bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Serum ACE2 and S19P gene polymorphism in Egyptian patients with COVID-19 infection: correlation with disease severity
Authors: Gaber Dalia A. , Shokr Mohamed , Shaker Olfat , Zaki Kamelia Ahmed , Khalil Haidy Samir , Wahb Amany M. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe expression of ACE2 is linked to disease severity in COVID-19 patients. The ACE2 receptor gene polymorphisms are considered determinants for SARS-CoV-2 infection and its outcome. In our study, serum ACE2 and its genetic variant S19P rs73635825 polymorphism were investigated in 114 SARS-CoV-2 patients. The results were compared with 120 control subjects. ELISA technique and allele discrimination assay were used for measuring serum ACE2 and genotype analysis of ACE2 rs73635825. Our results revealed that serum ACE2 was significantly lower in SARS-CoV-2 patients (p = 0.0001), particularly in cases with hypertension or diabetes mellitus. There was a significant difference in the genotype distributions of ACE2 rs73635825 A > G between COVID-19 patients and controls (p-value = 0.001). A higher frequency of the heterozygous AG genotype (65.8%) was reported in COVID-19 patients. The G allele was significantly more common in COVID-19 patients (p < 0.0001). The AG and GG genotypes were associated with COVID-19 severity as they were correlated with abnormal laboratory findings, GGO, CXR, and total severity scores with p < 0.05. Our results revealed that the ACE2 S19P gene variant is correlated with the incidence of infection and its severity, suggesting the usefulness of this work in identifying the susceptible population groups for better disease control.
Unlocking stray light mysteries in the CoRot baffle with the time-of-flight method
Authors: Clermont L. , Blain P. , Khaddour W. , Uhring W. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractStray light (SL) has emerged as a primary limiting factor for space telescopes. Pre-launch testing is essential for validating performance and identifying potential issues. However, traditional methods do not enable the decomposition and identification of individual SL contributors. Consequently, when problems arise, resolving them often involves a cumbersome and risky trial-and-error approach. The time-of-flight (ToF) method was recently introduced, employing a pulsed laser source and ultrafast sensor to characterize individual SL contributors. A proof of concept was achieved using a simple three-lens system. In this paper, we apply the ToF method to a real space optical system: the spare model of the CoRoT baffle. We successfully measured individual SL contributors over a dynamic range of 10−11, identifying direct scattering on vane edges and two-step scattering paths. Our results provide a performance breakdown, differentiating intrinsic baffle SL from contributions arising from experimental conditions. Notably, the ToF method allowed us to discriminate air scattering, eliminating the need for expensive vacuum testing. The ToF provides unparallel insights, including defects identification. For instance, we identified the presence of localized dust particles causing significant SL. These results confirm the utility of the ToF method even for the most challenging space systems.
Efficacy of silver nanoparticles against Trichinella spiralis in mice and the role of multivitamin in alleviating its toxicity
Authors: Taha Noha Madbouly , Youssef Fady Sayed , Auda Hend M. , El-Bahy Mohamed M. , Ramadan Reem M. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractTrichinellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease. The majority of currently available anti-trichinellosis medications exhibit inadequate efficacy. The efficacy of a natively prepared new formulation of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) was evaluated in the treatment of Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) infection in mice alone and combined with multivitamin-mineral (MM). After investigating the product’s biological and pharmacological characteristics, its therapeutic dose was estimated to be Ag-NPs at 21.5 mg/kg B.W. This dose was orally inoculated to experimentally infected mice at 3–5 days post-inoculation (dpi) against the mature worms, at 8–10 dpi against the newborn larvae, and at 33–35th dpi against the encapsulated larvae. Each treatment’s efficacy was assessed by scarifying control and treated mice 3 days post-treatment. The drug alone or in supplement form has a high trichinocidal effect exceeding that of the reference drug. Early treatment (3–5 dpi) by Ag-NPs or Ag-NPs + MM and albendazole revealed high efficacy against the intestinal stage, reaching 93.3%, 94.7%, and 90.6% for the three treatments, respectively. The materials causing a significant (P-value < 0.001) decrease in the mean encapsulated larvae reached 86.61%, 89.07%, and 88.84%/gm of muscles using the three treatments, respectively. Moreover, all larvae extracted from Ag-NPs-treated groups failed to induce infection post-inoculation in new mice. Additionally, combining the material with MM proved to overcome the reversible adverse effects of silver material on the estimated redox parameters and liver and kidney biomarkers, denoting its ability to alleviate Ag-NP toxicity. In conclusion, the high trichinocidal effect of Ag-NPs against the adult and encapsulated larvae during a short inoculation period introduced Ag-NPs as an alternative to other nematicidal drugs.
