bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Enhancing 5G propagation into vehicles and buildings using optically transparent and polarisation insensitive metasurfaces over wide-incidence angles
Authors: Bagheri Amirmasood , Danesh Shadi , Wang Fan , Hosseininejad Seyed Ehsan , Khalily Mohsen , Tafazolli Rahim 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis article introduces two transmissive metasurfaces applied to normal windows, aiming to improve the 5G outdoor-to-indoor (O2I) coverage. These windows can be utilized in various settings, such as vehicles or buildings. The proposed unit cells, designed to be wide-incident angle and polarization insensitive, are implemented in both single-glazing and double-glazing glasses, arranged in a periodic structure to form the transmission surfaces. Both metasurfaces maintain optical transparency by incorporating Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) as the conductive element in each unit cell. These engineered transmission surfaces enhance the 5G signal indoor coverage at the 3.5 GHz band across a broad range of incident angles. While multi-layer structures typically exhibit heightened sensitivity to the angle of incidence, the proposed two-layered transmissive surfaces demonstrate substantial angular stability, reaching up to 65 and 75 degrees for double- and single-glazed glass, respectively. To achieve this wide and stable angular response, evolutionary optimization techniques were employed to fine-tune the proposed unit cells. Both designs exhibit a high transmission coefficient across the operating frequency for a variety of incident angles, surpassing those reported in the existing literature. Experimental evaluations of the fabricated prototypes indicate that both metasurfaces hold significant potential for enhancing signal propagation into buildings and vehicles.
Lipids productivity of cyanobacterium Anabaena vaginicola in an internally illuminated photobioreactor using LED bar lights
Authors: Goldoost Hootan , Vahabzadeh Farzaneh , Fallah Narges 
Published: March 2024

AbstractConcerns over environmental issues exists and desire to decrease of their extent, have directed efforts toward green energy production. Growth behavior of Anabaena vaginicola was determined in a photobioreator which illuminated internally (IIPBR) using LED bar light. Excessive heat generated in the IIPBR was taken care of by applying a novel air-cooled system. Further note in experimentation was to find favorable cultivation conditions in the IIPBR for A. vaginicola growth and its lipids production capacity. The following results are expressed: 80 µmol photons m−2 s−1 as light intensity, 0.5 g/l as NaNO3, and 120 ml/min as CO2 amount being expressed in terms of aeration rate. The findings were interpreted in terms of a two-component system where the genes encoded to the relevant proteins are present in cyanobacteria and their expressiveness depends on environmental stress. By determining growth rate constant as 0.11 d−1, the productivity in terms of biomass formation was calculated as 202.6 mg L−1 d−1. While rate of lipids production by the test cyanobacterium is 15.65 mg L−1 d−1. Based on total energy used for IIPBR performance, biomass productivity per unit power input equals to 0.74 g W−1 d−1 and this is in favorable position compared with other photobioreactors.
Properties of sandcrete blocks stabilized with cashew apple ash as a partial replacement for cement
Authors: Korankye Peter , Danso Humphrey 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe use of by-products from agricultural production as stabilizers in concrete and mortar in developing countries could result in numerous benefits. These by-products are readily available, cheap, and have a lesser carbon footprint. As Portland cement prices keep rising, the search for alternatives to sustainable construction materials is necessary. Cashew apples are left on cashew farms as waste material after the nuts have been removed due to lack of utilization. In this study, the properties of sandcrete blocks produced with cashew apple ash (CAA) as a partial replacement for cement were investigated. A total of 180 block specimens of size 100 × 100 × 130 mm were prepared from six different mortar mixes of control, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% CAA replacement of cement by weight were prepared. Results revealed that the highest compressive and tensile strengths after 28 days of curing CAA blocks were 11.45 and 1.08 N/mm2 respectively. The best water absorption resistance obtained was 2.66%. The study recommends the use of 5% CAA replacement of cement to block manufacturers for use in manufacturing sandcrete blocks. This study is useful because the cashew apple waste ash used as an alternative material to cement in sandcrete block production will be beneficial to the environment and may also save the cost of production of sandcrete blocks.
