bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shaping of the “China Threat” Concept in the U.S. Expert-Political Discourse
Authors: Zhuravleva V. , Cherkashin M.
Published: November 2023

In 2011, Andrew Liveris, a former CEO and chairman of The Dow Chemical Company, one of the three largest chemical producers in the world, published the book “Make in America. Re-invention solved”. During the 2016 presidential campaign, he was one of D. Trump’s top donors. In 2017, the President appointed him to lead his American Manufacturing Council. The slogan “make in America” became the second key ideological element of Donald Trump’s presidency, along with the popular “make America great again”. The strategy of restoring American industry has become the basis of D. Trump’s economic policy and is continued by J. Biden. It also in many ways strengthened and accelerated the confrontational vector in the U.S. policy towards China. This is a vivid example of how ideas can get into American political discourse, become official concepts that determine not only the country’s internal development, but also foreign policy strategies. In American politics, there is a well-established mechanism for such transition of ideas into political concepts and big strategies. Through this mechanism, the authors are striving to track the dynamics of the U.S. – China confrontation. This article explores the evolution of the “China Threat” concept in American policy from “think tanks” analytical papers to Senate hearings and annual reports towards, finally, the National Security Strategies of the last three administrations. This research shows the gradual change in narratives from the “U.S. – China partnership” to the “U.S. – China confrontation”. The principles of systems analysis allowed us to consider the process of formulating current foreign policy approaches to China through the interaction of the main elements of the U.S. foreign policy strategic conceptualization. In this systemic process, there are three interrelated actors – research centers, Congress and the President. The research period is limited to the term of the last three presidents, with a view to trace, if possible, the point of transition from the declared “well-being” in bilateral relations to the declared confrontation. The authors came to the conclusion that the escalation of the “China Threat” in political discourse starts from the period of B. Obama’s defense budget reduction and was highly promoted by the U.S. Department of Defense and military-industrial complex interest groups through conceptualization of the threat by think tanks.
Adaptive Leadership under “Dual Containment”: U.S. Mode of Action in a Changing World Order
Authors: Suchkov M.
Published: November 2023

The article is devoted to the study of various adaptation modes in the U.S. foreign policy amid changes in the international environment. The author looks into the drivers of American leadership in the first post-Cold War decade and critically assesses how the changes in the international system affected them having brought the current state of the world to the “great power rivalry” mode. As a result, the paper observes, the “dual containment” of China and Russia is effectively becoming the organizing idea of American foreign policy, the conditions under which the U.S. were presented as a role model are being eroded, while American elites continue to strive to keep the United States’ hegemonic position in the international system. The author considers the “adaptive leadership” theory and ways in which it conjugates with the “adaptive behavior” theory of J. Rosenau, arguing that for the moment, the U.S. are undergoing the so called convulsive mode of adaptation. The article further scrutinizes the essence of such adaptation in concrete areas and seeks to answer how adequate the measures adopted by the United States today are for the goals and objectives that they pursue. The author presumes that in the absence of key drivers for the adaptive leadership – the factor of time, renewed national identity, new quality of governance by qualitatively new elites, and new consensus among the elites over the role the U.S. should play in the world, – the United States opts for some sort of “expedited” adaptation. It includes persuasion through ideology, incitement though economic measures, coercion through force, and ultimately exposes U.S. foreign policy more like that of a hegemon and less like that of a leader. The paper argues that in the mid-term perspective, the domestic politics of the United States will be dependent on the formation of the aforementioned renewed leadership drivers, while America’s foreign policy will signal how successful the adaptation processes are.
China: Is Common Prosperity Possible?
Authors: Mikheev V. , Lukonin S. , Vakhrushin I.
Published: November 2023

Against the background of the aggravation of the US-Chinese rivalry, as well as the increasing level of criticality of internal socio-economic problems, Beijing is trying to accelerate the implementation of national development strategies, the main of which are the general “Great revival of the Chinese nation” and more focused “Common prosperity” and “Double circulation”. In general, these programs are interrelated and interdependent, and without the implementation of one of them it is impossible to implement the rest. They are designed to reduce the criticality of socio-economic imbalances formed in China during economic reforms and especially after 2008, as well as lay the foundation for the future socio-economic development of the PRC based on the dominance of domestic final consumption of households in order to avoid Beijing’s dependence on external economic and political conditions. This article considers, first of all, the “Common prosperity” program, the implementation of which in the medium term should level the social situation in China, as well as expand demand from the middle class. In addition, “Common prosperity” also has a pronounced ideological character, since it is a relatively new idea of the CPC General Secretary and, ultimately, the reputation of both Xi Jinping himself and the Communist Party of China as a whole depends on the success of its implementation. In an economic sense, “Common prosperity” is one of the stages of achieving the “Second centennial goal”, according to which Beijing plans to become in 2049, if not the first power, then the “second” first power at the level of the United States. That is, victory or at least parity in strategic rivalry with the United States depends on “Common prosperity”. At the same time, despite the importance of “Common prosperity” the final clear plan still doesn’t exist. The main question remains: where, in the context of a decrease in the effectiveness of traditional growth factors of the Chinese economy, to take resources for its implementation. If you increase the taxation of the Chinese middle class, which is already not rich by world average standards, then you can reduce the demand on its part and hit the “double circulation”. If you introduce taxes on real estate, you can hit the Chinese real estate market on the income from which provincial budgets depend a lot. If rely on tertiary distribution, that is, to form a tradition of charity, it is not clear whether this will be sustainable. In a difficult economic environment, Beijing will have to look for mutually satisfying and balanced solutions to very difficult tasks.
A Survey on Mycological and Aflatoxin B1 Contamination in Wheat and Maize Harvested during the 2022 Season in Albania
Authors: Mato Lorena , Damani Zamir , Spahiu Jeton , Halimi Eltjon , Seiti Bujar , Topi Dritan
Published: November 2023

