Challenges and opportunities for battery health estimation:Bridging laboratory research and real-world applications

Addressing climate change demands a significant shift away from fossil fuels,with sectors like electricity and transportation relying heavily on renewable energy.Integral to this transition are energy storage systems,notably lithium-ion batteries.Over time,these batteries degrade,affecting their efficiency and posing safety risks.Monitoring and predicting battery aging is essential,especially estimating its state of health(SOH).Various SOH estimation methods exist,from traditional model-based approaches to machine learning approaches.

Mesenchymal stem cells in wound healing:A bibliometric analysis as a powerful research tool

Bibliographic analysis is still very rarely used in experimental basic study papers.The comprehensive bibliometric analysis of scientific literature on research progress and challenges in stem cell therapy for diabetic chronic wounds,which was conducted in the work of Shi et al can be a case study and a source of valuable information for writing reviews and experimental papers in this field.Basic experimental studies on a role of mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs)in wound healing that are published in 2023-2024,such as Zhang et al in 2023,Hu et al in 2023,Wang et al in 2023 are certainly also subjects for applying this powerful tool to analyze current research,challenges and perspectives in this field.This is due to the fact that these studies have addressed a great variety of aspects of the application of MSCs for the treatment of chronic wounds,such as using both the cells themselves and their various products:Sponges,hydrogels,exosomes,and genetic constructions.Such a wide variety of directions in the field of study and biomedical application of MSCs requires a deep understanding of the current state of research in this area,which can be provided by bibliometric analysis.Thus,the use of such elements of bibliographic analysis as publication count by year and analysis of top-10 keywords calculated independently or cited from bibliometric analysis studies can be safely recommended for every basic study manuscripts,primarily for the“Introduction”section,and review.

Research progress of traditional Chinese medicine in the treatment of endocrine metabolic diseases in 2023

This study aimed to provide a comprehensive review of the research progress in Chinese medicine in the treatment of endocrine metabolic diseases in 2023,covering traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)monomers,TCM extracts,and TCM combinations,including non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,type 2 diabetes mellitus and its complications,obesity,hyperuricaemia,and thyroid disorders.After systematic sorting and summary,we found that in 2023,the research focusing on the application of TCM for endocrine metabolic diseases was still on the mechanism of action at the cellular and molecular levels,which not only influenced the classical pathways of lipid metabolism,but also delved into the key mechanisms of anti-inflammation,anti-oxidation,anti-insulin resistance,and so on.Additionally,TCM has shown remarkable results in the treatment of endocrine metabolic diseases by improving intestinal flora disorders and abnormal cellular iron death.These research results provide valuable ideas,methods,and tools for TCM in the prevention and treatment of endocrine metabolic diseases,and provide important references and guidance for future research and practice.

Biodiversity responses to insular fragmentation in Amazonia: Two decades of research in the Balbina Hydroelectric Reservoir

As hydropower development expands across lowland tropical forests,flooding and concomitant insular fragmentation have become important threats to biodiversity.Newly created insular landscapes serve as natural laboratories to investigate biodiversity responses to fragmentation.One of these most iconic landscapes is the Balbina Hydroelectric Reservoir in Brazilian Amazonia,occupying>400000 ha and comprising>3500 forest islands.Here,we synthesise the current knowledge on responses of a wide range of biological groups to insular fragmentation at Balbina.Sampling has largely concentrated on a set of 22 islands and three mainland sites.In total,39 studies were conducted over nearly two decades,covering 17 vertebrate,invertebrate,and plant taxa.Although species responses varied according to taxonomic group,island area was consistently included and played a pivotal role in 66.7%of all studies examining patterns of species diversity.Species persistence was further affected by species traits,mostly related to species capacity to use/traverse the aquatic matrix or tolerate habitat degradation,as noted for species of vertebrates and orchid bees.Further research is needed to improve our understanding of such effects on wider ecosystem functioning.Environmental Impact Assessments must account for changes in both the remaining habitat amount and configuration,and subsequent long-term species losses.

