bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Function Follows Form: Considerations on Hard Heritage Facing the Climate Emergency
Authors: Pais Maria Rita
Published: January 2024

In the discipline of architecture, there is an established familiarity with the 19th century’s Louis Sullivan’s pithy dictum “form follows function”. The expression has indeed directly and indirectly inspired many authors and movements, especially during the beginning of the 20th century, when objectivity showed its value in improving the progress of the industrial society. Nonetheless, the reception effects of such architecture with the primacy of function were responsible for decisive transformations in architectural form, human behaviour, social transformations and material and technological manoeuvres and gave rise to very rich developments related to form, history and inhabitants’ psychological engagements, among many others. So, what about the reception effects framed in the natural and inhabited environment? Could we make space for a sense of greater need, facing a climate emergency? The present paper brings the example of a bunker’s super-resistant heritage, as a paradigmatic sample of material resistance, that supports the idea that “Function (can) Follow the Form” when re-signifying hard architecture, as is the case with Plan Barron of Defence of Lisbon and Setubal, a recently declassified military heritage set of buildings. The study conducts a critical literature review as a qualitative method of research that groups factors into clusters to give evidence to some conceptual theoretical frameworks: “hardness”; “inheritance”; “object trouvé”; “affordance”; and “empathy”. These concepts become then the basis to frame a new paradigm: function follows form can be a pertinent approach when dealing with super-resistant structures in the present climate crisis. This inverse paragon, well explained, could work as a motto to architects for a new era of global climate action.
New Data on Autoionizing States of Ne Induced by Low-Energy Electrons from 45 to 64 eV
Authors: Jureta Jozo J. , Marinković Bratislav P. , Avaldi Lorenzo
Published: January 2024

The lowest single and doubly excited autoionizing states of neon have been studied using a non-monochromatic electron beam and a high-resolution electrostatic analyzer at incident electron energies from 43.37 to 202 (±0.4) eV at three ejection angles, 40°, 90° and 130°. The 2s2p63s(3,1S) and 2s2p63p(3,1P) as well as the 2p43s3p doubly excited states have been observed and their energy determined. The influence of the PCI effect in the energy region of the 2s2p63s(3,1S) states has been investigated. New features in the ejected electron spectra in the low kinetic energy region 3–20 eV at 202 eV incident energy have been observed and assigned.
Concurrent Validity of the Ergotex Device for Measuring Low Back Posture
Authors: García-Luna Marco A. , Jimenez-Olmedo Jose M. , Pueo Basilio , Manchado Carmen , Cortell-Tormo Juan M.
Published: January 2024

Highlighting the crucial role of monitoring and quantifying lumbopelvic rhythm for spinal curvature, the Ergotex IMU, a portable, lightweight, cost-effective, and energy-efficient technology, has been specifically designed for the pelvic and lumbar area. This study investigates the concurrent validity of the Ergotex device in measuring sagittal pelvic tilt angle. We utilized an observational, repeated measures design with healthy adult males (mean age: 39.3 ± 7.6 y, body mass: 82.2 ± 13.0 kg, body height: 179 ± 8 cm), comparing Ergotex with a 3D optical tracking system. Participants performed pelvic tilt movements in anterior, neutral, and posterior conditions. Statistical analysis included paired samples t-tests, Bland–Altman plots, and regression analysis. The findings show minimal systematic error (0.08° overall) and high agreement between the Ergotex and optical tracking, with most data points falling within limits of agreement of Bland–Altman plots (around ±2°). Significant differences were observed only in the anterior condition (0.35°, p < 0.05), with trivial effect sizes (ES = 0.08), indicating that these differences may not be clinically meaningful. The high Pearson’s correlation coefficients across conditions underscore a robust linear relationship between devices (r > 0.9 for all conditions). Regression analysis showed a standard error of estimate (SEE) of 1.1° with small effect (standardized SEE < 0.26 for all conditions), meaning that the expected average deviation from the true value is around 1°. These findings validate the Ergotex as an effective, portable, and cost-efficient tool for assessing sagittal pelvic tilt, with practical implications in clinical and sports settings where traditional methods might be impractical or costly.
Novel Insights into the Cardioprotective Effects of the Peptides of the Counter-Regulatory Renin–Angiotensin System
Authors: Gamiño-Gutiérrez Janette Alejandra , Terán-Hernández Ivana María , Castellar-Lopez Jairo , Villamizar-Villamizar Wendy , Osorio-Llanes Estefanie , Palacios-Cruz Mariali , Rosales Wendy , Chang Aileen Y. , Díaz-Ariza Luis Antonio , Ospino María Clara , Mendoza-Torres Evelyn
Published: January 2024

