bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Morphological Stability for in silico Models of Avascular Tumors
Authors: Blom Erik , Engblom Stefan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe landscape of computational modeling in cancer systems biology is diverse, offering a spectrum of models and frameworks, each with its own trade-offs and advantages. Ideally, models are meant to be useful in refining hypotheses, to sharpen experimental procedures and, in the longer run, even for applications in personalized medicine. One of the greatest challenges is to balance model realism and detail with experimental data to eventually produce useful data-driven models. We contribute to this quest by developing a transparent, highly parsimonious, first principle in silico model of a growing avascular tumor. We initially formulate the physiological considerations and the specific model within a stochastic cell-based framework. We next formulate a corresponding mean-field model using partial differential equations which is amenable to mathematical analysis. Despite a few notable differences between the two models, we are in this way able to successfully detail the impact of all parameters in the stability of the growth process and on the eventual tumor fate of the stochastic model. This facilitates the deduction of Bayesian priors for a given situation, but also provides important insights into the underlying mechanism of tumor growth and progression. Although the resulting model framework is relatively simple and transparent, it can still reproduce the full range of known emergent behavior. We identify a novel model instability arising from nutrient starvation and we also discuss additional insight concerning possible model additions and the effects of those. Thanks to the framework’s flexibility, such additions can be readily included whenever the relevant data become available.
Surgical-DeSAM: decoupling SAM for instrument segmentation in robotic surgery
Authors: Sheng Yuyang , Bano Sophia , Clarkson Matthew J. , Islam Mobarakol 
Published: May 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The recent segment anything model (SAM) has demonstrated impressive performance with point, text or bounding box prompts, in various applications. However, in safety-critical surgical tasks, prompting is not possible due to (1) the lack of per-frame prompts for supervised learning, (2) it is unrealistic to prompt frame-by-frame in a real-time tracking application, and (3) it is expensive to annotate prompts for offline applications.

Methods
We develop Surgical-DeSAM to generate automatic bounding box prompts for decoupling SAM to obtain instrument segmentation in real-time robotic surgery. We utilise a commonly used detection architecture, DETR, and fine-tuned it to obtain bounding box prompt for the instruments. We then empolyed decoupling SAM (DeSAM) by replacing the image encoder with DETR encoder and fine-tune prompt encoder and mask decoder to obtain instance segmentation for the surgical instruments. To improve detection performance, we adopted the Swin-transformer to better feature representation.

Results
The proposed method has been validated on two publicly available datasets from the MICCAI surgical instruments segmentation challenge EndoVis 2017 and 2018. The performance of our method is also compared with SOTA instrument segmentation methods and demonstrated significant improvements with dice metrics of 89.62 and 90.70 for the EndoVis 2017 and 2018

Conclusion
Our extensive experiments and validations demonstrate that Surgical-DeSAM enables real-time instrument segmentation without any additional prompting and outperforms other SOTA segmentation methods
A lightweight sensor ontology for supporting sensor selection, deployment, and data processing in forming processes
Authors: Vogel-Heuser Birgit , Vicaria Alejandra , Ji Fan , Höfgen Josua , Jäckisch Manuel , Lechner Michael , Merklein Marion 
Published: May 2024

