bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of Immune Cells Driving Electropathology and Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Huang Mingxin , Huiskes Fabries G. , de Groot Natasja M. S. , Brundel Bianca J. J. M.
Published: February 2024

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common progressive cardiac arrhythmia worldwide and entails serious complications including stroke and heart failure. Despite decades of clinical research, the current treatment of AF is suboptimal. This is due to a lack of knowledge on the mechanistic root causes of AF. Prevailing theories indicate a key role for molecular and structural changes in driving electrical conduction abnormalities in the atria and as such triggering AF. Emerging evidence indicates the role of the altered atrial and systemic immune landscape in driving this so-called electropathology. Immune cells and immune markers play a central role in immune remodeling by exhibiting dual facets. While the activation and recruitment of immune cells contribute to maintaining atrial stability, the excessive activation and pronounced expression of immune markers can foster AF. This review delineates shifts in cardiac composition and the distribution of immune cells in the context of cardiac health and disease, especially AF. A comprehensive exploration of the functions of diverse immune cell types in AF and other cardiac diseases is essential to unravel the intricacies of immune remodeling. Usltimately, we delve into clinical evidence showcasing immune modifications in both the atrial and systemic domains among AF patients, aiming to elucidate immune markers for therapy and diagnostics.
Novel Glycomimetics Protect against Glycated Low-Density Lipoprotein-Induced Vascular Calcification In Vitro via Attenuation of the RAGE/ERK/CREB Pathway
Authors: Sidgwick Gary P. , Weston Ria , Mahmoud Ayman M. , Schiro Andrew , Serracino-Inglott Ferdinand , Tandel Shikha M. , Skeoch Sarah , Bruce Ian N. , Jones Alan M. , Alexander M. Yvonne , Wilkinson Fiona L.
Published: February 2024

Heparan sulphate (HS) can act as a co-receptor on the cell surface and alterations in this process underpin many pathological conditions. We have previously described the usefulness of mimics of HS (glycomimetics) in protection against β-glycerophosphate-induced vascular calcification and in the restoration of the functional capacity of diabetic endothelial colony-forming cells in vitro. This study aims to investigate whether our novel glycomimetic compounds can attenuate glycated low-density lipoprotein (g-LDL)-induced calcification by inhibiting RAGE signalling within the context of critical limb ischemia (CLI). We used an established osteogenic in vitro vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) model. Osteoprotegerin (OPG), sclerostin and glycation levels were all significantly increased in CLI serum compared to healthy controls, while the vascular calcification marker osteocalcin (OCN) was down-regulated in CLI patients vs. controls. Incubation with both CLI serum and g-LDL (10 µg/mL) significantly increased VSMC calcification vs. controls after 21 days, with CLI serum-induced calcification apparent after only 10 days. Glycomimetics (C2 and C3) significantly inhibited g-LDL and CLI serum-induced mineralisation, as shown by a reduction in alizarin red (AR) staining and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity. Furthermore, secretion of the osteogenic marker OCN was significantly reduced in VSMCs incubated with CLI serum in the presence of glycomimetics. Phosphorylation of cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) was significantly increased in g-LDL-treated cells vs. untreated controls, which was attenuated with glycomimetics. Blocking CREB activation with a pharmacological inhibitor 666-15 replicated the protective effects of glycomimetics, evidenced by elevated AR staining. In silico molecular docking simulations revealed the binding affinity of the glycomimetics C2 and C3 with the V domain of RAGE. In conclusion, these findings demonstrate that novel glycomimetics, C2 and C3 have potent anti-calcification properties in vitro, inhibiting both g-LDL and CLI serum-induced VSMC mineralisation via the inhibition of LDLR, RAGE, CREB and subsequent expression of the downstream osteogenic markers, ALP and OCN.
Inhibition of miR-143-3p Restores Blood–Testis Barrier Function and Ameliorates Sertoli Cell Senescence
Authors: Xiao Ziyan , Liang Jinlian , Huang Rufei , Chen Derong , Mei Jiaxin , Deng Jingxian , Wang Zhaoyang , Li Lu , Li Ziyi , Xia Huan , Yang Yan , Huang Yadong
Published: February 2024

Due to the increasing trend of delayed childbirth, the age-related decline in male reproductive function has become a widely recognized issue. Sertoli cells (SCs) play a vital role in creating the necessary microenvironment for spermatogenesis in the testis. However, the mechanism underlying Sertoli cell aging is still unclear. In this study, senescent Sertoli cells showed a substantial upregulation of miR-143-3p expression. miR-143-3p was found to limit Sertoli cell proliferation, promote cellular senescence, and cause blood–testis barrier (BTB) dysfunction by targeting ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 E3 (UBE2E3). Additionally, the TGF-β receptor inhibitor SB431542 showed potential in alleviating age-related BTB dysfunction, rescuing testicular atrophy, and reversing the reduction in germ cell numbers by negatively regulating miR-143-3p. These findings clarified the regulatory pathways underlying Sertoli cell senescence and suggested a promising therapeutic approach to restore BTB function, alleviate Sertoli cell senescence, and improve reproductive outcomes for individuals facing fertility challenges.
Addressing the Climate Change Adaptation Gap: Key Themes and Future Directions
Authors: Malik Ishfaq Hussain , Ford James D.
Published: February 2024

