bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Primary Resonance in a Weakly Forced Oscillator With Both Parametric Damping and Stiffness
Authors: Ardister Jamal , Afzali Fatemeh , Feeny Brian F.
Published: March 2024

We study the primary resonance of a parametrically damped Mathieu equation with direct excitation. Potential applications include wind-turbine blade vibration with cyclic stiffening and aeroelastic effects, which may induce parametric damping, and devices with designed cyclic damping for resonance manipulation. The parametric stiffness, parametric damping, and the direct forcing all have the same excitation frequency, with phase parameters between these excitation sources. The parametric amplification at primary resonance is examined by applying the second-order method of multiple scales. With parametric stiffness and direct excitation, it is known that there is a primary parametric resonance that is an amplifier under most excitation phases, but can be a slight suppressor in a small range of phases. The parametric damping is shown to interact with the parametric stiffness to further amplify, or suppress, the resonance amplitude relative to the resonance under parametric stiffness. The effect of parametric damping without parametric stiffness is to shift the resonant frequency slightly, while inducing less significant resonance amplification. The phase of the parametric damping excitation, relative to the parametric stiffness, has a strong influence on the amplification or suppression characteristics. There are optimal phases of both the direct excitation and the parametric damping for amplifying or suppressing the resonance. The effect of the strength of parametric damping is also studied. Numerical simulations validate the perturbation analysis.
Heat and Mass Transfer Model for a Counter-Flow Moving Packed-Bed Oxidation Reactor/Heat Exchanger
Authors: Mishra Ashreet , Korba David , Zhao Jian , Li Like
Published: March 2024

Particle-based thermochemical energy storage (TCES) through metal oxide redox cycling is advantageous compared to traditional sensible and latent heat storage (SHS and LHS) due to its higher operating temperature and energy density, and the capability for long-duration storage. However, overall system performance also depends on the efficiency of the particle-to-working fluid heat exchangers (HXs). Moving packed-bed particle-to-supercritical CO2 (sCO2) HXs have been extensively studied in SHS systems. Integrating the oxidation reactor (OR) for discharging with a particle-to-sCO2 HX is a natural choice, for which detailed analysis is needed for OR/HX design and operation. In this work, a 2D continuum heat and mass transfer model coupling transport phenomena and reaction kinetics is developed for a shell-and-plate moving-bed OR/HX. For the baseline design, the model predicted ∼75% particle bed extent of oxidation at the channel exit, yielding a total heat transfer rate of 16.71 kW for 1.0 m2 heat transfer area per channel, while the same design with inert particles (SHS only) gives only 4.62 kW. A parametric study was also conducted to evaluate the effects of particle, air, and sCO2 flowrates, channel height and width, and average particle diameters. It is found that the respective heat transfer rate and sCO2 outlet temperature can approach ∼25 kW and >1000 °C for optimized designs for the OR/HX. The present model will be valuable for further OR/HX design, scale-up, and optimization of operating conditions.
Adaptive Batch Sampling Strategy for the Hundreds-Dimensional Aerodynamic Optimization of the Centrifugal Impeller
Authors: Ji Cheng , Wang Zhiheng , Xi Guang
Published: March 2024

In recent years, in order to achieve higher performance, the number of design variables used in the aerodynamic optimization of turbomachinery (based on surrogate models) has increased significantly. However, the increase in the design dimensions brings the problems of sparse distribution of training samples and numerous inaccurate local optima to the surrogate model, making it difficult to obtain an accurate Pareto front in high-dimensional aerodynamic optimization. To solve this, adaptive batch sampling strategy (ABSS) is proposed in this paper. By searching numerous local optimum points with large prediction errors in the surrogate model, ABSS can provide batches of valuable samples for each iterative update of the model. Compared with the current model update strategy based on the best point, which requires hundreds or thousands of iterative model updates, ABSS only needs to go through a few model updates to make the predicted Pareto front close to the real one. ABSS not only greatly shortens the whole optimization time, but also makes it easier to jump out of the local optima for the optimization. Based on this, a 114-dimensional aerodynamic optimization of the full three-dimensional centrifugal impeller (including arbitrary blade surfaces, independent splitter surfaces, and non-axisymmetric hub surfaces) is carried out. The results show that, compared with the baseline impeller, the design point isentropic stage efficiency of the optimal impeller is increased by 2.1%, the design point pressure ratio is well controlled to 1.84, and the choke margin is increased by 9.2%. This research breaks through the largest number of variables in the current centrifugal impeller optimization, proposes the optimization methods of the full-3D centrifugal impeller, and also provides a reference for the future high-dimensional aerodynamic optimization of turbomachinery.
Optical properties of yttria-stabilized zirconia from spectroscopic ellipsometry
Authors: Amonette Emily , Dulal Prabin , Mainali Madan , Podraza Nikolas J.
Published: March 2024

Complex dielectric function (ɛ = ɛ1 + iɛ2) spectra of a heat treated single crystal yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) have been determined over a spectral range of 0.03–8.5 eV using spectroscopic ellipsometry. Spectra are collected using three instruments covering different parts of the measured spectrum. The YSZ sample is modeled as a semi-infinite bulk crystal covered by a surface layer described by a Bruggeman effective medium approximation of equal parts YSZ and void.
A large-scale validation study of aircraft noise modeling for airport arrivals
Authors: Rindfleisch Thomas C. , Alonso Juan J. , Jackson Donald C. , Munguía Brian C. , Bowman Nicholas W.
Published: March 2024

