bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unlocking the Potential of Iron Sulfides for Sodium‐Ion Batteries by Ultrafine Pulverization
Authors: Wu Hui , Xia Guanglin , Yu Xuebin
Published: March 2024

Iron sulfides have attracted tremendous research interest for the anode of sodium‐ion batteries due to their high capacity and abundant resource. However, the intrinsic pulverization and aggregation of iron sulfide electrodes induced by the conversion reaction during cycling are considered destructive and undesirable, which often impedes their capacity, rate capability, and long‐term cycling stability. Herein, an interesting pulverization phenomenon of ultrathin carbon‐coated Fe1‐xS nanoplates (Fe1‐xS@C) is observed during the first discharge process of sodium‐ion batteries, which leads to the formation of Fe1‐xS nanoparticles with quantum size (≈5 nm) tightly embedded in the carbon matrix. Surprisingly, no discernible aggregation phenomenon can be detected in subsequent cycles. In/ex situ experiments and theoretical calculations demonstrate that ultrafine pulverization can confer several advantages, including sustaining reversible conversion reactions, reducing the adsorption energies, and diffusion energy barriers of sodium atoms, and preventing the aggregation of Fe1‐xS particles by strengthening the adsorption between pulverized Fe1‐xS nanoparticles and carbon. As a result, benefiting from the unique ultrafine pulverization, the Fe1‐xS@C anode simultaneously exhibits high reversible capacity (610 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1), superior rate capability (427.9 mAh g−1 at 20 A g−1), and ultralong cycling stability (377.9 mAh g−1 after 2500 cycles at 20 A g−1).
Engineering Domain Variants in 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)−0.3PbTiO3 Single Crystals Using High‐Frequency AC Poling
Authors: Zhang Dawei , Li Linglong , Wang Lei , Sando Daniel , Sharma Pankaj , Seidel Jan
Published: March 2024

Single crystals of (001)‐oriented 0.7Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)−0.3PbTiO3 (PMN‐30PT) with a composition near the morphotropic phase boundary have attracted considerable attention due to their superior dielectric and electromechanical performance. Recently, a new alternating current (electric field) poling approach used for the enhancement of dielectric and piezoelectric properties. However, the microscopic domain variants that govern the performance, especially under high‐frequency alternating current (AC) voltages, remain largely unexplored. In this work, the domain microstructure under AC poling reveals the presence of four monoclinic (MA) domain variants using a suite of scanning probe microscopy methods, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) reciprocal space mapping is tuned. It is reported on the emergence of hierarchical fine domains – needle‐shaped, and 109° domain walls under applied high‐frequency AC poling. Time‐resolved Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM) reveals the charge dynamics and relaxation behavior of these needle domains and walls. The findings provide new insight and guidance to the domain engineering by high‐frequency AC poling for the development of advanced transducer technology.
Zn–Porphyrin Antisolvent Engineering‐Enhanced Grain Boundary Passivation for High‐Performance Perovskite Solar Cell
Authors: Soopy Abdul Kareem Kalathil , Parida Bhaskar , Aravindh S. Assa , SahulHameed Hiba , Swain Bhabani Sankar , Saleh Na'il , Taha Inas Magdy Abdelrahman , Anjum Dalaver Hussain , Alberts Vivian , Liu Shengzhong (Frank) , Najar Adel
Published: March 2024

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) represent a promising and rapidly evolving technology in the field of photovoltaics due to their easy fabrication, low‐cost materials, and remarkable efficiency improvements over a relatively short period. However, the grain boundaries in the polycrystalline films exhibit a high density of defects, resulting in not only heightened reactivity to oxygen and water but also hampered charge transport and long‐term stability. Herein, an approach involving Zn‐porphyrin (Zn‐PP)‐upgraded antisolvent treatment to enhance the grain size and meanwhile passivate grain boundary defects in FA0.95MA0.05PbI2.85Br0.15 perovskites is presented. The Zn‐PP molecules significantly improve structural and optical properties, effectively mitigating defects and promoting carrier transport at the perovskite/hole transport layer interface. The density functional theory simulation confirms that Zn‐PP forms a strong chemical bonding with the perovskite surface. With Zn‐PP passivation, the total density of state shifts to higher‐energy regions with molecular adsorption, especially near the valence and conduction band edges, indicating that there is an increase in conducting properties of the surface with molecular adsorption. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of PSCs increases significantly as a result of this improvement, rising from 15.38% to 19.11%. Moreover, unencapsulated PSCs treated with Zn‐PP exhibit outstanding stability, retaining over 91% of their initial PCE.
Comprehensive prognostic assessment in kidney cancer: A multidimensional approach analyzing Fufang Sanling granules, genetic variants, and immune infiltration
Authors: Zhu Junlan , Ye Yun , Zhao Xin , Wu Meiling , Wang Xuyao , Shu Peng , Liu Jian , Zhang Xingguo
Published: March 2024

