bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of an all-dielectric metamaterials with large spectrum smooth transmission in measuring the the thermal conductivity properties of the jade carving materials
Authors: Li Jianwei , Huang Ge , Tian Qian , Wu Wei , Ma Quanwei
Published: June 2024

Traditional metamaterial-based sensors acquire sensing information mainly by measuring the change of amplitude or frequency caused by the environmental medium. However, this sensing method is not suitable for measuring samples with a large range of stationary spectral lines, such as jade carving materials. In this paper, we design and apply a metamaterial sensor with all-dielectric structure and obtain a smooth transmission line in the operating frequency range of 6-40THz. The transmission properties of the metamaterial are more sensitive to the thickness of SU-8 and less sensitive to the thickness of SiO2. The metamaterial samples were used to measure the effect of thickness and type on the thermal resonance properties (thermal resonance current, thermal conductivity, thermal resistance) of jade carving materials. When the thickness is increased from 1.0mm to 1.9mm, the thermal conductivity of the jade carved sample is weakened, including: the amplitude of the thermal response current and the thermal conductivity coefficient are reduced, and the thermal resistance is significantly increased. These results indicate that the thermal resonance properties of jade samples can be controlled by optimizing the thickness. The thermal resonance properties of four Jade carving samples (Jadeite, Turquoise, Color Jade, and Yellow stone) were measured and compared in detail. Among them, the heat transfer coefficient of Jade carving sample Color Jade is the largest, while the heat transfer coefficient of jade carving sample Turquoise is the smallest. These results indicate that the mineral composition and internal structure of jade carving samples are important factors in determining thermal resonance properties.
Multiscale Water Use Driving Effects and Dynamic Water Demand Research Based on the Kaya-LMDI-STIRPAT Model
Authors: Wang Ting , Wang Wenrui , Liu Bin , Sha Jinxia , You Jinjun , Zhang Dasheng
Published: June 2024

A better understanding of the driving effects of socio-economic water use is essential to obtain accurate water demand prediction and to implement water resources management. In this study, six driving effects, including scale effect, structure effect, economic level effect, policy rationality effect, water price policy effect, and scientific and technological level effect, are considered. A Kaya-LMDI model is constructed to identify the driving effects of domestic, industrial and agricultural water use, and then a STIRPAT model is established for water demand production. Annual precipitation is introduced into the model for predicting agricultural water demand. The model is applied to Hebei province, China. The main conclusions are summarized as follows: ① The economic level effect plays a role in promoting the socio-economic water use in all prefecture-level cities of Hebei province; The water price policy effect plays a role in inhibiting the domestic and agricultural water use, while the scientific and technological level effect plays a role in inhibiting the industrial water use. ② The water use is mainly inhibited by the effects of policy rationality and water price policy before 2015 but mainly by the effects of water price policy and scientific and technological level after 2015; ③ There is a clear spatial difference in the driving effects of the socio-economic water use among the prefecture-level cities, and the economic level effect plays a major role in promoting the socio-economic water use in all prefecture-level cities; the water price policy effect plays an inhibitory role in nine cities; while the policy rationality effect plays an inhibitory role in two cities; ④ The water demand prediction results suggest that the water demand of Hebei province in 2030 is 22.01 billion m3 in normal years (P = 50%) and 24.33 billion m3 in medium-dry years(P = 75%), which are consistent with the red line set by the government. This study may contribute to optimizing the economic structure and provides guidance for water use management.
Predicting Diabetes Using Supervised Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Afolabi Sulaiman , Ajadi Nurudeen , Jimoh Afeez , Adenekan Ibrahim
Published: June 2024

This study explores the application of supervised machine learning algorithms in predicting diabetes, a chronic and life-threatening disease with no definitive cure. We employed three supervised machine learning algorithms which include logistic regression, Random Forest, and k-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) to develop predictive models and identify significant features contributing to diabetes. These models were evaluated based on accuracy, minimal test error, specificity, and sensitivity. Our analysis reveals that KNN achieved the highest performance with accuracy of 88.36%, sensitivity of 87.88%, and specificity of 88.83% among the algorithms tested, making it the most reliable for diabetes prediction in this dataset. The goal of this research is to aid in early detection and management of diabetes by leveraging machine learning on electronic health records.
Application of preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction in single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic complex segmentectomy: a propensity score-matching analysis
Authors: Chen Hao , Huang Yu , Wu Zhonghua , Liang Wenxin , Chen Yan , Lin Zixiang , Liu Minjie , Deng Jiahe , Zhang Ning'xuan , chen chun , xu guobin , zheng wei , zheng bin , xu chi
Published: June 2024

