bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DESIGN AND EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF A TEST MACHINE TO DETERMINE BUCKLING IN THE RODS OF HYDRAULIC CYLINDER
Authors:   HIDROSERHydraulic Systems Ltd, Yurekli Soydan , Dalmis Ibrahim ,   Tekirdag Namik Kemal University
Published: April 2024

The issue of buckling is one of the subjects that should be especially emphasized in the design and dimensioning processes of engineering. In the past, this issue was not of much importance in construction and machine elements. Because the strength of the existing materials at that time was low and as a result, they were resistant to buckling due to the large cross-sectional areas of the structure and machine elements. However, in the course of time, the cross-sectional area of the building and machine elements also decreased. As a result of the reduction of the cross-sectional area, besides the advantage of getting rid of large and heavy elements, it also brought the disadvantage of buckling. In our seminar study the buckling caused by fixing the shaft at different stroke and pressure values was determined by 4 comparators and the buckling values on the shaft surface were examined.
Examining Beliefs, Behaviors, and Provider Counseling on Physical Activity During Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study in the Southern United States
Authors: Rebelle Christiana
Published: April 2024

Physical inactivity, obesity, and chronic disease rates are high among pregnant women in the Southern United States. This study aimed to understand the beliefs and behaviors of women in the South regarding physical activity (PA) during pregnancy and whether provider counseling was associated with these beliefs and behaviors. The study included 292 women from the South who completed an online survey, providing sociodemographic data and recalling their health beliefs and PA during pregnancy. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were used to describe and assess the relationships between variables. The study found that feeling tired and lacking motivation were common barriers to PA, while improved health was the main benefit. The participants felt most susceptible to anxiety and depression. Providers were the primary source of support for PA, but provider counseling was not significantly correlated with increased PA. Participants engaged mostly in light household and caregiving activities. Sociodemographic factors had a stronger association with beliefs and behaviors than provider counseling. The study suggests that provider counseling should be enhanced with established techniques such as motivational interviewing to support PA. Keywords: physical activity, pregnancy, south, provider counseling, health beliefs
Cartografías sociales en contextos de violencia(s): (des)dibujar fronteras y límites en los barrios populares de Guayaquil, Ecuador
Authors: Vallejo-Robalino Diana , Ríos-Rivera Ingrid , González Plaza Gabriela
Published: April 2024

The establishment and subsequent configuration of peripheral barrios in Latin America are phenomena intrinsic to the history of these nations. Despite the many years that have passed since the first informal settlements, we are far from being able to comprehend the complex realities of their inhabitants. Against this background and by producing two social cartographies, the purpose of this article is to examine the socio-spatial production of peripheral barrios in Guayaquil (Ecuador), particularly Bastión Popular and Nigeria. Drawing on the voices of the inhabitants, these cartographies captured shared experiences and trajectories, revealing the boundaries and bordering processes that (re)produce and condition their social practices in everyday neighborhood space. Social cartographies served as a flexible and suitable methodological tool for symbolizing abstract and concrete elements in the neighborhood territory, establishing connections between the meanings attributed to each neighborhood and the contextual features of the city. The originality of this research and article lies in its use of this methodological tool for understanding these realities in Guayaquil.
Resiliencia en adolescentes infractores con trayectorias en los sistemas chilenos de bienestar infantil y de justicia adolescente
Authors: Zambrano Viviana , Gemignani Marco , Fernández-Pacheco Gloria , Ergas Anwandter Lucia
Published: April 2024

This article delves into the processes of signification regarding resilience among adolescents who have traversed the Chilean child welfare and juvenile justice systems, as it plays a pivotal role in identifying factors conducive to adaptation and social integration. Drawing from qualitative research grounded in a phenomenological approach, the study analyzed six in-depth, semi-structured interviews with adolescents who have interacted with both systems. Findings underscore that personal resilience in adolescents is closely tied to their self-perception and learning experiences aimed at developing social skills and emotional regulation. Additionally, social and institutional resilience is marked by adolescents’ perceptions of enhancements in their quality of life and their ability to adapt socially. They emphasize the importance of establishing solid, trustworthy, and enduring relationships with counselors and educators, alongside highlighting the supportive role of intervention institutions in fostering personal, relational growth, and in shaping a proactive and adaptive life trajectory. These outcomes underscore the need to integrate resilience processes into the design of interventions targeting vulnerable children and adolescents caught in situations of legal transgression, advocating for their incorporation into public policies addressing childhood and adolescent vulnerability.
A Synergistic Workspace for Human Consciousness Revealed by Integrated Information Decomposition
Authors: Luppi Andrea I. , Mediano Pedro A.M. , Rosas Fernando E. , Allanson Judith , Pickard John D. , Carhart-Harris Robin L. , Williams Guy B. , Craig Michael M , Finoia Paola , Owen Adrian M. , Naci Lorina , Menon David K. , Bor Daniel , Stamatakis Emmanuel A.
Published: April 2024

