bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neural Indicators of Visual Andauditory Recognition of Imitative Words on Different De-Iconization Stages
Authors: Tkacheva Liubov , Flaksman Maria , Sedelkina Yulia , Lavitskaya Yulia , Nasledov Andrey , Korotaevskaya Elizaveta
Published: April 2023

The research aims to reveal neural indicators of recognition for iconic words and the possible cross-modal multisensory integration behind this process. The goals of this research are twofold: (1) to register event-related potentials (ERP) in the brain in the process of visual and auditory recognition of Russian imitative words on different de-iconization stages; and (2) to establish whether differences in the brain activity arise while processing visual and auditory stimuli of different nature. Sound imitative (onomatopoeic, mimetic, and ideophonic) words are words with iconic correlation between form and meaning (iconicity being a relationship of resemblance). Russian adult participants (n = 110) were presented with 15 stimuli both visually and auditorily. The stimuli material was equally distributed into three groups according to the criterion of (historical) iconicity loss: five explicit sound imitative (SI) words, five implicit SI words and five non-SI words. It was established that there was no statistically significant difference between visually presented explicit or implicit SI words and non-SI words respectively. However, statistically significant differences were registered for auditorily presented explicit SI words in contrast to implicit SI words in the N400 ERP component, as well as implicit SI words in contrast to non-SI words in the P300 ERP component. We thoroughly analyzed the integrative brain activity in response to explicit IS words and compared it to that in response to implicit SI and non-SI words presented auditorily. The data yielded by this analysis showed the N400 ERP component was more prominent during the recognition process of the explicit SI words received from the central channels (specifically Cz). We assume that these results indicate a specific brain response associated with directed attention in the process of performing cognitive decision making tasks regarding explicit and implicit SI words presented auditorily. This may reflect a higher level of cognitive complexity in identifying this type of stimuli considering the experimental task challenges that may involve cross-modal integration process.
Systematic Review and Future Direction of Neuro-Tourism Research
Authors: Al-Nafjan Abeer , Aldayel Mashael , Kharrat Amira
Published: April 2023

Neuro-tourism is the application of neuroscience in tourism to improve marketing methods of the tourism industry by analyzing the brain activities of tourists. Neuro-tourism provides accurate real-time data on tourists’ conscious and unconscious emotions. Neuro-tourism uses the methods of neuromarketing such as brain–computer interface (BCI), eye-tracking, galvanic skin response, etc., to create tourism goods and services to improve tourist experience and satisfaction. Due to the novelty of neuro-tourism and the dearth of studies on this subject, this study offered a comprehensive analysis of the peer-reviewed journal publications in neuro-tourism research for the previous 12 years to detect trends in this field and provide insights for academics. We reviewed 52 articles indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) core collection database and examined them using our suggested classification schema. The results reveal a large growth in the number of published articles on neuro-tourism, demonstrating a rise in the relevance of this field. Additionally, the findings indicated a lack of integrating artificial intelligence techniques in neuro-tourism studies. We believe that the advancements in technology and research collaboration will facilitate exponential growth in this field.
Evaluation of Vibration Detection Using Smartphones in a Two-Story Masonry-Infilled RC Frame Building
Authors: Kang Jae-Do , Baek Eun-Rim , Park Sung-Ho
Published: April 2023

For measuring the structural health of buildings, high-performance vibration detection devices are used in a structural health monitoring (SHM) system, which consists of a sensor and a data logger. Those devices are seismographs or devices with high-performance sensors which are expensive. Recently, smartphones are being used as seismographs to accumulate big data of earthquake wave detection because they have accelerometers of microelectromechanical systems. Since a smartphone has the functions of a detection sensor and a data logger, a low-cost SHM system can be developed by using a low-cost smartphone. In this paper, smartphones were used to confirm the possibility of the development of a low-cost SHM system. To evaluate the vibration detection performance from small displacement and large displacement, smartphones were installed in a specimen of a large shaking table test. The specimen is a scale model of a two-story non-reinforced masonry-filled reinforce concrete (RC) frame building. The natural period and interstory drift ratio were used as the evaluation criteria. The natural period estimated by the smartphone data agreed with that found by the piezoelectric accelerometer data. For estimating the building deformation, which is related to building stability, the measurement performance for large deformation using smartphones was evaluated. The smartphones have 90% or higher accuracies for the estimation of the maximum acceleration and displacement.
Cancer Immunotherapy: Where Next?
Authors: Bodmer Walter , Golubovskaya Vita
Published: April 2023

