bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Correlation between lenticulostriate arteries and white matter microstructure changes in patients with cerebral small vessel disease
Authors: Zhang Yukun , Chang Peipei , Liu Na , Jiang Yuhan , Chu Ying , Du Wei , Lin Liangjie , Gao Bingbing , Li Yuan , Qu Mingrui , Yang Chao , Miao YanWei
Published: September 2023

To explore the correlation between the number of lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs) and the white matter features in cerebral small vessel diseases (CSVD) by 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Seventy-one patients with diagnoses of CSVD were prospectively enrolled to undergo 3T MRI examination, including high-resolution vascular wall imaging (VWI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). The LSAs were observed and counted on VWI, and the patients were divided into three groups according to the LSA counts. The presence of white matter hyperintensities (WMHs), lacunes, cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), and enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) was assessed in each patient, and a composite CSVD score was calculated. Periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensity (PVWMH, DWMH) volume ratios were obtained based on automatic segmentation. Fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) were processed by using tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) analysis. These parameters were compared among the three groups. Correlations between the LSA counts and white matter features were also analyzed. There were differences in WMHs (P = 0.001), CMBs (P < 0.001), EPVS (P = 0.017), composite CSVD scores (P < 0.001), PVWMH volume ratios (P = 0.001), DWMH volume ratios (P < 0.001), global FA (P = 0.001), and global MD (P = 0.002) among the three groups. There were correlations between the LSA counts and WMHs (r = −0.45, P < 0.001), CMBs (r = −0.44, P < 0.001), EPVS (r = −0.28, P = 0.020), the composite CSVD score (r = −0.52, P < 0.001), DWMH volume ratio (r = −0.47, P < 0.001), PWMH volume ratio (r = −0.34, P = 0.004), global FA (r = 0.36, P = 0.002), and global MD (r = −0.33, P = 0.005). Diabetes mellitus (OR 3.36, 95% CI 1.06–10.63; P = 0.039) and increased DWMH volume ratios (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00–1.08; P = 0.048) were independent risk factors for a decrease in LSA counts. TBSS analysis showed differences among the three groups in global FA and MD after adjusting for age and sex (P < 0.05). The LSA counts was associated with white matter microstructure changes in CSVD and has the potential to represent the extent of subcortical microvascular damage in CSVD patients.
Short-term effects on heart rate variability of occipito-mastoid suture normalization in healthy subjects
Authors: Besson Cyril , Mur Thierry , Benaim Charles , Schmitt Laurent , Gremeaux Vincent
Published: September 2023

Occipito-mastoid structure normalization (OMSN) is an osteopathic manipulative treatment aimed at reducing tension around the jugular foramen, where cranial nerves IX, X, and XI exit the skull. The purpose of this study was to observe how heart rate variability (HRV), a marker of autonomic cardiac regulation, was modulated after an OMSN vs. a sham technique (SHAM). Pre- and post-intervention HRV was analyzed in two randomly chosen groups of 15 participants (OMSN vs. SHAM group). HRV was collected in the supine position 5 min before and 5 min after a 10-min application of either OMSN or SHAM. The time and group effect was analyzed using a two-way ANOVA. Independently from group intervention, a significant time effect induced increased HRV. No group effect differences were observed. Multiple comparisons for time and group interaction showed that the root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD), a vagally mediated HRV variable, increased to a greater extent for the OMSN group (p = 0.03) than for the SHAM group. However, both OMSN and SHAM techniques had a significant effect on HRV. Compared to a SHAM technique, OMSN had a significant effect on HRV vagally related metric RMSSD in the short term. We conclude that 10 min of OMSN may be used to induce a short-term influence on parasympathetic autonomic nervous system modulations.
Detergent-insoluble PFN1 inoculation expedites disease onset and progression in PFN1 transgenic rats
Authors: Cui Shiquan , Zhang Tingting , Xiong Xinrui , Zhao Jihe , Cao Qilin , Zhou Hongxia , Xia Xu-Gang
Published: September 2023