Inventory and Distribution of Benthic Macroinvertebrates, Indicators of Water Quality in Four Forested Watercourses in Centre Region of Cameroon

The inventory of benthic macroinvertebrate species was carried out in some streams of the Mefou catchment area, from August 2021 to August 2022, in order to determine the biological groups that make up the population and characterise these environments. The dataset acquired during this study made it possible to update the existing database and contribute to the knowledge of the biological groups associated in these environments, and to provide additional information on the existing ones in relation to bioindication. Overall 80 families were identified and, on the basis of frequencies of occurrence greater than 75%, 22 families were retained as potential biological indicators. The remarkable diversity of insects and the low abundance of Diptera reflect the low degradation of environments and the good quality of water. The high diversity indices obtained reflect the maintenance of the favourable ecological conditions that favours the development of a balanced and, integrated biological community capable of adapting to changes.

The Applicability and Productiveness of a Systematic Literature Review Methodology in Volcanology Research: Case of the Magma Pathway at the Mount Cameroon Volcano

The presented research illustrates the applicability and productiveness of the systematic literature review methodology, a non-empirical methodology in the geological sciences, particularly volcanology. The systematic literature review methodology is a replicable, rigorous, and transparent methodology for synthesizing existing literature to answer questions on a specific topic. The synthesis allows for knowledge consolidation, such as identifying knowledge gaps. In our illustration of this methodology, we focused on the expanding knowledge about the magma pathway at Mount Cameroon, one of Africa’s active volcanoes. Our synthesis of the relevant international geoscience research literature is based on the framework of knowledge about the magma pathway beneath a typical basaltic volcano. The framework has three primary components: magma supply, storage, and transport to erupting vents. Across these components is a total of twelve secondary components. The result is a previously non-existent and fragmented overall understanding of the magma pathway at Mount Cameroon. The gaps in the understanding (such as in the magma supply rates, timescales of chamber processes, and magma ascent rates) may be addressed in future research. Another key implication of the presented research lies in the proof of concept of the systematic literature review methodology as an applicable qualitative research methodology in the study of volcanoes.

Physico-Chemical and Structural Assessment of Akono Riparian Forest Watershed, Tributary of the Nyong Basin (Centre-Cameroon) at Different Stages of Degradation

Freshwater bodies are natural resources that should be exploited to the fullest, while maintaining the sustainability of ecosystems and ecosystem services which they support. Riparian forests are more important as they contain rivers which are vital sources of fresh water for local populations. However, the quality and quantity of water issued from the watershed depend on the structural state of these forests. The aim of this work was to assess the physico-chemical and structural state of the Akono gallery forest. To achieve this, fieldwork consisted of selecting six major streams of the watershed including Ndjolong, Menyeng adzap, Emomodo, Mvila, Negbe and Ossoé kobok. On each of these, two stations, one intact and one degraded, were marked by transects. The method involved measuring Hydrometric parameters (depth, length, width) of the stream and Physico-chemical parameters of water in the streams while dendrometric parameters were measured along 100 m-transects laid using the point-centred quarter method modified for water bodies to collect tree, shrub and palm variables such as trunk diameter, crown diameter and height. Macrophytes and species identification were carried out using standard botanical procedures. Results showed that, the majority of physico-chemical parameters measured differed significantly between intact and degraded stations (P Pentachletra mancrophylla, whereas on degraded sites, this index was low and characterized by the relative dominance of species Piptadeniastrum africanum. Sorensen’s index (0.56) and CFA showed that the different stands were homogeneous. We can affirm that the riparian forests of Akono watershed are towards a state of stability notwithstanding the perpetuation of anthropological actions.

Seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B in Blood Donors at the N’Zérékoré Regional Blood Transfusion Centre in Guinea

Blood transfusion saves lives and reduces morbidity and mortality for a large number of diseases and clinical conditions, but it is not without danger. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HIV and hepatitis B in blood donors received at the regional Blood Transfusion Centre of N’Zérékoré (Guinea). This was a 5-year retrospective analytical study. We included records of blood donors aged 18 to 60 years admitted to the N’Zérékoré Regional Blood Transfusion Centre for blood donation from January 2016 to December 2020. We performed a descriptive analysis followed by Chi-2 or Fish-er-exact tests and the Student or Wilcoxon test, followed by multivariate logistic regression. In this study, donor age ranged from 18 - 60 years, with a pre-dominance of donors aged 25 - 34 (44.2%). Male donors were the most represented in our study (79.0% versus 21.0% female). More than half of the donors were blood group O (55.6%). We observed a seroprevalence of 3.6% for HIV, 13.4% for HBsAg and 0.2% for co-infection. In our series, age 25 - 34 (OR = 1.89 and P = 0.001) and 35 - 44 for HIV (OR = 2.01 and P = 0.001), HBsAgserostatus (OR = 3.04 and P = 0.001) and blood donation history (OR of 3.04 and P = 0.001) were factors associated with HIV positivity (P < 0.05). In our study, HIV serostatus (OR = 3.04 and P = 0.001) and blood donation history (OR = 0.01 and P = 0.001) were factors associated with HBsAgseropositivity. We reported a high prevalence of HIV and HBsAg. Sex, serological status and blood donation history were associated factors.

Stricture Free Survival after Urethroplasty: A 6-Year Malaysian Referral Centre Experience

Background: Urethroplasty is the gold standard for treatment for urethral strictures. We describe our results of urethroplasty and analyse the risk factors associated with stricture recurrence and stricture-free survival. Methods: A retrospective review of urethroplasty surgery carried out from 2016-2022. Patient records were analysed to obtain demographics, clinical, pathological and outcome data. Success of surgery is defined as postoperative Qmax > 15 ml/s or absence of any instrumentation of urethra such as urethral dilatation, after removal of urethral indwelling catheter. Results: A total of 66 patients who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected. Mean age was 43.8. Mean follow up was 27.2 ± 21.8 months. Stricture recurred in 18 patients (27.3%). Estimated stricture free survival time was 59.6 months (95% CI: 50.87 - 68.37). Previous surgical history for stricture was found to be predictive of stricture recurrence. After adjusting for age, BMI, aetiology of stricture and stricture length, previous surgical history had a risk of stricture recurrence approximately three times higher compared to those without. Conclusion: Previous surgical intervention for urethral stricture was found to be the most significant factor for stricture recurrence. We strongly advocate that the first curative surgery done for urethral strictures should be done in high volume centres and by experienced reconstructive urologists.

High-intensity laser-driven secondary radiation sources using the ZEUS 45 TW laser system at the Institute of Plasma Physics and Lasers of the Hellenic Mediterranean University Research Centre

The rapid development of high-intensity laser-generated particle and photon secondary sources has attracted widespread interest during the last 20 years not only due to fundamental science research but also because of the important applications of this developing technology.For instance,the generation of relativistic particle beams,betatron-type coherent X-ray radiation and high harmonic generation have attracted interest from various fields of science and technology owing to their diverse applications in biomedical,material science,energy,space,and security applications.In the field of biomedical applications in particular,laser-driven particle beams as well as laser-driven X-ray sources are a promising field of study.This article looks at the research being performed at the Institute of Plasma Physics and Lasers(IPPL)of the Hellenic Mediterranean University Research Centre.The recent installation of the ZEUS 45 TW laser system developed at IPPL offers unique opportunities for research in laser-driven particle and X-ray sources.This article provides information about the facility and describes initial experiments performed for establishing the baseline platforms for secondary plasma sources.

