bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Shared Brains, Proprioceptiveness, and Critically Approaching the Animal as the Animal in Artworks
Authors: Bartram Angela , Deigaard Lee
Published: June 2023

The animal and being animal is a proposition and position that invites observational and critical debate. Yet, the presence of the non-human animal is usually and normatively confined to representational artworks rather than the animal itself in the gallery or museum, which is, potentially, problematically anthropocentric. Using diverse methods, processes, and materials, and curious to a myriad of opening potentialities, Bartram + Deigaard, in contrast to this problem, explore working as humans from an animal-centric perspective through artistic research. They bring sensitivities to their handling of the animal, as both artistic subject and collaborator, to observe and engage with empathy and openness to animal insight and revelation and behaviour. Their works in performance, video, drawing, and printmaking foreground animal proximity and behaviour, inter-species proprioception, reciprocal caretaking, synchronised respiration, and companionate movement. This article explores the socialised and familiar in close observation, directly and indirectly, in their individual yet companion practices, illuminating the benefits of a radically enlarged sentiocentrism. It reflects on the allowing and embracing of other species within their artworks, and of being mindful and sensible with balancing sympathies and empathies as humans within an often unbalanced system of agency. Specifically, it gleans patterns and insights from their exhibition at Tippetts and Eccles Galleries at Utah State University in 2021, where they invited a canine collaborator into their thinking through praxis and the interventions and residual outcomes this created. This essay discusses two individual video artworks from each artist, which document their invitations to non-human animals into the gallery or museum, and two durational artworks curated within this exhibition.
Research on Radar Echo Extrapolation Method by Fusing Environment Grid Point Field Information
Authors: Wen Yanqin , Zhang Jun , Wang Di , Wang Cong , Wang Ping
Published: June 2023

Short-term extrapolation by weather radar observations is one of the main tools for making weather forecasts. Recently, deep learning has been gradually applied to radar extrapolation techniques, achieving significant results. However, for radar echo images containing strong convective systems, it is difficult to obtain high-quality results with long-term extrapolation. Additionally, there are few attempts and discussions to incorporate environmental factors governing the occurrence and development of convective storms into the training process. To demonstrate the positive effect of environmental factors on radar echo extrapolation tasks, this paper designs a three-dimensional convolutional neural network. The paper outlines the processing steps for matching radar echo images with environmental data in the spatio–temporal dimension. Additionally, it develops an experimental study on the effectiveness of seven physical elements and their combinations in improving the quality of radar echo extrapolation. Furthermore, a loss function is adopted to guide the training process of the model to pay more attention to strong convective systems. The quantitative statistical evaluation shows the critical success index (CSI) of our model’s prediction is improved by 3.42% (threshold = 40 dBZ) and 2.35% (threshold = 30 dBZ) after incorporating specific environmental field data. Two representative cases indicate that environmental factors provide essential information about convective systems, especially in predicting the birth, extinction, merging, and splitting of convective cells.
A Linear Theory of Local Thermal Circulations
Authors: Li Yaokun , Chao Jiping
Published: June 2023

The dynamics of local thermal circulations (LTCs) are examined by constructing a linear theory based on Boussinesq equations in the planetary boundary layer (PBL). Linear theory arranges LTCs into a sixth-order partial differential equation of temperature, which can be solved by using the Fourier transform and inverse Fourier transform. The analytic solution suggests that the horizontal distribution of the temperature anomaly is basically determined by surface heating, while the vertical distribution of the temperature anomaly is a combination of exponential decay and an Ekman spiral. For shallow PBL cases where the Ekman elevation is much smaller than the vertical scale of motion, the higher-order partial differential terms that represent the Ekman spiral structure can be ignored so that the equations reduce to a second-order partial differential equation. Compared with the numerical results, this so-called low-order approximation does not induce dramatic errors in the temperature distribution. However, to avoid distortion in the forced atmospheric circulation, the eddy viscosity in the motion equations should be replaced with the Rayleigh form, which is the common practice in LTCs. For deep PBL cases where the Ekman elevation is comparable to the vertical scale of motion, both the exponential decay and Ekman spiral structure play roles in the forced atmospheric circulation. The most significant influence is that there exist three additional compensating forced circulation cells that surround the direct forced circulation cell.
Culturable Airborne Fungi in Downtown Monterrey (Mexico) and Their Correlation with Air Pollution over a 12-Month Period
Authors: Fernández-Gracia María Dolores , Elizondo-Zertuche Mariana , Orué Nydia , Treviño-Rangel Rogelio de Jesús , Rodríguez-Sánchez Iram Pablo , Adame-Rodríguez Juan Manuel , Zapata-Morín Patricio Adrián , Robledo-Leal Efrén
Published: June 2023

