bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Do Two Types of Exercise Habits Predict Physical Activity with Intention?
Authors: Lee Yoongu , Lee Hyung-IL , Cho Heetae
Published: November 2023

This manuscript investigates how conscious intention and unconscious exercise habits influence physical activity behavior. While prior research has predominantly focused on conscious decision-making, this study applied a dual-process model to explore the impact of intention and habit on physical activity engagement. Out of the 300 questionnaires distributed to students from one university, 282 questionnaires were utilized for data analysis after excluding insincere responses. Intention was measured using a 7-point scale, while exercise habits were assessed using the Self-Report Behavioral Automaticity Index. In addition, physical activity was measured using the Weekly Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire. The validity and reliability of measurement tools were confirmed. Data were analyzed using SPSS and AMOS, including correlation analysis, multiple regression, and moderation analysis. Intention, exercise preparation habit, and exercise performance habit were all found to influence physical activity levels significantly. Intention demonstrated the strongest impact, followed by exercise preparation habit and exercise performance habit. This suggests that the research efforts regarding intention conducted before the emergence of the dual process model, which proposes the importance of unconscious thinking patterns, were not in vain. The analysis revealed a statistically significant moderating effect of exercise preparation habit, but not exercise performance habit, in the relationship between intention and physical activity. Exercise preparation habit was identified as a significant moderator, enhancing the relationship between intention and physical activity. This study underscores the importance of considering both conscious intention and unconscious exercise habits in promoting physical activity. The findings challenge the prevailing emphasis on conscious decision-making and highlight the need for a more comprehensive understanding of unconscious behavior in health behavior interventions. This study is expected to arouse academic interest in the often-neglected area of unconscious behavior.
Correction: Aleissa et al. The Association between Video Game Type and Aggressive Behaviors in Saudi Youth: A Pilot Study. Behav. Sci. 2022, 12, 289
Authors: Aleissa Majid A. , Alenezi Shuliweeh , Saleheen Hassan N. , Bin Talib Sumayyah R. , Khan Altaf H. , Altassan Shatha A. , Alyahya Ahmed S.
Published: November 2023

The authors would like to make the following correction to the published paper [...]
Increasing Solar Reflectivity of Building Envelope Materials to Mitigate Urban Heat Islands: State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Ziaeemehr Bahador , Jandaghian Zahra , Ge Hua , Lacasse Michael , Moore Travis
Published: November 2023

The Urban Heat Island (UHI), a consequence of urban development, leads to elevated temperatures within cities compared to their rural counterparts. This phenomenon results from factors such as urban designs, anthropogenic heat emissions, and materials that absorb and retain solar radiation in the built environment. Materials commonly used in cities, like concrete, asphalt, and stone, capture solar energy and subsequently emit it as heat into the surroundings. Consequently, this phenomenon amplifies summertime cooling energy demands in buildings. To mitigate the UHI impacts, various mitigation strategies have emerged that include but are not limited to using higher solar reflectivity materials, known as “cool materials”, and increasing vegetation and greenery in urban areas. Cool materials have high reflectivity and emissivity, effectively reflecting solar radiation while emitting absorbed heat through radiative cooling. Increasing the solar reflectivity of building envelope materials is a promising sustainable solution to lessen the UHI effects. This state-of-the-art review summarizes the UHI causes and effects, states the mitigation strategies, describes the cool building envelope materials, explains the solar reflectivity index measurements, indicates the building and micro-climate simulations, highlights the performance evaluation of using cool building envelope materials, points out the research gaps, and proposes future research opportunities.
Long-Term Follow-Up of Patients with Conjunctival Lymphoma after Individualized Lens-Sparing Electron Radiotherapy: Results from a Longitudinal Study
Authors: Hoffmann Christian , Ringbaek Toke , Eckstein Anja , Deya Wolfgang , Santiago Alina , Heintz Martin , Lübcke Wolfgang , Indenkämpen Frank , Sauerwein Wolfgang , Flühs Andrea , Le Guin Claudia , Huettmann Andreas , von Tresckow Julia , Göricke Sophia , Deuschl Cornelius , Moliavi Sourour , Poettgen Christoph , Gauler Thomas , Guberina Nika , Johansson Patricia , Bechrakis Nikolaos , Stuschke Martin , Guberina Maja
Published: November 2023

Irradiation with electrons is the primary treatment regime for localized conjunctival low-grade lymphomas. However, radiation-induced cataracts are a major cause of treatment-related morbidity. This study investigates whether lens-sparing electron irradiation produces sufficient disease control rates while preventing cataract formation. All consecutive patients with strictly conjunctival, low-grade Ann Arbor stage IE lymphoma treated with superficial electron irradiation between 1999 and 2021 at our department were reviewed. A total of 56 patients with 65 treated eyes were enrolled with a median follow-up of 65 months. The median dose was 30.96 Gy. A lens-spearing technique featuring a hanging rod blocking the central beam axis was used in 89.2% of all cases. Cumulative incidences of 5- and 10-year infield recurrences were 4.3% and 14.6%, incidences of 5- and 10-year outfield progression were 10.4% and 13.4%. We used patients with involvement of retroorbital structures treated with whole-orbit photon irradiation without lens protection—of which we reported in a previous study—as a control group. The cumulative cataract incidence for patients treated with electrons and lens protection was significantly lower (p = 0.005) when compared to patients irradiated without lens protection. Thus, electrons are an effective treatment option for conjunctival low-grade lymphomas. The presented lens-sparing technique effectively prevents cataract formation.
The Use of Natural Language Processing for Computer-Aided Diagnostics and Monitoring of Body Image Perception in Patients with Cancers
Authors: Gliwska Elwira , Barańska Klaudia , Maćkowska Stella , Różańska Agnieszka , Sobol Adrianna , Spinczyk Dominik
Published: November 2023

