bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DFL: High-Performance Blockchain-Based Federated Learning
Authors: Tian Yongding , Guo Zhuoran , Zhang Jiaxuan , Al-Ars Zaid
Published: June 2023

Many researchers have proposed replacing the aggregation server in federated learning with a blockchain system to improve privacy, robustness, and scalability. In this approach, clients would upload their updated models to the blockchain ledger and use a smart contract to perform model averaging. However, the significant delay and limited computational capabilities of blockchain systems make it inefficient to support machine learning applications on the blockchain.

In this article, we propose a new public blockchain architecture called DFL, which is specially optimized for distributed federated machine learning. Our architecture inherits the merits of traditional blockchain systems while achieving low latency and low resource consumption by waiving global consensus. To evaluate the performance and robustness of our architecture, we implemented a prototype and tested it on a physical four-node network, and also developed a simulator to simulate larger networks and more complex situations. Our experiments show that the DFL architecture can reach over 90% accuracy for non-I.I.D. datasets, even in the presence of model poisoning attacks, while ensuring that the blockchain part consumes less than 5% of hardware resources.
Model Counting Meets
F
0
Estimation
Authors: Pavan A. , Vinodchandran N. V. , Bhattacharyya Arnab , Meel Kuldeep S.
Published: June 2023

Constraint satisfaction problems (CSPs) and data stream models are two powerful abstractions to capture a wide variety of problems arising in different domains of computer science. Developments in the two communities have mostly occurred independently and with little interaction between them. In this work, we seek to investigate whether bridging the seeming communication gap between the two communities may pave the way to richer fundamental insights. To this end, we focus on two foundational problems: model counting for CSP’s and computation of zeroth frequency moments (
F
0
) for data streams.

Our investigations lead us to observe a striking similarity in the core techniques employed in the algorithmic frameworks that have evolved separately for model counting and
F
0
computation. We design a recipe for translating algorithms developed for
F
0
estimation to model counting, resulting in new algorithms for model counting. We also provide a recipe for transforming sampling algorithm over streams to constraint sampling algorithms. We then observe that algorithms in the context of distributed streaming can be transformed into distributed algorithms for model counting. We next turn our attention to viewing streaming from the lens of counting and show that framing
F
0
estimation as a special case of #DNF counting allows us to obtain a general recipe for a rich class of streaming problems, which had been subjected to case-specific analysis in prior works. In particular, our view yields an algorithm for multidimensional range efficient
F
0
estimation with a simpler analysis.
IFISS3D: A Computational Laboratory for Investigating Finite Element Approximation in Three Dimensions
Authors: Papanikos Georgios , Powell Catherine E. , Silvester David J.
Published: June 2023

IFISS is an established MATLAB finite element software package for studying strategies for solving partial differential equations (PDEs). IFISS3D is a new add-on toolbox that extends IFISS capabilities for elliptic PDEs from two to three space dimensions. The open-source MATLAB framework provides a computational laboratory for experimentation and exploration of finite element approximation and error estimation, as well as iterative solvers. The package is designed to be useful as a teaching tool for instructors and students who want to learn about state-of-the-art finite element methodology. It will also be useful for researchers as a source of reproducible test matrices of arbitrarily large dimension.
EdgeMart
: A Sustainable Networked OTT Economy on the Wireless Edge for Saving Multimedia IP Bandwidth
Authors: Pal Ranjan , Sastry Nishanth , Obiodu Emeka , Prabhu Sanjana , Psounis Konstantinos
Published: June 2023

With the advent of 5G+ services, it has become increasingly convenient for mobile users to enjoy high-quality multimedia content from CDN driven streaming and catch-up TV services (Netflix, iPlayer) in the (post-) COVID over-the-top (OTT) content rush. To relieve ISP owned fixed-line networks from CDN streamed multimedia traffic, system ideas (e.g.,
Wi-Stitch
in [
45
]) have been proposed to (a) leverage 5G services and enable consumers to share cached multimedia content at the edge, and (b) consequently, and more importantly, reduce IP traffic at the core network. Unfortunately, given that contemporary multimedia content might be a monetized asset, these ideas
do not take this important fact into account for shared content.
We present
EdgeMart
—a content provider (CP) federated, and computationally sustainable networked (graphical) market economy for paid-sharing of cached licensed (OTT) content with autonomous users of a wireless edge network (WEN). EdgeMart is a unique oligopoly multimedia market (economy) that comprises competing networked sub-markets of non-cooperative content sellers/buyers—each sub-market consisting of a single buyer connected (networked) to only a subset of sellers. We prove that for
any WEN-supported supply-demand topology
, a pure strategy EdgeMart equilibrium exists that is (a) nearly efficient (in a microeconomic sense) indicating economy sustainability, (b) robust to edge user entry/exit, and (c) can be reached in poly-time (indicating computational sustainability). In addition, we experimentally show that for physical WENs of varying densities, a rationally selfish EdgeMart economy induces similar orders of multimedia IP traffic savings when compared to the
ideal
(relatively less practical),
altruistic
, and
non-monetized
“economy” implemented atop the recently introduced Wi-Stitch WEN-based content trading architecture. Moreover, the EdgeMart concept helps envision a regulated edge economy of
opportunistic
(pay per licensed file) client services for commercial OTT platforms.
Pre-Training Across Different Cities for Next POI Recommendation
Authors: Sun Ke , Qian Tieyun , Li Chenliang , Ma Xuan , Li Qing , Zhong Ming , Zhu Yuanyuan , Liu Mengchi
Published: June 2023