Research landscape on COVID-19 and liver dysfunction: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND The global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,responsible for coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19),poses a significant risk to public health.Beyond the respiratory issues initially associated with the condition,severe cases of COVID-19 can also lead to complications in other organs,including the liver.Patients with severe COVID-19 may exhibit various clinical signs of liver dysfunction,ranging from minor elevations in liver enzymes without symptoms to more serious cases of impaired liver function.Liver damage is more commonly observed in patients with severe or critical forms of the disease.AIM To present the research landscape on COVID-19 and liver dysfunction while also offering valuable insights into the prominent areas of interest within this particular domain.METHODS On 18 February 2023,Scopus was utilised to conduct a comprehensive exploration of the relationship between COVID-19 and the liver dysfunction.The investigation encompassed the period from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2022.Primary sources were meticulously examined and organised in a Microsoft Excel 2013 spreadsheet,categorised by journal,institution,funding agency,country and citation type.VOSviewer version 1.6.18 was employed to explore the prominent topics and knowledge network related to the subject.RESULTS There were 2336 publications on COVID-19 and liver dysfunction analysed in this study,of which 558 were published in 2020,891 in 2021 and 887 in 2022.Researchers from 111 different countries participated in the retrieved documents.The United States contributed the most studies,with 497 documents,representing 21.28%of the total,followed by China with 393 documents(16.82%)and Italy with 255 documents(10.92%).In the context of research related to COVID-19 and the liver,co-occurrence analysis identified three distinct clusters of topics:(1)‘COVID-19 vaccines in liver transplant recipients’;(2)‘liver function tests as a predictor of the severity and clinical outcomes in hospitalised patients’;and(3)‘care of patients with liver disease during the COVID-19 pandemic’.CONCLUSION This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive overview of liver-related publications in COVID-19 research over the past 3 years.This study highlights the significant contributions of high-income nations,particularly the United States,China,and Italy,to the production of liver-related scholarly literature in this field.Most of the articles focused on liver dysfunction in patients with COVID-19 and the implications of the virus for gastroenterologists and hepatologists.

Cre-recombinase systems for induction of neuronspecific knockout models:a guide for biomedical researchers

Gene deletion has been a valuable tool for unraveling the mysteries of molecular biology.Early approaches included gene trapping and gene targetting to disrupt or delete a gene randomly or at a specific location,respectively.Using these technologies in mouse embryos led to the generation of mouse knocko ut models and many scientific discoveries.The efficacy and specificity of these approaches have significantly increased with the advent of new technology such as cluste red regula rly inters paced short palindromic repeats for targetted gene deletion.However,several limitations including unwanted off-target gene deletion have hindered their widespread use in the field.Crerecombinase technology has provided additional capacity for cell-specific gene deletion.In this review,we provide a summary of currently available literature on the application of this system for targetted deletion of neuronal genes.This article has been constructed to provide some background info rmation for the new trainees on the mechanism and to provide necessary information for the design,and application of the Cre-recombinase system thro ugh reviewing the most f requent promoters that are currently available for genetic manipulation of neuro ns.We additionally will provide a summary of the latest technological developments that can be used for targeting neurons.This may also serve as a general guide for the selection of appropriate models for biomedical research.

Global research trends on diet and nutrition in Crohn’s disease

BACKGROUND Crohn’s disease represents a challenge for patients concerned with the modified diet regimen as well as practitioners who seek the best nutritional therapy.Crohn’s disease can alter the body’s ability to digest food and to absorb nutrients,resulting in severe vitamin deficiencies,malnutrition and sometimes lifethreatening complications.However,a comprehensive bibliometric analysis is lacking to map the current links between nutrition and Crohn’s disease in terms of the number of citations,geographic distribution and growth trends of publications.AIM To introduce the current state of research as well as hotspots in the field of nutrition and Crohn’s disease from a bibliometric standpoint.METHODS We searched the Scopus database and selected the relevant literature on nutrition and Crohn’s disease that met the inclusion criteria.We analyzed the publication trends and research hotspots by using video object segmentation viewer software.RESULTS We included 1237 publications.The number of documents published each year has increased steadily.The United States and the University of Otago,Christchurch,have had the highest productivity,with 208(16.81%)and 29(2.34%)documents,respectively.The“role of exclusive enteral nutrition for complicated Crohn’s disease”and“manipulation of the gut microbiota as a key target for Crohn’s disease”were the major research areas in 2016-2021,and they could be extensively investigated in the future.Meanwhile,research on“malnutrition in patients with Crohn’s disease”appeared to be an area that attracted more research attention before 2016.CONCLUSION This is the first bibliometric analysis to map the knowledge structure and trends regarding nutrition in Crohn’s disease research over the past two decades.The results provide a comprehensive summary and identification of the frontiers of nutrition and Crohn’s disease-related research,which may be used as a resource by researchers in the field.

