bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vaccination Against Sars-cov-2 And Its Outcomes On Incidence, Lethality And Mortality From Covid-19 In The City Of São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Pimentel Renata Macedo Martins , Jr Hugo Macedo , Abreu Luiz Carlos de , Santos Edige Felipe de Sousa , Leone Claudio
Published: October 2024

Background/Objectives: to analyze the effects of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 on the incidence, lethality and mortality from COVID-19, in the city of São Paulo, in the period 2020-2022.
Methods: this is a population-based time series study, with official public data, relating to the period from 2020 to 2022. The population data were extracted from the Municipal Health Department of São Paulo, according to the geographic division of the Regional Health Coordination (CRS). The Prais-Winsten regression model was used, calculating the percentage variation of daily change (DPC). This procedure made it possible to classify the trend of epidemiological rates as increasing, decreasing or stationary.
Results: the city of São Paulo recorded that 17% of its total population was infected at least once by the SARS CoV-2 virus, with a fatal outcome in 0.4% of its total population. When comparing the differences between the CRS, it was observed that the North region had a higher lethality rate at the beginning of the pandemic, decreasing significantly over the period. The Central region, in 2021, showed an increasing trend different from the other regions. Regarding mortality, the North, Center and West coordinators showed decreasing trends in all periods analyzed, unlike the East, Southeast and South coordinators, which in 2020 showed stationary trends.
Conclusions: there was a reduction in the epidemiological outcomes of COVID-19 after the mass application of vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Strategies to increase vaccination coverage should be implemented in all regions of the city of São Paulo, especially in those with high social vulnerability.
The Impact of Wetting and Drying Cycles on the Architecture and Complexity of Intra-Aggregate Soil Pores
Authors: Pires Luiz F. , Oliveira Jocenei T.A. de , Gaspareto José V. , Posadas Adolfo N.D. , Lourenço André L. F.
Published: October 2024

In many soil processes, including solute and gas dynamics, the architecture of intra-aggregate pores is a crucial component. Soil management practices and wetting-drying (W-D) cycles—the latter having a significant impact on pore aggregation—are two key factors that shape pore structure. This study examines the effects of W-D cycles on the architecture of intra-aggregate pores under three different soil management systems: no-tillage (NT), minimum tillage (MT), and conventional tillage (CT). The soil samples were subjected to 0 and 12 W-D cycles, and the resulting pore structures were scanned using X-ray micro-computed tomography, generating reconstructed 3D volumetric data. The analysis was conducted in terms of multifractal spectra, normalized Shannon entropy, lacunarity, porosity, anisotropy, connectivity, and tortuosity. The morphological and geometric properties of the soil pores indicated that W-D cycles did not cause significant changes across the management systems studied. Furthermore, multifractal analysis revealed that the porous systems exhibited fractal behavior rather than multifractality. The results demonstrate that, within the resolution limits of the microtomography analysis, pore architecture remained resilient to changes, despite some observable trends in specific parameters.
The Relationship Between Oxidative Stress and Infertility due to Antihypertensive Drugs in Rattus Norvegicus
Authors: Asır Berna , Kumtepe Yakup
Published: October 2024

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of these drugs on reproductive function in Rattus norvegicuss and to show the role of oxidative stress in possible reproductive dysfunction. Rattus norvegicuss were selected as experimental animals and were divided into healthy (control group), Clonidine (CL), Rilmenidine (RLD), Methyldopa (MTL), Amlodipine (ALD) and Ramipril (RML) groups. Using blood obtained from rattus norvegicuss, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels; The high-temperature thiobarbituric acid. Was based on the spectrophotometric measurement of the adsorption of the pink colored complex formed by MDA at a wavelength of 532 nm. Total glutathione (tGSH) levels were determined by spectrophotometer.According to the study, the increase in MDA levels was not statistically significant in CL and RLD groups when compared with the control group. MDA was significantly increased in methyldopa, amlodipine and Ramipril groups. While total glutathione levels were only close to the control group in the CL group; RLD, MTL, ALD and RML groups showed statistically significant decrease. While CL and RLD did not cause infertility, infertility was observed in the groups treated with MTL-ALD-RML. Thus, it was found that MTL, ALD and RML, antihypertensive drugs, which were the aim of the study, had different effects on infertility and it was found that the use of such drugs decreased fertility due to increasing oxidative stress and decreasing antioxidant levels.
Blood Cell Target Detection Based on Improved YOLOv5 Algorithm
Authors: Song Xuan , Tang Hongyan
Published: October 2024

In the field of medicine, blood analysis is one of the most important means of assessing human health. The type and number of blood cells is an important basis for doctors to diagnose and treat diseases. To solve the problems of difficult classification and low efficiency in blood cell detection. In this paper, an improved YOLOv5-BS blood cell target detection algorithm is proposed. The purpose of the improvement is to improve the real-time and accuracy of blood cell type identification. The algorithm is based on the YOLOv5s network and adds the advantages of CNN and Transformer. First, combine the BotNet backbone. Then replace the YOLOv5 Head architecture SPP-YOLO with Decoupled Head architecture. Finally, a new loss function SIoU is used to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the model. In order to test the feasibility of the algorithm, a comparative experiment is done. Experiments show that the average accuracy of the improved algorithm on the test set reaches 83.3%, and the recall rate is 99%. Compared with YOLOv8, the increase was 3.9% and 3% respectively. The algorithm effectively improves the efficiency and accuracy of blood cell detection, and effectively improves the problem of blood cell detection.
Piezoresistive, Piezocapacitive and Memcapacitive Silk Fibroin Based Cement Mortars
Authors: Triana-Camacho Daniel A , D’Alessandro Antonella , Bittolo Bon Silvia , Malaspina Rocco , Ubertini Filippo , Valentini Luca
Published: October 2024

