bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects on different full-coverage designs and materials of crack propagation in first mandibular molar: an extended finite element method study
Authors: Ni Jianzhao , Xu Liang , Lin Yunzhi , Lai Danlin , Huang Xiaohong
Published: August 2023

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the biomechanical properties of fracture resistance in cracked teeth using five different full-coverage restorations made of three different materials.

Materials and Methods: A 3D model of a mandibular first molar was created to design five different full-coverage repair models: crown, crown with composite resin filling inside, occlusal veneer, occlusal veneer with composite resin filling inside and onlay. These repair models were fabricated using three different materials, namely, zirconia, lithium disilicate (LDS), and a hybrid polymer-infiltrated ceramic network material (PIC). In total, 15 repair models were tested using the extended finite element method (XFEM), with an occlusal load of 5000 N applied slowly to the occlusal surface of the restoration. The analysis of stress distribution in the restoration and dentin crack line was conducted to measure and record the crack initial load on the restoration and dentin.

Results: The results showed that restorations on the occlusal surface significantly improved crack resistance, with zirconia exhibiting superior fracture resistance among the materials tested. Restorations of crown with composite resin filling inside demonstrated the highest resistance to fracture, while occlusal veneers showed the lowest. MPS concentration was observed at the interface between the restoration and dentin and at the root bifurcation, with the highest values at the top of crack development. Dentin covered by oxidized restorations had the highest displacement, while PIC restorations exhibited the lowest. Pulp analysis revealed selective MPS concentration and strain patterns in models with zirconia restorations and onlay, with pronounced pulp displacement in zirconia restorations and onlay. Enamel analysis indicated larger MPS values and displacements in zirconia restoration models and onlay, with higher strain in onlay. Restoration played a crucial role in protecting the tooth, with crack propagation initial loads in dentin surpassing restorations in experimental groups.

Conclusion: This study confirms that full-coverage restorations significantly increased the fracture resistance of cracked teeth, with zirconia restorations significantly protecting the underlying cracked tooth. Elimination of fracture lines in the restoration design can improve fracture resistance in cracked teeth. The findings have implications for dental prosthetic design and clinical practice.
An analysis of griefs and griefing factors
Authors: George William
Published: August 2023

We consider griefing factors, a system for measurement of the cost-effectiveness of sabotage, which have been used to analyze the attack resistance of blockchain systems. Attackers are said to “grief” if they accept economic harm to themselves in order to harm others; the griefing factor is the ratio of the harm done to the victim to the harm taken on by the attacker. In this work, we study the mathematical properties of this notion, particularly focusing on how the presence of players willing to engage in griefs at varying griefing factors impacts the equilibria present in games.
FP-MAP: an extensive library of fingerprint-based molecular activity prediction tools
Authors: Venkatraman Vishwesh
Published: August 2023

Discovering new drugs for disease treatment is challenging, requiring a multidisciplinary effort as well as time, and resources. With a view to improving hit discovery and lead compound identification, machine learning (ML) approaches are being increasingly used in the decision-making process. Although a number of ML-based studies have been published, most studies only report fragments of the wider range of bioactivities wherein each model typically focuses on a particular disease. This study introduces FP-MAP, an extensive atlas of fingerprint-based prediction models that covers a diverse range of activities including neglected tropical diseases (caused by viral, bacterial and parasitic pathogens) as well as other targets implicated in diseases such as Alzheimer’s. To arrive at the best predictive models, performance of ≈4,000 classification/regression models were evaluated on different bioactivity data sets using 12 different molecular fingerprints. The best performing models that achieved test set AUC values of 0.62–0.99 have been integrated into an easy-to-use graphical user interface that can be downloaded from https://gitlab.com/vishsoft/fpmap.
Sex discrepancies in pathophysiology, presentation, treatment, and outcomes of severe aortic stenosis
Authors: Stehli Julia , Zaman Sarah , Stähli Barbara E.
Published: August 2023

This review gives an overview of sex-based differences in aortic valve stenosis, spanning from pathophysiological mechanisms and disease progression, clinical presentation, presence of comorbidities, and diagnostic assessment, to treatment and outcomes. In particular, sex-related differences in the degree of aortic valve calcification, the response of the left ventricle to pressure overload, as well as in the referral to procedures, with women being less frequently referred for surgical aortic valve replacement and experiencing longer waiting times for transcatheter procedures, will be discussed. Sex-related differences are also particularly evident in outcomes of patients with severe aortic stenosis undergoing surgical or transcatheter procedures. The apparent sex paradox seen in women undergoing transcatheter aortic valve implantation refers to the phenomenon of women experiencing higher rates of short-term mortality and bleeding events, but demonstrating improved long-term survival as compared to men. Women who undergo surgical aortic valve replacement have generally worse outcomes as compared to men, which is reflected by the inclusion of female sex in surgical risk calculation scores. Hence, a thorough understanding of sex-related differences in aortic valve stenosis is important to provide optimal and personalized patient care.
A novel approach for prognosis of lithium-ion battery based on geometrical features and data-driven model
Authors: Xu Guoning , Gao Yang , Li Yongxiang , Jia Zhongzhen , Du Xiaowei , Yang Yanchu , Wang Sheng
Published: August 2023

Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are widely used in such devices as today’s electrical vehicles, consumer electronics, and unmanned aerial vehicles, and will play a key role in the future. Unexpected Li-ion battery abnormities may result in serious inconvenience and enormous replacement costs. Thus, the diagnostic and prognostic methods play important roles in battery replacement scheduling, maintenance strategy development, and battery failure precaution, However, many published methods are unsuitable for both battery capacity and end-of-discharge. In this paper, a hybrid ensemble approach, integrating k-fold cross validation (k-CV) and genetic algorithm with back-propagation neural network (GA-BPNN), is proposed for capacity and end-of-discharge of Li-ion battery prognostics combined with geometrical features. Geometrical features extracted from charge-discharge cycles of Li-ion batteries are set as the inputs of the neural network. K-fold cross validation is introduced to determine the number of BPNN hidden layer neurons, genetic algorithm is used to initialize and optimize the connection weights and thresholds of BPNN. By the critical geometrical feature extraction and the ensemble BPNN model with k-fold cross validation and genetic algorithm, accurate battery capacity and end-of discharge are accomplished, making the proposed model can potentially be used for real-time estimate for the conditions given in this article. The performance of the proposed approach is demonstrated by using actual Li-ion battery data, which is supplied by the NASA Ames Research Center database.
Designing fit-for-purpose indicators to connect nature and people’s well-being in New Zealand
Authors: Ausseil Anne-Gaelle Elsa , Booth Pamela , Greenhalgh Suzie , Samarasinghe Oshadhi , Collins Alison
Published: August 2023

Recognizing the value of nature for people’s wellbeing is key to ensuring protection of the environment for current and future generations. However, data to demonstrate the connection between nature and wellbeing, are needed for environmental reporting, to inform policy development and evaluate progress toward outcomes. While many indicators exist, they are mostly derived from available data collected for other purposes and there is limited, if any, description of how these indicators were designed. Based on a conceptualization of nature–well-being connections, we propose a participatory process to identify fit-for-purpose indicators linking nature to human wellbeing. The process uses a series of targeted questions to explore how different aspects of wellbeing rely on nature, enabling more fitting indicators to be identified by the participatory group. The process was refined and tested in workshops with stakeholders in a New Zealand context.
What role does PDL1 play in EMT changes in tumors and fibrosis?
Authors: Zhang Yun-Chao , Zhang Yu-Ting , Wang Yi , Zhao Ya , He Li-Jie
Published: August 2023

Epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) plays a pivotal role in embryonic development, tissue fibrosis, repair, and tumor invasiveness. Emerging studies have highlighted the close association between EMT and immune checkpoint molecules, particularly programmed cell death ligand 1 (PDL1). PDL1 exerts its influence on EMT through bidirectional regulation. EMT-associated factors, such as YB1, enhance PDL1 expression by directly binding to its promoter. Conversely, PDL1 signaling triggers downstream pathways like PI3K/AKT and MAPK, promoting EMT and facilitating cancer cell migration and invasion. Targeting PDL1 holds promise as a therapeutic strategy for EMT-related diseases, including cancer and fibrosis. Indeed, PDL1 inhibitors, such as pembrolizumab and nivolumab, have shown promising results in clinical trials for various cancers. Recent research has also indicated their potential benefit in fibrosis treatment in reducing fibroblast activation and extracellular matrix deposition, thereby addressing fibrosis. In this review, we examine the multifaceted role of PDL1 in immunomodulation, growth, and fibrosis promotion. We discuss the challenges, mechanisms, and clinical observations related to PDL1, including the limitations of the PD1/PDL1 axis in treatment and PD1-independent intrinsic PDL1 signaling. Our study highlights the dynamic changes in PDL1 expression during the EMT process across various tumor types. Through interplay between PDL1 and EMT, we uncover co-directional alterations, regulatory pathways, and diverse changes resulting from PDL1 intervention in oncology. Additionally, our findings emphasize the dual role of PDL1 in promoting fibrosis and modulating immune responses across multiple diseases, with potential implications for therapeutic approaches. We particularly investigate the therapeutic potential of targeting PDL1 in type II EMT fibrosis: strike balance between fibrosis modulation and immune response regulation. This analysis provides valuable insights into the multifaceted functions of PDL1 and contributes to our understanding of its complex mechanisms and therapeutic implications.
Infection with Influenzavirus A in a murine model induces epithelial bronchial lesions and distinct waves of innate immune-cell recruitment
Authors: Rivière Frédéric , Burger Julien , Lefèvre François , Garnier Annabelle , Vigne Clarisse , Tournier Jean-Nicolas , Billon-Denis Emmanuelle
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Inflammatory lesions after Influenza A viruses (IAV) are potential therapeutic target for which better understanding of post-infection immune mechanisms is required. Most studies to evaluate innate immune reactions induced by IAV are based on quantitative/functional methods and anatomical exploration is most often non-existent. We aimed to study pulmonary damage and macrophage recruitment using two-photon excitation microscopy (TPEM) after IAV infection.

