bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Viability of Flax Fiber-Reinforced Salt Cores for Aluminum High-Pressure Die Casting in Experiment and Simulation
Authors: Boos Dominik , Zaremba Swen , Drechsler Klaus 
Published: November 2024

AbstractParts with undercuts or hollow sections exploit the maximum lightweight potential due to efficient material usage. However, such geometries are often challenging to produce with ordinary tooling technology, especially in aluminum high-pressure die casting (HPDC). In order to close this gap, this paper investigates flax fiber-reinforced salt made by wet compression molding as a new lost core material that can be removed with water. Three-point bending tests and HPDC experiments characterized the material. The 2D and 3D simulations with aluminum melt and compressible air were carried out in ANSYS Fluent 2023R1. The outlet vent boundary condition is characterized separately to address the geometric features of the outlet vent. Combined with a two-phase flow filling simulation, it allows assessing the actual loads on the lost core material. The simulations show an excellent agreement between the proposed one-dimensional, analytical outlet model and the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results. The 2D filling simulations are helpful to prove mesh convergence and model simplifications but overestimate the loads. A 3D simulation predicts stress peaks up to 33 MPa for an ingate speed of 64 m/s. Conventional, brittle salt cores with a bending strength of 15 MPa fail under these conditions in the HPDC experiment. In contrast, fiber-reinforced salt cores with bending strengths between 11 and 37 MPa are viable thanks to their toughness, which was demonstrated by a eight to 31 times higher energy absorption than the unreinforced benchmark in the three-point bending tests. With the new robust lost core material, a foundry gains a technology advantage that opens up new markets, e.g., in the mobility sector.
Quantifying Virtual Field Trip Efficiency
Authors: Pugsley J. H. , Howell J. A. , Hartley A. J. , Buckley S. J. , Chmielewska M. , Naumann N. , Schofield N. J. , Brackenridge R. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe efficiency of virtual field trips (VFTs) compared to their physical counterparts, is often regarded as one of their key benefits. Virtual field trips are typically more time, cost and environmentally efficient and logistically easier to plan and execute. This is largely due to the lack of travel, however, the nature of these efficiencies, which is essential for deciding whether a trip should be virtual, physical or blended, have not previously been quantified. Here we present a quantitative evaluation of several measures of efficiency, using data from a like-for-like comparison between 10 day long virtual and physical field trips to Utah, USA, from the University of Aberdeen, UK. For this case study, our results demonstrate that virtual field trips are more efficient across all the categories of time, cost, environmental impact, and logistics. In addition to saved air travel days at the start and end of the physical trip, a further 33.3% of the time on the physical field trip was spent travelling (walking and driving). This time saving allowed an additional 16 localities to be visited on the virtual field trip. The virtual field trip localities also ran in an order that best suited the geological narrative rather than their geographic location which the physical field trip was restricted by. Flights and driven kilometres for the physical trip produced c. 4 t of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2) per student. The virtual trip produce <1% of the CO2 and was comparable to a typical teaching week, making it significantly more environmentally efficient. The cost of the virtual trip was negligible compared to that of the physical trip (saving up to £ 3000 GBP per student). These findings were compared to the fulfilment of learning outcomes, quantified primarily through questionnaires, the student responses suggest that the PFT and VFT perceptions of learning outcomes were generally comparable. Efficiency is not the only measure of a successful field trip, with other parameters such as social cohesion and embodiment within the outdoor environment that must also be considered when planning a field trip. Therefore, the authors do not advocate or support an abandonment of physical field trips. Rather, this study aims to provide a first attempt to quantify efficiency to inform decision making when planning field training.
Characterization of autochthone biological control agents for pear protection against the brown spot of pear disease caused by Stemphylium vesicarium
Authors: Soriato Elia , Gatta Massimo , Danzi Davide , Casagrande Martina , Cerrato Alfonso , Cucchi Francesca , Vandelle Elodie 
Published: November 2024

