bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How Does a Stone Carver Create? A Participatory Case Study
Authors: Botella Marion , Robieux Léonore , Frantz Benjamin
Published: July 2023

Art and design involve divergent creative processes. Design is a more constrained domain than art. While creativity in some specific domains, such as painting, sculpture, and music, has been widely studied, some have as yet been little explored. One example is stone carving. What characterizes stone carving, as a creative occupation? What is a stone carver's creative process? We set out to answer these questions by interviewing a stone carver about his profession, his process, his productions, and his place in society. In this case study, we examined the stone carver's discourse using a combination of three content analysis software tools. Taken together, the results highlight and detail 3 of the 7 Cs of creativity: the stone carver as creator, his creating (creative process), and his creations (productions) on which the interview focuses. The results of this participatory case study were validated by the stone carver himself. They reveal that stone carving sits at the intersection between handicraft, design, and art.
Increase in colour stability of pomegranate juice against 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) through copigmentation with phenolic acids
Authors: Türkyılmaz Meltem , Hamzaoğlu Fatmagül , Çiftci Rumeysa Betül Arı , Özkan Mehmet
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND

Anthocyanins are responsible for both attractive colour of pomegranate juice (PJ) and its health‐promoting effects against cancer and coronary heart disease. However, 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) at some concentrations causes anthocyanin degradation. The present study aimed to reduce the degradation of PJ anthocyanins as a result of HMF at various concentrations (0–20 mg L−1) through phenolic acid [PA; ferulic (FA), gallic (GA) and caffeic acids (CA)] copigmentation during storage at 20 °C.

RESULTS

A strong correlation (r = 0.872) was found between anthocyanin degradation rate and HMF concentration in PJ without PA addition. An increase in HMF concentration during storage caused faster (< 32%) anthocyanin degradation. However, PA addition reduced (< 60 times) the HMF formation rate. The lowest HMF formation rates (0.07–0.28 day−1) were determined in PJ with added GA. Although GA caused an important increase in content of cyanidin‐3‐glucoside (16–42%), which is major PJ anthocyanin, against HMF at all concentrations, CA (15%) and FA (28%) increased cyanidin‐3‐glucoside content against 10 mg of HMF L−1. FA maintained its protection effect against the highest HMF concentration (20 mg of HMF L−1), but CA lost its protection effect. Generally, FA increased stabilities of hyperchromic effect (HE) (9.6–27.7%) and colour density (CD) (57.1–74.3%) at all HMF concentrations, although CA increased HE stability (19.8–37.7%) in the presence of 10 and 20 mg of HMF L−1. Interactions of ‘all individual anthocyanins‐FA’ and ‘delphinidin‐based anthocyanins‐GA/CA’ resulted in copigmentation.

CONCLUSION

FA addition was recommended to increase CD and HE for PJ containing HMF between 3.1–5.6 mg L−1, whereas the addition of GA was recommended to increase anthocyanin stability for PJ containing 12.0 mg of HMF L−1. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.
Closure of pelvic peritoneum with bladder peritoneum flap reconstruction after laparoscopic extralevator abdominoperineal excision: A prospective stage II study
Authors: Shen Yu , Yang Ting‐Han , Deng Xiangbing , Wu Qingbin , Wei Mingtian , Meng Wenjian , Wang Zi‐Qiang
Published: July 2023

Background

Extralevator abdominoperineal resection (ELAPE) has increased perineal wound complications due to the extended resection area. Closure of the pelvic peritoneum (CPP) may exclude the abdominal content from descending into the pelvic cavity and reduce the incidence of perineal complications after ELAPE. We have previously introduced bladder peritoneum flap reconstruction (BLAPER) as a novel method for patients in whom traditional CPP is not possible. The aim of the present study was to report the development and preliminary outcomes of BLAPER.

Methods

This is a prospective single‐arm study at the development and exploration phase and fulfills the IDEAL framework stage II. Ultralow rectal cancer patients with rigid pelvis who underwent ELAPE with BLAPER were enrolled. Primary outcomes were intraoperative complications and postoperative complications within 1 month after surgery.

Results

Among 27 patients included, the overall success rate of BLAPER was 96.3% (26/27). Indocyanine green fluorescence imaging and antiadhesive barrier placement were introduced to improve the BLAPER technique. The incidence of major pelvic wound complications was 7.7%. No patient who underwent BLAPER has suffered small bowel obstruction (SBO), presence of small bowel in the retrourogenital space, or perineal hernia (PH).

Conclusions

BLAPER is safe and may prevent the small bowel from descending into the retrourogenital space and subsequently developing PH and SBO without increasing the intraoperative and postoperative complications. BLAPER may serve as an option when the primary suture of the pelvic peritoneum is not feasible.
Bio‐Inspired Conductive Hydrogels with High Toughness and Ultra‐Stability as Wearable Human‐Machine Interfaces for all Climates
Authors: Cui Zeyu , Liu Chen , Fang Shiqiang , Xu Junbin , Zhao Zhi , Fang Jiaquan , Shen Zehao , Cong Zhenhua , Niu Jian
Published: July 2023

