bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Traffic-Driven Proactive Slot Orchestration in an Optical Network with Fine-Granularity Flexible Ethernet Interfaces
Authors: Hu Qian , Wang Zixuan , Qin Xin , Zhou Zexi , Su Guangnan , Zhu Wenwu , Gu Rentao
Published: October 2023

With the continuous emergence of the concept of 6G, the rapid development of industrial application scenarios, and the rise in demand for dedicated line services, there has been a strong and diverse demand for network capacity. The introduction of fine-granularity FlexE technology provides a new approach to addressing the diversification of Quality of Service (QoS) and the resource waste caused by large granularity (5 Gbps). However, the reduction in granularity leads to a significant increase in the number of slots, posing a serious challenge to deterministic latency assurance, especially in scenarios with dynamic fluctuations in service bandwidth. Sudden bandwidth variations can lead to service interruptions and fluctuations, resulting in uncontrolled network blocking rates. To address this issue, this paper proposes a traffic-driven proactive FlexE slot orchestration algorithm called PMFAN-GDSO. Based on this algorithm, bandwidth variations are calculated in advance based on the bandwidth change provided via the traffic prediction algorithm before service fluctuations occur. This avoids the time-consuming slot orchestration calculations and service abrupt changes. The real-world network datasets indicate that, based on our proposed algorithm, significant time savings of up to 46.8% are achieved compared to non-proactive prediction.
TFNetPropX: A Web-Based Comprehensive Analysis Tool for Exploring Condition-Specific RNA-Seq Data Using Transcription Factor Network Propagation
Authors: Moon Ji Hwan , Oh Minsik
Published: October 2023

Understanding condition-specific biological mechanisms from RNA-seq data requires comprehensive analysis of gene expression data, from the gene to the network level. However, this requires computational expertise, which limits the accessibility of data analysis for understanding biological mechanisms. Therefore, the development of an easy-to-use and comprehensive analysis system is essential. In response to this issue, we present TFNetPropX, a user-friendly web-based platform designed to perform gene-level, gene-set-level, and network-level analysis of RNA-seq data under two different conditions. TFNetPropX performs comprehensive analysis, from DEG analysis to network propagation, to predict TF-affected genes with a single request, and provides users with an interactive web-based visualization of the results. To demonstrate the utility of our system, we performed analysis on two TF knockout RNA-seq datasets and effectively reproduced biologically significant findings. We believe that our system will make it easier for biological researchers to gain insights from different perspectives, allowing them to develop diverse hypotheses and analyses.
The Effect of Phosphorus Fertilization on Transcriptome Expression Profile during Lentil Pod and Seed Development
Authors: Koura Ekaterini , Pistikoudi Adamantia , Tsifintaris Margaritis , Tsiolas George , Mouchtaropoulou Evangelia , Noutsos Christos , Karantakis Triantafyllos , Kouras Athanasios , Karanikolas Athanasios , Argiriou Anagnostis , Nianiou-Obeidat Irini , Mylona Photini V. , Polidoros Alexios N.
Published: October 2023

Seed coat hardness and water permeability, which are determined by the accumulation of tannins through the phenylpropanoid pathway in the seed, are important lentil quality characteristics. The impact of seeds’ developmental stage and phosphorus (P) fertilization levels on tannin accumulation is still under research. Through RNA sequencing, this study explored the effect of three P treatments (P0, 6 mg kg−1; P1, 15 mg kg−1; and P2, 21 mg kg−1) and three seed maturity stages (S1, immature 2 mm seed in a flat pod; S2, fully developed seed within the pod; and S3, mature seed at the beginning of the pod’s discoloration) on lentil gene expression. The key findings highlighted a significant influence of the seed maturity stage on phenylpropanoid genes, with S1 displaying the highest expression levels, and on phosphorus-related Gene Ontology (GO) terms that presented the highest number of downregulated genes in the S3 to S1 comparison. P exhibited a targeted effect on the flavanone 3-hydroxylase (F3H) and flavonol synthase (FLS) genes and specific gene clusters, as shown by the differential gene expression analysis. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms related to phosphorus fertilization and seed maturity stages that influence tannin accumulation, offering valuable information for the enhancement of lentil product quality through breeding programs.
Effects of Patterned Electromagnetic Fields and Light-Emitting Diodes on Cancer Cells: Impact on Cell Density and Biophoton Emission When Applied Individually vs. Simultaneously
Authors: Ravindran Rahul , Branigan Kate S. , Lefebvre Landon M. , Dotta Blake T.
Published: October 2023

