bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel saturated PID‐type observer‐based controller for wheeled mobile robots with a guaranteed performance considering path curvature
Authors: Shojaei Khoshnam
Published: December 2023

This article proposes a novel saturated PID‐type formation controller for a class of nonholonomic wheeled mobile robots (WMRs) of type (m, s) with mobility m and steerability s. Since the path curvature causes a severe deviation of the followers from the leaders' trajectory in the corners, a new definition of output equations is suggested to construct the coordinates of a virtual reference point in the front of each follower based on the concept of the extended look‐ahead control that utilizes a corrective angle to compensate the trajectory curvature efficiently. A nonlinear transformation and the robot's kinematic and dynamic equations are heuristically combined to develop a novel second‐order Euler–Lagrange formulation of unconstrained errors from constrained errors. Then, a novel saturated PID‐type controller is proposed for WMRs to build a desirable formation with a prescribed performance. An innovative nonlinear observer is presented to estimate followers' velocities. An efficient mixture of a radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) and an adaptive mechanism is proposed to compensate for model uncertainties, external disturbances, and network approximation errors. Lyapunov's direct method verifies semi‐global uniform ultimate boundedness stability by estimating a gain‐dependent region of attraction. Numerical simulations finally show the efficiency of the proposed controller.
Consumers' perceptions of partnering brands: The roles of perceived sustainable development goals and partnership authenticity in a cross‐national context
Authors: Lorgnier Nicolas G. A. , Chanavat Nicolas , Su Che‐Jen , Cinar Kevser
Published: December 2023

This paper explores the ways in which consumers' perceptions of brands' sustainable development goals (SDGs) may influence perceptions of partnership authenticity and consumer loyalty toward partnering brands. Data collected from American, French, Turkish, Chinese, and Taiwanese respondents (n = 1241) were used to study the relationships among a Mega Sport Event Organizer – the International Olympic Committee, one of its sponsors, Airbnb, and their consumers. Findings reveal that both the salience of the partners' SDGs and the degree to which their SDGs align significantly impact the partnership authenticity which, in turn, fosters brand loyalty. Salience of brands' SDGs yields stronger predictions of partnership authenticity compared to SDG‐congruity. Additionally, while collectivism strengthens the effect of partnership authenticity, its impact on sustainable development is comparatively limited. From a conceptual standpoint, the research's contributions to categorization theory are discussed. Practical implications are presented for marketers seeking to enhance the effectiveness of their sustainable development strategy.
The mono and bimetallic catalysts for hydrogenation of PAO lubricants
Authors: Asadi Zahra , Sadjadi Samahe , Bahri‐Laleh Naeimeh , Nekoomanesh‐Haghighi Mehdi
Published: December 2023

Using halloysite as a natural support and palladium and rhodium salts, one bimetallic and two monometallic catalysts were prepared through wet‐impregnation method. The catalysts were characterized via TGA, XRD, FTIR, EDS and elemental mapping analyses and their activity for hydrogenation of poly‐alpha‐olefin oil was examined and compared. The results indicated that among the three catalysts, halloysite supported Pd nanoparticles and bimetallic halloysite supported Pd−Rh catalyst exhibited the highest and lowest activity, respectively. To clarify the origin of the observed difference in the activity of the catalyst, they have been further characterized via ICP and TEM analyses. The result indicated that the nature of the metallic species affected the loading and dispersion of the formed metallic nanoparticles. In the case of halloysite supported Pd nanoparticles, while metal loading was the highest, the formed particles were fine and well‐dispersed. It is whilst that in the case of bimetallic catalyst aggregation of particles was observed which was correlated to its lower efficiency. Optimization of the reaction variables via response surface methodology was also conducted using Pd/HNT catalyst. It was shown that using 5 wt.% catalyst at 130 °C under H2 gas with pressure of 8 bar, hydrogenation led to 97 % yield in 7 h. The catalyst was also reusable for 6 consecutive runs with negligible loss of activity.
Phenolic Compounds of Phlomis tuberosa by LC–MS/MS‐Determination of Antioxidant Activity, Molecular Docking, and Enzyme Inhibition Profiles
Authors: Guven Leyla , Erturk Adem , Koca Mehmet , Gulcin Ilhami
Published: December 2023

Phlomis species have traditionally been employed for the treatment of a number of ailments such as influenza, the common cold, asthma, bronchitis, coughs, hemorrhoids, ulcers, and gastrointestinal disorders. The goal of this study is to compare the anti‐diabetic, anti‐glaucoma, and anti‐Alzheimer's properties and antioxidant activities of methanol (MEPT) and aqueous (WEPT) extracts from the aerial part of P. tuberosa L. Tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography (LC–MS/MS) were used to investigate the compounds of MEPT and WEPT. The inhibitory effects of MEPT and WEPT on the enzymes acetylcholinesterase (AChE), carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) and α‐glycosidase were investigated and molecular docking studies demonstrated binding interactions between the major compounds chlorogenic acid, cyanidin‐3‐O‐glycoside, quinic acid, rosmarinic acid with AChE, CA II and α‐glycosidase enzymes. In addition to that, the total content of phenols and flavonoids was analyzed. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, ABTS, DMPD, ferrous ions (Fe2+) chelating, FRAP, CUPRAC, and ferric ions (Fe3+) reducing methods. This study is the first of its kind to show that MEPT and WEPT possess inhibitory effects on AChE, CA II and α‐glycosidase, as well as displaying antioxidant properties.
Chrysin, The Flavonoid Molecule of Antioxidant Interest
Authors: Mohammed Hamdoon A. , Sulaiman Ghassan M. , Albukhaty Salim , Al‐Saffar Ali Z. , Elshibani Fatma A. , Ragab Ehab A.
Published: December 2023

