bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Obsessive–Compulsive Symptoms in Children Are Related to Sensory Sensitivity and to Seeking Proxies for Internal States
Authors: Tal Ilil , Cervin Matti , Liberman Nira , Dar Reuven
Published: October 2023

Symptoms of obsessive–compulsive disorder are related to atypical sensory processing, particularly sensory over-responsivity, in both children and adults. In adults, obsessive–compulsive symptoms are also associated with the attenuation of access to the internal state and compensatory reliance on proxies for these states, including fixed rules and rituals. We aimed to examine the associations between sensory over-responsivity, the tendency to seek proxies for internal states, and obsessive–compulsive symptoms in children. Parents of 404 children between 5 and 10 years of age completed online measures of obsessive–compulsive symptoms, seeking proxies for internal states, sensory over-responsivity, and anxiety. Linear regression, dominance analysis, and network analysis were used to explore the unique associations between these variables. The tendency to seek proxies for internal states was more strongly associated with obsessive–compulsive symptoms than with anxiety symptoms and uniquely associated with all major obsessive–compulsive symptom dimensions except obsessing. Both the tendency to seek proxies for internal states and sensory over-responsivity were significantly associated with obsessive–compulsive symptoms, but the association was significantly stronger for the tendency to seek proxies for internal states. While limited by the sole reliance on the parent-report, the present study shows that the tendency to seek proxies for internal states could help clarify the developmental processes involved in the onset of obsessive–compulsive symptoms during childhood and that sensory sensitivity may be important to consider in this process.
Thermoelastic Behaviors of Temperature-Dependent Multilayer Arches under Thermomechanical Loadings
Authors: Zhang Zhong , Zhao Wenjie , Sun Ying , Gu Zhenyuan , Qian Wangping , Gong Hai
Published: October 2023

This work presents analytical solutions for thermoelastic behaviors of multilayer arches with temperature-dependent (TD) thermomechanical properties under thermomechanical loadings. The temperature is varied across the thickness of the arch. Firstly, an arched-slice model is developed, which divides every layer of the arch into numerous hypothetical arched slices with uniform thermomechanical properties. Based on the model, the nonlinear heat conduction equations across the thickness of the arch are solved using the iteration approach, and then the thermoelastic equations obtained from the two-dimensional thermoelasticity theory are solved using the state-space approach and transfer-matrix approach. The present solutions are compared with those obtained using the finite element method and the Euler–Bernoulli theory (EBT). It is found that the error of the EBT increases when the angle of the arch increases or the length-to-thickness ratio decreases. Finally, numerical examples are conducted to analyze the effects of surface temperature and TD thermomechanical properties on the temperature, displacement, and stress distributions of a sandwich arch. The results show that the temperature dependency of thermomechanical properties is a key parameter in predicting the thermoelastic behaviors of the arch in a high-temperature environment.
Experimental Study on Bearing Behavior and Soil Squeezing of Jacked Pile in Stiff Clay
Authors: Xi Banglu , Li Guangzi , Chen Xiaochuan
Published: October 2023

In order to study the bearing behavior and soil-squeezing of jacked piles in stiff clay, two groups of pile penetration tests were performed, with a rough pile that can reproduce the quick-shear behavior of the pile–soil interface, i.e., group 1 in stiffer clay, and group 2 in softer clay for comparison. For each group, the adjacent pile was additionally penetrated at different pile spacings to study the soil-squeezing effect on an adjacent pile. The results show that the penetration resistance increased rapidly at the beginning and then increased at a lower rate. This is because the resistance at the pile end increased rapidly at the beginning and then kept stable with fluctuations, whereas the resistance at the pile side continually increased due to the increasing contact area. Therefore, the ratio of the resistance at the pile end to the total penetration resistance exhibited a softening behavior, which first increased to a peak and then gradually decreased. In addition, there was soil-squeezing stress and soil-squeezing displacement in the ground and adjacent piles due to pile penetration. In stiffer clay, the soil-squeezing stress was larger than that in softer clay due to the higher strength, whereas the soil-squeezing displacement was smaller than that in softer clay due to the low compressibility. In addition, the nonlinear equation form y = ae−bx can be employed to describe the effect of pile spacing on the vertical flotation, horizontal deviation, and pile strain of the adjacent pile.
Biomarkers of Tumor Metastasis and Invasiveness
Authors: Pouliquen Daniel L. , Núñez González Cristina
Published: October 2023

The identification of proteins as new cancer diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers continues to attract considerable attention in the oncology literature, especially in the context of invasion and metastasis activation process [...]
Clinical Management of Low Anterior Resection Syndrome: Review of the Current Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Zhang Ruijia , Luo Wenqin , Qiu Yulin , Chen Fan , Luo Dakui , Yang Yufei , He Weijing , Li Qingguo , Li Xinxiang
Published: October 2023

