Relative Values Research Articles

Utilization of a pH-switchable hydrophilicity solvent for the microextraction of clomipramine from human urine samples

Clomipramine (CLP) is a tricyclic antidepressant drug, and its determination in biological samples is of high importance in clinical and forensic evaluations to assure appropriate drug concentrations. In the present study, benzoic acid was employed as a pH-switchable hydrophilicity solvent (SHS) for the microextraction of CLP from authentic human urine samples prior to its determination by high performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). The microextraction protocol was based on the phase transition of the SHS through pH alteration that resulted in its rapid dispersion and simultaneous phase separation. The obtained solid was collected in a syringe filter, dissolved in methanol, and analyzed. The main parameters that affected the efficiency of the microextraction procedure were studied and optimized to ensure high extraction efficiency for CLP and the analytical method was validated. Under optimum conditions, good linearity was observed between 0.05 and 5.0 μg mL−1. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were found to be 0.015 and 0.05 μg mL−1, respectively. The RSD values for intra-day repeatability and inter-day precision were 2.4–8.9 % and 1.7–9.1 %, respectively. The relative recovery values were within 90.0 and 110.0 % in all cases, demonstrating good method accuracy. The proposed SHS microextraction showed cost-efficiency, handling simplicity, and rapidity resulting in enhanced sample throughput. Moreover, the proposed method exhibited a green character and good applicability based on its evaluation by Green Analytical Procedure Index and Blue Applicability Grade Index.

A comparative analysis of the vibrational behavior of various beam models with different foundation designs

This article discusses the modal behavior of elastically constrained beams under various types of foundations and provides insights into the effects of different factors on the eigenfrequencies of beams. Numerical and analytical techniques, specifically the Galerkin finite element method (GFM) and the separation of variables, are utilized to determine the eigenfrequencies and mode shapes of beams. Modal analysis of Timoshenko, shear, Rayleigh, and Euler-Bernoulli beams that are elastically constrained and resting on Winkler, Pasternak, and Hetényi foundations, considering non-classical boundary conditions, is included in the study. The effects of factors such as flexural rigidity, transverse modulus, and Winkler foundation constant on natural frequencies of different beam models are investigated. The proposed method efficiently converges to the exact solution without shear locking in the stiffness element. The results demonstrate that the natural frequencies of the beam rise because of the shear layer, flexural rigidity, and foundation constant. Furthermore, the Hetényi elastic foundation affects the natural frequency of the beam, depending on the relative values of beam stiffness and foundation stiffness. Additionally, incorporating both shear deformation and rotary inertia has a greater impact on the eigenfrequencies of Euler-Bernoulli beams compared to incorporating only one of these effects. The findings of this work provide valuable insights into the behavior of beams under different foundation conditions and have potential applications in the design and optimization of structures incorporating beams, thereby enhancing the understanding of beam analysis.

Diagnostic efficacy of image-guided core needle biopsy of suspected malignant osseous lesions: a retrospective cohort study from a single academic institution.

