bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beyond climate villains: Estimating carbon storage in urban parks using high-resolution imagery combined with field sampling
Authors: Ribeiro Rômulo José da Costa , Goulart Fernando Figueiredo , Jacobson Tamiel Khan Baiocchi , Rocha Dulce Maria Sucena da , Jaloretto Daniel , Gonçalves Bruno Eduardo Ferreira , Gerber Dionatan
Published: January 2024

Urban areas are responsible for 80% of GHG emissions, leading scientists and policymakers to act towards city greening. The contribution of these urban green spaces to storing carbon and climate change mitigation is unknown, particularly in the tropics. Here, we present a methodology that combines high-resolution satellite images (3 x 3 m) with biomass sampling in Brasilia, Brazil's capital. The phytosociological parameters of the woody vegetation and the total aerial biomass of the grass layer were calculated. Our model used a CO2 flux index calibrated with field data. The CO2 flux index was produced by the Planet satellite constellation. The woody plant community had 59 individuals (21 species), and the average biomass of the grass layer varied between 8,915.68 and 11,545.12 kg.ha− 1. The CO2 flux reveals areas with higher carbon flow, indicating greater carbon sequestration due to more expressive photosynthetic activity. Linear regression (R2 = 1) was used to estimate total carbon storage in eight urban parks, and cerrado areas exhibit higher values, while degraded or constructed areas show the lowest values. Our simple and low-cost method using field data with remote sense imagery produces precise biomass estimations at regional levels, which greatly apply to tropical landscapes. By enhancing knowledge about the urban positive and negative influence on the carbon cycle, our method could support scientists and policymakers in targeting climate and biodiversity-friendly agendas.
Exploratory Studies on Amide Bond Replacement of a SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitor Utilizing a Chloroalkene Dipeptide Isostere
Authors: Kobayakawa Takuya , Azuma Chika , Higashi-Kuwata Nobuyo , Tsuji Kohei , Ishii Takahiro , Shinohara Kouki , Bolah Peter , Mitsuya Hiroaki , Tamamura Hirokazu
Published: January 2024

The development of peptidomimetics such as alkene dipeptide isosteres, which are designed as structures that mimic the ground states of amide bonds, plays an important role in the discovery of peptide-lead drugs. In this study, as a model of peptides, an inhibitor against the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2, compound 4, which has an N- benzyloxycarbonyl (Cbz) protected Val moiety at the P3 site, was adopted. A chloroalkene dipeptide isostere (CADI) was then incorporated as an amide bond surrogate between the P2-P3 sites of compound 4 in order to increase its biological stability and disclose the contribution of the amide bond between the P2-P3 sites on the expression of antiviral activity. Although the synthesized derivative (5) failed to show significant antiviral activity below 100 M, it was found that the amide bond between the P2-P3 sites of this type of Mpro inhibitors is critical for the expression of inhibitory activity of compounds. According to this information, NH or CO of the amide bond between the P2-P3 sites might form a hydrogen bond with the active site of Mpro. The present results suggest that CADI functions as a chemical probe, allowing us to examine the significance of the peptide backbone structure.
Keywords
amide bond surrogate, chloroalkene dipeptide isostere (CADI), coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), main protease (Mpro) inhibitor, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)
Knowledge graph-derived feed efficiency analysis via pig intestinal microbiota
Authors: Zhang Junmei , Jiang Qin , Du Zhihong , Geng Yilin , Hu Yuren , Tong Qichang , Song Yunfeng , Zhang Hong-Yu , Yan Xianghua , Feng Zaiwen
Published: January 2024

Feed efficiency (FE) is essential for pig production, has been reported to be partially explained by gut microbiota. Despite an extensive body of research literature to this topic, studies regarding the regulation of feed efficiency by intestinal microbiota remain fragmented and mostly confined to disorganized or semi-structured unrestricted texts. Meanwhile, structured databases for microbiota analysis are available, yet they often lack a comprehensive understanding of the associated biological processes. Therefore, we have devised an approach to construct a comprehensive knowledge graph by combining unstructured textual intelligence with structured database information and applied it to investigate the relationship between pig intestinal microbes and FE. Firstly, we created the pimReading knowledge base and the domain ontology of pig gut microbiota by annotating, extracting, and integrating semantic information from 157 scientific publications. Secondly, we created the pimPubtator by utilizing PubTator to expand the semantic information related to microbiota. Thirdly, we created the pimDatabase by mapping and combining the ADDAGMA, gutMGene, and KEGG databases based on the ontology. These three knowledge bases were integrated to form the Pig Intestinal Microbial Knowledge Graph (PIMKG). Additionally, we created three biological query cases to validate the performance of PIMKG. These cases not only allow us to identify microbes with the most significant impact on FE but also provide insights into the metabolites produced by these microbes and the associated metabolic pathways. This study introduces PIMKG, mapping key microbes in pig feed efficiency and guiding microbiota-targeted optimization.
Bioinformatics-based Investigation of Autophagy-Related Biomarkers in Heritable Ovarian Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zhi-min , Liu Jia Ning , Sun Nan-xiang , Han Xiao-yu , Chen Xin , Sha Ri-na , Dai Bai
Published: January 2024

