bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study the Relationship between polymorphisms of Vitamin D Receptor (VDR FokI and VDR ApaI) Genes and colorectal cancer in some Iraqi population
Authors: Alwan Israa Ayoub , Moufak Shaimaa Khalid , Naji Tamara Sami , Abood Noor Adil , Ali Suad Turky 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background: Despite the unknown etiology of colorectal cancer (CRC), previous studies have suggested a potential contribution of genetics and environmental factors to CRC development. Therefore, investigating specific molecular pathways can provide valuable insights into CRC. This study aimed to explore the potential association between the SNP rs228570 (C/T) in the VDR FokI gene and rs7975232 (G/T) in the VDR ApaI gene with CRC. Additionally, the relationship between vitamin D levels, VDR FokI, and VDR ApaI polymorphisms was examined to evaluate the risk of colorectal cancer.
Methods: The study included a total of 140 participants, with 70 individuals diagnosed with CRC and 70 healthy controls. Vitamin D serum levels were measured using the ELFA technique in both CRC patients and the healthy control group. The prevalence of mutations in the VDR FokI rs228570 (C/T) and VDR ApaI rs7975232 (G/T) genes, as well as single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), were evaluated in the CRC patient and control groups using the PCR-RFLP method.
Results: The results indicated a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in serum vitamin D levels in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) compared to healthy controls. However, there was no significant difference in the genotype prevalence of VDR FokI rs228570 (C/T) and VDR ApaI rs7975232 (G/T), as well as allele frequencies between the CRC and control groups.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that serum vitamin D levels could serve as potential biomarkers for CRC. However, the polymorphisms in the VDR FokI and VDR ApaI genes are not considered risk factors for CRC in Iraq. This implies that further research focusing on additional loci or VDR is necessary.
A mixed-methods analysis of judges’ views and decision-making surrounding scientific evidence in criminal sentencing
Authors: Thomaidou Mia A. , Berryessa Colleen M. , Xie Sandy S. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Background: In contemporary criminal justice systems, the integration of bio-behavioral science evidence into legal proceedings poses complex challenges as well as opportunities. As psychiatric and mental health evidence may often not be accompanied by expert testimony, judges in criminal courts may be tasked with alone interpreting and incorporating this evidence into their decision-making processes.
Methods: This study investigates how judges–shaped by their views, beliefs, and personal characteristics–approach decision-making processes during sentencing in light of scientific explanations of behavior, as well as how their views on sentencing may be impacted by mental disorder diagnoses. We utilized a mixed-methods approach, including Natural Language Processing techniques (sentiment analysis and structural topic modeling) as well as qualitative analysis, to analyze data from semi-structured interviews with 34 judges from state criminal courts in the U.S.
Results: Results revealed varying degrees of belief in scientific determinism among judges, with corresponding sentiment analysis indicating differences in emotional tone across gender, age, geographical region, and professional background. Structural Topic Modeling identified key themes, including determinism, responsibility, treatment needs, and philosophical considerations surrounding punishment. Qualitative analysis enriched these results by unraveling the philosophical and legal considerations that judges grapple with when considering scientific explanations for defendants’ behavior.
Conclusions: Findings underscore the nuanced interplay between scientific understandings of behavior, personal beliefs, and judicial decision-making. This study offers valuable insights into the potential complexities of sentencing considerations involving scientific evidence and underscores the need for standardizing how scientific evidence is presented in courts and investing in science education for judges.
