bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
KİMYASALLARIN OLUŞTURDUĞU ALERJİK TEMAS DERMATİT POTANSİYELİNİN DOĞRUDAN PEPTİT REAKTİVİTE YÖNTEMİ İLE DEĞERLENDİRİLMESİ
Authors: ULKER Ozge , GÖKBULUT Alper , COŞKUN Nuran , KAVAS Pelin
Published: August 2023

Amaç: Kozmetik ürün, farklı kimyasal bileşiklerin bir kombinasyonu olup genellikle cilt koşullarını veya insan vücudunun kokusunu temizlemek ve iyileştirmek için kullanılır, güzelliği arttırır. AB'de, bitmiş kozmetik ürünler üzerinde hayvan testlerinin kullanılmasına ilişkin bir test yasağı 2004'ten beri yürürlükteyken, 2013'te deri hassasiyet testi de dahil olmak üzere her türlü hayvan toksisitesi testi için bir pazarlama yasağı yürürlüğe girmiştir.
Gereç ve Yöntem: Deri hassasiyet testi için ECVAM tarafından üç farklı in-vitro ve bir kimyasal yöntem geliştirilmiş ve onaylanmıştır. Doğrudan Peptit Reaktivite Deneyi (DPRA) bir in-chemico yöntemidir. Testin amacı, kimyasalların deri hassasiyet potansiyelinin değerlendirilmesine katkıda bulunmaktır. Düşük moleküler ağırlıklı maddelerin (haptenler) ciltteki proteinlere kovalent bağlanması olan haptenizasyon, alerjide önemli bir mekanizma olarak kabul edilmektedir. Bu nedenle, DPRA gibi peptit reaktivite deneylerinden elde edilen bilgiler, kimyasalların deri hassasiyet potansiyelinin değerlendirilmesi hakkında bilgi sağlar. Çalışmamızda hassasiyet potansiyeli bilinen kimyasalları uygulanarak DPRA'yı kılavuza göre kurmak amaçlanmıştır.
Sonuç ve Tartışma: Kozmetik bileşenlerin deri hassasiyet sınıflandırmasına yönelik DPRA çalışmamızın sonuçları, bu kimyasallar ile yapılan önceki in-vivo ve ex-vivo çalışmaların sonuçlarıyla uyumlu bulunmuştur. Çalışmaya eklenen ve kuvvetli irritasyon özelliğine sahip sodyum dodesil sülfat (SDS) uygulaması, DPRA yönteminin irritasyon ve alerji ayrımını yapabileceğini göstermesi açısından önem taşımaktadır. Daha güvenilir bir deri hassasiyet değerlendirmesi sağlamak için iki veya daha fazla yaklaşımdan elde edilen en iyi sonuçların nasıl birleştirileceği değerlendirilmelidir. Alternatif yöntemlerden elde edilen veriler, tek başına bir yöntem olarak kullanılmamalı, kanıt yaklaşımının ağırlıklı bir parçası olarak diğer bilgilerle birlikte değerlendirilmelidir. Bu nedenle, duyarlaştırıcı ve duyarlaştırıcı olmayan maddeler arasında ayrım yapmak mümkündür.
Contribution of microphytobenthos to the carbon sink in brackish and freshwater tidal flats of the Yangtze Estuary
Authors: Chen HY , Hua YJ , Gu RT , Liu TT , Tang JW , Zhang W , Ge ZM
Published: August 2023

Estuarine and coastal wetlands have great potential as carbon sinks; however, the carbon fluxes that occur in unvegetated tidal flats remain largely unknown. The CO2 flux of tidal flats is mainly controlled by CO2 uptake by microphytobenthos (MPB) and CO2 emission by sediment respiration. In this study, a brackish tidal flat (B-TF) and a freshwater tidal flat (F-TF) in the Yangtze Estuary were selected to investigate the effects of salinity on MPB growth (indicated by the content of chlorophyll a and pheopigment) and the CO2 flux of tidal flats (during daytime). The results showed that the sediment salinity at the B-TF was 5-19 times higher than that at the F-TF, depending on the season. Diatoms showed a dominant saltwater community at the B-TF and a freshwater community at the F-TF. Over spring, autumn, and winter, CO2 absorbed by the MPB was on average 113 and 230% of the CO2 emitted through sediment respiration of the B-TF and F-TF, respectively, showing a CO2 sink capacity. High salinity in winter inhibited sediment respiration and improved the physiological status of the MPB, making the B-TF a strong CO2 sink, whereas the F-TF was a strong CO2 sink in summer. The freshwater and dissolved (SiO32-) silicon input to the estuary via the river had significant effects on MPB growth and sediment respiration, which were also influenced by light, temperature, and pH. Our study highlights the importance of estuarine salinity fluctuations in the CO2 sinks of estuarine tidal flats, which should be given additional attention when assessing the role of tidal flats in CO2 mitigation.
Cognitive diagnostic assessment in higher education
Authors:   , Maas Jacquelina Anna Maria
Published: August 2023

This dissertation is about formative assessment in higher education. The emerging use of technology in education enables administration of online formative assessments that can be used to automatically generate feedback that supports students’ learning processes. In current practice, this feedback often solely consists of information about correctness of responses and a proportion correct sore. A promising approach to obtain more detailed, diagnostic feedback is cognitive diagnostic assessment. A set of skills is defined and items are administered to measure those skills. A skill profile is estimated based on students’ responses to the items using a psychometric model, indicating for each skill whether a student masters it or not. Diagnostic classification models (DCMs) are suitable psychometric models to estimate these profiles, after which feedback can be provided to support self-directed learning.