Background: Head and neck cancers (H&NCs) constitute a significant part of all cancer cases. H&NC patients experience unintentional weight loss, poor nutritional status, or speech disorders. Medical interventions affect appearance and interfere with patients’ self-perception of their bodies. Psychological consultations are not affordable due to limited time. Methods: We used NLP to analyze the basic emotion intensity, sentiment about one’s body, characteristic vocabulary, and potential areas of difficulty in free notes. The emotion intensity research uses the extended NAWL dictionary developed using word embedding. The sentiment analysis used a hybrid approach: a sentiment dictionary and a deep recursive network. The part-of-speech tagging and domain rules defined by a psycho-oncologist determine the distinct language traits. Potential areas of difficulty were analyzed using the dictionaries method with word polarity to define a given area and the presentation of a note using bag-of-words. Here, we applied the LSA method using SVD to reduce dimensionality. A total of 50 cancer patients requiring enteral nutrition participated in the study. Results: The results confirmed the complexity of emotions in patients with H&NC in relation to their body image. A negative attitude towards body image was detected in most of the patients. The method presented in the study appeared to be effective in assessing body image perception disturbances, but it cannot be used as the sole indicator of body image perception issues. Limitations: The main problem in the research was the fairly wide age range of participants, which explains the potential diversity of vocabulary. Conclusions: The combination of the attributes of a patient’s condition, possible to determine using the method for a specific patient, can indicate the direction of support for the patient, relatives, direct medical personnel, and psycho-oncologists.
Population-Based External Validation of the EASIX Scores to Predict CAR T-Cell-Related Toxicities
Authors: de Boer Janneke W. , Keijzer Kylie , Pennings Elise R. A. , van Doesum Jaap A. , Spanjaart Anne M. , Jak Margot , Mutsaers Pim G. N. J. , van Dorp Suzanne , Vermaat Joost S. P. , van der Poel Marjolein W. M. , van Dijk Lisanne V. , Kersten Marie José , Niezink Anne G. H. , van Meerten Tom
Published: November 2023

Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) can hamper the clinical benefit of CAR T-cell therapy in patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (r/r LBCL). To assess the risk of CRS and ICANS, the endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX), the modified EASIX (m-EASIX), simplified EASIX (s-EASIX), and EASIX with CRP/ferritin (EASIX-F(C)) were proposed. This study validates these scores in a consecutive population-based cohort. Patients with r/r LBCL treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel were included (n = 154). EASIX scores were calculated at baseline, before lymphodepletion (pre-LD) and at CAR T-cell infusion. The EASIX and the s-EASIX at pre-LD were significantly associated with ICANS grade ≥ 2 (both p = 0.04), and the EASIX approached statistical significance at infusion (p = 0.05). However, the predictive performance was moderate, with area under the curves of 0.61–0.62. Validation of the EASIX-FC revealed that patients in the intermediate risk group had an increased risk of ICANS grade ≥ 2 compared to low-risk patients. No significant associations between EASIX scores and CRS/ICANS grade ≥ 3 were found. The (m-/s-) EASIX can be used to assess the risk of ICANS grade ≥ 2 in patients treated with CAR T-cell therapy. However, due to the moderate performance of the scores, further optimization needs to be performed before broad implementation as a clinical tool, directing early intervention and guiding outpatient CAR T-cell treatment.
Factors Associated with Total Laryngectomy Utilization in Patients with cT4a Laryngeal Cancer
Authors: Ritter Alex R. , Yildiz Vedat O. , Koirala Nischal , Baliga Sujith , Gogineni Emile , Konieczkowski David J. , Grecula John , Blakaj Dukagjin M. , Jhawar Sachin R. , VanKoevering Kyle K. , Mitchell Darrion
Published: November 2023

