bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Opioid initiation timing and palliative care referrals in advanced cancer: retrospective study
Authors: Wong Aaron Kee Yee , Wang Dorothy , Gordon Ian , Alexander Marliese , Siew Beverly , Yap Natasha , Le Brian , Philip Jennifer
Published: June 2024

Objectives

Early opioid initiation is recommended for advanced cancer pain, however the timing of opioid commencement in relation to diagnosis has not been described, and the role of palliative care prescribers is unclear. This study aims to determine the timing of opioid initiation by prescriber and cancer type in relation to key timepoints in the cancer illness course (diagnosis, palliative care referral and death).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included patients at a quaternary cancer centre with incurable advanced cancer of five different subtype groups. Demographics, clinical characteristics, health service use and details of first slow and immediate release opioid prescription are reported.

Results

Among 200 patients, median time to first immediate release opioid prescription was 23 days (IQR 1–82) and to slow release opioid prescription was 47 days (IQR 14–155). Most patients (95%, (n=190) were referred to palliative care (median time to referral 54 days (IQR 18–190)). Non-palliative care prescribers initiated slow release opioids for half the cohort (49%, n=97) prior to referral. Patients with pancreatic cancer had the shortest time to slow/immediate release opioid prescription (median 10 days (IQR 0–39) and 26 days (IQR 1–43) respectively) and shortest survival (median 136 days (IQR 82–214)).

Conclusions

Median time to opioid commencement was approximately 3 weeks after diagnosis. Despite early palliative care involvement, opioid initiation by non-palliative care clinicians was common and remains important. Timely palliative care referral for those with pancreatic cancer may include consideration of earlier complex pain presentations and shorter prognosis.
Damage assessment of ring nets in flexible barriers subjected to consecutive rockfall impacts
Authors: Guo Liping , He Siming , Yu Zhixiang , Jin Yuntao
Published: June 2024

In response to the unpredictable nature of rockfall hazards, flexible barrier systems must endure both single and consecutive impacts in practical scenarios. This study conducted a preliminary series of large-scale impact tests, focusing on the damage assessment of ring nets in flexible rockfall barriers, while considering various rock shapes, sizes, and net specifications. Performance indicators, including impact force, net deflection, and energy dissipation, derived from consecutive impact tests were systematically compared with those obtained from single impact tests. The experimental findings reveal a strong correlation between damage evolution in ring nets during consecutive rockfall impacts and both impact force and energy dissipation. Despite the significant deflection observed in the flexible barrier, existing damage indices incorporating the deflection indicator proved unsuitable for evaluating damage under multiple impacts. Consequently, we propose a new damage assessment index that combines force ratio and energy ratio. This index proves highly effective in distinguishing performance degradation from failure of the ring nets as the damage accumulates. Additionally, this index has the potential to assess damage evolution and failure characteristics in practical flexible barrier systems.
10-year progress on forest carbon research in Canada
Authors: Smyth C.E. , Metsaranta J. , Tompalski P. , Hararuk O. , Le Noble S.
Published: June 2024

In 2012, A Blueprint for Forest Carbon Science in Canada: 2012–2020 was published to guide policy and research and to support Canada's obligations for climate change mitigation and adaptation, sustainable forest management, and international reporting. Over the past decade, the body of scientific research focused on forest carbon dynamics in Canada has significantly evolved, providing crucial insights into the intricate interplay between various forest ecosystems and the global carbon cycle. This comprehensive review synthesizes key findings from this period, highlighting improvements to Canada's estimates of current forest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and removals, the effects of global changes on Canada's future forest carbon, and forest contributions to mitigate climate change. Collaborating with the forest carbon science community, we identified 426 peer-reviewed published articles on landscape-scale forest carbon research for Canada from 2012 to 2021. The review emphasizes anthropogenic influences and natural disturbances in contemporary GHG emissions and removals for managed forests in the national GHG inventory, highlights the existing dichotomy between management and research models, and stresses the need for integrating disturbance and climate effects for comprehensive GHG estimates. Despite significant progress in estimating and tracking forest carbon using modelled, remotely sensed, and ground-based observations, challenges remain in reducing uncertainties, particularly regarding climate impacts on forest growth, decay, and disturbances. Furthermore, the review showcases recent advancements in climate change mitigation strategies and the use of a systems approach that includes forest ecosystem emissions and removals, wood product emissions, and substitution benefits of avoided fossil emissions. Through comprehensive scenario analyses, the review underscores regional variations in assessing GHG reductions and notes a shift towards a more holistic approach that considers environmental, economic, and social values. By providing a nuanced understanding of the complexities underlying forest carbon dynamics in Canada, this review sets the stage for future research and policy initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable forest management practices and mitigating the impact of climate change on these vital ecosystems.
Reconstructing the growth index $$\gamma $$ with Gaussian processes
Authors: Oliveira Fernanda , Avila Felipe , Bernui Armando , Bonilla Alexander , Nunes Rafael C.
Published: June 2024

Alternative cosmological models have been proposed to alleviate the tensions reported in the concordance cosmological model, or to explain the current accelerated phase of the universe. One way to distinguish between General Relativity and modified gravity models is using current astronomical data to measure the growth index $$\gamma $$
γ
, a parameter related to the growth of matter perturbations, which behaves differently in different metric theories. We propose a model independent methodology for determining $$\gamma $$
γ
, where our analyses combine diverse cosmological data sets, namely $$\{ f(z_i) \}$$

