bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Structural and Comparative Analyses of Insects Suggest the Presence of an Ultra-Conserved Regulatory Element of the Genes Encoding Vacuolar-Type ATPase Subunits and Assembly Factors
Authors: Lovero Domenica , Porcelli Damiano , Giordano Luca , Lo Giudice Claudio , Picardi Ernesto , Pesole Graziano , Pignataro Eugenia , Palazzo Antonio , Marsano René Massimiliano
Published: August 2023

Gene and genome comparison represent an invaluable tool to identify evolutionarily conserved sequences with possible functional significance. In this work, we have analyzed orthologous genes encoding subunits and assembly factors of the V-ATPase complex, an important enzymatic complex of the vacuolar and lysosomal compartments of the eukaryotic cell with storage and recycling functions, respectively, as well as the main pump in the plasma membrane that energizes the epithelial transport in insects. This study involves 70 insect species belonging to eight insect orders. We highlighted the conservation of a short sequence in the genes encoding subunits of the V-ATPase complex and their assembly factors analyzed with respect to their exon-intron organization of those genes. This study offers the possibility to study ultra-conserved regulatory elements under an evolutionary perspective, with the aim of expanding our knowledge on the regulation of complex gene networks at the basis of organellar biogenesis and cellular organization.
Reproductive Biology and Distribution of the Blue Shark (Prionace glauca) in the Western Indian Ocean
Authors: Zhu Jizhang , Geng Zhe , Zhu Jiangfeng , Richard Kindong
Published: August 2023

Due to the limited biological research on the blue shark in the Indian Ocean, such as the lack of a clear understanding of its reproductive biology and distribution, our study analyzed and evaluated the fork length distribution, sexual maturity length, reproductive capacity, and spatiotemporal distribution of blue sharks based on biological data and capture location information collected in the western Indian Ocean from 2010 to 2020. The objective of this study is to provide reliable biological information important in performing future stock assessments vital for species conservation in this region. A total of 791 male (33–249.5 cm FL) and 803 female (12–349.6 cm FL) blue sharks were collected in the West Indian Ocean. We used the morphology of the sexual organs to ascertain their sexual maturity. Results show that the observed size at 50% sexual maturity of male blue sharks in the West Indian Ocean was 161.4cm FL (192.4 cm TL) for males and 179.3 cm FL (213.9 cm TL) for females based on logistic curve analysis. The average litter size of pregnant blue sharks was 33.7 pups. There were significant differences in the distribution of blue shark individuals with different sexual maturity levels in different quarters (p < 0.05). This study suggests that the area near the equator in the Indian Ocean from October to March of the following year may be the mating ground for blue sharks, while the temperate waters in the Indian Ocean are the nursery ground and parturition ground for pregnant and juvenile throughout the whole year. Therefore, it is recommended to adopt a more scientific and reasonable operational method in these areas.
Combination of Bacillus and Low Fertigation Input Promoted the Growth and Productivity of Chinese Cabbage and Enriched Beneficial Rhizosphere Bacteria Lechevalieria
Authors: Zhang Shi-Chang , Zhang Yu-Lu , Guo Xiao-Jing , Luo Ming , Li Shi-Dong , Guo Rong-Jun
Published: August 2023

Long-term overfertilization increases soil salinity and disease occurrence and reduces crop yield. Integrated application of microbial agents with low fertigation input might be a sustainable and cost-effective strategy. Herein, the promoting effects of Bacillus velezensis B006 on the growth of Chinese cabbage under different fertigation conditions in field trials were studied and the underlying mechanisms were revealed. In comparison with normal fertigation (water potential of −30 kPa and soluble N, P, K of 29.75, 8.26, 21.48 Kg hm−2) without B006 application, the combination of B. velezensis B006 and reduced fertigation input (−50 kPa and N, P, K of 11.75, 3.26, 6.48 Kg hm−2) promoted cabbage growth and root development, restrained the occurrence of soft rot disease, and improved the yield. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses indicated that B006 application promoted the production of indole-3-acetic acid and salicylic acid in cabbage roots, which are closely related to plant growth. Rhizosphere microbiota analyses indicated that the combination of low fertigation input and B006 application promoted the enrichment of Streptomyces, Lechevalieria, Promicromonospora, and Aeromicrobium and the abundance of Lechevalieria was positively correlated with the root length and vitality. This suggested that the integrated application of reduced fertigation and Bacillus is highly efficient to improve soil ecology and productivity and will benefit the sustainable development of crop cultivation in a cost-effective way.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Emerging Therapies and Future Treatment Strategies
Authors: Bretto Elisabetta , Ribaldone Davide Giuseppe , Caviglia Gian Paolo , Saracco Giorgio Maria , Bugianesi Elisabetta , Frara Simone
Published: August 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a term used to represent a group of chronic, relapsing inflammatory disorders of the gastrointestinal tract. Crohn’s disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) are the two major clinical forms. The global incidence and prevalence of IBD have increased over the last 2–4 decades. Despite the specific etiopathogenesis of IBD still being unknown, it is widely recognized that immunological, genetic, and environmental factors are implicated. A greater understanding of the multiple signaling pathways involved has led to the development of biologic therapies in the last two decades. Although these treatments have dramatically transformed the course of IBD, there is not a definitive cure and available therapies may cause adverse events (AEs), limiting their use, or have an inadequate effect in some patients. In this context, emerging therapies addressing new specific pathogenetic mechanisms have shown promising efficacy and safety data in early clinical trials. The purpose of this review is to highlight the available clinical trial data for these new drugs, such as more preferential JAK inhibitors, anti-IL-23 antibodies, sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulators, anti-integrin therapies, and other small molecules that are currently under research. We will emphasize the potential significance of these agents in shaping future treatment options.
Oleuropein Promotes Neural Plasticity and Neuroprotection via PPARα-Dependent and Independent Pathways
Authors: Malliou Foteini , Andriopoulou Christina E. , Kofinas Aristeidis , Katsogridaki Allena , Leondaritis George , Gonzalez Frank J. , Michaelidis Theologos M. , Darsinou Marousa , Skaltsounis Leandros A. , Konstandi Maria
Published: August 2023

