bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decisional conflict and its determinants among patients with cancer undergoing immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy or targeted therapy: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Lee Yun-Hsiang , Chou Xiao-Yin , Lai Yeur-Hur , Liang Yi-Hsin , Hung Chia-Tai , Hsaio Chu-Chi , Gao Zi-Xuan 
Published: August 2023

AbstractDecisional conflict might occur during shared decision-making (SDM) because immunotherapy is a rather novel treatment option for patients with cancer. To explore the prevalence and severity of physical and psychological symptoms and the effort invested in SDM in relation to decisional conflict among patients with cancer undergoing immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy or targeted therapy. This was a cross-sectional survey study. The SURE version of the Decisional Conflict Scale was used to screen cancer patients’ decisional conflict status. Demographic or clinical characteristics, physical symptoms and psychological distress; efforts invested in the SDM process were also assessed as potential factors related to decisional conflict. One hundred seventeen patients surveyed, the prevalence of fatigue (79.5%), sleep disturbance (78.6%), poor appetite (67.5%), and pain (58.1%) symptoms were high and the severity was at moderate levels. The prevalence of pruritus (40.2%), rash (34.2%), dry skin (41.9%), and diarrhea (17.1%) symptoms were low and the severity was at mild levels. 65.8% of patients reported uncertainty, with mild to moderate levels. Furthermore, 97.4% of the patients made some effort in SDM, and the effort level was moderate (mean: 5.56 ± 2.02). 64.1% of patients were certain that immunotherapy was the best option. Age, uncertainty, and effort in the SDM process were major factors related to decisional conflict. We observed that older patients (age: ≥ 65) and those with higher uncertainty levels and less effort in SDM reported higher levels of decisional conflict. Future studies should explore older patients’ decisional related needs of immunotherapy. Interventions should be designed to reduce the uncertainty experienced by patients with cancer and enhance their understanding of immunotherapy to enable them to take more effort in the SDM process.
XRD, FTIR and ultrasonic investigations of cadmium lead bismuthate glasses
Authors: Abd El-Moneim Amin , Azooz M. A. , Hashem Hassan A. , Fayad A. M. , Elwan R. L. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractCadmium lead bismuthate glasses in the system xCdO–(1−x)[0.5PbO + 0.5Bi2O3](40 mol% ≤ x ≤ 90 mol%) were successfully prepared by melt-quenching method. The structural and elastic properties have been investigated using XRD, FTIR and ultrasonic pulse–echo techniques. The XRD patterns confirmed the amorphous nature of the samples prepared. Density and ultrasonic velocity data were used to evaluate various elastic properties. Addition of CdO gave rise to decreased density and molar volume and increased elastic moduli, micro-hardness, and Debye temperature. The FTIR analysis revealed that increasing CdO content enhances the BiO6octahedral sites at the expense of the BiO3and PbO4units. This results in the formation of Pb–O–Bi(6) and Bi(3)–O–Bi(6) linkages in the glass network, which stiffen the structure and improve the elastic properties. A correlation between elastic and compositional parameters was achieved on the basis of theories and approaches in the field.
A conformational rearrangement of the SARS-CoV-2 host protein sigma-1 is required for antiviral activity: insights from a combined in-silico/in-vitro approach
Authors: Abatematteo Francesca Serena , Delre Pietro , Mercurio Ivan , Rezelj Veronica V. , Siliqi Dritan , Beaucourt Stephanie , Lattanzi Gianluca , Colabufo Nicola Antonio , Leopoldo Marcello , Saviano Michele , Vignuzzi Marco , Mangiatordi Giuseppe Felice , Abate Carmen 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe development of effective drugs to treat coronavirus infections remains a significant challenge for the scientific community. Recent evidence reports on the sigma-1 receptor (S1R) as a key druggable host protein in the SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2 interactomes and shows a potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 for the S1R antagonist PB28. To improve PB28 activity, we designed and tested a series of its analogues and identified a compound that is fourfold more potent against SARS-CoV-2 than PB28 itself. Interestingly, we found no direct correlation between S1R affinity and SARS-CoV-2 antiviral activity. Building on this, we employed comparative induced fit docking and molecular dynamics simulations to gain insights into the possible mechanism that occurs when specific ligand–protein interactions take place and that may be responsible for the observed antiviral activity. Our findings offer a possible explanation for the experimental observations, provide insights into the S1R conformational changes upon ligand binding and lay the foundation for the rational design of new S1R ligands with potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 and likely other viruses.
Catalytic reductions of nitroaromatic compounds over heterogeneous catalysts with rhenium sub-nanostructures
Authors: Cyganowski Piotr , Dzimitrowicz Anna , Marzec Mateusz M. , Arabasz Sebastian , Sokołowski Krystian , Lesniewicz Anna , Nowak Sylwia , Pohl Pawel , Bernasik Andrzej , Jermakowicz-Bartkowiak Dorota 
Published: August 2023