{
f

(

z
i

)

}

, $$\{ [f\sigma _8](z_i) \}$$

{

[
f

σ
8

]

(

z
i

)

}

, and $$\{ H(z_i) \}$$

{
H

(

z
i

)

}

, and use Gaussian Processes, a non-parametric approach suitable to reconstruct functions. This methodology is a new consistency test for $$\gamma $$
γ
constant. Our results show that, for the redshift interval $$0< z < 1$$

0
<
z
<
1

, $$\gamma $$
γ
is consistent with the constant value $$\gamma = 0.55$$

γ
=
0.55

, expected in General Relativity theory, within $$2 \sigma $$

2
σ

confidence level (CL). Moreover, we find $$\gamma (z=0)$$

γ
(
z
=
0
)

= 0.311 $$\pm 0.144 $$

±
0.144

and $$\gamma (z=0) = 0.609 \pm 0.200$$

γ
(
z
=
0
)
=
0.609
±
0.200

for the reconstructions using the $$\{ f(z_i) \}$$

{
f

(

z
i

)

}

and $$\{ [f\sigma _8](z_i) \}$$

{

[
f

σ
8

]

(

z
i

)

}

data sets, respectively, values that also agree at a 2$$\sigma $$
σ
CL with $$\gamma = 0.55$$

γ
=
0.55

. Our methodology and analyses can be considered as an alternative approach in light of the current discussion in the literature that suggests a possible evidence for the growth index evolution.
IceCube – Neutrinos in Deep Ice
Authors: Bukhari Habib , Chakraborty Dipam , Eller Philipp , Ito Takuya , Shugaev Maxim V. , Ørsøe Rasmus
Published: June 2024

During the public Kaggle competition “IceCube – Neutrinos in Deep Ice”, thousands of reconstruction algorithms were created and submitted, aiming to estimate the direction of neutrino events recorded by the IceCube detector. Here we describe in detail the three ultimate best, award-winning solutions. The data handling, architecture, and training process of each of these machine learning models is laid out, followed up by an in-depth comparison of the performance on the Kaggle datatset. We show that on cascade events in IceCube above 10 TeV, the best Kaggle solution is able to achieve an angular resolution of better than 5$$^{\circ }$$

∘

, and for tracks correspondingly better than 0.5$$^{\circ }$$

∘

. These results indicate that the Kaggle solutions perform at a level comparable to the current state-of-the-art in the field, and that they may even be able to outperform existing reconstruction resolutions for certain types of events.
Late time decay of scalar and Dirac fields around an asymptotically de Sitter black hole in the Euler–Heisenberg electrodynamics
Authors: Bolokhov S. V.
Published: June 2024

We compute the quasinormal modes of massive scalar and Dirac fields within the framework of asymptotically de Sitter black holes in Euler–Heisenberg non-linear electrodynamics. We pay particular attention to the regime $$\mu M/m_{P}^2 \gg 1,$$

μ
M
/

m

P

2

≫
1
,

where $$\mu $$
μ
and M denote the masses of the field and the black hole, respectively, and $$m_{P}$$

m
P

represents the Planck mass, covering a range from primordial to large astrophysical black holes. Through time-domain integration, we demonstrate that, contrary to the asymptotically flat case, the quasinormal modes also dictate the asymptotic decay of fields. Employing the 6th order WKB formula, we derive a precise analytic approximation for quasinormal modes in the regime $$\mu M/m_{P}^2 \gg 1$$

μ
M
/

m

P

2

≫
1

without resorting to expansion in terms of the inverse multipole number. This analytic expression takes on a concise form in the limit of linear electrodynamics, represented by the Reissner–Nordström black holes. Our numerical analysis indicates the stability of the fields under consideration against linear perturbations.
Hybrid inflation from supersymmetry breaking
Authors: Aldabergenov Yermek , Antoniadis Ignatios , Chatrabhuti Auttakit , Isono Hiroshi
Published: June 2024

We extend a recently proposed framework, dubbed inflation by supersymmetry breaking, to hybrid inflation by introducing a waterfall field that allows to decouple the supersymmetry breaking scale in the observable sector from the inflation scale, while keeping intact the inflation sector and its successful predictions: naturally small slow-roll parameters, small field initial conditions and absence of the pseudo-scalar companion of the inflaton, in terms of one free parameter which is the first order correction to the inflaton Kähler potential. During inflation, supersymmetry is spontaneously broken with the inflaton being the superpartner of the goldstino, together with a massive vector that gauges the R-symmetry. Inflation arises around the maximum of the scalar potential at the origin where R-symmetry is unbroken. Moreover, a nearby minimum with tuneable vacuum energy can be accommodated by introducing a second order correction to the Kähler potential. The inflaton sector can also play the role of the supersymmetry breaking ‘hidden’ sector when coupled to the (supersymmetric) Standard Model, predicting a superheavy superparticle spectrum near the inflation scale. Here we show that the introduction of a waterfall field provides a natural way to end inflation and allows for a scale separation between supersymmetry breaking and inflation. Moreover, the study of the global vacuum describing low energy Standard Model physics can be done in a perturbative way within a region of the parameter space of the model.
On the bias in iterative quantum amplitude estimation
Authors: Miyamoto Koichi
Published: June 2024