AbstractStemphylium vesicarium is an important phytopathogen for many plant species, that switches between necrotrophic and saprophytic lifestyles. In the last decade, it has severely affected pear production worldwide, causing the so-called brown spot of pears (BSP), which led to the replacement of several pear orchards in northern Italy with consequent important economic losses. In the field, the management of the disease still relies on fungicide application, though several resistant genotypes of the pathogen emerged through the years. In the present study, three different bacterial species have been isolated from an infected orchard and evaluated as potential biological control agents (BCAs) against a local isolate of Stemphylium vesicarium. Two bacterial isolates belonging to the Bacillus genus demonstrated a significant ability to inhibit S. vesicarium growth in vitro, both through direct antagonism and the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The cell-free supernatant from one of these isolates exhibited a strong biocontrol activity, particularly through compounds extracted in acidic conditions. The protective effectiveness of the two most promising BCAs was further validated on detached pear fruits infected with S. vesicarium. Overall, the findings suggest that these two BCAs have the potential to be developed into a bio-based alternative to fungicides to control BSP, thus contributing to a more sustainable pear production.
ChatGPT versus Google Gemini: a comparison to evaluate patient education guide created on common neurological disorders
Authors: Phillips Vidith , Kiryakoza Fadi , Arefin Shamsul , Choudhary Nishtha , Garifullin Renat 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Introduction
This study assesses the effectiveness of AI tools, ChatGPT and Google Gemini, in educating the public about neurological conditions such as Bell’s palsy, Tetanus, and Headaches, and assess chatbot-generated patient guides based on readability and ease of understanding.

Methodology
In March 2024, the authors conducted a cross-sectional study to develop patient education brochures for Bell’s palsy, Tetanus vaccination, and Persistent Headache, leveraging AI models ChatGPT and Google Gemini. The brochures’ quality was assessed through readability, similarity, and a modified DISCERN score for reliability. Statistical analysis, performed in R software, compared responses from both AI models using unpaired T-tests. The correlation between ease score and reliability was explored using Pearson’s Coefficient of Correlation.

Results
The study revealed no significant variances in word count, sentence count, or average words per sentence between the two AI tools. However, materials generated by ChatGPT exhibited significantly higher ease scores, highlighting its proficiency in creating more understandable content (p < 0.05).