Background
With the popularity of LDCT screening, increasingly more small pulmonary nodules are being found, and segmentectomy is widely performed because of its advantages in the treatment of early lung cancer. However, the feasibility of segmentectomy is controversial because of the highly intricate nature of the operation, especially in complex cases. Preoperative three-dimensional reconstruction (3DR) is an effective method to ensure a smooth operation, but its role in complex segmentectomy has not yet been verified. This study was performed to assess the value of preoperative 3DR in complex pulmonary segmentectomy by retrospective analysis of preoperative 3DR-assisted single-port video-assisted thoracoscopic complex pulmonary segmentectomy and comparison of surgery-related indicators.
Methods
The clinical data of patients with pulmonary nodules who underwent single-port thoracoscopic complex segmentectomy (n = 299) from August 2015 to February 2019 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into a preoperative 3DR group (n = 156) and non-3DR group (n = 143). Perioperative outcomes were compared between the two groups after comparative propensity score-matching analysis according to patient age, sex, body mass index, lung function, smoking history, major tumor components, and tumor size.
Results
Each group comprised 125 patients after propensity score matching, and the baseline characteristics of the patients were comparable. There were no significant differences in age, sex, body mass index, smoking history, tumor histology, or tumor size between the two groups (all P > 0.05). Additionally, the 3DR and non-3DR groups showed no significant differences in the number of lymph nodes dissected (9.4 ± 5.1 vs. 10.6 ± 7.0), postoperative drainage volume (510.5 ± 279.4 vs. 528.7 ± 379.4 mL), duration of chest tube placement (2.3 ± 1.1 vs. 2.5 ± 1.6 days), incidence of chronic air leakage (0.8% vs. 0.8%), total complications (2.4% vs. 5.6%), or 30-day postoperative mortality (0% vs. 0%). However, significant differences were found in the operative time (178.6 ± 50.5 vs. 202.1 ± 51.4 min) and intraoperative blood loss (47.6 ± 37.9 vs. 58.4 ± 36.2 mL) (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
This is the first study to evaluate the usefulness of preoperative 3DR in complex segmentectomy. The results showed that the use of preoperative 3DR for complex pulmonary segmentectomy is a safe and effective method that can significantly reduce the operation time and blood loss.
Seismic behavior of assembled concrete bridge piers with hybrid joint connections
Authors: Zhang Renwei , Zheng Liqun , Zhong Hai , Qin Shuangshuang
Published: June 2024

Investigating the seismic behavior of assembled concrete bridge piers is crucial in the design process due to the complex stress distribution in the connecting components. To demonstrate the seismic behavior of assembled concrete piers with hybrid joint connections, three bridge piers were designed with a scaling ratio of 1:8 and then tested under low cyclic loading conditions. The tests involved varying shapes of steel tube shear keys as parameters. The study involved examining failure modes and crack development, as well as analyzing the hysteretic performance, deformation capacity, energy dissipation, and stiffness degradation of the specimens. Furthermore, a finite element model was developed using ABAQUS, and the validity of the modeling approach suggested in this study was confirmed through experimental tests. The results indicate that the assembled piers exhibit reduced concrete damage at the joints. The enhanced strength of the joints is attributed to the incorporation of steel tube shear keys. The circular steel tube connection key integrated into the assembled bridge pier offers superior bearing capacity, energy dissipation, and stiffness degradation compared to the cross-shaped steel tube connection key. The presence of the built-in circular steel tube shear key in the assembled bridge pier suggests that it complies with the seismic structural measures, consistent with the design principle of "strong joint and weak member".
Uncertainty Quantification for Linear Inverse Problems with Besov Prior: A Randomize-Then-Optimize Method
Authors: Horst Andreas , Afkham Babak Maboudi , Dong Yiqiu , Lemvig Jakob
Published: June 2024

In this work, we investigate the use of Besov priors in the context of Bayesian inverse problems. The solution to Bayesian inverse problems is the posterior distribution which naturally enables us to interpret the uncertainties. Besov priors are discretization invariant and can promote sparsity in terms of wavelet coefficients. We propose the randomize-then-optimize method to draw samples from the posterior distribution with Besov priors under a general parameter setting and estimate the modes of the posterior distribution. The performance of the proposed method is studied through numerical experiments of a 1D inpainting problem, a 1D deconvolution problem, and a 2D computed tomography problem. Further, we discuss the influence of the choice of the Besov parameters and the wavelet basis in detail, and we compare the proposed method with the state-of-the-art methods. The numerical results suggest that the proposed method is an effective tool for sampling the posterior distribution equipped with general Besov priors.
A Novel Method for Constraint Optimization to Enhance Oil Production in a Production System with a Real Fractured Oil Reservoir
Authors: Fadaei Mehdi , Ameri Mohammad Javad , Rafiei Yousef
Published: June 2024

In the oil industry, multiphase separators are of paramount importance in oil production, as they have a significant impact on overall oil production capacity. However, the occurrence of slug flow, which is characterized by undesirable behavior, can cause extensive damage to the surface separator and pipelines. Consequently, the development of intelligent separators and the implementation of effective flow regime control mechanisms are crucial. To address this issue, our research aimed to investigate the behavior of different flow regimes entering the separator and evaluate the intelligence system of the separator. Initially, we constructed a laboratory-scale multiphase flow loop as a platform to examine various flow regimes entering the separator. Through laboratory tests employing a PID controller, we collected data concerning the liquid level, gas pressure, input flow rate, and control signals of the separator. Subsequently, we accurately modeled the laboratory system and conducted simulations in a multiple-input-multiple-output mode with model predictive control. After ensuring the effective operation of the laboratory smart control system, we integrated its control model with a production system containing a real fractured reservoir. The results demonstrated that the implementation of the smart integrated production system could enhance oil production by approximately 53% over a 20-year simulation period.
Inhibitors of methane (CH4 ) producing bacteria: Development of hydrolysates and fermentates from brown seaweeds and identification of biomolecules with enteric CH4 abatement potential
Authors: Bhowmick Goldy , Rai Dilip K. , Olatunji Oyenike , Kilcawley Kieran , Skibinska Iwona , Shannon E. , Kennedy Deirdre , Walsh Desmond , Mora Leticia , Hayes Maria
Published: June 2024

