bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ridge-type covariance and precision matrix estimators of the multivariate normal distribution
Authors: van Wieringen Wessel N. , Leday Gwenaël G. R. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractWe consider ridge-type estimation of the multivariate normal distribution’s covariance matrix and its inverse, the precision matrix. While several ridge-type covariance and precision matrix estimators have been presented in the literature, their respective inverses are often not considered as precision and covariance matrix estimators even though their estimands are one-to-one related through the matrix inverse. We study which estimator is to be preferred in what case. Hereto we compare the ridge-type covariance matrix estimators and their properties to that of the inverse of the ridge-type precision matrix estimators, and vice versa. The comparison, in which we take all ridge-type estimators along, is limited to a specific case that is illustrative of the difference between the covariance and precision matrix estimators. The comparison addresses the estimators’ estimating equation, analytic expression, analytic properties like positive definiteness and penalization limit, mean squared error, consistency, Bayesian formulation, and their loss and potential for marginal and partial correlation screening.
Hierarchical Au@Pt nanoparticle/amino benzoic acid polymer-based hybrid material for labeled and label-free detection of interleukin-6: a comparative assessment
Authors: Soto Dayana , Serafín Verónica , Pedrero María , Pingarrón José M. , Campuzano Susana , Orozco Jahir 
Published: October 2024

Abstract Interleukin-6 (IL6) is a cytokine mainly involved in inflammatory processes associated with various diseases, from rheumatoid arthritis and pathogen-caused infections to cancer, where malignant cells exhibit high proliferation and overexpression of cytokines, including IL6. Furthermore, IL6 plays a fundamental role in detecting and differentiating tumor cells, including colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Therefore, given its range of biological activities and pathological role, IL6 determination has been claimed for the diagnosis/prognosis of immune-mediated diseases. Herein, a comparative study is presented of labeled and label-free electrochemical immunosensors involving a hierarchical Au@Pt nanoparticle/polymer hybrid material for detecting IL6. The electrochemical immunosensors were independently coupled to the surface of screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) previously modified with polymeric layers. While in the label-free immunosensor, an anti-IL6 antibody (IL6-Ab) was covalently bound to the modified SPCE surface, in the sandwich-like amperometric immunosensor, an anti-biotinylated-IL6 antibody (B-IL6-Ab) was attached to the electrode through biotin-avidin affinity interactions. The label-free format employed a straightforward detection of IL6 by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The resulting electrochemical immunosensors exhibited a linear dynamic range from 50 to 750 pg/mL IL6, with detection limits (LOD) of 14.4 and 6.0 pg/mL for label-free and sandwich-like immunosensors, respectively. This outstanding performance makes them versatile platforms for clinical analysis of a panel of biomarkers for early diagnosis/prognosis of inflammatory processes associated with oncological diseases, among other pathologies.
Comparative study on the Impact of Transcranial Magnetic stimulation and Bio-feedback on overactive bladder in multiple sclerosis patients: a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Raheem Osama M. Abdel , Abdel-Hady Doaa A. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Overactive bladder (OAB) is a common clinical presentation in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives
The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and biofeedback on overactive bladder in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Methods
This research included 45 individuals with multiple sclerosis of both sexes. We randomly divided them into three equal groups (A, B, and C). Patients in group A got biofeedback training and pelvic floor exercise (PFME); patients in group B had transcranial magnetic treatment and PFME; and patients in group C had PFME. Urodynamic measurements were utilized to determine bladder parameters (detrusor pressure at maximum flow rate, bladder volume at initial desire to empty, maximum cystometric capacity, detrusor pressure, and maximum flow rate) for all groups before and after a six-week training interval (the end of therapy).

Results
There was a statistically significant improvement in all urodynamic measurement parameters within the groups (Groups A, B and C). Except for the maximal cystometric capacity and detrusor pressure were non-significant improvement in B before and after therapy. However, there was no significant difference between the three groups following therapy.

