bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Pushing-in single-sex schools for enrichment of both enrolment and gender equity in STEM careers
Authors: Kibona Isack E. , Nkya Henry E. 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Quality education has been emphasized by the world Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4) of the 17 goals the world set to achieve by 2030. According to the twenty-first century skills, quality education obliges to equip learners to compete in the twenty-first century job market. In addition to enriching enrolment in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), leveraging of gender equity is indispensable.

Objectives
This study revealed and processed data to guide education policy maker’s decisions that could ensure quality education. Thus, the study shall lead to shape educational practices leading to achieve SDG4 timelines.

Methodology
The authors studied results of the Certificate of Secondary Education Examination (CSEE) of 52 coeducations and six single-sex secondary schools in Mbeya city. Out of 52 co-education secondary schools, the researchers selected the best six secondary schools in performance and compared those to the six single-sex secondary schools.

Results
The study revealed that, the six single-sex schools outperformed co-education schools. In addition, single-sex schools were richer of girls’ enrolment than coeducation schools in STEM education. Although, coeducation schools leveraged gender equity in STEM performance, but there was an acute drop of number of number of girls in coeducation schools.

Conclusion
This study calls for awareness and seek for more insights into the acute girl’s school dropouts in best-performing coeducation schools, review of educational policies so that the world achieves SDG4 by 2030. Therefore, the study wide-opens that though challenged by many, single-sex schools are decent and remains an addition to achieve the SDG4.
Enhancing mechanical performance of biodegradable automotive composites with EPO and graphene
Authors: Jiyas N. , Sasidharan Indu , Kumar K. Bindu 
Published: January 2024

AbstractRecent strides in composite manufacturing technology have sparked a widespread embrace of natural fiber composites in engineering applications, exemplified by flax fiber. The crux of this development centers on the creation of an environmentally friendly composite, utilizing alkali-treated flax fiber reinforcement and poly lactic acid (PLA) as the polymer matrix through a hot compression technique. The investigation into water absorption unveils that alkaline treatment augments the hydrophobic nature and enhances the crystallinity of flax fibers, resulting in improved adhesion between the reinforcement and polymer matrix. The introduction of 5% wt of epoxidized palm oil (EPO) as plasticizers not only counters brittleness but also elevates thermal stability. Further enhancements are achieved through the addition of 0.5 wt% of graphene nanoparticles as nano-fillers, culminating in superior mechanical properties. This research places a focal point on a thorough mechanical characterization of these green composites, encompassing tensile, flexural, and impact properties, along with an assessment of inter-laminar shear strength. A detailed analysis of dimensional stability is conducted, while morphological scrutiny is performed using scanning electron microscopy. This study marks a significant leap towards sustainable engineering, presenting innovative natural fiber green composites that exhibit heightened mechanical and environmental performance.
Disinhibited or Disconnected? Dietary Restraint Attenuates the Relationship Between Heart Rate Variability and Stress-Induced Suppression of Food Intake
Authors: McGeown Laura , Mushquash Aislin R. , De Young Kyle P. 
Published: January 2024

