bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Canadian Physician Obituaries Between 2000 and 2023 to Investigate Trends in Death Between Specialties: A Retrospective Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Li Angela , Golrokhian‐Sani Amir‐Ali , Morcos Maya , Morcos Marc 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACTObjectivesA physician's work environment varies greatly depending on their medical specialty. As such, it may dictate their stress levels, work‐life balance, satisfaction, and, ultimately, expected age of death. This paper aims to determine trends in Canadian physician deaths and determine the median age of death for different specialties.MethodsWe examined physician obituaries from the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) published between 2000 and 2023, extracting age at death and medical specialty.ResultsThe median age of death for doctors had a steady incline between 1999 and 2023 with a median age of 80 years. Careers in psychiatry (p = 0.020, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.00, 4.00]) and emergency medicine (p = 0.025, 95% CI [7.00, 26.00]) were associated with decreased average ages of death, while careers in surgery (p < 0.001, 95% CI [−4.00, −2.00]), internal medicine (p = 0.038, 95% CI [−3.00, −1.00]), and public health (p = 0.016. 95% CI [−9.00, −2.00]) correlated with older ages of death. Of the statistically significant specialties, emergency medicine physicians had the lowest median age at death (59 years) while surgery and public health had the highest (81.5 and 83.5, respectively).ConclusionOur findings indicate that the median age of death differs across different medical specialties. Moving forward, the CMAJ should report physician obituaries consistently in a standardized format as it holds the most extensive obituary dataset despite missing significant data between 2008 and 2022.
On the Development of Polylactic Acid/Polycaprolactone Blended Films with High Retention Capacity
Authors: Cozzani Martina , Ferrari Pier Francesco , Damonte Giacomo , Pellis Alessandro , Monticelli Orietta 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe retention capacity of polymers is related to the development of systems that combine high surface‐to‐volume ratio with good handling and specific functionality. Biodegradability and biocompatibility are also key features for extending the field of applications to areas such as biomedicine. With this in mind, the aim of this work is to develop biodegradable, biocompatible, and highly functionalized porous films, that ensure suitable handling and a good surface‐to‐volume ratio. Polylactic acid (PLA) is applied as a polymer matrix to which a polycaprolactone with a star‐shaped architecture (PCL‐COOH) to ensure a high concentration of carboxylic end functionalities is added. The porous films are prepared using the phase inversion technique, which, as shown by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis, promotes good dispersion of the PCL‐COOH domains. Absorption and release measurements performed with a positively charged model molecule show that the retention capacity and release rate can be tuned by changing the PCL‐COOH concentration in the systems. Moreover, the adsorption properties for the formulation with the highest PCL‐COOH content are also demonstrated with a real and widely used drug, namely doxorubicin. Finally, the bio‐ and hemocompatibility of the films, which are enzymatically degradable, are evaluated by using human keratinocytes and red blood cells, respectively.
Improving interface property of epoxy resin composite via in‐situ growth of ZIF‐8 onto carbon fiber with branched polyethyleneimine
Authors: Zhu Weiyao , Xiong Lei , Xiong Kun , Liu Fang , Yan Jin 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe interface property of carbon fiber/matrix materials is a key factor influencing the service life of composites. In this paper, our group facilely in‐situ grew zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (ZIF‐8) onto the carbon fiber (CF) surface by using branched polyethyleneimine (BPEI) as coupling agent to simultaneously enhance the interface and mechanical performances of CF/epoxy composite. The successful growth of ZIF‐8 nanocrystals onto carbon fiber was confirmed by FT‐IR, XPS, TGA, XRD, Raman, and SEM. After growth of ZIF‐8, the surface morphology for CF grafted with ZIF‐8 (CF‐ZIF‐8) was greatly changed and the surface energy for modified carbon fiber increased from 28.7 mN/m for the untreated CF to 55.8 mN/m. As a result, the interfacial shear strength (IFSS) of CF‐ZIF‐8/epoxy composite enhanced by 103.4%, indicating a significant improvement of interface property of composite. Moreover, the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) and bending strength also have 37.8% and 23.3% improvement because of the synergistic effect of BPEI and ZIF‐8 compared to the untreated CF/epoxy composite. This work furnishes a facile and efficient strategy for developing high‐performing structural composite materials with excellent interface property.Highlights
ZIF‐8 was in‐situ grown on CF to improve the interface property of composite.
Significant improvements on IFSS, ILSS, and bending strength.
The mechanism for improving the performances of composite was proposed.
High silica fiberglass cloth/PTFE composites: Interfacial bonding and dielectric property enhancement
Authors: Sun Mingzhe , Huang Jianguo , Ning Xiangchun 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIn this study, high silica fiberglass cloth (HSFC) was prepared using the acid leaching method with E‐fiberglass cloth as the raw material. Following heat treatment and silane coupling agent treatment, the cloth was impregnated with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) emulsion to fabricate a HSFC/PTFE composite via the hot‐pressing method. The microstructure of the composite and its dielectric properties at a 10 GHz frequency was investigated. To address the interfacial bonding issue of the composite, pre‐sintering treatment and silane coupling agent application were employed, resulting in reduced porosity and increased density of the composite. In particular, the composite treated with KH‐570 silane coupling agent exhibited the lowest porosity, with a dielectric constant of 2.419 and a dielectric loss of 0.0049. This study offers a new direction for expanding the application of high silica glass clothes in high‐performance glass fiber composites.Highlights
A low dielectric composite was made from high silica fiberglass and polytetrafluoroethylene.
Heat treatment reduced hydroxyl groups on the fiberglass surface.
Surface modification enhanced interfacial bonding and dielectric properties.
Pre‐sintering removed impurities and reduced composite porosity.
Lower porosity reduced the dielectric loss of the composite.
Order/Disorder Transitions Upon Protein Binding: A Unifying Perspective
Authors: Lebedenko Olga O. , Sekhar Ashok , Skrynnikov Nikolai R. 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACTWhen two proteins bind to each other, this process is often accompanied by a change in their structural states (from disordered to ordered or vice versa). As it turns out, there are 10 distinct possibilities for such binding‐related order/disorder transitions. Out of this number, seven scenarios have been experimentally observed, while another three remain hitherto unreported. As an example, we discuss the so‐called mutual synergistic folding, whereby two disordered proteins come together to form a fully structured complex. Our bioinformatics analysis of the Protein Databank found potential new examples of this remarkable binding mechanism.
Simulation‐based evaluation of the Pharmpy Automatic Model Development tool for population pharmacokinetic modeling in early clinical drug development
Authors: Duvnjak Zrinka , Schaedeli Stark Franziska , Cosson Valérie , Retout Sylvie , Schindler Emilie , Abrantes João A. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe Pharmpy Automatic Model Development (AMD) tool automates the building of population pharmacokinetic (popPK) models by utilizing a systematic stepwise process. In this study, the performance of the AMD tool was assessed using simulated datasets. Ten true models mimicking classical popPK models were created. From each true model, dataset replicates were simulated assuming a typical phase I study design—single and multiple ascending doses with/without dichotomous food effect, with rich PK sampling. For every dataset replicate, the AMD tool automatically built an AMD model utilizing NONMEM for parameter estimation. The AMD models were compared to the true and reference models (true model fitted to simulated datasets) based on their model components, predicted population and individual secondary PK parameters (SP) (AUC0‐24, cmax, ctrough), and model quality metrics (e.g., model convergence, parameter relative standard errors (RSEs), Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC)). The models selected by the AMD tool closely resembled the true models, particularly in terms of distribution and elimination, although differences were observed in absorption and inter‐individual variability components. Bias associated with the derived SP was low. In general, discrepancies between AMD and true SP were also observed for reference models and therefore were attributed to the inherent stochasticity in simulations. In summary, the AMD tool was found to be a valuable asset in automating repetitive modeling tasks, yielding reliable PK models in the scenarios assessed. This tool has the potential to save time during early clinical drug development that can be invested in more complex modeling activities within model‐informed drug development.
Understanding the Role of Mn Substitution for Boosting High‐Voltage Na4Fe3‐xMnx(PO4)2P2O7 Cathode in Sodium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Wu Honglun , Wen Tianzhuo , Chen Long , Ding Yan , Pu Xiangjun , Cao Yuliang , Chen Zhongxue 
Published: August 2024