AbstractIn the era of smart manufacturing, modern manufacturing systems face high demands for enhancing process performance and reducing machine downtime. Sensors and process data are essential for successfully implementing data-driven approaches to guarantee robust and reliable process monitoring, tool conditioning, or quality assurance. However, the accuracy and performance of such approaches are highly dependent on the quality of the gathered sensor data and influenced by the implemented data acquisition and processing methods. For this purpose, this work proposes a lightweight sensor ontology to provide a comprehensive overview to characterize underlying relationships between the physical environment and the quality of the data sets. The extended sensor ontology, in combination with domain knowledge, aims to support engineers in fully exploiting the potential of sensor data to obtain trustworthy data sets in forming technologies. As a result, this approach can improve the implementation of automated and data-driven process monitoring of forming systems and tools.
Heritage in and of the Housing Crisis: the Case of the Aylesbury Estate
Authors: Postgate Pippa 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe UK’s housing crisis is at breaking point, caused primarily by deregulation, the diminished provision of public housing and the marketing of housing as property assets rather than homes. Yet the role of the heritage industry within these processes has been insufficiently analysed. This paper outlines multiple intersections between heritage and the housing crisis by examining the regeneration of one of London’s post-World War II public housing estates, the Aylesbury. It will illustrate how heritage methods and discourse have been instrumentalised by property developers and estate residents and discuss the implications this has for the heritage sector.
Early Handling Exerts Anxiolytic Effects and Alters Brain Mitochondrial Dynamics in Adult High Anxiety Mice
Authors: Thomou Christina , Nussbaumer Markus , Grammenou Eleni , Komini Chrysoula , Vlaikou Angeliki-Maria , Papageorgiou Maria P. , Filiou Michaela D. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractEarly handling (EH), the brief separation of pups from their mother during early life, has been shown to exert beneficial effects. However, the impact of EH in a high anxiety background as well as the role of brain mitochondria in shaping EH-driven responses remain elusive.Here, we used a high (HAB) vs. normal (NAB) anxiety-related behavior mouse model to study how EH affects pup and dam behavior in divergent anxiety backgrounds. We also investigated EH-induced effects at the protein and mRNA levels in adult male HAB mice in the hypothalamus, the prefrontal cortex, and the hippocampus by examining the same mitochondrial/energy pathways and mitochondrial dynamics mechanisms (fission, fusion, biogenesis, and mitophagy) in all three brain regions.EH exerts anxiolytic effects in adult HAB but not NAB male mice and does not affect HAB or NAB maternal behavior, although basal HAB vs. NAB maternal behaviors differ. In adult HAB male mice, EH does not impact oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and oxidative stress in any of the brain regions studied but leads to increased protein expression of glycolysis enzymes and a correlation of anxiety-related behavior with Krebs cycle enzymes in HAB mice in the hypothalamus. Intriguingly, EH alters mitochondrial dynamics by increasing hypothalamic DRP1, OPA1, and PGC1a protein levels. At the mRNA level, we observe altered, EH-driven mitochondrial dynamics mRNA signatures which predominantly affect the prefrontal cortex.Taken together, our results show that EH exerts anxiolytic effects in adulthood in high anxiety and modulates mitochondrial dynamics pathways in a brain region-specific manner.
The effects of fear of COVID-19 among Spanish healthcare professionals in three years after the pandemic onset via validation of the FCV-19S: a prospective study
Authors: Peñacoba-Puente Cecilia , Luque-Reca Octavio , Griffiths Mark D. , García-Hedrera Fernando J. , Carmona-Monge F. Javier , Gil-Almagro Fernanda 
Published: May 2024