Climate change adaptation is a critical response to the challenges posed by climate change and is important for building resilience. Progress in adaptation efforts has been made globally, nationally, and locally through international agreements, national plans, and community-based initiatives. However, significant gaps exist in knowledge, capacity, and finance. The Adaptation Gap Report 2023, published by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), examines the status of climate change adaptation efforts globally. The report highlights the widening adaptation finance gap and the deepening climate crisis. We analyse the key themes of the report and incorporate an analysis of the wider literature and insights from COP28 to substantiate key points and identify gaps where more work is needed to develop an understanding of climate change adaptation. This paper focuses on the underfinanced and underprepared state of global climate change adaptation efforts, the widening adaptation finance gap, slow progress in adaptation, gender equality and social inclusion issues, and challenges in addressing loss and damage. We provide a way forward for climate change adaptation and offer recommendations for future actions.
Deposition of Polymers on Titanium Nitride Electrodes
Authors: Efremenko Yulia , Laroussi Arwa , Sengül Akant , Corley-Wiciak Agnieszka Anna , Fischer Inga Anita , Mirsky Vladimir M.
Published: February 2024

The application of titanium nitride (TiN) as an electrode for electrochemical deposition or characterization requires the removal of an insulating layer from its surface. This process was studied and optimized, and the conditions for the complete removal of this layer through treatment with oxalic acid were formulated. The obtained TiN surfaces were used for the deposition of various conducting and non-conducting polymers. Two different approaches were applied: (i) in situ electrochemical synthesis of the main classes of conducting polymers, including polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, and selected derivatives thereof, and (ii) electrostatically driven layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition of multilayers of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. The deposited polymers were characterized by electrochemical methods. The electrochemical properties of the deposited conducting polymers and their deposition on the TiN surface were comparable to those of the metallic electrodes. The films produced via LbL deposition exhibited a pronounced influence of the charge of the last deposited polymer on the redox reaction of ferri/ferrocyanide, validating the charge alteration with each successive polymer layer deposition. The studied deposition technologies can be used for the modification of TiN surfaces required in applications of this material in chemical sensors and other devices.
Leveraging Positive-Unlabeled Learning for Enhanced Black Spot Accident Identification on Greek Road Networks
Authors: Sevetlidis Vasileios , Pavlidis George , Mouroutsos Spyridon G. , Gasteratos Antonios
Published: February 2024

Identifying accidents in road black spots is crucial for improving road safety. Traditional methodologies, although insightful, often struggle with the complexities of imbalanced datasets, while machine learning (ML) techniques have shown promise, our previous work revealed that supervised learning (SL) methods face challenges in effectively distinguishing accidents that occur in black spots from those that do not. This paper introduces a novel approach that leverages positive-unlabeled (PU) learning, a technique we previously applied successfully in the domain of defect detection. The results of this work demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in key performance metrics, including accuracy, precision, recall, F1-score, and AUC, compared to SL methods. This study thus establishes PU learning as a more effective and robust approach for accident classification in black spots, particularly in scenarios with highly imbalanced datasets.
The Forest Refugium of the Bükk Mountains, Hungary—Vegetation Change and Human Impact from the Late Pleistocene
Authors: Náfrádi Katalin , Sümegi Pál
Published: February 2024

The Rejtek I. Rock Shelter in the Bükk Mountains of the inner Western Carpathian region plays an important role in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene environmental historical analyses. The investigations of the cave sediment accumulated from the end of the Pleistocene and the recovered paleontological finds, together with the archaeological artefacts, provided an opportunity to develop stratigraphic classifications. In addition, by comparing archaeostratigraphic, lithostratigraphic and biostratigraphic data, it was possible to link environmental and prehistoric events. The importance of the site is shown by both the mollusc and floral cold- and warm-tolerant species that were present in the area during the Late Pleistocene. The early expansion of thermophilous species indicates the presence of a refuge already during the Late Pleistocene. Based on the documents of the excavation, the previous works, the sediment sequence, as well as the sediment samples and the filling material of the mollusc shells, together with the new chronology, we were able to clarify the relative order of the excavated layers and the description of the sediment types in the Rejtek I. Rock Shelter.
Soluble Semaphorin 4D Serum Concentrations Are Elevated in Critically Ill Patients with Liver Cirrhosis and Correlate with Aminotransferases
Authors: Abu Jhaisha Samira , Hohlstein Philipp , Yagmur Eray , Köller Vera , Pollmanns Maike R. , Adams Jule K. , Wirtz Theresa H. , Brozat Jonathan F. , Bündgens Lukas , Hamesch Karim , Weiskirchen Ralf , Tacke Frank , Trautwein Christian , Koch Alexander
Published: February 2024