Water stable proteins may offer a new field of applications in smart materials for buildings and infrastructures where hydraulic reactions are involved. In this study, cement mortars modified through water-soluble silk fibroin (SF) are proposed. Water-soluble SF obtained by redissolving SF films in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) showed the formation of a gel with β-sheet features of silk II. Electrical measurements on SF indicate that calcium ions are primarily involved in the conductivity mechanism. By exploiting the water solubility properties of silk II and Ca2+ ion transport phenomena and its trapping effect over water molecules, SF provides piezoresistive and piezocapacitive properties to cement mortars, thus enabling self-sensing of mechanical strain which is quite attractive in structural health monitoring applications. SF/cement-based composite introduces the capacitive gauge factor that surpasses the traditional resistive gauge factor reported in the literature by threefold. Cyclic voltammetry measurements demonstrated SF cement mortars possess memcapacitive behavior for positive potentials around +5 V, attributed to an interfacial charge build-up modulated by the SF concentration and the working electrode. Electrical square-biphasic excitation combined with cyclic compressive loads revealed memristive behavior during the unloading stages. These findings along with the availability and the sustainability of SF pave the way for the design of novel multifunctional materials, particularly for applications in masonry and concrete structures.
Investigating the Role of SPP1 (Osteopontin) in the Progression of Breast and other Cancers
Authors: Kundu Gautam , Elangovan Selvakumar
Published: October 2024

Background/Objectives: Cancer is caused by disruptions in the homeostatic state of normal cells, which results in dysregulation of the cell cycle, and uncontrolled growth and proliferation in affected cells to form tumors. Successful development of tumorous cells proceeds through the activation of pathways promoting cell development and functionality, as well as the suppression of immune signaling pathways; thereby providing these cells with proliferative advantages, which subsequently metastasize into surrounding tissues. These effects are primarily caused by the upregulation of oncogenes, of which SPP1 is one of the most well-known. Methods: In this study, we conducted a further examination of the transcriptomic expression profile of SPP1 (Osteopontin) during the progression of cancer in four human tissues, in order to understand the circumstances conducive to its activation and dysregulation, the biological pathways and other mechanisms involved, as well as differences in its splicing patterns influencing its expression and functionality. Results: A significant overexpression of SPP1 as well as a set of other highly correlated genes, was seen in a majority of tissues, indicating their extensive implication in cancer. Increased expression was observed with higher tumor stages, while applying therapeutic modalities targeting these genes dampened this effect. Pathway analyses showed gene signatures related to cell growth and development enriched in tumorigenic conditions and earlier cancer stages, while later stages of cancer showed pathways associated with weakened immune response. Moreover, the utilization of therapeutic methods showed the activation of immunogenic pathways, thereby confirming their viability. Further analyses of differential transcript expression levels in these oncogenes showed their exonic regions to be selectively overexpressed similarly in tumorigenic samples, while also displaying significant differences in exon selectivity between constituent transcripts, providing a basis for their high degree of multifunctionality in cancer. Conclusions: Overall, this study corroborates the entrenched role of SPP1 in cancer, while also highlighting its promising role in therapeutic development.
Parallel-serial Robotic Manipulators: A Review of Architectures, Applications, and Methods of Design and Analysis
Authors: Antonov Anton
Published: October 2024

Parallel-serial (hybrid) manipulators represent robotic systems composed of kinematic chains with parallel and serial structures. These manipulators combine the benefits of both parallel and serial mechanisms, such as increased stiffness, high positioning accuracy, and a large workspace. This study discusses the existing architectures and applications of parallel-serial robots and the methods of their design and analysis. The paper reviews around 500 articles and presents over 150 architectures of manipulators used in machining, medicine, and pick-and-place tasks, humanoids and legged systems, haptic devices, simulators, and other applications, covering both lower mobility and kinematically redundant robots. After that, the paper considers how researchers have developed and analyzed these manipulators. In particular, it examines methods of type synthesis, mobility, kinematic, and dynamic analysis, workspace and singularity determination, performance evaluation, optimal design, control, and calibration. The review concludes with a discussion of current trends in the field of parallel-serial manipulators and potential directions for future studies.
Towards a System Dynamics Framework for Human-ML Decisions: A Case Study on New York Citi Bike
Authors: Sankaran Ganesh , Palomino Marco A. , Knahl Martin , Siestrup Guido
Published: October 2024