Accumulating evidence suggests a gain of elusive toxicity in pathogenically mutated PFN1. The prominence of PFN1 aggregates as a pivotal pathological hallmark in PFN1 transgenic rats underscores the crucial involvement of protein aggregation in the initiation and progression of neurodegeneration. Detergent-insoluble materials were extracted from the spinal cords of paralyzed rats afflicted with ALS and were intramuscularly administered to asymptomatic recipient rats expressing mutant PFN1, resulting in an accelerated development of PFN1 inclusions and ALS-like phenotypes. This effect diminished when the extracts derived from wildtype PFN1 transgenic rats were employed, as detergent-insoluble PFN1 was detected exclusively in mutant PFN1 transgenic rats. Consequently, the factor influencing the progression of ALS pathology in recipient rats is likely associated with the presence of detergent-insoluble PFN1 within the extracted materials. Noteworthy is the absence of disease course modification upon administering detergent-insoluble extracts to rats that already displayed PFN1 inclusions, suggesting a seeding rather than augmenting role of such extracts in initiating neuropathological changes. Remarkably, pathogenic PFN1 exhibited an enhanced affinity for the molecular chaperone DNAJB6, leading to the sequestration of DNAJB6 within protein inclusions, thereby depleting its availability for cellular functions. These findings shed light on a novel mechanism that underscores the prion-like characteristics of pathogenic PFN1 in driving neurodegeneration in the context of PFN1-related ALS.
NOTCH1-mutated chronic lymphocytic leukemia displays high endoplasmic reticulum stress response with druggable potential
Authors: Silva Barcelos Estevão Carlos , Rompietti Chiara , Adamo Francesco Maria , Dorillo Erica , De Falco Filomena , Del Papa Beatrice , Baldoni Stefano , Nogarotto Manuel , Esposito Angela , Capoccia Silvia , Geraci Clelia , Sorcini Daniele , Stella Arianna , Arcaleni Roberta , Tini Valentina , Imbroisi Valle Errera Flávia , Rosati Emanuela , Sportoletti Paolo
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Constitutive activation of NOTCH1-wild-type (NT1-WT) signaling is associated with poor outcomes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and NOTCH1 mutation (c.7541_7542delCT), which potentiates NOTCH1 signaling, worsens the prognosis. However, the specific mechanisms of NOTCH1 deregulation are still poorly understood. Accumulative evidence mentioned endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress/unfolded protein response (UPR) as a key targetable pathway in CLL. In this study, we investigated the impact of NOTCH1 deregulation on CLL cell response to ER stress induction, with the aim of identifying new therapeutic opportunities for CLL.

Methods

We performed a bioinformatics analysis of NOTCH1-mutated (NT1-M) and NT1-WT CLL to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) using the rank product test. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Western blotting, cytosolic Ca2+, and annexin V/propidium iodide (PI) assay were used to detect curcumin ER stress induction effects. A median-effect equation was used for drug combination tests. The experimental mouse model Eμ-TCL1 was used to evaluate the impact of ER stress exacerbation by curcumin treatment on the progression of leukemic cells and NOTCH1 signaling.

Results and discussion

Bioinformatics analysis revealed gene enrichment of the components of the ER stress/UPR pathway in NT1-M compared to those in NT1-WT CLL. Ectopic expression of NOTCH1 mutation upregulated the levels of ER stress response markers in the PGA1 CLL cell line. Primary NT1-M CLL was more sensitive to curcumin as documented by a significant perturbation in Ca2+ homeostasis and higher expression of ER stress/UPR markers compared to NT1-WT cells. It was also accompanied by a significantly higher apoptotic response mediated by C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) expression, caspase 4 cleavage, and downregulation of NOTCH1 signaling in NT1-M CLL cells. Curcumin potentiated the apoptotic effect of venetoclax in NT1-M CLL cells. In Eμ-TCL1 leukemic mice, the administration of curcumin activated ER stress in splenic B cells ex vivo and significantly reduced the percentage of CD19+/CD5+ cells infiltrating the spleen, liver, and bone marrow (BM). These cellular effects were associated with reduced NOTCH1 activity in leukemic cells and resulted in prolonged survival of curcumin-treated mice. Overall, our results indicate that ER stress induction in NT1-M CLL might represent a new therapeutic opportunity for these high-risk CLL patients and improve the therapeutic effect of drugs currently used in CLL.
Small cell carcinoma with neuroendocrine differentiation of subglottic larynx- a case report
Authors: Becht Rafał , Kiełbowski Kajetan , Żychowska Justyna , Dembowska Wiktoria , Król Małgorzata , Birkenfeld Bożena , Owsiak Mateusz , Lewandowska Magdalena , Kubrak Jadwiga , Amernik Katarzyna
Published: September 2023

Small cell cancer (SCC) is a neuroendocrine neoplasm, which is most frequently found in the lungs. Extrapulmonary location of SCC is rare and may involve 2.5-5% of SCCs. We present a case of a 31-year-old male patient with an extremely uncommon subglottic SCC. The patient was qualified for a radical sequential chemoradiotherapy. After treatment, patient’s condition suggested complete remission. Recurrence was detected one year later, and the disease rapidly progressed, despite a second line chemotherapy. The patient died 29 months after initial diagnosis. This case aims to raise awareness on the aggressive laryngeal SCC and its good response to first line chemotherapy composed of cisplatin and etoposide, followed by radiotherapy.
DNA methylation-based diagnosis confirmation in a pediatric patient with low-grade glioma: a case report
Authors: Morgacheva Daria , Ryzhova Marina , Zheludkova Olga , Belogurova Margarita , Dinikina Yulia
Published: September 2023

Central nervous system (CNS) tumors in children comprise a highly heterogenous and complex group of diseases. Historically, diagnosis and confirmation of these tumors were routinely based on histological examination. However, recently obtained data demonstrate that such a diagnostic approach is not completely accurate and could lead to misdiagnosis. Also, in recent times, the quantity and quality of molecular diagnostic methods have greatly improved, which influences the current classification methods and treatment approach for pediatric CNS tumors. Nowadays, molecular methods, such as DNA methylation profiling, are an integral part of diagnosing brain and spinal tumors in children. In this paper, we present the case of an infant with a posterior fossa tumor who demonstrated a non-specific morphology and whose diagnosis was verified only after DNA methylation.
The cardioprotective effect of S. africana caerulea/Blue Sage in ischaemia and reperfusion induced oxidative stress
Authors: Salie Ruduwaan , Lopes John , Kotze Leon , van Aarde Ruzayda
Published: September 2023

Background: Since antiquity, alternative herbal remedies, such as S. africana caerulea/Blue Sage (BLS) water infusion extract (WIE) has been used by traditional healers, for the effective treatment of various chronic inflammatory disorders associated with reduced cellular antioxidant defense mechanisms and free radical cellular damage. In the heart, ischaemia—reperfusion (I/R) induced oxidative stress becomes an early crucial event in the pathogenesis of ischaemia—reperfusion injury (I/RI) and subsequent heart failure.

