bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Transformation of Glassy and Crystalline Inclusions in Cord Steel during Heat Treatment at 1100 °C
Authors: Lei Xubo , Li Jianli , Zeng Qiang , Yu Yue , Zhu Hangyu
Published: October 2024

To clarify the transformation of the glassy and crystalline inclusions in cord steel during heat treatment, four groups of MnO–SiO2–Al2O3 systems with different MgO contents are designed to obtain samples with both glassy and crystalline inclusions by slow‐cooling, and then the samples are isothermal held at 1100 °C for 120 min. The results of X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive spectrometer indicate that after isothermal holding, the MgMnSiO4 crystalline phase transforms into MgAl2O4 and MnSiO3 phases in 5 wt% MgO system, while partial MgMnSiO4 phase transforms into MgSiO3 phase in 10 wt% MgO system. Besides, the MgMnSiO4 crystalline phase transforms into MgSiO3 and Mg2SiO4 phases in 15 wt% MgO system, while the Mg2SiO4 crystalline phase partially transforms into MgSiO3 phase in 20 wt% MgO system. Combined with the calculation results of FactSage 8.1, it shows that the higher the MgO content in the system, the stronger the crystallization ability and the easier the formation of the crystalline phase. During the isothermal holding process, the elements in inclusions continuously diffuse and migrate, so that the glassy phase transforms into crystalline phase, while the crystalline phase grows further and the internal glassy phase disappear, accompanied by the transformation of the crystal type.
Developing a predictive model to identify Sea Lamprey parasitism on Lake Trout using biologgers
Authors: Reeve Connor , Adams Jean V. , Miehls Scott M. , Lowe Michael R. , Cooke Steven J. , Moser Mary , Brownscombe Jacob W.
Published: October 2024

Objective

Sea Lamprey Petromyzon marinus remain problematic for Lake Trout Salvelinus namaycush restoration in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Fisheries assessments would benefit from knowledge of spatial–temporal patterns of Sea Lamprey parasitism on Lake Trout; however, such patterns are challenging to estimate from wounding rates on caught Lake Trout. Electronic tags have been used to identify distinct fish behaviors (e.g., foraging or spawning) using measurements of acceleration or heart rate. We hypothesized that Sea Lamprey attachment would elicit changes in the heart rate and swimming behavior of Lake Trout. Here, we determined whether tagging devices could record these changes and whether we could accurately predict lamprey attachment on Lake Trout using these recordings.

Methods

Adult Lake Trout (n = 34) were implanted with acceleration and heart rate tags and then were subjected to Sea Lamprey parasitism within a laboratory setting. Approximately 70 different acceleration and heart rate metrics were collected and tried as predictors of lamprey attachment. The top variables were used to train random forest models and then tried on test data sets. The accuracy of these models was then validated using a jackknife approach.

Result

Metrics related to body orientation and heart rate were identified as the best predictors of Sea Lamprey attachment. The best models predicted lamprey attachments with high accuracy; however, individual-level jackknife tests resulted in less accurate cross-individual prediction and regularly predicted false negatives. These findings may be related to individual variance in the Lake Trout response to attachment, but there was evidence that the shifting of tags after implantation impacted predictive performance, which could be remedied with adjustments during implantation.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the potential to use tagging devices for quantifying Sea Lamprey attachments on Lake Trout in the wild. Further development appears necessary; however, once improved, these predictive models have the potential to generate field-based estimates of Sea Lamprey attack rates on Lake Trout.
Emerging Trends in CdS‐Based Nanoheterostructures: From Type‐II and Z‐Scheme toward S‐Scheme Photocatalytic H2 Production
Authors: Ullah Ikram , Zhao Pei , Qin Ning , Chen Shuai , Li Jing‐Han , Xu An‐Wu
Published: October 2024

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) based heterojunctions, including type‐II, Z‐scheme, and S‐scheme systems emerged as promising materials for augmenting photocatalytic hydrogen (H2) generation from water splitting. This review offers an exclusive highlight of their fundamental principles, synthesis routes, charge transfer mechanisms, and performance properties in improving H2 production. We overview the crucial roles of Type‐II heterojunctions in enhancing charge separation, Z‐scheme heterojunctions in promoting redox potentials to reduce electron‐hole (e−/h+) pairs recombination, and S‐scheme heterojunctions in combining the merits of both type‐II and Z‐scheme frameworks to obtain highly efficient H2 production. The importance of this review is demonstrated by its thorough comparison of these three configurations, presenting valuable insights into their special contributions and capability for augmenting photocatalytic H2 activity. Additionally, key challenges and prospects in the practical applications of CdS‐based heterojunctions are addressed, which provides a comprehensive route for emerging research in achieving sustainable energy goals.
Functional analysis of PagERF021 gene in salt stress tolerance in Populus alba × P. glandulosa
Authors: Fan Gaofeng , Gao Yuan , Wu Xinyue , Yu Yingying , Yao Wenjing , Jiang Jiahui , Liu Huanzhen , Jiang Tingbo
Published: October 2024