AbstractDespite being validated in different populations to assess fear of COVID-19, the Fear of COVID-19 Scale (FCV-19S) has scatter validations in healthcare professionals, often with several limitations, especially in Spanish-speaking professionals. Our research aims to extend previous studies by: (i) using a large sample of Spanish nurses and physicians; (ii) incorporating longitudinal data; and (iii) using a covariance-based SEM methodology to test different factor structures. 686 Spanish healthcare professionals (M = 42.7 years; 80.5% women; 76.7% nurses) participated in 2021 (Time 1), of whom, 216 were reassessed one year later (Time 2). The results (S-Bχ2 = 69.134, df = 13, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.974, and SRMR ≤ 0.031) supported a two-factor structure with a factor of somatic reactions and another of emotional expressions of fear of COVID-19. The FCV-19S evidenced strong factorial measurement invariance regarding gender, professional category, age and professional experience and also showed significantly higher levels of fear of COVID-19 in women, nurses, and professionals under 40 years old. The internal consistency was high for the somatic factor (ω = 0.86; α = 0.85), the emotional factor (ω = 0.82; α = 0.82) and the overall scale (α = 0.89). The scale showed good convergent, divergent, and incremental validity with respect to psychological symptomatology, perceived health, burnout, and worry about contagion. Finally, the FCV-19S showed criterion validity regarding generalized anxiety disorder, burnout, and the risk of leaving the profession. The FCV-19S evidenced excellent psychometric properties in Spanish healthcare professionals and was predictive of different health outcomes one year after administration. Study implications and limitations are also discussed.
Understanding fertility policy through a process-oriented approach: the case of Japan’s decline in births
Authors: Takao Yasuo 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis article examines Japan’s policymaking capacities necessary to address the issue of low fertility, while harnessing the process-oriented theories of policy studies. The author asks why Japan’s policy to increase fertility has not worked as well as some other countries whose efforts have proven more successful. The focus of this study is on process-oriented capacities, which can be defined as an ability of actors involved to avoid conflicts and cooperate on solutions at each stage of the policy cycle. To explore these capacities, or the preconditions for enabling policy options available for the actors, the policy process is investigated using process tracing observations for causal inferences drawing on governmental data, insights from policymakers, comprehensive literature reviews, and pertinent news reports. The author contends that the involvement of broker-entrepreneurs, who recognize opportunities and navigate obstacles, plays a pivotal role in preventing conflicts among stakeholders. Nevertheless, empirical data indicates that merely sidestepping conflicts does not necessarily enable policy effectiveness.
Recovery of carotenoids as bioactive compounds from peach pomace by an eco-friendly ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction
Authors: Han Kübra Nur , Meral Hilal , Demirdöven Aslıhan 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe industrial processing of fruits generates by-products. These by-products serve as a source of valuable bioactive compounds. In this study, carotenoid was extracted from peach pomace (PP) by using the ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction (UAEE), an eco-friendly method. The process conditions ensuring the highest carotenoid content and b* color value for UAEE were detected by response surface methodology (RSM). To demonstrate the effectiveness of the ultrasonic process, enzymatic extraction was carried out at the optimum point. Physicochemical (pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids), color (L*, a*, b*, chroma value (ΔC) and color difference (ΔE), total phenolic compound (TPC) and antioxidant activity analyses (ABTS and FRAP) were carried. When the analysis results evaluated, the highest b* color parameter, TPC (761.10 mg gallic acid/L), ABTS (1933.33 mg Trolox/L) and FRAP (52.66 µmol Trolox/L) results of the extracts was observed with UAEE method. The study shows that ultrasound based upon the cavitation event was increased efficiency of enzymatic reaction with higher extraction yield and this provided in higher amounts of carotenoid and bioactive compounds. In other respects, when obtained carotenoid extracts are used in food formulations compatible with their acidic structure, they will contribute to protection of the product and minimizing color losses.
Nanocomposite alginate hydrogel loaded with propranolol hydrochloride kolliphor® based cerosomes as a repurposed platform for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus-(MRSA)-induced skin infection; in-vitro, ex-vivo, in-silico, and in-vivo evaluation
Authors: Eltabeeb Moaz A. , Hamed Raghda Rabe , El-Nabarawi Mohamed A. , Teaima Mahmoud H. , Hamed Mohammed I. A. , Darwish Khaled M. , Hassan Mariam , Abdellatif Menna M. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractNanocomposite alginate hydrogel containing Propranolol hydrochloride (PNL) cerosomes (CERs) was prepared as a repurposed remedy for topical skin Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection. CERs were formed via an ethanol injection technique using different ceramides, Kolliphores® as a surfactant, and Didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB) as a positive charge inducer. CERs were optimized utilizing 13. 22 mixed-factorial design employing Design-Expert® software, the assessed responses were entrapment efficiency (EE%), particle size (PS), and zeta potential (ZP). The optimum CER, composed of 5 mg DDAB, ceramide VI, and Kolliphor® RH40 showed tubular vesicles with EE% of 92.91 ± 0.98%, PS of 388.75 ± 18.99 nm, PDI of 0.363 ± 0.01, and ZP of 30.36 ± 0.69 mV. Also, it remained stable for 90 days and manifested great mucoadhesive aspects. The optimum CER was incorporated into calcium alginate to prepare nanocomposite hydrogel. The ex-vivo evaluation illustrated that PNL was permeated in a more prolonged pattern from PNL-loaded CERs nanocomposite related to PNL-composite, optimum CER, and PNL solution. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed a perfect accumulation of fluorescein-labeled CERs in the skin. The in-silico investigation illustrated that the PNL was stable when mixed with other ingredients in the CERs and confirmed that PNL is a promising candidate for curing MRSA. Moreover, the PNL-loaded CERs nanocomposite revealed superiority over the PNL solution in inhibiting biofilm formation and eradication. The PNL-loaded CERs nanocomposite showed superiority over the PNL-composite for treating MRSA infection in the in-vivo mice model. Histopathological studies revealed the safety of the tested formulations. In conclusion, PNL-loaded CERs nanocomposite provided a promising, safe cure for MRSA bacterial skin infection.