Background: Low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) is a series of bowel dysfunction symptoms, including altered bowel frequency, irregular bowel rhythms, fecal incontinence, and constipation. LARS occurs in 80% of patients undergoing sphincter-preserving surgery, affecting patients’ quality of life along with social avoidance. Different measurements and treatments have been raised to deal with LARS, but no systematic standard has been developed. Objective and Methods: To promote the standardization of clinical trials and clinical management of LARS, this review summarizes the latest findings up until 2023 regarding the diagnostic criteria, assessment protocols, and treatment modalities for postoperative LARS in rectal cancer. Results: The diagnostic criteria for LARS need to be updated to the definition proposed by the LARS International Collaborative Group, replacing the current application of the LARS score. In both clinical trials and clinical treatment, the severity of LARS should be assessed using at least one symptom assessment questionnaire, the LARS score or MSKCC BFI, and at least one scale related to quality of life. Anorectal manometry, fecoflowmetry, endoscopic ultrasonography, and pelvic floor muscle strength testing are recommended to be adopted only in clinical trials. After analysis of the latest literature on LARS treatment, a stepwise classification model is established for the standardized clinical management of LARS. Patients with minor LARS can start with first-line treatment, including management of self-behavior with an emphasis on diet modification and medication. Lamosetron, colesevelam hydrochloride, and loperamide are common antidiarrheal agents. Second-line management indicates multi-mode pelvic floor rehabilitation and transanal irrigation. Patients with major LARS should select single or several treatments in second-line management. Refractory LARS can choose antegrade enema, neuromodulation, or colostomy. Conclusions: In clinical trials of LARS treatment between 2020 and 2022, the eligibility criteria and evaluation system have been variable. Therefore, it is urgent to create a standard for the diagnosis, assessment, and treatment of LARS. Failure to set placebos and differentiate subgroups are limitations of many current LARS studies. Randomized controlled trials comparing diverse therapies and long-term outcomes are absent, as well. Moreover, a new scale needs to be developed to incorporate the patient’s perspective and facilitate outpatient follow-up. Though the establishment of a stepwise classification model for LARS treatment here is indispensable, the refinement of the guidelines may be improved by more standardized studies.
lncRNA Sequencing Reveals Neurodegeneration-Associated FUS Mutations Alter Transcriptional Landscape of iPS Cells That Persists in Motor Neurons
Authors: Provasek Vincent E. , Kodavati Manohar , Guo Wenting , Wang Haibo , Boldogh Istvan , Van Den Bosch Ludo , Britz Gavin , Hegde Muralidhar L.
Published: October 2023

Fused-in sarcoma (FUS) gene mutations have been implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study aimed to investigate the impact of FUS mutations (R521H and P525L) on the transcriptome of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and iPSC-derived motor neurons (iMNs). Using RNA sequencing (RNA Seq), we characterized differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) and subsequently predicted lncRNA–mRNA target pairs (TAR pairs). Our results show that FUS mutations significantly altered the expression profiles of mRNAs and lncRNAs in iPSCs. Using this large dataset, we identified and verified six key differentially regulated TAR pairs in iPSCs that were also altered in iMNs. These target transcripts included: GPR149, NR4A, LMO3, SLC15A4, ZNF404, and CRACD. These findings indicated that selected mutant FUS-induced transcriptional alterations persist from iPSCs into differentiated iMNs. Functional enrichment analyses of DEGs indicated pathways associated with neuronal development and carcinogenesis as likely altered by these FUS mutations. Furthermore, ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) and GO network analysis of lncRNA-targeted mRNAs indicated associations between RNA metabolism, lncRNA regulation, and DNA damage repair. Our findings provide insights into potential molecular mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of ALS-associated FUS mutations and suggest potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of ALS.
Two-Dimensional Materials: From Discovery to Application in Membrane Distillation/Crystallization Processes
Authors: Frappa Mirko , Alessandro Francesca , Macedonio Francesca , Drioli Enrico
Published: October 2023

