bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects on Long-Range Dependence and Multifractality in Temporal Resolution Recovery of High Frame Rate HEVC Compressed Content
Authors: Gavrovska Ana
Published: August 2023

In recent years, video research has dealt with high-frame-rate (HFR) content. Even though low or standard frame rates (SFR) that correspond to values less than 60 frames per second (fps) are still covered. Temporal conversions are applied accompanied with video compression and, thus, it is of importance to observe and detect possible effects of typical compressed video manipulations over HFR (60 fps+) content. This paper addresses ultra-high-definition HFR content via Hurst index as a measure of long-range dependency (LRD), as well as using Legendre multifractal spectrum, having in mind standard high-efficiency video coding (HEVC) format and temporal resolution recovery (TRR), meaning frame upconversion after temporal filtering of compressed content. LRD and multifractals-based studies using video traces have been performed for characterization of compressed video, and they are mostly presented for advanced video coding (AVC). Moreover, recent studies have shown that it is possible to perform TRR detection for SFR data compressed with standards developed before HEVC. In order to address HEVC HFR data, video traces are analyzed using LRD and multifractals, and a novel TRR detection model is proposed based on a weighted k-nearest neighbors (WkNN) classifier and multifractals. Firstly, HFR video traces are gathered using six constant rate factors (crfs), where Hurst indices and multifractal spectra are calculated. According to TRR and original spectra comparison, a novel detection model is proposed based on new multifractal features. Also, five-fold cross-validation using the proposed TRR detection model gave high-accuracy results of around 98%. The obtained results show the effects on LRD and multifractality and their significance in understanding changes in typical video manipulation. The proposed model can be valuable in video credibility and quality assessments of HFR HEVC compressed content.
An Updated Earthquake Catalogue in Crete Derived by the Development of Local 1D Velocity Models and Hypocentre Relocation
Authors: Karakonstantis Andreas , Vallianatos Filippos
Published: August 2023

Crete is located in the Southern Aegean, in the southernmost part of the Hellenic Trench. Given the large number of earthquakes in the region generated by the convergence of the Eurasian and African tectonic plates, the research area is critical. More than 7000 manually revised events from 2018 to 2023 were used in this work to construct local 1D velocity models of Crete and the neighbouring areas. The P-wave velocity models were constructed using the spatiotemporal error minimisation method estimated using the HYPOINVERSE algorithm. At the same time, the VP/VS ratio was obtained using the Chatelain method, which compares the time difference in P and S phases recorded by pairs of corresponding stations. We then relocated the seismicity of the study area that was recorded by both permanent and temporary seismic networks during the abovementioned period. The double-difference algorithm was used to relocate events with magnitudes above the magnitude of completeness, resulting in more than 4500 precise relative locations with horizontal and vertical uncertainties of less than 2.5 km. The precise locations delineated faults both on the island and in the offshore study area. Furthermore, the results are discussed and compared with the ones derived from other significant previous works presented recently. The final dataset analysis contributes to a better understanding of the research area’s seismicity as triggered by local and regional tectonic structures.
Future Implications of Climate Change on Arum palaestinum Boiss: Drought Tolerance, Growth and Production
Authors: Abubaira Mabruka , Shahba Mohamed , Gamal Gamil
Published: August 2023

The objectives of the work were to understand the potential future climate changes in the Mediterranean region, assess the drought tolerance of the black calla lily (Arum palaestinum Boiss.), and investigate the mechanisms associated with its ability to withstand drought conditions. The Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were used to predict future temperature and precipitation changes. Both the SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios predicted a general increase in minimum and maximum temperatures and a decrease in precipitation. The projected increase in minimum temperature ranged from 2.95 °C under SSP2-4.5 to 5.67 °C under SSP5-8.5. The projected increase in maximum temperature ranged from 0.69 °C under SSP2-4.5 to 3.34 °C under SSP5-8.5. The projected decrease in precipitation ranged from −1.04 mm/day under SSP2-4.5 to −1.11 mm/day under SSP5-8.5. Results indicated that drought significantly impacted the physiological responses of the black calla lily. As drought increased, the black calla lily showed a reduction in leaf characteristics and non-structural carbohydrates, while proline content and reducing sugar content were increased, enhancing drought tolerance through osmoregulation. The black calla lily tolerates drought at a total ET of up to 50%. It has the potential to adapt to expected climate change through osmoregulation or by building a carbon and nitrogen sink for stress recovery.
Analysis of Water Vapor Transport and Trigger Mechanisms for Severe Rainstorms Associated with a Northeast China Cold Vortex in 2022
Authors: Hu Pengyu , Xie Zuowei , Zhou Tianjiao , Bueh Cholaw
Published: August 2023

