bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Investigation of Hepatotoxic Effect of Cement-Dust in Occupationally Exposed Individuals in North Central Nigeria
Authors: Busari Akeem Olayinka 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
Cement is pivotal in advancing Nigeria's economic and infrastructural development amid rapid urbanization, where the demand for robust infrastructure underscores its integral contribution to meeting developmental requirements. While respiratory concerns have been extensively studied, the impact on the liver with the central role of detoxification remains a critical yet under explored dimension of occupational health. Thus, this study investigated the hepatic effect of cement dust exposure among occupationally exposed individuals in North Central Nigeria.
Methods
A case-control study was conducted at Malete, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, to compare the hepatic profiles of 60 individuals occupationally exposed to cement with 60 non-exposed who served as controls. Ethical approval was obtained from the Kwara State Ministry of Health, and informed consent was secured from each participant. Five (5) milliliters of blood were collected, and hepatic profiles were analyzed using standard spectrophotometric methods. Additionally, the study investigated the correlation between the duration of exposure to cement dust and hepatic profiles among those occupationally exposed.
Results
The study revealed a significant increase in Alanine aminotransaminase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities among individuals exposed to cement (ALT: 30.58 ± 11.54, ALP: 181.68 ± 26.25) compared to non-exposed controls (ALT: 19.90 ± 7.26; ALP: 163.68 ± 29.92) at a significance level of p < 0.05. Additionally, the duration of cement dust exposure demonstrated a significant positive correlation with gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) activity (r = 0.363; p = 0.004). Conversely, no significant positive correlation was observed between the duration of cement dust exposure and the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (r = 0.190; p = 0.147), ALT (r = 0.016; p = 0.904), ALP (r = 0.178; p = 0.175), and direct bilirubin (r = 0.057; p = 0.664). Furthermore, the duration of cement dust exposure showed a negative and non-significant correlation with total protein (r = -0.098; p = 0.455), albumin (r = -0.097; p = 0.461), and total bilirubin (r = -0.156; p = 0.233).
Conclusion
The study suggests that occupational exposure to cement dust may pose a risk of developing hepatotoxicity in the future.
Quantum geometry induced microwave enhancement of flat band superconductivity
Authors: Arora Arpit , Curtis Jonathan , Narang Prineha 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Photo-control of correlated phases is central to advancing and manipulating novel functional properties of quantum materials. Here, we explore microwave enhancement of superconductivity in flat bands through generation of nonequilibrium quasiparticles at subgap frequencies. In conventional superconductors, it is known to occur via radiation absorption determined by fermi velocity, which however is small in flat bands resulting in quenched quasiparticle excitations. Strikingly, in contrast to the conventional paradigm we show a non-vanishing microwave absorption in flat band systems enabled by Bloch quantum geometry leading to superconducting gap enhancement, underscoring the band-geometric origin of nonequilibrium flat band superconductivity. Specifically, we demonstrate this in twisted bilayer graphene, a promising candidate material, and find significant gap enhancement near critical temperature. This work highlights that the nonequilibrium dynamics of materials with non-trivial flat bands as a promising area for future experimental and theoretical investigation.
The inflammasome adaptor protein ASC promotes amyloid deposition in Cryopyrin-associated Periodic Syndromes
Authors: Alarcón-Vila Cristina , Hurtado-Navarro Laura , Mateo Sandra V. , Peñín-Franch Alejandro , Martínez Carlos M. , Molina-López Cristina , Baños María C. , Gómez Ana I. , Gómez-Román Javier , Baroja-Mazo Alberto , Arostegui Juan I. , Palmou-Fontana Natalia , Martínez-García Juan J. , Pelegrín Pablo 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Amyloid A (AA)-type amyloidosis is a complication associated with various autoinflammatory diseases, including cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). The activation of the NLRP3-inflammasome in CAPS leads to the release of inflammasome oligomers, which are primarily composed of oligomeric filaments of the protein ASC. Recent studies have demonstrated that extracellular deposition of circulating ASC oligomers in tissues can serve as seeds for amyloid deposition, potentially culminating in clinical AA-type amyloidosis. In this study, we found that extracellular ASC in a late-onset, myeloid-restricted CAPS is associated with AA-type amyloidosis. Furthermore, intraperitoneally injected ASC oligomers produced from NLRP3 CAPS variants resulted in increased amyloid deposition. Overall, extracellular ASC oligomers present during inflammatory flares in CAPS promote amyloid deposition in tissues. Targeting extracellular ASC may represent a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent the development of AA-type amyloidosis in autoinflammatory diseases.
Attribution of flood impacts shows strong benefits of adaptation in Europe since 1950
Authors: Paprotny Dominik , Tilloy Aloïs , Treu Simon , Buch Anna , Vousdoukas Michalis I. , Feyen Luc , Kreibich Heidi , Merz Bruno , Frieler Katja , Mengel Matthias 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Flood impacts in Europe are considered to be increasing, especially in connection to climate change. However, attribution of impacts to climatic and societal drivers of past floods has been limited to a selection of recent events. Here, we present an impact attribution study covering 1729 riverine, coastal and compound events that were responsible for the large majority of flood-related impacts in Europe between 1950 and 2020. We show that in most regions the magnitude of flood impacts has been regulated primarily by the opposing direct human actions. On the one hand, the population and economic value at risk have increased, exacerbated by land use change. However, it was compensated by improved risk management, manifested by better flood protection and lower vulnerability. Climate change and human alterations of river catchments were also important drivers in many regions, but ultimately less relevant for trends in total, continental-wide impacts. Overall, our study highlights the need for multidimensional impact attribution of past natural hazards. Attribution results for individual events are available on https://naturalhazards.eu/.
Hydroxyl and sulfate radicals-based electrochemical advanced oxidation process for treating dye-bearing wastewater – A review
Authors: Alam Md. Mahboob , Das Arnab , Adak Asok 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Dye-bearing wastewater presents a substantial ecological risk. Consequently, there is a critical requirement for efficient treatment strategies. Electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) utilizing hydroxyl and sulfate radicals emerge as viable alternatives to degrade dye pollutants effectively. This review article emphasizes the implementation of EAOPs in the treatment of both synthetic and actual dye-bearing wastewater. The fundamentals, chemistry, and recent developments concerning hydroxyl radicals-based EAOP, including anodic oxidation, electro-Fenton, and sulfate radicals-based EAOP, have been thoroughly reviewed. Furthermore, the article explores the comparative effectiveness of the individual hydroxyl and sulfate radical systems as well as the integrated hydroxyl and sulfate radical systems within a singular electrochemical cell. It has been established that sulfate radicals demonstrate a higher oxidation potential, greater pH adaptability, and a longer half-life in comparison to hydroxyl radicals, making them efficient for dye degradation when assessed against anodic oxidation and electro-Fenton processes. Thus, EAOPs represent a promising technological approach for the remediation of dye-bearing wastewater.
Effects of copper and lead on the sorption and desorption behaviors of benzene onto humic acids and black carbons
Authors: Tang Zhi , Yang Sen , Li Yilian , Du Juan , Xiong Yangfu , Fu Shengbo 
Published: November 2024

