bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Experimental demonstration of scalable quantum key distribution over a thousand kilometers
Authors: Aliev Aziz , Statiev Vladlen , Zarubin Ilja , Kirsanov Nikita , Strizhak Danil , ﻿﻿﻿Bezruchenko Alexander , Osicheva Alexandra , Smirnov ﻿Alexandr , Yarovikov Michael , Kodukhov Alexey , Pastushenko Valeria , ﻿Pflitsch﻿ Markus , Vinokur Valerii
Published: August 2023

Secure long distance communications protecting the transmitting of sensitive information vital for business and advanced technologies from being accessed by unauthorized individuals, is one of the major challenges of modern life. The existing means of transmitted data protection are vulnerable to upcoming quantum computer attacks. Yet, remarkably, the quantum mechanics that engendered a threat to secure communications offers a guaranteed protection against the malicious attacks allowing to develop novel quantum key distribution (QKD). The major problem of the long-distance transmission arises due to essential signal decay in optical channels occurring at distances about a hundred kilometers. We resolve this problem by an original Terra Quantum QKD (TQ-QKD) protocol using semiclassical pulses containing enough photons for random bit encoding and exploiting erbium amplifiers to retranslate photon pulses and, at the same time, ensuring that at the chosen pulse intensity only a few photons can go outside the channel even at distances of about a hundred meters.As a result, an eavesdropper is incapable to utilize the lost part of the signal. A central component of the TQ-QKD protocol is the end-to-end loss control of the fiber-optic communication line. Our control precision reduces the degree of the signal leak below the detectable level, depriving an eavesdropper any possibility to efficiently utilize the lost part of the signal. Our work experimentally demonstrates the implementation of the TQ-QKD protocol allowing for a fully secure quantum key distribution over 1079 kilometers. Further refining of the transmitting scheme's components will expand the secure transmission scale over the global distances.
Effect of mowing on population maintenance of the endangered silver-studded blue butterfly, Plebejus subsolanus iburiensis (Lepidoptera: Lycaenidae), throughout its life cycle
Authors: Hayamizu Masato , Nakahama Naoyuki , Ohwaki Atsushi , Kinoshita Gohta , Uchida Yoko , Koyama Nobuyoshi , Kida Kazutaka
Published: August 2023

Introduction: The decline in semi-natural grasslands is posing a threat to several grassland insect species, including the silver-studded blue butterfly, Plebejus subsolanus ssp. iburiensis, which is nationally rare species of wild fauna in Japan.
Aims: This study aimed to investigate the impact of mowing on larval and adult populations of P. subsolanus in a conservation area and to identify suitable habitat management methods for this species and other butterflies. We surveyed the number of larvae and adults of P. subsolanus, other butterfly species, and the height, cover, and number of inflorescences of the host plant (Vicia unijuga), in both mowed and unmowed areas.
Results: Larvae only appeared in the mowed area, and the cover and height of host plant were markedly higher in the mowed area. Furthermore, the number of adult P. subsolanus was substantially higher in the mowed areas. However, no statistical differences were observed in the number of other butterfly species, species richness, inflorescences or number of flowering plants between the mowed and unmowed areas.
Discussion: The mowed area is an important habitat for both larvae and adults of P. subsolanus. Although there were no differences in the number of other butterfly species and flowering plants between the mowed and unmowed areas, the vegetation height was negatively correlated with these variables. Implications for insect conservation: Our results show that the creation of areas with reduced vegetation height could be effective in the conservation management of butterfly and floral communities, including P. subsolanus and its host plants.
Multi-faceted Analysis Reveals the Characteristics of Silk Fabrics on A Liao Dynasty DieXie Belt
Authors: Ge Ruochen , Cong Lili , Fu Yongping , Wang Bing , Shen Guiyun , Xu Bing , Hu Mingzhou , Yu Han , Zhou Jie , Yang Lu
Published: August 2023

The Liao dynasty's highly developed textile industry was characterized as "the best in the world" in ancient Chinese literature. This study analyzed two textiles on a 蹀躞(DieXie)belt excavated from the No.1 Liao dynasty noble tomb of Zhangjiayao Forest (Shenyang, China), with one wrapping around the leather belt (T1) and the other on the surface of a leather pouch hanging on the belt (X1). They were identified as silk based on structures by morphological observation and chemical components revealed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Proteomics and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were used to investigate the animal origin of the silk, and the original color and dyestuffs of T1 were examined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS). The results have shown that T1 consists of three layers of Bombyx mori silk plain fabric, and its original color was yellow-red dyed with madder and plants containing flavonoid dyeing tissue, consistent with the color of DieXie belts recorded in the ancient literature. The silk on the pouch is a layer of plain fabric, while the upper layer is embroidery on the Four-end-complex gauze, which was made of twisted Bombyx mori silk. We believe that the silk wrapping around the leather belt was to provide additional comfort and aesthetics after dyeing while protecting the leather, which is prone to warping and moisture. This study suggests that such silk fabrics with high specifications are one of the manifestations of the distinguished status of the tomb owner. The integration of various analytical methods on ancient silk fabrics enables us to learn various information about their textile forms, silk animal origins, colors and dyestuffs, revealing the highly developed silk waving techniques and prosperous costume culture of the Liao Dynasty.
Cellulose-based bi-layer hydrogel evaporator with a low evaporation enthalpy for efficient solar desalination
Authors: Shu Lian , Zhang Xiong-Fei , Wang Zhongguo , Liu Jun , Yao Jianfeng
Published: August 2023

