bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mesenchymal Stem Cell Microvesicles from Adipose Tissue: Unraveling Their Impact on Primary Ovarian Cancer Cells and Their Therapeutic Opportunities
Authors: Szyposzynska Agnieszka , Bielawska-Pohl Aleksandra , Murawski Marek , Sozanski Rafal , Chodaczek Grzegorz , Klimczak Aleksandra
Published: November 2023

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their derivatives can be promising tools in oncology including ovarian cancer treatment. This study aimed to determine the effect of HATMSC2-MVs (microvesicles derived from human immortalized mesenchymal stem cells of adipose tissue origin) on the fate and behavior of primary ovarian cancer cells. Human primary ovarian cancer (OvCa) cells were isolated from two sources: post-operative tissue of ovarian cancer and ascitic fluid. The phenotype of cells was characterized using flow cytometry, real-time RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence staining. The effect of HATMSC2-MVs on the biological activity of primary cells was analyzed in 2D (proliferation, migration, and cell survival) and 3D (cell survival) models. We demonstrated that HATMSC2-MVs internalized into primary ovarian cancer cells decrease the metabolic activity and induce the cancer cell death and are leading to decreased migratory activity of tumor cells. The results suggests that the anti-cancer effect of HATMSC2-MVs, with high probability, is contributed by the delivery of molecules that induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (p21, tumor suppressor p53, executor caspase 3) and proapoptotic regulators (bad, BIM, Fas, FasL, p27, TRAIL-R1, TRAIL-R2), and their presence has been confirmed by apoptotic protein antibody array. In this study, we demonstrate the ability to inhibit primary OvCa cells growth and apoptosis induction after exposure of OvCa cells on HATMSC2-MVs treatment; however, further studies are needed to clarify their anticancer activities.
The Role of Genetic Polymorphisms in Diabetic Retinopathy: Narrative Review
Authors: Sienkiewicz-Szłapka Edyta , Fiedorowicz Ewa , Król-Grzymała Angelika , Kordulewska Natalia , Rozmus Dominika , Cieślińska Anna , Grzybowski Andrzej
Published: November 2023

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is renowned as a leading cause of visual loss in working-age populations with its etiopathology influenced by the disturbance of biochemical metabolic pathways and genetic factors, including gene polymorphism. Metabolic pathways considered to have an impact on the development of the disease, as well as genes and polymorphisms that can affect the gene expression, modify the quantity and quality of the encoded product (protein), and significantly alter the metabolic pathway and its control, and thus cause changes in the functioning of metabolic pathways. In this article, the screening of chromosomes and the most important genes involved in the etiology of diabetic retinopathy is presented. The common databases with manuscripts published from January 2000 to June 2023 have been taken into consideration and chosen. This article indicates the role of specific genes in the development of diabetic retinopathy, as well as polymorphic changes within the indicated genes that may have an impact on exacerbating the symptoms of the disease. The collected data will allow for a broader look at the disease and help to select candidate genes that can become markers of the disease.
Aberrant Activation of Immune and Non-Immune Cells Contributes to Joint Inflammation and Bone Degradation in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Authors: Nandakumar Kutty Selva , Fang Qinghua , Wingbro Ågren Isabella , Bejmo Zoe Fuwen
Published: November 2023

Abnormal activation of multiple immune and non-immune cells and proinflammatory factors mediate the development of joint inflammation in genetically susceptible individuals. Although specific environmental factors like smoking and infections are associated with disease pathogenesis, until now, we did not know the autoantigens and arthritogenic factors that trigger the initiation of the clinical disease. Autoantibodies recognizing specific post-translationally modified and unmodified antigens are generated and in circulation before the onset of the joint disease, and could serve as diagnostic and prognostic markers. The characteristic features of autoantibodies change regarding sub-class, affinity, glycosylation pattern, and epitope spreading before the disease onset. Some of these antibodies were proven to be pathogenic using animal and cell-culture models. However, not all of them can induce disease in animals. This review discusses the aberrant activation of major immune and non-immune cells contributing to joint inflammation. Recent studies explored the protective effects of extracellular vesicles from mesenchymal stem cells and bacteria on joints by targeting specific cells and pathways. Current therapeutics in clinics target cells and inflammatory pathways to attenuate joint inflammation and protect the cartilage and bones from degradation, but none cure the disease. Hence, more basic research is needed to investigate the triggers and mechanisms involved in initiating the disease and relapses to prevent chronic inflammation from damaging joint architecture.
The Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Potential of Coccoloba alnifolia Leaf Extracts
Authors: de Melo Luciana Fentanes Moura , Barbosa Jefferson da Silva , Cordeiro Maria Lúcia da Silva , Aquino-Martins Verônica Giuliani de Queiroz , Silva Ariana Pereira da , Paiva Weslley de Souza , Silveira Elielson Rodrigo , dos Santos Déborah Yara A. Cursino , Rocha Hugo Alexandre Oliveira , Scortecci Kátia Castanho
Published: November 2023