The Point-of-Interest (POI) transition behaviors could hold absolute sparsity and relative sparsity very differently for different cities. Hence, it is intuitive to transfer knowledge across cities to alleviate those data sparsity and imbalance problems for next POI recommendation. Recently, pre-training over a large-scale dataset has achieved great success in many relevant fields, like computer vision and natural language processing. By devising various self-supervised objectives, pre-training models can produce more robust representations for downstream tasks. However, it is not trivial to directly adopt such existing pre-training techniques for next POI recommendation, due to thelacking of common semantic objects (users or items) across different cities. Thus in this paper, we tackle such a new research problem ofpre-training across different citiesfor next POI recommendation. Specifically, to overcome the key challenge that different cities do not share any common object, we propose a novel pre-training model namedCATUS, by transferring thecategory-leveluniversal transition knowledge over different cities. Firstly, we build two self-supervised objectives inCATUS:next category predictionandnext POI prediction, to obtain the universal transition-knowledge across different cities and POIs. Then, we design acategory-transition oriented sampleron the data level and animplicit and explicit transfer strategyon the encoder level to enhance this transfer process. At the fine-tuning stage, we propose adistance oriented samplerto better align the POI representations into the local context of each city. Extensive experiments on two large datasets consisting of four cities demonstrate the superiority of our proposedCATUSover the state-of-the-art alternatives. The code and datasets are available at https://github.com/NLPWM-WHU/CATUS.
Circumbinary Accretion: From Binary Stars to Massive Binary Black Holes
Authors: Lai Dong , Muñoz Diego J.
Published: June 2023

We review recent works on the dynamics of circumbinary accretion, including time variability, angular momentum transfer between the disk and the binary, and the secular evolution of accreting binaries. These dynamics impact stellar binary formation/evolution, circumbinary planet formation/migration, and the evolution of (super)massive black hole binaries. We discuss the dynamics and evolution of inclined/warped circumbinary disks and connect with observations of protoplanetary disks. A special kind of circumbinary accretion involves binaries embedded in big disks, which may contribute to the mergers of stellar-mass black holes in AGN disks. Highlights include the following:
▪Circumbinary accretion is highly variable, being modulated at P
b (the binary period) or ∼5P
b, depending on the binary eccentricity e
b and mass ratio q
b.▪The inner region of the circumbinary disk can develop coherent eccentric structure, which may modulate the accretion and affect the physical processes (e.g., planet migration) taking place in the disk.▪Over long timescales, circumbinary accretion steers binaries toward equal masses, and it does not always lead to binary orbital decay. The secular orbital evolution depends on the binary parameters (e
b and q
b) and on the thermodynamic properties of the accreting gas.▪A misaligned disk around a low-eccentricity binary tends to evolve toward coplanarity due to viscous dissipation. But when e
b is significant, the disk can evolve toward “polar alignment,” with the disk plane perpendicular to the binary plane.
Polyaniline/Cashew Gum Composite Electrosynthesized on Gold Surface in Aqueous Acid Medium for Ammonia Colorimetric Detection
Authors: Oliveira Maria Roniele Felix , Melo Airis Maria Araújo , do Vale Abreu Katiany , de Albuquerque Oliveira Marília , Furtado Roselayne Ferro , Biswas Atanu , Cheng Huai Nan , González Pilar Herrasti , Alves Carlucio Roberto
Published: June 2023

The electrosynthesis of polyaniline (PAni) and cashew gum (CG) composite was successfully performed by electrochemical methods (potential scanning and constant potential) in terms of pH, aniline (Ani), and polyelectrolyte concentrations. Study aim was to investigate the performance of a polyaniline-based ammonia sensor under different concentrations of ammonium gas, evidencing a color change from green to blue as in the presence of gas in a sensitive and reversible process. Films grown by cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry showed a cauliflower-like morphology, and a visual analysis detected a limit of 0.015 and 0.010 mol l−1, respectively. The sensor demonstrated a fast response time of 20 s, a low detection limit, with a short regeneration time of less than 1 min at room temperature. This polyaniline-based sensor is shown as a portable, sensitive, dimensionally flexible, and cost-effective alternative for food packaging and other devices. The findings of this study contribute to the development of advanced ammonia detection technology.
Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Activity of CuWO4 Photoanode by Yttrium Doping
Authors: González-Poggini Sergio , Sánchez Bruno , Colet-Lagrille Melanie
Published: June 2023

Yttrium-doped copper tungstate photoelectrodes are prepared by depositing an yttrium-doped CuWO4 film (Y-CuWO4) on conductive glass substrates by dip coating. The morphology and chemical composition confirm the fabrication of yttrium-doped CuWO4 films. The optical bandgap of the photoelectrodes is studied by UV–vis diffuse reflectance and a bandgap of 2.30 eV is obtained for the pure CuWO4 photoelectrode. The yttrium-doped photoelectrodes show a small shift of the bandgap to higher values, which according to DFT calculations can be ascribed to a higher density of electronic states in the first conduction band from incorporating yttrium into the structure. The photoelectrochemical characterisation shows that adding yttrium produces an enhanced charge separation efficiency in the bulk which can be attributed to a higher donor density in the structure, and a 92.5% higher photocurrent density is obtained for the 5%Y-CuWO4 photoelectrode when compared to the pure CuWO4 photoelectrode for the oxygen evolution reaction at 1.3 V vs RHE. This work shows that doping CuWO4 with yttrium is an effective approach to improve the poor charge separation presented by pure CuWO4 photoelectrodes.
Thermal-Coupled Single Particle Modeling and Multi-Objective Stepwise Parameter Identification of Lithium-Ion Batteries Over Different Temperatures
Authors: Liu Jiahao , Pang Hui , Geng Yuanfei , Chen Kaiqiang , Wu Longxing
Published: June 2023

