bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro human cell culture models in a bench‐to‐bedside approach to epilepsy
Authors: Danačíková Šárka , Straka Barbora , Daněk Jan , Kořínek Vladimír , Otáhal Jakub
Published: April 2024

Epilepsy is the most common chronic neurological disease, affecting nearly 1%–2% of the world's population. Current pharmacological treatment and regimen adjustments are aimed at controlling seizures; however, they are ineffective in one‐third of the patients. Although neuronal hyperexcitability was previously thought to be mainly due to ion channel alterations, current research has revealed other contributing molecular pathways, including processes involved in cellular signaling, energy metabolism, protein synthesis, axon guidance, inflammation, and others. Some forms of drug‐resistant epilepsy are caused by genetic defects that constitute potential targets for precision therapy. Although such approaches are increasingly important, they are still in the early stages of development. This review aims to provide a summary of practical aspects of the employment of in vitro human cell culture models in epilepsy diagnosis, treatment, and research. First, we briefly summarize the genetic testing that may result in the detection of candidate pathogenic variants in genes involved in epilepsy pathogenesis. Consequently, we review existing in vitro cell models, including induced pluripotent stem cells and differentiated neuronal cells, providing their specific properties, validity, and employment in research pipelines. We cover two methodological approaches. The first approach involves the utilization of somatic cells directly obtained from individual patients, while the second approach entails the utilization of characterized cell lines. The models are evaluated in terms of their research and clinical benefits, relevance to the in vivo conditions, legal and ethical aspects, time and cost demands, and available published data. Despite the methodological, temporal, and financial demands of the reviewed models they possess high potential to be used as robust systems in routine testing of pathogenicity of detected variants in the near future and provide a solid experimental background for personalized therapy of genetic epilepsies.

Plain Language Summary

Epilepsy affects millions worldwide, but current treatments fail for many patients. Beyond traditional ion channel alterations, various genetic factors contribute to the disorder's complexity. This review explores how in vitro human cell models, either from patients or from cell lines, can aid in understanding epilepsy's genetic roots and developing personalized therapies. While these models require further investigation, they offer hope for improved diagnosis and treatment of genetic forms of epilepsy.
UAV‐SfM‐based field quantification of barchan dune celerity and morphodynamics in Gonghe Basin
Authors: Shao Mei , Luo Wanyin , Che Xuehua , Hesp Patrick A. , Bryant Robert G.
Published: April 2024

Barchan dunes do not often coexist with grasslands. However, in Gonghe Basin, north‐eastern part in Qinghai‐Tibetan Plateau (QTP), China, many barchan dunes are distributed on the grassland at high altitude. Identifying celerity and morphodynamics of barchan dunes and exploring the interaction between barchans and grassland landscape can help us better understand aeolian system sand mitigate damages. In this work, we tracked dune celerity and observed three‐dimensional changes of symmetrical and asymmetrical barchan dunes in Ertala based on high‐resolution UAV‐SfM reconstruction in short‐term monitoring and discussed the factors influencing dune celerity and deformation at high altitude. The results revealed that the barchan dunes are highly mobile with an average celerity of 0.85 m/M for the whole study area. Based on observations of dune morphology and dynamics, we found the following: (1) The dune deformation degree in a short time is not large but is widespread, especially in the elongated arm of asymmetric dune. The deformation of symmetric dune is symmetrical, whereas that of dune with extended horn is asymmetrical; (2) the sand supply, vegetation and airflow at low air density all influence the celerity and deformation degree in the development of barchan dunes; (3) the asymmetric airflow and sediment supply are important cause of dune asymmetry. The above results help us understand the deformation of barchan dune from the three‐dimensional, especially the difference reflected by the symmetry of barchan dune at high altitude.
Evapotranspiration and crop coefficient of ‘Kent’ mango in an important fruit‐growing hub in Brazil
Authors: da Silva Marcelo José , de Moura Magna Soelma Beserra , Carvalho Herica Fernanda de Sousa , dos Santos Cloves Vilas Boas , Leitão Mário de Miranda Villas Boas Ramos , Campeche Luis Fernando de Souza Magno , da Silva Thieres George Freire
Published: April 2024

The ‘Kent’ mango is one of the main cultivars produced in the São Francisco valley. However, due to a lack of data, water management was carried out using coefficients from the Tommy Atkins cultivar. Thus, aiming to achieve greater water management efficiency, the aim of this study was to evaluate the growth, radiation and energy balance, evapotranspiration and coefficients of the ‘Kent’ mango in the lower‐middle São Francisco valley in Brazil. The study was conducted in an orchard over two harvests between 2017 and 2018. The radiation and energy balance, evapotranspiration (ETc) and crop coefficients (Kc) of the mango were estimated from micrometeorological data. The mean reference evapotranspiration (ET0) and ETc values were 5.47 and 4.40 mm day−1 (vegetative growth, VG), 4.42 and 4.29 mm day−1 (floral induction, FI), 4.08 and 3.48 mm day−1 (floral induction + flowering, FI + FL), 4.51 and 3.63 mm day−1 (fruit drop, FD) and 6.09 and 4.46 mm day−1 (formation fruit + maturation fruit phase, FF + MF). Under the climate conditions of the São Francisco valley, Kc values of 0.80, 0.97, 0.85, 0.80 and 0.74 are recommended for the ‘Kent’ mango during the VG, FI, FI + FL, FD and FF + MF phases, respectively.
Utility value of improving writing skills for adult basic education students
Authors: Martinez Jennifer , Greenberg Daphne , Puranik Cynthia , Braasch Jason Lawrence , Traga Philippakos Zoi A. , MacArthur Charles A. , Miller Christine
Published: April 2024

