bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Translation element EIF4A1 is a potential divergent immune biomarker between colon cancer and rectal cancer
Authors: Zhu Zhenpeng , Wang Peng , Hou Chenyang , Xiao Jiajia , Guo Fei , Zhi xuejun , Xu Dandan , Liang Weizheng , Xue Jun 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Colorectal cancer is among the most common malignant tumors globally, and the distinct treatment requirements for colon and rectal cancers underscore the necessity to identify specific molecules for each type. Although EIF4A1 plays a crucial role in translational initiation, its therapeutic potential remains unclear. This study utilized the TCGA database to reveal that EIF4A1 expression is upregulated in both cancer types and is associated with poorer survival outcomes. KEGG and GO analyses indicate that EIF4A1 is primarily associated with the extracellular trap network of neutrophils in colon cancer. Additionally, a strong positive correlation with neutrophil infiltration is observed in both cancers. Notably, EIF4A1 exhibits varying immune infiltration patterns, showing a strong correlation with CD8+ T cells in colon cancer and a negative correlation with CD4+ T cells in rectal cancer. In colon cancer, EIF4A1 shows a strong positive correlation with PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA4, and LAG-3, contrasted by a weaker correlation in rectal cancer. Elevated EIF4A1 expression is potentially linked to immune checkpoints that facilitate immune escape, thereby possibly accelerating cancer progression. This implies varying immunotherapy strategies for colon and rectal cancers.
Trends and changes in the relationship between quality and price in tenders for healthcare services in the Israeli health system, 2013-2023
Authors: Niv-Yagoda Adi , Goldshtein Hadar 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background and objectives
Public healthcare systems face constraints in financial and professional resources. The Mandatory Tenders Law 5752 − 1992 stipulates that before entering into a contract for the supply of a service or product, public authorities and government corporations must undergo a public tender process. We sought to identify and contextualize the trends observed in tenders for healthcare services over the past decade amid increasingly stringent resource constraints. What prevails over what: quality or price?
Methods
All tenders for services provided by health professionals published by the Ministry of Health and health maintenance organizations between 2013 and 2023 were collected. Each tender was assessed for the quality and price components. Trends in the quality and price percentage were evaluated.
Results
A total of 224 tenders were analyzed. A statistically significant weak negative correlation was found between the quality percentage and years (r=-0.185, p < 0.01), indicating that quality percentages tended to decrease over the years. The quality percentages statistically significantly decreased by 10.14 percentage points during the COVID-19 period (p < 0.05). The median quality percentage of tenders for health services directly impacting patients over extended periods was statistically significant higher compared with the median quality percentage of tenders for health services having indirect impacts on patients (p < 0.05).
Conclusions
Despite healthcare organizations prioritizing quality and seemingly assigning it a higher weight in tenders, price is often the decisive factor. Effective mechanisms to safeguard the quality and safety of healthcare services in addition to incorporating economic considerations into tender processes should be established.
An investigation of using Spark generative AI in solving physics concept inventories in English and Chinese: Performance and issues
Authors: Cho Natthawin 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has garnered considerable attention across various disciplines, including physics education. Numerous studies have explored the potential of using these tools in physics education by assessing their understanding of physics concepts. However, ChatGPT is the only model whose performance and integration into physics education have been extensively studied. Furthermore, previous research has primarily focused on English as the input language, leaving a gap in our understanding of other models and languages. This study aims to address this gap by examining the performance of Spark, another GenAI developed in China, in solving physics concept inventories. Four conditions were investigated: English input without explanation, English input with explanation, Chinese input without explanation, and Chinese input with explanation. The results showed that Spark's performance with English input was comparable to ChatGPT3.5 for the Force Concept Inventory but significantly lagged behind ChatGPT4. Notably, Chinese input with explanation significantly outperformed the other three conditions. This study also discussed concerns and issues related to Spark's physics conceptual understanding and language inequality. Finally, guidelines for incorporating GenAI into physics education were proposed.
