bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Reference Genes for Precise Expression Analysis during Germination in Chenopodium quinoa Seeds under Salt Stress
Authors: CONTRERAS ESTEFANIA , Martín-Fernández Lucía , Manaa Arafet , Vicente-Carbajosa Jesús , IGLESIAS-FERNANDEZ RAQUEL
Published: September 2023

Chenopodium quinoa Willd (quinoa), a member of the Amaranthaceae family, is an allotetraploid annual plant, endemic to South America. The plant of C. quinoa presents significant ecological plasticity with exceptional adaptability to several environmental stresses, including salinity. The resilience of quinoa to several abiotic stresses, as well as its nutritional attributes have led to significant shifts in quinoa cultivation worldwide over the past century. This work first defines germination sensu stricto in quinoa where the breakage of the pericarp and the testa is followed by endosperm rupture (ER). Transcriptomic changes in early seed germination stages lead to unstable expression levels in commonly used reference genes that are typically stable in vegetative tissues. Noteworthy, no suitable reference genes have been previously identified specifically for quinoa seed germination under salt stress conditions. This work aims to identify these genes as a prerequisite step for normalizing qPCR data. To this end, germinating seeds from UDEC2 and UDEC4 accessions, with different tolerance to salt, have been analyzed under conditions of absence (0 mM NaCl) and in the presence (250 mM NaCl) of sodium chloride. Based on relevant literature, six candidate reference genes: Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), Monensin sensitivity1 (MON1), Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTBP), Actin-7 (ACT7), Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme (UBC), and 18S ribosomal RNA (18S), were selected and assessed for stability using the RefFinder Tool encompassing the statistical algorithms geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and ΔCt in the evaluation. The data presented supports the suitability of CqACT7 and CqUBC as reference genes for normalizing gene expression during seed germination under salinity stress. These recommended reference genes can be valuable tools for consistent qPCR studies in quinoa seeds.
Potential Tick Defense Associated with Skin and Hair Characteristics in Korean Water Deer (Hydropotes inermis argyropus)
Authors: Lee Sang-Joon , Kim Ki-Yoon , Kim Gyurae , Moon Subin , Park Yung Chul , Cho Ho-Seong , Oh Yeonsu
Published: September 2023

The Korean water deer (WD), the dominant wildlife species in South Korea, is classified as vul-nerable on the IUCN Red List. Beside their several unique characteristics, they have a lower in-cidence of tick bites compared to other Cervidae species, particularly roe deer (RD). In natural environments, ticks exhibit questing behavior by waiting on grasses to climb onto host's hair coat. They use sensory organs to detect signals such as body temperature and chemicals from the host's skin, then move to preferred feeding location. Therefore, we conducted a comparative analysis of the skin tissue and hair features of both species to compare the factors leading to lower incidence of tick bites in WD. Notably, WD had significantly larger blood vessels, sebaceous glands, and sweat glands which maintain the barrier functions of the skin (p≤0.004), irregular scale surfaces in hair cuticles, and stiff and 2.83-times thicker primary hair diameter (p<0.001). Each parameters made the ticks difficult to move onto the epidermis of WD. To our knowledge, this is the first report which is focused on the comparative analysis for skin and hair feature in WD and RD. We suggest that these differences may attribute to evade tick bites in WD.
Effects of Structural Relaxation of Glass-forming Melts on the Overall Crystallization Kinetics in Cooling and Heating
Authors: Schmelzer Jürn W. P. , Tropin Timur V. , Schick Christoph
Published: September 2023

In the theoretical treatment of crystallization it is commonly assumed that relaxation processes of the liquid proceed fast as compared to crystal nucleation and growth processes. Actually, it is supposed that the liquid is located always in the metastable state corresponding to the current values of pressure and temperature. However, near and below the glass transition temperature, Tg, this condition is commonly not fulfilled. In such cases, in the treatment of crystallization, deviations of the state of the liquid from the respective metastable equilibrium state have to be accounted for in determining the kinetic coefficients governing the crystallization kinetics, the thermodynamic driving force of crystallization, and the surface tension of the aggregates of the newly evolving crystal phase including the surface tension of critical clusters affecting considerably the crystal nucleation rate. These factors may considerably influence the course of the overall crystallization process. A theoretical analysis of the resulting effects is given in the present paper by numerical solutions of the J(ohnson)–M(ehl)–A(vrami)–K(olmogorov)–equation employed as the tool to model the overall crystallization kinetics and by analytical estimates of the crystallization peak temperatures in dependence on cooling and heating rates. The results are shown to be in good agreement with experimental data. Possible extensions of the theory to be explored in future analysis are anticipated.
First Optimization of Tomato Pomace in Diets for Tenebrio molitor (L.)(Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)
Authors: Baldacchino Ferdinando , Spagnoletta Anna , Lamaj Flutura , Vitale Maria Luisa , Verrastro Vincenzo
Published: September 2023