The establishment of electrochemical-thermal coupling model for a lithium-ion battery (LIB) is an important issue in developing an appropriate thermal management system of LIB packs. In this paper, a novel thermal-coupled single particle model with few parameters is first developed to promote battery parameter identification at various temperatures. Then, after collecting the experimental profiles of battery voltage, current, and temperature, a multi-objective stepwise identification scheme based on genetic algorithm is proposed to identify the classified parameters of LIB at different temperatures. Finally, the proposed battery model and the stepwise parameter identification are validated in terms of the simulations and experiments. The results demonstrate that this proposed battery model and parameter identification method can not only describe inherent electrochemical and thermal characteristics of the battery, but also identify the battery electrochemical states with high precision, which provides a strong foundation for the development and implementation of battery thermal management system.
Temperature Dependence of Raman Peak Shift in Single-Crystalline Silicon-Germanium
Authors: Sugawa Sho , Yokogawa Ryo , Yoshioka Kazutoshi , Arai Yasutomo , Yonenaga Ichiro , Ogura Atsushi
Published: June 2023

We demonstrate the relationship between Raman shift ω and temperature T (dω/dT) of silicon-germanium (SiGe) for Si–Si, Si–Ge, and Ge–Ge vibration modes which should be useful in local temperature evaluation of SiGe devices at submicron levels. We investigated the dω/dT of single-crystalline SiGe for Si–Si, Si–Ge, and Ge–Ge vibration modes and its dependence on the Ge fraction using variable-temperature Raman spectroscopy. We clarified that the (dω/dT)s for Si–Si, Si–Ge, and Ge–Ge are fairly constant for all single-crystalline SiGe samples. Therefore, the anharmonic vibration of Si–Si, Si–Ge, and Ge–Ge modes has no Ge-fraction dependence in SiGe. The peak shifts help define the temperature on the submicron-scale surface.
Monodispersion of SiO2/CeO2 Binary Nano-Abrasives with Adjustable Size in Chemical Mechanical Polishing Performance of Copper
Authors: Shi Ning , Chen Yali , Yin Li , Wang Yumeng , Zheng Zeni , Yan Jincan , Han Sheng
Published: June 2023

Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is an efficient methodology to achieve atomic-level roughness and global planarization. The selection and structural design of the abrasive particles in the polishing slurries play an essential role in the CMP process. In this work, silica (SiO2) microspheres with adjustable size and structure were prepared by a modified Stöber template approach, and ceria (CeO2) nano-shell layers were coated via in situ chemical precipitation on the core surfaces forming core/shell composite particles. The SiO2/CeO2 composites were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, and BET. The polishing performance of SiO2/CeO2 abrasives in copper (Cu) CMP was investigated by AFM. The small-sized (ca. 98 nm), large-sized (ca. 296 nm), and mesoporous (ca. 277 nm) composite abrasives were named as SiO2/CeO2-1, SiO2/CeO2-2, and mSiO2/CeO2, respectively. The best average surface roughness (Ra) and root-mean-square roughness (Rq) were obtained using SiO2/CeO2-1 abrasives, which decreased from 1.485 and 1.832 to 0.363 and 0.511 nm, respectively. The material removal rate (MRR) of the composite abrasives was improved to 279 nm min−1 by SiO2/CeO2-2 abrasives. The mSiO2/CeO2 composites were not manifested with evident superiority in terms of polishing characterization, which was attributed to the coating of CeO2 nanolayers. Finally, the material removal of Cu-CMP mechanisms was discussed.
Experimental Investigation of Different Extraction Methods for Producing Biofuel from Jatropha Seeds and Castor Seeds
Authors: Khalaf Mohammed , Abdel-Fadeel Waleed , Hashish H. M. Abu , Wapet Daniel Eutyche Mbadjoun , Mahmoud Mohamed Metwally , Elhady Salama Abd , Esmail Mohamed F. C.
Published: June 2023

While energy production is highly dependent on fossil fuels, which consider the main source of global warming, biofuels would play a significant impact in diminishing such warming. In this paper, biooils were extracted from inedible seeds (Jatropha and Castor) using different continuous devices (solvents, screw presses, and hydraulic press-machines), aiming to achieve the highest oil’s yield of improved extraction properties at reduced time and energy. A wide range of engine speeds of 35, 60, 85, 110, and 135 rpm and preheating temperatures of 100, 125, 150, 175, 200, and 250°C were extensively studied to find their impact on the extraction properties. Results proved the ability of the screw press machine to extract the highest biooil yields from Jatropha and castor seeds. The optimum yield of Jatropha and castor were achieved at an extraction temperature range of 150-175°C at a motor speed of 135 rpm and a temperature range of 200-250°C at a motor speed of 35 rpm, respectively. Noteworthy, the yield of extracted castor oil is potentially solidified at low temperatures <100°C, leading oil samples to become like a dough. In contrast, lowering the temperatures of the Jatropha seeds improved the physical and chemical properties of the extracted oil. At a certain temperature (e.g., 100°C), the properties of both extracted and diesel oils are quite similar, which can be used directly in diesel engines.
Quantifying Spillover Risk with an Integrated Bat-Rabies Dynamic Modeling Framework
Authors: Janoušková Eva , Rokhsar Jennifer , Jara Manuel , Entezami Mahbod , Horton Daniel L. , Dias Ricardo Augusto , Machado Gustavo , Prada Joaquín M.
Published: June 2023