Oleuropein (OLE), a main constituent of olives, displays a pleiotropic beneficial dynamic in health and disease; the effects are based mainly on its antioxidant and hypolipidemic properties, and its capacity to protect the myocardium during ischemia. Furthermore, OLE activates the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPARα) in neurons and astrocytes, providing neuroprotection against noxious biological reactions that are induced following cerebral ischemia. The current study investigated the effect of OLE in the regulation of various neural plasticity indices, emphasizing the role of PPARα. For this purpose, 129/Sv wild-type (WT) and Pparα-null mice were treated with OLE for three weeks. The findings revealed that chronic treatment with OLE up-regulated the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its receptor TrkB in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of mice via activation of the ERK1/2, AKT and PKA/CREB signaling pathways. No similar effects were observed in the hippocampus. The OLE-induced effects on BDNF and TrkB appear to be mediated by PPARα, because no similar alterations were observed in the PFC of Pparα-null mice. Notably, OLE did not affect the neurotrophic factors NT3 and NT4/5 in both brain tissues. However, fenofibrate, a selective PPARα agonist, up-regulated BDNF and NT3 in the PFC of mice, whereas the drug induced NT4/5 in both brain sites tested. Interestingly, OLE provided neuroprotection in differentiated human SH-SY5Y cells against β-amyloid and H2O2 toxicity independently from PPARα activation. In conclusion, OLE and similar drugs, acting either as PPARα agonists or via PPARα independent mechanisms, could improve synaptic function/plasticity mainly in the PFC and to a lesser extent in the hippocampus, thus beneficially affecting cognitive functions.
Cyclin Dependent Kinase Inhibitor 2A Genetic and Epigenetic Alterations Interfere with Several Immune Components and Predict Poor Clinical Outcome
Authors: Soltan Mohamed A. , Alhanshani Ahmad A. , Shati Ayed A. , Alqahtani Youssef A. , Alshaya Dalal Sulaiman , Alharthi Jawaher , Altalhi Sarah Awwadh , Fayad Eman , Zaki Mohamed Samir A. , Eid Refaat A.
Published: August 2023

Cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) is a well-known tumor suppressor gene as it functions as a cell cycle regulator. While several reports correlate the malfunction of CDKN2A with the initiation and progression of several types of human tumors, there is a lack of a comprehensive study that analyzes the potential effect of CDKN2A genetic alterations on the human immune components and the consequences of that effect on tumor progression and patient survival in a pan-cancer model. The first stage of the current study was the analysis of CDKN2A differential expression in tumor tissues and the corresponding normal ones and correlating that with tumor stage, grade, metastasis, and clinical outcome. Next, a detailed profile of CDKN2A genetic alteration under tumor conditions was described and assessed for its effect on the status of different human immune components. CDKN2A was found to be upregulated in cancerous tissues versus normal ones and that predicted the progression of tumor stage, grade, and metastasis in addition to poor prognosis under different forms of tumors. Additionally, CDKN2A experienced different forms of genetic alteration under tumor conditions, a characteristic that influenced the infiltration and the status of CD8, the chemokine CCL4, and the chemokine receptor CCR6. Collectively, the current study demonstrates the potential employment of CDKN2A genetic alteration as a prognostic and immunological biomarker under several types of human cancers.
T and Small Protrusion (TAP) Technique in Bifurcations: Coronary Artery Disease in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients after COVID-19 Pneumonia
Authors: Rus Marius , Filimon Georgiana Carmen , Ardelean Adriana Ioana
Published: August 2023

