bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on thermal stress fracture performance of low-temperature asphalt concrete in castel high altitude area
Authors: Ke Wenhao , Lei Yu , Chen Tuanjie , Cao Haibo
Published: June 2023

The temperature in the southwest Castel highland area is relatively low, and the asphalt concrete on the road surface is in a low-temperature state all year round. Strong ultraviolet radiation will interfere with the material and cause it to fracture and damage. This paper uses a low-temperature bending test and thermal stress constrained specimen test (TSRST) to test the low-temperature performance of asphalt mixtures with different gradation and asphalt types under different ultraviolet (UV) aging conditions. Existing studies are mainly based on asphalt aging, which cannot take into account the interactions between the binder and aggregate phases during aging. This paper analyzes the correlation between test indexes after UV aging and asphalt mixture parameters, as well as the impact of UV on asphalt mixtures, and the mechanical strength prediction model was established. The results indicate that when the aging time is less than 2 months, the low-temperature performance degradation rate of the asphalt mixture first accelerates and then gradually slows down. The degree of influence of ultraviolet radiation on different graded asphalt mixtures is in descending order: stone asphalt concrete, AC 16 asphalt concrete, and AC-13 asphalt concrete. The relationship between fracture thermal stress and asphalt mixture parameters is strong. It is suggested that the appropriate equivalent outdoor aging time is 2 months in the low-temperature performance test of asphalt mixture after UV aging. At the point when there is no UV test condition, the worth acquired by the test is prescribed to consider the UV aging attenuation coefficient, and the matrix asphalt can allude to 0.84; modified asphalt has a value of 0.9. This article is of great significance for guiding the research on thermal stress fracture of low-temperature asphalt concrete in Castel high-altitude areas.
Theories and practical perspectives on fostering embodied abstraction in primary school geometry education
Authors: Boonstra Karel , Kool Marjolein , Shvarts Anna , Drijvers Paul
Published: June 2023

To reach for abstraction is a major but challenging goal in mathematics education: teachers struggle with finding ways how to foster abstraction in their classes. To shed light on this issue for the case of geometry education, we align theoretical perspectives on embodied learning and abstraction with practical perspectives from in-service teachers. We focus on the teaching and learning of realistic geometry, not only because this domain is apt for sensori-motor action investigations, but also because abstraction in realistic geometry is under-researched in relation to other domains of mathematics, and teachers’ knowledge of geometry and confidence in teaching it lag behind. The following research question will be addressed: how can a theoretical embodied perspective on abstraction in geometry education in the higher grades of primary school inform current teacher practices? To answer this question, we carried out a literature study and an interview study with in-service teachers (n = 6). As a result of the literature study, we consider embodied abstraction in geometry as a process of reflecting on, describing, explaining, and structuring of sensory-motor actions in the experienced world through developing and using mathematical artifacts. The results from the interview study show that teachers are potentially prepared for using aspects of embodied learning (e.g., manipulatives), but are not aware of the different aspects of enactment that may invite students’ abstraction. We conclude that theories on embodiment and abstraction do not suffice to foster students’ abstraction process in geometry. Instead, teachers’ knowledge of embodied abstraction in geometry and how to foster this grows with experience in enactment, and with the discovery that cognition emerges to serve action.
Inpatient multidisciplinary care can prevent deterioration of renal function in patients with chronic kidney disease: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Abe Masanori , Hatta Tsuguru , Imamura Yoshihiko , Sakurada Tsutomu , Kaname Shinya
Published: June 2023

Background

Multidisciplinary care is necessary to prevent worsening renal function and all-cause mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) but has mostly been investigated in the outpatient setting. In this study, we evaluated the outcome of multidisciplinary care for CKD according to whether it was provided in an outpatient or inpatient setting.

Methods

This nationwide, multicenter, retrospective, observational study included 2954 Japanese patients with CKD stage 3–5 who received multidisciplinary care in 2015–2019. Patients were divided into two groups: an inpatient group and an outpatient group, according to the delivery of multidisciplinary care. The primary composite endpoint was the initiation of renal replacement therapy (RRT) and all-cause mortality, and the secondary endpoints were the annual decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (ΔeGFR) and the changes in proteinuria between the two groups.

Results

Multidisciplinary care was provided on an inpatient basis in 59.7% and on an outpatient basis in 40.3%. The mean number of health care professionals involved in multidisciplinary care was 4.5 in the inpatient group and 2.6 in the outpatient group (P < 0.0001). After adjustment for confounders, the hazard ratio of the primary composite endpoint was significantly lower in the inpatient group than in the outpatient group (0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.60-0.85, P = 0.0001). In both groups, the mean annual ΔeGFR was significantly improved, and proteinuria significantly decreased 24 months after the initiation of multidisciplinary care.