Graphical Abstract
An exploratory study of drawings as a tool to evaluate student understanding of the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus
Authors: Horne Lydia , Manzanares Amanda , Atalan-Helicke Nurcan , Vincent Shirley , Anderson Steven W. , Romulo Chelsie L. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAs future decision-makers, students must develop interdisciplinary, systems thinking skills to make effective management decisions; however, systems thinking remains challenging for many students. Here, we use the Food-Energy-Water (FEW) Nexus as a framework to examine how drawings can help students cultivate systems thinking skills. Drawings can be tools to make implicit mental models of systems connections explicit for instructors to better comprehend student learning. Our goal was to understand how drawing can help students make connections across systems compared to using only verbal explanations. In 2021, we interviewed undergraduates, asking them to draw and verbally explain the FEW Nexus. Analysis revealed that student drawings showed an increase in the number of connections that half of students could describe when compared to verbal-only explanations. Instructors may benefit from this study by recognizing areas where students might struggle to understand FEW Nexus connections, where additional course emphasis is needed, and how drawings can help assess student learning.
Comparison of fatigue crack growth design curves on GMAW and EBW joints of high strength steels
Authors: Sisodia R. P. S. , Gáspár M. , Lukács J. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThere is a growing demand in the industrial sector for the use of high-strength structural steels (HSSSs), which can achieve a significant weight reduction in structures. These structural steels are usually produced by quenching and tempering (Q + T) or thermomechanical treatment (TM), and their applications in welded structures pose several challenges for the users. In industrial practice, gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is basically the most commonly used fusion welding process, which has a relatively high heat input. However, at HSSSs, there is a need for low heat input but, at the same time, productive welding processes. High-energy density welding processes, e.g., electron beam welding (EBW), offer a unique opportunity to weld these steels. The widespread use of HSSSs is also hampered by the fact that the benefits of high strength can be exploited primarily under static loading. At the same time, different welded structures made of HSSSs are often subjected to cyclic loading, and possible weld defects and material discontinuities are major risks in this case. During our experiments, GMAW and autogenous EBW processes were applied to make welded joints from S960 Q + T and TM structural steels. The fatigue resistance of the welded joints was characterized by fatigue crack growth (FCG) tests, considering the increased crack sensitivity of HSSSs. A statistical approach was followed both in the design of the experiments and in the evaluation of their results. Based on the test results fatigue crack propagation design curves were determined for the investigated GMAW and EBW welded joints. The design curves were compared with each other, with design curves of lower strength material (S690QL) and with the recommended fatigue crack growth laws of BS 7910.
Mesoporous Pdx-Nix aerogels for electrocatalytic evaluation of urea-assisted electrolysis
Authors: Rodríguez-Buenrostro A. , Martínez-Lázaro A. , Contreras-Martínez M. V. , Sharma Ashutosh , Barcenas G. Luna , oza Goldie , Arenillas A. , Ledesma-García J. , Arriaga L. G. 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThis work presents the synthesis and evaluation of Pd-Ni aerogels toward the urea oxidation reaction (UOR). The incorporation of Ni led to a 0.13 V reduction in the energy required for the oxidation and reduction of PdO compared to monometallic Pd, both in alkaline medium with and without urea. Varying the Ni ratios in Pd (Pd-Ni 4:1, Pd-Ni 1:1, and Pd-Ni 1:4) led to significant changes in the electrochemical behaviour. In alkaline medium without urea, PdNi 4:1 showed the formation of NiOOH at 1.35 V, which promoted oxygen diffusion on the electrode surface and increased the current density, confirming the increase in the active sites of NiOOH and NiPdOOH and enabling urea-based electrolysis at these sites. While palladium aerogels alone are ineffective for UOR, the presence of nickel plays a key role in enhancing the UOR efficiency. On the other hand, physicochemical characterisation revealed that PdNi 4:1 has a crystal size of 4.37 nm and a larger shift in the 2θ positions of the (111) and (200) planes, which favours electronic changes that were investigated by XPS. These changes affected the electrocatalytic activity, which is primarily related to electronic effects. The results of SEM and TEM studies and nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherm confirmed that the aerogels are highly porous and have an effective surface area and abundant active sites for reactions that allow efficient mass transfer and low diffusion resistance. TEM observations revealed interconnected nanochains indicating optimal electrocatalytic activity for both ORR and UOR due to high mass transfer. These interconnected networks are crucial for improving electrocatalytic activity in the urea oxidation reaction.
Prediction model to identify infectious COVID-19 patients in the emergency department
Authors: Aung Myat Oo , Venkatachalam Indumathi , Sim Jean X.Y. , Wee Liang En , Aung May K. , Yang Yong , Conceicao Edwin P. , Arora Shalvi , Lee Marcus A.B. , Sia Chang H. , Tan Kenneth B.K. , Ling Moi Lin 
Published: May 2024