Poplar trees are crucial for timber and greening, but high levels of salt in the soil have severely limited the yield of poplar. Ethylene response factor (ERF) transcription factors play an important role in growth, development, and stress response in eukaryotes. Our study focused on the PagERF021 gene from Populus alba × P. glandulosa, which was significantly upregulated in various tissues under salt stress [Correction added on October 4, 2024, after first online publication: “ETS2 reporter factor” is changed to “Ethylene response factor”.]. Both the tissue‐specific expression pattern and β‐glucuronidase (GUS) staining of proPagERF021‐GUS plants indicated that this gene was predominantly expressed in the roots and stems. The subcellular localization showed that the protein was only localized in the nucleus. The yeast assay demonstrated that this protein had transcriptional activation activity at its C‐terminal and could specifically binding to the MYB‐core cis‐element. The overexpression of PagERF021 gene could scavenge the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and reduce the degree of cellular membrane damage, indicating that this gene enhanced the salt tolerance of poplars. This finding will provide a feasible insight for future research into the regulatory mechanisms of ERF genes in resisting to abiotic stress and the development of new stress‐resistant varieties in plants.
An Integrated Spatial Fuzzy‐Based Site Suitability Assessment Framework for Agricultural BMP Placement
Authors: Mirnasl Nayyer , Akbari Aidin , Philpot Simone , Hipel Keith W. , Deadman Peter
Published: October 2024

Assigning crisp class boundaries to landscape features can result in the loss of vital information for land evaluation objectives, especially when these boundaries lack clear definitions. This challenge becomes particularly pronounced when land suitability is assessed for implementing agricultural best management practices (BMPs)—conservation measures aimed at reducing the environmental risks of farming activities to aquatic ecosystems while simultaneously achieving water quality and economic objectives. To address the limitations associated with Boolean suitability assessment frameworks, we have introduced an integrated spatial, fuzzy‐based land evaluation framework that considers a range of hydrological and economic determinants for BMP placement. By employing data‐driven fuzzy membership functions and overlay operators, this framework generates a joint suitability index for BMP placement across agricultural watersheds. The application of the proposed framework to the Thames River Watershed in southwestern Ontario, Canada, produced the first joint suitability index of the watershed. Further analysis of the average farm‐level joint suitability scores identified statistically significant clusters of highly suitable and unsuitable lands for BMP placement, with 85% of highly suitable lands being situated in the upper basin areas. The proposed framework is adaptable to various agricultural production geographies, especially in data‐limited environments, allowing for strategic BMP placement to mitigate the global impacts of anthropogenic nutrient loadings on aquatic ecosystems. For optimal results, context‐specific applications should prioritize research on locally relevant fuzzy membership functions and BMP implementation drivers.
Effect of Microplastic Exposure to the Reproductive Energy and Fecundity of Female Wami Tilapia (Oreochromis urolepis, Norman 1922) Fish
Authors: Mbugani John J. , Shilla Daniel A. , Kimaro Wahabu , Shilla Dativa Joseph , Khan Farhan R.
Published: October 2024

There is mounting evidence indicating that microplastics (MPs, < 5 mm) cause reproductive dysfunction in fish, yet information on the long‐term effects of MP exposure remains scarce. In this study, Wami tilapia fries were exposed to 38–45 µm polyethylene (PE) MPs for their first 2 months in treatment groups of control (0 PE MPs/mL), 1, 10, and 100 PE MPs/mL (with 60 individuals per group in triplicates), and subsequently maintained in a ratio of 3 females to 1 male for an additional 5 months. Reproductive proxies and parameters of female fish health were calculated, and models were developed according to the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and no significant differences in fecundity, relative fecundity, hepatosomatic index (HSI), weight, length, gonadosomatic index, and oocyte packing density were found between treatment groups (one‐Way ANOVA, p > 0.05). However, condition factors varied significantly between treatment groups (Kruskal–Wallis Test, p = 0.006), with the control group differing significantly from the groups exposed to 1 PE MPs/mL (p = 0.007), 10 PE MPs/mL (p = 0.03), and 100 PE MPs/mL (p = 0.001). Fecundity showed strong correlations with weight and length in all treatment groups except the group exposed to 10 PE MPs/mL (weight: r = 0.471, p = 0.346; length: r = 0.688, p = 0.131) and showed insignificant correlations with condition factors and HSI. Multiple regression models revealed that weight significantly contributed to fecundity in all treatment groups except the group exposed to 10 PE MPs/mL. Histopathological analysis indicated damage to livers and small intestines proportional to the dose of PE MPs. This study demonstrates that long‐term exposure of fish to MPs has no significant effect on fecundity but impairs fish health, which could potentially jeopardize the quality of fish eggs and recruitment.
Fly Ash Amendments Reduced Heavy Metal Availability and Uptake in Leafy Vegetables Grown in Agricultural Soils From Selibe Phikwe, Botswana
Authors: Ultra Venecio U. , Taupedi Sekgele Bobby , Gaothobogwe Koziba , Manyiwa Trust , Gajaje Katumelo
Published: October 2024