Biological and non-biological aerosols are always present. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), air pollution is responsible for seven million deaths every year. The dynamics of airborne fungi and their association with air pollutants over time show mixed results. In this study, we sampled 50 L of air daily for a period of 12 months (February 2022–January 2023) in downtown Monterrey, Mexico to evaluate the presence of culturable fungi. May, October, November, and December were the months with the highest concentration of fungi with a significant difference from the rest of the months. Cladosporium was the predominant fungus in the air for every month except for September. Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Penicillium followed Cladosporium as the genera with the highest concentration. PM10, PM2.5, and NO2 were the most abundant pollutants, with levels above the recommended guidelines in practically every month studied. Cladosporium was the only fungus showing an inverse correlation with PM10 and PM2.5 in February, April, and May. It also showed an inverse correlation with NO, NO2, and NOx in February, March, and April. Aspergillus, Alternaria, Fusarium, and Penicillium had mixed correlations with pollutants. Yeasts showed no correlation with PM10 or PM2.5 but showed inverse correlations with nitrogen-based pollutants.
Evaluation the Urban Atmospheric Conditions Using Micronuclei Assay and Stomatal Index in Tradescantia pallida
Authors: Soares Talita Daiane Bernardo , Rocha Aline do Nascimento , de Carvalho Emerson Machado , Mauad Juliana Rosa Carrijo , de Souza Silvana Aparecida , Silva Caio Augusto Mussury , Mussury Rosilda Mara
Published: June 2023

Air pollution substantially damages ecosystems and public health and is one of the major challenges for air quality monitoring management. The use of the plant bioindicator Tradescantia pallida (Rose) D. R. Hunt has shown excellent results in terms of determining the effect of airborne contaminants in urban environments, complementing conventional methods. The present study seeks to determine the air quality in the Ivinhema Valley, MS, using the variation in MCN frequency and stomatal indices of T. pallida as air pollution biomarkers. The biomonitoring tests were performed monthly by collecting floral and leaf buds during the summer, autumn, winter, and spring of 2021 in Angélica, Ivinhema, and Nova Andradina. The stomatal leaf density, influence of vehicle flow, and environmental variables such as altitude, temperature (°C), relative humidity (RH), and rainfall in the three cities under study with different urban vehicle intensities were analyzed. A significant increase in MCN was observed for the cities of Nova Andradina and Ivinhema in summer and spring. On the other hand, the city of Angélica had a low frequency of MCN throughout the experimental period. A seasonal and spatial pattern was also observed for the stomatal index, with significantly higher values for the city of Angélica in autumn and winter. Our data allowed observing that the MCN showed the greatest association with vehicular flow. The mutagenic effects observed in T. pallida, through the MCN frequency, constituted an important biomarker of air pollution, explained mainly by the relationship with the flow of vehicles.
Bartlett–Lewis Model Calibrated with Satellite-Derived Precipitation Data to Estimate Daily Peak 15 Min Rainfall Intensity
Authors: Islam Md. Atiqul , Yu Bofu , Cartwright Nick
Published: June 2023

Temporal variability of rainfall is extreme in the rangelands of northern Australia and occurs at annual, decadal, and even longer timescales. To maintain long-term productivity of the rangelands of northern Australia under highly variable rainfall conditions, suitable land management practices are assessed using rangeland biophysical models, e.g., GRASP (GRASs Production). The daily maxima of the 15 min rainfall intensity (I15) are used to predict runoff and moisture retention in the model. The performance of rangeland biophysical models heavily relies on the I15 estimates. As the number of pluviograph stations is very limited in northern Australian rangelands, an empirical I15 model (Fraser) was developed using readily available daily climate variables, i.e., daily rainfall total, daily diurnal temperature range, and daily minimum temperature. The aim of this study is to estimate I15 from daily rainfall totals using a well-established disaggregation scheme coupled with the Bartlett–Lewis rectangular pulse (BLRP) model. In the absence of pluviograph data, the BLRP models (RBL-E and RBL-G) were calibrated with the precipitation statistics estimated using the Integrated Multi-satellitE Retrievals for GPM (global precipitation measurement) (IMERG; 30 min, 0.1° resolution) precipitation product. The Fraser, RBL-E, and RBL-G models were assessed using 1 min pluviograph data at a single test site in Darwin. The results indicated that all three models tended to underestimate the observed I15, while a serious underestimation was observed for RBL-E and RBL-G. The underestimation by the Fraser, RBL-E, and RBL-G models consisted of 23%, 38%, and 50% on average, respectively. Furthermore, the Fraser model represented 29% of the variation in observed I15, whereas RBL-E and RBL-G represented only 7% and 11% of the variation, respectively. A comparison of RBL-E and RBL-G suggested that the difference in the spatial scales of IMERG and pluviograph data needs to be addressed to improve the performance of RBL-E and RBL-G. Overall, the findings of this study demonstrate that the BLRP model calibrated with IMERG statistics has the potential for estimating I15 for the GRASP biophysical model once the scale difference between IMERG and point rainfall data is addressed.
Quantitative Reconstruction of Paleoclimatic Changes in the Late Miocene Eastern Zhejiang Based on Plant Fossils
Authors: Xiao Liang , Wang Jian , Ji Deshuang , Guo Liyan , Wang Xing , Liang Jiaqi , Xia Xiaoyuan , Ren Wenxiu , Li Xiangchuan
Published: June 2023

