bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ZmXYL modulates auxin‐induced maize growth
Authors: Li Haiyan , Tao Huifang , Xiao Yao , Qin Li , Lan Chen , Cheng Beijiu , Roberts Jeremy A. , Zhang Xuebin , Lu Xiaoduo
Published: June 2023

Plant architecture, lodging resistance, and yield are closely associated with height. In this paper, we report the identification and characterization of two allelic EMS‐induced mutants of Zea mays, xyl‐1, and xyl‐2 that display dwarf phenotypes. The mutated gene, ZmXYL, encodes an α‐xylosidase which functions in releasing xylosyl residue from a β‐1,4‐linked glucan chain. Total α‐xylosidase activity in the two alleles is significantly decreased compared to wild‐type plants. Loss‐of‐function mutants of ZmXYL resulted in a decreased xylose content, an increased XXXG content in xyloglucan (XyG), and a reduced auxin content. We show that auxin has an antagonistic effect with XXXG in promoting cell divisions within mesocotyl tissue. xyl‐1 and xyl‐2 were less sensitive to IAA compared to B73. Based on our study, a model is proposed that places XXXG, an oligosaccharide derived from XyG and the substrate of ZmXYL, as having a negative impact on auxin homeostasis resulting in the dwarf phenotypes of the xyl mutants. Our results provide a insight into the roles of oligosaccharides released from plant cell walls as signals in mediating plant growth and development.
Behavior of a Confluent Layer of Myoblasts Under Shear Flow
Authors: Hashimoto Shigehiro , Kinoshiro Haruki , Nagasawa Yuta
Published: June 2023

To investigate the effect of shear stress direction on the direction of cell activity in a confluent layer, the migration and deformation of cells oriented parallel or perpendicular to the direction of the shear flow field were optically tracked in vitro. A Couette-type shear flow between parallel walls was formed between the lower stationary culture dish and the upper rotating disk. Shear stress (<2 Pa) was set by adjusting the rotational speed of the upper disk. Myoblasts (C2C12: mouse myoblast cell line) were cultured in an incubator equipped with an inverted phase-contrast microscope under continuous shear flow for 7 days until confluency. Deformation and migration of each cell were tracked in time-lapse images. Analysis of these images showed that cells deform and migrate along their major axis even at confluency (whether the major axis of the cell is parallel or perpendicular to the shear stress field). As a result, the orientation of the major axis of the cell remains parallel or perpendicular to the shear stress field. This observation may be used to improve the development of engineered muscle tissue.
Design and Validation of a State-Dependent Riccati Equation Filter for State of Charge Estimation in a Latent Thermal Storage Device
Authors: Shanks Michael , Inyang-Udoh Uduak , Jain Neera
Published: June 2023

Latent thermal energy storage (TES) devices could enable advances in many thermal management applications, including peak load shifting for reducing energy demand and cost of HVAC or providing supplemental heat rejection in transient thermal management systems. However, real-time feedback control of such devices is currently limited by the absence of suitable state of charge estimation techniques, given the nonlinearities associated with phase change dynamics. In this paper, we design and experimentally validate a state-dependent Riccati equation (SDRE) filter for state of charge estimation in a phase change material (PCM)-based TES device integrated into a single-phase thermal-fluid loop. The advantage of the SDRE filter is that it does not require linearization of the nonlinear finite volume model; instead, it uses a linear parameter-varying system model which can be quickly derived using graph-based methods. We leverage graph-based methods to prove that the system model is uniformly detectable, guaranteeing that the state estimates are bounded. Using measurements from five thermocouples embedded in the PCM of the TES and two thermocouples measuring the fluid temperature at the inlet and outlet of the device, the state estimator uses a reduced-order finite volume model to determine the temperature distribution inside the PCM and in turn, the state of charge of the device. We demonstrate the state estimator in simulation and on experimental data collected from a thermal management system testbed to show that the state estimation error converges near zero and remains bounded.
Dynamic Lumped Parameter Modeling and Stability Analysis of Planar Hydraulically Amplified Dielectric Elastomer Actuators
Authors: Zamanian Amir Hosein , Krueger Paul S. , Richer Edmond
Published: June 2023

Hydraulically amplified dielectric elastomer actuators (HADEAs) comprise a hyper-elastic inflatable membrane filled with an incompressible dielectric fluid and partially covered with a pair of electrodes. Applying voltage to the electrodes induces Maxwell pressure, attracting them and forcing the peripheral membrane to inflate. We present a dynamic lumped parameter model (LPM) of a HADEA and discuss the dynamic response and the actuator's stability. The total kinetic energy was determined with a Lagrange description for the fluid flow. Lubrication theory was used to estimate the viscous fluid friction losses between the electrodes. Stability analysis of the dynamic LPM shows a Lyapunov stable node moving with the applied voltage, and a saddle point representing the snap-through instability in the actuator. A dynamic finite element model (FEM) was developed for comparison. The dynamic responses of the LPM showed a good agreement with the FEM while overestimating the viscous losses in the presence of a slight angle between the electrodes.
Research progress, challenges, and prospects of PM2.5 concentration estimation using satellite data
Authors: Zhu Shoutao , Tang Jiayi , Zhou Xiaolu , Li Peng , Liu Zelin , Zhang Cicheng , Zou Ziying , Li Tong , Peng Changhui
Published: June 2023