Poor waste management of mining operations in Selibe Phikwe, Botswana, has resulted in elevated levels of heavy metals (HM) in farmlands and crops near the mining regions, contaminating the food chain and posing a health risk. To mitigate HM contamination in food crops grown in this area, different soil amendments were evaluated for their potential to reduce heavy metal uptake and accumulation in harvested crops. A two‐factor complete randomized design was used to conduct a pot experiment in which varied rates of fly ash (FA) were applied to HM‐contaminated soil in combination with compost and/or NPK inorganic fertilizers. On this setup, two successive cropping of rape and spinach crops were established. Changes in soil chemical characteristics and heavy metal availability, as well as yield and heavy metal content of harvested plants, were monitored. Our findings showed that the addition of FA from 5% to 15% (w/w) had significantly improved the yield, and reduced the concentration of arsenic (As), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), and lead (Pb) in shoots for both spinach and rape. Additional application of compost and/or inorganic fertilizer further improved the yield but the optimum yield was obtained through the combination of 10% FA + compost for both spinach and rape. The highest reduction of As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Mn in the shoots of spinach and rape was obtained in soils amended with 10% FA + compost + NPK fertilizer. Improvement of growth due to different amendments could be attributed to their ability to modify soil chemical properties, reduce available heavy metals in soils, and provide essential nutrients for plants. Optimum results based on growth and heavy metal mitigation can be attained by the application of 10% FA and the addition of compost + NPK fertilizer for both spinach and rape. Further verification and efficacy tests under field conditions are recommended.
The Effects of Pregnancy Status on Lacrimal Caruncle Temperature, Intraocular Pressure and Rectal Temperature in Cats: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Ozcan Candemir , Safak Tarik , Dellalbasi Ayse Basak , Dogan Elif
Published: October 2024

Objective

The objectives of this study were to compare the body temperatures between pregnant and nonpregnant cats from two sites, lacrimal caruncle temperature (LCT) and rectal temperature (RT), and to compare intraocular pressure (IOP) between pregnant and nonpregnant cats.

Animal studied

This study was performed on 13 pregnant and 16 anoestrous cats.

Procedures

The gestation period of the pregnant cats ranged from 20 to 45 days. A vaginal smear was also performed to determine the sexual cycles of nonpregnant cats. The IOP was measured using a rebound tonometer.

Results

The pregnant cats (38 ± 0.7°C) exhibited a lower RT than the nonpregnant cats (38.5 ± 0.5°C) (p < 0.05). No significant differences existed between the pregnant and nonpregnant groups in the right (R)‐LCT or left (L)‐LCT (p > 0.05). The average LCT temperature measured 32.30 ± 2.23°C in cats. The right (R)‐IOP in pregnant cats (17.69 ± 5.6 mm Hg) was significantly lower than in nonpregnant cats (22.37 ± 5.27 mm Hg) (p < 0.029). Pregnant cats exhibited a significantly lower left (L)‐IOP value (17.69 ± 5.76 mm Hg) compared to nonpregnant cats (23.18 ± 5.55 mm Hg) (p < 0.015).

Conclusion

This study presents a preliminary report that documents a noteworthy reduction in RT in pregnant cats (38 ± 0.7°C) as compared to cats in anoestrus. Pregnancy also has an effect on the IOP. It was hypothesised that the hormonal changes induced by pregnancy in cats would have a substantial impact on IOP and RT. Although body temperature can be measured using LCT, RT should still be utilised as the reference measurement site.
Quantifying the effects of size exclusion on colloidal particle transport in porous media at a pore scale and column scale
Authors: Wang Changxi , Šimůnek Jirka , Liu Yuqi , Duan Zhaofei , Liao Renkuan
Published: October 2024

Colloid‐facilitated transport has been widely acknowledged as a significant contributor to surface water and groundwater pollution. Compared to water‐dissolved solutes, colloids are subject to a size exclusion effect (SEE) due to their inherent size when transported through porous media. However, only a few studies have quantitatively assessed SEE on colloid transport in porous media. In this study, we conducted dynamic observation experiments (in a quartz sand micro‐model) using a high‐speed camera and directly observed the size exclusion phenomenon of colloid transport in pores. Moreover, we further performed column experiments to quantitatively characterize the breakthrough curves of silica colloids with diameters ranging from 0.1 to 5 µm through different‐size sands. Silica colloids displayed a distinct SEE, as demonstrated by their earlier breakthroughs compared to the NaNO3 tracer. This observation served as a quantitative indicator of the SEE. The breakthrough curves were fitted using the advection‐dispersion equation to quantify this phenomenon, allowing for calculating the water saturation that is inaccessible to mobile colloids (γ). It was determined that γ exhibited a significant negative linear correlation (p < 0.01) with the average grain size (d50) of porous media. Additionally, power–law correlations were identified between γ and the colloid diameter (dp) and dp/d50. When the grain size of porous media remained below 1031 µm, an increase in the colloid diameter (from 0.1 to 5 µm) resulted in a more noticeable SEE, leading to the proportion of inaccessible pore regions to all pores increasing from 0.017 to 0.098, with this change following a power–law trend. These findings provide valuable insights into quantifying the SEE on silica colloids during transport in porous media. Furthermore, they provide theoretical support for future quantitative research on the mechanisms underlying colloid‐facilitated transport.
Seasonal nitrogen removal in an outdoor microalgal polyculture at Nordic conditions
Authors: Mattsson Lina , Farnelid Hanna , Hirwa Maurice , Olofsson Martin , Svensson Fredrik , Legrand Catherine , Lindehoff Elin
Published: October 2024

