bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Epigenetic Alterations in Keloid a Possible Method to Find Novel Agents for Keloid Treatment
Authors: Budiyanto Arief Budiyanto , Wirohadidjojo Yohanes Widodo
Published: April 2024

Background: Keloids are dermal fibro-proliferative disorders due to prolonged wound healing processes with excessive collagen depositions, which produce symptoms of itching and pain, cosmetic disfigurement, and limitation of joint motion. Standard treatment for keloid has not been accepted yet. It may be due to the complexities and poorly understood keloid development that are driven by various factors from systemic to local, genetic to epigenetic. Since genetic factors are difficult to manipulate, an approach to epigenetic factors may be hopeful. Purpose: To review various related reports on epigenetic factors such as DNA methylations, histone modifications, and micro-RNAs, which have significant roles in keloid development and can be used as targets for novel agents in keloid treatment. Review: Various genes in keloid fibroblasts (KFs) are repressed by DNA methylation, and one of them can inhibit the regulation of TGF-β1/Smad signaling, whereas another gene may influence anti-fibrotic events. Either inhibitor of methyl-transferase, inhibitor of histone-acetyltransferase, or histone-deacetylase can reduce TGF-β1/Smad signaling in KFs. Abnormal expressions of pro-fibrotic miRNAs have been identified in KFs and transfection KFs with anti-fibrotic miRNAs such as miRNA-205 and miRNA- 31, evidently can inhibit VEGF signaling. Furthermore, transfection of miRNA-637 into KFs can inhibit KFs in proliferation, migration, and collagen synthesis through TGF-β1/Smad signaling. Apoptosis and cellular senescence in KFs can also be stimulated by miRA-34 and miRNA-30. Conclusion: In the future, targets in epigenetic events such as inhibitors of methyl-transferase, histone-acetyltransferases, and histone-deacetylases, together with various miRNA, may be applied as novel agents for the treatment of keloid.
Promising future: a review of clinical applications of biopolymers in renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Zhou Xuan , Xue Kaming , Xu Ruifeng , Li Qingyi , Huang Furong , Huang Yongming , Xiao Wen , Wang Keshan , Zhang Xiaoping
Published: April 2024

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), being the most common type of renal malignancy, accounting for 85% of its incidence, poses a significant threat to human health. Although progress has been made in RCC diagnosis and management, problems of delayed detection and treatment failure remain in traditional methods. In the development of material research, biopolymers have emerged as significant players in medical practices, demonstrating considerable potential in the management of kidney cancer. Specifically, bioactive polymers have been proven to have numerous advantages over traditional methods, finding prosperous applications in diverse areas such as imaging detection, chemotherapy carrier, and prognostic estimation. However, the clinical value of some biopolymers still needs to be fully recognized in the RCC clinical pathway. This review summarizes recent studies about bioactive polymers’ application in RCC and further discusses its significance and constraints in clinical translational medicine and clinical trials. As our understanding of biopolymers grows, more advancements can be carried out in clinical practices.
Transition from isotropic positive to negative thermal expansion by local Zr6O8 node distortion in MOF-801
Authors: Ma Rui , Liu Zhanning , Chen Liang , Li Qiang , Lin Kun , Chen Xin , Deng Jinxia , Ohara Koji , Xing Xianran
Published: April 2024

The chemical designability and diversity of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) endow them with plenty of anomalous properties, such as negative thermal expansion (NTE). Herein, we investigated the thermal expansion behaviors of the well-known MOF-801, which has been widely used in water adsorption and gas separation. The analyses of variable temperature powder X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinements revealed a fascinating transition from positive thermal expansion to NTE. Further in situ Raman spectra and pair distribution function investigations shed light on the transition being attributed to the local Zr6O8 node distortion rather than a long-range phase transition. Our findings will enhance the comprehension of NTE and contribute to the effective utilization of MOF-801 over a broad temperature range.
Collapse of Air-Supported Structures
Authors: Xue Suduo , Yan Fei , Sun Guojun
Published: April 2024

Air-supported membrane structures are widely used. The stiffness and shape of such structures depend on the pressure difference between indoor and outdoor environments. As the leakage of indoor air may lead to the collapse of the structure, it is necessary to study the deflation deformation
process, including the properties that can cause air-supported membrane structures to collapse. In this study, a new theoretical model of the collapse property was proposed. The collapse process was divided into two stages: the strain-releasees stage and the collapse stage. The two stages
are described by two different differential equations. The results obtained from existing experimental studies and numerical models are compared with those obtained by the method proposed in this paper. The method proposed in this paper can predict the collapse process of air-supported structures
at different scales. Finally, the sensitivity analysis was used to research the relation between collapse time and leakage area, collapse pressure difference and temperature.
Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition: A Groundless Skyscraper
Authors: Cao Ying
Published: April 2024

Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is defined as a cellular process during which epithelial cells acquire mesenchymal phenotypes and behavior following the downregulation of epithelial features. EMT and its reversed process, the mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), and the special form of EMT, the endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), have been thought as a universal dogma controlling developmental and pathological processes. More than half a century of EMT study has made it a large research field and a mainstream concept. However, discrepancies and disputes over EMT and EMT research have also grown over time. Particularly, neither the epithelial and mesenchymal states/properties nor their regulatory networks nor specific markers have been defined, rendering the EMT, MET and EndMT concepts groundless. Moreover, EMT and MET effects should not be a cause, but rather a consequence of or an accompanying effect during developmental and pathological processes. EMT and MET represented by the change in cell shapes or adhesiveness or symbolized by EMT factors are biased interpretation of the overall change in cellular property and regulatory networks during development and cancer progression. The true meaning of EMT effects in some developmental and pathological processes, such as fibrosis, needs re-evaluation. But the core EMT factors are actually a few components of the regulatory networks of neural stemness, which determines tumorigenicity and pluripotency. The EMT effects in cancer progression and neural crest formation are wrong attribution of the role of neural stemness during cancer progression and the cell-intrinsic property of neural crest cells to the unknown mesenchymal state. It is time to reassess the significance of EMT and its related concepts in scientific research.
Design Oriented Analysis of a Self-Bias Circuit for Boost Derived Converters
Authors: Abramovitz Alexander , Tayar Tal , Shmilovitz Doron
Published: April 2024

Boost-derived converters are most popular in Power Factor Correction AC-DC conversion applications and alternative energy generation systems. The proper operation of such converters relies on housekeeping power supplies providing auxiliary power for their control circuitry. The purpose of this study is to present a design-oriented analysis of a simple, passive, isolated, self-bias circuit that can provide a stabilized voltage for the control circuits of boost-derived converters. The circuit’s output voltage inherently follows the main regulated output and therefore, does not require an additional active control. The paper presents a detailed analysis of the circuit and offers design guidelines. Following the presentation of the basic idea several variations of the circuit, that can be used in special applications, are presented. The feasibility of the proposed bias circuits was verified by simulation and experiment on a laboratory prototype.
Iron Supplementation in the Treatment of Cocaine Use Disorder
Authors: Hughes Sarah , Hill Olivia , Mogallapu Raja
Published: April 2024

Many drastic actions are taken by cocaine users for the sake of experiencing high dopamine levels, which depends on iron for its synthesis. Dopamine depletion and iron deficiency are also involved in the symptoms of restless leg syndrome (RLS). The intersecting biochemical pathways of cocaine use, iron deficiency, and RLS have not been adequately investigated. This case report reveals the successful treatment of a patient with these conditions. A 63-year-old male with a history of cocaine use disorder, insomnia, and RLS sought emergency care for suicidality. Upon admission, he was also found to be iron-deficient. He revealed that his RLS worsened when he attempted to abstain from cocaine. He also used alcohol to sustain the effects of cocaine when the cost of cocaine was too high. During hospitalization, his mood, cravings, and RLS were resolved with adjunctive iron supplementation as well as 300 mg of Wellbutrin. If iron-deficient, replenishment of adequate dopaminergic receptor density and function via supplementation may play an essential role in the prevention of cocaine use and cessation of cocaine withdrawal. Further research is warranted to validate these findings and understand the implications of iron supplementation in addiction medicine.
Exploring the Adaptation of Bulinus senegalensis and Bulinus umbilicatus to the Dry and Rainy Season in Ephemeral Pond in Niakhar (Senegal), an Area of Seasonal Transmission of Urogenital Schistosomiasis.
Authors: Sy Diara , Senghor Bruno , Sokhna Cheikh , Diallo Mamadou , Wotodjo Amélé Nyedzie , SOW Doudou , Doucoure Souleymane
Published: April 2024

Bulinus snails surviving drought play a key role in seasonal transmission of urogenital schistosomiasis although our knowledge of their adaptation to dry season is still limited. We investigated the survival dynamic and infestation by Schistosoma haematobium of Bulinus snails during the dry and rainy seasons in a single pond in an area of seasonal schistosomiasis transmission in Senegal. Additionally, their aestivation capacity was evaluated under semi natural conditions. During the rainy season, of the 104 specimens collected, 98 (94.23%) and 06 (5.76%) were identified as B. senegalensis and B. umbilicatus, respectively. In the dry season, B. umbilicatus outnumbered B. senegalensis, however, all 5 (100%) B. senegalensis collected were viable and alive after interruption of aestivation by immersion in water while only 7 of 24 (29.16%) B. umbilicatus collected emerged from their dormant state.
The adaptation of B. senegalensis and B. umbilicatus to the rainy and dry seasons, respectively, was also observed in semi-natural conditions. The rate of infestation with S. haeamatobium during the rainy season was 18.2% (19/104) while all the viable snails collected during the dry season were negative.
B. senegalensis and B. umbilicatus have different seasonal dynamics with no evidence of maintaining S. haematobium infestation during the drought. Further studies including more survey sites and taking account both snails biology and ecological conditions are needed to better understand snail adaptation to seasonal changes and their ability to maintain S. haeamatobium infestation during drought.
Lost Urban Spaces and the Idea of Creative City: The Case of Vilnius Sport Palace
Authors: Kačerauskas Tomas
Published: April 2024