Abstract: Literature on restrained eaters posits that the capacity to successfully diet is cognitively demanding, requiring exertion of cognitive control over one’s eating behaviour. Demands that deplete this limited inner resource can thus lead restrained eaters to become disinhibited and consume large amounts of food. Although self-regulation is inferred to play a role, it has not yet been studied in combination with its physiological correlates. As low heart rate variability (HRV) is associated with lower self-regulatory capacity, and acute mental stressors decrease HRV, it was hypothesized that reduced HRV during stress may mediate the relationship between stress and food intake, and that the mediation may be moderated by dietary restraint. Specifically, the moderation hypothesis predicted more restrained eaters would exhibit a stronger relationship between low HRV and intake. Female undergraduates ( n = 92) were randomized to a stress or control condition while HRV was recorded. Participants subsequently engaged in a bogus taste test to quantify post-stress consumption. Restraint was conceptualized using Hagan and colleagues’ (2017) latent restraint factors. A significant moderated mediation emerged for Weight-Focused Restraint, ab3 = .196, SE = .077, 95% CI [.060, .361] and Calorie Counting, ab3 = .062, SE = .023, 95% CI [.024, .115]. However, contrary to expectation, stress-induced HRV reduction was associated with decreased intake for those low in restraint, whereas intake was unrelated to HRV for individuals with higher dietary restraint. Further, there was no evidence of traditionally-defined disinhibition in more restrained eaters. Results suggest those with higher restraint show a relative disconnection from internal physiological cues shown to affect intake under stress in less restrained individuals.
Partial Ruptures Cannot Explain the Long Recurrence Intervals of Repeating Earthquakes
Authors: Turner A. R. , Hawthorne J. C. , Cattania C. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractRepeating earthquakes repeatedly rupture the same fault asperities, which are likely loaded to failure by surrounding aseismic slip. However, repeaters occur less often than would be expected if these earthquakes accommodate all of the long‐term slip on the asperities. Here, we assess a possible explanation for this slip discrepancy: partial ruptures. On asperities that are much larger than the nucleation radius, a fraction of the slip could be accommodated by smaller ruptures on the same asperities. We search for partial ruptures of repeating earthquakes in Parkfield using the Northern California earthquakes catalog. We find 3991 individual repeaters which have 4468 partial ruptures. The presence of partial ruptures suggests that the asperities of repeating earthquakes are much larger than the nucleation radius. However, we find that partial ruptures could accommodate only around 25% of the slip on repeating earthquake patches. A 25% increase in the slip budget can explain only a small portion of the long recurrence intervals of repeating earthquakes.
Manufacturing of primary CAR-NK cells in an automated system for the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Albinger Nawid , Müller Sabine , Kostyra Julia , Kuska Jan , Mertlitz Sarah , Penack Olaf , Zhang Congcong , Möker Nina , Ullrich Evelyn 
Published: January 2024

AbstractAcute myeloid leukemia (AML) still constitutes a dreadful disease with limited therapeutic options. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells struggle to target AML partly due to a lack of true AML-exclusive antigens and heterogeneity of the disease. Natural killer (NK) cells possess a high intrinsic killing capacity against AML and might be well suited for the treatment of this disease. However, the generation of primary CAR-NK cells can be difficult and time consuming. Therefore, robust systems for the generation of high numbers of CAR-NK cells under GMP conditions are required. Here we report on the automated generation of high numbers of primary CD33-targeting CAR-NK cells using the CliniMACS Prodigy® platform. Automated-produced CD33-CAR-NK cells showed similar phenotype and cytotoxicity compared to small-scale-produced CD33-CAR-NK cells in vitro and were able to strongly reduce leukemic burden in an OCI-AML2 NSG-SGM3 xenograft mouse model in vivo following a cross-site shipment of the cell product. This technology might be well suited for the generation of primary CAR-modified NK cells for a broad range of targets and could facilitate clinical transition.
A new perspective on intervertebral disc calcification—from bench to bedside
Authors: Novais Emanuel J. , Narayanan Rajkishen , Canseco Jose A. , van de Wetering Koen , Kepler Christopher K. , Hilibrand Alan S. , Vaccaro Alexander R. , Risbud Makarand V. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractDisc degeneration primarily contributes to chronic low back and neck pain. Consequently, there is an urgent need to understand the spectrum of disc degeneration phenotypes such as fibrosis, ectopic calcification, herniation, or mixed phenotypes. Amongst these phenotypes, disc calcification is the least studied. Ectopic calcification, by definition, is the pathological mineralization of soft tissues, widely studied in the context of conditions that afflict vasculature, skin, and cartilage. Clinically, disc calcification is associated with poor surgical outcomes and back pain refractory to conservative treatment. It is frequently seen as a consequence of disc aging and progressive degeneration but exhibits unique molecular and morphological characteristics: hypertrophic chondrocyte-like cell differentiation; TNAP, ENPP1, and ANK upregulation; cell death; altered Pi and PPi homeostasis; and local inflammation. Recent studies in mouse models have provided a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying this phenotype. It is essential to recognize that the presentation and nature of mineralization differ between AF, NP, and EP compartments. Moreover, the combination of anatomic location, genetics, and environmental stressors, such as aging or trauma, govern the predisposition to calcification. Lastly, the systemic regulation of calcium and Pi metabolism is less important than the local activity of PPi modulated by the ANK-ENPP1 axis, along with disc cell death and differentiation status. While there is limited understanding of this phenotype, understanding the molecular pathways governing local intervertebral disc calcification may lead to developing disease-modifying drugs and better clinical management of degeneration-related pathologies.
Near vision data and near correction requirements from community eye health programmes in nine countries
Authors: Katibeh Marzieh , Watts Elanor , Gichangi Michael , Latorre-Arteaga Sergio , Bolster Nigel M. , Bastawrous Andrew 
Published: January 2024

Abstract
Background
Recent estimates of global prevalence of uncorrected presbyopia range from 510 to 826 million. There is a shortage of primary data regarding Near Visual Impairment (NVI) magnitude.

