bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Assessment and monitoring of the Dead Sea surface area and water level using remote sensing and GIS techniques
Authors: Farhan Ibrahim , Mahafdah Mohmmad , Sathiamurthy Edlic , Salameh Lina , Albahrat Fesail 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Situated at Earth's lowest continental point, the Dead Sea experiences a worrying decline in water levels. The primary drivers include the diversion of water from the Jordan River and its tributaries, as well as mineral extraction activities on both sides of the lake. The aim of this study is to analyze the thematic map of 1971 and satellite images of 1984, 1994, 2004, 2014 and 2022 of the Dead Sea to determine the surface area and water level of the Dead Sea and its declining rate. CA-Markov model were employed to generate projected surface area of Dead Sea for periods 2034 and 2050. Time series of observed and future using RPC’s 4.5 and 8.5 of climate data especially temperature were analysis has been implemented to track the climate behavior. Statistical analyses of Kendall correlation matrix were performed on observed and predicted of surface area, water level and temperature. The study shows that the Dead Sea has shrunk by 41.8% during the period from 1971 to 2022, while the water sea level is expected to decrease 12.63 m and 33 m for period 2034 and 2050 respectively. In addition, there were a significant inverse relationship between surface area, water level and temperature with correlation (r=-0.79; p = 0.001) and (r=-0.82; p = 0.001), respectively. It is worth highlighting that from 2022 to 2050, the mean annual temperature is expected to rise by at least 1 ˚C. The long-term strategic vision for stabilizing Dead Sea water levels envisions a two-fold approach: (1) augmenting natural inflow through the introduction of 300–400 million MCM from manufactured sources channeled into the Jordan River, and (2) implementing a reduction in water extraction by Dead Sea industries up to a maximum of 330 million MCM.
Construction of a novel five-dimensional Hamiltonian conservative hyperchaotic system and its application in image encryption
Authors: yan Minxiu , Li Shuyan 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

In order to investigate the potential application of conservative hyperchaotic systems in secure communication and image encryption, a novel five-dimensional
Hamiltonian conservative hyperchaotic system was developed based on the Euler equation theory. Subsequently, the system’s dynamic behaviors, including
Hamiltonian energy conservation, phase volume conservation, and symmetrical Lyapunov exponent about 0, were analyzed through energy analysis, dynamic
analysis, and numerical simulation. The results revealed that the new system exhibits strong conservative hyperchaotic characteristics within a wide range
of initial values and parameters, with a remarkable increase in the maximum Lyapunov exponent. This enhanced chaotic behavior makes the new system
more suitable for image encryption applications. Furthermore, by altering the initial value, a nested coexistence phenomenon of multiple energy levels was
observed. Finally, the system was successfully applied to image encryption, and an image encryption algorithm was designed and validated to possess superior
confidentiality performance.
Chemical Distinctions of Groundwater Consumed by Communities Affected by Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Etiology in Northcentral Sri Lanka: Implications for Multiple Contributory and Inhibitory Ions
Authors: Prame Bernard , Siriwardana Shamalie , Hettiarachchi Sanjeewa , Jayalath Priyanka , Wanasinghe Vindya , Guruge Panduka 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Long-term exposure to contaminated drinking water from shallow dug wells is widely suspected to be the cause of chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) which prevails in northcentral Sri Lanka. Although several hydrogeochemical studies have been conducted in this area, studies that have attempted robust statistical comparisons between waters consumed by CKDu-affected and CKDu-free communities within the endemic area are rare, and the causative agents of the disease remain elusive. We attempted to determine the hydrochemical differences between the groundwater consumed by CKDu-affected communities and that consumed by CKDu-unaffected communities living in the CKDu-endemic area based on a substantial new dataset that ensures the robustness of the statistical and graphical comparisons. The study revealed that SO42−, PO43−, NO3−, Sr, Mg, Ba, Pb, and Cu were significantly greater in CKDu-linked water and were positively correlated with the incidence of CKDu, indicating their causative role. Manganese and Zn levels were significantly lower in CKDu-linked water and were negatively correlated with CKDu-incidence, indicating an impeding effect. Our results agree with the elevated hardness and F− values reported in previous work. However, statistical and graphical comparisons do not support the widely speculated role of F− in the incidence of CKDu. Toxic metals and metalloids except for V occur at concentrations accepted as safe for human consumption. Subtle but significant contributions from several chemical constituents occurring in concentrations accepted to be safe and permissible could be interpreted as supporting evidence for the participatory role of multiple ions, probably imposing a deleterious synergistic effect.