Abstract

Background:
Real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been the gold standard for diagnosing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) but has a lag time for the results. An effective prediction algorithm for infectious COVID-19, utilized at the emergency department (ED), may reduce the risk of healthcare-associated COVID-19.

Objective:
To develop a prototypic prediction model for infectious COVID-19 at the time of presentation to the ED.

Material and methods:
Retrospective cohort study of all adult patients admitted to Singapore General Hospital (SGH) through ED between March 15, 2020, and December 31, 2022, with admission of COVID-19 RT-PCR results. Two prediction models were developed and evaluated using area under the curve (AUC) of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) to identify infectious COVID-19 patients (cycle threshold (Ct) of <25).

Results:
Total of 78,687 patients were admitted to SGH through ED during study period. 6,132 of them tested severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 positive on RT-PCR. Nearly 70% (4,226 of 6,132) of the patients had infectious COVID-19 (Ct<25). Model that included demographics, clinical history, symptom and laboratory variables had AUROC of 0.85 with sensitivity and specificity of 80.0% & 72.1% respectively. When antigen rapid test results at ED were available and added to the model for a subset of the study population, AUROC reached 0.97 with sensitivity and specificity of 95.0% and 92.8% respectively. Both models maintained respective sensitivity and specificity results when applied to validation data.

Conclusion:
Clinical predictive models based on available information at ED can be utilized for identification of infectious COVID-19 patients and may enhance infection prevention efforts.
The Dynamics of Herder-Farmer Conflicts in Plateau State, Nigeria, and Central Darfur State, Sudan
Authors: Babatunde Abosede Omowumi , Ibnouf Fatma Osman 
Published: May 2024

AbstractDrawing on their own field studies, the authors examine how state and local actors involved in resource management and peacebuilding activities are implicated in the conflict between farmers and herders in Plateau State, Nigeria, and Central Darfur State, Sudan. The authors show that state officials, traditional chiefs, and security agents intensified the conflict by perpetuating the inequitable distribution of resources needed for the survival of farmers and herders, while promoting a peacebuilding process that empowered some groups and disempowered others. The divisive role state and local actors played accentuated the socio-political grievances underlying the conflict and enervated the peacebuilding process.