bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and associated factors of noise-induced hearing loss among workers in Bishoftu Central Air Base of Ethiopia
Authors: Hailu Ashenafi , Zeleke Birhanu , Ermias Zeberihe , Duguma Fasil Kenea , Dula Sara , Abaya Samson Wakuma , Shegen Seblework Mekonen , Tucho Gudina Terefe , Afata Tariku Neme 
Published: May 2024

AbstractExcessive occupational exposure to noise results in a well-recognized occupational hearing loss which is prevalent in many workplaces and now it is taken as a global problem. Therefore, this study aims to assess the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss and associated factors among workers in the Bishoftu Central Air Base in Ethiopia. An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 260 central air base workers through face-to-face interviews, an environment noise survey, and an audiometric test for data collection. Data were entered by Epi-data version 3.1 and SPSS was used to analyze the data. Finally, a statistical analysis such as descriptive and binary logistic regression analysis was applied. A P-value < 0.05 at 95% CI was considered statistically significant. The overall prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss and hearing impairments was 24.6 and 30.9%, respectively. The highest prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss was recorded for workers who were exposed to noise levels greater than 90 dBA. Out of 132 workers exposed to the average noise level of 75 dB A, only 5% of workers were affected with noise-induced hearing loss, while 128 workers exposed to an average noise level equal to or greater than 90 dB A, 19.6% of workers were identified with noise-induced hearing loss. Regarding sex, around 21.9% of male workers were identified with noise-induced hearing loss. Workers who were exposed to a high noise level workplace previously or before the Central Air Base workplace were five times (AOR = 5.0, 95% CI 1.74–14.36) more likely affected by noise-induced hearing loss than those workers not previously exposed. Those workers who were exposed to greater or equal to 90dBA noise level were 4.98 times (AOR = 4.98, 95% CI 2.59–9.58) more likely to be exposed to noise-induced levels than those who were exposed to less than 90dBA noise level. Moreover, male air base workers were 3.5 times more likely exposed to hearing impairment than female workers (AOR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.01–12.0). This study identified that the prevalence of noise-induced hearing loss and hearing impairments was significantly high. So implementation of a hearing conservation program, giving noise education, and supplying adequate hearing protective devices (HPDs) are essentials.
Regional nigral neuromelanin degeneration in asymptomatic leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 gene carrier using MRI
Authors: Gao Linlin , Gaurav Rahul , Ziegner Pia , Ma Jinghong , Sun Junyan , Chen Jie , Fang Jiliang , Fan Yangyang , Bao Yan , Zhang Dongling , Chan Piu , Yang Qi , Fan Zhaoyang , Lehéricy Stéphane , Wu Tao 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAsymptomatic Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 Gene (LRRK2) carriers are at risk for developing Parkinson's disease (PD). We studied presymptomatic substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) regional neurodegeneration in asymptomatic LRRK2 carriers compared to idiopathic PD patients using neuromelanin-sensitive MRI technique (NM-MRI). Fifteen asymptomatic LRRK2 carriers, 22 idiopathic PD patients, and 30 healthy controls (HCs) were scanned using NM-MRI. We computed volume and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) derived from the whole SNc and the sensorimotor, associative, and limbic SNc regions. An analysis of covariance was performed to explore the differences of whole and regional NM-MRI values among the groups while controlling the effect of age and sex. In whole SNc, LRRK2 had significantly lower CNR than HCs but non-significantly higher volume and CNR than PD patients, and PD patients significantly lower volume and CNR compared to HCs. Inside SNc regions, there were significant group effects for CNR in all regions and for volumes in the associative region, with a trend in the sensorimotor region but no significant changes in the limbic region. PD had reduced volume and CNR in all regions compared to HCs. Asymptomatic LRRK2 carriers showed globally decreased SNc volume and CNR suggesting early nigral neurodegeneration in these subjects at risk of developing PD.
Behavioral evidence of impaired self-referential processing in patients with affective disorders and first-episode schizophrenia
Authors: Zhao Yanli , Xu Jiahua , Hong Jiangyue , Xu Xuejing , Fan Hongzhen , Zhang Jinguo , Li Dong , Chen Jingxu , Wu Yaxue , Li Yanli , Tan Yunlong , Tan Shuping 
Published: May 2024