Oxidative stress has been associated with different diseases, and different medicinal plants have been used to treat or prevent this condition. The leaf ethanolic extract (EE) and aqueous extract (AE) from Coccoloba alnifolia have previously been characterized to have antioxidant potential in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we worked with EE and AE and two partition phases, AF (ethyl acetate) and BF (butanol), from AE extract. These extracts and partition phases did not display cytotoxicity. The EE and AE reduced NO production and ROS in all three concentrations tested. Furthermore, it was observed that EE and AE at 500 μg/mL concentration were able to reduce phagocytic activity by 30 and 50%, respectively. A scratch assay using a fibroblast cell line (NHI/3T3) showed that extracts and fractions induced cell migration with 60% wound recovery within 24 h, especially for BF. It was also observed that AF and BF had antioxidant potential in all the assays evaluated. In addition, copper chelation was observed. This activity was previously not detected in AE. The HPLC-DAD analysis showed the presence of phenolic compounds such as p-cumaric acid and vitexin for extracts, while the GNPS annotated the presence of isoorientin, vitexin, kanakugiol, and tryptamine in the BF partition phase. The data presented here demonstrated that the EE, AE, AF, and BF of C. alnifolia have potential immunomodulatory effects, antioxidant effects, as well as in vitro wound healing characteristics, which are important for dynamic inflammation process control.
Green Synthesised Silver Nanoparticles Using Anoectochilus elatus Leaf Extract: Characterisation and Evaluation of Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Antidiabetic, and Antimicrobial Activities
Authors: Venkataesan Kumari Bhuvaneshwari , Mani Renuka , Asokan Balakrishnan Ramajayam , Balakrishnan Karthikeyan , Ramasamy Arulmani , Parthasarathi Rengasamy , Kandasamy Chitra , Govindaraj Rubalakshmi , Vijayakumar Natesan , Vijayakumar Sekar
Published: November 2023

The present study investigates the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles was carried out using a leaf extract of Anoectochilus elatus (Ae-AgNPs). The synthesised Ae-AgNPs were characterised using different analytical techniques like UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX). Additionally, in vitro activities were investigated, and they possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antimicrobial properties. The UV-Vis spectra exhibited characteristic absorption peaks at approximately 480 nm. FTIR identified functional groups of the Ae-AgNPs. The crystalline structure of the Ae-AgNPs was verified via XRD analysis. SEM studies revealed that the nanoparticles exhibited a spherical morphology. The fabrication of Ae-AgNPs was established by the EDX spectrum, which exhibited prominent signals of silver atoms. The Ae-AgNPs show potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activity compared to standard drugs. In addition, Ae-AgNPs demonstrated the most significant zone of Inhibition. This study affirms the superior biological capability of Ae-AgNPs for target drug delivery and their potential for usage in biomedical research and therapeutics.
Synthesis and Properties of Rubidium Salts of Phosphotungstic Acid
Authors: Belmesov Andrey A. , Glukhov Alexander A. , Tsvetkov Maxim V. , Shmygleva Lyubov V. , Shikhov Timofey A. , Lembikov Aleksey O. , Belov Anton A. , Ivanov Nikita P. , Shichalin Oleg O.
Published: November 2023

The work is devoted to the study of the influence of synthesis conditions on the properties of water-insoluble rubidium salts of phosphotungstic acid (PTA). Such heteropoly compounds have a wide range of applications, including in the field of electrocatalysts and solid electrolytes for various electrochemical devices. The acid salts of PTA with high activity of acid sites on the particle surface are of particular interest. It is known that the properties of water-insoluble PTA salts strongly depend on synthesis conditions, such as the ratio of reagents, temperature, concentrations, and other parameters. The work examines the influence of the ratio and concentration of reagents on the sizes of crystallites and agglomerates, specific surface area (SSA), porosity, water content, and ionic conductivity of the synthesized PTA salts. The SSA value of the obtained samples varied in the range of 84–123 m2 g−1, and the ionic conductivity was 13–90 mS cm−1 at room temperature and 75% RH. An increase in the acid concentration and the degree of proton substitution led to an increase in SSA, accompanied by an increase in particle sizes without changing the size of crystallites. The results of the work may be useful for the development of new materials based on the obtained salts in many fields, including hydrogen energy.
Novel PolyPropylene–Sargassum Particles Composites: Evaluation of Thermal and Thermomechanical Properties
Authors: Aragón-Vallejo Jesús Daniel , Salazar-Cruz Beatriz Adriana , Chávez-Cinco María Yolanda , Rivera-Armenta José Luis , Espindola-Flores Ana Cecilia
Published: November 2023

