bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TRPV4 Mediates Alveolar Epithelial Barrier Integrity and Induces ADAM10-Driven E-Cadherin Shedding
Authors: Schaller Lena , Gudermann Thomas , Dietrich Alexander
Published: October 2024

Transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 (TRPV4) channels have been associated with numerous pulmonary pathologies, including hypertension, asthma, and acute lung injury. However, their role in the alveolar epithelium remains unclear. We performed impedance-based resistance measurements in primary differentiated alveolar epithelial type I (AT1) cells from wild-type (WT) and TRPV4-deficient (TRPV4−/−) C57/BL6J mice to detect changes in AT1 barrier integrity upon TRPV4 activation. Both pharmacological (GSK1016790A) and a low pH-driven activation of TRPV4 were quantified, and the downstream effects on adherens junctions were assessed through the Western blotting of epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) protein levels. Importantly, a drop in pH caused a rapid decrease in AT1 barrier resistance and increased the formation of a ~35 kDa E-cadherin C-terminal fragment, with both effects significantly reduced in TRPV4−/− AT1 cells. Similarly, the pharmacological activation of TRPV4 in AT1 cells triggered an immediate transient loss of barrier resistance and the formation of the same E-cadherin fragment, which was again diminished by TRPV4 deficiency. Moreover, TRPV4-mediated E-cadherin cleavage was significantly reduced by GI254023X, an antagonist of a disintegrin and metalloprotease 10 (ADAM10). Our results confirm the role of TRPV4 in regulating alveolar epithelial barrier permeability and provide insight into a novel signaling pathway by which TRPV4-induced Ca2+ influx stimulates metalloprotease-driven ectodomain shedding.
Association Between Systemic Neuroinflammation, Pain Perception and Clinical Status in Fibromyalgia Patients: Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: González-Álvarez María Elena , Riquelme-Aguado Víctor , González-Pérez Ángela , Murillo-Llergo Rosa , Manjón-Olmedillas María , Turroni Silvia , Rossettini Giacomo , Villafañe Jorge Hugo
Published: October 2024

Background: Fibromyalgia (FM) is characterized by chronic pain and a complex array of symptoms, with neuroinflammation implicated in its pathophysiology. Methods: This study aimed to explore the association between neuroinflammation, measured through interleukin levels (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8), and clinical outcomes in FM patients. Using a cross-sectional study design, blood levels of these interleukins were correlated with pain severity and disability, assessed via the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) and pain measures. Results: Results indicated that IL-6 and IL-8 may particularly serve as biomarkers for pain severity and disability in FM patients, showing significant associations with worse clinical outcomes. Elevated IL-8 levels, for instance, correlated strongly with increased pain perception and higher disability scores. Conclusions: These findings suggest that specific interleukins are not only elevated in FM but are actively involved in the modulation of pain and disability, underscoring the role of systemic neuroinflammation in the clinical severity of FM. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the inflammatory mechanisms in FM and underscores the potential of targeting interleukins in therapeutic strategies.
Mullite–Silicate Proppants Based on High-Iron Bauxite and Waste from Metallurgical Industry in Kazakhstan
Authors: Dzhienalyev Tolebi , Biryukova Alla , Kenzhaliyev Bagdaulet , Uskenbaeva Alma , Ruzakhunova Galiya
Published: October 2024

The suitability of microsilica as a raw material for the production of ceramic mullite–silicate proppants was assessed. The chemical and mineralogical compositions of the initial materials were studied. The mineral composition of bauxite is mainly represented by gibbsite Al(OH)3 and, to a lesser extent, kaolinite Al4[Si4O10](OH)8, with impurities of hematite and quartz. It is established that, in order to obtain mullite–silicate proppants, compositions containing 10–20% microsilica are optimal. The sintering of these compositions occurs at 1350–1380 °C. A lightweight ceramic proppant was obtained with a bulk density of 1.21–1.41 g/cm3, breaking ratio at 51.7 MPa of 19.1–20.3%, and sphericity and roundness of 0.7–0.9, and the optimal roasting temperature was determined as 1370–1380 °C.
Immobilization of Sustine® 131 onto Spent Coffee Grounds for Efficient Biosynthesis of Ethyl Hydrocinnamate
Authors: Zieniuk Bartłomiej
Published: October 2024

Ethyl hydrocinnamate is an ester with a sweet, fruity, honey-like scent commonly used as a flavor and fragrance agent. Due to its chemical structure, it can be easily obtained through enzymatic reactions without the need for harsh substances and processes. This study investigated the immobilization of the commercial lipase Sustine® 131 onto spent coffee grounds (SCG) as a low-cost support for the enzymatic synthesis of ethyl hydrocinnamate. Spent coffee grounds underwent pretreatment with water, hexane, and ethanol to serve as a lipase adsorption platform and extract valuable bioactive compounds such as polyphenols. The immobilized lipase displayed both hydrolytic and synthetic activities during 12 weeks of storage at room temperature. The optimal reaction conditions for the synthesis of ethyl hydrocinnamate were determined using a Box–Behnken plan. It was shown that the enzyme concentration and the temperature were crucial for achieving high yields of ethyl hydrocinnamate with a conversion rate above 92%. Specifically, at least 18% enzyme concentration and a temperature of 45 °C were necessary. This eco-friendly approach utilized abundant food waste residue as an inexpensive and renewable immobilization support, enabling efficient biocatalytic production of the high-value flavor ester ethyl hydrocinnamate.
Down Syndrome in Children: A Primary Immunodeficiency with Immune Dysregulation
Authors: Szczawińska-Popłonyk Aleksandra , Popłonyk Natalia , Awdi Karina
Published: October 2024