Vampire bat-transmitted rabies has recently become the leading cause of rabies mortality in both humans and livestock in Latin America. Evaluating risk of transmission from bats to other animal species has thus become a priority in the region. An integrated bat-rabies dynamic modeling framework quantifying spillover risk to cattle farms was developed. The model is spatially explicit and is calibrated to the state of São Paulo, using real roost and farm locations. Roost and farm characteristics, as well as environmental data through an ecological niche model, are used to modulate rabies transmission. Interventions aimed at reducing risk in roosts (such as bat culling or vaccination) and in farms (cattle vaccination) were considered as control strategies. Both interventions significantly reduce the number of outbreaks in farms and disease spread (based on distance from source), with control in roosts being a significantly better intervention. High-risk areas were also identified, which can support ongoing programs, leading to more effective control interventions.
Woody Species Conservation, Management, and Its Socioeconomic Importance of Agroforestry Practice in Ethiopia
Authors: Ereso Tsegu
Published: June 2023

The preservation of biodiversity is not at all a luxury. In many developing countries, the reduction in biodiversity caused by the conversion of primary forest to unsustainable agricultural landscapes has increased. Agroforestry provided habitat for various species of wildlife and had significant social and environmental advantages. However, there is a lack of knowledge on the significance of agroforestry in the management and conservation of woody species. The review’s main goal is to emphasize the socioeconomic significance of agroforestry in Ethiopia and the conservation and management of woody species. The most common agroforestry practices are typically carried out in different parts of the country on homegardens, crops, woodlots, and coffee farms. The most typical woody species utilized in agroforestry practices in southern Ethiopia are Cordia africana, Millettia ferruginea, Erythrina brucei, and Olea capensis. In Ethiopia’s northern region, you can find Croton macrostachyus, Vernonia amygdalina, Faidherbia albida, Acacia nilotica, Acacia seyal, and Grewia bicolor. The central highlands of Ethiopia also have Albizia gummifera, Cordia africana, Croton macrostachyus, Ficus vasta, and Vernonia amygdalina. Agroforestry improves the environment and the socioeconomic system by producing tree products such as timber, firewood, food, and building materials (reduce soil erosion, increase soil moisture and fertility, coffee shade, and keep microclimate balance). Woody species in agroforestry are managed through pollarding, thinning, and pruning.
Study on the Multi-Point Boundary Value Problem for Second-Order Nonlinear Impulsive Integro-Differential Equation
Authors: Li Haiyan , Guo Yuheng
Published: June 2023

In the field of biological control, there are a large number of systems that gradually evolve over a certain period of time. However, due to some natural or human intervention behavior, the system state will be subjected to some relatively short time interference, so that the system state changes in an instant. This sudden change of state makes the system not simply described by continuous or discrete dynamical systems, but by means of impulse dynamical systems. In this paper, the multi-point boundary value problem of a class of second-order nonlinear impulsive integral differential equations is studied on the basis of impulsive differential equation theory. The main results of this kind of equation are obtained by using the fixed point theorem of strict set contraction operator. Under certain assumptions, the existence of the solution of the equation is proved by constructing the operator on the special cone. Finally, combined with the practical application, the theory was applied to the stability prediction of biological ecosystem, and the correctness of the conclusion was verified.
Insight into Perovskite Solar Cell Formation for Various Organohalides Perovskite Precursors in the Presence of Water at the Molecular Level
Authors: Zhantuarov Sultan , Kemelbekova Ainagul , Shongalova Aigul , Aimaganbetov Kazybek , Sailau Zhassulan , Aldongarov Anuar , Serikkanov Abay , Chuchvaga Nikolay , Almas Nurlan
Published: June 2023

Recently, hybrid (organic–inorganic) metal halide perovskites have gained significant attention due to their excellent performance in optoelectronics and photovoltaics (PV). Single-junction PV cells made from these materials have achieved record efficiencies of over 25%, with the potential for further improvement in the future. The crystal structure of organohalide perovskite semiconductors plays a crucial role in the success of perovskites. In this study, we used classical all-atom molecular dynamics simulations to investigate the dynamics of ionic precursors as they form organic halide perovskite units in the presence of water as a solvent. During the analysis of radial distribution functions, interaction energies, hydrogen bonding, and diffusion coefficients, it was confirmed that organic precursors aggregate in the absence of water and disperse in the presence of water. The interaction energies also showed that the organic precursors of the perovskite have weaker interactions with Pb than the other components of the perovskite. The hydrogen bonding analysis revealed that the number of hydrogen bonds between the organic precursors and Cl decreases in the presence of water, but hydrogen bonds form between the organic precursors/water and Cl/water. Additionally, the diffusion coefficients of the organic precursors were found to be in the following increasing order: 2,2-(ethylenedioxy) bis ethylammonium (EDBE2+) < guanidium (GA+) < phenethylammonium (PEA+) < iso-butylammonium (Iso-BA+).
Effect of Fish Meal Substitution with Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) on Growth Performance, Feed Stability, Blood Biochemistry, and Liver and Gut Morphology of Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens)
Authors: Kari Zulhisyam Abdul , Téllez-Isaías Guillermo , Hamid Noor Khalidah Abdul , Rusli Nor Dini , Mat Khairiyah , Sukri Suniza Anis Mohamad , Kabir Muhammad Anamul , Ishak Ahmad Razali , Dom Nazri Che , Abdel-Warith Abdel-Wahab A. , Younis Elsayed M. , Khoo Martina Irwan , Abdullah Faizuan , Shahjahan Md , Rohani Md Fazle , Davies Simon J. , Wei Lee Seong
Published: June 2023

