bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is the Cepstral Analysis Sensitive Enough to Detect Untrained/Trained Resonant Voice in Healthy Subjects? A Preliminary Study
Authors: Esen Aydınlı Fatma , Özcebe Esra , Gartner-schmıdt Jackie
Published: November 2024

Objectives: In training resonant
voice, clinicians rely on listening and feeling sensations that are subjective
in nature. In the present study, the aim was to find out if cepstral analysis
was sensitive enough to distinguish a resonant voice from an unresonant voice
in healthy subjects. It was
suggested that the immediate effect of humming exercise could be shown by
accompanying higher Cepstral Peak Promince (CPP) and lower CPP standard
deviation (CPP SD). Materials and Methods: Study included 20 vocally
healty subjects aged between 20-30 years. All the participants were trained
Humming exercise by teaching airflow technique.
The recording protocol was repeated before and after resonant voice
training. The recordings were gathered for the three samples of a) Humming b) A
sentence weighted with nasal phonemes and c) A sentence weighted with all- voiced phonemes. Cepstral analysis
recordings were gathered by the ‘Kay Elemetrics Group CSL Model 4300B’ equipment via the Analysis of Dysphonia
in Speech and Voice software. Results:
In both sentences, CPP values were found
numerically higher and CPP SD values were found to be numerically lower after
training. The difference was found statistically significant for the
post-training value of voiced- weighted sentence (p=0.004). Conclusion: The higher numerical CPP values and lower CPP SD values for both
sentences after resonant voice training indicated that cepstral measures were
sensitive to detect trained/untrained resonant voice. However, these
preliminary findings should be investigated in a larger sample size in order to
achieve more reliable data.
(Im)prescindibilidade de um marco legal e da regulação administrativa do uso da IA no Brasil: análise a partir da Resolução 332 do CNJ
Authors: Teixeira Alan José de Oliveira , Ferreira Daniel
Published: November 2024

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a reality in the legal routine of several decision-making areas in Brazil. The judiciary is one of them. The adoption of AI systems has become frequent and has fostered debates about its limits and possibilities, especially regulations. With this, it is relevant to research the (in)dispensation of AI regulation in the judiciary, with an administrative or a legal regulation, especially after the publication of CNJ Resolution 332/2020. For this, the present work attempted a bibliographic research on the theme, covering scientific articles and legal and normative texts. In the end, it was understood that in a technological, global and risky society, like the current one, the regulatory intention should not be limiting, but be made up of (mandatory) parameters, under penalty of the law remaining hermetic to the possibilities that especially the use of AI can imply. The presence of AI systems in the decision-making area of ​​the judiciary is essential, but an attempt to regulate their manifestations in an exhaustive manner is essential. The conclusions also understood that an administrative regulation is better.
La compra eficiente en los territorios: un gran reto para el mercado de compra pública colombiano en un ambiente ampliamente regulado
Authors: Barreto Moreno Alejandro Antonio
Published: November 2024

The public procurement market is consolidated as the new paradigm to understand transactions between public authorities and the private sector to meet their needs. This makes the economic perspective of this discipline revolve around providing measures that seek the efficiency of the market. This text argues that such efficiency is achieved when the precise roles of the regulatory agent and the purchasing agent whose objectives are different but their harmonious collaboration is what generates the environment of commercial normality are identified and assigned; this position is explained through an analysis of the Colombian case with the risks to efficiency represented by a regulation directed exclusively from the central sector and an institutional measure is proposed to mitigate them.
Direito administrativo da alimentação e nudge: alimentação saudável e proporcionalidade
Authors: Andrade Felipe
Published: November 2024

Administrative food law is moving towards a framework that promotes healthy eating, not only in terms of governance, safety and food labelling, but also by introducing behavioural science concepts as interventions to encourage better eating habits. Although nudges arouse the interest of authorities due to their non-coercive nature in influencing consumer behaviour, they bring legal and administrative challenges. This article explores the relationship between administrative food law, nudges and the complexities of their legality. By examining cases of nudges on eating habits, their effectiveness and alignment with administrative regulations, the article seeks to address the question of how to strike a balance between the potential benefits of such interventions in promoting healthier diets and the principle of proportionality. It concludes that nudges for healthy eating should not be purely paternalistic in order to pass the necessity test of the proportionality principle, but are unlikely to be a suitable measure from the point of view of effectiveness.
Calorimetric Measurements of a High-Power RF Signal
Authors: Budaragin R. V. , Salasenko Z. Ju. , Serov A. D. , Tsvetkova I. A.
Published: November 2024

