bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Exploring immune related gene signatures and mechanisms linking non alcoholic fatty liver disease to atrial fibrillation through transcriptome data analysis
Authors: Wu Keke , Zhu Jiayi , Ma Yingxu , Zhou Yong , Lin Qiuzhen , Tu Tao , Liu Qiming 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAtrial fibrillation (AF) and related cardiovascular complications pose a heavy burden to patients and society. Mounting evidence suggests a close association between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and AF. NAFLD and AF transcriptomic datasets were obtained from GEO database and analyzed using several bioinformatics approaches. We established a NAFLD-AF associated gene diagnostic signature (NAGDS) using protein–protein interaction analysis and machine learning, which was further quantified through RT-qPCR. Potential miRNA targeting NAGDS were predicted. Gene modules highly correlated with NAFLD liver pathology or AF occurrence were identified by WGCNA. Enrichment analysis of the overlapped genes from key module revealed that T-cell activation plays essential roles in NAFLD and AF, which was further confirmed by immune infiltration. Furthermore, an integrated SVM-RFE and LASSO algorithm was used to identify CCL4, CD48, ITGB2, and RNASE6 as NAGDS, all of which were found to be upregulated in NAFLD and AF mouse tissues. Patients with higher NAGDS showed augmented T cell and macrophage immunity, more advanced liver pathological characteristics, and prolonged AF duration. Additionally, hsa-miR-26a-5p played a central role in the regulation of NAGDS. Our findings highlight the central role of T-cell immune response in linking NAFLD to AF, and established an accurate NAGDS diagnostic model, which could serve as potential targets for immunoregulatory therapy.
The effectiveness of the Wim Hof method on cardiac autonomic function, blood pressure, arterial compliance, and different psychological parameters
Authors: Ketelhut Sascha , Querciagrossa Dario , Bisang Xavier , Metry Xavier , Borter Eric , Nigg Claudio R. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe Wim Hof method (WHM) is a multi-disciplinary approach to physical and mental well-being combining cold exposure, breathing exercises, and meditation. This study evaluated the effects of a 15 days WHM intervention on cardiovascular parameters at rest and during a cold pressor test (CPT), as well as on various psychological parameters. Forty two participants were randomized into an intervention (IG) and a control group. Throughout the 15 days intervention, the IG performed the WHM daily. Before and after the intervention, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse wave velocity (PWV), heart rate (HR), root mean sum of squared distance (RMSSD), and standard deviation of RR-intervals (SDNN) were assessed at rest and during a CPT. Furthermore, perceived stress (PSS), positive affect (PANAS+), negative affect (PANAS−), and subjective vitality (trait (SVSt) and state (SVSs)) was determined. No significant time × group interactions could be detected in HR (p = 0.709); RMSSD (p = 0.820), SDNN (p = 0.186), SBP (p = 0.839), DBP (p = 0.318), PWV (p = 0.983), PANAS+ (p = 0.427), PANAS− (p = 0.614), SVSt (p = 0.760), SVSs (p = 0.366), and PSS (p = 0.364). No significant time × group effects could be detected during the CPT (ΔHR: p = 0.596; ΔSBP: p = 0.366; ΔDBP: p = 0.999; ΔPWV: p = 0.635; perceived pain: p = 0.231). Performing the WHM daily did not exert positive effects on cardiovascular and psychological parameters.
A modification in Weibull parameters to achieve a more accurate probability distribution function in fatigue applications
Authors: Fakoor H. , Alizadeh Kaklar J. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractRisk evaluation for fatigue failure of the engineering components is an important aspect of the engineering design. Weibull distributions are often used in preference to the log-normal distribution to analyze probability aspects of fatigue results. This study presents a probabilistic model for calculating Weibull distribution parameters to reduce the effect of percentage discretization error of experimental fatigue life and R–S–N curves for three reliability levels. By considering any result of standard fatigue test as an equivalent Weibull distribution, artificial data are generated and the accuracy of common Weibull distribution model can be improved. The results show error reduction in the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and R-square values. Also, the Basquin model is used for different reliability levels with the same error order for risk evaluation of fatigue failure. The coefficient of variation for fatigue life increases at higher stress levels and has a linear relation with stress level for a high-cycle fatigue regime.
A cusp catastrophe model for analyzing sudden channel shifting in wandering reach of the Lower Yellow River
Authors: Zhang Xiangping , Jiang Enhui , Li Junhua , Zhang Tingkui , Lai Ruixun 
Published: October 2023