Interfacial evaporation through hydrogel-based evaporators is emerging as a sustainable and cost-effective strategy for drinkable water production. Herein, a specially designed bi-layer hydrogel evaporator was fabricated and used for efficient solar water desalination. The cotton linter cellulose was dispersed in highly concentrated ZnCl2 (65%) solution, and then cross-linked by epichlorohydrin to prepare cellulose composite hydrogel. After removing inorganic salts by salt-leaching, polyaniline (PANi) with a broadband and wide-range light absorption was then integrated into the hydrogel through in situ polymerization to construct a bi-layer evaporator. Due to the interaction between water and cellulose/PANi, the water could be evaporated with a low-energy demand, and the heat from the sunlight could be confined at the interface to achieve an efficient water evaporation. Therefore, the hydrogel evaporator demonstrates an optimal evaporation rate of 3.07 kg m-2 h-1 and photothermal conversion efficiency of 94.42% under 1 sun (1 kW m-2) irradiation. This work provides new possibilities for efficient solar water purification systems with assured water quality.
Optimization on the earlier stages of development of a satellite’s solar array for reduced impact on attitude control during deployment
Authors: Mota Renan , Rocco Evandro
Published: August 2023

During the development of a highly complex system, mid-project modifications can generate additional costs. Those costs can get exponentially higher as the development advances into its final stages. With that in mind, optimizing the subsystems’ components, by choosing the appropriate ones at the beginning of the project can reduce both costs and risks of a space mission. This choice can be facilitated by the use of a computational model, based on a set of precise mathematical models, capable of creating a scenery equivalent to the mission’s. Simulations run with the model allow the analysis of a diverse range of parameters and events. However, it doesn’t eliminate the fact that many of these parameters can influence in the performance of others, and they commonly conflict with each other, making this a multiobjective problem. In this study, the Smallest Loss Criterion is used to aid in the decision making process of artificial satellite structural design. The scenery of this paper’s study is the design of a solar panel deployment system and the impact the choice of its structural parameters can have on the control system during the deployment operation. A pool of solutions is acquired through simulations and the Smallest Loss Criterion is applied with the objective of finding a single balanced solution that can minimize maximum deviation, settling time, and error while maximizing the panel’s absorption surface.
Spatial distribution of soil carbon inputs in permanent grassland vs. cropland in hedge agroforestry systems
Authors: Lesaint Lucas , Viaud Valérie
Published: August 2023

Hedge agroforestry systems are known for their potential to store large amounts of carbon (C) in agricultural soils, but there remains a lack of understanding about the spatial distribution of soil organic C (SOC) stocks near hedges. This study thus focused on the spatial organisation of C inputs near hedges in two crop-livestock systems in Normandy, France. The two sites selected consisted of a permanent grassland or a cropland succession (i.e. annual crops and temporary grassland), each with similar adjacent hedges. At both sites, C inputs from fine roots, hedge leaf litter, organic fertilisation, crop/grass residues and grazing were measured from 0–30 cm in depth at distances of 1, 3 and 10 m from the hedge. At the same time, SOC stocks and their distribution in the fine and coarse fractions of the soil were measured from 0–90 cm in depth at the same distances. Results showed that in the cropland there was higher C inputs from fine-root turnover and hedge leaf litter at 1 and 3 m from the hedge and from crop residues at 10 m from the hedge. In comparison, the grassland received more C inputs from fine-root turnover and grass residues at 1 and 3 m from the hedge. C input from hedge leaf litter was associated with high SOC storage in the coarse soil fraction, while C inputs from fine roots were associated with high SOC storage in the fine soil fraction.
Boys Do Cry: A randomised controlled trial testing the effects of a music video promoting help-seeking for mental health difficulties in Australian men
Authors: Nicholas Angela , Requena Simone Scotti , Rice Assoc Prof Simon , Spittal Matthew J , MacKinnon Andrew , Seidler Zac , Ftanou Maria , Fletcher Justine , Le Long Khanh-Dao , Mihalopoulos Cathrine , Pirkis Jane
Published: August 2023

