bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Attending lectures in person, hybrid or online at a technical university - how do students choose after the pandemic, and what about the outcome?
Authors: Kortemeyer Gerd , Dittmann-Domenichini Nora , Merki Claudia 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, students have more choice of how to attend courses than ever before; for a large number of courses at a technical university, they are still able to watch the lectures live online or in recorded format later. We found that interactivity may bring back students into the classroom almost as effectively as withholding alternatives. However, we also found that these attendance modes by themselves have little influence on exam grades. Instead, exam outcomes are more strongly associated with students attitudes and interest. We also found indicators that focussing on live lectures during the running semester (on-campus or online) may be associated with better exam outcomes than intensive preparation phases before exams.
A Plug-and-Play Fuzzy Mask Extraction Module for Single Image Deraining
Authors: Hu Mingdi , Wang Chenrui , Song Yao , Yu Jianxun , Jing Bingyi 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The learning of rain masks is important for finely extracting the rain streaks and helping the recovery of rain-removed images.However, the rain mask attention blocks involved in exisiting methods cannot be directly applied to other deraining frameworks, resulting in weak universality. In this paper, we propose a fuzzy mask extraction module with better flexibility, which can be easily embedded into the current rain-attention-based single image deraining approaches. Specifically, we first propose to optimize a convex combination of several grouping functions to extract the corresponding fuzzy mask maps which are taken as ground-truth. Then, under the supervision of the extracted fuzzy mask maps, we design the corresponding fuzzy rain mask extraction network module. Finally, we integrate the fuzzy mask extraction module into several state-of-the-art single image deraining methods. Extensive experimentsshow that the proposed approach can improve the performance of the existing single image deraining methods further boost their generalization ability.
Fabrication of a new "Epoxy-Gd 2 O 3 " neutron-shielding composite and its characterization by experimental and simulation methods
Authors: Safavi Seyed Mohammad Reza , Outokesh Mohammad , Vosoughi Naser , Yahyazadeh Amin , Mohammadi Aghil , Kiani Mohammad Amin , Jabalamelian Seyed Sajad 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

A new neutron shielding composite was fabricated by homogenous dispersion of gadolinium oxide in the epoxy resin. It was found that the addition of Gd2O3, up to 2% has a positive effect on the tensile strength of the epoxy matrix so that its strength reached 44.5 MP with 3.1% elongation rate. This is despite the fact that according to the FTIR and XRD results, Gd2O3 and epoxy preserved their chemical natures in the matrix. The addition of Gd2O3 also enhanced the thermal resistance of the epoxy matrix, as it was evidenced by the TGA analysis. The neutronic shielding performance of the fabricated composite was evaluated by both experiments and simulation. The new composite offers appreciable neutronic absorption so that its sample with 4 cm thickness and 10% Gd2O3 content captures 70% of the incident neutrons. The accuracy of the MCNP code in the simulation of neutronic data of our sample was noticeable, and it was around 13.5% on average.
A statistical mechanics investigation of Unfolded Protein Response across organisms
Authors: Luchetti Nicole , Smith Keith , Matarrese Margherita , Loppini Alessandro , Filippi Simonetta , Chiodo Letizia 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Living systems rely on coordinated molecular interactions, especially those related to gene expression and protein activity. The Unfolded Protein Response is a crucial mechanism in eukaryotic cells, activated when unfolded proteins exceed a critical threshold. It maintains cell homeostasis by enhancing protein folding, initiating quality control, and activating degradation pathways when damage is irreversible. This response functions as a dynamic signaling network, with proteins as nodes and their interactions as edges. We analyze these protein-protein networks across different organisms to understand their intricate intra-cellular interactions and behaviors. In this work, analyzing twelve organisms, we assess how fundamental measures in network theory can individuate seed-proteins and specific pathways across organisms. We employ network robustness to evaluate and compare the strength of the investigated PPI networks, and the structural controllability of complex networks to find and compare the sets of driver nodes necessary to control the overall networks. We find that network measures are related to phylogenetics, and advanced network methods can identify main pathways of significance in the complete Unfolded Protein Response mechanism.
Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in soils along a natural pH gradient
Authors: Lyu Guangze , Li Huiru , Hu Jiayang , Ma Jincai 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Persistence of E. coli O157:H7 (EcO157) in soils from different places was widely reported, while its survival behavior in soils over a pH gradient was yet to be investigated. In the current study, a total of 24 soil samples were collected along a natural pH gradient, and the soils were classified into weak acidic soil (pH < 6.5), neutral soil (6.5 < pH < 7.5), weak basic soil (7.5 < pH < 8.5), and strong basic soil (8.5 < pH < 10). Soil physical and chemical properties were determined using standard methods, and bacterial communities were characterized by next generation high throughput sequencing protocol. EcO157 cells were inoculated into those soils and the survival profiles were investigated. The influencing factors affecting the survival behavior of EcO157 were analyzed by multivariate statistical analysis. The results showed that the average survival time of EcO157 in weak acidic, neutral, weak basic and strong basic soils was 61.08, 72.05, 76.85 and 18.54 days, respectively. The survival time in strong basic soils was significantly less than those in the other three soil groups. Results of both stepwise multiple regression and Mental tests revealed that soil physicochemical properties such as NO3--N, clay content, and NH4+-N negatively linked to the survival of EcO157, while TP was positively correlated to the survival of EcO157 (P<0.05). Stepwise multiple regression showed that microbial community diversity was negatively correlated with the survival of EcO157, while relative abundances of Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria were positively and negatively correlated to the survival of EcO157, respectively. Our study highlighted the role of pH in the survival of EcO157 in soils. Both co-occurrence networks analysis and structural equation model results showed that pH was a key factor that could directly and indirectly via bacterial community influence the survival of EcO157. Our data coupled with the findings of others might be of great helpful in evaluation, control, and reduction of the potential health risk associated with EcO157 in soils along a natural pH gradient.
Integrated Fusion Approach for Multi-Class HeartDisease Classification through ECG and PCG Signalswith Deep Hybrid Neural Networks
Authors: Hangaragi shivalila , N Neelima , Jegdic Katarina , Nagarwal Amritesh 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Detection and classification of cardiovascular diseases are crucial for early diagnosis and prediction of heart-related conditions. Existing methods rely on either Electrocardiogram or phonocardiogram signals, resulting in higher False Positive Rates. SolelyECG misses the murmurs associated with the narrowing of the blood vessels caused due to abnormalities in the heart. Similarly, considering only PCG will miss the subtle changes in the electrical activity of the heart that leads to incomplete evaluation. The implementation of a multi-class heart disease classification model utilizing both ECG and PCG signals is the objective of the proposed study. The approach involves preprocessing, fusion, waveform detection utilizing the Pan-Tompkins Algorithm, and signal localization using Algebraic Integer-quantized Stationary Wavelet Transform. Low-rank Kernelized Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with noise is employed to cluster signals into normal and abnormal categories. Features election is performed with Heming Wayed Polar Bear Optimization, and classification is done using C squared Pool SignBI-power-activated Deep Convolutional Neural Network. The proposed model achieves a classification accuracy of 97% with 0.03 error rate. The multi-class classifier effectively identifies and classifies the heart diseases into Aortic stenosis Valvulardisorder, Tricuspid Valvular disorder, Mitralstenosis Valvular disorder, Pulmonary Valvular disorder, Atrial Fibrillation, and Ischemic heart disorder.