The fundamental problem of dealing with cancer is that cancer cells are so like normal cells that it is very hard to find differences that can be a basis for treatment without severe side effects. The key to successful cancer immunotherapy will be based on a very careful choice of cancer targets that are sufficiently cancer specific not to cause serious side effects. There are two fundamentally different ways to deploy the immune system for such cancer treatments. One is to increase the efficacy of the cancer patient’s own immune system so that it attacks these differences. This has been achieved by “checkpoint blocking” which is very successful but only with a relatively small proportion of cancers. Secondly, one can produce antibodies, or T cells, whose specificity is directed against proteins expressed differentially in cancers. CART cell treatments have proved very effective for some blood cancers but not so far for common solid tumours. Humanised, unmodified monoclonal antibodies have been used extensively for the treatment of certain adenocarcinomas with modest success. However, using antibodies together with the body’s own immune system to treat cancers by engineering monoclonal antibodies that are directed at both a target antigen on the cancer cell surface and also against T cells shows promise for the development of novel immunotherapies. Genes can be found which are expressed highly in some cancers but with a low or absent expression on normal tissues and so are good novel targets. It is so far, only immune-based killing that can kill bystander target negative cells, which is essential for successful treatment since hardly ever will all the cells in a cancer express any desired target. We conclude that, while there still may be many hurdles in the way, engineered bispecific T cell attracting monoclonal antibody-mediated killing of cancer cells may be the most promising approach for achieving novel effective cancer immunotherapies.
Incidental Findings in Pediatric Patients: How to Manage Liver Incidentaloma in Pediatric Patients
Authors: Cekuolis Andrius , Schreiber-Dietrich Dagmar , Augustinienė Rasa , Taut Heike , Squires Judy , Chaves Edda L. , Dong Yi , Dietrich Christoph F.
Published: April 2023

The World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) is addressing the issue of incidental findings (IFs) with a series of publications entitled “Incidental imaging findings—the role of ultrasound”. IFs in the liver of newborns and children are rare and much less commonly encountered than in adults; as a result, they are relatively much more frequently malignant and life-threatening, even when they are of benign histology. Conventional B-mode ultrasound is the well-established first line imaging modality for the assessment of liver pathology in pediatric patients. US technological advances, resulting in image quality improvement, contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS), liver elastography and quantification tools for steatosis have expanded the use of ultrasound technology in daily practice. The following overview is intended to illustrate incidentally detected liver pathology covering all pediatric ages. It aims to aid the examiner in establishing the final diagnosis. Management of incidentally detected focal liver lesions (FLL) needs to take into account the diagnostic accuracy of each imaging modality, the patient’s safety issues (including ionizing radiation and nephrotoxic contrast agents), the delay in diagnosis, the psychological burden on the patient and the cost for the healthcare system. Moreover, this paper should help the pediatric clinician and ultrasound practitioner to decide which pathologies need no further investigation, which ones require interval imaging and which cases require further and immediate diagnostic procedures.
Small and Large Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Pleural Mesothelioma Cell Lines Offer Biomarker Potential
Authors: Ahmadzada Tamkin , Vijayan Abhishek , Vafaee Fatemeh , Azimi Ali , Reid Glen , Clarke Stephen , Kao Steven , Grau Georges E. , Hosseini-Beheshti Elham
Published: April 2023

Pleural mesothelioma, previously known as malignant pleural mesothelioma, is an aggressive and fatal cancer of the pleura, with one of the poorest survival rates. Pleural mesothelioma is in urgent clinical need for biomarkers to aid early diagnosis, improve prognostication, and stratify patients for treatment. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have great potential as biomarkers; however, there are limited studies to date on their role in pleural mesothelioma. We conducted a comprehensive proteomic analysis on different EV populations derived from five pleural mesothelioma cell lines and an immortalized control cell line. We characterized three subtypes of EVs (10 K, 18 K, and 100 K), and identified a total of 4054 unique proteins. Major differences were found in the cargo between the three EV subtypes. We show that 10 K EVs were enriched in mitochondrial components and metabolic processes, while 18 K and 100 K EVs were enriched in endoplasmic reticulum stress. We found 46 new cancer-associated proteins for pleural mesothelioma, and the presence of mesothelin and PD-L1/PD-L2 enriched in 100 K and 10 K EV, respectively. We demonstrate that different EV populations derived from pleural mesothelioma cells have unique cancer-specific proteomes and carry oncogenic cargo, which could offer a novel means to extract biomarkers of interest for pleural mesothelioma from liquid biopsies.
Need for a Dedicated Ophthalmic Malignancy Clinico-Biological Biobank: The Nice Ocular MAlignancy (NOMA) Biobank
Authors: Martel Arnaud , Gastaud Lauris , Bonnetaud Christelle , Nahon-Esteve Sacha , Washetine Kevin , Bordone Olivier , Salah Myriam , Tanga Virginie , Fayada Julien , Lespinet Virginie , Allegra Maryline , Lalvee Salome , Zahaf Katia , Baillif Stephanie , Bertolotto Corine , Mograbi Baharia , Lassalle Sandra , Hofman Paul
Published: April 2023

Ophthalmic malignancies include various rare neoplasms involving the conjunctiva, the uvea, or the periocular area. These tumors are characterized by their scarcity as well as their histological, and sometimes genetic, diversity. Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy. UM raises three main challenges highlighting the specificity of ophthalmic malignancies. First, UM is a very rare malignancy with an estimated incidence of 6 cases per million inhabitants. Second, tissue biopsy is not routinely recommended due to the risk of extraocular dissemination. Third, UM is an aggressive cancer because it is estimated that about 50% of patients will experience metastatic spread without any curative treatment available at this stage. These challenges better explain the two main objectives in the creation of a dedicated UM biobank. First, collecting UM samples is essential due to tissue scarcity. Second, large-scale translational research programs based on stored human samples will help to better determine UM pathogenesis with the aim of identifying new biomarkers, allowing for early diagnosis and new targeted treatment modalities. Other periocular malignancies, such as conjunctival melanomas or orbital malignancies, also raise specific concerns. In this context, the number of biobanks worldwide dedicated to ocular malignancies is very limited. The aims of this article were (i) to describe the specific challenges raised by a dedicated ocular malignancy biobank, (ii) to report our experience in setting up such a biobank, and (iii) to discuss future perspectives in this field.
Isoselective Ring-Opening Polymerization of rac-Lactide Catalyzed by Simple Potassium Amidate Complexes Containing Polycyclic Aryl Group
Authors: Gao Jiahao , Zhang Wenjuan , Wang Xing , Wang Rui , Han Mingyang , Cao Furong , Hao Xiang
Published: April 2023

