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Navigating the duality of opioids' potent analgesia and side effects, including tolerance and hyperalgesia, is a significant challenge in chronic pain management, often prompting hazardous dose escalation to maintain analgesic effects. The peripheral mu-opioid receptor (MOR) is known to mediate these contradictory effects. Here, we show that the fms-like tyrosine kinase receptor 3 (FLT3) in peripheral somatosensory neurons drives morphine tolerance and hyperalgesia in a male rodent model. We found that chronic morphine treatment increases FLT3 and MOR co-expression, and that inhibiting FLT3 represses MOR-induced hyperactivation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling pathway, mitigating maladaptive excitatory processes engaged after chronic morphine treatment. Furthermore, in postsurgical or inflammatory models of chronic pain, co-administering morphine with a FLT3-specific inhibitor not only prevents or suppresses tolerance and hyperalgesia but also potentiates the analgesic efficacy of morphine, without aggravating other morphine-induced adverse effects. Our findings suggest that pairing morphine with FLT3 inhibitors could become a promising avenue for chronic pain management to safely harness the power of opioids, without the risk of dose escalation. By enhancing morphine analgesic potency through FLT3 inhibition, this approach could minimize opioid dosage, thereby curtailing the risk of addiction and other opioid-related side effects. Opioid therapy is limited by analgesic tolerance and hyperalgesia. Here, the authors show that FLT3 in primary sensory neurons drives morphine tolerance and hyperalgesia while its inhibition improves morphine analgesia optimizing pain treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding citations within their context is a complex task in information science, critical for bibliometric analysis. The study of citation contexts and their types has been a central issue in recent work on citations. In this paper, we present an experiment on the semantic annotation of citation contexts using a rule-based approach. We processed articles from seven PLOS journals and performed semantic annotation of citation contexts based on linguistic resources we constructed. We built on previous work on verb form analysis, n-grams, and semantic category modeling in the form of a linguistic ontology. Based on our observations, we propose directions of work for the constitution of a semantically annotated corpora. The intermediate results obtained lead us to formulate hypotheses on the relation between the IMRaD structure and certain semantic categories. Furthermore, our results demonstrate the semantic richness of citation contexts and underscore the importance of access to full-text articles for ontology population in open science. The findings suggest that semantic categories vary across disciplines and rhetorical structures, necessitating further exploration with larger and more diverse datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a minimal model of energy transfer through scales to describe, at a qualitative level, the subcritical transition between laminar and turbulent flows, viewed in a statistical physics framework as a discontinuous absorbing phase transition. The main control parameter of the model is a Reynolds number that compares energy transfer to viscous dissipation on a large length scale. In spite of its simplicity, the model qualitatively reproduces a number of salient features of the subcritical laminar-turbulent transition, including the existence of an absorbing laminar state, the discontinuous onset of a metastable fluctuating turbulent state above a threshold Reynolds number, and a faster-than-exponential increase of the turbulence lifetime when increasing the Reynolds number. The behavior of the model is also consistent, at high Reynolds number, with the Kolmogorov K41 phenomenology of fully developed turbulence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By dispensing with all the atoms and only focusing on dislocation lines, the computational method of Discrete Dislocation Dynamics (DDD) gains greatly over Molecular Dynamics (MD) in simulation efficiency of metal plasticity. But whereas in MD dislocations follow natural dynamics of atomic motion, DDD must rely on a dislocation mobility function to prescribe how a dislocation line should respond to the driving force exerted on it. However, reflecting our still incomplete understanding of ways in which dislocations move, mobility functions presently employed in DDD simulations entail simplifications and approximations of limited or, worse still, unknown accuracy and applicability. Here we introduce a data-driven approach in which the dislocation mobility function is modeled as a graph neural network (GNN) trained on large-scale MD simulations of crystal plasticity. We apply our proposed approach to predicting plastic strength of body-centered-cubic (BCC) metal tungsten and show that, once implemented in a DDD model, our GNN dislocation mobility function accurately reproduces the challenging tension/compression asymmetry of plastic flow observed both in ground-truth MD simulations and in experiment. Furthermore, subsequently validated by MD simulations, the same function accurately predicts plastic response of tungsten under conditions not previously seen in training. By demonstrating its ability to learn relevant physics of dislocation motion, our DDD+ML approach opens a promising avenue to bringing fidelity of DDD models closer in line with direct MD simulations at a much reduced computational cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of asymptomatic and subpatent P. falciparum infections in the city of Bouaké, Central Côte d'Ivoire, to compare the performance of three tests, and to investigate potential P. falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (pfhrp2) gene deletions. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in nine neighborhoods in Bouaké in 2016. Matched light microscopy (LM), rapid diagnostic test (RDT), and quantitative PCR (qPCR) data were used to determine the prevalence of P. falciparum infection and compare the performance of the three diagnostic tests. Pfhrp2/3 deletions were genotyped by digital PCR. Among 2313 individuals, 97.2% were asymptomatic and 2.8% were symptomatic. P. falciparum prevalence among symptomatic individuals was 25.8%, 30.3%, and 40.9% by LM, RDT, and varATS qPCR, respectively, and among asymptomatic individuals, it was 10.3%, 12.5%, and 34.9%. Asymptomatic infections comprised 96.4% of all malaria infections, with 58.2% detectable only by varATS qPCR. Although the prevalence of asymptomatic P. falciparum infections was higher in school-age children (5–14 years: 42.0%) compared to < 5 years (17.3%) and ≥ 15 years (35.9%), subpatent infections were more likely in ≥ 15 years (70.4%) than in < 5 years (39.7%) and school-age children (41.2%). LM and RDTs were reliable only at parasite densities > 10,000 parasites/µL. Individuals who were positive according to all three tests had significantly greater parasite density (856.8 parasites/µL; 95% CI 707.3–1,038) than did those who were positive by varATS qPCR only (13.7 parasites/µL; 95% CI 11.4–16.3) (p < 0.0001). No pfhrp2 deletions were observed. The high prevalence of asymptomatic and subpatent infections highlights the need for targeted strategies to reduce malaria in urban Côte d'Ivoire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Christophe Boesch, a pioneer in primatology, passed away suddenly on January 14, 2024. His dedication to understanding and protecting chimpanzee societies has inspired research and conservation efforts worldwide. Boesch conducted groundbreaking research on nut-cracking behavior and hunting behavior in chimpanzees, and his studies supported the idea that chimpanzees are cultural beings. He established the Taï Chimpanzee Project and the Ozouga chimpanzee field site, resulting in numerous scientific publications and documentaries. Boesch also played a crucial role in chimpanzee conservation, founding the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation and advocating for the establishment of national parks in West Africa. His legacy will continue through his field sites and the work of the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation. [Extracted from the article]

