bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Feature Engineering‐Based NILM Framework for Appliance Recognition Considering Data Class Imbalance
Authors: Li Yanzhen , Wang Haixin , Yang Zihao , Garcia Marquez Fausto Pedro , Chen Zhe , Yang Junyou , Li Yunlu
Published: July 2024

Due to the diversity and randomness of residential consumption behavior, as well as the different share of domestic electricity demand by appliances, class imbalance problems exist in the non‐intrusive load monitoring (NILM) system. The recognition model becomes biased toward the majority class, which makes the recognition of the minority class difficult. To tackle this challenge, we propose a novel NILM framework for appliance recognition to overcome the insufficient learning problems of the minority class, which combines a multi‐domain feature extraction module, a two‐stage feature selection, and a data oversampling method. Multiple features are extracted to make full of the complementarity of combined features to enhance appliance recognition. Furthermore, a two‐stage feature selection based on minimal‐redundancy‐maximal‐relevance (mRMR) and random forest (RF) is developed to select an optimal feature set. Subsequently, an oversampling method combining K‐medoids and the synthetic minority oversampling technique (KM‐SMOTE) with sampling weights is proposed for data augmentation of the minority class to handle imbalance learning problems. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the experiments on the public dataset PLAID. The results show that, compared with the state‐of‐the‐art techniques, the overall recognition accuracy and F1‐score with the proposed method are enhanced by 4.61% and 2.04%, respectively. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Tetrahydrocurcumin Attenuates Polymyxin B Sulfate‐Induced HK‐2 Cells Apoptosis by Inhibiting Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress‐Mediated PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP Signaling Pathway Axis
Authors: Chen Junjie , Fan Weibin , Fan Jing , Xie Jiao , Wang Yan , Wang Yinhui , Lin Nengming , Lin Bin
Published: July 2024

The clinical application of polymyxin B (PMB) is limited by its nephrotoxic effects, making the reduction of PMB‐induced nephrotoxicity has become a pressing concern for clinicians. Tetrahydrocurcumin (THC), known for its beneficial characteristics in biological functions, presents an attractive option for intervention therapy to mitigate PMB‐induced nephrotoxicity. However, the underlying mechanism of how THC mitigates PMB‐induced nephrotoxicity is still poorly understood. Here, we first evaluated the potential of THC intervention therapy to mitigate PMB‐induced nephrotoxicity in an in vitro model of PMB‐induced cell injury. Moreover, we demonstrated that THC effectively protected HK‐2 cells from PMB‐induced apoptosis by using cell counting kit‐8 and flow cytometry assay. THC could also suppress PMB‐induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress via PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP pathway. In addition, using PERK inhibitor GSK2606414 to inhibit ER stress also alleviated PMB‐induced apoptosis. Taken together, these findings provide novel insights that THC possesses the ability to alleviate PMB‐induced nephrotoxicity by inhibiting the ER stress‐mediated PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP axis, which sheds light on the benefits of THC as an intervention strategy to reduce PMB‐induced nephrotoxicity, thus providing a potential avenue for improved clinical outcomes in patients receiving PMB treatment.
Enabling Technology of Future Warfare: Turkey’s Approach to Defense AI
Authors: Kurç Çağlar
Published: July 2024

Defense artificial intelligence (AI) development in Turkey focuses primarily on improving the capabilities of autonomous systems, sensors, and decision support systems because Turkey believes autonomous systems are the future of modern warfare. Hence, autonomous systems, mainly uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), have remained a priority in Turkish AI development since 2011 and have expanded to include all types of uncrewed vehicles. Increasing autonomous systems’ capability in intelligence gathering and fighting, as well as enabling swarm operations, are prioritized in developing defense AI. While Turkey enhances the capabilities of autonomous systems, humans will continue to be critical for decision-making in the foreseeable future. However, the fast pace of developing and deploying autonomous systems exacerbates the dilemma of human-machine interaction. Turkey believes that AI enhancements to decision-making systems would help humans make quicker decisions and ease human-machine interactions. Thus, Turkey specifically focuses on AI-related technologies like machine learning, computer vision, and natural language processing with an application focus on autonomous vehicles and robotics. The intertwined development of AI and related technologies form the core of Turkey’s AI ecosystem. Turkey’s AI ecosystem is nascent but growing. Turkey aims to create synergies between its defense and civilian industries, academic institutions, and government through various ecosystem initiatives. Turkey seeks to increase its R&D spending on AI to increase employment and grow the ecosystem. Training and managing a skilled workforce are essential to building the indigenous AI development capacity that Turkey is looking for.
High Hopes Amid Hard Realities: Defense AI in Russia
Authors: Zysk Katarzyna
Published: July 2024