Drawing inspiration from Salicornia, a plant with the remarkable ability to thrive in harsh environments, a conductive hydrogel with high toughness and ultra‐stability is reported. Specifically, the strategy of pre‐cross‐linking followed by secondary soaking in saturated salt solutions is introduced to prepare the PAAM‐alginate conductive hydrogel with dual cross‐linked dual network structure. It allows the alginate network to achieve complete cross‐linking, fully leveraging the structural advantages of the PAAM‐alginate conductive hydrogel. The highest tensile strength of the obtained conductive hydrogel is 697.3 kPa and the fracture energy can reach 69.59 kJ m−2, significantly higher than human cartilage and natural rubbers. Specially, by introducing saturated salt solutions within the hydrogel, the colligative properties endow the PAAM‐alginate conductive hydrogel with excellent water retention and anti‐freezing properties. The prepared conductive hydrogels can work stably in an ambient environment for more than 7 days and still maintain good mechanical behavior and ionic conductivity at −50 °C. Benefiting from the excellent comprehensive performance of conductive hydrogels, wearable human‐machine interfaces that can withstand large joint movements and are adapted for extreme environments are prepared to achieve precise control of robots and prostheses, respectively.
An improved GNSS remote sensing technique for 3D distribution of tropospheric water vapor
Authors: Long Ankang , Ye Shirong , Xia Pengfei
Published: July 2023

Water vapor plays an extremely important role in the monitoring and prediction of weather, and GNSS tomography can obtain 3D spatiotemporal change information and reliable water vapor profiles. In this paper, an improved global navigation satellite system (GNSS) tropospheric tomography technique using an ERA5 (the fifth generation ECMWF reanalysis) product is developed. First, the ERA5 product was adopted to analyze the spatiotemporal distribution of water vapor, and a water vapor density threshold defining the top of the tomography was determined; then, the height of the grid top (GT) of different seasons was obtained through linear fitting; finally, the water vapor value between GT and tropopause is constrained using the data of the ERA5 product as the initial value. The new method for using the ERA5 product to determine the height of the GT of the tomographic grid reduces the height of the top layer of the grid and increases the number of effective GNSS rays. Data from nine CORS stations in Hong Kong in 2019 were selected for experiments. The results showed that the new algorithm increased the number of effective satellite signals by 14%. In addition, the ERA5 data, the radiosonde data, and the COSMIC‐2 data were used as reference values. The accuracy of the water vapor density obtained by the algorithm was improved by 25%, 17% and 9%, respectively.
Preparation and characterization of TA surface modified HMX/F2602 composites
Authors: Xu Wenzheng , Zheng Xin , Wei Yamei , Tan Xianpeng , Wang Junyi , Yang Yulong , Zhao Leyang , Wang Jingyu
Published: July 2023

Enhancing the safety performance of conventional polymer‐bonded explosives (PBX) has been a hot topic of research in the field of energy‐containing materials. For this purpose, this paper proposes a green and simple method to apply tannic acid (TA) to PBX by in situ polymerization. A two‐layer core‐shell composite with HMX as the core, TA as the inner shell, and fluoroelastomer F2602 as the outer shell was designed without changing the total binder content. The composites were analyzed by various tests and the goal of improving safety and mechanical strength was accomplished in the prepared TA‐modified PBX. Compared with the raw material HMX, the β‐δ phase transition temperature of PBX with double‐layer core‐shell structure is increased by 15.3 °C. In addition, the combination of TA coating and fluoropolymer allows the PBX to reduce impact and friction sensitivity. It also has excellent performance in enhancing the mechanical performance of PBX. The simplicity and scalability of the described method provide new ideas for the design and fabrication of high‐energy composites with higher safety and mechanical properties.
Impact of pomegranate juice on blood pressure: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Ghaemi Fatemeh , Emadzadeh Maryam , Atkin Stephen L. , Jamialahmadi Tannaz , Zengin Gokhan , Sahebkar Amirhossein
Published: July 2023

Despite the importance of polyphenol‐rich fruits in decreasing cardiovascular mortality, the impact of pomegranate juice (PJ) on blood pressure is still unclear. To determine the effect of PJ on blood pressure. PubMed, Scopus, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane Library were searched comprehensively using relevant keywords. All studies using pomegranate juice alone were included although limited to human studies and the English language. A random‐effects model and the generic inverse variance approach were used to determine quantitative data synthesis. Meta‐analysis of 14 clinical trials (n = 573 individuals) demonstrated a reduction in systolic BP (SBP) with pomegranate juice (MD: −5.02 mmHg, 95% CI: −7.55 to −2.48, p < 0.001). Effect of study duration showed pomegranate juice intake ≤2 months significantly decreased SBP (MD: −4.59 mmHg, 95% CI: −7.10 to −2.08, p < 0.001) and DBP (MD: −2.94 mmHg, 95% CI: −5.25 to −0.63, p = 0.01). Consumption of ≤300 mL pomegranate juice daily reduced SBP (MD: −6.11 mmHg, 95% CI: −9.22 to −3.00, p < 0.001). Counterintuitively, >300 mL/day of pomegranate juice showed no effect on SBP (MD: −3.28 mmHg, 95% CI: −6.85 to 0.27, p = 0.07) but a significant DBP reduction occurred (MD: −3.10 mmHg, 95% CI: −5.74 to −0.47, p = 0.02). Meta‐regression showed that the SBP‐lowering effect of pomegranate juice was associated with the dose of supplementation (p < 0.001). Pomegranate juice appeared to decrease SBP and DBP in a dose‐dependent manner, but the benefit was lost after 2 months of pomegranate juice intake.
Suspected adverse reactions to medications and food supplements containing Serenoa repens: A worldwide analysis of pharmacovigilance and phytovigilance spontaneous reports
Authors: Crescioli Giada , Maggini Valentina , Raschi Emanuel , Gonella Laura Augusta , Luxi Nicoletta , Ippoliti Ilaria , Di Giovanni Valentina , Bonaiuti Roberto , Firenzuoli Niccolò , Gallo Eugenia , Menniti‐Ippolito Francesca , Moretti Ugo , Trifirò Gianluca , Vannacci Alfredo , Firenzuoli Fabio , Lombardi Niccolò
Published: July 2023

