bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prediction Equations for Peak-Ground Accelerations and Velocities in Northeast Japan Using the S-net Data
Authors: Dhakal Yadab P. , Kubo Hisahiko , Kunugi Takashi
Published: September 2024

S-net is a seafloor observation network for earthquakes and tsunamis around the Japan Trench, comprising 150 observatories with seismometers and pressure gauges. The region has been known to experience massive earthquakes, and several magnitude 6 and 7 class earthquakes have occurred after the network was established in 2016. This study constructed ground motion prediction equations (GMPEs) for horizontal peak ground accelerations (PGAs) and peak ground velocities (PGVs) using the S-net data and revealed that the GMPEs can be used to predict the PGAs and PGVs at the land stations where measured S-wave velocities are available. We used a relatively short time window of the S-net records from the viewpoint of earthquake early warning but included S waves. Data from earthquakes of magnitudes between Mw 5.5 and Mw 7.4 were used. The construction of the GMPEs was achieved in two steps. First, regression analysis was conducted for each event data, and mean site residual was obtained over the available records at each S-net site. Second, the data were adjusted by the mean site residuals, and stratified regression analysis, which decouples the source and path factors, was performed. Finally, we applied the GMPEs to predict PGAs and PGVs at the KiK-net sites on land. We determined that the residuals at the KiK-net sites were systematically biased with Vs30 (average S-wave velocity in the upper 30 m). We obtained correction factors for the bias and demonstrated that the PGAs and PGVs at the KiK-net sites could be predicted reasonably well.
Realitas bentuk Aktualisasi nilai-nilai Nasionalisme melalui Olahraga Prestasi sebagai wujud Civic Participation
Authors: Tira Cantika Tira Cantika , Darmawan Cecep , Leni Anggraeni
Published: September 2024

ABSTRAK
Penelitian ini bertujuan menjelaskan bagaimana nilai nasionalisme dalam olahraga yang terlahir karena adanya partisipasi warga negara (civic participation) untuk melahirkan prestasi nasional. Pendekatan yang digunakan yakni kualitatif dengan metode fenomenologi. Peneliti memfokuskan teknik penelitian ini melalui teknik wawancara mendalam (in-depth interview) dengan partisipan langsung. Tujuannya agar memperoleh esensi dari pengalaman partisipan yang diceritakan terkait kajian penelitian sebagaimana orientasi dari studi fenomenologi. Adapun temuan yang diperoleh berupa bentuk konkret yang dilakukan atlet elit nasional dalam mengaktualisasikan nilai nasionalisme. Didukung dengan komponen lainnya yaitu pelatih nasional, validasi dari stakeholder keolahragaan (Kemenpora RI dan National Olympic Commitee (NOC), dan Ahli Kebijakan dan Pengembangan Olahraga. Temuan tersebut dikaitkan dengan indikator dari civic participation sebagai landasan awal terlibat aktif berpartisipasi untuk dikembangkan pada nilai nasionalisme. Hasil penelitian menjelaskan bahwasannya nasionalisme merujuk pada semangat patriotisme dan identitas nasional yang tercermin dalam kompetisi olahraga antarnegara. Hal ini membuktikan bahwa realitas pada olahraga prestasi menjadi sebuah ruang gemilang dalam menggembleng partisipasi warga negara secara aktif yang Pancasilais. Walaupun dewasa ini terdapat sedikit pergeseran pada nilai nasionalisme yang berkaitan dengan sifat materialistik. Maka dari itu, perlu kiranya memperkuat kembali komitmen dan loyalitas dengan mananamkan prinsip “NKRI harga mati”. Penelitian ini diharapkan dapat meningkatkan pemahaman pembaca bahwa nyatanya olahraga dapat menjadi sarana pembangun nasionalisme di suatu negara.
Kata kunci : aktualisasi, civic participation, olahraga prestasi
Pengaruh Pendekatan Pendidikan Matematika Realistik (PMR) Terhadap Kemampuan Koneksi Matematis Siswa di SMP Negeri 3 Gunungputri
Authors: Koeshella Ajeng , Rahayu Wardani , Santi Vera Maya
Published: September 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui apakah terdapat pengaruh pendekatan pembelajaran matematika realistik terhadap kemampuan koneksi matematis siswa SMP Negeri 3 Gunungputri. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah Quasi-Experimental Design. Teknik pengambilan sampel yang digunakan yaitu teknik Cluster Random Sampling untuk menentukan kelas eksperimen dan kelas kontrol. Kedua kelas tersebut telah memenuhi syarat normalitas, homogenitas, dan kesamaan rata-rata. Instrumen penelitian yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini yaitu hasil tes kemampuan koneksi matematis siswa pada materi bangun ruang sisi datar. Instrumen berbentuk soal uraian sebanyak empat butir soal yang telah diuji validitas dan reliabilitasnya. Pengujian hipotesis dilakukan dengan menggunakan statistik uji-t.  Berdasarkan hasil pengujian hipotesis diperoleh nilai dengan nilai  sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa . Hal tersebut menunjukkan bahwa terdapat pengaruh pendekatan pendidikan matematika realistik (PMR) terhadap kemampuan koneksi matematis siswa SMP Negeri 3 Gunungputri. Berdasarkan  perhitungan besar pengaruh diperoleh  dengan persentase sebesar 69% yang termasuk kategori medium.
Uji Daya Hambat Ekstrak Etanol Daun Sirih Hijau (Piper betle L.) terhadap Pertumbuhan Bakteri Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Marfu'ah Nurul , Luthfiana Sha’sha’ , Ichwanuddin Ichwanuddin
Published: September 2024

