bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Strengths and Weaknesses of Large Language Models
Authors: Lappin Shalom
Published: November 2023

The transformers that drive chatbots and other AI systems constitute large language models (LLMs). These are currently the focus of a lively discussion in both the scientific literature and the popular media. This discussion ranges from hyperbolic claims that attribute general intelligence and sentience to LLMs, to the skeptical view that these devices are no more than “stochastic parrots”. I present an overview of some of the weak arguments that have been presented against LLMs, and I consider several of the more compelling criticisms of these devices. The former significantly underestimate the capacity of transformers to achieve subtle inductive inferences required for high levels of performance on complex, cognitively significant tasks. In some instances, these arguments misconstrue the nature of deep learning. The latter criticisms identify significant limitations in the way in which transformers learn and represent patterns in data. They also point out important differences between the procedures through which deep neural networks and humans acquire knowledge of natural language. It is necessary to look carefully at both sets of arguments in order to achieve a balanced assessment of the potential and the limitations of LLMs.
Graphite Recycling by Doping Nano-materials for Water Treatment
Authors: Ibrahim F. A. , Mosa Sawsan Mohamed Abu El Hassan
Published: November 2023

This paper presents graphite recycling by doping nanosilver for water filtration because of the need for secure water for consumption. It has demonstrated the significance of looking for alternative materials that can filter water independently or in combination with other materials. Adsorbent nanomaterials have unique characteristics as compared to conventional ones due to their small size and significant surface area relative to volume ratio. In this study, an effort is made to test the usability of nanomaterials, such as graphite-doped nanosilver, as adsorbents for the elimination of different kinds of heavy metals from water. This study detects the elimination of metal ions from aqueous solutions by using modified graphite nanosheets. The shape of the synthesized graphite adsorbent nanosheet was characterized by spectroscopic analyses such as SEM and HR-TEM. The sizes of these nanocrystals are comparatively small, at about 38 nm for Ag and 56 nm for G–Ag samples, as shown by HR-TEM. The results showed that raising the duration of immersion and adsorbent quantity improved adsorption effectiveness. Chemical treatment frequently affects the surface characteristics of nanoadsorbents and considerably enhances their adsorption capacities. The metal-nanomaterial interactions, processes, and capacities of nanomaterial-based adsorption are analyzed and described in this work in a variety of experimental settings. The improved adsorbent graphite recycling showed a significant adsorption efficiency of 91.7% for heavy metals. It is vital to research ecologically friendly and sustainable applications that can lead to innovative and revolutionary water treatment systems.
Increase in the efficiency of electricity production with a thermoelectric generator (TEG)
Authors: Górszczak Piotr , Rywotycki Marcin , Kąc Sławomir , Borówka Maciej
Published: November 2023

Currently used TEG modules have low efficiency of about 5%. The energy generated by the TEG module depends on the temperature difference between the module surfaces. Heat exchange between the heat source and the module surface takes place through the contact between two rough solid surfaces. This creates contact resistance. It can be reduced by using a substance filling the empty spaces between the contact surfaces and applying pressure. During the tests, the efficiency of electricity generation with a thermoelectric generator was measured (TEG) at various pressure forces. The tests were carried out at a pressure force of 250 N, 500 N, 750 N and 1000 N. The selected values of pressure do not exceed the limit value arising from the thermoelectric generator (TEG) design. A copper element constituting the heat source was heated in a furnace. Next, it was pressed at an adequate force to the generator, which was placed on a water cooler. The impact of conductive materials placed between the faces of the heat source and the TEG on the generation of electricity was examined. At low forces, the use of a thermal pad as an intermediary substance does not result in improved heat transfer in the heat source—TEG generator system. Better filling of voids is provided by thermally conductive paste due to its properties.
Pre- and post-Messinian deformational styles along the northern Nile Delta Basin in the framework of the Eastern Mediterranean tectonic evolution
Authors: Shalaby Ahmed , Sarhan Mohammad Abdelfattah
Published: November 2023

The present work is focused on the structural deformation styles of the pre- and post-Messinian sequences of the Nile Delta Basin. The structural interpretations presented in this study shed critical insight about the evolution of the Nile Delta Basin through pre- and post-Messinian times, provides high reliability about its origin and development in the context of the Eastern Mediterranean tectonic history. The explanation for the seismic data covering three different gas fields (Baltim Field, Temsah Field and North Sinai Field) extend along the northern offshore portion of the Nile Delta Basin revealed significant variations in the deformational styles between the pre- and the post-Messinian sequences. The pre-Messinian rocks were mainly compressed in northwest-southeast direction creating folding-related compressional deformations which gradually decline eastward. The post-Messinian sequence exhibits differences in the deformational models between the examined fields. In Baltim field, it shows extensional features caused by the bulk northeast-southwest extensional deformation. However, in Temsah and North Sinai fields, this post-Messinian succession exposes north–south compressional deformation. These interpreted deformational directions are extremely well-matched with the regional structure configuration of the Nile Delta Basin and the eastern Mediterranean regions.
Classification bullying/cyberbullying through smartphone sensor and a questionnaire application
Authors: Convertini Vito Nicola , Gattulli Vincenzo , Impedovo Donato , Terrone Grazia
Published: November 2023