The safety of Serenoa repens (SR)‐containing products was evaluated conducting a retrospective worldwide analysis of pharmaco‐ and phytovigilance report forms of suspected adverse reactions (SARs) collected up to 31 January 2022. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) of serious SAR. A total of 1810 report forms were analysed; 92% of subjects were males, with a median age of 69 years; 44% of cases were defined as serious. Subjects exposed to dietary supplements had a higher risk of developing serious SARs (OR: 1.60 [95% CI: 1.20–2.15]), as subjects exposed to 2–5 (OR: 1. 83 [95% CI: 1.30–2.58]) or more than 5 (OR: 3.45 [95% CI: 2.36–5.06]) suspect/interacting products. The probability of experiencing serious SAR was higher for subjects exposed to concomitant products (OR: 1.55 [95% CI: 1.15–2.08]), to more than four active compounds (OR: 4.38 [95% CI: 3.21–5.99]) and to SR for more than 14 days (OR: 1.89 [95% CI: 1.10–3, 22]), and lower for subjects exposed to higher doses of SR (OR: of 0.34 [95% CI: 0.20–0.58]). This evidence improves awareness on safety of SR containing products, suggesting the need of a further update of periodic reviews by national and international regulatory agencies.
Strategies and software support for the management of hardware performance counters
Authors: Carnà Stefano , Marotta Romolo , Pellegrini Alessandro , Quaglia Francesco
Published: July 2023

Hardware performance counters (HPCs) are facilities offered by most off‐the‐shelf CPU architectures. They are a vital support to post‐mortem performance profiling and are exploited by standard tools such as Linux or Intel V‐Tune. Nevertheless, an increasing number of application domains (e.g., simulation, task‐based high‐performance computing, or cybersecurity) are exploiting them to perform different activities, such as self‐tuning, autonomic optimization, and/or system inspection. This repurposing of HPCs can be difficult, for example, because of the overhead for extracting relevant information. This overhead might render any online or self‐tuning activity ineffective. This article discusses various practical strategies to exploit HPCs beyond post‐mortem profiling, suitable for different application contexts. The presented strategies are accompanied by a general primer on HPCs usage on Linux. We also provide reference x86 (both Intel and AMD) implementations targeting the Linux kernel, upon which we present an experimental assessment of the viability of our proposals.
Staged‐construction analysis of high‐rise buildings: A literature review and future perspectives
Authors: Elansary Ahmed , Mabrouk Abdullah , El‐Attar Adel
Published: July 2023

Staged‐construction analysis (SCA) has recently become a noticeable trend for estimating the design forces and deformations for high‐rise buildings (HRBs). SCA is a nonlinear step‐by‐step analysis that simulates the construction activities and conditions. It is a numerical simulation that considers loading history during construction, time‐dependent material behavior, environmental conditions, and any special measures taken by contractors to limit differential axial shortening during the construction process. However, building codes and guidelines do not provide adequate provisions that clearly identify how to approach this type of analysis. This paper presents a comprehensive state‐of‐the‐art review on how SCA was previously adopted in theoretical research and how it was applied in real buildings. It begins by critically reviewing different research work on SCA. Afterward, the paper puts forward the recent fundamentals of conducting SCA. Then, a series of studies about verifying SCA as practical analysis procedure using field measurements are then presented. In addition, the current paper reviews how SCA can specifically affect post‐tension slabs. Based on this review, several recommendations are provided to help in shaping the future code provisions, add to the development of recent practices, and inspire future research. The conducted review concludes that more investigations should be performed to better understand the effect of considering SCA on the deformations and design forces during HRB analysis.
Kinin receptors regulate skeletal muscle regeneration: differential effects for B1 and B2 receptors
Authors: Martins Leonardo , Amorim Weslley Wallace , Gregnani Marcos Fernandes , de Carvalho Araújo Ronaldo , Qadri Fatimunnisa , Bader Michael , Pesquero João Bosco
Published: July 2023

Objective and design

After traumatic skeletal muscle injury, muscle healing is often incomplete and produces extensive fibrosis. Bradykinin (BK) reduces fibrosis in renal and cardiac damage models through the B2 receptor. The B1 receptor expression is induced by damage, and blocking of the kallikrein-kinin system seems to affect the progression of muscular dystrophy. We hypothesized that both kinin B1 and B2 receptors could play a differential role after traumatic muscle injury, and the lack of the B1 receptor could produce more cellular and molecular substrates for myogenesis and fewer substrates for fibrosis, leading to better muscle healing.

Material and methods

To test this hypothesis, tibialis anterior muscles of kinin receptor knockout animals were subjected to traumatic injury. Myogenesis, angiogenesis, fibrosis, and muscle functioning were evaluated.

