bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Dual Band Adhesive Planar Antenna for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Yeap Kim Ho , Voon Chow Shen , Oh Zi Xin , Dakulagi Veerendra , Nisar Humaira
Published: July 2024

We present the design of a compact dual-band adhesive planar antenna which operates as a gateway for biomedical applications. Operating in the ISM band (2.4 GHz – 2.5 GHz) and the IEEE 802.11 WLAN band (5.2 GHz to 5.3 GHz), the antenna is useful in the context of Wireless Body Area Networks (WBAN) for body-signal monitoring. The ISM band is meant for in-body communication with the implanted medical devices; whereas the WLAN band is for off-body communication with the base station. The measurement result shows that the antenna has 10 dB impedance bandwidths of 1 GHz (1.64–2.64 GHz) and 800 MHz (5.16–5.96 GHz) to cover the ISM bands and IEEE 802.11 WLAN bands, respectively. The proposed antenna is printed on a flexible Duroid 5880 RT epoxy substrate and it occupies a compact volume of 18 mm × 18 mm × 1 mm. To the best of our knowledge, this size is the smallest among antennas which features a similar nature. The simulated and measured performance of the antenna confirms its omnidirectional radiation patterns and dual-band operation with high return losses.
Tilte：SNRPA may mediate transcription and splicing of genesassociated with HCC via binding special RNAs
Authors: Chang Qingyao , Wang Yidi , Xu Jun
Published: July 2024

Small nuclear ribonucleoprotein polypeptide A (SNRPA) was screened as an important RNA-binding protein based on its correlation with survival in Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) patients. SNRPA-overexpressed model was established in HepG2 cells. RNA-seq analysis revealed extensive differentially expressed genes (DEGs) expression profiles and the occurrence of regulated alternative splicing events (RASEs). Furthermore, we employed iRIP-seq and integrated the resulting data with RNA-seq data to identify SNRPA-binding RNAs, including CEMIP, SLC4A11, and GTF2IP7. SNRPA also binds and modulates alternative splicing(AS) of genes including RNA splicing, DNA transcription, and cell division, including HNRNPH1, EIF4A2, PPP6R2, FN1, and GNAS. These discoveries creatively reveal the potential molecular regulatory mechanisms of SNRPA in HCC, thereby significantly contributing to the progress and enhancement of research and treatment strategies for HCC.
Development and validation of a machine learning model based on multiple kernel for predicting the recurrence risk of Budd-Chiari syndrome
Authors: Xue Weirong , Jin Yingliang , Li Shengli , Xu Bing , Wang Hui , Zhu Xiaoxiao , Qin Jiajia , Yu Peilin
Published: July 2024

Background
Budd-Chiari syndrome (BCS) is a rare condition worldwide with a high recurrence rate. The existing prognostic scoring models have shown limited predictive efficacy for recurrence of BCS patients.The study aim to establish a more effective machine learning model based on multiple kernel learning for predicting the recurrence of Budd-Chiari syndrome patients within three years.
Methods
The dataset was obtained from patients diagnosed with BCS admitted to the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between January 2015 and July 2022.The data were divided into training, validation, and test sets in a 6:2:2 ratio. We established respective model based on traversal of all combinations of four kernel functions in training set, and selected best hyperparameters for each model by particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm in validation set. Test set was conducted for comparasion of kernel function combinations, with AUC (area under the curve), sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy used as evaluation indexs. The optimal model, utilizing the best-selected kernel combination, was then compared with three other machine learning models to further assess its performance.
Result
A kernel combination incorporating all four basic kernels achieved the highest average AUC, specificity, and accuracy, as well as a slightly lower mean but more stable sensitivity across all combinations. In comparison with other classical machine learning models, our model also achieved significant advantages in performance. Furthermore, it outperformed previous studies with similar objectives.
Conclusion
We have explored risk factors influencing relapse of BCS patients and demonstrated our proposed MKSVRB model is superior to previous prediction methods and other machine learning models, showcasing its significant potential in early detection, determination, and prevention of relapse in patients with Budd-Chiari syndrome.
Utilizing Machine Learning and DSAS to Analyze Historical Trends and Forecast Future Shoreline Changes Along the River Niger
Authors: Eteh Desmond Rowland , Moses Paaru , Egobueze Francis Emeka , Okpobiri Okechukwu
Published: July 2024

This study investigates shoreline changes along the River Niger in Nigeria over a 70-year period (1974–2044). We employ remote sensing data, machine learning, and the DSAS tool to analyze historical changes (1974–2024) and predict future trends (2024–2044). Landsat imagery obtained from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) through the Google Earth Engine API is analyzed using ArcGIS, DSAS 5.0 and 6.0 software and rainfall data acquired from the Center for Hydrometeorology and Remote Sensing (CHRS). Findings indicate notable spatial and temporal variations in shoreline dynamics across Bayelsa, Delta, and Anambra States. Around 51.47% of the transects experienced erosion, while 48.53% underwent accretion, with an average annual shoreline change rate of 1.66 meters. Despite the equilibrium, erosion exhibits a more significant impact, with a mean rate of -2.26 meters per year compared to an accretion rate of 3.92 meters per year. The study identifies a total shoreline change envelope (SCE) of 442.86 meters and a net shoreline movement (NSM) of 92.33 meters, indicating substantial overall shoreline advancement. Looking ahead, projections for 2024–2044 show varying erosion and accretion patterns across different sections. Section D faces the most significant threat, with 80% of transects experiencing erosion at a rate of -2.96 meters/year. Rainfall data analysis suggests a strong correlation (R² = 0.7576) between precipitation and shoreline change, highlighting the crucial influence of climate on coastal dynamics. These findings emphasize the need for integrated coastal management strategies that account for rainfall variability and prioritize mitigating erosion, particularly in vulnerable sections.
Comparative Study on the Association Between Types of Physical Activity, Physical Activity Levels, and the Incidence of Osteoarthritis in Adults：The NHANES 2007–2020
Authors: Huang Chenyang , Guo Ziyu , Gu Enpeng , Feng Zhixiao , Xu Jiankang , Pan ZhiCheng , Liu Wangxin
Published: July 2024

