bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CPSim: Simulation Toolbox for Security Problems in Cyber-Physical Systems
Authors: Liu Mengyu , Zhang Lin , Xu Weizhe , Jiang Shixiong , Kong Fanxin
Published: June 2024

There are various applications of Cyber-Physical systems (CPSs) that are life-critical where failure or malfunction can result in significant harm to human life, the environment, or substantial economic loss. Therefore, it is important to ensure their reliability, security, and robustness to the attacks. However, there is no widely used toolbox to simulate CPS and target security problems, especially the simulation of sensor attacks and defense strategies against them. In this work, we introduce our toolbox CPSim, a user-friendly simulation toolbox for security problems in CPS. CPSim aims to simulate common sensor attacks and countermeasures to these sensor attacks. We have implemented bias attacks, delay attacks, and replay attacks. Additionally, we have implemented various recovery-based methods against sensor attacks. The sensor attacks and recovery methods configurations can be customized with the given APIs. CPSim has built-in numerical simulators and various implemented benchmarks. Moreover, CPSim is compatible with other external simulators and can be deployed on a real testbed for control purposes.

1
AG-SpTRSV: An Automatic Framework to Optimize Sparse Triangular Solve on GPUs
Authors: Hu Zhengding , Sun Jingwei , Li Zhongyang , Sun Guangzhong
Published: June 2024

Sparse Triangular Solve (SpTRSV) has long been an essential kernel in the field of scientific computing. Due to its low computational intensity and internal data dependencies, SpTRSV is hard to implement and optimize on graphics processing units (GPUs). Based on our experimental observations, existing implementations on GPUs fail to achieve the optimal performance due to their suboptimal parallelism setups and code implementations plus lack of consideration of the irregular data distribution. Moreover, their algorithm design lacks the adaptability to different input matrices, which may involve substantial manual efforts of algorithm redesigning and parameter tuning for performance consistency. In this work, we propose AG-SpTRSV, an automatic framework to optimize SpTRSV on GPUs, which provides high performance on various matrices while eliminating the costs of manual design. AG-SpTRSV abstracts the procedures of optimizing an SpTRSV kernel as a
scheme
and constructs a comprehensive optimization space based on it. By defining a unified code template and preparing code variants, AG-SpTRSV enables fine-grained dynamic parallelism and adaptive code optimizations to handle various tasks. Through computation graph transformation and multi-hierarchy heuristic scheduling, AG-SpTRSV generates schemes for task partitioning and mapping, which effectively address the issues of irregular data distribution and internal data dependencies. AG-SpTRSV searches for the best scheme to optimize the target kernel for the specific matrix. A learned lightweight performance model is also introduced to reduce search costs and provide an efficient end-to-end solution. Experimental results with SuiteSparse Matrix Collection on NVIDIA Tesla A100 and RTX 3080 Ti show that AG-SpTRSV outperforms state-of-the-art implementations with geometric average speedups of 2.12x ∼ 3.99x. With the performance model enabled, AG-SpTRSV can provide an efficient end-to-end solution, with preprocessing times ranging from 3.4 to 245 times of the execution time.
ChatGPT versus Radiology Institutional Websites: Comparative Analysis of Radiation Protection Information Provided to Patients
Authors: Jankowski Sofyan , Rotzinger David , Ria Francesco , Pozzessere Chiara
Published: June 2024

OpenAI’s ChatGPT provides scientifically adequate and easily understood answers to frequently asked questions about radiation protection that are comparable to institutional websites; nevertheless, ChatGPT-generated texts require improvements to avoid the possibility of misinformation.
An Energy-Efficient Integrated System by Coupling Carbon Dioxide Reduction and Methanol Oxidation to Produce the Identical Value-Added Formic Acid
Authors: Hu Ye , Li Min , Cui Shuo , Xin Shixian , Fang Wenhui , Wu Ying , Cao Yutao , Tang Tingting , Cui Wei , Li Zengxi , Zhao Hong
Published: June 2024

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered as promising catalytic materials for electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction (ECR) reactions due to their excellent properties. However, the development of efficient and stable electrocatalysts within a wide potential window remains a great challenge. Herein, the rod-like Sn-MOF is synthesized by a fast and simple solution reaction, which has good performance in converting CO2 to HCOOH. In particular, Sn-MOF reaches a maximum Faradaic efficiency of 86.4% at −1.15 V vs RHE with a current density of 25.2 mA cm−2. It is worth noting that Sn-MOF has excellent long-term stability, maintaining more than 80% of FEHCOOH production within 30 h of continuous electrolysis. Meanwhile, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy characterization confirm that Sn2+ in Sn-MOF can be reduced to Sn0 in the ECR reaction. The theoretical results show that *COOH intermediate tends to form in the ECR process on Sn-MOF, and it has a high selectivity for the formation of HCOOH. In addition, the two-electrode system driving the co-electrolysis of methanol and CO2 can significantly reduce the voltage by 500 mV at a current density of 20 mA cm−2.
SGLT2 inhibition leads to a restoration of hepatic and circulating metabolites involved in the folate cycle and pyrimidine biosynthesis
Authors: Mendez Espinoza Ileana , Choos Elijah N. D. , Ecelbarger Carolyn M. , Shepard Blythe D.
Published: June 2024

