bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determining the prevalence of people's knowledge that third‐hand smoke is harmful to health: A meta‐analysis study
Authors: Yildirim‐Ozturk Elif Nur , Uyar Mehmet , Ozturk Mustafa
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Although the health effects of first‐hand smoke and second‐hand smoke are well known, third‐hand smoke (THS) is a relatively new concept. We estimated the prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful to health, including for some subgroups, in a meta‐analysis.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, EBSCO Host, ProQuest, and YOKTEZ databases for the prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful to health using specified search words. A total of 12 publications (n = 8549 people) were included in the meta‐analysis. The random effect model was used for meta‐analysis, and Cochran's Q test and I2 values were used to determine heterogeneity. Subgroup analyzes and meta‐regression were also performed.

Results

The prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful was 80.1%. The prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful for children was 82%, and the prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful for adults was 70.4%. For health professionals, the prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful for children was 89.8%, the highest prevalence value calculated in this meta‐analysis. Cochran's Q test and I2 values indicated that the included studies were heterogeneous.

Conclusions

In this meta‐analysis, the overall prevalence of people's knowledge that THS is harmful was 80.1%, but large variations were found between samples.
A meta‐analysis highlights the cross‐resistance of plants to drought and salt stresses from physiological, biochemical, and growth levels
Authors: Cao Heli , Ding Risheng , Du Taisheng , Kang Shaozhong , Tong Ling , Chen Jinliang , Gao Jia
Published: April 2024

In nature, drought and salt stresses often occur simultaneously and affect plant growth at multiple levels. However, the mechanisms underlying plant responses to drought and salt stresses and their interactions are still not fully understood. We performed a meta‐analysis to compare the effects of drought, salt, and combined stresses on plant physiological, biochemical, morphological and growth traits, analyze the different responses of C3 and C4 plants, as well as halophytes and non‐halophytes, and identify the interactive effects on plants. There were numerous similarities in plant responses to drought, salt, and combined stresses. C4 plants had a more effective antioxidant defense system, and could better maintain above‐ground growth. Halophytes could better maintain photosynthetic rate (Pn) and relative water content (RWC), and reduce growth as an adaptation strategy. The responses of most traits (Pn, RWC, chlorophyll content, soluble sugar content, H2O2 content, plant dry weight, etc.) to combined stress were less‐than‐additive, indicating cross‐resistance rather than cross‐sensitivity of plants to drought and salt stresses. These results are important to improve our understanding of drought and salt cross‐resistance mechanisms and further induce resistance or screen‐resistant varieties under stress combination.
The Sources of Meaning and Meaning in Life (SoMe) questionnaire in Finnish: Sociodemographic findings of meaningfulness and crisis of meaning in the Finnish context
Authors: Peltomäki Isto , Ojalammi Jonna , Palmi Noora , Sørensen Torgeir , Saarelainen Suvi‐Maria
Published: April 2024

Background

Psychological research about meaningfulness is concerned with a subjective sense of meaning of one's own life, that is, meaning in life. Empirical research in this field is attracting interest, as meaning in life has wide‐ranging positive implications for mental health and well‐being.

Aim

The aim of this article is to test the validity of the Finnish translation of the Sources of Meaning and Meaning in Life (SoMe) questionnaire. In the article, meaningfulness and crisis of meaning are correlated with sources of meaning, and results are compared with other validation studies in Norway, Denmark, and Brazil as well as with the original German questionnaire.

Methods

To meet our aim, 551 participants were recruited to answer the Finnish questionnaire. The internal and construct validity of the Finnish questionnaire were tested with reliability analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and analysis of intercorrelations of items in the questionnaire.

Results

The analysis demonstrated similar reliability to other validation studies of the questionnaire and results highly comparable to the Norwegian study regarding the internal structure of the questionnaire. Results of intercorrelations of items within the questionnaire were also comparable to the other validation studies.
A portable surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor for the detection of immunoglobulin A in plasma
Authors: Dubois Caroline , Ducas Éric , Laforce‐Lavoie Audrey , Robidoux Jonathan , Delorme Alexandre , Live Ludovic S. , Brouard Danny , Masson Jean‐François
Published: April 2024

Background

A life‐threatening anaphylactic shock can occur if a patient with undiagnosed immunoglobulin A (IgA) deficiency (i.e., IgA levels <500 ng/mL) receives IgA‐containing blood, hence the need for a rapid, point‐of‐care (POC) method for IgA deficiency screening. Enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is routinely used to detect IgA, but this method requires trained specialists and ≥24 h to obtain a result. We developed a surface plasmon resonance (SPR)‐based protocol to identify IgA‐deficient patients or donors within 1 h.

Materials and Methods

The SPR sensor relies on the detection of IgAs captured by primary antibodies adsorbed on the SPR chip and quantified with secondary antibodies. The sensor was calibrated from 0 to 2000 ng/mL in buffer, IgA‐depleted human serum, and plasma samples from IgA‐deficient individuals. A critical concentration of 500 ng/mL was set for IgA deficiency. The optimized sensor was then tested on eight plasma samples with known IgA status (determined by ELISA), including five with IgA deficiency and three with normal IgA levels.

Results

The limit of detection was estimated at 30 ng/mL in buffer and 400 ng/mL in diluted plasma. The results obtained fully agreed with ELISA among the eight plasma samples tested. The protocol distinguished IgA‐deficient from normal samples, even for samples with an IgA concentration closer to critical concentration.