It has been previously reported that time-varying EMFs and LEDs have the potential to modulate cellular activity and cell viability. It has also been shown that cellular activity and state can be inferred by measuring the biophoton emission derived from these same cells. To identify if the brief application (15 min) of an LED (635 nm at 3 klx) or EMF (1–3 uT) could influence cell growth and subsequent biophoton emission characteristics, B16-BL6 cells were grown to confluence and exposed to a time-varying, frequency-modulated EMF, LED, or both. Before and after EMF and LED exposure, photon emission measurements were taken for 1 min at a 50 Hz sampling rate. Following the exposure and photon emission measurements, cell viability was assessed via the use of a hemocytometer. The results demonstrated that after only 15 min of exposure to a time-varying EMF, there was a 41.6% reduction in viable cells when compared to sham controls [t(25) = 2.4, p = 0.02]. This effect approached significance in the LED alone condition [p = 0.07] but was completely absent in the condition wherein the LED and EMF were applied simultaneously [p < 0.8]. Additionally, following exposure to only the LED, there was a significant increase in biophoton emission SPD values at 13 Hz from whole cell cultures [t(60) = 2.3, p = 0.021]. This biophoton emission frequency was also strongly correlated with the number of nonviable cells [r = −0.514] in the dish. Taken together, these data point to biophotons emitted from cell cultures at 13 Hz as a potential indicator of the number of nonviable cells in vitro. The summation of data here corroborates previous work demonstrating the efficacy of specific time-varying EMFs as a novel therapeutic for the inhibition of cancer cell growth. It also furthers our assertion that biophoton emission can be used as a novel detection tool for cell activity.
Optimizing Sugar Manufacturing: A Hybrid Simulation-Based Approach and MCDM for Efficient Decision Making
Authors: Iskanderani Salahuddin , Bafail Omer , Alamoudi Mohammed
Published: October 2023

Efficient truck flow is essential for the efficient operation of a factory and the distribution of its products. This study demonstrated methods to improve truck loading times and overall efficiency at a major sugar manufacturing facility in the Middle East. The objective was to reduce truck waiting times at loading units and increase capacity. The data were collected through questionnaires, observations, and interviews with stakeholders. A simulation software was employed to analyze truck activity at loading stations at the factory. Multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) tools, AHP and TOPSIS, addressed five primary criteria and nine sub-criteria to assist in identifying, evaluating, and ranking feasible solutions. The study suggested different utilization of the various factory loading platforms at different times of the day. The findings from this study emphasize the importance of simulation-based approaches supplemented with decision-making processes to improve efficiency in sugar manufacturing facilities that may have broader applications in the factories of other industries. The study highlights remarkable improvements in operational efficiency, as seen in Alternative 4 substantial 27.9% enhancement, resulting in cost savings and time efficiency. By implementing these findings, factories can enhance their truck flow management system, reduce waiting times, increase capacity utilization, optimize resource allocation, and improve overall efficiency.
Purification and Characterization of Polyphenol Oxidase in the Fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica
Authors: Demir Dudu , Kabak Selda , Çağlayan Kardelen
Published: October 2023

Firstly, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was purified from the fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica using Sepharose 4B–L-tyrosine–p-aminobenzoic acid affinity chromatography, and the enzyme was characterized. The PPO was purified 20.59-fold. Thereafter, PPO was performed on sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The kinetic parameters, optimum pHs, and optimum temperatures were investigated for three substrates. Opuntia ficus-indica PPO’s optimum pH and optimum temperature were 9.0 and 20 °C; 7.5 and 20 °C; and 7.5 and 30 °C, respectively, when using pyrogallol, catechol, and 4-methyl catechol as substrates. For the pyrogallol, catechol, and 4-methyl catechol, the Km, Vmax, and Vmax/Km values were determined as 16.67 mM, 833.33 U/mLmin, and 50 U/mLminmM; 6.33 mM, 126.58 U/mLmin, and 20 U/mLminmM; and 5.38 mM, 107.53 U/mLmin, and 20 U/mLminmM, respectively. As a result, pyrogallol was a more appropriate substrate than catechol and 4-methyl catechol for the PPO from Opuntia ficus-indica.
Pharmacotherapeutic Approaches to Treatment of Muscular Dystrophies
Authors: Rawls Alan , Diviak Bridget K. , Smith Cameron I. , Severson Grant W. , Acosta Sofia A. , Wilson-Rawls Jeanne
Published: October 2023

Muscular dystrophies are a heterogeneous group of genetic muscle-wasting disorders that are subdivided based on the region of the body impacted by muscle weakness as well as the functional activity of the underlying genetic mutations. A common feature of the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophies is chronic inflammation associated with the replacement of muscle mass with fibrotic scarring. With the progression of these disorders, many patients suffer cardiomyopathies with fibrosis of the cardiac tissue. Anti-inflammatory glucocorticoids represent the standard of care for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common muscular dystrophy worldwide; however, long-term exposure to glucocorticoids results in highly adverse side effects, limiting their use. Thus, it is important to develop new pharmacotherapeutic approaches to limit inflammation and fibrosis to reduce muscle damage and promote repair. Here, we examine the pathophysiology, genetic background, and emerging therapeutic strategies for muscular dystrophies.
Aberrant Immune Features after Recovery from COVID-19 in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Other Autoimmune Diseases
Authors: Yu Siyue , Li Hao , Zhang Kai , Cheng Gong , Wang Yifan , Jia Yuan , Su Linchong , Jin Yuebo , Shao Miao , He Jing
Published: October 2023

