bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with adherence to preventive measures against COVID-19, among adult Bahraini residents
Authors: Al Derazi Adoub , Bubshait Mariam , Albinjasim Ameena , Al Binzayed Amina , Bugahoos Hessa , Al Rumaihi Noor , Abuzeyad Noora , Al Sadeh Noora , Al Khaja Noora , Salmeen Zainab , Naseeb Tawfeeq , Al Shenawi Noor
Published: November 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a life-altering experience. It compelled individuals to alter their attitudes and habits and adopt measures to prevent the risks of infection. This research discusses factors that determine adherence to these measures, with the aim of enhancing compliance in future pandemics. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using snowball non-random sampling through an online Qualtrics survey targeting Bahraini residents, aged 18 and older. The sample included 1,008 participants, and data were analyzed using SPSS, and presented in tables and graphs. The majority of the participants were Bahraini females with a bachelor’s degree, between the ages of 20–29 (43.2%). Awareness of COVID-19 transmission was high, with 87.7%. The adherence rates for preventive measures were high: mask usage at 98.8%, hygiene practices at 93.7%, and social distancing at 92.2%. Older adults aged 50 + showed the highest consistency in compliance (p = 0.001). Individuals with chronic diseases were more likely to adhere to mask use (p < 0.001). Conversely, those experiencing negative emotions about social distancing were more likely to visit crowded places (p = 0.031), indicating a psychological barrier. Mask use exhibited the highest adherence at 98.8%, while overall compliance was notably high among educated and retired individuals. Public health campaigns should target younger demographics with education about crowded spaces and address emotional barriers to social distancing. Future strategies can be tailored to promote adherence among diverse populations, enhancing community resilience against pandemics.
Genomic surveillance of Canadian airport wastewater samples allows early detection of emerging SARS-CoV-2 lineages
Authors: Overton Alyssa K. , Knapp Jennifer J. , Lawal Opeyemi U. , Gibson Richard , Fedynak Anastasia A. , Adebiyi Adebowale I. , Maxwell Brittany , Cheng Lydia , Bee Carina , Qasim Asim , Atanas Kyle , Payne Mark , Stuart Rebecca , Fleury Manon D. , Knox Natalie C. , Nash Delaney , Hungwe Yemurayi C. , Prasla Samran R. , Ho Hannifer , Agboola Simininuoluwa O. , Kwon Su-Hyun , Naik Shiv , Parreira Valeria R. , Rizvi Fozia , Precious Melinda J. , Thomas Steven , Zambrano Marcos , Fang Vixey , Gilliland Elaine , Varia Monali , Horn Maureen , Landgraff Chrystal , Arts Eric J. , Goodridge Lawrence , Becker Devan , Charles Trevor C.
Published: November 2024

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has shown wastewater (WW) surveillance to be an effective means of tracking the emergence of viral lineages which arrive by many routes of transmission including via transportation hubs. In the Canadian province of Ontario, numerous municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) participate in WW surveillance of infectious disease targets such as SARS-CoV-2 by qPCR and whole genome sequencing (WGS). The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport (Toronto Pearson), has been participating in WW surveillance since January 2022. As a major international airport in Canada and the largest national hub, this airport is an ideal location for tracking globally emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). In this study, WW collected from Toronto Pearson’s two terminals and pooled aircraft sewage was processed for WGS using a tiled-amplicon approach targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome. Data generated was analyzed to monitor trends of SARS-CoV-2 lineage frequencies. Initial detections of emerging lineages were compared between Toronto Pearson WW samples, municipal WW samples collected from the surrounding regions, and Ontario clinical data as published by Public Health Ontario. Results enabled the early detection of VOCs and individual mutations emerging in Ontario. On average, the emergence of novel lineages at the airport preceded clinical detections by 1–4 weeks, and up to 16 weeks in one case. This project illustrates the efficacy of WW surveillance at transitory transportation hubs and sets an example that could be applied to other viruses as part of a pandemic preparedness strategy and to provide monitoring on a mass scale.
Bone conduction stimulated VEMPs by using the B250 transducer to assess the nerve of origin of sporadic vestibular schwannomas
Authors: Rahne Torsten , Plontke Stefan K. , Strauss Christian , Fredén Jansson Karl-Johan , Håkansson Bo , Fröhlich Laura
Published: November 2024

Vestibular evoked myogenic potentials (VEMPs) are a tool to assess otolith function and a component of sensor specific vestibular diagnostics. The aim of the present study was to measure VEMP trough bone conducted (BC) stimulation using the B250 prototype and to report amplitudes, latencies and threshold levels for patients before resection of a sporadic unilateral vestibular schwannoma (VS) in order to assess function regarding to the reported nerve of origin. Twenty-seven participants (9 male/18 female) with a mean age of 55.9 years (SD: 10.8) were included for the analysis. In the side contralateral to the tumor, in 24 (89%) of the patients cVEMP could be measured, while oVEMP were recordable in 20 patients (74%). For patients with inferior vestibular nerve of origin (n = 11), cVEMP amplitudes of the affected side were significantly lower as compared to the non-affected side, while the force threshold level was increased. No statistically significant differences were observed for neither, oVEMP amplitudes nor threshold levels in the group with superior vestibular nerve of origin (n = 7). Across groups, p13 latency was significantly increased in the affected ear while all other VEMP latencies were not different between the ears. The B250 transducer was applicable to all participants of the clinical cohort. The sample size, however, was too low for a reliable statistical analysis and only allowed for exploratory analysis.
Association of cumulative methylprednisolone dosages with mortality risk from pneumonia in connective tissue disease patients
Authors: Wang Saibin , Ye Qian
Published: November 2024