Discussion

In conclusion, we developed a reliable POC assay for the quantification of IgA in plasma. This test may permit POC testing at blood drives and centralized centers to maintain reserves of IgA‐deficient blood and in‐hospital testing of blood recipients.
Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever virus in questing non‐Hyalomma spp. ticks in Northwest Spain, 2021
Authors: Cuadrado‐Matías Raúl , Moraga‐Fernández Alberto , Peralbo‐Moreno Alfonso , Negredo Ana Isabel , Sánchez‐Seco María Paz , Ruiz‐Fons Francisco
Published: April 2024

Crimean–Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) unexpectedly emerged in humans in Northwest Spain in 2021, and two additional cases were reported in the region in 2022. The 2021 case was associated with a tick bite on the outskirts of the city where the patient lived. PCR analysis of 95 questing ticks collected in the outskirts of that city in 2021, none of the genus Hyalomma, revealed a prevalence of confirmed CCHF virus (CCHFV) infection of 10.5%. Our results in this emerging scenario suggest the need to consider that CCHFV may be effectively spreading to Northwest Spain and to urgently understand any possible role of non‐Hyalomma spp. ticks in the eco‐epidemiological dynamics of CCHFV.
Sound Pressure Slopes of Turbulent and Cavitating Liquids, and a Method to Predict Such Levels
Authors: Baumann Hans D.
Published: April 2024

This paper presents an author-created, unique method called the ABC method to predict sound pressure of turbulent and cavitating liquids according to ISA Standard 75.17 and is measured 1 m from the outer wall of a downstream pipe, attached to the outlet of a valve [Baumann, 2023, “Method to Establish Sound and Acceleration Levels of High Pressure Reducing Valves,” ASME Open J. Eng. 2, p. 001000-1]. The purpose of this paper is to explain how such sound pressure levels are estimated. It is accomplished by adding the results of equations in sub-sectors A, B, and C, all in dBA. This gives the sound pressure of a given valve handling water and installed in a Schedule 40 steel pipe. Additional modifiers are shown to modify the ABC method results for other pipes or fluids. The method is open and entirely based on known fluid-mechanic and acoustic laws such as Newton’s and Lighthill’s. It is claimed that such methods will give prediction results superior to those expected using the current International Electrical Commission (IEC) Standard 60534-8-4 [Baumann, 1970, “On the Prediction of Aerodynamically Created Sound Pressure Levels of Control Valves,” ASME Paper WA/FE—28, Presented at the Annual ASME Winter Meeting, November]. A table is shown presenting test data which are compared to ABC method calculated values. Additional graphical information supporting such great prediction accuracy is also shown.
Effects of ion implantation with arsenic and boron in germanium-tin layers
Authors: Amoah Sylvester , Stanchu Hryhorii , Abernathy Grey , Kryvyi Serhii , De Oliveira Fernando M. , Mazur Yuriy I. , Li Shangda , Liu Shang , Liu Jifeng , Du Wei , Li Baohua , Salamo Gregory , Yu Shui-Qing
Published: April 2024

Ion implantation is widely used in the complementary metal–oxide–semiconductor process, which stimulates to study its role for doping control in rapidly emerging group IV Ge1−xSnx materials. We tested the impact of As and B implantation and of subsequent rapid thermal annealing (RTA) on the damage formation and healing of the Ge1−xSnx lattice. Ion implantation was done at 30, 40, and 150 keV and with various doses. The implantation profiles were confirmed using secondary ion mass spectrometry. X-ray diffraction in combination with Raman and photoluminescence spectroscopies indicated notable crystal damage with the increase of the implantation dose and energy. Significant damage recovery was confirmed after RTA treatment at 300 °C and to a larger extent at 400 °C for a Ge1−xSnx sample with Sn content less than 11%. A GeSn NP diode was fabricated after ion implantation. The device showed rectifying current-voltage characteristics with maximum responsivity and detectivity of 1.29 × 10−3 A/W and 3.0 × 106 cm (Hz)1/2/W at 77 K, respectively.
More than two components: complexities in bacterial phosphosignaling
Authors: Frando Andrew , Grundner Christoph
Published: April 2024

For over 40 years, the two-component systems (TCSs) have taken front and center in our thinking about the signaling mechanisms by which bacteria sense and respond to their environment. In contrast, phosphorylation on Ser/Thr and Tyr (
O
-phosphorylation) was long thought to be mostly restricted to eukaryotes and a somewhat accessory signaling mechanism in bacteria. Several recent studies exploring systems aspects of bacterial
O
-phosphorylation, however, now show that it is in fact pervasive, with some bacterial proteomes as highly phosphorylated as those of eukaryotes. Labile, non-canonical protein phosphorylation sites on Asp, Arg, and His are now also being identified in large numbers in bacteria and first cellular functions are discovered. Other phosphomodifications on Cys, Glu, and Lys remain largely unexplored. The surprising breadth and complexity of bacterial phosphosignaling reveals a vast signaling capacity, the full scope of which we may only now be beginning to understand but whose functions are likely to affect all aspects of bacterial physiology and pathogenesis.
Method of Inducible Knockdown of Essential Genes in OSC Cell Culture of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Marfina S. V. , Mikhaleva E. A. , Akulenko N. V. , Ryazansky S. S.
Published: April 2024

