bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Sustainability of Local Construction Materials in Ecuador Through an Interdisciplinary Approach
Authors: Martínes Juan Sebastián , Barros Estefania , Padrón Kristi , Aguirre Jonnathan , Matasci Cecilia , Crenna Eleonora , Gauch Marcel , Vanegas Paul , Sucozhañay Dolores
Published: January 2025

Worldwide, concrete is used as the material of choice in the construction sector. In Latin American countries, concrete is primarily used in structural elements because it is a low-maintenance, versatile, and economical material. With its characteristics, concrete made it possible to cover the Ecuador´shousing deficit to some extent. However, this construction material does not entirely respond to the needs of the local communities, who are especially concerned about the displacement of traditional techniques and the loss of cultural heritage. In Ecuador, different fiber and earth-based materials used in the construction sector have been used for a long time. These materials present different technical, environmental, social, and cultural characteristics. This study aims to evaluate the sustainability of the production of six local materials in Ecuador under three dimensions: environmental, social, and cultural. Data from local producers were collected, and life-cycle-based methodologies were applied. The results showed the relevance of developing regional inventories to represent the reality of the production within the territory. Additionally, integrating the evaluation of environmental, social, and cultural dimensions shed light on the current situation of the building materials production sector in Ecuador and identify possible trade-offs or synergies from a sustainability and interdisciplinary approach.
Serum Tumor Markers for Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer in Clinical Practice: A Narrative Review
Authors: Doshi Chirag , Zahir Mazyar , Dadabhoy Anosh , Escobar Domenique , Xia Leilei , Daneshmand Siamak
Published: January 2025

In recent decades, serum tumor markers (STMs) have emerged as valuable adjuncts in early cancer detection and post-treatment surveillance. STMs are inexpensive, minimally invasive, and readily accessible tools that can be used to diagnose cancers, monitor patients' responses to treatment, and even detect recurrence without imposing additional burden on patients. Emerging evidence has demonstrated the reliability of STMs in prognostication of bladder cancer (BC). However, their potential role extends beyond prognostication. This review intends to provide a multidimensional picture of STM applications in muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). In addition, we supplement this review with real-life clinical experiences from our institution to further illustrate the clinical feasibility of STMs in MIBC.
Quantifying Resilience in Single-Host/Single-Virus Infections
Authors: Hour Socheata , Pierce Andrew J , Heng Sobroney Ying , Plymale Ruth , Ceballos Ruben Michael
Published: January 2025

Developing metrics for quantifying the virulence of pathogens (e.g., viruses) is a historical and recently reinvigorated topic of research interest with both theoretical and practical applications in medical, industrial, and environmental microbiology. In the wake of several recent pandemics and outbreaks (e.g., COVID-19, Zika, Dengue, Avian Influenza), where multiple strains of a virus propagated through host populations, methods for assessing relative virulence (VR) between strains has re-emerged as a “hot topic”. Recent publications have considered metrics for determining VR that extend beyond the practice of calculating differences in maximum specific growth rates (mmax) from growth curves of a virus-infected hosts versus uninfected host controls. While some metrics appear best-suited for single-virus/single-host (SVSH) infections that feature canonical host growth with well-defined lag, exponential, stationary, and mortality phases, others may be more robust for infections exhibiting non-canonical infected host growth patterns. Regardless of the metric used, one feature that most approaches have in common is a focus on the exponential growth phase of the virus-host interaction (i.e., from late lag to early stationary phase). Often neglected is the back-half of the growth curve. Following a recent report introducing the Stacy-Ceballos Inhibition Index (ISC), a metric for quantifying relative virulence (VR) between viruses, we have turned our attention to the equally important parameter of relative resilience (RR) between hosts infected in SVSH infections. Although host resilience during a viral infection impacts the entire growth curve, RR has a particular biological significance during extinction (i.e., the mortality phase). Specifically, it is important to assess how long a host (or population) will remain viable post-infection. In this report, we argue that calculating RR using a modification of ISC provides a robust metric for comparisons between SVSH infections. Data from fusellovirus infections in Sulfolobales and bacteriophage infections in Mycobacteriales form the basis for applying this approach for quantifying host resilience.
From Neurons to Nations: Regenerative Leadership and Integrated Consciousness for Systemic Shifts in the Anthropocene
Authors: Ooi Wei Gee Rachel
Published: January 2025

The Anthropocene represents a defining challenge for humanity, marked by escalating ecological crises, social inequities, and rapid technological disruption. This thesis explores a regenerative approach to leadership and systemic transformation by unifying two frameworks: the Purpose Regeneration Framework (PRF) and the AHA SHIFT Framework. The PRF emphasizes neuroplasticity-based practices that empower individuals to progress from restoration to transcendence, while the AHA SHIFT Framework focuses on fostering leadership adaptability, ethical governance, and systemic cohesion through AI-driven tools and integrative consciousness.Grounded in empirical analyses, this research demonstrates measurable outcomes across individual, organizational, and systemic levels. For example, longitudinal neuroplasticity interventions with 200 leaders (including 100 CEOs, senior executives, millennials and youth leaders) improved creativity by 60% and emotional regulation by 70%, translating into a 30% boost in team productivity. Simultaneously, AI-powered decision-making tools deployed in five organizations reduced governance errors by 20% and increased systemic cohesion by 35%. Case studies from countries such as Singapore Smart Nation’s Initiative, New Zealand’s Māori leadership, and sustainability embracing organizations such as Patagonia, Microsoft, Unilever, IKEA, Danone, Tesla further illustrate the scalability of these frameworks.This article contributes a new paradigm for regenerative productivity, redefining leadership as a systemic catalyst for aligning personal growth, organizational adaptability, and planetary resilience. By connecting individual awakening to global sustainability, the research directly addresses UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 4, 8, 9, 12, 13, and 17) and introduces actionable strategies for fostering resilience, innovation, and ecological balance in an increasingly volatile world.
Inteligencia artificial, el eslabón entre bases de datos y combate a la corrupción. Caso México
Authors: Bello Jiménez Ana Josefina
Published: January 2025

