bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatiotemporal dynamics of the oropharyngeal microbiome in a cohort of Ivorian school children
Authors: Diallo K. , Missa K. F. , Tuo K. J. , Tiemele L. S. , Ouattara A. F. , Gboko K. D. T. , Gragnon B. G. , Bla K. B. , Ngoi J. M. , Wilkinson R. J. , Awandare G. A. , Bonfoh B.
Published: December 2024

The respiratory tract harbours microorganisms of the normal host microbiota which are also capable of causing invasive disease. Among these, Neisseria meningitidis a commensal bacterium of the oropharynx can cause meningitis, a disease with epidemic potential. The oral microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining respiratory health. An imbalance in its composition is associated with increased risk of invasive disease. The main objective of this study was to evaluate changes in the spatio-temporal dynamics of the oropharyngeal microbiota considering meningococcal carriage in a cohort of 8–12-year-old school children within (Korhogo) and outside (Abidjan) of the meningitis belt of Côte d’Ivoire. A significant geographic difference in the oropharyngeal microbiome was identified between the two study sites in terms of bacterial abundance and diversity (p < 0.001), with greater diversity in children in Abidjan than in Korhogo. Meningococcal carriage was low in the cohort with eight Neisseria carriers identified in Korhogo (3.64%) including one Neisseria meningitidis (0.45%). No Neisseria were detected in Abidjan indicating geographical differences in carriage (p = 0.006). Negative correlations were also found between Neisseria abundance and humidity. Meningococcal carriage was very low during the study; however, Neisseria carriage differed between the two study areas, with a higher frequency in children in Korhogo. Analysis of the oropharyngeal microbiome showed significant differences between children followed in Abidjan and Korhogo with higher microbial diversity in Abidjan, which is generally associated with better health status. Significant correlations between Neisseria or other pathogens carriage and climatic variables (Temperature, Relative humidity, and Wind speed) were also demonstrated, indicating an important role of climate in the carriage of these bacteria; an important element to note in the current context of climate change.
PARP inhibition radiosensitizes BRCA1 wildtype and mutated breast cancer to proton therapy
Authors: Ben Kacem Mariam , Bright Scott J. , Moran Emma , Flint David B. , Martinus David K. J. , Turner Broderick X. , Qureshi Ilsa , Kolachina Rishab , Manandhar Mandira , Marinello Poliana C. , Shaitelman Simona F. , Sawakuchi Gabriel O.
Published: December 2024

Aggressive breast cancers often fail or acquire resistance to radiotherapy. To develop new strategies to improve the outcome of aggressive breast cancer patients, we studied how PARP inhibition radiosensitizes breast cancer models to proton therapy, which is a radiotherapy modality that generates more DNA damage in the tumor than standard radiotherapy using photons. Two human BRCA1-mutated breast cancer cell lines and their isogenic BRCA1-recovered pairs were treated with a PARP inhibitor and irradiated with photons or protons. Protons (9.9 and 3.85 keV/µm) induced higher cell kill independent of BRCA1 status. PARP inhibition amplified the cell kill effect to both photons and protons (9.9 and 3.85 keV/µm) independent of BRCA1 status. Numbers of γH2AX foci, micronuclei, and cGAS-positive micronuclei were significantly higher in BRCA1-mutated cells. Cell cycle distribution and stress-induced senescence were not affected by PARP inhibition in our cell lines. In vivo, the combination of protons (3.99 keV/µm) and PARP inhibition induced the greatest tumor growth delay and the highest survival. We found that PARP inhibition increases radiosensitization independent of BRCA1 status for both protons and photons. The combination of protons and PARP inhibition was the most effective in decreasing clonogenic cell survival, increasing DNA damage, and delaying tumor growth.
Experimental and explainable machine learning approach on thermal conductivity and viscosity of water based graphene oxide based mono and hybrid nanofluids
Authors: Kanti Praveen Kumar , Paramasivam Prabhu , Wanatasanappan V. Vicki , Dhanasekaran Seshathiri , Sharma Prabhakar
Published: December 2024

This study explores the thermal conductivity and viscosity of water-based nanofluids containing silicon dioxide, graphene oxide, titanium dioxide, and their hybrids across various concentrations (0 to 1 vol%) and temperatures (30 to 60 °C). The nanofluids, characterized using multiple methods, exhibited increased viscosity and thermal conductivity compared to water, with hybrid nanofluids showing superior performance. Graphene oxide nanofluids displayed the highest thermal conductivity and viscosity ratios, with increases of 52% and 177% at 60 °C and 30 °C, respectively, for a concentration of 1 vol% compared to base fluid. Similarly, graphene oxide-TiO2 hybrid nanofluids achieved thermal conductivity and viscosity ratios exceeding 43% and 144% compared to the base fluid at similar conditions. This data highlights the significance of nanofluid concentration in influencing thermal conductivity, while temperature was found to have a more pronounced effect on viscosity. To tackle the challenge of modeling the thermophysical properties of these hybrid nanofluids, advanced machine learning models were applied. The Random Forest (RF) model outperformed others (Gradient Boosting and Decision Tree) in both the cases of thermal conductivity and viscosity with greater adaptability to handle fresh data during model testing. Further analysis using shapely additive explanations based on cooperative game theory revealed that relative to temperature, nanofluid concentration contributes more to the predictions of the thermal conductivity ratio model. However, the effect of nanofluid concentration was more dominant in the case of viscosity ratio model.
Revealing urban area from mobile positioning data
Authors: Pintér Gergő
Published: December 2024