This dissertation shows how online formative assessment with DCMs can be designed and implemented for effective feedback in higher education. For this end, we studied (1) psychometric properties of DCMs, (2) the construction of assessments that provide a valid and reliable measurement of skills in statistics education, and (3) effects of feedback on self-directed learning processes. Although the mathematical foundation of DCMs is complex and designing assessments is an integrative process, the results of this dissertation show that the implementation is feasible and valuable.
Anhelos de la población inmigrante venezolana en Colombia: una visión desde las nuevas dinámicas de la movilidad humana
Authors: Sierra de Rodríguez Olga Marina , Toloza Martínez Claudia Elizabeth , ZambranoMiranda Mario de Jesús
Published: August 2023

The Venezuelan migratory movement is one of the greatest human mobility phenomena in Latin America. The object of the study is to reveal the desires of the Venezuelan population that is in immigrant status between Cúcuta and Villa del Rosario in the Department of Norte de Santander, Colombia. The methodology used focused on qualitative research through the application of semi-structured interviews. The analysis of the information was carried out with grounded theory and the Atlas.Ti software. Among the findings, four categories emerged: yearning for security, documents and identity, social yearnings and yearning for mobility. These results contributed to constructing a profile for this group of immigrants. In conclusion, it was possible to characterize immigrants’ desires as an input for designing public policies that allows to satisfy human needs.
Colombian International Migration: The Impact of Information Networks on Migration
Authors: Aguilera Michael B. , Contreras-Medrano Diego
Published: August 2023

Data from the Latin American Migration Project (LAMP) collected in Colombia between 2008 and 2015 were used to establish the scarcely studied relationship between social networks and the destinations where Colombians migrate. A logistic regression was employed to predict these migratory destinations. The contribution of this research is that it tests whether social networks tied to a destination are associated with the likelihood to migrate there. The findings support the Social Network Theory and offer an improved measure of social networks. It is shown that in migration gender matters since flow and interactions vary between men and women. There is evidence that men receive a greater benefit from social networks.
Law versus Democracy: Reputation Costs, Judicial Alliance Networks, and Democratic Erosion in Turkey
Authors: O'Donohue Andrew
Published: August 2023

Conventional wisdom holds that independent judiciaries protect democracies from backsliding. I instead argue that courts can enable democratic erosion depending on their alignment with voters and networks with elite allies. Whereas existing theories model the judiciary’s strategic interaction with the executive and legislature, I add that executive-judicial conflicts occur in front of an influential audience: voters. Adapting the concept of “audience costs” from international relations, I develop a formal model in which executive-judicial conflict is institution-enhancing when judicial sanctions impose a “reputation cost” on politicians but institution-eroding when judicial penalties give politicians a “reputation benefit.” Findings from an original dataset of 3,000 decisions issued by Turkey’s Constitutional Court suggest that two features of judicial alliance networks pull courts out of alignment with voters and into the institution-eroding equilibrium: judicial networks with 1) partisan allies and 2) unelected allies, such as indirectly elected heads of state.
Expanding the Scope of US Party Politics: An Examination of Membership and Campaign Activism in Democrats Abroad Canada
Authors: McCann James , Rapoport Ronald
Published: August 2023

Drawing from an original survey of Americans living in Canada and a more specialized survey of members of "Democrats Abroad" in Canada, we examine the representativeness of the US Democratic Party in the Canadian context. We find that among Americans in Canada who identify as Democrats, about one out of five report membership in Democrats Abroad – a minority, but a substantial minority. The socio-demographic and attitudinal biases in party involvement that researchers have long documented in the US are markedly apparent in Canada. But after controlling for these biases, we find that the political events sponsored by Democrats Abroad serve as an independent conduit into transnational campaigning.
Acute-on-chronic Liver Failure: Systemic Inflammation and Immunosuppression, 2nd edition
Authors: Xiang Xiaogang
Published: August 2023