Conclusion

Multidisciplinary care may significantly slow deterioration of eGFR and reduce proteinuria in patients with CKD and be more effective in terms of reducing initiation of RRT and all-cause mortality when provided on an inpatient basis.
Oxidative stress physiology in Scylla serrata for environmental health assessment
Authors: Pati Samar Gourav , Panda Falguni , Paital Biswaranjan , Sahoo Dipak Kumar , Jena Srikanta
Published: June 2023

The oxidative stress (OS) condition and antioxidant level as a function of pH, few major elements, temperature, turbidity, organic carbon, sediment, and water salinity are vital to understanding the redox homeostasis of inhabiting animals. These parameters are also used to monitor environmental health. A spatiotemporal redox antioxidant system, followed by discriminant function analysis about the aforementioned abiotic factors, was investigated in the muscle, gill, and hepatopancreas of the mud crab, Scylla serrata, sampled from the Indian coastal belt along the Bay of Bengal (Tamil Nadu and Odisha) and the Arabian Sea (Gujarat) as a measure of environmental health assessment. Results revealed that the redox homeostasis of mud crabs significantly varied with seasonal fluctuations of abiotic factors and sediment chemistry. The level of superoxide dismutase and the non-protein-SH group were negatively correlated, whereas other antioxidant molecules with lipid peroxidation levels were positively correlated with abiotic factors. Only the activities of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase were strongly correlated with all the abiotic factors. The hepatopancreas was found to be the most susceptible organ to OS. The lipid peroxidation level was 20–25 times higher in hepatopancreatic tissue than that in other tissues. The antioxidant level was elevated to 200% during the summer compared to the rainy season. Thus, the results of redox homeostasis in S. serrata may be useful for monitoring the ecotoxic effects of estuarine and marine environments and managing the inhabiting species.
Noise impact evaluations of an outdoor air filter tower in urban blocks
Authors: Lou Huading , Rong Ningning , Zhao Yuchen , Min Hequn
Published: June 2023

Although air filter towers are commonly used to improve air quality in urban areas, their operation often produces significant noise levels, and their noise impact is unknown. In this research paper, a case study on the noise impacts of an outdoor air filter tower in city open areas and on building façades is conducted by noise mapping. Noise levels around the filter tower were first measured in situ, and a prediction model for noise mapping was built and well-calibrated by comparing the predicted and measured results. Noise mapping was then carried out to investigate noise exposure in city open areas and on façades in four typical urban blocks with different morphology. Simulated results highlight noise level improvement with the increase of façade height at some high-rise buildings whose heights are higher than the neighboring ones. In addition, urban morphology, including building height and density, as well as the distance between the source and the building, has an impact on noise exposure. The utilization of sound-absorbing building envelopes has been identified as an effective means of reducing noise on building façades, with a maximum attenuation of approximately 4 dB(A) observed, but the effectiveness of this method is limited at certain positions. This study provides valuable insights into the impact of filter towers on noise levels and offers suggestions for urban sound planning.
Plasticity in plant defense and the role of phytochemical dissimilarity in limiting specialist herbivory
Authors: Rabelo Raiane Serejo , Dyer Lee A. , Yamaguchi Lydia Fumiko , Diniz Ivone , Simbaña Wilmer , Kussano André Jun Miura , Kato Massuo Jorge , Massad Tara Joy
Published: June 2023

Phytochemical diversity is an effective plant defensive attribute, but much more research has focused on genetic and environmental controls of specific defensive compounds than phytochemical diversity per se. Documenting plasticity in phytochemical richness and plant chemical composition as opposed to individual compounds is important for understanding plant defense. This study outlines a multi-site transplant experiment in Cerrado gallery forests in central Brazil, utilizing Piper arboreum (Piperaceae), a prevalent and widespread neotropical shrub. Clones from four distinct populations were planted either at their origin site or in a different forest. Secondary metabolite composition varied between populations initially and then changed after transplanting. Interestingly, clones with chemical profiles that were distinct from the populations where they were introduced experienced reduced specialist chrysomelid herbivory compared to clones that were more chemically similar to the existing P. arboreum populations where they were planted. Specialist Lepidoptera herbivory also declined in clones transplanted to a new forest, but this change could not be ascribed to chemical profiles. In contrast, generalist herbivory was unaffected by chemical dissimilarity and transplanting. This research adds to the expanding body of evidence suggesting that phytochemical diversity is a dynamic trait exerting unique effects on different herbivore guilds.
Governance of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Bangladesh: status, challenges, and potentials
Authors: Mozumder Mohammad Mojibul Hoque , Uddin Mohammad Muslem , Schneider Petra , Deb Dibash , Hasan Mehedi , Saif Safwa Bente , Nur As-Ad Ujjaman
Published: June 2023