Sustainable water desalination and purification membrane processes require new practical pathways to improve their efficiency. To this end, the inclusion of two-dimensional materials in membrane structure has proven to have a significant impact in various applications. In particular, in processes such as membrane distillation and crystallization, these materials, thanks to their characteristics, help to increase the recovery of clean water and, at the same time, to improve the quality and the production of the recovered salts. Therefore, a fundamental aspect of obtaining 2D materials with certain characteristics is the technique used for the preparation. This review provides a broad discussion on the preparation and proprieties of 2D materials, including examples of organic structures (such as graphene and structures containing transition metals and organic metals). Finally, the critical challenges, future research directions, and the opportunities for developing advanced membranes based on 2D materials are outlined.
Focus Groups to Inform User-Centered Development of an eHealth Sleep Intervention for Adolescents: Perspectives of Youth with Insomnia Symptoms, with and without Pain
Authors: Tougas Michelle , Rigney Gabrielle , Chambers Christine , Smith Isabel , Mugford Joshua , Keeler Laura , Rajda Malgorzata , Corkum Penny
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Adolescence is a developmental stage that often coincides with increasing sleep problems. Focus groups were conducted to inform development of an adolescent eHealth sleep intervention by exploring opinions about (1) healthy sleep practices, and (2) using an eHealth intervention. Methods: Adolescents 14–18 years old experiencing symptoms of insomnia based on the Insomnia Sleep Index, with and without recurrent pain, and associated stakeholders (i.e., parents, school personnel, and health care providers) were recruited. Across six online focus groups, 24 adolescents with insomnia participated (14 pain-free, 10 with recurrent pain; 10 male, 14 female). Across seven online focus groups, 22 stakeholders participated, including 8 parents, 9 school professionals, and 5 health care providers (10 male, 8 female). Using a content analysis, subthemes were induced from transcripts. Results: Most healthy sleep practices were perceived as reasonable for adolescents to implement, except avoiding technology before bed and using bedrooms only for sleep. Three primary barriers to sleep practices were identified, including a variable schedule due to lifestyle factors, technology at night, and academics interfering with sleep, and only in the pain group, the barrier related to pain was identified. Content addressing adolescent-specific barriers was considered important to include in a sleep intervention. Desirable eHealth components included interactive features, videos, audio, and pictures to present information. A common barrier to using an eHealth sleep intervention was the program feeling too academic, with accessibility of the sleep information and strategies as a common facilitator. Conclusions: This research represents the first step in a user-centered approach to developing an adolescent eHealth sleep intervention. These results provide insights from a range of perspectives on guiding adolescents to follow healthy sleep practices. Next, these findings will be integrated in the development of an eHealth intervention for adolescents with and without recurrent pain.
In Vitro Characterization of Doped Bioglass 45S5/HAp Coatings Obtained by CoBlastTM Deposition
Authors: Pádua Ana Sofia , Gavinho Sílvia Rodrigues , Vieira Tânia , Hammami Imen , Silva Jorge Carvalho , Borges João Paulo , Graça Manuel Pedro Fernandes
Published: October 2023

Bone replacement is one of the major medical procedures in the oral surgery field due to the progressive ageing population and to illness or trauma in younger age groups. The use of implants without biological activity and effective osseointegration increases the chances of implant failure. This work aims to improve the interaction between implants and bone by using Bioglass 45S5 (BG)/hydroxyapatite (HAp) mixtures, including copper-, zinc-, and cerium-doped BG, as well as co-doping by the mentioned metals, as coatings produced by the CoBlastTM technique. All coatings present a uniform coverage of the Ti-6Al-4V substrate. Furthermore, in vitro testing using human osteosarcoma Saos-2 cells indicated that BG/HAp coatings have no cytotoxic effect, and the used of doping agents did not alter cell adhesion, proliferation, or alkaline phosphatase (ALP) expression when compared to undoped coating. These results demonstrate that BG/HAp by CoBlastTM can be a solution to improve implants’ osseointegration.
The Effect of a Vacuum Environment on the Electrical Properties of a MoS2 Back-Gate Field Effect Transistor
Authors: Li Jichao , Peng Songang , Jin Zhi , Tian He , Wang Ting , Peng Xueyang
Published: October 2023

Adsorption of gas molecules on the surface of two-dimensional (2D) molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) can significantly affect its carrier transport properties. In this letter, we investigated the effect of a vacuum environment on the electrical properties of a back-gate MoS2 FET. Benefiting from the reduced scattering centers caused by the adsorbed oxygen and water molecules in a vacuum, the current Ion/Ioff ratio of back-gate MoS2 field effect transistor increased from 1.4 × 106 to 1.8 × 107. In addition, the values of field effect carrier mobility were increased by more than four times, from 1 cm2/Vs to 4.2 cm2/Vs. Furthermore, the values of subthreshold swing could be decreased by 30% compared with the sample in ambient air. We demonstrate that the vacuum process can effectively remove absorbates and improve device performances.
Micro Arc Oxidation of Mechanically Alloyed Binary Zn-1X (X = Mg or Sr) Alloys
Authors: Kowalski Kamil , Drzewiecki Michał , Jurczyk Mieczysław
Published: October 2023

The binary Zn-1wt.% X (X = Mg or Sr) alloys prepared by the application of mechanical alloying (MA) combined with powder metallurgy were modified by micro-arc oxidation (MAO) treatment in the 2 g/dm3 KOH aqueous solution at 200 V for 1 min for the formation of the ZnO layer. The Zn-alloys, obtained through the powder metallurgy method, are characterized by a dispersive microstructure that significantly improves its microhardness up to 90.5 HV0.3 for the Zn-1wt.%Mg sample after 24 h of MA. In the case of Zn-1Mg alloy after 24 h of mechanical alloying, Zn-1Mg alloy after 48 h of mechanical alloying, and Zn-1Sr alloy after 48 h of mechanical alloying, except for the main αZn phase, the traces of a second phase are noticed: MgZn2 and SrZn13. After the proposed MAO treatment, a zinc oxide (ZnO) layer on the zinc alloys was formed, allowing a significant improvement in the corrosion resistance and surface wetting properties. The potential of the modified ZnO layer is moved to more noble values in the case of MAO-treated samples α-Zn, Zn-1Mg (after 24 h of MA), and Zn-1Sr (after 48 h of MA). The obtained results show a good prospective potential of Zn-1wt.% X (X = Mg or Sr) binary alloys in the application of biodegradable materials.
Data-Driven Network Latency Processing for Auxiliary Services in Virtual Power Plant
Authors: Liu Chuan , Tao Jing , Liu Ying , Wang Xiangqun , Peng Wei
Published: October 2023