AbstractNa4Fe3(PO4)2P2O7 is regarded as the most promising polyanionic cathode for sodium‐ion batteries (SIBs) due to its superior structural stability, cost‐effectiveness, and environmental benignity. However, the low operating voltage inevitably weakens its competitiveness in energy density. Previous works have tried to enhance its operating voltage by Mn doping, which draws on the design idea of LiFexMn1‐xPO4 cathode for lithium‐ion batteries, but with little success. In this context, uncovering the role of Mn substitution in Na4Fe3‐xMnx(PO4)2P2O7 (NFMxPP) cathode is urgently needed. This work discloses the effect of Mn contents on the structure, sodium storage property, and reaction mechanism of NFMxPP cathode for the first time. Introducing a moderate amount of Mn (0.6 ≤ x ≤ 1.2) into NFMxPP can weaken the Fe–O bonding interaction, thus leading to the full utilization of Mn3+/Mn2+ redox couple. As the representative, NFM1.2PP cathode exhibited a high operating voltage of ≈3.3 V with a reversible capacity of 109.2 mAh g−1. Note that a Hard carbon||NFM1.2PP full battery manifests considerably high‐capacity retention of 92.3% over 1600 cycles. It is believed that an understanding of the role of Mn substitution in this work will promote the practical application of high voltage NFMxPP cathodes for SIBs.
The future of transportation: Blockchain‐powered solutions
Authors: Alanazi Fayez 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe future of transportation could be dramatically reshaped by the advent of blockchain‐powered solutions, with a particular emphasis on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS). Despite potential roadblocks such as security, privacy, and interoperability issues, blockchain technology stands out as a potent tool for overcoming these challenges while simultaneously boosting the efficiency and safety of ITS. This systematic literature review (SLR) analyzes 60 articles to explore potential applications and perceived benefits of integrating blockchain in ITS. Addressing two key research questions, the study identifies diverse applications of blockchain, ranging from enhancing security to building trust in transportation systems. The review sheds light on how blockchain can transform ITS by fostering trust and exploring the prospects of its applications. This exploration highlights blockchain's potential to redefine the transportation landscape within smart cities.
Increased UBD Is a Potential Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Glioma
Authors: Wu Tao , Du Mengyu , Zeng Lin , Wang Haiyang , Li Xinfang 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACTVarious studies have demonstrated that ubiquitin D (UBD) is overexpressed in different cancer types and may serve as a potential prognostic factor. However, additional research is necessary to establish the prognostic significance and possible role of UBD in glioma. Transcriptomic expression data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA) and Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) were analyzed to identify UBD expression differences in tumor and normal tissues. The relative levels of UBD in glioma and normal tissues were determined using qRT‐PCR and WB. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between UBD expression and clinicopathological characteristics of glioma patients. To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic predictive values of UBD, we used Kaplan–Meier survival curves, Cox regression analysis, diagnostic receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, and nomogram model. We also conducted wound healing assays, transwell assays, EdU assays, and colony formation assays to verify the UBD function. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, as well as gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), were employed to determine the functions of UBD. Finally, we performed the western blot assays to assess changes in EMT markers as well as p‐PI3K, p‐AKT, and p‐mTOR expressions. Our study revealed a remarkable increase of UBD expression in glioma samples. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that high expression of UBD mRNA was an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) in TCGA. ROC curve analysis showed that UBD expression levels could differentiate glioma from adjacent normal tissues accurately. Additionally, knockdown of UBD reduced the migration, invasion, and proliferation ability of glioma cells while UBD overexpression had the opposite effect. GSEA showed that the expression of UBD involved with various pathways including epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), PI3K‐AKT‐mTOR signaling, P53 pathway, angiogenesis, inflammatory response, KRAS signaling, hypoxia, as well as TGF‐β signaling. Furthermore, our findings suggest that UBD accelerates the activation of EMT and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
A probabilistic risk assessment of heavy metal in water and sediment: An industrially affected urban river in Bangladesh
Authors: Ahmed Booshra , Islam Shamaila , Quraishi Shamshad Begum , Alam Md. Nur E , Ahsan Md Sabbir , Kabir Alamgir 
Published: August 2024