Methods
Near visual acuity (NVA) and NVI data was collected from over 388,000 people aged 35 or over across 9 countries, within Community Eye Health programmes between January 2022 and June 2023. In Kenya (n = 34,328), dioptric power of required near correction was also recorded, and any association with age, gender or level of NVA was assessed via linear regression model.

Results
146,801 of 388,939 people failed initial near vision screening (37.74%, 95% CI 37.59–37.89%), with significantly higher prevalence of NVI in Sub-Saharan Africa than South Asia. Of those with distance acuity 6/12 or better, 27.97% failed (95% CI 27.81–28.13%) with evidence of difference between genders (p < 0.001): 30.77% of women vs. 24.47% of men. The most commonly required dioptric powers of correction were +2.00D, +2.50D and +3.00D, and required power correlated with age and NVA.

Conclusions
NVI remains common among Community Eye Health programme participants aged 35 and over. Data from large scale programmes such as these provide an opportunity to contribute to more accurate epidemiological estimates, and to guide future research, resource planning and intervention, ideally with improved standardisation of testing in the future.
Segment anything in medical images
Authors: Ma Jun , He Yuting , Li Feifei , Han Lin , You Chenyu , Wang Bo 
Published: January 2024

AbstractMedical image segmentation is a critical component in clinical practice, facilitating accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and disease monitoring. However, existing methods, often tailored to specific modalities or disease types, lack generalizability across the diverse spectrum of medical image segmentation tasks. Here we present MedSAM, a foundation model designed for bridging this gap by enabling universal medical image segmentation. The model is developed on a large-scale medical image dataset with 1,570,263 image-mask pairs, covering 10 imaging modalities and over 30 cancer types. We conduct a comprehensive evaluation on 86 internal validation tasks and 60 external validation tasks, demonstrating better accuracy and robustness than modality-wise specialist models. By delivering accurate and efficient segmentation across a wide spectrum of tasks, MedSAM holds significant potential to expedite the evolution of diagnostic tools and the personalization of treatment plans.
Investigating the role of undercoordinated Pt sites at the surface of layered PtTe2 for methanol decomposition
Authors: Hsueh Jing-Wen , Kuo Lai-Hsiang , Chen Po-Han , Chen Wan-Hsin , Chuang Chi-Yao , Kuo Chia-Nung , Lue Chin-Shan , Lai Yu-Ling , Liu Bo-Hong , Wang Chia-Hsin , Hsu Yao-Jane , Lin Chun-Liang , Chou Jyh-Pin , Luo Meng-Fan 
Published: January 2024