Quantum amplitude estimation (QAE) is a pivotal quantum algorithm to estimate the squared amplitude a of the target basis state in a quantum state $|{\Phi}\rangle $
|
Φ
〉
. Various improvements on the original quantum phase estimation-based QAE have been proposed for resource reduction. One of such improved versions is iterative quantum amplitude estimation (IQAE), which outputs an estimate â of a through the iterated rounds of the measurements on the quantum states like $G^{k}|{\Phi}\rangle $

G
k

|
Φ
〉
, with the number k of operations of the Grover operator G (the Grover number) and the shot number determined adaptively. This paper investigates the bias in IQAE. Through the numerical experiments to simulate IQAE, we reveal that the estimate by IQAE is biased and the bias is enhanced for some specific values of a. We see that the termination criterion in IQAE that the estimated accuracy of â falls below the threshold is a source of the bias. Besides, we observe that $k_{\mathrm{fin}}$

k
fin

, the Grover number in the final round, and $f_{\mathrm{fin}}$

f
fin

, a quantity affecting the probability distribution of measurement outcomes in the final round, are the key factors to determine the bias, and the bias enhancement for specific values of a is due to the skewed distribution of $(k_{\mathrm{fin}},f_{\mathrm{fin}})$
(

k
fin

,

f
fin

)
. We also present a bias mitigation method: just re-executing the final round with the Grover number and the shot number fixed.
Energy bounds in f(R,T) gravity with anisotropic backgrounds
Authors: Malik Adnan
Published: June 2024

This research work discusses the energy bounds in [Formula: see text] gravity with an anisotropic background, where [Formula: see text] is the Ricci scalar and [Formula: see text] is the trace of the energy–momentum tensor. For our study, we consider the locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi Type-I space-time. Moreover, we calculate the field equations and find exact solutions by considering different [Formula: see text] gravity models. We investigate the graphical behavior of energy density and pressure components by considering these distinct gravity models. We further use Hubble, deceleration, jerk, and snap parameters to evaluate the viability of our models. We also perform the graphical analysis to observe the behavior of energy conditions especially null energy conditions, weak energy conditions, strong energy conditions, and dominant energy conditions. It can be noticed that all considered [Formula: see text] gravity models support the idea of the presence of exotic matter, which justifies the phenomenon of expansion of the universe.
MONEY ATTITUDES, BUDGETING AND HABITS
Authors: FURNHAM ADRIAN , FENTON-O’CREEVY MARK
Published: June 2024

This study was concerned with the correlates of attitudes to, and habits surrounding money, particularly budgeting. It involved a secondary analysis of a representative (UK) sample of adults who completed a questionnaire that enquired into such things as their saving and spending habits, and investments. We drew on data from 1767 participants and looked specifically at demographic correlates (age, gender, income), as well as money attitudes, spending habits and their self-rated financial literacy. Our central interest was how specific beliefs about money, impulsive spending, and financial literacy are related to regular saving, spending and investment. Through correlation and regression analyses, we were able to show that household income was a major correlate of these behaviors, as were participant gender and age. We paid particular attention to the money attitude variable which suggested that those who saw money primarily as a source of security tended to be savers rather than investors and had more disposable cash. Implications of the findings and limitations of the study are discussed, including implications for detecting and advising those with money-related issues.
Artificial Intelligence application for the analysis of personality traits and disorders in social media: A Survey
Authors: Ellouze Mourad , Hadrich Belguith Lamia
Published: June 2024

Personality analysis has a positive influence on humanity as it aids in identifying personality traits and disorders. In addition, it facilitates the monitoring of cases and enriches doctors’ knowledge bases, particularly in decision-making processes. This study includes a comprehensive literature review on personality analysis approaches from social media, aiming to gain a thorough understanding of the current studies on personality therapy. Moreover, the objective of this study is to identify various limitations present in these studies and explore potential avenues for enhancement. More specifically, this research begins with an introduction that discusses the main concepts of traits and personality disorders, as well as the importance of psychological analysis. Following that, four cluster studies related to personality analysis on social media are presented: personality traits, personality disorders, detection of links between diseases, and monitoring patient status. Then, the majority of the currently available works for each cluster are exposed. Afterward, a comparative study of the different presented works is proposed. Finally, an outline of plans for further research in this area is provided, detailing potential paths for exploration.
Ultrahigh-Resolution K-Edge Imaging of Coronary Arteries With Prototype Deep-Silicon Photon-Counting CT: Initial Results in Phantoms
Authors: Holmes Thomas Wesley , Yin Zhye , Bujila Robert , Madhav Priti , Kim Changlyong , Maltz Jonathan S. , Pourmorteza Amir
Published: June 2024

Ultrahigh-resolution spectral evaluation of coronary arteries with deep-silicon photon-counting CT improved plaque visualization through simultaneous realization of high spatial and spectral resolution compared with energy-integrating detector CT.
Osteoporotic Precise Screening Using Chest Radiography and Artificial Neural Network: The OPSCAN Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Lin Chin , Tsai Dung-Jang , Wang Chih-Chia , Chao Yuan Ping , Huang Jun-Wei , Lin Chin-Sheng , Fang Wen-Hui
Published: June 2024