The growing number of algorithmic decision-making environments, which blend machine and bounded human rationality, strengthen the need for a holistic performance assessment of such systems. Indeed, this combination amplifies the risk of local rationality, necessitating a robust evaluation framework. We propose a novel simulation-based model to quantify algorithmic interventions within organisational contexts, combining causal modelling and data science algorithms. To test our framework's viability, we present a case study based on a bike-share system focusing on inventory balancing through crowdsourced user actions. Utilising New York's Citi Bike service data, we highlight the frequent misalignment between incentives and their necessity. Our model examines the interaction dynamics between user and service provider rule-driven responses and algorithms predicting flow rates. This examination demonstrates why these dynamics are necessary for devising effective incentive policies. The study showcases how sophisticated machine learning models, with the ability to forecast underlying market demands unconstrained by historical supply issues, can cause imbalances that induce user behaviour, potentially spoiling plans without timely interventions. Our approach allows problems to surface during the design phase, potentially avoiding costly deployment errors in the joint performance of human and AI decision-makers.
Utilisation of Liquefied Biomass in Water Co-Electrolysis for the Production of Synthesis Gas
Authors: Martins Diogo Miguel , Cabrita Tiago , Rodrigues João , Puna Jaime , Gomes João
Published: October 2024

Developed within the scope of a collaborative R&DT project, a 1 kW pilot unit aimed to perform the recovery of previously liquefied biomass from lignocellulosic forest resi-dues, later used as a carbon source in a co-electrolysis process, intended for the pro-duction of synthesis gas (H2, CO, CO2), also known as syngas. The syngas will be trans-formed into other value-added products, namely synthetic biofuels such as methane, methanol or biodiesel. This paper presents the results of the research currently being carried out at ISEL with the objective of further advancing development on the pilot unit by the execution of optimization tests with and without the addition of two dif-ferent biomass types.
Josephson Junction Dynamics as a Ride on a Roller Coaster
Authors: Nappi Ciro , Camerlingo Carlo , Cristiano Roberto
Published: October 2024

We discuss the dynamics of a roller coaster cart driven by a constant force along the
suspended track of a winding roller coaster. The track is assumed arbitrarily long and specially
shaped. It is made by semicircular track portions, in the form of valleys and hills, standing perfectly
vertical in the same plane. This is a mechanical analog of a Josephson junction electrodynamics. To
demonstrate the explanatory potential of the analogy, we focus particularly on the conditions of
de-trapping of the cart from one of the valleys of the track. This mechanical process has its analog in
a non-noise-generated premature switching to the finite voltage state of a Josephson junction.
Enhanced Fault Detection in Satellite Attitude Control Systems Using LSTM-based Deep Learning and Redundant Reaction Wheels
Authors: Saraygord Afshari Sajad
Published: October 2024

Reliable fault detection in satellite attitude control systems stands as a critical aspect of ensuring the safety and success of space missions. Central to these systems, Reaction Wheels (RWs), despite being the most frequently used actuators, present a vulnerability given their susceptibility to faults - a factor with the potential to precipitate catastrophic failures such as total satellite loss. In light of this, we introduce a fault detection methodology grounded in deep learning techniques specifically designed for satellite attitude control systems. Our proposed method utilizes a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) model adept at learning temporal patterns inherent to both healthy and faulty system behaviors. Incorporated into our model is a torque allocation algorithm designed to circumnavigate specific velocities known to induce torque disturbances, a factor known to influence LSTM performance adversely. To bolster the robustness of our fault detection technique, we also incorporate denoising autoencoders within the LSTM framework, thereby enabling the model to identify temporal patterns in healthy and faulty system behavior, even amidst the noise. Extensive evaluation of our proposed method on a simulated satellite attitude control system affirmed its ability to achieve commendable fault detection accuracy, demonstrating high system reliability and robustness to noisy input data. Our research underscores a stride in the evolution of fault detection and control strategies for satellite attitude control systems, holding promise to boost the reliability and efficiency of future space missions.
3D Bioprinting of Alginate-Based Hydrogels to Investigate Osteogenic Differentiation of hBMSCS In Vitro
Authors: Sousa Ana Catarina , Mcdermott Grace , Shields Fraser , Alvites Rui , Lopes Bruna , Sousa Patrícia , Moreira Alícia , Coelho André , Santos José Domingos , Atayde Luís , Alves Nuno , Richardson Stephen , Domingos Marco , Maurício Ana Colette
Published: October 2024

Three-dimensional (3D) models with improved biomimicry are essential to reduce animal experimentation and drive innovation in tissue engineering. In this study, we investigate the use of alginate-based materials as polymeric inks for 3D bioprinting of osteogenic models using human bone marrow stem/stromal cells (hBMSCs). A composite bioink incorporating alginate, nanohydroxyapatite (nHA), type I collagen (Col) and hBMSCs was developed and for extrude-based printing. Rheological tests perfomed on crosslinked hydrogels confirm the formation of solid-like structures, consistently indicating a superior storage modulus in relation to the loss modulus. The swelling behaviour analysis showed that the addition of Col and nHA into an alginate matrix can enhance the swelling rate of the resulting composite hydrogels, which maximizes cell proliferation within the structure. The LIVE/DEAD assay outcomes demonstrate that the inclusion of nHA and Col did not detrimentally affect the viability of hBMSCs over seven days post-printing. PrestoBlueTM revealed a higher hBMSCs viability in the alginate-nHA-Col hydrogel compared to the remaining groups. Gene expression analysis revealed that alginate-nHA-col bioink favoured a higher expression of osteogenic markers, including secreted phosphoprotein-1 (SPP1) and collagen type 1 alpha 2 chain (COL1A2), in hBMSCs after 14 days, indicating the pro-osteogenic differentiation potential of the hydrogel. This study demonstrates that the incorporation of nHA and Col into alginate enhances osteogenic potential and therefore provides a bioprinted model to systematically study osteogenesis and the early stages of tissue maturation in vitro.
Comparison between nano-Hydroxyapatite/ Beta-Tricalcium Phosphate Composite and Autogenous Bone Graft in Bone Regeneration Applications: Biochemical Mechanisms and Morphological Analysis
Authors: Brum Igor da silva , Frigo Lucio , Ribeiro da Silva Jemima Fuentes , Ciambarella Bianca Torres , Do Nascimento Ana Lúcia Rosa , Pereira Mario José dos Santos , Elias Carlos Nelson , de Carvalho Jorge José
Published: October 2024

