bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On the Use of Block Low Rank Preconditioners for Primal Domain Decomposition Methods
Authors: Bovet Christophe , Gauthier Théodore , Gosselet Pierre
Published: December 2024

This article investigates the use of the block low rank (BLR) factorization, recently proposed in the MUMPS solver, to define efficient and cheap preconditioners for primal domain decomposition methods, such as the Balancing Domain Decomposition method (BDD) and its adaptive multipreconditioned variant. To be scalable, these methods are equipped with an augmentation projector built from the local preconditioners nullspaces. The determination of these nullspaces is a complex task in the case of ill conditioned system, the use of block low rank compression makes this task even more complex as MUMPS' automatic detection no longer works properly. Two alternatives based on incomplete factorization with a well‐chosen Schur complement are proposed. Also, the first massively parallel implementation of the adaptive multipreconditioned BDD solver (AMPBDD) is introduced. The performance of the methods is assessed with two weak scalability studies on problems up to 24,576 cores and about 790 millions of unknowns, on the Sator and Topaze supercomputers. BLR preconditioning proves to be an interesting strategy both in terms of memory usage and time to solution for reasonably conditioned problems.
Only photos on my best side, please! Implications of bilateral asymmetry of the iliac auricular surface in non‐adult individuals for sex estimation
Authors: Monge Calleja Álvaro M. , Aranda Claudia M. , Luna Leandro H.
Published: December 2024

This study aims to address the overlooked effect of bilateral asymmetry for sex estimation in non‐adult paired bone structures. Using a recently developed method, disparities between right and left iliac auricular surfaces (AuSs) were quantified, also verifying the effectiveness between sides regarding the percentages of cases correctly assigned. A sample of 418 AuSs belonging to 209 individuals aged 5 gestational months to 18 years (113 males and 96 females) from the Coimbra, Lisbon, and Granada Identified skeletal collections, were studied. They were grouped into two large age cohorts (≤12 y.o. and 12.1–18 y.o.) based on the onset of menarche. The significant and distinct hormonal fluctuations between sexes in ≤2 y.o. individuals compelled an additional separation. Locomotion issues also imposed grouping individuals for comparison in non‐bipedal (≤1 y.o.) and those who were still achieving emerging gait milestones (1.1–6 y.o.). Overall agreements between sides, sexes, age cohorts, and morphometric variables were compared using Cohen's κ and intraclass correlation coefficients, while chi‐square and Kolmogorov–Smirnov tests were applied for statistically significant evaluation. Asymmetry directionality was calculated through standardized directional and total asymmetry scores. Slight asymmetries between sides were identified, becoming the pre‐pubertal left AuS more useful for non‐adult female sexing. Metric variables work better in males, possibly due to the higher variability found in females. Both sexes display a marked age‐related change in asymmetry during puberty (12.1–18 y.o.), with a predominance of the right side in females and of the left side in males. Possible explanations for the identified pubertal abrupt shifts are discussed considering the various developmental biomechanical milestones. This pioneering study reinforces the complexity of somatic growth and development that characterizes non‐adult phenotype, calling for further refinement of sexing methods considering bilateral asymmetry, and for complementary studies that deepen the study of dextralization and its repercussions in adults.
An “Invisible” Child—A Case of a Child With Anthropogenic Modification Marks and Pathological Conditions in Early Neolithic China
Authors: Fan Rong , Wei Xingtao , Zhang Juzhong , Wang Minghui
Published: December 2024

In this preliminary study, we present a unique and rare case of a child with anthropogenic modification marks on his/her skeletal remains and pathological conditions that may be related to malnutrition. This child's remains were discovered at the Jiahu site. It is a relatively early Neolithic site located in northern China dated to circa 7000–5000 bc. The child was estimated to be around 8–10 years old. His/her remains were placed in a concealed way with grave goods, including a bone flute. The burial where the child was uncovered is in close proximity to two unique archeological features, including a large multiple commingled burial and a pit containing turtle shell rattles and a fork‐shaped bone tool. All these objects and bone flutes are considered as ritual paraphernalia by many scholars. Six groups of anthropogenic modification marks are documented on the child's left femur and both tibiae. Four of the groups of marks are located close to joints and the other two are on the shafts. Five groups of the thin, straight, and shallow grooves are at a transverse angle, which suggests possible excarnation actions. The context along with the marks and the child's pathological condition is indicative of a ritual setting or a ritual practitioners' mortuary practices that may have been associated with the child's underlying diseases or preparation for making bone tools, even though the intentions behind such unique mortuary practices may never be conclusive.
A New Open‐Access Method Applying GIS Techniques to the Study of Slicing, Scraping, and Tooth Marks
Authors: Westbury Eboni , Carro Sofia Samper
Published: December 2024