Development of a high-power RF signal meter based on the method of calorimetric measurements, which in some cases is the only possible one is presented. The device is as a system of elements exchanging either energy or information, the operation and interconnection of which ensures the stability of its functioning. The main elements of the device are: a coordinated load and a two-circuit water-air cooling system that convert RF energy first into thermal electrical energy, and then into internal energy of the coolant (working fluid). The measurement and control system provides information display on the monitor and generation of internal control signals. The work focuses on the process of converting electromagnetic energy into internal energy of the coolant, since the matched RF load is integrated into the cooling system and requires special design and technological solutions to ensure efficient operation. A cooling and measurement system has been designed to test the developed RF absorber with a power of up to 5 kW. The parameters of the cooling system were determined based on minimizing the time to achieve thermal equilibrium (time to establish readings) and the set parameters (input temperature no more than 35 °С, temperature difference no more than 40 °С). Based on calculations of the electrodynamic model constructed by the partial domain method, the geometric dimensions were determined at which the voltage standing wave ratio of the load in the operating frequency range (from DC to 1300 MHz) will be the smallest. The article presents the results of designing a high-frequency wattmeter cooled by a liquid (water), examines the thermophysical processes occurring in it and the influence of the presence of a coolant in the cooling circuit.
MINERALOGICAL, PETROGRAPHIC, AND LITHOCHEMICAL FEATURES OF THE UPPER JURASSIC–LOWER CRETACEOUS SECTION OF THE NORDVIK PENINSULA (north of Eastern Siberia)
Authors: Popov A.Yu. , Vakulenko L.G. , Nikitenko B.L. , Palchik N.A. , Melnikov K.K.
Published: November 2024

Some intervals of the Jurassic–Cretaceous strata of the Anabar-Lena sedimentary basin have a certain oil and gas production potential, which can be realized in the synchronous offshore horizons of the adjacent territories of the Arctic shelf. Among the most representative objects in this regard are the outcrops of Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous formations of the Nordvik Peninsula. The main data on the composition and structure of this section were obtained mainly at the beginning of the second half of last century. The results of complex mineralogical, petrographic, and lithochemical studies of the Urdyuk-Khaya and Paksa formations of Cape Urdyuk-Khaya of the Nordvik Peninsula presented in here enabled us to identify 10 boundaries for changing of sedimentation regimes of the paleobasin. It was found that the Urdyuk-Khaya Formation was formed mainly in the conditions of the shelf transition zone (moderate deep water) with low rates of terrigenous material intake, some depletion of oxygen in bottom waters, and a trend towards an increase in the depths of the basin. The basal stratum of the Paksa Formation was formed in offshore conditions with periodically occurring dioxic conditions in bottom waters and extremely low rates of terrigenous material intake. The overlying part of the formation was formed in various parts of offshore transition conditions with a gradual decrease in the depths of the basin, an increase in the oxygen content in the bottom layer of water, and the rate of terrigenous material intake. The main provenance area was igneous rocks of mafic, possibly intermediate composition. There was some influence of felsic igneous rocks, or ancient sedimentary rocks rich in quartz. The parent strata were subjected to moderate and severe chemical weathering, in a warm humid climate. The revealed features of the studied strata are similar to the characteristics of the same-age sediments of the lower reaches of the Anabar River, which determines their high correlation potential and allows us to judge the evolution of the western part of the Anabar-Lena basin.
NOS CAMINHOS DAS ÁGUAS, A RETOMADA DA SAÚDE YANOMAMI
Authors: Carvalho Boemer Gina Luisa , Freitas Vaz Isabela , De Oliveira Rei Pinto Daniel d'El , Basta Pedro , Marmos Jose Luiz , Pessoa Dias Alexandre , Basta Paulo Cesar
Published: November 2024

Historicamente, as taxas de mortalidade infantil nas crianças indígenas são desproporcionalmente mais altas que nas crianças pertencentes a outras categorias de cor ou raça, no Brasil. Aproximadamente 75% das mortes notificadas em crianças indígenas são por causas evitáveis, reduzíveis por ações preventivas, de diagnóstico ou tratamento. Dentre estas, destacam-se a doença diarreica aguda (DDA), a desidratação e a desnutrição. Este estudo visou analisar a qualidade das águas de rios, poços e torneiras utilizadas para consumo humano, nas comunidades Ariabú e Maturacá, na Terra Indígena Yanomami, Amazônia-Brasil. Realizou-se trabalho de campo em janeiro e setembro de 2023, momento em que foram realizadas entrevistas comunitárias, observação participante, e foram amostrados 26 pontos para análise da qualidade da água. Como referência, utilizamos os parâmetros definidos na Resolução Conama 357/2005 e na Portaria GM/MS 888/2021. Em campo, foram feitas medições in situ com sonda multiparamétrica, e medição de cloro residual livre nas torneiras. Nos mananciais superficiais (águas naturais), foram observados: pH >6; turbidez média, cor real e aparente altas, baixa concentração de nutrientes, temperaturas médias de 24ºC e oxigênio dissolvido baixo. Em alguns pontos, as concentrações de coliformes ultrapassaram 2419 NMP/100mL, excedendo muitas vezes o limite recomendado como seguro, estando inviável até para banho. Em águas de abastecimento, as análises revelaram que as amostras atenderam os parâmetros físico-químicos estabelecidos pela legislação. No entanto, o hábito da população local de consumir águas naturais, provenientes dos rios da região, onde foram detectadas altas concentrações de coliformes fecais, em pontos próximos das comunidades, revela a estreita associação entre o consumo de água contaminada e a elevada frequência de desidratação, desnutrição e diarreia nos territórios.
Localization of mesenchymal stem cells populations in the adult human dental pulp
Authors: Alzer Heba , Alsoleihat Firas , Al-Shayyab Mohammed , Shahin Nisreen Abu , Kalbouneh Heba
Published: November 2024