To evaluate diagnostic yield and accuracy of image-guided core needle biopsy (ICNB) of suspected malignant osseous lesions in a large cohort of adults, evaluate what factors influence these measures, and offer technical recommendations to optimize yield. A retrospective analysis of 2321 ICNBs performed from 2010 to 2021 was completed. The diagnostic yield and accuracy of the biopsies as well as a series of patient, lesion-related, and technical factors were retrospectively analyzed. Multivariate statistical analysis was performed to evaluate what factors were associated with yield and accuracy. Different cutoff values of total core length and core number were then tested to determine threshold values in relation to increased diagnostic yield. Diagnostic yield was 98.2% (2279/2321) and accuracy was 97.6% (120/123). Increased total core length (odds ratio [OR] = 2.34, 95% confidence interval [CI] (1.41-3.90), p= 0.001), core number (OR = 1.51, 95% CI (1.06-2.16), p= 0.02) and presence of primary malignancy (OR = 2.81, 95% CI (1.40-5.62), p= 0.004) were associated with improved yield. Lesion location in an extremity (OR = 0.27, 95% CI (0.11-0.68), p= 0.006) and using fluoroscopic imaging guidance (OR = 0.33, 95% CI (0.12-0.90), p= 0.03) were associated with lower yield. Cutoff thresholds in relation to increased diagnostic yield were found to be 20 mm total core length (marginal OR = 4.16, 95% CI = (2.09-9.03), p < 0.001), and three total cores obtained (marginal OR = 2.78, 95% CI (1.34-6.54), p= 0.005). None of the analyzed factors influenced diagnostic accuracy. ICNB has a high rate of diagnostic yield and accuracy. Several factors influence diagnostic yield; 20 mm core length and three total cores optimize yield. Image-guided core needle biopsy of suspected malignant osseous lesions is a safe procedure with a very high rate of diagnostic yield and accuracy. Obtaining 20 mm total core length and three total cores optimizes diagnostic yield. • In a retrospective cohort study, image-guided core needle biopsy of suspected osseous malignant lesions in adults was found to have very high rates of diagnostic yield and accuracy. • Increased total core length and core number of biopsies were each associated with increased diagnostic yield, and these relationships reached thresholds at 20 mm total core length and three total cores obtained. • The presence of a known primary malignancy was also associated with increased yield while using fluoroscopic imaging guidance and lesion location in an extremity were associated with decreased yield.

On the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia on the example of the region of the European North of Russia

Rationale. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a sharp increase in the incidence of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Russia and the Republic of Karelia (RK). Given the high significance of the problem, it is necessary to clarify the causes of the current epidemiological situation. The purpose of the work: to assess the incidence of CAP, not associated with COVID-19, in the adult population of the Republic of Karelia aged 18 years older in 2011–2019 in the administrative-territorial divisions of the republic, a comparison of its existing and projected levels in 2020–2021. Material and method. A retrospective observational epidemiological study was conducted based on the analysis of statistical data of the Republican Medical Information and Analytical Center of the Ministry of Health of the RK on the incidence of CAP, not associated with COVID-19, in the population aged 18 years and older in 2011–2021. Relative values, indicators of the dynamic series are used. To differentiate the administrative-territorial divisions of the RK by incidence in 2011–2019 the method of k-means cluster analysis was applied. To build a forecast for the incidence of CAP, not associated with COVID-19, for 2020–2021 used additive regression model for time series. Results. Among the districts, 3 clusters were identified for the incidence of non-coronavirus CAP in 2011–2019 with the worst epidemiological situation in Olonetsky. The actual incidence exceeded the predicted one in 2020 in 11 and in 2021 in 9 territories of the region, which confirms the impact of the pandemic on the incidence. Conclusion. There are territories in the republic with a “traditionally” high incidence of CAP, and the COVID-19 pandemic has made a significant contribution to its increase.

Responses of multimetric indices to disturbance are affected by index construction features

Multimetric indices (MMIs) are used worldwide to assess the ecological conditions of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Different criteria and approaches are used to construct MMIs, resulting in widely different indices. Therefore, scientists, managers, and policymakers sometimes question whether such MMIs are useful for biomonitoring and bioassessment programs. Crucial design issues for biomonitoring programs include MMI responsiveness, the bioindicator group used, survey design, field sampling methods, level of taxonomic resolution, metric selection and scoring, and reference condition identification. We performed a meta-analysis on MMI development and applications worldwide to analyze the response of MMIs to different disturbance factors and to determine the degree to which MMI construction features influence their responsiveness to anthropogenic disturbances. We used the Web of Science database to find articles that applied an MMI and related MMI values to an environmental stressor, and we extracted data from 157 articles. We performed random-effects modeling to estimate the overall effect of MMI responses to disturbance and used subgroup analysis to analyze the extent to which the effect sizes varied as a function of different MMI construction features. We found that reference condition criteria had the major effect on MMI responses to disturbance. The environmental disturbance type, the number of metrics, and the ecosystem type to which MMIs were applied contributed more weakly to the effect size variance. The general response of MMIs to disturbance was little affected by the bioindicator group, taxonomic resolution, metric selection criteria, or scoring method. These findings have important implications for designing biomonitoring programs, including developing and improving cost-effective biological indices, because they could enhance MMI development and application protocols.