A central goal of neuroscience is to understand how the brain orchestrates information from multiple input streams into a unified conscious experience. Here, we address two fundamental questions: how is the human information-processing architecture functionally organised, and how does its organisation support consciousness? We combine network science and a rigorous information-theoretic notion of synergy to delineate a “synergistic global workspace”, comprising gateway regions that gather synergistic information from specialised modules across the brain. This information is then integrated within the workspace and widely distributed via broadcaster regions. Through functional MRI analysis, we show that gateway regions of the synergistic workspace correspond to the brain’s default mode network, whereas broadcasters coincide with the executive control network. Demonstrating the empirical relevance of our proposed architecture for neural information processing, we show that loss of consciousness due to general anaesthesia or disorders of consciousness corresponds to a diminished ability of the synergistic workspace to integrate information, which is restored upon recovery. Thus, loss of consciousness coincides with a breakdown of information integration within the synergistic workspace of the human brain. This work contributes to conceptual and empirical reconciliation between two prominent scientific theories of consciousness, the Global Neuronal Workspace and Integrated Information Theory. Taken together, this work provides a new perspective on the role of prominent resting-state networks within the human information-processing architecture, while also advancing our understanding of how the human brain supports consciousness through the synergistic integration of information.
Spotless: a reproducible pipeline for benchmarking cell type deconvolution in spatial transcriptomics
Authors: Sang-aram Chananchida , Browaeys Robin , Seurinck Ruth , Saeys Yvan
Published: April 2024

Spatial transcriptomics (ST) is an emerging field that aims to profile the transcriptome of a cell while keeping its spatial context. Although the resolution of non-targeted ST technologies has been rapidly improving in recent years, most commercial methods do not yet operate at single-cell resolution. To tackle this issue, computational methods such as deconvolution can be used to infer cell type proportions in each spot by learning cell type-specific expression profiles from reference single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data. Here, we benchmarked the performance of 11 deconvolution methods using 63 silver standards, three gold standards, and two case studies on liver and melanoma tissues. The silver standards were generated using our novel simulation engine
synthspot
, where we used seven scRNA-seq datasets to create synthetic spots that followed one of nine different biological tissue patterns. The gold standards were generated using imaging-based ST technologies at single-cell resolution. We evaluated method performance based on the root-mean-squared error, area under the precision-recall curve, and Jensen-Shannon divergence. Our evaluation revealed that method performance significantly decreases in datasets with highly abundant or rare cell types. Moreover, we evaluated the stability of each method when using different reference datasets and found that having sufficient number of genes for each cell type is crucial for good performance. We conclude that while cell2location and RCTD are the top-performing methods, a simple off-the-shelf deconvolution method surprisingly outperforms almost half of the dedicated spatial deconvolution methods. Our freely available Nextflow pipeline allows users to generate synthetic data, run deconvolution methods and optionally benchmark them on their dataset (https://github.com/saeyslab/spotless-benchmark).
Identification of Novel Syncytiotrophoblast Membrane Extracellular Vesicles Derived Protein Biomarkers in Early-onset Preeclampsia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Awoyemi Toluwalase , Jiang Shuhan , Bjarkadóttir Bríet , Rahbar Maryam , Logenthiran Prasanna , Collett Gavin , Zhang Wei , Cribbs Adam , Cerdeira Ana Sofia , Vatish Manu
Published: April 2024

Preeclampsia (PE), a multi-systemic hypertensive pregnancy disease that affects 2-8% of pregnancies worldwide, is a leading cause of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Current clinical PE tests have a low positive predictive value for PE prediction and diagnosis. The placenta notably releases extracellular vesicles from the syncytiotrophoblast (STB-EV) into the maternal circulation.To identify a difference in placenta and STB-EV proteome between PE and normal pregnancy (NP), which could lead to identifying potential biomarkers and mechanistic insights.Using ex-vivo dual lobe perfusion, we performed mass spectrometry on placental tissue, medium/large and small STB-EVs isolated from PE (n = 6) and NP (n = 6) placentae. Bioinformatically, mass spectrometry was used to identify differentially carried proteins. Western blot was used to validate the identified biomarkers. We finished our investigation with an in-silico prediction of STB-EV mechanistic pathways.We identified a difference in the STB-EVs proteome between PE and NP. Filamin B, collagen 17A1, pappalysin-A2, and scavenger Receptor Class B Type 1) were discovered and verified to have different abundances in PE compared to NP. In silico mechanistic prediction revealed novel mechanistic processes (such as abnormal protein metabolism) that may contribute to the clinical and pathological manifestations of PE.We identified potentially mechanistic pathways and identified differentially carried proteins that may be important in the pathophysiology of PE and are worth investigating because they could be used in future studies of disease mechanisms and as biomarkers.This research was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC Programme Grant (MR/J0033601) and the Medical & Life Sciences translational fund (BRR00142 HE01.01)
Semaphorin7A patterns neural circuitry in the lateral line of the zebrafish
Authors: Dasgupta Agnik , Reagor Caleb C. , Paik Sang P. , Snow Lauren M. , Jacobo Adrian , Hudspeth A. J.
Published: April 2024