Motivational research identifies utility value, or the importance of a learning task to future goals, as central to motivation to learn. This study analyzed survey data (N = 86) collected from adult literacy learners to examine their utility value of writing improvement in grammar and spelling skills, word processing skills, and planning, drafting, and revising skills. Findings revealed that participants had a high utility value of improving writing in all three skill areas and possessed a variety of underlying motivations, including obtaining further education, seeking future employment, and personal reasons. Participants' age, educational attainment, and reading levels showed relationships with utility value of improving grammar and spelling skills, and age showed an additional relationship to utility value of improving word processing skills. This work extends research on motivation in this population and supports the application of expectancy‐value theory to both adult motivation and writing motivation.
Real‐time weakness of the global economy
Authors: Leiva‐León Danilo , Perez Quiros Gabriel , Rots Eyno
Published: April 2024

We propose an empirical framework to measure the real‐time weakness of the global economy. This framework relies on nonlinear factor models to identify recessionary and expansionary episodes, fitted to several macroeconomic variables, for the largest advanced and emerging economies. The country‐specific inferences are then combined to construct both a Global Weakness Index and a Global Intensity Index. As new economic data become available from different regions, this information is continually updated to provide high‐frequency, real‐time insights into (i) the strength of the global economy, (ii) the economic regions supporting this strength, (iii) country‐specific and global risk assessments, and (iv) the intensity of recessionary and expansionary episodes.
Nexus among disclosure quality, discretionary accruals and real earnings management practices: An empirical analysis of Malaysian public firms
Authors: Nuhu Muhammad Shaheer , Ahmad Zauwiyah , Zhee Lim Ying
Published: April 2024

Following the financial crisis, business practice and regulatory have become much more interested in corporate disclosure on risk and risk management. The crises necessitate enhancing corporate governance (CG) processes, risk disclosure, reporting, and accounting. This paper aims to empirically analyze specific components of disclosure quality that could be associated with the likelihood of mitigating earnings management (EM) practices. The Bursa Malaysia website, Bloomberg, and the annual reports of the listed firms were utilized as the sources for the data. Descriptive statistics and GLS methods of panel regression were the analytical techniques used in the current investigation. Corporate data of the listed firms on Bursa Malaysia covering financial periods of 2011–2022 were used to examine the research hypotheses. The findings from the panel regression suggested that internal control system disclosure (ICSD) and intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) both have negative and significant associations to the likelihood of EM practices. However, the findings also established negative but insignificant relationships between corporate risk disclosure (CRD), corporate voluntary disclosure (CVD), and the likelihood of EM practices across the sample. This study has implications to companies striving to satisfy shareholders and attract potential investors. The authors add to the growing body of literature on quality disclosure to the larger body of CG literature. Additionally, the study is original as it is the first to consider four qualities (internal control system disclosure, corporate risk disclosure and corporate voluntary disclosure, and voluntary ICD in the Malaysian context of EM practices.
Profiles of psychological flexibility and caregiving experience in dementia family caregivers: A latent profile analysis
Authors: Morimoto Hiroshi
Published: April 2024

Objectives

To explore the profiles of psychological flexibility among dementia family caregivers and examine their associations with psychological well‐being and caregiving factors.

Methods

Participants were 521 dementia family caregivers in Japan. Latent profile analysis was conducted to explore the profiles of psychological flexibility. The analyses examined differences in depression, anxiety, life satisfaction, and work‐family conflict/enrichment between the profiles, and whether sociodemographic variables and caregiving stressors predict the profile.

Results

Four distinct profiles were identified: high psychological flexibility (14.2%), moderate psychological flexibility with high commitment (24.7%), moderate psychological flexibility with low commitment (48.0%), and low psychological flexibility (13.1%). The low psychological flexibility profile exhibited the highest scores of depression, anxiety and work–family conflict, followed by the moderate psychological flexibility with low/high commitment profiles, and the high psychological flexibility profile. The high psychological flexibility and moderate psychological flexibility with high commitment profiles exhibited higher life satisfaction than the moderate psychological flexibility with low commitment profile. Caregiving stressors, marital status, and caregiver status predicted the profile.

