bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Life stories from lonely older adults: the role of precipitating events and coping strategies throughout the lifecourse
Authors: Switsers Lise , Stegen Hannelore , Dierckx Eva , Heylen Leen , Dury Sarah , De Donder Liesbeth
Published: November 2023

Previous research has highlighted the importance of past life experiences in the theoretical and conceptual understanding of loneliness. However, adding a lifecourse perspective to loneliness research remains underexplored. To comprehend the complexity of loneliness in old age, it is crucial to pay attention to the lifecourse perspective. This study addresses an important lifecourse perspective on loneliness through an in-depth, narrative approach. Building on the cognitive discrepancy theory, this study examines how precipitating events and coping strategies throughout the lifecourse may influence current feelings of loneliness in older adults. We qualitatively examined the experienced lifecourse of 20 lonely older adults living in Belgium by applying a modified version of the McAdams life-story interview scheme. Next, we conducted eight member-check interviews. A first finding provided insight into the importance of precipitating events during the lifecourse for current loneliness. The results pointed not only to the lifelong impact of events during childhood and adulthood, which may lead to vulnerability to loneliness later in life: unrealised life events (e.g.not being able to have children) as well as events with no impact earlier in life nevertheless turned out to be relevant in the emergence of loneliness later in life. Second, the narratives revealed that several older adults who experienced loneliness earlier and later in life continued to use the same coping strategies throughout the lifecourse, whereas by contrast some older adults adapted their coping strategies based on previous experiences and improved their loneliness-coping skills. It also appeared that changes in people's resources, such as the presence of physical limitations, may make it more difficult to cope with loneliness in later life. The discussion makes a plea for lifelong prevention of and attention to loneliness.
From Crowdfunding to Crowd Mobilization: The Impact of Digital Philanthropy on Grassroots Organizations and Local Politics in China
Authors: Han Ling , Lee Chengpang , Song Qi
Published: November 2023

The recent emergence of online crowdfunding campaigns has transformed the charitable landscape in China. This paper examines the participation of one county-level grassroots nonprofit organization (SW) in Tencent's 99 Giving Day to reveal a paradox of organizational success in online crowdfunding, namely that local nonprofits have to wage corresponding offline campaigns with the support of the local government, and thus must co-evolve with local politics. While the online charitable campaign played a crucial role in the founding and professionalization of SW, the successful campaign was soon co-opted by the local government as a source of welfare soft-budgeting and performance management. To ensure the ongoing success of the three-day campaign, the online crowdfunding was transformed into a large-scale offline mobilization. We find that although crowdfunding creates new opportunities for rural grassroots organizations, these organizations must balance dual pressures from both the platform and the local government to successfully crowdfund online.
A framework of marine collision risk identification strategy using AIS data
Authors: Ma Xiaofei , Shi Guoyou , Shi Jiahui , Liu Jiao
Published: November 2023

Collisions are one of the major accidents in the shipping industry, causing significant losses. In this work, a framework of marine collision risk identification strategy was developed to quantitatively analyse collision risks and provide an easy and convenient way to monitor traffic flow in relevant waters to mitigate the chances of collision. The model was verified by using automatic identification system data obtained from Tianjin Port. When compared to previous research, the proposed model can identify risks earlier and give people more time to analyse and take action. The results indicate that it also can provide a visual display to alert relevant personnel. The model can be used as a reference to identify potential collision risks or as an information source for future research.
A Less Bad Theory of the Procreation Asymmetry and the Non-Identity Problem
Authors: Aaron Jonas H.
Published: November 2023

This paper offers a unified explanation for the procreation asymmetry and the non-identity thesis – two of the most intractable puzzles in population ethics. According to the procreation asymmetry, there are moral reasons not to create lives that are not worth living but no moral reasons to create lives that are worth living. I explain the procreation asymmetry by arguing that there are moral reasons to prevent the bad, but no moral reasons to promote the good. Various explanations for the procreation asymmetry have failed to explain the non-identity thesis: if one could create a person with a good life or a different person with a better life, one has a moral reason to create the better life. I argue that reflections on the misfortune of unfulfilled potential allow us to circumvent the non-identity problem.
I Can’t See You; Can You Hear Me? Gender Norms and Context During In-Person and Teleconference U.S. Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Authors: Gleason Shane A.
Published: November 2023

Female attorneys at the U.S. Supreme Court are less successful than male attorneys under some conditions because of gender norms, implicit expectations about how men and women should act. While previous work has found that women are more successful when they use more emotional language at oral arguments, gender norms are context sensitive. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted perhaps the most radical contextual shift in Supreme Court history: freewheeling in-person arguments were replaced with turn-based teleconference arguments. This change altered judicial decision-making and, I argue, justices’ assessments of attorneys’ gender performance. Using quantitative textual analysis of oral arguments, I demonstrate that justices implicitly evaluate gender performance with different metrics in each modality. Gender-normative levels of emotional language predict success in both formats. Function words, however, only predict success in teleconference arguments. Given gender’s salience at the Supreme Court and in broader society, my findings prompt questions about the extent to which women can substantively impact case law.
ResU‐Deep: Improving the Trigger Function of Deep Convection in Tropical Regions With Deep Learning
Authors: Chen Mengxuan , Fu Haohuan , Zhang Tao , Wang Lanning
Published: November 2023

