bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effectiveness of very low-frequency electromagnetics (VLF-EM) method in detecting buried targets at a controlled site
Authors: Alao Joseph Omeiza , Lawal Kolawole Muyideen , Dewu Bala Bello Muhammad , Raimi Jimoh 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe ever-increasing anthropogenic activities that pose a significant threat to environmental security and sustainability have spurred geophysicists to review enhance geophysical techniques for shallow geophysical investigations, especially in identifying illegal buried materials. This article applied very low-frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) at an experimental geophysical site (EGS) to examine the geophysical response over various buried targets. The VLF-EM data acquired on the site with and without buried targets demonstrate the nature of the anomalies and the characteristic signals of the buried targets. There are significant variations in the anomalies source-bodied between the site with and without buried targets. The result of the pre-burial investigation shows no major contrast in the equivalent current density values across the site without targets. Minors and major anomalies were encountered after burying the targets corresponding to the buried targets. Some signals become stronger over a large buried target. However, there were a few undetected targets and some cases of unsatisfied results, which were also discussed. The performance of the VLF-EM method in terms of depth estimation was also examined. A significant variation was noted due to the presence of the buried targets and it was noted that the current density seems to always emerge maximally and minimally around the conductor targets and non-conductive targets, respectively. The failure of the VLF-EM to detect the buried pipes in various orientations was examined. The VLF-EM method is more consistent at small spacing and it can be very useful for identifying underground metallic and non-metallic targets. The study successfully provides useful information to complement the complexity of the use of geophysical methods while enhancing the subsurface information and understanding of VLF-EM anomalies or responses generated by various targets such as subsurface geological structures, buried waste contaminants and underground utilities to boost environmental studies and engineering investigations.
Recent progress in Fano-resonant terahertz metasurface and its application
Authors: Chen Songnan , Gao Yang , Sun Kangyao , Zhang Qianyi , Ye Zhehao , Fu Quanhong , Fan Yuancheng , Zhang Fuli 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe unique electromagnetic response characteristics of metasurfaces and their intrinsic physical mechanisms have attracted a lot of attention. With the help of metasurfaces, the amplitude, phase, polarization, and other information of light waves can be effectively modulated. Fano resonance with asymmetric and sharp line shape is sensitive to refractive index changes in the environment, it can be realized through the structure design of the metasurface. Terahertz wave is located between microwave and infrared waves and can be used in the fields of high-sensitivity detection, high-precision imaging, and wireless communication. Terahertz metasurface with sharp Fano resonance is promising in realizing highly sensitive detection of biological macromolecules, such as glioma cells and other substances, which has attracted more and more attention. Here we review the progress of passive or active terahertz metasurfaces with Fano resonances due to various operation mechanisms and their applications in sensitive sensing.
Modeling CO2 loading capacity of triethanolamine aqueous solutions using advanced white-box approaches: GMDH, GEP, and GP
Authors: Hadavimoghaddam Fahimeh , Amiri-Ramsheh Behnam , Atashrouz Saeid , Abuswer Meftah Ali , Lv Qichao , Mohaddespour Ahmad , Ostadhassan Mehdi , Hemmati-Sarapardeh Abdolhossein 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe equilibrium solubility of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the solvents is a key essential characteristic that has to be evaluated for successful absorption-based CO2 capture procedures. In this study, the CO2 loading capacity of triethanolamine (TEA) aqueous solutions was estimated using three famous white-box algorithms namely gene expression programming (GEP), genetic programming (GP), and group method of data handling (GMDH). For achieving the aim of this study, 258 data in a wide range of pressure, temperature, and amine concentration were collected from literature. Temperature, partial pressure of CO2, and amine concentration were used as input parameters. The results demonstrated that GMDH correlation is more accurate than GEP and GP with a determination coefficient (R2) of 0.9813 and root mean square error of 0.0222. The R2 values of 0.9713 and 0.9664 for the GEP and GP, respectively, demonstrated that the GEP and GP also showed accurate predictions. In addition, GMDH approach accurately predicted the anticipated trends of the CO2 loading in response to changes in the partial pressure of CO2 and temperature. The Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses were also incorporated in this research which showed that temperature and CO2 partial pressure have almost the same relative effect on CO2 loading, while amine concentration has the lowest effect on it.