CSA-Lanenet: A Contiguous Spatial Attention Lane Detection Network with Vision Transformer Modules
Authors: Yang Wei-Jong , Ho Li-Yang 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Lane detection, which is one of the important technologies for automatic driving to effectively avoid the accidents caused by vehicles deviating from their driving lanes. The lane detection task is challenging due to complex scenes and few features in distorted lane lines. Therefore, collecting useful spatial information of lane lines associated with feature maps becomes an important task for precision lane line detection. Considering the image captured from the front car camera, in this paper, we use deep learning segmentation technologies to precisely extract the lane lines by using contiguous spatial attentions. We first propose the shortened spatial attention module into the lane detection network through the correlated spatial local information and transfer to adjacent features to improve lane detection performance. In addition, due to the successful improvement of vision transformers, we also introduce several simplified poolformers into the proposed lane detection network for further improving lane detection exclusively. Simulation results show that the proposed shortened spatial attention module and the simplified poolformer can achieve effective and accurate lane detection. (The code is available at https://github.com/jong12/CSA-Lanet.)
Multiscale Modeling of Rough Contact Interfaces with Trapped Compressive Liquid Pockets
Authors: Alavi Parissa Sadat , Anciaux Guillaume , Rocchi Loris , Richard Julie , Leppin Christian , Molinari Jean-François 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

We introduce a novel numerical model that integrates a Boundary ElementMethod (BEM) code in Fourier space to solve the problem of lubricated fric-tional contact between rough surfaces. This model accounts for scenarios wherethe lubricant quantity is significant yet discontinuous, leading to the formationof trapped compressible lubricant pockets at the contact interface. Additionally,it incorporates the plastic behavior of solid surfaces through a simple plasticsaturation method, enabling comprehensive analysis of contact area, pressure dis-tribution, and variations in friction coefficient across a wide range of conditions,such as lubricant type, density, and surface roughness.
Comparison with experiments demonstrates that the developed model can esti-mate the influence of partial lubrication on the friction coefficients duringaluminum sheet deep-drawing with a good level of precision. Notably, the studyreveals the substantial impact of even minor adjustments in lubricant distributionand volume on the friction behavior of aluminum during forming processes.
Mechanism differences in the start time of sublingual immunotherapy in a mouse allergic airway inflammation model
Authors: Saito Akira , Koya Toshiyuki , Aoki Ami , Naramoto Shun , Ueno Hiroshi , Nishiyama Yuki , Shima Kenjiro , Kimura Yosuke , Hasegawa Takashi , Watanabe Satoshi , Ohshima Yasuyoshi , Suzuki Keisuke , Ohashi-Doi Katsuyo , Kikuchi Toshiaki 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has received considerable attention as a method for allergen immunotherapy (AIT). However, the mechanism of SLIT, especially its timing, has not been thoroughly investigated. We evaluated therapeutic and prophylactic SLIT in an allergic airway inflammation model and evaluated their efficacies. Mice were intranasally exposed to Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f) extract and received SLIT before (prophylactic model) and after (therapeutic model) intranasal exposure of Der f. We investigated airway responsiveness, airway inflammation, allergen-specific antibodies, lung histology and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and T-cell receptor sequencing were also investigated. SLIT in the therapeutic model was effective; however, the effects of SLIT in the prophylactic model were stronger and immune tolerance was maintained for three months. ScRNA-seq of lung CD4+CD25+ T cells revealed that the expansion of induced T regulatory (iTreg) cells was greater in the prophylactic model than that in the therapeutic model. Additionally, the TCR repertoire of iTregs from the prophylactic model was abundant, sharing many clones with the TCR repertoire of effector T cells. These data suggest that the prophylactic model of AIT is extremely effective and persistent, and may respond to allergen diversity, and provide evidence for the clinical recommendation of preventive AIT.
Unveiling the crucial role of betaine: Modulation of GABA homeostasis via SLC6A1 transporter (GAT1)
Authors: Bhatt Manan , Lazzarin Erika , Alberto-Silva Ana Sofia , Domingo Guido , Zerlotti Rocco , Gradisch Ralph , Bazzone Andre , Sitte Harald H. , Stockner Thomas , Bossi Elena 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Betaine is an endogenous osmolyte that exhibits therapeutic potential by mitigating various neurological disorders. However, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for its neuroprotective effects remain puzzling.