Modeling deep convection accurately in tropical regions is important. However, biases remain in current trigger functions. To alleviate the overestimation of frequency and wrong depiction of the diurnal cycle, we propose a deep convection trigger function, ResU‐Deep, based on the framework of U‐net with three modifications to better suit the problem of deep convection identification: (a) adding the upsampling process into the encoder part, (b) replacing the double convolution block with a residual‐convolutional block, and (c) adding a dynamic weight into the loss function. Thirty‐three environmental variables within tropical regions are used in ResU‐Deep, including 31 features from ECMWF atmospheric reanalysis (ERA5) data set, and two historical convection fields. Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission 3B42 data set is used as the precipitation observation. Central America, North Africa, South and East Asia, and West Pacific Ocean within 0°∼30°N are selected as the study regions for the high frequency of deep convection activities. ResU‐Deep, incorporating the surrounding information, is separately trained and evaluated in four regions and has the F1‐scores of 58%, 53%, 60%, and 63% for the occurrence, outperforming the single‐column‐based machine learning methods. Also, a unified model has similar performance in four regions. Further comparisons are made with convective available potential energy‐based trigger functions in Southern Great Plains. Results show that ResU‐Deep can capture the trends and peaks of diurnal cycles on complex terrains in large regions. According to feature importance test, the contribution levels of environmental features are different in four regions, indicating the model can learn the mechanisms of deep convection in specific region, thus improving the prediction accuracy.
High Production of Gigantic Jets by a Thunderstorm Over Indian Ocean
Authors: Soula Serge , Mlynarczyk Janusz , van der Velde Oscar , Montanya Joan , Leclerc Emmanuel
Published: November 2023

Thirteen gigantic jets (GJ) were observed on 12 February 2020, with a sensitive video camera located at Maïdo Observatory, La Réunion Island in Indian Ocean. They were produced within 68 min by nearby cells embedded in a convective system almost 500 km from Maïdo. The video imagery combined with the lightning activity from GLD360, the cloud top temperature (CTT), the ELF radiations, and the reanalysis of several meteorological parameters allow us to analyze their characteristics and their conditions of production. The altitudes for 12 GJ events are estimated between 85 and 89 km. All jets are of negative polarity and most of them preceded by a positive stroke/pulse in the discharge event. They are produced in sequences of a few minutes, during short pulses of convection within cells in phase of development and associated with dominant positive cloud‐to‐ground lightning flashes. The most luminous GJ produced the strongest Current Moment (CM) maximum, close to 280 kA km, and the largest Charge Moment Change (CMC). The CMCs associated with the GJ events range from about 1,000 C km to close to 5,500 C km, especially thanks to the CM during the trailing phase. Several GJ events exhibit a double structure with two jets slightly shifted in space, most of them occurring within the same field of the video imagery. The environment of this exceptional storm in terms of GJ production, exhibits extreme values of various parameters known to be favorable for GJ production, especially related to the warm cloud depth.
Modulating the dynamics of NFκB and PI3K enhances the ensemble-level TNFR1 signaling mediated apoptotic response
Authors: Sherekar Shubhank , Todankar Chaitra S. , Viswanathan Ganesh A.
Published: November 2023

Cell-to-cell variability during TNFα stimulated Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 (TNFR1) signaling can lead to single-cell level pro-survival and apoptotic responses. This variability stems from the heterogeneity in signal flow through intracellular signaling entities that regulate the balance between these two phenotypes. Using systematic Boolean dynamic modeling of a TNFR1 signaling network, we demonstrate that the signal flow path variability can be modulated to enable cells favour apoptosis. We developed a computationally efficient approach “Boolean Modeling based Prediction of Steady-state probability of Phenotype Reachability (BM-ProSPR)” to accurately predict the network’s ability to settle into different phenotypes. Model analysis juxtaposed with the experimental observations revealed that NFκB and PI3K transient responses guide the XIAP behaviour to coordinate the crucial dynamic cross-talk between the pro-survival and apoptotic arms at the single-cell level. Model predicted the experimental observations that ~31% apoptosis increase can be achieved by arresting Comp1 – IKK* activity which regulates the NFκB and PI3K dynamics. Arresting Comp1 – IKK* activity causes signal flow path re-wiring towards apoptosis without significantly compromising NFκB levels, which govern adequate cell survival. Priming an ensemble of cancerous cells with inhibitors targeting the specific interaction involving Comp1 and IKK* prior to TNFα exposure could enable driving them towards apoptosis.
Cryo-EM of Aβ fibrils from mouse models find tg-APPArcSwe fibrils resemble those found in patients with sporadic Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Zielinski Mara , Peralta Reyes Fernanda S. , Gremer Lothar , Schemmert Sarah , Frieg Benedikt , Schäfer Luisa U. , Willuweit Antje , Donner Lili , Elvers Margitta , Nilsson Lars N. G. , Syvänen Stina , Sehlin Dag , Ingelsson Martin , Willbold Dieter , Schröder Gunnar F.
Published: November 2023

