bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implicit-information Embedding and Enhanced Spatial-Temporal Multi-Head Attention Transformer for Traffic Forecasting
Authors: Liu Shipeng , Wang Xingjian
Published: August 2024

Traffic flow prediction is a critical challenge in the field of intelligent transportation systems, as the accuracy of future traffic flow predictions directly impacts the efficiency of urban traffic systems. However, existing deep learning prediction models face several issues. Firstly, many methods concentrate solely on traffic flow data for embedding, overlooking the implicit information underlying these data, which includes human behavioral trends, traffic patterns within and around communities, urban weather conditions, semantic information, and temporal periodicity. Secondly, methods that employ the original multi-head self-attention mechanism calculate attention scores point by point in the temporal dimension without leveraging context, resulting in less accurate attention computation. Thirdly, existing methods struggle to handle both short-range and long-range spatial dependencies simultaneously in the spatial dimension. To address these issues, this paper proposes a method called IEEAFormer (Implicit-information Embedding and Enhanced Spatial-Temporal Multi-Head Attention Transformer). IEEAFormer introduces an embedding layer to capture implicit information in the input, replaces the traditional multi-head self-attention with Temporal-Environment-Aware self-attention in the temporal dimension to enable each node to perceive its contextual environment, and employs two unique graph mask matrices in the spatial dimension to capture both long-range and short-range dependencies. Validation results on four real-world traffic datasets demonstrate that the proposed IEEAFormer outperforms most comparable models in prediction performance.
Solar thermal resonant energy exchange desalination (STREED) for 24-hour, membrane-free, off-grid water treatment
Authors: Alabastri Alessandro , Schmid William , Machorro-Ortiz Aleida , Ye Qian , Nordlander Peter , Dongare Pratiksha , Halas Naomi
Published: August 2024

Freshwater scarcity is a pressing global issue exacerbated by climate change and growing populations. Current desalination technologies all face limitations: reverse osmosis requires grid electrical power and specialized membranes, thermal desalination is inefficient, and membrane systems are prone to fouling. Here we introduce Solar Thermal Resonant Energy Exchange Desalination (STREED), a robust, membrane-free and efficient solar thermal desalination approach. Utilizing the principle of Resonant Energy Transfer, the distillation efficiency can be maximized by matching the heat fluxes between interacting air and water fluids. Dynamic tuning of the flow rates in response to varying solar intensities significantly increases efficiency, extending freshwater production over 24-hour/day. We predict week-long freshwater productivity increases of 70% with an average Specific Water Productivity (SWP) between ~3 and ~5 L/kWh, depending on available solar irradiation. STREED adapts to fluctuating solar inputs, offering a scalable solution for decentralized, off-grid water treatment, crucial for remote communities facing water scarcity.
Compact multifilamentary circuit model for multilevel bipolar resistive switching in memristors
Authors: Busygin Alexander , Udovichenko Sergey , Maevsky Oleg , Pisarev Alexander , Ebrahim Abdulla
Published: August 2024

A rather simple compact multifilamentary circuit model of bipolar memristor resistive switching with controlled multilevel conductivity tuning in a metal oxide memristor is presented. The model differs from known circuit level models by simpler equations for current and state variable. Comparing to other papers, the total number of fitting parameters grows slower with an increase in filaments number. This corresponds to a faster and easier fitting process. The model was implemented in the SPICE code. The simple equivalent circuit of the memristor element will allow to reduce signal processing simulation time in large memristor arrays in comparison with circuits based on known compact models with one and several filaments.
Realization of the apology speech act by Egyptian HSL learners
Authors: Ibrahim Ahmed
Published: August 2024

This study investigated the apology speech act performed by Egyptian Hebrew learners as a second language and native Israeli Hebrew speakers. Two groups of participants were formed: 30 Egyptian participants (16 males and 14 females) and 30 Israeli participants (16 males and 14 females). The discourse completion test was chosen as an instrument for data collection. The data was analyzed based on the taxonomy of Olshtain and Cohen (1983) and Blum-Kulka et al. (1989) (CCSARP). The results of this study showed that the use of apology strategies by Egyptians was pragmatically appropriate for the responses of native Hebrew speakers in all situations. Furthermore, this study found significant similarities between Egyptians and Israelis in terms of their realization of apology strategies by demonstrating a wider use of all six apology strategies in most situations, although the percentages of apology strategies performed were slightly different between the two groups in some situations.
Animal and organoid models to elucidate the anti-fibrotic effect of steroid on biliary atresia
Authors: Liu Fangran , Lui Vincent Chi Hang , Wu Zhongluan , Blakeley Paul David , Tang Clara Sze Man , Tam Paul Kwong Hang , Wong Kenneth Kak Yuen , Chung Patrick Ho Yu
Published: August 2024