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing can result in loss of revenue, environmental damage, and economic loss for coastal communities, as well as a reduction in fish stocks. This study aims to generate comprehensive knowledge of the historical patterns and current status of IUU fishing in the coastal and marine waters of Bangladesh (BD). Secondary, qualitative, and quantitative data were gathered using SWOT as the conceptual framework. Cluster analysis was performed using NVivo for quantitative and qualitative data analysis. This study found that, because of the lack of appropriate and robust governmental laws, regulations, and manpower, IUU fishing in BD has led to the extinction of important fish species, biodiversity loss, and increased poverty among fishers. Potential solutions include raising the standard of living for underprivileged fishermen, improving the management and oversight of artisanal and industrial fishing, motivating and training stakeholders, and coordinating across all stakeholder levels. This study serves as a crucial guideline for sustainably managing fisheries and developing legislation, rules, and regulations to prevent IUU fishing in BD.
Shared alterations in hippocampal structural covariance in subjective cognitive decline and migraine
Authors: Tsai Chia-Lin , Chou Kun-Hsien , Lee Pei-Lin , Liang Chih-Sung , Kuo Chen-Yuan , Lin Guan-Yu , Lin Yu-Kai , Hsu Yi-Chih , Ko Chien-An , Yang Fu-Chi , Lin Ching-Po
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and migraine are often comorbid. Hippocampal structural abnormalities have been observed in individuals with both SCD and migraine. Given the known structural and functional heterogeneity along the long axis (anterior to posterior) of the hippocampus, we aimed to identify altered patterns of structural covariance within hippocampal subdivisions associated with SCD and migraine comorbidities.

Methods

A seed-based structural covariance network analysis was applied to examine large-scale anatomical network changes of the anterior and posterior hippocampus in individuals with SCD, migraine and healthy controls. Conjunction analyses were used to identify shared network-level alterations in the hippocampal subdivisions in individuals with both SCD and migraine.

Results

Altered structural covariance integrity of the anterior and posterior hippocampus was observed in the temporal, frontal, occipital, cingulate, precentral, and postcentral areas in individuals with SCD and migraine compared with healthy controls. Conjunction analysis revealed that, in both SCD and migraine, altered structural covariance integrity was shared between the anterior hippocampus and inferior temporal gyri and between the posterior hippocampus and precentral gyrus. Additionally, the structural covariance integrity of the posterior hippocampus-cerebellum axis was associated with the duration of SCD.

Conclusion

This study highlighted the specific role of hippocampal subdivisions and specific structural covariance alterations within these subdivisions in the pathophysiology of SCD and migraine. These network-level changes in structural covariance may serve as potential imaging signatures for individuals who have both SCD and migraine.
The reliability of a subtype-determining questionnaire in efficient benign paroxysmal positional vertigo diagnosis in geriatrics
Authors: Wan Yichen , Li Yingxuan , Sun Jianjun
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), the most common cause of dizziness, especially for older adults, exposes patients to the lethal risk of falling. However, the diagnosis of BPPV in this population can be more elusive as they present few characteristic symptoms. Therefore, we explored the application of a subtype-determining questionnaire in BPPV diagnosis among the geriatric population.

Methods

Patients were assigned to the aware and unaware groups. In the aware group, the technician would directly test the suspected canal indicated by the questionnaire, whereas, in the unaware group, the technician performed the regular positional test. The diagnostic parameters of the questionnaire were examined.

Results

The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of questions 1–3 for diagnosing BPPV were 75.8, 77.6, and 74.7%, respectively. Question 4 demonstrated an accuracy of 75.6% in ascertaining the BPPV subtype, question 5 showed an accuracy of 75.6% in determining the affected side, and question 6 yielded an accuracy of 87.5% in distinguishing canalithiasis or cupulolithiasis. Examination time was shorter in the aware group than that in the unaware group (P < 0.05). No difference was found between the two groups for treatment time (P = 0.153).

Conclusion

This subtype-determining questionnaire is practical in daily use and capable of providing instructive information for an efficient diagnosis in geriatric patients with BPPV.
Construction of an M2 macrophage-related prognostic model in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Song Huangqin , Wang Xiaoxiao , Zhang Chao , He Jiefeng
Published: June 2023

Background

M2 macrophages play a crucial role in promoting tumor angiogenesis and proliferation, as well as contributing to chemotherapy resistance and metastasis. However, their specific role in the tumor progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and their impact on the clinical prognosis remain to be further elucidated.

Materials and methods

M2 macrophage-related genes were screened using CIBERSORT and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), while subtype identification was performed using unsupervised clustering. Prognostic models were constructed using univariate analysis/least absolute shrinkage selector operator (LASSO) Cox regression. In addition, Gene Ontology (GO)/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), gene set variation analysis (GSVA), and mutation analysis were used for further analysis. The relationship between the risk score and tumor mutation burden (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), the efficacy of transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE), immunotype, and the molecular subtypes were also investigated. Moreover, the potential role of the risk score was explored using the ESTIMATE and TIDE (tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion) algorithms and stemness indices, such as the mRNA expression-based stemness index (mRNAsi) and the DNA methylation-based index (mDNAsi). In addition, the R package “pRRophetic” was used to examine the correlation between the risk score and the chemotherapeutic response. Finally, the role of TMCC1 in HepG2 cells was investigated using various techniques, including Western blotting, RT-PCR and Transwell and wound healing assays.

