bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Crashworthiness Analysis of Bio-Inspired Fractal Plant Stems Multi-Cell Circular Tubes
Authors: Cai Zhenzhen , Deng Xiaolin
Published: April 2024

A novel structure resembling plant stems, termed bio-inspired fractal plant stems multi-cellular circular tubes (BFPMC), was developed by incorporating fractal plant stem characteristics into smaller circular tubes within larger ones. The crashworthiness of this structure under axial impact was investigated using a validated LS-DYNA finite element model. The energy absorption performance of BFPMC tubes, varying in the number of branches, fractal orders, and inner circular diameters, was numerically studied. The numerical findings reveal a 19.27% increase in specific energy absorption (SEA) for BFPMC with [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mm compared to [Formula: see text][Formula: see text]mm, indicating that filling a single circular tube can enhance the structure’s impact resistance. Subsequently, structural parameters conducive to excellent energy absorption characteristics were determined for various combinations of a number of branches, fractal order, and inner circle diameter parameters. These results offer valuable insights for designing multi-cellular double tubes with high energy absorption efficiency.
Relationships between almost completely decomposable abelian groups and their multiplication groups
Authors: Kompantseva Ekaterina , Tuganbaev Askar
Published: April 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be the class of Abelian block-rigid almost completely decomposable groups of ring type with cyclic regulator quotient. In this paper, we study relationships between the above groups [Formula: see text] and their multiplication groups Mult [Formula: see text]. It is proved that groups from [Formula: see text] are determined by their multiplication groups. For a rigid group [Formula: see text], the isomorphism problem is solved: we describe multiplications from [Formula: see text] that define isomorphic rings on [Formula: see text]. We also describe Abelian groups that are realized as the multiplication group of some group in [Formula: see text]. We describe groups in [Formula: see text] that are isomorphic to their multiplication groups.
The primeness of noncommutative polynomials on prime rings
Authors: Koşan M. Tamer , Lee Tsiu-Kwen
Published: April 2024

We study the primeness of noncommutative polynomials on prime rings. Let [Formula: see text] be a prime ring with extended centroid [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] a right ideal of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] a noncommutative polynomial over [Formula: see text], which is not a polynomial identity (PI) for [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text]. Then [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text] if and only if one of the following holds: (i) [Formula: see text]; (ii) [Formula: see text] for some idempotent [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] such that either [Formula: see text] is a PI for [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] is central-valued on [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We then apply the result to higher commutators of right ideals. Some results of the paper are also studied from the view of point of the notion of [Formula: see text]-primeness of rings.
The boomerang uniformity of three classes of permutation polynomials over 𝔽2n
Authors: Liu Qian , Chen Zhixiong , Liu Ximeng
Published: April 2024

Permutation polynomials with low boomerang uniformity have wide applications in cryptography. In this paper, by utilizing the Weil sums technique and solving some certain equations over [Formula: see text], we determine the boomerang uniformity of these permutation polynomials: (1) [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text]; (2) [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text]; (3) [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text]. The results show that the boomerang uniformity of [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] can attain [Formula: see text].
Clinical Application of Nano Field-Effect Transistor Biosensor in the Detection of Biomarkers
Authors: Li Xing , Cui Jian , Wu Sihong , Zhen Jiesheng , Cai Bingjie
Published: April 2024

Field-effect transistor (FET)-based biosensors exhibit excellent performance characteristics such as small size, ease of mass production, high versatility, and comparably low cost. In recent years, numerous FET biosensors based on various nanomaterials including silicon nanowires, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and transition metal dichalcogenides have been developed to detect a wide range of biomarkers that play a crucial role in early disease diagnosis, therapeutic monitoring and prognostic assessment. This review provides an overview of the structure, working principle, functionalization strategies and detection factors associated with FET biosensors based on diverse nanomaterials. Additionally, this paper discusses the applications of these diagnostic devices for detecting clinically relevant biomarkers such as nucleic acids, metabolites, proteins, cancer biomarkers, and hormones among others. The concluding section provides a comprehensive overview of the numerous challenges encountered in the widespread implementation of nanomaterial-based FET biosensors for clinical detection, while also presenting the future prospects for these biosensors based on current research advancements.
Effect of the Crystalline Phase Type on the Thermoluminescent Response of ZrO2 Due to Different Synthesis Methods
Authors: Leon Manuel , Montes Eduardo , Elias Janet A. , Cervantes Jorge L. , Diaz-Torres Luis A. , Sosa Modesto A. , Vallejo M. A.
Published: April 2024

ZrO2 samples were obtained using three different synthesis methods (Calcination, Co-precipitation and Hydrothermal). The samples were characterized to analyze the effect of the crystalline phase on their thermoluminescent (TL) and photoluminescent (PL) responses. The ZrO2 phase was analyzed by X-Ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman. Nanoparticle size distribution was obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For optical analysis, characterizations included absorbance measurements, where samples exhibited modifications in color centers, PL emission and experimental fluorescence lifetime decay ([Formula: see text] measurements. Additionally, their TL response was studied under UV (245[Formula: see text]nm and 385[Formula: see text]nm), and 6[Formula: see text]MV photon energy from LINAC excitation. The obtained results show the improvement of TL and PL properties due to ZrO2 phase while an amorphous ZrO2 synthesized by hydrothermal method is an excellent prospect to be used as TL material and it may be a promising scintillator material at 254[Formula: see text]nm.
Mn-HCF@Fe-HCF Core–Shell Architecture: Enhancing Structural Stability and Electrochemical Performance of Sodium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Zhang Jinyu , Zhu Fuliang , Xiao Mingjun , Meng Yanshuang
Published: April 2024

