bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transboundary Water Allocation under Water Scarcity Based on an Asymmetric Power Index Approach with Bankruptcy Theory
Authors: Qin Jianan , Fu Xiang , Wu Xia , Wang Jing , Huang Jie , Chen Xuxun , Liu Junwu , Zhang Jiantao
Published: September 2024

Cooperative and self-enforceable water allocation is a key instrument to manage geopolitical conflict induced by water scarcity, which necessitates concerning the cooperative willingness of the agents and considering their heterogeneity in geography, climate, hydrology, environment and social economy. Based on a multi-indicator system that contains asymmetric information on water volume contribution, current water consumption, water economic efficiency and efforts for eco-environmental protection, this study proposed a water allocation framework by combining the asymmetric power index approach with bankruptcy theory for solving the transboundary water allocation problem under scarcity. The proposed method was applied to the Yellow River Basin in northern China, which is mainly shared by nine provincial districts and frequently suffers from severe water shortage, and its results were compared with six alternative methods. The results highlight the necessity of quantifying agent’s willingness to cooperate under the background of asymmetric negotiation power when making decisions on transboundary water allocations. The proposed method allows to perform transboundary water allocations through simultaneous consideration of the agent’s cooperation willingness, asymmetric negotiation power as well as disagreement allocation points, which ensure the stability, fairness and self-enforceability of allocation results. Therefore, it can offer practical and valuable decision-making insights for transboundary water management under water scarcity.
Development and Validation of the Communities Geriatric Mild Cognitive Impairment Risk Calculator (CGMCI-Risk)
Authors: Chen Jiangwei , Fang Qing , Yang Kehua , Pan Jiayu , Zhou Lanlan , Xu Qunli , Shen Yuedi
Published: September 2024

Objectives: To develop and validate the Communities Geriatric Mild Cognitive Impairment Risk Calculator (CGMCI-Risk), aimed at aiding community healthcare workers in the early identification of individuals at high risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); Methods: Based on nationally representative community survey data, backward stepwise regression was employed to screen the variables, and logistic regression was utilized to construct the CGMCI-Risk. Internal validation was conducted using bootstrap resampling, while external validation was performed using temporal validation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA) were employed to evaluate the CGMCI-Risk in terms of discrimination, calibration, and net benefit, respectively; Results: The CGMCI-Risk model included variables such as age, educational level, sex, exercise, garden work, TV watching or radio listening, Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL), hearing, and masticatory function. The AUROC was 0.781 (95% CI = 0.766 to 0.796). Calibration curve showed strong agreement, and the DCA suggested substantial clinical utility. In external validation, the CGMCI-Risk model maintained similar performance with an AUROC of 0.782 (95% CI = 0.763 to 0.801); Conclusions: CGMCI-Risk is an effective tool for assessing cognitive function risk within the community. It uses readily predictor variables, allowing community healthcare workers to identify the risk of MCI in older adults over a three-year span.
Heavy Metal Content in the Soil and Typical Crops of the Pannonian Region of Slovenia
Authors: Jelen Žiga , Svetec Milan , Majerič Peter , Kapun Stanislav , Resman Lara , Čeh Tatjana , Hajra Granit , Rudolf Rebeka
Published: September 2024

Soil contamination and the uptake of contaminants by food crops is a global problem that differs significantly from region to region, with the key factors affecting the contaminants present in local soils being the mineralogical composition of the underlying layers and local human activity. The area of ​​the Pannonian region is known for the fact that agriculture has, historically, played an important role since Roman times, which was particularly influenced by human activity. In this study we performed a preliminary study of the contamination of soil samples across the Pannonian region, to determine the potential presence of harmful contaminants. Both soil and crop samples were analysed for the potential presence of heavy metals, with additional focus placed on the potential presence of microplastics in the region`s soil.
Long-term Storage Stability of Neutral Electrolyzed Water by Two-stage Electrolysis: Optimal Storage Conditions for Intraoral Use
Authors: Nagamatsu Yuki , Ikeda Hiroshi , Nagamatsu Hiroshi
Published: September 2024

