bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Novel MsEOBI‐MsPAL1 Module Enhances Salinity Stress Tolerance, Floral Scent Emission and Seed Yield in Alfalfa
Authors: Song Yuguang , Tang Haoyan , Zhang Zhaoran , Sun Xueying , Ding Xinru , Guo Xinying , Wang Qi , Chen Jifeng , Dong Wei
Published: October 2024

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important and widely cultivated forage legume, yet its yield is constrained by salinity stress. In this study, we characterized an R2R3‐MYB transcription factor MsEOBI in alfalfa. Its salt tolerance function and regulatory pathways were investigated. The nuclear‐localized MsEOBI functions as a transcriptional activator, enhancing salinity tolerance by promoting the biosynthesis of flavonoids and lignin, as well as facilitating the scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Additionally, MsEOBI promotes pollinator attraction and increases seed yield by activating the biosynthesis of volatile phenylpropanoids. Yeast one‐hybrid (Y1H), dual‐luciferase reporter and chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with quantitative PCR (ChIP‐qPCR) assays demonstrated that MsEOBI directly binds to the promoter regions of MsPAL1, a key gene in the phenylpropanoid pathway, thereby activating its expression. Overexpression of MsPAL1 enhances salinity tolerance in alfalfa. These findings elucidate the role of the MsEOBI‐MsPAL1 regulatory module and provide valuable genetic resources for the future breeding of salt‐tolerant alfalfa varieties.
Randomized Controlled Trial to Evaluate the Efficacy of Positive Mental Health Program for Adults: Study Protocol
Authors: Teixeira Sónia Manuela Almeida , Ferré‐Grau Carme , da Cruz Sequeira Carlos Alberto , Santos José Manuel , Guerra Maria Manuela , Lluch Maria Teresa
Published: October 2024

Aim

To evaluate the effectiveness of a positive mental health program for adults (PMHP) in the community.

Background

Positive mental health (PMH) can be seen as a construct represented by six factors (personal satisfaction, prosocial attitude, self‐control, autonomy, problem resolution, and self‐actualization, and interpersonal relationship skills) according to the Multifactorial Model for PMH. Although there are several interventions in promoting mental health, research on effective promotion of PMH for adults in the community with structured and validated programs of PMH is scarce.

Methods

This study protocol describes a randomized controlled trial (RCT) following a wait‐list control design, aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a PMHP in the community. This study was approved in June 2019 by the Ethics Committee. Participants will be recruited from the school community of teachers. Participants aged ≥ 18 years. The participants will be randomized 1:1 to either (a) an intervention group, which will integrate the PMHP, or (b) the standby control group. Three assessment moments for both groups will take place initial, after the intervention, and a follow‐up of 3–6 months. The evaluation instruments will include a sociodemographic questionnaire, a PMH questionnaire, and a psychological vulnerability scale.

Conclusion

The current study provides an innovative approach to PMH. Further, the study may demonstrate new interventions in PMH in the community, based on a program with systematized guidelines and sessions structured according to individual needs. It is expected that at the end of the program, the experimental group will increase the level of PMH.

Relevance to clinical practice

To allow future official implementation of the PMH program and the replication of the study in other professional groups as a promotion tool.

No patient or public contribution

There was no funding to remunerate a participant for this study.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04600401. Registered on May 15, 2020
Hello darkness my old friend: How policy learning can contribute to value destruction
Authors: Zaki Bishoy L.
Published: October 2024

For decades, policy learning has been often viewed as a force for the common good, a process that aims at creating value for the public through problem‐solving. While learning can indeed contribute to value creation, darkness also lurks therein, where learning can also contribute to value destruction. Yet, the dark side of policy learning remains under‐explored and under‐theorized, particularly going beyond meso‐level policy and organizational failures or “mishaps.” This article draws on policy learning and value theories to conceptualize two types of policy learning failures and plot how they can contribute to the destruction of value in the public sphere: misdirected learning design failures (non‐deliberate and cybernetic) and normative failures (intentional and deontological). This is done while addressing the two key facets of value in the public sphere; public values, being the guiding principles of policymaking and governance, as well as public value, being the worth of public services delivered to the citizenry. In doing so, this contributes to the literature by addressing calls for exploring the dark side of learning, expanding our understanding of learning outcomes beyond organizational and policy level implications, and developing novel fundamental understandings of value destruction mechanisms.
Validation of the Polish version of an Ageism Scale for Dental Students (ASDS‐PL)
Authors: Hajto‐Bryk Justyna , Barańska Ilona , Szczerbińska Katarzyna , Kossioni Anastassia , Marchini Leonardo , Bełch Monika , Zarzecka Joanna
Published: October 2024

Background

Ageism is one of the common forms of discrimination and prejudice. It has also been shown to be present in health professionals, including doctors, nurses, and medical students.

Aims

The aim of this study was to translate the Ageism Scale For Dental Students (ASDS) into Polish, perform a culture adaptation, and conduct a preliminary validation analysis.

Methods

The survey was administered to 202 third‐, fourth‐, and fifth‐year students at the Jagiellonian University (No. 1072.6120.283.2020). Data were analyzed using principal components analysis (PCA) with an oblique, Promax rotation, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Cronbach's alpha (α) was calculated to check the internal consistency reliability. Discriminant validity was analyzed using the Mann–Whitney and Kruskal–Wallis test.