Background: Despite recommendations for upfront total laryngectomy (TL), many patients with cT4a laryngeal cancer (LC) instead undergo definitive chemoradiation, which is associated with inferior survival. Sociodemographic and oncologic characteristics associated with TL utilization in this population are understudied. Methods: This retrospective cohort study utilized hospital registry data from the National Cancer Database to analyze patients diagnosed with cT4a LC from 2004 to 2017. Patients were stratified by receipt of TL, and patient and facility characteristics were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analyses and Cox proportional hazards methodology were performed to determine variables associated with receipt of TL and with overall survival (OS), respectively. OS was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and compared between treatment groups using log-rank testing. TL usage over time was assessed. Results: There were 11,149 patients identified. TL utilization increased from 36% in 2004 to 55% in 2017. Treatment at an academic/research program (OR 3.06) or integrated network cancer program (OR 1.50), male sex (OR 1.19), and Medicaid insurance (OR 1.31) were associated with increased likelihood of undergoing TL on multivariate analysis (MVA), whereas age > 61 (OR 0.81), Charlson–Deyo comorbidity score ≥ 3 (OR 0.74), and clinically positive regional nodes (OR 0.78 [cN1], OR 0.67 [cN2], OR 0.21 [cN3]) were associated with decreased likelihood. Those undergoing TL with post-operative radiotherapy (+/− chemotherapy) had better survival than those receiving chemoradiation (median OS 121 vs. 97 months; p = 0.003), and TL + PORT was associated with lower risk of death compared to chemoradiation on MVA (HR 0.72; p = 0.024). Conclusions: Usage of TL for cT4a LC is increasing over time but remains below 60%. Patients seeking care at academic/research centers are significantly more likely to undergo TL, highlighting the importance of decreasing barriers to accessing these centers. Increased focus should be placed on understanding and addressing the additional patient-, physician-, and system-level factors that lead to decreased utilization of surgery.
Plasmonic-Assisted Water–Gas Shift Reaction of Gold Particles on TiO2
Authors: Wahab Ahmed Khaja , Mudiyanselage Kumudu , Idriss Hicham
Published: November 2023

The Localized Surface Plasmon (LSP) effect of 5 nm mean size Au particles deposited on TiO2 P25 was investigated during the photo-thermal water gas shift reaction (WGSR). The effects of CO concentration, excitation light flux and energy, and molecular oxygen addition during the reaction were investigated. The photocatalytic WGSR rate under light excitation with wavelengths extending from 320 to 1100 nm was found to be higher than the thermal reaction alone at the same temperature (85 °C). A H2/CO2 ratio of near unity was found at high concentrations of CO. The addition of molecular oxygen during the reaction resulted in a slight decrease in molecular hydrogen production, while the rates of CO2 formation and CO consumption changed by one order of magnitude. More importantly, it was found that the WGSR rates were still high under only visible light excitation (600–700 nm). The results prove that Au LSP alone triggers this chemical reaction without requiring the excitation of the semiconductor on which they are deposited.
Kinetic Analysis of Oxygen Evolution on Spin-Coated Thin-Film Electrodes via Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Lin Yu-Wei , Li Yi-Syuan , Chang Chun-Wei , Huang Li-Cheng , Yin Tai-Hsin , Liu Yu-Ting , Park Dong Kyoo , Choi Changsik , Choi YongMan
Published: November 2023

Sustainable and renewable energy technologies have attracted significant attention for reducing greenhouse emissions in the shift from fossil fuels. The production of green hydrogen from water electrolysis is considered an environmentally friendly strategy for a decarbonized economy. We examine the activities of the hydrogen and oxygen evolution reactions (HER and OER) using spin-coated thin-film electrodes with Pt/C and IrO2 nano-electrocatalysts under acidic conditions. The nano-electrocatalysts are characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The electrocatalytic activities of nanoscale Pt/C and IrO2 are close to those of commercial Pt/C and superior to commercial IrO2, resulting in improved overall water splitting performance. Furthermore, the OER kinetics analysis using the IrO2 electrode is conducted using EIS measurements with distribution of relaxation time (DRT) analysis, resulting in a comparable exchange current density to that from the Tafel slope method (6.7 × 10−2 mA/cm2 versus 5.1 × 10−2 mA/cm2), demonstrating the validity of the kinetics analysis. This work provides a general strategy for preparing novel and highly active OER electrode materials for water electrolysis.
Mapping the Evolution of Cybernetics: A Bibliometric Perspective
Authors: Cibu Bianca , Delcea Camelia , Domenteanu Adrian , Dumitrescu Gabriel
Published: November 2023

In this study, we undertake a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the cybernetics research field. We compile a dataset of 4856 papers from the ISI Web of Science database spanning 1975–2022, employing keywords related to cybernetics. Our findings reveal an annual growth rate of 7.56% in cybernetics research over this period, indicating sustained scholarly interest. By examining the annual progression of scientific production, we have identified three distinct periods characterized by significant disruptions in yearly publication trends. These disruptions have been thoroughly investigated within the paper, utilizing a longitudinal analysis of thematic evolution. We also identify emerging research trends through keyword analysis. Furthermore, we investigate collaborative networks among authors, their institutional affiliations, and global representation to elucidate the dissemination of cybernetics research. Employing n-gram analysis, we uncover diverse applications of cybernetics in fields such as computer science, information science, social sciences, sustainable development, supply chain, knowledge management, system dynamics, and medicine. The study contributes to enhancing the understanding of the evolving cybernetics landscape. Moreover, the conducted analysis underscores the versatile applicability across various academic and practical domains associated with the cybernetics field.
Changes in Avian Top-Predator Diet in the 21st Century in Northeast (NE) Poland
Authors: Zawadzka Dorota , Zawadzki Grzegorz
Published: November 2023

