bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Do granular shocks generate sizeable aggregate volatility?
Authors: Mandel Antoine , Veetil Vipin
Published: January 2024

Over the last decade, numerous economists have argued that firm-level idiosyncratic productivity shocks can generate much of the observed aggregate volatility if the firms are placed on a production network. We test this hypothesis using granular data on buyer-seller relations between more than half a million firms in the US economy. We find that firm-level shocks within a network setting generate less than a tenth of the observed aggregate volatility. While the network mechanism is capable of amplifying firm-level shocks, the numerical values of the structural properties of the network that generate this amplification are such that the amplification proves to be far from sufficient.
JEL Codes E30, C67, D57.
Modeling with Artificial Neural Networks to estimate daily precipitation in the Legal Amazon
Authors: Gomes Evanice Pinheiro , progenio Mayke feitosa , Holanda Patrícia da Silva
Published: January 2024

Hydrological analyzes carried out from precipitation in the Legal Amazon (AMZ-L) are essential due to their importance in climate regulation, regional and global atmospheric circulation. However, in this region, there are limitations related to data series with short periods and many gaps, especially in the daily scale. Thus, to improve precipitation analyses, a non-parametric stochastic model based on Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) was used to estimate daily precipitation in AMZ-L. For this, 22 rainfall stations were adopted over a period of 18 years (1998-2016) and with <1% missing data, which were organized considering the complete series and the seasonal periods (rainy and dry). The results obtained demonstrate the good capacity of the model to preserve the precipitation characteristics of the evaluated rainfall stations, mainly those with a more humid climate and with more frequent precipitations during the year, as is the case of those located in the Amazon Biome. However, in regions that suffer prolonged periods of drought, such as the Amazon-Cerrado Ecotone areas, the results were less satisfactory due to the greater recurrence of zeros in the historical series. The seasonal division into dry and rainy periods did not provide better estimates to the model, except for some rainfall gauge stations located at latitudes close to the equator. However, this study may support future research on the estimation of daily precipitation in the region.
Temperature Dependence of the Dielectric Function and Critical Points of Monolayer WSe2
Authors: Nguyen Xuan Au , Le Van Long , Kim Tae Jung , Kim Young Dong
Published: January 2024

Monolayer materials typically display intriguing temperature-dependent dielectric and optical properties, which are crucial for improving the structure and functionality of associated devices. Due to its unique photoelectric capabilities, monolayer WSe2 has recently received a lot of attention in the fields of atomically thin electronics and optoelectronics. In this work, we focus on the evolution of the temperature-dependent dielectric and optical properties of 2D WSe2 over energies from 0.74 to 6.40 eV and temperatures from 40 K to 350 K. We analyze second derivatives with respect to energy to locate the critical points (CP). The dependence of the observed CP energies on temperature is consistent with the alternative domination of the declining exciton binding energy as the temperature increases.
A Comprehensive Analysis of H5N1 Evolution: Phylogenetic Insights and Emerging Mutations in Turkey's Avian Influenza Landscape
Authors: KADI Hamza , COBAN Ahmet Yilmaz , CAGIRGAN Ozge , NOTUROGLU Mehmet , ALBAYRAK Harun
Published: January 2024

Avian influenza (AI) H5N1 viruses, known for their high mortality in humans and poultry, pose a significant public health threat. This study examines seventeen H5N1 isolates from the 2006 outbreak in Turkey and one 2023 isolate for mutations in the hemagglutinin gene's receptor binding domain, which determines host specificity, and the evolutionary changes in the isolates. The hemagglutinin gene region of these isolates was partially amplified using RT-PCR, and critical mutations in the receptor binding domains were examined, alongside the phylogenetic relationships of the isolates in a time- and geography-dependent manner. Our findings showed that key mutations known for altering host selectivity (N224K, G225D, Q226L, S227N, G228S) were absent. However, additional mutations (D110N and S171N), potentially affecting receptor selectivity, were identified. Comprehensive phylogenetic analysis, conducted separately based on geographic regions and temporal distribution, encompassed H5N1 strains isolated from various locations and hosts from 2007 to 2023. This study highlights significant genetic divergence between the 2006 Turkish isolates and the 2023 isolate, highlighting notable evolutionary changes. Distinct clustering of the isolates was observed in both geographic and temporal phylogenetic frameworks, indicating substantial evolutionary shifts within the circulating H5N1 strains in Turkey. Given the global spread potential of H5N1 viruses via migratory birds and the risk of a new pandemic if human-to-human transmission is attained, monitoring H5N1's molecular traits and evolution is crucial for mitigating public health impacts.
Spillover effect of inflation in Indonesia
Authors: Widiarsih Dwi , Taifur Werry Darta , Ridwan Endrizal , Devianto Doddy
Published: January 2024