Rainstorms always occur in the southeast and northeast quadrants of the Northeast China Cold Vortex (NCCV), resulting in significant flooding. This study investigated water vapor and trigger mechanisms for rainstorms within these two regions of an NCCV event during 11–14 June 2022 in terms of Lagrangian backward tracking, stratification stability, and upward motion using the ERA5 reanalysis. In the mid-troposphere, a quasi-stationary “ridge-NCCV-ridge” pattern resided over northeastern China, with an “anticyclonic-cyclonic-anticyclonic” airflow in the lower troposphere. As a result, water vapor originated from the Yellow Sea and was transported in an “L” shape toward both two regions. The southeast region was influenced by southwesterly and northwesterly airflows, resulting in the convergence of moist air from the Yangtze River and Lake Baikal and significant vertical shear of positive vorticity advection. This dynamic created deep and pronounced upward currents in the southeast of the NCCV, leading to the development of intensive and extensive rainstorms in situ. In contrast, the northeast region of the NCCV was dominated by southerly airflow. The moist air converged against the lee side of the Great Khingan Mountains and generated shallow, unstable stratification. The upward motion in this area was relatively weaker and thus induced regional rainstorms.
Evaluating the Impact of COVID-19 on the Carbon Footprint of Two Research Projects: A Comparative Analysis
Authors: Papadogiannaki Sofia , Liora Natalia , Parliari Daphne , Cheristanidis Stavros , Poupkou Anastasia , Sebos Ioannis , Progiou Athena , Melas Dimitrios
Published: August 2023

The objective of this study is to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the carbon footprint (CF) of two research projects. These projects were initiated prior to the onset of the pandemic and subsequently concluded afterward, serving as the Base Case (BC) for analysis. Furthermore, the study seeks to explore the potential applicability of measures implemented during the period of lockdown for future mitigation of CF. The applied methodology, which adheres to the guidelines provided by the GHG Protocol and the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) emission factors, is utilized to examine the CF of the projects under two different scenarios. The first scenario assumes that the projects were implemented without the pandemic, while the second scenario considers that the projects were conducted entirely during the pandemic. Among the two projects under review, one emphasizes innovation and entails a collaboration between academia and business. This project is supported by a limited number of employees, exclusively from domestic partners. The other project is more oriented toward policy-making and involves a larger group of partners from Greece and Italy. Its main priority is dissemination. Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions associated with project activities mainly stem from electricity use, material consumption, project-hosted events, project participation in events, employees commuting, and equipment. Results show that in the first scenario, the projects exhibit a more than 40% increase in CO2 emissions compared to the BC, while in the second scenario, the implementation of measures such as teleworking, virtual participation in events, and digitization of bureaucratic processes lead to a reduction in emissions by at least 20%. The study suggests that adopting such measures after the COVID-19 pandemic could significantly decrease greenhouse gas emissions.
Effects of Elevated Surface Ozone Concentration on Photosynthetic Fluorescence Characteristics and Yield of Soybean Parents and Offspring
Authors: Cheng Shihao , Wang Yan , Sun Mingyu , Zheng Jingyi , Zhu Xianjin , Zhao Tianhong
Published: August 2023

Global climate change presents a significant threat to food security. Analyzing the effects of elevated ozone (O3) concentration on photosynthetic fluorescence characteristics and yield addresses the damage of climate change on crops, which would serve food security. With open-top chambers (OTCs) and Tiefeng-29 soybeans, we investigated the responses of chlorophyll concentration, fluorescence characteristics, net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and yield components to different O3 concentrations, which included CK (ambient concentration approximately 45 nL·L−1, T1 (80 ± 10) nL·L−1 and T2 (120 ± 10) nL·L−1 O3. The parent soybeans (S1) were planted in the current year, and O3 fumigation commenced 20 days after seedling emergence. Aeration was stopped at maturity, and the offspring soybeans (S2) were retained after harvest for further experiments. In the following year, S1 and S2 soybeans were planted, and O3 fumigation began 20 days after seedling emergence. The results show that leaf chlorophyll a (chla) and chlorophyll b (chlb) significantly decreased with longer O3 fumigation time both in parents and offspring, causing damage to the light-trapping ability while the offspring suffered an earlier decrease. The elevated O3 damaged the electron transfer process by significantly reducing the original and actual photochemical efficiencies of PSII both in parents and offspring. The electron transfer rate (ETR) of the parents and offspring decreased, while the difference between them was not significant after O3 treatment. The non-photochemical quenching coefficient (NPQ) showed an increasing trend along time but showed no significant difference between parents and offspring. An elevated concentration of O3 significantly reduced Pn, while the differences in Pn between the parents and the offspring were not significant. Elevated O3 resulted in reduced yields in both parent and offspring soybeans. Although it was found that the offspring soybeans exhibited higher yields than the parents, their reduction in yield was more significant. Therefore, elevated O3 concentration reduced soybean yield through damaging photosynthetic process and electron transfer capacity by impairing energy conversion and material accumulation capacity. The offspring had relatively higher light energy conversion efficiency than the parents, resulting in a higher yield than the parents under all treatments.
Characteristic Analysis of the 10–30-Day Intraseasonal Oscillation over Mid-High-Latitude Eurasia in Boreal Summer
Authors: Liu Yashu , Yang Shuangyan
Published: August 2023