Bakteri Staphylococcus aureus dapat menyebabkan beberapa gangguan pada kulit. Salah satu tanaman yang memiliki kemampuan antibakteri yaitu sirih hijau yang mengandung senyawa fenol dan turunannya. Tujuan dari penelitian ini yaitu untuk mengetahui potensi antibakteri Staphylococcus aureus dari ekstrak etanol daun sirih hijau (Piper betle L.). Jenis penelitian ini adalah eksperimen dengan 6 perlakuan yaitu K- (CMC-Na 0,5%), K+ (kloramfenikol 50 µg/50 ml), serta ekstrak daun sirih hijau konsentrasi 10%, 20%, 30%, dan 40%. Proses ekstraksi daun sirih hijau dengan metode maserasi dan di uji antibakteri dengan paper disk dan metode difusi. Uji parametrik One Way ANOVA digunakan untuk menganalisis data berupa diameter zona hambat. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ekstrak etanol daun sirih hijau memiliki potensi sebagai antibakteri Staphylococcus aureus (P<0,05). Kemampuan antibakteri terhadap Staphylococcus aureus paling optimal dimiliki oleh ekstrak etanol daun sirih konsentrasi 40%, dengan rata-rata zona hambat sebesar 3,01 mm (daya hambat lemah).
Formulasi dan uji aktivitas antioksidan sabun cair wajah ekstrak etanol daun teh hijau (Camellia sinensis L.) dengan metode DPPH
Authors: Widiyanti Annisa , Turahman Taufik , Harmastuti Nurani
Published: September 2024

Teh memiliki kandungan senyawa fenolik yang berfungsi sebagai antioksidan. Studi ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui formulasi dan aktivitas antioksidan sabun cair wajah ekstrak etanol daun teh hijau (Camellia sinensis L.). Pada studi ini digunakan variasi konsentrasi surfaktan, sodium cocoyl isethionate 4%, 8% dan 12%. Pengujian sediaan sabun wajah terhadap mutu fisiknya mempergunakan uji organolepis, pH, homogenitas, tinggi busa, alkali bebas, bobot jenis dan viskositas, serta dilakukan cycling test. Pengujian aktivitas antioksidan sediaan sabun cair wajah secara in vitro mengggunakan metode DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil) yang ditambahkan untuk mengetahui aktivitas antiosidan. Hasil studi diperoleh bahwa semua formula sediaan sabun cair wajah ekstrak etanol daun teh hijau (Camellia sinensis L.) bermutu fisik sesuai SNI antara lain organoleptis, pH, alkali bebas dan bobot jenis. Selain itu, sabun cair wajah ekstrak etanol daun teh hijau juga memiliki stabilitas baik ditunjukkan oleh formula 5 dan aktivitas antioksidan paling baik ditunjukkan oleh formula 4 dengan nilai IC50 10,5685 ± 0,2211 ppm.
 
Kata Kunci: Daun teh hijau, antioksidan, formulasi sabun cair wajah, DPPH
Digital Activism as a Sociopolitical Phenomenon: an Integrated Analytical Model
Authors: Rohm Ricardo , Valuano Gabriel , Xavier Sofia
Published: September 2024

Research goal: To map actions of digital activism and categorize them according to their purpose.
Theoretical framework: Discussions about potential combinations between different forms of digital activism and traditional activism, in addition to considerations about different conceptions of strategy, form the theoretical framework of this study.
Methodology: The categorization was carried out according to the content analysis technique.
Results: The research analyzed case studies published between 2008 and 2018 related to digital activism, hacktivism, data activism and cyberactivism, categorizing activist actions into 12 modalities and three main categories to create a model for analyzing digital activism.
Originality: By focusing on the purpose of activist actions, this study demonstrates how the same purpose can be achieved through different actions, in addition to allowing the prognosis of actions that were not found in the literature.
Theoretical and practical contributions: The work presents a set of tactics found in the literature review carried out, offering a representation of the possibilities of action that allow the reach of the activists' objectives according to their strategies.
Fast Optimization of the Net Present Value of Unconventional Wells Using Rapid Rate-Transient Analysis
Authors: Ruiz Maraggi Leopoldo Matias , Walsh Mark P. , Lake Larry W. , Male Frank R.
Published: September 2024

Decline-curve analysis (DCA) is the industry standard to predict hydrocarbon production to then estimate the net present value (NPV) of unconventional wells. Conventional DCA assumes the flowing bottomhole pressure (BHP) is constant. This is an unrealistic assumption for many unconventional wells that can lead to incorrect estimates of ultimate recovery and thus erroneous NPV calculations. This work illustrates the application of a novel technique that combines variable BHP conditions with decline-curve models [Rapid rate-transient analysis (RTA)] to estimate the NPV and select the optimal cluster spacing and number of fractures for a given well. We compare the results of DCA and Rapid RTA to estimate and optimize the cluster spacing for a tight oil and shale gas well.

The Rapid RTA results show marked differences in terms of the shape and the optimal value of the NPV function from the simpler DCA method. For the two cases illustrated, DCA results are a direct consequence of the rate-time analysis failing to correctly detect the onset of boundary-dominated flow (BDF). In contrast, Rapid RTA correctly detects the onset of BDF and presents a defined maximum value of the NPV vs. cluster spacing (number of fractures) function. This optimal value is a trade-off between the fracture treatment cost, the speed of recovery of hydrocarbons, and the value of money with time (discount rate).