Integrating core physics and machine learning for improved parameter prediction in boiling water reactor operations
Authors: Oktavian M. R. , Nistor J. , Gruenwald J. T. , Xu Y. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study introduces a novel method for enhancing Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) operation simulations by integrating machine learning (ML) models with conventional simulation techniques. The ML model is trained to identify and correct errors in low-fidelity simulation outputs, traditionally derived from core physics computations. These corrections aim to align the low-fidelity results closely with high-fidelity data. Precise predictions of nuclear reactor parameters like core eigenvalue and power distribution are crucial for efficient fuel management and adherence to technical specifications. Current high-fidelity transport calculations, while accurate, are impractical for real-time predictions due to extensive computational demands. Our approach, therefore, utilizes the standard two-step simulation process-assembly-level lattice physics calculations followed by whole-core nodal diffusion computations-to generate initial results, which are then refined using the ML-based error correction model. The methodology focuses on improving simulation accuracy in regular BWR operations rather than developing a universal ML predictor for reactor physics. By training an advanced neural network model on the difference in high-fidelity and low-fidelity simulations, the model can reduce the nodal power error from low-fidelity simulations to around 1% on average and the core eigenvalue down to under 100 pcm. This result is under the condition of the normal variations of control rod pattern and core flow rate changes in standard BWR operations used in the training and evaluation of the machine learning model. This work suggests a promising approach for achieving more accurate, computationally feasible simulation solutions in nuclear reactor operation and management.
Precision cancer classification using liquid biopsy and advanced machine learning techniques
Authors: Eledkawy Amr , Hamza Taher , El-Metwally Sara 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCancer presents a significant global health burden, resulting in millions of annual deaths. Timely detection is critical for improving survival rates, offering a crucial window for timely medical interventions. Liquid biopsy, analyzing genetic variations, and mutations in circulating cell-free, circulating tumor DNA (cfDNA/ctDNA) or molecular biomarkers, has emerged as a tool for early detection. This study focuses on cancer detection using mutations in plasma cfDNA/ctDNA and protein biomarker concentrations. The proposed system initially calculates the correlation coefficient to identify correlated features, while mutual information assesses each feature's relevance to the target variable, eliminating redundant features to improve efficiency. The eXtrem Gradient Boosting (XGBoost) feature importance method iteratively selects the top ten features, resulting in a 60% dataset dimensionality reduction. The Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM) model is employed for classification, optimizing its performance through a random search for hyper-parameters. Final predictions are obtained by ensembling LGBM models from tenfold cross-validation, weighted by their respective balanced accuracy, and averaged to get final predictions. Applying this methodology, the proposed system achieves 99.45% accuracy and 99.95% AUC for detecting the presence of cancer while achieving 93.94% accuracy and 97.81% AUC for cancer-type classification. Our methodology leads to enhanced healthcare outcomes for cancer patients.
Occlusal characteristics in modern humans with tooth agenesis
Authors: Alamoudi Ragda , Kanavakis Georgios , Oeschger Elias S. , Halazonetis Demetrios , Gkantidis Nikolaos 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNon-syndromic permanent tooth agenesis affects a significant proportion of the population, especially if third molars are considered. Although tooth agenesis has been linked to a smaller craniofacial size, reduced facial convexity and a shorter skeletal face, the occlusal characteristics of individuals with tooth agenesis remain largely unexplored. Therefore, this study investigated potential associations between tooth agenesis and metric occlusal traits in 806 individuals (491 with 4.1 missing teeth per subject, including third molars, and 315 without any tooth agenesis). Dentoskeletal morphology was defined through anatomical landmarks on pre-treatment cephalometric radiographs. Multivariate regression models, adjusted for sex and age, showed that tooth agenesis was significantly associated with a reduced overjet, an increased interincisal angle, and shorter upper and lower dental arch lengths, but not with overbite. Moreover, apart from reduced tooth length and dentoalveolar effects, as the number of missing teeth increased the upper front teeth were progressively retruded according to the craniofacial complex and to the face. Thus, tooth agenesis has a substantial influence on dental and occlusal characteristics, as well as on the sagittal position and inclination of anterior teeth. These findings emphasize the necessity for personalized, multidisciplinary approaches in individuals with multiple agenesis to successfully meet treatment goals.