This study establishes a correlation between computer science and psychology, specifically focusing on the incorporation of smartphone sensors and users' personality index. A limited number of state-of-the-art approaches have considered these factors, while no existing dataset currently encompasses this correlation. In this study, an Android application was developed to implement a questionnaire on bullying and cyberbullying, using smartphone sensors to predict Personal Index. Sensor data are collected in the “UNIBA HAR Dataset” and were analyzed using AI algorithms to find a correlation between the categorization class of the questionnaire (Personality Index) and the prediction of ML behavioral models. The results indicate that the Bayesian Bridge with "Bullying bully vs. Victimization bullying" and "Total bullying vs. Total victimization" performs better on average 0.94 accuracy, and the LSTM with the last categorization performs 0.89 accuracy. These results are crucial for future development in the same research area.

Graphical abstract
The Roman and Viennese indices of prohibited books in Austrian and Bohemian lands under Maria Theresa
Authors: Vidmar Luka
Published: November 2023

Under Maria Theresa (ruled 1740‒1780), handling books in Austrian and Bohemian lands was largely governed by the Index librorum prohibitorum, which the Catholic Church in Rome started publishing in 1559, and the Catalogus librorum a commissione aulica prohibitorum, which the Court Book Censorship Committee in Vienna published from 1754 onward. Through censorship secularization, the Viennese index gradually replaced the Roman one, but that did not mean it did not copy it or that it was more liberal. It was created under the influence of the (moderate and Catholic) Enlightenment, but its main goals continued to be protecting the faith and the Church, as well as pursuing the interests of the (Catholic) ruling dynasty and its state. The Viennese index soon reached the same length as the Roman one, but it by far exceeded it in the frequency of its updates and releases. Compared to the Roman index, it had a more internal character: it did not list the names of the ruler (and co-regent) and responsible officials, nor the areas it applied to. It was more forgiving toward scholarly and older Protestant, political, and philosophical works. It treated pseudo-scholarly and more recent Protestant works, as well as old literature, in a similar way as the Roman index (i.e., mostly strictly), and it was stricter toward religious Catholic works and more recent political and philosophical works and literature (especially plays).
Generic optimization approach of soil hydraulic parameters for site-specific model applications
Authors: Trenz Jonas , Memic Emir , Batchelor William D. , Graeff-Hönninger Simone
Published: November 2023

Site-specific crop management is based on the postulate of varying soil and crop requirements in a field. Therefore, a field is separated into homogenous management zones, using available data to adapt management practices environment to maximize productivity and profitability while reducing environmental impacts. Due to advancing sensor technologies, crop growth and yield data on more minor scales are common, but soil data often needs to be more appropriate. Crop growth models have shown promise as a decision support tool for site-specific farming. The Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT) is a widely used point-based model. To overcome the problem of inappropriate soil input data problem, this study introduces an external plug-in program called Soil Profile Optimizer (SPO), which uses the current DSSAT v4.8 to calibrate soil profile parameters on a site-specific level. Developed as an inverse modelling approach, the SPO can calibrate selected soil profile parameters by targeting available in-season plant data. Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and normalized RMSE as error minimization criteria are used. The SPO was tested and evaluated by comparing different simulation scenarios in a case study of a 3-yr field trial with maize. The scenario with optimized soil profiles, conducted with the SPO, resulted in an R2 of 0.76 between simulated and observed yield and led to significant improvements compared to the scenario conducted with field scale soil profile information (R2 0.03). The SPO showed promise in using spatial plant measurements to estimate management zone scale soil parameters required for the DSSAT model.
Marriage: an institution you cannot disparage? Evidence on the marriage norms of entrepreneurs
Authors: Stamm Isabell , Bernhard Fabian , Ahrens Jan-Philipp , Istipliler Baris
Published: November 2023

Entrepreneurship research increasingly acknowledges marriage as an important resource for long-term commitment to entrepreneurial ventures. At the same time, family scholars emphasize the deinstitutionalization of marriage in many countries, meaning that marriage as formalized and long-term companionship has lost importance. We contend that outdated ideological positions in entrepreneurship studies on marriage potentially obscure the more complex reality of the marriage norms of entrepreneurs. Using representative panel data from Germany, our study demonstrates that there is substantial heterogeneity among marriage norms internalized by entrepreneurs in various contexts. While entrepreneurs, on average, are less likely to internalize companion marriage norms than the general population, family entrepreneurs are significantly more likely to internalize companion marriage norms. We provide new insight into the link between marriage norms and entrepreneurship and open promising new areas of inquiry with regard to social norms and entrepreneurial activity.
The Elder Problem with Reactive Infiltration Effects
Authors: Hurtiš Radoslav , Guba Peter , Kyselica Juraj
Published: November 2023

