bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of Total Laboratory Automation for Direct Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing from Enterobacterales-Containing Blood Cultures
Authors: Zhang Weili , Shu Ling , Liao Quanfeng , Wu Siying , Liu Ya , Deng Jin , Ma Ying , Kang Mei , Xie Yi , Xiao Yuling 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background: Currently, EUCAST have issued guidelines for direct rapid antimicrobial susceptibility testing (RAST) on blood cultures. There were few reports on total laboratory automation (TLA) for RAST in China. Additionally, certain antibiotic discs used in China with specific concentrations lack EUCAST breakpoints. The purpose of this study is to use TLA to evaluate EUCAST RAST methods in Enterobacterales-containing blood cultures and to investigate the optimal breakpoints for a selection of antibiotics, including cefepime (EFP), cefotaxime (CTX), ceftazidime (CAZ), piperacillin-tazobactam (TZP), and cefoperazone/sulbactam (CSL).
Methods: From April to August 2022, blood cultures positive for Enterobacterales (54 Escherichia coli and 60 Klebsiella pneumoniae) were analyzed. EUCAST RAST (4h, 6h, 8h) were performed using TLA and compared with Vitek 2 results.
Results: EUCAST RAST's readable inhibition zone increased over time, with high categorical agreement with Vitek 2 (97.1%, 96.2%, 96.1% for E. coli , and 96.1%, 97.1%, 97.9% for K. pneumoniae) and low error rates. Based on the optimal breakpoints we defined, the categorical agreement for EFP, CTX, CAZ, and TZP against E. coli was greater than 90% at both 6 and 8 hours. However, the categorical agreement for CSL was 57.1% at 6 hours and 74.3% at 8 hours, primarily due to a higher proportion of minor errors (42.9% and 25.7%, respectively). For K. pneumoniae, the categorical agreement for all five antibiotics was greater than 90% at both time points.
Conclusion: According to the CLSI-M52 standards, the detection performance of EUCAST RAST at 4h, 6h, and 8h was equivalent to that of Vitek 2. Except for ciprofloxacin in E. coli, the readable rates and categorical agreement of all antibiotics are good at 6h. For the optimal breakpoints we have established, all antibiotics except for CSL against E. coli achieve a categorical agreement of over 90%.
Solid Rocket Propellants for Sustainable Cubesat Deorbiting System
Authors: Parkar Zainalabidin , Jaipuria Ansh 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

CubeSats are pivotal in applications like remote sensing, weather monitoring, and scientific research due to their simplicity and cost-effectiveness. This has led to a significant increase in CubeSat launches, contributing to the growing population in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). However, the accumulation of non-operational satellites raises concerns about space debris, threatening operational systems. Current deorbiting mechanisms face challenges such as high costs and limited versatility. This paper proposes a universal, attachable deorbiting module for CubeSats, utilizing solid propellants. The module is externally affixed to a 10 x 10 cm side of the CubeSat, with the propellant ignited via an igniter to facilitate deorbiting. Solid propellants are preferred for their low cost, compactness, ease of handling, and transportation. This research uses NASA’s Chemical Equilibrium with Applications (CEA) program to analyze the properties and performance of various solid propellants suitable for CubeSat deorbiting. The findings aim to develop a cost-effective and adaptable solution for the growing space debris problem in LEO, offering a sustainable approach to CubeSat end-of-life management.
Implications of the limited availability and usefulness of publicly shared health data in Ecuador
Authors: Romero-Alvarez Daniel , Borbor-Córdova Mercy , Fuentes W. Ricardo Cañizares , Ortiz-Prado Esteban , Torres Irene 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Collecting and sharing data in a timely manner is essential to responding effectively to phenomena that impact human well-being. In countries such as Ecuador, the collection and publication of this information may be insufficient.
Objective
To explore how publicly available health data are shared for policy implementation and decision-making in alignment with local regulations and international commitments.
Methods
We examined three publicly available data sources of the Ministry of Public Health of Ecuador −the Open Data webpage, the Epidemiological Gazettes, and the Health Statistics Viewer− and analyzed their completeness, timeliness, and usability up to December 2023.