Today, given the paramount importance of food safety to human health, mycotoxins are considered especially important contaminants of foodstuffs. Among the mycotoxins, aflatoxins are potent food contaminants which are present in maize and wheat. Invasions of toxigenic fungi in the field and during storage are directly affected by climate and other environmental factors. A total of 129 samples of maize and grain harvested in 2022 were surveyed for mycological contamination. Aflatoxin B1 contamination was investigated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method.Our study revealed the presence of fungi from five genera: Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, Alternaria, and Cladosporium. We also found that maize was more frequently contaminated than wheat. Fungi of the Penicillium genus were the most abundant (77.89%), followed by Fusarium (74.73%) and Aspergillus (72.63%). Samples originating from the Korça region (104 units) exhibited a higher fungal load on the three genera. AFB1 contamination is a more critical issue in maize than wheat. The incidence of AFB1 in maize was 88.23%, with a maximum concentration of 69.12 μg/kg; in contrast, the incidence of AFB1 in wheat was only 4.91%. In wheat, no samples had AFB1 concentrations above the EU Maximum Residue Level (MRL) of 2 μg/kg; in maize, 41.18% of samples exceeded the AFB1 MRL of 5 μg/kg for human food, and 32.25% exceeded the MRL for animal feed. These findings, together with other research results from the last decade, suggest that relevant information should be made available to farmers, and good agriculture practices encouraged, as a matter of priority.
Comparative Analysis of VOC Purification Techniques in Complex Cooking Emissions: Adsorption, Photocatalysis and Combined Systems
Authors: Zatta Daniele , Segata Mattia , Biasioli Franco , Allegretti Ottaviano , Bochicchio Giovanna , Verucchi Roberto , Chiavarini Francesco , Cappellin Luca
Published: November 2023

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are molecules present in our everyday life, and they can be positive, such as in the formation of odour and food flavour, or harmful for environment and humans, and the research is focusing on limiting their emissions. Various methods have been used to achieve this purpose. Firstly, we review three main degradation methods: activated carbon, photocatalysis and a synergetic system. We provide a general overview of the operative conditions and report the possibility of VOC abatement during cooking. Within the literature, none of these systems has ever been tested in presence of complex matrices, such as during a cooking process. The aim of this study is to compare the three methods in order to understand the behaviour of filter systems in the case of realistically complex gas mixtures. Proton Transfer Reaction - mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) has been used as real-time monitoring of volatilome. Since VOC emissions are highly dependent on the composition of the food cooked, we evaluated the degradation capacity of the three systems for different burger types (meat, greens and fish). We demonstrate pros and cons of the photocatalysis and adsorption and how a combined approach can mitigate the drawbacks of photocatalysis.
Effect of Amino-Functionalized POSS on Structure-Property Relationships of Thermostable Hybrid Cyanate Ester Resin Based Nanocomposites
Authors: Grigoryeva Olga , Fainleib Alexander , Starostenko Olga , Shulzhenko Diana , Rios de Anda Agustin , Gouanvé Fabrice , Espuche Eliane , Grande Daniel
Published: November 2023

Nanocomposites of cyanate ester resin (CER) filled with three different reactive amino-functionalized polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) were synthesized and characterized. The addition of a small quantity (0.1 wt.%) of amino-POSS chemically grafted to the CER network led to increasing thermal stability of CER matrix. A significant increase of the glass transition temperature, Tg (DSC data), and the temperature of α relaxation, Tα (DMTA data), by 45-55 оС of CER matrix with loading of nanofillers was evidenced. CER/POSS films exhibited a higher storage modulus than that of neat CER in the temperature range investigated. It was evidenced that CER/aminopropylisobutyl (APIB)-POSS, CER/N-phenylaminopropyl (NPAP)-POSS, and CER/aminoethyl aminopropylisobutyl (AEAPIB)-POSS nanocomposites induced a more homogenous α relaxation phenomenon with higher Tα values and an enhanced nanocomposite elastic behavior. Furthermore, CER/amino-POSS nanocomposites possessed higher specific surface area, gas permeability (CO2, He), and diffusion coefficients (CO2) values than those for neat CER, due to increasing free volume of the nanocomposites studied that is very important for their gas transport properties. Permeability grew respectively by about 2 (He) and 3.5-4 times (СО2), and diffusion coefficient of CO2 increased approximately twice for CER/amino-POSS nanocomposites in comparison with the neat CER network. The efficiency of amino-functionalized POSS in improving the thermal and transport properties of the CER/amino-POSS nanocomposites increased in a raw of reactive POSS containing one primary (APIB-POSS) < eight secondary (NPAP-POSS) < one secondary and one primary (AEAPIB-POSS) amino groups. APIB-POSS had the least strongly pronounced effect, since it could form covalent bonds with the CER network only by reaction of one –NH2 group, while AEAPIB-POSS displayed the most highly marked effect, since it could easily be incorporated into the CER network via reaction of –NH2 and –NH– groups with –O–C≡N groups from CER.
Queueing-Inventory Systems with Catastrophes under Various Replenishment Policies
Authors: Ozkar Serife , Melikov Agassi , Sztrik Janos
Published: November 2023

