bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of the effective parameters on Al6061 / Al 2 O 3 .WC.SiC composite fabricated by friction stir process
Authors: Delivand Mohammad Hasan Rajabi , Lashgari Hossein , Hosseinpour Mohammad , Momeni Amir , Parvizi Soroush
Published: January 2024

Friction Stir processing is an emerging technique that can be utilized to modify the microstructure and mechanical properties of materials, thereby serving as an effective method for fabricating surface composites. This investigation employed the earlier process to produce a surface composite of 6061AA alloy integrated with Al203, WC, and SiC reinforcement particles, each with an average particle size of 10 ± 4 µm. Initially, linear and rotational speeds were implemented on the specimens. Subsequently, the optimal model was selected based on the microstructure outcomes and the highest microhardness value. As a result, the optimal sample was determined to have a rotational speed of 1000 rpm and a linear velocity of 40 mm/min and underwent four passes. A thorough examination of the microstructure of the produced surface composite was conducted through optical microscopy. Furthermore, the mechanical and microstructural properties between the manufactured composite and the base metal were compared comprehensively. The outcomes of the microhardness test revealed a significant improvement in the composite sample compared to the base metal. Specifically, the base metal exhibited a Vickers hardness value of 44, while the four-pass processed specimens displayed 61. The tests above determined that the samples processed at a rotational speed to linear ratio 25 demonstrated acceptable surface quality.
From peanut shell to 2, 5-dimethylfuran: the role of Zr-micro/mesoporous zeolites
Authors: Bonetto Luciana , Fermanelli Carla , Saux Clara
Published: January 2024

Catalytic pyrolysis of biomass is a promising process for the conversion of agricultural residues into renewable bio-oils, wherein zeolites play a key role in their upgrading. In this work, peanut shell pyrolysis was catalysed by micro/mesoporous ZSM-11 zeolites modified by the incorporation of zirconium. Mesopores were generated in the microporous zeolitic structure by post synthesis alkaline treatment using potassium hydroxide as basic medium. The effect of this treatment and its parameters were studied in detail. The obtained materials were extensively characterized. Results showed that micro/mesoporous ZSM-11 zeolites maintained their crystalline structure after the desilication process and presented excellent textural properties, such as high BET surface. Zirconium incorporation increased the amount of Lewis and Brønsted acid sites. Pyrolysis tests in presence of this material remarkably increased the selectivity to 2,5-dimethylfuran (DMF), a potential biofuel with high energy density, among other high value products for the chemical industry. Therefore, micro/mesoporous zeolite modified with Zr is presented as an excellent catalyst for pyrolysis of agricultural wastes.
Examining the photocatalytic and antioxidant properties of tripled doped Co-Ni-Zn TiO2 nanoparticles: A new class of nanocatalyst synthesized by chemically and biologically approach using microwave-assisted method
Authors: Thakur Nikesh , Thakur Naveen
Published: January 2024

Water pollution encompasses the contamination of water bodies resulting from the discharge of industrial dyes that contains array of harmful substances and requires necessitates treatment to render the water safe for various reuse purposes. This study focuses on chemically and biologically synthesized tripled doped Co-Ni-Zn TiO2 NPs, a novel photocatalyst for removal of dyes. Synthesized NPs contained tetragonal anatase phase of TiO2, according to XRD and Raman analyses. SEM-EDS confirmed the morphology and chemical composition of synthesized NPs. TEM revealed spherical NPs in both chemically and biologically synthesized NPs, in size from 21 to 33 nm. The ability of synthesized NPs to act as photocatalyst for the degradation of polluting dyes: congo red (CR), methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RhB) was examined. Also, nitric oxide (NO), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydrogen peroxide (HP) free radical tests were used to test the antioxidant capabilities of synthesized NPs.
Comparison of pregnancy outcomes between 4th day morula and 5th day blastocyst after embryo transfer:a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Sun Yiqun , Shen Qi , Xi Haitao , Sui Liucai , Fu Yanghua , Zhao Junzhao
Published: January 2024

Background
This study was designed to evaluate pregnancy outcomes between morulae transferred on day 4 (D4) and blastocysts transferred on day 5 (D5).
Methods
From September 2017 to September 2020, 1963 fresh transfer cycles that underwent early follicular phase extra-long protocol for assisted conception in our fertility center were divided into D4 (324 cases) and D5 (1639 cases) groups based on the number of days of in vitro culture after fertilization, and the general basic information, clinical and embryonic conditions of patients in both groups were compared. To compare the differences in pregnancy outcomes, the D4 and D5 groups were further divided into groups A and B based on single and double embryo transfer.
Results
In single embryo transfer, there was no significant difference between groups D4A and D5A (P > 0.05). In double embryo transfer, group D4B had a lower newborn birthweight and a larger proportion of low birthweight infants (P < 0.05). The preterm delivery rate, twin delivery rate, cesarean delivery rate, and percentage of low birthweight infants were lower in the D5A group than in the D5B group (P < 0.05).
Conclusion
When factors such as working life and hospital holidays are being considered, D4 morula transfer may be a good alternative to D5 blastocyst transfer. Given the in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection(IVF/ICSI) success rate and risk of twin pregnancy, D4 morula transfer requires an adapted decision between single and double embryo transfer, although a single blastocyst transfer is recommended for the D5 transfer in order to decrease the twin pregnancy rate.
Time to diagnosis and determinants of diagnosis delays of people living with a rare disease: a Rare Barometer retrospective patient survey
Authors: Dubief Jessie , Faye Fatoumata , Crocione Claudia , de Peña Roberta Anido , Bellagambi Simona , Peñaloza Luciana Escati , Hunter Amy , Jensen Lene , Oosterwijk Cor , Schoeters Eva , de Vicente Daniel , Faivre Laurence , Wilbur Michael , Cam Yann Le
Published: January 2024

