bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
MTR3D‐AF2: Expanding the coverage of spatially derived missense tolerance scores across the human proteome using AlphaFold2
Authors: Kovacs Aaron S. , Portelli Stephanie , Silk Michael , Rodrigues Carlos H. M. , Ascher David B. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe missense tolerance ratio (MTR) was developed as a novel approach to assess the deleteriousness of variants. Its three‐dimensional successor, MTR3D, was demonstrated powerful at discriminating pathogenic from benign variants. However, its reliance on experimental structures and homologs limited its coverage of the proteome. We have now utilized AlphaFold2 models to develop MTR3D‐AF2, which covers 89.31% of proteins and 85.39% of residues across the human proteome. This work has improved MTR3D's ability to distinguish clinically established pathogenic from benign variants. MTR3D‐AF2 is freely available as an interactive web server at https://biosig.lab.uq.edu.au/mtr3daf2/.
Assessing the potential spray drift of a six‐rotor unmanned aerial vehicle sprayer using a test bench and airborne drift collectors under low wind velocities: impact of atomization characteristics and application parameters
Authors: Wongsuk Supakorn , Zhu Zhaoyan , Zheng Aijun , Qi Peng , Li Yangfan , Huang Zhan , Han Hu , Wang Changling , He Xiongkui 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBACKGROUNDThe unmanned aerial spraying systems (UASS) have gained widespread use for plant protection in recent years. However, spray drift from UASS is a major concern when controlling weeds over large areas and warrants a thorough investigation. This study examined the atomization characteristics of the herbicide florpyrauxifen‐benzyl under downwash airflow using a UASS spray test platform. Potential spray drift was assessed using a test bench (TB) and airborne drift collectors (ADCs) in the field under low wind speeds (<1 m s−1).RESULTSAtomization characteristics were significantly affected by the spray liquid, adjuvant, nozzle type and spray pressure. The addition of an adjuvant reduced the liquid sheet length, improved physicochemical properties and increased droplet size under the downwash airflow field. Drift evaluation in the field using the TB revealed that sediment spray drift predominantly occurred from the middle to the entire length of the device when fine‐to‐medium droplets were produced after the sprayer passed. ADC assessment found that higher flight altitudes and finer droplets resulted in higher drift values, whereas the addition of an adjuvant and the use of an air‐induction nozzle reduced drift <3 m aboveground.CONCLUSIONThe combination of using TB in the target area and ADCs in the off‐target area as an alternative method to determine residual droplets in the current airflow provided valuable insights into airborne drift assessment for UASS. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
Event‐triggered asynchronous distributed MPC for multi‐quadrotor systems with communication delays
Authors: Shu Yupeng , Liu Chun , Xu Liang , Jin Yihuan , Xu Guijia , Li Kuan , Chen Hongtian 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis article investigates the formation composition and keeping problem for multi‐quadrotor systems under time‐varying communication delays. First, a distributed model predictive control (MPC) approach is employed to transform the formation composition and keeping of multi‐quadrotor systems into an online rolling optimization issue, accompanied by the event‐triggered mechanism to reduce solution frequency and communication load. Second, to address the asynchrony and time‐varying communication delays introduced by event‐triggered distributed MPC, a set of constraints is designed to restrict deviations between the current predictive state and previously broadcasted states. Consequently, based on the previously predicted states of neighbors, the cooperation of the multi‐quadrotor systems is achieved under asynchronous communication and time‐varying delays. This approach guarantees robust asymptotic stability and satisfactory formation performance for multi‐quadrotor systems under various delay scenarios. Finally, the numerical and software‐in‐the‐loop simulations validate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm of multi‐quadrotors under communication delays.