Currently, cardiovascular diseases are a major contributor to morbidity and mortality worldwide, having a significant negative impact on both the economy and public health. The renin–angiotensin system contributes to a high spectrum of cardiovascular disorders and is essential for maintaining normal cardiovascular homeostasis. Overactivation of the classical renin–angiotensin system is one of the most important pathophysiological mechanisms in the progression of cardiovascular diseases. The counter-regulatory renin–angiotensin system is an alternate pathway which favors the synthesis of different peptides, including Angiotensin-(1-7), Angiotensin-(1-9), and Alamandine. These peptides, via the angiotensin type 2 receptor (AT2R), MasR, and MrgD, initiate multiple downstream signaling pathways that culminate in the activation of various cardioprotective mechanisms, such as decreased cardiac fibrosis, decreased myocardial hypertrophy, vasodilation, decreased blood pressure, natriuresis, and nitric oxide synthesis. These cardioprotective effects position them as therapeutic alternatives for reducing the progression of cardiovascular diseases. This review aims to show the latest findings on the cardioprotective effects of the main peptides of the counter-regulatory renin–angiotensin system.
Dynamic Neural Patterns of Human Emotions in Virtual Reality: Insights from EEG Microstate Analysis
Authors: Bai Yicai , Yu Minchang , Li Yingjie
Published: January 2024

Emotions play a crucial role in human life and affect mental health. Understanding the neural patterns associated with emotions is essential. Previous studies carried out some exploration of the neural features of emotions, but most have designed experiments in two-dimensional (2D) environments, which differs from real-life scenarios. To create a more real environment, this study investigated emotion-related brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG) microstate analysis in a virtual reality (VR) environment. We recruited 42 healthy volunteers to participate in our study. We explored the dynamic features of different emotions, and four characteristic microstates were analyzed. In the alpha band, microstate A exhibited a higher occurrence in both negative and positive emotions than in neutral emotions. Microstate C exhibited a prolonged duration of negative emotions compared to positive emotions, and a higher occurrence was observed in both microstates C and D during positive emotions. Notably, a unique transition pair was observed between microstates B and C during positive emotions, whereas a unique transition pair was observed between microstates A and D during negative emotions. This study emphasizes the potential of integrating virtual reality (VR) and EEG to facilitate experimental design. Furthermore, this study enhances our comprehension of neural activities during various emotional states.
Non-Metastatic Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Immune Cell Infiltration Heterogeneity and Prognostic Ability in Patients Following Surgery
Authors: Shapiro Daniel D. , Lozar Taja , Cheng Lingxin , Xie Elliot , Laklouk Israa , Lee Moon Hee , Huang Wei , Jarrard David F. , Allen Glenn O. , Hu Rong , Kinoshita Toshi , Esbona Karla , Lambert Paul F. , Capitini Christian M. , Kendziorski Christina , Abel Edwin Jason
Published: January 2024

Predicting which patients will progress to metastatic disease after surgery for non-metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is difficult; however, recent data suggest that tumor immune cell infiltration could be used as a biomarker. We evaluated the quantity and type of immune cells infiltrating ccRCC tumors for associations with metastatic progression following attempted curative surgery. We quantified immune cell densities in the tumor microenvironment and validated our findings in two independent patient cohorts with multi-region sampling to investigate the impact of heterogeneity on prognostic accuracy. For non-metastatic ccRCC, increased CD8+ T cell infiltration was associated with a reduced likelihood of progression to metastatic disease. Interestingly, patients who progressed to metastatic disease also had increased percentages of exhausted CD8+ T cells. Finally, we evaluated the spatial heterogeneity of the immune infiltration and demonstrated that patients without metastatic progression had CD8+ T cells in closer proximity to ccRCC cells. These data strengthen the evidence for CD8+ T cell infiltration as a prognostic biomarker in non-metastatic ccRCC and demonstrate that multi-region sampling may be necessary to fully characterize immune infiltration within heterogeneous tumors. Tumor CD8+ T cell infiltration should be investigated as a biomarker in adjuvant systemic therapy clinical trials for high-risk non-metastatic RCC.
Blastocyst-Derived Lactic Acid May Regulate S100A6 Expression and Function in Mouse Decidualization via Stimulation of Uterine Epithelial Arachidonic Acid Secretion
Authors: Li Meng-Yuan , Wang Ying , Wu Ying , Zhao Xu-Yu , Yang Zhen-Shan , Li Bo , Chen Si-Ting , He Yu-Ying , Yang Zeng-Ming
Published: January 2024

(1) Background: Inflammatory responses are implicated in embryo implantation, decidualization, pregnancy maintenance and labor. Both embryo implantation and decidualization are essential to successful pregnancy in rodents and primates. S100A6 is involved in inflammation, tumor development, apoptosis and calcium homeostasis. S100A6 is strongly expressed in mouse decidua, but the underlying mechanisms of how S100A6 regulates implantation and decidualization are poorly defined. (2) Methods: Mouse endometrial stromal and epithelial cells are isolated from day 4 pseudopregnant mouse uteri. Both immunofluorescence and Western blotting are used to analyze the expression and localization of proteins. The molecular mechanism is verified in vitro by Western blotting and the quantitative polymerase chain reaction. (3) Results: From days 4 to 8 of pregnancy, S100A6 is specifically expressed in mouse subluminal stromal cells. Blastocyst-derived lactic acid induces AA secretion by activating the luminal epithelial p-cPLA2. The epithelial AA induces stromal S100A6 expression through the COX2/PGI2/PPAR δ pathway. Progesterone regulates S100A6 expression through the progesterone receptor (PR). S100A6/RAGE signaling can regulate decidualization via EGFR/ERK1/2 in vitro. (4) Conclusions: S100A6, as an inflammatory mediator, is important for mouse implantation and decidualization.
Anti-Inflammatory Neutrophils Reprogram Macrophages toward a Pro-Healing Phenotype with Increased Efferocytosis Capacity
Authors: Mihaila Andreea Cristina , Ciortan Letitia , Tucureanu Monica Madalina , Simionescu Maya , Butoi Elena
Published: January 2024