The White-Tailed Eagle (WTE) Haliaeetus albicilla is a top avian predator that has rapidly increased in numbers and range in large parts of Europe in recent decades. In Poland, over the past 30 years, it has recolonized previously abandoned areas. In 1991, the first breeding pair in a large forest complex, the Augustów Forest (Northeast (NE) Poland), was recorded. In 2022, there were 13 breeding pairs. We analyzed changes in the diet composition of WTE in 2000–2023, divided into three periods: 2000–2005, 2009–2017, and 2018–2023. Throughout the 24 years of study, birds were the most frequently recorded food item, accounting for an average of 58% of food items, followed by fish (34%) and mammals (7%). During the study period, the most numerous food items were the Northern Pike Esox lucius, Coot Fulica atra, Common Bream Abramis brama, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos, and storks Ciconia sp. These species together accounted for 52% of food items. We recorded a long-term increasing share of Northern Pike, storks, and Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus. Opposite changes, with declining frequency, were found for Coots and ducks. The share of the Coot, ducks, and Great Crested Grebe, as well as the total share of food connected with lakes in the WTE’s diet, increased along the growing area of lakes in the territory of the WTE. The proportion of fish in the food did not show a relationship with the increase in the area of lakes, while the most frequently eaten fish species changed. Observed changes in food composition appear related to the settlement of the habitat-diverse areas by individual breeding pairs and changes the availability of main food categories.
Anti-Jamming Communication Using Imitation Learning
Authors: Zhou Zhanyang , Niu Yingtao , Wan Boyu , Zhou Wenhao
Published: November 2023

The communication reliability of wireless communication systems is threatened by malicious jammers. Aiming at the problem of reliable communication under malicious jamming, a large number of schemes have been proposed to mitigate the effects of malicious jamming by avoiding the blocking interference of jammers. However, the existing anti-jamming schemes, such as fixed strategy, Reinforcement learning (RL), and deep Q network (DQN) have limited use of historical data, and most of them only pay attention to the current state changes and cannot gain experience from historical samples. In view of this, this manuscript proposes anti-jamming communication using imitation learning. Specifically, this manuscript addresses the problem of anti-jamming decisions for wireless communication in scenarios with malicious jamming and proposes an algorithm that consists of three steps: First, the heuristic-based Expert Trajectory Generation Algorithm is proposed as the expert strategy, which enables us to obtain the expert trajectory from historical samples. The trajectory mentioned in this algorithm represents the sequence of actions undertaken by the expert in various situations. Then obtaining a user strategy by imitating the expert strategy using an imitation learning neural network. Finally, adopting a functional user strategy for efficient and sequential anti-jamming decisions. Simulation results indicate that the proposed method outperforms the RL-based anti-jamming method and DQN-based anti-jamming method regarding solving continuous-state spectrum anti-jamming problems without causing “curse of dimensionality” and providing greater robustness against channel fading and noise as well as when the jamming pattern changes.
Fault Diagnosis of Rotating Machinery Using Kernel Neighborhood Preserving Embedding and a Modified Sparse Bayesian Classification Model
Authors: Lu Lixin , Wang Weihao , Kong Dongdong , Zhu Junjiang , Chen Dongxing
Published: November 2023

Fault diagnosis of rotating machinery plays an important role in modern industrial machines. In this paper, a modified sparse Bayesian classification model (i.e., Standard_SBC) is utilized to construct the fault diagnosis system of rotating machinery. The features are extracted and adopted as the input of the SBC-based fault diagnosis system, and the kernel neighborhood preserving embedding (KNPE) is proposed to fuse the features. The effectiveness of the fault diagnosis system of rotating machinery based on KNPE and Standard_SBC is validated by utilizing two case studies: rolling bearing fault diagnosis and rotating shaft fault diagnosis. Experimental results show that base on the proposed KNPE, the feature fusion method shows superior performance. The accuracy of case1 and case2 is improved from 93.96% to 99.92% and 98.67% to 99.64%, respectively. To further prove the superiority of the KNPE feature fusion method, the kernel principal component analysis (KPCA) and relevance vector machine (RVM) are utilized, respectively. This study lays the foundation for the feature fusion and fault diagnosis of rotating machinery.
Advancing Federated Learning through Verifiable Computations and Homomorphic Encryption
Authors: Zhang Bingxue , Lu Guangguang , Qiu Pengpeng , Gui Xumin , Shi Yang
Published: November 2023

Federated learning, as one of the three main technical routes for privacy computing, has been widely studied and applied in both academia and industry. However, malicious nodes may tamper with the algorithm execution process or submit false learning results, which directly affects the performance of federated learning. In addition, learning nodes can easily obtain the global model. In practical applications, we would like to obtain the federated learning results only by the demand side. Unfortunately, no discussion on protecting the privacy of the global model is found in the existing research. As emerging cryptographic tools, the zero-knowledge virtual machine (ZKVM) and homomorphic encryption provide new ideas for the design of federated learning frameworks. We have introduced ZKVM for the first time, creating learning nodes as local computing provers. This provides execution integrity proofs for multi-class machine learning algorithms. Meanwhile, we discuss how to generate verifiable proofs for large-scale machine learning tasks under resource constraints. In addition, we implement the fully homomorphic encryption (FHE) scheme in ZKVM. We encrypt the model weights so that the federated learning nodes always collaborate in the ciphertext space. The real results can be obtained only after the demand side decrypts them using the private key. The innovativeness of this paper is demonstrated in the following aspects: 1. We introduce the ZKVM for the first time, which achieves zero-knowledge proofs (ZKP) for machine learning tasks with multiple classes and arbitrary scales. 2. We encrypt the global model, which protects the model privacy during local computation and transmission. 3. We propose and implement a new federated learning framework. We measure the verification costs under different federated learning rounds on the IRIS dataset. Despite the impact of homomorphic encryption on computational accuracy, the framework proposed in this paper achieves a satisfactory 90% model accuracy. Our framework is highly secure and is expected to further improve the overall efficiency as cryptographic tools continue to evolve.
A Review of Deep Learning-Based Binary Code Similarity Analysis
Authors: Du Jiang , Wei Qiang , Wang Yisen , Sun Xiangjie
Published: November 2023

