bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Joint action over Zoom: Assessing corepresentation with remote task partners using the joint Simon task
Authors: Sobel Briana M , Sims Valerie K
Published: June 2024

Joint action, or multiple people working together to achieve a shared goal, is a common part of everyday life. Due to an advancing workplace and accelerated in part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, more collaborative work is being conducted remotely. To help investigate the differences in joint action between in-person and remote settings, the current study used a perceptual cognitive reaction time task known as the joint Simon task. The joint Simon task assesses spatial compatibility effects, such that partners sitting side-by-side respond faster to targets that appear on the side compatible to their response (e.g., left participant/left target) than on the side incompatible to their response (e.g., left participant/right target). The spatial compatibility effect is commonly used to measure self-other integration and corepresentation between task partners. Participants completed a joint Simon task and a go/no-go task (i.e., a joint Simon task with no partner) remotely online via the videoconferencing application Zoom. The remote task partner was either the experimenter (Experiment 1) or a confederate participant (Experiment 2). Both experiments found no spatial compatibility effect when completing a task remotely with a partner but did show social facilitation through faster reaction times when completing the task with a partner vs alone. Additionally, both experiments found a spatial compatibility effect when completing the go/no-go task alone, a finding contradictory to previous literature. Overall, these findings indicate that working remotely with a partner can influence performance, but self-other integration and corepresentation of partners’ actions may be impaired when collaborating remotely.
Feasibility of a Home-Base Home Videogaming Intervention with a Family-Centered Approach for Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Multiple Baseline Single-Case Experimental Design
Authors: Chan-Víquez Daniela , Fernández-Huertas Heilyn , Montserrat-Gonzalez Carles , Khan Ajmal , Fehlings Darcy , Munce Sarah , Wright F. Virginia , Biddiss Elaine
Published: June 2024

Background
Worldwide, children with cerebral palsy (CP) living in underserved communities face barriers to accessing motor therapy services. This study assessed the implementation and effectiveness of an 8-week, upper limb (UL) home-based intervention with a movement-tracking videogame (Bootle Blast) in Costa Rican children with CP.
Methods
Children established a weekly playtime goal and two UL activities of daily living (ADLs) that they would like to improve on. A multiple-baseline, single-case experimental design, was used with the Performance Quality Rating Scale (PQRS) as the repeated measure to track changes in performance of the selected ADLs between the baseline (usual care) and intervention (Bootle Blast) phases. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM), the Box and Blocks Test (BBT) and the Children’s Hand-use Experience Questionnaire (CHEQ) were collected before and after the intervention. Technical barriers were documented during weekly video calls with a monitoring therapist. Treatment effect size, slope changes and percentage of non-overlapping data were identified for the PQRS. Descriptive statistics summarized results for the BBT, CHEQ, videogame logs (e.g., playtime) and technical barriers.
Results
Fifteen children participated and 13 completed the intervention. Both participants who dropped out did so after completing baseline assessments, but before experiencing Bootle Blast. Children’s mean active playtime (i.e., mini-games targeting the UL) across the 8-weeks was 377 minutes, while mean total time spent engaging with Bootle Blast (active + passive play time [e.g., time navigating menus, reviewing rewards]) was 728 minutes. In total, eight technical issues (from 5 children) were reported, and all but three were resolved within 48 hours. Partial effectiveness was associated with the intervention. Specifically, 85% of participants improved on the PQRS and 69% achieved clinically important improvements ≥ 2 points in performance on the COPM. Children improved by 1.8 blocks on average on the BBT, while on the CHEQ, five children had a clinically important increase of 10% of the total number of UL activities performed with both hands.
Conclusion
Bootle Blast is a feasible and effective option to facilitate access and engage children with cerebral palsy in UL home rehabilitation.
Trial registration number
NCT05403567.
Olaparib enhancing radiosensitization and anti-metastatic effect of oral cancer by targeting IL-17A signal
Authors: Yu Chih-Chia , Lin Hon-Yi , Chan Michael W.Y. , Wu Shu-Fen , Chiou Wen-Yen , Lee Moon-Sing , Chi Chen-Lin , Lin Ru-Inn , Hsu Feng-Chun , Yang Hsuan-Ju , Chen Liang-Cheng , Chew Chia-Hui , Hung Shih-Kai
Published: June 2024

Purpose
We tested whether the PARP inhibitor, Olaparib, can effectively enhance radiosensitivity while inhibiting OSCC growth and metastasis in vitro and in vivo. Patient samples were used for survival validation.
Methods
The present study investigated the effect of Olaparib and ionizing radiation (IR) on clonogenic, migratory, and invasive ability in human IR-sensitive (OML1) and IR-resistant (OML1-R) OSCC cell lines. We next explored the underlying mechanism with ELISA and a Western blotting assay. Two in vivo mouse models were established to investigate the efficacy of Olaparib combined with radiotherapy (RT) on local tumor growth and lung metastasis. IL-17A expression was confirmed in tissue specimens of OSCC patients by immunohistochemistry.
Results
We found that Olaparib, in combination with IR, substantially inhibited cell growth, migration, and invasion in vitro. Mechanistically, the Olaparib treatment significantly reduced the secretion of IL-17A in irradiated OSCC cells by attenuating NF-κB and p38 activity. Consistently, Olaparib enhanced the radiosensitivity and, with RT, synergistically reduced both tumor growth and lung metastasis in mice. In addition, OSCC patients with high IL-17A expression were substantially associated with an increased risk of lymph node involvement and worse survival.
Conclusions
This study has highlighted that Olaparib displays radiosensitizing and antimetastatic effects by inhibiting the IL-17A-dependent signal. Remarkably, Olaparib could provide a remarkable anticancer efficacy to improve treatment response in OSCC patients with recurrent/metastatic disease after RT.
Construction of a Logistic-regression risk-based prediction model for hospital infection in obstetric inpatients
Authors: Huang Lei , Wu Jielong , Huang Huiping , Chen Houzhi , Ran Jing
Published: June 2024

