bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of levulinic acid from tobacco stalk via steam explosion and oxidation–hydrolysis route
Authors: Wang Hui , Chen Zhihao , Guo Zhongcheng , Ma Yangyang , Yang Xiaomei , Zhou Lipeng , Chen Chen , Wang Fayi 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDTobacco stalk, the main waste from tobacco planting, was used as raw material to produce levulinic acid, one of the most important platform chemicals. It was reported that steam explosion was an efficient method to treat lignocellulose to hydrolyze the hemicellulose component. Oxidation treatment combined with catalysis of Al2(SO4)3 proved to be efficient for the conversion of cellulose to levulinic acid in our recent report. Here, tobacco stalk was first treated by steam explosion, and then the solid residue was oxidized and converted to levulinic acid in the presence of Al2(SO4)3.RESULTSA xylo‐oligosaccharide yield of 6.6 g 100 g−1 was obtained from tobacco stalk via steam explosion. 15.4 g 100 g−1 (39.6 mol%) yield of levulinic acid was obtained from oxidized tobacco stalk in water at 180 °C in 5 h using Al2(SO4)3 as a catalyst. As high as 20.8 g 100 g−1 (53.5 mol%) yield of levulinic acid can be obtained using NaCl as a co‐catalyst.CONCLUSIONSteam explosion was efficient for the depolymerization of the hemicellulose component of tobacco stalk to xylo‐oligosaccharide. A simple salt of Al2(SO4)3 showed good catalytic activity for conversion of oxidized tobacco stalk to levulinic acid. Nicotine in tobacco stalk promoted the formation of lactic acid. Thus, the yield of levulinic acid decreased in the presence of nicotine. NaCl enhanced the catalytic performance of Al2(SO4)3. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).
Assessing a prediction model for depression risk using an early adolescent sample with self‐reported depression
Authors: Xu Eileen Y. , MacSweeney Niamh , Thng Gladi , Barbu Miruna C. , Shen Xueyi , Kwong Alex S. F. , Romaniuk Liana , McIntosh Andrew , Lawrie Stephen M. , Whalley Heather C. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBackgroundMajor depressive disorder (MDD) in adolescence is a risk factor for poor physical and psychiatric outcomes in adulthood, with earlier age of onset associated with poorer outcomes. Identifying Depression Early in Adolescence Risk Score (IDEA‐RS) is a model for predicting MDD in youth aged >15 years, but replication in younger samples (<15 years) is lacking. Here, we tested IDEA‐RS in a younger sample (9–11 years) to assess whether IDEA‐RS could be applied to earlier onset depression.MethodsWe applied IDEA‐RS predictor weights to 9854 adolescents (9–11 years) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, United States. We derived incident depression outcomes from self‐reported data at 2‐year follow‐up (11–13 years): incident MDD and increase in depression symptoms (DS). Sensitivity analyses were conducted using parent‐reported data. We assessed accuracy and calibration in predicting self‐reported incident depression and compared this to a refitted model with predictor weights derived in ABCD. Lastly, we tested associations between IDEA‐RS predictors and self‐reported incident depression.ResultsExternal replication yielded better‐than‐chance discriminative capacity for self‐reported incident depression (MDD: AUC = 61.4%, 95% CI = 53.5%–69.4%; DS: AUC = 57.9%, 95% CI = 54.6%–61.3%) but showed poor calibration with overly extreme risk estimates. Re‐estimating predictor weights improved discriminative capacity (MDD: AUC = 75.9%, 95% CI = 70.3%–81.4%; DS: AUC = 64.8%, 95% CI = 61.9%–67.7%) and calibration. IDEA‐RS predictors ‘poorest level of relationship with the primary caregiver’ (OR = 4.25, 95% CI = 1.73–10.41) and ‘high/highest levels of family conflict’ (OR = 3.36 [95% CI = 1.34–8.43] and OR = 3.76 [95% CI = 1.50–9.38], respectively) showed greatest associations with self‐reported incident MDD.ConclusionsWhile IDEA‐RS yields better‐than‐chance predictions on external replication, accuracy is improved when differences between samples, such as case‐control mix, are adjusted for. IDEA‐RS may be more suited to research settings with sufficient data for refitting. Altogether, we find that IDEA‐RS can be generalisable to early adolescents after refitting and that family dysfunction may be especially impactful for this period of development.