We discuss two queueing-inventory systems with catastrophes in the warehouse. Catastrophes occur according to Poisson process and upon arrival of a catastrophe all inventory in the system is instantly destroyed. But consumer customers in the system (in the server or in the buffer) continue still waiting for the replenishment of the stock. The arrivals of the consumer customers follow a Markovian Arrival Process (MAP) and they can be queued in an infinite buffer. Service time of a consumer customer follows a phase-type distribution. The system receives negative customers whose have Poisson flows to service facility and upon arrival of a negative customer one consumer customer is pushed out from the system, if any. One of two replenishment policies can be used in the system: either (s,S) or (s,Q). If upon arrival of the consumer customer, the inventory level is zero, then according to the Bernoulli scheme, this customer is either lost (lost sale scheme) or join the queue (backorder sale scheme). The system is formulated by a four-dimensional continuous-time Markov chain. Steady state distribution is obtained using the matrix-geometric method. A comprehensive numerical study is performed on the performance measures under various replenishment policies. Finally, an optimization study is presented.
Effect of Lithological Parameters on Combustion Characteristics of Methane Hydrate Sediments
Authors: Cui Gan , Wu Di , Li Yixuan , Yao Shupeng , Guo Tao , Yin Juerui , Xing Xiao , Liu Jianguo
Published: November 2023

In this paper, four lithological parameters, i.e. thermal conductivity, particle size, porosity and saturation, are investigated by combining experimental observations with numerical simulations to study the influence laws and mechanisms of action on the combustion process of methane hydrate sediments. The variation of combustion characteristics parameters such as flame height, effective combustion ratio and dimensionless discharge water mass with the lithological parameters are studied. In addition, the combustion mechanism of lithologic parameters on methane hydrate deposits is revealed. Combining the experimental results and simulation calculations, to optimize the combustion of methane hydrate sediments, it is recommended to use methane hydrate sediment samples with high saturation and low thermal conductivity, while the oxidant concentration and porosity of methane hydrate sediment samples should be increased.
Automated Text Annotation Using Semi-Supervised Approach with Meta Vectorizer and Machine Learning Algorithms for Hate Speech Detection
Authors: Saifullah Shoffan , Dreżewski Rafał , Dwiyanto Felix Andika , Aribowo Agus Sasmito , Fauziah Yuli , Cahyana Nur Heri
Published: November 2023

Text annotation is an essential element of the natural language processing approaches. The manual annotation process performed by humans has several drawbacks, such as subjectivity, slowness, fatigue, and possibly carelessness. In addition, annotators may annotate ambiguous data. So, we developed the concept of automated annotation to get the best annotations using several machine-learning approaches. The proposed approach is based on an ensemble algorithm of meta-learners and meta-vectorizer techniques. The approach employs a semi-supervised learning technique for automated annotation, aimed at detecting hate speech. This involves leveraging various machine learning algorithms, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree (DT), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and Naive Bayes (NB), in conjunction with Word2Vec and TF-IDF text extraction methods. The annotation process is performed using 13,169 Indonesian YouTube comments data. The proposed model used a Stemming approach using data from Sastrawi and also new data of 2,245 words. Semi-supervised learning uses 5%, 10%, and 20% of labeled data as compared to performing labeling based on 80% of the datasets. In semi-supervised learning, the model learns from the labeled data, which provides explicit information, and the unlabeled data, which offers implicit insights. This hybrid approach enables the model to generalize and make informed predictions even when limited labeled data is available, ultimately enhancing its ability to handle real-world scenarios with scarce annotated information. In addition, the proposed method uses a variety of thresholds for matching words labeled with hate speech ranging from 0.6, 0.7, 0.8, and 0.9. The experiment showed that the KNN-Word2ec model has the best accuracy value of 96.9% with a scenario of 5%:80%:0.9. However, several other methods have also accuracy above 90%, such as SVM and DT based on both text extraction methods in several test scenarios.
Semiconductor and Liquid Assisted Photothermal Effect: A New Method to Generate Electricity from Sunlight
Authors: Ganesh Ibram
Published: November 2023