It was assumed that only autogenous bone had appropriate osteoconductive and osteoindutive properties for bone regeneration, but this assumption has been challenged. Many studies have shown that synthetic biomaterials must be considered as the best choice for bone guided regeneration. The objective of this work is to compare the performances of nano-hydroxyapatite/β-Tricalcium phosphate (n-HA/β-TCP) composite and autogenous bone graft in bone regeneration applications. Th composite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and used as an allograft in bone defects made in adult Wistar rats. The bone defects in the dorsal cranium were grafted with autogenous bone on one side and the n-HA/β-TCP composite on the other. Histomorphometry evaluation by different staining methods (Goldner trichrome, PAS, Sirius red) and TRAP histochemistry were performed. The immunohistomorphometries to OPN, Cathepsin-K, TRAP, Acid phosphatase, VEGF, NFκ-β, MMP-2, MMP-9, and TGF-β were carried out. The RT-PCR method to RANK-L, Osteocalcine, Alcaline Phosphatase, Osterix, and Runx2 were conducted as well. The results showed that all morphometric evaluations on the different staining methods, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry, VEGF and NFκ-β, were higher on the n-HA/β-TCP composite group than in the autogenous bone graft group. The RT-PCR markers were higher in the autogenous bone group than on the n-HA/β-TCP composite group. The n-HA/β-TCP composite exhibited enhanced cell-matrix interactions in bone remodeling, higher adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation, and increased vascularization. These results suggests that the n-HA/β-TCP composite induces faster bone formation than autogenous bone.
Investigation and Identification of the Causes for the Unprecedented Accident at the "Chaira" Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage Plant
Authors: Todorov Georgi , Kralov Ivan , Kamberov Konstantin , Sofronov Yavor , Zlatev Blagovest Nikolov , Zahariev Evtim
Published: October 2024

The present study deals with an accident analysis of the “Chaira”- Bulgaria high pressure Pumped Hydroelectric Energy Storage (PHES), especially the failures of the Francis large scale Hydraulic Unit No. 4 (HU4). The causes of overloading and cracking of the stay vanes and their functionality are investigated. Despite many studies on the behavior of the runner and its safe operation the complete destruction of the system because of the stay vanes failure has not been sufficiently studied and published in the scientific literature. The aim is to assess the reasons that have led to this unprecedented accident of the “Chaira” PHES of total destructions of the stay vanes. Based on the historical data and the operating modes, as well as of the identification of the critical elements an objective assessment of the risks of damage of the stay vanes and of entire unit is proposed. A virtual prototype is built for simulation of the system behavior in working and emergency conditions. The loads, stresses and deformations are precisely calculated. The critical elements of the highly loaded blocks are evaluated. Low cycle material fatigue is with a high degree of confidence the dominated reason for the stay vane complete destruction. The results of the research are used to propose measures for possible rehabilitation and/or replacement of the unit.
Enhancing Collaborative Filtering with Deep Neural Networks and User Reviews
Authors: Ghabayen Ayman Shehda , Elaklouk Ahmed Mohammed Sadi , Zunaidi Muhammad Rusyaidi , Mat Diah Norizan , Khan Abdul Azeem , Prabuwono Anton Satria
Published: October 2024

In the era of information explosion in e-commerce, users face an overload problem. Recommender systems alleviate this by filtering target products based on user preferences. Collaborative Filtering (CF) is a popular method but struggles with high-quality recommendations due to data sparsity. Utilizing review texts to capture user preferences has improved CF recommendations. This paper proposes a deep learning-based recommendation framework leveraging bidirectional gated recurrent units (Bi-GRUs) and an attention-based Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) structure. This framework addresses insufficient user rating data by utilizing user reviews to infer preferences. Experimental results on three datasets show that the proposed Bi-GRUCF model outperforms other state-of-the-art methods, achieving a 55.4% improvement in Mean Absolute Error (MAE) over traditional methods and a 77.8% improvement over other deep learning approaches. This demonstrates the framework's superior recommendation quality, particularly in sparse data scenarios.
Continuous Monitoring of the Ecological Quality and Its Response to Land Use/Cover Change in Rapid Urbanizing Areas: A Case Study of Xiong’an New Area
Authors: Sun Qi , Qiao Ruitong , Jiao Quanjun , Xing Huimin , Wang Can , Zhu Xinyu , Huang Wenjiang , Zhang and Bing
Published: October 2024