Researchers face the trade-off between publishing mobility data along with their papers while protecting the privacy of the individuals. In addition to the anonymization process, other techniques, such as spatial discretization and location concealing or removal, are applied to achieve these dual objectives. The primary research question is whether concealing the observation area is an adequate form of protection or whether human mobility patterns in urban areas are inherently revealing of location. The characteristics of the mobility data, such as the number of activity records in a given spatial unit, can reveal the silhouette of the urban landscape, which can be used to infer the identity of the city in question. The presented locating method was tested on multiple cities using different open datasets and coarser spatial discretization units. While publishing mobility data is essential for research, concealing the observation area is insufficient to prevent the identification of the urban area. Instead of obscuring the observation area, noise should be added to the trajectories to mitigate privacy risks regarding the individuals.
Fuzzy APPSS: A novel method for quantifying COVID-19 impact in India under triangular spherical fuzzy environment
Authors: Sakthivel Aicevarya Devi , Augustin Felix
Published: December 2024

In the current scenario, decision-making models are essential for analyzing real-world problems. To address the dynamic nature of these problems, fuzzy decision-making models have been proposed by various researchers. However, an advanced technique is needed to assess uncertainty in real-time complex situations. Therefore, an association between preference and performance with satisfactory score (APPSS) method is introduced as a fuzzy decision-making method that incorporates two components: preference and performance. This method focuses on demonstrating a connection between preference and performance with a satisfactory measure. Preference analysis evaluates the significance of criteria, while performance analysis assesses the effectiveness of each alternative based on these criteria. Additionally, the satisfactory measure ensures the reliability of the outcomes. The applicability of the proposed method is demonstrated by analyzing the impact of COVID-19 on different age groups in India across various categories. The proposed method employs triangular spherical fuzzy numbers (TSFN), which is a mathematical model that extends beyond conventional fuzzy numbers by incorporating both triangular and spherical characteristics. Furthermore, a new scoring function for TSFN is developed using the graded mean integration method. The analysis reveals that the age group between 60-69 is highly vulnerable to COVID-19. The robustness of these outcomes is verified through sensitivity and comparative analyses. The findings also assist policymakers in more effectively assessing potential future health complications.
Modeling peak ground acceleration for earthquake hazard safety evaluation
Authors: Khalid Fatima , Razbin Milad
Published: December 2024

This paper presents a ground motion prediction (GMP) model using an artificial neural network (ANN) for shallow earthquakes, aimed at improving earthquake hazard safety evaluation. The proposed model leverages essential input variables such as moment magnitude, fault type, epicentral distance, and soil type, with the output variable being peak ground acceleration (PGA) at 5% damping. To develop this model, 885 data pairs were obtained from the Pacific Engineering Research Center, providing a robust dataset for training and validation. The ANN architecture comprises 4 nodes in the input layer, two hidden layers each containing 25 nodes, and a single-node output layer, resulting in 750 unknown weight and bias values that the model must optimize. Following the model assessment, a genetic algorithm (GA) was integrated with the ANN model to enhance its predictive capabilities. This integration aimed to forecast 20 potential earthquake scenarios, a crucial step in validating the model’s effectiveness. The results were promising, as the ANN-GA successfully predicted earthquake occurrences in 15 out of 20 scenarios. These findings underscore the model’s potential in accurately forecasting seismic events, thereby contributing to the development of more resilient infrastructure and better-informed urban planning strategies.
A precision agriculture solution for water stress estimation in Hass avocado farms in Colombia
Authors: Medina Daniel Enrique , Medina Juan David , Zorro Julio Alexis , Medina Tobon Daniel , Gomez Juan Jose , Giraldo Luis Felipe
Published: December 2024

Agriculture 4.0 technologies continue to see low adoption among small and medium-sized farmers, primarily because these solutions often fail to account for the specific challenges of rural areas. In this work, we propose and implement a design methodology to develop a Precision Agriculture solution aimed at assisting farmers in managing water stress in Hass avocado crops. This methodology provides a structured approach for development, enabling the identification of key issues and appropriate solutions. The resulting device measures essential weather variables for calculating crop evapotranspiration and effective precipitation, operates without requiring internet or electricity connections, and transmits data globally via satellite connectivity, overcoming the limitations of existing solutions for this crop. As a result, it can detect water stress and provide crucial information for irrigation scheduling. The proposed solution was tested at a working Hass avocado farm for over a year, collecting weather data and undergoing both major and minor revisions during the iterative testing process. The collected data—covering air temperature, relative humidity, sunshine duration, and rainfall—has been made freely available to support further research and development.
Impact of COVID-19 on heart rate variability in post-COVID individuals compared to a control group
Authors: Santos-de-Araújo Aldair Darlan , Bassi-Dibai Daniela , Marinho Renan Shida , Dourado Izadora Moraes , de Almeida Lucivalda Viegas , de Sousa dos Santos Sigrid , Phillips Shane A. , Borghi-Silva Audrey
Published: December 2024