Results

This study identified 158 M2 macrophage-related genes enriched in small molecule catabolic processes and fatty acid metabolic processes in HCC. Two M2 macrophage-related subtypes were found and a four-gene prognostic model was developed, revealing a positive correlation between the risk score and advanced stage/grade. The high-risk group exhibited higher proliferation and invasion capacity, MSI, and degree of stemness. The risk score was identified as a promising prognostic marker for TACE response, and the high-risk subgroup showed higher sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., sorafenib, doxorubicin, cisplatin, and mitomycin) and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatments. The expression levels of four genes related to the macrophage-related risk score were investigated, with SLC2A2 and ECM2 showing low expression and SLC16A11 and TMCC1 exhibiting high expression in HCC. In vitro experiments showed that TMCC1 may enhance the migration ability of HepG2 cells by activating the Wnt signaling pathway.

Conclusion

We identified 158 HCC-related M2 macrophage genes and constructed an M2 macrophage-related prognostic model. This study advances the understanding of the role of M2 macrophages in HCC and proposes new prognostic markers and therapeutic targets.
Elevated atmospheric CO2 delays the key timing for split N applications to improve wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) protein composition
Authors: Pan Yue , Han Xue , Xu Huasen , Wu Wei , Liu Xiaoming , Li Yingchun , Xue Cheng
Published: June 2023

Late stage nitrogen (N) applications following basic fertilization are commonly used to ensure grain yield and increase grain protein content in wheat. Split N applications at the late growth stage of wheat are an effective measure to improve N absorption and transport and thus increase grain protein content. However, whether split N applications can alleviate the decrease in grain protein content induced by elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations (e[CO2]) remains unclear. In the present study, a free-air CO2 enrichment system was used to investigate the effects of split N applications (at booting or anthesis) on grain yield, N utilization, protein content, and the composition of wheat under atmospheric (ACO2; 400 ± 15 ppm) and elevated CO2 concentrations (ECO2; 600 ± 15 ppm). The results showed that wheat grain yield and grain N uptake increased by 5.0% (being grains per ear by 3.0%, 1000-grain weight by 2.0%, and harvest index by 1.6%) and 4.3%, respectively, whereas grain protein content decreased by 2.3% under ECO2 conditions. Although the negative effect of e[CO2] on grain protein content was not alleviated by split N applications, gluten protein content was enhanced due to the alteration of N distribution in different protein fractions (albumins, globulins, gliadins, and glutenins). Compared to that without split N applications, the gluten content of wheat grains increased by 4.2% and 4.5% when late stage N was applied at the booting stage under ACO2 and anthesis under ECO2 conditions, respectively. The results indicate that rational handling of N fertilizers may be a promising approach to coordinating grain yield and quality under the effects of future climate change. However, compared to ACO2 conditions, the key timing for improving grain quality by split N applications should be postponed from the booting stage to anthesis under e[CO2] conditions.
Microbial interactions and metabolisms in response to bacterial wilt and black shank pathogens in the tobacco rhizosphere
Authors: Tang Qianjun , Liu Tianbo , Teng Kai , Xiao Zhipeng , Cai Hailin , Wang Yunsheng , Xiao Yunhua , Chen Wu
Published: June 2023

Background

Tobacco bacterial wilt (TBW) and black shank (TBS) are responsible for substantial economic losses worldwide; however, microbial interactions and metabolisms in response to TBW and TBS pathogens in the tobacco rhizosphere remain unclear.

Methods

We explored and compared the response of rhizosphere microbial communities to these two plant diseases with the incidences in moderate and heavy degrees by sequencing of 16S rRNA gene amplicons and bioinformatics analysis.

Results and discussions

We found that the structure of rhizosphere soil bacterial communities was significantly (p < 0.05) changed from the incidences of TBW and TBS, which also led to decreased Shannon diversity and Pielou evenness. Compared with the healthy group (CK), the OTUs with significantly (p < 0.05) decreased relative abundances were mostly affiliated with Actinobacteria (e.g., Streptomyces and Arthrobacter) in the diseased groups, and the OTUs with significantly (p < 0.05) increased relative abundances were mainly identified as Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria. Also, molecular ecological network analysis showed that the nodes (<467) and links (<641) were decreased in the diseased groups compared with the control group (572; 1056), suggesting that both TBW and TBS weakened bacterial interactions. In addition, the predictive functional analysis indicated that the relative abundance of genes related to the biosynthesis of antibiotics (e.g., ansamycins and streptomycin) was significantly (p < 0.05) decreased due to incidences of TBW and TBS, and antimicrobial tests showed that some Actinobacteria strains (e.g., Streptomyces) and their secreted antibiotics (e.g., streptomycin) could effectively inhibit the growth of these two pathogens.
RAN-related neural-congruency: a machine learning approach toward the study of the neural underpinnings of naming speed
Authors: Christoforou Christoforos , Theodorou Maria , Fella Argyro , Papadopoulos Timothy C.
Published: June 2023

Objective

Naming speed, behaviorally measured via the serial Rapid automatized naming (RAN) test, is one of the most examined underlying cognitive factors of reading development and reading difficulties (RD). However, the unconstrained-reading format of serial RAN has made it challenging for traditional EEG analysis methods to extract neural components for studying the neural underpinnings of naming speed. The present study aims to explore a novel approach to isolate neural components during the serial RAN task that are (a) informative of group differences between children with dyslexia (DYS) and chronological age controls (CAC), (b) improve the power of analysis, and (c) are suitable for deciphering the neural underpinnings of naming speed.