Corticosteroid is essential in the treatment regimen for connective tissue disease (CTD); however, its long-term use poses significant risks, including pulmonary infections. The relationship between cumulative corticosteroid doses and adverse pneumonia outcomes requires further investigation. This study aimed to explore the association between cumulative methylprednisolone dosages (CMD) and pneumonia mortality risks among CTD patients. We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from CTD patients treated with intravenous or oral corticosteroids across six academic hospitals over approximately five years in China. We evaluated follow-up outcomes at 30 and 90 days after the onset of pneumonia. Piecewise linear regression, Cox regression analysis, and survival analysis were employed to investigate the relationship between CMD and 30-day and 90-day mortality risks. Among 335 CTD patients with pneumonia, the mean CMD was 12 g. The 30-day and 90-day mortality rates were 25.07% and 29.55%, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, smooth curve fitting analysis revealed a specific nonlinear relationship between CMD and 30-day and 90-day mortality risks. Cox regression analysis indicated that the lowest pneumonia mortality risk occurred when CMD ranged from 11 to 24 g (30-day adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.33, 95% CI 0.14–0.77; 90-day aHR 0.37, 95% CI 0.17–0.81). Patients in the 11–24 g CMD group demonstrated significantly lower cumulative hazard and death rates compared to both the low CMD (< 11 g) and high CMD (> 24 g) groups (P < 0.05). Furthermore, interaction testing suggested that CMD’s negative impact on pneumonia mortality risks was more pronounced in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) compared to hospital-acquired pneumonia (P for interaction < 0.05). CMD shows a distinct nonlinear relationship with 30-day and 90-day pneumonia mortality risks, with potentially lower risks observed within the 11–24 g CMD range. Moreover, the varying impact of CMD on CAP mortality risk warrants further consideration in clinical management strategies.
Intestinal epithelial Gasdermin C is induced by IL-4R/STAT6 signaling but is dispensable for gut immune homeostasis
Authors: Gámez-Belmonte Reyes , Wagner Yara , Mahapatro Mousumi , Wang Ru , Erkert Lena , González-Acera Miguel , Cineus Roodline , Hainbuch Saskia , Patankar Jay V. , Voehringer David , Hegazy Ahmed N. , Neurath Markus F. , Wirtz Stefan , Becker Christoph
Published: November 2024

Gasdermin C is one of the least studied members of the gasdermin family of proteins, known for their critical involvement in pyroptosis and host defense. Furthermore, evidence for the role of Gasdermin C in the intestine is scarce and partly controversial. Here, we tested the functional role of Gasdermin C in intestinal homeostasis, inflammation and tumorigenesis. : We studied Gasdermin C in response to cytokines in intestinal organoids. We evaluated epithelial differentiation, cell death and immune infiltration under steady state conditions in a new mouse line deficient in Gasdermin C. The role of Gasdermin C was analyzed in acute colitis, infection and colitis-associated cancer. Gasdemin C is highly expressed in the intestinal epithelium and strongly induced by the type 2 cytokines IL-4 and IL-13 in a STAT6-dependent manner. Gasdermin C-deficient mice show no changes in tissue architecture and epithelial homeostasis. Epithelial organoids deficient in Gasdermin C develop normally and show no alterations in proliferation or cell death. No changes were found in models of acute colitis, type 2 intestinal infection and colitis-associated cancer. Gasdermin C genes are upregulated by type 2 immunity, yet appear dispensable for the development of intestinal inflammation, infection and colitis-associated cancer.
The R.O.A.D. to precision medicine
Authors: Bertsimas Dimitris , Koulouras Angelos Georgios , Margonis Georgios Antonios
Published: November 2024

We propose a novel framework that addresses the deficiencies of Randomized clinical trial data subgroup analysis while it transforms ObservAtional Data to be used as if they were randomized, thus paving the road for precision medicine. Our approach counters the effects of unobserved confounding in observational data through a two-step process that adjusts predicted outcomes under treatment. These adjusted predictions train decision trees, optimizing treatment assignments for patient subgroups based on their characteristics, enabling intuitive treatment recommendations. Implementing this framework on gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) data, including genetic sub-cohorts, showed that our tree recommendations outperformed current guidelines in an external cohort. Furthermore, we extended the application of this framework to RCT data from patients with extremity sarcomas. Despite initial trial indications of universal treatment necessity, our framework identified a subset of patients who may not require treatment. Once again, we successfully validated our recommendations in an external cohort.
Underlying drivers of coral reef vulnerability to bleaching in the Mesoamerican Reef
Authors: Muñiz-Castillo Aarón Israel , Rivera-Sosa Andrea , McField Melanie , Chollett Iliana , Eakin C. Mark , Enríquez Susana , Giró Ana , Drysdale Ian , Rueda Marisol , Soto Mélina , Craig Nicole , Arias-González Jesús Ernesto
Published: November 2024

