bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ZmARF16 Regulates ZCN12 to Promote the Accumulation of Florigen and Accelerate Flowering
Authors: Jiang Zhenzhong , Zhao Yang , Gao Bai , Wei Xiaotong , Jiao Peng , Zhang Honglin , Liu Siyan , Guan Shuyan , Ma Yiyong
Published: September 2024

Auxin response factors(ARFs) are a class of transcription factors that regulate the expression of auxin response genes and play a crucial role in plant growth and development. Florigen plays a crucial role in the process of flowering. However, the process by which auxin regulates the accumulation of florigen remains largely unclear. This study found that the expression of ZmARF16 in maize increases during flowering, and the genetic transformation of ZmARF16 accelerates the flowering process in Arabidopsis and maize. Furthermore, ZmARF16 was found to be positively correlated with the transcription of the ZCN12 gene. Similarly, the FT-like gene ZCN12 in maize rescues the late flowering phenotype of the FT mutation in Arabidopsis. Moreover, ZCN12 actively participates in the accumulation of florigen and the flowering process. Further research revealed that ZmARF16 positively responds to the auxin signal, and that the interaction between ZmARF16 and the ZCN12 promoter, as well as the subsequent promotion of ZCN12 gene expression, leads to early flowering. This was confirmed through a yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assay. Therefore, the study provides evidence that the ZmARF16-ZCN12 module plays a crucial role in regulating the flowering process of maize.
Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction in NBCe1-B/C-Knockout Mice
Authors: Brady Clayton T. , Marshall Aniko , Eagler Lisa A. , Pon Thomas M. , Duffey Michael E. , Weil Brian R. , Lang Jennifer K. , Parker Mark D.
Published: September 2024

Congenital proximal renal tubular acidosis (pRTA) is a rare systemic disease caused by mutations in the SLC4A4 gene that encodes the electrogenic sodium bicarbonate cotransporter, NBCe1. The major NBCe1 protein variants are designated NBCe1-A, NBCe1-B, and NBCe1-C. NBCe1-A expression is kidney-specific, NBCe1-B is broadly expressed and is the only NBCe1 variant expressed in the heart, and NBCe1-C is a splice variant of NBCe1-B that is expressed in the brain. No cardiac manifestations have been reported from patients with pRTA, but studies in adult rats with virally induced reduction in cardiac NBCe1-B expression indicate that NBCe1-B loss leads to cardiac hypertrophy and prolonged QT intervals in rodents. NBCe1-null mice die shortly after weaning, so the consequence of congenital, global NBCe1 loss on the heart is unknown. To circumvent this issue, we characterized the cardiac function of NBCe1-B/C-null (KOb/c) mice that survive up to 2 months of age and which, due to the uninterrupted expression of NBCe1-A, do not exhibit the confounding acidemia of the globally null mice. In contrast to the viral knockdown model, cardiac hypertrophy was not present in KOb/c mice as assessed by heart-weight-to-body-weight ratios and cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area. However, echocardiographic analysis revealed reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, and intraventricular pressure–volume measurements demonstrated reduced load-independent contractility. We also observed increased QT length variation in KOb/c mice. Finally, using the calcium indicator Fura-2 AM, we observed a significant reduction in the amplitude of Ca2+ transients in paced KOb/c cardiomyocytes. These data indicate that congenital, global absence of NBCe1-B/C leads to impaired cardiac contractility and increased QT length variation in juvenile mice. It remains to be determined whether the cardiac phenotype in KOb/c mice is influenced by the absence of NBCe1-B/C from neuronal and endocrine tissues.
Downregulation of IL-8 and IL-10 by LRRC8A Inhibition through the NOX2–Nrf2–CEBPB Transcriptional Axis in THP-1-Derived M2 Macrophages
Authors: Matsui Miki , Kajikuri Junko , Kito Hiroaki , Elboray Elghareeb E. , Suzuki Takayoshi , Ohya Susumu
Published: September 2024

M2-polarized, tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) produce pro-tumorigenic and angiogenic mediators, such as interleukin-8 (IL-8) and IL-10. Leucine-rich repeat-containing protein 8 members (LRRC8s) form volume-regulated anion channels and play an important role in macrophage functions by regulating cytokine and chemokine production. We herein examined the role of LRRC8A in IL-8 and IL-10 expression in THP-1-differentiated M2-like macrophages (M2-MACs), which are a useful tool for investigating TAMs. In M2-MACs, the pharmacological inhibition of LRRC8A led to hyperpolarizing responses after a transient depolarization phase, followed by a slight elevation in the intracellular concentration of Ca2+. Both the small interfering RNA-mediated and pharmacological inhibition of LRRC8A repressed the transcriptional expression of IL-8 and IL-10, resulting in a significant reduction in their secretion. The inhibition of LRRC8A decreased the nuclear translocation of phosphorylated nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), while the activation of Nrf2 reversed the LRRC8A inhibition-induced transcriptional repression of IL-8 and IL-10 in M2-MACs. We identified the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein isoform B, CEBPB, as a downstream target of Nrf2 signaling in M2-MACs. Moreover, among several upstream candidates, the inhibition of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase 2 (NOX2) suppressed the Nrf2–CEBPB transcriptional axis in M2-MACs. Collectively, the present results indicate that the inhibition of LRRC8A repressed IL-8 and IL-10 transcription in M2-MACs through the NOX2–Nrf2–CEBPB axis and suggest that LRRC8A inhibitors suppress the IL-10-mediated evasion of tumor immune surveillance and IL-8-mediated metastasis and neovascularization in TAMs.
Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Novel Furopyridone Derivatives as Potent Cytotoxic Agents against Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Ren Xingyu , Zhang Jiaojiao , Dai Anying , Sun Pengzhi , Zhang Yibo , Jin Lu , Pan Le
Published: September 2024