Tomato pomace (TP), an agricultural industrial waste product from the tomato processing industry, was valorized by being used as a rearing substrates for Tenebrio molitor (L.). This study evaluated bran-based diets with increasing tomato pomace (0%, 27%, 41% and 100%). Protein sources, as brewer’s spent grain and yeast, are used in TP27 and TP41 diets, respectively, to ensure equal protein content to control diet (TP0). Results showed larval survival, larval and pupal weight no different between diets; however, growth time significantly increases in TP100 compared at all diets. The feed conversion rate progressively increases from 2.7 to 4.3, respectively from TP0 to TP100. Conversely, Lycopene and β-Carotene increases in the larvae. Fatty acid composition improves by increasing polyunsaturated fatty acids (mainly -Linoleic acid). Although the best nutritional quality was obtained in T100, the TP41 is the optimal diet for balance between larval performance and qualitative improvement of larvae. Therefore, tomato pomace is suitable for the formulation of mealworm diets, even in high dosages when supplemented with sustainable protein sources.
Age and Generalized Trust in the United States: What Do WVS Data Say?
Authors: Bayer Ya'akov M,
Published: September 2023

In contemporary sociological discourse, social trust emerges as a fundamental determinant in catalyzing positive socio-economic interactions. The nexus between social relationships and the inherent trust within them is quintessential for the holistic well-being of individuals. The current research undertook a rigorous examination of the variations in generalized trust levels across distinct age cohorts. For this empirical investigation, a dataset comprising 2,232 observations, exclusively from the United States, was meticulously sourced from the World Value Survey.The empirical findings elucidated a significant disparity in generalized trust levels across age cohorts. Notably, the geriatric demographic manifested elevated levels of generalized trust in juxtaposition to their younger counterparts. Such an observation posits the hypothesis that the construct of trust may indeed possess an age-related dimensionality. Furthermore, a robust statistical analysis accentuated the significance of these observed disparities. The divergences in trust levels across age cohorts retained their statistical significance even post the incorporation of confounding variables such as gender, socio-economic status, educational attainment, ethnic lineage, and religious affiliations. This seminal finding underscores the imperative for further academic explorations into the intricate dynamics of trust within the socio-cultural fabric of our society.
An influence of fluorinated alkyl substituents on structure and magnetic properties of Mn(II) complexes with pyrazolyl-substituted nitronyl nitroxides
Authors: Kudryavtseva Ekaterina , Serykh Andrey , Ugrak Bogdan , Dutova Tatyana , Nasyrova Darina I. , Korlyukov Alexander , Zykin Mikhail A. , Efimov Nikolay Nikolaevich , Bogomyakov Artem S. , Tretyakov Evgeny
Published: September 2023

New complexes of manganese(II) hexafluoroacetylacetonate [Mn(hfac)2] with 2-(1-R-3-pyrazol-4-yl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethyl-2-imidazoline-3-oxide-1-oxyl (R = CHF2, CH2CH2F, CH2CHF2 or CH2CF3) were synthesised and characterised structurally and magnetically. All complexes were prepared under similar conditions. Nonetheless, their crystal structures were considerably different. Depending on the structure of fluorinated alkyl substituent R, the complexation reaction led to complexes of three types: chain-polymeric complexes with the head-to-head or head-to-tail motif and complexes of molecular structure. All complexes show strong antiferromagnetic behaviour in a high-temperature region (150−300 K) and weak ferro- or antiferromagnetic exchange interactions at low temperatures. The stronger antiferromagnetic exchange, –101.7 ± 1.5 or –136 ± 10 cm–1, –82.3 ± 1.3 cm–1 and –87.4 ± 1.3 cm–1, was attributed to the magnetic interaction in three- or two-spin clusters: {>N∸O–Mn2+–O∸N<} or {>N∸O–Mn2+}, respectively. The weaker antiferromagnetic interaction, –0.005, between three-spin clusters or ferromagnetic interactions, 0.18–0.81 cm–1, between two-spin clusters are realised through the pyrazole ring or intermolecular contacts.
Multi-faceted Exploration of Novel Isoxazolidine Derivatives: Synthesis, Characterization, Molecular Docking, Dynamic Simulation, and Computational Investigations
Authors: Salih Sabir Mohammed , Basheer Huda A. , Julián-Ortiz Jesus Vicente de , Mohammad-Salim Haydar A.
Published: September 2023