Objective
To investigate the role of autophagy-related genes (ARGs) in Heritable Ovarian Carcinoma (HOC) and identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Methods
We conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics-based analysis of gene expression patterns in 420 HOC samples and 7 normal tissues. Differential expression of 17 ARGs out of 232 candidate genes was identified. Functional annotation and pathway enrichment analyses were performed to explore the biological functions of these ARGs. A prognostic model based on 11 survival-associated ARGs was established and validated.
Results
Our analysis revealed differentially expressed ARGs in HOC and normal tissues, suggesting their potential as diagnostic biomarkers. GO and KEGG analyses indicated the involvement of these genes in critical biological processes and signaling pathways. The prognostic model demonstrated promising predictive capabilities for patient outcomes in HOC.
Conclusion
Our findings shed light on the significance of ARGs in HOC and provide potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for improved patient outcomes in this heritable ovarian carcinoma.
Investigation On Ce3+ Doped Barium Tin Boro-Phosphate Glass for White LED And Nuclear Radiation Shielding Applications
Authors: A Paul Dhinakaran , Vinothkumar P. , Praveenkumar S. , Harirajan M.
Published: January 2024

The Ce3+ Doped Barium Tin Boro-phosphate glass was produced according to earlier research, melt quenching method. The amorphous nature of Ce3+ Doped Barium Tin Boro-phosphate glass was verified by powder X-ray diffraction investigation. The Ce3+ Doped Barium Tin Boro-phosphate glass's functional groups were determined using Fourier transform-RAMAN and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Using Ultraviolet-Visible spectroscopy, the linear optical properties of the Ce3+ Doped Barium Tin Boro-phosphate glass were examined. These properties included its optical band gap, extinction coefficient, optical conductivity, and refractive index. Using EDAX and SEM analyses, the chemical compositions and surface morphology of the Ce3+ Doped Barium Tin Boro-phosphate glass were examined. Ce3+ doped barium tin Boro-phosphate glass was studied in terms of its excitation and emission spectra using the photoluminescence technique. The glass's CIE coordinates were also looked at. Additionally, the mass attenuation coefficient, half-value layer, mean free path, tenth value layer, and EABF were studied concerning the glass's gamma-ray shielding qualities using the Phy-X software.
Accuracy of AlphaFold models: Comparison with short N ... O contacts in atomic resolution protein crystal structures
Authors: Carugo Oliviero
Published: January 2024

Artificial intelligence (AI) has revolutionized structural biology by predicting protein 3D structures with near-experimental accuracy. Here, short backbone N-O distances in high-resolution crystal structures were compared to those in three-dimensional models based on AI AlphaFold/ColabFold, specifically considering their estimated standard errors. Experimental and computationally modeled distances very often differ significantly, showing that these models' precision is inadequate to reproduce experimental results at high resolution. T-tests and normal probability plots showed that these computational methods predict atomic position standard errors 3.5–6 times bigger than experimental errors.
Comparison of optical coherence tomography in patients with Wilson's disease of different types
Authors: Liu guizhang , Fang Xiang , Jin Shan , Mei Deng , Tan Lu , Qin Yu , Yuan Feiyan , Zheng Xiaoyu
Published: January 2024

Background: Previous studies have found that changes in Macular and Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in patients with Neurological forms of Wilson's disease (NWD) are related to clinical symptoms. It is unclear whether this change is similar in other WD patients.
Objective: To study the parameters of the macular center of the inner retina and RNFL thickness in OCT of WD patients with different disease types.
Methods: We recruit 30 patients with NWD and 30 patients with Hepatic Forms Wilson 'sdisease (HWD), respectively, to score the nerve function and liver function of the NWD and HWD patients according to the Unified Wilson Disease Rating Scale (UWDRS). Healthy volunteers in the same period were included AS the standard control group. Anterior segment coherent optical tomography (OCT) was used to scan the macular subfoveal retina and RNFL thickness of all tested eyes, and the differences and changes of macular and RNFL parameters in WD patients with different disease types were analyzed.
Results: The macular and RNFL thickness of the NWD groups were significantly lower than those of the HWD and the standard control groups. The macular and RNFL thickness of the NWD group was negatively correlated with the nervous system score. In contrast, the macular and RNFL thickness of the HWD group had no significant difference from the healthy group.
Conclusion: There are significant differences between macular and RNFL in NWD patients and HWD patients. There was a negative correlation between the change of inner retinal thickness and nerve function defect in NWD patients and no correlation between retinal thickness and clinical symptoms in HWD patients.
Diagnostic Utilities of Washout CYFRA 21-1 combined with Washout Thyroglobulin for Metastatic Lymph Nodes in Thyroid Cancer: A Prospective Study
Authors: Park Joonseon , An Solji , Kim Kwangsoon , Kim Jeong Soo , Jung Chan Kwon , Bae Ja Seong
Published: January 2024

