bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Weather Window Analysis for the Deployment, Operation, and Maintenance of Marine Renewable Energy Devices in Irish Coastal Waters
Authors: Moore Dylan , Eftekhari Alireza , Nash Stephen
Published: May 2024

This study presents a detailed analysis of weather window accessibility for marine renewable energy (MRE) sites along Ireland's coast, utilizing a robust 12-year met-ocean dataset. The research focuses on key test sites - the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS), the Galway Bay Test Site (GBTS), and the Westwave Demonstration Site - and expands to a broader spatial analysis of Irish coastal waters. By integrating significant wave height and wind data, the study evaluates site accessibility, emphasizing the paramount role of wave height in determining access. Findings reveal substantial spatial variability in accessibility, with high-resource areas like AMETS facing greater access challenges due to harsher conditions, as opposed to the more accessible GBTS. The study underscores the need for a nuanced, region-specific approach to MRE development in Ireland, highlighting how strategic planning and technological advancements are crucial in exploiting the country's significant MRE potential. The results also stress the importance of long-term data for accurate environmental variability assessment, offering vital insights for future MRE site viability and strategy development.
Phthalocyanine-Porphyrin Uniform Orthogonal Conjugated Oligomer for NIR Photothermal-Photodynamic Synergistic Antibacterial Treatment
Authors: Liu Wei , Zhao Wanru , Ma Gaoqiang , Zhang Sen , Lian Guixue , Wu Ailin , Zhang Dongjiao , Jiang Jianzhuang , Wang Lin
Published: May 2024

With the increase of antibiotic resistance worldwide, there is an urgent demand to develop new antibacterial agent and approaches to address the threat to human health posed by the ineffectiveness of traditional antibiotics. In this work, an orthogonal conjugated uniform oligomer bactericide of SiPc-ddCPP was constructed between silicon phthalocyanine and porphyrin via amide bond, which can effectively treat infection through photodynamic-photothermal combined therapy without considering drug resistance. Compared with organic photothermal agents induced by unstable H-aggregation with blue-shifted absorption and fluorescence/ROS quenching, this orthogonal-structured uniform SiPc-ddCPP nanoparticle shows remarkably stability and NIR photothermal effect (η = 31.15%) along with fluorescence and ROS generation, due to the photoinduced intramolecular energy transfer within SiPc-ddCPP. Antibacterial studies have shown that both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria could be efficiently annihilated in a few minutes through synergistic PDT-PTT of SiPc-ddCPP along with satisfactory bacterial targeting. These results suggest SiPc-ddCPP is a multifunctional NIR bactericide, which afford a new approach of PDT-PTT targeted anti-inflammation to conquer the crisis of antibiotic resistance.
Cardiovascular Fitness and Sleep, but not Physical Activity, are Associated with Improved Brain Functional Connectivity in Older Adults.
Authors: Wing David , Roelands Bart , Wetherell Julie Loebach , Nichols Jeanne F. , Meeusen Romain , Godino Job G. , Shimony Joshua , Snyder Abraham Z , Nishino Tomoyuki , Nichol Ginger , Nagels Guy , Eyler Lisa T. , Lenze Eric J
Published: May 2024

Background
Aging results in changes in resting state functional connectivity within key networks associated with cognition. Cardiovascular function, physical activity, sleep, and body composition may influence these age-related changes in the brain. Better understanding these associations may help clarify mechanisms related to brain aging and guide interventional strategies to reduce these changes. In a large (n = 398) sample of healthy community dwelling older adults we conducted cross sectional analyses of the relationship between several modifiable behaviors and resting state functional connectivity within the brain in key regions associated with cognition and emotional regulation. Additionally, maximal aerobic capacity with a graded exercise test, physical activity and sleep with accelerometers, and body composition with dual energy x-ray absorptiometry were assessed. Associations were explored both through correlation and best vs. worst group comparisons.
Results
Greater cardiovascular fitness, but not larger volume of daily physical activity, was associated with greater connectivity within the Default Monde and Salience Networks, both of which are key networks associated with aging. Better sleep, in terms of increased total sleep time, higher sleep efficiency and fewer nighttime awakenings was also associated with greater connectivity within multiple networks including the Default Mode, Executive Control, and Salience Networks. Higher body fat percentage was associated with increased connectivity in the Dorsal Attentional Network.
Conclusion
These findings confirm and expand on previous work indicating that, in older adults, higher levels of cardiovascular fitness and better sleep in terms of greater efficiency and less total awakenings, but not greater volume of physical activity or lower volume of body fat are associated with increased functional connectivity within key brain regions. Also, assessing sleep quality and quantity may be a useful tool for identifying potentially clinically meaningful declines in brain function.
Inferring Enterovirus D68 Transmission Dynamics from the Genomic Data of Two 2022 North American outbreaks
Authors: Grunnill Martin , Eshaghi Alireza , Damodaran Lambodhar , Nagra Sandeep , Gharouni Ali , Braukmann Thomas , Clark Shawn , Peci Adriana , Isabel Sandra , Banh Philip , du Plessis Louis , Murall Carmen Lia , Colijn Caroline , Mubareka Samira , Hasso Maan , Bahl Justin , Mostafa Heba H. , Gubbay Jonathan B. , Patel Samir N. , Wu Jianhong , Duvvuri Venkata R.
Published: May 2024

Enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) has emerged as a significant cause of acute respiratory illness in children globally, notably following its extensive outbreak in North America in 2014. A recent outbreak of EV-D68 was observed in Ontario, Canada, from August to October 2022. Our phylogenetic analysis revealed a notable genetic similarity between the Ontario outbreak and a concurrent outbreak in Maryland, USA. Utilizing Bayesian phylodynamic modeling on whole genome sequences (WGS) from both outbreaks, we determined the median peak time-varying reproduction number (Rt) to be 2.70 (95% HPD 1.76, 4.08) in Ontario and 2.10 (95% HPD 1.41, 3.17) in Maryland. The Rt trends in Ontario closely matched those derived via EpiEstim using reported case numbers. Our study also provides new insights into the median infection duration of EV-D68, estimated at 7.94 days (95% HPD 4.55, 12.8) in Ontario and 10.8 days (95% HPD 5.85, 18.6) in Maryland, addressing the gap in the existing literature surrounding EV-D68’s infection period. We observed that the estimated Time since the Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) and the epidemic's origin coincided with the easing of COVID-19 related social contact restrictions in both areas. This suggests that the relaxation of non-pharmaceutical interventions, initially implemented to control COVID-19, may have inadvertently facilitated the spread of EV-D68. These findings underscore the effectiveness of phylodynamic methods in public health, demonstrating their broad application from local to global scales and underscoring the critical role of pathogen genomic data in enhancing public health surveillance and outbreak characterization.
Assessment of lower urinary tract symptoms 6 weeks after delivery and the relationship of pelvic floor muscle function
Authors: zhang lei , Wang Xiaoxiao , Hou Xinnan , Zhuang Xinrong , Wang Yu , Wang Xiaoqing , Lu Ye
Published: May 2024

Background
There are few studies of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in women with different modes of delivery after 42 days. It is doubtful whether the onset of LUTS is related to the decline of pelvic muscle function after delivery.
Methods
This was an observational study conducted at Peking University First Hospital from 2019 to 2022. A total of 2462 women were recruited and interviewed 42 days after delivery using questionnaires, and gynecological physical examinations and pelvic floor muscle screening were performed. A modified Chinese Bristol Female Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms questionnaire was administered. The participants were asked about the presence of individual LUTS and rated the level of bother caused by those symptoms. Descriptive statistics, χ2 tests, one-way ANOVA and multivariate logistic regressions were used for data analysis.
Results
The prevalence of any LUTS, storage symptoms, or voiding symptoms was 70.6%, 65.4%, and 23.0%, respectively. Nocturia was the most common symptom (35.4%), followed by frequency (25.6%), urgency (25.3%) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI; 20.8%). Nocturia and frequency were not frequently rated as bothersome (38.0%, 21.5%). Urinary incontinence (UI) was the most frequently reported as severely bothersome (SUI 15.6%, urge urinary incontinence (UUI) 15.3%). Vaginal delivery (VD) and forceps delivery (FD) were strong predictors of LUTS (P < 0.05). Compared with cesarean section (CS), VD, especially FD, was associated with lower surface electromyography (sEMG) activity, including resting baseline and contraction amplitude (P < 0.001).
Conclusions
More than half of women experienced LUTS 42 days after delivery. Nocturia, frequency, urgency, and SUI were the most prevalent LUTS. Straining and UI were most frequently reported as bothersome, while UI caused severe discomfort. VD, especially FD, was more likely to cause pelvic floor muscle or nerve damage and was the strongest predictor of storage LUTS.
Formulation Development and In Vivo Assessment of Ethylene Oxide Sterilized Chitosan Biomembranes for Guided Tissue Regeneration in Rabbit Model of Chronic Periodontitis
Authors: David Sheba R , Biswas Biswajit Kumar , Rajabalaya Rajan
Published: May 2024

Guided tissue regeneration (GTR) is a method for separating proliferating soft tissue from bone tissue. However, various factors may cause GTR membrane failure. This study aimed to prepare chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol (CS-PVA) composite membranes with and without glutaraldehyde crosslinking and drug loading for GTR. We characterized the mechanical and physiochemical properties of GTR membranes, including swelling, water vapor permeability, attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, X-ray diffraction analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, and electrical properties, before and after ethylene oxide sterilization. Then, we conducted in vitrocytotoxicity, drug release, and permeation studies. Finally, we performed in vivo animal studies and limited clinical studies of the GTR biomembranes. The GTR biomembranes caused low in vitro cytotoxicity, good drug release and permeation, and excellent bone growth in our animal and clinical studies. Thus, our membranes allow efficient GTR and may be applicable for clinical bone healing treatments.
Clusterization of Water in the Water-Oil System Adsorbed by Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Silica in Different Media
Authors: Krupska Tetyana , Terebinska Mariia , Datsiuk Andrii , Wei Qiliang , Zheng Jinju , Yang Weiyou , Turov Volodymyr
Published: May 2024