In a developing nervous system, axonal arbors often undergo complex rearrangements before neural circuits attain their final innervation topology. In the lateral line sensory system of the zebrafish, developing sensory axons reorganize their terminal arborization patterns to establish precise neural microcircuits around the mechanosensory hair cells. However, a quantitative understanding of the changes in the sensory arbor morphology and the regulators behind the microcircuit assembly remain enigmatic. Here, we report that Semaphorin7A (Sema7A) acts as an important mediator of these processes. Utilizing a semi-automated three-dimensional neurite tracing methodology and computational techniques, we have identified and quantitatively analyzed distinct topological features that shape the network in wild-type and Sema7A loss-of-function mutants. In contrast to those of wild-type animals, the sensory axons in Sema7A mutants display aberrant arborizations with disorganized network topology and diminished contacts to hair cells. Moreover, ectopic expression of a secreted form of Sema7A by non-hair cells induces chemotropic guidance of sensory axons. Our findings propose that Sema7A likely functions both as a juxtracrine and as a secreted cue to pattern neural circuitry during sensory organ development.
DBT is a metabolic switch for maintenance of proteostasis under proteasomal impairment
Authors: Hwang Ran-Der , Lu Yu-Ning , Tang Qing , Periz Goran , Park Giho , Li Xiangning , Liu Yang , Zhang Tao , Wang Jiou
Published: April 2024

Proteotoxic stress impairs cellular homeostasis and underlies the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The proteasomal and autophagic degradation of proteins are two major pathways for protein quality control in the cell. Here, we report a genome-wide CRISPR screen uncovering a major regulator of cytotoxicity resulting from the inhibition of the proteasome. Dihydrolipoamide branched chain transacylase E2 (DBT) was found to be a robust suppressor, the loss of which protects against proteasome inhibition-associated cell death through promoting clearance of ubiquitinated proteins. Loss of DBT altered the metabolic and energetic status of the cell and resulted in activation of autophagy in an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent mechanism in the presence of proteasomal inhibition. Loss of DBT protected against proteotoxicity induced by ALS-linked mutant TDP-43 in
Drosophila
and mammalian neurons. DBT is upregulated in the tissues from ALS patients. These results demonstrate that DBT is a master switch in the metabolic control of protein quality control with implications in neurodegenerative diseases.
Conditional Chemoconnectomics (cCCTomics): Conditional Targeting of Chemical Transmission Efficiently
Authors: Mao Renbo , Yu Jianjun , Deng Bowen , Dai Xihuimin , Du Yuyao , Du Sujie , Zhang Wenxia , Rao Yi
Published: April 2024

Dissection of neural circuitry underlying behaviors is a central theme in neurobiology. We have previously proposed the concept of chemoconnectome (CCT) to cover the entire chemical transmission between neurons and target cells in an organize and created tools for studying it (CCTomics) by targeting all genes related to the CCT in Drosophila. Here we have created lines targeting the CCT in conditional manners after modifying GFP RNA interference, Flp-out and CRISPR/Cas9 technologies. All three strategies are validated to be highly effective with the best using chromatin-peptide fused Cas9 variants and scaffold optimized sgRNAs. As a proof of principle, we conduct a comprehensive intersection analysis of CCT genes expression profiles in the clock neurons, uncovering 43 CCT genes present in clock neurons. Specific elimination of each from clock neurons revealed that loss of the neuropeptide CNMa in two posterior dorsal clock neurons (DN1ps) or its receptor (CNMaR) caused advanced morning activity, indicating a suppressive role of CNMa-CNMaR on morning anticipation, opposite to the promoting role of PDF-PDFR on morning anticipation. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of conditional CCTomics and its tools created by us here and establish an antagonistic relationship between CNMa-CNMaR and PDF-PDFR signaling in regulating morning anticipation.
mitoBKCa is functionally expressed in murine and human breast cancer cells and potentially contributes to metabolic reprogramming
Authors: Bischof Helmut , Maier Selina , Koprowski Piotr , Kulawiak Bogusz , Burgstaller Sandra , Jasińska Joanna , Serafimov Kristian , Zochowska Monika , Gross Dominic , Schroth Werner , Matt Lucas , Juarez Lopez David Arturo , Zhang Ying , Bonzheim Irina , Büttner Florian A. , Fend Falko , Schwab Matthias , Birkenfeld Andreas L. , Malli Roland , Lämmerhofer Michael , Bednarczyk Piotr , Szewczyk Adam , Lukowski Robert
Published: April 2024

Alterations in the function of K
+
channels such as the voltage- and Ca
2+
activated K
+
channel of large conductance (BK
Ca
) reportedly promote breast cancer (BC) development and progression. Underlying molecular mechanisms remain, however, elusive. Here, we provide electrophysiological evidence for a BK
Ca
splice variant localized to the inner mitochondrial membrane of murine and human BC cells (mitoBK
Ca
). Through a combination of genetic knockdown and knockout along with cell permeable BK
Ca
channel blocker, we show that mitoBK
Ca
modulates overall cellular and mitochondrial energy production and mediates the metabolic rewiring referred to as the “Warburg effect”, thereby promoting BC cell proliferation in the presence and absence of oxygen. Additionally, we detect mitoBK
Ca
and BK
Ca
transcripts in low or high abundance, respectively, in clinical BC specimens. Together, our results emphasize, that targeting mitoBK
Ca
could represent a treatment strategy for selected BC patients in future.
Drug-induced changes in connectivity to midbrain dopamine cells revealed by rabies monosynaptic tracing
Authors: Bartas Katrina , Hui May , Derdeyn Pieter , Tian Guilian , Vasquez Jose J. , Azouz Ghalia , Yamamoto Cindy M. , Beier Kevin T.
Published: April 2024