Cervical lymph node (LN) metastasis is common in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). This study evaluated the utility of the washout CYFRA 21 − 1 level, combined with the thyroglobulin (Tg) concentration, in terms of diagnosis of LN metastasis. We prospectively enrolled 53 patients who underwent thyroid surgery to treat DTC with lateral cervical LN metastases. Preoperative ultrasound guided needle localization was used to surgical sampling of specific LNs during the operation. The intraoperative washout Tg and CYFRA 21 − 1 levels were measured in such LNs. The Tg and CYFRA 21 − 1 levels differed significantly between metastatic and benign LNs. The cutoff values were 2.63 ng/mL for washout CYFRA 21 − 1 and 22.62 ng/mL for Tg. Combined use of the washout Tg and CYFRA 21 − 1 levels afforded the highest diagnostic accuracy (92.5%), better than that of individual markers. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) were 94.6%, 90.0%, 91.4%, 93.8%, respectively. The conjunction of the washout CYFRA21-1 and Tg levels enhances the diagnostic accuracy of LN metastasis in DTC patients. The washout CYFRA 21 − 1 level may be useful when malignancy is suspected, especially in cases where the cytology and washout Tg findings do not provide definitive results.
The seasonal influence on TMD prevalence in South Korea which has four seasons
Authors: Lee Yeon-Hee , Chung Jin-Woo
Published: January 2024

Aim
This study aimed to explore seasonal variations in temporomandibular disorder (TMD) prevalence in South Korea, utilizing nationwide population-based big data.
Method
Data from the Korean Meteorological Administration combined with big data from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA) (2010–2022), identified as TMD (K07.6) through a 4-digit disease code search, were used. TMD patient data for the past 13 years were statistically processed every month, and prevalence by season was analyzed.
Results
In 2022, 484,241 individuals sought treatment for TMD in hospitals with an increase of 97.89% from 244,708 cases in 2010. The onset of TMD showed no sex differences in those under 10 years of age. However, a distinct female predominance emerged after 10 years of age, with an average female-to-male ratio of 1.84:1. The peak prevalence was observed in the 20–24 age group. TMD patient numbers across seasons showed no significant increase in winter compared with spring or summer. However, there was a significant correlation between the maximum and minimum temperatures and the number of patients with TMD. A higher temperature difference correlated with a higher TMD patient count. The strongest correlation between TMD patient numbers and temperature differences was observed in winter (r = 0.480, p < 0.01), followed by summer (r = 0.443, p < 0.05), and spring (r = 0.366, p < 0.01). The highest number of patients with TMD were distributed in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, with metropolitan areas accounting for 50% of the total patient count.
Conclusions
Diurnal temperature fluctuations showed a significantly stronger correlation with the increase in the number of TMD patients than absolute climate temperatures. This aspect should be a key consideration when examining trends in patients with TMD across distinct seasons in South Korea.
Efficient electrochemical oxidation of the biomass platform compound furfural on a Ni 0.48 Co 0.36 O 0.16 electrode
Authors: Zhang Yanru , Wang Xinyue , Wu Pengpeng , Zhang Xiliang , Zhou Qian , Xing Liang , Fan Yongming
Published: January 2024

The use of electrocatalytic technology to replace traditional harsh thermocatalysis in the process of biomass utilization has undoubtedly been an effective means to achieve green and sustainable development. The use of the environmentally friendly method of synthesizing furoic acid (FA) from the biomass platform compound furfural (FF) by electrooxidation was investigated. The surface of the Ni–Co oxide electrode with a Ni content of 0.48 (Ni0.48Co0.36O0.16) obtained by a simple electrodeposition method was covered by a layer of flower-like porous structure, while NiO and Co3O4 coexisted. Moreover, the Ni0.48Co0.36O0.16 electrode exhibited 95.4% FA faraday efficiency and 99.6% selectivity with a substrate concentration of 20 mM at 1.0 V vs. Hg/HgO and 50°C. In addition, a mechanism for electrooxidation of FF into FA over a Ni-Co oxide electrode was proposed.
Fecal Coprococcus, Hidden behind Abdominal Symptoms in Patients with Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Authors: Guo Huaizhu , Chen Yuzhu , Dong Wenxin , Lu Siqi , Du Yanlin , Duan Liping
Published: January 2024

Background: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is the presence of an abnormally excessive amount of bacterial colonization in the small bowel. Hydrogen and methane breath test has been widely applied as a non-invasive method for SIBO. However, the positive breath test representative of bacterial overgrowth could also be detected in asymptomatic individuals.
Methods: To explore the relationship between clinical symptoms and gut dysbiosis, and find potential fecal biomarkers for SIBO, we compared the microbial profiles between SIBO subjects with positive breath test but without abdominal symptoms (PBT) and healthy controls (HC).
Results: Fecal samples were collected from 63 SIBO who complained of diarrhea, distension, constipation or abdominal pain, 36 PBT and 55 HC. Increased taxonomic diversity and decreased functional diversity were consistent with the progression of SIBO. At the genus level, significantly decreased Bacteroidesand increased Coprococcus_2 were observed, and unique Butyrivibrio could ferment multiple carbohydrates producing hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. There was a significant correlation between Coprococcus_2 and the severity of abdominal symptoms. Differently, The unique Veillonella, Escherichia-Shigella, Barnesiella and Tyzzerella_3 in PBT group were related to amino acid fermentation. Interestingly, the co-occurrence network density of PBT is the largest indicating a complicated interaction of genera. The Euclidean distance between paired networks using either the betweenness centrality or the degree distribution showed that PBT is closer to SIBO.
Conclusions: Increased taxonomic diversity and decreased functional diversity were consistent with the progression of SIBO. Butyrivibrio and Coprococcus_2 abundance along with lower Bacteroides contributed to more noticeable discomfort of SIBO patients. The enriched Coprococcus may be one of the potential biomarkers of SIBO. Represented by Veillonella, asymptomatic PBT objects exhibited a different microbiome spectrum associated with the fermentation of amino acids and peptides rather than carbohydrates. The network of PBT was more stable which may play a protective role, but it deserved further attention in view of the shared essential “bridged” genera with SIBO.
Development of a novel ultrasound Vacuum -assisted headspace solid phase microextraction approach for determination of solvent residual's in pharmaceuticals and comparison with traditional headspace solid phase microextraction method
Authors: Hajipour Somayeh , Ghiasvand Alireza
Published: January 2024

