bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neurorights, Neurotechnologies and Personal Data: Review of the Challenges of Mental Autonomy
Authors: Cornejo Y.
Published: November 2024

Objective: to present the results of a systematic review of research on the impact of neurotechnology on legal concepts and regulatory frameworks, addressing ethical and social issues related to the protection of individual rights, privacy and mental autonomy.

Methods: The systematic literature review was based on the methodology proposed by a renowned British scholar, a professor emerita of computer science at Keele University Barbara Kitchenham, chosen for its flexibility and effectiveness in obtaining results for publication. Thorough searches were carried out with the search terms “neurotechnology”, “personal data”, “mental privacy”, “neuro-rights”, “neurotechnological interventions”, and “neurotechnological discrimination” on both English and Spanish sites, using search engines like Google Scholar and Redib as well as databases including Scielo, Dialnet, Redalyc, Lilacs, Scopus, Medline, and Pubmed. The focus of this research is bibliometric data and its design is non-experimental with a cross-sectional and descriptive, using content analysis based on PRISMA model.

Results: the study emphasizes the need to establish clear ethical principles to protect individual rights and promote responsible use of neurotechnologies; a number of problems of mental autonomy were identified, such as improper handling of information, lack of legal security guarantees, violation of rights and freedoms in the medical sphere. The author shows the need to adapt the existing regulatory legal framework to address the ethical and social problems arising from the new neurotechnologies. It is noted that a broad study of neurotechnology issues will contribute to the protection of human rights.

Scientific novelty: an expanded understanding of the five neurorights within the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is proposed; neurorights are viewed as a new category of rights aimed at protecting mental integrity against the misuse of neurotechnologies. The author justifies the adoption of such technocratic principles as personal identity, free will, mental privacy, equal access and protection against bias.

Practical significance: the obtained results are relevant for understanding modern legal concepts related to neurorights and for adapting the existing normative legal acts to solve ethical and social problems arising from the emergence of new technologies, protection of human neurorights and liability for their violation. The study of these issues is key for provision of further responsible development and use of neurotechnologies.
When superfluidity meets superconductivity - extraction of 3He isotope from liquid helium
Authors: Kempiński Wojciech , Banat Piotr , Kempiński Mateusz , Trybuła Zbigniew , Niechciał Jakub , Chorowski Maciej , Poliński Jarosław , Chołast Katarzyna
Published: November 2024

The world needs clean energy. One of the most promising ways of producing it in large amounts is the helium3–deuterium (3He-D) fusion reaction. Although there are numerous sources of 3He on Earth, most of them are either difficult to access or unprofitable to operate, which results in its deep shortage1. As a matter of great importance, this problem was reported to American Congress2 where, among other possibilities, the extraction of the 3He from the liquid helium was considered. The main problem underlying the shortage of 3He is the lack of an effective method of obtaining this isotope. Here we report the results of quantum filtration of 3He from liquid helium in a superfluid state (below the l-transition), with the use of an entropy filter made of a high-temperature superconductor YBCO-123. During operation of the so-called fountain effect generated with this filter, unlike the other filters, we observed a strong increase of 3He concentration downstream, where only pure 4He was expected. This effect occurred due to the unique combination of two quantum phenomena – superfluidity and superconductivity, leading to the observation of a low-temperature rectification-like process. This process would be considerably more economical than filtration, as rectification could be operated above the
l-transition. Moreover, micro-superconductors could be applied also to the extraction of deuterium, thus allowing the same method to be used for both crucial components of the 3He-D fusion. This method should be easy to upscale and could be used in space (with less energy input) as 3He, the crucial isotope for future energy, is also sought beyond the Earth3,4.
Lake chlorophyll-a linked to upstream nutrients across the CONUS
Authors: Dietrich Matthew , Golden Heather E. , Christensen Jay R. , Lane Charles R. , Dumelle Michael
Published: November 2024

Chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) is a commonly used proxy for algal biomass within surface waters, which can be indicative of harmful algal blooms. Excess nutrients, such as nitrogen or phosphorus, promote Chl-a production, often leading to eutrophication. However, little research exists on river nutrients-to-downstream lake Chl-a linkages at large watershed scales and across disparate climatic and physiographic regions. We found a significant positive relationship between measured total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorous (TP) concentrations in upstream rivers and Chl-a concentrations in downstream lakes at the watershed scale (average area = 99.8 km2 [35.8-628.6 km2], n = 254 watersheds) throughout the conterminous United States (CONUS). Additionally, through spatial logistic regression models, we demonstrate that a small number of explanatory variables (2–3 per model) can accurately predict (77%-86% accuracy, AUC = 0.83–0.91) classifications of high or low riverine TN, TP, or lake Chl-a concentrations throughout the CONUS at the watershed scale. The predictive variables included vegetation type, runoff, tile drainage, temperature, and nitrogen inputs. This work supports the hypothesis that rivers supply nutrients that enhance Chl-a concentrations in downstream lakes and demonstrates the power of parsimonious models combined with spatial autocorrelation to accurately predict classifications of nutrient concentrations and Chl-a across the CONUS. Synopsis River nutrient concentrations are positively correlated with downstream lake chlorophyll-a and both are effectively predicted by parsimonious models that incorporate spatial autocorrelation.
Heavy metals concentrations in commercial organic fertilizers and the potential risk of fertilization into soils
Authors: Su Kunjie , Zhang Qingliang , Chen Anjing , Wang Xiaoqin , Zhan Lingling , Rao Qiang , Wang Jinxia , Yang Hongjun
Published: November 2024

Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) was used to detect heavy metals in 74 typical and representative commercial organic fertilizers (COFs) collected in major COF production areas in China. The potential risk of fertilization into soils was evaluated. The concentrations of heavy metals (mg kg− 1) in these COFs were 1.55–36.95 (As), 0.04–2.32 (Hg), 1.43–78.05 (Pb), 0.15–7.49 (Cd), 11.03–212.90 (Cr), 7.74-555.11 (Cu), 21.46-2705.68 (Zn), and 5.62-244.47 (Ni), respectively. Based on China’s Organic Fertilizer Standard (2021), COFs with excessive heavy metals accounted for 45.95% (As), 1.35% (Hg), 2.70% (Pb), 8.11% (Cd), and 6.76% (Cr). According to the European Union standard (2019), the rate of COFs with excessive heavy metals was 32.43% for Cu, 75.68% for Zn, and 85.14% for Ni. Estimated by applying 3854 kg hectare− 1 (dry bass) of fertilizer per hectare per year, to guarantee the safe use of organic fertilizer, the risk monitoring of Cd in soil should be emphasized. China should formulate appropriate standards for the limits of Cu, Zn, and Ni in organic fertilizer as soon as possible and should pay great attention to heavy metal pollution of soils.
Multilayer Perception and Multivariate Time Series Intelligent Lithofacies Identification Method for Tight Sandstone Reservoirs
Authors: Mu Zihao , Li Chunsheng , Liu Zongbao , Liu Tao , Zhang Kejia , Mu Haiwei , Yang Yuchen , Xu Cuiyun , Zhang Ruixue
Published: November 2024

Lithofacies classification and identification are of great significance in the exploration and evaluation of tight sandstone reservoirs. Existing methods of lithofacies identification in tight sandstone reservoirs face issues such as lengthy manual classification, strong subjectivity of identification, and insufficient sample datasets, which make it challenging to analyze the lithofacies characteristics of these reservoirs during oil and gas exploration. In this paper, the Fuyu oil formation in the Songliao Basin is selected as the target area, and an intelligent method for recognizing the lithophysics reservoirs in tight sandstone based on hybrid multilayer perceptron (MLP) and multivariate time series (MTS-Mixers) is proposed. Firstly, appropriate logging curve parameters are selected based on the contribution rate as the basis of the lithofacies intelligent discrimination. Second, preprocessing operations are performed on the logging dataset to ensure the quality of the experimental data. Finally, the MLP-MTS hybrid intelligent model is constructed by combining the powerful information extraction and classification recognition capabilities of the MLP and MTS models to complete the intelligent recognition of the petrography of tight sandstone reservoirs. The experimental results demonstrate that the recognition efficiency of MLP-MTS model for all kinds of lithofacies phases is more than 90%, which verifies the good applicability of deep learning model in solving the process of lithofacies phase recognition in reservoirs.
Dual-View Embedding for Hyper-relational Knowledge Graphs with Hierarchical Structure
Authors: Liu Shuang , Xu Liangyang , Liu Yiying , Kolmani Simon
Published: November 2024

This study proposes a dual-view hyper-relational knowledge graph embedding model aimed at addressing the challenges of embedding complex relationships in knowledge graphs. Traditional methods primarily handle simple triplet relations and struggle with the complexity of hyper-relations. By integrating instance view and ontology view, our model, DVHE, captures hierarchical structural information between entities and is applied to link prediction tasks. Experimental results show that DVHE significantly outperforms existing single-view and dual-view models across multiple benchmark datasets, particularly in handling complex hyper-relations and hierarchical information. Ablation studies further validate the effectiveness of the model’s components, providing new insights for the development of knowledge graph embeddings.
Preparation and mechanical performance of fluorite tailings geopolymer precursor under alkaline heat activation
Authors: Qiu Hao , Su Hongtao , Liu Hengyuan , Guo Zhijian , Zhang Huifang , Ma Juntao , Wang Xiao
Published: November 2024

As one of the bulk solid wastes in the Yellow River basin in China, fluorite tailings urgently need to be utilized as resources. In this paper, NaOH and Na2CO3 were used for alkali thermal activation of ground fluorite tailings under different temperature conditions, and the reactivity was analyzed by XRD, SEM and compressive strength after hydration, so as to evaluate the feasibility of fluorite tailings as geopolymer precursor. The results show that the fluorite tailings can exhibit certain reactivity under alkaline heat excitation, and significant amorphous glass phase can be detected. The better heat excitation temperature is 1000℃, while there is not enough amorphous glass phase for hydration reaction at the lower or higher temperature. The compressive strength of the tailings harden paste can reach 7.2MPa at 28d after excitation with 50%NaOH at 1000℃, which is expected to be used as geopolymer precursor after excitation.
Advancing Biodiesel Production from Waste Cooking Oil: Optimization and Characterization of Manganese-Based Catalysts
Authors: Alahmar Nashwa Mohammed , Azelee Nur Izyan Binti Wan , Toemen Susilawati
Published: November 2024

