bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Life Cycle Assessment of Improved Oil Recovery While Helping to Achieve Net Zero Emissions from Shale Reservoirs
Authors: Bao Xiaolin , Amaya Alfonso Fragoso , Aguilera Roberto
Published: August 2023

Shale reservoirs will help to meet oil demand that is forecasted to continue increasing for several years. Oil recovery from shales is low and has been reported to range between 5% and 10%. The objective of this paper is to show how oil recovery from shale can be improved while simultaneously reducing CO2 emissions, thus contributing to the goal of a net-zero future.

The proposed methodology shows how oil recovery from shales can be increased while simultaneously storing CO2 in undepleted (as opposed to depleted) shale oil reservoirs and consequently contributing to a future with net-zero emissions. The methodology is developed with the use of reservoir simulation and is achieved by performing the following procedure: (1) Start huff ’n’ puff CO2 injection 2 or 3 years after the well goes on oil production so the shale reservoir is essentially undepleted, and (2) store CO2 gradually in the shale reservoir during the huff periods, and continuously once the huff ’n’ puff project is finalized.

The simulation model includes a history match period with actual production data from a pilot horizontal well and a forecast period with huff ’n’ puff CO2 injection. Two cases, one with diffusion and one without diffusion, are conducted for evaluating the molecular diffusion effect. The initial reservoir pressure is never exceeded during the life cycle of the project as a safeguard against the possible creation of new fractures or reactivation of faults.

Life cycle assessment (LCA) indicates that the ratio of cumulative stored CO2 to cumulative equivalent CO2 emissions during the project is approximately 31.3%, helping us consequently in the goal to eventually achieve a future with net-zero emissions. A careful literature survey indicates that the methodology proposed in this paper that includes enhanced oil recovery (EOR) by huff ’n’ puff CO2 injection and the simultaneous storage of CO2 in the shale reservoir is novel and has not been considered previously in geoscience or petroleum engineering literature.
Intelligent Transport Systems as the Basis of de Lege Ferenda of the Transport System of the Russian Federation
Authors: Bazhina M. A.
Published: August 2023

Objective: to research the trends of legal regulation of using intelligent transport systems under digital transformation of the transport sector of economy, namely, the growing importance of intelligent transport systems in the future transport system of the Russian Federation.

Methods: systemic-structural method is the basis for researching intelligent transport systems. It enables to study the architecture of intelligent transport systems as a complex structural unity. Also, comparative-legal method was used, aimed at illustrating the differences and similarities in the legal regulation of intelligent transport systems. Methods of legal modeling and forecasting, as well as formal-logic method, served as secondary methods to comprehensively study the legal regulation of intelligent transport systems.

Results: the article presents conceptual approaches to defining the notion of “intelligent transport systems” and outlining the hierarchy of intelligent transport systems, which play a fundamental role in building the transport sector. Based on the analysis, conclusions are made about the vectors of forming transport legislation, aimed at regulating the use of intelligent transport systems.

Scientific novelty: the article provides a conceptual approach to forming the legal regulation of intelligent transport systems. To this end, the issue is considered about the essential content of the notion of “intelligent transport systems” at legal and scientific levels; the current terminological problems in building the legal regulation are shown. Analysis of the architecture of intelligent transport systems allowed for the first time to formulate the basic approaches to shaping the legal regulation of its individual elements (including highly automated and fully automated transport means, “smart” infrastructure, etc.) not in isolation but as constituent parts of the whole matter.

Practical significance: the presented materials and conclusions facilitate the development of legal regulation of transport industry under digital transformation. The article accentuates the legal regulation of intelligent transport systems taking into account their technical and technological features. It is the intelligent transport systems that are de lege ferenda of the transport system, which determines the vector of transformation of transport legislation. In turn, development of the legal bases allows broadening the geography of introducing technical novelties and making their application much more large-scale.
Sovereignty vs. Digital Sovereignty
Authors: Robles-Carrillo M.
Published: August 2023

Objective: the aim of this paper is to analyze the relationship between sovereignty and digital sovereignty in order to determine whether they are linked or autonomous concepts and in which cases and to what extent there is or is not a connection between the two categories.

Methods: the methodology is based on the analysis of international, European and national practice and scientific discourse, taking into account sovereignty and digital sovereignty from a threefold perspective: contextual, conceptual and functional.

Results: 1) analysis of the correlation between sovereignty and digital sovereignty showed that both are related concepts; 2) important consequences that digital sovereignty has in the case of States and the European Union are defined: a) there is a substantial difference between sovereignty and digital sovereignty because the former is only applied to States, while the latter is also used in reference to the EU; b) digital sovereignty is not necessarily a consequence or an extension of sovereignty; c) while in the case of States, digital sovereignty is justified as a safeguard of traditional sovereignty, in case of European Union its function must necessarily be different, since the European Union lacks sovereignty.