Purpose
We performed animal and organoid study to evaluate the anti-fibrotic effect of steroid on BA and the underlying patho-mechanism.
Methods
BA animal models were created by inoculation of mice on post-natal day 1 with Rhesus Rotavirus (RRV) They received either 20ul Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or steroid from day 21 to day 34. On day 34, their serum samples were collected for hormonal markers. Necrosis fibrosis and CK 19 expression in the liver were evaluated. Liver organoids were developed and their morphology as well as bulk RNA sequencing data were analyzed.
Results
Twenty-four mice developed BA features after RRV injection and were equally divided into steroid and PBS groups. On day 34, the weight gain of steroid group increased significantly than PBS group (p<0.0001). All mice in the PBS group developed liver fibrosis but only one mouse in the steroid group did. Serum bilirubin and liver parenchymal enzymes were significantly lower in steroid group. The morphology of liver organoids were different between the two groups. A total of 6359 differentially expressed genes were found between steroid group and PBS group.
Conclusion
Based on our findings obtained from RRV-induced BA animal and organoid models, steroid has the potential to mitigate liver fibrosis in BA.
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices regarding Anthrax among affected Communities, Kazo District, South-Western Uganda, May 2022
Authors: Senyange Shaban , Nsubuga Edirisa J. , Kwesiga Benon , Bulage Lilian , Ario Alex R.
Published: August 2024

Background
Anthrax is a priority zoonotic disease in Uganda. Despite health education about risks of eating meat from animals found dead, some areas including Kazo District, experience repeated anthrax outbreaks associated with this practice. We assessed the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) around anthrax and consumption of meat of animals found dead in previously-affected communities in Kazo District.
Methods
We conducted a mixed-methods study in six villages in Kazo District from May 23-June 4, 2022. We administered structured questionnaires to 200 systematically-sampled community respondents aged ≥ 18 years about anthrax-related KAP and experiences with livestock loss. We conducted focus group discussions with community members identified as anthrax case-patients in previous outbreaks and those whose animals died suddenly in the previous year. We assessed overall knowledge through a set of eight questions on anthrax; species affected, signs and symptoms, transmission and prevention in humans and animals. We scored participants’ responses to KAP questions as 1 = correct or 0 = incorrect; adequate knowledge score was ≥ 4. Qualitative data were analyzed using content analysis.
Results
Among 200 survey respondents, 65% were female; mean age was 45 (SD ± 17.7) years. In total, 94% had heard of anthrax, 70% knew it was zoonotic; 63% did not know any signs of anthrax in animals, though 73% knew transmission could occur through eating animals found dead. Only 16% said they had lost their livestock suddenly in the last year; of these, 21% consumed the meat and 53% buried the carcasses. Overall, 77% had adequate knowledge about anthrax. Qualitative data indicated that farmers did not vaccinate their animals against anthrax due to cost, and inadequate access to vaccine and veterinary services. Poverty, limited access to meat protein, and economic challenges were cited as drivers for consuming meat from animals found dead despite the risk.
Conclusion
Good knowledge about anthrax among residents of a repeatedly-affected community did not translate to safe practices. It may be difficult for affected communities to forego opportunities to eat meat from animals they find dead, even when they suspect possible danger. Compensating farmers for anthrax-positive carcasses in exchange for permitting safe animal disposal might reduce risk of transmission.
Examination of four L2 teachers’ pedagogical knowledge base in face-to-face and online classroom settings: Can academic degrees make a difference?
Authors: Goodarzi Ahmad , Rezai Afsheen , Ashkani Parisa
Published: August 2024

Teacher pedagogical knowledge base (PKB) has always attracted a great deal of attention in research concerning teachers’ cognition. However, the interplay between the second/foreign (L2) teachers' academic degrees and different classroom settings has remained under-explored. Hence, this study seeks to explore the influences of classroom settings (i.e., face-to-face vs. online) and academic TESOL degrees (i.e., B.A. vs. M.A. graduates) on shaping L2 teachers' PKB. In so doing, four L2 teachers working at four private English language institutes in Iran volunteered to participate in the research. Drawing upon an exploratory mixed-methods approach, qualitative and quantitative data were obtained using stimulated recall technique. The recalled pedagogical knowledge (PK) categories were analyzed across the two groups by extracting the PK categories, reporting their type and frequency, and running chi-square statistics. The findings showed no significant differences between the sum of pedagogical thoughts (PTs) of B.A. and M.A. L2 teachers in face-to-face classroom settings; however, there were minor differences in the rankings of PK categories between the groups of teachers. On the contrary, the L2 teachers holding M.A. outperformed their B.A. counterparts in generating PK categories in online classes. Moreover, it was revealed that both groups of teachers could produce new contextual PK categories when reflecting on their online classes. In tune with the findings, various suggestions were offered for designing teacher training courses that focus more on the practical side of L2 teachers’ PKB in face-to-face and online L2 teaching settings.
Monazite, lanthanide-rich glasses, and other trace elements in copper smelter slags: Constraints on critical metal behaviour in Si-Fe-rich melts
Authors: Gezzaz Hassan , Ciobanu Cristiana , Cook Nigel , Ehrig kathy , slattery ashley , wade benjamin , gilbert sarah , camporodriguez yuri
Published: August 2024