Ischemic coronary artery disease in all its forms remains the main cause of death worldwide. Coronary artery bifurcation lesions are a challenge because of their complexity and possible complications. The goal of treating bifurcation lesions is the optimal revascularization of the main vessel without compromising the side branch. Although the study of bifurcation stenting aims to keep the side branch viable, the outcomes regarding major acute cardiovascular events and survivability are related to the optimal treatment of the main vessel. There are many trials that have tried to evaluate the best technique to use with respect to bifurcation lesions, and early studies support provisional stenting as the election treatment. More recent trials highlighted the superior outcomes of the double kissing crush technique used on unprotected distal left main bifurcation lesions. In patients with acute myocardial infarction, two-stent techniques were avoided because of the prolonged procedural time in unstable patients, with high risks of complications. We present the case of a 53-year-old woman with multiple cardiovascular risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension, active cancer, post-COVID-19 state) and acute antero-lateral myocardial infarction who underwent primary coronary intervention with the use of the TAP technique for stenting the bifurcation culprit coronary lesion (left anterior descendent artery and first diagonal artery).
An Efficient Electrochemical Sensor Based on NiCo2O4 Nanoplates and Ionic Liquid for Determination of Favipiravir in the Presence of Acetaminophen
Authors: Tajik Somayeh , Sharifi Fatemeh , Aflatoonian Behnaz , Mohammadi Sayed Zia
Published: August 2023

Based on the modification of carbon paste electrode with NiCo2O4 nanoplates and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, a new electrochemical sensing platform for the sensing of favipiravir (a drug with potential therapeutic efficacy in treating COVID-19 patients) in the presence of acetaminophen was prepared. For determining the electrochemical behavior of favipiravir, cyclic voltammetry, differential pulse voltammetry, and chronoamperometry have been utilized. When compared to the unmodified carbon paste electrode, the results of the cyclic voltammetry showed that the proposed NiCo2O4 nanoplates/1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate/carbon paste electrode had excellent catalytic activity for the oxidation of the favipiravir in phosphate buffer solution (pH = 7.0). This was due to the synergistic influence of 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (ionic liquid) and NiCo2O4 nanoplates. In the optimized conditions of favipiravir measurement, NiCo2O4 nanoplates/1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate/carbon paste electrode had several benefits, such as a wide dynamic linear between 0.004 and 115.0 µM, a high sensitivity of 0.1672 µA/µM, and a small limit of detection of 1.0 nM. Furthermore, the NiCo2O4 nanoplates/1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate/carbon paste electrode sensor presented a good capability to investigate the favipiravir and acetaminophen levels in real samples with satisfactory recoveries.
The Thermal Potential of Wastewater for Heating and Cooling Buildings: A Case Study of a Low Exergy Building in Madrid
Authors: Gualotuña-Gualoto Diana , Martínez-Pérez Inmaculada , Laera Rossana , Pereda Luis de
Published: August 2023

The use of technologies that allow for the utilization of renewable energies wasted around buildings is one of the ways to ensure the decarbonization of the sector. Wastewater from buildings is a renewable source of thermal energy. Groundwater and rainwater are important components of wastewater that flow into sewerage systems. The main objective of this research is to estimate the thermal potential of wastewater for the heating and cooling of buildings. In this paper, an office building with a low-energy system (TABS) was studied for one year to assess the energy contribution of wastewater in a hybrid system that includes geothermal exchangers and a wastewater exchanger. This study shows that wastewater from sewerage systems that flows faster than 5 L/s can make enough heat to power an office building with a power demand of 45 kW (60 W/m2). The energy contribution of wastewater from the sewerage system is more favorable in heating scenarios than in cooling ones, improving the system efficiency by over 22% compared to geothermal systems. Rainwater enhances cooling efficiency by over 14% compared to geothermal systems. This finding could help to establish a predictive method or guidelines for the design and sizing of heat exchangers in sewerage systems.
Rainwater Retention Test of Various Green Roofs: Influence on Membrane Temperatures and Evapotranspiration
Authors: Juras Peter
Published: August 2023

Green structures such as roofs or facades are great examples of ways to mitigate climate change, and they have multidisciplinary benefits. One of them is water retention during storms and high rainfalls. In this paper, the impact on the temperature of a membrane after excessive watering was investigated. The results of watered samples were compared to the non-watered ones. This test was carried out on five equal samples. The results showed that the actual foliage cover is very important. The worst results were obtained by the samples that did not have sufficient plant (foliage) cover. Notable differences in courses after watering reached up to 7 °C and lasted up to five days. Visible differences after watering were also exhibited by other samples. The type of drainage/retention layer also influenced the results, whereas the hard-profiled plastic board had high practical retention, which impacted temperatures over a long time period. The actual water content influenced and reduced the daily amplitude from 13 to 7 °C for at least five sunny days. This confirms the theoretical evapotranspiration calculations and actual water content in green roofs. In this case, the water content in the samples proves the cooling effect on the waterproofing membrane.
Causes of Stiffness Degradation in Steel–UHPC Composite Beam-Bolted Connections
Authors: Hao Chaowei , Luo Jiqing , Wang Bingjian , Zhang Xinmin , Gan Liangding
Published: August 2023