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, including empagliflozin, have emerged as a new treatment option for individuals with type 2 diabetes that have positive impacts on kidney and cardiovascular disease. However, less is known about their impact on other tissues, including the liver. Here, we report that empagliflozin reduces hepatic steatosis that is associated with restoring metabolic intermediates in the folate and pyrimidine biosynthesis pathways. These changes may lead to new approaches to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Intestinal barrier function in the naked mole-rat: an emergent model for gastrointestinal insights
Authors: Aguilera-Lizarraga Javier , Ritoux Anne , Bulmer David C. , Smith Ewan St. John
Published: June 2024

This is the first study to characterize the intestinal function of naked mole-rats. We found that these animals show a robust gut tissue structure, displaying thicker intestinal layers, longer villi, and larger crypts. Naked mole-rats showed more and larger goblet cells, with increased mucus content. Intestinal permeability, especially in the ileum, was substantially lower than that of mice. Finally, naked mole-rats showed reduced intestinal anion secretion in response to serotonin, bradykinin, histamine, capsaicin, and forskolin.
Enterocyte-specific FATP4 deficiency elevates blood lipids via a shift from polar to neutral lipids in distal intestine
Authors: Seessle Jessica , Liebisch Gerhard , Staffer Simone , Tuma-Kellner Sabine , Merle Uta , Herrmann Thomas , Chamulitrat Walee
Published: June 2024

Enterocyte-specific Fatp4 deficiency in mice increased intestinal lipid absorption with elevation of blood lipids during fasting and aging, as well as after an acute oral fat-loading or chronic HFHC feeding. Lipidomics revealed that knockout mice displayed a shift from very long-chain to long-chain fatty acids, and from polar to neutral lipids, predominantly in the ileum. Thus, FATP4 may have a physiological function in the control of blood lipids via metabolic shifts in distal intestine.
Postoperative Chylous Ascites in Gynecological Malignancies: Two Case Reports and a Literature Review
Authors: Tan Xin , Luo GuoLin , Liao Guangdong , Liao Hong
Published: June 2024

Aim. To explore the potential factors that influence the presentation and recovery of postoperative chylous ascites (CA) in gynecological malignancies. Methods. We reported two cases of postoperative CA following gynecological surgery and reviewed the clinical features of 140 patients from 16 relevant papers. Patients’ clinicopathological characteristics, surgical approach, and management were summarized. The onset and resolution times of postoperative CA in different groups were analyzed separately. Results. The two patients in our report had recovery after conservative treatments. According to the literature review, the median time of onset of postoperative CA was 5 days (range, 0–75 days) after surgery. The median resolution time was 9 days (range, 2–90 days). Among patients, 87.14% of them had lymphadenectomy during gynecological surgeries, while 92.86% of the patients had resolution after conservative treatments. Conclusions. Lymphadenectomy during surgery may be relevant to the postoperative CA. Conservative management could be the initial choice for postoperative CA treatment.
The Fusion of Infrared and Visible Images via Feature Extraction and Subwindow Variance Filtering
Authors: Feng Xin , Gong Haifeng
Published: June 2024

This paper presents a subwindow variance filtering algorithm for fusing infrared and visible light images, with the goal of addressing challenges related to blurred details, low contrast, and missing edge features. First, images to be fused are subjected to multilevel decomposition using a subwindow variance filter, resulting in corresponding base and multiple detail layers. PCANet extracts features from the base layer and obtains corresponding weight maps that guide the fusion process. A saliency measurement method is proposed for detail‐level fusion to extract saliency maps from the source image. The saliency maps should be compared in order to obtain the initial weight map, which is then optimized using guided filtering technology to guide the fusion of detail layers. Finally, the information of the base layer and the detail layer after fusion is superimposed to obtain an ideal fusion result. The proposed algorithm is evaluated through subjective and objective measures, including information entropy, mutual information, multiscale structural similarity measurement, standard deviation, and visual information fidelity. The results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves rich detail information, high contrast, and good edge information retention, making it a promising approach for infrared and visible image fusion.
Preharvest Salicylic Acid and Oxalic Acid Decrease Bioactive and Quality Loss in Blackberry (cv. Chester) Fruits during Cold Storage
Authors: Erbas Derya , Mertoglu Kerem , Eskimez Ilknur , Polat Mehmet , Koyuncu Mehmet A. , S. Durul Melekber , Bulduk Ibrahim , Kaki Barış , Esatbeyoglu Tuba
Published: June 2024