Methods

We propose a novel machine-learning-based algorithm that extracts spatiotemporal neural components during serial RAN, termed RAN-related neural-congruency components. We demonstrate our approach on EEG and eye-tracking recordings from 60 children (30 DYS and 30 CAC), under phonologically or visually similar, and dissimilar control tasks.

Results

Results reveal significant differences in the RAN-related neural-congruency components between DYS and CAC groups in all four conditions.

Conclusion

Rapid automatized naming-related neural-congruency components capture the neural activity of cognitive processes associated with naming speed and are informative of group differences between children with dyslexia and typically developing children.

Significance

We propose the resulting RAN-related neural-components as a methodological framework to facilitate studying the neural underpinnings of naming speed and their association with reading performance and related difficulties.
A meta-analysis of the validity of the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task in predicting young children's academic performance
Authors: Kenny Sabrina Ann , Cameron Claire E. , Karing Jasmine Tua , Ahmadi Ahmad , Braithwaite Paige Noelle , McClelland Megan M.
Published: June 2023

The present study represents the first meta-analytic synthesis of the utility of a widely used early-childhood self-regulation measure, the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task, in predicting children's academic achievement. A systematic review of the literature yielded 69 studies accessed from peer reviewed journals representing 413 effect sizes and 19,917 children meeting the complete set of inclusion and exclusion criteria. Robust variance analysis demonstrated that the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task was a consistent predictor of children's academic achievement across literacy, oral language, and mathematical outcomes. A moderator analysis indicated that in accordance with prior research, the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task was more strongly associated with children's mathematics performance relative to their performance on language and literacy measures. The results of this meta-analysis suggest that the Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders task demonstrated statistically significant, positive associations with children's overall academic performance. These associations remained stable across different participant and measurement factors and are comparable to meta-analyses examining the self-regulation and academic association with multiple measures of self-regulation and executive function.
Patient decision making in recovering from surgery
Authors: Papautsky Elizabeth Lerner
Published: June 2023

Patient work in surgery recovery is fraught with complex judgments and decisions. These decisions are not unlike ones that professionals make that we traditionally study with the Naturalistic Decision Making (NDM) theoretical lens and methods. Similarly, patients are making decisions in naturalistic settings and doing so with the objective of minimizing risk and maximizing safety. What is different is that patients are put in a position to perform complex, high level, high consequence work in the absence of any training, education, or decision support. Using a lived experience, I illustrate that the burden of judgement and decision making in surgery recovery work (e.g., caring for surgical sites, managing drains, managing medications, supporting activities of daily living) can be understood through a macrocognitive paradigm. Thus, the NDM theoretical lens and the associated methods is appropriate to study this problem space.
Experimental and Numerical Characterization of Non-Proprietary UHPFRC Beam—Parametric Analyses of Mechanical Properties
Authors: Osgouei Younes Baghaei , Tafreshi Shahriar Tavousi , Pourbaba Masoud
Published: June 2023

Fabrication of ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) is costly, especially when commercial materials are used. Additionally, in contrast to conventional concrete, numerical procedures to simulate the behaviour of ultra-high-performance fibre-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC) are very limited. To contribute to the foregoing issues in this field, local materials were used in the fabrication process, while accounting for environmental issues and costs. Micro steel fibres (L: 13 mm, d: 0.16 mm, and ft: 2600 MPa; L: length, d: diameter, ft: tensile strength) were used in 2% volumetric ratios. Compression and indirect tests were carried out on cylindrical and prismatic beams according to international standards. To further enrich the research and contribute to the limited simulation data on UHPFRC, and better comprehension of the parameters, numerical analyses were performed using the ATENA software. Finally, nonlinear regression analyses were employed to capture the deflection-flexural response of the beams. The results were promising, indicating cost-effective fabrication using local materials that met the minimum requirements of UHFRC in terms of compressive strength. Furthermore, inverse analysis proved to be an easy and efficient method for capturing the flexural response of UHPFRC beams.
Improving the Performance of Quantum Cryptography by Using the Encryption of the Error Correction Data
Authors: Pastushenko Valeria A. , Kronberg Dmitry A.
Published: June 2023

