bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Numerical Simulation of Thermal Process in a Phase Change Material Exposed to Solar Heating in a Tropical Region
Authors: Lotun S S , Lollchund M R , Gooroochurn M 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
The capacity for phase change material (PCM) to absorb and release latent heat has led to its applications in heating/cooling strategies in solar heating systems, air-conditioning system, electronics cooling and food preservation. The use of PCM in building construction through micro/macro-encapsulation to passively cool/heat a living space has attracted a lot of experimental and simulation research work, especially after the turmoil caused due to worldwide energy crises. In this paper, the thermal behaviour of a PCM exposed to solar heating in a tropical climate is studied numerically over a 24-hour period using the ANSYS fluent Software. A grid dependency test is initially devised to establish the most appropriate grid sizes and time steps to be used for the subsequent simulations with acceptable accuracy. PCM is setup to be in contact with one side of a concrete block. The other side of the concrete is exposed directly to a typical daily solar radiation profile of a tropical region. Results, in terms of temperature distribution and liquid fraction, show that a two-layer of a commercially available PCM is sufficient to flatten the temperature fluctuations arising from solar heating in the tropical regions.
Fertilizer Utilization Efficiency in China, 2001-2015
Authors: Huang Xiuquan , Wang Xi , Su Shaodan , Shen Yang , Chen Baoxin , Zhang Tao 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
This study employs the biennial-weight-modified Russell model to measure the efficiency of China’s fertilizer utilization during 2001-2015 while investigating the temporal and spatial characteristics. The empirical results showed that fertilizer utilization efficiency (FUE) in the eastern region was the highest, followed by the central region during the sample period. FUE in China and its three regions had only slight fluctuations without an obvious trend. But FUE varied greatly in some provinces. The provinces having higher FUEs mainly included Shanghai and Hainan, whereas those with lower FUEs mainly included Anhui, Shanxi, and Hubei. Therefore, the governments should pay attention to both the improvement of FUE and the inter-regional balance for the coordinated development of agricultural regions.
Comparing adoption determinants of solar home systems, LPG and electric cooking for holistic energy services in Sub-Saharan Africa
Authors: Kizilcec Vivien , Perros Tash , Bisaga Iwona , Parikh Priti 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Globally, rates of electrification and clean cooking are low, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. Off-grid energy solutions have a vital role to play in accelerating clean energy access to address Sustainable Development Goal 7. For organisations aiming to provide both electricity and cooking services, there is a need for holistic studies on adoption determinants to aid market expansion. This paper presents a comprehensive literature review of the adoption determinants and barriers for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), solar home systems (SHS) and electric cooking (e-cooking) in Sub-Saharan Africa. A total of 40 adoption determinants were identified across the 71 publications examined. Of these, 30 determinants were shared by at least two of the technologies, whilst six were specifically linked to LPG and four to SHS. Key determinants that cut across technologies included reliability of alternative technologies (such as grid supply), reliable energy supply through the technology in question, affordability, household size and location (urban/rural). The findings show that there is an overlap in the demographics that use these technologies, as urban households often use SHS as a backup to the electricity grid and their cooking needs can feasibly be met by LPG or e-cooking devices. There is a clear opportunity for e-cooking devices to be sold as appliances for SHS. E-cooking devices such as electric pressure cookers can be complementary to LPG due to their suitability for cooking different foods. Pay-as-you-go models, which have a proven track record with improving access to SHS and are beginning to also be applied to LPG, have the potential to provide a strong foundation for scaling up of LPG and e-cooking services.
Modelling and numerical simulation of magnetostrictive materials for reduction of friction
Authors: Silva José A , Ferreira Rita , Sobral Luís , Silva Filipe S , Carvalho Óscar , Catarino Susana O 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
This study aims to enhance the multifunctional properties in top piston rings by adding magnetostrictive materials to reduce friction between them and the cylinder lining. The magnetostrictive effect will create mechanical deformations in piston rings, with consequent friction reduction. The present study consisted of a finite element analysis (FEA), using COMSOL Multiphysics® software, where both the amplitude of deformation and the reduction of the contact forces were analysed. These variables are useful to predict the ability to introduce mechanical vibrations in piston rings that can lead to the reduction of friction. The results showed a reduction of the contact force below 4%, and deformation amplitudes in the sliding plane of 6.50 μm and 3.20 μm, approximately, in the axial and circumferential directions, respectively. Those results are promising, enhancing the potential of smart materials and magnetostrictive effects to create mechanical vibrations and reduce friction in piston ring structures.
BatchDTA: implicit batch alignment enhances deep learning-based drug–target affinity estimation
Authors: Luo Hongyu , Xiang Yingfei , Fang Xiaomin , Lin Wei , Wang Fan , Wu Hua , Wang Haifeng 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Candidate compounds with high binding affinities toward a target protein are likely to be developed as drugs. Deep neural networks (DNNs) have attracted increasing attention for drug–target affinity (DTA) estimation owning to their efficiency. However, the negative impact of batch effects caused by measure metrics, system technologies and other assay information is seldom discussed when training a DNN model for DTA. Suffering from the data deviation caused by batch effects, the DNN models can only be trained on a small amount of ‘clean’ data. Thus, it is challenging for them to provide precise and consistent estimations. We design a batch-sensitive training framework, namely BatchDTA, to train the DNN models. BatchDTA implicitly aligns multiple batches toward the same protein through learning the orders of candidate compounds with respect to the batches, alleviating the impact of the batch effects on the DNN models. Extensive experiments demonstrate that BatchDTA facilitates four mainstream DNN models to enhance the ability and robustness on multiple DTA datasets (BindingDB, Davis and KIBA). The average concordance index of the DNN models achieves a relative improvement of 4.0%. The case study reveals that BatchDTA can successfully learn the ranking orders of the compounds from multiple batches. In addition, BatchDTA can also be applied to the fused data collected from multiple sources to achieve further improvement.
Evaluation of different computational methods for DNA methylation-based biological age
Authors: Di Lena Pietro , Sala Claudia , Nardini Christine 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
In recent years there has been a widespread interest in researching biomarkers of aging that could predict physiological vulnerability better than chronological age. Aging, in fact, is one of the most relevant risk factors for a wide range of maladies, and molecular surrogates of this phenotype could enable better patients stratification. Among the most promising of such biomarkers is DNA methylation-based biological age. Given the potential and variety of computational implementations (epigenetic clocks), we here present a systematic review of such clocks. Furthermore, we provide a large-scale performance comparison across different tissues and diseases in terms of age prediction accuracy and age acceleration, a measure of deviance from physiology. Our analysis offers both a state-of-the-art overview of the computational techniques developed so far and a heterogeneous picture of performances, which can be helpful in orienting future research.
Severing Clinical Ethics Consultation from the Ethical Commitments and Preferences of Clinical Ethics Consultants
Authors: Iltis Ana S 
Published: July 2022