Purpose In Australia and internationally, it is men who predominately die by suicide. Men are less likely than women to seek help for their mental health difficulties and this may contribute to their higher suicide rates. We created a 4-minute music video encouraging Australian men to seek help for mental health difficulties (Boys Do Cry). We aimed to assess in a randomised controlled trial (RCT) whether the Boys Do Cry video increased men’s intentions to seek help for mental health difficulties from baseline (T1) to post-intervention (1 week = T2).Method We conducted an online single-blind, two-arm RCT comparing the effects of Boys Do Cry against a control video. Analyses were undertaken on an intent-to-treat basis using linear mixed effects models with variables for trial arm, occasion of measurement and their interaction. Intervention effectiveness was assessed by comparing the mean difference between arms in change of the total score on the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire (GHSQ) from T1 to T2.Results 476 participants were randomised (intervention = 243; control = 233). At T1, GHSQ means were similar (intervention = 45.28; control = 45.70). After viewing the videos, GHSQ means increased in both arms (intervention = 47.33; control = 46.59), with no evidence of a difference in scores at T2 (modelled mean difference = 0.62, 95% CI -1.11 to 2.35, p = 0.485). Similar results were observed for all secondary outcomes. No adverse events were observed.Conclusions Boys Do Cry demonstrated some evidence of a positive effect on help-seeking intentions among Australian men; however, so too did the control video, and no significant difference was observed.Trial registration ANZCTR No. 2621001008819. Registered 30 July 2021.
Targeting the p97-Npl4 Interaction Inhibits Tumor-infiltrated Regulatory T but Promotes Th17 Cell Development to Selectively Trigger Antitumor Immunity
Authors: Zhou Zhaocai , Nie Pingping , Yu Ruixian , Cao Zhifa , Zhang Weihong , Meng Yang , Zhang Hui , An Liwei , Tong Zhenzhu , Jiang Xiaoya , Wang Shilong , Han Yi , Wang Wenjia , Li Bin , Xu Yuanzhi , Jiao Shi
Published: August 2023

Therapeutic targeting of tumor-infiltrated regulatory T (TI-Treg) cells is attracting for cancer treatment; yet current ways remain lacking of selectivity and efficiency. Due to its crucial role in protein homeostasis and cancer cell proliferation, the ATPase p97 in complex with its cofactors such as Npl4 has been intensively investigated as a drug target. However, whether p97 plays a role in immune cells is unclear. Instead of directly inhibiting p97 enzymatic activity as usual, here we first performed an AlphaScreen using purified recombinant proteins of p97 and Npl4, which identified thonzonium bromide (TB), an FDA-approved drug, as an inhibitor for p97-Npl4 interaction; then by serendipity we discovered an essential role for the p97-Npl4 complex in TI-Treg; and finally, we demonstrated a highly selective effect of TB on boosting antitumor immunity alone or in combination with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. Mechanistically, the p97-Npl4 complex was found to bridge Stat3 with E3 ligases PDLIM2/5, thereby promoting Stat3 degradation. TB inhibition of the p97-Npl4 interaction caused Stat3 accumulation to block TI-Treg but promote Th17 development. Notably, TB selectively reshaped tumor microenvironment without affecting immune homeostasis outside of tumor. Collectively, this work revealed a key role for the p97-Npl4 complex in controlling the TI-Treg-Th17 balance, offering a new type of antitumor immunotherapy with oral administration of TB.
A hybrid Model for The Detection of Retinal Disorders Using Artificial Intelligence Techniques
Authors: Salaheldin Ahmed M. , Wahed Manal Abdel , Saleh Neven
Published: August 2023

The prevalence of vision impairment is rising at an alarming rate. The goal of the study is to create an automated method that uses Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) to classify retinal disorders into four categories, namely, Choroidal Neovascularization, Diabetic Macular Edema, Drusen, and normal cases. The study proposed a new framework that combines machine learning and deep learning-based techniques. The utilized classifiers were Support Vector Machine (SVM), K-Nearest Neighbor (K-NN), Decision Tree (DT), and Ensemble Model (EM). A feature extractor was also employed, which was the InceptionV3 convolutional neural network. The performance of the models has been measured over nine criteria using a dataset of 18000 OCT images. For the SVM, K-NN, DT, and EM, the analysis exhibited state-of-the-art performance with classification accuracies of 99.43%, 99.54%, 97.98%, and 99.31%, respectively. A promising methodology has been introduced for the automatic identification and classification of retinal disorders leading to reducing human error and saving time alike.
Predictors of Anthracycline-inducedcardiotoxicity in Lymphoma Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: LOPEZ-GARCIA A. , MACIA E. , GOMEZ-TALAVERA S. , CASTILLO E. , MORILLO D. , TUÑON J. , IBAÑEZ B. , CORDOBA R.
Published: August 2023

Background: Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity (CT) is a growing concern for public health, with a growing incidence due to improved survival rates for patients with hematological malignancies due to diagnostic and therapeutic advances. Identification of patients at risk for anthracycline-induced CT is vital to develop preventive strategies.
Methods: A single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted between 1 January 2017 and 15 February 2023. Medical records of patients with lymphoma treated with first-line anthracyclines were reviewed. Demographic data, cardiovascular risk factors, biomarkers of myocardial damage and echocardiographic information were collected.
Results: A total of 200 patients were included. The incidence of CT was 17.4 % (35/200). Patients with CT were older than those without CT, with a mean age of 65.17 years vs 56.77 (p = 0.008). Dyslipidemia (DL) (31.4% vs 13.4% p = 0.017) and previous cardiovascular disease (40% vs 13.3%, p< 0.001) were more frequent in the group who developed an event. Mean baseline NT-proBNP levels in the subgroup with cardiovascular events were 388.73 kg /L ± 101.02, and 251.518 kg /L ± 26.22 in those who did not (p = 0.004). Differences in Troponin I levels were identified during and after treatment without exceeding the laboratory’s upper reference limit. Patients were followed for a median of 51.83 months (0.76-73.49). The presence of a CT event had a negative impact on overall mortality from any cause (HR = 2.23 (95% CI 1.08-2.93), p = 0.031).
Conclusions: Early identification of risk factors is crucial to manage patients at risk for anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity.
A new screen-printed carbon sensor decorated gold nanoparticles/kaolinite mineral: electrochemical analysis of Propyphenazone and the investigation of ds-DNA interaction
Authors: Yıldız Ceren , Bayraktepe Dilek Eskiköy , Yazan Zehra
Published: August 2023