Lysine demethylase LSD1 is associated with stemness in EBV-positive B cell lymphoma
Authors: Kim Joo Hyun , Park Chaehwa , Kim Won Seog 
Published: March 2024

AbstractEBV-infected lymphoma has a poor prognosis and various treatment strategies are being explored. Reports suggesting that B cell lymphoma can be induced by epigenetic regulation have piqued interest in studying mechanisms targeting epigenetic regulation. Here, we set out to identify an epigenetic regulator drug that acts synergistically with doxorubicin in EBV-positive lymphoma. We expressed the major EBV protein, LMP1, in B-cell lymphoma cell lines and used them to screen 100 epigenetic modifiers in combination with doxorubicin. The screening results identified TCP, which is an inhibitor of LSD1. Further analyses revealed that LMP1 increased the activity of LSD1 to enhance stemness ability under doxorubicin treatment, as evidenced by colony-forming and ALDEFLUOR activity assays. Quantseq 3′ mRNA sequencing analysis of potential targets regulated by LSD1 in modulating stemness revealed that the LMP1-induced upregulation of CHAC2 was decreased when LSD1 was inhibited by TCP or downregulated by siRNA. We further observed that SOX2 expression was altered in response to CHAC2 expression, suggesting that stemness is regulated. Collectively, these findings suggest that LSD1 inhibitors could serve as promising therapeutic candidates for EBV-positive lymphoma, potentially reducing stemness activity when combined with conventional drugs to offer an effective treatment approach.
Targeting human progesterone receptor (PR), through pharmacophore-based screening and molecular simulation revealed potent inhibitors against breast cancer
Authors: Shahab Muhammad , Ziyu Peng , Waqas Muhammad , Zheng Guojun , Bin Jardan Yousef A. , Fentahun Wondmie Gezahign , Bouhrhia Mohammed 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBreast cancer, the prevailing malignant tumor among women, is linked to progesterone and its receptor (PR) in both tumorigenesis and treatment responsiveness. Despite thorough investigation, the precise molecular mechanisms of progesterone in breast cancer remain unclear. The human progesterone receptor (PR) serves as an essential therapeutic target for breast cancer treatment, warranting the rapid design of small molecule therapeutics that can effectively inhibit HPR. By employing cutting-edge computational techniques like molecular screening, simulation, and free energy calculation, the process of identifying potential lead molecules from natural products has been significantly expedited. In this study, we employed pharmacophore-based virtual screening and molecular simulations to identify natural product-based inhibitors of human progesterone receptor (PR) in breast cancer treatment. High-throughput molecular screening of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and zinc databases was performed, leading to the identification of potential lead compounds. The analysis of binding modes for the top five compounds from both database provides valuable structural insights into the inhibition of HPR for breast cancer treatment. The top five hits exhibited enhanced stability and compactness compared to the reference compound. In conclusion, our study provides valuable insights for identifying and refining lead compounds as HPR inhibitors.
Spread of awareness of COVID-19 between December 2019 and March 2020 in France
Authors: Blanc Horace , Rothier Bautzer Eliane , Vellut Natacha , Tran Viet-Thi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDuring the early phase of outbreaks, awareness of the presence of the disease plays an important role in transmission dynamics. To investigate the processes of how people become aware of a disease, we conducted two complementary investigations. First, we surveyed 868 academic researchers in France, on the time and circumstances when they became aware of COVID-19 as an important event. We found that 25% did so before February 18th (first death in France), 50% did so before March 10th (first presidential allocution) and 75% did so before March 16th (announcement of the lockdown). Awareness came from nine categories of circumstances: (1) decisions taken by the government (elicited by 35.7% participants); (2) information from media or social media (24.7%); (3) conversation with friends (22.4%); (4) observed changes in their personal lives (14.0%); (5) decisions taken by the employer (9.2%); (6) observed changes at work (9.9%); (7) suspected case of COVID-19 in their entourage (3.1%); (8) fear for oneself or their entourage (2.8%) and (9) self-appraisal of scientific reports (2.8%). Second, we appraised three general media in France (a television news show, a radio news show, and a newspaper) and showed that COVID-19 became a preeminent topic only after March 1st 2020 when the epidemic is present on national soil. Our results show that multiple intricated factors prompt the awareness of an emerging infectious disease. Awareness is not solely driven by general media as they begin to focus on the topic late.