Satellite data are vital for understanding the large-scale spatial distribution of particulate matter (PM2.5) due to their low cost, wide coverage, and all-weather capability. Estimation of PM2.5 using satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD) products is a popular method. In this paper, we review the PM2.5 estimation process based on satellite AOD data in terms of data sources (i.e., inversion algorithms, data sets, and interpolation methods), estimation models (i.e., statistical regression, chemical transport models, machine learning, and combinatorial analysis), and modeling validation (i.e., four types of cross-validation (CV) methods). We found that the accuracy of time-based CV is lower than others. We found significant differences in modeling accuracy between different seasons ( p < 0.01) and different spatial resolutions ( p < 0.01). We explain these phenomena in this article. Finally, we summarize the research process, present challenges, and future directions in this field. We opine that low-cost mobile devices combined with transfer learning or hybrid modeling offer research opportunities in areas with limited PM2.5 monitoring stations and historical PM2.5 estimation. These methods can be a good choice for air pollution estimation in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to provide a basic framework for future researchers to conduct relevant research, enabling them to understand current research progress and future research directions.
Recent violent political extremist events in Brazil and epidemic modeling: The role of a SIS-like model on the understanding of spreading and control of radicalism
Authors: Crokidakis Nuno
Published: June 2023

In this work, we study a simple mathematical model to analyze the emergence and control of radicalization phenomena, motivated by the recent far-right extremist events in Brazil, occurred in 8 January 2023. For this purpose, we considered a compartmental SIS-like model that takes into account only the right electors, for simplicity. The model considers radical and moderated right electors, and the transitions between the two compartments are ruled by probabilities, taking into account pairwise social interactions and the important influence of social media through the dissemination of fake news. The role of the Brazilian Federal Supreme Court on the control of such violent activities is also considered in a simple way. The analytical and numerical results show that the influence of social media is essential for the spreading and prevalence of radicalism in the population. In the presence of such social media, we show that radicalism can be controlled, but not extincted, by an external influence, that models the acting of the Federal Supreme Court over the violent activities of radicals. If the social media effect is absent, the radicalism can disappear of the population, and this phenomenon is associated with an active-absorbing nonequilibrium phase transition, like the one that occurs in the standard SIS model.
WORKFORCE AGING AND INDUSTRY-LEVEL PRODUCTIVITY
Authors: YOUNG SONG E.
Published: June 2023

This paper investigates the relationship between the age structure of workforce and industry-level productivities using international panel data. We find that when the growth rate of prime-age workforce (aged between 30 and 49) falls, the growth rate of total factor productivity in industries that are highly dependent on prime-age workers tends to fall relative to that in other industries. We also present a simple general equilibrium model based on industry-level external economies of scale. We show that our empirical findings are consistent with the hypothesis that there are industry-level externalities coming from prime-age workers.
Mass spectrum and decays of the first radial excitation axial vector meson nonet
Authors: Feng Xue-Chao , Wei Ke-Wei
Published: June 2023

In this work, the mass spectrum of the first radial excitation axial vector meson nonet is considered in the framework of the nonrelativistic constituent quark model and Regge phenomenology. After that, we investigate the strong decay characteristics of these states within the [Formula: see text] model. The results are compared to values from other phenomenological models, and they may be beneficial in the prospective search for [Formula: see text] meson nonets.
DYNAMICAL BEHAVIORS OF A CLASS OF STOCHASTIC TUMOR–IMMUNE SYSTEMS
Authors: WANG ZHEN , JIN MENGMENG
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we consider a class of tumor–immune systems perturbed by the environmental noise and focus on the longtime behaviors. The existence and uniqueness of the globally positive solution to the tumor–immune system are proved using stochastic Lyapunov analysis and Itô’s formula. We study the boundedness of moments for tumor cells and effector cells. By considering the dynamics on the boundary, applying the comparison theorem and the strong ergodic theorem, we obtain a threshold [Formula: see text] which is used to characterize the stochastic permanence in the sense that there is a unique invariant measure and extinction of the stochastic tumor–immune system. We also give biological interpretations about our analytical results of stochastic system. In addition, we present numerical examples and discussions to illustrate our analysis results. We find that the small noises preserve Hopf bifurcation of the deterministic system in stochastic setting and study numerically how the stochastic Hopf bifurcation with parameters occurs.
Coloring closed Noetherian graphs
Authors: Zapletal Jindřich
Published: June 2023

If [Formula: see text] is a closed Noetherian graph on a [Formula: see text]-compact Polish space with no infinite cliques, it is consistent with the choiceless set theory ZF[Formula: see text][Formula: see text][Formula: see text]DC that [Formula: see text] is countably chromatic and there is no Vitali set.
Development and Application of Eddy Current Damping-Based Tuned Mass Damper for Wind-Induced Vibration Control of Transmission Tower
Authors: Lei Xu , Shen Lian , Niu Huawei , Chen Jinlin , Xie Wenping , Zhang Xuewen
Published: June 2023