Results

PCA produced a 10‐item scale distributed into three factors, which explains 59.52% of the total variance. Factor 1 (“preconceived notions about dental treatment”) contained four items (α = 0.703), Factor 2 (“cost‐benefit of providing care for older patients”)—four items (α = 0.660) and Factor 3 (“dentist‐older patient interaction”)—two items (α = 0.662). CFA confirmed that the model is a good fit (RMSE = 0.058, 90% CI from 0.014 to 0.092, CFI = 0.950, and TLI = 0.926). The discriminant validity showed statistically significant differences in factors or individual items related to the year of the study, gender, and having a history of living with an older person(s) or an older patient(s) treated.

Conclusion

The validation of the ASDS conducted in Poland identified 10 items with sufficient validity and reliability.
Beyond coercion: Weaker states' domestic political motivations for political clauses in preferential trade agreements
Authors: Lechner Lisa , Yang Joonseok
Published: October 2024

Political scientists have debated under what circumstances countries choose to integrate sovereignty‐limiting provisions into their international agreements. In contrast to the conventional wisdom that powerful countries bully weak countries into political acquiescence, weak countries can deliberately adopt such provisions as a deterrence against potential non‐democratic takeovers. Using a novel dataset on political provisions in all preferential trade agreements (PTAs) signed between 1945 and 2018, we find that the greater, the weaker countries' risk of non‐democratic takeovers, the more likely they are to adopt democracy‐promoting and rule‐of‐law provisions in their PTAs. This finding suggests that a government's desire to tie the opposition's hands can also lead it to tie its own hands. Our findings have implications for not only the scholarly and political debates on commitments in international treaties but also the growing literature on non‐trade issues in PTAs.
Campylobacter Diversity Along the Farm‐to‐Fork Continuum of Pastured Poultry Flocks in the Southeastern United States
Authors: Al Hakeem Walid G. , Oladeinde Adelumola , Li Xiang , Cho Sohyun , Kassem Issmat I. , Rothrock Michael J.
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Consumer demand for pasture raised, antibiotic‐free poultry products has led to an increase in pastured poultry operations within the United States. Given the level of environmental interaction and the potential increase in exposure to foodborne pathogens in these settings, a greater understanding of the prevalence and diversity of Campylobacter populations inherent within pastured poultry flocks is needed.

Methods

To achieve this, 40 pastured poultry flocks from nine farms were sampled using a farm‐to‐fork strategy, and Campylobacter was isolated and characterised from preharvest (faeces, soil) through postharvest (caeca, whole carcass rinse) to the final product the consumer would purchase (whole carcass rinse).

Results

Campylobacter was isolated from 872 of 1820 samples, showing an overall prevalence of 47.91%. The caeca showed the highest (p < 0.05) Campylobacter load (4.64 log10 CFU/mL) and prevalence (95.5%), while the final product whole carcass rinses had the lowest (p < 0.05) Campylobacter load (0.32 log10 CFU/mL) and prevalence (15.45%), suggesting that the Campylobacter load in the caeca may not be indicative of the Campylobacter load on the final product. Of the 872 positive samples, 337 Campylobacter isolates were selected for further characterisation. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli comprised 74.18% (250/337) and 21.95% (74/337) of the selected isolates respectively. While the Campylobacter isolates displayed resistance to several antibiotics, the most common resistance for both C. jejuni and C. coli was against tetracycline (55.86% and 70.31% respectively). Multidrug resistance phenotypes (≥ 3 antibiotic classes) were relatively low for both C. jejuni (2.80%) and C. coli (9.45%).

Conclusions

Campylobacter load, prevalence and diversity were more affected by farm location than by the type of sample from which the Campylobacter was isolated. Overall, these results indicated a need for farm‐specific Campylobacter mitigation strategies to ensure the safety of these increasingly in‐demand poultry products.
Africa aims to avert an mpox pandemic
Authors: Ndembi Nicaise , Abdool Karim Salim S.
Published: October 2024

Last month, when the world’s most populus country, India, reported its first case of the new, highly transmissible clade Ib mpox variant, the challenge of containing the virus was once again evident. Only a few weeks before that in August, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) declared mpox a public health emergency in response to its spread in Africa. Since then, cases of clade Ib mpox have been reported in Sweden, Thailand, and Pakistan. Although mpox is not yet a global pandemic, the new variant may tip the scales in that direction if the world does not act quickly to mitigate its spread in Africa.
A ‘home bias’ in citations boosts China’s global science ranking
Authors: Normile Dennis
Published: October 2024

Studies find a majority of citations to top-ranked papers produced in China come from within the nation itself
Oral oxaborole MRX-5 exhibits efficacy against pulmonary
Mycobacterium abscessus
in mouse
Authors: Rimal Binayak , Howe Ruth A. , Panthi Chandra M. , Wang Wen , Lamichhane Gyanu
Published: October 2024