In this report, an ultrasonication and vacuum assisted headspace solid-phase microextraction procedure followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (UVA-HS-SPME-GC-FID) was proposed for direct extraction of solvent residuals, including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, m,p-xylene and o-xylene, in pharmaceutical matrices. A novel robust, reliable and durable nanocomposite solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber was prepared by layer-by-layer coating of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane-functionalized graphene (APTES) on a stainless-steel wire. Then, the proposed fiber was used for headspace SPME (HS-SPME) and trapping of toluene as a residual solvent in solid penicillin, Ampicillin, and Cefazolin vials followed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID). UVA-HS-SPME-GC-FID achieves better validation parameters, including limit of detection, limit of quantification, linearity, recovery and repeatability, in comparison with conventional HS-SPME-GC-FID. The UVA-HS-SPME-GC-FID strategy is very effective for quantitative tracing of volatile and semivolatile solvent residuals in various pharmaceutical drugs.
Immune reconstitution after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with reduced intensity conditioning for inborn errors of immunity
Authors: Shahraki Zahra , Behfar Maryam , Gharagozlou Saber , Mohammadi Shiva , Mahmoudi Shima , Parvaneh Nima , Hamidieh Amir Ali
Published: January 2024

Purpose
Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment for many inborn errors of immunity (IEI). Reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) is used in this setting because of low mortality and morbidity. However, the timely reconstitution of the immune system is essential for long-term survival.
Methods
We included forty-one IEI patients transplanted from September 2016 to September 2019 using fludarabine-based RIC protocol. Lymphocyte reconstitution was evaluated by flow cytometry of CD3, CD4, and CD8 for T lymphocytes, CD19 for B lymphocytes, and CD56 for NK cells in + 3, +6, + 9, and + 12 months after HSCT. We analyzed the effect of different factors on the duration of immune cell reconstitution.
Results
By the third month, 68% of total T cells and 78% of NK cells had returned to normal. However, 73% of B cells, 29% of CD4+ T cells, and 83% of CD8+ T cells were normalized 12 months after HSCT. The absence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) was associated with earlier CD3+ T cell and B cell recovery. Absence of chronic GVHD (cGVHD) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection was associated with early CD4+ T cell recovery.
Conclusion
With the fludarabine-based RIC protocol, CD4+ T cells showed slow and poor recovery during follow-up. However, this poor recovery did not lead to increased rates of infections. In addition, CMV infection and the development of acute and chronic GVHD negatively affected immune cell recovery. Using an appropriate GVHD prophylaxis regimen and adequate treatment of CMV may improve the immune reconstitution post-HSCT.
The Response Mechanism of COVID-19 spatial global distribution to Eco-geographic Factors
Authors: Pan Jing , Villalan Arivizhivendhan Kannan , Ni GuanYing , Wu RenNa , Sui ShiFeng , Wu XiaoDong , Wang XiaoLong
Published: January 2024

COVID-19 has been massively transmitted for almost three years, and its multiple variants have caused serious health problems and an economic crisis. Our goal was to identify the influencing factors that reduce the threshold of disease transmission and to analyze the epidemiological patterns of COVID-19. This study served as an early assessment of the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 using the MaxEnt species distribution algorithm using the maximum entropy model. The transmission of COVID-19 was evaluated based on human factors and environmental variables, including climatic, terrain and vegetation, along with COVID-19 daily confirmed case location data. The results of the SDM model indicate that population density was the major factor influencing the spread of COVID-19. Altitude, land cover and climatic factor showed low impact. We identified a set of practical, high-resolution, multi-factor-based maximum entropy ecological niche risk prediction systems to assess the transmission risk of the COVID-19 epidemic globally. This study provided a comprehensive analysis of various factors influencing the transmission of COVID-19, incorporating both human and environmental variables. These findings emphasize the role of different types of influencing variables in disease transmission, which could have implications for global health regulations and preparedness strategies for future outbreaks.
Increased platelets aggregation in liver tissue of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Rongshan FAN , LI Yandong
Published: January 2024