AbstractNitroaromatic compounds (NACs) are key contaminants of anthropogenic origin and pose a severe threat to human and animal lives. Although the catalytic activities of Re nanostructures (NSs) are significantly higher than those of other heterogeneous catalysts containing NSs, few studies have been reported on the application of Re-based nanocatalysts for NAC hydrogenation. Accordingly, herein, catalytic reductions of nitrobenzene (NB), 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), 2-nitroaniline (2-NA), 4-nitroaniline (4-NA), and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (2,4,6-TNP) over new Re-based heterogeneous catalysts were proposed. The catalytic materials were designed to enable effective syntheses and stabilisation of particularly small Re structures over them. Accordingly, catalytic hydrogenations of NACs under mild conditions were significantly enhanced by Re sub-nanostructures (Re-sub-NSs). The highest pseudo-first-order rate constants for NB, 4-NP, 2-NA, 4-NA, and 2,4,6-TNP reductions over the catalyst acquired by stabilising Re using bis(3-aminopropyl)amine (BAPA), which led to Re-sub-NSs with Re concentrations of 16.7 wt%, were 0.210, 0.130, 0.100, 0.180, and 0.090 min−1, respectively.
Efficiency comparison between tracking and optimally fixed flat solar collectors
Authors: Aghamohammadi Amir , Foulaadvand M. Ebrahim 
Published: August 2023

AbstractWe investigate the optimal orientation for a fixed flat plate solar collector using the clear sky model. The ground reflection component of irradiation that hits the collector’s surface is ignored due to its relatively small magnitude when compared to the direct beam and sky diffusive components. Analytical calculations demonstrate that regardless of the collector’s latitude, the most effective azimuthal angle,$$\gamma ^*$$γ∗, is 0, which generally corresponds to a North–South direction. However, the optimal tilt angle,$$\beta ^*$$β∗, is dependent on both the Day of Year (DoY) and the collector’s local latitude. For latitudes typical of mid-altitude climate zones, we can calculate the optimal tilt angle and the maximum energy that the collector can harvest during each DoY. We compare the maximum daily received energy—which is the sum of the direct beam and sky diffusive energies—associated with this optimal orientation to their corresponding values when the flat plate tracks the Sun. The relative increase in total energy due to Sun tracking depends critically on the DoY, with a minimum value of about$$17\%$$17%in early winter and a maximum value of$$40\%$$40%over a large interval.
Minimization of the threshold voltage parameter of the co-doped ZnO doped liquid crystals by machine learning algorithms
Authors: Önsal Gülnur , Uğurlu Onur , Kaynar Ümit H. , Türsel Eliiyi Deniz 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis study aims to examine the influence of the co-doped semiconductor nanostructure (Al-Cu):ZnO on the electro-optical properties of the E7 coded pure nematic liquid crystal structures and minimize the threshold voltage of pure E7 liquid crystal. To determine the ideal concentration ratios of the materials for the minimum threshold voltage, we employed different machine learning algorithms. In this context, we first produced twelve composite structures through lab experimentation with different concentrations and created an experimental dataset for the machine learning algorithms. Next, the ideal concentration ratios were estimated using the AdaBoost algorithm, which has an $$R^2$$