This study delves into the potential therapeutic benefits of Fufang Sanling Granules for kidney cancer, focusing on their active components and the underlying mechanisms of their interaction with cancer‐related targets. By constructing a drug‐active component‐target network based on eight herbs, key active compounds such as kaempferol, quercetin, and linolenic acid were identified, suggesting their pivotal roles in modulating immune responses and cellular signaling pathways relevant to cancer progression. The research further identified 51 central drug‐disease genes through comprehensive bioinformatics analyses, implicating their involvement in crucial biological processes and pathways. A novel risk score model, encompassing six genes with significant prognostic value for renal cancer, was established and validated, showcasing its effectiveness in predicting patient outcomes through mutation analysis and survival studies. The model's predictive power was further confirmed by its ability to stratify patients into distinct risk groups with significant survival differences, highlighting its potential as a prognostic tool. Additionally, the study explored the relationship between gene expression within the identified black module and the risk score, uncovering significant associations with the extracellular matrix and immune infiltration patterns. This reveals the complex interplay between the tumor microenvironment and cancer progression. The integration of the risk score with clinical parameters through a nomogram significantly improved the model's predictive accuracy, offering a more comprehensive tool for predicting kidney cancer prognosis. In summary, by combining detailed molecular analyses with clinical insights, this study presents a robust framework for understanding the therapeutic potential of Fufang Sanling Granules in kidney cancer. It not only sheds light on the active components and their interactions with cancer‐related genes but also introduces a reliable risk score model, paving the way for personalized treatment strategies and improved patient management in the future.
Long‐term olfactory loss post‐COVID‐19: Pathobiology and potential therapeutic strategies
Authors: Kim Sarah , Finlay John B. , Ko Tiffany , Goldstein Bradley J.
Published: March 2024

An acute loss of smell emerged as a striking symptom present in roughly half of the people infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) virus in the early phases of the COVID‐19 pandemic. In most COVID‐19 patients, olfaction recovers over the course of a few weeks. However, a lasting partial or complete loss of smell, often associated with distorted olfactory perceptions termed parosmia, has emerged as a widespread problem impacting at least 5%–10% of those who experience anosmia due to COVID‐19. Our inability to offer effective therapies to this hyposmic or anosmic population, comprising millions of patients, highlights an enormous unmet need for the medical system. Here, we summarize the current understanding of the pathobiology causing acute olfactory loss due to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, focusing on how the virus interacts with the peripheral olfactory system, a major site of viral infection. We also explore the problem of long‐COVID olfactory dysfunction, which may accompany other persistent systemic disorders collectively termed postacute sequelae of COVID‐19. Specifically, we discuss an emerging model focused on unresolved immune cell activity driving ongoing dysfunction. Finally, we review current and future therapeutic approaches aimed at restoring olfactory function.
Correlation functions of huge operators in AdS3/CFT2: domes, doors and book pages
Authors: Abajian Jacob , Aprile Francesco , Myers Robert C. , Vieira Pedro
Published: March 2024

Abstract

We describe solutions of asymptotically AdS3 Einstein gravity that are sourced by the insertion of operators in the boundary CFT2, whose dimension scales with the central charge of the theory. Previously, we found that the geometry corresponding to a black hole two-point function is simply related to an infinite covering of the Euclidean BTZ black hole [1]. However, here we find that the geometry sourced by the presence of a third black hole operator turns out to be a Euclidean wormhole with two asymptotic boundaries. We construct this new geometry as a quotient of empty AdS3 realized by domes and doors. The doors give access to the infinite covers that are needed to describe the insertion of the operators, while the domes describe the fundamental domains of the quotient on each cover. In particular, despite the standard fact that the Fefferman-Graham expansion is single-sided, the extended bulk geometry contains a wormhole that connects two asymptotic boundaries. We observe that the two-sided wormhole can be made single-sided by cutting off the wormhole and gluing on a “Lorentzian cap”. In this way, the geometry gives the holographic description of a three-point function, up to phases. By rewriting the metric in terms of a Liouville field, we compute the on-shell action and find that the result matches with the Heavy-Heavy-Heavy three-point function predicted by the modular bootstrap. Finally, we describe the geometric transition between doors and defects, that is, when one or more dual operators describe a conical defect insertion, rather than a black hole insertion.
cGAS-STING pathway mediates activation of dendritic cell sensing of immunogenic tumors
Authors: Li Guohao , Zhao Xiangqian , Zheng Zuda , Zhang Hucheng , Wu Yundi , Shen Yangkun , Chen Qi
Published: March 2024

Type I interferons (IFN-I) play pivotal roles in tumor therapy for three decades, underscoring the critical importance of maintaining the integrity of the IFN-1 signaling pathway in radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. However, the specific mechanism by which IFN-I contributes to these therapies, particularly in terms of activating dendritic cells (DCs), remains unclear. Based on recent studies, aberrant DNA in the cytoplasm activates the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)- stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway, which in turn produces IFN-I, which is essential for antiviral and anticancer immunity. Notably, STING can also enhance anticancer immunity by promoting autophagy, inflammation, and glycolysis in an IFN-I-independent manner. These research advancements contribute to our comprehension of the distinctions between IFN-I drugs and STING agonists in the context of oncology therapy and shed light on the challenges involved in developing STING agonist drugs. Thus, we aimed to summarize the novel mechanisms underlying cGAS-STING-IFN-I signal activation in DC-mediated antigen presentation and its role in the cancer immune cycle in this review.
Massive spinal epidural infantile hemangioma, image findings, and treatment: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Ghosn Youssef , Jabbour Yara , Zeid Farah Abou , Jurdi Nawaf , Khouzami Riad , Moukaddam Hicham
Published: March 2024

