bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lifetime prediction and reliability analysis for aluminum electrolytic capacitors in EV charging module based on mission profiles
Authors: Liu Hongpeng , Qiu Jiahui , Zhang Wei , Zhang Mengyuan , Dou Zhenlan , Chen Liangliang 
Published: August 2023

The charging modules of Electric vehicles (EVs) always run in a complex and variable state. As the weakness in the reliable operation of charging modules, the accurate lifetime prediction of aluminum electrolytic capacitors (Al-caps) is important for the later maintenance and reliability design. The hotspot temperature calculation method and lifetime model limit the accuracy of aluminum electrolytic capacitors lifetime prediction methods, which cannot meet the increasing requirements for reliability. In order to solve the problems above, this paper has proposed a hotspot temperature calculation method based on the ripple current with frequency characteristics and the cooling conditions on the heat generation and thermal conductivity of the capacitors. Furthermore, the lifetime model under reference voltage has been constructed with 3D surface fitting toolbox, which describes the trends of capacitor lifetime with ambient temperature and hotspot temperature under the constant voltage condition. Considering the variation of voltage, the multiple lifetime model of capacitor is established with a voltage correction coefficient. With the proposed method, it can be realized about the real-time lifetime prediction of capacitors under multiple operating profiles such as ripple current, thermal dissipation conditions, ambient temperature and operating voltage. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed method is verified with the annual profiles of a 30 kW EV charging module.
Production, optimization, and physicochemical characterization of biodiesel from seed oil of indigenously grown Jatropha curcas
Authors: Haq Abdul , Laiq Ur Rehman Mian , Rana Qurrat ul Ain , Khan Alam , Sajjad Wasim , Khan Haji , Khan Samiullah , Shah Aamer Ali , Hasan Fariha , Ahmed Safia , Islam Arshad , Badshah Malik , Shah Tawaf Ali , Dawoud Turki M. , Bourhia Mohammed 
Published: August 2023

With the growing demand for vegetable oils, alternative non-edible feedstocks like Jatropha curcas seed oil have gained interest for biodiesel production. The study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the physicochemical properties and biodiesel production potential of locally produced J. curcas seeds in Pakistan. Two different approaches were applied: a chemical synthesis approach involving acidic pretreatment and alkaline transesterification, and a biosynthetic approach using a lipase-producing strain of the Bacillus subtilis Q5 strain. The microbial biosynthesized biodiesel was further optimized using the Plackett–Burman design. The physicochemical properties of the J. curcas methyl esters were analyzed to assess their suitability as biodiesel fuel. Initially, the raw oil had a high free fatty acid content of 13.11%, which was significantly reduced to 1.2% using sulfuric acid pretreatment, keeping the oil to methanol molar ratio to be 1:12. Afterward, alkaline transesterification of purified acid-pretreated seed oil resulted in 96% biodiesel yield at an oil to methanol molar ratio of 1:6, agitation of 600 revolutions per minute (RPM), temperature 60°C, and time 2 h. Moreover, alkaline transesterification yielded ∼98% biodiesel at the following optimized conditions: oil to methanol molar ratio 1:6, KOH 1%, time 90 min, and temperature 60°C. Similarly, the Bacillus subtilis Q5 strain yielded ∼98% biodiesel at the following optimized conditions: oil: methanol ratio of 1:9, agitation 150 RPM, inoculum size 10%, temperature 37°C, and n-hexane 10%. The fuel properties of J. curcas seed biodiesel are closely related to standard values specified by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM D6751–20a), indicating its potential as a viable biodiesel fuel source.
Deforestation perspectives of dry temperate forests: main drivers and possible strategies
Authors: Ali Ehsan , Azhar Muhammad Farooq , Alam Edris , Rehman Zainab , Ullah Sami , Ahmad Aqeel , Towfiqul Islam Abu Reza Md. , Zaman Wajid , Javed Muhammad , Mittal Praveen 
Published: August 2023