The economic benefits of inflation analysis are generated after a shock or after the regions interact. This research is spatial panel modeling. The weighting matrix used is Double Power Distance Weights wich gives the best result using Spatial Autoregressive (SAR) model with Fixed Effect Model (FEM). Spatially, inflation in a region has an impact on 2 nearby regions with high correlation. Impact measure is the significant impact of infrastructure, Bank Indonesia Performance (BI performance), Locally-Generated Revenue (PAD), government spending, and energy consumption on inflation, both directly and indirectly. Analysis of the p-value is smaller than the alpha of 5% and 10%, so the direct effect on PAD, government spending, infrastructure, BI performance, and energy consumption is significant on inflation in Indonesia. The findings are interesting because the value of indirect impact is greater than the direct impact, so it can be interpreted that the interaction factor between regions is very strong. Accessibility of infrastructure between regions causes interaction and mobilization to occur. The findings of this research provide recommendations that the government needs to improve physical connectivity (roads, toll roads, bridges, airports, ports, etc.), both for the western and eastern regions of Indonesia. Elements of government fiscal policy with a countercyclical character in managing government finances as well as efficiency in energy management & consumption in creating lower energy intensity values can be recommended because they are determining factors for controlling Indonesia's inflation.
Individual and regional determinants of women’s participation in the European labour market: A Labour Force Survey empirical study
Authors: Lovaglio Pietro Giorgio , Perrelli Adalgisa
Published: January 2024

In line with the existing literature, the primary focus of the present paper is on understanding the multifaceted factors contributing to unequal employment opportunities for women and the potential implications for both individuals and society. Specifically, the objective is to identify meaningful risk factors that affect the probability of being employed for women in the 20–49 age group, exploring possible demographic, educational, social, and family factors, as well as territorial context factors. The analysis is conducted on the three most populous European countries (Italy, France, and Germany) as representatives of different welfare regimes. The analysis exploits the rich information available in the micro-data of the Labour Force Survey (2021) as well as Eurostat regional statistics considering individuals nested in regions (NUTS 2). A deep analysis of empirical findings sheds light on employment determinants and motivations for not working, which appear to be essentially related to family and demographic factors. These results reveal the country-specific profiles that indicate greater risk of non-employment and also provide a basis for suggesting different policy implications.
Classification JEL: F66 J21 J71
Comparison of bacterial species and clinical outcomes in patients with diabetic hand infection in tropical and nontropical regions
Authors: Chen Yan , Liu Bin , Huan Chen , Xie Puguang , Du Chenzhen , Rui Shunli , Hao Mei , Duan Zixiao , Armstrong David G. , Deng Wuquan , Xiao Xiaoqiu
Published: January 2024

Purpose: Hand infection is a rare complication in patients with diabetes. Its clinical outcomes depend on the severity of hand infection caused by bacteria, but the difference in bacterial species in the regional disparity is unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of tropical and nontropical regions on bacterial species and clinical outcomes for diabetic hand.
Patients and Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using PubMed,
EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Moreover, the bacterial species and clinical outcomes were analyzed with respect to multicenter wound care in China (nontropical regions).
Results: Both mixed bacteria (31.2% vs. 16.6%, p=0.014) and fungi (7.5% vs. 0.8%, p=0.017) in the nontropical region were significantly more prevalent than those in the tropical region. Staphylococcus and Streptococcus spp. were dominant in gram-positive bacteria, and Klebsiella, Escherichia coli, Proteus and Pseudomonas in gram-negative bacteria occupied the next majority in the two regions. The rate of surgical treatment in the patients was 31.2% in the nontropical region, which was significantly higher than the 11.4% in the tropical region (p=0.001). Although the overall mortality was not significantly different, there was a tendency to be increased in tropical regions (6.3%) compared with nontropical regions (0.9%). However, amputation (32.9% vs. 31.3%, p=0.762) and disability (6.3% vs. 12.2%, p=0.138) were not significantly differentbetween the two regions.
Conclusion: Similar numbers of cases were reported, and the most common bacteria were similar in tropical and nontropical regions in patients with diabetic hand. There were more species of bacteria in the nontropical region, and their distribution was basically similar, except for fungi, which had differences between the two regions. The present study also showed that surgical treatment and mortality were inversely correlated because delays in debridement and surgery can deteriorate deep infections, eventually leading to amputation and even death.
Pretransplant Desensitization of Donor-Specific Anti-HLA Antibodies with Plasmapheresis and Immunoglobulin Produces Equivalent Outcomes to Patients with No Donor Specific Antibodies in Haploidentical Hematopoietic Cell Transplant
Authors: Cochran Hunter , Slade Michael , Gao Feng , Godbole Sonia , Pruitt Aaron , De Togni Elisa , Liu Chang , Grossman Brenda , Abboud Ramzi
Published: January 2024