Background: The multisystemic features of Down syndrome (DS) in children are accompanied by immunodeficiency, making them susceptible to infections and immune dysregulation with autoimmune, allergic, inflammatory, and hematological complications. This study was aimed at a better understanding of the abnormalities within the B and T cell compartments and their correlations with clinical immunophenotypes. Methods: Medical records of 35 DS children were retrospectively reviewed, referring to clinical symptomatology including history of infections, immune dysregulation disorders, and humoral and cellular immune response. Results: While the etiology of respiratory tract infections included typical viral and bacterial pathogens, SARS-CoV2-induced inflammatory disease and syndromic immunodeficiency contributed significantly to the deterioration of the clinical course. Allergic diseases in the form of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and alimentary allergy were the most frequent manifestations of immune dysregulation and were followed by autoimmune disorders, such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, autoimmune thyroiditis, and alopecia, as well as inflammatory disorders, balanitis xerotica obliterans and lymphadenopathy, and a hematological disorder of myelopoiesis. Deficiency of serum immunoglobulin levels, reduced numbers of naïve B cells, and non-switched memory B cells along with low naïve T helper cells and significantly reduced regulatory T helper cells were the most prominent immune abnormalities. Conclusions: The loss of naïveté in B and T lymphocyte compartments with a deficiency of regulatory T cells may be underpinning pathomechanisms for the skewed immune response. The clinical immunophenotype in DS is complex and represents syndromic primary immunodeficiency with immune dysregulation.
Knockdown of Gas6 Exerts Anti-Esophageal Cancer Effects by Inhibiting the PI3K/AKT Pathway
Authors: Gao Shuang , Wang Yu , Huang Ming , Guo Jianxin , Wu Zhongbing , Li Jing
Published: October 2024

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a malignant tumor of the digestive tract with strong migratory and invasive abilities. Gas6 is closely associated with the progression of many malignant tumors; however, the role of Gas6 in the progression of esophageal cancer is unclear. Here, we report that the knockdown of Gas6 inhibited esophageal cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, Gas6 knockdown downregulated the levels of P-PI3K and P-AKT. Taken together, the findings confirm that Gas6 knockdown can inhibit esophageal cancer progression and can exert anti-tumor effects on esophageal cancer through the PI3K/AKT pathway.
Sympathetic Innervation of Interscapular Brown Adipose Tissue Is Not a Predominant Mediator of Oxytocin-Induced Brown Adipose Tissue Thermogenesis in Female High Fat Diet-Fed Rats
Authors: Dodson Andrew D. , Herbertson Adam J. , Honeycutt Mackenzie K. , Vered Ron , Slattery Jared D. , Goldberg Matvey , Tsui Edison , Wolden-Hanson Tami , Graham James L. , Wietecha Tomasz A. , O’Brien Kevin D. , Havel Peter J. , Sikkema Carl L. , Peskind Elaine R. , Mundinger Thomas O. , Taborsky Gerald J. , Blevins James E.
Published: October 2024

Recent studies have indicated that hindbrain [fourth ventricle (4V)] administration of the neurohypophyseal hormone, oxytocin (OT), reduces body weight, energy intake and stimulates interscapular brown adipose tissue temperature (TIBAT) in male diet-induced obese (DIO) rats. What remains unclear is whether chronic hindbrain (4V) OT can impact body weight in female high fat diet-fed (HFD) rodents and whether this involves activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT). We hypothesized that OT-elicited stimulation of sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activation of interscapular brown adipose tissue (IBAT) contributes to its ability to activate BAT and reduce body weight in female high HFD-fed rats. To test this hypothesis, we determined the effect of disrupting SNS activation of IBAT on OT-elicited stimulation of TIBAT and reduction of body weight in DIO rats. We first measured the impact of bilateral surgical SNS denervation to IBAT on the ability of acute 4V OT (0.5, 1, and 5 µg ≈ 0.5, 0.99, and 4.96 nmol) to stimulate TIBAT in female HFD-fed rats. We found that the high dose of 4V OT (5 µg ≈ 4.96 nmol) stimulated TIBAT similarly between sham rats and denervated rats (p = NS). We subsequently measured the effect of bilateral surgical denervation of IBAT on the effect of chronic 4V OT (16 nmol/day ≈ 16.1 μg/day) or vehicle infusion to reduce body weight, adiposity and energy intake in female HFD-fed rats (N = 7–8/group). Chronic 4V OT reduced body weight gain (sham: −18.0 ± 4.9 g; denervation: −15.9 ± 3.7 g) and adiposity (sham: −13.9 ± 3.7 g; denervation: −13.6 ± 2.4 g) relative to vehicle treatment (p < 0.05) and these effects were similar between groups (p = NS). These effects were attributed, in part, to reduced energy intake evident during weeks 2 (p < 0.05) and 3 (p < 0.05). To test whether these results translate to other female rodent species, we also examined the effect of chronic 4V infusion of OT on body weight and adiposity in two strains of female HFD-fed mice. Similar to what we found in the HFD-fed rat model, we also found that chronic 4V OT (16 nmol/day) infusion resulted in reduced body weight gain, adiposity and energy intake in female DIO C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice (p < 0.05 vs. vehicle). Together, these findings suggest that (1) sympathetic innervation of IBAT is not necessary for OT-elicited increases in BAT thermogenesis and weight loss in female HFD-fed rats and (2) the effects of OT to reduce weight gain and adiposity translate to other female mouse models of diet-induced obesity (DIO).
Weighting Variables for Transportation Assets Condition Indices Using Subjective Data Framework
Authors: Al-Hamdan Abdallah B. , Alatoom Yazan Ibrahim , Nlenanya Inya , Smadi Omar
Published: October 2024