Background: It is known that physical activity is beneficial to the prevention of osteoarthritis, but specific discussions on which types and levels of physical activity are more effective in reducing the incidence of osteoarthritis are restricted. Purpose: This study is aimed at exploring the correlation concerning the types of physical activity, levels of physical activity, and the incidence of osteoarthritis by assessing the participation in five typical forms of physical activity (vigorous work activity, vigorous recreational activity, moderate work activity, moderate recreational activity, and walking or bicycling). Study Design: Cross-sectional study was conducted.
Methods: Self-reported data on specific domains of physical activity were obtained from individuals in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2020 with the use of the Physical Activity Questionnaire (PAQ). The incidence of osteoarthritis was assessed through the "Health Conditions" questionnaire section of NHANES. Weighted logistic regression analysis was employed to study the correlation between physical activity types and levels, and the incidence of osteoarthritis.
Conclusion: Different kinds of physical activity and physical activity levels have varying impacts on the incidence of osteoarthritis. Among the types of physical activity, vigorous recreational activity and moderate recreational activity are correlated with a reduced risk of osteoarthritis, while moderate work activity may contribute to a rising risk. Regarding physical activity levels, engaging in medium physical activity level appears to be protective against osteoarthritis.
Kinetics and molecular docking of purified polyphenol oxidase from rhizome of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)
Authors: Ilesanmi Olutosin Samuel , Olagunju Victory Ayo , Adedugbe Omowumi Funke , Kayode Adedeji Benedict
Published: July 2024

Polyphenol oxidase catalyzes oxidative conversion of polyphenols to their respective quinones. These have been exploited in various biotechnological processes. The kinetics and molecular docking interaction of turmeric PPO on some inhibitors are here described. The enzyme was purified using aqueous two-phase partitioning. The subunit and the native molecular masses of the purified turmeric PPO were 69 ± 2.0 kDa and 66.8 ± 3.5 kDa respectively, suggesting its monomeric nature. The Km and Vmax of the C. longa PPO for pyrogallol were 5.8 ± 0.6 mM and 722.9 ± 17.0 units/mg protein respectively leading to turnover number (kcat) and first order rate constant (kcat/Km) of 831.6 ± 5.0 s-1 and 1.43 × 105 s-1 M-1 respectively. The purified enzyme was activated at the lowest concentration in KCl and CuSO4, whereas was fairly stable in the presence of NaCl, ZnSO4 and NH4Cl. The inhibition constant (Ki) obtained from Dixon plot for ascorbic acid, β-mercaptoethanol, citric acid, cysteine, EDTA, glutathione and kojic acid were 7.8, 1.7, 5.5, 2.0, 8.1, 3.3 and 6.4 mM respectively. In-depth analyses, revealed that cysteine was the most potent of all the inhibitors investigated. The binding interaction of the purified enzyme with inhibitors revealed that EDTA, Kojic acid and Cysteine have 2 hydrogen bonds formed while citric acid, ascorbic acid and glutathione had 4, 5 and 3 respectively. In conclusion, the kinetics and inhibition studies of the purified turmeric PPO could be deployed in the control of browning and several industrial and biotechnological applications.
Anticancer potential of chalcones loaded on mesoporous silica nanoparticles
Authors: Sampaio Guilherme Jose Schwarzt , Romagna Rodrigo de Almeida , Santos Reginaldo Bezerra dos , Gonçalves Rita de Cássia Ribeiro , de Sousa Edésia Martins Barros , Andrade Gracielle Ferreira , Kitagawa Rodrigo Rezende
Published: July 2024

The difficulty in treating cancer has led to several studies on the development of systems that perform targeted drug delivery, with the aim of increasing the effectiveness of treatment and reducing adverse effects. In this study, a series of chalcones were tested for cytotoxic action on gastric adenocarcinoma cells (AGS) and breast cancer cells (MCF-7) using the MTT-tetrazolium method, and significant cytotoxicity was demonstrated for 3-hydroxychalcone (CHO). The synthesis of mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and their surface modification with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) were carried out, and 3-hydroxychalcone was then incorporated into these nanomaterials. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), elemental analysis (CHN), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential and nitrogen adsorption. In addition, in vitro release tests were carried out to verify the release profile of 3-hydroxychalcone from mesoporous silica samples. The results obtained showed that the mesoporous silica nanoparticles exhibited a gradual and prolonged release profile. In the cytotoxicity test with silica samples incorporated with 3-hydroxychalcone, significant cytotoxic activity was observed against AGS and MCF-7 cells, with the MSN-CHO sample exhibiting a better cytotoxic effect (IC50 of 12.93 to 22.30 μM) than 3-hydroxychalcone (IC50 of 47.58 to 47.97 μM). The results showed that the nanoparticles positively influenced the interaction of 3-hydroxychalcone with tumor cells. This is therefore an unprecedented study on the incorporation of 3-hydroxychalcone into mesoporous silica nanoparticles and its promising results in terms of cytotoxic activity against breast and gastric cancer cells.
Research on fabrication technology of tungsten micro-hole with large aspect ratio based on micro-EDM
Authors: Liao Lu , Huang Teng , Zhang Yongbin
Published: July 2024