An RNA interference-based method was proposed to achieve an inducible knockdown of genes essential for cell viability. In the method, a genetic cassette in which a copper ion-dependent inducible metallothionein promoter controls expression of a siRNA precursor is inserted into a genomic pre-integrated transgene by CRIPSR/Cas9 technology. The endogenous siRNA source allows the gene knockdown in cell cultures that are refractory to conventional transfection with exogenous siRNA. The efficiency of the method was demonstrated in Drosophila ovarian somatic cell culture (OSC) for two genes that are essential for oogenesis: Cul3, encoding a component of the multiprotein ubiquitin-ligase complex with versatile functions in proteostasis, and cut, encoding a transcription factor regulating differentiation of ovarian follicular cells.
The rs2564978(T) Allele Associated with Severe Influenza A Disrupts the Binding Site for Myeloid Differentiation Factor PU.1 and Reduces CD55/DAF Gene Promoter Activity in Macrophages
Authors: Uvarova A. N. , Tkachenko E. A. , Stasevich E. M. , Bogomolova E. A. , Zheremyan E. A. , Kuprash D. V. , Korneev K. V.
Published: April 2024

The complement inhibitor CD55/DAF is expressed on many cell types. Dysregulation of CD55 expression is associated with increased disease severity in influenza A infection and vascular complications in pathologies that involve excessive activation of the complement system. A luciferase reporter system was used to functionally analyze the single nucleotide polymorphism rs2564978 in the U937 human promonocytic cell line. The polymorphism is in the promoter of the CD55 gene, and its minor allele T is associated with a severe course of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09. A decreased activity of the CD55 promoter carrying the minor rs2564978(T) allele was observed in activated U937 cells, which provide a cell model of human macrophages. Using bioinformatics resources, PU.1 was identified as a potential transcription factor that may bind to the CD55 promoter at the rs2564978 site in an allele-specific manner. The involvement of PU.1 in modulating CD55 promoter activity was verified by a PU.1 genetic knockdown with small interfering RNAs under specific monocyte activation conditions.
Workshop summary: Kaons@CERN 2023
Authors: Anzivino G. , Cuendis Sergio Arguedas , Bernard V. , Bijnens J. , Bloch-Devaux B. , Bordone M. , Brizioli F. , Brod J. , Camalich J. M. , Ceccucci A. , Cenci P. , Christ N. H. , Colangelo G. , Cornella C. , Crivellin A. , D’Ambrosio G. , Deppisch F. F. , Dery A. , Dettori F. , Di Carlo M. , Döbrich B. , Engelfried J. , Fantechi R. , González-Alonso M. , Gorbahn M. , Goudzovski E. , Grossman Y. , Hermansson-Truedsson N. , Hives Z. , Hoferichter M. , Hoid B.-L. , Husek T. , Isidori G. , Jüttner A. , Kampf K. , Kholodenko S. , Knecht M. , Kolesár M. , Koval M. , Lazzeroni C. , Ligeti Z. , Mahmoudi F. , Marchevski R. , Santos Diego Martínez , Massri K. , Mombächer T. , Nanjo H. , Neshatpour S. , Nomura T. , Passemar E. , Peruzzo L. , Piccini M. , Pich A. , Sachrajda C. T. , Schacht S. , Shiomi K. , Stangl P. , Stoffer P. , Swallow J. , Tsang J. T. , Valencia G. , Wanke R. , Zupan J.
Published: April 2024

Kaon physics is at a turning point – while the rare-kaon experiments NA62 and KOTO are in full swing, the end of their lifetime is approaching and the future experimental landscape needs to be defined. With HIKE, KOTO-II and LHCb-Phase-II on the table and under scrutiny, it is a very good moment in time to take stock and contemplate about the opportunities these experiments and theoretical developments provide for particle physics in the coming decade and beyond. This paper provides a compact summary of talks and discussions from the Kaons@CERN 2023 workshop, held in September 2023 at CERN.
Weyl–invariant scalar–tensor gravities from purely metric theories
Authors: Anastasiou Giorgos , Araya Ignacio J. , Chakraborty Avik
Published: April 2024

We describe a method to generate scalar–tensor theories with Weyl symmetry, starting from arbitrary purely metric higher derivative gravity theories. The method consists in the definition of a conformally-invariant metric $$\hat{g}_{\mu \nu }$$

g
^

μ
ν

, that is a rank (0,2)-tensor constructed out of the metric tensor and the scalar field. This new object has zero conformal weight and is given by $$\phi ^{2/\Delta }g_{\mu \nu }$$

ϕ

2
/
Δ

g

μ
ν

, where $$(-\Delta )$$

(
-
Δ
)

is the conformal dimension of the scalar. As $$g_{\mu \nu }$$

g

μ
ν

has conformal dimension of 2, the resulting tensor is trivially a conformal invariant. Then, the generated scalar–tensor theory, which we call the Weyl uplift of the original purely metric theory, is obtained by replacing the metric by $$\hat{g}_{\mu \nu }$$

g
^

μ
ν

in the action that defines the original theory. This prescription allowed us to define the Weyl uplift of theories with terms of higher order in the Riemannian curvature. Furthermore, the prescription for scalar–tensor theories coming from terms that have explicit covariant derivatives in the Lagrangian is discussed. The same mechanism can also be used for the derivation of the equations of motion of the scalar–tensor theory from the original field equations in the Einstein frame. Applying this method of Weyl uplift allowed us to reproduce the known result for the conformal scalar coupling to Lovelock gravity and to derive that of Einsteinian cubic gravity. Finally, we show that the cancellation of the volume divergences in the theory given by the conformal scalar coupling to Einstein–Anti-de Sitter gravity is achieved by the Weyl uplift of the original theory augmented by counterterms, which is relevant in the framework of conformalrenormalization.
Topological dyonic black holes of massive gravity with generalized quasitopological electromagnetism
Authors: Ali Askar , Övgün Ali
Published: April 2024

