bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Mechanical properties and microstructural analysis of laterite stone masonry from India for sustainable construction
Authors: Bhat Dhanalakshmi Kiran , Kamath Kiran , Banerjee Susanta , Bhat P Kiran , Isleem Haytham F. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractLaterite is a naturally occurring rock formation that is used worldwide as a building material in tropical regions. Its unique features have enabled some of the most astounding architectural feats, which irrevocably altered the cultural and historical contexts of their surroundings. This study examines the laterite stone masonry performance, with a specific focus considering its mechanical properties, mineral composition, and microstructure. However, mineralogical composition and microstructural features vary, affecting mechanical qualities and endurance. The study also extensively examines four varieties of laterite samples used for construction in the Udupi region. Experiments were performed to determine the percentage of water absorption and its impact on the compressive strength of Laterite stone. L1 Laterite stone showed better performance due to its exceptional strength. It surpasses the other samples and is well-suited for the construction of load-bearing structures as it aligns with the IS 3620 standards. Stack bond masonry prism samples were built using four varieties of laterite stones with 1:6 cement mortar for the joints. These prism specimens were subsequently tested under compression, tension, and shear loading to determine the variation in their behaviour. The series of tests performed revealed that the prisms failed due to splitting and crushing under compression loads. In shear and tensile bond tests, all laterite masonry prism samples failed due to rupture of the joint. Microstructure study confirmed that the increased strength of lateritic samples L1 and L2 is due to less prominent clay particles coupled with a higher percentage of ferrous content.
Microbiostatic effect of indoor air quality management with low-concentration gaseous chlorine dioxide on fungal growth
Authors: Mitani Ryosuke , Yamanaka Hiroko , Ishigaki Yo , Nakayama Daisuke , Sakamoto Mitsuharu , Watanabe Chihiro , Mori Tatsuhiro , Okuda Tomoaki 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBiological contamination of fresh produce by fungi in storage is becoming a serious problem. Gaseous chlorine dioxide (ClO2) has been used to prevent fungal growth on fresh produce; however, the specific effects of gaseous ClO2 at concentrations low enough to be safe for the human body on fungal growth remain unknown. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of low-concentration gaseous ClO2 on fungal growth in sweet potatoes over 1 month. Here, a mechanochemical reaction involving the collision of two types of powders was used to produce low concentrations of gaseous ClO2. The experiment was conducted in a container and chlorine dioxide gas was diffused by a circulator to verify its microbiostatic effect in a large space. A clear microbiostatic effect was observed in potatoes without skin when exposed to low-concentration ClO2 for 3 days. Notably, low concentrations (< 1.0 ppm) of ClO2 reduced Rhizopus stolonifer growth in sweet potatoes with skin over 1 month. Therefore, low concentrations of gaseous ClO2 are sufficient to inhibit fungal growth via gas diffusion.
Disturbance observer-based fixed-time tracking control for space manipulators with parametric uncertainty and unknown disturbance
Authors: Yan Y.X. , Cui H. , Han P. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
The challenging tracking control issue for a space manipulator subject to parametric uncertainty and unknown disturbance is addressed in this paper. An observer-based fixed-time terminal sliding mode control methodology is put forward. Firstly, a nonlinear disturbance observer is introduced for exactly reconstructing the lumped uncertainty without requiring any prior knowledge of the lumped uncertainty. Meanwhile, the estimation time’s upper bound is not only irrelevant to the initial estimation error but can be directly predicted in advance via a specific parameter in the observer. Invoking the estimated information, a fast fixed-time tracking controller with strong robustness is designed, where a novel sliding mode surface incorporated enables faster convergence. The globally fixed-time stability of the closed-loop tracking system is rigorously demonstrated through Lyapunov stability analysis. Finally, numerical simulations and comparisons verify the validity and superiority of the suggested controller.
Advisory Opinion on the Request for an Advisory Opinion Submitted by the Comm'n of Small Island States on Climate Change and Int'l Law (I.T.L.O.S.)
Authors: Khng Nathaniel Yong-Ern 
Published: December 2024

On May 21, 2024, the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (the Tribunal) delivered a unanimous advisory opinion on the Request submitted to the Tribunal by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law. This was the first advisory opinion on climate change obligations issued by an international judicial body, and the first of three anticipated advisory opinions on climate change obligations from international judicial bodies. The request had been submitted on December 12, 2022 by the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law (COSIS). Two questions on obligations of states parties under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) were posed in the request: (1) what are the specific obligations to prevent, reduce, and control pollution of the marine environment in relation to the deleterious effects that result, or are likely to result, from climate change and ocean acidification, which are caused by anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere; and (2) what are the specific obligations to protect and preserve the marine environment in relation to climate change impacts and ocean acidification. A total of 34 states parties to UNCLOS and nine intergovernmental organizations submitted statements, and 33 states parties and four intergovernmental organizations made statements during the oral proceedings.
A note on the splittings of finitely presented Bestvina–Brady groups
Authors: Chang Yu-Chan 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
We show that when a finitely presented Bestvina–Brady group splits as an amalgamated product over a subgroup