Considering the large number of individuals who have already been infected and may have reinfection, the post-infection effects of COVID-19 are of great importance for clinical practice and predicting disease trends. However, our understanding of the potential long-term effects, particularly on immunity, after recovering from COVID-19 remains limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the abnormal immunological factors that contribute to the prolonged immunological effects of COVID-19. Two groups of patients were enrolled in the study, including 11 individuals with various autoimmune diseases (AIDs) and 16 patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Detailed clinical symptoms were closely monitored, and peripheral mononuclear cells were analyzed using flow cytometry. The clinical status was evaluated using the SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and the Clinical Global Impressions (CGI) index. The proportions of follicular T helper cells (Tfh) exhibited significant increases in both cohorts (AID: p = 0.03; SLE: p = 0.0008). Conversely, the percentages of Foxp3+ and CD4+ regulatory T cells (Treg) were reduced in patients following COVID-19 infection (AID: p = 0.009, 0.05, resp.; SLE: p = 0.02, 0.0009, resp.). The percentages of Th2 and Th17 cells were significantly increased in SLE patients (p < 0.05). Exacerbated conditions were observed in SLE patients two months after infection (SLEDAI, p < 0.05). Our findings show that COVID-19 infection increases Tfh cells and decreases Treg cells in patients of AIDs, worsening pathogenetic immune status in post-recovery populations.
DLL3 Is a Prognostic and Potentially Predictive Biomarker for Immunotherapy Linked to PD/PD-L Axis and NOTCH1 in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Lacalle-Gonzalez Carlos , Florez-Cespedes Maria , Sanz-Criado Lara , Ochieng’ Otieno Michael , Ramos-Muñoz Edurne , Fernandez-Aceñero Maria Jesus , Ortega-Medina Luis , Garcia-Foncillas Jesus , Martinez-Useros Javier
Published: October 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive neoplasm with very poor patient survival outcomes despite available treatments. There is an urgent need for new potential treatment options and novel biomarkers for these patients. Delta-like canonical Notch ligand 3 (DLL3) interacts with the Notch receptor and causes inhibition of Notch signaling, which confers a survival advantage to PDAC cells. Thus, DLL3 expression could affect cell survival, and its inhibition could increase a patient’s survival. To test this hypothesis, a survival analysis was conducted using the progression-free and overall survival from two independent datasets of PDAC patients, with one using mRNA z-score levels and the other using the Hscore protein expression level; both were carried out using a log-rank test and plotted using Kaplan–Meier curves. DLL3 at the mRNA expression level showed an association between high mRNA expression and both a longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients. Then, we designed a retrospective study with resected PDAC samples. Our primary objective with this dataset was to assess the relationship between PFS and OS and DLL3 protein expression. The secondary assessment was to provide a rationale for the use of anti-DLL3-based treatments in combination with immunotherapy that is supported by the link between DLL3 and other factors that are involved in immune checkpoints. The survival analyses revealed a protective effect of high DLL3 protein expression levels in both PFS and OS. Interestingly, high DLL3 protein expression levels were significantly correlated with PD-L1/2 and negatively correlated with NOTCH1. Therefore, DLL3 could be considered a biomarker for better prognosis in resectable PDAC patients as well as a therapeutic biomarker for immunotherapy response. These facts set a rationale for testing anti-DLL3-based treatments either alone or combined with immunotherapy or other NOTCH1 inhibitors.
Urinary Microbiome in Bladder Diseases—Review
Authors: Chorbińska Joanna , Krajewski Wojciech , Nowak Łukasz , Małkiewicz Bartosz , Del Giudice Francesco , Szydełko Tomasz
Published: October 2023

The microbiome is the totality of microorganisms found in a specific biological niche. It has been proven that in the human body, the microbiome is responsible for its proper functioning. Dysbiosis, i.e., a disturbance in the composition of the microbiome, may be associated with the pathogenesis of many human diseases. Until recently, studies did not focus on the microbiome of the urinary tract, because, since the 19th century, there had been a dogma that urine in healthy people is sterile. Yet, advances in molecular biology techniques have allowed this dogma to be overthrown. The use of DNA sequencing has shown that the urinary tract has its own endogenous microbiome. This discovery enabled further research on the characteristics of the urine microbiomes of healthy people, as well as on the role of the urine microbiome in the pathogenesis of many urological diseases, including bladder diseases. The aim of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on the urinary microbiome in bladder diseases and to identify potential directions for further research.
No Evidence for Cross-Modal fMRI Adaptation in Macaque Parieto-Premotor Mirror Neuron Regions
Authors: Sharma Saloni , Nelissen Koen
Published: October 2023

To probe the presence of mirror neurons in the human brain, cross-modal fMRI adaptation has been suggested as a suitable technique. The rationale behind this suggestion is that this technique allows making more accurate inferences about neural response properties underlying fMRI voxel activations, beyond merely showing shared voxels that are active during both action observation and execution. However, the validity of using cross-modal fMRI adaptation to demonstrate the presence of mirror neurons in parietal and premotor brain regions has been questioned given the inconsistent and weak results obtained in human studies. A better understanding of cross-modal fMRI adaptation effects in the macaque brain is required as the rationale for using this approach is based on several assumptions related to macaque mirror neuron response properties that still need validation. Here, we conducted a cross-modal fMRI adaptation study in macaque monkeys, using the same action execution and action observation tasks that successfully yielded mirror neuron region cross-modal action decoding in a previous monkey MVPA study. We scanned two male rhesus monkeys while they first executed a sequence of either reach-and-grasp or reach-and-touch hand actions and then observed a video of a human actor performing these motor acts. Both whole-brain and region-of-interest analyses failed to demonstrate cross-modal fMRI adaptation effects in parietal and premotor mirror neuron regions. Our results, in line with previous findings in non-human primates, show that cross-modal motor-to-visual fMRI adaptation is not easily detected in monkey brain regions known to house mirror neurons. Thus, our results advocate caution in using cross-modal fMRI adaptation as a method to infer whether mirror neurons can be found in the primate brain.
VEGF Inhibitors Improve Survival Outcomes in Patients with Liver Metastases across Cancer Types—A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Conway Jordan W. , Braden Jorja , Lo Serigne N. , Scolyer Richard A. , Carlino Matteo S. , Menzies Alexander M. , Long Georgina V. , Silva Ines Pires da
Published: October 2023