The isoselective ring-opening polymerization of rac-LA is a challenging goal. In this work, a series of potassium amidate complexes (K1–K10) were easily prepared and characterized using the 1H/13C NMR spectrum. The molecular structures of potassium complexes K2 and K10 were determined by X-ray diffraction, which showed that both were two-dimensional coordination polymers due to the adjacent π interactions of the aryl. In the presence of benzyl alcohol (BnOH), all of the potassium complexes exhibited a high catalytic activity toward the ring-opening polymerization of L-lactide and rac-LA, yielding linear polylactides capped with BnO or CH3O end groups. A significant solvent effect on the ROP of the L-LA was observed, with a superior efficiency in toluene than in THF and CH2Cl2. These complexes are iso-selective and act as active catalysts for the controlled ring-opening polymerization of rac-lactide, with a Pm from 0.54 to 0.76. This is a rare example of simple alkali metal complexes for the isoselective ROP of rac-lactide. The substituent greatly affected the monomer conversion and isoselectivities.
Aberrant APOBEC3B Expression in Breast Cancer Is Linked to Proliferation and Cell Cycle Phase
Authors: Roelofs Pieter A. , Timmermans Mieke A. M. , Stefanovska Bojana , den Boestert Myrthe A. , van den Borne Amber W. M. , Balcioglu Hayri E. , Trapman Anita M. , Harris Reuben S. , Martens John W. M. , Span Paul N.
Published: April 2023

APOBEC3B (A3B) is aberrantly overexpressed in a subset of breast cancers, where it associates with advanced disease, poor prognosis, and treatment resistance, yet the causes of A3B dysregulation in breast cancer remain unclear. Here, A3B mRNA and protein expression levels were quantified in different cell lines and breast tumors and related to cell cycle markers using RT-qPCR and multiplex immunofluorescence imaging. The inducibility of A3B expression during the cell cycle was additionally addressed after cell cycle synchronization with multiple methods. First, we found that A3B protein levels within cell lines and tumors are heterogeneous and associate strongly with the proliferation marker Cyclin B1 characteristic of the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Second, in multiple breast cancer cell lines with high A3B, expression levels were observed to oscillate throughout the cell cycle and again associate with Cyclin B1. Third, induction of A3B expression is potently repressed throughout G0/early G1, likely by RB/E2F pathway effector proteins. Fourth, in cells with low A3B, induction of A3B through the PKC/ncNF-κB pathway occurs predominantly in actively proliferating cells and is largely absent in cells arrested in G0. Altogether, these results support a model in which dysregulated A3B overexpression in breast cancer is the cumulative result of proliferation-associated relief from repression with concomitant pathway activation during the G2/M phase of the cell cycle.
Liver X Receptor Activation Attenuates Oxysterol-Induced Inflammatory Responses in Fetoplacental Endothelial Cells
Authors: George Meekha , Lang Magdalena , Gali Chaitanya Chakravarthi , Babalola Joshua Adekunle , Tam-Amersdorfer Carmen , Stracke Anika , Strobl Herbert , Zimmermann Robert , Panzenboeck Ute , Wadsack Christian
Published: April 2023

Oxysterols are oxidized cholesterol derivatives whose systemic levels are found elevated in pregnancy disorders such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). Oxysterols act through various cellular receptors and serve as a key metabolic signal, coordinating inflammation. GDM is a condition of low-grade chronic inflammation accompanied by altered inflammatory profiles in the mother, placenta and fetus. Higher levels of two oxysterols, namely 7-ketocholesterol (7-ketoC) and 7β-hydroxycholesterol (7β-OHC), were observed in fetoplacental endothelial cells (fpEC) and cord blood of GDM offspring. In this study, we tested the effects of 7-ketoC and 7β-OHC on inflammation and investigated the underlying mechanisms involved. Primary fpEC in culture treated with 7-ketoC or 7β-OHC, induced the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) signaling, which resulted in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-8) and intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). Liver-X receptor (LXR) activation is known to repress inflammation. Treatment with LXR synthetic agonist T0901317 dampened oxysterol-induced inflammatory responses. Probucol, an inhibitor of LXR target gene ATP-binding cassette transporter A-1 (ABCA-1), antagonized the protective effects of T0901317, suggesting a potential involvement of ABCA-1 in LXR-mediated repression of inflammatory signaling in fpEC. TLR-4 inhibitor Tak-242 attenuated pro-inflammatory signaling induced by oxysterols downstream of the TLR-4 inflammatory signaling cascade. Taken together, our findings suggest that 7-ketoC and 7β-OHC contribute to placental inflammation through the activation of TLR-4. Pharmacologic activation of LXR in fpEC decelerates its shift to a pro-inflammatory phenotype in the presence of oxysterols.
Mast Cells as a Target—A Comprehensive Review of Recent Therapeutic Approaches
Authors: Baran Joanna , Sobiepanek Anna , Mazurkiewicz-Pisarek Anna , Rogalska Marta , Gryciuk Aleksander , Kuryk Lukasz , Abraham Soman N. , Staniszewska Monika
Published: April 2023