This study proposes a novel framework for determining variables’ weights in transportation assets condition indices calculations using statistical and machine learning techniques. The methodology leverages subjective ratings alongside objective measurements to derive data-driven weights. The motivation for this study lies in addressing the limitations of existing expert-based weighting methods for condition indices, which often lack transparency and consistency; this research aims to provide a data-driven framework that enhances accuracy and reliability in infrastructure asset management. A case study was performed as a proof of concept of the proposed framework by applying the framework to obtain data-driven weights for pavement condition index (PCI) calculations using data for the city of West Des Moines, Iowa. Random forest models performed effectively in modeling the relationship between the overall condition index (OCI) and the objective measures and provided feature importance scores that were converted into weights. The data-driven weights showed strong correlation with existing expert-based weights, validating their accuracy while capturing contextual variations between pavement types. The results indicate that the proposed framework achieved high model accuracy, demonstrated by R-squared values of 0.83 and 0.91 for rigid and composite pavements, respectively. Additionally, the data-driven weights showed strong correlations (R-squared values of 0.85 and 0.98) with existing expert-based weights, validating their effectiveness. This advanceIRIment offers transportation agencies an enhanced tool for prioritizing maintenance and resource allocation, ultimately leading to improved infrastructure longevity. Additionally, this approach shows promise for application across various transportation assets based on the yielded results.
A Practical Approach to SARS-CoV-2 Prevention and Containment in a National Sporting Event in Italy: A Public Health Model Applicable Also to Other Respiratory Viruses?
Authors: De Dona Roberta , Tamburro Manuela , Adesso Carmen , Salzo Angelo , D’Amico Antonio , Samprati Nicandro , Santagata Arturo , Di Palma Michela Anna , Natale Anna , Cannizzaro Fabio , Viccione Vittorio , Ripabelli Giancarlo
Published: October 2024

The Italian sporting event ‘XIV Convittiadi’ involving students at boarding schools took place in Molise region, central Italy, in April 2022. The study describes the public health protocol with specific countermeasures developed for the event, including testing, isolation, and contact tracing during the COVID-19 pandemic, and reports the main related findings. There were 590 Italian white participants, with 514 athletes (mean age 13.6 ± 1.6 years) and 76 accompanying teachers/guardians (50 ± 8.7 years) of 21 boarding schools from different Italian regions. During the event, 1281 antigenic swabs were performed, and twelve COVID-19 cases were promptly identified due to active screening, involving ten (83.3%) athletes and two (16.7%) accompanying teachers. Among the infected athletes, 83.3% complained mild symptoms, either before or after the ascertained positivity, and 40% had received primary cycle vaccination and booster, or only completed the primary course. The enhanced surveillance and contact tracing activities allowed identifying 34 participants as close contacts who were subjected to a daily follow-up that revealed only four (11.8%) as infected. Since in mass gathering events public health risk is not clear and could not be available through the traditional surveillance systems, increased monitoring activities are necessary. The practical approach implemented for this event was valuable for SARS-CoV-2 control and case management either among participants, or the host country population, suggesting its application to other airborne communicable diseases.
Minimizing the Adverse Impacts of Soil Salinity on Maize and Tomato Growth and Productivity through the Application of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria
Authors: Yahyaoui Hiba , El Allaoui Nadia , Aziz Aziz , Hafidi Majida , Habbadi Khaoula
Published: October 2024

Soil salinity significantly impacts crop productivity. In response, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer an innovative and eco-friendly solution to mitigate salinity stress. However, research on PGPR’s effects on crop physiology under varying salinity levels is still emerging. This study evaluates the impact of five bacterial strains, isolated from compost, on the growth of maize (Zea mays) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants under different levels of salt stress. This study involved treating maize and tomato seeds with five bacterial strains, and then planting them in a greenhouse under varying salt stress conditions (43 mM, 86 mM, 172 mM, 207 mM NaCl) using a Randomized Complete Block Design. Results showed that bacterial inoculation improved plant growth under saline conditions. S2015-1, S2026-2, and S2027-2 (Bacillus cereus, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Bacillus subtilis) were particularly effective in promoting plant growth under salt stress, especially at ionic concentrations of 43 mM and 86 mM, leading to a substantial increase in fresh and dry weight, with strain S2015-1 boosting chlorophyll by 29% at 86 mM in both crops. These results highlight the potential of PGPR to enhance crop resilience and productivity under salinity stress, promoting climate-smart agricultural practices.
Health-Related Quality of Life and Treatment Satisfaction of Patients with Malignant IDH Wild-Type Gliomas and Their Caregivers
Authors: Fischl Anna , Gerken Michael , Lindberg-Scharf Patricia , Haedenkamp Tareq M. , Rosengarth Katharina , Hillberg Andrea , Vogelhuber Martin , Schön Ingrid , Proescholdt Martin , Araceli Tommaso , Koller Michael , Herrmann Anne , Kölbl Oliver , Pukrop Tobias , Riemenschneider Markus J. , Schmidt Nils Ole , Klinkhammer-Schalke Monika , Linker Ralf , Hau Peter , Bumes Elisabeth
Published: October 2024