In this study, we investigated the effects of preharvest oxalic acid (2.5 mM (OA1) and 5 mM (OA2)) and salicylic acid (0.5 mM (SA1) and 1 mM (SA2)) treatments on the storage and quality of blackberry cv. Chester. We applied salicylic acid and oxalic acid to the plants seven and fourteen days before harvest and recorded the physiological, physicochemical, and external appearance characteristics of the fruits during the cold storage period (nine days). The results showed that the treatments decreased ethylene production by 29.5% (SA1) at harvest and by 28.5% (SA2) at the end of the storage period. In addition, the respiration rate was reduced between 13.0% (OA2) and 28.0% (SA2) compared to the control. Although fruit weigh loss increased as storage extended, the highest losses were observed in control with 1.35%. Titratable acidity decreased from harvest (0.46%) to the end of storage (0.39%) in the control, whereas it ranged from 0.52% (SA1) to 0.62% (OA1) in the treatment groups. Malic acid and syringic acid were the dominant organic acid and phenolic, respectively, and although their content decreased continuously in the control group, no loss was observed in the treated groups after the sixth day. These effects were positively reflected in the external appearance of the fruits, total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and properties related to antioxidant activity. As a result of the cumulative evaluation of all parameters, it can be suggested that Chester fruits can be stored for nine days in marketable quality with the SA2 applications. Among oxalic acid concentrations, 2.5 mM can be recommended for phytochemical accumulation at harvest and short‐term storage of three days.
Secrecy Performance Analysis of Energy Harvesting Untrusted Relay Networks with Hardware Impairments
Authors: Chen Dechuan , Li Jin , Hu Jianwei , Zhang Xingang , Zhang Shuai , Wang Dong
Published: June 2024

In this work, we focus on the issue of secure communication in energy harvesting untrusted relay networks taking into account the impact of hardware impairments, where an energy‐constrained relay, powered by received radio frequency signals, attempts to decode sensitive data from the source without authorization. To achieve secure communication, we employ destination‐assisted jamming to prevent the untrusted relay from decoding sensitive data while serving as a useful energy source. We derive the interception probability (IP), connection outage probability (COP), and effective secrecy throughput (EST) in closed form for time switching relaying (TSR) strategy. Subsequently, we conduct an asymptotic analysis in the high signal‐to‐noise ratio (SNR) regime to provide practical insights into how various system parameters affect security, reliability, and efficiency, including time switching factor and the level of hardware impairments. Our findings demonstrate that the presence of hardware impairments improves security performance but compromises reliability performance, which does more harm than good.
Effect of Low‐Temperature Stress on Electrical Impedance Spectroscopy Parameters of Rice Leaves at the Seedling Stage
Authors: Tiejun Wang , Ran Tao , Tian Li , Longlong Feng , Mingjin Xin , Hongguang Cui
Published: June 2024

The aim of this study was to detect the electrochemical characteristics of rice leaves under low‐temperature stress. This study uses the electrical impedance graph method and the electrolyte exostosis method under the condition of low‐temperature cold case study in the seedling stage of rice leaves, with a normal seedling stage of rice crops grown as controls. The shape of the electrical impedance map of rice leaves under low‐temperature stress and its change with the increase of low‐temperature stress were studied, and the change trend of electrical impedance map parameters with the increase of low‐temperature stress was statistically analyzed. At the same time, the two detection methods are discussed to establish the correlation. The results showed that the electrical impedance pattern was a complete, symmetrical, single half arc with rice leaves subjected to reversible damage. The left side of the arc starts to disappear with an irreversible injury. Rice tended to die when the arc on the right side of the impedance spectrum began to scatter. Moreover, the change in the electrical impedance spectrum was consistent with that of relative conductivity. When the rice was not dead, the extracellular resistance and relaxation time of leaves decreased with the increase of stress degree, and intracellular resistance increased. Indicating the electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) can be employed as a nondestructive testing method to detect physiological characteristics of rice leaves under low‐temperature stress.
A Key Contribution for Concrete Durability: Harnessing Force‐Magnetic Coupling for Stress State Detection in Reinforced Concrete Beams
Authors: Zhang Yujie , Zhang Hong , Tong Kai , Gong Ya , Qu Yinghao , Zhou Jianting
Published: June 2024

Over the past 20 years, more than 200 major bridge‐collapsed accidents have occurred during their service life. The durability of reinforced concrete (RC) beams is a serious threat to the safety performance of the structures. To accurately grasp the service performance of RC beams, a four‐point bending loading experiment was conducted on RC rectangular beams, and magnetic field data were detected. The results show that during four‐point bending loading, the damage modes of RC beams can be categorized into the elastic stress stage, stage of work with cracks, and yield stage. The change rule of the rebar tangential magnetic induction intensity (Bx) curves varies from overlapping each other to rotating counterclockwise, finally generating abrupt changes. The force‐magnetic coupling model is optimized based on the magnetization angle. The “force‐magnetic area parameter” Kσx is proposed to quantitatively analyze the rebar stress. Finally, the stress state assessment model of RC beam rebars is established. The relative error of the assessment results is near 6.61%. The nondestructive testing and assessment of the rebar stress state inside the RC beams are realized through the comparison and verification of the experimental phenomenon analysis and the force‐magnetic coupling model. It lays a theoretical foundation for ensuring the safe operation of bridge structures and building structures during the service life.
Effect of Vitreous Reflux after Intravitreal Aflibercept Injection for Macular Edema with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion: A Real‐World Study
Authors: Muto Tetsuya , Sakamoto Masaaki , Machida Shigeki , Imaizumi Shinichiro , Sekiryu Tetsuju
Published: June 2024