Methods

We infected C57BL/6 CD11c+YFP mice with A/Puerto Ricco/8/34 H1N1. We performed immune cell analysis, including flow cytometry, cytokine concentration assays, and TPEM observations after staining with anti-F4/80 antibody coupled to BV421. We adapted live lung slice (LLS) method for ex-vivo intravital microscopy to analyze cell motility.

Results

TPEM provided complementary data to flow cytometry and cytokine assays by allowing observation of bronchial epithelium lesions and spreading of local infection. Addition of F4/80-BV421 staining allowed us to precisely determine timing of recruitment and pulmonary migration of macrophages. Ex-vivo LLS preserved cellular viability, allowing us to observe acceleration of macrophage motility.

Conclusion

After IAV infection, we were able to explore structural consequences and successive waves of innate immune cell recruitment. By combining microscopy, flow cytometry and chemokine measurements, we describe novel and precise scenario of innate immune response against IAV.
Case Report: Replacement of PD-1 inhibitors with PD-L1 inhibitors in the treatment of squamous non-small-cell lung carcinoma
Authors: Wu Tong , Li Yujun , Cui Xiaonan , Zhang Chunxia
Published: August 2023

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI)-associated cardiotoxicity is a relatively uncommon immune-related adverse effects (irAEs) with a high mortality rate. There are few recommendations for the replacement of different immune checkpoint inhibitors in domestic and international reports.

Case presentation

We report a case of a patient with squamous non-small cell lung carcinoma (squamous NSCLC) who developed cardiotoxicity after being treated with a programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitor and then changed to a PD-L1 inhibitor to continue the treatment. A significant benefit was observed after four cycles of immunotherapy, and no further cardiotoxicity occurred after the treatment was started.

Conclusion

This case demonstrates that myocardial damage induced by tislelizumab (PD-1 inhibitor) can be improved after switching to sugemalimab (PD-L1 inhibitor) and that antitumor immunotherapy is effective. This result may have important implications for optimizing immunotherapy management regimens in cancer patients.
AUV planning and calibration method considering concealment in uncertain environments
Authors: Wang Can , Cheng Chensheng , Yang Dianyu , Pan Guang , Zhang Feihu
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are required to thoroughly scan designated areas during underwater missions. They typically follow a zig-zag trajectory to achieve full coverage. However, effective coverage can be challenging in complex environments due to the accumulation and drift of navigation errors. Possible solutions include surfacing for satellite positioning or underwater acoustic positioning using transponders on other vehicles. Nevertheless, surfacing or active acoustics can compromise stealth during reconnaissance missions in hostile areas by revealing the vehicle’s location.

Methods

We propose calibration and planning strategies based on error models and acoustic positioning to address this challenge. Acoustic markers are deployed via surface ships to minimize navigation errors while maintaining stealth. And a new path planning method using a traceless Kalman filter and acoustic localization is proposed to achieve full-area coverage of AUVs. By analyzing the statistics of accumulated sensor errors, we optimize the positions of acoustic markers to communicate with AUVs and achieve better coverage. AUV trajectory concealment is achieved during detection by randomizing the USV navigation trajectory and irregularizing the locations of acoustic marker.

Results

The proposed method enables the cumulative determination of the absolute position of a target with low localization error in a side-scan sonar-based search task. Simulations based on large-scale maps demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed algorithm.

Discussion

Solving the problem of accumulating underwater localization errors based on inertial navigation by error modeling and acoustic calibration is a typical way. In this paper, we have implemented a method to solve the localization error in a search scenario where stealth is considered.
A prospective multicenter clinical research study validating the effectiveness and safety of a chest X-ray-based pulmonary tuberculosis screening software JF CXR-1 built on a convolutional neural network algorithm
Authors: Yang Yang , Xia Lu , Liu Ping , Yang Fuping , Wu Yuqing , Pan Hongqiu , Hou Dailun , Liu Ning , Lu Shuihua
Published: August 2023

Background

Chest radiography (chest X-ray or CXR) plays an important role in the early detection of active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). In areas with a high TB burden that require urgent screening, there is often a shortage of radiologists available to interpret the X-ray results. Computer-aided detection (CAD) software employed with artificial intelligence (AI) systems may have the potential to solve this problem.