Electrolyzed water, which mainly contains hypochlorous acid, is widely used because of its strong microbicidal effects, biosafety, and eco-friendliness. For frequent use in intraoral treatments, we focused on neutral electrolyzed water (NW) produced using two-stage electrolysis and investigated its storage stability. For standard-concentration NWs with free available chlorine concentration (ACC) of 25, 35, and 50 mg/L and high-concentration NWs (100, 200, 300, 500, and 1000 mg/L), changes in the pH, oxidation-reduction potential, and ACC during 126 days of storage and the bactericidal efficacies were examined. Storage under non-shaded conditions at room temperature (LRT) and a higher ACC substantially altered the properties of the NW. NW (≤ 300 mg/L) had a pH of 5.9–7.3 even after storage under LRT; however, NW with higher ACC (500 and 1000 mg/L) had a pH ˂ 5.5, critical for human enamel), even under shaded and refrigerated conditions (SLW). Only NW (25 mg/L) stored under LRT exhibited the lowest ACC (5 mg/L), indicating a decreased bactericidal effect. When stored for use in intraoral treatments, NWs should be prepared with an ACC of 25–300 mg/L and stored in SLW. If diluted NW is used, the ACC should be checked and appropriately diluted every time.
Quality of Life and Symptoms of Hospitalized Hematological Cancer Patients
Authors: Konstantinidis Theocharis I , Tsatsou Ioanna , Tsagkaraki Eleftheria , Chasouraki Evgenia , Saridi Maria , Adamakidou Theodoula , Govina Ourania
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Patients with hematological malignancies undergo intensive treatment and prolonged hospitalization, thus having a variety of physical and psychosocial symptoms and worse quality of life (QOL). Aim: This study aimed to assess the QOL and investigate the symptoms of hospitalized hematological cancer patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the hematology clinics and day units of two general hospitals of Heraklion, Crete. Adult patients with hematological malignancy and an adequate understanding of the Greek language participated. A demographic questionnaire, the European Organization for Research and Treatment for Cancer quality assessment questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), and the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI) were used for data collection. The level of statistical significance was set at p <0.05. Results: The sample consisted of 120 patients, 42.5% of whom were women, with a mean age of 65.6 years. The mean time from diagnosis was 33 months. The global health status of QoL had an average value of 47.1. The highest levels of QOL were found in the subscale of cognitive function (72.8) and the lowest in the role function (46.1). Among the of EORTC QLQ-C30 symptoms scale, the lowest score was found in nausea-vomiting (11.0) and the highest in fatigue (59.1). In the MDASI, in part I (core symptoms), higher levels, but also medium intensities were reported at fatigue (78.3%, mean 3.5), drowsiness (65.0, mean 3.3), and distress (65.8%, mean 2.8). In part II, enjoyment of life (85.8%, mean 5.1) had the highest and relation with other people (67.5%, mean 3.7) the lowest scores. The increase in the severity of the core symptoms (part I) was related to females (rho = 0.193, p <0.05) and comorbidities (rho = 0.220, p <0.05). It also related to a significant decrease in all functional domains and an increase in fatigue (rho = 0.571, p <0.05) of the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire. The increased global health status was related to males (rho = -0.185, p <0.05) and physical functioning with younger age (rho = -0.331, p <0.05), higher education (rho = 0.239, p <0.05), fewer months from diagnosis (rho = -0.199, p <0.05) and low comorbidity (rho = -0.209, p <0.05). Finally, the increased global health status was significantly related to lower symptoms determined by the total average symptom score (-0.491, p <0.05). Conclusions: The QoL of hematological cancer patients is significantly decreased during treatments due to a significant number of symptoms that must be taken into consideration for high-quality individualized care.
Generative AI in Medicine and Healthcare: Moving Beyond the ‘Peak of Inflated Expectations’
Authors: Zhang Peng , Shi Jiayu , Kamel Boulos Maged N.
Published: September 2024

The rapid development of specific-purpose Large Language Models (LLMs), such as Med-PaLM, MEDITRON-70B, and Med-Gemini, has significantly impacted healthcare, offering unprecedented capabilities in clinical decision support, diagnostics, and personalized health monitoring. This paper reviews the advancements in medicine-specific LLMs, the integration of Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) and prompt engineering, and their applications in improving diagnostic accuracy and educational utility. Despite the potential, these technologies present challenges, including bias, hallucinations, and the need for robust safety protocols. The paper also discusses the regulatory and ethical considerations necessary for integrating these models into mainstream healthcare. By examining current studies and developments, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of LLMs in medicine and highlight the future directions for research and application. The study concludes that while LLMs hold immense potential, their safe and effective integration into clinical practice requires rigorous testing, ongoing evaluation, and continuous collaboration among stakeholders.
A Reaction-Based Approach to Colorimetric Detection of Organic Analytes in Water Using a Chlorine-Containing Carbocyanine Dye and Hypochlorite
Authors: Shik Anna V. , Skorobogatov Evgenii V. , Akhmetov Ramil M. , Doroshenko Irina A. , Podrugina Tatyana A. , Sugakov Gleb K. , Beklemishev Mikhail K.
Published: September 2024

Water quality control employs techniques mostly targeting individual analytes; group detection is also practiced, but the choice of group methods is limited, which supports interest in developing such methods. We have examined an interaction of hypochlorite with a chlorine-containing heptamethine carbocyanine dye in the presence of 30 organic and inorganic model analytes that were found to induce diverse color changes in the system. The main supposed mechanisms are retardation of the dye oxidation with hypochlorite (presumably by scavenging chlorine radicals) and substitution of chlorine atom in the dye by the most nucleophilic analytes (amines, amino acids, proteins, DNA, phenol). The grass-green substitution product is more contrastingly visible against the dark-purple hypochlorite oxidation product of the dye than against the original emerald-green dye. The indicator reaction is monitored photographically for 10–40 min and the images are processed using principal component analysis (PCA) or linear discriminant analysis (LDA), allowing for data convolution for the complex color transitions. Nitrogen compounds are discriminated from the others, and more reactive analytes (tryptophan, cysteine, bovine serum albumin, and DNA) are detected in the presence of less reactive ones in natural water. The system is promising for the development of group assays for dissolved organic matter and discrimination of water samples.
Reaction Thermodynamic and Kinetics for Esterification of Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether and Acetic Acid over Ion-exchange Resin
Authors: Liu Xinyu , Wang Shu , Wang Mingxia , Chen Lifang , Qi Zhiwen
Published: September 2024