The process of water clustering in the interparticle gaps of hydrophilic and hydrophobic silicas in different media was studied using 1H NMR spectroscopy. It has been established that equal amounts of water and oil are introduced into their interparticle gaps under the influence of mechanical load, the water transforms into a nano-sized state. A comparison of the intensities of the signals of water and oil allows us to conclude that the oil is partially frozen in chloroform. In the medium of acetone in the interparticle gaps of hydrophobic silica, the formation of several types of clusters of strongly and weakly associated water is observed, existing as spatially separated nanodroplets. It has been shown that the hydrophobic walls of silica particles have such ordering effect on clusters of water and acetone located in the interparticle gaps that a significant part of acetone turns into a solid state at temperatures (287 К), which is several tens of degrees higher than the bulk freezing temperature.
Design of agricultural question answering information extraction method based on improved LSTM algorithm
Authors: Tang Ruipeng , Aridas Narendra Kumar , Talip Mohamad Sofian Abu
Published: May 2024

With the rapid growth of the agricultural information and the need for data analysis, how to accurately extract useful information from massive data has become an urgent first step in agricultural data mining and application. In this study, an agricultural question-answering information extraction method based on the IM-BILSTM (Improved Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory) algorithm is designed. Firstly, it uses Python's Scrapy crawler framework to obtain the imformation of soil types, crop diseases and pests, and agricultural trade information, and remove abnormal values. Secondly, the information extraction converts the semi-structured data by using entity extraction methods. Thirdly, the BERT(Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers) algorithm is introduced to improve the performance of the BILSTM algorithm. After comparing with the BERT-CRF(Conditional Random Field) and BILSTM algorithm, the result shows that the IM-BILSTM algorithm has better information extraction performance than the other two algorithms. This study improves the accuracy of the agricultural information recommendation system from the perspective of information extraction. Compared with other work that is done from the perspective of recommendation algorithm optimization, it is more innovative; it helps to understand the semantics and contextual relationships in agricultural question and answer, so as to Improve the accuracy of agricultural information recommendation systems. By gaining a deeper understanding of farmers' needs and interests, the system can better recommend relevant and practical information.
Using taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity to select the optimal Pinus yunnanensis community configuration
Authors: Li Wenna , Chen Mingmiao , Wan Jiamin , Liu Peiyao , Zhang Caicai
Published: May 2024

Pinus yunnanensis (Pinaceae) is an endemic tree species that only can be found in southwest China, it is also a native suitable for afforestation in this region. However, the natural forest of P. yunnanensis has been widely degraded due to long-term external disturbances, resulting in the formation of monoculture forests. Based on species across different strata in natural forest data from three P. yunnanensis vegetation types, evergreen mixed coniferous broad-leaved forests (MECF), mixed deciduous coniferous broad-leaved forests (MDCF), and evergreen coniferous forests (ECF), we evaluated the taxonomic and phylogenetic alpha (α) and beta (β) diversity among three P. yunnanensis vegetation types and determined the optimal ecological P. yunnanensis community configuration. The results showed that a total of 121 plant species belonging to 33 families and 55 genera were recorded, including 49 and 72 species in the tree and shrub layers, respectively. The taxonomic and phylogenetic α diversity was highest in the MDCF in both tree and shrub layers, indicating these forests’ richness in species variety and evolutionary history. The taxonomic β diversity was highest in MECF and ECF in the tree and shrub layers, respectively, while phylogenetic β diversity was highest in ECF and MDCF. Based on an upset plot analysis, we found that the P. yunnanensis-Alnus nepalensis community within the MDCF exhibited the highest α and β diversity. For Pinus afforestation, we recommend a species mix that including P. yunnanensis (a dominant species), Alnus nepalensis (a dominant and nitrogen-fixing species), Quercus griffithii (a deciduous broad-leaved species) and Rhododendron (a regional endemic). Our findings support the notion that mixed forests possess greater diversity and highlight the importance of considering multi-species combinations in ecological restoration, including mixed species with different leaf life habits (evergreen versus deciduous) species and the endemic species of this region. Our findings also have a direct implication for forest management and afforestation and reforestation practices. Subjects: Biodiversity, Ecology, Plant Ecology
Radiological Analysis of the Pterygomaxillary Junction for Orthognathic Surgical Precision and Safety: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Tseng Fei-Fan , Yang Hui-Zhu , Chang Wei-Chin , Chen Yuan-Wu
Published: May 2024

Objectives: To investigate the parameters of pterygomaxillary suture (PMS), including thickness, height, and angulation, using computed tomography (CT) scans to enhance surgical precision and maximize the safety of patients during Le Fort I osteotomy.
Materials and Methods: Computed tomography was performed to analyze both sides of the face in 100 Taiwanese patients (50 males and 50 females) aged 18–50 years. They were recruited randomly from our database and met the inclusion criteria of age, absence of jaw lesions, and no previous facial trauma or surgery. The thickness, height, and angulation of pterygomaxillary sutures (PMS) were assessed.
Results: The PMS thickness was significantly greater in males (7.76 ± 1.7 mm) than in females (6.96 ± 1.46 mm) (P = .0002), but no significant differences were observed between sides or ages. PMS height was greater in females (8.9 ± 2.0 mm) than in males (8.02 ± 2.21 mm) (P = .0011), but no significant differences were observed between sides or ages. The angulation of PMS was significantly greater on the right side (62.84 ± 4.64°) than on the left side (61.19 ± 5.2°) (P = .016), but no significant age- or sex-related differences were observed.
Conclusion: Anatomical variations in PMS regarding height, thickness, and angulation were observed between the sexes. Preoperative computed tomographic evaluation is crucial for ensuring the safety of orthognathic surgery.
Clinical Relevance: This study identified variations in PMS among different groups, which can assist surgeons in achieving better safety and precision in the disarticulation of PMS.
Occurrence and distribution of the Scale-feathered Malkoha (Dasylophus cumingi) and Red-Crested Malkoha (Dasylophus superciliosus) as Indicator Species within the different Elevation Gradient of Fragmented Forest in Agosais, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur
Authors: Tria Mark , En Orly Jr. , Valencia Paul Alvin
Published: May 2024