Conclusion

Enhancing defusion and acceptance, rather than increasing commitment to personal values, may be beneficial in supporting distressed caregivers. Having more caregiving stressors, being single/divorced/bereaved, and being a primary caregiver may be useful indicators of decreased psychological flexibility among dementia family caregivers.
Association of Vancomycin AUC/MIC and Trough Concentration With Early Clinical Response in Enterococcus or Coagulase‐Negative Staphylococcus Infection: A Prospective Study
Authors: Pitayakittiwong Chuleephorn , Sermsappasuk Pakawadee , Meesing Atibordee , Jaisue Siriluk
Published: April 2024

This study was condcuted to examine the association of area under the curve (AUC)/minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and trough concentration (Ctrough) of vancomycin with treatment outcome and nephrotoxicity in infections caused by Enterococcus spp. and coagulase‐negative Staphylococci (CoNS). Peak and trough concentrations were used to calculate AUC in 89 patients receiving vancomycin for infections with Enterococcus spp. (n = 65) or CoNS (n = 24). Correlations between Ctrough, AUC/MIC, early clinical response (ECR), and nephrotoxicity were assessed and cutoff values were determined. Sixty‐three (70.8%) patients showed improvement in ECR and 10 (11.2%) experienced nephrotoxicity. Enterococcus spp. infections displayed correlations between AUC/MIC and ECR for AUC0‐24 h/MIC (r2 = 0.27, P ≤ .05) and AUC24‐48 h/MIC (r2 = 0.28, P ≤ .05), but not for Ctrough (r2 = 0.21, P > .05). There were no correlations between Ctrough (r2 = 0.26, P > .05), AUC0‐24 h/MIC (r2 = −0.12, P > .05), AUC24‐48 h/MIC (r2 = 0.01, P > .05) and ECR for CoNS. In the CoNS group, a moderate correlation was found between ECR and Ctrough at a cutoff value of 6.9 μg/mL. In addition, nephrotoxicity is also moderately associated with AUC0‐24 h and AUC24‐48 h at 505.7 and 667.1 μg•h/mL, respectively. A strong correlation between nephrotoxicity and Ctrough was observed when the cutoff value was 18.9 μg/mL. AUC/MIC during the first 48 h was a determinant of vancomycin efficacy in Enterococcus infections but not for CoNS. Ctrough was not correlated with clinical outcome. Nephrotoxicity could be predicted using Ctrough and AUC for infections with both pathogens.
Humic acid enhances phosphorus transport in soil and uptake by maize
Authors: Rosolem Ciro A. , Nascimento Carlos A. C. , Bertolino Karina M. , Picoli Lais B.
Published: April 2024

Background

Most of the phosphorus (P) applied to low fertility, acidic tropical soils with high iron and aluminum oxide contents end up adsorbed to soil colloids and not available to crops. Diffusion of P from fertilizers was found to be facilitated by coating with humic substances and by soil moisture.

Aim

However, there is still controversy on the effect of humic substances on soil P forms and diffusion, and there is a gap in the knowledge of how coating the fertilizer interacts with soil water.

Methods

We studied P diffusion and availability from a conventional single superphosphate and a humic acid‐coated superphosphate in Petry dishes as affected by soil moisture and the effect of the distance of the fertilizer to the roots using a root‐matt methodology.

Results

Coating single superphosphate with humic substances from leonardite (0.5%) and increasing water moisture resulted in improved P diffusion in the soil and plant P uptake. Maize dry matter increased by humic acid‐coated phosphate from 3% to 26%, depending on the distance from the fertilizer to the roots. Therefore, there is evidence of a lower P adsorption to soil colloids. The coated fertilizer increased labile P by 76% around the fertilizer granule, while higher levels of less labile P were observed with the use of conventional single superphosphate.

Conclusion

All this resulted in facilitated P transport from the soil to the roots, which is important mainly in double‐cropped systems where the second crop is usually exposed to temporary drought.
Digital health–based exposure therapies for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder: A systematic review of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Yoshikawa Mayu , Narita Zui , Kim Yoshiharu
Published: April 2024

Although exposure therapies have established effects in treating posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), these therapies might be hindered by issues of cost, distance, time, and human resources, which are potentially alleviated by digital health. Despite the potential of digital health, there is currently no systematic review specifically evaluating digital health–based exposure therapies. We aimed to conduct a systematic literature review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) examining the impact of digital health–based exposure therapies in treating patients with PTSD. A literature search was conducted from December 31, 2023, to February 22, 2024, using the PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases. A total of 12 RCTs with 1,361 participants were included in the systematic review. These RCTs were conducted mainly in the United States and primarily enrolled military samples. Overall, the utility of digital health–based exposure therapies appeared plausible and comparable to that of in‐person therapies. The dropout rate was counterintuitively high, potentially due to technological issues and the absence of personal connections. The findings suggest that digital health–based exposure therapies may potentially resolve the issues of cost, distance, time, and human resources in the treatment of patients with PTSD. Future RCTs should employ larger sample sizes. Addressing technological challenges and the absence of personal connection may be important in resolving the high dropout rate.
Recent Advances in Preparation and Structure of Polyurethane Porous Materials for Sound Absorbing Application
Authors: Dong Shan , Duan Yinying , Chen Xinyan , You Feng , Jiang Xueliang , Wang Dongrui , Hu Dongdong , Zhao Pei
Published: April 2024

Various acoustic materials are developed to resolve noise pollution problem in many industries. Especially, materials with porous structure are broadly used to absorb sound energy in civil construction and transportation area. Polyurethane (PU) porous materials possess excellent damping properties, good toughness, and well‐developed pore structures, which have a broad application prospect in sound absorption field. This work aims to summarize the recent progress of fabrication and structure for PU porous materials in sound absorption application. The sound absorption mechanisms of porous materials are introduced. Different kinds of structure for typical PU porous materials in sound absorption application are covered and highlighted, which include PU foam, modified PU porous materials, aerogel, templated PU, and special PU porous materials. Finally, the development direction and existing problems of PU material in sound absorption application are briefly prospected. It can be expected that porous PU with high sound absorption coefficient can be obtained by using some facile methods. The design and accurate regulation of porous structures or construction of multilayer sound absorption structure is favorably recommended to fulfill the high demand of industrial and commercial applications in the future work.
Inventory control for reusable express packaging with under sharing policy
Authors: Sun Hong
Published: April 2024