The occurrence of buoyancy-driven flow and reactive solute transport in a fluid-saturated porous medium can be induced by either natural processes or human activities. Typical examples include the groundwater salinization in carbonate-rock aquifers and the acid treatment of oil wells in petroleum drilling industry. In this paper, the classical Elder problem of buoyancy-driven convection in two-dimensional porous media is extended to include the local chemical interactions between the solute in the pore liquid (e.g. salt such as NaCl or acids such as HCl and HCl/HF mixtures) and the solid space of the porous medium (e.g. minerals such as calcite and dolomite). Effects of the geochemical processes on the flow and mass transport are investigated. For the reactive, strongly solute-driven case in the regime dominated by the diffusive mass transport, a decrease in the net solute concentration is found as compared to the non-reactive case. This decrease is pronounced at higher values of the Damköhler number when the solute reaction rate becomes larger than the solute diffusion rate. Furthermore, the flow structure is affected by products generated by the chemical reaction when the Rayleigh number for the products is sufficiently high. In that case, numerical simulations show the formation of diluted fluid tongues exhibiting damped periodic oscillations about a nonzero mean. The results are obtained using the pseudospectral numerical method, verified against the analytical solution for the non-reactive, purely diffusive case.
Enablers of transdisciplinary collaboration for researchers working on climate risks in African cities
Authors: McClure Alice
Published: November 2023

This study explores enablers that help researchers to undertake collaborative transdisciplinary work with non-academic actors to co-produce knowledge on complex climate risks in African cities. Enablers were explored using a qualitative case study approach and expansive learning theory, which emphasises the embeddedness of practices in cultural and historical contexts. Concepts associated with expansive learning helped to consider relational enablers, namely: (i) capabilities required by researchers to understand the perspectives, values and motives of non-academic actors and make their own explicit; (ii) characteristics of spaces that allowed diverse participants to engage with perspectives, values and motives of others; and (iii) knowledge of the motivation behind different practices of non-academic actors, as embedded in different contexts. Findings highlight the importance of researchers’ intentional efforts to engage non-academic actors in their city contexts and respond to local priorities. Design elements that enabled relational work included explicit co-production framings, sharing experiences and opportunities for understanding various actor groups through structured activities and informal dialogues. The study highlights the situated and dialectical relationship between growing relational capabilities of researchers and their engagement in transdisciplinarity, provided spaces were created for reflection on activities. Relational enablers helped researchers to understand the heterogeneous experiences of actors working in African cities and tensions that influence their practices including traditional knowledge paradigms and siloed ways of working. The “champions” identified by researchers were those non-academic actors who took agency to engage with these tensions and begin transforming their practices towards multi-actor transdisciplinary knowledge co-production.
Criminal infiltration in amateur football: the case of the Netherlands
Authors: Spapens Toine
Published: November 2023

In the past five years involvement of criminals in socially beneficial activities and philanthropy has received increasing attention in the Netherlands. Amateur football clubs appear to be particularly vulnerable to criminal infiltration. This paper presents the results of three exploratory studies conducted to answer two main questions. First, to what extent does criminal infiltration in amateur football occur, who are involved and what are their motives? Second, how may criminal infiltration be better prevented, both by clubs and public institutions? Suspected criminals have been active in amateur football as official and covert sponsors, as clubs’ presidents and coaches, or have misused clubs’ facilities for illegal activities. Our studies showed that in 2020, 19% of Dutch amateur football clubs reported to have been confronted with indications of attempted criminal infiltration and in this year the authorities had 40 cases under investigation. Criminal involvement in amateur football can be explained primarily from the perspective of social embeddedness and the aim to improve one’s status and social acceptation within local communities. Although awareness of the problem has been growing, preventing, detecting and tackling criminal infiltration may still be improved.
Coaxial boron nitride nanotubes as interfacial dielectric layers to lower interface trap density in carbon nanotube transistors
Authors: Otsuka Keigo , Sugihara Taiki , Inoue Taiki , Jia Weijie , Matsushita Satoru , Saito Takanobu , Lee Minhyeok , Taniguchi Takashi , Watanabe Kenji , Pitner Gregory , Li Ming-Yang , Chao Tzu-Ang , Xiang Rong , Chiashi Shohei , Maruyama Shigeo
Published: November 2023

A semiconductor/dielectric interface is one of the dominant factors in device characteristics, and a variety of oxides with high dielectric constants and low interface trap densities have been used in carbon nanotube transistors. Given the crystal structure of nanotubes with no dangling bonds, there remains room to investigate unconventional dielectric materials. Here, we fabricate carbon nanotube transistors with boron nitride nanotubes as interfacial layers between channels and gate dielectrics, where a single semiconducting nanotube is used to focus on switching behaviors at the subthreshold regime. The subthreshold swing of 68 mV·dec−1 is obtained despite a 100-nm-thick SiO2 dielectric, corresponding to the effective interface trap density of 5.2 × 1011 cm−2·eV−1, one order of magnitude lower than those of carbon nanotube devices without boron nitride passivation. The interfacial layers also result in the mild suppression of threshold voltage variation and hysteresis. We achieve Ohmic contacts through the selective etching of boron nitride nanotubes with XeF2 gas, overcoming the trade-off imposed by wrapping the inner nanotubes. Negligible impacts of fluorinating carbon nanotubes on device performances are also confirmed as long as the etching is applied exclusively at source/drain regions. Our results represent an important step toward nanoelectronics that exploit the advantage of one-dimensional van der Waals heterostructures.
Review: Artisanal Gold Mining in Africa—Environmental Pollution and Human Health Implications
Authors: Ondayo Maureene Auma , Watts Michael J. , Mitchell Clive J. , King David C. P. , Osano Odipo
Published: November 2023