Notwithstanding the challenges on the battlefield in Ukraine, as well as economic and political struggles at the home front, Russia continues the pursuit of selected defense application of AI technologies. Traditionally, Russia has viewed advanced technology as crucial for achieving military effectiveness and strategic advantage. Seen from Moscow, gaining or losing ground in the ongoing contest for cutting-edge military technology and more effective weapon systems will have far-reaching consequences for warfare and for national security, and, consequently, also for Russia’s position in the international hierarchy of power. Indeed, Vladimir Putin has been personally invested in pushing the AI development forward, driven by several other key factors. These include the expectation that AI can help Russia to narrow the military capability gap with the West faster, as well as the concern that adversaries may exploit new vulnerabilities that defense AI is creating. Moreover, lessons Russia has learned in Ukraine to date appear to carry an unequivocal message: AI-enabled weapons systems and infrastructure provide a clear battlefield advantage. This chapter begins with an examination of the Russian understanding of AI and Moscow’s incentives for engaging in what is seen as a global technology race. Subsequently, it analyses the evolving Russian approach to defense AI as articulated in key strategic documents shaping Russia’s AI strategy and policy. Next, it delves into Russia’s methods for developing defense AI. With its traditional state-driven, top-down innovation model, Russia is an outlier among global AI contenders. Yet to incorporate advances achieved in the Russian civilian sector, the model has been modified, partly emulating the US and Chinese approaches to defense innovation. This chapter further explores Russia’s priorities for fielding and operating selected defense AI systems. Finally, it addresses long-standing systemic problems and practical constraints that hinder the defense innovation in Russia. Despite these impediments, Russia is expected to continue prioritizing AI development in selected defense applications.
Embracing the Organized Mess: Defense AI in Israel
Authors: Dolinko Inbar , Antebi Liran
Published: July 2024

Israel’s approach to defense AI is the result of an “organized mess,” triggered by Israel’s informal culture, the country’s tendency to let market forces push technology forward, a demanding security environment, and the need to be able to respond to new threats in a quick and flexible manner. Despite some challenges and shortcomings, such as an increasingly aggressive race for global AI dominance and limited resources, the country is still among the most advanced in the field of defense AI, relaying on the Israeli ecosystem’s distinctive advantage, born out of structural and organizational aspects. Mandatory and reserve services at the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) nurture and facilitate a unique exchange of personnel and knowledge. Moreover, IDF units indirectly support the AI ecosystem by supplying skilled personnel to academia and industry. Currently, there is no single Israeli body responsible for overseeing the field of defense AI. Nonetheless the Ministry of Defense (IMOD) and Israel Innovation Authority are shaping it by launching several key initiatives aimed at improving the necessary infrastructure and enabling further advancement in defense AI. Although Israel’s defense AI investment is challenging to quantify due to the lack of transparency regarding its defense budget, the significance of investing in AI has been recognized. Israel implements AI unmanned military systems in land, at sea, and in the air, air defense, cyber warfare, and logistics. Its prowess in AI for intelligence is evident in its diverse range of applications, which have contributed significantly to its military successes in recent operations, for example, against Hamas in Gaza. Overall, the growing role of AI has led to the need for additional training to all military personnel, especially commanding officers.
Caught Between Today and Tomorrow: Defence AI in Estonia
Authors: Jermalavičius Tomas
Published: July 2024

Estonia recognises AI as an increasingly important suite of technologies that will transform the defence sector and that the country must remain part of this technology’s wave, as its defence forces will have to remain interoperable with the allies embracing AI-enabled capabilities. Concurrently, it faces a major challenge of addressing significant capability gaps within the compressed timeframes to address the existential threat posed by Russia. Combined with resource constraints and scepticism within the military about emerging technologies, rapid capability build-up is pushing investments into defence AI development down the list of priorities. However, war in Ukraine is supplying insights into what effects the use of AI can have in a battlespace and pique interest in how small states could employ this technology to offset imbalances vis-à-vis a numerically superior enemy force. Some in-house development projects aimed at digitalising “kill webs”, enabling better information sharing and enhancing common battlespace awareness are also emerging as important vehicles for introducing AI. The Estonian security and defence industry, dominated by agile start-ups and small enterprises, is emerging as a significant driver of defence AI development and important source of concepts of AI applications in defence. Procurement of state-of-the-art weapon systems and equipment is also bringing the Estonian military into close contact with advanced technologies that include elements of AI, further necessitating increasing knowledge and competence in AI technology. Estonia will have to strengthen its military training and education system and find ways to leverage conscription and reserve training more effectively to enhance AI competence.
Scope Validity in Medicine: An Asset to the Epidemiologist’s Armoury
Authors: Wolters Frank J.
Published: July 2024

Transportability of findings across research domains is challenging, with a substantial share of biomedical research not translating well to clinical medicine. This lack of transportability may improve by focus on ‘scope validity’: the extent to which an experimental target matches the intended application. Positioned amidst construct validity and external validity, more awareness and better articulation of the scope of preclinical investigations could support epistemic reasoning as well as knowledge utilisation in biomedical research. Scope validity necessitates a clear notion among researchers about their position within the broader field of study, a task that in an era of superspecialisation is as daunting as it is imperative.
Pragmatism, Pluralism, Vigilance and Tools for Reflection: A Reply to Quill Kukla
Authors: De Vreese Leen
Published: July 2024

