bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analysis of pesticide and heavy metal bioaccumulation in earthworms from Central plain zone of Punjab
Authors: Devika Devika , Aulakh Randeep Kaur , Sharma Ragini , Rani Neeraj
Published: August 2024

The present study was undertaken to estimate the pesticide residue and heavy metal contents of agricultural soil samples to analyse their bioaccumulation in earthworm tissues and genotoxic effects from different locations of central plain zone of Punjab, India. Monitoring of four locations of Punjab showed the concentrations of heavy metals in the soil and earthworm tissue followed similar trend, and were in the order of Mn > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Co > As > Cd. Soil samples of Bhogiwal and Jassian village were detected with chlorpyrifos and Tebuconazole; and chlorpyrifos respectively. Bioaccumulation factor for heavy metals was found to be highest for Cadmium in earthworms of Bhogiwal village of Malerkotla (9.19 ± 0.55), followed by Zinc (1.43 ± 0.01 to 2.07 ± 0.12), and lowest for Chromium and Cobalt in village Bhogiwal of Malerkotla and in village Balrampur of Ropar respectively. Damaged DNA was observed in earthworm samples of Jassian and Bhogiwal villages, providing insights to the genotoxic effects of pesticide and heavy metal contamination.
Infrared and visible military image fusion strategies and applications based on composite decomposition and multi-fuzzy theory
Authors: Wang Shuai , Du Yuhong , Lin Jingxuan , Zhao Shuaijie , Dong Guangyu
Published: August 2024

It is found in infrared military targets’detection that some of the collected images are greatly affected by the environment, and they are still not provide targets’detailed information after preprocessing, which limits the detection effect. In this paper, we establish a military infrared-visible dataset and propose a military image fusion strategy based on composite decomposition and multi-fuzzy theory. Firstly, the source infrared and visible images are decomposed by using the two-scale and Latent Low-rank representation composite method, and the underlying optimal information of the images is mined. Secondly, for low-frequency detail images, the Gaussian fuzzy function is used to adjust the visual saliency map weighting function; for low-frequency salient images, the Cauchy fuzzy function is used to adjust the image energy weighting; and for high-frequency images, an improved intuitionistic fuzzy set function is used as the fusion rule as proposed. Finally, four sets of typical images are used to test the proposed method and make both subjective and objective comparisons with the other four mainstream fusion methods. The application experiment results show that the proposed military image fusion strategy can more effectively improve the clarity of the data source and thus improve military targets’detection accuracy.
Nonadiene Isomers as Potential Green Flavor Components of Autoxidizing Fish Oil
Authors: Faraji Habibollah , Lindsay Robert C. , Wada Shun , Ibrahim Salam A , Aminzare Majid , Tahergorabi Reza
Published: August 2024

The autoxidation of fish oil occurs via free radical mechanisms, producing hydroperoxide intermediates and their decomposition products, which include volatile aldehydes, unsaturated ketones, and furan derivatives. Identifying these compounds can lead to strategies for suppressing fishy off-notes. Therefore, in the search for new compounds, menhaden oil was oxidized under three different conditions: exposure to light for 11 days, exposure to 121°C for 80 minutes, or storage in the dark at 40°C for 48 hours. These conditions resulted in the production of at least three isomers of nonadiene, confirmed by mass spectra and retention indices (RI) using various GC columns. The potent green compound 2,4-nonadiene has an aroma threshold in water of 7.8 ppb. Although 2,4-nonadiene can be derived from omega-3 fatty acids, it appears to be predominantly generated from omega-6 fatty acids. The presence of green compounds between C4 and C5 ethyl esters, was confirmed by olfactory detection of volatiles from oxidized menhaden oil off the gas chromatograph using a packed column. However, mass spectra and RIs did not align with the occurrence of green isomers of nonadiene in oxidized menhaden oil. This discrepancy may be partly due to co-elution with other compounds that obscured their detection by GC-MS.
Potential Applications of Granite-Cement Composite Based on Granite Powder Waste for Radioactive Wastes Solidification: Impact of freezing-thawing treatment
Authors: Bayoumi Talat A. , Tawfik Magda E. , Eskander Samir
Published: August 2024

The freezing/thawing (F/T) reliability of radioactive final waste form (FWF) is experiencing progressive important structural task during the long term disposal period. In this study, a cement-granite composite matrix (GCC) based on granite (G) scrape wastes, at 20% to the mass of the cement (C) mixed at 35 mass% plain water relative to both C & G masses, was developed. The frost resistance of the developed composite was evaluated through freezing and thawing cycling. The F/T integrity of the GCC was assessed through the evaluation and determination of the mass losses, compressive strength and porosity values. The alterations in internal microstructures of granite-cement composite were examined by applying X-Ray diffraction (X-RD), thermal analysis (TA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was dedicated that ameliorations in the characters of the GCC, under consideration, due to freezing/ thawing treatments could be differentiated into three steps: slow-impairment step, fast-spoil step, and stable step. The obtained experimental results, after 180 days of F/T treatment, recommended a basis for the suitability of the developed granite–cement composite and candidate it for solidification/stabilization of some low and medium radioactive wastes. However, evaluation of frost stability in large-scale composite structures is mandatory.
Ulvan from Ulva ohnoi macroalgae : Green extraction method and physicochemical characterization of the ulvan
Authors: Crescencio Kessi , Amaral Venâncio , Souza Alexandro , Barros Cecilia , Souza Juliana , Baldo Denicezar , Oliveira José , Horta Paulo , Bastos Eduardo , Behling Ronan , Batain Fernando , Severino Patricia , Almeida Thais , Souto Eliana , Chaud Marco
Published: August 2024