Drugs of abuse cause long-lasting changes in connectivity from inputs onto ventral tegmental area dopamine cells (VTA
DA
) that contribute to drug-induced behavioral adaptations. However, it is not known which inputs are altered. Here we used a rabies virus-based mapping strategy to quantify rabies-labeled inputs to VTA cells after a single exposure to one of a variety of abused drugs – cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, morphine, and nicotine – and compared the relative global input labeling across conditions. We observed that all tested drugs of abuse elicited similar input changes onto VTA
DA
cells, in particular onto DA cells projecting to the lateral shell of the nucleus accumbens and amygdala. In addition, repeated administration of ketamine/xylazine to induce anesthesia induces a change in inputs to VTA
DA
cells that is similar to but different from those elicited by a single exposure to drugs of abuse, suggesting that caution should be taken when using ketamine/xylazine-based anesthesia in rodents when assessing motivated behaviors. Furthermore, comparison of viral tracing data to an atlas of gene expression in the adult mouse brain showed that the basal expression patterns of several gene classes, especially calcium channels, were highly correlated with the extent of both addictive drug- or ketamine/xylazine-induced changes in rabies-labeled inputs to VTA
DA
cells. Reducing expression levels of the voltage-gated calcium channel
Cacna1e
in cells in the nucleus accumbens lateral shell reduced rabies-mediated input labeling of these cells into VTA
DA
cells. These results directly link genes controlling cellular excitability and the extent of input labeling by the rabies virus.
Identification of an early subset of cerebellar nuclei neurons in mice
Authors: Rahimi-Balaei Maryam , Amiri Shayan , Lamonerie Thomas , Wu Sih-Rong , Zoghbi Huda Y , Consalez G Giacomo , Goldowitz Daniel , Marzban Hassan
Published: April 2024

Cerebellar nuclei (CN) neurons serve as the primary output of the cerebellum and originate from the cerebellar primordium at early stages of cerebellar development. These neurons are diverse, integrating information from the cerebellar cortex and relaying it to various brain regions. Employing various methodologies, we have characterized a specific subset of CN neurons that do not originate from the rhombic lip or ventricular zone of the cerebellar primordium. Embryos were collected at early stages of development and processed for immunohistochemistry (IHC), western blotting, in situ hybridization (ISH), embryonic culture, DiI labeling, and flow cytometry analysis (FCM). Our findings indicate that a subset of CN neurons expressing α-synuclein (SNCA), OTX2, MEIS2, and p75NTR (NGFR) are located in the rostroventral region of the NTZ. While CN neurons derived from the rhombic lip are positioned in the caudodorsal area of the NTZ in the cerebellar primordium. Utilizing Otx2-GFP and Atoh1-/- mice, we have determined that these cells do not originate from the germinal zone of the cerebellar primordium. These results suggest the existence of a novel extrinsic germinal zone for the cerebellar primordium, possibly the mesencephalon, from which early CN neurons originate.
Identification of an early subset of cerebellar nuclei neurons in mice
Authors: Rahimi-Balaei Maryam , Amiri Shayan , Lamonerie Thomas , Wu Sih-Rong , Zoghbi Huda , Consalez G. Giacomo , Goldowitz Daniel , Marzban Hassan
Published: April 2024

Cerebellar nuclei (CN) neurons serve as the primary output of the cerebellum and originate from the cerebellar primordium at the early stages of cerebellar development. Employing various methodologies, we have characterized a specific subset of CN neurons that do not originate from the rhombic lip and the ventricular zone of the cerebellar primordium. Embryos were collected from timed pregnant mice at early stages of development and processed for immunohistochemistry (IHC), Western blotting,
in situ
hybridization (ISH), embryonic culture, DiI labeling, or flow cytometry analysis (FCM). Our findings indicate that a subset of CN neurons expressing α-synuclein (SNCA), OTX2, MEIS2, and p75NTR (NGFR) are located in the rostro-ventral (rv) region of the nuclear transitory zone (NTZ), while CN neurons derived from the rhombic lip are positioned in the caudo-dorsal (cd) area of the NTZ in the cerebellar primordium. Utilizing Otx2-GFP and Atoh1
-/-
mice, we have determined that these cells do not originate from the germinal zone of the cerebellar primordium. These results suggest the existence of a novel extrinsic germinal zone for the cerebellar primordium, possibly the mesencephalon, from which early CN neurons originate.The cerebellum contains a variety of distinct neuronal populations, each playing a significant role in its function within the brain. This research demonstrates that a particular subset of cerebellar nuclei neurons originates from a previously unrecognized germinal zone specific to the cerebellar primordium, independently of Atoh1’s influence.
The ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate rescues neurodevelopmental deficits in the GABAergic system of daf-18/PTEN Caenorhabditis elegans mutants
Authors: Giunti Sebastián , Blanco María Gabriela , De Rosa María José , Rayes Diego
Published: April 2024