Background: Despite comprehensive studies and reports about the properties of dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) in vitro, we still lack the knowledge of whether these in vitro characteristics coincide with the original nature of DPSCs in situ. The histological location of DPSCs populations in the dental pulp has been rarely investigated.
Methods: In this study, well-recognized mesenchymal stem cell markers MCAM, CD73, STRO1, Thy1, and CD105 are being investigated by immunohistochemistry to localize the precise location of these populations of DPSCs within the human adult dental pulp.
Results. All previously mentioned markers were expressed in the dental pulp, and their intensity and location of expression were reported.
Conclusion: The observations that multiple mesenchymal stem cell niches exist may have further implications for their recruitment in situ for multiple regenerative therapies.
Food-washing monkeys recognize the law of diminishing returns
Authors: Dominy Nathaniel , Rosien Jessica , Fannin Luke , Yeakel Justin , Malaivijitnond Suchinda , Tan Amanda
Published: November 2024

Few animals have the cognitive faculties or prehensile abilities needed to eliminate tooth-damaging grit from food surfaces. Some populations of monkeys wash sand from foods when standing water is readily accessible, but this propensity varies within groups for reasons unknown. Spontaneous food-washing emerged recently in a group of long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) inhabiting Koram Island, Thailand, and it motivated us to explore the factors that drive individual variability. We measured the mineral and physical properties of contaminant sands and conducted a field experiment, eliciting 1,282 food-handling bouts by 42 monkeys. Our results verify two long-standing presumptions, that monkeys have a strong aversion to sand and that removing it is intentional. Reinforcing this result, we found that monkeys clean foods beyond the point of diminishing returns, a suboptimal behavior that varied with social rank. Dominant monkeys abstained from washing, a choice consistent with the impulses of dominant monkeys elsewhere: to prioritize rapid food intake and greater reproductive fitness over the long-term benefits of prolonging tooth function
Individual heterozygosities prompt examining hybridogenesis that could mediate insular occurrence of a narrow endemic spiny frog
Authors: Zheng Yuchi , Wang Bin , Cao Yue , Zeng Xiaomao , Xia Yun
Published: November 2024

Hybridogenesis is a rare reproductive mode where interspecific hybrids produce gametes each carrying one of the parental genomes, with the other one discarded but renewed by backcross. It may in theory mediate species range expansion, since such hybrids can also have pure-species offspring for establishing new populations and are often widespread probably due to hybrid vigor. Being inspired by a magnitude difference between estimates of individual heterozygosity, we collected genome-wide data and examined hybridogenesis between the wide-range Asian spiny frog Quasipaa boulengeri and a narrow endemic, Q. robertingeri, distinguished it from other atypical modes of reproduction, and provided the first evidence supporting that hybridogenesis mediated the occurrence of individuals far from the species range (~ 500 km). Despite contributing to early evidence of the only inferred hybridogenetic complex in ten years, individual heterozygosity has likely been an often overlooked variable. Furthermore, the spiny frog system occurs in a generally less well-studied region from a natural history perspective, shows co-occurrence of female and male F1 types, harbors structurally abnormal non-sex-specific chromosomes, and exhibits significant parental mitochondrial divergence comparable to those of known hybridogenetic systems. It may be helpful to include a consideration of these factors for future detection of hybridogenesis. The findings in spiny frogs make a case that genome-wide data provide crucial evidence for updating our knowledge on the life-history evolution of taxa.
WITHDRAWN: A Study Protocol for “Comparative Evaluation of Effectiveness of Demineralized Freeze-Dried Bone Allografts (DFDBA) with Titanium Platelet Rich Fibrin (T-PRF) and Autologous Dentin Graft (ADG) with T-PRF in Alveolar Socket Preservation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial”
Authors: Thakre Shivani , Bajaj Pavan
Published: November 2024

The full text of this preprint has been withdrawn, as it was submitted in error. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as a reference. Questions should be directed to the corresponding author.
WITHDRAWN: Underwater Image Compression and Reconstruction Based on VQ-VAE-2
Authors: Yang Qiuling , Fei Hansheng , Zhang ZhiPeng , Chen Jianan , Zhang Yunuo
Published: November 2024

The full text of this preprint has been withdrawn, as it was submitted in error. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as a reference. Questions should be directed to the corresponding author.
Denosumab attenuates knee osteoarthritis progression by inhibiting synovial inflammation via the RANK/TRAF6/FSTL1 signalling pathway
Authors: Tong Wei , Hu Yuxiang , Chen Wei , Lan Shenghui , Ming Chaochang , Xu Dongdong , Li Haitao , Xu Hao , Shi Deyao , Liu Weijian , Dai Zhipeng , Wang Jian , He Zhili , Xu Weihua , Shao Zengwu , Liu Yong , Tian Hongtao
Published: November 2024