About nine million Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) workers in Africa and people living near ASGM activities are highly exposed to geogenic and anthropogenic potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Despite the hazards and risks posed by ASGM being well characterized, coordinated multidisciplinary environmental characterization with combined public health studies are limited, with often piecemeal and snapshot studies reported, as highlighted by this review. Furthermore, studies are often not connected with efforts to minimize hazards holistically. Given this, we systematically reviewed the scientific literature on human health hazards associated with ASGM in Africa through Google Scholar, Science Direct, and Pubmed databases. One hundred and seventy-three peer-reviewed papers published between 1996 and June 2023 from 30 African countries were identified. Toxicological environmental hazards were reported in 102 peer-reviewed papers, notably As, Cd, CN, Cr, Hg, Pb, respirable SiO2-laden dust, and radionuclides. Exposure to PTEs in human biomonitoring matrices and associated health impacts were documented in 71 papers. Hg was the most reported hazard. Gaps in research robustness, regulation and policy framework, technology, risk detection, surveillance, and management were found. Despite international and in-country mitigation efforts, ASGM-related hazards in Africa are worsening. This review paper highlights the need for coordinated action and multidisciplinary collaborative research to connect dispersed isolated studies to better characterize the associated disease burden associated with ASGM in Africa and sustainably maximize the wider benefits of ASGM whilst protecting public health and the environment.
Infinite pointwise lineability: general criteria and applications
Authors: Calderón-Moreno M. C. , Gerlach-Mena P. J. , Prado-Bassas J. A.
Published: November 2023

In this paper we introduce the concept of infinite pointwise dense lineability (spaceability), and provide a criterion to obtain density from mere lineability. As an application, we study the linear and topological structures within the set of infinite differentiable and integrable functions, for any order $$p \ge 1$$

p
≥
1

, on $$\mathbb R^N$$

R
N

which are unbounded in a pre-fixed set.
Employment of collective physical pretreatment and immobilization of Actinomucor biomass for prospective crystal violet remediation efficiency
Authors: Hasanien Yasmeen A. , Zaki Amira G. , Abdel-Razek Alaa S.
Published: November 2023

Industrialization and urbanization have increased the number of industries that utilize colors and their wastewater, contributing to the global pollution catastrophe. Recently, wastewater treatment has relied on expensive, energy-inefficient, and limited-flexibility physico-chemical processes. This study sought a low-cost, efficient method of removing crystal violet (CVD). We created a statistical approach to choose the best practice by immobilizing physically prepared Actinomucor elegans AUMC15946 biomass. The immobilized cells displayed an enhanced CVD removal (80.3%) than the free cells (66.2%). The Box-Behnken design (BBD) was utilized at three physical pretreatment parameters (heat, UV radiation, and gamma ray) for the first time to explore and maximize the positive impact of physical parameters on the immobilized fungus efficiency for potent crystal violet removal. The maximum CVD removal (96.4%) was achieved at the following optimum conditions (45 °C of heat treatment, 20 min of UV exposure, and 300 Gy of gamma irradiation). The toxicity of the treated CVD compared to the untreated one was also evaluated via three different protocols (phytotoxicity, microbial toxicity, and cytotoxicity). The treated CVD has no any adverse effect on seed germination. Similarly, the treated dye revitalized the growth of Escherichia coli cells and two normal cell lines, epithelial breast MCF-12F and fibroblast BJ-1, compared to the untreated dye. Thus, the physically pretreated and immobilized biomass of Actinomucor is a new and potent candidate that could be applied in dye bioremediation practices.
Protective role of Ascophyllum nodosum seaweed biomass conjugated organic minerals as therapeutic nutrients to enhance tomato plant grown under salinity stress
Authors: Attia Mohamed S. , Abdelaziz Amer M. , Elsayed Salah M. , Osman Mahmoud S. , Ali Mohamed M.
Published: November 2023