The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of the intraseasonal oscillation (ISO) with a 10–30-day cycle over mid-high-latitude Eurasia during boreal summer. The leading mode of this ISO is determined using an extended empirical orthogonal function analysis. Through a phase composite analysis, it is observed that a southeastward-propagating wave train with a quasi-barotropic structure is present in Eurasia. The dynamical mechanism and energy conversion affecting its propagation are also analyzed. The negative (positive) temperature tendency appears in the southeastern part of the temperature anomaly in the lower troposphere (upper troposphere), resulting in further southeastward displacement of the temperature perturbation. A diagnosis of temperature tendency shows that the main cause of the southeastward movement is the advection of anomalous temperature by the mean zonal wind. The energy conversion analysis reveals that by converting kinetic energy and potential energy, the ISO perturbation acquires energy from the summertime mean flow during its southeastward movement.
Assessments for the Effect of Mineral Dust on the Spring Heat Waves in the Sahel
Authors: Niane Papa Massar , Martiny Nadège , Roucou Pascal , Marilleau Nicolas , Janicot Serge , Gaye Amadou Thierno
Published: August 2023

The physical mechanisms associated with heat waves (HWs) are well known in the midlatitudes but still under-documented in the Sahel. Specifically, the role of anthropogenic and natural changes in tropospheric aerosols regarding HWs remains an issue to address. Our study focuses on the characterisation of the dusty HWs in the Sahel, which generally occur from March to June. The goal is to reinforce or invalidate the assumption proposed in previous studies recently carried out in southern Europe and according to which mineral dust may locally change irradiance at the surface, thus atmospheric temperatures at 2 m, intensifying the HW. The work is carried out in three steps: (i) detect and describe the HW over the 2003–2014 period based on maximum daily 2-m temperatures (Tmax) from ERA-Interim reanalyses; (ii) characterise the dust optical properties during the HW using the Deep Blue aerosols products from MODIS (Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometre): the Aerosol Optical Depth at 550 nm (AOD550), the Angstrom Exponent (AE440−870) and the Single Scattering Albedo at 412 nm (SSA412) as a proxy of quantity over atmospheric column, size and absorption of aerosols, respectively; (iii) relate HW intensity to the aerosol conditions during the HW. Over the 12-year study period, 14 HWs are detected when Tmax exceeds the 90th percentile (P90). The HWs are dusty with AOD550 ranging between 0.46 and 1.17 and all the dust types are absorbent with a SSA412 value of 0.93 (round to hundredths). The HW classification according to aerosol conditions gave three HWs: Type 1 corresponds to Pure Dust Situation (PDS with AE440−870 = 0.1), Type 2 and Type 3 are associated with Mixed Situation (MS) with dominance of Coarse Particles (CP with AE440−870 = 0.35) and Fine Particles (FP with AE440−870 = 0.65), respectively. The main result obtained is that the intensity of the dusty HW, computed as the difference between daily Tmax and its P90 (Tmax−P90)), is higher for Type 1 HW (+1.1 °C) in the case of the most absorbent aerosol situation (SSA412 = 0.931). A non-significant difference between Type 2 and Type 3 especially for temperature (+0.5 °C and +0.4 °C, respectively) and SSA (0.938 and 0.935, respectively) is observed and, during these mixing situations, the HWs are less intense than those during the PDS. Finally, the analysis of two huge Type 1 HWs in 2007 and 2010 shows that dust mass concentrations at the surface were particularly high, up to 214 μg/m3 on average. These findings enable us to assess that highly absorbent and concentrated pure dust situations observed in spring in the Sahel may have a potential warming effect at the surface.
Reliability Estimation of Inverse Weibull Distribution Based on Intuitionistic Fuzzy Lifetime Data
Authors: Hu Xue , Ren Haiping
Published: August 2023

As a commonly used model in reliability analysis, the inverse Weibull distribution (IWD) is widely applied in various scientific fields. This paper considers the reliability estimation of the IWD based on intuitionistic fuzzy lifetime data. Firstly, the related concepts of the fuzzy set theory are reviewed, and the concepts of the intuitionistic fuzzy conditional density, intuitionistic fuzzy likelihood function, and intuitionistic fuzzy conditional expectation are obtained by extension. In classical estimations, the maximum likelihood estimators of parameters and reliability are derived. Due to the nonlinearity, the EM algorithm is used to obtain the maximum likelihood estimates. In the Bayesian estimation, the gamma prior is selected, and the Bayesian estimation of the parameters and reliability is conducted under the symmetric entropy and the scale square error loss function, respectively. Since the integrals are complicated, the Lindley approximation is used to approximate the Bayesian estimates. Then, the performance of these estimators is evaluated by the Monte Carlo simulation. The simulation results show that the Bayesian estimation is more suitable than the maximum likelihood estimation for the reliability estimation. Finally, a set of real data is used to prove the effectiveness of these proposed methods. Through these methods, the reliability of the intuitive fuzzy life data is accurately estimated, which provides an important reference for the reliability analysis in the scientific field.
Inertial Iterative Algorithms for Split Variational Inclusion and Fixed Point Problems
Authors: Filali Doaa , Dilshad Mohammad , Alyasi Lujain Saud Muaydhid , Akram Mohammad
Published: August 2023

