bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Utilizing Carbon Dots Derived from Waste Face Masks for Pentachlorophenol Detection
Authors: Öztürk Dilek , Durmuş Mahmut 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPentachlorophenol is a very toxic chemical that is used as a pesticide, fungicide, herbicide, wood preservative, etc., and it should be monitored in terms of human health and environmental production. Another environmental problem is the increase in the use of facemasks, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study provides a value added chemicals to sustainability of recycling process. Fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) were synthesized from waste facemasks and investigated their fluorescence sensor performances. UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra of the synthesized carbon dots were recorded in different organic solvents. The sensor properties of these carbon dots against pesticides were investigated, and a ‘turn-off’ response was observed toward pentachlorophenol. The limit of detection was found 8.5 µM in the linear range from 43.3 µM to 375 µM. This study showed that waste plastics such as facemasks can be recycled to obtain carbon dots, which are used in different technological areas such as photocatalysis, bioimaging, etc., as well as in sensors.
Graphical Abstract
Ambient smart environments: affordances, allostasis, and wellbeing
Authors: White Ben , Miller Mark 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn this paper we assess the functionality and therapeutic potential of ambient smart environments. We argue that the language of affordances alone fails to do justice to the peculiar functionality of this ambient technology, and draw from theoretical approaches based on the free energy principle and active inference. We argue that ambient smart environments should be understood as playing an'upstream' role, shaping an agent's field of affordances in real time, in an adaptive way that supports an optimal grip on a field of affordances. We characterise this optimal grip using precision weighting, and in terms of allostatic control, drawing an analogy with the role of precision weighting in metacognitive processes. One key insight we present is that ambient smart environments may support allostatic control not only by simplifying an agent's problem space, but by increasing uncertainty, in order to destabilise calcified, sub-optimal, psychological and behavioural patterns. In short, we lay an empirically-grounded theoretical foundation for understanding ambient smart environments, and for answering related philosophical questions around agency, trust, and subjective wellbeing.
Conjunctive explanations: when are two explanations better than one?
Authors: Glass David H. , Schupbach Jonah N. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractWhen is it explanatorily better to adopt a conjunction of explanatory hypotheses as opposed to committing to only some of them? Although conjunctive explanations are inevitably less probable than less committed alternatives, we argue that the answer is not ‘never’. This paper provides an account of the conditions under which explanatory considerations warrant a preference for less probable, conjunctive explanations. After setting out four formal conditions that must be met by such an account, we consider the shortcomings of several approaches. We develop an account that avoids these shortcomings and then defend it by applying it to a well-known example of explanatory reasoning in contemporary science.
Microbiodiversity Landscape Present in the Mine-Tailings of the “Sierra de Huautla” Biosphere Reserve, Mexico
Authors: Fernández-López Maikel Gilberto , Sánchez-Reyes Ayixon , Rosas-Ramírez Marcos Eduardo , Balcázar-López Edgar 
Published: July 2024

AbstractLarge-scale mining activities generate significant amounts of waste that accumulates in the environment. These wastes, known as mine tailings, contain high levels of heavy metals, posing risks to human health and causing severe damage to ecosystems. In this study, we determined the heavy metal content of mine tailings in the Sierra de Huautla Biosphere Reserve (REBIOSH), Mexico, and investigated their effect on microbial composition. One of the sites historically contaminated with metals was sampled in three different locations, labeled S1, S2, and S3. A fourth site free of heavy metals (S4) was also used as a control. Our results showed high levels of As, Pb, Cd, and Ag, potentially dangerous metals that exceed thresholds set by international regulatory agencies. Metal contamination indices indicated moderate to extreme enrichment for As, Cd, and Pb, posing potential ecological risks. A metagenomic study of mine tailings showed a core specie-specific microbiome covered by Sinimarinibacterium flocculans, Jiangella anatolica, Thiobacillus denitrificans, Fontimonas thermophile, Sphingomonas koreensis. These may be associated with the processing of heavy metals. A comparative study using the ALDEx2 revealed that less represented species like Variovorax paradoxus, Usitatibacter rugosus, Usitatibacter palustris, Sphingosinicella microcystinivorans, Sphingobium yanoikuyae, and Stella humosa may serve as microbial markers in metal-contaminated environments. In addition, we detected rare or low-abundance species belonging to the phylum Armatimonadota, Candidatus Melainobacteriota, Candidatus Saccharimonadota, Chlamydiota, Deinococcota, Elusimicrobiota, Bacillota, Rhodothermota and Verrucomicrobiota, which could play an important role in ecosystems contaminated with heavy metals. Also, we found site-specific taxonomic representatives such as Nitrososphaera gargensis and Nitrospira nitrificans dominating the S3 ecosystem; Ensifer aridi (S2 and S1), N. nitrificans (S2), while Reyranella soli dominate the S1 soil. These organisms could be crucial for nitrogen access in oligotrophic environments and underscore the adaptability of microbial life to extreme conditions. This is the first comprehensive study of the microbial composition in this important ecological site of the Mexican geography and can provide future guidance for the management and biological treatment of mining wastes.
Development and experimental assessment of a multi-annual energy monitoring tool to support energy intelligence and management in telecommunication industry
Authors: Sorrentino Marco , Franzese Nicola , Trifirò Alena 
Published: July 2024