A series of novel substituted isoxazolidine derivatives was synthesized through 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of α-aryl-N-methyl nitrones with various ethylene moieties, resulting in the formation of isoxazolidine derivatives. The structures of the synthesized compounds were characterized using spectroscopic methods. The [3+2] cycloaddition (32CA) reactions of α-aryl-N-methyl nitrones with diverse ethylene substituents were computed employing Density Functional Theory (DFT) at the B3LYP/6–31G(d) level, upgrading bond parameters. An investigation of the electron localization function (ELF) unveiled the zwitterionic nature of α-aryl-N-methyl nitrones, devoid of pseudoradical or carbenoid centers. Utilization of CDFT indices enabled the prediction of global electronic flux from the strongly nucleophilic α-aryl-N-methyl nitrones to the varied electrophilic ethylene functionalities. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted on the isoxazolidine derivatives against the EGFR receptor (PDB: 4ZAU). In silico assessment of the synthesized isoxazolidines involved molecular docking, wherein the compound with the highest docking score was subjected to molecular dynamics simulations. Compound 11a, out of the thirty isoxazolidine derivatives, displayed the most substantial binding energy, yielding a g score of -6.57 kcal/mol. These observations highlighted the functional role of amide NH2 and NO2 in the binding process with the target protein, influencing its activity. Furthermore, prediction of ADME drug-likeness properties was performed to identify a suitable candidate.
Effect of Short-Term Water Deficit on Selected Physiological Properties of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) Plants
Authors: Hnilicka Frantidek , Lysytskyi Semen , Rygl Tomas , Hnilickova Helena , Pecka Jan
Published: September 2023

Water deficit (drought) is still one of the most important stress factors affecting not only yields, but also production quality. Breeders are focusing on breeding cultivars and crop lines that are more resistant to water shortages. In addition to breeding, for example, for the size of the roots and changes in the color of the leaves, focus on changing the morphotype i.e. long chaff, multirowed ear. It is predicted that wheat genotypes with a morphotype change should be more drought tolerant. Therefore, our research focused on the study of changes in the physiological parameters of wheat (cv. ´Bohemia´) with a changed morphotype (genotypes ´284-17´ [long chaff] and genotype ´29-17´ [multirowed ear]) in relation to exposure to drought. Pigment content, photosynthesis and transpiration rate, water potential were measured in plants irrigated and affected by water deficit. Water deficit was shown to have a statistically significant effect on transpiration rate, photosynthetic rate, water potential and total chlorophyll content. Furthermore, the influence of the genotype on the observed parameters and on the effect of water deficit was demonstrated. Due to the fact that cv. ´Bohemia´, increases during such periods of transpiration, so for this reason it is not suitable for dry areas. Genotype ́29-17 ́ appears promising with respect to drought resistance.
Application of Physics-Informed Neural Networks for River Silting Simulation
Authors: Omarova Perizat , Amirgaliyev Yedilkhan , Kozbakova Ainur , Ataniyazova Aisulyu
Published: September 2023

Water resource pollution, particularly in river channels, presents a grave environmental challenge that necessitates a comprehensive and systematic approach encompassing assessment, forecasting, and effective management. This article provides a comprehensive exploration of the methodology and modeling tools employed to scrutinize the process of river channel pollution due to silting, rooted in the fundamental principles of hydrodynamics and pollutant transport dynamics. The study's methodology seamlessly integrates numerical simulations with state-of-the-art neural network techniques, with a specific focus on the Physics-informed neural networks (PINN) method. This innovative approach represents a groundbreaking fusion of artificial neural networks (ANN) and physical equations, offering a more efficient and precise means of modeling a wide array of complex processes and phenomena. The proposed mathematical model, grounded in the Euler equation, has been meticulously implemented using the Ansys Fluent software package, ensuring accuracy and reliability in the computations. In a pivotal phase of the research, a thorough comparative analysis was conducted between the results derived from the PINN method and those obtained through conventional numerical approaches using the Ansys Fluent software package. The outcomes of this analysis revealed the superior performance of the PINN method, characterized by the generation of smoother pressure fluctuation profiles and significantly reduced computation time, underscoring its potential as a transformative modeling tool. The calculated data originating from this study assumes paramount significance in the ongoing battle against river sedimentation. Beyond this immediate application, these findings also serve as a valuable resource for creating predictive materials pertaining to river channel silting, thereby empowering decision-makers and environmental stakeholders with essential information. The utilization of modeling techniques to address pollution concerns in river channels holds the potential to revolutionize risk management and safeguard the integrity of our vital water resources. However, it is imperative to underscore that the effectiveness of such models hinges on ongoing monitoring and frequent data updates, ensuring that they remain aligned with real-world conditions. This research not only contributes to the enhanced understanding and proactive management of river channel pollution due to silting but also underscores the pivotal role of advanced modeling methodologies in the preservation of our invaluable water resources for present and future generations.
Secure Hydrogen Production Analysis and Prediction Based on Blockchain Service Framework for Intelligent Power Management System
Authors: Jamil Harun , Qayyum Faiza , Iqbal Naeem , Khan Murad Ali , Ali Naqvi Syed Shehryar , Khan Salabat , Kim Do-Hyeun
Published: September 2023