Online shopping and e‐commerce have contributed significantly to the environmental pollution caused by the generation of packaging waste. In response to this issue, reusable express packaging has emerged as a promising solution. However, the widespread adoption of reusable express packaging faces significant challenges, namely, the initial investment burden and the complexities associated with recycling. To address these challenges and enhance resource utilization efficiency while minimizing supply–demand discrepancies, inventory sharing has emerged as an effective measure. We first establish an inventory model for reusable express packaging, which takes into account stochastic loss rates and customer service level. We further extend our research to scenarios involving both inventory sharing and competition. We substantiate the value of inventory sharing and the impact of competition through comprehensive numerical analyses. Our findings demonstrate that inventory sharing contributes to enhancing the profits of express delivery companies, especially with a more pronounced effect in companies where competition exists.
20 potentially new compounds and 11 new bioactive constituents found in Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma utilizing HPLC‐DAD‐ESI‐IT‐TOF‐MSn
Authors: Gegentana  , Xu Feng , Huang Yan‐Fei , Li Hong‐Fu , Yang Ping , Shang Ming‐Ying , Liu Guang‐Xue , Li Yao‐Li , Wang Xuan , Cai Shao‐Qing
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Smilacis Glabrae Rhizoma (SGR) is rich in chemical constituents with a variety of pharmacological activities. However, in‐depth research has yet to be conducted on the chemical and pharmacodynamic constituents of SGR.

Materials and methods

In this study, the chemical constituents of SGR were analyzed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, and the pharmacodynamic compounds responsible for the medicinal effects of SGR were elucidated through a literature review.

Results

In total, 20 potentially new compounds, including 16 flavonoids (C19, C20, and C27–C40) and four phenylpropanoids (C107, C112, C113, and C118), together with 161 known ones were identified in the ethanol extract of SGR using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry, and 25 of them were unequivocally identified by comparison with reference compounds. Moreover, 17 known constituents of them were identified in the plants of genus Smilax for the first time, and 16 were identified in the plant Smilax glabra Roxb. for the first time. Of 161 known compounds, 84 constituents (including isomers) have been reported to have 17 types of pharmacological activities, covering all known pharmacological activities of SGR; among these 84 bioactive constituents, six were found in the plants of genus Smilax for the first time and five were found in S. glabra for the first time, which are new bioactive constituents found in the plants of genus Smilax and the plant S. glabra, respectively.

Conclusion

The results provide further information on the chemical composition of SGR, laying the foundation for the elucidation of the pharmacodynamic substances of SGR.
Analysis of quality evaluation and optimal harvest period of Aurantii Fructus from different sources using UHPLC‐Q‐TOF‐MS/MS
Authors: Liu Zi Xuan , Wang Ling , Fu Xue Sen , Long Yu Qing , Zeng Juan , Chen Guang Yu , Zhou Ri Bao , Liu Xiang Dan
Published: April 2024

Introduction

The active constituents in Aurantii Fructus sourced from different regions within Hunan Province exhibit variations, with certain samples demonstrating substandard quality.

Objectives

The aim of this study is to conduct a comparative analysis of the chemical composition and quality of Aurantii Fructus from various sources, establish a robust methodology for quality evaluation, and determine the optimal harvesting period.

Materials and methods

The components of Aurantii Fructus were qualitatively analyzed using a non‐targeted metabolomics approach. Multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to identify potential markers, enabling qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the quality and optimal harvest period of Aurantii Fructus.

Results

Overall, 155 compounds were identified in Aurantii Fructus, with Huangpi exhibiting the highest number of components. Eleven potential markers were selected to assess the quality of Aurantii Fructus. The average content of Huangpi was the highest, indicating a high level of similarity. The samples’ overall scores were ordered as follows: Huangpi > Xiangcheng > Choucheng > Daidai. Anren and Changde's Huangpi exhibited high contents, being rich in chemical components, resulting in favorable scores. Similarly, Changde's Xiangcheng displayed significant medicinal value. As the harvest time was delayed, there was an increase in fruit size, accompanied by thinner peels and a continuous decrease in the contents of potential markers. The best harvest period of Aurantii Fructus was within 1 week before and after the Lesser Heat.