Conclusions
This study finds ChatGPT outperforms Google Gemini in readability despite similar metrics. This suggests ChatGPT's potential superiority in creating more understandable patient education materials. As AI advances, it’s essential to research more tools and medical conditions to ensure they meet diverse patient education needs.
Flexible multi-fidelity framework for load estimation of wind farms through graph neural networks and transfer learning
Authors: Duthé Gregory , de N Santos Francisco , Abdallah Imad , Weijtjens Wout , Devriendt Christof , Chatzi Eleni 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
With global wind energy capacity ramping up, accurately predicting damage equivalent loads (DELs) and fatigue across wind turbine populations is critical, not only for ensuring the longevity of existing wind farms but also for the design of new farms. However, the estimation of such quantities of interests is hampered by the inherent complexity in modeling critical underlying processes, such as the aerodynamic wake interactions between turbines that increase mechanical stress and reduce useful lifetime. While high-fidelity computational fluid dynamics and aeroelastic models can capture these effects, their computational requirements limits real-world usage. Recently, fast machine learning-based surrogates which emulate more complex simulations have emerged as a promising solution. Yet, most surrogates are task-specific and lack flexibility for varying turbine layouts and types. This study explores the use of graph neural networks (GNNs) to create a robust, generalizable flow and DEL prediction platform. By conceptualizing wind turbine populations as graphs, GNNs effectively capture farm layout-dependent relational data, allowing extrapolation to novel configurations. We train a GNN surrogate on a large database of PyWake simulations of random wind farm layouts to learn basic wake physics, then fine-tune the model on limited data for a specific unseen layout simulated in HAWC2Farm for accurate adapted predictions. This transfer learning approach circumvents data scarcity limitations and leverages fundamental physics knowledge from the source low-resolution data. The proposed platform aims to match simulator accuracy, while enabling efficient adaptation to new higher-fidelity domains, providing a flexible blueprint for wake load forecasting across varying farm configurations.
Molecular characterization and B-cell epitope analysis of the TSP11 gene in Echinococcus infection strains from Yunnan Province
Authors: Xu Qian , Wang Zhengqing , Zi Jinrong , Cai Xuan , Wu Fangwei , Li Benfu , Peng Jia , Li Jianxiong , Yan Xinliu , Dong Ying , Yang Yaming 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
This study investigates the molecular intricacies of the transmembrane protein TSP11 gene in Echinococcus strains isolated from livestock and patients in Yunnan Province afflicted with Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) between 2016 and 2020. Gene typing analysis of the ND1 gene revealed the presence of the G1 type, G5 type and untyped strains, constituting 52.4, 38.1 and 9.5%, respectively. The analysis of 42 DNA sequences has revealed 24 novel single nucleotide polymorphic sites, delineating 11 haplotypes, all of which were of the mutant type. Importantly, there were no variations observed in mutation sites or haplotypes in any of the hosts. The total length of the TSP11 gene's 4 exons is 762 bp, encoding 254 amino acids. Our analysis posits the existence of 6 potential B-cell antigenic epitopes within TSP11, specifically at positions 49-KSN-51, 139-GKRG-142, 162-DNG-164, 169-NGS-171, 185-DS-186 and 231-PPRFTN-236. Notably, these epitopes exhibit consistent presence among various intermediate hosts and haplotypes. However, further validation is imperative to ascertain their viability as diagnostic antigens for E. granulosus in the Yunnan Province.
Application of simulated AIS data to study the collision risk system of ships
Authors: Lee Sin-Der , Yang Ming-Feng , Chen Shih-Tzung , Hsu Huang-Kai 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
In previous research, several computational methods have been proposed to analyse the navigation, transportation safety and collision risks of maritime vessels. The objective of this study is to use Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to assess the collision risk between two vessels before an actual collision occurs. We introduce the concept of an angle interval in the model to enable real-time response to vessel collision risks. When predicting collision risks, we consider factors such as relative distance, relative velocity and phase between the vessels. Lastly, the collision risk is divided into different regions and represented by different colours. The green region represents a low-risk area, the yellow region serves as a cautionary zone and the red region indicates a high-alert zone. If a signal enters the red region, the vessel's control system will automatically intervene and initiate evasive manoeuvres. This reactive mechanism enhances the safety of vessel operations, ensuring the implementation of effective collision avoidance measures.
Comparing cancer stage at diagnosis between migrants and non-migrants: a meta-analysis
Authors: Harvey-Sullivan Adam , Ali Sana , Dhesi Parveen , Hart Joseph , Painter Helena , Walter Fiona M. , Funston Garth , Zenner Dominik 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Migrants face barriers accessing healthcare, risking delays in cancer diagnosis. Diagnostic delays result in later stage diagnosis which is associated with poorer cancer survival. This review aims to compare the differences in cancer stage at diagnosis between migrants and non-migrants.

Methods
We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of three databases from 2000 to 2023 for studies conducted in OECD countries that compared stage at diagnosis between migrants and non-migrants. Meta-analysis compared odds ratios (OR) for early (stage I and II) stage at diagnosis. The Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies of Exposure tool was used to assess study quality.

Results
41 of the 11,549 studies identified were included; 34 studies had suitable data for meta-analysis. Overall, migrants were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with early stage cancer compared with non-migrants (OR 0.84; 95% CI 0.78–0.91). This difference was maintained across cancer types, although only statistically significant for breast (OR 0.78; 95% CI 0.70–0.87) and prostate cancer (OR 0.92; 95% CI 0.85–0.99).

