bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sustainable composite cement prepared by two different types of iron slag
Authors: Heikal Mohamed , Ali Mohamed A. , Ibrahim Sahar M. , Bendary Hazem I. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe utilization of two kinds of iron slag in the production of pozzolanic cement is introduced. A series was created with a fixed percentage of OPC (30%) and varying amounts of imported granulated blast-furnace slag (IGBFS) and air-cooled slag (ACS) at which imported IGBFS was substituted by ACS with the mass ratios of 10, 20, and 30%. Physico-mechanical properties and hydration parameters of the hardened pastes were examined at different time intervals. Furthermore, the aggressive attack of seawater on chosen specimens was studied for up to one year of immersion. The hardened composite cement pastes were tested in terms of weight loss, compressive strength, bulk density, total porosity, and free lime at different thermally treated temperatures starting at 105 °C and ending at 800 °C for 2 h of a socking period to investigate its thermal characteristics. XRD, IR, and DTA/TGA techniques were used to examine some chosen samples. The results revealed that the incorporation of ACS reduces the water consistency and prolongs setting times. Compressive strengths are higher in samples containing 10% ACS than those specimens containing 20–30 wt% and without ACS. A 7% reduction in the compressive strength was achieved by A1 (30%OPC and 70% IGBFS), which is the lowest one over 1 year of exposure to seawater. The incorporation of ACS at the expense of IGBFS tends to lower the strength but tends to enhance the bulk density.
Co–Fe–oxide nanoparticles supported on the various highly dispersed matrices: the effect of the carrier on structural and magnetic properties
Authors: Dyachenko Alla , Terpilowski Konrad , Ischenko Olena , Sulym Iryna , Sternik Dariusz , Pakhlov Eugen , Borysenko Mykola , Storozhuk Lyudmila , Andriyko Lyudmila , Goncharuk Olena 
Published: November 2023

AbstractsA series of mixed oxides was synthesized by deposition of the guest phase on the highly dispersed oxide matrix. Fumed nanooxides SiO2, Al2O3, SiO2/Al2O3, and SiO2/Al2O3/TiO2 with the specific surface area of 65–91 m2/g were selected as highly dispersed matrices. Co–Fe mixed oxides with the general formula Co4xFexOy (Co: Fe = 4: 1) were deposited as the guest oxides using the two-step method: (i) solvate-stimulated modification of the surface of fumed nanocarriers with the mixture of cobalt nitrate (II) and iron (III) formate and (ii) subsequent heat treatment up to 600 °C to form Co4xFexOy. The aim of this paper was to study the influence of the composition and structure of fumed oxide matrices and deposited guest phase on the morphology of the resulting composites in the gaseous and aqueous media using the XRD, XPS, FTIR, nitrogen adsorption and SEM/EDX, as well as quasi-elastic light scattering (QELS) methods. The low-temperature nitrogen adsorption isotherms have a sigmoidal shape with a narrow hysteresis loop characteristic of mesoporous materials. The specific surface area (SBET) of the composites varies from 48 to 82 m2/g, showing a tendency towards a decrease in the SBET values by 10–26% in comparison with the initial nanocarriers. The SEM data show the denser aggregate structure of nanocomposites compared to the initial carriers. The primary particle size was in the 30–60 nm range and the EDX data confirm the formation of a guest phase on the mixed aluminosilicate carriers, mainly in the surface patches corresponding to the alumina structure. According to the QELS data, there is a tendency to form aggregates of 100–10 μm in size in the aqueous media. The XRD method shows that the deposited metal oxides are in the form of crystalline phases of Co3O4 with the crystallites of 25–26 nm in size for the individual SiO2 and Al2O3 nanocarriers and 34–37 for the mixed ones, but the iron oxide reflections were not identified for the composites. XPS observation demonstrates the signal of Fe 2p electrons as the form of Fe2O3 oxide in the surface layer of nanocomposites as well as Co 2p as the Co3O4 and Co(OH)2.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for ovarian cancer treatment: from organic to inorganic chemotherapeutics towards selectivity—a perspective overview
Authors: Baglini Emma , Chiaverini Lorenzo , Tolbatov Iogann , Taliani Sabrina , Da Settimo Federico , La Mendola Diego , Barresi Elisabetta , Marzo Tiziano 
Published: November 2023