Conclusion
Transcranial magnetic stimulation and biofeedback improved bladder function in patients with multiple sclerosis. These approaches have a high level of safety and effectiveness, but EMG biofeedback has superiority.
Advanced ultrasound diagnosis of extrahepatic bile duct lesions
Authors: Okaniwa Shinji 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Ultrasound (US) has high specificity and sensitivity, and it should be performed first for patients with suspicion of biliary tract cancer. However, the complicated anatomy in addition to the gas images makes it difficult to delineate the entire extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD). The keys to depiction of EHBD are the "J" shape manipulation in the left lateral decubitus position and the use of magnified images with high-frequency transducers. Furthermore, indirect findings such as gallbladder (GB) distension, BD dilatation, and debris echo in the GB and BD are also important for detecting occult lesions, particularly in the ampullary region of Vater. For the differential diagnosis of BD wall thickening, the spreading pattern in the long and short axial directions should be assessed first. Then, the characteristics of the innermost hyperechoic layer (IHL) and outermost hyperechoic layer (OHL) should be evaluated. Asymmetrical wall thickening, absence of IHL, and presence of irregularity or discontinuity in OHL are characteristic patterns of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Because CCA is the most common BD polypoid lesion, it is important to diagnose tumor extension and depth invasion in addition to differential diagnosis. Nodular-type CCA is usually hypoechoic and more likely to invade vertically. In contrast, papillary-type CCA is often hyperechoic and extends laterally. Contrast‑enhanced US may be useful for evaluating these findings. However, if the possibility of CCA cannot be ruled out or a definitive diagnosis is needed, a transpapillary biopsy or endoscopic US-guided tissue acquisition should be considered.
A Particle Method for the Multispecies Landau Equation
Authors: Carrillo José A. , Hu Jingwei , Van Fleet Samuel Q. 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe multispecies Landau collision operator describes the two-particle, small scattering angle or grazing collisions in a plasma made up of different species of particles such as electrons and ions. Recently, a structure preserving deterministic particle method (Carrillo et al. in J. Comput. Phys. 7:100066, 2020) has been developed for the single species spatially homogeneous Landau equation. This method relies on a regularization of the Landau collision operator so that an approximate solution, which is a linear combination of Dirac delta distributions, is well-defined. Based on a weak form of the regularized Landau equation, the time dependent locations of the Dirac delta functions satisfy a system of ordinary differential equations. In this work, we extend this particle method to the multispecies case, and examine its conservation of mass, momentum, and energy, and decay of entropy properties. We show that the equilibrium distribution of the regularized multispecies Landau equation is a Maxwellian distribution, and state a critical condition on the regularization parameters that guarantees a species independent equilibrium temperature. A convergence study comparing an exact multispecies Bobylev-Krook-Wu (BKW) solution to the particle solution shows approximately 2nd order accuracy. Important physical properties such as conservation, decay of entropy, and equilibrium distribution of the particle method are demonstrated with several numerical examples.
A Profit Cap is not yet a General Moral Duty for Companies: A Corporate Social Contract Perspective
Authors: Kaptein Muel 
Published: October 2024

AbstractIn both the literature and practice, it has been advocated that companies should have a profit cap. Utilizing corporate social contract theory, this article posits that under at least three conditions, companies do not have a general moral duty to cap their profits. These conditions entail that a company adheres to the contracting principles of its stakeholder relationships, that the constitutive stakeholders of the company have not otherwise stipulated in the corporate social contract, and that the macrosocial contract does not prescribe otherwise to the company. The first two conditions are company-specific and hence do not constitute a generic moral imperative, and there is currently insufficient evidence for the third, generic condition.
Learning to rank anomalies: scalar performance criteria and maximization of rank statistics
Authors: Limnios Myrto , Noiry Nathan , Clémençon Stephan 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe ability to collect and store ever more massive data, unlabeled in many cases, has been accompanied by the need to process them efficiently in order to extract relevant information and possibly design solutions based on the latter. In various situations, the vast majority of the observations exhibit the same behavior, while a small proportion deviates from it. Detecting these outlier observations (or equivalently defined as anomalies) is now one of the major challenges for machine learning applications (e.g. fraud detection or predictive maintenance). We propose here a novel methodology for outlier/anomaly detection, by learning a scoring function defined on the feature space allowing for ranking the observations by degree of abnormality. The scoring function is built through maximization of an empirical performance criterion taking the form of a (two-sample) linear rank statistic. We show that bipartite ranking algorithms can thus be used to learn nearly optimal scoring function with provable theoretical guarantees. We illustrate our methodology with numerical experiments based on open access online code.
Development of Mathematical Function Control-Based 3D Printed Tablets and Effect on Drug Release
Authors: Wang Honghe , Karnik Indrajeet , Uttreja Prateek , Zhang Peilun , Vemula Sateesh Kumar , Repka Michael A. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The application of 3D printing technology in drug delivery is often limited by the challenges of achieving precise control over drug release profiles. The goal of this study was to apply surface equations to construct 3D printed tablet models, adjust the functional parameters to obtain multiple tablet models and to correlate the model parameters with the in vitro drug release behavior.

Methods
This study reports the development of 3D-printed tablets using surface geometries controlled by mathematical functions to modulate drug release. Utilizing fused deposition modeling (FDM) coupled with hot-melt extrusion (HME) technology, personalized drug delivery systems were produced using thermoplastic polymers. Different tablet shapes (T1-T5) were produced by varying the depth of the parabolic surface (b = 4, 2, 0, -2, -4 mm) to assess the impact of surface curvature on drug dissolution.