Objective
This study aimed to establish a risk prediction model for hospital infection among hospitalized pregnant women in the obstetrics department of a general hospital, providing a theoretical basis for predicting and reducing infection risks.
Methods
Inpatients from a General hospital from January 2017 to December 2021 served as the training dataset. The dataset included 273 cases with nosocomial infections and 24,182 without. Logistic regression was used to analyze infection risk factors and construct the prediction model. An external validation dataset consisted of 4,153 pregnant women admitted in 2022, with predictive efficiency analyzed using a receiver operating characteristic curve.
Results
Logistic regression identified several factors increasing nosocomial infection risks: cesarean section, gestational week < 37, long hospital stays, prenatal anemia, prenatal hypoproteinemia, adverse birth outcomes, surgery, and intubation (central vein and urinary). The constructed column graph, based on the logistic model, predicted infection risks. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for the prediction model was 0.827 (0.805, 0.849) in the training set and 0.841 (0.768, 0.913) in the validation set.
Conclusion
The study constructed and validated a nosocomial infection risk prediction model for hospitalized pregnant women in obstetrics. Its clinical application can facilitate early identification of high-risk groups, enabling timely infection prevention and control measures. And also provides a reference for screening and effective nursing interventions.
Spatial analysis of the potential impact of contaminated areas on wells and aquifers in the Upper Tietê Basin, São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: de Camargo Ana Carolina Medeiros , Moreira Rodrigo Nehara , Leite Claudio Baptista  Benedito , Vasconcelos Vitor Vieira
Published: June 2024

Upper Tietê stands out as the basin with the highest concentration of contaminated areas in São Paulo, Brazil, thereby exerting a pronounced impact on the quality of groundwater and directly affecting the resident population. Recognizing the importance of developing indicators for effective aquifer management, this study proposed to identify and assess the degree of risk, vulnerability, and contamination of aquifers and wells in the Upper Tietê Basin. Were applied the Aquifer Vulnerability Index method to evaluate the aquifer vulnerability in the region; the delimitation of safety perimeters and identification of wells at risk; and the integrated risk index, unifying information on social and aquifer vulnerabilities, hazards and exposure. The results reveal that the aquifers have a high vulnerability, mainly due to the thickness of their unsaturated layer. Furthermore, there were 7,958 wells at risk around the basin (77.15%), and the most vulnerable municipalities are on the outskirts of the basin. This study provides important insights, mainly due to the holistic approach, serving as a basis for identifying the regions with the highest risks, which can be prevented and mitigated with appropriate actions.
Serum Copper to Zinc Ratio and Risk of Endometriosis: Insights from a Case-Control Study
Authors: Liu Yanping , Cheng Guihong , Li Hong , Meng Qingxia
Published: June 2024

The significance of trace metal elements in the development of endometriosis has garnered increasing interest. We aimed to investigate the relationship between serum copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg) levels, and the Cu/Zn ratio with the risk of endometriosis. This study involved 568 infertile patients diagnosed with endometriosis, compared to 819 infertile patients without endometriosis (Control group). Basic characteristics, hormonal parameters, and essential trace elements of the patients were measured and analyzed. The findings indicated a notable decrease in serum Zn levels in the endometriosis group compared to controls, alongside a significant increase in the Cu/Zn ratio (P < 0.001). Restricted cubic spline analysis (RCS) revealed a linear relationship between Zn levels and the Cu/Zn ratio with the risk of endometriosis. Moreover, Zn levels exhibited a negative correlation with endometriosis risk (P trend = 0.005), while the Cu/Zn ratio displayed a positive correlation with endometriosis risk, even after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), and baseline hormones (P trend < 0.001). Compared to the first quartile of Cu/Zn ratio after adjustment, the odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the second and fourth quartiles were 1.97 (1.37, 2.83) and 2.63 (1.80, 3.84), respectively. This study provided evidence of decreased serum Zn levels and increased Cu/Zn ratio being associated with an elevated risk of endometriosis among infertile patients.
Enhancing Educational and Tourism Applications through Predictive Modeling of Cultural Heritage Site Visitation: use of Arima and autoregressive models
Authors: Rosser Pablo , Soler Seila
Published: June 2024