Purpose. This study aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of vitreous reflux (VR) after intravitreal aflibercept injection (IVAI) for macular edema (ME) following naïve branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Methods. Eighty patients with ME following BRVO were divided into three groups according to the conjunctival bleb diameter after IVAI as follows: group A (no VR), group; B (<3 mm VR), and group C (>3 mm VR). Each patient received single IVAI. The treatment response was evaluated with the best‐corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and optical coherence tomography measurements of the retinal foveal thickness (RFT) before treatment and 1 month after the first injection. RFT >375 μm was defined as recurrence and received additional IVAI. The recurrence rate of ME and total numbers of IVAI were investigated at 12 months. Results. The BCVA values at 1 month were 0.17 ± 0.29 in group A (n = 41), 0.18 ± 0.17 in group B (n = 18), and 0.19 ± 0.26 in group C (n = 21). The RFT at 1 month were 270 ± 45 μm in group A, 279 ± 24 μm in group B, and 290 ± 43 μm in group C, respectively. ME recurred in 29 out of 41 patients in group A, 15 out of 18 in group B, and 14 out of 21 in group C. The total numbers of IVAI were 2.50 ± 1.24 in group A, 2.59 ± 1.06 in group B, and 2.29 ± 1.27 in group C, respectively. In the above mentioned comparisons, no significant differences were found following an IVAI (P > 0.05). Conclusions. VR after IVAI did not affect the therapeutic effect in patients with ME following BRVO. Thus, we do not need to pay excess attention to VR in the case of IVAI.
FIGURE 2 from Activation of the Mevalonate Pathway in Response to Anti-cancer Treatments Drives Glioblastoma Recurrences Through Activation of Rac-1
Authors: He Ling , Ioannidis Angeliki , Hoffman Carter J. , Arambula Evelyn , Joshi Purva , Whitelegge Julian , Liau Linda M. , Kornblum Harley I. , Pajonk Frank
Published: June 2024

Upregulation of the mevalonate pathway in response to anti-cancer treatments in vivo is restricted to glioma cells. A, Schematic of the experimental design underlying Fig. 2. B–F, qRT-PCR for the cholesterol biosynthesis–related genes in the tumor specimen harvested from the PDOX GBM mouse model at day 2 after the treatment of radiation in combination with QTP (30 mg/kg) or TMZ (50 mg/kg) or ONC201 (50 mg/kg) or solvent control using the human-specific primers. G–K, qRT-PCR for the cholesterol biosynthesis–related genes in the tumor specimen harvested from the PDOX GBM mouse model at day 2 after the treatments using the mouse-specific primers. L, The levels of total, free cholesterol and cholesterol-esters in the tumors harvested from the PDOX GBM mouse model at day 2 after the treatments. M, The concentration of free fatty acid in the tumors harvested from the PDOX GBM mouse model at day 2 after the treatments. All experiments have been performed with at least three biological independent repeats. P-values were calculated using one-way ANOVA. ns: not significant.
Imaging of the superficial white matter in health and disease
Authors: Van Dyken Peter C. , Khan Ali R. , Palaniyappan Lena
Published: June 2024

The superficial white matter, the layer of white matter immediately deep to the cortical grey matter, is a highly complex, heterogeneous tissue region comprising dense meshes of neural fibres, a robust population of interstitial neurons, and ongoing glial activity and myelination. It originates from the histologically distinct, developmentally vital subplate in the foetal brain, maintains thalamo-cortical connections throughout adult life, and is a necessary passage for all axons passing between the grey and white matter. Despite these features, the superficial white matter is among the most poorly understood regions of the brain, in part due to its complex makeup and the resulting difficulty of its study. In this review, we present our current knowledge of superficial white matter (SWM) anatomy, development, and response to disease. We discuss the unique challenges encountered in the neuroimaging of this region, including the lack of standard definition and the non-specificity of neuroimaging markers amplified by the complexity of the tissue. We discuss recent innovations and offer potential pathways forward.
Mallomonas uralensis sp. nov. (Chrysophyceae, Synurales), a new species of the genus Mallomonas from the section Torquatae
Authors: GUSEV EVGENIY , IGNATENKO MARINA , YATSENKO-STEPANOVA TATYANA
Published: June 2024

This paper describes a new species of Mallomonas, discovered in small ephemeral waterbodies of Southern Urals (Russia). The species description is based on scale morphology studied using scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Mallomonas uralensis sp. nov. belongs in section Torquatae and is most similar to representatives of the series Mangoferae. The main distinctive features of the new species are papillae and small circular pits located on the surface of the shield; a raised, wide anterior submarginal rib, covered with several parallel rows of minute papillae and surrounded on the outer and inner sides by rows of depressions; narrow anterior flanges bearing one row of minute papillae; and the presence of spines on the most of the body scales.
A new species of Rhadinoloricaria (Siluriformes: Loricariinae) from Colombia
Authors: PROVENZANO-RIZZI FRANCISCO , CHAVES-MORENO LUIS CARLOS , ORDOÑEZ BETSELENE MURCIA , ORTEGA-LARA ARMANDO
Published: June 2024

During 2009, photos of three specimens in poor conditions from the Caquetá River system in Colombia generated suspicions about the existence of a new species of Rhadinoloricaria. In 2022, additional specimens were obtained from the same aquatic system allowing confirm the new species presence. The new species has a projected, spatula-shaped snout, and a pattern of buccal ornamentation similar to that observed in R. macromystax (Günther 1869) and R. stewarti Provenzano & Barriga 2020. The new species is distinguished from similar Rhadinoloricaria by the pattern of plates covering the abdomen and some morphometric proportions. When comparative analyses were performed among these three species, paratype lot of R. stewarti MEPN-I 14710 with three specimens was found to be identical to the new species herein described; therefore this paratype is re-identified. The presence of the new species of Rhadinoloricaria in Colombia expands the northern limit of its geographical distribution.
First record of the leafhopper genus Bambuphaga Ramaiah, Meshram & Dey, 2023 (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from China, with description of a new species
Authors: HU SHANGMI , XING JICHUN
Published: June 2024