AbstractDespite the critical role of self-disturbance in psychiatric diagnosis and treatment, its diverse behavioral manifestations remain poorly understood. This investigation aimed to elucidate unique patterns of self-referential processing in affective disorders and first-episode schizophrenia. A total of 156 participants (41 first-episode schizophrenia [SZ], 33 bipolar disorder [BD], 44 major depressive disorder [MDD], and 38 healthy controls [HC]) engaged in a self-referential effect (SRE) task, assessing trait adjectives for self-descriptiveness, applicability to mother, or others, followed by an unexpected recognition test. All groups displayed preferential self- and mother-referential processing with no significant differences in recognition scores. However, MDD patients showed significantly enhanced self-referential recognition scores and increased bias compared to HC, first-episode SZ, and BD. The present study provides empirical evidence for increased self-focus in MDD and demonstrates that first-episode SZ and BD patients maintain intact self-referential processing abilities. These findings refine our understanding of self-referential processing impairments across psychiatric conditions, suggesting that it could serve as a supplementary measure for assessing treatment response in first-episode SZ and potentially function as a discriminative diagnostic criterion between MDD and BD.
Climate change could negate U.S. forest ecosystem service benefits gained through reductions in nitrogen and sulfur deposition
Authors: Phelan Jennifer N. , Van Houtven George , Clark Christopher M. , Buckley John , Cajka James , Hargrave Ashton , Horn Kevin , Thomas R. Quinn , Sabo Robert D. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractClimate change and atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) impact the health and productivity of forests. Here, we explored the potential impacts of these environmental stressors on ecosystem services provided by future forests in the contiguous U.S. We found that all stand-level services benefitted (+ 2.6 to 8.1%) from reductions in N+S deposition, largely attributable to positive responses to reduced S that offset the net negative effects of lower N levels. Sawtimber responded positively (+ 0.5 to 0.6%) to some climate change, but negatively (− 2.4 to − 3.8%) to the most extreme scenarios. Aboveground carbon (C) sequestration and forest diversity were negatively impacted by all modelled changes in climate. Notably, the most extreme climate scenario eliminated gains in all three services achieved through reduced deposition. As individual tree species responded differently to climate change and atmospheric deposition, associated services unique to each species increased or decreased under future scenarios. Our results suggest that climate change should be considered when evaluating the benefits of N and S air pollution policies on the services provided by U.S. forests.
Antireflection microstructures on ZnSe for mid- and far-IR fabricated by femtosecond laser ablation assisted with wet chemical etching
Authors: Teslenko Andrei , Konstantinova Tatiana , Bushunov Andrey , Ibragimov Artem , Rodionov Ilya , Tarabrin Mikhail 
Published: May 2024

AbstractMost infrared materials used in high-power systems, such as optical parametric generators, have high values of refractive indices, which result in high Fresnel losses. The performance of conventional antireflection coatings is limited when used in high-power and ultra-broadband systems. An alternative approach is to fabricate antireflection microstructures (ARMs) that allow for a broadband increase in transmittance without reducing the damage threshold of the material. In this work, ARMs were fabricated on the surface of ZnSe crystals using the femtosecond laser ablation assisted with wet chemical etching method. This allowed to produce high aspect ratio microstructures that increase the transmittance up to 98% in the mid- and far- infrared regions.
Analysis of the outage performance of energy-harvesting cooperative-NOMA system with relay selection methods
Authors: Zhou Yulin , Zhang Yang , Khuwaja Aziz Altaf , Wang Zhao , Zhang Qifei 
Published: May 2024