Scientific novelty: the analysis of this relationship provides an objective scientific premise for a comprehensive understanding of the idea of digital sovereignty. From the perspective of the context where they operate, as well as their concept and functions, sovereignty and digital sovereignty seem to be autonomous and, in some cases, complementary categories.

Practical significance: the dual functionality of digital sovereignty as a concept attached to national sovereignty and as an autonomous concept helps to explain the use of this category in the case of states and in the case of an organization such as the European Union, as well as the differences in its scope and meaning in each scenario.
Features of Online Settlement of Consumer Disputes by e-commerce Platforms in the People’s Republic of China
Authors: Ermakova E. P.
Published: August 2023

Objective: to research the features of online dispute settlement by e-commerce platforms in the People’s Republic of China, to reveal positive features and drawbacks of ODS technologies applied by the platforms.

Methods: empirical methods of comparison, description, interpretation; theoretical methods of formal and dialectical logic. Specific scientific methods were used: legal-dogmatic and the method of legal norms interpretation.

Results: it was found that the internal ODS model on e-commerce Taobao ODS platforms is a direct, clear and effective means of online resolution of consumer disputes. However, being a non-independent “third party”, the internal ODS mechanism of e-commerce platforms will never be able to substitute other external systems of dispute resolution. ODS relies on the data and Internet processes much stronger than traditional dispute resolution. Among the many safety factors emerging as a result of online processes, ODS creates the risk of data leakage, lack of confidentiality and unsafe consumer protection. ODS also causes concerns due to traditional principles of justice such as objectivity, confidentiality and safety of data in the process of dispute settlement. Not only the People’s Republic of China but any country introducing the ODS technologies into the procedures of dispute resolution should take serious measures to ensure the ODS processes are just, unbiased and guarantee observance of procedural rights. 

Scientific novelty: consists in a complex research of online dispute settlement by e-commerce platforms in the People’s Republic of China, the practice of implementation thereof has its specific features stemming from the model of self-regulation of thee relations, further stipulated by normative legal acts of the People’s Republic of China and reflected in the activity of private ODS platforms.

Practical significance: is due to the current absence of possibility to apply the legal norms and rules, taking into account the specific features of ODS technologies on private platforms, to the relations using such technologies. The main provisions and conclusions of the research can be used to improve the mechanisms of legal regulation of ODS technologies in the procedural legislation of the Russian Federation.
Genesis and Prospects of Development of Legal Regulation of Digital Financial Assets in the Russian Federation
Authors: Peretolchin A. P.
Published: August 2023

Objective: to research the existing problems and promising directions of the legal regulation of digital financial assets as a relatively new tool of the modern digital economy.

Methods: the methodological basis of the work is the set of scientific cognition methods such as theoretical analysis, research, comparison, synthesis, and summarization of scientific literature.

Results: the work analyzes the existing approaches to legal regulation of digital financial assets in the Russian Federation and some foreign countries, reveals the existing gaps in the Russian legislation in the field of circulation of digital financial assets, gives estimation to the prospects of development of the legal regulation of these tools and forms proposals for its improving. Also, during the research, the approaches to legal regulation of digital currencies and digital financial assets, adopted in certain foreign countries, were analyzed, the trends were considered, and the positive and negative aspects of using cryptographic algorithms for the goals in economic and juridical spheres of the global economy were reflected.

Scientific novelty: within the work, the topical issues of legislative regulation of such a relatively new notion as digital financial assets are considered. The positions of Russian and foreign jurist are considered concerning the existing problems and risks associated with “tokenization” and “blockachainization” of private law. Besides, the author comes to a conclusion about the existence of significant gaps in the current approach to legal regulation of digital financial assets, indicates them and proposes certain mechanisms to solve these problems.

Practical significance: is due to the imperfect current legislation in the sphere of relations occurring when using the technologies based of distributed ledger, including digital financial assets. Research of these problems allows evaluating the risks, considering the existing ways of overcoming and solving the emerging disputable questions. Also, the conclusions obtained can be used to improve the Russian legislation, as well as in the academic literature devoted to the topical issues of developing the digital legislation.
Facial Recognition Technology and Ensuring Security of Biometric Data: Comparative Analysis of Legal Regulation Models
Authors: Utegen D. , Rakhmetov B. Zh.
Published: August 2023

Objective: to specify the models of legal regulation in the sphere of biometric identification and authentication with facial recognition technology in order to elaborate recommendations for increasing information security of persons and state-legal protection of their right to privacy.

Methods: risk-oriented approach in law and specific legal methods of cognition, such as comparative-legal analysis and juridical forecasting, are significant for the studied topic and allow comparing the legal regulation models used in foreign countries and their unions in the sphere of biometric identification and authentication with facial recognition systems, forecasting the possible risks for the security of biometric data, taking into account the prospects of further dissemination of the modern facial recognition technology, and to shape recommendations on legal protection of biometric data.