We propose an effective method for removing thermal vibrations that complicate the task of analyzing complex dynamics in atomistic simulation of condensed matter. Our method iteratively subtracts thermal noises or perturbations in atomic positions using a denoising score function trained on synthetically noised but otherwise perfect crystal lattices. The resulting denoised structures clearly reveal underlying crystal order while retaining disorder associated with crystal defects. Purely geometric, agnostic to interatomic potentials, and trained without inputs from explicit simulations, our denoiser can be applied to simulation data generated from vastly different interatomic interactions. The denoiser is shown to improve existing classification methods, such as common neighbor analysis and polyhedral template matching, reaching perfect classification accuracy on a recent benchmark dataset of thermally perturbed structures up to the melting point. Demonstrated here in a wide variety of atomistic simulation contexts, the denoiser is general, robust, and readily extendable to delineate order from disorder in structurally and chemically complex materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) plays a crucial role in metabolizing approximately 20% of medications prescribed clinically. This enzyme is encoded by the CYP2D6 gene, known for its extensive polymorphism with over 170 catalogued haplotypes or star alleles, which can have a profound impact on drug efficacy and safety. Despite its importance, a gap exists in the global genomic databases, which are predominantly representative of European ancestries, thereby limiting comprehensive knowledge of CYP2D6 variation in ethnically diverse populations. In an effort to bridge this knowledge gap, we focused on elucidating the CYP2D6 variation landscape within a multi-ethnic Asian cohort, encompassing individuals of Chinese, Malay, and Indian descent. Our study comprised data analysis of 1850 whole genomes from the SG10K_Health dataset using an in-house consensus algorithm, which integrates the capabilities of Cyrius, Aldy, and StellarPGx. This analysis unveiled distinct population-specific star-allele distribution trends, highlighting the unique genetic makeup of the Singaporean population. Significantly, 46% of our cohort harbored actionable CYP2D6 variants—those with direct implications for drug dosing and treatment strategies. Furthermore, we identified 14 potential novel CYP2D6 star-alleles, of which 7 were observed in multiple individuals, suggesting their broader relevance. Overall, our study contributes novel data on CYP2D6 genetic variations specific to the Southeast Asian context. The findings are instrumental for the advancement of pharmacogenomics and personalized medicine, not only in Southeast Asia but also in other regions with comparable genetic diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To effectively address biodiversity loss, it is essential to prioritize conservation efforts by identifying areas of high conservation value. Ecological uniqueness is a valuable metric for this purpose that decomposes beta diversity into local contributions to beta diversity (LCBD), thereby measuring the contribution of each site within a region to overall biodiversity variation. LCBD has been used extensively to evaluate ecological uniqueness from community composition data, but biodiversity is a multifaceted concept, and community-based ecological uniqueness may not capture the full range of ecological uniqueness occurring at other levels of biological organization. We investigated ecological uniqueness estimates derived from community and species population levels in a watershed of south-central Chile and analyzed their responses to water and habitat quality variables. Ecological uniqueness was estimated at the community level from fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages and at the population level using genetic and morphological data gathered for two invertebrates, the gastropod Chilina dombeiana and the water bug Aquarius chilensis. Our results revealed low spatial congruence between the levels of ecological uniqueness calculated for these different biodiversity components, with mismatches occurring among sites with high LCBD values. Water and habitat quality were major drivers of beta diversity in this watershed, accounting for 43.8% to 74.3% of the spatial variation in LCBDs, and their effects differed among the ecological uniqueness estimates. Overall, our results underscore the idiosyncratic nature of ecological uniqueness metrics, emphasizing the importance of using multiple components of biodiversity to guide conservation actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanotechnology is making exceptional progress in the medical field. The development of new systems for the delivery of plant ingredients brings benefits such as good bioavailability, solubility, sustained release, and enhanced potential. To the best of our knowledge, there is no report on nanocomposites from Tetrapleura tetraptera despite its wide range of ethnopharmacological uses including management of inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to prepare chitosan- and cellulose-based nanocomposites with anti-inflammatory potential. The biocomposites showed an encapsulation efficiency of 69.4%. Their formation was confirmed by a peak at 290 nm in UV–Vis. Infrared spectrophotometry proved the formation of a mixed polysaccharide and polyphenol system. No signs of toxicity and no deaths were found; therefore, the lethal dose 50 (LD50) is higher than 2000 mg/kg. The biocomposite has an anti-inflammatory activity in vitro with a maximum inhibition of 99.5% and an anti-inflammatory activity in vivo with a maximum inhibition of 98.7% for a dose of 200 mg/kg. The synthesized biocomposites from the aqueous extract of the fruits of Tetrapleura tetraptera showed an anti-inflammatory property with satisfactory safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We aimed to describe the psychosocial adjustments according to return to work (RTW) trajectories in breast cancer survivors (BCS) using a sequential and temporal approach. Methods: We used BCS data included from February 2015 to April 2016 in the Longitudinal Study on Behavioural, Economic and Sociological Changes after Cancer (ELCCA) cohort. RTW trajectories were identified using the sequence analysis method followed by a clustering. Anxiety and depression were assessed using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale and the EORTC quality of life questionnaire was used at inclusion and all follow-up visits to assess Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL). Results: Fifty-two BCS were included in the study among whom four clusters of RTW trajectories were identified and labeled: slow RTW (N = 10), quick RTW (N = 27), partial RTW (N = 8), and part-time work (N = 7). Quick and slow RTW clusters showed slightly lower baseline mean levels of anxiety and higher levels of HRQoL. In the 4 years following diagnosis, BCS in the quick RTW cluster tended to report higher HRQoL in terms of functioning and less symptoms of pain and fatigue while those in the partial RTW cluster showed a lower HRQoL on almost all dimensions. All clusters showed an increase in pain and fatigue symptoms until 6 months followed by a tendency to recover baseline levels. Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that BCS who return to full-time work (slow and quick RTW patterns) recover better than patients who return to part-time work (partial and part-time RTW patterns). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Despite the combination of chalkboard lectures and cadaveric models, the ear remains a complex anatomical structure that is difficult for medical students to grasp. The aim of this study was to evaluate the contribution of a 3D-printed ear model for educating undergraduate medical students by comparing it with a conventional cadaveric model. Methods: Models of the ear comprising the outer ear, tympanic membrane, ossicles and inner ear were modeled and then 3D-printed at 6:1 and 10:1 scales based on cadaveric dissection and CT, cone-beam CT and micro/nano CT scans. Cadaveric models included two partially dissected dry temporal bones and ossicles. Twenty-four 3rd year medical students were given separate access to cadaveric models (n = 12) or 3D-printed models (n = 12). A pre-test and two post-tests were carried out to assess knowledge (n = 24). A satisfaction questionnaire focusing solely on the 3D-printed model, comprising 17 items assessed on a 5-point Likert scale, was completed by all study participants. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire comprising four items (realism, color, quality and satisfaction with the 3D-printed ear model) was given to three expert anatomy Professors. Results: The test scores on the first post-test were higher for the students who had used the 3D-printed models (p < 0.05). Overall satisfaction among the students and the experts was very high, averaging 4.7 on a 5-point Likert-type satisfaction scale. Conclusion: This study highlights the overall pedagogical value of a 3D-printed model for learning ear anatomy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Very complex aquatic ecosystem, the mangrove forest colonizes coastal lagoons, estuaries and deltas in tropical and subtropical zones. This study investigates the impact of mangrove vegetation on tidal propagation in the Somone Coastal Lagoon, located on the Senegalese small coast. The analysis of new field data is complemented with the application of a 3D circulation model accounting for vegetation. The analysis of well-reproduced water levels and currents over the whole lagoon make it possible to spatially study the amplitudes of the main tidal harmonics, semi-diurnal (M2), diurnal (K1) and the major overtide (M4). The comparison between our baseline model accounting for vegetation and a configuration without vegetation reveals firstly that the mangrove strongly attenuates tidal propagation in the lagoon, whit a stronger impact on semi-diurnal waves than diurnal waves. Tidal currents are also strongly reduced when the mangrove is accounted for, even close to the inlet mouth, far away from vegetation areas. The mangrove also enhances tidal asymmetry and promotes ebb dominance, both in terms of duration (ebbs last from 0.5 up to 3 h more than floods) and current magnitude (ebb currents are about 50% stronger). Spring tides accentuate ebb-dominance compared to neap tides, where tidal asymmetry is weaker. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The least significant change (LSC) threshold of 0.03 g/cm² is used to interpret bone mineral density (BMD) scans in the general population. Our working hypothesis was that the current LSC threshold would not be applicable in obese populations. Aims: The aim of this study was to calculate the LSC in an obese population. Methods: We performed an interventional study among 120 obesity patients, in whom two measurements of BMD were performed at 3 sites. Pairs of measures were used to calculate the LSC, using the Bland and Altman method. Results: We calculated that the LSC was 0.046 g/cm² at the lumbar spine, 0.069 g/cm² at the femoral neck, and 0.06 g/cm² at the total hip. We also calculated the LSC for each class of obesity and observed an increase in LSC with increasing body mass index (BMI). We calculated a LSC of 0.05 g/cm² in patients with class 2 or class 3 obesity, whereas the LSC in patients with class 1 obesity is similar to the threshold used in the general population. Discussion: In obese population, like BMD, LSC is higher than the threshold value of the general population, and increases with increasing BMI.Conclusion: LSC of 0.05 g/cm² could be used in clinical practice in patients with class 2 or 3 obesity. These findings should help to improve the interpretation of BMD scans in these patients and optimize their management. Trial registration number: Comité de Protection des Personnes Ile-de France VII, France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A regular fourth order differential equation which depends quadratically on the eigenvalue parameter λ is considered with classes of separable boundary conditions, where exactly one of the boundary conditions depends on λ linearly. This problem is described by a quadratic operator polynomial with self-adjoint operators. The location of the eigenvalues is investigated and the first four terms of the eigenvalues are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is the most expensive spice in the world. Saffron is costly due to the meagre yield per acre and exorbitant manpower costs. The three key compounds in saffron are crocin, picrocrocin and safranal, which are responsible for its colour, bitterness and flavour, respectively. The aim of this study was to exploit the bittering, aromatic and colouring properties of saffron to formulate a craft beer with refined taste and colour. As a result of the elevated price of the raw material, the saffron extraction process was optimised to achieve the best results using as little spice as possible. Thus, the extraction yields of two different methods were ascertained. To assess the ideal concentration of saffron to obtain a beverage with a balanced taste, three beers containing increasing concentrations of the spice were brewed. Then, once a sensory test was performed, another three samples were produced with the minimum dose of the spice (50 mg/L), added at various times during the production process (at 5 and 20 min before the end of the boiling stage, during the whirlpool stage and during refermentation). The purpose was to evaluate the consequences of heat treatment on crocin, picrocrocin and safranal compounds provided to the beer. All of the beer samples underwent routine analyses (alcoholic strength, Plato, IBU, colour and pH) and were analysed by spectrophotometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the Modulation Instability in inhomogenous nonlinear optical fiber having higher-order effects and external potential, governed by the variable-coeffcients Hirota equation. The inhomogeneities are traduced by space dependent Group Velocity Dispersion and Kerr coefficients. A new skill of dispersion management is used, which consists of continuous spatial variation of the dispersion coefficient instead of discrete variation that used to be taken from one positive value to a negative value alternatively. Continuous distribution of dispersion is considered in four patherns: sinusoidal function, triangular Fourrier series function, rectangular Fourrier series function and saw tooth Fourrier series function. From the continuous wave analysis, it appears that the MI gain is space dependent. The numerical analysis reveals that the MI gain varies similarly to the dispersion function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The decomposition of an inert body seems to depend on the physiological, biological and physical characteristics of the corpse. The effect of these, especially of extra-biological mechanisms, on the rate of decomposition of the corpse does not seem to be sufficiently explored. The present work proposes to examine the influence of the type of feeding on the rate of cadaver decomposition in a human surrogate. It is based on a sample of four corpses of juvenile male pigs of the species Sus scrofa domesticus, three of which are experimental and one is a control aged 12 weeks and having a mass between 19 and 24 kg. The three experimental pigs were fed an energetic, construction and functional diet respectively. The control was fed a general diet. These different carcasses are exposed to the open air on four similar sites. The experiment is repeated twice, according to the protocol that guided the initial experiment conducted on comparable sites (eight cadavers, six experimental and two control). The measurement of the pigs' diet was done through a questionnaire. The mass of the decomposing carcass was explored by a specific tool, in this case, the weighing device. The results show that the rate of decomposition of the cadaver of pigs fed a general diet is higher than that of the cadavers of their counterparts fed construction, functional or energy diets. The type of diet would therefore influence the rate of decomposition of the cadaver of a human surrogate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Among the existing techniques for the correction of mandibular posterior vertical insufficiency (PVI), the intra-oral ramus vertical lengthening osteotomy (IORVLO) can be proposed as it allows simultaneous correction of mandibular height and retrusion. This study assessed the 3D morpho-anatomical changes of the ramus-condyle unit and occlusal stability after IORVLO. Materials and methods: This retrospective analysis compared immediate and 1-year post-operative 3D CBCT reconstructions. The analysis focused on the condylar height (primary endpoint) and on the changes in condylar (condylar diameter, condylar axis angle) and mandibular (ramus height, Frankfort-mandibular plane angle, gonion position, intergonial distance, angular remodeling) parameters. Additionally, this analysis investigated the maxillary markers and occlusal stability. Results: On the 38 condyles studied in 21 included patients (mean age 23.7 ± 3.9 years), a