To reduce the low-order vibrations of high-voltage transmission towers in response to strong winds, a tuned mass damper (TMD) that uses eddy current damping (ECD) with omnidirectional damping function (ECD-TMD) is proposed here. Compared with previous similar devices, the outstanding advantage of the proposed ECD-TMD lies in its use of non-contact ECD, structural simplicity, lack of internal friction, ability to sense micro-vibrations, and in the asymmetric cantilever pendulum structure that enables omnidirectional vibration suppression. Aero-elastic model wind tunnel test and field measurements were used for analyzing and validating the vibration responses of a 50-m-tall transmission tower with and without the proposed ECD-TMD. The results demonstrated that the proposed ECD-TMD reduced transmission tower’s first-order bending vibrations along and across the direction of transmission line. For the mass ratio of approximately 2%, approximately 18–27% reduction of acceleration and 10–25% reduction of displacement occurred. Because the first-order resonance of the tower body in response to wind accounts for a small fraction of the background response, the addition of a TMD device suppresses structural wind vibrations in a limiter manner but can significantly increase the first-order bending damping ratio of the tower.
Nonlinear Dynamic Characteristics of Rotating Thick Ring on the Elastic Foundation Based on Plane Stress Theory
Authors: Fan Bo , Wang Zhongmin , Wang Qingbo
Published: June 2023

Radial tires are widely used in transportation machinery, such as large aircraft, new energy vehicles, and engineering vehicles. The ring on the elastic foundation (REF) model is often used for dynamic analysis of radial tires, but the influence of elastic boundary on the dynamic characteristics of radial tires is ignored in this model. In this paper, based on the absolute nodal coordinate formulation (ANCF) and plane stress theory, a rotating thick ring on the elastic foundation (RTREF) model is established to explore the influence of elastic boundary position and other factors on dynamic characteristics. Because existing rectangular and triangular elements in ANCF can’t accurately describe radial/circumferential mesh of a thick ring, a novel ANCF-annular-sector element (AASE) is proposed for the RTREF model. By analyzing the influences of elastic boundary position, thick wall, and rotational speed on the vibration characteristics and nonlinear forced transient response of the RTREF model, it is demonstrated that even if the ring wall is thin, the influence of elastic boundary positions on the dynamic characteristics of the model can’t be ignored.
Effect of Soil–Structure Interaction on Inelastic Displacement Ratios of Bridge Structures Subjected to Pulse-Like Ground Motions
Authors: Sung Yu-Chi , Chao Kuo-Hung , Chen Chieh-Cheng , Liu Xiao-Qin , Su Chin-Kuo
Published: June 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effect of soil–structure interaction (SSI) on the inelastic displacement ratio of bridge structures subjected to near-fault pulse-like earthquake ground motions. SSI was modeled using a discrete-time recursive filter approach and frequency-dependent foundation–soil impedance functions. A total of 105 near-fault earthquake ground motion records were used for the analysis. The study also compared the soil–foundation–superstructure (SFS) system with a fixed-base system to explore the effects of spectral period normalization, strength reduction factor, earthquake magnitude, site-to-source distance, and peak ground velocity on the inelastic displacement ratio. The findings indicate that both the SFS and fixed-base systems have significant inelastic displacement demand under near-fault earthquakes, with values that can be 2–3 times higher than those predicted by ASCE-41-13, particularly in the short period range. Furthermore, as the structural period approaches the earthquake pulse period, the SFS system generally shows larger inelastic displacement ratios compared to the fixed-base system. The analytical results provide insight into the factors affecting the inelastic displacement ratio for near-fault pulse-like earthquakes.
Determinantal conditions for modules of generalized splines
Authors: Calta Kariane , Rose Lauren L.
Published: June 2023

Generalized splines on a graph [Formula: see text] with edge labels in a commutative ring [Formula: see text] are vertex labelings such that if two vertices share an edge in [Formula: see text], the difference between the vertex labels lies in the ideal generated by the edge label. When [Formula: see text] is an integral domain, the set of all such splines is a finitely generated [Formula: see text]-module [Formula: see text] of rank [Formula: see text], the number of vertices of [Formula: see text]. We find determinantal conditions on subsets of [Formula: see text] that determine whether [Formula: see text] is a free module, and if so, whether a so-called “flow-up class basis” exists.
Investigating Challenges to Adoption of Industry 4.0 Technologies in Logistics Management for Last Mile Delivery
Authors: Sharma Vijay Prakash , Prakash Surya , Singh Ranbir , Chakraborti Anirban
Published: June 2023

Innovative technologies from Industry 4.0 have penetrated all commercial business and industrial innovation sectors. To improve the current system’s efficiency, manufacturing and supply chains are implementing I4.0 technologies because they are the most crucial components of any business operation. It is important to identify the challenges that the logistics sector is facing. The logistics management for last mile delivery (LMD) using Industry 4.0 innovative technologies faces many challenges, creating a need for investigation. This study examines the challenges and offers a paradigm for an innovative industry 4.0 framework based on interpretive structural modeling (ISM). The requirement for infrastructure expansion and digitalization emerged as the biggest impediment to the implementation of Industry 4.0 in the logistics sector from the study. The broad framework for addressing issues with the distribution system rather than concentrating on a specific product or industry is presented. This study offers a general model that takes the challenges of Industry 4.0 operations at the primary and secondary levels.
Equivalent quantum systems
Authors: Caruso M.
Published: June 2023