(1) Background: Clinical aspects like sex, age, Karnofsky Performance Scale (KPS) and psychosocial distress can affect the health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) and treatment satisfaction of patients with malignant isocitrate dehydrogenase wild-type (IDHwt) gliomas and caregivers. (2) Methods: We prospectively investigated the HR-QoL and patient/caregiver treatment satisfaction in a cross-sectional study with univariable and multiple regression analyses. Questionnaires were applied to investigate the HR-QoL (EORTC QLQ-C30, QLQ-BN20) and treatment satisfaction (EORTC PATSAT-C33). (3) Results: A cohort of 61 patients was investigated. A higher KPS was significantly associated with a better HR-QoL regarding the functional scales of the EORTC QLQ-C30 (p < 0.004) and a lower symptom burden regarding the EORTC QLQ-BN20 (p < 0.001). The patient treatment satisfaction was significantly poorer in the patients older than 60 years in the domain of family involvement (p = 0.010). None of the investigated aspects showed a significant impact on the treatment satisfaction of caregivers. (4) Conclusions: We demonstrated that in patients with IDHwt gliomas, the KPS was the most important predictor for a better HR-QoL in functional domains. Data on the HR-QoL and treatment satisfaction in patients with IDHwt gliomas and their caregivers are rare; therefore, further efforts should be made to improve supportive care in this highly distressed cohort.
Patient-Reported Outcomes after Surgical, Endoscopic, or Radiological Techniques for Nutritional Support in Esophageal Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Fontes Filipa , Fernandes Davide , Almeida Ana , Sá Inês , Dinis-Ribeiro Mário
Published: October 2024

Several techniques exist to maintain oral and/or enteral feeding among esophageal cancer (EC) patients, but their impact on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) remains unclear. This systematic review aimed to assess the impact of nutritional support techniques on PROs in EC patients. We searched Medline, Web of Science, and CINAHL Complete from inception to 3 April 2024. Eligible studies included those evaluating EC patients, reporting PROs using standardized measures, and providing data on different nutritional support techniques or comparing them to no intervention. The reference lists of the included studies were also screened for additional eligible articles. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. Of the 694 articles identified from databases and 224 from backward citation, 11 studies met the inclusion criteria. Nine studies evaluated the overall quality of life (QoL), four assessed pain, and one evaluated depression. Among those submitted to esophagectomy, jejunostomy may be associated with higher QoL scores and less postoperative pain, compared to a nasojejunal tube, but no significant differences were found when compared to no intervention. For patients undergoing chemotherapy or receiving palliative/symptomatic treatment, expandable metal stents (SEMSs) were associated with higher levels of emotional functioning when compared with laparoscopic gastrostomy. Moreover, percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or SEMSs were associated with a higher QoL compared with nasogastric tubes. This review underscores the importance of considering PRO measures when evaluating nutritional support techniques in cancer patients, though further robust evidence is needed to fully understand these associations.
Characteristics and Prognosis of Patients with Advanced Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Atezolizumab/Bevacizumab Combination Therapy Who Achieved Complete Response
Authors: Kuzuya Teiji , Kawabe Naoto , Muto Hisanori , Tachi Yoshihiko , Ukai Takeshi , Wada Yuryo , Komura Gakushi , Nakano Takuji , Tanaka Hiroyuki , Nakaoka Kazunori , Ohno Eizaburo , Funasaka Kohei , Nagasaka Mitsuo , Miyahara Ryoji , Hirooka Yoshiki
Published: October 2024