The typical characteristics of pinholes used for X-ray imaging are micro-diameter and large aspect ratio. Pure tungsten is generally used to prepare them, but tungsten is difficult to prepare using traditional methods due to its high hardness and strength. Although micro-EDM has certain advantages in machining micro-holes in difficult materials with large aspect ratio, the problem of debris accumulation makes solving the issue of micro-hole taper difficult. To manufacture micro-holes with large aspect ratio and aperture consistency, a new machining process was proposed by combining micro-EDM technology and welding technology. Two semi-circular groove workpieces with the same depth and width were machined using combined manufacturing technology and then welded together to obtain complete micro-holes. This combined manufacturing technology successfully processed pure tungsten material to achieve micro-holes with apertures of 171.45 µm and 174.58 µm and a length of 40mm.
Engineered Nano-Carriers for Stimuli Controlled Release of Micronutrient in Plants
Authors: Takkar Manpreet Kaur , Gumber Khushbu
Published: July 2024

Purpose
Though metals are common components of the soil and readily available as nutrient for plants to be up-taken but still the crops commonly show symptoms of the micronutrient deficiency. This issue is attributed to the nonphyto-available form of the nutrients or loss of these micronutrients under variable environmental conditions. To sort out this problem, there is need of stimuli controlled micronutrient carrier for the plants that releases their nutrients in response to the certain stimuli.
Method
In the present research we have chosen the soil friendly nano-zeolite with chitosan coating for stimuli controlled release of the loaded micro-nutrients under variable environmental conditions. To analyze their efficacy, slow release experiment under different buffer conditions were carried out and to analyse the effect of micronutrient on response of the seeds, the germination studies were done in different soil pH conditions.
Results
The results indicated that the uptake proton signal from the roots acts as a stimulus to prevent the burst release from the carrier, the coating acts as a gate to maintain all the micronutrients in phyto-available forms and to open the pores.
Conclusion
The pH responsive chitosan and the porous nano-zeolite channel work together to create this phenomenon of good control over nutrient supply to plants.
Bayesian Optimization of 7-component (AlVCrFeCoNiMo) single crystal alloy’s compositional space to optimize elasto-plastic properties from Molecular Dynamics Simulations
Authors: Kurunczi-Papp David , Laurson Lasse
Published: July 2024

Exploring the vast compositional space of high-entropy alloys promises materials with superior mechanical properties much needed in industrial applications. We demonstrate on the 7-component alloy AlVCrFeCoNiMo system with randomly ordered atoms that this exploration of the compositional space can be accelerated by combining molecular dynamics simulations with Bayesian optimization. Our algorithm is tested on maximizing the shear modulus, resulting in pure Mo, an unsurprising result based on Mo’s large density. Maximizing the yield stress results in Co-, Cr- and Ni-based alloys with the optimal composition varying depending on the presence of defects within the crystal. Finally, we optimize the plastic behaviour by aiming for high stresses while minimizing the deformation fluctuations, and find that a predominantly NiMo alloy’s high lattice distortions
ensure a smooth stress response. The results suggest that mechanical properties of 2- to 4-component alloys with optimized composition may be superior to those of equiatomic high-entropy alloys without short-range order.
Mineralogy, Petrogenesis and SIMS SHRIMP U-Pb Age PGE-Cu-Ni Deposit of the “Ore Horizon 330” of the Sopcha Intrusion in the Paleoproterosoic Monchegorsk Pluton, Kola Region, Russia
Authors: Chashchin Victor V. , Savchenko Yevgeny E. , Sergeev Sergey A.
Published: July 2024

The “Ore Horizon 330” deposit (or OH330) is located among the orthopyroxenite of the Sopcha intrusion of the Paleoproterozoic layered Monchegorsk pluton (or Monchepluton) in the Kola Region. It is a sill-like body with a length of 3300 m, width of 1200 m, and thickness of 4‒6 m. OH330 was studied in two sections of its north-western part with a thickness of 5.2 and 5.5 m. There, it consists of regularly alternating interlayers (from bottom to top) of dunite, harzburgite, and orthopyroxenite. Olivine (Fo87–84) and orthopyroxene (En84–83) in the OH330 rocks were depleted in Ni compared to the Monchepluton rocks and were similar in Mn content. The total rare earth element (REEtot) content did not exceed 1 ppm in dunite and harzburgite, with an average value of 3.15 ppm in orthopyroxenite. LREE fractioning is typical of all OH330 rocks, with the (Ce/Sm)N values of 1.21 ppm in dunite, 1.69 ppm in harzburgite, and 1.81 ppm in orthopyroxenite on average. The trace element distribution in dunite and harzburgite is characterized by U, Ta, and Sr positive anomalies, whereas orthopyroxenite exhibits Nb and Ta negative anomalies, in addition to positive U anomalies. The geochemical features of the OH330 rocks were determined by fractional crystallization and crustal contamination of the parental magma. The liquidus temperatures of dunite and harzburgite magmatic crystallization were determined using the olivine-melt thermometer, with values of 1600‒1470°C. This is due to the genetic link between the OH330 parental melt and the mantle diapir. The orthopyroxene-melt equilibrium temperatures the OH330 rocks were 1290‒1120°C. The calculated pressure values for the OH330 rocks varried from 1 to 6 kbar, with an average value of 3.5 ± 1.5 kbar. The SIMS SHRIMP U-Pb magmatic zircon age of the OH330 orthopyroxenite is 2492.5 ± 4.1 Ma, indicating that the OH330 is younger than the age of the marginal zone of the Monchepluton ultramafic subchamber. A concordant U-Pb age of 2818.0 ± 3.1 Ma was obtained from the xenocryst zircon population, which corresponds to the age of the Archean granitoid basement rocks.
The summary and preliminary analysis of clinical and PET/CT features of patients with intestinal metastasis of primary lung cancer
Authors: Li Ruping , Mo Yiwen , Zhou Si , Ma Xing , Zhang Fuqiang , Ding Xianmin , Zhang Yingying , Ding Ying , Li Wenliang , Hui Yang
Published: July 2024