Timely diagnosis is one of the most serious challenges faced by people living with a rare disease (PLWRD), and this new research estimates that in Europe, the average Total Diagnosis Time (TDT) is 4 to 5 years. We investigated the duration of the TDT for PLWRD in Europe, the difficulties associated with their diagnosis odyssey and the main determinants of diagnosis delays for all rare diseases (RD). We conducted a survey of PLWRD and their families between March and June 2022 using Rare Barometer, the survey initiative of EURORDIS-Rare Diseases Europe. In geographical Europe, we surveyed 6,507 people living with 1,675 RD in 41 countries. We then peformed a descriptive analysis and ordinal logistic regressions to identify the main determinants of diagnosis delays. Average TDT is 4.7 years. 56% of respondents were diagnosed more than 6 months after a first medical contact. The main determinants of diagnosis delays are symptom onset before 30 years of age, especially during childhood (OR = 3.11; 95% CI: 2.4-4.0) and adolescence (OR = 4.79; 95% CI: 3.7–6.2), being a woman (OR = 1.22; 95% CI:1.1–1.4), living in Northern Europe (OR = 2.15; 95% CI:1.8–2.6) or Western Europe (OR = 1.96; 95% CI:1.6–2.3), the number of healthcare professionals consulted (OR = 5.15; 95% CI:4.1–6.4), misdiagnosis (OR = 2.48; 95% CI:2.1–2.9), referral to a centre of expertise (OR = 1.17; 95% CI:1.0-1.3), unmet needs for psychological support (OR = 1.34; 95% CI:1.2–1.5) and financial support (OR = 1.16; 95% CI:1.0-1.3), having a genetic disease (OR = 1.33; 95% CI:1.1–1.5) and a family history of a RD (OR = 1.36; 95% CI:1.1–1.6). These determinants can inform policies and actions to improve access to diagnosis for all PLWRD.
Real-Time CUDA Implementation of High-Order Vertical Synchrosqueezing
Authors: Gambrych Jacek , Abratkiewicz Karol
Published: January 2024

Fast and efficient implementations of Fourier’s analysis techniques for non-stationary signals have been desired recently, not only in civilian but also in military applications. The ability to work in a real-time regime with high dependability and reliability when wideband signals are processed is a challenging but highly desirable task (e.g. analysis of radar signals). This article delves into the real-time implementations of two variants of vertical synchrosqueezing (VSS). The ability to achieve real-time processing was enabled by leveraging Nvidia CUDA technology. Validation through real-life radar signal processing scenarios has confirmed the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed algorithms. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first real-time implementation of VSS given in the literature.
Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle after Bowel Cancer (HEAL ABC) – Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial
Authors: Sremanak Jana , Sowerbutts Anne Marie , Todd Chris , Cooke Richard , Pearce Lyndsay , Leiberman David , Mclaughlin John , Hil Jim , Ashby Helen , Ramesh Aswatha , Burden Sorrel
Published: January 2024

Background: Evidence from cohort studies indicates that a healthy lifestyle can improve cancer survival but evidence from randomised controlled trials (RCT) is lacking. Thus, this study tested the feasibility of conducting a lifestyle intervention in patients after colorectal cancer (CRC) treatment.

Methods: An intervention was developed based on World Cancer Research Fund and American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) recommendations, the Health Action Process Approach and Motivational Interviewing and tested using a feasibility/mixed-methods RCT. Participants were allocated to a three-month telephone-based intervention with printed resources and website versus standard care control group. The follow up period was six months. Data on anthropometry, diet, physical activity were collected and analysed using Stata (V14, StataCorp LLC).

Results: In total, 34/35 participants completed the intervention, and 31 (89%) completed follow up. Recruitment was challenging (31 ineligible, 37 declined). There was improvement in WCRF/AICR score in the intervention group compared to control at three months (R2 1.1, 95%CI 0.5;1.6, p=0.0001), and at six months (R2 0.9, 95%CI 0.1;1.7, p=0.03), and in Diet Quality Index-International score (R2 8.9, 95%CI 3.3;14.5, p=0.003) at three months, and at six months (R2 8.2, 95%CI 1.1;15.3, p=0.02). Following WCRF/AICR recommendations led to a 10% reduction in ultra-processed food consumption in the intervention group.