Security of quantum key distribution (QKD) protocols rely solely on quantum physics laws, namely, on the impossibility to distinguish between non-orthogonal quantum states with absolute certainty. Due to this, a potential eavesdropper cannot extract full information from the states stored in their quantum memory after an attack despite knowing all the information disclosed during classical post-processing stages of QKD. Here, we introduce the idea of encrypting classical communication related to error-correction in order to decrease the amount of information available to the eavesdropper and hence improve the performance of quantum key distribution protocols. We analyze the applicability of the method in the context of additional assumptions concerning the eavesdropper’s quantum memory coherence time and discuss the similarity of our proposition and the quantum data locking (QDL) technique.
Cooperative Game Cooperative Control Strategy for Electric Vehicles Based on Tariff Leverage
Authors: Zhou Feng , Shi Weizhen , Li Xiaomei , Yang Chao , Hao Ting
Published: June 2023

To address the negative impact of large-scale disorderly grid connection of EVs on the stable operation of the power grid, a cooperative game cooperative control strategy for EVs based on tariff leverage is proposed, taking the grid-side and user-side economy as the objective function, taking into account the EV load state constraint, distribution grid power constraint, bi-directional charging and discharging pile power constraint, dynamic tariff constraint, and cooperative game members’ revenue constraint. A dynamic cooperative game model based on bi-directional charging and discharging piles is established, and the weight of users in the game is increased. Based on the cooperative game model, an optimal real-time tariff is determined for both the electric power operators and the charging and discharging pile users and based on the real-time updated dynamic tariff and the EV power connected to the charging and discharging pile at the current moment, a genetic algorithm is used to solve the simulation based on the Receding Horizon Control principle. The simulation results show that this control strategy has a smoother load curve and better peak and valley reduction than the fixed tariff and the time-of-use tariff, and it reduces the operating cost of the electric power operators. In addition, it brings the best economic benefits to the users, with the overall revenue of the charging and discharging piles increasing by up to 6.3% under the dynamic tariff.
Low-Abundance Protein Enrichment for Medical Applications: The Involvement of Combinatorial Peptide Library Technique
Authors: Boschetti Egisto , Righetti Pier Giorgio
Published: June 2023

The discovery of low- and very low-abundance proteins in medical applications is considered a key success factor in various important domains. To reach this category of proteins, it is essential to adopt procedures consisting of the selective enrichment of species that are present at extremely low concentrations. In the past few years pathways towards this objective have been proposed. In this review, a general landscape of the enrichment technology situation is made first with the presentation and the use of combinatorial peptide libraries. Then, a description of this peculiar technology for the identification of early-stage biomarkers for well-known pathologies with concrete examples is given. In another field of medical applications, the determination of host cell protein traces potentially present in recombinant therapeutic proteins, such as antibodies, is discussed along with their potentially deleterious effects on the health of patients on the one hand, and on the stability of these biodrugs on the other hand. Various additional applications of medical interest are disclosed for biological fluids investigations where the target proteins are present at very low concentrations (e.g., protein allergens).
Mortality in ICU Patients with COVID-19-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis
Authors: Beltrame Anna , Stevens David A. , Haiduven Donna
Published: June 2023

A review of 38 studies involving 1437 COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) with pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) was conducted to investigate whether mortality has improved since the pandemic’s onset. The study found that the median ICU mortality was 56.8%, ranging from 30% to 91.8%. These rates were higher for patients admitted during 2020–2021 (61.4%) compared to 2020 (52.3%), and prospective studies found higher ICU mortality (64.7%) than retrospective ones (56.4%). The studies were conducted in various countries and used different criteria to define CAPA. The percentage of patients who received antifungal therapy varied across studies. These results indicate that the mortality rate among CAPA patients is a growing concern, mainly since there has been an overall reduction in mortality among COVID-19 patients. Urgent action is needed to improve prevention and management strategies for CAPA, and additional research is needed to identify optimal treatment strategies to reduce mortality rates among these patients. This study serves as a call to action for healthcare professionals and policymakers to prioritize CAPA, a serious and potentially life-threatening complication of COVID-19.
The Effects of Napping on Wakefulness and Endurance Performance in Athletes: A Randomized Crossover Study
Authors: Willmer Felix , Reuter Claire , Pramsohler Stephan , Faulhaber Martin , Burkhardt Anja , Netzer Nikolaus
Published: June 2023