Conclusion

The present study establishes a precise and efficient method for evaluating the quality of Aurantii Fructus, thereby providing more comprehensive insights into its composition. This research lays the foundation for subsequent development and utilization of Aurantii Fructus.
Optimal Quantum Circuits for General Multi‐Qutrit Quantum Computation
Authors: Jiang Gui‐Long , Liu Wen‐Qiang , Wei Hai‐Rui
Published: April 2024

Quantum circuits of a general quantum gate acting on multiple ‐level quantum systems play a prominent role in multi‐valued quantum computation. A recursive Cartan decomposition of semi‐simple unitary Lie group (arbitrary ‐qutrit gate) is first proposed with a rigorous proof, which completely decomposes an ‐qutrit gate into local and non‐local operations. On this basis, an explicit quantum circuit is designed for implementing arbitrary two‐qutrit gates, and the cost of the construction is 21 generalized controlled (GCX) and controlled increment (CINC) gates less than the earlier best result of 26 GGXs. Furthermore, the program is extended to the ‐qutrit system, and the quantum circuit of generic ‐qutrit gates contained GGXs and CINCs is presented. Such asymptotically optimal structure is the best known result so far and its strength becomes more remarkable as increases, for example, when , the program saves 7146 GCXs compared to the previous best result. In addition, concrete recursive decomposition expressions is given for each non‐local operation instead of only quantum circuit diagrams.
A genome wide association study to identify germline copy number variants associated with cancer cachexia: a preliminary analysis
Authors: Narasimhan Ashok , Kumaran Mahalakshmi , Gioulbasanis Ioannis , Skipworth Richard J.E. , Bathe Oliver F. , Kaasa Stein , Strasser Florian , Gagnon Bruno , Baracos Vickie , Damaraju Sambasivarao
Published: April 2024

Background

Cancer cachexia is characterized by severe loss of muscle and fat involving a complex interplay of host–tumour interactions. While much emphasis has been placed on understanding the molecular mechanisms associated with cachexia, understanding the heritable component of cachexia remains less explored. The current study aims to identify copy number variants (CNV) as genetic susceptibility determinants for weight loss in patients with cancer cachexia using genome wide association study (GWAS) approach.

Methods

A total of 174 age‐matched patients with oesophagogastric or lung cancer were classified as weight losing (>10% weight loss) or weight stable participants (<2% weight loss). DNA was genotyped using Affymetrix SNP 6.0 arrays to profile CNVs. We tested CNVs with >5% frequency in the population for association with weight loss. Pathway analysis was performed using the genes embedded within CNVs. To understand if the CNVs in the present study are also expressed in skeletal muscle of patients with cachexia, we utilized two publicly available human gene expression datasets to infer the relevance of identified genes in the context of cachexia.

Results

Among the associated CNVs, 5414 CNVs had embedded protein coding genes. Of these, 1583 CNVs were present at >5% frequency. We combined multiple contiguous CNVs within the same genomic region and called them Copy Number Variable Region (CNVR). This led to identifying 896 non‐redundant CNV/CNVRs, which encompassed 803 protein coding genes. Genes embedded within CNVs were enriched for several pathways implicated in cachexia and muscle wasting including JAK–STAT signalling, Oncostatin M signalling, Wnt signalling and PI3K‐Akt signalling. This is the first proof of principle GWAS study to identify CNVs as genetic determinants for cancer cachexia. Further, we show that a subset of CNV/CNVR embedded genes identified in the current study are common with the previously published skeletal muscle gene expression datasets, indicating that expression of CNV/CNVR genes in muscle may have functional consequences in patients with cachexia. These genes include CPT1B, SPON1, LOXL1, NFAT5, RBFOX1, and PCSK6 to name a few.

Conclusions

This is the first proof of principle GWAS study to identify CNVs as genetic determinants for cancer cachexia. The data generated will aid in future replication studies in larger cohorts to account for genetic susceptibility to weight loss in patients with cancer cachexia.
Finite‐time mixed ℋ∞$$ {\mathscr{H}}_{\infty } $$ and passive filtering for nonlinear singular systems under fading channels
Authors: Cai Li‐Juan , Chang Xiao‐Heng
Published: April 2024

This article focuses on the finite‐time mixed and passive filtering problem for discrete‐time singular systems with randomly occurring nonlinear perturbations. The main purpose is to design a filter, which ensures the singular error system is stochastically finite‐time bounded and satisfies mixed and passive performance. By constructing an augmented matrix, the properties of matrix determinant and rank are used to prove that the singular system is regular and causal, Finsler's lemma and Projection lemma are used in the design process to acquire additional slack variable matrices, thereby enhancing the solution space with extra degrees of freedom. Then, the unknown parameters of the filter are obtained by solving the less conservative linear matrix inequalities. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed method is verified through a common numerical example and by controlling a DC motor for an inverted pendulum.
PAW: Prediction of wildlife animals using a robot under adverse weather conditions
Authors: Kaur Parminder , Kansal Sachin , Singh V. P.
Published: April 2024

Image dehazing and object detection are two different research areas that play a vital role in machine learning. When merged together and implemented in real‐time, it is a boon in the field of artificial intelligence, specifically robotics. Object detection and tracking are two of the major implementations in almost the entire robot's training and learning. The learning of the robot depends on the images; these images can be camera‐captured images or a pretrained data set. Real‐time outdoor images clicked in bad weather conditions, such as mist, haze, smog, and fog, often suffer from poor visibility, and the consequences are incorrect results and hence an unexpected robot's behavior. To overcome these consequences, we have presented a novel approach to object detection and identification during adverse weather conditions. This method is proposed to be implemented in a real‐time environment to monitor animal behavior near railway tracks during fog, haze, and smog. This is not limited to specific application areas but can be used to identify endangered species and take active steps to save them from mishap. The deployment is done in a real‐time indoor environment using Tortoisebot mobile robot with a robot operating system framework.
Sustainable development through biomimicry: Enhancing circular economy practices for environmental sustainability
Authors: Eid Mohammad Al Haj , Al‐Abdallah Ghaith
Published: April 2024