Nowadays, with the increasingly prominent contradiction between environment and development, renewable energy technology has received extensive attention. However, due to natural fluctuation, there are many challenges in safety and stationarity in an electric power system with a large-scale portion of renewable energy. Meanwhile, the conventional electric power system in which the power supply follows the load change paradigm is gradually broken. Thanks to advanced information and communication technology, energy storage technology, and automatic control technology, the power supply, grid, load, and energy storage interactive electric power system regulation paradigm came into being. A virtual power plant (VPP) is a concrete realization of this regulation paradigm. In this paper, based on the characteristics of VPP service requirements, we propose a data-driven method to estimate and predict the network latency. First, we investigate and summarize the characteristics of a VPP participating in various auxiliary services and their demand for communication networks. Second, the practical implementation of a VPP network architecture, which combines the local network and the backhaul network, is presented based on a secure access gateway and VPP monitoring and scheduling platform for flexible resource aggregation and regulation. Then, based on a delay probe, a network latency acquisition method is proposed for a public backhaul network. Finally, a data-driven network latency processing method is proposed to support the VPP’s participation in different communication requirements of auxiliary services.
Exploring the Evolution of Core Technologies in Agricultural Machinery: A Patent-Based Semantic Mining Analysis
Authors: Wei Tingting , Jiang Tao , Feng Danyu , Xiong Juntao
Published: October 2023

The semi-automatic construction and analysis of technology roadmaps are at the forefront of applying artificial intelligence techniques. To clarify the development path of the core technologies in the field of agricultural machinery, we propose a core technology evolution path analysis method based on patent text semantic mining. First, the key sentences in the text were extracted, and the BERT model was used to represent the topic’s key sentences in semantic vectorization. Then, the technology roadmap was constructed through the unsupervised LDA topic clustering method, and the main fields of activity, blank fields, and fields of agricultural machinery were visually analyzed. Next, investment in research fields was strengthened. Finally, we mapped the technology roadmap and patent IPC codes and found that the evolution of core technologies in the field of agricultural machinery could be divided into the technology development stage, technology focus stage, and technology transformation stage; this allows us to analyze the evolution and integration of these core technologies. The internal laws of the technology evolution provide a reference for future research plans of governments, enterprises, and institutions, aiding in the patent portfolio planning by revealing the microlevel process of technology integration and the technological trends in agricultural machinery.
An Efficient and Secure Blockchain Consensus Protocol for Internet of Vehicles
Authors: Si Xueming , Li Min , Yao Zhongyuan , Zhu Weihua , Liu Jianmei , Zhang Qian
Published: October 2023

Conventional blockchain consensus protocols tailored for the Internet of Vehicles (IoV) usually face low transaction throughput, high latency, and elevated communication overhead issues. To address these issues, in this paper, we propose ESBCP, an efficient and secure blockchain consensus protocol for the IoV environment. Firstly, considering the significant performance differences among nodes in the IoV, we designed a blockchain consensus model for the IoV. Roadside units execute a trust evaluation mechanism to select high-quality vehicle nodes for the consensus process, thereby reducing the likelihood of malicious nodes in the consensus cluster. Secondly, we designed a node partition strategy to adapt to the dynamic feature of the IoV. Finally, addressing the mobility of nodes in the IoV, we introduced a dynamic unique node list. Vehicle nodes can promptly select nodes with high reliability from the list of communicable nodes to join their unique node list, while also promptly removing nodes with low reliability from their unique node list. Combining these strategies, we propose DK-PBFT, an improved Practical Byzantine Fault Tolerance consensus algorithm. The algorithm meets the efficiency and mobility requirements of vehicular networks. Through theoretical analysis, ESBCP could prevent external and internal security risks while reducing communication overhead. Experimental verification demonstrated that ESBCP effectively reduces consensus latency and improves transaction throughput. Our proposed ESBCP can be used in other application scenarios that require high consensus efficiency.
Study on Thermal Performance of Electric Heating System with Salt Hydrate-PCM Storage
Authors: Huang Li , Piontek Udo , Zhuang Lulu , Zheng Rongyue , Zou Deqiu
Published: October 2023