Furnace slags are potential new sources of critical metals. We undertook a micron- to nanoscale study that addresses speciation, distribution and associations of phases in flash furnace (FF, oxidised) and electric furnace (EF, reduced) slags from the Olympic Dam mining-smelting-refinery operation. Results enable understanding of the behaviour and partitioning of critical metals between melt and cooling crystalline phases in a controlled smelter environment that mimics Fe-Si-rich systems in Nature. Melts at ~1300 °C result in slags that differ in the relative proportions of component phases. Both FF and EF slags comprise major magnetite and two, compositionally distinct Si-Fe-rich glasses (glass-1 and -2); fayalite is a main component of EF slag. Glass-1 is rich in REE+Y (4.5–5.4 wt%, Ce2O3+La2O3) and contains dendritic monazite-(Ce). The EF slag crystallization sequence is: magnetite→fayalite+glass-1→monazite→glass-2. Immiscibility of REE in Si-Fe-rich melt is inferred from amorphous ‘monazite-like’ droplets. Chondrite-normalised fractionation patterns are defined by downwards-sloping LREE segments in both glasses. Partition coefficients are calculated for magnetite and fayalite relative to glasses. DREY for HREE exceeds those for LREE in all phases and fayalite has an order of magnetite higher DHREE than co-existing EF magnetite. Applying lattice strain models to experimental values show excellent fits for DHREE-model trends, even if lattice strain is not the sole factor controlling partitioning. Melt polymerisation, variable/unpredictable oxidation states, and constraints from specific crystallographic sites, also impact on observed trends. This study demonstrates that clues to element behaviour in the deep Earth are available from metallurgical plants.
Picture Fuzzy Einstein Interactive Weighted Averaging Aggregation Operator and Its Application in Multiple Attribute Decision-Making
Authors: Abdullah Siti Rohana Goh , Ahmad Muhammad Zaini
Published: August 2024

A Picture Fuzzy Set (PFS) is an effective tool for handling uncertainties and incomplete cognitive information, incorporating membership, hesitancy, non-membership, and refusal degrees to accommodate diverse viewpoints. The Einstein operation has demonstrated good performance in aggregating data within uncertain contexts, garnering attention in the picture fuzzy environment. However, the existing picture fuzzy Einstein aggregation operator has limitations, particularly when a Picture Fuzzy Number (PFN) possesses a non-membership degree of zero. This leads to an aggregated non-membership degree of zero, disregarding the influence of other non-zero non-membership degrees, rendering them independent. To address these issues, a new decision-making approach is proposed, employing Einstein’s operations for PFNs. The Picture Fuzzy Einstein Interactive Weighted Averaging (PFEIWA) operator are proposed and extensively discussed for its desirable properties. Furthermore, a novel approach referring to these operators in Multi-attribute Decision-Making (MADM) problems is presented. The proposed method applied to a sustainable beef supplier selection problem, and its performance is compared with existing methods. The results show consistent optimal rankings of alternatives, indicating superiority of the proposed operator in resolving MADM problems. The suggested operator is more convincing and suitable due to its ability to produce reasonable and reliable results by considering interactions between PFNs’ degrees.
Intracranial Aneurysm Location: Key Factor in Ruptures with Internal Carotid Artery Occlusion
Authors: Liu Pengran , Wang Bangyue , Guo Jing , Dai Hui , Zhao Yan , Dong Wentao , Liu Shujie , Yang Xinyu , Zhang Xiaojun
Published: August 2024

Background and Purpose
Intracranial aneurysms combined with spontaneous internal carotid artery occlusion (ICAO) are a rare and serious vascular disorder. Currently, there is only limited information available on the clinical characteristics of these patients and the risk factors for aneurysm rupture. Our objective is to describe the clinical features of these patients and predict the risk factors for the rupture of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) combined with ICAO.
Methods
We retrospectively analyzed cases of intracranial aneurysms with concurrent spontaneous ICAO from the Chinese Multicenter Aneurysm Database(CMAD). We collected population demographic characteristics and clinical data using a standardized case questionnaire from CMAD. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for rupture of UIA associated with combined ICAO.
Results
We identified 93 patients with intracranial aneurysms combined with ICAO, including 38 females and 55 males, with an average age of 60.7 ± 9.5years (ranging from 32 to 79 years old). Among those with ICAO, 52 had ruptured intracranial aneurysms (RIAs) and 41 had UIAs. Specifically, there were 81 cases of unilateral ICAO, with 16 aneurysms located on the same side as the ICAO, 22 in the midline, and 43 on the opposite side of the ICAO; 12 cases were bilateral ICAO. Binary logistic regression analysis indicated that risk factors associated with the rupture of UIAs with ICAO included bilateral internal carotid artery occlusion and aneurysms in the posterior circulation. Furthermore, multivariate analysis showed that posterior circulation aneurysms are an independent risk factor for the rupture of UIAs with ICAO.
Conclusion
We have described and analyzed the clinical characteristics and risk factors influencing the rupture of intracranial aneurysms in patients with ICAO. The study found that the location of the aneurysm is an important risk factor for the rupture of UIAs combined with ICAO.
Identification of stiff-knee gait in stroke survivors
Authors: Bacca Odair , Celestino Melissa Leandro , Barela José Angelo , Barela Ana Maria Forti
Published: August 2024