Sargassum is a type of marine algae that has caused environmental problems in Mexico because it arrives in high quantities along the Mexican coast, especially in the Mexican Caribbean. This situation has become an environmental and economic problem, impacting tourism and other activities. As a result, it is reasonable to try to find an application for these algae. Recently, some applications in civil construction, cosmetics, and the food industry, among others, have been reported. The present work evaluates the thermal and structural properties of new polypropylene (PP)–Sargassum-based composites. Also, the effect of adding calcium stearate (CS) to increase the interaction between PP and Sargassum particles was investigated. PP–Sargassum particle composites were prepared by a melt mixing process, and the properties of these composites were evaluated using thermal techniques such as dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The DMA results showed that composites with low concentrations of Sargassum particles perform better than those with higher concentrations. When CS was added to composites, there was a significant improvement in storage modulus compared with composites without CS. This was attributed to the good adhesion of the particles to the matrix because the mobility of macromolecules increased in the presence of CS. The thermal stability of PP–Sargassum particle composites decreases when the amount of particles increases, and the addition of CS does not positively affect the thermal behavior of composites. The findings open the possibility of using Sargassum particles in new applications of these algae as a polymer additive to generate sustainable materials.
Covered Stent Herniation into Coronary Aneurysm Sac—A Case-Inspired Review of Neurointerventional Realignment Techniques
Authors: Klaudel Jacek , Radowski Piotr , Trenkner Wojciech , Glaza Michał , Pawłowski Krzysztof , Surman Dariusz , Krasowski Włodzimierz , Szołkiewicz Marek
Published: November 2023

Background: Coronary aneurysms are an infrequent finding in diagnostic angiography, with a reported incidence of 0.35–0.7% in the largest contemporary registries. At least half of them have an atherosclerotic etiology and as such they are often diagnosed in the setting of acute coronary syndrome. The wiring of a thrombosed aneurysm is a difficult task and after successful recanalization, the operator has to decide on the optimal method of aneurysm exclusion. Covered stents are commonly deployed, but their use involves the risk of delivery failure as well as device dislodgement and loss due to their stiffness and size. Moreover, proper stent sizing and apposition is difficult in the case of thrombosed aneurysms. Case presentation: We present a case of coronary aneurysm recanalization and exclusion with a covered stent, with a postdilation-induced stent foreshortening. Due to the subsequent stent migration into the aneurysm sac, its repositioning was attempted. The pitfalls of coronary aneurysm stenting and neurointerventional techniques of prolapsed device realignment are discussed. Conclusions: An adequate landing zone is of the utmost importance in aneurysm exclusion with covered stents. In the case of a short stent anchoring in the normal vessel, another covered or conventional stent should be deployed to mitigate the risk of the device migration.
Deep-Learning-Based Mixture Identification for Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Applied to Plant Flavors
Authors: Wang Yufei , Wei Weiwei , Du Wen , Cai Jiaxiao , Liao Yuxuan , Lu Hongmei , Kong Bo , Zhang Zhimin
Published: November 2023

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) is a crucial technique for analyzing mixtures consisting of small molecules, providing non-destructive, fast, reproducible, and unbiased benefits. However, it is challenging to perform mixture identification because of the offset of chemical shifts and peak overlaps that often exist in mixtures such as plant flavors. Here, we propose a deep-learning-based mixture identification method (DeepMID) that can be used to identify plant flavors (mixtures) in a formulated flavor (mixture consisting of several plant flavors) without the need to know the specific components in the plant flavors. A pseudo-Siamese convolutional neural network (pSCNN) and a spatial pyramid pooling (SPP) layer were used to solve the problems due to their high accuracy and robustness. The DeepMID model is trained, validated, and tested on an augmented data set containing 50,000 pairs of formulated and plant flavors. We demonstrate that DeepMID can achieve excellent prediction results in the augmented test set: ACC = 99.58%, TPR = 99.48%, FPR = 0.32%; and two experimentally obtained data sets: one shows ACC = 97.60%, TPR = 92.81%, FPR = 0.78% and the other shows ACC = 92.31%, TPR = 80.00%, FPR = 0.00%. In conclusion, DeepMID is a reliable method for identifying plant flavors in formulated flavors based on NMR spectroscopy, which can assist researchers in accelerating the design of flavor formulations.
Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications of Nanomaterials for Energy Conversion and Storage
Authors: Jia Jin , Lan Yucheng
Published: November 2023

Ever since the commencement of the Industrial Revolution in Great Britain in the mid-18th century, the annual global energy consumption from various fossil fuels, encompassing wood, coal, natural gas, and petroleum, has demonstrated an exponential surge over the past four centuries [...]
Development of a HPLC Method for Analysis of a Combination of Clofazimine, Isoniazid, Pyrazinamide, and Rifampicin Incorporated into a Dermal Self-Double-Emulsifying Drug Delivery System
Authors: Staden Daniélle van , Haynes Richard K. , Van der Kooy Frank , Viljoen Joe M.
Published: November 2023

We describe the development and validation of a new high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for analysis of a combination of the first-line anti-tubercular drugs isoniazid, pyrazinamide, and rifampicin together with clofazimine. This is a unique challenge since clofazimine and rifampicin are relatively highly lipophilic drugs, whereas isoniazid and pyrazinamide are considerably more hydrophilic. Thus, clear separation of peaks and quantification of four individual drugs can present difficulties during the development of an analytical method. Detection was established at two wavelengths—254 nm for isoniazid and pyrazinamide and 320 nm for clofazimine and rifampicin. Gradient elution was employed using 0.1% aqueous formic acid (A) and acetonitrile (B); clear separation of the four drugs was achieved within 10 min. A linear relationship was indicated by a correlation coefficient (r2) of 0.9999 for each anti-tubercular drug, respectively. The limit of detection (LOD) for the individual drugs was 0.70 µg/mL (isoniazid), 0.30 µg/mL (pyrazinamide), 0.20 µg/mL (rifampicin) and 0.20 µg/mL (clofazimine). Precision experiments rendered a mean recovery percentage of 101.25% (isoniazid), 98.70% (pyrazinamide), 99.68% (rifampicin) and 97.14% (clofazimine). This HPLC method was validated and is reliable, repeatable, and accurate for the purpose of conducting simultaneous HPLC analyses of the four anti-tubercular drugs.
Design, Digital Humanities, and Information Visualization for Cultural Heritage
Authors: Trocchianesi Raffaella , Bollini Letizia
Published: November 2023