AbstractSudden channel shifting of wandering rivers poses significant challenges for river engineering, flood control strategies, and the security of water resources. This study proposes a novel analytical model to quantitatively assess such channel shifts based on the cusp catastrophe theory. Utilizing bathymetric data from 93 river sections collected biannually between 2015 and 2019, a comprehensive investigation of channel instability in the wandering reach of the Lower Yellow River was conducted. The results show that both lateral and longitudinal stabilities in the Huayuankou-Gaocun section were generally favorable. For the most part of the selected sections demonstrated a propensity for gradual change. Out of the 93 sections, totally 45 were identified as being susceptible to sudden channel shifts. These vulnerable sections were predominantly located in two highly active reaches—Xiaodabin-Jinglonggong and Huayuankou-Zhaolanzhuang—during the period from 2015 to 2017, excluding the 2018–2019 non-flood season. In the latter non-flood period, nearly half of the sections in the downstream reach from Jinglonggong displayed instability. Our findings are consistent closely with empirical observations from the Lower Yellow River. Additionally, the changed flow and sediment conditions in the 2015–2019 and the efficiency of guide works have significant effects on the stability of river channels.
Understanding the effect of Mn2+ on Yb3+/Er3+ co-doped NaYF4 upconversion and obtaining the optimal combination of these tridoping
Authors: Moghadam Reza Zarei , Dizagi Hamid Rezagholipour , Agren Hans , Ehsani Mohammad Hossein 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn this work, we investigated in detail the upconversion properties of several types of nanoparticles, including NaYF4:5%Yb3+/30%Mn2+, NaYF4:40%Mn2+/x%Yb3+ (x% = 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40), NaYF4:2%Er3+/x%Mn2+ (x% = 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, and 70), NaYF4:40%Mn2+/x%Er3+ (x% = 1, 2, 5, and 10), and NaYF4:40%Mn2+/1%Yb3+/x%Er3+ (x% = 0, 2, 5, and 10). We studied their upconversion emission under 980 nm excitation in both pulsed and continuous wave modes at different synthesis temperatures. The nanoparticles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The doping of Yb3+ and Mn2+ ions resulted in the nanoparticles assuming cubic and hexagonal crystal structures. The emission intensity increased (106.4 (a.u.*103) to 334.4(a.u.*103)) with increasing synthesis temperature from 120 to 140 °C, while a sharp decrease was observed when the synthesis temperature was increased to 200 °C. The gradual decrease in peak intensity with increasing Mn2+ concentration from 20 to 70% was attributed to energy transfer from Mn2+ to Yb3+. In NaYF4:Mn2+/Yb3+/Er3+ UCNPs, increasing the Er3+ concentration from 0 to 10% led to the disappearance of the blue, orange, and green emission bands. The intense upconversion luminescence pattern with high spatial resolution indicates excellent potential for applications in displays, biological sensors, photodetectors, and solar energy converters.
Driving factors of energy related CO2 emissions at a regional level in the residential sector of Iran
Authors: Ata Behnam , Pakrooh Parisa , Pénzes János 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIran has increased its CO2 emissions significantly during the past few decades. The household sector in Iran contributes one of the largest sectors of CO2 emissions. Despite this significant contribution, the existing policies have predominantly concentrated on large-scale initiatives while overlooking the regional role in shaping and implementing these plans. Therefore, this study investigates the relationship between CO2 emissions and the efficient factors in three major groups including energy, climate, and household socio-economic factors. This study aims to address regional carbon emissions and develop CO2 reduction policies tailored to each region's specific circumstances. It focuses on planning strategies at the regional level to effectively tackle CO2 emissions. Household panel data of 28 provinces of Iran are employed by using both static and dynamic panel models for the years 2001 to 2019. Static estimation includes Fixed Effect (FE), Random Effect (RE) and pooled Partial least squares (PLS), Dynamic estimation includes difference Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) and system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). The empirical result of the static method showed positive dependence of household CO2 emissions on Heating Degree Days (HDD), Cooling Degree Days (CDD), precipitation level, oil consumption, gas consumption, household income, size of household, and also building stocks. In more detail, educational rate, dummy variable (removal of energy subsidy), and oil price reveal the greatest negative impact on the emissions with elasticities of − 0.428, − 0.31, and − 0.15; It represents 1% increase causes − 0.428, − 0.31, − 0.15, decrease CO2 emissions, respectively. however, household size, gas consumption, and oil consumption show the most significant positive effects on CO2 emissions with 1 percent increase causes CO2 emissions increases by 0.1, 0.044, and 0.026, respectively. Regarding the impact of climate factors, a 1% increase in Heating Degree Days, Cooling Degree Days, and precipitation level causes CO2 emissions increase by 0.024%, 0.004%, and 0.011% respectively, due to an increase in fossil energy demand. Results of the dynamic method of the system Generalized Method of Moments are similar to the static estimation results, except for that household size and urbanization are not significant. Also, removing the energy subsidy for fossil fuels due to substantial subsidy in fossil fuels in Iran or implementing a re-pricing energy policy can be a beneficial way to control carbon emissions from households within the provinces of the country. However, it is important to consider that this shift could potentially transfer subsidies to investments in the private sector for renewable energies.
Modeling of malaria vaccine effectiveness on disease burden and drug resistance in 42 African countries
Authors: Hamilton Alisa , Haghpanah Fardad , Hasso-Agopsowicz Mateusz , Frost Isabel , Lin Gary , Schueller Emily , Klein Eili , Laxminarayan Ramanan 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Background
The emergence of antimalarial drug resistance poses a major threat to effective malaria treatment and control. This study aims to inform policymakers and vaccine developers on the potential of an effective malaria vaccine in reducing drug-resistant infections.