Spinal involvement of infantile hemangiomas is rare with the predilection to involve the epidural space. A proper diagnosis might be challenging due to the atypical location and variable/inconsistent use of the International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies (ISSVA) classification by radiologists, pathologists, and clinicians. A proper diagnosis of epidural infantile hemangioma is key due to the different aggressiveness of the treatment options with inconstant literature regarding the best available treatment. Herein, we present a case of a massive epidural infantile hemangioma successfully treated with only beta-blocker. We discuss the clinical, MRI, CT, ultrasound, and histological features of this lesion as we review the literature with the objective of addressing some of the confusion surrounding the subject.
Quantitative MRI assessment of joint effusion using T2-relaxometry at 3 Tesla: a feasibility and reproducibility study
Authors: van Leeuwen Flora H. P. , Lena Beatrice , van Bergen Eline D. P. , van Klei Janoah J. , Timmer Merel A. , van Vulpen Lize F. D. , Fischer Kathelijn , de Jong Pim A. , Bos Clemens , Foppen Wouter
Published: March 2024

Objective

T2-relaxometry could differentiate between physiological and haemorrhagic joint effusion (≥ 5% blood) in vitro. Are quantitative T2-relaxation time measurements of synovial fluid feasible and reproducible in vivo in clinically bleed-free joints of men with haemophilia?

Materials and methods

In this cross-sectional study, we measured T2-relaxation times of synovial fluid in clinically bleed-free ankles, knees or elbows of men with severe haemophilia A using a T2-mapping sequence (duration ≤ 7 min) at 3 Tesla MRI. Manual and circular regions of interest (ROI) were drawn in the synovial fluid of each joint by two independent observers to measure T2-relaxation times. Measurement feasibility was expressed as the success rate of the measurements by both observers. The interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility of the measurements were evaluated by the intraclass correlation coefficient of absolute agreement (ICC) and the limits of agreement (LoA) from Bland Altman analysis.

Results

We evaluated 39 clinically bleed-free joints (11 ankles, 12 knees, 16 elbows) of 39 men (median age, 24 years; range 17–33) with severe haemophilia A. The success rate of the T2-measurements was ≥ 90%. Interobserver reliability was good to excellent (manual ROI: ICC = 0.92, 95% CI 0.76–0.97; circular ROI: ICC = 0.82, 95% CI 0.66–0.91) and interobserver agreement was adequate (manual ROI: LoA = 71 ms; circular ROI: LoA = 146 ms). Intraobserver reliability was good to excellent (manual ROI: ICC = 0.78, 95% CI − 0.06–0.94; circular RO: ICC = 0.99, 95% CI 0.98–0.99) and intraobserver agreement was good (manual ROI: LoA = 63 ms; circular ROI: LoA = 41 ms).

Conclusion

T2-relaxometry of synovial fluid in haemophilia patients is feasible with good interobserver and intraobserver reproducibility.
Physics informed neural networks for an inverse problem in peridynamic models
Authors: Difonzo Fabio V. , Lopez Luciano , Pellegrino Sabrina F.
Published: March 2024

Deep learning is a powerful tool for solving data driven differential problems and has come out to have successful applications in solving direct and inverse problems described by PDEs, even in presence of integral terms. In this paper, we propose to apply radial basis functions (RBFs) as activation functions in suitably designed Physics Informed Neural Networks (PINNs) to solve the inverse problem of computing the perydinamic kernel in the nonlocal formulation of classical wave equation, resulting in what we call RBF-iPINN. We show that the selection of an RBF is necessary to achieve meaningful solutions, that agree with the physical expectations carried by the data. We support our results with numerical examples and experiments, comparing the solution obtained with the proposed RBF-iPINN to the exact solutions.
CAS-ESM2.0 Dataset for the Carbon Dioxide Removal Model Intercomparison Project (CDRMIP)
Authors: Jin Jiangbo , Ji Duoying , Dong Xiao , Fei Kece , Guo Run , He Juanxiong , Yu Yi , Chai Zhaoyang , Zhang He , Zhang Dongling , Chen Kangjun , Zeng Qingcun
Published: March 2024

Understanding the response of the Earth system to varying concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) is critical for projecting possible future climate change and for providing insight into mitigation and adaptation strategies in the near future. In this study, we generate a dataset by conducting an experiment involving carbon dioxide removal (CDR)—a potential way to suppress global warming—using the Chinese Academy of Sciences Earth System Model version 2.0 (CAS-ESM2.0). A preliminary evaluation is provided. The model is integrated from 200–340 years as a 1% yr−1 CO2 concentration increase experiment, and then to ~478 years as a carbon dioxide removal experiment until CO2 returns to its original value. Finally, another 80 years is integrated in which CO2 is kept constant. Changes in the 2-m temperature, precipitation, sea surface temperature, ocean temperature, Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC), and sea surface height are all analyzed. In the ramp-up period, the global mean 2-m temperature and precipitation both increase while the AMOC weakens. Values of all the above variables change in the opposite direction in the ramp-down period, with a delayed peak relative to the CO2 peak. After CO2 returns to its original value, the global mean 2-m temperature is still ~1 K higher than in the original state, and precipitation is ~0.07 mm d−1 higher. At the end of the simulation, there is a ~0.5°C increase in ocean temperature and a 1 Sv weakening of the AMOC. Our model simulation produces similar results to those of comparable experiments previously reported in the literature.
Describing future UK winter precipitation in terms of changes in local circulation patterns
Authors: Sexton David M. H. , McSweeney Carol F. , Bett Philip E. , Fung Fai , Thornton Hazel E. , Yamazaki Kuniko
Published: March 2024