Conclusions: The intervention was feasible for 87% of intervention participants, supporting them in healthy lifestyle changes. However, alternative recruitment strategies are needed to provide a large enough sample for a powered RCT to determine the efficacy of the intervention.
Using a Smartwatch and Smartphone to Assess Early Parkinson’s Disease in the WATCH-PD Study – 12-month results
Authors: Adams Jamie , Kangarloo Tairmae , Gong Yishu , Khachadourian Vahe , Tracey Brian , Volfson Dmitri , Latzman Robert , Cosman Josh , Edgerton Jeremy , Anderson David , Best Allen , Kostrzebski Melissa , Auinger Peggy , Wilmot Peter , Pohlson Yvonne , Jensen-Roberts Stella , Mueller Martijn , Stephenson Diane , Dorsey Ray
Published: January 2024

Digital measures may provide objective, sensitive, real-world measures of disease progression in Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, multi-center longitudinal assessments of such measures are few.
We recently demonstrated that baseline assessments of gait, tremor, finger tapping, and speech from a commercially available smartwatch, smartphone, and research-grade wearable sensors differed significantly between 82 individuals with early, untreated PD and 50 age-matched controls. Here, we evaluated the longitudinal change in these assessments over 12 months in a multi-center observational study using a generalized additive model, which permitted flexible modeling of at-home data. All measurements were included until participants started medications for PD.
Over one year, individuals with early PD experienced significant declines in several measures of gait, an increase in the proportion of day with tremor, modest changes in speech, and few changes in psychomotor function. As measured by the smartwatch, the average (SD) arm swing in clinic decreased from 25.9 (15.4) degrees at baseline to 19.9 degrees (13.7) at month 12 (p=0.004). The proportion of awake time an individual with early PD had tremor increased from 19.3% (18.0%) to 25.6% (21.4%; p<0.001). Activity, as measured by the number of steps taken per day, decreased from 3052 (1306) steps per day to 2331 (2010; p=0.16), but this analysis was restricted to 10 participants due to exclusion of those that had started PD medications and lost data.
The change of these digital measures over 12 months was generally larger than corresponding change in individual items on the Movement Disorder Society—Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale but not greater than the change in the overall scale. Successful implementation of digital measures in future clinical trials will require improvements in study conduct, especially data capture. Nonetheless, gait and tremor measures derived from a commercially available smartwatch and smartphone hold promise for assessing the efficacy of therapeutics in early PD.
Simulation of Groundwater Dissolved Organic Carbon in Yufu River Basin during Artificial Recharge: Improving the SWAT-MODFLOW-RT3D Reaction Module
Authors: Hong Xiaotao , Zhang Wenjing , Wang Zezheng , Shi Chao , Chen Xuequn , Liu Dan , Li Shuxin , Huan Huan
Published: January 2024

To maintain the spring water supply and groundwater level, the Chinese government has adopted a series of water regulation measures in Jinan. However, as a result of water exchange, considerable volumes of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) can reach groundwater. Changes in DOC concentrations in groundwater can affect the physical and chemical stability of groundwater, thereby altering the subsurface microecological environment. In addition, the Chinese government's targets for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality have posed new challenges to the Yufu River watershed's ability to maintain and enhance its carbon sinks and storage capacity. This study aimed to develop a SWAT-MODFLOW-RT3D model specifically designed for the Yufu River watershed, with the purpose of simulating variations in DOC concentration in groundwater under diverse artificial recharge scenarios. The ultimate objective was to offer valuable insights into the effective management of water resources in the designated study region. The modified SWAT-MODFLOW-RT3D model simulated the variations of DOC concentration in groundwater under three artificial recharges scenarios, which are (a) Recharged by Yellow River water; (b) Recharged by Yangtze River water; (c) Recharged by Yangtze River and Yellow River water. The study revealed that the distribution of DOC concentration in groundwater within the watershed exhibited notable spatial variations as a result of the impact of surface water infiltration recharge. The concentration of DOC in groundwater exhibits an increase in proximity to the river, whereas it remains relatively constant in other regions within the watershed. Additionally, as artificial recharge periods increase, the impact of rivers on groundwater DOC concentrations grows steadily stronger. The primary cause of the ongoing rise in groundwater DOC concentration in the watershed is the long-term storage of water resources. By 2030, the maximum level of DOC in the basin will exceed 6.20 mg/l. The Yellow River water recharge scenario offers greater groundwater recharge and the lowest DOC input unit volume in the research area when compared to the Yangtze River water and combined water resources recharge scenarios. Lithology is also a key factor that determines how the model performs in the end. The primary source of DOC recharge in groundwater is lateral recharge from rivers, not precipitation infiltration. The findings of this study indicate that, particularly when recharge water supplies are enhanced with organic carbon, DOC concentrations in groundwater may alter dramatically during artificial storage. In order to lessen the detrimental effects of water backfilling on groundwater quality, this coupled modeling analysis is crucial.
Conserved Function of Bat IRF7 in Activating Antiviral Innate Immunity Insights into the Innate Immune Response in Bats
Authors: Cheng Yuqiang , Wang Jie , Liu Qiuju , Xu Caixia , Fu Feiyu , Shao Qi , Fu Yapeng , Wang Zhaofei , Wang Hengan , Sun Jianhe , Yan Yaxian , Ma Jingjiao
Published: January 2024

