bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Physicochemical and Antibacterial Properties of Ceramic Membranes Based on Silicon Carbide
Authors: Molchan Yliia , Vorobyova Victoria , Vasyliev Georgii , Pylypenko Ihor , Shtyka Oleksandr , Maniecki Tomasz , Dontsova Tetiana 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

The article is devoted to the synthesis of ceramic membranes based on silicon carbide and the study of their mechanical, electrical, and antibacterial properties. SiC-based ceramic membranes have a few advantages, namely high surface hydrophilicity, good water permeability and negative surface charge, which leads to better performance during their operation. The effect of carbonate type and addition of liquid glass on the physicochemical properties of ceramic membranes was investigated using diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that regardless of the carbonate type, only two phases can be identified: the main phase in the original mixture is silicon carbide and an additional phase added to the mixture is corundum. The transport properties obtained (9.03–18.66 cm3/(min·cm2)), and the results of electron microscopy indicate the macroporosity of ceramic membranes based on silicon carbide (13–20 µm). Ceramic membranes of high strength (16.3–46.8 MPa) were obtained. Studies on antibacterial properties have shown that SiC-based ceramic membranes do not exhibit antibacterial properties. The additional modification of ceramic membranes with titanium oxide has given ceramic membranes based on silicon carbide antibacterial properties, as evidenced by the inhibition of the growth of gram-negative bacteria, the effectiveness of which depends on the number of selective layers based on TiO2 applied. The results of this study are useful to enrich the knowledge of the production of silicon carbide membranes and are aimed at the future research and development of selective membranes (micro- and ultrafiltration) based on them.
Non-classical CD45RBlo memory B-cells are the majority of circulating antigen-specific B-cells following mRNA vaccination and COVID-19 infection.
Authors: Priest David G. , Ebihara Takeshi , Tulyeu Janyerkye , Søndergaard Jonas , Sakakibara Shuhei , Sugihara Fuminori , Nakao Shunichiro , Togami Yuki , Yoshimura Jumpei , Ito Hiroshi , Onishi Shinya , Muratsu Arisa , Mitsuyama Yumi , Ogura Hiroshi , Oda Jun , Okuzaki Daisuke , Matsumoto Hisatake , Wing James B. 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Resting memory B-cells can be divided into classical and non-classical groups based on differential expression of markers such as CD27 and CD11c, while activated memory B-cells express a combination of markers, making their ontogeny hard to determine. Here by longitudinal analysis of COVID-19, bacterial sepsis, and BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine recipients by mass cytometry and CITE-seq we describe a three-branch structure of resting B-cell memory consisting of “classical” CD45RB+ memory and two branches of CD45RBlo memory further defined by expression of CD23 and CD11c respectively. Stable differences in CD45RB upon activation allowed tracking of activated B-cells and plasmablasts derived from CD45RB+ classical and CD45RBlo non-classical memory B-cells. In both COVID-19 patients and mRNA vaccination, CD45RBlo B-cells formed the majority of SARS-CoV2 specific memory B-cells and correlated with serum antibodies while CD45RB+ memory was most strongly activated by bacterial Sepsis. These results suggest that diverse non-classical CD45RBlo memory B-cells consisting of branches of CD11c+Tbet+ and CD23+ fractions form a critical part of responses to viral infection and vaccination.
A Review of CSR and ESG Disclosures Determinant Studies: Comparability and Ambiguities
Authors: Seow Richard Yeaw Chong 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) are two pertinent concepts in sustainable development and responsible investing. In recent years, companies experienced growing pressure from stakeholders to demonstrate their dedication to sustainability. Scholars have been investigating the factors driving greater transparency in sustainability efforts, leading to a surge in the literature on determinants of CSR and ESG disclosure. However, the relationship between CSR and ESG has created uncertainties in these studies. This analysis, based on 164 articles from Scopus and Web of Science, reveals that 70% of these articles were published after 2018, with 81% focusing on the quantity of disclosures. The most frequently cited theoretical frameworks include legitimacy theory, stakeholder theory, and agency theory. The study identifies determinants at various levels, including country, industry, firm, and individual. Despite similarities in theoretical approaches and determinants, the literature is marked by confusion regarding the concept and proxies for CSR and ESG disclosures. The study concludes by offering suggestions for future research to address these ambiguities.
