High Level Research Articles

Security analysis and provision of authentication protocol, based on peer-to-peer structure in IOT platform

The Internet of Things technology allows you to transfer data to any asset through communication networks such as the Internet or intranet. One of the most important problems is security, which includes confidentiality, authenticity validation, and completeness. Among security problems, the most important ones are ensuring authenticity and protecting privacy. The elliptic curve encryption algorithm is famous protocols for maintaining privacy and verifying authenticity. Despite the capabilities they have and provide good security against network attacks, they face challenges such as response time, delay in the authentication and authentication process, as well as the amount of memory consumed. Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a security process where users provide two different authentication factors to authenticate themselves. It also provides a higher level of security than authentication methods that rely on single-factor authentication (SFA). This article presents two novel methods for 2FA that use encryption techniques, scramble architecture, and chord architecture. These methods allow for the authentication process to be initiated by both parties involved in the communication. Three scenarios and three metrics of reaction time, memory usage, and connection latency were used to assess the efficacy of the suggested approach. The average reaction time is improved and is 0.012 s when the lengths of the finger table in the chord structure are increased to 10, 15, and 20. The findings show that the suggested approach reduces computing complexity, reaction time, and communication latency. It has an average reaction time of 0.016 s, an average memory use of 30,360 kb, and an average connection latency of 0.042 s.

Photocrosslinkable, Low-Affinity Affibodies Show Improved Transport and Retention in 3D Tumor Spheroids.

The efficacy of affinity-based treatments for cancer and other diseases is often limited by poor distribution throughout the targeted tissue. Although lower-affinity antibodies will penetrate more uniformly, these often reach lower concentrations because of their rapid clearance from the tissue. To increase retention and improve distribution, we created low-affinity photocrosslinkable affibodies that can diffuse into dense tumor matrices with limited tumor barrier formation and then be photocrosslinked in place to cell receptors to increase retention. In testing with 3D tumor spheroids, the addition of a 50 nM photocrosslinkable affibody showed a similar level of accumulation at the edges of the spheroid but a higher level near the middle of the spheroid than the wild-type (non-photocrosslinkable) affibody. These results show that target affinity affects protein transport in tumor microenvironments and that covalently cross-linking the ligands to cells may improve both their transport and retention.

Comparative transcriptome analysis of cucumber fruit tissues reveals novel regulatory genes in ascorbic acid biosynthesis.

Ascorbic acid (AsA) is one of the most abundant natural antioxidants, and it is an important indicator of the nutritional value of cucumber fruit. The aim of this study was to elucidate the regulatory mechanism affecting AsA metabolism in cucumber fruit. In this study, the AsA content in the fruit of two cucumber cultivars (H28 and H105) was significantly higher in the exocarp and endocarp than in the mesocarp. To clarify the regulation of AsA in cucumber fruit, the transcriptomes of three fruit tissues (i.e., the exocarp, mesocarp, and endocarp) of two cucumber cultivars (H28 and H105) were sequenced. Transcriptomic profiling combined with transcription factors (TFs) and correlation analysis were performed to reveal that three genes, including CsaV3_5G014110 (phosphomannomutase, PMM), CsaV3_2G004170 (GDP-mannose-3', 5'-epimerase, GME) and CsaV3_5G006680 (dehydroascorbate reductase, DHAR), were expressed at higher level in the exocarp and endocarp than in the mesocarp. In both two cultivars, CsaV3_4G028360 (ethylene-responsive transcription factor, ERF) was negatively correlated with PMM and GME, and positively correlated with DHAR. CsaV3_6G042110 (ethylene-responsive transcription factor, ERF) was positively correlated with PMM and GME, and negatively correlated with DHAR. CsaV3_6G032360 (mitogen-activated protein kinase, MAPK) as positively correlated with PMM, GME and DHAR. These six genes are considered the key candidate genes for further research. This study provides insight for further study on the regulation of AsA biosynthesis in cucumber fruit and provide potential candidate genes for future genetic improvement of cucumber germplasm with enhanced AsA accumulation.

