bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EFFICIENT WRONG-WAY RISK MODELING FOR FUNDING VALUATION ADJUSTMENTS
Authors: VAN DER ZWAARD THOMAS , GRZELAK LECH A. , OOSTERLEE CORNELIS W.
Published: May 2024

Wrong-Way Risk (WWR) is an important component in Funding Valuation Adjustment (FVA) modeling. Yet, the standard assumption is independence between market risks and the counterparty defaults and funding costs. This typical industrial setting is our point of departure, where we aim to assess the impact of WWR without running a full Monte Carlo simulation with all credit and funding processes. We propose to split the exposure profile into two parts: an independent and a WWR-driven part. For the former, exposures can be re-used from the standard xVA calculation. We express the second part of the exposure profile in terms of the stochastic drivers and approximate these by a common Gaussian stochastic factor. Within the affine setting, the proposed approximation is generic, is an add-on to the existing xVA calculations and provides an efficient and robust way to include WWR in FVA modeling. Case studies for an interest rate swap and a representative multi-currency portfolio of swaps illustrate that the approximation method is applicable in a practical setting. We analyze the approximation error and use the approximation to compute WWR sensitivities, which are needed for risk management. The approach is equally applicable to other metrics such as Credit Valuation Adjustment.
Linear and Nonlinear Time-Dependent Deteriorated Inventory Control Model
Authors: Nand Atma
Published: May 2024

Inventory models are quite important when it comes to analyzing scenarios that occur in a variety of areas, including food, warehouses, vegetable markets, and other similar places. Within the scope of this study, we investigate both a linear and a nonlinear time-dependent inventory control model for things that are deteriorating. When it comes to conducting business in the modern day, the relationship that exists between retailers and customers is absolutely necessary for successful implementation. Consumers engage in commercial transactions with retailers in order to buy goods with the intention of increasing their earnings. The goal of this study is to calculate the number of times demand orders are placed by customers throughout the rotation time in order to achieve the highest possible overall profit for both the client and the merchant, both with and without the use of collaboration. In addition, it intends to investigate the disparity between the total profit obtained by the customer and the merchant in two different scenarios. Using analytical methods, the proposed model is evaluated in order to obtain the best possible solution to the problem. In the following section, a numerical example and a comparison study are discussed. Ultimately, a sensitivity analysis of the parameters is to be done to investigate the variations in the results of various parameters inside the model based on the optimal strategy.
Nanotechnology at the Crossroads: Advancements and Ethical Dilemmas in Healthcare, Environment and Agriculture
Authors: Anjum Sumaira , Khan Amna Komal , Attique Iqra , Tariq Zahra
Published: May 2024

With the advancements in nanotechnology, the interaction between nanotechnology, society and environment has increased. Nanotherapeutics and nanopharmaceuticals have allowed facilitation of earlier and more precise diagnosis, reduced side effects, improved targeted therapies and efficacy of drugs. Likewise, nanotechnology has helped in improving the quality of environment by solving issues of air pollution, water remediation and waste management with the help of nanoproducts such as nanofilters, nanophoto catalysts, nanoadsorbents and nanosensors. Moreover, nanopesticides, nanofood, anti-bacterial nanopackaging, nanofertilizers and many other products have helped food and agriculture sector to grow. There are innumerable products on shelf based on nanotechnology impacting almost every sector. However, nanotechnology like any other technology if used unchecked and unregulated can be a cause of social, environmental, legal and ethical concerns. Therefore, it is crucial to consider these challenges in addition to the promises and opportunities nanotechnology has to offer. This review has highlighted the immense importance of nanotechnology by discussing its applications especially in medicine, environmental sciences and food and agriculture sectors. Closely studying these aspects will allow us to discover gaps, obstacles and potential solutions for responsible nanotechnology development and deployment. Understanding these concerns and challenges is also critical for policymakers, researchers, industrialists and society as a whole in order to promote ethical practices and informed decision-making. This review will help to contribute to the continuing discourse and raise ethical awareness in the field of nanotechnology thence minimizing the harm while maximizing the benefits.
Existence and non-existence results for a singular second-order elliptic equation
Authors: Zouaoui Ali , Tahri Kamel
Published: May 2024

Using the variational methods, this paper is concerned with the existence and non-existence results to a class of elliptic equation with singular term on compact Riemannian manifold. In the context of complete, non-compact and non parabolic manifold, we obtain the non-existence result of solution for this type of elliptic problems.
On generalization of quasi-principally injective modules
Authors: Thi Thu Ha Nguyen
Published: May 2024

A module [Formula: see text] is said to be generalized quasi-principally injective (briefly, GQP-injective) (respectively, generalized almost quasi-principally injective (briefly, generalized AQP-injective)) if, for any [Formula: see text], there exists a positive integer [Formula: see text] (respectively, there exist a positive integer [Formula: see text] and a left ideal [Formula: see text]) such that [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] (respectively, [Formula: see text]). In this paper, we give some characterizations and properties of the classes of generalized AQP-injective modules. Some results on quasi-principally injective modules are extended to these modules. Some properties of GQP-injective modules are studied.
Option Pricing in an Incomplete Market
Authors: Grigorian Karen , Jarrow Robert A.
Published: May 2024