Electro-chemo-mechanical failure in layered oxide cathodes caused by rotational stacking faults
Authors: Kang Kisuk , Eum Donggun , Park Sung O , Jang Ho-Young , Jeon Youngjun , Song Jun-Hyuk , Han Sangwook , Kim Kyoungoh 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Electro-chemo-mechanical degradation is one of the most common causes of capacity deterioration in high-energy-density cathodes, particularly intercalation-based layered oxides. Here, we reveal a presence of rotational stacking faults (RSFs) in layered lithium transition-metal oxides, arising from specific stacking sequences at different angles, and demonstrate, for the first time, their critical role in determining structural/electrochemical stability. Our combined experiments and calculations show that RSFs facilitate oxygen dimerization and transition-metal migration in layered oxides, fostering microcrack nucleation/propagation concurrently with cumulative electro-chemo-mechanical degradation upon cycling. We further show that thermal defect annihilation as a potential solution can suppress RSFs, reducing microcracks and enhancing cyclability in lithium-rich layered cathodes. The common but previously overlooked occurrence of RSFs suggests a new synthetic guideline of high-energy-density layered oxide cathodes.
FoldExplorer: Fast and Accurate Protein Structure Search with Sequence-Enhanced Graph Embedding
Authors: Shen Hong-Bin , Liu Yuan , Zhang Ying , Zhou Zhen 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

The advent of highly accurate protein structure prediction methods has fueled an exponential expansion of the protein structure database. Consequently, there is a rising demand for rapid and precise structural homolog search. Traditional alignment-based methods are dedicated to precise comparisons between pairs, exhibiting high accuracy. However, their sluggish processing speed is no longer adequate for managing the current massive volume of data. In response to this challenge, we propose a novel deep-learning approach FoldExplorer. It harnesses the powerful capabilities of graph attention neural networks and protein large language models for protein structures and sequences data processing to generate embeddings for protein structures. FoldExplorer demonstrates a substantial performance improvement of 5% to 8% over the current state-of-the-art algorithm on the benchmark datasets. Significantly, FoldExplorer remains effective when searching low-confidence predicted structures. Meanwhile, FoldExplorer’s time complexity is approximately O(n), which is particularly highly efficient in searching in a large-scale dataset. The accurate embedding space generated by FoldExplorer enables providing a comprehensive protein structure space view, which will provide novel cluster and boundary insights on the protein universe studies.
Association between elevated serum matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α, and clinical symptoms in male patients with treatment-resistant and chronic medicated schizophrenia
Authors: Yang Haidong , Peng Ruijie , Yang Man , Zhang Jing , Shi Zhihui , Zhang Xiaobin 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background: Inflammation has an important role in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to investigate the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in male patients with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS) and chronic medicated schizophrenia (CMS), and the relationship with psychopathology.
Methods: The study enrolled 31 TRS and 49 CMS male patients, and 53 healthy controls. Serum MMP-2 and TNF-a levels were measured by the Luminex liquid suspension chip detection method. Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) scores were used to evaluate symptom severity and Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status was used to assess cognitive function.
Results: Serum TNF-a and MMP-2 levels differed significantly between TRS, CMS and healthy control patients (F=4.289, P=0.016; F=4.682, P=0.011, respectively). Bonferroni correction demonstrated that serum TNF-a levels were significantly elevated in CMS patients (P=0.022) and MMP-2 levels were significantly higher in TRS patients (P=0.014) compared to healthy controls. In TRS patients, TNF-a was negatively correlated with age (r=-0.435, P=0.015) and age of onset (r=-0.409, P=0.022). In CMS patients, MMP-2 and TNF-a were negatively correlated with PANSS negative and total scores, and TNF-a was negatively correlated with PANSS general psychopathology scores (all P<0.05). MMP-2 levels were positively correlated with TNF-a levels (P<0.05), but not with cognitive function (P>0.05).