Hypothermia vs Normothermia in neonatal Arterial Switch Operation – Clinical outcomes and Myocardial preservation
Authors: Pollak Uri , Mandel Asaf , Langer Yshia , Watad Salmas , Abuelhija Hiba , Salem Yshai , Zemmour Hai , Keizman Eitan , Mishaly David , Serraf Alain E. 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Objectives:
This study aims to compare the immediate postoperative clinical and laboratory outcomes, specifically focusing on the extent of cardiomyocyte death, between hypothermic (28°C) and normothermic (34–36°C) cardiopulmonary bypass in neonates undergoing arterial switch operation.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was conducted on neonates who underwent arterial switch operation at the Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital between July 2017 and December 2018. Patients were divided into two groups based on the cardiopulmonary bypass temperature strategy. Clinical, demographic, biochemical, and surgical data were collected, including cell-free DNA concentrations at multiple time points. Statistical analyses were performed to compare the outcomes between the two groups.
Results:
The study included 27 patients, with 12 in the hypothermia group and 15 in the normothermia group. Significant differences were found in cardiopulmonary bypass and aortic cross-clamp times, with longer durations in the nypothermia group (p < 0.001). Postoperative maximal lactate and Troponin-I levels were higher in the hypothermia group (p = 0.028 and p < 0.001, respectively). The normothermia group showed a higher incidence of acute kidney injury (p = 0.004). No significant differences were observed in total cell-free DNA levels between the groups, except for higher cardiac cell-free DNA at 24 hours in the hypothermia group (p = 0.002).
Conclusions:
Normothermia during cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with shorter operative times, lower metabolic stress, and reduced myocardial injury compared to hypothermia. Despite a higher incidence of acute kidney injury, normothermia demonstrates comparable safety and may offer benefits in myocardial preservation during neonatal arterial switch operation.
The Energy Focusing Axis and Imaging Algorithm in the Optimal Range FrFT Domain Based on Doppler Parameters
Authors: Zhenli Wang , Yu Xu , Jiayin Liu 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

In view of the error impact of Doppler parameters estimation on SAR imaging performance, this paper constructs the energy focusing axis based on the optimal rotation angle in the optimal range FrFT (fractional Fourier transform) domain. On this basis, the relationship among Doppler center frequency, Doppler FM (frequency modulation) rate and energy focusing axis, as well as the relationship between Doppler center frequency and Doppler FM rate are derived in detail. And the basic framework of the D-FrFT-RD algorithm was then constructed. The imaging test of Canadian spaceborne RADARSAT-1 measured data shows that when the error of Doppler center frequency estimation gradually increases from 0 to 5%, the energy focusing axis curve may deviate from the normalized value to some extent, but in reality, the impact on SAR imaging performance parameters is not significant. Compared with the traditional RD (range Doppler) algorithm, the energy focusing axis curve corresponding to the D-FrFT-RD algorithm in this paper is relatively stable, with high range resolution, and varying degrees of improvement in both range PSLR and range ISLR.
Performance Improvement for Additive Manufacturing of Spur Gear via the Define-measure-analyze-improve-control (Dmaic) Method
Authors: Hashim Riyadh Makki , MUHAMMAD NUR AMALINA , Shammari Ahmed Z. M. , Muhammad Noorhafiza 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Industrial firms increasingly use advanced technologies to navigate market fluctuations, bolster demand, and enhance competitiveness. Six Sigma methodology presents a pathway for these firms to overcome challenges and pioneer new business strategies. This study utilizes the Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control (DMAIC) method to minimize process variability in additive manufacturing (AM) for spur gears. The process commenced by defining customer requirements and collecting data on the gear 3D printing process. Subsequent steps involved analyzing data to identify root causes of defects, implementing solutions for improvement, and establishing process controls for sustainability. The standard deviation reduced significantly by 90.55%, with the process capability index (Cp) improving by 87.15% and the process performance capability index (Cpk) by 92.98%. The application of DMAIC proves invaluable in defect reduction and ongoing performance enhancement within the 3D printing gear sector.