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the pricing of options in an incomplete market using the new consistent uplifted martingale measure methodology introduced by Grigorian and Jarrow [2024, Filtration Reduction and Incomplete Markets, Frontiers of Mathematical Finance, 3(1), 78–105; 2023, Filtration Reduction and Completeness in Brownian Motion Models. Working Paper, Cornell University; 2024, Filtration Reduction and Completeness in Jump-Diffusion Models. Working Paper, Cornell University]. We apply it to an incomplete market where a stock has stochastic volatility. Two valuation formulas are generated, depending upon whether the trader is more concerned about volatility or price risk in the construction of a partial replicating portfolio for the option’s payoff.
Economic Impact of the Drought in Spain: Measurement for the Adoption of Measures
Authors: Villegas Paula , Cardenete Manuel Alejandro , Beltran L. Dary
Published: May 2024

This paper aims to evaluate the economic implications of meteorological drought in Spain. The study seeks to provide decision-makers with crucial insights into the macroeconomic effects of drought, enabling them to devise mitigation strategies and minimize its impact on economic activity. The Partial Hypothetical Extraction Method (HEM) is employed within the Input-Output analysis framework extended to a Social Accounting Matrix (SAM) of Spain to achieve this goal. The database utilized for this analysis is the FNAM for Spain in 2017, in millions of euros, obtained from the Full International and Global Accounts for Research in Input-Output Analysis (FIGARO) project, a collaboration between Eurostat and the European Commission. The study aims to estimate the economic impact of drought on the productive sectors of the Spanish economy in terms of sectoral production and GDP. This involves simulating the partial reduction in value-added resulting from variations in average water productivity per gross value added, based on the drought indicator SPI-24. Three scenarios are generated: (1) drought, (2) moderate drought and (3) severe drought. In quantitative terms, the simulated drought scenarios could lead to a drop in GDP of 0.88% for the drought scenario, 1.61% for the moderate drought scenario, and 1.76% for the severe drought scenario. Additionally, it is important to recognize that water scarcity hampers the social and economic development of cities and regions beyond the results in quantitative terms.
Comparison of the Detection Rate and Specificity of Irregular Red Blood Cell Antibodies Between First-Time Pregnant Women and Women With a History of Multiple Pregnancies Among 18,010 Chinese Women
Authors: Wu Shujie , Wu Yinglin , Guo Ganping , Xie Rungui , Wu Yuanjun
Published: May 2024

Background: There is insufficient evidence to assess the risk of the production of clinically important alloimmune irregular red blood cell (RBC) antibodies in first-time pregnant women.Methods: Using the microcolumn gel antiglobulin method, 18,010 Chinese women with a history of pregnancy and pregnant women were screened for irregular RBC antibodies, and for those with positive test results, antibody specificity was determined. The detection rate and specificity of irregular RBC antibodies in women with a history of multiple pregnancies (two or more) and first-time pregnant women were determined.Results: In addition to 25 patients who passively acquired anti-D antibodies via an intravenous anti-D immunoglobulin injection, irregular RBC antibodies were detected in 121 (0.67%) of the 18,010 women. Irregular RBC antibodies were detected in 93 (0.71%) of the 13,027 women with a history of multiple pregnancies, and antibody specificity was distributed mainly in the Rh, MNSs, Lewis, and Kidd blood group systems; irregular RBC antibodies were detected in 28 (0.56%) of the 4983 first-time pregnant women, and the antibody specificity was distributed mainly in the MNSs, Rh, and Lewis blood group systems. The difference in the percentage of patients with irregular RBC antibodies between the two groups was insignificant (χ2=1.248, P>0.05). Of the 121 women with irregular RBC antibodies, nine had anti-Mur antibodies, and one had anti-Dia antibodies; these antibodies are clinically important but easily missed because the antigenic profile of the reagent RBCs that are commonly used in antibody screens does not include the antigens that are recognized by these antibodies.Conclusion: Irregular RBC antibody detection is clinically important for both pregnant women with a history of multiple pregnancies and first-time pregnant women. Mur and Dia should be included in the antigenic profile of reagent RBCs that are used for performing antibody screens in the Chinese population.
Modelling and Mapping Habitat Suitability for B. aegyptiaca (L.) Del. and B. rotundifolia (Tiegh.) Blatt. under Climate Change in Ethiopia
Authors: Seid Mohammed Adefa , Hailu Binyam Tesfaw , Wondimu Tigist , Nemomissa Sileshi
Published: May 2024