Background: Liver metastases are associated with poor prognosis across cancers. Novel treatment strategies to treat patients with liver metastases are needed. This meta-analysis aimed to assess the efficacy of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors in patients with liver metastases across cancers. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Embase was performed between January 2000 and April 2023. Randomized controlled trials of patients with liver metastases comparing standard of care (systemic therapy or best supportive care) with or without vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors were included in the study. Outcomes reported included progression-free survival and overall survival. Results: A total of 4445 patients with liver metastases from 25 randomized controlled trials were included in this analysis. The addition of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors to standard systemic therapy or best supportive care was associated with superior progression-free survival (HR = 0.49; 95% CI, 0.40–0.61) and overall survival (HR = 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74–0.93) in patients with liver metastases. In a subgroup analysis of patients with versus patients without liver metastases, the benefit with vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors was more pronounced in the group with liver metastases (HR = 0.44) versus without (HR = 0.57) for progression-free survival, but not for overall survival. Conclusion: The addition of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors to standard management improved survival outcomes in patients with liver metastasis across cancers.
The Relationship between Thyrotropin Serum Concentrations and Thyroid Carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Xueqi , Tian Lijun , Teng Di , Teng Weiping
Published: October 2023

Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH) is a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland and plays a role in regulating the production and secretion of thyroid hormones by the thyroid gland. This precise feedback loop is essential for maintaining a harmonious balance of thyroid hormones in the body, which are vital for numerous physiological processes. Consequently, TSH serves as a significant marker in assessing thyroid function, and deviations from normal TSH levels may indicate the presence of a thyroid disorder. Thyroid cancer (TC) is the malignant tumor within the endocrine system. In recent years, numerous experts have dedicated their efforts to discovering efficacious biomarkers for TC. These biomarkers aim to improve the accurate identification of tumors with a poor prognosis, as well as facilitate active monitoring of tumors with a more favorable prognosis. The role of TSH in the thyroid gland underscores its potential influence on the occurrence and progression of TC, which has garnered attention in the scientific community. However, due to the limited scope of clinical research and the dearth of high-quality foundational studies, the precise impact of TSH on TC remains unclear. Consequently, we present a comprehensive review of this subject, aiming to offer a valuable reference for future research endeavors.
Sex as a Predictor of Response to Immunotherapy in Advanced Cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Yeo Nicholas , Genenger Benjamin , Aghmesheh Morteza , Thind Amarinder , Napaki Sarbar , Perry Jay , Ashford Bruce , Ranson Marie , Brungs Daniel
Published: October 2023

Approximately 3–5% of patients with cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) develop advanced disease, accounting for roughly 1% of all cancer deaths in Australia. Immunotherapy has demonstrated significant clinical benefit in advanced CSCC in several key phase II studies; however, there are limited data for patients treated outside of clinical trials. This is particularly relevant in advanced CSCC, which is most often seen in elderly patients with significant comorbidities. Thus, we aim to describe our experience with immunotherapy in a cohort of patients with advanced CSCC in Australia. We retrospectively reviewed all advanced CSCC patients treated with immunotherapy within the Illawarra and Shoalhaven Local Health District. Among the 51 patients treated with immunotherapy, there was an objective response rate (ORR) of 53% and disease control rate (DCR) of 67%. Our most significant predictor of response was sex, with male patients more likely to have better responses compared to female patients (DCR 85% vs. 41%, p < 0.0001), as well as improved progression-free survival (HR 4.6, 95%CI 1.9–10.8, p = 0.0007) and overall survival (HR 3.0, 95%CI 1.3–7.1, p = 0.006). Differential expression analysis of 770 immune-related genes demonstrated an impaired CD8 T-cell response in female patients. Our observed ORR of 53% is similar to that described in current literature with durable responses seen in the majority of patients.
Effect of the Presence of a Silane Coupling Agent on Reaction Kinetics of Cationic Thermopolymerization of Epoxy Resin Adhesive
Authors: Chen Jiangcong , Li Bingxuan , Zhang Shujuan , Li Hengfeng
Published: October 2023