Coral bleaching, a consequence of stressed symbiotic relationships between corals and algae, has escalated due to intensified heat stress events driven by climate change. Despite global efforts, current early warning systems lack local precision. Our study, spanning 2015–2017 in the Mesoamerican Reef, revealed prevalent intermediate bleaching, peaking in 2017. By scrutinizing 23 stress exposure and sensitivity metrics, we accurately predicted 75% of bleaching severity variation. Notably, distinct thermal patterns—particularly the climatological seasonal warming rate and various heat stress metrics—emerged as better predictors compared to conventional indices (such as Degree Heating Weeks). Surprisingly, deeper reefs with diverse coral communities showed heightened vulnerability. This study presents a framework for coral reef bleaching vulnerability assessment, leveraging accessible data (including historical and real-time sea surface temperature, habitat variables, and species composition). Its operational potential lies in seamless integration with existing monitoring systems, offering crucial insights for conservation and management.
Probing the limits for coherent optical control of a mechanically decoupled defect center in hexagonal boron nitride
Authors: Koch Michael K. , Bharadwaj Vibhav , Kubanek Alexander
Published: November 2024

The coherent control of a two-level system is among the most essential challenges in modern quantum optics. Understanding its fundamental limitations is crucial, also for the realization of next generation quantum devices. The quantum coherence of a two-level system is fragile in particular, when the two levels are connected via an optical transition, which, at the same time, enables the manipulation of the system. When such quantum emitters are located in solids the coherence suffers from the interaction of the optical transition with the solid state environment, which requires the sample to be cooled to temperatures of a few Kelvin or below. Here, we use a mechanically isolated quantum emitter in hexagonal boron nitride to explore the individual mechanisms which affect the coherence of an optical transition under resonant drive. We operate the system at the threshold where the mechanical isolation collapses in order to study the onset and temperature-dependence of dephasing and independently of spectral diffusion. The insights on the underlying physical decoherence mechanisms reveal a limit in temperature until which coherent driving of the system is possible. This study enables to increase the operation temperature of hBN-based quantum devices, therefore reducing the need for cryogenic cooling.
Late Cenozoic intraplate volcanism as a trigger for hydrothermal venting in the Arctic southwestern Eurasia Basin
Authors: Meza-Cala Juan Camilo , Minakov Alexander , Faleide Jan Inge , Abdelmalak Mansour M. , Shephard Grace E. , Mattingsdal Rune , Geissler Wolfram H. , Gaina Carmen
Published: November 2024

Intraplate volcanism has occurred for the last 35 million years within Northeast Atlantic and Arctic margins, including the western Barents Sea, Svalbard, and northern Greenland. Earlier studies have suggested that some of this volcanism might be sourced from nearby mid-ocean ridges. However, legacy data does not reveal correlations between the sporadic volcanism, despite comparable setting, ages, and compositions of basalts across the area. Here, we utilize a compilation of geophysical data to document late Cenozoic intraplate volcanism affecting the northeastern Yermak Plateau and southwestern Eurasia Basin located north of Svalbard. The identified seabed and subsurface features include volcanic (Mound-A) and hydrothermal vent systems (Tayrona Vent) formed approximately 10 and 2.6 million years ago, respectively. These intraplate volcanic products are coincident in age and origin with observed hydrothermal systems on Svalbard and Northeast Atlantic. We propose that these magmatic features are the result of intraplate volcanism associated with seismic and thermal anomalies in the mantle beneath northern Svalbard.
Cost modeling for the GWh-scale production of modern lithium-ion battery cells
Authors: Lechner Maximilian , Kollenda Anna , Bendzuck Konrad , Burmeister Julian K. , Mahin Kashfia , Keilhofer Josef , Kemmer Lukas , Blaschke Maximilian J. , Friedl Gunther , Daub Ruediger , Kwade Arno
Published: November 2024

Battery production cost models are critical for evaluating the cost competitiveness of different cell geometries, chemistries, and production processes. To address this need, we present a detailed bottom-up approach for calculating the full cost, marginal cost, and levelized cost of various battery production methods. Our approach ensures comparability across research fields and industries, reflecting capital and imputed interest costs. We showcase the model with case studies of a prismatic PHEV2 hardcase cell and a cylindrical 4680 cell in four different chemistries. Our publicly available browser-based modular tool incorporates up-to-date parameters derived from literature and expert interviews. This work enables researchers to quickly assess the production cost implications of new battery production processes and technologies, ultimately advancing the goal of reducing the cost of electrified mobility.
Pragmatic online obesity treatment in primary care: a hybrid randomized clinical trial of implementation strategies
Authors: Goldstein Carly M. , Panza Emily , Hayes Jacqueline F. , Thomas J. Graham , O’Leary Kevin , Wing Rena R.
Published: November 2024