In this paper we investigate new dyonic black holes of massive gravity sourced by generalized quasitopological electromagnetism in arbitrary dimensions. We begin by deriving the exact solution to the field equations defining these black holes and look at how graviton’s mass, dimensionality parameter, and quasitopological electromagnetic field affect the horizon structure of anti-de Sitter dyonic black holes. We also explore the asymptotic behaviour of the curvature invariants at both the origin and infinity to analyze the geometric structure of the resultant black holes. We also compute the conserved and thermodynamic quantities of these dyonic black holes with the help of established techniques and known formulas. After investigating the relevancy of first law, we look at how various parameters influence the local thermodynamic stability of resultant black hole solution. We also examine how thermal fluctuations affect the local stability of dyonic black holes in massive gravity. Finally, we study the shadow cast of the black hole.
Predicted $$\varXi _b(6087)^0$$ and further predictions
Authors: Tan Wei-Han , Yang Hui-Min , Chen Hua-Xing
Published: April 2024

The methods of QCD sum rules and light-cone sum rules within the framework of heavy quark effective theory have been widely applied to study the singly heavy baryons, and especially, we have applied these methods to predict not only the mass and width of the $$\varXi _b(6087)^0$$

Ξ
b

(
6087
)

0

recently discovered by LHCb, but also its observation channel and its mass difference from the $$\varXi _b(6100)^-$$

Ξ
b

(
6100
)

-

. We apply the same approach to perform a complete study on the P-wave bottom baryons of the SU(3) flavor $${\bar{\textbf{3}}}_F$$

3

¯

F

and investigate their fine structure. Besides the $$\varLambda _b(5912)^0$$

Λ
b

(
5912
)

0

, $$\varLambda _b(5920)^0$$

Λ
b

(
5920
)

0

, $$\varXi _b(6087)^0$$

Ξ
b

(
6087
)

0

, and $$\varXi _b(6100)^-$$

Ξ
b

(
6100
)

-

, our results suggest the existence of the other two $$\varLambda _b$$

Λ
b

and two $$\varXi _b$$

Ξ
b

baryons, whose widths are limited. They are the $$\varLambda _b(J^P = 3/2^-)$$

Λ
b

(

J
P

=
3
/

2
-

)

with the mass and width about $$(5.93^{+0.13}_{-0.13}~\textrm{GeV},\,0.0^{+12.0}_{-~0.0}~\textrm{MeV})$$

(
5
.

93

-
0.13

+
0.13

GeV
,

0
.

0

-

0.0

+
12.0

MeV
)

, the $$\varLambda _b(5/2^-)$$

Λ
b

(
5
/

2
-

)

with $$(5.94^{+0.13}_{-0.13}~\textrm{GeV},\,\approx 0~\textrm{MeV})$$

(
5
.

94

-
0.13

+
0.13

GeV
,

≈
0

MeV
)

, the $$\varXi _b(3/2^-)$$

Ξ
b

(
3
/

2
-

)

with $$(6.10^{+0.15}_{-0.10}~\textrm{GeV},\, 1.4{^{+11.6}_{-~1.4}}~\textrm{MeV})$$

(
6
.

10

-
0.10

+
0.15

GeV
,

1.4

-

1.4

+
11.6

MeV
)

, and the $$\varXi _b(5/2^-)$$

Ξ
b

(
5
/

2
-

)

with $$(6.11^{+0.15}_{-0.10}~\textrm{GeV},\,1.0{^{+7.4}_{-1.0}}~\textrm{MeV})$$

(
6
.

11

-
0.10

+
0.15

GeV
,

1.0

-
1.0

+
7.4

MeV
)

. Their mass splittings are calculated to be $$M_{\varLambda _b(5/2^-)} - M_{\varLambda _b(3/2^-)} = 17\pm 7~\textrm{MeV}$$

M

Λ
b

(
5
/

2
-

)

-

M

Λ
b

(
3
/

2
-

)

=
17
±
7

MeV

and $$M_{\varXi _b(5/2^-)} - M_{\varXi _b(3/2^-)} = 14\pm 7~\textrm{MeV}$$

M

Ξ
b

(
5
/

2
-

)

-

M

Ξ
b

(
3
/

2
-

)

=
14
±
7

MeV

. All these baryons are explained as the P-wave bottom baryons of the $$\rho $$
ρ
-mode, where the orbital excitation is between the two light quarks. However, the existence of this mode is still controversial, so their experimental searches can verify both our approach and the existence of the $$\rho $$
ρ
-mode, which can significantly improve our understanding on the internal structure of hadrons.
Constraining the attractive fifth force in the general free scalar–tensor gravity with solar system experiments
Authors: Zhang Xing , Wang Bo , Niu Rui
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we focus on the general free scalar–tensor gravity with three free coupling functions, which in the near-field region looks like general relativity (GR) plus a fifth force of Yukawa-type induced by the scalar field. We show that the fifth force is always attractive in the theory. We investigate the effects of the attractive fifth force and calculate in detail the fifth force-induced orbital precession rate$$\delta \omega /\omega $$δω/ωand the parameterized post-Newtonian parameters$$\gamma $$γand$$\beta $$β, all of which depend on the fifth force parameters and the interaction distance. It turns out that, due to the attractive fifth force,$$\delta \omega /\omega $$δω/ωis always greater than zero,$$\gamma $$γis always less than one,$$\beta $$βis greater than one at large distances, and additionally this class of theories is ruled out as an alternative theory to dark matter. We place stringent constraints on the fifth force parameters by combining the lunar laser ranging (LLR), Cassini, and Mercury precession experiments, and derive the upper bounds on the strength ratio of the fifth force to gravitational force at different scales from the LLR observation. We find that the Mercury constraint is not competitive with the LLR and Cassini constraints and the LLR observation imposes much more stringent bounds on the strength ratio on large scales than on small scales. Our results show that this theory is sufficiently close to GR for a small enough fifth force strength and can reduce to GR with a minimally coupled scalar field in the absence of fifth force.
$$D_s \rightarrow f_0(980)$$ form factors and the $$D_s^+ \rightarrow (f_0(980) \rightarrow )\left[ \pi \pi \right] _{S}^{\textrm{I} = 0} e^+ \nu _e$$ decay from light-cone sum rules
Authors: Cheng Shan , Zhang Shu-Lei
Published: April 2024