Objective

We validated the effectiveness and safety of pulmonary tuberculosis imaging screening software that is based on a convolutional neural network algorithm.

Methods

We conducted prospective multicenter clinical research to validate the performance of pulmonary tuberculosis imaging screening software (JF CXR-1). Volunteers under the age of 15 years, both with or without suspicion of pulmonary tuberculosis, were recruited for CXR photography. The software reported a probability score of TB for each participant. The results were compared with those reported by radiologists. We measured sensitivity, specificity, consistency rate, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Besides, adverse events (AE) and severe adverse events (SAE) were also evaluated.

Results

The clinical research was conducted in six general infectious disease hospitals across China. A total of 1,165 participants were enrolled, and 1,161 were enrolled in the full analysis set (FAS). Men accounted for 60.0% (697/1,161). Compared to the results from radiologists on the board, the software showed a sensitivity of 94.2% (95% CI: 92.0–95.8%) and a specificity of 91.2% (95% CI: 88.5–93.2%). The consistency rate was 92.7% (91.1–94.1%), with a Kappa value of 0.854 (P = 0.000). The AUC was 0.98. In the safety set (SS), which consisted of 1,161 participants, 0.3% (3/1,161) had AEs that were not related to the software, and no severe AEs were observed.

Conclusion

The software for tuberculosis screening based on a convolutional neural network algorithm is effective and safe. It is a potential candidate for solving tuberculosis screening problems in areas lacking radiologists with a high TB burden.
Assessment of the proarrhythmic effects of repurposed antimalarials for COVID-19 treatment using a comprehensive in vitro proarrhythmia assay (CiPA)
Authors: Yoon Seung-Hyun , Lee Hyun-Lee , Jeong Da Un , Lim Ki Moo , Park Seong-Jun , Kim Ki-Suk
Published: August 2023

Due to the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, drug repurposing and Emergency Use Authorization have been proposed to treat the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the pandemic. While the efficiency of the drugs has been discussed, it was identified that certain compounds, such as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine, cause QT interval prolongation and potential cardiotoxic effects. Drug-induced cardiotoxicity and QT prolongation may lead to life-threatening arrhythmias such as torsades de pointes (TdP), a potentially fatal arrhythmic symptom. Here, we evaluated the risk of repurposed pyronaridine or artesunate-mediated cardiac arrhythmias alone and in combination for COVID-19 treatment through in vitro and in silico investigations using the Comprehensive in vitro Proarrhythmia Assay (CiPA) initiative. The potential effects of each drug or in combinations on cardiac action potential (AP) and ion channels were explored using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transiently expressing cardiac ion channels (Nav1.5, Cav1.2, and hERG). We also performed in silico computer simulation using the optimized O’Hara-Rudy human ventricular myocyte model (ORd model) to classify TdP risk. Artesunate and dihydroartemisinin (DHA), the active metabolite of artesunate, are classified as a low risk of inducing TdP based on the torsade metric score (TMS). Moreover, artesunate does not significantly affect the cardiac APs of hiPSC-CMs even at concentrations up to 100 times the maximum serum concentration (Cmax). DHA modestly prolonged at APD90 (10.16%) at 100 times the Cmax. When considering Cmax, pyronaridine, and the combination of both drugs (pyronaridine and artesunate) are classified as having an intermediate risk of inducing TdP. However, when considering the unbound concentration (the free fraction not bound to carrier proteins or other tissues inducing pharmacological activity), both drugs are classified as having a low risk of inducing TdP. In summary, pyronaridine, artesunate, and a combination of both drugs have been confirmed to pose a low proarrhythmogenic risk at therapeutic and supratherapeutic (up to 4 times) free Cmax. Additionally, the CiPA initiative may be suitable for regulatory use and provide novel insights for evaluating drug-induced cardiotoxicity.
Advances in the roles of glycyrrhizic acid in cancer therapy
Authors: Zhang Yuqian , Sheng Zixuan , Xiao Jing , Li Yang , Huang Jie , Jia Jinjing , Zeng Xiansi , Li Li
Published: August 2023

Since the first 70 years of reporting cancer chemotherapy, malignant tumors have been the second most common cause of death in children and adults. Currently, the commonly used anti-cancer methods include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy. Although these treatment methods could alleviate cancer, they lead to different forms of side effects and have no particularly significant effect on prolonging the patients’ life span. Glycyrrhizic acid (GL), a native Chinese herbal extract, has a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immune regulation. In this review, the anti-cancer effects and mechanisms of GL are summarized in various cancers. The inhibition of GL on chemotherapy-induced side effects, including hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity and pulmonary toxicity, is highlighted. Therefore, GL may be a promising and ideal drug for cancer therapy.
Derivation and elimination of uremic toxins from kidney-gut axis
Authors: Xu Ying , Bi Wen-Di , Shi Yu-Xuan , Liang Xin-Rui , Wang Hai-Yan , Lai Xue-Li , Bian Xiao-Lu , Guo Zhi-Yong
Published: August 2023

