bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Selective Conversion of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol by Heterogeneous TiO2 Photocatalysis
Authors: Lopes Joana C. , Sampaio Maria J. , Silva Cláudia G. , Faria Joaquim L. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractSelective synthesis of furfuryl alcohol from furfural conversion via semiconductor photocatalytic route has appeared as a promising solution for transforming biomass into high‐value‐added products under mild temperature and pressure conditions. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) photocatalysts were prepared by a simple sol‐gel method followed by a calcination treatment ranging from 500–1000 °C, resulting in materials with distinct physicochemical properties. The photocatalytic efficiency of the TiO2 samples was examined in the selective production of furfuryl alcohol from furfural under UV‐LED irradiation. The influence of various organic solvents, including ethanol, methanol, 2‐propanol, and acetonitrile, was evaluated to optimise the selectivity towards furfuryl alcohol production. Photocatalysts with larger anatase to rutile ratio and increased density of oxygen vacancies (defects) exhibited superior performance for furfuryl alcohol production. The presence of these defects on the catalyst surface leads to a significant enhancement in the photocatalytic efficiency by acting as crucial active sites. Among the TiO2 samples, the highest conversion of furfural into furfuryl alcohol was observed with the TiO2 sample calcined under an air atmosphere at 600 °C (TiO2‐600), achieving 85 % yield and 100 % selectivity for furfural after 30 min reaction using ethanol as solvent.
Facile Synthesis of Self‐Supported Solid Amine Sorbents for Direct Air Capture
Authors: Wan Zhijian , Hunt Russell , White Cameron , Gillbanks Jeremy , Czapla Jason , Xiao Gongkui , Surin Sophia , Wood Colin 
Published: April 2024

AbstractConventional usage of tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA) via being supported on porous solid materials for carbon capture is susceptible to oxidative degradation during regeneration cycles. This study reports a novel method to synthesize a TEPA based solid polymer for efficient CO2 removal via direct air capture (DAC). The polymer was obtained through epoxy‐amine crosslinking reaction, leading to the transformation of liquid TEPA to a self‐supported solid polymer. The synthesis was conducted under ambient conditions via a one‐pot process with no waste products, which is aligned with green synthesis. The performance of the solid amine was evaluated in DAC under realistic conditions and compared with TEPA supported on SiO2 and zeolite 13X prepared through the conventional method. The solid TEPA amine exhibited a high CO2 uptake of 6.2 wt.% comparable to the conventional counterparts. More importantly, the solid TEPA amine demonstrated high resistance to oxidation during the accelerated ageing process at 80 °C in air for 24 h, whereas the two supported TEPA samples experienced severe degradation, with zeolite 13X supported TEPA incurring a reduction of 86.5 % in CO2 capturing capacity after the ageing. This work sheds light on the novel usage of TEPA as an efficient solid amine for practical DAC operation.
One‐Step Decoration of Subnanometer MoOx Clusters on Bi11VO19 Nanotubes for Visible‐Light‐Driven Water Oxidation
Authors: Jin Linfeng , Cheng Chao , Guo Changfa , Wabaidur Saikh Mohammad , Zhong Yijun , Hu Yong 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFor the sluggish reaction kinetics due to a four‐electron transfer process, water oxidation is always a major obstacle to solar splitting of water to hydrogen. It remains a tough challenge to develop efficient nonnoble‐metal photocatalysts for water oxidation. Herein, we decorate the host photocatalyst of Bi11VO19 nanotubes with the coatalyst of subnanometer MoOx clusters (denoted as Bi11VO19/MoOx hetero‐nanotubes) via a one‐step cation‐exchange solvothermal reaction using Na2V6O16 nanowires as the hard template. It is observed that the morphology and microstructure of Bi11VO19/MoOx hetero‐nanotubes vary with the dosage of Mo source and polyvinylpyrrolidone, as well as with the solvent composition. The optimized Bi11VO19/MoOx hetero‐nanotubes significantly enhance the photooxidation of water to oxygen with visible light, delivering an oxygen production rate of 790 μmol g−1 h−1, which is 12 times that of bare Bi11VO19 nanotubes. In situ X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and (photo)electrochemical characterization suggest that the enhanced photoactivity may be caused by the decorated cocatalyst of MoOx clusters, which extracts electrons from Bi11VO19 nanotubes, leaving an abundance of holes for water photooxidation. This work demonstrates a potential strategy to develop photocatalysts for energy conversion by constructing Bi11VO19‐based nanostructures.