Aim: To investigate the characteristics and prognosis of patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab (Atz/Bev) who achieved a complete response (CR) according to the modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (mRECIST). Methods: A total of 120 patients with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (PS) 0 or 1 and Child–Pugh A at the start of Atz/Bev treatment were included. Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage C was recorded in 59 patients. Results: The CR rate with Atz/Bev alone was 15.0%. The median time to CR was 3.4 months, and the median duration of CR was 15.6 months. A significant factor associated with achieving CR with Atz/Bev alone was an AFP ratio of 0.34 or less at 3 weeks. Adding transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) in the six patients who achieved a partial response increased the overall CR rate to 20%. Among the 24 patients who achieved CR, the median progression-free survival was 19.3 months, the median overall survival was not reached, and 14 patients (58.3%) were able to discontinue Atz/Bev and achieve a drug-free status. Twelve of these patients developed progressive disease (PD), but eleven successfully received post-PD treatments and responded well. Conclusions: Achieving CR by mRECIST using Atz/Bev alone or with additional TACE can be expected to offer an extremely favorable prognosis.
The Role of Pentacam Random Forest Index in Detecting Subclinical Keratoconus in a Chinese Cohort
Authors: Liu Yan , Zhang Yu , Wang Yuexin , Dong Ruilan , Chen Yueguo
Published: October 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of a novel shape index, the Pentacam Random Forest Index (PRFI), in detecting keratoconus (KC), specifically subclinical keratoconus, in Chinese refractive surgery candidates. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 856 participants who were divided into four groups based on their tomographic outcomes: the KC group (n = 137), the very asymmetric ectasia (VAE) group (n = 73), the normal cornea group (n = 363) and the tomographically suspected KC (TSK) group (n = 283). The diagnostic performance of PRFI and other widely used indices, including the shape index BAD-D and the combined index TBI, was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and compared using DeLong’s test. The area under the curve (AUC), best cutoff values, and Youden index for each parameter are reported. Additionally, the false-positive rates of BAD-D and PRFI were calculated and compared in “normal corneas”. Results: All shape and biomechanical parameters collected in this study were found to be significantly different among the four groups (KC, VAE, TSK, and normal groups; p = 0.000). The AUC of PRFI was the highest in detecting any form of KC (including clinical KC eyes and VAE-NT eyes) in Chinese refractive surgery candidates, outperforming the widely used shape index BAD-D (0.919 vs. 0.890, p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in performance between the PRFI and the combined TBI index (0.919 vs. 0.916, p > 0.05). For detecting subclinical KC eyes (i.e., VAE-NT), the AUC of PRFI was 0.774, which was statistically comparable to TBI (0.774 vs. 0.776, p > 0.05), while outperforming BAD-D (0.774 vs. 0.684, p < 0.001). The best cutoff values of PRFI for detecting any KC and VAE-NT eyes were determined to be 0.37 and 0.27, respectively. Additionally, PRFI demonstrated a lower false-positive rate than BAD-D (13.8% vs. 43.8%, p < 0.001). Notably, the relatively high false-positive rate of BAD-D observed in this study might be attributed to the smaller horizontal corneal diameter in tomographically suspected eyes. Conclusions: The PRFI proved to be a superior shape index compared to BAD-D in detecting any form of keratoconus, including subclinical cases, in Chinese refractive surgery candidates. This finding may be attributed to the relatively small corneas commonly observed in Asians.
Photoplethysmography Features Correlated with Blood Pressure Changes
Authors: Elgendi Mohamed , Jost Elisabeth , Alian Aymen , Fletcher Richard Ribon , Bomberg Hagen , Eichenberger Urs , Menon Carlo
Published: October 2024

Blood pressure measurement is a key indicator of vascular health and a routine part of medical examinations. Given the ability of photoplethysmography (PPG) signals to provide insights into the microvascular bed and their compatibility with wearable devices, significant research has focused on using PPG signals for blood pressure estimation. This study aimed to identify specific clinical PPG features that vary with different blood pressure levels. Through a literature review of 297 publications, we selected 16 relevant studies and identified key time-dependent PPG features associated with blood pressure prediction. Our analysis highlighted the second derivative of PPG signals, particularly the b/a and d/a ratios, as the most frequently reported and significant predictors of systolic blood pressure. Additionally, features from the velocity and acceleration photoplethysmograms were also notable. In total, 29 features were analyzed, revealing novel temporal domain features that show promise for further research and application in blood pressure estimation.
Remarks on Limit Theorems for the Free Quadratic Forms
Authors: Ejsmont Wiktor , Biernacki Marek , Hęćka Patrycja
Published: October 2024

In 2021, Ejsmont and Biernacki showed that the free tangent distribution can be used to measure household satisfaction with durable consumer goods. This distribution arises as the limit of free random variables. This, new article serves as the theoretical introduction to the continuation of the research presented in the paper from 2021. We continue the study of the limit of specific quadratic forms in free probability, which is the first step towards constructing a new distribution for the evaluation of satisfaction with material affluence among household. We formulate a non-central limit theorem for weighted sums of commutators and square of the sums for free random variable. In addition we give the random matrix models for these limits.
Freshwater Fishes of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Southeastern Brazil: Biogeographic and Diversity Patterns in a Historically Well-Sampled Territory
Authors: Sarmento-Soares Luisa M. , Vieira-Guimarães Felipe , Martins-Pinheiro Ronaldo F.
Published: October 2024

The fish fauna of Rio de Janeiro has been extensively studied, resulting in a comprehensive database of species collected over more than three centuries. This study aimed to provide a checklist of species, to identify patterns of diversity and the distribution of freshwater ichthyofauna, to delineate biogeographic units, and to explore changes in faunal composition among different areas. Analyzing data from ichthyological collections and the literature on original species descriptions revealed 206 freshwater fish species: 183 native and 23 allochthonous. The checklist includes updated species names. The sampling effort in Rio de Janeiro is extensive, especially in coastal lowlands. The findings indicate that inventory work is still needed in some areas, particularly within the Rio Paraíba do Sul basin. Seven bioregions of freshwater ichthyofauna were identified, including a major region of higher species richness and smaller areas with higher endemism of restricted-range species. This biogeographic assessment underscores the diverse and distinctive freshwater fish fauna in the basins of Rio de Janeiro, with well-defined biogeographic units.
The Integration of Mixed Reality Simulation into Reading Literacy Modules
Authors: Nel Carisma , Dieker Lisa , Marais Elma
Published: October 2024