Microalgal solutions to clean waste streams and produce biomass were evaluated in Nordic conditions during winter, spring, and autumn in Southeast Sweden. The study investigated nitrogen (N) removal, biomass quality, and safety by treating industrial leachate water with a polyculture of local microalgae and bacteria in open raceway ponds, supplied with industrial CO2 effluent. Total N (TN) removal was higher in spring (1.5 g−2d−1), due to beneficial light conditions compared to winter and autumn (0.1 and 0.09 g−2d−1). Light, TN, and N species influenced the microalgal community (dominated by Chlorophyta), while the bacterial community remained stable throughout seasons with a large proportion of cyanobacteria. Winter conditions promoted biomass protein (19.6–26.7%) whereas lipids and carbohydrates were highest during spring (11.4–18.4 and 15.4–19.8%). Biomass toxin and metal content were below safety levels for fodder, but due to the potential presence of toxic strains, biofuels or fertilizer could be suitable applications for the algal biomass.

Practitioner points

Microalgal removal of nitrogen from leachate water was evaluated in Nordic conditions during winter, spring, and autumn.

Total nitrogen removal was highest in spring (1.5 g−2d−1), due to beneficial light conditions for autotrophic growth.

Use of local polyculture made the cultivation more stable on a seasonal (light) and short‐term (N‐species changes) scale.

Toxic elements in produced algal biomass were below legal thresholds for upcycling.
The Standard Model of Particle Physics
Authors: Raven Will
Published: October 2024

In this chapter, we explore the fascinating world of particle physics and the Standard Model of Particle Physics. We discuss the constraints of the Schrödinger equation and the necessity of quantum field theory, introducing key concepts like antimatter, vacuum fluctuations, and Feynman diagrams. The chapter details the fundamental particles and forces in the Standard Model and highlights unresolved questions, such as dark matter, dark energy, and the integration of gravity. Additionally, we examine the role of virtual particles and the impact of vacuum fluctuations on our understanding of particle interactions. We aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of particle physics and the exciting challenges that lie ahead.
Single-Event Effect Prediction Methodologies
Authors: Aguiar Ygor Quadros de , Wrobel Frédéric , Autran Jean-Luc , García Alía Rubén
Published: October 2024

The use of circuit modeling and simulation has long been established as a fundamental approach in studying physical phenomena, particularly in the field of electronics for understanding the behavior of MOS transistors. Likewise, in the investigation of electronic components’ susceptibility to radiation effects, numerous models have been developed and documented in the literature to analyze the diverse interaction mechanisms at both the device and circuit levels. This chapter provides an introduction to circuit modeling and simulation techniques specifically tailored for studying single-event effects (SEEs). The aim is to elucidate the underlying principles and methodologies employed in simulating the impact of radiation on electronic circuits. Furthermore, we will outline the multi-scale and multi-physics prediction workflow that will be employed throughout the remainder of this book.
Superconformal indices of 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$ = 2 SCFTs and holography
Authors: Bobev Nikolay , Choi Sunjin , Hong Junho , Reys Valentin
Published: October 2024

Abstract

We study the superconformal index of 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 superconformal field theories on S1 ×ωS2 in the Cardy-like limit where the radius of the S1 is much smaller than that of the S2. We show that the first two leading terms in this Cardy-like expansion are dictated by the Bethe Ansatz formulation of the topologically twisted index of the same theory. We apply this relation to 3d $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 holographic superconformal field theories describing the low-energy dynamics of N M2-branes and derive closed form expressions, valid to all orders in the 1/N expansion, for the two leading terms in the Cardy-like expansion of the superconformal index. We also discuss the implications of our results for the entropy of supersymmetric Kerr-Newman black holes in AdS4 and the four-derivative corrections to 4d gauged supergravity.
Point Potentials on Euclidean Space, Hyperbolic Space and Sphere in Any Dimension
Authors: Dereziński Jan , Gaß Christian , Ruba Błażej
Published: October 2024

In dimensions $$d=1,2,3$$

d
=
1
,
2
,
3

, the Laplacian can be perturbed by a point potential. In higher dimensions, the Laplacian with a point potential cannot be defined as a self-adjoint operator. However, for any dimension there exists a natural family of functions that can be interpreted as Green’s functions of the Laplacian with a spherically symmetric point potential. In dimensions 1, 2, 3, they are the integral kernels of the resolvent of well-defined self-adjoint operators. In higher dimensions, they are not even integral kernels of bounded operators. Their construction uses the so-called generalized integral, a concept going back to Riesz and Hadamard. We consider the Laplace(–Beltrami) operator on the Euclidean space, the hyperbolic space and the sphere in any dimension. We describe the corresponding Green’s functions, also perturbed by a point potential. We describe their limit as the scaled hyperbolic space and the scaled sphere approach the Euclidean space. Especially interesting is the behavior of positive eigenvalues of the spherical Laplacian, which undergo a shift proportional to a negative power of the radius of the sphere. We expect that in any dimension our constructions yield possible behaviors of the integral kernel of the resolvent of a perturbed Laplacian far from the support of the perturbation. Besides, they can be viewed as toy models illustrating various aspects of renormalization in quantum field theory, especially the point-splitting method and dimensional regularization.
Single cell–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (SC-ICP-MS) reveals metallic heterogeneity in a macrophage model of infectious diseases
Authors: Davison Claire , Pascoe Jordan , Bailey Melanie , Beste Dany J. V. , Felipe-Sotelo Mónica
Published: October 2024