The impact of 8-week re-training following a 14-week period of detraining on Greco-Roman Wrestlers
Authors: DEMİRKIRAN Burhan , IŞIN Ali , SUNGUR Yılmaz , MELEKOĞLU Tuba 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
The elite athletes are highly capable of regain their athletic performance and body composition after a period of lack of training. Heart rate variability is an useful indicator to evaluate the physical state of athletes. The objective of this study is to analyze the alterations in the physical, physiological, and performance characteristics of the elite Greco-Roman wrestlers who experienced a prolonged period of detraining (14 weeks) as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Methods
Twenty male elite wrestlers from the National Greco-Roman Wrestling Team participated in the research. Heart Rate Variability values were measured during the detraining period and for 8 weeks of subsequent training, and then interpreted for training periods with different workloads. Body fat percentage values, initially measured during detraining, were recorded at 2-week intervals during the training period. To determine the fitness status of wrestlers, the Specific Wrestling Fitness Test was used before and following the 8 weeks of training period.
Results
A gradual decrease in both body fat percentage and weight observed throughout the course of the training period. The SWFT scores showed significant improvements (31.40 ± 2.91 vs. 37.40 ± 3.22) following the training period. Our study indicate that heart rate variables are significantly influenced during different loads of training and competitions, with similar values observed between the competition and non-training periods.
Conclusions
Our results suggests that athletes undergo identical reactions in their autonomous nervous system during both competition and detraining. Obtaining a comprehensive understanding of these changes can enable coaches and athletes to make accurate decisions in order to optimize training adaptations and attain overall athletic success. Furthermore, over a period of eight weeks following a long non-training period, significant improvements in athletes' body fat, muscle mass and wrestling performance can be achieved along with training.
Transgenerational metabolomic signatures of bleaching resistance in corals
Authors: Quinn Robert , Roach Ty , Drury Crawford , Caruso Carlo , Hancock Joshua , Martin Christian , Neugebauer Kerri , Majerova Eva , Matsuda Shayle , McClintock Rayna , Santoro Erika , Geer Anneke van der 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Coral bleaching is one of the greatest climate-driven threats to the persistence of tropical reef ecosystems. This necessitates the identification of attributes associated with coral resistance and resilience to thermal stress both within and between generations. Here, we used metabolomics to demonstrate that biochemical signatures associated with heat-induced bleaching of Montipora capitata are passed between generations. There were metabolomic signatures of parental bleaching phenotype in sperm, eggs, embryos, larvae, and subsequent juvenile corals formed by selectively breeding bleaching resistant or susceptible parents. Metabolome source mapping showed that these thermal tolerance signatures were from both the coral host and the algal symbiont and spanned a variety of molecular families. One of the strongest markers of transgenerational heat tolerance was the saturation state of DGCC betaine lipids, a molecular family previously associated with thermal tolerance in dinoflagellate symbionts of corals. Though the saturation state of the DGCC lipids was strongly linked to algal genotypes, which are known to be vertically transmitted in M. capitata, even coral progeny that contained the more thermally susceptible Cladocopium algae showed increased saturation of this lipid group if their parents had resisted recent bleaching events. This work provides evidence for biochemical inheritance as a potential mechanism for transgenerational acclimatization to warming oceans, which has implications for reef restoration and resilience in the face of climate change.