Bats are natural hosts for various highly pathogenic viruses, these viruses pose a huge threat to humans and animals. Yet they rarely display signs of disease infection from these viruses. The expression of IRF7-induced IFN-β plays a crucial role in against viral infections. However, the role of batIRF7 during viral infection remains unclear. In this study, we cloned the Tadarida brasiliensis IRF7 and discovered that its amino acid sequence showed poor conservation among species. Next, we investigated the expression of bat IRF7 mRNA in TB1 Lu cells infected with RNA viruses such as Newcastle disease virus (NDV), avian influenza virus (AIV), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), and double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) analogs poly (I: C) and demonstrated that these viral infections significantly upregulated the expression of bat IRF7 mRNA. Furthermore, the overexpression of IRF7 in TB1 Lu cells activated the expression of bat innate immune-related genes and inhibited virus replication. Importantly, we observed that bat IRF7 function is highly conserved in avian and mammalian species. Structurally, we identified that the IRF domain of bat IRF7 was essential for activating IFN-β. In summary, our findings indicate that bat IRF7 possesses a conserved ability to activate bat antiviral innate immunity. This study provides a theoretical foundation for further understanding the innate immune response in bats.
Spatial analysis of depression and anxiety among frontline health workers during Nigeria’s COVID-19 pandemic – Cross sectional study
Authors: Goson Piwuna Christopher , Osuagwu Uchechukwu Levi , Ekpenyong Bernadine N , Miner Chundung Asabe , Ojeahere Margaret , Ishaya Tanko , Mashige Khathutshelo P , Ovenseri-Ogbomo Godwin , Envuladu Esther Awazzi , Abu Emmanuel Kwasi , Timothy Chikasirimobi G , Langsi Raymond , Amiebenomo Onyekachukwu M , Oloruntoba Richard , Charwe Deborah Donald , Basak Palash , Agho Kingsley Emwinyore
Published: January 2024

Background
The COVID-19 pandemic caused considerable panic and anxiety among health workers in all countries of the world, including Nigeria. This study aimed to identify the spatial clustering for prevalence and factors associated with anxiety and depression among frontline health workers (FHWs) during COVID-19 in the 36 states of Nigeria.
Methods
This was a cross sectional study conducted in COVID-19 hospital treatment centres (one in each state) across 36 Nigerian states and Federal Capital Territory. A total of 3,353 FHWs were recruited using convenient sampling technique. The main outcomes were depression and anxiety symptoms examined using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and categorised into binary. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with anxiety and depression. Additionally, spatial distribution for anxiety and depression was analysed, and a series of maps were generated using ArcGIS Desktop
Results
FHWs in the Southeastern States of Anambra, Enugu, Abia, and Imo, experienced higher odds of depression and anxiety compared with other states. For anxiety alone, higher odds were observed among FHWs in Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, and Edo states. Logistic regression analyses revealed higher odds for anxiety and depression among Nurses, while FHWs who have practiced for 1–6 years had significantly higher odds for depression (adjusted odds ratios (AOR) = 3.21, 95%CI: 1.90, 5.43 for 5–6 years; and AOR = 2.33, 95%CI: 1.27, 4.26 for 1–4 years). The odds for anxiety and depression were significantly lower among FHWs who had a previous history of psychological distress compared with those with no previous history.
Conclusions
Findings can be applied to public health policy that focuses on reducing levels of anxiety and depression during the pandemic and other future pandemics and should target FHWs with limited years of experience. Regional disparities emphasise the critical need for targeted interventions to safeguard healthcare workers' mental well-being, especially in high-risk regions.
Development and validation of a community acquired sepsis-worsening score in the adult emergency department: a prospective cohort. The CASC score
Authors: Saget François , Maamar Adel , Esvan Maxime , Gacouin Arnaud , Bouget Jacques , Levrel Vincent , Tadié Jean-Marc , Soulat Louis , Reuter Paul Georges , Peschanski Nicolas , Laviolle Bruno
Published: January 2024

Background
Sepsis is a leading cause of death and serious illness that requires early recognition and therapeutic management to improve survival. The quick-SOFA score helps in its recognition, but its diagnostic performance is insufficient. To develop a score that can rapidly identify a community acquired septic situation at risk of clinical complications in patients consulting the emergency department (ED).
Methods
We conducted a monocentric, prospective cohort study in the emergency department of a university hospital between March 2016 and August 2018 (NCT03280992). All patients admitted to the emergency department for a microbiologically proven community-acquired infection were included. Predictor variables of progression to septic shock or death within the first 90 days were selected using backward stepwise multivariable logistic regression to develop a clinical score. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were constructed to determine the discriminating power of the area under the curve (AUC). We also determined the threshold of our score that optimized the performance required for a sepsis-worsening score.
Results
Among the 21,826 patients admitted to the ED, 786 met the sepsis criteria and 496 had a microbiologically proven infection; therefore, these patients were included in the analysis. The median [interquartile range] age was 72 [54–84] years, 248 (54%) were males, and 244 (53%) had respiratory symptoms. The clinical score ranged from 0 to 90 and included 8 variables with an area under the ROC curve of 0.85 (confidence interval [CI] 95% 0.81–0.89). A cut-off of 26 yields a sensitivity of 88% (CI 95% 0.79–0.93), a specificity of 62% (CI 95% 57–67), and a negative predictive value of 95% (CI 95% 91–97).
Conclusions
Our study provides an accurate clinical score for identifying septic patients consulting the ED early at risk of worsening disease. This score could be implemented at admission.
Hydrogeochemical characterization and water quality evaluation for drinking and irrigation purposes of coastal aquifers of Middle Andaman
Authors: Kumar Pardeep , Vishwakarma Chandrashekhar Azad , Singh Priyadarshini , asthana Harshita , Rena Vikas , mate Carolyne chinneikim , Mukherjee Saumitra
Published: January 2024