Study of multi-dimensional problems arising in wave propagation using a hybrid scheme
Authors: Liu Jinxing , Nadeem Muhammad , Osman M. S. , Alsayaad Yahya 
Published: March 2024

AbstractMany scientific phenomena are linked to wave problems. This paper presents an effective and suitable technique for generating approximation solutions to multi-dimensional problems associated with wave propagation. We adopt a new iterative strategy to reduce the numerical work with minimum time efficiency compared to existing techniques such as the variational iteration method (VIM) and homotopy analysis method (HAM) have some limitations and constraints within the development of recurrence relation. To overcome this drawback, we present a Sawi integral transform ($$\mathbb {S}$$
S
T) for constructing a suitable recurrence relation. This recurrence relation is solved to determine the coefficients of the homotopy perturbation strategy (HPS) that leads to the convergence series of the precise solution. This strategy derives the results in algebraic form that are independent of any discretization. To demonstrate the performance of this scheme, several mathematical frameworks and visual depictions are shown.
MicroRNA-561-3p indirectly regulates the PD-L1 expression by targeting ZEB1, HIF1A, and MYC genes in breast cancer
Authors: Yousefi Atena , Sotoodehnejadnematalahi Fattah , Nafissi Nahid , Zeinali Sirous , Azizi Masoumeh 
Published: March 2024

AbstractGlobally, breast cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women. In breast cancer, microRNAs (miRNAs) are essential for both the initiation and development of tumors. It has been suggested that the tumor suppressor microRNA-561-3p (miR-561-3p) is crucial in arresting the growth of cancer cells. Further research is necessary to fully understand the role and molecular mechanism of miR-561 in human BC. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of miR-561-3p on ZEB1, HIF1A, and MYC expression as oncogenes that have the most impact on PD-L1 overexpression and cellular processes such as proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle in breast cancer (BC) cell lines. The expression of ZEB1, HIF1A, and MYC genes and miR-561-3p were measured in BC clinical samples and cell lines via qRT-PCR. The luciferase assay, MTT, Annexin-PI staining, and cell cycle experiments were used to assess the effect of miR-561-3p on candidate gene expression, proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle progression. Flow cytometry was used to investigate the effects of miR-561 on PD-L1 suppression in the BC cell line. The luciferase assay showed that miRNA-561-3p targets the 3′-UTRs of ZEB1, HIF1A and MYC genes significantly. In BC tissues, the qRT-PCR results demonstrated that miR-561-3p expression was downregulated and the expression of ZEB1, HIF1A and MYC genes was up-regulated. It was shown that overexpression of miR-561-3p decreased PD-L1 expression and BC cell proliferation, and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest through downregulation of candidate oncogenes. Furthermore, inhibition of candidate genes by miR-561-3p reduced PD-L1 at both mRNA and protein levels. Our research investigated the impact of miR-561-3p on the expression of ZEB1, HIF1A and MYC in breast cancer cells for the first time. Our findings may help clarify the role of miR-561-3p in PD-L1 regulation and point to this miR as a potential biomarker and novel therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy.
Regional pulmonary perfusion, blood volume, and their relationship change in experimental early ARDS
Authors: Santos Arnoldo , Motta-Ribeiro Gabriel C. , de Prost Nicolas , Tucci Mauro R. , Wellman Tyler J. , Vidal Melo Marcos F. , Winkler Tilo 
Published: March 2024

AbstractRegional pulmonary perfusion (Q) has been investigated using blood volume (Fb) imaging as an easier-to-measure surrogate. However, it is unclear if changing pulmonary conditions could affect their relationship. We hypothesized that vascular changes in early acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) affect Q and Fb differently. Five sheep were anesthetized and received lung protective mechanical ventilation for 20 h while endotoxin was continuously infused. Using dynamic 18F-FDG and 13NN Positron Emission Tomography (PET), regional Fb and Q were analysed in 30 regions of interest (ROIs) and normalized by tissue content (Fbn and Qn, respectively). After 20 h, the lung injury showed characteristics of early ARDS, including gas exchange and lung mechanics. PET images of Fbn and Qn showed substantial differences between baseline and lung injury. Lung injury caused a significant change in the Fbn-Qn relationship compared to baseline (p < 0.001). The best models at baseline and lung injury were Fbn = 0.32 + 0.690Qn and Fbn = 1.684Qn–0.538Qn2, respectively. Endotoxine-associated early ARDS changed the relationship between Fb and Q, shifting from linear to curvilinear. Effects of endotoxin exposure on the vasoactive blood flow regulation were most likely the key factor for this change limiting the quantitative accuracy of Fb imaging as a surrogate for regional Q.
