bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Commonly prescribed medications and risk of pneumonia and all-cause mortality in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a UK population-based cohort study
Authors: Morgan Ann D , Massen Georgie M , Whittaker Hannah R , Stewart Iain , Jenkins Gisli , George Peter M , Quint Jennifer K 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Background
A growing body of evidence suggests that prolonged use of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) is associated with increased risks of pneumonia. A substantial proportion of people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) are prescribed PPIs or ICS to treat common comorbidities, giving rise to concerns that use of these medications may be associated with potential harms in this patient population.
Methods
We used UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD) Aurum primary care data linked to national mortality and hospital admissions data to create a cohort of people diagnosed with IPF on or after 1 January 2010. Patients were assigned to one of three exposure categories according to their prescribing history in the 12 months prior to IPF diagnosis as follows: “regular” users (≥4 prescriptions), “irregular” users (1–3 prescriptions) and “non-users” (no prescriptions). We explored the association between PPI/ICS prescription and pneumonia hospitalisation and all-cause mortality using multinomial Cox regression models.
Results
A total of 17,105 people met our study inclusion criteria; 62.6% were male and 15.9% were current smokers. Median age at IPF diagnosis was 76.7 years (IQR: 69.6–82.7). 19.9% were regularly prescribed PPIs, and 16.0% ICS, prior to IPF diagnosis. Regular prescribing of PPIs and ICS was positively associated with hospitalisation for pneumonia; the adjusted HR for pneumonia hospitalisation comparing regular PPI users with non-users was 1.14 (95%CI: 1.04–1.24); for regular ICS users the corresponding HR was 1.40 (95%CI: 1.25–1.55). We also observed a small increased risk for all-cause mortality in the “regular ICS user” group compared with the “non-user” control group (HRadj=1.19, 1.06–1.33). We found no evidence of an association between PPI prescribing and all-cause mortality.
Conclusion
Prolonged prescription of medications used to treat common comorbidities in IPF may be associated with increased risks for severe respiratory infections. These findings point to a need to adopt an adequate risk-benefit balance approach to the prescribing of ICS-containing inhalers and PPIs in people with IPF without evidence of comorbidities, especially older patients and/or those with more advanced disease in whom respiratory infections are more likely to result in poorer outcomes.
Significance of Heat Source/Sink on Electromagnetohydrodynamics Natural Convection Flow with Electroosmotic Effect
Authors: Oni Michael O. , Rilwan Usman S. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
This work carried out a study on the role of heat source/sink on transient electromagnetohydrodynamics (EMHD) free (natural) convection flow in a vertical micro-channel with electroosmotic effect. The governing energy and momentum equations are converted from partial differential equation (PDE) into ordinary differential equation (ODE) using Laplace transformation technique in order to obtain fluid temperature and velocity in Laplace domain. The Riemann sum approximation method was applied for arriving at the semi-analytical solutions of the temperature distribution and velocity profile. Hence a MATLAB program was coded to study the influence of Prandlt number (Pr), Hartmann number (Ha), electric field strengths on x and z directions (Ex and Sz) and Grashoff number (Gr) on fluid velocity, temperature, skin-friction and mass flow in terms of line graphs. Result shows that the role of heat source/sink parameter has significant impact in the temperature distribution and velocity of the flow. Finally, it is also observed that the governing parameters contribute to the flow formation.
Appraisal of Flood Susceptibility of Hooghly basin, India using Shannon Entropy (SE) and Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP)
Authors: Rehman Sufia , Chaudhary Prof. Bhagwan Singh , Azhoni Adani 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Hooghly basin is one of the flood-affected areas of West Bengal in India. The basin's dense river system, topography, and geographic location make it more susceptible to flooding. Effective flood management necessitates the understating of the spatial distribution of flood susceptible areas. In this context, the present work has examined the flood susceptibility of the Hooghly basin using two significant methods of multicriteria decision making models (MCDM) i.e., Shannon Entropy (SE) and Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (FAHP) models. These two models were applied to twelve flood conditioning factors such as drainage density, elevation, LULC, normalized difference built up index (NDBI), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), normalized difference water index (NDWI), population density, rainfall, distance to rivers, slope, stream power index (SPI) and topographic wetness index (TWI). Binary logistic regression was also performed to identify the confounders of susceptibility in the basin. Drainage density, elevation, rainfall, and distance to rivers were identified as the major determinants of flood susceptibility. Validation of the models through the area under ROC curve (AUC) showed good predictability for SE (0.70) and FAHP (0.71) based flood susceptibility prediction. Therefore, this study may provide a base for stakeholders and planners in managing and minimizing flood susceptibility in the basin.