Social scientists have argued that good communication around risks in climate hazards requires information to be presented in a user-relevant way, allowing people to better understand the factors controlling those risks. We present a potentially useful way of doing this by explaining future UK winter precipitation in terms of changes in the frequency, and associated average rainfall, of local pressure patterns that people are familiar with through their use in daily weather forecasts. We apply this approach to a perturbed parameter ensemble (PPE) of coupled HadGEM3-GC3.05 simulations of the RCP8.5 emissions scenario, which formed part of the UK Climate Projections in 2018. The enhanced winter precipitation by 2050–99 is largely due to an increased tendency towards westerly and south-westerly conditions at the expense of northerly/easterly conditions. Daily precipitation is generally more intense, most notably for the south-westerlies. In turn, we show that the changes in the frequency of the pressure patterns are consistent with changes in larger scale drivers of winter circulation and our understanding of how they relate to each other; this should build user confidence in the projections. Across the PPE, these changes in pressure patterns are largely driven by changes in the strength of the stratospheric polar vortex; for most members the vortex strengthens over the twenty-first century, some beyond the CMIP6 range. The PPE only explores a fraction of the CMIP6 range of tropical amplification, another key driver. These two factors explain why the PPE is skewed towards exploring the more westerly side of the CMIP6 range, so that the PPE’s description of UK winter precipitation changes does not provide a full picture.
Outcomes of Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) in Acute Severe Asthma: A Narrative Review
Authors: Ekechukwu Nneoma , Batra Sachin , Orsi Deborah , Rahmanian Marjan , Bangar Maneesha , Mohamed Amira
Published: March 2024

Background

In this narrative review we aimed to explore outcomes of extracorporeal life support (extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and extracorporeal carbon dioxide removal (ECCO2R)) as rescue therapy in patients with status asthmaticus requiring mechanical ventilation.

Methods

Multiple databases were searched for studies fulfilling inclusion criteria. Articles reporting mortality and complications of ECMO and ECCO2R in mechanically ventilated patients with acute severe asthma (ASA) were included. Pooled estimates of mortality and complications were obtained by fitting Poisson’s normal modeling.

Results

Six retrospective studies fulfilled inclusion criteria thus yielding a pooled mortality rate of 17% (13–20%), pooled risk of bleeding of 22% (7–37%), mechanical complications in 26% (21–31%), infection in 8% (0–21%) and pneumothorax rate 4% (2–6%).

Conclusion

Our review identified a variation between institutions in the initiation of ECMO and ECCO2R in patients with status asthmaticus and discrepancy in the severity of illness at the time of cannulation. Despite that, mortality in these studies was relatively low with some studies reporting no mortality which could be attributed to selection bias. While ECMO and ECCO2R use in severe asthma patients is associated with complication risks, further studies exploring the use of ECMO and ECCO2R with mechanical ventilation are required to identify patients with favorable risk benefit ratio.
Salmonella infections in Denmark from 2013–2022 with focus on serotype distribution, invasiveness, age, sex, and travel exposition
Authors: Aarø Nicholas Slinning , Torpdahl Mia , Rasmussen Torben , Jensen Martin , Nielsen Hans Linde ,   The Danish Study Group for Enteric Infection has the following members, Chen Ming , Engberg Jørgen , Holt Hanne Marie , Lemming Lars , Lützen Lisbeth , Nielsen Marc Trunjer Kusk , Olesen Bente Ruth Scharvik , Rubin Ingrid Maria Cecilia , Schønning Kristian
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To analyze the nationwide incidence of Salmonella infections in Denmark from 2013 to 2022.

Methods

Confirmed cases of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica were examined using the National Register of Enteric Pathogens during 2013–2022. Proportions, incidence rates (IR), relative risk (RR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to assess differences in serotypes, invasiveness, age, sex, and travel exposure.

Results

We identified 9,944 Danish Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica cases, with an average annual incidence rate of 16.9 per 100,000 inhabitants, declining during the COVID-19 pandemic. Typhoidal cases totaled 206, with an average annual IR of 0.35 per 100,000 inhabitants. Enteric fever patients had a median age of 24 years (IQR:17–36). Leading non-typhoid Salmonella (NTS) serotypes were S. Enteritidis (26.4%), monophasic S. Typhimurium (16.5%), and S. Typhimurium (13.5%). Median age for NTS cases was 42 (IQR: 18–62), with even sex distribution, and a third reported travel prior to onset of disease. The overall percentage of invasive NTS (iNTS) infection was 8.1% (CI: 7.6–8.7). Eleven serotypes were associated with higher invasiveness, with S. Dublin and S. Panama having the highest invasiveness with age and sex-adjusted RR of 7.31 (CI: 6.35–8.43) and 5.42 (CI: 3.42–8.60), respectively, compared to all other NTS serotypes. Increased age was associated with higher RR for iNTS infection.