A comprehensive study to characterize the hydrogeochemistry of the region and the impact of saltwater intrusion on groundwater was conducted along the eastern coast of Middle Andaman of Andaman and Nicobar (A&N) Islands. The escalating population growth and intensified tourism activities have resulted in the over-extraction of groundwater. Seismic activities led to the opening of lineaments to the sea and dissolution of limestone in influence of seawater. 24 groundwater samples and 1 reference sample from sea were taken from various locations of middle Andaman. The analysis involved the determination of major cations, anions, and heavy metals using ICP, spectrophotometry, and flame photometry. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction analysis, binary diagrams, Chloro-alkaline indices (CAI), Gibbs Plot, correlation matrix, Piper plot, Chadha's plot and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to the major ions data indicated rock-water interactions, strong correlations among alkali and alkaline earth metals, and interactions between seawater and carbonate minerals respectively. The water quality index indicated “very poor to unsuitable for drinking purposes” in 24% of the samples. Additionally, indices for irrigation suitability; total hardness (TH), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), and Magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR) were found to be detrimental for irrigation in 80%, 08%, and 12% of the water samples, respectively.
What does the data analysis of 7,048 environmental articles tell us about the quality of Wikipedia?
Authors: Petiška Eduard , Kuběna Aleš , Dressler Michal
Published: January 2024

Wikipedia articles are categorized into different levels of quality, so we analyzed all 7,048 environmental articles in the Environment Assessment project on English-language Wikipedia. Based on a review of literature, we selected indicators of information quality (number of editors, number of edits, article length, number of references, and the ratio of references to words) and tested the correlation between these indicators and quality perception in the Wikipedia Assessment project. We found that articles perceived as higher quality typically have more editors and edits, are longer, and contain more references, as well as a higher ratio of references to words.
Molecular-scale complexes of IL-2/15 receptors and MHC molecules persist but become more mobile, while microdomain-level aggregates are dispersed on actin-free membrane blebs of T cells
Authors: Vámosi György , Mocsár Gábor , Vereb György , Zubánics-Nagy Áron , Volkó Julianna , Farkas Attila , Wieser Stefan , Bodnár Andrea , Tóth Katalin , Schuetz Gerhard
Published: January 2024

Earlier we found that interleukin-2 and -15 receptors (IL-2R, IL-15R) and MHC I and II, all proteins essential in T cell activation, form co-clusters at different hierarchic levels in lipid rafts of T cells. To investigate whether the membrane-associated actin cytoskeleton has a role in organizing these clusters, we used membrane blebs formed spontaneously on starved human T lymphoma cells for comparison, as they have a smooth surface without cytoskeletal connections. STED microscopy showed that the patchy cell surface distribution of IL-2Rα, IL-15Rα, MHC I and the lipid raft marker GM1 ganglioside observed on intact cell membranes became more homogenous on blebs. Spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed that cluster sizes diminished. Fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and single molecule tracking showed a two- to four-fold increase in the mobility of the investigated proteins. FRET efficiencies between homo- or hetero-associated proteins remained constant or decreased moderately and the associated fractions of protein pairs determined by fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy remained unchanged or increased. Our results show that the higher-order organization of the membrane becomes more homogeneous, clusters become smaller and the mobility of molecules increases on actin-free membrane blebs, but the investigated protein-protein interactions are preserved and do not depend on the actin cytoskeleton.
Numerical study on the damped oscillation of effusive eruption: a case study of the 1991-1995 Mt. Unzen eruption (Japan)
Authors: Nishikawa Sora , Tanaka Ryo
Published: January 2024