The reading literacy crisis, among learners, in countries throughout the world and in South Africa seems to be reaching pandemic levels. Hence, the quality of teaching and the preparation that pre-service teachers receive at initial teacher education institutions is under the spotlight. A proactive action research design is used to integrate mixed reality simulation into reading literacy modules. Our data collection methods included professional conversations, WhatsApp voice notes and video calls, reflective journal entries and reflections on observing video recordings of lesson segments in the MRS environment. The data was analyzed using content analysis. The main themes emanating from the data included: lack of focus on high leverage teaching practices, limited use of pedagogies of enactment, add-on to existing content, experimentation, perceptions, planning and preparation, content-method integration, pedagogies of enactment, assessment, resources and feedback. Grounded in a Community of Practice framework, we narrate our experiences of re-imagining mixed reality simulation as a core component of initial teacher education programs. The authors conclude by sharing insights and recommendations for policymakers, faculty leaders, and curriculum designers, contributing to informed decisions regarding integrating and potentially upscaling mixed reality simulation within reading literacy modules in initial teacher education programs.
Spin Current Enhancement Using Double-Ferromagnetic-Layer Structure for Magnetoelectric Spin-Orbit Logic Device
Authors: Ishdorj Bayartulga , Sharif Shumaila , Na Taehui
Published: October 2024

The use of Moore’s law appears to be coming to an end due to technological and physical constraints, as complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) transistors become smaller and closer to the atomic scale. Therefore, various emerging technologies are being researched as potential successors to traditional CMOS transistors, and one of the most exciting candidates is the magnetoelectric spin-orbit (MESO) device. The MESO device comprises two portions (input and output) and it cascades charge/voltage as input and output signals. In the MESO device’s output portion, ferromagnetic (FM) and high-spin-orbit-coupling layers are employed to provide spin-polarized current and charge/voltage output. In this paper, we offer a description and analysis of the operating mechanism of the MESO device’s output portion using a spin flow approach and propose a double-FM-layer structure. In the double-FM-layer structure, we implement two FM layers with antiparallel magnetization directions, instead of using a single-FM-layer structure to increase the output charge/voltage. The proposed structure is verified through the Verilog-A compact model.
A Comparison-Based Framework for Argument Quality Assessment
Authors: Bao Jianzhu , Jin Bojun , Sun Yang , Zhang Yice , He Yuhang , Xu Ruifeng
Published: October 2024

Assessing the quality of arguments is both valuable and challenging. Humans often find that making pairwise comparisons between a target argument and several reference arguments facilitates a more precise judgment of the target argument’s quality. Inspired by this, we propose a comparison-based framework for argument quality assessments (CompAQA), which scores the quality of an argument through multiple pairwise comparisons. Additionally, we introduce an argument order-based data augmentation strategy to enhance CompAQA’s relative quality comparison ability. By introducing multiple reference arguments for pairwise comparisons, CompAQA improves the objectivity and precision of argument quality assessments. Another advantage of CompAQA is its ability to integrate both pairwise argument quality classification and argument quality ranking tasks into a unified framework, distinguishing it from existing methods. We conduct extensive experiments using various pre-trained encoder-only models. Our experiments involve two argument quality ranking datasets (IBM-ArgQ-5.3kArgs and IBM-Rank-30k) and one pairwise argument quality classification dataset (IBM-ArgQ-9.1kPairs). Overall, CompAQA significantly outperforms several strong baselines. Specifically, when using the RoBERTa model as a backbone, CompAQA outperforms the previous best method on the IBM-Rank-30k dataset, improving Pearson correlation by 0.0203 and Spearman correlation by 0.0148. On the IBM-ArgQ-5.3kArgs dataset, it shows improvements of 0.0069 in Pearson correlation and 0.0208 in Spearman correlation. Furthermore, CompAQA demonstrates a 4.71% increase in accuracy over the baseline method on the IBM-ArgQ-9.1kPairs dataset. We also show that CompAQA can be effectively applied to fine-tune larger decoder-only pre-trained models, such as Llama.
T-Smade: A Two-Stage Smart Detector for Evasive Spectre Attacks Under Various Workloads
Authors: Jiao Jiajia , Wen Ran , Li Yulian
Published: October 2024

Evasive Spectre attacks have used additional nop or memory delay instructions to make effective hardware performance counter based detectors with lower attack detection successful rate. Interestingly, the detection performance gets worse under different workloads. For example, the attack detection successful rate is only 59.8% for realistic applications, while it is much lower 27.52% for memory stress test. Therefore, this paper proposes a two-stage smart detector T-Smade designed for evasive Spectre attacks (e.g., evasive Spectre nop and evasive Spectre memory) under various workloads. T-Smade uses the first-stage detector to identify the type of workloads and then selects the appropriate second-stage detector, which uses four hardware performance counter events to characterize the high cache miss rate and low branch miss rate of Spectre attacks. More importantly, the second stage detector adds one dimension of reusing cache miss rate and branch miss rate to exploit the characteristics of various workloads to detect evasive Spectre attacks effectively. Furthermore, to achieve the good generalization for more unseen evasive Spectre attacks, the proposed classification detector T-Smade is trained by the raw data of Spectre attacks and non-attacks in different workloads using simple Multi-Layer Perception models. The comprehensive results demonstrate that T-Smade makes the average attack detection successful rate of evasive Spectre nop under different workload return from 27.52% to 95.42%, and that of evasive Spectre memory from 59.8% up to 100%.
Design and Modeling of Coreless Magnetoelectric Transducers for Snake-like Wave Energy Converters
Authors: Duan Weiping , Zhang Yuxiang , Liu Shihao , Shen Qian , Hou Zhiwei , Chen Renwen
Published: October 2024