The paper analyses the unused urban spaces in concert with the creative city idea. The research issues are developed as follows. 1. The unused urban places express the city's unsustainability since every urban space has the potential to become such a dead zone. 2. The concept of the creative city covers different creative activities in concert with sustainable development. 3. The unusable urban places result from a modernistic approach that neglects the cultural context, of the city's division into functional zones ignoring integral living intentions and industrial exploitation in the previous city's rims. 4. The Vilnius Sport Palace is an unused space not so much due to the lack of interest, but due to a knot of interests, which politicians cannot cut. The research raises the question of whether the problem of the VSP can be solved by using the idea of the creative city. In terms of the theoretical approach, a comparative analysis is used. Besides literature analyses, the case study is applied. Additionally, the semiotic approach is used. For this purpose, two of Greimas' traditional semiotic squares in combination with Ricoeur's idea of the interpretation's conflict are applied.
Mortality of Boreal Trees
Authors: Kärenlampi Petri P.
Published: April 2024

A dataset collected from Central-South Finland is used to investigate the mortality of boreal trees. The mortality rate is found to be the order of three times that predicted by earlier Nordic mortality models, being in the upper range of international literature observations. Small subpopulations of any tree species tend to die out. Mortality of downy birch increases with stand basal area, as well as with stand age. Mortality of Norway spruce and silver birch increases after 100 years, while that of Scots pine is invariant to age. As the relative loss rate of basal area is insensitive to stand basal area, the mortality of trees does not strongly regulate thinning practices.
Incidence of Thyroid Cancer in Bethesda III Thyroid Nodules: A Retrospective Analysis at a Single Endocrine Surgery Center
Authors: Hassan Iyad , Hassan Lina , Balalaa Nahed , Askar Mohammad , Alshehhi Hussa , Almarzooqi Mohamed
Published: April 2024

Background: Fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is widely used to diagnose and monitor thyroid nodules. The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) is the standard for interpreting FNAC specimens. The risk of malignancy in Bethesda III nodules also known as Atypia of Undetermined Significance (AUS) varies significantly throughout several studies published worldwide. This retrospective study examines the risk of cancer in thyroid FNAC categorized as Bethesda III, as identified in the final histopathology of thyroidectomy specimens at a single endocrine surgery center. Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis included 1038 consecutive patients who underwent elective thyroid surgery with complete follow up data between January 2020 and March 2024. Preoperative data on clinical and pathological characteristics have been collected. The final histopathology report from the thyroidectomy specimen was compared to the results of the preoperative FNAC on nodules that were judged to be Bethesda category III. Statistical methods were performed using SPSS version 29. Results: A total of 670 ultrasound-guided FNACs (64.5%) performed during the study period were included in the final analysis. The study population was predominantly female, represented by 79.6% of patients with a mean age of 42.5 (SD 12.1), while 20.4% were male and significantly older with mean age 45.13 years (p = 0.02). The FNAC inadequacy rate was 5.1%, which was associated with a high risk of malignancy (6 out of 34, 17.6%). Out of the total sample size of 170 patients classified as group III, 57 were found to have malignancies in final surgical histopathology, representing 33.5% of the cases within this category. The secondary gender-related outcome analysis showed that female patients classified under the Bethesda II category had a significantly higher risk of malignancy, with a rate of 21.2%, compared to males who had a malignancy rate of 3.4% in the same Bethesda category (p = 0.001, chi square test). However, female had more better prognostic non-invasive tumors than male (p = 0.02, chi square test). Conclusion: The study's results indicate that Bethesda categories II and III are associated with a higher risk of malignancy in comparison to the reports of the000 first and third editions of the TBSRTC, particularly for female patients classified under category II.
A Method for Identifying Proper Noun Derivative Semantic Relationships for Geographic Entities
Authors: Hanyou Liu , Jizhou Wang
Published: April 2024

There are rich proper noun derivative semantic relationships in geographic entity vector data. The identification of traditional proper noun derivative semantic relationships usually requires toponym researchers to examine the source of derived toponyms by consulting a large number of toponym documents. This method cannot adapt to the mining of proper noun derivative semantic relationships for large-scale geographical entity. In this regard, this paper proposes a method of identifying the proper noun derivative semantic relationships for geographical entity by combining prompt learning and XGBoost model. This method transforms the extraction problem of proper noun derivative semantic relationships into a binary classification problem by analyzing the characteristics of the derivation relationship of toponyms in the form of toponyms and the spatial and temporal distribution of geography. Firstly, prompt learning and gaussian mixture model are used to extract and cluster the derivation words of toponyms, so as to realize the recognition of derived toponyms collections. Then, enumerate the possible proper noun derivations in the toponym set, and then the XGBoost model is used to identify the semantic relations derived from the proper noun of geographical entities. In the experiment, the recognition method of proper noun derivative semantic relationships based on prompt learning and XGBoost proposed in this paper has achieved good relationship recognition effect in the experiment. This method has certain practical value in the fields of toponym management and toponym translation.
Two-Stage Multi-Satellite Scheduling Algorithm Based on Task Merging Mechanism
Authors: Yu Jing , Xing Li Ning , Song Yan Jie , Liu Zhao Hui
Published: April 2024