Seaweeds are a valuable source of bioactive molecules widely discussed as having potential to reduce enteric methane (CH4) emissions from livestock. The brown seaweeds, Ascophyllum nodosum (Linnaeus) Le Jolis and Himanthalia elongata (Linnaeus) S. F. Gray are rich in polyphenols, specifically phlorotannins, with known antimicrobial and astringent bioactivities. Brown seaweeds can find use as animal feed additives if issues concerning their palatability and digestibility as well as the impact on protein absorption by the animal are overcome. Fermentation and hydrolysis are traditional processes used for preservation of biomass, but which may beneficially improve palatability and digestibility of feeds. The aim of this work was to assess the potential of fermented and hydrolysed brown seaweeds as agents for CH4 abatement. Ascophyllum nodosum and Himanthalia elongata of Irish origin were fermented and hydrolysed independently with commercially available lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and xylanase enzyme. Molecular weight cut off (MWCO) fractions generated from treated seaweed biomasses were assessed for their antimicrobial activities against the methanogens Methanococcus maripaludis and Methanobrevibacter ruminantium using 96-well plate and well diffusion assays. Batch experiments were carried out using anaerobic conditions at 37°C for a period of 11 days. The A. nodosum fermentate and H. elongata hydrolysate were characterised for their polyphenol, phlorotannin, peptide, fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and volatile compound contents using different mass spectrometry methods including GC-MS and LC-MS. Inhibition of M. maripaludis and M. ruminantium was observed in the presence of MWCO extracts generated from the treated seaweeds using the 96-well microtiter plate and well diffusion assays at concentrations of 1 mg/mL. The most antimicrobial A. nodosum MWCO fractions included the polyphenol fractions < 100-kDa & 50-kDa in size, the A. nodosum phlorotannin extract < 100-kDa in size and the H. elongata tannin fraction < 100-kDa in size. 147 and 82 novel peptide sequences were identified in the 3kDa MWCO fractions generated independently from the A. nodosum fermentate and H. elongata xylanase hydrolysate. Fifty volatile compounds were identified in the A. nodosum fermentate. The H. elongata hydrolysate and A. nodosum fermentate contained significant levels of palmitic acid - 1536.37 µg fatty acid/g and 1139.37 µg fatty acid/g lipid, respectively.
Validation of the Spanish version of the Sense of Social and Academic Fit (SSF) Scale in Chilean undergraduate students and its association with academic, psychological, and socio- demographic variables
Authors: Gaete Jorge , Tornero Bernardita , Cárcamo Marcela , Tricio Jorge , Rojas-Barahona Cristian , Araya Ricardo
Published: June 2024

The global expansion of higher education has led to an increased enrollment of first-generation students, presenting opportunities and challenges for institutions. Despite efforts to support these students, they often face lower graduation rates and higher dropout rates. Among the factors influencing student success, the sense of belonging has emerged as a critical determinant. This study reports the validation of the Spanish version of the Sense of Social and Academic Fit (SSF) scale in the context of a private university in Santiago, Chile, with a predominantly first-year student sample. The psychometric evaluations of the scale included: (i) factor structure, (ii) internal consistency, and (iii) association with several individual (e.g., history of academic achievement in high school, grit, self-control, motives for attending college) and contextual factors (e.g., parents´ education background, attendance to private, subsidized and state schools, financing higher education). Results indicated a multifactor structure, with three underlying factors identified as a Sense of belonging, a Sense of educational alienation, and a Sense of affinity. Internal consistency for all subscales and the total scale was good. Association analyses found that private school dependency was positively associated with the SSF total score, and the extrinsic self-oriented motives subscale was negatively associated with the SSF total score. This study contributes to the literature by examining the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the SSF scale in a Latin American context.
Acousto-optic cryptosystem based on dynamic DNA encoding and hyperchaotic system in gyrator domains
Authors: Sun Gege , Song Wenbo , Tian Miao , Liu Zhengjun , Chen Hang
Published: June 2024