Ulvan belongs to the class of sulfated heteropolysaccharide and is the main component of the seaweed Ulva ohnoi (U. ohnoi). Ulvan has a chemical structure similar to fucoidan, chondroitin sulfate, and hyaluronic acid, which are commonly used to develop drug delivery systems. Due to the potential biomedical applications of sulfated and non-sulfated polysaccharides, this work aimed to develop an environmentally friendly method for extracting ulvan from U. ohnoi with high yield and purity. A novel method for the extraction of ulvan is proposed and demonstrated successfully. Various characterization techniques were employed to evaluate the presence of sulfated ions, proteins, elements trace, and crystallinity. The structure, morphology, and physical-chemical properties of ulvan were characterized by electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (DRX), Infra-red spectrometry (FTIR), DSC-calorimetry and hydrogen-1 nuclear magnetic resonance (1HNMR). Analysis of the results revealed a fibrous, semi-crystalline structure with regular pores, a yield greater than 25%, and a degree of purity greater than 94%. A search for chemical compounds revealed low protein content, high sulfur content, presence of mineral salts, and total absence of heavy metals. Besides, the results demonstrate that the methodology employed allowed to obtain ulvan with a high degree of purity.
“Changing Landscape of Undernutrition in Reproductive-Age Indian Women: Analysis of the nationally representative data, 1998-2021”
Authors: Chaudhuri Sirshendu , Agiwal Varun , AY Nirupama , Kumar Yashaswini
Published: August 2024

Aim: This study investigates the national and regional distribution and trend of undernutrition among non-pregnant reproductive age-group (15-44 years) women in India based on the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data round 2 (1998-99) to round 5 (2019-21).
Subject and Methods: Undernutrition was defined as a body mass index (BMI) <18.5 kg/m2. Association between undernutrition and socio-demographic variables including caste, place of residence (Rural and urban as reported in NFHS), marital status, educational level, and wealth index were examined using multiple logistic regression with multi-level modelling (MLM) and reported adjusted odds ratio (aOR).
Results: A total of 461,093 women’s record was analyzed. The prevalence of undernutrition among women in the country reduced from 32.8% (n=22,890) in NFHS-2 to 27.1% (n=42,401) in NFHS-5 (average decadal reduction 2.7%). High intrastate variations (difference between highest and lowest prevalence district >20%) were noted across the country. NFHS-5 data shows that women belong to the poorest wealth index (aOR 1.68; 1.6, 1.76), up to preschool education (aOR 1.29; 1.23, 1.36), and unmarried women (aOR 1.54; 1.49, 1.59) are at risk of having undernutrition.
Conclusion: Undernutrition among non-pregnant women has remained high in India. Inter-state and intra-state disparities and inequalities among the various social groups visibly exist for this ignored health issue.
Study on the characteristics of intestinal digestive enzymes activities of three local chicken breeds in South China
Authors: Wu Qiong , Fu Langlang , Li Yuting , Wang Chengwei
Published: August 2024

This experiment aimed to research the intestinal α-amylase and lipase activities of three local chicken breeds from Jiangxi Province in South China, and to investigate the highest enzyme activity sites of digestive enzymes. Six each of Taihe silky fowls, Ningdu three-yellow chickens and Chongren partridge chickens with similar body weights were selected and slaughtered. For each chicken, six portions of chyme were respectively taken from duodenum and jejunum at equal distances, and then α-amylase and lipase activities were determined in these 12 portions of chyme. The results indicated that the α-amylase and lipase activities of the three local chicken breeds did not change significantly in the duodenum, while in the jejunum they gradually increased and then declined. In the meantime, the highest α-amylase activities were found in the 2nd section of the jejunum in Ningdu three-yellow chicken and Chongren partridge chicken, and α-amylase activity in Taihe silky fowl was highest in the 3rd section of the jejunum. The highest lipase activity was observed in the 3rd section of the jejunum for both Taihe silky fowl and Chongren partridge chicken, whereas Ningdu three-yellow chicken exhibited the highest lipase activity in the 2nd section of the jejunum. Both α-amylase and lipase activities reached their maximum in the mid-anterior jejunum of the three chickens, but the location of their highest enzyme activities and digestive enzyme activities were different, with the highest α-amylase activity in Ningdu three-yellow chicken and the highest lipase content in Taihe silky fowl.
Kernel-based Response Extraction Approach for Efficient Configurable Ring Oscillator PUF
Authors: ABULIBDEH ENAS , Saleh Hani , Mohammad Baker , Qutayri Mahmoud Al , Hussain Asif
Published: August 2024