This study investigated the impact of mild COVID-19 on HRV in groups stratified by time after infection and to compare to a healthy group of the same age without previous virus infection and without need of hospitalization. This is a cross-sectional study. We divided the sample into four groups: control group (CG) (n = 31), group 1 (G1): ≤6 weeks (n = 34), group 2 (G2): 2–6 months (n = 30), group 3 (G3): 7–12 months (n = 35) after infection. For HRV analysis, we used the indices of linear (time and frequency domain) and non-linear analysis. For comparisons between groups, ANOVA one way test or Kruskal–Wallis was used according to the data distribution. The effect size was calculated based on Cohen’s d or η2. Simple and multiple linear regressions were performed to investigate the interaction between clinical outcomes and HRV parameters. A total of 130 individuals were included. Groups G1 and G2 showed less parasympathetic modulation when compared to CG (p < 0.05), while G3 showed an increase in parasympathetic modulation when compared to G1 (p < 0.05). Moderate to large effect sizes were found according to Cohen d or η2. The multiple linear regression models identified age and infection duration as significant predictors for RMSSD (adjusted R2 = 0.227) and SD1 (adjusted R2 = 0.242), while age was significant for SDNN (adjusted R2 = 0.213). BMI, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were non-significant in all models. For HF (n.u.), infection duration was consistently significant, with stress emerging as a predictor in Model 2 (adjusted R2 = 0.143). The recovery time since diagnosis and age influences recovery from HRV, suggesting a transient effect of the disease on the autonomic nervous system.
Finite element analysis of RC beams using static experimental data to predict static and dynamic behaviors
Authors: Sivasuriyan Arvindan , Vijayan D. S. , Sankaran Naveen , Parthiban D.
Published: December 2024

This study comprehensively compares dynamic and static forces in reinforced concrete (RC) beams, utilising experimental and finite element analysis (FEA) methodologies. Experimental tests involve monotonic two-point loading of 1 m x 150 mm x 150 mm RC beams using a universal testing machine (UTM). Deflection measurements are taken at three distinct locations (S1–S3) using various sensors, including force resisting sensor (FRS), flex sensor (FLS), MEMS accelerometer, and Piezoelectric sensors. The experimental data is then compared with FEA results obtained through ANSYS 16.0 software. Additionally, dynamic analysis is conducted, and results are presented in 3D graphical format. Mode shapes and harmonic responses are analysed. The study further discusses the sensor outcomes that align closely with FEA results. Overall, this research provides valuable insights into the dynamic and static behaviour of RC beams and offers a robust validation approach through experimental and computational analyses.
Detection and phylogenetic analysis of blood-associated pathogens from spleen samples of wild raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Germany
Authors: Unterköfler Maria Sophia , Schwingshandl Aria , Eigner Barbara , Pikalo Jutta , Harl Josef , Spergser Joachim , Steinbach Peter , Jeschke Diana , Striese Michael , Striese Elisabeth , Ansorge Hermann , Fuehrer Hans-Peter , Heddergott Mike
Published: December 2024

Raccoons (Procyon lotor) originated in North America and have been introduced to Europe. Due to their close contact with human settlements, they are important reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens, such as Baylisascaris procyonis. The relevance and prevalence of vector-borne pathogens have not yet been fully elucidated. In this study, we screened 285 spleen samples of raccoons, collected between 2019 and 2022 in Germany. The samples were analysed by PCR to detect Mycoplasma spp., Anaplasmataceae, Bartonella spp., Babesia spp., Rickettsia spp., Filarioidea, Trypanosomatida and Hepatozoon spp., and positive PCR products were sequenced. In total, 104 samples were positive for Mycoplasma spp. (36.49%), making this the first study to detect Mycoplasma spp. in raccoons outside of North America. Three samples were positive for Babesia spp. (1.05%) and two for Anaplasma phagocytophilum (0.7%). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the Mycoplasma spp. detected all belong to the haemotrophic mycoplasmas cluster and were grouped within a single phylogenetic clade. Two different Babesia spp. were detected, one of which was closely related to Babesia canis, while the other was more closely related to Babesia sp. from ruminants. It is unclear whether the pathogens detected have an impact on the health of raccoons or whether they may serve as a reservoir for other animals.
Impact of gut colonization by antibiotic-resistant bacteria on the outcomes of autologous stem cell transplantation in multiple myeloma
Authors: Jasiński Marcin , Biliński Jarosław , Maciejewska Martyna , Ostrowska Karolina , Rusicka-Krzewska Patrycja , Konarski Wojciech , Podsiadły Edyta , Snarski Emilian , Basak Grzegorz W.
Published: December 2024

Patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) face elevated risks of infections. Additionally, patients colonized in the gastrointestinal tract with antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) are at higher risk of infection with ARB and other infections. Therefore, patients colonized with ARB before auto-SCT should present with an exceptionally high incidence of infections. According to current literature, ARB colonization is the surrogate marker for dysbiosis, which is known to be associated with a diagnosis of multiple myeloma (MM). Given that, this retrospective study aimed to assess the influence of ARB colonization on infection rates, hematopoiesis regeneration, mucositis, overall survival, and progression-free survival following auto-SCT in MM. Data from 138 MM patients undergoing 141 auto-SCT were analyzed, with 15% showing ARB colonization. Among colonized patients, ESBL-producing gram-negative rods predominated. Patients with gut ARB colonization had significantly higher infection rates than non-colonized individuals (52 vs. 26%, P = 0.02), particularly bloodstream infections (43% vs. 14%, P = 0.004). Colonized patients also tended to exhibit shorter survival rates although there was no statistical significance (1-year and 2-year OS; non-colonized vs. colonized; 97 and 92% vs. 90 and 86%; p = 0.054). Based on our results, gut colonization before auto-SCT negatively affects treatment outcomes.
Automatic scent creation by cheminformatics method
Authors: Aleixandre Manuel , Prasetyawan Dani , Nakamoto Takamichi
Published: December 2024

The sense of smell is fundamental for various aspects of human existence including the flavor perception, environmental awareness, and emotional impact. However, unlike other senses, it has not been digitized. Its digitalization faces challenges such as the lack of reliable odor sensing technology or the precise scent delivery through olfactory displays. Its subjective nature and context dependence add complexity to the process. Moreover, the method of converting odors to digital information remains unclear. This work focuses on one of the most challenging aspects of digital olfaction: automatic scent creation. We propose a method that automatically creates a desired odor profile with the addition of one specific odor descriptor. It is based on a deep neural network that predicts odor descriptors from the multidimensional sensing data, such as mass spectra and an odor reproduction technique using odor components. The results demonstrate that the proposed method can successfully create a scent with the desired odor profile and that its performance depends on the accuracy of the underlying odor predicting method. This opens up the possibility of automatic scent creation, allowing for the presentation of scents with specific odor profiles with an olfactory display.
Implications of cosmologically coupled black holes for pulsar timing arrays
Authors: Calzà Marco , Gianesello Francesco , Rinaldi Massimiliano , Vagnozzi Sunny
Published: December 2024

It has been argued that realistic models of (singularity-free) black holes (BHs) embedded within an expanding Universe are coupled to the large-scale cosmological dynamics, with striking consequences, including pure cosmological growth of BH masses. In this pilot study, we examine the consequences of this growth for the stochastic gravitational wave background (SGWB) produced by inspiraling supermassive cosmologically coupled BHs. We show that the predicted SGWB amplitude is enhanced relative to the standard uncoupled case, while maintaining the $$\Omega _{\text {gw}} \propto f^{2/3}$$ frequency scaling of the spectral energy density. For the case where BH masses grow with scale factor as $$M_{\text {bh}} \propto a^3$$, thus contributing as a dark energy component to the cosmological dynamics, $$\Omega _{\text {gw}}$$ can be enhanced by more than an order of magnitude. This has important consequences for the SGWB signal detected by pulsar timing arrays, whose measured amplitude is slightly larger than most theoretical predictions for the spectrum from inspiraling binary BHs, a discrepancy which can be alleviated by the cosmological mass growth mechanism.
Optimization of microwave components using machine learning and rapid sensitivity analysis
Authors: Koziel Slawomir , Pietrenko-Dabrowska Anna
Published: December 2024

Recent years have witnessed a tremendous popularity growth of optimization methods in high-frequency electronics, including microwave design. With the increasing complexity of passive microwave components, meticulous tuning of their geometry parameters has become imperative to fulfill demands imposed by the diverse application areas. More and more often, achieving the best possible performance requires global optimization. Unfortunately, global search is an intricate undertaking. To begin with, reliable assessment of microwave components involves electromagnetic (EM) analysis entailing significant CPU expenses. On the other hand, the most widely used nature-inspired algorithms require large numbers of system simulations to yield a satisfactory design. The associated costs are impractically high if not prohibitive. The use of available mitigation methods, primarily surrogate-based approaches, is impeded by dimensionality-related problems and the complexity in microwave circuit characteristics. This research introduces a procedure for expedited globalized parameter adjustment of microwave passives. The search process is embedded in a surrogate-assisted machine learning framework that operates in a dimensionality-restricted domain, spanned by the parameter space directions being of importance in terms of their effects on the circuit characteristic variability. These directions are established using a fast global sensitivity analysis procedure developed for this purpose. Domain confinement reduces the cost of surrogate model establishment and improves its predictive power. The global optimization phase is complemented by local tuning. Verification experiments demonstrate the remarkable efficacy of the presented approach and its advantages over the benchmark methods that include machine learning in full-dimensionality space and population-based metaheuristics.
Evaluation of overwintering risk of tropical and subtropical insect pests in temperate regions
Authors: Matsukura Keiichiro , Mizutani Nobuo , Tanaka Sayumi , Tanaka Yoshiaki
Published: December 2024

