bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gender-based Morphometric Analysis of the Human Orbital Aperture Profile using 3D Reconstruction Computed Tomography: A Cross-sectional Retrospective Study
Authors: Bhatti Muhammad Omer Afzal , Parrey Mujeeb Ur Rehman , Ali Muhammad Ikram , Shoro Allah Rakhyo , Alenazi Abdulkrem Ahmed , Alruwaili Rayan Alhumaidi
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Sex estimation is a crucial aspect of forensic medicine and requires primary consideration when examining skeletal remains. Among the various anatomical features, the orbital region holds significant importance due to its distinct morphological variations. These variations provide valuable insights for sex determination, making orbital anatomy an indispensable tool in forensic investigations and analysis.

Aim: To measure and compare orbital apertures between males and females using 3D Computed Tomography (CT) in a sample from the Saudi population.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted from January to June 2024 in the Radiology Department of Tower Hospital, Arar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, following the acquisition of ethical approval from the Local Bioethics Committee at Northern Border University. A total of 100 CT scans were randomly selected from the available dataset. The study encompassed CT scans of subjects from both genders, aged 18 years and above. However, CT scans of patients who had sustained head trauma or orbital injuries were excluded from the study. The data retrieved were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0. All continuous data were tested for normality and expressed as Mean±Standard deviation (SD). The significant differences in orbital measurements between males and females were assessed using the Independent t-test. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: A total of 100 participants were included in the study, with the majority being females (52%). The mean age of male and female subjects was 40.5±13.19 years and 39.13±13.10 years, respectively. A statistically significant difference was found in right orbital width (p-value=0.011), left orbital area (p-value=0.04), and Interzygomatic Distance (IZD), with these measurements being higher in males compared to females (p-value=0.009).

Conclusion: The study revealed that males have greater orbital width, orbital area and IZD compared to females. These genderspecific variations in orbital and facial dimensions may play a crucial role in gender determination within forensic medicine.
Estimation of the Inflation Function under the Influence of Money Supply and the Monetary Reaction Function in Nigeria
Authors: Allwell Onyekachi, Chinedu , Alex Koginam, Owudumopu
Published: January 2025

The need to control inflation has become one of the dominant objectives of the monetary authority in Nigeria. Therefore, the present study was aimed at investigating the inflation function under the influence of money supply and the monetary reaction function of the monetary authority. The study covered the period from 1996 to 2023. Moreover, annual time series data on inflation (proxied by the year on year CPI), monetary policy rate (MPR), money supply (proxied by M3/GDP), real gross domestic product (RGDP) and nominal exchange rate (NOMEXR) were obtained from the statistical bulletin of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The study adopted the ARDL approach in the estimation. The findings on the inflation function revealed that in the long run, money supply (M3/GDP) and nominal exchange rate (NOMEXR) exerted significant influence on inflation, but the magnitude of impact of the former on inflation was higher. The outcome also indicated that monetary policy rate (MPR) significantly influenced the rise of inflation in the short run. On the monetary reaction function, the outcome shows the stabilizing effect of output deviation, but the same could not be said of inflation deviation, which therefore implied that sustaining economic growth in the long run was prioritized by the monetary authority during the period under review. The study recommended that the monetary authority should be cautious of the growth of liquid liabilities in the economy and its influence on inflation. In addition, all relevant information on informal financial market activities should be taken into cognizance in the framing of inflation targets.
Physicochemical Quality of Reduced Fat Mayonnaise with Aloe vera Powder as a Natural Antioxidant
Authors: Sylvani M. I. , Evanuarini H. , Rahayu P. P.
Published: January 2025

Aims: This research aims at determining the effect of different percentages (2%, 4%, and 6%) of Aloe vera powder (AVP) on antioxidant activity, fiber, protein, and color analysis (L a* b*).
Study Design: The research was designed as laboratory experimental method.
Place and Duration of Study: This research was conducted at the Animal Product Technology Laboratory, Egg Processing Division, Faculty of Animal Science, Brawijaya University. The study was conducted over a period of one month (July-August).
Methodology: The research used a laboratory experimental method with a CRD (Completely Randomized Design), using four treatments and six replications. The data were analyzed using ANOVA, and any significant or highly significant differences were further tested using DMRT.
Results: The result of this study shows that the addition of Aloe vera powder can enhance antioxidant activity (3.28%-30.52%), crude fiber (0.89%-1.24%), protein (13.80%-15.37%, reducing fat content (41.49%-72.84%), and improve the color quality of reduced fat mayonnaise (RFM).
Conclusion: The addition of AVP to RFM can increase the antioxidant activity, crude fiber, and protein content, while reducing the fat content. The addition of AVP also affects the color of the mayonnaise, making it brighter and more appealing. The addition of 6% AVP can improve the physicochemical quality of RFM.
Correlation and Path Coefficient Studies of Yield and Its Contributing Traits in Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.)
Authors: Sravanti K. , Reddy V.Ram , K.Mamatha  , N.Navatha  , M.Shankar  , S.Vanisri  , Reddy M.Malla
Published: January 2025

