bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
COVID-19 outbreak during investigation of acute respiratory syndrome among pilgrims in Senegal: An Integrated real time surveillance approach
Authors: Padane Abdou , Mboup Aminata , Ndiaye Seyni , Sarr Mariema , Aza-Gnandji Marilyne , NDAO Mamadou , Diallo Abdoulaye S. , Diop Ousmane , DIATTA Bacary Dembo , DIOUF Ousmane , SARR Abdoulaye Leye , Dabo Ndèye Astou , DIOUF Seynabou Selbé , DIENG Aissatou Nogaye , SARR Etienne Moussa , Diop Mame Matar , Souare Abdoulaye , Diouf Ndèye Dieynaba , Leye Nafissatou , GUEYE Astou , DIA Aminata , GUEYE Mame Sokhna , WADE Djibril , Diedhiou Cyille Kouligueul , Ahouidi Ambroise , Diaw Papa Alassane , Cisse Badara , MBOW Moustapha , DIOP Boly , Amachawadi Raghavendra G. , Dia Yacine A , Mboup Souleymane 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background: Since the COVID-19 outbreak, global efforts have focused on controlling the disease. However, intense cross border movements pose a risk for the emergence of new SARS-CoV-2 strains. Recent example is the detection of cases among the 2024 Senegalese pilgrims returning from Mecca, Saudi Arabia, to monitor the emergence of high-threat strains. This study aims investigate new SARS-CoV-2 emerging lineages isolated from returning Senegalese Pilgrims.
Methods: Whole Genome Sequencing, using midnight protocol on Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) platform, has been used to characterize SARS-CoV-2 strains isolated from 66 pilgrims tested Covid-19 positive. An integrated approach, involving strong collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), was utilized for data sharing with patients and healthcare authorities.
Results: Among 66 positive samples sequenced with coverage ≥ 80%, we detected the presence of the JN.1 sub-lineage (12.71%) and the emergence of the JN.1.18 variant (4.24%). In addition, JN.1.18.3 (14.41%) elicited more mutations than JN.1. Furthermore, we also identified variants, LF.1.1.1 (4.24%), JN.1.26 (1.69%), KP.1.1.1 (5.08%), KP.1.1.3 (1.69%), LP.2 (2.54%), JN.1.50.1 (0.85%), LB.1 (0.85%), and KS.1.1 (0.85%) which have never been identified in Africa in our knowledge. New lineages LS.1 (2.54%) and JN.1.18.5 (2.54%) were identified in real time during this intervention.
Conclusion: It is important to monitor the emergence of new variants among pilgrims and the general population, as well as the clinical course of patients, to determine the virulence of these variants.
Salmonella Contamination: Breach in Food Safety Standards at Hotel Restaurants
Authors: Segbedzi Cynthia Esinam , Botha Nkosi Nkosi , Dumahasi Victor Kwasi , Ansah Edward Wilson 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

There is an increasing patronage of hotel restaurants food, but the safety of such foods is always call to question because of commitanition from organisms like salmonella. Salmonellosis is a set of common foodborne diseases caused by bacteria (Salmonella spp), of which there are many variants. We conducted microbial assessment of foods served at 21 hotel restaurants in Central and Western Regions of Ghana, to determine the presence of Salmonella. Samples of cooked food were collected from the hotels in sterile containers and Ziploc bags packed into thermoregulatory flask and transported aseptically to the laboratory for analysis. Standard microbiological methods were employed for isolation, enumeration, and identification of bacteria (Salmonella). The mean bacterial count from the food samples was expressed as x104cfu/mL. The results were analysed using a single factor ANOVA to calculate the mean and standard deviations for food samples common to three categories of hotels, while t-Test (Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variance) was utilised to analyse samples common to two categories of hotel. The results revealed Salmonella presence in all the food samples tested from the restaurants in the hotels. Salmonella contamination of the food samples is attributed to poor personal hygiene, inadequate time and temperature management of cooked and uncooked food and other practices among the food handlers which lead to cross-contamination. Therefore, it is important to intensify training of the food handlers to strictly adhere to food safety protocols. In addition, improvement in monitoring and supervision is important to protect the health of consumers.
Targeting mitochondrial metabolism to improve the tumor microenvironment: A bibliometric study and brief review (1994-2024)
Authors: Zheng Huilan , Wang Gang , Wu Jingping , Liu Ming , Cheng Hongbin 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a pivotal role in supporting tumor growth and metastasis via several inhibitory mechanisms, which diminish the effectiveness of cancer immunotherapy. Central to the metabolic reprogramming of tumors, mitochondria orchestrate the immunosuppressive landscape of the TME.
Methods
We extracted data spanning from 1994 to 2024 from the Web of Science Core Collection database, focusing on literature pertinent to this field. To maintain dataset consistency, we re-evaluated original research articles and compared them across various literature types.
Results
The study identified 3,947 publications, with original research articles comprising 67.29% (2,656 articles). The overall trend of publications increased from 2010 onwards, with a surge in publications from 2020. Cancers is the core journal with the most publications. Cell Metabolism has the most total citations and is the most influential journal. Among individual contributors, Zhang J has the highest number of publications, and Vander Heiden MG leads in local citations. Key figures such as Lisanti MP, Sotgia F, and Thompson CB are prominent authors. Thomas Jefferson University is noted for pioneering and sustaining research efforts, whereas Fudan University tops in publication volume. While China leads in publication quantity, the USA excels in total citations. The core literature encompasses studies on metabolic enzymes, oncogenes, the Warburg effect, and related themes.
Conclusion
The last three years have seen a burgeoning of interest in this field, with key areas such as gene expression, glycolysis, glutamine metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation emerging as central themes.
The Robustness of Deep Learning Models to Adversarial Attacks in Lung X-ray Classification
Authors: Li Xuanyi , Pang Yajie , Li Yihong 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

