bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
g-Small Intersection Graph of a Module
Authors: Alwan Ahmed H.
Published: January 2024

لتكن  حلقة ابدالية أحادية، وليكن   مقاساً ايسر احادي. بيان تقاطع صغير من النمط-g للمقاس  يرمز له  ,  هو بيان غير مباشر بسيط رؤوسه تقابل كل المقاسات الجزئية غير التافهة في  وكل رأسين مختلفين متجاورين أذا وفقط أذا كان التقاطع بينهما هو صغير من النمط-g. في هذا المقال، تم دراسة العلاقة بين الخصائص الجبرية الى   والخصائص البيانية الى   . أعتبر خصائص مثل الترابط، الكمال. علاوة على ذلك، يتم تحدد القطر و الطوق الى ، وكذلك أعطى صيغة لحساب الزمرة الى جانب أعداد الهيمنة الى .
In Vivo Study the Cytogenetic Effect of Ammi majus Methanolic Extract on Mitotic Index, Micronucleus Formation and DNA Damage on Mitoxantrone Treated Albino Male Mice
Authors: Al-ezzy Ruqaya Mohammed , Ahmed Maysaa Hamid , Khalaf Hadeel Mohamed
Published: January 2024

صممت هذه الدراسة للكشف عن التاثير الوراثي للمستخلص الميثانولي لنبات الخلة على معامل الانقسام الخلوي,تكون النوى الصغيرة و مدى تاثيره على تحطم الدنا الوراثي في الفئران المستحثة بعقار الميتوزانترون (المضاد للسرطان). استخدمت في هذه الدراسة اربعه مجاميع للفئران: المجموعه الاولى(السيطرة الموجبة )الفئران المعاملة بعقار الميتوزانترون بتركيز (0,008 ملغم\فارة) والمجموعه الثانية (السيطرة السالبة) الفئران الغير معامله اما المجوعه الثالثة والرابعه كانت الفئران المعاملة بالعقار لليومين الاول والثاني ومن اليوم 3 الى 7 عوملت الفئران بالمسخلص النباتي يتركيزي (50 و 100 ملغم\كغم) على التوالي. اظهرت النتائج قابلية النبات على زيادة الانقسام الخلوي بالمقارنه مع السيطرة الموجبة والسالبة كما اظهرت قابلية النبات على خفض نسبة تكون النوى الصغيرة وتحطم الدنا بالمقارنه ايضا مع السيطرتين الموجبة والسالبة.
GRHPR gene variations in Iraqi patients infected with calcium oxalate kidney stones
Authors: Alzubaidy Duha Abed Almuhssen Muzahim , Al Obaidy Luma Hassan Alwan
Published: January 2024

حصى الكلى هو مرض شديد الخطورة له تهديد خطير لكل من الصحة والاقتصاد العالميين. توجد عدة أنواع مختلفة من الحصى، ولكن حصوات أكسالات الكالسيوم هي الأكثر انتشارًا في العراق. لم يتم دراسة التغيرات في تركيزات اختزال الجليوكسيلات واختزال هيدروكسي البيروفات في المصل والتغيرات الجينية المرتبطة بحصوات أكسالات الكالسيوم في المرضى العراقيين سابقًا لذا تهدف هذه الدراسة إلى التركيز على هذه النقاط. اشتملت هذه الدراسة على 80 شخص, كانو 50 مريضاً مصابا بحصى أكسالات الكالسيوم مقارنة بـ 30 لمجموعة السيطرة. تم اجراء  بعض الاختبارات البيوكيميائية لوظائف الكلى (الكرياتينين واليوريا وحمض البوليك) في مصل كلا المجموعتين، فضلا عن  تحاليل تعداد الدم الكامل، وسكر الدم العشوائي، واختبارات فصائل الدم. كما تم جمع البول من أجل الفحص العام للبول، لتأكيد رؤية بلورات الأكسالات في بول المريض. بالإضافة إلى قياس تركيز إنزيم اختزال الجليوكسيلات واختزال هيدروكسي البيروفات في المصل كلا المجموعتين بطريقة الايلايزا. و تم استخلاص الدنا من الدم الكامل وتم التحري عن الطفرات الممرضة  c.295C>T (rs119490108) وc.165G>A (rs180177314) و  rs180177322في مورث   GRHPRعن طريق تضخيم الحمض النووي المستهدف عن طريق تفاعل البلمرة المتسلسل وتحري التعاقبات  المباشر للمنتجات ثم تم تحليل النتائج. وجدت هذه الدراسة أن تركيز الإنزيم في مجموعة السيطرة (4.78 ± 1.06 مجم / ديسيلتر) كان أعلى بكثير من تركيزه في مجموعة المرضى (0.411 ± 0.02 مجم / ديسيلتر). لم تظهر الطفرات الممرضة  في كلا المجموعتين، ولكن وجد بان عدة مواقع ضمن القطع المدروسة كانت  ذات تعدد بالأشكال: في اكسون 4:  rs2768659 (A>G) و rs1294628807 (G>A)و rs2736664 (C>A)و اكسون 6: c.494-68A>G rs309459 (A>G)و rs309458 (A>G) واكسون 9 :  .rs1057507 (A>G) و كأستنتاج وجد بان  تكوين حصى اوكزالات الكالسيوم ارتبط بانخفاض انزيم اختزال الجليوكسيلات واختزال هيدروكسي البيروفات في المرضى مقارنة بمجموعة السيطرة والتي ربما حدثت بسبب الطفرات او الوراثة الفوقية الكابحة للتعبير الجيني.
Injective Eccentric Domination in Graphs
Authors: A Riyaz Ur Rehman , Ismayil A Mohamed
Published: January 2024