Consistent condom utilization among sexually active HIV positive individuals in Sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Endeshaw Destaw , Dessie Getenet , Kasa Ayele Semachew , Endalamaw Aklilu , Tesfaye Tadesse Dagget , Birhanu Shiferaw , Abate Teshager Woldegiyorgis , Afewerk Sahileslassie , Bogale Eyob Ketema , Workineh Yinager 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to ascertain the pooled prevalence and trend of consistent condom use in Sub-Saharan Africa, addressing the fragmented and inconsistent research on its role in preventing HIV transmission. In this meta-analysis, we systematically searched electronic databases such as PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Global Index Medicus, ScienceDirect, Africa-Wide Information (via EBSCOhost), as well as clinical trial registries, and the search engine Google Scholar. All necessary data were extracted using a standardized data extraction format. The data were analyzed using STATA 17 statistical software. Heterogeneity among the studies was assessed using theI2test. A random-effect model was computed to estimate the pooled rate of consistent condom utilization. This meta-analysis, which included thirty-three full-text studies, found a pooled prevalence of 44.66% (95% CI 18.49–70.83;I2 = 0.00%) for consistent condom use in Sub-Saharan Africa. While the prevalence fluctuated between 2007 and 2022, the year-to-year variations were not statistically significant. The current study identified low rates of consistent condom use, with utilization fluctuating annually in the study area. Therefore, uncovering the underlying reasons and addressing barriers to consistent condom use is crucial in the region.
Sulfonic acid-functionalized chitosan–metal–organic framework composite for efficient and rapid conversion of fructose to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural
Authors: Darvishi Sima , Sadjadi Samahe , Heravi Majid M. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn pursuit of designing a bio-based catalyst for the dehydration of biomass (i.e., fructose) to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, a novel catalytic composite was prepared by in-situ formation of an Al-based metal–organic framework in the presence of chitosan. To enhance the acidity of the as-prepared catalyst, it was sulfonated with chlorosulfonic acid. Various characterization techniques, including XRD, XPS, FTIR, SEM/EDX, TGA, and elemental mapping analysis were applied to validate the formation of the acidic composite. Fructose dehydration conditions were also optimized using Response Surface Method (RSM) and it was found that reaction in the presence of catalyst (23 wt%) in DMSO, at 110 °C for 40 min led to the formation of HMF in 97.1%. Noteworthy, the catalyst was recyclable and stable up to five runs with a minor reduction in its activity.
Improved Protocols for the Synthesis of Precursors of Thiazol-2-ylidene N-Heterocyclic Carbenes
Authors: Tomás-Mendivil Eder , Martin David , Delfau Ludivine , Pecaut Jacques 
Published: March 2024

AbstractWe report improved protocols for the synthesis of thiazolium precatalysts from primary amines, carbon disulfide, and α-halo ketones. For N-alkyl-substituted derivatives, yields of the corresponding thiazolethiones can be dramatically improved by isolating the intermediate dithiocarbamates. In most cases, meta-chloroperbenzoic acid can advantageously replace H2O2 in acetic acid for the oxidation of thiazolethiones into thiazoliums. This approach was applied to the synthesis of a thiazolium featuring a 2-adamantyl N-substituent, the corresponding persistent carbene, and its dimer.
