bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DO HIGH TEMPERATURES DAMPEN CHINESE URBAN HOUSEHOLD CONSUMPTION?
Authors: CHEN XUAN , LIU LAN-CUI , HOU JUAN-JUAN , GAO XUE
Published: December 2023

Increased extreme heat is one of the clearest manifestations of climate change, but its impact on household consumption is poorly understood. This paper estimates the effects of high temperatures on total household consumption. We find an inverted U-shaped relationship, with high temperatures (≥ 30∘C) reducing total household consumption by 7.18% compared with the reference group from 5∘C to 10∘C. In the living consumption subcategory, expenditures for eating out decline by 9.59%, whereas expenditures for protective gear, fuel, and housing increase. Expenditures in the going-out category generally decrease but vary with distance, vehicles, and sites. Spending on all types of public transportation and outdoor recreation decreases regardless of distance, whereas private transportation and short-distance indoor recreation expenditures increase slightly. Our findings indicate that households alleviate high-temperature impacts mainly by reducing expenditures outside the home and increasing expenditures on at-home or indoor activities.
CLIMATE CHANGE, ADAPTATION AND ECONOMIC OUTCOMES: EVIDENCE FROM AGRICULTURE IN INDIA
Authors: FILECCIA COSTANZA MARIA
Published: December 2023

Agriculture is strongly affected by climate change (CC). However, its vulnerability is also determined by how farmers adapt to these long-run changes. Using an innovative approach recently proposed in the literature, this study investigates whether it is possible to find evidence of long-run adaptation in the climate-yield relationship of India’s agriculture and what the implications for future scenarios may be. District-level time series data on rice and chickpea yield are combined with weather data on cumulative growing season precipitation and growing degree days, and a quadratic regression with fixed effects augmented with climate penalty terms to account for climate adaptation is used. The estimates are utilized to extrapolate future scenarios. The estimation results suggest that rice might have some potential adaptation to precipitation, although adaptation to temperature appears to be dependent on irrigation. Chickpeas, on the other hand, adapt to temperature whereas adaptation to precipitation is limited. The findings also reveal that crop yields in projected climate scenarios are expected to respond differently depending on whether adaptation measures are implemented or not. Adaptation measures are likely to mitigate CC and reduce crop yield losses while also increasing productivity in some crops.
THE FAIRNESS CONTROVERSY OVER CBAM AND ITS POLICY IMPLICATIONS
Authors: ZHONG JIARUI , PIES INGO
Published: December 2023

The idea of a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) has aroused fervent discussion recently. It is proposed as an effective tool to address the competitiveness loss and carbon leakage induced by unilateral carbon policies. Yet on the brink of this policy being rolled out, its ethical justification seems insufficiently clarified. CBAM implementation would provoke a huge fairness controversy. This paper illustrates the main ethical challenges impeding CBAM’s fairness perception. Two stand out in particular: The first is the lack of a global consensus on appropriate climate equity principles. This means that there is no basis for determining the fairness of CBAM’s burden shifting impact. The second is that CBAM is likely to undermine the procedural justice of the current quantity-oriented responsibility distribution regime under the Paris Agreement. We conclude that CBAM is not well-suited for solving the free-rider problem of the current climate change mitigation policies and emphasize that incentivizing innovation is key for an ambitious mitigation strategy.
Enhanced piezoelectric properties in low-temperature sintered Pb(Zr,Ti)O3-based ceramics via Yb2O3 doping
Authors: Zhuang Wanfeng , Wang Weiling , Luo Yaxia , Liu Hong , Zhu Jianguo
Published: December 2023

Pb(Mg[Formula: see text]W[Formula: see text])O3–Pb(Ni[Formula: see text]Nb[Formula: see text])O3–Pb(Zr[Formula: see text]Ti[Formula: see text])O3 (PNN–PMW–PZT) piezoceramics were sintered at a low temperature of 900∘C by the mixed metal oxide powder solid-state reaction route. CaCO3 and Li2CO3 as sintering aids and Yb2O3 as a dopant were added into the PNN–PMW–PZT ceramic system for low-temperature sintering and enhancement of electrical properties, respectively. The effects of different Yb2O3 doping amounts on the microstructure, dielectric, piezoelectric and ferroelectric properties of the samples were systematically investigated. The piezoceramics doped with 0.1[Formula: see text]mol% Yb2O3 have optimal electrical properties ([Formula: see text][Formula: see text]pC/N, [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] (1[Formula: see text]kHz), [Formula: see text] (1[Formula: see text]kHz), and [Formula: see text]C). While the piezoceramics doped with 0.3[Formula: see text]mol% Yb2O3 have optimal energy conversion properties: the piezoelectric voltage coefficient [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]Vm/N and the effective piezoelectric energy conversion coefficient [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m2/N.
Preparation and microwave absorption properties of flexible composites containing Ag decorated polystyrene powders
Authors: Ma Jianhao , Liu Yi , Qin Jingnan , Wang Qiang , Su Xiaolei
Published: December 2023