Climate changes and stresses negatively affected the physiological processes inside plant cells, which led to a clear imbalance in the global diet. In both irrigated and non-irrigated areas, salinity is one of the principal abiotic factors influencing plant growth and production, especially in crop plants. The present experiment was designed to evaluate two types of foliar feeding as anti-salt stress by measuring stress tolerant and antioxidant levels. Foliar feedings, Gluamin Cu, and Ascophyllum nodosum (WeGrow Special) were used as therabutic nutrients and stress raisers on plants irrigated with saline solution (150 mmol) and others irrigated with tap water. After 70 days of plant life, morphological characteristics, plant pigments, osmosis levels, phenols, and antioxidant enzyme activity were measured as indicators of plant recovery from stress damage. Measurements of vegetative growth, photosynthesis, sugars, and protein content decreased significantly in stressed plants. On the contrary, the level of proline, phenol, malondialdehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium (Na +) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes increased compared to non-stressed plants. The beneficial impacts of the foliar feedings (Gluamin Cu and WeGrow Special) have been broadened to increase all growth parameters, photosynthetic pigments, proline, phenol, and enzyme activities, in both unstressed and stressed plants in comparison to control. Interestingly, the harmful impact of salinity on tomato plants was significantly decreased and it can be evident from reduced MDA and H2O2 levels. The results indicated that Gluamin Cu at a concentration of 3 cm L−1 foliar was the best treatment in increasing shoot length by 18.75%, root length by 51.8%, number of leaves by 31.5%, chlorophyll A by 98.9% and chlorophyll B by 47.6%, proline 12.6%, peroxidase by 39.6%, polyphenol oxidase by 14.29%, super oxide dismutase by 16.4%, and catalase by 54.9% in stressed plants compared to the stressed control. These results indicated that the use of any of the foliar nutrients (Gluamin Cu and WeGrow Special) considered to raise the salt stress in the plant and improve its morphological characteristics and metabolic processes inside the cells, and thus it can be used and applied commercially as environmentally friendly anti-salt stress.
ADHD-KG: a knowledge graph of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Authors: Papadakis Emmanuel , Baryannis George , Batsakis Sotiris , Adamou Marios , Huang Zhisheng , Antoniou Grigoris
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a widespread condition that affects human behaviour and can interfere with daily activities and relationships. Medication or medical information about ADHD can be found in several data sources on the Web. Such distribution of knowledge raises notable obstacles since researchers and clinicians must manually combine various sources to deeply explore aspects of ADHD. Knowledge graphs have been widely used in medical applications due to their data integration capabilities, offering rich data stores of information built from heterogeneous sources; however, general purpose knowledge graphs cannot represent knowledge in sufficient detail, thus there is an increasing interest in domain-specific knowledge graphs.

Methods

In this work we propose a Knowledge Graph of ADHD. In particular, we introduce an automated procedure enabling the construction of a knowledge graph that covers knowledge from a wide range of data sources primarily focusing on adult ADHD. These include relevant literature and clinical trials, prescribed medication and their known side-effects. Data integration between these data sources is accomplished by employing a suite of information linking procedures, which aim to connect resources by relating them to common concepts found in medical thesauri.

Results

The usability and appropriateness of the developed knowledge graph is evaluated through a series of use cases that illustrate its ability to enhance and accelerate information retrieval.

Conclusion

The Knowledge Graph of ADHD can provide valuable assistance to researchers and clinicians in the research, training, diagnostic and treatment processes for ADHD.
Advancing healthcare through thoracic ultrasound research in older patients
Authors: Scarlata Simone , Okoye Chukwuma , Zotti Sonia , Lauretani Fulvio , Nouvenne Antonio , Cerundolo Nicoletta , Bruni Adriana Antonella , Torrini Monica , Finazzi Alberto , Mazzarone Tessa , Lunian Marco , Zucchini Irene , Maccioni Lorenzo , Guarino Daniela , Fabbri della Faggiola Silvia , Capacci Marco , Bianco Maria Giovanna , Guarona Guglielmo , Bellelli Giuseppe , Monzani Fabio , Virdis Agostino , Antonelli Incalzi Raffaele , Ungar Andrea , Ticinesi Andrea ,   On behalf of the GRETA research group on thoracic ultrasound in the older patient, Italian Society of Geriatrics and Gerontology (SIGG)
Published: November 2023

This paper reports the proceedings of a meeting convened by the Research Group on Thoracic Ultrasound in Older People of the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics, to discuss the current state-of-the-art of clinical research in the field of geriatric thoracic ultrasound and identify unmet research needs and potential areas of development. In the last decade, point-of-care thoracic ultrasound has entered clinical practice for diagnosis and management of several respiratory illnesses, such as bacterial and viral pneumonia, pleural effusion, acute heart failure, and pneumothorax, especially in the emergency–urgency setting. Very few studies, however, have been specifically focused on older patients with frailty and multi-morbidity, who frequently exhibit complex clinical pictures needing multidimensional evaluation. At the present state of knowledge, there is still uncertainty on the best requirements of ultrasound equipment, methodology of examination, and reporting needed to optimize the advantages of thoracic ultrasound implementation in the care of geriatric patients. Other issues regard differential diagnosis between bacterial and aspiration pneumonia, objective grading of interstitial syndrome severity, quantification and monitoring of pleural effusions and solid pleural lesions, significance of ultrasonographic assessment of post-COVID-19 sequelae, and prognostic value of assessment of diaphragmatic thickness and motility. Finally, application of remote ultrasound diagnostics in the community and nursing home setting is still poorly investigated by the current literature. Overall, the presence of several open questions on geriatric applications of thoracic ultrasound represents a strong call to implement clinical research in this field.
Firing Process Modeling of a Soft Recoil Gun Based on Interval Uncertainty Parameter Identification
Authors: Wang Huimin , Xiao Ziqiang , Han Xiaoping , Jia Yizhuo , Sun Jianwu
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The soft recoil firing technology is an important way to reduce the recoil force of a gun. To further improve the effect of the recoil mechanism and provide a test prediction method for soft recoil firing, a new multi-port structure of the recoil mechanism with a central port and variable depth wall grooves is proposed to research the working characteristics of a soft recoil gun.