Single cell–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (SC-ICP-MS) offers an attractive option for rapidly measuring trace metal heterogeneity at the single cell level. Chemical fixation has been previously applied to mammalian cells prior to sample introduction so that they can be resuspended in a solution suitable for SC-ICP-MS. However, the effect of fixation on the elemental composition of suspended cells is unknown, and robust methodologies are urgently needed so that the community can measure the effects of intracellular pathogens on elemental composition of their host cells. We demonstrate that different fixatives impact measured cell elemental composition. We have compared suspensions treated using different fixatives (methanol 60–100% in H2O and 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline solution), and the number of distinguishable single cell events, keeping a constant particle number concentration. Significantly more single cell events (n = 3, P ≤ 0.05) were observed for Ca and Mg when cells were fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde than for the methanol-based fixatives, confirming the hypothesis that methanol fixatives cause leaching of these elements from the cells. The impact of fixation on Mn and Zn was less pronounced. Microbial and viral infection of eukaryotic cells can have profound effects on their elemental composition, but chemical fixation is necessary to render infected cells safe before analysis. We have successfully applied our methodology to a macrophage model of tuberculosis demonstrating utility in understanding metal homeostasis during microbial infection of mammalian cells.

Graphical Abstract
GlycoMaple: recent updates and applications in visualization and analysis of glycosylation pathways
Authors: Kong Wei-Ze , Fujita Morihisa
Published: October 2024

Post-translational modifications including glycosylation, phosphorylation, and lipidation expand the functionality and diversity of proteins. Protein glycosylation is one of the most abundant post-translational modifications in mammalian cells. The glycosylation process is regulated at multiple steps, including transcription, translation, protein folding, intracellular transport, and localization, and activity of glycosyltransferases and glycoside hydrolases. The glycosylation process is also affected by the concentration of sugar nucleotides in the lumen of the Golgi apparatus. Unlike the synthesis of other biological macromolecules, such as nucleic acids and proteins, glycan biosynthesis is not a template-driven process. In addition, the chemical complexity of glycan structures makes the glycosylation network extraordinarily intricate. We previously developed a web-based tool specially focused on glycan metabolic pathways known as GlycoMaple, which is able to easily visualize and estimate glycosylation pathways based on gene expression data. We recently updated GlycoMaple to incorporate the new genes and glycosylation pathways. Here, we introduce and discuss the uses and upgrades of GlycoMaple.
Quantification of the prevalence of harms in healthcare related to drug treatment: reflections regarding the use of definitions developed for other settings to estimate the magnitude of the problem
Authors: Wallerstedt Susanna M. , Hoffmann Mikael
Published: October 2024

The prevalence of harms in healthcare related to drug treatment is often quantified using terms developed for pharmacovigilance and pharmaceutical care. In this overview, we guide through the definitions and the settings for which they were developed, with the underlying intention to facilitate the interpretation of hitherto available research intended to contribute information regarding the magnitude of the problem in healthcare and to provide guidance for future research. To start, the regulatory/academic definitions of an adverse drug reaction (ADR) and a drug-related problem (DRP) are considerably broader than a literal interpretation would suggest. ADRs are defined for the pharmacovigilance setting, and for drug safety reasons the opposite of the benefit of the doubt rules; if it cannot be excluded that the medication has caused or contributed to an event, it will be a suspected ADR. DRPs represent the pharmaceutical care setting where every aspect is included that could potentially be problematic; a manifested problem is not required. When quantifying the prevalence of harms related to drug treatment in the healthcare setting, however, it may not be considered reasonable to count every circumstance that could possibly be an ADR or everything that could potentially be problematic. Therefore, definitions developed for the pharmacovigilance and the pharmaceutical care settings are not fully applicable to estimate the magnitude of drug treatment problems in healthcare. Proposed guidance for the future includes cautious interpretation of research results, as well as a conscious choice of definitions according to purpose and tempered reporting in research.
Confidence intervals estimator of the kinetic parameters: do its reliability depend on the assembling method of the oxygen uptakes?
Authors: Francescato Maria Pia , Cettolo Valentina
Published: October 2024