This work represents the development of natural kaolinite mineral (Kao)−gold nanoparticles (GNPs) modified screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) based on biocompatible electrode material for the electrochemical quantification of Propyphenazone (PROP) and the investigation of the interaction between PROP and ds-DNA. The surface characteristics of the Kao−GNPs/SPCE were examined by Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), and Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FE-SEM) with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) methods. The effect of Kao and gold compositions, pH, and interferences studied the analytical performance of this sensor. PROP has an irreversible oxidation signal on Kao−GNPs/SPCE sensor surface. Based on this oxidation signal, calibration works were carried out using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and linear working range, LOD, and LOQ were determined. The real sample analysis of PROP was implemented in human serum samples with a recovery value of 99.43%. Binding constant (K) and Gibbs free energy change (ΔG°) relating to the interaction between PROP and ds-DNA were calculated to be 2.14 (± 0.42) × 104 M− 1 and − 24.70 kJ mol− 1, respectively.
Effect of diurnal solar radiation regime and tree density on sap flow of Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) in fragmented stands
Authors: Singh Vivek Vikram , Zabihi Khodabakhsh , Trubin Aleksei , Jakuš Rastislav , Cudlín Pavel , Korolyova Nataliya , Blaženec Miroslav
Published: August 2023

The continuous threat of ongoing climate changes and related weather anomalies pose a significant challenge to forest ecosystems. The phytosociological structure of forests plays a crucial role in determining their resilience to various biotic and abiotic stressors. Moreover, stand density, which regulates the allocation of resources within individual trees, is a vital aspect for comprehending forest functioning. This study was conducted in Norway spruce forests located in the Czech Republic, where we investigated the influence of tree density on sap flow rates within three predefined directions corresponding to sun position during the morning (5:00–11:10 hours; East), noon (11:10–15:10 hours; South), and evening (15:10–21:10 hours; West) intervals. Tree density was calculated within a 10m radius buffer around each tree using high spatial resolution aerial imagery acquired by Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV). We measured the sap flow in 10-minute intervals for 25 selected trees during the nine hottest days of the summer in 2019. We normalized sap flow measures using the abundance of tree foliage, which was qualitatively evaluated in the field as a reverse estimate of defoliation. The normalized data were used in further statistical analyses. Our findings reveal a strong negative correlation between sap flow and tree density, underscoring the substantial impact of neighboring tree density on tree transpiration. This relationship was most pronounced during midday, followed by the evening and morning hours, suggesting that sparser stands experience greater water deficit. The interaction between stand density and incoming solar radiation may constitute a crucial factor allowing forests to endure and adapt to climate change and other stressors such as bark beetle infestations.
Patent Processus vaginalis: role of ultrasound in pediatric population with unilateral inguinal hernia and other predictors
Authors: Abdelmotaal Yehia S. , Taher Heba , Kaddah Sherif , Elbarbary Mohamed , Elsayem Karam
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Inguinal hernia (IH) is a daily practice for pediatric surgeons. In a developing country with limited facilities predicting and diagnosing a contralateral patent processus vaginalis (PPV) is important to avoid the risk and cost of further surgery. Objectives: To assess accuracy of ultrasound in detecting PPV was our main objective using laparoscopic evaluation as a confirmatory test. We also looked for different predictors for PPV in our study population. Methods: One hundred forty-one patients were included in this 2-year cross-sectional prospective study; each patient was assessed in outpatient clinics then had a pre-operative ultrasound. This was followed by laparoscopic evaluation during repair of the hernia. Inclusion criteria were bilateral inguinal hernia elective patients, with no major comorbidities and age between 2months to 8years. Results: A total of 141 patients were included, 110 (78%) were males, 121 (85.9%) were full term and 96 (68.1) had right side hernia. Mean age 2.64 ± 1.9. The Ultrasound sensitivity showed 85.7% sensitivity, specificity 90.8%, and accuracy 90.1%. We analyzed other predictors with age less than 1 year, right side hernia and defect size more than 10mm were statistically significant predictors for a contralateral PPV. Conclusion: ultrasound has a high accuracy profile and is a beneficial alternative in the instances of limited settings and restricted access to minimally invasive surgery. Patients with age less than one year, right side hernia or larger manifested hernia defect has higher risk of having contralateral PPV.
Effects of a single strength training session on the peripheral concentrations of irisin in trained men
Authors: Ferreira Larissa , Borges Marcos , Nagata Gabriela Yumi , Barroso Lucélia Scarabeli Silva , Fernandes Heliana Barros , Souza-Gomes Antonio Felipe , Miranda Aline Silva , Nunes-Silva Albená
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Strength training is recommended for improving muscle strength and performance. It is shown that endocrine mediators, such as irisin, mediate part of these benefits. However, the acute effects of strength training on peripheral concentrations of irisin remain poorly understood.
Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of a single strength training session on irisin plasma and urinary concentrations in trained adult men.
Methods: Fourteen healthy men participated in a strength training program. The strength training protocol included bench press, 45° inclined leg press, and lat pulldown exercises, with four sets of repetitions maximum at 60% of the evaluated1RM, 120 seconds for intervals between sets and exercises. Blood samples were collected pre-, post, and 1h-post, while urine samples were collected pre and 1h-post and measured using the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.
Results: The results show that a strength training session at 60% of 1RM can increase plasma lactate concentration levels from 1.19 ± 0.38 to 15.69 ± 2.22 mmol/L. Furthermore, heart rate increased from 93.95 ± 10.87 to 126.80 ± 10.23 bpm, and perceived exertion (RPE) rating rose from 0 to 9.39 ± 0.80. No changes were observed in plasma and urine levels of irisin.
Conclusion: A single bout of strength training can induce acute changes in physiological parameters; however, this stimulus does not affect plasma and urinary iris concentrations in adult men experienced in strength training.
Proteomic analysis of exosomes secreted during the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and potential biomarkers of mesenchymal high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Ferreira Germano Aguiar , Thomé Carolina Hassibe , Izumi Clarice , Grassi Mariana Lopes , Lanfredi Guilherme Pauperio , Smolka Marcus , Faça Vitor Marcel , Reis Francisco José Candido
Published: August 2023