In patients requiring haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplant (haplo-HCT), the presence of donor specific anti-HLA antibodies (DSAs) is associated with high rates of primary graft failure and poor overall survival (OS). There is limited data regarding the effect of desensitization.
Adult patients undergoing haplo-HCT at Washington University School of Medicine from 2009- 2021 were identified. Patients were divided into three cohorts: no DSA, untreated DSA or treated DSA. DSA testing was performed. Desensitization therapy using plasmapheresis and IVIg (immunoglobulin) was performed.
We retrospectively identified 304 patients for study inclusion. 14 of 30 patients with DSAs underwent desensitization. By day +2, 57% of patients cleared all DSAs. OS was expectedly worse in patients with untreated DSAs. There were similar results between treated DSA and patients without DSA (OS median: control: 352 days vs. treated: 1331 days vs. untreated: 137 days, p = 0.02). RFS was also significantly different between the groups however with similar RFS in treated DSA and control groups (RFS median: control: 248 vs. treated: 322 v. untreated: 119, p = 0.03).
Desensitization before haplo-HCT produces similar outcomes to patients without DSAs. While the optimal desensitization protocol has not been established, all patients received a backbone of plasmapheresis and immunoglobulin.
Pan-cancer multi-omics analysis reveals the prognostic value of RGS gene family
Authors: Wu Yawen , Lin Fanfeng , Zhang Jie , Li Guanghao , Xie Li
Published: January 2024

Background: The regulator of G-protein signaling (RGS) family, regulating cellular signaling events downstream of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), is of great significance for diagnostic and prognostic prediction in cancer. At present, the comprehensive studies of RGS family genes in pan-cancer and specifically in Kidney renal clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) are rare.Methods: The performance of RGS genes in pan-cancer was assessed using the multi-omics dataset including genomic, transcriptomic, epigenetic and clinical data obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Subsequently, we conducted an in-depth exploration of RGS family genes in KIRC. Univariate cox regression and lasso regression were used to construct the risk model based on the five RGS genes. Independent prognostic factors for OS of KIRC patients were validated via univariate and multivariate COX analyses, and a nomogram was then developed. Finally, tumor mutation burden, immune infiltration, drug sensitivity and functional enrichment were analyzed and compared between the low- and high-risk groups.Result:We comprehensively found out that the abnormal expression, somatic mutations and methylation of RGS genes were associated with tumorigenesis and survival rates in pan-cancer. Interestingly, much more highly expressed RGS genes induced significantly higher risk and poorer survival in KIRC than those in other tumors. A prediction model for the prognosis based on five RGS genes (RGS2, RGS17, RGS10, RGS20 and RGS7BP) was established using univariable cox regression and lasso regression. The functional enrichment, tumor microenvironment, and immune infiltration were statistically different between the low-risk and high-risk groups. Clinically, our risk score model was effective in predicting the sensitivity of KIRC patients to chemotherapy and immune checkpoint blockade therapy.Conclusions:A five-gene risk-score signature was constructed and validated, which is of great clinical value and contributes to better clinical decision making and personalized treatment strategies associated with the benefits of KIRC patients.
Optimal Rank-based Procedures for Testing Randomness against Panel Bilinear Dependence
Authors: Lmakri Aziz , Akharif Abdelhadi , Mellouk Amal
Published: January 2024

Based on the local asymptotic normality (LAN) property, we are proposing parametric and nonparametric locally and asymptotically optimal (in the Le Cam-Hájek sense) procedures for the problem of testing white noise against the general panel super-diagonal bilinear dependence. The proposed rank-based tests are asymptotically most stringent and valid under a wide class of densities. The asymptotic relative efficiencies (AREs), with respect to the corresponding pseudo-Gaussian procedure, are computed under various densities. Simulation studies are conducted to illustrate the finite-sample performance of the proposed tests.
Women at Risk: A Comparative Study on Socioeconomic Status, Lifestyle, Brain, and Cognition Among Older Females in Japan and Sweden
Authors: Liu Yingxu , Tatewaki Yasuko , Boraxbekk Carl-johan , Thyreau Benjamin , Cui Yuehua , Zhang Ye , Hidaka Yosuke , Kajitani Naoto , Yuki Seiji , Takebayashi Minoru , Ninomiya Toshiharu , Taki Yasuyuki , Karalija Nina
Published: January 2024

Objective
Determine and compare lifestyle risks addressing the effects of socioeconomic status (SES) on brain and cognitive variations among females in two community-dwelling cohorts across Japan and Sweden.
Method
We included 576 (73.7 ± 6.0 years) and 195 (63.9 ± 13.4 years) cognitively healthy females from the Arao (AC, Japan) and Betula (BC, Sweden) cohorts, respectively. SES was defined by educational and occupational categories. Lifestyle-related diseases included obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and depressive disorder; habits including exercise, social activity, sleep, alcohol habits, and smoking status. Brain structural outcomes were derived from T1 weighted magnetic resonance imaging scans. A priori regions of interest included volumes of the hippocampus, amygdala, thalamus, and caudate; thickness of the superior frontal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus, and middle temporal gyrus. General cognitive performance was evaluated by the Mini-Mental State Examination score. The relationships between SES-lifestyle with the brain and cognition were assessed by structural equation models.
Results
Positive associations were found between SES and volumetric brain measures and cognition (MMSE) in both cohorts, but not between SES and cortical thickness. Lifestyle-related diseases (including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and depressive disorder), but not habits such as exercise or sleep, partially explained the positive association between SES and brain volumes (up to 18.6% in the AC). A similar, but non-significant trend, was seen in the SES-cognition association that could be explained by lifestyle-related diseases.
Discussion
Although statements of causality cannot be made from the current work, our findings suggest management of the lifestyle-related disease is particularly important for females for compensating the maladaptive effects of SES on brain atrophy.
RIS-Aided MmWave Hybrid Relay Network Based on Multi-Agent Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Zhao Yifeng , Liu Xuanhui , Liu Haoran , Wang Xiaoqi , Huang Lianfen
Published: January 2024