The esterification of propylene glycol methanol (PM) and acetic acid (AA) is an important reaction for the production of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PMA). Herein, we used macroporous ion exchange resin Amberlyst-35 as a catalyst to explore the effects of reaction conditions on the reaction rate and equilibrium yield of PMA. Under the optimized conditions of reaction temperature of 353 K, initial reactant PM/AA molar ratio of 1:3, and catalyst loading of 10 wt%, PMA equilibrium yield reached 78%, which is the highest equilibrium yield so far. The reaction equilibrium constants and activity coefficients were estimated to obtain reaction thermodynamic properties, indicating the exothermicity of the reaction. Furthermore, Pseudo-homogeneous (PH), Eley-Rideal (ER), and Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hogen-Watson (LHHW) kinetic models were fitted based on experimental reaction kinetic data. The results demonstrate that the LHHW model is the most consistent with experimental data, indicating surface reaction controlled process and exhibiting an apparent activation energy of 62.0 kJ/mol. This work represents a valuable example of calculating the reaction thermodynamic and kinetics, which are particularly essential for promising industrial reactor design.
Nutcracker Syndrome: First Case Causing Left Renal Intraparenchymal Varicose Veins
Authors: UĞUR Ramazan , Simsek Abdulmuttalip
Published: September 2024

Purpose: Our aim in this case is to report a new finding regarding Nutcracker syndrome (NCS), which is a variation of the left renal vein.
Methods: We present a very rare anatomical variant of the left renal vein(LRV), with a preliminary diagnosis made by ultrasound and NCS as a differential diagnosis with computed tomography (CT) and diagnostic CT angiography.
Results: The patient in our case was a 30-year-old woman with chronic abdominal and flank pain and increased sensitivity in the flank area. Neither hematuria nor proteinuria was detected in the urinalysis. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography(CT) showed that there were two separate LRVs draining the lower and upper poles. It was observed that the vein draining the lower pole narrowed significantly between superior mesenteric artery and abdominal aorta and then continued to widen. This view showed that we were faced with a typical NCS. What made our case different and unique from typical NCS was that it had renal intraparenchymal varicose veins. Treatment of NCS includes open, laparoscopic and robotic surgical repair and endovascular/extravascular stent placement. Treatment of symptomatic NCS includes open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgical repair and endovascular/extravascular stent placement. Except for the presence of hematuria causing severe anemia, deterioration in kidney functions and serious pain, patients are followed conservatively, and our patient is also followed conservatively.
Conclusion: This case we present is the first case accompanied by renal parenchymal varices in the literature.
The Application of Deep Learning to Accurately Identify the Dimensions of Spinal Canal and Intervertebral Foramen as Evaluated by the IoU Index
Authors: Wu Chih-Ying , Yeh Wei-Chang , Chang Shiaw-Meng , Hsu Che-Wei , Lin Zi-Jie
Published: September 2024

Artificial intelligence has garnered significant attention in recent years as a rapidly advancing field of computer technology. With the continual advancement of computer hardware, deep learning has made breakthrough developments within the realm of artificial intelligence. Over the past few years, applying deep learning architecture in medicine and Industrial anomaly inspection has significantly contributed to solving numerous challenges related to efficiency and accuracy. Despite excellent results in radiological, pathological, endoscopic, ultrasonic, and biochemical examinations, this paper utilizes deep learning combined with image processing to identify spinal canal and vertebral foramen dimensions. In existing research, technologies such as corrosion and expansion in magnetic resonance image (MRI) processing have also strengthening the accuracy of results. Indicators such as area and Intersection over Union (IoU)are also provided for assessment. Among them, the mean average precision (mAP), for identifying intervertebral foramen (IVF) and intervertebral disc (IVD) through YOLOv4 is 95.6%. Resnet50 mixing U-Net was employed to identify the spinal canal and intervertebral foramen and achieved IoU scores of 79.11% and 80.89%.
Digital Cloud Defense: Fortifying Your Data Against Cyber Threats
Authors: Biplob Md. Badiuzzaman , Ramisha Jannatul Ferdous , Akther Mili , Farabi Al Mohaimin
Published: September 2024

This paper addresses the growing concerns surrounding cloud computing security and highlights key strategies for ensuring the privacy and protection of data in information-critical industries. Cloud computing has revolutionized the field of information technology, providing convenience and efficiency in data processing. However, it has also brought to light significant challenges in terms of data security and privacy. Given the rise in cyber threats and the potential risks associated with storing sensitive information on cloud servers, critical industries such as healthcare and banking have been hesitant to adopt cloud computing as a trusted solution for their data needs. This work examines the specific security concerns that these industries face and proposes measures to mitigate them. Further, the paper explores the barriers that hinder the adoption of cloud computing in critical industries and offers solutions to address these concerns.
The Impact of Applied Behavior Analysis on Autism in Diverse Cultural Contexts: A Non-Western Perspective
Authors: Prakash Priya , Khurana Priyal , Sharma Yashika , Gupta Nihit , Gupta Mayank
Published: September 2024