AbstractRecent years have witnessed the remarkable progress in wireless communication systems due to the escalating demand for higher data rates, improved reliability, and increased energy efficiency. In this regard, Non-Orthogonal Multiple Access (NOMA) has emerged as a promising technology, enhancing spectral efficiency and accommodating multiple users concurrently within the same time and frequency resources. Simultaneously, the energy harvesting has surfaced as a sustainable solution, converting ambient environmental energy into usable electrical power for operating communication nodes. This paper proposes a cooperative NOMA transmission scheme integrating energy harvesting and utilizing Least Squares (LS) channel estimation for precise Channel State Information (CSI) acquisition. The objective is to establish an optimal communication path from source to destination. Relay selection methods: Optimal Relay Selection (ORS) and Max-Min Relay Selection (MMRS), are compared, focusing on their impact on the system performance. The analysis considers the influence of the number of relays and power allocation factor on the system, with a specific emphasis on the outage probability expressions. Comparative analysis between the cooperative-NOMA and the traditional cooperative relaying without NOMA reveals the superior performance of the cooperative-NOMA. Additionally, the ORS scheme outperforms MMRS in terms of the outage performance.
The role of bipolar disorder and family wealth in choosing creative occupations
Authors: Biasi Barbara , Dahl Michael S. , Moser Petra 
Published: May 2024

AbstractResearch in psychology and medicine has linked mental health disorders, and particularly bipolar disorder (BD), to employment in creative professions. Little is known, however, about the mechanisms for this link, which could be due to biology (primarily through a person’s genes) or environmental (through socioeconomic status). Using administrative data on mental health diagnoses and occupations for the population of Denmark, we find that people with BD are more likely to be musicians than the population, but less likely to hold other creative jobs. Yet, we also show that healthy siblings of people with BD are significantly more likely to work in creative professions. Notably, people from wealthy families are consistently more likely to work in creative professions, and access to family wealth amplifies the likelihood that siblings of people with BD pursue creative occupations. Nevertheless, family wealth explains only a small share of the correlation between BD and creative employment.
A novel development of a new single switch inductor coupled DC-DC converter for PV system with two-leg inverter
Authors: Samiulla Shaik Moulana , Rachananjali Kunamneni 
Published: May 2024

AbstractFrom the power generation history, the nonrenewable power sources utilization is falling extremely because of their demerits are high atmospheric pollution, more expensive, more catchment area for development, high fossil fuel transportation cost, less flexibility, and reliability. So, the sunlight systems are utilized in this work for feeding the power to the central grid. On the earth, the sunlight energy availability is more and it is more flexible for the installation. However, the sunlight photovoltaic (PV) module’s power production is very low. To improve the power generation of the PV network, a modified slider maximum power point tracking (MPPT) controller is proposed in the first objective and it is interfaced with the sunlight system for capturing more sunlight insolation thereby moving the functioning point of the solar system from local MPP place to required global MPP place. The features of this sliding controller are continuous peak power production, easy development, less power dissipation losses, plus good dynamic system response. In the second objective, the available voltage of the PV is low which improved from low level to high level by utilizing the Wide voltage supply-inductor coupled converter. The development of this circuit needed very less inductive, plus capacitive components. Also, it is developed by selecting a single switch. As a result, the entire network power production cost is reduced. In the third objective, a two-leg inverter is proposed for the transformation of the DC voltage supply into three-phase powers. The MATLAB/Simulink tool is used to investigate the overall system.
CVD graphene contacts for lateral heterostructure MoS2 field effect transistors
Authors: Schneider Daniel S. , Lucchesi Leonardo , Reato Eros , Wang Zhenyu , Piacentini Agata , Bolten Jens , Marian Damiano , Marin Enrique G. , Radenovic Aleksandra , Wang Zhenxing , Fiori Gianluca , Kis Andras , Iannaccone Giuseppe , Neumaier Daniel , Lemme Max C. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIntensive research has been carried out on two-dimensional materials, in particular molybdenum disulfide, towards high-performance field effect transistors for integrated circuits1. Fabricating transistors with ohmic contacts is a challenging task due to the formation of a high Schottky barrier that severely limits the performance of the transistors for real-world applications. Graphene-based heterostructures can be used in addition to, or as a substitute for unsuitable metals. In this paper, we present lateral heterostructure transistors made of scalable chemical vapor-deposited molybdenum disulfide and chemical vapor-deposited graphene achieving a low contact resistances of about 9 kΩ·µm and high on/off current ratios of 108. Furthermore, we also present a theoretical model calibrated on our experiments showing further potential for scaling transistors and contact areas into the few nanometers range and the possibility of a substantial performance enhancement by means of layer optimizations that would make transistors promising for use in future logic integrated circuits.
Testing functional anchor groups for the efficient immobilization of molecular catalysts on silver surfaces
Authors: Bunjes Ole , Rittmeier Alexandra , Hedman Daniel , Hua Shao-An , Paul Lucas A. , Meyer Franc , Ding Feng , Wenderoth Martin 
Published: May 2024