The genus Bambuphaga Ramaiah, Meshram & Dey, 2023 is reported for the first time and a new species, Bambuphaga lanceata sp. nov. is described and illustrated from China. A key is given to distinguish all species of the genus. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).
Innovative Design Strategy and Research Progress of Anti Human Papilloma Virus Infection Agents
Authors: Lyu Zixuan , Chen Yulin , Wei Chiming
Published: June 2024

This review summarized the mechanism of a novel fusion protein (PHPV fusion protein) containing membrane penetrating peptide and oligopeptide-1 (EGF). The new PHPV fusion protein contains two kinds of polypeptides: membrane penetrating peptide and oligopeptide-1, so it has a good function of preventing and treating HPV virus. PHPV fusion protein not only has the multi effect function of membrane penetrating peptide and oligopeptide-1, but also the negative charge (anion) C-terminal of the cross-linked and fused new protein surface interacts with the positive charge (cation) N-terminal on HPV particles. Through the combination of the N-terminal of the positive charge on its surface with the negative charge of the hydrophobic region in the middle and the C-terminal of the recognition region site containing peptidase, the membrane translocation signal is coupled with the NLS of the nuclear localization signal, thus blocking the invasion of human papillomavirus into host cells. Through the interaction of cell membrane, it can penetrate the natural barrier of cell membrane and play a role in destroying the viral membrane shell to inactivate the virus, so as to prevent cervical precancerous lesions and treat HPV infection. PHPV fusion protein can repair damaged cells, enhance the elasticity of loose vaginal mucosa, tighten the inner wall of the vagina, improve the vaginal wetness, and reduce the vaginitis reaction.
Catastrophic Cardiac Arrest Caused by Acute Pulmonary Hypertension After Removal of Giant Left Atrial Thrombus
Authors: Dai Meng , Fan Zhuling , Li Xuejie
Published: June 2024

Background: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is defined as a resting mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) >20 mmHg on right heart catheterization, as described in the proceedings of the 6th World Symposium on Pulmonary Hypertension. Left-sided heart failure (left heart disease) is the most common cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) plays an important role in the monitoring of PH. But the disadvantage of TEE is the lack of continuity of monitoring. For patients with severe mitral stenosis and severe PH, should the Swan-Ganz catheter be placed routinely? The monitoring of pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary venous pressure by Swan-Ganz catheter can guide the management of perioperative circulation and respiration, especially for early detection of PH. Case presentation: This case report introduce a severe mitral valve stenosis with giant left atrium thrombosis performing cardiac surgery. After the removal of giant left atrial mass and mitral valve replacement under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the patient gradually experienced difficulty in ventilation and persistent refractory hypotension, followed by ventricular fibrillation during the process of chest closure. Conclusions: TEE helps diagnose acute pulmonary hypertension. Although TEE plays an important role in the diagnosis and the decision to use mechanical devices, a Swan-Ganz catheter would be an effective hemodynamic monitoring device and can be used in conjunction with TEE in cardiac surgery.
The Truth and the Pain: A Reading of Edouard Kayihura’s Inside the Hotel Rwanda and Marie Béatrice Umutesi’s Surviving the Slaughter
Authors: Ayo-Afolayan Abimbola
Published: June 2024

Literary realism focuses on everyday people, issues, characters, settings and situations that are real. Some writers engage realism to document their real-life experiences. The readers as well tend to gain access to real life events as vivid as the writers can recollect them. Fictitious approaches are avoided completely in these narrations. This is done to ensure that the readers can identify with the stories being narrated. Hence, the 1994 genocide has been the major focus of contemporary Rwanda prose narratives. They project the experiences of the people before, during and after the genocide. Also, some authors document their experiences as suggested by their therapists, because it usually helps as one of the coping mechanisms for trauma. This study delves into the analysis of two post-genocide prose narratives. It adopts the use of postcolonial and trauma theories as the tools for conceptualizing, understanding and interpretation of these prose narratives. Marie Béatrice Umutesi’s Surviving the Slaughter: The ordeal of a Rwandan Refugee in Zaire and Edouard Kayihura’s Inside the Hotel Rwanda: The Surprising True Story and Why It Matters Today are autobiographies, they depict the causes of the genocide, the outcomes, specifically on the victims and hopefully the solutions. Edouard Kayihura suffers harrowing experiences of perpetual fear, oppression and extortion inside the Hotel des Mille Collines, this is his own truth, debunking the inaccuracies of the movie Hotel Rwanda. While, Marie Béatrice Umutesi, a Hutu woman witnesses and experiences inexplicable brutality and hardship. She endures the pains as she journeys towards safety. This study interrogates the contributions of political hegemony and identity crises to varying degrees of trauma and explains that the experiences and pains of these writers are factual. It also establishes that these prose narratives serve dual purposes of correcting a false claim and projecting the pain of a Hutu woman, a unique diversion from the popular focus on the Tutsis.
Examining mental health correlates of hate-motivated behaviour in Scotland: An investigation of victims, perpetrators and victim-perpetrators
Authors: Russell Kirsten , Hunter Simon C , Post Abigail , Rasmussen Susan , Cramer Robert J
Published: June 2024

Background:

Hate-motivated behaviour (HMB) ranges from microaggressions to criminal acts and is a public health concern with wide-ranging consequences.