In ‘Healthism, Elite Capture, and the Pitfalls of an Expansive Concept of Health,’ Quill Kukla (Chap. 21, this volume) warns for the possible harms caused by a conception of health that is too open-textured and all-encompassing. The take-away message of Kukla’s contribution is that, when we embrace a pragmatist, pluralist approach to the conception of health, we should be extra vigilant for the possible misuses of the term. What I defend here is that we need more than just a pluralistic, pragmatic view on the conception of health in combination with a vigilant attitude. What we need is a pragmatic approach to our (philosophical) analyses of health. While the former approach in the end still focusses on establishing some kind of standards (and/or who is going to set the standards) for deciding on the ‘right’ conception of health (be it monist or pluralist), the latter focuses rather on developing tools for reflection that can help in bringing an ongoing vigilance to life while respecting the actual pluralism and dynamics in our use of the concept.
Cultivate Your Own Garden—Some Reflections on Martin Kusch’s Overview of Relativism in Medical History
Authors: Ehni Hans-Joerg
Published: July 2024

In the preface to the first edition of the Critique of Pure Reason Immanuel Kant compares sceptics to nomads, who despise the cultivation of soil and therefore dissolve the civic communities of their opponents from time to time (Kant 1929). This process of construction and destruction continues afterwards. Although scepticism and relativism are two different philosophical positions, relativists may show enough similarities with sceptics to count them among Kantian nomads. Historiographical relativists despise the claim that a settlement was always built on the same foundation. This raises a couple of questions: Who are these people? What are their reasons? What is more basically their general motivation? And how convincing are both—their reasons and their motivations?
Is There an Epistemic Role for History in Medicine? Thinking About Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Binney Nicholas
Published: July 2024

Starting in the late twentieth century there was considerable overdiagnosis of thyroid cancer, especially papillary thyroid carcinoma. Intriguingly, thyroid cancer researchers have suggested that knowledge of the history of thyroid cancer would have helped prevent this problem. Their intuition is that history has an epistemic role to play in justifying contemporary medical knowledge. This conflicts with an opposing intuition that history is irrelevant to the justification of contemporary knowledge. This chapter provides a Fleckian analysis of the history of thyroid cancer. It describes the development of a fluctuating network of active and passive elements of knowledge, out of which knowledge of cancer, malignancy, and papillary carcinoma emerge. What these objects are is shown to depend on this history. Whether physicians see the various forms of thyroid cancer as homogeneous kinds or as composite objects is shown to depend on this history. Therefore, the observations made of these objects also depend on this history. Justification of knowledge claims is a function of observations made of these objects, and the observations made of these objects is a function of their history. Therefore, justification of knowledge is a function of this history, which gives history an epistemic role to play in medical practice.
Gauged permutation invariant matrix quantum mechanics: partition functions
Authors: O’Connor Denjoe , Ramgoolam Sanjaye
Published: July 2024

Abstract

The Hilbert spaces of matrix quantum mechanical systems with N × N matrix degrees of freedom X have been analysed recently in terms of SN symmetric group elements U acting as X → UXUT. Solvable models have been constructed uncovering partition algebras as hidden symmetries of these systems. The solvable models include an 11-dimensional space of matrix harmonic oscillators, the simplest of which is the standard matrix harmonic oscillator with U(N) symmetry. The permutation symmetry is realised as gauge symmetry in a path integral formulation in a companion paper. With the simplest matrix oscillator Hamiltonian subject to gauge permutation symmetry, we use the known result for the micro-canonical partition function to derive the canonical partition function. It is expressed as a sum over partitions of N of products of factors which depend on elementary number-theoretic properties of the partitions, notably the least common multiples and greatest common divisors of pairs of parts appearing in the partition. This formula is recovered using the Molien-Weyl formula, which we review for convenience. The Molien-Weyl formula is then used to generalise the formula for the canonical partition function to the 11-parameter permutation invariant matrix harmonic oscillator.
Particle-soliton degeneracies from spontaneously broken non-invertible symmetry
Authors: Córdova Clay , García-Sepúlveda Diego , Holfester Nicholas
Published: July 2024

Abstract

We study non-invertible topological symmetry operators in massive quantum field theories in (1+1) dimensions. In phases where this symmetry is spontaneously broken we show that the particle spectrum often has degeneracies dictated by the non-invertible symmetry and we deduce a procedure to determine the allowed multiplets. These degeneracies are robust predictions and do not require integrability or other special features of renormalization group flows. We exhibit these conclusions in examples where the spectrum is known, recovering soliton and particle degeneracies. For instance, the Tricritical Ising model deformed by the subleading ℤ2 odd operator flows to a gapped phase with two degenerate vacua. This flow enjoys a Fibonacci fusion category symmetry which implies a threefold degeneracy of its particle states, relating the mass of solitons interpolating between vacua and particles supported in a single vacuum.
Fibre morphological characteristics, chemical composition and fuel properties of paulownia COTEVISA-2 wood
Authors: Kulak Patrycja , Komorowicz Magdalena , Lachowicz Hubert
Published: July 2024