Cancer continues to be a major global health issue, ranking among the top causes of death worldwide. To develop novel antitumor agents, this study focused on the synthesis of a series of 21 novel furanopyridinone derivatives through structural modifications and functional enhancements. The in vitro anti-tumor activities of these compounds were investigated through the cytotoxicity against KYSE70 and KYSE150 and led to the identification of compound 4c as the most potent compound. At a concentration of 20 µg/mL, compound 4c demonstrated a remarkable 99% inhibition of KYSE70 and KYSE150 cell growth after 48 h. IC50 was 0.655 µg/mL after 24 h. Additionally, potential anti-tumor cellular mechanisms were explored through molecular docking, which was used to predict the binding mode of 4c with METAP2 and EGFR, suggesting that the C=O part of the pyridone moiety likely played a crucial role in binding. This study provided valuable insights and guidance for the development of novel anticancer drugs with novel structural scaffolds.
Geothermal Nano-SiO2 Waste as a Supplementary Cementitious Material for Concrete Exposed at High Critical Temperatures
Authors: López-Perales Jesús Fernando , Alonso-Alonso María Cruz , Vázquez-Rodríguez Francisco Javier , Guzmán-Hernández Ana María , Gómez-Zamorano Lauren Yolanda , Rodríguez-Castellanos Edén Amaral , Puente-Ornelas Rodrigo
Published: September 2024

The partial replacement effect of Portland cement by geothermal nano-SiO2 waste (GNSW) for sustainable Portland-cement-based concrete was investigated to improve the properties of concrete exposed at high critical temperatures. Portland cement was partially replaced by 20 and 30 wt.% of GNSW. The partial replacement effect on Portland-cement-based concrete subjected to 350, 550, and 750 °C was evaluated by measuring the weight changes, ultrasonic pulse velocity, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, X-ray diffraction, surface inspection, and scanning electron microscopy under residual conditions. The ultrasonic pulse velocity results showed that the GNSW specimens maintained suitable stability after being heated to 350 °C. The SEM analysis revealed a denser microstructure for the 20 wt.% of partial replacement of Portland cement by GNSW specimen compared to the reference concrete when exposed to temperatures up to 400 °C, maintaining stability in its microstructure. The weight losses were higher for the specimens with partial replacements of GNSW than the reference concrete at 550 °C, which can be attributed to the pozzolanic activity presented by the GNSW, which increases the amounts of CSH gel, leading to a much denser cementitious matrix, causing a higher weight loss compared to the reference concrete. GNSW is a viable supplementary cementitious material, enhancing thermal properties up to 400 °C due to its high pozzolanic activity and filler effect while offering environmental benefits by reducing industrial waste.
Influence of Process Parameters on Selected Properties of Ti6Al4V Manufacturing via L-PBF Process
Authors: Kluczyński Janusz , Sarzyński Bartłomiej , Dražan Tomáš , Łuszczek Jakub , Kosturek Robert , Szachogłuchowicz Ireneusz
Published: September 2024

This study investigates the microstructural effects of process parameters on Ti6Al4V alloy produced via powder bed fusion (PBF) using laser beam melting (LB/M) technology. The research focuses on how variations in laser power, exposure velocity, and hatching distance influence the final material’s porosity, microhardness, and microstructure. To better understand the relationships between process parameters, energy density, and porosity, a simple mathematical model was developed. The microstructure of the alloy was analyzed in the YZ plane using a confocal microscope. The study identified optimal parameters—302.5 W laser power, 990 mm/s exposure velocity, and 0.14 mm hatching distance—yielding the lowest porosity index of 0.005%. The material’s average hardness was measured at 434 ± 18 HV0.5. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing printing parameters to produce high-quality Ti6Al4V components using PBF-LB/M technology, shedding light on the critical relationship between process parameters and the resulting microstructure.
Protective Effects of Vitamin D on Proteoglycans of Human Articular Chondrocytes through TGF-β1 Signaling
Authors: Guan Jian , Li Zhuoxin , Niu Guodong , Li Siwei , Li Weishi , Song Chunli , Leng Huijie
Published: September 2024