Aims:

The current study aimed to examine the mental health correlates of HMB perpetration, victimisation and co-occurring victimisation/perpetration.

Methods:

Participants ( n = 447) completed an online cross-sectional survey assessing demographic factors, HMB (perpetration and victimisation), positive mental wellbeing and symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Results:

HMB victimisation was associated with lower positive mental wellbeing and increased symptoms of anxiety and depression. However, neither HMB perpetration nor co-occurring perpetration/victimisation were associated with any of the three mental health outcome measures.

Conclusion:

Experiencing HMB as a victim is linked to increased psychological distress. Additional research, which focuses on sampling populations who are known to be at greater risk for involvement in HMB, is needed to fully understand the impact of the victim-offender overlap on mental health outcomes.
Cloud-based time-varying formation active fault-tolerant predictive control of networked multi-agent systems with actuator and sensor faults
Authors: Li Chao , Pang Zhong-Hua , Wang Shitong , Guo Haibin , Zheng Changbing
Published: June 2024

This paper addresses the time-varying formation control problem of second-order networked multi-agent systems consisting of a virtual leader and multiple followers, where random communication constraints in the forward and feedback channels as well as actuator and sensor faults are considered. A state observer is designed to estimate the system state and the potential faults, based on which a time-varying formation active fault-tolerant predictive control scheme is proposed. Then, a necessary and sufficient condition is derived to guarantee the stability of the closed-loop system and to achieve the time-varying formation, which is independent of random communication constraints as well as actuator and sensor faults. Finally, simulation results of three contrastive cases are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Impaired Reactive Control But Preserved Proactive Control in Hyperactive Children
Authors: Huang Yilin , Liu Yifan , Hu Qiong , Zhang Qiong
Published: June 2024

Objective:

To examine the manifestation of cognitive control deficit of children with different levels of hyperactivity, an “at risk” dimension for ADHD.

Method:

A group of children with high hyperactivity ( N = 40) and another group of children with low levels of hyperactivity ( N = 38) performed a modified stop-signal anticipation task, a revised Go/NoGo task, and the AX-continuous performance test (AX-CPT).

Results:

Children with higher levels of hyperactivity displayed: (1) significantly prolonged stop signal reaction time (SSRT) in the modified stop-signal anticipation task; (2) no notable differences in commission errors in the revised Go/NoGo task; (3) increased reaction time (RT) in stop-signal task and Go/NoGo task with increased probabilities of stop or NoGo signal; and (4) positive proactive behavioral index scores in AX-CPT.

Conclusion:

The results suggested that children with heightened hyperactivity exhibited impaired reactive control, especially for responses already underway, but preserved proactive control. Further studies concerning these children are warranted.
Positive Childhood Experiences and the Indirect Relationship With Improved Emotion Regulation in Adults With ADHD Through Social Support
Authors: Lowe Catherine T. , Bath Alexandra C. , Callahan Brandy L. , Climie Emma A.
Published: June 2024

Individuals with ADHD report diminished emotion regulation capacities and adversity in childhood detrimentally affects emotion regulation development; however, how positive childhood experiences (PCEs) and whether and how social support are related to PCEs and emotion regulation for those with ADHD is unknown.

Objective:

To identify direct and indirect associations between PCEs and social support to emotion regulation outcomes in adults with ADHD.

Method:

Adults with ADHD ( n = 81) reported PCEs, current social support, and emotion regulation. Conditional effects modeling examined the direct and indirect relationships between PCEs and emotion dysregulation through social support.

Results:

Higher PCEs were indirectly related to improved emotion regulation through increased social support generally (β = −.70, 95% CI [−1.32, −0.17], and specifically through belonging (β = −.43, 95% CI [ −0.87, −0.05], self-esteem (β = −.61, 95% CI [−1.08, −0.27], and tangible social support (β = −.50, 95% CI [−1.07, −0.02].

Conclusions:

PCEs may protect emotion regulation in adults with ADHD through social support, possibly through facilitating social connections, increasing access to social support, and sustaining emotion regulation strategies.
A multicentre prospective assessment of the utility of robotic assisted total hip arthroplasty with virtual range of motion on intraoperative implant positioning
Authors: LaValva Scott M , Westrich Geoffrey H , Marchand Robert C , Lall Ajay C , Domb Benjamin G , Vigdorchik Jonathan M , Jerabek Seth A
Published: June 2024

Background:

The growing adoption of robotic-assistance during total hip arthroplasty (THA) has provided novel means through which a patient’s anatomy and dynamic spinopelvic relationship can be incorporated into surgical planning. However, the impact of enhanced technologies on intraoperative decision-making and changes to component positioning has not yet been described.