The Semiconductor and Liquid Assisted Photothermal Effect (SLAPE)” concept was employed for the first time in this study to generate electricity from sunlight. In SLAPE process, a semiconducting material is immersed completely in a stable organic solvent to capture the complete sunlight reaching the earth surface and to turn it into the heat-energy that can be eventually converted into electricity by using Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) with the help of a heat engine and electric generator. In this investigation, the SLAPE solar panels were fabricated with two top and bottom chambers separated by thin thermally conducting metal sheet (Cu or Al). Multi-crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells (SPVCs) in conjunction with -butyrolactone were employed to capture the sunlight, and a low-boiling point dichloromethane (DCM) solvent was employed as a working fluid to capture the in situ generated heat energy from sunlight. Upon exposure to the natural sunlight, the 21 numbers of SPVCs together with about 2 litres -butyrolactone containing one square meter area SLAPE solar panel has generated about 17 V when integrated with a laboratory model reciprocally moved steam engine and a custom-made electric generator, whereas, a commercial SPVC solar panel with 21 number SPVCs generate a maximum voltage of 11 V. The theoretical background governing the SLAPE solar panels, the necessity for their invention and the proof of concept of SLAPE solar panels have been thoroughly presented and discussed and established in this article.
Effects of Mars Global Simulant (MGS-1) on Growth and Physiology of Sweet Potato: A Space Model Plant
Authors: Chinnannan Karthik , Somagattu Prapooja , Yammanuru Hyndavi , Nimmakayala Padma , Chakrabarti Manohar , Reddy Umesh K.
Published: November 2023

Growing food autonomously on Mars is challenging due to the Martian soil's low nutrient content and high salinity. Understanding how plants adapt and evaluating their nutritional attributes are pivotal for sustained Mars missions. This research delved into the regeneration, stress tolerance, and dietary metrics of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) across different Mars Global Simulant (MGS-1) concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 75%). In our greenhouse experiment, 75% MGS-1 concentration most significantly inhibited sweet potato growth, storage root biomass, and chlorophyll content. This concentration also elevated plant tissues' H2O2, proline, and ascorbic acid levels. Higher MGS-1 exposures (50 and 75%) notably boosted vital amino acids and sugar groups in the plant's storage roots. Yet, increased MGS-1 concentrations notably diminished the total C: N ratio and elemental composition in both vines and storage roots. In summary, sweet potato exhibited optimal growth, antioxidant properties, yield, and nutrient profiles at 25% MGS-1 exposure, compared to higher concentrations. This study underscores the need for future interventions, like nutrient enhancement and controlled metal accessibility, to render it a suitable plant for space-based studies.
Stereo Matching Method for Remote Sensing Images Based on Attention and Scale Fusion
Authors: Wei Kai , Huang Xiaoxia , Li Hongga
Published: November 2023

With the development of remote sensing satellite technology for Earth observation, remote sensing stereo images have been used for three-dimensional reconstruction in various fields, such as urban planning and construction. However, remote sensing images often include noise, occluded regions, weakly textured areas and repeated textures, which can lead to reduced accuracy in stereo matching and affect the quality of the 3D reconstruction results. To reduce the impact of complex scenes in remote sensing images on stereo matching and to ensure both speed and accuracy, we propose a new end-to-end stereo matching network based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs). The proposed stereo matching network can learn features at different scales from the original images and construct cost volumes with varying scales to obtain richer scale information. Additionally, when constructing the cost volume, we introduce negative disparity to adapt to the common occurrence of both negative and nonnegative disparities in remote sensing stereo image pairs. For cost aggregation, we employ a 3D convolution-based encoder-decoder structure that allows the network to adaptively aggregate information. Before feature aggregation, we also introduce an attention module to retain more valuable feature information, enhance feature representation, and obtain a higher-quality disparity map. By training on the publicly available US3D dataset, we obtain the accuracy that 1.115 pixel in end-point error (EPE) and 5.32% in the error pixel ratio (D1) on the test dataset, and the inference speed is 92 ms. Comparing our model with existing state-of-the-art models, we achieve higher accuracy, and the network is beneficial for the three-dimensional reconstruction of remote sensing images.
Safety and Efficacy of Double Balloon Kyphoplasty (Quattroplasty Versus Single Balloon Kyphoplasty). A Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Santiago Silvia , Crespo-Sanjuán Jesús , Ardura Francisco , Hernández Ramajo Rubén , Caballero-García Alberto , Labrador Gregorio Jesús , Bragado María , Noriega David César
Published: November 2023