AbstractRecent work calls for excluding clinical ethics consultants’ religious ethical commitments from formulating recommendations about particular cases and communicating those recommendations. I demonstrate that three arguments that call for excluding religious ethical commitments from this work logically imply that consultants may not use their secular ethical commitments in their work. The call to sever clinical ethics consultation from the ethical commitments of clinical ethics consultants has implications for the scope of work consultants may do and for the competencies required for such work.
Haematological and biochemical reference intervals for wild green turtles (Chelonia mydas): a Bayesian approach for small sample sizes
Authors: Kophamel Sara , Rudd Donna , Ward Leigh C , Shum Edith , Ariel Ellen , Mendez Diana , Starling Jemma , Mellers Renee , Burchell Richard K , Munns Suzanne L 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
Animal health is directly linked to population viability, which may be impacted by anthropogenic disturbances and diseases. Reference intervals (RIs) for haematology and blood biochemistry are essential tools for the assessment of animal health. However, establishing and interpreting robust RIs for threatened species is often challenged by small sample sizes. Bayesian predictive modelling is well suited to sample size limitations, accounting for individual variation and interactions between influencing variables. We aimed to derive baseline RIs for green turtles (Chelonia mydas) across two foraging aggregations in North Queensland, Australia, using Bayesian generalized linear mixed-effects models (n = 97). The predicted RIs were contained within previously published values and had narrower credible intervals. Most analytes did not vary significantly with foraging ground (76%, 22/29), body mass (86%, 25/29) or curved carapace length (83%, 24/29). Length and body mass effects were found for eosinophils, heterophil:lymphocyte ratio, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase and urea. Significant differences between foraging grounds were found for albumin, cholesterol, potassium, total protein, triglycerides, uric acid and calcium:phosphorus ratio. We provide derived RIs for foraging green turtles, which will be helpful in future population health assessments and conservation efforts. Future RI studies on threatened species would benefit from adapting established veterinary and biomedical standards.
The effects of prehabilitation on body composition in patients undergoing multimodal therapy for esophageal cancer
Authors: Halliday Laura J , Boshier Piers R , Doganay Emre , Wynter-Blyth Venetia , Buckley John P , Moorthy Krishna 
Published: July 2022