Background: Athletes often experience poor sleep quality due to stress, altitude exposure, travel across different time zones, and pre-competition nervousness. Coaches use daytime naps to counteract the negative effects of fragmented nighttime sleep. Napping before competitions has also been used to enhance performance in athletes without sleep problems, with mixed results in previous studies, particularly for endurance performance. Thus, we investigated the effects of napping after partial sleep deprivation (PSD) on endurance performance and wakefulness in athletes. Methods: We recruited 12 healthy and trained participants (seven female and five male) for a randomized crossover study design. The participants underwent two test sessions: a five-hour night of sleep without a nap (noNap) and a five-hour night of sleep with a 30-min nap opportunity (Nap30). Participants recorded their sleep-wake rhythm one week before and during the study using the Consensus Sleep Diary-Core and the Morningness–Eveningness Questionnaire to examine their circadian rhythm type. We quantified PSD and the nap with pupillography (pupil unrest index, PUI), a subjective level of sleepiness questionnaire (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, KSS), and polysomnography. After each night, participants performed a maximal cycling ergometry test to determine time to exhaustion (TTE) and maximal oxygen uptake (VO 2max). Results: Participants had an average sleep duration of 7.2 ± 0.7 h and were identified as moderately morning types (n = 5), neither type (n = 5), and moderately evening types (n = 2). There was a significant difference in both sleepiness parameters between the two conditions, with the PUI (p = 0.015) and KSS (p ≤ 0.01) significantly decreased at 5 h and nap compared with only 5 h of sleep. The PUI (p ≤ 0.01) and KSS (p ≤ 0.01) decreased significantly from before to after the nap. However, there was no significant difference in physical exercise test results between the conditions for TTE (p = 0.367) or VO 2max (p = 0.308). Conclusions: Our results suggest that napping after light PSD does not significantly influence endurance performance. We conclude that aerobic performance is a multidimensional construct, and napping after PSD may not enhance it. However, napping is an effective method to increase wakefulness and vigilance, which can be beneficial for sports competitions.
Synthesis, Bioactivity and Molecular Docking of Nereistoxin Derivatives Containing Phosphonate
Authors: Yan Qiaoli , Lu Xiaogang , Zhang Zixuan , Jin Qian , Gao Runli , Li Liqin , Wang Hongmei
Published: June 2023

Novel nereistoxin derivatives containing phosphonate were synthesized and characterized via 31P, 1H and 13C NMR and HRMS. The anticholinesterase activity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated on human acetylcholinesterase (AChE) using the in vitro Ellman method. Most of the compounds exhibited good inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. All of these compounds were selected to assess their insecticidal activity (in vivo) against Mythimna separata Walker, Myzus persicae Sulzer and Rhopalosiphum padi. Most of the tested compounds displayed potent insecticidal activity against these three species. Compound 7f displayed good activity against all three insect species, showing LC50 values of 136.86 μg/mL for M. separata, 138.37 μg/mL for M. persicae and 131.64 μg/mL for R. padi. Compound 7b had the highest activity against M. persicae and R. padi, with LC50 values of 42.93 μg/mL and 58.19 μg/mL, respectively. Docking studies were performed to speculate the possible binding sites of the compounds and explain the reasons for the activity of the compounds. The results showed that the compounds had lower binding energies with AChE than with the acetylcholine receptor (AchR), suggesting that compounds are more easily bound with AChE.
Edge-Supervised Linear Object Skeletonization for High-Speed Camera
Authors: Wang Taohan , Yamakawa Yuji
Published: June 2023

This paper presents a high-speed skeletonization algorithm for detecting the skeletons of linear objects from their binary images. The primary objective of our research is to achieve rapid extraction of the skeletons from binary images while maintaining accuracy for high-speed cameras. The proposed algorithm uses edge supervision and a branch detector to efficiently search inside the object, avoiding unnecessary computation on irrelevant pixels outside the object. Additionally, our algorithm addresses the challenge of self-intersections in linear objects with a branch detection module, which detects existing intersections and initializes new searches on emerging branches when necessary. Experiments on various binary images, such as numbers, ropes, and iron wires, demonstrated the reliability, accuracy, and efficiency of our approach. We compared the performance of our method with existing skeletonization techniques, showing its superiority in terms of speed, especially for larger image sizes.
Machine Learning Electrocardiogram for Mobile Cardiac Pattern Extraction
Authors: Zhang Qingxue , Zhou Dian
Published: June 2023