We have studied quantum systems on finite-dimensional Hilbert spaces and found that all these systems are connected through local transformations. Actually, we have shown that these transformations give rise to a gauge group that connects the Hamiltonian operators associated with each quantum system. This bridge allows us to connect different quantum systems, in such a way that studying one of them allows to understand the other through a gauge transformation. Furthermore, we included the case where the Hamiltonian operator can be time-dependent. An application for this construction will be achieved in the theory of control quantum systems.
Differential-Growth-Induced Center Wave Buckling
Authors: Wang Zilu , Wang Cong , Wei Yingjie
Published: June 2023

Morphogenesis is a result of complex biological, chemical, and physical processes in which differential growth in biological systems is a common phenomenon, especially notable in plant organs such as petals and leaves. Mechanisms of these biologic structures have been studied in recent years with a growing focus from the mechanics point of view. However, understanding differential-growth-induced shape formation quantitatively in plant organs remains largely unknown. In this study, we conduct quantitative experimental measurement, theoretical analysis, and sufficient finite element analysis of constrained differential growth of a thin membrane-like structure. By deriving the corresponding strain energy expression of a buckled growing sample, we can calculate the shape function of such membrane structures explicitly. The results of this work demonstrate the effect of growth function, geometry characteristics, and material property. Our research points to potential approaches to novel geometrical design and inspirations on the microscale and the macroscale for items such as soft robotics and flexible electronics.
On the parity of the number of (a,b,m)-copartitions of n
Authors: Burson Hannah E. , Eichhorn Dennis
Published: June 2023

We continue the study of the [Formula: see text]-copartition function [Formula: see text], which arose as a combinatorial generalization of Andrews’ partitions with even parts below odd parts. The generating function of [Formula: see text] has a nice representation as an infinite product. In this paper, we focus on the parity of [Formula: see text]. We find specific cases of [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text] is even with density 1. Additionally, we show that the sequence [Formula: see text] takes both even and odd values infinitely often.
The mean number of divisors for rough, dense and practical numbers
Authors: Weingartner Andreas
Published: June 2023

We give asymptotic estimates for the mean number of divisors of integers without small prime factors, integers with bounded ratios of consecutive divisors, and for practical numbers. In the last case, this confirms a conjecture of Margenstern.
Maneuver Prediction Using Traffic Scene Graphs via Graph Neural Networks and Recurrent Neural Networks
Authors: Rama Petrit , Bajcinca Naim
Published: June 2023

The driving process involves many layers of planning and navigation, in order to enable tractable solutions for the otherwise highly complex problem of autonomous driving. One such layer involves an inherent discrete layer of decision-making corresponding to tactical maneuvers. Inspired by this, the focus of this work is predicting high-level maneuvers for the ego-vehicle. As maneuver prediction is fundamentally feedback-structured, it requires modeling techniques that take into consideration the interaction awareness of the traffic agents involved. This work addresses this challenge by modeling the traffic scenario as an interaction graph and proposing three deep learning architectures for interaction-aware tactical maneuver prediction of the ego-vehicle. These architectures are based on graph neural networks (GNNs) for extracting spatial features among traffic agents and recurrent neural networks (RNNs) for extracting dynamic motion patterns of surrounding agents. These proposed architectures have been trained and evaluated using BLVD dataset. Moreover, this dataset is expanded using data augmentation, data oversampling and data undersampling approaches, to strengthen model’s resilience and enhance the learning process. Lastly, we compare proposed learning architectures for ego-vehicle maneuver prediction in various driving circumstances with various numbers of surrounding traffic agents in order to effectively verify the proposed architectures.
A Reference Architecture for Supporting Multidimensional Big Data Analytics over Big Web Knowledge Bases: Definitions, Implementation, Case Studies
Authors: Cuzzocrea Alfredo
Published: June 2023

This paper focuses attention on the problem of supporting multidimensional big data analytics tools over Big Web Knowledge Bases. These big data repositories are generated from web systems built on top of big datasets, as in several real-life examples such as web interfaces to social networks, e-government systems, smart city tools (e.g., for weather forecasting), and so forth. The problem of extracting actionable knowledge insights from big web knowledge bases is a relevant challenge now. In line with this emerging research field, the paper proposes models, issues and research trends in the context of multidimensional big data analytics over big web knowledge bases, along with a reference architecture that impersonates this paradigm.
The Transformation of Secularism and the BJP’s Hindu Nationalism
Authors: Chen Jinying
Published: June 2023