Traditional encryption algorithms like DES suffer from the issue of key length (128 bits to 256 bits) and the inconvenience of memorization. Users typically store keys in a file or device, or even directly on a computer hard drive, releasing the key through a relatively easy-to-remember passphrase. Addressing these issues, this paper proposes a novel remote sensing image encryption system based on a hybrid model incorporating a 4D Lorenz chaotic system, Gyrator transform, Acousto-optic Conversion system, and dynamic DNA encoding. Firstly, the original image is scrambled using a 4D Lorenz mapping function. Subsequently, employing an Acousto-optic modulation algorithm, audio information is fitted into image information and serves as part of the encryption system key, significantly enhancing the correlation between the key and the user. Then, employing a dynamic DNA encoding algorithm, the image is encoded using eight different DNA encryption schemes and three distinct computational rules, achieving an exponential expansion of the key space with minimal computational overhead. Finally, through comparative analysis, the Gyrator transform, demonstrating superior performance, is selected to further encrypt remote sensing image data, expanding the key space. The proposed remote sensing image encryption system exhibits high security performance and robustness against various attacks.
Holistic Understanding: A Qualitative Study on Parental and Teacher Experiences in Describing Coping Mechanisms Among Children with Special Needs in Indonesia
Authors: Khoirunnisa Khoirunnisa , Kurniawan Kurniawan , Maryam Nenden Nur Asriani , Mardhiyah Ai
Published: June 2024

Background
Children with Special Needs are vulnerable groups that require special attention from various aspects. The existence of children with special needs in Pangandaran District is difficult to reach because it tends to be hidden by families. So that, the development of children with special needs is not optimal due to the unmet needs. It can lead to be a stigma in community. This study aimed to explore coping mechanism of parent and teacher in caring the children with special needs.
Method
This study used qualitative descriptive research design. Participants in this study consisted of two groups, namely parents and teachers in Special Schools with a total of 18 people. The data collection process was using Focused Group Discussion (FGD). The data was analyzed by thematic analysis.
Results
The data was analyzed using thematic analysis methods so that relevant themes were found to the statements expressed by the participants. The results of the data analysis obtained four main themes related to parents' experiences in caring for children with special needs, namely adaptive behavior, maladaptive behavior, sources of coping for children with special needs, dilemmas about the future of children with special needs, and parents' responses related to children's conditions. There are similar problems and coping mechanism both of parents and teacher, such as support system and facility that they can access.
Conclusions
This study highlights that the majority of parents and teachers report that children with special needs exhibit maladaptive behavior as a coping mechanism. Both parents and teachers of special children need support from various aspects to build their coping mechanism. Meanwhile, this study can be implied as justification to develop a support group for parents to increase awareness about children with disabilities and their needs.
The regular use of Finasteride before Transurethral Laser Resection of the Prostate help to reduce bleeding: a retrospective study in a single center
Authors: Wang Ruoyu , Gong Xiaoyong , Chen Shuiyuan , Shu Tiehuan , Xiang Guiqiao , Yang Sen
Published: June 2024

Purpose: To investigate the effect of preoperative administration of finasteride on intraoperative bleeding during transurethral laser resection of the prostate.
Materials and methods: We retrospectively analyzed 181 patients who underwent transurethral laser resection of the prostate between Jan 2021 and Dec 2023. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether finasteride were used (n = 99) or not (n = 82). The following parameters were collected: age, height, weight and body mass index (BMI), international prostate symptom score (IPSS), quality of life (QoL) score, prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), prostate volume, operation time, hospital stay, catheterization duration, re‐catheterization , preoperative and postoperative hemoglobin concentrations, preoperative and postoperative serum sodium concentrations, postoperative urinary tract infection (UTI) rate, hospitalization costs. We compared the two groups using Student’s t test, Mann–Whitney U test and χ2 test for quantitative and categorical variables, respectively. Linear regression model was used to identify predictive factors of transurethral laser resection of the prostate.
Results: Compared with the non-finasteride group, the finasteride group had a lower bleeding level (Δhemoglobin 3.63±8.73 g/L vs. 8.10±11.14 g/L, p=0.026), and a lower hospitalization costs (22796.89±5482.40 Yuan vs. 25113.27±4510.60 Yuan, p=0.008). In multivariate analyses, the regular use of finasteride (r=-0.237, p=0.002) and level of PSA (r=0.233, p=0.006) was the indepentent predictive factor of intraoperative bleeding during transurethral laser resection of the prostate.
Conclusion: The regular use of finasteride before transurethral laser resection of the prostate help to reduce intraoperative bleeding level.
Outcomes of peritoneal dialysis patients after transfer to haemodialysis
Authors: KV Koti Reddy , Sree Spoorthi , Aruna M , Varalakshmi V , Sreelak G , Samaja Ganana , Harshitha P , G Jagrutee , Rao Viswaeswar , Laksmi Aishwarya , SK Shahida Heera , Ram R , Kumar Siva
Published: June 2024