An electric radiator combined with salt hydrate-phase change material (PCM) storage was developed to replace the existing scattered coal burning systems for clean heating applications. It was designed to have an average heat output of 400 W and a thermal storage efficiency of 65.6% for reducing the electricity peak load. The thermal performance was investigated experimentally and numerically by using various radiator configurations and electric heating powers, as well as three PCMs with a melting point of 58 °C (PCMI 58), 78 °C (PCMI 78) and 90 °C (PCMI 90). It was found that the radiator combined with PCMI 78 had an average heat output of 412 W, and the PCMI 78 could be completely charged within 8 off-peak hours at an electric heating power of 1270 W, in the case of the radiator external dimension L × B × H of 796 × 106 × 656 mm and the L/B ratio of 7.5. The experiment results indicated that the average room temperature could be maintained at 20.0 °C at an outdoor temperature of 5.2 °C when applying the electric radiator developed.
Thinning Promotes Soil Phosphorus Bioavailability in Short-Rotation and High-Density Eucalyptus grandis × E. urophylla Coppice Plantation in Guangxi, Southern China
Authors: Xiao Xiangsheng , Ali Izhar , Du Xu , Xu Yuanyuan , Ye Shaoming , Yang Mei
Published: October 2023

Thinning can improve soil nutrient supply, but the effects of thinning on soil phosphorus (P) contents and bioavailable mechanisms in high-density and short-rotation Eucalyptus coppice forests are not well reported. Therefore, we conducted five intensities of thinning treatments, which were 83% (283 tree ha−1, T1), 66% (566 tree ha−1, T2), 50% (833 tree ha−1, T3), 33% (1116 tree ha−1, T4), and 0% (1665 tree ha−1) in a 2nd 6-year-old E. grandis × E. urophylla coppice plantation with 8 years as a rotation, investigated soil nutrient contents, microbial biomass, and extracellular enzyme activities of 0–20 and 20–40 cm soil layers after two years of thinning, and analyzed the relationship between available phosphorus (AP) and other indicators. The results showed that soil total phosphorus (TP) contents in 2nd Eucalyptus coppice plantations were lower than in native forest ecosystems, but T1 significantly increased (p < 0.05) TP by 81.42% compared to CK of 0–20 cm, whereas T2 and T3 improved available phosphorus (AP) by 86.87%–212.86% compared to CK. However, soil organic carbon (SOC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), total nitrogen (TN), and alkaline hydrolysable nitrogen (AN) were not significantly different (p < 0.05) among all treatments. According to the analysis, soil TP contents were significantly positively related (p < 0.001) to SOC; soil total nutrients and DOC contents had the highest standardized total effect on AP; meanwhile, the quotient of microbial biomass directly conducted soil AP contents. These results highlighted that thinning can be used to alleviate soil P shortages by promoting multinutrient and biological cycles in Eucalyptus coppice forests.
An Improved Deep Learning Model for Underwater Species Recognition in Aquaculture
Authors: Hamzaoui Mahdi , Ould-Elhassen Aoueileyine Mohamed , Romdhani Lamia , Bouallegue Ridha
Published: October 2023

The ability to differentiate between various fish species plays an essential role in aquaculture. It helps to protect their populations and monitor their health situations and their nutrient systems. However, old machine learning methods are unable to detect objects in images with complex backgrounds and especially in low-light conditions. This paper aims to improve the performance of a YOLO v5 model for fish recognition and classification. In the context of transfer learning, our improved model FishDETECT uses the pre-trained FishMask model. Then it is tested in various complex scenes. The experimental results show that FishDETECT is more effective than a simple YOLO v5 model. Using the evaluation metrics Precision, Recall, and mAP50, our new model achieved accuracy rates of 0.962, 0.978, and 0.995, respectively.
Non-Traditional Starches, Their Properties, and Applications
Authors: Šárka Evžen , Sinica Andrej , Smrčková Petra , Sluková Marcela
Published: October 2023

This review paper focuses on the recent advancements in the large-scale and laboratory-scale isolation, modification, and characterization of novel starches from accessible botanical sources and food wastes. When creating a new starch product, one should consider the different physicochemical changes that may occur. These changes include the course of gelatinization, the formation of starch–lipids and starch–protein complexes, and the origin of resistant starch (RS). This paper informs about the properties of individual starches, including their chemical structure, the size and crystallinity of starch granules, their thermal and pasting properties, their swelling power, and their digestibility; in particular, small starch granules showed unique properties. They can be utilized as fat substitutes in frozen desserts or mayonnaises, in custard due to their smooth texture, in non-food applications in biodegradable plastics, or as adsorbents. The low onset temperature of gelatinization (detected by DSC in acorn starch) is associated with the costs of the industrial processes in terms of energy and time. Starch plays a crucial role in the food industry as a thickening agent. Starches obtained from ulluco, winter squash, bean, pumpkin, quinoa, and sweet potato demonstrate a high peak viscosity (PV), while waxy rice and ginger starches have a low PV. The other analytical methods in the paper include laser diffraction, X-ray diffraction, FTIR, Raman, and NMR spectroscopies. Native, “clean-label” starches from new sources could replace chemically modified starches due to their properties being similar to common commercially modified ones. Human populations, especially in developed countries, suffer from obesity and civilization diseases, a reduction in which would be possible with the help of low-digestible starches. Starch with a high RS content was discovered in gelatinized lily (>50%) and unripe plantains (>25%), while cooked lily starch retained low levels of rapidly digestible starch (20%). Starch from gorgon nut processed at high temperatures has a high proportion of slowly digestible starch. Therefore, one can include these types of starches in a nutritious diet. Interesting industrial materials based on non-traditional starches include biodegradable composites, edible films, and nanomaterials.
Generalized Additive Models for Predicting Sea Level Rise in Coastal Florida
Authors: Vaidya Hanna N. , Breininger Robert D. , Madrid Marisela , Lazarus Steven , Kachouie Nezamoddin N.
Published: October 2023