Recent changes in climate and environments have promoted the range expansion of insect pests of tropical and subtropical origins into temperate regions. For more accurate and faster risk assessment of this expansion, we developed a novel indicator to link a physiologically derived parameter of chilling injury with the survival of insect populations in nature by using two insects, Spodoptera frugiperda and Cicadulina bipunctata with tropical and subtropical origins, and one cool-adapted insect, Laodelphax striatellus. The parameter derived from a proportional increment in the time to 99.9% mortality under constant low temperatures causing chilling injury evaluates the survival of target insect populations based on winter climate data. For S. frugiperda and C. bipunctata, but not for L. striatellus, the accuracy of the model in predicting the overwintering range was equivalent to, or better than, those of a conventional species distribution model. Additional field testing using S. frugiperda and comparison of the developed model with a conventional logistic model for C. bipunctata supported the validity of the indicator. These results suggest that the developed indicator will help for simple risk assessment of tropical and subtropical insect pests in temperate regions by the species distribution modelling approach.
Utility of quantitative measurement of T2 using restriction spectrum imaging for detection of clinically significant prostate cancer
Authors: Rojo Domingo Mariluz , Conlin Christopher C. , Karunamuni Roshan , Ollison Courtney , Baxter Madison T. , Kallis Karoline , Do Deondre D. , Song Yuze , Kuperman Joshua , Shabaik Ahmed S. , Hahn Michael E. , Murphy Paul M. , Rakow-Penner Rebecca , Dale Anders M. , Seibert Tyler M.
Published: December 2024

The Restriction Spectrum Imaging restriction score (RSIrs) has been shown to improve the accuracy for diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) compared to standard DWI. Both diffusion and T2 properties of prostate tissue contribute to the signal measured in DWI, and studies have demonstrated that each may be valuable for distinguishing csPCa from benign tissue. The purpose of this retrospective study was to (1) determine whether prostate T2 varies across RSI compartments and in the presence of csPCa, and (2) evaluate whether csPCa detection with RSIrs is improved by acquiring multiple scans at different TEs to measure compartmental T2 (cT2). Data includes two cohorts scanned for csPCa with 3T multi-b-value diffusion-weighted sequences acquired at multiple TEs. cT2 values were computed from multi-TE RSI data and compared by compartment. CsPCa detection was compared between RSIrs and a logistic regression model (LRM) to predict the probability of csPCa using cT2 in combination with RSI measurements. Two-sample t-tests (α = 0.05) and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were used for the statistical analyses. In both cohorts, T2 was different (p < 0.05) across the four RSI compartments (C1, C2, C3, C4). Voxel-level, cohort 1: T2 was different in csPCa for C1, C2, C3 (p < 0.001). Patient-level, cohort 1: T2 was different in csPCa patients in C3 (p = 0.02); cohort 2: T2 differed in csPCa patients in C1 (p = 0.01), C3 (p = 0.01) and C4 (p < 0.01). Voxel-level csPCa detection: cT2 did not improve discrimination over RSIrs alone (p = 0.9). Patient-level: RSIrs and the LRM performed better than diffusion alone (p < 0.001), but the difference in AUCs between RSIrs and the LRM was not significantly different (p = 0.54). In conclusion, significant differences in cT2 were observed between normal and cancerous prostatic tissue. With our data, however, consideration of cT2 in addition to diffusion did not significantly improve cancer detection performance.
Genome-wide analysis of alternative splicing differences in hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury
Authors: Hua Yongliang , Li Xinglong , Yin Bing , Lu Shounan , Qian Baolin , Zhou Yongzhi , Li Zhongyu , Meng Zhanzhi , Ma Yong
Published: December 2024

Alternative splicing (AS) contributes to transcript and protein diversity, affecting their structure and function. However, the specific transcriptional regulatory mechanisms underlying AS in the context of hepatic ischemia reperfusion (IR) injury in mice have not been extensively characterized. In this study, we investigated differentially alternatively spliced (DAS) genes and differentially expressed transcripts (DETs) in a mouse model of hepatic IR injury using the high throughput RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis and replicate multivariate analysis of transcript splicing (rMATS) analysis. We further conducted Gene ontology (GO) term enrichment, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. A total of 898 DAS genes (p ≤ 0.05) were screened out in the hepatic IR group compared to the sham group, while functional enrichment analysis revealed that DETs and DAS genes were significantly associated with the ATP-dependent chromain, splicesome and metabolic pathways. The expression level of the DAS genes: Gabpb2, Smg1, Tnrc6c, Mettl17, Smpd4, Kcnt2, D16Ertd472e, Rab3gap2, Echdc2 and Ssx2ip were verified by RT-PCR and qRT-PCR. Our findings provide a comprehensive genome-wide view of AS events in hepatic IR injury in mice, enhancing our understanding of AS dynamics and the molecular mechanisms governing alternative pre-mRNA splicing.
Environmental and social correlates of the plumage color polymorphism in an urban dweller, feral pigeon (Columba livia f. domestica)
Authors: Skórka Piotr , Grzywacz Beata , Bełcik Michał , Tryjanowski Piotr
Published: December 2024

We examined how urban environments affect the abundance, proportion, and diversity of plumage color morphs in feral pigeons. Five major plumage color morphs (black, blue, white, red, and mixed) were counted in sixty 25-ha plots in Poznań City (Poland). Generalized additive models were used to study the correlations among abundance, proportion of morphs, and environmental factors. Anthropogenic food sources were positively correlated with the abundance of black morphs and the proportions of black and red morphs. The blue morph abundance peaked at a moderate percentage of tall building cover, but its proportion decreased. A similar decrease was observed in the mixed plumage morphs. The abundance of blue morphs decreased, whereas the abundance of white morphs and the proportion of red morphs increased as the distance from the city center increased. The plumage color morph diversity (Simpson) index was positively correlated with food sources and hedgerow density but negatively correlated with street density. Color morph diversity in the study area may be sustained by differential responses of morphs to the environmental features of the urban environment. However, the positive correlation between the abundance of morphs indicates social attraction rather than social isolation among plumage color morphs.
N-mixture models with camera trap imagery produce accurate abundance estimates of ungulates
Authors: Harris Grant M. , Stewart David R. , Butler Matthew J. , Rominger Eric M. , Ruhl Caitlin Q. , McDonald Daniel T. , Schmidt Paige M.
Published: December 2024