Groundnut is currently a major industrial oilseed crop with good commercial significance. It is highly variable in phenotypic characters and thus it is important to investigate the variations and associations of these morphological features. Ten confectionary type advanced breeding lines along with two checks (Kadiri chitravathi and Kadir-7) were raised in a randomized block design with three replications and they were evaluated for 15 characters. Significant variations were observed among the genotypes for all the characters studied. The highest genotypic coefficient of variation was observed for hundred pod weight and hundred pod kernel weight indicating the presence of wide range of variation for this character. The dry pod yield per plant had significant positive association with hundred pod kernel weight, kernel yield per plot and positive association with plant height, no. of pods per plant and hundred pod weight. Path coefficient analysis revealed that, hundred pod weight reported the highest positive direct effect on pod yield per plot followed by hundred pod kernel weight, kernel yield per plot, days to maturity, days to 50 % flowering, plant height, final plant count and initial plant count indicating that the selection for these characters was likely to bring about an overall improvement in pod yield per plot directly.
Aeroponics: Transforming Vegetable Farming for the Future
Authors: Patel Pavan K. , Rathod K. D.
Published: January 2025

The global population is projected to reach 9.8 billion by 2050, necessitating a 60-70% increase in agricultural production. Traditional soil-based farming faces challenges like soil degradation, water scarcity and climate vulnerability. Aeroponics, a soil-less cultivation method, offers a solution. By suspending plant roots and misting them with nutrient-rich solutions, aeroponics maximizes resource efficiency, reduces water consumption by 96% and ensures consistent yields year-round. It's particularly effective for high-value crops like potatoes and tomatoes. Despite initial costs and technical complexities, aeroponics presents a sustainable alternative for future food production, demonstrated by successful implementations worldwide, including in India and the United States.
The Effect of Work Environment, Compensation, and Leadership on Job Satisfaction through Work Motivation as a Mediating Variable
Authors: Nurullisa Aldila Septina , Suyoto  , Darmawan Akhmad , Miftahuddin M. Agung
Published: January 2025

Aims: This study aims to examine the effect of work environment, compensation, and leadership on job satisfaction mediated by work motivation in employees of PT. Pelita Satria Perkasa Depo Pelita Sokaraja.
Study Design:  This study uses work environment, compensation, and leadership as independent variables, job satisfaction as the dependent variable, and work motivation as the mediating variable.
Place and Duration of Study: This research was conducted at retail companies in Banyumas with a population of PT employees. Pelita Satria Perkasa Depo Pelita Sokaraja. The research data used data in 2024.
Methodology: This type of research is qualitative—data analysis using Smart Partial Least Square (Smart-PLS) 3.2.9. The population in this study consisted of 200 employees of PT Pelita Satria Perkasa Depo Pelita Sokaraja, who used purposive sampling. The sample of this study amounted to 120 employees based on the Slovin sample size determination formula. This research instrument uses a questionnaire in the form of Google Forms.
Results: The study found that the work environment and compensation significantly impact work motivation, while leadership does not. Work motivation, work environment, and leadership all significantly affect job satisfaction, but compensation does not. Work motivation can mediate the effect of work environment and compensation on job satisfaction, but it cannot mediate the effect of leadership on job satisfaction.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the importance of improving the work environment, compensation, and employee satisfaction to boost productivity and contribute to the company’s long-term success.
Optimizing The Net Energy of Acetone Production using The Isopropyl Alcohol Dehydrogenation Process
Authors: Ihsan Ahmad Nur , Wibawa Angga Satria , Ruliyono Dafiq , Ibrahim Kevin Maulana , Kindi Muhammad Alif
Published: January 2025

In order to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, acetone has emerged as an important platform chemical for various industrial applications. Acetone can be efficiently produced through the dehydrogenation of isopropanol, using metal-based catalysts with high activity and selectivity. The technology for this acetone production was simulated using Aspen HYSYS software, with operating parameters based on the reaction dynamics model for isopropanol dehydrogenation. This study evaluated the modification of the dehydrogenation process to improve energy efficiency by optimizing the heat transfer unit. The product heat leaving the reactor will be cooled in a heat exchanger and the heat is used to increase the heat from the mixer output, this is designed to utilize the process output energy, thus utilizing the heat exchanger as a cooler for the reactor output, thereby reducing additional energy consumption and improving the overall process sustainability. The modification includes increasing the acetone production yield and energy efficiency in the heat transfer unit to reduce energy consumption from 10.9296 MMBtu/h to 7.7431 MMBtu/h by utilizing the heat exchanger as a cooler for the reactor output back and at the same time a heater for the mixer output as a process optimization. Copyright © 2024 by Authors, Published by Universitas Diponegoro and BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Improving Cyclohexane Yield from Hydrogenation Benzene with a Modified Multistage Separation Design
Authors: Faiq Nabihan Firas , Ghifari Ahnaf Naufal , Hafizh Dzakwan , Wafi Muhammad Ariq , Failasofi Muhammad Najih
Published: January 2025