Mycobacterium abscessus (Mab
) is an opportunistic pathogen common in patients with lung comorbidities and immunosuppression. There are no FDA-approved treatments, and current treatment has a failure rate exceeding 50%. The intravenous oxaborole MRX-6038 is active against
Mab
. This study evaluated MRX-5, the oral prodrug, against five
Mab
isolates in a mouse lung infection model. MRX-5 showed dose-dependent efficacy, with 15 and 45 mg/kg doses comparable to the standard of care, supporting progression to clinical trial.
A molecular comparison of [Fe-S] cluster-based homeostasis in
Escherichia coli
and
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Lo Sciuto Alessandra , D'Angelo Francesca , Spinnato Maria Concetta , Garcia Pierre Simon , Genah Shirley , Matteo Cervoni , Séchet Emmanuel , Banin Ehud , Barras Frédéric , Imperi Francesco
Published: October 2024

Iron-sulfur [Fe-S] clusters are essential protein cofactors allowing bacteria to perceive environmental redox modification and to adapt to iron limitation.
Escherichia coli
, which served as a bacterial model, contains two [Fe-S] cluster biogenesis systems, ISC and SUF, which ensure [Fe-S] cluster synthesis under balanced and stress conditions, respectively. However, our recent phylogenomic analyses revealed that most bacteria possess only one [Fe-S] cluster biogenesis system, most often SUF. The opportunist human pathogen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
is atypical as it harbors only ISC. Here, we confirmed the essentiality of ISC in
P. aeruginosa
under both normal and stress conditions. Moreover,
P. aeruginosa
ISC restored viability, under balanced growth conditions, to an
E. coli
strain lacking both ISC and SUF. Reciprocally, the
E. coli
SUF system sustained growth and [Fe-S] cluster-dependent enzyme activities of ISC-deficient
P. aeruginosa
. Surprisingly, an ISC-deficient
P. aeruginosa
strain expressing
E. coli
SUF showed defects in resistance to H
2
O
2
stress and paraquat, a superoxide generator. Similarly, the
P. aeruginosa
ISC system did not confer stress resistance to a SUF-deficient
E. coli
mutant. A survey of 120 Pseudomonadales genomes confirmed that all but five species have selected ISC over SUF. While highlighting the great versatility of bacterial [Fe-S] cluster biogenesis systems, this study emphasizes that their contribution to cellular homeostasis must be assessed in the context of each species and its own repertoire of stress adaptation functions. As a matter of fact, despite having only one ISC system,
P. aeruginosa
shows higher fitness in the face of ROS and iron limitation than
E. coli
.

IMPORTANCE

ISC and SUF molecular systems build and transfer Fe-S cluster to cellular apo protein clients. The model
Escherichia coli
has both ISC and SUF and study of the interplay between the two systems established that the ISC system is the house-keeping one and SUF the stress-responding one. Unexpectedly, our recent phylogenomic analysis revealed that in contrast to
E. coli
(and related enterobacteria such as Salmonella), most bacteria have only one system, and, in most cases, it is SUF.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
fits the general rule of having only one system but stands against the rule by having ISC. This study aims at engineering
P. aeruginosa
harboring
E. coli
systems and vice versa. Comparison of the recombinants allowed to assess the functional versatility of each system while appreciating their contribution to cellular homeostasis in different species context.
Supplemental Material: Protracted (>100 m.y.) deep crustal orogenesis revealed by in situ monazite petrochronology in the Shuswap Metamorphic Complex, British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Bowie Sarah , al. et
Published: October 2024

Supplemental Text S1: A text document describing the methodology in detail as well as operating conditions and standards for analytical equipment. It also includes images of all samples and individual minerals used for U-Pb geochronology. Supplemental Data S1: Mineral composition data used for petrological modeling, complete U-Th-Pb and trace element data, and modal mineralogy estimates for all samples. 
Genetic variants associated with cardiac hypertrophy-related sudden cardiac death and cardiovascular outcomes in a Finnish population
Authors: Doedens Anne , Skarp Sini , Holmström Lauri , Pakanen Lasse , Saarimäki Samu , Kerkelä Risto , Pylkäs Katri , Huikuri Heikki V , Junttila Juhani
Published: October 2024

Background

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common cause of non-ischaemic sudden cardiac death (SCD). Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) without cardiomyopathy-related myocardial disarray is a common autopsy finding and is often associated with prior hypertension in SCD subjects. Our aim was to investigate novel rare gene variants among SCD subjects with presumably hypertension-related LVH and myocardial fibrosis at autopsy.

Methods

Whole exome sequencing was used to study rare variants (minor allele frequency<0.005) estimated to be deleterious in 96 non-ischaemic SCD subjects with presumably hypertension-related LVH and myocardial fibrosis. Associations of the identified variants with cardiac disease endpoints were replicated in the Finnish national genetic study (FinnGen) dataset.

Results

18 variants were estimated likely to affect protein function and 14 of these were associated with cardiomyopathies, heart failure, conduction abnormalities, hypertension and/or cardiac arrest in Finnish population (FinnGen). Three of the variants were classified as pathogenic or likely pathogenic. These include the splice site variant NM_000449.3:c.234-1G>A in regulatory factor X5 and frameshift variants NM_000449.3:c.234-1G>A in dehydrogenase/reductase 7C and NM_015873.3:c.1164del in villin like.