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a fatal disease that develops in the basis of chronic liver diseases due to acute precipitating events. The lack of definite therapies for ACLF other than liver transplantation urges us to investigate its pathophysiological mechanism. It has been recognized that systemic inflammation is a major driver of ACLF. Although the link between systemic inflammation and organ failure has been established, less is known about how systemic inflammation forms and how it impacts on the organ functions. On the other hand, immunosuppression is another facet of immune derangement of ACLF, which leads to secondary bacterial infections and worsens the situation. However, so far, we know very little on the development of immunosuppression during ACLF and its molecular mechanisms. Thus, this disease is still a big challenge to both clinicians and researchers. The immune derangement of ACLF is characterized by systemic inflammation and immunosuppression. Therefore, one aspect of this Research Topics is to define the concept of systemic inflammation in the context of ACLF. We should clarify the anatomy of systemic inflammation, including the inducers (DAMP and PAMP), immune cells, cytokines and other elements, and their specific roles. We should also investigate how systemic inflammation impacts on organ function and thereby precipitates the development of organ failure. The other aspect of this Research Topic is to delineate immunosuppression in ACLF. Likewise, we need to define immunosuppression by elucidating its causative mechanisms and uncover the specific stage of ACLF at which immunosuppression occurs. Besides, it is essential to further evaluate the impact of immunosuppression on the progression of ACLF. The investigation at these two facets of immune derangement of ACLF will lead to the discovery of biomarkers and potential therapeutical targets.
Lipid alternations in the plasma of COVID-19 patients with various clinical presentations
Authors: Liang Xiao , Qi Xin , Yang Jin , Wang Xiaorui , Qin Hongyu , Hu Fang , Bai Han , Li Yixin , Zhang Chengsheng , Shi Bingyin
Published: August 2023

Background

COVID-19 is a highly infectious respiratory disease that can manifest in various clinical presentations. Although many studies have reported the lipidomic signature of COVID-19, the molecular changes in asymptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected individuals remain elusive.

Methods

This study combined a comprehensive lipidomic analysis of 220 plasma samples from 166 subjects: 62 healthy controls, 16 asymptomatic infections, and 88 COVID-19 patients. We quantified 732 lipids separately in this cohort. We performed a difference analysis, validated with machine learning models, and also performed GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis using differential lipids from different control groups.

Results

We found 175 differentially expressed lipids associated with SASR-CoV-2 infection, disease severity, and viral persistence in patients with COVID-19. PC (O-20:1/20:1), PC (O-20:1/20:0), and PC (O-18:0/18:1) better distinguished asymptomatic infected individuals from normal individuals. Furthermore, some patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid by RT-PCR but did not become negative for a longer period of time (≥60 days, designated here as long-term nucleic acid test positive, LTNP), whereas other patients became negative for viral nucleic acid in a shorter period of time (≤45 days, designated as short-term nucleic acid test positive, STNP). We have found that TG (14:1/14:1/18:2) and FFA (4:0) were differentially expressed in LTNP and STNP.

Conclusion

In summary, the integration of lipid information can help us discover novel biomarkers to identify asymptomatic individuals and further deepen our understanding of the molecular pathogenesis of COVID-19.
Interferon gene therapy with nadofaragene firadenovec for bladder cancer: from bench to approval
Authors: Martini Alberto , Tholomier Côme , Mokkapati Sharada , Dinney Colin P. N.
Published: August 2023

Bladder cancer is a prevalent malignancy with limited therapeutic options, particularly for patients who are unresponsive to Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG). The approval of interferon-α (IFNα) gene therapy with nadofaragene firadenovec (Adstiladrin®), the first gene therapy for genitourinary malignancies, has provided a promising alternative. This article reviews the research and milestones that led to the development and approval of nadofaragene firadenovec. Bladder cancer is well-suited for gene therapy due to direct access to the bladder and the availability of urine and tissue samples for monitoring. Early challenges included effective gene transfer across the urothelium, which was overcome initially by modulating the expression of coxsackie/adenovirus receptor (CAR) and, ultimately, by disrupting the urothelial barrier with Syn3. Nadofaragene firadenovec is a modified adenoviral vector carrying the IFNα gene. Clinical trials have shown promising results, with high response rates and manageable adverse events. Ongoing research focuses on improving patient selection, identifying biomarkers for response prediction, exploring alternative vectors for enhanced transfection efficiency, and developing combination strategies targeting resistance mechanisms. The approval of nadofaragene firadenovec marks a significant milestone in the field of gene therapy for bladder cancer, and future developments hold promise for further enhancing its efficacy and impact.
Responses of the microbial community and the production of extracellular polymeric substances to sulfamethazine shocks in a novel two-stage biological contact oxidation system
Authors: Zhou Jia , Chen Tian , Cui Jing , Chen Yan , Zhao Shuai , Qu Jian-Hang , Wang Zitong , Pan Jingshi , Fan Lixin
Published: August 2023

Introduction

The biological contact oxidation reactor is an effective technology for the treatment of antibiotic wastewater, but there has been little research investigating its performance on the sulfamethazine wastewater treatment.

Methods

In this study, a novel two-stage biological contact oxidation reactor was used for the first time to explore the impact of sulfamethazine (SMZ) on the performance, microbial community, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and antibiotic-resistant genes (ARGs).

Results

The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) removal efficiencies kept stable at 86.93% and 83.97% with 0.1–1 mg/L SMZ addition and were inhibited at 3 mg/L SMZ. The presence of SMZ could affect the production and chemical composition of EPS in the biofilm, especially for the pronounced increase in TB-PN yield in response against the threat of SMZ. Metagenomics sequencing demonstrated that SMZ could impact on the microbial community, a high abundance of Candidatus_Promineofilum, unclassified_c__Anaerolineae, and unclassified_c__Betaproteobacteria were positively correlated to SMZ, especially for Candidatus_Promineofilum.