Cyclohexane is a compound that is widely used in various industrial applications as a chemical intermediate. Apart from that, this compound can also be used to produce solvents, insecticides and plasticizers. With the large use of cyclohexane, production with high efficiency in terms of yield is required. The aim of this research is to develop a process design for producing cyclohexane from benzene hydrogenation, with the aim of achieving high yield. This research uses an iterative simulation method to compare the basic process and a modified process for cyclohexane production. This process involves creating a simulation model using Aspen HYSYS and adjusting the process parameters until the desired results are achieved. The results of this research indicate that the cyclohexane produced in the modification process achieves a higher percentage of yield product. Based on the implemented process modification, there has been an increase in the yield of cyclohexane produced from 93.49% to 99.90%. Based on the results of this research, the modification process is proven to be able to increase yield and mass flow compared to the basic process system. Copyright © 2025 by Authors, Published by Universitas Diponegoro and BCREC Publishing Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).
Oriented Perovskite Film from Laser Recrystallization in Magnetic Field
Authors: Yang Huanrui , Peng Ming , Yi Wendi , Jiang Haoqing , Cheng Gary J.
Published: July 2023

The orientation of crystals on the substrate and the presence of defects are critical factors in electro‐optic performance. However, technical approaches to guide the orientational crystallization of electro‐optical thin films remain challenging. Here, a novel physical method called magnetic‐field‐assisted pulse laser annealing (MAPLA) for controlling the orientation of perovskite crystals on substrates is reported. By inducing laser recrystallization of perovskite crystals under a magnetic field and with magnetic nanoparticles, the optical and magnetic fields are found to guide the orientational gathering of perovskite units into nanoclusters, resulting in perovskite crystals with preferred lattice orientation in (110) and (220) perpendicular to the substrate. The perovskite crystals obtained by MAPLA exhibit significantly larger grain size and fewer defects compared to those from pulsed laser annealing (PLA) and traditional thermal annealing, resulting in improved carrier lifetime and mobility. Furthermore, MAPLA demonstrates enhanced device performance, increasing responsivity and detectivity by two times, and photocurrent by nearly three orders compared with PLA. The introduction of Fe2O3 nanoparticles during MAPLA not only improves crystal size and orientation but also significantly enhances long‐term stability by preventing Pb2+ reduction. The MAPLA method has great potential for fabricating many electro‐optical thin films with desired device properties and stability.
Visual Detection of Coumarin and Umbelliferone for Beverage Safety Based on Eu(III)‐Functionalized HOF Hybrids: Further Constructing an SVM‐Assisted Digital Anti‐Counterfeiting Platform
Authors: Zhu Kai , Yan Bing
Published: July 2023

The development of rapid, sensitive, and intuitive intelligent fluorescent materials (IFMs) for monitoring beverage safety is important for human health. In this study, an emerging IFM, a dual‐emitting Eu3+‐functionalized hydrogen‐bonded organic framework (Eu@HOF, Eu@1), is fabricated through coordination post‐synthetic modification. The ligand‐to‐metal charge transfer‐induced energy transfer (LMCT‐ET) from 1 to Eu3+ provides Eu@1 with palpable red fluorescence. Eu@1 as a sensor can specifically discriminate coumarin (Cou), a common spice used in beverages but a suspected carcinogen, with high sensitivity, high efficiency, and excellent anti‐interference. Eu@1 can also quantitatively distinguish 7‐hydroxycoumarin (umbelliferone, Ulf), a metabolite of Cou, in chromatic and ratiometric modes. In realistic milk and soy milk samples, the detection limits (DL) of Eu@1 for Cou are 0.0979 and 0.0511 mg L−1, respectively, whereas that of Ulf in practical serum samples is 0.0099 mg L−1. Furthermore, based on the polyethylene‐vinyl acetate (PEVA) films, three digital anti‐counterfeiting platforms with multiple encryption information are constructed, assisted by a support vector machine. This work proposes a facile pathway for preparing Eu@HOF fluorescent sensors to determine beverage safety and opens the possibility of designing an efficient and precise multifunctional digital anti‐counterfeiting platform via machine learning.
Chemical interface damping in single gold nanorods coated with silver via hot electron‐mediated photoreduction
Authors: Heo Seong Eun , Ha Ji Won
Published: July 2023

Herein, we investigated the photoreduction of silver (Ag) ions on gold nanorods coated with mesoporous silica shell (AuNRs@mSiO2) induced by hot electrons generated in Au via localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) excitation. In addition, we investigated chemical interface damping (CID) using pyridine as the adsorbate in single Ag‐coated AuNRs@mSiO2. The Ag deposition caused a blue shift and linewidth broadening of the LSPR peak of the AuNRs@mSiO2. The subsequent chemisorption of pyridine on Ag‐coated AuNRs@mSiO2 resulted in a red shift and additional LSPR linewidth broadening. Finally, we demonstrated real‐time time‐dependent changes in LSPR peak wavelength and linewidth during the sequential processes of hot electron‐mediated Ag deposition and pyridine adsorption on a single AuNR@mSiO2 in a flow cell. Therefore, we provided a deep understanding of hot electron‐triggered Ag coating and CID induced by pyridine adsorption in single AuNRs@mSiO2 coated with Ag.
Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Property of a True Mangrove Rhizophora apiculata Bl.
Authors: Acharya Srinivas , Jali Pallavi , Pradhan Madhusmita , Pradhan Chinmay , Mohapatra Pradipta K.
Published: July 2023