An artificial intelligence model using chest radiographs identified individuals at high risk of osteoporosis, and screening of these patients with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry resulted in increased rates of osteoporosis diagnosis.
In Situ Observation and Electrical Signal Analysis of Different Bubble Detachment Modes on Microelectrode Surface
Authors: Duan Zeyuan , Xu Qiang , She Yonglu , Nie Tengfei , Luo Xinyi , Wang Mengsha
Published: June 2024

The deactivation of the reaction surface caused by bubble covering is an important factor that causes the decrease in the efficiency of water electrolysis. By combining an electrochemical workstation with a high-speed camera, the evolutionary properties of hydrogen bubble and potential were obtained on a horizontal microelectrode with a diameter of 100 μm. During the electrolysis, individual bubbles evolved periodically on the electrode surface. Under the influence of electrode adsorption, the detachment diameter of the bubble is independent of current density, but with the increase of current density, the bubble detachment frequency increases. With the increase of ethylene glycol (EG) concentration, the bubble detachment frequency increased. When the concentration of EG is greater than 7.5 g l−1, the surface tension of the solution is lower than that of water, at which time the detachment mode of the bubble changes. Separating the resistance caused by the bubbles from the total resistance, it was found that the additional resistance caused by the bubbles rapidly became smaller as the EG concentration increased until the EG concentration reached 7.5 g l−1. The total resistance decreases first and then increases when the EG concentration is greater than 3 g l−1.
Production of Sulphur-Doped Graphene Oxide as an Anode Material for Na-Ion Batteries
Authors: Almarzoge MohammedMustafa , Gencten Metin , Ozsin Gamzenur
Published: June 2024

Sodium-ion batteries have been the focus of interest in recent years due to abundance and cost-effectiveness of sodium resources globally as opposed to lithium. In this work, sulfur-doped graphene oxide (SGO) was synthesized using a straightforward, one-step, cost-effective, and eco-friendly chronoamperometric method at room temperature. The resulting powder was then utilized as active anode material for Na-ion batteries. The surface of the synthesized SGO powder, which consists of approximately three layers with 19 sp2 hybridized carbon rings and a domain size of about 50 nm, is covalently doped with –C-SOx-C- (x = 2,3) groups. The deduced diffusion coefficient from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic intermittent titration technique measurements for SGO as anode in NIBs is in the range of 10−11–10−12 cm2.s−1. At 0.1 C rate, the initial discharge capacity recorded 256.7 mAh.g−1 at 0.1 C rate. In addition, the capacity retention for long-term cycling of 100 cycles at 2 C rate was 99.85%. The unique structure of SGO allows us to achieve satisfactory anode performance in capacity and rate capability, with potential for further enhancement.
The lung extracellular matrix protein landscape in severe early-onset and moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Joglekar Mugdha M. , Bekker Nicolaas J. , Koloko Ngassie Maunick Lefin , Vonk Judith M. , Borghuis Theo , Reinders-Luinge Marjan , Bakker Janna , Woldhuis Roy R. , Pouwels Simon D. , Melgert Barbro N. , Timens Wim , Brandsma Corry-Anke , Burgess Janette K.
Published: June 2024

Our study identified chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-associated differences in the lung extracellular matrix (ECM) composition. We highlight the compartmental differences in the ECM landscape in different subtypes of COPD. The most prominent differences were observed for severe-early onset COPD. Moreover, we identified unique ECM signatures that describe airway walls and parenchyma providing insight into the intertwined nature and complexity of ECM changes in COPD that together drive ECM remodeling and may contribute to disease pathogenesis.
Energy‐Harvesting Cooperative NOMA in IOT Networks
Authors: Alkhawatrah Mohammad
Published: June 2024

Buffer‐aided cooperative nonorthogonal multiple access (NOMA) improves the effectiveness of the spectral by allowing more than one user to share the same resources to realize massive connectivity. This is notably attractive in the fifth generation (5G) and beyond systems, where a massive number of connections are essential such as the Internet of Things (IoT). Wireless‐powered communication through energy harvesting is another 5G promising solution for the future massively dense networks. To sufficiently utilize energy harvesting in a buffer‐aided cooperative NOMA network, the relay selection rule must consider the energy level of the selected relay in addition to its data content to avoid an outage. This paper proposes a relay selection rule for energy‐harvesting buffer‐aided cooperative NOMA networks. The proposed relay selection scheme considers the state of both the data buffer and the energy buffer. The simulations show that the proposed selection rule has improved the network outage probability and throughput as well. This enhancement is kept with changing the number of relays. The results also show that the impact of changing the energy buffer size is crucial, and the larger, the better. Furthermore, making the source transmitting power larger than the relay transmitting power is beneficial, especially with large enough energy buffer sizes.
Arthritis or an Adjacent Fascial Response? A Case Report of Combined Pyomyositis and Aseptic Arthritis
Authors: Martonovich Noa , Reisfeld Sharon , Yonai Yaniv , Behrbalk Eyal
Published: June 2024