In millimeter wave (mmWave) communication, the utilization of multi-hop relay technology has been regarded as a promising approach to overcome the significant path loss encountered during signal transmission. However, the traditional active relay network suffers from low energy efficiency (EE) and uneven resource distribution. To address these challenges, we introduce Reconfigurable Intelligent Surface (RIS) as a passive relay to the mmWave communication system and create a hybrid relay system that combines passive and active relays, which aims to improve EE through the multi-hop relay. Additionally, with the development of Artificial Intelligence, deep Q-learning (DQN) is applied to optimize the hybrid relay system in this paper, where every transmitted signal of the base station (BS) is considered an agent. In this approach, the network is trained based on the interaction between the collected environment information and the users' relay allocation strategy. Considering competition-cooperation relationships of multiple users, we propose a multi-agent DQN (MADQN) algorithm to allocate the relay resource where the primary goal is maximizing EE. Simulation results demonstrate that our proposed scheme can effectively converge to the optimal relay link, further improving EE and reducing energy consumption in comparison with conventional schemes.
Rapid classification of epidemiologically relevant age categories of the malaria vector, Anopheles funestus
Authors: Mwanga Emmanuel P. , Siria Doreen J. , Mshani Issa H. , Mwinyi Sophia H. , Abbas Said , Jimenez Mario Gonzalez , Wynne Klaas , Baldini Francesco , Babayan Simon A. , Okumu Fredros O.
Published: January 2024

Background
Accurately determining the age and survival probabilities of adult mosquitoes is crucial for understanding parasite transmission, evaluating the effectiveness of control interventions and assessing disease risk in communities. This study was aimed to demonstrating rapid identification of epidemiologically relevant age categories of Anopheles funestus, a major Afro-tropical malaria vector, through the innovative combination of infrared spectroscopy and machine learning, instead of the cumbersome practice of dissecting mosquito ovaries to estimate age based on parity status.
Methods
An. funestus larvae were collected in rural south-Eastern Tanzania and reared in the insectary. Emerging adult females were sorted by age (1–16 day-olds) and preserved using silica gel. PCR confirmation was conducted using DNA extracted from mosquito legs to verify the presence of An. funestus and eliminate undesired mosquitoes. Mid-infrared spectra were obtained by scanning the heads and thoraces of the mosquitoes using an ATR FT-IR spectrometer. The spectra (N = 2084) were divided into two epidemiologically relevant age groups: 1–9 days (young, non-infectious) and 10–16 days (old, potentially infectious). The dimensionality of the spectra was reduced using principal component analysis, then a set of machine learning and multi-layer perceptron (MLP) models were trained using the spectra to predict the mosquito age categories.
Results
The best performing model, XGBoost, achieved an overall accuracy of 87%, with classification accuracies of 89% for young and 84% for old An. funestus. When the most important spectral features influencing the model performance were selected to train a new model, the overall accuracy increased slightly to 89%. The MLP model, utilising the significant spectral features, achieved higher classification accuracies of 95% and 94% for the young and old An. funestus, respectively. After dimensionality reduction, the MLP achieved 93% accuracy for both age categories.
Conclusion
This study shows how machine learning can quickly classify epidemiologically relevant age groups of An. funestus based on their mid-infrared spectra. Having been previously applied to An. gambiae, An. arabiensis and An. coluzzii, this demonstration on An. funestus underscore the potential of this low-cost, reagent-free technique for widespread use on all the major Afro-tropical malaria vectors. Future research should demonstrate how such machine-derived age classifications in field collected mosquitoes correlate with malaria in human populations.
Isolation and lipid production of thraustochytrids from fishing village in Tangkolak Indonesia
Authors: Emdi Axel , Purnamasari Maria Indah , Supriatna Muhammad Iqna , Prihatna Cahya , Suwanto Antonius
Published: January 2024

This research explores thraustochytrids, microorganisms with promising applications in sustainable docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and odd-chain fatty acid production. The study specifically focuses on thraustochytrids isolated from a fishing village in the northern coastal area of Java, Indonesia, known for its significant organic content. Eight isolates were obtained from this coastal environment, demonstrating robust growth and lipid production capabilities. Notably, isolate BML-38 exhibited superior biomass and lipid production compared to commercial thraustochytrid ATCC strains, particularly in crude glycerol-based media. This positions it as a strong candidate for sustainable and cost-effective lipid production. BML-38 also produced a higher concentration of pentadecanoic acid (C15:0) and a similar concentration of heptadecanoic acid (C17:0), in addition to DHA. The outcomes of this investigation open new avenues, as thraustochytrids from the coastal area exhibit the capacity to utilize waste materials while competitively producing valuable compounds such as odd-chain fatty acids and DHA. This dual capability positions these strains as noteworthy contributors to sustainable lipid production and waste remediation strategies.
Fast Simulations of the Multi-Album Collector
Authors: Barak-Pelleg Dina , Berend Daniel
Published: January 2024

