Research works

A superlinear improvement on line-free sets in Fp3

Building on an earlier result of the author together with Elsholtz, Führer, Füredi, Pach, Simon and Velich, we present an improved construction for a line-free set in 𝔽 3 𝑝 , having size at least ( 𝑝 − 1 ) 3 + 1 8 ⁢ 𝑝 3 / 2 − 𝑂 ⁡ ( 𝑝 ) as 𝑝 → ∞ . This results in a superlinear-ter...

GENDER, POWER AND LOCAL GOVERNANCE: A STUDY OF WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION AND THE 'SARPANCH PATI' PHENOMENON IN HARYANA

ABSTRACT Women’s representation in PRIs, through a reservation system, has brought women’s formal representation to local governance, which does not equate to substantive political agency. Haryana is a key state as it offers 50 per cent reservation for females in PRIs. This paper...

Integrated network toxicology, transcriptomic, and Mendelian randomization analyses explore potential molecular links between acrylamide exposure and clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Acrylamide is a potential carcinogen widely encountered in occupational settings and heat-processed foods. However, the potential molecular relationships between acrylamide-associated targets and clear cell renal cell carcinoma remain poorly characterized. The toxicological chara...

The Denkstunde: A Unit of Account for a Finite Mind

Thinking is the only major input to modern work with no unit. This working paper defines the Denkstunde (Dh): one hour of focused, undivided cognitive work by one person, roughly 66,000 per working life. The unit turns one question into something that can be priced: have the thin...

Impact of a zero-visitation policy on healthcare-associated infections in a non-COVID intensive care unit

The impact of visitor restrictions in intensive care units (ICUs) during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remains unclear. This study aimed to compare HAI rates between the pre-pandemic restricted-visitation period and th...

Non-isothermal Cold Crystallization as a Tool for Analysis of Crystal Nucleation: The Example of Polytetrahydrofuran

Abstract Polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) was employed for analysis of the effect of heating rate q on the peak temperature of cold crystallization Tp and enthalpy of cold crystallization Δhcc to follow crystal nucleation. The isothermal increase of the number of nuclei in the highly s...

Testing Group Differences in Nonlinear Growth Curve Modeling with Penalized Spline

Longitudinal data analysis in social and behavioral sciences often assumes a linear change over time, but human behavior is complex and frequently exhibits nonlinear patterns. Regression spline is a popular approach in machine learning to model nonlinear trajectories. While tradi...

A novel homozygous missense ODF2 variant in infertile siblings with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella

Male infertility is often linked to genetic mutations that impair sperm motility and morphology. Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) are recognized as a significant cause of male infertility and are characterized by a spectrum of structural defects....

Model Reference Adaptive Control for Net-Based Debris Towing

Tether-net-based debris removal missions are deemed promising, but the postcapture control of net-enveloped targets by a chaser is understudied. In fact, existing studies on postcapture control are limited to open-loop thrust control or to feedback controllers designed for simpli...

Real-World Health Care Resource Utilization, Adherence, and Persistence Following Subcutaneous IgPro20 Initiation Among US Patients with Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

INTRODUCTION: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a rare, inflammatory peripheral nervous system disorder. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) has been the standard maintenance therapy, but since 2018, Immune Globulin Subcutaneous (Human), 20% liquid (IgPro2...

A feasibility randomised controlled trial of culturally appropriate physical activity promotion strategies among older Chinese adults in the UK

Abstract Background Informed by an evidence review and qualitative interviews and guided by the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) and person-based approach (PBA), we developed the first culturally appropriate physical activity (PA) promotion strategies for older Chinese adults in the...

Rational directions as point masses: a window law and a first moment of angular Hecke L-functions for Q(√5)

In the integer lattice ℤ², a thin sector around a line of rational slope contains a whole line of lattice points through the origin, and these points produce a term that the area of the sector does not see (Waxman and Yesha, Monatsh. Math. 204 (2024)). This paper studies the same...

Sfp1 Contributes to Fluconazole Responses and Virulence in Candida albicans

Candida albicans is an important human fungal pathogen. Previous studies have shown that the transcription factor Sfp1 is involved in regulation of various biological processes in C. albicans, including cell wall maintenance, biofilm formation, oxidative stress responses, and car...

Smartphone-based biological sex identification from palatal rugae images: a comparative transfer learning study of pretrained convolutional neural networks

Abstract Background Palatal rugae are distinct anatomical ridges on the anterior part of the palate that exhibit individual-specific morphological patterns, making them valuable markers for personal identification and forensic analysis. With advancements in artificial intelligenc...

Evaluation of the Inhibitory Effects of Aqueous Extracts of Rhynchospora nervosa (Vahl) Boeckeler on the Germination and Initial Development of Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.)

Rhynchospora nervosa is a weed associated with infestations in economically important agricultural crops in several regions of Brazil. In this context, the present study aimed to perform phytochemical screening and evaluate the allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts from the ae...

Novel pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine–hydantoin hybrids as selective anticancer agents: Synthesis, cytotoxicity, structural activity relationship (SAR), and molecular docking studies

Cancer remains one of the most serious global health challenges, and the limited selectivity and high toxicity of many current chemotherapeutic agents highlight the urgent need for new, more effective anticancer drugs. In this study, a novel series of pyrazolo[3,4-d]pyrimidine de...

Bilayer Polycaprolactone (Mitomycin C)/Poly(L-Lactic Acid)/Gelatine (Dimethyloxalylglycine) Nanofibres for Diabetic Wound Repair

Background: Diabetic skin wounds arise from chronic hyperglycaemia, peripheral neuropathy, microvascular dysfunction, and compromised immunity. Chronic ulcers are further complicated by infection and local ischaemia–hypoxia, which collectively impede tissue repair. Conventional i...

Valorization of cotton waste into cellulose nanocrystals and their incorporation into electrospun poly (vinyl alcohol) nanofibrous membranes with enhanced thermal and structural properties

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were extracted from cotton waste using alkaline treatment, bleaching, and sulfuric acid hydrolysis. Increasing the sulfuric acid concentration from 40% to 62% was associated with an increase in CNC yield from approximately 19.20 ± 3.9% to 41.30 ± 3.1...

Climate-risk narrative attention and carbon emissions: internal governance and coal efficiency as moderators, green innovation as a mitigating channel

Global decarbonization hinges on corporate behavior, yet principal–agent conflicts often undermine firms’ responses to climate change. Despite growing regulatory and stakeholder pressure, managers may prioritize short-term performance over long-term environmental goals when they...

Spatial Spillover Effects of Drought Disasters on Grain Yields: Evidence from 31 Chinese Provinces

Abstract Drought disasters are the most severe natural disasters affecting China’s grain yields, characterized by prolonged duration and extensive impact. Under the integrity of the ecosystem and the interaction among factors, drought not only directly affects grain yields in the...