With the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning, AI-driven models are increasingly being used in the medical field for disease classification and diagnosis. However, the robustness of these models against adversarial attacks is a critical concern, as such attacks can significantly distort diagnostic outcomes, leading to potential clinical errors. This study investigates the robustness of various convolutional neural network (CNN) models, including MobileNet, Resnet-152, and Vision Transformers (ViT), in lung radiograph classification tasks under adversarial conditions. We utilized the "ChestX-ray8" dataset to train and evaluate these models, applying a range of adversarial attack methods, such as FGSM and AutoAttack, to assess the models' resilience. Our findings indicate that while all models experienced a decrease in accuracy after adversarial attacks, MobileNet consistently demonstrated superior robustness compared to other CNN-based models. We also explored the impact of inverse robustness training to enhance model stability. Results seem to prove that the sparser nature of the MobileNet parameters, being the reason for its robustness, will give insight into enhancement of security and dependability within AI models in medical applications. This research underscores the need for continued refinement of AI models to ensure their safe deployment in clinical settings.
RSM-CCD design of volcanic ash/ rice husk ash based geopolymer for crystal violet adsorption: kinetics and isotherms
Authors: Tchakounte Armand , Lenou Idriss , Shikuku Victor , Kemdjien Ludovic , Dika Joseph , Kede Charles 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

In this work, the application of central composite design (CCD) was used for optimization of the synthesis of voclcanic ash/ rice husk ash based geopolymer in acid media. The effect of three factors such as volcanic ash mass, rice husk ash mass and phosphoric acid concentration were investigated on the responses of methylene blue index and iodine index. At an optimized conditions of voclanic ash 3.72g, rice husk ash mass 1.97g and phosphoric acid concentration 5M, the model predicted and experimental values for both responses were highly comparable. The optimized geopolymer and their precursors were characterized by XRF, FTIR and XRD. The effect of various parameters such as initial pH, adsorbent dose, contact time and initial concentration on the adsorption of crystal violet dye on optimized geopolymer was studied. The kinetic study showed that de model of pseudo-second order could very well describe adsorption kinetics. The adsorption isotherm showed that retention of crystal violet dye follows the Langmuir model.
Research on Real-time Surgical Navigation System Based on Machine Learning and Fusion of Multimodal Sensors
Authors: Lv Shijie , Wang Jinquan , Tian Zhisen , Zong Yuan , Wang Yijun , Yin Fei 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