This paper aims to present two inertial iterative algorithms for estimating the solution of split variational inclusion (SpVIsP) and its extended version for estimating the common solution of (SpVIsP) and fixed point problem (FPP) of a nonexpansive mapping in the setting of real Hilbert spaces. We establish the weak convergence of the proposed algorithms and strong convergence of the extended version without using the pre-estimated norm of a bounded linear operator. We also exhibit the reliability and behavior of the proposed algorithms using appropriate assumptions in a numerical example.
The Use of a CAD/CAM Thermoformed Splints System in Closed Reduction of Condylar Fractures
Authors: Grippaudo Cristina , Lo Giudice Antonino , Saponaro Gianmarco , Todaro Mattia , Moro Alessandro , D’Addona Antonio
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: Mandibular fractures are very common. Common indications of closed treatment for mandibular fractures are non-displaced or minimally displaced simple fractures in adult compliant patients with good dentition, the absence of occlusal disruption, and fractures in growing children. In closed treatment, the mandible is maintained in centric occlusion with a maxillomandibular fixation (MMF) with orthodontic elastics. Many methods of MMF have been described, often using orthodontic appliances. In recent years, CAD-CAM technology has improved many procedures used in maxillofacial surgery and orthodontics. The device we present is manufactured following a digital workflow, and was designed specifically for MMF. (2) Materials: Two patients with mandibular fractures were treated with an MMF method whose procedure comprised scanning of the dental arches, followed by construction of thermoformed splints on which buttons for the elastics and retention holes are made. The splints were fixed on the dental arches with composite resin at the level of the holes, and were kept in place for the period of healing of the fracture, with the intermaxillary elastics hooked to the buttons. (3) Results: The application time of the splints was very quick. The splints remained stable for the necessary time, without causing particular discomfort to the patients. (4) Conclusions: From our experience, this technique has proved to be reliable and reproducible and could represent a valid tool in the closed treatment of mandibular fractures.
Nlrp3 Deficiency Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Kidney Injury via Suppressing Renal Inflammation and Ferroptosis in Mice
Authors: Li Zhilan , Wang Xuan , Peng Yi , Yin Hongling , Yu Shenyi , Zhang Weiru , Ni Xin
Published: August 2023

The nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a vital component of many inflammatory responses. Here, we intended to investigate the involvement of NLRP3 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI) and explore its mechanisms. For the first time, we validated elevated NLRP3 expression in the renal tissues of S-AKI patients by immunohistochemistry analysis. Through LPS injection in both wild-type and Nlrp3−/− mice, a S-AKI model was developed. It was found that LPS-induced kidney injury, including an abnormal morphology in a histological examination, abnormal renal function in a laboratory examination, and an increase in the expression of AKI biomarkers, was dramatically reversed in Nlrp3-deficient mice. Nlrp3 deletion alleviated renal inflammation, as evidenced by the suppression of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. A combinative analysis of RNA sequencing and the FerrDb V2 database showed that Nlrp3 knockout regulated multiple metabolism pathways and ferroptosis in LPS-induced S-AKI. Further qPCR coupled with Prussian blue staining demonstrated that Nlrp3 knockout inhibited murine renal ferroptosis, indicating a novel mechanism involving S-AKI pathogenesis by NLRP3. Altogether, the aforementioned findings suggest that Nlrp3 deficiency alleviates LPS-induced S-AKI by reducing renal inflammation and ferroptosis. Our data highlight that NLRP3 is a potential therapeutic target for S-AKI.
Cytochrome P450s-Involved Enhanced Metabolism Contributes to the High Level of Nicosulfuron Resistance in Digitaria sanguinalis from China
Authors: Wang Xumiao , Hu Wei , Li Yuxi , Jiang Minghao , Zhao Ning , Cao Haiqun , Liao Min
Published: August 2023

Large crabgrass (Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop.) is one of the major malignant grass weeds in Chinese maize (Zea mays L.) fields, and it has recently developed resistance to the acetolactate synthase (ALS)-inhibiting herbicide nicosulfuron. This study focused on a suspected nicosulfuron-resistant (R) population (LJ-01) of D. sanguinalis, collected from Lujiang County in Anhui Province, China, to explore the resistance level and potential resistance mechanism. Whole-plant dose–response testing confirmed that the LJ-01 population evolved a high level of resistance to nicosulfuron (11.5-fold) compared to the susceptible (S) population, DY-02. The ALS gene sequencing and relative expression assay of the R plants indicated that target gene mutation and overexpression were not responsible for the resistance phenotype. However, pretreatment with malathion, a known cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (P450) inhibitor, alleviated the resistance of the R population to nicosulfuron by approximately 36%. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that the R plants metabolized nicosulfuron faster than the S plants. Moreover, cross-resistance testing suggested that the R population exhibited low levels of resistance to thifensulfuron-methyl and pyrazosulfuron-ethyl, but it remained susceptible to rimsulfuron. Multiple resistance patterns showed that the R population evolved low resistance to the photosystem inhibitors bromoxynil octanoate and atrazine and sensitivity to the acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitor cyhalofop-butyl and the 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) inhibitors tembotrione, mesotrione, and topramezone. This study reports, for the first time, the simultaneous resistance to ALS and different photosystem inhibitors in D. sanguinalis. The nicosulfuron resistance observed in the R population could primarily be attributed to an enhanced metabolism involving P450 enzymes.
FOXM1a Isoform of Oncogene FOXM1 Is a Tumor Suppressor Suppressed by hnRNP C in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Jia Rong , Che Xiaoxuan , Jia Jun , Guo Jihua
Published: August 2023