En el marco de la normatividad mexicana en materia de transparencia y anticorrupción, se han institucionalizado dos grandes bases de datos abiertos para los tres órdenes de gobierno, la Plataforma Nacional de Transparencia (pnt) y la Plataforma Digital Nacional (pdn). Pese a los esfuerzos gubernamentales por integrar estas bases de datos abiertos con información de interés general, no se observa un impacto favorable en la percepción de la corrupción. El presente documento tiene como objetivo identificar la trascendencia y los desafíos operativos de la pnt y la pdn para constituirse como herramientas anticorrupción. En ese sentido, se realizó una investigación documental haciendo énfasis en los aspectos operativos, destacando la viabilidad del uso de inteligencia artificial, con el fin de coadyuvar a las autoridades en materia de responsabilidad administrativa en las tareas de prevenir, identificar y sancionar, faltas administrativas y hechos de corrupción, a partir del análisis de grandes cantidades de datos disponibles públicamente.
Propiedad intelectual e inteligencia artificial: el “cadáver exquisito”
Authors: Vidal Correa Laura Elena
Published: January 2025

El objetivo de esta investigación es analizar los desafíos que presenta la protección de obras generadas por inteligencia artificial (ia) en el marco de la propiedad intelectual (pi). La metodología utilizada incluye una revisión exhaustiva de las leyes mexicanas, como la Ley Federal de Protección a la Propiedad Industrial y la Ley Federal de Derechos de Autor, así como la exploración de teorías filosóficas sobre la creatividad y la autoría. Se examinan también ejemplos como la técnica del “cadáver exquisito” para ilustrar la colaboración creativa. Los resultados revelan que las leyes actuales de la pi están basadas en la creatividad e intencionalidad humanas, lo que complica la aplicación de estos conceptos a las creaciones de ia, que carecen de voluntad y objetivos propios. Además, la regulación mexicana no considera a la ia como autor legal, lo que plantea interrogantes sobre la titularidad de los derechos de la pi y la explotación comercial de las obras generadas por ia. En las conclusiones se destaca la necesidad de desarrollar un nuevo marco legal que aborde estas complejidades, adaptando los conceptos tradicionales de autoría y creatividad a las nuevas tecnologías.
Efectividad de la fluidoterapia individualizada versus estandarizada en la resolución de la cetoacidosis diabética en el servicio de emergencia del Hospital María Auxiliadora 2023
Authors:   , Bernuy Ciquero Marcial Alberto
Published: January 2025

Objetivo: Determinar la efectividad de la fluidoterapia individualizada versus estandarizada en la resolución de la cetoacidosis diabética en el servicio de emergencia del Hospital María Auxiliadora - 2023. Metodología: Se desarrollará una cohorte retrospectiva. El hospital de tercer nivel del ministerio de salud, Hospital María Auxiliadora, será la sede donde se revisarán las historias clínicas de aquellos pacientes que satisfacen los requisitos de criterios de inclusión de la efectividad de la fluidoterapia en la resolución de cuadro agudo en pacientes con cetoacidosis.
Actividad antibacteriana in vitro de extractos crudos y fracciones purificadas de esponjas marinas del género Suberites (Demospongiae, Suberitida, Suberitidae) procedente de Ica, Perú
Authors:   , Villanueva Coronado Erin Karine
Published: January 2025

Las esponjas marinas son fuente de metabolitos con propiedades antibacterianas. El propósito del estudio consistió en determinar la actividad antibacteriana de extractos crudos y fracciones purificadas de esponjas marinas Suberites sp. procedentes de Ica, Perú. Se emplearon muestras liofilizadas, se elaboraron extractos con diclorometano:metanol (1:1) y se realizó el fraccionamiento mediante técnicas de extracción en fase sólida, obteniendo siete fracciones: F1: H2O; F2: H2O/MeOH (1:1); F3: H2O/MeOH (1:3); F4: MeOH; F5: MeOH/DCM (3:1); F6: MeOH/DCM (1:1). Se determinó la Concentración Mínima Inhibitoria (CMI) frente a bacterias ATCC (American Type Culture Collection), incluyendo bacterias Gram positivas y Gram negativas. La fracción 6 presentó mayor actividad antibacteriana contra Klebsiella pneumoniae y Pseudomonas aeruginosa y la fracción 3 contra K. pneumoniae. Los análisis químicos cualitativos mostraron alcaloides y saponinas en las cuatro muestras. La actividad antibacteriana detectada en este estudio evidencia el potencial de Suberites sp. procedente de Ica como fuente de compuestos antibacterianos.
Producción científica sobre la Microbiota asociada al cáncer colorrectal en Latinoamérica y el Caribe: Un análisis bibliométrico
Authors:   , Calvo Flores Gian Piere Axel
Published: January 2025