Results

Injured B1KO mice showed a faster healing progression of the injured area with a larger amount of central nucleated fiber post-injury when compared to control mice. In addition, they exhibited higher neovasculogenic capacity, maintaining optimal tissue perfusion for the post-injury phase; had higher amounts of myogenic markers with less inflammatory infiltrate and tissue destruction. This was followed by higher amounts of SMAD7 and lower amounts of p-SMAD2/3, which resulted in less fibrosis. In contrast, B2KO and B1B2KO mice showed more severe
tissue destruction and excessive fibrosis. B1KO animals had better results in post-injury functional tests compared to control animals.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that injured skeletal muscle tissues have a better repair capacity with less fibrosis in the presence of B2 receptor and absence of B1 receptor, including better performances in functional tests.
Novel insights into the nervous system affected by prolonged hyperglycemia
Authors: Zglejc-Waszak Kamila , Mukherjee Konark , Korytko Agnieszka , Lewczuk Bogdan , Pomianowski Andrzej , Wojtkiewicz Joanna , Banach Marta , Załęcki Michał , Nowicka Natalia , Jarosławska Julia , Kordas Bernard , Wąsowicz Krzysztof , Juranek Judyta K.
Published: July 2023

Multiple molecular pathways including the receptor for advanced glycation end-products-diaphanous related formin 1 (RAGE-Diaph1) signaling are known to play a role in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Evidence suggests that neuropathological alterations in type 1 diabetic spinal cord may occur at the same time as or following peripheral nerve abnormalities. We demonstrated that DPN was associated with perturbations of RAGE-Diaph1 signaling pathway in peripheral nerve accompanied by widespread spinal cord molecular changes. More than 500 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) belonging to multiple functional pathways were identified in diabetic spinal cord and of those the most enriched was RAGE-Diaph1 related PI3K-Akt pathway. Only seven of spinal cord DEGs overlapped with DEGs from type 1 diabetic sciatic nerve and only a single gene cathepsin E (CTSE) was common for both type 1 and type 2 diabetic mice. In silico analysis suggests that molecular changes in spinal cord may act synergistically with RAGE-Diaph1 signaling axis in the peripheral nerve.

Key messages

Molecular perturbations in spinal cord may be involved in the progression of diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy was associated with perturbations of RAGE-Diaph1 signaling pathway in peripheral nerve accompanied by widespread spinal cord molecular changes.

In silico analysis revealed that PI3K-Akt signaling axis related to RAGE-Diaph1 was the most enriched biological pathway in diabetic spinal cord.

Cathepsin E may be the target molecular hub for intervention against diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
Topology optimization of microstructures with perturbation analysis and penalty methods
Authors: Li Bin , Zhuang Xiaoying , Fu Xiaolong , Rabczuk Timon
Published: July 2023

Topology optimization at the continuum nano/microscale is of wide interest in designing and developing more efficient micro/nano electromechanical systems. This paper presents a new methodology for topology optimization of microstructures that is based on perturbation analysis and the penalty methods. The homogenized material coefficients are numerically computed based on perturbation analysis, and periodic boundary conditions are imposed by the penalty methods. The sensitivity analysis is implemented directly without the adjoint method. The extension of the proposed method to the design of components for multi-field analysis is straightforward. The capability and performance of the presented methodology are demonstrated through several numerical examples.
Diffusion-weighted imaging complements T2-weighted MRI for tumour response assessment in squamous anal carcinoma
Authors: Prezzi Davide , Muthuswamy Keerthini , Amlani Ashik , Owczarczyk Kasia , Elowaidy Ahmed , Mistry Tina , Bassett Paul , Goh Vicky
Published: July 2023

Objectives

A published tumour regression grade (TRG) score for squamous anal carcinoma treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy based on T2-weighted MRI yields a high proportion of indeterminate responses (TRG-3). We investigate whether the addition of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) improves tumour response assessment in the early post treatment period.

Materials and methods

This retrospective observational study included squamous anal carcinoma patients undergoing MRI before and within 3 months of completing chemoradiotherapy from 2009 to 2020. Four independent radiologists (1–20 years’ experience) scored MRI studies using a 5-point TRG system (1 = complete response; 5 = no response) based on T2-weighted sequences alone, and then after a 12-week washout period, using a 5-point DWI-TRG system based on T2-weighted and DWI. Scoring confidence was recorded on a 5-point scale (1 = low; 5 = high) for each reading and compared using the Wilcoxon test. Indeterminate scores (TRG-3) from each reading session were compared using the McNemar test. Interobserver agreement was assessed using kappa statistics.

Results

Eighty-five patients were included (mean age, 59 years ± 12 [SD]; 55 women). T2-weighted TRG-3 scores from all readers combined halved from 24% (82/340) to 12% (41/340) with DWI (p < 0.001). TRG-3 scores changed most frequently (41%, 34/82) to DWI-TRG-2 (excellent response). Complete tumour response was recorded clinically in 77/85 patients (91%). Scoring confidence increased using DWI (p < 0.001), with scores of 4 or 5 in 84% (287/340). Interobserver agreement remained fair to moderate (kappa range, 0.28–0.58).

Conclusion

DWI complements T2-weighted MRI by reducing the number of indeterminate tumour responses (TRG-3). DWI increases radiologist’s scoring confidence.

Clinical relevance statement

Diffusion-weighted imaging improves T2-weighted tumour response assessment in squamous anal cancer, halving the number of indeterminate responses in the early post treatment period, and increases radiologists’ confidence.

Key Points

Tumour response based on T2-weighted MRI is often indeterminate in squamous anal carcinoma.

Diffusion-weighted imaging alongside T2-weighted MRI halved indeterminate tumour regression grade scores assigned by four radiologists from 24 to 12%.

