Browse Articles

The impact of asbestos cement pollution in irrigation water on physiological and germination characteristics of Trifolium pratense, Medicago sativa, and Solanum lycopersicum seeds

Abstract This paper investigates how plants respond to stress caused by asbestos cement products in irrigation water. It presents a thorough evaluation of the exposure and risk factors for plants, water, and soil when exposed to these materials. The experimental results provide empirical evidence of plant stress responses based on physiological and germination parameters. The research is motivated by concerns about environmental contamination from asbestos cement in irrigation water, which can be toxic to plants and lead to soil pollution, negatively impacting vegetation and soil quality. When exposed to asbestos in water, plants experience toxic stress that can inhibit photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and germination. Asbestos can also adversely affect cell division and metabolism, risking plant growth, reproduction, and overall health, as well as making them more susceptible to disease and pests under environmental stress. The paper examines the impact on germination and physiological parameters of Trifolium pratense, Medicago sativa, and Solanum lycopersicum, particularly how they were affected by pre-established concentrations of irrigation water mixed with asbestos cement during a controlled germination experiment. The research methodology was developed in the absence of established global practices, standards, and methods, creating an opportunity for further methodological advancement. The findings could serve as a situational analysis for professionals in environmental plant protection and analytical fields.

Indicators to evaluate the labor insertion of people with disabilities in conventional companies in Spain: A Delphi study

Introduction The level of labor integration of people with disability (PwD) is notably lower than that of people without disabilities. In order to evaluate the success of the labor market integration of people with disabilities, it is necessary to establish a series of indicators that go beyond hiring rates. Hence, the objective of this study is to develop a list of indicators with their specified individual weight that will serve to evaluate the success of the labor market insertion of PwD in conventional companies. Methodology The Delphi method was used. In Phase 1, an open-ended questionnaire was distributed to 48 human resources and disability experts. From this qualitative analysis, a list of 52 indicators was drawn up and the experts were asked to evaluate their importance using a scale from 0 to 10 points. The convergence of opinion was obtained in the third phase. To evaluate the degree of stability of the experts’ responses in the different phases, the Wilcoxon test was applied. Finally, a factor analysis was carried out in relation to the indicators. Results After the development of the three phases and the factor analysis, a list of 26 indicators was obtained to measure the success of inclusive employability, structured in four factors: Work Performance, Labor Management, Social and Organizational Impact, Competency Assessment. Conclusions This project has provided a list of indicators that can be the basis for the creation of a scale to assess the successful integration of people with disabilities in the conventional company.

Rapid mimicry of trunk and head movements during play in African Savanna elephants (Loxodonta africana)

Abstract The basic forms of motor and possibly emotion replication include behavioral contagion and rapid motor mimicry (RMM). RMM—mainly demonstrated during play—occurs when an individual perceives and rapidly (< 1 s) replicates the exact motor sequence of another individual. We collected data on an African Savanna Elephant ( Loxodonta africana ; N  = 15) group housed at the Parque de la Naturaleza de Cabárceno (Spain) on play target movements of both trunk and head. We demonstrated the presence of RMM. Elephants that were more prone in mimicking others’ target movements were also more prone to play after observing others playing. RMM—as behavioral contagion—can enhance action coordination between players. As RMM was associated with more offensive play patterns than unreplicated target movements, RMM may allow competitive play sessions to occur, possibly replacing agonistic interactions. Neither individual (age, sex) nor social (affiliation levels) factors modulated the RMM. These findings can be related to the elephant high tolerance levels and the wide presence of play across age (including adults) and sex. Concluding, African elephants have the potential to share their affective states (emotional contagion) via RMM which is relevant to the investigation of the evolution of empathy in mammals including humans.

Retraction: Analysis and early warning management of resource and environmental carrying capacity in agricultural provinces: A case study of Henan Province

Extension of pole differential current based relaying for bipolar LCC HVDC lines

Abstract Line commutated converter (LCC) based high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission is characterized by long-distance power transfer, a complex and harsh corridor environment, and the rapid fault evolution of DC lines. Since high fault currents can potentially cause unalterable destruction to power devices, fast and reliable line protection and isolation are essential to enhance the security and reliability of LCC-HVDC transmission systems. This paper combines an extended relaying using single- and double-ended measurements of the transient current at the boundary of positive and negative polarity DC lines to meet this obligation. During a fault, the DC line equivalent circuit is initially analysed with the time domain response of positive and negative polarity DC line (poles) currents at two ends to define local and global pole differential currents (PDCs). The criterion of relaying is then developed using PDCs for the bipolar and monopolar modes of operation of the LCC-HVDC transmission system. The proposed relaying method is validated through simulation, with results indicating that it can quickly (within 5.1 ms) and reliably detect internal faults and remain stable during external faults, accurately identify faulty poles without requiring data communication synchronization for bipolar operation, and demonstrate strong transition resistance. However, the monopolar operation uses global PDC to detect faults reliably within 15.6 ms. The proposed scheme is implemented on a 2000 MW, ± 500 kV, 900 km bipolar LCC-HVDC transmission system, simulated using PSCAD/EMTDC software. Additionally, the results are analyzed using MATLAB/Simulink.