condylar height (CH) loss of 0.66 mm (p < 0,03) was observed, with no correlation with the degree of ramus lengthening (mean 13.3 ± 0.76 mm). Only one patient presented an occlusal relapse of Class II, but a 3.4 mm (28%) condylar diameter loss and a 33% condylar volume reduction with loss of 1 mm and 3.4 mm in CH and condyle diameter, respectively. A mean 3.56 mm (p < 0.001) decrease in ramus height was noted, mainly due to bone resorption in the mandibular angles. Conclusion: This study confirms the overall stability obtained with IORVLO for the correction of PVI. Clinical relevance: This study aims to precise indication of IORVLO, and to validate the clinical and anatomical stability of results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New tertiary ferrocenyl stibines (I and III) and bismuthine (II) have been synthesized. All these compounds have been characterized by IR, MS, and NMR spectroscopy and the molecular structures of I–III have been determined by X-ray crystallography. Compounds I–III have also been studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV). Crystal structures of homoleptic stibine and bismuthine (I, II) adopt a "propeller" configuration with the three ferrocenyl groups tilted to minimize interatomic repulsion and exhibit helicoidal chirality. The structures of I and III show that both the stibines exhibit an intramolecular C−H···C interaction. The voltammograms of stibines show that E1/2 values are more positive than that of ferrocene indicating that oxidation of Fc3Sb is slightly more challenging in comparison to ferrocene. Triferrocenyl bismuthine (II) displays two redox waves with low resolution and a non-reversible process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fourth order problems with the differential equation y (4) - (g y ′) ′ = λ 2 y , where g ∈ C 1 [ 0 , a ] and a > 0 , occur in engineering on stability of elastic rods. They occur as well in aeronautics to describe the stability of a flexible missile. Fourth order Birkhoff regular problems with the differential equation y (4) - (g y ′) ′ = λ 2 y and eigenvalue dependent boundary conditions are considered. These problems have quadratic operator representations with non-self-adjoint operators. The first four terms of the asymptotics of the eigenvalues of the problems as well as those of the eigenvalues of the problem describing the stability of a flexible missile are evaluated explicitly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt threatens rice cultivation in many countries. Hence, breeding new varieties with high salt tolerance is important. A panel of 2,391 rice accessions from the 3 K Rice Genome Project was selected to evaluate salt tolerance via the standard evaluation score (SES) in hydroponics under 60 mM NaCl at the seedling stage. Three sub-population panels including 1,332, 628, and 386 accessions from the original 2,391 ones were constructed based on low relatedness revealed by a phylogenetic tree generated by Archaeopteryx Tree. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was conducted on the entire and sub-population panels using SES data and a selection of 5, 10, 20, and 40% of SNPs selected from the original 1,011,601 SNPs by filtering minor allele frequency > 5% and missing rate < 5%. To perform GWAS, three methods implemented in three different software packages were utilized. Using the integration of GWAS programs, a total of four QTLs associated with SES scores were identified in different panels. Some QTLs co-located with previously detected QTL-related traits. qSES1.1 was detected in three panels, qSES1.3 and qSES2.1 in two panels, and qSES3.1 in one panel through GWAS by all three methods used and selected SNPs. These four QTLs were selected to detect candidate genes. Combining gene-based association study plus haplotype analysis in the entire population and the three sub-populations let us shortlist three candidate genes, viz. LOC_Os01g23640 and LOC_Os01g23680 for qSES1.1, and LOC_Os01g71240 for qSES1.3 region affecting salt tolerance. The identified QTLs and candidate genes provided useful materials and genetic information for future functional characterization and genetic improvement of salt tolerance in rice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

African giant pouched rat (AGPR) is widely used both to conduct research projects and for meat consumption. However, being a nocturnal animal, light exposure requires a specific attention in order to improve their rearing environment. The study aimed to appreciate the effects of light exposure on hematological and oxidative stress parameters in AGPR bred in captivity. Twenty adult males AGPR weighing 945 ± 171 g were randomly allocated into four photoperiod regimes: 0L/24D, 12L/12D, 18L/06D, and 24L/0D. Housed singly during 56 days, animals received food and water ad libitum. At the end of the trial, blood and serum were collected for studied parameters analysis. The study revealed a significant (p < 0.05) increase of the number of red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobin (HGB), and hematocrit (HCT) in animals kept in the darkness condition compared to those reared under extended photoperiods. Except for malondialdehyde (MDA) level which was not affected by photoperiod, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity increased significantly (p < 0.05) for any light exposure up to 12 h per day. In conclusion, photoperiod affects the most hematological characteristics measured and has stressful effects in AGPR. This new knowledge provides a relevant information for the rearing environment of African giant pouched rat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a rare skeletal disorder in which normal bone is replaced by a fibro-osseous tissue, resulting in possible deformities and fractures. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to synthesize the available evidence on the use of antiresorptive drugs in FD in terms of changes in bone turnover markers (BTMs), bone mineral density (BMD), and reducing pain. Three databases were searched in October 2022, with an update in July 2023. Of the 1037 studies identified, 21 were retained after eligibility assessment. A random-effects model was used to calculate global effect size and the corresponding standard error. Pamidronate and Denosumab were the most reported drugs in a total of 374 patients assessed. The initiation of treatments was accompanied by an average reduction of 40.5% [CI95% -51.6, -29.3] in the bone resorption parameters, and 22.0% [CI95% -31.9, -12.1] in the parameters of bone formation after 6–12 months. BMD was increased in both FD lesions and in the unaffected skeleton. Pain was reduced by 32.7% [CI95% -52.7, -12.6] after 6–12 months of treatment, and by 44.5% [CI95% -65.3, -23.6] after a mean 41.2 months of follow-up. The variation in pain was highly correlated to variation in bone resorption (R2 = 0.08, p < 0.0001) and formation parameters (R2 = 0.17, p < 0.0001). This study supports the overall efficacy of antiresorptive therapies in terms of reducing bone remodeling, improving bone density, and pain in FD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Machine learning (ML) methods showed a higher accuracy in identifying individuals without cancer who were unable to return to work (RTW) compared to the classical methods (e.g. logistic regression models). We therefore aim to discuss the value of these methods in relation to RTW for cancer survivors. Methods: Breast cancer (BC) survivors who were working at diagnosis within the CONSTANCES cohort were included in the study. RTW was assessed five years after the BC diagnosis (early retirement was considered as non-RTW). Age and occupation at diagnosis, and physical occupational job exposures assessed using the Job Exposure Matrix, JEM-CONSTANCES, were evaluated as predictors of RTW five years after BC diagnosis. The following four ML methods were used: (i) k-nearest neighbors; (ii) random forest; (iii) neural network; and (iv) elastic net. Results: The training sample included 683 BC survivors (RTW: 85.7%), and the test sample 171 (RTW: 85.4%). The elastic net method had the best results despite low sensitivity (accuracy = 76.6%; sensitivity = 31.7%; specificity = 90.8%), and the random forest model was the most accurate (= 79.5%) but also the least sensitive (= 14.3%). Conclusion: This study takes a first step towards opening up new possibilities for identifying the occupational determinants of cancer survivors' RTW. Further work, including a larger sample size, and more predictor variables, is now needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electroreduction of CO2 has been abundantly studied, but little attention has been given to the reaction occurring at the anode of this electrolyzer. Herein, we report one of the rare attempts to investigate the anode and potential reactions that could occur on this electrode during CO2 electrolysis. The electrooxidation of several aqueous pollutants, sulfamethazine (SMT), carbamazepine (CMP), ketamine and acetaminophen (ACE) was investigated at the anode of a CO2 electrolysis cell. Pulsed laser ablation in liquid (PLAL) was used to prepare the catalysts. PLAL is a versatile, environmentally safe technique used to create nanoparticles for electrocatalysis. Herein, bismuth nanoparticles were prepared as the CO2 reduction catalyst, as previously reported. Nickel nanoparticles were used for both the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and the oxidation of the aqueous pollutants. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the nickel nanoparticles indicates the production of monodisperse nanoparticles, with a 7.8 ± 2.8 nm average diameter. After evaluating the stability of the targeted pollutants, we focused on sulfamethazine, carbamazepine and acetaminophen due to their stability in aqueous environment. Among the various anode catalysts tested, nickel nanoparticles were the most versatile in degrading these pollutants; thus, further measurements were taken with this catalyst. A brief optimization of the degradation conditions (pH and potential) was also done, showing most efficient degradation at pH = 9 and 1.4 V vs Ag/AgCl. Once completed, CO2 reduction was coupled with the oxidation of a matrix of all three pollutants. The results show that the efficiency of the CO2 reduction was mostly unaffected by the combined presence of the pollutants at the anode. Oxidation of the target pharmaceuticals was also comparable to previous tests, reaching 62% for CMP, 53% for SMT and 33% for ACE within 20 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Future European agriculture should achieve high productivity while limiting its impact on the environment. Legume-supported crop rotations could contribute to these goals, as they request less nitrogen (N) fertilizer inputs, show high resource use efficiency and support biodiversity. However, legumes grown for their grain (pulses) are not widely cultivated in Europe. To further expand their cultivation, it remains crucial to better understand how different cropping and environmental features affect pulses production in Europe. To address this gap, we collected the grain yields of the most cultivated legumes across European countries, from both published scientific papers and unpublished experiments of the European projects LegValue and Legato. Data were integrated into an open-source, easily updatable dataset, including 5229 yield observations for five major pulses: chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), faba bean (Vicia faba L.), field pea (Pisum sativum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), and soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.). These data were collected in 177 field experiments across 21 countries, from 37° N (southern Italy) to 63° N (Finland) of latitude, and from ca. 8° W (western Spain) to 47° E (Turkey), between 1980 and 2020. Our dataset can be used to quantify the effects of the soil, climate, and agronomic factors affecting pulses yields in Europe and could contribute to identifying the most suitable cropping areas in Europe to grow pulses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL) is an oceanic-continental megastructure prone to geo-hazards, including landslide/mudslide, gully erosion and flash floods targeted in this paper. Recent geospatial practices advocated a multi-hazard analysis approach supported by artificial intelligence. This study proposes the Multi-Geoenvironmental Hazards Susceptibility (MGHS) tool, by combining Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) with Machine Learning (ML) over the North-Moungo perimeter (Littoral Region, Cameroon). Methods: Twenty-four factors were constructed from satellite imagery, global geodatabase and fieldwork data. Multicollinearity among these factors was quantified using the tolerance coefficient (TOL) and variance inflation factor (VIF). The AHP coefficients were used to weigh the factors and produce a preliminary map per Geoenvironmental hazard through weighted linear combination (WLC). The sampling was conducted based on events records and analyst knowledge to proceed with classification using Google Earth Engine (GEE) cloud computing interface. Classification and Regression Trees (CART), Random Forest (RF) and Gradient Boosting Regression Trees (GBRT), were used as basic learners of the stacked hazard factors, whereas, Support Vector Regression (SVR), was used for a meta-learning. Results: The rainfall was ranked as the highest triggering factor for all Geoenvironmental hazards according to AHP, with a coefficient of 1, while the after-learning importance assessment was more varied. The area under receiver operating characteristic (AUROC/AUC) was always more than 0.96, and F1-score is between [0.86–0.88] for basic classifiers. Landslides, gully erosion and flash floods showed different spatial distributions, confirming then their probability of co-occurrence. MGHS outputs clearly displayed two and three simultaneous occurrences. Finally, the human vulnerability assessed with population layer and SVR outputs showed that high human concentrations are also the most exposed, using the example of Nkongsamba's extract. Conclusions: Combining AHP with single learners, then a meta-learner, was efficient in modelling MGHS and related human vulnerability. Interactions among geo-environmental hazards are the next step and city councils are recommended to integrate results in the planning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vector control strategies have been successful in reducing the number of malaria cases and deaths globally, but the spread of insecticide resistance represents a significant threat to disease control. Insecticide resistance has been reported across Anopheles (An.) vector populations, including species within the An. funestus group. These mosquitoes are responsible for intense malaria transmission across sub-Saharan Africa, including in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a country contributing > 12% of global malaria infections and mortality events. To support the continuous efficacy of vector control strategies, it is essential to monitor insecticide resistance using molecular surveillance tools. In this study, we developed an amplicon sequencing ("Amp-seq") approach targeting An. funestus, and using multiplex PCR, dual index barcoding, and next-generation sequencing for high throughput and low-cost applications. Using our Amp-seq approach, we screened 80 An. funestus field isolates from the DRC across a panel of nine genes with mutations linked to insecticide resistance (ace-1, CYP6P4, CYP6P9a, GSTe2, vgsc, and rdl) and mosquito speciation (cox-1, mtND5, and ITS2). Amongst the 18 non-synonymous mutations detected, was N485I, in the ace-1 gene associated with carbamate resistance. Overall, our panel represents an extendable and much-needed method for the molecular surveillance of insecticide resistance in An. funestus populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Local contribution to beta-diversity (LCBD) assesses community composition uniqueness of sites within a region. While it is useful to identify sites with exceptional species composition and, thus, prioritize conservation actions, it is unclear what determines community uniqueness in patchy habitats. Objectives: The goal of this study was to clarify the processes underlying community uniqueness in fragmented landscapes and understand how habitat characteristics and community characteristics affect this beta-based diversity indicator. Methods: We simulated neutral metacommunities and used a variance-based method to assess the contribution of each habitat patch to total beta-diversity, both in terms of replacement and abundance difference. Then, we analyzed the effects of patch and metacommunity characteristics on LCBD. Results: Community uniqueness in species replacement and richness/abundance differences responded differently to community and patch features. Patch quality was the habitat attribute with the strongest effects on all community uniqueness aspects, leading to singular assemblages with high species richness and abundance of rare species. While