Bodo Language Text Summarization Using Lstm Encoder-Decoder
Authors: Das Ajit , Baruah Abhijit , Roy Sudipta 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

This study specifically targets text summarization for the Bodo language, which is widely spoken in northeastern Indian states such as Assam and West Bengal, as well as in some areas of Nepal and Bhutan.The specific difficulties of Bodo text summarization is handled by using an LSTM Encoder-Decoder system. By conducting thorough testing and assessment, the efficacy of the technique in generating top-notch summaries that accurately capture the substance of the original Bodo text. Remarkably, this research is pioneering as it fills the gap of previous work in Bodo text summarization, marking the first systematic attempt in this domain and achieving an impressive accuracy rate of 81%. Furthermore, this research explores the complexities of the Bodo language and its cultural importance in the northeastern area of India. We investigate the Bodo language and cultural traditions, with a focus on their influence on the social and economic environment of Assam and surrounding regions. By illuminating the socio-cultural environment in which the Bodo language exists, we emphasize the significance of safeguarding it and guaranteeing convenient availability of information in communities with many languages.The proposed study aims to support the promotion of linguistic variety and the preservation of cultural heritage. The objective is to improve inclusiveness and accessibility to information for speakers of marginalized languages such as Bodo, thereby facilitating the flow of knowledge and ideas across different languages.
Definition and regulatory analysis of the SUMOylation system in Caixin (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis) during Pectobacterium carotovorum infection
Authors: Lei Shikang , Li Guangguang , Jiang Ding , Yuan Fanchong , Zheng Yansong , Cao Bihao , Zhang Hua 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
The modification of protein substrates by small ubiquitin-related modifier (SUMO) plays a vital role in plants subjected to biotic and abiotic stresses. However, its role in the stress responses of Brassica plants remains poorly understood.
Results
A genome-wide analysis revealed the presence of 30 SUMOylation genes in the Caixin genome. These results demonstrated that the Caixin genome contains all the necessary components for SUMOylation. Analysis of the cis-acting elements revealed that the promoters of SUMOylation genes presented diverse combinations of developmental and stress-related cis-regulatory elements. The RNA-seq data indicated that 23 SUMOylation genes presented relatively high expression levels under normal conditions and exhibited a notable decrease in expression following Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (Pcc) infection. Additionally, dynamic alterations in SUMO conjugates were observed in response to Pcc infection.
Conclusions
The Caixin genome contains genes involved in SUMOylation. The majority of these genes presented multiple copies, and analyses of their transcription and protein profiles indicate that they may play a role in the response to Pcc infection.
Alzheimer's disease and antibody-mediated immune responses to infectious diseases agents: A mendelian randomization study
Authors: Zhang Jiayuan , Wang Mingming , Wang Dong , Deng Linwen , Peng Yao 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder, with antibody-mediated immune responses to infectious diseases agents potentially playing a decisive role in its pathophysiological process. However, the causal relationship between antibodies and AD remains unclear.
Methods
A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted to investigate the causal link between antibody-mediated immune responses to infectious diseases agents and the risk of AD. Genetic variations associated with these antibodies and data on AD were both obtained from the UK Biobank, utilizing its extensive repository of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for a comprehensive analysis. The MR analysis employed the inverse variance-weighted, MR-Egger, and weighted median methods. Sensitivity analysis was also performed using MR-Egger regression, MR-pleiotropy residual sum, and outlier tests.
Results
Seven causal associations were identified between antibody-mediated immune responses to infectious diseases agents and AD. Anti-polyomavirus 2 IgG, Polyomavirus 2 JC VP1 antibody, anti-Merkel cell polyomavirus IgG, and anti-varicella zoster virus IgG and varicella zoster virus glycoproteins E and I antibody suggest a protective association with AD. Conversely, higher levels of Toxoplasma gondii p22 and Epstein-Barr virus EBNA-1 antibody appear to be associated with an increased risk of AD.