The Clean Energy Research Centre (CERC)

Introduction The Clean Energy Research Centre(CERC)is a multidisciplinary re-search hub dedicated to undertaking world-class clean-energy re-search,training,development and demonstrations.Our‘future today’research adds to the outstanding research endeavours and sterling reputation of the University of British Columbia(UBC)within Canada and globally.Our goal is to become a world leader and a research-de-velopment-demonstration powerhouse for innovative clean-energy solutions to climate change and sustainability problems.

Unveiling the hidden world of gut health:Exploring cutting-edge research through visualizing randomized controlled trials on the gut microbiota

BACKGROUND The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in gastrointestinal and overall health.Randomized clinical trials(RCTs)play a crucial role in advancing our knowledge and evaluating the efficacy of therapeutic interventions targeting the gut microbiota.AIM To conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature on RCTs involving the gut microbiota.METHODS Using bibliometric tools,a descriptive cross-sectional investigation was conducted on scholarly publications concentrated on RCTs related to gut microbiota,spanning the years 2003 to 2022.The study used VOSviewer version 1.6.9 to examine collaboration networks between different countries and evaluate the frequently employed terms in the titles and abstracts of the retrieved publications.The primary objective of this analysis was to identify key research areas and focal points associated with RCTs involving the gut microbiota.RESULTS A total of 1061 relevant articles were identified from the 24758 research articles published between 2003 and 2022.The number of publications showed a notable increase over time,with a positive correlation(R2=0.978,P<0.001).China(n=276,26.01%),the United States(n=254,23.94%),and the United Kingdom(n=97,9.14%)were the leading contributing countries.Københavns Universitet(n=38,3.58%)and Dankook University(n=35,3.30%)were the top active institutions.The co-occurrence analysis shows current gut microbiota research trends and important topics,such as obesity interventions targeting the gut microbiota,the efficacy and safety of fecal microbiota transplantation,and the effects of dietary interventions on humans.CONCLUSION The study highlights the rapid growth and importance of research on RCTs that involve the gut microbiota.This study provides valuable insight into research trends,identifies key players,and outlines potential future directions in this field.Additionally,the co-occurrence analysis identified important topics that play a critical role in the advancement of science and provided insights into future research directions in this field.

An overview of soil moisture drought research in China:Progress and perspective

论文回顾了中国土壤湿度干旱(SMD)历史重建和季节预测研究进展,并对未来研究进行了展望,自1950s年代以来,全国整体干旱频率增加,持续时间延长,且有明显区域特征.SMD预测多是利用土壤湿度与气候变量之间的统计关系,而少量基于动力学方法的干旱预测研究强调了初始条件和大气强迫数据对季节尺度干旱预测的重要性,本论文提出:1)加强多时间尺度,跨区域的SMD研究;2)联合气候预测系统,陆面模式和多源土壤湿度数据研制SMD预测系统。

Genome assembly of KA105,a new resource for maize molecular breeding and genomic research

Superior inbred lines are central to maize breeding as sources of natural variation.Although many elite lines have been sequenced,less sequencing attention has been paid to newly developed lines.We constructed a genome assembly of the elite inbred line KA105,which has recently been developed by an arti-ficial breeding population named Shaan A and has shown desirable characteristics for breeding.Its pedigree showed genetic divergence from B73 and other lines in its pedigree.Comparison with the B73 reference genome revealed extensive structural variation,58 presence/absence variation(PAV)genes,and 1023 expanded gene families,some of which may be associated with disease resistance.A network-based integrative analysis of stress-induced transcriptomes identified 13 KA105-specific PAV genes,of which eight were induced by at least one kind of stress,participating in gene modules responding to stress such as drought and southern leaf blight disease.More than 200,000 gene pairs were differentially correlated between KA105 and B73 during kernel development.The KA105 reference genome and transcriptome atlas are a resource for further germplasm improvement and surveys of maize genomic variation and gene function.