Mangroves are abundant in bioactive natural substances that fight off pathogenic diseases. Different parts of R. apiculata, an abundant mangrove found in Bhitarkanika National Park, India were extracted with methanol and a mixture of solvents methanol/ethanol/chloroform (60 : 20 : 20) to evaluate their antimicrobial properties. The combination solvent extract of bark had the highest zone of inhibition (ZOI) of 18.62 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and a ZOI of 17.41 mm against Streptococcus mitis. Bark extracts had the highest DPPH (43 %) and FRAP (96 %) activities. The combination solvent bark extract of R. apiculata had the highest ZOI of 20.42 mm (lowest MIC of 2.12 μg/ml) against Candida albicans and ZOI of 15.33 mm (MIC of 3.02 μg/mL) against Penicillium chrysogenum. Combination bark extracts of R. apiculata contained flavanols than methanolic extracts. The crude extract of R. apiculata bark made with a mixture of solvents containing more active ingredients could be used in novel drug formulation.
The Role of Metal and Acid Sites in the Liquid‐phase Hydrodeoxygenation of Lignin‐derived Phenolic Dimers
Authors: Rafael Raphaela Azevedo , Wojcieszak Robert , Marceau Eric , Noronha Fabio Bellot
Published: July 2023

Bio‐oil obtained from the depolymerization of lignocellulosic biomass is a potential alternative source to replace fossil fuels. However, due to high oxygen content, the bio‐oil must be upgraded. In this direction, the hydrodeoxygenation reaction (HDO) is widely applied. Considering the complex chemical composition of the bio‐oil, a variety of model molecules have been used in the literature to study the mechanism of the HDO process. In this work, we discuss heterogeneous catalysts and reaction conditions (temperature, pressure, and solvent) generally used for the HDO of dimeric aryl ethers representative of the main ether linkages present in the lignin:α‐O‐4, β‐O‐4, and 4‐O‐5. The present work aims to shed light on the role of metal and acid sites and understand the influence of the reaction conditions on the reaction pathways.
Inhibition of Amyloid β Aggregation and Cytotoxicity by Berbamine Hydrochloride
Authors: Dong Li , Xie Huan‐Zhang , Jia Lee , Hong Liu , Li Gao
Published: July 2023

Alzheimer's disease (AD) continues to be a major global health challenge, and the recent approval of Aduhelm and Leqembi has opened new avenues for its treatment. Small‐molecule inhibitors targeting Aβ aggregation hold promise as an alternative to monoclonal antibodies. In this study, we evaluated the ability of berbamine hydrochloride (BBMH), a member of the bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids, to reduce Aβ aggregation and cytotoxicity. Thioflavin T kinetics, circular dichroism spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy results indicated that BBMH effectively inhibited Aβ aggregation. Surface plasmon resonance and molecular docking results further revealed that BBMH could bind to Aβ fibrils, thereby hindering the aggregation process. This physical picture has been confirmed in a quantitative way by chemical kinetics analysis, which showed BBMH tends to bind with the fibril ends and thus prevents the transition from protofibrils to mature fibrils as well as the elongation process. Additionally, our MTT results showed that BBMH was able to reduce the cytotoxicity of Aβ40 on N2a cells. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, the potential of BBMH to inhibit Aβ aggregation and cytotoxicity, offering a promising direction for further research and drug development efforts in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.
Religiosity and corporate social responsibility: A study of firm‐level adherence to Christian values in the United States
Authors: Dimic Nebojsa , Fatmy Veda , Vähämaa Sami
Published: July 2023

This paper examines the hypothesis that religious firms are more socially responsible. By utilizing a novel measure of religiosity that reflects firm‐level adherence to Christian values, we find that religiousness is positively associated with the CSR engagement of large US firms after controlling for county‐level religiosity and various firm characteristics. The results indicate that religious firms have higher social and environmental responsibility scores. The positive relationship is particularly strong with respect to product responsibility, emissions reduction, and responsible use of resources. While county‐level religiosity does not have any incremental effect on CSR above the influence of firm‐level religiousness, we document that the positive linkage between firm‐level religiosity and CSR engagement is strengthened by local religiousness. Overall, our empirical findings suggest that faith‐driven corporate values may encourage socially responsible behavior.
Fault Diagnosis of Electric Submersible Pumps Using a Three‐Stage Multiscale Feature Transformation Combined with CNN–SVM
Authors: Chen Jiarui , Li Wei , Yang Peihao , Li Sheng , Chen Baoqin
Published: July 2023