Background: Though stiff-knee gait is a common movement disorder in individuals with stroke, the criteria for identifying it in this population are not yet well established. This study investigated suitable criteria to identify stroke survivors with stiff-knee gait. Twenty-four stroke survivors (45.2±13.7 years old) and 24 individuals matched by age and sex (45.5±13.5 years old) with no known gait impairment participated in this study. They walked along a 10-m extension walkway at a self-selected comfortable speed. A computerized analysis system registered the trajectories of retroreflective markers placed on specific body landmarks, and different measurements were calculated regarding knee flexion during gait cycle, such as its peak during the swing period, total range of motion (RoM), equivalent to the difference between maximum and minimum knee excursion during gait cycle (“RoM cycle”), and RoM from toe-off to peak knee flexion (“RoM swing”).
Results: Overall, peak knee flexion during the swing period and knee RoM swing were the most remarkable measurements to identify stiff-knee gait in stroke survivors.
Conclusions:Based upon the found results, we suggest using at least two criteria to identify stiff-knee gait in individuals with stroke. The most suitable ones are peak knee flexion during the swing period <50° and the knee RoM from toe-off to peak knee flexion <12°. Finally, our results suggest that it is inappropriate to consider the non-paretic limb and total knee flexion RoM to classify stiff-knee gait in individuals with stroke.
Exploratory Analyses of Physical Activity and Glucose Control Across the Perinatal Period
Authors: France-Ratcliffe Madeleine , Low David A. , Cocks Matthew S. , Jones Helen , Gibbon Karl C. , Graves Lee E.F. , Sheen Kayleigh , Tempest Nicola , Hopkins Nicola D. , Sprung Victoria S.
Published: August 2024

Background
Variability in glucose levels during pregnancy can adversely affect foetal development. A strong positive relationship between physical activity (PA) and glucose variability has been observed in pregnancy, which could inform strategies to improve gestational glycaemia. However, no study has previously measured objective PA and glucose variability disaggregated by pregnancy trimester, despite trimester-specific differences in glucose control being reported. Additionally, whether a relationship exists between PA and glucose control postpartum is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between PA and glucose control across the perinatal period, disaggregated by trimester and postpartum, using objective continuous assessment methods.
Methods
Forty-nine healthy, non-diabetic pregnant females, with no history of cardiovascular or respiratory disease, aged 28-46 years were recruited. Accelerometery was used to measure PA, alongside continuous glucose monitoring to assess glucose variability over a week, at trimesters 2 and 3 of pregnancy, and within 6 weeks postpartum. Variability of PA & blood glucose across the perinatal period was assessed using general linear models and the relationship between PA and glucose variability were assessed using hierarchal regressions.
Results
No significant change in glucose variability (coefficient of variation) was reported across the perinatal period (21.12 ± 4.32%, 21.42 ± 4.39%, 18.97 ± 4.11% in trimesters 2, 3, and postpartum respectively). Light-intensity PA increased across the perinatal period (152 ± 48, 161 ± 38, 201 ± 93 mins/day in trimesters 2, 3, and postpartum, respectively), with no change in moderate-to-vigorous or total physical activity levels, though PA levels were low at all timepoints compared to previous literature. No relationship between glucose variability and physical activity was identified across the perinatal period.
Conclusions
This observational study provides preliminary evidence that contrary to previous findings, there may be no relationship between PA and glucose variability in healthy pregnancies disaggregated by trimester, though higher levels of PA and/or structured exercise may be required to influence metabolic health.
Trial Registration: Integrated Research Application System (IRAS) number 263600.
Position of the Lateral Intercondylar Ridge and Anterior Cruciate Ligament Bony Insertion Area in Relation to the Wall and Roof of the Femoral Notch
Authors: Gulan Leo , Kovačević Miljeko , Žauhar Gordana , Jurdana Hari , Gulan Gordan
Published: August 2024

Purpose
This study assesses the positioning of the lateral intercondylar ridge (LIR) and the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) femoral insertion area (FIA) in relation to the femoral notch roof and lateral notch wall and examines their correlation with posterior notch outlet width.
Method
45 dried femurs underwent 3D scanning and analysis. A cutting plane was established to divide the intercondylar roof from the condylar wall based on three points. LIR length and position on the roof and wall were measured, alongside distances to key landmarks. Total ACL-FIA was measured, as well as the area on the roof and wall of the intercondylar notch.
Results
A significant correlation was found between LIR positioning on the roof and notch width. LIR averaged 16.18 mm, with 30.86% on the roof, while ACL-FIA averaged 134.19 mm², with 31.55% on the roof. Posterior notch outlet width averaged 24.34 mm. The distance between the most proximal part of the LIR to the posterior intercondylar line averaged 4.87 mm and 12.46 mm to the most proximal, high deep point of the cartilage border of the lateral femoral condyle.
Conclusion
These findings offer valuable insights for femoral tunnel positioning during ACL reconstruction by quantifying LIR length and ACL-FIA surface on the intercondylar notch roof for the first time, revealing their extension onto the roof and their potential implications.
Fundamental limitations of kilohertz-frequency carriers in afferent fiber recruitment with transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation
Authors: Seáñez Ismael , Keesey Rodolfo , Hofstoetter Ursula , Hu Zhaoshun , Lombardi Lorenzo , Hawthorn Rachel , Bryson Noah , Rowald Andreas , Minassian Karen
Published: August 2024