Geophysical observations have detected damped oscillations in chamber pressure and discharge rate during effusive eruptions. This behavior is caused by the interaction between the chamber, which acts as an elastic capacitance, and the variable flow resistance of the conduit. Previous numerical approaches have shown that conduit deformation during eruptions causes damped oscillatory changes in the discharge rate and pressure. However, the change in the conduit radius due to the influence of irrational modeling, which does not consider changes in the physical properties of the magma, is overestimated. Therefore, to overcome this limitation, in this study, we constructed a new mathematical model that incorporates changes in the physical properties of ascending magma into a mathematical model of magma-supplying systems that consider conduit deformation. The proposed model revealed that changes in the physical properties of magma during ascent affect the flow resistance by influencing the efficient viscosity and bulk density, which in turn affect the amplitude of damping oscillation and scale of the conduit radius. The model was applied to the 1991-1995 eruption of Mt. Unzen, which showed two peaks of pulsating lava extrusion within a consistent size of conduit radius with the petrological studies. As an application, the model estimates the chamber volume to be [[EQUATION]], which is slightly smaller than that of the potential magma chamber zone detected by geophysical observations beneath Mt. Unzen, indicating that the proposed numerical model might constrain the mechanical size of the elastic chamber. Moreover, the estimated crustal viscosity is approximately 4 - 5 orders of magnitude smaller than typical values reported by geodetic observations. The underestimation may be caused by the effects of partial melting of the host rock and/or the dike-shaped conduit. Our results suggest that the effects of conduit deformation and changes in magma properties must be taken into account when considering the temporal changes in eruptions.
Birds do not use social learning of landmarks to locate favorable nest sites
Authors: Slagsvold Tore , Wiebe Karen L.
Published: January 2024

Experiments since the classic studies of Niko Tinbergen have provided evidence that animals use visual landmarks to navigate. We tested whether birds use visual landmarks to relocate their nest sites by presenting two species of cavity nesting birds with a dyad of nest boxes with different white markings around the entrance, a circle or a triangle. When the two boxes were erected in close proximity on the same tree, pied flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca and blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus confused the entrance of their nest both when the boxes had different external markings and when they were unmarked. Most females added nest material to both boxes of a dyad and one third of the flycatchers laid eggs in both boxes although a female can only incubate the eggs in one nest at a time. Thus, the birds did not use external markings around cavity entrances for orientation. We also tried to replicate a previous study purporting to show that migratory birds use social learning of the external appearance of nests from other species. However, pied flycatchers did not choose boxes with the same painted markings as those applied to nests of resident great tits Parus major which were judged to be high quality "demonstrators" from their large clutch sizes. We argue that conclusions from previous studies on social learning based on external markings as landmarks on nest cavities in birds need to be reconsidered.
Palliative Biliodigestive Bypass for Unresectable Pancreatic Malignancy at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre: a Retrospective Cross-sectional Study
Authors: MUTOMBO Fabrice LELE , TSANDIRAKI Justin KAMBALE , MCHIHIYO Tumaini , WAMPEMBE Elisabeth , KENNEDY Misso , LODHIA Jay , Chilonga Salum Kondo
Published: January 2024

Background
Pancreatic cancer is a common and deadly cancer, ranking as the 14th most common cancer worldwide and the 7th leading cause of cancer-related deaths. Advanced pancreatic malignancy frequently presents with biliary and gastric outlet obstruction and palliative open interventions are often required, especially in low-income countries where endoscopic surgical bypass methods are often unavailable. This study aimed to describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients undergoing biliodigestive bypass for pancreatic malignancy.
Methods
This was a hospital-based retrospective observational study at the tertiary hospital in northern Tanzania. We included 53 patients who underwent double or triple bypass surgery for pancreatic malignancy between January 2019 to December 2022 at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC), Tanzania. Data was collected from medical records, analyzing demographics, comorbidities, pre-surgery and surgery details, and post-surgery outcomes. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize continuous variables as mean with standard deviation and categorical variables as percentages.
Results
53 patients were analyzed, with a mean age of 63.2 years and a male to female ratio of 1.03:1. Jaundice was the most common presentation (77.4%). Of the patients, 74.5% had comorbidities, and the majority (81.1%) were uninsured. 50.9% of patients had a length of hospital stay shorter than 5 days, and 88.3% resumed normal oral intake. Palliation failure was observed in 22.6% of patients. The mean overall 30-day survival for all patients was 27.6 days.
Conclusion
Bypass surgery remains a treatment of choice for palliating symptoms in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. This study highlights the importance of prompt diagnosis of pancreatic tumors, especially in low-income countries, to achieve better outcomes.
Optimizing Fault Tolerance of RAM cell through MUX based Modeling and Design using symmetries of QCA Cells
Authors: Naz Syed Farah , Ahmed Suhaib , Mughal Shafqat Nabi , Asger Mohammed , Das Jadav Chandra , Mallik Saurav , Shah Mohd Asif
Published: January 2024

Extensive research is now being conducted on the design and construction of logic circuits utilizing quantum-dot cellular automata (QCA) technology. This area of study is of great interest due to the inherent advantages it offers, such as its compact size, high speed, low power dissipation, and enhanced switching frequency in the nanoscale domain. This work presents a design of a highly efficient RAM cell in QCA, utilizing a combination of a 3-input and 5-input Majority Voter (MV) gate, together with a 2×1 Multiplexer (MUX). The proposed design is also investigated for various faults such as single cell deletion, single cell addition and single cell displacement or misalignment defects. The circuit under consideration has a high degree of fault tolerance. The functionality of the suggested design is showcased and verified through the utilization of the QCADesigner tool. Based on the observed performance correlation, it is evident that the proposed design demonstrates effectiveness in terms of cell count, area, and latency. Furthermore, it achieves a notable improvement of up to 76.72% compared to the present configuration in terms of quantum cost. The analysis of energy dissipation, conducted using the QCAPro tool, is also shown for various scenarios. It is seen that this design exhibits the lowest energy dispersion, hence enabling the development of ultra-low power designs for diverse microprocessors and microcontrollers.
A pre-averaged pseudo nearest neighbor classifier
Authors: Li Dapeng
Published: January 2024