Discussion

Candidatus_Promineofilum not only had the ability of EPS secretion, but also was significantly associated with the primary SMZ resistance genes of sul1 and sul2, which developed resistance against SMZ pressure through the mechanism of targeted gene changes, further provided a useful and easy-implement technology for sulfamethazine wastewater treatment.
Subtle alterations of vestibulomotor functioning in conductive hearing loss
Authors: Manno Francis A. M. , Cheung Pikting , Basnet Vardhan , Khan Muhammad Shehzad , Mao Yuqi , Pan Leilei , Ma Victor , Cho William C. , Tian Shile , An Ziqi , Feng Yanqiu , Cai Yi-Ling , Pienkowski Martin , Lau Condon
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Conductive hearing loss (CHL) attenuates the ability to transmit air conducted sounds to the ear. In humans, severe hearing loss is often accompanied by alterations to other neural systems, such as the vestibular system; however, the inter-relations are not well understood. The overall goal of this study was to assess vestibular-related functioning proxies in a rat CHL model.

Methods

Male Sprague–Dawley rats (N=134, 250g, 2months old) were used in a CHL model which produced a >20dB threshold shift induced by tympanic membrane puncture. Auditory brainstem response (ABRs) recordings were used to determine threshold depth at different times before and after CHL. ABR threshold depths were assessed both manually and by an automated ABR machine learning algorithm. Vestibular-related functioning proxy assessment was performed using the rotarod, balance beam, elevator vertical motion (EVM) and Ferris-wheel rotation (FWR) assays.

Results

The Pre-CHL (control) threshold depth was 27.92dB±11.58dB compared to the Post-CHL threshold depth of 50.69dB±13.98dB (mean±SD) across the frequencies tested. The automated ABR machine learning algorithm determined the following threshold depths: Pre-CHL=24.3dB, Post-CHL same day=56dB, Post-CHL 7 days=41.16dB, and Post-CHL 1 month=32.5dB across the frequencies assessed (1, 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32kHz). Rotarod assessment of motor function was not significantly different between pre and post-CHL (~1week) rats for time duration (sec) or speed (RPM), albeit the former had a small effect size difference. Balance beam time to transverse was significantly longer for post-CHL rats, likely indicating a change in motor coordination. Further, failure to cross was only noted for CHL rats. The defection count was significantly reduced for CHL rats compared to control rats following FWR, but not EVM. The total distance traveled during open-field examination after EVM was significantly different between control and CHL rats, but not for FWR. The EVM is associated with linear acceleration (acting in the vertical plane: up-down) stimulating the saccule, while the FWR is associated with angular acceleration (centrifugal rotation about a circular axis) stimulating both otolith organs and semicircular canals; therefore, the difference in results could reflect the specific vestibular-organ functional role.

Discussion

Less movement (EVM) and increase time to transverse (balance beam) may be associated with anxiety and alterations to defecation patterns (FWR) may result from autonomic disturbances due to the impact of hearing loss. In this regard, vestibulomotor deficits resulting in changes in balance and motion could be attributed to comodulation of auditory and vestibular functioning. Future studies should manipulate vestibular functioning directly in rats with CHL.
Decoding the EEG patterns induced by sequential finger movement for brain-computer interfaces
Authors: Liu Chang , You Jia , Wang Kun , Zhang Shanshan , Huang Yining , Xu Minpeng , Ming Dong
Published: August 2023

Objective

In recent years, motor imagery-based brain–computer interfaces (MI-BCIs) have developed rapidly due to their great potential in neurological rehabilitation. However, the controllable instruction set limits its application in daily life. To extend the instruction set, we proposed a novel movement-intention encoding paradigm based on sequential finger movement.

Approach

Ten subjects participated in the offline experiment. During the experiment, they were required to press a key sequentially [i.e., Left→Left (LL), Right→Right (RR), Left→Right (LR), and Right→Left (RL)] using the left or right index finger at about 1 s intervals under an auditory prompt of 1 Hz. The movement-related cortical potential (MRCP) and event-related desynchronization (ERD) features were used to investigate the electroencephalography (EEG) variation induced by the sequential finger movement tasks. Twelve subjects participated in an online experiment to verify the feasibility of the proposed paradigm.

Main results

As a result, both the MRCP and ERD features showed the specific temporal–spatial EEG patterns of different sequential finger movement tasks. For the offline experiment, the average classification accuracy of the four tasks was 71.69%, with the highest accuracy of 79.26%. For the online experiment, the average accuracies were 83.33% and 82.71% for LL-versus-RR and LR-versus-RL, respectively.

Significance

This paper demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed sequential finger movement paradigm through offline and online experiments. This study would be helpful for optimizing the encoding method of motor-related EEG information and providing a promising approach to extending the instruction set of the movement intention-based BCIs.
Effect of sound therapy on whole scalp oscillatory brain activity and distress in chronic tinnitus patients
Authors: Jørgensen Mie Lærkegård , Hyvärinen Petteri , Caporali Sueli , Dau Torsten
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Sound therapy is a common tinnitus treatment, where the tinnitus percept is either fully or partially masked by an external sound. Some tinnitus patients experience a decrease in tinnitus related distress after the use of sound therapy. Differences in the neural response to sound therapy may form a basis for classifying tinnitus patients.