Rapid urbanization has facilitated socioeconomic development but has also exacerbated land use/cover change (LUCC), significantly impacting ecological environments. Timely, objective, and quantitative assessments of ecological quality changes resulting from LUCC are essential for safeguarding the natural environment and managing land resources. However, limited research has explored the potential interrelationships between the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of LUCC and ecological quality during urbanization. This study focuses on Xiong’an New Area, a region experiencing rapid urbanization, utilizing the remote sensing-based ecological index (RSEI) to monitor ecological quality dynamics from 2017 to 2023. To address the computational challenges associated with large-scale regions, a streamlined RSEI construction method was developed using Landsat imagery and implemented via Google Earth Engine (GEE). A geographically weighted regression (GWR) analysis, integrated with Sentinel-2 land use data, was employed to examine the influence of LUCC on ecological quality. The findings reveal the following: (1) Ecological quality in Xiong’an New Area exhibited an overall positive trajectory, with improvements elevating the ecological status to above moderate levels. (2) Urban expansion resulted in a 17% reduction in farmland, primarily converted into construction land, which expanded by approximately 12%. (3) Ecological protection policies have facilitated the conversion of farmland into wetlands and urban green areas, which have emerged as the principal contributors to ecological quality enhancement. (4) A positive correlation was observed between changes in ecological land and ecological quality, while a negative correlation was identified between shifts in construction land and farmland and ecological quality. This research provides valuable scientific insights into ecological conservation and land use management, thereby establishing a foundation for the development of rational land resource planning and sustainable ecological development strategies in the Xiong’an New Area.
COVID-19 Lockdown on Mental Health of Bangladeshi Citizens
Authors: SAHA MILI , Saha Mrinal , Saha Goutam
Published: October 2024

The initial emergence of COVID-19 was observed in China on November 17, 2019, marking the likely starting point of the outbreak. It is estimated that a minimum of 266 individuals were infected with COVID-19 in China during 2019. Subsequently, the virus gradually disseminated across the globe. As of now, the global count of COVID-19 infections stands at 704,753,890, with a total of 7,010,681 fatalities. This pandemic has not only posed a threat to public healthcare but has also resulted in psychological complications. This article focuses on the approaches taken by the government of Bangladesh to address such mental health issues.
Classification of Non-IgE-Mediated Hypersensitivity Reactions to Foods: An Up-to-Date Approach Focused on Mechanisms
Authors: Popescu Florin-Dan , Jutel Marek , Smolinska Sylwia
Published: October 2024

Adopting an immune response and tissue-based nomenclature in food allergies brings the field closer to precision and personalized medicine. An updated classification of non-IgE-mediated food hypersensitivity highlights mechanisms through a complex pathophysiological perspective and endotype-driven framework. This approach aligns with the essential goals of discovering new diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers, enhancing the understanding of clinical presentations, and refining immunotherapy and targeted treatments, such as monoclonal antibodies and small molecule drugs, to improve patient management and quality of life. Endotype-focused and molecular-based decision-making also endows translational and clinical research, fostering the ongoing scientific quest for more innovative solutions.
Numerical Study on Remote Infrared Signal Fluctuation Properties of Gas Free Jet Based on Improved SGS-TRI Model
Authors: Hao Jianxin , Wang Qiang , Hu Haiyang
Published: October 2024

To address the issue of low prediction accuracy for sub-grid scale turbulence-radiation interaction (SGS-TRI) characteristics, which impacts the precision of remote infrared signal calculations for gas jet, a term for correlation of radiation-participating component fluctuations with temperature fluctuation was introduced into the current sub-grid Snegirev equation; Simultaneously, we established a new method that is more convenient in complex projects for solving the dynamic sub-grid model coefficients, e.g., dynamic Smagorinsky model and temperature variance model. The validity of these algorithms was confirmed through direct numerical simulations (DNS) for isotropic turbulence and test data of high-temperature air jet flow. The Multi-Scale Multi-Group Wide-Band (MSMGWB) k-distribution model was used to calculate radiative transfer in strongly non-isothermal and inhomogeneous media such as the remote infrared sensing of jet plume scenario considering influences of TRI and SGS-TRI. The study for axisymmetric jet plume revealed that the TRI accounts for more than 1/3 of total remote infrared signal in the 3-5micron band, with the SGS-TRI effect contributing more than 10%. Additionally, this influence was found to further increase with increasing detection distances.
Advancing Sustainable Construction: A Systematic Review of the Role of Blockchain Technology in 3D Concrete Printing
Authors: Okangba Stanley
Published: October 2024

This systematic review explores how blockchain technology (BcT) can enhance the sustainability, efficiency, and transparency of 3D concrete printing (3DCP) in the construction industry. BcT offers promising solutions to persistent challenges such as resource inefficiencies, lack of transparency, and complex project management. 3DCP, as a cutting-edge construction method, has shown potential in reducing waste, optimizing resources, and enabling intricate designs that traditional methods struggle to achieve. However, its adoption is slowed by supply chain and execution issues. Blockchain’s decentralized and immutable nature allows for secure, traceable, and transparent data management, improving material tracking and automating workflows via smart contracts. Following PRISMA guidelines, an initial search identified 767 papers from Web of Science and Scopus, and through an extended search using additional keywords, a total of 3,227 materials were found. After applying inclusion/exclusion criteria, 10 studies were analyzed through scientometric and content analysis. The review highlights blockchain’s potential to promote material reuse and support circular economy principles, improving 3DCP’s sustainability. While promising, the integration of these technologies lacks real-world case studies, underscoring the need for further research. This review positions blockchain as a key driver for advancing sustainable practices in 3DCP.
The role of teachers in developing multicultural education of religious tolerance in primary schools: literature study
Authors: Fauziah Nursifa , Zakiah Linda , Jannah Hasbiya Miftahul , Elifas Leonardo , Safitri Nurrohmah
Published: October 2024