Insects such as black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) are gaining interest among researchers and the aquafeed industry due to the fluctuating price and supply of fish meal (FM). This study evaluated the growth performance, feed stability, blood biochemistry, and liver and gut morphology of Betta splendens using BSFL as an alternative to FM. Five formulated diets were prepared: 0% BSFL, 6.5% BSFL, 13% BSFL, 19.5% BSFL, and 24.5% BSFL. The expansion rate, pellet durability index, floatability, bulk density, and water stability of the prepared feed have been assessed. Except for the diameter of the feed, all the parameters studied differed significantly (

p
<
0.05

) across the experimental diets. After 60 days, the fish fed with 13% BSFL had the highest final length, final weight, net weight gain, specific growth rate, weight gain, and gastrointestinal weight, with mean and standard deviation values of

3.97
±
0.43

 cm,

3.95
±
0.1

 g,

2.78
±
0.1

 g,

4.63
±
0.17

,

4.65
±
0.13

,

237.26
±
7.9
%

, and

0.04
±
0.01

 mg, respectively. Similar blood haematology and biochemical properties, including corpuscular volume, lymphocytes, white blood cells, red blood cells, haematocrit, albumin, and alkaline phosphatase, were the highest (

p
<
0.05

) in the 13% BSFL diet group compared to the other treatment groups. In addition, BSFL had a significant impact (

p
<
0.05

) on villus length, width, and crypt depth for the anterior and posterior guts of B. splendens. The 13% BSFL diet group had an intact epithelial barrier in the goblet cell arrangement and a well-organized villus structure and tunica muscularis, compared to the other treatment groups. Furthermore, the liver cell was altered with different BSFL inclusions; the 13% FM group demonstrated better nuclei and cytoplasm structure than the other treatment groups. In conclusion, replacing 13% FM with BSFL could improve the growth performance, blood parameters, and liver and intestine morphology of B. splendens, thus providing a promising alternative diet for ornamental freshwater fish.
Agricultural Waste-Based Heterogeneous Catalyst for the Production of Biodiesel: A Ranking Study via the VIKOR Method
Authors: Nath Biswajit , Basumatary Bhimraj , Wary Nijwm , Basumatary Usha Rani , Basumatary Jili , Rokhum Samuel Lalthazuala , Azam Mohammad , Min Kim , Basumatary Sanjay
Published: June 2023

Agricultural waste-based heterogeneous catalysts are emerging as efficient and green catalysts. The present study explored the agricultural waste-based heterogeneous catalyst utilized in the production of biodiesel. The plant waste is composed of organic compounds and various metals which, on combustion, produces ashes that mainly consist of various metal carbonates and oxides. The most commonly employed approach for the solid catalyst preparation from plant materials is the calcination process, and it is performed at temperatures ranging from 300 to 1200°C. It is known that the temperature employed for calcination plays a vital role in the composition and development of the morphology of the catalyst. The variation in alkalinity, porosity, and, accordingly, the catalytic activity of the catalyst is significantly influenced by the calcination temperature. It was found that the potassium present in the form of oxide and carbonate as the main constituent in such catalysts played a significant role in delivering catalytic efficacy. Therefore, a number of agricultural waste-based catalysts were reported as efficient catalysts. The selection of the catalyst may be one of the important issues for application in large-scale biodiesel production. Thus, the present study was undertaken for the preparation of a rank list among the reported catalysts by following the VIKOR (Višekriterijumsko Kompromisno Rangiranje) multicriterion decision-making approach. In this work, the ranking study was performed considering the reported optimum reaction conditions (ORCs) of biodiesel synthesis reactions. The study was conducted strictly on the basis of the parameters, viz., catalyst concentration (

C

1

), MTOR (

C

2

), reaction temperature (

C

3

), reaction time (

C

4

), and biodiesel yield (

C

5

). The parameters are considered good if

C

1

,

C

2

,

C

3

, and

C

4

are low or minimum and if

C

5

is high or maximum. The catalyst prepared from plantain peel showed the best performance and ranked as the first one followed by Musa paradisiaca peel and cocoa pod husk catalysts which are ranked second. Thus, the VIKOR method can be useful for comparison and ranking purposes if there are a large number of data, and this may be expanded for thorough study by considering more criteria which may give more fruitful results.
Investigating Fractional Damping Effect on Euler–Bernoulli Beam Subjected to a Moving Load
Authors: AlSaleh Raed , Nasir Ayman , Abu-Alshaikh Ibrahim
Published: June 2023