Abundance estimates inform ungulate management and recovery efforts. Yet effective and affordable estimation techniques remain absent for most ungulates lacking identifiable marks and inhabiting rugged or highly vegetated terrain. Methods using N-mixture models with camera trap imagery form an appealing solution but remain unvalidated. We assess this method using populations of desert bighorn sheep (DBS; Ovis canadensis) in New Mexico, USA, plus bison (Bison bison bison) and Texas longhorn cattle (Bos taurus taurus) in Oklahoma, USA, by calculating and comparing abundance estimates to censused values. We parsed data by 3 and 7-day intervals, using images filtered or unfiltered, and collected with motion detection or timed camera settings. We employed priors informed by subject matter experts (SME) and calculated using detection-nondetection methods. Abundance estimates from filtered images captured by motion detection in 3-day intervals included the censused value across all seasons for adult DBS, rams and ewes, indicating “best practices”. This “best practices” method also captured censused values for population estimates of bison (detection-nondetection) and cattle with both priors. Our assessment validates the use of N-mixture with camera trap imagery, while presenting sampling approaches, data handling procedures and model calibration to estimate wildlife population sizes more appropriately and accurately.
Energy efficient group priority MAC protocol using hybrid Q-learning honey Badger Algorithm (QL-HBA) for IoT Networks
Authors: Venkatachalam Ilayaraja , john Sirajudeen Ameer , Srinivasan Jagadeesan , Palaniappan Senthilnathan , Somasundaram S. K.
Published: December 2024

In Internet of Things (IoT) networks, identifying the primary Medium Access Control (MAC) layer protocol which is suited for a service characteristic is necessary based on the requirements of the application. In this paper, we propose Energy Efficient and Group Priority MAC (EEGP-MAC) protocol using Hybrid Q-Learning Honey Badger Algorithm (QL-HBA) for IoT Networks. This algorithm employs reinforcement agents to select an environment based on predefined actions and tasks. It makes use of Q-learning method in Honey Badger Algorithm (HBA). In this algorithm, the PAN coordinator divides the network devices into multiple subgroups based on location, energy levels and the traffic type. In group priority assignment phase, a combined metric will be derived in terms of these parameters. Then a priority will be assigned to each group based on their combined metric. From each group, the optimal number of contention nodes will be selected using hybrid QL-HBA algorithm. The fitness function is derived in terms of the number of neighbours and total traffic loads of the nodes. Then transmission slots will be allotted to the group according to their group priority. The proposed EEGP-MAC protocol is implemented in NS3. Simulation results have shown that EEGP-MAC attains 11% lesser delay, 16% lesser energy consumption with 10% higher throughput, when compared to existing QL-DGMAC protocol, in various network sizes.
Photocrosslinking of hyaluronic acid-based hydrogels through biotissue barriers
Authors: Savelyev Alexander G. , Sochilina Anastasia V. , Babayeva Gulalek , Nikolaeva Mariya E. , Kuziaeva Valeriia I. , Prostyakova Anna I. , Sergeev Igor S. , Gorin Dmitry A. , Khaydukov Evgeny V. , Generalova Alla N. , Akasov Roman A.
Published: December 2024

Water-miscible pyridine phthalocyanine was proposed as a promising initiator for intravital hydrogel photoprinting of hyaluronic acid glycidyl methacrylate under red light irradiation through biotissue barriers.
Engineering terpene synthases and their substrates for the biocatalytic production of terpene natural products and analogues
Authors: Johnson Luke Alan , Allemann Rudolf Konrad
Published: December 2024

Summarises recent contributions to rationally engineer terpene synthase catalysis to control water capture and utilise substrate analogues to produce terpene natural products and their analogues.
Deeply revealing the deactivation and decomposition mechanism of ammonium bisulfate on nanotube structured SCR catalysts for the low-temperature NH3-SCR reaction
Authors: Zhao Qiang , Huang Xiaosheng , Zhang Guodong , Cui Rongji , Zhang Jiyi , Tang Zhicheng
Published: December 2024

The nanotube structure led to the strong interactions between the metals and improved the catalytic activity of the Ce–Mn-TNTs catalyst, and the lower vapor pressure inside the nanotube channels promoted the rapid decomposition of ABS.
Paired electrosynthesis enabled by a hydrogen atom redox-relay strategy
Authors: Dai Siyun , Li Yang , Qu Wei , Xuan Jun , Cui Xili , Mo Yiming , Xing Huabin
Published: December 2024

Redox-relay paired electrosynthesis is realized using a LaNi5-type alloy as the relay for decoupled paired electrolysis via charging/discharging of hydrogen atoms. This strategy offers good pairing generality and scalability for paired electrolysis.
Needle tip-enhanced laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for nebulized aqueous solution analysis
Authors: Xiong Yiwei , Huang Weihua , Yang Jihua , Nie Junfei , Guo Lianbo
Published: December 2024