Machining performance optimization of graphene carbon fiber hybrid composite using TOPSIS-Taguchi approach

AbstractOptimization of process factors plays a significant role in process efficiency and effectiveness. In this context, an attempt has been made to access the optimized machining factors for polymer nanocomposites including Graphene oxide (GO)/Carbon fiber (CF). To do this, graphene concentration (wt%), feed rate (FR), and spindle speed (SS) have been chosen as governing factors and their performances have been characterized by delamination value (DV) and thrust force (TF). After defining the levels for these factors, the Taguchi experiment design method was used to obtain the experimental trial series. A TiAlN SiC-coated 06 mm drill bit was used in a CNC machine configuration to drill holes. Their corresponding performance values were noted down as DV and TF. TOPSIS method has been incorporated for accessing the measured performance dataset and relative closeness values have been calculated. These relative closeness values have been further subjected to Taguchi’s signal-to-noise ratio (S/N ratio) leading to the evaluation of an optimized parametric combination. 2 wt% of graphene, 100 mm/min of feed rate (FR), and 2100 rpm of spindle speed (SS) make up the ideal machining configuration. The mean response table indicated the SS as the most influential governing contrariant on the TF and DV. In addition, an assessment was conducted to determine the suitability of the model, and it was determined that the stated model does not exhibit any deficiencies or complications.

Relative prognostic value of flow cytometric measurable residual disease before allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for adults with MDS/AML or AML.

Multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) measurable residual disease (MRD) before allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) independently predicts poor outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Conversely, its prognostic value in the newly defined disease entity, myelodysplastic neoplasm (MDS)/AML is unknown. To assess the relationship between disease type, pre-HCT MRD, and post-HCT outcomes, we retrospectively analyzed 1265 adults with MDS/AML (n = 151) or AML (n = 1114) who received a first allograft in first or second morphologic remission at a single institution between April 2006 and March 2023. At 3 years, relapse rates (29% for MDS/AML vs. 29% for AML, p = .98), relapse-free survival (RFS; 50% vs. 55%, p = .22), overall survival (OS; 52% vs. 60%, p = .073), and non-relapse mortality (22% vs. 16%, p = .14) were not statistically significantly different. However, a significant interaction was found between pre-HCT MFC MRD and disease type (MDS/AML vs. AML) for relapse (p = .009), RFS (p = .011), and OS (p = .039). The interaction models indicated that the hazard ratios (HRs) for the association between pre-HCT MRD and post-HCT outcomes were lower in patients with MDS/AML (for relapse: HR = 1.75 [0.97-3.15] in MDS/AML vs. 4.13 [3.31-5.16] in AML; for RFS: HR = 1.58 [1.02-2.45] vs. 2.98 [2.48-3.58]; for OS: HR = 1.50 [0.96-2.35] vs. 2.52 [2.09-3.06]). On the other hand, residual cytogenetic abnormalities at the time of HCT were equally informative in MDS/AML as in AML patients. Our data indicate that MFC-based pre-HCT MRD testing, but not testing for residual cytogenetic abnormalities, is less informative for MDS/AML than AML patients when used for prognostication of post-HCT outcomes.

Patient resource to improve the effectiveness of oncological care for the population