Shared whole environmental etiology between Alzheimer's disease and Age-related macular degeneration
Authors: Zhang Xueli , Ye Siting , Ma Shuo , Liu Shunming , Huang Yu , Li Dantong , Li Min , Su Ting , Luo Jing , Zhang Chi , Shi Danli , Hu Lianting , Zhang Lei , Yu Honghua , He Mingguang , Shang Xianwen 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

The comorbidity of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has been established in clinical and genetic studies. There is growing interest in determining the shared environmental factors associated with both conditions. Recent advancements in record linkage techniques enable us to identify the contributing factors to AD and AMD from a wide range of variables. As such, we firstly constructed a knowledge graph based on the literature, which included all statistically significant risk factors for Alzheimer's disease AD and AMD. An Environment-Wide Association Study (EWAS) was conducted to assess the contribution of various environmental factors to the comorbidity of AD and AMD based on the UK biobank. Based on the conditional QQ plots and Bayesian algorithm, several shared environmental factors were identified, which could be categorized into the domains of health condition, biological sample parameters, body index, and attendance availability. Finally, we generated a shared etiology landscape for AD and AMD by combining existing knowledge with our novel findings.
The Impact of Exercise Self-Efficacy on College Students’ Emotion Management ability: An Analysis of the Mediating Effects Based on Exercise Behavior and Screen Media Use
Authors: Zhu Weidong , Liu Jun , Lou Hu , Mu Fanzheng , Li Bo 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Objective: To explore the impact of exercise self-efficacy on college students’ emotion management ability and to analyze the mediating effects of exercise behavior and screen media use between exercise self-efficacy and emotion management ability.
Methods: This study adopted stratified, whole-cluster, and staged sampling methods, using an online questionnaire that included demographic information, exercise self-efficacy, exercise behavior, screen media use, and other relevant aspects, obtaining a total of 11,227 valid questionnaires.
Results: The study indicated a significant positive correlation between exercise self-efficacy and emotionmanagement ability (r=0.348, P<0.01). There was also a positive correlation between physical exercise and emotion management ability (r=0.136, P<0.01). In contrast, smartphone use showed a significant negative correlation with emotion management ability (r=-0.114, P<0.01). Additionally, exercise persistence and electronic health literacy presented significant positive correlations with emotion management ability (r=0.365, 0.500). Chain mediated effect analysis revealed that exercise self-efficacy positively affected emotion management ability by reducing smartphone use and enhancing exercise persistence (95% CI: [0.001, 0.002]). Furthermore, exercise self-efficacy positively affected emotion management ability by enhancing both exercise persistence and exercise self-efficacy (95% CI: [0.028, 0.042]). These two chain mediators revealed the pathways through which they affect emotion management ability.
Conclusion: This study deepened the understanding of the interplay between exercise behavior, screen media use, and emotion management ability. It suggested that emotion management ability could be enhanced through strategies of improving exercise persistence, physical exercise, electronic health literacy, and reducing smartphone use, while considering differences in gender and academic year in intervention programs.