In this essay, we are interested in investigating some of the possible relations between design and digital humanities. In particular, we analyze the contribution that communication and interface design can bring to digital humanities. In a scene currently characterized by a heterogeneous set of activities and humanistic, technological, and cultural studies, the involvement of design seems confined to the development of digital instruments in accessing, exploring, and manipulating cultural data. How can design and the humanities work in an interdisciplinary way in order to shape new digital means to explore humanistic content? This essay presents four case studies (three of them developed by the authors), each of which suggests some methods and tools focused on the interdisciplinary relationships of scholars. The findings are both models of collaboration and models of digital architecture (data visualization) and showcase applied digital interactive platforms that present several paths to discovering different levels of content in the fields of art, psychology, literature, and history. In conclusion, this essay presents a manifesto focusing on ten points of virtuous relation between design humanities and the field of information visualization.
The Theoretical Virtues of Theism
Authors: Sijuwade Joshua R.
Published: November 2023

In this article, I seek to assess the extent to which a ‘trope-theoretic’ version of Theism is a better theory than that of a theory of Atheism, as posited by Graham Oppy. This end will be achieved by utilising the systemisation of the theoretical virtues proposed by Michael Keas (as further modified by an application of the work of Jonathan Schaffer), the notion of a trope, introduced by D.C. Williams, and an aspect, proposed by Donald L.M. Baxter, which will establish the basis of the trope-theoretic account of Theism that will be at the centre of our analysis. This assessment will ultimately show that Theism, rather than that of Atheism (Naturalism), can successfully achieve the trade-off between minimising theoretical commitments and maximising explanatory power. And thus, given this, the best theory of Theism—namely, that of ‘trope-theoretic Theism’—is to be privileged over that of the best theory of Atheism—namely, that of ‘Oppyian Naturalism’—and is able to provide grounds for a decisive reassessment of the cogency of Agnosticism.
Penetration of a Pulsed Guided Streamer Discharge into Micrometer-Sized Capillary Tubes
Authors: Jain Samyak , Bruggeman Peter J.
Published: November 2023

The penetration and propagation of streamers in capillary tubes is critical for applications involving the plasma-enabled disinfection of medical devices like catheters and plasma catalysis. In this study, a guided streamer is generated in a pulsed plasma jet operating in helium and impinged downstream onto a capillary tube with an inner diameter between 75 and 500 µm. The threshold voltage required to start the penetration of the guided streamer into the capillary was determined for both positive and negative polarities, and we observed a time delay between the streamer striking the top of the capillary and its penetration, which was found to be larger for the positive than the negative streamer. The observed differences can be explained by the need to sustain an electric field large enough to generate a sufficient seed electron density in the capillary to launch the streamer. The reported results suggest that the electric field at the capillary inlet is likely reduced by the formation of strong surface ionization waves for positive streamers. Nonetheless, in the case of positive streamers, the formation of surface streamers along the outside of the capillary wall can enhance streamer penetration into the capillary and the streamer propagation speed.
Behavioral and Morphological Traits of Nellore Cattle That Can Influence Calf Survival and Performance from Birth to Weaning
Authors: Paranhos da Costa Mateus José Rodrigues , Menezes João Vitor de Toledo , Fernandes Luane da Silva , Valente Tiago S.
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to identify behavioral and morphological traits of Nellore cattle that can influence calves’ survival and pre-weaning performance. It was performed in two units of a large-scale cow–calf operation farm located in the Central-West region of Brazil, with 975 cow–calf dyads, by scoring cows’ maternal protective behavior, body condition, horns, udder suspension (US), teat size (TS) and calves’ vigor. TS was used to determine teat symmetry (TSm). The production unit where calves were born, their birth date, sex, and birth (BW) and weaning weights were also recorded. Cow ages at calving and production units were used to categorize the cows into twelve classes (Cage). The Shapiro–Wilk test alongside tables of frequencies were used to determine if continuous and categorical variables followed a normal distribution, respectively. Two datasets were considered in statistical analyses: (i) 975 dyad records were used to identify potential factors influencing calf survivability and (ii) 936 records of weaned calves were used to assess pre-weaning performance. Generalized linear models were used to assess the effect of target traits on the calves’ weight adjusted for 210 days of age (W210, kg) and pre-weaning average daily gain (preADG, kg/day). Tukey’s test was used to compare W210 and preADG means. Pearson’s correlation coefficients were estimated between BW, W210 and preADG. Cage, US and the TSm significantly affected pre-weaning calf performance (p < 0.01). Older cows (independently of the production unit) and those with intermediate US and symmetrical teats weaned heavier calves. As expected, positive and significant correlation was observed between BW and preADG (r = 0.35), which, in turn, was highly correlated with W210 (r = 0.99). We concluded that none of the behavioral and morphological traits influenced calf survivability, but cow age, US and TSm impacted pre-weaning performance, with 8- to 11-year-old cows and those with intermediate US and symmetric teats leading to better calf performance at weaning.
Joint Multidimensional Pattern for Spectrum Prediction Using GNN
Authors: Wen Xiaomin , Fang Shengliang , Xu Zhaojing , Liu Han
Published: November 2023