Analysis of the Sustainable Role of Higher Education in the Economy

Higher education injects impetus into the sustainable development of the economy by improving the structural and functional order of the education system. From the perspective of economics, the higher salary level of higher education graduates not only indicates the improvement of personal value, but also directly reflects the added value of education. The purpose of this paper is to explore the current state of higher education development in Asian countries and to provide an in-depth analysis of how it can promote economic growth through three main pathways. The value-added evaluation mechanism of higher education encompasses the entire educational process, and its core function is to diagnose, improve and monitor the quality of education to ensure that the ultimate goal of education is to achieve quality, equity and sustainable development. Therefore, the government should expand and deepen the scope and depth of the implementation of the higher education revitalization plan in an orderly manner, continuously improve the compatibility of the plan with the current situation of local development, and continuously improve the support system for the higher education revitalization plan to promote economic growth. This will help optimize the allocation of higher education resources, narrow the economic development gap, and achieve shared prosperity.

The impact of education level on all-cause mortality in patients with atrial fibrillation

The association of socioeconomic status with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is well known, but data on the influence of education level on mortality in individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) are scarce. We investigated education level as a predictor of all-cause mortality in patients diagnosed with AF. This retrospective cohort study used a database created from several Swedish nationwide registries to identify all patients hospitalized with a diagnosis of AF hospitalized from 1995 to 2008. Education level was categorized as primary, secondary, and academic. All-cause mortality risk was estimated in subpopulations defined by the Charlson Comorbidity Index and several comorbidities. A total of 272,182 patients (56% male; mean age 72 ± 10 years) were followed for five years. Cox regression models showed a reduction in all-cause mortality risk with increased education level. Hazard ratios (HR) relative to primary education remained significant after stratification and adjustment for several confounders: secondary education HR = 0.88; 95% CI: 0.86–0.89; P < 0.001; academic education HR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.67–0.72; P < 0.001. Subpopulation analyses confirmed a significant reduction in relative risk with higher education level. Targeted screening and education programs could be effective in reducing mortality in AF patients with fewer years of formal education.

Effects of zonal fields on energetic-particle excitations of reversed shear Alfvén eigenmode: Simulation and theory

Abstract Employing both nonlinear gyrokinetic simulation and analytical theory, we have investigated the effects of zonal (electromagnetic) fields on the energetic particle's drive of reversed shear Alfv'en eigenmodes in tokamak plasmas. Contrary to the conventional expectation, simulations with zonal fields turned on and off in the energetic particle dynamics while keeping the full nonlinear dynamics&amp;#xD;of the thermal plasma indicate that zonal fields further enhance the instability drive and lead, thus, to a higher saturation level. These puzzling simulation results can be understood analytically in terms of the general fishbone-like dispersion relation with the correspondingly different energetic-particle phase-space structures induced by the zonal fields. Analytical expressions for the zonal fields beat driven by the reversed shear Alfv'en eigenmodes are also derived, and shown to be in good agreement with the simulation results.

Pengaruh Motivasi Kerja Terhadap Pengembangan Karir Dosen di Lingkungan Fakultas Kesehatan Masyarakat Universitas Nusa Cendana Kupang

Career Development is a career planning process provided by a company to individuals as an effort or opportunity to enhance and develop their careers to a higher level according to their abilities and responsibilities. This study aims to determine the effect of work motivation on the career development of lecturers in the Faculty of Public Health at Nusa Cendana University, Kupang. The research is quantitative in nature. The population consists of 71 lecturers, with a sample of 41 respondents selected using purposive sampling technique. Data collection was conducted using a work motivation scale and a career development scale with a Likert scale model. The collected data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.0 for Windows program. Data analysis was carried out using a simple linear regression test. The results showed that the calculated F-value was 54.237 with a significance value of 0.000 &lt; 0.05, which indicates that work motivation has an effect on career development. It is recommended to take advantage of the career development opportunities that have been organized and facilitated to achieve the desired career level. Based on the quantitative research conducted on the lecturers of the Faculty of Public Health at Nusa Cendana University, Kupang, it was found that work motivation influences career development

Comparison of the Characteristics of Circulating Small Extracellular Vesicles Isolated by Ultracentrifugation and a Commercial Kit.