Physically Unclonable Function (PUF) is an emerging hardware security primitive that provides a promising solution for lightweight security. PUFs can be used to generate a secret key that depends on the manufacturing process variation for authentication and device identification. However, the resource requirements of PUFs pose challenges for their application in resource-constrained Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This work proposes a new approach for response extraction in Configurable Ring Oscillator (CRO) PUFs that contributes to reducing area and power consumption by eliminating the need for duplicating Ring Oscillators (ROs) and decreasing associated switching activity. The kernel-based response extraction approach exploits the phase shift of the delay elements and the frequency of ROs to generate unique responses effectively. The extraction approach uses a time-based kernel that enables the internal counters of PUF and evaluates the propagated signals within ROs for a predefined period. The extraction approach has been implemented and verified on a design variant of CRO PUF, which is also proposed within the scope of this work. The proposed PUF has been implemented in 22nm FDSOI technology using Synopsys tools. A comprehensive security analysis has been conducted utilizing Challenge-Response Pairs (CRPs) were collected from 8 chips. The extracted responses achieve an average of 49.42%, 38.25%, 9.95%, and 45.5% for uniformity, diffuseness, reliability, and uniqueness, respectively. Compared with state-of-the-art designs, the proposed design achieves a 75% reduction in area and a 65.1% reduction in power consumption while delivering 2(4n+log2n) CRPs, classified as a strong PUF. Finally, 12 tests of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and machine learning modeling are conducted to verify the security of responses. The NIST tests are successfully passed, and the average prediction accuracy of machine learning models is found to be 65.1%.
Artificial Intelligence Powered Memristive Average Value Calculator and its Real-time Applications
Authors: Raj P Michael Preetam , Vittapu Sravan K. , Chinnasamy P , Divya N. , Gupta Manu , Rao Pinapati Lakshmana
Published: August 2024

Recently, disasters due to floods based on extreme rainfall have resulted in over 2 million deaths and US$ 3.64 trillion loss of property over the last five decades globally. On the other side, researchers have been increasing interest in employing large language models (LLMs) to generate solutions for numerous real-time applications. This work proposes memristor-based electronic circuits for flood alert indication developed through LLM after training through an example. Initially, an average value calculator was designed to record the rainfall associated with four consecutive days. Importantly, a memristor-based electronic circuit was developed to provide extreme rainfall alert indication during heavy rain. Most importantly, the employment of LLM was advantageous in terms of ease and reduction in code complexity by 98.94%. Furthermore, the power consumed by our proposed circuit resulted in ~ 99.9% improvement, whereas the circuit complexity was reduced by ~ 99% when compared to their existing transistor-based counterparts.
Active Contour Model Based on Fuzzy C-Means and Local Pre-fitting Energy for Image Segmentation
Authors: Huang Keya , Ouyang Jingzhi , Weng Guirong
Published: August 2024

Active contour models (ACM) have achieved remarkable results in image segmentation. However,existing ACMs have some shortcomings such as over-dependence on the initial contour, complexparameter adjustments, and difficulty in balancing segmentation accuracy and speed. To furtherimprove the performance of ACM, this paper proposes an active contour model based on fuzzy c-means and local pre-fitting (FLPF) function. Firstly, a linear weighted image is defined as a samplefor the fuzzy c-means (FCM) clustering algorithm to pre-fit the image intensity. A pre-processingoperation is proposed to improve the FCM clustering algorithm and increase the computation speed.Then, second-order differential data-driven terms are designed to guide the curve evolution rapidlyand adaptively toward the target boundary. In addition, adaptive regularization functions are constructed to optimize and normalize the data-driven terms and level set functions, which improves therobustness of the proposed model. Finally, an improved parameter tuning framework based on thedeep learning algorithm YOLOv5 is proposed for the FLPF model to achieve automated parameteradjustments. Compared to other 6 models, our model has advantages in segmentation speed and accuracy, decreasing the average segmentation time by 77.5% and improving the average segmentationaccuracy by more than 7.6% of 10 images.
Loose circle and rock mass strength tests of extremely thin layered surrounding rock in large deformation tunnels
Authors: Peng Feng , Yuan Xiqiang , Li Tianbin , Yuan Yang , Ma Chunchi , Yang Ping , Luo Hong , Deng Changzhong
Published: August 2024

The scope of the surrounding rock loosening and its mechanical properties can significantly affect the analysis of the excavation loosening range, stress-strain state partitioning, and surrounding rock mass stability. Investigating the mechanical properties and failure modes of the surrounding rock mass, optimizing the support design, and ensuring safety during the tunnel construction and operation have significant engineering value. Therefore, the tests on loose circle and mechanical properties of the rock mass were conducted, yielding the following results. (1) The sonic wave testing method and ground penetrating radar (GPR) detection were more suitable for loose circle testing of extremely thin-layered phyllite than the True Reflection Tomography (TRT) method and borehole camera method. (2) The loose circle zone ranges for the test sections were 4.9m and 6.8m, respectively. (3) The cohesive force and internal friction angle of the test sections were less than 0.3276 MPa and 19.0°, respectively. The test results were consistent with the predominant phyllite composition of the surrounding rock. This study combined in situ tests and site conditions to analyze the causes of tunnel deformation and instability, offering recommendations for tunnel support. These findings served as valuable guidance for similar tunnel support design and construction, and play a crucial role in ensuring constructor safety.
HADT : Image Super-Resolution Restoration Using Hybrid Attention-Dense Connected Transformer Networks
Authors: Guo Ying , Tian Chang , Liu Jie , Di Chong , Ning Keqing
Published: August 2024