In the U.S., the Federal Aviation Administration's Aviation Environmental Design Tool (AEDT) is approved to predict the impacts of aircraft noise and emissions. AEDT's critical role in regulatory compliance and evaluating the environmental impacts of aviation requires asking how accurate are its noise predictions. Previous studies suggest that AEDT's predictions lack desired accuracy. This paper reports on a large-scale study, using 200 000 flight trajectories paired with measured sound levels for arrivals to Runways 28L/28R at San Francisco International Airport, over 12 months. For each flight, two AEDT studies were run, one using the approved mode for regulatory filing and the other using an advanced non-regulatory mode with exact aircraft trajectories. AEDT's per aircraft noise predictions were compared with curated measured sound levels at two locations. On average, AEDT underestimated LAmax by −3.09 dB and SEL by −2.04 dB, combining the results from both AEDT noise-modeling modes. Discrepancies appear to result from limitations in the physical modeling of flight trajectories and noise generation, combined with input data uncertainties (aircraft weight, airspeed, thrust, and lift configuration) and atmospheric conditions.
Shoulder External Over Internal Rotation Ratio Is Related to Biomechanics in Collegiate Baseball Pitching
Authors: Stokes Hannah L. , Eaton Koco , Zheng Naiquan
Published: March 2024

Altering baseball pitching mechanics affects both performance and the risk of injury. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships of shoulder external over internal rotation ratio (SEIR) and other shoulder rotational properties during physical exam and biomechanics of pitching for 177 collegiate baseball pitchers. The shoulder range of motion was quantitatively measured using a custom-made wireless device. Pitching motion data were collected at 240 Hz, and a custom program was created to calculate the throwing arm motion and loading during baseball pitching. Linear regression and analysis of variance tests were performed to investigate the relationships between the shoulder physical exam outcomes and throwing arm biomechanics. SEIR had significant correlations with shoulder horizontal adduction angle at foot contact, maximum shoulder external rotation angle, maximum shoulder linear velocity, and elbow angle at ball release. SEIR groups had significant differences in shoulder proximal force, adduction torque, internal rotation torque, and horizontal adduction torque, and in elbow medial force and varus torque. Glenohumeral internal rotation deficit and total rotational motion deficit had no relationships with throwing arm motions or joint loadings. Shoulder health should be monitored to improve understanding of pitching mechanics in collegiate baseball pitchers.
Targeted sequencing from cerebrospinal fluid for rapid identification of drug-resistant tuberculous meningitis
Authors: Tram Trinh Thi Bich , Trieu Le Pham Tien , Nhat Le Thanh Hoang , Thu Do Dang Anh , Quang Nguyen Le , Bang Nguyen Duc , Chau Tran Thi Hong , Thwaites Guy E. , Walker Timothy M. , Ha Vu Thi Ngoc , Thuong Nguyen Thuy Thuong
Published: March 2024

Mortality from tuberculous meningitis (TBM) remains around 30%, with most deaths occurring within 2 months of starting treatment. Mortality from drug-resistant strains is higher still, making early detection of drug resistance (DR) essential. Targeted next-generation sequencing (tNGS) produces high read depths, allowing the detection of DR-associated alleles with low frequencies. We applied Deeplex Myc-TB—a tNGS assay—to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from 72 adults with microbiologically confirmed TBM and compared its genomic drug susceptibility predictions to a composite reference standard of phenotypic susceptibility testing (pDST) and whole genome sequencing, as well as to clinical outcomes. Deeplex detected
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
complex DNA in 24/72 (33.3%) CSF samples and generated full DR reports for 22/24 (91.7%). The read depth generated by Deeplex correlated with semi-quantitative results from MTB/RIF Xpert. Alleles with <20% frequency were seen at canonical loci associated with first-line DR. Disregarding these low-frequency alleles, Deeplex had 100% concordance with the composite reference standard for all drugs except pyrazinamide and streptomycin. Three patients had positive CSF cultures after 30 days of treatment; reference tests and Deeplex identified isoniazid resistance in two, and Deeplex alone identified low-frequency rifampin resistance alleles in one. Five patients died, of whom one had pDST-identified pyrazinamide resistance. tNGS on CSF can rapidly and accurately detect drug-resistant TBM, but its application is limited to those with higher bacterial loads. In those with lower bacterial burdens, alternative approaches need to be developed for both diagnosis and resistance detection.
SQSTM1 downregulates avian metapneumovirus subgroup C replication via mediating selective autophagic degradation of viral M2-2 protein
Authors: Guo Jinshuo , Shi Yongyan , Jiang Genghong , Zeng Penghui , Wu Zhi , Wang Dedong , Cui Yongqiu , Yang Xiaoyu , Zhou Jianwei , Feng Xufei , Hou Lei , Liu Jue
Published: March 2024

Avian metapneumovirus subgroup C (aMPV/C), an important pathogen causing acute respiratory infection in chickens and turkeys, contributes to substantial economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. aMPV/C has been reported to induce autophagy, which is beneficial to virus replication. Sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1/P62), a selective autophagic receptor, plays a crucial role in viral replication by clearing ubiquitinated proteins. However, the relationship between SQSTM1-mediated selective autophagy and aMPV/C replication is unclear. In this study, we found that the expression of SQSTM1 negatively regulates aMPV/C replication by reducing viral protein expression and viral titers. Further studies revealed that the interaction between SQSTM1 and aMPV/C M2-2 protein is mediated via the Phox and Bem1 (PB1) domain of the former, which recognizes a ubiquitinated lysine at position 67 of the M2-2 protein, and finally degrades M2-2 via SQSTM1-mediated selective autophagy. Collectively, our results reveal that SQSTM1 degrades M2-2 via a process of selective autophagy to suppress aMPV/C replication, thereby providing novel insights for the prevention and control of aMPV/C infection.