The effect of the presence of a silane coupling agent containing different functional groups on the reaction kinetics and physical properties of epoxy resin generated via cationic thermopolymerization was investigated. The kinetics of cationic polymerization of epoxy resin was studied using a nonisothermal DSC method. The polymerization is propagated by activated chain end (ACE) and activated monomer (AM) processes. With an increase in silane content, the ACE apparent activation energy first decreased and then increased, while the AM apparent activation energy increased. Moreover, the shear strength, coefficient of linear thermal expansion, gelation time, environmental testing of damp heat, and steady state with varied contents of silane coupling agents were evaluated. The results indicated that the presence of a silane coupling agent has more adhesion and lower water absorption than pure EP. The coefficient of linear thermal expansion and gelation time increased with the increase in silane content, while the water absorption decreased with the increase in silane content. Comparing the overall performance of three silane coupling agents used in the research, the curing system obtained by blending with vinyltrimethoxysliane (VTS) is a much better option for practical application as an adhesive.
Enhanced Thermoelectric Properties of Sb2Te3 Thin Films by In Doping
Authors: Wei Meng , Zhong Yiming , Zhao Gaiqing , Fan Ping , Ao Dongwei , Zheng Zhuanghao , Chen Yuexing
Published: October 2023

Flexible Sb2Te3-based thermoelectric (TE) materials are promising candidates for fabricating energy devices that power wearable electronics and sensors. Enhancing the TE properties of Sb2Te3 thin films represents a significant scientific investigation. In this work, a thermal diffusion method is applied to prepare the In-doped Sb2Te3 thin film. In doping can lead to a high Seebeck coefficient of ~137.04 μV K−1 as well as moderate electrical conductivity. As a result, the high power factor of ~18.22 μW cm−1 K−2 at 303 K is achieved. Moreover, In doping could reduce the thermal conductivity owing to the increase in phonon scattering. Finally, the high ZT values of ~0.47 at room temperature (303 K) and ~0.6 at 453 K are obtained. This indicates that In doping is a highly promising and effective approach to improving the TE performance of Sb2Te3 thin films.
Constructing and Visualizing Uniform Tilings
Authors: Max Nelson
Published: October 2023

This paper describes a system which takes user input of a pattern of regular polygons around one vertex and attempts to construct a uniform tiling with the same pattern at every vertex by adding one polygon at a time. The system constructs spherical, planar, or hyperbolic tilings when the sum of the interior angles of the user-specified regular polygons is respectively less than, equal to, or greater than 360∘. Other works have catalogued uniform tilings in tables and/or illustrations. In contrast, this system was developed as an interactive educational tool for people to learn about symmetry and tilings by trial and error through proposing potential vertex patterns and investigating whether they work. Users can watch the rest of the polygons being automatically added one by one with recursive backtracking. When a trial polygon addition is found to violate the conditions of a regular tiling, polygons are removed one by one until a configuration with another compatible choice is found, and that choice is tried next.
Fe-Mn-Al-Ni Shape Memory Alloy Additively Manufactured via Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Alhamdi Ismail , Algamal Anwar , Almotari Abdalmageed , Ali Majed , Gandhi Umesh , Qattawi Ala
Published: October 2023

Fe-Mn-Al-Ni is an Fe-based shape memory alloy (SMA) featuring higher stability and low temperature dependency of superelasticity stress over a wide range of temperatures. Additive manufacturing (AM) is a promising technique for fabricating Fe-SMA with enhanced properties, which can eliminate the limitations associated with conventional fabrication and allow for the manufacture of complicated shapes with only a single-step fabrication. The current work investigates the densification behavior and fabrication window of an Fe-Mn-Al-Ni SMA using laser powder bed fusion (LPBF). Experimental optimization was performed to identify the optimum processing window parameters in terms of laser power and scanning speed to fabricate Fe-Mn-Al-Ni SMA samples. Laser remelting was also employed to improve the characteristics of Fe-Mn-Al-Ni-fabricated samples. Characterization and testing techniques were carried out to assess the densification behavior of Fe-Mn-Al-Ni to study surface roughness, density, porosity, and hardness. The findings indicated that using a laser power range of 175–200 W combined with a scanning speed of 800 mm/s within the defined processing window parameters can minimize the defects with the material and lead to decreased surface roughness, lower porosity, and higher densification.
Phonon Characteristics of Gas-Source Molecular Beam Epitaxy-Grown InAs1−xNx/InP (001) with Identification of Si, Mg and C Impurities in InAs and InN
Authors: Talwar Devki N. , Yang Tzuen-Rong , Lin Hao-Hsiung
Published: October 2023

The lattice dynamical properties of dilute InAs1−xNx/InP (001) epilayers (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.03) grown by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy were carefully studied experimentally and theoretically. A high-resolution Brüker IFS 120 v/S spectrometer was employed to measure the room-temperature infrared reflectivity (IRR) spectra at near-normal incidence (θi = 0). The results in the frequency range of 180–500 cm−1 revealed accurate values of the characteristic In-As-like and In-N-like vibrational modes. For InAs1−xNx alloys, a classical “Drude–Lorentz” model was constructed to obtain the dielectric functions ε~ω in the far IR regions by incorporating InAs-like and InN-like transverse optical ωTO modes. Longitudinal optical ωLO phonons were achieved from the imaginary parts of the simulated dielectric loss functions. The theoretical results of IRR spectra for InAs1−xNx/InP (001) epilayers using a multi-layer optics methodology provided a very good agreement with the experimental data. At oblique incidence (θi ≠ 0), our study of s- and p-polarized reflectance (Rs,p(ω)) and transmission (Ts,p(ω)) spectra allowed the simultaneous perception of the ωTO and ωLO phonons of the InAs, InN and InAs0.97N0.03 layers. Based on the average t-matrix Green’s function theory, the results of local vibrational modes for light SiIn+ donors and SiAs−, CAs− acceptors in InAs were found in good agreement with the existing Raman scattering and infrared spectroscopy data. InInN, however, the method predicted an in-band mode for the MgIn− acceptor while projecting an impurity mode of the SiIn+ donor to appear just above the maximum ωmaxInN[≡595 cm−1] phonon frequency region. In InAs1−xNx/InP (001) epifilms, the comparison of reflectivity/transmission spectra with experiments and the predictions of impurity modes for isoelectronic donor and acceptor impurities in InAs and InN can be valuable for appraising the role of defects in other technologically important semiconductors.
Systematic Study on the Synthesis and Magnetism Properties of Manganese Ferrite MnFe2O4 by an Oxidation Roasting Process
Authors: Wen Shanshan , Chen Bing , Zhang Junhong , Zhan Wenlong , He Zhijun , Gao Lihua
Published: October 2023