PDRN prevents SIRT1 degradation by attenuating autophagy during skin aging

Polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) is a low molecular weight linear polyribonucleotide fragment derived from salmon sperm, known for its potential in tissue regeneration and anti-inflammatory applications. However, its specific function in cellular senescence is yet to be fully understood. Silent information regulator 1 (SIRT1), an NAD + -dependent deacetylase, plays a crucial role in regulating cellular aging and tumorigenesis. Notably, SIRT1 levels decrease with age in both mice and during cellular senescence, highlighting its significance in anti-aging processes. This study assessed the effects of PDRN on cellular aging induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and investigated the mechanisms of its protective effects against aging at the cellular level. Our data demonstrated that PDRN treatment mitigated the decline in cell viability and inhibited cell aging when exposed to UVB or H2O2. Furthermore, PDRN ameliorated UVB-induced epidermal thickening in mouse skin. Mechanically, we found that PDRN treatment led to a reduction in nuclear autophagy and the formation of cytoplasmic stress granules by preventing the accumulation of damaged LC3 in the nuclear and inhibiting the degradation of SIRT1 and p62 in the cytoplasm during cellular senescence. In conclusion, PDRN exhibits antioxidant and anti-aging properties by diminishing autophagy and enhancing SIRT1 expression. These results suggest that PDRN has potential as a therapeutic compound for reducing skin aging induced by UVB or H2O2 through the modulation of SIRT1 levels.

Nose-to-brain delivery of human muse cells enhances structural and functional recovery in the murine ischemic stroke model

Implementation of two transdiagnostic interventions based on emotional regulation for professionals who treat alcohol addiction in the Spanish mental health system: A multicenter mixed methods pilot study protocol

Emotional dysregulation has been considered a transdiagnostic factor and an important determinant of craving and relapse in alcohol addiction. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and the Unified Protocol (UP) are two transdiagnostic emotional regulation programs with good efficacy in improving alcohol addiction severity. However, an important barrier encountered when implementing evidence-based interventions in drug addiction services is the inadequate training received by professionals. This study aims to evaluate the effect of a dissemination and pilot implementation initiative of DBT and UP among professionals treating alcohol addiction in the national Spanish healthcare system. Methods: The study will be conducted in two phases using a mixed methods design. In phase 1, two 3-day training workshops (DBT and UP; 40 hours total) will be provided by experts to at least 130 healthcare workers from three Spanish regions. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either DBT or UP training first, followed by the other. The study will include a range of quantitative outcomes including beliefs about alcohol abuse, burnout, self-efficacy, attitudes towards evidence-based interventions, organizational variables, acceptability and intention to use the interventions, barriers to implementation, and knowledge acquisition. The appropriateness of the interventions in real community settings will be qualitatively assessed. In phase 2, at least 30 trained professionals will be randomly assigned to implement DBT or/and UP 3-month group interventions in their workplaces with alcohol addiction patients. Quantitative outcomes will include acceptability, feasibility, appropriateness, fidelity and sustainability of the interventions, barriers to implementation, as well as qualitative descriptions of barriers and facilitators during the implementation process. Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to evaluate a pilot implementation of transdiagnostic psychological interventions based on emotion regulation to treat alcohol addiction. Findings of this study will inform of factors influencing the successful implementation of DBT and UP in community-based addiction services. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06366100.

Nystromformer based cross-modality transformer for visible-infrared person re-identification

Metagenomic characterization of bacterial abundance and diversity in potato cyst nematode suppressive and conducive potato rhizosphere

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is an important food crop in Kenya, providing a source of nutrition and income for many farmers. However, potato cyst nematodes (PCN) cause significant damage to potato plants, leading to substantial economic losses and threatening the nation’s food security. Understanding the composition and functional potential of bacterial communities in the soil is important for developing sustainable biological control strategies against PCN and improving soil health. This cross-sectional purposive study examined the bacterial communities associated with PCN-suppressive and conducive potato rhizosphere from two major potato-producing counties in Kenya. We analyzed 180 soil samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic potato plants using shotgun metagenomics, followed by functional analysis to identify genes and metabolic pathways relevant to soil and plant health. Taxonomic classification revealed Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonadaceae as the most dominant bacterial families present. Within these families, the genera Pseudomonas and Enterobacter were highly abundant, both known for their plant growth-promoting traits, including biological control of soil pathogens and nutrient solubilization. KEGG and Pfam database analysis revealed pathways associated with nutrient cycling, transport systems, and metabolic functions. The abundance of iron-acquisition, chemotaxis, and diverse transport genes across analyzed samples suggests the presence of beneficial bacterial communities. This study provides the first report on bacterial ecology in PCN-infested rhizosphere in Kenya and its implications for soil health and PCN management.