A comparison of human and GPT-4 use of probabilistic phrases in a coordination game
Authors: Maloney Laurence T. , Dal Martello Maria F. , Fei Vivian , Ma Valerie 
Published: March 2024

AbstractEnglish speakers use probabilistic phrases such as likely to communicate information about the probability or likelihood of events. Communication is successful to the extent that the listener grasps what the speaker means to convey and, if communication is successful, individuals can potentially coordinate their actions based on shared knowledge about uncertainty. We first assessed human ability to estimate the probability and the ambiguity (imprecision) of twenty-three probabilistic phrases in a coordination game in two different contexts, investment advice and medical advice. We then had GPT-4 (OpenAI), a Large Language Model, complete the same tasks as the human participants. We found that GPT-4’s estimates of probability both in the Investment and Medical Contexts were as close or closer to that of the human participants as the human participants’ estimates were to one another. However, further analyses of residuals disclosed small but significant differences between human and GPT-4 performance. Human probability estimates were compressed relative to those of GPT-4. Estimates of probability for both the human participants and GPT-4 were little affected by context. We propose that evaluation methods based on coordination games provide a systematic way to assess what GPT-4 and similar programs can and cannot do.
PV to reduce evaporative losses in the channels of the São Francisco’s River water transposition project
Authors: Stiubiener Uri , de Freitas Adriano Gomes , Heilala Janne , Fuser Igor 
Published: March 2024

AbstractOpen water transposition channels in hot and arid regions, like those in the São Francisco River Integration Project (PISF) in Brazil, suffer significant water losses through evaporation. This paper proposes covering these channels with photovoltaic (PV) panels to reduce evaporation while simultaneously generating clean energy. The research aims to quantify water savings and energy generation potential across all channel lengths and assess whether the generated solar power can substitute grid electricity for powering the transposition pumps during peak hours, thereby enhancing energy efficiency. This study analyzed the state-of-the-art of PV generation and calculated their solar potential. Identified the specific characteristics of PISF channels and watercourses considering the regional geography, meteorology, irradiation, and social peculiarities. And, finally, assessed the feasibility of covering the watercourses with solar panels. The results reveal that covering all current PISF channels with PV panels could save up to 25,000 cubic meters of water per day, significantly contributing to water security and improving the quality of life for the local population. Additionally, the project could generate 1200 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, meeting the energy demands of the transposition pumps during peak hours and promoting energy efficiency within the project. This research paves the way for utilizing PV technology to address water scarcity challenges and enhance the sustainability of water infrastructure projects in arid regions worldwide.
Dynamics of starch formation and gene expression during grain filling and its possible influence on grain quality
Authors: Durbha Sanjeeva Rao , Siromani N. , Jaldhani V. , Krishnakanth T. , Thuraga Vishnukiran , Neeraja C. N. , Subrahmanyam D. , Sundaram R. M. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn rice, grain filling is a crucial stage where asynchronous filling of the pollinated spikelet’s of the panicle occurs. It can influence both grain quality and yield. In rice grain, starch is the dominant component and contains amylose and amylopectin. Amylose content is the chief cooking quality parameter, however, rice varieties having similar amylose content varied in other parameters. Hence, in this study, a set of varieties varying in yield (04) and another set (12) of varieties that are similar in amylose content with variation in gel consistency and alkali spreading value were used. Panicles were collected at various intervals and analysed for individual grain weight and quantities of amylose and amylopectin. Gas exchange parameters were measured in varieties varying in yield. Upper branches of the panicles were collected from rice varieties having similar amylose content and were subjected to gene expression analysis with fourteen gene specific primers of starch synthesis. Results indicate that grain filling was initiated simultaneously in multiple branches. Amylose and amylopectin quantities increased with the increase in individual grain weight. However, the pattern of regression lines of amylose and amylopectin percentages with increase in individual grain weight varied among the varieties. Gas exchange parameters like photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2 and transpiration rate decreased with the increase in grain filling period in both good and poor yielding varieties. However, they decreased more in poor yielders. Expression of fourteen genes varied among the varieties and absence of SBE2b can be responsible for medium or soft gel consistency.