To overcome the structural failure of Manganese-based Prussian blue analogue (Mn-HCF) as a cathode material of sodium ion batteries caused by Mn ion dissolution induced by Jahn–Teller effect, we coated Mn-HCF with iron-based Prussian blue (Fe-HCF) to prepare the core–shell Mn-HCF@Fe-HCF cathode material for sodium ion batteries through co-precipitation method. The research results indicate that this structure effectively blocks the direct contact between Mn-HCF and electrolyte, thereby minimizing the dissolution of [Formula: see text] in the electrolyte and significantly improving the cycling stability and rate performance. The discharge capacity of this material at a current density of 0.1[Formula: see text]C (14[Formula: see text]mA[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] is 129.7[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]. It still has a capacity of 87.4[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] at a current density of 2[Formula: see text]C (280[Formula: see text]mA[Formula: see text][Formula: see text], and still has a capacity retention rate of 84.3% (91[Formula: see text]mAh[Formula: see text][Formula: see text] after 100 cycles at a current density of 0.5[Formula: see text]C (70[Formula: see text]mA[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]. Compared with the capacity retention rate of 51.5% of Mn-HCF 100 cycles before coating, the cycle stability of Mn-HCF@Fe-HCF is greatly improved.
Adverse Outcome Phenomena and Toxicity Mechanisms of Micro and Nanoplastics in Human Health
Authors: He Fei , Wu Xiaohan , Lin Sijie
Published: April 2024

The ubiquitous presence of micro and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the environment has become a pressing global concern, particularly regarding the potential impacts on human health. This review underscores the urgent need for an integrative research framework that bridges the gap between epidemiological observations and toxicological insights. Human exposure to MNPs occurs predominantly through ingestion, inhalation and dermal contact pathways. Epidemiological findings have consistently demonstrated the presence of MNPs in diverse human tissues, signaling a broad exposure and emphasizing the imperative to explore potential health risks. Population surveys have shown that the concentration of MNPs in the feces of people using disposable plastic tableware reaches 24.65 items/g. These results are associated with changes in microbiota composition and metabolite levels relevant to central nervous system disorders, energy metabolism and inflammatory responses. The detectable abundance of MNPs in the nasal mucus of individuals wearing N95 masks was measured to be 10.6 ± 2.3 items/mg. Moreover, population- based studies have linked MNP exposure to adverse health outcomes, suggesting correlation relationships between exposure levels and specific diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and human pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGN). These associations underscore the necessity for in-depth toxicological investigations to elucidate the toxicity mechanisms of MNPs. Meanwhile, laboratory-based toxicological studies have the potential to reveal causative relationships and various in vitro and in vivo models have been used to explore the mechanisms of the toxicity of MNPs in the gastrointestinal tract, lungs and cardiovascular system. However, early studies failed to reflect on the complexity of the real environment. To foster interdisciplinary collaborations, this paper aims to reconcile the disparities between exposure risks and human health impacts. By critically reviewing recent advancements in understanding the exposure risks of MNPs, epidemiological observations and organ-specific toxicity, this work furnishes a comprehensive perspective on the health implications of MNPs.
Graph convolutional network for lithological classification and mapping using stream sediment geochemical data and geophysical data
Authors: Fang Hao , Liu Yue , Zhang Qingteng
Published: April 2024

Lithological mapping plays a vital role in acquiring a comprehensive understanding of subsurface rocks and geological structures. Traditional lithological mapping relies heavily on manual field surveys, with the accuracy of the mapping greatly constrained by the expertise of mappers, and thus this process is commonly slow and costly. In the present study, the graph convolutional network (GCN) method was proposed for efficient and automatic lithological mapping, using various geological survey data (e.g. geochemical and geophysical data). The GCN is not limited by the spatial distribution of sampling data, and hence it can be directly applied to the integrated resampling data that do not adhere to the regular spatial distribution patterns of Euclidean space. To evaluate the potential application of the GCN method in lithological classification and mapping, a case study was conducted in the Maqin region (China). Geochemical and geophysical data were utilized as the basis for lithological classification, as they can provide valuable information on geochemical compositions and physical properties of geological bodies, respectively. The study process was primarily divided into three parts. First, basic pre-processing was conducted on the geochemical data and the geophysical data, including centred log-ratio transformation and resampling. Subsequently, the resampled points were divided into training and testing sets in the proportion of 5.5:1. In the training set, 20% of the points are randomly selected as the validation set. Ultimately, using each resampled point as a node and the integrated geochemical and geophysical data as features, a GCN model and an undirected graph were constructed based on an adjacency distance of 1 km. The graph was employed by the constructed GCN model for lithological classification. The results reveal that the majority of lithological units can be accurately classified with an overall accuracy of 86%, indicating that the GCN model exhibits good applicability in lithological classification.
The influence of salt tectonics on the distribution of the Triassic Skagerrak Formation in the Ula Field, Norwegian North Sea
Authors: Di Lauro Lorenzo , Hartley Adrian J. , Duncan Jonathan , Rosseland Knutsen Eirik , Howell John , Jolley David
Published: April 2024

Distribution of the Triassic succession in the North Sea is poorly understood because of structural complexities associated with halokinesis and limited stratigraphic control. This study uses a seismic and well-based dataset to improve understanding of development of the Triassic succession in the Ula Field Area, in the Norwegian North Sea.