Spatio-temporal variations in carbon sources, sinks and footprints of cropland ecosystems in the Middle and Lower Yangtze River Plain of China, 2013–2022

Harmonizing CT scanner acquisition variability in an anthropomorphic phantom: A comparative study of image-level and feature-level harmonization using GAN, ComBat, and their combination

Purpose Radiomics allows for the quantification of medical images and facilitates precision medicine. Many radiomic features derived from computed tomography (CT) are sensitive to variations across scanners, reconstruction settings, and acquisition protocols. In this phantom study, eight different CT reconstruction parameters were varied to explore image- and feature-level harmonization approaches to improve tissue classification. Methods Varying reconstructions of an anthropomorphic radiopaque phantom containing three lesion categories (metastasis, hemangioma, and benign cyst) and normal liver tissue were used for evaluating two harmonization methods and their combination: (i) generative adversarial networks (GANs) at the image level; (ii) ComBat at the feature level, and (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii). A total of 93 texture and intensity features were extracted from each tissue class before and after image-level harmonization and were also harmonized at the feature level. Reproducibility and stability were assessed via the Concordance Correlation Coefficient (CCC) and pairwise comparisons using paired stability tests. The ability of features to discriminate between tissue classes was assessed by measuring the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. The global reproducibility and discriminative power were assessed by averaging over the entire dataset and across all tissue types. Results ComBat improved reproducibility by 31.58% and stability by 5.24%, while GAN increased reproducibility by 8% it reduced stability by 4.33%. Classification analysis revealed that ComBat increased average AUC by 15.19%, whereas GAN decreased AUC by 2.56%. Conclusion While GAN qualitatively enhances image harmonization, ComBat provides superior statistical improvements in feature stability and classification performance, highlighting the importance of robust feature-level harmonization in radiomics.

Synergistic mechanisms of temperature and strain rate on plastic deformation in SLM 3D printed SS316L utilizing hot processing map analysis

The effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for low back pain in China: A systematic review and network meta-analysis

Low back pain (LBP) is the most common and incapacitating musculoskeletal disorder globally. The use of non-pharmacological interventions for the management of LBP is recommended by global clinical practice guidelines. However, existing guidelines often exhibit poor quality, as evidenced by inadequate systematic reviews of evidence. This necessitates further reviews tailored to the specific context of different countries. This review searched the CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Wanfang databases from their inception to May 14, 2024. After data extraction by two independent researchers, a total of 57 randomized control trials (RCTs) were included. The Bayesian network meta-analysis results demonstrated that: (1) non-pharmacological therapies generally exhibited superior efficacy over pharmaceuticals in improving functional disability and overall efficacy; (2) pharmaceuticals, both alone and in combination with non-pharmacological therapies, were generally more effective than most non-pharmacological therapies in reducing pain intensity. High heterogeneity was observed, which could be explained by LBP subtypes in the analysis of functional disability. While heterogeneity had a limited impact on the confidence of results for pain intensity and functional disability, it significantly influenced the assessment of overall efficacy with major concerns of imprecision. The high volume of studies with a high risk of overall bias necessitates cautious interpretation of these findings. Chinese LBP patients may benefit most from non-pharmacological interventions, particularly those rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, for improving disability. For pain intensity reduction, pharmaceuticals and multi-component therapies incorporating pharmaceuticals may be more effective.

A flexible multi-agent system for managing demand and variability in hybrid energy systems for rural communities

Fungal community and taxa specialization to host and environment interactions in two temperate forests

The structure and function of plant-associated fungal communities (i.e. mycobiome) is shaped by biotic and abiotic factors, and can impact plant community dynamics. We evaluated the effects of different environmental factors in structuring the communities of seedling-associated fungi in temperate tree species, considering both the Janzen-Connell hypothesis as well as the impacts of climate warming. We tested the hypothesis that fungal host-specialization is observed at both the individual fungus and fungal community levels and is modulated by environmental conditions. The seedling fungal communities were characterized from tree species grown in two forests, under experimental manipulation of light, warming, and distance to and density of conspecifics. Fungal communities were analyzed using generalized joint attribute models. While warming, light, and forest site played a role in structuring seedling fungal communities, host, distance to, and density of conspecifics were stronger contributors. Furthermore, we could identify which fungal taxa responded to which predictors. This work supports the concept of fungal host-specialization at the community level, and points to particular fungal taxa which may play roles in density- and distance-dependent regulation of plant species diversity in the studied forests.