The extracellular matrix of cartilage primarily constitutes of collagen and aggrecan. Cartilage degradation starts with aggrecan loss in osteoarthritis (OA). Vitamin D (VD) plays an essential role in several inflammation-related diseases and can protect the collagen in cartilage during OA. The present study focused on the role of VD in aggrecan turnover of human articular chondrocytes treated with tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and the possible mechanism. Treatment with different doses of VD and different periods of intervention with TNF-α and TGF-β1 receptor (TGFβR1) inhibitor SB525334 were investigated. The viability of human chondrocytes and extracellular secretion of TGF-β1 were measured. The expression of intracellular TGFβR1 and VD receptor was examined. Transcriptional and translational levels of aggrecan and the related metabolic factors were analyzed. The results showed that TNF-α markedly reduced the viability, TGFβR1 expressions and aggrecan levels of human chondrocytes, and increased disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs. The alterations were partially inhibited by VD treatment. Furthermore, the effects of VD were blocked by the TGFβR1 inhibitor SB525334 in TNF-α-treated cells. VD may prevent proteoglycan loss due to TNF-α via TGF-β1 signaling in human chondrocytes.
Treatment with Gac Fruit Extract and Probiotics Reduces Serum Trimethylamine N-Oxide in Chronic Kidney Disease Rats
Authors: Kamkang Panumas , Rattanachaisit Pakkapon , Anegkamol Weerapat , Taweevisit Mana , Sapwarobol Suwimol , Tumwasorn Somying , Chuaypen Natthaya , Dissayabutra Thasinas
Published: September 2024

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 850 million people worldwide, contributing to morbidity and mortality, particularly through cardiovascular disease (CVD). The altered composition in CKD patients leads to increased production and absorption of uremic toxins such as trimethylamine (TMA) and its oxidized form, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), which are associated with cardiovascular risks. This study investigated the potential of supplementary interventions with high-carotenoid-content gac fruit extract and probiotics to mitigate serum TMAO by modulating the gut microbiota. We conducted an animal study involving 48 male Wistar rats, divided into six groups: the control, CKD control, and four treatment groups receiving gac fruit extract, carotenoid extract, or combinations with Ligilactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus crispatus and Lactobacillus casei as a standard probiotic. CKD was induced in rats using cisplatin and they were supplemented with choline to enhance TMA production. The measures included serum creatinine, TMAO levels, gut microbiota composition, and the expression of fecal TMA lyase and intestinal zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1). CKD rats showed increased TMA production and elevated serum levels of TMAO. Treatment with gac fruit extract and selective probiotics significantly altered the composition of the gut microbiota by decreasing Actinobacteriota abundance and increasing the abundance of Bacteroides. This combination effectively promoted ZO-1 expression, reduced fecal TMA lyase, and subsequently lowered serum TMAO levels, demonstrating the therapeutic potential of these interventions. Our results highlight the benefits of gac fruit extract combined with probiotics for the effective reduction in serum TMAO levels in rats with CKD, supporting the further exploration of dietary and microbial interventions to improve outcomes in patients with CKD.
Revealing Interactions of Gut Microbiota and Metabolite in Confined Environments Using High-Throughput Sequencing and Metabolomic Analysis
Authors: Wang Ziying , Xu Haodan , Song Xin , Chen Zheng , Wang Guangqiang , Yang Yijin , Zhu Beiwei , Ai Lianzhong , Liu Chenxi , Zhang Yaxuan , Yang Yong , Wang Chuan , Xia Yongjun
Published: September 2024

A confined environment is a special kind of extreme working environment, and prolonged exposure to it tends to increase psychological stress and trigger rhythmic disorders, emotional abnormalities and other phenomena, thus seriously affecting work efficiency. However, the mechanisms through which confined environments affect human health remain unclear. Therefore, this study simulates a strictly controlled confined environment and employs integrative multi-omics techniques to analyze the alterations in gut microbiota and metabolites of workers under such conditions. The aim is to identify metabolic biomarkers and elucidate the relationship between gut microbiota and metabolites. High-throughput sequencing results showed that a confined environment significantly affects gut microbial composition and clusters subjects’ gut microbiota into two enterotypes (Bla and Bi). Differences in abundance of genera Bifidobacterium, Collinsella, Ruminococcus_gnavus_group, Faecalibacterium, Bacteroides, Prevotella and Succinivibronaceae UCG-002 were significant. Untarget metabolomics analyses showed that the confined environment resulted in significant alterations in intestinal metabolites and increased the activity of the body’s amino acid metabolism and bile acid metabolism pathways. Among the metabolites that differed after confined environment living, four metabolites such as uric acid and beta-PHENYL-gamma-aminobutyric acid may be potential biomarkers. Further correlation analysis demonstrated a strong association between the composition of the subjects’ gut microbiota and these four biomarkers. This study provides valuable reference data for improving the health status of workers in confined environments and facilitates the subsequent proposal of targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
Bone Mineral Density and the Risk of Type-2 Diabetes in Postmenopausal Women: rs4988235 Polymorphism Associated with Lactose Intolerance Effects
Authors: Górczyńska-Kosiorz Sylwia , Cichocka Edyta , Niemiec Paweł , Trautsolt Wanda , Pluskiewicz Wojciech , Gumprecht Janusz
Published: September 2024