Our starting point is the coupon collector's problem. In this problem, there are $n$ coupons that are drawn uniformly randomly with replacement. The question is how many drawings on average are needed to collect at least one copy (or some other predetermined number $m$ of copies) of each coupon?
The problem may be traced back to the $18$-th century, having been mentioned already by de Moivre. Numerous questions have been posed based on the problem since its inception, and it turned out to appear naturally in many applications.
A naive simulation of the process is trivial to implement. However, the runtime of this algorithm makes it impractical for large values of $n$. We present here an alternative view of the coupon collecting process, for coupons with any probabilities, that allows us to increase the range of $n$-s (and $m$-s) for which the simulation may be run. For equiprobable coupons, we present additional improvements, making the simulation possible in a very short time practically for any $n$. More precisely, we show that the runtime of our algorithm is $\Theta(\max\{m,\log n\})$.
We present theoretical results concerning some of the quantities relevant to our algorithms and conduct simulations to test the algorithms in practice.
2020 Mathematics Subject Classification. Primary 60C05; Secondary 00A72.
Adoption factors of digitalization in cotton farming in the municipality of Banikoara in Northwestern Benin
Authors: ALIDOU Saddik , AKUESON Adoté Hervé Gildas , YABI Afouda Jacob , AKOSSOU Arcadius Yves Justin
Published: January 2024

The widespread use of mobile telephony and the internet constitutes an asset for digitalization in the agricultural sectors in Africa. Cotton being the leading export crop in Benin, this study aims to understand the determinants of the adoption of digitalization (use of digital machines, membership of a social network for information exchange, use of a mobile money account) by cotton producers in the Municipality of Banikoara. In this context, a socio-economic survey was carried out with a sample of 314 producers, obtained by purposive sampling. The binary logistic regression method made it possible to identify the factors affecting the adoption of digitalization. Thus, the level of banking, the use of labor, the area of cotton sown and knowledge of agricultural information and exchange platforms had a significant impact on the use of digital machines in agriculture. Membership of a social network for information exchange between producers was influenced by the level of banking, the type of cotton grown, strengthening of relationships with others, the risk linked to the use of digitalization and the assessment of the level of security of digitization by the producer. Finally, the level of banking, the exercise of a secondary activity and the use of labor were the significant variables in the adoption of mobile money by cotton farmers in Banikoara. However, the use of more advanced technologies such as drones and sensors was not yet a reality for these producers. This information is very useful for any project to popularize these new technologies.
Primary Gamma-knife Radiosurgery for Quasi-symptomatic Third Ventricular Colloid Cyst: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Tripathi Manjul , Verma Onam , Kaur Rupinder , Kumar Narendra
Published: January 2024

Colloid cysts are rare benign tumors most commonly occurring in the third ventricle. Conventional open surgery for symptomatic cases may be associated with complications and a high rate of recurrence. Minimally symptomatic or incidental colloid cyst pose as a treatment dilemma due to a slight but devastating possibility of late progression and sudden death. Stereotactic radiosurgery may be the middle-of-the-road solution in such a vignette. Given its safety profile and clinico-radiological efficacy, GKRS may find a role in the treatment protocol of colloid cyst.
Comparison of spinal anesthesia and local anesthesia in percutaneous interlaminar endoscopic lumbar discectomy for L5/S1 disc herniation: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Liu Guanyi , Zhang Jiawei , Zhang long , Yuan Liyong , Wang Xuan , Tursunmamat Dilraba
Published: January 2024

Background:
Interlaminar endoscopic lumbar discectomy (IELD) is a prevalent method for the management of lumbar disc herniation. Local anesthesia (LA) is frequently employed during IELD, albeit with its merits and drawbacks. The spinal anesthesia (SA) represents a feasible anesthetic strategy for IELD; however, the availability of clinical research data is currently limited.
Methods:
The propensity score matching was conducted to ensure comparability of the SA and LA groups. The outcome measures were operation time, intraoperative visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain, need for adjuvant analgesia, intraoperative vital signs, blood loss, adverse surgical events, anesthesia-related complications, postoperative bedrest duration, VAS for pain at 2 hours postoperatively, Oswestry Disability Index score (ODI), satisfaction with surgical efficacy, and willingness to undergo reoperation at 6 months postoperatively.
Results:
Fifty-six patients were assigned to each group. Significant differences were found between the groups in terms of intraoperative VAS for pain, use of adjuvant analgesics, willingness to undergo reoperation, maximum intraoperative systolic blood pressure and variability (P < 0.05). Compared to the LA group, the SA group had lower VAS for pain at 2 hours postoperatively, a longer operation time, longer duration of postoperative bedrest, and more anesthesia-related complications (P < 0.05). No significant intergroup differences were detected in intraoperative heart rate variability, blood loss, ODI, satisfaction with surgical efficacy, and surgery-related complications (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
The SA for IELD provides superior anesthesia and more stable hemodynamics compared to LA but may increase the risk of postoperative complications.
Using Swept-source Oct to Compare Interocular Biometric Parameters of Dominant and Non-dominant Eyes
Authors: Comba Ozge Begum , Pasaoglu Ercan , Beyazal Muhammet
Published: January 2024