Results: the ways are proposed to further improve legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other countries currently developing the legal regulation of biometric data, regarding the admissible criteria for using the facial recognition technology, the elaboration of categorization of biometric systems with a high and low risk levels (by the example of the experience of artificial intelligence regulation in the European Union), and the necessity to introduce a system of prohibitions of mass and unselective surveillance of humans with video surveillance systems, etc.

Scientific novelty: consists in identifying a positive advanced foreign experience of developing legal regulation in the sphere of facial recognition based on biometry (European Union, the United States of America, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), which can be used for further improvement of the national legislation in order to create more effective mechanisms of legal protection of personal data, including biometric information.

Practical significance: based on risk-oriented approach and comparative analysis, the research allows elaborating measures for enhancing the legal protection of biometric data and ensuring effective protection of civil rights and freedoms by forecasting further expansion of the modern facial recognition technology.
An Electromechanical and Radio Frequency Analysis of RF Mems Switch Using Staircase Shaped Spring for 5G Telecommunication
Authors: Narzary Trigunesh , Kumar R
Published: August 2023

A new and innovative design capacitive type of RF MEMS switch using a staircase shaped spring made of a high dielectric constant material titanium dioxide (TiO2) is presented in this paper. A spring constant of 2.18 N/m is used to enhance the performance of the electromechanical parameters such as actuation voltage and switching time of the designed switch. The proposed switch resulted in actuation voltages of 2.3 V and 6.7 V for 1 µm and 2 µm air-gaps, respectively. The RF analysis of the proposed switch was conducted in the frequency sweep of 1–40 GHz. The best isolation obtained was − 28.02 dB at 9 GHz during the OFF state of the switch with a fast-switching time of 33 µs. The optimum return loss during the ON state of the switch was found to be -47.84 dB and − 52.26 dB for 1 µm and 2 µm air-gaps, respectively. The insertion loss of the proposed capacitive switch over the applied frequency sweep was also determined to be within − 0.01 to -0.24 dB. The evaluation and optimization of the electromechanical and RF parameters of the switch were accomplished by utilizing COMSOL Multiphysics and ANSYS HFSS, respectively. From the analysis of the proposed switch it is evident that it is suitable for use in 5G telecommunication applications.
High-Speed and Low-Power Recursive Rounding Based Approximate Multipliers for Error-Resilience Applications
Authors: Rao Emandi Jagadeeswara , P Samundiswary
Published: August 2023

Approximate multipliers play a requisite role in error-resilience applications having a trade-off between error and design metrics. Consequently, in this paper, recursive rounding-based approximate multipliers are proposed to enhance both error and design metrics. First, in the n/2-bit, the most significant and least significant bits are chosen for every n-bit input operand. Next, these n/2-bits are rounded to the closest power of two in the proposed multipliers architecture. Succeedingly, the final multiplication product is achieved using rounding, shifters, and adders. On top of that, all the proposed and existing multipliers are developed using Verilog Code with inputs widths ranging from 8-bit to 32-bit, synthesized using Cadence RTL compiler, and simulated using Vivado and MATLAB for Image Smoothing Filter. Further, the error and design metrics of the newly developed and existing multipliers are analyzed. It is observed through the simulation results that reductions in delay and power consumption are achieved through the proposed multipliers on an average of 21.35% and 40%, respectively, compared to that of state-of-the-art multipliers. Furthermore, the proposed multipliers also provide high PSNR and SSIM over the existing multipliers after incorporating the proposed multipliers in the image smoothing filter, which is suitable for Error-Resilience applications.
Task Scheduling Strategy of Logistics Cloud Robot Based on edge computing
Authors: Tang Hengliang , Jiao Rongxin , Xue Fei , Cao Yang , Yang Yongli , Zhang Shiqiang
Published: August 2023