The use of kilohertz-frequency (KHF) waveforms has rapidly gained momentum in transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (tSCS) to restore motor function after paralysis. However, the mechanisms by which these fast-alternating currents depolarize efferent and afferent fibers remain unknown. Our study fills this research gap by providing a hypothesis- and evidence-based investigation using peripheral nerve stimulation, lumbar tSCS, and cervical tSCS in 25 unimpaired participants together with computational modeling. Peripheral nerve stimulation experiments and computational modeling showed that KHF waveforms negatively impact the processes required to elicit action potentials, thereby increasing response thresholds and biasing the recruitment towards efferent fibers. While these results translate to tSCS, we also demonstrate that lumbar tSCS results in the preferential recruitment of afferent fibers, while cervical tSCS favors recruitment of efferent fibers. Given the assumed importance of proprioceptive afferents in motor recovery, our work suggests that the use of KHF waveforms should be reconsidered to maximize neurorehabilitation outcomes, particularly for cervical tSCS. We posit that careful analysis of the mechanisms that mediate responses elicited by novel approaches in tSCS is crucial to understanding their potential to restore motor function after paralysis.
A SFQ-to-CMOS Interface Circuit Based on SiGe BiCMOS for Josephson-CMOS Hybrid System
Authors: Chen Zhichao , Zhang Xingyu , You Lixing , Li Lingyun
Published: August 2024

Conventional interfaces for a Josephson-CMOS hybrid system typically rely on Josephson latching drivers (JLDs) or SQUID (Superconducting Quantum InterferenceDevice) stacks to convert weak signals, which are then connected to additional amplifiers providing outputs of 1.2 V or 1.8 V. JLDs output tens of millivolts but require AC bias and precise clock alignment. SQUID stacks reach frequencies of tens of GHz but output few millivolts voltages and occupy large area. To address these challenges, an interface based on SiGe BiCMOS(Silicon-Germanium Bipolar Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor) has been designed, fabricated, and tested. Fabricated using the 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS process, the interface converts 200 μV voltage signals to 1.2 V and consumes only 386 μW per channel at 4.2 K. In low-frequency measurement, the hybrid system supports 21-channel signals conversion without requiring additional CMOS amplifiers, simplifying cryogenic system design. Advantages include eliminating the need for AC bias and clock alignment, while drawbacks like limited speed are also discussed. This technology facilitates the practical application of multichannel superconducting computers and other applications that require efficient signal conversion, making it one of the most promising interface solutions for the hybrid system.
Digital Twin for Chemical Sciences (DTCS): A Blueprint for Digitizing Chemical Characterization
Authors: Qian Jin , Jana Asmita , Menon Siddarth , Bogdan Andrew , Hamlyn Rebecca , Mahl Johannes , Crumlin Ethan
Published: August 2024

Directly visualizing chemical trajectories offers novel insights into catalysts, gas phase reactions, photo-induced dynamics, and quantum information processing. Identifying and tracking the exchange of matter to observe the creation and annihilation of chemical species is best achieved by closely coupling theory and experiment. We developed Digital Twin for Chemical Science (DTCS) v.01, a platform that mimics advanced characterization instruments, including those at Scientific User Facilities. DTCS v.01 addresses challenges in data acquisition, analysis, and model-driven interpretation via a physics-based, AI-accelerated approach. We validated this concept with ambient pressure X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (APXPS) observations using a ubiquitous metal-water interfacial scenario, i.e., Ag/H2O, as a representative example. The inputs of DTCS v.01 are designed to mirror the experimental chemists' workflows, and the outputs can be directly compared to and are constantly updated from the experimental data. This integrated theoretical and experimental platform enhances user accessibility and facilitates the acquisition of standardized mechanistic insights.
From Freeze to Function: Optimised Cryopreservation and Mitochondrial Analysis Workflow for Skeletal Muscle Biopsies
Authors: Wahid Maheen , Mackenzie Graeme , Rooney Liam M. , Greig Justin C. , McConnell Gail , Combet Emilie , Gray Stuart , Murray James T. , Currie Susan , Gould Gwyn W. , Cunningham Margaret R.
Published: August 2024

Background
Skeletal muscle biopsies are valuable in clinical and research settings, contributing to advancements in diagnosing, understanding, and treating muscle-related conditions. Traditional freezing methods often cause artefacts mistaken for disease, leading to incorrect diagnoses or misinterpretation of research findings. Proper handling of muscle biopsies is critical for accurate histopathological and mitochondrial analysis. It is essential to preserve the entire tissue, especially for small needle biopsies. While most research focuses on mitochondrial analysis in cells, there are few studies on whole tissue samples. This study aimed to provide an effective methodological workflow to improve cryopreservation techniques for human and rodent muscle biopsies and create a reliable method for mitochondrial analysis in muscle tissues.
Methods
Human muscle samples were preserved with different concentrations of formaldehyde after freezing with liquid nitrogen to study the effects of freeze-thaw cycles. We compared the edge and belly of muscle samples embedded in Optimal Cutting Temperature compound (OCT) to see how OCT affects ice crystal formation. Rat muscle biopsies were frozen using six different methods, using liquid nitrogen and precooled isopentane as freezing media. Each medium involved direct immersion, OCT dip before immersion, and placement in histocassettes before immersion. Effectiveness of these methods was evaluated using histological and immunohistochemical staining. Mitochondrial analysis in type I and II myofibres was attempted by employing the Trainable Weka Segmentation plugin using Fiji.
Results
Histologically stained human tissue sections showed that freeze-thaw and formaldehyde fixation led to freezing artefacts, disrupted endomysium, and widely spaced cells. Quantitative differences in ice crystal artefacts between edge and belly of rat whole muscle samples demonstrated effects of OCT in crystal formation. Histological and immunohistochemical staining of sections from rat muscle biopsies frozen in six different cryopreservation techniques revealed that only isopentane/histocassette combination preserved tissue integrity in both core and periphery of tissue sections. Moreover, an optimised Fiji workflow enabled accurate quantification and mapping of mitochondrial networks.
Discussion
The isopentane/histocassette combination is an effective cryopreservation method, ensuring artefact-free preservation of both core and periphery of tissue sections. Our workflow utilising Trainable Weka Segmentation plugin provides a reliable method for mitochondrial analysis in skeletal muscle tissues, facilitating future studies in muscle research.
Stable Nitric Oxide Doping in Monolayer WSe2 for High-Performance P-type Transistors
Authors: Chen Zhihong , Lan Hao-Yu , Lin Chih-Pin , Cai Jun , Sun Zheng , Wu Peng , Tan Yuanqiu , Hou Tuo-Hung , Appenzeller Joerg
Published: August 2024