Deforestation is the accelerating factor of climate change in developing countries. The German Watch Report 2020 had rated Pakistan number seventh most affected country due to adverse impacts of climate change. The problem of deforestation poses an existential danger to the forest-depleted country. It is of utmost importance to predict the main drivers to control deforestation. This study was conducted from October 2021 to August 2022 in dry temperate forests of the Chilas to investigate the current condition, causes of deforestation, and predicted the main drivers by using a binary regression model. Stratified random sampling techniques and fixed area plot method were used and taken ground measurements during field inventory to access current situation of deforestation. While a non-probability quota sampling technique and semi-structured questionnaire were utilized for the determination of main drivers of deforestation through respondent’s survey. The forest inventory result showed that most trees fall in immature and sub-mature (mainly in 10–20 and 20–30 cm) diameter classes while the binary logistic regression model predicted dominating four primary drivers (unsustainable fuel wood extraction, unsustainable timber extraction and urban crawling and rural expansion/habituation, and free and uncontrolled livestock grazing) and one secondary driver (wood for energy needs). To address the underlying causes of deforestation, the government must supply alternate energy sources, as well as other economic possibilities to reduce dependency on forests.
Administration of BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to subjects with various allergic backgrounds
Authors: Ribak Yaarit , Rubin Limor , Talmon Aviv , Dranitzki Zvi , Shamriz Oded , Hershkowitz Isca , Tal Yuval , Hershko Alon Y. 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundThe mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccine was introduced to the general public in December 2020. Shortly thereafter, safety concerns were raised due to the reporting of allergic reactions. Allergy-related disorders were suspected to be significant risk factors and the excipient polyethylene glycol was suggested to be a robust allergen.MethodsThis is a retrospective study analysis. Subjects with putative risk factors for severe allergic reactions to the Pfizer-BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine were referred for vaccination under observation at the Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Data was collected for each subject, including demographic details, medical history and previous reactions to any allergen. When appropriate, skin tests were done prior to vaccination.ResultsA total of 346 subjects received 623 vaccine doses under observation. The study included patients with various allergy-related disorders (n=290) and those with allergy to a previous COVID-19 vaccine dose (n=56). Both groups showed female predominance (78% and 88%, p=NS). Patients without reactions to previous doses reported more drug allergy (80% vs. 39%, p&lt;0.001) and previous anaphylaxis (64% vs. 14%, p&lt;0.001). There was no difference in sensitivity to other allergens, including polyethylene glycol. Under observation, mild allergic reactions were noted in 13 individuals characterized by female gender (100%), a history of anaphylaxis (69%) and drug allergy (62%). In 7 subjects, allergy was treated with antihistamines while others recovered spontaneously.ConclusionOur study demonstrates that vaccination under specialist-supervision is a powerful tool for reducing over-diagnosis of systemic reactions and for rapid and reliable collection of vaccine safety data.
Climate projections of meteotsunami hazards
Authors: Denamiel Cléa , Belušić Danijel , Zemunik Petra , Vilibić Ivica 
Published: August 2023

Global climate models, indispensable for projecting the human-driven climate change, have been improving for decades and are nowadays capable of reproducing multiple processes (e.g., aerosols, sea-ice, carbon cycle) at up to 25 km horizontal resolution. Meteotsunami events – tsunami waves generated by mesoscale atmospheric processes – are properly captured only by sub-kilometre-scale downscaling of these models. However, the computational cost of long-term high-resolution climate simulations providing accurate meteotsunami hazard assessments would be prohibitive. In this article, to overcome this deficiency, we present a new methodology allowing to project sub-kilometre-scale meteotsunami hazards and their climate uncertainties at any location in the world. Practically, the methodology uses (1) synoptic indices to preselect a substantial number of short-term meteotsunami episodes and (2) a suite of atmospheric and oceanic models to downscale them from an ensemble of global models to the sub-kilometre-scale. Such approach, using hundreds of events to build robust statistics, could allow for an objective assessment of the meteotsunami hazards at the climate scale which, on top of sea level rise and storm surge hazards, is crucial for building adaptation plans to protect coastal communities worldwide.
Tissue-preserving treatment with non-invasive physical plasma of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia—a prospective controlled clinical trial
Authors: Weiss Martin , Arnholdt Marcel , Hißnauer Anna , Fischer Irma , Schönfisch Birgitt , Andress Jürgen , Gerstner Sophia , Dannehl Dominik , Bösmüller Hans , Staebler Annette , Brucker Sara Y. , Henes Melanie 
Published: August 2023