Semaphorin 4D (Sema4D), also known as CD100, is a multifunctional transmembrane protein with immunoregulatory functions. Upon the activation of immune cells, soluble Semaphorin 4D (sSema4D) is proteolytically cleaved from the membrane by metalloproteinases. sSema4D levels are elevated in various (auto-)inflammatory diseases. Our aim was to investigate sSema4D levels in association with sepsis and critical illnesses and to evaluate sSema4D’s potential as a prognostic biomarker. We measured sSema4D levels in 192 patients upon admission to our medical intensive care unit. We found similar levels of sSema4D in 125 patients with sepsis compared to 67 non-septic patients. sSema4D levels correlated with leukocytes but not with other markers of systemic inflammation such as C-reactive protein or procalcitonin. Most interestingly, in a subgroup of patients suffering from pre-existing liver cirrhosis, we observed significantly higher levels of sSema4D. Consistently, sSema4D was also positively correlated with markers of hepatic and cholestatic injury. Our study suggests that sSema4D is not regulated in sepsis compared to other causes of critical illness. However, sSema4D seems to be associated with hepatic injury and inflammation.
Multifractal Multiscale Analysis of Human Movements during Cognitive Tasks
Authors: Faini Andrea , Arsac Laurent M. , Deschodt-Arsac Veronique , Castiglioni Paolo
Published: February 2024

Continuous adaptations of the movement system to changing environments or task demands rely on superposed fractal processes exhibiting power laws, that is, multifractality. The estimators of the multifractal spectrum potentially reflect the adaptive use of perception, cognition, and action. To observe time-specific behavior in multifractal dynamics, a multiscale multifractal analysis based on DFA (MFMS-DFA) has been recently proposed and applied to cardiovascular dynamics. Here we aimed at evaluating whether MFMS-DFA allows identifying multiscale structures in the dynamics of human movements. Thirty-six (12 females) participants pedaled freely, after a metronomic initiation of the cadence at 60 rpm, against a light workload for 10 min: in reference to cycling (C), cycling while playing “Tetris” on a computer, alone (CT) or collaboratively (CTC) with another pedaling participant. Pedal revolution periods (PRP) series were examined with MFMS-DFA and compared to linearized surrogates, which attested to a presence of multifractality at almost all scales. A marked alteration in multifractality when playing Tetris was evidenced at two scales, τ ≈ 16 and τ ≈ 64 s, yet less marked at τ ≈ 16 s when playing collaboratively. Playing Tetris in collaboration attenuated these alterations, especially in the best Tetris players. This observation suggests the high sensitivity to cognitive demand of MFMS-DFA estimators, extending to the assessment of skill/demand interplay from individual behavior. So, by identifying scale-dependent multifractal structures in movement dynamics, MFMS-DFA has obvious potential for examining brain-movement coordinative structures, likely with sufficient sensitivity to find echo in diagnosing disorders and monitoring the progress of diseases that affect cognition and movement control.
Latency-Constrained Neural Architecture Search Method for Efficient Model Deployment on RISC-V Devices
Authors: Xiang Mingxi , Ding Rui , Liu Haijun , Zhou Xichuan
Published: February 2024

The rapid development of the RISC-V instruction set architecture (ISA) has garnered significant attention in the realm of deep neural network applications. While hardware-aware neural architecture search (NAS) methods for ARM, X86, and GPUs have been extensively explored, research specifically targeting RISC-V remains limited. In light of this, we propose a latency-constrained NAS (LC-NAS) method specifically designed for RISC-V. This method enables efficient network searches without the requirement of network training. Concretely, in the training-free NAS framework, we introduce an RISC-V latency evaluation module that includes two implementations: a lookup table and a latency predictor based on a deep neural network. To obtain real latency data, we have designed a specialized data collection pipeline for RISC-V devices, which allows for precise end-to-end hardware latency measurements. We validate the effectiveness of our method in the NAS-Bench-201 search space. Experimental results demonstrate that our method can efficiently search for latency-constrained networks for RISC-V devices within seconds while maintaining high accuracy. Additionally, our method can easily integrate with existing training-free NAS approaches.
Detection of Ventricular Fibrillation Using Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition of ECG Signals
Authors: Oh Seungrok , Choi Young-Seok
Published: February 2024

Ventricular fibrillation (VF) is a critical ventricular arrhythmia with severe consequences. Due to the severity of VF, it urgently requires a rapid and accurate detection of abnormal patterns in ECG signals. Here, we present an efficient method to detect abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) signals associated with VF by measuring orthogonality between intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) derived from a data-driven decomposition method, namely, ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD). The proposed method incorporates the decomposition of the ECG signal into its IMFs using EEMD, followed by the computation of the angles between subsequent IMFs, especially low-order IMFs, as the features to discriminate normal and abnormal ECG patterns. The proposed method was validated through experiments using a public MIT-BIH ECG dataset for its effectiveness in detecting VF ECG signals compared to conventional methods. The proposed method achieves a sensitivity of 99.22%, a specificity of 99.37%, and an accuracy of 99.28% with a 3 s ECG window and a support vector machine (SVM) with a linear kernel, which performs better than existing VF detection methods. The capability of the proposed method can provide a perspective approach for the real-time and practical computer-aided diagnosis of VF.
Proposal of Multicriteria Decision-Making Models for Biogas Production
Authors: Yamaji Daniela M. , Amâncio-Vieira Saulo F. , Fidelis Reginaldo , Contani Eduardo A. do R.
Published: February 2024

