bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effective removal of As5+ from aqueous medium using date palm fiber biochar/chitosan/glutamine nanocomposite: kinetic and thermodynamic studies
Authors: Khalifa Al Isaee , Alshandoudi Laila M. , Hassan Asaad F. , Braish Amany G. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

In the current work, three adsorbent materials were developed; biochar derived from date palm fiber (C), date palm fiber biochar/chitosan nanoparticles (CCS), and biochar/chitosan nanoparticles composite supplemented with glutamine (CCSG). These compounds were used as solid adsorbents to remove As5+ from polluted water. Several characterization approaches were used to investigate all the synthesized solid adsorbents, including TGA, N2 adsorption/desorption isotherm, SEM, TEM, ATR-FTIR, and zeta potential. CCSG demonstrated good thermal stability, with a maximum specific surface area of 518.69 m2/g, a microporous radius of 0.97 nm, total pore volume of 0.25 cm3/g, an average particle size of 38 nm, and pHpzc of 6.9. To optimize the reaction conditions, various sorption factors were examined, including contact time, pH, initial As5+ concentration, adsorbent dosage, temperature, and ionic strength. The study found that the modified samples were able to remove more As5+ (CCS; 256.0 mg/g and CCSG; 376.0 mg/g) than unmodified ones (C; 150.5 mg/g). The As5+ removal procedure corresponded well with Langmuir isotherm model. Thermodynamic and kinetic experiments show that the Elovich, PFO, and Van't Hoff plot with endothermic, spontaneous, and physisorption nature are the best fitted models. EDTA has the highest desorption efficiency percentage (98.8%). CCSG demonstrated enhanced reusability after six application cycles of As5+ adsorption/desorption, with only a 4% decrease in the efficiency of adsorption. This study demonstrates that CCSG effectively remove As5+ in wastewater and use agricultural solid waste residues (date palm fiber; DPF) for environmental remediation purposes.
The Price of ED: Annual Out of Pocket Cost Disparities of Erectile Dysfunction Medications
Authors: Gurayah Aaron , KUCHAKULLA MANISH ,   Samantha Thorogood1, Fisch Robert , Davuluri Meenakshi 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Our objective was to understand the out-of-pocket (OOP) annual costs for PDE5-I to treat erectile dysfunction (ED) through traditional Medicare Part D drug coverage programs and other popular discount programs.
We collected data on annual OOP costs for ED medications from four different sources: Medicare Part D, GoodRx, Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company (MCCPDC), and Amazon Pharmacy. We compared the cost of lowest and highest routinely prescribed dosage of medications for Sildenafil, Tadalafil, and Vardenafil. We examined the cost of PDE5-I under Medicare Part D at 1) hospital retail pharmacies (using twelve zip codes encompassing areas with comprehensive urologic oncology centers) and 2) three most prevalent commercial retail pharmacies (CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart). These findings were compared to discount platforms GoodRx (via CVS, Walgreens, and Walmart), MCCPDC, and Amazon Pharmacy using R (V4.1.1).
For Sildenafil 20mg, the Part D annual OOP costs including hospitals and retail pharmacies were comparable ranging from $1 024-$1 098. The cost at discount platforms was cheaper, ranging from $82-$275. For Sildenafil 100mg, the hospital-based pharmacies had a median price of $1 446, whereas retail pharmacies under Part D ranged from $22 528-$22 542. Discount platforms were preferred at $89-$324. For Tadalafil 2.5mg, the Part D groups ranged from $4 721-$4 759. The cost of this drug via discount platforms was much lower, ranging from $82-$312. For Tadalafil 20mg, the cost via Part D ranged from $25 210-$25 235. The discount platforms were reported to have lower costs ranging from $103-$496. Vardenafil ranged from $19 015-$19 039 from Part D groups and $86-418 from discount platforms. For both sildenafil dosages and tadalafil dosages, MCCPDC was the most affordable option.
There are significant cost-savings when utilizing drug discount platforms. These options should be presented to patients to help improve accessibility and compliance to medications for ED.