In this paper we revisit $$D_s \rightarrow f_0(980)$$

D
s

→

f
0

(
980
)

form factors from the light-cone sum rules based on the $${\bar{q}}q$$

q

¯

q

picture of $$f_0(980)$$

f
0

(
980
)

. The main motivation of this study is the decay width of $$D_s^+ \rightarrow \left[ \pi \pi \right] _{S}^{\textrm{I} = 0} e^+ \nu _e$$

D
s
+

→

π
π

S

I
=
0

e
+

ν
e

measured recently by BESIII collaboration and the $$D_s \rightarrow f_0(980)$$

D
s

→

f
0

(
980
)

form factor extracted under the resonant model, here the subscript S and superscript $$\textrm{I}=0$$

I
=
0

indicate the S-wave isoscalar dipion system. Our result of the differential width of $$D_s^+ \rightarrow f_0(980) (\rightarrow \left[ \pi \pi \right] _{S}^{\textrm{I} = 0}) e^+ \nu _e$$

D
s
+

→

f
0

(
980
)

(
→

π
π

S

I
=
0

)

e
+

ν
e

decay obtained under the narrow width approximation is lower than the data, the result obtained under the resonant Flatté model is consistent with the data, indicating a sizable mixing $$\sim 20^{\circ }$$

∼

20
∘

between $${\bar{s}}s$$

s

¯

s

and $${\bar{u}}u+{\bar{d}}d$$

u

¯

u
+

d

¯

d

of $$f_0$$

f
0

. In order to get a model independent prediction, we suggest to calculate $$D_s \rightarrow \left[ \pi \pi \right] ^{\textrm{I} = 0}$$

D
s

→

π
π

I
=
0

form factors with the isoscalar dipion light-cone distribution amplitudes. Our calculation of $$D_s \rightarrow \left[ \pi \pi \right] ^{\textrm{I} = 0}$$

D
s

→

π
π

I
=
0

form factors is carried out at leading twist level due to the finite knowledge of dipion system, the differential width shows a moderate evolution in contrast to that obtained from the narrow width approximation and the Flatté model. Since the $$D_s \rightarrow f_0(980)$$

D
s

→

f
0

(
980
)

form factors is dominated by the twist three contribution, further measurements on four-body semileptonic charm decays would help us to study the dimeson light-cone distribution amplitudes, especially for the subleading twist one.
Stability and Bifurcation Analysis of a Spatially Size–Stage-Structured Model with Resting Phase
Authors: Li Yajing , Liu Zhihua
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we consider a spatially size–stage-structured population dynamics model with resting phase. The primary objective of this model is to study size structure, stage structure, resting phase and spatial location simultaneously in a single population system. At first, we reformulate the problem as an abstract nondensely defined Cauchy problem. Then, taking advantage of the integrated semigroup and bifurcation theories, we investigate the stability and Hopf bifurcation at the positive equilibrium of the model. Finally, numerical simulations are presented as evidence to support our analytical results. A discussion of related problems is also presented briefly.
Spatiotemporal and Trade-Off Dynamics in Prey–Predator Model with Domed Functional Response and Fear Effect
Authors: Bhargava Masoom , Anshu  , Dubey Balram
Published: April 2024

In the ecological scenario, predators often risk their lives pursuing dangerous prey, potentially reducing their chances of survival due to injuries. Prey, on the other hand, try to strike a balance between reproduction rates and safety. In our study, we introduce a two-dimensional prey–predator model inspired by Tostowaryk’s work, specifically focusing on the domed-shaped functional response observed in interactions between pentatomid predators and neo-diprionid sawfly larvae. To account for the varying effectiveness of larval group defense, we incorporate a new component into the response equation. Our investigation delves into predator trade-off dynamics by adjusting the predator’s mortality rate to reflect losses incurred during encounters with dangerous prey and prey’s trade-off between safety and reproduction rate incorporating this domed-shaped functional response. Our model demonstrates bistability and undergoes various bifurcations, including transcritical, saddle-node, Hopf, Bogdanov–Takens, and Homoclinic bifurcations. Critical parameters impact both predator and prey populations, potentially leading to predator extinction if losses due to dangerous prey encounters become excessive, highlighting the risks predators face for their survival. Furthermore, the efficacy of group defense mechanisms can further endanger predators. Expanding our analysis to a spatially extended model under different perturbations, we explore Turing instability to explain the relationship between diffusion and encounter parameters through both stationary and dynamic pattern formation. Sensitivity to initial conditions uncovers spatiotemporal chaos. These findings provide valuable insights into comprehending the intricate dynamics of prey–predator interactions within ecological systems.
Bifurcations and Exact Solutions of Optical Soliton Models in Fifth-Order Weakly Nonlocal Nonlinear Media
Authors: Wu Rong , Chen Guanrong , Li Jibin
Published: April 2024