Dairy products, a major source of calcium, demonstrate a number of beneficial effects, not only protecting against the development of osteoporosis (OP) but also suppressing the onset of type-2 diabetes (T2DM) and improving bone mineral density (BMD). Dairy consumption is closely linked to lactose tolerance. One of the genetic factors predisposing individuals to lactose intolerance is rs4988235 polymorphism of the MCM6 gene. The aim of this reported study was to analyse the relationship between the rs4988235 variant of the MCM6 gene and bone mineral density and the risk of type-2 diabetes in women after menopause. Methods: The study was conducted among 607 female patients in the postmenopausal period in whom bone densitometry and vitamin-D3 levels were assayed and genotyping of the rs4988235 polymorphism of MCM6 gene was performed. The obtained results were analysed for the presence of T2DM, obesity surrogates, medical data, and past medical history. Results: The distribution of genotype frequencies was consistent with the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.050). Postmenopausal women with the GG homozygote of rs4988235 polymorphism consumed significantly less calcium (dairy), which was probably related to the observed lactose intolerance. The GG homozygote of women with rs4988235 polymorphism was significantly more likely to have T2DM relative to the A allele carriers (p = 0.023). GG homozygotes had significantly lower femoral–vertebral mineral density despite the significantly more frequent supplementation with calcium preparations (p = 0.010), vitamin D (p = 0.01), and anti-osteoporotic drugs (p = 0.040). The obtained results indicate a stronger loss of femoral-neck mineral density with age in the GG homozygotes relative to the A allele carriers (p = 0.038). Conclusions: In the population of women after menopause, the carriage of the G allele of rs4988235 polymorphism of the MCM6 gene, i.e., among the patients with lactose intolerance, significantly increased the risk of developing T2DM and the loss of BMD.
Semantic Labeling of High-Resolution Images Combining a Self-Cascaded Multimodal Fully Convolution Neural Network with Fully Conditional Random Field
Authors: Hu Qiongqiong , Wang Feiting , Fang Jiangtao , Li Ying
Published: September 2024

Semantic labeling of very high-resolution remote sensing images (VHRRSI) has emerged as a crucial research area in remote sensing image interpretation. However, challenges arise due to significant variations in target orientation and scale, particularly for small targets that are more prone to obscuration and misidentification. The high interclass similarity and low intraclass similarity further exacerbate difficulties in distinguishing objects with similar color and geographic location. To address this concern, we introduce a self-cascading multiscale network (ScasMNet) based on a fully convolutional network, aimed at enhancing the segmentation precision for each category in remote sensing images (RSIs). In ScasMNet, cropped Digital Surface Model (DSM) data and corresponding RGB data are fed into the network via two distinct paths. In the encoder stage, one branch utilizes convolution to extract height information from DSM images layer by layer, enabling better differentiation of trees and low vegetation with similar color and geographic location. A parallel branch extracts spatial, color, and texture information from the RGB data. By cascading the features of different layers, the heterogeneous data are fused to generate complementary discriminative characteristics. Lastly, to refine segmented edges, fully conditional random fields (DenseCRFs) are employed for postprocessing presegmented images. Experimental findings showcase that ScasMNet achieves an overall accuracy (OA) of 92.74% on two challenging benchmarks, demonstrating its outstanding performance, particularly for small-scale objects. This demonstrates that ScasMNet ranks among the state-of-the-art methods in addressing challenges related to semantic segmentation in RSIs.
Intelligent Tracking Method for Aerial Maneuvering Target Based on Unscented Kalman Filter
Authors: Dong Yunlong , Li Weiqi , Li Dongxue , Liu Chao , Xue Wei
Published: September 2024

This paper constructs a nonlinear iterative filtering framework based on a neural network prediction model. It uses recurrent neural networks (RNNs) to achieve accurate regression of complex maneuvering target dynamic models and integrates them into the nonlinear iterative filtering system via Unscented Transformation (UT). In constructing the neural network prediction model, the Temporal Convolutional Network (TCN) modules that capture long-term dependencies and the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) modules that selectively forget non-essential information were utilized to achieve accurate regression of the maneuvering models. When embedding the neural network prediction model, this paper proposes a method for extracting Sigma points using the UT transformation by ‘unfolding’ multi-sequence vectors and explores design techniques for the time sliding window length of recurrent neural networks. Ultimately, an intelligent tracking algorithm based on unscented filtering, called TCN-LSTM-UKF, was developed, effectively addressing the difficulties of constructing models and transition delays under high-maneuvering conditions and significantly improving the tracking performance of highly maneuvering targets.
Area-Efficient Mixed-Signal Time-to-Digital Converter Integration for Time-Resolved Photon Counting
Authors: Moreno Sergio , Moro Victor , Canals Joan , Diéguez Angel
Published: September 2024

Digital histogram generation for time-resolved measurements with single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD) sensors requires the storage of many timestamp signals. This work presents a mixed-signal time-to-digital converter (TDC) that uses analog storage to achieve an area-efficient design that can be integrated in large SPAD arrays. Fabricated using a 150 nm CMOS process, the prototype occupies an area of only 18.3 µm × 36.5 µm, a notable size reduction compared to conventional designs. The experimental results demonstrated high performance, with an integral nonlinearity (INL) of 0.35/0.14 least significant bit (LSB) and a differential nonlinearity (DNL) of 0.14/−0.12 LSB. In addition, the proposed TDC can support the construction of histograms comprising up to 512 bins, making it an effective solution to accommodate a wide range of resolution requirements. Validated in a point-of-care (PoC) device for fluorescence lifetime measurements, it distinguished between lifetimes of approximately 4.1 ns, 3.6 ns and 80 ns with the Alexa Fluor (AF) 546 and 568 dyes and Quantum Dot (QD) 705, respectively. The analog storage design and area-efficient architecture offer a novel approach to integrating TDCs in SPAD-based systems, with potential applications in medical diagnostics and beyond.
KISS—Keep It Static SLAMMOT—The Cost of Integrating Moving Object Tracking into an EKF-SLAM Algorithm
Authors: Mandel Nicolas , Kompe Nils , Gerwin Moritz , Ernst Floris
Published: September 2024