Pyomyositis, accompanied by aseptic arthritis, has been previously documented in several publications. However, none of the authors in the mentioned case reports offered a pathophysiological explanation for this unusual phenomenon or proposed a treatment protocol. We present a case of a healthy, 70‐year‐old male who was presented to the emergency department 4 days after tripping over a pile of wooden planks and getting stabbed by a nail to his thigh. The right thigh was swollen. Unproportional pain was produced by a light touch to the thigh. A laboratory test and a CT scan were obtained. The working diagnosis was pyomyositis of the thigh and septic arthritis of the ipsilateral knee. The patient underwent urgent debridement and irrigation of his right thigh. An arthroscopic knee lavage was performed as well. Intraoperative cultures from the thigh revealed the growth of Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. Cultures from synovial fluid were sterile; thus, septic arthritis was very unlikely. The source of the knee effusion might have been an aseptic inflammatory response due to the proximity of the thigh infection. Anatomically, the quadriceps muscle inserts on the patella, and its tendon fuses with the knee capsule, creating a direct fascial track from the thigh to the knee. The inflammatory response surrounding the infection may have followed this track, creating a domino effect, affecting adjacent capillaries within the joint capsule, and causing plasma leakage into the synovial space, leading to joint effusion. Our suggested treatment is addressing the primary infection with antibiotics and considering adding anti‐inflammatory therapy, given our suspicion that this process has an inflammatory component.
Enhanced Efficiency of Tandem Perovskite Solar Cells Utilizing Cs2BiAgI6 and La2NiMnO6 Double Perovskite Absorbers with Optimized Charge Transport Layers
Authors: Prasanna J. Lakshmi , Kumar Atul , M. Ravi Kumar , Gayathri Ketineni , Santhosh Chella , Aswin Kumer S. V. , Mohan E. , Udayakumar Sridhar
Published: June 2024

This study investigates the application of Cs2BiAgI6 and La2NiMnO6 double perovskite compounds as absorbers in perovskite solar cells (PSCs). Computational simulations were employed to assess the performance of these compounds in isolation, employing various hole transport layers (HTLs). The simulations were geared towards optimizing the HTL thickness for each absorber, ensuring proficient charge transport and current alignment. Through these simulations, valuable insights into the electronic properties and light absorption characteristics of the individual absorbers were obtained. Subsequently, a tandem simulation was executed, aligning the current outputs of both devices through precise adjustment of thickness. This tandem configuration was designed to maximize the overall efficiency of the PSC system. The simulation outcomes explicitly demonstrated that the integration of Cs2BiAgI6 and La2NiMnO6 in a tandem configuration led to superior performance in comparison to the standalone absorbers. The optimized HTL thicknesses facilitated enhanced charge transport and guaranteed current alignment between the two devices. This paper offers significant contributions to the conceptualization and fine‐tuning of tandem PSCs utilizing Cs2BiAgI6 and La2NiMnO6 as absorber materials, presenting potential avenues for augmenting the overall efficiency of PSC systems. Subsequently, further optimization of the tandem configuration led to an impressive power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 30.256%, open circuit voltage (Voc) of 1.682 V, fill factor (FF) of 79.74%, and short‐circuit current density (Jsc) of 24.11 mA/cm2, respectively.
Experimental Investigation of Blast‐Induced Crack Propagation Based on Digital Image Correlation Analysis
Authors: R. San Miguel Carlota , Petropoulos Nikolaos , Yi Changping , Johansson Daniel
Published: June 2024

Blasting is widely used in civil and mining engineering projects, with the side effect of introducing damage to the remaining rock. The damage can be differentiated from the cracks in the remaining rock, which increases the concerns of safety and requirements for rock support. In situ study of crack development remains complicated and costly; therefore, small‐scale blasting experiments are a viable alternative for a detailed investigation of the crack propagation behavior. To fill the gap, this study examined a small‐scale blasting test by investigating the velocity of the cracks implementing the digital image correlation (DIC) technique and avoiding contact methods such as strain gauges. An ultra‐high‐speed camera (UHSC) was used to record the blasting test in a single blasthole rock‐like sample with a PETN cord. The experimental design underwent calibration until achieving the configuration of the equipment while ensuring the safety distance. The developed experimental methodology was tested successfully capturing the crack behavior. The analysis outcomes showed that the raw UHSC data needed to be preprocessed to enhance the tracking of cracks with the DIC method. The findings of the DIC data analysis indicated a fluctuation in the propagation velocity along the cracks (889–1129 m/s), revealing that the proposed methodology positively contributes to the propagation behavior of using the DIC method to track the blast‐induced cracks.
The Perturbed Chen–Lee–Liu Equation: Diverse Optical Soliton Solutions and Other Wave Solutions
Authors: Wang Kang-Jia
Published: June 2024