Conclusions

We identified rare deleterious variants associated with LVH in SCD subjects. Several of the identified rare variants associated with cardiovascular endpoints including heart failure, cardiomyopathies, cardiac arrest and hypertension in general population.
Observation and evaluation of soil stratum deformation in reclamation area under ocean tides
Authors: Wu Jinghong , Xu Shaowen , Shi Bin , Gu Kai , Cheng Gang , Jia Lixiang
Published: October 2024

Reclamation areas in coastal regions serve as primary human settlements, where groundwater undergoes fluctuations due to changes in ocean tides, resulting in deformation variations within the soil stratum. In this paper, the UWFBGs (ultra-weak fiber Bragg grating arrays) technique with micro strain accuracy and meter-scale resolution was used to investigate the soil stratum strain under ocean tidal effects. Through observations made at a borehole in Yushan Island, Zhoushan, China, semi-diurnal and spring-neap cycles of soil stratum deformation were identified, and the main influencing factor for soil tidal intensity within borehole depth was further analyzed. The concept of "soil stratum tidal strain energy density" was proposed to quantify the extent of soil deformation influenced by ocean tidal effects and four levels were divided to evaluate the borehole stratum. The results were of great importance for precise monitoring of soil deformation, and analysis of subsidence characteristics in reclamation areas.
Evaluation of the effects of pioglitazone on perivascular adipose tissue function, properties, and structure in a rat model of type-2 diabetes
Authors: Civelek Erkan , Karaman Ecem Fatma , Özden Sibel , Büyükpınarbaşılı Nur , Uydeş Doğan B. Sönmez , Kaleli Durman Deniz
Published: October 2024

Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) plays an important role in many physiological and pathological processes, such as regulation of vascular tone. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of pioglitazone on functional, structural, and biochemical properties of PVAT in an experimental model of type-2 diabetes (T2DM). T2DM was induced by high-fat-diet/low-dose-streptozotocin in rats, and pioglitazone (20 mg/kg/p.o.) was administered for 6 weeks. Changes in biochemical parameters, PVAT-mass, vascular-reactivity in thoracic-aorta, as well as PVAT adipocytokine and PPARG-expression levels, and histopathology were evaluated. Pioglitazone administration improved blood glucose and lipid profiles in T2DM. Pioglitazone did not change the anticontractile effect of PVAT on aortic contractile reactivity and besides, had no influence on endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation responses. Pioglitazone administration increased PVAT-mass and tumor necrotizing factor-α levels, while adiponectin, leptin, and interleukin-6 levels were unchanged. Also, a prominent increase was observed in PPARG-expression in T2DM-Pio group. Moreover, pioglitazone decreased liver steatosis, aortic wall thickening, and myocardial damage, whereas increased adipocyte size and adiposity in PVAT. Overall, pioglitazone treatment changed the mass and in part the inflammatory profile of PVAT but did not modify vasoreactivity in T2DM. This study provides novel findings in relationship with the adipogenic effect of pioglitazone and PVAT function.
Precipitation and nitrogen management are key drivers of cropping system productivity in the Canadian prairies
Authors: Wen Guoqi , Liu Kui , Kubota Hiroshi , Peng Gary , Semach Greg , Lokuruge Prabhath , Chau Henry Wai , Khakbazan Mohammad
Published: October 2024

The performance of cropping systems is a function of crop and management practice interaction in a given growing environment. However, the critical factors affecting productivity remains unclear under varying climate conditions. We conducted a 5 year study at six sites in western Canada to identify the critical factors affecting the productivity, standardized as protein-based yield (PBY), and quantify the relationships between yield and critical factors. We tested six crop rotations, including conventional system (Control), pulse- or oilseed-intensified system (Intensified), diversified system (Diversified), market-driven system (Market-driven), high-risk and potentially high reward system (High-risk), and soil-health enhanced system (Soil-health). The importance index and structural equation modeling were used to identify key factors and explore the underlying relationships among them. Results showed that Market-driven and Diversified rotations outperformed the Control by 2%–6% in PBY, while Soil-health and High-risk yielded 23%–26% lower than the Control. Relative to the Control, all rotations showed an increase trend in PBY over time, with Diversified rotations increasing 13%–28% faster than Market-driven and Intensified rotations. Precipitation and nitrogen (N) management are the primary factors affecting cropping system productivity, explaining 25% and 21% yield variations, respectively. Structural equation modeling analysis revealed that precipitation had a significant indirect effect on yield through affecting biological N fixation of pulse crops, in addition to a significant direct effect. Increasing pulse frequency and rotation complexity mitigated PBY loss by 10%–24% during low rainfall seasons. We recommend integrating pulse crops into cropping systems to enhance N management and mitigate yield loss in low precipitation regions.
Finite temperature fermionic condensate and energy–momentum tensor in cosmic string spacetime
Authors: Santos W. Oliveira dos , de Mello E. R. Bezerra
Published: October 2024

Here we analyze the expectation value of the fermionic condensate and the energy–momentum tensor associated with a massive charged fermionic quantum field with a nonzero chemical potential propagating in a magnetic-flux-carrying cosmic string in thermal equilibrium at finite temperature T. The expectation values of the fermionic condensate and the energy–momentum tensor are expressed as the sum of vacuum expectation values and the finite temperature contributions coming from the particles and antiparticles excitation. The thermal expectations values of the fermionic condensate and the energy–momentum tensor are even periodic functions of the magnetic flux with period being the quantum flux, and also even functions of the chemical potential. Because the analyses of vacuum expectation of the fermionic condensate and energy–momentum tensor have been developed in literature, here we are mainly interested in the investigation of the thermal corrections. In this way we explicitly study how these observable behaves in the limits of low and high temperatures, and also for points near the string. Besides the analytical discussions, we included some graphs that exhibit the behavior of these observable for different values of the physical parameters of the model.
Keep it secret, keep it safe: teaching quantum key distribution in high school
Authors: Weissman Efraim Yehuda , Merzel Avraham , Katz Nadav , Galili Igal
Published: October 2024

Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) is a cryptography protocol based on the fundamental principles of quantum physics (QP). Teaching this subject does not require extensive knowledge beyond these principles, making it suitable for inclusion in high school (HS) curricula. Despite its relevance, teaching QKD in HS is yet understudied. In this study, we collected responses from 12th-grade students from various schools that adopted and applied the Discipline-Culture vision of the physics curriculum. We assessed their understanding through conceptual and quantitative problems and examined their attitudes regarding the motivation to study this subject. We analyzed the responses using content analysis, identifying the challenges and affordances of teaching QKD. The challenges faced by students have been categorized into three themes: difficulties with QP, difficulties with the QKD protocol, and difficulties with the mathematics involved in this context. Despite these challenges, we found that teaching QKD reinforces students’ conceptual understanding of QP concepts and problem-solving skills. This work enhances educators’ ability to address the challenges of teaching QP and suggests that teaching QKD in HS strengthens students’ motivation to study QP.
A Modified Active Ensemble Neural Network Using Primary User Emulation Attack in Cognitive Radio Network
Authors: Biradar Shilpa , Singh Kishan
Published: October 2024

The growing demand for wireless applications has led to an increasing need for efficient spectrum utilization. Cognitive radio networks (CRNs) emerge as a promising solution to address this demand. CRNs enable unlicensed users to access the available spectrum without causing interference to primary users. However, ensuring the accurate identification of primary user emulation (PUE) attackers is critical due to the sensitivity of these networks. In this paper, an active ensemble neural network-based approach with FlightSpa optimization is employed to enhance the detection of aggressive users. Leveraging neural network (NN) classifiers, the proposed method implicitly captures complex nonlinear relationships between dependent and independent variables, allowing for a comprehensive analysis of network nodes and precise identification of malicious users. Given the network’s inherent complexity, accurately identifying malevolent users is a challenging task, which the active neural network effectively addresses. The classifier’s parameters are tuned optimally by applying a hybrid FlightSpa optimization strategy, leading to successful optimization and reliable output generation. The performance reveals that the active NN-based FlightSpa optimization achieves impressive results, with detection rates for malicious users in CRNs reaching the highest values of 84.085% for accuracy, 82.351% for sensitivity and 85.820% for specificity with 50 nodes. These outcomes surpass those obtained using earlier techniques, marking a significant advancement in the field of cognitive radio network security.
The Main Big Data Solution Pillars: How to Effectively Model and Manage the Massive Data Deluge?
Authors: Gahar Rania Mkhinini , Sassi Hidri Minyar
Published: October 2024

In today’s data-driven world, the volume of information produced daily is staggering. Without a robust data engineering strategy, companies face the risk of prolonged delays, decreased productivity, dissatisfied customers, and strained business relationships. Effective data management and data modelling are critical for transforming this vast amount of information into valuable insights that drive business growth and provide a competitive edge. By gathering and analysing data through these methods, businesses can make informed decisions that significantly impact their growth and success. Data modelling and data management are both critical components of working with data, but they focus on different aspects of handling and utilising data within an organisation. Understanding the distinction between these two areas is crucial for effectively managing data within an organisation and ensuring that data systems are well-designed and properly maintained. By delving into the specifics of data modelling and data management, this paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these practices can be leveraged to enhance organisational efficiency, productivity, and decision-making. We provide a comprehensive and insightful exploration of data modelling and data management while highlighting their critical roles in modern business environments.
How Can Generative Artificial Intelligence Techniques Facilitate Intelligent Research into Ancient Books?
Authors: Liu Jiangfeng , Ma Xueliang , Wang Lanyu , Pei Lei
Published: October 2024

Generative AI changes the paradigm of natural language processing research, sets off a new trend of research in computational humanities and computational social sciences, and provides unique perspectives on digital intelligence-enabled ancient book revitalization and intelligent applications. The article explores the role of multimodal large models in image processing and OCR of ancient books. We discuss and exemplify how to use Large Language Models for intelligent information processing of ancient texts and explore combining prompt engineering, retrieval augmented generation (RAG), supervised fine-tuning, LangChain, and other techniques to improve performance in ancient text mining and applications. This article also looks forward to the broad prospect of intelligent agent technology combined with the Large Language Model in the innovative application of ancient book revitalization. The research focuses on digitizing ancient books, intelligent processing of ancient texts, and intelligent application of ancient book revitalization. It demonstrates the feasibility, advancement, and creativity of the application of generative AI and its derivative technologies in the field of computational humanities, especially in the field of ancient book preservation, to provide intelligent solutions for the dissemination of traditional thought and culture, from the perspective of the whole process of the technology of digital humanities and computational humanities research. The article also gives examples of the intelligent application of AI in the restoration of ancient books and the annotation of ancient texts. Although Large Language Models demonstrate transformative potential in advancing the field of ancient text research toward intelligent analysis, there remain certain limitations. This article points out their shortcomings in areas such as knowledge completion for ancient texts, understanding emotions and cultural nuances, as well as ethical and accountability issues. It emphasizes the need for a more balanced perspective on the role that generative AI plays in the exploration and utilization of cultural heritage.
User Requirements and Involvement Methods in the Development of Hand Exoskeletons: A Review
Authors: Süner-Pla-Cerdà Sedef , Şahin Batuhan , Arikan Kutluk Bilge
Published: October 2024