Mast cells (MCs) are the immune cells distributed throughout nearly all tissues, mainly in the skin, near blood vessels and lymph vessels, nerves, lungs, and the intestines. Although MCs are essential to the healthy immune response, their overactivity and pathological states can lead to numerous health hazards. The side effect of mast cell activity is usually caused by degranulation. It can be triggered by immunological factors, such as immunoglobulins, lymphocytes, or antigen–antibody complexes, and non-immune factors, such as radiation and pathogens. An intensive reaction of mast cells can even lead to anaphylaxis, one of the most life-threatening allergic reactions. What is more, mast cells play a role in the tumor microenvironment by modulating various events of tumor biology, such as cell proliferation and survival, angiogenesis, invasiveness, and metastasis. The mechanisms of the mast cell actions are still poorly understood, making it difficult to develop therapies for their pathological condition. This review focuses on the possible therapies targeting mast cell degranulation, anaphylaxis, and MC-derived tumors.
Phosphine Functionalized CpC Ligands and Their Metal Complexes
Authors: Nährig Florian , Sun Yu , Thiel Werner R.
Published: April 2023

Simple nucleophilic aliphatic substitution gives access to mono- and diphosphine ligands with a CpC group in the backbone. The monophosphine ligand coordinates to gold(I) via the phosphine site, to thallium(I) via the cyclopentadienyl site and to ruthenium(II) via a combination of both, resulting in an ansa-type structure. Coordination with the cyclopentadiene site is not possible for the diphosphine ligand. In this case, monodentate coordination to gold(I) and bidentate coordination to the [PdCl(μ2-Cl)]2, the [Rh(CO)(μ2-Cl)]2, and the Rh(CO)Cl fragment is observed, showing the variability in coordination modes possible for the long-chain diphosphine ligand. Ligands and complexes were characterized by means of NMR and IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis and X-ray structure analysis.
Precise Integration of Polymeric Sensing Functional Materials within 3D Printed Microfluidic Devices
Authors: Etxebarria-Elezgarai Jaione , Garcia-Hernando Maite , Basabe-Desmonts Lourdes , Benito-Lopez Fernando
Published: April 2023

This work presents a new architecture concept for microfluidic devices, which combines the conventional 3D printing fabrication process with the stable and precise integration of polymeric functional materials in small footprints within the microchannels in well-defined locations. The approach solves the assembly errors that normally occur during the integration of functional and/or sensing materials in hybrid microfluidic devices. The method was demonstrated by embedding four pH-sensitive ionogel microstructures along the main microfluidic channel of a complex 3D printed microfluidic device. The results showed that this microfluidic architecture, comprising the internal integration of sensing microstructures of diverse chemical compositions, highly enhanced the adhesion force between the microstructures and the 3D printed microfluidic device that contains them. In addition, the performance of this novel 3D printed pH sensor device was investigated using image analysis of the pH colour variations obtained from photos taken with a conventional camera. The device presented accurate and repetitive pH responses in the 2 to 12 pH range without showing any type of device deterioration or lack of performance over time.
Galectin-3 Mediates Tumor Progression in Astrocytoma by Regulating Glycogen Synthase Kinase-3β Activity
Authors: Tsai Hung-Pei , Lin Chien-Ju , Lieu Ann-Shung , Chen Yi-Ting , Tseng Tzu-Ting , Kwan Aij-Lie , Loh Joon-Khim
Published: April 2023

Numerous studies have considered galectin-3 or Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3B) as a potential prognosis marker for various cancers. However, the correlation between the protein expression of galectin-3/GSK3B and the clinical parameters of astrocytoma has not been reported. This study aims to validate the correlation between the clinical outcomes and protein expression of galectin-3/GSK3B in astrocytoma. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed to detect galectin-3/GSK3B protein expression in patients with astrocytoma. The Chi-square test, Kaplan−Meier evaluation, and Cox regression analysis were used to determine the correlation between clinical parameters and galectin-3/GSK3B expression. Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were compared between a non-siRNA group and a galectin-3/GSK3B siRNA group. Protein expression in galectin-3 or GSK3B siRNA-treated cells was evaluated using western blotting. Galectin-3 and GSK3B protein expression were significantly positively correlated with the World Health Organization (WHO) astrocytoma grade and overall survival time. Multivariate analysis revealed that WHO grade, galectin-3 expression, and GSK3B expression were independent prognostic factors for astrocytoma. Galectin-3 or GSK3B downregulation induced apoptosis and decreased cell numbers, migration, and invasion. siRNA-mediated gene silencing of galectin-3 resulted in the downregulation of Ki-67, cyclin D1, VEGF, GSK3B, p-GSK3B Ser9 (p-GSK3B S9), and β-catenin. In contrast, GSK3B knockdown only decreased Ki-67, VEGF, p-GSK3B S9, and β-catenin protein expression but did not affect cyclin D1 and galectin-3 protein expression. The siRNA results indicated that GSK3B is downstream of the galectin-3 gene. These data support that galectin-3 mediated tumor progression by upregulating GSK3B and β-catenin protein expression in glioblastoma. Therefore, galectin-3 and GSK3B are potential prognostic markers, and their genes may be considered to be anticancer targets for astrocytoma therapy.
Spectral Imaging of UV-Blocking Carbon Dot-Based Coatings for Food Packaging Applications
Authors: Ardini Benedetto , Manzoni Cristian , Squeo Benedetta , Villafiorita-Monteleone Francesca , Grassi Paolo , Pasini Mariacecilia , Bollani Monica , Virgili Tersilla
Published: April 2023