The objective of the present study is to extract the optical soliton solutions (OSSs) of the perturbed Chen–Lee–Liu equation by exerting three techniques, which are the extended Wang’s direct mapping method, tanh/coth function method and the Subequation method. Various OSSs, including the dark, bright, and singular soliton solutions, as well as other wave solutions, such as the singular periodic and algebraic solitary wave solutions, are successfully found. By assigning the appropriate parameters, the dynamic characteristics of the attained solutions are depicted graphically via the Mathematica software. The outcomes confirm that the methods are highly effective for constructing the OSSs and can also be adopted to investigate the other PDEs in optics.
The Use of Perovskia abrotanoides Extract in Ameliorating Heat Stress‐Induced Oxidative Damage and Improving Growth Efficiency in Carp Juveniles (Cyprinus carpio)
Authors: Adineh Hossein , Zahedi Saeed , Yousefi Morteza , Sedaghat Zeynab , Yilmaz Sevdan , Gholamalipour Alamdari Ebrahim , Farhangi Mohammad
Published: June 2024

Herbal extracts have been successfully used as feed additives in fish culture with attractive growth‐promoting, immunostimulant, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties for several fish and shellfish species. Therefore, we have designed a feeding trial to assess the impacts of dietary incorporation of Perovskia abrotanoides extract (PAE) on common carp (Cyprinus carpio). For this purpose, five isonitrogenous (35% protein) and isocaloric (~4,000 kcal/kg) diets have been supplied by supplementing PAE at the varying inclusion levels as 0.0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%, and 2.0% diets, and growth performance and feed utilization, digestive enzyme activities, serum biochemical variables, antioxidant responses, and immunological factors were studied. The experiment continued for 60 days. At the termination of the experiment, the mean final weight, weight gain percentage (WG%), feed conversion rate (FCR), and specific growth rate (SGR) have been improved significantly in all fish groups fed PAE‐based diets with regard to those fed the reference diets. A second‐order polynomial regression equations indicate that the optimum dietary supplementation level of PAE in fish diets was ~1%. Serum cortisol, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, and malondialdehyde levels as well as catalase, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase activities were significantly decreased generally in all PAE‐supplemented groups compared to the control groups before and/or after high‐temperature stress (32°C). Moreover, serum total protein, albumin, and total immunoglobulin levels as well as ACH50, lysozyme, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities were increased before and/or after high‐temperature stress (32°C). In conclusion, the results showed, for the first time, that dietary supplementation with ~1% PAE can improve growth performance, stimulated the digestive enzymes, and enchanced antioxidant status as well as immune parameters and prevented high‐temperature stress of common carp.
Senile Gluteal Dermatosis: Update on Etiopathogenesis, Diagnostic Criteria, and Management
Authors: Majid Imran , Jairam Dharmender , Baheti Kapil
Published: June 2024

Senile gluteal dermatosis (SGD) is an underdiagnosed skin condition that mostly affects the elderly. It appears as hyperkeratotic or lichenoid papules or plaques over the gluteal area, unilaterally or bilaterally. The etiopathogenesis of this condition is not yet known, but it is considered to be caused by prolonged mechanical stress on the affected area leading to neovascularization and epidermal hyperplasia. SGD poses unique problems in diagnosis and management due to its clinical characteristics and histological findings matching other common conditions. Due to its lesser‐known status, it is frequently misdiagnosed as lichen simplex chronicus, inverse psoriasis, or cutaneous amyloidosis, which results in a variable response to treatment. Lifestyle modifications aiming at reducing pressure at the affected site remain the mainstay of treatment, but some reports have shown better results with topical or systemic retinoids. SGD is underreported in the scientific literature and is still not mentioned significantly in textbooks. This review attempts to give a thorough overview of SGD regarding its clinical presentation, etiology, pathogenesis, dermoscopy, diagnostic standards, differential diagnoses, and accessible treatments. Healthcare practitioners can enhance early recognition and provide the right care for afflicted people by raising knowledge and understanding of this disorder.
Pi*S and Pi*Z Alleles of SERPINA1 Gene Are Associated With Specific Variants of a BRD4‐Independent Enhancer
Authors: Escuela-Escobar Ainhoa , Herrera-Luis Esther , Martín-González Elena , Hernández-Pérez José María , González Carracedo Mario A. , Pérez José Antonio Pérez
Published: June 2024

Alpha‐1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is a genetic disorder caused by specific variants in the SERPINA1 gene, which encodes AAT. The most common disease‐associated SERPINA1 variants are Pi ∗ S and Pi ∗ Z alleles, which cause moderate and severe AATD, respectively. Recent studies have reported the presence of a possible regulator of SERPINA gene cluster expression (LOC126862032), which is suggested to act as a BRD4‐Independent Enhancer (SERPINA‐BIE). This study is aimed at characterizing the SERPINA‐BIE locus and assessing possible associations with SERPINA1 AATD‐related alleles. For this purpose, SERPINA‐BIE was PCR genotyped from 917 samples, including 452 asthmatic patients, and 465 newborns. Nine SERPINA‐BIE alleles were sequenced, revealing a specific combination of 56‐bp sequence types, and each SERPINA‐BIE allele has a unique total number of CpG sites. Statistical analyses revealed an association between the Pi ∗ Z allele of the SERPINA1 gene and the SERPINA‐BIE allele 13 (p value = 5.51 × 10−10), as well as between Pi ∗ S and SERPINA‐BIE allele 14 (p value = 8.95 × 10−15). However, AAT levels were not associated with SERPINA‐BIE alleles when models were corrected by SERPINA1 genotypes. This study could contribute to a better understanding of the regulation of the SERPINA1 gene expression, and its role in AATD.
Identification and Validation of TEAD Family’s Prognostic Effects and Immune Microenvironment Regulations in Glioma
Authors: Huo Zhengyuan , Gu Shaorui , Bian Zheng , Wang Wenli , Jiang Zhifeng
Published: June 2024