Climate change impacts are posing greater risks to biodiversity, food security, and livelihood in Africa, specifically in arid and semi-arid environments. In Ethiopia, the genus Balanites Del., which belongs to the monogeneric family called Balanitaceae, has the multipurpose B. aegyptiaca and B. rotundifolia. However, these species are overlooked and endangered by climate change, and their species distributions are not well documented and understood in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study aimed to model the habitat suitability of these two species using current occurrence data, climate, and landscape data and predict their distribution under climate change. Occurrence points of B. aegyptiaca (n = 224) and B. rotundifolia (n = 80) were collected from field surveys and herbarium. Bioclimatic (WorldClim.v2), soil, and landscape variables were used in the ensemble species distribution models (SDMs) using six algorithms (GLM, GAM, BRT, RF, MARS, and SVM). The ensemble SDMs under the current climate showed that the Central Ethiopian Rift Valley is highly suitable habitats for B. aegyptiaca accounting for an area of 114,517 km2, and the Southern Ethiopian Rift Valley is highly suitable habitats for B. rotundifolia accounting for an area of 41,373 km2. The performance of ensemble SDM under the current climate for B. aegyptiaca showed 0.95 AUC, 0.80 TSS, 0.79 COR, and 0.87 deviance; and that of B. rotundifolia with 0.90 AUC, 0.80 TSS, 0.80 COR, and 0.50 deviance. Temperature annual range (Bio07) and precipitation seasonality (Bio15) for B. aegyptiaca; and precipitation of driest quarter (Bio17) and annual precipitation (Bio12) for B. rotundifolia are the most key bioclimatic variables that affect their distributions. The ensemble SDMs under SSP2-45 and SSP5-85 (HadGEM3-GC31-LL) climates showed that the highly suitable areas will remain suitable for both species (B. aegyptiaca with 116,934 km2 area cover (ΔA = +2.1%) and 125,757 km2 area cover (ΔA = +7.5%) and B. rotundifolia with 29,547 km2 area cover (ΔA = −28.6%) and 50, 894 km2 area cover (ΔA = +23%), respectively). The findings of this study implicated that the Ethiopian Rift Valley region in general for B. aegyptiaca and the Southern Rift Valley of Ethiopia for B. rotundifolia are suitable areas for conservation and sustainable use of the species.
A Quantum‐Inspired Optimization Strategy for Optimal Dispatch to Increase Heat and Power Efficiency
Authors: Vanitha K. , Jyothi B. , Kumar R. Seshu , Chandrika V. S. , Singh Arvind R. , Naidoo R. M.
Published: May 2024

Combined heat and power (CHP) systems are widely used in industries for their high energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions. The optimal dispatch of CHP systems involves scheduling the operation of various equipment to minimize the total operational cost while meeting the heat and power demand of the facility. In this research work, a novel quantum‐inspired optimization algorithm is proposed for the first time to solve the optimal dispatch problem of CHP systems. The proposed algorithm combines the principles of quantum mechanics with classical optimization algorithms to achieve a better solution. The algorithm uses quantum gates to perform quantum operations on the optimization variables, which allows for the exploration of a larger search space and potentially better solutions than classical algorithms. The proposed algorithm also incorporates a classical optimizer to refine the numerical evaluations acquired from the quantum operations. The performance of the adopted optimization technique was demonstrated by associating it with various other optimization techniques based on factors such as the speed of convergence, computational time, and the quality of the solution. The comparison is made on two standard CHP systems subjected to various quality and inequality constraints. The simulation results indicate that the quantum‐inspired optimization technique surpassed the other algorithms in both solution quality and computational efficiency. The implemented algorithm provides a promising solution to the optimal dispatch problem of CHP systems. Future research can further explore the application of quantum‐inspired optimization algorithms in other energy systems and optimize the algorithm’s parameters to improve its performance.
Determination of Novel Estimations for the Slater Difference and Applications
Authors: Adil Khan Muhammad , Ullah Hidayat , Saeed Tareq , Sayed Zaid M. M. M. , Alshaikey Salha , Mahmoud Emad E.
Published: May 2024

The field of mathematical inequalities has exerted a profound influence across a multitude of scientific disciplines, making it a captivating and expansive domain ripe for research investigation. This article offers estimations for the Slater difference through the application of the concept of convexity. We present a diverse type of applications that stem from the main findings related to power means, Zipf–Mandelbrot entropy, and within the field of information theory. Our main tools for deriving estimates for the Slater difference involve the triangular inequality, the definition of the convex function, and the well-established Jensen inequality.
Assessment of Radiation Dose Associated with the Atmospheric Release of 41Ar from the TRIGA Mark‐II Research Reactor in Bangladesh
Authors: Hoq M. Ajijul , Soner M. A. Malek , Khanom S. , Uddin M. J. , Moniruzzaman M. , Chowdhury M. S. H. , Helal A. , Khaer M. Abu , Hassan S. M. T. , Chowdhury M. Tareque , Rahman M. Mizanur
Published: May 2024