Objective To observe the number of platelets aggregation in the liver of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its relationship with liver tissue inflammation, fibrosis and fatty lesion.
Methods The clinical data of 55 NAFLD patients and 25 non-NAFLD patients who were hospitalized in Shenzhen Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine from December 2020 to May 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. The liver tissues obtained from liver biopsy were examined by routine pathology, and the platelets in liver tissues were marked by immunohistochemical staining with CD63 antibody. Then, the clinical data, liver pathology results and immunohistochemical staining results of the subjects were collected and analyzed by unpaired sample t test.
Results The number of platelets aggregation in liver tissue of NAFLD patients is higher than that of non-NAFLD patients, and the number of platelets aggregation in liver tissue is related to the degree of liver tissue inflammation, but not to the degree of liver tissue fibrosis and fatty lesions.
Conclusion The number of platelets aggregation in the liver of NAFLD patients is increased, which is related to the degree of liver tissue inflammation.
Efficacy of combined administration of Baekhogainsam-Tang and low-dose pilocarpine on frequent intractable xerostomia: study protocol for a multi-center randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kim Su Il , Lee Young Chan , Kim Ji Won , Kim Bo-Hyung , Lee Junhee , Eun Young-Gyu
Published: January 2024

Background
Intractable xerostomia is defined as the subjective perception of dry mouth and persistent salivary gland hypofunction even after attempting treatment. Pilocarpine is an effective salivary sialagogue; however, it often exhibits more side effects at high doses and limited effectiveness at low doses. Baekhogainsam-Tang (BIT) is a common herbal formula used by patients complaining of sore throats and thirst. Several studies have reported that BIT increases salivary gland secretion and improves dry mouth symptoms without significant side effects. However, no clinical trials have studied the efficacy of the combined administration of BIT and low-dose pilocarpine for intractable xerostomia. Therefore, we aim to assess the non-inferior efficacy and fewer side effects of the combined administration of BIT and low-dose pilocarpine compared with the administration of only high-dose pilocarpine.
Methods
A randomized, open-label, parallel-group, multi-center trial will be conducted. A total of 120 patients with Sjogren’s syndrome having an unstimulated salivary flow rate (SFR) ≤ 0.1 mL/min or who have undergone radiotherapy to the head and neck with an unstimulated SFR ≤ 0.25 mL/min will be recruited competitively at four trial centers. They will be randomly allocated to either the experimental or control groups. The experimental group will receive BIT herbal granules three times and pilocarpine (2.5 mg) four times daily; meanwhile, the control group will receive only 5 mg pilocarpine four times daily for 12 weeks. The primary outcome is unstimulated SFR after 12 weeks of treatment. Secondary outcomes are stimulated SFR after 12 weeks of medication, as well as differences and mean percentage changes in unstimulated and stimulated SFR, visual analog scale, salivary scintigraphy, and questionnaires for both oral symptoms and quality of life from baseline to the end of the trial.
Discussion
This trial will be significant evidence on the efficacy and safety of the combined use of BIT and low-dose pilocarpine to treat intractable xerostomia.
Trial registration
This trial is registered with the Clinical Research Information Service of the Republic of Korea (ISRCTN, KCT0005982, Registered 10 March 2021).
Social Capital and Income Inequality: Findings From Selected High Income Countries
Authors: Bayraktar Murat
Published: January 2024

Since the early 1980s, income inequality has increased in many nations whereas after 2008 financial crisis and Covid-19, this trend had accelerated. This paper aims to explore the effect of social capital for decreasing income inequality. Policymakers need to understand how social capital affects income inequality affects and to determine if there are other effects, since this may affect the sustainability of a country.
I used secondary data provided from reports of the World Bank, Eurostat, SolAbility and then subjected them to regression analysis and specifically; Hausman specification test fixed effect regression method, random effect regression method, Hausman endogeneity regression method. Based on these empirical results I can conclude that after governance, social capital has the most significant effect on decreasing the income inequality. Therefore, developing and least developed countries should take aproppriate policy implications to increase the social capital level among their citiziens and society.
JEL Codes: O15, O47, O52, C23
Exploring the Impact of Virtual Reality Rehabilitation on Motor Function in Individuals with Spina Bifida in Tanzania: A Quantitative Analysis
Authors: Mvandal Samson Peter , Lupoly Godfrey , Mgawe Paschal Elauteri , Nhandi Joseph Shugha , Nyambita Esther , Mengi Goodluck , Ally Muhamad Muhamed
Published: January 2024

Spina bifida, a congenital neural tube defect, presents a complex set of challenges, particularly in motor function, for individuals across the lifespan. The condition is characterized by incomplete closure of the spinal column during embryonic development, leading to a spectrum of motor impairments such as gait abnormalities, muscle weakness, and compromised functional mobility. The prevalence of spina bifida remains a global concern, affecting approximately 1 in 1000 live births. This research investigates the potential impact of virtual reality (VR) rehabilitation on motor function in individuals with spina bifida in Tanzania. A randomized controlled trial involving 120 participants is designed, with one group undergoing traditional rehabilitation and another engaging in a six-week VR rehabilitation program. Motor function assessments, including gait analysis, muscle strength measurements, and functional mobility tests, were conducted at baseline, midpoint, and post-intervention. Preliminary analysis suggests that VR rehabilitation may offer unique benefits, leading to improvements in motor function. The study aims to contribute valuable insights into the efficacy of VR-based interventions for enhancing the motor capabilities of individuals with spina bifida, providing a foundation for future rehabilitation strategies in this population.
The Art of Asking Question: Mastering Human-AI (HAI) Duet in Chemistry Through Prompt Engineering
Authors: Vidhani Dinesh
Published: January 2024