The Scale-feathered Malkoha (Dasylophus cumingi) and Red-crested Malkoha (Dasylophus superciliosus) are prominent avian species in the Philippines, facing habitat loss due to human activities despite being labeled as "Least Concern." This study investigates their occurrence and distribution in the fragmented forests of Agosais, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur, using field surveys, ecological assessments, and data analysis. Extensive surveys across eight stations provided insights into their spatial distribution, habitat preferences, and responses to disturbances. Transect walks revealed habitat utilization across diverse forest conditions, while documentation of disturbances shed light on the challenges faced by these species. Analysis showed fluctuations in species abundance across stations due to forest fragmentation, with correlations indicating their significance as indicators of forest disturbance. The study emphasizes the sensitivity of these species to environmental changes and the need for conservation efforts in the face of habitat loss. In conclusion, this study emphasizes the pivotal role of the Scale-feathered Malkoha and Red-crested Malkoha as indicator species in the fragmented forests of Agosais, Lagonoy, Camarines Sur. Their presence provides valuable insights into habitat conditions, underscoring the urgent need for collaborative ecological monitoring and conservation efforts. Stakeholder collaboration and sustained monitoring are crucial for effective conservation strategies to preserve the biodiversity and ecological integrity of these forests for future generations.
Prevalence, Associated Factors, Barriers and Facilitators for Oral HIV Self-Testing among Partners of Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinics in Wakiso, Uganda
Authors: Nduhukyire Lawrence , Semitala Fred C. , Mutanda Juliet Ntuulo , Muramuzi Dan , Ipola Patrick Albert , Kabagenyi Allen , Nangendo Joan , Namutundu Juliana
Published: May 2024

Background
Oral HIV self-testing (HIVST) among men is relatively low and still inadequate in Sub-Saharan Africa. Delivering HIVST kits by pregnant women attending antenatal care to their partners is a promising strategy for increasing HIV testing among men. However, even amidst the interventions, most men do not know their HIV status. This study, aimed to determine the proportion of partners who received and used oral HIVST kits delivered by pregnant women, associated factors, barriers, and facilitators for uptake among partners.
Methods
We conducted an exploratory sequential mixed methods study among 380 sampled partners. Lists of partners in the HIVST log books whose women picked an HIVST kit were obtained and systematic random sampling was done to obtain participants. 14 male partners were purposively selected for in-depth interviews (IDIs) to identify barriers and facilitators. We used modified poison regression to determine the association between oral HIVST and independent variables. We used an inductive analysis for the qualitative analysis.
Results
Out of 380 participants, 260(68.4%) received an oral HIVST kit from their pregnant women, and 215(82.7%) used the kit for HIVST. Oral HIVST was associated with; Information Education and Communication (CPR = 1.64, 95%CI 1.48–1.82), being reached at home (CPR = 1.04, 95%CI 1.01–1.08), and being aware of the woman’s HIV status (CPR = 1.04, 95%CI 0.99–1.09). In-depth results identified barriers to uptake as, lack of trust in the HIVST kit results, fear of test outcome in the presence of the partner and inclination that the HIV status of their women is the same as theirs, and facilitators included convenience, ease to use, prior awareness of their HIV status, and fear of relationship consequences and breakup.
Conclusion
Delivery of oral HIVST kits to men through pregnant women reached a high number of men and achieved a high uptake. Accessing information, education, communication and convenience nature were the major reasons for uptake among men who received the Oral HIVST kit as trust issues of the kit affected use among partners. Scaling up the delivery of oral HIVST kits at all departments of the hospital through women seeking health services is paramount to support HIV screening among men to reach the UNAIDS 95 strategy.
Risk Stratification of New-Onset Psychiatric Disorders Using Clinically Distinct Traumatic Brain Injury Sub-Phenotypes
Authors: Kureshi Nelofar , Nunes Abraham , Feng Cindy , Clarke David B. , Abidi Syed Sibte Raza
Published: May 2024