Introduction The impact of switching to haemodialysis from peritoneal dialysis (PD) and the timing of this switch become more important to the long-term management of PD patients. We examined the following issues 1. The hazard of technique failure of PD on patient survival and the effect of the transfer to HD when compared to the patients continuing on PD and patients started on HD. 2. We investigated whether this hazard depends on the type of vascular access. Materials and Methods The study was as a retrospective single-centre cohort study. All ESRD patients who were on peritoneal dialysis at our centre between 01.01.2013 and 31.12.2022, were considered for inclusion in the study. Results During the study period, 677 patients were started on PD at our institute. In the present study, we did not find any significant difference in baseline characteristics between the patients who continued on PD and those who successfully switched to HD. The 90-day mortality after transfer to HD from PD was 20 patients (30.7%). The mortality was higher than the 90-day mortality in the matched 65 patients who were identified from the 372 patients who continued on PD. The significant risk factors for mortality identified after transfer to HD from PD were the absence of permanent of vascular access, lower ultrafiltration while on PD, lower serum albumin, and lower serum calcium. Discussion In our study, patients who continued on PD had a better survival than the patients transferred to HD. Other studies reported no difference in survival for patients staying on PD compared to patients with a successful switch to HD.
Comparison of two-region nonequilibrium model and transient storage model for simulating solute transport in karst conduits
Authors: Zhao Xiaoer , Cao Zhaodan , Wu Chengqiu , Xue Xiaofeng
Published: June 2024

Two-region nonequilibrium model (TRM) and transient storage model (TSM) are commonly used to interpret the tailing of breakthrough curve (BTC) in karst conduits caused by immobile zones (pool, etc.) for transport studies in conduits. But few studies simultaneously used the two models for comparison. We used the two models to simulate the same BTCs in the pool-pipe system with different pool sizes to analyze the similarities and differences between them. The simulation results show that the BTCs can be well reproduced by both TRM and TSM in CXTFIT and OTIS. The equations underling the two models are equivalent for simulation of conservative solute transport in the pool-pipe system because the average mobile velocity (vm), dispersion coefficient (Dm), partition coefficient (β) and exchange coefficient (α/β) in TRM respectively equal the average advective velocity (u), dispersion coefficient (DL), main channel proportion (A/(A + AS)) and exchange coefficient (α') in TSM. The equivalences of parameters in the two models allow to give appropriate initial estimates for A, AS and DL in TSM using initial v, D and β estimates in TRM. TSM can describe solute transport in conduits with lateral flow or in conduit segments between the sampling points but TRM cannot. In addition, TSM provides more insights into solute transport processes in karst conduits compared with TRM. However, simulating BTC in karst conduits using TRM in CXTFIT is steadier and easier. The results show implications for the selection of the models to simulate solute transport processes in karst conduits.
Chinese Character Stroke Extraction Method based on Hierarchical Multi-Model
Authors: Ma Siliang , Xu Yong
Published: June 2024

Stroke extraction of Chinese characters plays an important role in Chinese character recognition, calligraphy aesthetic quality evaluation and handwriting synthesis. However, most of the existing methods perform well on printed characters, but not well on ancient calligraphy and handwritten characters. In addition, most of these methods only use a single model based on graph theory or deep learning to achieve end-to-end stroke extraction, resulting in limited room for model performance improvement. In this paper, we propose a Chinese character stroke extraction method based on hierarchical multi-model including four steps, which apply KNN clustering algorithm into stroke extraction and improved the performance of stroke extraction based on instance segmentation.Firstly, we use a stacked model driven calligraphic character recognition method to recognize the input character image. Then we use the font recognition model to match the input character image with images with annotated strokes. For those images with matching rate higher than 99\%, stroke extraction method based on KNN pixel clustering is used to extract the strokes. Thirdly, for those images with matching rate less than 99\%, we separate the non-connected regions of the input character image according to the graphic attributes to find out the independent strokes. Finally, the instance segmentation-based stroke extraction method is applied to extract each individual stroke. Experimental results show that the average accuracy of the proposed method on the five test subsets of CSSCD, LTH, SS, HLJ, FZJTJW and FZLBJW is 94.3\%, 96.2\%, 91.7\%, 92.9\% and 89.4\%, respectively, which is greatly improved compared with the existing methods, which proves the effectiveness of the method described in this paper. Our code and datasets are publicly available at \url{https://github.com/JacksonMa618/MLStroke}
Enhancing Text Summarization in a Limited Data and Long Sample Setting
Authors: Shevchuk Viktor
Published: June 2024

This thesis addresses the challenges of automatic text summarization in a limited amount of data and a significantly large sample size setting. The study introduces a novel dataset of Ukrainian legislative documents professionally translated into English. Comprising only 99 document-summary pairs with average lengths of over 20,000 and 1,300 tokens respectively, this dataset provides an ideal opportunity to evaluate and compare both extractive and abstractive summarization techniques under the data scarcity and document length constraints.
The research findings reveal that abstractive summarization, even in a zero-shot setting, outperforms extractive methods, achieving higher scores across ROUGE and BERTScore metrics for legislative texts.
Additionally, this study introduces a new text segmentation technique that automates the manual preprocessing of long, unstructured texts for abstractive summarization. Initial results demonstrating a 0.23 ROUGE score compared to human-annotated references, while may seem modest, indicate the feasibility of automating the generation of training data for fine-tuning summarization models at any scale, unlocking not only the ability to handle large-scale datasets but also to improve the efficiency of the models, encouraging further research into enhancing the algorithm.
Paper-based device (PAD) for simultaneous determination of Hg(II) and Pb(II) in water samples from São Francisco River, Brazil
Authors: Silva Jéssica da Conceição da , Soares Maria Helena Gomes , Júnior José Guimarães F. , Lima Phabyanno Rodrigues , Abreu Fabiane Caxico , Meneses Diógenes
Published: June 2024