AbstractCarbon-footprint reduction of key industrial buildings is addressed, by proposing methodologies for continuously monitoring telecommunication (TLC) central offices (COs). Main aim is classifying sites according to their efficiency and reliability, via the diagnosis of anomalous electricity consumptions. Such a goal is achieved through the definition of new key performance indicators (KPIs) based on TLC and cooling energy demand, improving the outcomes of pre-existing methods. While the reliability index and index of cluster reliability are specifically proposed to evaluate and physically assess the impact of climate control (CLC, i.e., the parasitic quota) electricity consumption with respect to the TLC one, the here introduced coefficient of variation of telecommunication energy allows for a more solid evaluation of energy measurements reliability. Another target of this study is to extend the afore-mentioned KPIs-based analysis to multi-annual periods of monitoring, thus allowing successfully meeting the currently in-force ISO 50001 standard. Specific central offices were then selected and analyzed to verify the results physical meaning. The method was proven effective in classifying central offices belonging to climate-homogenous fleets, according to the reliability level estimated over a triannual timeframe. Positive impacts in terms of attainable energy saving through improved thermal management, as well as methodology extendibility to other industrial sectors are finally presented and discussed.
Asymptotic bounds on the numbers of certain bent functions
Authors: Potapov Vladimir N. , Özbudak Ferruh 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Using recent results of Keevash et al. [10] and Eberhard et al. [8] together with further new detailed techniques in combinatorics, we present constructions of two concrete families of generalized Maiorana-McFarland bent functions. Our constructions improve the lower bounds on the number of bent functions in n variables over a finite field

$${\mathbb F}_p$$

F
p

if p is odd and n is odd in the limit as n tends to infinity. Moreover we obtain the asymptotically exact number of two dimensional vectorial Maiorana-McFarland bent functions in n variables over

$${\mathbb F}_2$$

F
2

as n tends to infinity.
Investigating the effect of Fusobacterium nucleatum on the aggressive behavior of cancer-associated fibroblasts in colorectal cancer
Authors: Eskandari-Malayeri Fatemeh , Rezeai Marzieh , Narimani Tahmineh , Esmaeil Nafiseh , Azizi Mahdieh 
Published: July 2024

AbstractFusobacterium nucleatum, (F. nucleatum) as a known factor in inducing oncogenic, invasive, and inflammatory responses, can lead to an increase in the incidence and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) are also one of the key components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which lead to resistance to treatment, metastasis, and disease recurrence with their markers, secretions, and functions. This study aimed to investigate the effect of F. nucleatum on the invasive phenotype and function of fibroblast cells isolated from normal and cancerous colorectal tissue. F. nucleatum bacteria were isolated from deep periodontal pockets and confirmed by various tests. CAF cells from tumor tissue and normal fibroblasts (NF) from a distance of 10 cm of tumor tissue were isolated from 5 patients by the explant method and were exposed to secretions and ghosts of F. nucleatum. The expression level of two markers, fibroblast activation protein (FAP), and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and the amount of production of two cytokines TGF-β and IL-6 from fibroblast cells were measured by flow cytometry and ELISA test, respectively before and after exposure to different bacterial components. The expression of the FAP marker was significantly higher in CAF cells compared to NF cells (P < 0.05). Also, the expression of IL-6 in CAF cells was higher than that of NF cells. In investigating the effect of bacterial components on the function of fibroblastic cells, after comparing the amount of IL-6 produced between the normal tissue of each patient and his tumoral tissue under 4 treated conditions, it was found that the amount of IL-6 production from the CAF cells of patients in the control group, treated with heat-killed ghosts and treated with paraformaldehyde-fixed ghosts had a significant increase compared to NF cells (P < 0.05). Due to the significant increase in FAP marker expression in fibroblast cells of tumor tissue compared to normal tissue, it seems that FAP can be used as a very good therapeutic marker, especially in patients with high levels of CAF cells. Various components of F. nucleatum could affect fibroblast cells differentially and at least part of the effect of this bacterium in the TME is mediated by CAF cells.
Daptomycin eosinophilic pneumonia, a systematic review of the literature and case series
Authors: Gidari Anna , Pallotto Carlo , Francisci Daniela 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Purpose
Daptomycin-induced eosinophilic pneumonia (DIEP) is a rare yet severe adverse event that requires rapid recognition and management. Diagnosing a definite case is challenging and involves meeting the American Thoracic Society (ATS) criteria, although alternative criteria have been suggested. This study aims to conduct a systematic review of literature and includes a case series.