Nowadays, there is an increased demand to develop alternative non-plastic packaging to be used in the food industry. The most popular biodegradable films are cellulose and poly(lactic acid) (PLA); however, there is still the need to increase their UV absorption to protect the packaging content. In this work, we have covered those biodegradable films with thin coatings based on carbon dots (CDs) dispersed in polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) deposited by spin- or spray-coating techniques. We report a strong increase in the UV light-absorbing properties, together with a detailed morphological characterization; moreover, we show the results of a new microscopy and spectral imaging technique applied to the coated samples. The scientific and technological novelty of this approach is the possibility of characterizing large areas of the material surface by the simultaneous detection of PL spectra in all the pixels of a highly spatially-resolved two-dimensional (2D) map of the surface. We report UV-excited PL maps whose detailed information allows us to clearly identify regions with different spectral behaviors and to compare their characteristic signals for different CDs:PVA deposition techniques.
Advances in Friction-Induced Vibration in Applied Engineering
Authors: Li Zilin , He Shangwen
Published: April 2023

Friction plays a crucial role in various engineering fields, including advanced manufacturing, transportation, aerospace, and bioengineering [...]
Molecular Variability of Crop Pathogens
Authors: Santos Carla S. , Nunes da Silva Marta
Published: April 2023

Crops account for over 80% of the human diet; however, plant diseases and pests are responsible for up to 40% of the loss in food production worldwide, costing approximately EUR 200 billion [...]
Detection of a Diverse Endophyte Assemblage within Fungal Communities Associated with the Arundo Leaf Miner, Lasioptera donacis (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)
Authors: Bon Marie-Claude , Goolsby John A. , Mercadier Guy , Guermache Fatiha , Kashefi Javid , Cristofaro Massimo , Vacek Ann T. , Kirk Alan
Published: April 2023

The larvae of Lasioptera donacis Coutin feed on fungal communities lining galleries within the mesophyll of leaf sheaths of Arundo donax in an aggregative manner. It has been stated that L. donacis could have established a fundamental symbiotic relationship with one fungus, although the fungal composition of these communities remains unsettled. Using a culture-dependent approach and ITS sequencing, the present work characterizes and compares the fungal communities associated with L. donacis in Eurasia with the endophytes of A. donax in Texas where L. donacis is absent. The 65 cultivable isolates obtained from L. donacis fungal communities were sorted into 15 MOTUs, among which Fusarium and Sarocladium predominated. No particular MOTU was systematically recovered from these communities regardless of the sites. The 19 isolates obtained in Texas were sorted into 11 MOTUs. Sarocladium and Fusarium were commonly found in Texas and Eurasia. Our finding indicate that the communities were composed of a diverse assemblage of non-systemic endophytes, rather than an exclusive fungal symbiont. From ovipositors and ovarioles of L. donacis emerging from plants in France, we opportunistically isolated the endophyte Apiospora arundinis, which lies at the origin of further research pertaining to its role in the feeding and oviposition of L. donacis.
Free-Living and Particle-Associated Microbial Communities of Lake Baikal Differ by Season and Nutrient Intake
Authors: Bashenkhaeva Maria , Yeletskaya Yelena , Tomberg Irina , Marchenkov Artyom , Titova Lubov , Galachyants Yuri
Published: April 2023

In an aquatic ecosystem, the supply of nutrients is essential for the biogeochemical cycle, and it affects the taxonomic composition of the microbial communities. Here, by using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) of the 16S and 18S rRNA gene fragments, we compared free-living (FL) and particle-associated (PA) bacterial communities and microeukaryotic communities in the areas with different nutrient intakes in freshwater Lake Baikal during the ice-covered and summer periods. Samples were taken at the inflow of the Selenga River, which is the main tributary of the lake, and at several established coastal research stations. The metabolic potential of the bacterial communities was predicted using PICRUSt. Differences were found in both FL and PA communities of the river mouth compared to the photic zone of the lake. The composition of FL communities was significantly different between the sampling sites in the ice-covered period, which is most likely influenced by different hydrochemical conditions. In contrast, the PA communities were more similar during the ice-covered period, but they changed considerably from spring to summer and their diversity increased. The diversity of the microeukaryotic communities also increased in summer, which may have contributed to the increase in bacterial diversity. In co-occurrence networks analysis, the number of interconnected bacterial OTUs in FL exceeded those for PA. The FL communities were dominated by Actinobacteriota, while the major PA OTUs belonged to a mixed cluster, which were mainly assigned to the phyla Bacteroidota and Verrucomicrobiota. As a result, PA communities were enriched in pathways responsible for the metabolism of sulfur, fucose, cellulose and urea. Our results confirm the difference between the FL and PA bacterial communities in Lake Baikal. These results also highlight the complex pattern of interactions between bacteria and microeukaryotes in a natural freshwater ecosystem across spatial and temporal scales.
Updated Taxonomic Key of European Nycteribiidae (Diptera), with a Host-Parasite Network
Authors: Mlynárová Laura , Korytár Ľuboš , Manko Peter , Ondrejková Anna , Prokeš Marián , Smoľák Radoslav , Oboňa Jozef
Published: April 2023