Chrysin, the natural bioactive flavone compound, has been identified in several edible materials such as honey, propolis, and passionflower with numerous biological potentials and pharmaceutical effects including antitumor, anti‐inflammatory, antiviral and antioxidant. The compound has been reported to have lower in vitro antioxidant activity compared to other flavone‐based structures such as quercetin, luteolin, and myricetin, which is mostly attributed to the higher hydroxylation and the presence of conjugated en‐diol structures in these flavonoids and the lack of these structural features in chrysin. On the contrary to the in vitro antioxidant effect of chrysin, the compound has exerted remarkable in vivo antioxidant activities in several models related to the liver, brain, heart, kidneys, and other soft tissues. The current review includes a discussion of the in vivo and in vitro antioxidant activity of chrysin compared to other common flavonoids. The study also covers subjects linked to chrysin antioxidants, such as its metabolism, bioavailability, and current formulations that aim to increase chrysin antioxidant impact and overcome its low bioavailability.
Recent advancement in the development of silicon‐based phase change materials
Authors: Yun Debbie Soo Xiang , Min Regine See Jia , Wu Wenya , Wang Suxi , Liu Hongfei , Wang Pei , Kai Dan , Kong Junhua , Ye Enyi , Ji Rong , Li Zibiao , Thitsartarn Warintorn , Hoon Tan Beng , Xu Jianwei , Jun Loh Xian , Zhu Qiang
Published: December 2023

Phase change materials (PCMs) have been widely recognized as efficient solutions for thermal management across various industries, including logistics, construction, electronics, and others. Nevertheless, these materials encounter challenges such as leakage, poor thermal conductivity, and supercooling. To address these challenges, a comprehensive examination was conducted on the recent advancements pertaining to silicon‐based materials. These studies include their application as high temperature PCMs, as encapsulation matrices, and their integration as additives to enhance material properties. Aluminum–silicon (Al−Si) alloys offer a viable thermal management solution for high‐temperature applications, such as those found in car batteries. Silicon dioxide (SiO2), silicon carbide (SiC), and silicate‐based minerals have demonstrated the ability to synergistically encapsulate PCMs to prevent leakage, enhance thermal conductivity, and mitigate supercooling. However, the efficacy of these strategies in reducing supercooling varies, and a considerable number of studies have reported an exacerbation. Therefore, appropriate material selection and fine tuning for formulation are necessary. This review critically assesses silicon‐based materials as a component of PCM composite that have been developed over the years. Also, it presents an academic analysis of the selection of silicon‐based materials and the design strategy for PCM composites to optimize PCM formulations according to specific desired properties.
The effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic on the mental health of people with obesity
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Sankar
Published: December 2023

Obesity is a risk factor for anxiety and depression. Obesity is also a risk factor for severe COVID‐19 disease and therefore may have contributed to adverse mental health outcomes in this vulnerable population during the COVID‐19 pandemic. We compare the trajectory of mental health outcomes of people with obesity with normal‐weight people before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic using nationally representative individual‐level longitudinal data from the National Health Interview Survey and Difference‐in‐Difference regressions. Our results indicate that severe anxiety increased by 2.75 (95% CI: 0.0056–0.0494; p‐value 0.014) percentage points, representing a 31.3% relative increase, and anxiety‐related prescription drug usage increased by 2.75 (95% CI: 0.0076–0.0473; p‐value<0.01) percentage points, representing a 19.2% relative increase among people with obesity, compared to normal‐weight people. We conclude that people with obesity experienced an increase in the incidence of severe anxiety and anxiety‐related prescription drug usage during the COVID‐19 pandemic, which was not observed among normal‐weight individuals. Furthermore, women, less‐educated, and rural residents with obesity disproportionately bore the burden of the pandemic.
Fabrication and Performance of Bubble‐Containing Multicompartmental Particles: Novel Self‐Orienting Carriers
Authors: Wu Zengnan , Zheng Yajing , Lin Ling , Lin Yongning , Xie Tianze , Lin Jiaxu , Xing Gaowa , Lin Jin‐Ming
Published: December 2023

In this work, a class of bubble‐containing multicompartmental particles with self‐orienting capability is developed, where a single bubble is enclosed at the top of the super‐segmented architecture. Such bubbles, driven by potential energy minimization, cause the particles to have a bubble‐upward preferred orientation in liquid, enabling efficient decoding of their high‐density signals in an interference‐resistant manner. The particle preparation involves bubble encapsulation via the impact of a multicompartmental droplet on the liquid surface and overall stabilization via rational crosslinking. The conditions for obtaining these particles are systematically investigated. Methodological compatibility with materials is demonstrated by different hydrogel particles. Finally, by encapsulating cargoes of interest, these particles have found broad applications in actuators, multiplexed detection, barcodes, and multicellular systems.
One‐Step Cooperative Growth of High Reaction Kinetics Composite Homogeneous Core–Shell Heterostructure
Authors: Liu Hao , Chen Qi , Chen Haochang , Zhang Shunzhe , Wang Kaifeng , Chen Yujie , Liu Hezhou , Zhang Chongyin , Shi Lu , Li Hua
Published: December 2023