Synovitis plays a critical role in osteoarthritis (OA), and inhibiting synovitis can significantly alleviate OA symptoms. Denosumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting RANKL, inhibits the RANK/NF-κB pathway in monocyte–macrophage lineage cells, crucial in inflammation. Here, we report a novel role of denosumab in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) where it attenuates synovitis and OA progression. We first demonstrated that RANKL and RANK were highly expressed in synovium of OA mice and patients. Denosumab, administered systemically via injection, was primarily enriched in the synovium and effectively reduced synovitis, thereby delaying OA progression in post-traumatic, inflammatory, and aged OA mouse models. Mechanistically, single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) showed that FLSs were the most significantly altered cell cluster in joint cells, and cell–cell interaction analysis indicated enhanced FLS–chondrocyte crosstalk in OA, which was markedly reduced following denosumab treatment, suggesting FLSs as the primary responsive cells to denosumab in OA joints. Furthermore, immunoprecipitation assay revealed that RANKL promoted RANK–TRAF6 binding, activating the NF-κB signalling pathway, leading to the upregulation of various pro-inflammatory and chondrocyte catabolic cytokines in FLSs. Further sequencing analysis and western blotting identified follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1) as the most upregulated cytokine in FLSs, inducing inflammatory reactions and chondrocyte catabolism, effects that were significantly inhibited by denosumab. Consistent with the mouse model, we observed reduced synovitis and OA progression in a beagle dog model of OA. Finally, a single-arm clinical trial demonstrated that denosumab alleviated synovitis and pain, improved joint function in knee OA patients, associated with reduced expression of pro-inflammatory and chondrocyte catabolic cytokines in FLSs induced by FSTL1. These findings provide a translational basis for using denosumab to treat knee OA patients.
Time to Save: How Time Perspective Nudges Cut Food Waste
Authors: Lin Meizhen , Li Yaoqi , Zhang Ye , Jiang Qiumin , Wang Jingqiang
Published: November 2024

Predominant endeavors to mitigate food waste involve utilizing regulations and marketing campaigns. However, this kind of explicit advocacy frequently encounters resistance stemming from consumer autonomy, necessitating highly effective implicit interventions. This study explored the potential of time-perspective nudging as a supplementary technique for curbing food waste. Through 2,109 individual observations from a natural field experiment in a restaurant, this study assessed the effectiveness of time-perspective priming in reducing food waste. Additionally, we evaluated the broader applicability of this approach across countries by analyzing secondary data on time perspective and food waste from 56 countries. These findings demonstrate a close cross-country relationship between cyclical time perspective and food waste reduction, as well as the dominant effectiveness of cyclical time perspective nudging in reducing food waste. This implicit nudge throws insights into future food waste reduction initiatives, promoting pro-sustainability dining behaviors ethically and effectively.
Generative AI Enables Medical Image Segmentation in Ultra Low-Data Regimes
Authors: Xie Pengtao , Zhang Li , Jindal Basu , Alaa Ahmed , Weinreb Robert , Wilson David , Segal Eran , Zou James
Published: November 2024

Semantic segmentation of medical images is pivotal in applications like disease diagnosis and treatment planning. While deep learning has excelled in automating this task, a major hurdle is the need for numerous annotated segmentation masks, which are resource-intensive to produce due to the required expertise and time. This scenario often leads to ultra low-data regimes, where annotated images are extremely limited, posing significant challenges for the generalization of conventional deep learning methods on test images. To address this, we introduce a generative deep learning framework, which uniquely generates high-quality paired segmentation masks and medical images, serving as auxiliary data for training robust models in data-scarce environments. Unlike traditional generative models that treat data generation and segmentation model training as separate processes, our method employs multi-level optimization for end-to-end data generation. This approach allows segmentation performance to directly influence the data generation process, ensuring that the generated data is specifically tailored to enhance the performance of the segmentation model. Our method demonstrated strong generalization performance across 9 diverse medical image segmentation tasks and on 16 datasets, in ultra-low data regimes, spanning various diseases, organs, and imaging modalities. When applied to various segmentation models, it achieved performance improvements of 10-20% (absolute), in both same-domain and out-of-domain scenarios. Notably, it requires 8 to 20 times less training data than existing methods to achieve comparable results. This advancement significantly improves the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of applying deep learning in medical imaging, particularly in scenarios with limited data availability.
Grid-scale Corrosion-free Zn/Br Flow Batteries Enabled by Multi-electron Transfer Reaction
Authors: Li Xianfeng , Xu Yue , Li Tianyu , Peng Zhangquan , Xie Congxin
Published: November 2024

Aqueous flow batteries are one of the most competitive technologies for storing electricity from intermittent renewable energy sources, which are intrinsically safe and scalable. Zinc/bromine flow batteries (Zn/Br FB) are popular due to the high theoretical energy densities (>500 Wh L-1) and inexpensive (600 cycles vs. <30 cycles) at 40 mA cm-2. Using this new bromine reaction, we built a large-scale battery system (5kW/6.6 kWh, EE 78%).
Fast High-resolution Lifetime Image Reconstruction for Positron Lifetime Tomography
Authors: Qi Jinyi , Huang Bangyan , Wang Zipai , Zeng Xinjie , Goldan Amir
Published: November 2024