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) interventions first introduced by Lovas in the 1960s have been proven historically effective in reducing challenging behaviors such as self-harm aggressive behaviors and improving communicative language skills in children with autism. While the interventions have evolved, focusing on restricting punishments and enforcing more reinforcements to teach skills, some concerns are yet to be evaluated. With the boom of ABA in Asia, this review focuses on understanding the techniques used and the progression of ABA by reviewing the existing literature. It aims to critically analyze the ABA strategies used to target challenging behaviors and teach new skills to gauge their long-term impact on children undergoing these interventions.
Trends in Antimicrobial Consumption in Tertiary Care Hospitals in Costa Rica from 2017 to 2021: A Comparative Analysis of Defined Daily Doses per 100 Bed Days and per 100 Discharges
Authors: Fernandez-Barrantes Cristina , Ramos-Esquivel Allan , Hernández-Soto Luis Esteban , Ramírez-Cardoce Manuel , Garro-Zamora Luis David , Cordero Jose Castro , Grau Santiago
Published: September 2024

Background: Antimicrobial consumption data in Latin America is scarce and usually spread out within different sources for AMC calculations, making it difficult to both standardize and compare regions through similar time frames. The main objective was to analyze antimicrobial consumption trends in Social Security tertiary care hospitals in Costa Rica in the period spanning January 2017 to December 2021, using both defined daily doses (DDD)/100 bed days and DDD/100 discharges. Methods: Retrospective observational study of antimicrobial consumption. Global consumption trends were calculated and expressed in DDD/100 bed days and DDD/100 discharges. Trends in antimicrobial consumption were analyzed using a simple linear regression model to determine potential differences in antimicrobial usage throughout the study’s duration. Results: A statistically significant increase in the consumption expressed in DDD/100 discharges was observed in the following groups: carbapenems: 35.62% (p<0.0001), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole: 62.50% (p<0.0001), echinocandins: 20.73% (p=0.01) and azole antifungals: 61.58% (p<0.0001). Additionally, a statistically significant increase of 40.43% in the consumption of azole antifungals expressed in DDD/100 bed days was observed (p=0.0008). In contrast, a statistically significant decrease in consumption expressed in DDD/100 discharges was identified for cephalosporins -21.97% (p<0.0001) and macrolides -51.67% (p<0.0001). Conclusions: This five-year analysis demonstrated trends over time in overall antimicrobial consumption measured in DDD/100 bed days do not correlate with trends in DDD/100 discharge rates. Continually, the comparison between DDD/100 bed days and DDD/100 discharges allows for complementary comparisons to be made regarding antimicrobial exposure in a clinical setting.
Extracellular Hsp70 and Circulating Endometriotic Cells as Novel Biomarkers for Endometriosis
Authors: Guder Christiane , Heinrich Soraya , Seifert-Klauss Vanadin , Kiechle Marion , Bauer Lisa , Öllinger Rupert , Pichlmair Andreas , Theodoraki Marie-Nicole , Ramesh Veena , Bashiri Dezfouli Ali , Wollenberg Barbara , Pockley Alan Graham , Multhoff Gabriele
Published: September 2024

The stress-inducible heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), which functions as a molecular chaperone and is frequently overexpressed in different cancer cell types, is presented on the cell surface of tumor cells and is actively released into the circulation in free and extracellular lipid vesicle-associated forms. Since the exact pathomechanism of endometriosis has not yet been elucidated but has been associated with the development of endometrial and ovarian cancer, we asked whether extracellular Hsp70 and circulating endometriotic cells (CECs) reflects the presence and development of endometriosis. Therefore, circulating levels of free and lipid microvesicle-associated Hsp70 were measured using the Hsp70-exo ELISA, and the presence of circulating CECs in the peripheral blood of patients with endometriosis was determined using membrane Hsp70 (mHsp70) and EpCAM monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based bead isolation approaches. Isolated CECs were further characterized by immunofluorescence using reagents directed against cytokeratin (epithelial), CD45 (leukocyte), CD105/CD44 (mesenchymal-stemness) and by comparative RNA analysis. Similar to the situation in patients with cancer, levels of circulating Hsp70 were elevated in the blood of patients with histologically proven endometriosis compared to a healthy control cohort, with the highest Hsp70 level in a patient with lymph node endometriosis. Moreover, CECs could be isolated using the cmHsp70.1 mAb- and to a lesser extent EpCAM mAb-based bead approaches in all patients with endometriosis. The longevity in cell culture and the expression of cytokeratin, CD105 and CD44, together with differentially expressed genes related to EMT reveals similarities of mHsp70 expressing CECs with circulating tumor cells (CTCs) and suggest a mesenchymal-stemness origin. These findings may support the involvement of mHsp70 positive, stem cell-like cells in the development of endometriotic lesions. In summary, elevated levels of Hsp70 in the blood and CECs could serve as liquid biopsy markers for endometriosis and help to elucidate the underlying pathomechanism of the disease.
A Countermeasure to Glitch-based Fault Injection Attacks on Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Hong Seongwoo , Kang Hyoju , Lee Youngjoo , Kim Gwangyeol , Ha Jaecheol
Published: September 2024