Gas exchange data acquired repeatedly under the same exercise conditions are assembled together to improve the kinetic parameters of breath-by-breath oxygen uptake. The latter are provided by the non-linear regression procedure, together with the corresponding estimators of the width of the Confidence Intervals (i.e., the Asymptotic Standard Errors; ASEs). We tested, for two different assembling procedures, whether the range of values identified by the ASE actually correspond to the 95% Confidence Interval. Ten O2 uptake responses were acquired on 10 healthy volunteers performing a square-wave moderate-intensity exercise. Kinetic parameters were estimated running the non-linear regression with a mono-exponential model on an increasingly greater number of responses (Nr, from 1 to 10), assembled together using the “stacking” and the “1-s-bins” procedures. Kinetic values obtained assembling together the 10 repetitions were assumed as “true” values. The time constant was not affected by Nr or by the assembling procedure (ANOVA; p>0.54 and p>0.16, respectively). The corresponding ASE decreased according to Nr (ANOVA; p=0.000), being significantly smaller for the “1-s-bins” procedure compared to the “stacking” one (ANOVA; p<0.001). Excluding 20s at the start of the fitting window, the range of values identified with the ASE provided by the “1-s-bins” and the “stacking” procedures included the “true” value in 85% and in 95% of cases, respectively. The “stacking” procedure should be preferred since it yielded ASEs for the time constant that provided a range of values satisfying the statistical meaning of the width of the Confidence Intervals, at the given degree of probability.
Online Paging with Heterogeneous Cache Slots
Authors: Chrobak Marek , Haney Samuel , Liaee Mehraneh , Panigrahi Debmalya , Rajaraman Rajmohan , Sundaram Ravi , Young Neal E.
Published: October 2024

It is natural to generalize the online

$$k$$

k

-Server problem by allowing each request to specify not only a point p, but also a subset S of servers that may serve it. To date, only a few special cases of this problem have been studied. The objective of the work presented in this paper has been to more systematically explore this generalization in the case of uniform and star metrics. For uniform metrics, the problem is equivalent to a generalization of Paging in which each request specifies not only a page p, but also a subset S of cache slots, and is satisfied by having a copy of p in some slot in S. We call this problem Slot-Heterogenous Paging. In realistic settings only certain subsets of cache slots or servers would appear in requests. Therefore we parameterize the problem by specifying a family

$${\mathcal {S}}\subseteq 2^{[k]}$$

S
⊆

2

[
k
]

of requestable slot sets, and we establish bounds on the competitive ratio as a function of the cache size k and family

$${\mathcal {S}}$$

S

:

If all request sets are allowed (

$${\mathcal {S}}=2^{[k]}\setminus \{\emptyset \}$$

S
=

2

[
k
]

\

{
∅
}

), the optimal deterministic and randomized competitive ratios are exponentially worse than for standard Paging (

$${\mathcal {S}}=\{[k]\}$$

S
=
{
[
k
]
}

).

As a function of

$$|{\mathcal {S}}|$$

|
S
|

and k, the optimal deterministic ratio is polynomial: at most

$$O(k^2|{\mathcal {S}}|)$$

O
(

k
2

|
S
|
)

and at least

$$\Omega (\sqrt{|{\mathcal {S}}|})$$

Ω
(

|
S
|

)

.

For any laminar family

$${\mathcal {S}}$$

S

of height h, the optimal ratios are O(hk) (deterministic) and

$$O(h^2\log k)$$

O
(

h
2

log
k
)

(randomized).

The special case of laminar

$${\mathcal {S}}$$

S

that we call All-or-One Paging extends standard Paging by allowing each request to specify a specific slot to put the requested page in. The optimal deterministic ratio for weighted All-or-One Paging is

$$\Theta (k)$$

Θ
(
k
)

. Offline All-or-One Paging is

$$\mathbb{N}\mathbb{P}$$

N
P

-hard.

Some results for the laminar case are shown via a reduction to the generalization of Paging in which each request specifies a set

$$P$$

P

of pages, and is satisfied by fetching any page from

$$P$$

P

into the cache. The optimal ratios for the latter problem (with laminar family of height h) are at most hk (deterministic) and

$$hH_k$$

h

H
k

(randomized).
Is body composition important in the context of renal function in pediatric neurogenic bladder?
Authors: Bagińska-Chyży Joanna , Błahuszewska Adrianna , Korzeniecka-Kozerska Agata
Published: October 2024

Background

Neurogenic bladder due to myelomeningocele (MMC) is a significant risk factor for chronic kidney disease in children. Cystatin C (CysC) is a more accurate GFR marker than creatinine as it is unaffected by muscle mass but may be influenced by fat mass and BMI. This study evaluates: (1) GFR measurement accuracy using CysC and creatinine in MMC-related neurogenic bladder, (2) the relationship between body composition via bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and renal parameters, and (3) the use of BIA for non-invasive GFR and body composition assessment.

Methods

Forty children (median age 9.96 years) underwent serum creatinine, CysC testing, and BIA measurements. We assessed age, sex, spinal lesion level, anthropometric measurements, BMI, and activity using Hoffer’s scale. GFR was calculated using five creatinine-based formulas, three CysC-based, and three combining CysC and creatinine, including BIA GFR as an alternative approach.

Results

Creatinine-based GFR estimates were significantly higher than CysC-based GFR. Although only 30% of MMC patients met the traditional BMI criteria for overweight/obesity, 62.5% were obese based on BIA-measured body fat percentage. Significant differences were found in CysC and CysC-based GFR equations within BMI and fat mass groups. Positive correlations were observed between CysC and body weight, BMI percentiles, body fat mass and fat-to-muscle ratio. Muscle mass positively correlated with creatinine.

Conclusions

BIA-determined fat mass percentage is a more sensitive obesity indicator than BMI in MMC patients. CysC levels and CysC-based GFR equations are influenced by body fat mass, requiring consideration of adiposity to avoid misestimating renal impairment.