The major contribution of this work is the implementation of the Rapid RTA technique allowing fast computation of pressure-rate-time analysis and NPV calculations with computational times comparable with DCA for optimizing fracture cluster spacing and the total number of fractures of unconventional wells. We have developed a web-based application to give readers a hands-on experience of this new technique and to analyze and optimize the NPV of unconventional wells.
CO2-Induced In-Situ Targeted Precipitation of Asphaltene in Heavy Oil Reservoirs: Balancing Formation Gas Channeling Regulation and Wellbore Asphaltene Blockage Prevention
Authors: Gu Zihan , Zhang Chao , Li Pengfei , Li Zongyang , Wang Meijia , Li Zhaomin
Published: September 2024

To investigate the mechanisms of the asphaltene precipitation in oil caused by CO2, the sandstone core oil displacement experiments and asphaltene structure observation experiments are designed in this work. The oil displacement experiments create CO2 flooding conditions under different pressures in heavy oil reservoirs and analyze the produced oil components and precipitated asphaltene proportions. Meanwhile, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis is conducted on the sandstone cores to discuss the precipitation characteristics of asphaltene in the reservoir pores. The observation experiments analyze the microstructure of precipitated asphaltene after interactions between oil and CO2. The results show that the increasing pressure promotes the precipitation of asphaltene from oil by enhancing the dissolution and component extraction of CO2 in oil, which reduces oil viscosity and promotes reservoir development efficiency. This process also leads to an increase in CO2 sequestration in the reservoir. However, the precipitated asphaltene reduces reservoir permeability, hindering the optimization of the oil recovery rate. During the process of increasing pressure, the rate of increase in oil recovery decreases. In reservoirs containing oil with high asphaltene proportion, the oil recovery rate even decreases under high pressure. Additionally, in-situ targeted precipitation and retention of asphaltenes in large pores can reduce the distribution differences of pores with different sizes in the reservoir, weakening the above negative effects and enhancing oil recovery by regulating gas channeling. Moreover, the ratio of resin in oil affects the asphaltene precipitation form, and CO2 can promote the association of asphaltenes by weakening the steric stabilization effect of resin on asphaltene in oil, which makes the microstructure of precipitated asphaltenes dense and regular and promotes asphaltene precipitation and oil recovery increasing. This work aims to verify the advantages of CO2-induced asphaltene precipitation in improving the efficient and environmentally friendly development of heavy oil reservoirs, while exploring the significance of CO2 flooding in promoting carbon sequestration.
Overcoming Knowledge Barriers to Maternal Care: Experimental Evidence on the Calibration and Efficacy of Informational Messaging from Pakistan
Authors: Cesur Resul Resul , Cyan Musharraf , Civelek Yasin , Yedgenov Bauyrzhan , Rothenberg Richard
Published: September 2024

We conducted a large-scale field experiment to calibrate phone messaging to its potential of overcoming behavioral barriers to maternal care uptake in the countryside of a developing country, where a significant share of women forgoes life-saving maternity-related care even when within reach. The high-arching goal of our intervention is to test if and to what extent filling out insufficient domain knowledge (i.e., childbearing-related health literacy) generates responsiveness to nudges for adopting maternal care among the rural poor of Pakistan. We find that informational nudges sent in a random order using the appropriate medium of communication, voice messages, during pregnancy significantly improve care-seeking behaviors, measured by antenatal care, postpartum checkup, and postnatal visits, through improved literacy. Importantly, we document that high-frequency voice calls timed to gestational age substantially increase the efficacy of informational nudges, including boosting facility deliveries, once domain knowledge is built and nudgeability established. Nevertheless, small financial incentives trump the productivity of informational voice calls in both improving health literacy and boosting care uptake, likely due to participants equating the intrinsic value of the intended behavioral change to the size of the monetary reward. These results are scalable to a large number of populations across developing nations.
JEL codes: I12; I15; C93; D10; D91
An Artificial Intelligence Copilot System Helps Reduce Mortality Rates of Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Chen Jianghua , Lou Xiaowei , Qian Siyi , Chen Jintai , Liu Ben , Zhang Ping , Chen Xi , Yao Xi , Wang Yusong , Gai Pengliang , Jing Yuan , Zheng Weijun , Chen Danny , Zhang Peng , Xu Dong , Wu Jian
Published: September 2024