Against the backdrop of highly developed software engineering, code reuse has been widely recognized as an effective strategy to significantly alleviate the burden of development and enhance productivity. However, improper code citation could lead to security risks and license issues. With the source codes of many pieces of software being difficult to obtain, binary code similarity analysis (BCSA) has been extensively implemented in fields such as bug search, code clone detection, and patch analysis. This research selects 39 papers on BCSA from top-tier and emerging conferences within artificial intelligence, network security, and software engineering from 2016 to 2022 for deep analysis. The central focus lies on methods utilizing deep learning technologies, detailing a thorough summary and the arrangement of the application and implementation specifics of various deep learning technologies. Furthermore, this study summarizes the research patterns and development trends in this field, thereby proposing potential directions for future research.
Study on the Evolution Law of Wellbore Stability Interface during Drilling of Offshore Gas Hydrate Reservoirs
Authors: Li Xuefeng , Sun Baojiang , Ma Baojin , Li Hao , Liu Huaqing , Cai Dejun , Wang Xiansi , Li Xiangpeng
Published: November 2023

The study of wellbore stability in offshore gas hydrate reservoirs is an important basis for the large-scale exploitation of natural gas hydrate resources. The wellbore stability analysis model in this study considers the evolution of the reservoir mechanical strength, wellbore temperature, and pressure parameters along the depth and uses plastic strain as a new criterion for wellbore instability. The wellbore stability model couples the hydrate phase transition near the wellbore area under the effect of the wellbore temperature and pressure field and the ‘heat–fluid–solid’ multifield evolution characteristics, and then simulates the stability evolution law of the wellbore area during the drilling process in the shallow seabed. The research results show that, owing to the low temperature of the seawater section and shallow formation, the temperature of the drilling fluid in the shallow layer of the wellbore can be maintained below the formation temperature, which effectively inhibits the decomposition of hydrates in the wellbore area. When the wellbore temperature increases or pressure decreases, the hydrate decomposition rate near the wellbore accelerates, and the unstable area of the wellbore will further expand. The research results can provide a reference for the design of drilling parameters for hydrate reservoirs.
Kernel-Based Biodiesel Production from Non-Edible Oil Seeds: Techniques, Optimization, and Environmental Implications
Authors: Sambasivam Kavitha Munisamy , Kuppan Praveen , Laila Lafiya Shanavas , Shashirekha Viswanaathan , Tamilarasan Krishnamurthi , Abinandan Sudharsanam
Published: November 2023

Biodiesel represents a renewable alternative to conventional diesel, offering comparable potential. This paper delves into the production of biodiesel from non-edible oil seeds, emphasizing kernel-based feedstocks for their sustainable qualities. We discuss the critical stages of kernel separation and degumming, offering an in-depth examination of seed distribution, attributes, pretreatment, and oil extraction methodologies. Additionally, the paper considers the status of life cycle assessment (LCA) associated with biodiesel. Furthermore, it outlines the necessary steps toward sustainable biodiesel production and underscores the importance of integrating a sustainable circular bioeconomy in biodiesel synthesis.
Response of Common Garden Plant Leaf Traits to Air Pollution in Urban Parks of Suzhou City (China)
Authors: Yang Zhiyu , Zhang Xing , Qu Yanting , Gao Fei , Li Yutong
Published: November 2023

In this study, to comprehensively investigate the impact of garden plants on air quality, we measured the leaves of 18 common garden plants in three different areas, namely, Suzhou industrial parks (clean air area (CAA)), Xiangcheng district parks (lightly polluted area (LPA)), and Huqiu district parks (highly polluted area (HPA)). We also measured the leaf functional traits of different life-types of plants. To explore the trade-off strategies of the leaf traits of common garden plants in response to air pollution and to assess the adaptive capacity of different life types of plants to air pollution. The results show that plants in the polluted area had higher leaf dry matter content (LDMC) and leaf nitrogen content per unit mass (Nmass), and a lower specific leaf area (SLA), maximum net photosynthetic rate per unit area (Aarea), transpiration rate (Tr), stomatal conductance (Gs), and chlorophyll value (SPAD). Pearson correlation analysis showed that SLA was significantly positively correlated with Nmass, Tr, photosynthetic use efficiency (PNUE), and SPAD, and significantly negatively correlated with LDMC, while Aarea was significantly positively correlated with chlorophyll value. Redundancy analysis revealed that the correlation between each leaf functional trait and atmospheric pollution factors was as follows: LDMC > Nmass > SLA > LA > Aarea > Tr > PNUE > SPAD. The results suggest that different plant types have varying levels of adaptability to environmental conditions. Trees were found to be the most adaptable, followed by shrubs, herbs, and lianas. Additionally, under the stress of air pollution, herbs and lianas exhibited characteristics of “fast investment-return” on the leaf economic spectrum, meaning they were able to quickly allocate resources to maximize their return. However, trees and shrubs displayed traits of “slow investment-return”, indicating a more conservative approach to resource allocation. These results provide valuable insights into the leaf trade-off strategies of plants in Suzhou Park under air pollution stress and can guide the selection of suitable plant species in similar environments.
The Ecological Healthcare Benefits and Influences of Plant Communities in Urban Wetland Parks
Authors: Feng Huijun , An Jing , Wang Haoyun , Miao Xiongyi , Yang Guangbing , Feng Hongbo , Wu Yuxiang , Ma Xuyang
Published: November 2023