While biogas production offers promising solutions for waste management, energy diversification, and sustainable development, effective project implementation requires comprehensive evaluation criteria that encompass diverse aspects, such as the problem to be addressed, biodigester technology selection, business model development, investment considerations, and final product utilization. A preliminary study involving an integrative review of 58 articles yielded 499 unique criteria. These criteria were categorized into four groups: economic, environmental, social, and technical, encompassing a total of 39 subcriteria. Six stages of the biogas production cycle were considered in the analysis: project, initiation, biodigester type selection, location determination, operational cycle definition, and final product utilization. The analysis revealed that existing decision-making models often prioritize technical and economic considerations while neglecting broader social and environmental perspectives. This paper addresses this gap by proposing, for the first time, stage-specific, multicriteria decision-making (MDCA) models tailored to each phase of a biogas production cycle. These models empower project managers and policymakers to optimize resource allocation, minimize the environmental impact, maximize social benefits, and ensure project viability and profitability. The models’ adaptability allows for tailored prioritization based on specific project requirements and contexts. This groundbreaking research fills a critical void in biogas decision making by bridging the gap between existing technical and economic model limitations and the growing need for truly sustainable project development.
Hydrogen and the Global Energy Transition—Path to Sustainability and Adoption across All Economic Sectors
Authors: Cheekatamarla Praveen
Published: February 2024

This perspective article delves into the critical role of hydrogen as a sustainable energy carrier in the context of the ongoing global energy transition. Hydrogen, with its potential to decarbonize various sectors, has emerged as a key player in achieving decarbonization and energy sustainability goals. This article provides an overview of the current state of hydrogen technology, its production methods, and its applications across diverse industries. By exploring the challenges and opportunities associated with hydrogen integration, we aim to shed light on the pathways toward achieving a sustainable hydrogen economy. Additionally, the article underscores the need for collaborative efforts among policymakers, industries, and researchers to overcome existing hurdles and unlock the full potential of hydrogen in the transition to a low-carbon future. Through a balanced analysis of the present landscape and future prospects, this perspective article aims to contribute valuable insights to the discourse surrounding hydrogen’s role in the global energy transition.
Scaling-Up of Solution-Processable Tungsten Trioxide (WO3) Nanoparticles as a Hole Transport Layer in Inverted Organic Photovoltaics
Authors: Rahman Atiq Ur , El Astal-Quirós Aliah , Susanna Gianpaolo , Javanbakht Hamed , Calabrò Emanuele , Polino Giuseppina , Paci Barbara , Generosi Amanda , Righi Riva Flavia , Brunetti Francesca , Reale Andrea
Published: February 2024

We reported the comparative studies of the optimization of solution-processable tungsten trioxide (WO3) as a hole transporting layer (HTL) in inverted organic photovoltaics (OPVs) using spin coating, slot-die coating, and spray coating technologies for scaling-up applications. To facilitate the technology’s transition into commercial manufacturing, it is necessary to explore the role of scalable technologies for low-cost and efficient device fabrication. We investigated the role of diluting WO3 with isopropanol as an HTL in inverted OPVs to solve the issue of poor wettability of the hydrophobic surface of the PBDB-T: ITIC bulk heterojunction layer. The optimal dilution ratios of WO3 with isopropanol were 1:4, 1:4 and 1:8 with spin coating, slot-die coating and spray coating techniques, respectively. We evaluated the device performance by conducting a current density–voltage (J-V) analysis, incident photon-to-current conversion efficiency (IPCE) measurements, and ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) absorbance spectra for various WO3 concentrations. The J-V characteristics revealed that slot-die coating resulted in the highest performance, followed by the spray coating technology. We further investigated the impact of the annealing temperature on device performance for both slot-die- and spray-coated diluted WO3. The highest device performance was achieved at an annealing temperature of 120 °C for both coating technologies. This research offers valuable insights into the scalable fabrication of inverted OPV devices, paving the way for cost-effective and efficient large-scale production.
Climate Change Threatens the Habitat of Pinus massoniana in China
Authors: Zhao Zefang , Chao Shigang , Zhao Zebin , Jing Meixiu
Published: February 2024

Pinus massoniana Lamb. is one of the main timber tree species. There is a large artificial planting area in South China, and this tree has important economic and ecological value. In this research, we built a comprehensive habitat suitability model based on 115 current data and 22 environmental variables to analyze the potential suitable habitat distribution of this species. Future climate change scenarios were defined as four shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs): SSP 1–2.6, SSP 2–4.5, SSP 3–7.0, SSP 5–8.5) and four periods (including 2021–2040, 2041–2060, 2061–2080, and 2081–2100) based on nine global circulation model datasets. To fully consider the potential distribution of P. massoniana under specific climate change conditions and soil conditions, we constructed an ensemble model using four commonly used model algorithms. The results indicated that the current suitable habitat for P. massoniana covers approximately 1.10 × 106 km2 in southeastern China. In the future, the model results showed that under different climate change scenarios and at different times, the change in suitable habitat for P. massoniana varied; moreover, under moderate climate change scenarios, the average temperature decreased by less than 3 °C and the suitable habitat area decreased slightly, with an area larger than 0.95 × 106 km2. However, under intense warming scenarios, for which the average temperature increased above 3 °C, the suitable habitat for P. massoniana decreased. In the most severe warming scenario, the suitable habitat area for P. massoniana was reduced to 44% of the base climate conditions with severe habitat fragmentation, which should be fully considered in future planting initiatives and plant protection.
Changes in Soil Chemistry and Microbial Communities in Rhizospheres of Planted Gastrodia elata on a Barren Slope and under a Forest
Authors: Xie Xia , Shi Rui , Yan Xinru , Zhang Ao , Wang Yonggui , Jiao Jinlong , Yu Yang , Horowitz Abraham Rami , Lu Jincai , He Xiahong
Published: February 2024