Background. Improving oncological care for the population is defined as one of the main priorities for the development of domestic health care, which is determined by the high medical and social significance of malignant neoplasms. The problem of improving cancer care is multidimensional. However, there are not enough scientific papers that consider the patient's resource as a factor in achieving a greater level of effectiveness of cancer care.&#x0D; Aim. To assess the state and possibilities for improving the patient's resource of cancer care.&#x0D; Materials and methods. The study was conducted at the Ivanovo Regional Oncology Center, Ivanovo in the period 2020-2022 on the basis of a comprehensive program using traditional methods: sociological, expert assessment, analytical, documentary. The assessment of the patient's resource of oncological care was carried out according to the original methodology, which included 10 parameters. A survey of 1000 oncological patients at different stages of diagnosis and treatment of malignant neoplasms was carried out and its results were analyzed, taking into account the factors of the staging of the oncological process, medical and demographic characteristics of patients. The assessment of the quality of life of patients was carried out using the SF12 (12Item ShortForm Health Survey) questionnaire. Based on the examination data of 410 cases of the provision of oncological medical services by experts of medical insurance companies, according to regulatory medical, economic and clinical criteria, as well as an assessment of patient satisfaction with the care provided, all cases are divided into 2 groups with an optimal and non-optimal level of care effectiveness. Statistical data processing was carried out on the basis of electronic databases using applied computer programs and provided for the calculation of relative values, the reliability of the difference in indicators, and the Spearman correlation coefficient.&#x0D; Results. Data were obtained on the decrease in the patient resource of oncological care for all its selected components and its established relationship with the effectiveness of care, which requires the improvement of medical and organizational technology for working with oncological patients. A medical and organizational technology for providing assistance to oncological patients in the conditions of passing through the stages of the treatment and diagnostic process is proposed.&#x0D; Conclusion. An integral assessment of the 10 components of the patient resource at the stages of clinical observation of patients in an oncological dispensary makes it possible to monitor the main factors on the part of the patient that determine the effectiveness of care, as well as to carry out planned measures to correct adverse and strengthen favorable factors. The proposed approach is the basis for making management decisions.

A Review of North American Prospects for Power and Hot-Water Generation with Thermal Energy

This article outlines an innovative approach to explore thermal energy extraction for power generation or industrial hot water applications. Unlike traditional steady-state models, this approach embraces time-variant scenarios, explicitly incorporating a cyclical fluid circulation strategy to maintain a stable surface fluid temperature or power output. By introducing an increasing and decreasing stepwise rate sequence and an intermittent circulation strategy, the method aims to optimize efficiency in response to varying geothermal gradients. This approach also considers the effect of well configurations namely U-shaped heat exchangers, and conventional wellbore heat exchangers. The study emphasizes the importance of assessing the value proposition of this rate-sequencing approach in different North American basins, with the potential for replication in other regions. This approach recognizes the geographic dependency of thermal prospects, particularly at specific well depths. Notably, the article explores the possibility of retrofitting abandoned wells in oil fields and drilling new wells in geothermal-friendly areas for a comparative analysis of their relative value propositions. In essence, the proposed roadmap signifies a departure from traditional models, showcasing a dynamic and adaptable strategy for thermal energy extraction. This strategy aligns with the need for energy transition and changing energy mix for the future. The inclusion of retrofitting existing wells and drilling in strategic locations adds a practical dimension to the study, offering insights into the scalability and applicability of the proposed approach beyond its initial geographic focus.

Synthesis of the magnetic composite of Ni-MOF-I in aqueous medium and its application in magnetic dispersive micro solid phase extraction of plasticizers from pharmaceutical samples

For the first time, this research presents the synthesis procedure and analytical application of Ni-MOF-I magnetic composite. The synthesis method was green and done in an aqueous medium. The composite was employed as an adsorbent in a magnetic dispersive solid phase extraction process followed by dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction for the extraction and preconcentration of some plasticizers from pharmaceutical samples stored in plastic containers. The Ni-MOF-I magnetic composite was characterized by applying Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry, vibrating sample magnetometry, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, X-ray diffraction, and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analyses. For operating the extraction procedure, initially, the plasticizers were adsorbed onto the adsorbent particles by vortexing. Then, the plasticizers were desorbed from the adsorbent surface using a mL volume of 2-proponal. Subsequently, the obtained eluate phase was mixed with a mixture of 1,2-dibromoethane and 1,1,2-trichloroethane and then injected into deionized water using a glass syringe. Afterward, centrifugation was done to isolate the extractant from the aqueous phase. Eventually, one microliter of the sedimented phase was injected into gas chromatography-flame ionization detection. Acceptable analytical results such as high enrichment factors (355–415) and extraction recoveries (71–83 %), low limits of quantification (0.76–1.08 μg L−1) and detection (0.23–0.33 μg L−1), wide linear ranges (1.08–300 μg L−1), and satisfactory relative standard deviation values of 4.0–6.3 % (intra-day precision, n = 5) and 4.9–7.4 % (inter-day precision, n = 5) were achieved. The suggested procedure was used as a productive analytical method based on the Ni-MOF-I magnetic composite for the extraction and determination of some plasticizers from different pharmaceutical samples filled in plastic containers. Elimination of centrifugation, using 2-propanol as a green desorption/disperser solvent, detection of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in boric acid alcohol drop, and applying µL-level of the extraction solvent are the advantages of this proposed method.