Within the last century, the global sea level has risen between 16 and 21 cm and will likely accelerate into the future. Projections from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) show the global mean sea level (GMSL) rise may increase to up to 1 m (1000 mm) by 2100. The primary cause of the sea level rise can be attributed to climate change through the thermal expansion of seawater and the recession of glaciers from melting. Because of the complexity of the climate and environmental systems, it is very difficult to accurately predict the increase in sea level. The latest estimate of GMSL rise is about 3 mm/year, but as GMSL is a global measure, it may not represent local sea level changes. It is essential to obtain tailored estimates of sea level rise in coastline Florida, as the state is strongly impacted by the global sea level rise. The goal of this study is to model the sea level in coastal Florida using climate factors. Hence, water temperature, water salinity, sea surface height anomalies (SSHA), and El Niño southern oscillation (ENSO) 3.4 index were considered to predict coastal Florida sea level. The sea level changes across coastal Florida were modeled using both multiple regression as a broadly used parametric model and the generalized additive model (GAM), which is a nonparametric method. The local rates and variances of sea surface height anomalies (SSHA) were analyzed and compared to regional and global measurements. The identified optimal model to explain and predict sea level was a GAM with the year, global and regional (adjacent basins) SSHA, local water temperature and salinity, and ENSO as predictors. All predictors including global SSHA, regional SSHA, water temperature, water salinity, ENSO, and the year were identified to have a positive impact on the sea level and can help to explain the variations in the sea level in coastal Florida. Particularly, the global and regional SSHA and the year are important factors to predict sea level changes.
Two-Dimensional Seismic Response Analysis to Evaluate the Site Effects of the New Belvedere Bridge (L’Aquila, Central Italy)
Authors: Totani Ferdinando
Published: October 2023

To evaluate the importance of the site effects of large structures such as the new Belvedere Bridge (L’Aquila), which crosses a 25 m deep and 100 m valley in the city, one-dimensional and two-dimensional analyses were used to model the seismic response. The results indicate that the valley effects and the geometry of the bridge construction section have a significant influence on ground motions, especially at the points where the natural morphology has been altered by civil works carried out over time. In the presence of vertically propagating shear waves (SVs), the synthetic parameters of seismic motion, such as the maximum ground acceleration (PGA), the amplification factors (AFs), and the elastic acceleration response spectra (Ses), are crucial aspects to identify. The different motions generated between the anchorage points of the bridge foundations, even though they exhibit reduced proportions, and the site effects should be considered in bridge design.
Hydrocolloid Coatings as a Pre-Frying Treatment in the Production of Low-Fat Banana Chips
Authors: Santos Júlia Silva Pereira dos , Leonel Magali , Jesus Paulo Ricardo Rodrigues de , Leonel Sarita , Fernandes Adalton Mazetti , Ouros Lucas Felipe dos
Published: October 2023

Fried foods occupy a large portion of the fast-food market. However, growing consumer health awareness is driving research to minimize the oil content of products. The use of specific barriers such as hydrocolloid coatings can avoid high oil absorption. Herein, the physicochemical characteristics of banana fruit cultivars and the effects of hydrocolloid coatings on the quality attributes of banana chips were evaluated. The unripe fruits were analyzed for length, diameter, mass, pulp/peel ratio, firmness, and color. The pulps were analyzed for moisture, total and reducing sugars, crude fat, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, and maturation index. Pulp slices were coated before frying with four hydrocolloid solutions: guar gum, carboxymethylcellulose, sodium alginate, and maltodextrin. The fruits of the cultivar BRS Platina were larger, with a more yellowish pulp and those of FHIA 18 had smaller lengths and diameters. After frying, higher moisture losses were observed in the control and in the treatment with maltodextrin. Hydrocolloids promoted reductions in oil absorption from 26.54 to 9.14%, in addition to changes in the color and hardness of the chips. A coating pretreatment can be used to produce low-fat banana chips, with better results using guar gum. Our results are useful in expanding the commercialization of fruits that fall easily and the chip coating technology can be applied in snack industries.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Social Work: Evidence for Impact?
Authors: McCusker Pearse , Gillespie Lauren , Davidson Gavin , Vicary Sarah , Stone Kevin
Published: October 2023