This study focuses on the use of ARIMA and Autoregressive (AR) models to predict visitor flow to Civil War shelters in Alicante, highlighting seasonal patterns and differences among various visitor groups, with an enriching approach towards educational and tourism applications. Through a retrospective longitudinal design covering from August 2023 to January 2024, it analyzes the time series of visits, differentiating between the general public and school groups, as well as examining geographical demand. The research emphasizes the effectiveness and simplicity of the ARIMA(0, 0, 0) model with Logarithmic Transformation in modeling time series, while the AR(6) model proves indispensable for capturing short-term temporal dependencies. Despite the usefulness of these forecasts for future planning, the existence of uncertainties highlights the importance of adopting flexible management approaches and incorporating additional variables to refine predictions. This approach not only improves the management of visitor flows but also significantly contributes to the creation of more effective educational and tourism strategies, promoting the sustainability and appreciation of cultural heritage.
Introducing accessible digestion methods that best capture the macro-, micro- and toxic element contents of some almond kernels
Authors: Ahmed Isam Ali Mohamed , Al-Juhaimi Fahad , Özcan Mehmet Musa , Uslu Nurhan , Albakry Zainab
Published: June 2024

The highest K and S were detected in almond samples burned with HCL acid. In addition, the highest levels of Ca (5162.43 mg/kg), Mg (4568.75 mg/kg) and P (7.02 mg/kg) were detected in the samples burned in the muffle furnace and by the wet burning method, respectively. Macro element contents of almond samples obtained as a result of burning in HCL and muffle furnace were high. Depending on the almond varieties and burning methods, the microelement detected in the highest levels was Mn, followed by Zn, Fe, B and Cu in decreasing order. The highest Fe content was detected in the almonds burned by the wet burning method, followed by muffle furnace, HCL burning and microwave burning in decreasing order. The highest Mn was detected in almonds burned by the wet burning method, followed by burning in a muffle furnace (dry ash), burning with HCl and burning in a microwave in decreasing order. The overall average As content of almond samples burned with different burning methods was highest in the sample burned with HCL (2110.68 mg/kg), and followed by muffle furnace (1455.12 mg/kg), microwave (729.16 mg/kg) and wet burning (481.85 mg/kg) methods in decreasing order. As a result, according to the combustion methods, the highest amounts of elements were detected in the samples combusted with HCL, followed by wet combustion, muffle furnace and microwave combustion methods in decreasing order.
Stability of Homomorphisms, Coverings and Cocycles I: Equivalence
Authors: Chapman Michael , Lubotzky Alexander
Published: June 2024

This paper is motivated by recent developments in group stability, high dimensional expansion, local testability of error correcting codes and topological property testing. In Part I, we formulate and motivate three stability problems:
• Homomorphism stability: Are almost homomorphisms close to homomorphisms?
• Covering stability: Are almost coverings of a cell complex close to genuine coverings of it?
• Cocycle stability: Are 1-cochains whose coboundary is small close to 1-cocycles?
We then prove that these three problems are equivalent.
In Part II of this paper [CL23], we present examples of stable (and unstable) complexes, discuss various applications of our new perspective, and provide a plethora of open problems and further research directions. In another companion paper [CP23], we study the stability rates of random simplicial complexes in the Linial–Meshulam model.
Ferrocyanide Surface Ligands to Quantum Dots for Prussian Blue Composites Showing Efficient and Reversible Electrochemical Response
Authors: Ha Taeyong , Sung Yunmo , Kwon Yongju , Choi Sukyung , Jin Ho , Kim Sungjee
Published: June 2024

We employed a novel approach to fabricate quantum dot-in-Prussian blue analogue (QD-in-PBA) composites, encapsulating colloidal QDs into the electrical conducting metal organic framework PBA, which could provide a robust platform for efficient photochemical modulation of photoluminescence (PL) intensity. To achieve this, the surface of the QDs was engineered by attaching ferrocyanide ligands. This surface modification enabled the QDs to be seamlessly and uniformly incorporated into the PBA matrix. The ferrocyanide ligands on the QD surfaces played a pivotal role in initiating the in-situ formation of PBA, facilitated by the introduction of additional ferrocyanide ions and iron (III) ions as the building blocks of PBA. Alternatively applied external voltages to the QD-in-PBA electrode within an electrochemical cell demonstrated the reversible quenching and recovery of the PL intensity of the QDs embedded within the QD-in-PBA composite. Notably, we achieved the on/off modulation ratio over 7, which could be consistently repeated across multiple cycles. In contrast, the control sample, comprising a mixture of QDs and PBA, exhibited poor stability in terms of electrochemical performance, with a reduced modulation degree observed over repeating cycles. This diminished stability can be attributed to the fact that in the control sample, the QDs were merely attached to the surface of the PBA rather than being fully incorporated within the matrix and became redispersed into the electrolyte solution during the electrochemical reactions.
Overcoming N-glycosylation challenges through multiplex CRISPR/Cas9-mediated editing of seven glycosyltransferase homologs in Nicotiana benthamiana
Authors: Kaur Chetan , Song Hayoung , Lee Myungjin , Kim Seo-Young , Seo Dong-Hoon , Kang Hyangju , Sohn Eun-Ju , Ran Yidong , Koo Okjae , Lee Geung-Joo
Published: June 2024