In this work, the dynamic response of Euler–Bernoulli beams of four different boundary conditions with fractional order internal damping under a traversing moving load is investigated. The load is assumed to be moving with different values of constant velocity. A proposed approach to obtain the closed-form solution of the problem based on Green’s functions combined with a decomposition technique in the Laplace transform domain is introduced. Several cases are studied and compared to the literature; for instance, if simply supported beam is considered, the following three cases are to be explored: the case of elastic (or undamped) beam, the damped (or viscously damped) beam, and finally the fractionally damped beam modeled by the fractional Kelvin–Voigt model. The effects to the beam dynamic response induced by magnitude of moving load velocity, damping ratio, and fractional damping order are explored. The results expressed sufficient agreement with similar problems found in literature and evidenced that the dynamic response of beams is significantly affected by varying the fractional order of beam damping as well as the moving load velocity. Accordingly, using fractionally damped materials exhibits better realistic behavior of beams and intermediate between elastic and viscous beam behaviors.
Artificial Neural Networks and Genetic Algorithms: An Efficient Modeling and Optimization Methodology for Degradation of Atenolol Using Activated Persulfate with Ultrasound
Authors: Moradmand Zeynab , Dehdashti Bahare , Mohammadi Farzaneh , Zahedi Nasrin , Razaghi Maryam , Amin Mohammad Mehdi
Published: June 2023

Atenolol (ATN) is a slowly biodegradable antagonist β-blocker drug and remains in the environment for a long period of time. This drug has a harmful effect on the environment and human and animal bodies. In this study, using activated persulfate with ultrasound for the degradation of ATN was investigated. The effect of independent variables including pH, ATN concentration, persulfate dose, contact time, and ultrasonic power has been studied at 5 levels. Central composite design (CCD) was used for designing the experiments in Design Expert 11.0 software. The ATN concentration was measured using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Genetic algorithms (GA) and artificial neural network (ANN) were used for optimization and prediction, respectively. The results indicated that at the optimal conditions for the experiment (pH of 6.79, reaction time of 19 min, initial ATN concentration of 15.92 mg/L, US power of 109.56 W, and PS dose of 1317.88 mg/L), the highest ATN degradation efficiency was 98.9%. The ATN degradation could be represented by the pseudo-zero-order kinetics. Also, the data of ATN were well fitted with the ANN model (R2 = 0.98). The results showed that the best pH range to eliminate ATN is the near neutral range and the GA was found to be an effective tool to optimize the experimental conditions for the removal of ATN. The ultrasonic/persulfate process as a useful technique has a high potential to remove ATN from aqueous solutions.
Tipifarnib Potentiates the Antitumor Effects of PI3Kα Inhibition inPIK3CA- andHRAS-Dysregulated HNSCC via Convergent Inhibition of mTOR Activity
Authors: Smith Alison E. , Chan Stacia , Wang Zhiyong , McCloskey Asako , Reilly Quinn , Wang Jayden Z. , Patel Hetika Vora , Koshizuka Keiichi , Soifer Harris S. , Kessler Linda , Dayoub Ashley , Villaflor Victoria , Adkins Douglas R. , Bruce Justine Y. , Ho Alan L. , Perez Cesar A. , Hanna Glenn J. , Gascó Hernández Amaya , Saunders Andrew , Dale Stephen , Gutkind J. Silvio , Burrows Francis , Malik Shivani
Published: June 2023

Outcomes for patients with recurrent/metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are poor, with median overall survival (OS) ranging from 6 to 18 months. For those who progress on standard-of-care (chemo)immunotherapy, treatment options are limited, necessitating the development of rational therapeutic strategies. Toward this end, we targeted the key HNSCC drivers PI3K–mTOR and HRAS via the combination of tipifarnib, a farnesyltransferase (FTase) inhibitor, and alpelisib, a PI3Kα inhibitor, in multiple molecularly defined subsets of HNSCC. Tipifarnib synergized with alpelisib at the level of mTOR in PI3Kα- or HRAS-dependent HNSCCs, leading to marked cytotoxicity in vitro and tumor regression in vivo. On the basis of these findings, the KURRENT-HN trial was launched to evaluate the effectiveness of this combination in PIK3CA-mutant/amplified and/or HRAS-overexpressing R/M HNSCC. Preliminary evidence supports the clinical activity of this molecular biomarker-driven combination therapy. Combined alpelisib and tipifarnib has potential to benefit >45% of patients with R/M HNSCC. By blocking feedback reactivation of mTORC1, tipifarnib may prevent adaptive resistance to additional targeted therapies, enhancing their clinical utility.

Significance:

The mechanistically designed, biomarker-matched strategy of combining alpelisib and tipifarnib is efficacious in PIK3CA- and HRAS-dysregulated head and neck squamous carcinoma and could improve outcomes for many patients with recurrent, metastatic disease.

See related commentary by Lee et al., p. 3162
Discovery and Targeting of a Noncanonical Mechanism of Sarcoma Resistance to ADI-PEG20 Mediated by the Microenvironment
Authors: Rogers Leonard C. , Kremer Jeff C. , Brashears Caitlyn B. , Lin Zongtao , Hu Zhixian , Bastos Alliny C.S. , Baker Adriana , Fettig Nicole , Zhou Dong , Shoghi Kooresh I. , Dehner Carina A. , Chrisinger John S.A. , Bomalaski John S. , Garcia Benjamin A. , Oyama Toshinao , White Eileen P. , Van Tine Brian A.
Published: June 2023

Purpose:

Many cancers lack argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1), the rate-limiting enzyme of arginine biosynthesis. This deficiency causes arginine auxotrophy, targetable by extracellular arginine-degrading enzymes such as ADI-PEG20. Long-term tumor resistance has thus far been attributed solely to ASS1 reexpression. This study examines the role of ASS1 silencing on tumor growth and initiation and identifies a noncanonical mechanism of resistance, aiming to improve clinical responses to ADI-PEG20.