Uremic toxins are chemicals, organic or inorganic, that accumulate in the body fluids of individuals with acute or chronic kidney disease and impaired renal function. More than 130 uremic solutions are included in the most comprehensive reviews to date by the European Uremic Toxins Work Group, and novel investigations are ongoing to increase this number. Although approaches to remove uremic toxins have emerged, recalcitrant toxins that injure the human body remain a difficult problem. Herein, we review the derivation and elimination of uremic toxins, outline kidney–gut axis function and relative toxin removal methods, and elucidate promising approaches to effectively remove toxins.
Complex I deficiency in m.3243A>G fibroblasts is alleviated by reducing NADH accumulation
Authors: Liufu Tongling , Yu Haiyan , Yu Jiaxi , Yu Meng , Tian Yue , Ou Yichun , Deng Jianwen , Xing Guogang , Wang Zhaoxia
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Mitochondrial disease is a spectrum of debilitating disorders caused by mutations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) or nuclear DNA that compromises the respiratory chain. Mitochondrial 3243A>G (m.3243 A>G) is the most common mutation showing great heterogeneity in phenotype. Previous studies have indicated that NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase (complex I) deficiency accompanied by a decreased nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)/reduced NAD+ (NADH) ratio may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of m.3243A>G mutation.

Methods: To evaluate the potential effects of strategies targeting the imbalanced NAD+/NADH ratio in m.3243A>G mutation, we treated fibroblasts derived from patients with the m.3243 A>G mutation using nicotinamide riboside (NR) or mitochondria-targeted H2O-forming NADH oxidase (mitoLbNOX).

Results: M.3243 A>G fibroblasts showed a significant reduction in complex I core subunit 6, complex I enzymatic activity, complex I-dependent oxygen consumption rate (OCR), and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production compared to the controls. The NAD+/NADH ratio was also significantly reduced in m.3243 A>G fibroblasts, and, using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, we also found that the NADH level was elevated in m.3243 A>G fibroblasts. After NR treatment, the NAD+/NADH ratio, complex I-dependent OCR, and ATP levels increased, whereas NADH levels remained unchanged. More excitingly, after treatment with mitoLbNOX, the NAD+/NADH ratio, complex I-independent OCR, and ATP levels increased more pronouncedly compared with the NR treatment group, accompanied by significantly reduced NADH levels.

Discussion: The present study suggests that compared with repletion of NAD+ alone, the combination of this therapeutic modality with alleviation of NADH overload may amplify the treatment effect of restoring NAD+/NADH balance in m.3243A>G fibroblasts.
Water use strategies of Nitraria tangutorum in the lake-basin region of the Badain Jaran Desert
Authors: Qin Jie , Si Jianhua , Jia Bing , Zhao Chunyan , Zhou Dongmeng , He Xiaohui , Wang Chunlin , Zhu Xinglin
Published: August 2023

Information regarding plant water-use strategies is essential for understanding the hydrological processes and plant survival adaptation mechanisms in desert lake basin regions. To examine the water use strategies of plants in desert lake basin areas, water uptake patterns, water use efficiency, and water potential of Nitraria tangutorum were investigated at different distances from the lake duringhe growing seasons in the lake basin regions of the Badain Jaran Desert. The results indicate that N. tangutorum primarily absorbed groundwater in May (63.8%) and August (53.5%), relied on deep soil water in June (75.1%), and uniformly absorbed soil water from different layers in July. These observations could be explained by periodic fluctuations in the groundwater level and the consequent decrease in soil water availability, as well as plant root adjustments. As soil water availability decreases, N. tangutorum adapts to water variation by increasing its water use efficiency (WUE) and reducing its leaf water potential (Ψ). With intensified water stress, N. tangutorum gradually shifted from adventurous anisohydric regulation to conservative isohydric regulation. Thus, N. tangutorum responds to diverse degrees of environmental changes by altering its water-use strategy. A better understanding of the adaptive water use strategies developed by desert plants under varying water availability conditions provides insight into the diversity of species’ reactions to long-term drought and quantifies the hydrological cycle of desert ecosystems against the background of worldwide climate warming.
Exploring native and non-native English speaker teachers’ perceptions of English teacher qualities and their students’ responses
Authors: Deng Liwei , Zhang Lawrence Jun , Mohamed Naashia
Published: August 2023