A finely tuned balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I) is essential for proper brain function. Disruptions in the GABAergic system, which alter this equilibrium, are a common feature in various types of neurological disorders, including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs).Mutations in PTEN, the main negative regulator of the PI3K/Akt pathway, are strongly associated with ASD. However, it is unclear whether PTEN deficiencies can differentially affect inhibitory and excitatory signaling. Using the
C. elegans
neuromuscular system, where both excitatory (cholinergic) and inhibitory (GABAergic) inputs regulate muscle activity, we found that
daf-18
/
PTEN
mutations specifically impact GABAergic (but not cholinergic) neurodevelopment and function. This selective impact results in a deficiency in inhibitory signaling. The specific defects observed in the GABAergic system in
daf-18/PTEN
mutants are due to reduced activity of DAF-16/FOXO during development. Ketogenic diets (KGDs) have proven effective for disorders associated with E/I imbalances. However, the mechanisms underlying their action remain largely elusive. Importantly, we found that a diet enriched with the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate during early development induces DAF-16/FOXO, therefore improving GABAergic neurodevelopment and function in
daf-18/PTEN
mutants. Our study provides fundamental insights linking
PTEN
mutations and neurodevelopmental defects and delves into the mechanisms underlying KGDs’ positive effects on neuronal disorders characterized by E/I imbalances.*
daf-18/PTEN
deficiency in
C. elegans
results in a specific impairment of inhibitory GABAergic signaling, while the excitatory cholinergic signaling remains unaffected.*The dysfunction of GABAergic neurons in these mutants arises from the inactivity of the transcription factor DAF-16/FOXO during their development, resulting in conspicuous morphological and functional alterations.*A diet enriched with the ketone body β-hydroxybutyrate, which induces DAF-16/FOXO activity, mitigates the functional and morphological defects in the development of GABAergic neurons*β-hydroxybutyrate supplementation during the early stages of development is both necessary and sufficient to achieve these rescuing effects on GABAergic signaling in
daf-18/PTEN
mutants.
“Olen su sõbra sõber ja su vaenlase vaenlane” – Vene riigi ja Krimmi khaaniriigi diplomaatilised suhted Ivan Julma valitsemisajal
Authors:   Institute of Foreign Languages and Cultures, University of Tartu, Estonia, Kupp-Sazonov Sirje , Sazonov Vladimir ,   Estonian Military Academy,   Ancient Near Eastern Studies, University of Tartu, Estonia
Published: April 2024

The Russo-Turkish stand-off, which began under Ivan IV the Terrible, was largely motivated by the rising imperialism and ambitions of Muscovy, which the no less ambitious Ottoman sultans, who in turn were expanding their Ottoman Empire, wished to oppose in order to maintain and extend their influence also in the Black Sea, Caspian regions and the Caucasus, where Russian troops were slowly ‘infiltrating’ and to which Moscow’s foreign policy was also increasingly turning its attention. Tsar Ivan IV conquered and destroyed all the Tatar states (including Astrakhan, Kazan, the Siberian Khanate, the Nogai Horde), with the exception of Moscow, which was increasingly subjected to the Russian occupation. Although he eventually achieved military supremacy over Crimea, Ivan IV was unable to subdue Crimean Khanate. In order for Crimea to survive, the Crimean Khan had to accept in the 1580s that Crimea, already formally a vassal of the Ottomans since 1474/1475, would become even more dependent on the Ottoman Empire. This article examines Ivan the Terrible’s eastern policy ambitions, as well as Muscovy’s relations with the khanates, especially the Khan of Crimea, and the diplomatic correspondence between the rulers (the Khan of Crimea and Ivan IV). In addition to excerpts from the letters of the various khans and the Russian tsar’s replies, we present commented translation into Estonian of a letter of 1572 from the Crimean khan Devlet-Girei to Ivan the Terrible, about a year after his raid on Moscow and just after the Battle of Molodi in the summer of 1572. More recently, the history of Russo-Tatar-Turkish relations has shown that the existence of the Crimean Khanate in the 17th and 18th centuries depended to a large extent on the support of the Turkish Sultan, and that eventually, after a series of Russo-Turkish wars (often involving Crimea), the Russian Empire absorbed the Crimean Khanate. Admittedly, this took place 200 years after the death of Ivan IV, in 1783, when the Russian Empire was ruled by Catherine II. However, it was Ivan IV who laid the foundations for the conquest of the Tatar lands, and this was only the first episode in a series of Russian-Turkish wars and the Russian-Turkish confrontation, which in fact continues to some extent to this day.
Performance Analysis of Deep Learning-Based Detection/Classification for SAR Ground Targets with the Synthetic Dataset
Authors: Park Ji-Hoon
Published: April 2024

Based on the recently developed deep learning technology, many studies have been conducted on deep learning networks that simultaneously detect and classify targets of interest in synthetic aperture radar(SAR) images. Although numerous research results have been derived mainly with the open SAR ship datasets, there is a lack of work carried out on the deep learning network aimed at detecting and classifying SAR ground targets and trained with the synthetic dataset generated from electromagnetic scattering simulations. In this respect, this paper presents the deep learning network trained with the synthetic dataset and applies it to detecting and classifying real SAR ground targets. With experiment results, this paper also analyzes the network performance according to the composition ratio between the real measured data and the synthetic data involved in network training. Finally, the summary and limitations are discussed to give information on the future research direction.
A Study on Sensor Collection Planning based on Target Scheduling and Deviation Correction for Strategic UAV Surveillance and Reconnaissance
Authors: Cho Junghee , Choi Yunjeong , Lee Hayrim , Jeong Soyoung
Published: April 2024