Background
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) patients constitute a highly heterogeneous population, with varying risks for New-onset Psychiatric Disorders (NPDs). The objectives of this study were to identify TBI phenotypes and determine how NPDs differ among these phenotypes.
Methods
Hospitalized TBI patients from 2003–2019 were obtained from the provincial trauma registry. Propensity score matched samples were used to estimate the risk of TBI on NPDs. To uncover heterogeneity in TBI, latent class analysis-based clustering was applied. The effect of classes on NPDs was assessed using log binomial regression models.
Results
A total of 3,453 TBI patients were included in the analysis. In a conditional regression involving propensity matched TBI and control patients, TBI was significantly associated with the development of NPD-A (OR: 2.78; 95% CI: 2.49–3.09), as well as NPD-P (OR: 2.36; 95% CI: 2.07–2.70). Eight distinct latent classes were identified which differed in the incidence of NPDs. Four classes displayed a 53% (RR:1.53; 95% CI: 1.31–1.78), 48% (RR:1.48; 95% CI: 1.26–1.74), 28% (RR:1.28; 95% CI: 1.08–1.54), and 20% (RR: 1.20, 95%CI: 1.03–1.39), increased NPD risk.
Conclusion
TBI is a significant predictor of NPDs. There are clinically distinguishable phenotypes with different patterns of NPD risk among TBI patients. Identifying individuals with respect to their phenotype may improve risk stratification of TBI patients and promote early intervention for psychiatric care in this vulnerable population.
Pythagorean Cubic Fuzzy Aggregation Operators based on Sine Trigonometric Operational Laws and their Application in Decision Making Problem
Authors: Azam Muhammad , Jadoon Atif Mehmood
Published: May 2024

The implementation of Pythagorean cubic fuzzy set (PCFs) are more extensive as it is a fundamental concept
for addressing higher uncertainty in decision making problems. The symmetry and periodicity of the triangle are
maintained via the natural origin of the well-known sine trigonometric function and as a result it satisfies the
decision maker’s expectations across a number of parameters. Considering this feature and the significance of
the PCFs into the consideration, the main objective of the article is to describe some reliable sine trigonometric
laws (STLs) for PCFs. Associated with these laws, we develop new average and geometric aggregation operators
to aggregate the Pythagorean fuzzy numbers (PCFNs). We also describe the desired characteristics of the
suggested operators. Then, utilizing the created aggregation operators, we create a group decision making
technique to address the multiple attribute group decision making problems and demonstrated this with a
practical example. We compared the proposed aggregating procedures to the existing methods in order to
demonstrate their superiority and validity od our proposed methods. Based on the comparison and sensitivity
analysis, we came to the conclusion that our suggested methodology is more reliable and effective.
Dual Role of Necroptosis in Cervical Cancer: Promoting Tumor Aggression and Modulating the Immune Microenvironment via the JAK2-STAT3 Pathway
Authors: Xu Fangfang , Ye Yingjun , Gao Yueqing , Xu Shaohua
Published: May 2024

Objective
In the dynamic landscape of cervical cancer (CC) pathophysiology, this study aimed to elucidate the role of necroptosis in modulating tumor proliferation, invasion, and the immune microenvironment in CC.
Methods
In this study, the impact of necroptosis on CC was evaluated through a series of bioinformatical analyses and experimental approaches. The impact of necroptosis on CC was illustrated by analyzing its effects on tumor aggression, immune responses, and the JAK2-STAT3 signaling pathway. Bevacizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), was also evaluated for its potential induction of necroptosis in CC cells and its interaction with necroptosis inhibitors. Additionally, the study assessed the influence of necroptosis on the immune microenvironment, particularly in T-cell-related pathways and the expression of tumor suppressor genes in CC.
Results
Necroptosis was found to enhance VEGFA expression through activation of the JAK2-STAT3 pathway, promoting tumor proliferative and invasive capabilities in CC. Bevacizumab induced necroptosis in CC cells, potentially leading to resistance in therapy. The combination of bevacizumab with necroptosis inhibitors attenuated VEGFA expression, suggesting a novel therapeutic strategy. Additionally, necroptosis activated T-cell-related pathways and promoted the infiltration and activation of Jurkat T cells. CD3D—a tumor suppressor gene in CC—was identified as a critical marker and its expression could be upregulated by necroptosis via the JAK2-STAT3 pathway in Jurkat T cells. Treatment of CC cells with supernatants from necroptosis-induced Jurkat cells resulted in reduced tumor cell proliferation and invasion.
Conclusions
This study reveals a complex interaction between necroptosis, tumor progression, and the immune response in CC. The findings propose a nuanced approach to leveraging necroptosis for therapeutic interventions, highlighting the potential of combining necroptosis inhibitors with existing therapies to improve treatment outcomes in CC.
Small neural networks under external forcing: Periodic pulses and Lévy noise
Authors: Rybalova Elena , Semenova Nadezhda
Published: May 2024

Neurons in an excitable mode do not show spiking activity and therefore do not contribute to the information transfer transmission and its processing. However, some external influences, coupling or time delay can lead to the appearance oscillations in individual systems or networks. In this study, we analyze the dynamics of a small network of locally coupled FitzHugh–Nagumo oscillators in the absence and presence of several types of external influence. Firstly, we consider the impact of periodic-pulse exposure generated as a periodic sequence of Gaussian pulses. Secondly, we show what behavior can be induced by Lévy noise and its special case, white Gaussian noise. For both types of influences, we have identified the appropriate parameters (local coupling strength, intensity, and frequency) that induces spiking activity in a small network.
Numerical approaches for constraint stabilization of constrained dynamic system
Authors: An Jae-Hyoung , Kyung JungHyun , Eun Hee-Chng
Published: May 2024