IMPORTANCE

The selective autophagy plays an important role in virus replication. As an emerging pathogen of avian respiratory virus, clarification of the effect of SQSTM1, a selective autophagic receptor, on aMPV/C replication in host cells enables us to better understand the viral pathogenesis. Previous study showed that aMPV/C infection reduced the SQSTM1 expression accompanied by virus proliferation, but the specific regulatory mechanism between them was still unclear. In this study, we demonstrated for the first time that SQSTM1 recognizes the 67th amino acid of M2-2 protein by the interaction between them, followed by M2-2 degradation via the SQSTM1-mediated selective autophagy, and finally inhibits aMPV/C replication. This information supplies the mechanism by which SQSTM1 negatively regulates viral replication, and provides new insights for preventing and controlling aMPV/C infection.
Characterizing elastic wave reflection in a semiconducting isotropic diffusive medium with temperature rate-dependent nonlocal theory
Authors: Ali Hashmat , Sharif Iffat , Jamal Muhammad , Azhar Ehtsham
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we explore the application of nonlocal theory to analyze the phenomenon of coupled thermoelastic wave reflection in a semiconducting diffusive medium, considering its temperature rate dependence. The governing equations are deconstructed using the Helmholtz vector rule, allowing us to delve into the behavior of the system. By calculating the dispersion relation in terms of propagation speed, we investigate four coupled longitudinal waves alongside an independent nondispersive transverse wave within the local medium. The cut-off frequencies for each wave are discussed, shedding light on their characteristics. Furthermore, we delve into the phenomenon of coupled longitudinal displacement waves at the medium’s boundary. Analytical derivations of amplitude ratios are presented, accompanied by graphical representations of their behavior, focusing on a semiconductor material such as copper. We examine the effects of physical parameters, including the nonlocal and diffusive parameters, on the obtained results. It is important to note that the existing literature primarily lacks consideration of diffusivity and plasma transportation. Lastly, we validate our findings by investigating the conservation of energy within the system.
CHARACTERISTICS FOR SOME RABBIT HEMORRHAGIC DISEASE VIRUS (RHDV) STRAINS PROPAGATED IN ISOLATED RENAL CELL OF RABBIT
Authors: Ryo Hyok , Pyon Yong-Mi , Pak Hi-Pung , Pak Sun-Nam
Published: March 2024

The renal cells were isolated from the kidney of different week-age of healthy rabbits by a single two-stage pass perfusion method and suspended in Hanks’ balanced salt solution ([Formula: see text]-, [Formula: see text]-free). The field strains of RHDV were inoculated into the suspension and incubated for 4 days at 37∘C. After incubation, the HA titer of each strain of RHDV in supernatant of virus growth was measured using human erythrocyte O type. There were differences in the HA titers of RHDV strains according to the renal cell of different week-age of rabbits, the number of hepatocyte, the strain of virus (RHDV-1, RHDV-2, RHDV-3) and the duration of incubation. The HA titer was highest when the virus was cultured in the renal cells isolated from more than 12 week-aged rabbits. And the HA titer of RHDV propagated in isolated renal cell was higher than hepatocytes. When immunized rabbits by inactivated virus strains (RHDV-1, RHDV-2 and RHDV-3), two strains, RHDV-1 and RHDV-3, showed the same level of HI titers with inactivated homogenate, but RHDV-2 did lower level of titer than the homogenate.
Reducing the Impact of Time Evolution on Source Code Authorship Attribution via Domain Adaptation
Authors: Li Zhen , Zhao Shasha , Chen Chen , Chen Qian
Published: March 2024

Source code authorship attribution is an important problem in practical applications such as plagiarism detection, software forensics, and copyright disputes. Recent studies show that existing methods for source code authorship attribution can be significantly affected by time evolution, leading to a decrease in attribution accuracy year by year. To alleviate the problem of Deep Learning (DL)-based source code authorship attribution degrading in accuracy due to time evolution, we propose a new framework called
Time
D
omain
A
daptation (TimeDA) by adding new feature extractors to the original DL-based code attribution framework that enhances the learning ability of the original model on source domain features without requiring new or more source data. Moreover, we employ a centroid-based pseudo-labeling strategy using neighborhood clustering entropy for adaptive learning to improve the robustness of DL-based code authorship attribution. Experimental results show that TimeDA can significantly enhance the robustness of DL-based source code authorship attribution to time evolution, with an average improvement of 8.7% on the Java dataset and 5.2% on the C++ dataset. In addition, our TimeDA benefits from employing the centroid-based pseudo-labeling strategy, which significantly reduced the model training time by 87.3% compared to traditional unsupervised domain adaptive methods.
Fairness Testing: A Comprehensive Survey and Analysis of Trends
Authors: Chen Zhenpeng , Zhang Jie M. , Hort Max , Harman Mark , Sarro Federica
Published: March 2024