Scoring confidence of expert and non-expert radiologists increased with the inclusion of diffusion-weighted imaging.
‘The poetry of psychiatry’: existential analysis and the politics of psychopathology in Franco’s Spain
Authors: Novella Enric J.
Published: July 2023

This article examines the presence and influence of the work of Swiss psychiatrist Ludwig Binswanger and existential analysis (Daseinsanalyse) in Spanish psychiatry in the central decades of the 20th century. First, and drawing on various printed and archival sources, it reconstructs the important personal and professional ties that Binswanger maintained with numerous Spanish colleagues and describes the notable dissemination of his work in Spain through bibliographical reviews, scientific events, academic reports, university lectures and translations. Next, it reviews the incorporation of the postulates of existential analysis into the discourse of Spanish psychiatrists and assesses their most elaborate and original contributions to the foundations of ‘anthropological–existential’ psychiatry or the ‘existential–analytical’ interpretation of certain disorders or clinical conditions. And, finally, it tries to clarify the assessment according to which the (inevitable) instrumentalisation of existential analysis in the context of Franco’s Spain first compromised the critical recognition of its true possibilities (and limits) and later contributed to the discrediting of psychopathological research among Spanish psychiatrists.
Comparison of intranasal medication delivery devices before and after functional endoscopic sinus surgery using Phacon sinus surgery models
Authors: Constantinou Christoforos , Yap Darren , Pervaiz Arbaaz , Bandino Fabrizio , Jeyaretna Sanjeeva , Martinez-Devesa Pablo , Qureishi Ali
Published: July 2023

Objective

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery for chronic rhinosinusitis improves sinus drainage and intranasal medication delivery. This study compares medication delivery with commonly used devices in normal and altered anatomy (post functional endoscopic sinus surgery) using sinus surgery models (Phacon).

Methods

Medication delivery was simulated via nasal drops, nasal spray and an irrigation device (Neilmed Sinus Rinse). Coverage was then calculated from endoscopic pictures taken at various anatomical sites in the normal nose and post functional endoscopic sinus surgery.

Results

In the normal nose, nasal spray did not penetrate the sphenoid sinus, and drops bypassed the vestibule anteriorly. Neilmed Sinus Rinse provided superior coverage at the sphenoid site following sphenoidectomy and the frontal site following Draf III. After ethmoidectomy, nasal drops overall provided less coverage than the other methods.

Conclusion

Neilmed Sinus Rinse generally provided the best distribution, followed by the nasal spray and then nasal drops. The type and extent of surgery also affects medication delivery.
The dual-system approach is a useful heuristic but does not accurately describe behavior
Authors: Sherman Jeffrey W. , Klein Samuel A. W.
Published: July 2023

We argue that the dual-system approach and, particularly, the default-interventionist framework favored by De Neys unnecessarily constrains process models, limiting their range of application. In turn, the accommodations De Neys makes for these constraints raise questions of parsimony and falsifiability. We conclude that the extent to which processes possess features of system 1 versus system 2 must be tested empirically.
Sprint Cycling
Authors: Dale Julian , Muniz-Pumares Daniel , Cimadoro Giuseppe , Meijen Carla , Glaister Mark
Published: July 2023

Abstract: The time between races varies in the track cycling competition known as the Match Sprint but can be as little as 10–15 min. Both physiological and motivational factors could affect performance recovery. This study investigated how the between-sprint recovery activity, and an alteration in the duration of the second sprint, affected performance. Twenty-four strength-trained men (age: 26 ± 5 years; height: 180.3 ± 6.1 cm; body mass: 82.3 ± 6.9 kg) participated. During each of the four experimental trials, two sprints were performed 12 min apart. The first was always 18 s and the second was either 9 s or 18 s. Between sprints, passive rest or a mixture of active and passive recovery was undertaken. Peak power output (PPO), as well as mean power output over 9 s (MPO9) and 18 s (MPO18), was recorded. Lactate concentration, ratings of sprint preparation and performance, as well as perceptions of recovery, were also measured. Post-trial and post-study questionnaires explored factors that may have influenced performance. A sprint number × recovery method interaction, F(1, 23) = 28.791, p < .001, ηp2 = .556, was found for PPO, with a significantly lower PPO in sprint 2 following passive recovery. Sprint number × second sprint duration interactions were found for PPO, F(1, 23) = 9.867, p = .005, ηp2 = .300, and MPO9, F(1, 23) = 8.922, p = .007, ηp2 = .279. A significant time × condition interaction was also found for lactate concentration, F(6.082, 97.320) = 2.982, p = .010, ηp2 = .157, although post hoc tests were unable to identify the cause of any of these effects. Typically, the participants were satisfied with their sprint performances and expressed positive views about the recovery activity undertaken. The main finding was, therefore, that PPO was lower following passive recovery, but the effects on MPO were not apparent.
A First Examination of the Link Between Heart Rate Variability and Networks of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms
Authors: Verkuil Bart , Wekenborg Magdalena K.
Published: July 2023