patch connectivity promoted singular assemblages with high richness, patch size increased community uniqueness in species replacement over time, favoring assemblages with high abundances of rare species. Conclusions: Community uniqueness in species replacement and richness/abundance differences convey different information and should be considered separately to propose adequate conservation strategies. Habitat quality emerged as a critical factor in shaping beta-diversity, suggesting that it should be a primary focus of conservation efforts. Future studies are needed to evaluate the generality of our results in different spatial and ecological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to its persistence and potential ecological and health impacts, mercury (Hg) is a global pollutant of major concern that may reach high concentrations even in remote polar oceans. In contrast to the Arctic Ocean, studies documenting Hg contamination in the Southern Ocean are spatially restricted and large-scale monitoring is needed. Here, we present the first circumpolar assessment of Hg contamination in Antarctic marine ecosystems. Specifically, the Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) was used as a bioindicator species, to examine regional variation across 24 colonies distributed across the entire Antarctic continent. Mercury was measured on body feathers collected from both adults (n = 485) and chicks (n = 48) between 2005 and 2021. Because penguins' diet represents the dominant source of Hg, feather δ13C and δ15N values were measured as proxies of feeding habitat and trophic position. As expected, chicks had lower Hg concentrations (mean ± SD: 0.22 ± 0.08 μg·g‒1) than adults (0.49 ± 0.23 μg·g‒1), likely because of their shorter bioaccumulation period. In adults, spatial variation in feather Hg concentrations was driven by both trophic ecology and colony location. The highest Hg concentrations were observed in the Ross Sea, possibly because of a higher consumption of fish in the diet compared to other sites (krill-dominated diet). Such large-scale assessments are critical to assess the effectiveness of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. Owing to their circumpolar distribution and their ecological role in Antarctic marine ecosystems, Adélie penguins could be valuable bioindicators for tracking spatial and temporal trends of Hg across Antarctic waters in the future. Highlights: Adélie penguins are relevant bioindicators of Hg contamination in Antarctic marine ecosystems. Feather Hg concentrations were measured in 24 breeding colonies (adults and chicks). The highest Hg concentrations were found in the Ross Sea. Both trophic ecology and colony location drove feather Hg concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restoration of degraded lands has received increased attention in recent years and many commitments have been made as part of global and regional restoration initiatives. Well-informed policy decisions that support land restoration, require spatially explicit information on restoration potentials to guide the design and implementation of restoration interventions in the context of limited resources. This study assessed ecosystems indicators of land degradation using a systematic approach that combines field surveys and remote sensing data into a set of multi-criteria analyses to map restoration potentials in the semi-arid areas. The indicators considered were soil organic carbon, erosion prevalence, enhanced vegetation index, Normalized differences water index and the Net Primary productivity. Three classes of restoration potential were established: (1) areas not in need of immediate restoration due low degradation status, (2) areas with high potential for restoration with moderate efforts required and (3) areas in critical need of restoration and require high level of efforts. Of the total area of the study site estimated at 88,344 km2, 59,146.12 km2, or 66.94% of the theoretically recoverable area, was considered suitable for restoration, of which 38% required moderate efforts while 28% require less efforts. The recoverable areas suitable for restoration could be restored through tree planting, soil and water conservation practices, farmers managed natural regeneration, and integrated soil fertility management. These results can help to spatially identify suitable multifunctional restoration and regeneration hotspots as an efficient way to prioritize restoration interventions in the context of limited resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article in the Journal of Plant Pathology reports the first instance of 'Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum' (Lso) affecting carrot plants in mainland Italy. The study conducted in Central Italy identified Lso haplotype E in symptomatic carrots, showing yellow and purple discoloration of leaves and secondary root proliferation. While the symptoms did not cause significant damage to the crops at the time of the study, the presence of both the pathogen and vector raises concerns about potential future disease severity. The research was supported by the Italian Ministry of Agriculture and the datasets will be made publicly available in the Genbank repository. [Extracted from the article]

Increasing the efficiency of photovoltaic (PV) solar panels is more and more the quest of many scientists because it is renewable and non-polluting energy. For this purpose, various methods and techniques are used, among which is the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) method, which has a certain interest because it does not require additional mechanical devices. One of the most used MPPT methods is the Hill Climbing (HC) method which has known a lot of evolution with time. The objective of this work is to scrutinize and present a comprehensive review of the improved Hill Climbing algorithms for tracking the Maximum Power Point (MPP) in PV systems. In-depth descriptions of the many HC techniques, including their algorithms, tracking effectiveness, modeling, mathematical equations, software, and hardware implementations, as well as the most current advancements in the field, are presented in this review study. After this investigation one can conclude that HC MPPT still has good interest and newer improvements are soon to arise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foam injections in porous medium were performed throughout various objectives from Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) in 1970s to In Situ Environmental Remediation (ISER) in the mid-1980s. Several foam models were developed with the will to reproduce laboratory experiments and then, field applications related to different working conditions. Nevertheless, compressible effects on the gas phase remain sparsely investigated on both experimentation interpretations and foam models. In this paper, we present a compressible interpretation of a 1D core foam injection experiment, showing that gas compressibility has a pronounced effect despite a relative high working pressure. Based on experimental pressure values along the core, a semi-analytical Local Equilibrium (LE) foam model using a Mobility Factor FM was set and variables behaviour along the core were investigated. Then, foam parameters (fmmob, fmdry and epdry) were determined, and the laboratory experiment was successfully simulated using this compressible solver. Numerical simulations were then performed using the incompressible and compressible solvers. ∇ P = f (f g) | U t = c o n s t a n t extrapolated curves for both solvers were plotted and compared to highlight the role of compressibility. Moreover, coupled effects of foam compressibility and foam rheology were discussed. Article Highlights: A large part of foam injections in porous medium are greatly impacted by gas decompression. Foam flowing properties interpretation in a 1D core experiment is updated and discussed. The gas phase compressiblity appears as a key parameter for field applications to counter the radial effect around the wellbore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the toxoplasmosis serological status in pregnant women is important to allow adequate management for the prevention of congenital toxoplasmosis of those who are not immunized. Serological screening is generally carried out using commercial kits to determine the presence or absence of immunoglobulins M or G in the maternal blood. Robust results are therefore needed. We evaluated the performances of a commercial ELISA assay composed of several recombinant parasite antigens and of a commercial