Results
The T5 formulation, with the greatest surface curvature, demonstrated the fastest drug release, achieving complete release within 4 h. In contrast, T1 and T2 tablets exhibited a slower release over approximately 6 h. The correlation between surface area and drug release rate was confirmed, supporting the predictions of the Noyes-Whitney equation. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analyses verified the uniform dispersion of acetaminophen and the consistency of the internal structures, respectively.

Conclusions
The precise control of tablet surface geometry effectively tailored drug release profiles, enhancing patient compliance and treatment efficacy. This novel approach offers significant advancements in personalized medicine by providing a highly reproducible and adaptable platform for optimizing drug delivery.

Graphical Abstract
Senescence-related genes as prognostic indicators in breast cancer survival
Authors: Ungvari Zoltan , Ungvari Anna , Fekete Monika , Kiss Csaba , Győrffy Balázs 
Published: October 2024

AbstractBreast cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, particularly affecting those in their later years. As the incidence of breast cancer increases with age, understanding the biological mechanisms that link aging and cancer becomes crucial. Cellular senescence, a hallmark of aging, plays a dual role in cancer by inhibiting tumorigenesis while also contributing to tumor progression through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). This study aims to investigate the prognostic significance of senescence-related genes in breast cancer. We utilized the SenMayo gene list, a comprehensive set of senescence-related genes, to analyze gene expression data from a large cohort of breast cancer samples. The data was sourced from the Kaplan–Meier plotter, an integrated database that compiles gene expression information from multiple independent cohorts. Cox proportional hazards regression and false discovery rate (FDR) corrections were employed to evaluate the correlation between gene expression and survival outcomes, aiming to establish a prognostic signature. Our findings demonstrate that higher expression levels of senescence-related genes are significantly associated with improved survival, while lower expression levels correlate with shorter survival outcomes. These results suggest that senescence-related pathways play a protective role in breast cancer, potentially serving as valuable prognostic indicators. The identification of a prognostic signature based on senescence-related genes underscores the importance of cellular senescence in breast cancer progression and survival. Our study highlights the potential of senescence-related biomarkers in enhancing patient stratification and informing treatment strategies, contributing to the growing body of literature on the intersection of aging and cancer.
Common Elements of Trauma-Informed Schools and Attention to Racial Equity: A Scoping Review
Authors: Onipede Z. Ayotola , Park Alayna Lee , Lau Anna S. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Introduction
Notwithstanding the multiple descriptions and principles associated with trauma-informed schools (TIS), the field lacks a well-defined operational definition of TIS. This scoping review aimed to characterize TIS intervention components and implementation strategies described in published studies of TIS. This review also examined the extent to which published examples of TIS had an explicit focus on promoting racial equity. Method: Eligible studies described school- or district-wide trauma-informed approaches in Preschool-12 education, and included elements across at least two domains of TIS design: Organizational & Policy Reforms; Workforce Professional Development/Training; and Educational & Clinical Practices. A trained coding team reviewed eligible studies and applied 32 codes characterizing TIS intervention components and implementation strategies. Results: 30 eligible studies were identified. The most common implementation strategies included availability of trauma-informed training & consultation, implementation progress monitoring, and developing community partnerships. The most common intervention components included multi-tiered interventions and specific knowledge areas for trauma-informed training content. Least common, were intervention components related to promoting racial equity (e.g., de-implementation of exclusionary discipline, de-implementation of carceral practices, and culturally inclusive curriculum). Conclusion: Findings suggest TIS components related to implementation strategies are most frequently employed, and that explicit attention to racial equity was infrequent in published descriptions of TIS design and implementation.
“Meet the IUPAB councilor”—Thomas Gutsmann
Authors: Gutsmann Thomas 
Published: October 2024