Conclusion
Our MR analysis has revealed a causal relationship between antibody-mediated immune responses to specific infectious disease agents and AD. These findings provide valuable insights into the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying AD.
The Causal Effects of Enclosures on Production and Productivity
Authors: Lazuka Volha , Bengtsson Tommy , Svensson Patrick 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The enclosure reforms in eighteenth and nineteenth-century Western Europe consolidated dispersed landholdings and privatized common land in order to expand food production. However, evaluations of the effects of enclosure reforms vary, and so far, there has been little causal evidence confirming their positive economic impact. We estimate the causal effects of enclosures by applying frontier difference-indifferences and event-study methodologies to a large panel of Swedish farms from 1781 to 1865, located in an agriculturally specialized region. Our findings show that enclosures boosted land productivity by 3.4% annually in the first decade and increased overall production by 82% after 30 years. Among the mechanisms, enclosures led to increased animal production and land reclamation in the short term, while in the longer term, the enforcement of property rights became important. Our results significantly surpass prior non-causal estimates of enclosure effects, suggesting the critical role of land enclosures in production and productivity growth during early industrialization. JEL codes: Q15, Q24, N53
EMRNet:Enhanced Micro-Expression Recognition Network with Attention and Distance Correlation
Authors: Liu Gaqiong , Huang Shucheng , Wang Gang , Li Mingxing 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Micro-expression recognition (MER) is challenging because extracting locally subtle changes in micro-expressions (MEs) is extremely difficult. Several optical flow-based methods have been proposed to recognize MEs because optical flow can effectively suppress facial identity information while characterizing ME movements well. However, these approaches with simple structures do not reveal discriminative features, which leads to inferior performance. This paper proposes an Enhanced Micro-expression Recognition Network with attention and distance correlation (EMRNet) for MER. Concretely, EMRNet involves three phases. First, two identical structural Inception networks with channel-wise region-aware attention are designed to learn parallel global and local expression features based on the same ME’s optical flow input. Second, to empower ME representations, a dilated loss incorporating distance correlation is proposed to amplify the information entropy transmitted by the two branches. Last, emotion categories are predicted via fusing expression-dilated features in the classification branch. Extensive experiments conducted on the composite database published by MEGC 2019 validate the effectiveness of EMRNet under leave-one-subject-out (LOSO) cross-validation and composite database evaluation (CDE) protocol. The results indicate that our proposed approach can generate discriminative features and yield promising performance gains. Moreover, the results also show that EMRNet achieves superior performance and outperforms existing simple single-stream and dual-stream models for MER.
CFD Analysis of a Rear Wing of an Automobile
Authors: Venkatesh Tarun , Barnabas Arnav Nathan , S Priya H , Bagchi Tuhina , L Ravi 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

The aerodynamic characteristics of an automobile are crucial for improving stability and minimizing accidents caused by wind loading and the sharp turns at high speeds. Aerodynamics also significantly impacts fuel efficiency. To meet the growing demand for high-performing and fuel-efficient vehicles, rear wings are employed to reduce drag and increase downforce. This paper comprehensively studies the design and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of an automobile's rear wing. The rear wing design incorporates an airfoil shape to enhance downforce and delay flow separation, thereby reducing drag. Several parametric studies are employed to optimize factors such as rear wing positioning and shape. It is observed that adding a lip spoiler itself significantly reduces the drag on a vehicle. Further, adding a single-element rear wing with endplates yields additional aerodynamic benefits to a vehicle. Additionally, aerodynamic devices such as flaps and endplates are integrated to further improve the wing's efficiency. Through CFD simulations, this study aims to optimize the rear wing's performance, enhancing vehicle stability during high-speed cornering and reducing overall fuel consumption.
Self-cleansing of rigid pavements by using flyash and titanium dioxide.