Relationship between Nursing Practice Environment and Psychological Empowerment for Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Taketomi Kikuko , Ogata Yasuko , Sasaki Miki , Yonekura Yuki , Tanaka Michiko 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

The nursing practice environment is essential for improving the quality of nursing practice and patient service. This study investigated whether a better, healthier work environment could enhance nurses’ psychological empowerment using data from the work environment for hospital nurses in Japan (WENS-J) study. A total of 7,849 staff nurses from 23 participating general hospitals with over 200 beds in municipalities with a population of 200,000 or more were sent a self-administered questionnaire in 2014. The questionnaire recorded participating nurses’ demographic characteristics and utilized two scales: the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index (PES-NWI) and the Psychological Empowerment Instrument (PEI), which identified adequate work environments and measured the internalization of organizational goals and objectives, respectively. The valid response rate was 31.1% (n = 2,438), the mean age was 33.7 years, and 93.7% of nurses were female. The total PEI score was significantly correlated to the PES-NWI composite score and all subscales after adjusting for nurses’ demographic characteristics, such as age (β coefficient 0.22–0.33, all p < .001). Nurses who perceive their work environment as positive may be more psychologically empowered. These findings could provide insight into creating healthier work environments; previous studies have shown that psychological empowerment is related to reduced burnout and low turnover among nurses.
Evaluation of transfer ensemble learning-based convolutional neural network models for the identification of chronic gingivitis from oral photographs
Authors: Li Wen , Guo Enting , Zhao Hong , Li Yuyang , Miao Leiying , Liu Chao , Sun Weibin 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
To evaluate the performances of several advanced deep convolutional neural network models (AlexNet, VGG, GoogLeNet, ResNet) based on ensemble learning for recognizing chronic gingivitis from screening oral images.
Methods
A total of 683 intraoral clinical images acquired from 134 volunteers were used to construct the database and evaluate the models. Four deep ConvNet models were developed using ensemble learning and outperformed a single model. The performances of the different models were evaluated by comparing the accuracy and sensitivity for recognizing the existence of gingivitis from intraoral images.
Results
The ResNet model achieved an area under the curve (AUC) value of 97%, while the AUC values for the GoogLeNet, AlexNet, and VGG models were 94%, 92%, and 89%, respectively. Although the ResNet and GoogLeNet models performed best in classifying gingivitis from images, the sensitivity outcomes were not significantly different among the ResNet, GoogLeNet, and Alexnet models (p>0.05). However, the sensitivity of the VGGNet model differed significantly from those of the other models (p < 0.001).
Conclusion
The ResNet and GoogLeNet models show promise for identifying chronic gingivitis from images. These models can help doctors diagnose periodontal diseases efficiently or based on self-examination of the oral cavity by patients.
Femoral bone metastasis is a poor prognostic factor in osimertinib-treated patients with EGFR-mutated non-small cell lung cancer: a retrospective, multicenter study
Authors: Tanaka Ichidai , Gen Soei , Hori Kazumi , Morise Masahiro , Koyama Junji , Kodama Yuta , Matsui Akira , Miyazawa Ayako , Hase Tetsunari , Hibino Yoshitaka , Yokoyama Toshihiko , Kimura Tomoki , Yoshida Norio , Sato Mitsuo , Ishii Makoto 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background:
Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have higher frequency of bone metastases than those of wild type; however, the metastatic pattern and the influence on clinical outcome remains unclear. Therefore, we retrospectively analyzed the association between bone metastatic sites and the clinical efficacy of the third-generation EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI), osimertinib, in these patients.
Methods:
Clinical data of patients with advanced-NSCLC harboring EGFR mutation (N=411) at five medical institutions were retrospectively assessed for bone metastatic sites, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).
Results:
Bone metastases was found in 41.1% of the patients at diagnosis, including 13.1% for single lesion, 8.0% for double lesions, and 20.0% for multiple lesions (≥3). Among them, vertebra (76.3%) and pelvis (60.9%) were most frequent metastatic sites. Femoral-, sternum-, and scapula-metastases were remarkably increased in the patients with multiple-bone metastasis. In the common EGFR-mutant NSCLC patient treated with osimertinib, both the OS and the PFS of the patients with femoral bone metastasis were remarkable significant shorter than those of the patients without femoral bone metastasis (OS; not reached vs. 12.1 months, P< 0.0001, and PFS; 17.2 vs. 9.3 months, P < 0.0018). Furthermore, a multivariable cox regression analysis, including several poor prognostic factors such as L858R mutation and liver metastasis, demonstrated that femoral bone metastasis was a statistically independent predictor of OS.