Results
Government open health databases in Ecuador have gaps and limitations. Despite the Ecuadorian legal framework promoting the use of data to inform public health decisions, there are significant deficiencies in basic data management at the national level. Only one of eight databases on the Open Data webpage is up to date; some of them only show data for 2020. Public health data are poorly disaggregated for the Epidemiological Gazettes and data from this source and from the Health Statistics Viewer are not shared in reusable formats.
Conclusions
The limitations in health data sharing in Ecuador compromise the usefulness of health data for scientific research and for other types of analysis relevant to government decision-making. To support health system planning and emergency preparedness and response in the country, sharing health data openly, updated, and timely is essential to systematically improve the Ecuadorian public health system.
Zinc exposure primes Suillus tomentosus to tolerate cadmium
Authors: Fletcher Jessica , Branco Sara 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Metal toxicity is detrimental and can lead to death. However, some fungi display high metal tolerance and it is not clear how the trait arises. Here we used an in vitro experimental evolution experiment to test whether metal exposure induces metal tolerance in Suillus tomentosus, a widespread ectomycorrhizal fungus with a wide range of tolerance to several metals. We exposed a zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) sensitive S. tomentosus isolate to both these metals and assessed whether prolonged exposure induced metal tolerance. We found that even though Zn or Cd exposure did not lead to Zn or Cd tolerance, Zn exposure increased S. tomentosus Cd tolerance. Our findings show metal exposure does not explain the existence of metal tolerance but suggest the existence of shared mechanisms for metal homeostasis and provide a framework for understanding how fungi can inhabit soils contaminated with multiple metals.
Enhanced 3D Object Detection using 4D Radar and Vision Fusion with Segmentation Assistance
Authors: Chen Xuemei , Jia Yaohan , Ren Pengfei , Xu Zeyuan , shan Wenzhe 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

4D radar exhibits robustness to complex lighting and adverse weather conditions, providing unique data characteristics compared to LiDAR for 3D target detection. However, due to the sparsity of 4D radar point clouds, the performance of most 3D target detection algorithms is limited. To address this, this paper propose a 3D object detection model based on fine-grained point cloud segmentation. Our approach first enriches the point cloud data using a radar reference point module to compensate for its sparsity. The point cloud is then pillarized, and semantic information is extracted through a simple segmentation network. Finally, 3D object detection is achieved by fusing point cloud features and semantic information using an attention mechanism. Extensive experiments conducted on the VoD dataset demonstrate that our model achieves a mean average precision (mAP) that is 5\% higher than the baseline on the validation set, with notable improvements of 4\% for bicycles and 8\% for pedestrians. These results narrow the performance gap with LiDAR-based models, highlighting the effectiveness of our segmentation-assisted detection approach.the source codes are released at https://github.com/Huniki/RVASANET.git
Development of low-cost methodologies for the determination of total phosphorus, total nitrogen and COD, as an alternative of commercially available kit tests
Authors: Chrimatopoulos Christoforos , Nousis Lampros , Diamanti Christina , Tsiostas Christos , Sakkas Vasilios , Tsilidis Konstantinos K. , Ntzani Evangelia 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Water quality assessment is essential for understanding and managing water resources and identifying potential health and environmental risks. A method for a parameter valuation should be characterized by high accuracy and precision. This study presents a comprehensive comparative analysis of three crucial water quality parameters (especially in wastewater) - total phosphorus (TP), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total nitrogen (TNb) - by employing two distinct analytical methodologies for each parameter. Widely adopted commercial kits and low-cost in-house developed photometric procedures were rigorously developed, validated, and compared across various analytical performance metrics. Notably, the TNb method represents an approach where nitrogenous compounds are oxidized and measured photometrically as nitrate without the conventional reduction step. The two methods for each parameter were statistically compared and the results demonstrate that the in-house methods consistently achieved lower detection limits, with precision and accuracy comparable to those of the commercial kits.