Estimating the effect of lipid‐lowering agents on novel subtypes of adult‐onset diabetes
Authors: Ye Jianan , Guo Keyu , Li Jiaqi , Li Xia , Zhou Zhiguang , Yang Lin 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAimsThe aims of the present study were to assess the effects of lipid‐lowering drugs [HMG‐CoA reductase inhibitors, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors, and Niemann–Pick C1‐Like 1 (NPC1L1) inhibitors] on novel subtypes of adult‐onset diabetes through a Mendelian randomisation study.Materials and MethodsWe first inferred causal associations between lipid‐related traits [including high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C), triglycerides (TG), apolipoproteins A‐I, and apolipoproteins B] and novel subtypes of adult‐onset diabetes. The expression quantitative trait loci of drug target genes for three classes of lipid‐lowering drugs, as well as genetic variants within or nearby drug target genes associated with LDL‐C, were then utilised as proxies for the exposure of lipid‐lowering drugs. Mendelian randomisation analysis was performed using summary data from genome‐wide association studies of LDL‐C, severe autoimmune diabetes, severe insulin‐deficient diabetes (SIDD), severe insulin‐resistant diabetes (SIRD), mild obesity‐related diabetes (MOD), and mild age‐related diabetes.ResultsThere was an association between HMGCR‐mediated LDL‐C and the risk of SIRD [odds ratio (OR) = 0.305, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.129–0.723; p = 0.007], and there was an association of PCSK9‐mediated LDL‐C with the risk of SIDD (OR = 0.253, 95% CI = 0.120–0.532; p < 0.001) and MOD (OR = 0.345, 95% CI = 0.171–0.696; p = 0.003). Moreover, NPC1L1‐mediated LDL‐C (OR = 0.109, 95% CI = 0.019–0.613; p = 0.012) and the increased expression of NPC1L1 gene in blood (OR = 0.727, 95% CI = 0.541–0.977; p = 0.034) both showed a significant association with SIRD. These results were further confirmed by sensitivity analyses.ConclusionsIn summary, the different lipid‐lowering medications have a specific effect on the increased risk of different novel subtypes of adult‐onset diabetes.
Quantifying the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow security based on a new framework
Authors: Wang Hongxiang , Cheng Siyuan , Bai Xiangyu , Yuan Weiqi , Wang Bing , Hong Fengtian , Guo Wenxian 
Published: April 2024

AbstractClimate change and human activities combine to alter river hydrology, thereby threatening the health of river ecosystems. Quantifying the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow assurance is essential for water resource management and river ecological protection. However, fewer studies quantify the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow assurance based on a complete set of frameworks. The present study introduces an integrated assessment framework designed to quantify the impacts of climate change and human activities on ecological flow security. The framework includes the following steps: (1) natural river runoff reconstruction utilizing a semi‐distributed hydrological model (SWAT), (2) calculation of the most suitable ecological stream flow of the watershed ecosystem by using the non‐parametric kernel density estimation method, (3) calculation of the safety and security levels under minimum ecological flow and appropriate ecological flow conditions in the watershed and (4) quantification of the influences of climate change and human activities on the security of ecological flow in the watershed through the application of a quantitative attribution method. The impact of climate change and human activities on the ecological flow assurance level was analysed using three hydrological stations in Xiangtan, Hengyang and Laobutou, which are the main tributaries of the Xiangjiang River Basin, as a case study. The findings indicated a substantial decrease in ecological flow assurance levels across the basin during the period of human impact (1991–2019). The quantitative assessment results suggest that human activities predominantly drive the degradation of ecological flow assurance throughout the period of human impact, accounting for 57.05% of the total impact. Extensive gradient reservoir scheduling and anthropogenic water withdrawals were the main factors contributing to the degradation of ecological flow assurance in the study basin. The methodology and findings presented in this study offer insights into the evolutionary characteristics and driving forces behind ecological flow security in a dynamic environment. Furthermore, they establish a scientific foundation for local water resource management and river ecosystem protection.