In this study, we describe a possible mechanism behind the positive impact of betaine in preserving neurons from excitotoxicity. Here we demonstrate that betaine at low concentration modulates the GABA uptake by GAT1 (slc6a1), the predominant GABA transporter in the central nervous system. This modulation occurs through the temporal inhibition of the transporter, wherein prolonged occupancy by betaine impedes the swift transition of the transporter to the inward conformation. Importantly, the modulatory effect of betaine on GAT1 is reversible, as the blocking of GAT1 disappears with increased extracellular GABA. Using electrophysiology, mass spectroscopy, radiolabelled cellular assay, and molecular dynamics simulation we demonstrate that betaine has a dual role in GAT1: at mM concentration acts as a slow substrate, and at µM as a temporal blocker of GABA, when it is below its K0.5. Given this unique modulatory characteristic and lack of any harmful side effects, betaine emerges as a promising neuromodulator of the inhibitory pathways improving GABA homeostasis via GAT1, thereby conferring neuroprotection against excitotoxicity.
The Dual Role of Environmental Regulations in Promoting and Hindering Innovation: A Comparative Analysis in the Korean Manufacturing Sector
Authors: Noh Daimin 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

This study compares innovation in manufacturing with and without environmental regulations. Many studies have either examined technological innovation in a general context without considering regulation or focused solely on innovation under environmental regulation. We examined technology sectors, firm sizes, and their interactions to understand innovation under both regulated and unregulated conditions. Our analysis of 4,000 Korean firms reveals a significant difference in innovation with and without regulation. Sectors with high pollution or green demand were more likely to innovate under environmental regulation, in contrast to the most innovative sectors. Large firms, regardless of sector, were more inclined to innovate under regulations. The results suggest that the relationship between environmental regulation and innovation varies according to a firm's capabilities and the technological attributes of the sector. This understanding informs the design of innovation strategies and appropriate levels of regulation for enhancing the cleanliness of manufacturing technology.
Improved peak detection at high particle image densities using single stage CNNs
Authors: Godbersen Philipp , Schanz Daniel , Schröder Andreas 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

An important step in the application of Lagrangian Particle Tracking (LPT) or in general for image based single particle identification techniques is the detection of particle image peaks on the measurement images and their sub-pixel accurate position estimation.In case of volumetric measurements, the peak detection constitutes the first step in the process of recovering 3D particle positions, which is usually performed by triangulation procedures. For two-component 2D measurements the peak detection results directly serve as input to the tracking algorithm.Depending on the quality of the image, the shape and size of the particle images, and the amount of particle image overlap, it can be difficult to find all, or even only the majority, of the projected particle peaks in a measurement image. Advanced strategies for 3D particle position reconstruction, such as Iterative Particle Reconstruction (IPR) are designed to work with incomplete 2D peak detection abilities but even they can greatly benefit from a more complete peak detection as ambiguities and position errors are reduced. We introduce a convolutional neural network (CNN) based peak detection scheme that significantly outperforms current conventional approaches, both on synthetic and experimental data, and enables peak detection with a vastly higher completeness even at high particle image densities.
Harnessing Satellite Imagery and Geospatial Analysis for Sustainable Nutrient Management in Agricultural Systems
Authors: Akanbi Olatunde D. , Bhuvanagiri} Deepa C. , Barcelos Erika I. , Nihar Arafath , Yarus Jeffrey M. , French Roger H. 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Excess fertilizer use has increased crop yields at the cost of disrupting nutrient cycles and contaminating waterways. This research harnesses satellite remote sensing and geospatial modeling to enable sustainable nutrient management. MODIS-derived Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) tracks crop growth to optimize fertilizer timing and application rates. Geospatiotemporal analysis of terrain, land use, soils, and hydrology data delineates nutrient distribution pathways to mitigate pollution. Kriging (Gaussian Process Regression) and conditional simulation were used to model soil nutrient distributions. The framework enhances productivity while minimizing agriculture’s environmental footprint through precision management. Geospatiotemporal techniques provide stakeholders with actionable insights, reducing costs and protecting water resources. This methodology offers a practical solution for balancing agricultural intensification and stewardship.