Since Modi came into power in 2014, secularism has significantly retreated in India’s State machinery, institutions and political discourse. Exploring the history of secularism after India’s independence, it can be concluded that India has never achieved a complete separation between the State and the religion. On the contrary, the State has rebuilt its relationship with religion by social reforms. Secularism advocated by the Indian National Congress was a mixture of both Nehru’s ideal of separation between the State and the religion and Gandhi’s ideal of religious tolerance. On many issues the latter’s stand is similar to what the Hindu nationalists argue for. The opportunistic strategy of the Congress on religion-related issues since the late 1970s further opened the door for Hindu communalism. By stigmatizing and redefining the secularism framed by the Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) reconstructed a political discourse about India being a secular State based on Hindu nationalism. At present, the Congress has no intention of reviving the Nehru-style tradition of secularism and other regional parties once advocating secularism have abandoned the ideal. A rightward shift in Indian party politics is inevitable. Under the BJP’s rule, a secular Indian State based on communal (religious) politics is taking shape.
Risk Factors for Hyperosmolar Hyperglycemic State in Pediatric Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Everett Estelle M. , Copeland Timothy , Wisk Lauren E. , Chao Lily C.
Published: June 2023

Background. There is a paucity of data on the risk factors for the hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS) compared with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) in pediatric type 2 diabetes (T2D). Methods. We used the national Kids’ Inpatient Database to identify pediatric admissions for DKA and HHS among those with T2D in the years 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2019. Admissions were identified using ICD codes. Those aged <9yo were excluded. We used descriptive statistics to summarize baseline characteristics and Chi-squared test and logistic regression to evaluate factors associated with admission for HHS compared with DKA in unadjusted and adjusted models. Results. We found 8,961 admissions for hyperglycemic emergencies in youth with T2D, of which 6% were due to HHS and 94% were for DKA. These admissions occurred mostly in youth 17–20 years old (64%) who were non-White (Black 31%, Hispanic 20%), with public insurance (49%) and from the lowest income quartile (42%). In adjusted models, there were increased odds for HHS compared to DKA in males (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.42–2.21) and those of Black race compared to those of White race (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.34–2.44). Admissions for HHS had 11.3-fold higher odds for major or extreme severity of illness and 5.0-fold higher odds for mortality. Conclusion. While DKA represents the most admissions for hyperglycemic emergencies among pediatric T2D, those admitted for HHS had higher severity of illness and mortality. Male gender and Black race were associated with HHS admission compared to DKA. Additional studies are needed to understand the drivers of these risk factors.
Study on Structure Design and Motion Characteristics of Pneumatic Flexible Wrist with Braking Function
Authors: Liu Hongbo , Liu Qi
Published: June 2023

A flexible pneumatic wrist with spatial position maintenance function is developed in this paper to settle the matter of insufficient flexibility of the robot wrist and self-braking technology. The wrist is made up of four artificial muscles and a pneumatic spherical brake in parallel, with 2 degrees of freedom. The wrist can realize multidirectional bending and adjust the wrist damping and braking in real time as required to achieve position maintenance. The theoretical model of the wrist bending angle is built based on torque balance. The variation of wrist bending angle and motion trajectory with air pressure is acquired through experiments. Simultaneously, the validity of the bending angle theoretical model is verified experimentally. A normally open pneumatic spherical brake is developed, and the mathematical model of braking torque is built and experimentally validated. Using a 3D dynamic capture system to compare the dynamic characteristics of the wrist under different excitation signals and different damping conditions. The experimental results reveal that the wrist has good flexibility and can achieve the functions of human hand pitch and yaw. The bending angle is 20.72° at 0.34 MPa. The pneumatic spherical brake has the function of spatial multidirection braking, and the braking force is adjustable. The maximum braking torque can reach 1.4 N m at 0.35 MPa.
Causal Association Between Anemia and Cardiovascular Disease: A 2‐Sample Bidirectional Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Gan Ting , Hu Jing , Liu Wenhu , Li Cui , Xu Qian , Wang Ya , Lu Shuai , Aledan Anwer Khalid Okab , Wang Yan , Wang Zhaohui
Published: June 2023

Background

Although previous observational studies have shown an association between anemia and cardiovascular disease (CVD), the underlying causal relationship between anemia and CVD remains uncertain.