Unfair behaviors of Machine Learning (ML) software have garnered increasing attention and concern among software engineers. To tackle this issue, extensive research has been dedicated to conducting fairness testing of ML software, and this article offers a comprehensive survey of existing studies in this field. We collect 100 papers and organize them based on the testing workflow (i.e., how to test) and testing components (i.e., what to test). Furthermore, we analyze the research focus, trends, and promising directions in the realm of fairness testing. We also identify widely adopted datasets and open-source tools for fairness testing.
The Physics of Animal Behavior: Form, Function, and Interactions
Authors: Riiska Calvin A. , Nguyen Chantal , Peleg Orit , Rieser Jennifer M.
Published: March 2024

Understanding the physics of behavior in animals is a challenging and fascinating area of research that has gained increasing attention in recent years. In this review, we delve into the intricate temporal and spatial scales of animal behavior for both individuals and collectives. We explore the experimental and theoretical approaches used to study behavior, highlighting the importance of feedback loops, emergent behavior, and environmental factors in shaping the actions of creatures great and small. The emergence of novel technologies, such as high-speed imaging and tracking, has provided unparalleled insight into the captivating nuances of animal behavior, and we review how these insights have been used to validate physics-based models of animal behavior. We also consider the potential applications of this research in robotics and artificial intelligence, identify new areas for exploration, and envision the possibility of further breakthroughs that will illuminate the complex dynamics of animal behavior.
Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Variety Evaluation for Disease Resistance, Yield, and Agronomic Traits in South Gondar, Ethiopia
Authors: Alemayehu Tiringo Yilak , Amare Kassahun , Belay Dereje , Abebe Huluager
Published: March 2024

A field study was conducted to evaluate faba bean varieties for yield and yield components and disease reactions in the Lay Gayint district during the 2020 and 2021 cropping seasons. Six faba bean varieties, including local, were arranged in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The crop and disease data were collected, and the disease severity was assessed five times in 7 and 10 days intervals using the disease rating scale for chocolate spot and faba bean gall disease, respectively. The combined analysis variance showed significant P<0.01 differences among faba bean varieties in agronomic traits, disease severity, and area under the disease progress curve. The variety Numan had a higher chocolate spot (46.52%) and faba bean gall (40.46%) disease severity. The area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) of the chocolate spot was higher on local (1292.85%-days). For faba bean gall, a higher AUDPC value (994.08%-days) was calculated from the Numan variety. The lowest severity of chocolate spot (27.37%) and faba bean gall (21.02%) was assessed from the variety Gora, and this variety also had the lowest chocolate spot AUDPC. The variety Gora and Ashebeka provided the highest grain yield (21988 kg·ha−1) and (20624 kg·ha−1), respectively. The results of the correlation analysis also indicated that the highest yield was associated with lower disease occurrence. In conclusion, varieties Gora and Ashebeka are found to be moderately resistant varieties to chocolate spot and faba bean gall disease than other varieties with higher yields, and these varieties are recommended for production in the study area and other similar ecologies.
A New Model for Building Energy Modeling and Management Using Predictive Analytics: Partitioned Hierarchical Multitask Regression (PHMR)
Authors: Ning Shuluo , Yoon Hyunsoo
Published: March 2024

Buildings are major consumers of energy, accounting for a significant proportion of total energy use worldwide. This substantial energy consumption not only leads to increased operational costs but also contributes to environmental concerns such as greenhouse gas emissions. In the United States, building energy consumption accounts for about 40% of total energy use, highlighting the importance of efficient energy management. Therefore, accurate prediction of energy usage in buildings is crucial. However, accurate prediction of building energy consumption remains a challenge due to the intricate interaction of indoor and outdoor variables. This study introduces the Partitioned Hierarchical Multitask Regression (PHMR), an innovative model integrating recursive partition regression (RPR) with multitask learning (hierML). PHMR adeptly predicts building energy consumption by integrating both indoor factors, such as building design and operational variables, and outdoor environmental influences. Rigorous simulation studies illustrate PHMR’s efficacy. It outperforms traditional single‐predictor regression models, achieving a 32.88% to 41.80% higher prediction accuracy, especially in scenarios with limited training data. This highlights PHMR’s robustness and adaptability. The practical application of PHMR in managing a modular house’s Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system in Spain resulted in a 37% improvement in prediction accuracy. This significant efficiency gain is evidenced by a high Pearson correlation coefficient (0.8) between PHMR’s predictions and actual energy consumption. PHMR not only offers precise predictions for energy consumption but also facilitates operational cost reductions, thereby enhancing sustainability in building energy management. Its application in a real‐world setting demonstrates the model’s potential as a valuable tool for architects, engineers, and facility managers in designing and maintaining energy‐efficient buildings. The model’s integration of comprehensive data analysis with domain‐specific knowledge positions it as a crucial asset in advancing sustainable energy practices in the building sector.
Figure S7 from Comprehensive Metabolic Tracing Reveals the Origin and Catabolism of Cysteine in Mammalian Tissues and Tumors
Authors: Yoon Sang Jun , Combs Joseph A. , Falzone Aimee , Prieto-Farigua Nicolas , Caldwell Samantha , Ackerman Hayley D. , Flores Elsa R. , DeNicola Gina M.
Published: March 2024