Methods
Six cases of DIEP identified at Perugia Hospital, Perugia, Italy have been described. A systematic review was carried out adhering to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statement guidelines.

Results
a total of 74 cases of DIEP were analysed. Using ATS clinical criteria, 15 were classified as definite (20.3%), 54 as probable (73.0%), and 5 as possible (6.8%). Phillips criteria and the Lyon Algorithm identified 43/74 (58.2%) and 64/67 (95.5%) cases as definite, respectively. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed in 43 cases, revealing an average eosinophil count of 28.6% (SD 24.4). Radiological findings highlighted recurring features like bilateral opacities (68.1%), ground-glass opacities (41.7%), patchy infiltrates (30.6%), and peripheral predominance (19.4%). Upon suspicion, daptomycin was discontinued; 20 cases required no additional treatment, 38 received corticosteroids, and 12 received both corticosteroids and antibiotics. Recovery rates were high across all treatment types (≥ 73.7%). Most reports described rapid improvement post-withdrawal (within 96 h).

Conclusions
DIEP is a rare, fast-progressing condition where early diagnosis and prompt treatment are vital. Diagnosis relies on clinical, laboratory, and radiological evaluations. Stopping daptomycin is essential, with corticosteroids often necessary. Further research is needed to enhance diagnostic accuracy for this disease.
Maternal linoleic acid-rich diet ameliorates bilirubin neurotoxicity in offspring mice
Authors: Yan Ding , Wu XinTian , Chen Xi , Wang Jiangtuan , Ge Feifei , Wu Meixuan , Wu Jiawen , Zhang Na , Xiao Min , Wu Xueheng , Xue Qian , Li Xiaofen , Chen Jinghong , Wang Ping , Tang Daolin , Wang Xin , Chen Xin , Liu Jinbao 
Published: July 2024