Core interpretation revealed a fluvial-dominated depositional environment in the Ula Field Area. Palynological studies allowed dating of cored intervals, revealing Ladinian and Carnian sections, time-equivalent to the Julius and Joanne members of the Skagerrak Formation. Well-log interpretation provided insight into the intra-Triassic stratigraphy of the Ula Field Area. A section considered to be equivalent to and extending from the Smith Bank Formation to the Jonathan Member of the Skagerrak Formation was interpreted and correlated across the area. In the proposed correlation, the Julius Member thins towards the Ula Field Area and is replaced by a time equivalent sandstone unit. The Jonathan Member displays a sandier composition compared to the equivalent section in the UK sector. Seismic facies-based interpretation of Triassic stratigraphy within salt minibasins allowed recognition and mapping of intra-Triassic units and showed that mudstone members thin towards the NE. Interpreted internal geometries within minibasins allowed determination of the timing of halokinesis. Integration of different datasets allowed palaeogeographic reconstructions for the Anisian, early Ladinian, Carnian and Norian to be constructed. To conclude, the distribution of stacked fluvial channel deposits indicates that they occur both within minibasins and across salt highs such that ongoing halokinesis had no topographic expression and that channels were free to migrate across the area.
Cooperative Driving of Connected Autonomous vehicle using Responsibility Sensitive Safety Rules: A Control Barrier Functions Approach
Authors: Khayatian Mohammad , Mehrabian Mohammadreza , Tseng I-Ching , Lin Chung-Wei , Belta Calin , Shrivastava Aviral
Published: April 2024

Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) are expected to enable reliable, efficient, and intelligent transportation systems. Most motion-planning algorithms for multi-agent systems implicitly assume that all vehicles/agents will execute the expected plan with a small error and evaluate their safety constraints based on this fact. This assumption, however, is hard to keep for CAVs since they may have to change their plan (e.g., to yield to another vehicle) or are forced to stop (e.g., a CAV may break down). While it is desired that a CAV never gets involved in an accident, it may be hit by other vehicles and, sometimes, preventing the accident is impossible (e.g., getting hit from behind while waiting at a red light). Responsibility-Sensitive Safety (RSS) is a set of safety rules that defines the objective of CAVs to blame, instead of safety. Thus, instead of developing a CAV algorithm that will avoid any accident, it ensures that the ego vehicle will not be blamed for any accident it is a part of. Original RSS rules, however, are hard to evaluate for merge, intersection, and unstructured road scenarios, plus RSS rules do not prevent deadlock situations among vehicles. In this article, we propose a new formulation for RSS rules that can be applied to any driving scenario. We integrate the proposed RSS rules with the CAV’s motion planning algorithm to enable cooperative driving of CAVs. We use Control Barrier Functions to enforce safety constraints and compute the energy optimal trajectory for the ego CAV. Finally, to ensure liveness, our approach detects and resolves deadlocks in a decentralized manner. We have conducted different experiments to verify that the ego CAV does not cause an accident no matter when other CAVs slow down or stop. We also showcase our deadlock detection and resolution mechanism using our simulator. Finally, we compare the average velocity and fuel consumption of vehicles when they drive autonomously with the case that they are autonomous and connected.
A Challenge-based Survey of E-recruitment Recommendation Systems
Authors: Mashayekhi Yoosof , Li Nan , Kang Bo , Lijffijt Jefrey , De Bie Tijl
Published: April 2024

E-recruitment recommendation systems recommend jobs to job seekers and job seekers to recruiters. The recommendations are generated based on the suitability of job seekers for positions and on job seekers’ and recruiters’ preferences. Therefore, e-recruitment recommendation systems may greatly impact people’s careers. Moreover, by affecting the hiring processes of the companies, e-recruitment recommendation systems play an important role in shaping the competitive edge of companies. Hence, it seems prudent to consider what (unique) challenges there are for recommendation systems in e-recruitment. Existing surveys on this topic discuss past studies from the algorithmic perspective, e.g., by categorizing them into collaborative filtering, content-based, and hybrid methods. This survey, instead, takes a complementary, challenge-based approach. We believe this is more practical for developers facing a concrete e-recruitment design task with a specific set of challenges, and also for researchers that look for impactful research projects in this domain. In this survey, we first identify the main challenges in the e-recruitment recommendation research. Next, we discuss how those challenges have been studied in the literature. Finally, we provide future research directions that we consider most promising in the e-recruitment recommendation domain.
Load Balanced PIM-Based Graph Processing
Authors: Zhao Xiang , Chen Song , Kang Yi
Published: April 2024

Graph processing is widely used for many modern applications, such as social networks, recommendation systems, and knowledge graphs. However, processing large-scale graphs on traditional Von Neumann architectures is challenging due to the irregular graph data and memory-bound graph algorithms. Processing-in-memory (PIM) architecture has emerged as a promising approach for accelerating graph processing by enabling computation to be performed directly on memory. Despite having many processing units and high local memory bandwidth, PIM often suffers from insufficient global communication bandwidth and high synchronization overhead due to load imbalance.