Melatonin attenuates affective disorders and cognitive deficits induced by perinatal exposure to a glyphosate‐based herbicide via antioxidant pathway in adult male and female rats
Authors: El Hamzaoui Abdelghafour , Lamtai Mouloud , El Brouzi Mohamed Yassine , Azirar Sofia , Rezqaoui Ayoub , Zghari Oussama , El Aoufi Mustapha , Nouar Rihab , El‐Hessni Aboubaker , Mesfioui Abdelhalem 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe massive use of herbicides, particularly glyphosate‐based herbicides (GBHs), raises several worries, notably their neurotoxic effects. Several studies have explored the consequences of developmental exposure. Our work aims to determine the impact of maternal exposure to GBH on behavioral disorders and memory deficits, as well as the involvement of oxidative stress in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. In addition, our study explores the neuroprotective properties of melatonin in male and female offspring. Pregnant Wistar rats were injected with GBH 75 mg/kg during gestation and lactation. After weaning, the offspring were treated with melatonin (4 mg/kg) from postnatal days 30–58. Our results show that GBH increases anxiety‐like behavior levels in offspring, as well as depression‐like behavior. GBH also impairs working memory in progeny. While markers of oxidative stress show a disturbance in lipid peroxidation and catalase activity, with a more pronounced effect in females, on the other hand, melatonin considerably attenuated the neurotoxic impact observed in the offspring, with higher efficacy in females. The oxidative stress results confirm the antioxidant power of melatonin to counteract the damaging effects of exposure to environmental contaminants such as glyphosate‐based pesticides. It will then be interesting to further our work to fully understand the sex‐dependent effect of melatonin.
The role of intraverbal bidirectional naming in the establishment of comparative relations
Authors: Luoma Shannon M. , Miguel Caio F. , LaFrance Danielle L. , Lee Vanessa N. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe purpose of the current study was to extend the research on the possible role of verbal mediation in the establishment of comparative relations. We conducted four experiments in which 14 participants received conditional discrimination training with nonarbitrary and arbitrary stimuli, followed by derived comparative and transformation of function tests. Participants learned to select the smallest or biggest comparison across multiple exemplars in the presence of abstract samples. Next, participants learned to select arbitrary comparisons in the presence of contextual cues to establish a size ranking among comparisons. To assess verbal mediation during mutual and combinatorial entailment tests, participants were instructed to talk out loud. When they failed to perform correctly during derived relations tests, participants were trained to tact and intraverbally relate stimuli. The results suggest that relational training alone was not sufficient to establish comparative relations and that adult participants engaged in problem solving consistent with intraverbal bidirectional naming during emergent relations tests.
Temperature control technology for PCR
Authors: Zhang Tongxin , Cai Gaozhe , Zhang Zhuo , Li Qian , Cui Chuanjin 
Published: September 2024

AbstractIn order to solve the obvious nonlinear problem of temperature and complex structure of PCR instrument during nucleic acid amplification. In this paper, a new nucleic acid amplification device and temperature control algorithm were proposed. In the device, in order to improve the rise and fall rate and make the whole reaction device smaller and simpler, this paper uses a microfluidic chip for nucleic acid reaction. At the same time, in the warming and cooling module, the temperature is controlled by the semiconductor chilling plate, the air‐cooled cooling device and the heat sink structure, which greatly improves the speed of nucleic acid amplification. In the algorithm, a hybrid algorithm is designed, using Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) to optimize PID algorithm parameters, and then based on fuzzy theory, according to the temperature control requirements of nucleic acid amplification, fuzzy rules are analyzed and fuzzy reasoning is carried out, and then combined with PID to achieve rapid response and overshooting control of temperature control. Finally, the measurement noise is filtered by Kalman filter. Finally, COMSOL and MATLAB software are used to simulate and compare, and it is proved that the device has a certain heat dissipation effect in the process of nucleic acid amplification. This algorithm can improve the accuracy and robustness of the control system, improve the response speed, reduce the overshoot, shorten the adjustment time, and restrain the interference.