Conclusion

During the decade, there was a limited number of typhoidal cases. The dominant NTS serotypes were S. Enteritidis and monophasic S. Typhimurium, whereas S. Dublin and S. Panama exhibited the highest invasive potential.
Are realistic details important for learning with visualizations or can depth cues provide sufficient guidance?
Authors: Skulmowski Alexander
Published: March 2024

The optimal choice of the level of realism in instructional visualizations is a difficult task. Previous studies suggest that realism can overwhelm learners, but a growing body of research demonstrates that realistic details can enhance learning. In the first experiment (n = 107), it was assessed whether learning using realistic visualizations can be distracting and therefore particularly benefits from pre-training. Participants learned the anatomy of the parotid gland using labeled visualizations. While pre-training did not have an effect, a more realistic visualization enhanced learning compared to a schematic visualization. In the second experiment (n = 132), a schematic diagram was compared to a more realistic style featuring basic depth cues, and a highly realistic visualization containing a detailed surface. Regarding retention performance, no significant differences were found. However, an interesting pattern regarding subjective cognitive load ratings emerged: the schematic version received the highest cognitive load ratings, while the version featuring simplified shading was rated as least demanding. The version containing simplified depth cues also elicited lower cognitive load ratings than the detailed visualization. The two experiments demonstrate that fears concerning a detrimental effect of realistic details should not be over-generalized. While schematic visualizations may be easier to visually process in some cases, extracting depth information from contour drawings adds cognitive demands to a learning task. Thus, it is advisable that computer-generated visualizations contain at least simplified forms of shading, while the addition of details does not appear to have a strong positive effect.
AutoML-driven diagnostics of the feeder motor in fused filament fabrication machines from direct current signals
Authors: Rooney Sean , Pitz Emil , Pochiraju Kishore
Published: March 2024

Part defects in additive manufacturing are more frequent compared to machining or molding. Failures can go unnoticed for hours, wasting resources and extending process cycle times. This paper describes a Machine Learning based method for automated sensing of onset failure in additive manufacturing machinery. Investigations are conducted on a Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printer, and the same methods are then applied to a digital light processing 3D printer. The investigation focuses on signal-based analysis, specifically passive sensing of stepper motors relating DC current measurements to the torque on a stepper, as opposed to any active acoustic interrogation of the part. Passive methods are used to characterize the loading on a feeder stepper in an FFF machine, forming a model that can identify early signs of filament-based failure with 85.65% 10-fold cross-validation accuracy. Efforts show filament breakage can be detected minutes before material runout would cause a defect, allowing ample time to pause, correct, or control the print. The machine learning pipeline was not naively conceived but optimized through automated machine learning.
Nutrients and polyphenols-rich Sorghum bicolor genotypes as complementary therapy for Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Abdulraheem Rasheed A. , Martins Ralph N. , Bharadwaj Prashant , Li Zhaoyu , Coorey Ranil , Johnson Stuart , Binosha Fernando W. M. A. D.
Published: March 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder and most common cause of dementia among older people. The main pathological hallmarks of AD are formation of insoluble amyloid beta senile plaques and paired helical filaments of neurofibrillary tangles. AD features gradual memory decline, mild to severe cognitive impairment, eventually total dependence of patients on caregivers. Currently available drugs have not been able to modify AD pathology. This has drawn increasing attention to plant food materials with high nutritional and bioactive constituents as potential complementary therapy for AD. Sorghum bicolor is a widely available cost-effective source of proteins, fats, crude fibres, biopeptides and polyphenols which are vital for human wellbeing. This review discussed the major mechanisms underlying AD pathology. The nutritional and bioactive constituents of Sorghum bicolor grains were extensively described. There is limited report on anti-AD activities of sorghum grains. Therefore, the pharmacological mechanisms of action including scavenging of reactive oxygen species, inhibition of oxidative stress, anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and modulation of mitophagy were only speculated. This comprehensive update suggests more robust innovative studies that will provide critical theoretical details necessary to promote utilization of sorghum grains as functional food or source of bioactive molecules for AD therapy.
The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Risk of Corruption
Authors: Silverio-Murillo Adan , Prudencio Daniel , Balmori-de-la-Miyar Jose Roberto
Published: March 2024