A major concern for nuclear research reactors under normal operating conditions is that they may release radioactive elements into the atmosphere, endangering public health and the environment. The present study concentrated on the detailed radiological dose assessment resulting from the atmospheric release of 41Ar activity from the TRIGA Mark‐II research reactor in Bangladesh during its normal operational condition at full power of 3 MW. The total effective dose equivalent (TEDE), ground deposition activity, organ‐committed dose, and pathways dose values have been evaluated under different weather conditions using the HotSpot 3.1.2 code. The weather data have been gathered from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department (BMD), Dhaka. Two significant seasons with various weather stability effects have been considered for dose analysis. Atmospheric dispersion of 41Ar was evaluated using the Gaussian plume model. From the obtained results, the maximum TEDE of 4.06 × 10−9 Sv at 0.19 km distance from the reactor site for stability class B during the summer season is found to be well below the annual effective dose limit of 1 mSv recommended by the ICRP. During the rainy season, the maximum TEDE of 1.76 × 10−9 Sv at 0.92 km distance for stability class E is also found to be negligible compared to the dose limit. From the organ‐committed dose analysis, skin is investigated as the highest dose absorber compared to other organs. The pathways dose analysis concludes that the submersion and ground shine doses are observed to be maximum at 0.20 km and 1.0 km distances for the summer and rainy seasons, respectively. Based on the identified results, dose values have been found to be within the limiting values, ensuring environmental and human health safety. Such comprehensive dose analysis due to the atmospheric release of 41Ar activity is very significant from the perspective of ensuring the radiological and environmental safety of research‐type nuclear reactors under normal operational conditions.
CRISPR Dependency Screens in Primary Hematopoietic Stem Cells Identify KDM3B as a Genotype-specific Vulnerability in IDH2- and TET2-mutant Cells
Authors: Waarts Michael R. , Mowla Shoron , Boileau Meaghan , Martinez Benitez Anthony R. , Sango Junya , Bagish Maya , Fernández-Maestre Inés , Shan Yufan , Eisman Shira E. , Park Young C. , Wereski Matthew , Csete Isabelle , O’Connor Kavi , Romero-Vega Angelica C. , Miles Linde A. , Xiao Wenbin , Wu Xiaodi , Koche Richard P. , Armstrong Scott A. , Shih Alan H. , Papapetrou Eirini P. , Butler Jason M. , Cai Sheng F. , Bowman Robert L. , Levine Ross L.
Published: May 2024

Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is a common premalignant state in the blood and confers an increased risk of blood cancers and all-cause mortality. Identification of therapeutic targets in CH has been hindered by the lack of an ex vivo platform amenable for studying primary hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Here, we utilize an ex vivo co-culture system of HSPCs with bone marrow endothelial cells to perform CRISPR/Cas9 screens in mutant HSPCs. Our data reveal that loss of the histone demethylase family members Kdm3b and Jmjd1c specifically reduces the fitness of Idh2- and Tet2-mutant HSPCs. Kdm3b loss in mutant cells leads to decreased expression of critical cytokine receptors including Mpl, rendering mutant HSPCs preferentially susceptible to inhibition of downstream JAK2 signaling. Our study nominates an epigenetic regulator and an epigenetically regulated receptor signaling pathway as genotype-specific therapeutic targets and provides a scalable platform to identify genetic dependencies in mutant HSPCs.

Significance: Given the broad prevalence, comorbidities, and risk of malignant transformation associated with CH, there is an unmet need to identify therapeutic targets. We develop an ex vivo platform to perform CRISPR/Cas9 screens in primary HSPCs. We identify KDM3B and downstream signaling components as genotype-specific dependencies in CH and myeloid malignancies.

See related commentary by Khabusheva and Goodell, p. 1768
FIGURE 6 from LYVE-1–expressing Macrophages Modulate the Hyaluronan-containing Extracellular Matrix in the Mammary Stroma and Contribute to Mammary Tumor Growth
Authors: Elfstrum Alexis K. , Rumahorbo Annisa H. , Reese Lyndsay E. , Nelson Emma V. , McCluskey Braedan M. , Schwertfeger Kathryn L.
Published: May 2024

Depletion of LYVE-1+ macrophages promotes a shift toward a proinflammatory environment. A, Volcano plots of four macrophage clusters with log(fold change) of Lyve1CreCsf1rfl/fl relative to Csf1rfl/fl and significance (P < 0.05) denoted as a red (upregulated) or blue (downregulated) coloration. B, Intracluster GSEA Lyve1CreCsf1rfl/fl relative to Csf1rfl/fl macrophage clusters (NES adjusted P-value < 0.05) with detailed gene set names in Supplementary Table S2. Quantification (C) and representative images (D) of EO771 tumors from Csf1rfl/fl and Lyve1CreCsf1rfl/fl mice immunostained for CD8a (green) and DAPI (blue). Each dot represents total CD8 count from one image, with five images taken per margin and five images taken per core of each tumor (n = 3). **, P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001. Scale bars, 100 µm.
FIGURE 3 from LYVE-1–expressing Macrophages Modulate the Hyaluronan-containing Extracellular Matrix in the Mammary Stroma and Contribute to Mammary Tumor Growth
Authors: Elfstrum Alexis K. , Rumahorbo Annisa H. , Reese Lyndsay E. , Nelson Emma V. , McCluskey Braedan M. , Schwertfeger Kathryn L.
Published: May 2024

Genetic depletion of LYVE-1+ macrophages delays mammary tumor growth. A, Representative images from FFPE sections of EO771 tumors from Csf1rfl/fl (top) and Lyve1CreCsf1rfl/fl (bottom) mice stained by H&E, and immunostained for LYVE-1 (green), HABP (magenta), CD206 (red), and DAPI (blue; n = 5). B, EO771 tumor growth curve from Csf1rfl/fl (gray, n = 4) and Lyve1CreCsf1rfl/fl (blue, n = 4) mice, cutoff when the first mouse reaches endpoint. C, WNT-4226-65 L tumor growth curve from Csf1rfl/fl (gray, n = 4) and Lyve1CreCsf1rfl/fl (blue, n = 4) mice, cutoff when the first mouse reaches endpoint. D, Lung colonization of EO771 tumor cells measured by H&E staining. Colonization is quantified as percent colonization per lung by area, relative to experimental Csf1rfl/fl average. Quantification of TUNEL (E) and pHH3 (F) staining of EO771 tumors from Csf1rfl/fl (gray) and Lyve1CreCsf1rfl/fl (blue) mice from the core and margin. Representative images of TUNEL (G) and pHH3 (H) staining of EO771 tumors from Csf1rfl/fl and Lyve1CreCsf1rfl/fl mice from the core and margin. *, P < 0.05; **, P < 0.01. Scale bars, 100 µm. Each dot represents one mouse.
Treatment with Sacubitril/Valsartan Effectively Manages Hypertension and Ameliorates Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Hu Nan , Lv Nan , Chen Yuqing
Published: May 2024