Online behavioral weight loss (BWL) in primary care is effective and disseminable. This trial compared two implementation approaches on program uptake, use, and weight loss via a pragmatic hybrid type 2 implementation-effectiveness design to evaluate online BWL implementation (Rx Weight Loss [RxWL]) and effectiveness. This manuscript presents the implementation results. RxWL was implemented across a state-wide network of primary care clinics using lower- and higher-intensity implementation strategies (Basic [base program] and Enhanced [base plus enhanced training and dashboard], respectively) between 2018 and 2022. Nurse care managers (NCMs; N = 23) were recruited and block-randomized to implementation condition. Adult primary care patients (body mass index [BMI] > 25 kg/m2, internet-connected device access) were referred and enrolled by their NCMs. Outcomes were the proportion of eligible patients who enrolled in and completed RxWL by NCM condition, initial weight loss and regain over 12 and 24 months by NCM condition, and clinician acceptability and feasibility. NCMs (N = 12 Enhanced, N = 11 Basic) in Enhanced enrolled more patients (N = 490) than in Basic (N = 164). Although the proportion of patients who completed RxWL and mean weight loss did not differ by condition, different enrollment rates resulted in the Enhanced condition engaging more patients. NCMs rated RxWL as acceptable and feasible with no difference by condition. Findings support connecting primary care patients with technology-based health behavior change programs. Clinical trial registration number: ClinicalTrials.Gov identifier NCT03488212: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03488212. Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT03488212.
Energy landscape of conformational changes for a single unmodified protein
Authors: Peters Matthew , Zhao Tianyu , George Sherin , Truong Viet Giang , Nic Chormaic Síle , Ying Cuifeng , Nome René A. , Gordon Reuven
Published: November 2024

Resolving the free energy landscapes that govern protein biophysics has been obscured by ensemble averaging. While the folding dynamics of single proteins have been observed using fluorescent labels and/or tethers, a simpler and more direct measurement of the conformational changes would not require modifications to the protein. We use nanoaperture optical tweezers to resolve the energy landscape of a single unmodified protein, Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), and quantify changes in the three-state conformation dynamics with temperature. A Markov model with Kramers’ theory transition rates is used to model the dynamics, showing good agreement with the observed state transitions. This first look at the intrinsic energy landscape of proteins provides a transformative tool for protein biophysics and may be applied broadly, including mapping out the energy landscape of particularly challenging intrinsically disordered proteins.
Cyclic stretch regulates epithelial cell migration in a frequency dependent manner via intercellular vinculin recruitment
Authors: Dow Liam P. , Surace Stacey , Morozov Katrene , Kennedy Reagan , Pruitt Beth L.
Published: November 2024

The epithelial microenvironment is incredibly dynamic, subjected to mechanical cues including cyclic stretch. While cyclic cell stretching platforms have revealed epithelial cell reorientation and gap formation, few studies have investigated the long-term effects of cyclic stretch on cell migration. We measured the migratory response of the epithelium to a range of physiologically relevant frequencies and stretch. Our results indicate that lower stretch frequencies (i.e., 0.1 Hz) suppress epithelial migration, accompanied by cell reorientation and high cell shape solidity. We found that this response is also accompanied by increased recruitment of vinculin to cell-cell contacts, and this recruitment is necessary to suppress cell movements. These results confirm the mechanosensitive nature of vinculin within the adherens junction, but independently reveal a novel mechanism of low frequency stress response in supporting epithelial integrity by suppressing cell migration.
Exploring the effect of pressure on the crystal structure and caloric properties of the molecular ionic hybrid [(CH3)3NOH]2[CoCl4]
Authors: Dafonte-Rodríguez Pedro , Delgado-Ferreiro Ignacio , García-Ben Javier , Ferradanes-Martínez Angel , Gelpi María , Walker Julian , McMonagle Charles James , Castro-García Socorro , Señarís-Rodríguez María Antonia , Bermúdez-García Juan Manuel , Sánchez-Andújar Manuel
Published: November 2024

The hybrid metal halide [(CH3)3NOH]2CoCl4 exhibits a first-order phase transition at T ∼ 343 K.
Electrochemical oxygen activation driven by enamine-keto push–pull interactions in triazole-based covalent organic polymers
Authors: Samui Surajit , Kumar Greesh , Rana Thakur Rochak Kumar , Dey Ramendra Sundar
Published: November 2024

Extended π-conjugated COPs has been synthesized, containing triazole-linked carbon as the active site accelerating ORR. The push–pull interactions mechanism of the ORR in alkaline medium is explored through the Pauling model and in situ FTIR study.
Small-sized starch nanoparticles for efficient penetration of plant cells
Authors: Chen Yongxian , Jiang Simin , Wang Yang , Zhang Fuxue , Wang Liu , Zhao Li , Liu Siyu , Tan Junjun , Persson Staffan , Sun Bo , Chen Junsheng , Blennow Andreas
Published: November 2024

Fluorescent starch nanoparticles used in live cell imaging in plants suggest that small-sized starch nanoparticles can efficiently penetrate plant cells, indicating great potential for applications in plant science and agriculture.
Capturing ultrafast energy flow of a heme protein in crowded milieu
Authors: Majumdar Shubhangi , Kar Ambika Prasad , Basu Jaydeep , Chowdhury Pramit K.
Published: November 2024

We have investigated the diversity in the effect of crowded milieu on energy flow in the mitochondrial heme protein, cytochrome c.
A simple similarity metric for comparing synthetic routes
Authors: Genheden Samuel , Shields Jason D.
Published: November 2024

A simple method to calculate a similarity metric between two synthetic routes, based on bonds formed and grouping of atoms in the target compound.
Structural and mechanistic insights into oxidative biaryl coupling to form the arylomycin core by an engineered CYP450
Authors: Kardam Vandana , Bhatt Vaibhav , Dubey Kshatresh Dutta
Published: November 2024