Composition Of Soil Mesofauna In Changing Cropping Systems Due To Urbanization In Bengaluru, India
Authors: Karan S , AS Devakumar 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The study focused on the composition of soil mesofauna within changing cropping systems influenced by urbanization in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India during the rabi season of 2020–2021. Four major cropping systems, namely pulses, vegetables, horticulture, and agriculture + horticulture crops, were examined across urban, peri-urban, and rural zones in Bengaluru. The research uncovered a total of 714 individuals belonging to 16 different soil mesofauna taxa among the crops studied. Collembolans were found to be the most abundant members of the mesofauna community, with mites following closely. In terms of population dynamics, the highest mesofauna population was observed in December 2020, totaling 248 individuals, while the lowest count was recorded in February 2021, with 104 individuals. Among the crops studied, the highest number of individuals was found in Horticulture systems, with 277 individuals, closely followed by the Agri + horticulture cropping system, which had 158 individuals. When considering the geographical zones, the highest number of individuals was recorded in the urban zones, with 270 individuals, followed by peri-urban areas with 229 individuals, and the rural zone had the lowest count, totaling 225 individuals. It was observed that a less disturbed soil environment, post-monsoon conditions, and the urban heat appeared to favor the proliferation of soil mesofauna.
A continuum multi-phase and multi-component description of the freezing process of seawater to porous sea ice
Authors: Ricken Tim , Thom Andrea , Pathak Raghav , Thoms Silke , Kutschan Bernd 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Formation of porous 'pancake' ice floes in the Antarctic Marginal Ice Zone (MIZ) is a complex phenomenon associated with interactions between the saline seawater and temperature. Ocean warming and future environmental conditions in the Southern Ocean will most likely have an impact on the porous microstructure and thus, also on the connected biogeochemical processes which are closely related to the ice formation. Hence, it becomes important to realistically model the phase transition phenomena. In this paper, a biphasic model of solid ice and saline sea water is presented within the framework of the extended Theory of Porous Media (eTPM) using a continuum mechanical multi-phase and multi-component treatment. The phase transition between ice and brine is modeled using an interfacial mass transfer approach where the mass transferred is assumed as a jump across an interface which separates the phases. The mass production, hence, depends on the heat fluxes, specific enthalpies and the interfacial area. Moreover, the freezing point depression due to changing salinities can be implemented yielding a more detailed simulation. The system of equations results in a high-fidelity model and is simulated using the Finite Element Method (FEM). As proof of concept academic examples are presented.
Amino-Silane - Functionalized Palygorskite with as a Promising Adsorbent for Cr(III): Evaluation of the process variables
Authors: Anjos Nathalia O. A. , Santos Gabriela M. , Bertolino Luiz C. , Soares Bluma Guenther 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Chromium represents a serious threat to living organisms and ecological system. Thus, this removal from wastewater is an urgent concern. The present study evaluates the ability of the functionalized clay mineral palygorskite (PalSIL) to remove the Cr(III) ion under different experimental conditions as a function of process variables: contact time, adsorbate concentration, amount of adsorbent and pH. Palygorskite (Pal) from Guadalupe (Piauí/Brazil) was treated with 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxy silane and characterized by. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis, surface charge measurements (zeta potential) and textured properties (BET). The incorporation of amino-silane functional groups on the Pal surface resulted in maximum adsorption capacity of 21 mg g− 1and the maximum removal percentage of 99%. Data on removal percentages were analyzed using statistical analysis to predict the most significant factors and interactions in this process. The results indicated that the adsorbate concentration, the amount of adsorbent and the pH significantly influenced the removal of Cr(III) ions. It is believed that the adsorption process occurred by the complexation of Cr(III) ions with the organo-functional amino group present at the surface of PalSIL. The kinetic parameters indicated that the fast mechanism of the adsorptive process is a phenomenon of chemical nature. The reaction equilibrium was quickly reached, demonstrating a readily available surface for adsorption. Thus, the present results indicate that PalSIL has the potential to remove Cr(III) ions and probably other potentially toxic elements from wastewater.
Mechanism of overburden breakage and prediction of pressurised racking in the face of integrated mining under the shallow buried close to the coal seam hollow area
Authors: Yu Yongjiang , Zhao Shangqing , Song Zhiyuan , Liu Jiaming 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
The roof plate of the comprehensive mining face under the shallow buried close coal seam mining hollow area breaks at the coal wall, which is easy to cause the accident of cutting the roof and pressing the frame. Revealing the mechanism of breaking the overburden rock at the coal wall in the working face under the shallow buried close coal seam mining hollow area can prevent the press frame accident caused by the overburden articulated rock block breaking and destabilising at the coal wall. By constructing an analytical model of the mechanical analysis of the roof breakage of the lower coal seam under the influence of the stress of the basic roof breakage rock mass above the mining zone, Deriving the critical support strength of the braces for the fracture of the roof of the lower seam at the coal wall, Presenting an instability criterion for the articulated rock mass after fracture of the lower coal seam roof at the coal wall, Then, based on the critical support strength of the support and the instability criterion, we predicted the accident of the 4-coal group pressure frame in Shuangma 1 mine, The sensitivity of the critical support strength of the stent to each parameter was also analysed. The results show: The critical support strength of the brace increases linearly with the top rock load and exponentially with the angle of rotation of the top fractured rock mass. When the angle of rotation of the overlying fractured rock mass above the mining area reaches 42°, the basic top of the lower coal seam will fracture at the coal wall, but the articulated rock mass will not be destabilised; When the angle of rotation reaches 48°, the articulated rock block is destabilised and a press frame accident will occur. The critical support strength of the support has the maximum sensitivity to the rotation angle of the top fractured rock mass. This study can provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and control of press frame accidents in shallow buried close coal seam mining under similar conditions.