Following myocardial infarction (MI), blood neutrophils quickly and extensively infiltrate the heart, where they are temporally polarized into pro-inflammatory (N1) and anti-inflammatory (N2) subpopulations. Neutrophil transmigration is rapidly followed by the accrual of macrophages (MACs), which are believed to undergo local phenotypic transformations from pro-inflammatory to pro-healing MACs that mediate inflammation resolution. We hypothesized that N2 neutrophils can reprogram MACs toward a healing phenotype with increased efferocytosis capacity. To examine this, human neutrophils isolated from healthy subjects were polarized in N1 and N2 neutrophils, and their secretome was added to human MACs derived from THP monocytes. The impact of neutrophil factors on macrophages was investigated using qPCR, ELISA, Western blot, immunofluorescence, or an efferocytosis assay. The results show that the MACs exposed to N2 neutrophil secretome exhibited (i) increased expression of the anti-inflammatory molecules CD206, TGF-β, and IL-10 and the nuclear factors associated with reparatory macrophages (PPARγ, Nur77, and KLF4); (ii) enhanced expression of efferocytosis receptors (MerTK, CD36, CX3CR1, and integrins αv/β5) and of the bridge molecules Mfage8 and Gas6; and (iii) enhanced efferocytosis. In conclusion, factors released by N2 neutrophils induce a pro-healing phenotype of MACs by upregulating anti-inflammatory molecules and efferocytosis receptors and ensuing the efferocytosis capacity. The data suggest that molecular therapy to foster N2 polarization, which boosts macrophages’ pro-healing phenotype, could be a promising strategy to speed up inflammation resolution and tissue repair.
High-Fat, High-Calorie Breast Milk in Women with Overweight or Obesity and Its Association with Maternal Serum Insulin Concentration and Triglycerides Levels
Authors: Ross Michael G. , Kavasery Manasa P. , Cervantes MacKenzie K. , Han Guang , Horta Bernardo , Coca Kelly P. , Costa Suleyma O. , Desai Mina
Published: January 2024

The childhood obesity epidemic continues to be a challenge. Maternal obesity and excessive infant weight gain are strong predictors of childhood obesity, which itself is a major risk factor for adult obesity. The primary source of nutrition during early life is breast milk, and its composition is impacted by maternal habitus and diet. We thus studied the relationship between maternal BMI, serum lipids and insulin, and breast milk fat and calorie content from foremilk to hindmilk. Women who were exclusively breastfeeding at 7–8 weeks postpartum were BMI classified as Normal (18.5–24.9, n = 9) and women with Overweight/Obese (OW/OB ≥ 25, n = 13). Maternal blood and continuous breast milk samples obtained from foremilk to hindmilk were analyzed, and infant milk intake was assessed. Women with OW/OB had significantly higher milk fat and calorie content in the first foremilk and last hindmilk sample as compared to Normal BMI women. Amongst all women, maternal serum triglycerides, insulin, and HOMA were significantly correlated with foremilk triglyceride concentration, suggesting that maternal serum triglyceride and insulin action contribute to human milk fat content. As the milk fat content of OW/OB women has caloric implications for infant growth and childhood obesity, these results suggest the potential for modulating milk fat content by a reduction in maternal serum lipids or insulin.
Relationship between El Niño-Southern Oscillation and Atmospheric Aerosols in the Legal Amazon
Authors: Pereira Augusto G. C. , Palácios Rafael , Santos Paula C. R. , Pereira Raimundo Vitor S. , Cirino Glauber , Imbiriba Breno
Published: January 2024