El carcinoma colorrectal ocupa el cuarto lugar más frecuente en el mundo y de etiología multifactorial. Entre los factores de riesgo tenemos antecedentes de pólipos, mutaciones genéticas, enfermedades inflamatorias autoinmunes, influencias ambientales y reestructuración de la microbiota intestinal. Además, la microbiota en estudios recientes está asociada a su patogénesis y tratamiento. Este estudio bibliométrico abarca artículos relacionados a la correlación entre la microbiota y el cáncer colorrectal en Latinoamérica y el Caribe a partir de fuentes de Scopus. Los artículos publicados se recuperaron de dicha base y se revisaron según los criterios de selección. Fueron utilizados los softwares VOSviewer y Bibliometrix para estudiar distintos pilares bibliométricos en la exploración científica de dicho carcinoma en América Latina y el Caribe, incluyendo parámetros como el nombre del artículo, año, país, revistas, presupuesto destinado y número de publicaciones. Entre los resultados se encontró que Brasil es el país con mayor producción científica en Latinoamérica y el Caribe con 88 artículos y Estados Unidos es el país extranjero que brinda mayor colaboración en la región con 20 artículos. Respecto a los autores De Blanc Moreno de Argentina es el investigador más productivo cuantitativamente (n=8) y el autor más relevante en este campo fue Perdigón Del Valle con un FWCI de 2.13. La revista con más publicaciones fue Food Research International (n=8). Los términos clave más citados fueron “colorectal cancer”, “microbiota”, “gut microbiota” y “probiotics”. Por último, los tópicos recientes de mayor interés son microbiota y disbiosis intestinal desde el 2019. Este estudio apoya la creciente tendencia, en Latinoamérica y el Caribe, sobre la trascendencia de la investigación en este ámbito. Además, futuras investigaciones podrían indicar una mayor importancia de la disbiosis intestinal en el desarrollo de carcinogénesis colorrectal y fomentar su prevención.
Inverted Convective Proppant Transport for Effective Conformance Fracturing
Authors: dos Santos J. A. C. M. , Cunha R. A. , de Melo R. C. B. , Aboud R. S. , Pedrosa H. A. , Marchi F. A.
Published: January 2025

In mature fields, a continuous challenge for operators is to maximize hydrocarbon recovery while minimizing associated water production. Water production causes several problems including scaling, fines migration or sand-face failure, tubular corrosion and increased hydrostatic loadings. Thus, although water production is almost an inevitable consequence of oil production, it is usually desirable to defer its onset, or its rise, as long as possible.

Proper stimulation is required to commercially prove many reservoirs, including dirty sandstones and lower-permeability layered formations in water-drive reservoirs and/or with nearby water zones. The focus on water-avoidance has made conformance fracturing interesting in mature fields because it synergistically combines a relative permeability modifier (RPM) with a fracturing fluid to enhance production and reduce water cut in one step. However, if a water zone is below the zone being fractured, fracture invasion may create a conductive path for water production. For example, proppant convection and settling can result in heavier treatment stages displacing rapidly downward from the perforations to the bottom of the fracture. This may occur when treatments call for large pad volumes, high proppant concentrations, or stage density contrasts.

An important technique used to avoid this problem is locally known as "Inverted Proppant Convection." It requires proppant buoyancy in the selected fracturing fluid, as is possible when using ultra-lightweight proppants with specific gravities from 1.054 to 1.75 sg. The technique involves pumping a high-density fluid pad with specific gravity higher than the proppant carrier fluid, which in turn has specific gravity slightly higher than the selected ultra-lightweight proppant.

This paper describes the design approach, operational procedures, and evaluation of field case histories demonstrating the synergism of conformance fracture and inverted proppant convection as applied in Northeast Brazil --with the potential to impact field development strategies worldwide.
Seismic Retrofitting Column and Beams With Carbon-fiber Reinforced Polymer Using Etabs to Resist Earthquake Drift and Magnitude According to Bnbc 2020
Authors: Islam Md Imamul , Hossain Md Rakib , Sagar Mostafizur Rahman , Nasrin Tasmina
Published: January 2025

Bangladesh, as a developing country is on a brink of earthquake disaster as it sits on 3 of the tectonic plates. So, this study investigates seismic drift and earthquake response limit according to moment magnitude method of a four storied RC building and stair room roof as fifth story without and with carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) of Seismic Zone 3 according to BNBC 2020. The study has been done on a pre-existing building at Shimultoly, Joydebpur, Gazipur, Dhaka, Bangladesh. The building was made according to BNBC 2006. The results, as it turns out there were no displacements to be found and maximum drift in stories changes its value from story to story as there are some unusual differences between drifts in stories as, cases of drifts decreasing in the upper stories of building were found. We also found using CFRP, it decreases about 45%-53% of story maximum drift in case of earthquakes. As the building was constructed on 2019 it was built according to BNBC 2006 with some modification according to recent material types which is pretty much similar to recent BNBC 2020 code. So, an analysis has been done by ETABS-17 to find about displacement and drift of this building with and without CFRP according to BNBC 2020 standards and find out if this building can withstand earthquakes in all seismic zone of Bangladesh and if it can what will be limit of this structure’s earthquake response at the brink of collapse.
Selenium Speciation in Se-enriched Grape as Quantified and Identified by HPLC- ESI-MS/MS
Authors: Zhong Jia , Meng Jinming , Li Huawei , Zhu Shengqi , Wu Na
Published: January 2025