This paper estimates the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on risk of corruption in Mexico. To calculate the pandemic’s impact on risk of corruption, this study uses monthly administrative data of 378,000 public acquisitions through 64 institutions from the Mexican Federal Government during the 2018–2020 period. These institutions account for approximately 75% of all allocations of public acquisitions made by the Mexican Federal Government. The risk of corruption is measured through the Discrete-Contracts-Value-to-Budget (DCVB) ratio, which represents the ratio of the value of contracts assigned through discretionary non-competitive mechanisms to the total value of contracts per institution. The empirical strategy consists of a difference-in-differences methodology and an event-study design. The analysis is conducted over all institutions as well as by healthcare and non-healthcare institutions. The results show the following: (1) the pandemic increased the DCVB ratio by 17%; (2) the DCVB ratio increased during six months and then it returned to pre-pandemic levels (inverted U-shape form); and (3) surprisingly, the rise in the risk of corruption is mainly driven by non-healthcare institutions. From a policy perspective, Mexico’s Government Accountability Office, although counterintuitive, should focus on non-healthcare institutions when conducting audits targeting public acquisitions made during the pandemic, even though much of the political debate remains centered around the risk of corruption in healthcare institutions.
Assessment of the properties of concrete containing artificial green geopolymer aggregates by cold bonding pelletization process
Authors: Tawfik Taher A. , Kamal Alaa Hussein , Faried Ahmed Serag
Published: March 2024

Recently, the usage of a cold-bonded method in the production of artificial green geopolymer coarse aggregates (GCA) has been crucial from an economic and environmental perspective because the sintering method consumes an enormous quantity of energy and generates a significant quantity of pollutants. This research investigated the manufacture of GCA via cold-bonded pelletization using two distinct industrial byproducts (GGBFS and FA) via a new and simpler pelletization technology. Three different binders were used to produce three distinct types of GCAs as partial replacements for natural coarse aggregate (NCA) at varying replacement rates (0%, 25%, 50%, and 75%). The first group used ground-granulated blast furnace slag, while the second used GGBFS with perlite, and the third used FA with perlite. An alkaline activator was commonly used with all three groups. The physical and mechanical properties of three distinct varieties of GCA were recorded. The results indicated that the mechanical and chemical properties of three different types of GCAs were nearly identical to those of natural aggregate, with the exception of their increased water absorption. According to the findings, the recommended mixtures were suitable for usage in the construction industry. The results indicated that the ratio of all investigated attributes declined as the number of GCAs increased. In contrast, lightweight concrete can be obtained at a ratio of GCA (FA with perlite) equal to 75%, where unit weight, compressive, splitting tensile, flexural, and water absorption strengths were 1.87 gm/cm3, 20.2 MPa, 1.8 MPa, 8 MPa, and 6.0%, respectively (FA with perlite).
The Significance of Bile in the Biliopancreatic Limb on Metabolic Improvement After Duodenal-Jejunal Bypass
Authors: Kawana Tomomi , Imoto Hirofumi , Tanaka Naoki , Tsuchiya Takahiro , Yamamura Akihiro , Saijo Fumito , Maekawa Masamitsu , Tamahara Toru , Shimizu Ritsuko , Nakagawa Kei , Ohnuma Shinobu , Kamei Takashi , Unno Michiaki
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Duodenal-jejunal bypass (DJB) is an experimental procedure in metabolic surgery that does not have a restrictive component. Changes in bile acid (BA) dynamics and intestinal microbiota are possibly related to metabolic improvement after DJB. Our previous studies involving obese diabetic rats showed the crucial role of the biliopancreatic limb (BPL) in metabolic improvement after DJB caused by BA reabsorption. We established a new DJB procedure to prevent bile from flowing into the BPL and aimed to elucidate the importance of bile in the BPL after DJB.

Methods

Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima Fatty rats with diabetes were divided into three groups: two DJB groups and a sham group (n = 11). Duodenal-jejunal anastomosis was performed proximal to the papilla of Vater in the DJB group (n = 11). However, the DJB-D group (n = 11) underwent a new procedure with duodenal-jejunal anastomosis distal to the papilla of Vater for preventing bile flow into the BPL.

Results

Glucose metabolism improved and weight gain was suppressed in the DJB group, but not in the DJB-D and sham groups. Serum BA level and conjugated BA concentration were elevated in the DJB group. The gut microbiota was altered only in the DJB group; the abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes decreased and that of Actinobacteria increased. However, the DJB-D group exhibited no apparent change in the gut microbiota, similar to the sham group.

Conclusion

BAs are essential in the BPL for metabolic improvement after DJB; they can improve the gut microbiota in these processes.

Graphical Abstract
The effects of electromagnetic field radiation of extremely low frequency on growth parameters and nucleotide substitutions in L. minor clones
Authors: Ignatavičienė Ieva , Vyšniauskienė Regina , Rančelienė Vida , Petrošius Rimantas , Grauda Dace , Butkauskas Dalius
Published: March 2024

Current technologies have become a source of electromagnetic pollution resulting from artificially generated electromagnetic radiation (EMR). To understand the influence of the EMR on living organisms, we investigated the long-term effects of EMR of 50 Hz frequency on duckweed (Lemna minor) clones. Experimental groups of duckweed were treated directly and indirectly by changing EMR generating magnetic flux (MF) starting from 2 µT (0–11 weeks from the beginning of the experiment) and switching to 300 µT (12–48 weeks) MF density during the second part of the experiment. The growth parameters (plant growth, frond area, and frond number) and the point mutations appearing at the antioxidant genes DNA sequences [ascorbate peroxidase (APx), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (Cat)] were analyzed. The significantly enhanced number of nucleotide substitutions in DNA sequences of L. minor clones directly affected by LF EMR in comparison to indirectly affected clones was revealed at the introns of APx, GPx, and Cat genes starting from the 10th week of the experiment. The results indicate that even low-dose chronic electromagnetic radiation may contribute to the changes in growth parameters and generation of point mutations in antioxidant gene sequences, especially in the intron regions.
The micro CT evaluation of crown and root pulp volume versus dentin thickness in teeth in postmortem interval (PMI)
Authors: Cetin Selcuk , Akbulut Nihat , Orhan Kaan , Bilecenoglu Burak , Ocak Mert , Bayram Emre , Altan Ahmet , Eren Bulent , Silsupur Serkan , Oner Bedirhan Sezer
Published: March 2024