Methods

In this study, the long-term (2 months) effects of sound therapy on the oscillatory brain activity and tinnitus related distress were investigated in chronic tinnitus patients. Baseline oscillatory activity in the group of tinnitus participants was also compared to a matched control group.

Results

No differences were found in the oscillatory activity when comparing the tinnitus group to the control group. Differences were found for the frequency range between 27.5 and 41.5 Hz corresponding to high beta and gamma power when comparing the tinnitus group before and after the use of sound therapy. Furthermore, a reduction of the tinnitus-related distress was found after the long-term use of sound therapy. However, there was no correlation between the changes in the oscillatory activity and the reductions of the tinnitus-related distress.

Discussion

Overall, the lack of correlation between the changes in tinnitus-related distress and changes in power activity hampers the interpretability of the findings and undermines the utility of using oscillatory activity as a biomarker for the effect of sound therapy treatment.
Failure to thrive in toddlers with lack of interest in eating and food and their cognitive development during later childhood
Authors: Chatoor Irene , Begtrup Rebecca , Cheng Iris Yao , Vismara Laura , Webb Lauren E. , Lucarelli Loredana
Published: August 2023

Background

Experiencing Failure to Thrive or malnutrition in early years has been associated with children later displaying low Intelligence Quotient (IQ). The current study's aim was to examine whether Failure to Thrive in Toddlers with Lack of Interest in Eating and Food, a subtype of Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder as defined by DSM-5, which has also previously been identified as Infantile Anorexia (IA), was associated with poor cognitive development outcomes during later childhood.

Methods

The IQs and growth parameter of 30 children (53% female) previously diagnosed and treated for IA at 12 to 42 months of age, were reevaluated at a mean age of 10.0 years (SD = 2.1 years) and compared to 30 matched control children. Children's growth was assessed using Z-scores and their cognitive development was measured using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-4th Edition.

Results

None of the growth parameters were significantly related to IQ. Further, IQ scores of children previously diagnosed with IA and control children were not significantly different. However, the education level of children's fathers had a significantly positive effect on IQ.

Conclusions

Our study highlights the disjunction between growth parameters and IQ within our sample. Overall, our findings suggest that the primary target of intervention for these children should be the parent-child conflict around the feeding relationship, rather than a focus on the child's weight itself. Finally, our results confirm the relevance to include fathers in the intervention of these children.
The unity hypothesis revisited: can the male/female incongruent McGurk effect be disrupted by familiarization and priming?
Authors: Ma Kennis S. T. , Schnupp Jan W. H.
Published: August 2023

The unity assumption hypothesis contends that higher-level factors, such as a perceiver’s belief and prior experience, modulate multisensory integration. The McGurk illusion exemplifies such integration. When a visual velar consonant /ga/ is dubbed with an auditory bilabial /ba/, listeners unify the discrepant signals with knowledge that open lips cannot produce /ba/ and a fusion percept /da/ is perceived. Previous research claimed to have falsified the unity assumption hypothesis by demonstrating the McGurk effect occurs even when a face is dubbed with a voice of the opposite sex, and thus violates expectations from prior experience. But perhaps stronger counter-evidence is needed to prevent perceptual unity than just an apparent incongruence between unfamiliar faces and voices. Here we investigated whether the McGurk illusion with male/female incongruent stimuli can be disrupted by familiarization and priming with an appropriate pairing of face and voice. In an online experiment, the susceptibility of participants to the McGurk illusion was tested with stimuli containing either a male or female face with a voice of incongruent gender. The number of times participants experienced a McGurk illusion was measured before and after a familiarization block, which familiarized them with the true pairings of face and voice. After familiarization and priming, the susceptibility to the McGurk effects decreased significantly on average. The findings support the notion that unity assumptions modulate intersensory bias, and confirm and extend previous studies using male/female incongruent McGurk stimuli.
Matricide and schizophrenia- psychopathological, psychodynamic, and forensic aspects: a case report
Authors: Valença Alexandre Martins , de Almeida Letícia Rodrigues , de Oliveira Gustavo Carvalho , França Milena Ferreira , da Silva Antônio Geraldo , Telles Lisieux Borba , Nardi Antonio Egidio
Published: August 2023

Matricide is the murder of a mother by her son or daughter, a form of homicide rarely seen in psychiatric practice. A narrative review was conducted on the relationship between matricide and schizophrenia, followed by a case report in Brazil of a schizophrenic patient who murdered his mother and was submitted to forensic psychiatric assessment for criminal liability. The article discusses psychopathological, psychodynamic, and forensic aspects related to the case. The observation of ambivalent and conflictive relations between schizophrenic individuals and their mothers suggests the need for family-level interventions to resolve the understandable occurrence of emotional conflicts, which can serve as stimuli that trigger the murder.
Update Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis and GRADE Assessment of the Evidence on Parastomal Hernia Prevention—A EHS, ESCP and EAES Collaborative Project
Authors: Tzanis Alexander A. , Stabilini Cesare , Muysoms Filip E. , Rossi Lisa , Koutsiouroumpa Ourania , Mavridis Dimitris , Adamina Michel , Bracale Umberto , Brandsma Henk-Thijs , Breukink Stéphanie O. , López Cano Manuel , Cole Samantha , Doré Suzanne , Jensen Kristian Kiim , Krogsgaard Marianne , Smart Neil J. , Odensten Christoffer , Tielemans Chantal , Antoniou Stavros A.
Published: August 2023

Objective: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of prophylactic mesh for the prevention of parastomal hernia in end colostomy, with the ultimate objective to summarize the evidence for an interdisciplinary, European rapid guideline.