Methods
A compartmental model estimating cases, drug-resistant cases, and deaths averted from 2021 to 2030 with a vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum infection administered yearly to 1-year-olds in 42 African countries. Three vaccine efficacy (VE) scenarios and one scenario of rapidly increasing drug resistance are modeled.

Results
When VE is constant at 40% for 4 years and then drops to 0%, 235.7 (Uncertainty Interval [UI] 187.8–305.9) cases per 1000 children, 0.6 (UI 0.4–1.0) resistant cases per 1000, and 0.6 (UI 0.5–0.9) deaths per 1000 are averted. When VE begins at 80% and drops 20 percentage points each year, 313.9 (UI 249.8–406.6) cases per 1000, 0.9 (UI 0.6–1.3) resistant cases per 1000, and 0.9 (UI 0.6–1.2) deaths per 1000 are averted. When VE remains 40% for 10 years, 384.7 (UI 311.7–496.5) cases per 1000, 1.0 (0.7–1.6) resistant cases per 1000, and 1.1 (UI 0.8–1.5) deaths per 1000 are averted. Assuming an effective vaccine and an increase in current levels of drug resistance to 80% by 2030, 10.4 (UI 7.3–15.8) resistant cases per 1000 children are averted.

Conclusions
Widespread deployment of a malaria vaccine could substantially reduce health burden in Africa. Maintaining VE longer may be more impactful than a higher initial VE that falls rapidly.
Treatment Outcomes of Interdisciplinary Care on Speech and Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes in Adults With Cleft Palate
Authors: Van der Straeten Charis , Verbeke Jolien , Alighieri Cassandra , Bettens Kim , Van Beveren Ellen , Bruneel Laura , Van Lierde Kristiane 
Published: October 2023

Purpose:
Individuals born with a cleft palate with or without a cleft lip (CP ± L) often experience functional, aesthetic, and psychosocial consequences well into adulthood. This study aimed to investigate outcomes of speech and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults with a CP ± L who received interdisciplinary cleft care at the Ghent University Hospital using valid, reliable, and condition-specific instruments.