لقد ألهم مفهوم الهيمنة الباحثين الذين ساهموا في تأليف مؤلفات واسعة حول الهيمنة. يقال أن المجموعة الفرعية D من V هي مجموعة مهيمنة، إذا كان كل قمة ليست في D مجاورة لقمة واحدة على الأقل في D. الانحراف المركزي e(v) لـ v هو المسافة إلى الرأس الأبعد من v. وبالتالي فان e(v)=max⁡{d(u,v):u∈V} . بالنسبة للقمة v، كل قمة على مسافة e(v) من v هي قمة غريبة الأطوار. يتم تعريف المجموعة اللامركزية للقمة v على أنه E(v)={u∈V(G):d(u,v)=e(v)} E(v)={u∈V(G):d(u,v)=e(v)}. على فرض S⊆V(G)، إذن S تُعرف بمجموعة نقاط غريب الأطوار من G إذا كان لكل v∈V-S ، S لديه قمة واحدة على الأقل u حيث u∈E(v). تسمى المجموعة المهيمنة S بالمجموعة المهيمنة اللامركزية إذا كانت أيضًا مجموعة نقطية غريبة الأطوار. في هذه المقالة يتم تقديم مفهوم الهيمنة اللامركزية عن طريق الحقن للرسوم البيانية البسيطة والمتصلة وغير الموجهة. تُسمى المجموعة المسيطرة اللامركزية S بالمجموعة المهيمنة اللامركزية إذا كان لكل رأس v∈V-S رأس u∈S بحيث تكون Γ(v,u)|≥11|Γ(v,u)|≥11 حيث Γ(v,u)Γ(v,u) هي مجموعة الرؤوس المختلفة عن v و u، المجاورتين لكل من v و u ‏. تم ذكر وإثبات النظريات لتحديد رقم التحكم اللامركزي الدقيق للفئة الأساسية من الرسوم البيانية. كما تم اقتراح نتائج Nordhaus-Gaddum. يتم جدولة مجموعة السيطرة اللامركزية عن طريق الحقن، ورقم الهيمنة اللامركزية عن طريق الحقن γ_ined (G)، ومجموعة الهيمنة اللامركزية عن طريق الحقن العليا ورقم الهيمنة اللامركزية عن طريق الحقن Γ_ined (G) للرسوم البيانية القياسية المختلفة
On the Influence of Fine Particle Migration and Deposition on Gas Hydrate Production: Insights from the First Trial Production in the South China Sea
Authors: Fan Zejin , Xu Tianfu , Xin Xin , Yuan Yilong , Zhu Huixing
Published: January 2024

As a promising alternative energy source with vast reserves, the primary challenge in exploiting natural gas hydrates (NGHs) lies in achieving long-term safety and efficiency. Several production tests conducted globally have demonstrated that the production of solid particles is one of the main factors contributing to this issue. However, most studies on assessing NGH production capacity have overlooked this phenomenon and its impact on production performance, potentially compromising the accuracy of simulation results. Therefore, this study aims to quantitatively analyze the impact of fine particle migration and deposition on gas production by numerically examining the first NGH production test conducted in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea (SCS). Through comparison of simulation results with the reconstructed gas production curve, the model was calibrated and enabled an explanation of unique gas production performance during field testing. It is found that the deposition of solid particles reduced the gas production rate by nearly an order of magnitude during the initial stage of exploitation. Long-term simulation results indicate that only the three-phase layer (TPL) remains partially unobstructed and serves as the primary source of gas production in later stages. Sensitivity analysis reveals that both depressurization and particle control strategies exert significant effects on particle migration, which in turn affects gas production. Specifically, the increase in depressurization amplitude does not necessarily lead to improved gas production behavior beyond a certain threshold (approximately 6 MPa). This study illustrates the inherent trade-off between preventing particle production and increasing gas production, highlighting the need for a safe and efficient production scheme that strikes a balance between these two objectives. Based on the current study, it is preliminarily recommended to maintain a depressurization amplitude of approximately 6 MPa with a maximum depressurization rate of 3 MPa/d and ensure a fine particle filtration ratio of no less than 95%.
A Comprehensive Assessment of the Integration of Solvent and Steam for the Extraction of Bitumen Through the Development of Novel Process Models
Authors: Hoque Mustakimul , Oni Abayomi Olufemi , Kumar Amit
Published: January 2024

Solvent-steam bitumen extraction technology has the potential to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It is based on gravity drainage, wherein a steam and vaporized solvent mixture is used to extract bitumen from a reservoir. This can reduce the environmental impact compared with processes that use only steam for bitumen extraction [i.e., steam-assisted gravity drainage (SAGD)]. No techno-economic analysis of solvent-steam extraction has been made available in the public domain. In this study, a process simulation model was developed to assess costs. A capacity of 25,000 B/D of bitumen was considered with hexane as the solvent. Sensitivity and uncertainty analyses were conducted to assess how the supply cost of bitumen produced with diluent (dilbit) changes with changes in input parameters. The supply cost for the base case scenario is 55.5 CAD/bbl at a 10% internal rate of return (IRR). The scale factor was estimated to be 0.80, which suggests that oil production will be economically viable on a large scale. Capital cost, solvent price, and transportation and blending cost affect the supply cost. The most probable supply cost range is 53.0–65.4 CAD/bbl at a 90% confidence interval. The results also indicate that dilbit supply costs from the solvent-steam process are economically attractive compared with the current oil price.
In-Situ Hydrogen Production from Natural Gas Wells with Subsurface Carbon Retention
Authors: Gillick Stuart R. , Babaei Masoud
Published: January 2024

There is a critical need to balance economic prosperity, energy security, and environmental protection. Instead of the conventional production of methane (or CH4), these valuable energy reserves can be exploited in a climate-beneficial way. Exploiting (not producing) methane eliminates the carbon value chain and the associated damage these greenhouse gases (GHGs) cause to the climate. When no carbon is produced to the surface, carbon capture requirements become significantly reduced, and their huge budgets are better used elsewhere.