Selenium is an important microelement for animals. The main source of selenium for human is plants. Thus, we planted Se-enriched grapes which were sprayed with various concentrations (40, 80, 120, 160, 200 mg/kg) of sodium selenite over a period of four months prior to the fruit-bearing stage and examined Se speciation by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The total content of Se in the grapes was found to increase with increasing concentrations of applied selenium. However, the contents of three selenoamino acids, Se-MeSeCys, Se-Met and Se-Cys2, also increased, but only up to 120 mg/kg applied selenium in the case of Se-MeSeCys, and 160 mg/kg in the cases of Se-Met and Se-Cys2, with further increases in applied selenium resulting in decreased levels of these selenoamino acids. Se-Met was found to present in the highest level, reaching a maximum concentration of 31 g/kg. Overall, the percentage of total Se being converted to the three selenoamino acids was rather low (<2.07%). However, the application of sodium selenium appeared to have no detrimental effect on the grape vines, even at the maximum concentration used. Taken together, the results suggested that exogenously applied Se had some benefits on its conversion to organic form or selenoamino acids.
Multidecadal variability of the ENSO teleconnection to Europe in early-winter and implications for seasonal forecasting
Authors: Fernández-Castillo Pablo , Losada Teresa , Rodríguez-Fonseca Belén , García-Maroto Diego , Mohino Elsa , Durán Luis
Published: January 2025

The impacts of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) on the climate of the North Atlantic and Europe (NAE) are season-dependent and, in some cases, neither symmetric nor stationary. Generally, ENSO teleconnections involve different tropospheric mechanisms, depending on the ocean background state. However, the impacts and mechanisms of the ENSO teleconnection to NAE in early-winter (November-December) remain unclear. Here, the teleconnection is analysed for different sea surface temperature background states of the Pacific Ocean. Using gridded reanalysis and observational datasets, the results reveal that the teleconnection is not stationary and has changed with the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) phase, leading to distinct impacts on the surface climate in Europe. The SEAS5 dynamical seasonal prediction model from ECMWF accurately captures ENSO as a source of early-winter predictability over Europe. Moreover, the model's teleconnection and predictive capability show multi-decadal variability. This implies the emergence of windows of opportunity for seasonal forecasting, where predictability may be higher than initially expected.
Planet formation and long-term stability in a very eccentric stellar binary
Authors: Stegmann Jakob , Grishin Evgeni , Johnston Cole , Eisner Nora , Justham Stephen , de Mink Selma , Perets Hagai
Published: January 2025

Planets orbiting one of the two stars in a binary are vulnerable to gravitational perturbations from the other star. Particularly, highly eccentric companion stars risk disrupting planetary orbits, such as in the extreme system TOI 4633 where close encounters between the companion and a gas giant planet in the habitable zone make it one of the most fragile systems discovered so far. Here, we report that TOI 4633's planet likely survived these encounters throughout the system's age by orbiting retrograde relative to the binary, stabilised by the Coriolis force. Using direct N-body simulations, we show it otherwise tends to collide with the binary stars or becomes free-floating after getting ejected. A retrograde planetary orbit has profound implications for TOI 4633's formation and evolution, suggesting an extraordinary history where its eccentric companion was likely randomly captured after planet formation in a single-star system. Alternatively, if stars and planet are born in situ from the same gas clump, we show the planet must have formed at sub-snow-line distances, contrary to the conventional core-accretion model. Our study highlights the importance of considering the long-term stability (>Gyr) of planets in eccentric binaries and demonstrates that the mere existence in such dynamically hostile environments places strong constraints on their orbital configuration and formation.
Survival Status and Predictors of Mortality Among Pediatric Patients Admitted to Intensive Care Unit at a University Teaching Hospital in Southeastern Ethiopia: Insights from a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Wubishet Mesfin , Gelaye Solomon , Aman Tahir , Shimelis Betre
Published: January 2025