Research on the detection of early caries based on hyperspectral imaging

Objective:We applied hyperspectral imaging(HSI)system to distinguish early caries from soundand pigmented areas.It will provide a theoretical basis and technical support,for research anddevelopment of an instrument that could be used for screening and detection of early dentalcaries.Methods:Eighteen extracted human teeth(molars and premolars),with varying degrees ofnatural pathology and no degree of decay involving dentin were obtained.HSI system with awavelength range from 400 to 1000nm was used to obtain images of all 18 teeth containingsound,carious and pigmented areas.We compared the spectra of the wavebands at both 500 nmand 780 nm from the different tooth states,and the reflectance diference bet ween sound versuscarious lesions and sound versus pigmented areas,respectively.Results:There was a slight diference in refectance bet ween carious areas and pigmented areas at500 nm.A substantial difference was additionally noted in refectance bet ween carious areas andpigmented areas at 780 nm.Conclusion:The results have shown that the interference of tooth surface pigment can be elim-inated in the near-infrared(NIR)waveband,and the caries can be effectively identifed from the pigmented areas.Thus,it could be used to detect carious areas of teeth in place of the traditionalvisual inspection method or white light endoscopy.Clinical significance:The NIR difused light signal enables the identification of early caries frompigment and other interference,providing a reasonable detection tool for early detection andearly treatment of teeth diseases.

Optimal Design of Grid-Connected Microgrid System for Cold Chain Logistics Centre in China

The growing interest in energy conservation has inspired companies to seek alternatives to highly polluting fuel electricity generation. This study designed an optimised solar wind power generation system to fulfil the energy requirement of a cold chain logistics centre. This study first conducted a thorough analysis of the clarity indicators and daily temperature positions of the cold chain logistics centre, determined the average daily electricity demand, and proposed an effective design scheme. The energy simulation software, RETScreen 8.0, was used to determine the scale of solar photovoltaic and wind power projects that meet the expected energy needs of the cold chain logistics centre. The results indicated that the estimated annual total energy demand was 833689.2 kWh. The annual power generation of 6 kW from solar photovoltaic projects and 150 kW from wind power projects was found to be enough to meet the expected electricity demand. Solar photovoltaic power generation and wind power generation account for 2.44% and 97.56%, respectively. The hybrid energy system achieved a 96.6% reduction in carbon emissions and provides a reasonable payback period of 6.1 years and an electricity generation of 904368.674 kWh per year. The feasibility of the project and the calculated period of investment return are very reasonable. Therefore, this hybrid renewable energy system provides reliable power by combining energy sources.

First application of plutonium in soil erosion research on terraces

The spatial distributions of ^(239+240)Pu and ^(137)Cs in soils from Longji Rice Terraces were investigated to evaluate soil erosion.The activity concentrations of ^(239+240)Pu and ^(137)Cs in the surface soils of the paddy fields were in the range of 0.089–0.734 and1.80–7.88 mBq/g,respectively.The activities of ^(239+240)Pu and ^(137)Cs showed very similar distribution trends,first increasing and then decreasing with increasing elevation.The 240Pu/239Pu atom ratios in the surface soils ranged from 0.162 to 0.232.The activities of ^(239+240)Pu and ^(137)Cs in the soil cores tended to be uniformly distributed within the plowed layer and declined exponentially below this depth.The mean soil erosion rates of Longji Rice Terraces estimated by ^(239+240)Pu and ^(137)Cs tracer methods were 5.44 t/(ha·a)and 5.16 t/(ha·a),respectively,which demonstrated that plutonium can replace ^(137)Cs as an ideal tracer for soil erosion research in the future.Landform features are the main factors affecting the distribution of plutonium and ^(137)Cs as well as soil erosion in the Longji Rice Terraces.