ABSTRACT

Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization, combined pollution caused by BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) and heavy metals has become ubiquitous in soils, which would pose serious health risks to humans. However, the effects of heavy metals on the sorption and desorption behaviors of BTEX have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the effects of Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions on the sorption and desorption of benzene onto humic acids and black carbons were investigated. The results showed that Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions significantly reduced the sorption capacity, slowed down the sorption rate, and made the desorption less hysteretic of benzene on both humic acids and black carbons. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects by Pb2+ were significantly stronger than those of Cu2+. By combining the results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the site energy distribution model, it can be speculated that the hydration shells of Cu2+ and Pb2+ ions partially cover the surface of humic acids and black carbons, blocking their micropores and shielding sorption sites, consequently inhibiting the sorption of benzene. This study highlights that coexisting metal cations can significantly influence the fate of BTEX in soils.
Quantitative Structure-Property Relationship (QSPR) Modeling of Central Nervous System (CNS) Drug Activity using Molecular Descriptors
Authors: Jeyaraj Sahaya Vijay , Santiago Roy , Azeem Mohamad , Augustine Tony , Husin Mohamad Nazri 
Published: November 2024

Background:
L-type amino acid transporter-1 is a drug that stimulates the func-tions of the brain’s central nervous system. Membrane transporters have evolved, leading to a distinct approach in L-type amino acid transporter-1 drug delivery. One of the trans-porters used for transporting drugs across biological membranes is the L-type amino acid transporter-1. It is widely discussed in the medicinal field.