Polystyrene (PS) microspheres have the advantages of good stability, corrosion resistance and low density, which have a broad application prospect. In this paper, PS composite microspheres with 20% silver plating content were prepared by chemical plating method and incorporated into polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) flexible matrix to prepare Ag@PS/PDMS flexible wave-absorbing materials. The electromagnetic parameters were adjusted to optimize the dielectric and wave-absorbing properties by varying the additional amount of Ag@PS composite microspheres in Ag@PS/PDMS composites. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results proved the successful preparation of Ag@PS composite microspheres. The SEM and EDS images indicated that the Ag particles were attached to the external surface of PS. The presence of Ag particles in the Ag@PS composite microspheres enhances their electrical conductivity and enables the formation of a conductive network. This, in turn, improves the composites’ dielectric constant. The optimal wave-absorbing capability of the composites was achieved when the Ag@PS composite microspheres were added at a weight percentage of 50%. When the sample attains a thickness of 1.8[Formula: see text]mm, a reflection loss of at least −39.8[Formula: see text]dB is attained at 10.4[Formula: see text]GHz, along with a bandwidth of 1.6[Formula: see text]GHz (9.1–10.7[Formula: see text]GHz) for the effective absorption bandwidth (EAB). The pressure-sensitive properties of the pliable composites were investigated as well. The optimal pressure-sensitive performance of Ag@PS/PDMS composites was achieved with a 60[Formula: see text]wt.% addition of Ag@PS composite microspheres. The resistance undergoes significant changes when subjected to pressure with a sensitivity of 9.7. The results indicate that the flexible composites’ wave-absorption and pressure-sensitivity properties can be modulated by adjusting the amount of Ag@PS composite microspheres added.
Green Synthesis of Novel Acridone Fused Tetracyclic Analogues via Microwave-Promoted Fast, Solvent-Free Benzylation and Their DFT Studies
Authors: Veligeti Rajkumar , Anireddy Jaya Shree , Madhu Rajesh Bagepalli , Bendi Anjaneyulu , Praveen P. Laksmi , Jose T. Jaison , Ramakrishna D. S.
Published: December 2023

In this study, we introduce a new protocol for the synthesis of tetracyclic acridone derivatives using a benzylation reaction under microwave irradiation. Compared to traditional approaches, our protocol is significantly more effective, takes far less time and is also in accordance with the principles of green chemistry. Under the solvent-free conditions, the benzylation reaction was performed between acridone (1 eq) and benzyl bromide (1 eq) in the presence of potassium carbonate (1.5 eq) under microwave irradiation. The reaction was completed within 3 min, resulting in higher yields of the products, up to 96%. It has been observed that the developed protocol is best suited for the N-benzylation of acridone with different benzyl halides.
Significant Applications of Artificial Intelligence Towards Attaining Sustainability
Authors: Haleem Abid , Javaid Mohd , Khan Ibrahim Haleem , Mohan Sanjay
Published: December 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has grown and taken up challenging environmental issues. This technology helps accomplish sustainable development goals by helping us develop more effectively, use resources more sustainably and efficiently reduce waste and manage. Sustainable AI must be adapted to cater to the unique circumstances of each culture. The proper protections and procedures must be in place for AI systems, given the need for vast data to train the system. It has extensive applications for anything from ocean monitoring to climate change prediction modeling because of its skills in data processing. AI, Machine Learning (ML) and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) have helped these sectors survive with fewer people and varied limits, all while keeping prices low. Digital transformation is a culture, organization, and operations shift to increase customer value. This paper examines AI’s role in developing a sustainable environment. Primary goals and sustainable AI activities that contribute to sustainability are briefly covered. Finally, key applications of AI to sustainability were identified and explored. AI is transforming how we think, act, learn, and, of course, construct. It offers the potential to quickly identify inefficiencies and chances to boost productivity and sustainability across sectors. The building and construction sector needs to adopt AI into its routine procedures more than other sectors. With proper usage of AI, one may achieve increased output, simplify work, and eliminate inefficiencies so the staff can stay focused. AI can accomplish sustainable objectives when used appropriately and with sustainability at the center of its development.
The Juxtaposition of Allosteric and Catalytic Inhibition in PLK1: Tradeoff for Chemotherapy and Thermodynamic Profiles of KBJK557 and BI 6727
Authors: Oduro-Kwateng Ernest , Rabbad Ali H. , Soliman Mahmoud E.
Published: December 2023

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a serine/threonine kinase cell cycle modulator and a highly significant biomarker in chemotherapy. Cancer treatment strategies now prioritize PLK1-inhibitor-based drugs that target either the catalytic (kinase) or regulatory (polo-box) domains. Comparative studies on PLK1 are needed to highlight the tradeoff between catalytic- and allosteric-based inhibition. We report the first study on PLK1 binding kinetics using KBJK557, a potent small-molecule scaffold for “allosteric” inhibition and volasertib (BI 6727), a phase III approved drug for “catalytic” inhibition. The binding landscape of polo-box domain (PBD) was found to be fairly preserved with a higher binding free energy (−31.00 kcal/mol) than kinase domain (KD) (−29.40 kcal/mol). Noncovalent bond interactions were found to differ for individual inhibitors, mainly stronger hydrogen bonds for KBJK557 and weaker electrostatic bonds for volasertib. Interestingly, the noncovalent bond interactions of volasertib were largely dependent on PBD residues. Volasertib was found to induce structural stability in PLK1 as though in a ‘cooperative manner’, whereas KBJK557 induced structural flexibility. The results from our study provide underpinnings for cooperative binding studies in PLK1 and will be useful for future research to develop both PBD and KD as well as dual-functional inhibitors against PLK1.
Computational Approach to Identify the Key Genes for Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) Diagnosis and Therapies
Authors: Anitha S. , Nandhini S. , Premnath D. , Indiraleka M.
Published: December 2023

Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC) is a common form of breast cancer that begins in milk-producing glands lobules and spreads to other parts of the breast. According to the American Cancer Society, about 10–15% of breast cancer cases are ILC. ILC risk rises with age. The number of deaths caused by this cancer each year can be decreased through early diagnosis and if accurate therapy is given. However, diagnosis of ILC is difficult due to its development pattern as it grows as single file strands and not as lumps. Treatments of ILC involve chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy. Drugs that are being used for ILC, are commonly used to treat all types of breast cancer and there are no specific drugs that target receptors of ILC are available. Microarray technology’s emergence helps in finding the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in malignant cells. From the DEGs, highly interacting genes were identified using the online tool, string. Seven key genes were identified based on the interaction and they are FN1, CDKN2A, COL1A1, COL3A1, COL11A1, LEF1 and IL1B. Thus, the drugs targeting these biomarkers were identified by doing molecular docking using the tool Autodock and molecular dynamic (MD) simulation using the tool iMODs. The response of the identified drugs to the ILC cell line was compared with the control drugs by in silico pharmacogenomic analysis and it was found that the identified drugs have a good response to the ILC cell line.
Thermohydraulic and Irreversibility Analyses of Swirl Flows Utilizing Distorted Radial Fins: Entropy Generation and Entransy Dissipation Evaluation
Authors: Ho M. L. G. , Tan L.-L. , Hung Y. M. , Oon C. S.
Published: December 2023

The current investigation analyses the convective heat transfer performance, entropy generation, and entransy evaluation of swirl flows generated by distorted radial fins (DRF). As swirl flows and various vortical structures induce large temperature gradients, second law and entransy analyses are necessary to thoroughly evaluate their true thermodynamic influence on heat transfer enhancement. The results indicated that due to the influence of swirl flows and vortices, all angles of the DRF were capable of inducing intense fluid mixing, thinner thermal boundary layers, and turbulent eddies. It was found that overaggressive swirl flows may hinder local heat transfer performances, by enclosing low-velocity heated fluids within the thermal boundary layers. However, as these overaggressive swirl flows and strong vortices propagate downstream, beneficial fluid mixing was eventuated, favouring heat transport over large regions. In terms of thermal performances, the maximum heat transfer enhancement was exhibited by the α=45° DRF, improving the Nusselt numbers up to 59.3%. Accordingly, the highest performance evaluation criterion (PEC) of 1.269 was obtained by the α=45° DRF at the Reynolds number 2389, attributed to the centrifugal effects of the swirl flows. Optimal entropy generation numbers were also exhibited by the α=45° DRF at the highest studied Reynolds number, reducing total entropy generation by 36.81%. Lower entransy thermal resistances were also accredited to greater DRF angles due to the intense swirl effects. In essence, the study concludes that the effects of swirl flows and vortices significantly enhance heat transfer, whilst reducing both entropy generation and entransy dissipation rates, leading to optimal thermal performances.
A new, extremely small, panorthopteran hind wing from the Carboniferous of Avion, France (Archaeorthoptera: Panorthoptera)
Authors: PENG AN-CHENG , ENGEL MICHAEL S. , KUNDURA JEAN-PAUL , ROQUES PATRICK , NEL ANDRÉ
Published: December 2023

The superorder Archaeorthoptera (or total group of the extant Orthoptera) was exceedingly diverse during the Late Carboniferous and Permian. Most of the species described to date are comparatively remote relatives of Orthoptera (Archaeorthoptera nec. Panorthoptera). The Panorthoptera are a clade including species more closely related to crown Orthoptera, sharing with them synapomorphies in their wing venation, viz. division of the anterior-most branch CuPa of CuP into two branches; fusion of the anterior branch CuPaα of CuPa with CuA (or M+CuA). The Orthoptera sensu stricto are then characterized by the posterior branch of CuPa (CuPaβ) generally simple, and by the broadened (‘saltatorial’) metafemora (Béthoux & Nel, 2002). The Panorthoptera are quite rare in the early Late Carboniferous (Béthoux et al., 2012; Gu et al., 2014, 2017). Thus, any new fossil attributable to this clade is welcome to clarify the history of its diversification.
First record of Archaeocercoides puchkovi Simutnik, 2022 (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae) from late Eocene Danish amber
Authors: SIMUTNIK SERGUEI A. , PANKOWSKI MADELINE V. , PERKOVSKY EVGENY E.
Published: December 2023

Encyrtidae are one of the largest and most diverse families of chalcidoid wasps found both today (Noyes, 2023) and in Eocene ambers (Simutnik, 2021; Simutnik & Perkovsky, 2023). The earliest known Encyrtidae have been found in middle Eocene Sakhalinian amber (Simutnik, 2021; Simutnik et al., 2021b). They differ significantly from both extant encyrtids as well as those occurring in late Eocene European ambers, many of which feature peculiar characters (Simutnik et al., 2020, 2023; Simutnik, 2021). To date, some 20 species in 18 extinct genera of Encyrtidae have been described from late Eocene Baltic, Danish and Rovno ambers (Simutnik et al., 2021a, 2022c, 2023; Simutnik & Perkovsky, 2023).
A new enigmatic cyclostome parasitoid wasp (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Rhyssalinae) with unusual ovipositor from Baltic amber
Authors: BELOKOBYLSKIJ SERGEY A. , MANUKYAN ANDRANIK R. , ZALDÍVAR-RIVERÓN ALEJANDRO
Published: December 2023