This article proposes GraphB, a novel PIM-based graph processing system, to address all these issues. From the algorithm perspective, we propose a degree-aware graph partitioning algorithm that can generate balanced partitioning at a low cost. From the architecture perspective, we introduce tile buffers incorporated with an on-chip 2D-Mesh, which provides high bandwidth for inter-node data transfer. Dataflow in GraphB is designed to enable computation–communication overlap and dynamic load balancing. In a PyMTL3-based cycle-accurate simulator with five real-world graphs and three common algorithms, GraphB achieves an average 2.2× and maximum 2.8× speedup compared to the SOTA PIM-based graph processing system GraphQ.
Podocyte-specific silencing of acid sphingomyelinase gene to abrogate hyperhomocysteinemia-induced NLRP3 inflammasome activation and glomerular inflammation
Authors: Huang Dandan , Kidd Jason M. , Zou Yao , Wu Xiaoyuan , Li Ningjun , Gehr Todd W. B. , Li Pin-Lan , Li Guangbi
Published: April 2024

In the present study, we tested whether podocyte-specific silencing of Smpd1 gene attenuates hyperhomocysteinemia (hHcy)-induced nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor containing pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation and associated inflammatory extracellular vesicle (EV) release in podocytes and thereby suppresses glomerular inflammatory response and injury. Our findings suggest that acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) in podocytes plays a crucial role in the control of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and inflammatory EV release during hHcy. Based on our findings, it is anticipated that the development of podocyte-specific ASM inhibition or Smpd1 gene silencing may be a novel therapeutic strategy for treatment of hHcy-induced glomerular disease with minimized side effects.
Raising serum uric acid with a uricase inhibitor worsens PKD in rat and mouse models
Authors: Chaudhary Anjana , He Zhibin , Atwood Daniel J. , Miyazaki Makoto , Oto Ozgur A. , Davidoff Allen , Edelstein Charles L.
Published: April 2024

This is the first reported study of uric acid measurements and xanthine oxidase inhibition in polycystic kidney disease (PKD) rodents. Raising serum uric acid with a uricase inhibitor resulted in increased kidney weight and cyst index in Pkd1RC/RC mice and PCK rats, elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines in the serum and kidney in Pkd1RC/RC mice, and no uric acid crystal deposition or activation of the caspase-1 inflammasome in the kidney.
Respiratory and chest wall mechanics in very preterm infants
Authors: Stoecklin Benjamin , Veneroni Chiara , Choi Y. Jane , Pillow J. Jane , Dellacà Raffaele L.
Published: April 2024

Data on chest wall compliance in very preterm infants in the postsurfactant era are scarce. To our knowledge, we are the first group to report data on static respiratory system compliance ( Crs), lung compliance ( CL), and chest wall compliance ( Ccw) in preterm infants with and without bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in the postsurfactant era.
Epidemiology of Celiac Disease in Western Iran during 2019-2021
Authors: Janatolmakan Maryam , Zobeiri Mehdi , Rezaeian Shahab , Rostami Shima , Akbari Mehnosh , Khatony Alireza
Published: April 2024

Celiac disease is a growing global public health concern. This epidemiological study is aimed at determining the prevalence of celiac disease in Kermanshah, Western Iran, from 2019 to 2021, as well as the frequency of gastrointestinal and nongastrointestinal manifestations associated with the disease. In this cross-sectional study, the medical records of all patients with a confirmed diagnosis of celiac disease between 2019 and 2021 were reviewed. The average population during the study period was 2,058,545. A researcher-developed checklist was used as the data collection tool, and descriptive statistics were employed for data analysis. During the study period, there were 113 patients diagnosed with celiac disease, with a mean age of 29.1±16.6 years. The three-year prevalence of celiac disease was 5.49 (95% CI: 5.17-5.82) per 100,000 population. Among these patients, 70% (n=78) was female. The most common gastrointestinal manifestations of the disease were abdominal pain (77.8%), constipation (59.3%), and diarrhea (54.9%). Iron-deficiency anemia (64.6%) and vitamin D3 deficiency (46.1%) were the most common nongastrointestinal manifestations. Growth retardation was observed in 39.0% of patients. This study demonstrated a higher prevalence of celiac disease in Kermanshah compared to global statistics. Given the association of celiac disease with other conditions such as diabetes, irritable bowel syndrome, growth retardation, and iron-deficiency anemia, healthcare providers should consider screening patients for celiac disease. Furthermore, community-based education is crucial in raising awareness about the significance of adhering to a proper diet and reducing wheat consumption.
Optimizing MPPT Control for Enhanced Efficiency in Sustainable Photovoltaic Microgrids: A DSO-Based Approach
Authors: Mazumdar Debabrata , Biswas Pabitra Kumar , Sain Chiranjit , Ahmad Furkan , Sarker Rishiraj , Ustun Taha Selim
Published: April 2024