The use of transgenic mice displaying amyloid-β (Aβ) brain pathology has been essential for the preclinical assessment of new treatment strategies for Alzheimer’s disease. However, the properties of Aβ in such mice have not been systematically compared to Aβ in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we determined the structures of nine ex vivo Aβ fibrils from six different mouse models by cryogenic-electron microscopy. We found novel Aβ fibril structures in the APP/PS1, ARTE10 and tg-SwDI models, whereas the human type II filament fold was found in the ARTE10, tg-APPSwe and APP23 models. The tg-APPArcSwe mice showed an Aβ fibril whose structure resembles the human type I filament found in patients with sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. A detailed assessment of the Aβ fibril structure is key to the selection of adequate mouse models for the preclinical development of novel plaque-targeting therapeutics and positron emission tomography imaging tracers in Alzheimer’s disease.
Non-Markovian cost function for quantum error mitigation with Dirac Gamma matrices representation
Authors: Ahn Doyeol
Published: November 2023

This paper investigates the non-Markovian cost function in quantum error mitigation (QEM) and employs Dirac Gamma matrices to illustrate two-qubit operators, significant in relativistic quantum mechanics. Amid the focus on error reduction in noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices, understanding non-Markovian noise, commonly found in solid-state quantum computers, is crucial. We propose a non-Markovian model for quantum state evolution and a corresponding QEM cost function, using simple harmonic oscillators as a proxy for environmental noise. Owing to their shared algebraic structure with two-qubit gate operators, Gamma matrices allow for enhanced analysis and manipulation of these operators. We evaluate the fluctuations of the output quantum state across various input states for identity and SWAP gate operations, and by comparing our findings with ion-trap and superconducting quantum computing systems' experimental data, we derive essential QEM cost function parameters. Our findings indicate a direct relationship between the quantum system's coupling strength with its environment and the QEM cost function. The research highlights non-Markovian models' importance in understanding quantum state evolution and assessing experimental outcomes from NISQ devices.
Infants are sensitive to the social signaling value of shared inefficient behaviors
Authors: Bas Jesús , Mascaro Olivier
Published: November 2023

Actions that are blatantly inefficient to achieve non-social goals are often used to convey information about agents’ social affiliation, as in the case of rituals. We argue that when reproduced, actions that are individually inefficient acquire a social signaling value owing to the mechanisms that support humans’ intuitive analysis of actions. We tested our hypothesis on 15-month-old infants who were familiarized with an agent that reproduced or merely observed the actions of efficient and inefficient individuals. Subsequently, we measured the infants' expectations of the agent’s preferences for efficient and inefficient individuals. Our results confirmed that when agents act alone, infants expect a third-party to prefer efficient over inefficient agents. However, this pattern is entirely flipped if the third-party reproduces the agents’ actions. In that case, infants expect inefficient agents to be preferred over efficient ones. Thus, reproducing actions whose rational basis is elusive can serve a critical social signaling function, accounting for why such behaviors are pervasive in human groups.
Mobile applications in radiology: own study based on polish data
Authors: Kufel Jakub , Bargieł Katarzyna , Koźlik Maciej , Bartnikowska Wiktoria , Janik Michał , Czogalik Łukasz , Dudek Piotr , Krawczyk Dariusz , Magiera Mikołaj , Cebula Maciej , Nawrat Zbigniew , Gruszczyńska Katarzyna
Published: November 2023

As the number of smartphones increases, so does the number of medical apps. Medical mobile applications are widely used in many medical fields by both patients and doctors. However, there are still few approved mobile applications that can be used in the diagnostic-therapeutic process and radiological apps are affected as well. We conducted our research by classifying radiological applications from the Google Play® store into appropriate categories, according to our own qualification system developed by researchers for the purposes of this study. In addition, we also evaluated apps from the App Store®. The radiology application rating system we created has not been previously used in other articles. Out of 228 applications from the Google Play store, only 6 of them were classified as “A” category with the highest standard. Apps from the App Store (157) were not categorized due to the lack of download counts, which was necessary in our app-rating system. The vast majority of applications are for educational purposes and are not used in clinical practice. This is due to the need of obtaining special permits and certificates from relevant institutions in order to use them in medical practice. We recommend applications from the Google Play store that have been classified in the “A” category, evaluating them as the most valuable. App Store apps data is described and presented in the form of diagrams and tables.
Epidemiological characteristics and temporal-spatial clustering analysis on human brucellosis in Jiangsu Province, 2006–2021
Authors: Zhang Nan , Fang Xin-yu , Zhou Wei-zhong , Tan Zhong-ming , Liang Shu-yi , Wang Xiao-chen , Hu Jian-li , Bao Chang-jun , Liu Wen-dong
Published: November 2023