Methods and Results

We conducted a 2‐sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) study to assess the causal association between anemia and CVD. We extracted summary statistics data for anemia, heart failure (HF), coronary artery disease (CAD), atrial fibrillation, any stroke, and any ischemic stroke (AIS) from relevant published genome‐wide association studies. After rigorous quality control steps, independent single‐nucleotide polymorphisms for each disease were selected as instrumental variables. Inverse‐variance weighting was used as the primary method to estimate the causal association between anemia and CVD in the 2‐sample MR analysis. Simultaneously, we performed a series of multiple methods analyses (median weighting, maximum likelihood [MR robust adjusted profile score]), sensitivity analyses (Cochran's
Q
test and MR‐Egger intercept, leave‐one‐out test [MR pleiotropy residual sum and outlier]), instrumental variable strength evaluations (
F
statistic), and statistic power estimates to verify the robustness and reliability of our results. Furthermore, the associations between anemia and CVD from different studies, including the UK Biobank and FinnGen studies, were combined by meta‐analysis. The MR analysis showed that genetically predicted anemia was significantly associated with HF risk at the Bonferroni‐corrected significance level (odds ratio [OR], 1.11 [95% CI, 1.04–1.18];
P
=0.002) and was suggestively associated with CAD risk (OR, 1.11 [95% CI, 1.02–1.22];
P
=0.020). However, the associations between anemia and atrial fibrillation, any stroke, or AIS were not statistically significant. In the reverse MR analysis, we found that genetic susceptibility to HF, CAD, and AIS was significantly associated with anemia risk. The ORs of HF, CAD, and AIS were 1.64 (95% CI, 1.39–1.94;
P
=7.60E‐09), 1.16 (95% CI, 1.08–1.24;
P
=2.32E‐05), and 1.30 (95% CI, 1.11–1.52;
P
=0.001), respectively. Genetically predicted atrial fibrillation was suggestively associated with anemia (OR, 1.06 [95% CI, 1.01–1.12];
P
=0.015). Sensitivity analyses found weak evidence of horizontal pleiotropy and heterogeneity, which ensured the robustness and reliability of the results. Meta‐analysis also showed the statistically significant association between anemia and HF risk.

Conclusions

Our study supports bidirectional causality between anemia and HF and significant associations between genetic predisposition to CAD and AIS with anemia, which contributes to the clinical management of both diseases.
Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells (BMSC) Exosome-Derived mR-512-5p Inhibits the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Qiu Feng , Xu Leyi , Gong Li , Kong Lingjun , Zhang Jue , Fei Zhimin
Published: June 2023

This study discusses the mechanism of miR-512-5p derived from BMSC in restraining the proliferation and prompting apoptosis of GBM. BMSC exosome was obtained through ultra-centrifugation and assessed by TEM. The positive presentation of CD63 and HSP70 was detected with Western Blot.
The GBM cell line LN229 was divided into WM set, NC set, and ZR set followed by analysis of cell proliferation by MTT method, invasive ability by Tranwell chamber, apoptotic rate by FCM and the expression of JAG1 and notch2 by Western Blot. miR-512-5p level in LN229 cells was significantly
lower than U87MG and SHG44 cells. There was positive expression of CD63 and HSP70 in exosome. LN229 cell proliferation was restrained by the drug. ZR set had lower cell proliferation rate and invasive quantity and higher apoptotic rate than WM set and NC set. The protein expressions of JAG1
and notch2 in ZR set was reduced compared with WM set and NC set (P <0.05) without difference between NC set and WM set (P >0.05). In conclusion, GBM cell proliferation could be restrained and apoptosis could be increased by miR-512-5p derived from BMSC through targeting
JAG1. It could provide a brand-new therapeutic strategy for the treatment on GBM.
Gastric Disorder Analysis Using Hybrid Optimization with Machine Learning
Authors: Gurumoorthy G. , Ganesh Vaidyanathan S.
Published: June 2023

The stomach and all of its appendages, which include the oesophagus, duodenum, small intestine, and large intestine, amongst others, all play a crucial function within this system. Stomach dysrhythmias, which are linked to problems with the movement of gastrointestinal contents, affect a significant number of individuals all over the globe. These problems include inappropriate digestion (dyspepsia), nausea (vomiting sensation) for no apparent reason, vomiting, abdominal pain, stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and other disorders. During the process of finding the anomalies, it is possible that a number of techniques, including as imaging, endoscopy, electrogastrogram, and clinical analysis, will be used. Electrogastrography signals, also known as electrogastrograms (EGG), were captured using surface Ag/AgCl electrodes that were put over the stomach in 20 healthy persons before the data was gathered and pre-processed. The datasets were produced from these signals (8 Females and 12 Males). In addition to this, the datasets were obtained from 10 individuals who were suffering from various stomach illnesses (3 Females and 8 Males). In the stage known as “pre-processing,” which needs the obtained dataset to be treated in advance, any noise that was present in the signal is removed. In order to rid the data of any noise and increase the overall quality of the input data, a technique that is known as the Wiener filter is used. A technique known as Hybrid Grey Wolf Optimization with Particle Swarm Optimization is utilized in the process of feature selection. This algorithm is responsible for removing any extraneous data from the features that have been collected from the signal. The procedure is sped up as a result of this. The classifiers get the qualities that have been chosen as their input in order to carry out an analysis of the many stomach disorders, such as primary gastric lymphoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST), and neuroendocrine tumor. This enables the classifiers to do the analysis (carcinoid). The Multi-class Feed Forward Neural Network Classifier (MCFFN) is used to carry out the classification process. This classifier provides the stages along with the classes. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the classification process are taken into account in the calculation of performance measures.
MicroRNA-608 Regulates Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition to Inhibit Malignant Behaviors of Glioma Cells Through Nuclear Factor I-C Signaling Pathway
Authors: Ma Yuning , Cao Jing , Fan Tao
Published: June 2023