The output of photovoltaic (PV) systems is significantly impacted by the vagaries of ambient temperature, solar irradiance, and environmental fluctuations. To achieve the utmost attainable power from PV systems, it is desired to be efficient at the maximum power point in diverse weather climates. Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) is used to schedule a designated location from where the highest power can be harvested. In the context of solar photovoltaic systems connected with DC microgrid platforms, this study introduces a recently developed drone squadron optimization (DSO) scheme that tracks the global maximum power point under PSCS difficulties. Furthermore, an exhaustive comparative analysis has been presented among particle swarm optimization (PSO), cuckoo search algorithm (CUSA), and grey wolf optimization (GWO) under different operating environments to endorse the supremacy of the nominated technique. The suggested method performs noticeably faster than many other methods currently in use, and in addition to offering the highest power, it can also use bidirectional power flow regulation in both constant and variable air conditions. Lastly, an MPPT system interfaced with the DC microgrid based on DSO ensures a sustainable and reliable architecture to provide at load in low power generating situations.
Evaluating Antibiotic Treatment Guideline Adherence to Ongoing Antibiotic Stewardship in a Tertiary Care Setting: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Pant Suman , Corwin Andrew , Adhikari Prabhat , Acharya Subhash Prasad , Acharya Upasana , Silwal Sashi , Dawadi Pratima , Poudyal Anil , Paudyal Vibhu , Bhumiratana Adisak
Published: April 2024

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is widely regarded as an increasing threat to global public health. Antibiotic treatment guidelines have been increasingly recognized as an effective tool to guide appropriate prescriptions and help curtail antibiotic resistance. The present study aimed to assess physician’s adherence to hospital antibiotic treatment guideline recommendations in Nepal and determine predictive variables with a significant association. This was a retrospective, monocentric observational review to investigate the adherence to endorsed guidelines using the medical records of adults admitted to the hospital with a diagnosis of urinary tract infection (UTI), pneumonia, or skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) from January 2018 to December 2019. Of the 2,077 medical records that were reviewed (954 UTI, 754 pneumonia, and 369 SSTI), 354 (17%) met the study inclusion criteria, which included 87 UTI, 180 pneumonia, and 87 SSTI patients. Among eligible patients with antibiotic prescriptions, the following were adherent to guideline recommendations: 33 (37.9%) UTI, 78 (43.3%) pneumonia, and 23 (26.4%) SSTI. The overall extent of adherence to hospital antibiotic treatment guidelines for the use of antibiotics among adult inpatients diagnosed with these common infections was 37.9%. Patients who received ceftriaxone (OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.18–3.71, p=0.012) and levofloxacin (OR = 4.63, 95% CI = 1.30–16.53, p=0.018) had significantly higher adherence to treatment guidelines. This study revealed a low adherence rate despite the availability of updated guidelines for antibiotic prescriptions. The findings confer an urgent need to confront antibiotic prescription patterns in such tertiary care centers for tailored interventions to improve adherence to antibiotic guidelines.
Extraction and Characterization of Cellulose from Broccoli Stems as a New Biopolymer Source for Producing Carboxymethyl Cellulose Films
Authors: Sayanjali Sara , Lu Yuzhou , Howell Kate
Published: April 2024

The use of food and agricultural waste-derived carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) has become of interest due to their biodegradability and cost-effectiveness. In the current research, cellulose was extracted from broccoli stems to produce carboxymethyl cellulose using a carboxymethylation reaction via chloroacetic acid (CAA) and sodium hydroxide (5-10 M). The effects of different synthesis conditions on the degree of substitution (DS) and viscosity of the synthesized CMC powder were investigated. The mechanical properties, water vapor permeability (WVP), and colour of CMC films were also evaluated. The results showed that CMC with the highest DS value (0.60) and the highest viscosity of 0.5 Pa·s could be synthesized from broccoli stems at a concentration of 7.5 M NaOH and a cellulose-to-chloroacetic acid ratio of 1 : 1.2. At CMC concentration of 4 g/100 mL with 0.8 g/100 mL of glycerol, the films had the highest tensile strength (31.91 MPa), whereas with 1.2 g/100 mL glycerol, more flexible films with elongation at break of 27.56% were produced. CMC films with the highest WVP (7.87×103 gm2·mmHg-1/day) were made with 6 g/100 mL of CMC and 1.8 g/100 mL of glycerol. This research proposes a new source of cellulose to produce biodegradable packaging materials to initiate a practical basis for food waste reuse.
A Semantic Approach to Dynamic Path Planning for Fire Evacuation through BIM and IoT Data Integration
Authors: Pang Bo , Shi Jianyong , Jiang Liu , Pan Zeyu
Published: April 2024