Are we asking the right questions?" seems cliché, but for ChatGPT, it's a pivotal tool to ensure accuracy of responses. While ChatGPT's training on the vast database promises to revolutionize STEM education and research, this investigation shows the importance of precise communication and prompt engineering in guiding ChatGPT towards reliable and accurate responses, particularly in chemistry. For instance, emphasizing context, clearly defining symbols, and focusing on field-specific instructions can dramatically improve its performance. Furthermore, avoiding open-ended prompts and strategically using repetition can further enhance its accuracy. The iterative prompt design, demonstrated through series of adjustments, illustrates how seemingly minor refinement, such as substituting "least" for "lowest," has profound impact on the output. This study highlights the essential role of human oversight in both guarding reliable information and nurturing a productive 'Human-AI' (HAI) partnership. This combined effort sets the stage for the much-anticipated fourth industrial revolution.
Urban Dynamics through Social Media Lens: A Computational Approach to Identifying and Analyzing Civic Issues in Smart Cities
Authors: Agarwal Amit , Toshniwal Durga
Published: January 2024

In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of urban challenges in smart cities by categorizing issues such as Traffic, Pollution, Accidents, Garbage, and Potholes, through the lens of Twitter data. Recognizing the limitations of traditional physical sensor surveillance in monitoring extensive urban road networks, we leveraged the dynamic and real-time nature of social media data, specifically from Twitter, to extract insights relevant to urban management and planning. This analysis was particularly focused on Delhi, a key smart city in India.To effectively segregate and classify tweets into these distinct urban categories, we developed an innovative methodology using dense word embeddings facilitated by the word2vec model. This approach enabled us to capture and analyze the semantic context of tweets, leading to the generation of lists of keywords that are semantically related, enhancing the precision of our categorization process. Moreover, we conducted a detailed spatial analysis to pinpoint the most vulnerable locations within each identified category. Complementing this, our temporal analysis shed light on the peak periods of public discourse related to these urban challenges, allowing us to explore and understand the key characteristics of these peak activity times. Our findings, demonstrating the application of advanced natural language processing techniques in urban issue identification and analysis, were corroborated and validated through a comparison with reports issued by government bodies and media publications. This not only underlines the efficacy of our approach but also highlights its potential utility in urban governance and policy-making.
Single-cell analysis reveals microbial spore responses to sodium hypochlorite
Authors: Yang Weiming , He Lin , Fan Haihua
Published: January 2024

The effect of sodium hypochlorite on the internal structure of single spore was determined at the molecular level, as well as the effect on spores’ germination, growth and morphology. Bacillus subtilis (CMCC(B)63501) was characterized using the single-cell technique after exposure to 0.5% sodium hypochlorite solution. The results of laser tweezers Raman spectroscopy showed that sodium hypochlorite resulted in Ca2+-dipicolinic acid release and nucleic acid denaturation. Atomic force microscopy images showed that the surface of treated spores changed from rough to smooth, protein shells were degraded at 10 min, and the permeability barrier was destroyed at 15 min. The spore volume decreased gradually over time. Live-cell imaging showed that the germination and growth rates decreased with increasing treatment time, indicating that sodium hypochlorite was able to inhibit spore activity effectively. These results provide new insight into the response of live spores to sodium hypochlorite and demonstrate the application of various new single-cell analysis techniques.
Synthesis of Ag-Doped CuPc-ZnO/Hydrophobic Silica Aerogel Nanophotocatalyst for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Floating Benzene: A Comparative Study of Different Photoreactor Geometries
Authors: Hakki Hamid Kazemi , Seyyedbagheri Hadi , Ahmed Shahla Zubair , Avalzali Hossein Alinezhad , Ghaderi Aref
Published: January 2024

In recent years, water pollution with water-immiscible pollutants such as BTXs has attracted the attention of researchers, and for this purpose, the use of silica aerogel-based photocatalysts has been favored by researchers. In this research, the synthesis of an Ag-CuPc-ZnO/Silica Aerogel hydrophobic photocatalyst was prepared by sol-gel and impregnation methods for the degradation of floating benzene pollutants originating from oil well explosions is presented. The effect of different percentages of Ag on the catalyst's performance was evaluated, and the optimal sample was studied in rectangular and cylindrical photoreactors. Characterization techniques such as XRD, FESEM, FTIR, BET/BJH, PL, contact angle, and UV-Vis DRS were employed to analyze the physicochemical properties of the hydrophobic photocatalyst BET analysis showed an increased specific surface area and decreased pore diameter with decreasing nanoparticle size. DRS analysis demonstrated a decreased bandgap with increasing Ag content and increased light absorption in the visible light region with CuPc addition. PL analysis indicated a significant decrease in electron-hole recombination with 10% Ag. Ag-CuPc-ZnO/Silica Aerogel with 10% wt. Ag exhibited the highest efficiency in benzene photodegradation. The rectangular photoreactor demonstrated superior performance with higher degradation rates, STY, PSTY, and QY, attributed to its uniform light distribution and better illumination.
Insight into catalytic effects of alkali metal salts addition on bamboo and cellulose pyrolysis
Authors: Chen Wei , Tao Xuan , Shi Xiaolei , Guo Wenjuan , Wang Yurou , Liu Biao , Yang Haiping
Published: January 2024