Construction of a Voltammetric Sensor Based on Niobium Supported on Zirconium Oxide‐Carbon Nanotubes for the Determination of Favipiravir, an Antiviral Drug Used Against Covid‐19
Authors: Kutluay Baytak Ayşegül , Aslanoglu Mehmet 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThis study aims to develop of a novel electrochemical method for the detection of the antiviral drug favipiravir (FAV). For this purpose, a sensitive electrochemical sensor with niobium (Nb) nanoparticles supported on zirconium oxide‐carbon nanotubes (ZrO2‐(CNT)MW) was constructed on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The proposed electrochemical sensor (Nb@ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE) exhibited excellent repeatability, high stability and high sensitivity for FAV owing to the impact of Nb on ZrO2‐(CNT)MW composite. The oxidation potential (Ep) of FAV was occurred at 1.2 V, 1.12 V, 1.03 V and 1 V at GCE, (CNT)MW/GCE, ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE and Nb@ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE, respectively. Interestlingly, the gradual shift clearly indicates that Nb@ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE can exhibit high catalytic activity towards FAV. The proposed electrode has also good selectivity towards FAV. The Nb@ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE system exhibited a linear working range of 5 nM–300 nM with a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.8 nM (based on 3sb/m) for FAV. The Nb@ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE system was successfully applied for the detection of FAV in pharmaceuticals and biological fluids. The experimental results demonstrated that Nb@ZrO2‐(CNT)MW/GCE can be an ideal sensing platform for the sensitive detection of FAV.
Crystal‐Phase‐ and B‐Content‐Dependent Electrochemical Behavior of Pd─B Nanocrystals toward Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Wahidah Hafidatul , Chun Hee‐Joon , Kim Woo Hyeok , Kim Tae Wu , Kim Seok Ki , Hong Jong Wook 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe manipulation of crystal phases in metal–nonmetal interstitial alloy nanostructures has attracted considerable attention due to the formation of unique electronic structures and surface atomic arrangements, resulting in unprecedented catalytic performances. However, achieving simultaneous control over crystal phase and nonmetal elements in metal–nonmetal interstitial alloy nanostructures has remained a formidable challenge. Here, a novel synthesis approach is presented for Pd─B interstitial alloy nanocrystals (NCs) that allows investigation of the crystal‐phase‐ and B‐content‐dependent catalytic performance. Through comparison of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) properties of Pd─BX interstitial alloy NCs with different crystal phases and B contents, achieved by precise control of reaction temperature and time, the influences of crystal phase and B contents in the Pd─BX interstitial alloy NCs on ORR are precisely investigated. The hexagonal closed packed (hcp) PdB0.5 NCs exhibit superior catalytic activity, with mass activities reaching 2.58 A mg−1, surpassing Pd/C by 10.3 times, attributed to synergistic effects by the hcp crystal phase and relatively high B contents. This study not only provides a novel approach to fabricate interstitial alloy nanostructures with unconventional crystal phases and finely controlled nonmetal elements but also elucidates the importance of crystal phase and nonmetal element content in optimizing electrocatalytic efficiency.
Dynamic ultrasound assessment of rotator cuff tears: The finger compression technique
Authors: Ma Voon Chee , Ooi Chin Chin , Png Meng Ai 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe article aims to introduce the finger compression technique as a novel dynamic compression technique that can be easily incorporated into the routine sonographic examination to enhance its diagnostic performance in the investigation of rotator cuff tears. The application of the finger compression technique is demonstrated with illustrations, ultrasound images, and videos. The finger compression technique can be applied in challenging ultrasound shoulder scans. The technique enables visualisation of movement of hyperechoic debris or hypertrophic synovial tissue filling the defect of the rotator cuff tear during real‐time dynamic scanning. It also helps to milk bursal fluid into the tendon gap and across the torn tendon into the shoulder joint. The real‐time finger compression technique is a fast, easy and useful supplementary technique for confirming the diagnosis of rotator cuff tears in the presence of severe tendinopathy complicated by bursal thickening and may help to more accurately characterise rotator cuff tears when present.
IFRS Adoption and Performance of Stock Markets: A Comparative Analysis of Frontier Stock Markets in Sub‐Saharan Africa
Authors: Imhanzenobe Japhet Osazefua 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACTThe International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) is a set of global accounting standards that tries to provide truer and fairer accounting figures by recommending more realistic measurement and recognition criteria, increasing the disclosure of relevant information, and increasing the comparability of financial statements across borders. Most of the literature on IFRS adoption addresses its impact on the value relevance of accounting figures but ignores the wider picture in terms of impact on stock market performance. The few studies that address IFRS adoption and stock market performance focus on advanced economies and lack proper theoretical underpinning. This study addresses the impact of IFRS adoption on stock market performance in Sub‐Saharan Africa. The study applied the autoregressive distributed lag model to test the research hypotheses. The Johannesburg, Nigerian, and Nairobi stock exchanges were selected as the sample markets because they constitute the major frontier markets for foreign investors wishing to penetrate the Sub‐Saharan African market. The sample period was from 1990 to 2020. The results of the study showed that IFRS adoption had a positive and significant impact on market efficiency and size for all the selected countries. IFRS adoption had a positive and significant impact on market liquidity in Kenya only. The study recommends that IFRS adopters should implement stock market policies that encourage the participation of foreign investors following the increase in financial statements comparability brought about by IFRS adoption.