PIPENN-EMB: ensemble net and protein embeddings generalise protein interface prediction beyond homology
Authors: Thomas David P.G. , Fernandez Carlos M. Garcia , Haydarlou Reza , Feenstra K. Anton 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Protein interactions are crucial for understanding biological functions and disease mechanisms, but predicting these remains acomplex task in computational biology. Increasingly, Deep Learning models are having success in interface prediction. Thisstudy presents PIPENN-EMB which explores the added value of using embeddings from the ProtT5-XL protein languagemodel. Our results show substantial improvement over the previously published PIPENN model for protein interaction interfaceprediction, reaching an MCC of 0.313 vs. 0.249, and AUC-ROC 0.800 vs. 0.755 on the BIO_DL_TE test set. We furthermoreshow that these embeddings cover a broad range of ‘hand-crafted’ protein features in ablation studies. PIPENN-EMB reachesstate-of-the-art performance on the ZK448 dataset for protein-protein interface prediction. We showcase predictions on 25resistance-related proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Furthermore, whereas other state-of-the-art sequence-basedmethods perform worse for proteins that have little recognisable homology in their training data, PIPENN-EMB generalises toremote homologs, yielding stable AUC-ROC across all three test sets with less than 30% sequence identity to the trainingdataset, and even to proteins with less than 15% sequence identity.
Pathogenic variation underlying rare diseases in an Arab Population: implications for screening programs
Authors: Jain Ruchi , Bizzari Sami , Ramaswamy Sathishkumar , Hasham Khaleem F. , Sinha Shruti , Chekroun Ikram , Rabea Fatma , Abuijlan Eman , Naofal Maha El , Hassani Massomeh Sheikh , Shenbagam Shruti , Taylor Alan , Uddin Mohammed , Almarri Mohamed , Alkhnbashi Omer , Khansaheb Hamda , Suwaidi Hanan Al , Du Plessis Stefan S , El-Hayek Stephany , Alsheikh-Ali Alawi , Tayoun Ahmad Abou 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Genetic variation underlying rare diseases in Arab populations is poorly understood, limiting effective carrier screening for recessive disorders which are prevalent due to high consanguineous rates.
Methods
Using the ACMG/AMP guidelines, we curated pathogenic and likely pathogenic variants in 1,333 Arab Emirati families (346 internal cohort and 987 from the literature). We also analyzed coding pathogenic variants in 1,194 Emirati exomes, calculated allele frequencies, and estimated carrier rates for the associated recessive conditions.
Results
Among the 1,333 families, 701 out of 855 variants met the ACMG/AMP criteria for pathogenicity, with 52% and 30% being absent from the gnomAD and ClinVar databases, respectively. Independently, we determined the frequency of coding pathogenic variants in 1,194 Emirati exomes as well as cumulative gene-disease carrier rates. The CYP21A2 gene showed the highest carrier rate (10.6%) followed by HBB (9.6%), MEFV (5.9%) and ABCA4 (4.3%). Using a provisional gene list for carrier screening, based on our analysis, we estimate the rate of at-risk couples (4–21%) which varies across different screening gene lists recommended in other populations.
Conclusion
Our findings emphasize the necessity of identifying prevalent diseases in underrepresented populations to develop effective and equitable preventive public health measures, including premarital screening programs.
Impact of Worked-out Examples via a Web 2.0 Tool on Fifth Graders' Achievement, Attitudes, and Motivation in Mathematics
Authors: Özcan Zeynep Çiğdem , Tahiroğlu Neşe Gökdeniz 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

This research aims to examine the effects of worked-out examples, grounded in Cognitive Load Theory, involving different solution methods through the Nearpod application, a Web 2.0 tool, on fifth-grade students' achievement in fractions, attitudes, and motivation towards mathematics. The study group consists of seventy-seven fifth-grade students studying in two separate classes at a public secondary school in Istanbul during the 2021–2022 academic year. These two classes were randomly assigned, with one forming the control group and the other the experimental group. The intervention lasted for six weeks. The research was conducted using an explanatory sequential mixed design, which includes both qualitative and quantitative research. During the data collection phase, quantitative data were collected using fraction achievement tests, mathematics motivation scale, and mathematics attitude scale. Qualitative data were collected from students' responses to interview questions to determine the effectiveness of the intervention. The findings revealed a statistically significant improvement in the post-test scores for fractions achievement, mathematics motivation, and attitudes towards mathematics in favor of the experimental group, even after controlling for pre-test scores. The results of the interviews also support these findings, with all interviewed students stating that they found the intervention useful and entertaining. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the integration of technology in mathematics education and underscores the need for further research on the application of different solution strategies in digital learning environments.