Bile acid metabolites enhance expression of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide in airway epithelium through activation of the TGR5-ERK1/2 pathway
Authors: Myszor Iwona T. , Lapka Kornelia , Hermannsson Kristjan , Rekha Rokeya Sultana , Bergman Peter , Gudmundsson Gudmundur Hrafn 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSignals for the maintenance of epithelial homeostasis are provided in part by commensal bacteria metabolites, that promote tissue homeostasis in the gut and remote organs as microbiota metabolites enter the bloodstream. In our study, we investigated the effects of bile acid metabolites, 3-oxolithocholic acid (3-oxoLCA), alloisolithocholic acid (AILCA) and isolithocholic acid (ILCA) produced from lithocholic acid (LCA) by microbiota, on the regulation of innate immune responses connected to the expression of host defense peptide cathelicidin in lung epithelial cells. The bile acid metabolites enhanced expression of cathelicidin at low concentrations in human bronchial epithelial cell line BCi-NS1.1 and primary bronchial/tracheal cells (HBEpC), indicating physiological relevance for modulation of innate immunity in airway epithelium by bile acid metabolites. Our study concentrated on deciphering signaling pathways regulating expression of human cathelicidin, revealing that LCA and 3-oxoLCA activate the surface G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1 (TGR5, Takeda-G-protein-receptor-5)—extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) cascade, rather than the nuclear receptors, aryl hydrocarbon receptor, farnesoid X receptor and vitamin D3 receptor in bronchial epithelium. Overall, our study provides new insights into the modulation of innate immune responses by microbiota bile acid metabolites in the gut-lung axis, highlighting the differences in epithelial responses between different tissues.
Effect of laser beam incidence angle on weld formation mechanism and corrosion resistance of T2 copper/304 stainless steel
Authors: Wang Yubo , Liu Wei , Cui Heng , Lu Guipeng 
Published: March 2024

AbstractOver the last 20 years, industry interest in copper has increased. Its application in the petrochemical, automotive, and nuclear power industries highlights the need for new research directions especially in the joining of copper to other metals. In this work, lap joint of 304 stainless steel and T2 copper precoated with Cu–Mn–Ni filler metal was performed by laser brazing. The aim of this study is to characterize the influence of laser beam incidence angle on the welded joint forming mode, microstructure, elements diffusion and corrosion resistance. According to the findings, the joint is classified as a welded joint when the laser beam incidence angle is 80°, and as a welded-brazed joint when it’s 90°, 70°, or 60°. The microstructure is mainly composed of Cu-rich and Fe-rich phases, Mn in the Cu-rich phase aggregation and Cr in the Fe-rich phase aggregation. In the fusion zone (FZ) the content of less than 50% of the liquid will be in the form of supersaturated droplets in the matrix of the other side. The local corrosion pair that the copper steel matrix and liquid drop produce in the FZ speeds up the dissolution of the Cu-rich phase, which effected corrosion resistance of the joint.