Assessment of intestinal inflammation via fecal calprotectin for early prediction of adverse outcomes in advanced chronic liver disease
Authors: Koller Tomas , Vrbova Petra , Kubanek Natalia , Zilincanova Daniela , Selcanova Svetlana Adamcova , Havaj Daniel Jan , Skladany Lubomir 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackground and aimsIntestinal inflammation assessed by fecal calprotectin (F‐CAL) in advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD) may represent an early sign of intestinal barrier dysfunction. We aimed to explore the usefulness of F‐CAL testing in ACLD in the prediction of adverse outcomes (AO, death, or LT) and refinement of prognostic stratification.Patients and methodsWe explored the RH7 cirrhosis registry comprising consecutive hospitalized patients and a control group with data on disease phenotype, demographics, anthropometrics, prognostic indices, and medication. The F‐CAL was evaluated on admission and reported in multiples of the upper limit of normal or terciles. Predictive power was tested in the Cox model for AO over 180 days. Additional risk refinement by F‐CAL was tested for both groups.ResultsWe enrolled 263 cases in the study group with a median age of 57.2 years, M/F ratio 167/96, with alcohol, metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease, MetALD, and viral etiologies in 72.2%, 9.1, 8.0, 3.4%. The median F‐CAL was 3.92 × ULN. The control group comprised 108 cases. The adjusted Cox model confirmed F‐CAL (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.05, p < 0.001) and F‐CAL terciles (HR = 1.413, p = 0.009) as independent predictors of AO. F‐CAL terciles had higher predictive accuracy in CLIF‐C‐AD<50 (HR = 2.49, p = 0.013) and Child stages A and B (HR = 1.706, p = 0.025), in whom high F‐CAL (cut‐off >11 × ULN) could identify patients having 2–3 times higher risk of AO. This approach has been validated in the control group.ConclusionAmong hospitalized patients with ACLD, F‐CAL values were independently proportional to the risk of AO, particularly in early disease stages when high F‐CAL values could refine prognostic stratification.
Natural course of ulcerative colitis in China: Differences from the West?
Authors: Wan Jian , Shen Jun , Zhong Jie , Ge Wensong , Miao Yinglei , Zhang Xiaolan , Wen Zhonghui , Wang Yufang , Liang Jie , Wu Kaichun 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackground and AimsWhether the natural course of ulcerative colitis (UC) in mainland China is similar or different from that in Western countries is unknown, and data on it is limited. We aimed to provide a comprehensive description of the natural course of UC in China and compare it with Western UC patients.MethodsBased on a prospective Chinese nationwide registry of consecutive patients with inflammatory bowel diseases, the medical treatments and natural history of UC were described in detail, including disease extension, surgery, and neoplasia. The Cox regression model was used to identify factors associated with poor outcomes.ResultsA total of 1081 UC patients were included with a median follow‐up duration of 5.3 years. The overall cumulative exposure was 99.1% to 5‐aminosalicylic acids, 52.1% to corticosteroids, 25.6% to immunomodulators, and 15.4% to biologics. Disease extent at diagnosis was proctitis in 26.9%, left‐sided colitis in 34.8%, and extensive colitis in 38.3%. Of 667 patients with proctitis and left‐sided colitis, 380 (57.0%) experienced disease extent progression. A total of 58 (5.4%) UC patients underwent colectomy, demonstrating cumulative proportions of surgery at 1, 5, and 10 years after diagnosis of 0.6%, 3.4%, and 8.2%, respectively. In addition, 23 (2.1%) UC patients were diagnosed with neoplasia, demonstrating cumulative proportions of neoplasia at 1, 5, and 10 years after diagnosis of 0.5%, 1.0%, and 3.5%, respectively.ConclusionsChinese UC patients had similar cumulative proportions of exposure to IBD‐specific treatments but a lower surgical rate than patients in Western countries, indicating a different natural course, and close monitoring needs for UC in China. However, these results must be confirmed in population‐based studies because the hospital‐based cohort in our study might lead to selection bias.