Identification of a colony- and dose-dependent worker aggregation pheromone in the subterranean termite Reticulitermes virginicus
Authors: Mitaka Yuki , Helms Anjel , Vargo Edward 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Collective behaviors of social insects are often regulated by pheromones. In subterranean termites, some workers forage for and exploit decaying wood for new food resources while forming tunnels from their nest. Colonizing new food resources requires workers to build and disinfect tunnels and chambers inside the nest and ingest decaying wood; therefore subterranean termite colonies should have mechanisms to establish and maintain groups of workers to perform these functions. Recently, an aggregation pheromone was identified in workers of the termite Reticulitermes speratus, which induces quick attraction of nestmate workers and prolonged aggregation to the site of attraction. In this study, we extended this work to another species of Reticulitermes and identified a worker aggregation pheromone in the termite R. virginicus. GC-MS analysis and bioassays demonstrated that this pheromone consists of 3-octanone, 3-octanol, and palmitic acid and shows a colony-specific, dose-dependent attractant response but not an arrestant response. Furthermore, these pheromone components were most likely emitted from the surface of the body. This suggests that aggregation pheromone composition and function differ significantly among termite species, even within the same genus. This study advances our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of termite aggregation behavior.
Enhancement in fire retardancy of thermoplastic polyurethane: Effect of pentaerythritol derived phosphorous based bicyclic polymer on the flammability
Authors: Shikha Shikha , Yadav Neelam Yadav 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

1-oxyphospha-4-hydroxymethyl-2,6,7-trioxabicyclo [2.2.2] octane (PEPA) was synthesized successfully in producing a PEPA-based monomer having an acrylate group and its polymers. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 1H, and 31P spectra were used to establish their structural integrity. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), the limited oxygen index (LOI), and the UL-94 test were used to examine the thermal characteristics and flame retardant behavior of the systems with 15 wt% of flame retardants (PhosPTPU15). Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), the results reveal that LOI increases from 19–27.8% with incorporation of 15 wt% PhosPTPU15. SEM-EDX was used to evaluate the morphology of the TPU and its blend, which exhibits that with the incorporation of PhosPTPU15 the blend showed compact morphology and supported the condensed phase mechanism of the blends.
Physical, Thermal, Linear, Non-linear Optical Properties of Bismuth Modified Borate Glasses Containing Zno, Cdo and Mgo
Authors: Rajiya Shaik , Ahmed Shaik Amer , Samee M. A. , Shareefuddin Md. , Sagar D. Karuna 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

The expression (70-x)B2O3-10ZnO-10CdO-10MgO-xBi2O3 Glasses containing B2O3, ZnO, CdO, MgO, and variable amounts of Bi2O3 were created using the melt quenching process. The observed rise in both density and molar volume of the glass samples as the Bi2O3 level increases suggests the formation of a more expanded structure with greater Bi2O3 content. There is a good degree of agreement between the observed values of band gap energy and Urbach energy estimated from the ASF model and Tauc model. The decrease in Eopt may be attributed to the increased concentration of non-bridging oxygen (NBO) inside the glass network, resulting in a disordered glass structure. The measured values of Λ and A indicate that the current glasses belong to group-II, namely typical ionic (basic) oxides. The non-linear optical properties of the current glasses, specifically n2, χ (1), and χ (3), showed an increase as the glass composition increased. The current glasses provide several benefits, such as a larger density. These glasses have a greater polarizability and an improved refractive index, making them highly sought-after materials for non-linear optical applications.