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the role of sacubitril/valsartan in managing hypertension and cardiac remodeling in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Methods: Hemodialysis patients with stable blood pressure control were enrolled in the study. Sacubitril/valsartan was prescribed to replace previously used angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker or other antihypertensive drugs. During a 6-month follow-up period, pre-dialysis blood pressure, routine biochemical markers, and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide levels were measured. Volume status was assessed using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Endothelial damage was evaluated by measuring asymmetric dimethylarginine expression, while echocardiography and life quality assessed by Short Form-12 Health Survey were conducted at baseline and after treatment. Results: The median daily dose of sacubitril/valsartan in 32 participants was 200 mg, and no obvious adverse reactions were reported. The defined daily dose of other antihypertensive drugs (baseline 2.00 ± 1.18, end point 1.46 ± 1.30, t = 3.216, p = 0.003) reduced significantly. After treatment with sacubitril/valsartan, left ventricular ejection fraction significantly increased from 64.81 ± 8.16% to 67.55 ± 5.85% (t = −4.022, p ≤ 0.001) and the thickness of posterior wall of the left ventricle reduced from 1.05 ± 0.14 cm to 1.00 ± 0.11 cm (t = 2.063, p = 0.048). The interventricular septal thickness (baseline 1.08 ± 0.16 cm, endpoint 1.02 ± 0.12 cm, t = 2.260, p = 0.031) remarkably reduced by the end of follow-up. The tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient decreased from 28.47 ± 8.26 mm Hg at baseline to 23.79 ± 6.61 mm Hg (t = 2.531, p = 0.020) after treatment. Conclusion: Sacubitril/valsartan effectively manages hypertension in hemodialysis patients and may also independently improve left ventricular hypertrophy and systolic function, regardless of changes in the blood pressure or the volume load.
Comprehensive Analysis of ceRNA Network and Immune Cell Infiltration Pattern of Autophagy-Related Genes in IgA Nephropathy
Authors: Zhang Huaying , Lu Huiai , Zhan Bicui , Shi He , Shui Bingjie
Published: May 2024

Introduction: IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is a prevalent worldwide glomerular disease with a complex pathophysiology that has significant economic implications. Despite the lack of successful research, this study aims to discover the potential competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network of autophagy-associated genes in IgAN and examine their correlation with immune cell infiltration. Methods: Autophagy-related hub genes were discovered by assessing the GSE116626 dataset and constructing a protein-protein interaction network. Nephroseq v5 analysis engine was used to analyze correlations between hub genes and proteinuria, glomerular filtration rate (GFR), and serum creatinine levels. Then, a ceRNA network construction and the CIBERSORT tool for immune cell infiltration analysis were also performed. Additionally, the differentially expressed autophagy-related genes were used to predict potential targeted medications for IgAN. Results: Overall, 1,396 differentially expressed genes were identified in IgAN along with 25 autophagy-related differentially expressed messenger RNAs. Enrichment analysis revealed significant involvement of autophagy and apoptosis in biological processes. Next, we evaluated the top hub nodes based on their highest degrees. The ability of IgAN discrimination was confirmed in the GSE35487 and GSE37460 datasets by validating the five hub genes: SIRT1, FOS, CCL2, CDKN1A, and MYC. In the Nephroseq v5 analysis engine, the clinical correlation of the five hub genes was confirmed. Furthermore, the ceRNA network identified 18 circular RNAs and 2 microRNAs associated with hub autophagy-related genes in IgAN. Our investigation identified hsa-miR-32-3p and hsa-let-7i-5p as having elevated expression levels and substantial diagnostic value. Finally, four distinctively infiltrated immune cells were found to be associated with the hub autophagy-related genes, and 67 drugs were identified as potential therapeutic options for IgAN. Conclusion: This study sheds light on a novel ceRNA regulatory network mechanism associated with autophagy in IgAN development.
Online Learning & the Transformation of Global Higher Education
Authors: Levin Richard C.
Published: May 2024

This essay examines the global impact of online education in the decade following the widely publicized introduction of MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) in 2012 - exploring the demographics and preferences of learners, the effectiveness of online learning, the surprising and substantial impact on the labor market, and the implications of scalability for reducing the cost of education. The essay concludes that online education has broadened the range of activities undertaken by leading universities and will continue to dramatically expand the population of learners with access to low-cost, high-quality education.
Composite fault feature extraction for gears based on MCKD-EWT adaptive wavelet threshold noise reduction
Authors: LV Yanchang , Wang Jingyue , Zhang Chengqiang , Ding Jianming
Published: May 2024