Plant communities in urban wetland parks (UWP) have significant eco-healthcare benefits in terms of regulating the climate and improving the human living environment. However, factors influencing the regulation of eco-healthcare benefits are unclear. Taking Huaxi Ten Mile Beach National Urban Wetland Park as an example, the urban wetland park comprehensive healthcare index (UPCHI) was constructed based on an outdoor survey and indoor analysis to evaluate the UWP’s eco-healthcare benefits. Pathway analysis was used to investigate how climatic, geographic, and plant factors interact to affect the UPCHI. The results show that, over the whole year, tree–shrub–herb showed the best performance in terms of reducing PM2.5, PM10, and noise, as well as raising negative air ion concentrations; however, human comfort performed the worst. The UPCHI was generally beyond level Ⅲ (0.49–0.58) in the spring and summer, indicating that there are eco-healthcare benefits. Overall, the deciduous tree–shrub–herb community had the highest annual mean UPCHI, and more than half of the plant communities’ eco-healthcare benefits were class Ⅱ, which is very beneficial for eco-healthcare. The main direct factors on UPCHI were illumination intensity (0.68) and tree height (0.90), while canopy height (0.64–0.59) and tree crown radius/canopy height (0.72–0.14) directly or indirectly influenced UPCHI. The distance from the edge of the mountain (−0.39–−0.322) had a direct negative, but minor, effect on UPCHI. This study will assist residents with selecting suitable times and places for wetland recreation and healthcare activities, and it offers a valuable reference for the future planning and design of UWP plant communities.
Flash Flood Hazard Assessment along the Red Sea Coast Using Remote Sensing and GIS Techniques
Authors: Rashwan Mohamed , Mohamed Adel K. , Alshehri Fahad , Almadani Sattam , Khattab Mohammed , Mohamed Lamees
Published: November 2023

The Egyptian Red Sea coast is periodically exposed to flash floods that cause severe human and economic losses. That is due to its hydro-geomorphological characteristics. Therefore, identifying flash flood hazards in these areas is critically important. This research uses an integrated approach of remote sensing data and GIS techniques to assess flash flood hazards based on morphometric measurements. There are 12 drainage basins in the study area. These basins differ in their morphometric characteristics, and their main streams range between the 4th and 7th order. The morphometric parameter analysis indicates that three wadis are highly prone to flooding, five wadis are classified as moderate hazard, and four wadis are rated under low probability of flooding. The study area has a probability offlooding, which could cause serious environmental hazards. To protect the region from flash flood hazards and the great benefit of rainwater, the study recommended detention, crossing, diversion, and/or storage of the accumulated rainwater by building a number of dams or culverts along the main streams of wadis to minimize the flooding flow.
Immune Status of Individuals with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Valido Ezra , Boehl Gabriela , Krebs Jörg , Pannek Jürgen , Stojic Stevan , Atanasov Atanas G. , Glisic Marija , Stoyanov Jivko
Published: November 2023

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) have higher infection rates compared to those without SCI. In this review, the immune status difference between individuals with and without traumatic SCI is investigated by examining their peripheral immune cells and markers. PubMed, Cochrane, EMBASE, and Ovid MEDLINE were searched without language or date restrictions. Studies reporting peripheral immune markers’ concentration and changes in functional capabilities of immune cells that compared individuals with and without SCI were included. Studies with participants with active infection, immune disease, and central nervous system (CNS) immune markers were excluded. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Effect estimates were measured by Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) using a random-effects model. Study quality was assessed using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Quality Assessment Tool. Fifty-four studies (1813 with SCI and 1378 without SCI) contributed to the meta-analysis. Leukocytes (n = 23, WMD 0.78, 95% CI 0.17; 1.38, I2 83%), neutrophils (n = 11, WMD 0.76, 95% CI 0.09; 1.42, I2 89%), C-reactive protein (CRP) (n = 12, WMD 2.25, 95% CI 1.14; 3.56, I2 95%), and IL6 (n = 13, WMD 2.33, 95% CI 1.20; 3.49, I2 97%) were higher in individuals with SCI vs. without SCI. Clinical factors (phase of injury, completeness of injury, sympathetic innervation impairment, age, sex) and study-related factors (sample size, study design, and serum vs. plasma) partially explained heterogeneity. Immune cells exhibited lower functional capability in individuals with SCI vs. those without SCI. Most studies (75.6%) had a moderate risk of bias. The immune status of individuals with SCI differs from those without SCI and is clinically influenced by the phase of injury, completeness of injury, sympathetic innervation impairment, age, and sex. These results provide information that is vital for monitoring and management strategies to effectively improve the immune status of individuals with SCI.
A Regulator Role for the ATP-Binding Cassette Subfamily C Member 6 Transporter in HepG2 Cells: Effect on the Dynamics of Cell–Cell and Cell–Matrix Interactions
Authors: Matera Ilenia , Miglionico Rocchina , Abruzzese Vittorio , Marchese Giovanna , Ventola Giovanna Maria , Castiglione Morelli Maria Antonietta , Bisaccia Faustino , Ostuni Angela
Published: November 2023