MiR-608 is expressed in bladder cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer risk, and exerts inhibitory role in gastric cancer and invasion of three negative malignant breast cancer by inhibiting the NIFC, but its role in the biology of glioma is unclear, so the purpose of this study was
to explore MiR-608’s role in glioma, and further explore whether NFIC signal pathways are involved in the role of MiR-608 in glioma. We obtain glioma tissues and normal tissues to detect the expression of miR-608 by PCR. miR-608 mimics transfection or joint with NFIC expression plasmid
were transfected into A172, and LN229 glioma cells followed by analysis of cell proliferation, clone formation, invasion and migration, and cell apoptosis. Compared to normal tissue, miR-608 expression in glioma tissues was decreased. After transfection of miR-608 mimics, miR-608 level, cell
proliferation activity, invasion and migration activity increased significantly, and apoptosis reduced, in addition, the dual luciferase report gene and protein imprinting analysis showed NFIC to be a target of miR-608. NFIC transfection reversed miR-608’s role in glioma cells. In conclusion,
microRNA-608 inhibits malignant invasion and migration of glioma cells via NFIC signaling.
Examining Student Responses in Technology-Delivered Self-Determination Intervention Using the Goal-Setting Challenge App
Authors: Raley Sheida K. , Townsend Rebecca J. , Shogren Karrie A. , Mazzotti Valerie L. , Fredrick Darcy , Kwiatek Stephen M. , Chapman Richard
Published: June 2023

The Goal-Setting Challenge App (GSC App) translates the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI) to a web-based format, shifting responsibility from teachers to technology to address challenges in scaling-up implementation. The present descriptive study examines transition-age U.S. students’ responses to GSC App lessons to explore the degree to which students’ responses reflected learning aligned with the SDLMI. Student responses suggest the GSC App successfully supported students in progressing through the SDLMI and setting goals, building action plans, and evaluating their progress. Implications related to the importance of setting standards for engagement in the GSC App, further exploration of teacher roles in supporting students to engage with the GSC App, and the ongoing provision of teacher implementation supports are highlighted.
Institutions Are Not Rules: Realigning the Ontology Behind Theories of Change
Authors: Castro Henrique A
Published: June 2023

Historical institutionalism has fruitfully moved beyond its initial focus on institutional effects to incorporate change. I argue, however, that the resulting advances have become misaligned with their conceptual bases. “Institutions as rules” was a useful first approximation, but it cannot accommodate changes in institutionalized practices occurring while sources of law remain the same. I propose reconceiving legal rules (material objects) and institutions (behavioral dispositions) as distinct elements that nonetheless remain fundamentally associated through the belief-shaping actions of specific groups. While rules change with the introduction of officially recognized materials, legal institutions change in response to new beliefs regarding what could pass as officially permissible. Far from a mere exercise in conceptual precision, the proposals draw distinctions that matter for description and explanation. In that regard, I show how the current literature mischaracterizes court-led change and how we might advance on the underexplored issue of collective meaning-making amidst unequal legal expertise.
Conversation-Based Assessments in Education: Design, Implementation, and Cognitive Walkthroughs for Usability Testing
Authors: Yildirim-Erbasli Seyma N. , Bulut Okan , Demmans Epp Carrie , Cui Ying
Published: June 2023

Conversational agents have been widely used in education to support student learning. There have been recent attempts to design and use conversational agents to conduct assessments (i.e., conversation-based assessments: CBA). In this study, we developed CBA with constructed and selected-response tests using Rasa—an artificial intelligence-based tool. CBA was deployed via Google Chat to support formative assessment. We evaluated (1) its performance in answering students’ responses and (2) its usability with cognitive walkthroughs conducted by external evaluators. CBA with constructed-response tests consistently matched student responses to the appropriate conversation paths in most cases. In comparison, CBA with selected-response tests demonstrated perfect accuracy between system design and implementation. A cognitive walkthrough of CBA showed its usability as well as several potential issues that could be improved. Participating students did not experience these issues, however, we reported them to help researchers, designers, and practitioners improve the assessment experience for students using CBA.
A Condensed Positive Psychology Course Improves Students’ Subjective Well-Being and Academic Achievement
Authors: Cho Kit W. , Frizzell Sarah
Published: June 2023

Background

Completing positive psychology-related activities can increase subjective and objective well-being.

Objective

The present study investigated whether completing a condensed positive psychology course increases students’ subjective well-being and academic achievement relative to those who completed other condensed psychology courses.

Method

One hundred and eighty-one students completed a condensed 4-week to 5-week asynchronous, fully online, positive psychology, cognitive psychology, or statistics course. All students completed three questionnaires assessing their subjective well-being (life satisfaction, happiness, and stress level) at two time points: precompletion and postcompletion of the course. Participants were also asked to indicate how often they shared the information they learned in the course with their close others, and their course grade was analyzed.

Results

Students who completed the positive psychology course reported higher levels of life satisfaction, lower levels of stress, and had a higher course grade compared to students completing the other psychology courses. Students who completed positive psychology indicated that they were more likely to share what they had been learning with their close others than those who completed the other courses. Among the positive psychology activities, participants indicated that they were most likely to continue performing random acts of kindness.

Conclusion

Completing a positive psychology course benefits both the individual and the community at large.