The logistics industry has entered the era of highly information-based intelligent logistics. In order to save resource consumption and improve the cooperation efficiency between robots, a centralized computing mode has emerged in the application of warehousing robots, namely, logistics cloud robots. In order to improve the work efficiency of the logistics cloud robot, this paper designs a task resource scheduling model of the cloud logistics robot in the edge computing environment. The logistics cloud robot can improve the response efficiency by unloading some delay sensitive tasks to the edge server, and assign the delay insensitive tasks to the cloud computing center. Therefore, it is particularly important to reasonably allocate tasks to appropriate computing cells. The model combines graph convolution network and heuristic algorithm, and designs a joint scheduling strategy to unload requests to edge services and cloud servers reasonably, so as to maximize the use of computing resources. Based on the joint scheduling strategy, the optimal long-term scheduling decision is generated to reduce scheduling time and improve service quality. To evaluate the effectiveness of the model, we use heterogeneous earliest completion time (HEFT) and other algorithms as benchmarks to compare the performance of the model. In order to verify the authenticity of the scheduling scheme, we conducted simulation experiments on the EdgeCloudSim platform to verify the quality of service of task scheduling in different scenarios. The experimental results show that the proposed method is superior to most of the comparison methods and can better optimize the task scheduling efficiency of the logistics cloud robot.
Association between Allergic Bronchopulmonary Aspergillosis and Tuberculosis: A Systematic Review of 397 cases in literature
Authors: Ajayababu Anuj , Hoenigl Martin , Ray Animesh
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Although allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is classically described in asthma and cystic fibrosis, tuberculosis (TB) with post-tubercular cavitary lung disease has recently been considered a probable predisposing factor for development of ABPA. While association of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with structural lung disease post TB has been well elucidated, the association with ABPA has not been reviewed systematically and the literature is quite scarce. Methods: We systematically screened the available literature from PubMed, Embase, SCOPUS and Web of Science databases for studies reporting association between ABPA and TB from 2010 to present using appropriate search terms, including the development of ABPA and Aspergillus sensitization in patients with previous or concomitant TB or post-tubercular structural lung disease (PTLD). Results: A total of 624 studies were identified from the initial search from the databases. After removal of duplicates (n = 213 results), 411 articles were chosen for review of abstracts. Out of these, 358 were removed after initial screening and eight were removed during final screening due to absence of adequate data on association of ABPA and TB. A total of 45 articles were included in the final systematic review of which, 21 were original articles and 24 were case reports. Four patterns of associations were described in a total of 397 patients: ABPA misdiagnosed as TB (51%), ABPA in patients with previous TB (22%), co-existent ABPA and TB (4%) and Aspergillus sensitization in patients with prior or active TB (23%). There was significant heterogeneity in terms of the criteria used for diagnosis of ABPA as well as in the diagnosis of pulmonary TB. The radiological patterns, treatment and outcomes were mostly reported for the overall population screened and not individually for patients who showed some form of ABPA-TB association. Central bronchiectasis (28%), mucoid-impaction/high-attenuation mucus/’glove and finger’ shadows (28%) and cavitary lesions (37%) were the most common radiographic abnormalities out of those whose individual radiological data could be extracted. Around 67% of the patients for whom treatment given were reported received steroids and/or antifungals. Adequate treatment response was reported for all the patients for whom it was reported. Conclusion: ABPA may be associated with TB in numerous ways. Misdiagnosis of ABPA as TB is the most common pattern followed by the patterns of Aspergillus sensitization /ABPA developing in patients with history of TB. The least common pattern was the that of concomitant TB and ABPA. On account of lack of uniformity in diagnosing ABPA and TB – future well designed studies are required to confirm these associations.
Expression and Prognosis for PA system in Human Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Hu zelin , Huang Jiazhen¹ , Li Yibing , Wang Shengnan , Meng Xuanzhu , Yuan Yinxue , Xiao Aichen , wang ning
Published: August 2023

The plasminogen activator (PA) system is a protease hydrolysis system involved in many physiological processes. The PA system consists of four components, namely a urokinase-type plasminogen activator PLAU, its receptor PLAUR, and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and − 2 (PAI-1 and PAI-2). It has been found that the combination of PLAU and PLAUR effectively triggers a series of proteolytic cascades to degrade extracellular matrix components. In recent years, studies have found that the PA system has different functional roles in the development of various tumors. The PA system is differentially expressed in various tumors, including ovarian cancer (OV). However, the specific role and prognosis of the PA system in ovarian cancer remain unclear. In this study, we combined multiple databases to evaluate how the PA system affects the occurrence and progression of OV and predict its prognostic value. In addition, we also investigated the function of the PA system and the relationship between the differential expression of PA members and the level of OV immune infiltration. Correlation analysis was also performed on the current "FDA approved" and "clinical trial" drugs and molecular compounds. The results showed that the differential expression of each component of the PA system was significantly associated with the poor prognosis of OV and was enriched in multiple oncogenic signaling pathways that promote the occurrence, development, and metastasis of the disease. In conclusion, the PA system could be as a detection biomarker and potential therapeutic targets for patients with OV.
Experiences of Pregnant Venezuelan Migrants/Refugees in Brazil, Ecuador and Peru: A Qualitative Analysis
Authors: Zaman Michele , McCann Victoria , Noriega Monica , Marisol Maria , Bartels Susan A , Purkey Eva
Published: August 2023