AbstractOvarian cancer (OC) is a lethal gynecologic cancer in industrialized countries. Treatments for OC include the surgical removal and chemotherapy. In the last decades, improvements have been made in the surgery technologies, drug combinations and administration protocols, and in diagnosis. However, mortality from OC is still high owing to recurrences and insurgence of drug resistance. Accordingly, it is urgent the development of novel agents capable to effectively target OC. In this respect, tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) may play an important role. Most of TKIs developed and tested so far are organic. However, owing to their chemical versatility, also metals can be exploited to design selective and potent TKIs. We provide a short and easy-to-read overview on the main organic TKIs with a summary of those that entered clinical trials. Additionally, we describe the potential of metal-based TKIs, focusing on this overlooked family of compounds that may significantly contribute towards the concept of precision-medicine.
Shhh… Do Gender-Diverse Boards Prioritize Product Market Concerns Over Capital Market Incentives?
Authors: Naidu Dharmendra , Ranjeeni Kumari 
Published: November 2023

AbstractWe examine whether gender-diverse boards prioritize product market concerns over capital market incentives when proprietary costs are high. We argue that gender-diverse boards protect their firm’s competitive edge and maximize long-term shareholder wealth by ethically and carefully maintaining the confidentiality of proprietary information. Due to the reduced disclosure of proprietary information, firms with gender-diverse boards are likely to face more adverse selection when proprietary costs are high. However, the reduced disclosure of proprietary information enables firms with gender-diverse boards to enhance and maintain their competitive edge and gain higher long-term returns. Using a matched sample of the United States-listed companies, we find that firms with gender-diverse boards, relative to similar firms with all-male boards, (1) are associated with higher adverse selection costs and (2) higher long-run stock returns when the firm faces high product market competition. Collectively, our results suggest that firms with gender-diverse boards, which initially experience higher adverse selection in a competitive environment, are rewarded with a net gain of about 10 percent of their stock price in three years. Our research contributes to the literature by highlighting the importance of board gender diversity in fostering the ethical redaction of proprietary information for proprietary cost-based motives as opposed to agency cost-based motives. Our findings have important implications for regulators, firms, and shareholders by identifying gender-diverse boards as an antecedent for the ethical redaction of proprietary information.
Multiple dimensions of extreme weather events and their impacts on biodiversity
Authors: González-Trujillo Juan David , Román-Cuesta Rosa M. , Muñiz-Castillo Aarón Israel , Amaral Cibele H. , Araújo Miguel B. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractClimate change is a multidimensional phenomenon. As such, no single metric can capture all trajectories of change and associated impacts. While numerous metrics exist to measure climate change, they tend to focus on central tendencies and neglect the multidimensionality of extreme weather events (EWEs). EWEs differ in their frequency, duration, and intensity, and can be described for temperature, precipitation, and wind speed, while considering different thresholds defining “extremeness.” We review existing EWE metrics and outline a framework for classifying and interpreting them in light of their foreseeable impacts on biodiversity. Using an example drawn from the Caribbean and Central America, we show that metrics reflect unequal spatial patterns of exposure across the region. Based on available evidence, we discuss how such patterns relate to threats to biological populations, empirically demonstrating how ecologically informed metrics can help relate EWEs to biological processes such as mangrove recovery. Unveiling the complexity of EWE trajectories affecting biodiversity is only possible through mobilisation of a plethora of climate change metrics. The proposed framework represents a step forward over assessments using single dimensions or averages of highly variable time series.
Bone morphogenetic protein 6 induces downregulation of pentraxin 3 expression in human granulosa lutein cells in women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: Xin Xin , Chang Hsun-Ming , Leung Peter C. K. , Dong Li , Li Jiaxi , Lian Fang , Wu Haicui 
Published: November 2023

Abstract
Purpose
To evaluate whether PTX3 is differentially expressed in the granulosa lutein cells derived from women with PCOS and whether BMP6 can regulate the expression of PTX3 in hGL cells.