The study of bone surface modifications (BSMs) offers a window into behaviors and subsistence strategies adopted by ancient hominins. Geospatial software have become valuable tools for BSM analysis, facilitating the spatial recording and visualization of these modifications. This study introduces an innovative and accessible workflow that leverages the power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for BSM analysis while sidestepping the limitations of proprietary software. By employing Quantum GIS (QGIS) software, this approach democratizes the analytical process and expands its potential applications. This workflow was applied in an experimental study to record slicing, scraping, and tooth marks on Tasmanian wallaby tibiae. Subsequently, a comprehensive statistical analysis was performed using the open‐access PAST software. The results yielded distinct spatial distribution patterns associated with the three types of BSMs. The key findings underscore that different butchery and consumption actions produce discernible spatial patterns on the bone surfaces, substantiated by nearest neighbor analyses. A critical aspect illuminated by the linear discriminant analysis was the variation in classification success rates. This nuanced perspective reveals that although certain BSMs exhibited consistently high classification success rates, others displayed varying success rates. This variation underscores the intricate nature of BSM interpretation and the need for a comprehensive analytical approach that integrates both spatial and morphological characteristics. In addition to its scientific contributions, this study also sheds light on practical considerations. The creation of bone templates for QGIS analysis was noted as a time‐consuming task. However, this limitation could be mitigated by collaborative efforts to build a shared digital library of skeletal templates, transforming the workflow into a more streamlined process. In sum, this study not only presents an innovative method for slicing, scraping, and tooth mark analysis using open‐access GIS but also emphasizes the method's potential applications and its role in advancing our understanding of past human behaviors.
A New Strategy for the Preparation of High‐Strength Hydrophobic Aldehyde‐Free Starch Adhesive
Authors: Zhao Hangqi , Yao Wenrui , Liu Guoying , Chen Kang , Liu Mengyao , Sun Ce , Tan Haiyan , Shen Jun , Zhang Yanhua
Published: December 2024

Starch adhesives are often used in the plywood sector. They are sustainable, formaldehyde‐free, and biodegradable. However, the problems of poor gluing strength and hydrophobicity need to be overcome. In this study, natural starch was oxidized by sodium persulfate to obtain oxidized starch. Oxidized starch adhesive (SSA‐15%) was crosslinked with PVA. The results show that the dry and wet shear strength of the prepared oxidized starch adhesive (SSA‐15%) can reach 2.95 MPa and 1.31 MPa, which is 163% and 120% higher than that of the natural starch adhesive. Sodium persulfate causes the large number of hydrophilic hydroxyl groups in starch to oxidize directly to carboxyl groups, improving the hydrophobicity of starch. The hydroxyl group present in oxidized starch interacts with the secondary hydroxyl group in PVA to form a hydrogen bond. This interaction enhances the adhesive bonding performance, resulting in improved mechanical properties and increased bonding strength of the final products, while also contributing to the formation of a more robust network structure. The study showed that the oxidized adhesive has good hydrophobicity and storage thermal stability. It is a simple and green biomass wood adhesive, which provides theoretical support for the promotion and application of aldehyde‐free adhesives.
Enhancing Thermal Stability of PVC Through Organic Acid‐Interlayered Hydrotalcite Modification: Experimental and Computational Analysis
Authors: Duan Jinsheng , Deng Chuxuan , Liu Zhaogang , Li Yilin , Jia Peijie , Hu Yanhong , Zhang Xiaowei , Wu Jinxiu , Li Jianfei
Published: December 2024

This study systematically examines the effects of diphenylphosphinic acid (DPPA) and sarcosine (SAR) intercalation into magnesium aluminum lanthanum hydrotalcite (LDHs) on its structure and thermal stability. Using charge distribution, structural optimization, energy calculations, XRD, FTIR, TEM, and thermal stability tests, the study reveals that DPPA anions, with higher negative charge density, increase the interlayer spacing to 6.08 Å and exhibit a binding energy of −0.7624 eV. SAR anions, with a thinner interlayer spacing of 4.11 Å and a binding energy of −1.603 eV, create a more stable structure. SAR's higher dipole moment (2.827 a.u.) compared to DPPA (2.077 a.u.) enhances electrostatic interactions. Thermal stability tests show SAR‐LDHs and DPPA‐LDHs extend PVC's stability to 53.67 and 56.67 min, respectively. DPPA anions provide superior stability at high temperatures, while SAR anions excel in moderate temperatures. This study offers insights for designing thermally stable composite materials.
Stress testing deep learning models for prostate cancer detection on biopsies and surgical specimens
Authors: Flannery Brennan T , Sandler Howard M , Lal Priti , Feldman Michael D , Santa‐Rosario Juan C , Pathak Tilak , Mirtti Tuomas , Farre Xavier , Correa Rohann , Chafe Susan , Shah Amit , Efstathiou Jason A , Hoffman Karen , Hallman Mark A , Straza Michael , Jordan Richard , Pugh Stephanie L , Feng Felix , Madabhushi Anant
Published: December 2024