This paper discusses the viability of a wellbore natural gas gasification process, within a downhole completion tool, that converts methane wells into hydrogen (or H2) production wells. The process-generated carbon is simultaneously captured downhole, reinjecting the carbon dioxide (or CO2) into the surrounding geology and potentially gaining reservoir enhanced oil recovery (EOR) as a bonus. The proposed process is for natural gas fields and not for use in the gasification of heavy oils (which is covered by other “combustion type” reservoir management processes performed deep within the reservoir geology).

The multiple revenue streams created by the process, together with process energy, feedstock (methane), and cost savings, make it climate-positive and financially viable. This provides a net-zero win-win that is mutually beneficial for the natural gas industry and the environment. Without enormous technical effort, competitive use of commodities, and huge capital costs, it could be possible to convert the natural gas industry directly into a hydrogen and carbon capture industry.
Government Regulations and Top Management Influence on Manufacturing Firms Environmental Performance: Nexus of Green Supply Chain , Culture and Technology Adoption
Authors: Mehmood Saqib , Nazir Samera , Fan Jianqiang , Nazir Zarish , Shoukat Amad
Published: January 2024

Purpose: This study investigates the relationships between sustainable technology adoption, green supply chain integration, sustainability culture, and environmental performance in organizations. It also explores the moderating effects of government environmental regulations and top management commitment on these relationships.
Design: The study employs a comprehensive research design, incorporating literature analysis and empirical data collection via survey. Data was gathered through purposive sampling, involving 244 samples from manufacturing companies in Pakistan. PLS-SEM analysis was used to assess the connections between sustainable technology adoption, green supply chain integration, sustainability culture, environmental performance, and the moderating influence of government regulations and top management commitment.
Findings: The results highlight significant positive relationships between sustainable technology adoption, green supply chain integration, sustainability culture, and improved environmental performance. Additionally, government environmental regulations and top management commitment were identified as moderators that strengthened these relationships, emphasizing their pivotal role in fostering sustainability within organizations.
Originality or Value: The study contributes to our understanding of how sustainable technology adoption, green supply chain integration, sustainability culture, and environmental performance are interconnected, while also considering the influence of government regulations and top management commitment. These findings enrich our knowledge of factors that promote sustainability in organizations.
Pharmaceutical company payments to Japanese breast cancer practice guideline authors
Authors: Murayama Anju , Higuchi Kenichi , Byreddy Keerthana R. , Hinari Kugo , Senoo Yuki
Published: January 2024

Background:
The creation of breast cancer practice guidelines requires careful management of conflicts of interest (COIs). However, limited evidence is available regarding the specific landscape and fraction of financial relationships between pharmaceutical companies and the authors of The Japanese Breast Cancer Society Clinical Practice Guidelines for Breast Cancer,edition 2022 (JBCS2022).
Methods:
Using payment data publicly disclosed by major pharmaceutical companies in Japan, this study analysed the personal payments made to the authors of JBCS2022 between 2016 and 2020. We performed descriptive analyses on the payment data.
Results:
Of 149 JBCS2022 authors, 115 (77.2%) received at least one personal payment from pharmaceutical companies totaling $3,828,455 between 2016 and 2020. The average and median payment amounts per author were $25,772 (SD: $58,197) and $2,761 (IQR: $322‒$15,828), respectively. The total annual payments per JBCS2022 authors between 2016 and 2019 increased from $588,054 in 2016 to $967,802 in 2019. The JBCS2022 chairperson and vice-chairperson received $246,936 (4th highest) and $216,744 (5th highest) over the five years. More than 60% of personal payments to the JBCS2022 authors were not declared by the authors as they were below the declaration threshold set by the Japanese Breast Cancer Society. However, nine authors undeclared personal payments summing $594,615 even though these payments were higher than the thresholds.
Conclusion:
This study demonstrated that the majority of the Japanese breast cancer guideline authors received personal payments from the pharmaceutical companies. Furthermore, the majority of payments were not declared due to the less transparency COI policy.
Untargeted Metabolomic Analysis of Randia echinocarpa Cell Cultures Treated with L-Tyrosine.
Authors: Aguilar-Camacho Miguel , Gómez-Sánchez Carlos E. , Cruz-Mendívil Abraham , Luna-Vital Diego A , Guerrero-Analco José A , Monribot-Villanueva Juan L. , Gutiérrez-Uribe Janet
Published: January 2024