Current taxonomical keys are essential for better biodiversity knowledge. Moreover, accurate identification of groups of organisms known to act as disease vectors is vital in today’s world of change and the spread of zoonotic disease threats. This is especially relevant to bats and their parasites, given the events of recent years. The available keys of European Nycteribiidae (Diptera) are outdated and do not cover all the species currently known from Europe. Therefore, a summary key of 16 European species is provided in this paper. Based on published data from Europe, a total of 173 host–parasite interactions were observed between 16 European bat fly species and 31 host species (bats). The highest number of associations with different host species and the lowest specialization was observed in Penicillidia (P.) dufourii dufourii, followed by Nycteribia (N.) kolenatii, N. (N.) schmidlii and Phthiridium biarticulatum; most of the other species also had low specialization. Most species are oligoxenous, parasitizing on several families, and three species are stenoxenosus. Only one nycteribiid species, Basilia daganiae, was linked with only one host (Pipistrellus kuhlii). Myotis myotis has 12 associations with different bat fly species, followed by Plecotus auritus and Myotis daubentonii with 12 associations. A relatively high number of bat species were associated with only one bat fly species. In addition, we performed a bipartite analysis complemented by network indices and host specificity at the species and whole network levels, yielding new information in terms of ecology and the host–parasite relationships related to these groups of potential vectors (Nycteribiidae) and sources of zoonoses (bats). The parasite–host network composed of 16 nycteribiid species and 31 bat host species was characterized by a low network level specialization, low modularity, and low nestedness. Our findings also suggest a high probability of associated Nycteribiidae in bat taxa with a similar roosting ecology and phylogenetic relationship.
Listeria monocytogenes: An Inconvenient Hurdle for the Dairy Industry
Authors: Ribeiro Alessandra Casagrande , Almeida Felipe Alves de , Medeiros Mariana Medina , Miranda Bruna Ribeiro , Pinto Uelinton Manoel , Alves Virgínia Farias
Published: April 2023

Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic pathogen that affects specific groups of individuals, with a high mortality rate. The control of L. monocytogenes in dairy industries presents particular challenges, as this bacterium is capable of adhering and forming biofilms, as well as thriving at refrigerated temperatures, which enables it to persist in harsh environments. The consumption of dairy products has been linked to sporadic cases and outbreaks of listeriosis, and L. monocytogenes is frequently detected in these products in retail stores. Moreover, the bacterium has been shown to persist in dairy-processing environments. In this work, we review the main characteristics of L. monocytogenes and listeriosis, and highlight the factors that support its persistence in processing environments and dairy products. We also discuss the main dairy products involved in outbreaks of listeriosis since the early 1980s, and present control measures that can help to prevent the occurrence of this pathogen in foods and food-processing environments.
The Evaluation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (VEGFA) and VEGFR2 Receptor as Prognostic Biomarkers in Bladder Cancer
Authors: El Azzouzi Meryem , El Ahanidi Hajar , Hafidi Alaoui Chaimae , Chaoui Imane , Benbacer Laila , Tetou Mohammed , Hassan Ilias , Bensaid Mounia , Oukabli Mohamed , Ameur Ahmed , Al Bouzidi Abderrahmane , Attaleb Mohammed , El Mzibri Mohammed
Published: April 2023

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptors (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2) are the most important tissue factors involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the promoter mutational status of VEGFA and the expression levels of VEGFA, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2 in bladder cancer (BC) tissues and to correlate the results with the clinical–pathological parameters of BC patients. A total of 70 BC patients were recruited at the Urology Department of the Mohammed V Military Training Hospital in Rabat, Morocco. Sanger sequencing was performed to investigate the mutational status of VEGFA, and RT-QPCR was used to evaluate the expression levels of VEGFA, VEGFR1, and VEGFR2. Sequencing of the VEGFA gene promoter revealed the presence of −460T/C, −2578C/A, and −2549I/D polymorphisms, and statistical analyses showed a significant correlation between −460T/C SNP and smoking (p = 0.02). VEGFA and VEGFR2 expressions were significantly up-regulated in patients with NMIBC (p = 0.003) and MIBC (p = 0.03), respectively. Kaplan–Meier analyses showed that patients with high VEGFA expression had significantly longer disease-free survival (p = 0.014) and overall survival (p = 0.009). This study was very informative, showing the implication of VEGF alterations in BC, suggesting that VEGFA and VEGFR2 expressions could be promising biomarkers for the better management of BC.
Empirical Analysis of Inclusive Growth, Information and Communication Technology Adoption, and Institutional Quality
Authors: Adeleye Bosede Ngozi , Arogundade Sodiq , Mduduzi Biyase
Published: April 2023