Purpose
This study aimed to analyze the influence of clinical manifestation, PET/CT parameters, and treatment on the prognosis of patients with primary lung cancer who developed intestinal metastasis.
Method
We collected data from 21 cases of primary lung cancer with intestinal metastasis. The data included basic information, examination results, treatment processes, and prognosis. We employed Kaplan-Meier (K-M) analysis, multivariate Cox regression analysis, and t-test for prognosis analysis.
Results
Intestinal obstruction and advanced stage were associated with poor progression-free survival (PFS) (P = 0.017 and 0.038, respectively). Smoking, intestinal obstruction, and the lack of chemotherapy were associated with worse overall survival (OS) (P = 0.043, 0.021, 0.013, respectively). Anti-PD-1 therapy (P = 0.006) and pneumonectomy (P = 0.007) improved patient outcomes. The immunohistochemical results showed no correlation between these markers and prognosis (P > 0.05). The mean SUVmax of intestinal metastases (10.23 ± 3.59) was higher than that of primary lung cancer (7.57 ± 3.42), and the former was also higher than the latter in both death and survival groups. There was no significant correlation between PET parameters (SUVmax, TLG, MTV) and prognosis (P > 0.05).
Conclusion
Smoking, intestinal obstruction, advanced stage, and lack of chemotherapy were risk factors for poor outcomes in primary lung cancer with intestinal metastasis. Patients treated with anti-PD-1 therapy and pneumonectomy tended to have better outcomes. The mean SUVmax of intestinal metastases was higher than that of primary lung cancer.
Efficient Spatio-Temporal Network for Action Recognition
Authors: Su Yanxiong , Zhao Qian
Published: July 2024

The input tensor of video data includes temporal, spatial, and channel dimensions, crucial for extracting complementary spatial, temporal, and spatio-temporal features for video action recognition. To efficiently extract and integrate these features, we propose an Efficient Spatio-Temporal Module (ESTM) with three pathways dedicated to extracting spatial, temporal, and spatio-temporal features. Each pathway uses the Cross Global Average Pooling (CGAP) module to compress the current dimension, focusing features on the remaining two dimensions. This enhances feature extraction and recognition rates for complex actions. We also introduce a Motion Excitation Module (MEM) to enrich input features by transforming correlations between adjacent frames, reducing computational complexity. Finally, ESTM and MEM are seamlessly integrated into a 2D CNN, forming the Efficient Spatio-Temporal Network (ESTN), with minimal impact on network parameters and computational costs. Extensive experiments show that ESTN outperforms state-of-the-art methods on datasets like Something V1 & V2 and HMDB51, validating its effectiveness.
Differential Neural Activity Predicts the Long-term Stability of the Effects of Positive and Negative Expectations on Pain
Authors: Wolf Maren-Isabel , Wittkamp Christoph Arne , Rose Michael
Published: July 2024

Expectations modulating pain perception is a well-researched phenomenon, but less is known about the persistence of expectation effects over longer time courses. In this preregistered study, we examined the persistence of positive (placebo) and negative (nocebo) expectation effects over one week and investigated whether neural activity on day 1 (fMRI) can predict the stability of these effects one week later (n = 41). We further tested whether expectations were reflected in EEG oscillatory activity. Both positive and negative expectations persisted over the tested time-period and did not undergo extinction. Expectations of higher pain led to larger theta-to-alpha EEG activity. Most interestingly, differential neural activity was predictive for persistent positive and negative expectations. Individual differences in the persistence of positive expectation effects were predicted by reduced amygdala activity and enhanced activity in the anterior insula and in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in the first session, while the persistence of negative expectation effects was predicted by enhanced activity in the thalamus. Our findings indicate that placebo and nocebo effects are relatively stable over longer time courses, but this persistence is based on different neural areas for positive and negative expectations within larger neural networks that are observed during the actual processing.
Validation of the capnodynamic method to calculate mixed venous oxygen saturation in postoperative cardiac patients
Authors: Wallin Mats , Hallback Magnus , Iftikhar Hareem , Keleher Elise , Aneman Anders
Published: July 2024