R
2

of 96% on the experimental dataset. Finally, additional composite structures having the estimated concentration ratios were produced. The results show that, with the help of the employed machine learning algorithms, the threshold voltage of pure E7 liquid crystal was reduced by 19% via the (Al-Cu):ZnO doping.
Isotherm and kinetic investigations of sawdust-based biochar modified by ammonia to remove methylene blue from water
Authors: Hassaan Mohamed A. , Yılmaz Murat , Helal Mohamed , El-Nemr Mohamed A. , Ragab Safaa , El Nemr Ahmed 
Published: August 2023

AbstractChemical industry effluent may pose significant environmental risks to both human health and the economy if it is not properly managed. As a result, scientists and decision-makers are paying increasing attention to developing a sustainable, low-cost wastewater treatment technique. This work aims to investigate the adsorption of Methylene Blue (MB) dye present in water using biochar derived from sawdust modified by boiling in an ammonia solution (SDBA). The properties of SDBA were characterized by BET, SEM, XRD, BJH, FT-IR, DTA, EDX and TGA analyses. The presence of –OH and –NH groups in SDBA was confirmed by FTIR, which proved that the NH4OH treatment of biochar successfully added nitrogen groups on its surface. The influence of pH (2 to 12), MB dye initial concentration (20 to 120 mg/L), adsorbent dosage (0.5 to 4.0 g/L) and contact time (0 to 180 min) on the adsorption process has been investigated. The adsorption of MB dye is more favorable at basic pH, with optimum adsorption at pH 8. Using a starting concentration of 20 mg/L of MB dye and a 4.0 g/L SDBA dose, the maximum percent clearance of MB dye was 99.94%. Experimental results were fitted to the Freundlich (FIM), Tempkin (TIM) and Langmuir (LIM) isotherm models (IMs). The FIM fitted the equilibrium data well, with a 643.74 mg/g Qm. Various error function models were used to test the data obtained from IMs. According to Error Function results, experimental data showed that it fits better for LIM and FIM. Kinetic studies indicated that the MB dye adsorption procedure followed pseudo-second-order (PSOM) kinetics based on film diffusion (FDM), pseudo-first-order (PFOM) and intra-particle diffusion models (IPDM). MB dye sorption on the SDBA involved electrostatic interaction, surface participation, hydrogen bond and π–π interactions. The adsorption mechanism of MB dye by SDBA was proposed as physical adsorption via the electrostatic attraction process. SDBA is an effective adsorbent in removing MB dye from water. Six adsorption–desorption cycles of the MB dye were run through the regeneration of SDBA with only a minimal amount of adsorption capacity loss, demonstrating the reusability of manufactured SDBA.
Wide dynamic range and real-time reagent identification and imaging using multi-wavelength terahertz parametric generation and machine learning
Authors: Murate Kosuke , Mine Sota , Torii Yuki , Inoue Hyuga , Kawase Kodo 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn this study, we propose a technique for identifying and imaging reagents through shielding over a wide dynamic range using a real-time terahertz (THz) spectroscopy system with multi-wavelength THz parametric generation/detection and machine learning. To quickly identify reagents through shielding, the spectral information of the “detection Stokes beam” is used for reagent recognition via machine learning. In general THz wave-based reagent identification, continuous spectra are acquired and analyzed quantitatively by post-processing. In actual applications, however, such as testing for illicit drugs in mail, the technology must be able to quickly identify reagents as opposed to quantifying the amount present. In multi-wavelength THz parametric generation/detection, THz spectral information can be measured instantly using a “multi-wavelength detection Stokes beam” and near-infrared (NIR) camera. Moreover, machine learning enables reagent identification in real-time and over a wide dynamic range. Furthermore, by plotting the identification results as pixel values, the spatial distribution of reagents can be imaged at high speed without the need for post-processing.
Acute brain slice elastic modulus decreases over time
Authors: Exton John , Higgins Jonathan M. G. , Chen Jinju 
Published: August 2023