Conclusion: The results indicate the involvement of inflammation in the etiology of TRS and CMS. Further studies are warranted.
Numerical Simulation and Design of Multi-field Coupling for Nonferrous Metals DC Electromagnetic Stirring
Authors: FANG WENHUA , ZHANG JING , FENG JINGXING , WAN ZHONGMIN 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
In the melting process of non-ferrous metals, melt stirring is one of the most important processes. In this paper, a new type of EMS (Electromagnetic Stirring) device with long service life and low energy consumption is designed based on the basic equations of Maxwell electromagnetics combined with finite element method. The effect of the designed EMS on the non-ferrous metal melt is studied. The 3D numerical model of multi-field coupling of DC EMS device is established. The distribution and morphological characteristics of magnetic field and flow field are simulated by ANSYS software. Through the streamline distribution and the volume fraction cloud diagram analysis, it is found that the melt flow state and the Si composition distribution are different under different stirring speed especially for early time, but when the time is long enough, the melt will be stirred evenly. During the stirring, the alternating magnetic field can form the circumferential electromagnetic torque, through which the non-ferrous metal melt can move. It is found that the circulating flow inside the melt and the shear flow near the groove wall are in conflict with each other. This phenomenon creates favorable conditions for the collision, friction and mixing of non-ferrous metals and reinforcement groups.
Landsat Observation of Land Use and Land Cover Change Monitoring and Its Correlation with Land Surface Temperature Through NDBI and NDVI Analysis: A Case Study of Pine Bluff City, Arkansas
Authors: RAHMAN MAHBUBUR 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
While rapid urbanization has been observed worldwide, some U.S. cities are experiencing a declining urbanization rate. For example, Pine Bluff city in Arkansas state has been losing its urban population at a concerning rate. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, this city has lost approximately 10,000 people in the last 3 decades (1993–2023). To observe population contraction resulting from urbanization, this study utilized remote sensing multispectral image analysis to identify whether urban decline accompanied by shrinking built-up areas is occurring in this city through land use and land cover (LULC) change analysis and to monitor the correlation between land surface temperature (LST) and built-up area and vegetation through the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and normalized difference built-up index (NDBI). The focus of the study was to extract the urban class via LULC analysis, which revealed a slight increase in the built-up area. However, the LST analysis revealed a notable increase in temperature, a positive correlation with the NDBI, and a negative correlation with the NDVI.
Striving for Sustainability CSF Measures in Türkiye's Forest Management
Authors: Gençay Gökçe , Birben Üstüner 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

Forests play a key role in mitigating climate change. They are one of the major sinks for carbon, and the idea of how to use these important resources more efficiently and effectively has led to the emergence of a new trend in forestry in recent years. Climate Smart Forestry (CSF) aims to reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) and seeks to fortify forests against potential climate change consequences in the future while increasing production and incomes sustainably from forests, in line with the main purpose of other climate smart initiatives. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the measures, indicators, and criteria that promote CSF. Following this, the strengths and weaknesses of Türkiye’s forestry legislation and practices were analyzed using the nine criteria derived from academic literature for CSF. Thus, the degree to which Turkish forestry practices and legislation are consistent with the CSF and its reflections were assessed. Analysis shows that the adapting forest to the future has the highest positive coverage in the sense of CSF among the Turkish Forestry legislation and practices. Furthermore, defining and establishing standards for CSF will help establish a framework by which other nations may assess their own progress in this area.
Treatment of early-onset scoliosis with Co-Cr-Mo multidirectional sliding growth rod technique
Authors: Zhu Feng , Song Xiangjian , Wang Qinglei 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Objective To investigate the efficacy and complications of Co-Cr-Mo guided multidirectional sliding growth rod technology (CMSG) in the treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS).