$H$

, its defining graph contains an induced separating subgraph whose associated Bestvina–Brady group is contained in a conjugate of

$H$

.
Gardens, agency and citizenship of people with dementia: a critical interpretive synthesis
Authors: Rushton Lee , Smith Louisa , Phillipson Lyn 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
People living with dementia are often presumed to have no agency or capacity to act in the social world. They are often excluded from participating in research while research methodologies may not capture their embodied engagement with people and places. Yet, like everyone, people with dementia can express their agency in nuanced ways, for example, through emotions or embodied expression. In the conceptual framework discussed here, nuanced agency is conceived as consisting of non-deliberative elements (embodied, emotional, habituated, reflexive and intersubjective) and deliberative elements (choices or decisions and facilitative). Although people with dementia have been found to benefit from gardens with their sensory appeal, how they experience gardens is not well understood. This critical interpretive synthesis aims to explore how people with dementia experience nuanced forms of agency and citizenship in gardens. A conceptual framework of agency was developed to address the aim and support the analysis. Analysis of the 15 included studies highlighted the value of the conceptual framework in identifying a wider and more granular array of nuanced agency expressed in embodied form and through dialogue. This included expressions of intersubjective and facilitative agency that informed opportunities for people with dementia to experience relational citizenship socially in communal garden settings. These findings suggest an opportunity for researchers to explore the embodied agency of people living with dementia more comprehensively by applying theoretical concepts of agency. Further testing of the framework’s utility for guiding collection and analysis of primary data involving people with dementia in garden settings is recommended.
Intra-specific variation in relative embryo length and germination of wild Daucus carota across climate gradients in North America and Europe
Authors: Vandelook Filip , Van de Vyver Ann , Soltani Elias 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Although seed trait variations and their relationship to the ecological niche have been studied extensively at the species level, they do not necessarily reflect variations at the population level. In this study, we explored the intra-specific variation in relative embryo length, seed mass and germination speed in 40 populations of Daucus carota distributed across Europe and North America. By including information on local climate conditions, we aimed to examine the impact of the geographical origin on various seed functional traits and to detect potential local adaptation. No significant difference was observed in final seed germination for European and North American seeds incubated at 20°C, nor in seed viability. In European populations, relative embryo length significantly increased with increasing seed mass, but no such relation was found in North American populations. Larger relative embryo length at dispersal resulted in increased germination speed in both European and North American populations. Populations in drier areas typically had seeds with larger relative embryo lengths. Precipitation-related climate variables showed a negative relationship with relative embryo length, indicating a reduction in relative embryo length with increased precipitation. No clear relationship between climate and seed mass was observed. We can conclude that seed functional traits of D. carota are adapted to local climate conditions, as a clear gradient was observed in the relative embryo length of D. carota, which was associated with germination speed and climate. This gradient was less pronounced in North America, which can be explained by its relatively recent introduction to the continent.
Prediction of p-block-based ternary superconductors XC2H8 at low pressure
Authors: Wrona Izabela A. , Niegodajew Paweł , Li Yinwei , Durajski Artur P. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAchieving room-temperature superconductivity under ambient conditions is one of the most important goals in solid-state physics and material science. Recent discoveries of high-Tc superconductivity in binary hydrides H3S and LaH10 at high pressures have focused the search for room-temperature superconductors on dense hydrides with conventional phonon-mediated pairing mechanisms. In this study, we predict a novel family of superconducting ternary hydrides under moderate compression, XC2H8 (X = Ga, In, Tl, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Te, Po). Unlike H3S and LaH10, these new materials are stable at just around 20 GPa. Among the analyzed compounds, SbC2H8 exhibits the highest critical temperature of 73 K at a pressure of 100 GPa, which is attributed to its energetically favorable high-symmetry crystal structure ($$Fm{\bar{3}}m$$

F
m

3

¯

m

), high density of states at the Fermi level (1.27 states/eV) and strong electron–phonon coupling constant (1.02). We expect that our findings provide crucial insights into achieving high-temperature superconductivity at moderate pressures and accelerate the progress of experimental research.
Downregulation of IRF7-mediated type-I interferon response by LmCen–/– parasites is necessary for protective immunity
Authors: Sepahpour Telly , Alshaweesh Jalal , Azodi Nazli , Singh Komudi , Ireland Derek D. C. , Valanezhad Farzaneh , Nakamura Risa , Satoskar Abhay R. , Dey Ranadhir , Hamano Shinjiro , Nakhasi Hira L. , Gannavaram Sreenivas 
Published: December 2024