Efficient Deep Neural Network for Intrusion Detection Using CIC-IDS-2017 Dataset
Authors: BANDARUPALLI GOPICHAND 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) are essential in identifying and reporting potential network attacks. IDS are classified into Host-based IDS (HIDS), which monitor internal computer threats, and Network-based IDS (NIDS), which monitor network-level attacks. IDS can also function as anomaly-based, using Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) to recognize unfamiliar attack patterns, or as rule-based, which relies on historical data-driven rules. Notably, anomaly-based IDS can detect zero-day attacks. Therefore, this study proposes a Deep Neural Network (DNN) model for anomaly-based IDS, focusing on accurate and efficient attack detection and categorization using the CIC-IDS-2017 dataset. By optimizing dataset preprocessing, the DNN architecture aims to minimize computational demands while maintaining high accuracy. Comparative evaluation with other models demonstrates the proposed model's effectiveness in attack detection despite using a simpler, more lightweight architecture than those in other studies, where more complex, less efficient approaches are often employed.
The validation study of a new multidimensional work readiness scale and linkages between its constructs
Authors: Peersia Kamini , Rappa Natasha Anne , Perry Laura B. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Challenges associated with the transition from graduate to employee are often attributed to a lack of ‘work readiness’. A conceptual understanding of graduate work readiness (GWR) is a step towards addressing these challenges. Using a mixed-method exploratory sequential design, this study draws from a priori conceptual knowledge of GWR and its derived 67-item scale to refine and validate a new scale. It also explores the interrelationships between factors to establish the nomological network. A sample of students (n = 8) participated in focus group discussions and individual interviews to pilot test the scale, after which another sample of university students completed a GWR survey. A Partial Least Squares-Structural Equation Modelling with 101 survey responses confirmed the original four-factor solution and organised GWR skills into a hierarchical structure. It consisted of six lower-order constructs: critical thinking, innovative thinking, problem-solving, planning and organisation, collaborative leadership and social self-efficacy mapped onto four higher-order constructs, namely cognitive, metacognition, intrapersonal and interpersonal skills. The validated model comprised 35 items with good reliability and validity. The results indicated that intrapersonal skills explained a 68% variance in metacognition. Metacognition and intrapersonal skills explained 40% and 44% of the variance, respectively, in interpersonal skills, and intrapersonal skills explained 45% of the variance in cognitive skills. The positive relationship between intrapersonal and metacognition skills indicated that both significantly influence GWR behaviour. This scale is significant in informing students about the GWR skills they need and providing higher education institutions with a measure to assess GWR.
Factors associated with timely complementary feeding among children aged 6-23 months in Kenya; a cross-sectional study
Authors: Toweet Solomon Kimutai , Nyakundi Caleb , Okemwa Sharonmercy , Ochieng Evans Adrian Onyango , Weru Milka Waitherero , Oguta James Odhiambo , Achach Elvis Omondi , Kibe Peter , Ng’ang’a Loise , Akoth Catherine 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Introduction: Adequate nutrition is essential for proper growth, development, and prevention of diseases in the first 1000 days of life- the period from pregnancy up to a child's second birthday. Introducing CF either earlier or later than the recommended 6–8 months is linked to poor nutritional outcomes in children under the age of two. Given the limited evidence on the factors influencing timely CF in Kenya, this study aimed to identify the factors associated with timely complementary feeding among children aged 6 to 23 months.