Development of a nomogram for prediction of central lymph node metastasis of papillary thyroid microcarcinoma

BackgroundPapillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) is the most frequent malignant tumor in thyroid carcinoma. The aim of this study was to explore the risk factors associated with central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid microcarcinoma (PTMC) and establish a nomogram model that can assess the probability of central lymph node metastasis (CLNM).MethodsThe clinicopathological data of 377 patients with cN0 PTMC were collected and analyzed from The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University from July 1st, 2019 to December 30th, 2021. All patients were examined by underwent ultrasound (US), found without metastasis to central lymph nodes, and diagnosed with PTMC through pathologic examination. All patients received thyroid lobectomy or total thyroidectomy with therapeutic or prophylactic central lymph node dissection (CLND). R software (Version 4.1.0) was employed to conduct a series of statistical analyses and establish the nomogram.ResultsA total of 119 patients with PTMC had central lymph node metastases (31.56%). After that, age (P < 0.05), gender (P < 0.05), tumor size (P < 0.05), tumor multifocality (P < 0.05), and ultrasound imaging-suggested tumor boundaries (P < 0.05) were identified as the risk factors associated with CLNM. Subsequently, multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated that the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of the training cohort was 0.703 and that of the validation cohort was 0.656, demonstrating that the prediction ability of this model is relatively good compared to existing models. The calibration curves indicated a good fit for the nomogram model. Finally, the decision curve analysis (DCA) showed that a probability threshold of 0.15–0.50 could benefit patients clinically. The probability threshold used in DCA captures the relative value the patient places on receiving treatment for the disease, if present, compared to the value of avoiding treatment if the disease is not present.ConclusionCLNM is associated with many risk factors, including age, gender, tumor size, tumor multifocality, and ultrasound imaging-suggested tumor boundaries. The nomogram established in our study has moderate predictive ability for CLNM and can be applied to the clinical management of patients with PTMC. Our findings will provide a better preoperative assessment and treatment strategies for patients with PTMC whether to undergo central lymph node dissection.

Enantioselective Reduction of Noncovalent Complexes of Amino Acids with CuII via Resonant Collision-Induced Dissociation: Collision Energy, Activation Duration Effects, and RRKM Modeling.

Formation of noncovalent complexes is one of the approaches to perform chiral analysis with mass spectrometry. Enantiomeric distinction of amino acids (AAs) based on the relative rate constants of competitive fragmentations of quaternary copper complexes is an efficient method for chiral differentiation. Here, we studied the complex [CuII,(Phe,PhG,Pro-H)]+ (m/z 493) under resonant collision-induced dissociation conditions while varying the activation time. The precursor ion can yield two main fragments through the loss of the non-natural AA phenylglycine (PhG): the expected product ion [CuII,(Phe,Pro-H)]+ (m/z 342) and the reduced product ion [CuI,(Phe,Pro)]+ (m/z 343). Enantioselective reduction describes the difference in relative abundance of these ions, which depends on the chirality of the precursor ion: the formation of the reduced ion m/z 343 is favored in homochiral complexes (DDD) compared to heterochiral complexes (such as LDD). Energy-resolved mass spectrometry data show that reduction, which arises from rearrangement, is favored at a low collision energy (CE) and long activation time (ActT), whereas direct cleavage preferentially occurs at a high CE and short ActT. These results were confirmed with kinetic modeling based on RRKM theory. For this modeling, it was necessary to set a pre-exponential factor as a reference, so that the E0 values obtained are relative values. Interestingly, these simulations showed that the critical energy E0 required to form the reduced ion is comparable in both homochiral and heterochiral complexes. However, the formation of product ion m/z 342 through direct cleavage is associated with a lower E0 in heterochiral complexes. Consequently, enantioselectivity would not be caused by enhanced reduction in homochiral complexes but rather by direct cleavage being favored in heterochiral complexes.