Due to globalization, English has gradually become a lingua franca, leading to a rising demand for proficient English teachers all over the globe. In China, more EFL teachers are being recruited, particularly at the tertiary level, with a greater preference for so-called “native English speaking teachers (NESTs)” over “non-native English-speaking teachers (NNESTs)” due to the impacts of native-speakerism. Research has shown NESTs, NNESTs, and students are often misaligned in terms of beliefs about language learning and teaching which affect teaching effectiveness as well as student achievement. Recognizing this issue, this study investigated NESTs’, NNESTs’, and Chinese English-major students’ perceptions of characteristics of effective EFL teachers at four mid-tier universities across China. Findings from semi-structured interviews with 16 students suggest that NNESTs and Chinese English-major students had similar views on language learning and teaching. Both groups valued prerequisite qualities such as having expert knowledge, language skills, teaching skills, and professionalism. NESTs, however, valued qualities such as caring, patience, flexibility, engagement, and awareness of students’ learning needs. These differences are likely the result of these two groups of teachers’ linguistic, cultural, and educational background differences. The highly uniform views of the two groups of teachers suggest that they tended to emphasize certain qualities while disregarding others. These findings suggest the need to raise teachers’ and students’ awareness of the benefits of different types of teacher qualities so that curriculum design and lesson planning can be implemented for better instructional alignment to ultimately improve teaching effectiveness.
Risk perception of coronavirus disease 2019 and career adaptability among college students: the mediating effect of hope and sense of mastery
Authors: Ding Yadong , Li Jing
Published: August 2023

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has not only caused widespread economic recession but also had a serious negative impact on the employment of college students. However, little is known about the relationship and mechanisms between the risk perception of COVID-19 and career adaptability. This study aimed to examine whether the risk perception of COVID-19 is associated with career adaptability directly and indirectly through hope and a sense of mastery in college students. A questionnaire survey was conducted among 594 Chinese college students aged 16 to 25, who completed assessments on risk perception of COVID-19, career adaptability, hope, and sense of mastery. The results showed that susceptibility was negatively associated with career confidence, control, and curiosity; moreover, susceptibility indirectly affected career adaptability (including concern, confidence, control, and curiosity) through the sense of mastery; uncontrollable indirectly affected career concern through hope; and uncontrollable indirectly affected career adaptability (including concern, confidence, control, and curiosity) through hope and the sense of mastery. The findings emphasize the role of hope and a sense of mastery in the career adaptability of college students and reveal the necessity of improving hope and a sense of mastery to promote college students' career development. “Implications and limitations are discussed”.
Disparities in outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalizations in native American individuals
Authors: Bime Christian , Wang Ying , Carr Gordon , Swearingen Dennis , Kou Sherri , Thompson Pam , Kusupati Vinita , Parthasarathy Sairam
Published: August 2023

Objectives

This study aimed to investigate COVID-19-related disparities in clinical presentation and patient outcomes in hospitalized Native American individuals.

Methods

The study was performed within 30 hospitals of the Banner Health system in the Southwest United States and included 8,083 adult patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection and were hospitalized between 1 March 2020 and 4 September 2020. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess racial and ethnic differences in clinical presentation and patient outcomes.

Results

COVID-19-related hospitalizations in Native American individuals were over-represented compared with non-Hispanic white individuals. Native American individuals had fewer symptoms at admission; greater prevalence of chronic lung disease in the older adult; two times greater risk for ICU admission despite being younger; and 20 times more rapid clinical deterioration warranting ICU admission. Compared with non-Hispanic white individuals, Native American individuals had a greater prevalence of sepsis, were more likely to require invasive mechanical ventilation, had a longer length of stay, and had higher in-hospital mortality.

Conclusion

Native American individuals manifested greater case-fatality rates following hospitalization than other races/ethnicities. Atypical symptom presentation of COVID-19 included a greater prevalence of chronic lung disease and a more rapid clinical deterioration, which may be responsible for the observed higher hospital mortality, thereby underscoring the role of pulmonologists in addressing such disparities.
A Generalized Framework for the Estimation of Edge Infection Probabilities
Authors: Bóta András , Gardner Lauren
Published: August 2023