The El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) stands out as the most significant tropical phenomenon in terms of climatic magnitude resulting from ocean–atmosphere interaction. Due to its atmospheric teleconnection mechanism, ENSO influences various environmental variables across distinct atmospheric scales, potentially impacting the spatiotemporal distribution of atmospheric aerosols. Within this context, this study aims to evaluate the relationship between ENSO and atmospheric aerosols across the entire Legal Amazon during the period from 2006 to 2011. Over this five-year span, four ENSO events were identified. Concurrently, an analysis of the spatiotemporal variability of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and Black Carbon radiation extinction (EAOD-BC) was conducted alongside these ENSO events, utilizing data derived from the Aerosol Robotic Network (AERONET), MERRA-2 model, and ERSSTV5. Employing the Windowed Cross-Correlation (WCC) approach, statistically significant phase lags of up to 4 to 6 months between ENSO indicators and atmospheric aerosols were observed. There was an approximate 100% increase in AOD immediately after El Niño periods, particularly during intervals encompassing the La Niña phase. The analysis of specific humidity anomaly (QA) revealed that, contrary to expectations, positive values were observed throughout most of the El Niño period. This result suggests that while there is a suppression of precipitation events during El Niño due to the subsidence of drier air masses in the Amazon, the region still exhibits positive specific humidity (Q) conditions. The interaction between aerosols and humidity is intricate. However, Q can exert influence over the microphysical and optical properties of aerosols, in addition to affecting their chemical composition and aerosol load. This influence primarily occurs through water absorption, leading to substantial alterations in radiation scattering characteristics, and thus affecting the extinction of solar radiation.
Investigating the Competitive Factors of Metal–Anion Coordination, Coordination by Water, and Hydrogen Bonding in Complexes of Cyanuric Acid with the Alkaline Earth Metals
Authors: Clegg William , Nichol Gary S.
Published: January 2024

A survey of the trends in metal–ligand coordination and hydrogen bonding has been carried out on complexes of singly deprotonated cyanuric acid CY− and alkaline earth metals, synthesised from aqueous solution and characterised by X-ray crystallography. The involvement of cyanurate in metal coordination increases from Mg through Ca and Sr to Ba relative to coordination by water, in parallel with increasing ionic radius and coordination number. The incidence of the bridging of metal centres by both water and cyanurate also increases in this series. The Mg complex [Mg(H2O)6][CY]2·2H2O contains hexaaqua-coordinated cations, uncoordinated CY− anions, and additional water molecules. The Ca and Sr complexes {[Ca(CY)(H2O)3][CY]}∞ and {[Sr(CY)2(H2O)4]}∞ feature polymeric chains of coordinated metal ions, the Ca complex with uncoordinated anions and the Sr complex with all potential ligands coordinated. The Ba complex {[Ba(CY)2(H2O)2]}∞ has a two-dimensional coordination network. Extensive hydrogen bonding plays a key role in generating a three-dimensional network in all four structures. The competition between cyanurate and water for coordination to the alkaline earth metal cations, and that between coordination and the hydrogen bonding propensities of the cyanurate anion, appear to be finely balanced, with the structural outcomes depending on the relative sizes and degrees of hardness of the four cations of the group.
Can Data and Machine Learning Change the Future of Basic Income Models? A Bayesian Belief Networks Approach
Authors: Khalili Hamed
Published: January 2024

Appeals to governments for implementing basic income are contemporary. The theoretical backgrounds of the basic income notion only prescribe transferring equal amounts to individuals irrespective of their specific attributes. However, the most recent basic income initiatives all around the world are attached to certain rules with regard to the attributes of the households. This approach is facing significant challenges to appropriately recognize vulnerable groups. A possible alternative for setting rules with regard to the welfare attributes of the households is to employ artificial intelligence algorithms that can process unprecedented amounts of data. Can integrating machine learning change the future of basic income by predicting households vulnerable to future poverty? In this paper, we utilize multidimensional and longitudinal welfare data comprising one and a half million individuals’ data and a Bayesian beliefs network approach to examine the feasibility of predicting households’ vulnerability to future poverty based on the existing households’ welfare attributes.
Mouth Breathing and Its Impact on Atypical Swallowing: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Gómez-González Carmen , González-Mosquera Antonio , Alkhraisat Mohammad Hamdan , Anitua Eduardo
Published: January 2024

The aim of this systematic review is the assessment of the effect of mouth breathing on the prevalence of tongue thrust. The review was performed according to the PRISMA 2020 checklist guidelines, and the protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022339527). The inclusion criteria were the following: studies of clinical trials and cross-sectional and longitudinal descriptive studies that evaluate the appearance of tongue thrust in patients with mouth breathing; healthy subjects of any age, race or sex; and studies with a minimum sample group of five cases. The exclusion criteria were the following: studies with syndromic patients, articles from case reports, and letters to the editor and/or publisher. Searches were performed in electronic databases such as The National Library of Medicine (MEDLINE via PUBMED), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science and Scopus, including studies published until November 2023, without a language filter. The methodological quality of the included case–control studies was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS), and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) tool was used for descriptive cross-sectional studies and cross-sectional prevalence studies. A meta-analysis was conducted on studies that provided data on patients’ classification according to mouth breathing (yes/no) as well as atypical swallowing (yes/no) using Review Manager 5.4. From 424 records, 12 articles were selected, and 4 were eligible for meta-analysis. It was shown that there is no consensus on the diagnostic methods used for mouth breathing and tongue thrust. The pooled risk ratio of atypical swallowing was significantly higher in the patients with mouth breathing (RR: 3.70; 95% CI: 2.06 to 6.66). These studies have several limitations, such as the heterogeneity among the individual studies in relation to the diagnostic tools and criteria for the assessment of mouth breathing and atypical swallowing. Considering the results, this systematic review shows that patients with mouth breathing presented higher risk ratios for atypical swallowing.
On the Inflation-Debt-Bubble “Vicious Cycle” in Times of Evolving Money—A Memorandum of Forward-Looking Lessons
Authors: Beretta Edoardo
Published: January 2024