Numerous studies have explored constrained motion within structural and mechanical systems, revealing that numerical integrations of such dynamic responses often exhibit drift errors, diverging from intended trajectories. This study introduces two numerical analysis techniques aimed at mitigating these errors. In 1992, Udwadia and Kalaba introduced the Generalized Inverse Method (GIM), providing a unique, explicit mathematical formulation for describing constrained motion. This paper presents a Modified Generalized Inverse Method (MGIM) that refines the GIM by adjusting the coefficients at the acceleration level constraints. Additionally, a Direct Integration Method (DIM) is developed by minimizing the discrepancy between unconstrained and constrained accelerations, incorporating coefficients into acceleration level constraints. Numerical examples demonstrate that the magnitude of these coefficients significantly influences drift errors. Moreover, it is shown that constrained responses can be stabilized and errors reduced, although this study does not specify the exact coefficients necessary for achieving stabilization.
Monomeric and dimeric complexes of pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylic acid with organometallic fac-[M(CO)3]+ (M = Re and 99mTc) core as radiopharmaceutical probes
Authors: Mukiza Janvier , Habarurema Gratien , Sezirahiga Jurdas , Mukabagorora Theonille , Nkuranga Jean Bosco , Uwambajineza Tite , Muyizere Theoneste , Blacque Olivier , Baziga Gervais
Published: May 2024

The current study describes the synthesis of monomeric and dimeric complexes of pyrimidine-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (H2pmdc) ligand with the organometallic fac-[M(CO)3]+ (M = Re and 99mTc) core which are the model for future design of imaging, therapeutic and theranostic radiopharmaceuticals. Monomeric complexes [M(CO)3(OH2)(Hpmdc)] (M = Re (1) and 99mTc (2)) were formed from the reaction of H2pmdc with [Re(CO)5Br] and [99mTc(CO)3(OH2)3]+ in aqueous solution respectively. The reaction of [Re(CO)5Br] with H2pmdc in ethanol (EtOH) led to the monomeric complex [Re(CO)3(OH2)(etpmdc)] (3), where etpmdc− is 6-(ethoxycarbonyl)pyrimidine-4-carboxylate anion which was formed from the mono-esterification of H2pmdc in parallel with its coordination to the fac-[Re(CO)3]+ unit. Dimeric complex (Et3NH)2[(µ-pmdc)2(Re(CO)3)2 (4) was obtained from the reaction of [Re(CO)5Br] with H2pmdc in water with addition of triethylamine (Et3N) as supporting base. The chemical identification of 1, 3 and 4 was achieved by using 1HNMR, 13CNMR, IR, ESI-MS and elemental analysis. Complex 3 was furtherly identified by using single crystal X-ray crystallography. The structural similarities of 1 and 2 was assessed by coinjection in the HPLC with UV/Vis detection coupled with a γ-detector followed by comparison of retention times of the γ-peak of 2 and the UV-peak of 1 which allowed unambiguous identification of 2. Heterodinuclear 99mTc/Re complex [(µ-pmdc)2(Re(CO)3)(99mTc(CO)3)2)]2− (5) was formed by reacting H2pmdc with [99mTc(CO)3(OH2)3]+ and [Re(CO)5Br] in aqueous solution. In parallel, the reaction also yielded complexes 1 and 2. The formation of 5 was assessed by injection in the HPLC with UV/Vis detection coupled with a γ-detector which displayed the radiochemical peak with the corresponding UV peak equivalent to that of the homologous non-radioactive complex 4.
On the Effects of Jacks Correlation on the Secrecy Multicast Capacity of MIMO Fading Channels: A Comparative Study
Authors: Sultana Rezwana , Sarker M. Z. I. , Hossain M. S.
Published: May 2024

A confidential communication over multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) fading channels is considered, in which a transmitter communicates with a group of receivers in the presence of multiple eavesdroppers. The antenna correlation depends on both the antenna spacing and the angular spectrum of the incoming radio waves. We derive the closed-form analytical expressions of the ergodic secrecy multicast capacity for Rayleigh and Ricean fading MIMO channels considering a linear array with equally spaced antennas and employing the classical Jakes correlation. Then, we compare the performance of Rayleigh and Ricean fading channels showing the effects of fading, antenna correlation and the spacing between antenna elements. Our results show that antenna correlations significantly reduces the ergodic secrecy multicast capacity of Rayleigh as well as Ricean fading MIMO channels and this effect is more severe in the case of Rayleigh fading channel compared to Ricean fading.
Enhancing Thermal Conductivity And Fire Resistance Of Polycotton Via Silica And Titanate Xerogel Coatings: A Comparative Study
Authors: ASSAL Mohamed , WAZNA Mmohamed EL , BOUCHTI Mehdi EL , BOUARI Abdeslam EL , CHERKAOUI Omar
Published: May 2024

Titanate and silicate xerogels have garnered considerable attention in the realm of thermal insulation due to their outstanding attributes, encompassing thermal conductivity and fire resistance. This study focused on pioneering a new multifunctional textile by integrating xerogels—both titanate and silicate—as additives for enhancing polycotton fabric. Microstructural analyses involved SEM observations, while diverse chemical bonds were identified through iTR-IR technique. Evaluation of thermal properties encompassed TGA, DSC, and thermal conductivity measurements. Findings reveal that the treated fabrics exhibit exceptional flame resistance, they do not burn and therefore exhibit good fire resistance compared to untreated polycotton. Additionally, the multifunctional fabric showcases enhanced thermal stability compared to its untreated counterpart. Consequently, the application of titanate and silicate xerogel coatings yields a versatile textile with substantial potential for smart clothing and personal heating applications.
Bacterial and Fungal Communities Impact on Degradation of Plastic Mulch Residuals in Soil
Authors: Romano Ida , Ventorino Valeria , Schettino Mariachiara , Magaraci Giuseppina , Pepe Olimpia
Published: May 2024