For the optical soliton model in fifth-order weakly nonlocal nonlinear media, to find its exact explicit solutions, the corresponding traveling wave system is formulated as a planar dynamical system with a singular straight line. Then, by using techniques from dynamical systems and singular traveling wave theory developed by [Li & Chen, 2007] to analyze the planar system and find the corresponding phase portraits, the dynamical behavior of the amplitude component can be assessed. Under different parameter conditions, exact explicit solitary wave solutions, periodic wave solutions, kink, and anti-kink wave solutions, compacton solutions, as well as peakons and periodic peakons are found with precise formulations.
Stacked U-Net with Time–Frequency Attention and Deep Connection Net for Single Channel Speech Enhancement
Authors: Parisae Veeraswamy , Nagakishore Bhavanam S.
Published: April 2024

Deep neural networks have significantly promoted the progress of speech enhancement technology. However, a great number of speech enhancement approaches are unable to fully utilize context information from various scales, hindering performance enhancement. To tackle this issue, we introduce a method called TFADCSU-Net (Stacked U-Net with Time-Frequency Attention (TFA) and Deep Connection Layer (DCL)) for enhancing noisy speech in the time–frequency domain. TFADCSU-Net adopts an encoder-decoder structure with skip links. Within TFADCSU-Net, a multiscale feature extraction layer (MSFEL) is proposed to effectively capture contextual data from various scales. This allows us to leverage both global and local speech features to enhance the reconstruction of speech signals. Moreover, we incorporate deep connection layer and TFA mechanisms into the network to further improve feature extraction and aggregate utterance level context. The deep connection layer effectively captures rich and precise features by establishing direct connections starting from the initial layer to all subsequent layers, rather than relying on connections from earlier layers to subsequent layers. This approach not only enhances the information flow within the network but also avoids a significant rise in computational complexity as the number of network layers increases. The TFA module consists of two attention branches operating concurrently: one directed towards the temporal dimension and the other towards the frequency dimension. These branches generate distinct forms of attention — one for identifying relevant time frames and another for selecting frequency wise channels. These attention mechanisms assist the models in discerning “where” and “what” to prioritize. Subsequently, the TA and FA branches are combined to produce a comprehensive attention map in two dimensions. This map assigns specific attention weights to individual spectral components in the time–frequency representation, enabling the networks to proficiently capture the speech characteristics in the T-F representation. The results confirm that the proposed method outperforms other models in terms of objective speech quality as well as intelligibility.
A geometric framework for interstellar discourse on fundamental physical structures
Authors: Esposito Giampiero , Fionda Valeria
Published: April 2024

This paper considers the possibility that abstract thinking and advanced synthesis skills might encourage extraterrestrial civilizations to accept communication with mankind on Earth. For this purpose, a notation not relying upon the use of alphabet and numbers is proposed, in order to denote just some basic geometric structures of current physical theories: vector fields, [Formula: see text]-form fields, and tensor fields of arbitrary order. An advanced civilization might appreciate the way here proposed to achieve a concise description of electromagnetism and general relativity, and hence it might accept the challenge of responding to our signals. The abstract symbols introduced in this paper to describe the basic structures of physical theories are encoded into black and white bitmap images that can be easily converted into short bit sequences and modulated on a carrier wave for radio transmission.
Cosmological solutions in the Brans–Dicke theory via invariants of symmetry groups
Authors: Ahmadi-Azar E. , Atazadeh K. , Eghbali A.
Published: April 2024

We proceed to obtain an exact analytical solution of the Brans–Dicke (BD) equations for the spatially flat ([Formula: see text]) Friedmann–Lamaître–Robertson–Walker (FLRW) cosmological model in both cases of the absence and presence of the cosmological constant. The solution method that we use to solve the field equations of the BD equations is called the “invariants of symmetry groups method” (ISG method). This method is based on the extended Prelle–Singer (PS) method and it employs the Lie point symmetries, [Formula: see text]-symmetries, and Darboux polynomials (DPs). Indeed, the ISG method tries to provide two independent first-order invariants associated to the one-parameter Lie groups of transformations keeping the ordinary differential equations (ODEs) invariant, as solutions. It should be noted for integrable ODEs that the ISG method guarantees the extraction of these two invariants. In this work, for the BD equations in FLRW cosmological model, we find the Lie point symmetries, [Formula: see text]-symmetries, and DPs, and obtain the basic quantities of the extended PS method (which are the null forms and the integrating factors). By making use of the extended PS method we find two independent first-order invariants in such a way that appropriate cosmological solutions from solving these invariants as a system of algebraic equations are simultaneously obtained. These solutions are wealthy in that they include many known special solutions, such as the O’Hanlon–Tupper vacuum solutions, Nariai’s solutions, Brans–Dicke dust solutions, inflationary solutions, etc.
Similarity reduction, group analysis, conservation laws, and explicit solutions for the time-fractional deformed KdV equation of fifth order
Authors: Al-Denari Rasha B. , Ahmed Engy. A. , Seadawy Aly R. , Moawad S. M. , EL-Kalaawy O. H.
Published: April 2024

Through this paper, we consider the time-fractional deformed fifth-order Korteweg–de Vries (KdV) equation. First of all, we detect its symmetries by Lie group analysis with the help of Riemann–Liouville (R-L) fractional derivatives. These symmetries are employed to convert the considered equation into a fractional ordinary differential (FOD) equation in the sense of Erdélyi-Kober (E-K) fractional operator. Also, a set of new analytical solutions for the equation under study are obtained via the power series method. We test the accuracy and effectiveness of this method by providing a numerical simulation of the obtained solution and studying the effect of [Formula: see text] which is represented graphically in 2D and 3D plots. Added to that, we prove the convergence of the power series solutions. Finally, the computation of the conservation laws is introduced in detail.
Edge incident 2-edge coloring of graphs
Authors: Joseph Anu , Dominic Charles
Published: April 2024