Enhanced Methanolysis of Waste PET for Sustainable Production of Dimethyl Terephthalate and Cyclic Arylboronic Esters
Authors: Mei Qingqing , Zhang Minghao , Yu Yunkai , Yan Binghui , Song Xiuju , Liu Yu , Feng Yixiong , Wu Weixiang , Chen Baoliang , Han Buxing 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Developing efficient and cost-effective methodologies for high value-added conversion of waste plastic delivers substantial environmental and economic benefits. Herein, we develop a novel approach utilizing boric acid in the methanolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) to derive pure dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) and boronic acid esters through in-situ capture of ethylene glycol (EG). It not only upcycles waste PET but also eliminates intricate EG purification processes. Catalyzed by magnalium-aluminum-layered double oxides (Mg4Al1-LDO), this method achieved 100% conversions of PET with 96% and 100% yields of arylboronic esters and DMT, respectively. Kinetic studies and in-situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) demonstrated the pivotal role of the monodentate methoxy species, generated through the interaction of medium basic Mg–O ion pairs and methanol. This method demonstrates applicability for the upcycling of assorted discarded PET wastes, polyesters, and polycarbonates with EG units, highlighting its potential as a comprehensive solution for waste plastic management.
hIL-24: A Promising Therapeutic Target for Cervical Cancer Running Title: Targeting hIL-24 in Cervical Cancer
Authors: Song Min , Yuan Hongtao , Zhang Jie , Wang Jing , Yu Jianhua , Wang Wei 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Objective:
This study aimed to identify potential therapeutic targets for cervical cancer by analyzing global gene expression data to pinpoint key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with the disease.
Methods:
Gene expression datasets from GEO, TCGA, and GTEx databases were analyzed to identify DEGs in cervical cancer. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was used to uncover disease-specific genes, and machine learning techniques, including LASSO regression and random forest, were employed to refine the search for pivotal genes.
Results:
The study successfully identified DEGs related to cervical cancer, with human IL-24 (hIL-24) emerging as a critical gene through WGCNA and machine learning predictions. Experimental validation demonstrated that hIL-24 suppressed Siha cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced apoptosis, underscoring its potential as a therapeutic target.
Conclusion:
The comprehensive analysis of global gene expression data highlighted hIL-24 as a key gene in cervical cancer, suggesting its potential as a viable therapeutic target. These findings provide valuable insights into the role of hIL-24 in cervical cancer pathogenesis and have the potential to guide the development of novel treatment strategies in the field of oncology.
Multi-attribute based self-stabilizing algorithm for leader election in distributed systems
Authors: Biswas Amit , Singh Manisha , Baranwal Gaurav , Tripathi Anil Kumar , Aknine Samir 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Cloud computing, edge computing, replicated databases, and various modern technologies are adopting distributed computing concepts for a reliable, high-performance, large-scale computational platform. In distributedcomputing, leader election is a fundamental problem because the elected leader helps coordinate andutilize the resources efficiently. Several state-of-the-art works mentioned that a good quality leader is essentialas it improves system performance, simplifies management procedures, reduces coordinational complexity, andmakes the system more fault-tolerant. However, designing a self-stabilizing leader election algorithm with weakassumptions in a failure-prone distributed environment is challenging. This paper proposes a multi-attributebased,self-stabilizing, network partition-tolerant leader election method for failure-prone distributed systems.Here, based on the system requirements, the pertinent attributes of a good quality leader are identified and assignedweights according to their importance. Then the identified attributes and their weight are used to elect asuitable node as the leader.We show that the algorithm is self-stabilizing and can tolerate multiple nodes and linkfailures. Further, we analyze the proposed algorithm’s time, communication, and bit complexities. We consider adistributed database system scenario to simulate the proposed method and compare it with existing approachesto evaluate and validate the proposed method’s performance and the elected leader’s quality.