Preparation and properties of two types of tung oil‐based liquid auxiliary heat stabilizer for polyvinyl chloride processing
Authors: Feng Xiao , Li Shouhai , Yao Na , Yang Xiaohua , Lin Mingtao , Wang Hongxiao , Ding Haiyang , Xu Lina , Li Mei , Deng Tianxiang 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn this work, two types of tung oil‐based auxiliary heat stabilizers (Ph‐T and Ph‐TO) were prepared for application in PVC processing. Combined with traditional heat stabilizers (calcium stearate and zinc stearate), Ph‐T or Ph‐TO can greatly alleviate “zinc burning” during the PVC processing which can significantly extend the processing time of PVC, so that improve the fault tolerance rate during PVC processing. Notably, the preparation process of Ph‐T and Ph‐TO is simple and does not require any heating, leading to reduced production costs and simplified manufacturing processes. Additionally, Ph‐T or Ph‐TO can enhance the plasticity of PVC, reducing the need for plasticizers and achieving multiple benefits with a single additive, which might be applicable in the production of blood bags or cable sheathing.Highlights
Two types novel tung oil‐based liquid auxiliary heat stabilizer for PVC processing were prepared. The preparation process is simple and does not require any heating.
These auxiliary heat stabilizers can greatly alleviate “zinc burning” during the PVC processing and which can significantly extend the processing time of PVC, improve the fault tolerance rate during PVC processing.
These auxiliary heat stabilizers can improve the overall plasticity of the PVC material and achieving the multi‐effect.
Thermal performance analysis of oriented MHD convective flow and entropy production of hybrid nanofluids in a cavity induced by semicircles at different radii ratios
Authors: Souayeh Basma 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe current study numerically treats the magnetic field impacts on the natural convection flow and entropy generation in a square cavity filled with hybrid nanofluid and induced by two isothermally heated semicircles at the bottom and left walls of the cavity. The cavity is filled by hybrid nanofluid (titanium oxide/silver‐water) and oriented under different inclination angles with the applied magnetic field. The simulations in this study were executed via a home‐made code written in the FORTRAN programing language. The numerical methodology considered to solve the coupled equations of continuity, momentum, energy, and entropy generation equations with the associated boundary conditions is the finite volume method and the full multigrid acceleration. Various wake parameters are considered in this research study, namely, the inclination angle of the cavity (α), the magnetic field inclination (γ), the Hartmann number (Ha), the Rayleigh number (Ra), the volume fraction of the hybrid nanofluid (ϕ) and the internal semicircles radii ratio (β). The major findings issued from the impact of these parameters on the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics reveal that heat transfer and entropy generation are a decreasing function of the Hartmann parameter. Moreover, the total entropy generation is intensified by 85.23% from Ra = 103 to Ra = 106 for Ha = 10, by 85.818% for Ha = 50 and 83.813% for Ha = 100. Besides, the flow magnitude is found decreasing with increasing the radii ratio β of the semicircles. It is also found that optimal heat transfer rates deducted from the variation of average Nusselt number versus Ra for different volume fractions of the hybrid nanoparticles are obtained for the extreme values of the pertinent parameters (β = 1, ϕ = 8%, Ra = 106). Hence, the present work offers a useful tool and a parametric study for the research community and engineers on the design and optimization of thermal management systems used in a variety of industrial applications, such as heat exchangers, nuclear reactors, and energy systems.