Background: Pediatric mortality rates in intensive care units (ICUs) are much higher in developing countries compared to high-income nations. Although advancements in pediatric intensive care have improved outcomes worldwide, resource-limited settings still face significant challenges. The high burden of disease and mortality from preventable illnesses further complicate patient outcomes in these under-resourced ICUs. In Ethiopia, there is limited published data on pediatric ICU outcomes and their influencing factors. This study aimed to assess survival status and identify predictors of mortality among pediatric patients admitted to the ICU at Asella Referral and Teaching Hospital.
Methods: An Institutional-based prospective cohort study was conducted in the ICU, involving 305 pediatric patients admitted between September 2023 and November 2024. We consecutively recruited eligible patients and followed them until they were either censored or died. Kaplan Meier was used to compare patient survival experiences and Cox regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors of ICU mortality. The strength of associations was measured using hazard ratios, and statistical significance was determined at a P-value of <0.05.
Results: In this cohort, A total of 129/305 patients died during the follow-up time, yielding an overall mortality of 42.3%. The mortality incidence was 7.1 deaths per 100 person-days of observation (95% CI: 5.86–8.32 deaths per 100 person-days), with a median survival time of 10 days. The independent predictors of ICU mortality include: Lack of health insurance (AHR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.22–3.39; P = .007), Presence of multi-organ dysfunction (AHR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.09–2.73; P = .019), Elevated creatinine levels (AHR: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.13–2.93; P = .013), Hemoglobin levels below 10 g/dL (AHR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.15–2.60; P = .008), and Higher PIM 2 scores (AHR: 1.58; 95% CI: 1.03–2.43; P = .038).
Conclusion: The study found a concerningly high mortality rate among pediatric patients in the ICU. Key predictors of ICU mortality included elevated creatinine levels, higher PIM 2 scores, hemoglobin levels below 10 g/dL, lack of health insurance, and the presence of multi-organ dysfunction. These findings underscore the urgent need for early intervention strategies targeting these risk factors, particularly in high-risk patients, to enhance outcomes in pediatric critical care and significantly reduce ICU mortality rates.
Feedback control over plasma drug concentrations achieves rapid and accurate control over solid-tissue drug concentrations
Authors: Emmons Nicole , Duman Zeki , Erdal Murat , Kippin Tod , Hespanha Joao , Plaxco Kevin
Published: January 2025

Electrochemical aptamer-based (EAB) sensors enable the continuous, real-time monitoring of drugs and biomarkers in situ in the blood, brain, and peripheral tissues of live subjects. The real-time concentration information produced by these sensors provides unique opportunities to perform closed-loop, feedback-controlled drug delivery, by which the plasma concentration of a drug can be held constant or made to follow a specific, time-varying profile. Motivated by the observation that the site of action of many drugs is the solid tissues and not the blood, here we experimentally confirm that maintaining constant plasma drug concentrations also produces constant concentrations in the interstitial fluid (ISF). Using an intravenous EAB sensor we performed feedback control over the concentration of doxorubicin, an anthracycline chemotherapeutic, in the plasma of live rats. Using a second sensor placed in the subcutaneous space, we find drug concentrations in the ISF rapidly (30–60 min) match and then accurately (RMS deviation of 8–21%) remain at the feedback-controlled plasma concentration, validating the use of feedback-controlled plasma drug concentrations to control drug concentrations in the solid tissues that are the site of drug action. We expanded to pairs of sensors in the ISF, the outputs of the individual sensors track one another with good precision (R2 = 0.95–0.99), confirming that the performance of in vivo EAB sensors matches that of prior, in vitro validation studies. These observations suggest EAB sensors could prove a powerful new approach to the high-precision personalization of drug dosing.
Profiles and Associated Factors of Health-Related Quality of Life in Chinese rural older adults : A Latent Profile Analysis
Authors: Wu Qing , Wang Lie , Yuan Yaocheng , Du Bingnan , Wang Xiaoxi , Liu Li
Published: January 2025

Background
With the development of society, the problem of population aging is becoming increasingly severe. The degree of population aging in rural areas of China is higher than in urban areas, and the gap continues to widen, making the ‘urban-rural inversion’ of aging evident. To actively respond to aging, understanding the current status of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and its influencing factors in rural older adults, and taking positive measures to improve the HRQoL of the older adults is particularly important. This study aims to explore the HRQoL profiles and associated factors among rural older adults in China.
Methods
A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to survey 5,435 rural older adults in nine prefectural cities of Guizhou Province, China, between May 2024 and October 2024. The eight dimensions of the SF-12 were used as input variables for latent profile analysis (LPA) to explore the profiles of HRQoL. Multivariate logistic regression was adopted to examine the relationship between latent HRQoL’ s profiles and associated factors.
Results
The LPA identified four potential profiles: ‘Low HRQoL (8.8%)’, ‘Moderate HRQoL (61.8%)’, ‘High Vitality-Health, Emotional Challenges (5.8%)’, and ‘High HRQoL (23.6%)’. Using P4 (High HRQoL) as a reference, previous occupation as a farmer and chronic disease were more likely to be in the P1 (Low HRQoL) subgroup; previous occupation as a farmer and primary caregiver as a child were more likely to be in the P2 (Moderate HRQoL) subgroup; primary caregiver as a child and more community recreational activities were more likely to be in the P3 (High Vitality-Health, Emotional Challenges) subgroup; educational attainment, annual economic income, number of children, self-care status, occupation, chronic disease, social recreational activities, perceived social support, general self-efficacy and sleep quality were influential factors in the HRQoL rural older adults.
Conclusion
Using the sub-dimensions of the SF-12, HRQoL characteristics of older adults in rural China can be identified. This study identified four distinct HRQoL profiles among rural older adults in Guizhou Province: the conventional ‘High HRQoL’, ‘Moderate HRQoL’, and ‘Low HRQoL’ subgroups, as well as a unique ‘High Vitality-Health, Emotional Challenges’ subgroup. Factors associated with different HRQoL profiles, compared to the ‘High HRQoL’ group, include education level, occupation, household income, number of children, self-care ability, chronic diseases, primary caregiver, participation in community activities, perceived social support, general self-efficacy and sleep quality. These findings provide a basis for designing targeted interventions to improve HRQoL among older adults with different profiles.
Serum Magnesium is correlated with Muscle Mass in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Pei Lili , Yang Qiao , Liu Yuantao , Hu Wenchao
Published: January 2025