Background: Venezuela has been experiencing an intense and rapid outflow of migrants/refugees unprecedented in Latin America. It is estimated that since 2014, approximately 7.3 million Venezuelans have left the country. Although both male and female migrants/refugees are vulnerable, female migrants/refugees are more likely to face discrimination, emotional, physical and sexual violence. This paper explores the experiences of pregnant Venezuelan migrants/refugees.
Methods: In the parent study, Spryng.io’s sensemaking tool was used to gain insight into the gendered migration experiences of Venezuelan women/girls. A total of 9339 micronarratives were collected from 9116 unique participants in Peru, Ecuador and Brazil from January to April 2022. For the purpose of this analysis, two independent reviewers screened 817 micronarratives which were identified by the participant as being about someone who was pregnant, ultimately including 231 as part of the thematic analysis. This was an exploratory study and an open thematic analysis of the narratives was performed.
Results: The mean age and standard deviation of our population was 25.77 ± 6.73. The majority of women in the sample already had at least 1 child (62%), were married at the time of migration (53%) and identified as low socio-economic status (59%). The qualitative analysis revealed the following main themes among pregnant Venezuelan migrants/refugees: xenophobia in the forms of racial slurs and hostile treatment from health-care workers while accessing pregnancy care; sexual, physical, and verbal violence experienced during migration; lack of shelter, resources and financial support; and travelling with the hopes of a better future.
Conclusion: Pregnant Venezuelan migrants/refugees are a vulnerable population that encounter complex gender-based and societal issues that are rarely sufficiently reported. The findings of this study can inform governments, non-governmental organizations and international organizations to improve support systems for pregnant migrants/refugees. Based on the results of our study we recommend addressing xenophobia in health-care centres and the lack of shelter and food in host countries at various levels, creating support spaces for pregnant women who experience trauma or violence, and connecting women with reliable employment opportunities and maternal healthcare.
Interaction between HTR2A rs3125 and negative life events in suicide attempts among patients with major depressive disorder: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Pang Jian-Yue , Wang Yi-Ping , Teng Hui-Min , He Jin , Luo Rui , Feng Si-Meng , Yue Wei-Hua , Li Heng-Fen
Published: August 2023

Background: Both genetic and environmental factors play important roles in the development of major depressive disorder (MDD) and suicide attempts (SA). However, the interaction between both items has yet to be identified. This study, aims to explore the interactions between the genetic variants of serotonin 2A receptor (HTR2A) and the nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) and environmental factors in patients who experience MDD and SA.
Methods: A total of 334 patients with MDD and a history of SA (MDD-SA) were recruited alongside 518 patients with MDD with no history of SA (MDD-NSA), and 716 healthy controls (HC). The demographic information and clinical characteristics were collected. Sequenom mass spectrometry was used to detect eight tag-single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs) in HTR2A (rs1328683, rs17068986, and rs3125) and NOS1 (rs1123425, rs2682826, rs3741476, rs527590, and rs7959232). Generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR) was used to analyze gene -environment interactions.
Results: Among the three groups, significant differences were found in four tagSNPs (rs17068986, rs3125, rs527590 and rs7959232), but these differences not found to be significant between MDD-SA and MDD-NSA after Bonferroni correction. Logistic regression analysis showed that negative life events (OR = 1.495, 95%CI: 1.071-2.087, P = 0.018), self-guilt (OR =2.263, 95%CI: 1.515-3.379, P< 0.001), and negative cognition (OR = 2.252, 95%CI: 1.264-4.013, P = 0.006) were all independently associated with SA in patients with MDD. GMDR analysis indicated that the interaction between HTR2A rs3125 and negative life events was significant. Negative life events in association with the HTR2A rs3125 CG + GG genotype were associated with a higher SA risk in patients with MDD, compared with the condition of no-negative life events in association with the CC genotype (OR = 2.547, 95% CI: 1.264-5.131, P = 0.009).
Conclusion: Several risk factors and a potential interaction between HTR2A rs3125 and negative life events were identified in patients with SA and MDD. The interaction may modulate the risk of MDD and SA, and this finding provides evidence of the pathogenesis of SA in patients with MDD.
Notopterol Protects against Heart Failure Post-myocardial Infarction via GSK3β-dependent Pathway Notopterol Protects against Heart Failure
Authors: Yang Cheng-Mei , Shan Qing , Wen Jia-Li , Guo Jin-Min , Yao Tian-Ming
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Heart failure (HF), which frequently results from myocardial infarction (MI), leads to death and morbidity to a great extent globally, commonly developed from. Notopterol (NOT) is an active monomer extract obtained from Notopterygium incisum Ting ex H.T. Chang (N. incisum), a traditional Chinese medicine, that is extensively used in the clinical practice of cardiovascular disease and provides definite curative effects. NOT has been proven to be the most abundant constituent enriched in patients' serum and N. incisum ethanol extract. However, the role of NOT and its molecular target in HF remain unknown.
Methods: In vivo, left anterior descending (LAD) ligation was conducted for MI induction and then for four weeks to induce HF. Mice were treated with NOT intragastrically for four weeks. Early (0.5 h post-MI) and delayed (12 h post-MI) pre-administration post-MI, as well as a therapeutictreatment after HF, were carried out. Echocardiography was used to assess heart function. H&E staining, wheat germ agglutinin (WGA), as well as Masson trichromatic heart stainings, were applied to evaluate cardiac remodeling, myocardial hypertrophy, and fibrosis, as well as the expression of molecules. In vitro, mouse HL1 cells were treated with NOT after Ang II-stimulation. We measured cardiomyocyte hypertrophythrough α-actinin immunofluorescence staining and hypertrophy gene expression. Meanwhile, phosphorylation of GSK3β is measured after NOT treatment. Then, GSK3β inhibitor 1-AKP was utilized for investigating NOT underlying pathway.
Results:In vivo, early (0.5 h p-MI) and delayed (12 h p-MI) pretreatment of NOT alleviated cardiac dysfunction after MI and postponed the onset of HF. Intragastrical administration of NOT after HF prevented adverse cardiac remodeling and attenuated hypertrophy and fibrosis against cardiac injury, as well as inflammation. In vitro, NOT presented an anti-hypertrophy property in cultured HL1 cells subjected to AngⅡ-stimulation. NOT served as an inhibitor of GSK3β; it upregulated the inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3β, and its beneficial action against heart hypertrophy is partially abolished by inhibiting GSK3β.
Conclusion: Our studies show that NOT treatment prevented adverse cardiac remodeling, and attenuated hypertrophy and fibrosis, thereby effectively protecting against the development and progressionof HF. GSK3β pathways are involved in the anti-hypertrophy action of NOT.
Endo-Perio Lesions and Dentists’ Treatment Approach: A Survey
Authors: Durmazpinar Parla Meva , Kanmaz Burcu , Buduneli Nurcan
Published: August 2023