AbstractHyperbilirubinaemia is a prevalent condition during the neonatal period, and if not promptly and effectively managed, it can lead to severe bilirubin-induced neurotoxicity. Sunflower seeds are a nutrient-rich food source, particularly abundant in linoleic acid. Here, we provide compelling evidence that lactating maternal mice fed a sunflower seed diet experience enhanced neurological outcomes and increased survival rates in hyperbilirubinemic offspring. We assessed histomorphological indices, including cerebellar Nissl staining, and Calbindin staining, and hippocampal hematoxylin and eosin staining. Furthermore, we observed the transmission of linoleic acid, enriched in sunflower seeds, to offspring through lactation. The oral administration of linoleic acid-rich sunflower seed oil by lactating mothers significantly prolonged the survival time of hyperbilirubinemic offspring mice. Mechanistically, linoleic acid counteracts the bilirubin-induced accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins and neuronal cell death by activating autophagy. Collectively, these findings elucidate the novel role of a maternal linoleic acid-supplemented diet in promoting child health.
Integrated image-based deep learning and language models for primary diabetes care
Authors: Li Jiajia , Guan Zhouyu , Wang Jing , Cheung Carol Y. , Zheng Yingfeng , Lim Lee-Ling , Lim Cynthia Ciwei , Ruamviboonsuk Paisan , Raman Rajiv , Corsino Leonor , Echouffo-Tcheugui Justin B. , Luk Andrea O. Y. , Chen Li Jia , Sun Xiaodong , Hamzah Haslina , Wu Qiang , Wang Xiangning , Liu Ruhan , Wang Ya Xing , Chen Tingli , Zhang Xiao , Yang Xiaolong , Yin Jun , Wan Jing , Du Wei , Quek Ten Cheer , Goh Jocelyn Hui Lin , Yang Dawei , Hu Xiaoyan , Nguyen Truong X. , Szeto Simon K. H. , Chotcomwongse Peranut , Malek Rachid , Normatova Nargiza , Ibragimova Nilufar , Srinivasan Ramyaa , Zhong Pingting , Huang Wenyong , Deng Chenxin , Ruan Lei , Zhang Cuntai , Zhang Chenxi , Zhou Yan , Wu Chan , Dai Rongping , Koh Sky Wei Chee , Abdullah Adina , Hee Nicholas Ken Yoong , Tan Hong Chang , Liew Zhong Hong , Tien Carolyn Shan-Yeu , Kao Shih Ling , Lim Amanda Yuan Ling , Mok Shao Feng , Sun Lina , Gu Jing , Wu Liang , Li Tingyao , Cheng Di , Wang Zheyuan , Qin Yiming , Dai Ling , Meng Ziyao , Shu Jia , Lu Yuwei , Jiang Nan , Hu Tingting , Huang Shan , Huang Gengyou , Yu Shujie , Liu Dan , Ma Weizhi , Guo Minyi , Guan Xinping , Yang Xiaokang , Bascaran Covadonga , Cleland Charles R. , Bao Yuqian , Ekinci Elif I. , Jenkins Alicia , Chan Juliana C. N. , Bee Yong Mong , Sivaprasad Sobha , Shaw Jonathan E. , Simó Rafael , Keane Pearse A. , Cheng Ching-Yu , Tan Gavin Siew Wei , Jia Weiping , Tham Yih-Chung , Li Huating , Sheng Bin , Wong Tien Yin 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPrimary diabetes care and diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening persist as major public health challenges due to a shortage of trained primary care physicians (PCPs), particularly in low-resource settings. Here, to bridge the gaps, we developed an integrated image–language system (DeepDR-LLM), combining a large language model (LLM module) and image-based deep learning (DeepDR-Transformer), to provide individualized diabetes management recommendations to PCPs. In a retrospective evaluation, the LLM module demonstrated comparable performance to PCPs and endocrinology residents when tested in English and outperformed PCPs and had comparable performance to endocrinology residents in Chinese. For identifying referable DR, the average PCP’s accuracy was 81.0% unassisted and 92.3% assisted by DeepDR-Transformer. Furthermore, we performed a single-center real-world prospective study, deploying DeepDR-LLM. We compared diabetes management adherence of patients under the unassisted PCP arm (n = 397) with those under the PCP+DeepDR-LLM arm (n = 372). Patients with newly diagnosed diabetes in the PCP+DeepDR-LLM arm showed better self-management behaviors throughout follow-up (P < 0.05). For patients with referral DR, those in the PCP+DeepDR-LLM arm were more likely to adhere to DR referrals (P < 0.01). Additionally, DeepDR-LLM deployment improved the quality and empathy level of management recommendations. Given its multifaceted performance, DeepDR-LLM holds promise as a digital solution for enhancing primary diabetes care and DR screening.
Multi objective optimization and evaluation approach of prefabricated component combination solutions using NSGA-II and simulated annealing optimized projection pursuit method
Authors: Wang Qun , Xu Xizhen , Ding Xiaoxin , Chen Tiebing , Deng Ronghui , Li Jinglei , Jiang Jiawei 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAs a main carrier mode for the sustainable development of the construction industry in China, prefabricated building may lead to problems such as cost overruns, project delays, and waste of resources due to unreasonable selection of prefabricated components. Therefore, we quantitatively analyze the contribution rate of quality optimization of prefabricated components using QFD-SEM. Under the constraints of prefabrication rate, quality optimization contribution rate, and expected values of various sub-goals, we propose a multi-objective optimization method for prefabricated component combinations based on cost, duration, and carbon emissions. By using NSGA-II to solve the model, we can obtain a set of optimal Pareto solutions for prefabricated component combinations. Based on the optimal Pareto solution set, we establish a multi-objective evaluation model using simulated annealing optimization projection tracing method, and select the optimal prefabricated component combination solution according to the projected eigenvalues of the solutions. An empirical study is conducted using an eleven-story framed building in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, China as a case study. The results show that: (1) Using this method, optimal solutions can be obtained in an unbounded solution space, with the optimal solution having advantages over both fully cast-in-place and fully prefabricated solutions. Compared to the fully cast-in-place solution, the duration and carbon emissions are reduced by 36.62% and 12.74% respectively, while compared to the fully prefabricated solution, costs are reduced by 4.15%. (2) There is a certain negative correlation between the cost of prefabricated component combinations and duration, carbon emissions, and quality optimization, while there is a certain positive correlation with the prefabrication rate. (3) The size of the optimal projection direction vector based on the optimization objectives indicates that carbon emissions have the greatest impact on the evaluation results of the solutions.
Inflammatory bowel disease and risk for hemorrhoids: a Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Wang HanYu , Wang Lu , Zeng XiaoYu , Zhang ShiPeng , Huang Yong , Zhang QinXiu 
Published: July 2024