Differential curcumin absorption and curcumin-induced STAT3 inhibition during 3T3-L1 cell adipogenesis in 2D and 3D cultures
Authors: Yang Sehee , Lee Soyeon , Kwon Youngjoo 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIt is increasingly considered that 3D cell culture systems are superior to 2D in evaluating health promoting effects of candidate molecules because they better mimic tissue-like structures, thus testing in such systems will increase their in vivo applicability. The present study sought to examine the potential usefulness of spheroid models for assessing the antiadipogenic effect of polyphenols. The major food polyphenols were compared for their antiadipogenic effects in 3T3-L1 cells grown in conventional 2D conditions and as 3D spheroids. Further, the study evaluated the effect of the cell culture environment on the inhibition of the adipogenesis-related signaling pathway mediated by curcumin (CUR), the most effective antiadipogenic polyphenol identified in 2D and 3D, and its cellular absorption rate. CUR treatment inhibited the activity of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in cells cultured in both conditions; however, it was more effective in 2D. Notably, 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in a 3D cell culture system maintained high STAT3 activity and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) expression compared with a 2D system. Additionally, the cellular absorption rate was lower in 3D cultures. Thus, different cellular absorption rates, innate STAT3 activity, and C/EBPα expression levels may contribute to the difference in CUR efficacy. This study demonstrated that the STAT3 inhibition at least partly contributes to antiadipogenic effect of CUR. Moreover, it showed that the presentation of cells in 3D significantly alters activation of intracellular signaling pathways and absorption rate of CUR. Therefore, 3D spheroid models are valuable tools to evaluate the anti-adipogenicity of candidate molecules.
Assessment of alternative methods for analysing maximum rainfall spatial data based on generalized extreme value distribution
Authors: Ferreira Thales Rangel , Liska Gilberto Rodrigues , Beijo Luiz Alberto 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe present study aimed to analyze and spatially model maximum rainfall in the southern and southwestern regions of Minas Gerais using spatial statistical methods. Daily data on maximum rainfall were collected from 29 cities in the region. To obtain predictions of maximum rainfall for return periods of 2, 5, 10, 50, and 100 years, Bayesian Inference was employed, utilizing the most appropriate prior for each locality. The spatial analysis of the phenomenon based on results obtained through Bayesian Inference was conducted using interpolation methods, including Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) and Kriging (Ordinary Kriging (OK) and Log-Normal Kriging (LK)). Different semivariogram models were used, and the most suitable one was selected based on cross-validation results for each method, which were also compared to those of IDW. Additionally, a spatial analysis was carried out using max-stable processes and spatial Generalized Extreme Value (GEV) distribution, with the models evaluated based on Takeuchi’s Information Criteria. All models were also assessed by calculating the mean prediction error for six locations that were not used in model fitting. The results indicated that the most suitable models among Kriging and IDW for return periods of 2, 5, and 10 years were Gaussian (LK), Spherical (OK), and Wave (OK), respectively. Among the max-stable models and spatial GEV, the most suitable for modeling was the Smith max-stable model. Consequently, for spatial prediction over 50- and 100-year return periods, OK (Wave) and the Smith max-stable model were employed.