There is growing evidence that various ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters contribute to the growth and development of tumors, but relatively little is known about how the ABC transporter family behaves in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), one of the most common cancers worldwide. Cellular model studies have shown that ABCC6, which belongs to the ABC subfamily C (ABCC), plays a role in the cytoskeleton rearrangement and migration of HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells, thus highlighting its role in cancer biology. Deep knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed results could provide therapeutic insights into the tumors in which ABCC6 is modulated. In this study, differential expression levels of mRNA transcripts between ABCC6-silenced HepG2 and control groups were measured, and subsequently, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed. Real-Time PCR and Western blot analyses confirmed bioinformatics; functional studies support the molecular mechanisms underlying the observed effects. The results provide valuable information on the dysregulation of fundamental cellular processes, such as the focal adhesion pathway, which allowed us to obtain detailed information on the active role that the down-regulation of ABCC6 could play in the biology of liver tumors, as it is involved not only in cell migration but also in cell adhesion and invasion.
In Vitro Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Ivermectin Interaction
Authors: García-Aguilar Alejandra , Campi-Caballero Rebeca , Visoso-Carvajal Giovani , García-Sánchez José Rubén , Correa-Basurto José , García-Machorro Jazmín , Espinosa-Raya Judith
Published: November 2023

The spike (S) protein of SARS-CoV-2 is a molecular target of great interest for developing drug therapies against COVID-19 because S is responsible for the interaction of the virus with the host cell receptor. Currently, there is no outpatient safety treatment for COVID-19 disease. Furthermore, we consider it of worthy importance to evaluate experimentally the possible interaction of drugs (approved by the Food and Drug Administration) and the S, considering some previously in silico and clinical use. Then, the objective of this study was to demonstrate the in vitro interaction of ivermectin with S. The equilibrium dialysis technique with UV–Vis was performed to obtain the affinity and dissociation constants. In addition, the Drug Affinity Responsive Target Stability (DARTS) technique was used to demonstrate the in vitro interaction of S with ivermectin. The results indicate the interaction between ivermectin and the S with an association and dissociation constant of Ka = 1.22 µM−1 and Kd = 0.81 µM, respectively. The interaction was demonstrated in ratios of 1:50 pmol and 1:100 pmol (S: ivermectin) by the DARTS technique. The results obtained with these two different techniques demonstrate an interaction between S and ivermectin previously explored in silico, suggesting its clinical uses to stop the viral spread among susceptible human hosts.
SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Intensifies Cerebrovascular Complications in Diabetic hACE2 Mice through RAAS and TLR Signaling Activation
Authors: Burnett Faith N. , Coucha Maha , Bolduc Deanna R. , Hermanns Veronica C. , Heath Stan P. , Abdelghani Maryam , Macias-Moriarity Lilia Z. , Abdelsaid Mohammed
Published: November 2023

Diabetics are more vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 neurological manifestations. The molecular mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2-induced cerebrovascular dysfunction in diabetes are unclear. We hypothesize that SARS-CoV-2 exacerbates diabetes-induced cerebrovascular oxidative stress and inflammation via activation of the destructive arm of the renin–angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was injected in humanized ACE2 transgenic knock-in mice. Cognitive functions, cerebral blood flow, cerebrovascular architecture, RAAS, and TLR signaling were used to determine the effect of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in diabetes. Studies were mirrored in vitro using human brain microvascular endothelial cells treated with high glucose-conditioned media to mimic diabetic conditions. Spike protein exacerbated diabetes-induced cerebrovascular oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial cell death resulting in an increase in vascular rarefaction and diminished cerebral blood flow. SARS-CoV-2 spike protein worsened cognitive dysfunction in diabetes compared to control mice. Spike protein enhanced the destructive RAAS arm at the expense of the RAAS protective arm. In parallel, spike protein significantly exacerbated TLR signaling in diabetes, aggravating inflammation and cellular apoptosis vicious circle. Our study illustrated that SAR-CoV-2 spike protein intensified RAAS and TLR signaling in diabetes, increasing cerebrovascular damage and cognitive dysfunction.
Genetic Analysis Based on CRISPR/Cas9 Technology in Plants
Authors: Kang Kwon-Kyoo , Cho Yong-Gu
Published: November 2023

Genome-editing technology is a type of genetic engineering in which DNA is inserted into, replaced in, or deleted from the genome using artificially engineered nucleases or genetic scissors [...]
Reactive Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Polystyrene Pyrolysis
Authors: Li Chao , Yang Zhaoying , Wu Xinge , Shao Shuai , Meng Xiangying , Qin Gaowu
Published: November 2023