This groundbreaking study conducts the first-ever field push test on anchor bolts in steel–UHPC composite pavement in China, providing researchers with the opportunity to obtain the true mechanical performance of the anchor bolts after more than a decade of operation. As a result, the study comprehensively studies the long-term performance of anchor bolts in steel–UHPC composite pavement. The study established a finite element model of steel–UHPC pavement based on the mechanical properties of studs obtained from the field push-back tests, and the mechanical properties of studs were modeled by COMBIN39 and COMBIN14 elements. The reasons for the degradation of the bolt performance were analyzed by combining the anchorage force transfer model of the composite beam and the fatigue formula of the stiffness degradation of the bolt, based on the results of the finite element method. The study revealed that the stress of the anchor bolts gradually equilibrates along the longitudinal direction after prolonged service, with the end anchor bolts experiencing an offloading phenomenon and the middle span anchor bolts experiencing an increasing load phenomenon. Furthermore, the study identified the residual slip at the interface of the anchor bolt as a significant factor in the longitudinal stress redistribution of the anchor bolt, and construction errors further promoted stress redistribution. The study’s findings contribute to advancing the design and construction of steel–UHPC composite pavement. Additionally, the study proposes a novel approach to accurately evaluate the stiffness of pavements by combining the anchor bolt extrapolation test with a finite element model, with a maximum error of no more than 5 percent, which can be applied in future pavement design and construction.
Ontological Method for the Modeling and Management of Building Component Construction Process Information
Authors: Jia Lu , Jin Yanfeng , Liu Yang , Lv Jing
Published: August 2023

Knowledge of the construction process plays a decisive role in guiding construction and thus affects the quality of buildings. However, the integration and relevance of information in the traditional process file are poor, and it is easy to ignore the process changes caused by the differences when applying information directly. Therefore, this paper introduces an ontological method for the information modeling and management of the construction process. The proposed method uses machine readable language to integrate process knowledge in a structured way, thereby improving the relevance of information and promoting the reuse, sharing and retrieval of knowledge. At the same time, the semantic web rule language (SWRL) rules are used to model the relevant laws and regulations with reference to the construction product quality acceptance regulations and to correlate the construction process information so as to ensure the compliance of building products and the accuracy of process information. Finally, the feasibility of the method is verified via specific use cases on an ontology implementation platform.
Facile Synthesis of Ni-Doped WO3-x Nanosheets with Enhanced Visible-Light-Responsive Photocatalytic Performance for Lignin Depolymerization into Value-Added Biochemicals
Authors: Wang Hao , Li Yuan , Xiao Xintong
Published: August 2023

Lignin is the only renewable resource composed of aromatic hydrocarbons in nature that can be used as raw materials for preparing chemicals. However, due to the existence of stable C–O bonds and C−C bonds in the lignin, the high-value resource utilization of lignin is still challenging work. Herein, we reported efficient lignin depolymerization using a Ni-doped WO3-x nanosheet photocatalyst that was prepared via the two-step hydrothermal treatment. The optimized catalyst (Ni-doped WO3-x) successfully depolymerized sodium lignosulfonate to vanillic acid and guaiacol under visible-light irradiation. The active radicals of photocatalytic depolymerization of sodium lignosulfonate were superoxide radicals, photogenic holes, and hydroxyl radicals under visible-light irradiation. Furthermore, the introduction of Ni significantly decreased the activation energy barrier for selective cleavage of the C−C bond, which was the essential step to promote lactic acid production. This work presented an effective and promising strategy for lignin depolymerization and value-added biochemical production.
Genetic Variants Associated with the Age of Onset Identified by Whole-Exome Sequencing in Fatal Familial Insomnia
Authors: Thüne Katrin , Schmitz Matthias , Wiedenhöft John , Shomroni Orr , Göbel Stefan , Bunck Timothy , Younas Neelam , Zafar Saima , Hermann Peter , Zerr Inga
Published: August 2023

Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) is a rare autosomal-dominant inherited prion disease with a wide variability in age of onset. Its causes are not known. In the present study, we aimed to analyze genetic risk factors other than the prion protein gene (PRNP), in FFI patients with varying ages of onset. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) analysis was performed for twenty-five individuals with FFI (D178N-129M). Gene ontology enrichment analysis was carried out by Reactome to generate hypotheses regarding the biological processes of the identified genes. In the present study, we used a statistical approach tailored to the specifics of the data and identified nineteen potential gene variants with a potential effect on the age of onset. Evidence for potential disease modulatory risk loci was observed in two pseudogenes (NR1H5P, GNA13P1) and three protein coding genes (EXOC1L, SRSF11 and MSANTD3). These genetic variants are absent in FFI patients with early disease onset (19–40 years). The biological function of these genes and PRNP is associated with programmed cell death, caspase-mediated cleavage of cytoskeletal proteins and apoptotic cleavage of cellular proteins. In conclusions, our study provided first evidence for the involvement of genetic risk factors additional to PRNP, which may influence the onset of clinical symptoms in FFI.
A Systematic Compilation of Human SH3 Domains: A Versatile Superfamily in Cellular Signaling
Authors: Mehrabipour Mehrnaz , Jasemi Neda S. Kazemein , Dvorsky Radovan , Ahmadian Mohammad R.
Published: August 2023