Image super-resolution (SR) plays a vital role in vision tasks, in which Transformer-based methods outperform conventional convolutional neural networks. Existing work usually uses residual linking to improve the performance, but this type of linking provides limited information transfer within the block. Also, in order to improve feature extraction, existing work usually restricts the self-attention computation to a single window. This means that transformer-based networks can only use feature information within a limited spatial range. To handle the challenge, this paper proposes a novel Hybrid Attention-Dense Connected Transformer Networks (HADT) to better utilise the potential feature information. HADT is constructed by stacking attentional transformer block (ATB), which contains Effective Dense Transformer Block (EDTB) and Hybrid Attention Block (HAB). EDTB combines dense connectivity and swin-transformer to enhance feature transfer and improve model representation, and meanwhile, HAB is used for cross-window information interaction and joint modelling of features for better visualisation. Based on the experiments, our method is effective on SR tasks with magnification factors of 2, 3, and 4. For example, using the Urban100 dataset in an experiment with an amplification factor of 4 our method has a PSNR value that is 0.15 dB higher than the previous method and reconstructs a more detailed texture.
Bibliometric analysis highlights lesser-studied pathways in bone remodeling
Authors: Davis Emily M. , Snyder Jacob A. , Mustaklem Basil S. , Brown Hailey L. , Sasse Madeline M. , Wakefield Connor M. , Day Elicza A. , Battiston Gabriella , Street Sierra , Lowery Jonathan W.
Published: August 2024

Bone mass is determined by the relative balance of action between osteoblasts, which deposit bone matrix, and osteoclasts, which resorb bone matrix. Imbalance in these actions leads to conditions of high or low bone mass. Osteoporosis, i.e., low bone mass, is a common medical condition that places individuals at elevated risk of fracture and greater likelihood of disability, loss of independence, and death. Both anti-resorptive and anabolic medications are available and are generally successful at stabilizing and/or promoting gains in bone mass. However, each current medication has significant drawbacks which present considerable challenges for the long-term management of this chronic condition. Unfortunately, there are few new candidate therapies in the drug development pipeline. This underscores a need for identifying new treatment targets for increasing bone mass, particularly for novel pathways lacking a therapeutic modality in development. However, a report from 2018 identified a striking lack of heterogeneity among molecular pathways studied in the bone remodeling field, with just three pathways accounting for more than 50% of publications and 46% of United States National Institutes of Health-funded grants. Here, we update the prior analysis to 2018-2022 to a) examine the heterogeneity of molecular pathways studied in the bone remodeling field in that time and b) determine if new functional evidence has emerged for additional lesser-known pathways which might hold therapeutic potential. Our results reveal a sustained lack of diversity in research that may restrict discovery of novel therapeutic approaches. We call for an expansion into lesser-studied pathways to broaden the collective focus of the field and highlight several pathways for which functional evidence supports a role in the regulation of bone remodeling. Future work is required to determine therapeutic potential and elucidate the mechanism(s) by which these pathways intersect with the complicated signal transduction network underlying bone remodeling.
A Novel Microfluidic Approach to Quantify Pore-Scale Mineral Dissolution in Porous Media
Authors: Rahman Rafid Musabbir , Niemur Elliott , Blois Gianluca , Kazemifar Farzan , Kim Myeongsub , Li Yaofa
Published: August 2024

Mineral dissolution in porous media coupled with single- and/or multi-phase flows is pervasive in natural and engineering systems. Dissolution modifies the physical, hydrological, and geochemical properties of the solid matrix, resulting in a complex coupling between local dissolution rate and pore-scale flow. The work reports an innovative microfluidic approach that includes novel 2D reactive porous media and advanced pore flow diagnostics for the study of pore-scale dissolution in porous media with unprecedented details. The 2D microfluidic porous media, called micromodels, were fabricated in calcite by combining photolithography and wet etching, which not only offers precise control over the structural and chemical properties, but also facilitate unobstructed optical access to the pore flow, significantly improving over existing methods. We believe the work represents the first of its kind as it for the first time directly applies photolithography to calcite samples and demonstrates the use of particle image velocimetry to investigate chemical reactions in porous media. The preliminary results have revealed the crucial roles of local concentration gradients in mineral dissolution and call for reconsideration of many assumptions used in the current modeling tools, which paves the way for renewed fundamental understanding of reactive transport and improved modeling tools with better accuracy.
Application of low-intensity anticoagulation after On-X mechanical aortic valve replacement
Authors: Zou Kun , Wei Dachuang , Xiang Bo , Yu Tao , Huang Keli , Liu Shengzhong
Published: August 2024