Abstract: The neurovisceral integration model proposes that people low in heart rate variability (HRV) are in a state with strong connections between symptoms of anxiety and depression. So far studies providing support for this hypothesis have relied on classifications or sum scores of a diverse range of symptoms, ignoring observations that anxiety and depression symptoms dynamically influence each other. Here we used network analyses to study if HRV moderates characteristics (density, structure, centrality indices) of network models of generalized anxiety disorder and depression symptoms. We used data ( N = 495) from the Dresden Burnout Study where resting levels of HRV were obtained as well as self-reported symptoms of generalized anxiety and depression. Results showed that HRV did not moderate the density and structure of the overall symptom networks. Exploration of the centrality indices suggested that restlessness was a more central node for people low in HRV, a result that remains to be confirmed in larger samples. These findings demonstrate how a network perspective may aid in better understanding the complex relation between symptoms of psychopathology and physiological status.
Regional Impact of Snow‐Darkening on Snow Pack and the Atmosphere During a Severe Saharan Dust Deposition Event in Eurasia
Authors: Rohde Anika , Vogel Heike , Hoshyaripour Gholam Ali , Kottmeier Christoph , Vogel Bernhard
Published: July 2023

Light‐absorbing impurities such as mineral dust can play a major role in reducing the albedo of snow surfaces. Particularly in spring, deposited dust particles lead to increased snow melt and trigger further feedbacks at the land surface and in the atmosphere. Quantifying the extent of dust‐induced variations is difficult due to high variability in the spatial distribution of mineral dust and snow. We present an extension of a fully coupled atmospheric and land surface model system to address the impact of mineral dust on the snow albedo across Eurasia. We evaluated the short‐term effects of Saharan dust in a case study. To obtain robust results, we performed an ensemble simulation followed by statistical analysis. Mountainous regions showed a strong impact of dust deposition on snow depth. We found a mean significant reduction of −1.4 cm in the Caucasus Mountains after 1 week. However, areas with flat terrain near the snow line also showed strong effects despite lower dust concentrations. Here, the feedback to dust deposition was more pronounced as increase in surface temperature and air temperature. In the region surrounding the snow line, we found an average significant surface warming of 0.9 K after 1 week. This study shows that the impact of mineral dust deposition depends on several factors. Primarily, these are altitude, slope, snow depth, and snow cover fraction. Especially in complex terrain, it is therefore necessary to use fully coupled models to investigate the effects of mineral dust on snow pack and the atmosphere.
Topographic Drivers of Soil Moisture Across a Large Sensor Network in the Southern Appalachian Mountains (USA)
Authors: Stark Jordan R. , Fridley Jason D.
Published: July 2023

Understanding the distribution of soil moisture is notoriously difficult in topographically complex regions that are subject to both large‐scale climate gradients and fine‐scale effects of terrain, vegetation, and soil structure. Remote sensing approaches capture large‐scale moisture patterns but are limited in spatial and temporal resolution, while commercial field sensors remain too expensive to deploy intensively over large spatial extents. Here, we demonstrate the use of low‐cost (<20 USD) custom sensors to create a large monitoring network of surficial (0–15 cm depth) volumetric soil moisture content (VMC) across Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) (NC, TN, USA). In laboratory tests, temperature‐calibrated VMC values approached the accuracy of commercial probes. We deployed over 80 sensors across multiple watersheds, topographic positions, and a 1,800‐m elevation gradient, and created hierarchical models to understand associations of VMC with spatial (30‐m resolution) and temporal (daily) variables related to water supply and demand. Elevation had the strongest association with VMC, with a fivefold increase across the gradient reflecting 1.5‐fold changes in both (increased) precipitation and (decreased) evapotranspiration; slope angle was a strong mediating factor. Common proxies for moisture including topographic convergence index were not associated with VMC, likely due to limited contributions of surface drainage to local water balance. Our model predicted daily VMC of a set of validation sensors with a root mean square error of 4.8%, which may be improved by site‐specific field calibration. Our study indicates that spatially extensive, field‐based soil moisture networks are practical, accurate, and an important component of regional environmental monitoring.
An extraordinary fossil captures the struggle for existence during the Mesozoic
Authors: Han Gang , Mallon Jordan C. , Lussier Aaron J. , Wu Xiao-Chun , Mitchell Robert , Li Ling-Ji
Published: July 2023

Dinosaurs and mammals have coexisted for the last ~ 230 million years. Both groups arose during the Late Triassic and diversified throughout the Mesozoic and into the Cenozoic (the latter in the form of birds). Although they undoubtedly interacted in many ways, direct fossil evidence for their interaction is rare. Here we report a new fossil find from the Lujiatun Member of the Lower Cretaceous Yixian Formation of China, showing a gobiconodontid mammal and psittacosaurid dinosaur locked in mortal combat. We entertain various hypothesized explanations for this association, but the balance of the evidence suggests that it represents a predation attempt on the part of the smaller mammal, suddenly interrupted by, and preserved within, a lahar-type volcanic debris flow. Mesozoic mammals are usually depicted as having lived in the shadows of their larger dinosaurian contemporaries, but this new fossil convincingly demonstrates that mammals could pose a threat even to near fully-grown dinosaurs. The Yixian Formation—and the Chinese fossil Jehol Biota more broadly—have played a particularly important role in revealing the diversity of small-bodied dinosaurs and other fauna. We anticipate that the volcanically derived obrution deposits specific to the Lujiatun Member will likewise continue to yield evidence for biotic interactions otherwise unknown from the rest of the fossil record.
Factors influencing gender preference towards surgeons among Jordanian adults: an investigation of healthcare bias
Authors: AlSamhori Jehad Feras , Rayyan Rama , Hammouri Muhammad , Taha Hana , Al-Huneidy Leen , AlOweiwi Wahid , AlMohtasib Jamil , Mansour Shahd , Dardas Majid , Qiqieh Jamil , Halasa Zeina , Al-Huneidy Yazan , Al-Ani Abdallah
Published: July 2023