AbstractLeishmaniasis is a tropical disease caused by Leishmania parasites and currently has no licensed vaccines. We developed a dermotropic Leishmania major centrin gene-deleted strain (LmCen–/–) as a live attenuated vaccine. Recent studies have shown that type I interferons (IFNs) play important roles in immunity to parasitic and viral pathogens. However, their relevance in protective immunity following vaccination is not understood. We found that immunization with LmCen–/– induces a transient increase in type I IFN response along with its regulatory factor IRF7 that is downregulated 7–21 days post-immunization, coincided with the induction of a robust Th1 adaptive immune response. Challenge infection with virulent L. donovani parasites showed a significant reduction of splenic and hepatic parasite burden in IRF7–/– mice than wild type mice following immunization with LmCen–/–, suggesting that ablation of type I IFN response is a pre-requisite for the induction of LmCen–/– mediated Th1 immunity against L. donovani infection.
Global datasets of geospatial-AI-resolved energy consumers including climate-driven energy demands, geographical and socioeconomic realities for a transition reset
Authors: Moya Diego , Copara Dennis , Giarola Sara , Hawkes Adam 
Published: December 2024

AbstractTraditional models deliberately simplify millions of consumers into a single, homogeneous, representative agent with perfect market knowledge and rational expectations, limiting their capacity to capture real-world complexities. To address this limitation in mainstream models, this article provides global datasets to parametrise energy consumers within climate-energy-economy models considering climate-driven energy demand, socioeconomic and demographic factors. The datasets emerge from applying geospatial artificial intelligence, machine learning and big data analytics on a range of geospatial parameters at 1 km2 resolution. Twenty distinctive energy consumers are defined using three heterogeneous geospatial features, eight diverse and two evolving parameters. This parametrisation of consumers strengthens the applicability of climate-energy-economy models to guide effective, equitable and just climate policy design. This comprehensive analysis of complex interactions between climate, socioeconomic and demographic factors supports more realistic decision-making for a sustainable transition reset. This research emphasises the geospatial distribution of energy consumers to enhance technoeconomic assessment, understanding consumer dynamics for consumer-led resource allocation and informed policy implementation. These datasets can be used in climate-energy-economy models to parametrise consumers beyond traditional approaches.
Corneal protein repair after amniotic membrane photo-tissue bonding versus amniotic membrane graft in the treatment of corneal ulcer (an experimental study)
Authors: Mohammad Shaimaa , Abdelkawi Salwa , Ebrahim Mona , Ahmed Aziza , Fouad Dina 
Published: December 2024