The edge incident 2-edge coloring of a graph [Formula: see text] is an edge coloring of the graph [Formula: see text] such that not more than two colors are assigned to the edges incident to an edge [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text]. In other words, for every edge [Formula: see text] in [Formula: see text], the edge [Formula: see text] and all the edges that are incident to the edge [Formula: see text] is in at most two different color classes. The edge incident 2-edge coloring number [Formula: see text] is the maximum number of colors in any edge incident 2-edge coloring of [Formula: see text]. The main objective of this paper is to study the edge incident 2-edge coloring concept and apply the same to some graph classes. Besides finding the exact values of these parameters, we also obtain some bounds.
Towards Efficient and Deposit-Free Blockchain-Based Spatial Crowdsourcing
Authors: Li Mingzhe , Wang Wei , Zhang Jin
Published: April 2024

Spatial crowdsourcing leverages the widespread use of mobile devices to outsource tasks to a crowd of users based on their geographical location. Despite its growing popularity, current crowdsourcing systems often suffer from a lack of transparency, centralization, and other security issues. Blockchain technology has revolutionized this sector with its potential for decentralization, security, and transparency. However, existing blockchain-based crowdsourcing systems often overlook efficient task assignment mechanisms and expose users to potential losses due to the obligatory deposit payments to smart contracts, which might be vulnerable or untrustworthy.

This article proposes EDF-Crowd, an
E
fficient and
D
eposit-
F
ree blockchain-based spatial crowdsoucing framework, to address these challenges. EDF-Crowd introduces an
efficient, customizable task assignment mechanism
based on smart contracts, operating periodically and batch-wise. We also design a
fair compensation mechanism
to compensate users for the extra overhead caused by invoking certain smart contracts. More importantly, we propose a series of
linkage protocols.
By linking users’ back-and-forth actions, EDF-Crowd can
regulate user behavior without requiring users to deposit.
The versatility of EDF-Crowd also allows its application to generic crowdsourcing systems with minimal modifications. We implement EDF-Crowd based on the EOS blockchain. Extensive evaluations show that EDF-Crowd achieves high task assignment efficiency and low cost.
High-energy pacing inhibits slow-wave dysrhythmias in the small intestine
Authors: Nagahawatte Nipuni D. , Avci Recep , Paskaranandavadivel Niranchan , Cheng Leo K.
Published: April 2024

Glucagon was infused in pigs to induce hyperglycemia and the resulting slow-wave response in the intact jejunum was defined in high resolution for the first time. Subsequently, with pacing, the glucagon-induced dysrhythmias were suppressed and spatially entrained for the first time with a success rate of 85%. The ability to suppress slow-wave dysrhythmias through pacing is promising in treating motility disorders that are associated with intestinal dysrhythmias.
MTHFRC 677T Gene Polymorphism and Homocysteine in North China Patients with Varicocele
Authors: Xiu Yiping , Cao Zhiqiang , Yu Dongyang , Yang Caleb , Wang Jiang , Pan Jiancheng , Xin Zhongcheng , Feng Yuhong
Published: April 2024

To investigate the correlation between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T gene polymorphism, homocysteine, and male infertility with varicocele in North China. One Hundred infertile males with varicocele (VC; grade II‐III, VC group) and 100 healthy males with normal semen parameters and no varicocele (NC group) were recruited for PCR microarray, blood and semen testing. Compared with the CC genotype in the NC group, the TT genotype in the NC group and the CC genotype in the VC group showed no significant changes in sperm motility (P = 0.191; P = 0.130), sperm density (P = 0.591, P = 0.643), plasma homocysteine level (P = 0.511; P = 0.677), and seminal plasma MDA (P = 0.752; P = 0.451). In contrast, VC patients with the TT genotype had higher plasma homocysteine level and seminal plasma MDA levels (P  < 0.001), lower partial pressure of oxygen in seminal pulse (PO2; P  < 0.001) and poorer sperm quality (P  < 0.001), as compared with the CC genotype. This suggests that MTHFR C677C>T may not be a risk factor for male Varicocele in North China. However, this may affect the oxidative stress associated with homocysteine expression, which in turn affects semen parameters in VC patients. Larger studies are needed to validate our findings.
Accuracy Evaluation of Monte Carlo Simulation Results Using ENDF/B‐VIII.0 and JENDL‐5 Libraries for 10 MWth Micro Heat Pipe‐Cooled Reactor
Authors: Vu Thanh Mai , Tran Le Quang Linh
Published: April 2024

The micro heat pipe‐cooled reactor is an innovative type of reactor that utilizes heat pipes to cool its core. It consists of a reactor core, an energy conversion system, shielding, and a heat removal system. This reactor shows great potential as a viable option for supplying electricity in remote areas. By incorporating a monolithic core with heat pipes and an efficient heat conversion system, this reactor design eliminates the need for a main pipeline, circulating pump, and auxiliary equipment, resulting in a cost‐effective, compact, and transportable system. The monolithic reactor design has undergone significant advancements in neutronics and thermal hydraulics. This article focuses on evaluating the impact of the latest released nuclear data libraries, ENDF/B‐VIII.0 and JENDL‐5, on calculated neutronics and kinetics parameters. The total keff uncertainty was propagated and found to be significant for both recently evaluated nuclear data libraries (678.52 pcm for ENDF/B‐VIII.0 and 525.91 pcm for JENDL‐5, respectively). The total uncertainty originated from nuclear data was evaluated for total ν, reaction cross sections, and angular distributions in the case of JENDL‐5, and for ENDF/B‐VIII.0, uncertainty from angular distributions was not included because of the unavailability of its multigroup structure covariance matrices. The results reveal that the largest contributor for ENDF/B‐VIII.0 is 235U total (409.18 pcm), while that for JENDL‐5 is 56Fe capture cross section (361.93 pcm). For the kinetic parameter’s uncertainty, the impact on the total βeff, leff, and λeff simulation results was found to be not significant (about 1%).
A Rare Case of an Eosinophilic Pleural Effusion and Loculated Ascites Associated with Strongyloides stercoralis Hyperinfection Syndrome in California
Authors: Phan Alexander T. , Buxton Luke , Choudhery Mohammad Waqas , Ghantarchyan Henrik , Converse Curtis
Published: April 2024