The addition of precursors, like tyrosine (Tyr), can increase the biomass and specialized metabolites production in plant cell suspensions. There is a need of natural compounds with inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase to decrease the intestinal absorption of simple carbohydrates. It has been previously reported that soluble melanins from the Randia echinocarpa fruit inhibit the enzymatic activity of α-glucosidase. Thus, the objective of this study was to analyze the metabolomic profiles of R. echinocarpa cell suspensions when treated with different concentrations of Tyr and to assess the inhibitory activities of the cell extracts against α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Methanolic extracts (1 mg/mL) of R. echinocarpa cell suspensions inhibited the activity of α-amylase similarly to acarbose at 50 µM. Nevertheless, no inhibition of α-glucosidase by the extracts was observed. Further purification of the methanolic extracts is required to prevent antagonist effects of the compounds. Four specific chemical profiles were determined by Hierarchical Cluster and Principal Components Analysis. Galactose metabolism and starch/sucrose metabolism were among the main modulated metabolic pathways. Molecular docking showed that compounds Tyr_100 and 200 treatments had an estimated free binding energy of -2.4 to -5.6 kcal/mol and can interact with key amino acids involve with the catalytic activity of α-amylase. The addition of Tyr to the cell suspensions of R. echinocarpa can be used to produce α-amylase inhibitory extracts.
U-shaped Association Between Serum Calcium And In-hospital Mortality In Diabetes Patients With Congestive Heart Failure: A Cohort Study
Authors: Zhang Kai , zhang Tianqi , Lv Qianyu , Han Yu , Cai Tianyi , Gu Fangming , Gu Zhaoxuan , Zhao Jiayu , liang Jiaying , Gao Min , Gao Yafang , Hu Rui , Cui Dan , Li Bo
Published: January 2024

Background
Previous studies have reported that the significant association between serum calcium and mortality substantially in patients, especially among those with intensive care unit (ICU). And In diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure (CHF) is a significant comorbidity. We aim to evaluate the association between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality among patients with diabetes and congestive heart failure.
Methods
The participants in this study were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV (MIMIC-IV) database. To scrutinize potential associations between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality, a comprehensive analysis encompassing multivariate logistic regression, cubic spline function model, threshold effect analysis, and subgroup analysis was performed.
Results
This retrospective cohort study encompassed 7063 patients, among whom the in-hospital mortality stood at 12.2%. In the multivariate logistic regression, adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were contrasted with the reference category Q6 (8.8-9.1 mg/dL) for serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality. The adjusted ORs for Q1 (≤7.7 mg/dL), Q2 (7.7-8 mg/dL), and Q7 (≥9.1 mg/dL) were 1.69 (95% CI: 1.17-2.44, p = 0.005), 1.62 (95% CI: 1.11-2.36, p = 0.013), and 1.57 (95% CI: 1.1-2.24, p = 0.012) respectively. The dose-response analysis uncovered a U-shaped relationship between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality in diabetic patients with heart failure. Subgroup analyses confirmed result stability notwithstanding the influence of diverse factors.
Conclusion
Our investigation revealed a U-shaped correlation between serum calcium levels and in-hospital mortality in diabetes patients with congestive heart failure, pinpointing a significant inflection point at 9.05 mg/dL.
Efficacy and safety of romosozumab in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis who used antiresorptive osteoporosis drugs: a prospective observational study
Authors: Yamamoto Misa , Sawada Kenjiro , Ikenaga Yuka , Yamamoto Gaku , Oride Tadashi , Oi Yukako , Kuruma Airi , Bun Michiko , Yagi Taro , Kinose Yasuto , Kodama Michiko , Kimura Tadashi
Published: January 2024

Background: Globally there has been an increase in the number of patients receiving long-term antiresorptive drugs for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis; however, there is little evidence to guide decisions regarding when and how to stop or switch antiresorptive drugs. In this prospective observational study, we investigated the efficacy of romosozumab in women treated with conventional antiresorptive osteoporosis drugs for more than 3 years.
Methods: Despite more than 36 months of treatment with conventional antiresorptive drugs for postmenopausal osteoporosis, postmenopausal women with lumbar and femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) of less than -2.5 SD by the DXA method were recruited. Patients who provided written informed consent were treated with romosozumab for 12 months, and its efficacy and safety were closely monitored by periodically measuring the lumbar and femoral neck BMD as well as the bone turnover markers, including serum P1NP and I-CTP.
Results: A total of 21 patients were enrolled in this study. The median age was 73 years, and the median observation period was 833 (range: 378–1141) days. The median BMD before romosozumab treatment was 0.771 g/cm2 at the lumbar spine (T score: -2.0) and 0.488 g/cm2 at the femoral neck (T score: -2.8). After 12 months of treatment, the percent change in BMD was significantly increased to 6.18% in the lumbar spine (P < 0.001); however, it remained unchanged in the femoral neck (P = 0.46). The P1NP values increased significantly from baseline to 455.8% (P < 0.001) and I-CTP values increased significantly to 30.3% (P < 0.001). One patient presented with periodontitis and a vertebral fracture during treatment. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors affecting changes in the lumbar BMD at 12 months were the baseline BMD (partial regression coefficient = -1.39, P < 0.001) and P1NP values (partial regression coefficient = 0.00015, P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Romosozumab treatment significantly increased the lumbar BMD and bone turnover markers in patients previously treated with conventional antiresorptive osteoporosis drugs, and switching the therapy to romosozumab can be considered a treatment option.
Trial registration: This study was registered in the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (No. jRCT1051210070) on 23 July, 2019.
Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and brain edema: a topographical and clinicopathological investigation utilizing deep learning-based artificial intelligence (DLBAI)
Authors: Yun Jonathan , Kurker Kristina , Maragkos Georgios , Kumar Jeyan , Sutherland Grant , Farzad Faraz , Sukumar Rohit , Feng Xue , Yener Ulas , Patel Sohil , Schiff David , Lopes Beatriz , Mut Melike
Published: January 2024