The incidence and risk factors of atrial high‐rate episodes in patients with a dual‐chamber pacemaker
Authors: Le Nguyen Son Khac , Kieu Dung Ngoc , Tran Phuong Le Uyen , Nguyen Chuong Khac Thien , Dang Toan Quang , Van Ly Chieu , Van Hoang Sy , Nguyen Thuc Tri 
Published: September 2024

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesCardiovascular implantable electronic devices can detect atrial high‐rate episodes (AHREs). However, the predictors of clinically relevant AHREs have not been well identified.MethodsThis prospective study included 145 patients (median age 64.5 ± 16.4 years, 53.1% females) without atrial fibrillation (AF) from December 2020 to January 2022. AHREs were defined as a programmed atrial detection rate >190 beats per minute. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors of AHREs.ResultsDuring 6 months of follow‐up, AHREs occurred in 30.3% of patients. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed factors related to development of AHREs including using anti‐arrhythmic drugs (AAD) before implantation (Hazard ratio (HR) 7.71; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.58–23.02, p < .001), history of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT; HR 2.45; [95% CI], 1.18–5.09, p = .016), the percentage of premature atrial contraction (PAC) on 24‐h Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring (HR 1.008; [95% CI], 1.003–1.014, p = .003), and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS‐LV; HR 0.92;[95% CI], 0.84–0.99, p = .049).ConclusionsThis study showed that a history of PSVT and using AAD, the percentage of PAC on 24‐h Holter ECG monitoring, and GLS‐LV were the independent predictors of new‐onset AHREs.
Role of Deindividuation Between Perceived Crowding and Tourist Behaviors: Moderating Effect of Environmental Knowledge
Authors: Jo WooMi , Lin Yuxuan , Xue Pengsongze , Joppe Marion 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTDestination crowding has emerged as a serious issue for tourist sites and visitors alike. This research delves into the correlation between two‐dimensional perceived (spatial and human) crowding and two tourist behaviors (pro‐environmental and deviant behavior). Additionally, it explores the influence of deindividuation and environmental knowledge on these relationships. The study, based on 313 Chinese domestic tourists who recently visited the Great Wall, reveals that perceptions of spatial and human crowding significantly trigger deviant behavior. Conversely, pro‐environmental behavior is indirectly impeded by both forms of perceived crowding, with deindividuation acting as a mediating factor. The presence of environmental knowledge proves crucial in empowering tourists to make well‐informed behavioral decisions and mitigating the negative effects of deindividuation on their actions. This research contributes to the tourism literature by incorporating deindividuation to enhance the understanding of how perceived crowding affects tourist behaviors. It further advances the field by differentiating between pro‐environmental and deviant.
Analysis of Recent Sleep Surgery Fellowship Training
Authors: Kaffenberger Thomas M. , Huntley Colin , Boon Maurits , Soose Ryan J. , Whelan Rachel L. , Postol Andrew , Strollo Patrick J. , Atwood Charles W. , El Ali Mazen , Stone Blair , Rodin Julianna 
Published: September 2024

ObjectiveSince 2011, otolaryngologists aiming to become certified in sleep medicine have had to complete an ACGME accredited sleep medicine fellowship. In addition to standard sleep medicine and sleep surgery fellowships, several institutions have developed hybrid ACGME sleep medicine programs that incorporate sleep surgery training. Our primary aims were to understand the balance between sleep medicine and surgical training requirements and the surgical volume of recent graduates across the three pathways. Our secondary aim was to assess their employment post‐graduation. An improved understanding of the current state of sleep surgeon training could better inform both applicants and programs and be used to guide fellowship curriculum development.MethodsBetween 2017 and 2023, we identified 26 surgeons who completed a sleep focused fellowship. An anonymous survey was developed and emailed to them. The survey assessed clinic and operating balance, procedures completed during fellowship, and comfort with these procedures as attendings. Finally, the survey assessed the job prospects of graduates. Data were analyzed with Prism 10.ResultsThere were 19 respondents with 52.6% completing a hybrid fellowship, 21.3% completing a sleep medicine fellowship, and 31.6% completing a sleep surgery fellowship. Approximately 84.8% completed ACGME accredited otolaryngology training prior to fellowship. The three most common surgeries were hypoglossal nerve stimulators, pharyngoplasty, and nasal surgeries. Respondents on average received 2.4 job offers, 55% returned to their residency institution, and 89.5% were in academics.ConclusionOur survey demonstrates a wide variability in sleep‐focused fellowships for surgeons, but the employment market for these trainees is robust.Level of EvidenceNA Laryngoscope, 135:952–957, 2025
Bacterial Cellulose as a UVB Filter to Protect the Skin Microbiota
Authors: Alarcón‐Guijo Pablo , Garcés Víctor , González Ana , Delgado‐López José M. , Ullah Ruh , Bansal Vipul , Dominguez‐Vera Jose M. 