Thanks to their atomically thin body, two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors are promising candidates for beyond-silicon electronic devices. However, excessive contact resistance and limited threshold voltage control due to ineffective or non-existent doping techniques hinder their technological readiness. Here, we unveil the doping mechanism of pure nitric oxide (NO) and demonstrate its effectiveness on wafer-scale grown monolayer tungsten diselenide (1L-WSe2) transistors. This novel doping approach, combined with a scaled high-κ dielectric, yields WSe2 transistors with exceptional performance metrics: a high on-state current of 300 µA/µm (at a drain-to-source voltage of -1 V and overdrive voltage of -0.8 V), low contact resistance of 875 Ω μm, peak transconductance of 400 µS/µm, and a near-ideal subthreshold swing of 70 mV/dec, while preserving large on/off ratios (> 109), minimal variability, and excellent stability after 24 days. Our findings establish NO doping as a powerful method for realizing high-performance p-type 2D transistors and advancing next-generation ultra-scaled electronic devices.
Extracting explicit, implicit and contradictory information from chats in a Persian NLU engine
Authors: Safari Pegah , Shamsfard Mehrnoush
Published: August 2024

In this research, we present a Natural Language Understanding (NLU) component of an open-domain chatbot designed to extract explicit and implicit personal information from user dialogues, such as name, age, gender, education, occupation, marital status, residence, etc. The NLU component comprises two main units: explicit IE and implicit IE. The explicit IE unit detects the main topic (intent) of the utterance and extracts explicitly stated information to fill the values of predefined slots. It utilizes a custom joint training model leveraging the pretrained language model of XLM-RoBERTa and incorporating the previous utterance as an input feature. Training on a dataset of 6,652 utterances, it yields an intent accuracy of 91.22%, slot-F1 of 88.07% and exact match of 83.40%. The implicit IE unit is built upon an ontology containing common-sense knowledge, alongside an LLM-based inference engine. It infers the remaining slots based on explicit information or complementary data in the utterance. Our NLU component can even detect semantic conflicts in the dialogue and assessing the full pipeline from this aspect shows 92% accuracy which is 21% higher than GPT-4o.
Hepato-Renal Protective Effects of Nigella sativa Oil in Cyclophosphamide-Induced Toxicity: Insights from Adult Wister Rat Models
Authors: Murtala Muhammad Jibril
Published: August 2024

Nigella sativa, popularly known as black seed oil, is known to have diverse pharmacology which includes hepatoprotective and reno-protective effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective efficacy of Nigella sativa oil (NSO) against cyclophosphamide (CP) induced hepatorenal toxicity in adult female rats. Forty-two female Wistar rats were divided into five groups: Control group received distilled water only, and three treatment groups receiving 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg of NSO with CP combination. This was given via an orogastric tube. Hematological and biochemical parameters, organ weights and histopathological changes were evaluated at the end of 21 days treatment period. Acute toxicity studies showed no mortality or adverse effects on neurological function due to NSO at a dose of 5000 mg/kg. Sub-acute toxicity studies indicated that there were significant increases (p < 0.05) in body and organ weights observed across all groups. Hematological analysis revealed that the NSO treated group had a dose-dependent increase in white blood cell count compared to control. Biochemical analysis indicated increased levels of liver enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP) and urea in the highest dosage group (p < 0.05), whereas glucose total cholesterol and triglycerides levels decreased significantly in a dose dependent manner. Histopathological examination of liver and kidney tissues confirmed the protective effects of NSO against CP-induced damage, showing reduced necrosis and inflammation. In conclusion, Nigella sativa oil exhibits significant protective effects against cyclophosphamide-induced hepato-renal toxicity in Wistar rats. The findings from this study suggested that NSO can mitigate the adverse effects of CP in a dose dependent manner, highlighting its potential therapeutic application in managing drug-induced toxicity. Further research is warranted to elucidate the precise mechanisms underlying these protective effects and to explore the clinical relevance in human subjects.
Accelerating Inexact HyperGradient Descent for Bilevel Optimization
Authors: Li Junchi
Published: August 2024