Figure S7 contains mRNA expression of cysteine metabolic enzymes in patient liver, pancreas and lung tumors
Figure S3 from Comprehensive Metabolic Tracing Reveals the Origin and Catabolism of Cysteine in Mammalian Tissues and Tumors
Authors: Yoon Sang Jun , Combs Joseph A. , Falzone Aimee , Prieto-Farigua Nicolas , Caldwell Samantha , Ackerman Hayley D. , Flores Elsa R. , DeNicola Gina M.
Published: March 2024

Figure S3 contains the total metabolite levels in healthy mouse tissues related to Figure 2
Figure S2 from Comprehensive Metabolic Tracing Reveals the Origin and Catabolism of Cysteine in Mammalian Tissues and Tumors
Authors: Yoon Sang Jun , Combs Joseph A. , Falzone Aimee , Prieto-Farigua Nicolas , Caldwell Samantha , Ackerman Hayley D. , Flores Elsa R. , DeNicola Gina M.
Published: March 2024

Figure S2 demonstrates that transsulfuration intermediates are limiting for activity in NSCLC cells
Supplementary Figure 3 from Rejuvenated iPSC-derived GD2-directed CART Cells Harbor Robust Cytotoxicity Against Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Kinoshita Shintaro , Ishii Midori , Ando Jun , Kimura Takaharu , Yamaguchi Tomoyuki , Harada Sakiko , Takahashi Fumiyuki , Nakashima Kazutaka , Nakazawa Yozo , Yamazaki Satoshi , Ohshima Koichi , Takahashi Kazuhisa , Nakauchi Hiromitsu , Ando Miki
Published: March 2024

Supplementary Figure S3 demonstrates the expression profiles of signature genes (including lineage, co-stimulation, co-inhibition, cytotoxic molecules, and transcription factors) in GD2-2840z-CARTs, GD2-CARrejTs, and control T cells through a heatmap. It also includes UMAP projections of CITE-seq data highlighting the distribution of CD3, CD4, and CD8 markers, and phenotypic markers specific to GD2-2840z-CARTs and GD2-CARrejTs. Additionally, a heatmap showcases the expression of chemokine receptor-related genes in these cell types, providing insights into their functional characteristics.
Supplementary Figure 9 from Antibody–Drug Conjugate αEGFR-E-P125A Reduces Triple-negative Breast Cancer Vasculogenic Mimicry, Motility, and Metastasis through Inhibition of EGFR, Integrin, and FAK/STAT3 Signaling
Authors: Sankar Ankita P. , Cho Hyun-Mi , Shin Seung-Uon , Sneh Tal , Ramakrishnan Sundaram , Elledge Christian , Zhang Yu , Das Rathin , Gil-Henn Hava , Rosenblatt Joseph D.
Published: March 2024

Expression levels of genes of interest across human breast cancer subtypes
Supplementary Figure 7 from Antibody–Drug Conjugate αEGFR-E-P125A Reduces Triple-negative Breast Cancer Vasculogenic Mimicry, Motility, and Metastasis through Inhibition of EGFR, Integrin, and FAK/STAT3 Signaling
Authors: Sankar Ankita P. , Cho Hyun-Mi , Shin Seung-Uon , Sneh Tal , Ramakrishnan Sundaram , Elledge Christian , Zhang Yu , Das Rathin , Gil-Henn Hava , Rosenblatt Joseph D.
Published: March 2024

Effects of Cryptotanshinone (CPT), a STAT3 Y705-specific inhibitor on VM tube formation
Supplementary Figure 2 from Antibody–Drug Conjugate αEGFR-E-P125A Reduces Triple-negative Breast Cancer Vasculogenic Mimicry, Motility, and Metastasis through Inhibition of EGFR, Integrin, and FAK/STAT3 Signaling
Authors: Sankar Ankita P. , Cho Hyun-Mi , Shin Seung-Uon , Sneh Tal , Ramakrishnan Sundaram , Elledge Christian , Zhang Yu , Das Rathin , Gil-Henn Hava , Rosenblatt Joseph D.
Published: March 2024

Extended heatmap of differentially expressed genes
Supplementary Figure 1A from Antibody–Drug Conjugate αEGFR-E-P125A Reduces Triple-negative Breast Cancer Vasculogenic Mimicry, Motility, and Metastasis through Inhibition of EGFR, Integrin, and FAK/STAT3 Signaling
Authors: Sankar Ankita P. , Cho Hyun-Mi , Shin Seung-Uon , Sneh Tal , Ramakrishnan Sundaram , Elledge Christian , Zhang Yu , Das Rathin , Gil-Henn Hava , Rosenblatt Joseph D.
Published: March 2024