Method:

Thirteen Belgian Dutch-speaking participants with a CP ± L with a mean age of 25.4 years (
SD
= 5.1, range: 20–33 years) and an age- and gender-matched control group of 13 participants without a CP ± L with a mean age of 25.2 years (
SD =
4.8, range: 20–32 years) were included in this study. Speech characteristics were evaluated perceptually and instrumentally. HRQoL was assessed through standardized patient-reported outcome measures. Outcomes were compared with those of the control group and to normative data where available.

Results:

Participants with a CP ± L in this sample demonstrated significantly lower speech acceptability (
p
< .001) and higher rates of hypernasality (
p
= .015) and nasal turbulence (
p
= .005) than the control group. They showed significantly higher satisfaction with appearance of the cleft scar compared with norms of adults with a CP ± L (
p
= .047). No other differences in speech characteristics, sociodemographics, or HRQoL were found between participants with and without a CP ± L.

Conclusions:
The reduced speech acceptability and the presence of resonance and nasal airflow disorders may indicate the need for standardized long-term outcome measurement and interdisciplinary follow-up for speech characteristics and velopharyngeal insufficiency in young and middle adulthood in future clinical practice. Additional research is necessary to further substantiate these findings and to determine predictors for these continuing complications in adults with a CP ± L.

Supplemental Material:

https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.24243901
An Exploratory Study of Pragmatic Language Use Across Contexts With the Pragmatic Rating Scale–School Age Among Autistic Boys and Boys With Fragile X Syndrome Plus Autism
Authors: Maltman Nell , Willer Rebecca , Sterling Audra 
Published: October 2023

Purpose:
Autistic boys and boys with co-occurring fragile X syndrome and autism spectrum disorder (FXS + ASD) demonstrate similar pragmatic language difficulties. The Pragmatic Rating Scale–School Age (PRS-SA) captures ecologically valid metrics of pragmatic language impairments in these populations. It is traditionally scored based on the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS), which may limit the use of the PRS-SA more broadly in research and clinical contexts.

Method:

This study evaluated the feasibility of the PRS-SA based on a shorter, semistructured conversational context compared to the ADOS in school-age autistic boys (
n
= 16) and boys with FXS + ASD (
n
= 16), matched on ASD traits. Differences across ADOS and conversational contexts and associations with ASD-related social difficulties were evaluated.

Results:
Findings revealed differences in PRS-SA scores between ADOS and conversational contexts, but only for the FXS + ASD group. Limited associations were observed between PRS-SA scores and ASD traits.

Conclusions:
Results from this study indicate the feasibility of using the PRS-SA in a shorter conversational context than the ADOS to assess pragmatic language among autistic boys. For boys with FXS + ASD, contextual differences warrant careful consideration in future work.
Gender-Affirming Voice Training for Trans Women: Effectiveness of Training on Patient-Reported Outcomes and Listener Perceptions of Voice
Authors: Oates Jennifer , Södersten Maria , Quinn Sterling , Nygren Ulrika , Dacakis Georgia , Kelly Victoria , Smith Georgina , Sand Anders 
Published: October 2023

Purpose:Although speech-language pathologists have provided gender-affirming voice training for trans women since the 1970s, evidence for this training's effectiveness remains weak. Our study aimed to redress limitations of earlier studies and evaluate voice training effects on outcomes important to trans women.Method:Seventy-four trans women (19–54 years old) who wanted a more female-sounding voice were recruited through two health facilities and provided with an eight- to 12-session voice training program based on contemporary literature, usual clinical practice, and client-centered care principles. Self-reported outcomes and an audio-recorded reading sample were collected 3 months before, immediately before and after, and 3 months after training. Forty cisgender speakers were audio-recorded reading the same sample material as comparison voices. Seventy-nine naive listeners made gender-related voice ratings of an extract from these audio recordings. Training effectiveness was evaluated using group-level analyses (linear mixed-effects models) and individual-level analyses to establish what proportion of participants improved to a predetermined relevant degree.Results:Group-level analyses demonstrated positive training effects, maintained 3 months posttraining, for trans women's vocal satisfaction, perceptions of voice-related social participation, and self- and listener perceptions of their voices. Individual-level analyses also demonstrated positive effects. Two thirds of trans women increased vocal satisfaction to a relevant degree, one third who reported restricted social participation before training reduced this restriction to a relevant degree, and all were rated more female-sounding after training (although not all to a relevant degree).Conclusions:All trans women participants made progress toward their voice goals and maintained those gains at follow-up. These findings provide evidence that gender-affirming speech-language pathology services warrant prioritization. Further research is warranted to investigate factors predicting outcomes of voice training for trans women.
EVATL: A novel framework for emergency vehicle communication with adaptive traffic lights for smart cities
Authors: Dodia Ayush , Kumar Sumit , Rani Ruchi , Pippal Sanjeev Kumar , Meduri Pramoda 
Published: October 2023