We present a method for solving general nonconvex-strongly-convex bilevel optimization problems. Our method---the \emph{Restarted Accelerated HyperGradient Descent} (\texttt{RAHGD}) method---finds an $\epsilon$-first-order stationary point of the objective with $\widetilde{\mathcal{O}}(\kappa^{3.25}\epsilon^{-1.75})$ oracle complexity, where $\kappa$ is the condition number of the lower-level objective and $\epsilon$ is the desired accuracy. We also propose a perturbed variant of \texttt{RAHGD} for finding an $\big(\epsilon,\mathcal{O}(\kappa^{2.5}\sqrt{\epsilon}\,)\big)$-second-order stationary point within the same order of oracle complexity. Our results achieve the best-known theoretical guarantees for finding stationary points in bilevel optimization and also improve upon the existing upper complexity bound for finding second-order stationary points in nonconvex-strongly-concave minimax optimization problems, setting a new state-of-the-art benchmark. Empirical studies are conducted to validate the theoretical results in this paper.
Coronaviruses have Reached at Pre-Elimination Stage with nine amino acids spike deletions and forty-nine nucleotides 3’-UTR deletion
Authors: Chakraborty Asit Kumar
Published: August 2024

Human 30kb coronaviruses entered through the ACE-2 receptors causing fibrosis of lungs and claimed six million deaths worldwide. Here, we investigated the mutations, deletions and insertions of the recent JN.1 omicron coronaviruses. The 49nt deletions in the 3’-UTR was found in 4997 JN.1 sequences although 26nt deletion was initiated previously in JN.1 as well as BA.5, BF.7, BQ.1 and XBB.1.5 omicron viruses. The 31S spike deletion was initiated lately apart from 24LPP, 69HV, 145Y, 211N and 483V deletions. The important 17MPLF spike insertion was found although few scientists claimed there was no such insertion. we first to compare 3-D structures of spike proteins with or without 17MPLF four amino acids insertion and nine amino acids deletions using SWISS MODELLING. The JN.1 viruses caused a more stable trimeric spike involving Thr342, Lys436, Lys440, His441, Ser442, Gly443, Tyr445, Lys479, Ser489, Tyr490, Arg493, Pro494, Thr495, and Gln501 amino acids to interact with ACE-2 receptors. The cytokine storm was reduced in patients with increased immune evasion due to L455S, F456L and R346T spike mutations in KP.2 variants. The JN.1 8th codon GGA = TGA termination codon mutation was initiated which was demonstrated previously in XBB.1.5 lineages. We also detected few small deletions in the ORF8 gene near termination codon with the formation of few amino acids extended ORF8 protein. We claimed that pre-death changes were initiated in JN.1 COVID-19 lineages and computer-simulation showed that Howard-spike with 17MPLF spike insertion appeared more stable than Oppentron-spike without 17MPLF insertion.
Mortality and prognostic Factors in COVID-19 Patients with Hematologic Malignancies: A Retrospective Cohort Study in two Syrian centers
Authors: Mohamad Baraah , Martini Nafiza , Hanna Majd , Alhamid Naji , Sulaiman Ameen , bardan Hussam Al
Published: August 2024

Background
Patients with hematologic malignancies (HM) have poor outcomes from coronavirus disease (COVID-19), but data are limited, especially from low-income regions. This study analyzed mortality rates, clinical outcomes, and prognostic factors associated with COVID-19 infection in HM patients in Syria.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study enrolled 150 HM patients aged 16–78 years with confirmed COVID-19 at two hospitals in Damascus during 2021–2022. Patients were diagnosed based on RT-PCR or clinical/radiological findings with Chest computed tomography (CT) scans being the primary diagnostic modality. Data on demographics, cancer type, symptoms, comorbidities, CT findings, and outcomes were collected through medical records.
Results
The median age was 52.68 (± 18.49) years, with 64% of patients’ ≥50 years old. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (18%) and acute myeloid leukemia (16.7%) were the most common HM types. The overall mortality rate was 61.4%. Mortality was significantly associated with older age (p = 0.001), cancer type (100% for acute leukemias, p = 0.001), Presence of dyspnea, cough, or digestive symptoms (p = 0.001), severe CT lung infiltrates (p = 0.001), and Pre-existing medical conditions (p = 0.001). Nearly, 37.3% of patients required ICU admission. All patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma survived, while all acute leukemia patients died.
Conclusion
Advanced age, specific cancer types, symptomatic presentation, CT severity, and presence comorbidities were identified as prognostic factors for COVID-19 mortality in HM patients. These high-risk patients warrant vigilant screening and preventive measures. Additional research is urgently needed to guide protection and clinical management in this vulnerable population.
Nonlinearly elastic and anisotropic constitutive model for ePTFE vascular graft based on tensile and inflation experiments
Authors: Sobotka Zbyněk , Horný Lukáš , Chlup Hynek , Kohan Miroslav , Hudák Radovan , Valášek Michael
Published: August 2024

The long-term success of interventions in cardiovascular medicine can be enhanced by the computer-assisted planning of these procedures. However, the reliability of all computational simulations depends significantly on the input parameters. One of the most important is the constitutive model for the biological tissue and for the implant material. While the last few decades have brought great advances in modelling the mechanical properties of the arterial wall, synthetic grafts have not received as much attention. The primary goal of our research is to contribute to filling this gap. Our study is focused on determining a constitutive model for ePTFE vascular grafts. Uniaxial tensile experiments with strips cut from tubular vascular grafts SA1802 (Gore-Tex Stretch Vascular Graft – Large diameter) in the circumferential and longitudinal direction, and pressurization experiments with intact graft tubes V06010L (Gore-Tex Vascular Graft – Standard-walled) were carried out. A nonlinearly elastic anisotropic model was used to describe the mechanical response observed in these experiments. The four-fiber hyperelastic model based on the exponential function combined with the neo-Hookean term was able to fit the data observed in both the uniaxial tensile and inflation-extension experiments with one single set of parameters. Thus, the resulting model is suitable to be used in numerical simulations studying surgical procedures involving ePTFE vascular grafts in the mechanical states of uniaxial as well as multiaxial stress.
Sämtliche Werke und ausgewählte Studien, Band 1, Texte / Karoline von Günderode ; herausgegeben von Walter Morgenthaler unter Mitarbeit von Karin Obermeier und Marianne Graf
Authors: Günderrode Karoline von
Published: August 2024