The aim of this study was to determine the elemental composition and the fibre morphological characteristics, chemical and fuel properties of wood from paulownia COTEVISA-2 clone growing on a plantation near Granada, Spain. The research was carried out on five boards representing five 5-year-old trees, taken from a height of approximately 2–3 m. Morphologically, COTEVISA-2 wood has fibres with mean length 0.923 mm, diameter 0.029 mm, lumen width 0.026 mm, and cell wall thickness 0.0015 mm. The slenderness ratio ranged between 19.27 and 64.31, the Runkel ratio between 0.060 and 0.4259, the rigidity index between 2.83 and 19.94, Mühsteph’s index between 0.1099 and 0.5082, and the flexibility coefficient between 0.701 and 0.943. Significant differences between trees were found for the values of morphological characteristics of fibres and the derived indices, apart from the solids index. Mean values of chemical properties obtained from two parallel determinations for each sample showed that the wood contains on average 48.15% cellulose, 27.48% lignin, 7.38% pentosans and substances soluble in cold water (2.38%), hot water (3.87%), ethanol (5.51%) and 1% NaOH (19.64%). The elemental composition of paulownia COTEVISA-2 wood is as follows: C – 49.06%, H – 6.19%, N – 0.43%, S – 0.021%, Cl – 0.05%. The wood contained 0.4% ash. The heat of combustion of paulownia COTEVISA-2 wood is 18.58 MJ/kg, and the calorific value is 17.18 MJ/kg. The results suggest that paulownia COTEVISA-2 is a promising wood for energy and paper production.
Efficiency and safety of single anastomosis sleeve ileal (SASI) bypass in the treatment of obesity and associated comorbidities: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Oliveira Carolina Rodrigues , Santos-Sousa Hugo , Costa Maria Pinho , Amorim-Cruz Filipe , Bouça-Machado Raquel , Nogueiro Jorge , Resende Fernando , Costa-Pinho André , Preto John , Lima-da-Costa Eduardo , Carneiro Silvestre , Sousa-Pinto Bernardo
Published: July 2024

Introduction

The Single Anastomosis Sleeve Ileal (SASI) bypass is a new bariatric surgery corresponding to an adaptation of the Santoro approach, consisting of a sleeve gastrectomy (SG) followed by loop gastroileostomy. Therefore, we aimed to systematically assess all the current literature on SASI bypass in terms of safety, weight loss, improvement in associated comorbidities, and complications.

Methods

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta- Analyses (PRISMA) recommendations, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis by searching three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science). We performed a meta-analysis of risk ratios and mean differences to compare surgical approaches for excessive weight loss, improvement/remission in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), hypertension (HT), dyslipidemia (DL), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and complications. Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic.

Results

Eighteen studies were included in the qualitative analysis and four in the quantitative analysis, comparing SASI bypass with SG and One-Anastomosis Gastric Bypass (OAGB). A comparison between Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass (RYGB) and SASI bypass could not be performed. Compared to SG, the SASI bypass was associated with improved weight loss (MD = 11.32; 95% confidence interval (95%CI) [7.89;14.76]; p < 0.0001), and improvement or remission in T2DM (RR = 1.35; 95%CI [1.07;1.69]; p = 0.011), DL (RR = 1.41; 95%CI [1.00;1.99]; p = 0.048) and OSA (RR = 1.50; 95%CI [1.01;2.22]; p = 0.042). No statistically significant differences in any of the assessed outcomes were observed when compared with OAGB. When compared to both SG and OAGB, the complication rate of SASI was similar.

Conclusion

Although studies with longer follow-up periods are needed, this systematic review and meta-analysis showed that SASI bypass has a significant effect on weight loss and metabolic variables. Variations in outcomes between studies reinforce the need for standardization.
On a Traveling Salesman Problem for Points in the Unit Cube
Authors: Balogh József , Clemen Felix Christian , Dumitrescu Adrian
Published: July 2024

Let X be an n-element point set in the k-dimensional unit cube $$[0,1]^k$$

[
0
,
1
]

k

where $$k \ge 2$$

k
≥
2

. According to an old result of Bollobás and Meir (Oper Res Lett 11:19–21, 1992) , there exists a cycle (tour) $$x_1, x_2, \ldots , x_n$$

x
1

,

x
2

,
…
,

x
n

through the n points, such that $$\left( \sum _{i=1}^n |x_i - x_{i+1}|^k \right) ^{1/k} \le c_k$$

∑

i
=
1

n

|

x
i

-

x

i
+
1

|

k

1
/
k

≤

c
k

, where $$|x-y|$$

|
x
-
y
|

is the Euclidean distance between x and y, and $$c_k$$

c
k

is an absolute constant that depends only on k, where $$x_{n+1} \equiv x_1$$

x

n
+
1

≡

x
1

. From the other direction, for every $$k \ge 2$$

k
≥
2

and $$n \ge 2$$

n
≥
2

, there exist n points in $$[0,1]^k$$

[
0
,
1
]

k

, such that their shortest tour satisfies $$\left( \sum _{i=1}^n |x_i - x_{i+1}|^k \right) ^{1/k} = 2^{1/k} \cdot \sqrt{k}$$