Hemodialysis is the primary treatment for end-stage renal disease patients, but its mortality rate is still unacceptably high. Based on multi-modality examination data of 63,499 patients from 333medical centers, we developed a Hemodialysis Early Warning and Intervention Copilot (HEWIC) system. This system assists healthcare professionals in identifying hemodialysis patients at high risk of mortality and provides risk factors to makeintervention decisions jointly with healthcare professionals. On the retrospective cohort, HEWICachieved ROC-AUC scores of 0.82and 0.79 on one-month and three-month mortality probability prediction, respectively. We then conducted a pragmatic clinical trial (RCT, ChiCTR2100052662) to evaluate whether HEWIC could assist healthcare professionals in intervention to reduce the mortality rate of hemodialysis patients in the real world. Involving 9,965 hemodialysis patients (5,216 intervention and 4,749 control) from 58 dialysis centers, the trial indicates that HEWIC’s high-risk patient identification and treatment recommendation can help reduce the three-month mortality rate of hemodialysis patients by 38.3%, with a more pronounced effect in primary hospitals. Patients managed by the intervention group (where professionals assisted by HEWIC) received more types of drug treatment and showed varying degrees of improvement in anemia, blood pressure, blood lipids, electrolytes, and inflammatory conditions, thanthe control group. Furthermore, HEWICdoes not require additional time investment from healthcare professionals, nor does it interfere with their clinical work. This study proves that the AI-copilot system not only can benefit hemodialysis treatment but also enhance the standardization of medical care across different regions. Additionally, it also suggests that the human-AIcollaborationframework has the potential to revolutionize clinical diagnosis and treatment practice for other diseases.
Early sex-related transcriptional differences in CD8+ T cells responding to chronic viral infection reveal a sex bias in exhaustion
Authors: Arsenio Janilyn , Kahia Nyambura , Robertson Sean , Rodriguez Megan , Layug Paul Jerard , Vats Harman , Kannan Kamali , Spicer Victor , Ozturk-Aptekmann Arzu , Wilkins Olivia
Published: September 2024

CD8+ T cell diversity is essential to control infections and chronic antigen stimulation. In acute-resolving infection, effector cells mediate acute responses and memory cells provide long-lived protection against future exposures. In chronic infection and cancer, an altered state called exhaustion occurs. Exhausted CD8+ T cells are molecularly and functionally distinct from effector and memory cells. Differences in immune responses exist between biological sexes, however, how biological sex influences the timing and transcriptional programs of CD8+ T cell responses during chronic versus acute viral infection remains unknown. Here, we show that male and female CD8+ T cells exhibit transcriptional differences in their early responses during chronic but not acute viral infection in vivo. Using single-cell RNA-sequencing and immunophenotyping analyses, we show that female CD8+ T cells adopt an early exhaustion-like program compared to males. These findings reveal new insights into sex-related differences in CD8+ T cell exhaustion development and early T cell responses that may contribute to sex differential immune responses.
WITHDRAWN: Investigation of Turbulence Flow Field and Pressure Pulsation in 3D Impeller Axial Pump Based on Inner Dynamic Simulation and Vibration Technique Analyses
Authors: Al-Obaidi Ahmed Ramadhan , Alhamid Jassim
Published: September 2024

The full text of this preprint has been withdrawn, as it was submitted in error. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as a reference. Questions should be directed to the corresponding author.
Exploring Seismic Warning Thresholds For Vehicle-Track Systems: A Combined Shaking Table Test and Dynamic Numerical Simulations
Authors: Li Hao , Zhang Hongru , Pan Hua
Published: September 2024

This study conducted vehicle-track shaking table model tests at the Seismic Laboratory of the China Academy of Building Research, employing both unidirectional (horizontal) and bidirectional (horizontal and vertical) seismic waves. Discussions were made on the dynamic response of the vehicle-track system and the mechanism of derailment, providing data support for the research on seismic early warning thresholds for vehicles. Additionally, three-dimensional finite element numerical simulations were performed on the vehicle-track dynamic model, successfully incorporating track irregularities into the model. In this paper, the main conclusions are as follows:The limits of the wheel load reduction rate and that of the derailment coefficient specified in China's national standard “Code for Dynamic Performance Evaluation and Test Identification of Railway Vehicles” are conservative.The primary cause of vehicle derailment was identified as horizontal vibration of the track structure induced by seismic activity. Different seismic waves have varying effects on the dynamic response of the vehicle-track model, necessitating further research on the impact of seismic wave spectrum characteristics on vehicle safety during operation. When horizontal and vertical seismic waves are simultaneously applied, horizontal seismic waves have a greater impact on dynamic response.The numerical simulation results align well with experimental results, confirming the accuracy of the vehicle-track dynamic numerical model. It is recommended to adopt a more conservative seismic early warning threshold of 0.04g to ensure the safety of train operation.
Impact of oral azithromycin and intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine regimen on child mortality in Sierra Leone: trial protocol for a randomised, two-arm, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial (ICARIA)
Authors: Owusu-Kyei Kwabena , Chen Haily , Chileshe Maureen , Quintó Llorenç , Sibley Maya , Figueroa-Romero Antía , Llach Mireia , Ramírez Máximo , Bofill Andreu , Samai Mohamed , Menéndez Clara
Published: September 2024

Background: Azithromycin has been shown to be beneficial in preventing infectious diseases, including malaria, infectious diarrhoea and pneumonia. A cluster randomised control trial on azithromycin MDA in children in Niger, Malawi and Tanzania found a reduction in all-cause under-five (U5) mortality in communities who received azithromycin compared to placebo. However, the reduction was largest and statistically significant only in Niger. The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the impact of azithromycin plus intermittent preventive treatment in infants (IPTi), recently renamed by the World Health Organisation as perennial malaria chemoprevention (PMC), with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) on all-cause mortality up to 18 months of age in children living in areas of high mortality burden through the Expanded Program on Immunisation (EPI) in Sierra Leone.
Methods: The Improving Care through Azithromycin Research for Infants in Africa (ICARIA) trial is a phase III two-arm, individually randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial administering oral AZI (20mg/kg bodyweight) at three time points to children attending EPI visits in Sierra Leone. A total of 20,560 infants attending the first EPI contact at around 6 weeks of age are recruited and randomised to AZI or placebo in a 1:1 ratio. The second and third AZI/placebo doses are given at 9 and 15 months of age. The primary outcome of the trial is all-cause mortality rate at 18 months of age assessed through mortality surveillance. Other trial outcomes include the impact on antimicrobial resistance, and on the immune response to certain key routine EPI immunisations, the safety of the intervention, the prevalence of SP resistance markers and the feasibility, and acceptability of adding AZI to the EPI program.
Discussion: The trial will provide the evidence needed to inform policy regarding the adoption and large-scale implementation of AZI in areas of high-mortality burden in sub-Saharan Africa.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04235816 Registered on 22 January 2020
Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry, PACTR202004540256535. Registered on 14 April 2020
A computational framework for processing time-series of Earth Observation data based on discrete convolution: global-scale historical Landsat cloud-free aggregates at 30 m spatial resolution
Authors: Consoli Davide , Parente Leandro , Simoes Rolf , Şahin Murat , Tian Xuemeng , Witjes Martijn , Sloat Lindsey , Hengl Tomislav
Published: September 2024