AbstractCorneal alkali burns persist as a significant challenge in our field, often leading to a prolonged treatment course with various sight-threatening problems. This work, of utmost importance, aimed to apply the photo-tissue bonding technique (PTB) to weld the amniotic membrane (AM) to the corneal surface versus an amniotic membrane graft (AMG) and explore its safety in saving corneal protein against alkali burn.Methods Twenty-seven rabbits with an induced corneal ulcer using 1 mol/L NaOH solution. Nine rabbits were used as an ulcer group without treatment, and the rest (n = 18) were subjected to two treatment protocols with AM. The first was attaching the AM to the corneal ulcer through photo-tissue bonding using 532 nm and rose Bengal stain as a photosynthesizing agent. The second was using cyanoacrylate glue as a tissue adhesive. The corneal total protein (TP), refractive index (RI), DNA fragmentation, and oxidative stress index (OSI) were evaluated. Results: The cornea’s TP showed a significant decrease (p˂0.001) immediately, 1 week, and 2 weeks after ulcer induction (-58.9%, -64.4%, and − 72.6%, respectively). The treatment with AM PTB showed improvement immediately (-45.2%, p˂0.001), after one week (-27.4%, p˂0.01), and after two weeks (-14.38%, p˂0.05). Moreover, the treatment with AMG showed improvement after the same periods with percentage changes of -52.05%, (p˂0.001), -41.8% (p˂0.001), and − 32.2%, (p˂0.01) with respect to the control. Moreover, RI of corneal protein showed improvement after two weeks of treatment with AM PTB (3%, p˃0.05) and AMG (7%, p˃0.05), respectively. The corneal protein DNA base pairs improved 88.49% for AM PTB and 82.35% for the AMG group. The oxidative stress was shifted towards an antioxidative state in AM PTB (-3.9%, P > 0.05) and the AMG group (15.9%, P < 0.05). Conclusion: The AM PTB technique used in corneal ulcers showed promising improvement in total corneal proteins, refractive index, DNA fragmentation, and OSI than AMG using cyanoacrylate glue. These results strongly support the use of AM PTB for ophthalmic purposes, suggesting its potential to enhance clinical research and practice for patients with corneal ulcers and ocular surface diseases.
A novel spatiotemporal prediction approach to fill air pollution data gaps using mobile sensors, machine learning and citizen science techniques
Authors: Baruah Arunik , Bousiotis Dimitrios , Damayanti Seny , Bigi Alessandro , Ghermandi Grazia , Ghaffarpasand O. , Harrison Roy M. , Pope Francis D. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractParticulate Matter (PM) air pollution poses significant threats to public health. We introduce a novel machine learning methodology to predict PM2.5 levels at 30 m long segments along the roads and at a temporal scale of 10 seconds. A hybrid dataset was curated from an intensive PM campaign in Selly Oak, Birmingham, UK, utilizing citizen scientists and low-cost instruments strategically placed in static and mobile settings. Spatially resolved proxy variables, meteorological parameters, and PM properties were integrated, enabling a fine-grained analysis of PM2.5. Calibration involved three approaches: Standard Random Forest Regression, Sensor Transferability and Road Transferability Evaluations. This methodology significantly increased spatial resolution beyond what is possible with regulatory monitoring, thereby improving exposure assessments. The findings underscore the importance of machine learning approaches and citizen science in advancing our understanding of PM pollution, with a small number of participants significantly enhancing local air quality assessment for thousands of residents.
Storm Daniel fueled by anomalously high sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean
Authors: Argüeso D. , Marcos M. , Amores A. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractIn September 2023, Cyclone Daniel formed in the Mediterranean, severely affecting Greece and Libya, and becoming the deadliest storm in Mediterranean history. The Mediterranean’s unusually high sea surface temperatures (SST) likely contributed to the cyclone’s intensity and extreme rainfall. Greece saw over 700 mm of rain in 18 h, while Libya experienced daily records exceeding 400 mm, leading to catastrophic infrastructure failures. Our hypothesis is that high SSTs provided additional energy and moisture fueling Daniel’s intensification. Using the Weather Research and Forecasting model, we conducted numerical experiments to quantify the role of high SSTs during the event. Comparing actual conditions with a counterfactual scenario, we found that the long-term global warming signal in SSTs significantly increased the storm’s intensity and precipitation. This study underscores the need to understand rising SSTs contribution to predicting and mitigate future tropical-like cyclones as global temperatures increase.
Predicting the tumor microenvironment composition and immunotherapy response in non-small cell lung cancer from digital histopathology images
Authors: Patkar Sushant , Chen Alex , Basnet Alina , Bixby Amber , Rajendran Rahul , Chernet Rachel , Faso Susan , Kumar Prashanth Ashok , Desai Devashish , El-Zammar Ola , Curtiss Christopher , Carello Saverio J. , Nasr Michel R. , Choyke Peter , Harmon Stephanie , Turkbey Baris , Jamaspishvili Tamara 
Published: December 2024

AbstractImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have become integral to treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, reliable biomarkers predictive of immunotherapy efficacy are limited. Here, we introduce HistoTME, a novel weakly supervised deep learning approach to infer the tumor microenvironment (TME) composition directly from histopathology images of NSCLC patients. We show that HistoTME accurately predicts the expression of 30 distinct cell type-specific molecular signatures directly from whole slide images, achieving an average Pearson correlation of 0.5 with the ground truth on independent tumor cohorts. Furthermore, we find that HistoTME-predicted microenvironment signatures and their underlying interactions improve prognostication of lung cancer patients receiving immunotherapy, achieving an AUROC of 0.75 [95% CI: 0.61-0.88] for predicting treatment responses following first-line ICI treatment, utilizing an external clinical cohort of 652 patients. Collectively, HistoTME presents an effective approach for interrogating the TME and predicting ICI response, complementing PD-L1 expression, and bringing us closer to personalized immuno-oncology.
Development of a Helmholtz free energy equation of state for fluid and solid phases via artificial neural networks
Authors: Chaparro Gustavo , Müller Erich A. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractA longstanding challenge in thermodynamics has been the development of a unified analytical expression for the free energy of matter capable of describing all thermodynamic properties. Although significant strides have been made in modeling fluid phases using continuous equations of state (EoSs), the crystalline state has remained largely unexplored because of its complexity. This work introduces an approach that employs artificial neural networks to construct an EoS directly from comprehensive molecular simulation data. The efficacy of this method is demonstrated through application to the Mie potential, resulting in a thermodynamically consistent model seamlessly bridging fluid and crystalline phases. The proposed EoS accurately predicts metastable regions, enabling a comprehensive characterization of the phase diagram, which includes the critical and triple points.