Biodiesel stands as a non-toxic, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly substitute for conventional petroleum-based fuels. In recent years, the production of biodiesel has garnered significant attention from both industries and researchers globally. Waste cooking oil (WCO) has emerged as a promising feedstock for biodiesel production, drawing the interest of researchers. Utilizing WCO in biodiesel production is not only cost-effective but also addresses the disposal challenges associated with this waste cooking oil. The aim of the present study is to synthesis Ce/Mn(10:90)/γ-Al2O3 using incipient wetness impregnation (IWI) methods, with the goal of facilitating the biodiesel production from WCO. Various preparation parameters, comprising calcination temperatures and based loadings as well as various reaction conditions for the transesterification reaction such as catalyst loading, methanol to oil molar ratio, reaction temperature and time were optimized. From the results, the maximum conversion of triglyceride achieved was 97% for Ce/Mn(10:90)/γ-Al2O3 catalyst calcined at 800oC. The optimum reaction conditions were 10 wt% of catalyst loading and 1:24 of methanol to oil ratio at 65°C of reaction temperature for 3 hrs. This outstanding performance can be attributed to the catalyst's high surface area of 143. m2/g, large pore size of 8.75 nm, and smaller particle size of 0.462 nm, collectively enhancing its catalytic efficiency.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of breastfeeding rates and practices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Authors: O'CONNELL MAEVE ANNE , Meedya Shahla , Baqali Jenan Al , Alraeesi Kadeeja , Leahy-Warren Patricia
Published: November 2024

Objectives
The primary objectives of this study were to estimate breastfeeding rates, identify factors influencing breastfeeding, and explore breastfeeding practices among women in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Study Design
Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Methods
A systematic review and meta-analysis of relevant published peer-reviewed literature in the MEDLINE (Ovid), Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases from 2013 to 1st August 2023. When statistical pooling was not possible, results were synthesized narratively.
Results
Twelve studies were included. Pooled data from five studies (n=2009) indicated that 62% of women initiated breastfeeding within the first hour after birth (95% CI: [0.45 - 0.78], I2 = 98.3%). At three months, pooled data from three studies (n=851) showed that 73% of these women were still breastfeeding (95% CI: [0.42 - 0.96], I2 = 98.7%). At six months, the rate of exclusive breastfeeding, based on pooled data from three studies (n=1121), was 29.5% (95% CI: [0.14 - 0.477], I2 = 97.5%). Significant heterogeneity was observed, suggesting that the results should be interpreted with caution. Three key themes emerged from the analysis: (1) balancing supportive factors with traditional practices, (2) the role of health service provision in breastfeeding, and (3) the influence of socioeconomic factors.
Conclusions
This review highlights the importance of integrating cultural competence into healthcare strategies to better support breastfeeding mothers. Additionally, a national infant feeding survey is recommended to address the existing knowledge gaps in the UAE.
Worldwide genetic diversity and population structure of Plasmodium vivax Pv47 is consistent with natural selection by anopheline mosquitoes
Authors: Barillas-Mury Carolina , Molina-Cruz Alvaro , Torres Tran Zen , Raytselis Nadia , Young Micah , Kamath Nitin , McNich Colton , Su Xin-zhuan , Dwivedi Ankit , Silva Joana Carneiro da , Gonzalez-Ceron Lilia , Ford Anthony , Ferreira Marcelo , Arevalo-Herrera Myriam , Herrera Socrates , Lo Eugenia
Published: November 2024

Pv47 is the Plasmodium vivax ortholog of Pfs47, a surface protein that allows the Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasite to evade the mosquito immune system. Mutations in Pfs47have enabled P. falciparum to adapt to different vectors worldwide, and it has a marked population structure due to natural selection by evolutionarily distant mosquito species. The genetic diversity and population structure of Pv47 were analyzed in 1,199 Pv47 gene sequences from 27 countries worldwide and compared with Pfs47. The most common Pv47 polymorphisms are non-synonymous and are present in similar protein-coding regions as polymorphisms in Pfs47. Pv47 domain 2 presented an excess of non-synonymous substitutions relative to expectation, suggestive of positive selection. Pv47 from East Asia/Southeast Asia and Oceania had the highest haplotype diversity, Hd = 0.94 and Hd = 0.93 respectively, and the largest average genetic distance between sequences. Pv47 exhibited a marked geographic population structure, with the largest genetic distance between South America and other continents (FST 0.63–0.86). There was also an important genetic distance between Pvs47 from Oceania and Asia (FST 0.28–0.50), between Southeast Asia and Middle East/South Asia (FST 0.25–0.66), and between South America and Mexico (FST 0.38–0.64). Furthermore, a polymorphism in Pv47 (K27E) was associated with marked differences in the parasite’s ability to infect Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) albimanus and Anopheles pseudopunctipennis, two phylogenetically distant vectors in Mexico. Based on the striking similarities in genetic diversity, population structure, and signatures of natural selection between Pv47 and Pfs47, we infer that different Anopheline mosquito species select P. vivax parasites with compatible Pv47 haplotypes which are then more likely to be transmitted to a new vertebrate host.
Runoff Generation Signaled by Deviations from the Budyko Framework
Authors: Huang Jr-Chuan , Getachew Girum , Chen Yi-Ying
Published: November 2024