This study aims to examine the role of teachers in developing tolerance among students. Tolerance is the ability to appreciate differences and resolve conflicts peacefully. Teachers have a very important role in shaping this attitude of tolerance through an inclusive learning approach, fostering universal values, and providing examples of tolerance behavior in everyday life. This research is a qualitative research with literature study. The subject and instrument of this research is the researcher himself by searching for relevant sources. Data were collected through content analysis which involved several steps, such as determining the problem, developing a framework, developing methodological tools, data analysis, and data interpretation.Â  The research findings show that teachers who practice multicultural education-oriented learning approaches and integrate subject matter with tolerance values are able to have a significant impact in shaping students' tolerance attitudes. This multicultural education aims to appreciate and understand diversity in society.
Utilisation of audiovisual aids in the teaching and learning of business studies in secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: Adewale Sulaimon
Published: October 2024

The paper examined the utilisation of audiovisual aids in teaching and learning business studies in junior secondary schools in the Ojo local government area of Lagos State, Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive research design of survey type. A sample of 60 teachers was selected purposively. data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics to answer research questions, while a t-test was used to analyse the hypotheses. The finding revealed a significant difference between teachersâ€™ qualifications, gender, and availability of audiovisual aids and their use by business studies teachers in secondary schools in Lagos State. Based on the findings, it was recommended, among others, that the government give more priority to the enhancement of teachers' job performance through adequate provision of audiovisual instructional aids, and principals should supervise teachers in the classroom to ensure compliance with the use of available audiovisual instructional aids.
Impacto del Covid-19 en la gestión de importaciones de Saga Falabella (Perú), período 2019-2020
Authors:   , Bazan Martinez Ana Mabel , Guerra Quiros Cinthia Mayte
Published: October 2024

Este trabajo se propuso determinar el impacto que tuvo el Covid-19 sobre la gestión de importaciones de Saga Falabella en el periodo 2019-2020. Para ello se usó un enfoque cuantitativo, explicativo, sin recurrir a la experimentación con las variables, tomando por muestra 21 959 órdenes de compra, ordenando su información mediante una guía de análisis documental. En los resultados fue hallado que el Covid-19 no impactó significativamente el volumen de importaciones de la empresa (p valor=0.136), tampoco impactó significativamente el costo de las importaciones (p valor=0.102), lo mismo ocurrió con la variedad de las importaciones (p valor=0.633), y sobre el tiempo de tránsito de las importaciones (p valor=0.244). Se concluyó que la pandemia no impactó significativamente sobre la gestión de importaciones de la firma evaluada.
TOO-BERT: A Trajectory Order Objective BERT for self-supervised representation learning of temporal healthcare data
Authors: Amirahmadi Ali , Etminani Farzaneh , Bjork Jonas , Melander Olle , Ohlsson Mattias
Published: October 2024

The growing availability of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) presents an opportunity to enhance patient care by uncovering hidden health risks and improving informed decisions through advanced deep learning methods. However, modeling EHR sequential data, denoted patient trajectories, is complex due to the evolving relationships between diagnoses and treatments over time, where medical conditions and interventions alter the likelihood of future health outcomes over time. While BERT-inspired models have shown promise in modeling EHR sequences by pretraining on the masked language modeling (MLM) objective, they struggle to fully capture the intricate, temporal dynamics of disease progression and medical interventions.

In this study, we introduce TOO-BERT, a novel adaptation that enhances MLM-pretrained transformers by explicitly incorporating temporal information from patient trajectories. TOO-BERT encourages the model to learn complex causal relationships between diagnoses and treatments using a new self-supervised learning task, the Temporal Order Objective (TOO). This is achieved through two proposed methods: Conditional Code Swapping (CCS) and Conditional Visit Swapping (CVS).

We evaluate TOO-BERT on two datasets, MIMIC-IV hospitalization records and the Malmö Diet cohort—comprising approximately 10 and 8 million medical codes, respectively. TOO-BERT demonstrates superior performance in predicting Heart Failure (HF), Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and Prolonged Length of Stay (PLS) compared to standard MLM-pretrained transformers, and notably excels in HF prediction even with limited fine-tuning data.