Reaction kinetics can be improved by the enhanced electrical contact between different components growing symbiotically. But so far, due to the necessity for material synthesis conditions match, the component structures of cooperative growth are similar, and the materials are of the same type. The collaborative growth of high‐reaction kinetics composite homogeneous core–shell heterostructure between various materials is innovatively proposed with different structures in one step. The NiCo‐LDH and PPy successfully symbiotically grow on activated carbon fiber fabric in one step. The open channel structure of the NiCo‐LDH nanosheets is preserved while PPy effectively wrapped around the NiCo‐LDH. The well‐defined nanostructure with abundant active sites and convenient ion diffusion paths is favorable for electrolyte entry into the entire nanoarrays. In addition, owing to the enhanced electronic interaction between different components through XPS analysis, the NiCo‐LDH@PPy electrode shows outstanding reaction kinetics and structural stability. The as‐synthesized NiCo‐LDH@PPy exhibited excellent super‐capacitive storage capabilities, robust capacitive activity, and good rate survival. Furthermore, an asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) device made of NiCo‐LDH@PPy and activated carbon (AC) is able to maintain a long cycle life while achieving high power and energy densities.
Engineering Proteins for PEDOT Dispersions: A New Horizon for Highly Mixed Ionic‐Electronic Biocompatible Conducting Materials
Authors: Dominguez‐Alfaro Antonio , Casado Nerea , Fernandez Maxence , Garcia‐Esnaola Andrea , Calvo Javier , Mantione Daniele , Calvo Maria Reyes , Cortajarena Aitziber L.
Published: December 2023

Poly (3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) doped with polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) is the most used conducting polymer from energy to biomedical applications. Despite its exceptional properties, there is a need for developing new materials that can improve some of its inherent limitations, e.g., biocompatibility. In this context, doping PEDOT is propose with a robust recombinant protein with tunable properties, the consensus tetratricopeptide repeated protein (CTPR). The doping consists of an oxidative polymerization, where the PEDOT chains are stabilized by the negative charges of the CTPR protein. CTPR proteins are evaluated with three different lengths (3, 10, and 20 identical CTPR units) and optimized varied synthetic conditions. These findings revealed higher doping rate and oxidized state of the PEDOT chains when doped with the smallest scaffold (CTPR3). These PEDOT:CTPR hybrids possess ionic and electronic conductivity. Notably, PEDOT:CTPR3 displayed an electronic conductivity of 0.016 S cm−1, higher than any other reported protein‐doped PEDOT. This result places PEDOT:CTPR3 at the level of PEDOT‐biopolymer hybrids, and brings it closer in performance to PEDOT:PSS gold standard. Furthermore, PEDOT:CTPR3 dispersion is successfully optimized for inkjet printing, preserving its electroactivity properties after printing. This approach opens the door to the use of these novel hybrids for bioelectronics.
Breaking Osteoclast‐Acid Vicious Cycle to Rescue Osteoporosis via an Acid Responsive Organic Framework‐Based Neutralizing and Gene Editing Platform
Authors: Lin Wenzheng , Hu Sihan , Li Ke , Shi Yu , Pan Chun , Xu Zhuobin , Li Dandan , Wang Huihui , Li Bin , Chen Hao
Published: December 2023

In the osteoporotic microenvironment, the acidic microenvironment generated by excessive osteoclasts not only causes irreversible bone mineral dissolution, but also promotes reactive oxygen species (ROS) production to induce osteoblast senescence and excessive receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand (RANKL) production, which help to generate more osteoclasts. Hence, targeting the acidic microenvironment and RANKL production may break this vicious cycle to rescue osteoporosis. To achieve this, an acid‐responsive and neutralizing system with high in vivo gene editing capacity is developed by loading sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and RANKL‐CRISPR/Cas9 (RC) plasmid in a metal–organic framework. This results showed ZIF8‐NaHCO3@Cas9 (ZNC) effective neutralized acidic microenvironment and inhibited ROS production . Surprisingly, nanoparticles loaded with NaHCO3 and plasmids show higher transfection efficiency in the acidic environments as compared to the ones loaded with plasmid only. Finally, micro‐CT proves complete reversal of bone volume in ovariectomized mice after ZNC injection into the bone remodeling site. Overall, the newly developed nanoparticles show strong effect in neutralizing the acidic microenvironment to achieve bone protection through promoting osteogenesis and inhibiting osteolysis in a bidirectional manner. This study provides new insights into the treatment of osteoporosis for biomedical and clinical therapies.
Nanotechnology Applications in Breast Cancer Immunotherapy
Authors: Wang Ruijie , Kumar Pramod , Reda Moataz , Wallstrum Alyssa G. , Crumrine Noah A. , Ngamcherdtrakul Worapol , Yantasee Wassana
Published: December 2023