The marked increase in the incidence rate of brucellosis is a serious public health concern in Jiangsu Province. However, its temporal and spatial distribution has not been studied in depth. The main purpose of this study is to depict the demographic, temporal and spatial distribution patterns and clustering characteristics of brucellosis cases in Jiangsu Province, China, from 2006 to 2021 to develop and implement effective scientific prevention and control strategies. Data for human brucellosis cases in Jiangsu Province from 2006 to 2021 were obtained from the Nationwide Notifiable Infectious Diseases Reporting Information System (NIDRIS). Spatial autocorrelation analysis and temporal-spatial scan statistics were used to identify potential changes in the spatial and temporal distributions of human brucellosis in Jiangsu Province. During the years 2006–2021, 1347 brucellosis cases were reported in Jiangsu Province, with an average annual incidence rate of 0.1036 per 100,000 individuals. Middle-aged and elderly individuals (aged 40–69 years) were the main infected populations, accounting for 69.72% (939/1347) of all reported cases. The incidence of brucellosis in Jiangsu showed a long-term increasing trend and displayed pronounced seasonal variations, with the peak occurring between April and June annually. The incidence gradually expanded from the northern and southern areas to the central areas between 2006 and 2021. Global spatial autocorrelation analysis demonstrated a positive correlation in the incidence of brucellosis between 2008 and 2012–2021. Temporal-spatial clustering analysis showed that the primary cluster was detected in the northern, highly endemic regions of Jiangsu, and the three secondary clusters were in areas where there had been outbreaks of brucellosis. Human brucellosis remains a serious public health issue in Jiangsu Province. Northern and southern Jiangsu regions, with high rates of brucellosis, may require special plans and measures to monitor and control the disease. Additionally, the capacity to respond to outbreaks in high-incidence areas should be improved to prevent further brucellosis outbreaks.
Evaluation of behavioural selection processes in conflict scenarios using a newly developed mouse behavioural paradigm
Authors: Miyagami Yurika , Honshuku Yuki , Nomura Hiroshi , Minami Masabumi , Hitora-Imamura Natsuko
Published: November 2023

Selecting an appropriate behaviour is critical for survival in conflict scenarios, wherein animals face both appetitive and aversive stimuli. Behavioural selection consists of multiple processes: (1) animals remain quiet in a safe place to avoid aversive stimuli (suspension), (2) once they decide to take risks to approach appetitive stimuli, they assess the risks (risk assessment), and (3) they act to reach the reward. However, most studies have not addressed these distinct behavioural processes separately. Here, we developed a new experimental paradigm called the three-compartment conflict task to quantitatively evaluate conflict processes. Our apparatus consisted of start, flat, and grid compartments. Mice needed to explore the grid compartment, where they might receive foot shocks while trying to obtain sucrose. Applying foot shocks increased sucrose acquisition latency in subsequent trials, reflecting elevated conflict levels throughout trials. The time spent in the start compartment and the number of retreats were determined to measure the conflict levels in suspension and risk assessment, respectively. Foot shocks increased these parameters, whereas diazepam decreased them. Our new paradigm is valuable for quantitatively evaluating distinct behavioural processes and contributes to developing effective treatments for psychiatric disorders associated with maladaptive behaviours in conflict scenarios.
Optimization of an experimental study of cationic Pb metal adsorption by resin polymer
Authors: Bensalah Jaouad , Doumane Ghizlane , Iraqi Oumayma , Elhenawy Ahmed A. , Ouaddari Hanae , Okla Mohammad K. , Nafidi Hiba-Allah , younous Youssouf Ali , Bourhia Mohammed , Habsaoui Amar
Published: November 2023

To eliminate lead (Pb) ions from metallic solutions, the cationic resin in solid form was utilized. The characterization of the adsorbent was performed using GTA/GTD, SEM spectroscopy, and EDX analysis. The results of these analyses provided insights into the structure and composition of the resin. The removal of Pb (II) ions was found to be highly dependent on various parameters. Firstly, the pH of the metal solution played a crucial role, as the adsorption capacity increased with the pH of the solution, at a maximum equal to (R = 84.78%), at a pH = 8.0. Additionally, the concentration of Pb (II) ions present in the solution influenced the adsorption technique’s capacity, with higher concentrations leading to increased adsorption, analysis overhead of high concentration present (100 mg L−1) of the metal lead (II) study, a saturation corresponding a plateau to the resin polymeric saturation is 93.18 mg g−1. To determine the optimal mass of the resin adsorbent, a study was conducted to maximize the removal of Pb (II) ions, at the mass 1.0 g showed that the proportion of inorganic pollutants removed from Pb (II) is entirely qualitative (100%). Furthermore, the effect of temperature on the adsorption process was investigated. It was observed that the rate of the Pb (II) adsorption process decreased as the temperature increased. Kinetic studies were performed to gain further insights into the adsorption process. Pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models, along with the intra-particle diffusion model, were utilized for this purpose. The results indicated that the adsorption process was fast, as evidenced by the findings from the pseudo-second-order study. The saturation technical process was studied, employing several different isothermal models, including Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin. Among these models, the Langmuir model was found to best describe the phenomenon of lead metal adsorption by the resin polymeric, is equal to 11.23 mg g−1, with the experimental value precisely (R2 = 0.999). Finally, various thermodynamic techniques were applied to analyze the adsorption process. The thermodynamic parameters such as ΔG° (− 9.78 to − 9.27 kJ mol−1), ΔH° (14.85 kJ mol−1), and ΔS° (0.017 kJ mol−1) were determined. These values indicated that the adsorption process was endothermic and spontaneous, further emphasizing its impetuous nature. The results of the molecular dynamics calculations demonstrated that amino groups are very important in defining the characteristics of cation adsorption. We conclude that this new adsorbent has the potential to significantly improve the process of regularly removing heavy metal ions from wastewater.
New ex vivo method to objectively assess insulin spatial subcutaneous dispersion through time during pump basal-rate based administration
Authors: Jacquemier Pauline , Retory Yann , Virbel-Fleischman Clara , Schmidt Alexandra , Ostertag Agnes , Cohen-Solal Martine , Alzaid Fawaz , Potier Louis , Julla Jean-Baptiste , Gautier Jean-François , Venteclef Nicolas , Riveline Jean-Pierre
Published: November 2023

