Impact of tree growth form on temporal and spatial patterns of particulate matter with various particle sizes in urban street canyons.

Context: Trees play a vital role in reducing street-level particulate matter (PM) pollution in metropolitan areas. However, the optimal tree growth type for maximizing the retention of various sizes of PM remains uncertain.

Objectives: This study assessed the PM reduction capabilities of evergreen and deciduous broadleaf street trees, focusing on how leaf phenology influences the dispersion of pollutants across particle sizes.

Hybrid Deep Learning-Based Enhanced Occlusion Segmentation in PICU Patient Monitoring.

Remote patient monitoring has emerged as a prominent non-invasive method, using digital technologies and computer vision (CV) to replace traditional invasive monitoring. While neonatal and pediatric departments embrace this approach, Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) face the challenge of occlusions hindering accurate image analysis and interpretation. In this study, we propose a hybrid approach to effectively segment common occlusions encountered in remote monitoring applications within PICUs.

Social Maltreatment and Symptomatology: Validating the Social Discrimination and Maltreatment Scale-Short Form in a Diverse Online Sample.

There are few psychometrically valid measures of exposure to social maltreatment that simultaneously assess sexism, racism, and anti-LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other nonheteronormative) behavior, despite the commonness of these phenomena. The (SDMS) meets this requirement but is, as a result, somewhat lengthy (36 items). This article introduces a short form of the SDMS containing only half the number of items but generally retaining the psychometric qualities of the original measure.

Study of the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Steel Grades for Ship Hull Construction.

This paper comprehensively examines three structural steel grades' microstructural features and mechanical properties, evaluating their suitability for shipbuilding applications. The steels analyzed include quench and tempered (Q and T) steel, thermomechanical controlled processed (TMCP) steel, and hot rolled (HR) steel. A microstructural characterization was performed using optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD).

Understanding Early Risk Factors of Preschool Disruptive Behaviors in a Population-Based Birth Cohort: Why Does Comorbidity Matter?

Background/objectives: Research on early risk factors for disruptive behaviors (DBs: hyperactivity-impulsivity/HI, non-compliance/NC, or physical aggression/PA) has predominantly focused on individual DBs in silos (i.e., HI, NC, PA) or the broader category of externalizing, reporting mostly common risk factors among them.

Enhancing interpretability and accuracy of AI models in healthcare: a comprehensive review on challenges and future directions.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has demonstrated exceptional performance in automating critical healthcare tasks, such as diagnostic imaging analysis and predictive modeling, often surpassing human capabilities. The integration of AI in healthcare promises substantial improvements in patient outcomes, including faster diagnosis and personalized treatment plans. However, AI models frequently lack interpretability, leading to significant challenges concerning their performance and generalizability across diverse patient populations.

Shifts in Plant Phenology Significantly Affect the Carbon Allocation in Different Plant Organs.

Earlier start of the growing season (SGS) and delayed end of the growing season (EGS) affect plant carbon uptake. However, the effects of phenological changes on carbon allocation to different plant organs remain unclear. Here, we examined the effects and potential mechanisms of phenological changes on carbon allocation to different organs over the northern hemisphere (> 30° N).

Differential effects of prolonged post-fixation on immunohistochemical and histochemical staining for postmortem human brains.

Purpose: Immunohistochemical (IHC) and histochemical (HC) staining techniques are widely used on human brains that are post-fixed in formalin and stored in brain banks worldwide for varying durations, from months to decades. Understanding the effects of prolonged post-fixation, postmortem interval (PMI), and age on these staining procedures is important for accurately interpreting their outcomes, thereby improving the diagnosis and research of brain disorders afflicting millions of people worldwide.

Methods: In this study, we conducted both IHC and HC staining on the prefrontal cortex of postmortem human brains post-fixed for 1, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years.

Effect of Annealing Time on Grain Structure Evolution and Superplastic Response of Al-Mg 5xxx Alloys.

The impact of annealing on the recrystallized grain structure and superplastic behavior of two Al-Mg 5xxx alloys used for high-speed blow forming (HSBF) was studied. The results revealed that both alloys demonstrated rapid static recrystallization after only a few minutes of annealing at 520 °C, forming fine and equiaxed grain structures. After four min of annealing, Alloy 2 (Al-4.

McConnell patelar taping improves unipodal squat postural control in women with patellofemoral pain syndrome: A randomised trial.

McConnell's patellar taping is indicated for the treatment of women with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome, however the literature points to controversial evidence, and does not establish the effect on postural control. This is a randomized trial study that aimed to compare the effect of McConnell taping (MT) with a Placebo taping (PT), during functional tasks that assess dynamic postural control, such as squatting and ascending/descending stairs, using a force platform among women with patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS). The participants were randomly assigned to two treatment groups: MT (n = 15) and PT (n = 15).