A schematic reaction mechanism of C–C coupling reaction by engineered CYP450.
LDH-derived Co0.5Ni0.5Te2 dispersed in 3D carbon sheets as a separator modifier to enable kinetics-accelerated lithium–sulfur batteries
Authors: Li Chunmei , Mi Kan , Xu Kai , Jia Zhuo , Jiang Xiaolei , Peng Huili , Zheng Xiuwen , Nie Hongjiao
Published: November 2024

A Co0.5Ni0.5Te2@CS hybrid with a 3D morphology and sulfophilic surface is employed as a functional separator modifier to propel the dynamic conversion of LiPSs.
CO2 switchable solvents for sustainable dissolution, modification, and processing of cellulose materials: a critical review
Authors: McNeice Peter , Feringa Ben L.
Published: November 2024

CO2 switchable solvents provide a convenient and environmental method to dissolve and process cellulose.
Optical tweezer-assisted cell pairing and fusion for somatic cell nuclear transfer within an open microchannel
Authors: Zhang Yidi , Zhao Han , Chen Zhenlin , Liu Zhen , Huang Hanjin , Qu Yun , Liu Yaowei , Sun Mingzhu , Sun Dong , Zhao Xin
Published: November 2024

We developed a somatic cell nuclear transfer-electrofusion system for pairing and fusing oocytes and somatic cells with a thousand-fold volume difference. The system showed a 90.56% pairing efficiency, potentially boosting batch cloning efficiency.
Characterization and assessment of cleaning systems based on fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) for the removal of wax-based coatings from cultural heritage objects
Authors: Biribicchi Chiara , Doutre Michael , Favero Gabriele
Published: November 2024

FAMEs effectively remove beeswax and microcrystalline wax from stone and bronze with reduced environmental and health risks.
Mechanochemically facilitated silver-catalyzed direct H/D exchange on heteroarenes
Authors: Jia Yun , Jiang Zhi-Jiang , Han Jiawei , Wang Kenan , Xu Si-Han , Bai Jian-Fei , Chen Jia , Han Yifeng , Gao Zhanghua
Published: November 2024

Mechanical grinding facilitates efficient H/D exchange between hydrophobic polyarenes and heavy water.
Integrating electrocatalysis with biocatalysis for asymmetric synthesis
Authors: Lin Yuqi , Yu Jiage , Ye Ke-Yin
Published: November 2024

This highlight presents recent advances in asymmetric synthesis that integrate electrocatalysis with biocatalysis and discusses future development directions in this field.
Enrichment of prostate-specific antigen using magnetic-silica antibody nanobioconjugates and fluorescence detection
Authors: Msutu Tumelo , Mashazi Philani
Published: November 2024

Detection of PSA using nanomagnetic-silica–monoclonal antibodies as capture nanobioconjugates. The detection was accomplished using fluorescein doped silica nanoparticles with an enhanced alkaline dissolution fluorescence signal.
Beyond waste: cellulose-based biodegradable films from bio waste through a cradle-to-cradle approach
Authors: Nguyen Mai N. , Nguyen Minh T. L. , Frank Marcus , Hollmann Dirk
Published: November 2024

From nature to nature – we present a sustainable cradle-to-cradle approach for creating cellulose-based biodegradable films from bio-waste without altering its chemical structure.
Endothelin-1 receptor blockade impairs invasion patterns in engineered 3D high-grade serous ovarian cancer tumouroids
Authors: Pape Judith , Cheema Umber , Tocci Piera , Sestito Rosanna , Masi Ilenia , Loizidou Marilena , Bagnato Anna , Rosanò Laura
Published: November 2024

High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HG-SOC), accounting for 70–80% of ovarian cancer deaths, is characterized by a widespread and rapid metastatic nature, influenced by diverse cell types, cell–cell interactions, and acellular components of the tumour microenvironment (TME). Within this tumour type, autocrine and paracrine activation of the endothelin-1 receptors (ET-1R), expressed in tumour cells and stromal elements, drives metastatic progression. The lack of three-dimensional models that faithfully recapitulate the unique HG-SOC TME has been the bottleneck in performing drug screening for personalized medicine. Herein, we developed HG-SOC tumouroids by engineering a dense central artificial cancer mass (ACM) containing HG-SOC cells, nested within a compressed hydrogel recapitulating the stromal compartment comprising type I collagen, laminin, fibronectin, and stromal cells (fibroblasts and endothelial cells). ET-1-stimulated HG-SOC cells in the tumouroids showed an altered migration pattern and formed cellular aggregates, mimicking micrometastases that invaded the stroma. Compared with control cells, ET-1-stimulated tumouroids showed a higher number of invasive bodies, which were reduced by treatment with the dual ET-1 receptor (ET-1R) antagonist macitentan. In addition, ET-1 increased the size of the invading aggregates compared with control cells. This study establishes an experimental 3D multicellular model eligible for mechanical research, investigating the impact of matrix stiffness and TME interactions, which will aid drug screening to guide therapeutic decisions in HG-SOC patients.
On weighted sum‐rate maximization of full‐duplex systems in presence of STAR‐RIS
Authors: Kavianinia Mohammad Reza , Emadi Mohammad Javad , Sedaghat Mohammad Ali
Published: November 2024

