84 ± 0.07g) were randomly distributed in triplicate groups. Results revealed significantly (P < 0.05) higher final body weight (FBW), feed conversion ratio (FCR), body weight gain (BWG), and sediment growth rate (SGR) for zinc gluconate fed fish compared to the other sources. Zinc gluconate fed L. rohita also exhibited the lowest feed intake, while initial body weight (IBW) and survival rate (SR %) did not significantly differ. Proximate fish analysis showed non-significant (P > 0.05) differences among treatments. Tissue zinc analysis demonstrated significantly (P < 0.05) higher zinc content in L. rohita receiving zinc gluconate. Antioxidant enzyme activity indicated lower (2.12 ± 0.01) thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the zinc gluconate treatment, with elevated levels of key biomarker enzymes, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Stress and immune response indicators revealed significantly lower hematocrit (HCT), cortisol (CRT), and glucose (GLU) levels in zinc gluconate fed fish, while CRT was higher (36.62 ± 0.65 mg/ml). Blood serum parameters, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), remained lower (29.65 ± 0.85 U/ml, 84.76 ± 2.45 U/ml, and 212.87 ± 6.14 U/ml), in fish fed zinc gluconate respectively. In conclusion, different organic zinc sources, particularly zinc gluconate, improved L. rohita growth, tissue zinc concentration, antioxidant enzyme activity, blood serum parameters, and stress and immune response to varying extents.

Septin5 deletion enhances β-cell exocytosis by releasing microtubule-tethered insulin granules onto plasma membrane

Inter-rater reliability of stress signatures in exfoliated primary dentition - Improving scientific rigor and reproducibility in histological data collection

Accentuated Lines (ALs) in tooth enamel can reflect metabolic disruptions from physiological or psychological stresses during development. They can therefore serve as a retrospective biomarker of generalized stress exposure in archaeological and clinical research. However, little consensus exists on when ALs are identified and inter-rater reliability is poorly quantified across studies. Here, we sought to address this gap by examining the reliability of accentuated (AL) markings across raters, in terms of both the presence versus absence of ALs and their intensity (HAL= Highly Accentuated, MAL= Mildly Accentuated, RL= Retzius Line). Ratings were made and compared across observers (with different levels of experience) and pairs of raters (who agreed on AL coding through consensus meetings) (N = 15 teeth, eight observers). Results indicated that more experience in AL assessment does not necessarily produce higher reliability between raters. Most disagreements in intensity ratings occurred in categories other than HAL. Furthermore, when AL assessment was performed by pairs of raters, reliability was significantly higher than individual assessments (Gwet’s AC1 = 0.28 to 0.56 for line presence assessment; Gwet’s AC1 = 0.48 to 0.64 for line intensity assessment). Based on these results, we recommend a workflow called IRRISS (Improving Reliability and Reporting In Scoring of Stress-markers) to increase rigor and reproducibility in histological analysis of dental collections. The introduction of IRRISS is well-timed, given the surge in studies of teeth occurring across anthropological, epidemiological, medical, forensic, and climate research fields.

Plant essential oil targets TRPV3 for skin renewal and structural mechanism of action

Impact of drill bit wear on temperature increase in dental implant osteotomy: an in vitro study

Objectives Dental implant surgery relies extensively on bone drilling, a critical procedure with intrinsic challenges. Drill bits show significant wear and are frequently utilized beyond the manufacturer’s recommended limits. Such practices can result in adverse effects, including friction and temperature rise in the surrounding bone area during interventions, with an increased risk of necrosis that can compromise the dental implant osseointegration. This study aimed to compare the quality of osteotomy obtained from two different protocols to determine a possible correlation between the drilling temperature and the tool wear and to evaluate their impact on potential health damage. Materials and methods Experimental evaluations were conducted using synthetic bone that reproduced human bone characteristics. The drilling phase involved real-time temperature acquisition and scanning electron microscopy analysis of tool wear evolution. After the operation, actual hole size and geometry were characterized using a coordinate measuring machine, and temperatures and torques were measured during the subsequent implantation phase. Results The findings revealed a direct correlation between tool wear and the temperature rise during the drilling phase, while a lower correlation was found with the hole profile geometry variation. The implantation phase demonstrated temperature and torque values within acceptable ranges. Conclusions This study highlights the importance of adhering to proper tool maintenance and replacement protocols. By following recommended guidelines, practitioners can minimize adverse effects and enhance the success of dental implant procedures.

Author Correction: The α-globin super-enhancer acts in an orientation-dependent manner

Obstacles to inclusion and threats to civil rights: An integrative review of the social experiences of service dog partners in the United States

Service dogs, trained to assist people with disabilities, are known to impact their human partners’ social experiences. While service dogs can act as a “social bridge,” facilitating greater social connection under certain circumstances, many service dog partners also encounter challenges in social settings because of the presence of their service dog – despite legal protections. Among the most common challenges reported are experiences of stigma, discrimination, and access or service denials. This preregistered integrative review sought to synthesize empirical, theoretical, and legal literature to understand better the social experiences reported by service dog partners in the United States, including (1) civil rights experiences; (2) experiences of stigma and discrimination; and (3) broader social experiences. Following database searches and article screening, a total of N = 43 articles met the eligibility criteria for inclusion. Analyses were conducted in two stages: first, synthesizing quantitative and qualitative findings to explore the magnitude of social experiences reported by empirical articles and second, narrative synthesis to integrate findings across all article types. Analyses identified three themes: Adverse Social Experiences, Contributing Factors, and Proposed Solutions. Overall, we found consistent reports of stigma, discrimination, and access denials for service dog handlers. Additionally, these adverse experiences may be more common for service dog partners with disabilities not externally visible (i.e., invisible disabilities such as diabetes or substantially limiting mental health conditions). This integrative review highlights a pattern of social marginalization and stigmatization for some service dog partners, exacerbated by inadequate legal protection and widespread service dog fraud. These findings have implications for the individual well-being of people with disabilities partnered with service dogs and highlight a need for collective efforts to increase inclusion and access. Effective solutions likely require a multi-component approach operating at various socio-ecological levels.