Impact of Postsynthetic Modification on the Covalent Organic Framework (COF) Structures.

Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have emerged as a versatile class of materials owing to their well-defined crystalline structures and inherent porosity. In the realm of COFs, their appeal lies in their customizable nature, which can be further enhanced by incorporating diverse functionalities. Postsynthetic modifications (PSMs) emerge as a potent strategy, facilitating the introduction of desired functionalities postsynthesis.

Adjuvant Radioactive Iodine Ablation in Tall Cell Subtype Papillary Thyroid Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Tall cell subtype papillary thyroid cancer (TCS-PTC) is associated with aggressive disease features and worse patient outcomes. It remains unclear whether adjuvant radioactive iodine (RAI) ablation following thyroidectomy is associated with improved survival in TCS-PTC. The purpose of this review and meta-analysis was to determine whether adjuvant RAI was associated with improved survival in patients with TCS-PTC.

Multi-omics analysis reveals the positive impact of differential chloroplast activity during in vitro regeneration of barley.

Existence of potent in vitro regeneration system is a prerequisite for efficient genetic transformation and functional genomics of crop plants. In this study, two contrasting cultivars differencing in their in vitro regeneration efficiency were identified. Tissue culture friendly cultivar Golden Promise (GP) and tissue culture resistant DWRB91(D91) were selected as contrasting cultivars to investigate the molecular basis of regeneration efficiency through multiomics analysis.

Valorization of Residue from Aluminum Industries: A Review.

Recycling and reusing industrial waste and by-products are topics of great importance across all industries, but they hold particular significance in the metal industry. Aluminum, the most widely used non-ferrous metal globally, generates considerable waste during production, including dross, salt slag, spent carbon cathode and bauxite residue. Extensive research has been conducted to recycle and re-extract the remaining aluminum from these wastes.

Risk of transfusion-associated malaria in sub-Saharan Africa: The case of Mali.

Introduction: Malaria is a health threat in sub-Saharan Africa, where Plasmodium is not tested in blood bags. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of plasmodial carriage in blood bags and the associated factors, and the involvement of these bags in the occurrence of malaria in recipients.

Methods: From 1st April to 30th November, 2020, we conducted a prospective cross-sectional study of 348 blood bags stored at 4°C in Bamako.

Evaluation of the impact of L-Tryptophan on the toxicology of Perfluorooctanoic acid in Daphnia magna: Characterization and perspectives.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a pervasive environmental contaminant with well-documented toxic effects on both humans and animals, attracting significant scientific concern. Due to its affinity for proteins, research has predominantly focused on PFOA's interactions with biological macromolecules. However, the specific role of smaller molecules, such as amino acids, remains underexplored.

Balancing Water Yield and Water Use Efficiency Between Planted and Natural Forests: A Global Analysis.

Climate warming is projected to affect hydrological cycle in forest ecosystems and makes the forest-water relationship more controversial. Currently, planted forests are gaining more public attention due to their role in carbon sequestration and wood production relative to natural forests. However, little is known about how the global patterns and drivers of water yield and water-use efficiency (WUE) differ between planted and natural forests.

Enhanced Durability of Wood Cutting Tools through Thermal Cycling.

This study investigates the impact of multi-step austenitization heat treatment on the in-service life of modified AISI A8 cold work tool steel knives used in wood cutting. The knives were subjected to two treatment methods: single quenching and double tempering (SQDT) and double quenching and double tempering (DQDT). Both treatments were followed by physical vapor deposition (PVD) coating to enhance surface properties.

Stability of As- and Mn-sludge after neutral mine water treatment using Fe(VI) vs electrocoagulation.

The electrocoagulation (ECG) and ferrate (Fe(VI))-based processes are increasingly acknowledged as efficient for the simultaneous removal of As and Mn from synthetic and real mine effluents. Prior to design of full-scale applications, more information on the physicochemical, mineralogical, and environmental characterization of the produced sludge is required. The main objective of this study was to characterize and evaluate the leaching potential of problematic elements in As- and Mn-rich sludge produced during ECG or Fe(VI) treatment of circumneutral surrogate mine water.

Bio-Templated Aerogel Fibers: Heterogeneous Spinodal Architecting and In Situ Fibrillation of Thermoplastic Polyurethane-Silica on Nanostructured Cellulose Nanofiber Scaffold for Enhanced Thermomechanical Performance.

This study addresses the inherent fragility and fractal limitations of traditional silica aerogels by developing a bio-templated aerogel fiber. Integrating cellulose nanofibers (CNFs), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), and silica aerogel (SA) in a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) dispersion, a gel-spinning technique was employed to create aerogel fibers with superior thermomechanical performance. CNF also provided excellent rheological modification for successful spinnability, fast gelation, and fiber formation.