Methods: We updated a previous systematic review with de novo evidence search of PubMed from inception up to June 2022. Primary outcome was quality of life (QoL). Secondary outcomes were clinical diagnosis of parastomal hernia, surgery for parastomal hernia, and 30 day or in-hospital complications Clavien-Dindo ≥3. We utilised the revised Cochrane Tool for randomised trials (RoB 2 tool) for risk of bias assessment in the included studies. Minimally important differences were set a priori through voting of the panel members. We appraised the evidence using GRADE and we developed GRADE evidence tables.

Results: We included 12 randomized trials. Meta-analysis suggested no difference in QoL between prophylactic mesh and no mesh for primary stoma construction (SMD = 0.03, 95% CI [−0.14 to 0.2], I2 = 0%, low certainty of evidence). With regard to parastomal hernia, the use of prophylactic synthetic mesh resulted in a significant risk reduction of the incidence of the event, according to data from all available randomized trials, irrespective of the follow-up period (OR = 0.33, 95% CI [0.18–0.62], I2 = 74%, moderate certainty of evidence). Sensitivity analyses according to follow-up period were in line with the primary analysis. Little to no difference in surgery for parastomal hernia was encountered after pooled analysis of 10 randomised trials (OR = 0.52, 95% CI [0.25–1.09], I2 = 14%). Finally, no significant difference was found in Clavien-Dindo grade 3 and 4 adverse events after surgery with or without the use of a prophylactic mesh (OR = 0.77, 95% CI [0.45–1.30], I2 = 0%, low certainty of evidence).

Conclusion: Prophylactic synthetic mesh placement at the time of permanent end colostomy construction is likely associated with a reduced risk for parastomal hernia and may confer similar risk of peri-operative major morbidity compared to no mesh placement. There may be no difference in quality of life and surgical repair of parastomal hernia with the use of either approach.
You Are Not Alone: Towards Cleaning Robot Navigation in Shared Environments through Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Cimurs Reinis , Turkovs Vilnis , Banis Martins , Korsunovs Aleksandrs
Published: August 2023

For mobile cleaning robot navigation, it is crucial to not only base the motion decisions on the ego agent’s capabilities but also to take into account other agents in the shared environment. Therefore, in this paper, we propose a deep reinforcement learning (DRL)-based approach for learning motion policy conditioned not only on ego observations of the environment, but also on incoming information about other agents. First, we extend a replay buffer to collect state observations on all agents at the scene and create a simulation setting from which to gather the training samples for DRL policy. Next, we express the incoming agent information in each agent’s frame of reference, thus making it translation and rotation invariant. We propose a neural network architecture with edge embedding layers that allows for the extraction of incoming information from a dynamic range of agents. This allows for generalization of the proposed approach to various settings with a variable number of agents at the scene. Through simulation results, we show that the introduction of edge layers improves the navigation policies in shared environments and performs better than other state-of-the-art DRL motion policy methods.
Enhancing Metaheuristic Optimization: A Novel Nature-Inspired Hybrid Approach Incorporating Selected Pseudorandom Number Generators
Authors: Gulić Marko , Žuškin Martina
Published: August 2023

In this paper, a hybrid nature-inspired metaheuristic algorithm based on the Genetic Algorithm and the African Buffalo Optimization is proposed. The hybrid approach adaptively switches between the Genetic Algorithm and the African Buffalo Optimization during the optimization process, leveraging their respective strengths to improve performance. To improve randomness, the hybrid approach uses two high-quality pseudorandom number generators—the 64-bit and 32-bit versions of the SIMD-Oriented Fast Mersenne Twister. The effectiveness of the hybrid algorithm is evaluated on the NP-hard Container Relocation Problem, focusing on a test set of restricted Container Relocation Problems with higher complexity. The results show that the hybrid algorithm outperforms the individual Genetic Algorithm and the African Buffalo Optimization, which use standard pseudorandom number generators. The adaptive switch method allows the algorithm to adapt to different optimization problems and mitigate problems such as premature convergence and local optima. Moreover, the importance of pseudorandom number generator selection in metaheuristic algorithms is highlighted, as it directly affects the optimization results. The use of powerful pseudorandom number generators reduces the probability of premature convergence and local optima, leading to better optimization results. Overall, the research demonstrates the potential of hybrid metaheuristic approaches for solving complex optimization problems, which makes them relevant for scientific research and practical applications.
A Pattern Recognition Analysis of Vessel Trajectories
Authors: Buscema Paolo Massimo , Massini Giulia , Raimondi Giovanbattista , Caporaso Giuseppe , Breda Marco , Petritoli Riccardo
Published: August 2023