Water-energy dynamics play an essential role in regulating hydrological processes, and Budyko curve which quantitatively describes the long-term evaporation is widely used for relevant assessment. Yet, the influence of short-term evaporation deviation from long-term Budyko curve on different runoffs is rarely discussed. This study utilized the SWAT model to simulate different runoffs in an Ethiopian watershed and quantified the impacts of deviations between observed and Budyko regressive evaporative index on surface runoff, lateral flow, and return flow. Results revealed that SWAT effectively simulated the discharge satisfactorily with NSE of 0.74; and curve number, available water capacity and groundwater delay, are predominant parameters. Besides, 86% of the variance in the Budyko governing factor (n) could be explained by fractional vegetation cover and catchment slope. Higher n-values were observed in upper sub-catchments characterized by dense vegetation cover and permeable soils. Most importantly, the deviations in annual evaporative values from the long-term Budyko curve were significantly negatively correlated with both surface flow and return flow. The positive deviation, indicating that the short-term annual evaporative index exceeding the long-term Budyko values would accelerate evaporation and consequently generate lower surface and return flow. These findings offer new insights for effective water resource management in regions with complex climatic and catchment conditions.
A simulation study of flash floods in small watersheds based on the combined effects of future land use change and extreme rainfall
Authors: Hao Jingtao , Yang Yanmei , Wang Zegen , Xiong Junnan , Yong Zhiwei , Xu Yinxiang
Published: November 2024

Watershed hydrology is influenced by the subsurface of the watershed and the intensity of rainfall. The impact of rapid land use changes and frequent extreme rainfall on watershed flooding is uncertain. In this study, the PLUS model was used to simulate land use scenarios for 2020, 2030 and 2040, and the spatial pattern of simulated land use in 2020 was validated against the spatial pattern of actual land use in 2020. An initial hydrological model was constructed, and the hydrological model was validated and evaluated using historical rainfall events. Based on three land use scenarios, three rainfall return periods and three rainfall peak ratios, the runoff and inundation results under 27 scenarios were simulated by coupling the hydrological model with the hydrodynamic model. The results showed that changes in land use induced changes in rainfall runoff and flood inundation, and that the inundated area of the watershed decreased and the depth of inundation increased as the impervious surface area increased in the future. However, rainfall intensity has a more profound effect on watershed flooding than land use, where the effects of rainfall peak ratio and rainfall return period changes are 5 and 14 times higher than land use changes, respectively. The Kappa coefficient validated by the land use simulation experiment reached 85.7%, and the Nash coefficient validated by the hydrological model was generally higher than 69%. This study explored the impacts of land use change and rainfall intensity on watershed flooding from both future and extreme perspectives, and explored the characteristics of watershed flood response under multi-scenario modeling by constructing a more complete and scientific modeling framework, providing a new perspective for flood simulation studies.
Phytochemical and antioxidant analysis of bioactive compound extract from Nelumbo nucifera against cancer proteins: in silico spectroscopic approach
Authors: Vijayan Renganathan , Sivakumar Ponnurengam Malliappan , Hazir Selcuk , Kumar A. Ram , Raja Ramalingam Karthik
Published: November 2024

Nelumbonucifera nucifera, an aquatic crop cultivated throughout Asian countries, belongs to the Nelumbonaceae family and has been widely used in traditional medicines with key pharmacological activities such as anti-viral, antipyretic, antioxidant, anti-steroid, anti-inflammatory, anti-arrhythmia, anti-obesity, and anti-aging properties. The present study aims to explore and assess the phytochemical composition, GC-MS profiling, antioxidant efficacy, and the major phytoconstituent phytol subjected to theoretical spectroscopic characterization using the DFT method. The phytochemical profiling of N.nucifera reveals the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, saponin, phenol, and flavonoids. The antioxidant efficacy of N.nucifera extract against DPPH and ABTS radicals increased concentration-dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 222.84 µg and 52.67 µg, respectively. The in silico HOMO-LUMO band gap, MESP, Mulliken, and NBO analysis highlights phytol chemical reactivity and stability. In addition, the molecular docking was performed against breast cancer SMAD proteins to confirm its antagonist property with a binding energy of -3.64 kcal/mol (6OM2), -5.49 kcal/mol (1U7F), -5.05 kcal/mol (1U7V), and − 3.73 kcal/mol (6FX4).
Luminescence “on-off-on” sensing of acute myocardial infarction biomarker miRNA-208a based on copper nanoclusters-MoS 2 FRET system
Authors: Zhang Suzhen , Mei Danling , Fang Hongming , Li Quanwei , Zhou Xiumei , Zhao Xueqin , Zheng Zhencang , Huang Biao
Published: November 2024