Summary
Prehabilitation aims to optimize a patient’s functional capacity in preparation for surgery. Esophageal cancer patients have a high incidence of sarcopenia and commonly undergo neoadjuvant therapy, which is associated with loss of muscle mass. This study examines the effects of prehabilitation on body composition during neoadjuvant therapy in esophageal cancer patients. In this cohort study, changes in body composition were compared between esophageal cancer patients who participated in prehabilitation during neoadjuvant therapy and controls who did not receive prehabilitation. Assessment of body composition was performed from CT images acquired at the time of diagnosis and after neoadjuvant therapy. Fifty-one prehabilitation patients and 28 control patients were identified. There was a significantly greater fall in skeletal muscle index (SMI) in the control group compared with the prehabilitation patients (Δ SMI mean difference = −2.2 cm2/m2, 95% CI –4.3 to −0.1, p=0.038). Within the prehabilitation cohort, there was a smaller decline in SMI in patients with ≥75% adherence to exercise in comparison to those with lower adherence (Δ SMI mean difference = −3.2, 95% CI –6.0 to −0.5, P = 0.023). A greater decrease in visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was seen with increasing volumes of exercise completed during prehabilitation (P = 0.046). Loss of VAT during neoadjuvant therapy was associated with a lower risk of post-operative complications (P = 0.017). By limiting the fall in SMI and promoting VAT loss, prehabilitation may have multiple beneficial effects in patients with esophageal cancer. Multi-center, randomized studies are needed to further explore these findings.
Greek Tragedy and Cathartic Violence in Leconte de Lisle’s Animal Poems
Authors: Shinabargar Scott 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
This article proposes a new understanding of Charles Marie René Leconte de Lisle’s famous animal poems. While recent studies have identified an innovative non-anthropocentric perspective in the texts – vivid snapshots of brute existence, without deeper meaning – we find that these animals function in a more complex manner. Locating them throughout his poetry, beyond the ‘portraits’ most readers are familiar with, we find that they are highly figurative participants in his extensive depictions of human history, lending a more visceral quality to this series of tragedies – recurring scenes that, with their sacrificial violence and devoured victims, indeed suggest an unexpected connection with this literary genre, in its earliest form. Equally unexpected, this connection appears most tenable not in those texts where humans share the stage (as in his adaptation of Aeschylus’s Oresteia), but where they are absent. Eliminating the figurative descriptions and impassioned dialogue of the historical and dramatic poems to focus on actual acts of predation, the poet allows the reader to experience these explosions of ‘purely animal’ violence as cathartic, tragic ritual.
Codesigning a Culture-Centered Age-Friendly Community for Māori Kaumātua: Cultural Principles and Practices
Authors: Simpson Mary Louisa , Oetzel John , Wilson Yvonne , Nock Sophie , Johnston Kirsten , Reddy Rangimahora 
Published: July 2022

Abstract

Objectives
This study examined a Māori (Indigenous people of Aotearoa New Zealand) age-friendly housing development. Two Māori community groups worked with multiple stakeholders to codesign a culture-centered, kaumātua (older adults) urban housing community. The purpose was to identify codesign and culture-centered principles in the development.

Methods
Kaupapa Māori (Māori-centered) and participatory research methodologies guided the culture-centered research design. Data collection included 27 interviews with 19 residents and 12 organizational stakeholders; three focus groups with residents’ families, service providers, and nonresident kaumātua (n = 16); and project documents. Data analysis used the framework method.