Reflecting intelligent surface (RIS) is one of the key enabling technologies for beyond fifth generation wireless networks to further improve coverage, spectral‐ and energy‐efficiency of wireless networks. Recently, a novel simultaneous transmission and reflection RIS (STAR‐RIS) technology is introduced which enables more degrees‐of‐freedom in simultaneously serving users in reflection and transmission regions of RIS. This paper investigates a STAR‐RIS assisted two‐user full‐duplex communication system, wherein multi‐antenna base station (BS) and single‐antenna users are subject to maximum power constraints. Firstly, weighted sum rates are computed for three well‐known STAR‐RIS protocols, e.g. energy splitting, mode selection, and time splitting. Then, for each of the cases, weighted sum rate optimization problem is investigated to find optimal resource allocations, i.e. base station's precoding and combining matrices, coefficients of STAR‐RIS, and power allocations. The optimization problem is transferred into multiple convex sub‐problems using equivalent weighted minimum mean‐square‐error forms. Also, by use of the successive convex approximation method, tunable parameters of the STAR‐RIS are optimized. Although the original problem is a non‐convex one, proposed iterative alternating technique achieves an acceptable sub‐optimal performance. Finally, performance of the system is analysed and compared to some baselines to highlight superiority of the STAR‐RIS compared to the conventional RIS schemes.
Analysis of error rates and capacity outage of wireless links under jamming and multipath signal fading
Authors: Mietzner Jan
Published: November 2024

The author addresses the question, under which conditions an active jammer will be successful in corrupting a wireless communication link, when both the desired link and the jamming link are subject to multipath signal fading. To this end, a simple closed‐form analytical expression is derived for the resulting block‐error probability (BLEP) under Nakagami‐ fading with in general unequal fading parameters for the desired and the jamming link. As a by‐product, a novel expression for the corresponding probability of a capacity outage is obtained. An asymptotic analysis and numerical evaluation of the BLEP expression show that in the single‐antenna case the jammer will indeed be successful in corrupting the wireless link, unless there is a rather high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) advantage for the desired link. This even holds true, when signal fading for the jamming link is significantly more severe than for the desired link. Finally, the case of multiple antennas is considered and the benefits of array processing and diversity reception at the desired receiver are explored. It is found that receive array processing can significantly improve the resulting BLEP, provided that the desired link is characterized by favorable fading conditions. On the other hand, diversity reception can significantly improve the BLEP, if the desired link has favorable SNR conditions.
An adaptive distance protection scheme considering fault resistance, injected current, and structural changes in the power system
Authors: Mohtashami Majid , Noghabi Abbas Saberi
Published: November 2024

Faults in power systems occur for various reasons, such as aging or natural disasters. Detecting, locating, and promptly clearing these faults is crucial for maintaining the safety and reliability of transmission lines (TLs). Distance relays (DRs), which protect TLs, detect faults, estimate their location, and send the required commands. However, these relays may experience mis‐detection due to manipulated impedance arising from both internal and external factors. These factors include measurement device errors, network topology changes, the presence of fault resistance (FR), and injected currents from remote line terminals. To address this challenge, an innovative adaptive protection scheme that considers FR, changes in network topology, and injected current from the opposite end of the line is proposed. By estimating the equivalent circuit impedances (ECIs) of the network connected to the terminal of the TL, this protection scheme utilizes impedance estimation techniques at the line terminals and offline network information. Simulation studies (tested on the IEEE 39‐bus standard network) show that the proposed scheme accurately estimates fault location (FL) and FR with high precision. The simulation results demonstrate its effectiveness in improving the performance of conventional distance protection relays in both the first and second protection zones ( and ).
A single‐inductor self‐powered SECE interface circuit for dynamic load multi‐PZTs energy harvesting
Authors: Sani Saman Shoorabi
Published: November 2024

There is always considerable inconsistency between the input energy and the amount of the energy required for the load in piezoelectric transducers (PZTs) energy harvesting interface circuits that often degrades the harvesting performance of most of them. Multiple piezoelectric transducers (multi‐PZTs) vibration scavenging may address this issue by enhancing input power and, consequently, environmental adaptability and reliability. The proposed interface circuit may extract energy from a PZT array regardless of each PZT amplitude, frequency, or phase, even under dynamic or heavy load circumstances. The circuit is thoroughly simulated by LTSpice software and evaluated by post‐simulation calculations and discussions. The simulation findings demonstrate that the proposed self‐powered (SP) SECE‐based multi‐PZT EH interface circuit, named MI‐SP‐SECE, can extract a peak power of 12.8 µW from three PZTs in the provided actual scenario at a dynamic load regime with a simulated excitation of 1.5 g and 50 Hz. The proposed circuit's energy integration and harvesting efficiencies are 75% and 85%, respectively. It can achieve a power enhancement of 2.8× relative to a multi‐input full‐bridge rectifier. In addition, the proposed circuit is scalable effectively because it requires just one inductor component.
Evaluation of green development of energy consumption in the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration based on radial basis function neural network
Authors: Ye Xin‐yun , Huan Yi‐sha , Xu Hui
Published: November 2024