Our results underscore the effectiveness of integrating temporal ordering objectives into MLM-pretrained models, enabling deeper insights into the complex relationships in EHR data. Attention analysis further reveals TOO-BERT’s ability to capture and represent sophisticated structural patterns within patient trajectories.
Size matters: A new view of the relationship between shape and size for molten volcanic ballistics.
Authors: Sork Amilea Rae , Kennedy Ben M , Watson Leighton , Taddeucci Jacopo , Fitzgerald Rebecca , Sellier Mathieu , Biensan Clothilde , Andronico Daniele , Scarlato Piergiorgio , Bello Elisabetta Del , Ricci Tullio
Published: October 2024

Volcanic ballistic projectiles (VBPs) are a common hazard near volcanic vents and often threaten volcano tourists, especially at accessible volcanoes with Strombolian eruption style. Current ballistic hazard models used to estimate potential VBP impact zones often assume round and solid (fixed shape) projectiles, though the validity of these assumptions remains uncertain. In this study, we use high-speed video observations to examine the shape and size distribution of molten VBPs, termed “bombs”, from Strombolian eruptions at Stromboli (in 2014 and 2017) and Etna (in 2014) volcanoes (Italy). We provide a framework for describing in-flight bomb shapes, defining three shape classes (rounded, elongate, and bilobate) and subclass end members. The ratio of rounded to total VBPs decreases with size; most bombs (71% of the total catalogued) are smaller than 0.16 m and tend to be rounded (53% at all sizes and 62% for < 0.16 m); however, 80% of the bombs larger than 0.32 m tend to be elongate or bilobate. This trend is generally consistent across Strombolian eruptions in both this study and previous studies. However, video datasets of bomb-bearing eruptions at Batu Tara (Indonesia, 2014, Strombolian to Vulcanian) and Cumbre Vieja (Canary Islands, 2021, strong Strombolian and high fire-fountaining) show fewer elongate and bilobate bombs, especially at larger sizes. This size-shape relationship presented here has not been previously accounted for in ballistic models but has the potential to provide a size-based drag coefficient within ballistic models, leading to more accurate modelling results.
Radial Support Force: A Key Player in Vena Cava Neointimal Hyperplasia
Authors: Jiang Rui , Guo Kang , Gong Maofeng , He Xu , Gu Jianping
Published: October 2024

Objective
Neointimal hyperplasia (NIH) is a risk factor for inferior vena cava filter (I VCF) retrieval failures and damage to the inferior vena cava (IVC) wall post-retrieval. Unfortunately, the mechanical properties of IVCFs have not been evaluated and are not readily available from the manufacturer. This study aimed to investigate the correlations between radial support force (RSF) and NIH, and the release of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) during this process.
Materials and Methods
RSFs exerted by filter struts at various IVC diameters were analyzed with five replicates in vitro. In vivo, Bama miniature swine were randomly fitted with IVCFs of 32 mm or 20 mm diameter. After a dwelling time of three weeks, the thickness of NI H and TNF-α percentage (%) in the areas adjacent to IVCF struts were determined on hematoxylin and eosin. Correlations were assessed using student’s t-test, chi-square test, and linear regression analyses.
Results
Following IVCF placement, IVC morphology changed from oval to circular. A mismatch between IVC and filter diameter generated an oversizing ratio (OR), with a mean OR of 113.06 ± 48.91% (range, 61. 73-166.52%). RSFs of 4.56 ± 0.97 N (range, 3.54–5.61 N) showed a linear dose-response relationship with ORs (R² = 0.718, p < .001). Macroscopic presentation of IVCs in the 3rd week showed significant vessel response in the caval wall, characterized by vessel wall proliferation. NIH thickness increased with the enlarged RSFs, and linear regression analyses demonstrated a U-shaped dose-response relationship (R2 = .630, p < .001). A larger TNF-α content at minimal caval diameter was observed with increased RSFs, indicating a more severe presence of TNF-α following the increased RSF (R2 = .777, p < .001).
Conclusion
Differences in RSFs are consistent with ORs; RSFs increased with the larger ORs of IVCF and IVC diameter. Increased RSFs correlate linearly with greater NIH thickness. Evaluation of IVCF yielded a significantly higher RSF at a smaller caval diameter, with higher levels of TNF-α during expansion, supporting a linear association with greater NIH.
Scalable and Sustainable Reductive Amidation of Nitroarenes, Nitroalkenes, and Nitroalkyls with Acyl Saccharins in Aqueous Media
Authors: Re D Srinivasa , Khamkar Sunil L , Mohan Rayala , J Santhosh , Shinde Harish M. , Handore Kishor L , Mohan S Venkata
Published: October 2024

We present a scalable and sustainable methodology for synthesizing N-substituted amides directly from readily available nitroarenes, nitroalkenes, nitroalkyls, and acyl saccharin in aqueous media. This eco-friendly and atom-efficient approach, which avoids column chromatography, demonstrates excellent functional group compatibility and high yield for key amide structures. The method's applicability extends to the formal synthesis of Disyprin, a bromopyrrole alkaloid, as well as amide-based pharmaceuticals and agrochemicals. Additionally, we demonstrate its effectiveness in the multigram-scale synthesis of paracetamol, alongside saccharin and solvent recycling. A comprehensive Life Cycle Assessment (LCA; ISO 14044) was conducted to evaluate the environmental impacts and sustainability of nine selected Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) produced via Non-Amidation Route (NAR) and Amidation Route (AR). The study reveals that saccharin-acetylation methods significantly reduce carbon footprints and environmental impacts compared to NAR methods which is notably carbon-negative and resource-efficient. Further impact reduction is achievable through saccharin recycling and the adoption of low-carbon and renewable energy sources, highlighting the potential of saccharin-based processes to substantially mitigate environmental burdens in pharmaceutical synthesis.
Visual real-time monitor ejaculatory-orgasm using transrectal ultrasound to identify the cause of Aspermia
Authors: Wenlong Xie , Wenrong Liu , Zhenfan Zhao , Hui Jiang , Tao Jiang , Letian Wei , Lei Zheng , Xiucheng Zhang
Published: October 2024