The life history of a positron before annihilation has long been overlooked by current positron emission tomography (PET) techniques. Due to the ortho-positronium formed prior to the annihilation, the lifetime of a positron is sensitive to the tissue microenvironment and can potentially provide valuable information for monitoring disease progression and treatment response. In this paper, we develop a positron lifetime image reconstruction method called SIMPLE (Statistical IMage reconstruction of Positron Lifetime via time-wEighting) and perform a real scan to demonstrate, for the first time, high-resolution positron lifetime imaging of an extended heterogeneous tissue on a time-of-flight (TOF) PET scanner. The SIMPLE method involves minimum modification to the standard list-mode maximum-likelihood expectation-maximization (MLEM) algorithm with a computation cost equivalent to the reconstruction of two PET activity images and a spatial resolution comparable to that of PET activity images. The proposed experimental design utilizes a 22Na point source to realize lifetime imaging in an extended area. The reconstructed positron lifetime image shows a clear separation between the muscle and fat tissues. The proposed method paves the way for high-resolution positronium lifetime imaging in humans.
Induction of p53-mediated apoptosis by azacitidine in patient-derived xenograft follicular helper T-cell lymphoma model
Authors: Lemonnier François , TARI Gamze , ARI-YUKA Selcen , Fischer Anja , Chour Mohamed , SAKO Nouhoum , Robe Cyrielle , NAUDET Julie , GONON Alexis , MBOUMBA Diana Laure , DELFAU-LARUE Marie-Hélène , ORTONNE Nicolas , Alcazer Vincent , Siebert Reiner , Gaulard Philippe
Published: November 2024

Follicular helper T-cell lymphoma (TFHL) is the most common non-cutaneous T-cell lymphoma in the Western world and is associated with a poor prognosis. Neoplastic cells rely heavily on the tumor microenvironment, demonstrated by the absence of TFHL-derived cell lines, which hinders therapeutic progress.
To overcome this limitation, we developed and characterized patient-derived xenograft TFHL (TFHL-PDXs). Fifteen TFHLs were implanted into immunodeficient mice, generating nine PDXs. The tumor microenvironment was detected in the first passage but progressively disappeared in subsequent passages. TET2 mutations persisted in all cases and TFHL-specific mutations were observed in most. The models were treated with azacitidine and patient sensitivity was fully recapitulated. To elucidate the mechanism of action of azacitidine, we analyzed the differences in DNA methylation and gene expression in four TFHL-PDX models. Global DNA hypomethylation occurred in azacitidine-treated cells in drug-sensitive models but not in the resistant one. DNA hypomethylation was associated with global upregulation of gene expression, including that of various cancer-related pathways, suggestive of p53-pathway-mediated cytotoxicity.
Overall, the PDXs recapitulated TFHL features and exhibited sensitivity to azacitidine. They also made it possible to decipher the mechanism responsible for the effect of azacitidine, revealing the activation of p53-mediated apoptosis associated with DNA hypomethylation.
Host range expansion of asexual parasite can be explained by loss of adaptions in Muller’s Ratchet
Authors: Jex Aaron , Tichkule Swapnil , Oosterhout Cock van , Cacciò Simone , Weisz Filip , Balan Balu , Nohynkova Eva , Naung Myo , Ansell Brendan R. E. , Emery-Corbin Samantha , Baker Louise , Lalle Marco , Svard Staffan , Gasser Robin B.
Published: November 2024

Sexual recombination is a hallmark of eukaryotic evolution. Without recombination, asexual eukaryotes should succumb to deleterious mutations and more rapidly evolving pathogens. Giardia duodenalis, a parasitic protist, sits within one of the earliest-branching eukaryotic lineages and has no known sexual stage. Whether Giardia are ‘ancient asexuals’ is long explored but unresolved. Here, we find clear evidence of sex in Giardia but also discover an asexual sublineage that has a broader host range than its sexual ancestor. This asexual lineage is not ancient, and is accumulating deleterious mutations. Unlike its sexual counterparts, its genetic variation lacks the signatures of selection and Red Queen coevolution. We propose a new hypothesis that explains how a mutational meltdown during Muller’s Ratchet might enable asexual pathogens to expand their host ranges transiently. Fittingly, Giardia is not the last exception to but further proof of the essentiality of eukaryotic sex.
Improvement of Generalization Performance of Diagnostic System for Drill Bit Abnormality in Rotary Percussion Drilling with Grad-CAM
Authors: Nakazawa Yuna , Okada Natsuo , Sasaki Jo , Senjoba Lesego , Ohtomo Yoko , Kawamura Youhei
Published: November 2024

Rotary percussion drills, specifically top hammer types, are essential in resource extraction and exploration. These drills frequently suffer damage at the drill button, necessitating effective decision-making to address issues. Traditionally, on-site operators relied on intuition, but recent advancements promote automated systems to enhance safety and failure detection in challenging mining environments. This study employs Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) to develop an automated system for detecting drill bit abnormalities. In a prior investigation, a CNN model was established to discern normal functioning and four distinct abnormalities. To enhance generalization performance, researchers endeavored to create a filter using Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping (Grad-CAM), an inverse analysis technique. However, challenges arose as the frequency bands contributing significantly to judgments varied among the five identified states. In response, this study adopts a refined approach, constructing a model that categorizes drill performance into two states: normal and abnormal. Leveraging Grad-CAM, the research identifies the frequency band with a high contribution rate to judgment and applies a filter tailored to this specific band. Notably, by training the CNN model to recognize differences in rock types, the resulting model exhibits adaptability to changes in drill bit types, achieving an accuracy rate of 83.3%.
Interaction studies unveil potential binding sites on bovine serum albumin for gut metabolite trimethylamine n-oxide (TMAO)
Authors: Verma Awadhesh Kumar , Gulati Payal , Lakshmi GBVS , Mohan Anand , Sharma Neeta Raj , Solanki Pratima R , Kumar Anil
Published: November 2024