Purpose
To evaluate the interocular parameters between eyes according to ocular dominance using swept-source optical biometry.
Methods
This study included 227 individuals who visited the clinic for routine control. Enrolled patients underwent swept-source optical biometry. Uncorrected (UCVA) and best-corrected (BCVA) visual acuities were also recorded. Biometric data included axial length (AL), anterior chamber depth (ACD), crystalline lens thickness (LT), horizontal keratometry (K1), vertical keratometry (K2), white-to-white (WTW), Chang-Waring. chord distance (CWC-D) and Chang-Waring chord angle (CWC-A). Pearson's correlation coefficient was applied to evaluate the relationship between ocular parameters, spherical equivalent (SE) and visual acuity. Ocular dominance was diagnosed using the hole in the card test.
Results
The mean age of the participants was 48.72 ± 16.17 years (range: 18–68). Among the patients, the right eye (n = 155, 68.2%) was the dominant eye in the majority of cases. The dominant and nondominant eyes did not differ significantly in terms of ocular parameters (AL, WTW, ACD, LT, K1, K2, chord mu length). SE and visual acuity were not affected by ocular dominance. The correlation was conducted between the biometric variables, and it was observed that chord mu length showed a negative correlation with AL, ACD, WTW and a positive correlation with LT and SE in both groups.
Conclusion
No significant difference in dominance was found between eyes in patients with low (< 2D) anisometropia and low interocular best-corrected VA difference (< 0.2 logMAR units).
Occupational Hazard: A Case of Type II Necrotizing Fasciitis in a Medical Professional
Authors: Neudeck Rouven , Keppler Alexander , Böcker Wolfgang , Ney Ludwig , Kreimeier Uwe , Reidler Paul , Müller Philipp , Gilbert Fabian , Wehrkamp Konstantin
Published: January 2024

Background
Necrotizing Fasciitis (NF) is a rapidly progressing infectious disease with a high mortality rate. It affects the soft tissue involving the fascia and subcutaneous tissue. In the case of thoracic, NF is associated with a significantly higher lethality. Group A streptococci are the most common pathogens of this infection. Early diagnosis, rapid and radical surgical therapy and antibiotic treatment are crucial for a successful outcome.
Case presentation:
This report outlines a case of a medical professional in his mid-60s, who developed NF in his right arm and hemithorax, likely contracted from a patient he treated. He presented himself at our clinic with chest pain, general weakness and a moderate fever. In addition, he had clear signs of infection and an inflamed, swollen area on the right chest wall. Despite the severity of the infection, quick recognition, immediate surgical intervention and intensive care management resulted in a successful outcome. Gene sequencing confirmed a match of the superantigens and the serotype emm1.0 of the streptococcus pyogenes with those of the patient he had treated shortly before.
Conclusion
This case emphasizes the critical role of early detection, rapid surgical debridement and broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy in managing NF. It also underlines the occupational risks faced by healthcare workers, highlighting the importance of strict adherence to infection control protocols. The report aims to raise awareness of NF, advocating for its consideration when patients present systemic infection signs, particularly in emergency departments.
Life Cycle of Deep Cloud Systems of Indian Summer Monsoon using High Temporal Resolution Satellite Data
Authors: PHADTARE JAYESH , Bhat G S
Published: January 2024

Life cycle characteristics of deep cloud systems (CSs) formed over India and the surrounding oceans during the summer monsoon season are reported using half-hourly geostationary satellite data. An automated cloud tracking algorithm based on the area overlap method is used. We show that the larger CSs tend to live longer and grow deeper, with some convective towers growing deeper than the tropopause. The CSs over Central India are shorter-lived than those over the Bay of Bengal. Interestingly, they have similar sizes as the peak growth rate of the former is about twice that of the latter, suggesting stronger updrafts in the continental systems. In June and September, CSs formations predominately occur over the orographic features, whereas in July-August, it is associated with the monsoon trough. CSs show a tendency to propagate upwind of the lower tropospheric winds. Merging contributes significantly to the growth and longevity of CSs. This suggests that large and long-lived CSs are formed when the environment can trigger and sustain multiple CSs in close vicinity. The peak in the CS size occurs, around halfway through its lifetime, chronologized by systematic merging and splitting events, i.e., CSs normally have symmetrical growth and decay phases. Whereas the minimum mean cloud-top temperature of CS occurs during the second quarter. This is in consensus with the vertical build-up of convective towers followed by horizontal growth via anvil spreading.
Accounting Choices in Data Envelopment Analysis
Authors: Cui Claire , Harrison Julie , Ng Frederick , Rouse Paul
Published: January 2024