Purpose/Aim: To investigate whether BLS WIE treatment during ischaemia and/or reperfusion may be cardioprotective.

Study design: Isolated perfused rat hearts were exposed to 35 min regional ischaemia (RI) and 60 min reperfusion. The BLS WIE was applied: i) for the last 10 min of RI (PerT) or ii) from onset of reperfusion (PostT) or iii) both (PerT) + (PostT). Methods: Endpoints were functional recovery and infarct size (IS). In another set of experiments, left ventricles were freeze-clamped after RI and 10 min reperfusion for detection of total and phosphorylated p-ERK p44/p42, p-Akt, p-p38-MAPK, p-JNK, Nrf-2, NF-kB, Bax, Bcl-2, Caspase-3, and PGC-1α by Western blot analysis.

Results: BLS (PostT) significantly increased ERK p44, p-Akt, Nrf-2, and Bcl-2 levels; significantly decreased p-p38-MAPK as well as p-JNK p46 phosphorylation; did not affect Bax levels and significantly decreased Bax/Bcl-2 ratios. This was associated with significantly reduced Caspase-3 levels and increased PGC-1α phosphorylation, particlarly when BLS WIE was administered as PostT.

Conclusion: The administration of polyphenol-rich BLS WIE at different stages of ischaemia and/or reperfusion, activate/inhibit several signaling events simultaneously and mediate cardioprotection in a multitarget manner.
Fabrication and quantum sensing of spin defects in silicon carbide
Authors: Luo Qin-Yue , Li Qiang , Wang Jun-Feng , Guo Pei-Jie , Lin Wu-Xi , Zhao Shuang , Hu Qi-Cheng , Zhu Zi-Qi , Xu Jin-Shi , Li Chuan-Feng , Guo Guang-Can
Published: September 2023

In the past decade, color centers in silicon carbide (SiC) have emerged as promising platforms for various quantum information technologies. There are three main types of color centers in SiC: silicon-vacancy centers, divacancy centers, and nitrogen-vacancy centers. Their spin states can be polarized by laser and controlled by microwave. These spin defects have been applied in quantum photonics, quantum information processing, quantum networks, and quantum sensing. In this review, we first provide a brief overview of the progress in single-color center fabrications for the three types of spin defects, which form the foundation of color center-based quantum technology. We then discuss the achievements in various quantum sensing, such as magnetic field, electric field, temperature, strain, and pressure. Finally, we summarize the current state of fabrications and quantum sensing of spin defects in SiC and provide an outlook for future developments.
A hybrid influence method based on information entropy to identify the key nodes
Authors: Zhong Linfeng , Gao Xiangying , Zhao Liang , Zhang Lei , Chen Pengfei , Yang Hao , Huang Jin , Pan Weijun
Published: September 2023

Identifying the key nodes in complicated networks is an essential topic. A number of methods have been developed in recent years to solve this issue more effectively. Multi-attribute ranking is a widely used and efficient method to increase the accuracy of identifying the key nodes. Using k-shell iteration information and propagation threshold differences, we thoroughly analyze the node’s position attribute and the propagation attribute to offer a hybrid influence method based on information entropy. The two attributes will be weighted using the information entropy weighting method, and then the nodes’ influence ranking will be calculated. Correlation experiments in nine different networks were carried out based on the Susceptible–Infected–Recovered (SIR) model. Among these, we use the imprecision function, Kendall’s correlation coefficient, and the complementary cumulative distribution function to validate the suggested method. The experimental results demonstrate that our suggested method outperforms previous node ranking methods in terms of monotonicity, relevance, and accuracy and performs well to achieve a more accurate ranking of nodes in the network.
Information communication technology accessibility and mental health for older adults during the coronavirus disease in South Korea
Authors: Park Sujin , Zeng Weihong , Zhao Pianpian , Tong Yanke
Published: September 2023

Introduction

As society ages and the digital economy continues to develop, accessibility to information and communication technology (ICT) has emerged as a critical factor influencing the mental health of older adults. Particularly, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, the need for non-face-to-face communication has significantly increased older adults’ reliance on ICT for accessibility. This transition from a self-motivated engagement to a more socially passive mode of interaction highlights the importance of creating a digitally inclusive aging society.

Methods

This empirical study used pooled cross-sectional data from the Digital Gap Survey conducted in South Korea in 2018 and 2020. It aimed to analyze the association between ICT accessibility and the mental health of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

A significant positive relationship was found between ICT and mental health among older adults in South Korea. However, this positive association weakened during the COVID-19 period. Furthermore, the analysis revealed heterogeneity among older adults by age, sex, and place of residence, with older females in their 70s living in rural areas experiencing the greatest weakening.