The global financial crisis (2008–2009) represents a notable example of a generally unpredicted crisis in economic history. Nevertheless, it presented features comparable to almost any previous (monetarily related) crisis episode. For instance, it was characterized by a “vicious cycle” made by over-issued money and/or over-granted loans nourishing private and public indebtedness and—eventually—affecting asset prices with stable consumer price indexes. While the post-COVID-19 inflation presents different characteristics because of being a crisis “exogenous” to the economic system, the present Communication claims that future crises (if endogenous to the economic system) are likely to follow usual patterns. The approach used to analyse the transmission channels contributing to economic and financial crises is theoretical. Nevertheless, the present Communication still contains statistical evidence in support of the predictability of such crises as soon as their usual dynamics is understood. The statistical analysis carried out is rather descriptive than causal in nature. Finally, this Communication reminds that “typical” economic and financial crises in advanced economies behave along some consolidated patterns. At their origins, there are mostly over-issued money and/or over-granted loans by central and/or commercial banks financing private and public debt. This phenomenon exacerbates risks in the economy and—while it incentivises money issuers and credit granters in good times to over-issue money and over-grant credits to earn extra-profits—it over-exposes economic agents to the risk of (even greater) economic losses in negative times. As soon as the bubble to be defined as over-proportionally grown prices of specific assets due to over-issued money and over-granted credits pops and funds are rapidly divested, prices collapse and drive the economy into a severe crisis.
Using Simulations and Screencasts in Online Preclass Activities to Support Student Building of Mental Models
Authors: Herrington Deborah G. , Sweeder Ryan D.
Published: January 2024

As online learning and flipped classes become more important in chemistry instruction, the development of learning materials that can be used to support students’ independent learning of conceptual chemistry content is critical. This paper summarizes the key findings from an eight-year investigation of effective practices for using simulations in preclass introductions to core chemistry concepts with a focus on supporting students’ development of particulate-level models. Student learning gains for six core chemistry concepts were compared for students’ independent use of a simulation using scaffolded instructions versus students’ viewing a screencast of instructors modeling the use of the simulation to answer a series of questions. Though both approaches resulted in student learning gains and provided a solid foundation for subsequent instruction, the screencast approach provided additional benefits. These included avoiding potential simulation limitations and the ability to add instructional content to support student learning. Additionally, studying many iterations of assignments for several different topics yielded an assignment design framework that provides guidelines for instructors looking to create or use simulation-based preclass activities in the classroom to support student learning.
FinTech Services Adoption in Greece: The Roles of Trust, Government Support, and Technology Acceptance Factors
Authors: Balaskas Stefanos , Koutroumani Maria , Komis Kiriakos , Rigou Maria
Published: January 2024

Financial technology or FinTech is a term that has arisen in recent years; it refers to innovative technologies designed to enhance and automate the provision and utilization of financial services. Its solutions aim to simplify conventional financial procedures, boost automation, lower expenses, and deliver personalized and user-friendly experiences for both businesses and consumers. But this question remains: what drives users to adopt such services and how are they perceived by the general public? In our study, a quantitative non-experimental correlational methodology in the form of an online survey was utilized to study the Greek citizens’ behavioral intentions regarding the utilization of FinTech services. Based on the answers of 348 respondents, structural equation modeling was performed to evaluate the theoretical model, which included technology acceptance factors. Unlike conventional models that primarily relate user acceptance to adoption, our research goes beyond these models by expanding on the TAM model via an exploration of the role of trust and the influence of government support on user trust and perceived effort and an examination of how these, in turn, impact the FinTech services adoption. In our context, government support refers to the regulatory frameworks, policies, and endorsements provided by governmental bodies. The results indicated that all the aspects of this study related to trust and user acceptance (effort expectancy and performance expectancy) revealed a significant and positive relationship with FinTech services adoption and can be predictive factors of citizens’ future intentions to use FinTech services. This study also verified that trust in FinTech services mediates the relationship between government support and FinTech services adoption. We place emphasis on the intricate yet complex decision-making process in technology adoption, particularly in the field of FinTech, by exploring the intertwined relationships of trust, government support, and technology acceptance factors; the findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and industry practitioners.
Proteomics Parameters for Assessing Authenticity of Grated Grana Padano PDO Cheese: Results from a Three-Year Survey
Authors: Pellegrino Luisa , Rosi Veronica , Sindaco Marta , D’Incecco Paolo
Published: January 2024