The rapid adoption of hydrogen as an eco-friendly energy source has necessitated the development of intelligent power management systems capable of efficiently utilizing hydrogen resources. However, guaranteeing the security and integrity of hydrogen-related data has become a significant challenge. This paper proposes a pioneering approach to ensure secure hydrogen data analysis through the integration of blockchain technology, enhancing trust, transparency, and privacy in handling hydrogen-related information. By combining blockchain with intelligent power management systems, the efficient utilization of hydrogen resources becomes feasible. The utilization of smart contracts and distributed ledger technology facilitates secure data analysis, real-time monitoring, prediction, and optimization of hydrogen-based power systems. The effectiveness and performance of the proposed approach are demonstrated through comprehensive case studies and simulations. Notably, our prediction models, including ABiLSTM, ALSTM, and ARNN, consistently delivered high accuracy with MAE values of approximately 0.154, 0.151, and 0.151, respectively, enhancing the security and efficiency of hydrogen consumption forecasts. The blockchain-based solution offers enhanced security, integrity, and privacy for hydrogen data analysis, thus contributing to the advancement of clean and sustainable energy systems. Additionally, the research identifies existing challenges and outlines potential future directions for further enhancing the proposed system. This study adds to the growing body of research on blockchain applications in the energy sector, with a specific focus on secure hydrogen data analysis and intelligent power management systems.
Percutaneous Deep Venous Arterialization for Limb Salvage of No Option Patients with Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia
Authors: Spiliopoulos Stavros , Davoutis Efstathia , Arkoudis Nikolaos-Achilleas , Sritharan Kaji , Lechareas Symeon
Published: September 2023

Endovascular techniques are currently considered as a first line treatment options for lower limb chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI), defined by the presence of ischemic rest pain and severe tissue loss such as ulcers or gangrene. Although the technical success rate of endovascular revascularization is high, in specific patients with advanced infrapopliteal disease and absence of run-off tibial vessels ("desert foot"), the chance of successful revascularization is minimal. In order to avoid primary amputation several treatment option are currently being investigated, including different strategies such as gene therapy or venous arterialization techniques. This review focuses on the percutaneous deep venous arterialization technique, recently introduced in everyday clinical practice, as a promising, minimally invasive treatment option for limb salvage in CLTI patients presenting with “desert foot”.
Empowering Vision Transformer by Optimal Network Hyper-Parameter Selection for Whole Pelvis Prostate Planning Target Volume Auto-Segmentation
Authors: Cho Hyeonjeong , Lee Jae Sung , Kim Jin Sung , Koom Woong Sub , Kim Hojin
Published: September 2023

U-Net, based on a deep convolutional neural network (CNN), has been clinically used to au-to-segment normal organs and potentially target volumes. However, CNNs with local geometric dependencies may limit the accuracy of segmentation. Additionally, the performance of CNNs can vary depending on the selection of network hyper-parameters, which was mitigated by the proposition of nnU-Net. We chose a vision transformer architecture called VT U-Net, which features a self-attention excluding the convolution layer, to overcome the limitations of CNNs by utilizing global geometric information of images. The VT U-Net v.2 became more powerful thanks to the adaptive hyper-parameter optimizer embedded in nnU-Net. However, despite leveraging the benefits of nnU-Net, VT U-Net v.2 still had additional network hyper-parameters that needed to be optimally chosen. Accordingly, among various hyper-parameters, this study attempted to find the optimal combination of the patch size and the embedded dimension regarding the transformer. From the 4-fold cross-validation, the modified VT U-Net v.2 showed the highest average performance for planning target volume (PTV) segmentation among the investigated networks. Though nnU-Net was based on convolution layers, the adaptive hyper-parameter optimizers turned out to enhance the performance. It was also confirmed that network hyper-parameters affected the segmentation accuracy of vision transformers.
Navigating the Complex Landscape of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva: From Current Paradigms to Therapeutic Frontiers
Authors: Anwar Saeed , Yokota And Toshifumi
Published: September 2023

Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) is an enigmatic, ultra-rare genetic disorder characterized by progressive heterotopic ossification, wherein soft connective tissues undergo pathological transformation into bone structures. This incapacitating process severely limits patient mobility and poses formidable challenges for therapeutic intervention. Predominantly caused by missense mutations in the ACVR1 gene, the disorder has hitherto defied comprehensive mechanistic understanding and effective treatment paradigms. This write-up offers a comprehensive overview of the contemporary understanding of FOP's complex pathobiology, underscored by advances in molecular genetics and proteomic studies. We shed light on targeted therapy, spanning genetic therapeutics, enzymatic and transcriptional modulation, stem cell therapies, and innovative immunotherapies. We also focused on the intricate complexities surrounding clinical trial design for ultra-rare disorders like FOP, addressing fundamental statistical limitations, ethical conundrums, and methodological advancements essential for the success of interventional studies. We advocate for the adoption of a multi-disciplinary approach that converges bench-to-bedside research, clinical expertise, and ethical considerations to tackle the challenges of ultra-rare diseases like FOP and comparable ultra-rare diseases. Overall, this article serves a dual role: as a definitive scientific resource for ongoing and future FOP research and as a call to action for innovative solutions to address methodological and ethical challenges that impede progress in the broader field of medical research for ultra-rare conditions.
The Polarization and Heat Generation Characteristics of Lithium-ion Battery with Electric-thermal Coupled Modeling
Authors: Guo Jiayong , Guo Qiang , Liu Jie , Wang Hewu
Published: September 2023