MiRNA-208a is a molecular marker for the early stage of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with satisfactory specificity and a relatively short time window, making it highly suitable for the early diagnosis of AMI. In this study, we designed a CuNCs-cDNA-MoS2 fluorescent probe and established a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) enzyme-free fluorescent biosensor for "on-off-on" detection of miRNA-208a. The results showed that the detection limit for miRNA-208a was 900 pM, with a linear range of 1 to 10 nM. Interestingly, after the addition of RNase inhibitor, the detection time and limit for serum miRNA-208a were reduced to 5 minutes and 380 pM, respectively. It also has a wide linear range (1–20 nM), with a recovery rate of 98.13 to 101.20%. Compared to traditional methods, this strategy is simple, rapid, sensitive, and cost-effective. In summary, the FRET-based fluorescent sensor provides a high-performance method for detecting miRNA-208a.
Pharmacokinetics and bioequivalence evaluation of piracetam tablet in healthy Chinese subjects under fasting and fed conditions
Authors: Yan Hegui , Pan Zhixiang , Peng Yu , Wang Jie , Li Xiuwen , Xie Yafang , Liu Qiangying , Huang Cuiping , Wang Qiuhong , Liu Guan , Zhou Ming
Published: November 2024

Objective
The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics, bioequivalence and safety properties of piracetam tablet 800 mg in healthy Chinese subjects under fasting and fed conditions.
Methods
A single-center, randomized, open-label, two-period, two-sequence crossover study was conducted in 56 healthy Chinese subjects under fasting and fed conditions. Eligible subjects recevied a single dose of 800 mg piracetam tablet as test or reference formulation, followed by a 7-day wshout interval between periods. Blood samples were collected at the specified time points and the plasma concentration of piracetam was determined by a validated high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) method. The primary pharmacokinetic (PK) parameters were calculated using the non-compartment method. The geometric mean ratios for the PK parameters of the test drug to the reference drug and the corresponding 90% confidence intervals were acquired for bioequivalence analysis. The safety evaluation was assessed throughout the study.
Results
Under fasting and fed conditions, the PK parameters of the test drug and the reference drug were similar. The 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean ratios (GMRs) of the test-to-reference formulation were 90.85-106.85% for Cmax, 96.78-100.05% for AUC0 − t, and 96.77-100.24% for AUC0−∞ under fasting state. The 90% CIs of GMRs of the test-to-reference formulation were 93.58-105.39% for Cmax, 97.70-100.37% for AUC0 − t, and 97.63-100.41% for AUC0−∞ under fed state. Both the test and the reference formulations had good safety and were well-tolerated, and no serious adverse events related to the study drug were observed during the syudy.
Conclusion
The PK bioequivalence of the test and reference piracetam tablets in healthy Chinese subjects was established under fasting and fed conditions, which met the relevant regulatory standards. Both formulations were safe and well-tolerated.
Trial registration
Registered 08/16/2021, CTR20211195.
Does hospital middle manager’s management competency contribute to organizational performance? A cross-sectional study from tertiary public hospitals in Sichuan Province
Authors: Gao Jia , Liu Jun , Tian Meirong , Chen Jingjing , Zhang Lei , Zhang Suyi , Li Xiang , Zheng Yuwen , Qu Xing
Published: November 2024

Background
With the continuous improvement of hospital management practices and dynamic changes in the external environment, efforts to improve hospital organizational performance have become increasingly challenging. The management competency of middle managers in hospitals is a catalyst for strengthening hospital governance. Understanding the impact of the management competency of middle managers in hospitals on overall organizational performance is crucial for improving organizational performance.
Methods
A cross-sectional survey was conducted on a group of 482 randomly selected middle managers in 6 tertiary public hospitals in Sichuan Province, China. The individual management competency score was collected via the validated Leadership and Management Competency Framework (LMCF) questionnaire and the hospital organizational performance was measured via the McKinsey 7-S framework questionnaire. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to test the hypothesized causal pathway between hospital middle managers’ management competency and organizational performance.
Results
A total of 384 questionnaires were collected, 355 questionnaires were usable. The path analysis revealed that the management competency of middle managers in hospitals had a significant positive effect on organizational performance (β: 0.260, 95% CI: 0.119–0.361), whereas the average score of management competency for middle managers in hospitals was 3.96 out of 5. The direct path coefficient value for professional title to organizational performance was significant (β: -0.132, 95% CI: -0.255–0.040). Age and clinical background indirectly affected organizational performance by influencing management competency (β: 0.046, 95% CI: 0.017–0.095; β: -0.035, 95% CI: -0.074–0.011).
Conclusions
The management competency of middle managers in hospitals had a positive effect on organizational performance, but the management competency scores of middle managers in surveyed hospitals remained suboptimal. Interventions such as integrating management curricula into clinical medical education, conducting management training programs tailored for clinicians, and fostering project management practices are needed to improve the management competency of middle managers in hospitals.
Relationship Between E-Health Service Use and Psychological Distress: The Mediating Role of Health Lifestyle Behaviors and the Moderating Role of Belief in Genetic Determinism
Authors: GONG SIYING , MA SIYUAN , Li Qingrui , Zhao Xinshu
Published: November 2024