Background.
Cardiac output and mixed venous oxygen saturation are key variables in monitoring adequate oxygen delivery and have typically been measured using pulmonary artery catheterisation. The capnodynamic method measures effective pulmonary blood flow utilising carbon dioxide kinetics in ventilated patients. Combined with breath-by-breath measurements of carbon dioxide elimination, a non-invasive approximation of mixed venous oxygen saturation can be calculated.
Methods.
This study primarily investigated the agreement between mixed venous oxygen saturation calculated using the capnodynamic method and blood gas analysis of mixed venous blood sampled via a pulmonary artery catheter in 47 postoperative cardiac patients. Both measurements were synchronised and performed during alveolar recruitment by stepwise changes to the level of positive end-expiratory pressure. Simultaneously, we studied the agreement between effective pulmonary blood flow and thermodilution cardiac output. The Bland-Altman method for repeated measurements and calculation of percentage error were used to examine agreement. Measurements before and after alveolar recruitment were analysed by a paired t-test.
Results.
Capnodynamic calculation of mixed venous saturation compared to blood gas analysis showed a bias of -0.02 [95%CI -0.96–0.91] % and limits of agreement at 8.8 [95%CI 7.7 − 10] % and − 8.9 [95%CI -10 – -7.8] %. The percentage error was < 20%. The effective pulmonary blood flow compared to thermodilution showed a bias of -0.41 [95%CI -0.55 – -0.28] l.min− 1 and limits of agreement at 0.56 [95%CI 0.41–0.75] l.min− 1 and − 1.38 [95%CI -1.57 – -1.24] l.min− 1. The percentage error was < 30%. Only effective pulmonary blood flow increased by 0.38 [95%CI 0.20–0.56] l.min− 1 (p < 0.01) after alveolar recruitment.
Conclusions.
The excellent agreement between mixed venous oxygen saturation calculated by the capnodynamic method and pulmonary arterial blood gas analysis supports the methods as interchangeable. The effective pulmonary blood flow correlated with thermodilution cardiac output, while influenced by pulmonary shunt flow.
A novel approach of IORT: Efficacy and Safety of Intraoperative Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Laryngocarcinoma
Authors: Wu Qiong , Liu Qingfeng , Wang Yuqian , Zheng Yongzhe , Wang Xuemin , Peng Xin , Wang Xinrui , Wei Xianfeng , Zhang Shengchi , Qiao Jie , Yang Yining , Li Li
Published: July 2024

Background: Intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT), as a short- range irradiation mode, has been increasingly used in surgery in head and neck cancer. IORT can achieve and improve local control by directly irradiating the tumor bed after surgery. However, there are few clinical reports on the efficacy and safety of IORT in the treatment of locally advanced laryngocarcinoma (LAL).
Methods: This is a prospective clinical study in which a total of 63 LAL patients were selected and received IORT (DT 8-15 Gy) during radical surgery. In order to record postoperative complications and adverse reactions after radiotherapy, a regular follow-up was conducted after completion of IORT. The local control (LC) and 2-year survival rate were analyzed.
Results: In the 63 patients in this study, 2-year LC rate was 93.1 % and 1-year LC rate was 98.2 %. After surgery combined with IORT, serious postoperative complications occurred, including pharyngeal fistula in 1 patient (1. 6 %) and wound infection in 3 patients (4.8%).
Conclusion: IORT can improve the LC rate in LAL patients, and is a safe and effective treatment method.
Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT04278638. Registered 18 February 2020 - prospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04278638.
Innovative Optimization of Microgrid Configuration for Sustainable, Reliable and Economical Energy
Authors: Usman Habib Muhammad , Sharma Nirma Kumari , Joshi Deepak Kumar , Kaushik Aditya , Saminu Sani
Published: July 2024

Mewar University grapples with exorbitant energy costs of approximately $1kWh, unreliable power supply, and a significant reliance on diesel engines and the grid. This dependency not only escalates energy expenses but also contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, exacerbating climate change, global warming, and environmental pollution. To mitigate these issues, this study proposes an optimized microgrid design integrating PV solar panels, wind turbines, diesel generators, and grid connectivity, utilizing HOMER software for optimization. The software identified multiple configurations, with the optimal design meeting an energy demand of 20,077,351 kWh/year through a combination of solar PV (288,947,670 kWh annually), wind turbines (36,825,618 kWh annually), and minimal reliance on diesel generators. The system would purchase 3,827,194 kWh annually from the grid during low renewable output periods and sell 167,761,193 kWh annually during surplus production. This design achieves a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of $0.00146/kWh and a return on investment (ROI) of 10.1%, with total component expenditure of $16,207,384, covering capital investments, operations and maintenance (O&M), and fuel costs. Solar photovoltaics contributes 83% of the annual production, with the remaining 17% from the grid and wind turbines, establishing the system as cost-effective and environmentally friendly due to its heavy reliance on renewable energy sources (RES). Comprehensive feasibility, technical, economic and sensitivity analyses confirm the viability of implementing this proposed system. Ultimately, the proposed microgrid design promises a sustainable, economical, and reliable energy solution for the University.
Improved YOLOv7-Based Algorithm for Detecting Defect on Steel Surface
Authors: Hu Cong , Gong Danni , Zhou Tian , Huang Tianhao , Huang Xijun , Wan Chunting
Published: July 2024