For the strong noise gear fault vibration signal is relatively weak, and the transmission path is complex and variable, in the case of composite faults, the modulation of different fault characteristics of the frequency, coupling, resulting in the actual acquisition of the fault characteristics are difficult to extract and separate. Aiming at fault feature extraction and separation, an adaptive threshold denoising fault detection method based on Maximum correlated kurtosis deconvolution (MCKD) and Empirical wavelet transform (EWT) is proposed. Firstly, envelope entropy and information entropy are used as fitness functions, and the parameters of the MCKD algorithm are optimized by the improved particle swarm algorithm, then the empirical wavelet decomposition is carried out on the signals, and finally adaptive wavelet threshold denoising is carried out on the decomposed Intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) components. The results of experimental data analysis show that compared with the feature extraction methods such as spatial scale threshold EWT-MCKD and Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (CEEMDAN)-MCKD, the proposed method is more suitable for the diagnosis of gear composite faults in a strong background noise environment, the noise interference is effectively suppressed, and the extraction effect of gear composite fault features is more obvious.
The investigation of deflection behavior in carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy composite laminates under low-velocity impact with small projectiles
Authors: Ramezani Mohammad Javad
Published: May 2024

This study examined the impact behavior of carbon/epoxy and glass/epoxy composite laminates with 2, 4, and 6 mm thicknesses under low-velocity tests. The investigation involved subjecting the composite laminates under small-impact loads using spherical, cylindrical, and conical steel projectiles, each weighing 3 g. The impacts conducted at 29.5, 36.5, and 51 m/s velocities. This investigation modeled using finite element (FE) methods and analytical approaches. In the analytical method, the mass and spring model used for the impact of small projectiles. The research findings revealed that, in 2 mm thick carbon/epoxy composite laminates, the maximum deflection at the mid-point induced by a spherical projectile was 1.37 mm. This value exhibited a 48.91% and 19.13% increase compared to impacts with cylindrical and conical projectiles, respectively. Additionally, a comprehensive examination of delamination across all samples indicated the maximum delamination occurrence in glass/epoxy samples, showcasing lower impact resistance than carbon/epoxy laminates. Notably, with an increase in thickness, the delamination phenomenon in the samples exhibited a decreasing trend. In addition, the maximum value of delamination in the composite laminates were with spherical, conical, and cylindrical projectiles respectively, and also, there was an excellent convergence between FE and analytical results.
Female police officers make the same snap decisions as males-but trust themselves less
Authors: Tejeiro Ricardo , González José Luís , Schermbrucker Ian
Published: May 2024

We analyse gender differences in police decision-making under conditions of time pressure and uncertainty. 290 student-candidates from a Police College in Spain, equally distributed between females and males and aged 18 to 25, completed three vignettes in which different scenarios, frequently encountered by police officers in their daily duties, are sequentially represented. Females and males did not differ in the amount of time and information they used before making a decision, in the adequateness of said decision, or in the perceived difficulty of the scenarios. However, females expressed less confidence than males in their own decisions. The results are discussed in relation to stereotype threat.
‘We Didn’t Know What We Were Eating Tomorrow’: How Class Origin Shapes the Political Outlook of Members of the Parliament in Britain
Authors: Bortun Vladimir , Reeves Aaron , Friedman Sam
Published: May 2024

Most work in political science on class and political ideology is focussed on politicians’ class destination rather than class origins. Yet that is inconsistent with evidence in the case of the United Kingdom that the conditions of someone’s family upbringing do influence their politics. This article revisits the conceptualisation of class background in the current literature by redirecting attention to the sociological concept of class origin. We draw on in-depth interviews with 24 British Members of the Parliament to unpack how these political elites perceive their class background to have affected their political outlook and behaviour. Our results indicate that ‘class origin’ is more salient in the formation of Members of the Parliament’ political outlook than educational or occupational background. The manifestation of this political outlook is constrained, however, by party discipline. This tension in how British Members of the Parliament relate to their class origins has implications for how we think about the power of descriptive representation in politics.
Development and Validation of an Assessment-Driven Behavioral Intervention for Primary Complex Motor Stereotypies in Young Children
Authors: Edelstein Matthew L. , Pogue Emily D. , Singer Harvey S.
Published: May 2024

Complex motor stereotypies are rhythmic, repetitive, fixed, and non-goal directed movements (e.g., bilateral flapping/waving movements of the hands/arms). Movements typically begin in early childhood and can occur in otherwise normally developing (“primary”) or autistic (“secondary”) children. Stereotypies persist, occur multiple times a day, have prolonged durations, can be socially stigmatizing, and may lead to bullying and isolation. Prior behavioral treatment studies have focused on older children (ages 6–12) and report modest reductions in stereotypy (i.e., between 14% and 33%). The current study involves the functional assessment and treatment of five children with Primary Complex Motor Stereotypy using a modified awareness training procedure, differential reinforcement of other behavior, and schedule thinning in a nonconcurrent multiple baseline design. Results suggest a 99% reduction of motor stereotypy from baseline across all participants.
Preterm Birth, Low Birth Weight, and Medical Comorbidities Are Risk Factors for Severe Laryngomalacia in Children
Authors: Chen Lu , Yang Yang , Tang Xinye , Ding Ling , Xiao Ling
Published: May 2024