Methods
The expression levels of BMP6 and PTX3 in granulosa lutein cells were evaluated by RT-qPCR. The correlation between the expression levels of BMP6 /PTX3 and oocyte quality indexes were analyzed using clinical samples. The cells were incubated with BMP6 at different concentrations and times to check the expression of PTX3 in KGN cells. TGF-β type I inhibitors and small interfering RNA targeting ALK2/3/6,SMAD1/5/8 and SMAD4 were used to study the involvement of SMAD dependent pathways in KGN cells.

Results
The levels of BMP6 in hGL cells were negatively correlated with the corresponding oocyte maturation rate and high-quality embryo rate, whereas the levels of PTX3 were positively correlated with the corresponding oocyte maturation rate in PCOS. Additionally, the in vitro cell cultured results showed BMP6 significantly inhibited the expression of PTX3 in KGN cells. Furthermore, using a dual inhibition approach (kinase inhibitors and small interfering RNAs), we identified the ALK2/ALK3 type I receptors and BMPR2/ACVR2A type II receptors and the downstream SMAD1/SMAD5-SMAD4 signaling pathway were responsible for the BMP6-induced cellular activities in KGN cells.

Conclusions
The suppressive effect of BMP6 on PTX3 was mediated by ALK2/ALK3 type I receptors and BMPR2/ACVR2A type II receptors in granulosa cells through the SMAD1/5-SMAD4 dependent signaling pathway in PCOS.Our findings provides new insights into the understanding of the pathogenesis of PCOS-related ovulatory disorders.
Development of in situ crosslinked hyaluronan as an adjunct to vitrectomy surgery
Authors: Suzuki Kiyoshi , Watanabe Ippei , Tachibana Takashi , Mori Kenichiro , Ishikawa Keijiro , Ishibashi Tatsuro , Uchio Eiichi , Sonoda Koh-Hei , Hisatomi Toshio 
Published: November 2023

AbstractOphthalmologists have used hyaluronan (HA) products as adjuncts to ocular surgery since the 1970s. However, HA products are not always functional in surgeries of the posterior eye segment due to their lack of biomechanical strength. In this study, we developed an in situ crosslinked HA (XL-HA) and evaluated its potential as an adjunct to vitrectomy surgery in an in vitro model with a triamcinolone acetonide (TA) layer used as a pseudo residual vitreous cortex (RVC). Within a few minutes at concentrations over 0.9%, XL-HA, generated by the click chemistry of HA-dibenzocyclooctyne and HA-azidoethylamine, formed a hydrogel with the appropriate hardness for tweezers peeling. XL-HA (concentration, 0.76–1.73%) without dispersion successfully entered the TA layer and removed more than 45% of the total TA. Dynamic viscoelasticity helps to explain the rheological behavior of hydrogels, and the assessment results for XL-HA indicated that suitable concentrations were between 0.97% and 1.30%. For example, 1.30% XL-HA hydrogel reached sufficient hardness at 3 min for tweezers peeling, and the TA removal ability exceeded 70%. These results demonstrated that XL-HA was a potential adjunct to successful vitrectomy.
Graphical Abstract
A randomised controlled trial to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of a small change approach to prevent weight gain
Authors: Graham Henrietta , Madigan Claire , Daley Amanda J. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractA weight gain prevention strategy showing merit is a small change approach (increase energy expenditure and/or decrease energy intake by 100–200 kcal/day). Studies have tested a small change approach in intensive interventions involving multiple contacts, unsuitable for delivery at scale. The aim here was to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a remote small change weight gain prevention intervention. A randomised controlled trial of 122 participants was conducted. The intervention was a remote 12-week small change weight gain prevention programme (targeting dietary and/or physical activity behaviours). The comparator group received a healthy lifestyle leaflet. Data were collected at baseline and 12-weeks. The primary outcome was the feasibility and acceptability, assessed against three stop–go traffic light criteria: retention, number of participants randomised per month and adherence to a small change approach. Participants’ opinions of a small change approach and weight change were also measured. The traffic light stop–go criteria results were green for recruitment (122 participants recruited in three months) and retention (91%) and red for intervention adherence. Most participants (62%) found a small change approach helpful for weight management and the mean difference in weight was − 1.1 kg (95% CI − 1.7, − 0.4), favouring the intervention group. Excluding intervention adherence, the trial was feasible and acceptable to participants. Despite adherence being lower than expected, participants found a small change approach useful for weight management and gained less weight than comparators. With refinement to increase intervention adherence, progress to an effectiveness trial is warranted.ISRCTN18309466: 12/04/2022 (retrospectively registered).
Dynamics of Interacting Monomial Scalar Field Potentials and Perfect Fluids
Authors: Alho Artur , Bessa Vitor , Mena Filipe C. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractMotivated by cosmological models of the early universe we analyse the dynamics of the Einstein equations with a minimally coupled scalar field with monomial potentials $$V(\phi )=\frac{(\lambda \phi )^{2n}}{2n}$$