Steel in the production and processing process is easily affected by raw materials and processing environment, resulting in surface defects, affecting its corrosion resistance and service life. In addition, the defect detection model based on deep learning is relatively large, and it is difficult to meet the demand for real-time steel surface defect detection tasks. To address the above problems, this paper proposes an improved model YOLOv7-Lig based on the YOLOv7-tiny model. by introducing the CBAM attention mechanism, as well as using the Wise-IoU loss function to replace the original CIoU loss function, the network model is enhanced to pay attention to the key features of the input data, so that it can accurately capture the true boundary of the target, effectively reduces the problem of inadequate feature extraction. The CSP-Faster module is introduced in the BACKBONE, which reduces the number of parameters of the net work model and helps the network model to be deployed in resource-constrained environments. Then the CARAFE upsampling operator is introduced at the head, which effectively aggregates the context information and improves the accuracy of the upsampling. The YOLOv7-Lig model achieves a mAP of 85.1% and a detection speed of 82FPS, which proves that the model can improve the accuracy and detection speed of the model while reducing the number of parameters.
A lightweight 1D-CNN-GRU model for epileptic seizure prediction
Authors: He Chunlei , Ma Peijun , Shi Jiangyi , Qu Chenxin , Wang Qingrong , Yao Cong , Hao Yue
Published: July 2024

Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. Seizure prediction for patients with refractory epilepsy can alert patients to interventions and prevent many serious consequences. Aiming at the problem that most of the current epilepsy prediction algorithms are not suitable for hardware implementation into low-latency and low-power wearable or portable medical devices because of their high complexity and large number of parameters, this paper proposes a lightweight and hardware-friendly deep learning network, 1D-CNN-GRU model. The raw EEG data can be fed into the network for automatic feature extraction and classification after simple filtering and normalization. After fixed-point quantization and compression, the overall size of the model is only 6.955 KB. The proposed method has been evaluated on 23 samples from the scalp-EEG based CHB-MIT dataset provided by the Boston Children's Hospital-MIT. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model can achieve an average sensitivity of 94.63% and accuracy of 93.45% in the binary classification task of the pre-seizure 30 min signal and inter-seizure signal, and its lightweight feature fulfills the requirements for hardware implementation as a low-power, wearable epilepsy prediction medical device.
Non-layered communication protocol for multi-chainwireless sensor network
Authors: Guo Xiaochun , Tang Zhiwei , Yan Xijun
Published: July 2024

To reduce channel conflicts, lower network energy consumption, and data delay, a non-layered communication protocol suitable for multi-chain network structures for farmland monitoring, named RBP, is proposed. The sink node schedules the entire network by sending command frames, and sensor nodes complete synchronization, data transmission, routing, and other processes according to the different command frames received. Simulation experiments show that the protocol not only reduces energy consumption and avoids link conflicts, but also reduces data delay and improves network reliability.
Image Deduplication Using Efficient Visual Indexing and Retrieval: Optimizing Storage, Time and Energy for Deep Neural Network Training
Authors: Rahman M M Mahabubur , Biswas Debojyoti , Chen Xiao , Tešić Jelena
Published: July 2024

Deep Neural Networks (DNNs) have gained widespread popularity for tasks related to visual processing due to their superior performance and the wealth of images and videos available. Rich concept representation in the training dataset is crucial for the effectiveness of the trained deep neural network model. Often, images of the same object taken from slightly different angles or with minor variations are present, and this redundancy is wasteful as the bandwidth, storage, and processing power are limited. Near duplicate images contribute very little to the effectiveness of the model, and here we propose a novel framework for Visual Indexing and Retrieval-based image Deduplication (VIRD). VIRD effectively eliminates redundant data and maintains information quality in the training corpus through visual indexing and retrieval. VIRD balances the tradeoff between a large deduplication ratio and a stable mAP by adjusting the deduplication threshold for graph-based approximate retrieval of near-duplicate images from given target corpora. The effectiveness of VIRD is validated through extensive experiments on well-known Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) benchmarks. While preserving the same validation mean Average Precision (mAP), VIRD can reduce the corpus size by 25.13%. Moreover , by streamlining the training process, VIRD can lower the energy consumption of DNN training by 27.17%, leading to more practical and sustainable DNN training practices.
Prediction of rotator cuff muscle fibre orientations using a population-averaged atlas generated with anatomical and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images
Authors: Zhang Yilan , Lloyd Robert , Herbert Robert D. , Bilston Lynne E. , Bolsterlee Bart
Published: July 2024

Measurements of muscle architecture are crucial for understanding muscle function but are often difficult to obtain in human muscles in vivo. This study aimed to create population-averaged atlases of human rotator cuff muscle shape and muscle fibre orientations from anatomical magnetic resonance images (MRI) and diffusion-weighted images (DWI), and to utilize these atlases to predict muscle fibre orientations from anatomical MRI data alone. An image registration framework was applied to co-register anatomical MRI and DWI data of 11 male and 9 female subjects into sex-specific common spaces, forming the basis for the atlases. The accuracy of registration was quantified using Dice coefficients, angular correlation coefficients (ACCs), and angular differences. The same metrics were used to assess the capability of the atlases to predict fibre orientations for subjects not included in the atlas construction, via leave-one-out cross-validation. The results showed that individual male and female image data were accurately registered into their respective atlas spaces, with high Dice coefficients (0.888 ± 0.002 for males, 0.856 ± 0.021 for females) and consistent angular alignment as evidenced by the ACCs and angular differences. Predicted fibre orientations for out-of-sample subjects closely matched those derived from DWI images, exhibiting improved smoothness and coverage (ACC: 0.909 ± 0.011 for males, 0.942 ± 0.011 for females; angular difference: 13.8 ± 1.3° for males, 11.2 ± 1.2° for females). These findings demonstrate that population-averaged atlases not only enhance muscle architecture reconstructions but also enable the accurate prediction of muscle fibre orientations using only anatomical MRI scans.
Assessment of exercise tolerance using CPET in COPD-PH patients treated with Sildenafil versus those receiving only standard-of-care
Authors: Darwish Darwish Ibrahim , Moustafa Yasser , Abdel-Hamid Hossam M , Mohammed Rehab Maher
Published: July 2024