Objective: To analyze the clinical characteristics and the risk factors associated with severe laryngomalacia in children. Methods: In this study, the clinical data of children (0-18 years), including gender, age at presentation, preterm delivery, low birth weight, delivery mode, feeding mode, fetal delivery, medical comorbidities, maternal gestational age at presentation, and calcium supplementation during pregnancy, diagnosed with laryngomalacia between January 2013 and January 2023 were retrospectively analyzed. The children were divided into mild-moderate and severe groups. Several risk factors were compared and analyzed between the 2 groups. The statistically significant risk factors were included in the logistic regression analysis. Results: A total of 224 children with severe laryngomalacia were enrolled in this study. The ratio of male to female patients was 1.55:1. All patients had severe laryngomalacia manifested by inspiratory laryngeal stridor. The average age of patients at symptom presentation was 2.7 (1.5-5.2) months. There were significant differences between the 2 groups in the age at presentation, premature delivery, low birth weight, medical comorbidities, and calcium supplementation during pregnancy ( P < .05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that premature delivery [odds ratio (OR) = 3.177, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.329-4.334], low birth weight (OR = 3.188, 95% CI: 2.325-4.370), and medical comorbidities (OR = 1.434, 95% CI: 1.076-1.909) were independent risk factors for severe laryngomalacia ( P < .05). Conclusion: Children with severe laryngomalacia exhibited persistent stridor at an earlier age at presentation. Premature delivery, low birth weight, and medical comorbidities were potential risk factors for severe laryngomalacia in children.
Resilience of Saudi Arabia’s Economy to Oil Shocks: Effects of Economic Reforms
Authors: Almutairi Hossa , Galeotti Marzio , Manzano Baltasar , Pierru Axel
Published: May 2024

We assess the extent to which the implementation of Vision 2030 policies enhances the Saudi economy’s resilience to oil shocks. Using a dynamic stochastic general equilibrium model that captures the country’s economic diversification policies, we build a resilience index based on impulse responses to shocks. The policies considered have two opposite effects: reforming domestic energy prices, deploying renewables and introducing a value-added tax increase the volatility of macroeconomic aggregates, whereas economic diversification policies stabilize the economy. Overall, with Vision 2030 the economy’s resilience to oil price shocks increases by 10 to 60 percent, depending on how labor market rigidities and the recycling of fiscal revenues are accounted for. Oil prices remain the main driver of macroeconomic fluctuations. Our analysis shows that an oil-exporting country should design policy packages that balance structural reforms with economic diversification, in order to shield its economy against oil shocks while generating long-term welfare gains.

JEL Classification: D58, E13, E32, E37, E65, H30, H50, Q43
Social-venture planning: liberal arts programme to enhance undergraduates’ creative problem-solving competency / La planificación de emprendimiento social: un programa de artes liberales para fomentar las competencias de resolución creativa de problemas de los estudiantes universitarios
Authors: Lim Insook , Lee Hyunok
Published: May 2024

This study aimed to develop and implement an undergraduate liberal arts education programme titled Social-Venture Planning for Creative Problem-Solving. The programme was designed based on the creative problem-solving process model and previous research on social-venture planning, with the goal of providing undergraduate students with the experience needed to address social issues in creative ways. To empirically evaluate the programme’s effectiveness, the CPSPI questionnaire was administered both before and after the intervention. Multiple sets of data for a mixed-method analysis were collected. The results demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in creative problem-solving competencies among the undergraduate participants. The results of the qualitative analysis explain the context of the change by subfactors. In the concluding section, key considerations for implementing the programme and the pedagogical implications of integrating social-venture planning into the context of liberal arts education were elaborated.
A meta-ethnography of identity formation among people with early-onset dementia
Authors: Larsen Maersk Jesper , Peoples Hanne , Kristensen Hanne Kaae , Præstegaard Jeanette
Published: May 2024

Introduction:

Living with dementia can be challenging, even more so for people diagnosed before age 65. Loss of identity is one of the main subjective consequences dementia poses at this stage in life due to the loss of social relations and daily activities. While a growing body of research is reporting the experienced impact of early-onset dementia on identity for this group, studies synthesizing this knowledge are very limited. Therefore, we have conducted a meta-ethnographic review to explain how people with early-onset dementia form their sense of identity.

Method:

A systematic review of literature from five databases was conducted. Ten original studies published between 2004 and 2020 were included and analyzed using an interpretive approach.

Findings:

A conceptual interpretation emerged from the analysis, showing that social arenas and activities of daily life, as well as assumptions about dementia and natural aging made by the participants and society, influenced the participants’ sense of identity.