This paper investigates the polarization and heat generation characteristics of batteries under different ambient temperatures and discharge rates by means of using a coupled electric-thermal model. The study found that the largest percentage of polarization is ohmic polarization, followed by concentration polarization and electrochemical polarization. The values of the three types of polarization are generally small and stable under normal-temperature environments and low-discharge rates. However, they increase significantly in low-temperature environments and high-discharge rates and continue to rise during the discharge process. Additionally, ohmic heat generation and polarization generation also increase significantly under these conditions. Reversible entropy heat is less sensitive to ambient temperature but increases significantly with the increase of the discharge rate. Ohmic heat generation and polarization heat generation contribute to the total heat generation of the battery at any ambient temperature, while reversible entropy heat only contributes to the total heat generation of the battery at the end of discharge.
Enhancement of the Fog Computing Efficiency: Healthcare as a Case Study
Authors: Alharbi Ameenah Mohammad , Al-Hagery Mohammed Abdullah
Published: September 2023

Cloud computing is a strong and efficient technology facing some efficiency challenges attributable to its decentralized nature. The emergence of fog computing has subdivided the expansive cloud into numerous smaller units known as "cloudlets." Fog computing is one of the most recent advancements in today’s cloud computing landscape. Each cloudlet is a novel and diminutive architectural element extending the contemporary cloud computing infrastructure. The term "cloudlets" has been integrated with fog computing due to its augmenting impact on the attributes of cloud computing. F fog computing is a significant foundation and an indispensable cloud component. Consequently, this technology holds the potential to address efficiency concerns effectively. As a result, this paper focuses on enhancing the efficiency of the cloud computing environment by fine-tuning the efficiency parameters derived from fog computing. These parameters encompass response time, latency, and network utilization. The proposed solution involves developing a simulation system to minimize task redundancy and increase performance levels in the healthcare environment. The outcomes manifest a substantial improvement in the performance of the suggested system, with a clear increase depending on the three key parameters (response time, network utilization, and latency). Therefore, these findings are encouraging and carry significant implications, promoting the application of the proposed system in the real healthcare environment.
Magnetic Whispering-Gallery Super-resonance Spoiling in a Drude-Kerr Optical Cavity
Authors: Geints Yuri , Minin Igor V , Minin Oleg V
Published: September 2023

High-quality optical Fano resonances, which exist in a spherical dielectric microparticle in the spatial configurations of the "whispering-gallery modes" (WGMs) and recently are referred to as the “super-resonances”, possess extremal sensitivity not only to the micro-cavity size and shape but also to the optical properties of the particulate material. The increase in the power of light radiation coupling into a super-resonance can lead to the manifestation of strong optical nonlinearity of the resonator material due to the cubic nonlinearity (optical Kerr effect) and generation of free electron plasma in certain regions of the spherical microcavity. In fact, an optically linear medium of the resonance cavity transforms into a Drude-Kerr-type medium with a strong dependence on input laser intensity. With the help of the finite-elements numerical simulations, we theoretically analyze the transformations of the resonant contour for a number of high-quality WGMs excited in a lanthanum-glass microsphere exposed to an optical radiation of different intensity. We show that in a certain input intensity range, the competition of Kerr and plasma optical nonlinearities can stop and even reverse the Stokes shift of the super-resonance observed in a pure Kerr medium. Additionally, optical ionization and plasma generation within the mode volume significantly reduce the strength of the magnetic super-resonance and lead to its spoiling and frequency splitting.
Irreversible Thermodynamics of Seawater Evaporation
Authors: Feistel Rainer , Hellmuth Olaf
Published: September 2023

Under typical marine conditions of about 80 % relative humidity, evaporation of water from the ocean is an irreversible process accompanied by entropy production. In this article, equations are derived for the latent heat of irreversible evaporation and the related non-equilibrium entropy balance at the sea surface. To achieve this, linear irreversible thermodynamics is considered in a conceptual ocean evaporation model. The equilibrium thermodynamic standard TEOS-10, the International Thermodynamic Equation of Seawater – 2010, is applied to irreversible evaporation under the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium. The relevance of local-equilibrium conditions for irreversible thermodynamics is briefly explained. New equations are derived for the mass flux of evaporation and for the associated non-equilibrium enthalpies and entropies. The estimated entropy production rate of ocean evaporation amounts to 0.004 W m^(-2) K^(-1) as compared to the average terrestrial global entropy production of about 1 W m^(-2) K^(-1).
The Short Time Prediction of the Dst Index Based on the LSTM and the EMD-LSTM Models
Authors: Zhang Jinyuan , Feng Yan , Zhang Jiaxuan , Li Yijun
Published: September 2023