Introduction:
A higher risk of low muscle mass with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Our study aimed to evaluate the association of serum Mg with low muscle mass in T2DM patients.
Methods
This study included 1074 T2DM patients, the skeletal muscle index (SMI) and serum Mg level were measured, and other clinical data were collected. Logistic regression analysis and linear regression analysis were used to determine the associations between Mg and low muscle mass or SMI.
Results
The prevalence of low muscle mass was 20.28% in males and 14.20% in females, respectively. There was a negative correlation between Mg and SMI in females after multiple regression analyses. Compared with patients with Mg in the lowest quarter (Q1), the odds ratio of low muscle mass for those with Mg in the highest quarter (Q4) was 1.935 (p for trend = 0.022) in males. Compared with patients with Mg in Q1, the OR of Q4 was 2.712 (p for trend = 0.015) in females.
Conclusion
Low muscle mass in T2DM patients is associated with serum Mg levels. There was a linear trend and a significant correlation between high Mg and low muscle mass.
Assessment of Toxicity, Health Risks, and Environmental Impact of Trace Metals in River Sediments of the Middle Black Sea Region (Samsun, Turkey): Bioaccumulation Potential in the Freshwater Amphipod Hyallella azteca
Authors: ŞIMŞEK Arife
Published: January 2025

The present work studied the sources, concentrations, distributions, and possible ecotoxicological risks of trace metals (TMs) in surface sediments of the Kızılırmak and Yeşilırmak Rivers, the largest rivers in the Black Sea Region of Türkiye, and the Mert and Engiz Rivers located between these rivers, to evaluate the region’s health risks and pollution status. Average TM concentrations were measured in mg/kg and ordered from smallest to largest as Cd (4.1) < Co (19.9) < Ni (31.6) < Cu (34.9) < Pb (37.8) < Cr (197.6) < Zn (213.9) < Al (24408.8) < Fe (35920). Seasonal changes were observed, especially during the dry season, and Pb, Zn, and Co concentrations were found to increase. Environmental risk assessment indices (EF, CF, Igeo, and PLI) indicated medium and high contamination levels and potential ecological impacts. Likewise, while TRI and ATI among toxicity assessment indices showed medium and high toxic levels, the highest individual growth rate (IGR) results of Hyallella azteca used in bioavailable TM assessment were observed in the control sediment (6.8). However, whereas the survival rate was 100% in the control sediment, it did not fall below 70% at the other sampling points. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) results showed that Cu, Cd, Co, and Ni metals accumulated in H. azteca tissues. Health risk results indicated no health risk for adults while demonstrating a slight health risk for children. Statistical analyses (PCC and PCA) showed the presence of anthropogenic, lithogenic TM sources and slight effects of industrial and agrogenic sources.
Anti-HCV antibodies: A battle for breadth and potency
Authors: Jamali Elham , Quadeer Ahmed Abdul , Tedla Nicodemus , McKay Matthew R. , Lloyd Andrew , Walker Melanie , Bull Rowena
Published: January 2025

Potent and broadly neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are important for clearance of RNA virus infections. However, NAbs generated in response to RNA viruses exhibit diverse profiles of potency and breadth. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of NAbs targeting HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV), SARS-CoV-2, and influenza based on their potency, measured by IC50 values, and breadth, assessed through the genetic diversity of the viruses neutralized by the NAbs. Our results reveal that while anti-HCV NAbs show a high breadth of neutralization, they are less potent and demonstrate inconsistent potency across different virus variants. These findings highlight the challenges in eliciting broad and potent antibody responses, which are essential for the development of effective vaccine strategies against HCV.
An Efficient Smoothing Algorithm for Range External Guidance Data Based on Dynamic Threshold and Adaptive Interpolation
Authors: Zhang Shixue , Cai Huihui , Wang Houfeng , Liu Shuai , He Qiang
Published: January 2025

To achieve real-time smoothing of external guidance data for photoelectric theodolites and ensure stable image acquisition, this paper proposes a field processing method based on dynamic thresholding and adaptive interpolation. First, to address outliers in the external guidance data, a method for dynamically calculating sample variance using an influence function is introduced. This approach constructs a dynamic discriminant threshold to process outliers in real time. Second, for the interpolation of external guidance data, the coherence of the interpolation calculations is evaluated, and the "stuck" external guidance data is categorized. Different strategies are applied based on the severity of the stuck condition, enabling real-time smooth interpolation. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed dynamic threshold-based five-point extrapolation outlier elimination method achieves an average outlier detection rate of over 80% with a very low false alarm rate. The interpolation algorithm effectively handles both stuck and non-stuck external guidance data, producing smooth and coherent processing results. The proposed method has been successfully implemented in a naval range measurement platform, meeting the requirements of the trajectory measurement system.
MFTFF : multi-frame 3D object detection with temporal feature fusion
Authors: Meng Xin , Zhou Yuan , Zhang Min , Wang Cui , Lv Jiahang , kim Jonghyuk , Wang Shifeng
Published: January 2025