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is the most studied gut microbiota-derived metabolite and its binding to serum albumin has huge significance to understand the underlying mechanisms in human health and diseases. The interaction between BSA and TMAO has not been well studied; the binding mechanism, preferred binding locations, and subsequent conformation of BSA are still unclear. In the present work, spectroscopic, photoluminescence, Fourier transform infrared contact angle, circular dichroism, density functional theory, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation approaches were used to probe TMAO-BSA interaction and identifying putative binding sites for TMAO on BSA. Non-covalent interaction of TMAO with bovine serum albumin forming stable docking complex with binding score of -3.6 kcal/mol was revealed through docking and simulation study. The docking complex of TMAO-BSA was found stable through hydrogen bond and electrostatic, Vander waals interaction, and water bridges via amino acid residues. Hydrophilicity/Hydrophobicity of the TMAO-BSA was studied using contact angle (Ɵ) measurement. Present study may be helpful for making strategies for Chronic Kidney Disease and other disease treatments wherein interaction of TMAO with serum albumin matters. Also, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of TMAO, as well as its mechanism of binding to BSA, may be better understood with the help of this study's findings.
Genomic characteristics of Vibrio vulnificus isolated from clinical and environmental sources
Authors: Lee Jinkyeong , Shin Jeong-Ih , Cho Woo Young , Park Kun Take , Chung Yeun-Jun , Jung Seung-Hyun
Published: November 2024

Vibrio vulnificus is a gram-negative pathogenic bacterium that is transmitted through undercooked seafood or contaminated seawater, causing septicemia and wound infections. In this study, 15 clinical isolates and 11 environmental isolates were analyzed, revealing a total of 20 sequence types (STs), 8 of which were newly identified. Antibiotic resistance gene analysis revealed that the CRP gene was frequently present in both clinical and environmental isolates. Interestingly, the clinical and environmental isolates showed notable not-susceptible to third-generation cephalosporins, such as ceftazidime and cefotaxime, which may complicate treatment strategies for V. vulnificus infections. The Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index ranged from 0.1 to 0.5, with clinical isolates having a higher mean MAR index compared to environmental isolates, indicating a broader spectrum of resistance in clinical strains. No quantitative (124.3 versus 126.5) and qualitative (adherence, antiphagocytosis, and chemotaxis/motility) differences in virulence factors were observed between environmental and clinical strains. The molecular characteristics identified in this study may provide a basis for understanding the virulence of Vibrio vulnificus strains in South Korea and highlight the need for continuous surveillance of antibiotic resistance in emerging V. vulnificus strains.
Autonomous Design of Ordered Gas Diffusion Layers for High-performing Fuel Cells via Bayesian Machine Learning
Authors: Zhao Tianshou , Sun Jing , Lin Pengzhu , Zeng Lin , Guo Zixiao , Jiang Yuting , Xiao Cailin , Jian Qinping , Ren Jiayou , Pan Lyuming , Xu Xiaosa , Li Zheng , Wei Lei
Published: November 2024

Rational design of gas diffusion layers (GDL) is an example of a long-standing pursuit to increase the power density and reduce the cost of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). However, current state-of-the-art GDLs are designed by trial and error, which is a time-consuming endeavor. Here, we propose an autonomous Bayesian machine learning approach to optimize the design of GDL structures. With the artificial neural network accelerating the calculation of anisotropic transport properties of reconstructed 7621 fibrous GDLs, Bayesian optimization algorithm identifies optimal structures in only 40 steps, maximizing the PEMFC’s limiting current density. Results suggest that the optimal GDL structure consists of highly orientated fibers with moderate diameters (~10 µm), which is successfully fabricated with a controlled electrospinning technique. Impressively, the PEMFC demonstrates a record high power density of 2.17 W cm-2 and a limiting current density of ~7200 mA cm-2, far exceeding that with commercial GDL which only achieves 1.33 W cm-2 and ~2700 mA cm-2. The approach reported here represents how the advanced algorithms can aid the innovative material design to address the critical water flooding issues in PEMFCs, leading to significant performance improvements, which paves the way for further application across various scientific fields.
Mathematical Modeling of Tangential Filtration Processes for Winery Wastewater Treatment
Authors: BIRON DIONISIO DA SILVA , Santos Venina dos , Ongaratto Ricardo Schmitz , Cantão Renato Fernandes , Venezuela Antonio Luís
Published: November 2024

In membrane separation processes, permeate flux decay throughout microfiltration is one of the predicted phenomena and arises due to fouling. This decay is one of the main contributors defining permeate flux characteristics, and its inclusion in mathematical modeling has been a challenge for researchers in this area. Therefore, this study performed the mathematical modeling of tangential filtration processes applied to wastewater treatment from a winery. The mathematical modeling started from the modified resistance in series model and used the GITT (Generalized Integral Transform Technique) hybrid method. Experimental data were obtained from microfiltration of a winery’s effluent, evaluating transmembrane pressures between 50 and 600 kPa, fluid flow rates on the input between 0.06 and 0.15 m s− 1 and effluent concentrations between 1/1 and 1/40 (dilutions ratio effluent:distilated water), using 0.4 µm alumina ceramic membrane. The results showed a significant convergence between the modeled and experimental data, with 80% of the data showing relative differences less than 10%. Thus, the model with the proposed modifications can be used to determine the behavior of permeate flux throughout the laminar flow process. Moreover, from the proposed methodology it is possible to determine the limiting flux in order to identify when the process is losing energy unnecessarily.
Decoupling mechanical and morphometric properties in meta-biomaterials
Authors: Yarali Ebrahim , Staufer Urs , Fratila-Apachitei Lidy E. , Mahdavi Reza , Zadpoor Amir A. , Accardo Angelo , Mirzaali Mohammad J.
Published: November 2024