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (hereafter CRPD) has provided a radical imperative for the reform of mental health and capacity legislation around the world. The interpretation of the CRPD has been controversial, ranging from the complete abolition of detention, forcible treatment, and substitute decision-making to accepting that elements of these measures need to be retained based on non-discriminatory criteria, additional safeguards, and a comprehensive shift towards supported decision-making. While the potential effects of the CRPD on mental health social work and social work generally are considerable given their shared commitment towards social justice, to date there has been no review of research evidence exploring their relationship. In addressing this knowledge gap, this study held a preliminary discussion with practitioners and academics at the European Association of Social Work Mental Health Special Interest Group in Amsterdam 2022, followed by a scoping literature review on the question: What impact, if any, has the CRPD had on social work practice? The review produced four main findings: impact on legislation; positive impact on practice; limited impact on practice; and impact on social work education and research. In sum, while there were some positive indications of social work and mental health social work practice being influenced by the CRPD, these were scant. Barriers to change included tendencies among some social workers to practise substitute decision-making, in part related to resourcing and policy contexts, and understandings of disability aligned to individualised/medical rather than social perspectives. The results indicate that legal reform on its own is insufficient to impact social work practice, and that realising the potential of the CRPD will necessitate good quality training, as well as improving social workers’ knowledge of the human rights of people with mental impairment.
The Analyses of Land Use and Prevention in High-Density Main Urban Areas under the Constraint of Karst Ground Subsidence: Study of Wuhan City, China
Authors: Gao Lin , Shi Yan , Qiu Yang , Ma Chuanming , Zhou Aiguo
Published: October 2023

The development and utilization of land in the main urban area have significantly impacted the stability of the regional geological environment through various means, such as increased load and subway construction, primarily manifested as rock and soil mass deformation leading to geological hazards. Therefore, it is worth exploring how to reduce the occurrence of karst ground subsidence (KGS) through reasonable land development and control measures in the main urban areas with large-scale developments of buried karst formations. This study focuses on the main urban area of Wuhan City. An evaluation model for KGS was constructed using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and comprehensive index evaluation method by analyzing the geological conditions that affect KGS. The susceptibility zoning of KGS was obtained with GIS spatial analysis technology. The results show that the susceptible areas can be divided into extreme, high, medium, and weak susceptibility, accounting for 4.93%, 15.30%, 33.21%, and 46.56%, respectively, which are consistent with the distribution density of past KSGs. Furthermore, by selecting the subway construction as a human activity type, it indirectly discusses the influence of land development intensity on KGS. The results show that past KSGs are mainly concentrated in areas with high engineering construction density and significant land development intensity. Based on the above, strategies for regional land development and prevention and control of KGSs are proposed.
Prognostic Impact of CD38- and IgκC-Positive Tumor-Infiltrating Plasma Cells in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Heimes Anne-Sophie , Riedel Natali , Almstedt Katrin , Krajnak Slavomir , Schwab Roxana , Stewen Kathrin , Lebrecht Antje , Battista Marco Johannes , Brenner Walburgis , Hasenburg Annette , Schmidt Marcus
Published: October 2023

Due to a higher mutational load, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by a higher immunogenicity compared to other subtypes. In this context, we analyzed the prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating plasma cells in a cohort of 107 triple-negative breast cancer patients. Tumor-infiltrating plasma cells were analyzed via immunohistochemistry using the plasma cell markers CD38 and IgκC. The prognostic impact of the CD38 and IgκC expression was evaluated using the Kaplan–Meier plots and Cox regression analyses. A Spearman-Rho correlation coefficient was used to evaluate a possible association between plasma cell infiltration and the BRCA mutation status. The study cohort consisted of 107 patients with early-stage TNBC, who were treated between 2009 and 2016 at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Mainz, Germany. The median follow-up was five years. The Kaplan–Meier survival analysis showed that higher tumor infiltration with CD38-positive plasma cells was associated with significantly longer metastasis-free survival (MFS) (p = 0.039 Log Rank). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis for metastasis-free survival, in which additional clinicopathological factors (age, tumor size, nodal status, and grading) were considered, CD38 was identified as an independent prognostic factor within the analyzed cohort (HR 0.438, 95% CI 0.195–0.983; p = 0.045). In addition to the CD38 expression, the nodal status was also identified as an independent prognostic factor in multivariate Cox regression. Regarding the IgκC expression, a higher IgκC expression was shown to be associated with a better outcome, although this effect was not statistically significant. Furthermore, we were able to show a significant correlation between plasma cell infiltration and the BRCA mutation status. A favorable prognostic significance of tumor-infiltrating plasma cells could be demonstrated in triple-negative breast cancer immunohistochemically analyzed for the CD38 and IgκC expression. CD38 was identified as an independent prognostic factor via multivariate Cox regression.
Network Pharmacology and Bioinformatics Study of Geniposide Regulating Oxidative Stress in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Wu Yingzi , Luo Jinhai , Xu Baojun
Published: October 2023