A convolutional neural network support vector machine (CNN–SVM) method based on multichannel feature fusion is used for progressive fault diagnosis of offshore oil and gas wells. The excellent classification performance of CNN is attributed to its ability to extract feature representations from large amounts of easily distinguishable data. However, the capability of CNN is severely constrained by the noisy and small sample amount of the electric submersible pump fault data to be studied in this article. First, 12 representative statistical features are extracted from the raw data to reduce the noise. Then, the feature mapping model is designed based on CNN migration learning. Finally, SVM is used instead of softmax function to adopt representative features directly from the mapping model for fault classification. Comparative experimental results show that the accuracy of fault diagnosis using feature‐extracted samples is better than using the raw samples directly. The proposed CNN–SVM approach has the best classification results compared to SVM, BPNN, CNN, BPNN–SVM, CNN–Attention, CNN–LSTM, and CNN–LSTM–Attention, which implies that manual feature extraction is still an indispensable tool in the fault diagnosis process.
The role of mitochondrial dysfunction in macrophages on SiO2‐induced pulmonary fibrosis: A review
Authors: Zhao Jia‐hui , Li Shuang , Du Shu‐ling , Zhang Zhao‐qiang
Published: July 2023

Several epidemiologic and toxicological studies have widely regarded that mitochondrial dysfunction is a popular molecular event in the process of silicosis from different perspectives, but the details have not been systematically summarized yet. Thus, it is necessary to investigate how silica dust leads to pulmonary fibrosis by damaging the mitochondria of macrophages. In this review, we first introduce the molecular mechanisms that silica dust induce mitochondrial morphological and functional abnormalities and then introduce the main molecular mechanisms that silica‐damaged mitochondria induce pulmonary fibrosis. Finally, we conclude that the mitochondrial abnormalities of alveolar macrophages caused by silica dust are involved deeply in the pathogenesis of silicosis through these two sequential mechanisms. Therefore, reducing the silica‐damaged mitochondria will prevent the potential occurrence and fatality of the disease in the future.
Co‐localization of clinically relevant antibiotic‐ and heavy metal resistance genes on plasmids in Klebsiella pneumoniae from marine bivalves
Authors: Håkonsholm Fredrik , Hetland Marit A. K. , Löhr Iren H. , Lunestad Bjørn Tore , Marathe Nachiket P.
Published: July 2023

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen frequently associated with antibiotic resistance and present in a wide range of environments, including marine habitats. However, little is known about the development, persistence, and spread of antibiotic resistance in such environments. This study aimed to obtain the complete genome sequences of antibiotic‐resistant K. pneumoniae isolated from marine bivalves in order to determine the genetic context of antibiotic‐ and heavy metal resistance genes in these isolates. Five antibiotic‐resistant K. pneumoniae isolates, of which four also carried heavy metal resistance genes, were selected for complete genome sequencing using the Illumina MiSeq platform and the Oxford Nanopore Technologies GridION device. Conjugation experiments were conducted to examine the transfer potential of selected plasmids. The average length of the complete genomes was 5.48 Mbp with a mean chromosome size of 5.27 Mbp. Seven plasmids were detected in the antibiotic‐resistant isolates. Three IncFIB, one IncFIB/IncFII, and one IncFIB/IncHIB plasmid, respectively, carried antibiotic resistance genes such as qnrS1, aph(6)‐Id and aph(3′)‐Ia, aadA1, and aadA2. Four of these plasmids also carried genes encoding resistance to copper (pco), silver (sil), and arsenic (ars). One plasmid carrying tet(D) and blaSHV‐1 as well as pco, sil, and ars genes was transferred to Escherichia coli by conjugation. We show the co‐occurrence of antibiotic‐ and heavy metal resistance genes on a conjugative IncFIB plasmid from K. pneumoniae from marine bivalves. Our study highlights the importance of the marine environment and seafood as a possible dissemination route for antimicrobial resistance and provides insights into the potential for co‐selection of antibiotic resistance genes by heavy metals.
A comprehensive open‐access database of electron backscattering coefficients for energies ranging from 0.1 keV to 15 MeV
Authors: Akbari Fatemeh
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The characterization of electron backscattering is essential in medical physics for accurately assessing dose deposited around inhomogeneities where backscattering alters the spatial energy distribution pattern and for determining Monte‐Carlo code's ability to effectively describe electron scattering and does calculation in a target volume. Recent machine learning advances have provided physicists with powerful tools for effectively extracting information and trends from extensive experiment observations if sufficiently sizeable datasets are available for data mining. We report on the development of a publicly accessible database on electron backscattering coefficients for solid targets.

Acquisition and validation methods

The first database on electron‐solid interactions was assembled in 1995. Data for bulk materials, limited to normal incidence and energies up to 100 keV, were primarily focusing on electron microscopy. To accommodate broad high‐energy applications and include the most recent publications we have created a comprehensive database of electron backscattering coefficients, listed as a function of target atomic number and thickness, electron energy, and incidence angle. These additions resulted in a database of 3566 data points, compared to the previous database of 1430. The data collection includes only published experimental observations (no calculations or results fitting) with no attempt to judge their accuracy or quality. A limited number of data points were compared to recently published Monte‐Carlo results.