FOXM1 is an oncogenic transcriptional factor and includes several isoforms generated by alternative splicing. Inclusion of alternative exon 9 produces FOXM1a, a transcriptionally inactive isoform. However, the role of FOXM1a in tumorigenesis remains unknown. In addition, the regulatory mechanisms of exon 9 splicing are also unclear. In the present study, we found that overexpression of FOXM1a significantly reduced cell proliferation and colony formation of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell proliferation in vitro. Importantly, OSCC cells with FOXM1a overexpression showed significantly slower tumor formation in nude mice. Moreover, we identified a U-rich exonic splicing suppressor (ESS) which is responsible for exon 9 skipping. Splicing factor heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C (hnRNP C) can bind to the ESS and suppress exon 9 inclusion and FOXM1a expression. Silence of hnRNP C also significantly suppresses OSCC cell proliferation. HnRNP C is significantly co-expressed with FOXM1 in cancers. Our study uncovered a novel regulatory mechanism of oncogene FOXM1 expression in OSCC.
Extracellular Acetylated Histone 3.3 Induces Inflammation and Lung Tissue Damage
Authors: Rico Mario C. , Perez-Leal Oscar , Barbe Mary F. , Amin Mamta , Colussi Dennis J. , Florez Magda L. , Olusajo Victor , Rios Dennise S. , Barrero Carlos A.
Published: August 2023

Extracellular histones, part of the protein group known as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), are released from damaged or dying cells and can instigate cellular toxicity. Within the context of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), there is an observed abundance of extracellular histone H3.3, indicating potential pathogenic implications. Notably, histone H3.3 is often found hyperacetylated (AcH3.3) in the lungs of COPD patients. Despite these observations, the specific role of these acetylated histones in inducing pulmonary tissue damage in COPD remains unclear. To investigate AcH3.3’s impact on lung tissue, we administered recombinant histones (rH2A, rH3.3, and rAcH3.3) or vehicle solution to mice via intratracheal instillation. After 48 h, we evaluated the lung toxicity damage and found that the rAcH3.3 treated animals exhibited more severe lung tissue damage compared to those treated with non-acetylated H3.3 and controls. The rAcH3.3 instillation resulted in significant histological changes, including alveolar wall rupture, epithelial cell damage, and immune cell infiltration. Micro-CT analysis confirmed macroscopic structural changes. The rAcH3.3 instillation also increased apoptotic activity (cleavage of caspase 3 and 9) and triggered acute systemic inflammatory marker activation (TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-3, or CXCL-1) in plasma, accompanied by leukocytosis and lymphocytosis. Confocal imaging analysis confirmed lymphocytic and monocytic/macrophage lung infiltration in response to H3.3 and AcH3.3 administration. Taken together, our findings implicate extracellular AcH3.3 in inducing cytotoxicity and acute inflammatory responses, suggesting its potential role in promoting COPD-related lung damage progression.
Machine Learning Techniques for Effective Pathogen Detection Based on Resonant Biosensors
Authors: Rong Guoguang , Xu Yankun , Sawan Mohamad
Published: August 2023

We describe a machine learning (ML) approach to processing the signals collected from a COVID-19 optical-based detector. Multilayer perceptron (MLP) and support vector machine (SVM) were used to process both the raw data and the feature engineering data, and high performance for the qualitative detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus with concentration down to 1 TCID50/mL was achieved. Valid detection experiments contained 486 negative and 108 positive samples, and control experiments, in which biosensors without antibody functionalization were used to detect SARS-CoV-2, contained 36 negative samples and 732 positive samples. The data distribution patterns of the valid and control detection dataset, based on T-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE), were used to study the distinguishability between positive and negative samples and explain the ML prediction performance. This work demonstrates that ML can be a generalized effective approach to process the signals and the datasets of biosensors dependent on resonant modes as biosensing mechanism.
Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation Improves Verbal Fluency in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Authors: Nejati Vahid , Estaji Reza , Helisaz Zahra
Published: August 2023