AbstractHuman welfare and biodiversity are at risk due to the deterioration of water and sediment quality. Particularly, in last few decades, global water and sediment quality degraded due to the rapid industrialization and urbanization. This study aimed to determine the concentration of nine heavy metals and metalloid (Pb, Cr, Cd, Hg, As, Mn, Ni, Cu, and Zn) and assess the ecological risks using different pollution indices (e.g., heavy metal pollution index [HPI], Nemerow pollution index [NI], geo‐accumulation index [Igeo], contamination factor [CF], degree of contamination [CD] and pollution load index [PLI], ecological risk index [ERI]) in water and sediment of the Shitalakshya River, an industrially affected urban river of Bangladesh. For the first time, 20 water and sediment samples were collected across a wider geographical area of the Shitalakshya River during both monsoon and dry seasons and analyzed using the atomic absorption spectrometer. Average concentrations of heavy metals and metalloid in water were within the Bangladesh standard except for Cr (51.69 ppb) and Mn (228.20 ppb) during monsoon season, portraying potential ecological and human health risks. Besides, average concentration of Mn (549.75 and 370.93 ppb), Ni (549.75 and 370.93 ppb), and Cu (45.34 and 36.09 ppb) in sediment during both seasons were above international standard, implying risk to aquatic sediment biota. The average HPI values indicated moderate to high contamination, whereas the NI values implied polluted water in monsoon season with severe pollution in port area of the river. Similarly, Igeo, CF, CD, and PLI elucidated different levels of contamination in the sediment, particularly during dry season. The ERI values also referred moderate ecological risk in the sediment during dry season. Overall, our findings highlight the alarming level of heavy metal pollution in the Shitalakshya River, necessitating immediate action to protect the aquatic environment, sediment biota, and human health.Practitioner points
This study determined the concentration of heavy metals and metalloid in water and sediment of the Shitalakshya River, Bangladesh.
The study revealed that the average concentration of Cr and Mn in water exceeded national standard, whereas Mn, Ni, and Cu in sediment exceeded international limit.
Potential ecological risk of heavy metals was also assessed using different pollution indices.
Calculated pollution indices indicated different degree of pollution, implying critical ecological condition due to heavy metal pollution in aquatic environment and sediment biota.
An Overview of Media Accessibility and Inclusivity in the Educational Domain
Authors: Yeratziotis Alexandros , Fotiadis Thomas , Granić Andrina , Papadopoulos George A. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractEducational technology has advanced considerably over the past two decades, yet media accessibility and inclusion still require significant improvement. These areas remain major barriers for many students with disabilities. This descriptive systematic review aims to provide an overview of current research, offering a concise analysis of key concepts related to media accessibility and inclusivity in education. The review examines the frequency and prominence of these themes in research. Recognized journals from the Web of Science (WoS) database were searched without a specified timeframe, resulting in the critical analysis of 14 review articles published between 1998 and 2023. The findings reveal a limited state of the art in this area, highlighting the need for further research and development. An in-depth analysis indicates that themes of inclusivity and accessibility appear with varying frequency, influenced by several factors. These factors include regulatory standards, the direct impact on disabled learners, the emergence of new technologies, and the historical prominence of inclusivity in research literature and the interdisciplinary nature of accessibility.
An HK$$_r$$-Integrable Function Which is P$$_s$$-Integrable for no s
Authors: Sworowski Piotr 
Published: August 2024