Methods The clinical and imaging data of 35 EOS patients who received CMSG treatment in the department of scoliosis of our hospital from October 2013 to July 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. There were 20 males and 15 females, aged from 3.5 to 9 years, with an average age of 6.8 years. Follow up every 6 months after operation. During the follow-up, X-ray films of the full length of the standing spine were taken, and the Cobb angle of the scoliosis and kyphosis, the deviation distance of the top vertebra, and the vertical height of T1~S1 were measured to evaluate the surgical effect. The imaging parameters before and after operation were compared by paired t test; Inspection level α The value is taken as 0.05 on both sides.
Results The patients were followed up for (56.4 ± 25.3) months. All patients underwent 54 operations. After the first operation, the Cobb angle of the coronal plane was corrected from 85.6 ° ± 18.5 ° to 26.1 ° ± 10.3 °, the correction rate was 69.5%, and the deviation of the vertex was corrected from 52.1 ± 18.8 mm to 32.5 ± 11.7 mm; The vertical height of T1~S1 increases by 13mm/year on average. There were 2 cases of broken rod, 1 case of screw loosening, 2 cases of borderline kyphosis, 2 cases of decompensation of trunk balance, and 1 case of local infection after operation.
Conclusion CMSG can effectively correct scoliosis and control the progress of scoliosis, while preserving the growth potential of the spine. Compared with the traditional growth rod technique, the number of operations and anesthesia is significantly reduced. The cobalt-chromium-molybdenum material is applied at the sliding interface of the nail bar, which is more wear-resistant and reduces the debris reaction. The incidence of complications is low.
Exploring the molecular mechanisms and shared gene signatures between dermatomyositis and gastric cancer
Authors: Ding Yixin , Leng Chuanyu , Wang Shufei , Wang Kongjia , Qi Weiwei 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background:Several studies have reported a clinical association between gastric cancer(GC) and dermatomyositis (DM), but the molecular features and underlying mechanisms between the two diseases have not been investigated.
Methods：We obtained the strongly associated genes of DM and GC and the clinical characteristics from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), The Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), GeneCards, and DisGeNET databases. We next screened hub genes, constructed co-expression and interaction networks, transcription factor-gene-miRNA regulatory networks, and performed enrichment analysis of cell signaling pathways and candidate drugs prediction. Finally, a single-gene immune infiltration assay was performed on the hub genes.
Results：Our study revealed commonalities at the genetic level between DM and GC. A deep dive into the 8 hub genes revealed the role in immune response, especially cytokines, which were involved in the co-development of the two diseases. The obtained hub genes have the potential to be biomarkers as well as therapeutic targets for DM patients with a potential predisposition to GC tumorigenesis.
The H gene promotes the development of glandular trichomes with long stalks in tobacco through endogenous hormone signaling
Authors: RAN 家俊 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
The HAIRS ABSENT (H) gene encodes the C2H2 zinc finger protein ZFP8, which affects trichome development. Subfamily analysis predicts that its homologous genes have a regulatory role in the development of trichomes in Solanaceous plants. This study found that overexpression of the H gene increased the levels of endogenous hormones cytokinin (CTK), auxin (IAA), jasmonic acid (JA), and gibberellin (GA) in tobacco, leading to plant dwarfism, inhibition of short-stalk glandular trichome (STG) development, promotion of long-stalk glandular trichome (LGT) development, increased trichome density, and enhanced tobacco's ability to resist insect predation. During the flowering phase, the H gene positively regulates NtHEMA, NtHLG2 and NtCAO to promote chlorophyll synthesis, and negatively regulates NtF3H, NtF3, H, NtDRF1, NtANS and NtFGT to inhibit anthocyanin synthesis, altering the contents of chlorophyll and anthocyanin, leading to the appearance of diversified flower colors. Besides, the H gene has a significant impact on plant cell development, causing the epidermal cells of the tobacco corolla to resemble those of the leaf epidermis, which gives the corolla a glossier color.