Individuals with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) struggle with impaired verbal fluency as an executive function. The left and right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) and the right inferior frontal gurus (IFG), which show reduced functionality in individuals with ADHD, are involved in verbal fluency. In this study, a total of thirty-seven children with ADHD participated in two separate experiments. Each experiment included three different stimulation conditions: anodal left dlPFC/cathodal right vmPFC stimulation, the reversed montage, and a sham stimulation in Experiment 1, and anodal right dlPFC, anodal right IFG with extracranial return electrode, and a sham stimulation in Experiment 2. During each session, participants performed semantic and phonemic verbal fluency tasks while receiving tDCS. The results revealed a significant main effect of stimulation condition on phonemic verbal fluency during anodal left dlPFC stimulation in Experiment 1, and on semantic verbal fluency during both real stimulation conditions in Experiment 2. In conclusion, this study suggests that anodal left dlPFC stimulation improves phonemic verbal fluency, while anodal right dlPFC and right IFG stimulation enhance semantic verbal fluency. This domain-specific improvement can be attributed to the distinct cognitive demands of phonemic and semantic verbal fluency tasks. Phonemic verbal fluency heavily relies on working memory processes, whereas semantic verbal fluency requires effective inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility.
The Importance of M1-and M2-Polarized Macrophages in Glioma and as Potential Treatment Targets
Authors: Ren Jiangbin , Xu Bangjie , Ren Jianghao , Liu Zhichao , Cai Lingyu , Zhang Xiaotian , Wang Weijie , Li Shaoxun , Jin Luhao , Ding Lianshu
Published: August 2023

Glioma is the most common and malignant tumor of the central nervous system. Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive glioma, with a poor prognosis and no effective treatment because of its high invasiveness, metabolic rate, and heterogeneity. The tumor microenvironment (TME) contains many tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which play a critical role in tumor proliferation, invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis and indirectly promote an immunosuppressive microenvironment. TAM is divided into tumor-suppressive M1-like (classic activation of macrophages) and tumor-supportive M2-like (alternatively activated macrophages) polarized cells. TAMs exhibit an M1-like phenotype in the initial stages of tumor progression, and along with the promotion of lysing tumors and the functions of T cells and NK cells, tumor growth is suppressed, and they rapidly transform into M2-like polarized macrophages, which promote tumor progression. In this review, we discuss the mechanism by which M1- and M2-polarized macrophages promote or inhibit the growth of glioblastoma and indicate the future directions for treatment.
Learning by Heart or with Heart: Brain Asymmetry Reflects Pedagogical Practices
Authors: Schetter Martin , Romascano David , Gaujard Mathilde , Rummel Christian , Denervaud Solange
Published: August 2023

Brain hemispheres develop rather symmetrically, except in the case of pathology or intense training. As school experience is a form of training, the current study tested the influence of pedagogy on morphological development through the cortical thickness (CTh) asymmetry index (AI). First, we compared the CTh AI of 111 students aged 4 to 18 with 77 adults aged > 20. Second, we investigated the CTh AI of the students as a function of schooling background (Montessori or traditional). At the whole-brain level, CTh AI was not different between the adult and student groups, even when controlling for age. However, pedagogical experience was found to impact CTh AI in the temporal lobe, within the parahippocampal (PHC) region. The PHC region has a functional lateralization, with the right PHC region having a stronger involvement in spatiotemporal context encoding, while the left PHC region is involved in semantic encoding. We observed CTh asymmetry toward the left PHC region for participants enrolled in Montessori schools and toward the right for participants enrolled in traditional schools. As these participants were matched on age, intelligence, home-life and socioeconomic conditions, we interpret this effect found in memory-related brain regions to reflect differences in learning strategies. Pedagogy modulates how new concepts are encoded, with possible long-term effects on knowledge transfer.
The Cannabigerol Derivative VCE-003.2 Exerts Therapeutic Effects in 6-Hydroxydopamine-Lesioned Mice: Comparison with The Classic Dopaminergic Replacement Therapy
Authors: Rodríguez-Carreiro Santiago , Navarro Elisa , Muñoz Eduardo , Fernández-Ruiz Javier
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: A cannabigerol aminoquinone derivative, so-called VCE-003.2, has been found to behave as a neuroprotective agent (administered both i.p. and orally) in different experimental models of Parkinson’s disease (PD) in mice. These effects were exerted through mechanisms that involved the activation of a regulatory site within the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ). (2) Methods: We are now interested in comparing such neuroprotective potential of VCE-003.2, orally administered, with the effect of the classic dopaminergic replacement therapy with L-DOPA/benserazide in similar conditions, using 6-hydroxydopamine-lesioned mice. (3) Results: The oral administration of VCE-003.2 during 14 days at the dose of 20 mg/kg improved, as expected, the neurological status (measured in motor tests) in these mice. This correlated with a preservation of TH-labelled neurons in the substantia nigra. By contrast, the treatment with L-DOPA/benserazide (during 7 days at 2 mg/kg) was significantly less active in these experimental conditions, in concordance with their profile as a mere symptom-alleviating agent. (4) Conclusions: Our results confirmed again the therapeutic profile of VCE-003.2 in experimental PD and revealed a different and more relevant effect, as a disease modifier, compared to the classic symptom-alleviating L-DOPA treatment. This reinforces the interest in VCE-003.2 for a future clinical development in this disease.
The Impact of Transformational Leadership on Service Employees in the Hotel Industry
Authors: Kim Jin-Kyu , Yang Jae-Jang , Lee Yong-Ki
Published: August 2023