Results
Three codesign process themes emerged: (a) Kaumātua-centered vision; (b) realizing the vision; and (c) living the shared vision.

Discussion
Accounting for cultural practices in codesigning age-friendly and culture-centered housing for and with Indigenous older adults helps meet their cultural, social, health, and economic needs. The research offers a practical pathway to developing age-friendly housing environments for Māori kaumātua, their communities, wider society, and other Indigenous people.
“It’s You”: Caregiver and Clinician Perspectives on Lucidity in People Living With Dementia
Authors: Gilmore-Bykovskyi Andrea , Block Laura , Benson Clark , Fehland Jess , Botsch Meghan , Mueller Kimberly D , Werner Nicole , Shah Mindy J 
Published: July 2022

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Episodes of lucidity (ELs), or a transient return of abilities believed to be lost in people living with dementia, are a growing area of interest. These events hold important implications for care, caregiving, and our understanding of underlying etiologies. Research on ELs is largely limited to retrospective reports. The perspectives of professional and family caregivers on ELs and research approaches can inform efforts to define and study lucidity. The present study examined family caregiver and hospice clinician experiences with and perspectives on ELs in people living with dementia and observational approaches to studying these events.

Research Design and Methods
This exploratory, descriptive qualitative study employed semistructured interviews (N = 20 caregivers, N = 6 clinicians). Data were analyzed using Rapid Identification of Themes and subsequent duplicate review of interview data to enhance trustworthiness.

Results
Most participants readily recalled events they perceived as ELs, describing a transient return of abilities they felt was significant and/or meaningful. Defining features, interpretations, and the perceived impact of ELs varied, although ELs were commonly conceptualized as a manifestation of self. Caregivers described extensive efforts to detect patterns and supportive social conditions for ELs. Participants supported use of audiovisual observation to study ELs and provided recommendations for privacy, workflow, and caregiver engagement.

Discussion and Implications
Interpretations of ELs are heterogeneous, and recognition of these events may necessitate close familiarity with the person living with dementia. Participants endorse observational approaches and integration of caregivers in this research.
Catalytic promiscuity of O-methyltransferases from Corydalis yanhusuo leading to the structural diversity of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids
Authors: Bu Junling , Zhang Xiuhua , Li Qishuang , Ma Ying , Hu Zhimin , Yang Jian , Liu Xiuyu , Wang Ruishan , Jiao Xiang , Chen Tong , Lai Changjiangsheng , Cui Guanghong , Tang Jinfu , Kong Yu , Yang Lei , Lin Sheng , Chen Yun , Guo Juan , Huang Luqi 
Published: July 2022

Abstract
O-methyltransferases (OMTs) play essential roles in producing structural diversity and improving biological property of benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) in plants. In this study, Corydalis yanhusuo, a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine due to the analgesic effects of its BIA active compounds, was employed to analyze the catalytic characteristics of OMTs in the formation of BIAs diversity. Seven genes encoding O-methyltransferases were cloned, and functionally characterized using seven potential BIA substrates. Specifically, an OMT (CyOMT2) with highly efficient catalytic activity of both 4’-and 6-O-methylations of 1-BIAs was found. CyOMT6 was found to perform two sequential methylations at both 9-and 2-positions of the essential intermediate of tetrahydroprotoberberines, (S)-scoulerine. Two OMTs (CyOMT5 and CyOMT7) with wide substrate promiscuity were found, with 2-position of tetrahydroprotoberberines as the preferential catalytic site for CyOMT5 (named scoulerine 2-O-methyltransferase), and 6-position of 1-BIAs as the preferential site for CyOMT7. In addition, through integrated phylogenetic, molecular docking analysis, and site directed mutation, it suggested that residues at sites of 172, 306, 313 and 314 in CyOMT5 are important for enzyme promiscuity related to O-methylations at 6- and 7-positions of isoquinoline. Cys at site 253 in CyOMT2 was proved to promote the methylation activity of 6-position and to expand substrate scopes. This work provides insight of O-methyltransferases in producing BIAs diversity in C. yanhusuo, and genetic elements for producing BIAs by metabolic engineering and synthetic biology.
The Common H202D Variant in GDF-15 Does Not Affect Its Bioactivity but Can Significantly Interfere with Measurement of Its Circulating Levels
Authors: Karusheva Yanislava , Ratcliff Matthew , Mörseburg Alexander , Barker Peter , Melvin Audrey , Sattar Naveed , Burling Keith , Backmark Anna , Roth Robert , Jermutus Lutz , Guiu-Jurado Esther , Blüher Matthias , Welsh Paul , Hyvönen Marko , O’Rahilly Stephen 
Published: July 2022