Due to the increasing availability of large-scale digitalized databases containing summarised financial accounting measures, a growing number of DEA models are using these variables. Where only accounting measures are used, we term these "FinDEA" models. Accounting measures are subject to accounting choices regarding recognition and measurement, which means that they are not equivalent to underlying physical measures used in conventional DEA. This paper investigates the impact of accounting choices on FinDEA results when using alternative accounting measures of capital. Using both simulated and real-world data, we find that accounting choices impact FinDEA results, with the magnitude influenced by heterogeneity in accounting choices and sample sizes. Our results suggest that the variation in accounting choices needs to be considered when designing DEA models using accounting measures.
Flagellin-B-expressing Salmonella Typhimurium Improves the Efficacy of Anti-PD- 1 Therapy by Remodeling the Tumor Microenvironment in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Tian Shuhong , Xiang Mei , Huang Yuanjia , Yang Zhaoxin , Li Biao , Liu Xiande
Published: January 2024

Although patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) typically respond poorly to conventional chemotherapy, it remains the standard treatment. Clinical studies involving CRC patients have reported that chemotherapy promotes the infiltration of CD8+ T cells into the tumor and improves the therapeutic response to immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as those targeting programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). Salmonella typhimurium contributes to tumor eradication by transforming the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) into an immunogenic one, which improves the antitumor immune response; however, the combined effect of S. typhimurium therapy and PD-1 blockade on the TME is not well understood. Here, we investigated the anticancer effects of a combination therapy comprising an attenuated S. typhimurium strain engineered to secrete Vibrio vulnificus flagellin B (S.ΔppGpp FlaB) and an anti-PD-1 antibody. We found that S.ΔppGpp FlaB significantly promoted the infiltration of immune cells, including M1 macrophages, dendritic cells, and CD8+ T cells, into the tumor, while increasing tumor PD-1 and PD-L1 expression via the AKT/PI3K pathway. Moreover, our encouraging results in tumor-bearing mouse models suggest that combining S.ΔppGpp FlaB with PD-1 blockade could be a promising strategy for enhancing the efficiency of anti-PD-1 therapy in patients with CRC.
A case of lung metastasis from gastric cancer presenting as ground-glass opacity dominant nodules
Authors: Niimi Takahiro , Samejima Joji , Koike Yutaro , Miyoshi Tomoniro , Tane Kenta , Aokage Keiju , Taki Tetsuro , Ishii Genichiro , Tsuboi Masahiro
Published: January 2024

Background: Most metastatic lung tumors present as solid nodules on chest computed tomography (CT). In contrast, ground-glass opacity on chest computed tomography usually suggests low-grade malignant lesions such as adenocarcinoma in situ or atypical adenomatous hyperplasia of the lung.
Case presentation: A 75-year-old woman with a history of gastric cancer surgery approximately 5 years prior was referred to the Department of Thoracic Surgery at our hospital because of two newly appearing pulmonary ground-glass opacity-dominant nodules on chest computed tomography. She had two ground-glass opacities in the right lower lobe: one in the S6 segment was 12 mm and the other in the S10 segment was 8 mm. On chest computed tomography 15 months prior to referral, the lesion in the S6 segment was 8 mm, and the lesion in the S10 segment could not be identified. She was suspected to have primary lung cancer and underwent wide-wedge resection of the nodule in the S6 segment. In the resected specimen, polygonal tumor cells infiltrated the alveolar septa, with some tumor cells exhibiting signet ring cell morphology. Based on morphological similarities to the tumor cells of previous gastric cancers and the results of immunostaining, the patient was diagnosed with lung metastases of gastric cancer.
Conclusions: Pulmonary nodules in patients with a history of cancer in other organs, even if ground-glass opacity is predominant, should also be considered for the possibility of metastatic pulmonary tumors if they are growing rapidly.
Timing Matters: Diurnal Variation of Maximal Fat Oxidation and Substrate Oxidation Rates in Metabolic Syndrome – A Randomized Crossover Study
Authors: Methnani Jabeur , Brahim Mohamed Mustapha , Hraiech Aymen el , Ach Taieb , Latiri Imed , Zaouali Monia , Rouatbi Sonia , Bouslama Ali , Brun Jean Fréderic , Omezzine Asma , Bouhlel Ezdine
Published: January 2024

Purpose: The primary aim of this study was to investigate if diurnal oscillation in maximal fat oxidation and substrate oxidation rates during exercise exists in subjects with Metabolic syndrome.
Methods: In a randomized crossover design, 14 MetS patients were assigned to two graded exercise tests conditions performed in the morning (between 7:00 and 9:00 a.m) and in the afternoon (between 4:00 and 5:00 p.m).
Results: MFO increased by 20.56 % from morning to afternoon (time of day, p=0.0002, η2p = 0,69) and this was independent of gender (gender*time of day, p=0.144), indicating that MFO was higher in the afternoon than in the morning in both males (11.04 %) and females (38.82%). There was a significant time of day effect in Fatox rates, (p<0.0001, η2p = 0,81) and intensity (p=0.004, η2p = 0,469) that was independent of gender (time of day*intensity*gender interaction, p=0.0164) indicating that Fatox was higher in the afternoon than in the morning in both male and females
Conclusion: Our study extends previous findings on the existence of diurnal variation in maximal fat oxidation to MetS patients, highlighting the afternoon as a more favorable time for fat utilization during exercise, and shows that gender does not interfere with these diurnal variations as previously suggested. These findings have practical implications for optimizing training strategies in MetS patients. Further research is needed to delineate the discrepancy between gender and substrate oxidation patterns.
Trial Registration number: PACTR202306776991260
Efficient Demineralization and Desulfurization of Lignite Coal using Alkali and Alkali-Acid Follow up Treatments for Reduced Flue Gas Emissions and Enhanced Calorific Value: A Comparative Study
Authors: Lakhmir Mansoor Ahmed , Soomro Suahil Ahmed , Unar Imran Nazir
Published: January 2024