Processing extremely large collections of Earth Observation (EO) time-series, often petabyte-sized, such as NASA's Landsat and ESA's Sentinel missions, can be computationally prohibitive and costly. Despite their name, even the Analysis Ready Data (ARD) versions of such collections can rarely be used as direct input for modeling and require additional time-series processing. Existing solutions for readily using these data are not openly available, are poor in performance, or lack flexibility. Addressing this issue, we developed SIRCLE (Signal Imputation and Refinement with Convolution Leaded Engine), a computational framework that can be used to apply diverse time-series processing techniques by simply adjusting the convolution kernel. Together with SIRCLE, this paper presents SWAG (Seasonally Weighted Average Generalization), a method for EO time-series reconstruction integrated in the framework. SWAG can be used as an imputation method to reconstruct EO images affected by the presence of clouds. Compared to a benchmark dataset, SWAG consistently outperformed the reference methods, reducing reconstruction errors by at least 15%. As the first large-scale application, SIRCLE and SWAG were employed to process the entire Global Land Analysis and Discovery (GLAD) ARD-2 Landsat archive, producing a cloud-free bi-monthly aggregated product. This process, covering seven Landsat bands globally from 1997 to 2022, with more than two trillion pixels and for each one a time-series of 156 samples in the aggregated product, required approximately 28 hours of computation using 1248 Intel(R) Xeon(R) Gold 6248R CPUs. The resulting reconstructed images can be used for machine learning models or to map biophysical indices. With the hosting of about 20 TB per band/index for an entire 30 m resolution, bi-monthly historical time-series, stored as Cloud-Optimized GeoTIFFs (COG) and distributed as open data, the product enables seamless, fast, and affordable access to the Landsat archive for environmental monitoring and analysis applications.
Comparative technical-economical evaluation of gasification-based treatment of municipal solid waste
Authors: Reyes Jose Fernando , Machuca Eduardo I. , Esq Wilson D. , Ferrer Javier F.
Published: September 2024

A technical-economic analysis of municipal solid waste (MSW) gasification was carried out in the commune of Chillán, Chile. The MSW production was quantified and characterized in the 2015–2018 period. The percentage characterization of MSW corresponded to organic matter (61%), other waste (17%), plastic (10%), paper and cardboard (8%) and glass (4%). In the analysis, the countercurrent fixed-bed gasification technology was selected, due to the simplicity of operation and less difficulty in controlling the operating parameters. Flow diagrams and gasification mass and energy balances were developed incorporating three preliminary processing options for the wet fraction of MSW: biodigestion, drying and pressing, prior to gasification. Total energy efficiencies were 54.2%, 54.6%, and 61.4% respectively. Finally, a preliminary economic analysis was carried out considering income and costs for the three process alternatives. The approximate annual gross profits were estimated at 6,462,000 US $ ∙ year− 1 for press-gasification, 6,139,000 US$ year− 1 for drying-gasification and 4,600,000 US$ year− 1 for biodigestion-gasification.
Theophylline as a Potential Therapeutic Candidate for TDP-43 Proteinopathies
Authors: Jeon Yu-Mi , Kim Hyun Kyu , Lee Shinrye , Kim Seyeon , Jo Myungjin , Woo Junghwa , Kwon Younghwi , Kim Hyung-Jun
Published: September 2024

The cytoplasmic aggregates of the TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) are a pathogenic hallmark of some neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE). Overexpression of TDP-43 induces cytoplasmic accumulation of TDP-43, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. Theophylline treatment significantly decreased accumulation of cytoplasmic TDP-43 and cell death in the TDP-43 overexpressing human neuronal cell lines SH-SY5Y. TDP-43-induced eIF2α phosphorylation is also attenuated by theophylline treatment. Additionally, theophylline alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction caused by TDP-43 overexpression, restoring key mitochondrial respiration parameters such as basal and maximal respiration rates and ATP production. Moreover, Dietary supplementation with theophylline substantially improved both longevity and motility in Drosophila models expressing TDP-43 in neurons. Taken together, these findings suggest that theophylline may be a potential therapeutic candidate for TDP-43 proteinopathies.
Energy-dependent broadening of Rashba-type spin splitting in a Au₂Sb surface alloy with periodic structural defects
Authors: hu jinbang , Wang Xiansi , Åsland Anna Cecilie , Wells Justin William
Published: September 2024