A new enigmatic genus and species presumably belonging to the cyclostome braconid parasitoid subfamily Rhyssalinae, Electroncophanes laticauda Belokobylskij & Zaldívar-Riverón gen. et sp. nov., are described and illustrated from the late Eocene Baltic amber. This new genus is characterised by having a wide and laterally compressed ovipositor, a unique character in the cyclostome braconids, and distally thickened ovipositor sheaths. It also has the fore wing with a postfurcal position of the recurrent vein (m-cu), distally closed brachial (second subdiscal) cell, not interstitial parallel vein (Cu1a), and a long submedial (subbasal) cell of the hind wing. Electroncophanes gen. nov. is placed in the new rhyssaline tribe Electroncophanini tribus nov. The presence of the flat and wide ovipositor found in the new species is discussed.
A new fossil species of Nausibius (Coleoptera: Silvanidae) in Rovno amber: a beetle from Eocene forests with congeners thriving in warehouses today
Authors: ALEKSEEV VITALII , PANKOWSKI MADELINE V. , BUKEJS ANDRIS
Published: December 2023

A new species of silvanid flat bark beetle, Nausibius radchenkoi sp. nov., is described and illustrated based on a well-preserved inclusion in Eocene Rovno amber. It is the first fossil species of Nausibius, a cosmopolitan genus with representatives living worldwide today. The current finding confirms both the Eocene age of the genus and the presence of representatives of the genus in forest palaeoecosystems of Europe in that time. In addition, Austronausibius aenigmatista Alekseev & Bukejs, 2022, previously described from Rovno amber, is documented in Baltic amber for the first time. Thirteen common species of Coleoptera (including one newly recorded here) known from these two East European ambers are listed. The newly described species, as well as some other beetle taxa in Eocene European habitats (where Rovno and Baltic ambers were produced), have several congeners that live today in artificial synanthropic habitats, namely warehouses storing various food products.
Confocal autofluorescence microscopy revealed the fine morphology of the amber preserved mite Congovidia glesoconomorphi sp. nov. (Acari: Hemisarcoptidae) phoretic on a mycterid beetle
Authors: KOLESNIKOV VASILIY B. , VORONTSOV DMITRY D. , PERKOVSKY EVGENY E. , VASILENKO DMITRY V. , KLIMOV PAVEL B.
Published: December 2023

We examined three astigmatic mite specimens phoretic on the beetle Glesoconomorphus ekaterinae from Eocene Rovno amber. Due to the precious nature of this amber piece, housing the name-bearing holotype of the host beetle, traditional trimming for the application of high-resolution imaging techniques at small focal distances was unfeasible. To overcome this challenge, we employed a combination of confocal microscopy relying on the autofluorescence properties of the mite chitinous exoskeleton and long working distance / water immersion objectives. This innovative approach successfully resolved the minute mite features from a considerable distance (700 μm). Based on these data, we describe many taxonomically important characters and identify these mites as a new species, Congovidia glesoconomorphi sp. nov., within the family Hemisarcoptidae. This represents the first fossil record for the mite family. Additionally, we provide a key for phoretic deutonymphs of all known species of Congovidia. As larvae of many extant Eurypinae live in subcortical spaces of decomposing tree trunks, we suggest that the mite C. glesoconomorphi similarly occupied subcortical niches in decayed wood and utilized adult beetles of G. ekaterinae for dispersal.
New species of Paktongius and convergent evolution of the gonyleptoid-like habitus in Southeast Asian Assamiidae (Opiliones: Laniatores)
Authors: KLEMENTZ BENJAMIN C. , SHARMA PRASHANT P.
Published: December 2023

The armored harvestman family Assamiidae (Arachnida: Opiliones: Laniatores) is widely distributed throughout the Old World tropics, specifically throughout tropical Asia and Central Africa. However, the systematics and intrafamilial relationships of the group remain poorly understood. This can be largely attributed to the complicated taxonomic history of the group, which is exemplified by poorly supported subfamily classifications and the prevalence of monotypic genera. Here, we describe four new species of the formerly monotypic genus Paktongius Suzuki, 1969, using specimens collected from Laos, Thailand, and West Malaysia, suggesting a degree of microendemism within the group, which underscores the need for greater sampling of the southeast Asian arachnofauna. Recent phylogenetic analysis has also suggested that Mysorea thaiensis Suzuki, 1985 nests within a clade composed of Paktongius distinctus Suzuki, 1969 and the species described herein (P. suzukii sp. nov., P. spiculosus sp. nov., P. paritensis sp. nov., P. furculus sp. nov.). We therefore transfer Mysorea thaiensis to Paktongius (P. thaiensis comb. nov.). We also comment on the unique morphology of this highly derived group of harvestmen, which appears to suggest convergent evolution of the gonyleptoid-like morphology, complete with the characteristic exaggerated leg four coxae and laterally expanded scutum.
Review and new data on the aphid fauna (Hemiptera, Aphidoidea) of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with a description of a new genus and a new species of the family Hormaphididae
Authors: STEKOLSHCHIKOV ANDREY V. , NOVGORODOVA TATIANA A.
Published: December 2023