Conclusion:
Femoral bone metastasis is notably associate with poor survival of EGFR-mutant NSCLC patients who were treated with osimertinib, and is an independent prognostic factor of OS.
Comprehensive Bioinformatic Analysis for Identification of Crucial Genes and Signaling Transduction Pathways in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Cheon Jaehwan , Kim Byoungjae , Byun Junhyoung , Jung Semyung , Kim Jaehyeong , Kwak Sooun , Shin Jaemin , Kim Tae Hoon 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent global cancer, ranking sixth in incidence. Investigating the molecular basis of tumorigenesis and metastasis is crucial for early detection and effective treatment. Our study utilized three gene expression profile datasets (GSE6791, GSE29330, and GSE58911) to identify co-up or down-regulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between HNSCC tumor and normal tissue samples, associated primarily with processes like extracellular matrix (ECM) organization, proteolysis, ECM disassembly, and keratinization. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network revealed eight hub genes, notably including the up-regulated SPP1 and down-regulated KRT78. Importantly, these hub genes demonstrated correlations with tumor grade, clinical individual cancer stage, and poor prognosis in patients with HNSCC. The comprehensive bioinformatics-driven investigation not only pinpointed co-DEGs but also illuminated associated pathways, providing valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms steering disease progression. These findings have substantial clinical potential, offering avenues for early diagnosis and the development of innovative therapeutic targets for individuals grappling with HNSCC. The identified genes and pathways contribute to a deeper understanding of the intricate molecular landscape of HNSCC, paving the way for more targeted and effective interventions in the clinical setting.
Missing the heart of the matter: Limitations of parental understanding during prenatal consultations for normal fetal echocardiograms
Authors: Angueyra Chantal , Montes-Gil Adriana , Marella Nicole , Glickstein Julie , Goldshtrom Nimrod , Brennan Kathleen 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Background
Congenital heart disease is the most common congenital malformation worldwide. Prenatal diagnosis provides the opportunity to counsel parents and help them prepare for their future with their child. This study aimed to assess parental knowledge following a prenatal consultation with a pediatric cardiologist for a normal fetal echocardiogram. Improved parental communication in prenatal consultations with pediatric cardiologists is critical to improving outcomes for these children and their families.
Methods.
This prospective questionnaire based descriptive study was conducted at a single regional perinatal center with a level four neonatal intensive care unit and a dedicated infant cardiac intensive care unit. After prenatal consults with a pediatric cardiologist, surveys were administered to consenting parents that received a normal fetal echocardiogram result and their pediatric cardiologists.
Results
From November 2020 to April 2021, 50 parents completed the survey, 34 of whom reported English as their primary language. Of the 16 parents reporting a different primary language, ten parents preferred the consultation to occur in English, and six preferred the consultation in Spanish. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the presence of a language barrier was associated with decreased understanding of the limitations of a normal fetal echocardiogram (14% vs 84%, p < 0.001) and follow-up recommendations (29% vs 91%, p < 0.01). There was a trend toward decreased understanding with lower education levels, but this difference was not statistically significant. Despite limitations in comprehension, parents and cardiologists were satisfied with the consults and perceived parental understanding as good or extremely good.
Conclusion
Limited English proficiency is an important barrier to comprehension during prenatal consultations with pediatric cardiologists even when best practices of in-person medical interpreters are used. Objective evaluation of parental understanding is critical given that parents and cardiologists may not accurately perceive limitations in knowledge.