Although plastic mulching films can help increase agricultural productivity, their removal poses a significant environmental danger. The use of biodegradable plastic mulches is an appealing eco-sustainable solution to environmental contamination problems for agroecosystems. Because the biodegradation of plastic pieces in soil is strongly dependent on microbial populations, it is critical to investigate whether and how microbial communities affect different types of mulch residuals in the soil. Through the study of the degradation of different mulches residues and of the microbial dynamics for a 6-month incubation of soil trial at three different incubation temperatures (room temperature, 30°C and 45°C) it was possible to evidence that biodegradation of mulch residual depending on of the catabolic activities of specific microbial population and the temperature of incubation. In particular, the increase of temperature up to 45°C determined a reduction of the degradation capacity for all types of mulch considered. Moreover, high-throughput sequencing bacterial alpha diversity was primarily influenced by plastic type and temperature, while fungal populations were mainly affected by temperature. Beta diversity was impacted by all experimental variables. Predicted functional genes crucial for degrading complex substrates, including those encoding hydrolases, cutinases, cellobiosidases, and lipases, were derived from 16S rRNA gene sequencing data. Cluster analysis based on predicted enzyme-encoding gene abundance revealed two clusters, mainly linked to sampling time. Finally, core microbiome analysis identified dominant bacterial and fungal ASVs in various soil-plastic ecosystems during degradation, pinpointing species potentially involved in plastic breakdown.
Functional Characterization of a Lassa Virus Fusion Inhibitor Adaptive Mutant
Authors: Guo Jiao , Zhang Guangshun , Liu Yang , Cao Junyuan , Zhang Mengmeng , Lan Xiaohao , Zhang Yueli , Liu Chenchen , Xiao Gengfu , Wang Wei
Published: May 2024

The LASV glycoprotein complex (GPC) contains a retained stable signal peptide (SSP), GP1, and GP2. SSP interacts with GP2 and provides an interface targeted by numerous fusion inhibitors. Serialpassaging of LASV with inhibitors allowed some adaptive mutants to be obtained, most of which had mutations located in the transmembrane (TM) domain of GP2. In the current study, we focused on the F446L mutant, which is reported to confer resistance to ST-series inhibitors. We found that F446L cells conferred cross-resistance to structurally distinct inhibitors. Furthermore, F446L increased the fusion activities of LASV and Mopeia virus GPC, elevating the pH threshold for the fusion of LASV and promoting the fusion of MOPV at neutral pH. F446L had little effect on the growth profile or thermostability of the pseudotype of the virus. By introducing other residues to the conserved F446 locus, it was found that this site was less compatible with a similar tyrosine residue and was intolerant to charged residues. These results help characterize the fusion inhibitor target located in the TM domain of GP2, which should be useful for drug and vaccine design.
Hybrid key management WSN protocol to enhance network performance using ML Techniques for IoT application in cloud Environment
Authors: M Raghini , Durairaj Selvam , S Sasikala , S Appavu alias Balamurugan
Published: May 2024

As the Internet of Things (IoT) develops, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) must be used to collect and transmit critical data. Ensuring the security and efficiency of these networks is paramount, given the sheer volume and sensitivity of the data they handle. This paper introduces a novel hybrid key management protocol for WSNs in IoT applications, integrating cloud services and harnessing Machine Learning (ML) techniques to enhance network performance and security. The proposed hybrid key management protocol leverages the strengths of symmetric and asymmetric essential management methods, providing a robust foundation for securing communication within the WSN. It also capitalizes on cloud-based services’ scalability and centralized management capabilities to streamline key distribution and facilitate network-wide updates. Machine Learning techniques are seamlessly integrated into the protocol, enabling predictive key distribution, anomaly detection, dynamic key management, and intelligent network load balancing. By analyzing historical data and network patterns, ML algorithms predict optimal times and locations for critical updates, reducing overhead and enhancing security. Additionally, ML-based anomaly detection empowers the protocol to identify and respond to network irregularities and potential security breaches. This framework combines centralized key management, cloud integration, and the intelligence of Machine Learning, resulting in a highly adaptable and efficient protocol for IoT-enabled WSNs. The network performance is enhanced by using exiting techniques and algorithms.
Investigating Bubble-Induced Overpotential, Current Non-Uniformity, and Gas Cross-over in Flow-based Water Electrolyzers: A Numerical Study
Authors: Hadikhani Pooria
Published: May 2024