Earth observation satellites can capture images of specific areas in Earth's orbit based on user requirements. Despite the high demand for satellite imagery, satellites remain a scarce resource. When there are many observation tasks that are large and dense, they may interfere with each other due to satellite mobility. To address this issue, a multi-satellite scheduling algorithm based on a task merging mechanism has been proposed. This paper proposes a two-stage approach to the problem: task merging phase and merging task scheduling phase. The task merging phase introduces two methods based on Mean Shift and Complete Graph to generate the merging task set. In the merging task scheduling phase, a multi-satellite scheduling algorithm based on merging tasks is employed to solve the problem. Finally, certain measurement experiments suggest the effectiveness of the algorithm.
A Novel Presentation: Epsilon Waves in the Electrocardiogram of a Patient with Dravet Syndrome Without Structural Heart Disease
Authors: Bermejo Valdés Alejandro Jesús , Archer Jiménez Jessica
Published: April 2024

We document for the first time epsilon waves on the electrocardiogram of a patient with Dravet syndrome (DS) who does not exhibit structural cardiac pathology. DS, a severe form of pediatric epilepsy, involves mutations in the SCN1A gene, which disrupt sodium ion flow and increase the risk of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. The epsilon waves, typically associated with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia, may also suggest a link between neuronal and cardiac dysfunctions. In our case, the epsilon waves appear to originate from abnormalities in sodium channels rather than structural changes in the myocardium. This finding underscores the importance of assessing both neurological and cardiac manifestations in patients with severe epilepsy, opening new avenues for the research and treatment of these interactions in DS.
Dynamics of Halogen Molecule Vibrations in Molecular Crystals: Temperature and Halogen Dependency
Authors: Kolesov Boris A.
Published: April 2024

Raman spectra of [TeX6](Y2) (X, Y - Cl, Br, I) were recorded in the temperature range 5-300 K. The vibration frequency of molecular halogens as function on temperature and the type of halogen X- in the [TeX6]2- complex was obtained. The vibration frequency of the molecular halogen Y2 depends on the type of halogen X- complex [TeX6]2- The temperature dependence of the Y2 frequency is anomalous compared to what was expected for a conventional anharmonic oscillator. It is shown that the interpretation of the experimental results based on the concept of traditional chemical bonding is quite satisfactory in all cases. The study was motivated by the need to consider the mechanism of interaction in the X-Y2 contacts.
Inhibitory Effects of Nicotinic Acid against Streptococcus pneumoniae Biofilm
Authors: Rosdi Qaisara Fareesya , Bahri Ahmad Asyraf Saiful
Published: April 2024

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of nicotinic acid against Streptococcus pneumoniae biofilm. The experimental results indicate that S. pneumoniae forms biofilms, particularly at the liquid-air interface, as evidenced by the pellicle assay. Nicotinic acid demonstrated significant inhibition of S. pneumoniae biofilm formation at 6 h and 18 h, with higher concentrations leading to lower biofilm biomass, suggesting a concentration-dependent response. However, minimal biofilm inhibition was observed at 12 h. Treatment with nicotinic acid induced FTIR spectral changes in protein biomolecules of S. pneumoniae biofilm at 6 h and 18 h, evidenced by alterations in spectral peaks at 750 cm-1, 906 cm-1, 1540 cm-1, 1548 cm-1, and 1644 cm-1. Notably, no FTIR spectral changes were detected in 12 h S. pneumoniae biofilm following exposure to nicotinic acid. These findings suggest that nicotinic acid inhibits biofilm formation in a time and concentration-dependent manner, possibly by altering the structure of protein biomolecules within the biofilm.
Geology and Metallogeny of Shu-Ile Ore Zone Intrusive Complexes (Kazakhstan)
Authors: Baibatsha Adilkhan B. , Vyazovetsky Yuriy V. , Kembayev Maxat K. , Rais Sayat E. , Koishina Gulzada M. , Talgatbek Aibolat N.
Published: April 2024

The research is devoted to the study of geotectonic and geodynamics of the Shu-Ile belt and petrographic composition and intrusive complexes geochemical features analysis. The Shu-Ile suture is an important geological structure of Kazakhstan. It is characterized by the presence of various intrusive formations and deep faults. The material composition of these intrusions is of interest for understanding the geological and metallogenic processes in this region. The research used modern scientific methods, including petrographic and geochemical studies of various compositions intrusion samples. Based on the results of material composition studies of intrusive complexes, their possible connections with other geological structures of Kazakhstan and the metallogeny of the region have been established. Based on the data obtained, a conclusion was made about the intrusive complexes origin and evolution of the Shu-Ile belt, which may be important for further geological research and forecasting of mineral resources in the region.
Regenerative Cattle Farming in Latin America and the Caribbean, Far beyond the Oxymoron
Authors: Abramovay Ricardo , Matte Alessandra , Sanseverino Estela Catunda , Ritt Adrieli Luisa , Galiano Marina Walder
Published: April 2024