The presence, location, and extent of prostate cancer is assessed by pathologists using H&E‐stained tissue slides. Machine learning approaches can accomplish these tasks for both biopsies and radical prostatectomies. Deep learning approaches using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been shown to identify cancer in pathologic slides, some securing regulatory approval for clinical use. However, differences in sample processing can subtly alter the morphology between sample types, making it unclear whether deep learning algorithms will consistently work on both types of slide images. Our goal was to investigate whether morphological differences between sample types affected the performance of biopsy‐trained cancer detection CNN models when applied to radical prostatectomies and vice versa using multiple cohorts (N = 1,000). Radical prostatectomies (N = 100) and biopsies (N = 50) were acquired from The University of Pennsylvania to train (80%) and validate (20%) a DenseNet CNN for biopsies (MB), radical prostatectomies (MR), and a combined dataset (MB+R). On a tile level, MB and MR achieved F1 scores greater than 0.88 when applied to their own sample type but less than 0.65 when applied across sample types. On a whole‐slide level, models achieved significantly better performance on their own sample type compared to the alternative model (p < 0.05) for all metrics. This was confirmed by external validation using digitized biopsy slide images from a clinical trial [NRG Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG)] (NRG/RTOG 0521, N = 750) via both qualitative and quantitative analyses (p < 0.05). A comprehensive review of model outputs revealed morphologically driven decision making that adversely affected model performance. MB appeared to be challenged with the analysis of open gland structures, whereas MR appeared to be challenged with closed gland structures, indicating potential morphological variation between the training sets. These findings suggest that differences in morphology and heterogeneity necessitate the need for more tailored, sample‐specific (i.e. biopsy and surgical) machine learning models. © 2024 The Author(s). The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of The Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
The Voxelotor Effect: Decreased Affinity for New Drugs for Sickle Cell Disease?
Authors: Quinn Charles T. , Ware Russell E.
Published: December 2024

Voxelotor (OXBRYTA) was abruptly withdrawn from the global market in September 2024. Clinicians and patients were not prepared for this, and the sudden discontinuation has caused much consternation, uncertainty, and loss of trust.
The impacts of hospital admission in very late‐onset schizophrenia‐like psychosis: A case report
Authors: Katakami Shigeki , Satake Yuto , Suehiro Takashi , Ishimaru Daiki , Nakanishi Erina , Kanemoto Hideki , Yoshiyama Kenji , Ikeda Manabu
Published: December 2024

Background

Very late‐onset schizophrenia‐like psychosis (VLOSLP) is a psychotic disorder with an age of onset ≥60 years, and social isolation is a risk factor. Reports on the impact of interventions for isolation and loneliness on psychiatric symptoms in VLOSLP are limited.

Case Presentation

An 87‐year‐old woman, widowed and living alone, developed psychosis, including paranoia, erotomania, and visual hallucinations, at 84 years old during a period when her interactions with others were limited by the COVID‐19 pandemic and osteoarthritis. She was eventually brought to our hospital with a local dementia outreach team. She was admitted and diagnosed with VLOSLP with mild cognitive decline through imaging and neuropsychological tests confirming the absence of dementia. Immediately after admission, her psychotic symptoms became inactive. She was transferred to another psychiatric hospital to prepare for her move to a long‐term care facility because her psychosis was alleviated. During admission, she enjoyed the company of others and occupational therapy, and her score on the UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3 improved from 44 at admission to 35 at discharge.

Conclusion

The admission itself improved the patient's psychosis, which seemed to be related to the alleviation of isolation and loneliness.
Development of novel dual functional polyurethane: Antimicrobial and thermal energy storage by phase change material
Authors: Akbal Aytan Tuğçe , Aytan Emre , Kahraman Memet Vezir
Published: December 2024

In this study, we aim to develop a novel polyurethane (PUR) with phase changeability and antimicrobial properties for human health‐friendly thermal energy storage applications. The study consists of three steps. First, PUR prepolymer backbone was synthesized by conventional step‐growth polymerization. Second, phase change materials (PCMs) were integrated into the PUR backbone by reaction between free NCO of prepolymer and free OH and COOH of PCMs. At last, antimicrobial properties were integrated by turning nitrogen in urethane to a quaternary state by integration of iodopropane (IP) into a PUR backbone. The chemical structure was determined by FTIR. Thermal properties were determined by DSC and TGA. Antimicrobial properties were determined by the Agar well diffusion method (AWM). FTIR showed that the intended reactions were successful. PCM properties were determined by DSC. Iodopropane had no impact on phase change properties. However, DSC measurements determined the phase change enthalpy to be 28.28 J/g for the heating process and 26.12 J/g for the freezing process. AWM results showed that the prepared PUR system has antimicrobial properties.

Highlights

Novel PUR was developed with dual functionality.

PUR shows thermal storage properties due to PCM integration.

PUR shows antimicrobial and bacteriostatic properties after IP addition.
Protecting Children of the TikTok Era: A Discourse Analysis in the Absence of Law
Authors: Ingber Alexis Shore , Su Chris Chao
Published: December 2024

Insufficient protections from platforms and policymakers have left children vulnerable to the harms of social media, engendering years of lively discussion around who should be held responsible for their continued engagement. Particular concerns have arisen around TikTok, a Chinese owned social media company with a distinct format and appeal toward children. In the absence of overarching governance, the public discourse fueled an understanding of how this platform may be misused. This paper analyzes the public discourse surrounding children's usage of TikTok in the United States between August 2018 and March 2021 (n = 41,731) identifying communicated harms, responsibility attribution, and public attention metrics. Additionally, a qualitative analysis of changes to TikTok's privacy policy (n = 6) revealed parallels between the discourse and actual policy changes. Results underscore that the time during which the digital discourse received (1) high public attention and (2) attributed responsibility to TikTok coincided with significant alterations to TikTok's privacy policy. Implications for platform governance and digital civic engagement research is discussed in light of rapidly changing child privacy law.
Studies on the Synthesis of di‐hydroxy Terminated di‐Carbamate via Aminolysis of Propylene Carbonate
Authors: Sharan Ishwar , Sinha Shishir , Srivastava Vimal Chandra
Published: December 2024