Meta-biomaterials are engineered biomaterials with unprecedented properties derived from their designed microscale structure, positioning them as promising candidates for developing medical devices (e.g., meta-implants). A significant challenge in developing meta-biomaterials lies in effectively decoupling their intrinsically intertwined mechanical properties (e.g., elastic and shear moduli, Poisson’s ratio) and morphometric properties (e.g., porosity, connectivity, surface area). To address this challenge, we introduced non-stochastic unit cells featuring cubic and isotropic properties with three orthotropic planes of symmetry. We explicitly derived the geometrical relationships necessary to explore our design spaces, and calculated the morphometric properties (e.g., pore sizes). We employed a numerical homogenization method based on a 3D voxelization approach to model the unit cells of the meta-biomaterials within our design space, representing the empty and solid phases in a binary format. Through an extensive number of simulations (i.e., 43,000) and a multi-objective optimization technique, we successfully isolated the Poisson’s ratio while maintaining other mechanical properties (i.e., effective elastic and shear moduli, and anisotropy level), morphological properties (i.e., relative mass density, pore size, tortuosity, surface/volume ratio and connectivity) and mass transport parameters (i.e., permeability) as constant as possible, with an average deviation below 9%. The resulting meta-biomaterials were additively manufactured using PolyJet 3D printing and two-photon polymerization techniques, respectively at the macro- and microscales. Mechanical testing was conducted on these fabricated meta-biomaterials to validate the predictions of our computational models. The established computational model and fabricated meta-biomaterials provide promising avenues for advancing tissue engineering and facilitating studies in cell mechanobiology, enabling precise exploration of the isolated effects of mechanical and morphometric properties.
Investigating the prevalence of nurses' workflow interruptions and the factors affecting them in the general hospitals affiliated with Kashan University of Medical Sciences in 2024
Authors: abbaszadeh seyyed mohammad , poursaadat newsha , nayeri nahid dehghan
Published: November 2024

Background and objective:
Workflow interruptions significantly decrease productivity and are among the top five causes of medication errors. They are also linked to nursing errors, posing risks to the quality and effectiveness of patient care and safety. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of interruptions in nurses' workflow and the factors influencing them in general hospitals affiliated with Kashan University of Medical Sciences (KUMS) in 2024.
Method:
This is a descriptive and analytical quantitative study that focused on all nurses working in six general hospitals affiliated with KUMS. The sample size for this study was 300 individuals, who were randomly and proportionally selected from each hospital. Data collection involved using a demographic information and a self-report questionnaire on nursing workflow interruptions, which were administered in person at the research sites. The collected data was then analyzed using the SPSS version 21.
Findings:
The majority of participants are female, married, native, with a bachelor's degree, and have an average age of 34.4 (±7.758). On average, they have 10.88(±7.508) years of work experience and work 62.03(±37.395) hours of overtime per month. The highest rate of interruptions was related to answering the wards phone, with a prevalence of 51.7% occurring at least 5 times a day. The lowest rate of interruptions was related to emergency situations (safety, accident, fire, theft), with 74.7% of people reporting "almost never." The wards with the highest frequency of interruptions were the operating room, surgery, psychiatric, and ICU. There is also a significant relationship between the occurrence of interruptions, family income, the amount of overtime, and types of wards.
Conclusion:
The presence of interruptions in nursing work is unavoidable due to nature and complexity of nurses' responsibilities. However, through increased awareness, education, and policy making by nursing managers, the frequency of interruptions can be reduced. This study highlights that within Iran's healthcare organizations, establishing policies to prevent interruptions not only improves the quality of nursing care and patient safety, but also has positive effects on the overall health outcomes for nurses.
A Survey on Postgraduate Dental Students' Knowledge on Diagnostic Adjuncts for Oral Cancer
Authors: Güneri Pelin , Bolukbasi Gaye , Özer Nezaket Ezgi , Dağhan Şafak , İlhan Betül
Published: November 2024