With a series of Cenozoic climate fluctuations, the global paleoclimate shifted from a warm climate to a cold climate, causing Arctic ice caps to be formed. The Late Miocene is a critical time in this transition period, in which the climate was rapidly cooling. Plant fossils from this epoch could be used as ideal indicators for reconstructing climate change throughout this time interval. In this study, plant fossils were collected from the Shengxian Formation in Ninghai and Tiantai of eastern Zhejiang. We divided the fossiliferous strata of the Shengxian Formation into five layers according to different lithology and chronological order, which were named: JHU0, DLX, JHU1, JHUW, and JHU3 from old to new geological times, respectively. We used Leaf Margin Analysis and Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program to reconstruct paleoclimatic changes in eastern Zhejiang during the Late Miocene. The paleoclimatic information of the five stages from old to new times was obtained based on the plant fossils of each layer. The mean annual temperature values in eastern Zhejiang were reconstructed using the Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program and Leaf Margin Analysis at the same time. However, the former mean annual temperature values are lower than the latter values. After comparing the two sets of mean annual temperature data with previously reported values, it is found that the results obtained by Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program are more reliable, whose values are 18.05 °C, 16.03 °C, 17.96 °C, 16.57 °C, and 15.52 °C from old to new times, respectively. Moreover, 11 climatic parameters were reconstructed using the Climate Leaf Analysis Multivariate Program PhysgAsia2 calibration, among which the growing season precipitation was found to be 195.54 cm, 181.25 cm, 207.99 cm, 180.7 cm, and 165.07 cm; while the difference between the coldest and warmest months was found to be 22.14 °C, 23.4 °C, 22.07 °C, 21.36 °C, and 23.37 °C. The relatively low difference between the coldest and warmest months values and the growing season precipitation values during the Late Miocene might be due to a weaker East Asian monsoon system in the Late Miocene than in modern times.
Modification of Vibrational Parameters of a CO2 Molecule by a Laser Field: Impact on Tunnel Ionization
Authors: Kornev Aleksei S. , Chernov Vladislav E.
Published: June 2023

In this paper, we theoretically study the laser-induced modification of the vibrational parameters of a carbon dioxide molecule regarding its tunnel ionization. Our study predicts a 5% increase in the ionization rate in anti-Stokes channels that corresponds to pumping the Σu mode up to vai=10. The molecule is imparted with an additional energy from the pre-pumped vibrational states, which is absorbed during ionization. As a result, the tunneling rate increases. This amplification of tunnel ionization of the CO2 gas target can potentially be used for the laser separation of carbon isotopes.
Predicting Sit-to-Stand Body Adaptation Using a Simple Model
Authors: Gismelseed Sarra , Al-Yahmedi Amur , Zaier Riadh , Ouakad Hassen , Bahadur Issam
Published: June 2023

Mathematical models that simulate human motion are used widely due to their potential in predicting basic characteristics of human motion. These models have been involved in investigating various aspects of gait and human-related tasks, especially walking and running. This study uses a simple model to study the impact of different factors on sit-to-stand motion through the formulation of an optimization problem that aims at minimizing joint torques. The simulated results validated experimental results reported in the literature and showed the ability of the model to predict the changes in kinetic and kinematic parameters as adaptation to any change in the speed of motion, reduction in the joint strength, and change in the seat height. The model discovered that changing one of these determinants would affect joint angular displacement, joint torques, joint angular velocities, center of mass position, and ground reaction force.
Is My Pruned Model Trustworthy? PE-Score: A New CAM-Based Evaluation Metric
Authors: Pachon Cesar G. , Renza Diego , Ballesteros Dora
Published: June 2023

One of the strategies adopted to compress CNN models for image classification tasks is pruning, where some elements, channels or filters of the network are discarded. Typically, pruning methods present results in terms of model performance before and after pruning (assessed by accuracy or a related parameter such as the F1-score), assuming that if the difference is less than a certain value (e.g., 2%), the pruned model is trustworthy. However, state-of-the-art models are not concerned with measuring the actual impact of pruning on the network by evaluating the pixels used by the model to make the decision, or the confidence of the class itself. Consequently, this paper presents a new metric, called the Pruning Efficiency score (PE-score), which allows us to identify whether a pruned model preserves the behavior (i.e., the extracted patterns) of the unpruned model, through visualization and interpretation with CAM-based methods. With the proposed metric, it will be possible to better compare pruning methods for CNN-based image classification models, as well as to verify whether the pruned model is efficient by focusing on the same patterns (pixels) as those of the original model, even if it has reduced the number of parameters and FLOPs.
CFD Study of the Effect of the Angle Pattern on Iliac Vein Compression Syndrome
Authors: Chen Hsuan-Wei , Chen Chao-Hsiang , Fan Yu-Jui , Lin Chun-Yu , Hsu Wen-Hsien , Su I-Chang , Lin Chun-Li , Chiang Yuan-Ching , Huang Haw-Ming
Published: June 2023