Published: September 2024

AbstractCertain aerobic bacteria produce bacterial cellulose (BC) to protect themselves from UV radiation. Inspired by this natural function, the UV‐filtering capacity of wet BC film (BC) and dried BC (BC‐Dried) is evaluated and it is concluded that both samples hardly filter UVA, but filter UVB to some extent, especially BC‐Dried. Moreover, this filtering capacity does not diminish but significantly increases with time, with efficiencies in the 145–160 min time range equal to or greater than most UV filters of the market. This increase in efficiency is due to the fact that the BC structure is modified by prolonged exposure to UVB radiation. Specifically, UVB causes sintering of the cellulose fibers, making the structure denser and increasing its reflection and scattering of UVB radiation. Remarkably, this UVB filtering ability of BC allows it to protect key skin probiotics, Lactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum) and Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), against UVB damage. While the protection of healthy skin microbiota is not currently a regulatory requirement for sunscreens with UV filters, it may become a key differentiator for future UV filters given the increasing evidence on the role of skin microbiota in health.
Extended B‐spline‐based implicit material point method for saturated porous media
Authors: Yamaguchi Yuya , Moriguchi Shuji , Terada Kenjiro 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe large deformation and fluidization process of a solid–fluid mixture includes significant changes to the temporal scale of the phenomena and the shape and properties of the mixed material. This paper presents an extended B‐spline (EBS)‐based implicit material point method (EBS‐MPM) for the coupled hydromechanical analysis of saturated porous media to enhance the overall versatility of MPM in addressing such diverse phenomena. The proposed method accurately represents phenomena such as high‐speed motion in both the quasi‐static and dynamic states by employing a full formulation of coupled hydromechanical modeling. The weak imposition of boundary conditions based on Nitsche's method allows representing the boundary conditions independent of the relative position of the particles and computational grid. In addition, it enables dynamic changes in the boundary domain based on the deformation. The robustness of this boundary representation is reinforced using EBS basis functions, which prevent the degradation of the condition number of the system matrices regardless of the position of the boundary domain with respect to the computational grid. Furthermore, a stabilization method based on a variational multiscale method (VMS) approach is employed to provide the flexibility in choosing arbitrary basis functions for spatial discretization, facilitating the effective construction of EBS. Numerical examples including comparisons between a full formulation and a simplified formulation are presented to demonstrate the performance of the developed method under various boundary conditions and loading states across different time scales.
Development of improved finite element formulations for pile group behavior analysis under cyclic loading
Authors: Wan Jian‐Hong , Jiang Shui‐Hua , Li Xue‐You , Chang Zhilu 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe effect of cyclic loading is an essential factor leading to progressive soil strength degradation. Therefore, a comprehensive analysis of the pile‐soil system behavior under cyclic loading is required to ensure the stability of pile group. There is room for improvement in the inherent constraint of the conventional numerical model in terms of approximating the soil resistance distribution along the pile by point loads at element nodes, necessitating a specific element that integrates considerations of pile group effect and cyclic loading within a unified framework. This study aims to develop a newly specific type of element for efficiently predicting nonlinear behavior within the pile‐soil system, addressing simulations involving nonlinear pile‐soil interaction, pile group effect, and cyclic loading. Modified element formulations based on soil stiffness matrices and soil resistance vectors specifically address pile group effect and consider parameters that influence pile behavior under cyclic lateral loading. The numerical solution procedure with Newton‐Raphson iteration allows the calculation of pile responses in geometric and material nonlinear analyses. The validation of the proposed method includes several examples, comparing it with existing numerical solutions and experimental tests of single piles and pile groups under cyclic loading. These comparisons further support the consistency of the proposed method with measured data and validate its accuracy in considering group effect and cyclic loading. The parametric study illustrates the ability of the proposed method to capture cyclic loading parameters while considering the influence of the number and magnitude of load cycles, the cyclic load direction, and the installation methods.