Transformational leadership is important to the hotel industry where employees play a critical role in delivering the service. Transformational leadership is a leadership style that causes changes in employees by sharing the organization’s vision and goals, providing necessary resources, promoting intellectual stimulation, and expecting high performance. This study uses four dimensions of transformational leadership to investigate how the dimensions influence employees’ organizational identification, creativity, and task performance. In order to test the proposed model, data were gathered from employees of six hotels in South Korea. The data were analyzed with SmartPLS 4.0 program. The finding shows that four dimensions of transformational leadership have different effects on organizational identification and creativity. While core transformational leadership and supportive leader behavior enhance employees’ organizational identification, which affects creativity and task performance, intellectual stimulation has an impact on creativity, which influences task performance. The post hoc analysis shows that organizational identification fully mediates the relationship between two dimensions of transformational leadership and creativity. This study contributes to the existing literatures of leadership theory and social identification theory by expanding the knowledge on the role of transformational leadership on employees. Some theoretical and practical implications are offered.
Overcoming Head Contractor Barriers to Sustainable Waste Management Solutions in the Australian Construction Industry
Authors: van der Lans Pieter Antoon , Jensen Christopher Antony , Oraee Mehran
Published: August 2023

The construction industry has one of the highest waste intensities in Australia. While there are barriers to the implementation of sustainable waste management (WM) practices, there is a lack of viable solutions for head contractors to overcome these barriers. This research investigates the role of incentives in achieving sustainable WM in the Australian commercial construction industry. A qualitative approach was adopted through interviews with experts in the field to explore the role of incentives as possible solutions to the barriers presented. The findings show that participants are willing to use more sustainable WM practices. However, the barriers are perceived to be too substantial. Many types of incentives can encourage changes in behavior, which contribute to better waste outcomes. The findings also indicate key stakeholders such as the client, government, and industry regulators may provide incentives, including enhancing relevant key performance indicators, amending existing legislations, and implementing government programs to foster a Circular Economy to improve sustainable WM practices. This study contributes to the field by raising awareness about the role of incentives for head contractors to achieve sustainable WM practices.
Analysis of Variables Affecting Indoor Thermal Comfort in Mediterranean Climates Using Machine Learning
Authors: Aparicio-Ruiz Pablo , Barbadilla-Martín Elena , Guadix José , Nevado Julio
Published: August 2023

To improve the energy efficiency and performance of buildings, it is essential to understand the factors that influence indoor thermal comfort. Through an extensive analysis of various variables, actions can be developed to enhance the thermal sensation of the occupants, promoting sustainability and economic benefits in conditioning systems. This study identifies eight key variables: indoor air temperature, mean radiant temperature, indoor globe temperature, CO2, age, outdoor temperature, indoor humidity, and the running mean temperature, which are relevant for predicting thermal comfort in Mediterranean office buildings. The proposed methodology effectively analyses the relevance of these variables, using five techniques and two different databases, Mediterranean climate buildings published by ASHRAE and a study conducted in Seville, Spain. The results indicate that the extended database to 21 variables improves the quality of the metrics by 5%, underscoring the importance of a comprehensive approach in the analysis. Among the evaluated techniques, random forest emerges as the most successful, offering superior performance in terms of accuracy and other metrics, and this method is highlighted as a technique that can be used to assist in the design and operation or control of a building’s conditioning system or in tools that recommend adaptive measures to improve thermal comfort.
Investigating the Source of Claims with the Importance of BIM Application on Reducing Construction Disputable Claims in KSA
Authors: Abougamil Reda Abdelshafy , Thorpe David , Heravi Amirhossein
Published: August 2023

The construction industry in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is a significant sector in the Middle East, with annual expenditures surpassing USD 120 billion. It employs approximately 15% of the workforce and consumes more than 14% of the country’s energy resources. However, the Saudi construction sector encounters numerous challenges, including a deficiency in skilled labor, escalating costs, disputes, and material shortages. This study aims to investigate the origins of construction disputes in KSA and emphasize the significance of employing Building Information Modeling (BIM) applications to diminish the factors causing claims in both commercial and residential construction projects. The methodology employed comprises a comprehensive literature review and a field survey consisting of interview sessions. This study analyzes a total of 50 contributing factors to the causes of claims, along with conducting a field survey interview session involving 35 participants. The findings reveal seven substantial sources that give rise to construction claims in the KSA, impacting 75 projects, as discussed in this study. Furthermore, the research critically evaluates the advantages of utilizing BIM technology to mitigate construction disputes in the KSA. The data analysis results indicate that the reliance on traditional project management approaches is one of the catalysts for the emergence of disputes in the construction industry, particularly in the KSA.
Seismic Performance Analysis of Corrugated Steel Plate Shear Wall Connected with Beams Only
Authors: Cao Qiang , Huang Jingyu , Gu Baonan
Published: August 2023