The strategic UAV for theater level ISR(Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) mission typically has numerous ground targets over area of responsibility(AOR) or area of operation(AO). It is necessary to automatically incorporate these multitude of ground targets into mission planning process in order to collect ISR images before actual flight mission. In addition, weather information such as wind direction and/or velocity may have significant impacts on the qualities of collected sensor images, especially in SAR(Synthetic Aperture Radar) images. Thus weather factors in the operation altitude should also be considered in the mission planning stage. In this study, we propose a novel mission planning scheme based on target scheduling and deviation correction method incorporating weather factors.
Evaluation of The Dispersion Uniformity of Footprint of The Magnus Rotor Type Dispersive Submunition
Authors: Sakong Hyeongyu
Published: April 2024

Dispersion munitions are often equipped with dispersive submunitions used to scatter bombs over a wide area, and one of the types of dispersive submunitions is the Magnus rotor, commonly referred to as a self-rotating flying body. The Magnus rotor is designed to be dispered over a wide area by utilizing the principle of the Magnus effect through self-rotation, and has various trajectories depending on the initial conditions from the mother dispersion munition. In this paper, an index to evaluate the dispersion uniformity of footprint of the dispersive submunition is presented and the dispersion uniformity according to various initial release conditions is evaluated, and it is getting larger with high incidence angle and get max value at certain initial angular velocity.
Infrared Spectroscopy in the Identification of Microorganisms
Authors: Wenning Mareike , Scherer Siegfried , Naumann Dieter
Published: May 2008

The use of mid‐infrared (mid‐IR) spectroscopy in microbiology is presently the best developed and most frequent application of biomedical Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR) spectroscopy. The fingerprint‐like patterns generated by the absorption of IR light by cell components are highly specific and can be exploited to differentiate and classify microorganisms according to their phenotype. Identification of microbes at the species level by comparison of spectra to reference databases is certainly the most common and important application. The high potential of the technique for identification purposes is evident and has been demonstrated many times. Beside this, the high specificity of IR spectroscopy allows subtyping of microbes below the species level with respect to serovar, genotype, or resistance to certain antibiotics or bacteriocins as well. New avenues of microbiological applications can be expected from FT‐IR microspectroscopy, the combination of microscopy and FT‐IR spectroscopy, whether it will be for the analysis of mixed populations or to speed up the identification process. Improved spectroscopic technology with higher spatial resolution and sensitive detectors made it possible to record high‐quality spectra from very small amounts of samples that can be obtained after only a few hours of incubation.
Head and Neck Cancer: A Clinical Overview, and Observations from Synchrotron‐sourced Mid‐infrared Spectroscopy Investigations
Authors: Fisher Sheila E. , Harris Andrew T. , Chalmers John M. , Tobin Mark J.
Published: May 2008

Cancer represents one of the key challenges to healthcare. Improvements in diagnostic technology could have a profound impact on the experiences of patients. This chapter places vibrational spectroscopy in a clinical context, outlining the biological factors, terminology, and therapeutic strategies that are core to cancer management. We use head and neck cancer as a model because of its global nature and the fact that it forms a good model for generic cancer themes, having a full range of pathology from premalignant mucosal lesions through to highly aggressive cancers.

The chapter divides into two sections, the first part giving a clinical overview and the second looking at the ways we have used the potential offered by vibrational spectroscopy to investigate areas of clinical need.
Preparation and characterization of magnetite/hydroxyapatite/chitosan nanocomposite by in situ compositing method
Authors: Cui Wei , Hu Qiaoling , Wu Jia , Li Baoqiang , Shen Jiacong
Published: May 2008

Chitosan is an important kind of biomaterial that is widely used in medical applications. One of the key concerns about its use is the preparation of composites used for bone engineering. Aim of this study concerns the preparation of three‐dimensional nanocomposites having potential use in bone repair and regeneration. The magnetite/hydroxyapatite/chitosan nanocomposites were prepared via in situ compositing method by preparing precursor solutions and molds with chitosan membrane. These nanocomposites were characterized by chemical, spectroscopic, magnetic, and morphological methods. X‐ray diffraction analysis results demonstrate the formation of magnetite and hydroxyapatite in the chitosan matrix. FTIR analysis indicates that inorganic nanoparticles were chemically bound to the amino and hydroxyl groups in CS molecules. From TG/DTA data, it can be concluded that during preparation raw materials were almost perfectly incorporated into the nanocomposites, and the decrease in decomposition temperatures indicates the formation of chemical bonds between inorganic nanoparticles and chitosan molecules. TEM results show that the maximum size of inorganic particles in the magnetite/hydroxyapatite/chitosan nanocomposites was under 50 nm, and these particles were dispersed homogeneously in the chitosan matrix. From the magnetic measurement, it could be concluded that the nanocomposites were superparamagnetic, which is also the peculiarity of nanomagnetites. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
New melamine–formaldehyde–ketone polymers. V. Coatings from melamine and MEK‐based reactive solvents
Authors: Głowacz‐Czerwonka Dorota , Kucharski Mieczysław
Published: May 2008