Hg(II) and Pb(II) are considered potentially toxic metals (PTMs) that can be found in several ecosystems, including water systems such as lakes, rivers and groundwaters. These species are classified as human carcinogens and non-biodegradable pollutants, leading to neurological and nutritional disorders, as well as chronic diseases. Due to its relevance, several methods have been developed to determine the concentration of these PTMs; however, they require costly reagents, laborious operation and complex equipment. Herein, we present a simple-to-use and low-cost paper-based device (PAD) for Hg(II) and Pb(II) determination in natural water samples based on the colorimetric reaction between these PMTs and the dithizone colorimetric probe. The color intensity was employed as an analytical signal, through the color channels of the RGB scale. Under optimized conditions, a linear correlation of r = 0.989 and r = 0.991 and linear range of 1–20 µg/mL and 5–30 µg/mL were obtained for Hg(II) and Pb(II), respectively. After analytical optimization, the method was employed for PMTs determination using real samples from São Francisco River, Brazil. Thus, this method proved to be appropriate for Hg(II) and Pb(II) determination in natural water samples and is a easy, low-cost and straightforward alternative for the simultaneous determination of Hg(II) and Pb(II).
A lightweight optimization framework for real-time object detector on the embedded GPU platform
Authors: Zhu Jiawei , Feng Haogang , Zhong Shida , Quan Zhi , Yuan Tao
Published: June 2024

At present, embedded GPU devices play a central role in carrying edge intelligence applications, especially object detection. However, efficiently deploying and inferring convolutional neural network (CNN)-based object detection models on embedded edge GPU devices with small size, low power consumption, and limited computing resources remains a significant challenge. In this paper, we proposed a lightweight optimization framework for YOLOv3 to improve its inference efficiency onto a small GPU-based edge device, in this case the Jetson Nano, which is a low-cost entry-level artificial intelligence (AI) computer for the embedded and edge intelligence markets. First, we replace the Backbone of YOLOv3 by Efficient-RepVGG, which is more suitable for GPU architecture. Secondly, a lightweight and efficient bidirectional feature pyramid network is designed to further compress the model. Finally, the Optimized Couple Head is proposed to compensate for the loss of accuracy without affecting the effect of model lightweight. After the improvement, the model saves 92.26% and 92.10% of the parameters and computation, increasing the inference speed by 9.95 times, while maintaining high object detection accuracy. Compared with other lightweight object detectors, the inference speed of Optimized YOLOv3 is about 1.6 to 2 times faster while maintaining similar detection accuracy; and the detection accuracy is 3 to 6 percentage higher while maintaining similar inference speed.
Conversion of anti-tissue factor antibody sequences to chimeric antigen receptor and bi- specific T cell engager format
Authors: SC Saunderson , Halpin Joshua , Tan Grace , Shrivastava Palak , McLellan Alexander Donald
Published: June 2024

Background
The efficacy of antibody-targeted therapy of solid cancers is limited by the lack of consistent tumour-associated antigen expression. However, tumour associated antigens shared with non-malignant cells may still be targeted using conditionally activated-antibodies or by chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells or CAR NK cells activated either by the tumour microenvironment or following 'unlocking' via multiple antigen-recognition. In this study we have focused on tissue factor (TF; CD142), a type I membrane protein present on a range of solid tumours as a basis for future development of conditionally-activated BiTE or CAR T cells. TF is frequently upregulated on multiple solid tumours providing a selective advantage for growth, immune evasion and metastasis, as well as contributing to the pathology of thrombosis via the extrinsic coagulation pathway.
Methods
Two well-characterised anti-TF monoclonal antibodies hATR-5 and TF8-5G9 maintained their nanomolar affinities following conversion into a single chain (scFv) format. maintained their nanomolar affinities following conversion into a single chain (scFv) format.CD28-CD3-based CAR or CD3-based BiTE format based on the anti-TF mAb scFv constructs were able to activate T cells.
Two well-characterised anti-TF monoclonal antibodies hATR-5 and TF8-5G9 maintained their nanomolar affinities following conversion into a single chain (scFv) format. CD28-CD3-based CAR or CD3-based BiTE format based on the anti-TF mAb scFv constructs were able to activate T cells.
Conclusion
Because of the broad expression of TF on a range of solid cancers, anti-TF antibody formats provide a useful addition for the development of conditionally activated biologics for antibody and cellular-based therapy.
Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of Phosphate Utilization Related Genes (PURs) Reveal Their Roles Involved in Low Phosphate Responses in Brassica napus L
Authors: Shen Yibing , Chen Jiaqi , Liu Haijiang , Zhu Wenyu , Chen Zhuo , Zhang Li , Du Runjie , Wu Zexuan , Liu Shiying , Zhou Sining , Fumin Yuan , Zhao Huiyan , Yin Nengwen , Li Jiana , Qu Cunmin , Du Hai
Published: June 2024