The study utilizes the RBF neural network model to evaluate the green development of the Pearl River Delta urban agglomeration, revealing a consistent increase in development levels from 2005 to 2020 despite notable inter‐city variations. The model adeptly handles complex interactions within urban green development, offering insights into comprehensive impacts and aiding in policy evaluation and optimization. It provides urban planners and decision‐makers with data‐driven support, enhancing the scientific basis and stability of policy‐making.
Wind speed probabilistic forecast based wind turbine selection and siting for urban environment
Authors: Sachar Shivangi , Shubham Shubham , Doerffer Piotr , Ianakiev Anton , Flaszyński Paweł
Published: November 2024

Wind energy being a free source of energy is becoming popular over the past decades and is being studied extensively. Integration of wind turbines is now being expanded to urban and offshore settings in contrast to the conventional wind farms in relatively open areas. The direct installation of wind turbines poses a potential risk, as it may result in financial losses in scenarios characterized by inadequate wind resource availability. Therefore, wind energy availability analysis in such urban environments is a necessity. This research paper presents an in‐depth investigation conducted to predict the exploitable wind energy at four distinct locations within Nottingham, United Kingdom. Subsequently, the most suitable location, Clifton Campus at Nottingham Trent University, is identified where a comprehensive comparative analysis of power generation from eleven different wind turbine models is performed. The findings derived from this analysis suggest that the QR6 wind turbine emerges as the optimal choice for subsequent experimental investigations to be conducted in partnership with Nottingham Trent University. Furthermore, this study explores the selection of an appropriate probability density function for assessing wind potential considering seven different distributions namely, Gamma, Weibull, Rayleigh, Log‐normal, Genextreme, Gumbel, and Normal. Ultimately, the Weibull probability distribution is selected, and various methodologies are employed to estimate its parameters, which are then ranked using statistical assessments.
Inferring the distribution of the ionising photon escape fraction
Authors: Kreilgaard Kimi C. , Mason Charlotte A. , Cullen Fergus , Begley Ryan , McLure Ross J.
Published: November 2024

Context. The escape fraction of ionising photons from galaxies (fesc) is a key parameter for understanding how intergalactic hydrogen became reionised, but it remains mostly unconstrained. Measurements have been limited to the average value in galaxy ensembles and to handfuls of individual detections.

Aims. To help understand which mechanisms govern ionising photon escape, here we infer the distribution of fesc.

Methods. We developed a hierarchical Bayesian inference technique to estimate the population distribution of fesc from the ratio of Lyman continuum to non-ionising UV flux measured from broadband photometry. We applied it to a sample of 148 z ≃ 3.5 star-forming galaxies from the VANDELS spectroscopic survey.

Results. We explored four physically motivated distributions: constant, log-normal, exponential, and bimodal, and recovered ⟨fesc⟩≈5% for most models. We find the observations are best described by an exponential fesc distribution with scale factor μ =0.05−0.02+0.01. This indicates most galaxies in our sample exhibit very low escape fractions, while predicting substantial ionising photon leakage for only a few galaxies, implying a range of optical depths in the interstellar medium and/or time variability in ionising photon escape. We rule out a bimodal distribution at high significance, indicating that a purely bimodal model of ionising photon escape (due to very strong sightline and/or time variability) is not favoured. We compare our recovered exponential distribution with the SPHINX simulations and find that, while the simulation also predicts an exponential distribution, it significantly underpredicts our inferred mean. The distribution of fesc can be a vital test for simulations in understanding ionising photon leakage, and is important to consider to gain a complete picture of reionisation.
Exploiting the diversity of modeling methods to probe systematic biases in strong lensing analyses
Authors: Galan A. , Vernardos G. , Minor Q. , Sluse D. , Van de Vyvere L. , Gomer M.
Published: November 2024

Challenges inherent to high-resolution and high signal-to-noise data as well as model degeneracies can cause systematic biases in analyses of strong lens systems. In the past decade, the number of lens modeling methods has significantly increased, from purely analytical methods, to pixelated and non-parametric ones, or ones based on deep learning. We embraced this diversity by selecting different software packages and use them to blindly model independently simulated Hubble Space Telescope (HST) imaging data. To overcome the difficulties arising from using different codes and conventions, we used the COde-independent Organized LEns STandard (COOLEST) to store, compare, and release all models in a self-consistent and human-readable manner. From an ensemble of six modeling methods, we studied the recovery of the lens potential parameters and properties of the reconstructed source. In particular, we simulated and inferred parameters of an elliptical power-law mass distribution embedded in a shear field for the lens, while each modeling method reconstructs the source differently. We find that, overall, both lens and source properties are recovered reasonably well, but systematic biases arise in all methods. Interestingly, we do not observe that a single method is significantly more accurate than others, and the amount of bias largely depends on the specific lens or source property of interest. By combining posterior distributions from individual methods using equal weights, the maximal systematic biases on lens model parameters inferred from individual models are reduced by a factor of 5.4 on average. We investigated a selection of modeling effects that partly explain the observed biases, such as the cuspy nature of the background source and the accuracy of the point spread function. This work introduces, for the first time, a generic framework to compare and ease the combination of models obtained from different codes and methods, which will be key to retain accuracy in future strong lensing analyses.
Exoplanets across galactic stellar populations with PLATO
Authors: Boettner C. , Viswanathan A. , Dayal P.
Published: November 2024

Context. The vast majority of exoplanet discoveries to date have occurred around stars in the solar neighbourhood, with chemical compositions comparable to that of the Sun. However, models suggest that planetary systems in different Galactic environments, with varying dynamical histories and chemical abundances, may exhibit distinct characteristics, which can help improve our understanding of planet formation processes.