The treatment of moving objects in simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is a key challenge in contemporary robotics. In this paper, we propose an extension of the EKF-SLAM algorithm that incorporates moving objects into the estimation process, which we term KISS. We have extended the robotic vision toolbox to analyze the influence of moving objects in simulations. Two linear and one nonlinear motion models are used to represent the moving objects. The observation model remains the same for all objects. The proposed model is evaluated against an implementation of the state-of-the-art formulation for moving object tracking, DATMO. We investigate increasing numbers of static landmarks and dynamic objects to demonstrate the impact on the algorithm and compare it with cases where a moving object is mistakenly integrated as a static landmark (false negative) and a static landmark as a moving object (false positive). In practice, distances to dynamic objects are important, and we propose the safety–distance–error metric to evaluate the difference between the true and estimated distances to a dynamic object. The results show that false positives have a negligible impact on map distortion and ATE with increasing static landmarks, while false negatives significantly distort maps and degrade performance metrics. Explicitly modeling dynamic objects not only performs comparably in terms of map distortion and ATE but also enables more accurate tracking of dynamic objects with a lower safety–distance–error than DATMO. We recommend that researchers model objects with uncertain motion using a simple constant position model, hence we name our contribution Keep it Static SLAMMOT. We hope this work will provide valuable data points and insights for future research into integrating moving objects into SLAM algorithms.
Analytical Performance of the FreeStyle Libre 2 Glucose Sensor in Healthy Male Adults
Authors: Fellinger Eva , Brandt Tom , Creutzburg Justin , Rommerskirchen Tessa , Schmidt Annette
Published: September 2024

Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) not only can be used for glycemic control in chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes), but is increasingly being utilized by individuals and athletes to monitor fluctuations in training and everyday life. However, it is not clear how accurately CGM reflects plasma glucose concentration in a healthy population in the absence of chronic diseases. In an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with forty-four healthy male subjects (25.5 ± 4.5 years), the interstitial fluid glucose (ISFG) concentration obtained by a CGM sensor was compared against finger-prick capillary plasma glucose (CPG) concentration at fasting baseline (T0) and 30 (T30), 60 (T60), 90 (T90), and 120 (T120) min post OGTT to investigate differences in measurement accuracy. The overall mean absolute relative difference (MARD) was 12.9% (95%-CI: 11.8–14.0%). Approximately 100% of the ISFG values were within zones A and B in the Consensus Error Grid, indicating clinical accuracy. A paired t-test revealed statistically significant differences between CPG and ISFG at all time points (T0: 97.3 mg/dL vs. 89.7 mg/dL, T30: 159.9 mg/dL vs. 144.3 mg/dL, T60: 134.8 mg/dL vs. 126.2 mg/dL, T90: 113.7 mg/dL vs. 99.3 mg/dL, and T120: 91.8 mg/dL vs. 82.6 mg/dL; p < 0.001) with medium to large effect sizes (d = 0.57–1.02) and with ISFG systematically under-reporting the reference system CPG. CGM sensors provide a convenient and reliable method for monitoring blood glucose in the everyday lives of healthy adults. Nonetheless, their use in clinical settings wherein implications are drawn from CGM readings should be handled carefully.
Multilayer Structure Damage Detection Using Optical Fiber Acoustic Sensing and Machine Learning
Authors: Brusamarello Beatriz , Dreyer Uilian José , Brunetto Gilson Antonio , Pedrozo Melegari Luis Fernando , Martelli Cicero , Cardozo da Silva Jean Carlos
Published: September 2024

Over the past decade, distributed acoustic sensing has been utilized for structural health monitoring in various applications, owing to its continuous measurement capability in both time and space and its ability to deliver extensive data on the conditions of large structures using just a single optical cable. This work aims to evaluate the performance of distributed acoustic sensing for monitoring a multilayer structure on a laboratory scale. The proposed structure comprises four layers: a medium-density fiberboard and three rigid polyurethane foam slabs. Three different damages were emulated in the structure: two in the first layer of rigid polyurethane foam and another in the medium-density fiberboard layer. The results include the detection of the mechanical wave, comparing the response with point sensors used for reference, and evaluating how the measured signal behaves in time and frequency in the face of different damages in the multilayer structure. The tests demonstrate that evaluating signals in both time and frequency domains presents different characteristics for each condition analyzed. The supervised support vector machine classifier was used to automate the classification of these damages, achieving an accuracy of 93%. The combination of distributed acoustic sensing with this learning algorithm creates the condition for developing a smart tool for monitoring multilayer structures.
Living Together, Singing Together: Revealing Similar Patterns of Vocal Activity in Two Tropical Songbirds Applying BirdNET
Authors: Amorós-Ausina David , Schuchmann Karl-L. , Marques Marinez I. , Pérez-Granados Cristian
Published: September 2024