Current hand exoskeleton systems for assistive and rehabilitative purposes pose challenges due to weight, bulk, and size, thus negatively affecting user experience in terms of comfort and wearability. End-user involvement is vital during design and deployment to improve usefulness, usability, and user acceptance. A scoping review was conducted to identify the currently prioritized user requirements and user-centered practices in the development of hand exoskeleton systems. Content analysis was used to identify the user-centered design criteria and user research methodologies in 124 articles. More studies aim for rehabilitation than assistance and the dominant form of assessment is system validation. Wearability, comfort, portability, adaptability, affordability, and safety were the most frequently targeted user-centered criteria. Only 38 articles reported assessment with human subjects, the majority of them being functional tests, followed by usability tests. We offer user-centered design directions and methodological suggestions for user involvement to improve the usability and acceptability of the exoskeleton systems, and discuss the necessity for restructuring the engineering design strategy for better adaptability. This research has direct applications for the design and assessment of assistive and rehabilitative hand exoskeletons by offering user requirements. The findings and suggestions can have wider implications in the field of wearable robotics for developing, evaluating, and refining systems through a user-centered perspective.
Motion-Aware Self-Supervised RGBT Tracking with Multi-Modality Hierarchical Transformers
Authors: Li Shenglan , Yao Rui , Zhou Yong , Zhu Hancheng , Zhao Jiaqi , Shao Zhiwen , El Saddik Abdulmotaleb
Published: October 2024

Supervised RGBT (SRGBT) tracking tasks need both expensive and time-consuming annotations. Therefore, the implementation of Self-Supervised RGBT (SSRGBT) tracking methods has become increasingly important. Straightforward SSRGBT tracking methods use pseudo-labels for tracking, but inaccurate pseudo-labels can lead to object drift, which severely affects tracking performance. This article proposes a self-supervised RGBT object tracking method (S2OTFormer) to bridge the gap between tracking methods supervised under pseudo-labels and ground truth labels. Firstly, to provide more robust appearance features for motion cues, we introduce a multi-modality hierarchical transformer (MHT) module for feature fusion. This module allocates weights to both modalities and strengthens the expressive capability of the MHT module through multiple nonlinear layers to fully utilize the complementary information of the two modalities. Secondly, in order to solve the problems of motion blur caused by camera motion and inaccurate appearance information caused by pseudo-labels, we introduce a motion-aware mechanism (MAM). The MAM extracts the average motion vectors from the previous multi-frame search frame features and constructs the consistency loss with the motion vectors of the current search frame features. The motion vectors of inter-frame objects are obtained by reusing the inter-frame attention map to predict coordinate positions. Finally, to further reduce the effect of inaccurate pseudo-labels, we propose an Attention-Based Multi-Scale Enhancement Module. By introducing cross-attention to achieve more precise and accurate object tracking, this module overcomes the receptive field limitations of traditional CNN tracking heads. We demonstrate the effectiveness of S2OTFormer on four large-scale public datasets through extensive comparisons as well as numerous ablation experiments. The source code is available at
https://github.com/LiShenglana/S2OTFormer
.
Defending Against Deep Learning-Based Traffic Fingerprinting Attacks With Adversarial Examples
Authors: Hayden Blake , Walsh Timothy , Barton Armon
Published: October 2024

In an increasingly digital and interconnected world, online anonymity and privacy are paramount issues for Internet users. To address this, tools like The Onion Router (Tor) offer anonymous and private communication by routing traffic through multiple relays with multiple layers of encryption. However, traffic fingerprinting attacks have threatened anonymity and privacy. In response, the community has proposed additional defenses for Tor, but fingerprinting techniques that utilize deep neural networkss (DNNs) have undermined many of these defenses. The latest defenses that are both lightweight and robust against DNNs use adversarial examples, but these defenses require either the full traffic trace beforehand or a database of pre-computed adversarial examples. We propose
Prism
, a defense against fingerprinting attacks that utilizes adversarial examples with neither prior access to the full traffic trace nor a database. We describe a novel method of adversarial example generation as input is learned over time.
Prism
injects these adversarial examples into the Tor traffic stream to prevent DNNs from accurately classifying both websites and videos that a user is viewing, even if the DNN is hardened by adversarial training. We also show that the Tor network could implement
Prism
entirely on relays under certain conditions, extending the defense to users who may run Tor on devices without graphics processing units.
Solid Contact Microfabricated Electrode for Point-of-Care Electrochemical Determination of a Parasitic Infection Managing Medication Based on a Transducer Layer Prussian Blue Analogue Decorated with Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes
Authors: Darweish Eman , Abdel-Raoof Ahmed M. , Eissa Maya S. , Elgazzar Elsayed , Fayez Yasmin M. , Marzouk Hoda M.
Published: October 2024