Objectives:
Numerous investigations indicate a close connection between the properties of alkanes and the diversity of central nervous system drugs in the brain, specifically log P and molecular weight. One important study that analyzes structural properties is focused on topological descriptors. Recently, topological indices have found application in the de-velopment of quantitative structure-activity relationships. These indices are correlated with the physicochemical properties of BCNS-acting drugs and their biological activity.

Methods:
The study employs significant methods of calculating topological indices: the edge set partition method and the Djokovi´c-Winkler relation (cut method) are utilized to calculate the values of these descriptors.

Results:
The results of distance and degree-based topological descriptors have been de-rived. The strong correlation between topological descriptors and the physicochemical properties of BCNS-acting drugs has been studied.

Conclusions:
This article identifies important topological features for various CNS medi-cations, aiming to support researchers in understanding the properties of molecules and their biological activity. Furthermore, we demonstrate how strongly these behaviors cor-respond to the physicochemical properties of central nervous system drugs.
Investigating the Prevalence of Bacterial Infections in Patients with Coronavirus Disease 2019 Hospitalized in Intensive Care Unit and Determining their Antibiotic Resistance Patterns
Authors: Shiralizadeh Somaye , Azimzadeh Masoud , Keramat Fariba , Hashemi Seyyed Hamid , Majzoobi Mohammad Mehdi , Arabestani Mohammad Reza , Jalilian Farid Azizi , Taher Abbas , Khazaei Salman , Alikhani Mohammad Sina , Karami Pezhman , Rahimi Zahra , Tabar Zahra Karimi , Shakib Masoud Moghaddam , Alikhani Mohammad Yousef 
Published: November 2024

Background:
COVID-19 patient hospitalization, particularly in intensive care units, exposes them to bacterial and fungi co-infections, which can have very serious conse-quences, including increased mortality. In addition, antibiotic resistance among pathogens is a hidden threat behind COVID-19.

Methods:
In the period from 2020 September to 2021 August, bacterial isolates from COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU of Sina Hospital in Hamadan, Iran, were collected and iden-tified based on standard biochemical tests. COVID-19 cases were confirmed based on clinical symptoms, computed tomography, and polymerase chain reaction. Antimicrobial susceptibil-ity tests were conducted using disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods.

Results:
In total, 207 bacterial isolates were collected, with Klebsiella pneumoniae account-ing for 69 (33.33%) and Acinetobacter baumannii accounting for 59 (28.15%). The frequency and percentage of isolated bacteria were as follows: Alcaligenes species 28 (13.59%), Staph-ylococcus aureus 18 (8.73%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 15 (7.28%), Escherichia coli 11 (5.33%), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia 3 (1.45%), Enterococcus species 3 (1.45%), and Ser-ratia species 1 (0.48%). About 95.38% resistance to ceftazidime and cefotaxime and 92.31% resistance to ciprofloxacin and cefepime were found in K. pneumoniae isolates. A. baumannii isolates were 100% resistant to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and cefepime. About 22.22% re-sistance to vancomycin and 66.67% resistance to clindamycin, erythromycin, and cefoxitin were seen in S. aureus isolates.

Conclusion:
Knowledge of bacterial co-infections and their antibiotic resistance pattern in COVID-19 patients can help in choosing effective antibiotics for the treatment and prevention of antibiotic resistance.
Development and Validation of a Machine Learning Method Using Vocal Biomarkers for Identifying Frailty in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kim Taehwan , Choi Jung-Yeon , Ko Myung Jin , Kim Kwang-il 
Published: November 2024

Abstract

Background
The two most commonly used methods to identify frailty are the frailty phenotype and the frailty index. However, both methods have limitations in clinical application. In addition, methods for measuring frailty have not yet been standardized.