Recently, deep neural networks (DNNs) have been widely used in various fields such as autonomous vehicles and smart homes. Since these DNNs can be directly implemented on edge devices, they offer advantages such as real-time processing in low-power and low-bandwidth environments. However, deployment of DNNs in embedded systems, including edge devices, exposes them to threats such as fault injection attacks. In this paper, we introduce two methods to induce misclassifications by using clock and voltage glitch-based fault attacks in devices where DNN models are executed. As a result of experiments on a microcontroller implemented with a DNN for image classification, we show that glitch injection attacks can lead with high probability to serious misclassifications. Furthermore, we propose a countermeasure to glitch attacks on the softmax function, and confirm that this method is effective in preventing misclassifications.
The Clinical Utilisation and Duration on Treatment with HER2-Directed Therapies in HER2-Positive Recurrent or Metastatic Salivary Gland Cancers
Authors: Haigh Joseph Edward , Patel Karan , Rack Sam , Jiménez-Labaig Pablo , Betts Guy , Harrington Kevin Joseph , Metcalf Robert
Published: September 2024

Salivary gland cancers (SGC) are rare tumours with limited availability of systemic therapies. Some SGC subtypes overexpress HER2 and this represents a potential therapeutic target, but the evidence base is limited. This study sought to analyse real-world data on efficacy of HER2-directed therapies in SGC. This is a retrospective observational study using anonymised data from commercial compassionate-use access registrations and a privately funded pharmacy prescribing register. Treatment duration was defined as time from drug initiation to treatment discontinuation. Kaplan-Meier analysis of treatment duration was performed using R for windows (v4.3.2). A case report is also provided of an exceptional responder. Eighteen patients were identified who received HER2-directed therapies for HER2-positive recurrent/metastatic SGC, and complete data on treatment duration was available for 15/18. Histology was salivary duct carcinoma in 13/18 patients, adenocarcinoma NOS in 4/18, and carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma in 1/18. Median treatment duration was 8.3 months (95% CI: 6.41-not reached) and the range was 1.0-47.0 months. Choice of HER2-directed therapy varied, with ado-trastuzumab emtasine being most common (9/18). At time of analysis, HER2-directed therapy was ongoing for 9/15, discontinued due to disease progression for 4/15, discontinued due to toxicity for 1/15, and 1/15 was discontinued for an unspecified reason. An exceptional responder experienced a complete response with a treatment duration of 47.0 months. This real-world data is comparable to the median PFS observed with HER2-directed therapies in phase II trials and supports the use of HER2-directed therapies in this group.
KEABSAHAN PENDAFTARAN TANAH YANG DIAJUKAN OLEH CALON PEMBELI TANAH YANG BELUM BERSERTIPIKAT DI KANTOR PERTANAHAN KABUPATEN PADANG PARIAMAN
Authors: Syuryani Syuryani , Fajar Yori Al
Published: September 2024

This article explains the validity of land registration submitted by prospective land buyers who have not yet been certified at the Padang Pariaman Regency Land Office which discusses the validity of land registration submitted by prospective land buyers who have not yet been certified at the Padang Pariaman Regency Land Office as well as the obstacles to land registration and their solutions. Land registration is submitted by prospective buyers of land that has not yet been certified at the Padang Pariaman Regency Land Office. To discuss this problem, the author conducted sociological juridical research methods. The results of the research are that there are prospective buyers who submit applications for land registration at the ATR/BPN office of Padang Pariaman district in accordance with the provisions of the UUPA and Government Regulation Number 24 of 1997 and Government Regulation Number 18 of 2021. Obstacles that occur in the land registration process of prospective buyers or applicants If the file is found to be incomplete, it must be completed again to obtain validity. In this writing, it is concluded that on average there are land registration applications submitted by prospective buyers every year, as long as all the requirements are in accordance with the provisions of the law and Circular Letter Number: 500/88/BPN-2007 dated 8 February 2007 concerning Alas Rights: For the purposes of determining rights and land registration in West Sumatra to be fulfilled, the Padang Pariaman Land Office serves for processing. If problems are found, the solution is for prospective land buyers who have not yet been certified to buy land from those who really have the right to avoid land mafia incidents.
What contributes to consumer price inflation?
A novel decomposition framework with an application to Austria
Authors: Schneider Martin
Published: September 2024

This paper introduces a novel approach to decomposing consumer price inflation. Expanding upon the established decomposition method for the value-added deflator, our methodology combines the cost structure of the consumption expenditures from the input-output table with quarterly national accounts data. This enables a detailed breakdown of HICP inflation, including imports. Applying this method to Austria from Q1 2019 to Q1 2023, we identify energy and non-energy imports as major contributors to inflation in 2022. Profits began contributing to inflation from H2 2022, while wage pressures remained minimal. The results of the analysis show that the decomposition can provide valuable insights for the conduct of monetary policy.
JEL-Classification: C67, E25, E31.
The Fabrication of Tiles from Sawdust to Achieve Environmental Sustainability
Authors: Vianney NZAYIRAMBAHO Jean Marie , Salomon IZERE
Published: September 2024