In autonomous driving, 3D object detection is crucial. LiDAR continuously generate real-time point cloud, which serves as the foundation for 3D object detection. Traditional single-frame 3D detection methods typically rely on point cloud from individual time intervals. However, these methods often fail to fully utilize the temporal information in consecutive point cloud sequences, limiting their detection performance. In this work, the study introduces a novel architecture called the Multi-frame Temporal Feature Fusion Network (MFTFF). MFTFF enhances the features at the current time by effectively integrating the features from the point cloud sequence. The network includes the Multi-frame Feature Conversion and Alignment Module (MFCA). This module aligns different point cloud frames in the time series to a unified perspective. In addition, we introduce an efficient Multi-frame Feature Fusion Module(MFFF). This module performs a coarse-grained fusion through concatenation and a fine-grained fusion by using a temporal attention mechanism. This fusion strategy preserves the essential temporal information and improves the 3D object detection performance effectively. After the fusion, the final features are stored in the memory bank for continuous updates and iterations. This mechanism provides rich feature information for subsequent detection tasks. On the nuScenes dataset, MFTFF achieved 68.6% in NDS and 62.2% in mAP. Compared to the baseline method, MFTFF improved NDS by 1.3% and mAP by 1.9%.
Metaproteomics and metabonomics reveal the metabolic dysfunction of gut microbiota in Tibetan Minipigs in Atherosclerosis
Authors: Shen Liye , Wang Jinlong , Pan Yongming , Cai Yueqin , Huang Junjie , Hu Huiying , Chen Minli , Ke Xianfu , Zhou Wenwei
Published: January 2025

Atherosclerosis is fundamental in the development of cardiovascular disease. The unhealthy dietary habits, high fat and cholesterol intake could change the composition of gut microbes and metabolites which play a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis. However, few studies have systematically investigated the metabolism of gut microbes in atherosclerosis. In this study, we build an atherosclerosis model using the Tibetan minipigs, then we identified metabolites in the feces and serum, and explored the functions of the gut microbiota by metaproteomics. We found that, in the feces, multiple signal pathways showed obvious metabolic dysfunction that could influence the abundance of blood metabolic products. Several metabolites such as 3-dehydro-2-deoxyecdysone from cholesterol metabolism, leukotriene B4 from arachidonic acid metabolism, indole-3-acetate and 3-hydroxyanthranilate from tryptophan metabolism, 9,10-epoxyoctadecenoic acid from linoleic acid metabolism and 13(S)-HPOT from linolenic acid metabolism were significantly increased in the blood. These partially increasing metabolites were associated with inflammation that contributes the development of atherosclerosis. Our finding could provide novel clues for studying on the mechanism of arteriosclerosis.
SWSformer: Sub-Window Shuffle Transformer for Image Restoration
Authors: Shirai Masato , Okitsu Nagayuki
Published: January 2025

Transformers have demonstrated superior performance over conventional methods in various tasks due to their ability to capture long-range dependencies and adaptively generate weights. However, their computational complexity increases quadratically with the number of tokens, limiting their applicability to high-resolution image tasks. Recent image restoration methods mitigate this by adopting mechanisms that sacrifice the ability to fully capture long-range dependencies. In contrast, Shuffle Transformer's window shuffle self-attention (WS-SA) is a mechanism that allows not only suppressing the computational complexity but also not restricting long-range dependency capture. Nevertheless, WS-SA has a problem that it causes a very sparse SA with a small receptive field for high-resolution images. In this work, we propose sub-window shuffle self-attention (SWS-SA), which is a mechanism to expand the receptive field without changing the computational complexity of WS-SA. In SWS-SA, the windows before shuffling are further partitioned into sub-windows, and shuffle is applied to them on a sub-window basis. After that, average pooling per sub-window is applied only to queries. Furthermore, we propose a Sub-Window Shuffle Transformer (SWSformer) that takes SWS-SA as its main mechanism and incorporates effective mechanisms proposed in related works. SWSformer achieves the same or better performance than state-of-the-art methods on denoising and deblurring tasks.
Protein Function Prediction Using GO Similarity-based Heterogeneous Network Propagation
Authors: Hu Sai , Zhao Bihai
Published: January 2025

Background:
Protein function prediction serves as a fundamental cornerstone in bioinformatics, offering critical insights into the intricate biological processes and molecular mechanisms that form the basis of life. Precise annotation of protein functions is indispensable for unraveling disease mechanisms, identifying drug targets, and propelling forward synthetic biology applications. Nevertheless, this task remains complex due to the diverse characteristics of multi-omics data and the hierarchical structure of Gene Ontology (GO) annotations.
Results:
To tackle these challenges, we have developed an innovative approach that seamlessly integrates the topological structure of protein-protein interaction networks, a wide array of biological data including protein domain profile and protein complex information, and Gene Ontology into a heterogeneous network based on GO similarity. This integrated network encapsulates the multifaceted relationships between proteins and their functional annotations, setting the stage for a comprehensive protein function prediction framework. Building on this heterogeneous network, we have devised a protein function prediction method named GOHPro, which leverages the strength of network propagation algorithms. To evaluate the effectiveness of GOHPro, we conducted rigorous experiments on two model organisms, yeast and human, using the most up-to-date GO annotations dataset and the CAFA3 dataset. Our method was compared against several state-of-the-art approaches, and the results unequivocally showed that GOHPro outperforms its competitors, highlighting its superiority in predicting protein functions. The code and dataset of GOHPro are freely available at https://github.com/husaiccsu/GOHPro.
Conclusions:
The proposed GOHPro method, which seamlessly combines multi-omics data, protein interaction networks, and GO annotations within a heterogeneous network framework, significantly enhances protein function prediction accuracy. The outstanding performance of GOHPro in our experiments underscores its potential as a powerful tool for annotating protein functions, facilitating a more profound understanding of biological processes and contributing to advancements in bioinformatics and computational biology.
Deep Learning Applications for Shunt Compensation Using LCL Filter Supported D-Statcom
Authors: Mangaraj Mrutyunjaya , Sabat Jogeswara
Published: January 2025