ObjectiveCervical cancer represents the fourth leading cause of cancer among women and is associated with over 311,000 annual deaths worldwide. Timely diagnosis is crucial given the lengthy pre-cancerous phase, which is typified by cervical intraepithelial neoplastic lesions. However, current treatment methods are often tissue-destructive and can be accompanied by severe side effects. To address these concerns, our study introduces a novel, gentle approach for the tissue-preserving treatment of CIN lesions.ResultsWe present findings of a controlled, prospective, single-armed phase IIb clinical trial performed at the Department for Women’s Health, Tübingen, Germany. From September 2017 to March 2022 we assessed 570 participants for study eligibility. Of the screened patients, 63 participants met with CIN1/2 lesions met the inclusion criteria and were treated with non-invasive physical plasma (NIPP). Assessment of treatment efficacy was based on a comprehensive analysis of histological and cytological findings, along with high-risk HPV infection load at 3 and 6 months post-treatment. Comparative analyses were performed retrospectively with data obtained from 287 untreated patients in the control group. Our findings indicate that patients treated with NIPP experienced an 86.2% rate of full remission, along with a 3.4% rate of partial remission of CIN lesions, which compares favorably to the control group’s rates of 40.4% and 4.5%, respectively. Additionally, we observed a twofold reduction in high-risk HPV infections following NIPP treatment. Minor side effects were observed, such as mild pain during treatment and short-term smear bleeding or increased vaginal discharge within 24 h after treatment. Given the experimental nature of NIPP treatment and the availability of established standard treatments, our study was designed as a non-randomized study.ConclusionNIPP treatment offers a highly flexible and easy-to-apply method for treating pre-cancerous CIN1/2 lesions. This non-invasive approach is notable for its tissue-preserving nature, making it a promising alternative to current excisional and ablative treatments. CIN1/2 lesions were employed as preliminary in vivo models for the targeted treatment of CIN3 lesions.Clinical trial registrationhttps://www.clinicaltrials.gov, identifier NCT03218436.
Causal effects of specific gut microbiota on musculoskeletal diseases: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Chen Shuai , Han Huawei , Sun Xiaohe , Zhou Guowei , Zhou Qing , Li Zhiwei 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundRecent observational studies and clinical trials demonstrated an association between gut microbiota and musculoskeletal (MSK) diseases. Nonetheless, whether the gut microbiota composition has a causal effect on the risk of MSK diseases remains unclear.MethodsBased on large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS), we performed a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal relationship between gut microbiota and six MSK diseases, namely osteoporosis (OP), fracture, sarcopenia, low back pain (LBP), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Instrumental variables for 211 gut microbiota taxa were obtained from the largest available GWAS meta-analysis (n = 18,340) conducted by the MiBioGen consortium. And the summary-level data for six MSK diseases were derived from published GWAS. The inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was conducted as a primary analysis to estimate the causal effect, and the robustness of the results was tested via sensitivity analyses using multiple methods. The Bonferroni-corrected test was used to determine the strength of the causal relationship between gut microbiota and various MSK diseases. Finally, a reverse MR analysis was applied to evaluate reverse causality.ResultsAccording to the IVW method, we found 57 suggestive causal relationships and 3 significant causal relationships between gut microbiota and MSK diseases. Among them, Genus Bifidobacterium (β: 0.035, 95% CI: 0.013–0.058, p = 0.0002) was associated with increased left handgrip strength, Genus Oxalobacter (OR: 1.151, 95% CI: 1.065–1.245, p = 0.0003) was correlated with an increased risk of LBP, and Family Oxalobacteraceae (OR: 0.792, 95% CI: 0.698–0.899, p = 0.0003) was linked with a decreased risk of RA. Subsequently, sensitivity analyses revealed no heterogeneity, directional pleiotropy, or outliers for the causal effect of specific gut microbiota on MSK diseases (p &gt; 0.05). Reverse MR analysis showed fracture may result in a higher abundance of Family Bacteroidales (p = 0.030) and sarcopenia may lead to a higher abundance of Genus Sellimonas (p = 0.032).ConclusionGenetic evidence suggested a causal relationship between specific bacteria taxa and six MSK diseases, which highlights the association of the “gut-bone/muscle” axis. Further exploration of the potential microbiota-related mechanisms of bone and muscle metabolism might provide novel insights into the prevention and treatment of MSK diseases.
Repetitive nerve stimulation on survival in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Zhu Yahui , Bai Jiongming , Li Mao , Wang Hongfen , Wang Jiao , Huang Xusheng 
Published: August 2023