AbstractA common benchmark in the brain tissue mechanics literature is that the properties of acute brain slices should be measured within 8 h of the experimental animal being sacrificed. The core assumption is that—since there is no substantial protein degradation during this time—there will be no change to elastic modulus. This assumption overlooks the possibility of other effects (such as osmotic swelling) that may influence the mechanical properties of the tissue. To achieve consistent and accurate analysis of brain mechanics, it is important to account for or mitigate these effects. Using atomic force microscopy (AFM), tissue hydration and volume measurements, we find that acute brain slices in oxygenated artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) with a standard osmolarity of 300 mOsm/l experience rapid swelling, softening, and increases in hydration within the first 2 hours after slicing. Reductions in elastic modulus can be partly mitigated by addition of chondroitinase ABC enzyme (CHABC). Increasing aCSF osmolarity to 400 mOsm/l does not prevent softening but may hasten equilibration of samples to a point where measurements of relative elastic modulus are consistent across experiments.
Effects of repeated sleep deprivation on brain pericytes in mice
Authors: Wu Yan , Li Pengfei , Bhat Narayan , Fan Hongkuan , Liu Meng 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe damaging effects of sleep deprivation (SD) on brain parenchyma have been extensively studied. However, the specific influence of SD on brain pericytes, a primary component of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and the neurovascular unit (NVU), is still unclear. The present study examined how acute or repeated SD impairs brain pericytes by measuring the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of soluble platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta (sPDGFRβ) and quantifying pericyte density in the cortex, hippocampus, and subcortical area of the PDGFRβ-P2A-CreERT2/tdTomato mice, which predominantly express the reporter tdTomato in vascular pericytes. Our results showed that a one-time 4 h SD did not significantly change the CSF sPDGFRβ level. In contrast, repeated SD (4 h/day for 10 consecutive days) significantly elevated the CSF sPDGFRβ level, implying explicit pericyte damages due to repeated SD. Furthermore, repeated SD significantly decreased the pericyte densities in the cortex and hippocampus, though the pericyte apoptosis status remained unchanged as measured with Annexin V-affinity assay and active Caspase-3 staining. These results suggest that repeated SD causes brain pericyte damage and loss via non-apoptosis pathways. These changes to pericytes may contribute to SD-induced BBB and NVU dysfunctions. The reversibility of this process implies that sleep improvement may have a protective effect on brain pericytes.
Multiscalar electrical spiking in Schizophyllum commune
Authors: Adamatzky Andrew , Schunselaar Ella , Wösten Han A. B. , Ayres Phil 
Published: August 2023

AbstractGrowing colonies of the split-gill fungus Schizophyllum commune show action potential-like spikes of extracellular electrical potential. We analysed several days of electrical activity recording of the fungus and discovered three families of oscillatory patterns. Very slow activity at a scale of hours, slow activity at a scale of 10 min and very fast activity at scale of half-minute. We simulated the spiking behaviour using FitzHugh–Nagume model, uncovered mechanisms of spike shaping. We speculated that spikes of electrical potential might be associated with transportation of nutrients and metabolites.
Estimating instantaneous frequency of multicomponent signal using optimization strategy in fractional domain
Authors: Xu Liyun , Li Wei 
Published: August 2023