In world the largest reserves of low-grade coal or lignite coal are available. A low-ranking coal with high mineral content, sulfur, moisture and low calorific value greatly contribute to environmental pollution via emission of greenhouse gases, SOx and NOx. To resolve this, the coal must be extracted or reduced of its minerals and sulfur through the processes called demineralization and desulfurization. In this, the researchers have been unveiling new and efficient ways to treat coal for reduced air pollution during combustion. Herein, demineralization and desulfurization of coal were carried out using alkali and alkali-acid hybrid treatments. In the first method, the samples were treated solely with alkali while in the second, they were treated with acid followed by alkali. The coal samples were analyzed via SEM, TGA, XRD and FTIR; their chemical composition determined through ONH and SC analyzer. As per results, alkali-acid hybrid treatment was more efficient than just alkali treatment. The hybrid treatment of 100 g/L NaOH followed by 10% HCl exhibited higher porosity, thermal stability, demineralization of 90.9%, desulfurization of 63.46% and calorific value of 26585.924 KJ/Kg in the respective coal sample. On the other hand, alkali treatment with 100 g/L NaOH resulted in comparatively lower porosity, thermal stability, demineralization of 63.86%, desulfurization of 49.42% and calorific value of 23770.905 KJ/Kg respectively. When compared with 6 relevant studies, the coal sample with the least sulfur and mineral content in the present work indicated lowest impurities.
Design of Transmitter and Receiver to Achieve Ultra-reliability and Low Energy Communication
Authors: Nguyen Tien , Ta Hien , Oh Hoon
Published: January 2024

High reliability and low energy communication are the important requirements for future communication systems. Existing approaches mainly attempted to correct modulated signals using channel estimation or increase signal strength using diversity techniques; the former revealed its limitations in a fast-fading environment, and the latter conflicted with green communication. In our approach, the transmitter transmits a compound signal consisting of a modulated signal and a dummy signal with no bandwidth that belong to the coherence bandwidth. Since the two signals experience approximately the same distortion and noise, the receiver can use a differential operation to remove distortion and suppress background noise. This approach halves the strength of each signal but satisfies the requirements by significantly improving SNR. Experiments using two testbeds, a digital communication platform using FPGA, and a testbed using three WLAN devices, show that our method achieves significantly lower SNR than existing ones at the same BER.
Sensibilizando para a acessibilidade linguística na comunicação: relato de experiência de uma ação de extensão universitária
Authors: SOUSA Renata de Lima , LUNA Joicy Sabóia de Oliveira
Published: January 2024

O acesso à informação é um direito humano e constitucional de todos os cidadãos. No entanto, existe um grande abismo entre o que é garantido por lei e a real efetivação do direito. Pessoas surdas correspondem a 5% da população brasileira, segundo dados do IBGE, e enfrentam barreiras cotidianas no exercício dos seus direitos como o acesso à informação. Poucos veículos de informação investem em produção de conteúdo jornalístico acessível e, quando há presença de conteúdo acessível, constata-se a ausência do respeito aos padrões previstos nas normativas da ABNT. A ação de extensão AcessCom, realizada em formato de seminário, buscou promover a sensibilização de profissionais e mediadores da comunicação para o direito ao acesso à informação e para as pautas do público surdo. Em dois dias de programação, 74 participantes do seminário debateram as vivências e os desafios das pessoas surdas no acesso à informação e conheceram produções informativas com acessibilidade linguística.
Keys to Building an Innovative and Entrepreneurial Campus Ecosystem: Practices to Policies
Authors: Crawford Gregory P.
Published: January 2024

More than 40 years after the Bayh-Dole Act empowered universities to capitalize on their research discovery and invention, significant opportunities remain in the vast potential for translating this intellectual property (IP) for the benefit of society. In the meantime, corporations
have shrunk their basic research laboratories and sought further-developed, less-risky product ideas while the need for new problem-solving knowledge and innovation, from health and energy to technology and ecology, expands. Colleges and universities, regardless of their Carnegie classification,
can seize this opportunity to leverage the expertise, creativity, and passion for making a difference in their faculty, students, and staff by developing entrepreneurial ecosystems of discovery, development, and commercialization. This article identifies experiences, opportunities, infrastructure,
policies, and practices to stimulate such an ecosystem drawing on the author's experiences and observations at three diverse institutions over two decades. Those stimulants include increased creative and entrepreneurial activity; integration of curricular and co-curricular activities beginning
with undergraduates; focus on entrepreneurship career options; more opportunities to advance IP; transdisciplinary collaboration; collaborative spaces; streamlined, supported translation and licensing processes; and impact on faculty and staff evaluation. This approach advances higher education's
mission to serve students and society and opens the potential for new solutions that elevate well-being.