Energy painting: helium-beam radiography with thin detectors and multiple beam energies

Objective. Compact ion imaging systems based on thin detectors are a promising prospect for the clinical environment since they are easily integrated into the clinical workflow. Their measurement principle is based on energy deposition instead of the conventionally measured residual energy or range. Therefore, thin detectors are limited in the water-equivalent thickness range they can image with high precision. This article presents our energy painting method, which has been developed to render high precision imaging with thin detectors feasible even for objects with larger, clinically relevant water-equivalent thickness (WET) ranges. Approach. A detection system exclusively based on pixelated silicon Timepix detectors was used at the Heidelberg ion-beam therapy center to track single helium ions and measure their energy deposition behind the imaged object. Calibration curves were established for five initial beam energies to relate the measured energy deposition to WET. They were evaluated regarding their accuracy, precision and temporal stability. Furthermore, a 60 mm × 12 mm region of a wedge phantom was imaged quantitatively exploiting the calibrated energies and five different mono-energetic images. These mono-energetic images were combined in a pixel-by-pixel manner by averaging the WET-data weighted according to their single-ion WET precision (SIWP) and the number of contributing ions. Main result. A quantitative helium-beam radiograph of the wedge phantom with an average SIWP of 1.82(5) % over the entire WET interval from 150 mm to 220 mm was obtained. Compared to the previously used methodology, the SIWP improved by a factor of 2.49 ± 0.16. The relative stopping power value of the wedge derived from the energy-painted image matches the result from range pullback measurements with a relative deviation of only 0.4 %. Significance. The proposed method overcomes the insufficient precision for wide WET ranges when employing detection systems with thin detectors. Applying this method is an important prerequisite for imaging of patients. Hence, it advances detection systems based on energy deposition measurements towards clinical implementation.

Influence of heating temperatures and storage on the odor of duck meat and identification of characteristic odorous smell compounds

To clarify the characteristic odor of compounds present in duck meat, especially reheating after storage, the effect of duck breast cooked at three temperatures (90 °C, 100 °C, 105 °C) and reheating after 7 days of storage was studied. Electronic nose analysis and sensory evaluation revealed a significant increase (p < 0.05) in reheated duck meat odor after 7 days of storage. The 90 °C treatment group had the heaviest odor, which increased by 12.19 % after seven days of storage. Using headspace-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry (HS-GC-IMS), 60 volatile flavor compounds were identified across various groups. Although the volatile compounds were consistent among different groups, their relative contents varied. By combining the sensory evaluation results with the Relative Odor Activity Value (ROAV) of these flavor compounds, chemometric orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was used to identify the following 9 characteristic volatile compounds: 2-methylbutanal, pentanal, octanal, heptanal, hexanal, (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-nonenal, and 2-pentyl furan

Enhancing Dehumidification in the Cable Room of a Ring Main Unit through CFD-EMAG Coupling Simulation and Experimental Verification

The cable room, located at the base of the ring main unit, is prone to water vapor due to its proximity to damp cable holes and its relatively enclosed structure. This may penetrate internally and ultimately affect operational safety. Therefore, a dehumidifier was introduced to utilize dry air for internal circulation. To enhance the dehumidification in the cable room, the cable room device was designed for experimental research. Meanwhile, computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-electromagnetic (EMAG) coupling simulation is used to calculate the power loss of heat sources and their influence on multiple physical fields in numerical simulations. The feasibility of this study was confirmed by comparing the relative humidity, temperature, and velocity values between the experimental and numerical approaches. Furthermore, the layout of the ventilation pipes was modified to a vertical distribution, with upward supply and downward suction, to improve the airflow. The results indicate that the maximum relative errors in temperature, relative humidity, and velocity are only 3.61%, 7.14%, and 7.14%, respectively, which fall within an acceptable range. On this basis, additional simulation analysis was conducted on the humidity, dew point temperature, and airflow within the cable room, using an optimized model with a more comprehensive internal structure and cables. After implementing an optimized ventilation pipe layout, the relative humidity at the corresponding measuring points can decrease by up to 10.6%. The dew point temperature has decreased by 2.61 °C and the airflow has become more stable.