Preparation and curing conditions of melamine–formaldehyde–butanone coatings are described. The coatings were prepared from melamine solutions in reactive solvents. The latter were obtained from ethyl‐methyl ketone and formaldehyde reacted at different molar rations. Most of the coating had good appearance and good resistance against boiling water. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008
Direct Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Cysteine and Cystine Based on Nafion/Lead Oxide‐Manganese Oxide Combined Catalyst
Authors: Sudhakara Prasad Kariate , Muthuraman Govindan , Zen Jyh‐Myng
Published: May 2008

This article reports direct electrocatalytic oxidation of cysteine (CySH) and cystine (CyS‐SCy) at an inexpensive Nafion/lead oxide‐manganese oxide combined catalyst in physiological pH. The synthesized lead oxide‐manganese oxide material is simply mixed with Nafion in the form of cast solution and modified on a disposable screen‐printed carbon electrode (designated as SPE/Nf‐PMO) for biosensing application. Electrochemical study with a standard redox couple of quinone/hydroquinone demonstrates an enhanced current response at the combined catalyst compared to its individual component. Surface characterization further provides information regarding the structural morphology of the catalyst to its catalytic performance. Direct electrocatalytic oxidation signals are observed at +0.75 and +1.20 V vs. Ag/AgCl for cysteine and cystine, respectively, at the SPE/Nf‐PMO. To extend the applicability, we further apply the proposed system for the detection of cysteine and cystine by flow injection analysis (FIA). Under optimized conditions, the detection limit (S/N=3) is 0.43 μM and 0.33 μM for cysteine and cystine, respectively.
Self‐Assembly of Platinum Nanoparticle/Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Multilayer Film on Au Substrate Electrode
Authors: Shi Jin , Hu Yu‐Qi , Hua Yi‐Xin
Published: May 2008

A novel approach to assemble multilayer films of Pt nanoparticle/multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWNTs) composites on Au substrate has been developed for the purpose of improving the methanol oxidation efficiency by providing high catalytic surface area. MWNTs were firstly functionalized with 4‐mercaptobenzene and then assembled on an Au substrate electrode. Pt nanoparticles were fabricated and attached to the surface of the functionalized MWNTs subsequently. Thus a layer of Pt/MWNT composites were assembled on the Au substrate electrode. Repeating above process can assemble different layers of film of Pt/MWNTs composites on the Au electrode. Cyclic voltammetry shows that the Au electrode modified with two layers of film of Pt/MWNT composites exhibits high catalytic ability and long‐term stability for methanol oxidation. The layer‐by‐layer self‐assembly technique provides an efficient strategy to construct complex nanostructure for improving the methanol oxidation efficiency by providing high catalytic surface area.
Mechanism of T cell tolerance induction by murine hepatic Kupffer cells
Authors: You Qiang , Cheng Linling , Kedl Ross M. , Ju Cynthia
Published: May 2008

The liver is known to favor the induction of immunological tolerance rather than immunity. Although Kupffer cells (KC) have been indicated to play a role in liver tolerance to allografts and soluble antigens, the mechanisms involved remain unclear. We hypothesized that KCs could promote immune tolerance by acting as incompetent antigen-presenting cells (APC), as well as actively suppressing T cell activation induced by other potent APCs. The expression of antigen presentation-related molecules by KCs was phenotyped by flow cytometry. The abilities of KCs to act as APCs and to suppress T cell activation induced by splenic dendritic cells (DC) were examined by

in vitro

proliferation assays using CD4+ OVA-TCR (ovalbumin T cell receptor) transgenic T cells. We found that, compared with DCs, KCs expressed significantly lower levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II, B7-1, B7-2, and CD40. This result is consistent with our observation that KCs were not as potent as DCs in eliciting OVA-specific T cell proliferation. However, KCs isolated from polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid–treated mice expressed significantly higher levels of MHC II and costimulatory molecules than did naïve KCs and could stimulate stronger T cell responses. More importantly, we found that KCs could inhibit DC-induced OVA-specific T cell activation. Further investigation of the underlying mechanism revealed that prostaglandins produced by KCs played an important role. The results ruled out the possible involvement of interleukin-10, nitric oxide, 2,3-dioxygenase, and transforming growth factor β in KC-mediated T cell suppression.

Conclusion:

Our data indicate that KCs are a tolerogenic APC population within the liver. These findings suggest that KCs may play a critical role in regulating immune reactions within the liver and contributing to liver-mediated systemic immune tolerance. (Hepatology 2008.)
Effective transduction by self‐complementary adeno‐associated viruses of human dendritic cells with no alteration of their natural characteristics
Authors: Shin Ohkyu , Kim Sung Jin , Lee Won Il , Kim Jee Yeon , Lee Heuiran
Published: May 2008

Background

Effective gene delivery techniques are required to genetically manipulate dendritic cells (DCs). We therefore investigated the feasibility of using various self‐complementary recombinant adeno‐associated virus (scAAV) serotypes to deliver genes to human DCs.

Methods

Monocytes isolated from healthy volunteers were differentiated to immature DCs (iDC) by incubation with interleukin (IL)‐4 and granulocyte macrophage colony‐stimulating factor. The iDCs were transduced with scAAV1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 8 at various multiplicities of infection (MOIs). Transduction efficiency (TE), cell viability and functional characteristics of the transduced DCs were evaluated.