An up-to-date information on aphid fauna (Hemiptera, Aphidoidea) of Vietnam based on literature data and original material is presented. The updated check-list of aphids includes 47 species, and also 15 species identified only to genus level. Protastegopteryx vietnamensis gen. nov., sp. nov. from Bambusa sp., collected in Cát Tiên National Park (Dong Nai Province), is described. The species is illustrated and its biometric data is provided. The described aphid genus is closely related to Astegopteryx Karsch, 1890. The taxonomic position of the genus is discussed.
A key to the Russian species of the genus Coenosia Meigen (Diptera, Muscidae), with the description of one new species and new synonymies
Authors: SOROKINA VERA S.
Published: December 2023

Identification keys to males and females are provided for the 77 species of the genus Coenosia Meigen, 1826 known from Russia, including one new species from the Magadan region (Coenosia luxia sp. nov.), and also Macrorchis meditata (Fallén, 1825). Coenosia nevadensis Lyneborg, 1970 and Coenosia penicillata Hennig, 1961 are newly recorded in Russia. Coenosia paludis Tiensuu, 1939 and Coenosia ukokensis Sorokina, 2009 are newly recorded for the Far East. Two new synonymies are proposed: Hoplogaster morrisoni Malloch, 1924 syn. nov. of Anthomyza cingulipes Zetterstedt, 1849; Coenosia brevicauda Pont in Pont, Werner & Kachvoryan, 2005 syn. nov. of Coenosia nevadensis Lyneborg, 1970. Images of some species and of the male terminalia are given.
A new genus and species of Encyrtidae (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) with a four-segmented funicle from late Eocene Baltic amber
Authors: SIMUTNIK SERGUEI A. , PANKOWSKI MADELINE V. , PERKOVSKY EVGENY E.
Published: December 2023

Electrocerus brevifuniculatus Simutnik gen. et sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on a female specimen from late Eocene Baltic amber. Placement of the new genus in the subfamily Encyrtinae is supported by the presence of a filum spinosum on the linea calva and the hypopygium not reaching the metasomal apex. A key to the genera of late Eocene Encyrtinae is provided. The new taxon differs from all known extinct and most extant encyrtids by its four-segmented female funicle.
New genus of Steirodontini Brunner von Wattenwyl, 1878 (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Phaneropterinae) from the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest
Authors: MENDES DIEGO MATHEUS DE MELLO , SOBRAL RAFAEL , NETO ALBERTO MOREIRA DA SILVA
Published: December 2023

The tribe Steirodontini (Phaneropterinae: Tettigoniidae) currently comprises five genera and 56 species, with its distribution restricted to the Neotropical region. In Brazil, four genera and 20 species of this tribe are recorded, all with records restricted to the Brazilian Southeast and South regions. This fact is a strong indication that the Brazilian fauna of this group is underestimated. In this work, the new monotypic genus Coronophyllum gen. nov. and the new species Coronophyllum catarinae sp. nov. from Amazonas, Brazil, are described and illustrated. Additionally, a map and comments on its distribution in an endemic area of the Brazilian Amazon are provided.
A new species of the genus Paranataretus El-Sonbati, 2023 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from the continental Africa
Authors: GNEZDILOV VLADIMIR M.
Published: December 2023

A new species of the leafhopper genus Paranataretus El-Sonbati, 2023, P. albertinus sp. n., is described from North Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo which is first record of the genus from Africa. New records from Madagascar is given for Paranataretus brevis (Gnezdilov, 2020). Relationships of the species within the genus Paranataretus are discussed.
Design of a bus-based battery equalization with zero-current switching
Authors: Xin Zhao , Kun Li
Published: December 2023

A novel any cell to any cell equalization circuit topology with small column, low weight, low cost, and high efficiency is proposed for serial-connected batteries, especially suitable for unmanned aerial vehicles, satellites, and other fields with strict requirements on size, weight, reliability, and safety. To solve the problems of high switching losses in equalization circuits and low reliability of complex control schemes. A half-bridge circuit to convert the DC voltage of the battery into AC voltage is employed, and the energy is exchanged autonomously via the bus. At the same time, LC resonant circuit is used to achieve zero-current switching of the MOSFET, thus reduces greatly the switching losses. The working principle is analyzed by theoretical derivation, and the parameters of the circuit are optimized through circuit simulation. Furthermore, experiments which support six cells equalization are carried out to verify the feasibility and advantage of this topology. This equalization uses a bus-type architecture to improve equalization efficiency and topological flexibility making it even more valuable in the industrial and aerospace fields.
Recognition to weightlifting postures using convolutional neural networks with evaluation mechanism
Authors: He Quantao , Li Wenjuan , Tang Wenquan , Xu Baoguan
Published: December 2023

For modern sport training, critical posture recognition of athletes can be helpful for athlete training. This paper proposes convolutional neural networks using a two-stage evaluation mechanism to recognize four critical postures of a weightlifter, that is, force releasing, knee flexion, knee extension and highest point. Using the proposed convolutional neural networks classify images and extract image features. Meanwhile, a two-stage evaluation mechanism is adopted to calculate the scores of image features, based on the calculated scores, the four critical postures can be accurately recognized. Experimental results show that the accuracy of our method is 92.85% in the recognition of the four critical postures, which defeats the competitive methods in critical posture recognition. Moreover, the training time of the proposed method linearly augments along with the increasing of data volume, that is, non-exponential growth, consequently, our method can be applied to large-scale image datasets. We demonstrate that the two-stage mechanism can calculate the scores of image features independently of specific scenarios, which assist neural networks improve classification capabilities. Moreover, using the two-stage mechanism can simplify the designed complexity of neural network architectures, thus reducing the training parameter of neural networks in the process of critical posture recognition.
How Loyalty Trials Shape Allegiance to Political Order
Authors: Reul Mirko , Bhavnani Ravi
Published: December 2023