Ziel der "Historisch-Kritischen Ausgabe" war es, allererst die Texte soweit wie möglich zu sichern und in methodisch vertretbarer Weise zugänglich zu machen. Anstatt in einen wie auch immer interpolierten Lebenszusammenhang eingebettet zu werden, sollten die Texte im Kontext der realisierten oder auch nur geplanten Publikationen ("Gedichte und Phantasien" 1804, "Poetische Fragmente" 1805, "Melete" 1806) zu Wort kommen. Das Zweifelhafte wurde als solches gekennzeichnet. Manche Texte (vor allem die bisher nur in verstümmelter Gestalt wiedergegebenen) gewannen durch dieses Verfahren, andere dagegen verloren vielleicht an Wert. Die dreibändige Ausgabe, 1991 erschienen, ist längst vergriffen. 15 Jahre danach, zu Karoline von Günderrodes 200. Todestag, erscheint eine unveränderte, einzig durch eine Korrigenda ergänzte Neuauflage. Sie trägt dem Umstand Rechnung, daß die Ausgabe inzwischen zur Grundlage der neueren Forschung geworden ist. Dieser Band enthält alle von Karoline von Günderrode zu Lebzeiten für die Publikation freigegebenen Texte in der Fassung der Erstdrucke (I-IV), alle selbstständigen Texte des dichterischen Nachlasses aufgrund der handschriftlichen Fassungen (V) und einige Texte, die bisher der Günderrode zugeschrieben wurden, deren Autorschaft aber nicht mit völliger Sicherheit feststeht (VI).
Understanding Through Stories: Leadership Experiences of Trinidadian Women of Color
Authors: Washington Crystal , Gounko Tatiana
Published: August 2024

This narrative inquiry explored the lived experiences of four Trinidadian women of color who served as principals in schools across the Caribbean Island. The focus of this research was to gain insight into what motivated these women to assume leadership positions in education, and how their experiences shaped their leadership practices. Research findings revealed three key themes that influenced the participants’ leadership practice in Trinidad’s educational context. These themes include: (a) ethics of care, an approach to leadership rooted in care and empathy, (b) collaborative leadership, an approach that helped the participants to address unique challenges faced by women-leaders, and (c) gender, class, and racial biases confronted by the participants during their careers. Exploring the narratives of the Trinidadian female leaders provides a nuanced understanding of how women-leaders navigate a complex landscape, offering lessons on resilience and leadership in a unique cultural and historical context.
 
Keywords: women of color; female principals; Trinidad and Tobago; Caribbean; educational leadership; West Indies; ethics of care.
As interações culturais entre as crianças imigrantes com seus pares na educação infantil
Authors: Santolin Vanderleia , Dal Magro Márcia Luiza Pit , Marques Circe Mara
Published: August 2024

A pesquisa apresentada teve como objetivo compreender como se dão as interações culturais entre as crianças imigrantes com seus pares nos tempos e espaços de um Centro de Educação Infantil Municipal, por meio do que as próprias crianças têm a dizer. Participaram do estudo 16 crianças de quatro e cinco anos. Para produção dos dados, utilizou-se observações, rodas de conversas, desenhos, brincadeiras e contação de história. Os resultados, analisados a luz da sociologia da infância, indicam que o acolhimento e a interação entre pares se mostraram presentes no contexto escolar estudado, mesmo sem a instituição prever ações específicas para tanto, sendo a brincadeira a grande mediadora destas interações, configurando-se como uma forma de linguagem entre as crianças. Conclui-se que a escola tem papel fundamental na inclusão social destas crianças, mas que é importante que elas tenham, para além do direito de estar na escola, o direito de participar, de serem ouvidas e de terem sua cultura valorizada.
Theoretical and Experimental Study of the Process for Obtaining PAni(DBSA) - Part I: Formation of the Anilinium-DBS Salt
Authors: R. S. Silva Eudes , D. dos Santos José , A. Araújo Olacir
Published: August 2024

The first step in the synthesis of polyaniline doped with dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid is the synthesis of the anilinium dodecylbenzene sulfonate salt obtained through the reaction between aniline and dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid in aqueous medium. In this work, theoretical models were developed to simulate the formation mechanism of this salt in an aqueous medium. Changes in energy, frontier orbitals, gap energy, charge distribution and thermodynamic parameters were calculated. These theoretical results were correlated with the experimental data from the synthesis of the salt and from infrared spectroscopy. Theoretical models suggested that the solubilization of dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid and aniline in water are energetically and thermodynamically favorable processes. Interactions between the frontier orbitals indicated the formation of water-insoluble anilinium dodecylbenzene sulfonate salt. These molecular modeling results agree with experimental data indicating that the theoretical method used was efficient in simulating the reaction system.