This study presents a work on the aminolysis of propylene carbonate (PC) and the influence of protic and aprotic solvents, a relatively scarce topic in the existing literature. In this work, di‐hydroxy terminated di‐carbamate/hydroxyurethanes (HUs) have been synthesized employing an environmentally benign approach, specifically, the aminolysis of PC with five distinct amines namely, 1,6‐hexane diamine (HDA), isophorone diamine (IPDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA), triethylenetetramine (TETA), and tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), utilized in stoichiometric molar ratios. The obtained HUs can be further utilized for the synthesis of non‐isocyanate polyurethanes (NIPUs). The aminolysis of PC with HDA in the presence of a protic solvent (MeOH) resulted in a complete conversion without a catalyst. Notably, when compared to the utilization of an aprotic solvent (DMSO) with catalysts (TBAB, LiCl, LiF, DBTDL, and TEA), the exclusive use of the protic solvent (MeOH) demonstrated superior catalytic activity in the context of ring opening/aminolysis of PC. PC conversion was quantified through 1H NMR spectra. In depth structural elucidation and molecular weight determination were achieved using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and GPC analyses. Additionally, DSC assessments were employed to characterize glass transition and melting point temperatures. The utilization of solvents improves the polymer conversion, facilitates the processability of the reaction mixture, and enhances the mobility of the monomers throughout the reaction. The synthesized di‐hydroxy terminated di‐carbamates exhibit significant potential for applications in wood and metal coatings, films, adhesives, and as curing agents for epoxies.
Molecular basis of the CYFIP2 and NCKAP1 autism‐linked variants in the WAVE regulatory complex
Authors: Xie Song , Zuo Ke , De Rubeis Silvia , Ruggerone Paolo , Carloni Paolo
Published: December 2024

The WAVE regulatory pentameric complex regulates actin remodeling. Two components of it (CYFIP2 and NCKAP1) are encoded by genes whose genetic mutations increase the risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and related neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, we use a newly developed computational protocol and hotspot analysis to uncover the functional impact of these mutations at the interface of the correct isoforms of the two proteins into the complex. The mutations turn out to be located on the surfaces involving the largest number of hotspots of the complex. Most of them decrease the affinity of the proteins for the rest of the complex, but some have the opposite effect. The results are fully consistent with the available experimental data. The observed changes in the WAVE regulatory complex stability might impact on complex activation and ultimately play a role in the aberrant pathway of the complex, leading to the cell derangement associated with the disease.
Structural dynamics and binding of Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan‐extending lipid binding protein‐3 to polyunsaturated fatty acids
Authors: Cuevas André R. , Tillman Matthew C. , Wang Meng C. , Ortlund Eric A.
Published: December 2024

Intracellular lipid binding proteins (iLBPs) play crucial roles in lipid transport and cellular metabolism across the animal kingdom. Recently, a fat‐to‐neuron axis was described in Caenorhabditis elegans, in which lysosomal activity in the fat liberates polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) that signal to neurons and extend lifespan with durable fecundity. In this study, we investigate the structure and binding mechanisms of a lifespan‐extending lipid chaperone, lipid binding protein‐3 (LBP‐3), which shuttles dihomo‐γ‐linolenic (DGLA) acid from intestinal fat to neurons. We present the first high‐resolution crystal structure of LBP‐3, which reveals a classic iLBP fold with an unexpected and unique homodimeric arrangement via interstrand interactions that is incompatible with ligand binding. We identify key ionic interactions that mediate DGLA binding within the lipid binding pocket. Molecular dynamics simulations further elucidate LBP‐3's preferential binding to DGLA due to its rotational freedom and access to favorable binding conformations compared to other 20‐carbon PUFAs. We also propose that LBP‐3 dimerization may be a unique regulatory mechanism for lipid chaperones.
A novel method for recombinant mammalian‐expressed S‐HBsAg virus‐like particle production for assembly status analysis and improved anti‐HBs serology
Authors: Lehky Michael , Moonian Tashveen , Michel Tanja , Junker Daniel , Müsken Mathias , Strömpl Julia , Nübling Patrick , Neumann Franziska , Krumbholz Andi , Krause Gérard , Schneiderhan‐Marra Nicole , van den Heuvel Joop , Strengert Monika
Published: December 2024

The Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) as the only lipid‐associated envelope protein of the Hepatitis B virus (HBV) acts as cellular attachment and entry mediator of HBV making it the main target of neutralizing antibodies to provide HBV immunity after infection or vaccination. Despite its central role in inducing protective immunity, there is however a surprising lack of comparative studies examining different HBsAgs and their ability to detect anti‐HBs antibodies. On the contrary, various time‐consuming complex HBsAg production protocols have been established, which result in structurally and functionally insufficiently characterized HBsAg. Here, we present an easy‐to‐perform, streamlined and robust method for recombinant S‐HBsAg virus‐like particle (VLP) production by transient expression in mammalian cells and purification from the cell lysate with the aim of displaying uniform antigenic epitopes on the surface to improve serological detection of anti‐HBs antibodies. We not only compare assembly status and particle composition by transmission electron microscopy and mass photometry of our S‐HBsAg and of commonly used HBsAg reference samples, but also assess their antigenic quality and functional suitability for anti‐HBs antibody detection to identify the best performing sample for serological screenings. While we found that serum‐isolated and recombinant HBsAg VLPs are assembled differently, our S‐HBsAg VLPs detected anti‐HBs antibodies with the highest sensitivity and specificity in multiplex serology when compared to yeast or serum HBsAg making it the most suitable antigen for analysis of HBV immunity through anti‐HBs serostatus.
Astragaloside IV Alleviates Acute Hepatic Injury by Regulating Macrophage Polarization and Pyroptosis via Activation of the AMPK/SIRT1 Signaling Pathway
Authors: Kuang Gang , Zhao Yisi , Wang Liuyang , Wen Tingyu , Liu Panting , Ma Bei , Peng Qiaozhi , Xu Fang , Ye Lin , Fan Jing
Published: December 2024

Acute hepatic injury (AHI) is associated with poor prognosis in sepsis patient; however, to date, no specific therapeutic approach has been established for this disease. Therefore, we aimed to explore the effects and action mechanisms of Astragaloside IV (AS) on AHI. C57BL/6 mice, RAW264.7 cells, and bone marrow‐derived macrophages were used in this study. Sepsis‐associated AHI model mice were established using lipopolysaccharide + D‐galactosamine. Pathological examination of liver tissues and serum alanine aminotransferase/aspartate aminotransferase was performed to evaluate the liver function. Moreover, inflammatory cytokine levels, proportion of M1/M2 macrophages and their marker levels, and cell pyroptosis‐related indicator levels were determined in the liver of the AHI model mice with or without AS treatment. AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK)/sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression was determined after AS treatment. Additionally, inflammatory cytokine levels, liver injury, and macrophage polarization were evaluated after inhibiting the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway. AS alleviated lipopolysaccharide + D‐galactosamine‐induced AHI and inhibited inflammatory reactions in the blood and liver of mice. AS also promoted the M1‐to‐M2 phenotypic transformation of macrophages in the liver of AHI model mice and in vitro, thereby decreasing the pro‐inflammatory cytokine levels and increasing the anti‐inflammatory cytokine levels. AS increased AMPK and SIRT1 levels in the liver and macrophages. Furthermore, AS improved liver injury by elevating the expression of the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway and inhibiting pyroptosis in macrophages. Overall, AS alleviated AHI by promoting M1‐to‐M2 macrophage transformation and inhibiting macrophage pyroptosis via activation of the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway.
Adaptive Multicore Dual‐Path Fusion Multimodel Extraction of Heterogeneous Features for FAIMS Spectral Analysis
Authors: Zhang Ruilong , Du Xiaoxia , Xiao Wenxiang , Li Hua
Published: December 2024

With the increasing application scenarios and detection needs of high‐field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) analysis, deep learning–assisted spectral analysis has become an important method to improve the analytical effect and work efficiency. However, a single model has limitations in generalizing to different types of tasks, and a model trained from one batch of spectral data is difficult to achieve good results on another task with large differences. To address this problem, this study proposes an adaptive multicore dual‐path fusion multimodel extraction of heterogeneous features for FAIMS spectral analysis model in conjunction with FAIMS small‐sample data analysis scenarios. Multinetwork complementarity is achieved through multimodel feature extraction, adaptive feature fusion module adjusts feature size and dimension fusion to heterogeneous features, and multicore dual‐path fusion can capture and integrate information at all scales and levels. The model's performance improves dramatically when performing complex mixture multiclassification tasks: accuracy, precision, recall, f1‐score, and micro‐AUC reach 98.11%, 98.66%, 98.33%, 98.30%, and 98.98%. The metrics for the generalization test using the untrained xylene isomer data were 96.42%, 96.66%, 96.96%, 96.65%, and 97.60%. The model not only exhibits excellent analytical results on preexisting data but also demonstrates good generalization ability on untrained data.
Consumption Poverty Alleviation: The Role of Poverty Attribution and Attitude in Poverty Alleviation Product Purchase
Authors: Zhang Tong , Jiang Qi , Hu Wuyang , Zhu Zhanguo
Published: December 2024

One approach to alleviate poverty is to identify and allow consumers to purchase poverty alleviation products (PAPs) from low‐income agricultural producers in rural areas. We explore whether consumers' attribution of the cause of poverty affects their purchase intentions for PAPs. We differentiate consumer attribution into situational and dispositional and find that situational attribution does not affect purchase intentions, whereas dispositional attribution negatively does. Furthermore, we find that consumer attitudes toward the government's consumption poverty alleviation (CPA) policies may mediate the direct impact of poverty attribution on PAP purchase intention. Consumers generally value CPA policies consistent with their attribution and the mediation effect strengthens the direct effects. This study offers insights into consumer purchase of products designed to fight poverty and provides policy recommendations that can mobilize poverty reduction through product development and consumer endorsement.
Engineering the Local Electronic Configuration of Diatomic Iron–Nickel Site for Enhanced Nitrate and Ammonia Co‐Electrolysis Activity
Authors: Sun Jie , Xu Shaohan , Gao Weiqi , Zhao Guohua
Published: December 2024