Extended heatmap of differentially expressed genes
Data from Rejuvenated iPSC-derived GD2-directed CART Cells Harbor Robust Cytotoxicity Against Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Kinoshita Shintaro , Ishii Midori , Ando Jun , Kimura Takaharu , Yamaguchi Tomoyuki , Harada Sakiko , Takahashi Fumiyuki , Nakashima Kazutaka , Nakazawa Yozo , Yamazaki Satoshi , Ohshima Koichi , Takahashi Kazuhisa , Nakauchi Hiromitsu , Ando Miki
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is exceptionally aggressive, with limited treatment options. Disialoganglioside (GD2) is highly expressed on SCLC and is considered a good target for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells (CART). Although GD2-directed CARTs (GD2-CART) exhibit cytotoxicity against various GD2-expressing tumors, they lack significant cytotoxicity against SCLC. To enhance cytotoxicity of GD2-CARTs against SCLC, we introduced GD2-CAR into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived rejuvenated cytotoxic T lymphocytes (GD2-CARrejT). GD2-CARrejTs acted much more strongly against SCLC cells than did GD2-CARTs both in vitro and in vivo. Single-cell RNA sequencing elucidated that levels of expression of TIGIT were significantly lower and levels of expression of genes associated with cytotoxicity were significantly higher in GD2-CARrejTs than those in GD2-CARTs. Dual blockade of TIGIT and programmed death-1 (PD-1) increased the cytotoxicity of GD2-CARTs to some extent, suggesting that low TIGIT and PD-1 expression by GD2-CARrejTs is a major factor required for robust cytotoxicity against SCLC. Not only for robust cytotoxicity but also for availability as “off-the-shelf” T-cell therapy, iPSC-derived GD2-CARrejTs are a promising novel treatment for SCLC.
Significance:
This research introduces iPSC-derived rejuvenated GD2-CARTs (GD2-CARrejT) as a novel approach to combat SCLC. Compared with conventional GD2-CARTs, GD2-CARrejTs with reduced TIGIT and PD-1 expression demonstrate robust cytotoxicity against SCLC and would be a promising therapy for SCLC.
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps and Thrombolysis Resistance: New Insights for Targeting Therapies
Authors: Mengozzi Luca , Barison Ilaria , Malý Martin , Lorenzoni Giulia , Fedrigo Marny , Castellani Chiara , Gregori Dario , Malý Petr , Matěj Radoslav , Toušek Petr , Widimský Petr , Angelini Annalisa
Published: March 2024

BACKGROUND:

Thrombosis is linked to neutrophil release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). NETs are proposed as a mechanism of resistance to thrombolysis. This study intends to analyze the composition of thrombi retrieved after mechanical thrombectomy, estimate the age and organization of thrombi, and evaluate associations with the use of thrombolysis, antiplatelets, and heparin.

METHODS:

This retrospective observational study involved 72 samples (44 from cerebral and 28 coronary arteries), which were stained with hematoxylin and eosin, anti-NE (neutrophil elastase) antibody, and anti-histone H2B (histone H2B) antibody, representing different components in NET formation, all detectable during the later stages of NETosis, for histochemical and digital quantification of NET content. The histological and morphological evaluations of the specimens were correlated, through univariate and mediation analyses, with clinical information and therapy administered before intervention.

RESULTS:

The results demonstrated that the composition of cerebral and coronary thrombi differs, and there were significantly more lytic cerebral thrombi than coronary thrombi (66% versus 14%;
P
=0.005). There was a considerably higher expression of NETs in the cerebral thrombi as testified by the higher expression of H2B (
P
=0.031). Thrombolysis was remarkably associated with higher NE positivity (average marginal effect, 6.461 [95% CI, 0.7901–12.13];
P
=0.02555), regardless of the origin of thrombi. There was no notable association between the administration of antiaggregant therapy/heparin and H2B/NE amount when adjusted for the thrombus location. Importantly, the age of the thrombus was the only independent predictor of NET content without any mediation of the thrombolytic treatment (
P
=0.014).

CONCLUSIONS:

The age of the thrombus is the driving force for NET content, which correlates with impaired clinical outcomes. The therapy that is currently administered does not modify NET content. This study supports the need to investigate new pharmacological approaches added to thrombolysis to prevent NET formation or enhance their disruption, such as recombinant human DNase I (deoxyribonuclease I).
Applying a Context-based Method to Build a Knowledge Graph for the Blue Amazon
Authors: Ligabue Pedro de Moraes , Brandão Anarosa Alves Franco , Peres Sarajane Marques , Cozman Fabio Gagliardi , Pirozelli Paulo
Published: March 2024

Knowledge graphs are employed in several tasks, such as question answering and recommendation systems, due to their ability to represent relationships between concepts. Automatically constructing such a graphs, however, remains an unresolved challenge within knowledge representation. To tackle this challenge, we propose CtxKG, a method specifically aimed at extracting knowledge graphs in a context of limited resources in which the only input is a set of unstructured text documents. CtxKG is based on OpenIE (a relationship triple extraction method) and BERT (a language model) and contains four stages: the extraction of relationship triples directly from text; the identification of synonyms across triples; the merging of similar entities; and the building of bridges between knowledge graphs of different documents. Our method distinguishes itself from those in the current literature (i) through its use of the parse tree to avoid the overlapping entities produced by base implementations of OpenIE; and (ii) through its bridges, which create a connected network of graphs, overcoming a limitation similar methods have of one isolated graph per document. We compare our method to two others by generating graphs for movie articles from Wikipedia and contrasting them with benchmark graphs built from the OMDb movie database. Our results suggest that our method is able to improve multiple aspects of knowledge graph construction. They also highlight the critical role that triple identification and named-entity recognition have in improving the quality of automatically generated graphs, suggesting future paths for investigation. Finally, we apply CtxKG to build BlabKG, a knowledge graph for the Blue Amazon, and discuss possible improvements.
Towards a more robust non-invasive assessment of functional
connectivity
Authors: Westner Britta U. , Kujala Jan , Gross Joachim , Schoffelen Jan-Mathijs
Published: March 2024