Heart failure: the grim reaper of the cardio‐renal‐metabolic triad
Authors: Österman Joakim , Al‐Sodany Ehab , Haugen Löfman Ida , Barany Peter , Evans Marie 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAimsCurrent understanding of the prognosis for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and overlapping cardio‐renal‐metabolic components, specifically heart failure (HF) and diabetes mellitus (DM), remains limited. While previous studies have explored the interactions between CKD, HF, and DM, they have predominantly focused on cohorts of HF or DM patients. This study aims to fill this gap by investigating the long‐term outcomes and treatment patterns in a cohort of CKD patients, particularly those with coexisting HF and DM.Methods and resultsWe analysed data from the Swedish national CKD patient cohort, the Swedish Renal Registry, with a follow‐up period extending up to 10 years. The study examined the risks of all‐cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE)—defined as a composite of non‐fatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization for congestive HF, non‐fatal stroke, or cardiovascular death—and the initiation of kidney replacement therapy (KRT). Analyses were conducted using Cox proportional hazards and competing risk models. Among the 27 647 patients, 48% had CKD alone, 12% had CKD with HF, 27% had CKD with DM, and 13% had CKD with both HF and DM. After 5 years, mortality rates were 23% for patients with CKD, 30% for those with CKD/DM, 54% for CKD/HF, and 55% for CKD/HF/DM. The 10 year absolute risk of MACE was 28% for CKD alone, 35% for CKD/DM, 67% for CKD/HF, and 73% for CKD/HF/DM. The adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for mortality was approximately three times higher in patients with any HF combination, with HRs of 2.57 [95% confidence interval (CI) 2.43–2.71] for CKD/HF and 3.22 (95% CI 3.05–3.39) for CKD/HF/DM, compared with CKD alone. The impact of HF on MACE prognosis was even more pronounced, with adjusted sub‐hazard ratios (SHRs) of 3.33 (95% CI 3.14–3.53) for CKD/HF and 4.26 (95% CI 4.04–4.50) for CKD/HF/DM. Additionally, CKD patients diagnosed with HF were less likely to commence KRT, and the risk of death prior to KRT initiation was roughly twice as high for these groups, with SHRs of 2.05 (95% CI 1.93–2.18) for CKD + HF and 2.43 (95% CI 2.29–2.58) for CKD + HF + DM.ConclusionsIn a cohort of CKD patients, having HF contributes substantially to increased mortality and the risk of MACE, and these patients are less likely to start KRT. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted therapeutic strategies and management plans for CKD patients, particularly those with concurrent HF, to enhance patient prognosis.
Visible‐Light‐Mediated Alkylation of N‐Heteroarenes Using 2‐Mercaptothiazolinium Salts as Alkyl Radical Source
Authors: Tian Yuan , Fu Xin‐Xin , Cheng Ru‐Meng , Feng Jia , Shen Mei‐Hua , Zhu Chi‐Fan , Xu Hua‐Dong 
Published: April 2024

AbstractA visible‐light‐mediated radical heteroarylation of 2‐mercaptothiazolinium salts with N‐heteroarenes is reported, furnishing the corresponding functionalized N‐heteroarenes in good to high yields. Various alkyl bromides were converted conveniently into redox‐active thiazolinium salts and subsequently into alkyl radicals by reaction with an excited‐state photocatalyst. This mild protocol permits efficient functionalization of various N‐heteroarenes with a wild range of cyclic and acyclic primary and secondary alkyl groups.