Utilizing plants for the manufacturing of therapeutic drugs for human and animal disease treatment faces technical and regulatory challenges because of disparities in the N-glycosylation pathway between animals and plants. The key challenge involves differences in the post-translational modification machinery in the N-glycosylation pathway. We used multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to target five α-1,3-fucosyltransferase and two β-1,2-xylosyltransferase genes to modify N-glycosylation in Nicotiana benthamiana. We obtained two T0 transformants, HL40 and HL64, which exhibited successful mutagenesis in all seven target genes. Mutations in these genes resulted from deletions ranging from a single base to up to 26 bases, and single-base insertions. In subsequent generations, stable Cas9-free homozygous lines exhibiting mutations in all seven genes were identified. Three Cas9-free T1 transformants with the highest number of homozygous mutations were selected to generate T2 transformants. Heterozygous alleles in the T1 transformants segregated into homozygous genotypes in the T2 generation with a confirmed loss of enzyme activity. The morphology and growth rate of the T2 transformants showed no notable variations compared to those of the wild type throughout germination, flowering, and seed production, indicating the absence of discernible side effects from the mutations. Our experiment yielded 12 Cas9-free, glycoengineered, homozygous plants suitable for plant-based recombinant protein production in molecular farming systems, eliminating regulatory and immunogenic concerns.
Microstructure and insulating properties of foamed inorganic polymer composites containing various types of phase change materials (PCM)
Authors: Bąk Agnieszka , Setlak Kinga , Bogucki Rafał , Ciemnicka Justyna , Prałat Karol , Koper Artur , Korniejenko Kinga , Greshta Viktor , Tabunshchyk Galyna , Łach Michał
Published: June 2024

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of phase change components on the properties of geopolymer foams. Geopolymer foams are lightweight foamed geopolymers that are characterized by a high degree of porosity. Phase change materials, on the other hand, are compounds that, when added to a material, allow it to absorb, store, and then release large amounts of energy. MikroCaps (MikroCaps, Slovenia), GR42, and PX25 (Rubitherm, Germany) were introduced as phase-change materials at 15% by weight. The geopolymer materials were produced based on silica fly ash from the Skawina Heat and Power Plant, and hydrogen peroxide H2O2 was used to foam the geopolymer structure. The PCM geopolymer composites were cured at 60°C. The produced materials were tested for physical, chemical, and thermal properties. The tests included oxide and mineral composition analysis of the base material, PCM particle size analysis, density and porosity tests of the foams, water leachability tests, thermal tests (l, Cv, Cp, a), and structure and texture analysis. The most key tests to confirm the performance of phase change materials were thermal tests. With the introduction of PCM, volumetric heat capacity increased by as much as 41%, specific heat by 45%, and thermal diffusivity decreased by 23%. The results confirm the great potential of geopolymer composites as modern insulation materials for buildings and structures.
Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers and neuropsychological abnormalities in dementia: A monocentric study of consecutive patients
Authors: Römer Martin , Lange-Asschenfeldt Christian , Müller-Schmitz Katharina , Seitz Rüdiger J.
Published: June 2024

Background
In search of indicators for dementia this study investigated the association of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and neuropsychological test results with disease stage in patients with a beginning or manifested dementia.
Methods
190 consecutive patients with symptoms of dementia the CSF parameters Amyloid-β 1–42 (Aβ1–42), phosphorylated tau protein (pTau), total tau protein (tTau), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), protein S100B (S100B), and the Aβ (1–42)/(1–40) ratio (Aβ ratio) as well as the results of the CERAD-Plus test battery supplemented by the Clock Drawing Test (CDT) were analysed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the median duration of reported symptom onset.
Results
Most prominent were the relations between Aβ1–42 and the neuropsychological memory subtests in the early phase of the disease, which were absent in the later phase. Less pronounced relationships to memory function were detectable for the Aβ ratio and pTau.
Conclusion
The results substantiate the relevance of Aβ1–42 for memory deficits and support the amyloid cascade hypothesis for Alzheimer’s dementia (AD). Our data suggest other pathomechanisms for visual-spatial impairments in AD.
Kitchen waste composting aids in reduction of GHGs emissions
Authors: Ahmad Ali , Fatima Tehreem , Gull Umair , Riaz Husnain , Sajid Muhammad , Sajjad Muhammad , Chughatta Ahsan Rashid
Published: June 2024