Methods

To describe the firing law of a soft recoil gun, this paper establishes its differential equations of firing motion, constructs the analytical model of each subsystem in the system, and acquires a relatively comprehensive way to describe the firing motion process for this soft recoil system. The flow distribution Bernoulli equation is established with CFD fluid simulation to improve the model accuracy. On this basis, the interval uncertainty theory and genetic algorithm are applied to establish the parameter identification model of the firing process. The typical parameters of the soft recoil gun are identified and obtained with the test data of the first round.

Results

The similarity rate between the simulation and test data can reach up to 92.78%. Moreover, the corresponding simulation results match the test data under the second and third rounds. It is proved that the correct modeling and effective identification results provide theoretical guidance for the design of a soft recoil gun.
Improved Thermosphere Mass Density Recovery During the 5 April 2010 Geomagnetic Storm by Assimilating NO Cooling Rates in a Coupled Thermosphere‐Ionosphere Model
Authors: He Jianhui , Pedatella Nicholas M. , Astafyeva Elvira , Yue Xinan , Ren Zhipeng , Yu Tingting
Published: November 2023

The recovery of thermosphere mass density following geomagnetic storms is a result of competing heating and cooling processes. Simulations often underestimate the speed of the recovery. In this study, for the first time, we report that assimilating the Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry nitric oxide (NO) cooling rate profiles into a coupled thermosphere‐ionosphere model via the ensemble Kalman filter improves the thermosphere mass density recovery following a geomagnetic storm. This is due to the impact of the assimilation on both the cooling processes and the thermosphere circulation. The dynamical changes due to the assimilation include stronger upwelling and equatorial transport. These lead to an effective increase in NO at all altitudes at mid‐high latitudes, resulting in the improved recovery. The improved representation of cooling processes in the storm's main phase also results in improved >24 hr forecasts of the density recovery.
Comparative evaluation on the effect of different cavity disinfectant nano gels; Chlorohexidine, Propolis, Liquorice versus Diode Laser in terms of composite microleakage (comparative in vitro study)
Authors: ElMansy Maryam Mohamed , Tadros Silvia Sabry Tawfik , Saleh Reham Sayed , Abdelmonem Rehab , El Menoufy Hala , Shawky Naglaa
Published: November 2023

Introduction

The application of different cavity disinfectants is an essential step that eliminates bacteria after cavity preparation. However, some of these materials may affect restoration sealing ability.

Aim

This study aimed to assess the degree of microleakage at the tooth restoration interface after using different nano prepared cavity disinfectants versus Diode Laser.

Materials and methods

Three disinfectants were prepared on the nanoscale; Propolis, Liquorice and Chlorhexidine. A total of 40 extracted premolars with standard class V cavities were prepared on the facial surface. Teeth were divided into five groups according to the applied cavity disinfection protocol; no treatment, Chloehexidine, Propolis, Liquorice, and Diode Laser. After application of composite resin restoration, all teeth were subjected to thermocycling, afterwords the degree of microleakage was measured in micrometers. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test, followed by Bonferroni’s and Tukey’s post hoc test.

Results

The highest mean microlekage value was recorded in no treatment group, followed by Liquorice, Propolis. While Diode Laser group showed the lowest degree of microleakage.

Conclusion

Diode Laser cavity disinfectant has no negative effect on the restoration sealing ability. Nano prepared Propolis showed comparative results to nanoChloehexidine as both had low degree of microleakage.
Apalutamide efficacy, safety and wellbeing in older patients with advanced prostate cancer from Phase 3 randomised clinical studies TITAN and SPARTAN
Authors: Shen John , Chowdhury Simon , Agarwal Neeraj , Karsh Lawrence I. , Oudard Stéphane , Gartrell Benjamin A. , Feyerabend Susan , Saad Fred , Pieczonka Christopher M. , Chi Kim N. , Brookman-May Sabine D. , Rooney Brendan , Bhaumik Amitabha , McCarthy Sharon A. , Bevans Katherine B. , Mundle Suneel D. , Small Eric J. , Smith Matthew R. , Graff Julie N.
Published: November 2023

Background

Apalutamide plus androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) improved outcomes in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC) and non-metastatic castration-resistant PC (nmCRPC) in the Phase 3 randomised TITAN and SPARTAN studies, respectively, and maintained health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Apalutamide treatment effect by patient age requires assessment.

Methods

Post-hoc analysis assessed patients receiving 240 mg/day apalutamide (525 TITAN and 806 SPARTAN) or placebo (527 TITAN and 401 SPARTAN) with ongoing ADT, stratified by age groups. Prostate-specific antigen declines, radiographic progression-free survival, metastasis-free survival, overall survival (OS), HRQoL and safety were assessed using descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier method, Cox proportional-hazards model and mixed-effects model for repeated measures.