Alkali metal compounds have vital influence on biomass pyrolysis conversion. In this study, bamboo and cellulose catalytic pyrolysis with different alkali metal salts catalysts (KCl, K2SO4, K2CO3, NaCl, Na2SO4, and Na2CO3) were investigated in the fixed-bed reaction system. The effect of cations (K+ and Na+) and anions (Cl−, SO42− and CO32−) on the evolution properties of biochar, bio-oil, and gas products was explored under both in-situ and ex-situ catalytic pyrolysis. Results showed that alkali metal salts facilitated the yields of biochar and gases at the expense of that of bio-oil. alkali metal-Cl, SO4 showed a weaker catalytic effect, while alkali metal-CO3 greatly promoted the generation of gas products and increased the condensation degree of biochar. With the addition of K2CO3 and Na2CO3, cyclopentanones content was over 50% from cellulose catalytic pyrolysis, and phenols content (mainly alky-phenols) reached over 80% from bamboo catalytic pyrolysis. Moreover, solid-solid catalytic reactions with K2CO3 and Na2CO3 catalysts had a more important role than gas-solid catalytic reactions for in-situ catalytic pyrolysis. The solid-solid and gas-solid catalytic reactions with alkali metal-CO3 catalysts were stronger than those with alkali metal-Cl, SO4 catalysts. Furthermore, the possible catalytic pyrolysis mechanism of alkali metal salts on biomass pyrolysis was proposed, which is important to the high-value utilization of biomass.
Examining the Safety of Mirabegron: An Analysis of Real-World Pharmacovigilance Data from the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Database
Authors: Wang Junwei , Zhang Aiwei , Ye Miaoyong , Zhang Cunming
Published: January 2024

Background: Mirabegron, the first β-3 adrenergic receptor agonist, received approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2012 for the treatment of overactive bladder (OAB). This pharmacovigilance study investigated the safety profile of mirabegron treatment using the US FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.
Methods: This study employed disproportionality analyses, including the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and Bayesian Confidence Propagation Neural Network (BCPNN) algorithm, to quantify signals of adverse events associated with mirabegron.
Results: From the first quarter of 2012 to the third quarter of 2023, a comprehensive total of 14,356,234 adverse event (AE) reports were submitted to the FAERS database. Within this dataset, encompassing 18,763 reports specifically associated with mirabegron, healthcare professionals notably contributed 2,902 of these reports. A total of 80 preferred terms (PTs) of interest were identified using both the ROR and information component (IC) algorithms. The most common AEs included blood pressure increased, urinary retention, atrial fibrillation, dry mouth, and tachycardia, which were consistent with the product instructions. Unexpected significant AEs, such as arrhythmia, palpitations, dementia, transient ischemic attack, Parkinson's disease, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody positive vasculitis, lip swelling, and swollen tongue, were also identified. The study findings indicated that the majority of onset time occurred within 30 days (n = 358, 55.68%). However, AEs were still possible after one year of mirabegron treatment.
Conclusion: This study provided valuable evidence for the real-world safety of mirabegron, helping clinical professionals enhance their understanding of mirabegron's safety in clinical practice. It also contributed valuable evidence for further safety studies on mirabegron.
Real-Time Sea State Estimation Using Deep Transfer Learning; an Integrated Framework
Authors: Majidiyan Hamed , Enshaei Hossein , Howe Damon
Published: January 2024

This study addresses the crucial need for wave parameter identification in floating units at sea, where waves serve as a primary environmental force. Despite decades of research, online wave estimation using ship-borne sensors, known as the wave buoy analogy (WBA), has not provided a definitive solution for deterministic sea state estimation. Our study proposes an integrated AI system that minimizes the time lag between the excitation wave and wave estimation based on the current state. Our innovative approach involves a threshold self-exciting mechanism, dynamically switching between different predictors based on statistical characteristics within a fixed observation window of ship responses. This mechanism adjusts the buffer window for wave estimation. Time-series responses from a moored semi-submersible simulation undergo preprocessing to extract detailed spectral and temporal features. This data is then transformed into scalograms and fed into a deep-learning network. A novel aspect of our work involves exploring transfer learning and leveraging off-the-shelf networks to accelerate the training process. The present setting not only effectively reduces time lag but also showcases the potential of transfer learning for generalizing sea state estimation models. The promising outcomes of this research, in turn, pave the way for advanced seakeeping capabilities and safer marine operations.
Non-Invasive PNETs Grading Using CT Radiomics and Machine Learning
Authors: Salahshour Faeze , Taherzadeh Mahsa , Hajanfar Ghasem , Bayat Gholamreza , Ardalan Farid Azmoudeh , Esmailzadeh Arman , Kahe Majid , Shayesteh Sajad P
Published: January 2024