Background: The growing severity of psychological distress on a global scale is increasingly concerning. Existed studies show that e-health services have great potential for reducing psychological distress. However, its impact on psychological distress remains complex and multifaceted.
Objectives: This study aims to (1) examine the effect of e-health service use on psychological distress; (2) explore the health lifestyle behaviors as a mediating factor in the relationship between e-health service use and psychological distress; (3) analyze the moderating role of belief in genetic determinism on the pathways between e-health service use and health lifestyle behaviors.
Method:
Based on Health Information National Trends Survey 5 (HINTS 5, Cycle 4) data, this study tests the relationship between e-health service use and psychological distress, and the mediating role of health lifestyle behaviors and the moderating role of belief in genetic determinism. A total of 3865 respondents aged 18 or above (49.1% males) with an average age of 57 completed the survey.
Result: This study finds that e-health service use exerted positive effects on psychological distress directly. Their relationship can be mediated by health lifestyle behaviors. This study also finds a negative moderating effect of genetic determination on the relationship between e-health service use and health lifestyle behaviors.
Conclusion: This study suggests that e-health services can reduce psychological distress through health lifestyle behaviors. In addition, the belief in genetic determinism has a negative impact on health lifestyle behaviors..
Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy and associated factors among pregnant women in Tanzania: Evidence from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey
Authors: Godfrey Victoria , Eliufoo Elihuruma , Kessy Immaculata P , Bago Mussa , Mtoro Mtoro J. , Nyundo Azan
Published: November 2024

Background
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy remains a significant public health concern, particularly in Tanzania. Alcohol use during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders, and it can impair fetal growth and lead to low birth weight. This study aims to investigate the prevalence of alcohol use among pregnant women and identify associated factors utilizing data from the 2022 Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey (TDHS-MIS).
Methods
This was an analytical cross-sectional survey design utilizing secondary data from the 2022 TDHS-MIS. The survey employed a multistage cluster sampling method to generate representative national and sub-national health and health-related indicators between February and July 2022. A total of 1,182 pregnant women were included in the analysis. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression using STATA version 18.5 to assess factors associated with maternal alcohol consumption. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) were computed to estimate the strength of the association between independent variables and alcohol use.
Results
The mean age of the participants was 27.3 years (standard deviation: 6.9). The overall prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy among pregnant women in Tanzania was 3.9% (95% CI: 2.75–5.39). Factors associated with alcohol consumption were; women aged 25–34 (aOR = 5.17, 95%CI: 1.62–16.51) and more than 35 years of age (aOR = 20.89, 95%CI: 6.55–66.62), women who were never married (aOR = 7.89, 95%CI: 2.20-28.25), On the other hand, women living in the western zone (aOR = 0.20, 95%CI: 0.04–0.88).
Conclusion
The study reveals a concerning prevalence of alcohol consumption during pregnancy in Tanzania.​ Key demographic factors influencing alcohol use include maternal age, marital status, and notable regional disparities, particularly lower rates in Zanzibar compared to the western zone. These findings highlight the necessity for targeted public health initiatives aimed at educating pregnant women.
Attributing the extreme 2022 Pakistan Rainfall to CO2-induced Climate Change using Seasonal Forecasts
Authors: Weisheimer Antje , Palmer Tim , Leach Nicholas , Allen Myles , Roberts Chris , Abid Muhammad Adnan
Published: November 2024

While it is widely believed that the intense rainfall in summer 2022 over Pakistan was substantially exacerbated by climate change1,2, climate models struggled to confirm this3,4. Here we perform two high-resolution seasonal climate forecast experiments for June-to-August 2022 with reduced and increased CO₂, complementing the successful operational forecasts issued in May 2022. Both experiments predict extreme wet conditions, suggesting that the historical rise in CO₂ slightly enhanced the rainfall. In contrast, simulations with increased CO₂ fail to show a further rise in mean rainfall but increased the range of possible outcomes. A decomposition of the rainfall and underlying large-scale circulation signals into their atmospheric CO2 and SST-induced responses reveals how the balance of their relative changes controls the future dynamical response, which leads to the non-linear rainfall climate change signals over Pakistan. Accurately capturing these dynamics is crucial for reliable regional climate adaptation and assessing climate change-induced losses and damages.
Evolutionary loss of an antibiotic efflux pump increases Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing mediated virulence in vivo
Authors: Jorth Peter , Fernandes Sheryl , Ortega Humberto , Vaillancourt Mylene , Galdino Anna Clara , Stotland Aleksandr , Mun Kyu Shik , Aguilar Diane , Doi Yohei , Lee Janet , Burgener Elizabeth , Barrick Jeffrey , Schertzer Jeffrey
Published: November 2024