The effect of nano-natural biomaterial on stimulation of RADMSCs toward osteogenesis: an in vitro study
Authors: Alahgahi Farideh , Fattahi Esmail , Saeidi Mohsen , Mortazavi Roudmiane Mir Mahmoud 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIn recent years, natural biomaterials have been the focal point of most biomedical investigations. To prepare the Ostrich Eggshell/Hydroxyapatite (OE/HA) powder scaffolds, OE powder was immersed in 1% Triton X-100 for 24 h and then autoclaved twice. Medical grade HA was combined with pulverized OE at different ratios to yield three different OE/HA powder scaffolds. The resultant scaffolds underwent characterization experiments using different techniques, including FTIR, XRD, radiography, and SEM analyses. Rabbit adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (RADMSCs) were isolated from adipose tissues and characterized by flow cytometry. A direct contact test was performed for the cytotoxicity test using L929 cells. Cell adhesion was validated using SEM imaging, viability was assessed using DAPI and Annexin V/PI staining, and osteogenic differentiation was investigated using the ALP assay. The cytotoxicity assay using L929 cells verified that the OE/HA powder scaffold is safe and further functional experiments could be carried out. Behavioral assays, radiography, surface markers, surface topography analyses, and viability tests yielded promising results confirming cellular acceptance of the scaffold. In the present study, we provided evidence that the prepared OE/HA scaffold is not only cytocompatible but also can enhance mesenchymal stem cell adhesion, growth, and osteogenic differentiation in vitro.
A simple TD-BEM model for heterogeneous orthotropic hill-shaped topographies
Authors: Mojtabazadeh-Hasanlouei Saeed , Panji Mehdi , Kamalian Mohsen 
Published: February 2024

AbstractA simple numerical model named DASBEM was successfully developed to analyze the seismic heterogeneous orthotropic hill-shaped topographies by a time-domain boundary element method (TD-BEM) based on half-space Green’s functions. The model was elaborated only by discretizing the hill surface and its interface with the underlying half-space through the use of image source theory and the substructure approach. To improve the model at the corners, the double node procedure was applied to the extreme nodes of the quadratic elements. An attenuation ratio is implemented in the boundary equations using a decremental exponential function. After presenting the technique, a validation example is presented alongside the literature to measure the convergence with an isotropic response. Next, a sample Gaussian-shaped hill model is prepared under propagating obliquely incident SH-waves as a common sample topography and the surface response is obtained by considering some significant parameters as well as the shape ratio, isotropy factor, frequency content, and angle of the incident wave. The ground surface response is sensitized in two time and frequency domains. The results showed that the amplitude of the response was not only dependent on the impedance ratio but also the orthotropy ratio, which was always effective in orienting the wave-front to amplify the ground movement.
Graphical Abstract
GnRHr, LHr, and Vg gene expression levels and ovarian development of G5 transgenic mutiara female catfish (Clarias gariepinus) after exposure photoperiod induction
Authors: Buwono Ibnu Dwi , Grandiosa Roffi , Mulyani Yuniar , Pratiwy Fittrie Meyllianawaty 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to determine the relative expression ratios of the genes gonadotrophin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHr), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHr), vitellogenin (Vg) and β-actin genes as expression control internal of the G5 fish using real-time PCR in a photoperiod experiment with designed treatments (A: 8L-16D; B: 12L-12D; C: 16L-8D for transgenic fish; and A*: 8L-16D; B*: 12L-12D; C*: 16L-8D for nontransgenic fish) for 60 days of rearing period. Ovary maturation was evaluated in G5 transgenic mutiara catfish during different photoperiod induction. A short photoperiod (8L-16D) induced an high expression of GnRHr, LHr, and Vg genes (mean, 4.42 ± 0.53, 5.63 ± 0.42, and 6.67 ± 0.31, respectively), indicating the role of dark cycle in increasing the gene expressions involved in ovarian maturation of G5 transgenic mutiara catfish. The lowest GnRHr, LHr, and Vg gene expression levels were found in nontransgenic fish (C*) (mean, 1.27 ± 0.13, 1.38 ± 0.24, and 2.42 ± 0.33, respectively). The exposure of transgenic fish (CgGH insert content) to a long photoperiod (16L-8D) resulted in lower expression levels of GnRHr, LHr, and Vg (mean, 2.31 ± 0.27, 2.34 ± 0.25, and 4.49 ± 0.30, respectively) and lower levels of hormones Vg and E2 (mean, 295.16 ± 21.71 μg/mL and 0.25 ± 0.03 ng/mL, respectively) and in non-transgenic fish (mean, 163.54 µg/mL and 0.14 ng/mL, respectively). Short photoperiods (8L-16D and 12l-12D) led to oocyte maturation and higher GSI values (mean, 12.24 ± 0.53 and 10.24 ± 0.38, respectively) compared to long photoperiods (16L-8D). Conversely, a long photoperiod led to decreased GnRHr, LHr, and Vg expression levels, and Vg and E2 hormone levels, leading to the growth of immature oocytes and decreased GSI (mean, 3.93 ± 0.29) in nontransgenic fish. The presence of CgGH in G5 transgenic mutiara female catfish can maintain the growth of primary oocytes to secondary oocytes during the 16L-8D photoperiod induction.