Anthropogenic activities have caused a significant rise in nitrate and ammonia nitrogen levels in natural water bodies, disrupting the balance of the nitrogen cycle. The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate and the oxidation of ammonia are promising strategies for converting polyvalent nitrogen into nontoxic and harmless N2. Herein, a bifunctional electrode loaded with diatomic iron–nickel site on porous N‐doped carbon (FeNi‐NC) is designed and successfully applied for the co‐electrolysis of nitrate and ammonia. The incorporation of the Fe atom shifts the partial density of states of Ni 3d away from the Fermi level and suppresses the 3d–2π* coupling between Ni sites and superficial N2, leading to the easy desorption of N2 intermediates. Consequently, the Faradaic efficiencies of FeNi‐NC for N2 production at the cathode and anode are 90.3% and 99.4% at 1.8 V, respectively, and an electricity consumption saving of 19.4% is achieved. This work provides a feasible strategy to regulate the electronic configuration of atomically dispersed catalysts for sewage treatment.
Synergistic Phase and Structural Engineering for Enhanced Zinc Storage in V2O3@N‐Doped Carbon Nanofibers
Authors: Wang Jinkai , Liu Boshi , Wang Zhengyu , Liu Zhi , Li Ling , Wang Min , Meng Xiaoman , Yong Yiming , Wang Hongkang , Yin Zongyou
Published: December 2024

Vanadium‐based oxide cathodes are promising energy‐storage systems for aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) because of their high energy density and safety, and low cost. However, their limited ion/electron transfer rates and rapid capacity decay pose challenges to their practical application. To overcome these limitations, V2O3 nanoparticles are developed with surface oxygen vacancies integrated with N‐doped carbon nanofibers (V2O3@NCNFs), using an electrospinning method combined with an in situ oxidation/reduction strategy. By precisely controlling the reaction atmosphere, synergistic regulation of the phase transition and structural evolution of vanadium oxide are achieved. The unique combination of oxygen vacancies and N‐doped carbon nanofibers enhances the zinc storage capacity, rate capability, and cycle stability of the V2O3@NCNFs electrode, achieving high reversible capacities of 554.6 mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1 with a high loading mass of ≈2.0–2.5 mg cm−2. Moreover, the V2O3@NCNFs electrode can achieve a high initial capacity of 434.3 and 266.6 mAh g−1 even at high current densities of 1.0 and 5.0 A g−1, respectively, with minimal capacity decay rates of 0.012% per cycle over 500 cycles and 0.003% per cycle over 2000 cycles. More importantly, this innovative approach can be universally applied to the design of novel nanostructured Mn‐ and V‐based oxide cathodes, which is promising for the development of advanced electrodes for high‐performance energy storage devices.
Automotive Cybersecurity Scheme for Intrusion Detection in CAN‐Driven Artificial Intelligence of Things
Authors: Dangwal Gagan , Wazid Mohammad , Nizam Sarah , Chamola Vinay , Das Ashok Kumar
Published: December 2024

The Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) is applicable for various domains, that is, smart healthcare, smart cities, industrial sectors, transportation systems, and many more. Controller area network (CAN) facilitates the integration of the sensing devices, thus enables them to send their data for analysis to various artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms. CAN also provides reliability and fault tolerance to the AIoT applications, as it has been designed to deal with noisy environments. Thus, CAN‐driven AIoT improves the efficiency, reliability, and functionalities of the devices and systems, which is very much needed for various AIoT applications. However, it is vulnerable to various cyber‐attacks like message replay, modification attack, fuzzy attack, denial of service, and spoofing the RPM gauge or drive gear. Therefore, an intrusion detection system (IDS) is required to detect attacks on the CAN bus. In this paper, we propose a lightweight and efficient intrusion detection system which successfully detects multiple intrusions based on the type of attack on CAN bus without causing additional traffic overhead to the ongoing communications (in short, ACID‐CAN). The presented mechanism is very much needed for the CAN‐driven AIoT applications. Experimental results show that the proposed ACID‐CAN successfully detects intrusions even when the amount of intrusion data is reduced to of normal data. The obtained results were compared with those of previous studies in the field of CANs intrusion detection, and it has been noted that the proposed ACID‐CAN offers comparable and better results.
Caught Off Guard: When Experts Fall for Quishing, Is Awareness Enough?
Authors: Rys Maciej , Ślusarek Agata , Zieliński Krzysztof
Published: December 2024

This study delves into social engineering vulnerabilities among cybersecurity experts, using an experimental approach. The motivation is to challenge the assumption that cybersecurity professionals are immune to social engineering attacks by examining their susceptibility to emerging threats like quishing, identifying gaps in current practices and training programs, and raising awareness about the risks posed to the general public. Two scenarios involving QR codes offering free training sessions and promotional hoodie giveaways were set up at and despite ethical considerations, the experiment yielded enlightening results: around 19% of participants interacted with the QR codes, questioning the perceived invulnerability of cybersecurity experts to such tactics. These results question the feasibility of traditional educational approaches in fully mitigating such risks, highlighting the need for updated and effective training, innovative strategies, and automated defenses to better protect both professionals and the general public from evolving social engineering threats.
IDDLE: A Novel Deep Learning–Based Approach for Intrusion Detection Problem Using Feature Extraction
Authors: Göktepe Yunus Emre , Uzun Yusuf
Published: December 2024