K nearest neighbor rule is a powerful classification method. However, its classification performance will be affected in the situation of small-size samples with existing outliers. To address this issue, a pre-averaged pseudo nearest neighbor classifier (PAPNN) is proposed to improve classification performance. In the PAPNN rule, pre-averaged categorical vectors are calculated by taking the average of any two points of the training sets in each class, and then k pseudo nearest neighbors are chosen from the preprocessed vectors of every class to determine the category of a query point. The pre-averaged vectors can reduce the negative impact of outliers in some degree. Extensive experiments are carried out on nineteen numerical real data sets and three artificial data sets by comparing PAPNN to other five KNN-based methods. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed PAPNN rule is effective for classification task in the case of small-size samples with existing outliers.
Proper Orthogonal Decomposition Analysis of Flow Characteristics of Aerostatic Bearings based on Large Eddy Simulation
Authors: Zhao Ming , Zhao Zhihui , Cheng Cheng , Liu Zhengxian , Hou Weijie , Yan Lijia , Li Zhanxin , Xu Lianchao
Published: January 2024

The driving mechanism of the microvibration of aerostatic bearings is still unclear. Although there are several interpretations, none of them is conclusive. The difficulty lies in the complicated information concealed beneath the turbulence flow. To this end, the proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) method was systematically implemented in the aerostatic bearing flow field analysis in the present study, and some new findings have been proposed. First, the accuracy of our large eddy simulation (LES) has been validated through quantitative comparison with the experimental reference. Then, the mode decomposition has been conducted at a circumferential symmetry plane and the influence of supply pressure has been uncovered. It turns out that the vortices within the recess dominate the flowfield when the supply energy Ps=3atm, while the shear flow in the vicinity of the recess inlet becomes intense and corresponding vortices become predominant in the case of Ps=5atm. Meanwhile, the 4atm case could be regarded as an intermediate state between the 3atm and 5atm cases and both of the above flow features could be observed. Eventually, the influences of film thickness have also been discussed when Ps=4atm. Different from the case of h=10μm, the vortices near the recess outlet could be detected when the film thickness is increased to 20μm. The control of corresponding flow structures might be helpful for the microvibration suppression.
GLUT3-mediated cigarette smoke-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease through the NF-kB/ZEB1 pathway
Authors: Ding Yu , Wang Ziteng , zhang Zheming , You Rong , Wu Yan , Bian Tao
Published: January 2024

Background
Airway remodelling plays an important role in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).Epithelial–mesenchymal transition(EMT) is a signnificant process during the occurence of airway remodelling. Increasing evidence suggests that glucose transporter 3 (GLUT3) is involved in the epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) process of various diseases. However, the role of GLUT3 in EMT in the airway epithelial cells of COPD patients remains unclear.
Methods
We detected the levels of GLUT3 in the peripheral lung tissue of COPD patients and cigarette smoke (CS)-exposed mice. Two Gene Expression Omnibus GEO datasets were utilised to analyse GLUT3 gene expression profiles in COPD. Western blot and immunofluorescence were used to detect GLUT3 expression. In addition, we used the AAV9-GLUT3 inhibitor to reduce GLUT3 expression in the mice model.Masson’s staining and lung function measurement were used detect the collagen deposition and penh in the mice.A cell study was performed to confirm the regulatory effect of GLUT3. Inhibition of GLUT3 expression with siRNA, Western blot, and immunofluorescence were used to detect the expression of E-cadherin, N-cadherin, vimentin, p65, and ZEB1.
Results
Based on the GEO data set analysis, GLUT3 expression in COPD patients was higher than in non-smokers. Moreover, GLUT3 was highly expressed in COPD patients, CS exposed mice, and BEAS-2B cells treated with CS extract (CSE). Further research revealed that down-regulation of GLUT3 significantly alleviated airway remodelling in vivo and in vitro. Lung function measurement showed that GLUT3 reduction reduced airway resistance in experimental COPD mice. Mechanistically, our study showed that reduction of GLUT3 inhibited CSE-induced EMT by down-regulating the NF-κB/ZEB1 pathway.
Conclusion
We demonstrate that CS enhances the expression of GLUT3 in COPD and further confirm that GLUT3 may regulate airway remodelling in COPD through the NF-κB/ZEB1 pathway; these findings have potential value in the diagnosis and treatment of COPD. The down-regulation of GLUT3 significantly alleviated airway remodelling and reduced airway resistance in vivo. Our observations uncover a key role of GLUT3 in modulating airway remodelling and shed light on the development of GLUT3-targeted therapeutics for COPD.
RETRACTED: Script-Specific Character Recognition: A Deep Learning Framework for Analyzing Tamil Ancient Inscriptions in Temples
Authors: Bhuvaneswari S. , Kathiravan K.
Published: January 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
ISFO-CS: An Improved Sailfish Optimization Algorithm for Controller Selection in SDWSN
Authors: Rajoriya Manisha Kumari , Gupta Chandra Prakash
Published: January 2024