Here, we report a novel two-dimensional (2D) Au2Sb superstructure on Au(111) that exhibits both consistencies and discrepancies with the expected electronic features of an ideal 2D surface alloy with \(\:\sqrt{3}\times\:\sqrt{3}\) periodicity. Using spin- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we observe a spin splitting of the alloy bands with antiparallel spin polarization, stemming from Rashba spin-orbit coupling. Notably, the Rashba bands are significantly broadened in comparison to idealized expectations. Taking advantage of the good agreement between the experimental results and DFT calculations, we identify the broadening of the Rashba bands as a consequence of perturbations introduced by three-pointed-star-shaped defects, which act as nonresonant impurities within the Au₂Sb superstructure. These periodic defects are capable of shifting the energy position of the Rashba bands without breaking the in-plane rotational and mirror symmetries, which suggests that the deliberate introduction of periodic defects into a Rashba SOC system possesses great potential in engineering the spin-dependent properties of spintronic devices.
Fundamentals of 1/f Noise Reduction Technique Based on Complementary Cascode Switching Applied to a 52 microwatts 5.2pJ/bit 100Kb/s 120GHz Receiver
Authors: Sanduleanu Mihai
Published: September 2024

The proposed paper presents a 120 GHz receiver for Near-Field IoT sensors, without the conventional LNA and mixers building blocks. A new technique for the reduction of the low-frequency 1/f noise is also presented. The technique is used to improve the sensitivity of the 120 GHz receiver with a data rate of 100 kb/s, by lowering the 1/f noise corner frequency. We are proposing a novel 1/f noise mitigation technique based on switched biasing ‎[4]-‎[9]. The technique involves the complementary switching of two MOSFET transistors in order to effectively act as a single MOSFET transistor. It also involves the isolation of the drain terminals of these identical MOSFET transistors in order to eliminate any electric field from the complementary transistors which may affect the de-trapping process. The complementary switching in the literature has only been applied to low-frequency circuits with the highest operating frequency being 120 kHz. The proposed technique leads to a 9 dB reduction in the drain current noise at frequencies up to 100 kHz. Realized in a 65nm CMOS LPE technology from GlobalFoundries™, the receiver has a measured sensitive ty of -46 dBm, power consumption of 52 microwatts, and energy efficiency of 5.2 pJ/bit. The occupied on-chip area is 0.56 mm2.
A Comprehensive Assessment of Water Loss and Driving Forces for the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project from Humanistic Perspective
Authors: Xiao Jinyu , Ge Quansheng , Hu Ming , Cui Huijuan
Published: September 2024

Interbasin water transfer is a globally employed and significant strategy to address water scarcity, conflicts, and achieve specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The issue of water loss during the process of water transfer has garnered increasing attention with the construction of water diversion projects. This study aims to focus on the primary factors influencing the water loss in the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project (MR-SNWDP) from a humanistic perspective based on innovative comprehensive evaluation method of coupling qualitative and quantitative analysis. Additionally, the potential human factors are derived from a relatively large and objective indicator set rather than a limited set of manually selected. The results show that the number of optimal human factor (21, 20, 22, 22 and 21 for the main pipe and canal of MR-SNWDP, Beijing City, Tianjin City, Hebei Province, and Henan Province, respectively) is condensed by more than 65%, which has been categorized into social economy, science and technology culture, production and living, and management institution. The driving force behind these indicators varies greatly in different regions due to the difference of water resources endowment and utilization. Furthermore, the social economy factor exerts a negative influence on the typical SDGs (indicator 6.4.2 and indicator 6.5.2), and it has the greatest driving force among these human factors. Various potential humanistic strategies are proposed across these categories to enhance the efficiency of water transfer. Although this innovative method represents an initial application of optimizing human factor, it can also be extended for other complex decision-making.
Could the TyG index be a screening tool for postmenopausal osteoporosis?
Authors: Yang Jingyi , Xu Daoming , Zhang Di , Bai Ling , Wang Zun , Zhang Xin , Wang Sheng , Zhang Biyun , Liu Jing
Published: September 2024

Purposes: This study aims to explore the sensitivity and efficacy of the TyG index in the screening of postmenopausal osteoporosis, and to provide an objective new method for the prevention and early screening of postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Methods: This retrospective study selected 1032 subjects who completed bone mineral density examination in the Department of Nuclear Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine from January 2021 to December 2023 according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The baseline data include age, weight, height, BMI, lumbar spine T-value (LS T-value), total hip T-value (TH T-value), femoral neck T-value (FN T-value), fasting blood glucose (FBG), triglyceride (TG), the TyG index and OSTA. After grouping, the differences in postmenopausal osteoporosis were compared. The correlation of the TyG index and OSTA with baseline data was analyzed. The ROC curve results of the TyG index in the total population, 60-year-old stratification, FBG and TG stratification were analyzed, and the sensitivity and efficacy of the TyG index in the screening of postmenopausal osteoporosis were obtained.
Results: In 1032 postmenopausal women, there were significant differences (P< 0.001) in age, weight, height, BMI, and T-values of three different sites, the TyG index and OSTA. The results of correlation analysis showed that the TyG index and OSTA were positively correlated with weight, BMI, and T-values of three different sites in 1032 postmenopausal women and after 60-year-old stratification (P<0.001). In the total population and after stratification by 60 years old, the TyG index was positively correlated with FBG and TG (P<0.001), but not correlated with age and height. Meanwhile, OSTA was negatively correlated with age (P<0.001) and positively correlated with height (P<0.001). OSTA was not correlated with FBG and TG in the total population and in postmenopausal women aged <60, but was positively correlated with TG in postmenopausal women aged≥60 (P<0.001). ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve of the TyG index and OSTA was close in postmenopausal women aged≥60 with abnormal FBG and/or TG. The cut-off value of the TyG index in postmenopausal women aged≥60 was higher than that in postmenopausal women aged<60, indicating that the risk of osteoporosis increased in postmenopausal women aged≥60 with increased TyG index.
Conclusion: The TyG index has the potential to objectively screen osteoporosis in postmenopausal women aged≥60 and postmenopausal women aged≥60 with abnormal FBG and/or TG.
FasterMLP: Multilayer Perceptron-based Attention Mechanism and Wavelet Sampling Fusion Networks
Authors: Ma ChenHao , Cao Yong , Liu Xueyuan , Rong Jian
Published: September 2024