This paper studied the seismic performance of corrugated steel plate shear walls with vertical corrugated steel plates connected with beams only (CboSPSWs). A numerical model of a CboSPSW was developed. Then, a series of parametric analyses were conducted to determine the effects of the related parameters on the hysteretic performance of CboSPSWs, including the height–thickness ratio, aspect ratio, corrugation angle, stiffness of the free-edge stiffener, and surrounding frame stiffness. In addition, the limit of the stiffness of the free-edge stiffener of the CboSPSW was investigated. Finally, the serviceability of the existing design method, the Plate-Frame Interaction model (PFI), for CboSPSWs was examined. The results show that CboSPSWs have high values of strength and initial stiffness as well as good and stable energy dissipation capacities. The ultimate strength of the corrugated steel plate (CSP) can be improved significantly by free-edge stiffeners. When the flexural stiffness ratio exceeds 1.0, the increase of the average stress of the CSPs close to the beams is less than 20%, and the tension field develops fully in the CSPs in CboSPSWs. The PFI model can predict the shear strength and initial stiffness values of the hysteretic curves of CboSPSWs with good accuracy, which can be used in the design and plastic analyses of CboSPSWs.
Regulation of IGF1R by MicroRNA-15b Contributes to the Anticancer Effects of Calorie Restriction in a Murine C3-TAg Model of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Bustamante-Marin Ximena , Devlin Kaylyn L. , McDonell Shannon B. , Dave Om , Merlino Jenna L. , Grindstaff Emma J. , Ho Alyssa N. , Rezeli Erika T. , Coleman Michael F. , Hursting Stephen D.
Published: August 2023

Calorie restriction (CR) inhibits triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) progression in several preclinical models in association with decreased insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) signaling. To investigate the impact of CR on microRNAs (miRs) that target the IGF1/IGF1R pathway, we used the spontaneous murine model of TNBC, C3(1)/SV40 T-antigen (C3-TAg). In C3-TAg mice, CR reduced body weight, IGF1 levels, and TNBC progression. We evaluated the tumoral expression of 10 miRs. CR increased the expression of miR-199a-3p, miR-199a-5p, miR-486, and miR-15b. However, only miR-15b expression correlated with tumorigenicity in the M28, M6, and M6C C3-TAg cell lines of TNBC progression. Overexpressing miR-15b reduced the proliferation of mouse (M6) and human (MDA-MB-231) cell lines. Serum restriction alone or in combination with low levels of recombinant IGF1 significantly upregulated miR-15b expression and reduced Igf1r in M6 cells. These effects were reversed by the pharmacological inhibition of IGFR with BMS754807. In silico analysis using miR web tools predicted that miR-15b targets genes associated with IGF1/mTOR pathways and the cell cycle. Our findings suggest that CR in association with reduced IGF1 levels could upregulate miR-15b to downregulate Igf1r and contribute to the anticancer effects of CR. Thus, miR-15b may be a therapeutic target for mimicking the beneficial effects of CR against TNBC.
Active Autophagy Is Associated with Favorable Outcome in Patients with Surgically Resected Cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Bankov Katrin , Schulze Falko , Gretser Steffen , Reis Henning , Abedin Nada , Finkelmeier Fabian , Trojan Jörg , Zeuzem Stefan , Schnitzbauer Andreas A. , Walter Dirk , Wild Peter J. , Kinzler Maximilian N.
Published: August 2023

Data on the impact of autophagy in primary cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) remain scarce. Here, we therefore investigated the role of active autophagy and its impact on survival in CCA patients. All CCA patients who underwent surgical resection with curative intent between 08/2005 and 12/2021 at University Hospital Frankfurt were evaluated. Autophagic key proteins were studied by immunohistochemistry. iCCA processed for gene expression profiling of immune-exhaustion gene sets was used for an autophagy approach in silico. Active autophagy was present in 23.3% of the 172 CCA patients. Kaplan–Meier curves revealed median OS of 68.4 months (95% CI = 46.9–89.9 months) and 32.7 months (95% CI = 23.6–41.8 months) for active and non-active autophagy, respectively (p ≤ 0.001). In multivariate analysis, absence of active autophagy (HR = 2, 95% CI = 1.1–3.5, p = 0.015) was an independent risk factor for OS. Differential-expression profiling revealed significantly upregulated histone deacetylases (HDAC) mRNA in patients showing non-active autophagy. In line with this, pan-acetylated lysine was significantly more prominent in CCA patients with ongoing autophagy (p = 0.005). Our findings strengthen the role of active autophagy as a prognostically relevant marker and a potential therapeutic target.
Type IV P-Type ATPases: Recent Updates in Cancer Development, Progression, and Treatment
Authors: Yazlovitskaya Eugenia M. , Graham Todd R.
Published: August 2023

Adaptations of cancer cells for survival are remarkable. One of the most significant properties of cancer cells to prevent the immune system response and resist chemotherapy is the altered lipid metabolism and resulting irregular cell membrane composition. The phospholipid distribution in the plasma membrane of normal animal cells is distinctly asymmetric. Lipid flippases are a family of enzymes regulating membrane asymmetry, and the main class of flippases are type IV P-type ATPases (P4-ATPases). Alteration in the function of flippases results in changes to membrane organization. For some lipids, such as phosphatidylserine, the changes are so drastic that they are considered cancer biomarkers. This review will analyze and discuss recent publications highlighting the role that P4-ATPases play in the development and progression of various cancer types, as well as prospects of targeting P4-ATPases for anti-cancer treatment.