Glycemic variability remains frequent in patients with type 1 diabetes treated with insulin pumps. Heterogeneous spreads of insulin infused by pump in the subcutaneous (SC) tissue are suspected but were barely studied. We propose a new real-time ex-vivo method built by combining high-precision imaging with simultaneous pressure measurements, to obtain a real-time follow-up of insulin subcutaneous propagation. Human skin explants from post-bariatric surgery are imaged in a micro-computed tomography scanner, with optimised parameters to reach one 3D image every 5 min during 3 h of 1UI/h infusion. Pressure inside the tubing is recorded. A new index of dispersion (IoD) is introduced and computed upon the segmented 3D insulin depot per time-step. Infusions were hypodermal in 58.3% among 24 assays, others being intradermal or extradermal. Several minor bubbles and one occlusion were observed. IoD increases with time for all injections. Inter-assay variability is the smallest for hypodermal infusions. Pressure elevations were observed, synchronised with air bubbles arrivals in the tissue. Results encourage the use of this method to compare infusion parameters such as pump model, basal rate, catheter characteristics, infusion site characteristics or patient phenotype.
New insights into the genetic predisposition of brucellosis and its effect on the gut and vaginal microbiota in goats
Authors: Sallam Ahmed M. , Abou-souliman Ibrahim , Reyer Henry , Wimmers Klaus , Rabee Alaa Emara
Published: November 2023

Goats contribute significantly to the global food security and industry. They constitute a main supplier of meat and milk for large proportions of people in Egypt and worldwide. Brucellosis is a zoonotic infectious disease that causes a significant economic loss in animal production. A case–control genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) was conducted using the infectious status of the animal as a phenotype. The does that showed abortion during the last third period of pregnancy and which were positive to both rose bengal plate and serum tube agglutination tests, were considered as cases. Otherwise, they were considered as controls. All animals were genotyped using the Illumina 65KSNP BeadChip. Additionally, the diversity and composition of vaginal and fecal microbiota in cases and controls were investigated using PCR-amplicone sequencing of the V4 region of 16S rDNA. After applying quality control criteria, 35,818 markers and 66 does were available for the GWAS test. The GWAS revealed a significantly associated SNP (P = 5.01 × 10–7) located on Caprine chromosome 15 at 29 megabases. Four other markers surpassed the proposed threshold (P = 2.5 × 10–5). Additionally, fourteen genomic regions accounted for more than 0.1% of the variance explained by all genome windows. Corresponding markers were located within or in close vicinity to several candidate genes, such as ARRB1, RELT, ATG16L2, IGSF21, UBR4, ULK1, DCN, MAPB1, NAIP, CD26, IFIH1, NDFIP2, DOK4, MAF, IL2RB, USP18, ARID5A, ZAP70, CNTN5, PIK3AP1, DNTT, BLNK, and NHLRC3. These genes play important roles in the regulation of immune responses to the infections through several biological pathways. Similar vaginal bacterial community was observed in both cases and controls while the fecal bacterial composition and diversity differed between the groups (P < 0.05). Faeces from the control does showed a higher relative abundance of the phylum Bacteroidota compared to cases (P < 0.05), while the latter showed more Firmicutes, Spirochaetota, Planctomycetota, and Proteobacteria. On the genus level, the control does exhibited higher abundances of Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group and Christensenellaceae R-7 group (P < 0.05), while the infected does revealed higher Bacteroides, Alistipes, and Prevotellaceae UCG-003 (P < 0.05). This information increases our understanding of the genetics of the susceptibility to Brucella in goats and may be useful in breeding programs and selection schemes that aim at controlling the disease in livestock.
Deep learning-based solution for smart contract vulnerabilities detection
Authors: Tang Xueyan , Du Yuying , Lai Alan , Zhang Ze , Shi Lingzhi
Published: November 2023

This paper aims to explore the application of deep learning in smart contract vulnerabilities detection. Smart contracts are an essential part of blockchain technology and are crucial for developing decentralized applications. However, smart contract vulnerabilities can cause financial losses and system crashes. Static analysis tools are frequently used to detect vulnerabilities in smart contracts, but they often result in false positives and false negatives because of their high reliance on predefined rules and lack of semantic analysis capabilities. Furthermore, these predefined rules quickly become obsolete and fail to adapt or generalize to new data. In contrast, deep learning methods do not require predefined detection rules and can learn the features of vulnerabilities during the training process. In this paper, we introduce a solution called Lightning Cat which is based on deep learning techniques. We train three deep learning models for detecting vulnerabilities in smart contract: Optimized-CodeBERT, Optimized-LSTM, and Optimized-CNN. Experimental results show that, in the Lightning Cat we propose, Optimized-CodeBERT model surpasses other methods, achieving an f1-score of 93.53%. To precisely extract vulnerability features, we acquire segments of vulnerable code functions to retain critical vulnerability features. Using the CodeBERT pre-training model for data preprocessing, we could capture the syntax and semantics of the code more accurately. To demonstrate the feasibility of our proposed solution, we evaluate its performance using the SolidiFI-benchmark dataset, which consists of 9369 vulnerable contracts injected with vulnerabilities from seven different types.
Clinical complications after a traumatic brain injury and its relation with brain biomarkers
Authors: Yuguero Oriol , Bernal Maria , Farré Joan , Martinez-Alonso Montserrat , Vena Ana , Purroy Francisco
Published: November 2023