In general, judging the use/idle state of the wireless spectrum is the foundation for cognitive radio users (secondary users, SUs) to access limited spectrum resources efficiently. Rich information can be mined by the inherent correlation of electromagnetic spectrum data from SUs in time, frequency, space, and other dimensions. Therefore, how to efficiently use the spectrum status of each SU implementation of reception multidimensional combination forecasting is the core of this paper. In this paper, we propose a deep-learning hybrid model called TensorGCN-LSTM based on the tensor data structure. The model treats SUs deployed at different spatial locations under the same frequency, and the spectrum status of SUs themselves under different frequencies in the task area as nodes and constructs two types of graph structures. Graph convolutional operations are used to sequentially extract corresponding spatial-domain and frequency-domain features from the two types of graph structures. Then, the long short-term memory (LSTM) model is used to fuse the spatial, frequency, and temporal features of the cognitive radio environment data. Finally, the prediction task of the spectrum distribution situation is accomplished through fully connected layers. Specifically, the model constructs a tensor graph based on the spatial similarity of SUs’ locations and the frequency correlation between different frequency signals received by SUs, which describes the electromagnetic wave’s dependency relationship in spatial and frequency domains. LSTM is used to capture the electromagnetic wave’s dependency relationship in the temporal domain. To evaluate the effectiveness of the model, we conducted ablation experiments on LSTM, GCN, GC-LSTM, and TensorGCN-LSTM models using simulated data. The experimental results showed that our model achieves better prediction performance in RMSE, and the correlation coefficient R2 of 0.8753 also confirms the feasibility of the model.
Quantification of Construction Materials Quality via Frequency Response Measurements: A Mobile Testing Station
Authors: Scislo Lukasz , Szczepanik-Scislo Nina
Published: November 2023

In construction, ensuring the quality and compliance of materials with specified requirements is often challenging, especially at construction sites. Conventionally, this process necessitates transporting samples to well-equipped laboratories, incurring significant time and financial costs. This article proposes a novel approach through a cost-effective mobile test station, enabling on-site measurements and immediate evaluation results, regardless of the testing conditions. The foundation of our testing methodology lies in the Impulse Excitation Technique (IET), which capitalises on measuring the frequency response of samples while considering their mass and dimensions. By applying this technique, we can effectively determine crucial elastic properties, such as the Young Modulus and Poisson Ratio. These obtained values can then be cross-referenced with established material tables to verify the material’s compliance with the specified order. In this study, the developed universal and mobile test station demonstrated versatility by successfully evaluating three samples of typical construction materials, showing the method’s reliability on some real case measurements. The results substantiate its potential as a reliable mobile quality assurance station. Moreover, the station’s adaptability empowers its use on site, in laboratory settings, or even during material transportation when necessary. This innovation promises to revolutionise material quality assessment, streamlining the construction process and expediting decision making.
Optimal Duration of In-Vehicle Data Recorder Monitoring to Assess Bus Driver Behavior
Authors: Shichrur Rachel , Ratzon Navah Z.
Published: November 2023

This study examined the optimal sampling durations for in-vehicle data recorder (IVDR) data analysis, focusing on professional bus drivers. Vision-based technology (VBT) from Mobileye Inc. is an emerging technology for monitoring driver behavior and enhancing safety in advanced driver assistance systems (ADASs) and autonomous driving. VBT detects hazardous driving events by assessing distances to vehicles. This naturalistic study of 77 male bus drivers aimed to determine the optimal duration for monitoring professional bus driving patterns and the stabilization point in risky driving events over time using VBT and G-sensor-equipped buses. Of the initial cohort, 61 drivers’ VBT data and 66 drivers’ G-sensor data were suitable for analysis. Findings indicated that achieving a stable driving pattern required approximately 130 h of VBT data and 170 h of G-sensor data with an expected 10% error rate. Deviating downward from these durations led to higher error rates or unreliable data. The study found that VBT and G-sensor data are both valuable tools for driving assessment. Moreover, it underscored the effective application of VBT technology in driving behavior analysis as a way of assessing interventions and refining autonomous vehicle algorithms. These results provide practical recommendations for IVDR researchers, stressing the importance of adequate monitoring durations for reliable and accurate outcomes.
A Novel Densely Packed 4 × 4 MIMO Antenna Design for UWB Wireless Applications
Authors: Khan Owais , Khan Shahid , Marwat Safdar Nawaz Khan , Gohar Neelam , Bilal Muhammad , Dalarsson Mariana
Published: November 2023