Trend of Sedative-Hypnotic, Antiepileptic, and Anti-Parkinsonism poisoning in Tehran, during the last four decades; a retrospective study
Authors: Sadeghi Mahsa , Vatanpour Hossein , Hassanian-Moghaddam Hossein 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study is to examine the frequency of intoxication with sedatives-hypnotics, antiepileptics, and anti-Parkinsonism drugs in the last four decades (from 1979 to 2019); considering population growth changes.
Methods: All poisoned patients admitted to Loghman Hakim Hospital in Tehran were evaluated. The information was classified according to the ICD-10 coding system. The most common reason for poisoning was identified in this period. A new variable was defined as the percentage of poisoning per population to take the population factor into account.
Results: Antiepileptic, antiparkinsonism, and sedative-hypnotic drugs were the most common cause of poisoning (22.07%) in this period. Considering the population factor, however, no significant increase was observed in poisoning.
Conclusion: Despite the increasing trend of the frequency of intoxication with anti-epileptic, sedative-hypnotic, and antiparkinsonism drugs, no significant increase was observed considering the population factor.
Wildfires Are Burning Less Frequently and More Severely in the Western US: An Integrative Approach to Calculating Fire-Regime Departures
Authors: Chandler Jeffrey R. , Parks Sean A. , Hoecker Tyler J. , Cansler C. Alina , Dobrowski Solomon Z. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
Changing climate, vegetation, and fire exclusion are altering and homogenizing fire regime attributes compared to historical conditions. Fire-regime changes are commonly quantified using departure metrics, which are often based on measures of central tendency (i.e., the mean). These metrics can mischaracterize complex changes to the distributional characteristics of fire regime attributes.
Results
Here we develop a fire regime departure metric that quantifies non-parametric distributional changes to fire regime attributes. We use this departure metric to compare fire frequency and severity between historical (~ 1600–1880) and contemporary (1980–2021) time periods in western US forests. Our analysis revealed that 89% of western US forests are experiencing less frequent fire and that departures in fire severity tend to increase with human land use intensity. We also evaluated prioritization within the Wildfire Crisis Mitigation plan and found that priority landscapes are, on average, more departed than non-priority landscapes. We found that previously developed fire regime departure metrics underestimate departures in frequent fire forests and overestimate departures in infrequent fire forests.
Conclusions
By leveraging our distributional metrics, land managers can more effectively target restoration efforts, such as intentional fire use and mechanical thinning, to restore historical fire regimes and bolster the resilience of fire-prone landscapes.
Postoperative Outcomes Linked to Congestive Heart Failure in Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair
Authors: Loyst Rachel , Liu Steven , Mahboubiardakani Rustin , Cerri-Droz Patricia , Walker Paul , Komatsu David , Wang Edward 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Purpose: This study aims to explore potential complications and risk factors associated with arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (aRCR) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).
Methods: This study examined all individuals who underwent aRCR from 2015 to 2021, sourced from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement database. The analysis encompassed patient demographics, comorbidities, and 30-day postoperative complications. Logistic regression was employed to analyze the postoperative complications linked to patients with CHF.
Results: Compared to patients without CHF, patients with CHF undergoing aRCR were independently associated with a significantly greater likelihood of experiencing any complication (OR 3.21, 95% CI 1.89-5.48; P < .001), sepsis (OR 13.04, 95% CI 2.45-69.31; P = .003), cardiac event (OR 7.76, 95% CI 1.59-37.97; P = .011), readmission (OR 3.61, 95% CI 1.78-7.35; P < .001), and non-home discharge (OR 5.43, 95% CI 2.27-13.02; P < .001).
Conclusion: CHF was identified as an independent risk factor for experiencing any complication, sepsis, cardiac event, readmission, and non-home discharge in patients undergoing aRCR. The increased risk of postoperative complications in CHF patients after aRCR highlights the need for diligent preoperative management of these patients to reduce the risk of severe complications and enhance surgical outcomes.