Background. Gliomas are primary malignant tumors of the central nervous system. The TEA domain transcription factor (TEAD) family proteins are the ultimate effector molecules of the Hippo pathway. However, their expression and function in gliomas have not been further studied. Methods. This study employed R software as the primary analysis tool. Public databases were used to analyze the expression and prognostic significance of TEADs. Functional enrichment analyses were conducted to determine the functions of the TEADs. We then explored their interaction with tumor‐infiltrating immune cells and immune checkpoint proteins (ICPs). A Cox regression model was used to estimate the prognostic value of the TEADs. Finally, we conducted experiments to confirm TEAD3’s function in vitro. Results. TEAD expression was frequently increased in glioma and other malignant tumors. High TEAD expression was found to be substantially linked with isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild type, noncodeletion of 1p/19q, high WHO grade, and poor prognosis in glioma patients. Functional analyses revealed TEAD involvement in cancer cell transcription. The high expression of TEADs was greatly related to the myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T‐cells (Tregs) infiltration. TEADs also showed significant correlations with ICP expression in glioma tissues. The Cox regression model demonstrated significant diagnostic and prognostic efficacy in glioma patients. The reduction in TEAD3 affects tumor cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and immune regulation. RNA sequencing disclosed that TEAD3 regulates immune‐related pathways, including negative regulation of the CTLA4 inhibitory pathway. Higher TEAD3 expression portended shorter overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) in patients with gliomas based on clinical samples. Conclusions. TEADs are overexpressed in gliomas and are associated with a poor prognosis. Importantly, this study discovered that TEADs influence the immunological milieu of glioma by modulating genes associated with immune infiltration.
The Influence of Thickness on the Mechanical Behaviors of 3D Printing Resins for Orthodontic Retainers
Authors: Nakornnoi Theerasak , Bunjerdjin Patamaporn , Santiwong Peerapong , Sipiyaruk Kawin , Neoh Siew Peng , Chintavalakorn Rochaya
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to evaluate the mechanical behaviors of thermoformed and 3D‐printed retainers with different thicknesses. Thermoformed retainers (Duran) and 3D‐printed retainers (Dental LT Clear V2 and NextDent Ortho Flex) were fabricated at thicknesses of 0.5, 0.75, and 1 mm. Five samples of each material were subjected to compression, tensile, and flexural testing with the universal testing machine (Instron Ltd., Buckinghamshire, England). The results revealed that the mechanical behaviors were significantly influenced by thickness in each type of material. The increased thickness tended to increase strength and modulus in all three tests. However, Dental LT Clear V2 and Duran showed that flexural strength and modulus were inversely related to thickness. The compressive test revealed significantly greater compressive resistance in 3D‐printed groups, except for the NextDent Ortho Flex at 0.5 mm. The tensile test showed that Dental LT Clear V2 at all thicknesses demonstrated significantly higher tensile strength and modulus, while NextDent Ortho Flex was significantly lowest at any thickness in tensile and flexural properties. In conclusion, the thickness significantly influenced the mechanical behaviors of the 3D‐printed retainers. The 0.75 mm thickness of Dental LT Clear V2 could be considered as an alternative to fabricated retainers due to its similar mechanical properties compared with the thermoformed material.
Supplementary Data from Activation of the Mevalonate Pathway in Response to Anti-cancer Treatments Drives Glioblastoma Recurrences Through Activation of Rac-1
Authors: He Ling , Ioannidis Angeliki , Hoffman Carter J. , Arambula Evelyn , Joshi Purva , Whitelegge Julian , Liau Linda M. , Kornblum Harley I. , Pajonk Frank
Published: June 2024

Supplemental Data
Challenges in multi-task learning for fMRI-based diagnosis: Benefits for psychiatric conditions and CNVs would likely require thousands of patients
Authors: Harvey Annabelle , Moreau Clara A. , Kumar Kuldeep , Huguet Guillaume , Urchs Sebastian G.W. , Sharmarke Hanad , Jizi Khadije , Martin Charles-Olivier , Younis Nadine , Tamer Petra , Martineau Jean-Louis , Orban Pierre , Silva Ana Isabel , Hall Jeremy , van den Bree Marianne B.M. , Owen Michael J. , Linden David E.J. , Lippé Sarah , Bearden Carrie E. , Dumas Guillaume , Jacquemont Sébastien , Bellec Pierre
Published: June 2024