Data format and usage notes

The presented database provides values of electron backscattering coefficients for 50 elements and 19 compounds at electron energies ranging from 0.1 keV to 15 MeV, presented in ASCII files. Each file contains the electron energy and backscattering coefficient with target thickness or electron incidence angle included where available, and the reference number shown in the last column. Additionally, the presented data were shown in the graphs for better visualization. The online database can be accessed from the website https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7810951.

Potential applications

The database provides the most up‐to‐date source of experimentally obtained electron backscattering coefficients that can be used in theoretical and MC calculations and modeling validations. The data availability is still very limited for many solids and almost non‐existent for compounds. Novel machine learning methods should be well adapted to predict these unknown values for various targets, thicknesses, energies, and incident angles utilizing the presented cleaned dataset.
Ghost stabilisation of the material point method for stable quasi‐static and dynamic analysis of large deformation problems
Authors: Coombs William M.
Published: July 2023

The unstable nature of the material point method (MPM) is widely documented and is a barrier to the method being used for routine engineering analyses of large deformation problems. The vast majority of articles concerning this issue are focused on the instabilities that manifest when a material point crosses between background grid cells. However, there are other issues related to the stability of MPMs. This article focuses on the issue of the conditioning of the global system of equations caused by the arbitrary nature of the position of the physical domain relative to the background computational grid. The issue is remedied here via the use of a ghost stabilisation technique that penalises variations in the gradient of the solution field near the boundaries of the physical domain. This technique transforms the stability of the MPM, providing a robust computational framework for large deformation explicit dynamic and implicit quasi‐static analysis.
Global knowledge–action networks at the frontlines of sustainability: Insights from five decades of science for action in UNESCO's World Network of biosphere reserves
Authors: Barraclough Alicia D. , Reed Maureen G. , Coetzer Kaera , Price Martin F. , Schultz Lisen , Moreira‐Muñoz Andrés , Måren Inger
Published: July 2023

Generating actionable knowledge to meet current sustainability challenges requires unprecedented collaboration across scales, geographies, cultures and knowledges. Intergovernmental programmes and place‐based knowledge–action networks have much potential to mobilize sustainability transformation. Although many research fields have benefited from research networks and comparative sites, the potential of site‐based research networks for generating knowledge at the people–nature interface has yet to be fully explored.

This article presents the World Network of biosphere reserves (WNBR) of UNESCO's Man and Biosphere Programme, intentionally established for generating actionable knowledge through comparative sites envisioned as learning spaces for sustainable development. Drawing on experiences over five decades, and we offer six categories of insights. Our intent is to share the story of this network widely, distil the learnings from the network to enhance its potential to support both knowledge co‐production and collaborative action for sustainability and inform wider efforts to establish place‐based sustainability networks aimed at improving human–environment relations through knowledge and action.

The WNBR has generated insights on the challenges of creating and supporting an international and inter‐governmental sustainability network to generate and mobilize place‐based interdisciplinary knowledge in the long term. Despite the challenges, site‐ and place‐based research facilitated by this network has been fundamental in creating space for sustainability science, knowledge co‐production and transdisciplinary research at the human–nature interface.

We share insights on pathways to the implementation of global sustainability agendas through local networks, and the role of research in supporting learning and experimentation in local sites as they work to adapt global sustainability goals. Research in the WNBR has generated deeper understanding on social–ecological complexity and resilience in place‐based sustainability initiatives, and how collaborative platforms might facilitate collective action across landscapes. The network continues to offer a fundamental learning space on operationalizing pluralistic approaches to biodiversity conservation, for example, through its focus on biocultural diversity, offering a key opportunity for the implementation of the post‐2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

We conclude by arguing that WNBR, and similar place‐based knowledge–action networks, can support interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research related to human–nature relationships and provide opportunities for comparative research that may yield more explanatory power than individual case studies.

Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.
Bidirectional processes linking social determinants of health and pediatric sickle cell anemia management: A qualitative study
Authors: Long Kristin A. , Blakey Ariel O. , Amaro Christina M. , Eilenberg Jenna S. , Brochier Annelise , Garg Arvin , Drainoni Mari‐Lynn , Pashankar Farzana , Esrick Erica B. , Kavanagh Patricia L.
Published: July 2023

Background

Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) have substantial medical needs and more unmet basic needs than children with other medical conditions. Despite a recent focus on social determinants of health (SDoH), there remains an incomplete understanding of the processes linking SDoH and disease management, particularly for youth with SCA. This study elucidated these processes and identified ways to mitigate deleterious effects of adverse SDoH on SCA management.

Methods

Parents/primary caregivers (N = 27) of children with SCA (≤12 years old) participated in semi‐structured interviews regarding SCA management and SDoH and completed quantitative measures of basic needs. Qualitative data were systematically coded and analyzed using applied thematic analysis. Quantitative data were presented descriptively.

Results

Three qualitative themes were identified. First, SCA management is bidirectionally linked with the social environment, whereby challenges of SCA management can hinder basic needs from being met, and unmet basic needs and financial hardship hinder SCA management. Second, due to limited resources, parents/caregivers are faced with difficult choices between prioritizing basic needs versus SCA management. Third, addressing material, emotional, and informational needs may improve SCA management. Quantitatively, 73% of families endorsed ≥1 basic need, including food insecurity (42%), housing instability (62%), and/or energy insecurity 19% (vs. 20%).