Next‐generation cancer treatments are expected not only to target cancer cells but also to simultaneously train immune cells to combat cancer while modulating the immune‐suppressive environment of tumors and hosts to ensure a robust and lasting response. Achieving this requires carriers that can codeliver multiple therapeutics to the right cancer and/or immune cells while ensuring patient safety. Nanotechnology holds great potential for addressing these challenges. This article highlights the recent advances in nanoimmunotherapeutic development, with a focus on breast cancer. While immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have achieved remarkable success and lead to cures in some cancers, their response rate in breast cancer is low. The poor response rate in solid tumors is often associated with the low infiltration of anti‐cancer T cells and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME). To enhance anti‐cancer T‐cell responses, nanoparticles are employed to deliver ICIs, bispecific antibodies, cytokines, and agents that induce immunogenic cancer cell death (ICD). Additionally, nanoparticles are used to manipulate various components of the TME, such as immunosuppressive myeloid cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and fibroblasts to improve T‐cell activities. Finally, this article discusses the outlook, challenges, and future directions of nanoimmunotherapeutics.
Combining Deep Learning and Physical Models: A Benchmark Study on All‐Sky Imager‐Based Solar Nowcasting Systems
Authors: Fabel Yann , Nouri Bijan , Wilbert Stefan , Blum Niklas , Schnaus Dominik , Triebel Rudolph , Zarzalejo Luis F. , Ugedo Enrique , Kowalski Julia , Pitz‐Paal Robert
Published: December 2023

Intermittent solar irradiance due to passing clouds poses challenges for integrating solar energy into existing infrastructure. By making use of intrahour nowcasts (very short‐term forecasts), changing conditions of solar irradiance can be anticipated. All‐sky imagers, capturing sky conditions at high spatial and temporal resolution, can be the basis of such nowcasting systems. Herein, a deep learning (DL) model for solar irradiance nowcasts based on the transformer architecture is presented. The model is trained end‐to‐end using sequences of sky images and irradiance measurements as input to generate point‐forecasts up to 20 min ahead. Further, the effect of integrating this model into a hybrid system, consisting of a physics‐based model and smart persistence, is examined. A comparison between the DL and two hybrid models (with and without the DL model) is conducted on a benchmark dataset. Forecast accuracy for deterministic point‐forecasts is analyzed under different conditions using standard error metrics like root‐mean‐square error and forecast skill. Furthermore, spatial and temporal aggregation effects are investigated. In addition, probabilistic nowcasts for each model are computed via a quantile approach. Overall, the DL model outperforms both hybrid models under the majority of conditions and aggregation effects.
A noise blocking methodology for effective collaboration
Authors: Yang Yun‐Tai , Ye Hong‐Bao , Li Yi‐Shan , Jiau Hewijin Christine
Published: December 2023

Collaboration relies on efficient communication among developers. Many development teams use instant messaging owing to its synchronous and real‐time nature. Despite the convenience provided by instant messaging, developers spend a great amount of time on handling information and task interruption. Consequently, productivity of developers and effectiveness of collaboration are declined. To address the issue, this work introduces an aggressive methodology of noise blocking. The methodology appropriately prioritizes messages based on collaboration requirements. A message which is not urgent for developers to collaborate with others is defined as noise, and such message is blocked to stop unnecessary interruption. To evaluate the proposed methodology, this work conducts experiments on datasets collected from real‐world projects. Then, a noise analysis tool—message analyzer for instant notification of information (MINI)—is implemented. The evaluation results show that noise hinders collaboration significantly because almost half of messages are noise. When MINI is applied, more than 80% of noise is identified, and at most 91.6% of time wasted in noise for the whole team is saved. The proposed noise blocking methodology shows promising results.
Ultrasound‐Activated Piezocatalyst Triggers Sulfate Radical Production for Augmented Oxidative Tumor Suppression
Authors: Hua Mengying , Wu Ruohui , Chen Wenying , Feng Wei , Chen Yu , Hu Zhongqian
Published: December 2023

Sonopiezoelectric therapy (SPT) has gained ever‐increasing prominence in tumor therapy as a combination of ultrasound (US) and piezoelectric nanomaterials to generate cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) for tumor suppression. In this study, the facile hydrothermal method is used to construct the distinct 2D piezocatalyst Bi2Fe4O9 nanosheets (BFO NSs). The engineered BFO NSs can create a piezoelectric field when exposed to US irradiation, facilitating the separation of electron–hole (e−–h+) pairs to play a crucial role in Fe3+/Fe2+ circulation, which catalyzes the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS), resulting in an amplified production of cytotoxic sulfate radical (SO4•−). The produced SO4•− combines with ROS generated by SPT including hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and singlet oxygen (1O2), leading to the augmented oxidative tumor suppression. The BFO NSs and PMS are further integrated into a thermal hydrogel (BFO/PMS‐Gel) for in vitro and in vivo investigations on their catalytic antitumor effects. In both in vitro and in vivo studies, it is validated that BFO/PMS‐Gel, under US irradiation, significantly enhances radicals generation efficiency, which achieves superior antitumor performance while maintaining high therapeutic biocompatibility and biosafety, providing a representative paradigm of US‐activated multiple radicals production as enabled by piezoelectric nanomedicine for antitumor treatment.
3D ZnO/ZIF‐8 Hierarchical Nanostructure for Sensitive and Selective NO2Sensing at Room Temperature
Authors: Lee Jinho , Lee Hongju , Bae Tae-Hyun , Cho Donghwi , Choi Myungwoo , Bae Gwangmin , Shim Young-Seok , Jeon Seokwoo
Published: December 2023