An advancing method for web service reliability and scalability using ResNet convolution neural network optimized with Zebra Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Gokulakrishan D. , Ramakrishnan R. , Saritha G. , Sreedevi B. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractWeb service reliability and scalability is an important mission that keeps web services running normally. Within web service, the web services invoked by users not only depend on the service itself, but also on web load condition. Due to the features of web dynamics, traditional reliability and scalability methods have become inappropriate; at the same time, the web condition parameter sparsity problem will cause inaccurate reliability prediction. To address these challenges, Web Service Reliability and Scalability Determination Using ResNet Convolutional Neural Network optimized with Zero Optimization Algorithm (WRS‐ResNetCNN‐ZOA) is proposed in this manuscript. Initially, the input data is collected from WSRec dataset. The ResNet convolutional neural network (ResNetCNN) with Business Process Execution Language (BPEL) specification is introduced to forecast the reliability and scalability of web service. The results are categorized as right and wrong based on ResNetCNN. The weight parameters of the ResNetCNN is optimized by Zebra Optimization Algorithm to improve accuracy of the prediction. The performance of the proposed method is examined under some performance metrics, like F‐measure, reliability, scalability, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and precision. The proposed technique attains 15.36%, 35.39%, 23.87%, 20.67% better reliability, 42.39%, 11.39%, 34.16%, 25.78% better accuracy when analyzed to the existing methods, like Web Reliability based on K‐clustering, (WRS‐KClustering), Web Reliability prediction based on AdaBoostM1 and J48 (WRS‐AdaM1‐J48), Web Reliability prediction based on Online service Reliability (WRS‐OPUN), and Web Reliability prediction based on Dynamic Bayesian Network (WRS‐DBNS), respectively.
A novel semisupervised learning method with textual information for financial distress prediction
Authors: Qiu Yue , He Jiabei , Chen Zhensong , Yao Yinhong , Qu Yi 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFinancial distress prediction (FDP) has attracted high attention from many financial institutions. Utilizing supervised learning‐based methods in FDP, however, is time consuming and labor intensive. Therefore, in this paper, we exploit active‐pSVM method, which combines potential data distribution information and existing expert experience to solve FDP problem. Moreover, with the increasingly popular textual information, we construct several features on our protocol that are based on the Management Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) text information. Using datasets that are collected in different time windows from the listed Chinese companies, we conducted an extensive experiment and were able to confirm a better efficiency of our active‐pSVM, when compared with some common supervised learning‐based methods. Our study also covers the application of MD&A text information on weakly supervised learning model in FDP.
Advancing Environmental Flows Science: Hindcasting and Forecasting Flow–Ecology Relationships
Authors: Winemiller Kirk O. , Perkin Joshuah S. , Trungale Joseph F. , Hoeinghaus David J. , Moore Georgianne W. , Schwalb Astrid N. , Mitchell Zachary A. , Trimble Aaron , Reeves Cole , Hardy Thomas B. , Buzan David 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
To advance current environmental flow standards in Texas, we developed field, laboratory, and analytical methods to model recruitment dynamics of indicator species selected to cover a range of population responses to flow variation. Preliminary investigations were conducted in three central Texas river basins to evaluate the feasibility of these methods for formulating and evaluating the state's environmental flow standards. Age analysis allowed back-calculation of dates of fish hatching, mussel recruitment, and tree germination for estimation of temporal variation in recruitment. Recruitment data were then analyzed in relation to flow regime components. Statistical models were derived for flow–recruitment relationships of Shoal Chub Macrhybopsis hyostoma, Smallmouth Buffalo Ictiobus bubalus, threeridge mussel Amblema plicata, and boxelder Acer negundo. The Shoal Chub model was used to hindcast recruitment dynamics in the Brazos River, revealing a decline in recruitment after dam construction. The Smallmouth Buffalo model revealed that strong year-classes were positively associated with springtime pulses of long duration but negatively associated with frequent short-duration pulses. Results for the threeridge mussel were not as easily interpreted, but for all three river basins generally showed weaker recruitment during periods with extreme low and high flows. The boxelder model revealed positive associations between recruitment and high flow components and was used to forecast the probability of germination under five simulated flow regime scenarios, thereby providing an additional means for evaluating the suitability of environmental flow standards. Assessment of how hydrology influences recruitment provides an evidence-based method to hindcast responses to past flow regimes and forecast responses to future flow scenarios, thereby providing a basis for evaluating environmental flow standards and water management options.