SRC homology 3 (SH3) domains are fundamental modules that enable the assembly of protein complexes through physical interactions with a pool of proline-rich/noncanonical motifs from partner proteins. They are widely studied modular building blocks across all five kingdoms of life and viruses, mediating various biological processes. The SH3 domains are also implicated in the development of human diseases, such as cancer, leukemia, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and various infections. A database search of the human proteome reveals the existence of 298 SH3 domains in 221 SH3 domain-containing proteins (SH3DCPs), ranging from 13 to 720 kilodaltons. A phylogenetic analysis of human SH3DCPs based on their multi-domain architecture seems to be the most practical way to classify them functionally, with regard to various physiological pathways. This review further summarizes the achievements made in the classification of SH3 domain functions, their binding specificity, and their significance for various diseases when exploiting SH3 protein modular interactions as drug targets.
Glioblastoma Biology, Genetics and Possible Therapies
Authors: Castresana Javier S. , Meléndez Bárbara
Published: August 2023

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive intracranial tumor [...]
Effect of pH on Electrochemical Impedance Response of Tethered Bilayer Lipid Membranes: Implications for Quantitative Biosensing
Authors: Shivabalan Arun Prabha , Ambrulevicius Filipas , Talaikis Martynas , Pudzaitis Vaidas , Niaura Gediminas , Valincius Gintaras
Published: August 2023

Tethered bilayer lipid membranes (tBLMs) are increasingly used in biosensor applications where electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is the method of choice for amplifying and recording the activity of membrane-damaging agents such as pore-forming toxins or disrupting peptides. While the activity of these biological agents may depend on the pH of the analytes, there is increasing evidence that the sensitivity of tethered bilayer sensors depends on the pH of the solutions. In our study, we addressed the question of what are the fundamental reasons for the variability of the EIS signal of the tBLMs with pH. We designed an experiment to compare the EIS response of tBLMs with natural membrane defects and two different membrane disruptors: vaginolysin and melittin. Our experimental design ensured that the same amount of protein and peptide was present in the tBLMs, while the pH was varied by replacing the buffers with different pH values. Using a recently developed EIS data analysis algorithm from our research group, we were able to demonstrate that, in contrast to previous literature which relates the variability of tBLM, EIS response to the variation in defect density, the main reason for the observed variability in EIS response is the change in the sub-membrane properties of tBLMs with pH. Using surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS), we have shown that pH changes from neutral to slightly acidic leads to an expulsion of water, presumably bound to ions, from the sub-membrane reservoir, resulting in a marked decrease in the carrier concentration and specific conductance of the sub-membrane reservoir. Such a decrease is recorded by the EIS as a decrease in the conductance of the tBLM complex and affects the sensitivity of a biosensor. Our data provide important evidence of pH-sensitive effects that should be considered in both the development and operation of biosensors.
Generative Adversarial Network (Generative Artificial Intelligence) in Pediatric Radiology: A Systematic Review
Authors: Ng Curtise
Published: August 2023

Generative artificial intelligence, especially with regard to the generative adversarial network (GAN), is an important research area in radiology as evidenced by a number of literature reviews on the role of GAN in radiology published in the last few years. However, no review article about GAN in pediatric radiology has been published yet. The purpose of this paper is to systematically review applications of GAN in pediatric radiology, their performances, and methods for their performance evaluation. Electronic databases were used for a literature search on 6 April 2023. Thirty-seven papers met the selection criteria and were included. This review reveals that the GAN can be applied to magnetic resonance imaging, X-ray, computed tomography, ultrasound and positron emission tomography for image translation, segmentation, reconstruction, quality assessment, synthesis and data augmentation, and disease diagnosis. About 80% of the included studies compared their GAN model performances with those of other approaches and indicated that their GAN models outperformed the others by 0.1–158.6%. However, these study findings should be used with caution because of a number of methodological weaknesses. For future GAN studies, more robust methods will be essential for addressing these issues. Otherwise, this would affect the clinical adoption of the GAN-based applications in pediatric radiology and the potential advantages of GAN could not be realized widely.
Why Are Child and Youth Welfare Support Services Initiated? A First-Time Analysis of Administrative Data on Child and Youth Welfare Services in Austria
Authors: Haider Katja , Kaltschik Stefan , Amon Manuela , Pieh Christoph
Published: August 2023