Gas sensors based on semiconductor metal oxides (SMOs) have gained widespread attention for Internet of Things applications; however, high operating temperatures and low gas selectivity limit their applications. Recently, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have demonstrated potential in enhancing gas selectivity through the physical filtration of gas molecules based on their kinetic diameters. However, their application has been predominantly limited to simplistic nanostructured sensors. These sensors exhibit inherently inferior gas sensor performance compared to three‐dimensional nanostructure gas sensors. In this study, a highly periodic, 3D hierarchical ZnO/ZIF‐8 nanostructure is fabricated for photoactivated gas sensing at room temperature. Under UV illumination, the gas sensor exhibited a 17‐fold enhancement in gas response toward 0.1 ppm NO2compared to pristine ZnO. In addition, the ZIF‐8 coating selectively increased the NO2gas response compared to ethanol, acetone, and toluene gases, thereby improving the gas selectivity. The gas response improvement by the ZIF‐8 layer coating, which has not been achieved by previous studies, is based on enhanced photoactivation by the solid interaction between ZIF‐8 and ZnO. These results provide a systematic background for controlling the layer thickness of SMO‐MOF nanostructures and the catalytic role of MOF in photoactivated gas sensing.
CircTAOK1 regulates high glucose induced inflammation, oxidative stress, ECM accumulation, and apoptosis in diabetic nephropathy via targeting miR‐142‐3p/SOX6 axis
Authors: Liu Shu‐yan , Wang Hong , Yang Bo , Hou Baohua , Sun Li‐sha , Pang Hui , Wang Hui‐hui , Fan Yan‐ping
Published: December 2023

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a complication caused by diabetes. Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a kind of RNA with a closed circular structure, which has high stability and is involved in many disease‐related processes. The mechanism of circRNA TAO kinase 1 (circTAOK1) in the pathogenesis and development of DN is unclear.

Methods

CircTAOK1, microRNA (miR)‐142‐3p, and sex‐determining region Y‐box transcription factor 6 (SOX6) mRNA levels were analyzed by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‐qPCR). Cell counting kit‐8 (CCK8) and 5‐ethynyl‐2′‐deoxyuridine (EdU) assays were used to analyze cell proliferation. Cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry. Western blot assay was performed to test B‐cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl‐2), Bcl‐2 associated X (Bax), cleaved‐caspase 3, and fibronectin (FN), collagen I (Col I), and collagen IV (Col IV) protein levels. ELISA assay was used to measure interleukin 1β (IL‐1β), interleukin 6 (IL‐6), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF‐α) levels. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were assessed by the corresponding kits. And the correlation between miR‐142‐3p and circTAOK1 or SOX6 was confirmed by dual luciferase reporter assay, RNA immunoprecipitation assay and RNA pull down assay.

Results

CircTAOK1 and SOX6 expression levels were up‐regulated, while miR‐142‐3p expression was down‐regulated in DN serum and HG‐treated HK‐2 cells. Knockdown of circTAOK1 could inhibit cell injury of HG‐induced HK‐2 cells. The inhibitory effect of circTAOK1 knockdown on HG‐induced HK‐2 cell injury was restored by miR‐142‐3p downregulation. CircTAOK1 acted as a sponge for miR‐142‐3p, and SOX6 was targeted by miR‐142‐3p. The overexpression of SOX6 could recover the effect of miR‐142‐3p overexpression on HG‐induced HK‐2 cell injury. CircTAOK1 regulated the expression of SOX6 by targeting miR‐142‐3p.

Conclusion

CircTAOK1 knockdown inhibited HG‐induced HK‐2 cell damage in DN by the miR‐142‐3p/SOX6 axis.
Effects of CuSO4 on hepatic mitochondrial function, biogenesis and dynamics in mice
Authors: Wang Yihan , Zhu Yanqiu , Cui Hengmin , Deng Huidan , Zuo Zhicai , Fang Jing , Guo Hongrui
Published: December 2023

Copper is an essential trace element for animal. Excessive intake of copper will cause a large accumulation of copper in the body, especially in the liver, and induce hepatotoxicity, however, there are few studies on the effects of copper on hepatic mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial dynamics. In this study, mice were treated with different doses of CuSO4 (0, 10, 20, and 40 mg/kg) for 21 and 42 days by gavage. The results verified that CuSO4 decreased the content of mitochondrial respiratory chain complexes I–IV in mouse liver. CuSO4 treatment resulted the decrease in the protein and mRNA expression levels of PGC‐1α, TFAM, and NRF1, which were the mitochondrial biogenesis regulator proteins. Meanwhile, the proteins involved in mitochondrial fusion were reduced by CuSO4, such as Mfn1 and Mfn2, however, mitochondrial fission proteins Drip1 and Fis1 were significantly increased. Abovementioned results show that CuSO4 could induce mitochondria damage in the liver of mice, and mitochondrial biogenesis and mitochondrial dynamics are involved in the molecular mechanism of CuSO4‐induced hepatotoxicity.
Shaping the chromatin landscape at rRNA and tRNA genes, an emerging new role for RNA polymerase II transcription?
Authors: Yague‐Sanz Carlo
Published: December 2023