In recent years, several automated and noninvasive methods for wildlife monitoring, such as passive acoustic monitoring (PAM), have emerged. PAM consists of the use of acoustic sensors followed by sound interpretation to obtain ecological information about certain species. One challenge associated with PAM is the generation of a significant amount of data, which often requires the use of machine learning tools for automated recognition. Here, we couple PAM with BirdNET, a free-to-use sound algorithm to assess, for the first time, the precision of BirdNET in predicting three tropical songbirds and to describe their patterns of vocal activity over a year in the Brazilian Pantanal. The precision of the BirdNET method was high for all three species (ranging from 72 to 84%). We were able to describe the vocal activity patterns of two of the species, the Buff-breasted Wren (Cantorchilus leucotis) and Thrush-like Wren (Campylorhynchus turdinus). Both species presented very similar vocal activity patterns during the day, with a maximum around sunrise, and throughout the year, with peak vocal activity occurring between April and June, when food availability for insectivorous species may be high. Further research should improve our knowledge regarding the ability of coupling PAM with BirdNET for monitoring a wider range of tropical species.
GOI-YOLOv8 Grouping Offset and Isolated GiraffeDet Low-Light Target Detection
Authors: Mei Mengqing , Zhou Ziyu , Liu Wei , Ye Zhiwei
Published: September 2024

In the realm of computer vision, object detection holds significant importance and has demonstrated commendable performance across various scenarios. However, it typically requires favorable visibility conditions within the scene. Therefore, it is imperative to explore methodologies for conducting object detection under low-visibility circumstances. With its balanced combination of speed and accuracy, the state-of-the-art YOLOv8 framework has been recognized as one of the top algorithms for object detection, demonstrating outstanding performance results across a range of standard datasets. Nonetheless, current YOLO-series detection algorithms still face a significant challenge in detecting objects under low-light conditions. This is primarily due to the significant degradation in performance when detectors trained on illuminated data are applied to low-light datasets with limited visibility. To tackle this problem, we suggest a new model named Grouping Offset and Isolated GiraffeDet Target Detection-YOLO based on the YOLOv8 architecture. The proposed model demonstrates exceptional performance under low-light conditions. We employ the repGFPN feature pyramid network in the design of the feature fusion layer neck to enhance hierarchical fusion and deepen the integration of low-light information. Furthermore, we refine the repGFPN feature fusion layer by introducing a sampling map offset to address its limitations in terms of weight and efficiency, thereby better adapting it to real-time applications in low-light environments and emphasizing the potential features of such scenes. Additionally, we utilize group convolution to isolate interference information from detected object edges, resulting in improved detection performance and model efficiency. Experimental results demonstrate that our GOI-YOLO reduces the parameter count by 11% compared to YOLOv8 while decreasing computational requirements by 28%. This optimization significantly enhances real-time performance while achieving a competitive increase of 2.1% in Map50 and 0.6% in Map95 on the ExDark dataset.
How Do Local Environmental Regulations Affect the Export Technological Complexity of Enterprises?
Authors: Song Guohao , Ding Chunlin
Published: September 2024

This paper investigates the impact of environmental regulations in the cities where enterprises are located on the technological complexity of exports from Chinese manufacturing companies. Currently, China is promoting high-quality development in foreign trade, which encompasses various aspects, including the enhancement of the technological content of export products. This study begins by examining the environmental regulations in the cities of enterprises and their effects on the technological content of exported products. It utilizes government work reports from various cities in China to evaluate the strength of environmental regulations in each city, subsequently analyzing their impact on the export technological complexity of Chinese manufacturing enterprises. Empirical results indicate that environmental regulations drive an increase in the technological complexity of exports from these enterprises, and this conclusion is validated through several robustness tests, including substitution variables and instrumental variable regression. Heterogeneity tests reveal that the effect of environmental regulations on export technological complexity is not significant for enterprises located in central cities compared to those in eastern and western cities. Furthermore, the export technological complexity of processing-trade enterprises and capital-intensive industries is not significantly influenced by environmental regulations. Additionally, the analysis of the moderating effect finds that a city’s innovation capacity plays a reinforcing role in the relationship between environmental regulations and the export technological complexity of enterprises. Based on these research findings, this paper offers corresponding recommendations from the perspective of environmental regulations to promote the high-quality development of China’s foreign trade.
A Qualitative Study on the Relationship between Faculty Mobility and Scientific Impact: Toward the Sustainable Development of Higher Education
Authors: Zhang Jun , Su Xiaoyan , Wang Yifei
Published: September 2024