Background and objectives Osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures, particularly prevalent among the aging population, constitute a pressing global healthcare challenge. They often are unnoticed until severe pain and disability manifest, making them an underdiagnosed and undertreated condition. Patients who suffer from these fractures not only endure excruciating pain but also face diminished quality of life, impaired mobility, and the risk of respiratory compromise due to altered spinal alignment. The economic repercussions of vertebral compression fractures are substantial. Hospitalization costs, rehabilitation expenses, long-term care, and indirect costs related to lost productivity significantly burden healthcare systems and society at large , offering a promising avenue for enhancing patient outcomes and relieving the healthcare and societal financial strain posed by vertebral compression fractures. Kyphoplasty, a minimally invasive surgical technique, offers rapid pain relief, vertebral height restoration and improved function. Recognizing the importance of early intervention, this manuscript highlights the potential of kyphoplasty in mitigating both clinical and economic consequences. By addressing these fractures more effectively, kyphoplasty may potentially reduce long-term healthcare expenses and indirect costs. Material and Methods 66 randomized patients were divided into 2 treatment groups (kyphoplasty using single balloon and double balloon), analyzing radiographic and clinical parameters during 12 months of follow-up. Results Patients treated with double balloon obtained greater anterior and posterior vertebral height after reduction and a better local vertebral angle. Both groups of patients obtained clinical improvement after treatment (VAS and ODI), with no differences between the groups. Conclusion Patients treated with double balloon kyphoplasty had better radiographic results. This revision manuscript delves into the critical dimensions of these fractures, encompassing demographics, clinical consequences, challenges in diagnosis and management, and their profound economic impact. This manuscript serves to introduce an improved kyphoplasty technique to guide to the multifaceted nature of osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures and their management.
Everyday Activities of Older Adults in Tianjin, China: Coupling Constraints, Gendered Mobilities and Social Context
Authors: Mao Yaqian , Kubo Tomoko
Published: November 2023

Many Western studies have indicated that older women are generally more vulnerable in terms of mobility compared to older men, particularly regarding driving. However, the situation may differ in the context of China. This study, based on activity diaries and semi-structured inter-views, focuses on the spatiotemporal behavior of older adults in Tianjin and explores how the constraints posed by activity companions (in terms of type, size, and composition) shape the mo-bilities of older men and women, including activity locations, travel distances, and transporta-tion modes. The key findings are as follows: First, older women are more engaged with their families due to a higher percentage and longer duration of activities spent with family members. Second, older men tend to have more concentrated travel distances near their homes compared to older women. Third, older women exhibit a broader range of activities in different locations and engage in longer-distance leisure travel with family members when compared to older men. In the context of Western literature, this study discusses older women's enhanced social interactions, their earlier retirement in China, and the impact of COVID-19 as factors that help explain these findings. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of accompanied mobilities among Chinese older adults using geographical theory and methods, emphasizing the importance of flexible work schedules for the workforce and the organization of community-based activities to promote the social interactions and mobilities of older adults.
Tailoring Rheumatoid Arthritis Treatment through a Gender Lens
Authors: Carmona Loreto , Aurrecoechea Elena , Garcia-Yebenes Maria Jesus
Published: November 2023

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occurs more frequently in women than in men, and the studies that have addressed clinical and prognostic differences between sexes are scarce and have contradictory results and methodological problems.
The present work aims to evaluate sex and gender-related differences in the clinical expression and prognosis of RA as well as the impact on psychosocial variables, coping behavior, and healthcare use and access.
By identifying between-sex differences and gender-related outcomes in RA, it may be possible to design tailored therapeutic strategies that consider the differences and unmet needs. Being sex, together with age, the most relevant biomarker and health determinant, a so-called personalized medicine approach to RA must include clear guidance on what to do in case of differences.
Emerging and Future Targeted Therapies for Pediatric Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Targeting the Leukemia Stem Cells
Authors: Murphy Lindsey A. , Winters Amanda C.
Published: November 2023

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare subtype of acute leukemia in the pediatric and adolescent population but causes disproportionate morbidity and mortality in this age group. Standard chemotherapeutic regimens for AML have changed very little in the past 3-4 decades, but addition of targeted agents in recent years have led to improved survival in select subsets of patients as well as a better biologic understanding of the disease. One key paradigm of bench-to-bedside practice in the context of adult AML currently is the focus on leukemia stem cell (LSC)-targeted therapies. Here we review current and emerging immunotherapies and other targeted agents that are in clinical use for pediatric AML, through the lens of what is known (and not known) about their LSC-targeting capability. Based on a growing understanding of pediatric LSC biology, we also briefly discuss potential future agents on the horizon.
Torulaspora delbrueckii Improves the Organoleptic Properties and Promotes Malolactic Fermentation in Carbonic Maceration Wines
Authors: Rozès Nicolas , Ruiz-de-Villa Candela , Gombau Jordi , Poblet Icart Montserrat , Bordons Albert , Canals Joan Miquel , Zamora Fernando , Reguant Cristina
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the impact of inoculating Torulaspora delbrueckii (Td) strains during the initial phase of Carbonic Maceration (CM) vinification, aiming to enhance the fermentative process and unique characteristics of CM wines. CM is a winemaking technique where whole bunches (without destemming and crushing) are enclosed in tanks filled with carbon dioxide, inducing intracellular fermentation. The study compares the effects of two Td strains on the MLF performance and sensory characteristics of CM wines, using both inoculated and spontaneous MLF strategies. Although general physicochemical parameters remained consistent across conditions, organoleptic attributes showed significant differences due to T. delbrueckii presence. T. delbrueckii introduction during CM resulted in wines with increased anthocyanin content and a particular volatile profile. Isoamyl acetate, a key aroma in CM wines, was notably elevated, especially in the TdP strain. Sensory evaluations also revealed distinctions, with TdV wines displaying more pronounced aromas of red fruit, banana, and grass. Regarding MLF, T. delbrueckii presence notably enhanced performance, particularly in spontaneous MLF cases, accelerating fermentation completion. Inoculating the Oenococcus oeni strain OoVP41 also shortened MLF duration. These findings highlight the potential of Td strains to improve MLF efficiency and sensory attributes in CM wines. Employing T. delbrueckii strains strategically enables winemakers to optimize MLF and improve sensory profiles, offering an opportunity to produce higher-quality CM wines.
Changes in Cognitive Functions after Carotid Endarterectomy and Carotid Stenting: A Decade-Apart Comparison
Authors: Václavík Daniel , Hrbáč Tomáš , Roubec Martin , Procházka Václav , Jonszta Tomáš , Pakizer David , Heryán Tomáš , Herzig Roman , Školoudík David
Published: November 2023