Antibiotic resistance is one of the most pressing threats to human health, yet recent work highlights how loss of resistance may also drive pathogenesis in some bacteria. In two recent studies, we found that β-lactam antibiotic and nutrient stresses faced during infection selected for the genetic inactivation of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Pa) antibiotic efflux pump mexEFoprN. Unexpectedly, efflux pump mutations increased Pa virulence during infection; however, neither the prevalence of efflux pump inactivating mutations in real human infections, nor the mechanisms driving increased virulence of efflux pump mutants are known. We hypothesized that human infection would select for efflux pump mutations that drive increased virulence in Pa clinical isolates. Using genome sequencing of hundreds of Pa clinical isolates, we show that mexEFoprN efflux pump inactivating mutations are enriched in Pa cystic fibrosis isolates relative to Pa intensive care unit clinical isolates. Combining RNA-seq, metabolomics, genetic approaches, and infection models we show that efflux pump mutants have elevated expression of two key Pa virulence factors, elastase and rhamnolipids, which increased Pa virulence and lung damage during both acute and chronic infections. Increased virulence factor production was driven by higher Pseudomonas quinolone signal levels in the efflux pump mutants. Finally, genetic restoration of the efflux pump in a representative ICU clinical isolate and the notorious CF Pa Liverpool epidemic strain reduced their virulence. Together, our findings suggest that mutations inactivating antibiotic resistance mechanisms could lead to greater patient mortality and morbidity.
Dynamic Parameter Morphogenesis for Adaptable Task Specialization in Large Language Models to Self-Directed Learning
Authors: Tate Brian , Wright James , Scott Elizabeth , Robinson Samuel
Published: November 2024

The rapid evolution of artificial intelligence has led to the development of models capable of performing a wide array of tasks; however, the adaptability of such models to novel and diverse applications remains a significant challenge. Introducing Dynamic Parameter Morphogenesis, a novel methodology that enables Large Language Models (LLMs) to autonomously reconfigure their internal parameters in response to varying task demands, thereby enhancing adaptability and performance across multiple domains. This approach reduces reliance on extensive labeled datasets and manual fine-tuning, facilitating more efficient utilization of computational resources. Empirical evaluations demonstrate that LLMs employing Dynamic Parameter Morphogenesis achieve superior performance metrics and exhibit rapid adaptation to new tasks, showing the potential of this methodology to transform the deployment and scalability of LLMs in various applications.
Detection of genus Eremococcus among the skin microbial flora of patients with filarial lymphedema
Authors: Pradeep Devu , Manavalan Sowmiya , Thirumal Sankari , Sivarasan Thamizhprabha , Venkatesan Shakila , Dharmalingam Danapriyaa , Semalaiyappan Janani , Kuttiatt Vijesh S
Published: November 2024

Employing 16S rRNA based metagenomic technique, we profiled the skin microbiome of patients with filarial lymphedema, a prominent skin NTD and a global health problem. A rare bacterium Eremococcus was detected in a few patients. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Eremococcus in association with filarial lymphedema.
Anomalies of non-invertible symmetries in (3+1)d
Authors: Córdova Clay , Hsin Po-Shen , Zhang Carolyn
Published: November 2024

Anomalies of global symmetries are important tools for understanding the dynamics of quantum systems. We investigate anomalies of non-invertible symmetries in 3+1d using 4+1d bulk topological quantum field theories given by Abelian two-form gauge theories, with a 0-form permutation symmetry. Gauging the 0-form symmetry gives the 4+1d “inflow” symmetry topological field theory for the non-invertible symmetry. We find a two levels of anomalies: (1) the bulk may fail to have an appropriate set of loop excitations which can condense to trivialize the boundary dynamics, and (2) the “Frobenius-Schur indicator” of the non-invertible symmetry (generalizing the Frobenius-Schur indicator of 1+1d fusion categories) may be incompatible with trivial boundary dynamics. As a consequence we derive conditions for non-invertible symmetries in 3+1d to be compatible with symmetric gapped phases, and invertible gapped phases. Along the way, we see that the defects characterizing \mathbb{Z}_{4}ℤ4 ordinary symmetry host worldvolume theories with time-reversal symmetry \mathsf{T}𝖳 obeying the algebra \mathsf{T}^{2}=C𝖳2=C or \mathsf{T}^{2}=(-1)^{F}C,𝖳2=(−1)FC, with CC a unitary charge conjugation symmetry. We classify the anomalies of this symmetry algebra in 2+1d and further use these ideas to construct 2+1d topological orders with non-invertible time-reversal symmetry that permutes anyons. As a concrete realization of our general discussion, we construct new lattice Hamiltonian models in 3+1d with non-invertible symmetry, and constrain their dynamics.
Codebase release r1.1 for SmoQyDEAC.jl
Authors: Neuhaus James , Nichols Nathan S. , Banerjee Debshikha , Cohen-Stead Benjamin , Maier Thomas , Del Maestro Adrian , Johnston Steven
Published: November 2024

We introduce the SmoQyDEAC.jl package, a Julia implementation of the Differential Evolution Analytic Continuation (DEAC) algorithm [N. S. Nichols et al., Phys. Rev. E 106, 025312 (2022)] for analytically continuing noisy imaginary time correlation functions to the real frequency axis. Our implementation supports fermionic and bosonic correlation functions on either the imaginary time or Matsubara frequency axes, and treatment of the covariance error in the input data. This paper presents an overview of the DEAC algorithm and the features implemented in the SmoQyDEAC.jl package. It also provides detailed benchmarks of the package’s output against the popular maximum entropy and stochastic analytic continuation methods. The code for this package can be downloaded from our GitHub repository at https://github.com/SmoQySuite/SmoQyDEAC.jl or installed using the Julia package manager. The online documentation, including examples, can be accessed at https://smoqysuite.github.io/SmoQyDEAC.jl/stable/.
On the Issue of the Determinants of Professional Crime in Modern Russia
Authors:   Southwestern State University, Zarubina K. A.
Published: November 2024