Polymers’ controlled pyrolysis is an economical and environmentally friendly solution to prepare activated carbon. However, due to the experimental difficulty in measuring the dependence between microstructure and pyrolysis parameters at high temperatures, the unknown pyrolysis mechanism hinders access to the target products with desirable morphologies and performances. In this study, we investigate the pyrolysis process of polystyrene (PS) under different heating rates and temperatures employing reactive molecular dynamics (ReaxFF-MD) simulations. A clear profile of the generation of pyrolysis products determined by the temperature and heating rate is constructed. It is found that the heating rate affects the type and amount of pyrolysis intermediates and their timing, and that low-rate heating helps yield more diverse pyrolysis intermediates. While the temperature affects the pyrolytic structure of the final equilibrium products, either too low or too high a target temperature is detrimental to generating large areas of the graphitized structure. The reduced time plots (RTPs) with simulation results predict a PS pyrolytic activation energy of 159.74 kJ/mol. The established theoretical evolution process matches experiments well, thus, contributing to preparing target activated carbons by referring to the regulatory mechanism of pyrolytic microstructure.
Anti-Proteolytic Peptide R7I Protects the Intestinal Barrier and Alleviates Fatty Acid Malabsorption in Salmonella typhimurium-Infected Mice
Authors: Su Yunzhe , Sun Taotao , Gao Junhan , Zhang Chenxu , Liu Xuesheng , Bi Chongpeng , Wang Jiajun , Shan Anshan
Published: November 2023

With a wide range of hosts, environmental adaptation, and antibiotic resistance, Salmonella typhimurium is one of the most common causes of food poisoning in the world. Infection with Salmonella typhimurium not only results in intestinal inflammation but also damages the intestinal barrier and interferes with the host’s ability to absorb nutrients. It is imperative to find alternatives to antibiotics for eradicating bacteria, reducing intestinal damage, and reestablishing nutrient absorption, especially given that antibiotics are currently prohibited. This research aims to understand the protective role of anti-proteolytic peptide R7I on the gut in the setting of Salmonella typhimurium infection and its impact on nutritional absorption, maybe offering an alternative to antibiotics for bacterial killing. The findings demonstrated that R7I reduced the production of inflammatory factors, including IL-6, TNF-α, and L-1β in the jejunum and decreased the expression of genes like TLR4 and NF-κB in the jejunum (p < 0.05). R7I enhanced antioxidant capacity and preserved the antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance in the jejunum (p < 0.05). R7I also normalized intestinal shape and restored tight junction protein expression. Fatty acid binding protein 2 (FABP2) and fatty acid transport protein 4 (FATP4) expression in the jejunum was restored by R7I. In addition, serum-free fatty acids and lipid metabolites were significantly higher in the R7I group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Overall, the anti-enzyme peptide R7I maintained the healthy state of the intestine and alleviated the abnormal fatty acid absorption caused by bacterial infection.
Identification and Expression Analysis of the SKP1-Like Gene Family under Phytohormone and Abiotic Stresses in Apple (Malus domestica)
Authors: Shao Miao , Wang Ping , Gou Huimin , Ma Zonghuan , Chen Baihong , Mao Juan
Published: November 2023

Ubiquitination participates in plant hormone signaling and stress response to adversity. SKP1-Like, a core component of the SCF (Skp1-Cullin-F-box) complex, is the final step in catalyzing the ubiquitin-mediated protein degradation pathway. However, the SKP1-Like gene family has not been well characterized in response to apple abiotic stresses and hormonal treatments. This study revealed that 17 MdSKP1-Like gene family members with the conserved domain of SKP1 were identified in apples and were unevenly distributed on eight chromosomes. The MdSKP1-Like genes located on chromosomes 1, 10, and 15 were highly homologous. The MdSKP1-like genes were divided into three subfamilies according to the evolutionary affinities of monocotyledons and dicotyledons. MdSKP1-like members of the same group or subfamily show some similarity in gene structure and conserved motifs. The predicted results of protein interactions showed that members of the MdSKP1-like family have strong interactions with members of the F-Box family of proteins. A selection pressure analysis showed that MdSKP1-Like genes were in purifying selection. A chip data analysis showed that MdSKP1-like14 and MdSKP1-like15 were higher in flowers, whereas MdSKP1-like3 was higher in fruits. The upstream cis-elements of MdSKP1-Like genes contained a variety of elements related to light regulation, drought, low temperature, and many hormone response elements, etc. Meanwhile, qRT-PCR also confirmed that the MdSKP1-Like gene is indeed involved in the response of the apple to hormonal and abiotic stress treatments. This research provides evidence for regulating MdSKP1-Like gene expression in response to hormonal and abiotic stresses to improve apple stress resistance.
The Molecular Impacts of Retrotransposons in Development and Diseases
Authors: Tam Phoebe Lut Fei , Leung Danny
Published: November 2023

Retrotransposons are invasive genetic elements that constitute substantial portions of mammalian genomes. They have the potential to influence nearby gene expression through their cis-regulatory sequences, reverse transcription machinery, and the ability to mold higher-order chromatin structures. Due to their multifaceted functions, it is crucial for host fitness to maintain strict regulation of these parasitic sequences to ensure proper growth and development. This review explores how subsets of retrotransposons have undergone evolutionary exaptation to enhance the complexity of mammalian genomes. It also highlights the significance of regulating these elements, drawing on recent studies conducted in human and murine systems.