∑

i
=
1

n

|

x
i

-

x

i
+
1

|

k

1
/
k

=

2

1
/
k

·

k

. For the plane, the best constant is $$c_2=2$$

c
2

=
2

and this is the only exact value known. Bollobás and Meir showed that one can take $$c_k = 9 \left( \frac{2}{3} \right) ^{1/k} \cdot \sqrt{k}$$

c
k

=
9

2
3

1
/
k

·

k

for every $$k \ge 3$$

k
≥
3

and conjectured that the best constant is $$c_k = 2^{1/k} \cdot \sqrt{k}$$

c
k

=

2

1
/
k

·

k

, for every $$k \ge 2$$

k
≥
2

. Here we significantly improve the upper bound and show that one can take $$c_k = 3 \sqrt{5} \left( \frac{2}{3} \right) ^{1/k} \cdot \sqrt{k}$$

c
k

=
3

5

2
3

1
/
k

·

k

or $$c_k = 2.91 \sqrt{k} \ (1+o_k(1))$$

c
k

=
2.91

k

(
1
+

o
k

(
1
)

)

. Our bounds are constructive. We also show that $$c_3 \ge 2^{7/6}$$

c
3

≥

2

7
/
6

, which disproves the conjecture for $$k=3$$

k
=
3

. Connections to matching problems, power assignment problems, related problems, including algorithms, are discussed in this context. A slightly revised version of the Bollobás–Meir conjecture is proposed.
BLNN:a muscular and tall architecture for emotion prediction in music
Authors: Du Xiaofeng
Published: July 2024

In order to perform emotion prediction in music quickly and accurately, we have proposed a muscular and tall neural network architecture for music emotion classification. Specifically, during the audio pre-processing stage, we converge mel-scale frequency cepstral coefficients features and residual phase features with weighting, enabling the extraction of more comprehensive music emotion characteristics. Additionally, to enhance the accuracy of predicting musical emotion while reducing computational complexity during training phase, we consolidate Long short term memory network with Broad learning system network. We employ long short term memory structure as the feature mapping node of broad learning system structure, leveraging the advantages of both network models. This novel Neural Network architecture, called BLNN (Broad-Long Neural Network), achieves higher prediction accuracy. i.e., 66.78%, than single network models and other benchmark with/without consolidation methods. Moreover, it achieves lower time complexity than other excellent models, i.e., 169.32 s of training time and 507.69 ms of inference time, and achieves the optimal balance between efficiency and performance. In short, the extensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed BLNN architecture effectively predicts music emotion, surpassing other models in terms of accuracy while reducing computational demands. In addition, the detailed description of the related work, along with an analysis of its advantages and disadvantages, and its future prospects, can serve as a valuable reference for future researchers.
Validated methane adsorption isotherms up to 7.5 MPa on a reference Na-Y zeolite at near ambient temperatures
Authors: Rea Riccardo , Tavitian Anton , Broom Darren P. , Gee Matthew D. , Benham Michael J. , Brandani Stefano , Mangano Enzo
Published: July 2024

Reference gas adsorption isotherms are useful for validating equilibrium data obtained from various techniques and for ensuring that experimental systems are operating correctly. In this work, we extend an interlaboratory study on a NIST reference zeolite (Na-Y, RM8850) to two additional temperatures above and below the original 298.15 K, validating the results via independent measurements using two different techniques. Volumetric experiments on a novel Adsorption Differential Volumetric Apparatus (ADVA-270) were carried out at The University of Edinburgh, and gravimetric experiments were performed at Hiden Isochema using a proprietary XEMIS microbalance. Both techniques provided highly accurate results and an excellent match between the two independent measurements using less than 150 mg of sample. Absolute equilibrium data were modelled using a Langmuir-virial isotherm to obtain an accurate concentration dependence of the heat of adsorption.
Non-syndromic OTX2-associated pattern dystrophy: a 10-year multimodal imaging study
Authors: Ramakrishnan Prathiba , Kenworthy Matthew K. , Alexis Jonathan A. , Thompson Jennifer A. , Lamey Tina M. , Chen Fred K.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

To report novel multimodal imaging features and long-term follow-up of Orthodenticle Homeobox 2 (OTX2)-associated pattern Gdystrophy.

Methods

A 14-year-old boy referred with glaucoma suspect and macular pigmentation underwent fundus autofluorescence imaging, optical coherence tomography, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, visual field test, microperimetry and electrophysiology over a ten-year period. Next-generation sequencing panel identified a de novo heterozygous likely pathogenic OTX2 variant, c.259G>A, [p.(Glu87Lys)].

Results

Visual acuity was 20/40 OD and 20/30 OS. Examination showed bilateral enlarged optic nerve heads and increased disc cupping, multiple cilioretinal arteries, a pigmentary maculopathy with stellate-shaped region of hypoautofluorescence, shallow serous macular detachment, subretinal deposits and temporal avascular retina. Angiography showed no source of leakage and absence of retinal neovascularisation despite extensive peripheral non perfusion. Electrophysiological assessments demonstrated mild progressive rod and cone pathway abnormalities, reduced light-adapted b:a ratio, and reduced Arden ratio on electro-oculogram. Ten-year follow-up confirmed a stable disease course despite persistent submacular fluid. There was no associated pituitary structural abnormality or dysfunction.