AbstractTransition metal dichalcogenides, by virtue of their two-dimensional structures, could provide the largest active surface for reactions with minimal materials consumed, which has long been pursued in the design of ideal catalysts. Nevertheless, their structurally perfect basal planes are typically inert; their surface defects, such as under-coordinated atoms at the surfaces or edges, can instead serve as catalytically active centers. Here we show a reaction probability > 90 % for adsorbed methanol (CH3OH) on under-coordinated Pt sites at surface Te vacancies, produced with Ar+ bombardment, on layered PtTe2 — approximately 60 % of the methanol decompose to surface intermediates CHxO (x = 2, 3) and 35 % to CHx (x = 1, 2), and an ultimate production of gaseous molecular hydrogen, methane, water and formaldehyde. The characteristic reactivity is attributed to both the triangular positioning and varied degrees of oxidation of the under-coordinated Pt at Te vacancies.
An improved pathway for autonomous bioluminescence imaging in eukaryotes
Authors: Shakhova Ekaterina S. , Karataeva Tatiana A. , Markina Nadezhda M. , Mitiouchkina Tatiana , Palkina Kseniia A. , Perfilov Maxim M. , Wood Monika G. , Hoang Trish T. , Hall Mary P. , Fakhranurova Liliia I. , Alekberova Anna E. , Malyshevskaia Alena K. , Gorbachev Dmitry A. , Bugaeva Evgenia N. , Pletneva Ludmila K. , Babenko Vladislav V. , Boldyreva Daria I. , Gorokhovatsky Andrey Y. , Balakireva Anastasia V. , Gao Feng , Choob Vladimir V. , Encell Lance P. , Wood Keith V. , Yampolsky Ilia V. , Sarkisyan Karen S. , Mishin Alexander S. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractThe discovery of the bioluminescence pathway in the fungus Neonothopanus nambi enabled engineering of eukaryotes with self-sustained luminescence. However, the brightness of luminescence in heterologous hosts was limited by performance of the native fungal enzymes. Here we report optimized versions of the pathway that enhance bioluminescence by one to two orders of magnitude in plant, fungal and mammalian hosts, and enable longitudinal video-rate imaging.
A proceeding to numerical study of mathematical model of bioconvective Maxwell nanofluid flow through a porous stretching surface with nield/convective boundary constraints
Authors: Imran Muhammad , Basit Muhammad Abdul , Yasmin Sumeira , Khan Shan Ali , Elagan S. K. , Akgül Ali , Hassan Ahmed M. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractNanofluids become significant in the mass and heat transfer models, especially in engineering problems. Current proceedings focused on the bioconvective Maxwell nanofluid flow passing through the permeable stretchable sheet contingent to nield boundary conditions involving effects of activation energy and thermal radiation. Various physical quantities are involved in this mechanism like magnetic field, thermophoresis, and Brownian motion. The main objective of the study is to report the heat and mass transport in the existence of motile microorganisms. In a mathematical perspective, this structured physical model is going to govern with the help of partial differential equations (PDEs). These governing PDEs are then converted into dimensionless ordinary differential equations form by utilizing appropriate similarity transformations. For numerical results, the shooting technique with ‘bvp4c’ built-in package of MATLAB was implemented. Computed results are then visualized graphically and discussed effects of involving physical variables on the nano-fluid flow profiles are comprehensively. From results, it has been concluded that the fluid flow velocity, temperature, concentration, and microorganism density profiles show escalation on increasing the numeric values of porosity, thermophoresis, buoyancy ratio, bioconvection Rayleigh, Peclet number parameters and decrement reported due to increasing the counts of Prandtl number, magnetic field, radiation, Brownian motion, Lewis number as evident from figures. The numerical outcomes observed by fixing the physical parameters as $$0.1 < \lambda < 3.0$$