Assessing the authenticity of PDO cheeses is an important task because it allows consumer expectations to be fulfilled and guarantees fair competition for manufacturers. A 3-year survey was carried out, analyzing 271 samples of grated Grana Padano (GP) PDO cheese collected on the European market. Previously developed analytical methods based on proteomics approaches were adopted to evaluate the compliance of market samples with selected legal requirements provided by the specification for this cheese. Proteolysis follows highly repeatable pathways in GP cheese due to the usage of raw milk, natural whey starter, and consistent manufacturing and ripening conditions. From selected casein breakdown products, it is possible to calculate the actual cheese age (should be >9 months) and detect the presence of excess rind (should be <18%). Furthermore, due to the characteristic pattern of free amino acids established for GP, distinguishing it from closely related cheese varieties is feasible. Cheese age ranged from 9 to 25 months and was correctly claimed on the label. Based on the amino acid pattern, three samples probably contained defective cheese and there was only one imitation cheese. Few samples (9%) were proven to contain some excess rind. Overall, this survey highlighted that the adopted control parameters can assure the quality of grated GP.
DARDN: A Deep-Learning Approach for CTCF Binding Sequence Classification and Oncogenic Regulatory Feature Discovery
Authors: Cho Hyun Jae , Wang Zhenjia , Cong Yidan , Bekiranov Stefan , Zhang Aidong , Zang Chongzhi
Published: January 2024

Characterization of gene regulatory mechanisms in cancer is a key task in cancer genomics. CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF), a DNA binding protein, exhibits specific binding patterns in the genome of cancer cells and has a non-canonical function to facilitate oncogenic transcription programs by cooperating with transcription factors bound at flanking distal regions. Identification of DNA sequence features from a broad genomic region that distinguish cancer-specific CTCF binding sites from regular CTCF binding sites can help find oncogenic transcription factors in a cancer type. However, the presence of long DNA sequences without localization information makes it difficult to perform conventional motif analysis. Here, we present DNAResDualNet (DARDN), a computational method that utilizes convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for predicting cancer-specific CTCF binding sites from long DNA sequences and employs DeepLIFT, a method for interpretability of deep learning models that explains the model’s output in terms of the contributions of its input features. The method is used for identifying DNA sequence features associated with cancer-specific CTCF binding. Evaluation on DNA sequences associated with CTCF binding sites in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and other cancer types demonstrates DARDN’s ability in classifying DNA sequences surrounding cancer-specific CTCF binding from control constitutive CTCF binding and identifying sequence motifs for transcription factors potentially active in each specific cancer type. We identify potential oncogenic transcription factors in T-ALL, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), breast cancer (BRCA), colorectal cancer (CRC), lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), and prostate cancer (PRAD). Our work demonstrates the power of advanced machine learning and feature discovery approach in finding biologically meaningful information from complex high-throughput sequencing data.
Analysis of Publications on Health Information Management Using the Science Mapping Method: A Holistic Perspective
Authors: Tengilimoğlu Dilaver , Orhan Fatih , Şenel Tekin Perihan , Younis Mustafa
Published: January 2024

Objective: In the age of digital transformation, there is a need for a sustainable information management vision in health. Understanding the accumulation of health information management (HIM) knowledge from the past to the present and building a new vision to meet this need reveals the importance of understanding the available scientific knowledge. With this research, it is aimed to examine the scientific documents of the last 40 years of HIM literature with a holistic approach using science mapping techniques and to guide future research. Methods: This study used a bibliometric analysis method for science mapping. Co-citation and co-occurrence document analyses were performed on 630 academic publications selected from the Web of Science core collection (WoSCC) database using the keyword “Health Information Management” and inclusion criteria. The analyses were performed using the R-based software Bibliometrix (Version 4.0; K-Synth Srl), Python (Version 3.12.1; The Python Software Foundation), and Microsoft® Excel® 2016. Results: Co-occurrence analyses revealed the themes of personal health records, clinical coding and data quality, and health information management. The HIM theme consisted of five subthemes: “electronic records”, “medical informatics”, “e-health and telemedicine”, “health education and awareness”, and “health information systems (HISs)”. As a result of the co-citation analysis, the prominent themes were technology acceptance, standardized clinical coding, the success of HISs, types of electronic records, people with HIM, health informatics used by consumers, e-health, e-mobile health technologies, and countries’ frameworks and standards for HISs. Conclusions: This comprehensive bibliometric study shows that structured information can be helpful in understanding research trends in HIM. This study identified critical issues in HIM, identified meaningful themes, and explained the topic from a holistic perspective for all health system actors and stakeholders who want to work in the field of HIM.
Agroeconomic Indexes and Big Data: Digital Marketing Analytics Implications for Enhanced Decision Making with Artificial Intelligence-Based Modeling
Authors: Giannakopoulos Nikolaos T. , Terzi Marina C. , Sakas Damianos P. , Kanellos Nikos , Toudas Kanellos S. , Migkos Stavros P.
Published: January 2024