“Loyalty trials” are common to a range of conflict settings, with consequences that range from harassment to imprisonment, torture, or death. Yet, they have received little if any attention as a general phenomenon in studies of state repression, civil war, or rebel governance, which focus on particular behaviors that authorities use to put people on trial, such as dissent, defection, and resistance. Using a computational model and data on the German Democratic Republic and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, we focus on the dynamics of “loyalty trials” held to identify enemy collaborators—the interaction between expectations, perceptions, and behavior. We use our framework to explore the conditions under which trials result in widespread defection, as in the German Democratic Republic, or in conformity as illustrated by our study of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The polarizing nature of loyalty trials and the propensity to over- or under-identify threats to political order have notable implications for democratic and non-democratic societies alike.
The possibilities Jesús Martín-Barbero left for us to understand Latin America
Authors: Marroquín Parducci Amparo
Published: December 2023

This essay analyzes the Ph.D dissertation of Jesús Martín-Barbero, written in 1972 in Louvain, Belgium. Equipped with Paul Ricoeur’s explorations on how a text is constructed and Paulo Freire’s insistence on the emancipatory nature of the communicative action, Martín-Barbero centered his scholarship on the urgency to study and understand Latin American popular cultures. Martín-Barbero’s dissertation centers the great problem of academic analysis on language as the subject that acts in the world. To explore the connection of language and action, Martín-Barbero proposes three historically situated language devices that allow individuals to position themselves and move toward praxis: myth, prophecy, and poetry.
Quantification of the seismic design coefficients for composite special moment frames with reinforced concrete columns and steel beams
Authors: Tavasoli Yousefabadi Elmira , Kazemi Mohammad Taghi
Published: December 2023

This paper explores the performance of the reinforced concrete column and steel beam (RCS) structural system at the frame-level, with a focus on evaluating the seismic design coefficients ( R-factor, Ω0, and Cd) using the FEMA-P695 methodology. The RCS system offers a more efficient and cost-effective solution compared to conventional steel and RC moment-resisting frames, with higher damping and lateral stiffness of RC columns and greater energy dissipation capacity of steel beams. Although several experimental and numerical studies have evaluated the performance of the RCS system, most of them have focused on the connection-level. In this study, 32 archetypes are designed with varying building height, span length, concrete strength, gravity load level, seismic load level, and column-beam strength ratio. Nonlinear analytical models are developed for the selected archetypes, and the modeling assumptions are validated through five distinct experimental tests. The models are then subjected to both static pushover and response history analyses, and the seismic design coefficients of the archetypes are evaluated and discussed based on the FEMA-P695 methodology. The results indicate that the design requirements of the RCS system are efficient, providing a high safety margin. However, the level of conservatism is found to be excessively high. Thus, it is possible to use a larger R-factor in the design process or make some relaxations in the design requirements related to this structural system. While further research should be carried out to validate the results, this study shows that as long as the R-factor is less than R = 10, the building can be deemed sufficiently safe for seismic loadings.
Review of Alan Acock’s A Gentle Introduction to Stata, Revised Sixth Edition
Authors: Musau Andrew
Published: December 2023

In this article, I review A Gentle Introduction to Stata, Revised Sixth Edition, by Alan Acock (2023, Stata Press).
Machine learning approach for Migraine Aura Complexity Score prediction based on magnetic resonance imaging data
Authors: Mitrović Katarina , Savić Andrej M. , Radojičić Aleksandra , Daković Marko , Petrušić Igor
Published: December 2023

Background

Previous studies have developed the Migraine Aura Complexity Score (MACS) system. MACS shows great potential in studying the complexity of migraine with aura (MwA) pathophysiology especially when implemented in neuroimaging studies. The use of sophisticated machine learning (ML) algorithms, together with deep profiling of MwA, could bring new knowledge in this field. We aimed to test several ML algorithms to study the potential of structural cortical features for predicting the MACS and therefore gain a better insight into MwA pathophysiology.

Methods

The data set used in this research consists of 340 MRI features collected from 40 MwA patients. Average MACS score was obtained for each subject. Feature selection for ML models was performed using several approaches, including a correlation test and a wrapper feature selection methodology. Regression was performed with the Support Vector Machine (SVM), Linear Regression, and Radial Basis Function network.

Results

SVM achieved a 0.89 coefficient of determination score with a wrapper feature selection. The results suggest a set of cortical features, located mostly in the parietal and temporal lobes, that show changes in MwA patients depending on aura complexity.