Centralized exhaust system simulation and parameter optimization
Authors: Lu Mingming , Miao Qian , Zhang Pengfei , Sun Guangwei , Yang Mingyue , Zhao Yao , Zhang Kai , Wang Chong , Wang An-ran , Zheng Tong-fu 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

With the enhancement of people's awareness of environmental protection and the improvement of environmental quality requirements, it is necessary to evaluate the effect of kitchen smoke exhaust on the environment. We introduced the structural definition of the parameters involved in the centralized exhaust flue and the range hood model in the centralized flue exhaust system. The iterative function calculation flow of the smoke output is clarified and the convergence of the iterative function was verified. To ensure the accuracy of parameters in the control equation which include the combined resistance coefficient of the pipeline's inner wall, we used CFD to solve resistance coefficients in the flue model of this smoke exhaust system. This solution was later verified experimentally. We deployed C# language for parametric programming, which allowed us to accommodate changes in different conditions. These include the number or height of layers, flue size, hood model, branch pipe length and type, valve angle, check valve type, and operating rate, among others. The results show that different pipe structures and smoke exhaust conditions are represented as a whole by parameters, which can be quickly calculated and displayed visually visualization program of flow changes in various layers inside the centralized exhaust flue. Lastly, we utilized the model to simulate a scenario, following which we evaluated the impact of the centralized exhaust flue in that scenario. The results of this study can guide the modeling of centralized flue systems and the evaluation of the effect of the exhaust pipe.
Preparation of graphene and its tribological properties based on deep eutectic solvent stripping method
Authors: Li Ting , Chen Yun , Wang Rui , Wang Junhai , Li Xinran , Zhang Lixiu 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Graphene(GP), when used as a lubricant additive, not only reduces the friction coefficient but also enhances wear resistance by forming a protective lubrication film. However, there are still several challenges in practical applications related to graphene preparation. Therefore, this study employs a novel type of ionic liquid deep eutectic solvent as an interlayer agent for graphene preparation and investigates its tribological properties when used as an additive. We used choline chloride/ethylene glycol deep eutectic solvent as the intercalation agent and successfully prepared graphene samples using liquid phase exfoliation. The resulting graphene samples had a thickness of 4–5 layers. The peeling mechanism is analyzed through molecular dynamics simulations and characterization techniques such as Raman spectroscopy, XRD, SEM, and AFM. In friction experiments conducted with different mass fractions of 1.5 wt% DES and 0.05 wt% GP as lubricant additives, it is observed that the mixture exhibits optimal lubrication performance compared to base oil alone; specifically reducing average friction coefficient by 56.8% and depth of wear marks by 59.8%. This enhancement in friction performance can be attributed to both high wettability and synergistic effects between composite lubricants. Considering the wide range of available DESs and two-dimensional materials, these newly developed functional two-dimensional materials based on DES hold significant research potential.
A Digitization Model in Ugandan Technical, Vocational and Education Training Institutions: An Agency Theory Perspective
Authors: Muinda Patrick Emmanuel , Basaza-Ejiri Annabella Habinka , Maiga Gilbert , Mayoka Kituyi 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

This research examines global digital transformation project success, emphasizing the contrast between developed and developing economies. While developed nations experience declining failure rates, developing economies, notably Uganda, grapple with a 70% project failure rate. Focusing on Uganda's Technical, Vocational Education, and Training (TVET) institutions, this study investigates the integration of digital technologies for skill enhancement. By applying agency theory, a tailored model is introduced to mitigate project failures. Through a quantitative approach, variables (goal conflict, shirking, communication, task programability, contract type, process quality, and digital transformation) contributing to improved success are identified. The results show positive responses, ensuring high overall validity and reliability. Cronbach's alpha exceeded 0.7 for all variables and was lowest at 0.732. The convergent validity exceeds 0.5 for the independent variables. The validated model comprehensively addresses digital transformation success, highlighting the risks related to shirking and goal conflict. Future research should explore these risks, examine contributing factors, and refine the guiding model for digital transformation investments.