The emission of greenhouse gases (GHG’s) into the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities including disposal of large quantities of organic kitchen waste into the environment exacerbates global warming and contributes to climate change. A laboratory incubation experiment was conducted at 20oC at University of Agriculture Faisalabad. The study involved five treatments, each containing fresh fruit and vegetable peels as well as their compost, applied at a rate of 5 g kg− 1 soil. The treatments were distributed according to complete randomized design (CRD). A single control treatment with no alterations was also upheld for the duration of study. The findings of present investigation demonstrated a substantial increase in cumulative C-CO2 emissions attributable to potato peel (597 ± 1 mg C kg− 1 soil) and compost (542 ± 3 mg C kg− 1 soil) relative to other treatments, as a result of their pronounced decomposition within the soil. The microbial biomass carbon (MBC) exhibited higher levels in banana compost (1055. 67 ± 36 mg C kg− 1 soil) and potato compost (983 ± 42 mg C kg− 1 soil) when compared to the remaining treatments. The addition of compost mixture containing banana and potato peels resulted in a significant increase in soil extracellular enzyme activities The application of banana and potato compost has been found to have a positive impact on the macroaggregates of soil, leading to an increase in soil stability due to the compost's ability to stabilize soil particles. The findings of the present study indicate that composting represents the most effective approach for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions originating from kitchen organic waste, while also enhancing the biological and physicochemical characteristics of soil.
Auto Beam: Automatic Beam Adjuster For Enhanced Vehicle Safety Using Deep Learning
Authors: Kumar Aditya , Singh Aryan , Malakar Akanksha , Gupta Sarvagya , Vyas Sonali
Published: June 2024

In today’s scenario, automobiles have been a huge part of our day-to-day life and also have a huge impact on the nation's economy. But with the increase in the number of automobiles, there is a rise in accidents too. The use of a high beam in front of a coming vehicle, creates a glare on the eyes of the driver which makes him/her partially blind for a few microseconds, which is enough for an accident to take place. This paper proposes an Automatic High to low beam adjuster that adjusts the beam according to the presence of the car in front of it. We are using deep learning and a masking approach independently for detection of a vehicle in front of the primary vehicle whose beam we would be adjusting. The AI model would then be connected with an Arduino by which we would be converting digital signals to electrical signals. The scope of the project is to be able to detect headlights of oncoming vehicles and adjust the beam of the vehicle (high to low and vice versa) without the driver’s intervention as it would be of great help to the people driving at night, aged people and people with vision problems like cataracts etc. It could bring a whole new dimension of traffic control and road safety by detecting the headlights of the vehicles using dynamic footage recorded by sensors in real time. This paper will also be of crucial importance in reducing the number of accidents therefore preventing mishaps, saving lives and preventing financial losses. The future scopes could be integrating Raspberry Pi and using it with an Arduino and a camera to develop and test the fully functional product which can then be installed in vehicles to control accidents. The camera that would be used to detect oncoming vehicles could also detect emergency factors like sudden accident-like situations and could take preventive measures to reduce the impact or the probability of an accident.
Optimization of cone beam computed tomography scan protocols for the intraoperative detection of residual stones in percutaneous nephrolithotomy
Authors: Kingma Riemer Adam , Asten Nienke T.L. , Greuter Marcel J.W. , de Jong Igle-Jan , Roemeling Stijn
Published: June 2024

Purpose:
The primary surgical treatment modality for large or complex renal stones is percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) allows for intraoperative imaging and can be used to enhance intraoperative assessment of a stone-free status during a PCNL procedure. However, scanning protocols have not yet been optimized for this purpose. The high degree of stone and patient characteristics require a tailored approach. This study aims to select the most suitable CBCT-protocols for imaging stone fragments intraoperatively during PCNL.
Methods:
A phantom insert with 100 calcifications varying in size and density was placed in an anthropomorphic abdominal phantom. Nine different CBCT protocols were used with varying dose settings, and each scan was repeated 5 times with a small translation between each scan. Detectability of the calcifications was scored by visual assessment and visibility curves were generated for each protocol, depicting the minimum size and density at which calcifications were still detectable. Image noise and contrast-to-noise ratios were calculated for each protocol, as well as estimated effective patient doses per CBCT-scan.
Results:
Calcification detectability, and contrast-to-noise ratios decreased with a decrease in radiation dose, whereas noise ratios increased. Three suitable scanning protocols were selected, a high-dose or soft-stone CBCT-protocol resulting in an effective dose of 10.7 mSv per CBCT-scan, a medium-dose CBCT-protocol resulting in an effective dose of 4.6 mSv and a low-dose or hard-stone CBCT-protocol resulting in an effective dose of 2.2 mSv.
Conclusion:
Radiation dose for intraoperative CBCT for imaging calcifications can effectively be lowered whilst maintaining calcification visibility, by implementing low-dose CT-protocols with lowered dose settings and the application of a copper filter. The three proposed scanning protocols provide options to select a scan protocol based on stone type and patient characteristics.
Histopathological Features of Gastric Map-Like Redness under Image-Enhanced Endoscopy
Authors: You Yixiang , Zheng Jin , Lin Wulian , Yu Shentong , Gao Chao , Zheng Yunmeng , Li Dazhou , Zhang Guanpo , Wang Wen
Published: June 2024