Objective
To explore the safety and efficacy of low-intensity anticoagulation in patients after On-X mechanical aortic valve replacement.
Methods
This study retrospectively collected data from patients diagnosed with aortic valve disease (stenosis or closed insufficiency) who underwent surgical On-X mechanical aortic valve replacement in the Cardiac Surgery Department of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital from December 2018 to December 2021; the patients were divided into low intensity anticoagulation group (INR:1.5-2.0) and higher intensity anticoagulation group (INR:2.0-2.5) based on postoperative stable INR value (relatively stable INR for 3 months) to compare the incidence of postoperative anticoagulant-related adverse events in the two groups.
Results
Fifty-three patients were included in the low-intensity anticoagulation group (INR 1.5-2.0), and 51 patients were included in the higher-intensity group (2.0-2.5) in the baseline data and surgery (P > 0.05); the two groups were statistically significant in PT, INR and bleeding events (P < 0.05), but no significant difference in embolic adverse events (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
For patients requiring On-X mechanical aortic valve replacement who have no risk factors for thromboembolism, it is appropriate to control the INR in the target range 1.5-2.0, which can reduce the incidence of bleeding adverse events and significantly improve the quality of life, without increasing the risk of thromboembolic adverse events.
Analysis of Correlation between Daily Rhythm of Digestion and Metabolism of Grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀) and Water Quality Parameters in Recycling Aquaculture System
Authors: Li Wenyang , Li Hongxu , Fei Fan , Gao Xiaoqiang , Cao Shuquan , Li Wensheng , Jin Bo , Liu Baoliang
Published: August 2024

Daily rhythm, a crucial regulatory factor in fish growth and development, controls the internal functions and regulation of organisms in response to environmental cues. Daily rhythm influences not only metabolism but also water quality factors in recycling aquaculture systems (RAS). However, studies on the daily rhythm of hybrid groupers in the RAS are limited. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the daily rhythm metabolism of hybrid grouper in RAS and explore its effect on water quality. Feeding time was used as the starting point in this study. Initially, dissolved oxygen (DO), total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), and Nitrite nitrogen (Nitrite-N) levels in the RAS were measured. This was followed by assessing oxygen consumption rates (OCR), digestive enzyme activities, and the expression levels of metabolism-related genes in the pearl gentian grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus♂ × Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀). Finally, a combined analysis was conducted on these aspects. The results showed that DO was negatively correlated with OCR, pepsin and lipase activities, and GK gene expression. TAN showed a positive correlation with OCR and the gene expression levels of the target of the rapamycin. Nitrite-N showed a positive correlation with OCR and the gene expression levels of TOR. We also speculated an internal relationship between fish daily rhythms and water quality parameters, which showed a certain degree of synchronicity. These findings were beneficial in optimizing RAS performance through adjustments in management practices and reducing stress on fish.
Challenge faced in diagnosis and treatment of congenital hypothyroidism presenting with isosexual puberty and bilateral ovarian mass in low and middle income country: a case report
Authors: Gebremichael Ashagre , Tesfaye Wintana
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is a prevalent condition that can lead to significant neurodevelopmental issues in infants if not diagnosed and treated promptly. This case report presents an 8-year-old girl diagnosed with Van Wyk-Grumbach syndrome, characterized by severe hypothyroidism, isosexual precocious puberty, and ovarian hyperstimulation. She exhibited symptoms including vaginal bleeding, abdominal distention, and marked obesity with stunted growth. Investigations revealed severe hypothyroidism (TSH: 96 mU/L) and enlarged bilateral ovarian cysts. After initiating levothyroxine therapy, the patient demonstrated remarkable clinical improvement, including reduced abdominal swelling and normalizing thyroid function. This case underscores the importance of considering hypothyroidism in differential diagnoses of ovarian masses in children, especially in regions lacking newborn screening protocols, to prevent unnecessary surgical interventions and ensure appropriate management of the condition.
Naked-eye 3D visualization of cultural relics based on integrated imaging
Authors: Wang Lu , Wang Yu , Liu Quanyang , Wang Qi
Published: August 2024

Digital technology has become crucial for the protection of cultural relics, enabling their acquisition, preservation, exhibition, and dissemination in a non-contact manner.This paper focuses on the acquisition and reproduction of digital information related to cultural relics,and proposes to achieve the true three-dimensional(3D) display of cultural relics from a continuous perspective based on integrated imaging(InIm). Building up on traditional InIm,an Element image array (EIA) generation algorithm based on local depth template matching is designed by using spatial geometry relation.Experimental results show that the algorithm not only enables naked-eye 3D visualization of cultural relics, but also significantly improve the generation speed compared with the existing 3D display data source generation algorithms.
Low-carbon optimal dispatch of integrated energy systems taking into account the ladder-type carbon trading mechanism and electricity-heat demand response
Authors: Dai Xinyin
Published: August 2024