Background: The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) promotes cell signaling and morphology alterations, contributing to metastatic progression. Exosomes, extracellular vesicles containing proteins involved in cell-cell communication, have emerged as potential source of biomarkers for several diseases.
Methods: In this study, our aim was to evaluate the proteome of exosomes secreted after EMT-induction in order to identify potential biomarkers for ovarian cancer classification. EMT was induced in the ovarian cancer cell line CAOV3 by treating it with EGF (10 ng/mL) for 96 hours following 24 hours of serum deprivation. Subsequently, exosomes were isolated from the supernatant using selective centrifugation after decellularization, and their characteristics were determined. The proteins present in the exosomes were extracted, identified, and quantified using Label-Free-Quantification (LFQ) using LC-MS/MS. To identify potential biomarkers, the obtained proteomic data was integrated with the TGGA database for mRNA expression using principal component analysis and a conditional inference tree.
Results: The exosomes derived from CAOV3 cells exhibited similar diameter and morphology, measuring approximately 150 nm, regardless of whether they were subjected to EMT stimulation or not (~). The proteomic analysis of proteins from CAOV3-derived exosomes revealed significant differential regulation of 157 proteins, with 100 showing upregulation and 57 downregulation upon EMT induction. Further comparison of the upregulated proteins with the TCGA transcriptomic data identified PLAU, LAMB1, COL6A1, and TGFB1 as potential biomarkers of mesenchymal HGSOC subtype.
Conclusions: EMT induction, exosome isolation, and proteomic analysis highlight potential biomarkers for aggressive ovarian cancer. Further investigation into the role of these proteins in warranted enhancing our understanding of ovarian cancer outcomes.
Planckian behavior of cuprates at the pseudogap critical point simulated via flat electron-boson spectral density
Authors: Park Hwiwoo , Park Jun H. , Hwang Jungseek
Published: August 2023

Planckian behavior has been recently observed in La1.76Sr0.24CuO4 at the pseudogap critical point. The Planckian behavior takes place in an intriguing quantum metallic state at a quantum critical point. Here, the Planckian behavior was simulated with an energy-independent (or flat) and weakly temperature-dependent electron-boson spectral density (EBSD) function by using a generalized Allen's (Shulga's) formula. We obtained various optical quantities from the flat EBSD function, such as the optical scattering rate, the optical effective mass, and the optical conductivity. These quantities are well fitted with the recently observed Planckian behavior. Fermi-liquid behavior was also simulated with an energy-linear and temperature-independent EBSD function. The EBSD functions agree well with the overall doping- and temperature-dependent trends of the EBSD function obtained from the optically measured spectra of cuprate systems, which can be crucial for understanding the microscopic electron-pairing mechanism for high-Tc superconductivity in cuprates.
Evaluating the Efficacy of EEG Features and Data Fusion in Migraine Diagnosis
Authors: Saeedinia Samaneh Alsadat , Jahed-Motlagh Mohammad Reza , Tafakhori Abbas
Published: August 2023

This study investigates the potential of using EEG features for the diagnosis of migraine. The asymmetry, phase synchronization, and relative power spectra of EEG signals were analyzed in 10 migraineurs and 10 healthy subjects. The objective of the study is to ascertain the relative importance of distinct characteristics in migraine diagnosis and establish a more effective classifier model for a limited dataset application. Singular features displayed inadequate accuracy in migraine classification under no photic stimulation, with an accuracy of roughly 70%. However, data fusion using the Random Forest algorithm resulted in a 5% increase in accuracy, achieving an accuracy of 75% with no photic stimulation and 88% under 3Hz photic stimulation. Results indicates that Random Forest is the most efficient classifier model for the identification of migraine utilizing a small dataset with numerous characteristics. The study presents innovative perspectives into the efficacy of amalgamating multiple well-known EEG abnormalities for migraine diagnosis and highlights the significance of meticulous deliberation of the choice of classification model and the scale of the dataset in constructing precise and dependable diagnostic tools for migraine. The findings demonstrate the potential for future studies to explore additional characteristics and algorithms to boost the accuracy of migraine classification. This investigation contributes to the burgeoning collection of research in the field of migraine diagnosis and presents a foundation for further inquiry into the amalgamation of multiple characteristics and the effectiveness of distinct methods.
Development and Validation of Deep Learning Models for Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma Survival
Authors: Liu Yan , yang Yang , Zhao Wenna , Zhang Yuan , Huang Changzhen , Wang Yuanjian , Chu Ran , Li Li , Wang Yu
Published: August 2023