Tumor-associated vasogenic brain edema is a well-known contributor of morbidity and mortality in patients with metastatic disease to the brain. It is widely accepted that brain metastases (BM) is associated with extensive edema and can cause increased symptomatology such as pain, neurologic deficit, and elevated intracranial pressure depending on extent and location. We present a proof-of-concept retrospective analysis utilizing DLBAI to segment and detect radiological and topographical patterns of peritumoral edema and assess for clinicopathological correlates in 84 patients with NSCLC and BM who underwent surgical resection and were not previously on steroids. We found that overall, tumors in all locations demonstrated a mean 10:1 edema to tumor ratio (ETR) and an occipital tumor location was associated with a significantly elevated ETR. Within our cohort there were no other factors that were significantly associated with ETR. This study demonstrates a proof-of-concept that DLBAI is an efficient and accurate method of radiographic analysis that can be applied to detect and potentially predict clinicopathological data and prognostic determinants. Clinically, we demonstrate that NSCLC is associated with significant peritumoral edema and that topographical factors may be associated with increased extent of edema.
Dual Activities of an X-family DNA Polymerase Regulate CRISPR-Induced Insertional Mutagenesis Across Species
Authors: Zhang Feng , Weiss Trevor , Kumar Jitesh , Chen Chuan , Schlegel Oliver , Lutterman John , Ling Kun
Published: January 2024

The canonical non-homologous end joining (c-NHEJ) repair pathway has generally been considered a highly efficient and stochastic repair process. Yet recent studies indicated that c-NHEJ-mediated CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis, primarily leading to 1-bp insertions and small deletions, may be highly predictable. This observation has spurred the development of in-silico programs with remarkable accuracy in various animal species. Nevertheless, the predictability of CRISPR-induced mutation profiles across species and the associated mechanisms remained elusive. Through comparison of CRISPR-Cas9 repair outcomes between human and plant species, we discovered significant differences in 1-bp insertion profiles across species, governed by an X-family DNA polymerase, DNA Pol λ. The high predictability observed in human cells seemed linked to the template-dependent activity of human DNA Pol λ. However, this predictability cannot be directly extended to plants due to the dual activities of the plant homolog, capable of generating 1-bp insertions through both templated and non-templated manners. While knocking out DNA Pol λ led to deletion-only mutations, its overexpression enhanced 1-bp insertion by 1.2 - 2 folds at multiple target sites in plants. These findings unveiled the underlying mechanism dictating unique CRISPR-Cas9-induced insertion profiles across species and presented new strategies for achieving predictable and precise genome editing through c-NHEJ.
A solution-processable natural crystal with giant optical anisotropy for efficient manipulation of light polarization
Authors: Zhao Sangen , Zhou Yang , Guo Zhengfeng , Gu Honggang , Li Yanqiang , Song Yi Peng , Liu Shiyuan , Hong Mao-Chun , Luo Junhua
Published: January 2024

Optical anisotropy (e.g., birefringence and dichroism), a light-matter interaction phenomenon observed three centuries ago in natural Iceland crystal, is paramount for manipulating light polarization in modern optics. To date, various natural birefringent crystals are widely used, but their birefringence is limited to < 0.3. Here, we demonstrate a solution-processable natural crystal C3H8N3I6·3H2O with giant birefringence up to 2.8 from visible to infrared spectral region, which hits a new high among natural crystals. Combining critical point analysis and the first-principles calculations, we reveal that this giant optical anisotropy mainly comes from the linear (I3)- structural units in a parallel arrangement, which maximizes the difference of polarizability along the different crystallographic axes. This work highlights the potential of natural polyiodide crystals as an outstanding platform to satisfy the increasing demand for next-generation polarized photonic applications in optical communication, 3D imaging, ultra-high-resolution sensing, etc.
Urban green spaces with high connectivity and complex vegetation promote occupancy and richness of birds in a tropical megacity
Authors: Oropeza-Sánchez Marco T. , Solano-Zavaleta Israel , Cuandón-Hernández Wendy Lizett , Martínez-Villegas Jorge Arturo , Palomera-Hernández Vianey , Zúñiga-Vega J. Jaime
Published: January 2024

The growth of urban areas promotes land-use change, resulting in the loss of biodiversity and human benefits. In urban zones, green areas facilitate physicochemical processes, undertake multiple gains to human beings, and support numerous vertebrate populations, including birds. In tropics, the capacity of green spaces to maintain bird populations is regulated by characteristics of these areas (e.g., vegetation structure) and environmental seasonality. To generate proposals that address the negative effects of Mexico City's growth, in this study (1) we defined the park characteristics that most influence the detection and occupation probabilities of birds by season and (2) evaluated bird richness in green areas between seasons. From four sampling seasons between 2021 and 2022, detection records of 108 bird species were obtained in 101 green areas. We estimate that air temperature (in the second season) and sampling time (in the other three) explained the detection for most birds. In the first and fourth seasons, the occupancy and bird richness was higher in parks close to other green areas. The occupation and richness of birds increased with tree richness in the second and fourth seasons. Flower abundance explained the occupancy and richness in the third season. In both years, we estimated differences in species richness between seasons. In 2021, we estimated the highest richness during the dry season, and in 2022, the highest richness was estimated during the rainy season. With these results, we aim to promote responsible management practices for green areas, bird conservation and, their benefits for the urban ecosystems.
Anomalous Ambiguity Detection Between Reference Stations Based on Box-Cox Transformation of Tropospheric Residual Estimation
Authors: Zhang Zeyu , Pan Shuguo , Gao Wang , Wang Chengfei , Tao Xianlu , Liu Hao
Published: January 2024