The Dst index is the geomagnetic storm index used to measure the energy level of geomagnetic storms, and the prediction of this index is of great significance for the geomagnetic storm study and the solar activity. In contrast to traditional numerical modelling techniques, machine learning, which has emerged in decades ago based on rapidly developing computer hardware and software and artificial intelligence methods, has been unprecedentedly developed in geophysics, especially solar-terrestrial space physics. This study chooses two machine learning models, the LSTM (Long-Short Time Memory, LSTM) and EMD-LSTM model (Empirical Mode Decomposition, EMD), to model and predict the Dst index. By building the Dst index data series from 2018-2023, two models were built to fit and predict the data. Firstly, we evaluated the influences of the learning rate and the amount of training data on the prediction accuracy of the LSTM model, and finally, 10-3 was thought as the optimal learning rate; secondly, the two models were used to predict the Dst index in the solar active and quiet periods, respectively, and the RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) of the LSTM model in the active period is 7.34 nT, the CC (correlation coefficient) is 0.96, those of the quiet period are 2.64nT and 0.97; the RMSE and r of EMD-LSTM model are 8.87nT and 0.93 in active time and 3.29nT and 0.95 in the quiet time. Finally, the prediction accuracy of the LSTM model in short time period is slightly better than the EMD-LSTM model. However, there will be a problem of prediction lag, which the EMD-LSTM model can then solve, and can better predict the geomagnetic storm.
Semiarid Lakes of the Southwestern Siberia as Sentinels of On-going Climate Change: Hydrochemistry, Carbon Cycle, and Modern Carbonate Mineral Formation
Authors: Novoselov Andrey , Konstantinov Alexandr , Konstantinova Elizaveta , Simakova Yulia , Lim Artem , Kurasova Alina , Loiko Sergey , Pokrovsky Oleg S.
Published: September 2023

Towards better understanding of factors controlling carbon (C) exchange between inland waters and atmosphere, we addressed inorganic carbon cycle in semi-arid lakes of Central Eurasia, subjected to strong impact of on-going climate change. For this, we assessed the hydrochemical vari-ability and quantified its control on formation of authigenic carbonate minerals, occurring within the upper layer of sediments in 43 semiarid lakes located in the southwest of Western Siberia (Central Eurasia). Based on measurements of pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), cationic and anionic composition, dissolved organic and inorganic C, as well as textural and mineralogical characterization of bottom sediments using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, we demonstrate that lake water pH and TDS are primarily controlled by both lithological and climatic context of the lake watershed. We have not revealed any direct relationships between lake morphology and water chemistry. The most common authigenic carbonates scavenging atmospheric CO2 in the form of insoluble minerals in lake sediments were calcite, aragonite, Mg-calcite, dolomite and hydro-magnesite. The calcite was the most common component, aragonite mainly appears in lakes with sediments enriched in gastropod shells or artemia cysts, while hydromagnesite was most common in lakes with high Mg/Ca molar ratios, as well at high DIC concentrations. The relationships between mineral formation and water chemistry established in this study can be generalized to a wide suite of arid and semi-arid lakes in order to characterize current status of inorganic C cycle and predict its possible modification under on-going climate warming such as water temperature rise and change of hydrological connectivity, primary productivity and nutrient regime.
Topological Gauge Theory of Josephson Junction Arrays: The Discovery of Superinsulation
Authors: Diamantini Maria Cristina
Published: September 2023

We review the topological gauge theory description of Josephson
junction arrays (JJA), fabricated systems which exhibit the superconductor to insulator transition (SIT). This description revealed the topological nature of the phases appearing at the SIT and lead to the discovery of a new state of matter, the superinsulator, characterized by an infinite resistance, even at finite temperature, due to linear confinement of electric charges. This discovery is particularly relevant for the physics of superconducting films with emergent granularity, which are modeled by JJA, and share the same phase diagram.
Activity of the Di-Substituted Urea-Derived Compound I-17 in Leishmania Infections
Authors: Dos Santos Neto Jose Vitorino , Medina Jorge Mansur , Teixeira Karina Dias , Chorev Michael , Diotallevi Aurora , Aktas Berthal Huseyin , Galluzzi Luca , Lopes Ulisses Gazos
Published: September 2023

Protein synthesis has been a very rich target for developing classes of drugs to control prokaryotic and eukaryotic pathogens. Despite the development of new drug formulations, treating human cutaneous and visceral Leishmaniasis still needs significant improvement due to considerable side effects and low adherence to the usual treatment regimen. In this work, we show that the di-substituted urea-derived compound I-17 is effective in inhibiting the promastigote forms and intracellular amastigotes of the Leishmania (L.) amazonensis and L. infantum species, in addition to exhibiting low macrophage cytotoxicity. We also show a potential immunomodulatory effect of I-17 in infected macrophages, which exhibited increased expression of inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS2) and Nitric Oxide (NO) production. Our data suggest that I-17 and new derivatives of this compound may be helpful in developing new drugs for treating leishmaniasis.
Unveiling the Dark Side of ChatGPT: Exploring Cyberattacks and Enhancing User Awareness
Authors: Alawida Moatsum , Shawar Bayan Abu , Abiodun Oludare Isaac , Mehmood Abid , Omolara Abiodun Esther , Al Hwaitat Ahmad k.
Published: September 2023