Conclusions

The SVM algorithm demonstrated the best potential in average MACS prediction when using a wrapper feature selection methodology. The proposed method achieved promising results in determining MwA complexity, which can provide a basis for future MwA studies and the development of MwA diagnosis and treatment.
Carbon nanofibers based carbon–carbon composite fibers
Authors: Hiremath Nitilaksha , Bhat Sunay , Boy Ramiz , Evora Maria Cecilia , Naskar Amit K. , Mays Jimmy , Bhat Gajanan
Published: December 2023

Textile grade polyacrylonitrile (PAN) was used as a precursor material for carbon fiber preparation. E-beam irradiated polyacrylonitrile grafted carbon nanofibers were dispersed in polyacrylonitrile solution (dissolved in dimethyl formamide). Carbon nanofibers (CNF) infused polyacrylonitrile solution was wet spun on a lab-scale wet-spinning setup to form 50 to 70 µm diameter fibers with 3.2 wt.% CNF-PAN, 6.4 wt.% CNF-PAN, and neat PAN. Precursor fibers were characterized for thermal, mechanical and morphological properties using various techniques. Drawing the precursor fibers further enhanced polymer chain orientation and coalesced the voids, enhancing tensile strength and modulus by more than 150% compared to those of the undrawn fibers. Precursor composite fibers on carbonization showed enhanced strength, compared to that of pristine PAN fibers, by four times and stiffness by 14 times. The carbon–carbon composite fibers were further characterized with SEM/FIB, XRD and tensile strength. The property improvements were dependent on the uniform distribution of carbon nanofibers, and surface modification of carbon nanofibers further enabled their dispersion in the composite fibers. Furthermore, 3.2 wt.% CNFs in PAN fibers showed maximum improvement in properties compared to 6.4 wt.% CNF in PAN fibers, indicating that the property enhancements go through a maximum and then drop off due to challenge in getting uniform distribution of nanofibers.
Evaluation of intra-operative trans-urethral endoscopic management of possible open transvesical prostatectomy complications
Authors: Rohiem Mahmoud F. , Ibrahim Nesreen F. , Ali Mostafa Magdi , Ali Ahmed Issam
Published: December 2023

Objective

To evaluate the benefits of using transurethral cystoscope and resectoscope for managing possible complications that may occur during open transvesical prostatectomy operation.

Background

Open transvesical or retropubic prostatectomy remains, in less technologically developed countries, the standard option for treatment of complicated large benign prostatic hyperplasia. Complications rate with open prostatectomy procedures, especially post-operative bleeding and urinary incontinence, represent a real challenge facing urologists. Hopefully, recent advances in endourology section helped greatly in management of complicated benign prostatic hyperplasia and also offered a tool to deal with possible open prostatectomy complications.

Patients and methods

In a prospective study, fifty (50) male patients with complicated large benign prostatic enlargement associated with large single or multiple bladder stones with stone burden ≥ 3cm3 planned to undergo transvesical prostatectomy divided randomly into two groups. Group (A) included 25 patients who underwent standard T.V.P. and group (B) included 25 patients in whom diagnostic urethro-cystoscopy and a mono-polar resectoscope were used pre- and post-prostatic adenoma enucleation. Patients had follow-up evaluation visits at 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively to evaluate IPSS, post-void urine estimation, Qmax., and quality of life.

Results

A total of 50 patients were divided equally into two groups. Group (A) included 25 patients who underwent standard transvesical prostatectomy, while group (B) included 25 patients who underwent initial diagnostic urethro-cystoscopy, then bilateral ureteric catheter insertion, followed by prostatic apical demarcation using a monopolar resectoscope. Finally, transurethral hemostasis of the prostatic bed is done after standard transvesical adenoma enucleation. Mean operative time in group (A): 48.3 ± 12.4 min. while in group (B): 68.9 ± 14.1 min (p < 0.001), Hemoglobin deficit in group (A): 2.8 ± 1.1 g/dl. while in group (B): 1.1 ± 0.39 g/dl. (p < 0.001). Enucleated prostate volume in group (A): 89.2 ± 16.1g, while in group (B): 91.2 ± 17.2g (p = 0.673). Post-operative IPSS, Post-void residual urine and Qmax showed insignificant differences between the two groups.

Conclusion

Trans-urethral endoscopically assisted transvesical prostatectomy provides more safety and fewer morbidities and complications rate compared to standard T.V.P.
Atypical presentation of testicular mesothelioma
Authors: Reed Sawyer Joseph , Nasui Stefanie , Farber Nicholas
Published: December 2023

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that generally affects the lining of the lungs. However, in more rare cases, there are extra-pleural involvement of organs that are lined with mesothelial cells, including the testicle. Mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis of the testicle typically presents with a painless scrotal mass with accompanying hydrocele of the affected side. The most common predisposition to mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis is previous asbestos exposure, long-standing hydrocele, and previous scrotal surgeries. In this case we present a patient with isolated left tunica vaginalis mesothelioma of the testicle, yet without classic risk factors or other sites of disease. Left radical orchiectomy was performed and subsequent follow-up imaging did not reveal any sites of recurrence or metastasis. Although, mesothelioma of the tunica vaginalis is a rare cancer, it should be seen as a possible differential when evaluating new testicular masses.
A compressed large language model embedding dataset of ICD 10 CM descriptions
Authors: Kane Michael J. , King Casey , Esserman Denise , Latham Nancy K. , Greene Erich J. , Ganz David A.
Published: December 2023

This paper presents novel datasets providing numerical representations of ICD-10-CM codes by generating description embeddings using a large language model followed by a dimension reduction via autoencoder. The embeddings serve as informative input features for machine learning models by capturing relationships among categories and preserving inherent context information. The model generating the data was validated in two ways. First, the dimension reduction was validated using an autoencoder, and secondly, a supervised model was created to estimate the ICD-10-CM hierarchical categories. Results show that the dimension of the data can be reduced to as few as 10 dimensions while maintaining the ability to reproduce the original embeddings, with the fidelity decreasing as the reduced-dimension representation decreases. Multiple compression levels are provided, allowing users to choose as per their requirements, download and use without any other setup. The readily available datasets of ICD-10-CM codes are anticipated to be highly valuable for researchers in biomedical informatics, enabling more advanced analyses in the field. This approach has the potential to significantly improve the utility of ICD-10-CM codes in the biomedical domain.
TCGAplot: an R package for integrative pan-cancer analysis and visualization of TCGA multi-omics data
Authors: Liao Chenqi , Wang Xiong
Published: December 2023