Experimental Design:

Tumor initiation and growth rates were measured for a spontaneous Ass1 knockout (KO) murine sarcoma model. Tumor cell lines were generated, and resistance to arginine deprivation therapy was studied in vitro and in vivo.

Results:

Conditional Ass1 KO affected neither tumor initiation nor growth rates in a sarcoma model, contradicting the prevalent idea that ASS1 silencing confers a proliferative advantage. Ass1 KO cells grew robustly through arginine starvation in vivo, while ADI-PEG20 remained completely lethal in vitro, evidence that pointed toward a novel mechanism of resistance mediated by the microenvironment. Coculture with Ass1-competent fibroblasts rescued growth through macropinocytosis of vesicles and/or cell fragments, followed by recycling of protein-bound arginine through autophagy/lysosomal degradation. Inhibition of either macropinocytosis or autophagy/lysosomal degradation abrogated this growth support effect in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions:

Noncanonical, ASS1-independent tumor resistance to ADI-PEG20 is driven by the microenvironment. This mechanism can be targeted by either the macropinocytosis inhibitor imipramine or the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine. These safe, widely available drugs should be added to current clinical trials to overcome microenvironmental arginine support of tumors and improve patient outcomes.
Liver Fibrosis Scores and Prostate Cancer Risk and Mortality in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study
Authors: Wang Anqi , Lazo Mariana , Lu Jiayun , Couper David J. , Prizment Anna E. , Vitolins Mara Z. , Denmeade Samuel R. , Joshu Corinne E. , Platz Elizabeth A.
Published: June 2023

Subclinical liver impairment due to fibrosis could influence the development and detectability of prostate cancer. To investigate the association between liver fibrosis and prostate cancer incidence and mortality, we included 5,284 men (mean age: 57.6 years, 20.1% Black) without cancer or liver disease at Visit 2 in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study. Liver fibrosis was assessed using the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index, fibrosis 4 index (FIB-4), and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease fibrosis score (NFS). Over 25 years, 215 Black and 511 White men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 26 Black and 51 White men died from the disease. We estimated HRs for total and fatal prostate cancer using Cox regression. FIB-4 [quintile 5 vs. 1: HR = 0.47, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.29–0.77, Ptrend = 0.004] and NFS (HR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.33–0.97, Ptrend = 0.03) were inversely associated with prostate cancer risk in Black men. Compared with no abnormal score, men with ≥1 abnormal score had a lower prostate cancer risk if they were Black (HR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24–0.89), but not White (HR = 1.04, 95% CI: 0.69–1.58). Liver fibrosis scores did not appear to be associated with fatal prostate cancer in Black or White men. Among men without a clinical diagnosis of liver disease, higher liver fibrosis scores were associated with lower incidence of prostate cancer in Black men, but not in White men, and not with fatal prostate cancer in either race. Further research is needed to understand the influence of subclinical liver disease on prostate cancer development versus detectability and the racial differences observed.

Prevention Relevance:

Investigating the link between liver fibrosis and prostate cancer risk and mortality, our study reveals the potential influence of liver health on prostate cancer development and on detection using PSA test, urging further research to understand the differential findings by race and to optimize prevention and intervention strategies.
Table S1 from Targeting Fatty Acid Reprogramming Suppresses CARM1-expressing Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Lombardi Simona , Goldman Aaron R. , Tang Hsin-Yao , Kossenkov Andrew V. , Liu Heng , Zhou Wei , Herlyn Meenhard , Lin Jianhuang , Zhang Rugang
Published: June 2023

Reverse Phase Protein Assay (RPPA) analysis in control and CARM1 knockout A1847 cells.
Figure S5 from Targeting Fatty Acid Reprogramming Suppresses CARM1-expressing Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Lombardi Simona , Goldman Aaron R. , Tang Hsin-Yao , Kossenkov Andrew V. , Liu Heng , Zhou Wei , Herlyn Meenhard , Lin Jianhuang , Zhang Rugang
Published: June 2023

SCD1 inhibition suppresses CARM1-expressing ovarian cancer in vivo.
Figure S1 from Targeting Fatty Acid Reprogramming Suppresses CARM1-expressing Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Lombardi Simona , Goldman Aaron R. , Tang Hsin-Yao , Kossenkov Andrew V. , Liu Heng , Zhou Wei , Herlyn Meenhard , Lin Jianhuang , Zhang Rugang
Published: June 2023

CARM1 regulates genes involved in fatty acid synthesis pathway.
FIGURE 4 from Maternal Embryonic Leucine Zipper Kinase is Associated with Metastasis in Triple-negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Xie Xuemei , Chauhan Gaurav B. , Edupuganti Ramakrishna , Kogawa Takahiro , Park Jihyun , Tacam Moises , Tan Alex W. , Mughees Mohd , Vidhu Fnu , Liu Diane D. , Taliaferro Juliana M. , Pitner Mary Kathryn , Browning Luke S. , Lee Ju-Hyeon , Shen Yu , Wang Jian , Ueno Naoto T. , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Hortobagyi Gabriel N. , Tripathy Debu , Van Laere Steven J. , Bartholomeusz Geoffrey , Dalby Kevin N. , Bartholomeusz Chandra
Published: June 2023