Repeatability of alkaline inorganic phosphate quantification in the skeletal muscle using 31P‐magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 3 T
Authors: Matias Alexs A. , Serviente Corinna F. , Decker Stephen T. , Erol Muhammet Enes , Giuriato Gaia , Le Fur Yann , Nagarajan Rajakumar , Bendahan David , Layec Gwenael 
Published: September 2024

AbstractThe detection of a secondary inorganic phosphate (Pi) resonance, a possible marker of mitochondrial content in vivo, using phosphorus magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P‐MRS), poses technical challenges at 3 Tesla (T). Overcoming these challenges is imperative for the integration of this biomarker into clinical research. To evaluate the repeatability and reliability of measuring resting skeletal muscle alkaline Pi (Pialk) using with 31P‐MRS at 3 T. After an initial set of experiments on five subjects to optimize the sequence, resting 31P‐MRS of the quadriceps muscles were acquired on two visits (~4 days apart) using an intra‐subjects design, from 13 sedentary to moderately active young male and female adults (22 ± 3 years old) within a whole‐body 3 T MR system. Measurement variability attributed to changes in coil position, shimming procedure, and spectral analysis were quantified. 31P‐MRS data were acquired with a 31P/‐proton (1H) dual‐tuned surface coil positioned on the quadriceps using a pulse‐acquire sequence. Test–retest absolute and relative repeatability was analyzed using the coefficient of variation (CV) and intra‐class correlation coefficients (ICC), respectively. After sequence parameter optimization, Pialk demonstrated high intra‐subject repeatability (CV: 10.6 ± 5.4%, ICC: 0.80). Proximo‐distal change in coil position along the length of the quadriceps introduced Pialk quantitation variability (CV: 28 ± 5%), due to magnetic field inhomogeneity with more distal coil locations. In contrast, Pialk measurement variability due to repeated shims from the same muscle volume (0.40 ± 0.09mM; CV: 6.6%), and automated spectral processing (0.37 ± 0.01mM; CV: 2.3%), was minor. The quantification of Pialk in skeletal muscle via surface coil 31P‐MRS at 3 T demonstrated excellent reproducibility. However, caution is advised against placing the coil at the distal part of the quadriceps to mitigate shimming inhomogeneity.
Duo‐H: An Effectual Consensus Algorithm Using Two‐Tier Shard Consortium Blockchain Mechanism for Enhanced Privacy Protection
Authors: Devi C. H. Sarada , Anand R. , Hemalatha R. , Maheswari B. Uma 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACTBlockchain is an innovative technology for storing data in decentralized, distributed, and secure chain blocks. Consortium blockchains are commonly used in transactions where transactions between organizations are also achieved by the blockchain. In the classic consortium blockchain system, entire nodes are added to each other in the process of transaction consensus. This leads to lower confidentiality in protecting transaction data within the organizations in the consortium. The throughput of the existing consortium blockchain system is still low. To solve the above problems, the paper proposes a two‐tier consortium blockchain with transaction privacy based on sharding technology. First, a trust value assessment is carried out to select the nodes of the blockchain. The duo‐head observation strategy uses these trust values to identify the nonmalicious node. Finally, the consensus separation approach based on the guarantee mechanism strategy with the shard nodes is presented. This approach is used to select reliable nodes for the blocks to be stored. The proposed consortium blockchain approach evaluation is done in terms of latency, throughput, and transactions per second metrics. As a result of the evaluations, the proposed model with 32 shards possesses 143,891
of throughput and 1.11 s of latency. Moreover, by the proposed two‐tier consortium model, time consumption is also decreased when uploading data. For a data set of 50,000, the suggested model has a time consumption of 96 s. The proposed research results in higher throughput and less latency in transactions. Also, the research enhances the scalability and reliability by overcoming the poor node issues.