Using a sample of 193 countries from 2010 to 2019, this study investigates the impact of institutional quality index (IQI) and information and communication technology (ICT) on inclusive growth. The study engaged the panel spatial correlation consistent (PSCC-FE), instrumental variable-generalized method of moments (IV-GMM), and simultaneous quantile regressions (SQREG) models to assess if the impact differs by economic development (high-, low-, lower-middle- and upper-middle-income countries). The following findings emerge. The effect of IQI is positive across all models from the full sample, while that of ICT is heterogeneous, with mobile phones having a significant positive impact. The interaction effect is observed to be sensitive to the choice of ICT indicator. From the sub-samples, both IQI, ICT and their interaction show significant heterogeneous effect with consistent positive (negative interaction) outcomes in high-income countries. Thus, our findings strongly suggest that policymakers should prioritize institutional quality and ICT to ensure that economic growth translates into better living conditions for people in other income groups.
What Is the Impact of ChatGPT on Education? A Rapid Review of the Literature
Authors: Lo Chung Kwan
Published: April 2023

An artificial intelligence-based chatbot, ChatGPT, was launched in November 2022 and is capable of generating cohesive and informative human-like responses to user input. This rapid review of the literature aims to enrich our understanding of ChatGPT’s capabilities across subject domains, how it can be used in education, and potential issues raised by researchers during the first three months of its release (i.e., December 2022 to February 2023). A search of the relevant databases and Google Scholar yielded 50 articles for content analysis (i.e., open coding, axial coding, and selective coding). The findings of this review suggest that ChatGPT’s performance varied across subject domains, ranging from outstanding (e.g., economics) and satisfactory (e.g., programming) to unsatisfactory (e.g., mathematics). Although ChatGPT has the potential to serve as an assistant for instructors (e.g., to generate course materials and provide suggestions) and a virtual tutor for students (e.g., to answer questions and facilitate collaboration), there were challenges associated with its use (e.g., generating incorrect or fake information and bypassing plagiarism detectors). Immediate action should be taken to update the assessment methods and institutional policies in schools and universities. Instructor training and student education are also essential to respond to the impact of ChatGPT on the educational environment.
Social and Emotional Learning during Pandemic-Related Remote and Hybrid Instruction: Teacher Strategies in Response to Trauma
Authors: Levine Rebecca S. , Lim Rebecca J. , Bintliff Amy Vatne
Published: April 2023

Schools play an important role in fostering student intrapersonal and interpersonal skills and development, also known as social and emotional learning (SEL). This study examined how K–12 teachers used student SEL strategies in remote and hybrid classroom environments during the COVID-19 pandemic, a time of heightened distress and trauma. Survey data were collected from 26 teachers in Southern California and follow-up semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 teachers. Responses were analyzed from an integrated SEL- and trauma-informed perspective. Themes that emerged included focusing on relationships; building routines and predictability; creating space to identify and share feelings; incorporating movement, mindfulness, and play; implementing culturally affirming practices; providing student choice and leadership; and engaging and collaborating with families. Various challenges associated with implementing SEL during COVID-19 are discussed, including teacher burnout, being unsure who was listening in on class conversations, and feeling disconnected in an online environment. Recommendations for practice and further research are provided.
Leveraging Software-Defined Networking for a QoS-Aware Mobility Architecture for Named Data Networking
Authors: Adnan Muhammad , Ali Jehad , Ayadi Manel , Elmannai Hela , Almuqren Latifa , Amin Rashid
Published: April 2023

The internet’s future architecture, known as Named Data Networking (NDN), is a creative way to offer content-based services. NDN is more appropriate for content distribution because of its special characteristics, such as naming conventions for packets and methods for in-network caching. Mobility is one of the main study areas for this innovative internet architecture. The software-defined networking (SDN) method, which is employed to provide mobility management in NDN, is one of the feasible strategies. Decoupling the network control plane from the data plane creates an improved programmable platform and makes it possible for outside applications to specify how a network behaves. The SDN is a straightforward and scalable network due to its key characteristics, including programmability, flexibility, and decentralized control. To address the problem of consumer mobility, we proposed an efficient SDPCACM (software-defined proactive caching architecture for consumer mobility) in NDN that extends the SDN model to allow mobility control for the NDN architecture (NDNA), through which the MC (mobile consumer) receives the data proactively after handover while the MC is moving. When an MC is watching a real-time video in a state of mobility and changing their position from one attachment point to another, the controllers in the SDN preserve the network layout and topology as well as link metrics to transfer updated routes with the occurrence of the handoff or handover scenario, and through the proactive caching mechanism, the previous access router proactively sends the desired packets to the new connected routers. Furthermore, the intra-domain and inter-domain handover processing situations in the SDPCACM for NDNA are described here in detail. Moreover, we conduct a simulation of the proposed SDPCACM for NDN that offers an illustrative methodology and parameter configuration for virtual machines (VMs), OpenFlow switches, and an ODL controller. The simulation result demonstrates that the proposed scheme has significant improvements in terms of CPU usage, reduced delay time, jitter, throughput, and packet loss ratio.
A Convolutional Neural Network-Based Feature Extraction and Weighted Twin Support Vector Machine Algorithm for Context-Aware Human Activity Recognition
Authors: Chui Kwok Tai , Gupta Brij B. , Torres-Ruiz Miguel , Arya Varsha , Alhalabi Wadee , Zamzami Ikhlas Fuad
Published: April 2023