Background
Pulmonary Arterial hypertension (PAH) is a common complication of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which can lead to shorter survival and poor clinical outcomes. Patients suffering from PAH display a Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing (CPET) profile with several atypical factors, such as decreased work rate, limited ability to do aerobic activities, and ventilatory insufficiency.
Objectives
To assess and compare exercise tolerance by CPET in COPD patients with secondary PAH receiving cGMP specific phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE-5) inhibitor (Sildenafil) versus those who are receiving standard-of -care only.
Patients and Methods:
This is a prospective, cross-sectional research in which a total of 30 COPD patients with mild to severe obstruction & secondary PAH were recruited, all patients were treated with standard -of -care treatment for COPD, moreover, half of the recruited patients were also on sildenafil 60mg/day for at least 3 months at the time of recruitment (sildenafil users) as specific therapy for PAH while the other half were not (non-users). All patients underwent CPET to assess their exercise capacity.
Results
No significant statistical differences were observed between sildenafil users and non-users in all CPET parameters except in respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during both exercise and recovery with sildenafil users showing a lower RER in both phases compared to non-users (p = 0.02,0.01 respectively). Also, resting diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was significantly lower in sildenafil users (p = 0.02). In addition, sildenafil users did not exhibit significant differences compared to non-users in terms of COPD assessment test (CAT) score, modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) score, or spirometric parameters.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that there was no significant differences in overall exercise capacity, nor symptoms or spirometric parameters between COPD patients with secondary PAH receiving sildenafil and those who were not.
Broadband perfect absorption achieved by double-square-slotted Ti3 C2 Tx layer
Authors: Liu Dong Mei , Ji Sheng Wei , Ruan Jiu Fu
Published: July 2024

There are a few reports on broadband optical MAs using a whole unpatterned Ti3C2Tx layer or patch-type Ti3C2Tx resonators, and this paper presents a broadband optical MA using the slotted 30-nm-thick Ti3C2Tx layer. The proposed MA can achieve the absorptivity over 90% in the wavelength range of 674–1021 nm. More significantly, the absorptivity beyond 98% is achieved in the wavelength range of 763–965 nm. The function of the slotted 30-nm-thick Ti3C2Tx layer is demonstrated by the comparison between the proposed MA and a similarly constructed structure with the top material replaced by gold. The absorption mechanism is investigated by the distribution of electric field, in which the local surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is quantitatively identified to contribute to the enhancement of absorption. Moreover, the proposed MA is insensitive to incident angles within 60°. Furthermore, the simulated results as well as the design robustness is demonstrated by the calculated ones using the multi-reflection interference theory.
Clinical utility of a novel triplex digital PCR assay for clone monitoring in sequential and relapsed pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients
Authors: Bhatia Prateek , Thakur Rozy , Sreedharanu Sreejesh , Singh Minu , Malhotra Meenakshi , Arora Swati , George Ashish , Trehan Amita
Published: July 2024

Introduction: Digital PCR studies for clonal disease monitoring in B-ALL patients are currently limited due to the heterogeneous nature of mutations, which limitscost-effective assay designs.
Materials and Methods: In the “DETECTOR study”, 70 samples (14 relapse and 56 sequential therapy samples) were tested for 13 mutations in the KRAS, NRAS, NT5C2, PMS2, UHRF1, KMT2D and TP53 genes via a novel triplex digital PCR assay.
The results & Discussion: A total of 7 major clones of NRAS[5] and NT5C2 [2] were noted in 6/14 (43%) patients, accounting for50% of very early-early relapses. In addition, 12 minor clones (PMS2[4], NRAS [4], NT5C2 [3], and TP53 [1]) were noted in 6/14 (43%) patients. In the 56 sequential therapy samples, 6 major clones were noted (NRAS [5], KRAS [1]) in 4/14 (28.5%) patients, with 2 increasing in size in maintenance samples, leading to relapse. In addition, therapy-acquired minor clones in NT5C2 [4] and PMS2 [1] emerged in maintenance samples in 4/14 (28.5%) patients, with concordant detection of such clones in unpaired relapse samples, indicating the need for active surveillance during therapy. Overall, digital PCR validated NRASand NT5C2 major clones in one-third (10/27; 37%) of our patients,driving 50% of very early-early relapses, thereby highlighting its utility for clonal monitoring in LMIC regions.
A global atlas of fungal biosynthetic gene clusters reveals the diversification of diketopiperazine biosynthesis
Authors: Wei Bin , Ying Ti-Ti , Lv Hua-Wei , zhou Zhen-Yi , Cai Hai , Hu Gang-Ao , Liang Hui-Min , Yu Wen-Chao , Yu Yan-Lei , Fan Ai-Li , Hong Kui , Li Xing-Nuo , Wang Hong
Published: July 2024