Latin America and the Caribbean offer the most favorable natural and social conditions for the emergence of cattle ranching that regenerate and maintains the ecosystem services on which life on Earth depends, that is energy efficient and that contributes to meeting fundamental human food needs. Unlike other major global producers, cattle farming in Latin America and the Caribbean is fundamentally based on pasture. Therein lies both its strength (due to the regenerative potential of well-managed pastures) and its vulnerability (due to the pervasive link between deforestation and pasture formation, especially in the Amazon, where 40% of the Brazilian herd is concentrated). The diversification of pastures (today marked by impressive monotony, with brachiaria accounting for 85% of the species in Brazil), the introduction of legumes and tree plantations within them, and the proper management of herds, open the way to the possibility of drastically reducing the area currently occupied by the activity (especially in the Amazon) while maintaining the supply of its products. Agricultural research has disseminated forms of moderate intensification of cattle ranching, which represent a low opportunity cost of animal feed and, at the same time, regeneration of ecosystem services that have so far been destroyed by the prevailing methods of farming.
A Study on the Application Performance of High-Aspect-Ratio Nano-Ettringite in Photocurable Resin Composites
Authors: Cao Weihua , Zhu Hong
Published: April 2024

In this study, the impact of the addition of high-aspect-ratio nano-ettringite to photocurable epoxy acrylate resin was explored, with a specific focus on the changes observed in viscosity, shrinkage, tensile strength, and elongation at the break of composites formed. Herein, the nano-ettringite samples were modified using KH-570. The 3 wt% or 6 wt% KH-570-modified and unmodified nano-ettringite were dispersed into the resin by ultrasonic treatment in conjunction with mechanical stirring. The grafting effects of nano-ettringite onto KH-570 were analyzed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results demonstrate that increased dosages of unmodified and modified nano-ettringite led to increased viscosity of the composite while reducing shrinkage. At the same dosage, the photocurable resin with modified nano-ettringite demonstrated a lower shrinkage and a higher tensile strength. Notably, when the amount of modified nano-ettringite was 3 wt%, the highest tensile strength of the composite was 64.61 MPa, presenting a 72.57% increase compared to the blank sample. Furthermore, the incorporation of modified nano-ettringite as a filler provides a new perspective for improving the performance of photocurable epoxy acrylate resin composites.
Effect of Size Fractions of Foraminifera on Reconstructing the Paleoceanography of Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event 2
Authors: Londoño Vanessa , Collins Laurel S.
Published: April 2024

The globally recognized Cretaceous Oceanic Anoxic Event 2 was recorded at Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Site U1407 in the North Atlantic in sediments that were deposited under varying oxygen concentrations, conditions often associated with decreased foraminiferal test size. A >63-µm size fraction is typically used for collecting foraminifera that live in low-oxygen and deep-sea settings, particularly for paleoceanographic reconstructions where key environmental indicator species may be under-represented or absent in coarser sizes. Using 31 sediment samples from the site, we test the best size fraction to utilize when exploring biotic responses to an oceanic anoxic event. Counts of benthic and biserial (heterohelicid) planktic foraminifera from the standard >63-µm and finer 38–63-µm sieve sizes are compared to determine if critical information is lost if the smaller size fraction is not used. Results show similar trends in relative abundances for both size fractions. There are higher abundances in 38–63-µm residues, but species identification and counts are overly time-consuming for obtaining the general trends. We recommend the use of >63-µm sieves for foraminifera collected from low-oxygen sediments but encourage examination of the 38–63-µm fraction to verify intervals recognized as barren are truly absent of foraminifera.
Simulation of Hydrate Migration and Deposition in Pipe with Diameter Reduction and Direction Variation
Authors: Ma Nan , Wang Zhiyuan , Zhang Jianbo , Liu Peng , Peng Yudan
Published: April 2024

Pipes with diameter reduction and direction variation are very common in deepwater extraction. While the high-pressure and low-temperature conditions may trigger severe hydrate problems, current studies on hydrate particle migration and deposition are mainly carried out in pipes with a constant diameter, whereas the law of diameter reduction has been less explored; in particular, the effect of diameter reduction + direction variation in pipe has not been reported. In this study, a model of hydrate particle migration and deposition in special pipelines is established based on the computational fluid dynamics (CFD)-discrete element solver (DEM)-application programming interface (API) method, which can be used to carry out real-time visualization calculations of hydrate particles. Simultaneously, this paper reveals the mechanism of hydrate particle migration and deposition at the diameter reduction and direction variation, which provides a new idea for the design of the pipe. Furthermore, for the pipe with diameter reduction + direction variation, the entire process of deposition blockage is simulated, and dangerous locations of pipe clogging are identified. The simulation results found that there is a maximum hydrate deposition particle diameter (MHDPD) for hydrate deposition in the pipe. The results of this work may provide valuable references for accurate prediction of particle deposition in deepwater development.
AI-Based Automated Speech Therapy Tools for persons with Speech Sound Disorders: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Deka Chinmoy , Shrivastava Abhishek , Abraham Ajish K. , Nautiyal Saurabh , Chauhan Praveen
Published: April 2024