With the increasing scale and complexity of network RTK, the reliability of ambiguity resolution becomes particularly crucial. Undetected fixed errors may trigger a chain reaction in subsequent atmospheric delay extraction and fitting stages, thereby affecting the reliability of user positioning services. Current methods for checking abnormal ambiguities suffer from issues such as inflexible threshold selection, excessive exclusion, and overlooking observational anomalies. Addressing these concerns, this paper proposes a reference station-based abnormal ambiguity detection method utilizing tropospheric residual estimation, named Chi-Square Test combining Box-Cox Transformation and Secondary Screening (BS-CT). By unitizing the residual estimates of zenith tropospheric values obtained through ambiguity resolution and applying Box-Cox transformation for standard normalization, they become suitable for chi-square testing, thereby eliminating satellites with fixed ambiguity anomalies. The integration of secondary screening strategy further ensures the reliable fixation of the ambiguity quantity. Experimental results demonstrate that the BS-CT method, compared to Ordinary Chi-Square Test (O-CT), Partial Ambiguity Resolution (PAR) methods and a method utilizing a decision function g for enhanced fixed fraction and variance strategy, exhibits lower false alarm rates and comparable missed detection rates to PAR method. Thus, the BS-CT method demonstrates robust abnormal ambiguity detection while ensuring a reliable quantity of fixed ambiguities.
How Does University Education Pay Off? – A Time-Series Analysis of Individual Life-Cycle Earnings
Authors: Qi Haodong , Kolk Martin
Published: January 2024

Relying on a 45-year-long panel data, we estimated a model which integrates heterogeneous income profile (HIP) into Mincer's human capital earnings function. Specifically, our model treats each person's earning stream as individual time-series, and exploits its temporal variation.With this approach, we examined how heterogeneity in life-cycle earning dynamics constitutes income premiums for university graduates. The results revealed notable gendered mechanisms. For men, university education increases post-school human capital investments (e.g., on-the-job learning and training), which leads to a higher lifetime earning. For highly educated women, the income premium is driven primarily by a greater earning capacity at age 25, and secondarily by a lower childbearing cost.
JEL Classification I24, I26, J24
Exploring the role of obesity-induced extracellular vesicles secretion and associated oncogenic proteins in endometrial cancer pathogenesis.
Authors: Selvendiran Karuppaiyah , Sakaue Takahiko , Zingarelli Roman , Dorayappan Kalpana Deepa Priya , Khadraoui Wafa , Anbalgan Muralidharan , Wallbillich John , Kalaiyarasan Deeoika , Cosgrove Casey , Suarez Adrian , Koga Hironori , Maxwell Larry , O"Malley David , Cohn David E.
Published: January 2024

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the leading gynecologic malignancy in the United States with obesity implicated in 57% of cases. This research delves into the molecular complexities of extracellular vesicle (EV) secretion as carriers of oncogenic protein expression and their involvement in obesity-mediated EC. An understanding of these mechanisms is pivotal for unraveling pathways relevant to obesity-associated EC, thereby guiding the development of innovative prevention and treatment strategies. Our investigation revealed a significant increase in EV secretion carrying oncogenic proteins (TMEM205, STAT5, and FAS) in adipose and uterine tissues/serum samples from obese EC patients compared to their non-obese counterparts. We identified alterations in EV-regulating proteins (Rab7, Rab11, and Rab27a) in obesity-mediated EC patient adipose and uterine samples. Through a 24-week analysis of the effects of a 45% kcal high-fat diet (HFD) on mice, we observed heightened body weight, increased adipose tissue, enlarged uterine horns, and heightened inflammation in the HFD group. This correlated with elevated levels of EV secretion and increased expression of oncogenic proteins TMEM205, FAS, and STAT5, while the tumor suppressor gene PIAS3 was downregulated in adipose and uterine tissues in HFD treated mice. Furthermore, our study confirmed that adipocyte derived EVs increased EC cell proliferation and migration. Additionally, we identified that the small molecule inhibitors (HO-3867) or Metformin inhibited EV secretion in vitro and in vivo, demonstrating significant inhibition of high glucose or adipocyte-mediated EC cell proliferation and a reduction in body weight and adipose tissue accumulation when administered to HFD mice. Moreover, HO-3867 or Metformin treatment inhibits HFD induced hyperplasia by altered the expression of EV-regulated proteins (Rab7, Rab11, and Rab27a) and decreased oncogenic protein expression (TMEM205, FAS and STAT5) levels. This study provides critical insights into the mechanisms supporting obesity-mediated EV secretion with oncogenic protein expression, shedding light on their role in EC pathogenesis. Additionally, it offers pre-clinical evidence supporting the initiation of novel studies for EV-targeted therapies aimed at preventing obesity-mediated EC.
Master-slave Multi-chain with Risk Assessment based Access Control Model for Zero Trust Network
Authors: Shao Sisi , Gu Tiansheng , Yang Qian , Du HongYu , Liang Wei , Sun Zhen , Liu Shangdong , Jiang Fei , Ji Yimu
Published: January 2024