With the development of the economy, people’s demand for energy is increasing, which has led to a shortage of fossil fuels. Wave energy is a widely distributed renewable energy source, and the development of wave energy generation technology can greatly alleviate the energy shortage problem. This study takes the snake-like wave energy converter (WEC) as an example and designs a coreless magnetoelectric transducer for it. The structure of the coreless magnetoelectric transducer is relatively simple, eliminating the iron core in the transducer, which can eliminate its own damping. At the same time, this structure can minimize the gap between the magnet and the coil, improve energy conversion efficiency, and work continuously under complex working conditions. This study takes two types of coreless magnetoelectric transducers as examples to analyze. This study aims to establish equivalent magnetic circuit models for the coreless magnetoelectric transducers, explore the effects of different magnets on the performance of the transducers, and optimize the parameters in the transducers. We used simulation software to analyze the transducer and verify the accuracy of the models. Finally, prototypes of the coreless magnetoelectric transducers were made, and a testing system for the transducer was established to test its energy conversion capability. Our experiments show that coreless magnetoelectric transducers have good energy conversion capabilities and can be used as transducers for snake-like WECs. At the same time, this type of transducer can also be applied to other types of WECs, providing a new approach for the research of WECs.
Assessing SOC Estimations via Reverse-Time Kalman for Small Unmanned Aircraft
Authors: Arahal Manuel R. , Pérez Vega-Leal Alfredo , Satué Manuel G. , Esteban Sergio
Published: October 2024

This paper presents a method to validate state of charge (SOC) estimations in batteries for their use in remotely manned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The SOC estimation must provide the mission control with a measure of the available range of the aircraft, which is critical for extended missions such as search and rescue operations. However, the uncertainty about the initial state and depth of discharge during the mission makes the estimation challenging. In order to assess the estimation provided to mission control, an a posteriori re-estimation is performed. This allows for the assessment of estimation methods. A reverse-time Kalman estimator is proposed for this task. Accurate SOC estimations are crucial for optimizing the utilization of multiple UAVs in a collaborative manner, ensuring the efficient use of energy resources and maximizing mission success rates. Experimental results for LiFePO4 batteries are provided, showing the capabilities of the proposal for the assessment of online SOC estimators.
Assessment of Cooling Conditions of Thermoplastic Insulation and Uniformity of Breakdown Strength for Medium-Voltage Direct Current Extruded Cable Insulation
Authors: Park Keon-Hee , Lee Seung-Won , Kim Hae-Jong , Lim Jang-Seob
Published: October 2024

Research has been conducted on medium-voltage direct current (MVDC) to address the limited transmission capacity of existing AC power transmission lines and to achieve efficient integration of renewable energy sources. Another method to increase the transmission capacity is to raise the maximum allowable temperature of the power cable. The maximum allowable temperature for cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) in commercial power cables is 90 °C. Polypropylene (PP) is considered as an alternative material. PP has a maximum allowable temperature of 110 °C and possesses thermoplastic properties, making it environmentally friendly. However, PP may not ensure uniformity of the insulation layer depending on the extrusion process, including cooling conditions. This study aimed to determine the applicability of MVDC cables by assessing the uniformity of the insulation layer of extruded cables, considering the cooling conditions of PP in specimens. For the cooling conditions, ambient air, cooling press, and water cooling were evaluated for DC breakdown strength. Furthermore, the uniformity of the breakdown strength of the insulation layer, which was divided into sections such as conductor and sheath, was evaluated for commercial PP, XLPE, and the developed PP cables. This study aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the DC BD strength of PP under various cooling conditions and emphasize the importance of uniformity in extruded cable sections.
Evaporation Characteristics of Two Interacting Moving Droplets
Authors: Ahmed Muhammad , Irfan Muhammad , Khan Muhammad Mahabat
Published: October 2024