Background and study aims: Map-like redness (MLR) is a characteristic feature and independent risk factor of gastric cancer after Helicobacter pylori eradication. The present study investigated the endoscopic manifestations and histopathological features of MLR.
Patients and methods: We enrolled 56 consecutive MLR patients between January 2023 and July 2023. Endoscopic signs and histopathological characteristics were compared among the reddish area, transition zone, and background mucosa (areas R, T, and B, respectively).
Results: The histopathological analysis showed significantly greater atrophy, gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM), and dysplasia in area R compared to other areas (P < 0.05). Incomplete GIM predominated in area R, while complete GIM predominated in areas T and B. Area R had a higher microvascular density compared to areas T and B. Intervening parts width for area T was greater than that for area B, which was greater than that for area R (P < 0.05). Crypt opening sizes in area R were greater than those in area T, which were greater than those in area B (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: The histological features of MLR included moderate-to-severe atrophy and intestinal metaplasia, incomplete GIM, increased microvascular density in the red zone, and widened intervening parts in the transition zone.
Crisis Communication of Public Agencies in Twitter: A Case Study of Hurricane Irma Exploring the Relationship between Topics and Engagement
Authors: Jamal Tasnuba Binte , Rogers Aidan , Ge Yue , Hasan Samiul
Published: June 2024

This study analyzes the crisis communication posts of public agencies on Twitter during a major natural disaster, Hurricane Irma. Analyzing engagement metrics of tweets’ relationship with factors such as communication topics, tweet and Twitter account characteristics, and time of posting tweets, the research aims to uncover effective aspects for enhancing public engagement and response during extreme events. Using machine learning and statistical approaches, we analyze tweets from prominent public agencies active in response to Hurricane Irma. An engagement metric, such as the number of retweets, was used to measure the effectiveness of crisis communication posts. Results indicate that real-time updates on storm prediction, preparedness activity, user concern and recovery gained higher engagement. Besides posting frequent tweets by agencies, time of tweeting and an agency’s popularity measured by the number of likes and followers, level of the agencies (e.g., federal, or regional) are associated with higher engagement. The study emphasizes the significance of efficient messaging and clear communication in capturing public attention during crises. It provides valuable insights for public and emergency management agencies seeking to improve their crisis-related social media strategies, specifically on Twitter. This study also assists public agencies in refining their social media communication strategies for future crises by identifying key elements of successful engagement in social media.
Genome-Wide Identifification and Characterization of RsbHLH Transcription Factors Involved in Flower development of R. simsii
Authors: Tu Shenghui , zhao Xuechun , wang Xiaojing
Published: June 2024

Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) gene family, as one of the largest transcription factor families in plants, played essential roles in regulating plant growth and development as well as in response to various environmental stress. However, the bHLH gene family in R. simsii has not yet been reported. In this study, 116 RsbHLH genes were identified in the R. simsii genome, which were divided into 13 groups based on the sequence similarity and phylogenetic relationships. Analysis of gene/protein structure, chromosome location, cis-acting elements and synteny of the RsbHLH family genes were conducted using the bioinformatic methods. Gene duplication analysis showed that 99 RsbHLH genes were expanded and retained after dispersed and WGD/segmental duplication events. Investigation of cis-acting elements within promoters of RsbHLHs indicated that many RsbHLH genes might be involved in regulating the diverse physiological processes in R. simsii. The expression patterns of RsbHLHs in different tissues and in different stages of flower development were investigated based on the RNA-seq data. Further analysis revealed that 13 candidate RsbHLH genes might be involved in regulating the flower development of R. simsii. In addition, the results of qRT-PCR showed that five RsbHLH genes (RsbHLH033, RsbHLH016, RsbHLH048, RsbHLH114, and RsbHLH115) may be involved in positively and negatively regulating the high- and low-temperature stress. These results provide a basis for the functional characterization of RsbHLH genes and investigations on the molecular mechanisms of flower development of R. simsii.
Therapeutic effects of a complex of montmorillonite intercalated with porcine glucagon-like peptide in weaning piglets challenged with lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Qi Keke , Wu Jie , Deng Bo , Xu Ziwei
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to prepare a complex of montmorillonite (MMT) intercalated with porcine glucagon-like peptide (pGLP-2) and evaluate its therapeutic effects in weaning piglets challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Forty-eight 28-day-old weaning pigs with an average body weight (BW) of 8.47 kg were divided into two groups: a control group fed a basal diet and an MMT/pGLP-2 group fed a basal diet supplemented with 0.5‰ MMT/pGLP-2 complex. At the end of the experiment, 12 piglets from each group were intraperitoneally administered LPS (100 g/kg BW) or saline. The results demonstrated that at pH 3.4, 98.67% of pGLP-2 was adsorbed onto MMT. At pH 9.0 and 7.5, the desorption rates of pGLP-2 were approximately 40% and 26%, respectively, which were significantly greater than those at pH 5.0 or 2.0 (less than 1%). Desorption reached equilibrium within 0.5 h. The interlayer spacing of MMT increased from 1.28 nm to 1.49 nm after pGLP-2 adsorption. Compared to the control diet, the MMT/pGLP-2-supplemented diet significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced maltase, lactase, and Na+-K+-ATPase activities in the jejunum and ileum and sucrose activity in the jejunum. The lengths and weights of the jejunum and ileum were significantly greater in the MMT/pGLP-2 group (P > 0.05). No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in body weight, average daily gain, average daily feed intake, or feed-to-gain ratio among the groups. Under LPS challenge, piglets supplemented with MMT/pGLP-2 exhibited significant increases (P < 0.05) in maltase, sucrose, and Na+-K+-ATPase activities in the jejunum and ileum and lactase activity in the jejunum compared to those in piglets administered saline. These findings suggest that the MMT/pGLP-2 complex, prepared under acidic conditions and releasing pGLP-2 under basic conditions, can mitigate intestinal injury from LPS and restore intestinal function, making it a potential feed additive for piglets.
Impact of SLC16A8 on Tumor Microenvironment and Angiogenesis in Colorectal Cancer: New Therapeutic Target Insights
Authors: Tian Hongpeng , Xiao Zhongxiang , Su Bowen , Li Yixuan , Peng Hong , Meng Changyuan
Published: June 2024