The integration of Multi-layer Perceptrons (MLPs) with Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) and attention mechanisms has recently demonstrated promising enhancements in model performance across various domains. This paper presents a novel deep neural network named FasterMLP, which employs MLPs, CBAM (Convolutional Block Attention Module) attention, and Haar wavelet downsampling to achieve high efficiency and accuracy. The architecture comprises four stages, each equipped with CBAM-enhanced convolutional networks, interconnected by Haar wavelet downsampling modules for optimal feature representation and reduced spatial dimensions. A rigorous evaluation of the FasterMLP model was conducted on a suite of benchmark tasks, including image classification on the ImageNet-1K dataset, object detection on the COCO dataset, and instance segmentation on the Cityscapes dataset. The evaluation demonstrates that FasterMLP significantly outperforms many lightweight models in terms of speed and accuracy. On the ImageNet-1K dataset, FasterMLP-S achieves a top-1 accuracy higher 3.9\% than that of MobileViT-XXS, while being 2x and 2.7x faster on GPU and CPU platforms respectively. On COCO, the model parameters of FasterMLP-L are close to thoseof FasterNet-S, but the performance is comparable to that of FasterNet-M. On Cityscape, The mIoU get reach 81.7\% and it is higher than CCNet, DANet and etc. FasterMLP demonstrates robust performance in object detection and instance segmentation, thereby corroborating its efficacy in real-world applications. These findings demonstrate the potential of combining traditional convolutional neural network (CNN) architectures with multi-layer perceptrons and attention mechanisms to enhance the computational efficiency and accuracy for tasks in visual perception, particularly in resource-constrained environments.
LINC00885 promotes the development of lung adenocarcinoma through AKT/MTOR/P70 signaling LINC00885 may regulate migration, proliferation, and invasion through the mTOR pathway in lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Wan Wang , Wu Dong , Dai Baizhen , Wang Kangxian , Deng Biao , Wang Mingjun , Wang Xuefeng , Mao Qiyang , Zhang Rongjing , Su Wenmei , Liang Zhu
Published: September 2024

Previous studies have demonstrated a role for long non-coding RNAs in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). Here, we found high expression levels of LINC00885 in LUAD, especially in middle and advanced stage disease, by RNA-sequencing analysis. This suggests that LINC00885 may be a potential prognostic biomarker of LUAD. Our functional experiments showed that knocking down LINC00885 expression with small interfering RNAs inhibited the growth, migration, invasion, and autophagy of LUAD cells, blocked cell cycle progression, and promoted cell apoptosis. Additionally, LINC00885 knockdown reduced the protein expression levels of p21, MET, p-mTOR, and p-p70, suggesting that LINC00885 may regulate the growth and metastasis of LUAD through these signaling pathways. Additional experiments revealed that an mTOR activator rescued the inhibited cell growth, invasion, and migration following LINC00885 knockdown. Together, these findings demonstrate that LINC00885 may promote LUAD by regulating p21, MET, and mTOR/p70 signal transduction. This study suggests that LINC00885 may be a prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in LUAD.
The effectiveness of a Kampo e-learning course incorporated into the medical education curriculum: a possible solution to instructor shortages and time constraints
Authors: Nakada Yoshinobu , Arai Makoto , Yamato Ippei , Nogami Tatsuya , Odaguchi Hiroshi , Taniguchi Daigo , Tomita Jun , Ishigami Tomoaki
Published: September 2024

Background
The shortage of instructors and time to teach traditional Japanese (Kampo) medicine (KM) limits students' understanding of its usefulness. We developed an e-learning course to solve this problem.
Methods
The Kampo e-learning course consists of 12 lessons on 10 essential Kampo formulas with related formulas, proper prescriptions, dosages, and adverse reactions, followed by review questions. After the course, and each student answers 10 additional clinical questions correctly, they are awarded a certificate of completion.
This e-learning course was first taught in 2022. The students were informed before taking the course that points would be added to their final test scores with proof they completed the e-learning course. A total of 119 third-year Tokai University School of Medicine students participated. To evaluate the effectiveness of the e-learning course, they were each asked 5 clinical questions, randomly selected from 10 pooled questions, then 4 awareness questions on their interest in, the necessity for, and their understanding of KM, and their perceived usefulness of the course before and after taking it. Wilcoxon’s signed-rank test was used to compare the changes.
Results
The students' pre- and post-course test scores were compared. The evaluations of “Interested in KM” and “Necessity of KM for clinical routines” and “Understanding how to use KM” improved significantly; however, “Usefulness of e-learning for studying Kampo medicine” did not change. Clinical question scores improved significantly.
Conclusions
All the students completed the course resulting in significantly higher scores, proving this course's effectiveness. Developed not only for students but also for novices, this new Kampo e-learning course can be incorporated into regular curriculums and made an easily accessible tool in clinical settings.
Trial registration
Clinical trial number: not applicable.
Transforming the Unseen: Diminishing Negative Emotions Alters Implicit Moral Attitudes Without Affecting Subjective Moral Judgments or Justice Sensitivity
Authors: Chen Chenyi , Martinez Róger Marcelo , Fan Yang-Teng , Chen Yu-Chun , Goh Kah Kheng , Wei Li , Lin Yen-Nung , Cheng Yawei
Published: September 2024