Background
To assess the knowledge levels of postgraduate students in the departments of oral and maxillofacial radiology (OMFR) and oral surgery (OS) regarding diagnostic adjuncts for oral mucosal lesions.
Methods
Postgraduate students enrolled in OMFR and OS programs across dental faculties nationwide between 2019 and 2021 were included. A total of 434 participants were selected based on specific criteria. A 40-question questionnaire with items formulated by specialists with at least 15 years of experience covered basic information, principles/mechanisms, application techniques, and result interpretation. The survey was distributed online, and responses were collected anonymously. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 25.0, including descriptive statistics and significance testing.
Results
A total of 131 postgraduate students participated. Demographic characteristics of the participants were largely comparable. The questionnaire revealed that participants exhibited accurate responses to questions related to basic information and staining methods. However, questions related to optical methods received significantly more inaccurate responses, indicating a lack of knowledge in this area. No significant impact of age, gender, or postgraduate education program was observed on the accuracy of responses.
Conclusions
Despite a general awareness of basic information and staining methods for oral mucosal lesions, postgraduate students showed a notable lack of knowledge regarding optical diagnostic methods. Enhancements in theoretical curricula and hands-on clinical training are recommended to bridge this knowledge gap and improve diagnostic capabilities in detecting oral cancer. These findings highlight the need for continued education and training on diagnostic adjuncts for oral cancer among dental professionals.
Research on Image Recognition of Nantong Shen Embroidery Intangible Cultural Heritage Based on Improved Mobile Net V3
Authors: Changyong Zhu , Xue Bai , Jiajun Zhu , Wenjuan Huang
Published: November 2024

[Research Objective] This study presents a method for recognizing Shen embroidery images based on the MobileNet V3 model, with the aim of enhancing recognition accuracy and supporting the preservation of national intangible cultural heritage.
[Method] A lightweight deep learning network was employed for image recognition, augmented through data enhancement techniques and fine-tuned via transfer learning. An SPP (Spatial Pyramid Pooling) module was integrated into the network, resulting in the development of the Ip-MobileNet V3 model. This model was applied to recognize Nantong Shen embroidery images, accompanied by the creation of a corresponding software system.
[Conclusion] The Ip-MobileNet V3 model achieved an impressive recognition accuracy of 98.65%, surpassing MobileNet V3 by 2.6%. These results demonstrate high system performance and provide valuable technical support for intelligent identification of intangible cultural heritage.
Dual-Targeting of PDPN-Expressing Synovial Fibroblasts and Macrophages via CLEC-2-Engineered Exosomes for Osteoarthritis Therapy
Authors: Yu Bo , Peng Rui , Liu Zitao , Chen Shanchuang , Xu Nanjun , Yang Qingjun , Zha Zhengang , Chen Bolai , Jiang Tao , Huan Songwei , Gui Tao
Published: November 2024

Synovitis is often associated with osteoarthritis (OA) and may even precede the onset of OA symptoms. Although targeting synovial inflammation has shown therapeutic promise in OA, the synovium's heterogeneous composition, with multiple cell types contributing to the inflammatory response, indicates that focusing on a single cell population may not provide the most favorable results. This investigation employed scRNA-seq of OA synovial tissues from both human and murine sources, revealing that fibroblasts and macrophages expressing high levels of Podoplanin (PDPN). These cells constitute approximately 70% of the total synovial cells and display pro-inflammatory properties. Drawing inspiration from the unique interaction between PDPN and CLEC-2, we engineered mesenchymal stromal cell-derived exosomes to overexpress CLEC-2 (ExosomeCLEC-2) and encapsulated liquiritigenin-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) within the ExosomeCLEC-2 membrane (EMCLEC-2), creating a PDPN-targeting nanoparticle system called EMCLEC-2-PLGA-liquiritigenin (EMPL). Remarkably, EMPL concurrently targets synovial PDPNhigh fibroblasts and macrophages, exhibiting anti-inflammatory effects both in vitro and in vivo, and preventing cartilage degeneration in a traumatic OA model. In summary, our research highlights the potential of developing a PDPN-targeting nanoparticle platform that can concurrently target and mitigate the inflammatory processes in both fibroblasts and macrophages, offering a novel and promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of osteoarthritis.
WITHDRAWN: A novel silica aerogel-based modified adsorbent for the efficient removal of toluene from aqueous media: characterization, central composite design optimization, isotherms, kinetics studies
Authors: Abedi Vida , Taghavi Lobat , Frahani Hadi , Panahi Homayon Ahmad , Larijani Kambiz
Published: November 2024

The full text of this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors while they make corrections to the work. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as a reference. Questions should be directed to the corresponding author.
Selection of key components in ball screw-driven servomechanisms with toothed belt drive transmission for machine tools through combinational optimization
Authors: Jang Rim Chol , Kim Myong Il , Ri Kumsong
Published: November 2024

We have developed a program for the optimal combination of servomotors, ball screws, and tooth pulleys that are key components in the machine tool application of a ball screw-driven servomechanism with pulley transmission. This program helps to produce an optimal combination of motor output torque/ motor output power/mass of system, etc., satisfying a given design requirement from the components being discretized by a given catalog. The input to this program is catalogs of components and initial design data of the machine tool servo mechanism to be designed. The outputs are the component characteristics of the servomotor-ball screw-pulley pair combinations (possible combinations) that satisfy the constraints on the component characteristics and the constraints on the dynamic and control characteristics of the system, and the characteristics of the virtual servo mechanism determined by each possible combination (maximum load torque, ball-position dependent minimum stiffness, natural frequency, gear ratio, inertia moment ratio, etc.) and the corresponding diagrams. Depending on which search target is set for these output data, the optimal combination for different destination tables can be quickly searched. The advantage of this method is to determine the global and precise optimal component combinations from a vast amount of databases by means of simple numerical simulations, which is verified by applications to servomechanisms for machining center