In response to the significant challenge of occlusion in optical navigation, this paper proposes an innovative surgical navigation instrument positioning technique based on the fusion of Ultra-Wideband (UWB) and Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) data. By installing UWB positioning modules and IMU sensors on the surgical instrument arm, this study introduces a machine learning-based data fusion method to fully utilize UWB ranging and IMU high-precision roll and pitch angles, addressing the issues of attitude angles and Z-axis accuracy in UWB pose estimation. The method employs machine learning techniques to model the complex nonlinear relationships among three sets of UWB ranging values, two IMU attitude angles, and the position and yaw angle of the surgical instrument. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves an average absolute error of less than 2cm in three-axis position and less than 1° in three-axis attitude angles. This surgical navigation instrument positioning technique exhibits significant advantages in realizing an efficient and accurate surgical navigation system. By optimizing the positioning accuracy of surgical instruments, this technology offers a novel approach to enhancing the performance of surgical navigation systems, providing innovative solutions for positioning requirements in medical practice.
Air quality prediction based on the GCN-GRU model with CEEMDAN decomposition
Authors: chen xinying , liu yi , wang jing 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Air pollution significantly impacts human health, the economy, and social stability. Accurate air quality prediction is crucial for effective prevention and control of air pollution. To address the highly nonlinear and non-stationary nature of PM2.5 sequences and the spatiotemporal dependencies between the sequences and air quality monitoring stations, a spatiotemporal hybrid prediction model based on CEEMDAN-GCN-GRU is proposed.First, PM2.5 sequences from each air quality monitoring station are decomposed using Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN) to obtain multiple intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and residual components (RES). Next, each component is combined with other features and input into the Graph Convolution Network (GCN) to capture the spatial correlations between PM2.5 concentrations at different monitoring stations. The combined decomposed PM2.5 sequence data and its spatial correlations are then used as input to the Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) to extract spatiotemporal features. Finally, the individual sub-sequences output from the GRU are predicted using a linear regression layer, and the results are superimposed to obtain the final PM2.5 prediction results.Experiments conducted with 10 state-controlled air quality monitoring stations in Dalian city show that the proposed model outperforms comparative models in terms of root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE), achieving reductions of 33.86% and 46.04%, respectively, compared to single benchmark LSTM and GRU models.
Stronger association of intact angiotensinogen with mortality than lactate or renin in critical illness – post-hoc analysis from the VICTAS trial
Authors: Chappell Mark C. , Schaich Christopher L. , Busse Laurence W. , Martin Greg S. , Sevransky Jonathan E. , Hinson Jeremiah K. , Khanna Ashish K. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Sepsis and septic shock remain global healthcare problems associated with high mortality rates despite best therapy efforts. Circulating biomarkers may identify those patients at risk for poor outcomes, however, current biomarkers, most prominently lactate, are non-specific and have an inconsistent impact on prognosis and/or disease management. Activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) is an early event in sepsis patients and elevated levels of circulating renin are more predictive of worse outcomes than lactate. The precursor protein Angiotensinogen is another key component of the circulating RAAS; it is the only known substrate for renin and the ultimate source of the vasopressor Angiotensin II. We postulate that lower Angiotensinogen concentrations may reflect a dysfunctional RAAS characterized by high renin concentrations but attenuated Angiotensin II generation, which is disproportionate to the high renin response and may compromise adequate support of blood pressure and tissue perfusion in septic patients. The current study compared the association between serum Angiotensinogen with mortality to that of lactate and renin in the VICTAS cohort of sepsis patients at baseline (day 0) by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and Kaplan-Meier curve analyses. The serum concentration of Angiotensinogen was more strongly associated with 30-day mortality than either the serum concentrations of renin or lactate in sepsis patients. Moreover, the clinical assessment of Angiotensinogen may have distinct advantages over the typical measures of renin. We conclude that the prospective assessment of circulating Angiotensinogen may facilitate more precise therapeutic approaches to restore a dysfunctional RAAS and improve overall mortality in septic shock.
Numerical Framework for the Development of Atmosphere-Breathing Electric Propulsion for Earth and Mars Atmosphere
Authors: Pessina Valentina , Smirnova Maria , Schein Jochen 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Atmosphere-breathing electric propulsion systems provide a competitive advantage for the lower orbit altitudes sincethe propellant is collected directly from the atmosphere. The effectiveness of thistechnology depends on crucial aspects such as the collection and compression performance characterization, as well as thedrag estimation and compensation. In the first part of this study, the lower Mars and Earth atmospheric characterizationis derived based on current models and mission data. This characterization is a reliable dataset for the boundaryconditions for the simulations carried out in the second part of this study. The proposed computational framework basedon the Direct Simulation Monte Carlo method aims to investigate the collection and compression performances and toestimate the drag. The numerical comparison with a literature case validates the numerical setup presented in thisstudy. The effect of different gas-surface interaction models is investigated by comparing the results yielded by theMaxwellian model (fully specular and partially diffuse reflection) and the Cercignani-Lampis-Lord model. Since theintermolecular collisions can become more relevant at the inlet of the ionization stage, both the variable hard and variable soft sphere models are briefly examined, as well as the inclusion of gas-phase reactions. Finally, thesimulation results of the two cases for the low Mars orbit (150 and 140 km) are compared to the Earth case (180 km).
Zero Emission Heating with Calcium Oxide and Water: Development and Demonstration of First Pilot Scale Thermochemical Heating System for Buildings
Authors: Schmidt Matthias , Sourmelis Venizelos , Kühl Viktor , Linder Marc 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Heat supply for residential buildings is still mainly based on fossil fuels and is thus a major CO2 emitter. Renewable heating remains a technological challenge, often for the reason that during cold weather periods heat demand increases drastically whereas renewable production minimizes. Reactive solids produced by renewable energy can be an energy storage and carrier to flexibly leverage the often extreme seasonal discrepancy of residential heat demand. This work demonstrates a fully integrated thermochemical heating system based on calcium oxide and water operational for the first time in a real building environment. With the extraction of the thermochemically stored energy at a temperature level of 60 °C we proved that the technology can be integrated into existing heating infrastructures of buildings, by replacing fossil fuel-based burners. This work advances the technology readiness level of thermochemical energy storage to validation in relevant environment.
Systematic Review of Fuzzing in IoT: Evaluating Techniques, Vulnerabilities, and Research Gaps
Authors: Touqir Asma , Iradat Faisal , Rakib Abdur , Taskin Nazim , Jadidbonab Hesam , Asif Zaheeruddin , Haas Olivier 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