The automatic identification system (AIS) facilitates the monitoring of ship movements and provides essential input parameters for traffic safety. Previous studies have employed AIS data to detect behavioral anomalies and classify vessel types using supervised and unsupervised algorithms, including deep learning techniques. The approach proposed in this work focuses on the recognition of vessel types through the “Take One Class at a Time” (TOCAT) classification strategy. This approach pivots on a collection of adaptive models rather than a single intricate algorithm. Using radar data, these models are trained by taking into account aspects such as identifiers, position, velocity, and heading. However, it purposefully excludes positional data to counteract the inconsistencies stemming from route variations and irregular sampling frequencies. Using the given data, we achieved a mean accuracy of 83% on a 6-class classification task.
Investigation of Vaned-Recessed Casing Treatment in a Low-Speed Axial-Flow Compressor, Part II: Unsteady Results
Authors: Akhlaghi Mohammad , Azizi Yahya
Published: August 2023

In this paper, unsteady characteristics of a modified vaned-recessed casing treatment with 23.2% rotor blade tip axial chord exposure were studied numerically. The modifications to the traditional vaned-recessed casing treatments were composed of geometrical amendments to the casing treatment’s guide vanes and the top of the treated casing. The solid casing and the casing treatment configurations were simulated using the Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations (URANS), and the results were validated by experimental results. Firstly, standard deviation and frequency analysis were performed to find the sources of unsteadiness. Secondly, velocity components analysis, including velocity triangles, was presented instantaneously to clarify their effects on rotor tip flow fields as well as stall margin improvement. Thirdly, unsteady interactions between the rotor and casing treatment flow fields, including flow structure and pressure distributions, were discussed. In the end, flow streamline patterns, in addition to the physical mechanism of the vaned-recessed casing treatment, were also discussed. The results indicated that unsteadiness plays an important role in the flow mechanism and cannot be ignored. The unsteadiness increases as the mass flow is reduced toward the stall/surge condition. Moreover, the analysis of velocity components demonstrated that the casing treatment has distinct behavior at the last operating points before the onset of the stall for solid casing and casing treatment configurations in terms of axial velocity change.
How Buildings Relate—Classifying Architectural Interactions
Authors: Enia Marco , Martella Flavio
Published: August 2023

In recent years, architectural interactions have become the center of many important reflections. However, there is little agreement on the subject. Some authors consider architecture to be about its relations with human and nonhuman agents. Others consider that buildings have an autonomous presence, which transcends all their interactions. These approaches are generally seen as incompatible. Although at the heart of the debate is the role of relations in architecture, their nature is not addressed. The discussion could gain clarity by recognizing the differences between them. In this paper, we propose a classification of architectural interactions, which may help to better inform further discussion on the topic. A closer look at architectural relations reveals that autonomy and relationality are not opposing, but complementary, aspects.
Synoptic and Dynamical Characteristics of High-Impact Storms Affecting the Iberian Peninsula during the 2018–2021 Extended Winters
Authors: Gonçalves Ana C. R. , Nieto Raquel , Liberato Margarida L. R.
Published: August 2023

In the extended winters from December 2017 to April 2021, numerous high-impact storms affected the Iberian Peninsula (IP) with heavy precipitation and/or strong winds. Here, we provide a comprehensive assessment of these events, synoptic conditions, large-scale dynamics associated with storms, and a climatological analysis to improve public awareness and natural disaster prevention. Variability analysis presents that their maximum intensity ranges from 955 hPa to 985 hPa, a two-to-four-day lifetime, and the highest frequency (eight events) occurred in January. At the instant of maximum intensity, anomalies presented low MSLP values (−21.6 hPa), high values of water vapor (327.6 kg m−1s−1) and wind speed at 250 hPa (29.6 m s−1), high values of θe at 850 hPa (19.1 °C), SST (−1 °C), and QE (−150 W m−2), near Iberia. The values obtained during the storm impact days exceeded the 98th percentile values in a high percentage of days for daily accumulated precipitation (34%), instantaneous wind gusts (46%), wind speed at 10 m (47%), and concurrent events of wind/instantaneous wind gusts and precipitation (26% and 29%, respectively). These results allow us to characterize their meteorological impacts on the IP, namely those caused by heavy precipitation and wind.
Ten-Meter Wind Speed Forecast Correction in Southwest China Based on U-Net Neural Network
Authors: Xiang Tao , Zhi Xiefei , Guo Weijun , Lyu Yang , Ji Yan , Zhu Yanhe , Yin Yanan , Huang Jiawen
Published: August 2023