Conclusion:

Being in nonjudgmental environments can support people with early-onset dementia in creating continuity and positive connections in their personal history. Providing such environments can be a viable venue for healthcare professionals to support people with early-onset dementia in maintaining a positive sense of identity.
Precarious labour and social reproduction in Bolivian immigrant sweatshops in São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: Lemme Ribeiro Clara
Published: May 2024

This paper analyses labour and social reproduction conditions in Bolivian immigrant garment industry sweatshops in São Paulo, Brazil. The analysis contributes to an understanding of the ways in which precarious labour is articulated with a simultaneous precarization of social reproduction. Working conditions in Bolivian immigrant sweatshops include 14-hour or longer workdays, piece-work, low wages and unsafe working environments. Based on the life stories of three Bolivian women migrants in São Paulo, I spotlight the gender-based arrangements of paid work and reproduction upon which the sweatshops are predicated and further detail the reproductive conditions within these sweatshops, which tend to be uncomfortable, unsafe and unhealthy for workers as well as owners. These arrangements blur the dividing lines between the home and the workplace, as well as the distinctions between paid labour and social reproduction. Through this empirical work, I argue that social reproduction can make labour more precarious in contexts such as this one. I further contend that the crisis of social reproduction in peripheric countries extends beyond the retreat of the welfare state, rather constituting a generalized precarization of reproductive conditions that both supports and is supported by extremely precarized labour.
Roughness Prediction of Jointed Plain Concrete Pavement Using Physics Informed Neural Networks
Authors: Pasupunuri Sampath Kumar , Thom Nick , Li Linglin
Published: May 2024

The International Roughness Index is used to measure the road roughness in pavements, as pavement roughness deteriorates over time. Despite many attempts by researchers to predict roughness in concrete pavements, there are limitations, such as small sample size, modeling approach, or lack of robustness in the model. This study presents a novel machine-learning approach incorporating domain knowledge to predict roughness, using a dataset obtained from the Long-Term Pavement Performance database. Physics informed neural networks (PINNs) are popular physics-driven machine-learning approaches that have been receiving widespread attention in the field of civil engineering. PINNs work similarly to neural networks but are augmented with the incorporation of physics-based constraints and governing equations, enabling them to assimilate domain knowledge and leverage physical principles while making predictions or solving problems. In this study, the popular Mechanistic-Empirical Pavement Design Guide roughness prediction model is used along with the optimized neural networks to calculate the physics-based loss function. The Optuna framework is used to tune the hyperparameters within the neural network architecture. The final configuration, optimized and trained in the model, has three hidden layers with, respectively, 27, 67, and 80 neurons. The tuned model has performed well for the testing dataset, with a mean absolute error of 0.134 and a coefficient of determination of 0.90. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted and is presented to understand the influence of the variation of each variable.
Connected Vehicle Data for Risk Analysis and Transportation Performance Evaluation
Authors: Pennetti Cody Aaron , Marcellin Megan C. , Pennetti Travis J. , KottoorMadam Sreehari , Jun Jungwook , Lambert James H.
Published: May 2024

Transportation planning decisions are traditionally based on aggregated metrics, which may obscure crucial temporal and spatial observations of transportation performance. However, the emergence of connected vehicle (CV) data presents an opportunity to obtain new insights into system operations. CV data includes vehicle-specific performance information, reported every few seconds, with metadata such as vehicle speeds, trajectories, and event data such as harsh braking, environmental conditions, and other attributes. This paper showcases the potential of CV data by extending existing methods for transportation performance evaluation and risk analysis. An analysis of CV data is used with a corridor trace analysis for access management, offering support for benefit-cost assessments through intra-hour performance evaluations and analysis of vehicle event data. The dataset used for this investigation comprises 55 billion observations, averaging around 600 million observations per hour, as provided by the Virginia Department of Transportation for demonstration purposes, which yields surprising results. The dataset size requires a robust data architecture that efficiently handles the resource implications outlined in this work. This research demonstrates how transportation professionals and decision-makers can use CV data to make informed decisions in the planning and operations of transportation systems.
Comparative study of iodine-doped and undoped pyrrole grafting with plasma on poly (glycerol sebacate) scaffolds and its human dental pulp stem cells compatibility
Authors: Hernández-Sánchez Fernando , Rodríguez-Fuentes Nayeli , Sánchez-Pech Julio César , Ávila-Ortega Alejandro , Carrillo-Escalante Hugo Joel , Talavera-Pech William Alejandro , Martín-Pat Gaspar Eduardo
Published: May 2024

This study addresses the morphological and chemical characterization of PGS scaffolds after (6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 min) residence in undoped pyrrole plasma (PGS-PPy) and the evaluation of cell viability with human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs). The results were compared with a previous study that used iodine-doped pyrrole (PGS-PPy/I). Analyses through SEM and AFM revealed alterations in the topography and quantity of deposited PPy particles. FTIR spectra of PGS-PPy scaffolds confirmed the presence of characteristic absorption peaks of PPy, with higher intensities observed in the nitrile and -C≡C- groups compared to PGS-PPy/I scaffolds, while raman spectra indicated a lower presence of polaron N+ groups. On the other hand, PGS scaffolds modified with PPy exhibited lower cytotoxicity compared to PGS-PPy/I scaffolds, as evidenced by the Live/Dead assay. Furthermore, the PGS-PPy scaffolds at 6 and 12 min, and particularly the PGS-PPy/I scaffold at 6 min, showed the best results in terms of cell viability by the fifth day of culture. The findings of this study suggest that undoped pyrrole plasma modification for short durations could also be a viable option to enhance the interaction with hDPSCs, especially when the treatment times range between 6 min and 12 min.