Continuous cropping of the important achlorophyllous medicinal orchid Gastrodia elata Blume causes an imbalance in soil microecology leading to soil-borne diseases. However, the impacts on different land covers remain largely unknown. Hence, this study aimed to investigate changes in the soil nutrient composition and the global microbial community structure in rhizospheres of G. elata cultivated on a barren slope (HPGJ) and under a forest (LXT) using integrated shotgun metagenomics and an analysis of soil chemical properties. High-throughput sequencing revealed an increase in the abundance of Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Mucoromycota, Basidiomycota, and Ascomycota, which drive N- and C-cycling genes in HPGJ and LXT. Notably, the fungal community was significantly improved in the HPGJ (from 0.17% to 23.61%) compared to the LXT (from 0.2% to 2.04%). Consequently, mineral cycling was enhanced in the HPGJ, resulting in a more improved soil nutrient composition than in the LXT. The soil chemical properties analysis unveiled a significant increase in the contents of the total nitrogen, NO3−-N, organic matter, total carbon, organic carbon, total sulfur, and total phosphorus in the HPGJ, while no changes were recorded in the LXT. It was noteworthy that the abundance of pathogenic microorganisms increased significantly in the HPGJ compared to the LXT. Our results provide supporting data to optimize G. elata cultivation on slopes.
Antifungal Activity of Culture Filtrate from Endophytic Fungus Nectria balsamea E282 and Its Fractions against Dryadomyces quercus-mongolicae
Authors: Nguyen Manh Ha , Park Il-Kwon , Lee Jong Kyu , Lee Dong-Hyeon , Shin Keumchul
Published: February 2024

A key role that fungal endophytes play in interacting with their host plant can be defined by the fact that they promote the growth of plants and enhance the tolerance of the host against plant pathogens using bioactive compounds that they produce. Several studies utilizing endophytic fungi as a source of biological control against plant pathogens were conducted, and a representative example includes Aureobasidium protae from common wheat (Triticum aestivum), which inhibited the mycelial growth of Fusarium graminearum and Fusarium culmorum, causal agents of Fusarium head blight disease. Our previous study indicated that three endophytic fungal isolates, E089 (Daldinia childiae), E282 (Nectria balsamea), and E409 (Colletotrichum acutatum), showed antifungal activities against D. quercus-mongolicae, an ascomycetous fungus that is reported to be associated with oak mortality in South Korea. The objectives of this study were to optimize and evaluate antifungal efficiency for these endophytic fungi against D. quercus-mongolicae, and this was achieved using culture filtrate retrieved from the three above-mentioned endophytes and fractions isolated from the culture filtrate. Of those, the culture filtrate from E282 showed higher mycelial growth and sporulation inhibitions on PDA medium where D. quercus-mongolicae was grown. In addition, three fractions, including hexane, CHCl3, Et2O, and H2O, were tested for antifungal activities against D. quercus-mongolicae. The results revealed that the Et2O fraction showed higher mycelial growth and sporulation inhibition rates. Taking these results together, the endophytic fungus, N. balsamea, which exhibited high antifungal efficiency, can be effectively used as a biocontrol agent for the management of oak wilt disease in the country.
Automated Identification of Sensitive Financial Data Based on the Topic Analysis
Authors: Li Meng , Liu Jiqiang , Yang Yeping
Published: February 2024

Data governance is an extremely important protection and management measure throughout the entire life cycle of data. However, there are still data governance issues, such as data security risks, data privacy breaches, and difficulties in data management and access control. These problems lead to a risk of data breaches and abuse. Therefore, the security classification and grading of data has become an important task to accurately identify sensitive data and adopt appropriate maintenance and management measures with different sensitivity levels. This work started from the problems existing in the current data security classification and grading work, such as inconsistent classification and grading standards, difficult data acquisition and sorting, and weak semantic information of data fields, to find the limitations of the current methods and the direction for improvement. The automatic identification method of sensitive financial data proposed in this paper is based on topic analysis and was constructed by incorporating Jieba word segmentation, word frequency statistics, the skip-gram model, K-means clustering, and other technologies. Expert assistance was sought to select appropriate keywords for enhanced accuracy. This work used the descriptive text library and real business data of a Chinese financial institution for training and testing to further demonstrate its effectiveness and usefulness. The evaluation indicators illustrated the effectiveness of this method in the classification of data security. The proposed method addressed the challenge of sensitivity level division in texts with limited semantic information, which overcame the limitations on model expansion across different domains and provided an optimized application model. All of the above pointed out the direction for the real-time updating of the method.
Genetic Basis of Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Approaches and Lessons Learnt from Three Decades of Inherited Predisposition Testing
Authors: Barili Valeria , Ambrosini Enrico , Bortesi Beatrice , Minari Roberta , De Sensi Erika , Cannizzaro Ilenia Rita , Taiani Antonietta , Michiara Maria , Sikokis Angelica , Boggiani Daniela , Tommasi Chiara , Serra Olga , Bonatti Francesco , Adorni Alessia , Luberto Anita , Caggiati Patrizia , Martorana Davide , Uliana Vera , Percesepe Antonio , Musolino Antonino , Pellegrino Benedetta
Published: February 2024