Performance of microbial desalination cells with different cathode types in treating saline wastewater

RETRACTED: Mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death induced by Toona sinensis leaf extracts through MEK/ERK signaling in glioblastoma cells

Toona sinensis, a kind of phytochemicals in traditional Chinese medicine widely used in South-East Asia, has been recognized for its anticancer properties, particularly against various types of cancer. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of T. sinensis leaf extracts (TSL) specifically for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Gallic acid was identified as the major active component in the aqueous extracts of TSL using the HPLC system. Furthermore, it has been shown to have the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier. Various concentrations of TSL (10, 20, 40, and 80 μg/mL) were applied and 80 μg/mL TSL treatment significantly inhibited cell growth, proliferation, and cytotoxicity in A172 and U251 GBM cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and increased apoptotic cells. Furthermore, we observed mitochondrial dysfunction characterized by elevated ROS levels and reduced ATP production due to the blockade of electron transport chain (ETC) complexes. TSL treatment regulated this ROS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction. Western blotting analysis showed upregulation of Bax and Puma, along with downregulation of Bcl-2. Additionally, TSL treatment induced the cleavage of caspase-3, caspase-9, and PARP, indicating activation of the mitochondria-mediated apoptosis pathway and caspase-dependent pathway in both GBM cell lines. To investigate the involvement of the MEK/ERK pathway in TSL-induced effects, we used U0126, an inhibitor of MEK/ERK kinase. The results demonstrated that TSL treatment suppressed MEK/ERK activation, inhibiting ROS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and promoting apoptosis. This suggests a potential therapeutic strategy targeting the MEK/ERK pathway in GBM treatment. Overall, our findings indicate that TSL treatment exerts cytotoxic effects through ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction and activation of apoptotic pathways via MEK/ERK pathway in GBM cells. These insights provide valuable knowledge for potential therapeutic applications of TSL in GBM treatment.

Synovial fluid viscosity with synovial fluid cell count, valuable diagnostic marker of prosthetic joint infections

Abstract In the absence of standard criteria for prosthetic joint infections (PJI), several diagnostic modalities have been proposed mostly concentrating on novel biochemical markers. The physical chemistry markers received scarce attention. Synovial fluid (SF) viscosity could be considered as marker for PJI, however, its diagnostic value of PJI remains unknown. Our study aimed to determine the potential of SF viscosity as a diagnostic marker of PJI and compare it to SF cell count with differential (CCD). We prospectively analysed 123 SF samples (58 septic and 65 aseptic) for viscosity and CCD of SF obtained during hip and knee revision procedures. The diagnosis of PJI based on EBJIS criteria. The viscosity cut-off for PJI was calculated and the diagnostic power was compared to CCD. The mean SF viscosity in the PJI group was 8.5 ± 0.4 mPa s and 103.2 ± 18.8 mPa s in the aseptic group (p < 0.05). SF viscosity achieved 100% sensitivity and 85.3% specificity, with AUC 0.832 (95% CI 0.739, 0.925). Combination of SF viscosity and CCD achieved AUC 0.951 (95% CI 0.919, 0.987). SF viscosity is more sensitive but slightly less specific in diagnosing PJI than SF CCD. Best diagnostic value is achieved combining SF viscosity with CCD in detection of PJI.

Development of a simplified prediction model for diagnosing progressive central precocious puberty using clinical and pelvic ultrasound parameters

This study aimed to explore the predictive value of clinical and pelvic ultrasound parameters for diagnosing central precocious puberty (CPP) and to establish a clinically useful simplified prediction model to differentiate progressive CPP (P-CP) from nonprogressive precocious puberty (N-PP). Girls aged <9 years with secondary sexual development who underwent a gonadotropin-releasing hormone stimulation test and pelvic ultrasound between September 2020 and November 2023 were retrospectively included and divided into the P-CP and N-PP groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to determine the significant parameters and develop prediction models. The diagnostic performance of the models was compared using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) analysis and the Delong method. The continuous net reclassification improvement (cNRI) and absolute integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were used to determine the additive effects of ultrasound parameters. A nomogram scoring system was constructed based on a simplified model to predict the probability of developing P-CP. A total of 109 girls were included, with 64 (58.7%) in the P-CP group. Age, bone age, height, height minus midparental height, basal luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone, estradiol, insulin-like growth factor-I, Tanner stage, and cervical and fundus width were significant parameters for the diagnosis of P-CP. The models with ultrasound parameters yielded significantly higher cNRI and IDI values than the models without ultrasound parameters. The simplified model was composed of basal LH, estradiol, and fundus width that showed an AUC value of 0.93 (95% confidence interval: 0.88–0.98) with a cutoff value of 16. In conclusion, adding pelvic ultrasound parameters to traditional clinical results has an additive effect on P-CP screening. A simplified predictive model is effective for CPP screening in real-world clinics. These findings highlight the potential of the prediction model to overcome the limitations of the classical diagnostic approach for CPP in children.