In order to achieve the goals of "carbon neutrality and carbon peaking" at an early date, a low-carbon optimal dispatch model that takes into account the ladder-type carbon trading mechanism and the demand response (DR) of electricity and heat is proposed for the integrated energy system (IES). Firstly, the demand response mechanism for electricity and heat is constructed by considering the characteristics of multiple loads that are flexible in switching relationships with each other. Second, the ladder-type carbon trading mechanism is introduced to achieve the effect of energy saving and emission reduction. After that, the system low-carbon optimal dispatch model is established with the optimization objective of minimizing the operation cost. Finally, four different scenarios are set up to verify the feasibility of the proposed model. The results of the calculations show that the introduction of the ladder-type carbon trading mechanism and the demand response mechanism for electricity and heat can enable the system to reduce carbon emissions by 22.09% and operating costs by 17.27%, which achieves the effect of low-carbon and cost-saving, and provides a theoretical basis for the transformation and sustainable development of the energy system.
A Simple and Efficient Colorimetric Detection of Creatinine Based on Citrate-Stabilized Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Lv Xianfa , Shi Tongrui , Bai Xia , Guan Zheng , Jiang Rujian , Zhou Lu , Chen Hongyu
Published: August 2024

Creatinine level is a crucial indicator in the clinical assessment and diagnosis of renal diseases, achieving simple and accurate detection of urinary creatinine levels in resource-limited point-of-care settings is of great significant in the timely prevention and diagnosis of kidney diseases. As a popular zero-dimensional material, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) exhibit intriguing optical properties and thus have become a promising material for many sensing detection applications. Here, we proposed a simple, efficient and sensitive quantitative detection of creatinine by studying the relative absorbance (ΔA) of AuNPs in absence and presence of creatinine. The method relies on the aggregation of AuNPs via ligand-exchanged of citrate ions and creatinine on the surface of AuNPs to achieve colorimetric detection. With this assay, the limit of detection for creatinine was as low as 0.16 mM, and the dynamic detection range was 0.5 to 20 mM under optimized conditions. In our experiments, the specificity of proposed method was investigated and successfully applied to detect creatinine in urine sample. It reveals that the proposed colorimetric protocol has demonstrated a high sensitivity and selectivity for creatinine, and has a potential practicability in clinical diagnostics.
Surgical outcomes for robotic-assisted single-site hysterectomy compared to multi-site hysterectomy
Authors: Reddy Ravali A. , Somasegar Sahana , Moon Ashley S. , Zhang Jiaqi , Karam Amer
Published: August 2024

Objective
To assess and compare the surgical outcomes of robotic-assisted single-site hysterectomy (SSH) and multi-site hysterectomy (MSH).
Design:
A retrospective cohort study from a single academic health care system.
Results
From October 2013 to June 2022, 127 SSH and 445 MSH were performed. 78% of SSH patients had a normal or overweight BMI compared to 49% of MSH patients (p < 0.001). 37% of SSH patients had a preoperative cancer diagnosis compared to 66% of MSH patients (p < 0.001). There were no differences in average number of prior abdominal surgeries (p = 0.6). The median operative time was 118 minutes for SSH compared to 162 minutes for MSH (p < 0.001). 23% of SSH patients were discharged on the day of surgery compared to 8% of MSH patients (p < 0.001). The plurality (47%) of SSH patients had a blood loss of < 50 mL compared to 50-100mL for the plurality (36%) of MSH patients (p < .001). 7% of patients undergoing MSH experienced major complications compared to only 2% of patients undergoing SSH (p = 0.025). Propensity score matched results using a 1:1 model were consistent with the overall analysis and prior findings, demonstrating statistically significant differences in median operative times, blood loss, and lengths of postoperative stay between SSH and MSH patients.
Conclusion
SSH has overall good outcomes, with this study demonstrating decreased operative times, decreased blood loss, lower rates of major complications, and shorter lengths of postoperative stay when compared to MSH. SSH may be an alternate surgical modality with utility in risk-reducing, precancerous, or early-stage cancer in gynecologic patients.
Recent Advances in Text Line Segmentation and Baseline Detection in Historical Document Images: A Systematic Review
Authors: Rabaev Irina , Litvak Marina
Published: August 2024

The purpose of this survey is to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in text line segmentation and baseline detection techniques within the analysis of historic document images. Text line extraction is an essential step in the historical documents image analysis pipeline, as its results significantly impact the accuracy of subsequent processes, such as handwritten text recognition (HTR). Through a multi-stage procedure, we carefully selected 43 peer-reviewed studies published since 2019. Based on careful analysis of these studies, we summarize the information of the existing datasets, describe and categorize different methods, and summarize evaluation protocols. In addition, we compare the results of various methods on benchmark datasets. Finally, we highlight the gaps and suggest directions for future research.
We believe that this comprehensive survey will be of great assistance to researchers working in the field of historical document image analysis, as it offers critical insights into the latest advancements and developments, providing a foundation for future research.
RETRACTED: Examination of Adipokine (Apelin, Leptin, Ghrelin) and Cortisol Hormone Response and Nutritional Status of University Students Studying in the Field of Health According to Their Orthorexia Nervosa Tendency
Authors: Orkun Tuğçe , BAYRAKTAR Bülent
Published: August 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Variance-reduction kinetic simulation for characterization of surface and corner effects in low-speed rarefied gas flows through long micro-ducts
Authors: Bosco Ferdin Sagai Don , Kammara Kishore Kumar
Published: August 2024