Graphical abstract
Effects of APOE isoforms in diabetic nephropathy patients of South India
Authors: Basavaraju Preethi , Moorthi Puthamohan Vinayaga , Meyyazhagan Arun , Devaraj Ilakkiyapavai , Babu Kavipriya , Panza Emanuele , Orlacchio Antonio
Published: October 2024

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a grave complication and the most common renal dysfunction of diabetes mellitus. Genetic factors, including Apolipoprotein E (APOE) isoforms, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of DN.

Methods

A total of 577 type 2 Diabetes mellitus subjects were categorized into diabetes non-nephropathic (Controls: n = 321), diabetes nephropathic (DN: n = 256) groups. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical parameters including age, BMI, lipid profiles (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TG), glucose metabolism (plasma glucose, HbA1c, serum insulin), renal function (UACR, PCR), and blood pressure (SBP, DBP) were assessed. APOE variant frequencies were determined using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis, validated against Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE), and statistically correlated with each clinical and biochemical parameter.

Results

The DN group had an increased prevalence of hypertension, fatty liver, and dyslipidemia compared to the Control group. Biochemical analyses revealed elevated levels of TC (213.41 mg/dL vs. 189.32 mg/dL), LDL-C (134.46 mg/dL vs. 107.56 mg/dL), and reduced HDL-C (58.13 mg/dL vs. 65.32 mg/dL) in DN cases compared to Controls (all p < 0.0001). The APOE variants distribution showed a significant increase in E2 allele frequency (69.1% vs. 15.3%) and corresponding homozygous genotype (E2/2: 42.2% vs. 5.6%) in DN cohorts.

Conclusion

The study found a higher frequency of E2 allele in the DN group compared to Controls, though no statistically significant risk of DN was linked to this allele. The results suggest a potential association for APOE polymorphisms, requiring broader studies to clarify the role of APOE polymorphisms in DN susceptibility.
Breaking barriers in Parkinson’s care: the multidisciplinary team approach
Authors: Pirtošek Zvezdan
Published: October 2024

Parkinson’s disease is a complex neurodegenerative disorder presenting a range of motor and non-motor symptoms that greatly impact both patients and caregivers. The diverse needs arising from these symptoms make a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach crucial for effective management. This article explores the role and benefits of MDTs in Parkinson’s care, highlighting how collaborative models improve clinical outcomes and quality of life. MDTs integrate neurologists, nurse specialists, therapists, and other professionals to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care. The inclusion of patients and caregivers fosters shared decision-making, enhancing health outcomes. However, challenges like limited controlled trials, lack of comprehensive guidelines, and under-referral remain. Innovative models, such as telehealth and community-based care, offer promising solutions, especially in underserved regions. The article advocates for further research and standardized guidelines to optimize the MDT approach for Parkinson’s disease.
Comparing the measurement properties of the EQ-5D-5 L, SF-6Dv2, QLU-C10D and FACT-8D among survivors of classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Authors: Xu Richard Huan , Zhao Zuyi , Pan Tianxin , Monteiro Andrea , Gu Hongfei , Dong Dong
Published: October 2024

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the measurement properties of EQ-5D-5 L, SF-6Dv2, QLU-C10D, and FACT-8D in survivors of Classical Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (CHL).

Methods

A cross-sectional, web-based survey was conducted from May to August 2022 to collect data. Chinese value sets were used to estimate the utility scores for EQ-5D-5 L, SF-6Dv2, and QLU-C10D, while the Australian value set was used for FACT-8D. The measurement properties assessed included ceiling and floor effects, convergent validity (assessing associations between similar dimensions/utility scores using Spearman’s rank correlation and intraclass correlation coefficient), and known-group validity (measures could differentiate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) between risk groups).

Results

A total of 534 CHL survivors participated in the survey and completed the questionnaire. All dimensions of EQ-5D-5 L, SF-6D (except for vitality), QLU-C10D, and FACT-8D showed ceiling effects, ranging from 18 to 91.6%. The EQ-5D-5 L demonstrated the higher ceiling effects compared to other measures, with 33% of patients reporting full health on this scale. All 30 pairs of associations between similar dimensions from the four measures were statistically significant, with correlation coefficients ranging from 0.29 to 0.77. Regarding utility scores, the EQ-5D-5 L utility score showed a stronger correlation with SF-6Dv2 than with the other two measures. Statistically significant correlations of utility scores between the four measures were observed. EQ-5D-5 L can significantly differentiate HRQoL among all known-groups, while SF-6Dv2, QLU-C10D, and FACT-8D showed a less strong discriminant ability.