AbstractModifications of complexes by attachment of anchor groups are widely used to control molecule-surface interactions. This is of importance for the fabrication of (catalytically active) hybrid systems, viz. of surface immobilized molecular catalysts. In this study, the complex fac-Re(S-Sbpy)(CO)3Cl (S-Sbpy = 3,3′-disulfide-2,2′-bipyridine), a sulfurated derivative of the prominent Re(bpy)(CO)3Cl class of CO2 reduction catalysts, was deposited onto the clean Ag(001) surface at room temperature. The complex is thermostable upon sublimation as supported by infrared absorption and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Its anchoring process has been analyzed using scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The growth behavior was directly contrasted to the one of the parent complex fac-Re(bpy)(CO)3Cl (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine). The sulfurated complex nucleates as single molecule at different surface sites and at molecule clusters. In contrast, for the parent complex nucleation only occurs in clusters of several molecules at specifically oriented surface steps. While this shows that surface immobilization of the sulfurated complex is more efficient as compared to the parent, symmetry analysis of the STM topographic data supported by DFT calculations indicates that more than 90% of the complexes adsorb in a geometric configuration very similar to the one of the parent complex.
Rheology of a crowd: from faster-is-slower to shear thickening
Authors: Hernández-Delfin Dariel , García Ander , Ellero Marco 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe evacuation speed of pedestrians through bottlenecks usually leads to the faster-is-slower (FIS) phenomenon, which relies on frictional clogging and clusters’ size. However, less attention is given in literature to the rheology of pedestrian crowds and the forces ruling their dynamics. Here, we establish a link between the faster-is-slower phenomenon (FIS) in pedestrian crowds and the shear-thickening rheological behavior of (non)Brownian suspensions. We analyze pedestrian room egress through particle-based simulations using the Social Force Model, revealing an S-shaped shear rate dependency characteristic of discontinuous shear thickening (DST). At the same time, the crowd flow viscosity near the exit exhibits a steep increase coinciding with FIS occurrence, establishing a correlation between FIS and shear thickening. Our results prove that crowd evacuations are governed by two distinct critical jamming densities, one frictional and another frictionless, and that contact forces alone cannot lead to FIS, but social force interactions are necessary to avoid contacts at low desired speeds. Our results point at the suitability of (non)Brownian suspensions as models that provide an original rheological perspective to pedestrian dynamics.
Bridging the gap: leveraging data science to equip domain experts with the tools to address challenges in maternal, newborn, and child health
Authors: Tadesse Girmaw Abebe , Ogallo William , Cintas Celia , Speakman Skyler , Walcott-Bryant Aisha , Wayua Charity 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocate for reducing preventable Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health (MNCH) deaths and complications. However, many low- and middle-income countries remain disproportionately affected by high rates of poor MNCH outcomes. Progress towards the 2030 sustainable development targets for MNCH remains stagnated and uneven within and across countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The current scenario is exacerbated by a multitude of factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on essential services and food access, as well as conflict, economic shocks, and climate change.Traditional approaches to improve MNCH outcomes have been bifurcated. On one side, domain experts lean heavily on expert-driven analyses, often bypassing the advantages of data-driven methodologies such as machine learning. Conversely, computing researchers often employ complex models without integrating essential domain knowledge, leading to solutions that might not be pragmatically applicable or insightful to the community. In addition, low- and middle-income countries are often either data-scarce or with data that is not readily structured, curated, or digitized in an easily consumable way for data visualization and analytics, necessitating non-traditional approaches, data-driven analyses, and insight generation. In this perspective, we provide a framework and examples that bridge the divide by detailing our collaborative efforts between domain experts and machine learning researchers. This synergy aims to extract actionable insights, leveraging the strengths of both spheres. Our data-driven techniques are showcased through the following five applications: (1) Understanding the limitation of MNCH data via automated quality assessment; (2) Leveraging data sources that are available in silos for more informed insight extraction and decision-making; (3) Identifying heterogeneous effects of MNCH interventions for broader understanding of the impact of interventions; (4) Tracking temporal data distribution changes in MNCH trends; and (5) Improving the interpretability of “black box” machine learning models for MNCH domain experts. Our case studies emphasize the impactful outcomes possible through interdisciplinary collaboration. We advocate for this joint collaborative research approach, believing it can accelerate the extraction of actionable insights at scale. Ultimately, this will catalyse data-driven interventions and contribute towards achieving SDG targets related to MNCH.
Deletion of Tmem268 in mice suppresses anti-infectious immune responses by downregulating CD11b signaling
Authors: Duan Mengyuan , Zhang Xuan , Lou Yaxin , Feng Jinqiu , Guo Pengli , Ye Shufang , Lv Ping , Chen Yingyu 
Published: May 2024