Point-of-care diagnostics (POC), often known as on-site testing has evolved as a quick and accurate methodology for analyzing and therapeutic monitoring of drugs. The aim of this study is to provide cost-effective, simple, portable, reliable, and ecofriendly methodology for determination of Tinidazole (TD); potentiometric sensors are found to be an ideal fit for achieving these goals. An advanced microfabricated ion selective electrode is provided employing two-steps procedure. The first is selecting the most selective ionophore for TD determination while the second is to improve the stability and detection limit upon doping the nanoparticles as ion to electron transducer layer between the microfabricated copper electrode and the ion selective media as it can decrease potential drift from 8.0 to ∼1.0 mV h−1. Nernstian potentiometric results were obtained for TD in range of concentration 1.0 × 10−3 to 1.0 × 10−8 M, its slope was −57.43 mV/decade with lower detection limits 2.55 × 10−9 M. Essential values of the adopted sensor are fast and stable response time (9 ± 2 s). The provided potentiometric approach succeeds to asses TD in its pure and pharmaceutical forms, furthermore in different biological fluids with satisfactory results.
Deletion of AT1a receptors selectively in the proximal tubules of the kidney alters the hypotensive and natriuretic response to atrial natriuretic peptide via NPRA/cGMP/NO signaling
Authors: Li Xiao Chun , Wang Chih-Hong , Hassan Rumana , Katsurada Akemi , Sato Ryosuke , Zhuo Jia Long
Published: October 2024

This study used a mutant mouse model with proximal tubule-selective deletion of angiotensin II (ANG II) type 1 (AT1a) receptors to study, for the first time, important interactions between ANG II/AT1 (AT1a) receptor/Na+/H+ exchanger 3 and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)/natriuretic peptide receptor (NPRA)/cGMP/nitric oxide signaling pathways in the proximal tubules. The results of the present study provide further evidence for important physiological roles of proximal tubule ANG II/AT1a and ANP/NPRA signaling pathways in the regulation of proximal tubule Na+ reabsorption and blood pressure homeostasis.
Matrix metalloproteinases in kidney homeostasis and diseases: an update
Authors: Tan Roderick J. , Liu Youhua
Published: October 2024

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases with important roles in kidney homeostasis and pathology. While capable of collectively degrading each component of the extracellular matrix, MMPs also degrade nonmatrix substrates to regulate inflammation, epithelial plasticity, proliferation, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. More recently, intriguing mechanisms that directly alter podocyte biology have been described. There is now irrefutable evidence for MMP dysregulation in many types of kidney disease including acute kidney injury, diabetic and hypertensive nephropathy, polycystic kidney disease, and Alport syndrome. This updated review will detail the complex biology of MMPs in kidney disease.
Central tendency and serial dependence in vestibular path integration
Authors: Willemsen Sophie C. M. J. , Oostwoud Wijdenes Leonie , van Beers Robert J. , Koppen Mathieu , Medendorp W. Pieter
Published: October 2024

Distance reproduction tasks based on visual information about the traveled distance have shown that reproductions are biased by central tendency and serial dependence effects. Here, we show that distance reproductions based on vestibular signals show similar biases and that the reproductions are affected by the presentation order of the stimulus distances.
Short‐Term Postoperative Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Carcinoma: Assessment of Potential Oncologic‐Psycho Relevance
Authors: Chen Lin , Ren Ningning , Yang Qing , Tian Xingsong
Published: October 2024

Objective: To understand whether TSH suppressive therapy affect short‐term postoperative cancer‐related depression and anxiety among DTC patients. To evaluate short‐term postoperative psychological problems and its relationship with baseline parameters, fatigue, sleep quality, illness perception, and patients’ quality of life. Study Design and Methods: This was a prospective, observational, single center study. This study involved 831 TC patients who consecutively admitted to the inpatient department of hospital between 1st June 2020 and 31th February 2021. Results: Mean scores of the self‐rated anxiety scale (SAS) (49.04 vs. 40.69) and self‐rated depression scale (SDS) (44.61 vs. 39.86), as well as the incidence of anxiety (41.5% vs. 22.1%) and depression (22.5% vs. 2.4%) significantly decreased 3 months after surgery. For personal and clinical characteristics, low educational background (SAS, β = 1.392; SDS, β = 1.622; and p < 0.05), without children (SAS, β = 4.068; SDS, β = 1.873, and p < 0.01), FNAC (SAS, β = −0.981; SDS, β = −2.583; and p < 0.05), and multifocal tumor (SAS, β = −1.287; SDS, β = −2.681; and p < 0.05) were the main effects for both short‐term postoperative anxiety and depression. Multiple linear regression analysis identified the serum TSH level as a significant variable associated with worse SAS (Beta = −0.695 and p = 0.043) and SDS (Beta = −3.133 and p < 0.001) scores 3 months after surgery. FT4 was independently associated with SAS scores (Beta = −0.202 and p < 0.001). Patients with middle ATA risk had a significantly higher level of SDS scores (p = 0.033). Conclusion: We confirmed that cancer‐related anxiety and depression among DTC patients significantly alleviated 3 months after surgery. TSH suppression therapy has profound effects on cancer‐related anxiety and depression, and the degree of anxiety and depression significantly deteriorated with the decrease of TSH level.
Fenugreek Supplementation in Hybrid African Catfish Diets: Effect on Growth Performance, Physio‐Metabolic Response, and Antioxidant Enzyme Capacity
Authors: Jimoh Wasiu Adeyemi , Fawole Femi John , Ayeloja Ayodeji Ahmed , Ojo Olayinka Abosede , Ijalaye Boluwatife Mary , Adesaogun Aishat Yetunde , Olaitan Emmanuel Oladele
Published: October 2024