Purpose
The purpose is to determine the most effective machine learning method for identifying pathological grades of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PNETs). This will be achieved by analyzing contrast-enhanced computed tomography scans of both arterial and portal phases. This investigation aims to provide clinicians with an efficient and reliable tool for accurately identifying PNETs pathological grades.
Materials and Methods
An investigation was conducted on a cohort of 100 patients diagnosed with pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Definitive pathological diagnoses and grading results were obtained for all patients. Pyradiomics, an open-source Python package, extracted radiomics features from CT images obtained in arterial and portal phases. These features were subsequently utilized in different machine learning classifiers. The classification model's performance was assessed using sensitivity, specificity, area under the curve (AUC), and accuracy metrics.
Result
Our analysis demonstrates that combining CT-based radiomics features with a multi-algorithm machine learning approach can accurately identify the pathological grades of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. The most effective predictive performance in the arterial phase was observed with the combination of Arterial_RFE and LR, with an AUC of 0.68. Meanwhile, in the portal phase, the combination of Portal_RFE and KNN demonstrated the highest predictive performance with an AUC of 0.76.
Conclusion
The application of CT radiomics features, augmented with machine learning, has shown promising results in determining the pathological grade of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. This approach can further contribute to the classification of PNET patients into grade 1 and grade 2/3 categories based on arterial and portal phases, enabling clinical decision-making.
Improving energy efficiency of tunnel furnace by using heat optimization model
Authors: Mallick Arup , Banerjee Subir , Singh Ranjay , Shivangi P N , Mandley P S , Ghosh Biswajit , Singh Mrityunjay Kumar
Published: January 2024

Reheating furnace of an integrated steel plant consumes intensive fuel as input energy to heat up stocks prior to hot rolling process. In current scenario, the elevated cost of productivity due to increasing fuel price is emerging as a key concern for the steel industry. A continuous improvement in reduction of fuel consumption is one of the key objective for the manufacturing units. Numerous research work is going on worldwide to increase the energy efficiency of reheating furnaces. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and numerical modelling are mostly being used for predicting thermal and reactive fluid characteristic for slab heating. However, the said methods are very expensive and needs a decent infrastructure to execute. In this article an alternative approach has been adopted where complete heat and mass balance of entire tunnel type reheating furnace has been carried out. In addition, method to optimize the combustion fuel components and heat balance of combined recuperator have been described. By adopting the above strategy, a significant improvement in furnace efficiency has been achieved leading to drastic reduction in fuel consumption.
Paeoniflorin inhibits the inflammation of rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synoviocytes by downregulating hsa_circ_009012
Authors: Yang Junping , Wei Zehong , Li Huaiyu , Lv Senhao , Fu Yong , Xiao Liang
Published: January 2024

Background
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that leads to progressive joint damage. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) can regulate the inflammatory response of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and influence the disease progression. Paeoniflorin (PF) is the main active ingredient extracted from Paeonia lactiflora Pallas and is known for its anti-inflammatory effect. This study aims to explore the potential mechanisms by which hsa_circ_009012 and PF regulate the inflammatory response in RA.
Methods
RNA expression of hsa_circ_009012, has-microRNA-1286 (miR-1286), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3) were assessed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) or western blotting (WB). Cell inflammation markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) were assessed by RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence (IF). Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, flow cytometry, and transwell assay were utilized to test cell viability, cell cycle distribution, and migration.
Results
Hsa_circ_009012 was highly expressed in RA-FLSs. Hsa_circ_009012 overexpression facilitated the inflammation in RA-FLSs and was closely associated with the miR-1286/TLR4 axis. Paeoniflorin inhibited inflammation and the expression of hsa_circ_009012 and TLR4, while upregulating the expression of miR-1286 in RA-FLSs. Moreover, the upregulation of hsa_circ_009012 reversed the repressive effect of paeoniflorin on RA-FLSs progression.
Conclusion
Paeoniflorin inhibits the inflammation of RA-FLSs via mediating the hsa_circ_009012/miR-1286/TLR4/NLRP3 axis.
Probabilistic Inference Layer Integration in Mistral LLM for Accurate Information Retrieval
Authors: Wang Bing , Wang Shiyu , Ouyang Qian
Published: January 2024

This study introduces a novel integration of a Probabilistic Inference Layer (PIL) into the Mistral Large Language Model (LLM), aiming to address the critical challenge of accurate and reliable information retrieval in natural language processing. By employing advanced statistical models within the PIL, the enhanced Mistral LLM demonstrates a marked improvement in information retrieval accuracy, context understanding, and bias reduction. The PIL's application of Bayesian networks and sophisticated mathematical constructs, such as matrix calculus and principles akin to Bernoulli's and Lorentz transformations, enables the Mistral LLM to process information with a higher degree of accuracy and reliability. The study's results indicate significant advancements in the model's performance across various tests, particularly in discerning context and intent, reducing biases, and handling complex logical operations. Despite its computational demands and the ongoing challenge to completely eliminate biases, the PIL integration establishes a new benchmark for LLMs and opens avenues for future research. This study contributes to the field by demonstrating the potential of probabilistic methods in enhancing the capabilities of generative AI models, thus paving the way for more sophisticated and reliable AI-driven information systems.