Background: Endo-perio lesions have been a great challenge for dentists. The aim of this study was to evaluate the treatment approach of dental practitioners to endo-perio lesions by considering the current endo-perio classification.
Methods: An online survey consisting of questions about the treatment approach to three simulated cases with endo-perio lesions by a periapical radiography and questions derived from these cases were prepared. Questions about the patient's age, presence of systemic disease, smoking, and how the single or multi-rooted tooth would affect the treatment plan were also included in the survey. The survey was sent to 1500 dentists via e-mail, WhatsApp and social media. Chi-square test was used for comparison of data. Significance was evaluated at p<0.05.
Results: In total, 338 dentists participated the survey and 53% of the participants stated that they perform root canal treatment and initial periodontal treatment simultaneously, when both treatments are required. In Grade 3 case, general dentists, endodontists, and periodontists mostly stated that they would prescribe systemic antibiotics if there was a diffuse extraoral swelling (p<0.05). Moreover, in Grade 3 case, more general dentists chose the option “extraction” as the best choice than endodontists and periodontists (p<0.05).
Conclusions: According to the results of this study, general dentists, endodontists, periodontists generally follow different approaches to endo-perio lesions.
Carbon Dioxide Emissions Prediction in China: A Genetic Algorithm-backpropagation Neural Network Approach
Authors: Du Yan , Liu Hui , Xie Mowen , Chicas Santos Daniel
Published: August 2023

With the global climate problem worsening, accurately predicting carbon dioxide emissions has become critical. In this study, we compared and selected various neural network models and a support vector regression (SVR) model to predict China's carbon dioxide emissions from 2022 to 2030. Among the models tested, we found that the Genetic Algorithm-backpropagation (GA-BP) neural network model had the highest prediction accuracy and therefore used it to predict China's future carbon dioxide emissions.We also used the GA-BP neural network model to analyze the factors influencing carbon dioxide emissions and compared the results under three scenarios: baseline, low, and high. Our findings show that under the low carbon emission scenario, China is projected to reach its carbon peak in 2028, with a carbon dioxide emission of 12.184 billion tons. The baseline scenario is projected to reach its carbon peak in 2029, with a carbon dioxide emission of 12.291 billion tons. However, under the high carbon emission scenario, China is not projected to achieve a carbon peak by 2030. Overall, our study provides insights into China's future carbon dioxide emissions, which can inform policy decisions to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change.
Self-propagating wave drives noncanonical antidurotaxis of skull bones in vivo
Authors: Tabler Jacqueline , Dang Yiteng , Lattner Johanna , Lahola-Chomiak Adrian , Afonso Diana , Taubenberger Anna , Ulbricht Elke , Rulands Steffen
Published: August 2023

Cell motility is a key feature of tissue morphogenesis, and it is thought to be driven primarily by the active migration of individual cells or collectives. However, this model is unlikely to apply to cells lacking overt cytoskeletal, stable cell-cell or cell-cell adhesions, and molecular polarity, such as mesenchymal cells. Here, by combining a novel imaging pipeline with biophysical modeling, we discover that during skull morphogenesis, a self-generated collagen gradient expands a population of osteoblasts towards a softer matrix. Biomechanical measurements revealed a gradient of stiffness and collagen along which cells move and divide. The moving cells generate an osteogenic front that travels faster than individual tracked cells, indicating that expansion is also driven by cell differentiation. Through biophysical modeling and perturbation experiments, we found that mechanical feedback between stiffness and cell fate drives bone expansion and controls bone size. Our work provides a mechanism for coordinated motion that does not rely upon the cytoskeletal dynamics of cell migration. We term this self-propagating motion down a stiffness gradient, noncanonical antidurotaxis. Identification of alternative mechanisms of cellular motion will help in understanding how directed cellular motility arises in complex environments with inhomogeneous material properties.
Community Resilience and Migration: Using Best Evidence Synthesis to Promote Migrant Welfare
Authors: D’Souza Jayesh
Published: August 2023