Teaching implications

The results support the use of a positive psychology course to improve students’ well-being and academic achievement.
National Drug Laws, Policies, and Programs in India: A Narrative Review
Authors: Parmar Arpit , Narasimha Venkata Lakshmi , Nath Santanu
Published: June 2023

Background:

Drug use is a major public health issue in India. Significant changes in the approach toward drug use have happened in the last few decades. Despite this, no systematic attempt has been made to document the same in the scientific literature. This narrative review attempts to discuss the major drug laws, policies, and national programs of the Government of India (GoI).

Methods:

A thorough search was conducted to look for policies, programs, acts, and notifications related to substance use/drug use on various websites of different ministries of the GoI. Acts, programs, and policies addressing substance use were identified.

Results:

Various drug laws, programs, and acts from the GoI provide a multipronged approach to curbing the procurement of drug use along with its prevention and cure. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) is the nodal ministry for drug demand reduction. The enactment of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985 and Policy 2012 and the implementation of India’s Drug De-Addiction Program (DDAP) are important landmarks in this journey.

Conclusion:

The GoI initiatives for reducing the mental health burden in this country in general and substance use disorders (SUDs), in particular, are immense. The acts/statutes/laws/notifications are all interlinked. Stakeholders in mental health, public health, and policy-making need to upgrade themselves with the relevant statutes to curb the menace of drug use.
Prevention of saphenous nerve injury after below-knee laser ablation of incompetent great saphenous veins: A trial of two-step ablation and an early result
Authors: Utoh Junichi , Tsukamoto Yoshiharu
Published: June 2023

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a two-step endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) protocol for treating long-reflux great saphenous veins (GSV) below the knee (BK) while preventing saphenous nerve injury.

Methods

A total of 370 legs with long-reflux to BK-GSV underwent EVLA using a Biolitec 1470 nm laser system and a radial 2-ring slim fiber. The above-knee GSV was ablated at 7 W (50–70 J/cm), and the BK-segment was ablated at 5 W (20–25 J/cm) in a two-step.

Results

The average ablation length was 51 cm, including 28 legs treated over 60 cm. Saphenous nerve injury was not observed in any patients. One month later, ultrasonography revealed complete occlusion of all treated GSV.

Conclusions

Our EVLA protocol for treating BK-GSV was found to be a safe and efficient procedure.
c-Si PV module recycling: Analysis of the use of a mechanical pre-treatment to reduce the environmental impact of thermal treatment and enhance materials recovery
Authors: Camargo Priscila Silva Silveira , Domingues Andrey da Silva , Palomero João Pedro Guê , Cenci Marcelo Pilotto , Kasper Angela Cristina , Dias Pablo Ribeiro , Veit Hugo Marcelo
Published: June 2023

The current increase in the use of photovoltaic (PV) energy demands the search for solutions to recycle end-of-life modules. This study evaluated the use of a mechanical pre-treatment in the thermal recycling of c-Si crystalline PV modules, which were submitted to recycling routes to separate and concentrate the materials of interest. The first route was constituted by only thermal treatment, and the second route was constituted by a mechanical pre-treatment to remove the polymers from the backsheet, and subsequent thermal treatment. The exclusively thermal route was performed at 500°C, varying dwell times between 30 and 120 minutes in the furnace. In this route, the best results were obtained in 90 minutes, with a maximum degradation of 68% of the polymeric mass. In route 2, a micro-grinder rotary tool was used to remove the polymers from the backsheet and, subsequently, thermal treatment performed at 500°C, with dwell times in the furnace ranging between 5 and 30 minutes. The mechanical pre-treatment removed about 10.32 ± 0.92% of the mass of the laminate PV module. By this route, only 20 minutes of thermal treatment were needed for the total decomposition of the polymers, that is, a reduction of 78% in the oven time. With route 2, it was possible to obtain a concentrate with 30 times more silver than the PV laminate and 40 times more than a high-concentration ore. Furthermore, with route 2 it was possible to reduce the environmental impact of heat treatment and energy consumption.
Love and Marriage: Reimagining Muslim female subjectivity in Kamila Shamsie’s Salt and saffron
Authors: Safdar Muhammad , Yasmin Musarat
Published: June 2023

Muslim women in popular Western imagination have usually been viewed as victims of forced marriages and suppressed individualistic rights to love/desire, and Islam as the primary source of it. The trend has intensified in the post-9/11 gendered Islamophobic spotlight. Anglophone literature by Muslim women writers has countered this monolithic narrative by exploring the multi-layered complexity and fluidity of Muslim womanhood. We aim to examine the subjectivity of Muslim women as explored in Kamila Shamsie’s novel Salt and Saffron regarding love/desire and marriage by drawing on the concepts of performativity and third space to intervene in the discourse of Muslim women’s gender subjectivity. We examine how the female protagonist (Aliya) transforms her consciousness of her rights and cultural norms into her battles for agency and expansive space for choice and decision in love and marriage without open confrontation against and submission to norms. This performative subjective position comes out as inclusive and agentive, re-signifying the norms and the individualist awareness into an indeterminate, third space of enunciation. We foreground the epistemology that interlaces mobility-shaped individualistic awareness and consciousness of norms to contradict the monolithic Muslim woman compliant/victim theoretical frame.