This paper presents a systematic literature review of published studies on AI-based automated speech therapy tools for persons with speech sound disorders (SSD). The COVID-19 pandemic has initiated the requirement for automated speech therapy tools for persons with SSD making speech therapy accessible and affordable. However, there are no guidelines for designing such automated tools and their required degree of automation compared to the conventional speech therapy given by Speech Language Pathologists (SLPs). In this systematic review, we followed the PRISMA framework to address four research questions: 1) what types of SSD do AI-based automated speech therapy tools address, 2) what is the level of autonomy achieved by such tools, 3) what are the different modes of intervention, and 4) how effective are such tools in comparison with the conventional mode of speech therapy. An extensive search was conducted on digital libraries to find research papers relevant to our study from 2007 to 2022. The results show that AI-based automated speech therapy tools for persons with SSD are increasingly gaining attention among researchers. Articulation disorders were the most frequently addressed SSD based on the reviewed papers. Further, our analysis shows that most researchers proposed fully automated tools without considering the role of other stakeholders. Our review indicates that mobile-based and gamified applications were the most frequent mode of intervention. The results further show that only a few studies compared the effectiveness of such tools compared to the conventional mode of speech therapy. Our paper presents the state-of-the-art in the field, contributes significant insights based on the research questions, and provides suggestions for future research directions.
Phototropin connects blue light perception to starch metabolism in green algae
Authors: Petroutsos Dimitris , Yuan Yizhong , Iannetta Anthony , Kim Minjae , Sadecki Patric , Arend Marius , Tsichla Angeliki , Ruiz-Sola M. Águila , Kepesidis Georgios , Falconet Denis , Thevenon Emmanuel , Tardif Marianne , Brugière Sabine , Coute Yohann , Kleman Jean-Philippe , Sizova Irina , Schilling Marion , Jouhet Juliette , Hegemann Peter , Li-Beisson Yonghua , Nikoloski Zoran , Bastien Olivier , Hicks Leslie
Published: April 2024

In photosynthetic organisms light acts as an environmental signal to control their development and physiology, and as energy source to drive the conversion of CO2 into carbohydrates used for growth or storage. The main storage carbohydrate in green algae is starch, which accumulates during the day and is broken down at night to meet cellular energy demands. The signalling role of light quality in the regulation of starch accumulation remains unexplored. Here, we report that in the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii blue light perceived by the photoreceptor PHOTOTROPIN causes dephosphorylation of the PHOTOTROPIN-MEDIATED SIGNALLING KINASE 1 that then suppresses starch accumulation by inhibiting the expression of GLYCERALDEHYDE-3-PHOSPHATE DEHYDROGENASE. Our results provide an in-depth view of how photoreceptor-mediated signalling controls microalgal carbon metabolism.
Vulnerability Assessment of Intelligent Weapon Systems Based on Combined Weighting Method and Cloud Model
Authors: Zhao Qingtian , Li Liwei , Zhang YU , Chen Xin , Hou Lizhi , Lei Zhen
Published: April 2024

With the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities into weapon systems, vulnerabilities arising from the inherent limitations of AI technologies have emerged as a critical issue that jeopardizes system reliability and stability. This study presents a quantitative model for assessing the vulnerabilities of intelligent weapon systems by combining the weighting technique with cloud models. Through a review of literature and expert elicitation, a hierarchical index system comprising 5 primary indices and 14 secondary indices is constructed to facilitate vulnerability appraisal. The subjective Analytic Hierarchy Process is combined with the objective entropy method to calculate indicator weights for reducing subjectivity. The cloud model ingeniously transforms the ambiguity and randomness associated with evaluating qualitative indices into quantifiable cloud characteristics, thereby enabling the effective management of uncertainties. A case study assessing the vulnerability of a specific unmanned aerial vehicle system invites 10 field experts to validate the feasibility of the proposed methodology. The calculation of the similarity between the derived comprehensive cloud and predefined benchmark clouds can accurately classify the vulnerability level. The research conclusions provide essential guidelines for enhancing algorithm transparency, improving data diversity, and strengthening redundancy designs to mitigate vulnerabilities. With the accelerating integration of AI capabilities into weapon systems, it will be an ongoing imperative to continually assess and address vulnerabilities stemming from the inherent limitations of AI.
CDN: Collaborate Decision Network Based on Cross-modal Attention for Social Media Microblog Recognition
Authors: Peng Yuxiang , Li Bingxiang , Fang Jie
Published: April 2024

Recently, social media has gradually become an important topic in public opinion analysis field. Among social media, Microblog is one of the most important platforms because it is short, convenient, mobile and instantaneous. Social media microblog recognition well reflects the attitudes from an enormous big colony to a specific incident, either positive or negative, which can be used for deriving competitive intelligence, marketing strategies, detecting depression and so on. However, the existing methods usually use only text or image from internet but not take advantages of their complementary information to finalize the recognition, it limits the performance and robustness of the algorithms. In this paper, we present a collaborate decision network (CDN) based on cross-modal attention to exploit the discriminative attributes of multi modalities by data- and knowledge joint driven strategy in depth, and further improve the recognition performance. In addition, we collect and construct a visual-text microblog recognition dataset with 2854 samples to support the subsequent research of related fields. Finally, experimental reuslts on the collected dataset show the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed CDN.
The Hfq-binding small RNA PqsS regulates Pseudomonas aeruginosa pqs quorum sensing system and virulence
Authors: Yang Liang , JIA Tianyuan , Bi Xianbiao , Li Menglu , Zhang Chenhui , Ren Anmin , Li Shangru , Zhou Tian , Zhang Yingdan , Liu Yang , Liu Xue , Deng Yinyue , Liu Bin , Li Guobao
Published: April 2024