Discussion
Published studies indicate that migrants are less likely to be diagnosed with early stage cancer. Variation by cancer type, study location and region of origin highlights the need for further research to understand these differences.
Seven-year performance of a clinical metagenomic next-generation sequencing test for diagnosis of central nervous system infections
Authors: Benoit Patrick , Brazer Noah , de Lorenzi-Tognon Mikael , Kelly Emily , Servellita Venice , Oseguera Miriam , Nguyen Jenny , Tang Jack , Omura Charles , Streithorst Jessica , Hillberg Melissa , Ingebrigtsen Danielle , Zorn Kelsey , Wilson Michael R. , Blicharz Tim , Wong Amy P. , O’Donovan Brian , Murray Brad , Miller Steve , Chiu Charles Y. 
Published: November 2024

AbstractMetagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is an agnostic method for broad-based diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) infections. Here we analyzed the 7-year performance of clinical CSF mNGS testing of 4,828 samples from June 2016 to April 2023 performed by the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) clinical microbiology laboratory. Overall, mNGS testing detected 797 organisms from 697 (14.4%) of 4,828 samples, consisting of 363 (45.5%) DNA viruses, 211 (26.4%) RNA viruses, 132 (16.6%) bacteria, 68 (8.5%) fungi and 23 (2.9%) parasites. We also extracted clinical and laboratory metadata from a subset of the samples (n = 1,164) from 1,053 UCSF patients. Among the 220 infectious diagnoses in this subset, 48 (21.8%) were identified by mNGS alone. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of mNGS testing for CNS infections were 63.1%, 99.6% and 92.9%, respectively. mNGS testing exhibited higher sensitivity (63.1%) than indirect serologic testing (28.8%) and direct detection testing from both CSF (45.9%) and non-CSF (15.0%) samples (P < 0.001 for all three comparisons). When only considering diagnoses made by CSF direct detection testing, the sensitivity of mNGS testing increased to 86%. These results justify the routine use of diagnostic mNGS testing for hospitalized patients with suspected CNS infection.
A versatile conformal circularly polarized quad-element antenna for X-band applications
Authors: Sundaravadivel P. , Kumar D. Rajesh , Padmanaban Yuvaraj , Kumar Om Prakash 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThis article presents a flexible four-element antenna for X-band applications. The proposed antenna covers the spectrum ranging from 10.6 to 11.9 GHz, including a significant portion of the X-band. The single antenna element comprises a modified E-shaped radiating patch, which is fed by a unique feeding structure consisting of a 50-Ω feeding strip connected with two rectangular stubs on both sides. All antenna elements are printed on a flexible felt 60 mm × 60 mm × 1 mm (2.12 λ × 2.12 λ × 0.035 λ at 10.6 GHz) substrate. The proposed antenna exhibits circular polarization over the desired bans of operation with an axial ratio (< 3 dB) bandwidth of 1.2 GHz, which is significant for X-band applications. The designed antenna is manufactured and practically tested. Both simulated and measured results agree well with each other, ensuring the optimal performance of the antenna. Moreover, the antenna achieves a maximum gain of up to 8 dBi in the desired band of operation. Further MIMO parameters, including envelope correlation coefficient (ECC), diversity gain (DG), channel capacity loss (CCL), and mean effective gain (MEG), are calculated to validate the MIMO performance. Finally, a conformal analysis was carried out to study the robustness of the antenna in various bending scenarios. Results show that the antenna reported in this article is the correct choice for conformal X-band MIMO applications.
Fluid upwelling across the Hikurangi subduction thrust during deep slow-slip earthquakes
Authors: Herath Pasan , Audet Pascal 
Published: November 2024