V

(
ϕ
)

=

(
λ
ϕ
)

2
n

2
n

, $$\lambda >0$$

λ
>
0

, $$n\in {\mathbb {N}}$$

n
∈
N

, interacting with a perfect fluid with linear equation of state $$p_{\textrm{pf}}=(\gamma _{\textrm{pf}}-1)\rho _{\textrm{pf}}$$

p
pf

=

(

γ
pf

-
1
)

ρ
pf

, $$\gamma _{\textrm{pf}}\in (0,2)$$

γ
pf

∈

(
0
,
2
)

, in flat Robertson–Walker spacetimes. The interaction is a friction-like term of the form $$\Gamma (\phi )=\mu \phi ^{2p}$$

Γ

(
ϕ
)

=
μ

ϕ

2
p

, $$\mu >0$$

μ
>
0

, $$p\in {\mathbb {N}}\cup \{0\}$$

p
∈
N
∪
{
0
}

. The analysis relies on the introduction of a new regular 3-dimensional dynamical systems’ formulation of the Einstein equations on a compact state space, and the use of dynamical systems’ tools such as quasi-homogeneous blow-ups and averaging methods involving a time-dependent perturbation parameter.
Rigorous derivation of the Efimov effect in a simple model
Authors: Fermi Davide , Ferretti Daniele , Teta Alessandro 
Published: November 2023

AbstractWe consider a system of three identical bosons in $$\mathbb {R}^3$$

R

3

with two-body zero-range interactions and a three-body hard-core repulsion of a given radius $$ a > 0$$

a
>
0

. Using a quadratic form approach, we prove that the corresponding Hamiltonian is self-adjoint and bounded from below for any value of a. In particular, this means that the hard-core repulsion is sufficient to prevent the fall to the center phenomenon found by Minlos and Faddeev in their seminal work on the three-body problem in 1961. Furthermore, in the case of infinite two-body scattering length, also known as unitary limit, we prove the Efimov effect, i.e., we show that the Hamiltonian has an infinite sequence of negative eigenvalues $$E_n$$

E
n

accumulating at zero and fulfilling the asymptotic geometrical law $$\;E_{n+1} / E_n \; \rightarrow \; e^{-\frac{2\pi }{s_0}}\,\; \,\text {for} \,\; n\rightarrow +\infty $$

E

n
+
1

/

E
n

→

e

-

2
π

s
0

for

n
→
+
∞

holds, where $$s_0\approx 1.00624$$

s
0

≈
1.00624

.
The risk of normative bias in reporting empirical research: lessons learned from prenatal screening studies about the prominence of acknowledged limitations
Authors: Nakou Panagiota , Bennett Rebecca 
Published: November 2023