Studies investigating gender bias against female surgeons yielded conflicting results ranging from neutrality to a clear preference towards male surgeons. Yet, such bias remains understudied within Middle Eastern nations. We aimed to assess preferences of surgeons’ gender among Jordanians and explore reasons for possible gender bias across different surgical specialties. A total of 1708 respondents were examined using a cross-sectional, self-administered questionnaire to evaluate the gender preferences of surgeons, characteristics associated with preferred surgeon’s gender, and surgeon’s preference in certain specialties. Nearly 52.0% of participants had no gender preference for surgeons. Among those with a preference, 75.7% preferred male surgeons while 24.3% preferred female surgeons. Reputation, knowledge, and experience were the most important factors when choosing a surgeon. Male surgeons were viewed as more trustworthy, knowledgeable, experienced, and communicative. Female surgeons were dominantly perceived as more compassionate, cooperative, and prone to listen. Male respondents were 5 times more likely to choose a surgeon of similar gender (OR 5.687; CI 3.791–8.531). Male surgeons were favored for cardiovascular and orthopedic surgeries. Similarly, female surgeons were favored in gynecological and obstetric surgeries, plastic surgeries, and breast surgeries. Female gender (OR 6.193; CI 4.077–9.408), living outside Amman (OR 1.517; CI 1.066–2.160), and being married (OR 2.504; CI 1.601–3.917) were all significant positive predictors of preferring female surgeons. Our findings highlight differences in gender preference and perception of surgeons among Jordanian adults.
Identification of bromelain subfamily proteases encoded in the pineapple genome
Authors: Yow Ashley G. , Bostan Hamed , Young Roberto , Valacchi Giuseppe , Gillitt Nicholas , Perkins-Veazie Penelope , Xiang Qiu-Yun , Iorizzo Massimo
Published: July 2023

Papain (aka C1A) family proteases, including bromelain enzymes, are widespread across the plant kingdom and play critical regulatory functions in protein turnover during development. The proteolytic activity exhibited by papain family proteases has led to their increased usage for a wide range of cosmetic, therapeutic, and medicinal purposes. Bromelain enzymes, or bromelains in short, are members of the papain family that are specific to the bromeliad plant family. The only major commercial extraction source of bromelain is pineapple. The importance of C1A family and bromelain subfamily proteases in pineapple development and their increasing economic importance led several researchers to utilize available genomic resources to identify protease-encoding genes in the pineapple genome. To date, studies are lacking in screening bromelain genes for targeted use in applied science studies. In addition, the bromelain genes coding for the enzymes present in commercially available bromelain products have not been identified and their evolutionary origin has remained unclear. Here, using the newly developed MD2 v2 pineapple genome, we aimed to identify bromelain-encoding genes and elucidate their evolutionary origin. Orthologous and phylogenetic analyses of all papain-family proteases encoded in the pineapple genome revealed a single orthogroup (189) and phylogenetic clade (XIII) containing the bromelain subfamily. Duplication mode and synteny analyses provided insight into the origin and expansion of the bromelain subfamily in pineapple. Proteomic analysis identified four bromelain enzymes present in two commercially available bromelain products derived from pineapple stem, corresponding to products of four putative bromelain genes. Gene expression analysis using publicly available transcriptome data showed that 31 papain-family genes identified in this study were up-regulated in specific tissues, including stem, fruit, and floral tissues. Some of these genes had higher expression in earlier developmental stages of different tissues. Similar expression patterns were identified by RT-qPCR analysis with leaf, stem, and fruit. Our results provide a strong foundation for future applicable studies on bromelain, such as transgenic approaches to increase bromelain content in pineapple, development of bromelain-producing bioreactors, and studies that aim to determine the medicinal and/or therapeutic viability of individual bromelain enzymes.
Hypoglycemic effect of Nitraria tangutorum fruit by inhibiting glycosidase and regulating IRS1/PI3K/AKT signalling pathway and its active ingredient identification by UPLC-MS
Authors: Jiang Sirong , Wang Luya , Jia Wenjing , Wu Di , Wu Li , Zhao Xiaohui , Mei Lijuan , Tao Yanduo , Yue Huilan
Published: July 2023

The hypoglycemic effect of NTB-40 (40% ethanol fraction of Nitraria tangutorum fruit) in type I/II diabetic mice and its underlying mechanism and active ingredient structure were investigated.
Chitosan-coated halloysite nanotube magnetic microspheres for carcinogenic colorectal hemorrhage and liver laceration in albino rats
Authors: Majeed Sajid , Qaiser Muhammad , Shahwar Dure , Mahmood Khalid , Ahmed Nadeem , Hanif Muhammad , Abbas Ghulam , Shoaib Muhammad Harris , Ameer Nabeela , Khalid Muhammad
Published: July 2023

Sever blood lose in carcinogenic colorectal hemorrhage due to longitudinal ulcer, ultimately become fatal if left untreated.
Frame recovery using multiple images in rolling shutter based systems
Authors: Rêgo Miguel , Perez Joaquin , Fonseca Pedro , Alves Luís Nero
Published: July 2023