Effects of Cd Stress on Morphological and Physiological Characteristics of Maize Seedlings

Heavy metal (HM) contamination poses a serious threat to safe crop production and human health, and different maize inbred lines respond differently to cadmium (Cd) stress. However, the morphological and physiological characteristics of maize inbred lines seedlings are not clear under Cd stress. In this study, we analyzed the agronomic traits and physiological and biochemical indices of inbred maize seedlings under Cd stress in the seedling stage using the inbred lines Kui3, CML118, Mo17, B73, and B77 as the materials. These five inbred maizes were treated with five different concentrations of Cd (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 mg L−1, respectively) were applied and the indices of the maize seedlings determined on day 15. The aboveground and belowground biomass of five maize inbred lines seedlings showed a decreasing trend under Cd stress. Leaf relative water content and SPAD values also decreased, but the overall decrease in relative water content was small, and the differences were not significant. Surprisingly, Cd stress affected the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), leading to enhanced mem-brane lipid peroxidation. The cadmium content varied greatly between varieties under Cd stress, but all of them had lower Cd content above ground than below ground, and the varieties with the highest and lowest transfer coefficients were Mo17 (0.33–0.83) and B73 (0.06–0.44), respectively. Kui3 had the greatest difference in soluble protein content under Cd stress, which showed a de-creasing trend, and the soluble sugar content was significantly decreased in general compared to that of CK. The soluble sugar content was higher than CK under Cd treatment, and the proline content of the maize seedlings of all of the inbred lines showed an increasing trend compared to CK. Overall, there were significant genotypic differences in the Cd stress response to Cd toxicity in the maize inbred lines seedlings, and, in general, this study helps us to understand the mechanism of maize inbred lines seedlings response to Cd stress. It provides a theoretical basis for the se-lection and breeding of varieties, and food safety.

Improving retrieval of leaf chlorophyll content from Sentinel-2 and Landsat-7/8 imagery by correcting for canopy structural effects

Accurately estimating leaf chlorophyll content (Chl) at large spatial scales is crucial for monitoring agricultural production and plant photosynthesis. Sentinel-2 and Landsat-7/8 offer the potential to assess Chl with high spatial resolutions using various physically-based, empirical, and hybrid methods, but they still present challenges due to the confounding effects of canopy structure and soil background. The near-infrared reflectance of vegetation (NIRV) has been proposed to characterize canopy structural and soil background effects in sun-induced chlorophyll fluorescence. Therefore, in this study, we developed a novel strategy that incorporates NIRV to minimize canopy structural and soil background effects on Chl retrieval, using bidirectional reflectance factor (BRF) from Sentinel-2 and Landsat-7/8 imagery. We compared Chl estimation using empirical random forest (RF), the physically-based PROSAIL-5B inversion, and a hybrid method using RF to train simulated datasets from PROSAIL-5B. We validated Chl retrieval performance with measured datasets from the National Ecological Observatory Network, covering seven vegetation types. We also compared spatiotemporal Chl variations from Sentinel-2, Landsat-7/8, and MODIS. The results showed that NIRV effectively characterized the canopy structural effect on Chl estimation, associated with leaf area index, average leaf angle, and canopy fraction of senescent leaves. Compared to BRF, correcting BRF by NIRV improved Chl retrieval with RMSE values reduced by 12.2%–27.0% for Sentinel-2, 7.4%–16.4% for Landsat-7, and 6.9%–13.7% for Landsat-8, respectively. This also resulted in a significant increase in R2 values for Sentinel-2 (0.13–0.46), Landsat-7 (0.08–0.19), and Landsat-8 (0.12–0.2), respectively. Sentinel-2 outperformed Landsat-7/8 in Chl estimation, due to the contribution of red edge bands and a higher spatial resolution. Furthermore, the hybrid method performed best for Chl estimation from Sentinel-2 and Landsat-7/8 with relative RMSE values of 17.33%, 20.22%, and 19.23%, respectively. Our hybrid method demonstrated lower model uncertainty with smaller variations of RMSE values across varying biochemical and structural traits and solar and viewing angles, and exhibited more consistent spatiotemporal variations of Chl from Sentinel-2 with phenology compared to Landsat-7/8 and the published MODIS Chl data. Our hybrid method demonstrates significant potential in mitigating canopy structural effects, enhancing Chl retrieval, and facilitating the development of Chl data from various satellite imagery sources.