The Chat Generative Pre-training Transformer (GPT), also known as ChatGPT, is a powerful generative AI model that can simulate human-like dialogues across a variety of domains. However, this popularity has attracted the attention of malicious actors who exploit ChatGPT to launch cyberattacks. This paper examines the tactics that adversaries use to leverage ChatGPT in a variety of cyberattacks. Attackers pose as regular users and manipulate ChatGPT’s vulnerability to malicious interactions, particularly in the context of cyber assault. The paper presents illustrative examples of cyberattacks that are possible with ChatGPT and discusses the realm of ChatGPT-fueled cybersecurity threats. The paper also investigates the extent of user awareness of the relationship between ChatGPT and cyberattacks. A survey of 253 participants was conducted, and their responses were measured on a three-point Likert scale. The results provide a comprehensive understanding of how ChatGPT can be used to improve business processes and identify areas for improvement. Over 80% of the participants agreed that cyber criminals use ChatGPT for malicious purposes. This finding underscores the importance of improving the security of this novel model. Organizations must take steps to protect their computational infrastructure. This analysis also highlights opportunities for streamlining processes, improving service quality, and increasing efficiency. Finally, the paper provides recommendations for using ChatGPT in a secure manner, outlining ways to mitigate potential cyberattacks and strengthen defenses against adversaries.
OpenToolFlux: An Open-Source Software for Estimating Gas Fluxes from Automatic Chamber Data
Authors: Galea Reboloso Carmen , Sanz-Cobeña Alberto , Lassaletta Luis , Monistrol Alba , Vallejo Antonio , Einarsson Rasmus
Published: September 2023

OpenToolFlux is an open-source software to estimate soil gas fluxes from gas concentration time-series data generated by automatic chamber systems. This paper describes the physical equipment used as well as software design and workflow. The software is a command-line application that imports tabular time-series data from the analyzer following the instructions specified in a configuration file by the user, performs configurable data-cleaning operations, and outputs a data file with volumetric flux estimates as well as diagnostic plots. The software can be configured according to the specifics of physical equipment and experimental setup and is therefore applicable in a wide range of studies.
Designing of a Geographical Entity Annotation System Using the BiLSTM+CRF+AGG Model
Authors: Xu Aiping , Ling Guangming , Wang Chao
Published: September 2023

When analyzing user geospatial information through deep learning methods, it is typically necessary to annotate existing geospatial data. Currently, manual annotation methods are commonly employed, suffering from issues related to low efficiency and accuracy. This design is based on the TensorFlow deep learning framework and first realizes the BiLSTM+CRF+AGG deep learning model. Among the models, AGG is the aggregation layer, which is introduced to solve the problem of solid particle size equilibrium. Secondly, based on the characteristics of original data and professional data, an automatic labeling algorithm is proposed. The algorithm first preprocesses the acquired original data set and professional data set, The most valuable unlabeled data set which can make the training model converge quickly is selected from the original data set as the target data set. Sort the target data set based on preset rules and set annotation parameters for the sorted target data set. Based on the set annotation parameters, the corpus is synthesized and used as the annotation result. Thirdly, based on the active learning strategy, a manual annotation auxiliary scheme is proposed, and an Excel generation module that is convenient for manual annotation correction is designed and developed to further improve the efficiency and quality of annotation through iterative processing. The combination of the BiLSTM+CRF+AGG deep learning model and high-quality annotation can accurately identify non-standard, incomplete, or even incorrect geographical information entities. This annotation method has found successful practical application within the context of the research project and has been granted an invention patent.
Technical Biomechanical Analysis of the Full Swing in Professional Male Golfers: A Wireless Biofeedback System
Authors: Zhang Guojie , Wang Zefeng , Bi Zhiyuan , Cao Zhangyue , Liu Heng
Published: September 2023

Background: Pro-golfers are increasingly trained scientifically, but swing technique characteristics have not yet been conclusively determined for golf performance. We investigated the relationship between the player's thorax, pelvis and club based on a wireless biofeedback system. We also determined whether thoracic and pelvic changes during different swing phases have different effects on ball striking. Methods: Eight male professionals performed 10 successful full-swing shots using a 5-iron and applied the K-vest wireless biofeedback system for analysis. Results: Peak angular velocities between the pelvis, torso, and clubs were all significantly different (p<0.05) in the men's professional players. All players deviated more from the PGA players range metrics during the preparation stance. Excessive lateral pelvic bending angle, over-rotation, and hyperextension of the trunk were prevalent at the top of the backswing. Conclusions: Most players have an irrational sequence of pelvic, trunk and club rotation times, which is not conducive to improving club head speed and distance. Excessive pelvic rotation in the closed direction at the apex of the backswing is not conducive to maximizing the X-factor. At the moment of striking the ball, maintain a moderate forward trunk lean and full trunk rotation to avoid sports injuries.
Efficacy of Mass Drug Distribution (MDD) in National Schistosomiasis Control Programme Sentinel Sites in Mali
Authors: Abdoulaye Dabo , Privat Agniwo , Salim Dante , Sidy Diawara , Moucter Diallo , Mathias Dolo , Moudachirou Ibikounle , Boubou Doucoure
Published: September 2023