Objective
We aimed to develop and validate a classification model for predicting frailty status using vocal biomarkers in community-dwelling older adults, based on voice recordings obtained from the picture description task (PDT).

Methods
We recruited 127 participants aged 50 years and older and collected clinical information through a short form of the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment scale. Voice recordings were collected with a tablet device during the Korean version of the PDT, and we preprocessed audio data to remove background noise before feature extraction. Three artificial intelligence (AI) models were developed for identifying frailty status: SpeechAI (using speech data only), DemoAI (using demographic data only), and DemoSpeechAI (combining both data types).

Results
Our models were trained and evaluated on the basis of 5-fold cross-validation for 127 participants and compared. The SpeechAI model, using deep learning–based acoustic features, outperformed in terms of accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), 80.4% (95% CI 76.89%‐83.91%) and 0.89 (95% CI 0.86‐0.92), respectively, while the model using only demographics showed an accuracy of 67.96% (95% CI 67.63%‐68.29%) and an AUC of 0.74 (95% CI 0.73‐0.75). The SpeechAI model outperformed the model using only demographics significantly in AUC (t4=8.705 [2-sided]; P<.001). The DemoSpeechAI model, which combined demographics with deep learning–based acoustic features, showed superior performance (accuracy 85.6%, 95% CI 80.03%‐91.17% and AUC 0.93, 95% CI 0.89‐0.97), but there was no significant difference in AUC between the SpeechAI and DemoSpeechAI models (t4=1.057 [2-sided]; P=.35). Compared with models using traditional acoustic features from the openSMILE toolkit, the SpeechAI model demonstrated superior performance (AUC 0.89) over traditional methods (logistic regression: AUC 0.62; decision tree: AUC 0.57; random forest: AUC 0.66).

Conclusions
Our findings demonstrate that vocal biomarkers derived from deep learning–based acoustic features can be effectively used to predict frailty status in community-dwelling older adults. The SpeechAI model showed promising accuracy and AUC, outperforming models based solely on demographic data or traditional acoustic features. Furthermore, while the combined DemoSpeechAI model showed slightly improved performance over the SpeechAI model, the difference was not statistically significant. These results suggest that speech-based AI models offer a noninvasive, scalable method for frailty detection, potentially streamlining assessments in clinical and community settings.
Psychedelic Art and Implications for Mental Health: Randomized Pilot Study
Authors: Peng Mary L , Monin Joan , Ovchinnikova Polina , Levi Amanda , McCall Terika 
Published: November 2024

Background
Psychedelic art (PA) emerged in the 1960s during the psychedelic era; then characterized by visuals induced by the ingestion of psychedelic drugs, it is now an art form known for its vibrant colors, distorted forms, and intricate patterns. Building upon the existing research on art viewing as an effective means to improving physiological and psychological well-being, viewing PA is postulated to evoke positive emotions and provide a meditative experience, contributing to improved mental well-being.

Objective
This study aims to investigate how digitally rendered PA influences viewers’ perceived emotional, mental, and physical states compared to imagery of natural scenery, offering insights into potential applications in mental health care and well-being.

Methods
Overall, 102 participants age 18 to 35 years were randomly assigned to either the experimental group viewing 300 seconds of PA imagery (50/102, 49%) or the control group viewing 300 seconds of scenic imagery (52/102, 51%), after which every participant completed a survey that gathered qualitative data on the perceived impact of viewing their given imagery on their physical, mental, and emotional states through open-ended questions. Thematic analysis was conducted to identify the patterns of experiences reported by the participants.

Results
Qualitative analysis unveiled a greater intensity and diversity of emotional, mental, and physical impacts induced by PA compared to natural scenery, including the sense of relaxation and peace, anxiety and stress alleviation, joy, thrill and sense of euphoria, sensations of awe and wonder, hypnotizing effect, holistic meditative effect, provocation of creative thoughts, induced hyperawareness of bodily states, and transitions from induced overstimulation or anxious thoughts to feelings of calmness.