The droplet evaporation in sprays and clouds is largely influenced by the interacting surrounding droplets. This study presents a numerical investigation on the evaporation dynamics of two inline interacting droplets in a high-temperature vapor domain using ANSYS Fluent. Several methods are available to solve the multiphase flow problems with phase change, including level set, phase field, volume of fluid (VOF), and hybrid techniques. In the present study, the multiphase model equations are solved in the framework of the VOF method, which is a well-established and robust solver for multiphase flows with excellent volume conservation properties. The Lee model is used to handle the evaporative phase change at the interface. The droplet spacing, sizes, and arrangement pattern of differently sized droplets are the key parameters varied to explore their effects on the evaporation rate, droplet velocities, and inter-droplet distance. For equal-sized droplets, the evaporation of the trailing droplet slows down due to the low-temperature buffer layer of the droplet vapors generated by the evaporation of the leading droplet; the effects decrease as the initial spacing is increased. For two droplets at center-to-center distances of 2do and 6do, the evaporation of the trailing droplets reduces by 20.8% and 7%, respectively. Decreasing the size of the trailing droplet increases its evaporation rate since the smaller droplet experiences more temperature gradients as it escapes out of the influence of the leading drop buffer layer. For a smaller to larger droplet diameter ratio of 0.9, the evaporation rate of the trailing droplet is reduced by ~26% than expected. However, for the diameter ratio of 0.5, this reduction is only 12.5%. Regarding the arrangement pattern of different-sized droplets, the overall evaporation rate is lower when the bigger droplet follows the smaller one. The fact is attributed to close interaction followed by the coalescence of the bigger droplet with the leading smaller droplet, resulting in a single bigger droplet.
Evaluating and Prioritizing Circular Supply Chain Alternatives in the Energy Context with a Holistic Multi-Indicator Decision Support System
Authors: Nguyen Thanh Quang , Longo Sonia , Cellura Maurizio , Luu Le Quyen , Bertoli Alessandra , Bua Letizia
Published: October 2024

Transitioning to a circular economy is crucial for sustainable energy development; yet, current energy supply chains lack comprehensive assessment tools. This study introduces the Holistic Multi-Indicator Decision Support System (HMI_DSS), an innovative tool grounded in life cycle thinking and advanced multi-criteria decision-making methodologies, including Entropy and PROMETHEE II. The HMI_DSS quantifies and assesses sustainability and circularity in energy systems by employing 49 indicators, with a focus on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. A case study on the rice straw energy supply chain for biogas production illustrates the tool’s effectiveness, comparing a baseline scenario to an alternative. The results show that the global warming potential (GWP) of the baseline is 122 gCO2eq/kWh, while the alternative is 116 gCO2eq/kWh. However, the baseline scenario has lower energy consumption (1.72 × 107 MJ annually) than the alternative (1.98 × 107 MJ). Overall, the alternative outperforms the baseline in terms of sustainability and circularity. The HMI_DSS offers a flexible and robust framework for evaluating trade-offs in energy systems, providing valuable insights for energy companies and researchers in adopting circular economy principles to achieve sustainable development.
Global Warming and Fish Diversity Changes in the Po River (Northern Italy)
Authors: Gavioli Anna , Castaldelli Giuseppe , Trasforini Stefania , Puzzi Cesare , Gervasio Maria Pia , Granata Tommaso , Colombo Daniela , Soana Elisa
Published: October 2024

In the context of climate change, the current rise in temperature, changes in precipitation, and extreme weather events are exceptional and impact biodiversity. Using the Mann–Kendall trend test, change-point analysis, and linear mixed models, we investigated the long-term trends (1978–2022) of water temperature and flow in the Po River, Italy’s largest river, and examined changes in the fish community over the same period. Our findings indicate that the daily water temperature of the Po River increased by ~4 °C from 1978 to 2022, with a significant rise starting in 2005. The river’s daily discharge showed higher variability and decreased from 2003 onwards. The number of days per year with water temperatures above the summer average increased steadily by 1 day per year, resulting in over 40 additional days with above-average temperatures in the last four decades. The number of summer days above the seasonal average water temperature was the most influential factor affecting fish diversity. Total fish species richness and native species richness significantly decreased between 1978 and 2022 with the increasing number of days above the summer average water temperature, while non-native species increased. Our results demonstrate that the Po River is experiencing significant impacts from global warming, affecting freshwater communities.
Cycle Threshold Values of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR during Outbreaks in Nursing Homes: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Gascó-Laborda Juan Carlos , Gil-Fortuño Maria , Tirado-Balaguer Maria Dolores , Meseguer-Ferrer Noemi , Sabalza-Baztán Oihana , Pérez-Olaso Óscar , Gómez-Alfaro Iris , Poujois-Gisbert Sandrine , Hernández-Pérez Noelia , Lluch-Bacas Lledó , Rusen Viorica , Arnedo-Pena Alberto , Bellido-Blasco Juan Bautista
Published: October 2024

Backgound/Objectives: Cycle threshold (Ct) values of SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests are associated with infectivity and viral load, and they could be an aid in forecasting the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks. The objective was to know the Ct values related to the incidence and reinfection of SARS-CoV-2 in successive outbreaks, which took place in nursing homes in Castellon (Spain) during 2020–2022, and to test its usefulness as an instrument of epidemic surveillance in nursing homes. Methods: a retrospective cohort design with Poisson regression and multinomial logistic regression were used. Results: We studied four nursing home SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks, and the average infection rate, reinfection rate, and case fatality were 72.7%, 19.9%, and 5.5%, respectively; 98.9% of residents were vaccinated with three doses of a mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Ct values for first infections and reinfections were 27.1 ± 6.6 and 31.9 ± 5.4 (p = 0.000). Considering Ct values ≥ 30 versus <30, residents with reinfections had Ct values higher than residents with a first infection, an adjusted relative risk of 1.66 (95% Confidence interval 1.10–2.51). A sensitivity analysis confirmed these results. Conclusions: Reinfection and SARS-CoV-2 vaccination (hybrid immunity) could protect against severe disease better than vaccination alone. High Ct values suggest lower transmission and severity. Its value can be useful for surveillance and forecasting future SARS-CoV-2 epidemics.