Aim
SLC16A8, a lactate efflux transporter, is upregulated in various cancers, but its effect on tumor microenvironments remains understudied. This research explores its role in colorectal cancer and the impact on the associated microenvironment consisting of vascular endothelial cells.
Methods
Hypoxic conditions prompted examination of SLC16A8 expression, glycolysis, lactate efflux, and Warburg effect correlations in colorectal cancer cell lines. Co-culture with HUVEC allowed for EndMT characterization, revealing lactate efflux's influence. Knockdown of SLC16A8 in colorectal cancer cells enabled relevant phenotype tests and tumorigenesis experiments, investigating tumor growth, blood vessel distribution, and signaling pathway alterations.
Results
Under hypoxic conditions, SLC16A8 upregulation not only promoted anaerobic glycolysis, LDHA, and PKM2 expression in colorectal cancer cells but also suggested Warburg effect involvement. Co-culturing with HUVEC triggered an increase in EndMT characteristics in endothelial cells. Knocking down SLC16A8 reversed these phenotypes in both cell types. In vivo, SLC16A8 inhibition led to reduced tumor growth, decreased angiogenesis, and enhanced apoptosis signals. SLC16A8 plays a pivotal role in promoting tumor angiogenesis and fostering a favorable environment for colorectal cancer development.
Conclusions
The findings emphasize the importance of addressing lactate efflux in cancer therapy and warrant further investigation into SLC16A8 as a potential therapeutic target.
WITHDRAWN: Underwater Image Compression and Reconstruction Based on VQ-VAE-2
Authors: Yang Qiuling , Fei Hansheng , Zhang ZhiPeng , Chen Jianan , Zhang Yunuo
Published: June 2024

Due to the low bandwidth of underwater acoustic communication, large-sized color images cannot be transmitted in a timely manner. In response to this problem, this paper uses the deep learning-based VQ-VAE-2 model to propose two other fine-tuning model structures, NVQ and VQI, to encode, compress, transmit, reconstruct and generate large-information original images through convolutional networks. The NVQ model reduces the characteristics of the bottom quantization, and the VQI model re-quantizes the bottom quantization result, which significantly reduces the amount of data transmitted. The picture compression rate of the VQ-VAE-2 model is 13:1, and the picture compression rates of NVQ and VQI are 32:1 and 60:1. SSIM (Structural Similarity) of VQ-VAE-2, NVQ and VQI are 0.94, 0.91 and 0.87, respectively. In contrast to previous work, 1) we obtain visually pleasing reconstructions that are perceptually similar to the input, and 2) our approaches have short encoding time and decoding time, generate character strings directly without adding additional overhead, so have shorter transmission time compared with other methods.
Research on the elastic-plastic displacement response of SDOF systems and post-yield stiffness ratio of components under long-period ground motions
Authors: Zhang Jiawei , Wang Bo , Liu Yang , Cheng Fei , Wang Zhipeng , Dai Huijuan
Published: June 2024

The elastic-plastic displacement response of structures under long-period ground motions including far-field long-period ground motions (FLGM) and near-fault pulse-like ground motions (NPGM), are significantly different from ordinary ground motions (OGM), and the post-yield stiffness ratio of structures is a crucial index that determines the residual displacements and repairability of structures after earthquakes. Studying the influence of the post-yield stiffness ratio on the maximum and residual displacements of structures under long-period ground motions is crucial for post-earthquake repairs. This paper selected 25 OGM, 25 FLGM, and 25 NPGM to calculate the elastic-plastic displacement response of single degree of freedom (SDOF) systems, analyzing the influence of ground motion types, natural periods, and strength reduction coefficients on normalized elastic-plastic displacement. And the influence of design parameters and loading paths on the post-yield stiffness ratio of components was analyzed by finite element analysis based on the method of calculating the post-yield stiffness ratio of components. The results show that the normalized maximum displacement decreases with the increase of the period, the increase of post-yield stiffness ratio and the decrease of strength reduction coefficient. Nevertheless, the variation degree of the normalized maximum displacement is distinguishing under different ground motions. The normalized residual displacement of SDOF system under the NPGM is the most significant and the variation of normalized residual displacement with post-yield stiffness ratio, strength reduction coefficient and natural period is different under different ground motions. Moreover, post-yield stiffness ratio of components is significantly influenced by design parameters and loading path.
Donor climate coloniality, ecological debt and vulnerabilities in coastal Bangladesh: redesigning institutions for recognition justice
Authors: Hossen M. Anwar , Benson David , Lecturer Mohibul Islam
Published: June 2024