Objective
Aspermia is a common ejaculatory disorder having a feeling of orgasm,but no semen after masturbation or sex orgasm. Complete retrograde ejaculation is the common cause of aspermia The diagnosis of complete retrograde ejaculation is mainly determined by the presence of sperm after ejaculation in urine and no seminal fluid emerges from the penis at orgasm, we found it is not true by a visually real-time monitor ejaculatory-orgasm using transrectal ultrasound, this technique help us to exactly identify the cause of Aspermia and insights into the underlying mechanisms for Aspermia.
Methods
In a total of 11 cases of aspermia, with a large number sperms in the post-ejaculation urine, we have diagnosed these patients as retrograde ejaculation. we used transrectal real-time dynamic ultrasound to scrutinize the ejaculatory-orgasm process. To trigger ejaculation, audiovisual sexual stimulation was administered manually. During this procedure, we attentively observed and documented the alterations in the seminal vesicle, the neck of the bladder, the prostatic urethra, as well as the dynamic flow of semen, aiming for a comprehensive understanding of the ejaculatory-orgasm .
Results
Among the 11 cases, a mere 8 succeeded in completing the transrectal real-time dynamic monitoring of ejaculatory-orgasm. Of these, 6 cases exhibited distinctive signs of seminal vesicle contraction, posterior urethra dilation, bladder neck disclosure, and semen reversely flow into the bladder. The cause of these cases was retrograde ejaculation. In contrast, the remaining 2 cases displayed neither seminal vesicle contraction nor significant changes in the bladder neck, and no semen was found to flow backwards into the bladder. This suggested that the cause of these two cases was not retrograde ejaculation, but rather an emission disorder. According to our new technique we found that 2 cases diagnosis by the well-established diagnostic criteria,(the confirmation of retrograde ejaculation relies heavily on the presence of cloudy post-ejaculatory urine, and an abundant count of sperms in cases of aspermia) was misdiagnosis ,the aforesaid diagnostic criteria is not infallible, with an estimated misdiagnosis rate of approximately 25% in our cases.
Conclusion
Real-time dynamic transrectal ultrasound monitoring ejaculatory-orgasm is a novel and visually intuitive technique to explore potential cause behind ejaculation disorder .It provides valuable insights into the underlying mechanisms for aspermia .Moreover, We approved that not all cases of aspermia accompanied by a significant amount of sperm in post-ejaculation urine are attributed to complete retrograde ejaculation by this technique.
MyD88 mediates noncytopathic bovine viral diarrhea virus replication by regulating cellular autophagy and proliferation
Authors: Li Xiaobing , Wang Kui , Hu Yuan , Jing Yang , jie Xu , Chen Yajing , Liu Songhao , Jiang Kangfeng
Published: October 2024

Bovine viral diarrhea virus(BVDV) is classified into cytopathic (CP) and noncytopathic (NCP) types. Previous studies have confirmed that NCP BVDV infection is the main cause of persistent infection and immune suppression in cattle, and the molecular mechanism of its immune evasion remains unclear. We initially examined the replication of the AV303 strain (NCP BVDV) in MDBK cells at different time points. Proteomic analysis at the peak replication time point revealed that the TLR signaling pathway and the adaptor protein MyD88 were upregulated. We subsequently confirmed that AV303 induced autophagy and proliferation in cells, as indicated by increased autophagic activity and cell proliferation rates following viral infection. Knocking down MyD88 downregulated the virus-induced activation of autophagy and proliferation. Mechanistically, AV303 regulates cell proliferation by promoting ERK1/2 and mTOR, and ERK1/2 activity is inhibited after MyD88 is knocked down. AV303 replication levels increased with autophagy activation and decreased with autophagy inhibition. This study demonstrates that the activity of MyD88 mediated by the AV303 strain can regulate host cell autophagy and proliferation, creating advantageous conditions for its replication. This study demonstrates a new mechanism host-NCP BVDV interaction and the potential of MyD88 as a novel anti-NCP BVDV drug.
Case Report: A rare case of hereditary colorectal cancer with brain tumour with café au lait spots in a male child: Constitutional Mismatch Repair Deficiency (CMMRD) Syndrome.
Authors: Khurshid Zubair , shaikh Mishraz , Talat Tarek
Published: October 2024

Background: Colorectal Carcinoma is a rarely seen in Paediatric population. Hereditary colorectal cancers due to Mismatch Repair Deficiency results in colorectal and brain tumours in early childhood.
Case presentation: We present an 11-year-old boy who presented with Colorectal cancer and brain tumour due to Congenital Mismatch Repair Deficiency Syndrome with a family history of sibling deaths due to brain tumours.
Conclusions: Hereditary Colorectal Cancers due to Mismatch Repair gene mutations causes early colorectal Cancers in children and members of such families should be genetically screened for any mutations.