In this article, a compact 4-port UWB (Ultra-Wide Band) MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antenna is proposed. A low profile FR-4 substrate is used as a dielectric material with the dimensions of 58 × 58 mm2 (0.52λ × 0.52λ) at 2.8 GHz and a standard thickness of 1.6 mm. The proposed design characterizes an impedance bandwidth starting from 2.8 to 12.1 GHz (124.1%). Each of the four elements of the proposed MIMO antenna configuration consists of a monopole antenna with PG (partial ground) that has a slot at its center. The corner of each patch (radiator) and ground slot are rounded for impedance matching. Each unit cell is in an orthogonal orientation, forming a quad-port MIMO antenna system. For reference, the partial ground of each unit cell is connected meticulously with the others. The simulated results of the proposed quad-port MIMO antenna design were configured and validated by fabrication and testing. The proposed Quad-port MIMO design has a 6.57 dBi peak gain and 97% radiation efficiency. The proposed design has good isolation below 15 dB in the lower frequency range and below 20 dB in the higher frequency range. The design has a measured ECC (Envelop Correlation Co-efficient) of 0.03 and DG (Diversity Gain) of 10 dB. The value of TARC (Total Active Reflection Coefficient) over the entire operating band is less than 10 dB. Moreover, the design maintained CCL (Channel Capacity Loss) < 0.4 bits/sec/Hz and MEG (Mean Effective Gain) < 3 dB. Based on the obtained results, the proposed design is suitable for the intended high data rate UWB wireless communication portable devices.
Deep Learning Framework for Liver Segmentation from T1-Weighted MRI Images
Authors: Hossain Md. Sakib Abrar , Gul Sidra , Chowdhury Muhammad E. H. , Khan Muhammad Salman , Sumon Md. Shaheenur Islam , Bhuiyan Enamul Haque , Khandakar Amith , Hossain Maqsud , Sadique Abdus , Al-Hashimi Israa , Ayari Mohamed Arselene , Mahmud Sakib , Alqahtani Abdulrahman
Published: November 2023

The human liver exhibits variable characteristics and anatomical information, which is often ambiguous in radiological images. Machine learning can be of great assistance in automatically segmenting the liver in radiological images, which can be further processed for computer-aided diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is preferred by clinicians for liver pathology diagnosis over volumetric abdominal computerized tomography (CT) scans, due to their superior representation of soft tissues. The convenience of Hounsfield unit (HoU) based preprocessing in CT scans is not available in MRI, making automatic segmentation challenging for MR images. This study investigates multiple state-of-the-art segmentation networks for liver segmentation from volumetric MRI images. Here, T1-weighted (in-phase) scans are investigated using expert-labeled liver masks from a public dataset of 20 patients (647 MR slices) from the Combined Healthy Abdominal Organ Segmentation grant challenge (CHAOS). The reason for using T1-weighted images is that it demonstrates brighter fat content, thus providing enhanced images for the segmentation task. Twenty-four different state-of-the-art segmentation networks with varying depths of dense, residual, and inception encoder and decoder backbones were investigated for the task. A novel cascaded network is proposed to segment axial liver slices. The proposed framework outperforms existing approaches reported in the literature for the liver segmentation task (on the same test set) with a dice similarity coefficient (DSC) score and intersect over union (IoU) of 95.15% and 92.10%, respectively.
Artificial Intelligence ECG Analysis in Patients with Short QT Syndrome to Predict Life-Threatening Arrhythmic Events
Authors: Pasero Eros , Gaita Fiorenzo , Randazzo Vincenzo , Meynet Pierre , Cannata Sergio , Maury Philippe , Giustetto Carla
Published: November 2023

Short QT syndrome (SQTS) is an inherited cardiac ion-channel disease related to an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in young and otherwise healthy individuals. SCD is often the first clinical presentation in patients with SQTS. However, arrhythmia risk stratification is presently unsatisfactory in asymptomatic patients. In this context, artificial intelligence-based electrocardiogram (ECG) analysis has never been applied to refine risk stratification in patients with SQTS. The purpose of this study was to analyze ECGs from SQTS patients with the aid of different AI algorithms to evaluate their ability to discriminate between subjects with and without documented life-threatening arrhythmic events. The study group included 104 SQTS patients, 37 of whom had a documented major arrhythmic event at presentation and/or during follow-up. Thirteen ECG features were measured independently by three expert cardiologists; then, the dataset was randomly divided into three subsets (training, validation, and testing). Five shallow neural networks were trained, validated, and tested to predict subject-specific class (non-event/event) using different subsets of ECG features. Additionally, several deep learning and machine learning algorithms, such as Vision Transformer, Swin Transformer, MobileNetV3, EfficientNetV2, ConvNextTiny, Capsule Networks, and logistic regression were trained, validated, and tested directly on the scanned ECG images, without any manual feature extraction. Furthermore, a shallow neural network, a 1-D transformer classifier, and a 1-D CNN were trained, validated, and tested on ECG signals extracted from the aforementioned scanned images. Classification metrics were evaluated by means of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values, accuracy, and area under the curve. Results prove that artificial intelligence can help clinicians in better stratifying risk of arrhythmia in patients with SQTS. In particular, shallow neural networks’ processing features showed the best performance in identifying patients that will not suffer from a potentially lethal event. This could pave the way for refined ECG-based risk stratification in this group of patients, potentially helping in saving the lives of young and otherwise healthy individuals.
Managing Root Parasitic Weeds to Facilitate Legume Reintroduction into Mediterranean Rain-Fed Farming Systems
Authors: Rubiales Diego
Published: November 2023