Results

Hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) generally favoured apalutamide plus ADT versus ADT alone across all endpoints regardless of age; e.g., OS values were 0.57 (0.40–0.80), 0.70 (0.54–0.91) and 0.74 (0.40–1.39) (TITAN) and 0.39 (0.19–0.78), 0.89 (0.69–1.16) and 0.81 (0.58–1.15) (SPARTAN) in patients aged <65, 65–79 and ≥80 years. Regardless of age, apalutamide also maintained HRQoL and was tolerated well with a potential trend in rates of adverse events increasing with age. Limitations include post-hoc nature and variability in sample size of age groups.

Conclusions

Apalutamide plus ADT was an effective and well-tolerated option maintaining HRQoL in patients with mCSPC and nmCRPC regardless of age.

Clinical trial registration

TITAN (NCT02489318); SPARTAN (NCT01946204).
FKBP5 activates mitophagy by ablating PPAR-γ to shape a benign remyelination environment
Authors: Sun Xingzong , Qian Menghan , Li Hongliang , Wang Lei , Zhao Yunjie , Yin Min , Dai Lili , Bao Hongkun
Published: November 2023

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that is characterized by myelin damage, followed by axonal and ultimately neuronal loss, which has been found to be associated with mitophagy. The etiology and pathology of MS remain elusive. However, the role of FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5, also called FKBP51), a newly identified gene associated with MS, in the progression of the disease has not been well defined. Here, we observed that the progress of myelin loss and regeneration in Fkbp5ko mice treated with demyelination for the same amount of time was significantly slower than that in wild-type mice, and that mitophagy plays an important regulatory role in this process. To investigate the mechanism, we discovered that the levels of FKBP5 protein were greatly enhanced in the CNS of cuprizone (CPZ) mice and the myelin-denuded environment stimulates significant activation of the PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy, in which the important regulator, PPAR-γ, is critically regulated by FKBP5. This study reveals the role of FKBP5 in regulating a dynamic pathway of natural restorative regulation of mitophagy through PPAR-γ in pathological demyelinating settings, which may provide potential targets for the treatment of demyelinating diseases.
Constructing temporal networks with bursty activity patterns
Authors: Sheng Anzhi , Su Qi , Li Aming , Wang Long , Plotkin Joshua B.
Published: November 2023

Human social interactions tend to vary in intensity over time, whether they are in person or online. Variable rates of interaction in structured populations can be described by networks with the time-varying activity of links and nodes. One of the key statistics to summarize temporal patterns is the inter-event time, namely the duration between successive pairwise interactions. Empirical studies have found inter-event time distributions that are heavy-tailed, for both physical and digital interactions. But it is difficult to construct theoretical models of time-varying activity on a network that reproduce the burstiness seen in empirical data. Here we develop a spanning-tree method to construct temporal networks and activity patterns with bursty behavior. Our method ensures any desired target inter-event time distributions for individual nodes and links, provided the distributions fulfill a consistency condition, regardless of whether the underlying topology is static or time-varying. We show that this model can reproduce burstiness found in empirical datasets, and so it may serve as a basis for studying dynamic processes in real-world bursty interactions.
Dostarlimab or pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy in previously untreated metastatic non-squamous non-small cell lung cancer: the randomized PERLA phase II trial
Authors: Lim Sun Min , Peters Solange , Ortega Granados Ana Laura , Pinto Gustavo dix Junqueira , Fuentes Christian Sebastián , Lo Russo Giuseppe , Schenker Michael , Ahn Jin Seok , Reck Martin , Szijgyarto Zsolt , Huseinovic Neda , Zografos Eleftherios , Buss Elena , Stjepanovic Neda , O’Donnell Sean , de Marinis Filippo
Published: November 2023

PERLA is a global, double-blind, parallel phase II trial (NCT04581824) comparing efficacy and safety of anti–PD-1 antibodies dostarlimab and pembrolizumab, plus chemotherapy (DCT and PCT, respectively) as first-line treatment in patients with metastatic non-squamous NSCLC without known targetable genomic aberrations. Patients stratified by PD-L1 tumor proportion score and smoking status were randomized 1:1, receiving ≤35 cycles 500 mg dostarlimab or 200 mg pembrolizumab, ≤35 cycles 500 mg/m2 pemetrexed and ≤4 cycles cisplatin (75 mg/m2) or carboplatin (AUC 5 mg/ml/min) Q3W. Primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) (blinded independent central review). Secondary endpoints include progression-free survival (PFS) based on investigator assessment, overall survival (OS) and safety. Exploratory endpoints include ORR by PD-L1 subgroup and duration of response. PERLA met its pre-specified endpoint. ORR (n/N; 95% CI) is 45% (55/121; 36.4–54.8) for DCT and 39% (48/122; 30.6–48.6) for PCT (data cut-off: 07 July 23), numerically favoring dostarlimab in PD-L1-positive subgroups. Median PFS (months [95% CI]) is 8.8 (6.7–10.4) for DCT and 6.7 (4.9–7.1) for PCT (HR 0.70 [95% CI: 0.50–0.98]; data cut-off: 04 August 22). Median OS (months [95% CI]) is 19.4 (14.5–NR) for DCT and 15.9 (11.6–19.3) for PCT (HR 0.75 [95% CI: 0.53–1.05]) (data cut-off: 07 July 23). Safety profiles are similar between groups. In this study, DCT shows similar efficacy to PCT and demonstrates clinical efficacy as first-line treatment for patients with metastatic non-squamous NSCLC.
The E3 ligase Riplet promotes RIG-I signaling independent of RIG-I oligomerization
Authors: Wang Wenshuai , Götte Benjamin , Guo Rong , Pyle Anna Marie
Published: November 2023