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a widespread nosocomial pathogen with a significant capacity to cause both severe acute infections and biofilm-related chronic infections. Small RNAs (sRNAs) are noncoding regulatory molecules that are stabilized by the RNA chaperone Hfq, triggering various signaling pathways. Here, we identified an Hfq-binding sRNA in P. aeruginosa PAO1, named PqsS, which promoted bacterial pathogenicity and the pseudomonas quinolone signal quorum sensing (pqs QS) system. Specifically, PqsS enhanced bacterial acute infections by inducing host cell death and promoting rhamnolipid-regulated swarming motility. Meanwhile, PqsS reduced chronic infection traits including biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance, macrophage survival, and ROS production. Moreover, PqsS repressed the pqsL transcript, leading to the increased PQS levels for pqs QS system, while a PQS-rich condition promoted PqsS expression, thus forming a positive feedback loop. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the PqsS-Hfq complex interacts with and destabilizes the pqsL mRNA by recruiting RNase E to drive degradation. Finally, PqsS promotes membrane vesicles (MVs) production and is abundantly detected in MVs. Our work revealed a novel Hfq-binding sRNA PqsS signaling pathway, which enhances pqs QS and acute infections in P. aeruginosa. These findings provide insights for future research on P. aeruginosa pathogenesis and targeted treatment strategies.
Adapting the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised Neuroticism Scale for Use in Epidemiologic Studies: A Psychometric Evaluation Using Item Response Theory in the UK Biobank
Authors: Pflanz Chris Patrick , Gallacher John , Bauermeister Sarah
Published: April 2024

Neuroticism has been described as a personality trait measuring components of mood instability, e.g. worry, anxiety, irritability, and sadness. Increased neuroticism places an individual vulnerable to mood disorders and is therefore highly relevant in epidemiologic research. However, the measurement of neuroticism remains challenging. We aimed to optimize the 12-item Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised Neuroticism (EPQ-RN) scale for use in epidemiologic studies by identifying psychometrically efficient items using item-response theory (IRT). The 12-item EPQ-RN scale was evaluated by estimating an IRT model on data from 401,527 UK Biobank participants aged 39 to 73 years (M = 56.41 years; SD = 8.06), 53.68% female, 95.57% European. The IRT model yielded two item characteristics: item discrimination, an indicator of how well an item differentiates between respondents, and item difficulty, an indicator of the amount of the latent construct (neuroticism) needed to endorse an item. The EPQ-RN exhibited psychometric inefficiency with poor discrimination at extremes of the scale range. High and low scores are relatively poorly represented and uninformative suggesting that high neuroticism scores derived from the scale are a function of cumulative mid-range values. Following systematic item deletion, a 3-item scale was found to have high levels of discrimination, but offered a narrow range of difficulty i.e. was not sensitive to low levels of neuroticism. A 7-item scale was found to be most informative, providing high levels of discrimination across the range of neuroticism scores. In conclusion, the 12-item EPQ-RN scale could benefit from item deletions to reduce the participant’s burden in epidemiological settings.
Usefulness of an early sarcopenia screening in predicting short-term mortality in older patients discharged for acute heart failure .
Authors: Okoye Chukwuma , Morelli Virginia , Franchi Riccardo , Mazzarone Tessa , Guarino Daniela , Maccioni Lorenzo , Cargiolli Cristina , Calsolaro Valeria , Niccolai Filippo , Virdis Agostino
Published: April 2024

Purpose Sarcopenia is a potentially reversible syndrome is associated with an increased risk of cardiogenic cachexia and adverse outcomes in older patients with HF. Despite its significance, sarcopenia is often underdiagnosed due to the complexity of a thorough assessment in patients with acute heart failure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether early sarcopenia screening can predict the short-term prognostic risk in very old patients recently discharge for Acutely Decompensated Heart Failure (ADHF).Methods We consecutively enrolled patients aged 75 years or older hospitalized with acutely DHF in the Geriatrics Unit of a tertiary care hospital. All patients underwent physical examination, complete blood tests, point-of-care ultrasound, and a comprehensive geriatric assessment, including physical performance through SARC-F and Hand Grip Strength test (HGS). The thirty-day post-discharge mortality rate was assessed by phone interview.Results Out of 184 patients hospitalized with ADHF enrolled in the study (mean [SD], 86.8 [5.9] years, 60.3% female), 47 died within 30 days after discharge. By multivariate logistic analysis, HGS (β = -0.73 ± 0.03, p = 0.008) and SARC-F [adjusted OR = 1.18 (CI95% 1.03–1.33), p = 0.003] resulted independently associated with mortality. Furthermore, two SARC-F sub-items, namely, limitation in rising from a chair and history of falls [aOR: 3.26 (CI95% 1.27–8.34), p = 0.008; aOR: 3.30 (CI95% 1.28–8.49), p = 0.01; respectively] emerged as determinants of 30-days mortality.Conclusion An early sarcopenia assessment comprising SARC-F and HGS test independently predicts 30-day post-discharge mortality in oldest-old patients hospitalized for acute HF.
Low autumn activity of bats results in small potential of pest reduction
Authors: Blažek Ján , Konečný Adam , Bartonička Tomáš
Published: April 2024