Agriculture firms face an array of struggles, most of which are financial; thus, the role of decision making is discerned as highly important. The agroeconomic indexes (AEIs) of Agriculture Employment Rate (AER), Chemical Product Price Index (CPPI), Farm Product Price Index (FPPI), and Machinery Equipment Price Index (MEPI) were selected as the basis of this study. This research aims to examine the connection between digital marketing analytics and the selected agroeconomic indexes while providing valuable insights into their decision-making process, with the utilization of AI (artificial intelligence) models. Thus, a dataset of website analytics was collected from five well-established agriculture firms, apart from the values of the referred indexes. By performing regression and correlation analyses, the index relationships with the agriculture firms’ digital marketing analytics were extracted and used for the deployment of the fuzzy cognitive mapping (FCM) and hybrid modeling (HM) processes, assisted by using artificial neural network (ANN) models. Through the above process, there is a strong connection between the agroeconomic indexes of AER, CPPI, FPPR, and MEPI and the metrics of branded traffic, social and search traffic sources, and paid and organic costs of agriculture firms. It is highlighted that agriculture firms, to better understand their sector’s employment rate and the volatility of farming, chemicals, and machine equipment prices for future investment strategies and better decision-making processes, should try to increase their investment in the preferred digital marketing analytics and AI applications.
Impact of Vascular Access Flow Suppression Surgery on Cervical Artery Circulation: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Hashimoto Koji , Harada Makoto , Yamada Yosuke , Kanno Taro , Kanno Yutaka , Kamijo Yuji
Published: January 2024

Vascular access (VA) flow suppression surgery augments VA flow resistance and can increase other circulation flows hindered by high-flow VA. However, whether VA flow suppression surgery affects cervical circulation has rarely been reported. We aimed to determine the effect of VA flow suppression surgery on the cervical circulation in patients with high-flow VA. This single-center, retrospective, observational study included 85 hemodialysis patients who underwent VA flow suppression surgery at the Kanno Dialysis and Access Clinic between 2009 and 2018. Blood flow in the VA, bilateral vertebral arteries, and common carotid artery was measured before and after VA flow suppression surgery. The VA flow decreased from 1548 mL/min to 693 mL/min postoperatively. The flow of the vertebral artery on the VA side increased from 55 mL/min to 81 mL/min. The flow in the bilateral common carotid arteries also increased. Patients whose symptoms improved postoperatively showed better improvement in the vertebral artery on the VA side. VA flow suppression surgery in patients with high-flow VA increases the flow of the vertebral artery on the VA side and of the bilateral common carotid arteries. High-flow VA can hinder the vertebral and common carotid circulation.
Knowledge Mapping to Understand Corporate Value: Literature Review and Bibliometrics
Authors: Li Baochan , Pongtornkulpanich Anan , Chankoson Thitinan
Published: January 2024

The purpose of this study is to summarize the research results on corporate value published from 2000 to 2022; show the research overview, hot trends, and topic evolution of this research field; provide new ideas for the mining of the research frontiers of corporate value and a summary of the change rules of research hotspots; and describe prospects for the evolution direction and path of future research. Combining the bibliometric research method with a literature review, the research results on corporate value were analyzed quantitatively by querying the WOS database from 2000 to 2022; the analysis tool was CiteSpace. This study has five findings. First, researchers are paying increasing attention to the study of corporate value, and most of the research results are obtained by independent authors. Second, Chinese research institutions rank among the top three in publication volume. However, their research results have had little impact, with Univ Penn and Peking Univ having the most significant impact. Third, the top three keywords that scholars pay attention to are performance, impact, and corporate governance. Keyword burst analysis, CSR, value reliability, and sustainability are the latest research frontiers. Fourth, evolutionary trends are divided into three stages: research on the influencing factors of corporate value, research on the impact of corporate behavior on corporate value, and research on the evaluation and growth of corporate value. Fifth, knowledge domains include corporate value research methods, the factors influencing corporate value, and corporate behavior. The aims of this study are to provide a new perspective for researchers to study corporate value, provide new ideas for enterprise managers to manage corporate value, and achieve the sustainable development of corporate value. At the same time, the scientific knowledge graph method is applied in corporate value research, adding a new research path for corporate value.
Dynamics of a Stochastic SEIR Epidemic Model with Vertical Transmission and Standard Incidence
Authors: Li Ruichao , Guo Xiurong
Published: January 2024

A stochastic SEIR epidemic model with standard incidence and vertical transmission was developed in this work. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether stochastic environmental disturbances affect dynamic features of the epidemic model. The existence, uniqueness, and boundedness of global positive solutions are stated. A threshold was determined for the extinction of the infectious disease. After that, the existence and uniqueness of an ergodic stationary distribution were verified by determining the correct Lyapunov function. Ultimately, theoretical outcomes of numerical simulations are shown.
M-Batches to Simulate Luminal and Mucosal Human Gut Microbial Ecosystems: A Case Study of the Effects of Coffee and Green Tea
Authors: Goya-Jorge Elizabeth , Gonza Irma , Douny Caroline , Scippo Marie-Louise , Delcenserie Véronique
Published: January 2024