Moral attitudes and evaluations were once considered to emerge solely from rational thought. Nevertheless, recent neuropsychological studies show that these moral attributes are significantly influenced by emotion, particularly negative emotionality. Further psychopharmacological research has observed that GABAergic agonists are capable of influencing moral decision-making by modifying anxiety-related emotional negativity and/or through cognitive modulation. The aim of this double-blind, crossover design, placebo-controlled study is to evaluate said GABAergic modulation on moral cognition. Importantly, unlike the aforementioned research, the present study not only utilizes explicit moral evaluation measures (e.g., JSI and evaluations of moral scenarios), but also uses the morality Implicit Association Test (mIAT) to assess unacknowledged attitudes towards morally charged scenarios. Our results show that acute lorazepam administration significantly decreases mIAT D-scores in the High-D group, while having no effect on the Low-D group. Significant differences regarding the other-oriented JSI were observed between groups, with lorazepam administration exhibiting a marginal trend towards significance. These findings not only confirm GABAergic activity modulation on moral cognition (including implicit mechanisms), but also suggest such modulation promotes pro-social behavior. Altogether, this study supports the dynamic system model of moral cognition, where explicit rational deliberative operations interplay with implicit emotional processes during moral decision-making.
Prediction and Control for the Transmission of Brucellosis in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Liu Sijia , Hu Jiajing , Zhao Yifan , Wang Xinyan , Wang Xuemei
Published: September 2024

Brucellosis, a zoonotic infectious disease caused by the Brucella genus, remains a significant global public health concern, with Inner Mongolia, China, being a notable hotspot affecting both human health and livestock. In response to this, we developed a dynamic SEIVWShIahIch model to simulate the transmission of brucellosis in Inner Mongolia. We calculated the basic reproduction number (R0 =2.86), indicating a severe epidemic trend with cases expected to increase over the coming decades. The model was fitted to human brucellosis data, and key transmission parameters were estimated to predict future trends. We also evaluated the impact of various control measures, including vaccination, disinfection, culling, and health education. While these measures positively influence disease control, they cannot completely eliminate brucellosis, suggesting that a single control strategy is insufficient. Combining vaccination and culling proved more effective, with identified threshold values for R0 and to keep R0 <1. Our findings indicate that a comprehensive strategy integrating vaccination, culling, disinfection, and health education is essential for effectively curbing brucellosis in Inner Mongolia, providing a strong foundation for optimizing future prevention and control strategies.
Knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of primary health physicians towards self-glucose monitoring in patients with type2 diabetes mellitus in Palestine.
Authors: Hamshari Suha , Hamadneh Sondos , Ajlone Afnan Morshed , Mashni Ahmad Wajdi , Jubeh Mohammad Asem
Published: September 2024

Background: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) stands as a significant global health challenge, exerting profound effects on individuals and societies. In the context of Palestine, this condition affects 9.2% of the population and contributes to a relatively high complication rate. Diabetes management strategies need to be optimized to improve patient outcomes and alleviate the strain on the healthcare system. One of these strategies is self-glucose monitoring. One of the physicians’ roles in T2DM management is explaining and guiding patients towards the integration of self-glucose monitoring into their personal diabetes management routine.
This study assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians who care for (T2DM) patients in primary healthcare clinics in the West Bank regarding self-glucose monitoring.
Methods: A cross-sectional study, it was applied to 300 physicians working in PHC centers. The study period was from January to March 2024 Data was collected through a self-administered questionnaire.
Results: A total of 300 doctors participated in this study. The median age of the doctors was 35.0 [30.0, 41.0] years. Of the doctors, 180 (60.0%) were male. The median duration of practice as a doctor was 9.0 [5.0, 15.0] years. Most, 252 (84.0%), were general practitioners, 38 (12.7%) family medicine specialists, and 10 (3.3%) other specialties. Female doctors and those who saw more patients reported better knowledge (p < 0.05). The majority believed that self-glucose monitoring can improve patient outcomes, knew values of self-glucose monitoring that corresponded to HbA1c control and the microvascular consequences of diabetes, and realized the important of self-glucose monitoring for patient. Regarding the doctors’practices, 39.3% of the doctors stated that they would recommend self-glucose monitoring to newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes patients more than one time a day.
Conclusion: Primary healthcare physicians had adequate knowledge and positive attitudes towards self-glucose monitoring, but 40% not confident or somewhat confident about interpreting self-monitoring data and adjusting treatment plans. Physicians’ practices related to self-glucose monitoring was less than optimal. Future studies should investigate knowledge, attitudes, and practices of physicians who care for the patients in the private sector. ALSO call for more frequent continuing education.