Responding to the urgent global need for sustainable development, this study investigates how biomimicry can be integrated with the circular economy to promote environmental sustainability. Through an extensive review of literature, existing research, and case studies, we critically examine the application of biomimicry principles in enhancing circular economy practices. Our methodology synthesises insights from across disciplines, employing a thematic and gap analyses to uncover prevalent trends and identify research deficits. Building on Janine Benyus' seminal biomimicry work, we introduce a novel framework derived from Life's Principles to evaluate the sustainability of circular economy efforts, focusing on their consistency with or deviation from biomimetic principles. Our research finds a significant correlation between the circular economy's emphasis on reducing waste and improving resource efficiency and biomimicry's focus on nature‐inspired sustainable design. We pinpoint “resource efficiency” and “eco‐friendly chemistry” as primary areas where circular economy measures reflect biomimetic ideals. However, our analysis also reveals a considerable gap in incorporating local socio‐economic factors into circular economy frameworks. This oversight highlights the necessity for in‐depth research into how circular economy initiatives can be tailored to enhance socio‐economic resilience and community well‐being. By underscoring these parallels and identifying key research opportunities, our article elucidates how biomimicry could drive more effective circular economy practices. We argue that future research should focus on bridging the identified gap by exploring how circular economy models can incorporate local socio‐economic considerations, thereby ensuring more impactful sustainability outcomes.
Population‐average mediation analysis for zero‐inflated count outcomes
Authors: Sims Andrew , Long D. Leann , Tiwari Hemant K. , Cui Jinhong , Long Dustin M. , Brown Todd M. , Smith Melissa J. , Levitan Emily B.
Published: April 2024

Mediation analysis is an increasingly popular statistical method for explaining causal pathways to inform intervention. While methods have increased, there is still a dearth of robust mediation methods for count outcomes with excess zeroes. Current mediation methods addressing this issue are computationally intensive, biased, or challenging to interpret. To overcome these limitations, we propose a new mediation methodology for zero‐inflated count outcomes using the marginalized zero‐inflated Poisson (MZIP) model and the counterfactual approach to mediation. This novel work gives population‐average mediation effects whose variance can be estimated rapidly via delta method. This methodology is extended to cases with exposure‐mediator interactions. We apply this novel methodology to explore if diabetes diagnosis can explain BMI differences in healthcare utilization and test model performance via simulations comparing the proposed MZIP method to existing zero‐inflated and Poisson methods. We find that our proposed method minimizes bias and computation time compared to alternative approaches while allowing for straight‐forward interpretations.
Direct Amide Formation via Carbamoylation of Aromatic Bromides using Heteropoly Acid and UV‐Light
Authors: Kim Myeonggeuk , Shen Liu‐lan , Jeong Jin Hyun
Published: April 2024

We performed direct carbamoylation using heteropoly acid (HPA) photocatalysts with a Keggin structure under UV‐light. Carbamoyl radicals were generated via the decarboxylation of N,N‐disubstituted dimethyloxamic acid under these conditions. The HPA catalyst functioned as a photocatalyst when the dicarbonyl bond was broken, generating carbon dioxide. We found that disubstituted carbamoyl radicals readily coupled with aromatic bromides to generate diverse benzoic amides. In particular, using a homogeneous HPA photocatalyst improved the reaction's transmittance, which had been a problem of the existing heterogeneous photocatalyst. This reaction condition can be easily handled, mild, and safer than the traditional benzoic amide synthesis. This method can be scaled up efficiently, is eco‐friendly, and can be applied to producing active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Unraveling the Role of 2D Ti3C2Tx MXene Nanosheets in Cu‐Based Double Perovskite Active Layer for Enhanced Photovoltaic Performance
Authors: Dehingia Anurag , Das Ujjal , Gogoi Himadri Priya , Borgohain Karabi Kanchan , Patra Snigdha , Paul Bappi , Roy Asim
Published: April 2024

Although the atmospheric stability of lead‐free inorganic double perovskite (DP) solar cells (PSCs) looks promising, their further development is hampered by inadequate film quality and non‐radiative carrier recombination at the interfaces. Herein, the incorporation of a newly developed intriguing class of 2D material Ti3C2Tx MXene nanosheets with the photo‐absorbing Cu2AgBiI6 (CABI) active layer of a fully inorganic solar cell is reported. The highly conductive Ti3C2Tx nanosheets work as a multi‐functional additive by tuning the band gap, reducing the non‐radiative carrier recombination, and inhibiting carrier accumulation. In addition, the presence of Ti3C2Tx MXene increases the surface free energy of the perovskite film, which elevates the energy barrier for nucleation and realizes a highly crystalline CABI perovskite film. Primarily, the MXene modification accelerates the charge extraction and transport at the interfaces of the active layer, utilizing energy level alignment with the charge transport layers. Consequently, the photo‐conversion efficiency (PCE) of the device with MXene is substantially enhanced to 1.50%. Moreover, the 2D Ti3C2Tx nanosheets increased the long‐term stability of the devices by retaining 70% of the initial PCE after 1680 h. With regard to relieving the severe carrier recombination at the interfaces, this work sets a new paradigm toward imminent solar energy conversion.
Atomically Dispersed Ru‐doped Ti4O7 Electrocatalysts for Chlorine Evolution Reaction with a Universal Activity
Authors: Lee Woonghee , Choung Seokhyun , Kim Seok , Hong Jiyun , Kim Doyeon , Tarpeh William A. , Han Jeong Woo , Cho Kangwoo
Published: April 2024