The market offers a wide range of extracellular vesicles (EVs) isolation products, but their lack of standardization is a concern. Therefore, it is important to carefully assess the quality of the EVs obtained using these products. In this study, we compared the EXOCIB kit with the ultracentrifuge method, which is considered the gold standard for small EV isolation. After overnight fasting, small plasma EVs were extracted from four individuals using both the ultracentrifuge and the EXOCIB kit methods. The pooled EVs were then compared for the presence of the cluster of differentiation 63 (CD63) protein using the western blot analysis, and their size and zeta potential were performed by Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS). In addition, the size and morphology of small EVs were determined by using the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) technique. An average hydrodynamic size of 135.7 nm and a zeta potential of -6.33 Mv at 25°C was found for small EVs isolated by the ultracentrifuge, whereas the kit method resulted in small EVs with a hydrodynamic size of 102.8 nm and a zeta potential of -0.907. Notably, the size of the particles in the kit samples was smaller compared to those obtained through the ultracentrifuge (P < 0.001). The western blot method confirmed the expression of CD63 in both methods, so the ultracentrifuge yielded small EVs with a higher level of purity compared to the kit-based approach (P = 0.036). The DLS findings revealed the existence of vesicles within the appropriate size range for small EVs like exosomes in both isolation techniques. The results of the western blot analysis, in conjunction with DLS, displayed that the ultracentrifuge method extracted small EVs with a greater degree of purity than the kit-based approach.

Immuno-RCA for highly sensitive detection of the antigen-antibody complex in the blood group antigen model

The problem of detecting tiny quantities of analytes by immunochemical methods has been tried for a long time. One approach is to use nucleic acid amplification methods to amplify the signal from a single antigen-antibody interaction. An amplification method suitable for microarrays is the rolling circle amplification reaction. The principle of the method is usage of a conjugate of a detecting antibody with a primer and subsequent isothermal amplification. The generation of a huge single-stranded reaction product starts after adding the necessary components for amplification reaction: circular oligonucleotides, which serves as a template for amplification and phage phi29 polymerase with the other components. This reaction product consists of a lot of repeats of a nucleotide sequence, that is complementary to the circular template. The fluorescent DNA probe can hybridize to each repeat on the product molecule, resulting in a significantly higher level of fluorescence than with fluorescently labeled antibody or streptavidin development systems. In addition, the reaction product remains immobilized on the surface, allowing usage of this approach for the detection of antigen-antibody interactions in other solid-phase analysis systems, such as microarrays. A common problem with such approaches is the nonspecific sorption of components of the immunochemical reaction or amplification reaction, leading to a high background. It is obvious that no matter how highly sensitive the analysis is in theory, a high background will reduce the entire potential of the method to nothing. Herein, we have developed a method that makes it possible to detect small amounts of antibodies to glycans in blood serum and in swabs from tumor cells in a microarray format using a model of blood group antigens. It was possible to obtain a 30 to 70-fold increase of fluorescence level from a specific interaction compared to the use of fluorescently labeled streptavidin. The method we are developing is promising, as it allows us to significantly increase the signal from the specific antigen/antibody interaction in the glycochip format, which will make it possible to detect antibodies to glycans in samples with a very low concentrations of antibodies, for example, in washes from tumor cells.

Sociohistorical context and post-prison life course

Life-course criminology has recently begun to focus on sociohistorical context, with the use of multi-cohort studies. However, those studies have mostly concentrated on aggregate crime rates. Desistance research, in turn, has largely overlooked the impact of the broader sociohistorical context. Based on recent work on the effect of sociohistorical context on crime rates, we propose that context may shape desistance and social reintegration in a nuanced way.We examined employment, housing, and marriages among Finnish first-time prisoners released between 1995 and 2014 (N = 23,350) until 2019. We quantified the link between selected macro-level indicators and these outcomes using age-period-cohort models.The results showed that the outcomes evolved in separate ways post-release. Employment and marriage became more common over time, but only employment showed distinct periodical changes. The probability of living in housing remained stable. A higher level of national unemployment was associated with all outcomes. The association between prisoner characteristics and the outcomes changed depending on release year.Post-prison societal integration should not be assessed by one measure alone. Desistance studies should address societal context when comparing different times or countries. Early studies may require replication if the associations between demographic factors and desistance outcomes are subject to change.

A Clustering Approach to Unveil User Similarities in 6-DoF Extended Reality Applications

The advent in our daily life of Extended Reality (XR) technologies, such as Virtual and Augmented Reality, has led to the rise of user-centric systems, offering higher level of interaction and presence in virtual environments. In this context, understanding the actual interactivity of users is still an open challenge and a key step to enabling user-centric system. In this work, our goal is to construct an efficient clustering tool for 6 Degree-of-Freedom (DoF) navigation trajectories by extending the applicability of existing behavioural tool. Specifically, we first compare the navigation in 6-DoF with its 3-DoF counterpart, highlighting the main differences and novelties. Then, we investigate new metrics aimed at better modelling behavioural similarities between users in a 6-DoF system. More concretely, we define and compare 11 similarity metrics which are based on different distance features ( i.e. , user positions in the 3D space, user viewing directions) and distance measurements ( i.e. , Euclidean, Geodesic, angular distance). Our solutions are validated and tested on real navigation paths of users interacting with dynamic volumetric media in both 6-DoF Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality conditions. Results show that metrics based on both user position and viewing direction better perform in detecting user similarity while navigating in a 6-DoF system. Such easy-to-use but robust metrics allow us to answer a fundamental question for user-centric systems: “how do we detect if users look at the same content in 6-DoF?”, opening the gate to new solutions based on users interactivity, such as viewport prediction, live streaming services optimised based on users behaviour but also for user-based quality assessment methods.