Germline variants occurring in BRCA1 and BRCA2 give rise to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome, predisposing to breast, ovarian, fallopian tube, and peritoneal cancers marked by elevated incidences of genomic aberrations that correspond to poor prognoses. These genes are in fact involved in genetic integrity, particularly in the process of homologous recombination (HR) DNA repair, a high-fidelity repair system for mending DNA double-strand breaks. In addition to its implication in HBOC pathogenesis, the impairment of HR has become a prime target for therapeutic intervention utilizing poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. In the present review, we introduce the molecular roles of HR orchestrated by BRCA1 and BRCA2 within the framework of sensitivity to PARP inhibitors. We examine the genetic architecture underneath breast and ovarian cancer ranging from high- and mid- to low-penetrant predisposing genes and taking into account both germline and somatic variations. Finally, we consider higher levels of complexity of the genomic landscape such as polygenic risk scores and other approaches aiming to optimize therapeutic and preventive strategies for breast and ovarian cancer.
Predictive Assessment of Climate Change Impact on Water Yield in the Meta River Basin, Colombia: An InVEST Model Application
Authors: Valencia Jhon B. , Guryanov Vladimir V. , Mesa-Diez Jeison , Diaz Nilton , Escobar-Carbonari Daniel , Gusarov Artyom V.
Published: February 2024

This paper presents a hydrological assessment of the 113,981 km2 Meta River basin in Colombia using 13 global climate models to predict water yield for 2050 under two CMIP6 scenarios, SSP 4.5 and SSP 8.5. Despite mixed performance across subbasins, the model was notably effective in the upper Meta River subbasin. This study predicts an overall increase in the basin’s annual water yield due to increased precipitation, especially in flatter regions. Under the SSP 4.5, the Meta River basin’s water flow is expected to rise from 5141.6 m3/s to 6397.5 m3/s, and to 6101.5 m3/s under the SSP 8.5 scenario, marking 24% and 19% increases in water yield, respectively. Conversely, the upper Meta River subbasin may experience a slight decrease in water yield, while the upper Casanare River subbasin is predicted to see significant increases. The South Cravo River subbasin, however, is expected to face a considerable decline in water yield, indicating potential water scarcity. This study represents a pioneering large-scale application of the InVEST–AWY model in Colombia using CMIP6 global climate models with an integrated approach to produce predictions of future water yields.
Special Issue “Advances in Molecular Pathogenesis and Targeted Therapies for Myeloid Neoplasms”
Authors: Kok Chung Hoow , Yeung David T. , Hiwase Devendra K.
Published: February 2024

Myeloid neoplasms (MNs) constitute a diverse group of haematological malignancies that includes myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), MDS/MPN overlap syndrome, and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) [...]
Cytokine mRNA Expression Profile in Target Organs of IFNAR (-/-) Mice Infected with African Horse Sickness Virus
Authors: Calvo-Pinilla Eva , Jiménez-Cabello Luis , Utrilla-Trigo Sergio , Illescas-Amo Miguel , Ortego Javier
Published: February 2024

African horse sickness (AHS) is a highly severe disease caused by a viral etiological agent, African horse sickness virus (AHSV). It is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, while sporadic outbreaks have occurred in North Africa, Asia, and Europe, with the most recent cases in Thailand. AHSV transmission between equines occurs primarily by biting midges of the genus Culicoides, especially C. imicola, with a wide distribution globally. As research in horses is highly restricted due to a variety of factors, small laboratory animal models that reproduce clinical signs and pathology observed in natural infection of AHSV are highly needed. Here, we investigated the expression profile of several pro-inflammatory cytokines in target organs and serum of IFNAR (-/-) mice, to continue characterizing this established animal model and to go deep into the innate immune responses that are still needed.
Global Proteomics Analysis of Lysophosphatidic Acid Signaling in PC-3 Human Prostate Cancer Cells: Role of CCN1
Authors: Balijepalli Pravita , Yue Guihua , Prasad Bhagwat , Meier Kathryn E.
Published: February 2024