AbstractObservational studies have reported an association between inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), and hemorrhoids (HEM). However, the presence of a causal relationship within this observed association remains to be confirmed. Consequently, we utilized the Mendelian randomization (MR) method to assess the causal effects of IBD on hemorrhoids. We validated the association between IBD and hemorrhoids in humans based on genome-wide association studies (GWAS) data. To investigate the causal relationship between IBD and hemorrhoids, we performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization study using training and validation sets. The genetic variation data for IBD, CD, UC, and hemorrhoids were derived from published genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of individuals of European. Two-sample Mendelian randomization and Multivariable Mendelian randomization (MVMR) were employed to determine the causal relationship between IBD (CD or UC) and hemorrhoids. Genetically predicted overall IBD was positively associated with hemorrhoids risk, with ORs of 1.02 (95% CIs 1.01–1.03, P = 4.39 × 10−4) and 1.02 (95% CIs 1.01–1.03, P = 4.99 × 10−5) in the training and validation sets, respectively. Furthermore, we found that CD was positively associated with hemorrhoids risk, with ORs of 1.02 (95% CIs 1.01–1.03, P = 4.12 × 10−6) and 1.02 (95% CIs 1.01–1.02, P = 3.78 × 10−5) for CD in the training and validation sets, respectively. In addition, we found that UC in the training set was positively associated with hemorrhoids risk (ORs 1.02, 95% CIs 1.01–1.03, P = 4.65 × 10−3), while no significant causal relationship between UC and hemorrhoids was shown in the validation set (P > 0.05). However, after MVMR adjustment, UC in the training set was not associated with an increased risk of hemorrhoids. Our study showed that there is a causal relationship between CD and hemorrhoids, which may suggest that clinicians need to prevent the occurrence of hemorrhoids in CD patients.
Do body colour and sociability impact scototaxis response of fish?
Authors: Pecunioso Alessandra , Aleotti Elena , Agrillo Christian 
Published: July 2024

AbstractScototaxis test is an anxiety-like test used by behavioural neuroscientists consisting in the assessment of dark/light preference of laboratory animals. This test has been widely used in fish. Most of the species have been shown to express a preference for the dark environment. However, the majority of the investigated species has a dark body colour, thus making a clear contrast with a white/bright background. Also, while in nature fish tend to be highly social, studies in the scototaxis literature tested single fish. Yet, individual vs. group behaviour might interact with scototaxis response. In experiment 1, we assessed the individual response to test the hypothesis that the different colours of the body might modulate the dark/light preference. We found that species with a dark body colour (Hyphessobrycon megalopterus) and a largely transparent body colour (Kryptopterus bicirrhis) strongly preferred the darker environment. Instead, the preference for darkness of a species with a luminescent part of the body (Paracheirodon axelrodi) was less pronounced. Lastly, a species with a white body colour (Corydoras albini) did not prefer either a bright or a dark sector. In experiment 2, we explored the behaviour of these species when inserted in shoals of 20 individuals in the experimental apparatus. While H. megalopterus and K. bichirrhis confirmed their robust preference for darker environments, the other two species changed their preference. Taken together, these results suggest that scototaxis response is context-dependent, as it appears to be modulated by the body colour and the presence/absence of other conspecifics in the surrounding.