An overview of machine learning applications in elastic power systems

Abstract. With the development of economy and the access of renewable energy, the power system is facing new challenges. Machine learning provides a new way for the intelligent management of power system through big data analysis, pattern recognition and predictive modeling. This paper reviews the application of machine learning technology in elastic power system, including load forecasting, transient stability assessment, intelligent scheduling and fault diagnosis. Machine learning will better improve the stability, reliability and economic benefit of the system. Future research will focus on algorithm optimization, model adaptability improvement and integration with traditional power system knowledge to promote the development of power system to a higher level of intelligence and automation.

Counterfactual curiosity in real decisions: The roles of outcome valence and aging.

Non-instrumental counterfactual curiosity (i.e., the search for information about forgone options that is not useful for improving future outcomes) has especially been observed after outcomes perceived as negative and, consequently, attributed to forms of regret management. In three online experiments (N = 620), we extended the study of counterfactual curiosity about economically incentivized decisions in younger and older adults. Participants played independent rounds of a card-drawing game by choosing one of two decks to turn over the top, covered card, which could increase, decrease, or have no effect on an initial endowment. Following that, they could examine the top card of the other deck to see if and how the outcome could have differed. Experiment 1 featured identical decks, making the choice between them random. In Experiment 2, participants made a deliberate choice between a riskier and a safer deck, each varying in the extremity of potential wins and losses. In Experiment 3, the decks were identical to those in Experiment 2, but access to counterfactual information was contingent upon participants forfeiting part of their endowment. Results showed a relevant portion of both younger and older adults displayed curiosity for non-instrumental counterfactual information, especially when it was free and likely to reveal that the forgone option would have been better than the chosen one. Older adults exhibited a higher level of curiosity than younger counterparts only when choices were deliberate and counterfactual information was free. These findings are discussed in relation to current perspectives on the regret-management function of counterfactual curiosity.

Assessing Compliance with Indigenous Self-Determination Standards: A Comparative Analysis of Chile, Colombia, and Mexico

Recent advancements have been observed in the global legal framework, particularly in the recognition of Indigenous peoples’ rights, among which the right to self-determination stands out. This right encompasses the ability to define their political status and to pursue economic, social, and cultural development autonomously. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has identified six criteria to evaluate adherence to these rights. This study aims to assess the progress made by Chile, Colombia, and Mexico in meeting these criteria. Employing a non-experimental, cross-sectional, and exploratory research design, the study utilized a questionnaire based on a Likert scale to gather data from residents of Indigenous communities within the three countries under consideration to measure the perception that these individuals have regarding the compliance with the six standards of the IACHR, and specific questions have been designed based on the content of each standard. Once the degree of self-determination is understood, a multivariate analysis technique (Principal Component Analysis) will be used to compare the level of progress by country. The data collection instruments were applied in 2023 (September/November), with the results processed and the final report drafted in early 2024. Findings suggest that the criterion most adequately met is that of cultural identity and non-discrimination, whereas the criterion pertaining to the right to prior, free, and informed consultation and consent is the least fulfilled. Through principal component analysis, it was noted that Colombia exhibits a higher level of compliance with the right to self-determination, followed by Mexico, with Chile demonstrating a divergence and lagging in progress. The study concludes that a significant challenge for these countries lies in continuing efforts to effectively meet these standards and ensure the right to self-determination for Indigenous and tribal peoples.

Low-Carbon Rural Areas: How Are Polish Municipalities Financing the Green Future?