Introduction. Strongyloides stercoralis causes a helminthic infection that occurs via penetration of the skin with migration to the bloodstream, tracheobronchial tree, and gastrointestinal system. Pulmonary manifestations are rare and are typically seen in immunosuppressed patients who have Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection syndrome. Eosinophilic pleural effusions are rare in strongyloidiasis and only cited in a few case reports. Case Presentation. A 45-year-old male with a past medical history of diabetes mellitus, alcoholic cirrhosis, and end-stage renal disease presented to the emergency department with abdominal pain and dyspnea. Imaging studies demonstrated large bilateral pleural effusions, and he subsequently underwent an ultrasound-guided thoracentesis on the right hemithorax, yielding an exudative eosinophilic pleural effusion. An extensive hematology, gastroenterology, and infectious work-up was pursued. Strongyloides immunoglobulin G was positive, and he was successfully treated with ivermectin. Discussion. Eosinophilic pleural effusions related to strongyloidiasis are exceedingly rare. Clinicians should consider Strongyloides stercoralis infection as a part of the differential diagnosis when evaluating immunosuppressed patients with eosinophilic pleural effusions. Loculated abdominal fluid may also be a rare manifestation of Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection syndrome.
Effective and Efficient Android Malware Detection and Category Classification Using the Enhanced KronoDroid Dataset
Authors: Waheed Mudassar , Qadir Sana
Published: April 2024

Android is the most widely used mobile operating system and responsible for handling a wide variety of data from simple messages to sensitive banking details. The explosive increase in malware targeting this platform has made it imperative to adopt machine learning approaches for effective malware detection and classification. Since its release in 2008, the Android platform has changed substantially and there has also been a significant increase in the number, complexity, and evolution of malware that target this platform. This rapid evolution quickly renders existing malware datasets out of date and has a degrading impact on machine learning-based detection models. Many studies have been carried out to explore the effectiveness of various machine learning models for Android malware detection. Majority of these studies use datasets that have compiled using static or dynamic analysis of malware but the use of hybrid analysis approaches has not been addressed completely. Likewise, the impact of malware evolution has not been fully investigated. Although some of the models have achieved exceptional results, their performance deteriorated for evolving malware and they were also not effective against antidynamic malware. In this paper, we address both these limitations by creating an enhanced subset of the KronoDroid dataset and using it to develop a supervised machine learning model capable of detecting evolving and antidynamic malware. The original KronoDroid dataset contains malware samples from 2008 to 2020, making it effective for the detection of evolving malware and handling concept drift. Also, the dynamic features are collected by executing the malware on a real device, making it effective for handling antidynamic malware. We create an enhanced subset of this dataset by adding malware category labels with the help of multiple online repositories. Then, we train multiple supervised machine learning models and use the ExtraTree classifier to select the top 50 features. Our results show that the random forest (RF) model has the highest accuracy of 98.03% for malware detection and 87.56% for malware category classification (for 15 malware categories).
CB307: A Dual Targeting Costimulatory Humabody VH Therapeutic for Treating PSMA-Positive Tumors
Authors: Archer Sophie , Brailey Phillip M. , Song Minjung , Bartlett Phillip D. , Figueiredo Ines , Gurel Bora , Guo Christina , Brucklacher-Waldert Verena , Thompson H. Lorraine , Akinwale Jude , Boyle Samantha E. , Rossant Christine , Birkett Neil R. , Pizzey Julia , Maginn Mark , Legg James , Williams Richard , Johnston Colette M. , Bland-Ward Philip , de Bono Johann S. , Pierce Andrew J.
Published: April 2024

Purpose:

CD137 is a T- and NK-cell costimulatory receptor involved in consolidating immunologic responses. The potent CD137 agonist urelumab has shown clinical promise as a cancer immunotherapeutic but development has been hampered by on-target off-tumor toxicities. A CD137 agonist targeted to the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA), frequently and highly expressed on castration-resistant metastatic prostate cancer (mCRPC) tumor cells, could bring effective immunotherapy to this immunologically challenging to address disease.

Experimental Design:

We designed and manufactured CB307, a novel half-life extended bispecific costimulatory Humabody VH therapeutic to elicit CD137 agonism exclusively in a PSMA-high tumor microenvironment (TME). The functional activity of CB307 was assessed in cell-based assays and in syngeneic mouse antitumor pharmacology studies. Nonclinical toxicology and toxicokinetic properties of CB307 were assessed in a good laboratory practice (GLP) compliant study in cynomolgus macaques.

Results:

CB307 provides effective CD137 agonism in a PSMA-dependent manner, with antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo, and additional activity when combined with checkpoint inhibitors. A validated novel PSMA/CD137 IHC assay demonstrated a higher prevalence of CD137-positive cells in the PSMA-expressing human mCRPC TME with respect to primary lesions. CB307 did not show substantial toxicity in nonhuman primates and exhibited a plasma half-life supporting weekly clinical administration.

Conclusions:

CB307 is a first-in-class immunotherapeutic that triggers potent PSMA-dependent T-cell activation, thereby alleviating toxicologic concerns against unrestricted CD137 agonism.