An algorithm for recovering transmitted static identifiers (IDs) in rolling shutter based Optical Camera Communication systems is proposed by the authors, considering a system comprised of a camera and a circular light source. The goal is to allow the correct decoding when the ID frame is only partially detected in the image. A baseline algorithm as reference for the frame recovery success rate (FRSR) and a reconstruction algorithm based on the idea of capturing multiple frame fragments and reassembling them is proposed in order to recover the transmitted ID not entirely seen on a single image. It was proven, by simulation, that the maximum distance at which the IDs recovery can be guaranteed is increased by 2.5 fold with the proposed algorithm, for 6‐bit, 8‐bit and 10‐bit codewords. An experimental validation algorithm was also proposed, using image processing techniques to extract the bitstreams and test the ID recovery process. The proposed algorithm improves the FRSR for a given distance, even in the presence of considerable bit errors in the bitstreams extracted from the images.
Reconfigurable high step‐up DC to DC converter for microgrid applications
Authors: Tewari Nilanjan , Paul Nilanjan , Jayaraman Meenakshi , Prabhakar Mahalingam
Published: July 2023

Here, a high gain DC–DC converter which is based on switched capacitor (SC) and switched LCL (SLCL) cells is presented. The diode employed in the classical passive switched inductor (SI) cell is replaced by a capacitor in the proposed SLCL cell to achieve higher voltage gain. Two switches—one each in the positive and negative DC rails of the supply are employed to charge and discharge the inductors of SLCL cells. A generic structure comprising of N and M number of SLCL cells in the positive and negative DC rails respectively along with K number of SC cells is presented. To validate the proposed gain extension concept, a two‐switch based converter comprising of 2 SLCL and 1 SC cells is synthesized and its operation is described in detail. The voltage gain expression of the proposed SLCL‐SC converter is derived. Experimental results are obtained from a 25 to 380 V prototype converter which operates at a full‐load efficiency of 94.22% at 200 W. Since the switches employed in the proposed converter are operated at a moderate and safe duty ratio of D = 0.51, the voltage stress on the switches is about 25% of the output voltage while the diodes are subjected to even lesser voltage stress levels of only one‐fifth of the output voltage. The main salient features of the proposed topology are its (i) modular structure, (ii) ability to provide higher voltage gain values at lower duty ratios (iii) reduced voltage stress on the semiconductor devices and (iv) reduced conduction losses due to the replacement of diodes with capacitors in SLCL cells.
Mitigating anomalous electricity consumption in smart cities using an AI‐based stacked‐generalization technique
Authors: Ali Arshid , Khan Laiq , Javaid Nadeem , Bouk Safdar Hussain , Aldegheishem Abdulaziz , Alrajeh Nabil
Published: July 2023

Energy management and efficient asset utilization play an important role in the economic development of a country. The electricity produced at the power station faces two types of losses from the generation point to the end user. These losses are technical losses (TL) and non‐technical losses (NTL). TLs occurs due to the use of inefficient equipment. While NTLs occur due to the anomalous consumption of electricity by the customers, which happens in many ways; energy theft being one of them. Energy theft majorly happens to cut down on the electricity bills. These losses in the smart grid (SG) are the main issue in maintaining grid stability and cause revenue loss to the utility. The automatic metering infrastructure (AMI) system has reduced grid instability but it has opened up new ways for NTLs in the form of different cyber‐physical theft attacks (CPTA). Machine learning (ML) techniques can be used to detect and minimize CPTA. However, they have certain limitations and cannot capture the energy consumption patterns (ECPs) of all the users, which decreases the performance of ML techniques in detecting malicious users. In this paper, we propose a novel ML‐based stacked generalization method for the cyber‐physical theft issue in the smart grid. The original data obtained from the grid is preprocessed to improve model training and processing. This includes NaN‐imputation, normalization, outliers' capping, support vector machine‐synthetic minority oversampling technique (SVM‐SMOTE) balancing, and principal component analysis (PCA) based data reduction techniques. The pre‐processed dataset is provided to the ML models light gradient boosting (LGB), extra trees (ET), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and random forest (RF), to accurately capture all consumers' overall ECP. The predictions from these base models are fed to a meta‐classifier multi‐layer perceptron (MLP). The MLP combines the learning capability of all the base models and gives an improved final prediction. The proposed structure is implemented and verified on the publicly available real‐time large dataset of the State Grid Corporation of China (SGCC). The proposed model outperformed the individual base classifiers and the existing research in terms of CPTA detection with false positive rate (FPR), false negative rate (FNR), F1‐score, and accuracy values of 0.72%, 2.05%, 97.6%, and 97.69%, respectively.
Bandgap tuning of Mn-doped BiFeO3 thin films for photovoltaic application
Authors: Saravanan Chokalingam , Bhargav P. Balaji , Venkateswaran N. , Ahmed Nafis , Aravinth K. , Balaji Chandra
Published: July 2023

The Mn doped BFO thin films were made on the glass substrates by simple spin coating method and its structural and optical properties were examined. The results obtained from X-ray diffraction pattern of Mn doped BFO confirmed the rhombohedral distorted perovskite structure with stress relaxation. The Bi–O and Fe–O bonds were detected in the perovskite structure, the shifting of all the stretching and bending vibrations of pristine BFO was observed from FTIR analysis. The XPS spectra of Mn-doped BFO thin film declared that the valence states of Bi, Fe and Mn from their respective binding energies. A narrow optical band gap energy of 1.65 eV was observed for Mn doped BFO as against the pristine BFO (2.17 eV) that indicated a reduction in the band gap energy between O 2p valence and Fe 3d conduction band upon Mn doping.