Fire evacuation path planning involves multiple data sources. In order to develop a dynamic planning, a comprehensive knowledge of the environment involving building information and fire development is required. This article presents a semantic approach that integrates Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Internet of Things (IoT) information to provide a data foundation for dynamic path planning. First, a fire evacuation (FE) ontology is introduced to fuse both knowledge and information relevant to dynamic path planning. Next, a dynamic knowledge graph that evolves according to the development of fire situation is instantiated based on the relevant FE ontology. Finally, to validate the feasibility of the semantic approach based on the ontology and knowledge graph, an example of application is conducted using a specific building as an example. This study provides a data foundation for more intelligent and precise decision‐making in fire evacuation scenarios and offers a new approach for safety design and management in the field of construction.
Changes in Testing and Treatment Methods in Osteoporosis Care
Authors: Nagai Takashi , Ishikawa Koji , Tsuchiya Koki , Tani Soji , Dodo Yusuke , Oshita Yusuke , Sakamoto Keizo , Kawate Nobuyuki , Kudo Yoshifumi
Published: April 2024

Osteoporosis treatment plays a crucial role in preventing fractures, particularly in bedridden patients. We conducted a questionnaire survey presenting hypothetical clinical cases in 2015 and 2020 to investigate trends over a 5-year period. The target population included physicians working in clinics and hospitals within our neighbourhood. The cases were presented, and the questionnaire was administered in a confidential format. The orthopaedic surgeons were matched for age and practice, resulting in 74 cases being included in the analysis. Comparing the 2015 and 2020 results, we observed a notable increase in physicians who would perform “bone mineral density measurements of the lumbar spine and hip.” Furthermore, there was a significant rise in the percentage of respondents willing to test for bone metabolic markers, such as serum type I collagen cross-linked N-telopeptide (NTX), procollagen I N-terminal propeptide (P1NP), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP-5b). Regarding therapeutic agents, bisphosphonates decreased in usage, whereas parathyroid hormone and romosozumab witnessed an increase. In conclusion, the percentage of physicians requesting bone mineral density measurements of the lumbar spine and hip increased over the five-year period. In addition, more physicians chose to utilise bone metabolic markers due to their ease of measurement through blood tests and reduced diurnal variation. Finally, there was a marked trend towards the administration of drugs capable of rapidly and effectively increasing bone mineral density at an early stage of treatment.
Challenges in Management of Ovotesticular Differences in Sex Development in Resource-Limited Settings
Authors: Asafo-Agyei Serwah Bonsu , Ameyaw Emmanuel , Nimako Boateng , Amoah Michael
Published: April 2024

Differences in sex development (DSD) are congenital conditions in which the development of chromosomal, gonadal, or anatomical sex is atypical. Ovotesticular DSD is the rarest variant of DSD where both ovarian and testicular tissues co-exist in an individual. Ambiguous genitalia may be a glaring indicator of DSD, but multiple genital anomalies should also raise a suspicion of DSD. This is a case report of a 15-year-6-month-old boy who presented during infancy with multiple genital anomalies requiring surgery. The diagnosis of ovotesticular DSD was missed until later in adolescence when he presented with progressive bilateral breast enlargement. Work-up revealed a 46, XX karyotype and dysgenetic testes, but functional ovarian tissue. The patient wanted to consider switching to a female gender but was constrained by psychosocial factors. Maintenance of a masculine phenotype was done using testosterone injections due to the relatively high cost of testosterone patches. Conclusion. Multiple genital anomalies should raise the suspicion of DSD, and prompt referral to an endocrinologist should be done before urogenital surgery and gender assignment are carried out.
Proton Pump Inhibitors and Kidney Disease: Fact or Fiction?
Authors: Weir Matthew R.
Published: April 2024

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are commonly prescribed medications for dyspepsia and gastroesophageal reflux. There are concerns about their use in the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Summary: The available published literature fails to support an association with PPI and the development of CKD. Placebo-controlled trials demonstrate no difference in the incidence of CKD between placebo and PPI. If one examines the data according to the Bradford Hill perspective incorporating temporal relationship, the strength of association, dose-response relationship, replacement of findings, cessation of exposure, specificity of the association, and consistency with other knowledge, one can only conclude that there is no consistent relationship between PPI use and the development of CKD, or its progression. Key Messages: There is insufficient evidence to link PPI exposure with the development or progression of CKD.
Pragmatic Trial of Messaging to Providers About Treatment of Hyperlipidemia (PROMPT-LIPID): A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Shah Nimish N. , Ghazi Lama , Yamamoto Yu , Kumar Sanchit , Martin Melissa , Simonov Michael , Riello III Ralph J. , Faridi Kamil F. , Ahmad Tariq , Wilson F. Perry , Desai Nihar R.
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND:

Lipid-lowering therapy (LLT) is underutilized for very high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. PROMPT-LIPID (PRagmatic Trial of Messaging to Providers about Treatment of HyperLIPIDemia) sought to determine whether electronic health record (EHR) alerts improve 90-day LLT intensification in patients with very high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

METHODS:

PROMPT-LIPID was a pragmatic trial in which cardiovascular and internal medicine clinicians within Yale New Haven Health (New Haven, CT) were cluster-randomized to receive an EHR alert with individualized LLT recommendations or no alert for outpatients with very high-risk atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and LDL-C (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), ≥70 mg/dL. The primary outcome was 90-day LLT intensification (change to high-intensity statin and addition of ezetimibe or PCSK9i [proprotein subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors]). Secondary outcomes included LDL-C level, proportion of patients with LDL-C of <70 or < 55 mg/dL, rate of major adverse cardiovascular events, ED visit incidence, and 6-month mortality. Results were analyzed using logistic and linear regression clustered at the provider level.