Currently, tiles are manufactured pieces of hardwearing materials such as ceramic, stone, metal, baked clay, or even glass, and tiles are generally used for covering roofs, floors, walls, or other objects such as tabletops. Sawdust is a byproduct of cutting, grinding, drilling, sanding, or pulverizing wood with a saw or other specialized tools. It is composed of fine particles of wood. Sawdust is available in large quantities from wood crusher units. Research has revealed that, unless sawdust is reprocessed into a particle board, wood briquettes can be used to produce heat for milling operations. Sawdust can collect in piles on landsites and can drain into water and poison aquatic life, thus becoming an environmental hazard. Sawdust can also cause dust explosions, and exposure to sawdust increases the chance of nasal cancer. This research study showed that the use of sawdust in tile fabrication has a positive impact on the environment. This shows how using sawdust to fabricate tiles can promote environmental sustainability. The study also explored how utilizing sawdust in the manufacturing of tiles can positively affect climate change and increase the use of construction materials. Sawdust can play a role in fine aggregates, such as the sand used in making tiles. The sand in the percentage portions of the sawdust was partially replaced. There was a total of four mix designs aimed at investigating the effect of partial replacement of sand with sawdust. The replacements ranged from 0 to 15%. The compressive strength, impact strength, tensile strength, and water and fire resistance were tested. The test results showed that with increasing sawdust content, the compressive and tensile strengths slightly increased. This also resulted in a reduction in the heat transfer of the sawdust tiles. The tiles were determined to be fire resistant and impermeable. The overall physical and mechanical properties of sawdust tiles analyzed for use in construction technology. This project tends to create employment because people in villages are being paid for collecting sawdust and working in sawdust tile production sites and for mass production in the region where factories are being constructed to make sawdust tiles, and many jobs should be provided. This study therefore recommends that the use of sawdust in tile fabrication should be explored and encouraged for positive environmental impacts. This will help to conserve trees and the ecosystem as a whole and reduce the cost of tiles on the growing market.
The impact of lipidome on Viral hemorrhagic fevers: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Li Na-na , Xu Jia-xi , Wang Kuo , Chen Peng-fei , Liu Bo-wen , Zhang Jia-ning , Xu Jia , Zhi Ying-fei , Zhang Jian-nan , Kang Kai
Published: September 2024

Background
Viral hemorrhagic fevers are a group of clinically similar diseases characterized by a spectrum of acute febrile syndromes ranging from mild to severe, accompanied by vascular damage, plasma leakage, and bleeding. The pathogenesis of viral hemorrhagic fevers is very complex and it related to lipidome.
Methods
In this study, we used 179 lipidomes as exposures and viral hemorrhagic fevers as the outcome. We primarily utilized MR-IVW, co-localization analysis and reverse MR analysis methods for analysis.
Results
Our study identified significant causal relationships between lipidomes and viral hemorrhagic fevers. Sterol ester (27:1/20:5) level(OR[95%CI] = 0.777[0.668,0.904],P = 0.042),phosphatidylcholine(16:0_20:4) level(OR[95%CI] = 0.788[0.689,0.902],P = 0.044),and phosphatidylcholine(O-18:0_20:4) level(OR[95%CI] = 0.745[0.625,0.887],P = 0.05) have a protective effect on viral hemorrhagic fevers.
Conclusions
Our MR analysis results indicate a causal relationship between specific lipidomes and viral hemorrhagic fevers.
Spontaneous fermentation of raisin water to form wine
Authors: Hashimoto Wataru , Hio Mamoru , Murata Kensuke , Takase Ryuichi , Ogura Kohei
Published: September 2024

Yeast obtained from the water containing raisins has been conventionally used for breadmaking. It is assumed that people consumed naturally fermented raisin water as wine in ancient times. In this study, we demonstrated spontaneous fermentation by yeast that colonizes raisins. Raisin water samples containing Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces species underwent alcohol fermentation. As the fermentation progressed, the diversity and abundance of Aspergillus decreased. A significant difference in β diversity was detected between the microbiomes of raw grapes and raisins, with raisins containing a higher ratio of Saccharomycetaceae. The yeast colonizing raisin fermented alcohol more efficiently than those on raw grapes. Outdoor-dried raisins harbored a distinct eukaryotic microbiome that successfully fermented alcohol, indicating that these yeasts migrate from the environment. Therefore, our data suggest that sun-drying grapes can be utilized for food preservation and making alcoholic beverages, validating the ancient practice of wine-making from raisins due to spontaneous fermentation.
Applying genotypic principal component scores as latent phenotypes in genome-wide and epistatic analyses of soybean agronomic traits
Authors: Lackey Simon , Haidar Siwar , Charette Martin , O’Donoughue Louise , Rajcan Istvan , Belzile Francois , Golshani Ashkan , Cober Elroy , Samanfar Bahram
Published: September 2024