Level of evidence: Level III; Retrospective Cohort Comparison Using Large Database; Prognosis Study
Injectable 2D-MoS 2 -integrated bioadhesive hydrogel as photothermal-derived and drug-delivery implant for colorectal cancer therapy
Authors: Long Xiaojun , Wang Jiawei , Wang Huijuan , Hu Kepeng , Zhang Wei , Lin Weiming , Fang Chao , Cheng Kui , Song Zhangfa 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC) and diffuse peritoneal metastasis are not eligible for surgical intervention, and calling for more efficient and precise treatment strategies to complement the traditional systemic chemotherapy and intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Herein, an injectable two-dimensional molybdenum disulfide (2D-MoS2)-integrated adhesive N-(2-aminoethyl)-4-(4-(hydroxymethyl)-2-methoxy-5-nitro-sophenoxy) butanamide-linked sodium alginate-MoS2-5-fluorouracil (AlgNB/MoS2/5-FU) hydrogel, which can function as an near-infrared light (NIR)-triggered photothermal and drug-delivery implant for CRC treatment is introduced. Ultraviolet (UV) light-activated aldehyde groups in AlgNB bound to the surface-modified MoS2 nanosheets via a Schiff base reaction. The MoS2 nanosheets maintained superior dispersibility in the hydrogel and exhibited a highly efficient NIR-triggered photothermal effect. More importantly, the aldehyde group in AlgNB also imparted tissue adhesion to the hydrogel, the adhesive hydrogel was used to infiltrate and fix in tumor tissue. Combining applications as a 5-FU drug delivering implant, the injectable adhesive AlgNB/MoS2/5-FU hydrogel shows remarkable capability in the inhibition of SW480 cells and colorectal tumour regression by triggering photothermal therapy (PTT) and delivering the 5-FU drug in both in vitro and in vivo studies. The possible synergistic mechanism of PTT and 5-FU chemotherapy could contributed to inhibit DNA repair and boost robust immune response. Therefore, this research provides distinct guidance strategies for the synergistic tumor therapy of localized CRC and shows enormous potential for cancer treatment in the clinical setting.
95% ethanol rinses combined with lauromacrogol injection versus lauromacrogol injection alone in the ultrasound-guided percutaneous sclerotherapy for simple renal cysts in elderly patients：Which is safer and more effective?
Authors: Gao Kan , Wang Feiliang , Xu Lengnan , Dai Weide 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Background
To compare the effcacy and safety of 95% ethanol rinses combined lauromacrogol injection and lauromacrogol injection alone in scleratherapy of renal cyst.
Methods
We retrospectively analysed 97 symptomatic Bosniak type I renal cysts between 2019 and 2023 underwent by US-guided percutaneous sclerotherapy. 23 cases were treated by lauromacrogol injection alone, and 74 were treated by 95% ethanol rinses combined lauromacrogol injection. All cysts were followed up at 1, 6 and 12 months after the procedure. Success was defined as cured or effective: >90% reduction or 50–90% reduction in cyst size, respectively. Failure was defined as < 50% reduction in cyst size. Intraoperative pain, fever, drowsy, and minor hematuria defined as complication were assessed within 3 days after the operation.
Results
The volume of renal cysts tended to shrink during follow-up. The total resolution rate and the cure rate was 96.9% (94/97) and 90.7% (88/97), respectively at 12 months. No significant differences in the reduction of volume reduction rate, resolution rate and cure rate were observed between the groups during follow-up (P > .05). The complication rates for ethanol combined group 58.1% (43/74) were higher than those for lauromacrogol alone group 17.4% (4/23) (P < .05). Ethanol was found to be significantly painful and prone to cause fever, even used to rinse the lumen of simple renal cysts before lauromacrogol injection .
Conclusion
Success of percutaneous scleratherapy of renal cysts can be obtained in two groups. However, the safety was much higher in lauromacrogol injection alone.