Cysteine-rich angiogenic factor 61 (CCN1/Cyr61) is a matricellular protein that is induced and secreted in response to growth factors. Our previous work showed that 18:1-lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), which activates the G protein-coupled receptor LPAR1, induces CCN1 between 2–4 h in PC-3 human prostate cancer cells in a manner than enhances cell-substrate adhesion. While the time course of induction suggests that CCN1 contributes to intermediate events in LPA action, the roles of CCN1 in LPA-mediated signal transduction have not been fully elucidated. This study utilized a comprehensive global proteomics approach to identify proteins up- or down-regulated in response to treatment of PC-3 cells with LPA for three hours, during the time of peak CCN1 levels. In addition, the effects of siRNA-mediated CCN1 knockdown on LPA responses were analyzed. The results show that, in addition to CCN1, LPA increased the levels of multiple proteins. Proteins up-regulated by LPA included metastasis-associated in colon cancer protein 1 (MACC1) and thrombospondin-1 (TSP1/THBS1); both MACC1 and TSP1 regulated cancer cell adhesion and motility. LPA down-regulated thioredoxin interacting protein (TXNIP). CCN1 knockdown suppressed the LPA-induced up-regulation of 30 proteins; these included MACC1 and TSP1, as confirmed by immunoblotting. Gene ontology and STRING analyses revealed multiple pathways impacted by LPA and CCN1. These results indicate that CCN1 contributes to LPA signaling cascades that occur during the intermediate phase after the initial stimulus. The study provides a rationale for the development of interventions to disrupt the LPA-CCN1 axis.
Immunoassays: Analytical and Clinical Performance, Challenges, and Perspectives of SERS Detection in Comparison with Fluorescent Spectroscopic Detection
Authors: Terzapulo Xeniya , Kassenova Aiym , Bukasov Rostislav
Published: February 2024

Immunoassays (IAs) with fluorescence-based detection are already well-established commercialized biosensing methods, such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA). Immunoassays with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) detection have received significant attention from the research community for at least two decades, but so far they still lack a wide clinical commercial application. This review, unlike any other review that we have seen, performs a three-dimensional performance comparison of SERS IAs vs. fluorescence IAs. First, we compared the limit of detection (LOD) as a key performance parameter for 30 fluorescence and 30 SERS-based immunoassays reported in the literature. We also compared the clinical performances of a smaller number of available reports for SERS vs. fluorescence immunoassays (FIAs). We found that the median and geometric average LODs are about 1.5–2 orders of magnitude lower for SERS-based immunoassays in comparison to fluorescence-based immunoassays. For instance, the median LOD for SERS IA is 4.3 × 10−13 M, whereas for FIA, it is 1.5 × 10−11 M. However, there is no significant difference in average relative standard deviation (RSD)—both are about 5–6%. The analysis of sensitivity, selectivity, and accuracy reported for a limited number of the published clinical studies with SERS IA and FIA demonstrates an advantage of SERS IA over FIA, at least in terms of the median value for all three of those parameters. We discussed common and specific challenges to the performances of both SERS IA and FIA, while proposing some solutions to mitigate those challenges for both techniques. These challenges include non-specific protein binding, non-specific interactions in the immunoassays, sometimes insufficient reproducibility, relatively long assay times, photobleaching, etc. Overall, this review may be useful for a large number of researchers who would like to use immunoassays, but particularly for those who would like to make improvements and move forward in both SERS-based IAs and fluorescence-based IAs.
An Attention-Averaging-Based Compression Algorithm for Real-Time Transmission of Ship Data via Beidou Navigation System
Authors: Zhang Chunchang , Zeng Ji
Published: February 2024

The real-time transmission of ship status data from vessels to shore is crucial for live status monitoring and guidance. Traditional reliance on expensive maritime satellite systems for this purpose is being reconsidered with the emergence of the global short message communication service offered by the BeiDou-3 navigation satellite system. While this system presents a more cost-effective solution, its bandwidth is notably insufficient for handling real-time ship status data. This inadequacy necessitates the compression of such data. Therefore, this paper introduces an algorithm tailored for real-time compression of sequential ship status data. The algorithm is engineered to ensure both accuracy and the preservation of valid data range integrity. Our methodology integrates quantization, predictive coding employing an attention-averaging-based predictor, and arithmetic coding. This combined approach facilitates the transmission of succinct messages through the BeiDou Navigation System, enabling the live monitoring of ocean-going vessels. Experimental trials conducted with authentic data obtained from ship monitoring systems validate the efficiency of our approach. The achieved compression rates closely approximate theoretical minimum values. Consequently, this method exhibits substantial promise for the real-time transmission of parameters across various systems.
The Prognostic Role of Global Longitudinal Strain and NT-proBNP in Heart Failure Patients Receiving Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
Authors: Kadoglou Nikolaos P. E. , Bouwmeester Sjoerd , de Lepper Anouk G. W. , de Kleijn Marloes C. , Herold Ingeborg H. F. , Bouwman Arthur R. A. , Korakianitis Ioannis , Simmers Tim , Bracke Franke A. L. E. , Houthuizen Patrick
Published: February 2024