Identification of marker trait associations (MTAs) for agronomic traits of soybean (Glycine max L. Merr.) can often be limited by confounding genotype by environment interactions. In this study, phenotypic data was derived from the calculation of genotypic principal component scores by GGEbiplot (gPCs) from a multiple year and location agronomic dataset to assess the validity and feasibility of using gPC scores in genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) in comparison with traditional phenotypes. Important Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) were discovered for maturity, seed oil content, yield, and plant height that were not detected using the traditional phenotypes. MTAs were detected by GWAS analysis with PC1, PC2, and PC4 phenotypes. QTL for maturity associated with the E1 and E3 soybean maturity loci demonstrate the validity of this approach by detecting these well studied regions. Epistatic analysis revealed QTL controlling both oil and protein content but did not uncover significant interactions associated with other traits. This result further contributes to the understanding of complex gene networks controlling pleiotropic traits such as seed oil and seed protein content. QTL for the studied traits are reported across six Glycine max chromosomes with 15 genes and one gene cluster proposed as candidates controlling agronomic traits.
Economic evaluation of Mont-Bellevue Park in Sherbrooke using the individual travel cost method
Authors: Kolombia Kpanoga , He Jie
Published: September 2024

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the economic worth of Mont-Bellevue Park in Sherbrooke during both summer and winter seasons, utilizing the individual travel cost approach. This study is significant as it justifies the evaluation of the park’s environmental advantages, and it provides valuable information for park administrators to distribute their budget efficiently. To determine the park visitor surplus, an online survey was conducted among 1,232 summer visitors in 2021 and 707 winter visitors in 2022, and the individual travel cost method was employed. The outcomes showed that the park’s annual economic value was $ 553,168 during the summer and $ 250,985 during the winter, revealing the park’s significance in the summer months, which heavily relies on good weather conditions. These findings are consistent with previous studies indicating that the recreational value of parks or tourist sites is greater during the summer season.
Research on Symbol Recognition Method of Historical Buildings along the Chinese Eastern Railroad based on Improved YOLOv8s Technology Framework
Authors: Liu Wenwen , Ji Yuanyuan , Zheng Yongli , Liang Mao
Published: September 2024

Addressing the prevalent issue of target misdetection within existing algorithmic frameworks for architectural symbol recognition, such as the challenges posed by small-scale targets, compact distributions, and the multifaceted nature of architectural symbol categories, an enhanced YOLOv8s model tailored for architectural symbol recognition is introduced. This model integrates the DCNv3 module within the backbone network architecture, in conjunction with C2f, which augments the model's receptive field, mitigates the attendant increase in model complexity resulting from C2f convolutions, and enhances the model's efficacy in target recognition and convergence. Utilizing the SIoU loss function in lieu of CIOU significantly enhances the training efficiency and inferential accuracy of the object detection model; the incorporation of the D-LKA attention mechanism within the head network further bolsters the detection capabilities for small-scale targets. Experimental findings corroborate that the improved YOLOv8s model achieves an mAP@0.5 score of 85.5% on the Chinese Eastern Railroad historical building symbol dataset, a 3.6% improvement over the baseline YOLOv8s model. Collectively, the refined model markedly elevates the detection prowess for architectural symbol targets, more adeptly fulfilling the requirements of historical building symbol recognition along the Chinese Eastern Railroad.
RETRACTED: Temporal features of gamma activity in STN mediated by dopamine receptors in dyskinetic rat
Authors: Wang Pengfei , Dai Weina , Xu Yuming
Published: September 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Innovative Trend Analysis for Annual and Monthly Total Precipitation in Calabar, Southern Nigeria Between 1980-2021
Authors: Okono Moses. A. , Igwe Ewona. I.
Published: September 2024

The effect of the variations of precipitation has its effects on various areas of life including ecology and even the economy, etc. This study utilizes the new innovative trend analysis (ITA) method to investigate the annual and monthly total precipitation trends in Calabar, a city located in southern Nigeria, between the years 1980 and 2021. Total monthly and annual precipitation data were collected from NASA POWER and analyzed using the ITA method which was compared to the conventional MK test. The ITA method which shows results in respect to the low, medium, and high precipitation levels is more advantageous than the MK test which detects significant trends for only monotonic trends. The ITA results indicate an increase in precipitation for the low precipitation values over the study period, as well as an increase for the high precipitation values. These findings are significant as they provide valuable insight into the changing precipitation patterns in Calabar, which can inform effective water resource management and help to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events in the region. The ITA method employed in this study is a useful tool for researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders in accurately analyzing precipitation trends and identifying appropriate adaptation measures to address the potential effects of climate change on water supplies in the region, especially across data ranges.
Low-velocity impact properties of bouligand polymer composites
Authors: Peerzada Mazhar , Abbasi Sadaf , Mehboob Ali , Nawab Yasir , Iftekhar Hassan , Shelley Tristan , Hameed Nishar
Published: September 2024