A needle tip-enhanced LIBS is used for nebulization detection of aqueous solutions, improving spectral intensity and detection limits.
A novel multilayer antimicrobial urinary catheter material with antimicrobial properties
Authors: Gambrill Benjamin , Pertusati Fabrizio , Shergill Iqbal , Hughes Stephen , Prokopovich Polina
Published: December 2024

Urinary catheters are commonly used in medical practice to drain and monitor urine of patients.
Peptide-based amyloid-beta aggregation inhibitors
Authors: Sehra Naina , Parmar Rajesh , Jain Rahul
Published: December 2024

This review delves into the advancements in peptide-based candidates as potential treatment and management options for Alzheimer's disease.
Effects of annealing conditions on the battery anode properties of multilayer graphene due to layer exchange
Authors: Ito R. , Nozawa K. , Saitoh N. , Yoshizawa N. , Suemasu T. , Toko K.
Published: December 2024

Annealing conditions in layer-exchange synthesis affect multilayer graphene's crystallinity and anode performance. Synthesis at 400 °C showed excellent capacity retention and fast charging, paving the way for high-performance thin-film batteries.
Time–frequency characteristics and influencing factors of the pressure wave caused by power–frequency arc inside a closed oil tank
Authors: Jia Yunfei , Ji Shengchang , Luo Xun , Jia Shuangrui , Li Simeng
Published: December 2024

The arc faults inside oil‐immersed power equipment can produce high‐amplitude pressure waves inside tanks, which might cause ignition and explosion accidents. This kind of failure is one of the most severe faults for power equipment and has attracted considerable attention in recent years. However, due to the high risk of the experiments and the complex development of arc in oil, the characteristics of the pressure wave formed by the arc are still confusing. In this paper, the time–frequency characteristics of pressure waves are analysed using several experiments of 1–8 kA power–frequency arc inside a closed oil tank. The experimental results show that the pressure wave produced by the arc in oil contains three frequency bands, 0–500 Hz, 500 Hz–40 kHz, and above 40 kHz, which are related to the arc energy, the average current around arc ignition and the metal wire explosion respectively. This helps further understand the formation mechanism of the pressure wave caused by the arc in oil. This paper discusses the influences of ignition wire on arc‐formed pressure waves. A wire diameter selection method for arc experiments is established to reduce the pressure differences between wire‐ignited arcs and actual arc faults.
Positive corona discharge of rod‐plate electrodes in high‐speed airflow
Authors: Wu Qiang , Wang Yu , Du Zhengxian , Wu Zeliang , Deng Yeqiang , Wen Xishan
Published: December 2024

The characteristics of positive corona discharge of rod electrode in high‐speed airflow are studied in this paper. The experiments were carried out in a wind tunnel with a maximum flow speed of 100 m/s in a dark room. The discharge voltage and current were recorded and the corona patterns were captured by a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera during the experiment. A discharge transition in rod electrode from streamer corona to mixed streamer‐glow corona, and finally to stable glow discharge was observed with the voltage increased. The increase of airflow speed resulted in a decrease of each corona inception voltages. The streamers will be suppressed and shifted towards the upwind side, while the glow layer will be promoted and shifted towards the downwind side in low and upwind side in high voltages. The glow corona current and the voltage show a quadratic function and the higher the airflow speeds, the bigger the coefficient of square of voltage. The distributions of peaks, pulse widths and interval times of streamer pulses were analysed, showing good correspondence with the streamer images. The measurements were explained by combining particle transport and local air pressure distribution.
K8s-Enhanced Lightweight Simulation Method for the Tor Network
Authors: Huang Wentao , Wu Han , Li Zeyu , Xie Xiaqing , Zhang Qingfeng , Wang Xuebin , Zhao Jiapeng , Shi Jinqiao
Published: December 2024

Criminals exploit the robust anonymity of Tor for illicit activities, attracting more and more researchers to study de-anonymization attacks on Tor. It is difficult for researchers to conduct de-anonymization attack experiments in a real Tor network; thus, a simulation environment is required. However, most existing Tor network simulation methods are inadequate for de-anonymization attacks in realism, flexibility, and scalability, while others are prohibitively expensive. In this paper, we build a lightweight and easily scalable Tor network simulation environment using K8s (Kubernetes), and we use Docker as the basic unit for simulating the Tor relay. The results demonstrate that a thousand-scale Tor network can be simulated using four regular hosts. Furthermore, this paper presents two de-anonymization attack experiments conducted in the simulated Tor network, which serve to verify that the method is both realistic and flexible. Finally, this paper discusses the Tor network simulation method based on hybrid networking of multi-granularity relays to further balance realism and cost.
Would Neonatal Healthcare Professionals Disclose Personal Opinions
When Counseling Parents About Value-laden Decisions?
Authors: Arnold Christine , Eychmüller Julian , Hediger Dina , Baumann Lukas , Jaisli Sophie , Kidszun André
Published: December 2024

Background To explore the attitudes of neonatal healthcare professionals
towards disclosing personal opinions when counseling parents about value-laden
decisions using scripted video animations, with a view to comparing these later
with the attitudes of parents of preterm infants.