Background Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is a rare and distinct histologic subtype of epithelial ovarian carcinomas. Few studies have explored the use of deep learning models for predicting survival in OCCC. Our study aims to compare the performance of deep learning models with a multivariate Cox regression model in predicting survival for OCCC patients. Methods In this population-based cohort study, we extracted 926 patients diagnosed with OCCC between 2010 and 2017 from the Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) database. Three algorithms, including DeepSurv and neural multi-task logistic regression (NMTLR) based on neural networks, and RSF based on ensemble learning, were chosen for training. Additionally, a Cox proportional hazard model was constructed for comparison purposes. The algorithm was externally validated on an independent test cohort, comprising 134 OCCC patients diagnosed between January 2005 and July 2021 in Qilu Hospital of Shandong University. The model's performance was assessed using the C-index and IBS (Integrated Brier Score), while the accuracy of predicting 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival was evaluated using ROC and AUC. Furthermore, a user-friendly interface was developed to facilitate the use of deep learning models for predicting survival. Results The deep learning model has demonstrated promising results in predicting overall survival (OS) for OCCC patients, outperforming the Cox proportional hazard model. DeepSurv consistently exhibited superior prediction performance compared to the Cox proportional hazard model in both the SEER training set (C-index: 0.781 vs. 0.724) and the independent China test set (C-index: 0.836 vs. 0.829). Additionally, the DeepSurv model displayed significantly higher AUC values for 3-year and 5-year OS in the China cohort when compared to the Cox proportional hazard model (AUC for 3-year OS: 0.844 vs. 0.836; AUC for 5-year OS: 0.821 vs. 0.817). Moreover, we developed a user-friendly graphical interface that allows for visualization of the deep learning model. Conclusions This study appears that deep learning models hold more promising than traditional linear regression models in predicting OS in OCCC patients. However, it is important to note that further large-scale, real-world studies are required to validate and substantiate this model.
Preoperative sarcopenia as a predictor of post-induction hypotension in elderly patients undergoing cardiac surgery - A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: fan guanglei fan , Zang Baohe , 扶 书扬 , cai wen , 郑 明珠 , Shan Tianchi , Xu Wei , Zhao Wenjing
Published: August 2023

Purpose
The effect of sarcopenia on post-induction hypotension(PIH) of cardiac surgery remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to assess whether preoperative sarcopenia could be used to predict the outcome of post-induction hypotension in elderly cardiac surgery patients.
Methods
212 elderly patients undergoing elective open heart surgery who had an abdominal CT scan within 120 days before surgery. The primary predictor was Sarcopenia, defined as an age-related loss of skeletal muscle mass plus loss of muscle strength and/or reduced physical performance. The primary outcome was the incidence of post-induction hypotension. The univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to identify risk factors for PIH.
Results
Sixteen percent of the patients (n = 34) had sarcopenia before cardiac surgery. The sarcopenic group had significantly lower BMI, hemoglobin levels, and base MAP, and higher ASA class, NT-ProBNP concentration, PIH, and major morbidity compared to non-sarcopenic individuals. In multivariate analysis, age (aOR = 1.07, 95% CI1.00-1.14; p = 0.036), ASA class(aOR = 2.15,95% CI 1.02–4.52; p = 0.043), Base MAP (aOR = 0.97,95% CI 0.94-1.00; p = 0.042) and sarcopenia (aOR 4.78, 95% CI 1.90-12.06; p = 0.001) were associated with PIH. The area under the ROC curve (95% CI) for sarcopenia score, ASA class, and both predicting PIH were 0.729(0.672-0781), 0.649(0.589–0.706), and 0.758(0.702–0.808), respectively. The difference in AUC between the ASA class and both combined was statistically significant (Z = 4.27, P < 0.001) and a statistically significant difference in AUC between sarcopenia and both combined (Z = 2.30, P = 0.021).
Conclusions
Sarcopenia is an independent predictor of post-induction hypotension of cardiac surgery in the elderly and can be used for preoperative risk assessment. In addition, its combination with traditional risk assessment tools (ASA classification) can improve the predictive accuracy of PIH.
Juvenile southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) uses snow hole to fast in winter at its southernmost breeding site
Authors: Wu Fuxing , Dai Yufei
Published: August 2023

Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) are the largest pinniped in the world and exhibit a circumpolar distribution in the Southern Ocean. They return to shore for breeding or molting in austral summer and autumn (October to April) for a short time, but onshore sightings of elephant seals after June are rare. This note provides the first record of a juvenile elephant seal fasting in a snow hole at Fildes Peninsula, King George Island, Antarctica, for at least 34 days in June and July 2014 before finally returning to the sea. During the study period, although the conditions of the snow hole changed as snow continuously fell, the seal slept inside for the entirety of this period. Hypotheses as to why an elephant seal hauled out and fasted inside the snow hole during the winter are discussed and included energy conservation, limitation of heat loss, and avoidance of predators, which may provide some insights into the winter behavior of this species.
Cabrol Procedure and Its Modifications： A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Yang Sen , Zhang Ya-yong , Zi Yun-feng , Pu Lei , Qian Xu , Ren Le , Li Yong-bo , Jin Zhi-hao , Liu Jian-feng , Yuan Zhuo , Li Ya-Xiong
Published: August 2023

Background
Cabrol procedure has undergone various modifications and advancements since it was invented. However, there is a notable gap in the literature regarding meta-analyses assessing the Cabrol procedure.
Methods
A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness and long-term outcomes of the Cabrol procedure and its modifications. Pooling was conducted using random-effects model. Outcome events were reported as linearized occurrence rates (percentage per patient year) with 95% confidence intervals.
Results
A total of 14 studies involving 833 patients (mean age: 50 years; 71% male) were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled early mortality rate was 9.0% (66 patients), and the combined rate of reoperation due to bleeding was 4.9% (17 patients). During the average 4.4-year follow-up (3,727 patient-years), the annual occurrence rates (linearized) for complications were as follows: 3.63% (2.79–4.73) for late mortality, 0.64% (0.35–1.18) for aortic root reoperation, 0.57% (0.25–1.31) for hemorrhage events, 0.66% (0.16–2.74) for thromboembolism, 0.60% (0.29–1.26) for endocarditis, 2.32% (1.04–5.16) for major valve-related adverse events, and 0.58% (0.34–0.98) for Cabrol-related coronary graft complications.
Conclusion
This systematic review provides evidence that the outcomes of the Cabrol procedure and its modifications are acceptable in terms of mortality, reoperation, anticoagulation, valve-related complications, especially in Cabrol-related coronary graft complications. Notably, the majority of Cabrol procedures were performed in reoperation and complex cases. Furthermore, the design and anastomosis of the dacron interposition graft for coronary reimplantation, considering natural anatomy and physiological hemodynamics, may represent a promising avenue for future advancements in this field.
Sugarcane Bagasse Ash in Alkali-Activated Concrete Mix Proportion for 3D printing: An experimental investigation on Fresh and Hardened Properties
Authors: Mukherjee Kingshuk , Kapoor Ashish , Chourasia Ajay
Published: August 2023

In contrast to traditional casting, 3D printing builds complex architectural and structural components by depositing extruded materials layer by layer without the need of molds or human labor. Critical early-age qualities that define the 3D printed alkali activated concrete are extrudability, shape retention, buildability, and open time. This paper investigates the fresh and hardened properties of alkali activated concrete mix utilizing sugarcane bagasse ash, fly ash and ground granulated blast furnace slag(GGBFS) suitable for extrusion-based 3D printing. The percentages of fly ash, GGBFS, bagasse ash were varied, while the sodium silicate/sodium hydroxide ratio was fixed at 1:1 and sand: binder was kept 1.3:1 and a total of six mixes were characterized by a systematic experimental approach to obtain a best printable mix. The outcomes show that bagasse ash, with a suitable substitution ratio of 20% fly ash, is a useful binder for alkali-activated concrete printing. It was revealed that while addition of bagasse ash (BA) increased the open time for printing, it resulted in decreased workability and continuous increment of BA resulted in diminishing value of compressive strength.
Mori-Zwanzig Approach for Belief Abstraction with Application to Belief Space Planning
Authors: Hou Mengxue , Lin Tony X. , Zhou Enlu , Zhang Fumin
Published: August 2023

We propose a learning-based method to extract symbolic representations of the belief state and its dynamics in order to solve planning problems in a continuous-state partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDP) problem. While existing approaches typically parameterize the continuous-state POMDP into a finite-dimensional Markovian model, they are unable to preserve fidelity of the abstracted model. The first major contribution of this paper is we propose a Neural Network based method to learn the non-Markovian transition model based on the Mori-Zwanzig (M-Z) formalism. Different from existing work in applying M-Z formalism to autonomous time-invariant systems, our approach is the first work generalizing the M-Z formalism to robotics, by addressing the non-Markovian modeling of the belief dynamics that is dependent on historical observations and actions. The second major contribution is we theoretically show that modeling the non-Markovian memory effect in the abstracted belief dynamics improves the modeling accuracy, which is the key benefit of the proposed algorithm. Simulation experiment of a belief space planning problem is provided to validate the performance of the proposed belief abstraction algorithms.
Preparation and Properties of PDMS elastomer cross-linked with hydrolyzate of TEOS, HEDS, or OETS oligomers: influence of cross-linker structure
Authors: Sato Yohei , Hayami Ryohei , Yamamoto Kazuki , Gunji Takahiro
Published: August 2023