Chlorine has been supplied by the chlor‐alkali process that deploys dimensionally stable anodes (DSAs) for the electrochemical chlorine evolution reaction (ClER). The paramount bottlenecks have been ascribed to an intensive usage of precious elements and inevitable competition with the oxygen evolution reaction. Herein, a unique case of Ru2+‐O4 active motifs anchored on Magnéli Ti4O7 (Ru‐Ti4O7) via a straightforward wet impregnation and mild annealing is reported. The Ru‐Ti4O7 performs radically active ClER with minimal deployment of Ru (0.13 wt%), both in 5 m NaCl (pH 2.3) and 0.1 m NaCl (pH 6.5) electrolytes. Scanning electrochemical microscopy demonstrates superior ClER selectivity on Ru‐Ti4O7 compared to the DSA. Operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy and density functional theory calculations reveal a universally active ClER (over a wide range of pH and [Cl−]), through a direct adsorption of Cl− on Ru2+‐O4 sites as the most plausible pathway, together with stabilized ClO* at low [Cl−] and high pH.
AEcroscopy: A Software–Hardware Framework Empowering Microscopy Toward Automated and Autonomous Experimentation
Authors: Liu Yongtao , Roccapriore Kevin , Checa Marti , Valleti Sai Mani , Yang Jan‐Chi , Jesse Stephen , Vasudevan Rama K.
Published: April 2024

Microscopy has been pivotal in improving the understanding of structure‐function relationships at the nanoscale and is by now ubiquitous in most characterization labs. However, traditional microscopy operations are still limited largely by a human‐centric click‐and‐go paradigm utilizing vendor‐provided software, which limits the scope, utility, efficiency, effectiveness, and at times reproducibility of microscopy experiments. Here, a coupled software–hardware platform is developed that consists of a software package termed AEcroscopy (short for Automated Experiments in Microscopy), along with a field‐programmable‐gate‐array device with LabView‐built customized acquisition scripts, which overcome these limitations and provide the necessary abstractions toward full automation of microscopy platforms. The platform works across multiple vendor devices on scanning probe microscopes and electron microscopes. It enables customized scan trajectories, processing functions that can be triggered locally or remotely on processing servers, user‐defined excitation waveforms, standardization of data models, and completely seamless operation through simple Python commands to enable a plethora of microscopy experiments to be performed in a reproducible, automated manner. This platform can be readily coupled with existing machine‐learning libraries and simulations, to provide automated decision‐making and active theory‐experiment optimization to turn microscopes from characterization tools to instruments capable of autonomous model refinement and physics discovery.
A systemic perspective to safety behaviour emergence in organizations: Evaluation of a game‐based simulation for improving safety communication behaviour
Authors: Atagbuzia Chukwudiebube , Ng Ean H. , Natarajan Ganapathy , Calvo‐Amodio Javier
Published: April 2024

Struck‐by injuries are associated with negative health outcomes and increased costs caused by violent contact with an object, equipment or person; however, safety behaviours such as hazard identification and communication can reduce or eliminate accident occurrences. The current study applied a systemic perspective to analyse safety behaviour emergence within an organization's safety system. An organization's safety system is a purposeful human activity system (PHAS) because people come together to fulfil the purpose of reducing or eliminating accidents. In this study, a commercial kitchen is defined as a PHAS to guide the analysis and promotion of verbal safety communication behaviour. A game‐based simulation intervention was developed and evaluated to support the emergence of verbal safety communication behaviour within a commercial kitchen. Results showed that the game‐based simulation facilitated the emergence of verbal safety communication behaviour, thus validating the systemic approach used in this study.
Water‐Absorbent Biodegradable Aerogels Based on Potato, Cassava, Bean, and Maize Starches Applied in the Absorption of Chicken Exudate
Authors: Costa Diego Araujo da , Silva Francine Tavares da , Cruz Elder Pacheco da , Fonseca Laura Martins , Jansen Estefani Tavares , Oliveira Raquel Moreira , Souza Andressa Salies , Zavareze Elessandra da Rosa , Zambiazi Rui Carlos
Published: April 2024