Discussion

These results highlight the need for tailored interventions and support mechanisms for specific demographic groups of older adults. We recommend that the South Korean government implement various policies to facilitate the post-COVID-19 digital landscape. These include initiatives such as ICT-related education programs, development of user-friendly e-government systems, and creation of social media platforms designed to accommodate the needs and preferences of older adults.
Undernutrition in older children and adolescents in peri-urban Zambia
Authors: Sridhar Shela , Kang Janella S. , Madzorera Isabel , Zulu Ethan , Makasa Joyce , Cross Sally Bell , Hamer Davidson H.
Published: September 2023

Background

Adolescents make up roughly a quarter of the population in Zambia; however, most nutrition-related programming is targeted at the under-five population. Understanding the scale of undernutrition in older children and adolescents is fundamental to alleviating food insecurity and addressing undernutrition across all age groups.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was performed in four low-income, peri-urban compounds in Chilanga District which included anthropometric measurements of children between ages 6 months-19 years and a household-level diet diversity and food security questionnaire. Wasting was used for children under 5 and thinness for children 5–19 years. Descriptive analysis and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to quantify the prevalence and distribution of malnutrition and understand the impact of food security.

Results

We surveyed 393 households and 1,004 children between the ages of 6 months and 19 years. Children aged 6–9 years had the highest prevalence of severe thinness (5.2%) and adolescents (10–19 years) had the highest rates of moderate thinness (6.5%). Across all age groups, more than 75% of children were in households that worried about running out of food in the previous month. 24.9% of adolescents and 28.4% of older children were in households were more likely to go a whole day without eating compared to 16.9% of children under 5.

Conclusion

Our survey indicated that malnutrition in adolescents and older children living in Chilanga district was comparable to those under 5. Interventions to address undernutrition must be targeted at older children and adolescents in order to ameliorate this burden.
Impact of vaccination and non-pharmacological interventions on COVID-19: a review of simulation modeling studies in Asia
Authors: Thakkar Karan , Spinardi Julia Regazzini , Yang Jingyan , Kyaw Moe H. , Ozbilgili Egemen , Mendoza Carlos Fernando , Oh Helen May Lin
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Epidemiological modeling is widely used to offer insights into the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Asia. We reviewed published computational (mathematical/simulation) models conducted in Asia that assessed impacts of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions against COVID-19 and their implications for vaccination strategy.

Methods

A search of the PubMed database for peer-reviewed, published, and accessible articles in English was performed up to November 2022 to capture studies in Asian populations based on computational modeling of outcomes in the COVID-19 pandemic. Extracted data included model type (mechanistic compartmental/agent-based, statistical, both), intervention type (pharmacological, non-pharmacological), and procedures for parameterizing age. Findings are summarized with descriptive statistics and discussed in terms of the evolving COVID-19 situation.

Results

The literature search identified 378 results, of which 59 met criteria for data extraction. China, Japan, and South Korea accounted for approximately half of studies, with fewer from South and South-East Asia. Mechanistic models were most common, either compartmental (61.0%), agent-based (1.7%), or combination (18.6%) models. Statistical modeling was applied less frequently (11.9%). Pharmacological interventions were examined in 59.3% of studies, and most considered vaccination, except one study of an antiviral treatment. Non-pharmacological interventions were also considered in 84.7% of studies. Infection, hospitalization, and mortality were outcomes in 91.5%, 30.5%, and 30.5% of studies, respectively. Approximately a third of studies accounted for age, including 10 that also examined mortality. Four of these studies emphasized benefits in terms of mortality from prioritizing older adults for vaccination under conditions of a limited supply; however, one study noted potential benefits to infection rates from early vaccination of younger adults. Few studies (5.1%) considered the impact of vaccination among children.

Conclusion

Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmacological interventions helped to mitigate the health burden of COVID-19; however, modeling indicates that high population coverage of effective vaccines will complement and reduce reliance on such interventions. Thus, increasing and maintaining immunity levels in populations through regular booster shots, particularly among at-risk and vulnerable groups, including older adults, might help to protect public health. Future modeling efforts should consider new vaccines and alternative therapies alongside an evolving virus in populations with varied vaccination histories.
The impact and implementation of an mHealth intervention to improve infant and young child feeding in Senegal: IIMAANJE protocol for a cluster randomized control trial
Authors: Downs Shauna M. , Gueye Daouda , Sall Medoune , Ndoye Bamba , Sarr Ndèye Ndambao , Sarr Moussa , Mboup Souleymane , Alam Neeloy Ashraful , Diouf Adama , Merchant Emily V. , Sackey Joachim
Published: September 2023