The main aim of the research was to assess Polish rural municipalities’ investment activity connected with the development of a low-carbon economy, supported with EU funds in the 2007–2013 and 2014–2020 financial frameworks. The empirical study was based on data from Poland’s Ministry of Development Funds and Regional Policy, Ministry of Finance, and Statistics Poland, analysed through basic descriptive statistics and a logistic model to identify key factors influencing investment activity. The study showed that the greatest number of agreements on funding were, in fact, signed by rural municipalities in the period under analysis. The predominant measures undertaken during this time were the promotion of renewable energy sources and the improvement in energy efficiency. In the earlier financial framework, low-carbon economy projects in rural areas were more often implemented by municipalities with developing demographic potential, including those characterised by a higher level of enterprise development. In the subsequent financial framework, human capital turned out to be of key importance for the investment activity of rural municipalities. Experience gained from 2007–2013 positively influenced fund absorption in 2014–2020, improving project value, number, and support. The study confirmed that rural municipalities play a vital role in advancing a low-carbon economy, as local actions are key to achieving sustainable development and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Prognostic utility of mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin and growth differentiation factor 15 in patients undergoing transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve implantation.

Risk prediction in patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) remains an unsolved issue. In addition to classical risk scoring systems, novel circulating biomarkers like mid-regional pro-adrenomedullin (MR-proADM) and growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) may be of value in assessing risk. Consecutive patients undergoing elective transfemoral TAVI were included in this prospective observational study. Baseline information, imaging findings, blood samples, and clinical outcomes were collected. Blood levels of the classical biomarkers interleukin-6 (IL-6) and high-sensitivity C-reactive peptide (hsCRP) and of the novel biomarkers MR-proADM and GDF-15 were measured and their predictive utility for mortality assessed. The study cohort consisted of 92 patients undergoing TAVI. The median age was 80.7years [IQR 77.2;83.3], and 48 (52.2%) were male. Analysis of the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver-operating characteristics showed that the hsCRP levels discriminated poorly (AUC 0.66, 95% CI [0.52;0.8], p = 0.027), whereas all other biomarkers reached a higher level of discrimination (IL-6: AUC 0.76, 95% CI [0.66;0.86], p < 0.001; MR-proADM: AUC 0.73, 95% CI [0.61;0.85], p = 0.002; GDF-15: AUC 0.73, 95% CI [0.61;0.85], p = 0.002). Kaplan-Meier analysis in conjunction with Youden J-statistics yielded the optimal cutoff points for each biomarker to predict survival: IL-6 4.65pg/mL, hsCRP 12.9mg/L, MR-proADM 1.02nmol/L, and GDF-15 2400.1pg/mL. Novel circulating biomarkers like MR-proADM and GDF-15 may provide additional value in predicting survival after TAVI.

Indicators of the cytokine profile and standard immunogram in the controlled and uncontrolled course of bronchial asthma in children

Bronchial asthma in children is a multifactorial disease, but it is based on atopic inflammation, which is the focus of the main methods of research and therapy of this pathology. However, if we evaluate not only the fact of the appearance of bronchial asthma in a particular patient, but also consider its course in more detail, and especially the possibility of achieving control over the disease, then indicators of not only atopic inflammation, but also local inflammation in general, acquire great influence, which is one of the reasons for the continuing high percentage of uncontrolled and partially controlled course bronchial asthma in children. The purpose of this work is to identify changes in cytokine status indicators and immunograms – markers of the risk of uncontrolled bronchial asthma. 167 patients with bronchial asthma were examined, who, based on a standard clinical and instrumental examination, according to the criteria of clinical recommendations, were divided into two groups – controlled (70 people) and partially controlled and uncontrolled (97 children). All of them had their cytokines and IgA, IgM, IgG, IgE levels determined, in blood serum by ELISA, subpopulations of lymphocytes by flow cytometry, indicators of neutrophilic phagocytosis by light microscopy. In the group with uncontrolled asthma, the following significant differences were noted: a decrease in the level of IL-7, IL-9 and an increase in IL-8, there is also a higher level of B lymphocytes, IgE and IgM, and a lower level of IgA, similar changes, but less pronounced, were previously detected in other studies when comparing patients with bronchial asthma and conditionally healthy, as well as mild and severe course diseases. There were no significant differences in the other studied indicators. It is noteworthy that the greater influence on the control of the disease in bronchial asthma is not exerted by atopic cytokines responsible for the very fact of atopic inflammation, but by cytokines of general inflammation, such as IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, regulating the severity of inflammation in general, the role of IL-8 as a cytokine of granulocyte chemotaxis regulating local inflammation is especially interesting.