AbstractEmpirical data can be an extremely powerful and influential tool in bioethical research. However, when researchers or policy makers look for answers to ethical questions by engaging with empirical research, there can be a tendency (conscious or unconscious) to shape, report, and use empirical research in a way that confirms their own preferred ethical conclusions. This skewing effect - what we call ‘normative bias’ - is often so subtle it falls short of clear misconduct and thus can be difficult to call out. However, we argue that this subtle influence of bias has the potential to significantly influence debate and policy around highly sensitive ethical issues and must be guarded against. In this paper we share the lessons we have learned through a journey of self-reflection around the effect that normative bias can have when reporting on and referring to empirical data relating to ethical issues. We use a variety of papers from our area of the ethics of routine prenatal screening to illustrate these subtle but often powerfully distorting effects of bias. Our aim in doing so is not to criticise the work of others, as we recognise our own normative bias, but to improve awareness of this issue, remind the need for reflexivity to guard against our own biases, and introduce a new criterion - the idea of a ‘limitation prominence assessment’ - that can work as a practical way to evaluate the seriousness of the limitations of an empirical study and thus, the risks of the study being misread or misinterpreted through superficial reading.
A new multispectral index for canopy nitrogen concentration applicable across growth stages in ryegrass and barley
Authors: Patel Manish Kumar , Ryu Dongryeol , Western Andrew W. , Fitzgerald Glenn J. , Perry Eileen M. , Suter Helen , Young Iain M. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractAccurately monitoring Canopy Nitrogen Concentration (CNC) is a prerequisite for precision nitrogen (N) fertiliser management at the farm scale with carbon and N budgeting across the landscape and ecosystems. While many spectral indices have been proposed for CNC monitoring, their applicability and accuracy are often adversely affected by confounding factors such as aboveground biomass (AGB), crop type, growth stages, and environmental conditions, limiting their broader application and adoption; with AGB being one of the most dominant signals and confounding factors at canopy scale. The confounding effect can become more challenging as AGB is also physiologically linked with CNC across the growth stages. Additionally, the interplay between index form, selection of optimal wavebands and their bandwidths remains poorly understood for CNC index design. This study proposes robust and cost-effective 2- and 4-waveband multispectral (MS) CNC indices applicable across a wide range of crop conditions. We collected 449 canopy reflectance spectra (400–980 nm) together with corresponding CNC and AGB measurements across four growth stages of ryegrass (winter and summer), and five growth stages of barley (winter-spring) in Victoria, Australia, in 2018 and 2019. All possible waveband (400–980 nm) combinations revealed that the best combination varied between seasons and crop types. However, the visible spectrum, particularly the blue region, presented high and consistent performance. Bandwidths of 10–40 nm outperformed either very narrow (2 nm) or very broad bandwidths (80 nm). The newly developed 2-waveband index (416 and 442 nm with 10-nm bandwidth; R2 = 0.75 and NRMSE = 0.2) and 4-waveband index (512, 440, 414 and 588 nm with 40-nm bandwidth; R2 = 0.81 and NRMSE = 0.17) exhibited the best performance, while validation with an independent dataset (from a different growing period to those used in the model development) obtained NRMSE values of 0.25 and 0.24, respectively. The 4-waveband index provides enhanced performance and permits use of broader bandwidths than its 2-waveband counterpart.
The evaluation of productivity in South African deciduous fruit industry: evidence from stone and pome fruits
Authors: Myeki Lindikaya W. , Temoso Omphile , Nyhodo Bonani 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis study examines the total factor productivity (TFP) of the South African deciduous fruit sector over an 8-year period (2014–2021), using industry-level data for five fruit types (apples, pears, plums, apricots, and peaches). TFP growth was estimated using the Färe-Primont (FP) index and decomposed into technical change (TECH) and efficiency change (TFPE). The results show that the TFP of the industry increased by 27% (3.53% per year) due to a 35% (4.38% per year) increase in technical change, while TFPE decreased by 6% (−0.81% per year). The TFPE breakdown into technical efficiency (OTE) and scale-mix efficiency (OSME) reveals that 6% decrease in OSME was entirely responsible for TFPE slowdown, while OTE remained unchanged. While both sub-sector contributions were significant, stone fruit grew at a faster rate (32%, or 4.05% per year) than the pome sub-sector (21%, or 2.74% per year). Overall, entire industry, sub-sectors, and fruit types show that TECH was key to TFP growth, whereas TFPE slowed it. Investments in efficiency support programmes have the potential to enhance sector growth.