Enhanced Multi-Layer Steel Bar Intersection Recognition through Depth-Based Ground Plane Fitting and Image Fusion
Authors: Xue Zhenfeng , Li Hui , Li Qian , Xue Yiheng , Miao Zhonghua 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

The development of construction automation has significantly reduced labour intensity, with steel binding robots emerging as a pivotal tool. However, accurately recognizing steel intersections remains a challenging task due to multi-layer steel arrangements, conduit interference, and varying visual angles and lighting conditions. This paper proposes an innovative multi-layer steel bar intersection recognition algorithm leveraging depth cameras and image fusion techniques. By fitting the ground plane using random patches and probability statistics from depth images, we separate multiple steel bar layers. Subsequently, a binary mask generated from the depth image is fused with the RGB image, enhancing the semantic information for training a deep neural network, specifically YOLOv8. A new dataset, MuLSIR-252, is introduced, comprising images from various working conditions. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our algorithm achieves high accuracy and robustness, with an mAP of 98.8\%, validating its practical applicability in construction sites. Our contributions include a novel ground fitting method, a unique image fusion approach, and a comprehensive multi-layer steel bar recognition dataset. The code is available at: https://github.com/xuezhen2018/steel_detection.
Extracting commuters from automated road traffic counters; a Gaussian mixture approach
Authors: Brustad Hilde Kjelgaard , Midtbø Jørgen E. , Tomba Gianpaolo Scalia , Kivelä Mikko , Gregersen Fredrik Alexander , Alesandretti Laura 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Assessing traffic patterns is important for many applications such as rush hour traffic management, cross-border commuting statistics, transportation disruption assessment, and crisis management. We present a method for detecting commuting patterns from time-detailed traffic sensor data. Our method uses Gaussian mixture models to identify morning peaks that also exhibit expected variation patterns over weekends and holidays as corresponding to commuting. We apply the method to detect the variation in commuting between countries in the Nordics during the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Results show that the commuting traffic experienced a smaller decrease (42\% - 71\%) than the total traffic (87\% -92\%) during the pandemic. For Finland and Sweden, both types of traffic have in 2023 returned to approximately the same level as before the pandemic, while the traffic between Norway and Sweden has only recovered to about 73\% of the pre-pandemic level. Our methods can be applied in real-time to provide useful information for applications.
Amdoparvoviruses. Part 1. The global taxonomic analysis of Aleutian mink disease virus strains and isolates is based on the phylogenetic analysis of full VP2 protein sequences.
Authors: Zyrianova Irina M. 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

The Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) is a highly contagious parvovirus that is a causative agent of the Aleutian mink disease (AMD). AMD is a commercially important infectious disease because it causes great economic losses to mink farmers worldwide. AMDVs represent themselves as a highly variable group of the Parvoviridae family. The AMDV group is quickly filled out with various representatives. Only about 10 years have passed since this group included only the two species. Today, there are 11 species in this group. The AMDV is the typical representative of this group, and all AMDV-like parvoviruses are now integrated into the Amdoparvovirus genus. The Protoparvovirus genus appears to be ancestral to the Amdoparvovirus genus. In this study, a global phylogenetic analysis of the full VP2 protein sequences of the Amdoparvovirus genus was conducted with suggestions for a new species.
Visualized high-Tc superconducting mechanism of polyhedral quantum wells confined electrons
Authors: huang xiuqing 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Despite decades of research, the origin of high-temperature superconductivity is still unclear, and its microscopic mechanism remains a subject of intense debate. The intrinsic Mott insulating properties of copper oxide parent compounds and the experimentally observed charge-ordered phases in real space suggest that high-temperature superconductivity may stem from localized electrons rather than itinerant electrons. In this work, we propose a unified microscopic mechanism where confined electrons within polyhedral quantum wells represent the Mott ground state, and symmetry-breaking of electron-hole pairs acts as the superconducting mechanism. A single parameter formula for the critical temperature (Tc) of unconventional superconductors is developed, allowing accurate determination of Tc based on lattice constants. The approach elucidates relationships between various charge-order phases and doping concentration, explores Fermi surface structures, investigates spin resonance peaks and parities, and examines pressure-induced dual superconducting phase transitions - all consistent with experimental observations. It is also estimated that the highest Tc of the newly discovered nickel-based superconductor will not exceed 100 K. This work offers critical insights into unconventional superconductivity’s fundamental mechanisms while introducing a new paradigm to reveal more intrinsic connections between superconductivity, conductivity, and magnetism.