assay using parasite lysate to determine the serological status against Toxoplasma gondii of African pregnant women. A recruitment of 106 pregnant women during their third trimester of pregnancy was carried out in Benin. Serologies were performed with recomWell Toxoplasma IgM and IgG kits. Subsequently, the serological assays were carried out by an automaton method with the VIDAS® TOXO IgM and IgG II kits. Here we compared recomWell Toxoplasma to VIDAS® TOXO results. Reproducibility tests of the recomWell kits were assessed following the discrepancies observed in the results. Of 106 plasmas tested, 47 showed anti-T. gondii IgG (44.3%), including 5 with IgM and high IgG avidity (4.7%). Of the two techniques, VIDAS® TOXO was more robust and specific for IgG while the recomWell Toxoplasma gave more false positive results. The combination of several techniques for the determination of serological toxoplasmosis status remains relevant. Methods using native proteins are closer to the reality of the environment. Therefore, kits using recombinant proteins should be tested on highly geographically diverse populations to refine their composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most Drosophila transposable elements are LTR retrotransposons, some of which belong to the genus Errantivirus and share structural and functional characteristics with vertebrate endogenous retroviruses. Like endogenous retroviruses, it is unclear whether errantiviruses retain some infectivity and transposition capacity. We created conditions where control of the Drosophila ZAM errantivirus through the piRNA pathway was abolished leading to its de novo reactivation in somatic gonadal cells. After reactivation, ZAM invaded the oocytes and severe fertility defects were observed. While ZAM expression persists in the somatic gonadal cells, the germline then set up its own adaptive genomic immune response by producing piRNAs against the constantly invading errantivirus, restricting invasion. Our results suggest that although errantiviruses are continuously repressed by the piRNA pathway, they may retain their ability to infect the germline and transpose, thus allowing them to efficiently invade the germline if they are expressed.Yoth et al. report that some mobile retrovirus-like genetic elements, errantiviruses, pose a threat to genome integrity when reactivated in somatic gonadal tissue, showing that they can infect the oocyte and transpose into the germline genome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the diagnosis and medical care of men who seek ablation of their genitalia without a desire for feminization. Topics include reasons for not electing vaginoplasty, subgroups of men who seek genital ablation outside of any desire for feminization, and endocrine treatment considerations.

Improving nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) under salt stress has become crucial for rice as it is increasingly facing two major environmental constraints: excessive nitrogen fertilization and soil salinization. However, the interaction between salinity and N levels is very complex and has not yet been considered from the perspective of reduced nitrogen input. We conducted a hydroponic experiment at the early tillering stage on the Yoshida solution to evaluate the impact of rising NaCl and decreasing N application on NUE of four rice cultivars cultivated under three NaCl (0, 56, and 113 mM) and four N (2.86, 1.43, 0.72, and 0.36 mM) concentrations. After 4 weeks, physiological NUE (pNUE), absorption NUE (aNUE), agronomical NUE (agNUE), N transport efficiency (NTE), and physiological traits were evaluated. Significant interactions between N and NaCl-applied concentrations were found in all measured parameters. In all cultivars, increasing the NaCl-applied concentration markedly decreased aNUE and agNUE. For each NaCl treatment, lowering the N applied sharply increased aNUE and agNUE, and this effect was stronger when the NaCl applied was higher. The effect of N lowering on pNUE depended on the NaCl treatment: it enhanced pNUE in the absence of NaCl but had no influence under the highest NaCl-applied concentration. Cultivars largely differed in response to NaCl. The aNUE—but not pNUE—differed between salt-tolerant and salt-sensitive cultivars: aNUE markedly decreased with NaCl concentration in the most salt-sensitive cultivar, whereas it was the highest at the intermediate NaCl concentration in the most salt-tolerant cultivar, especially under low N levels. This finding suggests that under salt conditions, the use of salt-tolerant rice genotypes combined with reducing N level application is necessary to improve NUE. The study of NUE in rice should be focused on the improvement of aNUE with a strong emphasis on the salt tolerance of cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work was designed to study a soil sequence in Mount Mandara, in order to identify the influence of altitude, soil characteristics, and land use on the accumulation of soil organic carbon (SOC). The study was conducted in four sites in the Far-North region of Cameroon, including Zamai, Kossohone, Sir, and Rhumsiki. Three pits were dug down to the weathering horizons in three positions (upslope, mid-slope, and footslope) along a representative toposequence in each site. Samples were taken from each pit at regular increment of 25 cm from the soil surface. The total SOC stock (T-SOCS) contents are 128.63 ± 5.25 Mg ha−1 in Arenosols at Zamai (608 m a.s.l.), 158.248 ± 10.52 Mg ha−1 in Leptosols at Kosohone (865 m a.s.l.), 158.99 ± 13.25 Mg ha−1 in Luvisols at Sir (970 m a.s.l.), and 144.79 ± 24.23 Mg ha−1 in Regosols at Rhumsiki (1050 m a.s.l.). The main secondary minerals are smectite, kaolinite, sepiolite, lepidocrocite, hematite, and calcite. Clay minerals and iron oxides are good receptacle for SOC and might constitute a major asset for the accumulation and the sequestration of SOC. Increase in elevation leads to decrease in the annual temperature which affect microbial activity, leading thus to a slow rate of soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition, which thereby affected SOCS. This is confirmed by the significant correlation between altitudinal gradient and T-SOCS (r = 0.70), with altitude contributing to the accumulation of SOC for 49.68%. Texture also plays a central role in carbon sequestration in the studied area, confirmed by the significant and positive correlation between silt fraction and SOM. Under Regosols, there is a decrease in T-SOCS value as a result of a reduction of the quantity of organic matter returned to the soil and more rapid SOM decomposition due to ploughing. This research provides a preliminary assessment for SOC stock at Mount Mandara. It suggests that altitudinal gradient, land use, and soil characteristics should be included in SOCS models and estimations at local and regional scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, it becomes of paramount societal importance to support many frail-prone groups in our society (elderly, patients with neurodegenerative diseases, etc.) to remain socially and physically active, maintain their quality of life, and avoid their loss of autonomy. Once older people enter the prefrail stage, they are already likely to experience falls whose consequences may accelerate the deterioration of their quality of life (injuries, fear of falling, reduction of physical activity). In that context, detecting frailty and high risk of fall at an early stage is the first line of defense against the detrimental consequences of fall. The second line of defense would be to develop original protocols to detect future fallers before any fall occur. This paper briefly summarizes the current advancements and perspectives that may arise from the combination of affordable and easy-to-use non-wearable systems (force platforms, 3D tracking motion systems), wearable systems (accelerometers, gyroscopes, inertial measurement units-IMUs) with appropriate machine learning analytics, as well as the efforts to address these challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrochemical reduction of CO2 to formate was investigated in seawater as an alternative electrolyte to the bicarbonate buffer commonly used. Bismuth nanoparticles were prepared by pulsed laser ablation in liquids in ethanol, avoiding the use of toxic reagents or solvents. TEM analysis showed the nanoparticles were monodisperse and had an average number weighted diameter of 13 ± 5 nm. XRD showed that the nanoparticles were metallic which could suggest the presence of a carbon shell on the