Iliac vein compression syndrome (IVCS, or May–Thurner syndrome) occurs due to the compression of the left common iliac vein between the lumbar spine and right common iliac artery. Because most patients with compression are asymptomatic, the syndrome is difficult to diagnose based on the degree of anatomical compression. In this study, we investigated how the tilt angle of the left common iliac vein affects the flow patterns in the compressed blood vessel using three-dimensional computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations to determine the flow fields generated after compression sites. A patient-specific iliac venous CFD model was created to verify the boundary conditions and hemodynamic parameter set in this study. Thirty-one patient-specific CFD models with various iliac venous angles were developed using computed tomography (CT) angiograms. The angles between the right or left common iliac vein and inferior vena cava at the confluence level of the common iliac vein were defined as α1 and α2. Flow fields and vortex locations after compression were calculated and compared according to the tilt angle of the veins. Our results showed that α2 affected the incidence of flow field disturbance. At α2 angles greater than 60 degrees, the incidence rate of blood flow disturbance was 90%. In addition, when α2 and α1 + α2 angles were used as indicators, significant differences in tilt angle were found between veins with laminar, transitional, and turbulent flow (p < 0.05). Using this mathematical simulation, we concluded that the tilt angle of the left common iliac vein can be used as an auxiliary indicator to determine IVCS and its severity, and as a reference for clinical decision making.
Super-Resolution Ultrasound Localization Microscopy Using High-Frequency Ultrasound to Measure Ocular Perfusion Velocity in the Rat Eye
Authors: Ul Banna Hasan , Mitchell Benjamin , Chen Stephen , Palko Joel
Published: June 2023

Imaging of the ocular vasculature can provide new insights into the pathophysiology of ocular diseases. This study proposes a novel high-frequency super-resolution ultrasound localization microscopy (SRULM) technique and evaluates its ability to measure in vivo perfusion changes in the rat eye at elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). A 38.4 MHz center frequency linear array transducer on a VisualSonics Vevo F2 imaging platform was used to collect high frame rate (1 kHz) radiofrequency data of the posterior rat eye following systemic microbubble contrast injection. Following clutter and spatiotemporal non-local means filtering, individual microbubbles were localized and tracked. The microbubble tracks were accumulated over 10,000 frames to generate vascular images quantifying perfusion velocity and direction. Experiments were performed using physiologic relevant controlled flow states for algorithm validation and subsequently performed in vivo on the rat eye at 10 mm Hg IOP increments from 10 to 60 mm Hg. The posterior vasculature of the rat eye, including the ophthalmic artery, long posterior ciliary arteries and their branches, central retinal artery and retinal arterioles and venules were successfully visualized, and velocities quantified at each IOP level. Significant reductions in arterial flow were measured as IOP was elevated. High-frequency SRULM can be used to visualize and quantify the perfusion velocity of the rat eye in both the retrobulbar and intraocular vasculature simultaneously. The ability to detect ocular perfusion changes throughout the depth of the eye may help elucidate the role ischemia has in the pathophysiology of ocular diseases such as glaucoma.
Infestation by the Piercing–Sucking Herbivore Nilaparvata lugens Systemically Triggers JA- and SA-Dependent Defense Responses in Rice
Authors: Li Heng , Xu Liping , Wu Weiping , Peng Weizheng , Lou Yonggen , Lu Jing
Published: June 2023

It has been well documented that an infestation of the piercing–sucking herbivore, brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens, activates strong local defenses in rice. However, whether a BPH infestation elicits systemic responses in rice remains largely unknown. In this study, we investigated BPH-induced systemic defenses by detecting the change in expression levels of 12 JA- and/or SA-signaling-responsive marker genes in different rice tissues upon a BPH attack. We found that an infestation of gravid BPH females on rice leaf sheaths significantly increased the local transcript level of all 12 marker genes tested except OsVSP, whose expression was induced only weakly at a later stage of the BPH infestation. Moreover, an infestation of gravid BPH females also systemically up-regulated the transcription levels of three JA-signaling-responsive genes (OsJAZ8, OsJAMyb, and OsPR3), one SA-signaling-responsive gene (OsWRKY62), and two JA- and SA- signaling-responsive genes (OsPR1a and OsPR10a). Our results demonstrate that an infestation of gravid BPH females systemically activates JA- and SA-dependent defenses in rice, which may in turn influence the composition and structure of the community in the rice ecosystem.
The Bølling–Allerød Transition in the Eastern Baltic: Environmental Responses to Climate Change
Authors: Druzhinina Olga , Rudinskaya Anna , Filippova Ksenia , Lazukova Lyudmila , Lavrova Nadezhda , Zharov Anton , Skhodnov Ivan , Burko Aleksey , van den Berghe Kasper
Published: June 2023

This paper presents the results of a study on the Kulikovo section (south-eastern Baltic Sea coast), a sediment sequence exposing deposits of a post-glacial basin that existed along the edge of the glacier in the Late Pleistocene. The research was targeted at the reconstruction of the dynamics of the local environmental systems in response to climatic oscillations of the Lateglacial (the Older Dryas—first half of the Allerød). The evolution of the local biotic components on the territories of the Baltic region after the ice retreat is still poorly understood. Data from geochronological, lithological, diatom, algo-zoological and palynological analyses provide a reconstruction of local aquatic and terrestrial biocenoses and their response to short-term warmings and coolings that took place 14,000–13,400 cal yr BP. This study has demonstrated that, during the Older Dryas and first part of the Allerød (GI-1d and GI-1c), the aquatic and terrestrial environment of the Kulikovo basin underwent several changes, resulting in eight stages of the basin evolution, most probably related to the short-term climatic fluctuations that could have had a duration of several decades. The data obtained in this study have revealed the fairly dynamic and complex evolution of the pioneer landscapes, as indicated by the changes in the hydrological regime of the area and by the traced successions of plant communities from the pioneer swampy vegetation to park and real forests towards the middle of the Allerød.
Bacterial Spore-Based Delivery System: 20 Years of a Versatile Approach for Innovative Vaccines
Authors: Isticato Rachele
Published: June 2023