Behavior change communication (BCC) strategies have the potential to improve infant feeding and nutrition outcomes among infants and young children in low- and middle-income countries. More recently, there has been a shift toward the adoption of mHealth interventions—the use of mobile phones to transmit health-related information or direct care—to promote recommended BCC strategies among the caregivers of infants and young children. In Senegal, most infants and young children are not fed according to recommended practices leading to a high prevalence of undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. The aims of this cluster randomized control trial, using an effectiveness-implementation (type 1) hybrid design, were to: (1) determine the impact of an mHealth IYCF intervention on IYCF practices and nutrition outcomes; and (2) examine the implementation, costs, and opportunities for scaling up the mHealth messaging intervention. The trial was conducted in three regions in Senegal (Thies, Fatick, Diourbel) with 488 mother, father and children (6–23 months) triads. The intervention included 8 scripted messages, that underwent cognitive testing prior to the intervention implementation, and 8 unscripted messages from positive deviants. One voice message and one text message were sent each week to members of our experimental group for a 16-week period. The impact of the intervention was assessed through a household survey, 24-h dietary recall, and hemoglobin measurements before and after the intervention implementation. The primary outcomes were minimal acceptable diet (MAD) and anemia. We also included a total of 54 participants in nine focus groups held with mothers and fathers and semi-structured interviews with Badienou Gox (i.e., community health workers) (n = 6) and national partners and program implementers (n = 6) to examine the intervention implementation process. The study was registered prior to data collection on Clinicaltrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05374837).
Telemedicine in non-communicable chronic diseases care during the COVID-19 pandemic: exploring patients' perspectives
Authors: Habbash Fatema , Rabeeah Aamal , Huwaidi Zainab , Abuobaidah Hiba , Alqabbat Jumana , Hayyan Fatema , Almarabheh Amer , Al Sindi Hind , Ben Salah Afif
Published: September 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to explore challenges facing patients using Telemedicine consultations in non-communicable chronic disease clinics in primary care settings and to evaluate their satisfaction and willingness to use this service in the future.

Methods

This is an analytical cross-sectional study enrolling participants who were randomly selected from representative primary care centers in Bahrain and providing Telemedicine consultations. A semi-structured questionnaire permitted data collection using telephone interviews.

Results

A total of 251 individuals participated in the study of whom the majority were Bahraini (90.04%), and the mean age was 54.48 ± 10.78 years. Most of the participants 231 (92.03%) were satisfied with the Telemedicine consultation while only 142 (56.80%) were willing to use this service in the future. The main perceived challenges related to Teleconsultations were the lack of physical examination, inadequate time of TM consultation, fear of medical errors, and lack of privacy. The willingness to use TM consultation in the future was mainly determined by the degree of comfort to tell private information (p < 0.01) and to less extent the ease of the communication tool (p = 0.005) on multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

TM consultations could be a good complement to conventional consultation formats in the future. The sustainability of this innovative healthcare delivery tool requires addressing acceptability by users, ease of use, patient-centeredness, and technological advances to ensure privacy.
Ethnomethodological conversation analysis and the study of assemblages
Authors: Raudaskoski Pirkko
Published: September 2023

The material turn has challenged traditional social scientific and humanistic research approaches. Both individual and community are rejected as a starting point for theorizing what is going on in societies and cultures. In fact, all dichotomies are deemed suspect, and the research focus draws heavily on actual practices. The conceptheterogeneous assemblageis used in at least two strands of the material turn with slightly different takes on the entangled nature of practices. These are actor-network theory, ANT (cf.STS, e.g., Callon, Latour, Law) and new materialism(s) (cf.process philosophy, e.g., Deleuze, Guattari). Both can be placed under the umbrella term sociomaterialism. In their analysis of concrete phenomena, Deleuzian assemblages tend to focus on embodied sensations (affect) that have rhizomatic threads of connection, whereas ANT’s assemblages include how heterogeneous entities (actants) stabilize certain practices. With a revised understanding of how the world works (ontology), the usefulness of traditional research methods (epistemology) to study concrete phenomena has also been questioned. Margaret Wetherell has suggested that affect assemblages can be analyzed as observable social practices, giving an EMCA-based study as an illustrative example. The question is whether both new materialist intensities (cf.certain approaches in psychology) and ANT’s connections to other people, places, and practices (e.g., in organization studies) could be analyzed with an EMCA approach. This paper acknowledges the existing possibilities EMCA offers to analyze heterogeneous assemblages as situated interactional and material entanglements and enlarges the repertoire by focusing on 1) how the material specifics can make the EMCA “why that now” analysis connect to larger assemblages than the local accomplishment of action, and 2) how observable orientations to phenomena outside of the situation can be treated as an assemblic activity. It will do this with 1) Goodwin’s conceptlaminationthat enlarges the strictly situation-bound contextual configuration analysis to the cultural-historical formations through the use of material tools, and with 2) mentionings that combine Membership Categorization Analysis and Cooren’s interest in non-human (material) actors. In other words, the well-known sociomaterial conceptmaterial-discursiveis translated into two analytical possibilities to study sociomaterial heterogeneous assemblages. An empirical study illustrates the tools in practice.
Pop-up restoration in colonial contexts: applying an indigenous food systems lens to ecological restoration
Authors: Grenz Jennifer , Armstrong Chelsey Geralda
Published: September 2023