Utility is all you need: fidelity-agnostic synthetic data generation
Authors: Achterberg Jim , Haas Marcel , Dijk Bram van , Spruit Marco 
Published: October 2024

Abstract

Synthesizing data has been popularized as a method to publish useful datasets in a privacy-aware manner, making it useful across a range of scientific domains involving human subjects like health, social, financial, and other applied sciences. It is typically generated by sampling from algorithms which mimic the probability distribution of real datasets, thereby maximizing statistical similarity to real data. However, we argue and demonstrate that synthetic data only needs to be similar in ways relevant to its intended use and may neglect any irrelevant information, which in turn may improve privacy protection. As such, we address the tension between synthesizing data which is useful and protective of privacy, by proposing a new data synthesis method entitled Fidelity Agnostic Synthetic Data. The method first extracts relevant features to the dataset's intended use using a neural net, then generates synthetic versions of the extracted features, after which they are decoded to mimic the real dataset. We show that our synthetic data improves performance in prediction tasks, whilst retaining privacy protection compared to other state-of-the-art methods. This result holds across datasets from a variety of scientific disciplines which benefit from privacy protection, further underscoring the potential of our method in human subject research.
Atomistic Mechanism of Al Substitution Effects on the Ferroelastic Post-stishovite Transition by High-Pressure Single-Crystal X-Ray Diffraction
Authors: Zhang Yanyao , Chariton Stella , Prakapenka Vitali B. , Okuchi Takuo , Lin Jung-Fu 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
The influence of Al substitution on the elastic properties of stishovite and its transition to post-stishovite is of great importance for interpreting the seismic wave velocities of subducted mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) within the mantle transition zone and the lower mantle. However, atomistic mechanisms of Al substitution effects on the transition and its associated elasticity remain debated. Here synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction measurements have been performed at room temperature on Al1.3-SiO2 (1.3 mol% Al in the chemical formula of Si0.965(3)Al0.041(1)O2H0.017(4)) and Al2.1-SiO2 (2.1 mol% Al in Si0.948(2)Al0.064(1)O2H 0.018(3)) crystals in diamond anvil cells with Boehler-Almax designed anvils up to 38.0 GPa and 28.5 GPa, respectively. Refinements of the diffraction patterns show that a transformation from stishovite (space group P42/mnm; No. 136) to CaCl2-typed post-stishovite (space group Pnnm; No. 58) is accompanied by splitting of O coordinates. The Al substitution in stishovite results in a faster decrease in the O coordinate, softer apical (Si,Al)-O bonds, and a softer and less distorted (Si,Al)O6 octahedron under compression. This leads to reduced adiabatic bulk modulus (KS), shear modulus (G), shear wave velocity (VS), and compressional wave velocity (VP) in the stishovite phase, explaining seismic wave perturbations in the mantle transition zone. Together with Raman data, Landau theory modeling shows that Al substitution increases the order parameter and excess free energy, stabilizing the post-stishovite phase at lower pressures. Correlation between elasticity and octahedral distortion index (D) reveals that at certain D, the Al substitution reduces KS, G, VS, and VP of the stishovite phase while increasing G, VS, and VP of the post-stishovite phase. Importantly, the maximum shear reduction is slightly enhanced at D = 0.00620(9) at the transition point. Our results help explain the seismically observed small-scale VS anomalies beneath subduction regions in the shallow lower mantle where Al,H-bearing stishovite undergoes the post-stishovite transition.