Analysis the Application of the Weighted Product Method in Decision Support Systems for Assistance Programmes for MSMEs

Productive Micro Business Assistance (BPUM) is a government policy. This assistance has been carried out since the Covid-19 Pandemic in Indonesia. The Mojokerto city government conducts a selection of MSMEs which is expected to avoid errors in determining MSME assistance. Therefore, a decision support system is needed that is developed using the Weighted Product method to make it easier and faster to determine MSMEs that are eligible to receive assistance. The stages of system development start from problem analysis, data collection, analysis of method application, and system development. Based on the calculation of the resulting S vector, the largest value is 0.10568 and the smallest value is 0.05886 from 9382 MSME data. The last calculation is the V vector value which produces recommendations in the form of data ranking that can be used by the Mojokerto City Diskopukmperindag to determine which MSMEs are entitled to receive assistance. The results of the selected alternatives are in accordance with the ranking with the largest value of 0.10568 and the smallest value of 0.05886. Providing recommendations by the decision support system to policy makers can be based on the largest relative preference value owned by MSMEs.

The dhikr and the mental health of the elderly in Aceh, Indonesia.

The ageing population in Indonesia is increasing. However, biological and social changes and declines may trigger mental health problems among the elderly. Existing data show that the prevalence of mental health problems (depression) among the elderly in Indonesia is above 15%. This study aims to investigate the relationship between the Majelis Zikir (dhikr assembly) and the mental health of the elderly. The research was conducted in Aceh Barat District, Aceh Province, Indonesia. This study uses a retrospective cohort design. The study sample consists of individuals aged 60 years or older. The total sample size was 114 (57 exposed and 57 unexposed groups). The research instrument was in the form of a questionnaire. The respondents had an average age of 67.61 years, with more females (63.2%), more educated (67.5%), more unemployed (71.1%) and 61.4% felt that their income was sufficient. The analysis showed that the relative risk value of members of the dhikr assembly was 1.857 (95% CI: 1.266-2.724) and showed a significant relationship between the dhikr assembly and mental health. Dhikr, as one of the forms of religious activities in Islam, has a positive role in older people's mental health. Elderly members of the dhikr assembly are likelier to achieve better mental health. The findings in this study can assist healthcare professionals and policymakers in their efforts to maintain and improve the mental health of the elderly through dhikr.

Gold-Deposited Graphene Nanosheets for Self-Cleaning Graphene Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy with Superior Charge-Transfer Contribution.

The interaction of graphene with metals initiates charge-transfer interaction-induced chemical enhancements, which critically depend on the doping effect from deposited metallic configurations. In this paper, we have explored the gold nanoparticle-decorated monolayer graphene nanosheets for the large graphene-induced Raman enhancement of adsorbed analytes, indicating the surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) capabilities of metal-doped graphene (G-SERS). Here, the systematically sputtered Au thickness optimization procedure revealed noticeable modifications in the graphene Raman spectra and photoluminescence (PL) background quenching, which indicated favorable charge transfer through n-type doping of chemical vapor deposition-grown graphene nanosheets. The highly consistent, individually distributed morphology of the gold nanoislands over graphene nanosheets depicted a reproducibly uniform G-SERS signal with excellent relative standard deviation values (<5%), resulting in the strongest Raman intensity enhancement factors of ∼108 (MB) (methylene blue) and 107 (DPA) (2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid) composed of the weakest PL background. The combined charge-transfer-induced chemical enhancement and electromagnetic enhancement from individual Au nanoislands result in a lowering of detectability down to 10-16 M (MB) and 10-11 M (DPA) concentrations with efficient time-dependent signal stability. Additionally, the GAu demonstrated its effective (∼94.4%) photocatalytic degradation capabilities by decomposing MB dye molecules from a concentration of 1 μM to 2.52 fM within 60 min. Therefore, the prominent charge-transfer contribution through controlled Au decoration over graphene nanosheets provides a potential strategy for fabricating superior SERS sensors and photocatalysts exhibiting adequate signal consistency, stability, and photodegradation efficiency through overcoming the limitations of the traditional sensing platforms.