Software-defined wireless sensor networks (SDWSNs) have recently been added to networking, increasing scalability and performance. Choosing SDN controllers is a critical issue for network administrators in SDNs. The control plane in SDN is a separate procedure that operates on the control layer. In terms of applications and services, the controller provides a comprehensive view of the entire network. The three key factors examined when selecting a controller are open source, campus network, and productivity. An appropriate device for the prompt processing of all switch requests is required for SDN to function properly and the network to behave properly. To determine the optimum controller for the given parameters, decision logic that allows controller comparison must be developed. As a result, an improved Sailfish Optimization (ISFO) method is proposed in this study to ideally take the best controller node (CN) from a group of sensor nodes. The ISFO selects the best CN by considering a multi-objective fitness function incorporating distance, residual energy, node coverage, and sensor node communication cost. After selecting CN, the Fuzzy C-means (FCM) Clustering algorithm executes the subsequent data transmission process. The Matlab program is used to execute the simulation, and the performance of the proposed methodology is assessed using several performance criteria. The proposed model accomplishes a 0.95% packet delivery ratio for 500 rounds and takes 1.8s for 500 rounds of node to controller latency.
Ligand-functionalized Anderson-type Polyoxometalate for Efficient Selective Cationic Dye Adsorption
Authors: Kang Hongji , Yang Lili , Liu Yuqi , Su Ke , Zhang Hao , Huang Xiaoxue , Yang Lu
Published: January 2024

The issue of treating organic dyes in industrial wastewater has long been a subject of grave concern in the fields of environmental protection and public health. In an attempt to explore efficient solutions to this problem, this work focuses on the selective adsorption approach towards dyes molecules based on a Anderson-type polyoxometalate (POM, noted as POM-1) as potential adsorbent, which has been functionalized with organic groups. Adsorption experiments revealed that POM-1 displayed efficient adsorption capabilities towards the cationic dye methyl blue (MB) with almost complete adsorption within 25 min, and the adsorption rate was calculated as 98%. A rapid and consecutive filtering experiments have also been performed and further proved the excellent adsorption behavior of POM-1 towards MB. We envision that the functionalization of carboxylic ligands increased the negative charges of anionic POM, greatly promotes the interactions between adsorbent and cationic MB via electrostatic effect.
RETRACTED: Parametric Analysis on Geosynthetic Reinforced Retaining Wall
Authors: Ali POLAT , Banu YAĞCI
Published: January 2024

The authors have requested that this preprint be removed from Research Square.
Sacubitril/valsartan ameliorates tubulointerstitial fibrosis by restoring mitochondrial homeostasis in diabetic kidney disease
Authors: Zhang Xing-Jian , Liu Cong-Cong , Li Zuo-Lin , Ding Lin , Zhou Yan , Zhang Dong-Jie , Zhang Yao , Hou Shu-Ting , Ma Rui-Xia
Published: January 2024

Background
Tubulointerstitial fibrosis plays an important role in the progression of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Sacubitril/valsartan (Sac/Val) exerts a robust beneficial effect in DKD. However, the potential functional effect of Sac/Val on tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DKD is still largely unclear.
Methods
Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were given Sac/Val or Val by intragastric administration once a day for 12 weeks. The renal function, the pathological changes of tubule injury and tubulointerstitial fibrosis, as well as mitochondrial morphology of renal tubules in mice, were evaluated. Genome-wide gene expression analysis was performed to identify the potential mechanisms. Meanwhile, human tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were cultured in high glucose condition containing LBQ657/valsartan (LBQ/Val). Further, mitochondrial functions and Sirt1/PGC1α pathway of tubular epithelial cells were assessed by Western blot, Real-time-PCR, JC-1, MitoSOX or MitoTracker. Finally, the Sirt1 specific inhibitor, EX527, was used to explore the potential effects of Sirt1 signaling in vivo and in vitro.
Results
We found that Sac/Val significantly ameliorated the decline of renal function and tubulointerstitial fibrosis in DKD mice. The enrichment analysis of gene expression indicated metabolism as an important modulator in DKD mice with Sac/Val administration, in which mitochondrial homeostasis plays a pivotal role. Then, the decreased expression of Tfam and Cox Ⅳ, as well as changes of mitochondrial function and morphology, demonstrated the disruption of mitochondrial homeostasis under DKD conditions. Interestingly, Sac/Val administration was found to restore mitochondrial homeostasis in DKD mice and in vitro model of HK-2 cells. Further, we demonstrated that Sirt1/PGC1α, a crucial pathway in mitochondrial homeostasis, was activated by Sac/Val both in vivo and in vitro. Finally, the beneficial effects of Sac/Val on mitochondrial homeostasis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis was partially abolished in the presence of Sirt1 specific inhibitor.
Conclusions
Taken together, we demonstrate that Sac/Val ameliorates tubulointerstitial fibrosis by restoring Sirt1/PGC1α pathway-mediated mitochondrial homeostasis in DKD, providing a theoretical basis for delaying the progression of DKD in clinical practice.