Eukaryotic genes must be condensed into chromatin while remaining accessible to the transcriptional machinery to support gene expression. Among the three eukaryotic RNA polymerases (RNAP), RNAPII is unique, partly because of the C‐terminal domain (CTD) of its largest subunit, Rpb1. Rpb1 CTD can be extensively modified during the transcription cycle, allowing for the co‐transcriptional recruitment of specific interacting proteins. These include chromatin remodeling factors that control the opening or closing of chromatin. How the CTD‐less RNAPI and RNAPIII deal with chromatin at rRNA and tRNA genes is less understood. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of how the chromatin at tRNA genes and rRNA genes can be remodeled in response to environmental cues in yeast, with a particular focus on the role of local RNAPII transcription in recruiting chromatin remodelers at these loci. In fission yeast, RNAPII transcription at tRNA genes is important to re‐establish a chromatin environment permissive to tRNA transcription, which supports growth from stationary phase. In contrast, local RNAPII transcription at rRNA genes correlates with the closing of the chromatin in starvation in budding and fission yeast, suggesting a role in establishing silent chromatin. These opposite roles might support a general model where RNAPII transcription recruits chromatin remodelers to tRNA and rRNA genes to promote the closing and reopening of chromatin in response to the environment.
Introduction
Authors: Aigner Wolfgang , Miksch Silvia , Schumann Heidrun , Tominski Christian
Published: December 2023

Space and time are two outstanding dimensions because, in conjunction, they represent the four-dimensional space or simply the world we are living in. Basically, every piece of data we measure is related and often only meaningful within the context of space and time. Consider, for example, the price of a barrel of oil. The data value of $129 alone is not very useful. Only if assessed in the context of where (space) and when (time) is the oil price valid, and only then it is possible to meaningfully interpret the cost of $129.
Crafting Visualizations of Time-Oriented Data
Authors: Aigner Wolfgang , Miksch Silvia , Schumann Heidrun , Tominski Christian
Published: December 2023

Many different types of data are related to time. Meteorological data, financial data, census data, medical data, simulation data, news articles, photo collections, or project plans, to name only a few examples, all contain temporal information. In theory, because all these data are time-oriented, they should be representable with one and the same visualization approach. In practice, however, the data exhibit specific characteristics and hence each of the above examples requires a dedicated visualization.
Involving the Human via Interaction
Authors: Aigner Wolfgang , Miksch Silvia , Schumann Heidrun , Tominski Christian
Published: December 2023

This chapter explains why involving the human is important when visually analyzing time and time-oriented data. Some general assertions will be made and basic interaction concepts introduced. The chapter also covers advanced interaction methods and goes beyond mouse and keyboard interaction.
Guiding the Selection of Visualization Techniques
Authors: Aigner Wolfgang , Miksch Silvia , Schumann Heidrun , Tominski Christian
Published: December 2023

This chapter describes how researchers and practitioners can be guided in making informed decisions when selecting visualization techniques for time and time-oriented data. The TimeViz Browser is introduced and a general conceptual model for guided search for visualization techniques is outlined.
Conclusion
Authors: Aigner Wolfgang , Miksch Silvia , Schumann Heidrun , Tominski Christian
Published: December 2023

This chapter briefly summarizes the content of the book and describes practical concerns of visualizing time-oriented data in real-world data settings. Visual analytics is briefly outlined as a modern approach that combines visualization, interaction, and computational analysis more tightly to facilitate data analysis activities better. Finally, research opportunities for future work are discussed.
Introduction
Authors: Eleonorasdotter Emma
Published: December 2023

This book is based on an ethnological study of Swedish women’s everyday drug use. A queer phenomenological perspective, paying specific attention to class and gender, is used to analyse the accounts of twelve women aged 25–65 years. The book takes into account the central and increasing role of psychoactive substances in contemporary everyday life, and explores the women’s paths and considerations in relation to their use of drugs. The women in the study use different kinds of stigmatised substances in markedly different ways, and this provides access to perspectives on everyday life from somewhat queer, but not uncommon, angles.

The book further problematises how gender and class affect the directions and experiences of lives lived under the effect of drugs, in relation to cultural and societal conceptions of drugs, drug use and people who use drugs. It explores themes based on respondents’ discussions about topics such as stigma, happiness, children, the body, gifts, the drug market, medication, sickness and health. To do this, the book first provides a detailed, contextualising background to drug use in Sweden and the Western world, based on an interdisciplinary weaving together of research and cultural media representations. It provides the reader with historical, sociological, criminological, pharmacological, medical, political, cultural and ethnographic takes on and reflections about the role of drugs and people who use drugs from an intersectional perspective, with a specific focus on class and gender.
Is It Ok to Laugh?
Authors: Eleonorasdotter Emma
Published: December 2023

This chapter focuses on the drug-use-related expression of laughter. The discussion about research ethics linked to the interviewees’ positive feelings evoked by drug use is deepened, with a focus on subsequent laughter and humour as aspects of drug use. The chapter explores the meaning of laughing at drug use from a gender perspective, and the specificity in the pattern of the funny stories the women told. These narrations challenge the stereotype of them as mad, sad and bad in positioning them as mad, but funny and even heroic in their madness.
Staying Appropriate
Authors: Eleonorasdotter Emma
Published: December 2023