Grain and forage legumes are important sources of food and feed, key for sustainable agriculture given the environmental services they provide. However, their cultivation is hampered in the Mediterranean Basin and Near East by the widespread occurrence of the root parasitic weed crenate broomrape (Orobanche crenata). Other broomrape species such as O. minor, O. foetida, and Phelipanche aegyptica are also of local importance. As for other parasitic weeds, a number of management strategies have been proposed, but considering that temperate legumes in the area are low-input crops, these strategies are largely uneconomical or hard to achieve, leaving the use of resistant cultivars as the most desirable option. Breeding for broomrape resistance is not an easy task, but significant progress has been achieved by classical breeding and selection and will profit from recent developments in phenomics and genomics. Here, achievements and prospects in broomrape management and resistance breeding are presented and critically discussed.
Energy-Gap-Refractive Index Relations in Semiconductors—Using Wemple–DiDomenico Model to Unify Moss, Ravindra, and Herve–Vandamme Relationships
Authors: Lamichhane Aneer
Published: November 2023

The refractive index of solids gauges their transparency to incident light, while the energy gap determines the threshold for light absorption. This paper provides a mathematical formulation for the relationship between the refractive index and the energy gap. It is also established that this formulation aided in the unification of the Moss, Ravindra, and Herve–Vandamme relationships.
Adjustment of Anticipatory Covariates in Retrospective Surveys: An Expected Likelihood Approach
Authors: Ghilagaber Gebrenegus , Larsson Rolf
Published: November 2023

We address an inference issue where the value of a covariate is measured at the date of the survey but is used to explain behavior that has occurred long before the survey. This causes bias because the value of the covariate does not follow the temporal order of events. We propose an expected likelihood approach to adjust for such bias and illustrate it with data on the effects of educational level achieved by the time of marriage on risks of divorce. For individuals with anticipatory educational level (whose reported educational level was completed after marriage), conditional probabilities of having attained the reported level before marriage are computed. These are then used as weights in the expected likelihood to obtain adjusted estimates of relative risks. For our illustrative data set, the adjusted estimates of relative risks of divorce did not differ significantly from those obtained from anticipatory analysis that ignores the temporal order of events. Our results are slightly different from those in two other studies that analyzed the same data set in a Bayesian framework, though the studies are not fully comparable to each other.
Reporting Diagnostic Reference Levels for Paediatric Patients Undergoing Brain Computed Tomography
Authors: Alhailiy Ali , Alkhybari Essam , Alghamdi Sultan , Fisal Nada , Aldosari Sultan , Albeshan Salman
Published: November 2023

Brain computed tomography (CT) is a diagnostic imaging tool routinely used to assess all paediatric neurologic disorders and other head injuries. Despite the continuous development of paediatric CT imaging, radiation exposure remains a concern. Using diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) helps to manage the radiation dose delivered to patients, allowing one to identify an unusually high dose. In this paper, we propose DRLs for paediatric brain CT examinations in Saudi clinical practices and compare the findings with those of other reported DRL studies. Data including patient and scanning protocols were collected retrospectively from three medical cities for a total of 225 paediatric patients. DRLs were derived for four different age groupings. The resulting DRL values for the dose–length product (DLP) for the age groups of newborns (0–1 year), 1-y-old (1–5 years), 5-y-old (5–10 years) and 10-y-old (10–15 years) were 404 mGy cm, 560 mGy cm, 548 mGy cm, and 742 mGy cm, respectively. The DRLs for paediatric brain CT imaging are comparable to or slightly lower than other DRLs due to the current use of dose optimisation strategies. This study emphasises the need for an international standardisation for the use of weight group categories in DRL establishment for paediatric care in order to provide a more comparable measurement of dose quantities across different hospitals globally.
“It Feels like You’re a Stranger in Your Own Skin”: Young People’s Accounts of Everyday Embodiment
Authors: Calder-Dawe Octavia , Carlson Teah Anna Lee
Published: November 2023

While much existing research investigates embodiment and body image in individualised terms, new research in youth studies takes a wider view. How are young people’s experiences of embodiment entangled with sociocultural and structural influences? How do young people come to develop a sense of embodied identity in contexts that teem with hostile and unattainable body ideals? How are possibilities for affirming and affirmative embodiment navigated by young people—especially those living outside prevailing appearance norms? In this paper, we engage with these questions, drawing insights from an in-depth, collaborative research project designed to understand what supports and constrains hauora and wellbeing for young people in Aotearoa (New Zealand). First, we analyse young people’s accounts thematically, identifying three prevailing systems of cultural privilege that regulate embodiment. These include processes of racialisation and gendering, as well as cisnormative, heteronormative, ableist and healthist logics. Second, we work closely with one young person’s interview, exploring how her narrative unsettles prevailing norms of appearance and embodiment. By spotlighting what young people themselves tell us about their bodies and embodied experiences, this paper demonstrates the value of an embodiment lens for youth and wellbeing studies.
Perfil funcional de alunos com Transtorno do Espectro Autista em escolas de ensino regular
Authors: Matos Jéssica Beatriz de , De Melo Taveira Larissa , Massini Rosa Silvia Caroline , Ribeiro Rosário Lívia Maria , Silva Santos Adriana Teresa , Dos Reis Luciana Maria , Carbonari de Faria Tereza Cristina
Published: November 2023