Conclusions

This case study contributes to further understanding of OTX2-associated pattern dystrophy, highlighting its stability over 10 years. Further investigation into inter-individual and intrafamilial variability is warranted.
Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus Rafinesque) population trends and demographics in the Upper Mississippi River System
Authors: Maxson Kristopher A. , Solomon Levi E. , Bookout Taylor A. , DeLain Steven A. , Bartels Andrew D. , Bowler Melvin C. , Gittinger Eric J. , Ratcliff Eric N. , West John L. , Love Seth A. , DeBoer Jason A. , Whitten-Harris Andrya L. , Spear Michael J. , Ickes Brian S. , Casper Andrew F. , Lamer James T.
Published: July 2024

Smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus Rafinesque) are a large-bodied fish highly valued and commercially exploited across most of their range. Despite this, relatively little is known of their population demographics compared to other exploited species. To fill these knowledge gaps, we analyzed two independent long-term datasets (30 and 57 years, respectively) and population demographic data (age structure, growth, mortality, age at maturity, and recruitment) from multiple pools of the Upper Mississippi River System (UMRS) and Illinois River (Illinois, USA). Long-term data (30-year dataset) generally show downward trends or significant declines in catch per unit effort in the UMRS, while the 57-year dataset shows a stable trend or a significant increase in the Illinois River. The oldest smallmouth buffalo were estimated to be 39 years old, with nearly every pool sampled having individuals estimated to exceed 30 years of age. Except for Pool 13 of the UMRS, 90% of smallmouth buffalo were estimated to mature between 411 and 470 mm in length or between 8.7 and 11.2 years old. Recruitment was variable: strong year classes were generally preceded by multiple years of weak year classes. Our results indicate that the smallmouth buffalo population may be stable in portions of the UMRS and Illinois River systems, but significant declines in the northern extent of the UMRS may warrant conservation concern. Recent research into ages of buffalofishes shows that consideration should be given to the idea that the UMRS population could be age truncated. Results also emphasize the importance of long-term data and the ability to show changes in exploited populations over time.
Microwave-assisted acid treatment for the mineral transformation of chrysotile as an alternative for asbestos waste management
Authors: Essih Salima , Pardo Laura , Cecilia Juan Antonio , dos Santos-Gómez Lucía , Colodrero Rosario M. P. , Pozo Manuel , Calero Gustavo , Franco Francisco
Published: July 2024

In this work, the effect of microwave-assisted acid treatments on the morphological and crystallochemical characteristics of chrysotile fibers is investigated. A low concentration of nitric acid (0.2 N) is used to remove Mg2+-species located in the octahedral sheet of its structure, thereby causing a crystallo-chemical change forming a skeleton of non-crystalline amorphous silica. This skeleton maintains an elongated morphology but characterized by rounded -not sharp-edges and porous surfaces whose physical resistance under stress is reduced when compared with the initial fibers of chrysotile, favoring a lower pathogenicity of the fibers. Thus, microwave-assisted acid treatment rise as a low-cost, fast and effective option in avoiding the dangerousness associated with asbestos waste management.
Exponential correction to Friedmann equations
Authors: Ökcü Özgür , Aydiner Ekrem
Published: July 2024

In this paper, employing the exponential corrected entropy (Chatterjee and Ghosh in Phys Rev Lett 125:041302, 2020), we derive the modified Friedmann equations from the first law of thermodynamics at apparent horizon and Verlinde’s entropic gravity scenario. First, we derive the modified Friedmann equations from the first law of thermodynamics. We investigate the validity of generalised second law (GSL) of thermodynamics and find that it is always satisfied for the all eras of universe. Moreover, we investigate the deceleration parameter for the case $$k=0$$

k
=
0

in two frameworks. Finally, we numerically study the bouncing behaviour for the modified Friedmann equations obtained from entropic gravity. The results indicate that the bouncing behaviour is possible for the cases $$k=1$$

k
=
1

and $$k=-1$$

k
=
-
1

.
The DNA double-strand break repair proteins γH2AX, RAD51, BRCA1, RPA70, KU80, and XRCC4 exhibit follicle-specific expression differences in the postnatal mouse ovaries from early to older ages
Authors: Talibova Gunel , Bilmez Yesim , Tire Betul , Ozturk Saffet
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Ovarian aging is closely related to a decrease in follicular reserve and oocyte quality. The precise molecular mechanisms underlying these reductions have yet to be fully elucidated. Herein, we examine spatiotemporal distribution of key proteins responsible for DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair in ovaries from early to older ages. Functional studies have shown that the γH2AX, RAD51, BRCA1, and RPA70 proteins play indispensable roles in HR-based repair pathway, while the KU80 and XRCC4 proteins are essential for successfully operating cNHEJ pathway.

Methods

Female Balb/C mice were divided into five groups as follows: Prepuberty (3 weeks old; n = 6), puberty (7 weeks old; n = 7), postpuberty (18 weeks old; n = 7), early aged (52 weeks old; n = 7), and late aged (60 weeks old; n = 7). The expression of DSB repair proteins, cellular senescence (β-GAL) and apoptosis (cCASP3) markers was evaluated in the ovaries using immunohistochemistry.

Result

β-GAL and cCASP3 levels progressively increased from prepuberty to aged groups (P < 0.05). Notably, γH2AX levels varied in preantral and antral follicles among the groups (P < 0.05). In aged groups, RAD51, BRCA1, KU80, and XRCC4 levels increased (P < 0.05), while RPA70 levels decreased (P < 0.05) compared to the other groups.