As environmental injustices and their disproportionate harms to Indigenous communities are increasingly acknowledged, restoration strategies are being deployed widely by environmental NGOs, resource extraction industries, and government agencies. The inclusion of Indigenous communities and their knowledges in restoration efforts are often considered progress in the pursuit of ecological reconciliation. However, in some cases we have observed a lack of meaningful progress as settler colonial prescriptions for land-healing can eschew efforts to decolonize ecological restoration — what we have labeled “pop-up restoration.” We consider two restoration efforts underway in St’at’imc and Quw’utsun territories (Canada) and contrast them with what we are learning alongside the communities’ own values and efforts to reclaim and revitalize food systems throughout forest, wetland, and grassland systems. Utilizing culturally appropriate pathways, we then evaluate how applying an Indigenous Food Systems lens to ecological restoration may provide a framework to remedy pop-up restoration, confronting settler colonial aspirations to transform Indigenous homelands while asserting justice in ecological restoration contexts.
Infrared spectroscopy analysis determining secondary structure change in albumin by cerium oxide nanoparticles
Authors: Umezawa Masakazu , Itano Ryodai , Sakaguchi Naoya , Kawasaki Takayasu
Published: September 2023

Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles are expected to have applications in the biomedical field because of their antioxidative properties. Inorganic nanoparticles interact with proteins at the nanoparticle surface and change their conformation when administered; however, the principle underlying this interaction is still unclear. This study aimed to investigate the secondary structural changes occurring in bovine serum albumin (BSA) mixed with CeO2 nanoparticles having different surface modifications using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. CeO2 nanoparticles (diameter: 240 nm) were synthesized from an aqueous cerium (III) nitrate solution using a homogeneous precipitation method. The surfaces of the nanoparticles were modified by the catechol compounds dopamine and 3,4-dihydroxyhydrocinnamic acid (DHCA). In the presence of these CeO2 nanoparticles (0.11–0.43 mg/mL), β-sheet formation of BSA (30 mg/mL) was promoted especially on the amine-modified (positively charged) nanoparticles. The local concentration of BSA on the surface of the positively charged nanoparticles may have resulted in structural changes due to electrostatic and other interactions with BSA. Further investigations of the interaction mechanism between nanoparticles and proteins are expected to lead to the safe biomedical applications of inorganic nanoparticles.
High-Throughput Plant Phenotyping System Using a Low-Cost Camera Network for Plant Factory
Authors: Cho Woo-Jae , Yang Myongkyoon
Published: September 2023

Plant phenotyping has been widely studied as an effective and powerful tool for analyzing crop status and growth. However, the traditional phenotyping (i.e., manual) is time-consuming and laborious, and the various types of growing structures and limited room for systems hinder phenotyping on a large and high-throughput scale. In this study, a low-cost high-throughput phenotyping system that can be flexibly applied to diverse structures of growing beds with reliable spatial–temporal continuities was developed. The phenotyping system was composed of a low-cost phenotype sensor network with an integrated Raspberry Pi board and camera module. With the distributed camera sensors, the system can provide crop imagery information over the entire growing bed in real time. Furthermore, the modularized image-processing architecture supports the investigation of several phenotypic indices. The feasibility of the system was evaluated for Batavia lettuce grown under different light periods in a container-type plant factory. For the growing lettuces under different light periods, crop characteristics such as fresh weight, leaf length, leaf width, and leaf number were manually measured and compared with the phenotypic indices from the system. From the results, the system showed varying phenotypic features of lettuce for the entire growing period. In addition, the varied growth curves according to the different positions and light conditions confirmed that the developed system has potential to achieve many plant phenotypic scenarios at low cost and with spatial versatility. As such, it serves as a valuable development tool for researchers and cultivators interested in phenotyping.
Expressions of Insulin-like Growth Factor System among Different Breeds Impact Piglets’ Growth during Weaning
Authors: Dou Mengying , Azad Md. Abul Kalam , Cheng Yating , Ding Sujuan , Liu Yang , Song Bo , Kong Xiangfeng
Published: September 2023

The present study investigated the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and their receptors and binding proteins among three pig breeds during weaning. Sixty Duroc (DR), Taoyuan black (TYB), and Xiangcun black (XCB) piglets (20 piglets per breed) were selected at 21 and 24 (3 days of post-weaning) days of age to analyze organ indices, plasma concentrations of IGF and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) using ELISA kits, and gene expression of IGF-system-related components in different tissues. The plasma IGFBP-3 concentration in TYB piglets was higher (p > 0.05) than in the XCB and DR piglets at 21 days of age. At 21 days of age, compared with the DR piglets, the IGF-1 expression was lower (p < 0.05) in the kidney, but it was higher (p < 0.05) in the spleen of XCB and TYB piglets. At 24 days of age, the IGF-1 expression was higher (p < 0.05) in the kidney of TYB piglets than in the XCB and DR piglets, while IGFBP-3 in the stomach and IGFBP-4 in the liver of XCB and TYB piglets were lower (p < 0.05) compared with the DR piglets. Weaning down-regulated (p < 0.05) IGF-1 expression in the jejunum, spleen, and liver of piglets, while it up-regulated (p < 0.05) IGFBP-3 expression in the stomach, IGFBP-4 in the liver, IGFBP-5 in the ileum, and IGFBP-6 in the jejunum of DR piglets. Spearman’s correlation analysis showed a negative correlation (p < 0.05) between plasma IGFBP-2 and IGFBP-5 concentration and the organ indices of piglets. Collectively, there were significant differences in the IGF system components among the three pig breeds. The IGF system components were altered during weaning, which might be involved in weaning stress to decrease the growth of piglets.
Cryopreservation Cooling Rate Impacts Post-Thaw Sperm Motility and Survival in Litoria booroolongensis
Authors: Hobbs Rebecca J. , Upton Rose , Calatayud Natalie E. , Silla Aimee J. , Daly Jonathan , McFadden Michael S. , O’Brien Justine K.
Published: September 2023