Background: Internet-of-things technologies are reshaping healthcare applications. We take a special interest in long-term, out-of-clinic, electrocardiogram (ECG)-based heart health management and propose a machine learning framework to extract crucial patterns from noisy mobile ECG signals. Methods: A three-stage hybrid machine learning framework is proposed for estimating heart-disease-related ECG QRS duration. First, raw heartbeats are recognized from the mobile ECG using a support vector machine (SVM). Then, the QRS boundaries are located using a novel pattern recognition approach, multiview dynamic time warping (MV-DTW). To enhance robustness with motion artifacts in the signal, the MV-DTW path distance is also used to quantize heartbeat-specific distortion conditions. Finally, a regression model is trained to transform the mobile ECG QRS duration into the commonly used standard chest ECG QRS durations. Results: With the proposed framework, the performance of ECG QRS duration estimation is very encouraging, and the correlation coefficient, mean error/standard deviation, mean absolute error, and root mean absolute error are 91.2%, 0.4 ± 2.6, 1.7, and 2.6 ms, respectively, compared with the traditional chest ECG-based measurements. Conclusions: Promising experimental results are demonstrated to indicate the effectiveness of the framework. This study will greatly advance machine-learning-enabled ECG data mining towards smart medical decision support.
Changes in Urban Planning in Response to Pandemics: A Comparative Review from H1N1 to COVID-19 (2009–2022)
Authors: Tu Kangwei , Reith Andras
Published: June 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought enormous casualties and huge losses to cities around the world, causing urban planning to reflect on its serious inadequacy in public health crisis management. Looking back at the pandemics of modern history, urban planning has been dedicated to enhancing disease prevention capacity as well as improving the wellness of human beings. By systematically comparing the urban planning response between COVID-19 (2019) and its predecessor H1N1 (2009) in the literature, this paper seeks to explore how urban planning theories evolved through the pandemics and whether COVID-19 has led to possible new implications and directions for urban planning in the future. A total of 3129 related results with overlapping themes of “city”, “pandemic”, and “planning” in the database were narrowed down to 30 articles published between 2009 and 2019 on the topic of H1N1 and 99 articles published between 2020 and 2022 on the topic of COVID-19 after careful extraction and integration. Through bibliographic and detailed analysis, twelve urban theories used to fight against pandemics were identified. In addition, three main changes between urban planning responses to the H1N1 and COVID-19 pandemics were summarized: from focusing on stages of “in-pandemic” and “pre-pandemic” to focusing on stages of “post-pandemic”, from global and national to local, and from the absence of an urban-built environment to a return to ‘healthiness’ in urban planning and design. Such comparisons are useful for examining the current situation and providing suggestions for a possible upcoming outbreak.
Durable Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Response after mRNA-1273 Booster in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients during the Omicron Wave
Authors: Beilhack Georg , Monteforte Rossella , Frommlet Florian , Reindl-Schwaighofer Roman , Strassl Robert , Vychytil Andreas
Published: June 2023

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination of dialysis patients has been proven to be safe and effective to reduce COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. However, data on the durability of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies post-vaccination in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients are scarce. In this prospective single-center cohort study we measured anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD antibodies 3 and 6 months after the 3rd dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine in 27 adult PD patients and recorded breakthrough infections. Furthermore, in a mixed model analysis, we analyzed potential factors influencing the humoral response following vaccination. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 RBD antibody levels declined from 21,424 BAU/mL at 1 month to 8397 BAU/mL at 3 months and to 5120 BAU/mL at 6 months after the 3rd dose, but remained higher than pre-3rd dose levels (212 BAU/mL). Eight patients (29.6%) were infected with SARS-CoV-2 within six months from the 3rd dose during the Omicron wave. Previous high antibody levels, high glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and low Davies Comorbidity Score were associated with higher anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels after the booster. In conclusion, PD patients exhibited a robust and durable humoral response after a third dose of the mRNA-1273 vaccine. A high GFR and low comorbidity as well as previous high antibody levels predicted a better humoral response to vaccination.
Visual Metaphor in Early Second Language Education
Authors: Levunlieva Milena
Published: June 2023

The paper adapts the theory of knowledge enablement in knowledge-sharing companies to the needs of the second-language classroom to explicate the association between pedagogical interaction and the effectiveness of the teaching process. The goal of the inquiry is to alert language teachers to the hidden opportunities visualization and layout suggest in designing a stress-free educational environment conducive to amplifying language knowledge and skills in a context stimulating knowledge enablement. Visualization is explored at two levels: 1) the level of text layout and illustrations; and 2) the level of visual images and visual metaphors. The method of structural and functional modelling is used to present the layout of exercises and language content and the visual metaphor identification method is employed in the analysis of visual images. A conclusion is asserted of the instrumental role of visuals in English coursebooks for young learners as a medium of visual literacy and as a factor in streamlining the development of productive second language skills. This claim is substantiated by a case study that 1) demonstrates the contextualizing function of images and visual metaphors in English language coursebooks for young learners; and 2) explores the means, instruments and ways of visualizing the instructional content of two TEYL coursebooks published in 2014 and 2015.
From/Towards a Multiple Sign System: Autism Novelized and Retold in Interlingual and Intersemiotic Contexts
Authors: Burcu Nur Bayram , Tuna Didem
Published: June 2023

The focus of this study is to analyse selected signs of neurodiversity in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon and its interlingual and intersemiotic translations to examine readers' as well as translators' (as readers) role in the formation of the meaning, along with literature's contribution to neuro-inclusiveness. Taking the prevalent assumptions that the main character has autism as a reference point, despite the author's statement that he did not base his work on a specific syndrome, some brief information about autism spectrum disorder is provided, and the protagonist Christopher's autistic-like characteristics are reviewed with reference to the common features of the disorder. The target texts in Turkish, Azerbaijani, and French are defined as interlingual translations, and the stage performance in Turkiye is defined as intersemiotic translation. The target texts are compared to the source text using Öztürk Kasar's "Systematics of Designification in Translation" to discuss the extent to which signs featuring autism are transferred in the target texts and to highlight the contribution of the source and target texts to the acknowledgement and appreciation of differences.