Faculty mobility is one of the most important research issues in the field of higher education. Reasonable faculty mobility can actively promote the fair, coordinated, balanced, healthy, and sustainable development of higher education. Scientific impact is the best proof of faculty members’ research abilities and is often represented by the quality of their articles. In particular, the gradual increase in citations of high-quality papers is undoubtedly an important reflection of healthy development in the academic field. This paper aims to explore the influence of faculty mobility on scientific impact, while comparative analysis is used to investigate whether there are disciplinary differences in the relationship between faculty mobility and scientific impact. Four major disciplines—sociology, mathematics, mechanical engineering, and philosophy—are selected as the scope of this study. Articles in these four major disciplines from 2000 to 2020 are obtained from the Web of Science, and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test are used to analyze the collected data. The results indicate the following: (1) faculty mobility has increased, with differences across disciplines; (2) mobility leads to a decrease in the number of citations, which decreases significantly with increased mobility frequency; and (3) the impact of mobility has disciplinary differences, with a relatively obvious decrease in mechanical engineering.
Exploring Sustainable Solutions: Dynamic Adsorption, Isotherm Models, and Kinetics of Organic Contaminants on Polystyrene Microplastics
Authors: Cojocaru Victor Constantin , Cristea Ionut Nicolae , Paris Ioana Ana , Ionescu Ioana Alexandra , Chiriac Florentina Laura
Published: September 2024

As the world transitions towards a more sustainable future, it is imperative to develop innovative solutions that address the pressing issue of plastic pollution. Microplastics, in particular, have become a significant concern due to their widespread presence in the environment and potential to interact with toxic pollutants. Organic compounds, which include a variety of harmful chemicals, such as pesticides and other industrial chemicals, are often released into the environment and can readily bind to microplastics. In this context, understanding the adsorption of organic compounds on microplastics is crucial for designing effective strategies to mitigate their environmental impacts. This study investigates the adsorption dynamics of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) on polystyrene microplastics, exploring the influence of pH and contact time, as well as utilizing kinetic models and isothermal equations to elucidate the adsorption mechanism. The results suggest that the pH level has a negligible impact on the adsorption capacity of PS for OCPs. In contrast, the contact time plays a significant role in the amount of OCPs adsorbed onto the PS surface. Interestingly, a relatively short time of up to 6 h was sufficient to reach equilibrium. The adsorption of OCPs on PS follows a uniform pattern consistent with the Freundlich isotherm model, indicating a multilayer adsorption process. The use of kinetic models to describe the adsorption process was also found to be useful in understanding its mechanism. Specifically, the pseudo-second-order kinetic model proved to be a suitable descriptor for the adsorption process of organochlorine pesticides on PS. This study highlights the importance of understanding the interactions between microplastics and organic pollutants, which is crucial for developing sustainable solutions to mitigate the environmental impacts of plastic pollution, ultimately contributing to a more environmentally conscious future.
Linking Environmental Sustainability and Financial Resilience through the Environmental Footprints and Their Determinants: A Panel Data Approach for G7 Countries
Authors: Lian Tao , Li Changhao
Published: September 2024

The pursuit of sustainable development has received much attention recently as nations confront increasing environmental, social, and economic difficulties. In order to comprehend sustainable development’s many facets and provide a plan for achieving them, this study conducts a thorough analysis of the concept. The study’s dependent variable, environmental footprint, is based on a research model. On the other hand, financial inclusion, human capital development, green growth, technological innovation, and renewable energy are the independent factors. This study used secondary data collected between 1990 and 2022. To better capture the variable indicators, the index for green growth is constructed using the entropy-weighted technique. The panel dataset problem was resolved by using diagnostic tests, which include cointegration, correlation, cross-sectional dependence, variance inflation factor (VIF), and stationarity tests. The findings of the diagnostic test indicated that a fully modified ordinary least square would be the best approach to use with this panel. According to the findings, the long-term variance is 55%. Renewable energy, green growth, and technological innovation have a substantial negative link with financial risk, while greenhouse gas emissions, financial inclusion, and human capital development have a significant and positive relationship. Environmental sustainability may benefit from policies that the government creates and funds for sustainable development. The findings imply that the government should provide incentives in terms of financial resilience to technological innovations and natural resources so that they would switch to green sources and help to improve the quality of the environment that would be sustainable.
Predictive Factors for the Successful Outcome of Urethral Sphincter Injections of Botulinum Toxin A for Non-Neurogenic Dysfunctional Voiding in Women
Authors: Yang Chia-Cheng , Jiang Yuan-Hong , Kuo Hann-Chorng
Published: September 2024

Purpose: Dysfunctional voiding (DV) is not uncommon in women with non-neurogenic voiding dysfunction. Because of its unknown pathophysiology, effective and durable treatment is lacking. This study aimed to analyze the results of treatment and predictive factors for a successful outcome of botulinum toxin A (BoNT-A) treatment in female patients with DV. Methods: In total, 66 women with DV confirmed by a videourodynamic study (VUDS) were treated with a BoNT-A injection into the urethral sphincter once (n = 33) or several times (n = 33). VUDS was performed before (baseline) and after the BoNT-A treatment. Patients with a global response assessment of the voiding condition of 2 or 3 and a voiding efficiency (VE) of >20% than baseline were considered to have a successful outcome. The baseline demographics, VUDS parameters, and VUDS DV subtypes were compared between the successful and failed groups. Predictive factors for a successful outcome were investigated by logistic regression analyses. Results: Successful and failed outcomes were achieved in 27 (40.9%) and 39 (59.1%) women, respectively. After BoNT-A injections, the maximum flow rate (Qmax), voided volume, and VE all significantly increased, and the postvoid residual (PVR) was slightly improved. No significant difference in the number of injections and medical comorbidity was found between the groups. However, the successful group had a higher incidence of previous pelvic surgery. No significant difference in the treatment outcome was found among patients with different urethral obstruction sites. Significant improvements in Qmax, voided volume, PVR, VE, and the bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) index were noted in the successful group. A lower VE at baseline and a history of surgery were identified as predictive factors for a successful outcome of BoNT-A injections for treating DV. Conclusion: BoNT-A injections into the urethral sphincter can effectively improve VE in 40.9% of women with DV. Women with higher BOO grades and previous pelvic surgery are predicted to have a successful treatment outcome.
Hazardous Alcohol Use and Its Effect on Direct-Acting Antiviral Therapy Initiation among People with Active Injection Drug Use and Current Hepatitis C Infection
Authors: Karimi-Sari Hamidreza , Lucas Gregory M. , Zook Katie , Weir Brian , Landry Miles , Sherman Susan G. , Page Kathleen R. , Falade-Nwulia Oluwaseun
Published: September 2024