Study on Selection of Excavation Methods and Spacing Distance for Ultra-shallow-Buried and River-Crossing Tunnel with Small Clearance
Authors: Gong Zhiqun , Guo Hongyu , Fu Helin , Zhao Yibo , Peng Zetong 
Published: July 2024

AbstractFor the mined land section of the river-crossing tunnel with small clearance, the study should be carried out for excavation method and safe spacing before the tunnel construction, for engineering properties of surrounding rock is poor and the distance between two tunnel tubes is small. In this paper, in combination with the mined land section works of the river-crossing tunnel on Rongjiang Fourth Road, the finite difference numerical simulation software was adopted to calculate mechanical behaviors of three construction methods: three-bench method, CD method and CRD method under different excavation spacing (10 m, 20 m, 30 m and 40 m) on the basis of grouting and pre-reinforcement of surrounding rock in the early stage. The calculation results indicate that vault displacement and ground settlement can notmeet the specification requirements when the three-bench method is adopted for construction, even if the excavation spacing between the former and latter tunnels is 40m; When the CD method is adopted for construction, vault displacement and ground settlement meet the specification requirements when the excavation spacing between the former and latter tunnels is 40m; When the CRD method is adopted for construction, vault displacement and ground settlement meet the specification requirements when the excavation spacing between the former and latter tunnels is 30m; The control effect of initial support deformation and surrounding rock displacement is in the following sequence: CRD method > CD method > three-bench method. Considering various factors, it is found that the CD method is more reasonable and efficient. Therefore, the CD method is recommended for tunnel excavation and the tunnelling spacing should be controlled to 40m.
Experimental Study on Back Fill Material of a High Fill Slope
Authors: Liu Song 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAiming at the problem of high fill slope engineering in China’s airports, a high fill slope project of a new airport was selected as the research object. Through on-site engineering investigation, it was found that the backfill material was mainly moderately weathered stone, with high strength and not easy to break, accompanied by silty clay. The particle shape was mainly high angular and the surface was rough. In order to explore the mechanical properties of backfill materials for high fill slope of airport, the material parameters were calibrated by indoor screening test, stone wear and liquid-plastic limit test, natural water content test and saturated water absorption test.
Hybrid Noise Eliminating Algorithm for Radar Target Images Based on the Time-Frequency Domain
Authors: Ma Xiaoyu , Li Kunmei , Wang Zhiwei , Xu Wei , Bian Zheng , Du Zicheng , Deng Longbo 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe radar target imaging effect directly affects the resolution of the radar target, which affects the commander’s decision. However, the hybrid noise composed of speckle and Gaussian noise is one of the main affecting factors. The existing methods for image denoising are hard to eliminate the hybrid noise in radar images. Hence, this paper proposes a new hybrid noise elimination algorithm for the radar target image. Based on the strong correlation between wavelet coefficients, this algorithm first uses the wavelet coefficient correlation denoising algorithm (WCCDA) to filter the high-frequency information and high-frequency part of low-frequency information for different directions of the three channels of the image. Then, an improved adaptive median filtering algorithm (IAMF) is proposed to perform fine-grained filtering on each re-constructed channel. Finally, the radar target image is reconstructed. The results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms the comparison approaches in the peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) and mean-square error (MSE) indexes with better denoising effects.
Study on Strain Characteristics of Long Longitudinal Slope Asphalt Pavement Surface
Authors: Li Xu , Liu Weiqin , Qin Jinxi , Zhao Xiuxing , Chen Jie 
Published: July 2024

AbstractTo study the changes in shear and tensile strains of asphalt pavement under vehicle moving loads on long longitudinal slopes, a structural model of asphalt pavement was established using Abaqus finite element calculation software. A single factor analysis was conducted on different slopes, driving speeds, temperatures, and braking coefficients. The calculation results show that the maximum shear strain increases with the increase of road slope, temperature, and braking coefficient, but decreases with the increase of driving speed; The maximum tensile strain increases with the increase of road slope, driving speed, and braking coefficient, but decreases with the increase of temperature. When the vehicle is driving smoothly, the maximum shear strain occurs at a distance of about 5cm from the road surface, and the maximum tensile strain occurs at a distance of 6cm from the road surface, both of which occur in the middle layer. In the design phase, targeted improvements can be made to the shear and tensile properties of the asphalt surface layer in the middle layer, in order to enhance the road performance of the asphalt surface layer in long and long longitudinal slopes. When the vehicle is braking, when the braking coefficient is high, the road surface will generate significant shear strain. In the design stage, it is necessary to improve the shear resistance of the upper layer of asphalt concrete in a targeted manner.