A low-cost and high-efficiency solid reaction method has been reported as an effective technology to synthesize manganese ferrite MnFe2O4 with a spinel crystal structure. This work clarified the underlying reason for the influence mechanism of SiO2 and Al2O3 on the synthesis of MnFe2O4. Synthetic MnFe2O4 polyhedral microparticles with a saturated magnetization of 71.19 emu/g, a ratio of saturation magnetization to residual magnetization (Ms/Mr) of 0.062 and a coercivity (Hc) of 6.50 Oe were successfully obtained at an oxidization roasting temperature of 1100 °C for 60 min. The experimental results indicate that the tetrahedral Mn2+ ions and octahedral Mn3+ ions in the crystal structure of manganese ferrite MnFe2O4 were replaced by tetrahedral Si2+ ions and octahedral Al3+ ions from (Mn2+)x(Fe2+)y(Si2+)1−x−y[Fe3+]2O4 and (Mn2+)[Fe3+]2−x[Al3+]xO4, respectively. In addition, hercynite FexMn1−xAl2O4 with a spinel crystal structure and olivine MnxFe2−xSiO4 with an orthorhombic crystal structure were partially formed in the synthesis of manganese ferrite MnFe2O4, in which some Fe2+ ions were easily replaced by Mn2+ ions to form stable hercynite MnAl2O4 and olivine Mn2SiO4 in these crystal structures. The current research work provides comprehensive insights for synthesizing manganese ferrite MnFe2O4 and continuously advances its technical progress.
Combi-Elasto Evaluation of the Degree of Liver Fibrosis in Children with Cholestatic Liver Disease
Authors: Li Rina , Hu Caihui , Xu Fenglin , Zhang Qi , Zhou Fazhi , Zheng Chenpeng , Gao Yang , Tang Yi , Chen Jingyu
Published: October 2023

Cholestatic liver disease is a common liver disease in infants and young children. Liver fibrosis is a key factor affecting the prognosis, and liver transplantation is the only treatment option for liver cirrhosis. This study aimed to explore the efficacy of Combi-elasto for diagnosing liver fibrosis in children affected by cholestatic liver disease. A total of 64 children with S1–S4-grade liver fibrosis were enrolled. The general data, routine ultrasound, Combi-elasto, aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI) and Fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score were compared among children with different grades of liver fibrosis, and the efficacy of the above indexes for evaluating the degree of liver fibrosis was reported. There were remarkable differences in liver size, liver echogenicity, Young’s modulus (E), fibrosis index (FI), activity index (AI) and FIB-4 score among the groups (all p < 0.05). E and liver echogenicity were the independent impact factors of liver fibrosis. The areas under the curve of E, APRI, FIB-4 score and the combined model (E+ liver echogenicity) in the evaluation of liver fibrosis were 0.84, 0.61, 0.66 and 0.90, respectively. Ultimately, we concluded that CE is an effective method to evaluate liver fibrosis in children with cholestatic liver disease.
Relationship between Eccentricity and Volume Determined by Spectral Algorithms Applied to Spatially Registered Bi-Parametric MRI and Prostate Tumor Aggressiveness: A Pilot Study
Authors: Mayer Rulon , Turkbey Baris , Choyke Peter L. , Simone Charles B.
Published: October 2023