Results

TE of scAAV was three‐fold greater than TE of conventional recombinant adeno‐associated virus with a single‐stranded genome. The TEs of scAAV2, 5, and 6 were much higher than those of the other scAAVs; at 1000 MOI, the TEs were 22.2% ± 9.5%, 27.0% ± 8.8% and 28.4% ± 6.0%, respectively. Exposure of iDCs to 5000 MOI of these viruses increased their TEs, leading to the transduction of nearly the entire DC population. In addition, gene transfer by scAAV did not cause any cytotoxicity. Flow cytometric analysis of scAAV‐transduced DCs showed no changes in surface marker profiles. Moreover, transduced cells maintained their functional properties, as represented by active antigen uptake. These cells could efficiently differentiate into mature DCs, as shown by their release of IL‐12, the substantial loss of antigen‐uptake activity, and the ability of T‐cell stimulation.

Conclusions

These findings strongly indicate that scAAVs, especially subtypes 2, 5 and 6, hold a promising potential as gene delivery tools in human DCs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Recent developments in adeno‐associated virus vector technology
Authors: Büning Hildegard , Perabo Luca , Coutelle Oliver , Quadt‐Humme Sibille , Hallek Michael
Published: May 2008

Adeno‐associated virus (AAV), a single‐stranded DNA parvovirus, is emerging as one of the leading gene therapy vectors owing to its nonpathogenicity and low immunogenicity, stability and the potential to integrate site‐specifically without known side‐effects. A portfolio of recombinant AAV vector types has been developed with the aim of optimizing efficiency, specificity and thereby also the safety of in vitro and in vivo gene transfer. More and more information is now becoming available about the mechanism of AAV/host cell interaction improving the efficacy of recombinant AAV vector (rAAV) mediated gene delivery. This review summarizes the current knowledge of the infectious biology of AAV, provides an overview of the latest developments in the field of AAV vector technology and discusses remaining challenges. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
On the development of efficient FDTD‐PML formulations for general dispersive media
Authors: Prokopidis Konstantinos P.
Published: May 2008

A novel implementation of the perfectly matched layer (PML) absorbing boundary condition (ABC) to terminate the finite‐difference time‐domain (FDTD) algorithm for general dispersive and negative index materials is presented. The proposed formulation also adopts the complex frequency‐shifted (CFS) approach, involves simple FDTD expressions and avoids complex arithmetic. Several FDTD‐PML simulations with different parameters are conducted for the termination of various dispersive media validating the stability, accuracy and effectiveness of the schemes and indicating the advantage of the CFS‐PML. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Flammability reduction of flexible polyurethane foams via carbon nanofiber network formation
Authors: Zammarano Mauro , Krämer Roland H. , Harris Richard , Ohlemiller Thomas J. , Shields John R. , Rahatekar Sameer S. , Lacerda Silvia , Gilman Jeffrey W.
Published: May 2008

Untreated polyurethane flexible foams (PUFs) are prone to rapid fire growth due to their low density and low thermal conductivity. Furthermore, the low viscosity of the decomposition products generates severe dripping that increases the fire hazard related to the combustion of PUFs. In fact, this downward flow of flaming liquid often results in a pool‐fire that promotes flame propagation and boosts the rate of heat release (HRR) due to a significant increase in the burning area and to feed‐back between the flame on the pool‐fire and the residual foam. In this work the effect of nanoparticles, i.e., clays and carbon nanofibers (CNFs), on the HRR is investigated with special attention given to melt dripping. A modified cone calorimeter test has been developed for this purpose. It is shown that CNFs form an entangled fiber network which eliminates melt dripping and decreases the HRR. Published in 2008 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Use of human androgen receptor gene analysis to aid the diagnosis of JMML in female noonan syndrome patients
Authors: Lavin Viviana A. , Hamid Rizwan , Patterson Johnequia , Alford Catherine , Ho Richard , Yang Elizabeth
Published: May 2008

Noonan syndrome (NS) patients are at increased risk for developing juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), an aggressive clonal disorder of aberrant cell proliferation. Many NS patients exhibit spontaneously remitting monocytosis and transient myeloproliferation. The distinction between bone marrow hyperproliferation due to germline mutation and leukemia resulting from clonal transformation can be difficult in NS patients. The GM‐CSF hypersensitivity assay, diagnostic of sporadic JMML, can be positive in NS patients at baseline. In this report, we demonstrate the utility of determining the clonal status of the monocyte population by the HUMARA assay in distinguishing JMML and benign myeloproliferation in female NS patients. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:298–302. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Lumbar spinal fluid collections in children treated with intrathecal chemotherapy: Elevated CSF protein as a diagnostic clue
Authors: Almanjomi Fahd , Armstrong Derek , Abla Oussama , Naqvi Ahmed , Weitzman Sheila , Hitzler Johann
Published: May 2008

Subdural fluid collections can interfere with the effective intrathecal administration of chemotherapy by lumbar puncture (LP). We detected this complication in six children who were treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and presented with an elevated protein concentration of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) during routine LP. Contrary to expectation the lumbar fluid collections persisted in two cases and in one case required the insertion of an Ommaya reservoir to continue intrathecal chemotherapy. Awareness and detection of this complication by imaging is important because of its potential to interfere with effective CNS‐directed chemotherapy of ALL. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2008;51:295–298. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.