Conclusions
The preliminary findings of this study suggest that PA is a rich and complex form of visual art that has the potential to facilitate healing and promote well-being and mental health. PA presents promising avenues for integration into mental health care, therapeutic practices, digital health, health care environment, and medical research.
Relação Entre Capacitação Profissional do Gestor e Desempenho de Fundos de Investimento em Ações
Authors: Da Silva Sabrina Espinele , Aldo Iquiapaza Robert , Vinicius Lopes Pereira Marcos , Magda da Silva Roma Carolina 
Published: November 2024

Objetivo: analisar se o desempenho dos fundos de investimentos em ações no Brasil é influenciado pelas características do gestor ligadas à capacitação profissional. Fundamento: evidências empíricas de estudos anteriores têm demonstrado que algumas características particulares dos gestores, como, anos de experiência, nível educacional, idade, certificação profissional e outras, têm impacto no desempenho deles. Método: analisou-se uma amostra de 130 fundos de ações livres, no período de janeiro de 2012 a janeiro de 2018. A metodologia consistiu na análise de três medidas de desempenho (alfa de Jensen pelo modelo CAPM, alfa de Jensen pelo modelo de Carhart (1997) e índice de Sharpe, corrigido pelo procedimento de Israelsen (2005)) em relação a características dos gestores relacionadas a capacitação profissional. As estimações foram realizadas com base na utilização de dados em painel. Resultados: constata-se que gestores mais jovens e aqueles que estão há um menor tempo na gestão de determinado fundo são aqueles que estão sendo capazes de entregar melhor desempenho. Contribuições: Esta pesquisa contribui para o enriquecimento da literatura sobre análise do desempenho de fundos de investimentos no Brasil, na medida em que mostra que além das características dos fundos, é relevante olhar para as características dos gestores quando da análise dos fundos que são capazes de gerar melhor desempenho ao cotista.
Moldando as lógicas institucionais: o poder dos agentes no sistema de controle gerencial
Authors: Jacomossi Fellipe André , Silva Marcia Zanievicz da 
Published: November 2024

Objetivo: Analisar como a mudança nas lógicas institucionais molda a interação entre relações de poder e Sistema de Controle Gerencial (SCG) em uma indústria têxtil.
Fundamento: Ênfase na importância do nível micro na inter-relação entre as lógicas institucionais existentes no campo organizacional observando especialmente a interação entre o poder dos agentes (sob a perspectiva da tríade de Bourdieu) e o SCG, visto como um pacote estruturado de sistemas que busca, para além do suporte a tomada de decisão, controlar a conduta dos indivíduos organizacionais.
Método: Desenvolveu-se uma pesquisa qualitativa, com paradigma epistemológico interpretativista, privilegiando à dimensão cognitiva do fenômeno institucional. O estudo de caso explicativo e único, foi realizado em uma empresa S/A ao longo de dois anos.
Resultados: Infere-se que as pressões exercidas pelas lógicas institucionais, especialmente estatal e de mercado e a inter-relação entre as instituições de nível macro e micro, ensejaram a mobilização de capitais, especialmente escolar e simbólico. Assim a interação das relações de poder entre agentes com o SCG, a implementação de novas métricas gerenciais e reestruturação do próprio SCG, potencializaram o processo de mudança nas lógicas institucionais de Alpha S/A. O SCG contribuiu com a reprodução das disposições incorporadas pelo habitus dos indivíduos, com o fortalecimento de instituições convergentes com a lógica institucional profissional, tornando os capitais escolar e simbólico aqueles com maior relevância no campo de poder analisado.
Contribuições: O SCG visto como um pacote de sistemas, caracterizou-se como elemento chave, de significativa relevância na influência do comportamento humano e incorporação das práticas de contabilidade gerencial no dia a dia organizacional, especialmente no que se refere aos controles cibernéticos, administrativos e culturais.