(1) Background: Non-invasive prostate cancer assessments using multi-parametric MRI are essential to the reliable detection of lesions and proper management of patients. While current guidelines call for the administration of Gadolinium-containing intravenous contrast injections, eliminating such injections would simplify scanning and reduce patient risk and costs. However, augmented image analysis is necessary to extract important diagnostic information from MRIs. Purpose: This study aims to extend previous work on the signal to clutter ratio and test whether prostate tumor eccentricity and volume are indicators of tumor aggressiveness using bi-parametric (BP)-MRI. (2) Methods: This study retrospectively processed 42 consecutive prostate cancer patients from the PI-CAI data collection. BP-MRIs (apparent diffusion coefficient, high b-value, and T2 images) were resized, translated, cropped, and stitched to form spatially registered BP-MRIs. The International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade was used to judge cases of prostate cancer as either clinically significant prostate cancer (CsPCa) (ISUP ≥ 2) or clinically insignificant prostate cancer (CiPCa) (ISUP < 2). The Adaptive Cosine Estimator (ACE) algorithm was applied to the BP-MRIs, followed by thresholding, and then eccentricity and volume computations, from the labeled and blobbed detection maps. Then, univariate and multivariate linear regression fittings of eccentricity and volume were applied to the ISUP grade. The fits were quantitatively evaluated by computing correlation coefficients (R) and p-values. Area under the curve (AUC) and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve scores were used to assess the logistic fitting to CsPCa/CiPCa. (3) Results: Modest correlation coefficients (R) (>0.35) and AUC scores (0.70) for the linear and/or logistic fits from the processed prostate tumor eccentricity and volume computations for the spatially registered BP-MRIs exceeded fits using the parameters of prostate serum antigen, prostate volume, and patient age (R~0.17). (4) Conclusions: This is the first study that applied spectral approaches to BP-MRIs to generate tumor eccentricity and volume metrics to assess tumor aggressiveness. This study found significant values of R and AUC (albeit below those from multi-parametric MRI) to fit and relate the metrics to the ISUP grade and CsPCA/CiPCA, respectively.
Fulfilling the Regenerative Potential of Higher Education: A Collaborative Auto-Ethnography
Authors: Wessels Koen Rens , Grünwald Lotte
Published: October 2023

Moving towards sustainable futures in which human and natural systems increasingly flourish together asks not only for technological innovation but also for social, cultural, psychological, and spiritual transformation. Regenerative education is an upcoming strand of theory and practice seeking to understand the enabling role educational systems can fulfill in this process. This paper aims to advance the notion of regenerative education from the perspective of two regenerative principles: (1) living the question of vocation and (2) embracing emergence. To do so, we—as a teacher–researcher and a student–researcher—engage in collaborative auto-ethnography against the background of a regenerative educational experiment we participated in together, which we refer to as “Graduate with Hope”. Our collaborative auto-ethnographic process was built around the practices of journaling and diffractive letter conversation. Through it, we meditate how (1) fostering a regenerative educational experience asks for the embrace of the pedagogical paradoxes of structure, shared agency, educational space, and transformation, (2) embracing these paradoxes can be confrontational and trigger inner development, and (3) sustaining commitment in this context asks for an ongoing practice of “talking the walk”. These perspectives can inspire educational professionals to design for, engage in, and study regenerative forms of education.
From Research in the Lab to Pedagogical Practices in the EFL Classroom: The Case of Task-Based Pronunciation Teaching
Authors: Mora Joan C. , Mora-Plaza Ingrid
Published: October 2023

Input and context-related factors identified by research as key success variables in L2 pronunciation development in immersion contexts play a very modest role in instructed foreign language (FL) learning environments. Scarce L2 exposure and use and L1-accented input make pronunciation learning extremely challenging. Current L2 speech learning models attribute difficulties in L2 speech acquisition to L2-to-L1 perceptual sound mappings guided by L1-based perception and poor phonological awareness and noticing of cross-language phonetic differences, which are typically not adequately addressed in instruction through pedagogic tasks. Explicit and incidental pronunciation teaching methods have been found effective at improving learners’ pronunciation, but ways to integrate them into communicative approaches to language teaching are still largely unexplored. Thus, language education practices currently lack a research-informed pedagogical approach that incorporates principles of L2 speech learning and task-based language teaching (TBLT) into pronunciation instruction. This article (1) presents an outline of new avenues for research and practice in L2 pronunciation instruction and (2) reports on the findings of an empirical study that implemented a task-based pronunciation teaching (TBPT) approach to teaching a difficult L2 vowel contrast through computerized collaborative map tasks that could be easily integrated into communicative FL classrooms.
An Inclusive Early Childhood Education Setting according to Practitioners’ Experiences in Yogyakarta, Indonesia
Authors: Jusni Evie , Fonsén Elina , Ahtiainen Raisa
Published: October 2023

In Indonesia, the definition of inclusive education tends to be a narrow one. Even though the goal of the national policy on inclusive education underlines non-discrimination for all learners, early childhood education (ECE) practices still do not accommodate every child’s needs. This study focuses on inclusive practices in ECE by exploring the provision of inclusive ECE in Yogyakarta, one of the big cities in Indonesia, where ECE inclusive pedagogy has been implemented for more than five years. By exploring ECE practitioners’ experiences, this study aims to discuss the (mis)alignments between inclusive education policy and practices. The data sources are two-fold. First, we conducted online interviews with ECE manager and teachers (N = 5). The second form of data comprised ECE teachers’ online discussions on the topic of inclusion. The data collected were analysed using a thematic analysis method. The results indicate that distributed leadership, an organisational culture that respects diversity, and inclusive ECE pedagogy are the main aspects that need to be developed to enable inclusive ECE.
Intelligent Vibration Monitoring System for Smart Industry Utilizing Optical Fiber Sensor Combined with Machine Learning
Authors: Kumar Pradeep , Shih Guo-Liang , Yao Cheng-Kai , Hayle Stotaw Talbachew , Manie Yibeltal Chanie , Peng Peng-Chun
Published: October 2023