Authors: Farooq Miss Sofian , Manzoor Miss Mehreena , Zargar Tajamul Islam 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

This study innovatively investigates the use of TiO2 particles and flyash with cement to reduce pollution. The study was conducted by replacing OPC with photocatalytic concrete, prepared by partial replacement of cement with TiO2 and flyash. As it is a chemically stable and versatile semiconductor, TiO2, when incorporated into concrete mixes as a photocatalyst, degrades organic pollutants like NOx, SOx etc. in the presence of UV light radiation. For the best efficiency of TiO2, flyash was added, which not only adds to the durability of concrete but also increases the porosity of concrete, and thus increases the number of active sites for the photocatalytic reactions to take place. The M30 concrete mix ratio was used for the casting of nominal and photocatalytic concrete. Cement was partially replaced by 10%, 15% and 20% flyash. TiO2 was used as 1.6%, 2.2%, and 2.6% by the weight of M30-grade concrete. Concrete cubes were made based on combinations of varying percentages of flyash and TiO2 for the slump cone test and compressive strength test. The early compressive strength, though decreased due to addition of flyash but attained the peak value of 42.65 N/mm2 at 15% flyash which further increased to 52.60 N/mm2 for the combination of 15% flyash and 2.6% TiO2. The photocatalytic activity of TiO2 and degradation of pollutants was investigated by exposing the cubes sprayed with methylene blue dye as a model pollutant and structurally by the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy test, where the graphs obtained were compared with the reference graphs.
Sang Shen Pu Gong Ying beverages can significantly inhibit multi-drug resistant organisms-multiple dimensions of evidences
Authors: Li Shaoyu , Mak Chihim , Wang Meng , Li Xinjie , Cui Chunyan , Cai Defeng , Liang Zhiwei , Lu Tao , Ji Qingshun , shao Xiangming , Fan Guanghui , Mak Chihang , Liu Nan 
Published: September 2024

Abstract

Background The surge in multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) poses a dire threat to global health, necessitating novel antibacterial strategies. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers a multi-level approach potentially mitigating resistance development.
Methods We evaluated the Sang Shen Pu Gong Ying (SSPGY) beverage’s antibacterial activity through in-vitro tests, real sputum samples, and a clinical case study. The beverage, rooted in TCM, was prepared using a blend of medicinal and food homologous herbs and tested for its effect on MDROs, including minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination.
Results In-vitro bacteriostatic assays indicate that SSPGY beverage can significantly reduce MDROs, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae with distinct antibacterial effects from conventional antibiotics. However, it showed ineffective inhibitory activity in sputum samples. Amazingly, by a intermittent 165-d intervention of SSPGY beverage to a clinical case of severe Klebsiella pneumoniaeinfection, it manifests the effectiveness against MDROs and play an essential role in combating antibiotic resistance.
Conclusion Our findings indicate that SSPGY, with its unique antibacterial profile, could offer a promising alternative or intervention to traditional antibiotics. Further research is warranted to elucidate its mechanisms and optimize its therapeutic potential in the context of MDROs.
Phytoremediation in sustainable wastewater management: an eco-friendly review of current techniques and future prospects
Authors: Sharma Madhuben , Rawat Sameeksha , Rautela Ajay 
Published: September 2024

ABSTRACT

The sustainable wastewater treatment method known as phytoremediation is reviewed in this paper, with particular attention paid to important technologies including phytoextraction, rhizofiltration, phytostabilization, phytodegradation, and phytovolatilization. The study emphasizes the effectiveness of phytoextraction for heavy metal contamination using hyperaccumulator plants. It also highlights the versatility of phytoremediation by presenting compelling case examples in various situations. This environmentally friendly strategy offers affordable answers to the worldwide water pollution challenge and is in accordance with the growing demand for environmentally aware techniques. Phytoremediation – which emphasizes methods like phytoextraction – becomes a more viable path forward for wastewater pollution mitigation as environmental stewardship advances. By fusing theoretical understanding with real-world implementations, the article advances the conversation on sustainable wastewater treatment while reinforcing phytoremediation's promise for a more environmentally friendly future.