As our dependence on the internet and digital platforms grows, the risk of cyber threats rises, making it essential to implement effective Measures to safeguard sensitive information through cybersecurity, ensure system integrity, and prevent unauthorized data access. Fuzz testing, commonly known as fuzzing, is a valuable for software testing as it uncovers vulnerabilities and defects in systems by introducing random data inputs, often leading to system crashes. In the Internet of Things domain, fuzzing is crucial for identifying vulnerabilities in networks, devices, and applications through automated tools that systematically inject malformed inputs into IoT systems. This research aims to comprehensively evaluate current fuzzing practices, emphasizing adaptive techniques tailored to IoT environments. A rigorous analysis of 30 recent academic articles was conducted to identify weaknesses, gaps, and challenges in existing approaches. The investigation revealed the need for novel fuzzing techniques that address firmware, hardware, and software vulnerabilities, as well as Denial of Service attacks in IoT systems. By exploring recent trends and identifying gaps and challenges, this research aims to advance IoT security, highlighting the need for improved fuzzing techniques and presenting future research directions to strengthen IoT cybersecurity.
The Effects of Landscape Features and Individual Attributes on the Psychophysiological Responses of Young Visitors
Authors: Tang Yan , Bai Zhengkang , Zhang Shuangquan 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

At present, the effects of forest and psychological and physiological restoration are mostly limited to forests with different characteristics, but tourists with different personality characteristics experience significantly different effects of restoration in the same forest, and there are many gaps in the research in this area. This study took Tianjiling National Forest Park in China as the research site. Physiological and psychological responses of 74 college students in different forest landscape Spaces were monitored and evaluated using POMS (Emotional state Profile) scale, electroencephalogram (EEG) and heart rate (HR) indicators. The results showed that: (1) semi-open forest landscape had the best effect on promoting psychological and physiological recovery, which was obviously better than open and closed forest environment; (2) The combination of different landscape elements has a significant impact on the recovery effect, among which the combination of "bamboo forest + water flow" is the most effective in promoting relaxation and lowering heart rate, while the combination of "forest + building + rich species" has more health benefits in psychological recovery than other elements; (3) The increase of plant species richness has a positive effect on the restoration effect of all types of forests, especially in open forest space; (4) Individual attributes, such as gender and personality traits, had some influence on the recovery effect, but gender had no significant influence on the psychophysiological response in the three forest environments, and negative personality traits had a strong correlation with the reduction of positive emotions and the increase of heart rate. The results show that the open degree, vegetation density and spatial structure of forest landscape are the key factors affecting the psychological and physiological recovery of tourists. In addition, this study also put forward several suggestions: (1) increase the semi-open forest space, appropriately increase the species richness, pay attention to the reasonable combination of soft and hard landscape elements, and (2) select the appropriate forest environment according to personal characteristics. This study provides a scientific basis for landscape planning, design and policy formulation of national forest parks in China.
Transforming inferior short-rotation teak: unleashing superior durability and stability with lactic acid-based bio-treatments
Authors: Basri Efrida , Tobing Gabriel , Saefudin Saefudin , Kartika Titik , Adalina Yelin , Rahayu Istie Sekartining , Mubarok Mahdi , Darmawan Wayan , Gérardin Philippe 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

This study focused on enhancing the properties of inferior short-rotation teak (SRT) wood through impregnation with lactic acid (LA)-based treatments, aiming to improve its dimensional stability, biological durability, and thermal stability. Using a vacuum-pressure process at 12.2 bar for two hours, followed by curing at 150 oC and 180 oC, the research found that wood treated at 180°C with a 10% LA and 10% citric acid (CA) composition demonstrated superior performance. Specifically, the treated wood exhibited higher anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), reduced water uptake (WU), swelling value (Sv), and water leaching (Wlc), as well as increased resistance to white-rot fungi, subterranean termites, and improved thermal stability. The best results were achieved with a 69% ASE, 27% WU, 3% Sv, and 1% Wlc, with wood resistance classified as Class I. Microscopic analysis revealed that the impregnants effectively filled the wood pores. Chemical analysis demonstrated a decrease in hemicellulose content and an increase in α-cellulose and lignin of the modified wood. FTIR analysis further confirmed strong chemical bonds formed between the LA + CA impregnants and wood cellulose and lignin. These findings highlight the potential of LA + CA-impregnated SRT wood cured at 180 oC for high-quality interior and exterior wood applications.