A game theory approach for the assessment of COVID-19 risk and medical resource response in an early-stage pandemic
Authors: Wu Cheng-Kuang , Wu Wei-Chen 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
This study proposes a two-game theory model to decide on the deployment of health resources in all afflicted districts in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. First, we model the interaction of Coronaviruses with a response commander as a two-player zero-sum game and then calculate COVID-19 risk values for each district using the mixed strategy Nash equilibrium. The threat, vulnerability, and consequence of the COVID-19 epidemic on the afflicted state are represented by the risk value. Second, the risk values from all states are applied to calculate a Shapley-Shubik index (SSI) for each district. The medical resources of all districts are distributed fairly depending on their marginal contribution to a simple cooperative game. According to the experimental results, administrators can utilize this framework to quantify the risk of COVID-19 in each afflicted district, and the Shapley-Shubik index is feasible as a method for deploying medical resources. And the SSI division deploys medical resources more efficiently than a proportional (RV) division.
Ultra-compact monolithically-integrated silicon single-microring spectrometer breaking the free-spectral-range limitation
Authors: Dai Daoxin , Zhang Long , Hong Shihan , Yi xiaolin , Chen Tangnan , liu dajian , Wang Pan , Shi Yaocheng 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Highly-integrated spectrometers with performance excellence are extremely desired for various applications, such as consumer electronics and unmanned aerial vehicles. In this paper, an ultra-compact monolithically-integrated single-microring spectrometer on silicon is proposed and realized with a high resolution as well as a broad working window. In particular, an innovative scheme of utilizing the free spectral range (FSR) dispersion for a single-microring and strategically inducing resonant peaks red-shift more than twice of the FSR is proposed for the first time. In this way, the working window of the single-microring is significantly extended far beyond the FSR limitation with the assistance of intelligent algorithm. Moreover, the single-microring is realized with a high-Q factor by introducing ultra-low-loss broadened optical waveguides designed with modified-Euler curves, resulting in ultra-narrow-linewidth responses and ultra-high-resolution spectrum measurement. The monolithically-integrated silicon single-microring spectrometer is experimentally demonstrated with a resolution as high as 0.02 nm in a broad working window of 66 nm (which is >15 times larger than the microring's FSR). Besides, the present on-chip spectrometer is fabricated with standard processes for silicon photonics, showing an ultra-compact footprint of 370×110 μm2, which is the smallest monolithically-integrated spectrometer with the highest channel-to-footprint ratio (8.3×104 mm−2) to date. The present spectrometer is expected to be very attractive for realizing low-cost portable sensing modules and lab-on-a-chip systems because of the performance excellence, the footprint compactness and the integration density.
Effects on serum protein levels from one bout of high intensity interval training in individuals with axial spondyloarthritis and controls
Authors: Andersson Åsa , Olsson M. Charlotte , Torell Anna , Mogard Elisabeth , Haglund Emma 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Background
Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton causing pain, inflammation, and stiffness. Individuals with axSpA are at greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease, which can be counteracted by physical activity. High-intensity interval training (HIIT) has been shown to improve cardiovascular health, but the effect on disease activity and the level of inflammation in axSpA has been less studied. With the aim of investigating how levels of inflammatory cytokines, myokines, and protein markers for bone metabolism are acutely affected by one bout of HIIT, we studied serum from individuals with axSpA and healthy controls (HC).
Methods
Ten participants with axSpA and 11 age- and sex-matched HC performed a single HIIT bout on a cycle ergometer: 4x4 minutes intervals with three minutes active rest in between. Blood samples were taken before and one hour after the HIIT bout. Serum proteins (IL-6, IL-17, IL-18, TNFa, CXCL-10, VEGF-A, BDNF, DKK-1, osteoprotegerin, osteocalcin, osteopontin, BMP-7, CRP) were analyzed with a Luminex system or ELISA. Descriptive data are presented as mean with standard deviation. A two-way ANOVA was used for comparisons.
Results
A main effect from baseline to one hour post HIIT showed that both groups had a significant increase in serum levels (pg/ml) of IL-6: axSpA 2.2 (3.0) to 3.2 (1.8) and HC 0.4 (0.4) to 1.9 (2.0), p = 0.03. VEGF-A (pg/ml) was significantly lower in the axSpA group: 159 (138) vs. HC 326 (184), p = 0.03, but was not affected by the HIIT bout. BMP-7 (ng/ml) increased in both groups after the HIIT: axSpA 61.6 (13.1) to 75.2 (20.0) and HC 64.6 (20.8 to 75.0 (17.8), p < 0.001. For the other proteins analyzed, there were no significant differences in serum concentrations between individuals with axSpA and HC, or within the two groups before and after one bout of HIIT.
Conclusions
One acute bout of HIIT significantly increases the serum concentrations of IL-6 and BMP-7 after 1 hour in both individuals with axSpA and HC.