Mucosal vaccines offer several advantages over injectable conventional vaccines, such as the induction of adaptive immunity, with secretory IgA production at the entry site of most pathogens, and needle-less vaccinations. Despite their potential, only a few mucosal vaccines are currently used. Developing new effective mucosal vaccines strongly relies on identifying innovative antigens, efficient adjuvants, and delivery systems. Several approaches based on phages, bacteria, or nanoparticles have been proposed to deliver antigens to mucosal surfaces. Bacterial spores have also been considered antigen vehicles, and various antigens have been successfully exposed on their surface. Due to their peculiar structure, spores conjugate the advantages of live microorganisms with synthetic nanoparticles. When mucosally administered, spores expressing antigens have been shown to induce antigen-specific, protective immune responses. This review accounts for recent progress in the formulation of spore-based mucosal vaccines, describing a spore’s structure, specifically the spore surface, and the diverse approaches developed to improve its efficiency as a vehicle for heterologous antigen presentation.
A Biomechanical Comparison between Squatbar® and Olympic Barbell
Authors: Falch Hallvard Nygaard , Kristiansen Eirik , van den Tillaar Roland
Published: June 2023

When performing the traditional barbell back squat, athletes may experience discomfort in the shoulders or be limited by shoulder mobility. The Squatbar® is a barbell designed to be ergonomic to the shoulders but has never, in the scientific literature, been compared to the traditional Olympic barbell. Thus, the current study investigated kinematics, kinetics, and myoelectric activity (EMG) between the Squatbar® barbell and the Olympic barbell when performing a one-repetition maximum (1-RM) back squat. Twelve strength-trained men (body mass: 83.5 ± 7.8 kg, age: 27.3 ± 3.8 years, height: 180.3 ± 6.7 cm) performed a 1-RM squat with both the Olympic and Squatbar® barbells. The paired samples t-test revealed significantly more weight was lifted with the Olympic barbell compared to the Squatbar® barbell (148 ± 21 kg vs. 144.5 ± 20 kg) and was accompanied by greater shoulder external rotation (74 ± 7.5° vs. 59.6 ± 9.2°). No differences in joint kinematics of the lower limbs, kinetics, or EMG were observed between the two barbells. The results of the current study indicate the Squatbar® to be a suitable substitution for the Olympic barbell for athletes with reduced shoulder mobility when performing the squat. It was concluded that the Squatbar® induces similar kinetics, kinematics, and EMG when compared to the Olympic barbell, except for reducing external rotation of the shoulder.
Radiotherapy and Immunotherapy in Lung Cancer
Authors: Hsieh Kristin , Dickstein Daniel R. , Runnels Juliana , Lehrer Eric J. , Rosenzweig Kenneth , Hirsch Fred R. , Samstein Robert M.
Published: June 2023

The emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) as a pillar of cancer treatment has emphasized the immune system’s integral role in tumor control and progression through cancer immune surveillance. ICIs are being investigated and incorporated into the treatment paradigm for lung cancers across stages and histology. To date, definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by consolidative durvalumab is the only National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s recommended treatment paradigm including radiotherapy with ICI in lung cancers, although there are other recommendations for ICI with chemotherapy and/or surgery. This narrative review provides an overall view of the evolving integration and synergistic role of immunotherapy and radiotherapy and outlines the use of immunotherapy with radiotherapy for the management of small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. It also reviews selected, practice-changing clinical trials that led to the current standard of care for lung cancers.
Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Incidence and Thickness of Cutaneous Melanoma in Belgium
Authors: Demaerel Philip Georg , Leloup Arthur , Brochez Lieve , Van Eycken Liesbet , Garmyn Marjan
Published: June 2023

(1) Background: COVID-19 had a major impact on cancer diagnostics and treatment. Delays in diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma were particularly feared, given the impact on survival and morbidity that comes with advanced stages. Moreover, its incidence in Belgium has been rapidly increasing in recent decades. This Belgian population-level study quantifies the pandemic effect on the number of melanoma diagnoses and Breslow thickness in 2020 and 2021. (2) Methods: In using an automated algorithm, the number of cutaneous melanoma diagnoses and Breslow thickness were extracted from all pathology protocols from 2017–2021 by the Belgian Cancer Registry. Monthly variations, as well as year-to-year differences, were studied. (3) Results: Annual incidence of cutaneous melanoma fell by 1% in 2020, compared to 2019, mainly due to a diagnostic deficit in March, April, and May 2020. An 8% incidence increase occurred in 2021, primarily reflecting an increase in the number of the thinnest melanomas (≤1 mm). Both the mean and median Breslow thicknesses were higher in spring 2020, resulting from an underrepresentation of thinner tumors. However, no particulars stood out on a full-year basis in either 2020 or 2021. (4) Conclusions: Considering the expected incidence increase, we estimate almost 210 melanoma diagnoses were missed in Belgium in 2020, corresponding to 6% of the expected number. This deficit occurred mainly during the first COVID-19 wave. Despite some rebound, the 2021 total was still 3% short of the expected number, leaving around 325 diagnoses remaining pending in 2020 and 2021, corresponding to a two-year deficit of 4.35%. Fortunately, mainly thin melanomas were missed, without any detectable shift toward thicker tumors later in 2020 and or 2021.
Deep-Learning-Based Reduced-Order Model for Power Generation Capacity of Flapping Foils
Authors: Saeed Ahmad , Farooq Hamayun , Akhtar Imran , Tariq Muhammad Awais , Khalid Muhammad Saif Ullah
Published: June 2023