Modeling the spread of infections in networks is a well-studied and important field of research. Most infection and diffusion models require a real value or probability at the edges of the network as an input, but this is rarely available in real-life applications. The Generalized Inverse Infection Model (GIIM) has previously been used in real-world applications to solve this problem. However, these applications were limited to the specifics of the corresponding case studies, and the theoretical properties, as well as the wider applicability of the model, are yet to be investigated. Here, we show that the general model works with the most widely used infection models and is able to handle an arbitrary number of observations on such processes. We evaluate the accuracy and speed of the GIIM on a large variety of realistic infection scenarios.
Tracking and Vibration Control with a Parallel Structure Controller Based on a Flexible Ball Screw Drive System
Authors: Zhu Muzhi , Bao Dafei , Sun Mengxin , Liu Yong
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we present a parallel structure controller for flexible ball screw drive systems with dynamic variations mainly caused by variations in table position and workpiece mass. The controller consists of two parts: a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) controller with the aim of tracking reference trajectories with high response and accuracy and an interpolated gain-scheduled controller used to restrain system vibration. To damp out the varied resonant modes, the controller is obtained by a set of μ-synthesis linear time-invariant (LTI) controllers interpolated via Youla parameterization. Comparison experiments are conducted to confirm the performance of the proposed controller with a ball screw drive experimental setup. We demonstrate that the parallel structure controller achieves high performance in tracking, vibration suppression and disturbance rejection.
Remaining Useful Life Prediction for Turbofan Engine Using SAE-TCN Model
Authors: Liu Xiaofeng , Xiong Liuqi , Zhang Yiming , Luo Chenshuang
Published: August 2023

Turbofan engines are known as the heart of the aircraft. The turbofan’s health state determines the aircraft’s operational status. Therefore, the equipment monitoring and maintenance of the engine is an important part of ensuring the healthy and stable operation of the aircraft, and it is vital to monitor the remaining useful life (RUL) of the engine. The monitored data of turbofan engines have high dimensions and a long time span, which cause difficulties in predicting the remaining useful life of the engine. This paper proposes a residual life prediction model based on Autoencoder and a Temporal Convolutional Network (TCN). Among them, Autoencoder is used to reduce the dimension of the data and extract features from the engine monitoring data. The TCN network is trained on the obtained low-dimensional data to predict the remaining useful life. The model mentioned in this article is verified on the NASA public data set (C-MAPSS) and compared with common machine learning methods and other deep neural networks. The SAE-TCN model achieved better scores on the FD001 independent testing data set with an RMSE of 18.01 and a score of 161. The average relative error of the model relative to other common learning models is 0.9499 in RMSE and 0.2656 in Scoring Function. The experimental results show that the model proposed in this paper performs the best in the evaluation, and this conclusion has important implications for engine health.
Does the Development of Digital Inclusive Finance Promote the Construction of Digital Villages?—An Empirical Study Based on the Chinese Experience
Authors: Zhang Chengkai , Li Yu , Yang Lili , Wang Zheng
Published: August 2023

The degree of the effect of digital inclusive finance on the construction of China’s digital villages and the mechanism of action is investigated in this study by matching the digital inclusive finance index in accordance with a data sample of China’s provincial digital villages from 2013 to 2020. As indicated by the result of this study, first, the development of digital inclusive finance positively expedites the development of digital villages. Second, geographical and dimensional differences exist when digital inclusive finance boosts the construction of digital villages. Third, digital inclusive finance is capable of facilitating the construction of digital villages by deepening technological innovation and communication infrastructure construction and further enhancing the digital literacy of residents. Fourth, a positive moderating effect of internal conditions of rural residents’ consumption and external conditions of financial regulation is reported when digital inclusive finance promotes digital rural development. Based on the above-mentioned findings, the following policy recommendations are presented to advance digital countryside construction in depth. First, following the goal of building Chinese modernization, differentiated policies, with regional resource endowments, social conditions, and rural characteristics considered, should be implemented in accordance with local conditions. Second, the digitalization process in rural areas should be vigorously boosted, and it is imperative to optimize and upgrade mobile communication infrastructure, with the aim of injecting new momentum into China’s digital countryside construction. Third, investment in scientific and technological research and development funds and high-level innovative talents should be increased to endow digital technology with better independent innovation capacity and facilitate the level of innovation. Fourth, investment in education should be increased to enhance the digital literacy of urban and rural residents.
Artefacts in Field Trial Research—Lateral Ammonia Fluxes Confound Fertiliser Plot Experiments
Authors: Levin Karin S. , Winkhart Felizitas , Hülsbergen Kurt-Jürgen , Reents Hans Jürgen , Auerswald Karl
Published: August 2023