The cryopreservation and storage of gametes (biobanking) can provide a long-term, low-cost option for the preservation of population genetic diversity and is particularly impactful when applied to manage selective breeding within conservation breeding programs (CBPs). This study aimed to develop a sperm cryopreservation protocol for the critically endangered Booroolong frog (Litoria booroolongensis) to capture founder genetics within the recently established (est. 2019) CBP for this species. Hormone-induced sperm release was achieved using established protocols, and spermic urine samples were collected over a 6-h period. Pooled spermic urine samples (n = 3 males) were divided equally between two cryoprotectant (CPA) treatments and diluted by 1:5 (sperm:CPA) with either 15% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide + 1% (w/v) sucrose in simplified amphibian Ringer’s (SAR; CPAA) or 10% (v/v) dimethylformamide + 10% (w/v) trehalose dihydrate in SAR (CPAB). The samples were cryopreserved in 0.25 mL straws using either a programmable freezer (FrA) or an adapted dry shipper method (FrB). The thawed samples were activated via dilution in water and assessed for viability and motility using both manual assessment and computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA; 0 h, 0.5 h post-thaw). Upon activation, the survival and recovery of motility (total motility, forward progression and velocity) of cryopreserved sperm suspensions were higher for sperm preserved using FrB than FrA, regardless of CPA composition. This work supports our long-term goal to pioneer the integration of biobanked cryopreserved sperm with population genetic management to maximize restoration program outcomes for Australian amphibian species.
Assessing Negative Welfare Measures for Wild Invertebrates: The Case for Octopuses
Authors: Andrade Michaella P. , Santos Charles Morphy D. , De Paiva Mizziara M. M. , Medeiros Sylvia L. S. , O’Brien C. E. , Lima Françoise D. , Machado Janaina F. , Leite Tatiana S.
Published: September 2023

Welfare metrics have been established for octopuses in the laboratory, but not for octopuses living in the wild. Wild octopuses are constantly exposed to potentially harmful situations, and the ability to assess the welfare status of wild octopuses could provide pertinent information about individuals’ health and species’ resilience to stressors. Here, we used underwater photos and videos to identify injuries and stress-related behaviors in wild Octopus insularis in a variety of contexts, including interacting with fishermen, interacting with other octopuses and fish, proximity to predators, in den, foraging, and in senescence. We adapted established metrics of octopus welfare from the laboratory to these wild octopuses. In addition to observing all of the stress measures, we also identified two previously unknown measures associated with decreased welfare: (1) a half white eye flash and (2) a half-and-half blotch body pattern. More than half of the individuals analyzed had arm loss, and almost half of the individuals had skin injuries. We also observed that irregular chromatophore expression and abnormal motor coordination were associated with interactions with fishermen. This is the first study to apply measures of welfare from the laboratory to wild octopuses. Our results may also aid in the identification of welfare measures for other wild invertebrates.
Optimizing Generative Adversarial Network (GAN) Models for Non-Pneumatic Tire Design
Authors: Seong Ju Yong , Ji Seung-min , Choi Dong-hyun , Lee Seungjae , Lee Sungchul
Published: September 2023

Pneumatic tires are used in diverse industries. However, their design is difficult, as it relies on the knowledge of experienced designers. In this paper, we generate images of non-pneumatic tire designs with patterns based on shapes and lines for different generative adversarial network (GAN) models and test the performance of the models. Using OpenCV, 2000 training images were generated, corresponding to spoke, curve, triangle, and honeycomb non-pneumatic tires. The images created for training were used after removing highly similar images by applying mean squared error (MSE) and structural similarity index (SSIM). To identify the best model for generating patterns of regularly shaped non-pneumatic tires, GAN, deep convolutional generative adversarial network (DCGAN), StarGAN v2, StyleGAN v2-ADA, and ProjectedGAN were compared and analyzed. In the qualitative evaluation, the GAN, DCGAN, StarGAN v2, and StyleGAN v2-ADA models distorted the circle shape and did not maintain a consistent pattern, but ProjectedGAN retained consistency in the circle, and the pattern was less distorted than in the other GAN models. When evaluating quantitative metrics, ProjectedGAN performed the best among several techniques when the difference between the generated and actual image distributions was measured.
Digital Mapping of Soil Organic Matter in Northern Iraq: Machine Learning Approach
Authors: Khalaf Halmat S. , Mustafa Yaseen T. , Fayyadh Mohammed A.
Published: September 2023