AbstractSlow-slip events at global subduction zones relieve tectonic stress over days to years. Through slow-slip cycles, high fluid pressures observed at the top of subducting plates are thought to fluctuate, potentially due to the valving action of an impermeable layer near the plate interface. We model teleseismic scattering data at the Manawatu deep slow-slip patch at the Hikurangi margin in New Zealand and find high seismic P-to-S wave velocity ratios, VP/VS, in the upper ~5 km of the subducting Pacific Plate, reflecting sustained elevated fluid pressures that decrease during slow-slip and increase during inter-slow-slip periods. Within a ~ 3 km thick lower crustal layer of the overriding Australian Plate, decreasing VP/VS during inter-slow-slip periods reflects permeability reduction due to mineral precipitation. Increasing VP/VS during slow-slip reflects increasing permeability and crack density, facilitating upward fluid transfer through this layer. Our results suggest it acts as a valve to relieve high fluid pressures in the subducting slab.
Clay alignment takes place during early stages of sedimentation
Authors: Kuehn Rebecca , Kilian Rüdiger , Lang Dustin , Morales Luiz Grafulha , Grendal Ola G. , Stipp Michael 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThe alignment of clay minerals in sediments is of high importance for their mechanical and physical properties. The development of this alignment starts with the deposition of clay, its strength is measured by the crystallographic preferred orientation. So far, the early stages of sedimentation have been restricted to post-mortem observations. Here we present particle settling experiments in four dimensions (time and orientation, as a function of overburden and composition) observed in situ using synchrotron diffraction, in which kaolinite and kaolinite-illite mixtures were sedimented in water columns. The alignment strength in freshly settled sediments increases with overburden, but is higher in deionized water than in seawater. Alignment strength increases within the first few millimetres of overburden and stagnates afterwards. With illite added, the resulting alignment strength is substantially decreased. Our results demonstrate that electrostatic interactions between particles are overcome by gravitational forces already within the upper millimetres of sediment.
Calcium signaling from damaged lysosomes induces cytoprotective stress granules
Authors: Duran Jacob , Salinas Jay E , Wheaton Rui ping , Poolsup Suttinee , Allers Lee , Rosas-Lemus Monica , Chen Li , Cheng Qiuying , Pu Jing , Salemi Michelle , Phinney Brett , Ivanov Pavel , Lystad Alf Håkon , Bhaskar Kiran , Rajaiya Jaya , Perkins Douglas J , Jia Jingyue 
Published: November 2024

AbstractLysosomal damage induces stress granule (SG) formation. However, the importance of SGs in determining cell fate and the precise mechanisms that mediate SG formation in response to lysosomal damage remain unclear. Here, we describe a novel calcium-dependent pathway controlling SG formation, which promotes cell survival during lysosomal damage. Mechanistically, the calcium-activated protein ALIX transduces lysosomal damage signals to SG formation by controlling eIF2α phosphorylation after sensing calcium leakage. ALIX enhances eIF2α phosphorylation by promoting the association between PKR and its activator PACT, with galectin-3 inhibiting this interaction; these regulatory events occur on damaged lysosomes. We further find that SG formation plays a crucial role in promoting cell survival upon lysosomal damage caused by factors such as SARS-CoV-2ORF3a, adenovirus, malarial pigment, proteopathic tau, or environmental hazards. Collectively, these data provide insights into the mechanism of SG formation upon lysosomal damage and implicate it in diseases associated with damaged lysosomes and SGs.
Three‐phase four‐wire power flow solution for multi‐grounded distribution networks with non‐bolted grounding
Authors: Yang Nien‐Che , Zeng Song‐Ting 
Published: November 2024

AbstractThis study proposes a direct three‐phase four‐wire power flow method to accurately analyse the neutral line and multiple grounding characteristics. In particular, the proposed grounding impedance building‐based solution method was used to analyse the neutral grounding impedance in power flow studies based on the slack bus grounding impedance. The accuracy of the proposed method was verified using a neutral‐to‐earth voltage test system. IEEE 13‐bus and 123‐bus test systems were used to compare the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed method. Compared to the current injection full Newton and forward–backward sweep methods, the proposed method achieves a significant reduction in iteration numbers of up to 76.92% and 77.78%, respectively. For different grounding scenarios, stable convergence characteristics were exhibited by the proposed method after six to seven iterations.