Determining the postmortem interval (PMI) is one of the main study subjects of forensic sciences. The main purpose of this prospective in vitro study that was the Micro-CT evaluation of teeth crown and root pulp volume versus dentin thickness in terms of PMI determination. The study involved 60 female Wistar rats, with weights ranging from 270 to 320 g. These rats were grouped into six different post-mortem period categories. Following the animals’ sacrifice, they were subjected to a natural putrefaction period, with a control group, in the grounds of a sheltered garden. Hemi-mandible samples were then extracted and placed in glass tubes for Micro-CT evaluations, following the progression of putrefaction processes. The pulp volume and dentin thickness were assessed using Micro-CT, and the gathered data underwent statistical analysis. Micro-CT was employed to analyze sixty right mandibular second molar teeth in the hemi-mandible. The crown pulp volume exhibited a reduction in group 6, with a value of 0.239 mm3 after a three-month period of natural putrefaction (p < 0.001). There is statistically differences among groups in case of pairwise comparison (p < 0.05). However, the root pulp volume and dentin thickness variables did not display any statistically significant changes. Despite certain limitations associated with this study, the Micro-CT findings concerning teeth pulp volume can serve as an objective parameter, especially for late postmortem investigations and the estimation of time of death.
Performance assessment of Al-Rustumiah wastewater treatment plant using multivariate statistical technique
Authors: Mahmood Wesam , Hatem Wadhah Amer
Published: March 2024

An attempt has been made to assess the performance of the third expansion of the Al-Rustamiya wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). This plant serves approximately 1,500,000 people in east Baghdad city, the capital of Iraq, and the increase of the population in this part of the city has reached about 4 million which led to deterioration in their effluents quality. Furthermore, the plant has no improvement on their processing units. Al-Rustamiya WWTP uses a biological water treatment method known as the activated sludge process with an average wastewater treatment of about 300 million liters. In the present paper, a wastewater quality data of ten years has been subjected to a multivariate statistical technique to identify the most important factors that affect the performance of the plant and estimating its efficiency. The data was collected and examined by the central laboratory of the Al-Rustamiya wastewater treatment plant in the mayoralty of Baghdad. Factor Analysis has been used to assess the important water quality parameters: pH, Total Suspended Solids, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD). The results revealed that the major factor that affects the performance is the organic load of raw wastewater and the removal efficiency of the WWTP. Furthermore, the results present that the performance of the current plant system is acceptable exclude for the removal efficiency of BOD below the prescribed limit. As well as, The BOD and COD correlation can evaluate wastewater treatment plant efficiency, aid in prompt intervention, and monitor harmful substances.
Body composition, balance, functional capacity and falls in older women
Authors: Nordling Yki , Sund Reijo , Sirola Joonas , Kröger Heikki , Isanejad Masoud , Rikkonen Toni
Published: March 2024

Background

The aim of this study was to examine the association of body composition, muscle strength, balance, and functional capacity on falls and fall injuries among community-dwelling older women.

Methods

The study comprised of a 2-year randomized controlled trial involving 914 women with an average age of 76.5 (SD = 3.3) years at baseline. The women were assigned to exercise intervention (n = 457) and control groups (n = 457). Clinical measurements were conducted at baseline, 12 months and 24 months.

Results

During the 2-year follow up, total of 546 women (59.7%) sustained a fall. The total number of falls was 1380 and out of these, 550 (40%) of falls were non-injurious and 745 (54%) were injurious. Higher femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD) was associated with a higher overall risk of falls [RR = 2.55 (95% CI = 1.70–3.84, p < 0.001)], but was a protective factor for severe fall injuries [RR = 0.03 (95% CI = 0.003–0.035, p < 0.01)]. Slower Timed Up and Go (TUG) was associated with an increased overall risk of falls [RR = 1.07 (95% CI = 1.05–1.10, p < 0.001)] and injuries requiring medical attention [RR = 1.10 (95% CI = 1.02–1.19, p = 0.02)]. Longer single leg standing time was a protective factor for falls [RR = 0.99 (95% CI = 0.99–1.00, p < 0.01)] and overall injurious falls [RR = 0.99 (95% CI = 0.99–1.00, p = 0.02)].