Background: This study investigates cognitive function changes in severe carotid stenosis patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid stenting (CAS), across two decades.
Methods: We compared cognitive function within 30 days post-procedure in 267 patients (first 100 each for CEA and CAS in two periods: 2008–2012 and 2018–2022) at a single institution. Assessments used Adenbrooke's Cognitive Examination–Revised (ACE-R), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Speech Fluency Test (SFT), and Clock Drawing Test (CDT), conducted before and 30 ± 2 days after surgery.
Results: Patients (mean age 67.2 years, 70%+ carotid stenosis) exhibited different cognitive changes over the periods. In 2008–2012, significant declines in MMSE (CEA, p = 0.049) and CDT (CAS, p = 0.015) were noted among asymptomatic patients. Conversely, in 2018–2022, improvements were observed in ACE-R and MMSE for both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients undergoing CEA and CAS.
Conclusion: Over a decade, advancements in interventional techniques and patient management have reduced cognitive decline risks in asymptomatic carotid stenosis patients, also improving cognitive functions in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.
The Association of Vitamin D with Non-melanoma Skin Cancer Risk: An Umbrella Review of Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses
Authors: Seretis Konstantinos , Bounas Nikolaos , Sioka Chrissa
Published: November 2023

Background and Objectives: Previous studies revealed anti-angiogenic, antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of Vitamin D on cancer cells. Although this body of evidence supported the correlation of high Vitamin D levels with reduced incidence rates for various malignancies, contradictory results were reported regarding non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). Aim of this overview was to summarize the available evidence from the existing pool of systematic reviews and meta-analyses, focusing on Vitamin D serum status, dietary intake, and Vitamin D receptor (VDR) polymorphisms in correlation to NMSC incidence. Materials and Methods: A literature search in electronic databases was conducted from inception to January 2023. Inclusion criteria were systematic reviews and meta-analyses published in peer-reviewed journals, evaluating Vitamin D serum levels, dietary and/or supplementary intake, or VDR gene polymorphisms, and reporting data on NMSC. Results: A total of 10 studies were included in the data analysis models. A positive association between Vitamin D serum levels and NMSC is highlighted. However, dietary/supplementation of Vitamin D doesn’t exhibit a likewise strong linkage to NMSC. Despite the contradictory findings, VDR polymorphisms may play a crucial role in the intricate NMSC pathogenesis. Conclusions: This umbrella review showed that high Vitamin D levels are associated with increased NMSC incidence, potentially due to its direct correlation with increased sun exposure. Further research on VDR polymorphisms is suggested to explore their true effect size on NMSC risk.
Spatiotemporal Variations in Biophysical Water Quality Parameters: An Integrated In-Situ and Remote Sensing Analysis for an Urban Lake in Chile
Authors: Yepez Santiago , Velásquez Germán , Torres Daniel , Saavedra-Passache Rodrigo , Pincheira Martin , Cid Hayleen , Rodríguez-López Lien , Contreras Angela , Frappart Frédéric , Cristóbal Jordi , Pons Xavier , Flores Neftali , Bourrel Luc
Published: November 2023

This study aims to develop and implement a methodology for retrieving bio-optical parameters in a lagoon located in the Biobío region, in south-central Chile by analyzing time series of Landsat-8 satellite images, specifically using the multispectral OLI sensor. The bio-optical parameters, i.e., chlorophyll-a (mg·m-3) and turbidity (NTU) were also measured in-situ synchronized with the satellite passes to minimize the impact of atmospheric distortions. To calibrate the satellite images, various atmospheric correction methods (including ACOLITE, C2RCC, iCOR, and LaSRC) were evaluated during the image preprocessing phase. Spectral signatures obtained from the scenes for each atmospheric correction method were then compared with spectral signatures acquired in-situ on the water surface. In short, the ACOLITE model emerged as the best fit for the calibration process. Subsequently, we harnessed the reflectance data derived from the ACOLITE model to establish correlations between various spectral indices and the in-situ data. The empirical retrieval models (based on band combinations) that showed superior performance, as indicated by higher R2 values, were subjected to rigorous statistical validation and optimization by applying a bootstrapping approach. Our analysis covered a spectrum of dates, seasons, and years, which allowed us to search deeper into the evolution of the trophic state associated with the lake. We identified a striking eight-year period (2014-2022) characterized by a decline in chlorophyll-a concentration in the lake possibly attributable to governmental measures in the region for the protection and conservation of the lake. The results of this initial study serve as the basis for the creation of a modern monitoring system that enhances traditional point-based methods, offering a holistic view of the ongoing processes within the lake.
Epithelial and Mesenchymal Pancreatic Cancer Cells Exhibit Different Stem Cell Phenotypes Being Associated with Different Metastatic Propensity
Authors: Philipp Lisa-Marie , Yesilyurt Umut-Ulas , Surrow Arne , Künstner Axel , Mehdorn Anne-Sophie , Hauser Charlotte , Gundlach Jan-Paul , Will Olga , Hoffmann Patrick , Stahmer Lea , Franzenburg Sören , Knaack Hendrike , Schumacher Udo , Busch Hauke , Sebens Susanne
Published: November 2023