Conclusions

EQ-5D-5 L outperformed SF-6Dv2 in terms of agreement with cancer-specific PRMs and discriminant ability. However, SF-6Dv2 showed stronger associations with similar dimensions of QLU-C10D and FACT-8D, indicating high convergent validity. The generic PBMs are sensitive enough to measure HRQoL in survivors of CHL.
A generalization of Inoue surfaces $$S^+$$
Authors: Petcu David
Published: October 2024

Using Lie groups with left-invariant complex structure, we construct new examples of compact complex manifolds with flat affine structure in arbitrarly high dimensions. In the 2-dimensional case, we retrieve the Inoue surfaces $$S^+$$

S
+

.
Multiscale homogenized constrained mixture model of the bio-chemo-mechanics of soft tissue growth and remodeling
Authors: Paukner Daniel , Humphrey Jay D. , Cyron Christian J.
Published: October 2024

Constrained mixture models have successfully simulated many cases of growth and remodeling in soft biological tissues. So far, extensions of these models have been proposed to include either intracellular signaling or chemo-mechanical coupling on the organ-scale. However, no version of constrained mixture models currently exists that includes both aspects. Here, we propose such a version that resolves cellular signal processing by a set of logic-gated ordinary differential equations and captures chemo-mechanical interactions between cells by coupling a reaction-diffusion equation with the equations of nonlinear continuum mechanics. To demonstrate the potential of the model, we present 2 case studies within vascular solid mechanics: (i) the influence of angiotensin II on aortic growth and remodeling and (ii) the effect of communication between endothelial and intramural arterial cells via nitric oxide and endothelin-1.
A concurrent learning approach to monocular vision range regulation of leader/follower systems
Authors: Fairfax Luisa , Vela Patricio
Published: October 2024

This paper explores range and bearing angle regulation of a leader–follower using monocular vision. The main challenge is that monocular vision does not directly provide a range measurement. The contribution is a novel concurrent learning (CL) approach, called CL Subtended Angle and Bearing Estimator for Relative pose (CL-SABER), which achieves range regulation without communication, persistency of excitation or known geometry and is demonstrated on a physical, robot platform. A history stack estimates target size which augments the Kalman filter (KF) with a range pseudomeasurement. The target is followed to scale without drift, persistency of excitation requirements, prior knowledge, or additional measurements. Finite excitation is required to achieve parameter convergence and perform steady-state regulation using CL-SABER. Evaluation using simulation and mobile robot experiments in special Euclidean planar space (SE(2)) show that the new method provides stable and consistent range regulation, as demonstrated by the inter-rater reliability, including in noisy and high leader acceleration environments.
Limiting the memory consumption of caching for detecting subproblem dominance in constraint problems
Authors: Medema Michel , Breeman Luc , Lazovik Alexander
Published: October 2024

Solving constraint satisfaction problems often involves a large amount of redundant exploration stemming from the existence of subproblems whose information can be reused for other subproblems. Subproblem dominance is a general notion of reusability that arises when one subproblem imposes more constraints on the remaining part of the search than another subproblem and allows the search to reuse the solutions of the dominating subproblem for the dominated subproblem. The search can exploit subproblem dominance by storing the subproblems that have been explored in a cache and abandoning the current subproblem whenever the cache contains a subproblem that dominates it. While using caching makes it possible to solve problems where subproblem dominance arises orders of magnitude faster, storing all of these subproblems can require a substantial amount of memory, making it impractical in many cases. This paper analyses the dominance between different subproblems for various constraint problems, revealing that only a relatively small number of subproblems dominate other subproblems. Based on these findings, two types of strategies are proposed for reducing the number of subproblems stored in the cache: limiting the number of subproblems that can be stored in the cache and periodically cleaning up the cache. An experimental evaluation demonstrates that these strategies provide an effective instrument for reducing the memory consumption of caching, allowing it to be used on a larger scale. However, there is a trade-off between saving memory and reducing redundant exploration, as removing subproblems from the cache may prevent dominance from being detected for certain subproblems.
An affordable operational oil spill monitoring system in action: A diachronic multiplatform analysis of recent incidents in the southern Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Uribe-Martínez Abigail , Espinoza-Tenorio Alejandro , Cruz-Pech Johnny Bryan , Cupido-Santamaría Deysi Guadalupe , Trujillo-Córdova Jorge Alfredo , García-Nava Héctor , Flores-Vidal Xavier , Gudiño-Elizondo Napoleón , Herguera Juan Carlos , Appendini Christian Mario , Cuevas Eduardo
Published: October 2024

The coexistence of marine sensitive areas with the oil industry requires robust preparedness and rapid response capabilities for monitoring and mitigating oil spill events. Scientifically proven satellite-based methods for the visual detection of oil spills are widely recognized as effective, low-cost, transferable, scalable, and operational solutions, particularly in developing economies. Following meticulous design and implementation, we adopted and executed a relatively low-cost operational monitoring and alert system for oil spill detection over the ocean surface and alert issuance. We analyzed over 1500 satellite images, issuing over 70 warning reports on oil slicks and spills in the southern Gulf of Mexico. To assess the system’s efficiency and performance, we leveraged data from three major oil spill incidents in the study region during June and July of 2023 in the study region, covering a maximum area of 669 km2 and tracked for 12 to 24 days. We documented the evolution of these oil spills by integrating satellite sensing data with on-site Lagrangian drifting buoys, a network of high-frequency radars, and citizen reports to validate the outcomes of this system. We generated timely technical information on the spill’s evolution, informing decision-makers and local community leaders to strengthen their mitigation response capabilities. Additionally, we developed a robust database with spectral and spatiotemporal features of satellite-detected oil, thereby contributing to advancing the scientific understanding of sea surface dynamics related to natural and anthropogenic oil sources. This study also highlights immediate-, medium-, and long-term research agendas and establishes a reference for a sustained, transferable, and operational oil spill monitoring system.