Microfluidic-MEMS (micro-electromechanical system) devices consist of complex subsystems in which the transfer of mass, momentum and energy is critical. This is often achieved by a pressure gradient-driven, low-speed rarefied gas transport in long micro-ducts. Gaseous rarefaction, and geometrical properties of micro-ducts, such as cross-section profile and surface roughness, play a decisive role in the segregation of the flow into inertia-driven and surface-dominated domains. In this work, a parallel stochastic kinetic particle solver that solves the low-variance Boltzmann Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (BGK) formulation is utilized to study isothermal rarefied gas transport through polar and triangular cross-sections. The effect of geometrical features such as surface proximity to the inertial core and the role of corners, are characterized. A novel parameter to indicate surface influence is introduced, which can be gainfully used in MEMS design and optimization.
A Comparative Evaluation of Social Network Analysis Tools: Performance and Community Engagement Perspectives
Authors: Amure Ridwan , Agarwal Nitin
Published: August 2024

Graphs are increasingly used in research, industry, and government. This has led to a wide range of analytical and graph-processing tools. There are various tools and platforms for graph processing. Many network based platforms, tools and storage systems have been presented over time. Each system evaluates its effectiveness and usability in processing graph data using different statistics and criteria. As a result, comparing the various systems' performances becomes challenging. This study benchamark popular network analysis tools— NetworkX, RustworkX, Igraph, EasyGraph, and Graph-tool— by evaluating their performance and extracted community engagement metrics, such as the number of downloads, stars, and forks. We benchmark the library's performance on three open-source datasets, one custom dataset, and twelve network analysis methods. The findings reveal that while NetworkX is highly popular, it exhibits slower performance in most benchmarks compared to Graph-tool and Igraph, which are faster and more efficient despite their lower popularity. The continued popularity of NetworkX may be attributed to factors like well-documented methods and a user-friendly API, though this warrants further investigation. This research provides valuable insights for practitioners, researchers, and developers, helping them make informed decisions when selecting network analysis tools. The study emphasizes the trade-off between user-friendliness and performance, suggesting that the optimal tool choice depends on project-specific requirements.
To make another goal or to dream a different dream – A mixed method study of experiences of people using advance care planning in mental health
Authors: Edan Vrinda , Brophy Lisa , Hamilton Bridget
Published: August 2024

Background
The Mental Health Act (2014) (the Act) Victoria provided for compulsory treatment with specified criteria. Also, within the Act is provision for advance statements, an instrument that is aimed to support advance care planning, should a person become a patient under the Act. To date, uptake has been poor for advance statements and little literature is available that explores direct experiences of these instruments for consumers, when they become compulsory patients under the Act.
Method
This study undertook in depth interviews and an online survey to explore consumers’ direct experiences of using advance statements in Victoria. Four interviews were conducted in 2020, and 86 consumers responded to an online survey.
Results
Many survey respondents had good experiences with advance statements, and the results were also consistent with other research identifying that many of the advance statements were consenting documents, although some issues remained with locating the advance statement and identifying the most beneficial staff members to notify. Analysis of the interviews identified 4 main themes in people’s experiences. Advance Statements are not often read, there are many factors that determine whether they are effective or not, advocacy is still important even with the presence of an advance statement and finally, consumers often have to adjust their expectations. Consumers also offered suggestions on how the uptake and utilisation of advance statements could be improved.
Conclusion
This study identifies some experiences of consumers with Advance Statements being effective and non-effective, depending on a range of circumstances. With greater understanding of the utility of Advance Statements, and better resourcing of supported decision-making mechanisms, there is potential for Advance Statements to contribute to an improved experience for consumers in mental health services.
Cover Chirp Jamming: Hybrid Jamming--Deception Attack on FMCW Radar and Its Countermeasure - Extended version
Authors: Nashimoto Shoei , Nagatsuka Tomoyuki
Published: August 2024

The reliability of measurements is crucial for ensuring the safety of control systems that depend on such measurements. Frequency-modulated continuous-wave (FMCW) radar is an active sensor used to measure distance and speed. Security evaluations of commercial FMCW radars have primarily focused on deception attacks, assuming that jamming attacks are easier to address. In this study, we propose a novel and efficient jamming attack called \textit{cover chirp jamming}. This attack utilizes deception techniques and concentrates energy near the target, resulting in higher efficiency compared to conventional jamming methods. Furthermore, it can bypass existing countermeasures against noise, interference, and jamming. We demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the attack through field and simulation experiments using a modern 77-GHz multi-input multi-output FMCW radar. Moreover, we propose a software-based countermeasure that detects and mitigates the attack. Our quantitative evaluation shows that the power of cover chirp jamming is 17.4 dB higher than conventional jamming. In addition, the countermeasure effectively mitigates the attack if the jamming-to-signal ratio (JSR) is below 0.6 dB, whereas the cover chirp jamming cannot be mitigated when the JSR exceeds 0.6 dB. This paper is an extended version of a paper presented at the Seventh Workshop on Attacks and Solutions in Hardware Security (ASHES 2023).
Intratumoral heterogeneity and metabolic cross-feeding in a three-dimensional model of breast cancer: an in silico perspective.
Authors: Resendis-Antonio Osbaldo , Arellano-Villavicencio Jorge , Vázquez-Jiménez Aarón , Oropeza-Valdéz Juan , Padrón-Manrique Cristian , Prado-García Heriberto , Tovar Armando
Published: August 2024