Methods: We used data from the first round of Kenya's 2017 Performance Monitoring for Accountability (PMA) survey. The dependent variable, timely complementary feeding, was defined as "the introduction of other feeds apart from breast milk between 6—8 months". Frequencies, percentages, and 95% Confidence intervals were used to describe the sample characteristics and the prevalence of timely C.F. The univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the determinants of timely complementary feeding.
Results: Of the 3466 women included in the study, the majority were married (80.6%), aged 20-34 years (78.9%), and unemployed (73.7%), while about a third were residing in Nairobi County (30.1%). The overall weighted prevalence of timely CF was 67.5% (95% CI 63.3, 71.5), with a higher prevalence among the richest (80.9%), urban residents (58.9%), and women with tertiary education (75.9%). After adjusting for other covariates, the multivariable logistic regression model showed that women with a primary education, employed, and those with a parity of more than four had 32%, 21%, and 35% reduced odds of practicing timely CF, respectively. Conversely, higher socioeconomic status and having dietary diversity of more than five foods were associated with increased odds (Richest vs poorest aOR: 2.45, 95% CI: 1.77, 3.39) and (aOR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.00, 1.46), respectively.
Conclusion: About two-thirds of the women practiced timely CF, with most counties having below-average prevalence. Targeted interventions at the county level focused on improving access to reproductive health services, health messaging, and advocacy, especially in lower-resourced settings, could be useful in improving timely among women of reproductive age and their communities.
SmoQyDEAC.jl: A differential evolution package for the analytic continuation of imaginary time correlation functions
Authors: Neuhaus James , Nichols Nathan S. , Banerjee Debshikha , Cohen-Stead Benjamin , Maier Thomas , Del Maestro Adrian , Johnston Steven 
Published: November 2024

We introduce the SmoQyDEAC.jl package, a Julia implementation of the Differential Evolution Analytic Continuation (DEAC) algorithm [N. S. Nichols et al., Phys. Rev. E 106, 025312 (2022)] for analytically continuing noisy imaginary time correlation functions to the real frequency axis. Our implementation supports fermionic and bosonic correlation functions on either the imaginary time or Matsubara frequency axes, and treatment of the covariance error in the input data. This paper presents an overview of the DEAC algorithm and the features implemented in the SmoQyDEAC.jl package. It also provides detailed benchmarks of the package’s output against the popular maximum entropy and stochastic analytic continuation methods. The code for this package can be downloaded from our GitHub repository at https://github.com/SmoQySuite/SmoQyDEAC.jl or installed using the Julia package manager. The online documentation, including examples, can be accessed at https://smoqysuite.github.io/SmoQyDEAC.jl/stable/.
Briquetting of black soldier fly frass as a post-harvest stabilization strategy
Authors: Matheka Rosemary M. , Wandera Simon M. , Raude James M. , Murunga Sylvia I. , Gachanja Anthony , Ndolo Monica M. 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

The production -consumption cycle needs a transition towards a circular economy where waste valorization is included. This study investigated briquetting as a stabilization method for black soldier fly frass (BSFF) with faecal matter, pig and poultry manure as the larval feed. Herein, dried BSFF was pyrolyzed at 350 °C for 2 h to produce biochar then mixed with charcoal dust in equal ratio to produce bio-briquettes through densification, with a binder (10 wt%). One-way ANOVA showed statistical significance in carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, and oxygen. There were significant differences between calorific value, volatile matter, fixed carbon, moisture and ash content of the bio-briquettes. Fixed carbon, volatile matter, moisture, and ash content ranged from 29.66 ± 0.86 to 42.01 ± 0.92, 29.26 ± 0.52 to 32.59 ± 0.80, 2.95 ± 0.1 to 5.08 ± 0.04, and 21.48 ± 0.14 to 37.20 ± 0.29, respectively. Calorific value ranged from 16.25 ± 0.57 to 20.70 ± 0.53 MJ/kg, which exceeds the minimum requirement of 14.5 MJ/kg recommended for non-woody briquettes. During combustion, concentrations of NOx, N2O, CO, and CO2 varied significantly. Briquetting is a potential stabilization method for frass resulting in waste reduction, bioenergy production, reduced adverse effects of climate change, and enhanced sustainability.