Aims. This study aims to assess the potential of the upcoming PLATO mission to investigate exoplanet populations around stars in diverse Galactic environments, specifically focusing on the Milky Way thin disk, thick disk, and stellar halo. We aim to quantify PLATO’s ability to detect planets in each environment and determine how these observations could constrain planet formation models.

Methods. Beginning with the all-sky PLATO Input Catalogue, we kinematically classified the 2.4 million FGK stars into their respective Galactic components. For the sub-sample of stars in the long-observation LOPS2 and LOPN1 PLATO fields, we estimated planet occurrence rates using the New Generation Planet Population Synthesis dataset. Combining these estimates with a PLATO detection efficiency model, we predicted the expected planet yields for each Galactic environment during a nominal 2+2 year mission.

Results. Based on our analysis, PLATO is likely to detect at least 400 exoplanets around the α-enriched thick disk stars. The majority of those planets are expected to be super-Earths and sub-Neptunes with radii between 2 and 10 R⊕ and orbital periods between 2 and 50 days, which is ideal for studying the link between the radius valley and stellar chemistry. For the metal-poor halo, PLATO is likely to detect between 1 and 80 planets with periods between 10 and 50 days, depending on the potential existence of a metallicity threshold for planet formation. The PLATO fields contain more than 3400 potential target stars with [Fe/H] < −0.6, which will help improve our understanding of planets around metal-poor stars. We identified a specific target list of 47 (kinematically classified) halo stars in the high-priority, high-signal-to-noise PLATO P1 sample, offering prime opportunities in the search for planets in metal-poor environments.

Conclusions. PLATO’s unique capabilities and large field of view position it as a valuable tool for studying planet formation across the diverse Galactic environments of the Milky Way. By probing exoplanet populations around stars with a varying chemical composition, PLATO will provide helpful insights into the connection between stellar chemistry and planet formation.
Neural networks and damage pattern recognition in power transformer diagnostics
Authors: Khrennikov Alexander , Aleksandrov Nikolay , Mikhailov Konstantin , Mikhailov Sergey
Published: November 2024

The results of detecting deformations and damage of power transformer windings using the transformer Frequency Response Analysis (SFRA) are presented taking into account RG CIGRE A2.26, Standard IEC 60076-18, Standard IEEE C57.149. The technology of pattern recognition by signal images for diagnostics of winding damage, type of defect, its localization is implemented. Neural networks are used - where in a multilayer perceptron with backpropagation of error - the work of neurons in a hierarchical network is imitated. Parametric methods - such as the Naive Bayes classifier - a probabilistic classifier based on the Bayes formula with the assumption of independence of features among themselves for a given class, which greatly simplifies the classification task due to the assessment of one-dimensional probability densities instead of one multidimensional. An algorithm for recognizing patterns of defects and damage to power transformers using the results of diagnostics by the FRA method has been developed.
Association of lamina cribrosa thickness and hippocampal volume in Alzheimer's disease patients
Authors: Ulusoy Ersin Kasım , Ulusoy Döndü Melek , Göl Mehmet Fatih , Çiçek Ayşe , Tokmak Turgut Tursem
Published: November 2024

Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia and affects a large portion of the elderly population worldwide.

Objective To analyze the relationship between lamina cribrosa thickness (LCT) and hippocampal volume in patients with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Methods The sample in the present study consisted of 20 recently diagnosed MCI patients, 20 recently diagnosed AD patients, and 20 matched healthy volunteers. Every patient underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. The VolBrain software (open-access platform for MRI brain analysis) was used to calculate the hippocampal volume. Optical coherence tomography was performed to measure the LCT. Analysis of variance and Pearson chi-squared tests were employed to assess the results.

Results The lowest total hippocampal volume (p < 0.05) was in the AD group, which was 6.14 ± 0.66 mm3, while in the control group, it was 7.7 ± 9.65 mm3, and 6.69 ± 0.46 mm3 in the MCI group. In comparison to the rest of the groups, in the AD group, the LCT was the thinnest (202.17 ± 16.35 µm). As per the results of the study population as a whole, low hippocampal volume causes low LCT, which shows an important relationship (r: 0.41; p < 0.05).

Conclusion The current findings present evidence of the relationship between hippocampal volume and LCT in patients with AD and MCI.
Urban design leadership: Part 2, the case of public architects
Authors: Carmona Matthew , Bento João
Published: November 2024

This paper, in two parts, explores the styles and application of urban design leadership as a dimension of urban design governance. This second part takes the theoretical framework for understanding urban design leadership developed in Part 1 and applies the theory to the varied practices of public architects across Europe. Based on interviews with protagonists involved in the delivery of these roles, the paper teases out how these functions can be understood in terms of leadership. Ultimately, urban design leadership is not a simple thing that should be replicated according to a standard formula from place to place. Instead, as the case of public architects demonstrates, in different ways that relate to opportunities provided by local governance and political traditions, such roles demonstrate the value of urban design as a form of design leadership at the urban scale. Their analysis also demonstrates the value of the framework advanced in Part 1, which proves to be a robust means to interrogate forms and episodes of urban design leadership. It provides a starting point for a research agenda that is ripe for further investigation.