Background
Fungi represent one of the largest and most promising reservoirs of structurally diverse natural products. However, the global biosynthetic potential of fungi significantly expanded but remains underexplored.
Results
Here, we presented the most comprehensive fungal biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) atlas that comprised 303,983 BGCs predicted from 13,125 fungal genomes, revealing many less-explored taxa encoding large biosynthetic diversity. The fungal BGCs were organized into 43,984 gene cluster families (GCFs), with 99.6% remaining uncharacterized and 91.7% being genus-specific. Gene-centric analysis has revealed the presence of 359 cyclodipeptide synthases of three distinct subcategories and 9,482 nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs) responsible for diketopiperazine biosynthesis in the fungal BGC atlas. Interestingly, 304 type one CDPSs with high homology to bacterial CDPSs were discovered in fungi for the first time, exclusively found in Fusarium. A mass spectrometry-guided approach resulted in the isolation of eighteen indole diketopiperazine alkaloids, including three novel ones, from an Aspergillus strain. Bioinformatics analysis confirmed that these compounds are synthesized by an NRPS protein and several post-modification enzymes.
Conclusions
The study presents the most comprehensive fungal BGC atlas and highlights the diversification of diketopiperazine biosynthesis in fungi, laying a crucial foundation for the exploration of specific types of natural products from fungi.
The RESILIENT Study of post-pandemic maternity care planning: A qualitative research protocol for in-depth interview with women, partners, healthcare professionals, and policy makers.
Authors: Silverio Sergio A. , Dasgupta Tisha , Easter Abigail , Horgan Gillian , Mistry Hiten D. , Boulding Harriet , Citters Aricca Van , Nelson Eugene C. , King Joel R. , von Dadelszen Peter , Magee Laura A.
Published: July 2024

Maternity care is a core service provision of any healthcare system, delivering care for women and birthing people, and their wider family units. During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, much of maternity care service provision was reconfigured with the aim of continuing care provision which could not otherwise be re-scheduled or delayed, but in-line with infection control measures instituted through social and physical distancing. The RESILIENT Study was designed to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic-related reconfigurations to maternity care service delivery. It is particularly concerned with the experiences of minority ethnic groups and those with social or medical complexity. One of our specific objectives was to investigate the experiences of maternity care during the pandemic from the perspective of women and birthing people; fathers, partners, and non-gestational parents; healthcare professionals; and policy makers through the use of in-depth interviews. We will analyse data on virtual care, self-monitoring, and vaccination (each using thematic framework analysis); care-seeking and care experience (using template analysis); and on building an ethical future of maternity care (using grounded theory analysis). This is the focus of this protocol. Our findings about the experiences of care receipt, provision, and planning during the pandemic will complement existing literature and our impact will be broad, on: individual patients, NHS maternity providers, NHS policies, and wider society.
The MadNIS reloaded
Authors: Heimel Theo , Huetsch Nathan , Maltoni Fabio , Mattelaer Olivier , Plehn Tilman , Winterhalder Ramon
Published: July 2024

In pursuit of precise and fast theory predictions for the LHC, we present an implementation of the MadNIS method in the MadGraph event generator. A series of improvements in MadNIS further enhance its efficiency and speed. We validate this implementation for realistic partonic processes and find significant gains from using modern machine learning in event generators.
Yield and grain quality of new varieties of winter rye (Secale cereale L.) in different soil and climatic zones of Ukraine
Authors: Topchii O. V. , Smulska I. V. , Zhytomyrets O. S. , Prysiazhniuk L. M. , Hryniv S. M. , Mykhailyk S. M. , Kulyk T. E.
Published: July 2024

Purpose. To carry out a comprehensive study and evaluation of new varieties of winter rye (Secale cereale L.) according to the main economic and quality indicators: yield, weight of 1000 grains, protein content and falling number. Methods. The qualification examination on the suitability of varieties for distribution in Ukraine was carried out in 2022–2023 at the research stations of the Ukrainian Institute for Plant Variety Examination in the soil­climatic zones of the Forest­Steppe and Polissia, using the “Methodology for conducting qualification examination of plant varie­ties for suitability for distribution in Ukraine (General part)” and “Methodology for examination of plant varieties of the group of cereals, grains and legumes for suitability for distribution in Ukraine”. Laboratory studies were carried out in accordance with the “Methodology for qualification exa­mination of plant varieties for suitability for distribution. Methods of determining quality indicators of plant production”. Results. The economically valuable characteristics of new varieties of winter rye (‘SU Baresi’, ‘SU Perspective’, ‘Lunator’, ‘Reflektor’, ‘KWS Gilmor’, ‘KWS Pulsor’), included in the State Register of Varieties Suitable for Distribution in Ukraine, were studied. Their potential for yield and protein content was analysed. Yields were higher in the Forest­Steppe zone than in Polissya in all years of the study. The highest values were recorded for the varieties ‘SU Perspective’ (7.87–9.98 t/ha), ‘KWS Gilmor’ (7.85–9.19 t/ha) and ‘KWS Pulsor’ (7.78–9.55 t/ha). Lunator’ (11.0 and 10.3%) and ‘Reflektor’ (10.0 and 9.6%) had an advantage in protein content (quality indicator). Conclusions. According to the results of the SVD qualification test, the investigated varie­ties are recommended for cultivation in the Forest­Steppe and Polissia zones. The maximum falling number, which determines the state of the carbohydrate­amylase complex (alpha­amylase activity), was recorded for ‘Lunator’ (198.4 s).