Agricultural ammonia (NH3) emissions can have serious environmental impacts, lower fertiliser nitrogen-use efficiencies, and cause economic losses. NH3 losses may not only occur directly from organic fertilisers such as biogas digestates when applied to crops, the crops themselves may also be a source of ammonia emissions. Wheat yields from 14 years of an organic small plot fertiliser trial fertilised with biogas digestate were analysed to determine if there was significant lateral N transfer between plots. A simple NH3 loss/gain model was developed to calculate possible N gains and losses via NH3 volatilisation from the applied digestate. This model was tested using NH3 volatilisation measurements. In addition, 15N isotope measurements of crop biomass were used to analyse plant N uptake. While digestate fertilisation increased wheat yields, yield patterns indicated that NH3 emissions from plots fertilised with biogas digestate affected yields in neighbouring unfertilised plots. Measurements of ammonia losses and gains in the field validated our modelling results, showing that 55% of digestate NH4+-N was volatilised. 15N isotope analysis indicated that crops took up as much as 30 kg ha−1 NH3-N volatilised from digestate, and that plots closer to fertilised plots took up more of this NH3-N than crops further away from fertilised plots. Our results imply that neither the results from the fertilised plots nor from the unfertilised plots are without bias. To avoid inadvertently introducing artefacts into fertiliser field trials, plot sizes need to be increased and treatments situated further apart.
Marker–Trait Association for Protein Content among Maize Wild Accessions and Coix Using SSR Markers
Authors: Varalakshmi Shankarappa , Sahoo Smrutishree , Singh Narendra Kumar , Pareek Navneet , Garkoti Priya , Senthilkumar Velmurugan , Kashyap Shruti , Jaiswal Jai Prakash , Jacob Sherry Rachel , Nankar Amol N.
Published: August 2023

Teosinte is the closest wild ancestor of maize and is used as a valuable resource for taxonomical, evolutionary and genetic architectural studies of maize. Teosinte is also a repository of numerous diverse alleles for complex traits, including nutritional value and stress adaptation. Accessions including teosintes, maize inbred lines and coix were investigated for kernel protein and its association with DNA markers. The proposed investigation assumed that wild accessions had different genic/allelic content and consequently expression profile than modern maize because of the domestication syndrome and bottleneck effects. Total protein content in hard stony fruit case teosinte accessions were assessed from kernels with and without seed coats, while protein content from coix and maize lines was evaluated from kernels only. The accessions were also subjected to molecular profiling using 84 SSR markers, and obtained genotypic data were used for population structure and association analysis. The results emphasize that teosintes have higher protein content (18.5% to 26.29%), followed by coix (18.26%), and the least among maize lines (9% to 11%). Among teosintes, without-seed-coat samples had 3–6% higher protein content than with-seed-coat samples. When compared to other teosinte species, Z. mays subsp. mexicana accessions showed higher protein content, ranging from 18.62% to 26.29%. All evaluated accessions were divided into four subpopulations with K = 4, and seven significant (p < 0.01) marker–trait associations were seen with umc1294, umc1171, phi091, umc2182 and bnlg292 markers, which are distributed across chromosomes 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9, respectively. We have observed that the wild relatives carry protein content-enhancing alleles and can be used as productive donor parents in pre-breeding efforts to increase the protein content of maize.
Summer Rice–Winter Potato Rotation Suppresses Various Soil-Borne Plant Fungal Pathogens
Authors: Zhou Yuanping , Luo Wenjiao , Li Maoxing , Wang Qiong , Liu Yongxin , Guo Huachun
Published: August 2023

Growing potatoes (Solanum tuberosum) using the idle rice fields in Southern China and the Indo-Gangetic Plains of India in the winter season through the rice–potato rotation (RC) system could support future food security. However, the modulation capacity of the RC system on soilborne fungal pathogens is still unclear. In the current study, a pot experiment was designed and conducted to monitor the dynamics of soil fungal community composition between the potato monoculture (CC) system and the RC system, where the two systems were set with the same soil conditions: autoclaving with fertilization; autoclaving without fertilization; autoclave-free with fertilization; and autoclave-free without fertilization. Then, the uncultivated soil (CK) and root-zone soil samples of conditions under the two systems were collected, and then soil physiochemical properties and enzymatic activities were determined. Next, the high-variable region (V5–V7) of fungal 18S rRNA genes of the samples were amplified and sequenced through the PCR technique and the Illumina Miseq platform, respectively. Finally, the fungal species diversity and composition, as well as the relative abundance of fungal pathogens annotated against the Fungiuld database in soil samples, were also investigated. The results showed that the RC could significantly (p < 0.05) increase soil fungal species diversity and decrease the relative abundance of soil fungal pathogens, where the RC could suppress 23 soil fungal pathogens through cultivating the rice during the summer season and 93.75% of the remaining pathogens through winter-season cultivation. Seven-eighths of the conditions under RC have lower pathogenic MGIDI indices (6.38 to 7.82) than those of the CC (7.62 to 9.63). Notably, both rice cultivation and winter planting reduced the abundance of the pathogenic strain ASV24 under the Colletotrichum genus. The bipartite fungal network between the pathogens and the non-pathogens showed that the pathogenic members could be restricted through co-occurring with the non-pathogenic species and planting crops in the winter season. Finally, the redundancy analysis (RDA) indicated that soil pH, electronic conductivity, available phosphorus content, and various enzyme activities (cellulase, urease, sucrase, acid phosphatase, catalase, polyphenol oxidase) could be the indicators of soil fungal pathogens. This experiment demonstrated that the rice–potato rotation system outperformed the potato monoculture on suppressing soilborne fungal pathogenic community.