We aimed to find out which are the most frequent complications for patients who suffer a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and its relation with brain biomarker levels. We conducted a hospital cohort study with patients who attended the Hospital Emergency Department between 1 June 2018 and 31 December 2020. Different variables were collected such as biomarkers levels after 6 h and 12 h of TBI (S100, NSE, UCHL1 and GFAP), clinical and sociodemographic variables, complementary tests, and complications 48 h and 7 days after TBI. Qualitative variables were analysed with Pearson’s chi-square test, and quantitative variables with the Mann–Whitney U test. A multivariate logistic regression model for the existence of complications one week after discharge was performed to assess the discriminatory capacity of the clinical variables. A total of 51 controls and 540 patients were included in this study. In the TBI group, the mean age was 83 years, and 53.9% of the patients were male. Complications at seven days were associated with the severity of TBI (p < 0.05) and the number of platelets (p = 0.016). All biomarkers except GFAP showed significant differences in their distribution of values according to gender, with significantly higher values of the three biomarkers for women with respect to men. Patients with complications presented significantly higher S100 values (p < 0.05). The patient’s baseline status, the severity of the TBI and the S100 levels can be very important elements in determining whether a patient may develop complications in the few hours after TBI.
Bayesian AEWMA control chart under ranked set sampling with application to reliability engineering
Authors: Khan Imad , Noor-ul-Amin Muhammad , Muhammad Khan Dost , Khalil Umair , Ismail Emad A. A. , Yasmeen Uzma , Ahmad Bakhtiyar
Published: November 2023

The article introduces a novel Bayesian AEWMA Control Chart that integrates different loss functions (LFs) like the square error loss function and Linex loss function under an informative prior for posterior and posterior predictive distributions, implemented across diverse ranked set sampling (RSS) designs. The main objective is to detect small to moderate shifts in the process mean, with the average run length and standard deviation of run length serving as performance measures. The study employs a hard bake process in semiconductor production to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed chart, comparing it with existing control charts through Monte Carlo simulations. The results underscore the superiority of the proposed approach, particularly under RSS designs compared to simple random sampling (SRS), in identifying out-of-control signals. Overall, this study contributes a comprehensive method integrating various LFs and RSS schemes, offering a more precise and efficient approach for detecting shifts in the process mean. Real-world applications highlight the heightened sensitivity of the suggested chart in identifying out-of-control signals compared to existing Bayesian charts using SRS.
Markers of inflammation predict survival in newly diagnosed cirrhosis: a prospective registry study
Authors: Mynster Kronborg Thit , Webel Henry , O’Connell Malene Barfod , Danielsen Karen Vagner , Hobolth Lise , Møller Søren , Jensen Rasmus Tanderup , Bendtsen Flemming , Hansen Torben , Rasmussen Simon , Juel Helene Bæk , Kimer Nina
Published: November 2023

The inflammatory activity in cirrhosis is often pronounced and related to episodes of decompensation. Systemic markers of inflammation may contain prognostic information, and we investigated their possible correlation with admissions and mortality among patients with newly diagnosed liver cirrhosis. We collected plasma samples from 149 patients with newly diagnosed (within the past 6 months) cirrhosis, and registered deaths and hospital admissions within 180 days. Ninety-two inflammatory markers were quantified and correlated with clinical variables, mortality, and admissions. Prediction models were calculated by logistic regression. We compared the disease courses of our cohort with a validation cohort of 86 patients with cirrhosis. Twenty of 92 markers of inflammation correlated significantly with mortality within 180 days (q-values of 0.00–0.044), whereas we found no significant correlations with liver-related admissions. The logistic regression models yielded AUROCs of 0.73 to 0.79 for mortality and 0.61 to 0.73 for liver-related admissions, based on a variety of modalities (clinical variables, inflammatory markers, clinical scores, or combinations thereof). The models performed moderately well in the validation cohort and were better able to predict mortality than liver-related admissions. In conclusion, markers of inflammation can be used to predict 180-day mortality in patients with newly diagnosed cirrhosis. Prediction models for newly diagnosed cirrhotic patients need further validation before implementation in clinical practice.