Statistical Fault Analysis of TinyJambu
Authors: Salam Iftekhar , Alawatugoda Janaka , Madushan Hasindu 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe resource-constrained IoT devices have limited resources such as processing power, memory, and battery capacity. Therefore it is challenging to adopt traditional cryptographic algorithms on them. In order to find a solution, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) initiated the Lightweight Cryptography (LWC) competition to standardize cryptographic algorithms for resource-constrained devices. The primary aim of our work is to implement and analyse selected finalist algorithms from the NIST competition using modern cryptanalysis techniques, with a focus on statistical fault attacks. Traditional analysis methods, such as linear and differential analysis, were not prioritized as most finalist algorithms have established defences against these methods. We implemented six of the selected finalist algorithms from the competition: Ascon, Elephant, GIFT-COFB, ISAP, TinyJambu, and Xoodyak. We chose TinyJumbu for statistical fault analysis because of its attractiveness, compact block size, and provision of a more lightweight keyed permutation.
Wet-to-dry transition description in the mixture of working fluids
Authors: Ahmed Aram M. , Imre Attila R. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe organic rankine cycle performance and some similar processes depend on many factors. One of them is the category of the working fluid, influencing the performance through the phase/phases during and at the end of the expansion process. Droplet formation for wet fluids and superheated for dry fluids motivated the researchers to seek isentropic working fluids, where expansion could proceed and terminate in a saturated vapour state. The shape of the T-s diagram is a material property; it cannot be changed for real pure fluids, but small jumps can be initiated by replacing one working fluid with a chemically very similar one, like Propane (a wet one) with Butane (a dry one). Our study presents a much smoother transition, using mixed working fluids prepared from chemically similar materials to obtain almost ideal zeotropic mixtures. The main point of our study is to show the wet-to-dry transition for mixtures and prove or disprove the existence of compositions where the fluid can show T-s diagram resembling the ones for ideal isentropic working fluids. For this purpose, Propane was mixed with other alkanes, such as Butane, Pentane, and Hexane, in various compositions, and the thermophysical properties of fluids were calculated by using the REFPROP software program. Wet-to-dry transitions were shown for the Propane/Hexane mixture at (0.6584 + 0.3416 mass fraction), while (0.5823 + 0.4177 mass fraction) and (0.6436 + 0.3564 mass fraction) was the transition mixture for Propane/Butane and Propane/Pentane respectively. Consequently, when exceeding the mentioned composition range, the fluids switch from wet to dry without forming a composition showing ideal isentropic properties. Therefore, isentropic working fluid (showing an infinite slope for the saturated vapour branch in a finite, nonzero temperature range) was not found during this transition.
Seasonal Chemical Variation and Antidiabetic Activity of Major Compounds in Artemisia afra Infusions
Authors: Stevens Michelle R. , van Niekerk Suzanne E. , Netshimbupfe Mmbulaheni H. , Hamman Josias H. , Van der Kooy Frank 
Published: February 2024

AbstractArtemisia afra Jacq. ex Willd., Asteraceae, is a very popular herbal medicine in Southern Africa and is mainly used in the form of a tea infusion for the treatment of a wide variety of ailments, including diabetes. In this study, the phytochemical variation of four individual A. afra plants, collected monthly for a 1-year period, was determined. Eleven phytochemical compounds present in the infusions were identified and was used to illustrate the seasonal chemical variability. These compounds were also tested for their in vitro antidiabetic activity using the α-glucosidase inhibition bioassay. The results indicated that considerable phytochemical variation existed over a 1-year period within each plant but also between the four plants tested. The main bioactive compounds, namely, 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, showed better α-glucosidase inhibition activity than the positive control, acarbose. Furthermore, these compounds appeared to show an interchangeable transition trend with its monomer, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid with the former seemingly increasing during summer and the latter two during the winter months. This study highlights the importance of quality control and standardisation of popular herbal remedies such as A. afra.