Pollen evolution in the Stryphnodendron clade (Leguminosae, Mimoseae)
Authors: Barduzzi Rafael Fernandes , Barros-Souza Yago , Goicochea Stefany Liau-Kang , Borges Leonardo Maurici 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Pollen morphology is a valuable tool for understanding plant evolution and taxonomy. In the legume family (Leguminosae), tribe Mimoseae exhibits diverse pollen traits, but their taxonomic implications are not consistently considered. The pollen evolution in the Leguminosae family is marked by conservatism, but also suffers influence of evolutionary pressures, which increases diversity. Here we investigated the pollen evolution of the Stryphnodendron clade (Leguminosae, Mimoseae) and how it relates to changes in generic circumscriptions within the clade. We analyzed six morphological traits (three categorical and three continuous) sourced from herbarium specimens and the literature for 44 taxa. Categorical traits comprised number of units in the dispersal unit, outline, and grain pollen ornamentation, while continuous traits encompassed exine thickness, as well as longer and shorter dispersal unit diameters. All characters were mapped over a comprehensive phylogenetic hypothesis for the clade using stochastic character mapping and maximum likelihood estimations. Our results reveal that some traits, such as grain number and outline, are generally more conserved than others, such as pollen ornamentation and continuous traits, which are more labile. Pollen ornamentation is different between two distinct lineages within the Stryphnodendron clade, each including multiple genera. Continuous traits, on the other hand, show a contrasting pattern for the recently described genusGwilymia. In conclusion, although pollen traits are in general conserved within the Stryphnodendron clade, they support recognition of distinct lineages both above and at the genus level. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating pollen morphology in future assessments of generic delimitation within the legume family.
MPEK: a multi-task learning based on pre-trained language model for predicting enzymatic reaction kinetic parameters
Authors: Jiang Hui , Wang Jingjing , Yang Zhijiang , Chen Chang , Yao Ge , Bao Shaoheng , Wan Xiukun , Ding Junjie , Wang Liangliang 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Enzymatic reaction kinetics are central in analyzing enzymatic reaction mechanisms and target-enzyme optimization, and thus in biomanufacturing and other industries. The enzyme turnover number (kcat) and Michaelis constant (Km), key kinetic parameters for measuring enzyme catalytic efficiency are crucial for analyzing enzymatic reaction mechanisms and the directed evolution of target enzymes. Experimental determination of kcat and Km is costly in terms of time, labor, and cost. To consider the intrinsic connection between kcat and Km and further improve the prediction performance, we propose a universal pre-trained multi-task deep learning model, MPEK, to predict these parameters simultaneously while considering pH, temperature, and organismal information. MPEK achieved superior predictive performance on the whole test dataset. Using the same test dataset, MPEK outperformed other state-of-the-art models. More importantly, MPEK was able to reveal enzyme promiscuity and was sensitive to slight changes in the mutant enzyme sequence. In addition, in three case studies, it was shown MPEK has the potential for assisted enzyme mining and directed evolution. To facilitate in silico evaluation of enzyme catalytic efficiency, we have established a web server implementing this model (http://mathtc.nscc-tj.cn/mpek).
Impact of Tamm Plasmon Structures on Fluorescence and Optical Nonlinearity of Graphene Quantum Dots
Authors: Elamkulavan Hasana Jahan , Purayil Nikhil Puthiya , Subramaniam Sanjay , Keloth Chandrasekharan 
Published: February 2024

Abstract

Graphene Quantum Dots (GQDs) are crucial in biomedicine for sensitive biosensing and high-resolution bioimaging, and in photonics for their nonlinear optical properties. Integrating GQDs with photonic structures, enhances optical properties, optimizing light-matter interactions and enabling precise control over resonance wavelengths. Tamm Plasmon Cavity (TPC) structures are pivotal in photonics, offering innovative solutions to traditional plasmonic limitations. In this work, we explore a facile synthesis method of GQDs by laser irradiation and highlight the transformative potential of TPC structures in amplifying the properties of nanomaterials like GQDs. The characterization of GQDs reveals their exceptional properties, including efficient optical limiting, and stable photoluminescence. The study demonstrates that the TPC structure significantly amplifies the nonlinear optical effects due to the high light-matter interaction indicating the potential for advanced optical systems, including optical limiters and nonlinear optical devices. Furthermore, introducing GQDs into the TPC structure leads to a significant enhancement and tuning of fluorescence emission. The Purcell effect, in combination with the confined electromagnetic fields within the TPC, increases the spontaneous emission rate of GQDs and subsequently enhances fluorescence intensity. This enhanced and tunable fluorescence has exciting implications for high-sensitivity applications like biosensing and single-molecule detection.