In this paper, we proposed and experimentally demonstrated the association of a fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensing system with You Only Look Once V7 (YOLO V7) to identify the vibration signal of a faulty machine. In the experiment, the YOLO V7 network architecture consists of a backbone, three detection heads (Headx3), a path aggregation network (PAN), and a feature pyramid network (FPN). The proposed architecture has an FBG sensor and the FBG interrogator employed for collecting sensing vibration signals or vibration data when degradation or fault occurs. An FBG interrogator collects vibration data independently, and then the YOLO V7 object detection algorithm is the recognition architecture of the vibration pattern of the signal. Thus, the proposed vibration recognition or detection is an assurance for detecting vibration signals that can support monitoring the machine’s health. Moreover, this research is promising for ensuring a high accuracy detection of faulty signals rate in industrial equipment monitoring and offers a robust system, resulting in remarkable accuracy with an overall model accuracy of 99.7%. The result shows that the model can identify the faulty signal more accurately and effectively detect the faulty vibration signal using the detection algorithm.
Enhancing Grid Operation with Electric Vehicle Integration in Automatic Generation Control
Authors: Ullah Zahid , Ullah Kaleem , Diaz-Londono Cesar , Gruosso Giambattista , Basit Abdul
Published: October 2023

Wind energy has been recognized as a clean energy source with significant potential for reducing carbon emissions. However, its inherent variability poses substantial challenges for power system operators due to its unpredictable nature. As a result, there is an increased dependence on conventional generation sources to uphold the power system balance, resulting in elevated operational costs and an upsurge in carbon emissions. Hence, an urgent need exists for alternative solutions that can reduce the burden on traditional generating units and optimize the utilization of reserves from non-fossil fuel technologies. Meanwhile, vehicle-to-grid (V2G) technology integration has emerged as a remedial approach to rectify power capacity shortages during grid operations, enhancing stability and reliability. This research focuses on harnessing electric vehicle (EV) storage capacity to compensate for power deficiencies caused by forecasting errors in large-scale wind energy-based power systems. A real-time dynamic power dispatch strategy is developed for the automatic generation control (AGC) system to integrate EVs and utilize their reserves optimally to reduce reliance on conventional power plants and increase system security. The results obtained from this study emphasize the significant prospects associated with the fusion of EVs and traditional power plants, offering a highly effective solution for mitigating real-time power imbalances in large-scale wind energy-based power systems.
Available Forage and the Conditions for Avoiding Predation of the Siberian Roe Deer (Capreolus pygargus) in the Lesser Xing’an Mountains
Authors: Li Yueyuan , Li Yuehui , Hu Yuanman , Li Yue , Guo Jia , Shao Xuefeng , Gao Huifang
Published: October 2023

Our study focused on quantifying available forage and the conditions for avoiding predation provided within the home ranges of Siberian roe deer (Capreolus pygargus). We conducted transect surveys in both winter and summer–autumn home ranges of the Siberian roe deer in the Tieli Forestry Bureau of the Lesser Xing’an Mountains. Our results revealed significant differences: (1) In terms of the quantity and quality of available forage, the summer–autumn home range had substantially more available forage than the winter home range, with meadows and cornfields showing the highest edible biomass in each, respectively. In terms of forage quality, there were differences in hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin content between the two ranges. (2) In terms of the conditions for avoiding predation, the winter home range had lower vegetation coverage and greater visibility, making escape strategies more viable. In contrast, the summer–autumn home range had denser vegetation and limited visibility, making hiding strategies more viable. Our study offers comprehensive insights into the available forage and the conditions for avoiding predation, which is crucial for wildlife conservation strategies and habitat management in the region, as it directly informs strategies that address the seasonal forage requirements and predation avoidance of these deer, ultimately enhancing their prospects for survival in the area.
Alternative Genetic Diagnoses in Axenfeld–Rieger Syndrome Spectrum
Authors: Reis Linda M. , Amor David J. , Haddad Raad A. , Nowak Catherine B. , Keppler-Noreuil Kim M. , Chisholm Smith Ann , Semina Elena V.
Published: October 2023

Axenfeld–Rieger anomaly (ARA) is a specific ocular disorder that is frequently associated with other systemic abnormalities. PITX2 and FOXC1 variants explain the majority of individuals with Axenfeld–Rieger syndrome (ARS) but leave ~30% unsolved. Here, we present pathogenic/likely pathogenic variants in nine families with ARA/ARS or similar phenotypes affecting five different genes/regions. USP9X and JAG1 explained three families each. USP9X was recently linked with syndromic cognitive impairment that includes hearing loss, dental defects, ventriculomegaly, Dandy–Walker malformation, skeletal anomalies (hip dysplasia), and other features showing a significant overlap with FOXC1-ARS. Anterior segment anomalies are not currently associated with USP9X, yet our cases demonstrate ARA, congenital glaucoma, corneal neovascularization, and cataracts. The identification of JAG1 variants, linked with Alagille syndrome, in three separate families with a clinical diagnosis of ARA/ARS highlights the overlapping features and high variability of these two phenotypes. Finally, intragenic variants in CDK13, BCOR, and an X chromosome deletion encompassing HCCS and AMELX (linked with ocular and dental anomalies, correspondingly) were identified in three additional cases with ARS. Accurate diagnosis has important implications for clinical management. We suggest that broad testing such as exome sequencing be applied as a second-tier test for individuals with ARS with normal results for PITX2/FOXC1 sequencing and copy number analysis, with attention to the described genes/regions.