AbstractEstimating instantaneous frequencies (IFs) overlapped in both time and frequency domains is an important issue in time‐frequency (TF) analysis. In this letter, the TF information of the signal in fractional domain is combined with an optimization strategy to estimate the IF of multicomponent overlapping signals. The method converts the IF estimation into the problem of function fitting in the two‐dimensional plane. First, based on the fractional window function with a specific angle, the energy of the multicomponent signal is concentrated around a certain signal component to obtain a relatively high‐resolution TF representation in fractional domain. Second, the training data set is constructed by the obtained TF representation, which will be used to estimate the IF. At last, the IF curve of the signal component is fitted with an optimization function. Numerical experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed method under the low SNR.
Performance evaluation of RW‐Quadrotor and Bi‐Quadrotor for payload delivery
Authors: Dalwadi Nihal , Deb Dipankar , Ozana Stepan 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPayload delivery is one of the many Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) applications that save time, energy, and human resources. The present simulation study compares rotary‐wing quadrotors (RW‐Quadrotors) and tail‐sitter biplane quadrotors (Bi‐Quadrotors) under payload delivery conditions that help to choose the best UAV for the particular mission. A comparative study is performed based on (i) time taken to accomplish the given mission, (ii) trajectory tracking performance, (iii) motor speed throughout the entire flight envelope, and (iv) remains SoC (State of Charge) after the mission. Furthermore, a Backstepping Controller (BSC) and an Adaptive Backstepping Controller (ABSC) are developed for both UAVs to handle mass changes during flight while Genetic Algorithm (GA) is used for the gain optimization. MATLAB Simulink‐based numerical simulation reveals that the Bi‐Quadrotor has a lower average rotor speed than the RW‐Quadrotor. However, the Bi‐Quadrotor's SoC after the mission is higher than the RW‐Quadrotor, and it took less time to accomplish the mission. The ABSC designed for RW‐Quadrotor and Bi‐Quadrotor effectively handles mass change during the mission. However, the BSC controller increases energy consumption for the Bi‐Quadrotor in the presence of wind gusts.
Performance evaluation technique for screen‐to‐camera‐based optical camera communications
Authors: Yokar Vaigai Nayaki , Le‐Minh Hoa , Ghassemlooy Zabih , Woo Wai Lok 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe increasing development and utilisation of optical camera communications offer an excellent opportunity for the implementation of the smartphone‐to‐smartphone‐based visible light communications (S2SVLC) system. In this study, the authors experimentally demonstrate that the S2SVLC system can support high‐quality multimedia transmissions by the investigation of the mean square error estimation, peak signal‐to‐noise (PSNR) degradation, bit error rate (BER), and data rate achieved. The experimental analysis has been carried out for different typical practical background illuminations (i.e., normal illumination and dark condition), distances, tilting, and rotation angles. The PSNR and BER are determined for different frame sizes in the S2SVLC system to provide an insight of system performance. Those results indicate that the data transmission at different conditions significantly impacts the system's performance.
Anti-shock pneumohydraulic damper
Authors: Jonkobilov U. , Jonkobilov S. 
Published: August 2023

The article is devoted to the analytical calculation of the main parameters and dimensions of a pneumohydraulic hydraulic shock damper with a decrease in pressure installed at the beginning of a pressure pipeline to reduce the emergency consequences of the intensity of shock waves, taking into account the polytropic process of air in the damper. Based on the results of analytical studies of the wave equations of non-stationary pressure movements for the proposed hydraulic shock damper, dependences were obtained for calculating the maximum and minimum impact heads in the first period of pressure fluctuations, considering the polytropic index.
To substantiate the reliability of the proposed dependencies and the economic dimensions of the damper design, comparative calculations of analytical studies with experimental data and data from other authors were performed. Comparative calculations prove the reliability of the proposed dependences obtained by the analytical method of solutions to the known equations of motion of hydromechanics, continuity, and state of the air in the damper.
Recommendations for the assessment and forecast of shore deformations in the average flow of the Amudarya river
Authors: Norkulov Bekhzod , Nazaraliev Dilshod , Raimova Iqboloy , Vafoeva Ozoda 
Published: August 2023

The paper presents the results of the field and numerical studies of the bank destruction in the middle section of the Amudarya River. The article presents the main factors of destruction of the banks during floods and low water flow. In addition, recommendations for protecting the coast from erosion are also developed. As a result of research into the process of intensive local reshaping of an easily eroded channel, hydraulic schemes have been developed for the occurrence of local bank erosion both in steady and unsteady motion in an open stream.
The recommendations are based on some patterns of interaction between the river channel and the flow during the period of low water and high-water flow. The external manifestation of this interaction is the coastal deformations, leading to the planned displacement of the channel.
Design characteristics of road embankments made of sandy soils
Authors: Kayumov A. D. , Kayumov D. A. , Ruziev I. I. 
Published: August 2023

Sandy soils are widespread all over the world, including in Uzbekistan, and they are widely used in the construction of highways. Therefore, several regulatory documents have been developed that normalize their design characteristics.
However, in the existing regulatory documents, the design characteristics of sandy soils of road embankments of highways used in the design of road coverings (modulus of elasticity E, angle of internal friction φ, specific adhesion C) are not normalized depending on the degree of compaction, calculated humidity and the content of dusty and clay particles in such soils. To solve these problems, special laboratory and field studies were conducted, the results of which are given in this article.