Trial registration: NCT04422223 (and NCT03443934 for the validation cohort), and Scientific Ethics Committee No.: H-19024348.
Mechanism of strength deterioration of red sandstone on reservoir bank slopes under the action of dry–wet cycles
Authors: Chen Chao , Zhao Baoyun , Zhang Liyun , Huang Wei
Published: November 2023

To investigate the micro-scale mechanism of strength deterioration under different times of dry–wet cycles, laboratory tests of physical properties, triaxial compression, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were conducted on red sandstone on reservoir bank slopes. The research results showed that when the 5th dry–wet cycle ended, the dry mass and peak strength started to rapidly decline, while the porosity and saturated mass increased rapidly. In general, all of these behaviours become relatively stable when the number of cycles increased. Similarly, cohesion and internal friction angle changed most significantly from 0 to 10 cycles and then became stable. In addition, the physical expansion of the adsorbed water film and the dissolution and expansion of mineral particles increased the number of internal microcracks and pores and the porosity and saturated mass of the sample. In addition, the pore fluid effect and fracture flow effect made the microcracks in the red sandstone grow and connect; thus, the peak strength of the sample decreased. Moreover, during the dry–wet cycles, the change in the relative content of mineral particles and the pore fluid effect weakened the clay cementation, and then the dry mass and cohesion of the samples decreased. The research reported in this paper will play a very significant role in the scientific analysis of slope stability in the Three Gorges Reservoir area.
Analog neuromorphic circuit for spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations
Authors: Câmara Beatriz O. , Guimarães Janaina G. , Pereira Junior Marcelo L.
Published: November 2023

This study proposes an innovative analog neuromorphic circuit design to mimic spontaneous Ca2+ oscillations observed in astrocytes. Unlike traditional models, this approach does not rely on synaptic stimulation, suggesting that astrocytes may play a key role in generating neuronal activity. The circuit is built using transistor differential pairs to approximate the nonlinear sigmoidal biological functions, and its performance is validated through simulation and compared against mathematical models using phase diagram analysis. Results indicate a good fit between the circuit and the mathematical model. Finally, the circuit’s ability to simulate the release of glutamate and ATP through spontaneous oscillations is demonstrated.
A new set of metrics and framework to assess the colonization potential of riverscapes by wind-dispersed plant species
Authors: Wagner Thomas C. , Woellner Romy
Published: November 2023

Quantifying the potential of a braided riverscape to be colonized by a plant species is essential for assessing the ecological state of the river and provides an important basis for nature conservation planning and the implementation of restoration measures. Common connectivity indices are largely unsuitable for describing the situation for the mostly wind-dispersed plant species. Our approach provides a set of comparable metrics that allows the quantification of the colonization potential of riverscapes at the patch and riverscape level. We propose a set of cell-based, spatially explicit measures that can easily be implemented. We demonstrate their application using two typical plant species and three riverscapes with different habitat configurations as examples. Our metrics consider shape, size and the spatial configuration of habitat patches, along with the dispersal characteristics of the respective species. The metrics provide a linear, balanced, and realistic representation of the colonization potential at the cell, patch, and riverscape levels. The results are comparable between different riverscapes and species, can be easily extended and used for further modeling. The metrics provide a valuable tool for the planning and evaluation of conservation, restoration, and reintroduction measures and close the gap between habitat availability analyses and large-scale terrestrial connectivity indices.
Rescue of murine hind limb ischemia via angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis promoted by cellular communication network factor 2
Authors: Shimizu Masayuki , Yoshimatsu Gumpei , Morita Yuichi , Tanaka Tomoko , Sakata Naoaki , Tagashira Hideaki , Wada Hideichi , Kodama Shohta
Published: November 2023

Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is caused by severe arterial blockage with reduction of blood flow. The aim of this study was to determine whether therapeutic angiogenesis using cellular communication network factor 2 (CCN2) would be useful for treating CLI in an animal model. Recombinant CCN2 was administered intramuscularly to male C57BL/6J mice with hind limb ischemia. The therapeutic effect was evaluated by monitoring blood flow in the ischemic hind limb. In an in vivo assay, CCN2 restored blood flow in the ischemic hind limb by promoting both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. VEGF-A and VEGF-C expression levels increased in the ischemic limb after treatment with CCN2. In an in vitro assay, CCN2 promoted proliferation of vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells, and it upregulated expression of Tgfb1 followed by expression of Vegfc and Vegfr3 in lymphatic endothelial cells under hypoxia. Suppression of Tgfb1 did not affect the activity of CCN2, activation of the TGF-β/SMAD signaling pathway, or expression of Vegfr3 in lymphatic endothelial cells. In summary, treatment using recombinant CCN2 could be a promising therapeutic strategy for CLI.
The effects of the dialysis on the white matter tracts in patients with end-stage renal disease using differential tractography study
Authors: Park Bong Soo , Choi Byeongo , Heo Chang Min , Lee Yoo Jin , Park Sihyung , Kim Yang Wook , Ko Junghae , Lee Dong Ah , Park Kang Min
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to determine whether white matter tracts correlate with kidney function using correlation tractography, and to investigate the effects of dialysis on white matter tracts in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) using differential tractography. Ten patients with ESRD, who had a glomerular filtration rate of < 15 mL/min/1.73 m2, were enrolled in this prospective study. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was performed both before and after dialysis. We discovered that white matter tracts correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate based on pre- and post-dialysis DTI using correlation tractography and investigated the differences in the white matter tracts between pre- and post-dialysis DTI in patients with ESRD using differential tractography. Correlation tractography revealed no quantitative anisotropy of the white matter tracts that correlated with the estimated glomerular filtration rate in pre- and post-dialysis patients with ESRD. Differential tractography revealed significant differences in several white matter tracts, particularly the cingulum, thalamic radiation, corpus callosum, and superior longitudinal fasciculus, between pre- and post-dialysis DTI, which revealed increased diffusion density after dialysis. We demonstrated the significant effects of dialysis on several white matter tracts in patients with ESRD using differential tractography, which showed increased diffusion density after dialysis. In this study, we confirmed the effects of dialysis on brain structure, especially white matter tracts.
Microfluidic investigation of pore-size dependency of barite nucleation
Authors: Poonoosamy Jenna , Obaied Abdulmonem , Deissmann Guido , Prasianakis Nikolaos I. , Kindelmann Moritz , Wollenhaupt Bastian , Bosbach Dirk , Curti Enzo
Published: November 2023

