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Spatial and temporal variability of supraglacial algae on an Alpine glacier (Forni Glacier, Italy)
Sodium and potassium analysis of individual coccoliths by secondary ion mass spectrometry
Abstract Coccoliths are individual plates of calcium carbonate that comprise the shells of marine calcifying haptophyte algae. Their remains provide an excellent sedimentary archive for the reconstruction of past environmental parameters. Using nano-scale secondary ion mass spectrometry (NanoSIMS), we measured the Mg, Sr, Na and K contents in individual coccoliths of Emiliania huxleyi , now named Gephyrocapsa huxleyi, to explore their potential as a paleoproxy. For recent environmental samples from the Mediterranean and Black Sea as well as cultured specimens, all elements appeared to be homogeneously distributed within, but highly variable among, the individual coccoliths. Mg/Ca and Sr/Ca ratios covered a range of 0 . 06–83 mmol mol −1 and 1 . 9–3 . 8 mmol mol −1 , respectively, and were in line with the previously determined values. Na/Ca ranged between 1 . 6–186 mmol mol −1 . K/Ca could not be calibrated, but the measured 39 K + / 44 Ca + ion count ratios varied between 0 . 03–2 . 7. Although the Na/Ca ratios significantly decreased with increasing total alkalinity and salinity in the Mediterranean samples, these trends were not observed in samples collected from cultures where the alkalinity and salinity varied separately. Similarly, K/Ca ratios showed no clear trends with total alkalinity or salinity of the culture medium. Calcification in coccolithophores is biologically controlled and this may mask the impact of environmental factors on the observed variation in the Na and K content of individual coccoliths of E. huxleyi .
Effects of a maternal–infant telecare program on postpartum maternal confidence and sleep quality of mothers and infants
Abstract The change in the medical payment system has shortened postpartum hospitalization, limiting the time for nursing staff to provide care and education. In Taiwan, many postpartum women choose “doing the month” in postpartum nursing care centers with professional support. However, leaving these centers often increases maternal stress as they transition to independent caregiving, impacting their confidence and sleep quality. Additionally, difficulties in establishing infants’ sleep patterns further disrupt maternal sleep. To address these challenges, the maternal-infant telecare program was introduced to provide continued support after discharge. To explore the effectiveness of the maternal-infant telecare program on postpartum women’s confidence, sleep quality, and infants’ sleep quality. A cross-sectional research design was used in this study. Eighty-two postpartum women were recruited from a postpartum nursing care center in Northern Taiwan. Data were gathered at three separate time points (pretest, Posttest 1, Posttest 2). All statistical tests were performed using the SPSS 24 software. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and Generalized Estimating Equation. A total of eighty-two postpartum women were recruited through convenience sampling. The results of this study showed that after the intervention, postpartum confidence increased from an average of 43.99 to 51.72, postpartum sleep quality improved from 23.35 to 19.33, and the number of infants’ nighttime awakenings, as reported by postpartum women, reduced from an average of 2.77 to 1.12 at twelve weeks. The maternal-infant telecare program demonstrated potential benefits in enhancing postpartum women’s confidence, improving sleep quality, and reducing the frequency of infants’ nighttime awakenings. Therefore, the program merits further promotion and broader application in postpartum care.