ObjectiveNo previous studies investigated the association between decrement of low-frequency repetitive nerve stimulation (LF-RNS) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) survival. We aim to study the relationship between decrement and survival in ALS.MethodsSporadic ALS patients diagnosed at the Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital from January 2018 to December 2019 were enrolled in this study. Experienced neurologists followed up the participants regularly every 6 months until January 2022. A decremental response of 10% or greater at least in one muscle was considered positive. According to the decrement, the participants were divided into LF-RNS (+) and LF-RNS (−) groups.ResultsOne hundred and eighty-one sporadic ALS patients were recruited in our study, including 100 males and 81 females. Among them, 10 cases (5.5%) were lost to follow-up, 99 cases (54.7%) died, and 72 patients (39.8%) were still alive at the last follow-up. The median survival time of all ALS patients in this study was 42.0 months. There was no significant difference of median survival in LF-RNS(+) group and LF-RNS(−) group (p = 0.159, Kaplan–Meier method). In multivariate Cox regression analysis, age of onset, diagnostic delay, and ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised (ALSFRS-R) score were associated with ALS survival, but the decrement was not correlated with ALS survival (p = 0.238).ConclusionThe decrement in accessory and ulnar nerves was not associated with the survival of ALS. The decrement of LF-RNS could not be an electrophysiological marker to predict ALS survival.
A machine learning-based model for predicting distant metastasis in patients with rectal cancer
Authors: Qiu Binxu , Shen Zixiong , Wu Song , Qin Xinxin , Yang Dongliang , Wang Quan 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundDistant metastasis from rectal cancer usually results in poorer survival and quality of life, so early identification of patients at high risk of distant metastasis from rectal cancer is essential.MethodThe study used eight machine-learning algorithms to construct a machine-learning model for the risk of distant metastasis from rectal cancer. We developed the models using 23867 patients with rectal cancer from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database between 2010 and 2017. Meanwhile, 1178 rectal cancer patients from Chinese hospitals were selected to validate the model performance and extrapolation. We tuned the hyperparameters by random search and tenfold cross-validation to construct the machine-learning models. We evaluated the models using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC), the area under the precision-recall curve (AUPRC), decision curve analysis, calibration curves, and the precision and accuracy of the internal test set and external validation cohorts. In addition, Shapley’s Additive explanations (SHAP) were used to interpret the machine-learning models. Finally, the best model was applied to develop a web calculator for predicting the risk of distant metastasis in rectal cancer.ResultThe study included 23,867 rectal cancer patients and 2,840 patients with distant metastasis. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that age, differentiation grade, T-stage, N-stage, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), tumor deposits, perineural invasion, tumor size, radiation, and chemotherapy were-independent risk factors for distant metastasis in rectal cancer. The mean AUC value of the extreme gradient boosting (XGB) model in ten-fold cross-validation in the training set was 0.859. The XGB model performed best in the internal test set and external validation set. The XGB model in the internal test set had an AUC was 0.855, AUPRC was 0.510, accuracy was 0.900, and precision was 0.880. The metric AUC for the external validation set of the XGB model was 0.814, AUPRC was 0.609, accuracy was 0.800, and precision was 0.810. Finally, we constructed a web calculator using the XGB model for distant metastasis of rectal cancer.ConclusionThe study developed and validated an XGB model based on clinicopathological information for predicting the risk of distant metastasis in patients with rectal cancer, which may help physicians make clinical decisions. rectal cancer, distant metastasis, web calculator, machine learning algorithm, external validation
Case report: Variability in clinical features as a potential pitfall for the diagnosis of Barth syndrome
Authors: Tovaglieri Nicola , Russo Silvia , Micaglio Emanuele , Corcelli Angela , Lobasso Simona 
Published: August 2023