Phototuning of Multi-Color Emission in PMMA Composite Films for Information Encryption Applications

A strategy centered on dynamically tunable excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) processes is proposed for the design and synthesis of luminescent compounds. An emitter based on guanidine-substituted 1,8-naphthalimide (R-1) with ESPT characteristics has been meticulously engineered. Upon incorporation into poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrices, the tunable ESPT process, transitioning between blue and yellow-green emission within the composite film, can be precisely controlled through irradiation in different pH environments. Moreover, the luminescence of the R-1/PMMA composite film exhibits variations in response to environmental changes, and demonstrates excellent fatigue resistance. Exploiting this characteristic, information such as “2020” can be encoded, and this encoded information automatically manifests in response to fluctuations in external pH. Specifically, employing a designated method is essential for accurately deciphering the information. The pH-dependent nature of this feature imparts a higher level of security to the material and offers new insights into information encryption.

Impaired Renal Function With Higher Remnant Cholesterol Related to Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease: CGPS.

Chronic kidney disease confers a high risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), partly due to hyperlipidemia. Although statins reduce the risk of ASCVD in chronic kidney disease, residual risk persists. We investigated whether higher remnant cholesterol is associated with an increased risk of ASCVD in statin users and nonusers with impaired renal function. We included 107 925 individuals from CGPS (Copenhagen General Population Study) initiated in 2003 to 2015, of whom 10 427 had impaired renal function (estimated glomerular filtration rate, <60 mL/min per 1.73 m2). Remnant cholesterol was calculated from a standard lipid profile. ASCVD was myocardial infarction, coronary heart disease death, ischemic stroke, coronary artery bypass graft, or percutaneous coronary intervention extracted from Danish nationwide health registries from baseline through 2018; individuals with events before the start of follow-up were excluded from relevant analysis. In individuals with impaired renal function during up to 15 years of follow-up, 597 were diagnosed with myocardial infarction, 618 with ischemic stroke, and 1182 with ASCVD. In these individuals, a 1-mmol/L (39 mg/dL) higher remnant cholesterol level was associated with multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios of 1.21 (95% CI, 1.03-1.43) for myocardial infarction, 1.12 (95% CI, 0.93-1.34) for ischemic stroke, and 1.19 (95% CI, 1.05-1.35) for ASCVD. Corresponding hazard ratios for ASCVD were 1.36 (95% CI, 1.01-1.81) in statin users and 1.16 (95% CI, 1.01-1.33) in nonusers. Of the 1.36-fold excess risk of ASCVD in impaired versus normal renal function, elevated remnant cholesterol and elevated LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol explained 25% (95% CI, 2.5%-47%) and 0% in statin users and 8.3% (95% CI, 2.4%-14%) and 14% (95% CI, 6.4%-22%) in nonusers, respectively. Our results suggest that higher remnant cholesterol is a good marker of increased risk of ASCVD in individuals with impaired renal function, while higher LDL cholesterol may not be. Patients with chronic kidney disease who have high levels of remnant cholesterol are identifiable through higher non-HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol or apoB levels.

Studying the X-ray absorption characteristics of Centaurus X-3 using nearly 14 years of MAXI/GSC data

Centaurus X-3 is a persistent high-mass X-ray binary with the long-term light curve from the source exhibiting orbit-to-orbit intensity variations with no apparent superorbital periodicity. We used sim 13.5 years of MAXI /GSC data to study the long-term behaviour of X-ray absorption caused by the stellar wind from the companion star and any absorbing structures present in the binary. We used orbital-phase-resolved spectroscopy to study the variation in the photoelectric absorption along the line of sight of the source for both the intensity-averaged data and intensity-resolved data after dividing all the data binned with orbital period into three intensity levels. We find an asymmetric variation in the photoelectric absorption along the line of sight across an orbit of the source. The orbital-phase-resolved spectra show a clear increase in photoelectric absorption after $ orb 0.5, which deviates from a spherically symmetric stellar wind model. The flux of Cen X-3 shows significant variation between consecutive orbits. An intensity-resolved spectral analysis of the source was performed, followed by an intensity-resolved and orbital-phase-resolved spectral analysis, which showed that at the medium and high intensity levels, the orbital-phase-resolved photoelectric absorption is slightly asymmetric with respect to mid-phase ($ orb =$ 0.5). The asymmetry is very pronounced at the lowest intensity level and cannot be explained by a spherically symmetric wind from the companion star. The differences in the orbital phase-dependence of absorption for different intensity levels suggest that the presence of an accretion wake, photoionization wake, or tidal stream is more prominent at a lower intensity level for Centaurus X-3 than at a higher intensity level.