Inspired by nature, oscillating foils offer viable options as alternate energy resources to harness energy from wind and water. Here, we propose a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD)-based reduced-order model (ROM) of power generation by flapping airfoils in conjunction with deep neural networks. Numerical simulations are performed for incompressible flow past a flapping NACA-0012 airfoil at a Reynolds number of 1100 using the Arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian approach. The snapshots of the pressure field around the flapping foil are then utilized to construct the pressure POD modes of each case, which serve as the reduced basis to span the solution space. The novelty of the current research relates to the identification, development, and employment of long-short-term neural network (LSTM) models to predict temporal coefficients of the pressure modes. These coefficients, in turn, are used to reconstruct hydrodynamic forces and moment, leading to computations of power. The proposed model takes the known temporal coefficients as inputs and predicts the future temporal coefficients followed by previously estimated temporal coefficients, very similar to traditional ROM. Through the new trained model, we can predict the temporal coefficients for a long time duration that can be far beyond the training time intervals more accurately. It may not be attained by traditional ROMs that lead to erroneous results. Consequently, the flow physics including the forces and moment exerted by fluids can be reconstructed accurately using POD modes as the basis set.
Correlation of Serum N-Acetylneuraminic Acid with the Risk of Moyamoya Disease
Authors: Liu Chenglong , Ge Peicong , Zeng Chaofan , Yu Xiaofan , Zhai Yuanren , Liu Wei , He Qiheng , Li Junsheng , Liu Xingju , Wang Jia , Ye Xun , Zhang Qian , Wang Rong , Zhang Yan , Zhao Jizong , Zhang Dong
Published: June 2023

N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is a functional metabolite and has been demonstrated to be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. It is not clear whether Neu5Ac is associated with a higher risk of cerebrovascular disorders, especially moyamoya disease (MMD). We sought to elucidate the association between serum Neu5Ac levels and MMD in a case–control study and to create a clinical risk model. In our study, we included 360 MMD patients and 89 matched healthy controls (HCs). We collected the participants’ clinical characteristics, laboratory results, and serum Neu5Ac levels. Increased level of serum Neu5Ac was observed in the MMD patients (p = 0.001). After adjusting for traditional confounders, the risk of MMD (odds ratio [OR]: 1.395; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.141–1.706) increased with each increment in Neu5Ac level (per μmol/L). The area under the curve (AUC) values of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves of the basic model plus Neu5Ac binary outcomes, Neu5Ac quartiles, and continuous Neu5Ac are 0.869, 0.863, and 0.873, respectively. Furthermore, including Neu5Ac in the model offers a substantial improvement in the risk reclassification and discrimination of MMD and its subtypes. A higher level of Neu5Ac was found to be associated with an increased risk of MMD and its clinical subtypes.
Cooperating with Different Types of Strangers: The Influence of Guanxi Perception, Trust, and Responsibility
Authors: Liu Haoxin , Wang Tulips Yiwen , Bernardo Allan B. I. , Shen Heyong
Published: June 2023

This study explored people’s estimation of cooperative intention when paired with people with different types of relationships, and the mediating roles of trust and responsibility between guanxi perception and the estimation of cooperative intention. We recruited 398 university students from the Greater Bay Area of China to complete two public goods dilemma experiments. Study 1 manipulated the type of partner to be either family member, classmate, and stranger, representing different types of guanxi. Study 2 manipulated the type of partner to be either stranger with intermediary, stranger within ingroup, and complete stranger. In both studies, the mediating roles of trust and responsibility in the relationship between guanxi perception and the estimation of cooperative intention were tested. The results of study 1 showed that the participants’ estimation of cooperative intention with a family member was higher than with acquaintances or with strangers. In study 2, the estimation of cooperative intention with stranger with intermediary was higher than with a stranger within one’s ingroup or with a complete stranger. Multivariate analysis verified the mediating effects. The results are discussed with reference to why Chinese people treat different types of guanxi distinctly, especially to different types of strangers, and how guanxi perception, trust, and responsibility work together to the influence of the estimation of cooperative intention.
Do Moral Judgments in Moral Dilemmas Make One More Inclined to Choose a Medical Degree?
Authors: Druică Elena , Gibea Toni , Ianole-Călin Rodica , Socaciu Emanuel
Published: June 2023