Conclusions

The observed alterations were primarily attributed to altered expression in oocytes and granulosa cells of the follicles and other ovarian cells. As a result, the findings indicate that these DSB repair proteins may play a role in the repair processes and even other related cellular events in ovarian cells from early to older ages.
The Role of Mothering in Portuguese Women’s Decision-Making within Abusive Relationships
Authors: Ferreira Joana
Published: July 2024

Purpose

This article reports on the findings from a larger study focusing on women’s experiences of abuse and subsequent criminal justice interventions. While mothering was not initially the central concern of this research, it soon became clear that it played a key role in informing women’s decision-making within abusive relationships which could not be overlooked. As such, I explore the role of mothering and children in women’s decision-making and responses to the abuse.

Method

This research was underpinned by feminist principles. It involved semi-structured interviews conducted with twenty-nine Portuguese women, between September and December 2017. Data was analyzed thematically.

Results

Findings from this research show that mothering identities surpass victim status. In explaining their decision-making, women more commonly draw on their mothering identities, their behavior being guided by their perceived responsibilities to protect and care for their children. Due to social constructions of motherhood and mothering, in the Portuguese context and beyond, women struggle with the coexistence of both mothering identities and victim status, with the first inevitably erasing the second.

Conclusion

A better understanding of the complex ways in which women act to care for and protect their children within abusive relationships is needed. Contrary to the often perpetuated belief that abused women are incapable of caring for their children, this research highlights how their own victimization and risk is made secondary in their attempts to ensure their children’s safety and wellbeing. The implications of these findings for policy and practice are considered.
Diamonds in the Langlands program: a comprehensive review
Authors: Dobson Shanna
Published: July 2024

A comprehensive review of diamonds, in the sense of Scholze, is presented. The diamond formulations of the Fargues-Fontaine curve and $$Bun_G$$

B
u

n
G

are reviewed. Principal results centered on the diamond formalism in the global Langlands correspondence and the geometrization of the local Langlands correspondence are given. We conclude with a discussion of future geometrizations.
Advisors for micro-entrepreneurs: is one as good as another in accessing alternative finance?
Authors: Soana Maria Gaia , Cucinelli Doriana , Ronchini Beatrice
Published: July 2024

Using a novel large database of Italian micro-entrepreneurs, we investigate how different sources of external business advice affect access to alternative finance. We distinguish three categories of external business advice: professional financial, professional non-financial, and non-professional. We also test whether financial knowledge of micro-entrepreneurs enhances their advice seeking for financial decision-making. We find that the use of alternative financial instruments increases when external business advisors are used, but some are more useful than others. Only professional financial advice is shown to increase the probability of accessing alternative finance by micro-enterprises, while non-professional and professional non-financial advice does not have the same effect. We also find that being more financially literate increases the probability that micro-entrepreneurs seek advice from highly professional sources, i.e., objective financial knowledge helps shape the quality of financial advice requested.
The metaphysics and epistemology of conscious perception
Authors: Brewer Bill
Published: July 2024

Some metaphysical disjunctivists about conscious perceptual experience argue that their position has attractive, anti-sceptical, epistemological consequences. Perceiving a particular round red ball is a matter of being in a conscious condition, which serves as the ground for judgement that that thing is round and red, that is inconsistent with the falsity of that judgement. For it consists in a relation of acquaintance with that very thing and its shape and colour. Hence the ground for judgement suffices for its truth in a way that contributes to understanding the status of the judgement as knowledgeable. Here I explore an analogous way in which it might be argued that the metaphysics of conscious perception may have epistemological benefits. This concerns, not the fact that such experience consists in the relational presentation of particular worldly objects and their perceptible properties, but the fact that it consists in their presentation from a particular point of view. This is what enables perception of those particular worldly things, rather than any others, and makes sense of their continued existence unperceived. For this point of view may evidently change, independently of the existence and nature of what is presented on any specific occasion, leaving those very things as they are, although now unperceived.
Epistemic Injustice and Ideal Social Media: Enhancing X for Inclusive Global Engagement
Authors: Chavanayarn Siraprapa
Published: July 2024

This article examines the phenomenon of epistemic injustice within the global social media landscape, using Southeast Asia as a case study. It explores how X (formerly known as Twitter) holds the potential to cultivate a digital public sphere that embodies justice and equitable dialogue, compared with major platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. Beginning with an introduction to epistemic injustice, the article contextualizes its significance in Southeast Asia, highlighting the region’s digital challenges and opportunities. It then proposes characteristics necessary for ideal social media platforms, drawing on Habermas’s public sphere and Rawls’s justice principles to advocate for spaces that promote inclusive and rational discourse. The core analysis centers on X, suggesting that its features could make it a superior choice for fostering a just digital environment globally. The article recommends specific improvements for X to evolve into an ideal social platform, addressing challenges such as cyberbullying, echo chambers, and misinformation. The conclusion emphasizes the importance of prioritizing epistemic justice in social media platforms to achieve a more inclusive and fairer digital public sphere, with Southeast Asia serving as a representative example of a less-than-ideal environment where such platforms could thrive.
Robotic-Assisted and Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgeries Still Have Clinically Comparable Outcomes
Authors: Cashman Clay L. , Shah Swapnil V. , Hall Alexander G. , Walters Ryan W. , Nandipati Kalyana C.
Published: July 2024

Purpose

Bariatric surgery is considered the main treatment option for patients with severe obesity. The objective of our study is to compare intra- and postoperative outcomes between the robotic and laparoscopic approaches within the sleeve gastrectomy (SG), duodenal switch (DS), and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB).