Background: Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient for Brassica napus L. growth and development, and is mainly acquired from the soil as phosphate (Pi). However, there is no research on the system analysis of Pi utilization related genes (PURs) in B. napus yet.
Results: In this study, 285 PURs were identified in B. napus genome, including 4 transcription factor (TF) families (83 genes) and 17 structural gene families (202 genes). Subcellular localization analysis showed that the proteins encoded by PURs were mainly located in the nucleus (~46.0%) and cell membrane (~36.5%). Chromosome localization analysis suggested that PURs were unequally distributed on the 19 chromosomes of B. napus, and tended to distribute on the Cn-subgenome (An:131, Cn:149). Collinearity analysis revealed that allopolyploidization and small-scale duplication events resulted in the large expansion of PURs. Expression and functional divergence of PURs may initially occur in the promoter region during evolution due to the lower sequence identity in the promoter than in CDS regions. A total of 362 genes were identified as PURs regulators, belonging to 32 TF families and 56 types of miRNAs. Spatiotemporal expression analysis demonstrated that PURs were widely expressed during the whole developmental stages, and most synteny-gene pairs (76.42%) shared conserved expression patterns. RNA-seq analyses revealed that most PURs were induced by LP stress, and the hub genes were generally the Pi transporter (PHT) family members. qRT-PCR analysis proved that the expression levels of four PURs were positively correlated with the root system architecture of three B. napus varieties under LP supply at the seedling stage.
Conclusion: The 285 PURs were identified from B. napus with strong LP inducible expression profile. Our findings regarding the evolution, transcriptional regulation, and expression of PURs provide valuable information for further functional research.
Genetic association of lipids and lipid-lowering drug targets with the risk of type 1 diabetes and its complications
Authors: Wang Haocheng , Liu Zirui , Yang Zhengkai , Lu Yu , Zou Cao
Published: June 2024

Purpose
To evaluate causal effects of lipid traits and lipid-lowering drug targets on the risk of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and its complications.
Methods
Our study conducted two-sample and drug-target Mendelian randomization (MR) to assess the genetic association of lipid traits and lipid-lowering drug targets with the type 1 diabetes risk, respectively. For significant lipid-modifying drug targets, data for expressions in tissues and colocalization provided extra evidence for causality. We also explored underlying mechanisms through mediation MR.
Results
The two-sample MR analyses detected no causal association between lipid traits and T1D. In the drug-target MR analyses, ANGPTL3 inhibitor was associated with a decreased risk of T1D (OR = 0.668, 95% CI: 0.511–0.874, P = 3.21*10− 3), of which BMI mediated 5.71% of the total effect. This was validated through multiple sensitivity analyses, replication dataset and tissue sample data. Moreover, ANGPTL3 inhibitor was also found to reduce the risk of diabetic kidney diseases. Although HMGCR inhibitor reduced the risk of T1D in the primary dataset, it was not validated in the replication dataset, and HMGCR inhibitor showed adverse effects on diabetic retinopathy and neuropathy.
Conclusion
Circulating lipids are not causally associated with the risk of T1D. ANGPTL3 inhibitor, a novel lipid-lowering drug, may be a promising candidate for treating T1D and its renal complication, with BMI probably mediating part of the effect.
Effects of low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave on bladder and urethral dysfunction in spinal cord injured rats
Authors: Kawase Kota , Kamijo Tadanobu Chuyo , Kusakabe Naohisa , Nakane Keita , Koie Takuya , Miyazato Minoru
Published: June 2024

Purpose
To investigate the effects of low-intensity extracorporeal shock wave therapy (LiESWT) on bladder and urethral dysfunction with detrusor overactivity and detrusor sphincter dyssynergia (DSD) resulting from spinal cord injury (SCI).
Methods
At 3 weeks after Th9 spinal cord transection, LiESWT was performed on the bladder and urethra of adult female Sprague Dawley rats with 300 shots of 2 Hz and an energy flux density of 0.12 mJ/mm2, repeated four times every 3 days, totaling 1,200 shots. Six weeks postoperatively, a single cystometrogram (CMG) and an external urethral sphincter electromyogram (EUS-EMG) were simultaneously recorded in awake animals, followed by histological evaluation.
Results
Voiding efficiency significantly improved in the LiESWT group (71.2%) compared to that in the control group (51.8%). The reduced EUS activity ratio during voiding (duration of reduced EUS activity during voiding/ EUS contraction duration with voiding + duration of reduced EUS activity during voiding) was significantly higher in the LiESWT group (66.9%) compared to the control group (46.3%). Immunohistochemical examination revealed that fibrosis in the urethral muscle layer was reduced, and S-100 stained-positive area, a Schwann cell marker, was significantly increased in the urethra of the LiESWT group.
Conclusion
LiESWT targeting the urethra after SCI can restore the EUS-EMG tonic activity during voiding, thereby partially ameliorating DSD. Therefore, LiESWT is a promising approach for treating bladder and urethral dysfunction following SCI.
LUZP1 regulates the maturation of contractile actomyosin bund­les
Authors: Wang Liang , Tsang Hoi Ying , Yan Ziyi , Tojkander Sari , Ciuba Katarzyna , Kogan Konstantin , Liu Xiaonan , Zhao Hongxia
Published: June 2024