Abstract

Background
There is growing interest in the measurement of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) in a range of disorders associated with cachexia. We undertook studies to determine whether a common histidine (H) to aspartate (D) variant at position 202 in the pro-peptide (position 6 in the mature peptide) interfered with its detection by 3 of the most commonly used immunoassays.

Methods
Three synthetic GDF-15-forms (HH homo-, HD hetero-, and DD-homodimers) were measured after serial dilution using Roche Elecsys®, R&D QuantikineTM ELISA, and MSD R&D DuoSet® immunoassays. GDF-15 concentrations were measured by the Roche and the MSD R&D immunoassays in 173 genotyped participants (61 HH homozygotes, 59 HD heterozygotes, and 53 DD homozygotes). For the comparative statistical analyses of the GDF-15 concentrations, we used non-parametric tests, in particular Bland–Altman difference (bias) plots and Passing–Bablok regression. The bioactivity of the 2 different homodimers was compared in a cell-based assay in HEK293S-SRF-RET/GFRAL cells.

Results
The Roche assay detected H- and D-containing peptides similarly but the R&D reagents (Quantikine and DuoSet) consistently underreported GDF-15 concentrations in the presence of the D variant. DD dimers had recoveries of approximately 45% while HD dimers recoveries were 62% to 78%. In human serum samples, the GDF-15 concentrations reported by the R&D assay were a median of 4% lower for HH, a median of 36% lower for HD, and a median of 61% lower for DD compared to the Roche assay. The bioactivities of the HH and DD peptides were indistinguishable.

Conclusions
The D variant of GDF-15 substantially affects its measurement by a commonly used immunoassay, a finding that has clear implications for its interpretation in research and clinical settings.
Personalized Gamma Knife radiosurgery for cavernous sinus hemangiomas: A Chinese single-center retrospective study for 10 years of 187 patients
Authors: Yang Ruyi , Xv Ziqiang , Zhao Puxue , Li Junwu , An Quan , Huang Shan , Wang Xinjun 
Published: July 2022

Abstract

Background
The aim of this study is to retrospectively review the effectiveness and safety of personalized Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) for cavernous sinus hemangiomas (CSHs) and to summarize experience of personalized GKRS treatment for different volume of CSHs.

Methods
187 CSHs patients who received personalized GKRS treatment in our center from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2020 were enrolled in this study and classified into small and medium CSHs (&lt;20 ml), large CSHs (20–40 ml) and giant CSHs (≥40 ml) according to tumor volume. The personalized GKRS treatment strategy included single GKRS and staged GKRS. Tumor shrinkage rate, clinical symptoms response, and complications after GKRS were recorded during the follow-up period. Multivariate factors influencing clinical symptoms response were analyzed after personalized GKRS treatment.

Results
After a mean follow-up duration of 28 months (range 12–124 months), the tumor control rate was 100%, and the mean shrinkage rate of CSHs was 93.2% (61.3%–100%) in the last follow-up. Of the 115 patients with preexisting symptoms, 43 (37.5%) patients showed symptom disappearance, 17 (14.7%) patients demonstrated improvement, and 55 (47.8%) patients remained with no change. Previous surgical resection of CSHs (OR = 0.025, 95% CI 0.007–0.084, P = .000) was identified to be an independent risk factor for no symptom improvement after GKRS treatment.

Conclusions
Personalized GKRS is an effective and safe treatment for different volume of CSHs, which is capable of shrinking the tumor and improving symptoms with extremely low incidence of adverse effects and might be considered as the primary treatment strategy for CSHs.