In recent years, in combination with climate change and dry summers, geometrids have caused damage to economically important forest trees, particularly oak. We focused on their co-occurring predators, the forest-dwelling bats, and their potential to reduce the number of pest geometrids. To quantify the aggregation response of bats, we used acoustic monitoring of flight activity, availability of moth imagos, and genetic analysis of their faeces. Our results show that even in the presence of massive outbreaks of geometrids, bat foraging activity decreases as winter approaches. Furthermore, our results show that for those bats that were active, the overabundant geometrids were not their main prey. Drymonia ruficornis, Conistra vaccinii and Conistra erythrocephala (Noctuidae) were foraged as often or even more often than overabundant geometrids. Our results show that opportunistic behaviour of temperate bats is not evident at lower temperatures and that reasons other than abundance and accessibility of prey determine their prey preferences. Therefore, season and predator preferences may significantly affect the ecological services provided by bats.
Constructing a Prognostic Model for Colon Cancer: Insights from Immunity-related Genes
Authors: Li Ansu , Li Qi , Wang Chaoshan , Bao Xue , Sun Feng , Qian Xiaoping , Sun Wu
Published: April 2024

BackgroundColon cancer (CC) is a malignancy associated with significant morbidity and mortality within the gastrointestinal tract. Recurrence and metastasis are the main factors affecting the prognosis of CC patients undergoing radical surgery; consequently, we attempted to determine the impact of immunity-related genes.
Result We constructed a CC risk model based on ZG16, MPC1, RBM47, SMOX, CPM, and DNASE1L3. Consistently, we found that a significant association was found between the expression of most characteristic genes and TMB, MSI, and NEO. Additionally, a notable decrease in RBM47 expression was observed in CC tissues compared with that in normal tissues. Moreover, RBM47 expression was correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and improved DFS and OS among patients with CC. Lastly, immunohistochemistry and co-immunofluorescence staining revealed a clear positive correlation between RBM47 and CXCL13 in mature TLS region.
Conclusion We conclude that RBM47 was identified as a prognostic-related gene, which was of great significance to the prognosis evaluation of patients with CC and was correlated with CXCL13 in the TLS region.
The Effects of Disturbance on Woody Species Composition, Structure and Regeneration Status In Ura Natural Forest, Guangua district, Awi Zone, Ethiopia
Authors: Kassahun Achamyeleh Anteneh , Abate Dagim Fikir , Belete Dessie Assefa
Published: April 2024

Ethiopia had diverse forest resources. However, it is decreasing over time and leaving the country’s forest with only remnant patches. So, the current study was conducted to examine the species composition, structure, and regeneration status of woody plant species along the disturbance gradients. In order to collect data, the forest was first stratified into Low Disturbed (LD), Moderately Disturbed (MD, and Heavily Disturbed (HD) based on information from a reconnaissance site visit and consultation with key informants. The three transect lines were laid systematically, 200 m apart, and rectangular plots of 10 m by 20 m (200 m2) were laid at a 50 m distance interval along each transect, making up a total of 27 plots. The DBH and height of all woody individuals with ≥ 5 cm and ≥ 2 m were measured, respectively. Seedling and sapling data were recorded in four subplots of 2 m*5 m (10 m2) in the opposite corner of the main plot. Woody species density, richness, evenness, diversity, frequency, and IVI were determined for each disturbance class, and one-way ANOVA and mean comparison tests were used to examine significant differences among disturbance classes. A total of 37 woody species and 27 families were recorded. Based on structural analysis, only Croton macrostachyus has an inverted J shape. It is concluded that woody species was affected by human disturbance. So that a concentrated form of forest conservation should be given to protect from excessive human disturbance.
Renewable Energy MicroGrid Power Forecasting: AI Techniques with Environmental Perspective
Authors: Islam Amanul , Othman Fazidah
Published: April 2024

This research focuses on the accurate prediction of renewable energy generation in microgrid systems using artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. The study compares and evaluates different AI models, including Artificial Neural Networks (ANN), Fuzzy Logic, and Adaptive Neuro-Fuzzy Inference Systems (ANFIS), for forecasting solar and wind power output. The models are trained and tested using real-world data, and their performance is assessed using metrics such as Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), and Sum of Squared Errors (SSE). The results demonstrate that the ANN model achieves the lowest RMSE and MAPE values for wind power prediction, while the Fuzzy Logic model performs well in predicting solar power generation. These findings indicate the effectiveness of AI techniques in accurately forecasting renewable energy output in microgrid systems. The proposed approach has implications for optimizing the utilization and integration of renewable energy sources, leading to more efficient and sustainable microgrid operations. Future research directions may involve exploring advanced deep-learning models and incorporating additional environmental factors to further enhance the accuracy and reliability of renewable energy power forecasting in microgrids.