Background

Pan-cancer analysis examines both the commonalities and heterogeneity among genomic and cellular alterations across numerous types of tumors. Pan-cancer analysis of gene expression, tumor mutational burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), and methylation becomes available based on the multi-omics data from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA). Some online tools provide analysis of gene and protein expression, mutation, methylation, and survival for TCGA data. However, these online tools were either Uni-functional or were not able to perform analysis of user-defined functions. Therefore, we created the TCGAplot R package to facilitate perform pan-cancer analysis and visualization of the built-in multi-omic TCGA data.

Results

TCGAplot provides several functions to perform pan-cancer paired/unpaired differential gene expression analysis, pan-cancer correlation analysis between gene expression and TMB, MSI, TIME, and promoter methylation. Functions for visualization include paired/unpaired boxplot, survival plot, ROC curve, heatmap, scatter, radar chart, and forest plot. Moreover, gene set based pan-cancer and tumor specific analyses were also available. Finally, all these built-in multi-omic data could be extracted for implementation for user-defined functions, making the pan-cancer analysis much more convenient.\

Conclusions

We developed an R-package for integrative pan-cancer analysis and visualization of TCGA multi-omics data. The source code and pre-built package are available at GitHub (https://github.com/tjhwangxiong/TCGAplot).
Tuftelin1 drives experimental pulmonary fibrosis progression by facilitating stress fiber assembly
Authors: Niu Caoyuan , Xu Kai , Hu Yanan , Jia Yanling , Yang Yuexia , Pan Xiaoyue , Wan Ruyan , Lian Hui , Wang Qiwen , Yang Juntang , Li Yajun , Rosas Ivan , Wang Lan , Yu Guoying
Published: December 2023

Background

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive interstitial lung disease (ILD) with unknown etiology, characterized by sustained damage repair of epithelial cells and abnormal activation of fibroblasts, the underlying mechanism of the disease remains elusive.

Methods

To evaluate the role of Tuftelin1 (TUFT1) in IPF and elucidate its molecular mechanism. We investigated the level of TUFT1 in the IPF and bleomycin-induced mouse models and explored the influence of TUFT1 deficiency on pulmonary fibrosis. Additionally, we explored the effect of TUFT1 on the cytoskeleton and illustrated the relationship between stress fiber and pulmonary fibrosis.

Results

Our results demonstrated a significant upregulation of TUFT1 in IPF and the bleomycin (BLM)-induced fibrosis model. Disruption of TUFT1 exerted inhibitory effects on pulmonary fibrosis in both in vivo and in vitro. TUFT1 facilitated the assembly of microfilaments in A549 and MRC-5 cells, with a pronounced association between TUFT1 and Neuronal Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (N-WASP) observed during microfilament formation. TUFT1 can promote the phosphorylation of tyrosine residue 256 (Y256) of the N-WASP (pY256N-WASP). Furthermore, TUFT1 promoted transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) induced fibroblast activation by increasing nuclear translocation of pY256N-WASP in fibroblasts, while wiskostatin (Wis), an N-WASP inhibitor, suppressed these processes.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that TUFT1 plays a critical role in pulmonary fibrosis via its influence on stress fiber, and blockade of TUFT1 effectively reduces pro-fibrotic phenotypes. Pharmacological targeting of the TUFT1-N-WASP axis may represent a promising therapeutic approach for pulmonary fibrosis.
Natural ursolic acid based self-therapeutic polymer as nanocarrier to deliver natural resveratrol for natural therapy of acute kidney injury
Authors: Nie Yuanpeng , Wang Liying , Liu Shengbo , Dai Chunlei , Cui Tianjiao , Lei Yan , You Xinru , Wang Xiaohua , Wu Jun , Zheng Zhihua
Published: December 2023

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common kidney disease associated with excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS). Unfortunately, due to the low kidney targeting and undesired side effects, the existing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs are unavailable for AKI management in clinic. Therefore, it’s essential to develop effective nanodrugs with high renal targeting and biocompatibility for AKI treatment. Herein, we reported a novel nanodrug for AKI treatment, utilizing poly(ursolic acid) (PUA) as a bioactive nanocarrier and resveratrol (RES) as a model drug. The PUA polymer was synthesized form ursolic acid with intrinsic antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and successfully encapsulated RES through a nanoprecipitation method. Subsequently, we systemically investigated the therapeutic potential of RES-loaded PUA nanoparticles (PUA NPs@RES) against AKI. In vitro results demonstrated that PUA NPs@RES effectively scavenged ROS and provided substantial protection against H2O2-induced cellular damage. In vivo studies revealed that PUA NPs significantly improved drug accumulation in the kidneys and exhibited favorable biocompatibility. Furthermore, PUA NPs alone exhibited additional anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect, synergistically enhancing therapeutic efficacy in AKI mouse models when combined with RES. Overall, our study successfully developed an effective nanodrug using self-therapeutic nanocarriers, presenting a promising option for the treatment of AKI.

Graphical abstract