nanoparticles. However, this potential carbon shell does not appear to interfere with the electrocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles. A stepwise optimization of the catalyst weight fraction, Nafion® content, and loading showed that the best performances were achieved for 90% wt. bismuth nanoparticles on carbon, at a loading of 0.25 mg cm−2 and with 0.24% wt. Nafion®. The electrolysis in seawater showed similar or improved results both in terms of onset potential (− 1 V vs Ag/AgCl) selectivity (81 ± 4%) and activity (− 47 ± 11 mA cm−2) when compared to the reference bicarbonate buffer, demonstrating that seawater is an abundant, affordable alternative to the current buffer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction : Bariatric surgery can become technically challenging in the setting of liver steatosis and hepatomegaly. The protein sparing modified fast (PSMF) diet helps in achieving rapid weight loss. The aim of this study is to explore the results of a preoperative PSMF diet on liver volume and steatosis as well as on intraoperative and postoperative complications in patients with hepatomegaly undergoing Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). Methods: Between January 2010 and January 2021, 713 patients undergoing RYGB as a primary bariatric surgery were divided in two groups. Those with a measured liver length above 16 cm and or evidence of liver steatosis on ultrasound (group 1) were offered a preoperative PSMF diet while the remaining (group 2) proceeded directly to surgery. Between January 2010 and April 2012, patients included in group 1 had liver volume measurements on magnetic resonance imaging the day before the diet was started and the day before the surgery. For the length of the study, intraoperative and postoperative data were recorded for both groups. Results: Five days of preoperative PSMF diet resulted in a significant reduction of total and left liver volume (15.8% and 21% respectively, p < 0.001). There was no difference in intraoperative bleeding and conversion rate or postoperative complication rate between both groups. Conclusion: The PSMF diet helps in achieving a rapid decrease in liver volume. Patients with hepatomegaly initially thought to be at a higher risk of intraoperative complications reached comparable rates to patients without hepatomegaly after the diet regimen without any impact on the postoperative course. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of agrochemical products strongly depends on the capability of the atomized droplets to reach the target site in the desired amount. Spray drift is the movement of droplets downwind of the target area, and its minimization is a growing concern to ensure operator health, protect the environment, achieve efficient crop protection and transform the spraying of phytosanitary products into a sustainable activity. In this contribution, a coupled atomization-spray drift model suitable for different types of nozzles is developed and validated against experimental data. Particularly, the article focuses on providing a simple simulation tool, based on a minimum number of input data that are easily accessable to predict the ground deposition spray drift of a nozzle. It was found that the atomized droplets size distribution can be accurately predicted just as a function of the median volumetric diameter, which was successfully estimated as a function of spray pressure, nozzle nominal flowrate and spray angle (commonly known data). Besides, the proposed model, based on bivariate probability density functions, is able to accurately represent different physical phenomena using a low number of calculations. Its implementation is possible using low-resource computing systems as required for sprayer on-board software tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work studies the influence of a mixed solar dryer with forced convection on the quality of cocoa beans. Data collection have been carried out during 6 days on a 10 kg sample. The dryer is based on a combination of direct and indirect models with forced convection for each. Its frame and its insulating part are made of wood and polystyrene respectively. The inner surface is covered with a thin layer of aluminum foil. A control and measuring device for air flow, temperature and humidity has been placed in the drying room. The direct solar part of the dryer allows the drying process to be accelerated, especially during the first drying phase. The proposed prototype dehydrated cocoa beans in two days with a moisture content that decreased from 53.4 to 4.6% for the beginning and the end of the drying process respectively, which validates the ISO 2451 standard. The drying process was conducted in an environment where the drying temperature and relative humidity were varying between 18 to 55°C and 28 to 80% respectively. Placing the same quantity of beans in the acceleration room, drying room and in the open air, for a quantity of water to be removed of about 5.07 kg of water, the water removal rates are about 0.32, 0.21 and 0.10 kg/h respectively for an effective daily average of 8 h. The drying efficiencies of the acceleration room and the drying room are 68 and 52% respectively, higher than those of the open air drying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of preprints in the scientific production and their part in citations have been growing over the past 10 years. In this paper we study preprint citations in several different aspects: the progression of preprint citations over time, their relative frequencies in relation to the IMRaD structure of articles, their distributions over time, per preprint database and per PLOS journal. We have processed the PLOS corpus that covers 7 journals and a total of about 240,000 articles up to January 2021, and produced a dataset of 8460 preprint citation contexts that cite 12 different preprint databases. Our results show that preprint citations are found with the highest frequency in the Method section of articles, though small variations exist with respect to journals. The PLOS Computational Biology journal stands out as it contains more than three times more preprint citations than any other PLOS journal. The relative parts of the different preprint databases are also examined. While ArXiv and bioRxiv are the most frequent citation sources, bioRxiv's disciplinary nature can be observed as it is the source of more than 70% of preprint citations in PLOS Biology, PLOS Genetics and PLOS Pathogens. We have also compared the lexical content of preprint citation contexts to the citation content to peer-reviewed publications. Finally, by performing a lexicometric analysis, we have shown that preprint citation contexts differ significantly from citation contexts of peer-reviewed publications. This confirms that authors make use of different lexical content when citing preprints compared to the rest of citations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Asian populations are under-represented in human genomics research. Here, we characterize clinically significant genetic variation in 9051 genomes representing East Asian, South Asian, and severely under-represented Austronesian-speaking Southeast Asian ancestries. We observe disparate genetic risk burden attributable to ancestry-specific recurrent variants and identify individuals with variants specific to ancestries discordant to their self-reported ethnicity, mostly due to cryptic admixture. About 27% of severe recessive disorder genes with appreciable carrier frequencies in Asians are missed by carrier screening panels, and we estimate 0.5% Asian couples at-risk of having an affected child. Prevalence of medically-actionable variant carriers is 3.4% and a further 1.6% harbour variants with potential for pathogenic classification upon additional clinical/experimental evidence. We profile 23 pharmacogenes with high-confidence gene-drug associations and find 22.4% of Asians at-risk of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Tier 1 genetic conditions concurrently harbour pharmacogenetic variants with actionable phenotypes, highlighting the benefits of pre-emptive pharmacogenomics. Our findings illuminate the diversity in genetic disease epidemiology and opportunities for precision medicine for a large, diverse Asian population. Clinically significant genetic variation in Asian populations is under-characterized. Here, the authors show the diversity in prevalence and spectrum of human disease and pharmacogenetic variants in a multi-ethnic Asian population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]