Human activity recognition (HAR) is crucial to infer the activities of human beings, and to provide support in various aspects such as monitoring, alerting, and security. Distinct activities may possess similar movements that need to be further distinguished using contextual information. In this paper, we extract features for context-aware HAR using a convolutional neural network (CNN). Instead of a traditional CNN, a combined 3D-CNN, 2D-CNN, and 1D-CNN was designed to enhance the effectiveness of the feature extraction. Regarding the classification model, a weighted twin support vector machine (WTSVM) was used, which had advantages in reducing the computational cost in a high-dimensional environment compared to a traditional support vector machine. A performance evaluation showed that the proposed algorithm achieves an average training accuracy of 98.3% using 5-fold cross-validation. Ablation studies analyzed the contributions of the individual components of the 3D-CNN, the 2D-CNN, the 1D-CNN, the weighted samples of the SVM, and the twin strategy of solving two hyperplanes. The corresponding improvements in the average training accuracy of these five components were 6.27%, 4.13%, 2.40%, 2.29%, and 3.26%, respectively.
ResE: A Fast and Efficient Neural Network-Based Method for Link Prediction
Authors: Li Xuexiang , Yang Hansheng , Yang Cong
Published: April 2023

In this study, we present a novel embedding model, named ResE, for predicting links in knowledge graphs. ResE employs depth-separable convolution and residual blocks, integrated with channel attention mechanisms. ResE surpasses previously published models, including the closely related TransE model, by achieving the satisfactory mean rank (MR) and the excellent Hits@10 scores on both WN18RR and FB15K-237 benchmarks. ResE is a promising model for knowledge graph completion tasks, with potential for further investigation and extension to new applications such as user-oriented relationship modeling. Although comparatively shallow compared to computer vision convolutional architectures, future work may explore deeper convolutional models. ResE exhibits remarkable performance and outperforms existing approaches, thus setting a new benchmark for knowledge graph completion. The outcomes of our study illustrate the effectiveness of incorporating depth-separable convolution and residual blocks, accompanied by channel attention mechanisms, in modeling knowledge graphs. These findings highlight ResE’s potential to push the boundaries of cutting-edge in this domain.
Artificial Intelligence-Based Cyber Security in the Context of Industry 4.0—A Survey
Authors: de Azambuja Antonio João Gonçalves , Plesker Christian , Schützer Klaus , Anderl Reiner , Schleich Benjamin , Almeida Vilson Rosa
Published: April 2023

The increase in cyber-attacks impacts the performance of organizations in the industrial sector, exploiting the vulnerabilities of networked machines. The increasing digitization and technologies present in the context of Industry 4.0 have led to a rise in investments in innovation and automation. However, there are risks associated with this digital transformation, particularly regarding cyber security. Targeted cyber-attacks are constantly changing and improving their attack strategies, with a focus on applying artificial intelligence in the execution process. Artificial Intelligence-based cyber-attacks can be used in conjunction with conventional technologies, generating exponential damage in organizations in Industry 4.0. The increasing reliance on networked information technology has increased the cyber-attack surface. In this sense, studies aiming at understanding the actions of cyber criminals, to develop knowledge for cyber security measures, are essential. This paper presents a systematic literature research to identify publications of artificial intelligence-based cyber-attacks and to analyze them for deriving cyber security measures. The goal of this study is to make use of literature analysis to explore the impact of this new threat, aiming to provide the research community with insights to develop defenses against potential future threats. The results can be used to guide the analysis of cyber-attacks supported by artificial intelligence.
Digital Twin Technology: New Frontiers for Personalized Healthcare
Authors: Landini Luigi , Positano Vincenzo , Santarelli Maria Filomena , Celi Simona
Published: April 2023

Rapidly evolving health digital technologies are changing modern healthcare in unprecedented ways [...]
Regulatory Challenges in the Electromobility Sector: An Analysis of Electric Buses in Brazil
Authors: Kraemer Rodrigo Antonio Sbardeloto , Lodetti Paula Zenni , Silva Alisson Carlos da , Cardoso Beatriz Batista , Vicente Ivangelo , Martins Marcos Aurelio Izumida , Simões Adriano de Paula , Spader Newmar
Published: April 2023

In recent years, fleet electrification has become a viable alternative for reducing carbon emissions through laws and government incentives around the world. Not only that, such incentives have favored the development of new technologies for the sector that have resulted in the reduction of the manufacturing cost of electric vehicles, which in turn, enabled new business models favoring the evolution of the electromobility sector. However, Brazil has also shown itself to be a market on the rise. However, electromobility in Brazil is still at an early stage of development when compared to other countries. In this sense, this paper sought to present the current state of the Brazilian sector through existing laws, regulations and incentives. In addition, it discusses and proposes alternatives for the development and maturation of the sector. Finally, technical aspects related to the standardization of communication protocols and charger installations are also presented.