Even if numerous children and young people are looked after by child and youth welfare, there are only a few scientific studies on the reasons for this support. The aim of this retrospective descriptive study was to examine the reasons why child and youth welfare was initiated. Therefore, administrative data, collected by the Lower Austrian Child and Youth Welfare Service, from the year 2021 will be presented. On the one hand, the frequencies of the different justifications provided by the social workers and, on the other hand, whether these are primarily based on problems of the parents/caregivers or the children are reported. In 2021, a total of 7760 clarifications of child welfare endangerments were initiated. The descriptive statistical analyses showed that the most frequent concerns were parental overload (49%), behavioral issues (10%), and difficult economic conditions (9%). Although a classification according to the caregiver or child level cannot always be clearly distinguished, there is a trend that in many cases (84% to 99% depending on the type of support) the problems lie at the caregiver level. Further studies are necessary so that the care of such vulnerable groups of people will be better supported by scientific findings.
Timing and Performance Metrics for TWR-K70F120M Device
Authors: Adam George K.
Published: August 2023

Currently, single-board computers (SBCs) are sufficiently powerful to run real-time operating systems (RTOSs) and applications. The purpose of this research was to investigate the timing performance of an NXP TWR-K70F120M device with μClinux OS on concurrently running tasks with real-time features and constraints, and provide new and distinct technical data not yet available in the literature. Towards this goal, a custom-built multithreaded application with specific compute-intensive sorting and matrix operations was developed and applied to obtain measurements in specific timing metrics, including task execution time, thread waiting time, and response time. In this way, this research extends the literature by documenting performance results on specific timing metrics. The performance of this device was additionally benchmarked and validated against commonly used platforms, a Raspberry Pi4 and BeagleBone AI SBCs. The experimental results showed that this device stands well both in terms of timing and efficiency metrics. Execution times were lower than with the other platforms, by approximately 56% in the case of two threads, and by 29% in the case of 32-thread configurations. The outcomes could be of practical value to companies which intend to use such low-cost embedded devices in the development of reliable real-time industrial applications.
Deep-Learning-Based Visualization and Volumetric Analysis of Fluid Regions in Optical Coherence Tomography Scans
Authors: Kasireddy Harishwar Reddy , Kallam Udaykanth Reddy , Mantrala Sowmitri Karthikeya Siddhartha , Kongara Hemanth , Shivhare Anshul , Saita Jayesh , Vijay Sharanya , Prasad Raghu , Raman Rajiv , Seelamantula Chandra Sekhar
Published: August 2023

Retinal volume computation is one of the critical steps in grading pathologies and evaluating the response to a treatment. We propose a deep-learning-based visualization tool to calculate the fluid volume in retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) images. The pathologies under consideration are Intraretinal Fluid (IRF), Subretinal Fluid (SRF), and Pigmented Epithelial Detachment (PED). We develop a binary classification model for each of these pathologies using the Inception-ResNet-v2 and the small Inception-ResNet-v2 models. For visualization, we use several standard Class Activation Mapping (CAM) techniques, namely Grad-CAM, Grad-CAM++, Score-CAM, Ablation-CAM, and Self-Matching CAM, to visualize the pathology-specific regions in the image and develop a novel Ensemble-CAM visualization technique for robust visualization of OCT images. In addition, we demonstrate a Graphical User Interface that takes the visualization heat maps as the input and calculates the fluid volume in the OCT C-scans. The volume is computed using both the region-growing algorithm and selective thresholding technique and compared with the ground-truth volume based on expert annotation. We compare the results obtained using the standard Inception-ResNet-v2 model with a small Inception-ResNet-v2 model, which has half the number of trainable parameters compared with the original model. This study shows the relevance and usefulness of deep-learning-based visualization techniques for reliable volumetric analysis.
Choroid Plexus Volume Change—A Candidate for a New Radiological Marker of MS Progression
Authors: Jankowska Anna , Chwojnicki Kamil , Grzywińska Małgorzata , Trzonkowski Piotr , Szurowska Edyta
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an auto-immune, chronic, neuroinflammatory, demyelinating disease that affects mainly young patients. This progressive inflammatory process causes the chronic loss of brain tissue and results in a deterioration in quality of life. To monitor neuroinflammatory process activity and predict the further development of disease, it is necessary to find a suitable biomarker that could easily be used. In this research, we verify the usability of choroid plexus (CP) volume, a new MS biomarker, in the monitoring of the progression of multiple sclerosis disease. (2) Methods: A single-center, prospective study with three groups of patients was conducted based on the following groups: MS patients who received experimental cellular therapy (Treg), treatment-naïve MS patients and healthy controls. (3) Results: This study concludes that there is a correlation between the CPV/TIV (choroid plexus/total intracranial volume) ratio and the progress of multiple sclerosis disease—patients with MS (MS + Treg) had larger volumes of choroid plexuses. CPV/TIV ratios in MS groups were constantly and significantly growing. In the Treg group, patients with relapses had larger plexuses in comparison to the group with no relapses of MS. A similar correlation was observed for the GD+ group (patients with postcontrast enhancing plaques) compared against the non-GD group (patients without postcontrast enhancing plaques). (4) Conclusion: Choroid plexus volume, due to its immunological function, correlates with the inflammatory process in the central nervous system. We consider it to become a valuable radiological biomarker of MS activity.
Managing Persistent Subsolid Nodules in Lung Cancer: Education, Decision Making, and Impact of Interval Growth Patterns
Authors: Liu Yung-Chi , Liang Chia-Hao , Wu Yun-Ju , Chen Chi-Shen , Tang En-Kuei , Wu Fu-Zong
Published: August 2023