Starch aerogels are a clean‐label alternative to produced active packaging aimed at preserving food products. This study aims to produce water‐absorbent and reusable aerogels from different starches and investigates their properties according to the type of starch. The aerogels are produced using different starch concentrations and evaluated in terms of morphology, density, porosity, relative crystallinity, texture properties, water absorbent capacity, reusability as water absorbent, and water absorption rate. The aerogel is applied as an absorbent of chicken breast exudate. The starches’ amylose content is 28.2%, 27.4%, 45.4%, and 30.2% for the potato, cassava, bean, and maize starches, respectively. All aerogels display physical integrity and porous structures with low density and high porosity, and their relative crystallinity decreases compared to the starches. The texture properties show great elasticity. The aerogels present high water absorption capacity, ranging from 685% to 1714%. Potato and bean starch aerogels can be reused as water absorbents 12 times showing, after the first immersion, a stable water retention rate over the reusable period. The maize starch‐based aerogel is applied as an absorbent for chicken breast exudate, reaching 39% absorption, proving to be an excellent material for application as active food packaging for fresh food preservation.
Arsenic contamination of groundwater sources and a comparative study of its remediation by various conventional and recent approaches in Nepal
Authors: Rasaili Prithivi , Rai Summi , Sachin KM , Saha Bidyut , Bhattarai Ajaya
Published: April 2024

Groundwater is a major source of drinking water for millions of people across the globe. Most of these sources are reported to contain elevated levels of arsenic. Human health and ecosystems are adversely affected by arsenic‐contaminated drinking water. So, arsenic‐contaminated groundwater has become a major global health concern. This paper reviews groundwater contamination sources and gives an outline of arsenic contamination in different places in Nepal. It also critically reviews the health hazards associated with arsenic poisoning. A comparative study has been made regarding different aspects of conventional and recent technologies, and the one that is the most suitable for remediation of contaminated water has been recommended.
Inhibition kinetics and mechanism of genistein against α‐glucosidase
Authors: Nga Vo Thi , Hao Hoang Minh
Published: April 2024

Several studies have documented the effective inhibition of genistein, a component in soybeans against α‐glucosidase. However, the details of the inhibition mechanism and kinetics remain unfulfilled. Here, the authors aim to investigate the anti‐diabetic potential of genistein through IC50 value, fluorescence quenching and inhibition kinetics. Genistein was found to exhibit an inhibition activity on α‐glucosidase with an IC50 value of 7.79 ± 0.36 µm. Analysis of fluorescence spectra indicated that genistein quenched enzyme emission through a static mechanism with a bimolecular quenching constant, kq = 4.04 × 1013 m−1 s−1. In addition, it was found that genistein was bound to α‐glucosidase with a high affinity of binding constant, Ka = 3.38 × 105 m−1 and a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio (n = 1.06). In order to suggest a possible contact involved, 8‐anilino‐1‐naphthalenesulfonic acid (ANS) was added as an extrinsic fluorescence probe to enzyme solution and analyzed fluorescence spectra of the α‐glucosidase‐ANS complexes. When treated with genistein, fluorescence intensities of the complexes were reduced remarkably, indicating that genistein interacts with the enzyme via a hydrophobic domain. Finally, the inhibition constant and inhibition mode were studied by inhibition kinetics. The results revealed that genistein bound easily to α‐glucosidase with a Ki value of 25.61 × 10−6 m through a non‐competitive type.
In silico molecular docking and ADMET study of Isodon coetsa phytochemicals targeting TNF‐α in inflammation‐mediated diseases
Authors: Ha Nguyen Xuan , Le Cao Hong
Published: April 2024

In inflammatory diseases, the expression of the target protein tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α) plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis and development of certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and psoriatic arthritis. TNF‐α inhibitors have several limitations. Screening studies of plant‐derived compounds have shown promising results due to their lower incidence of side effects and reasonable cost. Therefore, this research focuses on identifying compounds isolated from Isodon coetsa, collected from previous studies, that exhibit inhibitory effects on TNF‐α through computational methods such as molecular docking and ADMET prediction. Among the compounds binding to the active site of TNF‐α, five diterpenoids, namely 2α,3α,24‐trihydroxy‐11α,12α‐epoxy‐urs‐20(30)‐en‐28,13β‐olide,2α,3α,24‐trihydroxy‐12,20(30)‐ursadien‐28‐oic acid, xerophilusin B, oridonin, and 15α‐hydroxy‐6,7‐seco‐1α,7:11α,6‐diolide‐ent‐kaur‐16‐en, exhibited higher binding affinity than the reference inhibitor SPD‐304. All the potential compounds predicted by ADME demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetic properties. Moreover, regarding the toxicity of the I. coetsa derived compounds, namely 2α,3α,24‐trihydroxy‐11α,12α‐epoxy‐urs‐20(30)‐en‐28,13β‐olide, xerophilusin B, and 15α‐hydroxy‐6,7‐seco‐1α,7:11α,6‐diolide‐ent‐kaur‐16‐en, they exhibited low toxicity and safety for oral administration. Hence, these compounds may serve as potential candidates to replace the inhibitor SPD‐304 as important therapeutic agents against TNF‐α in the future. The results obtained need to be further investigated through in‐depth in vitro and in vivo experiment studies.
Numerical simulation of the ferrohydrodynamics flow using an unconditionally stable second‐order scheme
Authors: Keram Aytura , Huang Pengzhan
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we design a decoupled, linear, unconditionally stable and fully discrete numerical scheme for a ferrohydrodynamics system with second‐order temporal accuracy. This scheme is based on a second‐order backward difference formula for time derivative terms and linearization extrapolation for nonlinear terms, which produces a series of decoupled linear equations and solves effectively this nonlinear and multiphysical coupled system. Meanwhile, we show that the scheme is unconditionally stable. Finally, some numerical experiments are provided to verify the theoretical finding and illustrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed scheme.