RESULTS:

The no-alert group included 47 clinicians and 1370 patients (median age, 71 years; 50.1% female, median LDL-C, 93 mg/dL); the alert group included 49 clinicians and 1130 patients (median age, 72 years; 47% female, median LDL-C 91, mg/dL). The primary outcome was observed in 14.1% of patients in the alert group as compared with 10.4% in the no-alert group. There were no differences in any secondary outcomes at 6 months. Among 542 patients whose clinicians (n=46) did not dismiss the EHR alert recommendations, LLT intensification was significantly greater (21.2% versus 10.4%, odds ratio, 2.33 [95% CI, 1.48–3.66]).

CONCLUSIONS:

With a real-time, targeted, individualized EHR alert as compared with usual care, the proportion of patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease with LLT intensification was numerically higher but not statistically significant. Among clinicians who did not dismiss the alert, there was a > 2-fold increase in LLT intensification. EHR alerts, coupled with strategies to reduce clinician dismissal, may help address persistent gaps in LDL-C management.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT04394715,
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/study/NCT04394715
Hypertension Severity and Declines in Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction Among Women Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer (WF-97415 UPBEAT)
Authors: Garg Riya , D’Agostino Ralph B. , O’Connell Nathaniel , Lesser Glenn J. , Salloum Fadi N. , Hines Anika L. , Meléndez Giselle C. , Jordan Jennifer H. , Ky Bonnie , Wagner Lynne I. , Sutton Arnethea L. , Bottinor Wendy , Olson Kristine C. , Ladd Amy C. , Hundley William Gregory ,   the UPBEAT Study Team
Published: April 2024

BACKGROUND:

Hypertension is a risk factor for experiencing left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) declines during receipt of potentially cardiotoxic breast cancer (BC) treatment. We sought to determine whether the hypertension stage is associated with LVEF decline during BC treatment.

METHODS:

Across 24 centers, cardiac magnetic resonance measures of LVEF and brachial arterial blood pressure (BP) measurements were performed in women with stages I to III BC before and 3 months after initiating potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy. Using multivariable analysis, we assessed in a blinded fashion the association between 3-month ΔLVEF and precancer treatment American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology stages of hypertension.

RESULTS:

Among 204 women, age averaged 56±1 years with 75% being White and 20% of Black race. Participants received anthracycline (45.6%), trastuzumab (22.5%), cyclophosphamide (52.9%), or paclitaxel (50%). After accounting for pretreatment LVEF, diabetes status, tobacco use, age, the number of antihypertensive medications, and body mass index, those with stage II hypertension experienced an LVEF decline of −2.89% ([95% CI, −0.69% to −5.19%];
P
=0.01) relative to individuals with normal BP. Other stages saw nonsignificant declines relative to normal BP to elevated BP (−1.63% [95% CI, −0.62% to 3.88%];
P
=0.16) and stage I hypertension (−0.94% [95% CI, −0.90% to 2.78%];
P
=0.32).

CONCLUSIONS:

Compared with women receiving treatment for BC with normal BP, there is a stronger association of decline in LVEF in women with stage II hypertension relative to women with other hypertension stages. This raises the possibility that stage along with hypertension presence may be associated with an increased risk for the LVEF decline among women receiving potentially cardiotoxic chemotherapy for BC.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02791581 and NCT01719562.
Toddlers Prefer Agents Who Help Those Facing Harder
Tasks
Authors: Woo Brandon M. , Liu Shari , Gweon Hyowon , Spelke Elizabeth S.
Published: April 2024

Capacities to understand and evaluate others’ actions are fundamental to human social life. Infants and toddlers are sensitive to the costs of others’ actions, infer others’ values from the costs of the actions they take, and prefer those who help others to those who hinder them, but it is largely unknown whether and how cost considerations inform early understanding of third-party prosocial actions. In three experiments (N = 94), we asked whether 16-month-old toddlers value agents who selectively help those who need it most. Presented with two agents who attempted two tasks, toddlers preferentially looked to and touched someone who helped the agent in greater need, both when one agent’s task required more effort and when the tasks were the same but one agent was weaker. These results provide evidence that toddlers engage in need-based evaluations of helping, applying their understanding of action utilities to their social evaluations.
On the Role of Loopholes in Polite Communication: Linking
Subjectivity and Pragmatic Inference
Authors: Gotzner Nicole , Scontras Gregory
Published: April 2024