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is mostly diagnosed at advanced or even metastasized stages limiting patient´s prognosis. Metastasis requires high tumor cell plasticity implying phenotypic switching in response to changing environments. Here, Epithelial-Mesenchymal-Transition (EMT), being associated with the gain of cancer stem cell (CSC) properties, and its reversion are important. Since it is poorly understood whether different CSC-phenotypes exist along the EMT-axis and how these impact malignancy-associated properties, we aimed to characterize CSC-populations of epithelial and mesenchymal PDAC cells. Single-cell cloning revealed CSC (Holoclone) and non-CSC (Paraclone) clones from the PDAC cell lines Panc1 and Panc89. Panc1 Holoclone cells showed a mesenchymal phenotype dominated by high expression of the stemness marker Nestin, while Panc89 Holoclone cells exhibited a SOX2-dominated epithelial phenotype. Panc89 Holoclone cells showed enhanced cell growth and self-renewal capacity but slow cluster-like invasion. Contrarily, Panc1 Holoclone cells showed slower cell growth and self-renewal ability but were highly invasive. Moreover, cell variants differentially responded to chemotherapy. In vivo, Panc1 and Panc89 cell variants significantly differed regarding number and size of metastases as well as organ manifestation leading to different survival outcomes. Overall, these data support the existence of different CSC-phenotypes along the EMT-axis in PDAC manifesting in different metastatic propensities.
Strontium Ferromolybdate/Strontium Molybdate Core-Shell Ceramics—A Nanogranular Magnetic Material Possessing a Natural Core-Shell Structure
Authors: Suchaneck Gunnar , Artiukh Evgenii , Kalanda Nikolay , Yarmolich Marta , Gerlach Gerald
Published: November 2023

In this work, we demonstrate the preparation of easy-to-fabricate nanogranular, strontium ferromolybdate/strontium molybdate core-shell ceramics and examine their properties including tunnel magnetoresistance, magnetic field sensitivity and temperature coefficient of the tunnel magnetoresistance. The tunnel magnetoresistance of nanogranular, strontium ferromolybdate/strontium molybdate core-shell ceramics was modeled yielding values suitable for magnetoresistive sensor application. Such structures possess a narrow peak of magnetic flux sensibility located at about 125 mT. For magnetic flux measurement, single domain granules with superparamagnetic behavior should be applied. The predicted TMR magnetic flux sensitivities for granules with superparamagnetic behavior amount to about 7.7 % per T and 1.5 % per T for granules sizes of 6.8 nm and 4 nm, respectively. A drawback of the tunnel magnetoresistance of such nanogranular core-shell ceramics is the unacceptable large value of the temperature coefficient. Acceptable values, lower than 2 % per K, are obtained only at low temperatures (less than 100 K) or large magnetic flux densities (exceeding 6 T). Therefore, a Wheatstone bridge configuration should be adopted for magnetoresistive sensors design to compensate the effect of temperature.
A New Class of Intelligent Machines with Self-Regulating, Event-Driven Process Flows for Designing, Deploying, and Managing Distributed Software Applications
Authors: Mikkilineni Rao , Kelly W. Patrick
Published: November 2023

The benefits of event-driven architecture (EDA) derive from how systems and components are loosely coupled, which can facilitate independent development and deployment of systems, improved scaling and fault tolerance, and integration with external systems, especially in comparison to monolithic architectures. With the advent of new technologies such as containers, and microservices, a new generation of distributed event streaming platforms are commonly used in event-driven architecture for efficient event-driven communication. However, the asynchronous and distributed nature of EDA poses several problems that include handling failures, the dependence of an end-to-end transaction on individual component stability, etc. In this paper, we describe a new approach to designing self-regulating distributed applications with autopoietic and cognitive workflow management. This approach is based on the new science of information processing structures derived from the General Theory of Information. Just as a genome enables self-organizing and self-regulating biological structures, a digital genome enables a specific software application with several components, the ability to use distributed resources and self-regulate the evolution of the system based on functional and non-functional requirements, and best-practice policies that maintain the stability, safety, and survival under non-deterministic fluctuations in the demand for resources. In addition, cognitive workflow management assures end-to-end transaction delivery.
Towards a Decarbonized Individual Mobility - Challenges and Solutions
Authors: Rufer Alfred
Published: November 2023

Internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles contribute significantly to the global warming through their immense quantity of CO2 emissions and are on the way to be replaced by zero emission alternative solutions. Several replacement techniques with scientifically sound performances are proposed for the propulsion equipment including the related supply chains from renewable sources, but they often cannot fulfill the huge demand quantitatively. The paper discusses the quantitative aspects of the real demand with the example of the actual automotive park in Switzerland and analyses different alternatives like conventional EV’s, fuel-cell vehicles or energetic chains based on sustainable fuels like e-methanol or synthetic solar fuels. The analysis comprises energy efficiency considerations.
New Potentials for Subatomic Particles to Simulate Stable Atom and Particle-Wave Nature Attosecond Simulations
Authors: Venkatesan Shanmuga
Published: November 2023

A new approach was presented in this study to simulate a stable atom along with subatomic particles in it. Subatomic particles in an atom are treated as conventional particles, exhibiting attraction and repulsion between them, giving a stable atom simulation. This new approach leads to developing new potentials for subatomic particles to simulate a stable atom. Subatomic particle dynamics (SPD) simulations were developed for within-atom simulations that give a stable atom structure for infinite time and provide many insights into electron trajectories and atom properties like energies and radius of the atom. The effect of protons and neutrons movement in the nucleus on electron trajectories was captured in SPD. Hydrogen and Carbon atom SPD were reported in this study. The Pilot-wave theory was implemented in this study to simulate the wave nature of subatomic particles in an atom. Electrons motion was guided by the interference pattern produced by the electron’s aether medium waves in SPD. SPD was implemented on molecules, resulting in a stable molecular structure giving insights into electron trajectories shared by multiple atoms.
Circadian Rhythms and Depression in Adolescents: A Comparative Analysis of First Episode and Recurrent-Episode Groups
Authors: Jang Youngsoo , Cho Hye-mi , Mok Young-Eun , Chi Su-hyuk , Han Changsu , Lee Moon-Soo
Published: November 2023

Circadian rhythm disruptions are a hallmark feature of mood disorders. Patients experiencing acute depressive episodes report noticeable changes in their sleep-wake cycles. This research explains the association between depression and various circadian rhythm metrics, explicitly focusing on adolescents diagnosed with depressive disorders. Adolescence is a critical period marked by significant physiological and psychological changes, making it imperative to understand how mood disorders manifest during this phase. However, there have been minimal specific studies in pediatric populations to determine whether circadian rhythm changes differ between adolescents with first- and multiple-recurrent depressive episodes. Our study involved a group of 61 adolescents aged between 13 and 18. We performed a cross-sectional study of a clinical popu-lation of patients presenting to a child and adolescent psychiatry clinic diagnosed with depression. Participants were asked to complete self-report evaluations using several tools: The Korean ver-sion of the Biological Rhythms Interview of Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (K-BRIAN), the Korean Translation of Composite Scale to Measure Morningness-Eveningness (KtCS), and the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ). Tools such as the Children's Depression In-ventory (CDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and K-Mood Disorder Questionnaire (K-MDQ) were employed for the assessment of clinical characteristics of depression. Based on the frequency of their depressive episodes, participants were bifurcated into two distinct groups: those experi-encing their first episode (n=22, mean age: 15.09±1.44 years) and those with recurrent episodes (n=39, mean age: 15.95±1.26 years). At first, the two groups' data revealed no significant differences regarding mood or circadian rhythm metrics (CDI: first-episode 26.18±10.54 and recurrent episode 25.90±10.59, STAI-S: first-episode 56.91±12.12 and recurrent episode 57.49±11.93, STAI-T: first-episode 60.36±11.63 and recurrent episode 59.09±12.10, SPAQ-total: first-episode 6.59±4.86 and recurrent episode 6.77±5.23, KtCS: first-episode 30.32±5.83 and recurrent episode 28.13±7.36). However, we observed significant correlations between circadian rhythm disruptions and depression scales (CDI with SPAQ-weight (r=0.26), KtCS (r=-0.48), K-BRIAN-sleep (r=0.58), K-BRIAN-activity (r=0.64), K-BRIAN-social (r=0.71) and K-BRIAN-eating (r=0.40)). These correlations were especially pronounced in the recurrent episode group, suggesting that with the progression and chronicity of depression, the relationship between circadian rhythms and depression becomes more intertwined and evident. In conclusion, especially in adolescents, as the severity and chronicity of depression increase, the interplay between circadian rhythms and mood disorders becomes more pronounced, warranting further research and clinical attention.
Variable Selection for Sparse Logistic Regression with Grouped Variables
Authors: Zhong Mingrui , Yin Zanhua , Wang Zhichao
Published: November 2023

We present a new penalized method for estimation in sparse logistic regression models with group structure. Group sparsity suggests us to consider the Group Lasso penalty. Being different from penalized log-likelihood estimation, our method can be viewed as a penalized weighted score function method. Under some mild conditions, we provide non-asymptotic oracle inequalities promoting group sparsity of predictors. A modified block coordinate descent algorithm based on a weighted score function is also employed. The net advantage of our algorithm over the existing Group Lasso-type procedures is that the tuning parameter can be pre-specified. The simulations show that this algorithm is considerably faster and more stable than competing methods. Finally, we illustrate our methodology with two real data sets.