Delivery of therapeutic RNA by extracellular vesicles derived from Saccharomyces cerevisiae for Medicine Applications
Authors: Yuan Meng , Ma Wenyuan , Liu Bingxin , Zou Xue , Huang Bilian , Tian Xiaoyan , Jin Yu , Zheng Nan , Wu Zhiwei , Wang Yongxiang 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Employing small extracellular vesicles (EVs) as drug delivery vehicles presents a plethora of advantages over conventional drug delivery methods, including biological compatibility, engineering versatility for targeted delivery, and biodegradability. Therefore, strategies aimed at amplifying their therapeutic potential involve developing efficient, tissue-specific, and non-immunogenic delivery approaches. Despite rapid advancements in the realm of EVs as drug delivery systems in recent years, the availability of a high-yield, reproducible, and cost-effective source for EVs production and isolation remains a limiting factor for practical application. In this study, we isolated EVs from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S.c) and loaded them with cargoes such as hsa-miR-143 (an apoptosis-inducing miRNA) or miR-H6 (a miRNA targeting HSV-1). We demonstrated the capability of these EVs to deliver microRNAs or even large mRNA to a variety of cell types. The therapeutic potential of S.c-derived EVs (S.c-EVs) was further evidenced by their ability to inhibit tumor growth in animal models. The S.c-EVs proved to be safe and non-immunogenic in vivo. Our results suggest that Saccharomyces cerevisiae represents a cost-effective source of extracellular vesicles, serving as nanocarriers for functional drug delivery in therapeutic applications.
A case report of S1-S3 sacroiliac screw fixation for posterior pelvic ring injury with S1 sacral dysmorphism
Authors: Zhao Bin , Liu Qi , Shen Anjie , Wang Junqiang , Li Hongtao 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

This article reviews the research progress of S1-S3 sacroiliac screw fixation for posterior pelvic ring injury, reports one case of S1-S3 sacroiliac screws fixation for posterior pelvic ring injury with S1 sacral dysmorphism. The clinical data, preoperative preparation, surgical procedure, and postoperative outcomes of a patient with pelvic fracture who underwent treatment of 3 sacroiliac screws(S1-S3) fixation on August 07, 2023, at Weifang City People’s Hospital were summarized. The patient successfully underwent treatment of 3 sacroiliac screws(S1-S3) fixation. Postoperative X-rays and CT scans confirmed that all screws were in good position and located in the bone corridors. For patients with S1 sacral dysmorphism, the traditional S1 corridor is often difficult to place nails, while the S3 is an alternative corridor to easily place sacroiliac screw.
NCABS: A Novel Consensus Algorithm for Blockchain Network Scalability
Authors: Jabbar Sohail , Khalid Shehzad , Ahmad Awais , Raza Umar , Abbas Qaisar 
Published: January 2024

Abstract

The scalability of Blockchain is a significant factor that requires attention for it to compete with traditional solutions. One of the main concerns in the scalability aspect of Blockchain is throughput and latency. The slow transaction verification process is one of the primary causes of this issue in the founding systems and their descendant solutions. Verifying transactions falls on a cluster of transaction validators comprising selected transaction validators’ nodes. One way to improve scalability is to design a solution that offers faster Proof of Work, i.e., at the level of the consensus algorithm. This paper proposes a method for accelerating the consensus process based on parallel rather than solo mining. The objective is to ensure that up to two or more miners exert the same effort in solving a specific block to avoid additional resource utilization. The key components of the proposed method, called NCABS, are the manager selection process, the distribution of work, and the reward system. The idea is implemented and tested using various case scenarios, including varied node densities, throughput, network latency, resource utilization, network scalability, and responsiveness as the key performance evaluation parameters. The results have shown that NCABS provided better throughput, less resource utilization, a higher transaction commit rate, and less latency than Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance (PBFT).