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and hazardous alcohol use are both preventable causes of morbidity and mortality among people who inject drugs (PWID). In the general population, hazardous alcohol is associated with a reduced likelihood of HCV treatment initiation. Less is known about the prevalence and impact of hazardous alcohol use on direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy initiation among PWID with active injection drug use. Methods: PWID were recruited via street outreach in Baltimore, Maryland, between 2018 and 2019 and were enrolled in a study cohort. Participants completed a study survey and underwent HCV testing. Self-reported DAA therapy initiation was evaluated at follow-up visits every six months. Hazardous alcohol use was determined based on an AUDIT-C score of ≥4 for men or ≥3 for women. Data were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations. Results: Of the 720 PWID recruited, 291 had detectable HCV RNA, and only 134 were aware of their HCV infection. The mean (±standard deviation) age of those that were aware of their infection was 48.7 (±10.3) years, with a slight majority (53.0%) being male and predominantly African American (64.9%). The majority (80/134, 59.7%) met criteria for hazardous alcohol use. Only 16 (11.9%) PWID reported DAA therapy initiation within six months, and 20 (14.9%) reported it within 12 months of follow-up. Hazardous alcohol use (aOR = 1.23, 95% CI = 0.43–3.53) was not associated with DAA treatment initiation. Conclusions: There was a high prevalence of hazardous alcohol use, low rates of oral DAA therapy initiation, and no association between self-reported hazardous alcohol use and initiation of oral DAA therapy in our sample of PWID that were aware of their chronic HCV infection. Strategies to increase HCV treatment uptake in PWID with active drug use are urgently needed and should integrate alcohol and drug use evaluation and care.
Sources of legal regulation of trade cooperation and conflict resolution in Medieval England
Authors:   The Presidential Academy, RANEPA, Tsareva Yulia I.
Published: September 2024

The article examines the legal support for the activities of foreign merchants on the territory of Medieval England, as well as the legal environment in which trade disputes are resolved, the course and nature of the process in fair and slipway courts. The author tried to give a brief description of the main sources of trade cooperationregulationin Medieval England, as well as to clarify their relationship in resolving trade conflicts. Crown played a huge role in resolving conflicts between English and foreign merchants. It is the kings who regulate the amount of trade duties, and also confirm the privileges of certain groups of foreign merchants with Charters. Both political and economic aspects must be taken into account when we consider the role of kings in settling trade disputes. On one hand, issues related to limiting the privileges of foreign merchants in England were often raised in the English Parliament. The king was forced to listen to the opinion of the House of Commons, since it had a number of powers in the financial field, namely, it played a major role in voting taxes and fees. On the other hand, kings often borrowed significant amounts of money from foreign merchants. The political aspect was also important in resolving the largest conflicts, which often led to the outbreak of privateeringwars. It should be noted that the merchant law often include the norms of maritime law, and even criminal law. But the author did not intrude into these areas, since they deserveseparate research.
THE MYTHOLOGICAL CAT-MATRIX OF CONSUMERIST SOCIETY: FROM FEEDER TO CAT LITTER
Authors:   South Ural State University, Rezvushkina S. A. ,   Russian State University for the Humanities
Published: September 2024

In modern popular culture, there is a real “boom” of content, the main actors of which are cats. The widespread creation and replication of visual images of cats suggests that they are no longer only entertaining, but also ideological in nature. This article is devoted to the reflection of the existential foundations of cat content actors and the explication of the ideologies transmitted through them. Having analyzed a solid pool of Internet memes, the author concludes that the “cat” existential model replicated through memes differs from the real existentialstrategies of cats in nature and in captivity. Consideration of the existential, value and cultural narratives of Internet cats through the prism of the concept of “memetic warfare” reveals that they convey the ideal behavioral strategy of an individual in a consumer society. Due to this, we can put forward the assumption that the totality of cat content constructed in the Internet environment implicitly transmits what can conventionally be called the “cat matrix of society” -the main prescriptive behavioral and sociocultural models that are ideologically significant for the construction of a postmodern society. This construct, in turn, intersects with the understanding of myth as a prescriptive and normative existential matrix. Based on this, the author comes to the conclusion that the modern postmodern consumer society is characterized by its own, hedonistic-oriented model of mythologization, in which the “hero’s path” is replaced by the path “from trough to tray”.