With the popularization of lung cancer screening, many persistent subsolid nodules (SSNs) have been identified clinically, especially in Asian non-smokers. However, many studies have found that SSNs exhibit heterogeneous growth trends during long-term follow ups. This article adopted a narrative approach to extensively review the available literature on the topic to explore the definitions, rationale, and clinical application of different interval growths of subsolid pulmonary nodule management and follow-up strategies. The development of SSN growth thresholds with different growth patterns could support clinical decision making with follow-up guidelines to reduce over- and delayed diagnoses. In conclusion, using different SSN growth thresholds could optimize the follow-up management and clinical decision making of SSNs in lung cancer screening programs. This could further reduce the lung cancer mortality rate and potential harm from overdiagnosis and over management.
Deep Learning Methodologies Applied to Digital Pathology in Prostate Cancer: A Systematic Review
Authors: Rabilloud Noémie , Allaume Pierre , Acosta Oscar , De Crevoisier Renaud , Bourgade Raphael , Loussouarn Delphine , Rioux-Leclercq Nathalie , Khene Zine-eddine , Mathieu Romain , Bensalah Karim , Pecot Thierry , Kammerer-Jacquet Solene-Florence
Published: August 2023

Deep learning (DL), often called artificial intelligence (AI), has been increasingly used in Pathology thanks to the use of scanners to digitize slides which allow us to visualize them on monitors and process them with AI algorithms. Many articles have focused on DL applied to prostate cancer (PCa). This systematic review explains the DL applications and their performances for PCa in digital pathology. Article research was performed using PubMed and Embase to collect relevant articles. A Risk of Bias (RoB) was assessed with an adaptation of the QUADAS-2 tool. Out of the 77 included studies, eight focused on pre-processing tasks such as quality assessment or staining normalization. Most articles (n = 53) focused on diagnosis tasks like cancer detection or Gleason grading. Fifteen articles focused on prediction tasks, such as recurrence prediction or genomic correlations. Best performances were reached for cancer detection with an Area Under the Curve (AUC) up to 0.99 with algorithms already available for routine diagnosis. A few biases outlined by the RoB analysis are often found in these articles, such as the lack of external validation. This review was registered on PROSPERO under CRD42023418661.
Unlocking Intersectoral Integration in Kazakhstan’s Agro-Industrial Complex: Technological Innovations, Knowledge Transfer, and Value Chain Governance as Predictors
Authors: Manatovna Turarova Aliya , Dabyltayeva Nazym Esbergenovna , Ruziyeva Elvira Abdulmitovna , Sakhanova Gaukhar , Yelubayeva Zhuldyz Maratovna
Published: August 2023

The agro-industrial complex plays a vital role in driving economic growth and sustainable development. This study investigates the direct and indirect impact of technological innovations, knowledge transfer, and value chain governance on intersectoral integration through the mediatory role of innovation diffusion and the moderating role of the regulatory environment. This study adopts a time-lagged quantitative survey research design, utilizing a multistage random sampling technique to collect data from employees within the agro-industrial complex in Kazakhstan. The findings reveal that technological innovations, knowledge transfer, and value chain governance positively influence intersectoral integration within the agro-industrial complex. Furthermore, innovation diffusion mediates the relationship between these variables, indicating that the diffusion of innovative practices, technologies, and ideas plays a crucial role in facilitating intersectoral integration. This study also demonstrates that the regulatory environment moderates the relationship between innovation diffusion and intersectoral integration, highlighting the importance of supportive regulatory frameworks in facilitating collaboration and innovation diffusion. The results contribute to the theoretical understanding of intersectoral integration and provide practical implications for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and managers.
“Otherwise, There Would Be No Point in Going to School”: Children’s Views on Assessment
Authors: Seitz Simone , Imperio Alessandra , Auer Petra
Published: August 2023

Assessment is a much-discussed dimension of school life, as it is deeply connected to teacher–student power relations, where teachers’ responsibilities for individual assessment and support coexist. Moreover, children’s views are hardly investigated in the research. Studies reflecting those aspects in inclusive school systems, such as the Italian one, are still rare. Assuming assessment is a social practice that shapes classroom differences, in our research project on “Children’s Perceptions of Performance in Primary Schools” (CrisP), we conducted 35 narrative interviews with 3rd graders from six schools, framed by classroom observations, to reconstruct their perceptions of performance and assessment and develop individual case portraits through Open Coding as defined within Grounded Theory and the Documentary Method. The study was conducted in the Province of Bolzano (Italy). Children seem aware of the teacher–child power relations that emerge in the assessment field and the reciprocity and interdependence of the two roles. In the reconstruction of Alice’s case, she demonstrates she trusts adults but can also work pragmatically on her position, redefining her power role that benefits from teachers’ services. Along with a brief overview of crucial findings and the reconstruction of Alice’s perceptions, we ask for implications for appropriate assessment practices in inclusive primary schools.
A Deep Learning-Enhanced Multi-Modal Sensing Platform for Robust Human Object Detection and Tracking in Challenging Environments
Authors: Cheng Peng , Xiong Zinan , Bao Yajie , Zhuang Ping , Zhang Yunqi , Blasch Erik , Chen Genshe
Published: August 2023