The issues of determining criminal activity in criminological science are among the most controversial, since no consensus has been developed so far on the influence of specific causes, factors and conditions on the growth of crime in general and its individual varieties, in particular. And it is particularly controversial to determine the determinants of the growth of the most dangerous types of criminal activity, such as professional crime. In this study, an attempt was made to analyze the determinants that determine the growth of criminal professionalism in modern Russia. It is determined that the determinants of professional crime by the nature of the formation of systematic criminal activity, as one of the key signs of criminal professionalism, can be divided into two groups: determinants that cause the commission of the first crime by a professional criminal; determinants that produce the commission of crimes by such a person on an ongoing basis. It is clarified that the first group of determinants belongs to the «category» of «traditional», peculiar to different types of criminal activity, while special determinants affect the formation of the personality of a professional criminal after committing his first crime. In continuation, the analysis of certain special determinants that cause the commission of crimes repeatedly (on a professional basis) was carried out.
Diclofenac sodium removal by powdered activated carbon of coconut endocarp: process optimization, kinetics, and isotherms
Authors: Rocha Medeiros Glauber da , de Lima Patrycia Rabelo , Júnior Clécio de Albuquerque Melo , Barbosa Mayara Alves , Nascimento José Heriberto Oliveira do , Tinôco Juliana Delgado
Published: November 2024

Emerging contaminants (ECs) have been detected in various environmental compartments, particularly aquatic bodies. Diclofenac sodium (DS), one of the most ecotoxic ECs, causes hemodynamic changes, thyroid tumors, and adverse effects under chronic exposure. Therefore, some countries have adopted restrictive legislation, encouraging the development of technology to mitigate this. Among water treatment processes, adsorption is an effective technical and economic alternative. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate, on a bench scale, the efficiency of DS removal in powdered activated carbon (PAC) of coconut endocarp. DS adsorption was analyzed via central composite design (CCD) using four factors: diclofenac sodium concentration (CDS from 50 to 450 mg·L−1 ), adsorbent concentration (CPAC from 0.2 to 5 g·L−1), contact time (Ct from 5 to 45 min), and pH (from 5 to 9). The results supported response modeling for adsorption capacity, pseudo-first-order (PFO) and pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetics, intraparticle diffusion (IPD), and Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. DS demonstrated an affinity for adsorption on PAC. The maximum adsorption capacity was 169.39 mg·g-1 for PAC (CDS of 331.64 mg·L−1, CPAC of 0.2 g·L−1, Ct of 40.6 min, and pH 5) obtained through duplicate confirmation batches.
Bibliometric perspectives in mapping the progress of river water quality index studies
Authors: Md Shahri Nur Huda Nabihan , Mohd Ali Zalina
Published: November 2024

This paper employs a bibliometric analysis to guide researchers in forecasting the trajectory of research related to the development of the river water quality index (WQI). It scrutinizes issues such as variable selection, weight allocation, and the formulation of the function, which are key concerns in the river WQI development. This study also addresses gaps in the existing literature by examining how information about river WQIs is disseminated, focusing on aspects such as contributing research and prevalent keywords. While bibliometric analysis has been widely applied in various research domains, its use in developing river WQIs has been comparatively limited. To address this, the current study conducts a bibliometric analysis to identify trends in index creation and to assess the current state of the literature in the field of WQIs. This examination includes a comprehensive review of papers published in the Scopus database from 1973 to 2024, relevant to the river WQI. Utilizing tools such as R, VOSviewer, and BiblioMagika, the research uncovers patterns in publication among authors and organizations. A finding is that China and India have emerged as leading contributors to publications in this field, indicating their pivotal role in the advancing river water quality index research.
Water demand and supply under future water development and climate change scenarios in the upper Blue Nile basin
Authors: Sitotaw Takele Gebiyaw , Gebrie Geremew Sahilu , Engida Agizew Nigussie
Published: November 2024

Integrated methodological approaches to analyzing water demand and supply under changing scenarios in a river basin are crucial for managing water resources. To better understand the influence of socioeconomic and climate change on water supply, this study employed an integrated methodological approach that included the soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) hydrology and the water evaluation and planning (WEAP) models. Water development scenarios were created for two time periods: near future (2021–2040) and full development (2041–2060). During the current account period, water for irrigation delivery was balanced, and existing hydropower facilities generated energy at full capacity (3,159 GWh). However, irrigation water supply in the near future and full development scenarios shows a shortfall (267 Mm3 and 594 Mm3 under RCP4.5, and 213 Mm3 and 611 Mm3 under RCP8.5, respectively). Despite the basin's energy production will increase during the scenario periods, under-construction and planned hydropower plants are predicted to operate at less than full capacity (44,921 GWh under RCP4.5 and 44,539 GWh under RCP8.5). The study concluded that climate change-induced water availability and irrigation expansion would contribute to the water supply-demand mismatch. As a result, water resource management is required to increase water availability, minimize water demand, and reduce unmet demand.