The understanding and prediction of mineral precipitation processes in porous media are relevant for various energy-related subsurface applications. While it is well known that thermodynamic effects can inhibit crystallization in pores with sizes <0.1 µm, the retarded observation of mineral precipitation as function of pore size is less explored. Using barite as an example and based on a series of microfluidic experiments with well-defined pore sizes and shapes, we show that retardation of observation of barite crystallite can already start in pores of 1 µm size, with the probability of nucleation scaling with the pore volume. In general, it can be expected that mineralization occurs preferentially in larger pores in rock matrices, but other parameters such as the exchange of the fluids with respect to reaction time, as well as shape, roughness, and surface functional properties of the pores may affect the crystallization process which can reverse this trend.
Vitamin B12 is a limiting factor for induced cellular plasticity and tissue repair
Authors: Kovatcheva Marta , Melendez Elena , Chondronasiou Dafni , Pietrocola Federico , Bernad Raquel , Caballe Adrià , Junza Alexandra , Capellades Jordi , Holguín-Horcajo Adrián , Prats Neus , Durand Sylvere , Rovira Meritxell , Yanes Oscar , Stephan-Otto Attolini Camille , Kroemer Guido , Serrano Manuel
Published: November 2023

Transient reprogramming by the expression of OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and MYC (OSKM) is a therapeutic strategy for tissue regeneration and rejuvenation, but little is known about its metabolic requirements. Here we show that OSKM reprogramming in mice causes a global depletion of vitamin B12 and molecular hallmarks of methionine starvation. Supplementation with vitamin B12 increases the efficiency of reprogramming both in mice and in cultured cells, the latter indicating a cell-intrinsic effect. We show that the epigenetic mark H3K36me3, which prevents illegitimate initiation of transcription outside promoters (cryptic transcription), is sensitive to vitamin B12 levels, providing evidence for a link between B12 levels, H3K36 methylation, transcriptional fidelity and efficient reprogramming. Vitamin B12 supplementation also accelerates tissue repair in a model of ulcerative colitis. We conclude that vitamin B12, through its key role in one-carbon metabolism and epigenetic dynamics, improves the efficiency of in vivo reprogramming and tissue repair.
Periodic trends in trivalent actinide halides, phosphates, and arsenates
Authors: Parimi Ashutosh , Mosher Emmalee , Schreckenbach Georg
Published: November 2023

Periodic trends of trivalent actinide model systems halides AnX3, AnPO4, and AnAsO4 have been explored using scalar/spin–orbit relativistic density functional theory. The trends exhibit a pre-Pu and a post-Cm behaviour, with Am acting as the switch.
Photochemical reductive deamination of alpha-amino aryl alkyl ketones
Authors: Liang Ji-Yuan , Su Yi-Wen , Zou You-Quan
Published: November 2023

Photochemical reductive deamination of alpha-amino aryl alkyl ketones under photosensitizer-free conditions is presented, and this protocol features high efficiency and selectivity.
Exploring the degradation mechanism of nickel–copper–molybdenum hydrogen evolution catalysts during intermittent operation
Authors: Yang Shengxiong , Liu Zhihan , Wan Pengcheng , Liu Liangsheng , Sun Yimin , Xiao Fei , Wang Shuai , Xiao Junwu
Published: November 2023

We investigate the dynamic degradation behaviors of a nickel–copper–molybdenum hydrogen evolution catalyst in a liquid and solid polymer electrolyte to figure out its endurance in a renewable energy-driven electrolyzer.
Liquid metal catalyzed chemical vapor deposition towards morphology engineering of 2D epitaxial heterostructures
Authors: Li Lin , Zhang Qing , Li Hang , Geng Dechao
Published: November 2023

Liquid metal catalyzed morphology engineering allows for exercising control over critical parameters of 2D epitaxial heterostructures such as density, size, and thickness, achieved through gas flow modulation, substrate selection, or etching.
Pnictogen bonding at the service of gold catalysis: the case of a phosphinostiborane gold complex
Authors: Zhou Benyu , Bedajna Shantabh , Gabbaï François P.
Published: November 2023

Intramolecular pnictogen bonding between a stiborane and a gold-bound chloride ligand is proposed to activate carbophilic catalysis at the late transition metal.