Contractile actomyosin bundles play crucial roles in various physiological processes, including cell migration, morphogenesis, and muscle contraction. The intricate assembly of actomyosin bundles involves the precise alignment and fusion of myosin II filaments, yet the underlying mechanisms and factors involved in these processes remain elusive. Our study reveals that LUZP1 plays a central role in orchestrating the maturation of thick actomyosin bundles. Loss of LUZP1 caused abnormal cell morphogenesis, migration, and the ability to exert forces on the environment. Importantly, knockout of LUZP1 results in significant defects in the concatenation and persistent association of myosin II filaments, severely impairing the assembly of myosin II stacks. The disruption of these processes in LUZP1 knockout cells provides mechanistic insights into the defective assembly of thick ventral stress fibers and the associated cellular contractility abnormalities. Overall, these results significantly contribute to our understanding of the molecular mechanism involved in actomyosin bundle formation and highlight the essential role of LUZP1 in this process.
MMA-Net: A Multimodal Multitask Network Utilizing Dual Attention Mechanisms for Enhanced Modality Fusion and Task Exchange in Cognitive Load Assessment
Authors: Nguyen-Phuoc Long , Gaboriau Renald , Delacroix Dimitri , Navarro Laurent
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we introduce the Multimodal Multitask Dual Attention Network (MMA-Net), a novel neural architecture tailored for simultaneous multimodal and multitask learning. MMA-Net effectively processes audio and visual inputs through specialized encoders—AudioNet and VideoNet—to capture the distinct and complementary information present across different sensory modalities. A key element of our model is the implementation of Bidirectional Cross-Modality Attention, which refines the multimodal features by leveraging interdependencies between the modalities, enhancing the model's ability to handle complex datasets. This is complemented by the MultiTask Exchange Block, a sophisticated mechanism that dynamically integrates and refines task-specific features, promoting effective information exchange and synergy across multiple tasks. Experimental results demonstrate that MMA-Net achieves significant improvements over existing methods and sets a new benchmark in Cognitive Load Assessment.
Mixed-Variable Graphical Modeling for Medical Record-Based Predictive Models: Learning Pressure Injury Onset in Spinal Cord Injury Individuals
Authors: Li Yanke , Scheel-Sailer Anke , Riener Robert , Paez-Granados Diego
Published: June 2024

Developing machine learning (ML) methods for healthcare predictive modeling requires absolute explainability and transparency to build trust and accountability. Graphical models (GM) are key tools for this but face challenges like small sample sizes, mixed variables, and latent confounders. This paper presents a novel learning framework addressing these challenges by integrating latent variables using fast causal inference (FCI), accommodating mixed variables with predictive permutation conditional independence tests (PPCIT), and employing a systematic graphical embedding approach leveraging expert knowledge. This method ensures a transparent model structure and an explainable approach to feature selection and modeling, achieving competitive prediction performance. For real-world validation, data on hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) among individuals with spinal cord injuries (SCIs) were used, where the approach achieved a balanced accuracy of 0.941 and an AUC of 0.983, outperforming most benchmarks. The PPCIT method also demonstrated superior accuracy and scalability over other benchmarks in causal discovery validation on synthetic datasets that closely resemble our real dataset. This holistic framework effectively addresses the challenges of mixed variables and explainable predictive modeling for disease onset, which is crucial for enabling transparency and interpretability in ML-based healthcare.
Quantification of trihalomethanes in Nile tilapia fillets sanitized with chlorine
Authors: Júnior Nelson Abreu Delvaux , Queiroz Maria Eliana Lopes Ribeiro , Oliveira André Fernando , Neves Antônio Augusto , Heleno Fernanda Fernandes , Pimenta Amanda Maria Leal , Monção Flávio Pinto , Pimenta Samy , Ribeiro Regina Cássia Ferreira , Pereira Louiza Lourrane Mendes , Costa Luís Felipe Rodrigues , Rodrigues Luciano Pereira
Published: June 2024

Fish is a food with high nutritional value, but its quickly perishable nature requires a hygiene process to maintain product quality and increase shelf life. The objective of this study was to evaluate different chlorine concentrations in water for sanitizing Nile tilapia fillets on the formation of trihalomethanes (THM) in fresh and frozen stored fish fillets. A completely randomized experimental design was used, in a 2×3 split-plot arrangement, with 15 replications; the plots consisted of fresh and frozen fish fillets, and the subplots consisted of the three chlorine concentrations in the water for sanitizing the fillets (100, 175, and 250 mg L-1). Fresh fish analysis showed the following variations in THM levels: 1.4 to 6.8 μg kg-1 (chloroform), 0.5 to 3.2 μg kg-1 (bromodichloromethane), and 0.4 to 1.2 μg kg-1 (dibromochloromethane). Bromoform ranged from 3.7 μg kg-1 to undetected levels in the different tested storage times. Frozen fish analyses showed concentrations ranging from 2.1 to 5.2 μg kg-1 (chloroform) and 0.6 to 2.0 μg kg-1 (bromodichloromethane), while dibromochloromethane and bromoform levels were below the technique's quantification limits in all storage times. THM formation depends on the chlorine concentration in the washing water and the storage time and temperature; fresh fish presented higher THM levels than frozen fish.