This chapter examines how the influence of drugs is lived and embodied, and how the fusion of bodies and drugs creates proximities to and distances from other bodies and objects in both time and space. The temporal rhythm of restraint and release that is key in modern consumer societies is analysed in relation to drug use, along with the spatial organisation of the appropriate and the inappropriate. This organisation means that drug use is expected in certain times and places, while in others it is hidden. Carolina describes the work of hiding as central to her previous everyday life as someone who used amphetamines, which furthers the discussion of the spatial exclusion of people who use drugs initiated in the previous chapter.
Einführung und Überblick
Authors: Gleißner Werner , Weissman Arnold
Published: December 2023

Die wirtschaftlichen Rahmenbedingungen können für einen großen Teil der deutschen Unternehmen, speziell den mittelständischen Familienunternehmen, spätestens seit dem Jahr 2020 als „sehr herausfordernd“ bezeichnet werden. Dies belegen die Ergebnisse der volkswirtschaftlichen Risikoforschung.
Fazit und Ausblick
Authors: Herzberg Laura
Published: December 2023

Die vorliegende Arbeit analysierte den Internationalismus OKAY in schriftlicher Interaktion im Internet. Die Arbeit zielte darauf ab, die Bandbreite aktueller OKAY-Verwendungen um schriftliche OKAYs in internetbasierten Kommunikationsformen zu erweitern. Dabei stand die Analyse von interaktionsorientierten Wikipedia-Diskussionsbeiträgen der deutschen, englischen und französischen Wikipedia-Sprachversionen in den empirischen Untersuchungen dieser Arbeit im Fokus.
Korpusstudie 2: Positionen von OKAY
Authors: Herzberg Laura
Published: December 2023

Korpusstudie 2 beinhaltet Untersuchungen zu Positionen von OKAY in Wikipedia (WP)-Beiträgen. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, anhand der gezogenen WP-Stichproben die Verteilung der Positionen von OKAY in den deutschen, englischen und französischen WP-Beiträgen zu identifizieren. Bei der Untersuchung zur Position soll ebenfalls überprüft werden, ob ein Zusammenhang zwischen der Position und der Funktion von OKAY vorliegt.
Korpusstudie 3: Funktionen von OKAY
Authors: Herzberg Laura
Published: December 2023

Korpusstudie 3 stellt die umfangreichste aller durchgeführten Untersuchungen dar. Dies ist zum einen auf die höhere Anzahl der Kategorien im Vergleich zu den Positionen zurückzuführen. Zum anderen zielen die Ergebnisse von Korpusstudie 3 auf die Erweiterung und den Ausbau des Funktionsspektrums von OKAY in schriftlicher Interaktion ab.
Diskussion und Zusammenfassung der Korpusstudien
Authors: Herzberg Laura
Published: December 2023

In drei Korpusstudien wurden Form, Position und Funktion von OKAY auf den deutschen, englischen und französischen Wikipedia-Diskussionsseiten vergleichend analysiert. Bevor die einzelnen Korpusstudien zusammengefasst werden, sollen an dieser Stelle einige Einschränkungen der empirischen Untersuchungen angeführt werden.
Modular Hamiltonian for de Sitter diamonds
Authors: Fröb Markus B.
Published: December 2023

Abstract

We determine the Tomita-Takesaki modular data for CFTs in double cone and light cone regions in conformally flat spacetimes. This includes in particular the modular Hamiltonian for diamonds in the de Sitter spacetime. In the limit where the diamonds become large, we show that the modular automorphisms become time translations in the static patch. As preparation, we also provide a pedagogical rederivation of the known results for Minkowski spacetime. With our results and using the Araki formula, it becomes possible to compute relative entanglement entropies for CFTs in these regions.
The cosmological tree theorem
Authors: Salcedo Santiago Agüí , Melville Scott
Published: December 2023

Abstract

A number of diagrammatic “cutting rules” have recently been developed for the wavefunction of the Universe which determines cosmological correlation functions. These leverage perturbative unitarity to relate particular “discontinuities” in Feynman-Witten diagrams (with cosmological boundary conditions) to simpler diagrams, in much the same way that the Cutkosky rules relate different scattering amplitudes. In this work, we make use of a further causality condition to derive new cutting rules for Feynman-Witten diagrams on any time-dependent spacetime background. These lead to the cosmological analogue of Feynman’s tree theorem for amplitudes, which can be used to systematically expand any loop diagram in terms of (momentum integrals of) tree-level diagrams. As an application of these new rules, we show that certain singularities in the wavefunction cannot appear in equal-time correlators due to a cancellation between “real” and “virtual” contributions that closely parallels the KLN theorem. Finally, when combined with the Bunch-Davies condition that certain unphysical singularities are absent, these cutting rules completely determine any tree-level exchange diagram in terms of simpler contact diagrams. Altogether, these results remove the need to ever perform nested time integrals when computing cosmological correlators.
Twisted holography without conformal symmetry
Authors: Budzik Kasia , Gaiotto Davide
Published: December 2023

Abstract

We discuss the notion of translation-invariant vacua for 2d chiral algebras and relate it to the notion of the associated variety. The two-dimensional chiral algebra associated to four-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 4 U(N) SYM has a conjectural holographic dual involving the B-model topological string theory. We study the effect of non-zero vacuum expectation values on the chiral algebra correlation functions and derive a holographic dual Calabi-Yau geometry. We test our proposal by a large N analysis of correlation functions of determinant operators, whose saddles can be matched with semi-classical configurations of “Giant Graviton” D-branes in the bulk.
Analytic results for loop-level momentum space Witten diagrams
Authors: Chowdhury Chandramouli , Singh Kajal
Published: December 2023