Non-invasive evaluation of functional connectivity, based on source-reconstructed estimates of phase-difference-based metrics, is notoriously non-robust. This is due to a combination of factors, ranging from a misspecification of seed regions to suboptimal baseline assumptions, and residual signal leakage. In this work, we propose a new analysis scheme of source-level phase-difference-based connectivity, which is aimed at optimizing the detection of interacting brain regions. Our approach is based on the combined use of sensor subsampling and dual-source beamformer estimation of all-to-all connectivity on a prespecified dipolar grid. First, a pairwise two-dipole model, to account for reciprocal leakage in the estimation of the localized signals, allows for a usable approximation of the pairwise bias in connectivity due to residual leakage of “third party” noise. Secondly, using sensor array subsampling, the recreation of multiple connectivity maps using different subsets of sensors allows for the identification of consistent spatially localized peaks in the 6-dimensional connectivity maps, indicative of true brain region interactions. These steps are combined with the subtraction of null coherence estimates to obtain the final coherence maps. With extensive simulations, we compared different analysis schemes for their detection rate of connected dipoles, as a function of signal-to-noise ratio, phase difference, and connection strength. We demonstrate superiority of the proposed analysis scheme in comparison to single-dipole models, or an approach that discards the zero phase difference component of the connectivity. We conclude that the proposed pipeline allows for a more robust identification of functional connectivity in experimental data, opening up new possibilities to study brain networks with mechanistically inspired connectivity measures in cognition and in the clinic.
A “Nuclear Umbrella” for Ukraine? Precedents and Possibilities for Postwar European Security
Authors: Evangelista Matthew
Published: March 2024

Whatever the outcome of the Russo-Ukrainian War, in its wake Ukraine will need to choose a security policy to defend its sovereignty from future threats. Its choice holds implications for broader European security. Some observers advocate Ukraine becoming a member in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), thereby gaining protection from the U.S. “nuclear umbrella.” Others doubt the effectiveness of “extended nuclear deterrence”—the threat of U.S. nuclear retaliation for attacks, including those carried out with conventional armed forces, on an ally's territory. But nuclear deterrence was never put to the test in Cold War Europe, and today extended nuclear deterrence is an unreliable and risky approach to Russian aggression. An examination of the role of nuclear deterrence during the 1961 Berlin Crisis demonstrates that Soviet military strategy against U.S. nuclear weapons posed the risk of escalation. In vulnerable NATO territories, such as the Estonian city of Narva, such a risk still exists. A Cold War–era alternative to nuclear deterrence offers the possibility of a non-nuclear defense for Ukraine. Proposals such as the “spider in the web” strategy draw on concepts of the security dilemma and non-offensive, confidence-building defense to provide for Ukrainian security in a Europe threatened by Russian expansion, without relying on the threat of nuclear war.
Foreign Intervention and Internal Displacement: Urban Politics in Postwar Beirut
Authors: Rizkallah Amanda
Published: March 2024

Uneven democratization is a common yet poorly understood legacy of civil war. In the aftermath of the Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990), wartime processes of displacement interacted with Syria's intervention to transform local postwar political orders. In Beirut's suburbs, the bonds built between armed actors and displaced populations created opportunities for displaced people to extract responsiveness from local institutions, despite their vulnerability. But the power of displaced populations in their host community hinges on the fate of the locally dominant armed actor. If the armed actor is an ally of the intervening power, it can maintain political control over its strongholds, marginalizing traditional local elites while empowering its core constituents, displaced people. By contrast, if an armed actor is repressed by the intervening power, the ensuing power vacuum creates an opportunity for pluralistic party politics to emerge. Traditional prewar elites reassert their role in local political life, empowering their core constituents, the prewar residents. Drawing on dozens of in-depth interviews with key informants in the suburbs of postwar Beirut, the findings show how displacement transformed localities in ways that transcend religious identity. Over 80,000 people have been displaced from southern Lebanon because of fighting since October 7, 2023. If Hezbollah provides services and security to these displaced persons, the current conflict will strengthen Hezbollah's grip on the south of Lebanon when the displaced populations return, or further consolidate its influence in those localities in south Lebanon where displaced populations settle.
Corruption and Trust
Authors: Školník Milan
Published: March 2024

Corruption and trust contrast one another. While corruption is selfish behavior manifested by the abuse of power for private purposes, trust expresses the human belief that other people are a part of their moral community and behave as they should. A number of studies have been written on the relationship between corruption and trust. This review article theoretically explains the effect of corruption on trust, takes into account other variables that may enter into this relationship, and summarizes the results to date in this area. Attention is also placed on what data individual studies used and what their weaknesses may be. The contribution of this article is that it distinguishes between perceptions and experiences of corruption and between interpersonal and political trust. Finally, this article suggests possible directions for further research.
Personal Meanings and Reality of Gendered Socialization in Pakistan
Authors: Khalid Asma
Published: March 2024

The socialization of young men can make a difference in social change in patriarchal societies such as Pakistan. This research applies Nancy Chodorow’s (1978) Object Relations Theory to analyze the learning of gender roles for young men. Key informants comprised 30 young men aged 18–30 from mainstream society and semi-structured interviews were carried out in Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Pakistan. The key research objectives were to explore young men’s ideas about socialization in Pakistani culture and how they learn the gender-specific roles. The results of this study reveal that from the age of 8 to 17, boys learn their gender roles and masculine standards. It argues that a cohesive and integrated approach is needed through community, parents, and school-based programs where young men can be socialized to contribute positively to a violence-free, risk-free, equitable society and innovative thinking is needed to socialize young men.
Reading John of Ephesus via Procopius of Caesarea?
Authors: de Wet Chris L.
Published: March 2024