The transition towards a sustainable energy landscape necessitates efficient and scalable technologies for renewable energy storage. Water electrolysis, a process that converts electrical energy into chemical energy stored in hydrogen, holds immense potential for integration with intermittent renewable sources. However, the performance and efficiency of water electrolyzers are impeded by the complex multiphase flow dynamics involving bubble nucleation, growth, and transport within the electrochemical cell. This study employs state-of-the-art three-dimensional multiphase flow simulations to unravel the intricate interplay between bubbles and the electrochemical processes in a parallel-electrodes flow-based electrolyzer (PE-FBE). By accurately capturing bubble-electrolyte interfaces, the simulations quantify the detrimental effects of bubbles on overpotentials, current density distribution, and gas crossover. Crucially, the impact of critical parameters, including flow rate, bubble nucleation size, surfactant addition, and applied current, on these performance metrics is systematically investigated. The findings reveal strategies to mitigate bubble-induced losses, enhance current uniformity, and improve hydrogen purity, paving the way for optimized electrolyzer designs and efficient renewable energy storage.
RFNet-4D++: Joint Object Reconstruction and Flow Estimation from 4D Point Clouds with Cross-Attention Spatio-Temporal Features
Authors: Vu Tuan-Anh , Nguyen Duc Thanh , Hua Binh-Son , Pham Quang-Hieu , Yeung Sai-Kit
Published: May 2024

Object reconstruction from 3D point clouds has been a long-standing research topic in computer vision and computer graphics, and achieved impressive progress. However, reconstruction from time-varying point clouds (a.k.a. 4D point clouds) remains overlooked. In this paper, we propose a new network architecture, namely RFNet-4D++, that jointly reconstructs 3D objects and their motion flows from 4D point clouds. The key insight is simultaneously performing both the tasks can leverage the individual ones, leading to improved overall performance. To achieve this ability, we design a compositional encoder to learn spatio-temporal representations of 4D point clouds based on dual cross-attention mechanism. In addition, we devise a joint-learning scheme for unsupervised learning of temporal vector fields and supervised learning of occupancy fields. This multi-task learning is achieved by jointly optimising loss functions and sharing spatio-temporal features.
Experiments and analyses on benchmark datasets validate the effectiveness and efficiency of our method. As shown in experimental results, our method achieves state-of-the-art performance on both flow estimation and object reconstruction while performing much faster than existing methods in both training and inference. Our code and data are available at \url{https://github.com/hkust-vgd/RFNet-4D}.
Epidemiology of tuberculosis in two northern Pakistani populations
Authors: Syed Sadia , Ain Qurat ul , Rehman Atta Ur
Published: May 2024

Background: Pakistan is the fifth most heavily afflicted country by tuberculosis (TB) in the world. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of TB in two northern Pakistani populations using retrospective data analysis.
Methods: We analyzed retrospective data ranging in duration from 2015 to 2022 obtained from tertiary care hospitals in theAbbottabad and Mansehra districts. GraphPad Prism software (version 8.0.1) was used for statistical analysis and data visualization.
Results: Data were obtained from a total of 16,140 TB patients who were enrolled in tertiary care hospitals in their respective populations. Among these patients, ~64% had pulmonary TB, and the remaining 36% had extrapulmonary TB. The difference in the TB incidence rate between male and female patients was not significant (50.3% vs. 49.7%, p>0.05). However, the TB incidence rate increased gradually with age, with the highest incidence rate observed in late adolescence and early adulthood. Overall, we noticed a greater proportion of clinically diagnosed patients than of those diagnosed through bacteriological or histopathological testing (64% vs. 36%, respectively,p<0.05). The proportion of patients who experienced relapse wassignificantly lower than that of patients who experienced new disease(6.8% vs. 93.2%, respectively; p<0.05), and more than 90% of the patients who were initially diagnosed in hospitals successfully completed treatment.
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the incidence of pulmonary TB is greater than that of extrapulmonary TB, regardless of patient demographics.
Implementation fidelity of directly observed treatment, short-course for Tuberculosis in public health centers of Kembata Tembaro Zone, Southern Nations Nationalities and People Region, Ethiopia
Authors: Masrie Awoke , Gorfu Tewodros Lemma , Assefa Yisalemush , Shawel Samrawit , Tamire Aklilu , Gebru Tilaye , Ereso Berhane Megerssa
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Ethiopia is one of 30 countries with high tuberculosis (TB) burden, with an incidence of 140 per 100,000 people. Kembata Tembaro Zone (KTZ) has lower tuberculosis case notification and treatment success rates, 60% and 82% respectively in 2019, as compared to the national and World Health Organization (WHO) targets. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the implementation fidelity of the directly observed treatment, short-course for Tuberculosis.
Methods: A Multiple case study evaluation design with a mixed method was employed from May 10 to June 4, 2021. A total of 91 patients were interviewed. Similarly, a document review of 384 patients, 16 key informant interviews, and a resource inventory were conducted. The quantitative data were entered into Epi-Data (V4.0.64) and exported to Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26(SPSS 26) for analysis. The qualitative data were transcribed, translated, coded, categorized, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The overall implementation fidelity was measured based on the predetermined criteria.
Results: The overall level of TB Direct Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) implementation fidelity was 73.9%, to which availability of resources (81%), provider’s adherence to the national guideline (73.1%), quality of TB DOTS delivery (75.9), and participant responsiveness contributed (63.9%).
Conclusion: The overall level of implementation fidelity of TB DOTS services in the public health centers was at a low level based on the predetermined set of judgment criteria. Training should be provided to the providers, Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) reagents should be supplied, standard updated guidelines should be made available, and providers should strictly comply with the standard guidelines. There should also be a full-time assigned TB DOTS provider in the TB units.