Community resilience is an important success factor in migration. Many migrants experience behavioral and psychological change due to hardships post-migration. Migrant communities that learn to withstand these hardships are said to be resilient. This paper discusses the different factors that influence migration and the level of community resilience. These factors are: empowerment, social networks, change in the ecological and natural environment and economic factors. By using the best evidence synthesis methodology, this study was able to select the most commonly discussed stressors, practices and desired outcomes. In the thirty-one studies reviewed, the variables that had the highest impact on migrant communities were ranked to help community organizations determine which practices to prioritize in building resilience among migrants. Community actions that back migrant integration, health and well-being, education and support services ranked the highest in this best evidence study. These rankings are important in identifying and prioritizing community developmental opportunities that enhance migrant resilience during the settlement process.
Factors Predict the Stroke Specific Quality Of Life In Post Stroke Aphasia Patients in Pakistan
Authors: Bhutta Nimra Ilyas , Sethi Shehzad Waqar , Um-e-Habiba  , Omer Aadil , Syed Shahnoor , Shah Syed Tariq , Haroon Ramsha
Published: August 2023

Background: Stroke-specific quality of life (QoL) is an important outcome measure in stroke rehabilitation, reflecting the impact of stroke and its associated impairments on an individual's overall well-being and daily functioning. Understanding the factors that predict stroke specific QoL in post-stroke aphasia patients in Pakistan is crucial for developing targeted interventions and improving the rehabilitation process.
Objective: to determine the factors predicted the stroke specific quality of life in post stroke aphasia patients in Pakistan.
Methodology: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted in 18 months from June 2021 to December 2022 at RHS Rehabilitation Centre Islamabad Pakistan. A total of n=134 independent participants with fluent and non-fluent aphasia at least six-month post stroke, and able to follow one step command were included in the study through non-probability convenient sampling technique. The stroke specific quality of life (SS-QoL) scale was used to assess the quality of life in the participants, while the list of predictors was developed from the literature. SPSS version 21 was used for statistical analysis.
Result: A multiple regression was run to predict the quality of life from marital status, gender, family status, patient's socioeconomic status, types of strokes, types of aphasia, and comorbidities. These variables statistically significantly predicted quality of life {F(13,120)=10.366, p<0.001}. All variables cause 47.8% (Adj. R2=0.478) variance in stroke specific quality of life in aphasia patients.
Conclusion: the male gender, married marital status, middle and upper socioeconomic status, ischemic stroke compared to hemorrhagic stroke, fluent aphasia, and the cardiac disease compared to other comorbidities positively affect the quality of life in post stroke aphasia patients. But age and the family system did not show any impact on the quality of life.
Lung gene expression study identifying Zscan2 and Bag6 as novel tissue repair players in an experimental model of COPD
Authors: Pérez-Rial Sandra , Carretero Laura Sánchez , Pérez Àdele Chole Cardeñosa , Peces-Barba Germán
Published: August 2023

Background
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common chronic lung disease with an ever-increasing incidence. Despite years of drug research and approvals, we are still not able to halt progress or restore normal lung function. Our previous studies have demonstrated that liver growth factor (LGF) has an effect on the repair of the affected tissue in a mouse model of cigarette smoke exposure (CSE), but by what pathways it achieves this is unknown. The present study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between emphysematous mice treated with LGF to identify potential biomarkers for the treatment of pulmonary emphysema.
Methods
The emphysema mouse model was induced by prolonged exposure to cigarette smoke. To determine the gene expression profile of the lung in smokers treated or not with LGF, lung messenger RNA (mRNA) gene expression was assessed with the Agilent Array platform and validated in mouse lung samples.
Results
The treated group significantly improved lung function (~ 35%) and emphysema level (~ 20%). Microarray analysis demonstrated a total of 290 DEGs (1.5-fold up- or downregulated). The expression trends of 2 genes (Zscan2 and Bag6) were different in emphysematous lungs treated with LGF compared to untreated lungs.
Conclusions
Therefore, Zscan2 and Bag6 could play a role in regulating inflammation and the immune response in the lung that undergoes partial lung regeneration.
Step-by-step causal analysis of Electronic Health Records to ground decision making
Authors: Doutreligne Matthieu , Struja Tristan , Abecassis Judith , Morgand Claire , Varoquaux Gaël , Celi Leo Anthony
Published: August 2023