Conclusion

Despite documented associations, there remains a poor understanding of the processes linking SDoH and health. Findings underscore how day‐to‐day conditions undermine the management of SCA treatments, symptoms, and complications, limiting treatment effectiveness. Understanding these processes may inform family‐centered, health equity interventions and policies to improve living conditions, disease management, and health outcomes.
Digital twin simulation modeling process with system dynamics: An application to naval ship operation
Authors: Choi Jinwoo , Moon Seongam , Min Soonhong
Published: July 2023

Digital twin (DT) has been around for many years, but there is no widely accepted standardized tool or method. In this study, system dynamics was proposed as a tool that can be integrated into multi‐scale, multi‐physics, and multi‐disciplinary, which are continuously becoming issues in the DT field. Various heterogeneous data from multiple protocols or platforms could be integrated into one model. Through the five‐step model building process, it was possible to integrate the theories and various models studied in the past. In this study, the operation and maintenance system of ROK Naval ships is implemented as a proposed method. Various physics, scales, and disciplines such as failures of ships, maintenance ability of repair shops, and schedule pressure of mechanics were reflected. It was possible to observe non‐intuitive correlations and potential problems caused by the latent effect of the high‐fidelity DT model. The proposed method is also capable of updating through continuous data calibration or real‐time interworking with external statistical analysis tools.
Folgen der COVID-19-Pandemie: Gibt es Risikogruppen für ein verringertes subjektives Wohlbefinden nach dem ersten Lockdown?
Authors: Finne Emily , Razum Oliver
Published: July 2023

Hintergrund

Maßnahmen zur Eindämmung von COVID-19 führten zu Belastungen, die gesundheitliche Ungleichheiten verstärkt haben. Wir untersuchen, inwiefern sich Risikogruppen für ein reduziertes subjektives Wohlbefinden nach Eintreten des Lockdowns 2020 identifizieren lassen. Dabei berücksichtigen wir im Rahmen eines intersektionalen Ansatzes auch mögliche Wechselwirkungen verschiedener sozialer Gruppierungsmerkmale.

Methode

Analysiert wurden Daten des Sozio-oekonomischen Panels (SOEP) aus den Jahren 2018–2020. Insgesamt 16.000 Fälle mit Angaben zu Wohlbefindensänderungen (SF-12-Scores sowie Einzelindikatoren) wurden in die Auswertung einbezogen. Zur Identifikation von Gruppen mit unterschiedlicher Entwicklung im Wohlbefinden verwenden wir das Klassifikationsverfahren Random Forests. Zur inhaltlichen Interpretation stellen wir ergänzend Ergebnisse aus einem Regressionsmodell mit sozialen und gesundheitlichen Aspekten als Prädiktoren dar.

Ergebnisse

Demografische und soziale Merkmale erklärten nur einen sehr geringen Teil der Veränderungen im subjektiven Wohlbefinden (R2 = 0,007–0,012) und ließen keine Abgrenzung homogener Risikogruppen zu. Obwohl einige signifikante Prädiktoren in den Regressionsmodellen gefunden wurden, waren entsprechende Effekte überwiegend gering. Neben dem Ausgangszustand im Wohlbefinden vor Pandemiebeginn trugen v. a. das Vorliegen chronischer Erkrankungen und Behinderungen zur Erklärung des Wohlbefindens bei.

Diskussion

Die aktuell vorliegenden Daten ermöglichen keine klare Identifikation von Risikogruppen für Einbußen im Wohlbefinden im ersten Jahr der COVID-19-Pandemie. Der Gesundheitszustand vor Pandemiebeginn scheint für kurzfristige Veränderungen im subjektiven Wohlbefinden bedeutsamer zu sein als soziodemografische und -ökonomische Kategorisierungsmerkmale.
Improving Network Delay Predictions Using GNNs
Authors: Farreras Miquel , Soto Paola , Camelo Miguel , Fàbrega Lluís , Vilà Pere
Published: July 2023

Autonomous network management is crucial for Fifth Generation (5G) and Beyond 5G (B5G) networks, where a constantly changing environment is expected and network configuration must adapt accordingly. Modeling tools are required to predict the impact on performance (packet and delay loss) when new traffic demands arrives and when changes in routing paths are applied in the network. Mathematical analysis and network simulators are techniques for modeling networks but both have limitations, as the former provides low accuracy and the latter requires high execution times. To overcome these limitations, machine learning (ML) algorithms, and more specifically, graph neural networks (GNNs), are proposed for network modeling due to their ability to capture complex relationships from graph-like data while predicting network properties with high accuracy and low computational requirements. However, one of the main issues when using GNNs is their lack of generalization capability to larger networks, i.e., when trained in small networks (in number of nodes, paths length, links capacity), the accuracy of predictions on larger networks is poor. This paper addresses the GNN generalization problem by the use of fundamental networking concepts. Our solution is built from a baseline GNN model called RouteNet (developed by Barcelona Neural Networking Center-Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (BNN-UPC)) that predicts the average delay in network paths, and through a number of simple additions significantly improves the prediction accuracy in larger networks. The improvement ratio compared to the baseline model is 101, from a 187.28% to a 1.828%, measured by the Mean Average Percentage Error (MAPE). In addition, we propose a closed-loop control context where the resulting GNN model could be potentially used in different use cases.
First LIPA Mutational Analysis in Egyptian Patients Reveals One Novel Variant: Wolman Disease
Authors: Elaraby Nesma M. , Galal Eman Reda , Abdel-Hamid Mohamed , Elbendary Hasnaa M. , Elbadry Mohamed , Mekkawy Mona K. , Ashaat Neveen A. , Mounir Samir M. , Ashaat Engy A.
Published: July 2023

Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) is a necessary enzyme for the hydrolysis of both triglycerides (TGs) and cholesteryl esters (CEs) in the lysosome. Deficiency of this enzyme encoded by the lipase A (LIPA) gene leads to LAL deficiency (LAL-D). A severe disease subtype of LAL-D is known as Wolman disease (WD), present with diarrhea, hepatosplenomegaly, and adrenal calcification. Untreated patients do not survive more than a year. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and molecular characterizations of WD patients in Egypt. A total of seven patients (from five unrelated Egyptian families) were screened by targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS), and the co-segregation of causative variants was analyzed using Sanger sequencing. Furthermore, multiple in silico analyses were performed to assess the pathogenicity of the candidate variants. Overall, we identified three diseases causing variants harbored in the LIPA gene. One of these variants is a novel missense variant (NM_000235.4: c.1122 T > G; p. His374Gln), which was classified as a likely pathogenic variant. All variants were predicted to be disease causing using in silico analyses. Our findings expand the spectrum of variants involved in WD which may help to investigate phenotype-genotype correlation and assist genetic counseling. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first clinico-genetic study carried out on Egyptian patients affected with WD.
The impact of water table fluctuation and salinity on LNAPL distribution and geochemical properties in the smear zone under completely anaerobic conditions
Authors: Ismail Reem Elfatih , Al-Raoush Riyadh I. , Alazaiza Motasem Y. D.
Published: July 2023

Climate and groundwater are always in a state of dynamic equilibrium. Subsurface systems contaminated by light non-aqueous phase liquid (LNAPL) present a challenge to understand the overall impact of water table dynamics, due to various interacting mechanisms, including volatilization, and LNAPL mobilization/dissolution along the groundwater flow direction and oscillating redox conditions. We investigated the impact of water table fluctuations on LNAPL natural attenuation and soil geochemical characteristics in semi-arid coastal areas under saline conditions. Four soil columns operated for 151 days under anoxic conditions where a layer of benzene and toluene were subjected to a stable and fluctuating water table associated with low and high salinity conditions. The bottom of stable and fluctuating columns reached an anaerobic state after 40 days, while the middle of stable column took 60 days. pH values of the fluctuating columns covered a wide range, and at the end shifted towards alkaline conditions, unlike the stable columns. In fluctuating columns, pore water sulfate decreased in the middle, but in stable columns, it decreased in the first 40 days, which suggested that sulfate was the primary electron donor and sulfate-reducing bacteria were present. At the source zone, benzene and toluene reached their maximum concentration after 30 and 10 days for the stable and the fluctuating columns, respectively. Significant decrease in benzene and toluene concentrations occurred under the fluctuating water table. Salinity did not affect benzene and toluene concentrations in the aqueous phase, although water table fluctuations have the most effect. Soil solid-phase analysis shows fluctuating columns have less toluene than stable columns. Solid-phase analysis showed the fluctuating columns have less benzene and toluene concentrations as compared to the stable columns.
An experimental study on aging effects of the air–fuel ratio swing on modern gasoline three-way catalysts
Authors: Eickenhorst René , Koch Thomas
Published: July 2023

Today’s governmental legislations require region specific emission standards for passenger vehicles. Continuously increasing legal requirements demand the development of more complex exhaust gas after treatment systems to further reduce harmful gases like carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Due to specific load profiles and other boundary conditions, the efficiency of the aftertreatment system declines over lifecycle, so that the emissions might increase. Consequently, the durability of the system becomes a critical design parameter with upcoming legislation demanding emissions stability over the vehicle life cycle. Within this publication, catalyst aging effects due to air–fuel ratio (AFR) swing are analyzed experimentally. To create catalyst aging conditions, a modern eight-cylinder turbocharged engine was modified and specific aging cycles with a variation of AFR swing amplitude and frequency were conducted. Light-off curves were used to depict the negative impact of the AFR swing on the aging catalyst systems. A higher swing frequency resulted in an increased temperature amplitude within the entrance area of the catalyst, while an elevated amplitude lead to more exothermic heat release and stronger aging over the complete catalyst, as visualized via conversion maps. A theoretical calculation of thermal loads by Arrhenius equation supports the results and indicates the direction of supplementary experimental approaches.