AbstractGiven arbitrary $$r\ge 1$$

r
≥
1

, we construct an HK$$_r$$

r

-integrable function which is not P$$_1$$

1

-integrable. This is an extension of a recently published construction [Musial, P., Skvortsov, V., Tulone, F.: The HK$$_r$$

r

-integral is not contained in the P$$_r$$

r

-integral. Proceedings of the American Mathematical Society 150(5), 2107–2114 (2022)].
Analytical characterization of volatiles present in the whole body odour of zebra finches
Authors: Alves Soares Tatjana , Caspers Barbara A. , Veit Daniel , Loos Helene M. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIn recent decades, the compositions of preen oil and feathers have been studied to achieve insights into the chemistry of avian odours, which play a significant role in birds’ social behaviour. Fewer studies are available regarding volatiles originating from other sources, such as faeces, eggs or a bird’s whole body. The aims of this study were (i) to identify odour-active and further volatile compounds in zebra finch whole body odour and (ii) to semi-quantify selected volatiles and use the information to evaluate two different adsorbents for their suitability for whole body odour sampling. Volatiles from the headspace above zebra finches were sampled using an open loop system equipped with either activated charcoal or Tenax® TA. Samples were analysed by olfactory-guided approaches as well as gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Using activated charcoal as sorbent, 26 odour-active and 73 further volatile compounds were detected, whereas with Tenax® TA 27 odour-active and 81 further volatile compounds were detected. In total, 104 compounds were (tentatively) identified, of which 22 had not been identified previously in zebra finch odour and 12 had not been described in any birds. Hints towards a chemical sex signature became evident for qualitative but not for quantitative differences. With the exception of some compounds, notably carboxylic acids and alkanes, relative peak areas obtained with the two adsorbent types were comparable. The approach described herein is proposed for future studies aiming to determine volatiles emitted by birds when, for example, parent birds are approaching the nest.
Graphical Abstract
Efficient Card-Based ZKP for Single Loop Condition and Its Application to Moon-or-Sun
Authors: Hand Samuel , Koch Alexander , Lafourcade Pascal , Miyahara Daiki , Robert Léo 
Published: August 2024

AbstractA zero-knowledge proof (ZKP) allows a prover to prove to a verifier that it knows some secret, such as a solution to a difficult puzzle, without revealing any information about it. In recent years, ZKP protocols using only a deck of playing cards for solutions to various pencil puzzles have been proposed. The previous work of Lafourcade et al. deals with a famous puzzle called Slitherlink. Their proposed protocol can verify that a solution forms a single loop without revealing anything about the solution, except this fact. Their protocol guarantees that the solution satisfies the single-loop condition, by interactively constructing a solution starting from a state that holds a simple single loop, and proceeding via steps that preserve the invariant of encoding a single loop, until the proper solution is reached. A drawback of their protocol is that it requires additional verifications to guarantee a single loop. In this study, we propose a more efficient ZKP protocol for such a puzzle with fewer additional verifications. For this, we employ the previous work of Robert et al., which addressed the connectivity property in a puzzle. That is, we verify that a solution is connected but not split, to be a single loop. Applying our proposal, we construct a card-based ZKP protocol for Moon-or-Sun, which has its specific rule of alternating pattern in addition to the single-loop condition.