Gastrointestinal simulations in vitro have only limited approaches to analyze the microbial communities inhabiting the mucosal compartment. Understanding and differentiating gut microbial ecosystems is crucial for a more comprehensive and accurate representation of the gut microbiome and its interactions with the host. Herein is suggested, in a short-term and static set-up (named “M-batches”), the analysis of mucosal and luminal populations of inhabitants of the human colon. After varying several parameters, such as the fermentation volume and the fecal inoculum (single or pool), only minor differences in microbial composition and metabolic production were identified. However, the pool created with feces from five donors and cultivated in a smaller volume (300 mL) seemed to provide a more stable luminal ecosystem. The study of commercially available coffee and green tea in the M-batches suggested some positive effects of these worldwide known beverages, including the increase in butyrate-producing bacteria and lactobacilli populations. We hope that this novel strategy can contribute to future advances in the study of intestinal ecosystems and host-microbe relationships and help elucidate roles of the microbiome in health and disease.
Revealing the Antiperspirant Components of Floating Wheat and Their Mechanisms of Action through Metabolomics and Network Pharmacology
Authors: Dong Shengnan , Tian Qing , Hui Ming , Zhang Shouyu
Published: January 2024

Floating wheat is a classical herbal with potential efficacy in the treatment of hyperhidrosis. Aiming at revealing the main components and potential mechanisms of floating wheat, a comprehensive and unique phytopharmacology profile study was carried out. First, common wheat was used as a control to look for chemical markers of floating wheat. In the screening analysis, a total of 180 shared compounds were characterized in common wheat and floating wheat, respectively. The results showed that floating wheat and common wheat contain similar types of compounds. In addition, in non-targeted metabolomic analysis, when taking the contents of the constituents into account, it was found that there indeed existed quite a difference between floating wheat and common wheat and 17 potential biomarkers for floating wheat. Meanwhile, a total of seven components targeted for hyperhidrosis were screened out based on network pharmacology. Seven key differential components were screened, among which kaempferol, asiatic acid, sclareol, enoxolone, and secoisolariciresinol had higher degree values than the others. The analysis of interacting genes revealed three key genes, namely, MAP2K1, ESR1, and ESR2. The Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses showed that various signaling pathways were involved. Prolactin signaling, thyroid cancer, endocrine resistance, gonadotropin secretion, and estrogen signaling pathways were the main pathways of the intervention of floating wheat in excessive sweating, which was associated with the estrogenic response, hormone receptor binding, androgen metabolism, apoptosis, cancer, and many other biological processes. Molecular docking showed that the screened key components could form good bindings with the target proteins through intermolecular forces. This study reveals the active ingredients and potential molecular mechanism of floating wheat in the treatment of hyperhidrosis and provides a reference for subsequent basic research.
Effect of Acetylation on the Nanofibril Formation of Chitosan from All-Atom De Novo Self-Assembly Simulations
Authors: Romany Aarion , Payne Gregory F. , Shen Jana
Published: January 2024

Chitosan-based materials have broad applications, from biotechnology to pharmaceutics. Recent experiments showed that the degree and pattern of acetylation along the chitosan chain modulate its biological and physicochemical properties; however, the molecular mechanism remains unknown. Here, we report, to the best of our knowledge, the first de novo all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate chitosan’s self-assembly process at different degrees and patterns of acetylation. Simulations revealed that 10 mer chitosan chains with 50% acetylation in either block or alternating patterns associate to form ordered nanofibrils comprised of mainly antiparallel chains in agreement with the fiber diffraction data of deacetylated chitosan. Surprisingly, regardless of the acetylation pattern, the same intermolecular hydrogen bonds mediate fibril sheet formation while water-mediated interactions stabilize sheet–sheet stacking. Moreover, acetylated units are involved in forming strong intermolecular hydrogen bonds (NH–O6 and O6H–O7), which offers an explanation for the experimental observation that increased acetylation lowers chitosan’s solubility. Taken together, the present study provides atomic-level understanding the role of acetylation plays in modulating chitosan’s physiochemical properties, contributing to the rational design of chitosan-based materials with the ability to tune by its degree and pattern of acetylation. Additionally, we disseminate the improved molecular mechanics parameters that can be applied in MD studies to further understand chitosan-based materials.
Neuromuscular Rehabilitation of the Brachioradialis Muscle after Distal Radius Fracture in Two Professional Soccer Players Using Electromyographic Biofeedback
Authors: Morales-Sánchez Verónica , Reigal Rafael E. , García-Morales Verónica , Hernández-Mendo Antonio , Falcó Coral
Published: January 2024

The use of electromyographic biofeedback (EMG-BF) in the rehabilitation of injuries has been widely referenced in the psychological literature. However, despite some pioneering work in the field of sports, its use in the rehabilitation of sports injuries has hardly been explored. A case of two professional soccer players who each suffered a distal radius fracture is presented here. Parallel to the rehabilitation plan established by medical services, an intervention strategy using EMG-BF was established. An EMG-BF intervention was performed on the brachioradialis muscle with the aim of improving the voluntary control of its electromyographic activity. The study protocol was registered with the identifier NCT05376072. An ABA design was used. In each session, a pre- and postline was recorded to determine the EMG gain acquired at each point of the session. After six sessions, the intervention was terminated. One more follow-up session was performed. The results obtained indicated the efficacy of the intervention; a statistically significant increase in muscle activity in the brachioradialis muscle was observed.