0.1
<
λ
<
3.0

, $$0.1 < M < 1.5$$

0.1
<
M
<
1.5

, $$0.1 < Nr < 6.0$$

0.1
<
N
r
<
6.0

, $$0.1 < Rb < 1.5$$

0.1
<
R
b
<
1.5

, $$0.1 < Nb < 6.0$$

0.1
<
N
b
<
6.0

, $$0.1 < Nt < 1.0$$

0.1
<
N
t
<
1.0

, $$2.0 < \Pr < 2.9$$

2.0
<
Pr
<
2.9

, $$0.1 < Rd < 0.4$$

0.1
<
R
d
<
0.4

. Magnetic field and Brownian motion create retardation impact due to the liquid momentum. In tables, the numerical values of Skin friction, Nusselt number, Sherwood number, and microorganisms density number are presented and also comparison table of our computed results and already published results is included for the validation.
A transposon-based genetic marker for conspecific identity within the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex
Authors: Zimowska Grazyna J. , Xavier Nirmala , Qadri Masroor , Handler Alfred M. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractHere we describe a molecular approach to assess conspecific identity that relies on the comparison of an evolved mutated transposable element sequence and its genomic insertion site in individuals from closely related species. This was explored with the IFP2 piggyBac transposon, originally discovered in Trichoplusia ni as a 2472 bp functional element, that was subsequently found as mutated elements in seven species within the Bactrocera dorsalis species complex. In a B. dorsalis [Hendel] strain collected in Kahuku, Hawaii, a degenerate 2420 bp piggyBac sequence (pBacBd-Kah) having ~ 94.5% sequence identity to IFP2 was isolated, and it was reasoned that common species, or strains within species, should share the same evolved element and its precise genomic insertion site. To test this assumption, PCR using primers to pBacBd-Kah and adjacent genomic sequences was used to isolate and compare homologous sequences in strains of four sibling species within the complex. Three of these taxa, B. papayae, B. philippinensis, and B. invadens, were previously synonymized with B. dorsalis, and found to share nearly identical pBacBd-Kah homologous elements (> 99% nucleotide identity) within the identical insertion site consistent with conspecific species. The fourth species tested, B. carambolae, considered to be a closely related yet independent species sympatric with B. dorsalis, also shared the pBacBd-Kah sequence and insertion site in one strain from Suriname, while another divergent pBacBd-Kah derivative, closer in identity to IFP2, was found in individuals from French Guiana, Bangladesh and Malaysia. This data, along with the absence of pBacBd-Kah in distantly related Bactrocera, indicates that mutated descendants of piggyBac, as well as other invasive mobile elements, could be reliable genomic markers for common species identity.
Design and stability analysis of the gear-type mobile mechanism with a single actuator
Authors: Shi Kan , Tang Jianglong , Liu Jiachao , Yuan Liang 
Published: January 2024

AbstractGear mechanism transmits the motion and power of parallel axes, intersecting axes and staggered axes, which has been widely employed in production and life. Gear-type mobile mechanism is a type of robot that can achieve motion through gear transmission. Due to its unique motion mode, it can handle various tasks in certain unconventional environments, such as particularly steep surfaces. Cylindrical gear, bevel gear and non-cylindrical gear are taken as the main parts of the mechanism to form a novel research series, respectively. The models of gear-type mobile mechanism are established in this paper, and the degrees of freedom of the mechanism are briefly calculated based on the screw theory. Simultaneously, the influence of centroid trajectory on motion stability is discussed to solve the possible problem that opposite rotation occur during the movement. Furthermore, the trajectory model of zero moment point is calculated considering the motion of the gear-type mobile mechanism. After that, the simulation and experimental analysis of its motion capability show that the gear-type mobile mechanism has excellent characteristics in stability, flexibility and continuity.
Synthesis and preclinical evaluation of [11C]uPSEM792 for PSAM4-GlyR based chemogenetics
Authors: Nerella Sridhar Goud , Telu Sanjay , Liow Jeih-San , Jenkins Madeline D. , Zoghbi Sami S. , Gomez Juan L. , Michaelides Michael , Eldridge Mark A. G. , Richmond Barry J. , Innis Robert B. , Pike Victor W. 
Published: January 2024

AbstractChemogenetic tools are designed to control neuronal signaling. These tools have the potential to contribute to the understanding of neuropsychiatric disorders and to the development of new treatments. One such chemogenetic technology comprises modified Pharmacologically Selective Actuator Modules (PSAMs) paired with Pharmacologically Selective Effector Molecules (PSEMs). PSAMs are receptors with ligand-binding domains that have been modified to interact only with a specific small-molecule agonist, designated a PSEM. PSAM4 is a triple mutant PSAM derived from the α7 nicotinic receptor (α7L131G,Q139L,Y217F). Although having no constitutive activity as a ligand-gated ion channel, PSAM4 has been coupled to the serotonin 5-HT3 receptor (5-HT3R) and to the glycine receptor (GlyR). Treatment with the partner PSEM to activate PSAM4-5-HT3 or PSAM4-GlyR, causes neuronal activation or silencing, respectively. A suitably designed radioligand may enable selective visualization of the expression and location of PSAMs with positron emission tomography (PET). Here, we evaluated uPSEM792, an ultrapotent PSEM for PSAM4-GlyR, as a possible lead for PET radioligand development. We labeled uPSEM792 with the positron-emitter, carbon-11 (t1/2 = 20.4 min), in high radiochemical yield by treating a protected precursor with [11C]iodomethane followed by base deprotection. PET experiments with [11C]uPSEM792 in rodents and in a monkey transduced with PSAM4-GlyR showed low peak radioactivity uptake in brain. This low uptake was probably due to high polarity of the radioligand, as evidenced by physicochemical measurements, and to the vulnerability of the radioligand to efflux transport at the blood–brain barrier. These findings can inform the design of a more effective PSAM4 based PET radioligand, based on the uPSEM792 chemotype.