Accurate predictions, as with machine learning, may not suffice to provide optimal healthcare for every patient. Indeed, prediction can be driven by shortcuts in the data, such as racial biases. Causal thinking is needed for data-driven decisions. Here, we give an introduction to the key elements, focusing on routinely-collected data, electronic health records (EHRs) and claims data. Using such data to assess the value of an intervention requires care: temporal dependencies and existing practices easily confound the causal effect. We present a step-by-step framework to help build valid decision making from real-life patient records by emulating a randomized trial before individualizing decisions, eg with machine learning. Our framework highlights the most important pitfalls and considerations in analysing EHRs or claims data to draw causal conclusions. We illustrate the various choices in studying the effect of albumin on sepsis mortality in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care database (MIMIC-IV). We study the impact of various choices at every step, from feature extraction to causal-estimator selection. In a tutorial spirit, the code and the data are openly available.
Structural fluctuations at nanoscale and cooperative molecular dynamics in bulk water
Authors: Russina Margarita , Günther Gerrit , Farago Bela , Babcock Earl , Salhi Zahir , Ioffe Alexander , Mezei Ferenc
Published: August 2023

The investigation of cooperative dynamics in H2O, visible in the coherent neutron scattering, has been hindered up to now due to the very small signal. Using a novel approach with employing of neutron polarization analysis we were able for the first time to directly measure the coherent neutron scattering signal in light water with unprecedented accuracy. The observed coherent signal is enhanced at intermediate Q range of 0.2-1 Å -1 which is clear evidence that intermolecular interactions in water spread beyond distances between two nearest neighbours. Our study reveals the existence of a picosecond cooperative process in water, whose nature could be related to the cooperative rearrangements between several water molecules. This process serves as a precursor to the large-scale transport related to the viscosity. Our results help to understand the general transport mechanism at nanoscale which can be useful for biomedical technologies or the development of nanofluidic devices.
When the levee breaks: the largest channel-wall collapse ever described
Authors: McArthur Adam , Tek Daniel , Poyatos-Moré Miquel , Colombera Luca , McCaffrey William
Published: August 2023

3D seismic reflection data from the Hikurangi trench-axial channel-levee system, offshore New Zealand, reveal the largest channel-wall failure yet described. Wholesale collapse of both channel banks along a 68 km stretch created a mass transport deposit (MTD) containing blocks up to 4 km long, with a preserved volume of 19 km3. Subsequent deposits have erosional contacts into the MTD, confirming that its original volume was even larger. Channel-walls typically collapse locally, yet synchronous failure of both channel flanks is documented here, implying a catastrophic external trigger. For most of its length, the MTD overlies deposits imaged as high-amplitude reflectors, representing the pre-failure channel floor. Locally these older channel deposits were excavated, transported across and down channel, and then deposited in imbricated stacks, such that the volume of displaced materials exceeded that of the initial failure. Metadata studies of other channel-wall derived MTDs confirm this to be the largest channel-wall collapse documented. MTDs initiated by large-scale levee-collapse like that documented here pose an under-appreciated risk to seafloor infrastructure both within channels and over regions extending at least twice the channel width into their overbank areas.
Effects of Epirubicin-loaded HepaSphere Microsphere with a New Loading Method transarterial chemoembolization: In vitro and In vivo Experiments
Authors: Zhang Wen , Du Nan , Wang Liangwen , Yu Jiaze , Yang Minjie , Zhang Wei , Qu Xvdong , Luo Jianjun , Yan Zhiping
Published: August 2023

Objectives This study aimed to examine pharmacokinetic profiles and embolization effect of HepaSphere (HS) with a new loading method to reduce its expansion size.Methods HS microsphere were loaded in a solution of hypertonic saline and contrast medium at different ratio. Morphology, size distribution and drug loading capacity of the microsphere were evaluated to effectively reduce expansion of HS. Rabbits with hepatic VX2 tumors underwent conventional TACE, drug-eluting beads TACE with HS microsphere loading epirubicin by recommend method (dTACE) or by a new loading method (ndTACE). The plasma and tissue epirubicin concentration, tumor necrosis and the microsphere distribution within the tumor were assessed.Results It was found that the mean diameter of HS microspheres was effectively reduced to 102 ± 14 µm after loading with 10.0% NaCl and Ultravist (370 mg I /mL) at a ratio of 2: 8 ml. The loading capacity reached 78.7%. It was noted that the concentration of tumor epirubicin was significantly higher (p = 0.016) in the ndTACE group (11989.8 ± 5776.6 ng/g) than concentration in the dTACE (6516.5 ± 3682.3 ng/g) and in cTACE groups (1564.1 ± 696.1 ng/g, p < 0.001). Further, the tumor necrosis in group with the new loading method (ndTACE) was 92.4%.Conclusions The size of HS microsphere can be effectively reduced when it is loaded with a mixture of hypertonic saline and non-ionic contrast material. HS microsphere loaded with epirubicin using the new method (ndTACE) can increase the drug concentration in tumor and hence exert better improved antitumor effect.