Methods:

A multicentre, prospective study included 105 patients (52% women) patients who underwent robotic-assisted THA with the integration of software that incorporates a patient’s pelvic tilt (PT) and virtual range-of-motion (VROM) for impingement modeling. The primary outcome of the study was the percentage of patients who underwent changes to the preoperative plan for cup position after incorporating the data from the software.

Results:

Utilising the intraoperative VROM information, the preoperative plan for cup position was changed from the default (40° inclination and 20° anteversion) in 82/105 (78%) cases. When stratifying by spinopelvic mobility, 64% were considered normal (change ⩾ 10° and ⩽30°), 27% were stiff (change < 10°), and 9% were hypermobile (change > 30°). For all cohorts, the majority of cases (78%) deviated from the 40° inclination and 20° version target. When evaluating the proportion of cases within the Lewinnek and Callanan safe zones based on spinopelvic mobility, 19% of cases within the normal group were planned outside of both zones compared to 39% of stiff cases and 10% of hypermobile cases.

Conclusions:

Utilising the latest version of robotic-assisted THA software, the preoperative plan for cup position was changed in the vast majority (78%) of patients, causing substantial deviations from traditional, generic cup targets.
A Weibull–lognormal-based life prediction model for LED light with four groups of ADTs
Authors: Zhang J , Mu R , Fu J , Zhang Y , Li J
Published: June 2024

Four groups of accelerated degradation tests of light-emitting diode (LED) lights under constant current stresses were carried out with the goal of precisely and rapidly obtaining the conventional life of LED lights. Three-parameter Weibull function and right approximation method were used to fit the test data of the luminance degradation with time of samples under different stresses, and the pseudo-failure time of each sample was calculated according to the failure criteria. Then combined with lognormal distribution and least square method, the life distribution of LED lights under each stress was determined, and the life of LED lights under conventional stress was extrapolated by inverse power law. The results show that the obtained luminance degradation data can reflect the decay trend of LED lights preferably and obey the three-parameter Weibull function, the lognormal distribution has a good fitting effect on the failure time distribution of LED lights, and the conventional life predicted by the model combined with Weibull function and lognormal distribution has a high accuracy. Manufacturers and researchers of LED lights can benefit from theoretical foundation and technical reference offered by the life tests of LED lights and the established life prediction model.
Insulin resistance and white matter microstructural abnormalities in nondiabetic adult: A population-based study
Authors: Zhou Mengyuan , Zhou Yijun , Jing Jing , Wang Mengxing , Jin Aoming , Cai Xueli , Meng Xia , Liu Tao , Wang Yongjun , Wang Yilong , Pan Yuesong
Published: June 2024

Background:

Insulin resistance (IR) is of growing concern yet its association with white matter integrity remains controversial. We aimed to investigate the association between IR and white matter integrity in nondiabetic adults.

Methods:

This cross-sectional analysis was conducted based on the PolyvasculaR Evaluation for Cognitive Impairment and vaScular Events (PRECISE) study. A total of 1709 nondiabetic community-dwelling adults with available diffusion-weighted imaging based on brain magnetic resonance imaging and completed oral glucose tolerance test were included. IR was measured noninvasively by insulin sensitivity indices (ISI), including ISIcomposite and ISI0,120, as well as homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). White matter microstructure abnormalities were identified by diffusion-weighted imaging along with tract-based spatial statistical analysis to compare diffusion metrics between groups. The multivariable linear regression models were applied to measure the association between white matter microstructure abnormalities and IR.

Results:

A total of 1709 nondiabetic individuals with a mean age of 60.8 ± 6.4 years and 54.1% female were included. We found that IR was associated with a significant increase in mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity extensively in cerebral white matter in regions such as the anterior corona radiata, superior corona radiata, anterior limb of internal capsule, external capsule, and body of corpus callosum. The pattern of associations was more marked for ISIcomposite and ISI0,120. However, the effect of IR on white matter integrity was attenuated after, in addition, adjustment for history of hypertension and cardiovascular disease and antihypertensive medication use.

Conclusion:

Our findings indicate a significant association between IR and white matter microstructural abnormalities in nondiabetic middle-aged community residents, while these associations were greatly influenced by the history of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, and antihypertensive medication use. Further investigation is needed to clarify the role of IR in white matter integrity, whereas prophylactic strategies of maintaining a low IR status may ameliorate disturbances in white matter integrity.

Data accessibility statement:

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors upon reasonable request.
Hybrid Evaluation of a Lifestyle Change Program to Prevent the Development of Type 2 Diabetes Among Individuals With Prediabetes: Intended and Observed Changes in Intervening Mechanisms
Authors: Huttunen-Lenz Maija , Hansen Sylvia , Raben Anne , Westerterp-Plantenga Margriet , Adam Tanja , Macdonald Ian , Stratton Gareth , Swindell Nils , Martinez J. Alfredo , Navas-Carretero Santiago , Handjieva-Darlenska Teodora , Handjiev Svetoslav , Poppitt Sally D. , Silvestre Marta P. , Larsen Thomas Meinert , Vestentoft Pia Siig , Fogelholm Mikael , Jalo Elli , Brand-Miller Jennie , Muirhead Roslyn , Schlicht Wolfgang
Published: June 2024

Background:

Lifestyle interventions can prevent type 2 diabetes (T2D) by successfully inducing behavioral changes (eg, avoiding physical inactivity and sedentariness, increasing physical activity and/or healthy eating) that reduce body weight and normalize metabolic levels (eg, HbA1c). For interventions to be successful, it is important to influence “behavioral mechanisms” such as self-efficacy, which motivate behavioral changes. Theory-based expectations of how self-efficacy, chronic stress, and mood changed over time were investigated through a group-based behavior change intervention (PREMIT). At 8 intervention sites, PREMIT was offered by trained primary care providers in 18 group-sessions over a period of 36 months, divided into 4 intervention phases. Adherence to the intervention protocol was assessed.