Enantioselective Heterogeneous Heck–Matsuda Reaction with Polymer-Supported PyOx Ligands
Authors: Correia Carlos R. D. , Pastre Julio C. , Herrera Christian L. , Oliveira Rafael L. , Silva Rodrigo C. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCarboxymethyl C5-functionalized pyridine-oxazoline (PyOx) ligands are immobilized onto Merrifield and Wang resins utilizing three distinct strategies. The immobilized PyOx ligands are employed in the Pd-catalyzed heterogeneous Heck–Matsuda reaction for the desymmetrization of 3-cyclopenten-1-ol, resulting in the production of 20 examples of aryl-penten-1-ols with yields reaching up to 87%, and enantiomeric ratios ranging between 90:10 and 99:1. These outcomes align with those achieved by the homogeneous counterparts, demonstrating comparable efficiency. Subsequent recycling analysis reveals a progressive decline in catalyst efficiency upon reuse, suggesting the formation of palladium black on the catalyst surface.
Self-reference as an argumentative tool
Authors: De Cock Barbara , van Laar Jan Albert 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
In this chapter, we analyse how politicians and experts from Belgium, the Netherlands and Spain involved in
the Covid-19 crisis construct self-reference on Twitter (currently X), combining linguistic approaches to person reference and
argumentation theory. On the one hand, we show that uses are fairly similar across the three countries, in spite of the
considerable differences as to government measures concerning the pandemic. On the other hand, differences can be found
between the different professional categories. Whereas politicians mainly use self-reference to build their ethos, the experts
rather support the ethos of others. In showing how these uses contribute to building or employing ethos, we also demonstrate
that these uses can ultimately be understood as having argumentative functions on Twitter.
Self- and other-positioning in eighteenth‑century newspapers
Authors: Bös Birte 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
This study takes a sociopragmatic perspective on processes of self- and other-positioning in
eighteenth-century newspapers. A case study of the adversarial separation of Edward Topham and John Bell, the makers of the
highly successful newspaper The World, will reveal the complexities of indexical practices in negotiating
positions and responsibilities. Evidence of their feud was mainly found in Bell’s new paper, The Oracle,
which was launched in June 1789. Drawing on Reisigl and Wodak’s (2001) framework of
positive self- and negative other-presentation, this study particularly explores the referencing and predication strategies,
but also some of the perspectivation and argumentation strategies employed in a kaleidoscopic dataset including Bell’s
inaugural comment and a range of further newspaper genres. While the processes of positioning provide evidence of the
self-serving bias, i.e. “a tendency for people to take personal responsibility for their desirable outcomes yet externalize
responsibility for their undesirable outcomes” (cf. Shepperd et al. 2008: 895–896),
they were probably carefully planned with the formation of public opinion and marketing effects in mind.
NiCo2O4@SnS2 nanosheets on carbon cloth as efficient bi-functional material for high performance supercapacitor and sensor applications
Authors: Bibi Maria , Yu Yanlong , Nisar Amjad , Zafar Amina , Liu Yanguo , Karim Shafqat , Mehboob Sheeraz , Faiz Yasir , Sun Hongyu , Ali Tahir , Khalid Atia , Safdar Amna , Faiz Faisal , Ahmad Mashkoor 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Bi-functional materials provide an opportunity for the development of high-performance devices. Up till now, bi-functional performance of NiCo2O4@SnS2 nanosheets is rarely investigated. In this work, NiCo2O4@SnS2 nanosheets were synthesized on carbon cloth by utilizing a simple hydrothermal technique. The developed electrode (NiCo2O4@SnS2/CC) was investigated for the detection of L-Cysteine and supercapacitors applications. As a non-enzymatic sensor, the electrode proved to be highly sensitive for the detection of L-cysteine. The electrode exhibits a reproducible sensitivity of 4645.82 μA mM−1 cm−2 in a wide linear range from 0.5 to 5 mM with a low limit of detection (0.005 μM). Moreover, the electrode shows an excellent selectivity and long-time stability. The high specific surface area, enhanced kinetics, good synergy and distinct architecture of NiCo2O4@SnS2 nanosheets produce a large number of active sites with substantial energy storage potential. As a supercapacitor, the electrode exhibits improve capacitance of 655.7 F g−1 at a current density of 2 A g−1 as compare to NiCo2O4/CC (560 F g−1). Moreover, the electrode achieves 95.3% of its preliminary capacitance after 10 000 cycles at 2 A g−1. Our results show that NiCo2O4@SnS2/CC nanosheets possess binary features could be attractive electrode material for the development of non-enzymatic biosensors as well as supercapacitors.