Background: We aimed to evaluate whether baseline GLS (global longitudinal strain), NT-proBNP, and changes in these after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) can predict long-term clinical outcomes and the echocardiographic-based response to CRT (defined by 15% relative reduction in left ventricular end-systolic volume). Methods: We enrolled 143 patients with stable ischemic heart failure (HF) undergoing CRT-D implantation. NT-proBNP and echocardiography were obtained before and 6 months after. The patients were followed up (median: 58 months) for HF-related deaths and/or HF hospitalizations (primary endpoint) or HF-related deaths (secondary endpoint). Results: A total of 84 patients achieved the primary and 53 the secondary endpoint, while 104 patients were considered CRT responders and 39 non-responders. At baseline, event-free patients had higher absolute GLS values (p < 0.001) and lower NT-proBNP serum levels (p < 0001) than those achieving the primary endpoint. A similar pattern was observed in favor of CRT responders vs. non-responders. On Cox regression analysis, baseline absolute GLS value (HR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.51–1.91; p = 0.002) was beneficially associated with lower primary endpoint incidence, while baseline NT-proBNP levels (HR = 1.55; 95% CI, 1.43–2.01; p = 0.002) and diabetes presence (HR = 1.27; 95% CI, 1.12–1.98; p = 0.003) were related to higher primary endpoint incidence. Conclusions: In HF patients undergoing CRT-D, baseline GLS and NT-proBNP concentrations may serve as prognostic factors, while they may predict the echocardiographic-based response to CRT.
Research on the Optimization of Urban Ecological Infrastructure Based on Ecosystem Service Supply, Demand, and Flow
Authors: Zhai Tianlin , Ma Yuanbo , Fang Ying , Chang Mingyuan , Huang Longyang , Ma Ziyi , Li Ling , Zhao Chenchen
Published: February 2024

Ecological infrastructure plays a crucial role in strengthening the relationship between humans and the environment by optimizing ecological space and resource allocation in urban environments. However, there are few studies on the functional assessment and spatial and temporal evolution of ecological infrastructure and its layout optimization. In this study, we developed an ecological infrastructure optimization method based on ecosystem service supply, demand, and flow in Yantai City as the study area; identified the spatial extent of urban ecological infrastructure and its spatial and temporal changes based on the spatial quantification of multiple ecosystem services; assessed whether the existing ecological infrastructure could satisfy the needs of the urban residents by calculating the ecosystem service supply and demand indexes; and used the spatial quantification of ecosystem service flows to optimize the spatial layout of urban ecological infrastructure. This study shows that, from 2010 to 2018, ecological infrastructure in Longkou, Zhaoyuan, and Laiyang decreased, contrasting with the growth in the existing peripheral areas. The study found a clear spatial mismatch between the supply and demand of ecosystem services, especially in the central urban areas, suggesting that the existing infrastructure was unable to satisfy the needs of high-demand areas. This study assessed the peripheral areas of the city using comparative ecological radiation force (CERF), including 314.64 km2 of environmentally beautiful village units as key components of ecological infrastructure in Yantai City. These findings are crucial for sustainable environmental management and urban development strategies.
Comparative Analysis of Main Agronomic Traits of Different Pleurotus giganteus Germplasm Resources
Authors: Yan Miaomiao , Zhai Dandan , Li Qiaozhen , Zhang Meiyan , Jiang Ning , Liu Jianyu , Song Chunyan , Shang Xiaodong , Chen Hongyu , Yu Hailong
Published: February 2024

Agronomic traits are key components in variety protection, cultivar development, and the formulation of DUS (distinct, uniform, and stable) test guidelines. P. giganteus is an increasingly popular and commercially promising edible macrofungi. In this study, both mycelial performance and fruiting body characters of 15 Pleurotus giganteus strains were investigated. The temperature gradient culture test indicated that, although most of the strains achieved optimal mycelial growth between 24 and 28 °C, a statistical difference in mycelial growth rates and temperature adaptability among strains were found, supporting that this trait has the potential to be adopted as an indicator in distinguishing strains. In the fruiting performance tests, the coefficient of variation (CV) of tested traits ranged from 5.30% (pileus diameter) to 18.70% (individual mushroom weight). The mushroom yields ranged from 103.37 g/bag (strain No. 15) to 275.76 g/bag (strain No. 9). The large divergence observed in individual mushroom weight tested strains, ranging from 40.88 g to 78.39 g (with median between 37.69 and 79.395 g), make it highly selective and a potential indicator in variety development. Strain No. 9 had the advantages of forming larger, heavier fruiting bodies and a more obvious funnel shape, which also exhibited the highest biological efficiency (15.61%). The results suggested some morphological traits showed high variety difference, such as pileus diameter (55.75 mm to 66.48 mm), stipe length (92.59 mm to 177.51 mm), stipe diameter (16.14 mm to 23.52 mm), and pileus thickness (13.38 mm to 19.75 mm). In the cluster analysis, the tested strains were grouped into four clusters based on agronomic traits: cluster Ⅰ comprised six strains (No. 6, No. 11, No. 8, No. 1, No. 14, and No. 9) with high mushroom yield; cluster Ⅱ included four strains (No. 3, No. 10, No. 7, and No. 4) with large pileus diameter and short stipe; cluster ⅡI consisted of four strains (No. 5, No. 12, No. 13, and No. 15) with relatively lower yields; and cluster Ⅳ included only strain No. 2 which was low in yield, individual mushroom weight, and biological efficiency, accompanied by smaller pileus size and shorter stipe. The results of the correlation analysis indicated three traits, including individual mushroom weight, stipe length, and pileus weight, were positively associated with high yield. This study suggested P. giganteus germplasm resources are of high abundance and their agronomic diversity is useful in distinguishing and developing different varieties. The findings of this work provide knowledge on the agronomic traits and cultivation performance of various P. giganteus strains, laying a foundation for the development of its DUS test guidelines and variety protection, as well as providing reference for the breeding and phenotype selection of high-quality cultivars.