The internet has revolutionized access to information, enabling users to retrieve vast amounts of data effortlessly, transcending geographical and temporal barriers. This unprecedented connectivity has advanced research, education, and communication, but it has also created vulnerabilities that cybercriminals exploit to steal confidential information, interfere with processes, and carry out extensive attacks. Consequently, robust security measures are essential to safeguard the integrity and confidentiality of online data. Intrusion detection systems (IDS) are crucial in defending against such threats, employing both signature‐based and anomaly‐based models. Even though signature‐based IDS are highly effective at countering recognized threats, they struggle with novel, “zero‐day” attacks. Conversely, anomaly‐based detection systems can identify unknown threats but often generate high false positive rates. A hybrid IDS, combining elements of both approaches, offers a more comprehensive defense. This study presents a new intrusion detection model utilizing deep learning, evaluated on the KDD'99 and NSL‐KDD datasets. The proposed model (IDDLE—intrusion detection deep learning engine) incorporates advanced preprocessing techniques, including normalization, feature extraction, and categorical encoding. Empirical findings demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms existing state‐of‐the‐art approaches. This study underscores the capability of deep learning to enhance it in improving IDS performance, emphasizing the importance of continuous innovation and collaboration among security researchers, developers, and users to stay ahead of evolving cyberthreats. The findings underscore the significance of advanced feature extraction and hybrid detection strategies in developing robust intrusion detection systems.
Managing Obligation Delegation: Incentive Model and Experiment
Authors: Chen Liang , Zeng Cheng , Vidalis Stilianos , Jie Wei
Published: December 2024

Obligations are essential part of security policies, which specify what actions a user is obliged to perform in the future. One interesting feature of obligations is unenforceable, that is, the system cannot guarantee that each obligation will be fulfilled. Indeed, obligations go unfulfilled for a variety of reasons. For example, a user may have a family emergency that leads her having little time to discharge assigned obligations. We argue that delegation of obligations can be regarded as a means of providing opportunity for obligations to be discharged. However, this opportunity will be wasted if users who received delegation do not fulfill the obligations eventually. In this paper, we propose a mechanism that incentivizes users to accept and fulfill obligations for others by rewarding users credits. The amount of credits that can be earned depends on their trust rating, which reflects precisely how diligent of individuals in fulfilling obligations in the past. Users are motivated to raise up their trust ratings by fulfilling obligations for others, in order to earn more credits in the future. To evaluate our approach, we develop a multiple‐agent system that simulates a number of different profiles for agents and run experiments for one‐hop delegation and cascaded delegation with those agents. The experiments show a rich set of results, one of which confirms that delegation with incentives achieves the best outcome in terms of the number of obligations being fulfilled. Also, we implemented the modified ‐greedy algorithm, one of the closely related existing works, in our experimental framework and compared its performance to our approach. The results show that our approach offers greater flexibility and efficiency, as well as a higher obligation fulfillment rate.
Molecular Heterogeneous Photocatalysts for Visible‐Light‐Driven CO2 Reduction
Authors: Qi Yuanyuan , Sun Hai , She Ping , Qin Jun‐Sheng , Rao Heng
Published: December 2024

Photoreduction of CO2 to high‐value chemical fuels presents an effective strategy to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate climate change. The development of a photocatalyst characterized by superior activity, high selectivity, and good stability is a critical issue for PCR. Molecular heterogeneous photocatalytic systems integrate the advantages of both homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, creating a synergistic enhancement effect that increases photocatalytic performance. This review summarizes recent advancements in molecular heterogeneous photocatalysts for CO2 reduction. Much of the discussion focuses on the types of molecular heterogeneous photocatalysts, and their photocatalytic performance in CO2 reduction is summarized. The synthesis strategies for molecular heterogeneous photocatalysts are thoroughly discussed. Finally, the challenges and future prospects of molecular heterogeneous photocatalysts for PCR are addressed.
Tubular ectasia of rete testis with obstructive azoospermia and infertility: A case report and literature review
Authors: Al Saeedi Ahmed , Majzoub Ahmad , ElBardisi Haitham , Arafa Mohamed
Published: December 2024

Background

Tubular ectasia of rete testis (TERT) is a benign condition due to dilatation of the rete testis as a consequence of multiple etiologies, including postinfectious, trauma, prior inguinal or scrotal surgeries, mechanical compression of extratesticular excretory ducts, and congenital malformation. TERT is a rare and underreported condition in the medical literature. Its association with infertility is lacking in the literature.

Case Presentation

We present a rare case of primary infertility and obstructive azoospermia associated with TERT. We performed extensive literature regarding the possible etiologies, associations, clinical diagnosis, and different management options of this entity. Our patient is a 33‐year‐old man presented with primary infertility. He was found to have obstructive azoospermia. During scrotal exploration, the diagnosis of intratesticular obstruction due to TERT was made. The couple was advised to undergo intracytoplasmic sperm injection using testicular sperms. This is the third report of TERT associated with azoospermia.