Soil organic matter (SOM) is an essential component of soil fertility that plays a vital role in the preservation of healthy ecosystems. This study aimed to produce an SOM-level map of the Batifa region in northern Iraq. Random forest (RF) and extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) models were used to predict the SOM spatial distribution. A total of 96 soil samples were collected from the surface layer (0–30 cm) of both cropland and soil areas in Batifa. In addition, remote sensing data were obtained from Landsat 8, including bands 1–7, 10, and 11. Supplementary variables such as the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), soil-adjusted vegetation index (SAVI), brightness index (BI), and digital elevation model (DEM) were employed as tools to predict SOM levels across the region. To evaluate the accuracy of the RF and XGBoost models in predicting SOM levels, statistical metrics, including mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and determination coefficient (R2), were used, with 80% of the data used for prediction and 20% for validation. The findings of this study revealed that the XGBoost model exhibited higher accuracy (MAE = 0.41, RMSE = 0.62, and R2 = 0.92) in predicting SOM than the RF model (MAE = 0.65, RMSE = 0.96, R2 = 0.79). Band 10, DEM, SAVI, and NDVI were identified as the most important predictors for both the models. The methodology employed in this study, which utilizes machine learning models, has the potential to map SOM in similar settings. Furthermore, the results offer significant insights for the stakeholders involved in soil management, thereby facilitating the enhancement of agricultural techniques.
Scheduling Optimization of Mobile Emergency Vehicles Considering Dual Uncertainties
Authors: Li Jianxun , Fu Haoxin , Lai Kin Keung , Zhang Ruochen , Iqbal Muhammad Babar
Published: September 2023

Compared with the traditional operation mode of emergency vehicles, the mobile emergency vehicle is regarded as a new type of emergency facility carrier with the features of variable locations, flexible mobility, and intelligent decision-making. It can provide an effective solution to reasonably respond to the uncertain risks of sudden disasters. Focusing on meeting the maximum demand for materials and services in disaster areas, this paper proposes a scheduling model of mobile emergency vehicles with dual uncertainty of path and demand. The model, solved by an integer-coding hybrid genetic algorithm, aims to obtain minimum mobile emergency scheduling cost and time by transforming the multi-objective problem into a single-objective problem. The “5.12” Wenchuan earthquake is used as an example to validate the model and solving method. The results show that the model can reduce the impact of uncertain risks and improve the scientific logic of emergency strategies and deployments based on the actual crisis scenario. It benefits from introducing mobile emergency vehicles and optimizing their scheduling process.
Hourglass 3D CNN for Stereo Disparity Estimation for Mobile Robots
Authors: La Thai , Tao Linh , Minh Tran Chanh , Nguyen Duc Tho , Kamioka Eiji , Tan Phan Xuan
Published: September 2023

Stereo cameras allow mobile robots to perceive depth in their surroundings by capturing two separate images from slightly different perspectives. This is necessary for tasks such as obstacle avoidance, navigation, and spatial mapping. By utilizing a convolutional neural network (CNN), existing works in stereo cameras based on depth estimation have achieved superior results. However, the critical requirement for depth estimation for mobile robots is to have an optimal tradeoff between computational cost and accuracy. To achieve such a tradeoff, attention-aware feature aggregation (AAFS) has been proposed for real-time stereo matching on edge devices. AAFS includes multistage feature extraction, an attention module, and a 3D CNN architecture. However, its 3D CNN architecture learns contextual information ineffectively. In this paper, a deep encoder–decoder architecture is applied to an AAFS 3D CNN to improve depth estimation accuracy. Through evaluation, it is proven that the proposed 3D CNN architecture provides significantly better accuracy while keeping the inference time comparable to that of AAFS.
Infinitely Many Solutions for a Perturbed Partial Discrete Dirichlet Problem Involving ϕc-Laplacian
Authors: Xiong Feng
Published: September 2023

In this paper, by using critical point theory, the existence of infinitely many small solutions for a perturbed partial discrete Dirichlet problems including the mean curvature operator is investigated. Moreover, the present study first attempts to address discrete Dirichlet problems with ϕc-Laplacian operator in relative to some relative existing references. Based on our knowledge, this is the research of perturbed partial discrete bvp with ϕc-Laplacian operator for the first time. At last, two examples are used to examplify the results.
Analytic Free-Energy Expression for the 2D-Ising Model and Perspectives for Battery Modeling
Authors: Markthaler Daniel , Birke Kai Peter
Published: September 2023

Although originally developed to describe the magnetic behavior of matter, the Ising model represents one of the most widely used physical models, with applications in almost all scientific areas. Even after 100 years, the model still poses challenges and is the subject of active research. In this work, we address the question of whether it is possible to describe the free energy A of a finite-size 2D-Ising model of arbitrary size, based on a couple of analytically solvable 1D-Ising chains. The presented novel approach is based on rigorous statistical-thermodynamic principles and involves modeling the free energy contribution of an added inter-chain bond ΔAbond(β,N) as function of inverse temperature β and lattice size N. The identified simple analytic expression for ΔAbond is fitted to exact results of a series of finite-size quadratic N×N-systems and enables straightforward and instantaneous calculation of thermodynamic quantities of interest, such as free energy and heat capacity for systems of an arbitrary size. This approach is not only interesting from a fundamental perspective with respect to the possible transfer to a 3D-Ising model, but also from an application-driven viewpoint in the context of (Li-ion) batteries where it could be applied to describe intercalation mechanisms.