Conclusion

For postmenopausal women with higher femoral neck BMD appear to sustain more falls, but have a lower risk of severe fall injuries. Better TUG and single leg standing time predict lower risk of falls and fall injuries.
Determination of the influence of particle spatial distribution and interface heterogeneity on tensile fracture of ordinary refractory ceramics by applying discrete element modelling
Authors: Du Weiliang , Jin Shengli , Gruber Dietmar
Published: March 2024

The microstructures and local characteristics of ordinary refractory ceramics are heterogeneous. The discrete element (DE) method was used to consider the variation in particle spatial distributions and statistically distributed interface properties (uniform, Weibull) between elements. In addition, three Weibull distributions with different shape parameters were evaluated. A uniaxial tensile test was used to study the effects of particle spatial distributions and interface property distributions on the stress–strain curve, tensile strength, and crack propagation. The results of the test show that the particle spatial distribution significantly influences crack propagation and fracture patterns, and the interface condition plays an important role in mechanical responses, crack propagation, and fracture mechanisms and patterns. The discrete element modelling of uniaxial tensile and compressive tests shows that brittle materials exhibit asymmetric mechanical responses to compression and tension loading including static Young’s modulus.
Adaptive Learning is Hard: Challenges, Nuances, and Trade-offs in Modeling
Authors: Pelánek Radek
Published: March 2024

While the potential of personalized education has long been emphasized, the practical adoption of adaptive learning environments has been relatively slow. Discussion about underlying reasons for this disparity often centers on factors such as usability, the role of teachers, or privacy concerns. Although these considerations are important, I argue that a key factor contributing to this relatively slow progress is the inherent complexity of developing adaptive learning environments. I focus specifically on the modeling techniques that provide the foundation for adaptive behavior. The design of these models presents us with numerous challenges, nuances, and trade-offs. Awareness of these challenges is essential for guiding our efforts, both in the practical development of our systems and in our research endeavors.
Discriminative multi-scale adjacent feature for person re-identification
Authors: Qi Mengzan , Chan Sixian , Hong Feng , Yao Yuan , Zhou Xiaolong
Published: March 2024

Recently, discriminative and robust identification information has played an increasingly critical role in Person Re-identification (Re-ID). It is a fact that the existing part-based methods demonstrate strong performance in the extraction of fine-grained features. However, their intensive partitions lead to semantic information ambiguity and background interference. Meanwhile, we observe that the body with different structural proportions. Hence, we assume that aggregation with the multi-scale adjacent features can effectively alleviate the above issues. In this paper, we propose a novel Discriminative Multi-scale Adjacent Feature (MSAF) learning framework to enrich semantic information and disregard background. In summary, we establish multi-scale interaction in two stages: the feature extraction stage and the feature aggregation stage. Firstly, a Multi-scale Feature Extraction (MFE) module is designed by combining CNN and Transformer structure to obtain the discriminative specific feature, as the basis for the feature aggregation stage. Secondly, a Jointly Part-based Feature Aggregation (JPFA) mechanism is revealed to implement adjacent feature aggregation with diverse scales. The JPFA contains Same-scale Feature Correlation (SFC) and Cross-scale Feature Correlation (CFC) sub-modules. Finally, to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, extensive experiments are performed on the common datasets of Market-1501, CUHK03-NP, DukeMTMC, and MSMT17. The experimental results achieve better performance than many state-of-the-art methods.
A probabilistic spatio-temporal neural network to forecast COVID-19 counts
Authors: Ravenda Federico , Cesarini Mirko , Peluso Stefano , Mira Antonietta
Published: March 2024

Geo-referenced and temporal data are becoming more and more ubiquitous in a wide range of fields such as medicine and economics. Particularly in the realm of medical research, spatio-temporal data play a pivotal role in tracking and understanding the spread and dynamics of diseases, enabling researchers to predict outbreaks, identify hot spots, and formulate effective intervention strategies. To forecast these types of data we propose a Probabilistic Spatio-Temporal Neural Network that (1) estimates, with computational efficiency, models with spatial and temporal components; and (2) combines the flexibility of a Neural Network—which is free from distributional assumptions—with the uncertainty quantification of probabilistic models. Our architecture is compared with the established INLA method, as well as with other baseline models, on COVID-19 data from Italian regions. Our empirical analysis demonstrates the superior predictive effectiveness of our method across multiple temporal ranges and offers insights for shaping targeted health interventions and strategies.
Analysis of Human Rights Needs of Internally Displaced Persons and the Role of Social Work Practice: The Case of the Northwest, Southwest, and Littoral Regions of Cameroon
Authors: Acha-Anyi Paul Nkemngu
Published: March 2024

The scourge of internal displacement has continued unabated despite efforts from the international community to address its root causes. Ironically, the so-called Anglophone crisis in the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon has been widely ignored on the world stage despite the toll and misery it has caused the local people, many of whom have been internally displaced. The purpose of this ethnographic study was to explore the human rights situation of internally displaced victims of this violent insurgency and reflect on the role social work practice can play to alleviate the suffering of displaced people. A quantitative research approach was employed through the use of a questionnaire in collecting data from 529 respondents in the Northwest, Southwest, and Littoral regions of the country. The major finding of the study is that most of the internally displaced respondents live under immense fear of either losing a family member or being killed themselves. Moreover, they have been deprived of their basic freedoms and live in indignity as there is hardly water, food, or other means of subsistence. The greatest aspiration of most of the respondents is to reunite with their families and return to their livelihoods. An important implication from this study is the potential contribution that social work professionals can make in the rehabilitation of IDPs. This study contributes to literature on forced migration and human rights, and practical suggestions on how to improve the human rights situation of internally displaced persons.