Effect of inhibition of MELK signaling on tumor growth and lung metastasis in TNBC xenograft mouse models. A, MELK expression in Cas9-p15 (P15) and MELK KO MDA-MB-231 (C3 and C28) cells. α-Tubulin was used as a loading control. B–F, MELK KO significantly suppressed lung metastases in an MDA-MB-231 xenograft mouse model. Female athymic nude mice were injected intravenously with luciferase-transfected Cas9-p15 or MELK KO MDA-MB-231-Luc-GFP stable cells. Metastatic tumors were measured weekly for 7 weeks by whole-body luciferase imaging using an IVIS 100 Imaging System. Shown are mouse whole-body luciferase images (B), photon counts per area (C), lung weight per mouse measured at week 7 following cell inoculation (D), mouse OS over a period of 80 days following cell inoculation (E), and IHC staining for hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), MELK, proliferation (Ki67), and mesenchymal markers (vimentin and fibronectin; F) in mice inoculated with Cas9-p15 or MELK KO MDA-MB-231 cells. Images were taken under 200 × magnification. G, MELK-In-17 significantly suppressed tumor growth in a 4T1 xenograft mouse model (P < 0.05). Murine 4T1 TNBC cells were injected into the mammary fat pads of female BALB/c mice. When tumor size reached 75–150 mm3, grouped mice were treated with vehicle or MELK-In-17 at 5 or 10 mg/kg via intraperitoneal injections daily for 25 days. In C–G, data are presented as mean ± SD. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01.
Effects of Cognitive Functions on Speech Recognition in Noise in Cochlear Implant Recipients
Authors: Gundogdu Oğulcan , Serbetcioglu Mustafa Bülent , Kara Eyyup , Eser Busra Nur
Published: June 2023

Introduction: There are substantial differences in speech recognition performance of adult cochlear implant (CI) recipients. This study investigated the effects of cognitive function on speech recognition in CI recipients. Methods: The verbal working memory of 36 adults with unilateral CIs was tested using digit span tests. Attention and inhibition abilities were assessed by using the Stroop test (both congruent and incongruent tasks). Speech recognition in noise was measured using the Turkish matrix test. Results: A moderate negative correlation was observed between the critical signal-to-noise ratio obtained via speech recognition in noise test and the digit span test scores (backward and digit span total scores). There was no correlation between Stroop test scores and speech recognition in noise in CI recipients. Conclusion: The findings indicated that verbal working memory correlated well with speech recognition outcomes in adult CI recipients and that higher working memory capacity led to better speech recognition performance in noise.
In Memoriam Hans Straka
Authors: Baker Robert  , Beraneck Mathieu , Dieringer Norbert , Gilland Edwin , Lambert Francois , Simmers John , Fritzsch Bernd , Glover Joel C.
Published: June 2023

Hans Straka died in the morning of December 9, 2022 at his home in Munich, unexpected and much too early. He was a dedicated biologist, loved the mountains and was connected to home (Oberammergau, active participant in the Passion Play). His scientific journey took him from Munich via Paris and New York back to Munich and his many academic accomplishments ranged from a membership of the Editorial board of the Journal of Neurophysiology and of the Journal of Neuroscience. He was associate editor for Frontiers in Neuro-otology and for the volume “The Senses” he edited the part on Vestibular Function in 2020. In 2009 he became Professor of Systemic Neurosciences at the Department of Biology in Munich. Apart from his many academic accomplishments, however, Hans was a close friend to those of us who were fortunate enough to get to know him better.
Comparison of 2-Field and 5-Field Mydriatic Handheld Retinal Imaging in a Community-Based Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Program
Authors: Aquino Lizzie Anne C. , Salongcay Recivall P. , Alog Glenn P , Locaylocay Kaye B , Saunar Aileen V , Peto Tunde , Silva Paolo S
Published: June 2023

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to compare 2-field (2F) and 5-field (5F) mydriatic handheld retinal imaging for the assessment of diabetic retinopathy (DR) severity in a community-based DR screening program (DRSP). Methods: This was a prospective, cross-sectional diagnostic study, evaluating images of 805 eyes from 407 consecutive patients with diabetes acquired from a community-based DRSP. Mydriatic standardized 5F imaging (macula, disc, superior, inferior, temporal) with handheld retinal camera was performed. 2F (disc, macula), and 5F images were independently assessed using the International DR classification at a centralized reading center. Simple (K) and weighted (Kw) kappa statistics were calculated for DR. Sensitivity and specificity for referable DR ([refDR] moderate nonproliferative DR [NPDR] or worse) and vision-threatening DR ([vtDR] severe NPDR or worse) for 2F compared to 5F imaging were calculated. Results: Distribution of DR severity by 2F/5F images (%): no DR 66.0/61.7, mild NPDR 10.7/14.4, moderate NPDR 7.9/8.1, severe NPDR 3.3/5.6, proliferative DR 5.6/4.6, ungradable 6.5/5.6. Exact agreement of DR grading between 2F and 5F was 81.7%, within 1-step 97.1% (K = 0.64, Kw = 0.78). Sensitivity/specificity for 2F compared 5F was refDR 0.80/0.97, vtDR 0.73/0.98. The ungradable images rate with 2F was 16.1% higher than with 5F (6.5 vs. 5.6%, p < 0.001). Conclusions: Mydriatic 2F and 5F handheld imaging have substantial agreement in assessing severity of DR. However, the use of mydriatic 2F handheld imaging only meets the minimum standards for sensitivity and specificity for refDR but not for vtDR. When using handheld cameras, the addition of peripheral fields in 5F imaging further refines the referral approach by decreasing ungradable rate and increasing sensitivity for vtDR.