Existing proposals on the attenuating uses of indirect, negated expressions (e.g., not happy to mean sad) agree that speakers exploit indirectness for pragmatic purposes but differ on the underlying sources they attribute to these uses. Here, we synthesize existing proposals via adjective subjectivity, which operationalizes the notion of loopholes for plausible deniability. We present experimental evidence that the degree of subjectivity of an adjective predicts the degree to which participants strengthen the negated adjective’s meaning, but only if the adjective under consideration has an evaluatively-positive meaning. This finding indicates that speakers may intentionally use negation to leave themselves the option to retract the implicated face-threatening meaning if openly challenged.
RARE AND ENDANGERED ROVE BEETLES OF UKRAINE: EMUS HIRTUS LINNAEUS, 1758 (COLEOPTERA: STAPHYLINIDAE)
Authors: GLOTOV SERHII , GERYAK YURII , KAVURKA VITALII , PETRENKO ANDRII , BRUSENTSOVA NATALIIA
Published: April 2024

In Ukraine, Emus hirtus Linnaeus, 1758 (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) is protected by the national Red Book. The species is widely distributed in all natural zones of the country but occurs sporadically. Almost everywhere in Ukraine E. hirtus tends to decrease in abundance due to the reduction of pastures, a habitat to which this species is strictly specialized. Here we review all known records of E. hirtus in Ukraine summing up its distribution and bionomics in the country. We reflect on the possible causes of the population decline of this species and provide recommendations for its conservation in Ukraine and throughout its entire distribution range.
Antibacterial behavior and mechanism of nitrogen, silicon-doped amphiphilic carbon dots
Authors: Xue Bao-Xia , Liu Jing , Guo Ji-Qiang , Zhang Li , An Mei-Wen , Zhang Jin
Published: April 2024

A new kind of amphiphilic carbon dots (CDs) was prepared with citric acid and silane coupling agent as raw materials. Due to the doping of nitrogen and silicon elements, the surface of CDs contains not only oxygen-containing functional groups, but also alkyl hydrophobic chains, showing
amphiphilic characteristic. The micro molecular structure and elemental composition of CDs were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and other tests. The antibacterial behavior of CDs against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus
aureus (S. aureus) was studied by the disk antibacterial method, plate colony, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and other methods. The biocompatibility of CDs was evaluated by cytotoxicity and hemolysis in vitro. The results proved that CDs possessed the average particle
size of 1.75 nm and the negative surface potential of −2.71 mV. For E. coli and S. aureus, the minimum bactericidal concentrations of CDs were 500 μg/mL and 400 μg/mL, respectively. These co-doped CDs also possessed the ability to inhibit biofilm formation.
The antibacterial mechanism was mainly through the adsorption force to rupture the bacterial membrane and induce the generation of reactive oxygen species in bacterial cells. In addition, CDs exhibited excellent biocompatibility because of their low cytotoxicity and hemolysis, indicating that
they can be used as a new material in the antibacterial field.
Numerical investigation of the effect of enforced air flow in a closed cavity on temperature distribution of ammonium dihydrogen phosphate crystal with a large aperture
Authors: Sun Fuzhong , Sabbir S. M.
Published: April 2024

The temperature distribution of a novel Final optics assembly (FOA) made of a square ammonium dihydrogen phosphate (ADP) crystal with a large aperture is examined numerically in this noncritical phase-matching simulation (NCPM). The temperature of the cavity wall is maintained by temperature-controlled,
continuously flowing (0.1 m/s) water (313.5 k). The thermal study was first performed numerically inside the cavity with different configurations using the finite volume technique. One fan was placed on one side of the ADP crystal to evaluate the temperature distribution within the cavity
and between the crystals. The fan speed is then varied from 10 to 40 rad/s with a step interval of 10 rad/s to evaluate the effect of forced convection. Furthermore, the investigation showed that 20 rad/s is more effective than the other cases. To measure the impact of temperature distribution
caused by fan orientation, the fan orientation was adjusted to three different tilt angles (10, 20, and 30 degrees) while the fan rotational speed was maintained at 20 rad/s. The two fans on the side and the two fans on either side of the ADP crystal were also investigated, with different
orientations (0, 10, and 20 degrees) and speeds (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 rad/s). According to the fan speed, direction, number of speeds, and fan locations, the high-temperature spot of ADP crystals can be symmetric, asymmetric, diagonally dominant, center dominant, bottom dominant, or top dominant.
Synthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles by electrochemical method
Authors: Jaimez Layna Gerzain , Mejía García Concepción , Díaz Valdés Elvia , Guillén Cervantes Ángel , Rojas Morales María de Lourdes , Avendaño Ibarra Miguel , Bautista Ramírez María Esther , Lozano Rojas Karla Jenny
Published: April 2024

In this work, silver nanoparticles (Ag-NP) were synthesized by electrochemical method, using a metallic silver cathode and anode in deionized water. The polarity was inverted every 60 seconds generating a voltage variation in order to obtain three different concentrations of Ag nanoparticles:
16 ppm, 24 ppm and 34 ppm. The synthesized nanoparticles were structurally, optically and morphologically characterized by XRD, UV-Vis and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), respectively. XRD patterns showed the peaks at 38.11° and 64.42° from Ag. The surface plasmon resonance
peak in absorption spectra on silver colloidal solution showed absorption from 422 nm to 429 nm. TEM measurement provided an average particle size for the concentrations of 16 ppm, 24 ppm and 34 ppm of 4.23 nm, 3.95 nm and 3.27 nm, respectively. The test with the E. coli bacteria showed
that there is an inhibition in the growth of the bacteria with the presence of silver nanoparticles.