RIG-I is an essential innate immune receptor that responds to infection by RNA viruses. The RIG-I signaling cascade is mediated by a series of post-translational modifications, the most important of which is ubiquitination of the RIG-I Caspase Recruitment Domains (CARDs) by E3 ligase Riplet. This is required for interaction between RIG-I and its downstream adapter protein MAVS, but the mechanism of action remains unclear. Here we show that Riplet is required for RIG-I signaling in the presence of both short and long dsRNAs, establishing that Riplet activation does not depend upon RIG-I filament formation on long dsRNAs. Likewise, quantitative Riplet-RIG-I affinity measurements establish that Riplet interacts with RIG-I regardless of whether the receptor is bound to RNA. To understand this, we solved high-resolution cryo-EM structures of RIG-I/RNA/Riplet complexes, revealing molecular interfaces that control Riplet-mediated activation and enabling the formulation of a unified model for the role of Riplet in signaling.
HSP47 levels determine the degree of body adiposity
Authors: Shin Jihoon , Toyoda Shinichiro , Okuno Yosuke , Hayashi Reiko , Nishitani Shigeki , Onodera Toshiharu , Sakamoto Haruyo , Ito Shinya , Kobayashi Sachiko , Nagao Hirofumi , Kita Shunbun , Otsuki Michio , Fukuhara Atsunori , Nagata Kazuhiro , Shimomura Iichiro
Published: November 2023

Adiposity varies among individuals with the influence of diverse physiological, pathological, environmental, hormonal, and genetic factors, but a unified molecular basis remains elusive. Here, we identify HSP47, a collagen-specific chaperone, as a key determinant of body adiposity. HSP47 expression is abundant in adipose tissue; increased with feeding, overeating, and obesity; decreased with fasting, exercise, calorie restriction, bariatric surgery, and cachexia; and correlated with fat mass, BMI, waist, and hip circumferences. Insulin and glucocorticoids, respectively, up- and down-regulate HSP47 expression. In humans, the increase of HSP47 gene expression by its intron or synonymous variants is associated with higher body adiposity traits. In mice, the adipose-specific knockout or pharmacological inhibition of HSP47 leads to lower body adiposity compared to the control. Mechanistically, HSP47 promotes collagen dynamics in the folding, secretion, and interaction with integrin, which activates FAK signaling and preserves PPARγ protein from proteasomal degradation, partly related to MDM2. The study highlights the significance of HSP47 in determining the amount of body fat individually and under various circumstances.
Emergence of task-related spatiotemporal population dynamics in transplanted neurons
Authors: Ghuman Harman , Kim Kyungsoo , Barati Sapeeda , Ganguly Karunesh
Published: November 2023

Loss of nervous system tissue after severe brain injury is a main determinant of poor functional recovery. Cell transplantation is a promising method to restore lost tissue and function, yet it remains unclear if transplanted neurons can demonstrate the population level dynamics important for movement control. Here we present a comprehensive approach for long-term single neuron monitoring and manipulation of transplanted embryonic cortical neurons after cortical injury in adult male mice performing a prehension task. The observed patterns of population activity in the transplanted network strongly resembled that of healthy networks. Specifically, the task-related spatiotemporal activity patterns of transplanted neurons could be represented by latent factors that evolve within a low dimensional manifold. We also demonstrate reliable modulation of the transplanted networks using minimally invasive epidural stimulation. Our approach may allow greater insight into how restoration of cell-type specific network dynamics in vivo can restore motor function.
Condensation of preformed charge density waves in kagome metals
Authors: Park Changwon , Son Young-Woo
Published: November 2023

Charge density wave (CDW) is a spontaneous spatial modulation of charges in solids whose general microscopic descriptions are yet to be completed. Kagome metals of AV3Sb5 (A = K, Rb, Cs) provide a chance to realize CDW intertwined with dimensional effects as well as their special lattice. Here, based on a state-of-the-art molecular dynamics simulation, we propose that their phase transition to CDW is a condensation process of incoherently preformed charge orders. Owing to unavoidable degeneracy in stacking charge orders, phases of preformed orders on each layer are shown to fluctuate between a limited number of states with quite slower frequencies than typical phonon vibrations until reaching their freezing temperature. As the size of interfacial alkali atom increases, the fluctuations are shown to counterbalance the condensation of orderings, resulting in a maximized transition temperature for RbV3Sb5. Our results resolve controversial observations on their CDWs, highlighting a crucial role of their interlayer interactions.