Masseter muscle thickness is predictive of cancer cachexia in patients with head and neck cancer
Authors: Balanta‐Melo Julián , Jones Alexander J. , Novinger Leah J. , Moore Michael G. , Bonetto Andrea 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundCancer cachexia is prevalent in head and neck cancer patients. The L3 skeletal muscle index (SMI) is often used to assess sarcopenia and cachexia but is infrequently able to be measured in this population. Masseter muscle thickness (MT) may serve as an alternative predictor of cachexia.MethodsSMI and MT were calculated from 20 trauma (CTRL) and 40 cachectic (CA‐CX) and non‐cachectic (CA‐NCX) head and neck cancer patients. Area Under the Curve of the Receiver Operating Characteristics (AUC‐ROC) analysis was performed for SMI and MT.ResultsBoth SMI and MT were significantly decreased in CA‐CX patients (vs. CA‐NCX mean difference −19.5 cm2/m2 and −2.06 mm, respectively) and significant predictors of CA‐CX (AUC = 0.985 and 0.805, respectively). When analyzed by sex, the same findings were observed for MT in males and trended toward significance in females.ConclusionsCompared with SMI, MT is a good alternative prognostic biomarker to determine CA‐CX status in HNC patients.
A comprehensive evaluation of hydrological processes in a second‐generation dynamic vegetation model
Authors: Zhou Hao , Tang Jing , Olin Stefan , Miller Paul A. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe global water and carbon cycles are greatly influenced by terrestrial vegetation, making trustworthy representations of dynamic biosphere–hydrosphere interactions a crucial component of both ecosystem and climate models. This paper comprehensively evaluates the hydrological performance of a leading dynamic global vegetation model Lund‐Potsdam‐Jena General Ecosystem Simulator (LPJ‐GUESS), using a broad range of the latest available global observation‐based gridded datasets that cover the main components of the hydrological cycle. Overall, we find that the hydrological components modelled by LPJ‐GUESS agree well with global gridded datasets of runoff, evapotranspiration and surface soil moisture, though there are discrepancies in some regions and periods. Furthermore, LPJ‐GUESS accurately captures both inter‐ and intra‐annual variations of runoff in most regions and catchment areas, including the Danube, Murray, Yangtze, Yenisei and Nile basins. Total evapotranspiration modelled by LPJ‐GUESS agrees closely with the evapotranspiration estimates of the Global Land Evaporation Amsterdam Model and PML‐V2 datasets, but with some disagreement in the individual components, especially for evaporation. The surface soil moisture simulated by LPJ‐GUESS aligns with ESA‐CCI (v5.3) surface soil moisture datasets in most regions, with greatest discrepancies in subarctic areas. We attribute these discrepancies to two main sources: (1) absent or poor representation of processes such as river routing, storage and supply of water bodies, and cropland irrigation; and (2) uncertainties in both reference datasets and input to the model, including precipitation, soil texture, and land use.
Manipulation of metavalent bonding to stabilize metastable phase: A strategy for enhancing zT in GeSe
Authors: Huang Yilun , Lyu Tu , Zeng Manting , Wang Moran , Yu Yuan , Zhang Chaohua , Liu Fusheng , Hong Min , Hu Lipeng 
Published: April 2024

AbstractExploration of metastable phases holds profound implications for functional materials. Herein, we engineer the metastable phase to enhance the thermoelectric performance of germanium selenide (GeSe) through tailoring the chemical bonding mechanism. Initially, AgInTe2 alloying fosters a transition from stable orthorhombic to metastable rhombohedral phase in GeSe by substantially promoting p‐state electron bonding to form metavalent bonding (MVB). Besides, extra Pb is employed to prevent a transition into a stable hexagonal phase at elevated temperatures by moderately enhancing the degree of MVB. The stabilization of the metastable rhombohedral phase generates an optimized bandgap, sharpened valence band edge, and stimulative band convergence compared to stable phases. This leads to decent carrier concentration, improved carrier mobility, and enhanced density‐of‐state effective mass, culminating in a superior power factor. Moreover, lattice thermal conductivity is suppressed by pronounced lattice anharmonicity, low sound velocity, and strong phonon scattering induced by multiple defects. Consequently, a maximum zT of 1.0 at 773 K is achieved in (Ge0.98Pb0.02Se)0.875(AgInTe2)0.125, resulting in a maximum energy conversion efficiency of 4.90% under the temperature difference of 500 K. This work underscores the significance of regulating MVB to stabilize metastable phases in chalcogenides.