Accurate forecasting of wind speed holds significant importance for the economic and social development of humanity. However, existing numerical weather predictions have certain inaccuracies due to various reasons. Therefore, it is highly necessary to perform statistical post-processing on forecasted results. However, traditional linear statistical post-processing methods possess inherent limitations. Hence, in this study, we employed two deep learning methods, namely the convolutional neural network (CNN) and the U-Net neural network, to calibrate the forecast of the Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) in predicting 10-m surface wind speed in Southwest China with a forecast lead time of one to seven days. Two traditional linear statistical post-processing methods, the decaying average method (DAM) and unary linear regression (ULR), are conducted in parallel for comparison. Results show that original GEFS forecasts yield poorer wind speed forecasting performance in the western and eastern Sichuan provinces, the eastern Yunnan province, and within the Guizhou province. All four methods provided certain correction effects on the GEFS wind speed forecasts in the study area, with U-Net demonstrating the best correction performance. After correction using the U-Net, for a 1-day forecast lead time, the proportion of the 10-m U-component of wind with errors less than 0.5 m/s has increased by 46% compared to GEFS. Similarly, for the 10-m V-component of wind, the proportion of errors less than 0.5 m/s has increased by 50% compared to GEFS. Furthermore, we employed the mean square error-based error decomposition method to further diagnose the sources of forecast errors for different prediction models and reveal their calibration capabilities for different error sources. The results indicate that DAM and ULR perform best in correcting the Bias2, while the correction effects of all methods were variable for the distribution with the forecast lead time. U-Net demonstrated the best correction performance for the sequence.
The Prognostic Value of ASPHD1 and ZBTB12 in Colorectal Cancer: A Machine Learning-Based Integrated Bioinformatics Approach
Authors: Asadnia Alireza , Nazari Elham , Goshayeshi Ladan , Zafari Nima , Moetamani-Ahmadi Mehrdad , Goshayeshi Lena , Azari Haneih , Pourali Ghazaleh , Khalili-Tanha Ghazaleh , Abbaszadegan Mohammad Reza , Khojasteh-Leylakoohi Fatemeh , Bazyari MohammadJavad , Kahaei Mir Salar , Ghorbani Elnaz , Khazaei Majid , Hassanian Seyed Mahdi , Gataa Ibrahim Saeed , Kiani Mohammad Ali , Peters Godefridus J. , Ferns Gordon A. , Batra Jyotsna , Lam Alfred King-yin , Giovannetti Elisa , Avan Amir
Published: August 2023

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer associated with poor outcomes, underscoring a need for the identification of novel prognostic and therapeutic targets to improve outcomes. This study aimed to identify genetic variants and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using genome-wide DNA and RNA sequencing followed by validation in a large cohort of patients with CRC. Methods: Whole genome and gene expression profiling were used to identify DEGs and genetic alterations in 146 patients with CRC. Gene Ontology, Reactom, GSEA, and Human Disease Ontology were employed to study the biological process and pathways involved in CRC. Survival analysis on dysregulated genes in patients with CRC was conducted using Cox regression and Kaplan–Meier analysis. The STRING database was used to construct a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. Moreover, candidate genes were subjected to ML-based analysis and the Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Subsequently, the expression of the identified genes was evaluated by Real-time PCR (RT-PCR) in another cohort of 64 patients with CRC. Gene variants affecting the regulation of candidate gene expressions were further validated followed by Whole Exome Sequencing (WES) in 15 patients with CRC. Results: A total of 3576 DEGs in the early stages of CRC and 2985 DEGs in the advanced stages of CRC were identified. ASPHD1 and ZBTB12 genes were identified as potential prognostic markers. Moreover, the combination of ASPHD and ZBTB12 genes was sensitive, and the two were considered specific markers, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.934, 1.00, and 0.986, respectively. The expression levels of these two genes were higher in patients with CRC. Moreover, our data identified two novel genetic variants—the rs925939730 variant in ASPHD1 and the rs1428982750 variant in ZBTB1—as being potentially involved in the regulation of gene expression. Conclusions: Our findings provide a proof of concept for the prognostic values of two novel genes—ASPHD1 and ZBTB12—and their associated variants (rs925939730 and rs1428982750) in CRC, supporting further functional analyses to evaluate the value of emerging biomarkers in colorectal cancer.
Anticancer Activity of Measles–Mumps–Rubella MMR Vaccine Viruses against Glioblastoma
Authors: Khalid Zumama , Coco Simona , Ullah Nadir , Pulliero Alessandra , Cortese Katia , Varesano Serena , Orsi Andrea , Izzotti Alberto
Published: August 2023

Background: Oncolytic viruses (OVs) have been utilized since 1990s for targeted cancer treatment. Our study examined the Measles–Mumps–Rubella (MMR) vaccine’s cancer-killing potency against Glioblastoma (GBM), a therapy-resistant, aggressive cancer type. Methodology: We used GBM cell lines, primary GBM cells, and normal mice microglial cells, to assess the MMR vaccine’s efficacy through cell viability, cell cycle analysis, intracellular viral load via RT-PCR, and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Results: After 72 h of MMR treatment, GBM cell lines and primary GBM cells exhibited significant viability reduction compared to untreated cells. Conversely, normal microglial cells showed only minor changes in viability and morphology. Intracellular viral load tests indicated GBM cells’ increased sensitivity to MMR viruses compared to normal cells. The cell cycle study also revealed measles and mumps viruses’ crucial role in cytopathic effects, with the rubella virus causing cell cycle arrest. Conclusion: Herein the reported results demonstrate the anti-cancer activity of the MMR vaccine against GBM cells. Accordingly, the MMR vaccine warrants further study as a potential new tool for GBM therapy and relapse prevention. Therapeutic potential of the MMR vaccine has been found to be promising in earlier studies as well.