Zero trust aims to enable users in untrusted network areas to access trusted areas through authentication and policy control. When entering a zero trust network, no entity is inherently trusted, and resources are subject to continuous and dynamic evaluation during access. However, challenges such as dynamic access control decisions, multi-domain polymorphic access subjects, and continuous assessment of access behavior highlight the limitations of conventional zero trust networks in meeting evolving user demands for network security. In response to these challenges, we propose the master-slave multi-chain with risk assessment based access control (MMR-AC) model for zero trust network. This model introduces a unified identity management strategy through the design of access control contracts, facilitating seamless cross-domain access between different identity management systems. Additionally, the model leverages a master-slave multi-chain architecture to establish an Attribute-Based Access Control (ABAC) mechanism. To achieve continuous assessment of the access subject, the model utilizes the historical access records of the access subject as training data. Furthermore, it introduces an access risk assessment method using LightGBM. Experimental results with the proposed MMR-AC model demonstrate its capability to achieve a continuous and accurate assessment of user access risks.
Tailoring the Mechanical Strength and Corrosion Resistance of Aluminum Matrix Composites throughBiochar Reinforcement at Varied Weight Percentages
Authors: Alnaser Ibrahim A.
Published: January 2024

This study introduces an innovative approach to fabricate aluminum matrix composites strengthened with biochar, derived from renewable biomass sources. A systematic investigation of varying biochar weight percentages (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, and 10 wt%) reveals substantial improvements in mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. Mechanical assessments, including compressive strength and hardness, demonstrate a significant enhancement in mechanical strength with biochar incorporation. In this study, it was discovered that the composite with 7.5 wt% biochar exhibits an optimal balance, displaying an 8.83% increase in compressive strength and a 15.15% rise in hardness compared to the base aluminum matrix. The study further evaluates corrosion behavior through electrochemical analyses and immersion tests in 3.5% NaCl corrosive environments, highlighting the superior corrosion resistance of biochar-reinforced composites. Corrosion rates decrease by 73% in the composite with 10 wt% biochar for the 24hrs immersion time, affirming its protective barrier against corrosive agents. This research provides quantitative insights into tailoring mechanical and corrosion properties in aluminum matrix composites through biochar reinforcement, offering a promising avenue for sustainable material development. The resulting materials exhibit not only an 8.83% increase in mechanical strength but also a 73% reduction in corrosion rates, offering valuable uses in industries that need strong, eco-friendly solutions.
Mapping karst depressions and sinkholes in anthropogenically influenced areas
Authors: Fuchs Michael , Reinartz Hermann , Torizin Jewgenij , Balzer Dirk , Kuhn Dirk , Schüßler Nick , Hahne Kai , Nix Thomas , Gunkel Claudia
Published: January 2024

A comprehensive sinkhole inventory is crucial for accurately assessing sinkhole susceptibility. The presented study introduces a semi-automatic approach for mapping potential sinkholes through a geomorphometric analysis of digital elevation models complemented by statistical analysis. This approach aims to augment current sinkhole inventories in quantity and quality. We chose the distinct karst terrain along the southwestern edge of the Harz Mountains in Lower Saxony as our focal area. The genesis of most sinkholes in this area is linked to subrosion processes within the evaporitic Zechstein Group, predominantly driven by the hydration of anhydrite to gypsum followed by its steady dissolution. The region exhibits diverse karst formations, ranging from bare and slightly covered karst to a fold-block landscape where resilient strata overlay subrosion zones. Human influence has also significantly reshaped this landscape over the past millennium, introducing numerous artificial structures and posing challenges to fully automated sinkhole detection. We employed a statistically refined landform classification based on geomorphons to identify localities of potential sinkhole formations, followed by a masking process to refine our results. In analyzing the distribution of these potential sinkholes, we took into account various geological and environmental factors, such as different types of karst, fault lines, and land cover, while purposefully excluding anthropogenic features from our analysis. The results revealed previously undocumented sinkholes in areas where the overburden layers, particularly in the Buntsandstein formation, are increasingly thick. The proposed approach proves to be particularly adept at detecting sinkholes in regions where they are isolated or have not been extensively surveyed yet.
A Mean Field Game Model of Staking Systemand A Reinforcement Learning Framework for Parameter Optimization
Authors: Guo Jinyan , Guo Qevan , Mou Chenchen , Zhang Jingguo
Published: January 2024

In this paper, we present a Mean Field Game (MFG) approach to model thestaking system in crypto industry and propose a reinforcement learning frame-work for parameter optimization. Under log utility, we derive the optimal stakingstrategy for miners. Then we develop the dynamics of staking reward rate andstaking ratio using the MFG fixed point condition. Based on our MFG model, wepropose a reinforcement learning framework to optimally decide the inflation rateof the staking system, aiming to increase the staking ratio or market cap of theblockchain project. We provide a few numerical experiments incorporating realstatistical data from IoTeX to validate our approach. Our proposed model andframework offer a brand new robust method for parameter optimization in thestaking system, contributing to the fields of tokenomics design in crypto industry.
Alpha-Hederin induces incomplete autophagic injury in non-small cell lung cancer by interfering with the lysosomal acidification
Authors: Jin Feng , Ni Xiaochen , Jiang Xiaomin , Yu Shilong , Wu Feng , Shi Xinlin , Mao Defang , Wang Haibo , Shi Qingtong , Liu Yanqing , Xu Qin
Published: January 2024