There is a growing interest in using machine learning (ML) models to perform automatic diagnosis of psychiatric conditions; however, generalising the prediction of ML models to completely independent data can lead to sharp decrease in performance. Patients with different psychiatric diagnoses have traditionally been studied independently, yet there is a growing recognition of neuroimaging signatures shared across them as well as rare genetic copy number variants (CNVs). In this work, we assess the potential of multi-task learning (MTL) to improve accuracy by characterising multiple related conditions with a single model, making use of information shared across diagnostic categories and exposing the model to a larger and more diverse dataset. As a proof of concept, we first established the efficacy of MTL in a context where there is clearly information shared across tasks: the same target (age or sex) is predicted at different sites of data collection in a large functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) dataset compiled from multiple studies. MTL generally led to substantial gains relative to independent prediction at each site. Performing scaling experiments on the UK Biobank, we observed that performance was highly dependent on sample size: for large sample sizes (N > 6000) sex prediction was better using MTL across three sites (N = K per site) than prediction at a single site (N = 3K), but for small samples (N < 500) MTL was actually detrimental for age prediction. We then used established machine-learning methods to benchmark the diagnostic accuracy of each of the 7 CNVs (N = 19–103) and 4 psychiatric conditions (N = 44–472) independently, replicating the accuracy previously reported in the literature on psychiatric conditions. We observed that MTL hurt performance when applied across the full set of diagnoses, and complementary analyses failed to identify pairs of conditions which would benefit from MTL. Taken together, our results show that if a successful multi-task diagnostic model of psychiatric conditions were to be developed with resting-state fMRI, it would likely require datasets with thousands of patients across different diagnoses.
Geopyxis carolinae sp. nov. (Pezizomycetes, Ascomycota) from Mexico
Authors: SÁNCHEZ-FLORES MARCOS , GARCÍA-JIMÉNEZ JESÚS , MARTÍNEZ-GONZÁLEZ CÉSAR R. , EKANAYAKA ANUSHA H. , RAYMUNDO TANIA
Published: June 2024

Geopyxis is an ectomycorrhizal genus found in temperate forests. The members form yellow and orange to brown apothecia that range from 3–25 mm in diameter. Its ascospores are smooth to finely verrucous. The specimen collected from Mount Tlaloc, Texcoco, State of Mexico, was identified as Geopyxis carolinae sp. nov. This species typically forms sessile apothecia, cupuliform to discoid, and its ascospores are the largest [17–23(25) × 10–12 µm] within the genus. The species was found growing on a burnt ground associated with Abies religiosa. Multi-gene phylogenetic analyses inferred from ITS and LSU sequence data confirmed that Geopyxis carolinae is distinct from other Geopyxis spp. The new species is described, illustrated, and compared with similar taxa based on molecular and morphological data.
Three new species and one new synonymy in the genus Phlugiolopsis (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae)
Authors: PAN YANGYANG , PANG SIYU , BIAN XUN
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we describe three new species from Yunnan Province and propose one new synonym in the genus. To better understand the new species, we provided morphological illustrations of allied species. All specimens were deposited in Guangxi Normal University.
One new genus and species of the tribe Meconematini (Orthoptera: Tettigoniidae: Meconematinae) from Hainan, China
Authors: PAN YANGYANG , BIAN XUN
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we propose one new genus with one new species from Hainan Province, namely, Neophlugiolopsis gen. nov. and N. longiprocera sp. nov. The differences between the new genus and allied genera in morphology are discussed, which can be distinguished by the shape of the posterior process of the tenth abdominal tergite and cerci in males. All specimens were deposited in Guangxi Normal University.
Research on the Development and Policy Evolution of CCUS Industry at Home and Abroad
Authors: Yu Jing , Zhou Bo , Fang Pingliang , Li Bing , Sun Wenchao , Chang Long
Published: June 2024

CCUS is internationally recognized as one of the three major pathways to achieve carbon neutrality goals. It is an important choice for realizing zero emissions from large-scale fossil energy utilization and a feasible technological solution to offset carbon emissions in industries such as power, steel, and cement where emissions reductions are challenging. Systematic analysis of the development and policy evolution of the CCUS industry at home and abroad can provide theoretical basis and practical guidance for China's energy transition and development under the background of carbon emission peaking and achieving carbon neutrality. Guided by the strategic goals of national energy security, carbon emission peaking, and achieving carbon neutrality, this study aims to analyze the global development process and stage characteristics of the CCUS industry, investigate the supporting policies in the CCUS field and their evolution patterns, summarize the current status and trends of the CCUS industry at home and abroad, and provide reference for the implementation of national energy green and low-carbon transformation and the construction of a new energy system. In terms of industry, European and American countries emphasize national-level technological guidance and macro-control. The United States has introduced the progressive 45Q tax credit policy, and the European Union has included CCUS in its carbon trading system. The US National Carbon Capture Center provides a testing environment and facilities for CCUS technology research and development, and has established a carbon dioxide industry cluster and transportation hub. In terms of policies, tax credits and carbon trading policies in Europe and America have attracted various types of capital investment, establishing a relatively complete legal framework system. These regions have been leading in CCUS technology research and deployment, holding dominant positions and decision-making power in mainstream international CCUS organizations such as the CSLF, IEA, GCCSI, and OGCI. This study benchmarks the forward-looking and strategic development status of the CCUS industry at home and abroad, elucidates the challenges facing CCUS industry development, and proposes future trends and policy support needs for the CCUS industry. The research reveals that Europe and America emphasize national-level technological guidance and macro-control, focusing on the construction of regional industrial networks and having established a relatively complete legal and regulatory framework system. Compared to other countries, China needs to establish national-level guidance on CCUS development, regional carbon dioxide capture and transportation networks, and enact specific laws, regulations, and technical standards for CCUS.