Abstract

This paper presents an evaluation of the wave function coefficients for conformally coupled scalars at both one and two-loop levels at leading order in the coupling constant, in momentum space. We take cues from time-dependent interactions in flat spacetime and under suitable approximations, these can also be used to study the wave function coefficients for general cosmologies. We make use of recursion relations developed in [20] to regularize certain bulk-point integrals and express the wave function coefficients in a form that simplifies the loop integrals. We utilize hard-cutoff regularization to regularize the loop integrals and further provide a discussion on their renormalization. Our results can also be analytically continued to obtain answers for transition amplitudes in AdS.
Analysis of vascular disruption in zebrafish embryos as an endpoint to predict developmental toxicity
Authors: Nöth Julia , Busch Wibke , Tal Tamara , Lai Chih , Ambekar Akhil , Kießling Tobias R. , Scholz Stefan
Published: December 2023

Inhibition of angiogenesis is an important mode of action for the teratogenic effect of chemicals and drugs. There is a gap in the availability of simple, experimental screening models for the detection of angiogenesis inhibition. The zebrafish embryo represents an alternative test system which offers the complexity of developmental differentiation of an entire organism while allowing for small-scale and high-throughput screening. Here we present a novel automated imaging-based method to detect the inhibition of angiogenesis in early life stage zebrafish. Video subtraction was used to identify the location and number of functional intersegmental vessels according to the detection of moving blood cells. By exposing embryos to multiple tyrosine kinase inhibitors including SU4312, SU5416, Sorafenib, or PTK787, we confirmed that this method can detect concentration-dependent inhibition of angiogenesis. Parallel assessment of arterial and venal aorta ruled out a potential bias by impaired heart or blood cell development. In contrast, the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproic acid did not affect ISV formation supporting the specificity of the angiogenic effects. The new test method showed higher sensitivity, i.e. lower effect concentrations, relative to a fluorescent reporter gene strain (Tg(KDR:EGFP)) exposed to the same tyrosine kinase inhibitors indicating that functional effects due to altered tubulogenesis or blood transport can be detected before structural changes of the endothelium are visible by fluorescence imaging. Comparison of exposure windows indicated higher specificity for angiogenesis when exposure started at later embryonic stages (24 h post-fertilization). One of the test compounds was showing particularly high specificity for angiogenesis effects (SU4312) and was, therefore, suggested as a model compound for the identification of molecular markers of angiogenic disruption. Our findings establish video imaging in wild-type strains as viable, non-invasive, high-throughput method for the detection of chemical-induced angiogenic disruption in zebrafish embryos.
Short-term and long-term efficacy in robot-assisted treatment for mid and low rectal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Wu Huiming , Guo Renkai , Li Huiyu
Published: December 2023

Objective

This study aims to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the short-term and long-term therapeutic effects of robot-assisted laparoscopic treatment in patients with mid and low rectal cancer.

Methods

A comprehensive search strategy was employed to retrieve relevant literature from PubMed, NCBI, Medline, and Springer databases, spanning the database inception until August 2023. The focus of this systematic review was on controlled studies that compared the treatment outcomes of robot-assisted (Rob) and conventional laparoscopy (Lap) in the context of mid and low rectal cancer. Data extraction and literature review were meticulously conducted by two independent researchers (HMW and RKG). The synthesized data underwent rigorous analysis utilizing RevMan 5.4 software, adhering to established methodological standards in systematic reviews. The primary outcomes encompass perioperative outcomes and oncological outcomes. Secondary outcomes include long-term outcomes.

Result

A total of 11 studies involving 2239 patients with mid and low rectal cancer were included (3 RCTs and 8 NRCTs); the Rob group consisted of 1111 cases, while the Lap group included 1128 cases. The Rob group exhibited less intraoperative bleeding (MD =  −40.01, 95% CI: −57.61 to −22.42, P < 0.00001), a lower conversion rate to open surgery (OR = 0.27, 95% CI: 0.09 to 0.82, P = 0.02), a higher number of harvested lymph nodes (MD = 1.97, 95% CI: 0.77 to 3.18, P = 0.001), and a lower CRM positive rate (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.95, P = 0.04). Additionally, the Rob group had lower postoperative morbidity rate (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.53 to 0.82, P < 0.0001) and a lower occurrence rate of complications with Clavien–Dindo grade ≥ 3 (OR = 0.60, 95% CI: 0.39 to 0.90, P = 0.02). Further subgroup analysis revealed a lower anastomotic leakage rate (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.97, P = 0.04). No significant differences were observed between the two groups in the analysis of operation time (P = 0.42), occurrence rates of protective stoma (P = 0.81), PRM (P = 0.92), and DRM (P = 0.23), time to flatus (P = 0.18), time to liquid diet (P = 0.65), total hospital stay (P = 0.35), 3-year overall survival rate (P = 0.67), and 3-year disease-free survival rate (P = 0.42).

Conclusion

Robot-assisted laparoscopic treatment for mid and low rectal cancer yields favorable outcomes, demonstrating both efficacy and safety. In comparison to conventional laparoscopy, patients experience reduced intraoperative bleeding and a lower incidence of complications. Notably, the method achieves comparable short-term and long-term treatment results to those of conventional laparoscopic surgery, thus justifying its consideration for widespread clinical application.