Climate change impacts create survival challenges for local people in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Government responses are typically exercised through top-down adaptation governance structures reflecting a neo-colonial perspective, evident in externally funded water development projects such as the Flood Control, Drainage and Irrigation (FCDI) scheme. Problematically, this form of donor ‘climate coloniality’ creates novel ecological debts that in turn increase localised socio-economic vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities are concentrated within marginalised, poorer groups, although the attendant impacts of one climate-related ecological debt, waterlogging, are not widely understood. Two critical research questions emerge from this context: (i) in what ways does waterlogging impact marginalised groups in coastal regions?; (ii) how could adaptation institutions be decolonised to reduce resultant vulnerabilities? Primary data from research conducted in Jessore District in south western Bangladesh is utilised in answering these questions. The findings show that marginalised groups disproportionately endure the impacts of historically path dependent, climate-related ecological debts through multiple vulnerabilities such as declining crop production, loss of domestic animals and income, unemployment, price hikes for daily essentials, gendered inequalities and increasing crime, primarily resulting from their exclusion from adaptation decision-making. In response to this neo-colonial perspective, such structural domination needs to be challenged by decolonizing adaptation institutions through the integration of recognition and procedural justice interventions. Decolonized institutions based on this justice perspective could provide a governance space for recognizing local community voices related to coastal ecosystems and agricultural practices.
Bioconversion of spent mushroom substrate and wet distiller's grains by black soldier fly larvae: effect of substrates on larval treatment and residues
Authors: Wei Mao , Li Tao , Khan Samiullah Samiullah , Li Haiyin , Wen Tingchi , Yi Tianci , Guo Jianjun
Published: June 2024

Spent mushroom substrate (SMS) and wet distiller's grains (WDG) are growing organic wastes. The black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) can convert multiple organic wastes. However, there is limited information on their conversion by BSFL. Therefore, this study explores the conversion of SMS and WDG of five proportions by BSFL. This study shows that BSFL can convert SMS, WDG and their mixtures, 100% WDG is suitable for the growth of the BSFL. BSFL can promote the humification of the substrate during the treatment process, increasing the content of total kjeldahl nitrogen, total organic carbon, total phosphorus and total potassium in the residues. The fractionation mode of carbon and nitrogen elements and the microbial community in residue is obviously different, but that is closely relates to the physicochemical parameters and the microbial community of the substrate. The mixture treated by BSFL is helpful to form a residue with higher humus, but it may be unstable.
Making Facts Fun!: Results from a style-based intervention into online misinformation ecosystems
Authors: Lee Jooyoung , Booth Emily , Farid Hany , Rizoiu Marian-Andrei
Published: June 2024

Misinformation is often viewed as an information problem, attributed to people’s poor understanding of consensus-based facts. While this is a contributing factor, we propose that misinformation and conspiracy are simply more engaging explanations for our world. Can we combat misinformation by making facts fun? We present the findings of a controlled experiment testing this hypothesis, in which we tailored messaging about consensus-based information to the communication styles used by three vulnerable cohorts. Our results demonstrate that styled message generated higher engagement from users than the neutral-toned variants. We introduce our theory of the misinformation ecosystem as a way of understanding online communities and their communication styles, and profiles of three personas representative of the cohorts included in our experiment. Our findings suggest that styled messaging for consensus-based information can reach vulnerable fringe communities that are otherwise resistant to external influence, providing considerable implications about possible future interventions to counter misinformation.
Resurrecting failed environment-recruitment relationships: Revisiting cod recruitment in light of the poor-recruitment paradigm
Authors: Gross Julie M. , Hoenig John M.
Published: June 2024

Numerous environmental drivers (e.g., temperature, salinity) have been proposed as controls to recruitment. However, these relationships often become discredited over time as further data become available. It remains unclear if these environment-recruitment relationships are spurious results of examining many variables or if environmental drivers’ influences on recruitment change over time, e.g., with shifting climate. We propose that it is of value to re-examine discredited environment-recruitment relationships using the poor-recruitment paradigm (Gross et al. 2022, Fish. Res. 252, 106329). This approach examines whether extreme environmental conditions are associated with poor recruitment, the idea being that non-extreme conditions are uninformative in terms of predicting recruitment. This allows one to detect patterns of poor recruitment regardless of an environment-recruitment relationship’s perceived (lack of) significance. We apply the poor-recruitment paradigm approach to various stocks of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) for both historical environment-recruitment data from a metanalysis (Myers 1998, Rev. Fish Biol. Fisher. 8, 285) and for recent environment-recruitment data from the 2023 stock assessments for stocks in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. From re-examining historical data, we find poor recruitment can be predicted from previously discredited or uninformative environmental conditions involving temperature, salinity and zooplankton abundance. When re-examining recent data through the poor-recruitment paradigm, we find that temperature continues to have predictive value for poor recruitment, but zooplankton abundance is less informative and does not always follow the poor-recruitment paradigm. These findings suggest that 1) these predictors continue to be important over time for cod recruitment and 2) that for the recent regime, temperature may be a better predictor of poor recruitment than zooplankton abundance, possibly because there is a mismatch between the spatial and temporal measurements of zooplankton abundance and the conditions that cod recruits experience.