Linear oligoethoxysiloxanes were hydrolyzed, and the resulting hydrolyzates were dimethylsilylated to produce Si–H terminated ethoxysiloxanes (CLs). These CLs were characterized using gel permeation chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated the formation of highly condensed cyclic siloxanes, four-membered cyclic siloxanes, and linearly condensed cyclic siloxanes when derived from tetraethoxysilane, hexaethoxydisiloxane, and octaethoxytrisiloxane, respectively. The CLs were subsequently reacted with vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane in the presence of the Karstedt catalyst to yield PDMS elastomers, which are comprised of di- and quadra-functional silicones. Tests for transmittance, thermal properties, tensile strength, and swelling in toluene were conducted to assess the impact of the molecular weight and microstructure of the CLs on the final products. As the number of silicon atoms in the linear oligoethoxysiloxanes increased, there was a noticeable rise in the secant modulus and a reduction in the degree of swelling. These findings suggest that the structure of PDMS elastomers can be tailored by varying the structure of the linear oligosiloxanes used as a cross-linking agent.
Noise Injection-based Regularization for Point Cloud Processing
Authors: Zang Xiao , Liao Siyu , Chen Jie , Yuan Bo
Published: August 2023

Noise injection-based regularization, such as Dropout, has been widely used in image domain to improve the performance of deep neural networks (DNNs). However, efficient regularization in the point cloud domain is rarely exploited, and most of the state-of-the-art works focus on the data augmentation-based regularization. In this paper, we, for the first time, perform systematic investigation on noise injection-based regularization for point cloud-domain DNNs. To be specific, we propose a series of regularization techniques, namely DropFeat, DropPoint and DropCluster, to perform noise injection on the point feature maps at the feature level, point level and cluster level, respectively. We also empirically analyze the impacts of different factors, including dropping rate, cluster size and dropping position, to obtain useful insights and general deployment guidelines, which can facilitate the adoption of our approaches across different datasets and DNN architectures.We evaluate our proposed approaches on various DNN models for different point cloud processing tasks. Experimental results show that our approaches enable significant performance improvement. Notably, our DropCluster brings 1.5%, 1.3% and 0.8% higher overall accuracy for PointNet, PointNet++ and DGCNN, respectively, on ModelNet40 shape classification dataset. On ShapeNet part segmentation dataset, DropCluster brings 0.5%, 0.6% and 0.2% mean Intersection-over-union (IoU) increase for PointNet, PointNet++ and DGCNN, respectively. On S3DIS semantic segmentation dataset, DropCluster improves the mean IoU of PointNet, PointNet++ and DGCNN by 3.2%, 2.9% and 3.7%, respectively. Meanwhile, DropCluster also enables the overall accuracy increase for these three popular backbone DNNs by 2.4%, 2.2% and 1.8%, respectively.
A Cnn Model for Improved Image Denoising With an Attention Guided Feature Selection
Authors: MANGE GLADYS , Mwangi Waweru , Kimwele Michael , Gómez Jorge Marx
Published: August 2023

Deep Convolutional Neural Networks, or DCNNs, have undergone numerous modifications to enhance their capabilities in image processing, including image restoration, but there is still room for improvement. They have been improved in a number of ways, including reducing information loss, increasing feature utilization , and reducing computational complexity. This study presents a network structure known as CNN with attention (CNWATT2) that can preserve detail and edge information while also making the denoised image easier to view. Multiple features from the input image are extracted and fed into a forward network structure by the CNWATT2 using convolutional kernels of varying sizes. It is made up of two CNNs, and an attention module is added to the output of each CNN so that it can choose the features that affect the model before the concate-nation operation (attention-guided concatenation) to combine these features into the final feature map. The feature selection mechanism is enhanced by incorporating an attention model at the output of each CNN model. The CNWATT2 denoising method outperforms recently used denoising models DnCNN, FFD-NET IRCNN, and BRDNET in terms of both objective and subjective quality and its ability to effectively remove Gaussian noise from both color and grayscale images.
Early Life Stress Modulates Sexual Orientation via Oxytocin and Arginine Vasopressin
Authors: Shi Haishui , Liu Congcong , Du Yuru , Huang Shihao , Wang Yanyang , Sun Ruoxuan , Zhao Ye , Huang Boya , Yang Rui , Hao Ying , Wang Xueyi , Wang Yumei , Xue Yanxue , Shi Yun , Wang Sheng , Chen Haiying , Li Youdong
Published: August 2023

Although interactions between environmental and biological factors could affect sexual orientation, little is known about whether early life stress (ELS) may alter sexual orientation by modulating sex hormone levels. We investigated the potential role of two sex hormones: oxytocin (OT) and arginine vasopressin (AVP), in sexual orientation changes induced by ELS. The 89 adult men participants were divided into heterosexual (n = 32) and gay/bisexual (n = 57) groups. Sexual orientation, mental health, and the serum levels of OT and AVP were evaluated. The results indicated that gay/bisexual men experienced more ELS with lower OT and AVP levels. Animal study also demonstrated that ELS resulted in decreased OT and AVP levels and a preference for same-sex in male mice which could be reversed via intraperitoneal OT/AVP treatment. Summarily, individuals with ELS are susceptible to sexual orientation changes and OT/AVP could ameliorate it, which extend the underlying mechanisms of ELS-induced sexual orientation changes.