An improved lightweight YOLOv11 algorithm for weld surface defect detection
Analysis of the evolution and spatial effects of green space pattern in China’s urbanization process: a case study of Guangzhou City
A novel multi-module neural networks strategy of human emotion recognition in the human-robot interaction
Explainable LSTM-AdamW based fault diagnosis of aircraft rotating components using airborne acoustic signals under dynamic operating conditions
Fuzzy adaptive nonlinear MIMO control for rigid coupled multibody robots using reinforcement learning model
Soil nitrous oxide and methane emissions in contrasting land use of the West African Sudanian savanna
Percolation threshold for vertical fluid flow through granular sea ice
A xenotransplantation model for reactivation of paternal UBE3A using human-specific antisense oligonucleotides
Abstract For many neurodevelopmental disorders, genetic treatment discovery is complicated by non-homology between human and non-human model system genomes. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) influence protein expression by sequence-specific binding of RNA, resulting in targeted degradation or alternative splicing, and thereby provide a promising avenue for clinical therapeutics. Angelman Syndrome (AS), caused by loss-of-function of maternal UBE3A , has emerged as a monogenic neurodevelopmental disorder for which ASO therapy might be particularly amenable due to genomic imprinting. In an AS mouse model, Ube3a reactivation of the paternal allele using ASOs has been previously shown to rescue disease-relevant phenotypes. However, the poor sequence homology between murine and human UBE3A-ATS requires a human model system for screening of ASOs with clinical therapeutic potential. Here we evaluate an ASO targeting UBE3A-ATS using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived AS neurons in vitro and in vivo . We assessed the effect of ASO-treatment on cultured AS patient hiPSC-derived neurons through protein and RNA expression analysis. To increase clinical translatability, we designed a platform to evaluate this ASO in vivo by xenotransplantation of hiPSC-derived AS neurons into the brains of neonatal mice, with intracerebroventricular administration of the UBE3A-ATS ASO three weeks later. One week after ASO treatment, we observed in vivo reinstatement of UBE3A expression in xenotransplanted human neurons. These results highlight the potential for a versatile platform to evaluate efficacy of human-specific ASOs, for which AS provides an instructive proof-of-concept for therapeutic reactivation of UBE3A.
Alleviation of tannery wastewater toxicity in Spinacia oleracea through application of metal oxide nanoparticles
Abstract Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] rich tannery wastewater has negative impacts on physiological functions and growth of plants. We examined the effectiveness of foliar application of metal oxide nanoparticles including magnesium oxide, zinc oxide and iron oxide in mitigating chromium induced toxicity in Spinacia oleracea under 0%, 50%, and 100% tannery wastewater irrigation levels. The results reveal that chromium stress notably reduced plant growth, chlorophyll content, increased oxidative stress (H 2 O 2 and MDA), electrolyte leakage and build up of Cr both in roots and shoots of plants. The stress also reduced mineral nutrient acquisition including Mg, Fe and Zn. However, foliar application of MgO, FeO and ZnO nanoparticles strengthened the activities of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD and CAT) thus resulting in lowered oxidative stress and concentration of Cr within plant body. Application of nanoparticles helped the plants to absorb more mineral nutrients (Mg, Fe and Zn) as well. ZnO nanoparticles proved to be the most effective in mitigating Cr stress in Spinacia oleracia followed by MgO and FeO. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of ZnO NPs along with MgO and FeO in preventing Cr-actuated pressure in degraded conditions.
Interpretable vocal tract and respiratory inversion via physics-informed neural operators
Seismic performance of weak-axis steel beam-to-column connections with a T-adapter
Thermal insulation performance and environmental assessment of vermiculite and agricultural residue based composites for the Kahramanmaras climate
Abstract Thermal insulation plays a crucial role in improving energy efficiency in buildings, particularly in regions with high residential and industrial energy demand. However, conventional petrochemical-based insulation materials raise significant environmental concerns, highlighting the need for sustainable and renewable alternatives. In this study, bio-based composite insulation materials were developed using locally available agricultural residues—stubble, sunflower stalks, corn cobs, corn stalks, and olive pits—incorporated into a vermiculite–epoxy resin matrix. The developed composites exhibited low thermal conductivity values of approximately 0.041 W/mK, comparable to that of expanded polystyrene, while demonstrating enhanced fire resistance due to the presence of vermiculite. Life cycle assessment and experimentally based CO₂ savings analyses revealed substantial reductions in both embodied and operational carbon emissions. The utilization of agricultural waste not only prevents open-field burning but also reduces environmental impacts and supports local economies. Statistical analysis using ANOVA confirmed that the type of agricultural residue significantly influences the thermal and mechanical performance of the composites. Overall, the results demonstrate that the proposed bio-based composites provide a balanced combination of thermal, mechanical, and fire-resistant properties, offering a sustainable, cost-effective, and regionally adaptable solution for energy-efficient building insulation, particularly in climatic conditions similar to those of Kahramanmaras, Turkey.