The aim of the present paper was to investigate the behavior of Bouligand polymer composites compared with conventional three-dimensional structures of polymer composites. A series of Bouligand and conventional preforms were manufactured with carbon fiber filaments and infused with epoxy resin to create the polymer composite panels. A computerized drop-weight impact tester was used to study the force versus displacement response of polymer composites at three energy levels of 10, 15, and 20 J. The time histories and load vs time curves of impact-induced samples were focused to see insights into damage behavior, post-peak behavior, impact tolerance, and damage. The load vs time curve of Bouligand polymer composites at the various impact energy levels was calculated numerically and correlated with experimentally obtained data. The results revealed that the Bouligand structure offers higher resistance to penetration and showed progressively more damage-tolerant post-peak load behavior as compared to those of bias and orthogonal structures. The numerical and experimental results were in good agreement.
G protein selectivity profile of GPR56/ADGRG1 and its effect on downstream effectors
Authors: Jallouli Raida , Salinas Ana Lilia Moreno , Laniel Andréanne , Holleran Brian , Avet Charlotte , Jacob Joan , Hoang Trang , Lavoie Christine , Carmon Kendra S , Bouvier Michel , Leduc Richard
Published: September 2024

GPR56, an adhesion G-protein coupled receptor (aGPCRs) with constitutive and ligand-promoted activity, is involved in many physiological and pathological processes. Whether the receptor’s constitutive or ligand-promoted activation occur through the same molecular mechanism, and whether different activation modes lead to functional selectivity between G proteins is unknown. Here we show that GPR56 constitutively activates both G12 and G13. Unlike constitutive activation and activation with 3-a-acetoxydihydrodeoxygedunin (3αDOG), stimulation with an antibody, 10C7, directed against GPR56’s extracellular domain (ECD) led to an activation that favors G13 over G12. An autoproteolytically deficient mutant, GPR56-T383A, was also activated by 10C7 indicating that the tethered agonist (TA) exposed through autocatalytic cleavage, is not required for this activation modality. In contrast, this proteolysis-resistant mutant could not be activated by 3aDOG indicating different modes of activation by the two ligands. We show that an N-terminal truncated GPR56 construct (GPR56-Δ1-385) is devoid of constitutive activity but was activated by 3aDOG. Similarly to 3aDOG, 10C7 promoted the recruitment of b-arrestin-2 but GPR56 internalization was β-arrestin independent. Despite the slow activation mode of 10C7 that favors G13 over G12, it efficiently activated the downstream Rho pathway in BT-20 breast cancer cells. These data show that different GPR56 ligands have different modes of activation yielding differential G protein selectivity but converging on the activation of the Rho pathway both in heterologous expressions system and in cancer cells endogenously expressing the receptor. 10C7 is therefore an interesting tool to study both the processes underlying GPR56 activity and its role in cancer cells.
Degradation studies of glutathione peroxidase in rat organs at different post-mortem intervals.
Authors: Hasuoka Paul Emir , Tonelli Franco , Pacheco Pablo Hugo
Published: September 2024

Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is a seleno-enzyme with an antioxidant function that counteracts reactive oxygen species generated during irrigation-reperfusion injury in transplant organs. GPx activity increased post mortem by seleno-methionine (SeMet) administration in vivo. GPx degradation was studied in the organs of rats supplemented with SeMet to obtain insights into organ thanatochemistry and improve its survival. Studies were performed in the liver, kidneys, and heart of rats. After death, organs were ablated at different post mortem intervals (PMI). GPx1 was extracted and determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and affinity chromatography (AC) coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Degradation products were studied by analyzing low molecular weight selenium fractions (< 10 kDa). GPx1 degradation velocity (VGPx1) in the different organs was evaluated by data analysis of GPx1 concentration variations according to PMI. GPx1 was determined in concentrations ranging from 0.19–0.76 mg kg− 1 in the ablated organs in a PMI of 12 hs. SeMet administration increased GPx1 concentration, especially in the liver. GPx1 concentration decreased in all the studied tissues during a PMI of 12 hours. The degradation velocity of GPx1 (VGPx1) was higher in the liver, followed by the kidneys and heart. Se degradation products were found in the range of 0.1 to 0.4 µg g− 1, higher in the liver. In kidneys, no differences in GPx1 degradation were observed in control and SeMet-administered rats. GPx1 degradation was lower in SeMet-administered rats. SeMet administration increased GPx1 concentration and decreased its degradation post mortem in the organs of rats.
The Effect of Internet Usage on the Income of Returned Rural Migrant Worker
Authors: Zhang Wan-LI , Zheng Wei , Tooba Tahreem , Xu Xue-lu
Published: September 2024

The Internet usage in rural areas has already greatly improved the quality of rural life and income level of rural residents in China. However, there is a lack of discussion on the impact of Internet use on the income of returning migrant workers. This paper investigates the impact of Internet use on the income of returning migrant workers, its potential channel, as well as family income categories and consumption categories as the extension by using the data of CLDS from 2014 to 2018. We find that, firstly, Internet use can significantly improve the total income level of returnees, and this conclusion is not changed after considering the endogeneity problem and do several other robust checks. Secondly, the accumulation of social capital, the accumulation of material capital and the improvement of entrepreneurial probability are the three main channels for the Internet to improve the income of returnees. Heterogeneity analyses show that compared with western regions, low-income groups and religious believers, Internet use in central and eastern regions, high-income groups and non-religious returnees has a stronger impact in promoting income. Finally, the extended analyses show that the use of the Internet mainly improves the non-agricultural income of returning households, and increases family improved consumption as a result. This paper indicates that the government should further strengthen the policy of Internet use of returnees to help them improve their income level and quality of life.