In low and medium voltage distribution networks, the LCL integrated conventional converter based distributed static compensator (D-Statcom) has shown to be a practical solution for shunt compensation. Despite numerous efforts in this area, the traditional control approach still has a number of issues. This article describes the development of LCL integrated D-Statcom for shunt compensation utilizing a deep learning technique. The voltage source converter (VSC) and LCL filter are included in the new framework. The operation and control of the distribution network are directly impacted by the proposed system's performance. MATLAB Simulink software and an experimental research based on d-SPACE are used to demonstrate the synchronization, which solves current related power quality (PQ) issues such as poor power factor (p.f.), current harmonics, unbalanced voltage at point of common coupling (PCC) and poor voltage regulation. In order to provide precise reference currents for control, the deep learning technique is used to monitor the essential active and reactive components of load currents. Furthermore, it precisely ascertains the remaining constituents, attaining a swifter transient reaction and superior system stability. Comparisons are then made between VSC and LCL integrated VSC using deep learning technique by considering the implementation procedure. With a lower DC-link voltage and a smaller converter power rating, the LCL integrated VSC system improves PQ of distribution network more than the VSC.
Deep Reinforcement Learning Double-LayerEco-City Vehicle-Road Cooperative Control inLarge-Scale Road Networks
Authors: Yan Liping , Wu Kanglai , Tang Renjie , Xu Jiayue , Jia Haojie , Song Kai
Published: January 2025

As Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) technology progresses, optimizing vehicle-road cooperative control becomes critical for alleviating traffic congestion. Existing approaches often involve complex computations that are unsuitable for real-time control and are typically limited to isolated intersections, restricting their scalability. To address these limitations, this paper introduces a Mixed Platoon Dual-Layer (MPDL) model designed for large-scale road networks. The model leverages mixed platoon arrival time predictions combined with Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) for cooperative control at signalized intersections. To enhance decision-making, this study proposes the Multi-Distributed Proximal Policy Optimization (MDPPO) algorithm, which efficiently manages dynamic vehicle-traffic interactions. This algorithm optimizes mixed platoon trajectories and determines the optimal signal phases. Furthermore, the model incorporates eco-friendly traffic strategies aimed at reducing emissions across the network. Extensive simulations using the SUMO traffic simulator on both synthetic and real-world networks demonstrate that the MPDL model achieves higher training rewards compared to existing methods such as MA2C and IA2C. The MPDL model consistently outperforms these methods in key performance metrics, including waiting time, speed, delay, and pollutant emissions.
Deep Insights Into The Coupled Optoelectronic Analysis Of ETL Thin Films And Photovoltaic Analysis Of CsPbI 3 -Based Perovskite Solar Cell Using SCAPS-1D Simulations
Authors: BOUSSAADA Salah Eddine , MOUCHAAL Younes , RIANE Houaria , KHELIL Abdelbacet
Published: January 2025

Cesium lead iodide (CsPbI3) is a type of perovskite compound used in solar cells. CsPbI3 has a unique structure that efficiently absorbs sunlight, making it highly efficient for generating power. It can be made using low-cost methods and adjusted to capture different parts of sunlight. However, its stability in varying conditions is a challenge that researchers are working to overcome. CsPbI3 perovskite shows promise for creating efficient and affordable solar cells, though stability remains an area of focus.In this study, the thicknesses, optical gaps and electron mobility of the electron transport layer (ETL) derived from a mixture of oxides: SnO2 and CoO (SnCoOx), were calculated using experimental UV-Vis spectrometry and Hall Effect measurements. The results were then used as input data for the simulation of CsPbI3-based s using SCAPS 1-D software. In addition, several materials were compared as electron transport layers (ETLs), including C60, CdS, IGZO, PCBM, ZnO, CdZnS and TiO2, comparing them initially with SnCoOx as well as organic and inorganic hole transport materials (HTLs) such as Spiro-OMeTAD, PEDOT:PSS, P3HT, CuO, CuI and CuO2. The results showed that SnCoOx as ETL and Cu2O as HTL are the most suitable materials among those studied. In addition, device performance was enhanced by optimizing various parameters such as back electrode work function, absorber thickness, doping density, defect density, series and shunt resistances, and temperature. Under optimal conditions, a conversion efficiency of 21.34% was achieved for the FTO/(75%)SnO2(25%)Co/CsPbI3/Cu2O/Au solar cell. This investigation illustrates the potential of SnCoOx as an ETL for the production of renewable energy that is free of toxicity.