The impact of dietary fenugreek (FN) supplementation on growth performance, physio‐metabolic enzyme response, and antioxidant enzyme activities in hybrid African catfish (Clarias gariepinus ♀ × Heterobranchus bidorsalis ♂) was investigated in this study. Five isonitrogenous diets (38% crude protein) were developed and fed to the fish for 60 days. The FN was incorporated into the diets at 0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5%, and 2%. Two hundred twenty‐five fingerlings of hybrid African catfish (average weight 4.01 g ± 0.02) were used for the study and randomly distributed to five dietary groups in triplicate. FN supplementation improved growth responses and survival rates; the dietary groups considerably (p < 0.05) outperformed the control group. FN‐based diets considerably increased the carcass protein content (p = 0.020) and improved protein retention (p = 0.015). FN supplementation markedly (p < 0.001) and dose‐dependently reduced the carcass’s lipid content and substantially (p < 0.001) increased the levels of metabolic enzymes. The fish antioxidant capacity was significantly enhanced (p < 0.001), and hepatic stress enzymes were greatly (p < 0.001) lowered in FN‐based diets. In summary, the second‐order polynomial regression analysis indicates that the optimal dose of FN supplementation to improve hybrid catfish growth without negatively affecting the fish’s physio‐metabolic response or overall wellbeing is 1% dietary inclusion level.
First Report of Complete Genome Analysis of Multiple Drug Resistance Proteus mirabilis KUST‐1312 Isolate From Migratory Birds in China: A Public Health Threat
Authors: Gao Jiayu , Liu Shufa , Bano Sadia , Xia Xueshan , Baloch Zulqarnain
Published: October 2024

Proteus mirabilis, a gram‐negative bacterium, poses a significant public health threat due to its multidrug‐resistant (MDR) characteristics. Here, for the first time, we report the isolation and comprehensive genome analysis of an MDR strain, P. mirabilis KUST‐1312, obtained from migratory birds in Yunnan Province, China. A total of 65 samples, including migratory bird feces, soil, and water from Dianchi Lake, were collected. Standard microbiological techniques were employed to isolate the P. mirabilis KUST‐1312 strain from these samples. Genomic sequencing was conducted using a hybrid assembly strategy, combining Illumina and Oxford nanopore sequencing technologies. Phenotypic testing revealed the MDR nature of P. mirabilis KUST‐1312, displaying resistance to various antibiotics except gentamicin and Cefotaxime. Notably, 15 antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), including aph(3′)‐Ia, cat, tet(J), bleO, dfrA12, aadA2, AAC(3)‐IId, bla-TEM-1B, erm(42),aph(6)‐Id, blaPER-1, sul2, aph(3′’)‐Ib(2copies), and aph(3′)‐VIb, were identified on a single chromosome. These 15 ARGs were dispersed along three MDR regions, and the boundaries of these regions were consistently flanked by copies of insertion sequences and also contained other genetic elements. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the close relation of P. mirabilis KUST‐1312 with environmental and clinical isolates reported from other continents rather than with Asian isolates. In conclusion, this study reports the first‐ever isolation of an MDR P. mirabilis KUST‐1312 strain from migratory birds globally, particularly in China. There is a need to explore further its prevalence in detail in various ecological niches, including migratory birds.
Study on the Properties of Polyurethane–Urea Elastomers Prepared by TDI/MDI Mixture
Authors: Bian Xiangcheng , He Jiaguo , He Maoyong , Liu Bingxiao , Zhang Yinzhu
Published: October 2024

As well known, the easily volatile 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate (TDI) monomer poses a great threat to the environment and human health during the preparation of polyurethane–urea elastomer (PUU). Hence, 4,4 ′‐diphenylmethane diisocyanate (MDI), an isocyanate with significantly lower toxicity compared to TDI, was used as a partial substitute for TDI to prepare PUU through the prepolymerization method with other raw materials including polytetramethylene glycol (PTMG) and 4,4 ′‐methylene‐bis(2‐chloroaniline) (MOCA) in this paper. The effect of the molar ratio of TDI to MDI on the pot life, light transmittance, mechanical properties, thermal stability, and dynamic mechanical properties of PUU was investigated. The results show that the pot life of PUU decreases with the MDI content increasing; however, the density of PUU increases. Besides, the tensile strength and the transparency of PUU exhibit a trend of first rising and then falling as the MDI content increases. Particularly, pot life, light transmittance, tensile strength, permanent set, and initial decomposition temperature of PUU with a molar ratio of TDI to MDI set at 7/3 are 522 s, 90.0% at 550 nm, 52.9 MPa, 9.8%, and 287.8°C, respectively. This is to say, the PUU prepared in our research not only have excellent comprehensive performance but also greatly eliminate the harm caused by TDI volatilization, which can be applied in areas requiring high transparency.