The purpose of this article is to revisit the comparison between the accounts of the Justinianic plague of 541–750 CE, the first recorded pandemic of bubonic plague, by John of Ephesus and Procopius of Caesarea, as done by the scholar of Byzantine history, Anthony Kaldellis, in a 2007 publication. In the article, I critique some of Kaldellis’s main points of comparison, and then by approaching plague as a discourse (in the Foucaultian sense), I attempt to provide a more nuanced reading and comparison of the individual accounts, and of ancient plague discourse more generally.
Floristic composition, life forms and phytogeography of the mountains between Damghan and Shahrud, Eastern Alborz (Iran)
Authors: RAHNAMA FATEME , NADERI REZA , AMIRAHMADI ATEFE
Published: March 2024

Floristic study of the southern parts of Eastern Alborz in Iranian country was conducted. Encompassing an area of approximately 700 km², this region is located about 50 km north of Damghan and Shahrud (Semnan province), with a high difference in elevations ranging from 1400 to 3813 meters above sea level. According to 2400 collected herbarium specimens, a total of 674 taxa belonging to 332 genera and 71 families were identified. The most abundant families were Asteraceae (46 genera, 97 species), Brassicaceae (35 genera, 59 species), and Poaceae (33 genera, 65 species), respectively. The genus Astragalus, with 34 species, stands as the largest genus in the study area, followed by Cousinia (14 species), Bromus (13 species), Silene, Acantholimon, and Allium (each with 9 species), as well as Alyssum, Gagea, and Poa (each with 8 species). The flora of the study area has a significant influence of Irano-Turanian elements (369 taxa), followed by combinations of Irano-Turanian/Europe-Siberian (127 taxa), Irano-Turanian/Europe-Siberian/Mediterranean (47 taxa), Pluriregional (24 taxa), and Irano-Turanian/Saharo-Arabian elements (22 taxa), among others. Hemicryptophytes (43.62%) emerged as the most prevalent life forms in this region, followed by the others. Overall, 78 species were identified as Irano-Turanian endemics, with many facing threats due to overgrazing and the ongoing effects of climate change.
Triplostegia alpina (Caprifoliaceae): a new species from Southwest China
Authors: TAN SHAOLIN , FU QINGLI , MO ZHIQIONG , SUN YANAN , FANG YI , YANG BOYUN
Published: March 2024

The species delimitation of Triplostegia has been controversy and traditionally includes two species: T. glandulifera and T. grandiflora. These two taxa differs in some morphological characters on leaves, size of corollas, and achene involucel apex. A recent study proposed to merge these two species into a single taxon, T. glandulifera, while the phylogenetic and morphological evidence suggests that this genus consists of three distinct species, including an undescribed species that is distributed in the Hengduan Mountains Region and east Himalaya. Following the phylogenetic and morphological thesis, the authors describe and illustrate this new species: Triplostegia alpina. This taxon is characterized by a brown main taproot with fine roots and one to three more slender white glabrous lateral taproots, petiolate and serrated leaves, corollas 1.1–2.2 mm, achene involucel apex in purple and slightly hooked, which are distinctive from its two congeners. The study highlight the diagnostic role of taproot, leaf, corolla, and achene involucel in delimiting Triplostegia species.
New species of Itara (Orthoptera: Grylloidea: Itarinae) and descriptions of calling songs from Mindanao and Sabah
Authors: TAN MING KAI , GRUMO KIM C. , GONO ALFREDO III A. , BAHOY DAPHNE CAYLE M. , RIVERA RODRIN R. , NUÑEZA OLGA MACAS , JAPIR RAZY , CHUNG ARTHUR Y.C.
Published: March 2024

A new species of Itara (Phormincter) is described from Mindanao in the Philippines: Itara (Phormincter) mindanao Tan, Grumo, Gono & Bahoy, sp. nov. This represents the first record of this subgenus in the Philippines, having previously known only from Borneo, Java, Malay Peninsula and Sumatra; as well as only the second species of Itara known from the Philippines and the first from Mindanao Island. The male calling song of the holotype was also recorded and is described here. Additionally, the male calling song of another congener, Itara (Singitara) singularis Gorochov, 1997 from Sabah, is described here. A new species of Itara (Bornitara) is also described from Sabah in Borneo: Itara (Bornitara) tenompok Tan, Japir & Chung, sp. nov.
Review of the rove beetles (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) from the Pliocene of Willershausen, Germany
Authors: SHAW JOSH JENKINS , GEHLER ALEXANDER , KAULFUSS UWE
Published: March 2024

The rove beetle fauna (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae) (excluding the subfamily Silphinae) of the Pliocene of Willershausen (Lower Saxony, North Germany) is reviewed based on the type and other material of previously described or reported taxa, as well as two new specimens. Six subfamilies are represented in the deposit, with two subfamilial assignments considered tentative: Aleocharinae?, Micropeplinae, Oxytelinae, Paederinae, Staphylininae? and Tachyporinae. †Pliosyntomium Korge, 1967 syn. nov. is placed as a junior synonym of Paederus Fabricius, 1775. The following new combination is established: †Paederus schmidti (Korge, 1967) comb. nov. All rove beetle fossils from Willershausen housed in the Collections of the Geoscience Museum, University of Göttingen.