Method:

Participants (n = 962) with overweight and prediabetes who had achieved ≥8% weight loss during a diet reduction period and completed the intervention were categorized into 3 groups: infrequent, frequent, or very frequent group sessions attendance. The interactions between participation in the group sessions and changes in self-efficacy, stress, and mood were multivariate tested. Intervention sites were regularly asked where and how they deviated from the intervention protocol.

Results:

There was no increase in the participants’ self-efficacy in any group. However, the level of self-efficacy was maintained among those who attended the group sessions frequently, while it decreased in the other groups. For all participants, chronic stress and the frequency of attending group sessions were inversely related. Significant differences in mood were found for all groups. All intervention centers reported specific activities, additional to intervention protocol, to promote participation in the group sessions.

Conclusions:

The results suggest that the behavioral changes sought by trained primary care providers are related to attendance frequency and follow complex trajectories. The findings also suggest that group-based interventions in naturalistic primary care settings aimed at preventing T2D require formats and strategies that encourage participants to attend group sessions regularly.
Utilizing epigenetic regulators to improve HSC-based lentiviral gene therapy
Authors: Tajer Parisa , Karakaslar Emin Onur , Canté-Barrett Kirsten , Naber Brigitta A. E. , Vloemans Sandra A. , van Eggermond Marja C. J. A. , van der Hoorn Marie-Louise , van den Akker Erik , Pike-Overzet Karin , Staal Frank J. T.
Published: June 2024

The curative benefits of autologous and allogeneic transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have been proven in various diseases. However, the low number of true HSCs that can be collected from patients and the subsequent in vitro maintenance and expansion of true HSCs for genetic correction remains challenging. Addressing this issue, we here focused on optimizing culture conditions to improve ex vivo expansion of true HSCs for gene therapy purposes. In particular, we explored the use of epigenetic regulators to enhance the effectiveness of HSC-based lentiviral (LV) gene therapy. The histone deacetylase inhibitor quisinostat and bromodomain inhibitor CPI203 each promoted ex vivo expansion of functional HSCs, as validated by xenotransplantation assays and single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. We confirmed the stealth effect of LV transduction on the loss of HSC numbers in commonly used culture protocols, whereas the addition of quisinostat or CPI203 improved the expansion of HSCs in transduction protocols. Notably, we demonstrated that the addition of quisinostat improved the LV transduction efficiency of HSCs and early progenitors. Our suggested culture conditions highlight the potential therapeutic effects of epigenetic regulators in HSC biology and their clinical applications to advance HSC-based gene correction.
Uncovering the ferroptosis related mechanism of laduviglusib in the cell-type-specific targets of the striatum in Huntington’s disease
Authors: Liu Mei , Zhao Jinlan , Xue Chengcheng , Yang Jun , Ying Li
Published: June 2024

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder featured by abnormal movements, arising from the extensive neuronal loss and glial dysfunction in the striatum. Although the causes and pathogenetic mechanisms of HD are well established, the development of disease-modifying pharmacological therapies for HD remains a formidable challenge. Laduviglusib has demonstrated neuroprotective effects through the enhancement of mitochondrial function in the striatum of HD animal models. Ferroptosis is a nonapoptotic form of cell death that occurs as a consequence of lethal iron-dependent lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial dysfunction. However, the ferroptosis-related mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of laduviglusib in the striatum of HD patients remain largely uncharted. In this study, we leveraged single-nucleus RNA sequencing data obtained from the striatum of HD patients in stages 2–4 to identify differentially expressed genes within distinct cell-type. We subsequently integrated these differentially expressed genes of HD, laduviglusib target genes and ferroptosis-related genes to predict the ferroptosis-related mechanisms underpinning the neuroprotective effects of laduviglusib in HD patients. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) analyses unveiled that the effects of laduviglusib on direct pathway striatal projection neurons (dSPNs) is mainly associated with Th17 cell differentiation pathways. Conversely, its impact on indirect pathway striatal projection neurons (iSPNs) extends to the Neurotrophin signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, and reactive oxygen species pathway. In microglia, laduviglusib appears to contribute to HD pathology via mechanisms related to Th17 cell differentiation and the FoxO signaling pathway. Further, molecular docking results indicated favorable binding of laduviglusib with PARP1 (associated with dSPNs and iSPNs), SCD (associated with astrocytes), ALOX5 (associated with microglia), and HIF1A (associated with dSPNs, iSPNs, and microglia). In addition, the KEGG results suggest that laduviglusib may enhance mitochondrial function and protect against neuronal loss by targeting ferroptosis-related signaling pathways, particularly mediated by ALOX5 in microglia. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential mechanisms through which laduviglusib exerts its effects on distinct cell-types within the HD striatum.