Lung cancer is the most common oncological disease worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer accounting for approximately 85% of lung cancer cases. α-Hederin is a monodesmosidic triterpenoid saponin isolated from the leaves of Hedera helix L. or Nigella sativa and has been extensively studied for its antitumor activity against a variety of tumor cells. It has been suggested that α-Hederin is a potential regulator of autophagy and has high promise for application. However, the specific mechanism and characteristics of α-Hederin in regulating autophagy are not well understood. In this study, we confirmed the potential of α-Hederin application in lung cancer treatment and comprehensively explored the mechanism and characteristics of α-Hederin in regulating autophagy in lung cancer cells. Our results suggest that α-Hederin is an incomplete autophagy inducer that targets mTOR to activate the classical autophagic pathway, inhibits lysosomal acidification without significantly affecting the processes of autophagosome transport, lysosome biogenesis, autophagosome and lysosome fusion, and finally leads to impaired autophagic flux and triggers autophagic damage in NSCLC.
Uncovering Urinary Protein Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis and Evaluation of Hereditary Angioedema
Authors: Wu Jianqiang , Tang Xiaoyue , Zhou Nan , Wang Xue , Liu Peng , Zhang Zejian , Zhang Shuyang , Zhi Yuxiang
Published: January 2024

Purpose
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare and potentially life-threatening disease. Noninvasive and disease-specific biomarkers are needed for the early diagnosis and disease evaluation of HAE. We aimed to explore and identify urinary protein biomarkers of HAE in healthy controls (HCs) or disease-control patients.
Methods
Using data-independent acquisition (DIA) based urinary proteomics, differentially expressed proteins were identified between HAE and HC groups. Functional annotation of differentially expressed proteins was performed using Ingenuity pathway analysis. Then, the parallel reaction monitoring (PRM) targeted proteomics method was used in validation cohort 1 to validate some promising biomarker candidates. Furthermore, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) were conducted in validation cohort 2 to verify pro-epidermal growth factor (EGF), C1 esterase inhibitor (C1-INH), and kininogen-1 (KNG1) levels.
Results
Among the 2562 urinary proteins identified, 269 showed differential expression between HAE and HC. The differentially expressed proteins were significantly enriched in phospholipase C signaling, coagulation system, acute phase response signaling, leukocyte extravasation signaling, and actin cytoskeleton signaling. In the biofunction analysis, these differential proteins were significantly enriched in leukocyte migration, adhesion of immune cells, endothelial cell development, permeability of the vascular system, and cell death of immune cells. Moreover, urinary clusterin level was significantly correlated with disease severity scores of HAE (R = -0.758, p < 0.01). A urinary biomarker panel (C1-INH, EGF, and KNG1) was validated in two independent clinical cohorts with area under the curve (AUC) values of 0.910 and 0.949 for HAE diagnosis.
Conclusions
This study describes the first application of a DIA-PRM-ELISA workflow to identify and validate noninvasive and HAE-specific biomarkers in urine. These findings will contribute to the pathogenesis research and biomarker discovery of HAE.
A Stochastic Model for the Immune Response to HIV/AIDS-TB Pathogenesis and Applications on Young Adults.
Authors: Shoko Claris , Molefe Wilford , Nadarajah Saralees
Published: January 2024

Background Coinfection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) accelerates immune deterioration. Approximately one in three people living with HIV dies due to TB. This is likely to hinder progress towards the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal of ending the HIV and TB pandemic.Methods In this paper, we model HIV-TB interaction within the host using the deterministic approach. Further analysis of the progression of HIV in patients who were enrolled with TB and patients who developed TB during treatment is done using multi-state modelling. This study is done on HIV-TB co-infected young adults (15 to 34 years) from South Africa. HIV progression for this cohort is divided into 4 states (state 1: Undetectable viral load below 50 HIV RNA per mL; state 2: HIV RNA ranging from 50 to below 10 000 copies/mL; state 3: at least 10 000 HIV RNA copies/mL); and state 4: Death).Results Results from the analysis show that TB increases the odds of an unsuppressed viral load. This is quite notable for patients in state 2 where the log-linear effect of having TB at enrolment is approximately − 8.7 for the transition to state 1 and − 0.64 for the transition to state 3. At state 2 of HIV progression, the rate of virologic failure is also very high and most deaths are observed from this state.Conclusion This calls for the need to closely monitor HIV patients for any possibility of TB coinfection. This can be done by assigning treatment partners to all HIV patients.
RETRACTED: Airplane Detection via Deep Learning based on VGGs and SVMs
Authors: Khalaf Zainab A. , Al-Mayyahi Auday , Aldair Ammar , Birch Phil
Published: January 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
On the determinants of the Fiscal Policy Response to COVID-19: Evidence from Robust Estimation and country outlier detection
Authors: Emmanouilidis Kyriakos , Golitsis Petros
Published: January 2024

This paper analyzes the determinants of fiscal policies during the Covid-19 crisis. Using the robust regression MM-estimator for 180 countries we have found that GDP per capita, quantitative easing, debt to GDP ratio, trade openness and total revenue had a positive and a statistically significant impact on the fiscal policy responses, while unemployment rate and current account balance had a negative one. Furthermore, we have shown that the proportion of the population aged 65 and above had a positive influence on the size of fiscal packages. In contrast, factors such as political stability, absence of violence, and political ideology had no discernible impact on the allocation of fiscal aid. The outcomes of our findings carry substantial implications and offer valuable insights for authorities and policymakers.
JEL No.: E62, E63, G01, G28