Physico-chemical and Thermal behavior of Barind Red Clay from Naogaon, Bangladesh: Implications for Ceramic Industries as a Raw Material
Authors: Mostafa Md. Golam , . Hayatullah , Biswas Pradip Kumar , Rahman Md. Aminur , Rana Md. Shohel , Alam Md. Sha , Nuruzzaman Md. , Uddin Md. Ripaj , Zaman Mohammad Nazim , Shahriar Md. Shams 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

This study evaluates the potential industrial suitability of red clay from Sapahar Upazila, Naogaon District, Bangladesh. Comprehensive laboratory tests were conducted, including Atterberg limits, grain size analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and thermogravimetric analysis (TG), to investigate the mineralogical, geological, ceramic, and plastic properties of the samples. The mineralogical analysis reveals that the red clay is composed of illite, kaolinite, albite, anorthite, smectite, mica, and quartz. Chemically, the red clay primarily consists of SiO₂ (55.06–57.73%), followed by Al₂O₃ (16.96–18.89%), Fe₂O₃ (8.29–10.15%), K₂O (2.98–3.42%), TiO2 (1.28–1.38%), trace amounts of other oxides (< 1%) and LOI (8.34%-9.99%). TG/DSC curve trends indicate the stability of red clay beyond 1000°C. Firing experiments conducted at 800°C, 900°C, 1000°C, and 1100°C show changes in firing shrinkage (0.05–1.15%), water absorption (7.66–4.31%), apparent porosity (13.58–9.53%), bulk density (1.7 g/cm³–2.21 g/cm³), and unconfined compressive strength (7.22–1.35 MPa). These findings suggest that the local red clay is suitable for manufacturing vitrified and semi-vitrified ceramic tiles, indicating its potential for industrial applications in the ceramics sector.
TiO2-ZnO rodlike nanocomposite as photoanode in DSSC yielding 7.38% PEC with N3 dye
Authors: Thate Anukh , Pakhare Keshav , Patil Satish , Bhuse Vijaykumar M , Dhodamani Ananta , Kamble Amit , Bhuse Darpan Vijaykumar 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The agglomeration of TiO2-ZnO nanocomposite is a well-established strategy to apprehend various energy photons from the solar spectrum. This research article focuses on direct chemical precipitation protocol for rod-like TiO2-ZnO NPs of different TiO2:ZnO molar ratios for solar energy harvesting using N3 dye. The synthesized nanocomposites were evidenced with various analytical probing techniques. X-ray diffraction scrutiny corroborated rutile and hexagonal wurtzite crystal structure for TiO2 and ZnO respectively. Surface morphology depicted nanorod texture with varying diameters and widths whereas elemental analysis studies confirmed optimal stoichiometry for the presence of Ti, O, and Zn, respectively. The optical energy gap was evaluated using UV-visible spectroscopy was between 2.95 to 3.00 eV. A 2D electron diffraction pattern was captured with the SAED technique to reveal nanocrystalline TiO2-ZnO nanocomposite. Among the samples synthesized, composite having TiO2:ZnO having 3:1 ratio showcased good performance in solar energy conversion registering Jsc = 3.25 mA/cm2, Voc = 946.96 mV, FF of 48% with PEC of 7.38% in an unadulterated aqueous 0.1 M I⁻/ I3⁻ electrolyte under 100 mW/cm2 irradiation while EIS investigation resulted in Rs = 3.17 cm2, Rct = 20.14 cm2, Cdl (10-9) = 40.25 F/cm2 and Zw (10-5) = 3.27 mMho.
Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis reveals CLCA1 and ZG16 as predictive biomarkers of malignant progression in colorectal cancer
Authors: Zhang Jialin , Wang Xinyu , Wang Ziqiang , Hao Xiaona , Li Yuyun , Zhang Yingjie 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumors. CLCA1 and ZG16 are lowly expressed in CRC, and we wanted to investigate whether they could be prognostic biomarkers for the malignant progression of CRC.
Methods
12,195 DEGs and 12,071 DEGs were identified through the GSE39582 dataset and TCGA dataset, and then 50 coexisting genes were selected for further analysis using Venn diagrams. These 50 DEGs were then subjected to GO and KEGG functional enrichment analyses, along with genome-wide GSEA. the first 5 core genes were identified and visualized using Cytoscape through the PPI network. Then the expression of ZG16 and CLCA1 in normal and tumor tissues were analyzed using GSE39582 and TCGA datasets, and correlation analysis, and survival analysis were performed. The expression of ZG16 and CLCA1 in CRC cells was verified by qRT-PCR, and cell proliferation, migration, and invasion abilities were detected by CCK-8, scratch assay, clone formation assay, and Transwell assay.