BackgroundBarth syndrome is a rare genetic disease characterized by cardiomyopathy, skeletal muscle weakness, neutropenia, growth retardation and organic aciduria. This variable phenotype is caused by pathogenic hemizygous variants of the TAFAZZIN gene on the X chromosome, which impair metabolism of the mitochondrial phospholipid cardiolipin. Although most patients are usually diagnosed in the first years of life, the extremely variable clinical picture and the wide range of clinical presentations may both delay diagnosis. This is the case reported here of a man affected with severe neutropenia, who was not diagnosed with Barth syndrome until adulthood.Case presentationWe describe herein a family case, specifically two Caucasian male cousins sharing the same mutation in the TAFAZZIN gene with a wide phenotypic variability: an infant who was early diagnosed with Barth syndrome due to heart failure, and his maternal cousin with milder and extremely different clinical features who has received the same diagnosis only at 33 years of age.ConclusionsOur report supports the underestimation of the prevalence of Barth syndrome, which should be always considered in the differential diagnosis of male patients with recurrent neutropenia with or without signs and symptoms of cardiomyopathy.
Tunable narrowband and broadband coexisting absorber enabled by a simple all-metal grating for sensing applications
Authors: Wang Jianwei , Zhang Ze , Lin Zhiyan , Li Hanting , Gao Hua , Fan Zhenjun , Liu Haifeng 
Published: August 2023

We realize a tunable narrowband and broadband coexisting absorber based on a simple step-shaped all-metal grating structure. The absorber presents an ultra-narrow absorption band of 1.5 nm and a relatively broad absorption band of 29.8 nm, both with nearly 100% absorption in the infrared region. The mechanism underlying the dual-band perfect absorption is the interaction between two diffraction coupled surface plasmon polariton (SPP) modes with one of them modulated by a cavity resonance. Influences of structure parameters on the absorption performance are numerically investigated. It is found that the positions of the two perfect absorption peaks can be easily tuned both independently and together by changing the structural parameters. In addition, the designed grating structure presents excellent sensing performance with sensitivity and figure of merit as high as 2,514 nm/RIU and 1,600 RIU−1, respectively. The excellent sensing performance, flexible tenability and simple structure design endow this grating absorber with great potential in high-precision biochemical sensing applications.
On truth and polarity in negation processing: language-specific effects in non-linguistic contexts
Authors: Vanek Norbert , Zhang Haoruo 
Published: August 2023

IntroductionThis study examines how negation is processed in a nonverbal context (e.g., when assessing ▲ ≠ ▲) by speakers of a truth-based system like Mandarin and a polarity-based system like English. In a truth-based system, negation may take longer to process because it is typically attached to the negation as a whole (it is not true that triangle does not equal triangle), whereas in polarity-based systems, negation is processed relatively faster because it is attached to just the equation symbol (triangle does not equal triangle), which is processed relatively faster. Our hypothesis was that negation processing routines previously observed for verbal contexts, namely that speakers of Mandarin get slowed down more when processing negative stimuli than positive stimuli compared to speakers of English, also extend to contexts when language use is not obligatory.MethodsTo test this, we asked participants to agree/disagree with equations comprising simple shapes and positive ‘=’ or negative ‘≠’ equation symbols. English speakers showed a response-time advantage over Mandarin speakers in negation conditions. In a separate experiment, we also tested the contribution of equation symbols ‘≠’/‘=’ to the cognitive demands by asking participants to judge shape sameness in symbol-free trials, such as ▲ ■. This comparison allowed us to test whether crosslinguistic differences arise not because of shape congruence judgement but arguably due to negation attachment.Results and discussionThe effect of the ‘≠’ symbol on shape congruence was language-specific, speeding up English speakers but slowing down Mandarin speakers when the two shapes differed. These findings suggest language-specific processing of negation in negative equations, interpreted as novel support for linguistic relativity.