Methods An exploratory study was conducted during the 5th Annual Meeting
of the Joint European Neonatal Societies in Rome. Data were collected via a
web-based survey during a live session. Two scripted video animations were
presented and discussed, one with and one without disclosure of the physician’s
personal opinion.

Results Sixty-nine healthcare professionals from 19 countries were
enrolled. Forty-seven (68.1%) respondents stated that disclosing personal
opinions would “unduly influence” the parents' decision-making process.
Thirty-seven (53.6%) participants would not have given their personal opinion in
the case presented, and 45 (65.2%) participants stated that disclosure of the
physician's personal opinion would result in parents being less prepared
for decision-making. Discussions were dominated by underlying values and culture
rather than the process of sharing opinions.

Discussion and Conclusions The study provides new insights into the
opinions of healthcare professionals on the disclosure of personal opinions when
making difficult treatment decisions, but further research may require a more
nuanced approach in different scenarios. Further research with a larger sample
and different scenarios is needed to explore in more depth healthcare
professionals’ and parents’ attitudes of autonomous decision-making.
The Use of Fibrin Sealants in Reducing Postoperative Complications in Skull Base Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Eberly Hänel W. , Rosi-Schumacher Mattie , Sciscent Bao Y. , Truong Nguyen , King Tonya S. , Goldenberg David , Goyal Neerav
Published: December 2024

Objective To determine if using fibrin sealants (FS) during skull base (SB) surgery reduces complications.

Methods PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Embase databases were searched for studies of patients who underwent SB surgery with use of an FS. A systematic review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Primary outcomes included incidence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, revision surgery, infection, and drain placement. Methods for meta-analysis were performed including tests of homogeneity and both fixed-effects and random-effects models.

Results A total of 30 articles met the inclusion criteria. There were 3,681 patients, including 2,220 patients who received FS and 1,461 patients who did not. The most common surgical approaches were posterior fossa (27.4%) and transsphenoidal (18.2%). The FS group was less likely to have a lumbar drain placed (1.7% versus 8.1% of the control group). The difference in drain placement incidence between groups for the studies which included both groups was −0.135 (95% CI [−0.285, 0.016], p = 0.079) for the random-effects model and −0.038 (95% CI [−0.068, −0.008], p = 0.014) for the fixed-effects model. The incidence of CSF leak was 11.3% in the control group and 6.8% in the FS group. The rate of infection was higher in the control group (6.1%) compared with the FS group (3.3%), although not statistically significant. The rate of revision surgery was similar between the two groups (3.0% in the control group versus 2.4% in the FS group).

Conclusion Patients who underwent SB surgery with FS may have lower incidences of drain placement than patients whose surgery did not involve FS.
Afraid of the Cold: Mitral Valve Replacement in a Patient with Cold Agglutinins
Authors: Sokolowski Caleb , Newman Joshua S. , Lambert Daniel , Pupovac Stevan S. , Manetta Frank
Published: December 2024

A 40-year-old male presented with symptomatic severe mitral stenosis and moderate mitral insufficiency and was recommended to undergo mitral valve replacement. While undergoing preoperative workup, the patient was found to have positive cold agglutinin (CA) autoantibodies. The patient underwent a successful mechanical mitral valve replacement with maintenance of systemic normothermia and myocardial hypothermia. Postoperatively, no neurologic or thrombotic sequelae were observed and the patient was discharged home with no complications. We propose a management approach to patients with CAs that affords myocardial hypothermia in patients requiring cardiac surgery.
Superconducting transition in the compounds TIBiTe2 and TITe
Authors: Kantser V. G. , Popovich N. S. , Sidorenko A. S.
Published: December 2024

It was established on the basis of a calculation of the band structure of TlBiTe2 and TITe that TlBiTe2 is a narrow-gap semiconductor, while TITe is a p-metal. A superconducting transition was observed in TITe at Tc = 0.19 K. In TlBiTe2 superconductivity was not observed right up to 0.05 K; this is linked to the fact that it is impossible to populate bands with a high density of states because they are too far away from the actual bands. The previously observed superconducting transition in TlBiTe2 is characteristic of the foreign TITe phase.
Thermoelectric effects and the asymmetry of the current-voltage characteristics of metallic point contacts
Authors: Naidyuk Yu. G. , Gribov N. N. , Shklyarevskii O. I. , Yansen(Jansen) A. G. M. , Yanson I. K.
Published: December 2024

An asymmetry as a function of the direction of current flow is observed in the current-voltage characteristic (CVC) and its first and second derivatives for point heterocontacts between pure metals (Cu, Ni, Fe) as well as between these metals and dilute alloys (CuFe, CuMn). It is shown that the observed asymmetry is caused by thermoelectrical phenomena (Seebeck, Peltier, and Thompson effects), observed when the temperature inside the contact differs from the temperature of the bath. In the low energy range (less than or of the order of the Debye energy) the asymmetry of the CVC is affected mainly by the Seebeck effect, while at high energies and for larger contacts (lower resistance) the contributions of all noted effects are of the same order of magnitude. A technique is proposed for determining the temperature of a heterocontact by measuring the CVC in two polarities. It is established that in the intermediate (between the diffusion and ballistic) state of flight of the electrons through the constriction the temperature of the heterocontact increases linearly with the voltage on it, and all the more rapidly the larger the contact and the more impurity in it.