Graphical Abstract
Shell and the Climate Case: Is the Shell Group the “Cheapest Cost Avoider”?
Authors: Kanning Arnald J. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThe Hague District Court in the Netherlands faced a novel tort law issue in 2021 in Milieudefensie et al v Royal Dutch Shell plc – namely, whether Shell is liable in tort for the reduction costs of carbon dioxide produced in the end use of energy-carrying Shell products. The civil lawsuit aims to make Shell (re)search for adequate substitutes so as to enable Shell’s customers to reduce their consumption of energy-carrying Shell products. It is argued here that Shell’s liability should be assessed within Guido Calabresi’s “cheapest cost avoider” framework.
A simple prediction of time-mean and wave orbital velocities in submerged canopy
Authors: Zhang Xiaoxia , Zhao Chuyan , Nepf Heidi 
Published: February 2024

Flow within submerged canopies influences the transport of nutrients, sediment, pollutants, plant seeds and the settlement of larvae. To improve our understanding of mass transport within canopies, a simple model is proposed to predict the total time-varying velocity within submerged rigid canopies (representing coral reefs) and flexible canopies (representing seagrasses and saltmarshes). The model divides the momentum equations into a canopy layer and free-stream layer. The difference in the time derivative of the velocity between the two layers is balanced by the sum of the shear stress and canopy drag, both of which depend on the in-canopy total velocity. The present model extended the shear stress model developed for steady current to combined current and wave conditions without additional calibrating coefficients. The model agreed well with the in-canopy velocity measured in the present and several previous studies. Importantly, the proposed model significantly improved the accuracy of canopy time-mean velocity prediction, which reduced the root mean square error by more than 50 %, compared with previous models. The model revealed that the addition of waves can significantly decrease the in-canopy time-mean velocity.
Glycine supplementation can partially restore oxidative stress-associated glutathione deficiency in ageing cats
Authors: Ruparell Avika , Alexander Janet E. , Eyre Ryan , Carvell-Miller Laura , Leung Y. Becca , Evans Samantha J. M. , Holcombe Lucy J. , Heer Martina , Watson Phillip 
Published: February 2024

AbstractIntracellular levels of glutathione, the major mammalian antioxidant, are reported to decline with age in several species. To understand whether ageing affects circulating glutathione levels in cats, blood was sampled from two age groups, < 3 years and > 9 years. Further, to determine whether dietary supplementation with glutathione precursor glycine (GLY) affects glutathione concentrations in senior cats (> 8 years), a series of free GLY inclusion level dry diets were fed. Subsequently, a 16-week GLY feeding study was conducted in senior cats (> 7 years), measuring glutathione, and markers of oxidative stress. Whole blood and erythrocyte total, oxidised and reduced glutathione levels were significantly decreased in senior cats, compared with their younger counterparts (P ≤ 0·02). The inclusion level study identified 1·5 % free GLY for the subsequent dry diet feeding study. Significant increases in erythrocyte total and reduced glutathione were observed between senior cats fed supplemented and control diets at 4 weeks (P ≤ 0·03; maximum difference of 1·23 µM). Oxidative stress markers were also significantly different between groups at 8 (P = 0·004; difference of 0·68 nG/ml in 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine) and 12 weeks (P ≤ 0·049; maximum difference of 0·62 nG/mG Cr in F2-isoprostane PGF2α). Senior cats have lower circulating glutathione levels compared with younger cats. Feeding senior cats a complete and balanced dry diet supplemented with 1·5 % free GLY for 12 weeks elevated initial erythrocyte glutathione and altered markers of oxidative stress. Dietary supplementation with free GLY provides a potential opportunity to restore age-associated reduction in glutathione in cats.