Conclusion

TERT is usually asymptomatic but can occasionally be associated with pain or abnormal semen analysis, but further studies are required to confirm its effect on fertility. Fortunately, it has a benign course and typically does not require surgical intervention. It is vital to differentiate it from neoplastic conditions.
Investigation of Trace and Macro Element Contents in Commercial Cat Foods
Authors: Bilgiç Bengü , Tarhan Duygu , Ateş Fatma , Parkan Yaramiş Çağla , Koenhemsi Lora , Or Mehmet Erman
Published: December 2024

Background

Nutritional profiles and guidelines are determined by various associations to ensure optimum health of cats and provide pet food manufacturers nutritional recommendations to ensure the well‐balanced and nutritionally adequate pet food.

Objectives

It was aimed to determine some trace elements and macro minerals in prescription and non‐prescription dry cat foods and compare the contents with the suggested guidelines to evaluate the potential in‐compliance.

Methods

A total of 96 dry cat foods were evaluated. Cu, Fe, Mn, Se, Zn, Mg, Ca and P concentrations were analysed in prescription dry cat foods developed for gastrointestinal diseases—GI (n = 18), renal diseases—R (n = 15), urinary diseases—U (n = 8), obesity—O (n = 10) and non‐prescription—N‐P (n = 45) foods from different flavours and brands by ICP‐OES.

Results

Ten precent of the O group exceeded the upper limit, and 15.5% of the N‐P group failed to provide a nutritional minimum level. 4.44% of prescription foods were below the minimum recommended Mn level according to the European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF), and 66% of N‐P foods were below the minimum adult maintenance value recommended by the Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO). One hundred percent non‐compliance with the guidelines in the GI and U groups was recorded. 22.2% of the GI group was lower, and 5.55% of the GI group was higher than the recommended levels by FEDIAF, which reflects the 27.7% in compliance. While all the prescription foods have 100% compliance with the determined minimum level of guidelines, 11.1% of N‐P foods were below the minimum recommended level. In compliance with the guidelines for Ca was noted in the O and U groups (10% and 12.5%, respectively). The P ratio in all prescription food groups except for GI was below the minimum level determined by AAFCO.

Conclusions

In all food groups, mean Cu, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca and P concentrations were between the minimum and maximum limits recommended by FEDIAF. However, the mean Se level was above the upper legal limit in all food groups, and the Zn level was below the minimum recommended level in the N‐P food group. Besides the mean values, a high number of foods in each group show a broad in‐compliance with the guidelines.
Systematics of U-spin sum rules for systems with direct sums
Authors: Gavrilova Margarita , Schacht Stefan
Published: December 2024

Abstract

A rich mathematical structure underlying flavor sum rules has been discovered recently. In this work, we extend these findings to systems with a direct sum of representations. We prove several results for the general case. We derive an algorithm that enables the determination of all U-spin amplitude sum rules at arbitrary order of the symmetry breaking for any system containing a direct sum of the representations 0 ⨁ 1. Potential applications are numerous and include, for example, higher order sum rules for CP-violating charm decays with an arbitrary number of final states.
Dark matter, CEνNS and neutrino new physics scrutinized by a statistical method in Xenon-based experiments
Authors: Tang Jian , Zhang Bing-Long
Published: December 2024

Abstract

Dark matter direct detection experiments are approaching the neutrino floor, with a significant probability of measuring coherent elastic neutrino-nucleus scattering (CEνNS) and exploring potential neutrino-related new physics (νNP). In the present study, the simultaneous presence of dark matter and νNP is emphatically investigated, revealing a response similar to Standard Model neutrino backgrounds in Xenon-based dark matter experiments. Through analyses of three U(1) extension models, it is determined that dark matter signals can be differentiated from an excess or a depletion of neutrino contributions from νNP by applying a statistically defined distinction method to nuclear and electronic recoil spectra. Additionally, an investigation is conducted into how νNP affects the exclusion limits for spin-independent dark matter-nucleon interactions. The present findings could facilitate the identification of new physics in future dark matter experiments.
Type II orientifold flux vacua in 3D
Authors: Arboleya Álvaro , Guarino Adolfo , Morittu Matteo
Published: December 2024

Abstract

We initiate a systematic study of type II orientifold flux vacua in three dimensions including gauge and metric fluxes, O-planes and D-branes. We derive simple flux models (we dub them RSTU-models) that admit a description in terms of gauged supergravities with half-maximal $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 8 supersymmetry in three dimensions. As a landscape appetizer, we present various multi-parametric families of supersymmetric and non-supersymmetric AdS3 and Mkw3 vacua. Remarkably, negative masses turn out to be always absent in the spectrum of scalar fluctuations, thus making all the vacua perturbatively stable within half-maximal supergravity. We provide examples of non-supersymmetric type IIB AdS3 flux vacua which feature parametrically-controlled scale separation and come along with integer-valued conformal dimensions of the would-be dual CFT2 operators. We also comment on the implications of our results in light of the Swampland Program.