AbstractAs one of the twelve newly elected councillors, it is my pleasure to provide a brief biographical sketch for the readers of Biophys. Rev. and the members of the Biophysical Societies. I have been actively involved in the German Biophysical Society (DGfB) since 2008, initially as the speaker for the “Membrane Biophysics” section and, since 2015, as the secretary. Within the IUPAB council I follow Prof. Hans-Joachim Galla, former Secretary and President of the German Biophysical Society, who served as a councillor for two terms from 2018 to 2024. Thus, a direct continuation of the German contribution to the IUPAB is guaranteed. My journey in biophysics began during my studies of physics at the University of Kiel, where I specialized in physiology and biophysics. After earning my doctorate in the lab of Ulrich Seydel at the Research Center Borstel, I spent two years at the University of California, Santa Barbara, working in Paul Hansma’s lab on the development and application of atomic force microscopy. During my time at UCSB, I also collaborated with Jacob Israelachvili’s lab on membrane properties. Since 2008, I have been leading the Biophysics Research Group at the Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center. In 2010, I was appointed as a professor at the University of Lübeck. Additionally, since 2023, I have been serving as an associate member at the Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) in Hamburg.
Root-Driven Soil Reduction in Wadden Sea Salt Marshes
Authors: Mittmann-Goetsch Julian , Wilson Monica , Jensen Kai , Mueller Peter 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe soil redox potential in wetlands such as peatlands or salt marshes exerts a strong control over microbial decomposition processes and consequently soil carbon cycling. Wetland plants can influence redox by supplying both terminal electron acceptors (i.e. oxygen) and electron donors (i.e. organic matter) to the soil system. However, quantitative insight into the importance of plant effects on wetland soil redox and associated plant traits are scarce. In a combined mesocosm and field study we investigated the impact of plants on soil reduction using IRIS (Indicator of Reduction in Soils) sticks. Vegetated plots were compared to non-vegetated plots along an elevational gradient in a salt marsh of the Wadden Sea and along an artificially created gradient in a tidal tank mesocosm experiment. Our findings from the mesocosm experiment demonstrated that vegetation both enhanced and suppressed soil reduction relative to non-vegetated control pots. The direction of the plant effect (i.e., net oxidizing or net reducing) was inversely correlated with background redox conditions. Insights from high-resolution oxygen profiling via planar optode imaging corroborated these findings. In the field study, vegetation consistently reduced the comparatively well-aerated Wadden Sea salt marsh soil. Reduction correlated positively with soil organic matter content and belowground biomass, indicating that greater availability of plant-derived electron donors, in the form of organic matter, increased soil reduction. Challenging the dominant paradigm that wetland plants primarily act as soil oxidizers, our study reveals their potential to exert a net reducing effect. The documented impact of these plant-induced changes in soil redox conditions suggests a previously overlooked role in shaping the stability of soil organic carbon stocks in wetland ecosystems with variable water tables.
Integrated Genetic Algorithm and Deep Learning Approach for Effective Cyber-Attack Detection and Classification in Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) Environments
Authors: Alkhafaji Nadia , Viana Thiago , Al-Sherbaz Ali 
Published: October 2024

AbstractCyber-attack detection within Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) environments presents unique challenges due to the complex, resource-constrained, and real-time nature of these networks. Traditional detection techniques often struggle to adapt to the dynamic environment of IIoT. For instance, many existing methods rely on signature-based detection, which fails to identify evolving threats. Other approaches, such as anomaly-based detection, can generate a high rate of False Positives, leading to inefficiencies in threat management. To address these challenges, we propose a novel detection and classification model specifically tailored for IIoT environments. The proposed model integrates Genetic Algorithms (GA) and Deep Learning (DL) to enhance cyber-attack detection within IIoT environments. The GA component optimises feature selection from raw network data, ensuring the extraction of meaningful and relevant features. Leveraging these selected features, the DL component constructs a robust model capable of accurately detecting and classifying various cyber-attack patterns across IIoT devices. Through experimentation on real-world IIoT network traffic (UNSW-NB 15 dataset), the proposed approach demonstrates its efficacy in improving attack detection accuracy and adaptability. The integration of GA and DL offers a synergistic solution that addresses the complexities of IIoT cybersecurity, contributing to a more secure and resilient IIoT ecosystem. The integrated GA–DL classification model developed in this work achieved 98% precision, 96% accuracy, 94% recall, and 12% losses with only less than 50% of the features of the UNSW-NB 15 dataset. The reduction in features required for the identification and classification of cyber-attacks reduces the processing time by 50%.
The development of media quality in the Digital Age
Authors: Barhoumi Sahra 
Published: October 2024

AbstractThe Digital Age has revolutionized the media landscape, reshaping how consumers access and interact with content. Consumers now have access to a wide range of media content, from physical copies to digital downloads and streaming. This has led to content creators detaching from traditional publishing and self-publishing their content on platforms like Wattpad, SoundCloud, and YouTube. The Digital Age has also added more remedies to signal quality to consumers, such as online reviews and personalized recommendations. This paper aims to analyze the impact of the Digital Age on the quality of media content in three different media fields (books, music, and films and series) by conducting an online survey among 245 German-speaking internet users in May 2022. Findings reveal a significant increase in access to content creators and content availability for consumers in the Digital Age. Moreover, the Digital Age introduces mechanisms that assist consumers in evaluating content quality, mitigating the adverse selection problem. The study concludes that media content quality in the Digital Age surpasses that of the Pre-Digital Age. For an enhanced consumer experience in the field of books, media providers should reconsider their algorithms, prioritizing content over purchasing patterns. Caution is advised in reinforcing intellectual property rights, emphasizing the need for judicious application to preserve content creation incentives.