Background – Mali was one of the first countries in sub-Saharan Africa to initiate a National Schistosomiasis Control Programme (NSCP) in 1982. The WHO's 2021-30 roadmap sets out criteria for eliminating and controlling schistosomiasis as a public health problem. Our study aimed to assess the impact of annual Mass Drug Distribution (MDD) with praziquantel (PZQ) among school-age children in the sentinel sites (SS) of the NSCP. Methods –The study took place at twelve SS in Kayes and Koulikoro regions. Two-round observational cross-sectional studies were carried out in December 2014-2015 and in April 2018 after four to five years of annually MDD. Overall, 2442 schoolchildren aged 7 to 14 were successfully examined. The urine filtration and Kato-Katz method were used for determining Schistosoma haematobium and S. mansoni eggs, respectively. Results –Of the twelve SS treated from 2014-2015, one has achieved the criterion of elimination of S. haematobium as a public health problem (prevalence of heavy intensity infection PHI < 1%) (ie, ≥50 S. haematobium eggs per 10 mL of urine or ≥400 S. mansoni eggs per g of stool), four met the morbidity control criterion (PHI< 5%) while two sites remained confined below the morbidity control criterion (PHI>5%). Five SS had no heavy intensity infection. The prevalence of S. mansoni was less than 1%. Conclusion –The impact evaluation of MDD with praziquantel in the SS of NSCP highlights that MDD has significantly reduced the PHI of schistosomiasis. However, the high prevalence of schistosomiasis or its increase in some sites requires in-depth studies.
Distinct HAND2/HAND2-AS1 Expression Levels Finetune Mesenchymal and Epithelial Cell Plasticity in Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Authors: Vazana-Netzarim Rachel , Elmalem Yishay , Sofer Shachar , Bruck Hod , Danino Naama , Sarig Udi
Published: September 2023

We have previously developed several successful decellularization strategies yielding porcine cardiac extracellular matrices (pcECMs), which exhibit tissue-specific bioactivity and bioinductive capacity when cultured with various pluri- and multipotent stem cells. Here, we studied the tissue-specific effects of the pcECM on seeded human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) phenotype using reverse transcribed quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) arrays for cardio-vascular related genes. We further corroborated interesting findings at the protein level (flow cytometry and immunological stains) as well as bioinformatically using several mRNA sequencing and protein databases of normal and pathologic adult tissue expression, as well as during human embryonic organogenesis. We discovered that upon seeding of human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) on the pcECM they displayed partial MET toward endothelial phenotypes (CD31+) and morphologies, which were preceded by an early spike (~day 3 onward after seeding) in HAND2 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels compared to plate controls. CRISPR-Cas9 knockout (KO) of HAND2 and its associated antisense long non-coding RNA (HAND2-AS1) regulatory region resulted in proliferation arrest, hypertrophy, and senescent-like morphology. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that HAND2 and HAND2-AS1 are highly correlated in expression, are expressed in many different tissue types albeit at distinct yet tightly regulated expression levels. Deviation (down or up regulation) from these basal tissue expression levels are associated with a long list of pathologies. We thus suggest that HAND2 expression levels may finetune cell plasticity possibly affecting senescence and mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition states, through yet unknown mechanisms. Targeting this pathway may represent a promising new therapeutic approach for a wide range of diseases, including cancer, degenerative disorders, and aging. Nevertheless, further investigations are required to better understand the molecular players involved, potential inducers and inhibitors of this pathway, and eventually potential therapeutic applications.
Impact of Varying Chest Wall Target Volume Delineation on Postmastectomy Radiation Therapy Outcomes in Breast Cancer Patients with Implant-Based Reconstruction
Authors: Hou Pei-Yu , Hsieh Chen-Hsi , Hsu Chen-Xiong , Kuo Deng-Yu , Lu Yueh-Feng , Shueng Pei-Wei
Published: September 2023

Background: The target volume for post-mastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) in breast cancer patients with reconstruction has been a subject of debate. This study aimed to assess the radiation dose distribution and treatment outcomes associated with different chest wall (CW) delineation according to ESTRO ACROP guideline for patients underwent implant-based reconstruction.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of breast cancer patients who underwent mastectomy followed by two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction and adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) between 2007 and 2022. The expanders/implants were positioned retropectorally. The chest wall target volumes were categorized into two groups: the prepectoral group, which excluded the deep lymphatic plexus, and the whole expander group.

Results: The study included 26 patients, 15 in prepectoral group and 11 in whole expander group. No significant differences were observed in normal organs exposure between the two groups. There was a trend toward a lower ipsilateral lung mean dose in the prepectoral group (10.2 vs. 11.1 Gy, p=0.06). Both groups exhibited limited instances of reconstruction failure and local recurrence.

Conclusions: For patients undergoing two-stage expander-implant retropectoral breast reconstruction and PMRT, our data have provided comparable outcomes and normal organs exposure for those omitting the deep lymphatic plexus.