AbstractFixed cycle traffic lights primarily regulate road traffic, in which traffic light control systems are for specific lanes or crossings in urban areas. Also, not being appropriately installed can prolong the congestion delay and unnecessarily long wait times for crossing intersections, which can cause emergency vehicles to become stuck at intersections. Adaptive signal timing management technique that is more computationally viable than current fixed cycle signal control systems and can improve network‐wide traffic operations by reducing traffic delay and energy consumption. Even though specific adaptive control systems exist, there is no mechanism to communicate with emergency vehicles, which is crucial for smart cities. Motivated by this problem, a novel framework, Emergency Vehicle Adaptive Traffic Light (EVATL), is proposed for smart cities where an adaptive mode of operation for traffic lights is employed with emergency vehicle communication, improving their functioning and reducing overall congestion delay. EVATL detects emergency vehicle location using GPS with the Internet of Things(IoT), which integrates with traffic signals and works adaptively according to vehicle density at the traffic signal using YOLOv8. So, the primary goal of the proposed EVATL is to prioritise an emergency vehicle while simultaneously integrating adaptive traffic signals for smart cities. A GUI is developed for evaluating the proposed model by creating different scenarios for an adaptive traffic light and emergency vehicle communication. While analysing the simulation results of the proposed model EVATL, a clear improvement can be seen in the wait time of vehicles at a traffic light with the timely detection of an emergency vehicle at a set distance.
A Babcock-Leighton dynamo model of the Sun incorporating toroidal flux loss and the helioseismically inferred meridional flow
Authors: Cloutier S. , Cameron R. H. , Gizon L. 
Published: October 2023

Context.Key elements of the Babcock-Leighton model for the solar dynamo are increasingly constrained by observations.Aims.We investigate whether the Babcock-Leighton flux-transport dynamo model remains in agreement with observations if the meridional flow profile is taken from helioseismic inversions. Additionally, we investigate the effect of the loss of toroidal flux through the solar surface.Methods.We employ the two-dimensional flux-transport Babcock-Leighton dynamo framework. We use the helioseismically inferred meridional flow profile, and include toroidal flux loss in a way that is consistent with the amount of poloidal flux generated by Joy’s law. Our model does not impose a preference for emergences at low latitudes; however, we do require that the model produces such a preference.Results.We can find solutions that are in general agreement with observations, including the latitudinal migration of the butterfly wings and the 11 year period of the cycle. The most important free parameters in the model are the depth to which the radial turbulent pumping extends and the turbulent diffusivity in the lower half of the convection zone. We find that the pumping needs to extend to depths of about 0.80 R⊙and that the bulk turbulent diffusivity needs to be around 10 km2s−1or less. We find that the emergences are restricted to low latitudes without the need to impose such a preference.Conclusions.The flux-transport Babcock-Leighton model, incorporating the helioseismically inferred meridional flow and toroidal field loss term, is compatible with the properties of the observed butterfly diagram and with the observed toroidal loss rate. Reasonably tight constraints are placed on the remaining free parameters. The pumping needs to be just below the depth corresponding to the location where the meridional flow changes direction, and where numerical simulations suggest the convection zone becomes marginally subadiabatic. However, our linear model does not reproduce the observed ‘rush to the poles’ of the diffuse surface radial field resulting from the decay of sunspots; reproducing this might require the imposition of a preference for flux to emerge near the equator.