Today, intra-tumoral composition is a relevant factor associated with the progression and aggresivity of cancer. Despite it suggests a metabolic interdependence among the subpopulations inside the tumor, a detailed map of how this interdependence contributes to malignant phenotype is still lacking. To address this question, we developed a systems biology approach integrating single-cell RNASeq and genome-scale metabolic reconstruction for mapping the metabolic cross-feeding among the subpopulations previously identified in spheroids of MCF7 breast cancer. By calibrating our model with expression profiles and the experimental growth rate, we concluded that the Reverse Warburg effect emerges as a mechanism to optimize the community growth. Furthermore, through an in silico analysis, we identified lactate, alpha-ketoglutarate, and some amino acids as key metabolites whose disponibility alters the growth rate of the spheroid. Altogether, this work contributes with a strategy for assessing how space and intra-tumoral heterogeneity influence the metabolic robustness of cancer, issues that claim computational strategies to move toward the design of optimized treatments.
Rapid detecting and removing of carcinogenic hydrocarbons for polluted water treatment based electrochemical assay and chemical Fe3O4 nanoparticles synthesis
Authors: Faiadh Hisham
Published: August 2024

Herein, the single strand ssDNA nanoreceptor was mixed with Fe3O4 nanoreceptor were fabricated chemically based a molecular recognition probe binding electroactive redox probe methylene blue (MB) to the surface of screen printed gold electrode was created and modified for rapid, highly sensitive, and specific detection of hydrocarbons. For the electrochemical ssDNA based nanoreceptor assay of hydrocarbon detection and treatment, less than an 1hour was needed in time. The total concentrations of aliphatic compounds ranged for the three stages before treatment (301.69-3512.41), (161.68-2281.62), and (112.79-1539.44), respectively, while after treatment, the concentrations for three stages became (0-1554.45), (0-1005.92), and (0-631.76), respectively, the treatment efficiency was in the three stages (56.1%-91.3%), (48.2%-73.9%) and (44.6%-76.5%) respectively. Moreover, the total concentrations of aromatic compounds before nanotreatment ranged for the three stages before treatment (56.26-881.94), (38.85-587.36) and (15.02- 218.12) respectively, while After treatment, the concentrations in three stages became (0-459.5), (0-95.9425) and (0-80.195) respectively, the treatment efficiency was for the three stages (26.5%winter-66.67%autumn), (28.7%winter-66.7%autumn), and (9.08%winter-33.3%summer), respectively.
Feasibility Study of an On-Grid Solar System for An Academic Building: A Case Study of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur
Authors: Khan Md Rochi , Haque A K M Mahmudul
Published: August 2024

Most of the generated energy in Bangladesh comes from natural gas and other fossil fuel resources and consumption of these fuels hurts the environment. This study in-depth discusses the design feasibility, financial aspects and environmental impacts of installing an on-grid solar photovoltaic (PV) system to increase energy efficiency and promote sustainability on a single floor of Academic Building-2 at Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur. This research uses a mixed method approach and utilizes HOMER Pro, a software that is able to simulate the technical and economic feasibility of microgrids or distributed energy systems. The study gathers significant information about the historical electricity usage patterns of the target floor and the local solar radiation levels. The system consists of a 21.4 kW PV array and a 12.5 kW converter which is connected to the national grid. The study reveals that the proposed on-grid solar system has an NPC of $17,044 and a COE of $0.0327. This has the chance to cut the floor’s dependence on the national grid by about 70% and recover the initial costs within 7.49 years. The analysis also shows that the proposed solar pv system decreases the carbon emission level to 7,900 kg/year. Overall, the results show that the proposed on grid solar system is technically feasible and economically viable.
Hydrogel Balls Developed for Use in The Detection of Heavy Metals in Industrial Wastewater
Authors: Çapan M. Ertuğrul , Çapan Ebru Cingöz
Published: August 2024

Hydrogels are frequently utilized in industries such as healthcare and food due to their biodegradable nature and cost-effectiveness. Their high selectivity in liquid retention makes them ideal for applications in the removal and detection of heavy metals in liquids. In our study, we adapted hydrogel beads specifically for the detection of Ni(II) and Cr(VI) metals in industrial wastewater. Upon immersion in liquid, the hydrogels exhibit a color change within 2 minutes, reaching equilibrium at 10 minutes. The color change is observed as transparent to pink for nickel and transparent to magenta for chromium. The detection limits are 2.5 mg/mL for nickel and 1 mg/mL for chromium. These hydrogel beads can be used in wastewater without the need for pre-treatment or pH adjustment.
This study plays a crucial role in occupational health and safety, particularly in industrial wastewater management. The accumulation of toxic and carcinogenic heavy metals such as Ni(II) and Cr(VI) in workplaces and the surrounding environment poses serious health risks. Effective removal of these metals from water is critical for protecting water resources and reducing occupational health risks.
The use of hydrogel beads offers a rapid, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution for the detection of these metals. In industrial facilities, the immediate detection and removal of toxic substances to which workers may be exposed enhances occupational health and safety measures. Additionally, this technology aids industrial operations in meeting their environmental responsibilities, making it a valuable tool in the field of occupational health and safety.