Materials and Methods

The data from the MBSAQIP were collected for patients who underwent SG, DS, and RYGB between 2015 and 2021. The postoperative and procedural outcomes including 30-day morbidity and mortality as well as operation length were analyzed using regression models.

Results

Our analysis included 1,178,886 surgeries with SG comprising the majority (70%) followed by RYGB (28%) and DS (1%). Other than a higher adjusted risk of unplanned reoperation for robotic RYGB (relative risk (RR) 1.07) and a statistically significant higher rate of postoperative wound disruption in robotic SG for robotic surgery (RR 1.56), there were no statistically significant between-approach differences including infection, wound disruption, death, or reoperation for DS, RYGB, or SG. Our data showed no significant difference in anastomotic leak rate between laparoscopic and robotic approaches in either the DS (p = 0.521) or RYGB (p = 0.800) procedures. Across our study period, the median operation lengths decreased significantly per year for both the robotic SG and DS.

Conclusions

Robotic and laparoscopic bariatric surgical procedures have statistically similar 30-day patient outcomes. Robotic bariatric procedures do have significantly longer median operative times than laparoscopic procedures. The decision to use a robotic approach or laparoscopic approach should be made based upon surgeon experience and possibly cost.

Graphical Abstract
Exploring the impact of rehabilitation on post-surgical recovery in elbow fracture patients: a cohort study
Authors: Donati D. , Aroni S. , Tedeschi R. , Sartini S. , Farì G. , Ricci V. , Vita F. , Tarallo L.
Published: July 2024

Introduction

Elbow fractures, characterized by their complexity, present significant challenges in post-surgical recovery, with rehabilitation playing a critical role in functional outcomes. This study explores the efficacy of rehabilitative interventions in enhancing joint range of motion (ROM) and reducing complications following surgery for both stable and unstable elbow fractures.

Methods

A cohort of 15 patients, divided based on the stability of their elbow fractures and whether they received post-operative rehabilitation, was analyzed retrospectively. Measurements of ROM—including flexion, extension, pronation, and supination—were taken at three follow-ups: 15-, 30-, and 45-day post surgery. The study assessed the impact of rehabilitation on ROM recovery and the resolution of post-surgical complications.

Results

The findings indicated no statistically significant differences in ROM improvements between patients who underwent rehabilitation and those who did not, across all types of movements measured. However, early rehabilitative care was observed to potentially aid in the mitigation of complications such as joint stiffness, especially in patients with stable fractures.

Conclusion

While rehabilitation did not universally improve ROM recovery in elbow fracture patients, it showed potential in addressing post-operative complications. The study underscores the importance of individualized rehabilitation plans and highlights the need for further research to establish evidence-based guidelines for post-surgical care in elbow fractures.
Disentangling User Cognitive Intent with Causal Reasoning for Knowledge-Enhanced Recommendation
Authors: xu Hongcai , Bao Junpeng , Lin Qika , Hou Lifang , Chen Feng
Published: July 2024

The primary objective of an effective recommender system is to provide accurate, varied, and personalized recommendations that align with the user’s cognitive intents. Given their ability to represent structural and semantic information effectively, knowledge graphs (KGs) are increasingly being utilized to capture auxiliary information for recommendation systems. This trend is supported by the recent advancements in graph neural network (GNN)-based models for KG-aware recommendations. However, these models often struggle with issues such as insufficient user-item interactions and the misalignment of user intent weights during information propagation. Additionally, they face a popularity bias, which is exacerbated by the disproportionate influence of a small number of highly active users and the limited auxiliary information about items. This bias significantly curtails the effectiveness of the recommendations. To address this issue, we propose a Knowledge-Enhanced User Cognitive Intent Network (KeCAIN), which incorporates item category information to capture user intents with information aggregation and eliminate popularity bias based on causal reasoning in recommendation systems. Experiments on three real-world datasets show that KeCAIN outperforms state-of-the-art baselines.
Exploring electronic, structural, optical, and elastic properties of MgX2O6 (x = Ta, Nb) compounds for photovoltaic and optoelectronic applications: first study effort
Authors: Aycibin Murat , Çelebi Mustafa , Erzen Mehmet , Akkuş Harun
Published: July 2024

In this study, the structural, optical, and elastic properties of tetragonal MgTa2O6 and orthorhombic MgNb2O6 were determined using the Wien2k and ABINIT computational programs with the aid of density functional theory. The results imply that both compounds are classified as wide band gap semiconductor with 4.143 eV (for MgTa2O6) and 3.653 eV (for MgNb2O6) with PBEsol-GGA + TB-mBJ approximation. The findings of bulk modulus, shear modulus, Young modulus, Poisson’s ratio, and anisotropy factors were determined and discussed in detail. The ductile behavior and the mechanism of structural stability were also explained.