AbstractTransmembrane protein 268 (TMEM268) is a novel, tumor growth-related protein first reported by our laboratory. It interacts with the integrin subunit β4 (ITGB4) and plays a positive role in the regulation of the ITGB4/PLEC signaling pathway. Here, we investigated the effects and mechanism of TMEM268 in anti-infectious immune response in mice. Tmem268 knockout in mice aggravated cecal ligation and puncture-induced sepsis, as evidenced by higher bacterial burden in various tissues and organs, congestion, and apoptosis. Moreover, Tmem268 deficiency in mice inhibited phagocyte adhesion and migration, thus decreasing phagocyte infiltration at the site of infection and complement-dependent phagocytosis. Further findings indicated that TMEM268 interacts with CD11b and inhibits its degradation via the endosome–lysosome pathway. Our results reveal a positive regulatory role of TMEM268 in β2 integrin-associated anti-infectious immune responses and signify the potential value of targeting the TMEM268–CD11b signaling axis for the maintenance of immune homeostasis and immunotherapy for sepsis and related immune disorders.
Lack of p38 activation in T cells increases IL-35 and protects against obesity by promoting thermogenesis
Authors: Nikolic Ivana , Ruiz-Garrido Irene , Crespo María , Romero-Becerra Rafael , Leiva-Vega Luis , Mora Alfonso , León Marta , Rodríguez Elena , Leiva Magdalena , Plata-Gómez Ana Belén , Alvarez Flores Maria Beatriz , Torres Jorge L , Hernández-Cosido Lourdes , López Juan Antonio , Vázquez Jesús , Efeyan Alejo , Martin Pilar , Marcos Miguel , Sabio Guadalupe 
Published: May 2024

AbstractObesity is characterized by low-grade inflammation, energy imbalance and impaired thermogenesis. The role of regulatory T cells (Treg) in inflammation-mediated maladaptive thermogenesis is not well established. Here, we find that the p38 pathway is a key regulator of T cell-mediated adipose tissue (AT) inflammation and browning. Mice with T cells specifically lacking the p38 activators MKK3/6 are protected against diet-induced obesity, leading to an improved metabolic profile, increased browning, and enhanced thermogenesis. We identify IL-35 as a driver of adipocyte thermogenic program through the ATF2/UCP1/FGF21 pathway. IL-35 limits CD8+ T cell infiltration and inflammation in AT. Interestingly, we find that IL-35 levels are reduced in visceral fat from obese patients. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that p38 controls the expression of IL-35 in human and mouse Treg cells through mTOR pathway activation. Our findings highlight p38 signaling as a molecular orchestrator of AT T cell accumulation and function.