Results
The expression levels of ZG16 and CLCA1 were significantly lower in tissues from CRC patients than in normal tissues. Survival analysis showed that low expression of ZG16 and CLCA1 was associated with poor survival outcomes. Multifactorial analysis showed that low expression of ZG16 and CLCA1 was an independent risk factor affecting tumor prognosis. Cellular experiments showed that cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were inhibited after overexpression of ZG16 and CLCA1. Correlation analysis showed that ZG16 and CLCA1 expression levels were positively correlated and the correlation was statistically significant. GSEA enrichment analysis based on CLCA1-related genes and ZG16-related genes (FDR < 0.25, P < 0.05) revealed that the related genes of both genes were closely related to the GNRH SINALINGPATHWAYES pathway.
Conclusion
CLCA1 and ZG16, which are lowly expressed in CRC tissues, are associated with poor prognosis of CRC and may be one of the markers for diagnostic screening and prediction of prognostic outcome in CRC. Meanwhile, CLCA1 and ZG16 may also be new targets for tumor immunotherapy.
Neglecting future sporadic volcanic eruptions underestimates climate uncertainty
Authors: Chim Man Mei , Aubry Thomas , Smith Christopher , Schmidt Anja 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Most climate projections represent volcanic eruptions as a constant forcing based on historical averages. This constant forcing approach ignores the sporadic nature of eruptions, preventing a full quantification of uncertainties in climate projections. Here we show that the contribution of volcanic forcing uncertainty to the overall uncertainty in global mean surface temperature projections reaches up to 49% and is comparable or greater than that from internal variability. Furthermore, compared to a constant volcanic forcing, employing a stochastic volcanic forcing i) reduces the probability to exceed 1.5 ºC warming above pre-industrial level by up to 10%, ii) enhances the probability of negative decadal temperature trends, and iii) increases the likelihood of short-term surface cooling and warming events. Consequently, using a stochastic volcanic forcing approach enables assessment of the associated climate risks and socio-economic impacts. We recommend improved volcanic forcing approaches for future climate model experiments.
Proxy, nurse, and physician needs regarding advance care planning by proxy for aged care residents lacking decision making capacity: an exploratory study
Authors: Jones Laura , Voumard Rachel Rutz , Rhyner Florent , Aguilar Fiorella Figari , Truchard Eve Rubli , Jox Ralf J 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Worldwide, populations are ageing. Together with improved home care and limited places in residential aged care facilities (RACF), this leads to people being admitted to RACF at more advanced ages and in increasingly fragile states of health, often with cognitive impairment. Advance directive completion rates are low, so many people are admitted to RACFs without having formally stated their wishes for care. Guidelines for advance care planning (ACP) in nursing homes exist, however they focus primarily on residents who maintain decision making capacity (DMC). Models are needed for people lacking DMC. We aimed to investigate the essential elements needed for ACP by proxy models (ACPbp) for RACF contexts.
Methods
We conducted a qualitative exploratory study into health care proxy, RACF nurse and physician needs for ACPbp models. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 health care proxies of 16 RACF residents lacking DMC, 3 focus groups with 23 RACF nurses and 3 focus groups with 13 physicians working in 9 RACFs.
Results
Health care proxies expressed the need for structured, accompanied communication about residents’ health state and potential future situations requiring decision-making. Nurses echoed this need, adding that they need specific training along with standardised processes and discussion guides for conducting ACPbp discussions, and standardised documentation. Physicians also mentioned the need for standardised processes and documentation to ensure efficient transfers between facilities and comprehensive documents in case of medical emergency. Such documents should be as short as possible, but also provide space to describe the resident’s values, life history and presumed will. Specifically trained personnel and time allocated specifically to ACPbp are key for implementation.
Conclusions
This study underscores the need for ACPbp in RACFs, gives broad guidelines and outlines the ethical frameworks for such a concept, by identifying the specific aspects necessary for the development of ACPbp models in this context.
Trial Registration
Not applicable