This study aims to identify the mechanism of geniposide regulating oxidative stress in colorectal cancer (CRC) through network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis. Targets of geniposide, oxidative stress-related targets and targets related to CRC were applied from databases. The hub genes for geniposide regulating oxidative stress in CRC were identified with the protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. Furthermore, we applied Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment to analyze the hub genes from a macro perspective. We verified the hub genes by molecular docking, GEPIA, HPA and starBase database. We identified five hub genes: IL1B, GSK3B, NOS3, RELA and CDK4. GO analysis results suggested that the anti-colorectal cancer effect of geniposide by regulating oxidative stress is possibly related to the influence of multiple biological processes, including response to temperature stimulus, response to alkaloid, nitric oxide biosynthetic process, nitric oxide metabolic process, reactive nitrogen species metabolic process, cellular response to peptide, etc. KEGG enrichment analysis results indicated that the PI3K–Akt signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, NF-κB signaling pathway and NOD-like receptor signaling pathway are likely to be the significant pathways. Molecular docking results showed that the geniposide had a good binding activity with the hub genes. This study demonstrates that geniposide can regulate oxidative stress in CRC, and induction of oxidative stress is one of the possible mechanisms of anti-recurrence and metastasis effects of geniposide against CRC.
My Name Is Legion, for We Are Many—The Complex Community of Antibody Receptors
Authors: Biburger Markus
Published: October 2023

Antibodies act as the central mediators of immunological defense mechanisms, therapeutic agents within clinics, and the mediators of various immune-mediated disorders [...]
Assessing the Potential of Small Peptides for Altering Expression Levels of the Iron-Regulatory Genes FTH1 and TFRC and Enhancing Androgen Receptor Inhibitor Activity in In Vitro Prostate Cancer Models
Authors: Currie Crawford , Bjerknes Christian , Myklebust Tor Åge , Framroze Bomi
Published: October 2023

Recent research highlights the key role of iron dyshomeostasis in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer (PCa). PCa cells are heavily dependent on bioavailable iron, which frequently results in the reprogramming of iron uptake and storage pathways. Although advanced-stage PCa is currently incurable, bioactive peptides capable of modulating key iron-regulatory genes may constitute a means of exploiting a metabolic adaptation necessary for tumor growth. Recent annual increases in PCa incidence have been reported, highlighting the urgent need for novel treatments. We examined the ability of LNCaP, PC3, VCaP, and VCaP-EnzR cells to form colonies in the presence of androgen receptor inhibitors (ARI) and a series of iron-gene modulating oligopeptides (FT-001-FT-008). The viability of colonies following treatment was determined with clonogenic assays, and the expression levels of FTH1 (ferritin heavy chain 1) and TFRC (transferrin receptor) were determined with quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Peptides and ARIs combined significantly reduced PCa cell growth across all phenotypes, of which two peptides were the most effective. Colony growth suppression generally correlated with the magnitude of concurrent increases in FTH1 and decreases in TFRC expression for all cells. The results of this study provide preliminary insight into a novel approach at targeting iron dysmetabolism and sensitizing PCa cells to established cancer treatments.
Expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in Endometrial Cancer: Molecular and Clinical Significance
Authors: Mamat @ Yusof Mohd Nazzary , Chew Kah Teik , Kampan Nirmala Chandralega , Shafiee Mohamad Nasir
Published: October 2023

The landscape of diagnosing and treating endometrial cancer is undergoing a profound transformation due to the integration of molecular analysis and innovative therapeutic approaches. For several decades, the cornerstone treatments for endometrial cancer have included surgical resection, cytotoxic chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and radiation therapy. However, in recent years, the concept of personalised medicine has gained momentum, reshaping the way clinicians approach cancer treatment. Tailoring treatments based on specific biomarkers has evolved into a standard practice in both initial and recurrent therapy protocols. This review aims to provide an in-depth exploration of the current state of molecular analysis and treatment strategies in the context of endometrial cancer, focusing on the immunological aspect of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis. Furthermore, it seeks to shed light on emerging and innovative approaches that hold promise for the future modulation of endometrial cancer treatments. In essence, as researchers delve into the complex molecular landscape of endometrial cancer and harness the understanding of the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, we are paving the way for more targeted, effective, and personalised therapies that have the potential to significantly improve the outcomes and quality of life for patients with this challenging disease.
The Role of the Oxidative State and Innate Immunity Mediated by TLR7 and TLR9 in Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Echavarria Raquel , Cardona-Muñoz Ernesto Germán , Ortiz-Lazareno Pablo , Andrade-Sierra Jorge , Gómez-Hermosillo Luis Francisco , Casillas-Moreno Jorge , Campos-Bayardo Tannia Isabel , Román-Rojas Daniel , García-Sánchez Andrés , Miranda-Díaz Alejandra Guillermina
Published: October 2023

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is considered one of the leading causes of mortality. Multiple immunological pathways are involved in the pathogenesis of SLE, which makes it imperative to deepen our knowledge about this disease’s immune-pathological complexity and explore new therapeutic targets. Since an altered redox state contributes to immune system dysregulation, this document briefly addresses the roles of oxidative stress (OS), oxidative DNA damage, antioxidant enzymes, mitochondrial function, and mitophagy in SLE and LN. Although adaptive immunity’s participation in the development of autoimmunity is undeniable, increasing data emphasize the importance of innate immunity elements, particularly the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) that recognize nucleic acid ligands, in inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Here, we discuss the intriguing roles of TLR7 and TLR9 in developing SLE and LN. Also included are the essential characteristics of conventional treatments and some other novel and little-explored alternatives that offer options to improve renal function in LN.