Introdução. O Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA) caracteriza-se como uma síndrome neuropsiquiátrica de alta prevalência. Objetivo. Avaliar o perfil funcional de alunos com TEA, em todos os níveis de suporte, inseridos em escolas municipais de ensino regular na cidade de Alfenas-MG frente à Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde (CIF) e avaliar recursos e materiais de apoio à educação desses alunos. Método. Estudo transversal, composto por 42 alunos com TEA, de diferentes níveis, distribuídos em nove escolas da rede municipal. Para avaliar o perfil funcional foi utilizado um checklist da CIF, no qual 37 domínios do componente “Atividade e Participação” foram qualificados quanto à dificuldade em realizar tarefas relacionadas à percepção, atenção, memória, linguagem, raciocínio lógico, capacidade motora e estado emocional. Os alunos foram avaliados de forma indireta, sob a perspectiva do professor, por meio de entrevista. Resultados. Os alunos com TEA apresentaram dificuldade de ligeira a completa em onze domínios relacionados à “Linguagem” (65,2%) e de moderada a completa no domínio “dirigir atenção” (66,7%), “lidar com estresse e outras exigências psicológicas” (78,6%), “concentrar atenção” (83,3%), “interações interpessoais básicas” (69%) e “relacionamentos sociais informais” (59,5%). As escolas contam com materiais básicos de apoio, que foram considerados como facilitadores moderados. Nenhuma escola possui ou faz uso de tecnologia assistiva, o que foi considerado como barreira para o desenvolvimento dos alunos com TEA.  Conclusão. O perfil funcional desse grupo analisado apontou dificuldades nas atividades que envolviam percepção, atenção e estado emocional e observou-se falta de materiais de apoio para esta população.
Vers une politique de cooperation entre les peuples : la formation retour
Authors: Wagner Michel
Published: November 2023

La formation des travailleurs immigrés pendant leur séjour en Europe en vue d'un «retour qualifié» au pays d'origine est un sujet actuellement à l'ordre du jour. Ayant fait d'abord l'objet d'hypothèses économiques de la part de chercheurs, puis d'études de cas et enfin d'un petit nombre d'expériences, cette voie nouvelle fait aujourd'hui l'objet d'un essai, limité il est vrai, dans le cadre de la politique française en matière de migration.

Le cadre modeste et limité de cette étude voudrait, à partir de deux expériences précises vécues entre la France et l'Algérie, dans un cadre expérimental, retenir les éléments positifs comme les difficultés de telles réalisations.
La formation professionnelle des travailleurs migrants à l'étranger par l'office national d'immigration
Authors: Demondion P.
Published: November 2023

Jusqu'au mois de juillet 1974, date de suspension des flux migratoires, l'ONI s'est efforcé de mettre à la disposition des entreprises la main-d'œuvre que certaines d'entre elles ne parvenaient pas à trouver sur le marché national de l'emploi. Main-d'œuvre banale pour une large part, mais également main-d'œuvre qualifiée recherchée par des secteurs tels que le Bâtiment et les Travaux Publics ou la Métallurgie.

Pour répondre à ces besoins spécifiques, que les seuls efforts de recrute¬ ment étaient insuffisants à satisfaire, ainsi qu'aux vœux exprimés par les pays d'émigration signataires des accords de main-d'œuvre, l'ONI a organisé depuis 1956, dans quelques pays de départ, la formation professionnelle de jeunes travailleurs candidats à l'émigration en France.
Le mirage de l'audio-visuel
Authors: Darmon Michèle
Published: November 2023

Il y a une sorte de mirage de l’audio-visuel. Expositions temporaires avec multitude de nouveautés techniques. Appareillages coûteux et compliqués. Matériel plus ancien, dont on souligne les diverses utilisations possibles. Enfin, publicité du genre : « Apprenez une langue en trois mois par l’audio-visuel ».

Comment réagit « le moniteur d’alpha », généralement démuni de tout, devant ces promesses de miracles pédagogiques ? Devant ces machines ?

Souvent, par le désarroi : son manque de formation fait de lui la proie toute désignée des annonceurs de miracles. Il aura tendance à croire que la réussite pédagogique est l'effet des possibilités techniques de la machine.

Mais le bon sens l'emporte généralement. Il s'aperçoit que l'audio-visuel constitue un ensemble de supports, très utiles parfois. Il arrive alors, à la notion d’« aides audio-visuelles » - ou à celle de méthodologie recourant aux moyens audio-visuels.

Ce sont de ces aides, ou de ces moyens dont il sera question ici.