Advanced liver fibrosis is associated with decreased gait speed in older patients with chronic liver disease
Authors: Fudeyasu Kenichi , Ushio Kai , Nomura Takuo , Kawae Toshihiro , Iwaki Daisuke , Nakashima Yuki , Nagao Akiko , Hiramatsu Akira , Murakami Eisuke , Oka Shiro , Mikami Yukio 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study investigated whether the progression of liver fibrosis affects the prevalence of sarcopenia and incidence of decreased gait speed in older patients with chronic liver disease (CLD). Patients with CLD aged ≥ 60 years were classified into low, intermediate, and high fibrosis 4 (FIB-4) index groups according to the degree of liver fibrosis. The prevalence of sarcopenia and incidence of decreased gait speed (< 1.0 m/s) were compared among the three groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate factors affecting the risk of decreased gait speed. No significant difference was observed in the prevalence of sarcopenia among the three groups, but the incidence of decreased gait speed significantly differed (p = 0.029). When analyzed individually, a significant difference in decreased gait speed incidence was observed between the high and low FIB-4 index groups (p = 0.014). In logistic regression analysis, the progression of liver fibrosis (odds ratio: 1.32, 95% confidence interval: 1.13–1.55) and lower extremity muscle strength (LEMS) (odds ratio: 0.92, 95% confidence interval: 0.88–0.97) were significantly associated with decreased gait speed. As liver fibrosis progresses in older patients with CLD, it becomes important to focus on not only skeletal muscle mass and grip strength, but also gait speed and LEMS.
Language prediction in monolingual and bilingual speakers: an EEG study
Authors: Momenian Mohammad , Vaghefi Mahsa , Sadeghi Hamidreza , Momtazi Saeedeh , Meyer Lars 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPrediction of upcoming words is thought to be crucial for language comprehension. Here, we are asking whether bilingualism entails changes to the electrophysiological substrates of prediction. Prior findings leave it open whether monolingual and bilingual speakers predict upcoming words to the same extent and in the same manner. We address this issue with a naturalistic approach, employing an information-theoretic metric, surprisal, to predict and contrast the N400 brain potential in monolingual and bilingual speakers. We recruited 18 Iranian Azeri-Persian bilingual speakers and 22 Persian monolingual speakers. Subjects listened to a story in Persian while their electroencephalogram (EEG) was recorded. Bayesian item-level analysis was used. While in monolingual speakers N400 was sensitive to information-theoretic properties of both the current and previous words, in bilingual speakers N400 reflected the properties of the previous word only. Our findings show evidence for a processing delay in bilingual speakers which is consistent with prior research.
Liver resection volume-dependent pancreatic strain following living donor hepatectomy
Authors: Wakiya Taiichi , Sakuma Yasunaru , Onishi Yasuharu , Sanada Yukihiro , Okada Noriki , Hirata Yuta , Horiuchi Toshio , Omameuda Takahiko , Takadera Kiichiro , Sata Naohiro 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe liver and pancreas work together to recover homeostasis after hepatectomy. This study aimed to investigate the effect of liver resection volume on the pancreas. We collected clinical data from 336 living liver donors. They were categorized into left lateral sectionectomy (LLS), left lobectomy, and right lobectomy (RL) groups. Serum pancreatic enzymes were compared among the groups. Serum amylase values peaked on postoperative day (POD) 1. Though they quickly returned to preoperative levels on POD 3, 46% of cases showed abnormal values on POD 7 in the RL group. Serum lipase levels were highest at POD 7. Lipase values increased 5.7-fold on POD 7 in the RL group and 82% of cases showed abnormal values. The RL group’s lipase was twice that of the LLS group. A negative correlation existed between the remnant liver volume and amylase (r = − 0.326)/lipase (r = − 0.367) on POD 7. Furthermore, a significant correlation was observed between POD 7 serum bilirubin and amylase (r = 0.379)/lipase (r = 0.381) levels, indicating cooccurrence with liver and pancreatic strain. Pancreatic strain due to hepatectomy occurs in a resection/remnant liver volume-dependent manner. It would be beneficial to closely monitor pancreatic function in patients undergoing a major hepatectomy.