In modern security situations, tracking multiple human objects in real-time within challenging urban environments is a critical capability for enhancing situational awareness, minimizing response time, and increasing overall operational effectiveness. Tracking multiple entities enables informed decision-making, risk mitigation, and the safeguarding of civil-military operations to ensure safety and mission success. This paper presents a multi-modal electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) and radio frequency (RF) fused sensing (MEIRFS) platform for real-time human object detection, recognition, classification, and tracking in challenging environments. By utilizing different sensors in a complementary manner, the robustness of the sensing system is enhanced, enabling reliable detection and recognition results across various situations. Specifically designed radar tags and thermal tags can be used to discriminate between friendly and non-friendly objects. The system incorporates deep learning-based image fusion and human object recognition and tracking (HORT) algorithms to ensure accurate situation assessment. After integrating into an all-terrain robot, multiple ground tests were conducted to verify the consistency of the HORT in various environments. The MEIRFS sensor system has been designed to meet the Size, Weight, Power, and Cost (SWaP-C) requirements for installation on autonomous ground and aerial vehicles.
A CNN-Based Adaptive Federated Learning Approach for Communication Jamming Recognition
Authors: Zhang Ningsong , Li Yusheng , Shi Yuxin , Shen Junren
Published: August 2023

The effective and accurate recognition of communication jamming is crucial for enhancing the anti-jamming capability of wireless communication systems. At present, a significant portion of jamming data is decentralized, stored in local nodes, and cannot be uploaded directly for network training due to its sensitive nature. To address this challenge, we introduce a novel distributed jamming recognition method. This method leverages a distributed recognition framework to achieve global optimization through federated learning. Each node independently trains its local model and contributes to the comprehensive global model. We have devised an adaptive adjustment mechanism for the mixed weight parameters of both local and global models, ensuring an automatic balance between the global model and the aggregated insights from local data across devices. Simulations indicate that our personalization strategy yields a 30% boost in accuracy, and the adaptive weight parameters further enhance the recognition accuracy by 1.1%.
Intelligent Mesh Cluster Algorithm for Device-Free Localization in Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Sun Chao , Zhou Junhao , Jang Kyong-Seok , Kim Youngok
Published: August 2023

Device-free localization (DFL) is a technology designed to determine the positions of targets without the need for them to carry electronic devices. It achieves this by analyzing the shadowing effects of radio links within wireless sensor networks (WSNs). However, obtaining high precision in DFL often results in increased energy consumption, severe electromagnetic interference, and other challenges that impact positioning accuracy. Most DFL schemes for accurate tracking require substantial memory and computing resources, which make them unsuitable for resource-constrained applications. To address these challenges, we propose an intelligent mesh cluster (IMC) algorithm that achieves accurate tracking by adaptively activating a subset of wireless links. This approach not only reduces electromagnetic interference but also saves energy. The IMC algorithm leverages geometric objects, such as meshes and mesh clusters formed by wireless links, to achieve low computational complexity. By scanning a subset of mesh cluster-related wireless links near the DFL target, the algorithm significantly reduces the computational requirements. The target’s location estimate is determined based on the connection information among the mesh clusters. We conducted numerous simulations to evaluate the performance of the IMC algorithm. The results demonstrate that the IMC algorithm outperforms grid-based and particle filter-based DFL methods, confirming its effectiveness in achieving accurate and efficient localization.
Adaptive Absolute Attitude Determination Algorithm for a Fine Guidance Sensor
Authors: Yang Yuanyu , Fang Chenyan , Zhang Quan , Yin Dayi
Published: August 2023

In order to ensure the attitude determination accuracy and speed of a fine guidance sensor (FGS) in a space telescope with limited onboard hardware computing resources, an adaptive absolute attitude determination algorithm was proposed. The more stars involved in the attitude determination, the higher the attitude accuracy, but more hardware resources will be consumed. By analyzing the relationship between the attitude determination accuracy and the number of stars (NOS) in the field of view (FOV), and the relationship between the detector exposure time and the NOS, an adaptive method of adjusting the NOS in the FOV was proposed to keep the number of observed stars in the FOV of the detector at a target value. The star map recognition algorithm based on improved log-polar transformation has a higher recognition speed than the traditional algorithm but cannot accurately identify and match the corresponding guide star when the number of observed stars is less than the number of guide stars. Thus, a comparison-AND star identification algorithm based on polar coordinates was proposed. In the case of a given line-of-sight pointing and 100-frame image simulation calculation, the root mean square (RMS) value of the line-of-sight pointing error was less than 37 mas in the direction of a right ascension, and less than 25 mas in the direction of declination, as concluded from the experimental simulation.