The role of moral intuitions and moral judgments has become increasingly prominent in educational and academic choices. The present research aims to examine if the moral judgments elicited in sacrificial trolley dilemmas have a distinct pattern for the decisions made by junior medical students, in comparison to those of senior high school students. We work with this sample because it represents the population out of which medical students are recruited in the case of Bucharest, Romania. Our findings show that moral judgments are indeed a significant predictor for a respondent’s status as medical students. This result, albeit with limitations, bears multiple practical implications, from developing empirically informed medical ethics courses in medical schools to evidence-based policy designs which consider factors such as morality alongside financial outcomes and incentives.
Social Media Use and Depression in Adolescents: A Scoping Review
Authors: Azem Layan , Al Alwani Rafaa , Lucas Augusto , Alsaadi Balqes , Njihia Gilbert , Bibi Bushra , Alzubaidi Mahmood , Househ Mowafa
Published: June 2023

This scoping review aimed to investigate the association between depression and social media use among adolescents. The study analyzed 43 papers using five databases to identify articles published from 2012 to August 2022. The results revealed a connection between social media use and depression, as well as other negative outcomes such as anxiety, poor sleep, low self-esteem, and social and appearance anxiety. Surveys were the most used study strategy, with multiple common scales applied to assess depression, social media use, and other factors such as self-esteem and sleep quality. Among the studies, eight reported that females who use social media showed higher depression symptoms than males. This scoping review provides an overview of the current literature on the relationship between social media use and depression among adolescents. The findings emphasize the importance of monitoring social media use and providing support for individuals struggling with depression. However, more research is needed to better understand the factors contributing to this relationship and to develop more standardized assessment methods.
Collagen VI Is a Gi-Biased Ligand of the Adhesion GPCR GPR126/ADGRG6
Authors: Wilde Caroline , Chaudhry Paulomi Mehta , Luo Rong , Simon Kay-Uwe , Piao Xianhua , Liebscher Ines
Published: June 2023

GPR126/ADGRG6, a member of the adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor family, balances cell differentiation and proliferation through fine-tuning of intracellular cAMP levels, which is achieved through coupling to Gs and Gi proteins. While GPR126-mediated cAMP increase has been proven to be essential for differentiation of Schwann cells, adipocytes and osteoblasts, Gi-signaling of the receptor was found to propagate breast cancer cell proliferation. Extracellular ligands or mechanical forces can modulate GPR126 activity but require an intact encrypted agonist sequence, coined the Stachel. Even though coupling to Gi can be seen for constitutively active truncated receptor versions of GPR126 as well as with a peptide agonist derived from the Stachel sequence, all known N-terminal modulators have so far only been shown to modulate Gs coupling. Here, we identified collagen VI as the first extracellular matrix ligand of GPR126 that induces Gi signaling at the receptor, which shows that N-terminal binding partners can mediate selective G protein signaling cascades that are masked by fully active truncated receptor variants.
Performance of the Photosynthetic Apparatus under Glass with a Luminophore Modifying Red-To-Far-Red-Light Ratio—A Case Study
Authors: Tokarz Krzysztof M. , Makowski Wojciech , Tokarz Barbara , Muszyńska Ewa , Gajewski Zbigniew , Mazur Stanisław , Kunicki Edward , Jeremiasz Olgierd , Sobik Piotr , Nowak Paweł , Miernicka Karolina , Mrzygłód Kinga , Rozpądek Piotr
Published: June 2023

The aim of this study was to examine the effect of the modified light spectrum of glass containing red luminophore on the performance of the photosynthetic apparatus of two types of lettuce cultivated in soil in a greenhouse. Butterhead and iceberg lettuce were cultivated in two types of greenhouses: (1) covered with transparent glass (control) and (2) covered with glass containing red luminophore (red). After 4 weeks of culture, structural and functional changes in the photosynthetic apparatus were examined. The presented study indicated that the red luminophore used changed the sunlight spectrum, providing an adequate blue:red light ratio, while decreasing the red:far-red radiation ratio. In such light conditions, changes in the efficiency parameters of the photosynthetic apparatus, modifications in the chloroplast ultrastructure, and altered proportions of structural proteins forming the photosynthetic apparatus were observed. These changes led to a decrease of CO2 carboxylation efficiency in both examined lettuce types.
Advances in Understanding the Links between Metabolism and Autophagy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia: From Biology to Therapeutic Targeting
Authors: Saulle Ernestina , Spinello Isabella , Quaranta Maria Teresa , Labbaye Catherine
Published: June 2023

Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular degradation process that regulates cellular metabolism and homeostasis under normal and pathophysiological conditions. Autophagy and metabolism are linked in the hematopoietic system, playing a fundamental role in the self-renewal, survival, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, and in cell death, particularly affecting the cellular fate of the hematopoietic stem cell pool. In leukemia, autophagy sustains leukemic cell growth, contributes to survival of leukemic stem cells and chemotherapy resistance. The high frequency of disease relapse caused by relapse-initiating leukemic cells resistant to therapy occurs in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and depends on the AML subtypes and treatments used. Targeting autophagy may represent a promising strategy to overcome therapeutic resistance in AML, for which prognosis remains poor. In this review, we illustrate the role of autophagy and the impact of its deregulation on the metabolism of normal and leukemic hematopoietic cells. We report updates on the contribution of autophagy to AML development and relapse, and the latest evidence indicating autophagy-related genes as potential prognostic predictors and drivers of AML. We review the recent advances in autophagy manipulation, combined with various anti-leukemia therapies, for an effective autophagy-targeted therapy for AML.
Generation of Red Blood Cells from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells—An Update
Authors: Lee Shin-Jeong , Jung Cholomi , Oh Jee Eun , Kim Sangsung , Lee Sangho , Lee Ji Yoon , Yoon Young-sup
Published: June 2023

Red blood cell (RBC) transfusion is a lifesaving medical procedure that can treat patients with anemia and hemoglobin disorders. However, the shortage of blood supply and risks of transfusion-transmitted infection and immune incompatibility present a challenge for transfusion. The in vitro generation of RBCs or erythrocytes holds great promise for transfusion medicine and novel cell-based therapies. While hematopoietic stem cells and progenitors derived from peripheral blood, cord blood, and bone marrow can give rise to erythrocytes, the use of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) has also provided an important opportunity to obtain erythrocytes. These hPSCs include both human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). As hESCs carry ethical and political controversies, hiPSCs can be a more universal source for RBC generation. In this review, we first discuss the key concepts and mechanisms of erythropoiesis. Thereafter, we summarize different methodologies to differentiate hPSCs into erythrocytes with an emphasis on the key features of human definitive erythroid lineage cells. Finally, we address the current limitations and future directions of clinical applications using hiPSC-derived erythrocytes.
Myelin Disruption, Neuroinflammation, and Oxidative Stress Induced by Sulfite in the Striatum of Rats Are Mitigated by the pan-PPAR agonist Bezafibrate
Authors: Glänzel Nícolas Manzke , Parmeggiani Belisa , Grings Mateus , Seminotti Bianca , Brondani Morgana , Bobermin Larissa D. , Ribeiro César A. J. , Quincozes-Santos André , Vockley Jerry , Leipnitz Guilhian
Published: June 2023

Sulfite predominantly accumulates in the brain of patients with isolated sulfite oxidase (ISOD) and molybdenum cofactor (MoCD) deficiencies. Patients present with severe neurological symptoms and basal ganglia alterations, the pathophysiology of which is not fully established. Therapies are ineffective. To elucidate the pathomechanisms of ISOD and MoCD, we investigated the effects of intrastriatal administration of sulfite on myelin structure, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress in rat striatum. Sulfite administration decreased FluoromyelinTM and myelin basic protein staining, suggesting myelin abnormalities. Sulfite also increased the staining of NG2, a protein marker of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. In line with this, sulfite also reduced the viability of MO3.13 cells, which express oligodendroglial markers. Furthermore, sulfite altered the expression of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), indicating neuroinflammation and redox homeostasis disturbances. Iba1 staining, another marker of neuroinflammation, was also increased by sulfite. These data suggest that myelin changes and neuroinflammation induced by sulfite contribute to the pathophysiology of ISOD and MoCD. Notably, post-treatment with bezafibrate (BEZ), a pan-PPAR agonist, mitigated alterations in myelin markers and Iba1 staining, and IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS and HO-1 expression in the striatum. MO3.13 cell viability decrease was further prevented. Moreover, pre-treatment with BEZ also attenuated some effects. These findings show the modulation of PPAR as a potential opportunity for therapeutic intervention in these disorders.
Development of an Automated Online Flow Cytometry Method to Quantify Cell Density and Fingerprint Bacterial Communities
Authors: López-Gálvez Juan , Schiessl Konstanze , Besmer Michael D. , Bruckmann Carmen , Harms Hauke , Müller Susann
Published: June 2023

Cell density is an important factor in all microbiome research, where interactions are of interest. It is also the most important parameter for the operation and control of most biotechnological processes. In the past, cell density determination was often performed offline and manually, resulting in a delay between sampling and immediate data processing, preventing quick action. While there are now some online methods for rapid and automated cell density determination, they are unable to distinguish between the different cell types in bacterial communities. To address this gap, an online automated flow cytometry procedure is proposed for real-time high-resolution analysis of bacterial communities. On the one hand, it allows for the online automated calculation of cell concentrations and, on the other, for the differentiation between different cell subsets of a bacterial community. To achieve this, the OC-300 automation device (onCyt Microbiology, Zürich, Switzerland) was coupled with the flow cytometer CytoFLEX (Beckman Coulter, Brea, USA). The OC-300 performs the automatic sampling, dilution, fixation and 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining of a bacterial sample before sending it to the CytoFLEX for measurement. It is demonstrated that this method can reproducibly measure both cell density and fingerprint-like patterns of bacterial communities, generating suitable data for powerful automated data analysis and interpretation pipelines. In particular, the automated, high-resolution partitioning of clustered data into cell subsets opens up the possibility of correlation analysis to identify the operational or abiotic/biotic causes of community disturbances or state changes, which can influence the interaction potential of organisms in microbiomes or even affect the performance of individual organisms.